Olive Press Mallorca issue 199

FAKE BANKSYS

The new Madrid museum that boasts 170 works by the reclusive artist - but none of them are real SEE PAGE 10

O P LIVE RESS

Defective

SPAIN is now classified as a ‘defective democracy’ due to its high levels of corruption.

The country now has a worse ranking than Saudi Arabia, Rwanda and Costa Rica, when it comes to transparency.

In its worst score for three decades, Spain came 46th out of 180 nations. It now scored just 56 out of 100 in the evaluation by Transparency International, which compiles data from many sources including the World Bank and World Economic Forum.

Spain dropped 10 places being slammed for its control of corruption, government efficiency, regulatory quality, and rule of law.

Scandals

The country ‘continues to lack a national anti-corruption strategy’ to counter scandals such as the Koldo case and the Jose Luis Abalos affair. The loss of the anti-fraud agency in the Balearics, and the weakening of the Valencian equivalent were noted, while only four autonomous regions tackle corruption head on.

The UK has also seen a decline of 11 points since 2017 scoring just 71 out of 100.

Overall Europe has declined for the second year running to 64 out of 100. Only six countries improved their scores, while Denmark remained on top being the least corrupt nation, with a score of 90.

Russia holds the worst position in Europe, ranking 154th globally with a score of just 22.

Hidden hotspots

OUR BEACH NOT YOUR TOILET

Illegal campers are dumping excrement in the Costa Blanca - while in Mallorca they are on the march

FOREIGN caravaners are ‘dumping human waste’ on beaches and in public water fountains, outraged expats claim.

Michael Cultrona, a 64-year-old German expat says the seasonal motorhome visitors to Xeraco, on the Costa Blanca, pose a ‘public health risk’.

“They clean their chemical toilets in the water fountains in the park where kids drink,” he told the Olive Press

“It’s very concerning as they are also throwing human waste into our bushes, onto beaches and rivers.”

The long-time expat alleges locals have made numer- ous complaints to the council and police, to no avail.

The Only Way is Trouble

SPAIN is seeking the extra dition of a British reality TV star for cocaine smuggling. Jack Fraser, 34, who appeared in TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex), is accused of playing a key role in trying to smuggle 184 kg of drugs into Spain through a boat called the Eulalia in November 2021.

“They want the ‘tourist money’, but as far as I can tell the only money they spend is in the local Spar shop,” the former German military sniper said.

“In fact, they steal from local orange farms and even our gardens.”

Cultrona also claims the caravanersalso known as snowbirds and blowins - are to blame for the death of ‘several’ local cats.

“Their dogs have killed several cats and anyone who dares to challenge them is threatened verbally or physically.

Spanish prosecutors allege Fraser provided logistical support to a trafficking network, including paying for accommodation and renting properties for crew members involved in the operation. The court heard that Fraser - who also appeared in MTV’s Ex On The Beach - left Spain just two days before the seizure. His lawyers insist he is innocent and was ‘not in Spain’ when the alleged offending occurred.

Fraser has a number of UK convictions, including a 15-month suspended sentence for dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle theft after ramming a stolen BMW into a police car in June.

“I was actually threatened with a knife after I shooed a dog out of my garden to protect my cats,” he said.

According to the German, the campers are parked illegally and often block the pavements despite their being a campsite ‘just metres’ away.

Even those who run the legal campsites around the nearby Gandia area are dealing with multiple issues, the

Olive Press understands.

Cultrona claims that a couple he knows who live in the caravan park behind his house were attacked with human excrement.

“They paid €10,000 to have a plot for ten years, but soon after their caravan was smeared in human waste and their tires punctured.

“I think it was an attempt by the owner to keep their money while making them leave,” he said.

Meanwhile in Mallorca, over 200 caravans and campers gathered in Palma last week to protest against new regulations limiting the use of the vehicles as living spaces.

The demonstration was led by the Oasis Caravanning Association (ACO) and the Independent Caravan Platform (PACA).

On January 30, the council approved new regulations establishing sanctions and restrictions on using caravans as a full time residence.

The protest began at 6pm at the BricoDepot Palma and went through the

city’s main streets to end up at Calle Camp de Deu. Despite guidance by the Policia Local, it reportedly caused major disruption in the city centre, including road closures and redirections.

ACO president, Javier Fuster, has called the new regulation ‘discriminatory’ to those who live and holiday in caravans.

Although the association initially managed to have the new rules modified, the law now states overnight stays are ‘permanently’ banned. They claim the law is ‘badly

drafted’ as the rules do not specify how long a permanent stay is.

Fuster clarified that although they do not support camping in non-designated sites, they would like areas to be set up for this purpose.

He also pointed out that Spanish road authorities define caravans as vehicles ‘adapted to be used as a temporary living space’, meaning you can stay in them in places designated by the local council.

“We want the council to give us a specific area where we can stay until social services, which are under a lot of pressure, are able to help vulnerable people who live in caravans,” said Fuster. He also urged officials to provide more areas to fill up and empty water containers.

It comes after Mallorca Mayor Jaime Martinez sparked controversy by claiming there are 5,000 caravaners on the island.

In contrast, a study from the University of the Balearic Islands put the number at 150 while PACA estimates there are over 300.

Deputy Mayor, Javier Bonet has now clarified that a census will be carried out to accurately determine the amount of mobile homes on the

island.

SCOWL: Campers block the whole pavement and pay no fees

IN HIS SIGHTS: Former sniper Cultrona is taking aim at campers

EXCLUSIVE

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Migrant arrivals dip

THE Balearic Islands and mainland received 13.4% less migrants from 1 to 31 January than in the same period last year.

Switcheroo

SOUTH Koreans are visiting Mallorca instead of the Maldives or Mauritius. Some 388,399 South Koreans visited Spain in 2024.

Hotelicheer

THE Mallorca Hoteliers Federation has claimed that the Balearics is the only Spanish region where unemployment didn’t rise in January thanks to 22% of hotels being open all year.

No fly zone

A BRITISH man could be fined €30,000 after he was caught filming the Correfoc festivities in Palma with an unlicensed drone in a restricted area.

A MAN has been arrested in Palma after stealing a car belonging to Good Samaritans who had stopped to help him following a car crash. The incident occurred at around 4.00am last Friday on the Son Ferriol roundabout.

Various drivers stopped to help the man, his wife and their three-yearold daughter.

The man reportedly threatened one of the drivers, stealing their car in order to take the daughter to Son Llatzer hospital.

Getaway car

Agents from the Guardia Civil traffic division were informed of the robbery and made their way to the hospital.

However, the man was uncooperative and aggressive, leading to the Policia Nacional being called in. The child was moved to the intensive pediatric care unit with serious chest trauma caused by her seatbelt.

FIRE THREAT

A MAN allegedly set fire to his Palma home with his wife and child inside because it's ‘better to go to jail than work and pay rent,’ a court heard.

Arresting officers testified in court that this was what he told them, adding he smelled of smoke and his hands were black when

Husband tried to burn down his flat rather than ‘work and pay rent’

By Walter Finch

they arrived at the scene in December 2023.

Another officer claimed he’d had to rescue an elder-

No escape

THE Policia Nacional arrested 41 international fugitives in the Balearic Islands last year.

Most (26) were in Mallorca, 11 in Ibiza and four in Menorca, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

Over 1,250 people were also arrested on the islands by order of the

ly neighbour found in an adjacent apartment.

“If we hadn’t gone in, he wouldn’t be here today,” one officer stated.

The suspect’s wife, who managed to survive along

Spanish criminal system. Last year, the amount of fugitives arrested on the archipelago rose by 9.3% compared to 2023.

In 2023, the Policia Nacional carried out 1,154 arrests on the Balearic Islands, with 34 international fugitives captured. Some 5,237 fugitives pursued by Spanish authorities have been arrested in the past five years, compared to 178 international fugitives.

with the child, reportedly told police that arguments with her husband were frequent. She added that before starting the fire, he had grabbed her,

shaken her, and threatened to burn down the house.

In his defence the provincial court heard his claim that he had arrived home ‘very drunk’ and had accidentally set light to a blanket with his cigarette. He denied shaking his wife.

The prosecutor is seeking a 13-year prison sentence for the accused, who has been held in custody since the incident, on charges of abuse and arson, as well as compensation of more than €50,000 for the owner of the burned property.

On the first day of the trial, the suspect’s wife invoked her right not to testify against her partner and asked for the case to be thrown out.

A SPANISH woman has been caught red-handed at Palma airport with 11 kilograms of cocaine stuffed in her suitcase. The 56-year-old, of Dominican origin, was arrested on Sunday by the Guardia Civil and Customs Surveillance officers at Mallorca’s airport.

Cocaine

The cocaine was encased in 11 separate bundles of one kilogram each. The woman flew with the drugs from the Dominican Republic.

BADLY HURT

AN unleashed dog caused a cyclist to suffer a serious accident in Playa

The German woman was on her bike on Avenida

men Riutort at around 4pm on Sunday when the loose dog ran into her path. She swerved abruptly and fell.

Prosecute

Paramedics treated the cyclist for a suspected fractured hip before taking her to Son Espases Hospital. The police will prosecute the dog's owners for walking it off its lead.

Discover Leonardo Boutique Hotel Mallorca Port Portals - Adults Only, a 4-star superior hotel located right next to one of the most luxurious marinas of the Mediterranean: Port Portals.

Choose from one of our 77 unique rooms, all of them with great amenities and spectacular views, and enjoy a cocktail in the hotel’s Sky Bar or cool down on a Balinese bed by the pool. Come join us!

de Palma.

Barto

I CHOOSE HAPPINESS

EXCLUSIVE: TV business mogul Charlie Mullins insists ‘people are happier’ in Spain compared to the UK, where a ‘doom and gloom’ attitude seeps into everyday life

IF you ignore the plush surroundings of his multi-million euro villa, the UK’s richest plumber Charlie Mullins could be any one of the thousands of expats who live on the costas. His reasons for moving south are remarkably similar to those of so many of his fellow countrymen, he told the Olive Press over champagne and beer at his four-storey Costa del Sol home.

Exuding an incredibly relaxed attitude to life, the man who made a fortune founding the UK’s most successful plumbing business explains that ‘people are simply happier’ here.

Back home where he sold his successful Pimlico Plumbers firm for a cool €170 million in 2021, a ‘doom and gloom’ attitude seeps into everyday life.

PRISTINE:

The expat and his shiny Rolls Royce

By Tom Ewart Smith

And it’s getting worse, just as many an expat will tell you.

His decision to move permanently to Mijas in July following Labour’s recent election win did not come out of nowhere.

Charlie had been mulling over the move for sometime, having holidayed on the Costa del Sol for 20 years.

Friendly

He has now taken the plunge and told the Olive Press he is really enjoying the much more ‘relaxed’ and ‘enjoyable lifestyle.

“There is a never-ending social life here,” he insists, adding ‘it is 10 times better’ than back home.

Luck of the Irish

HE is the rising star of the Spanish gastronomic scene, but by his name you may never have guessed.

Axel Smyth is in fact Galician born and bred, but his surname comes from an Irish grandfather. Alongside his partner (personally and professionally) Claudia Merchan (right), they have been crowned as joint breakthrough chefs at the prestigious Madrid Fusion event. They couple, who run Simpar in Santiago de Compostela, follow in the steps of three-times World’s Best Chef Dabiz Munoz

He attributes this primarily to the weather, as well as the slower pace of life between La Cala de Mijas and Marbella, where he spends most of his time. “People are a lot more friendly and inviting here,” he explains. “In fact I’ve got more friends here than in the UK.”

He adds that, in contrast, Brits are constantly concerned with day-to-day issues, which contributes to a depressing atmosphere.

The frantic nature of life in Britain means he sees more of his seven great grandchildren and 11 grandchildren in Spain.

“They can come out here for two weeks straight whereas if I go back to the UK, I would only see my family for half a day or a day at a time,” he explains.

He plans to stay in Spain indefinitely where he particularly rates the culinary scene.

His favorite hospitality spot is the nearby El Oceano Beach Hotel in La Cala, which is also frequented by many of his friends.

He also speaks highly of Olivia’s La Cala and La Sala in Banus, which he describes as ‘always

who took the award as a young man. Also honoured was Andrea Martin (left) from Tragata, in nearby Malaga, who was named ‘Best Front-of-House-Professional’. Tragata has a sister restaurant in Ronda.

Trump’s a thug!

STUNNING: Charlie enjoys expansive Mediterranean views

lively’ and he was sad that one of his favourites, Villa Tiberio, has shut.

Mullins is particularly drawn to such venues because ‘people dress up’, and he enjoys the ‘unpredictability’ of whom he might meet.

He explains how he could go out for a seemingly quiet breakfast but return home at midnight after a day of unforeseen socialising.

Despite his escape from the London rat race, like a true entrepreneur he is keeping busy.

Upmarket

He is developing several villas in the upmarket Los Monteros area, near Antonio Banderas’ former home, while he is also the non-executive chairman of a new company, WeFix, in the UK. He is also staying incredibly fit, working up to five times a week with a personal trainer.

“You can get out in the daytime a lot more”, he says, and the better weather encourages him to exercise more.

Does he miss anything about life in London, where his old plumbing firm employed over 400 people and turned over around €400 million?

In fact, no. He insists the city ‘hasn’t got that buzz anymore’ and lost its charm when David Cameron stepped down as Prime Minister in 2016. Fortunately for him he has rediscovered that buzz again here in Spain.

RICHARD Gere has branded Donald Trump a ‘thug’ and a ‘bully’ while accepting his award at the ‘Spanish Oscars’ in Granada at the weekend.

The Pretty Woman star, 75, was picking up his International Goya at the Palacio de Congresos when he launched his verbal attack on his country’s new president.

It comes after he moved to Madrid with his 41-yearold Spanish wife Alejandra Silva last year.

Gere, who also starred in Primal Fear and An Officer and a Gentleman, told the crowd: “I’m coming from a place now... we’re in a very dark place in America, where we have a bully and a thug, who is president.” He paused as the crowd of Spanish stars began applauding.

The International Goya was first awarded in 2022 with the previous three winners being Cate Blanchett, Juliette Binoche, and Sigourney Weaver.

Sweet Melody

MELODY will again represent Spain at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest after her song Esa Diva won Benidorm Fest.

The 34-year-old from Sevilla finished as runner-up back in 2009 and her song tells the story of her career in the music industry. This year’s contest takes place in Switzerland in May and Spain will look to emulate the 2022 success of Chantel’s Slo Mo which finished third.

Photos by: Walter Finch

BUDDHIST BALEARICS

MALLORCA’S Buddhist temple could come to Palma as the Chinese Association of the Balearic Islands (Achinib) proposes the plans to Palma City Council. The organisation is reportedly already in talks with the council to promote the initiative.

Achinib president, Fang Ji, explained the plans will be officially presented next month. He stressed the need to study the project’s feasibility, given that finding a suitable public site is a challenge. Ji also expressed his wish for the temple to be ‘as large as possible’ so that it will also become a tourist attraction for the island. ‘If we manage to get it off the ground, it would be a very good project’, he concluded.

Blow to the Balearics

TOUR guides in Palma are up in arms over a proposed new crackdown on group sizes that they claim are not only illegal but ‘treat us like criminals.’

Proguies Turístics de Baleares says the Palma City Council’s plan to limit guided tours to 20 people per group contradicts Balearic Islands' regulations, which allow groups of up to 70.

Baffling

“The current average group size is between 30 and 50 people,” said president Gabriel Rosales.

“It’s baffling that the council didn’t consider

By Walter Finch

the existing regulations before moving forward with this.” Rosales argues that this change will cripple the tourism sector and related businesses.

Unsustainable

“With groups of just 19, it will be impossible to sell tours, as they'll be financially unsustainable,” he explained. He also pointed out that popular attractions like the Cathedral of Mallorca and the Castell de Bellver could see a drop in revenue.

Make it legal!

COLOMBIA’S president claims cocaine is ‘no worse than whiskey’ and should be ‘sold like wine’ - as Spain continues to battle record illegal shipments through its ports. Gustavo Petro controversially claimed cocaine is only illegal ‘because it comes from Latin America’, implying it is part of a western plot to keep South American economies down. The leader of the world’s biggest cocaine producer argued that global legalisation would ‘easily dismantle’ trafficking networks.

Migrant hotel winner

SPAIN will spend almost €2 million housing migrants at a four-star Costa del Hotel hotel until April, the Olive Press can reveal.

The Hotel Oh Nice Caledonia, in Bel Air, is reportedly being paid €60 per person per night, according to a source in nearby Benahavis.

This amounts to €21,000 per night or €1.9 million over three months when the hotel is normally closed for the

winter season. In comparison, one night at the hotel (right) for paying guests costs €65 minimum, though no bookings are being taken yet for this summer.

The migrants will stay un-

The association is also protesting the requirement that guides visibly display identification with their full name and ID number.

“This violates our privacy rights and clashes with data protection laws,” Rosales asserted.

“Why should we have to reveal all this information when a police officer only needs to show a badge number? It’s like we're being treated like criminals.”

Proguies Turístics is also concerned about the idea of local police monitoring the exact number of tourists in a group.

“What happens when people join the group on the fly? Are we going to tag them like animals? Or hand out batons to keep out the ‘unauthorised’ tourists?” Rosales questioned. The proposed ordinance is currently in a public comment period before it goes to the full council for a final vote.

til at least April 24, before being moved to other parts of the Costa del Sol including Marbella and Estepona.

“It’s a win for the hotel, probably more than they get in the high season,” said Bel Air resident Joerin Reiddel. “It’s too much to give to people who don’t contribute.”

The expat resident, 52, continued: “They shouldn’t be showered with money, clothes and food. If they want to become Spanish citizens they should prove it by serving in the military.”

However, most residents were supportive of the move to house the migrants, who came from Africa via the Canary Islands for four months.

“We are talking about basic things people should have,” Dutch resident Marjolijne Reedijk insisted. “We have everything we need, a house, food, safety, they deserve that too.”

The estate agent, whose 88-year-old father lives next door to the hotel, added: “At first I was a little worried about my vulnerable father but he’s fine. The migrants are lovely and educated. I feel safe.”

Guided tour crackdown ‘treats tourists like animals and guides like criminals’

No waiting

PALMA'S Policia Local have stepped up patrols to stop the chaos of vehicles blocking traffic lanes to airport car parks as they wait to pick up passengers.

Long queues have been a problem in recent years, with airport operator Aena asking for help from Palma City Council.

Police patrols have so far been more of a ‘warning’ nature but transgressing motorists have been warned they face fines of up to €200.

A free 15 minute allowance for pick-ups in the two Parking Express zones is given before charges kick in.

Housing boost

AROUND 300 affordable rent-

al flats will be built in four areas of Calvia by private developers on municipal land. Plots have been identified in Calvia Vila, Peguera, El Toro, and Magaluf.

As part of a ‘build to rent’ programme, developers will hand over ownership of the properties after 75 years to Calvia City Council.

In addition a site at Calle Bonavida in Peguera will see 24 homes built and sold to local purchasers by the Balearic Institute of Housing.

The donated council land is worth just under €900,000 and construction will start after the summer and take around eight months.

People who can prove they have lived in Calvia for at least seven years will be given priority in buying homes there.

TENT CITIES

Homeless crisis hits Mallorca’s hotspots as airport becomes makeshift shelter

THE Balearic’s ongoing housing crisis is causing homeless people to seek shelter in makeshift homes around the islands, including Palma Airport terminal and abandoned hotels in tourist areas.

Palma has seen around

By Walter Finch

20 homeless settlements emerge, with makeshift camps appearing in prime locations including Can Pastilla beachfront and Paseo Mallorca in the city centre.

Meanwhile in Cala Bona squatters occupied an apartment hotel, raising concerns in the region’s crucial hospitality sector.

A similar situation continues in Cala d'Or, where several apartments in an abandoned block have been occupied since the pandemic.

AIRPORT CRIME WAVE

PASSENGERS and businesses are being urged to report all thefts by the community of homeless people who live in the terminal buildings at Palma’s airport.

The police warning has come after a spate of thefts targeting airport bars, cafes and passengers in check-in and boarding areas, with alcohol being the most commonly stolen item.

Security has been ramped up in both departure and arrival halls as authorities try to tackle what they describe as ‘a general sense of insecurity’ ahead of the busy tour-

ism season.

The current situation marks a significant change from last year, when a small homeless community lived at the airport without causing problems.

Airport management says it regularly notifies social services about individuals needing support, but has now been forced to take firmer action to address the thefts.

“The softly-softly approach has had to change,”a spokesperson said, amid concerns that the airport's homeless population could continue to grow if left unchecked.

Local charity Metges del Mon has called for urgent action from authorities as the crisis spreads beyond Palma to major population centers and tourist zones across the island.

Worsen

The problem is expected to worsen as the tourist season approaches and homes are converted into tourist apartments, further straining the already limited housing supply.

High rental prices, scarce affordable housing, and increasing job insecurity have forced many locals to seek shelter in bank offices, abandoned buildings, and even the airport terminal, where people congregate near power outlets and bathrooms at night.

MISSING CHILD

AN appeal has been made to find a Mallorcan girl who disappeared nine months ago. The SOS Desaparecidos Association and The National Centre for the Disappeared jointly issued an urgent alert concerning 12-year-old Yanira V.A.

She was last seen in Inca on May 22, 2024. The circumstances behind her disappearance have not been disclosed nor the delay in making a public appeal. Yanira is approximately 1.70 metres tall, with brown hair and eyes.

Information should be passed onto the Guardia Civil or via the 112 emergency number.

Boat rush

SOME

were

Nineteen people were found in apparently good health in the Estufador area of Formentera, with 20 more rescued in the south of Mallorca. A further 72 migrants were found by the Guardia Civil and Maritime Rescue south of the isle of Cabrera after arriving in three vessels.

111 migrants

rescued across the Balearic Islands on Wednesday after arriving by boat from North Africa.

OPINION

Motorhome stays need sortingbut so does the housing crisis

WHILE it is true that motorhome users cause havoc all over Spain, often these are ‘snowbirds’, Germans, Brits or French who fly into sunny Spain to escape the cold north.

Their temporary presence in Spain seems to cause a lack of neighbourly care, leading them to feel free to dump excrement wherever they please.

For local residents, expats and Spaniards alike, this is not only disgusting but poses a serious public health risk.

Of course, not all of these visitors are like this and many are respectful of local communities. However, their situation is also very different to those who permanently reside in caravans and motorhomes.

In places like Mallorca and Ibiza, many residents have been forced to reside in temporary mobile homes due to the growing housing crisis.

Until the regional government does something to tackle soaring house and rental prices, people will continue to live in caravans.

It is simply impossible for many residents working in the tourism industry to afford a ‘normal’ flat. That’s why new regulations to ban ‘permanent’ stays in mobile homes seem short sighted to many on the islands.

Lots of people claim they are forced into this living situation as social services are too slow at pushing through their paperwork.

Why doesn’t the Balearic government focus on providing support to those in need so that they do not find themselves in these situations, rather than punishing them?

It will only make matters worse and push people away.

If the government insists on not doing anything to tackle the housing crisis and mounting pressure on social services, the least they could do would be to provide legal camping spots for those resorting to mobile living.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

DOWNFALL OF THE COCAINE QUEEN

Nicknamed ‘The Model’, the narco boss who has run out of runway and crash landed in jail after a 25 year reign as Spain’s stunning Reina de Cocaine

By Dilip Kuner and Jon Clarke

SHE was known as La Modela (The Model) due to her taste for €700 blouses and €1,000 Jimmy Choos, all financed by the drugs trade.

Now Maria Teresa Jaimes Caicedo is cooling her heels behind bars rather than parading through Marbella as if on the fashion runway.

But given her 25-year year reign as Spain’s ‘Queen of Cocaine’, she could be forgiven for thinking that she has in fact ‘got away with it’.

She has been sentenced by Malaga Provincial Court to just five years jail for crimes against public health and membership of a criminal organisation.

The prosecution had been asking for a 10 year sentence but a plea bargain that saw her admitting to being the boss of a narco gang that exported drugs from here to Northern and Eastern Europe saw that cut to five.

It does not seem to be very much considering her high-profile, not just in the cocaine trade, but also on the glitzy Marbella social scene.

The glamorous Colombian expat lived a life of luxury in a giant mansion with two swimming pools, a tennis court and ‘a garden that resembles the rainforest’.

A long police investigation eventually snared her as the ringleader of a gang of 16, behind a European-wide cocaine smuggling operation. Eight of her co-conspirators have also been jailed.

Speaking exclusively to the Olive Press, a lead investigator revealed how she had managed to ‘live the high life’ for nearly three decades, while quietly pulling the strings behind one of Spain’s biggest drug smuggling operations. Describing her as ‘a real black widow’ - who has already seen two previous husbands put behind bars for smuggling - the undercover officer added it was ‘remarkable’ she had somehow flown under the radar.

The policeman from Greco, part of the National Police’s Udyco organised crime and drug unit, revealed how his colleagues were ‘amazed’ when they started investigating her opulent life.

“From the street her house didn’t look anything special, but when we entered it was like a city, with interlinking paths and numerous outbuildings where all her family lived,” he told the Olive Press

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es

“I’ve seen many homes of criminals, but this was something else. Some

M3,000-metres squared in size and with a garden like the jungle with a tennis court and two pools.”

He continued: “She was supporting around 10 people, including her mum and four children and she had a daily fitness trainer and also went to crossfit classes.

“If she needed a plane ticket, someone got it. A hotel, it was always five stars, a restaurant, always the best. A boat, her friends had them. The cars, always changing, but nothing too flash.

Think BMW or Audi.”

He continued that the €3m villa in central Marbella was ‘like a fortress’ with numerous CCTV cameras, high walls and incredible security.

“She actually slept in her own panic room bedroom, which was only reached via a false door from a library.”

He added it could only be accessed by pushing a button that, like a Hollywood movie, opened to a staircase up to Maria Teresa’s suite.

The suite itself featured an elevated marble jacuzzi, supported by marble columns, while a giant mirror was placed on the ceiling above the bed.

Inside a giant walk-in wardrobe amid racks of Prada shoes, Dsquared2 jackets and Gucci bags was a packet of cocaine that gave everything away.

OST of us have never heard of Spaniard Julio Camba, but this charming author wrote wittily and amusingly about the British, and mostly got it spot on.

Camba lived and worked in many parts of the world 100 years ago, but perhaps the climax of his career was the time he spent in Britain.

While there between 1910 and 1912 as a correspondent for El Mundo, he took a wry look at the British and had an uncanny knack at picking out the many varied differences they had with his own race.

Take this: ‘If you want to meet a Spaniard at 11am, tell him to be there at 10am. And anyway, he won’t show up at all. Make an appointment with an Englishman and arrive 15 minutes late,

IT would undoubtedly be the crowning engineering feat of the 21st century so far, eclipsing the likes of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge or the Three Gorges Dam (both in China).

The unlikely bearers of this crown, should they ever succeed in realising their fantastically ambitious dream of digging a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar, would be Spain and Morocco.

The plan to connect the Iberian peninsula with the African landmass under the waterway – 17km wide at its narrowest point – has been around since as far back as 1930.

But for most of this period it has been considered little more than a literal pipe dream, given the immense engineering complexities involved in drilling a tunnel between two separate continents.

All comparable engineering feats pale into comparison: far deeper than the Channel Tunnel, far longer than Istanbul’s Marmaray Tunnel – the only other that connects two continents – and in far more hazardous than Japan’s Seikan Tunnel.

Adorned with, appropriately, a Rolls Royce logo - the kilo of cocaine had clearly been used to show off the quality her family in Colombia could supply.

“A corner was missing that had clearly been syphoned off for potential clients and friends to try,” explained the Greco operative. “It was a big mistake for her.”

While she claimed to work as a ‘commercial mediator’ and regularly travelled between Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Colombia, police began to probe her after a tip off two years ago.

Called Operation Dryad (after the nymphs in Greek mythology, who lived supernaturally long lives and were tied to their homes) the probe found her to be the ‘brains’ behind a big Polish/Danish gang, which smuggled drugs around Europe.

But the Spain to Morocco tunnel took another step closer with the recent awarding of a €300,000 feasibility contract to German drillers Herrenknecht through their Spanish subsidiary in Madrid, following on from a pre-

he’ll be as angry as if you came the following day!’

And this: ‘Britain is a waterproof country. It has to be!’

And with regard to alcohol: ‘When they get a little tipsy, British people almost seem human. They start using gestures and even facial expressions. Some of them even laugh!’

English ideas of romance were not spared his sarcastic wit. ‘You know what an Englishman does to show his woman that he’s aroused? He buys her a box of chocolates.

In Britain, a night of passion means eating the whole box.’

These and many other of his observances of the British race have now finally been published in a new book, Viviendo a la inglesa (Living the English Way).

And how topical they are, after our recent

By Michael Coy

wrenching from Europe care of Boris and co with Brexit.

‘For English people,’ he wrote. ‘living next to Europe is as irritating as having a nextdoor-neighbour who is always practising the piano.’ Some things clearly never change!

One of his funniest remarks was made on his arrival at Victoria Station in London in December 1910. ‘The worker grabbed my suitcase and shouted, so I started to shout too,’ he wrote. ‘Given I’m Spanish, I shouted much more than he did and finally, he shut up.’

In Camba’s new book, you certainly won’t find much dwelling on world events, who was in power, what policies were being in-

BLACK WIDOW: Maria (top) dealt ‘Rolls Royce’ cocaine

DEEP: The tunnel will have to go nearly 400m under the Strait

PIPE DREAM

Spain and its North African neighbour are contemplating taking on one of the challenges of the century – but what exactly is involved in digging a tunnel to Morocco?

By

vious technical study carried out in 2021.

Famous for using the world’s largest boring machines to dig Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, the longest and deepest in the world, Herrenknecht has been tasked with assessing the likelihood of drilling a tunnel from Tarifa to Tangier.

Extreme

“Current deliberations assume a distance of over 30 kilometres and a depth of several hundred metres below sea level,” a Herrenknecht spokesperson told the Olive Press this week.

“This construction project poses extreme challenges in terms of technology and logistics – can these challenges be overcome and what solutions would be necessary?

troduced, etc. Similarly, you’ll look in vain for self-pity or any hint of bragging. He simply did not care about political parties or celebrities. He just liked observing people.

And he got us Brits spot on, when he wrote: ‘All Englishmen are policemen, deep down. Deep down, all Spaniards are anarchists.’

Let’s face it, all of you must have heard a British person in a bar in Spain telling a smoker to go outside (yes smoking laws are often broken in small pueblos).

I’m equally sure that you’ve seen a Spaniard park his car next to a ‘no parking’ sign, or a disabled bay.

Camba was 13 years old when he arrived in Argentina at the end of the 19th century.

For five years he made a precarious living writing pamphlets, until in 1902 he was thrown out of the country.

Proof

TUNNEL VISION: The plans envision three tubes 8 metres in diameter running under

“This is what we are setting out to find out. Herrenknecht was unable to comment further due to ‘confidentiality’ clauses in their contract.

However, the list of challenges to overcome is daunting.

Almost a kilometre deep at its lowest point, the Strait is home to a soft, unstable seabed and strong currents that transfer water between the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

Even avoiding the worst depths, the tunnel will have to go under the Umbral de Camarinal, a giant underwater ridge in the Strait of Gibraltar around 280 metres below the surface.

At such depths, the pressure is enormous, requiring a tunnel not just deep but in-

Back in Spain, with typical independence of spirit, he launched his own newspaper (he was 21 years old) and what title could he possibly give it, but The Rebel?

After writing some sarcastic mickey-takes of Spain’s leading politicians, he was hired by a now defunct national newspaper to be its correspondent in Turkey, of all places.

That’s where he ended up getting picked up by El Mundo – a collaboration that would make him famous.

During the First World War and the years leading up to Hitler, he held posts in London, New York, Rome and Berlin. His articles were so highly-regarded that many were compiled as books, and sold well.

Camba died in Madrid on February 28, 1962. It would have amused him to know that he left this life on Andalucia Day, and no doubt he would have had something acerbic to say about it.

credibly strong to prevent a catastrophic collapse.

Meanwhile, the tunnel may collapse anyway due to the seabed, which is made of soft clay, loose sediments, and fractured rock – unlike the stable chalk of the Channel Tunnel. Boring through loose materials is far more difficult because the tunnel lining has to reinforce the entire structure as it is dug.

rock in which the tunnel would sit.

And all of this coupled with some of the fastest and strongest currents in the world.

Current plans imagine two single-track train tunnels with a diameter of 7.9 me tres separated by a six-metre-wide cen tral service tunnel running interconnect ed by cross-passages every 340 metres.

The total length would be 42 kilometres, with roughly 27.7 running under the wa ter.

Early projections estimate the project will cost between €5 billion and €10 billion, with some less optimistic forecasts be lieving it could approach €25 billion and not be ready until 2040, dashing hopes of opening the tunnel in time for the 2030 World Cup, jointly hosted by both coun tries.

Meanwhile, the majority of the costs will likely be put up by the respective govern ments of Spain and Morocco, raising the issue of whether the political will is really there for such an exorbitant and challeng ing endeavour.

However, experts believe the train line could carry 13 million passengers each year and stimulate economic growth in both countries.

TWe have always vowed not to waste paper and guaranteed fewer than 1%

This year however, we are going one step further insisting that less than 0.5% of our papers will go to waste. In a promise to our readers - and more importantly advertisers - we are ensuring that 99.5% of copies are accounted for.

In a new ‘Proof of delivery’ transparent system we are guaranteeing that Spain’s most popular English newspaper gets into all the right hands.

This is a stark contrast to our rivals, whose newspapers get left in huge piles each week and often end up getting blown around the streets.

Yes, wherever you live, you will have seen hundreds of copies left, literally sitting on the shelf. Unclaimed and unloved.

Indeed, rival distributors tell us they now call delivery day ‘pickup day’ as there are so many papers going unread that have to be returned.

We have never had that problem and are always the first free newspaper to get picked up wherever we distribute.

To guarantee this continues, we have teamed up with the UK’s largest free newspaper delivery company, Self Select Media. A company that distributes millions of newspapers each week.

In a high-tech and vital new way of delivering our newspapers, we get proof of delivery of every drop with photos and exact numbers distributed… and even better,

But before any of that can be considered, we must await the result of the feasibility report, due out in June this year.

Walter Finch

BAD RANKING

SPAIN ranks eighth in the list of countries impacted by climate change. According to the Climate Risk Report 2025, the Mediterranean country made the cut due to its large number of mortal victims.

Some 27,000 people have died and over €24 billion lost to extreme weather events caused by climate change in the last 30 years.

In Spain, this is mainly characterised by heat waves, drought and forest fires. Leading the list are Dominica, China and Honduras.

NEW LIFE

SPANISH scientists have discovered a new species of mud dragon (kinorhynch) a vital part of the marine ecosystem.

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid researchers identified the animal 6,000 metres deep in the Orkney Trench, part of the Antarctic Ocean.

Mud dragons are tiny animals measuring between 100 micrometers and one

millimetre, often occupying sediments.

They are a kind of meiobenthos, a key part of the marine food chain and breakdown of organic material.

“This discovery significantly expands our knowledge of the biodiversity of these animals, adding to a very limited group of species known at these depths,” said Alberto Gonzalez Casarrubios, researcher at the UCM Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution.

HEALTH

LIFE SAVING FIRSTS Virus warning

A TOP Spanish virologist says the Zika and West Nile viruses could become endemic in Europe unless preventative measures are taken now.

Nerea Vergara from Zaragoza has been leading a Zika research group at Cambridge University since 2018.

Dangerous viruses are on the rise in Spain due to climate change and Vergara says now is the time for action before things worsen.

“The entire Mediterranean basin is highly exposed to virus-transmitting mosquitoes and controlling them is essential,” she said.

Vergara wants mapping of mosquito hot-spots to identify tiger mosquitoes which spread potentially fatal diseases.

“Health workers must also be trained so that they can recognise the symptoms of Zika and West Nile,” Vergara added.

FLYING AWAY

Fewest number of aquatic birds in Doñana since records began

THE numbers of aquatic birds hit an all time low in Doñana National Park last year, a new report has revealed.

The Doñana Biodiversity

By

of forest planning and subterranean water use,” said -

As the marshland dried, birds were forced to the nearby Veta La Palma

However, just 30% of birds took refuge there and though spring rain gave some respite,peratures quickly dried up Doñana

to how we were three years ago. Aquatic systems are resilient and things will improve with the modification

The Santa Olalla lake at the heart the reserve dried up for the third year running,firm that permanent lakes have now disappeared from Doñana.

“I have faith that if we

TWO babies born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have become the first in Spain to get a drug that blocks the disease from developing. The youngsters have been treated at Valencia’s La Fe Hospital - home to one of the country’s top child

manage to maintain this large and complex park, the waterbirds will not abandon it, because they have the ability to identify the best nesting sites,” said Revilla. Conservations are also concerned about flora and fauna struggling to survive in the dry conditions. The European pond turtle was not detected in 2024 and only two Spanish pond turtles were spotted. Wild boar population also reached an all-time low last year. Rabbits have also been in decline since 2013, a blow to the park’s predators - including the rare Iberian Lynx.

medicine units. They are on a course of Risdiplam, that blocks an error in their genetic code present since birth, which stopped them producing a protein vital for the survival of their motor neurons.

GLOBAL warming could cause more than 2.3 million extra deaths in Europe by the end of this century. A study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has warned heat related deaths could increase by over 50% if urgent action is not taken to control carbon emissions. Published in Nature Medicine journal, scientists stated some 70% of heat related deaths are avoidable.

LOOKING FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES?

Scan to visit our website

The drug is given orally once a day at homes.

Without Risdiplam, SMA could have developed, leading to serious disabilities or even death with treatment essential within their first six months.

BAD MEDICINE

Dozens of Botox clinics across Spain accused of using illegal products

A STRING of Botox clinics across Spain have been implicated in the use of illegal aesthetic medicine products, following a major investigation.

Arrest

The ‘Botul/Kalopsia’ operation has led to the arrest of four people involved in the import, storage, and distribution of unregulated medicines from South Korea,

Cancer chatbots

TWO medical students from Madrid are developing AI-powered chatbots to help diagnose cancer. Maria Garcia and Blanca Urbelz Lopez-Puertas, students at the Complutense University of Madrid, conceived the project for their final-degree thesis, earning them a scholarship from the CRIS Against

By Tom Ewart Smith

which were used in clinics across the country. These products failed to meet European health standards, and some patients have suffered serious side effects as a result.

In addition to the arrests, 41 other people are under investigation for crimes including public health violations, fraud, professional malpractice, and involvement in organised crime.

Cancer Foundation.

The students are developing two chatbots designed to minimise errors and inaccuracies when providing information on esophageal and colon cancer. The AI will adapt its language and level of detail depending on the audience - patients or medical researchers. To ensure accuracy, the chatbots’ responses will be reviewed by experts, including oncologists.

Authorities launched their investigation in 2023 after detecting illegal clinics offering aesthetic treatments without proper medical oversight. The network was found to include 24 clinics in Alicante, Malaga, Murcia, Madrid, Cadiz, Cordoba, and Sevilla.

The gang smuggled substances such as botulinum toxin (botox), hyaluronidase, and lidocaine into Spain via the port and airport of Sevilla before distributing them nationally.

Vials

In a series of raids, law enforcement seized 700 vials of botulinum toxin (botox), plus 475 vials of other medicines including local anaesthetic. The investigation continues.

Flu on the rise

ALICANTE is experiencing a sharp rise in flu cases, with infections rising by 70%. Alongside flu cases, hospitals are also seeing an increase in COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.

Public health experts attribute this surge to increased transmission in schools, workplaces, and public transport.

Children under four years old are particularly affected, as nearly 5% of this age group have experienced respiratory infections. Hospitals across the province are struggling to cope, especially in the Elda, Orihuela, Torrevieja, and parts of Elche health departments, which report infection rates above the national average. In Alicante, the incidence of respiratory viruses at the end of January was 1,184 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the lower national average of 894.

Yzabelle Bostyn

Heat warning

SEIZED: Illegal aesthetic medicine including Botox was found

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

FORTRESS FOUND

EXCAVATIONS in western Spain have turned up a 4,900-year-old fortress on a hill in Almendralejo, Extremadura.

The pentagon-shaped fortress spans 13,000 m2 and was surrounded by three concentric walls, 25 bastions, and three ditches. Arrowheads, axes, grinding stones, plates, bowls, and loom parts were found inside the structure.

“The complex system of walls and ditches, built from both stone and earth, demonstrates careful planning that required the coordination of a large group of people,” said archaeologist Cesar Perez. It had a 70 centimetre wide single entrance - designed to make it virtually impregnable.

The fortress was ultimately destroyed by enemies and then abandoned 400 years after its construction.

Picture perfect

Culture vultures should head for Madrid to get their fill of Spanish heritage and particularly art

IF you want to find culture in Spain head for Madrid.

The city has topped the charts for the most cultural city and region, according to the Cultural Observatory 2024.

The annual research reveals where Spain’s culture vultures are hiding.

In Madrid visitors can immerse themselves in world-class art at the Museo del Prado, home to masterpieces by Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco.

The city also boasts the Reina Sofia, where Picasso’s iconic Guernica resides. For a taste of local culture, one can explore the vibrant street

By Yzabelle Bostyn

art in the Lavapies neighborhood or catch a flamenco show at the historic Corral de la Moreria.

In second place is Barcelona, followed by Bilbao, Malaga and Valencia.

Barcelona offers architectural marvels like Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. The city’s Gothic Quarter is a labyrinth of history, while the MACBA showcases cutting-edge contemporary art. Meanwhile the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao has striking

architecture as a cultural attraction in itself, complemented by exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

Malaga has the Picasso Muse-

PAINTING STAYS

THE joint owners of a painting attributed to Velazquez have been told by the Supreme Court that they can't sell it at an international auction house.

The work - Portrait of a Cleric - was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by Madrid in 2020.

The Court backed a lower bench ruling that it was a cultural asset, and therefore cannot be taken out of the country.

Five members of the Royo-Villanova family have been battling for nine years to get permission for the painting to be sold abroad - potentially for millions of euros.

That's despite it not being 100% certain that it is a genuine Velazquez.

um and the artist’s childhood home, also a museum. The city’s Carmen Thyssen Museum houses an impressive collection of 19th-century Spanish paintings.

Valencia combines tradition with futurism at the City of Arts and Sciences complex, while also preserving its historic central market, a feast for all senses.

Sixth spot was snapped up by Sevilla, with San Sebastian, Santander, Valladolid and Zaragoza rounding off the top 10.

In terms of regions, Madrid also took top spot, followed by Catalunya, the Basque Country and Andalucia, which overtook the Valencian Community to take fourth place.

Language barrier

KING Felipe has criticised US President Donald Trump's administration for scrubbing out Spanish from the White House’s official communications, website and social networks. Speaking in Madrid at the AGM of the Cervantes Institute, the monarch described the move as ‘striking’. The Institute is a worldwide non-profit organisation created by the government in 1991 dedicated to Spanish culture and language. The king said he hoped the decision is temporary because Spanish will become the second most spoken language and will continue to consolidate as a language of influence in the US. He emphasised that the teaching of Spanish is 'inseparable' from the dissemination of culture, celebrating the fact that last year, the Institute carried out more than 7,800 activities around the world.

THE PRADO: The Madrid museum is a top attraction

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

Scan to visit our website

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE

SPAIN’s second Banksy museum has caused controversy after opening in Madrid.

The museum claims to have Europe’s ‘largest ever’ collection of life size Banksy ‘creations’ but has drawn criticisms from art lovers. The problem? None of the pieces are actually by the artist.

In fact, the 170 works on display are recreations of Banksy’s most famous pieces by uncredited Spanish painters.

While it has received rave reviews from visitors since it opened in January, the museum has also drawn criticism from fans, who believe the controversial artist’s work is being ‘copied for profit’.

“It goes against Banksy’s own message against the marketisation

New museum accused of ripping off works by elusive artist for ‘profit’

By Yzabelle Bostyn

are reportedly donated to refugee charities.

“The message is more important than the technique and all the messages are here,” he said.

“A few months after I opened the first museum, Banksy came out and said he encourages people to make copies. I’m a conservationist.”

Museum coordinator Agustina Guzman, shared this view, saying:

“We respect the original size and technique used so the works are as similar as they can be to the original. We want visitors to feel like they are standing in front of the real work of

This is not the first time

British artist

Banksy has caused a stir in Spain.

An exhibition bearing his name came to Madrid in 2018 after Belgian authorities confiscated almost 60 pieces over licensing issues. It returned in 2021 with ‘original pieces, sculptures, installations and photographs’ according to event promoter IQ Art Management.

Although most of his pieces appear in the UK, Banksy has been linked to Spain on multiple occasions.

Last year, photos surfaced of a man believed to be the artist painting a circus truck in the Alpujarra mountains in Granada.

The 17-tonne lorry was painted in 2000 while Banksy was still radar’.

It later became known as The Turbozone Truck and went up for auction at £1.5million after being authenticated by his studio. Also in Andalucia, the artist was reportedly invited to paint a strip club on the set of failed BBC soap El Dorado near Coin.

According to an interview with Banksy in Level Magazine, he refused after being told to buy his own paint and spent the week ‘going to work’ along the Costa del Sol with a stripper. Then in 2018, a regeneration project in the Galician town of Ferrol de Coruña caused a stir after inviting the British artist to paint there.

A message spray painted onto a

wall read ‘reserved for Banksy’ and five months later an image of two Guar- dia Civil officers kissing appeared. Believed to be a nod to Banksy’s famous ‘Kissing Coppers’ in which two policemen are seen locking lips, the artist later confirmed the piece was not by him.

The museum has branches in Madrid’s Arganzuela neighbourhood and Barce lona’s Calle Trafalgar. It opens from 10am-8pm, with tickets from €14 per person.

POLITICAL: Banksy recent work (above) has critised the conflict in Gaza

SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET: The museum claims isn’t just a ‘cash grab’

IN SITU: The museum recreates how the graffiti was found

LOOKING FOR THE LATEST MONEY RELATED STORIES?

Scan to visit our website

Libyan dream

SPAIN has dispatched its first business delegation to Libya in over a decade in a signal that the war-torn country could be returning to normality.

In a series of bilateral meetings, Spanish delegates showed an interest in Libya’s agricultural investment opportunities, especially in the fields of equipment and modern farming technologies.

Technology

The Libyan Business Council organised field visits to nurseries and model farms to showcase the possibilities and agricultural potential.

The council signalled its eagerness to receive Spanish technology and introduce advanced production techniques to its farmland.

SIESTA TIME!

Plans approved to ‘modernise Spain’ by reducing working week across the board to 37.5 hours

SPAIN has approved a plan to reduce the standard working week to 37.5 hours for private sector workers – making it one of the shortest in Europe.

Some 12 million workers across key sectors including retail, hospitality, and agriculture, will be affected, but the plan faces stiff opposition from business.

While public sector employees and many large compa-

NOT FINE!

By Walter Finch

nies already enjoy a 37.5-hour schedule, this extension will mark the first time workers across the spectrum stick to it.

Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz (above) proclaimed the plan will ‘modernise Spain’ and enhance productivity in an economy that posted a 3.2%

growth rate last year that outpaced its European counterparts.

“This isn't just about working less – it's about being more efficient and giving hope to workers across Spain,” Diaz declared following the cabinet meeting where the measure was approved.

The proposal, emerging from the coalition agreement between the Socialists and the

THE European Commission will investigate fines of €179 million imposed on five budget airlines, including Ryanair, for abusive practices.

The penalties were announced last November by Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs over hand-luggage charges and reserving adjacent seats for family members. Ryanair was hit with the largest fine of over €107 million.

The EU probe was launched in response to a complaint sent to Brussels by airline associations A4E, IATA and ERA.

A European Commission spokesperson said: “Although the Commission generally supports consumer protection measures that comply with the rules of the EU internal market, these must respect the freedom and transparency of prices.”

far-left Sumar party, aims to implement the reduced hours without any salary reductions by the close of 2025. However, the path to implementation faces significant hurdles.

While Spain’s two main unions have thrown their support be-

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

A RESTAURANT in Ciudad Real has Spain’s best tapas, according to the National Tapas and Pinchos Championship.

TOP TAPAS

Portuguese treats

AN iconic Portuguese bakery has made its Spanish debut. Manteigaria, famous for its pastel de natas, has opened on Madrid’s Carrera de San Jeronimo, adding to its shops in Lisbon, Oporto, Braga, Paris and Macao. Baked fresh in view of customers, Manteigaria promises an authentic Portuguese experience using the finest ingredients.

Mirador de La Mancha was given the accolade for its partridge, corn and escabeche tapas. Chefs Ivan Anaya and Javier Donaire competed alongside 31 Spanish restaurants for the prize at the Madrid Fusion food convention. It was followed by Orixe do Campo in Lugo

hind the measure, business leaders have withdrawn from negotiations after 11 months of discussions, expressing concerns about the potential impact on competitiveness.

The government now faces the challenging task of securing parliamentary approval, with key pro-business Catalan and Basque separatist parties showing reluctance to support the measure.

Green project starts

IBERDROLA and BP have started building Spain's biggest green hydrogen plant in Castellon.

Costing over €70 million, the 25 megawatt site will produce 2,800 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. It will replace some of the grey hydrogen used by the local BP refinery.

Ceramics

The facility will become operational in the second half of 2026 and reduce CO2 emissions by 23,000 tonnes per annum. Future plans could see the plant make green hydrogen for other Valencia region industries such as the ceramics and chemical sectors, as well being used to fuel heavy goods vehicles.

Bank battle continues

SABADELL Bank has offered bigger payouts to shareholders to fend off a hostile takeover by BBVA.

It has raised its payout pot to €3.3 billion as it tries to convince them to not sell to their rival.

Meanwhile, Sabadell CEO, Cesar Gonzalez-Bruno, said that BBVA had not done enough to appease concerns that it would have too much dominance on the Spanish banking sector. BBVA has promised not to close branches where there is no alternative nearby within a 300-metre radius.

It also says it will maintain commercial terms for individuals and SMEs in areas where fewer than four banks operate. Spain's government cannot stop Sabadell shareholders selling it does have the power to stop a full merger.

with its Petisco Larpeiro tapas, a scallop tartare with avocado cream, Porco Celta ham foam and semi-dried tomato on a New York roll.

Finally, third place went to Martina, Albacete for their Manda Webos dish, where a metal chicken overlooks an ‘egg’ filled with jamon and egg whites, followed by emulsified yoke and migas

Moneybags Marbella

MARBELLA has become Spain’s most expensive tourist destination for hotel stays, according to the latest figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

The data reveals that hotels in the Costa del Sol hotspot commanded an eye-watering average of €214 per night.

THE white village of Casares, often dubbed ‘the cradle of Andalucia’, has been voted the most beautiful in Southern Spain.

It collected 4,922 votes in a survey off 99 towns in the region by travel portal Noradoa It was followed by Olvera in Cadiz, with 3,711 votes and Vejer de la Frontera, with 875 votes. Casares has long been on Spain’s official ‘most beautiful towns’ list – aka Pueblos Mas Bonitos. And this year, National Geographic magazine included Casares in its own 100 ‘most beautiful towns in Spain’ ranking.

By Walter Finch

The figure significantly outpaces other major tourist destinations, with Barcelona trailing at €173 and Madrid at €153 per night. Malaga city ranked notably lower at €139.

Top white town

Marbella Mayor Angeles Munoz has lauded the town’s growth and profitability in the hotel sector

“These figures prove we’re successfully tackling seasonality while strengthening our position in new markets, particularly the United States.”

The luxury resort town broke its own record in eight out of 12 months last year, while also achieving historic highs in revenue per available room, averaging €148 throughout the year, with August peaks reaching €289.

The statistics paint a picture of a booming tourism sector, with hotel occupancy between April and October hovering near 80% – showing the peak season is even growing. The city welcomed 719,151

Costa del Sol city more expensive than Barcelona or Madrid for hotel stays

tourists who accounted for 2,584,174 overnight stays.

Spanish tourists led the pack with 201,923 visitors, followed by British holidaymakers at 120,685. Germany (33,621), France (33,092), the Netherlands (29,130), Ireland (28,833) and the United States (26,588) rounded out the top markets.

Tourism Director Laura de Arce highlighted the varying length of stays among different nationalities.

“While Spanish visitors typically stay for 2.65 days, making shorter but frequent visits throughout the year, international tourists average 3.82 days, with British, German, and Irish visitors typically enjoying the longest stays,” she said.

SO good

THE SO/Sotogrande SPA & Golf Resort in Cadiz has earned a nomination for the 2025 National Geographic Travel in the category of Best Hotel in a Natural Setting. This nomination highlights the resort’s commitment to sustainable tourism, blending luxury with nature.

Known for offering a variety of activities such as hiking, sailing, and polo, the five-star resort stands out for its innovative approach to tourism. National Geographic describes it as ‘a contemporary country house where you can enjoy life the Spanish way’, due to the Andalucian elements infused into the building and garden architecture. Voting for the awards is open until February 21, and winners will be announced on April 22.

MADRID's first ‘robot cafe’ has opened prompting outrage from locals.

Cofe+ Robot Cafe serves over 50 different drinks but has zero employees. Found in the ‘Ole Ole’ souvenir shop, visitors can marvel at the bionic baristas preparing their drink in just 50 seconds. From hazelnut matcha to ordinary coffee, prices range from €2 to €4. However, the innovation has drawn criticisms on social media, with some calling the machine ‘expensive’.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

IT just seems to keep on growing.

The statistics for this tiny enclave, a short drive from the snazzy nightlife of Puerto Banus and Marbella, are quite remarkable.

Long the highest-earning place in Andalucia (with an average earnings of €38,000), its population (of which 68% is foreign) by last year had soared from 7,300 residents to a healthy 9,244 since 2022. It could hit the magic number of 10,000 this Spring, predict experts.

It’s a massive amount of growth and is mostly down to digital nomads and teleworkers looking to live some where warm surrounded by nature and open spaces.

The free tennis, football and golf les sons for kids, plus language, yoga and pilates for adults does not do any harm either.

Benahavis really does offer some thing for everyone, particularly as its nearby hills have recently been of ficially designated the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.

Spain’s sixteenth national park, the soaring peaks often covered with snow in winter (hence the name), are some of the most amazing for hiking and bird-watching, with eagles and vultures soaring above with increasing frequency.

Gorge

But there are many other walks right from the village, in

ago.

First revealed by the Olive Press, Johnson had turned up to enjoy what Benahavis offers best: a week of hiking followed by a dabble with a paintbrush out in the open air.

Best reached from the Benahavis urbanisation of La Quinta, a three-hour circular walk takes you up to the fa-

THE BENAHAVIS EFFECT

IT’s a great place to retire, explains local expat Barry Segal, a former radio DJ. “I call it the Benahavis effect and once you’ve lived here for a year you won’t want to leave.

“The people are so friend-

ly, the climate is perfect and the place is so nice and quiet,” he continues. “Plus it is great all the free Spanish and exercise classes and even trips around Andalucia, one we recently took to Antequera.”

By coincidence his visit came at the same time as Netflix descended on the village to film a couple of scenes

The cast and crew were regularly seen around the village, both filming various scenes, as well as enjoying their time off.

“It is the best possible promotion we could shall, who’s artist father David moved to Benahavis in the 1970s. Both visits were thanks to the village’s connection to the Goldsmith family, who are heavily focussed on protecting the local environ

IDYLLIC: The town is set in the wooded hills above Marbella and bustling Costa del Sol

mous castano santo - holy chestnut tree - that at 1000 years old is said to be the oldest in Malaga province.

from the hit series The Crown. Renting out a villa in the exclusive Benahavis enclave of Zagaleta they portrayed the mid-1990s holiday that Lady Diana took with her friend Jemima Goldsmith at her nearby family estate, Tramores.

SYMPATHETIC: The architecture of Benahavis, old and new, betrays its ancient roots

WILDLIFE: Is abundant for hikers to spot

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

ment, in particular planting trees. Lady Annabel Goldsmith wrote about the moment when she and her famous and talkative husband, Sir James, fell in love with the enclave. She said: “That day, as we stood on the terrace, looking at the mountains, at the amazing view, with no other sign of human habitation, and at nature at its simplest and most dramatic, Jimmy fell silent.”

In total, just 2,500 more homes will be allowed inside its borders, while there are plans agreed with the Junta - to have its own 1,500-pupil school - more on that soon.

Visitors will be more impressed by the village itself, which is so nicely secluded from the buzzing Costa del Sol.

Lungfulls of pure mountain air are on the house as you huff and puff up the cobbled streets to the top of this beautifully-kept pueblo hung with painted flower pots, and ornamented with stylish street lanterns, fountains and viewpoints, 10 to the pound.

Keep an eye out for a glimpse of President Putin’s multi-towered castle at the top of one nearby hill (not that he is likely to be using it again anytime soon), while I was impressed with the electric car charger points, not to mention innovative bike repair stations around town.

A village hike is a free history tour taking you back to Moorish times, when this former Arabic stronghold was crowned by the 11th Century Montemayor castle, overlooking vast swathes of the Costa del Sol.

The village takes its name from Havis, a Moorish prince who ruled from the castle, before his family were finally ousted, the village reconquered by the Catholic monarchs in the late 15th century. It was then that war broke out between Benahavis

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

Scan

depen dence.

Near the village are a few things of note.

Water babies, will love the Rio Guadalmina gorge, which is one of the coolest natural attractions on the Costa del Sol.

Take a river ramble along its banks, go wild swimming in one of the deep rock pools or try canyoning along the Canon de Las Angosturas. Not for the faint-hearted, the 50-metre descent starts at Charca de las Mozas - a popular picnic spot south of the water tower roundabout that’s become the unofficial swimming baths. Dive in - there’s no charge!

Parts of the river were channelled by the Arabs in order to supply nearby farms and orchards. These routes have since been adapted for hiking with the addition of a suspension bridge over the Angosturas canyon,

opening up the Sendero Acequia del Guadalmina (see pic below), an easy family walking route of around four kilometres beside a watercourse dug for the farmers.

Finally, there is the Benahavis for foodies. With over a dozen restaurants and its own cookery school, it is no surprise it has been called the ‘gourmet capital’ of the Costa del Sol. There is certainly healthy competition between the many restaurants in the heart of the village and each of them vie for your custom with enticing terraces facing out to the nearby hills.

While they may not be free for local residents, they are anything but expensive and far better value than their nearby rivals in Marbella or Estepona.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

FORGET THE HOTSPOT S

SPAIN is famously a great destination for tourists.

While sun-worshippers head for the costas, those seeking culture tend to head for the big, well-known, cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Malaga, Granada and Sevilla.

However, if you’ve already explored the well-known hotspots, you might be curious about what other gems the country has to offer.

And as you sit curled up at home

By Yzabelle Bostyn

tinations you can visit away from the tourist hordes this spring.

From lush countryside to serene beaches and vibrant urban hubs, Spain has plenty to discover beyond the usual tourist trail starting with these five lesser known destinations.

tura theme park and mass tourism, Reus itself offers a quieter, more picturesque escape.

Known for its art nouveau architecture, the city is a delightful spot to explore. Antoni Gaudi was born here, and although none of his works are found in the city, his modernist influence is unmistakable. Reus is also celebrated for its vermouth, a fortified wine that locals love.

Located just a 15-minute drive from Tarragona, home to a Roman amphitheatre and excellent food, Reus makes a great base for exploration. The nearby Priorat region, with its atmospheric villages and scenic vineyards,

is perfect for hiking and wine tours.

To make the most of the experience, consider stay -

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Macau, 8 Cool off, 9 Acerbic, 10 Retro, 11 Slavic, 13 Osama, 15 Mixed, 18 Elijah, 23 Jaffa, 24 One inch, 25 Curlers, 26 A S E A N.

Down: 1 Impasse, 2 Schema, 3 Mumbai, 4 Courts, 5 Bottom, 6 If not, 8 Coco, 12 Cod, 13 Ode, 14 The Hand, 16 Infirm, 17 Enamel, 19 Leeway, 20 Junket, 21 Eject, 22 Lois.

ing at the H10 Imperial Tarraco in Tarragona, which offers stunning Mediterranean

views and an outdoor pool, starting at €100 for a double room.

JAEN, ANDALUCIA

Often overlooked by tourists, Jaen is quickly becoming a foodie hotspot, boasting four Michelin-star restaurants within a 400-metre radius.

The city is rich in history, with Renais-

sance architecture, olive oil tours, and hiking trails, including one to the Santa Catalina Castle, offering sweeping views of the region.

Jaen Cathedral is home to the Holy Veil, a relic believed to have been used by Saint Veronica to wipe Christ’s face on the way to his crucifixion.

Jaen also has an astonishingly well preserved Arab bath complex that covers 450 square metres, making it the biggest such complex that you can visit in Spain.

Built above it is the 16th century Villardompardo Palace, which is now a fascinating museum that examines the way of life of Jaen citizens in days gone by. Best of all, both are free to enter. For

BIRTHPLACE OF A MASTER: Gaudi was born in Reus

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?

Scan to visit our website

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

a luxurious stay, the Jaen Parador offers panoramic views of the city, starting at €120, while you can often get a double room at super central Hotel Condestable Iranzo from just €75. Jaen’s extreme temperatures make it best to visit in spring or autumn when the weather is pleasant.

OVIEDO, ASTURIAS

Located in northern Spain, Oviedo is known for its spectacular unspoiled beach -

es, scenic hiking trails, and Romanesque churches. It was also the Spanish Gastronomic Capital of 2024, famed for its cider and cheese, making it a must-visit for food lovers.

The area’s lush green countryside is nourished by frequent rain, so visiting in the summer offers mild temperatures without the intense heat of southern Spain.

The city is also home to brown bears in its mountains, and recent highspeed rail connections make it easy to access from Madrid. Accommodation is affordable, with stylish hotels like the Soho Boutique Hotel offering rooms starting at just €55. For a memorable culinary experience, try the local cider and visit one of the many food festivals held throughout the year

LA GOMERA, CANARY ISLANDS

If you’re dreaming of a semi tropical getaway without the hefty price tag, La Gomera in the Canary Is lands is the per fect alternative. This hidden gem is filled with lush forests, dramatic gorges, and fruit planta tions, offer

ing opportunities for hiking, cycling, and stargazing. It’s an excellent spot for nature lovers and those looking for a relaxing break in a tranquil set -

The island has a relaxed vibe, with friendly locals and delicious food, making it an upand-coming des -

Visit between November and April for a bit of winter sun, and consider staying at the Valle de Gran Rey resort for a

laid-back experience or the luxurious Hotel Jardin Tecina for a more refined stay.

JEREZ, ANDALUCIA

While many associate flamenco with Sevilla, Jerez is arguably the best place in Spain to experience this passionate art form.

The city’s many sherry bars, or tabancos, often feature impromptu flamenco performances, providing an authentic experience for visitors. Jerez will also open the Flamenco Museum of Andalucia later this year, where you can learn about this iconic art form.

Jerez is famous for its sherry, and you can visit the local sherry factories to learn about the production process.

And of course, its world-famous ‘dancing’ white horses are a ‘must see’ while you are there.

For a stay in the heart of the action, the Hotel Bodega Tio Pepe offers modern rooms and a rooftop pool, with prices starting at €120, including breakfast.

Like much of Andalucia, Jerez is extremely hot in the summer, so it’s best to visit in the spring or autumn when the temperatures are more bearable.

VIEWS: The cobbled streets of Jaen are well worth a wander

FANTASY: The forests of La Gomera could be out of The Lord of the Rings

HISTORIC: Jaen has a rich cultural heritage including the stunning town hall

CHEAP AND TROPICAL: La Gomera is a great budget beach holiday

FANCY A TIPPLE: Jerez is famous for its Sherry

Holiday to remember

US comedian Chelsea Handler has admitted she gave an elderly couple LSD during a recent trip to Mallorca - telling the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast that they had 'the best night of their lives'.

Robbie date

BRITISH icon Robbie Williams will play Malaga port on April 9, where he will be named ‘godfather’ of German operator TUI Cruises’ latest vessel, the Mein Schiff Relax.

It’s a circus!

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary dressed a Spanish politician as a clown to protest against a €179 million fine put on five budget airlines for bag and seat charges.

Don’t get dumped on!

AN expat couple has sounded the alarm after falling prey to a ‘classic’ bird poo scam on the Costa del Sol. Gomer Evans, from Wales and his German wife Hilke were enjoying a Sunday stroll

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

in La Duquesa, near Manilva, when they were targeted. He is now warning others to ‘be aware’ following the upsetting incident. He told the Ol-

Brit couple issue warning over ‘classic’ bird poo swindle

ive Press: “We were walking along the path when a man rushed over to us and showed us our coats and my wife's hair were absolutely covered in bird poo!

“It was far too much for any bird. He was very helpful and took us to the side behind a fence and produced lots of paper tissues.

Coming home

STOLEN works of art - including one by Spanish virtuoso Joaquim Sorollahave been handed back to Spain by Italian police.

Sorolla’s Port of San Sebastian (left) and White horse, by Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa, had been stolen from

“He helped us wipe our coats and offered us water to help clean my wife’s hair.”

He added: “Two hours later I discovered my credit cards were missing! And he seemed so friendly!”

He ended up buying three payments of €48 on tobacco.

an exhibition in a Madrid hotel in 2021. Also recovered by Italian police was a sculpture by Javier Martin, which had been stolen in 2022 from an art gallery in Barcelona.

Spanish investigators enlisted the help of Italian authorities to track down the stolen art.

They were found and on Tuesday a ceremony at the Spanish embassy in Rome saw them handed over to the ambassador.

IN a baa-rmy twist of fate, a sacked shepherd in Extremadura has pulled the wool over his ex-boss’s eyes by nicking a staggering 264 sheep. The 41-year-old rogue farmhand decided to take matters into his own hands after getting the chop by fleecing his ex-boss.

The Guardia Civil has now collared the crafty culprit, but only 30 of the fluffy fugitives have been rounded up so far, leaving the authorities scratching their heads over the whereabouts of the rest of the flock.

The disgruntled former employee is also accused of helping himself to a whopping €31,700 worth of farm machinery.

ALICANTE City Council is facing a stinky sit uation as a mysteri ous culprit has been smearing excrement on a string of municipal buildings. The malodorous mayhem began at the City Hall entrance, which had just reopened after a three-month closure due to falling debris.

Unsuspecting council workers were greeted by a foul stench upon their return, only to discover that someone had left more than just a calling card, with poo smeared on the building’s facade, windows and deposited outside.

The brazen bandit has since expanded his territory, targeting other municipal buildings including the Department of Social Welfare.

ProPerla is a type of exterior coating designed to protect and improve the performance of the building.

• Super hydrophobic: Water rolls off the surface, preventing water damage.

• Breathable: Allows moisture to escape, preventing dampness and mold.

• Self-cleaning: Repels dirt, making maintenance easier.

• Insulation: Extra layer of insulation, enhancing energy efficiency.

• Protection: Against salt, moss, algae and lichens.

Pro-Perla coatings are designed to last.