Olive Press Spain - Issue 396 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

See page IV

JUNE 2022

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND

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TWICE IS NICE:

NOT ONE, BUT TWO SPECIAL PULLOUTS THIS ISSUE - PROPERTY AND ALL ABOUT THE ts are back! ALPUJARRA ri B F

journalist slammed After an El Pais IS HE RIGHT?: our own picks, see inside ugly, we take

Spain’s architecture

THE UGLY

even came close. – no other nationality profile of British our sales this yearlittle to no impact on our and buying “Brexit has had whom are still working full-time or three Spain bought plan to use two many of of properties in investment they at a time, so the 90/180 t levels buyers, weeks - the British love Number a long-term lifestyle rises to pre-Brexi for one to three and the pandemic times per year affect them,” he said. by UK citizens ORGET Brexit is stronger than ever. age represent the an inday rule doesn’t have nearing retirement affair with Spain property to Brits has surged to the nationals spend Whilst retirees or those those moving here, analysts lookof Sales of Spanish this time last year, according Costa del Sol. Danish and German and Costa younger people majority demographic on the Baleares in interest from nomad’ cohort. contrast, Swedish, credible 72% from association. their Eu- In with pricey enclaves noted a big increase the ‘digital spend less than of €1,890 above €2,700 locations. explained: also Spain as part of Spanish land registrars’ Brits tend to Estate Agents, for 43% of ing to move to average But bargain loving They splashed out an than the foreign Brava favoured Director of Tenerife accounted and Ward, lower high neighbours. Andy Spain, very ropean on property in nationals tending to buy in “British demand is still UK the per square metre of €1,940, with Blanca and some parts of buyer average as the Costa cheaper areas such

OLIVE PRESS ANDALUCÍA

The Mijas Costa FREE

HUNDREDS of readers have been joined by expat councillors to support the Olive Press U-turn campaign helping British residents swap their licences for Spanish ones. Meanwhile various Facebook groups and even a leading fintech guru have backed our campaign, which is gathering speed. It comes tragically however, after one female expat allegedly committed suicide when she found herself isolated in a rural part of Andalucia. The woman, who had recently lost her husband, told friends her life was no longer worth living. Among suggestions to put pressure on both the Spanish and British governments, one reader, Andrew Clark suggested a road protest. “Why don't we all protest by driving slowly around Malaga and other Spanish towns? It seemed to work well for the lorry drivers!” The UK ambassador meanwhile continued to insist ‘an agreement is close’.

U -T

U RN

FIRE SOURCE: The blaze was sparked at the La Resinera finca (above) owed by the Gaddafi family (below)

Four arrests as debate rages over what caused the Costa del Sol megafire that saw 3,000 evacuated

E n d s

voice in Spain

Burning issue

Tel: 952 147 834

c o n d i t i o n s .

expat

Vol. 16 Issue 396 www.theolivepress.es June 15th - June 28th 2022

A GIANT fire that has razed 3,500 hectares of woodland above the Costa del Sol could have been started by four men. However, it is unclear if it Making in-roads, page 6/7 was done deliberately or due to error. While a number of Olive Press sources insisted it appears to See pages 14 & 19 be the work of an arsonist, national news

t o

Your

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

21/6/19 13:30

By Jorge Hinojosa, Kimberley Mannion & George Mathias

agency EFE claimed last night it was caused by negligence. As we went to press, it emerged that three men were interviewed by the Guardia Civil yesterday afternoon. Another man was due to be grilled today over the fire that began last Wednesday at 3pm. What is also known is the fire began in a private estate owned by Libya’s

Gaddafi family. Suspiciously, just a decade ago plans were issued to build a golf course and nearly 2,000 homes at the giant 6,800 hectare La Resinera finca, which straddles Benahavis and Pujerra. An army fireman, who battled the blaze for three days, told the Olive Press it had started at ‘three points’ on the Sierra Bermeja estate. The UME firefighter said: “My colleagues and the police are working on that assumption. “Arsonists always have an aim and purpose when burning the moun-

tain, they usually want to build something.” And he added he ‘strongly believes’ that last year’s neighbouring Estepona fire is linked to this year’s fire. Despite new reports, last night, that the blaze was started accidentally by workers clearing the land, other local sources in Benahavis continued to insist it could be arson. “We all think that the fire was deliberate, but it is still under investigation,” revealed a local estate agent. “I don’t understand why anyone would be working in the very high heat in the middle of the day, with the winds really picking up,” he added. The fire led to the evacuation of nearly ALL AREAS 3,000 people in Benahavis and neighbourCOVERED ing Pujerra. Most residents spent 4G UNLIMITED between one or two nights out of their INTERNET homes. Neither Andalucia’s IDEAL FOR firefighting group, INSTREAMING TV FOCA, nor the Guardia Civil would comALSO ment on the causes of IPTV, the fire, insisting the SATELLITE investigation continTV ued ‘in secret’. Last year’s blaze was one of the worst seen in Spain this century. It destroyed nearly tel: (0034) 952 763 840 10,000 hectares. info@theskydoctor.com Oops I did it www.theskydoctor.com again, page 7

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BIG CLEAN UP: Dealing with the calamity of Calima

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NEWS IN BRIEF Unlikely luddite A 73-YEAR-OLD Malaga woman is on trial in a Basque court accused of online fraud despite claiming she doesn’t even know how to use Whatsapp.

Shameful stats NEWLY released Government statistics have revealed that since the start of 2022, 64% of women who have sought help from sexual abuse services in Murcia were under the age of 16.

Web of lies A 40 person cabal left a mobile phone operator out of pocket by over €240,000 by using fake credit cards bought on the dark web to order a mass of electronics which were then resold across Spain.

Devil’s lettuce OVER half a tonne of vacuum-packed marijuana worth €3.7 million was seized from an Ireland-bound lorry carrying lettuce in the Basque Country having been due to board a ferry.

THE boyfriend of a Qatari princess found dead under suspicious circumstances on the Costa del Sol claims his phone was hacked days after her body was found. Marbella businessman Bruce Baps also claimed Kasia Galliano, 45, was living in fear of her life over recent months. The expat, who is adamant she did not kill herself, told the Olive Press his suspicions about her ex-partner’s involvement in her death. Galliano, a well known influencer with 500,000 followers, had been in a vicious custody battle with her ex, Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, 73, the uncle of the current Emir of Qatar. Convinced of ‘foul play’, nightclub manager Baps insisted: “My telephone was hacked just days after Kasia was found dead. “And my Facebook and Instagram sites have also been hacked.” As well as discovering that videos had been stolen, he said others had been deleted. And he insisted he was sure she was killed by someone, implying it was linked to her ex-husband. “This comes from there, they have so much power that they can do whatever they want,” he said. Speaking at his home in Nueva Andalucia, he added: “She was the most beautiful person in the world, I am sure she didn’t kill herself as she was starting a new wine business. “And just the night before she died she was definitely happy and sent me a picture of herself in bed. It makes no sense.

June 15th - June 28th 2022

SHE DIDN’T KILL HERSELF!

EXCLUSIVE: Boyfriend of dead Qatari princess tells Olive Press his phone ‘was hacked’ following mysterious costa death EXCLUSIVE By Jorge Hinojosa

“I hope karma will pay back the people who killed Kasia”. But he didn’t wish to comment more until the official post mortem results are made public, but added that he was due to speak to the police. Baps, who has three young children, spent a lot of time with Kasia and her three daughters, two of whom went to school in Marbella.

Safety

However, she had recently ‘grown very concerned for the safety’ of her youngest daughter who had stopped coming to Marbella to visit her. “She was not allowed to visit her by her dad, because he knew that she would never go back to Paris, where he lived,” he explained. Things got worse when she was robbed of 50 luxury handbags and hit several

PRINCESS: Kasia Galiano and (left) with Baps times in the robbery at her luxury apartment in Puerto Banus. He added that she had been badly mistreated and ‘felt like she was living in jail’ when she was in Paris, living with her ex-husband. In particular, she was really affected psychologically by the death of one of her best friends who passed away due to cancer. “The death and dealing with the court case against her ex-husband heavily impacted her mental health,” he ex-

plained. Reports in Spain claim she probably died from an overdose of medication combined with alcohol on May 31. Various packages of drugs were found at her home on the seventh floor of the exclusive Playas del Duque complex, in Puerto Banus marina. An initial post mortem failed to conclude how she died, so further studies are being undertaken at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Malaga with further tests at the Toxi-

cology Institute of Sevilla. The tests can allegedly determine whether any alcohol found in her body had been consumed by her or produced after her death ‘as a result of decomposition’.

Wooed

Kasia, who grew up in Los Angeles, had married her Qatari prince after he wooed her when she was a student in Paris. But the pair split in 2007 and soon divorced.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es CRICKET has been added to the sporting itinerary of Madrid in celebration of it being named as the World Capital of Sport. The Madrid Cricket League will be played in T20 format at La

Father of slain hero who fought London Bridge terrorists with a skateboard opens his heart to the Olive Press

On the ball

Elipa in October to raise money for Ukrainian children in addition to a 40th anniversary match planned against Barcelona in September. Cricket in Spain has been growing in the last decade with at

June 15th - June 28th 2022

least 100 teams now playing. Earlier this year, Malaga hosted the European Cricket League, dubbed the champions league of cricket. The La Elipa ground, formerly a baseball-only facility, has undergone a €3 million renovation, making it the new home of Madrid Cricket Club.

COLOSSAL SAINT

THE proud father of a Spanish terrorist victim in London has told how the bravery of his son deserves sainthood. INTERVIEW Describing him as ‘a Colossus, By Jorge Hinojosa a really strong man’, he said his son Ignacio had grown up as a thoughtful and caring man with person, so I think if he gets cana ‘heart of gold’. onised it will be really amazing In a moving interview from his for us and he will become a rehome in Madrid, former engi- ally good natural role model for neer Joaquin Echevarria Alon- society. so, 73, confirmed how the fam- “He will make the perfect saint ily have officially because he died presented an saving the lives application for Despite a number of others and his sainthood to put his life in of the police the Archbishop danger to help of Madrid. a policeman to running away “We are just fight against a starting the pro- from the fight, he few terrorists cess now, but we with explosives. decided to act are really hope“Despite seeing ful as to become a number of the a saint you need police actually to be well known and Ignacio is run away from the fight, he decertainly that, which is a good cided to take part in it and put head start.” his life at risk.” “It can also happen that the The 39-year-old banker was devil’s lawyer decides not to one of eight people killed in the grant the canonisation to him, attack that took place on Lonbut we really hope not,” said don Bridge on June 3, 2017. He Echevarria. was stabbed in the back when “He was a really down-to-earth he swung his skateboard at the terrorists and was pronounced dead at the scene. “Ignacio would never have imagined he’d be canonised… and I’m sure he would be far happier alive.” He continued: “I am pursuing his canonisation because I want real role models for society not just sports people. “We cannot resurrect him so we want to at least make his death useful. “Ignacio was a person who always took care FAMILY: Ignacio in red shirt with his mum, dad and siblings of people and when he

ESTUCO INTERIORS

Broken couple

SKATEBOARD HERO: Ignacio fought terrorists saw someone abusing someone else, he would always defend the victim, said Echevarria. “In fact he told us just a few days before his death that had he been skateboarding on the day a policeman died near Westminster a few weeks before, he would have stepped in and saved him. “He said that he often skateboarded near there and that policeman would have been alive.” Much of his humility came from his upbringing going to local comprehensive schools around Galicia. He had gone to live in London to work at HSBC bank having lost a banking job in Madrid. It was a good job looking into money laundering and he loved his life in the city. “He was having the best year of his life. He loved it,” said his father. “He moved there in part for the language and also because his sister, Isabel, lived there for many years and had children

there.” He continued: “In fact we were due for a big family reunion with him and his sister and my nephews and nieces four days after his death.” On the shock of his death, he said it had been an agonising wait. “When Ignacio died, it took the British police more than three days to find out who he was. “The Spanish ambassador in London initially told me my son was killed by the police, but I told him I was convinced that they did not kill him.”

Support

“If my son was killed by the police I would have supported the police as we need to support the west against terrorism. “If anyone is to blame it is the terrorists, not the British people or the police.” He added: “I didn’t want to attend the court cases as I have faith in the British system and British justice.”

ONE of Spain’s most glamorous celebrity couples has announced they are breaking up. Colombian singer Shakira and FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique confirmed their split in a public statement. “We regret to confirm that we are separating. For the wellbeing of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy,” they asked. Shakira, 45, and Pique, 35, have been together since 2011 and have two sons, Milan and Sasha aged 9 and 7 and made their home in Barcelona. News of the split came just days after Shakira lost an appeal to dismiss charges over alleged tax fraud. Prosecutors claim she failed to pay up to €14.5 million in tax on income earned between 2012 and 2014 when she was already living in Spain but filed her taxes elsewhere.

On his way

GARETH Bale’s nine year stint in Spain has come to an end. The Welshman bid farewell to Real Madrid after notching up 258 appearances in almost a decade, saying: “To be a part of this club’s history and to achieve what we achieved while I was a Madrid player has been an incredible experience and one I will never forget.” Bale became the first player in British history to win five Champions League titles when Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final at the Stade de France.

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NEWS

4 www.theolivepress.es Citizen child A CHILD who was born as her mother attempted to migrate from Morocco to Spain has been granted citizenship by a Spanish court. The new-born girl and her mother arrived on the coastline of Tarifa in May 2018. Although the mother was able to officially register following her arrival, her child was not as she had no birth certificate or documentation to prove her identity. Without this, the Spanish authorities were unable to issue a passport, rendering her stateless. According to pressure group Program Odos, approximately 550 children arrived in Spain in 2020 without any documentation to prove their birth. Subsequently, they have been unable to obtain citizenship, meaning that they cannot access Spanish healthcare.

June 15th - June 28th 2022

Joy ride could end in jail POLICE are on the hunt for a woman whose dangerous antics went viral after she was recorded dancing on top of a car in a bikini. In bizarre scenes, the woman rode around Marbella with most of her body sticking out of the roof of the car while dancing and making hand

gestures. Twitter footage showed the mystery woman scantily clad with her arms aloft a black Porsche Cayenne. Separate clips online show the woman being encouraged by others on the road to dance and make the victory sign.

DIRTY COPS!

AN alarming seven law enforcement officers have been snared in a long investigation into drug trafficking. They were among 60 arrests in what has been described as one of the biggest clampdowns on smuggling in Spanish history. Some five officers from the Guardia Civil, one Policia Nacional and a customs officer were among those arrested

Seven corrupt police among 60 arrested in operation to dismantle logistics smuggling gang in a bust that has so far seen the seizure of €500 million of drugs. The arrests came following an 18-month probe into two criminal gangs dubbed the Clan de Tánger and Clan del Sur. The two groups are thought

Franco outrage AN army captain has been suspended after he ordered his soldiers to kneel at the former burial site of dictator General Francisco Franco. Around 30 troops from the 31st Asturias Infantry were seen in a video being blessed by a priest as they paid homage at the Valley of the Fallen, near Madrid.

to be responsible for bringing in vast quantities of cocaine and hashish from Morocco into Algeciras. A National Police source told the Olive Press that each of the bent cops would have made between €30,000 to €50,000 per consignment

Not laughing now

The mausoleum is a 'de facto' pilgrimage for Franco admirers with the structure built after the Spanish Civil War by thousands of political prisoners. The dictator's remains were exhumed from the controversial site in 2019 and reburied. A law passed 15 years ago prohibits gatherings outside the mausoleum.

A TEENAGER has been arrested for selling laughing gas to private parties. The 18-year-old was selling bottles of nitrous oxide at gatherings in Marbella for as much as €200. Nitrous oxide is used medically for pain relief and sedation, but also recreationally for the feeling of euphoria it gives.

CARE4AIR

delivered. “Just to turn a blind eye for half an hour on a watch could be double their year’s salary,” revealed the undercover UDYCO source. The corrupt officers were a key part of the operation, which relied on impeccable logistics and the bribing of many other officials. The Corsini-Imperium probe saw more than 30 properties raided in Malaga, Granada, Mallorca, Barcelona and Ceuta. The raids netted some 80,000 kilos of hash and 10 tonnes of cocaine with a combined street value estimated at over half a billion euros. As well as drugs, police found thousands of pounds worth of jewelry and weapons including a diamond encrusted AK47 made of gold.

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JELLYFISH INVASION SWARMS of jellyfish could put a dampener on days at the beach this summer. Marine conservation experts at Malaga’s Aula del Mar claim they will be ‘more abundant than normal’ this year. Jesus Bellido explained that their profusion is linked to climatic factors in the Spring. He said: “The current warm sea produces a series of ideal conditions to create a high presence of jellyfish.” “Depending on the winds and the currents the jellyfish will move to the coast.” The Aula’s Infomedusa app has already issued the first warnings of the season.

Criminal numbers

ONLINE scams, thefts, and violent assaults have risen sharply in the first three months of the year. Interior Ministry figures say crime was up by nearly 28% compared to the same period last year. Crime levels fell during the Covid-19 pandemic with restrictions and curfews keeping criminals indoors as police patrols were ramped up to make sure rules were followed. Meanwhile, online crime was up by 60% compared to 2019, accounting for 14% of all crimes in the first quarter of 2022.

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Whale of an attack A PAIR of sailors had to be rescued after their boat was hit by killer whales. Their 11-metre sailing yacht was towed to port by the Maritime Rescue service after a group of Orca began smashing into the boat off Cape Trafalgar, near Vejer de la Frontera. The yacht, named Grappa, was towed by the Salvamar Enif rescue ship at around 4am. Neither of the pair, who have not been named, were injured in the rogue attack. A similar rescue had to take place due to a similar incident off Barbate on May 24.

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an, 59, an academic, phoned a dedicated insurance emergency number, the switchboard didn’t understand his Spanish and couldn’t speak English. After nine minutes of trying to get a private ambulance, the university professor was forced to dial 112 in desperation and they were taken by a normal one to Cartagena

Extra border guards but chaos still expected SPAIN is hiring an extra 500 border officers to control its busiest airports ahead of the summer season. It comes as the country expects huge numbers of British holidaymakers this summer, none of whom can currently use the fast-track EU passport channel. They are currently being treated as third-party nationals with the need to have their passports stamped with entry and exit dates.

While the government announced they will be able to use the faster eGates travellers will still need their passports stamped in person. Spain’s flagship airline Iberia complained that dozens of flights had to be cancelled at Easter because of delays through passport control. It highlighted continual chaos at Madrid airport since then and said around 15,000 passengers had missed their flight since March 1.

hospital. Now the company has admitted its failings and offered Dawn, a writer, from Cheshire, a basic settlement, which they say is ‘derisory’. It comes after lawyers for the company had, at first, demanded the expat couple, based in Mazarron, prove they had actually tried to call the hotline. After they were able to provide proof, the company, we are not naming for legal reasons, then bought for time, continually ignoring their requests for answers. The English agent who had sold them the €1,300-a-year policy two years earlier vanished on long term sick leave. The couple told the Olive Press she was ‘fully aware’ that they did not speak good Spanish, nor did most of the other British clients she sold the policy to.

Insurance company refused to pay expats’ massive health bill because they did not speak Spanish A BRITISH couple slapped with a €14,000 bill for healthcare were not taken to the right hospital because their private insurance hotline staff didn’t speak English. As the Olive Press reported last month, Dawn Bridge, 50, was hit with the huge demand after undertaking a serious operation on her leg which was broken and dislocated in a horror accident. Yet when her husband Adri-

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A BRITISH couple have a huge medical bill for been handed hospital care, By Simon Wade despite being fully covered by their private health insurance the bill which The expats have been company. slapped with a pany REFUSEDtheir insurance comdebt of €14,000 because to pay. This despite pany’s negligence - they of the com- them paying €1,300 a year. claim. The main reason given; Dawn Bridge, a 50-year-old because er, originally from Cheshire, writ- Dawn was treated in ‘the wrong hossuf- pital’. fered a bad fall in her hometown “Yet during that week, of Mazarron, Murcia, I received no in December advice on transferring 2021. her to a hospital recognised by our insurance Husband Adrian, an comacademic, im- pany,” slammed Adrian, mediately went to call a former his nsurance medical the number on history lecturer at York University. emergency staff wouldcard, believing “We had no help in providing addibe on call to tional care, no communication deal with it. and no explanation why our However, after a whole emergency UTES of waiting - NINE MIN- call wasn’t answered.” screamed in agony - thewhile Dawn And over the last half year, he claims 59-year-old they have received ‘not still had no answer. concern or compassionan ounce’ of Eventually he was persuaded regarding an ambulance by a concerned to call their plight. bour and a local emergency neigh- This despite Dawn still being heavily turned up ‘within minutes’. service dependent on a wheelchair for moBETTER DAYS: The bility and having to endure She was soon receiving Bridges on intensive and (right) Dawn after accidentholiday treatment for two bad emergency physiotherapy sessions. fractures at A remarkable email Cartagena’s public hospital stream, the Ol- would have been Dawn to ive Press has seen, demanded treated in St Lucia. if the manner AND without costs.”a timely s e r v i c e s couple could ‘prove the She also had to have a provided [emergency] Thankfully, the Cartagena Hospital or the pakle put back into place.dislocated an- call’, and also questioned if they had has been gracious even rung the right number. enough to offer the tient But, in reality, her problems Bridges a staged payment is not had only “We both feel totally abandoned, scheme registered just begun, as despite and which eases the financial burden. premiums for a policy paying two lost within a spiral of confusion, bu- In the meantime, with Seguridad Social, that promised reaucracy and data ‘immediate access to care’ protection,” con- perience might they hope their ex- quire them to pay the we resave others bill.” payments’ the opposite and ‘no co- tinued Adrian. same pain, cost and anxiety.from the The couple paid €1,300-€1,400 occurred. “If only they’d answered a Indeed, on leaving St Lucia year for their their own “It’s the principle,” insisted Hospital, emergency number Adrian, On deadline insurance health bill. some days later, they (and we’d gone “they’ve just washed the Olive Press received were handed to an appropriate their hands of hospital), my wife us, all down to their own terrible ser- a letter from the insurance company's lawyer saying that vice when we needed them the company most.” A spokesperson from St had acted ‘in strict and rigorous comLucia de Cartagena told pliance with the terms of the policy’. the Olive Press “When PLUMBING & AIR CONDITIONING the insurance compaSPECIALISTS ny does not cover the Opinion Page 6 Giastu Aroma 2 2,5 kw R32 gas refrigerate A+++20db 3 years warranty SPECIAL

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June 15th - June 28th 2022

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DISGRACE: Dawn was left with a huge bill However, while the company this week finally made an offer of €4,452.96, it refused a full refund, insisting the policy did not ‘specify that attention could be provided in different languages’.

Threatened

It added there was a second private ambulance service in Murcia they could have used. The insurance company has so far failed to comment on the case, merely threatening the Olive Press with legal action if we published the story. The couple have now contracted a lawyer to pursue the case further.

A DEVICE that requires drivers to pass a breathalyser test before their car will start must be incorporated into all new cars sold in Spain from July. The Alcolock system requires the driver to blow into a breath-testing instrument before getting behind the wheel. If just a faint trace of alcohol is detected, the device will prevent you from starting the car for one minute. Then, if the alcohol level is above the 0.25 milligrams per litre limit, the car will stop for half an hour. The device is already proving to be effective in the battle against drink driving throughout France and Germany.

Smells like teen spinning TEENAGERS will be able to drive low-horsepower electric vehicles from their 16th birthday next year. A new B1 driving licence will allow them to drive such cars up to speeds of 90km/h. Currently teenagers under-18 are only allowed to drive 125cc mopeds at up to 45km/h. The new vehicles cannot have horsepower over 20 or weight exceeding 400 kilograms excluding the battery weight. There are around one million 16 and 17 year olds in Spain.

CAMPAIGN SPECIAL

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION Let us have a say! THE Right to Vote is considered one of the most fundamental rights in a democracy. A mere century ago women were throwing themselves under horses to win that right and now few outside of North Korea would argue against the need for universal suffrage. And yet, here we are, a whole section of society - millions of expats - disenfranchised as Andalucia heads to the voting booth to decide its regional lawmakers for the next four years. The same appalling state of affairs will be repeated again come December when Spanish national elections are expected to take place. Because according to Spain’s constitution only its citizens have a right to determine who runs their regional and national administrations. Foreign residents, even those who have lived here most of their working life and who pay taxes here, are denied a vote. Thankfully, democratic rights exist on a local level and expat residents can vote for their local council and even run for a seat on it. Brits too have retained the right to do so even after Brexit thanks to a bilateral agreement between the UK and Spain that has not been afforded to those living in France, Italy, Austria and Germany. And while campaigners have fought long and hard and ultimately successfully to maintain the right to vote in UK elections for life – removing the previous cut off point of 15 years - it was too late to affect the Brexit vote. However, while that was a genuine disaster for most British expats, we’d argue it’s more important to have a say in the governance of where we now live than the country we decided to leave behind. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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Making inroads

N Olive Press campaign to allow Brits without a Spanish licence back on the road is gathering speed. A pair of expat councillors have joined hundreds of supporters of our U-Turn campaign, we launched last issue. We have been overwhelmed by the support for our campaign from all walks of life, no pun intended. And despite the British Embassy insisting that an agreement is inching closer, we are not taking our feet off the pedal. Indeed, we intend to keep flooring it until a deal has been signed between the UK and Spanish government. Big wig backing A PAIR of popular expat councillors on the Costa del Sol

OLIVE PRESS U-TURN CAMPAIGN: Not taking the foot of the pedal, despite claims from embassy that a deal is approaching, writes George Mathias and the Costa Blanca have jumped to support our campaign. Darren Parmenter, the councillor for Tourism and International Relations in San Fulgencio, in Alicante, praised us for our stance and insisted we needed to keep the pressure on. Parmenter, 61, from London, (left) said: “It’s great that someone is sticking up for Brits. And he added: “I am hopeful there will be an agreement soon, there has to be otherwise Spain will be left out in the cold on its own.” He even insisted on bringing up the matter with the ambassador Hugh Elliot as part of the recent Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Meanwhile the Councillor of

Tourism, in Benahavis, Scott Marshall got behind the cause. “I am amazed there are agreements with almost all other EU countries but not Spain. “How can the Spanish government make driving in Spain easier if you are a British tourist than a resident?” added the British politician, who has worked at the town hall for three years. “The rules have not been clear from the start and there has not been enough information provided to people. Well done for helping them out.” The 47-year-old, who was born in Spain to British parents, added: “This needs to be sorted out now, Brits are being punished for no reason whatsoever. I am fully back-

ing the Olive Press on this.” Official line While nothing has yet been signed, British ambassador Hugh Elliott insisted negotiations ‘continue to progress well’ on an agreement. He added he was ‘confident we are nearly there’, but was once again scant on details. While on June 2 he announced Brits would be given a six-month leeway period to swap their licence once a deal had been struck, he couldn’t say when this would be. Critics also insisted six months would not be long

CASTING AN EYE

Take a look at who is standing to lead Andalucia, with Kimberley Mannion

ITH the regional election campaign now in full swing ahead of polling day on Sunday, June 19, The Olive Press takes a look at the candidates vying to become President of Andalucia. Polls indicate President Juanma Moreno and his Popular Party (PP) are likely to stay in power, and do even better than the last regional election. The right-wing conservative PP currently presides over a minority government sup-

ported by far-right Vox and the liberal Ciudadanos party. The PP´s taking of the Andalucian presidency in 2019 ended decades of political dominance by the Spanish Socialist Workers´ Party (PSOE) in the region. The largest poll carried out in the elections so far, by the Centre of Sociological Investigations (CIS) which interviewed 7539 Andalucians, put the PP very close to achieving an absolute majority of 55 seats, as well as being the most popular party in all eight

provinces. The poll sees the PP winning 47-49 seats, well ahead of nearest rivals PSOE with 32-36 seats. After the two largest parties, the CIS poll predicts Vox to achieve 17-21 seats, Por Andalucia with 9-10 and Ciudadanos with 1-3. The Olive Press looks more closely at the leaders of each of the main parties and what they propose for Andalucia:

Inma Nieto Por Andalucia

Teresa Rodriguez Adelante Andalucia

Juan Espadas PSOE

Juan Marin Ciudadanos

Inma Nieto, born in Algeciras, has been a regional deputy in Andalucia since 2012. During the TV debate, her calmness was noted by commentators, essential when trying to keep such a wide coalition happy after the fallout of left wing parties in the region. For Andalucia is a coalition of left wing parties who have come together for the 2022 Andalucian elections, including Podemos, the left wing populist party founded by former second Vicepresident Pablo Iglesias. The coalition was born after the breakup of the other left wing coalition, Adelante Andalucia, who they ran with in the last regional elections, after a row with its leader Teresa Rodriguez.

The other left wing coalition, Forward Andalucia, is led by Teresa Rodriguez. This is the third time Rodriguez will lead a party in an Andalucian regional election, under Podemos in 2015 and the Adelante Andalucia coalition in 2018. Active in left wing politics since her student days at the University of Sevilla, Rodriguez started her own party, Anticapitalistas, which broke away from the rest of Podemos, now part of the Por Andalucia coalition, ahead of this year’s election. One policy on Adelante Andalucia´s agenda is to make the Sierra Bermeja, where the recent fire in Benahavis on the Costa del Sol broke out, a national park.

Former Mayor of Sevilla Juan Espadas is hoping to win back Andalucia´s support for his party. After being elected PSOE leader last year, he left his position as Mayor at the beginning of 2022 to concentrate on the upcoming Andalucian elections. If elected President of Andalucia, Espadas has promised to create 100,000 jobs for young people over four years, as well as launch a programme to help young people ‘access the world of work’. Alongside this the PSOE will defend universal healthcare, the welfare state, and, among other things, the Andalucian accent.

Serving as the Vice President of the current g ove r n m e n t and Minister for Tourism, Regeneration, Justice and Local Administration, Juan Marin is leading his liberal Citizens party in this month’s Andalucian election. Born in Cadiz, Marin was a businessman before entering politics, and also a keen volleyball coach and referee. If elected, Marin has promised that ‘for every euro of taxes Pedro Sanchez raises for Andalucians’, he will lower it. Campaigning on an agenda of low taxes, Marin is aiming to keep his party represented in the Junta, which some polls have said, may be difficult.

U -T U R

www.theolivepress.es

June 15th - June 28th 2022

N NOW

OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN!

G enough. “It should be more than a six month time period,” councillor Parmenter insisted. “At the very least, it should be six months to allow Brits to declare their interest alone, given how many examples there are of people getting stuck in bureaucracy.” A wheel for a wheel? British fintech entrepreneur Paul Roberts told the Olive

Press it is time to play hardball in negotiations. “It is time for tough measures. All Spaniards driving in the UK should have their licence suspended until we have a resolution to this disgraceful situation,” the 54-year-old insisted. The tech maestro, who runs a startup from his home on the Costa del Sol, had been considering moving his entire team over from Wales to Malaga city, which is styling itself

as Spain’s answer to Silicon Valley. “I have now beached these plans. Not only is it extremely inconvenient for us Brits, it also makes us all feel extremely unwelcome,” he said. “They all need their heads banging together and take more decisive action if the Spanish carry on their intransigence.” He said the UK government should give’ a week’s deadline’ to agree the deal and then stop all Spanish drivers in the UK. He is furious as despite trying on many occasions to swap his licence, calls to Spain driving body, the DGT, were left unanswered. The father-of-three now has to rely on taxis to get his kids to school. He also took aim at the UK ambassador. “The British government and Hugh Elliott have been far too lax on this. The time has come to take a firm line or this is going to go on forever. An eye for an eye… a car for a car. “Well done to the team at the Olive Press for putting the pressure on!” continued the Welshman. Girl Power pressure

Juanma Moreno Popular Party

Macarena Olona Vox

Moreno is asking voters for another term in office as head of the Junta and the PP, which he has led through its rise to success in the region since being elected leader in 2014. Aside from his positions in Andalucian politics, Moreno was also previously Secretary of State for Social Services and Equality in the national government. In his campaign message Moreno wants to emphasise that given the progress made in this term while facing the challenge of the pandemic, his PP could achieve so much more if given another term in what will hopefully be easier times.

Currently General Secretary of Vox in the Congress of Deputies, Macarena Olona is also leading the far-right party in the Andalucian elections. From Alicante, she has previously been state attorney for the Basque Country. As a lawyer, she was involved in an investigation which found public officials from the PP and PSOE to have participated in corruption involving foreign contracts. Olana is known for her extreme criticisms of the Spanish government, calling President Pedro Sanchez´s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic ‘genocidal’, as well as downplaying the severity of the problem of gender based violence.

Social media group, L a d i e s Driving in Spain, has also joined the campaign. The advice page has provided a litany of testimonies from its 700-strong membership. They revealed they had heard ‘countless horror stories’ in particular lawyers telling members they couldn’t exchange their licences until they received their residencias. “All of them applied before the deadline but by the time they received recidencía it was too late to register intent,” said founder Trinny Vickers. The mother-of-two, 34, was told by the DGT not to worry, as she is Irish but holds a UK licence. However, she has since discovered the law applies to all UK licence holders, irrespective of their nationality. Consequently she is now stuck in Albox, Almeria in a deeply rural area with no public transport.

“Thousands have done the medicals which should have allowed them to exchange before the deadline but this is apparently not registering intent, which many people thought it was.” In a truly shocking state of affairs, she revealed that one of her members - an elderly woman who lived in a rural area with no public transport - recently committed suicide following her husband’s death. After the woman - who she didn’t want to name - became stranded at home because of the licence debacle, she felt life was no longer worth living. “Thank you for sticking up for us, we are fully behind the Olive Press”, Vickers said. Unhappy camper Another victim, Deb Lee, 63, told the Olive Press: “Thank you so much for taking up this fight.” Lee has had a nightmare since she retired to Spain in September 2020 and immediately tried to get her residency and licence sorted via a local British expat, who styled herself as an ‘independent advisor’. However she turned out to be ‘a charlatan’ and had no idea of the rules in place. Astonishingly, Deb was told that the deadline had passed, when in fact the DGT allowed Brits to register their intention to exchange their licence before December 30, 2020. This left her stranded in the small inland town of Crevillente on the Costa Blanca. “I was so isolated. I had no one to help me and the shops were too far away,” she explained. So bad was her situation, with her husband working full time in England as a lorry driver, she recently had to move to a campsite in Catral just so she has a food supply nearby. “If it hadn’t been for the support I have got from the Ladies Driving in Spain facebook group, I honestly think I would have done myself in,” she added. “We are simply pawns in a political game. They keep saying it’s a matter of weeks, but they have been saying that for months now.”

ETTING close to the flames and talking to victims and firefighters. While other expat newspapers watched it from afar, translating stories from Spanish websites, the Olive Press was in the thick of it. Yet again, we were on the ground reporting on the horrendous fire that left 3,000 people evacuated from their homes last week. Our team of George Matthias, Jorge Hinojosa (pictured below) and Kimberley Mannion tracked down the best human interest stories over three days. Setting up a base in Benahavis, it is exactly the sort of good old-fashioned gumshoe journalism that the Olive Press is proud of. And not only do our website subscribers appreciate it, with a dozen stories in total, so do the UK nationals, who used our words and pictures. They included, as normal, the Daily Mail as well as the Mirror this time. And our job didn’t just end when the fire got under control. Right up until late last night we were checking and updating our front page to ensure we had the latest news on the suspicious fire. It was the same with the huge Fifth Generation fire in the nearby Sierra Bermeja last year. We had feet on the ground within hours and followed it through for almost two weeks. As well as getting right up into the hills, we were the first media group to report that it was started by a balding man at two sides of the peak around 9.30pm at night. That’s why WE pay journalists and why YOU pay to subscribe for what we do. At just ONE EURO for an initial month’s trial, what are you waiting for?

EURO MONTHLY NEW S

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The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: restaurant lets diners eat 1- Spain’s firstoffnaked waiters bare skin chef Steven Saunders opening 2- Celebrity cooking masterclass Costa del Sol not as it seems charlatan olive oils make 3- Oils up 50 of extra virgin bottles in Spain study reveals Top 10 vegetarian and 4- Revealed Spain’svegan cities 5-Coast Costa de la Luz enticing mix restaurant

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Time to recharge

THE regional government has drafted a plan to install 12 charging points for electric cars at 12 ports in Andalucia. The project is set to cost nearly €80,000 and will be funded by European REACT-EU funds. Three ports on the Costa del Sol (Marina La Bajadilla, Caleta de Velez and Fuengirola) will have new charging points installed. This project acts as part of the national scheme to tackle climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Spain’s electric car project offers customers up to €7,000 towards the purchase of an electric vehicle. Andalucia’s new scheme hopes to further incentivise the movement away from fossil fuels and towards the use of green energy. The cash to be spent is a drop in the ocean compared to private

Shark attack A five-metre high rubber shark has been hung by Greenpeace protestors outside a ministry in Madrid to coincide with UN World Oceans Day. Activists scaled the gates to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and erected the shark in front of the entrance. They also hung reused fishing nets to represent the 100 million specimens that die each year and the ‘hundreds of thousands that Spain catch in international waters’. The UN begins talks on trying to negotiate a treaty on banning shark fishing in August.

Junta reveals plans for electric car charging points By Livia Cockerell

sector investment. Repsol has pledged to spend €42.5 million installing 610 electric recharging points at its service stations in Spain

and Portugal. The project is part of the multi-energy company’s goal of reaching 1,000 public recharging points by the end of 2022. The current recharging network consists of over 350 points.

DON’T think I’m alone in thinking the world has gone mad. Certainly not when you consider the climate and the unbelievable things going on. We live in a world that exhibits inexplicable and contradictory aspects.

AIRPLANES BACK IN THE SKY…….GOOD THING OR BAD ? This highlights the quandary we face. On one hand, economies suffer and tourism is decimated when air travel is restricted. Those of us that live on the Spanish Costas can easily testify to that. On the other hand the atmospheric pollution caused by planes is harmful to our health and other living beings as it mutilates our climate. It is a major cause of diseases like cancer, respiratory disorders and all too often leads to death. It is a difficult conundrum. Most of us like to travel, but at what cost? Governments are developing relatively fast and dense rail networks. Over one third of the busiest short-haul flights in Europe have viable train options as alternatives to flying. Serious investment is required to reduce the emissions from aviation fuels and it is time to step up renewable options. Other industries have been forced to take steps to contain pollution but the aviation industry has not. Airplanes run on kerosene, which when burnt emits carbon dioxide and other poisonous gases into the atmosphere, taking a huge toll on the climate system. It is predicted that by 2050, the aviation industry will produce 25% of all emissions. Part of the problem is that fossil fuels provide better efficiency when compared to sustainable aviation fuels

The aim is to have a point every 50 kilometres along the main road corridors of the Iberian Peninsula. Repsol says that the move is a step forward towards it becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The 610 electric recharging points (18 ultra-fast and 592 fast) will be located at 577 Repsol service stations in Spain and 33 in Portugal.

June 15th - June 28th 2022

World Environment Day ‘Think Global but Act Local’ is the principal focus of this year's World Environment Day on the Costa del Sol, according to ecological activist and spokesperson, Angela Lafferty. In an attempt to raise awareness for local environmental issues, more than 50 people took part in a 13 km coastal walk from Marbella to Guadalmina. The walk was organised by Ecologistas en Accion following concerns regarding the lack of local measures to counter the climate emergency. Despite heavy rainfalls in March, the responsible use of water was at the heart of World Environment Day. Acosol (a public water company on the Costa del Sol) created a campaign that highlighted the value of water and its preservation.

Should you staycation this year, asks Martin Tye

WORLD DILEMMA (renewable energy). Can we, or should we go along with this? The concept of ‘staycation’ re-emerged in Covid times. Do we always need to fly to far flung destinations, when beauty abounds on our doorstep ?

Green

Matters

By Martin Tye

“THE WORLD IS COOKED” So says John Kerry, the US Envoy on climate change. Prolonged use and reliance on coal is fuelling climate change. This month climate experts meet in Bonn amid new energy security worries. (I’ll cover the Ukraine war later.) Kerry stated ‘wholesale elevation of effort by countries all around the world is needed’. We all know that. Yet still we choose inaction. It’s a mad, mad, world when we know something is fundamentally wrong and we still concoct reasons to excuse inadequate action. The Bonn conference is the midpoint gathering between last year’s COP-26 in Glasgow and COP-27 to be held in Egypt. It is analysing the progress made since COP26. PUT BLUNTLY - NOT A LOT.

irony is that with prices of fossil fuels soaring, Russian energy profits are increasing meaning more funding is available to finance his war machine. The EU currently imports around 40% of its gas from Russia. THIS HAS TO STOP. No pain, no gain. Richer nations are still not focusing fully on alternative options. Why? Because the controlling politicians are fearful of losing power. I’ll say it again - no pain, no gain. The Ukraine war has prompted a fossil fuel ‘gold rush’. Two weeks ago, for example, the UK government approved the development of a gas field in the North Sea, east of Aberdeen, capable of producing 6.5% of Britain’s gas output. The site, licensed to Shell, was originally rejected on environmental grounds last year. The UK Business Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, said that Britain is turbocharging renewables and nuclear. Is there a ‘snail version’ of a turbocharger? All European governments seem to have opted for this model.

UKRAINE WAR IMPACT “But the thought of being a lunatic did not greatly trouble him…” George Orwell’s 1984. Now let’s consider the actions of the arrogant lunatic Putin. With Peter the Landgrabbing Great as his role model, it is little wonder the economies of the world are suffering and the world’s climate ambitions lie in tatters. (Three centuries ago the Russian Tsar waged never ending expansionist wars.) Putin believes the West is unlikely to reject Russian energy for years. So far he’s proving to be right. The sad

ON A LIGHTER NOTE - THE SUPERWORM I never thought I would read about this in last week’s news. The world’s addiction to plastic is well documented. The enormous pollution caused as a direct result makes even bigger headlines. But guess what? Scientists have created a SUPERWORM. It can live off, and gain weight, from an exclusive diet of polystyrene. I know - you’ve heard it all now. Wouldn’t it be better to tackle the root cause of the plastic pollution problem? Why not just ban polystyrene? It’s a horrible plastic anyway.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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NEW NAME BUT STILL THE SAME MARK DENTAL CLINIC HAS CHANGED ITS NAME TO AAURA DENTAL. THIS IS TO BE CONSISTENT BETWEEN OUR CLINICS IN THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. WE STILL OPERATE AS USUAL, STILL MARK´S BROTHERS IN CHARGE AND SAME STAFF. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR PATIENTS WHO HAVE VISITED MARK DENTAL CLINIC AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY YEARS TO COME WITH AAURA DENTAL.

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info@markdentalclinic.com aauradental.com markdentalclinic.com

LETTERS

June 15th - June 28th 2022

MEDDLING IN AFFAIRS Family comes first Dear Olive Press,

As our campaign gathers momentum, readers get in touch with rather different perspectives on our driving campaign and a reader wants to locate the owner of some long lost medals…

Cheeky blinders I LIVE in Birmingham, England and I would like your newspaper to buy Birmingham City Football Club, home of the Peaky Blinders, or, alternatively, I would like your newspaper to advise a billionaire to buy said club. I would appreciate your response.

Empire strikes back

I AM so pleased that you have decided to take up the cudgels over the new rules stopping thousands of British expats from driving in Spain. For various reasons, my wife is semi invalid and I was diagnosed with bladder cancer a few years ago. Since then I have undergone various hospital treatments, chemotherapy and operations for taking tissue samples for biopsies, so my mind wasn't really concentrating on other things. As a consequence I missed the boat, and there seems to be no way back. So, a lot of us need an extension of time in which to give formal notice of our intention to exchange our UK licences. I wish you every success with your campaign.

IF someone lives in Spain for years they should be aware of the laws that apply in Spain - or indeed any other country that person has chosen to live in. The Brexit vote was 2016, and once the famous letter had been sent by Mrs May people knew they had up to a year transition. There is no reason to complain now, they had ample time to change their driving licences but in typical English exceptionalist fashion they thought they would get away with it. In all larger towns up and down the coast are agencies and medical centres, where people can take the relevant test needed. Most people did not want to do it because they don’t like the idea that at a certain age the licence will have to be renewed at intervals and because they did not want to be found out having lived here for ages without registration, usually to avoid paying income tax in Spain. Stop whinging and whining, get used to the fact that the UK voted for Brexit and adjust to the fact that the UK is a third country. Edith Schwarz, Denia

Ken Cook, name and address supplied

Editor's note: It is always important to have a healthy debate concerning such an important issue. Even with ‘ample’ time it was not always possible for people to jump through all the legal hoops, especially for those facing challenging personal circumstances. It is these people who we have sought to stick up for from the beginning of our campaign.

John Beard, name and address supplied

Editor’s note: Thanks for getting in touch John, we would certainly be interested if someone bought us first … Can you lend us a few billion?

Here to help I hope you can help me in trying to locate a person who may have lost some priceless medals. Five of them were found in a ditch beside the Cartama to Coin road (Malaga). The medals seem to be for an annual road race I believe takes place in Holland. They are likely of no particular value, except to the person who has lost them and have the letters B L O K N engraved on each of them. Roger Winyard, name and address supplied

Speaking frankly I HAVE lived in Spain for 30 years and changed my English licence for a Spanish one during the first six months of living here. That was the rule then and has been for as long as I can remember. So how can people who have lived here for many years, and failed to comply with the rules, now be up in arms that they are having an impossible task in changing their licences? The Spanish authorities have every right to come down hard on foreigners who do not comply with the regulations. Time to get all the old illegal British cars off the road too. If you don’t want to comply, go back home. Tony Wiggins, name and address supplied

Editor’s note: Thank you for getting in touch and we ask anyone who knows anything about them to contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1 5

10 11

19 20

OP SUDOKU

Across

4 8

5 Finnish capital (8) 7 Tibetan holy man (4) 9 Precipitous (5) 10 Talk too much (6) 12 Alumnus, for short (4) 13 Kind of reaction (8) 15 Discovers (5,3) 16 Combustible matter providing useful energy (4) 17 Roman emperor (6) 19 Muse darkly (5) 21 Financial burden (4) 22 Donkey Kong creator (8) Down 1 When necessary (2,6) 2 South African party (1,1,1) 3 Negative asset (9) 4 What you fight when on a diet (4) 6 Wipe out (11) 8 Very short time (11) 11 Leaning toward (9) 14 Directed to another doctor (8) 18 Represents a constituency (4) 20 Yardstick for explosive power (3)

All solutions are on page 17

Property

S pr pa op in’ in er s b En ty es gl ma t ish g

www.theolivepress.es

JUNE 2022

See page IV

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

IS HE RIGHT?: After an El Pais journalist slammed Spain’s architecture as ugly, we take our own picks, see inside

BIG CLEAN UP: Dealing with the calamity of Calima

Brits are back! F ORGET Brexit and the pandemic - the British love affair with Spain is stronger than ever. Sales of Spanish property to Brits has surged an incredible 72% from this time last year, according to the Spanish land registrars’ association. But bargain loving Brits tend to spend less than their European neighbours. They splashed out an average of €1,890 per square metre on property in Spain, lower than the foreign buyer average of €1,940, with UK nationals tending to buy in cheaper areas such as the Costa Blanca and some parts of the

Number of properties in Spain bought by UK citizens rises to pre-Brexit levels

Costa del Sol. In contrast, Swedish, Danish and German nationals spend above €2,700 with pricey enclaves on the Baleares and Costa Brava favoured locations. Andy Ward, Director of Tenerife Estate Agents, explained: “British demand is still very high and accounted for 43% of

our sales this year – no other nationality even came close. “Brexit has had little to no impact on our profile of British buyers, many of whom are still working full-time and buying a long-term lifestyle investment they plan to use two or three times per year for one to three weeks at a time, so the 90/180 day rule doesn’t affect them,” he said. Whilst retirees or those nearing retirement age represent the majority demographic of those moving here, analysts have also noted a big increase in interest from younger people looking to move to Spain as part of the ‘digital nomad’ cohort.

JUNE 2022

PROPERTY

ORDES of foreign buyers helped drive Spanish home sales and house prices up robustly in the first quarter of the year. The Spanish housing market has started the year with strong growth and momentum carried over from last year, with sales up 22% to 174,000 according to data from the Spanish notaries’ association, and house prices up 11%, having ended last year up 38% and 5.3% respectively. Looking back, the pandemic-induced slump in home sales didn’t last long, and it seems as if the coronavirus might even have fuelled a property boom as the plague made people rethink their lives, and move home to suit their new priorities. Sales only really fell heavily in March and April of 2020, with the recovery starting as early as May 2020, and sales back in positive territory by July 2020. Since then sales have grown every month except two, and by double digits al-

BOOM TIME

ANALYSIS: Property market on the up with help from foreign buyers, writes Mark Stucklin

most every month since January 2021. Put another way, home sales bounced back quickly from the lockdown, and have kept bouncing ever since. Sales boom on coast and islands Home sales were up nationwide in Q1, but were particularly strong on the Mediterranean coast and islands, where foreign investors tend to buy. In the first quarter sales were up 47% in the Balearics, and 45% in the Canaries compared to

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House prices follow sales The house price chart paints a similar picture to sales, just with a bit of a time lag. Prices slumped between June 2020 and April 2021, but have been rising resolutely ever since. Nationally, prices rose 11% in Q1, but by 27% in the Balearics, where the housing market is on fire. House price increases were also above average in Andalusia (+16%), the Valencian region (+13%), and the Canaries (+12%), all according to data from the notaries.

involving a foreign buyer up 73% in Mortgage lending Mortgage lending is also rising the first quarter of 2021 to 21,638 strongly, with new residential - the highest quarterly figure since loans up 14% in the first quarter to records began. The strong appeti88,331, and the average loan value te of foreign investors for Spanish property in the first up 4% to 151,129€. quarter of 2021 helps One of the key factors explain the current driving property sales The property boom in sales. is the recent increase industry is The Spanish properin interest rates, with ty industry is making Euribor turning positimaking hay ve in April for the first hay whilst the sun whilst the sun time in six years, and shines but there are rising strongly in May, clouds looming on shines encouraging many the horizon, with rising interest rates, people to buy before high inflation, surborrowing costs rise ging energy costs, an economic any further. crisis brewing, and war and plague lurking in the background. The SpaForeign demand Foreign demand for property in nish housing market will probably Spain is another factor helping dri- face a more challenging environve the market upwards. Foreign bu- ment in the second half of the year, yers increased 44% in 2021, com- though it has managed to shrug off pared to an increase of 38% in local all the challenges it has faced in redemand, according to the notaries. cent years. More recent figures from the land registrars’ association show sales www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

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the same period last year, but also up 26% in Andalusia - home to the Costa del Sol - and 30% in the Valencian region - home to the Costa Blanca. Comparisons with the year 2020 are meaningless because of the lockdown that years, but if you look back to 2019 to see how sales this year compare to a ‘normal’ year before the pandemic you see sales up between 20% and 30%, and as much as 34% in Murcia. So the market is not just booming in comparison to 2021, when results were still skewed by the pandemic, the market is booming by any measure in recent years.

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III

JUNE 2022

GOLF RESORT BOOST THE development of a luxury golf resort in Mijas has been initially approved by the town hall. Valle del Golf Resort will include an 18-hole golf course, an international equestrian centre, five-star hotel, spa and a typical Andalucian looking town with roughly 300 apartments. The council approved an amendment in its General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) to include the ambitious project in the Entrerrios area between La Cala Resort and Mijas Golf, and just up the road from Santana Golf.

Beneficial Planning of the new €100 million resort has been underway for a while, having already been declared a site of Andalucian Tourist Interest in 2019 and put onto the Andalucian Strategic Interest Projects Accelerator Unit in 2021. A selling point for the development has been that golf is a year-long sport, helping to deseasonalize Mijas. Andres Ruiz, the councillor responsible for town planning said: “We are at a new step in this beneficial project to generate employment and tourism in our town in becoming a reality.”

THE romantic bolthole where Hollywood superstar J Lo hid out with actor heart-throb Ben Affleck in Gran Canaria is up for a sale with a whopping price tag of €4 million. The singer-actor stayed in the ‘palacete’ for a week while on location in the Canary Island to film The Mother - a Netflix production in collaboration with Canary Islands-based Sur Film, directed by New Zealander Niki Caro. The building dates back to 1900, but has been completely restored and served as a refuge for Lopez and boyfriend Affleck during filming earlier this year. The pair, who were famously dubbed as ‘Bennifer’, have resumed their relationship nearly two decades after they first got together. The 1,340-square-metre detached house, located in the historic centre of Las Palmas, is distributed over three levels. The entrance hall leads to the central courtyard

Mother of a deal of the house, typical of the 19th century constructions in the Canary Islands. Around it are distributed an open plan kitchen and a living room. On the first floor there are four double bedrooms en suite, most of them with dressing rooms. The master bedroom has access to a 100 square metre terrace. An interior panoramic lift connects all floors. Moving out of the property is no hardship to the happy couple, who have just moved into Danny Devito’s former Beverly Hills mansion. The 1,300sqm mansion is being rented from Australian billionaire James Packer.

SPLENDOUR: Bennifer’s €4m Spanish villa

HIDDEN ASSET The €17million hideaway of blacklisted Russian oligarch and friend of Putin A RUSSIAN oligarch and his artist wife with ties to Putin own an idyllic villa close to Pollença on Mallorca that has not yet been seized by Spain despite its owner being named on a blacklist. Andrey Igorevich Akimov, president of Gazprombank, the third largest bank in Russia owns a haven in Mallorca. Blacklisted from

Escape to the country SALES of rural properties in Spain have reached their highest rate in 15 years. In the first quarter of 2022, more than 43,000 country houses were purchased, the highest figures Spain has seen since 2007. The highest number of farmland transactions are being made in the region of Castile y Leon, followed by Andalucia and then Castilla-La Mancha. Property experts put the trend towards country living down to the pandemic and the shift towards working from home, inspiring people to escape from the city. Economic instability is also a likely cause for the shift with people moving out to live in cheaper property.

the UK and US, the oligarch is believed to have been a member of the KGB, the committee for state security under the former Soviet Union, and was born in Saint Petersburg, the same city as Putin. Putin awarded the banker the Order of Merit for the Fatherland medal for his contribution to the development of Russia

GRAND: Can Guillot was set for a golf course By Kimberley Mannion

in 2021. Named Can Guillot, the Pollença estate encompasses 800,000 square metres of

Green development

BRITISH construction company Taylor Wimpey is planning to build a €30 million residential resort on the Costa del Sol. Almazara Boutique Residences will be constructed between Istan and Marbella. The project is divided in two, Almazara Hills will be apartments and penthouses, while Almazara Views will feature semi-detached houses. Most of the houses will have views of Marbella’s bay, Morocco’s coast and Gibraltar. The company has pledged to put in efficient environmentally friendly cooling and heating systems, with building materials and techniques selected to keep energy consumption down.

land valued at approximately €17 million. The land has a spa, artificial lakes, beautiful gardens and fountains, and would also have had a 10-hole golf course had plans not been abandoned due to environmental pressure. Akimov’s wife, the artist Marianna Chaykina has depicted Mallorca and the land the couple own on the island in her paintings. The oligarch is said to have owned the Mallorca estate for at least five years, through a group of intermediary companies in Cyprus. In the town of Pollença rumour has it that Putin himself has been a guest at the residence, but there is no official proof of this.

Squat proposal SQUATTERS could be evicted within 48 hours under a proposal put to the Spanish Parliament. It argues for a change in the law to make it possible to remove people from properties if they are unable to produce property deeds or a rental contract to demonstrate their right to remain. And the proposal seeks to give communities of owners the right to initiate proceedings to kick squatters out when the owner fails to do so. If neither the owner or the building’s community start the eviction process, then the local town council will also be able to do so, under the new proposal.

Law The proposal addresses the notoriously difficult problem of dealing with squatters or ‘okupas’ as they are known in Spain, where an estimated 49 properties are newly squatted each day. The initiative has been put forward by the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) which holds only a handful of seats, making it unlikely the proposal will find widespread support and be passed as law.

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JUNE 2022

PROPERTY DIRTY JOB: Converting white towns back from their grubby post Calima state

HE La Alpujarra is renowned for its white villages and towns, glinting in the distance as you drive through this popular region of Granada province. This summer could prove different, as councils face the ongoing problem of swapping sepia tones for the traditional, glistening white. The problem stems from the shocking Calima sandstorms that hit southern Spain in March, leaving the vast majority of facades a dirty shade of brown and, in some cases, villages resembling settlements in the Sahara Desert. While the Granada authorities last month allocated just under a million euros to spruce up their villages by

THE STRAND PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE CONCEPT

IRENA and Anssi Kiviranta were two of the founding partners of a very successful Finnish real estate concept Bo LKV. They grew the business from scratch to a company employing 200 people and generating €23M turnover in less than five years. A capital investment company acquired the majority of Bo LKV in the autumn of 2019, allowing the Kiviranta’s to start a real estate agency abroad under their own brand. The couple’s Finnish investment company Kiviranta Group Oy then established a Spanish subsidiary, Strand Properties in 2020. Strand Properties offers services to both sellers and buyers. Through their partner networks, the number of brokered properties runs up into the thousands, and Strand Properties helps customers find the right property by carefully charting the customers’ wishes and using a learning property search service. For the sellers, the brokerage concept focusing on quality offers the fastest selling times and the best possible selling price. In less than two years, the Strand Properties chain has grown to become one of the most recognised real estate brands among agents, customers, and developers. Strand Properties is a high-end property agency, but its listings include properties to suit all budgets. Currently Strand Properties has two real estate offices on Costa del Sol: Marbella’s Puerto Banús office, with 20 experienced property advisors, and another ten in their Malaga office. This June, Strand Properties will open their third office: Strand Plaza in the Mijas area and are planning to open a fourth office in Palma de Mallorca this summer. Strand Properties has over 800 homes for sale, and you can view every new property on the Costa del Sol with a Strand agent. They have established partnerships with all the major and reputable developers on Costa del Sol. The Strand Properties concept also includes the import and sales of carefully selected Scandinavian products in Spain, with brands such as Timberwise, BEdesign, Drop Design Pool, Tablebed, Framery and Woodio. They also represent Ballingslöv kitchens, Massproductions, Fogia, Garden Glory, Kasthall, and Carl Hansen & Son furniture and products.

STORM: The murky weather from the Sahara left dust and dirt on most villages in Andalucia

July 31, this is vastly insufficient funding, local politicians told the Olive Press. The money will only amount to a few euros per building, well under what is needed, especially in the larger towns, they complain. So serious is the problem that many towns, including Canar and Orgiva, are offering free exterior paint to residents who apply to restore their buildings to white. “Our towns have traditionally been white, and we want them to continue to be white. We don't want to get used to something different,” insists Orgiva mayor, Raul Orellana. “In Orgiva, we’ve worked to clean facades and now we’re repainting around the town. We’re also distributing free paint so that locals can restore their houses.” And, watch out if you’re considering any other colour but white. Fines from 600 euros can be levied on rebels who don’t agree with this tradition. “There are new rules to keep the character of our towns,” explains Orgiva town hall architect, Marcos Rodriguez. “Houses must be white and have a flat roof or old style ‘teja’ tiles.” Keeping homes white makes perfect sense, as local builder Julian Dominguez of MV Construction told the Olive Press. “The paint reflects the sun’s rays and improves the thermic conditions of the home, mainly in summer. Brown is more likely to suck in the heat.” A big issue will occur if the Calima storms become an annual phenomenon, with an expensive clean-up to keep the tourists happy.

THE practice of whitewashing houses dates to Roman times and became commonplace during the plague infestations of the 14th century, when interiors were given the white treatment in the hope of making them sanitary. White buildings also reflect the sun’s rays more effectively.

DID YOU KNOW?

GONNA BE ALL WHITE!

The white villages and their Calima conundrum, writes Jo Chipchase

E XC LU S I V E P R O P E R T I E S I N T H E B E S T L O C AT I O N S F O R S A L E

ST R A N D. E S

PROPERTY

GOOD...

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

THE

JUNE 2022

Surely one of the best examples of contemporary architecture in the world, the Frank Geary designed museum put Bilbao on the world travel map. Notable for its use of fragmented, corrugated metals, it has been described as a ‘signal moment in the architectural culture of Spain’.

As a former travel editor at El Pais bemoans poor construction and chronic overdevelopment, the Olive Press looks at some of the best and worst of man-made Spain, George Matthias reports

PAIN has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than almost any other country in the world. From its white villages to grand cities, its interesting varied architecture is part of the attraction for millions of tourists who visit every year. But for Andres Rubio, the country has gone through a ‘cultural catastrophe’ when it comes to construction. So bad has it been, the former editor of El Pais’s respected El Viajero travel section claims politicians have given little thought on how to grow cities and villages in a way that protects cultural heritage. In his new book, España Fea (Spain is Ugly), he charts why it happened. “Spain is ugly. It is very hard to say, but that’s how it is,” he explains. He is most critical of the once charming fishing villages on the Costa

del Sol, which he says have been ‘chronically overdeveloped’, and describes Benidorm’s newly built Intempo skyscraper, the tallest residential building in Europe, as ‘hideous’. However, Rubio also cites some model examples, such as Galician masterpiece Santiago de Compostela, which has a reputation for rejecting new build projects that do not align with its rustic aesthetic. It is easy to spot places that both support and contradict his controversial point of view. Sometimes one building can do both. Here, the Olive Press picks out a dozen most eye-catching examples of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly around Spain. What’s your view? Let us know and send us your own lists to newsdesk@theolivepress.es

CaixaForum, Madrid THE eye-catching vertical-garden facade in the heart of the capital is hugely popular, for its bulk and optical illusions. The building housed the Mediodía Electric Company before being converted into a cultural space.

Donald Gray buildings, Marbella THESE are enviable streets to live in. The leafy Marbella suburbs designed by British architect Donald Gray have won many awards. His lily-white houses are a modern pastiche of Moorish architecture - Islamic architecture which developed in the western world, with each house along a completely different build that still retains a uniform aesthetic. And they fit in.

A GEOMETRIC wonder, La Muralla Roja was designed by legendary architect Ricardo Bofill in 1968, featuring interconnected communal plazas and bridges. Bofill’s legacy was wide reaching, with global TV hit Squid Game featuring architecture that doffed its hat to the Spaniard, who died this year.

Metropol Parasol, Sevilla

...BAD

JUNE 2022

THE

La Muralla Roja, Calpe

VII

Intempo building, Benidorm

ON the receiving end of a fair amount of vitriol from Rubio, the building is seen by some as a symbol of poor planning and bur e a u c r a c y, with both architects responsible for the project resigning in 2012, before it was f i n ished.

Known as ‘Las Setas’, the world’s largest wooden structure was designed by Jürgen Mayer in 2011. A vast swirl of wooden lattice work, it rises to heights of 26 metres over Roman remains in a historic plaza. Its main purpose is to provide shade as well as views over Sevilla’s old town.

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Parroquia de Santa Monica, Zaragoza Architect Agustinos Recoletos created this church with a space age quality that is, arguably, out of place in its surroundings as much now as

when it was built in 1973. The futuristic design was chosen in an attempt to expand the reach of the church and to attract more young people.

The Botin Centre, Santander

Named after the late CEO of Santander bank, it is described as ‘phallic-looking’ and as if it is ‘emerging from the sea and thrusting itself into the city’. Costing a hefty €80 million so far, it is yet to be completed despite the fact construction began over a decade ago.

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VIII

PROPERTY

...UGLY! AND THE

JUNE 2022

The Mirador Building, Madrid

A LEGO encrusted eyesore or a groundbreaking feat of postmodernism? The Mirador Building was developed by Dutch architectural studio MVRDV in collaboration with Madrid architect Blanca Lleo. The apartment block looks on to fantastic panoramic views of the Sierra de Guadarrama but many locals not living inside wish such views were rather less obstructed.

Edificio Montreal, Alicante

Infamous in Alicante, this 1980s building just outside the city centre was designed by local architect Alfonso Navarro. It is known universally among residents as La Piramide.

Algarrobico Hotel, Almeria THIS is, without a doubt, the most disgraceful building ever constructed on Spain’s coastline. This 411-room carbuncle, near Vera, in Almeria, has fortunately still not opened, but it has already completely scarred what was once a virgin beach. Erected without the correct planning permission - nor stopped despite protests from Greenpeace and Ecologists in Action - it dwarfs its surroundings and highlights, more than anything else, how corruption helped to destroy Spain’s last remaining coastlines. Will it ever be demolished as planned? That’s the million dollar question.

Ronda Parador, Ronda A TRUE example of money talking, Ronda’s Parador hotel may seem innocuous to the untrained eye, but a close inspection reveals a hideous new build parallel loft-conversion jutting out of the original 16th century structure that is unworthy of the city’s Roman and Moorish heritage. Sitting in pole position by the town’s famous bridge, while the views from the new rooms may be enhanced, from the outside the semi-circular balconies are a disgrace… and not even balanced.

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ll about

www.theolivepress.es

The

Alpujarra

of Granada June 2022

IDYLLIC: Vista over Cañar, while (below) Garcia Lorca and Jo Chipchase

Nowhere to Lorca, everything to me F

EDERICO Garcia Lorca once described La Alpujarra as ‘the land of nowhere’, and this remained true when I first visited in the early 2000s. It was as if time stood still in the charming, white villages and the vast, open spaces with the background hum of crickets. Our trip was to see friends who had bought land near the village of Lobras, a 45-minute drive from the spiritual, central hub of Orgiva, where they could enjoy a slower pace of life, restore a ruin, and keep animals. Fresh off the plane from Malaga Airport, I was immediately impressed by the Alpujarran landscape with its imposing mountains that dropped down to leafy terraces laden with olive groves, and just about any fruit tree you could name. While the winding roads seemed to go on

After a series of holidays in the Alpujarra, journalist Jo Chipchase upped sticks and moved her family to the region over a decade ago forever, the views and closeness to nature more than compensated for the distance. The endless sunshine and – of course - the local vino and tapas was a great bonus. On a later visit to the village of Almegijar, my friends and I lost the booking itinerary and our sense of direction. Hopelessly wandering the Sierra de Contraviesa, miles off-route, we passed through a small village where people were laying down what looked like twigs in the road (years later, I discovered this was esparto grass, used for weaving the likes of baskets, lampshades and amusing donkey’s heads, see next page).

Lemon As the designated driver, I couldn’t decide what to do – continue over the unknown material or stop and wait for guidance. The famous book on the region, Driving Over Lemons, by Chris Stewart had taken over a new meaning: Were we driving over someone’s livelihood? On that occa-

sion, we waited, I am pleased to report. We eventually found Almegijar, and discovered that our accommodation was a rustic farmhouse, shared with several generations of the host family. The traditional Spaniards looked bemused as we downed a five-litre bottle of grandpa’s ‘costavin’, before passing out on the lawn, in the true style of mad dogs and Englishmen in the midday sun. Back in those days, I was a ‘townie’ and had few skills that could apply to rural settings. Changing bottles of butane gas to shower and cook can be difficult if you’re used to England’s piped supply. Going out in the mountains with friends, it took me a while to realise that a hot day didn’t automatically equate to a warm night. I remember trying to borrow someone’s yoga mat as a cover, because I was shivering, and was curtly Continues on next page

2 June 2022

ll about The

From front

Alpujarra

DREAM HOME

Granting an audience A TRUE jewel of La Mareina, Nevada, Las Chimeneas hotel and restaurant appeared in the BBC series, Write Around the World in 2021. In it celebrated Hollywood star Richard E. Grant, waxed lyrical about the book written by owners, Emma and David Illsley - ‘Las Chimeneas: Recipes and Stories from an Alpujarran village’. You can see it on BBC iPlayer.

told to give it back. At that time, the Alpujarra was markedly different to the more modern, tourist savvy destinations of today. The villages had few amenities and some clearly hadn’t seen many extranjeros (foreigners). Outside the main towns of Orgiva and Lanjaron, shopping was very limited and there were no fancy goods. Most shops stocked largely local produce, which was great if you were a massive carnivore. In the mid-2000s, Orgiva reminded me of a frontier town, where locals rode around in dodgy old Land Rovers and attended all-night parties in the nearby settlements of Cigarrones or El Morreon. There were dozens of New Age types around every corner and I was reminded of Glastonbury festival, but in the hot sun. I’ll never forget the legendary Dragon Festival in Cigarrones - a week-long bash that almost never stopped. Unfortunately, a visiting friend from Brighton didn’t share my enthusiasm, pronouncing it ‘like a dusty Mad Max’ and dragging me away, crestfallen, to a quiet bar. I eventually relocated with my young sons to the spa town of Lanjaron, which is best known for its spring water and annual festival of water and ham that coincides with the saint’s day of San Juan. Although I’ve enjoyed the mass San Juan water fight on June 24 - when thousands of revellers run around, throwing water at each other while shouting, ‘oi oi, mucho agua, mucho agua’ - I’m getting too old for such shenanigans. A night-time soaking, even in sum-

RURAL: Goats pass beside a bridge near Orgiva, while (below) high mountain views and (left) an esparto grass head, while (right) Lanjaron and Arabic water course

mer, is bracingly cold. These days, I prefer photographing the colourful event from a vantage point, away from the powerful municipal water hoses. Over the years, we saw Lanjaron become increasingly busy, with the introduction of mountain bike events, car rallies, and growth in the tourism sector. Although I still love the town, it was time to move onwards… and

upwards. Seeking a more tranquil setting, we relocated to a mountain idyll at 1,700m, among the pine, oak, and roble trees, and with ample room for dogs and horses. I love the high sierra, where you can drive through a shady pine forest, head up a steep mountain track, go over the ridge, and look down on the villages of Capileira, Bubion and Pampaneira nestled below. This is a beautiful sight in winter, when snow has fallen, and the white peaks form an impressive backdrop behind Capileira. Fresh air, mountain trails and proximity to some of my favourite places, including the Poqueira Valley, Soportujar, and La Taha, is more than enough to convince me La Alpujarra is my home.

3 June 2022

MY SECRET ALPUJARRA

Happy shopper

Jo Chipchase’s insider guide on what to do in the region

WO of my favourite remote spots are the Puente Palo recreation area above Canar – a shaded spot in the pine forest - and the Dique 24 dam of the Rio Chico between Canar and Soportujar, which has a 30-metre waterfall. Watch out if you suffer from vertigo! The Dique 24 is on the ancient GR7 footpath that runs through Spain to France. I also love the GR 240 ‘Sendero Sulayr’ trail that runs from Puente Palo to Capileira and gives impressive views over the Poqueira Valley and the white villages. I’ve ridden there a few times, but the trail is currently in bad condition for hooved animals. Not far from this trail, you can navigate to the Buddhist retreat centre of O Sel Ling and view the statue of Tara. You could also head down to Soportujar: a busy town with a witchy theme park vibe.

A trip along the A-4132

If you don’t enjoy Shank’s Pony, La Alpujarra is great for car trips. Driving towards Trevelez, on the A-4132 from Orgiva, you’re within 35 mins of Pampaneira, Bubion and Capileira, and La Taha of Pitres. Near Pitres, the unspoilt village of Atalbeitar is attractive for photos and affords peace and quiet. From there, a narrow and steep road leads down to Ferreirola, and then to Mecina Fondales, which has several bars and restaurants – including a vegetarian option - as well as the Fondales hotel. Leaving Pitres and heading along the A-4132 for another 14km, you come to Trevelez, which is best known for its cured ham – ‘jamon serrano’ – which hangs from the ceiling of bars. Although an overdose of ham isn’t really my thing, I’ve been there in winter when a heavy snowfall occurred. It was picture postcard pretty, and I still use the photos for Christmas cards. Take the A-4130 out of Trevelez and, in 19km, you come to the town of Berchules. This town holds an unusual, annual fiesta known as “New Year in August” – a custom which started in 1994, after an electricity outage kyboshed the normal celebration on 31 December. I’ve attended this crazy event: it’s odd to experience Christmas traditions in the heat of summer.

Past Mairena it is worth stopping at Laroles

My family has enjoyed many happy visits to this town. Laroles has a cultural week called ‘Me Vuelves Lorca’, geared around the famous playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, in the first week of August. It’s also an ideal base for outdoor pursuits. One of our favourite spots is Puerta de Ragua, a 20min drive up the A-337. Located at 2,000m, it affords panoramic views to the east if you walk up the slope behind the main car park. This is a site for winter sports, such as skiing or sledging. If you continue over the hairpin mountain pass, you can see the ancient castle of La Calahorra and emerge at Guadix. Also located near Laroles is the charming town of Bayarcal, which has a new adventure sports centre and restaurant, called La Talama. The zip line looks exciting - but maybe I’ll just watch the teens.

And towards Almeria… Heading past Bayarcal towards Laujar de Andarax, you enter the Almerian Alpujarra. Comprising 22 towns, this area is easily accessible via the fast A-348 primary road connecting Lanjaron and Almeria. I recommend the A-348 to anyone wanting a day trip through the Granada and Almeria Alpujarra, without too many twists and turns.

The gems of Nevada

If you take the high road from Berchules, rather than passing through the lower towns of Ugijar and Cherin, you reach Nevada – a charming municipality combining Laroles, Júbar, Mairena and Picena. On route, you drive through Yegen, where celebrated expat writer Gerald Brennan lived from 1919 to 1936. Some of his accounts of village life ring true to this day, and his famous book, South from Granada, is well worth reading if you’re interested in rural Spain and its history.

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4 June 2022

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On-trend -trend in Orgiva F

REYA Ruth Rodgers is an inspiration to women in business. The British businesswoman set up Orgiva’s buzzing new fashion store, El Armario de Freya, in November 2021, after a two-year battle against breast cancer. El Armario attracts a diverse clientele from traditional Spanish ladies to the Northern European residents of Orgiva’s alternative communities – all of whom find a little something to suit their taste and budget. The shop has many repeat customers, who visit weekly or even daily! Freya moved to the area after her brand came to a standstill in Marbella following an exhausting chemotherapy programme. Having previously lived in Lanjaron, where she ran the popular Ambienza vegetarian café

Natty dreads to funky fashionistas. A new expat-owned fashion store is serving Alpujarran style to them all, writes Jo Chipchase a decade ago, she is delighted to be back working in the area. “Except for running Ambienza, I’ve worked as a buyer and window dresser all my life,” she tells the Olive Press. “But in 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and believe that ongoing stress contributed to my medical problems. I loved my work in Marbella but had too many responsibilities and hours.” She continues: “The chemotherapy programme ran from

STYLISH: Original bespoke items in shop and (above) Freya models some wares

October 2020 to May 2021 and when I returned to work afterwards, I felt totally drained. “I was living in La Alpujarra and doing radiotherapy in Malaga, which involved constant driving. I also had to collect my daughter from school and deal with the animals – it was a vicious cycle. So I decided to open my own shop, where I could apply my fashion retail experience locally. When I wasn’t at radiotherapy sessions, I was setting up the new shop interior with my supportive girlfriend, who is very practical. “We created all the fixtures and fittings ourselves because the builder was poorly, believe it or not! I was frazzled but wanted to open before Christmas last year.” And it duly did, launching in late November with a big party attended by local dignitaries and some of the alternative community: an interesting mixture of people. Her job now, she

explains, is to keep a keen eye on the area’s fashion trends. “The main Alpujarran styles are soft, natural fabrics combined with flattering, timeless cuts with a bohemian twist,” she says. “You never know what people might buy. Traditional, Spanish ladies might choose a tie dye jumpsuit, while members of the local communities usually favour the ball gowns.” Has Orgiva progressed over the years in fashion terms? “The area still attracts the same type of people, with the same type of style, but now they spend more money on fashion and are more conscious of their appearance.” To promote her shop, Freya held a well-received fashion show at La Fabrica, in Lanjaron, in February. “We teamed the catwalk shows with seasonal food to reflect the spring/summer season. All models were from the local communities, of Spanish, English and other nationalities, and of various ages, shapes, and sizes.” She is now set to launch an ecommerce website by the end of summer. Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/el_armario_de_freya/

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CHEZ CHRIS

Most expats are familiar with Chris Stewart’s idyllic Alpujarran adventures. So when the author invited The Olive Press to his stunning farm to sample his hospitality, we couldn’t wait to dust off our hiking boots

T’S the oddest sensation arriving at a place in real life that your imagination has already painted for you, from the words in a book. El Valero, the home of best-selling author Chris Stewart, is intimately familiar to his millions of readers, myself included, and the reality doesn’t disappoint. The setting for each of his four books, which started with Driving Over Lemons and most recently continued with The Last Days of the Bus Club, we first spotted the rural idyll far down below from an escarpment in the heart of the mountainous Alpujarras region of Granada. We had been walking for three hours from the sleepy village of Ferreirola, where we were beSADDLE UP: Horse riding ing garrotted for the nights, when an excited in the Poqueira valley Canadian in our group spotted the famous farmhouse below. The valley opened wider with every precipitous step down to the tree-covered retreat, where the original drummer from rock band Genesis was waiting for a famous guitar maker and even a handful of expats. Our us with a jug of home-made pomegranate juice and freswalking group of 14 people almost doubled their number! hly-baked focaccia. We were a disparate group drawn from all ‘walks of life’, It is rare indeed for a bestselling author to throw his home united by a love of the great outdoors, great conversation open to fans; to invite them to walk, talk and and the greatest food and wine! laugh with him and sample his home-grown From the Geordie medical worker who had pomegranates - and luckily also plenty of beer spent the last 30 years in Australia, to the lawOnly 18 and wine! yer and pub-owning couple from Devon, to the But Chris is like few other famous novelists; Scottish park ranger and his wife, a teacher of people live incredibly open and warm and - thanks to his autistic children, like the Canterbury Pilgrims permanently in there was never a shortage of fascinating stolove of the nearby mountains and walking had teamed up with a British hotel owner, Anne ries waiting to be told. A Canadian couple had the beautiful CHOPPING THEM OUT: Chris prepairing our lunch Hunt, to organise some walking tours. planned an entire trip around the walking hovillage We joined the liday. first one for the Thus, with the sunshine beginning to warm up ride, well, to the streets, we set off towards El Valero, the be exact, walk, meeting the self-sufficient farmhouse which first blossomed into our lives group in Ferreirola, just as when Chris’ first bestseller hit the shelves in 1999: Driving the hazy dawn was begin- Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia. ning to flesh out the drama- Our journey took us down the mountainside and across a tic silhouettes of the sierras charming, crumbly Roman bridge spanning the Trevelez river ahead. below, the ideal spot to begin snapping photos. As the rising sun lit up the We built up speed as we traversed the Corona mountain by VISIT US IN BAYÁRCAL, AT THE road, the mountain peaks way of an old Moorish mule path, and the noise of our chaTALAMA UNIVERSAL RECREATION and the glistening reservoirs, tter also went up a notch. I sensed that this day would “People loved the pilot holiday so much that we had to do it AREA – A PLACE YOU CAN’T MISS! be special. again,” explained Anne, whose pre-Alpujarran life saw her The tiny village takes ‘tran- organising festivals, concerts and events in London. quilo’ to a whole new level “The area is just fantastic but what makes it special is the mix and you could hear a pin of people and Chris’ enthusiasm and knowledge.” drop as I roamed the steep After just a few hours, the mellow descent through pine trees cobbled streets. led us to a wondrous gorge and, in its depths, our lunch Only 18 people live perma- destination loomed into view. nently in what is quite possi- Our sense of awe was as profound, Chris assured me, as he bly the most beautiful village and his wife Anna felt when they first set eyes upon this valley in the Alpujarras, including and decided to make it their home.

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TOUR GUIDE: Chris explains a high moutain acequia

7 June 2022 DARING: Zip wire at La Talama and (right) mountain biking

GET OUT THERE! Whatever your bag, there is so much outdoor activity around La Alpujarra and nearby Lecrin Valley

Where it was once sparse and arid, they have created a micro-climate, complete with a charming old green-roofed farmhouse and an extraordinary pool. There are acres of orchards, a kitchen garden where the family grow their vegetables and free-range chickens keep them supplied with fresh eggs and meat. It is a little gem of a world full of vitality, adventure and legend ... the kind of place you could write a book about! Assisted by their daughter Chloe, Chris and Anna laid out a delicious spread for us on their shady terrace. We tucked into quiches, hummus and fresh herby salad, while swapping stories of Andalucia with our hosts. The wine flowed, loosening tongues, and talk of the Alpujarras turned into a lively debate on Spanish politics. Slipping away for a moment, I wanted to take a closer look at the fascinating pool which features so heavily in Chris’ writing. The waterwheel was the brain-child of an oddball inventor who convinced the family it would purify water naturally and keep the pool fresh and natural. Encrusted with a thick carpet of leaves and tinged green, it looked a little too ‘natural’ and I resisted the urge to dive in. Back on the terrace, Chris and Anne had ditched the diplomatic approach and openly admitted that our group was exceptional. “You’re the booziest, funniest and most enjoyable group yet… cheers!” exclaimed the jovial Chris, raising his glass in a toast. And after welcoming us into his home and feeding us, Chris seized the opportunity to take full advantage of the merry walkers. We were soon all buying signed copies from his backlog of unsold books, helping him to clear out the store room! Refuelled with spiced peaches and more wine for the daunting post-lunch walk, it turned out to be a pleasant stroll back along the river, across his famous rustic bridge and straight onto our waiting minibus. That night, while dining back at the wonderful B&B Casa Ana, we were treated to the mesmerising songs of a Moldovan folk singer, who just happened to be volunteering there through a ‘work-away’ scheme. It was our lucky day in more ways than one. As her sweet voice carried tales of love and pain around the room, it seemed to echo the ancient beauty of the stunning Alpujarras. In that moment, I think we all fell a little in love with the girl from Moldova. Or was that just me? For more information visit www.casa-ana.com or email info@casa-ana.com

SOUTH of Granada, a whole world of adventure awaits you in the mountains. From 400m to 3,479m - this being the top of Spain’s highest peak Mulhacén - the active among us are spoiled for choice. La Alpujarra has an extensive network of routes for hiking, mountain biking and electric bicycles, ideal for traversing beautiful pine forests, oak, and chestnut groves – some at an altitude of 1,500 metres. Cycling on the trails above the high villages of Capileira and Trevélez, the highest in the region, is breathtaking. There are also companies that specialise in horse routes high on the mountainside, including Caballo Blanco in Lanjaron and Dallas Love’s Sierra Trails in Capileira. Various companies have set up to offer a range of adventures around the region. One of the best, Adventure Alpujarra, organises everything from gentle morning hikes to mountaineering with crampons and ice axes in the winter months. “We offer mountain skiing, canyoning, rappelling, rock climbing, snowshoeing and ascents of Mulhacen and Veleta too,” explains technical director Jose Antonio Barea Gonzalez. “We can take you to remote paths, hidden rivers and find you natural pools for swimming. “You can explore the architecture, gastronomy, and customs while hiking through the terrain,” Watersports Centre – Open from June to September (in the morning) he adds. “There’s also horseback riding along from Monday to Sunday. footpaths that nestle on Courses include: the mountain slopes. Or explore in a 4x4 offKayak, Paddle Boarding, Windsurfing, Catamaran, Sailing, road vehicle, or a quad, to reach remote places Classes, Courses, Rentals, Routes, Summer Camp where others rarely go? “Our experienced guireservas@aventuraalpujarra.es tel: 638 597 715 / 617 228 085 des can cater for everyone from complete novices to seasoned

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CUISINE OF LA ALPUJARRA

GET OUT THERE

mountaineers.” Other activities organised by Adventure Alpujarra include paintball, archery, rifle shooting and orienteering. For those who like the water, why not visit the group’s nautical centre at the beautiful Beznar reservoir (see above). During summer, you can sail optimists or catamarans, as well as windsurf or go paddle surfing, kayaking or just pootle about on pedal boats to explore the reservoir. You can book a ‘nautical day’ for families or groups of friends. The centre also hosts nautical camps for all ages. “It’s important to remember that we’re in a protected natural area and these activities must be done with companies registered by the Junta,” adds Jose Antonio. “Our company guarantees the right permits and security measures.”

Zipping the Wire Fantastic: For something really exciting, head down to the La Talama outdoors centre at Bayarcal, at the Eastern end of the Alpujarra. Located near the stunning Puerta de Ragua, this is a magical place for an active day out, and guests are welcomed for longer stays. The centre combines the local gastronomy at Restaurant Talama with the adventure and ecotourism activities of B Natural Sport. BNatural’s English-speaking staff will help you enjoy Great Zipline of Andalucia (620m of adrenaline), flying over the Sierra Nevada! If the zip line doesn’t take your fancy, there are plenty of other activities, including canyoning, climbing, electric bike routes, hiking, bird watching, star watching, yoga, spiritual retreats, forest baths, mindfulness, slackline, archery – as well celebrating special events, such as birthdays. Children have their own activities - including a junior zip line, climbing and archery and a great summer camp. Described as ‘personalised’ tourism, where you design your adventure, it combines sports, health, nature, and education. There are also language immersion and language swap courses on offer. The icing on the cake is the Talama Restaurant, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, serving homemade dishes based on organic fruit and vegetables, picked from the garden. The menu includes vegan and vegetarian options, local wines, and an assortment of Alpujarra sausages and special desserts.

Poor man’s potatoes and young goat is on the menu

HE Alpujarra region has various signature dishes served to visitors in the area’s countless bars and restaurants. Best of all, during certain hours of the day, you almost always receive a tapa if you buy a drink. Alternatives exist to the traditional cuisine - which some people adore, while others feel is ‘too hammy’, or lacking in vegetarian options. One place that prepares a popular selection of modern food is Pizza & Love, in Orgiva. This is the place to enjoy an artisan pizza cooked in a wood oven, with slow fermentation in a Neapolitan style, and with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. The restaurant has recently introduced a special

range of burgers, as well as a main menu catering for omnivores and vegetarians/vegans alike. For the summer season, Pizza & Love is introducing discounts and special deals on Wednesdays, Sundays, and Fridays. Cocktails are also planned, which can be enjoyed in chilled-out surroundings – with love. Watch out for these favourites of the region:

sonal delight, an extremely tasty stew made with fennel and chickpeas.

Migas - Breadcrumbs fried and frequently served with green pepper. Orgiva has a migas-cooking contest during its annual fiesta.

Papas a lo pobre – despite the unappealing name, the ‘poor man’s potatoes’ are – in fact - delicious, comprising thinly-sliced potatoes fried in olive oil, with onion.

Choto – Kid or young goat. This dish is frequently served when people gather in groups, particularly at countryside retreats.

Plato Alpujarreño – a dish featuring ‘papas lo del pobre’ as well as ham, morcilla, ‘longaniza’, pork, serrano ham and fried egg. You’ll be feeling stuffed after this one!

Puchero de Hinojos – a sea-

Tortilla – omelette featuring potato and egg. This is best when it’s freshly cooked. Cazuela – taking its name from the term ‘cooking pot’, this is any type of stew containing potatoes, vegetables and meat.

Cod (bacalao) – sometimes salted, sometimes prepared with garlic and tomato sauce.

9 June 2022

All the fun of the fair

RGIVA doesn’t actually celebrate Saint Michael (September 29), but it does have its annual fair during this time. Originally based on livestock selling (Ganados) and horse trading, it was the time of year when farmers from all over the Alpujarras would bring their beasts down from the hills and mountains to be sold or traded. During the fiesta, very proud horsemen and women dress in traditional country apparel and parade their prized steeds up and down the streets, preparing for the ribbon race (Cintas) on the Saturday. Kids will do this race as well on pedal bikes. The aim is for the jockey or cyclist to spear the ribbon while travelling at speed on a tarmac road. The ribbon has a value written on it as a prize. Now, I have done quite a lot of horse riding and you get to know that metal horseshoes and tarmac create very slippery conditions so, if you go to spectate, keep your distance. Six hundred kilos of horse and rider with no

Extract from ‘A Chancer’s Guide to Rural Spain’ by Andy Bailey brakes sliding towards you is not funny. It’s a four-day party. Thursday through to Sunday. The bars spill out on to streets, cooking all sorts of delights, and the aroma of freshly cooked sardines fills your senses. The ladies of the town dress in fantastic flamenco creations, showing off the summer tan that they have been working on. The funfair is in town, street traders selling all sorts of rubbish, from realistic looking guns to mini explosive devices, and pop-up bars appear in car parks and vacant shops. Vending machines selling beer, and pinchito stalls cooking marinated cubes of pork over charcoal burners, all appear out of nowhere. Free sombreros are handed out, advertising a particular builder or a bar. A temporary bull ring is erected, although bull fighting has now stopped taking place in Orgiva. However, a kind of ‘it’s a knockout’ competition takes place with teams of youngsters navigating an obstacle course with the close attention of some frisky yearlings (young bulls) with horns. Horse shows with dancing Lipizzaners, art exhibitions, crazy car races, some very good rock bands, giant paella, traditional fried eggs with garlic with a competition on who can eat the most eggs (24 is the record), followed by a good dose of laxative al can be enjoyed during the fair.

La Cantina del Dragon Traditional Alpujarran cuisine in the heart of Soportújar Calle Positillo, 18410 Soportújar, Granada Tel / Reservations: 618 93 93 36

10 June 2022

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DRIVING OVER LEMONS COUNTRY Jo Chipchase takes you on a tour through the key towns and villages of La Alpujarra

LANJARON CONSIDERED the gateway to the region, Lanjaron is a spa town famed for its eponymous mineral water which is bottled and sold throughout Spain and France. As well as the spa itself (the Balneario), the town has a honey museum, a ruined castle, two cannons, and a busy calendar of events - the most famous being the San Juan Fiesta of Ham and Water. Starting this year on June 22, and running for five days, the fiesta attracts fun-loving people from the town and further afield - with the main attraction being the water fight on the night of 24 June. The annual Cañon Trail, meanwhile, is one of several events attracting serious mountain racers, and other events attract professional mountain bikers. Lanjaron is the starting point for signposted walking and cycle trails of varying lengths and difficulties. When you’ve developed a raging thirst, you can visit one of it’s many bars.

THE villages of la Alpujarra date back to Moorish times and the terraces and irrigation systems were carved out by the Berbers and other early settlers. While local resident, Chris Stewart, put the Alpujarra on the tourist map when he wrote Driving Over Lemons, knowing where to start in this large area - and what to see - can be confusing. The Olive Press has produced a handy guide for your day trip or extended tour.

ORGIVA

SOPORTUJAR

A MELTING pot of different cultures, this thriving market town is known for its alternative scene and has a lively nightlife with art events, exhibitions, bands, and DJ nights, as well as the area’s best supermarkets and fashion stores. You’ll find plenty of shops, bars and restaurants, two campsites, and a choice of swimming pools - all open throughout the summer.

DON’T MISS: The Thursday market which runs until 1pm near the main plaza.

WHERE TO EAT: Baraka for fresh salads, kebabs, and hummus; Pizza & Love for the best pizza in town.

SOPORTUJAR has carved a name for itself by being witchy and weird. Amongst its visitor attractions, the town features a house with chicken legs, a serpent, a metal spider and a dragon fountain. The themepark vibe, while popular with families, might not appeal to every discerning adult. Luckily, the town has other charms, including Spain’s narrowest street and a swimming pool with a decent chiringuito bar. Avoid busy weekends and public holidays, when parking and ordering food in bars becomes challenging.

DON’T MISS: The dragon fountain by Jose Vera. The water spout is located in an interesting position.

DON’T MISS: The San Juan fiesta – but book accommodation in good time.

WHERE TO EAT: Cantina del Dragon for home-cooked meals.

WHERE TO EAT: Hotel Espana, and Bar Los Faroles for the generous weekday menu del dia.

Fundacion Montemedio, Cadiz

11 June 2022

THESE three white villages in the Poquiera valley are sufficiently beautiful to have received the prestigious Bonitas de Espana award. The ancient water channel running down the centre of Pampaneira’s main street is one of the town’s iconic sights. The villages are so close that you can drive between them in minutes, or follow the signposted trails and walk around. From Capileira, you can take a winding, mountain path to a forestry recreation area, ‘Hoya del Portillo’ - a fine place for a picnic. Poquiera is the ideal place to buy artisan crafts, including the traditional Alpujarran rugs, at a good price.

PAMPANEIRA – BUBION – CAPILEIRA

TREVELEZ

DON’T MISS: Abuela ili for artisan chocolate. WHERE TO EAT: El Asador in Capileira for a special feast, and Restaurante Guillermo just before Pampaneira.

PITRES

THIS village is the capital of La Taha and has good amenities for visitors. If you need to cool down, try the unusual-shaped swimming pool at the attractive campsite – this is an ideal place to chill out in summer after your lunch. Equally useful, if you’re driving around on a tour; there’s a decent supermarket in the main plaza. The nearby village of Atalbeitar has an ‘off the beaten track’ vibe, as well as many roaming cats.

PERCHED at a lofty 1,486m, this is one of the highest villages in Spain. In winter, Trevelez frequently has a dusting of snow and the Mulhacen peak, rising high above it, can stay white until June. However, the Virgin of the Snow festival,where people from Trevelez and surrounding towns make an annual pilgrimage up the mountain on horseback, has been held on August 5 - in the snow-free summer, for 100 years. Trevelez isn’t the best place for the weak-kneed, as there’s a 200m climb between the highest and lowest barrios.However, you don’t have to walk far from your car to access the good bars and restaurants, or to see the views. If you plan to stay near the town, the Nueva Hotel Alcabaza de Busquistar, a couple of kilometers away, offers decent rooms with balconies overlooking the Rio Trevelez. DON’T MISS: Trevelez jamon serrano is arguably the best you can get. WHERE TO EAT: Meson la Fragua.

DON’T MISS: The views WHERE TO EAT: Bar Restaurante La Carretera for its menu del dia.

A PARADISE IN LA TAHA

La Oveja Verde sits in the heart of La Alpujarra Alta

T sits at the gates of Spain’s famous Sierra Nevada national park. A complex of 12 well-appointed apartments, La Oveja Verde is surrounded by its own private garden and a biologically-purified swimming pool. Open since 2007, it has become a tourist highlight, achieving standards of quality and tranquillity unprecedented for the region. Inhabiting two adjoining buildings, Oveja Verde sits at the edge of the charming town of Pitres, with no other buildings nearby. While just a short stroll to the centre with all its amenities, it is the perfect location to explore the important La Taha region, known for its well preserved architecture and overbearing peace. Lying on the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada, numerous paths of mediaeval origin make this an ideal zone for hiking. No less than three rivers - the Trevélez, Guadalfeo and Poqueira - run through its land, which falls under the jurisdiction of the national park. The La Taja region includes Mecina, Ferreirola, Fondales, Capilerilla, Atalbéitar and Mecinilla, all quiet villages with individual charm, while Pitres is its administrative centre. Sitting at 1,250 metres, it is a jewel in its own right, being declared a Site of Cultural Interest for its exceptional architecture and landscape. Despite being small with less than 500 inhabitants, Pitres has excellent services, including a well-stocked supermarket, a pharmacy, 24-hour emergency health centre, banks, school and institute, as well as several bars and restaurants. The comprehensive facilities make Pitres one of the most attractive municipalities for long stays or permanent residence. Currently for sale, La Oveja Verde offers the opportunity to continue with the established hotel business, or to form a small urbanisation, in which the apartments could be sold to individual buyers. The building offers generous, ground-level storage, as well as five parking spaces and chargers for electric vehicles. It is surrounded by more than 2,000 metres of garden, with abundant irrigation water distributed through pipes and sprinklers. It also features a beautiful swimming pool. Get in touch with them by phone, email or via their website www.laovejaverde.es Tel. (+34) 958064109 info@laovejaverde.es

LA OVEJA VERDE A little paradise in La Alpujarra de Granada In the heart of Alpujarra, tourist apartments and restaurants

Long-term rentals and sale of apartments in Pitres LA OVEJA VERDE TEL: +34 958 064 109 WWW.THEGREENSHEEP.ES

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DISCOVERING ORGIVA

THRIVING market town nestled in the Guadalfeo valley between the Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Lujar mountain ranges, Orgiva is a cultural melting pot combining Spanish lifestyle and traditions with alternative communities, such as those found in Beneficio, Cigarrones and El Morreon. It’s also home to famous author Chris Stewart, and the Olive Press was launched there in 2006. The Olive Press caught up with affable mayor, Raul Orellana, in Orgiva’s town hall, which is steeped in history. It was built during the 16th to 18th century, on the site of an ancient Moorish tower which successfully sheltered the Moors during their rebellion. The impressive building is now the seat of the town council and, these days, rebels are of a different kind! Raul explains: “Órgiva has countless corners to discover and a fantastic environmental richness. We have some typical neighbourhoods, where you can enjoy a pleasant walk and, of course, the Palace of the Counts of Sástago, which is now converted into

- Providing easy access to Granada, the coast, and the rest of the Alpujarra, Orgiva is a large municipality that encompasses the nearby villages of Las Barreras, Los Tablones (near where the infamous Dragon Festival took place), Alcazar, Fregenite, Bayacas and Olias. It has a population of 6,000 people, who are known colloquially as “hueveros”. - Hosting people from all walks of life, Orgiva is a popular destination from spring to autumn. The town has two campsites, each with their own swimming pools, as well as several hotels and hostals, and countless bars and restaurants serving a vast range of food. It also has a municipal swimming pool, a sports pavilion, and a youth centre, as well as supermarkets, including the new Consum with its own carpark. - A typical day in Orgiva can involve everything from taking in an artisan market, new-age workshop, yoga class,

Olive Press meets Mayor of Orgiva Raul Orellana, an ex-primary school teacher and PP politician, who became mayor of Orgiva in 2019, taking the helm of ‘the world’s best’ town, set in the Alpujarra of Granada our town hall. We also have what is possibly one of the world’s most important Cervantes classrooms.” Raul is speaking of the public library, ‘Hurtado de Mendoza’ which has a vast collection of Cervantes texts in its Cervantina Hall, covering 50 languages. Miguel Cervantes created Don Quixote, and a statue in Calle Doctor Fleming commemorates the famous author. As well as attracting those who want to read Cervantes, or re-

strolling around ancient olive trees, sipping a cold beer on a bar terrace, or chilling in the many recreation spots, such as the natural dip pool of the Rio Guadalfeo, located under the Seven Eye Bridge (to the south of the town). - Popular events include the Thursday market in the town centre and the ‘recycling market’, which has recently resumed in the Rio Chico. The town also hosts music nights in the Plaza of Cultures and has a summer programme for people of all ages. - Traditional drinks include ‘vino costa’, made from locally-grown grapes and ‘sol y sombra (brandy with anis).

For those visiting Orgiva, the tourist office (in the Plaza of the Alpujarra) provides information and guide materials. Also see: www.ayuntamientodeorgiva.es

DID YOU KNOW?

lax in hospitality venues, Orgiva caters for active pursuits, such as walking, mountain biking and horse riding. Says Raul: “There are many hiking trails in Órgiva, but we can highlight the Path of the Centenary Olive Trees, Circular of Bayacas, ‘Camino de los Rojos’, ‘Ruta de los Mineros’, Route BTT Valle del Guadalfeo, Circular Órgiva-La Chuca-Río Guadalfeo-Órgiva or the ‘Paseo de the Vegueta’.” Whatever your background or country of origin, you’re likely to encounter kindred spirits in Orgiva. Raul says: “Órgiva is an enclave with unparalleled cultural diversity. The multicultural aspect is fundamental and has become one of our most important hallmarks.” However, as Raul points out, the element of diversity brings some challenges. For example, he has previously voiced concerns about Orgiva’s alternative settlements, such as Beneficio, where some structures don’t have permission to exist, or people have stationed their live-in vehicles in the natural park. He says: “We are clear about the cultural richness in the population, but there must be some order. For example, there must be relevant authorisation and minimum conditions of habitability and respect.” Clearly, Orgiva is a place where free spirits combine with the more traditional elements of society, requiring tolerance on both sides! With such a melting pot at play, creative souls have been attracted to Orgiva in their droves – including musicians, authors, artists, and ‘digital nomads’ who work remotely, using the internet. Says Raul: “Orgiva is steeped in artistic activity. There’s a lot of local talent and much that has chosen to stay here.” An outlet for creativity, Orgiva’s fiestas have a multicultural element, with bands and performers of all nationalities, an annual pantomime organised by Brits, and even the occasional cake-baking contest. The main fiesta takes place during the last week of September or the first week of Orgiva, while the ‘feria’ of ‘Christo de la Expiracion’ (Jesus) is celebrated 10 days before easter, with a mass firework event in the centre of town making some serious bangs! Raul says: “We have festivals throughout Orgiva and its neighbouring towns, with years of tradition. For young people, there are live music activities, contests, sports, and summer camps.” Sporting events are also increasing, with a night race and kayaking down the Guadalfeo river planned for later this year. Meanwhile, the town has increased its municipal parking to cater for the influx of visitors. In view of its relaxed atmosphere and stunning surrounds, many newcomers have decided to make Orgiva their permanent home. Raul advises: “I invite people to come and discover for themselves this very special town. Enjoy the best place in the world to live but do it in an orderly manner and seek integration.” He reflects: “People of 65 different nationalities have chosen Órgiva. What better recommendation could you have?”

JUNE 2022

PROPERTY

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK E IC ON R P TI G UC I B ED R

TH5060

100.000€ 80.000€

Rute, Cordoba

2 bed, 2 bath Build: 63m2

Exclusive To Us. Ready to move into furnished house is located a few minutes Rute. Enter this property to find a dining room that leads to the kitchen and a bedroom through which there is access to a bathroom. From the kitchen we access a patio that leads to a large garden.

Lucena Office +34 952 741 525 info@inlandandalucia.com

C/Juan García de Palma, 2, 14900, Lucena, Córdoba

www.inlandandalucia.com

INSPIRED ACRES

Historic palace in northern Spain, which played host to royalty and inspired literature

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N historic palace built in the 19th Centuty by a Spanish adventurer who made his fortune in the colonies has gone on sale in Cantabria. Named Palacete de Las Magnolias because of the abundance of the shrub growing in its gardens, the estate in the village of Mazcuerras was created by Pedro Fernandez Campa in the early 1880s. Campa was a businessman who, like many young men at the time, sailed off to South America to make his fortune returning to his birthplace in later life to spend his riches. Known as ‘Indianos’ because of the misnomer given by Christopher Columbus to the native Americans when he thought he had discovered a new route to India, these returning fortune hunters were responsible for building palaces in

the colonial style. Las Magnolias is one such Casa de Indianos, but one that invited royal patronage. It was reportedly visited by King Alfonso XII and his mother Isabel II as well as serving as inspiration for the Spanish writer Josefina Aldecoa who lived on the estate until her death in 2011. It was here that she wrote La Enredadera (the vine), a

literary work inspired by the house itself. The villa is typical of a Casa de Indianos in its eclectic style having been built by the acclaimed architect of the time, German Del Rio Iturralde. It includes four bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a mezzanine spread over three floors behind an impressive facade and set within glorious landscaped gardens designed by Isaac Escalante in 1975. The property is for sale for €1.8million and is advertised on Idealista.

DISTINGUISHED OWNERS: Author Aldecoa lived here, while a king once visited

XII

Regulated by RICS

JUNE 2022

PROPERTY

MAKING SENSE OF A FICKLE MARKET Fashions change but the taxman always wants his cut, writes Campbell Ferguson of Survey Spain

W Current Market Valuations Building Condition Surveys New-build Snagging Phone: 952 92 35 20 www.surveyspain.com

T has always been a bit of a stereotype of the Costa del Sol, the image of sunburned Brits and Germans, frolicking on the beaches. But, especially these days, they are joined by sunburned Scandinavians. The attraction of Scandinavians begins, of course, with tourism. Many come here for vacation, fall in love with the climate, services, shopping and culture. They then decide to get something more permanent, whether that is a second, holiday home or to move here for retirement or with their family. In addition, according to studies, Scandanavians spend more time and money than any other demographic group of tourists. Danish and Swedish tourists, for instance, spend an average of 10 days on the Costa and €1,330, compared to Germans, next in terms of vacation extravagance. On average, they spend eight and a half days and €1,157.

HEN there’s more people looking for property than there are properties available, prices must rise. When the cost of building materials increases by about 10% per month, new build prices are bound to rise. (Build Costs are Going through the Roof Survey Spain) When inflation reaches 10%, and there’s a shortage of skilled labour, wages will increase, so new build prices will rise. These three facts are elementary economics, especially when property takes so long to build and so turning on a ‘tap’ to increase supply just isn’t possible. The first, which was becoming apparent later last year, saw promoters scrabbling for sites

and contracting with builders for fast construction. However, the second and third have put the brakes on many, as appraisals don’t make financial sense anymore. Builders can’t survive building at a loss and so raise their prices, and those are passed on to the buyer, either as higher prices or poorer quality and specification ‘product’. This, in turn, should increase the value of quality resale properties. However, it’s a fickle market, with moneyed demand much stronger for modern cubist, glazed homes, than for traditional style Andalucian, pitched roof and modestly windowed houses. Survey Spain have experienced this in recent valuations, where the value of new has led

SCANDI HEAVEN

The Property Insider

by Adam Neale

Does anyone love the Costa del Sol like Scandinavians? That may not seem like a huge differ- from Finland and Sweden, are buying ence but when you consider that over up resale homes that are ready for 5 million Scandinavians take their possession. Both countries recently vacations in Spain every year that’s applied for membership of NATO – to about €1 billion. the chagrin of Russia, You can understand why which has threatened the Costa del Sol TourSwedes alone repercussions. ist Board announced Of the nearly 270,000 in February a new proforeigners who have account for motional campaign this roots in Malaga 30,000 people sunk year, focused in large province alone, about part on Scandinavia. 20,000 are Scandinaon the Costa And, as I said, there is a vian. That means that del Sol kind of ladder, wherein Scandinavians make up vacationers come, fall 7.5% of foreign residents in love and establish a in Malaga province, almore permanent relationship with our though they are equal to less than 5% beautiful Costa del Sol. of the population of the EU. Next thing you know, they’re buying On the Costa del Sol as a whole, houses and apart- Swedes alone account for 30,000 ments. people and make up 6.4% of all home This has acceler- sales to foreigners in Marbella. ated, if anything, One estimate back in 2013 put the as remote working number of Scandinavians in this rehas taken hold, al- gion at 80,000. And their numbers lowing people in have only grown since. certain industries It’s no wonder that so many services to work anywhere have popped up over the years caterin the world. ing to the large and growing ScandiAnd there has navian population. It’s also why Norbeen another, wegian Airlines flies from 10 destinaunexpected im- tions in Scandinavia to Malaga airport. petus: the war in And why so many hotels and resorts Ukraine. It has now have brochures in Scandinavian been reported in languages, likewise menus in many some media that restaurants. It’s become a virtuous wealthy Scandina- circle where one element reinforces vians, especially the other.

Terra Meridiana, 77 Calle Caridad, Estepona • 29680 • Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. Website: www.terrameridiana.com

Selling Price

€500,000

Reference Value

€550,000

EXTRA TAX

UNFAIR: It doesn’t matter what you paid, you will be taxed on the RV

€3500

to higher expectations of value Install solar water heating and of all, but when the asking pricphoto-electric panels, all of es are compared, many older which are money saving investproperties have dropped in valments that last for years. ue since a few years ago. And lastly for now, there’s RefIt’s been found over the past erence Values (RV). These are few years that the prices a ‘cunning plan’ by the Spanachieved for many new propish tax man to try to get round erties are way above those of the chronic tax evasion when a their traditional neighbour, property is sold. with scarcity of good sites Calculated from the Notarial leading to traditional houses records throughout the counbeing bought to demolish or try, a Reference Value has reduced to their structural been applied to every property shell, and a new ‘cube’ being in Spain. created. If the declared price in the sale There is the thought that the is less than this, the tax will be Andalucian style evolved bepayable on the Reference Value. cause it was best for the area, If the price is higher than the but fashion moves on and, Reference Value, then the tax hopefully, the build quality will will be payable on the actual not be found to be high mainteprice declared. nance when we carry out BuildThat seems a great idea, but in ing Condition Surveys/Home practice it's severely flawed. Inspections in the future. The Notary prices referred Which leads me onto high ento may have been under deergy and water costs, being clared, and that’s why our reflected in the valuation record energy certifsince mid-Februicates. A new ary 2022, shows Reference house should be the RV to averdesigned and age of 75.2% of Value is a built to be Grade the Asking Priccunning plan to A in both electrices. The lowest ity consumption has been 34%, get round tax and CO2 crewith the nearest ation. to accurate beeveasion Older properties ing one at 104%. will struggle to The highest is a be over Grade E. whopping 138% higher than The EU is demanding that all the agreed sale price, so both properties should have at least buyer and seller are taxed an F rating by 2030. much more than is appropriWith the utility costs increasing ate. so strongly, a good CEE rating If the Court of Appeal agreed is starting to be reflected in the that having to pay Plus Valia on price. Perhaps that’s why so non-existent capital gains was few owners and agents don’t wrong, it surely is exactly the supply the certificate until evsame principle for excessive eryone arrives at the Notary to Reference Values. sign and pay. Perhaps this can be the next It's not right, and against the campaign by the Olive Press. regulation that demands that the CEE should be displayed Sierra Bermeja is up in on all marketing, and heavy flames, so summer must fines of agents and owners have arrived. I think it's going who don’t comply. to be a long, hot one for the So, buyers, demand that cerbrave firefighters of Spain. tificate well before Good luck to them all. you make your final decision. And remember, ‘the sun is providing energy at the same price as last week’.

New Listing | 1.799.000€

New Listing | 1.399.000€

VILLA, EL PARAISO BARRONAL, ESTEPONA

ONE STOREY, VILLA, EL PARAISO BARRONAL, ESTEPONA

5 Beds 423 m² Built

4 Beds 269 m² Built

3 Baths 1.301 m² Plot

TMRV1035

3 Baths 1.086 m² Plot

TMRV1034

LIST YOUR PROPERTY WITH US! New Listing | 725.000€

Exclusive | 750.000€

New Listing | 750.000€

TOWNHOUSE, BELGRAVIA CLUB, ESTEPONA

FRONT LINE BEACH APT, LOS GRANADOS PLAYA, ESTEPONA NEW GOLDEN MILE

TRADITIONAL TOWNHOUSE, ESTEPONA OLD TOWN

3 Beds 205 m² Built

3 Beds 116 m² Built

6 Beds 399 m² Built

6 Baths 44 m² Terrace

TMRT11491

RUSTIC VILLA, GUADALOBON, ESTEPONA 2 Baths 4.400 m² Plot

TMRA11479

SOLD

New Listing | 799.000€

3 Beds 119 m² Built

2 Baths 50 m² Terrace

TMRV11369

Call for appointment

+34 951 318 480

2 Baths 108 m² Plot

New Listing | 3.295.000€

STUNNING LUXURY VILLA, MARBELLA CLUB GOLF RESORT, BENHAVIS

LUXURY VILLA, MARBELLA CLUB GOLF RESORT, BENHAVIS

5 Bath 657 m² Built

5 Beds 853 m² Built

5 Baths 3000 m² Plot

TMRT11489

TMRV0739

5 Baths 3182 m² Plot

TMRV18245

77 Calle Caridad | 29680 Estepona (Málaga) Spain info@terrameridiana.com | www.terrameridiana.com

XIV

JUNE 2022

PROPERTY

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

New life

Funded project A SPANISH housing development will go ahead thanks to €4.6 million raised from over a thousand commercial investors via the Urbanitae crowdfunding platform. Some 63 apartments will be constructed five minutes walk from Les Rotes beach in Denia on the Costa Blanca. The development will include a garage, storage rooms, a garden, swimming pool and social club. The 1,072 investors backed the project from Inmobiliaria Espacio with a starting price of just €500. They each become a partner of the promoter, which allows them to get rent or even a lump sum when the homes are sold. The capital will be used to pay the start-up costs of the project named as l'Alqueria, until Inmobiliaria Espacio obtains a bank loan to finish things off. The urbanisation will have ‘all the necessary services for day to day’¡ according to the promoter with 'affordable prices and common areas'.

Abandoned hamlet sold in its entirety for just €100,000

FTER just three months on the market and a surge of interest from across Spain, an abandoned village in rural Segovia has been snapped up for €100,000. The hamlet of Matandrino, just

one hour’s drive from Madrid, lies within close proximity to tourist hotspots such as Sepulveda and Pedraza. But since falling into neglect decades after the last inhabitant, Gregoria, moved to the bigger town of Pradena, 3km

away, in 1963, the properties in the town are little more than ruins. However, a developer has big plans to a rural tourism complex after buying up the 5,000 m2 of property distributed over nine houses. “It’s a perfect area to erect a rural tourism complex,” said a spokesman for SegoDomus Gestiones which brokered the

sale, saying it went ‘for less money than many apartments in Madrid’. The depopulation of villages in Spain has been increasing during the last decades but after the pandemic many have decided to return to the countryside. Thanks to the newfound ease of working from home, the prices of rural properties in Spain has seen a recent surge.

THE Mayor of Malaga has clashed with the holiday home sector on the question of the quality of tourism in Malaga. Francisco de la Torre, the mayor of Malaga, has stated the need to regulate the growth of tourist accommodation in the city and insists that he does not want any more holiday apartments. Speaking at a function for estate agents in the Miramar Hotel in Malaga, De la Torre said: “We do not want to increase the number of tourists but rather the quality, in their spending capacity and other investments they can attract.” The mayor also spoke about the need to preserve Malaga as an attractive and pleasant city to live in, as well as maintaining excellence in the standard of tourism on offer, explaining that the town council wants ‘tourism of quality, not second rate tourism’. In his view, this type of tourist books to stay in hotels rather than apartments. In response, the President of the Association of Tourist Properties of Andalucia (AVVA Pro), Carlos Perez Lanzac, argued that De la Torre should take a look at some of the interiors of holiday apartments on offer in Malaga, many of which are ‘comparable with five star hotels’.

MODERN, LUXURY HOUSE, PARAISO ALTO, BENAHAVIS 6.990.000€

Drumelia Real Estate

D2598

1.780

2 .500

REFERENCE

BEDROOMS

BATHROOMS

BUILD M2

PLOT M2

+34 952 766 950

artur@drumelia.com

www.drumelia.com

CASA LAS CHUMBERAS R3906091 – 1.485.000€ ‘An Oasis in the Village of Benahavis’ is the phrase used by friends and visitors to describe this south-facing villa for sale in Benahavis. Designed by the architect Antonio Martín Ortiz and built with high standards for the owners, by a local company. One of the top 5 villas in Benahavís village. BED: 4 | BATH: 4 | BUILT SIZE: 497M2 | TERRACE SIZE: 285 M2 | GARDEN/PLOT: 1100 M2 GARAGE: YES | GARDEN: YES | SWIMMING POOL: YES

T: +34 952 85 54 89 E: info@propertiespain.com W: www.propertiespain.com Urb. La Aldea Plaza Camilo José Cela, Local 1 29679 Benahavís, Málaga, Spain

ALBATROSS HILL, NUEVA ANDALUCIA A beautifully presented spacious apartment in the popular secure (24hr) development of Albatross Hill. 3 Beds | 3 Baths | 372m2 Built | 112m2 terrace REF: 330597 | 980.000€ This large property gives the feeling that you could be in a villa. As you enter a generous entrance hall, double doors open into the lounge area with a central fireplace and separate dining room. Panoramic views to the sea and across to Morocco lead you through patio doors on to the covered terrace (55 m2) laid out to create different ambiances for lounging and eating. A few steps down lead you to the second open terrace (57 m2 ) Where you can enjoy the sun all day. All 3 bedrooms are en suite and have plenty of wardrobes. Adjacent to the master suite is charming library/office.

GUADALMINA ALTA Spacious apartment in Gudalmina Alta with incredible views. 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 126m2 Built | 45m2 terrace REF: 176-02010P | 435.000€ A rare opportunity to acquire a large 2 bedroom apartment in the emblematic building of El Iiwi in Guadalmina Alta. First thing that you notice is the generous size of all rooms. The spacious hall leads you into the living dining room with direct access to a large partly covered terrace. There are striking views across the golf course and towards the mountain range in the west where you can enjoy unforgettable sun sets.

LAST GREEN A rare opportunity to buy a large 4 bedroom corner townhouse in Last Green. 4 Beds | 4 Baths | 425m2 Built | 116m2 terrace REF: 176-01407P | 1.150.000€ The house is in immaculate condition as the current owner has done several improvements in the last year. The kitchen was recently fitted using only the finest of materials creating a wonderful focal point in the house. The split level living and dining room has a luxurious feel where the living area leads you straight out onto one of the terraces and the garden area. All 4 bedrooms are on-suite.

CENTRO COMERCIAL PLAZA 63 | 29660 NUEVA ANDALUCÍA | SPAIN +34 952 816 250 | INFO@ANDADEV.COM | WWW.ANDADEV.COM

LA CULTURA Virgin’s back

FOLLOWING a two year delay, the ancient festival of Romeria del Rocio has returned to Andalucia. Before the pandemic, the religious pilgrimage had taken place each year for centuries, but Covid put a halt to the popular festivities. But this year tens of thousands of pilgrims returned to accompany the effigy of the virgin on foot and horseback through the streets to the small village of El Rocio (Huelva).

Legend

Legend has it that many centuries ago the statue of the virgin was found in a hollowed-out tree trunk. Pilgrims come from throughout Spain and typically travel for one to seven days beforehand, generally sleeping outdoors. Many count the journey as the most important part of the pilgrimage.

June 15th - June 28th 2022

SECRET CODEX

Priceless manuscript reappears after 84 years

A RARE codex dating back to the 13th century has been recovered 84 years after it disappeared. The last time it had been sighted was in 1938 when a soldier stopped the priceless Fuero de Brihuega from being burned when his military unit took over Brihuega in Guadalajara during the Civil War. Now the Guardia Civil has revealed that a father and son have found the ancient codex and had its authenticity confirmed by a Barcelona auction house. How and where the document was discovered has

Gong ho!

By Alex Trelinski

not been disclosed. It was officially returned to Brihuega mayor, Luis Viejo

TORRE DEL MAR in Malaga is hosting the Expo Dino XXL - a dinosaur themed exhibition - at Matrona Candelaria Park. The exhibition showcases over 100 different dinosaur models Styling itself as ‘a journey through history’, the exhibition has toured Europe since its inception in 2010 in Belgium. A spokesman said: “People will learn and discover how these giants of the planet lived, and why they disappeared as well as a multitude of

Esteban, in a ceremony at Piedra Bermeja castle. Experts described the codex as being of ‘incalculable value’ and said it had been well preserved. The

Jurassic Park scientific information that will help them understand more about this amazing species who inhabited our planet millions of years ago.” Ending on June 19, the event is open every weekday afternoon from 5pm to 10pm with the same hours at the weekend plus an additional three hours from 11am - 2pm. Entry costs €9 for adults and €7 for kids.

Fuero de Brihuega catalogues the laws of 1242 and the penalties for breaking them. It is over 70 pages long and is written on parchment with its pages sandwiched between two thick walnut panels that are bound by four strips of leather.

Medieval

The manuscript is signed by the archbishop and other clerical officers. The medieval handwriting is in what is described as ‘French’ typeface and in various colours.

ACTRESS Penelope Cruz has won the 2022 National Film Award. The prestigious honour is awarded each year for the ‘most outstanding contribution to Spanish cinema’ by the Institute for Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts, which is part of the Monostry of Culture, with a prize of €30,000.

Success

Cruz (pictured) is amongst the Spanish actors and actresses to have reached the greatest international success, this year achieving her fourth Oscar nomination for the film Parallel Mothers and having won one Academy Award in 2009 for Best Supporting Actress in Volver. She is the only Spanish actress to have won an Oscar as well as to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

LA CULTURA

June 15th - June 28th 2022

SWEET FACED KILLER T Meet the 20-yearold female matador - and student vet - forging her way in a macho world as Spain turns it back on bullfighting, Fiona Govan reports

HERE are few spheres left in the modern world that remain predominantly the realm of men, but one of the last vestiges of machismo must surely be the bullfighting ring. This does little to deter Miriam Cabas, a sweetf a c e d 20-yearo l d f r o m t h e small

town of Los Barrios across the bay from Gibraltar. Miriam, who describes herself as an animal lover, is in her first year at university studying to be a vet but in her spare time she is pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a bullfighter. “I have always known exactly what I wanted to do in life – to study veterinary medicine and train to be a bullfighter,” she told the Olive Press. “I love animals and I love the toro bravo fighting bull - above all!” It was her grandfather who first piqued her interest in the bulls and enrolled her in a bullfighting school in Algeciras at the tender age of five.

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“My grandfather Gregorio wanted to be a bullfighter when he was young, he was one of the old maletillas and I inherited his dream, which is now mine,” she explained. There’s no doubt her grandfather would be proud. Last summer she debuted in the ring in Aracena where she performed so well she was awarded two ears and was carried out of the arena on the shoulders of her male colleagues. “It was one of the most amazing days of my life,” she recalls. Asked if it was harder for a female bullfighter to succeed, she said: “It doesn’t matter to the bull if you are a man or a woman, so the challenges in the ring are the same.” But she admitted that as a woman she feels extra scrutiny. “In terms of the spectators I feel that I am being looked at under a magnifying glass and a lot FIGHT: Miriam takes on bulls while studying to be a vet is expected of me.” But she refuses to clas- is well and truly turning again and it shows in the sify herself as a feminist, against the most tradition- number of people, and believing such labels are al of Spain’s cultural tradi- young people, who come tions. to the bullfights again and pointless. "No, I am neither feminista Polls reveal that public opin- again,” she said. ion is increas- “We have gone through a nor machista. ingly against few years where people I believe and as were inhibited, and admitfight for equalBullfighting is bullfighting Spain’s animal ting that you were a fan ity. We have lobby of bullfighting was almost to get up each booming again rights has grown in a crime. But everything is day and fight with many strength and changing and people have for our dream, found political realised that you have to no matter young people allies in the have the freedom to decide what. Gender attending left-wing coa- for yourself.” is not a problition govern- “As long as there are aficiolem or a differment. nados who love bullfighting, ence." Perhaps a bigger challenge But Miriam doesn’t agree it will continue,” she insisted. is that Miriam is attempting that bullfighting is on the “And there are many of us who are madly, madly, in to forge a career at a time way out. when the tide of opinion “Bullfighting is booming love with it.”

EU FORMAL REGULATED DEBT SOLUTIONS

Ireland’s leading Personal Insolvency Practice “IRS Ireland” is now available to facilitate personal insolvency applications in Ireland for people currently residing in Spain. If you have legacy debts, unsustainable debts secured on property, or simply unsustainable unsecured debts, did you know you may be eligible to make an application for a Personal Insolvency Arrangement in Ireland that can resolve debts incurred in any of the 27 EU member states? If you are in debt and living in Spain, whether your debts are owed to Irish creditors, or creditors in an EU member state, contact us on +353 58 23511 or email admin@irs-ireland.com IRS Ireland facilitates Bankruptcy applications, and applications for Personal Insolvency Arrangements (“PIA”) or Debt Settlement Arrangements (“DSA”) short of bankruptcy. Uniquely Ireland’s PIA mechanism allows for the restructuring of debt secured on a property asset without the requirement for the property to be sold or surrendered by you. Mitchell O’Brien, senior personal insolvency practitioner with IRS is Ireland’s most successful facilitator of PIA applications. A personal insolvency practitioner (“PIP”) is a regulated professional authorized by the Irish Government’s Insolvency Service of Ireland. Mitchell O’Brien was Ireland’s first licensed PIP. Formal Irish insolvency arrangements are recognized and enforceable in all EU Member States. Face-to-face consultations can be arranged with Mitchell O’Brien in the Malaga region, or using Zoom video conferencing.

www.irs-ireland.com

LA CULTURA

June 15th - June 28th 2022

Beauties and the beasts Miriam Cabas is not the first woman to infiltrate the macho world of bullfights - Livia Cockerell takes a look at some of Miriam’s predecessors

EA VICENS was 20 years old when she watched her first bullfight in Plaza de Nimesin France, a fight which ignited a passion that completely changed the course of her life. At the time, she was studying biology in France at the Universidad de Montpellier. However, just two days after receiving her diploma, she moved to Spain and was set to become one of the most successful rejoneadoras of the modern day. Unlike traditional matadoras, rejoneadoras are mounted on horseback. Vicens claims to have always felt a connection with horses, having ridden since the age of four. However, a career as a rejoneadora was never something that had been on the cards. “When I was young, I did not like bulls. But when I grew up I saw it as cultural and historical. I was excited by it. I fell in love with it.”

Lea Vicens

Cristina Sanchez de Pablos

Conchi Rios

RIOS is most renowned for being the first ever woman to take both ears of a bull during a fight. Since her debut in 2007, Rios’ career has flourished and in 2016, she was chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 Women of the year.

Vicens worked her way up from the bottom. She began working as a horse tamer for rejoneador Angel Peralta who advised her that within the world of tauromaquia, if you are not born into money, you must be prepared to start from scratch. In 2008, she had saved enough to buy a €6,000 colt named Gacela. After much hard graft and training, she made her 2010 debut in Plaza de Olmedo in Valladolid. Her success ever since is irrefutable. In spite of this, she continues to train for 10 hours a day in her ranch in Sevilla, a sight that has become a tourist attraction for tauromaquia fanatics.

Mari Paz Vega

MADRID-BORN Cristina Sanchez is considered a feminist icon within the world of tauromaquia. As the first woman in Europe to complete her alternativa (the official graduation of a bullfighter), her career boomed throughout the nineties until she retired in 1999.

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BUSINESS COUNTING THE COST 14

Spain makes controversial step towards costly ban on prostitution

THE Spanish parliament has voted to draw up wide reaching legislation in a bid to crackdown on prostituion. The controversial move is targeted at those who benefit financially from the exploitation of prostitutes, through pimping and human traf17:01 ficking, and moves towards treating prostitutes as victims rather than criminals. The bill would not make prostitution itself illegal but proposes prison terms of between three and six years, as well as fines, for both pimps and those who pay for prostitutes in the street. It also proposes penalties for those who profit from knowingly providing illegal premises where prostitution is carried out. With the bill, the government wants to introduce longer jail sentences for pimping and to remove the present require-

ZIGZAGGING RATES V

No confidence means Pound slips lower against Euro, writes Peter Loveday

OLATILITY in the pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate continued in late May and early June as UK politics and European Central Bank (ECB) policy caused sharp movements. Over the last two weeks, GBP/EUR declined steadily before zigzagging in early June. The pair fluctuated between €1.165 and €1.177, settling around €1.166 after the ECB decision.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?

As May shifted into June, the pound slipped lower against the euro, despite some headwinds for EUR. Economic sentiment in the eurozone remained low while the bloc’s retail sales unexpectedly contracted. Still, following the ECB’s hawkish shift the previous week and surging eurozone inflation, rate rise bets helped the single currency climb. Meanwhile, Sterling fell amid UK economic concerns. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) warned that half a million British firms could go bust in a matter of weeks and urged the government to deliver more support. In addition, new lending data indicated that Britons were taking on more debt in order to cope with the increased cost of living, and UK business confidence slumped. Following the bank holiday weekend, GBP/EUR managed to recover. News that Boris Johnson would face a no confidence vote boosted the pound. Investors expected Johnson to win, and he did, effectively securing his position as PM for the next year and thereby creating political stability. However, the eurozone’s GDP growth rate for the first quarter of this year was revised significantly higher, from 0.3% to 0.6%. This sent EUR soaring. Then came the ECB decision. The bank signalled that rate rises were coming in July and September, as expected. However, the ECB also suggested that a 50-bps hike could be on the way. This surprised markets, and EUR surged to a near one-month high against GBP, before trimming its gains somewhat.

June 15th June 28th 2022

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?

As for the euro, the ZEW economic sentiment index could cause some movement. Low morale may weigh on EUR. The Russia-Ukraine crisis might also impact the singThe next two weeks could be particularly eventful for GBP. We kick off with UK GDP for April, followed by latest unemployment figures, the Bank of England (BoE) interest rate decision and May’s retail sales. GBP investors will be scrutinising the data to gauge how much trouble the UK economy is in. If the results indicate the country is heading for a recession, then Sterling could stumble. The economic data could also impact how markets respond to the BoE decision. If policymakers vote to raise rates but the economic data is poor, economists may grow even more worried about the future of the UK economy. The UK inflation rate is also a key focus. Will price pressures continue to surge higher? le currency. If tensions continue to escalate, EUR could come under pressure. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY

This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £200,000 transfer, that onecent gap between €1.17 and €1.16 translates to a €2,000 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer different tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager there to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

By George Mathias

ment for police to demonstrate an exploitative relationship exists with the sex worker in order to prosecute. “People who turn to women in a situation of prostitution participate directly in the network that shores up this serious violation of human rights,” the Socialist party said on its Twitter account. But the proposed law has divided opinion within the women’s rights movement. Medicos del Mundo, which estimates that 80% of the 350,000 women working as prostitutes in Spain are foreigners without legal papers,

insists such a law is required and will make women safer. Antigona however, a group of academics in favour of legalising prostitution, argue that it would force undocumented migrants underground and make them even more vulnerable.

Backing

The bill has won backing from the conservative Popular Party and sailed through parliament with 232 lawmakers voting for it and only 38 against. It will likely go through a raft of amendments before it will be finally approved by parliament, a process that could take many months.

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BUSINESS

June 15th - June 28th 2022

No case to answer Spying charges on Repsol president dropped THE National Court has scrapped investigations into president of Repsol Antonio Brufau over industrial spying going back a decade. Investigating judge Manuel Garcia-Castellon also threw out probes against ex-Caixabank president Isidro Faine and both entities Caixabank and Repsol. Garcia-Castellon investigated whether Repsol and Caixabank hired Grupo Cenyt, a security firm belonging to ex-police chief Jose Manuel Villarejo, to spy on the president of construction company Sacyr, Luis del Rivero, in 2011 and 2012. Villarejo is at the centre of what has been called ‘Operation Tandem’. He’s been accused of illegally gathering sensitive information about businesses for industrial espionage via phone taps and unauthorised recordings. In regard to spying on Sacyr, the judge said that his investigation ‘showed without doubt’ that Caixabank and Repsol as ‘a whole’ did not break any laws in their dealings with Grupo Cenyt. He added that neither Brufau or Faine had any knowledge about commissioning Grupo Cenyt

Visa move MINISTER of Social Security and Migration Jose Luis Escriva has announced plans to relax work permit rules for foreigners amid labour shortages in industries like tourism and construction. This is despite there still being 2.9 million unemployed in the country. The government’s plan is to grant more temporary visas for sectors that are in need of workers. “We are evaluating different aspects of the migration law and seeing where there is room for improvement in order to reduce the shortage of workers,” said Escriva. The tourism, construction and technology sectors have been particularly badly hit by a lack of workers. The Spanish government plans to allow around 50,000 non-EU students to combine work with studying. It will also be easier to access work permits for people who have family connections in Spain. The country has temporary migration agreements with Morocco, Ecuador and Colombia and there are plans to extend temporary work visas to other Central American Countries.

Menu surprise A RESTAURANT business with premises in Malaga and Algeciras has started to publish its employees’ salaries on its menu. Grillaera burger chain has decided to include the salaries and hours that its employees work to promote good working conditions among other restaurants in Spain. The menu has now gone viral on Twitter. Speaking to the Olive Press, manager Justo Castaño said: “Everything started when someone published on Twitter that our restaurant was really expensive, and another tweeted that it is because we pay our workers fairly. “We came up with the idea of writing the salaries on the menu, as some people complained about the price,” he added. All of the staff are paid €1,648 per month for a five day a week job.

By Alex Trelinski

or Manuel Villarejo. Nevertheless Villarejo and his business partner Rafael Redondo, as well as former security chiefs at Caixabank and Repsol, will be tried for alleged spying. Villarejo was arrested in 2017 with an array of high-profile companies linked to his services.

CLEARED: Antonio Brufau

FOUR DAY WEEK TELEFONICA is the first Spanish company to implement a four-day working week for staff who want it, but workers will have to take a drop in salary in exchange. The company started trialling the system last year with 150 employees volunteering. Telefonica employees who take advantage of the Flexible Working Hours project will see their working hours reduced by 5.5, but will see a reduction in pay equivalent to just 4.5 hours. Now, the company has reached an agreement with trade unions to offer the entire workforce the so-called Bonus Flexible Weekly Workday. UGT, which is the biggest trade union at the company, said that the Flexible Bonus Day is positive for worker’s rights.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Delayed payout

A MALLORCA court has awarded six Ryanair passengers €1,533 in compensation after their flights were delayed in the summer of 2018. The Irish budget airline refused to cough up payments after a five-hour delay on a flight from Sevilla to Palma. Damages claimed by the passengers included additional costs for hiring a car. The Palma Commercial Court condemned Ryanair for ‘recklessness’ in dragging its heels over compensation, which it said should have been paid automatically. Rules state that compensation of between €250 and €600 is payable if a flight is delayed by more than three hours. The payment also depends on the length of the flight. Since it was below 1,500 kilometres, each passenger on the Sevilla service was entitled to €250.

HAM slicers have a prominent role in Spanish bars and restaurants - and now they can have the certificate to prove their skills. The Academia Española de Jamon (Asejam) is striving to create a qualification for professional ham cutters. This is following an announcement from the Ministry of Education anticipating that by 2025, over 49% of jobs will require qualified professionals.

Fines of up to €1 million threatened for ‘wasting food’ SUPERMARKETS will soon have to sell cut-price ‘out-ofshape’ fruit and vegetables as part of new government rules to reduce food waste. The move is part of a new food waste bill approved by the Council of Ministers which now goes forward for approval to Congress. Around 1.3 million tons of food is thrown away every year in Spain, dominated by fresh produce. Food stores will

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June 15th - June 28th 2022

Don’t take the biscuit!

A cut above “We have always been hindered by not having any academic certificate that recognises our profession,” said Sergio Bellido, Asejam president. Earlier this year Robert De Niro showed off his ham carving skills in preparation for Madrid Fusion.

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT By Alex Trelinski

be obliged to dedicate part of their shelf displays to selling cut-price fruit and vegetables that have an imperfect or unattractive shape. Retailers will also have to offer reductions on products that are

close to reaching sell-by dates, with price cuts of at least 50% to ensure shelves are cleared. Non-compliance with the food waste law will see fines of between €6,000 and €150,000, rising up to €1 million in cases of repeated serious infractions. The food waste bill aims to deal with the whole chain from farmers through to consumers with the aim of stopping all food dumping at landfill sites. F o o d storage, transportation and conservation facilities will have to be optimised

with the end of practices that cause food to be thrown away. Supermarkets, as well as restaurants and industrial caterers, will be ordered not to throw away food that has passed expiry dates. Instead they will have to sign agreements with food banks and charities to get the surpluses. Food that is not suitable for human consumption is expected to be used to feed livestock and to make fodder. Alternatively, food will be converted into fertilisers and biogas.

A SHORTAGE of wheat is driving up the price of bread and biscuits in Spain. Estimates from ASAJA show that, on average, Spain requires approximately 36 million tonnes of grain each year to meet the demands of animal and human consumption. This year, the country will be fortunate to produce 15.4 million tonnes. Exceptionally high May temperatures, in addition to damage caused by pests, has left farmers in Spain concerned about potentially low harvests this winter.

Ukraine

Spain normally imports much of its wheat and grain from Ukraine. However, shipments have been impeded due to the war with Russia. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that around 20 million tonnes of grain is currently unable to be exported from Ukraine. This is following the blockages of ports preventing exports, as well as the bombings of several grain warehouses.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

June 15th - June 28th 2022

FOLLOWING THE HERD

EET Valentin, his dog Hooky, and his friend, Alberto. We occasionally see each other on my walks near Requena, a rural area in Valencia province. There is a language barrier but we do ‘communicate’ on some level, and here is what I’ve gleaned: Valentine is 83 years old, and claims to be the oldest pastor (shepherd) in the area. He has been herding sheep and goats for two decades since retiring from a factory.

Ancient shepherd trails in Spain: ideal for walking, cycling . . . and sheep, writes Jack Gaioni

He loves his work because he can be with his beloved dog and smoke Cuban cigars all day long. Alberto lost his job as a heavy equipment operator 10 years ago during the long recession and is thankful for his work with sheep because it makes him feel connected to nature. He grazes his flock of 500 along the trails between Requena and Utiel. Valentine and Alberto claim to be among los ultimos pastores (the If you suffer from... Or you need... last shep• Mobility problems • Help with herds). Their personal stowashing /dressing • Pain / Breathlessness ries, albeit • Falls / Stumbles • Supervision humble, are part of an You could be entitled to extra income important tradition. by claiming UK sickness/disability The trails that Valenbenefits while living in Spain tin and Alberto follow FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION belong to call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 a network www.ukbenefitsinspain.com of livestock routes called

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cañadas. There are over 130,000 kilometres of cañadas criss-crossing the Iberian Peninsula – more, in total, than the combined length of Spanish railway lines! The trails facilitate a process called transhumance, or seasonal droving, in which livestock is moved from lower winter pastures to higher summer pastures. Transhumance has been practised in Spain for centuries. Shepherds still have right of way on the cañadas, a privilege they have held for 500 years. The system has many environmental positives. Farmers can move their flocks and herds to wherever there is the best grazing, which is more efficient and sustainable than bringing the food to the animals. Rather than being confined, animals are fitter and healthier. They don’t overgraze one spot but range across vast areas, helping keep grasslands under control and reducing the risk of wildfires. Take the Cañada Real Cuenca, which stretches 532 km from Teruel in Aragon, through Castilla-La Mancha, to Jaen in Andalucia: It encompasses a variety of landscapes, ecosystems and rich biodiversity, allowing drovers to move up and down its length seeking out the best pastures and sources of water for each season. The cultural aspect is also import-

OLD PALS: Valentine, Hooky and Alberto

ant. In 2016, transhumance was declared an ‘honored example of immaterial culture’ by the Spanish government. Streets are frequently closed in pueblos as sheep and goats pass through, and many communities up and down the country throw special annual events to celebrate the pastoral tradition. The Transhumance Festival, which takes place every October in Madrid, is the most famous. More than 2,000 sheep and goats are herded along to Plaza Cibeles where they assemble in

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front of the City Hall. There, watched by thousands of onlookers, they are ceremoniously greeted by the mayor. The shepherds then make a symbolic payment of 50 coins per thousand animals for the right to cross the city. It is a ceremony and payment which dates back to 1418. Shepherding may be a profession that’s in decline in this day of modernisation, but it is not a forgotten one. I’ll remind Valentine and Alberto of this fact the next time we meet – in my best Spanish of course!

HEALTH

Monkeypox jabs

VACCINES against monkeypox will be used in a tiny number of cases where people have had close contact with sufferers. Spain and the UK have the largest number of monkeypox outbreaks out of over 1,000 cases recorded internationally. The Ministry of Health has received 200 vaccine shots which will be offered to people who may have been exposed to monkeypox and may suffer an adverse reaction.

Booster

Health experts have been keen to point out that monkeypox is not a public health emergency akin to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ministry also announced a second Covid-19 booster injection for people aged 80 and over; people in residential homes; and other vulnerable groups. The overwhelming majority of Covid deaths in Spain are now among elderly members of the population. Assessments will be made of latest infection rates before deciding on the most appropriate time to administer the booster dose.

June 15th June 28th 2022

Fags ban call Spaniards in favour of stricter smoking bans

THE majority of Spaniards want to see stricter laws on smoking in public places. Some 85% want to see smoking bans extended, with 72% saying smoking should be prohibited on bar and restaurant terraces. According to a survey by the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), 56.8% would restrict smoking in all open public spaces, 54% on beaches, 43.6% in private cars, and 24.2% in the street. The findings were presented during No Smoke week, which raised awareness of the dangers of smoking, a habit which causes the death of 52,000

By Kimberly Mannion

people in Spain per year. Coordinator of No Smoke week, Susana Morena, is also in favour of extending these rules to new smoking alternatives like vaping, on which she comments that young people have the ‘false perception that they ‘are not as bad’. Maria Fernandez, President of

A SPANISH influencer was so outraged over her treatment by staff at a hotel in Paris that she took to her social media channel to complain to her 350,000 plus followers. Laura Ponts was furious that she was fined €100 after she was caught lighting a cigarette in a no smoking room. “€100 for smoking a cigarette in the room with the window open! Merci Hotel Ballu, I’m not coming back!” read the post by Lopez along with a picture of the fine on her

semFYC, said: “If Covid is to continue being a public health problem, the number one enemy, meaning tobacco, cannot be left to the side.” The question of smoking on terraces in Spain has been debated for some time, and some local and regional governments have taken steps to limit smoking in public places, with lighting up on the beach in Barcelona banned from July.

Smoked out

Instagram stories. But she didn’t get quite the reaction she was hoping for, with many of her followers taking the side of the hotel staff. “Believe me, the hotel doesn’t want you to come back either” and “Good for the Ballu Hotel for not letting itself be blackmailed by Laura Ponts” were just two of the replies.

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A BRITISH man had a wedding night to forget in Mallorca after hitting his bride and being carted off to jail from a property in the Calvia municipality, though his new wife refused to press charges.

Chipper chimp A CIRCUS monkey dumped in a Ukraine dog shelter after his owner was killed in the war has a new home 1,000 kilometres away in Villena, Alicante.

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Vol. 16 Issue 396 www.theolivepress.es June 15th - June 28th 2022

Rock n Roll Pres Barack Obama heads for hotel where Guns N’Roses stayed HE is easily the hippest of ex-presidents, so it’s no surprise to learn he’s staying at a hotel normally frequented by rock and football stars. US legend Barack Obama has checked in at five-star Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, this week. The Casares hotel, near Estepona, is celebrated for being the chill out spot, post tour, of fellow American rock legends Guns N’Roses.

By Kimberley Mannion

As the Olive Press revealed in 2014, both singer and guitarist Slash (pitured with Obama) and Axl Rose have taken €1,000-a-night suites for a week at the end of their European tours. Also a highly-rated golf course, it is no surprise that footballers including Gareth Bale, James Milner and Jamie Carragher

Lazy postie A BUILDER doing renovation work on a Biar house that used to belong to an Alicante postman, discovered over 20,000 undelivered letters dating back to 2012. The previous homeowner worked for Correos in 2012 and 2013 on a temporary contract.

have stayed over recent years. And we can reveal that Obama himself is taking full advantage of the testing 18hole course, as well as the

even more famous Real Club Valderrama, just up the road, where a round of golf costs around €400. The president is following in the footsteps of his wife, Michelle, who came to Andalucia in 2010, with their daughters, staying nearby in Hotel Villa Padierna. Barack is this week set to be the keynote speaker at an international forum on innovation and digital transformation in Malaga. The Digital Enterprise Show 2022 (DES) costs around €1990 to attend.

A WILD boar caused chaos when it emerged from the sea after a cooling dip and BIT an elderly woman. Lifeguards spotted the animal swimming off Albir beach on the Costa Blanca and blew warning whistles to get bathers out of the water. But as they set foot on dry land, so did the boar. It charged down the beach and bit a 67-year-old woman in the leg. She was taken to a health centre for treatment and the boar continued on its merry way and disappeared inland.

Tick tock gone A tourist had a Barcelona trip to forget after thieves tore off his €800,000 wrist watch in the street. The theft happened in the C i u t a t Vella area of the Catalan capital.