Olive Press Spain - Issue 407

Not grinning now!

END OF THE LINE FOR COCA QUEEN

By Walter Finch

A FORMER Andalucian leader has been given ten days to check himself into prison.

Jose Griñán must hand himself over after his bid to dodge jail for running one of the largest corrup tion schemes in Spanish history was denied.

The 76-year-old was handed a six-year stretch for his role in overseeing the disgraceful ERE scandal in which almost €1 billion disappeared from public coffers between 2001 and 2009.

‘Godfather’

Lawyers for the former Junta president have been battling to suspend the sentence since he was sentenced in 2019.

But yesterday a court in Sevilla de nied his request for a pardon and ordered the socialist and seven of his former colleagues to prison.

The eight convicts had previously enjoyed a Godfather-style exis tence distributing public funds to friends and family that were de signed to help insolvent compa nies let go of staff.

SHE was the Rolls Royce of cocaine smuggling since the 1990s and looked every inch the part in her €700 blous es and €1,000 high heels.

But finally the Queen of Cocaine’s 25year reign has hit a bump in the road, which police expect will write off her crime career for good.

Dubbed the ‘Reina de Cocaine’, the OP can today reveal her identity as Maria Teresa Jaimes Caicedo, a glam orous Marbella expat, who lived a life of luxury in a giant mansion with two swimming pools, a tennis court and ‘a garden that resembles the rainforest’. Now under arrest and awaiting trial, she has been fingered as the ringlead er of a gang of 16, behind a Europe an-wide cocaine smuggling operation. Speaking exclusively to the Olive Press, a lead investigator revealed

By Jon Clarke & Anthony Piovesan

how she had managed to ‘live the high life’ for nearly three decades, while quietly pulling the strings behind one of Spain’s biggest drug smuggling op erations.

Describing her as ‘a real black widow’ - who has already seen two previous husbands put behind bars for smug gling - the undercover officer added it was ‘remarkable’ she had somehow flown under the radar.

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

“From the street her house didn’t look anything special, but when we en tered it was like a city, with interlink ing paths and numerous outbuildings where all her family lived,” he said.

“I’ve seen many homes of criminals, but this was something else. Some 3,000-metres squared in size and with a garden like the selva with a ten nis court and two pools.”

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

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

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

Panic room

“She actually slept in her own pan ic room bedroom, which was only reached via a false door from a li brary.”

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

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

racks of Prada shoes, Dsquared2 jackets and Gucci bags was a packet of cocaine.

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

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

While she claimed to

Life of the Black Widow

She first came on to the police radar in 2005 after her then-husband, no torious French narco Michel Curtet, was arrested in Portugal on a boat with 6,100 kilos of cocaine, worth €214 million.

While the former armed robber was handed a 12-year sentence and later another four in France, Maria Teresa was not even probed.

She has two other ex-husbands, one a German convicted of smuggling 200 kilos of cocaine into Denmark in 2015, while the other is from Belgium, who police are currently investigating.

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

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

So far police have arrested 16 people in Marbella, Alhaurin and Fuengirola, as well as Murcia, Barcelona and Alican te. The majority are Polish and Danish.

BRANDED: Block of cocaine

Maria Teresa (above) was born in Bucaramanga, in Colombia, in 1973, and has no criminal record.

Get ready for the weird and wonderful

You’re nicked

MACHINE gun-toting po lice arrested nine people in a drugs raid in Marbel la, with the officers wear ing bullet-proof vests and balaclavas kicking down the doors of premises in La Campana industrial estate.

Last laugh

POLICE busting an illegal party in Mijas after a noise nuisance complaint found 150 partygoers, includ ing many minors who had been boozing and taking laughing gas.

Caught out

COPS have arrested four people over a series of break-ins in Ronda where two businesses and one home were targeted, with police investigating sever al more burglaries.

Bad dad

A DAD who rushed his baby daughter to hospi tal in Marbella after she turned blue has been arrested after doctors re alised she had breathed in marihuana fumes and suffered a lack of oxygen.

Holiday fraud couple face bed behind bars

A PAIR of fraudsters have been arrested in Malaga for a cam paign of ripping off hotels and tourist apartments.

The man, 28, and his girlfriend, 26, left a trail of unpaid bills

across Spain.

The couple paid for their over night stays with a bank trans fer, which they showed as proof of payment.

Once they had checked out they

cancelled the payment, leaving the hoteliers out of pocket.

According to police, the couple, who already have criminal re cords, pulled the stunt at least 12 times.

Spiking ordeal

A BRITISH teenager

Drugging fears as five arrested during dramatic rescue of ‘detained’ women in Marbella apartment

By Alex Trelinski

The 16-year-old victim was discovered naked in bed by police who also rescued a semi-naked 20-year-old Lithuanian woman.

Both women are thought to have been sexually assault ed after being drugged at a

A COSTA del Sol lawyer has been arrested for working for ‘one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the world’ known by police as FAA.

The lawyer was one of 10 suspects arrested as Guardia Civil seized 11 houses, 36 luxury cars, three boats, 5.1 tonnes of cocaine and more than €1 million in cash in a monster haul.

Guardia Civil carried out the sec ond stage of the joint operation with Europol, after the first phase in Barcelona in December led to

window as he tried to flee. Police found a machine gun and a machete in the apartment.

An Irishman, a Moroccan, an Iranian and an underage Finnish citizen were also de tained. The alert had been raised when the young vic tim phoned a friend to tell

Monster haul

the arrest of the Moroccan gang leader.

Police claimed the ‘high value target’ FAA worked with the infa mous ‘Los Castanos’ gang based in the Campo de Gibraltar area. Searches were carried out in Bar celona, Almeria, Murcia and Mal aga, where the ‘right hand man’, of the Moroccan drug lord was arrested.

them she was being held against her will.

When police rushed to the flat, ear ly on Sunday morning, the gang would not open the door and one officer was injured as the door was broken

down.

Inside the property, police discovered the British teen ager in bed and said to be ‘very scared’.

The Lithuanian victim was in a ‘very disorientated’ state.

Three of the men tried to es cape by jumping out of the window, including the Brit ish man.

Finnish

Fortunately additional police were able to round them up near the Ocean Club.

The 17-year-old Finnish boy claimed not to know anybody and could not explain what he was doing there.

The victims were taken to hospital and said they could not remember anything after leaving a bar until they came round in the apartment.

Nazi faces jail

A NEO-NAZI who claims there is a plan to ‘destroy the white race’ and that Europe is being ‘invaded’ by immi grants is facing three years in prison.

Malaga’s Provincial Court is hearing how Pedro Varela, (pictured) 65, incited racial hatred on digital platforms.

Varela, who has prior convic tions for justification of geno cide, is also being sued for other racist and homophobic behaviour at public events, including at a 2017 Malaga conference.

According to the public pros ecutor, Varela has made claims that the white race is superior and that multicul turalism weakens Spain. The case was brought against Varela - who has been in pris on for printing and selling copies of Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf - after state ments were made on two pro grammes.

In one he claimed that Afri can people were an inferior race and for them to survive whites needed to disappear.

Varifocal glasses from 128€

Fuengirola Avda. Ramón y Cajal,

Marbella Avda. Ricardo Soriano,

has been rescued from a Costa del Sol apartment after she made a desperate plea for help via her phone.

nearby bar in Puerto Banus. Cops arrested five men in the dramatic operation in which a 20-year-old British man broke an ankle when he jumped from a first floor

THE last time Mark Goldstein was in Malaga, he was forced to make a decision that would mean life or death.

Forty years ago the American tourist was one of 381 peo ple trapped inside a burning plane that had failed its takeoff, crossed the runway and smashed into an open field.

Goldstein, 24 years old at the time, found the plane’s exit, but it was on fire.

“It was either jump through the flames or be burned alive,” he said.

The Arizona resident jumped 12 feet off the right wing of the burning plane to safety, and just moments later the aircraft exploded a second time.

No one else made it out alive af ter that second explosion.

Speaking exclusively to the Ol ive Press Goldstein, now 65 years old, revealed he is set to retire to Malaga.

It’ll be the first time he has re turned to the Andalucian port city since that fateful day.

On the morning of September 13, 1982, a Spantax flight had flown from Madrid to Malaga, and later that day was bound for New York.

But flight BX995 never made it into the sky.

The plane was hurtling down the landing strip at about 130 mph with 1,295 metres of the runway left when the plane be gan to dip upwards for take-off.

But the captain felt a strong vi bration - it was caused by pieces of tread from the wheel beneath the nose of the plane detaching.

The vibration was so fierce the captain thought he would be unable to control the plane mid-air, so aborted the take-off.

At that point Goldstein said he heard a loud explosion and looked out the window to see flames shooting out from the belly of the plane.

“I shouted out: ‘brace, we are going to crash!’ and sure enough we went right off the runway,” he said.

The plane collided with a con crete building and smashed through the metal fence of the

CARRY-ON

By Anthony Piovesan

airport, crossing the N-340 highway and striking at least three vehicles.

The aircraft then smashed into a greenhouse and burst into flames in an open field.

“The cabin filled immediate ly with this black smoke and fire, you couldn’t see in front of you,” Goldstein continued.

“I remember jumping over rows of seats and then I found an exit, but there was no chute - it was on fire.”

Goldstein then realised his best friend Gayle wasn’t by his side.

“I thought ‘oh my God how am I going to get off the plane without her’, she’s like a sister to me,” he said.

“I went back and found her, grabbed her arm and just threw her over the rows of chairs until we found the exit again.

“I heard a lady scream, ‘save my baby’, and someone grabbed an infant from a woman and jumped out of the plane.”

Goldstein made sure Gayle jumped first, and then he fol lowed, leaping 12 feet through the flames and off the right wing of the plane, into the field below.

“It was either that or die,” he said.

Goldstein and Gayle coughed up black soot from all of the smoke inhalation.

He said there was ‘absolute chaos’ surrounding the plane.

As he looked at the aircraft and could see black smoke billowing from the engines.

“Our two other friends, Alan

and Mindy, came out shortly after us and then we just ran away from the plane to a safe distance,” Goldstein said.

“Sure enough there was a sec ond explosion and I didn’t see many people come out of the aircraft after that.”

Goldstein said emergency ser vices arrived and took the in jured away to Malaga Hospital.

“They put my friend in a wheel chair and just started slapping triage numbers onto us,” he said.

Goldstein only suffered smoke inhalation and burns to his right arm, but his friend Gayle suffered a broken toe. They then got taken to a hotel where Goldstein was reunited with his two other friends, who were miraculously uninjured. Some 12 hours later they were on a flight headed home.

“It’s ironic that I’ll be living in Malaga now,” Goldstein said.

SPAIN’S WORST AIR DISASTERS

1. Tenerife airport disaster: March 27, 1977. Two Boeing 747 jets collided on the runway at Los Ro deos Airport. KLM flight 4805 started take-off while Pan Am flight 1736 was still on the runway. 583 people died.

2. Avianca flight 011: No vember 26, 1983. Inter national flight scheduled from Frankfurt via Paris,

“It will be a weird experience when I am back, but I’ve closed that chapter.

“Despite that unfortunate event I think Spain is a place we will enjoy - it’s a place that is very attractive.”

Goldstein plans to retire from his job in customer service next year and relocate to Spain with his husband Peter.

Explored

It is something he has explored extensively over the past few months, launching a podcast in August this year, Where Do Gays Retire?

He said the podcast was aimed at helping members of the LGBTQ+ community find a safe and affordable retirement destination.

Three air crew and 47 passen gers died in the plane crash, in what is one of Spain’s most shocking air disasters.

Madrid and Caracas to Bogota. Crashed upon landing 12km south of Madrid airport. 181 peo ple were killed.

3. Spantax flight 275 (above): December 3, 1972. The plane crashed while tak ing off from Tenerife-Norte Los Rodeos Airport. 155 people died.

World stage

MALAGA will host the Davis Cup finals later this month, where eight countries will face-off in the fa mous knock-out format.

After playing the group stages at four different cities around Europe in September, the losers were weeded out and the top two teams in each group progressed: Italy, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Croatia, Cana da, Australia and the United States.

Spain is looking to capture its seventh Davis Cup victory at the tournament which starts on November 22, but they’ll be without World number one Carlos Alcaraz (pictured).

The 19-year-old, the youngest ever men’s world number one player, suffered a stomach muscle injury in his last match against Holger Rune in the quarter finals of the Paris Masters.

Rafael Nadal, current world number two, was also not named in the side.

BAD WEEK

IT was a bad week for former Barcelona play er Gerard Pique and pop-star ex Shakira. While the famous duo managed to hammer out a custody deal over their children, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7, after a mammoth 12-hour negotiation session, other things did not go according to plan.

A court committed Colombian singer Shakira for trial in a tax evasion case after she refused to take a deal.

Prosecu tors are

calling for an eightyear jail sentence and a €23.8 million fine if she is found guilty.

And days later Pique was sent off against Osasuna in his final ever match without even making it onto the field. He was on the bench when he launched an expletive-laden rant at the referee following a teammate’s red card, and was promptly shown one him self.

EXCLUSIVE: Forty years after surviving a horrific plane crash in Malaga that claimed 50 lives a survivor is returning to the scene to live

SURVIVED: Mark at the time

NOW: Mark today

Basque in his glory

HE is credited with helping to make Spain the world’s Number One culinary nation.

Now 12-Michelin starred ‘godfather of Spanish cuisine’ Martin Berasategui is to open a new restaurant on the Costa del

The Basque chef is to open a new joint in Marbella, he has revealed, although an exact address has not been given.

The 62-year-old will also ex tend his food empire with more restaurants in Tener ife, Mallorca and Dubai next year.

XMAS TURN ON

Flying forward

TAXI travel has taken to the skies in Andalucia with an initial trial described as ‘a success’.

A 640-kilo flying aerotaxi, de signed for two people, com pleted its first flight in Jaen. The three metre-high craft was sent out in Villacarillo as part of a European initiative

Open arms

Andalucia sees first test flight of the three-metre high aerotaxi

By Anthony Piovesan

USPACE 4AM to make aero taxis a viable transport alter native by 2028. The ATLAS

MADRID is the second most LGBTQ+ friend ly city in Europe, according to a new study. The Spanish capital comes sixth in the world for ‘how accepting’ it is, while Barcelona came in 13th.

Only Brighton beats Madrid in Europe, ac cording to the research conducted by Big 7 Travel ranked ‘how accepting’ each city was of the LGBTQ+ community.

Experimen tal Flight Centre said the aero taxi, dubbed Concept Integrity, comes with a built-in GPS naviga tion system. The aircraft takes off ver tically and is remotely

controlled and has four arms with multiple propellers.

The aerotaxi’s first Spanish flight was a ten-metre journey and travelled about 15 km/h. But it is designed to eventual ly travel at speeds of 80km/h and could reach 120 km/h, according to technicians.

Travel

The aerotaxi will have a range of about 15 minutes, in which it can travel 15 km.

“It is a sufficient distance to travel from one side of a city to the other,” explained a spokesman. The aerotaxi will next be flown over Lugo, in Galicia.

Grandpa Neanderthal

SCIENTISTS have discov ered that Neanderthalsor their ancestors - were trampling around south ern Spain 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

The incredible discovery, which junks common sci entific belief, was made by a team at Sevilla University.

GRS Radioisotopes techni cian Jorge Rivera applied a new technique to hu man-like footprints found at Matalascañas beach in Huelva.

It shows Neanderthals (or a similar race) would have lived in the Doñana area during the Middle Pleisto cene, 295,800 years ago, three times older than pre viously thought.

Sonic boom boys

THE sonic boom of six F18 fighter jets rattled windows over the Bay of Malaga.

The Eagle Eye 22-23 oper ation involved more than 2,000 participants and dif ferent resources.

The military manoeuvres were aimed at demonstrat ing the effectiveness of the defence of national air space.

IT’S OVER TO YOU

Do you think you pay a lot of taxes but don’t get enough services?

Complaining with your friends at the bar or on Facebook/Twitter doesn’t change things?

If you are a citizen of any European Union country (even from UK), and if you own a property or if you are renting a property long term in Mijas, please take these three steps:

● Go to the nearest office of the Town Hall (Mijas Village, La Cala, Las Lagunas) and ask for your inclusion in the padron (registry of local inhabitants)

● At the same time, ask for your inclusion on the electoral census (to be able to vote in the local elections)

● The Vote for the next local elections will take place, Sunday, May 28, 2023

● Become part of the solution, make things happen

MALAGA’S festive lights will have a more ‘Christmassy’ flavour this year. The festive ‘forest’ theme of previous years, (left) decorated with suns, angels and autumn leaves, has been swapped for huge celestial angels. The gold and white angels, four-metres tall, will be placed on towering columns down the whole length of the street. Malaga will be lit up with 1.3 million lights in more than 500 streets, kicking off from November 26.

RING OF FURY

THE SPANISH government is planning to assign €20 mil lion to the regions to support the reception of unaccompa nied migrant minors.

The youngsters will be trans ferred from hotspots, includ ing the Canary Islands and the enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta to new homes spread around the country.

The plan by the Social Rights Ministry is set to be taken to the Cabinet in the coming days.

The Canary Islands and Ceuta have been calling on Madrid for more support to take care of unaccompanied migrant minors for many years.

In July, the central govern ment agreed to transfer 400 unaccompanied minors to the peninsula.

According to El Diario, a fur ther 374 youngsters will be sent to the mainland in 2023 given the saturation of mi grant centres in the hotspots.

SPAIN’S former king gave his ex-mistress a giant engage ment ring worth more than half a million euros as an an niversary gift.

Corinna Larsen, 57, has revealed the emerald ring was inscribed ‘22-1-10’, repre senting the five years the German businesswoman and Juan Carlos I had been together.

“He was very proud of it and showed it to all his friends,” she explained. “It's an emerald, diamonds on the side, the classic engagement ring.”

The revelation comes in the third episode of a sensational eight-part podcast detailing her decade-long affair with the ex-monarch, 84, who ab dicated in 2014 after a series

Larsen - who visited the king at Madrid’s palace and took many business trips with him - pro vides shocking details about his dodgy business

These include a kickback of €65 mil lion he had received af ter a trip to Saudi Arabia, as well as other times he came

Unfaithful

Other revelations concern his promiscuity and how she was confronted by his long-suffer ing wife during a private tour of Zarzuela palace.

RACIST CONVICTED

A POLICEMAN has become the first person in Spain convicted of spreading 'fake news'.

The Guardia Civil officer used social media to falsely claim a group of Moroccan mi grants had attacked a Barcelona woman. The unnamed cop posted a video of the al leged ‘brutal attack’ claiming it had been

perpetrated by a gang of migrant children based in Canet de Mar.

The post, seen by 22,000 people, was in fact an unrelated assault in China.

He received a 15-month suspended sen tence by a Barcelona court and must attend a 're-education' course.

“Suddenly, Queen Sofia burst into the room with a face like thunder,” she told the epi sode, produced by US journal ists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope.

The podcast comes at a sensi tive time for the royals, as the ex-king is facing a trial at the High Court in London over the relationship in 2024.

Larsen alleges the king caused her ‘great mental pain’ after he got the Spanish secret service (CNI) to spy on her and harass her after their split.

He denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers argue he is ‘entitled to immunity’ being from the Spanish royal family, although this has been denied so far given his abdication.

Corinna met the ex-king at a dinner party at the Duke of Westminster's giant La Gar ganta estate, in Cordoba. From that moment, the moth

er-of-two started receiving flowers and love letters, while he phoned her ‘10 times a day’ at work under the name ‘Mr Sumer’, an acronym of ‘Su Majestad el Rey’, meaning His Majesty the King.

The most shocking claims however, are linked to the huge sums he had been paid in cash on foreign business trips.

Tight-lipped

Help for ‘hotspot’ migrants Urgent transfer Water worry

URGENT measures are be ing drawn up to combat the drought crisis across Andalucia including transferring water be tween reservoirs.

The Antequera region has made an unprecedented request to have five cubic hectolitres sent from Iznajar reservoir.

The request from the Junta has been sent to Madrid as it’s an inter-provincial issue.

Another project, first proposed in 2014 and, still pending, is to increase the capacity of La Con cepcion reservoir in Marbella. Incredibly, it has to be frequent ly drained into the sea when it reaches full capacity, illogical when there is so much need in other parts of the province, also including the Axarquia.

Across Andalucia reservoirs stand at just 22% full, some 10 points down on last year and over half of a decade ago.

When she asked him about the ‘bags of cash’, he replied: “Oh this is from my friend so and so, and this is from so and so’. It seemed like a very habitual situation.”

She added the king, now living in exile in Abu Dhabi, would brush off further questions telling her she ‘didn't under stand Spain’.

WATER levels in Malaga res ervoirs continue to drop at an alarming rate, especially at la Viñuela which has reached a ‘critical’ situation.

According to the Junta it stands at 15.75 cubic hecto meters, 9.58% of its capacity.

Levels which are alarmingly close to the historic minimum recorded, at 15.2 cubic hecto metres in 2008.

Half a million engagement ring and the corruption levels that lie behind UK trial of ex Spanish king

EXPLOSIVE CLAIMS: Ex-King and lover Corinna

Behind the curtains

ANOTHER week another massive drugs bust.

The tales of traffickers being brought to book by Spanish police are seemingly endless, but dig a little deeper and some surprising in sights can be made.

Too often it seems that, despite the massive hauls of narcotics and cash, luxury cars and property, the people arrested are not the shadowy figures running the show. Or, all too often not so shadowy. Many lead the high life in the full glare of publicity for years, even decades, without ever being brought to account for their criminal actions.

Usually huge amounts of cash are all you need to stay out of jail in Spain, with corrupt police and judicial authorities always on the payroll of most leading mafia gangs. But hopefully the days are numbered.

The Olive Press has had exclusive access to a highly secret police unit that hunts down some of the biggest criminals in Spain. Greco, part of the National Police’s Udyco organised crime and drug unit, operates from nondescript offices and brings in elite officers unknown to the costa crime syndicates from their Madrid HQ. They are rotated regularly to preserve the officers’ anonymity and to avoid them getting corrupted.

Working quietly in the background and out of the public eye, they have been relentlessly bringing the crime lords to book since 2005. Our front page story offers a fascinating glimpse behind the curtains of the work of Greco. It is a team of highly motivated, highly skilled and highly principled officers. And they get results. We are sure our readers will join the Olive Press in thanking them.

King of sleaze

WHILE Greco is working tirelessly to catch criminal Kingpins, more embarrassing revelations about former King Juan Carlos are emerging.

A new podcast series shows how the tentacles of corruption in Spain reached the very highest levels of society - you can’t get high er than the king!

The outcome of a British High Court case brought by his former lover Corinna Larsen is still undecided, but the allegations of corruption and sleaze will now follow him until the day he dies. Fortunately for the Spanish Royal family, his son King Felipe seems to be cut from a different cloth. Let us hope that, like the officers of Greco, he remains incorruptible too.

Better luck this time!

THIS Sunday - November 20 - marks the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

While rightly surrounded in contro versy for many reasons, Spain will make their debut against Costa Rica in Group E next Wednesday, while England play on Monday.

The betting odds are in and the experts have given football fans a list of clear favourites to win the trophy. Brazil is a strong favour ite, but look out for Argentina, Belgium, France (the 2018 winners), England and Spain to field strong, com petitive teams.

Of course, there are al ways unpredictable sur prises. But few have been more vivid than Spain’s experience during the tourna ment co-hosted by South Korea and Japan in 2002.

Here is how it unfolded…

The 2002 Spanish team was a favourite to go deep into the World Cup competition and the players were determined to rectify their disappointing early elimination from the previous 1998 competition.

The Spanish team was not made of many big individual

egos but rather one unit with a single-minded destiny - that of bringing the cup to Spain for the first time.

Although Spanish teams had always had a strong record in international competi tion (including the Europe an Championships and the Olympics) the ultimate prize had continually eluded them.

The 2002 team was led by a 33-year-old goalie named Santiago Cañizares (left). He was no stranger to international competition having represented Spain in two previous World Cups and three European Championships.

Peter Schmeichel, the legendary Manchester United goalie and part of the BBC TV team that year, regarded Santiago as ‘the finest goalkeeper in world football’.

Strong praise indeed. However, on the last day of training while shower ing Cañizares slipped, dropped a bot tle of aftershave and severed a ten don in his foot with the glass shards.

Spain would enter the 2002 World Cup without the best goalkeeper on the plane.

This proved to be a prelude to a string of bad luck - or perhaps something else, as we shall see - that would follow this Spanish team over the next few weeks. The strange events really began with

KICKSTARTER

multiple controversies in the Round of 16 clash between host nation South Korea and Italy.

The European press described it as ‘a steady flow of unpunished fouls’ by the Koreans coupled with ‘an unbelievable litany of refereeing errors’.

Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno (more about him later) somehow tolerated the over-aggressive pressing game by Korea, while sending Italian superstar Frances co Totti off for a questionable ‘diving’ call.

Later, Moreno wrongly disallowed the po tential winning goal for offside and the Koreans’ eventual 2-1 victory did not sit well and the Italian team and press went rightly apoplectic!

TODAY the Spanish and Scots may appear to be operating in different footballing spheres. But did you know that it was a Scotsman who got the ball rolling, literally, for football in Spain?

Dr William Alexander Mackay, born the youngest of nine children in Lybster, near Ab erdeen, in 1860, has long been credited as the man who introduced football to Spain. Mackay’s contribution to Spanish football is little-known in the UK, but in a tiny corner of Andalucia, he remains a much venerated figure.

A year after graduating from Edinburgh Uni versity with a degree in medicine, Mackay was sent to Huelva to work as a doctor for the Rio Tinto mining company, in Minas de Riotinto.

He was clearly cut from different cloth to

most: While Sangria and a siesta were the favoured afternoon pastimes for his friends and colleagues, Mackay, who had played for Edinburgh University when they won the East of Scotland Shield in 1883, set about converting them to the beautiful game.

Aside from his official duties, Mackay would work for free on Thursdays treating all the sick and injured who arrived at the nearby port city.

In order to keep the Rio Tinto workforce physically fit, as well as provide quality lei sure time, Mackay organised football and cricket events.

The sports club was originally for Rio Tinto workers only, but by 1889, it had grown to become Spain’s very first amateur football club. Today’s team lineup is filled with suit

In 1909, King Alfonso XIII awarded him the so-called Great White Cross for his services to medicine.

Some six years later, Mackay returned the honour by offering the king the title of hon orary president of the club.

HOME: The Velodrome stadium where Rio Tinto played

ably hispanic surnames but in 1890, when the club played their first away game in Sevilla, the XI was largely a British affair: Al cock, Yates, Wakelin, Du clos, Coto, Kirk, Daniels, Curtis, Gibbon and Smith. Mackay, who was also helping to build a new hos pital for the city, was laud ed as the founder of foot ball in Spain, and locals praised him for helping to put the small port city, with its population of just 150,000, on the map.

Today the club is known as RC Recreativo de Huelva and for the last 130 years has nurtured the talents of many major players, including Antonio Valencia, Santi Cazorla, Antonio Núñez, Daniel Guiza and Florent Sinama Pongolle.

Mackay was an idealist who believed in the pure amateur form of sport. Unfortunately for his club, other teams in Spain were be coming professional outfits and Recreativo could not keep up with the big spenders.

But in a surprising twist of fate, Recreati vo de Huelva rose far above the amateur ranks of its past to achieve one of the great est – and most surprising – moments of football history.

In December 2006, the team crushed Real Madrid with a 3-0 win at the Bernabeu.

How a Scottish doctor, some miners and a kickabout in a field ignited Spain’s passion for the beautiful game in 1880

As the World Cup looms, Jack Gaioni recalls the misfortunes of the 2002 Spanish team - and how a crooked ref later went to prison for heroin smuggling!

AFTERSHAVE: Knocked goalie Cañizares out, while Totti (above) was sent off

The headlines were brutal. “Italy thrown out of a dirty World Cup where referees and linesmen are used as hitmen,” report ed The Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Eventually FIFA agreed to a probe admit ting: “As a result of a number of controver sies, FIFA has decided to launch an inves tigation.” Four days later that plot would only thicken…

The record shows that South Korea would go on to knock out Spain, 5-3, during a penalty shootout in the quarter finals. If only it was that simple. Egyptian refer

ee

Bizarrely, when Javi De Pedro floated a free kick off a South Korean defender into the net it was mysteriously disallowed.

A second disallowed goal, a decision even more shocking than the first, came two minutes into extra time.

The linesmen flagged that the ball had gone out of bounds though the replays clearly proved otherwise.

Spain’s Ivan Helguera, who had to be physically pulled away from the referee, claimed: “What happened was robbery…everyone saw two perfectly good goals. If Spain didn’t win it is because they didn’t want us to win.”

The Spanish press was be yond indignant. ‘ROBBED’ was the Marca headline. ‘The officials are the thieves of dreams’.

Meanwhile Diario AS , claimed: “We did not deserve this - not the Spanish - nor any lovers of football”.

The European press once again was liv id. Respected pundit Paul Hayward at the Telegraph wrote: “This tournament has descended into a farce.”

He went on to rail against FIFA’s decision to select referees from minor footballing na tions unaccustomed to the highest level of competition, labelling it ‘anti-meritocratic’.

The Argentinian daily La Nation called the tournament the ‘biggest scandal in World Cup history’ and wanted the tournament declared ‘null and void’.

In both Italy and Spain, the prevailing opinion was that the match was ‘rigged or fixed’ in order to keep the host nation in the tournament.

Favouritism would justify FIFA’s grand ambition of expanding the sport into Asia (China being the biggest prize).

But that was 20 years ago. Going into this year’s Cup, we must remember that some of this year’s 2022 squad were just infants (or were not even born).

Blaming the refereeing offi cials has never been a good strategy. As the saying goes: “When you blame others, you give up your power to change.”

Thankfully, the 2002 deba cle was the exception rather than the rule. It is anticipated that this year’s World Cup will draw over one million spectators in at tendance to the 64 matches.

The competition will reach a global inhome television audience of over three billion (yes billion!) people.

The World Cup is a much-anticipated occa sion for fans everywhere to gather and cel ebrate community, culture and competition. My only advice to players and fans might be to avoid showering with a glass bottle of af tershave next to you!

Back to the future

THE Olive Press team has decades of news experi ence under their belts.

Some even started in the days of ‘hot metal’, bashing out stories via ancient typewriters (be low) on flimsy paper with a carbon sheet to get a copy for the sub editors (ED: note to youngsters: that’s what a ‘carbon copy’ means!)

It is fair to say the world of news has moved on since then!

First came computers, which helped speed up the pro duction process, then came the internet revolution.

Now we can offer our readers many more stories on our website than we ever could in our printed papers.

Yes, 20-plus a day, with over 30,000 of you already regis tered to receive them.

And we are not stopping there. We are con stantly embrac ing change, always looking to the latest forms of media to get our stories out to new readers.

Be it Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, we have tens of thousands of followers on social media - and - like it or not - these platforms are a big part of our future.

One young man, teenager Alfie Clarke, is helping us make a name for ourselves in the ‘kids’ world’ of TikTok videos.

For us old hacks it seems remarkable that in just a couple of months his TikTok posts have got well over a quarter of a million views.

But his videos are not just informative, they take on board the good old fashioned news values we learned back in the day.

Hence, his maps of recent snowfalls around Spain at the weekend, have had 70,000 views, while his post on nationwide energy use, has had 16,000 so far.

It is a stunning achievement and doesn’t just help our global reach, but also gets youngsters engaged with a range of interesting topics and news each week.

It also shows the Olive Press is continually looking to the future with new tech nology - and with the young blood we have on board, that future looks good.

Want to engage with our million-plus visitors a month?

Please get in touch at sales@theolivepress.es

As for Mackay, he moved back to the UK just three years after Huelva city council appointed him as an Adopted Son of the City in July 1923.

In poor health at the time, Mackay chose to retire to Heathmount Farm, near Tain, in Scotland where he lived until his death in 1927.

It’s not the most exciting of Andalucian cities, but if you are ever kicking about in Huelva, you can actually stay at the Ho tel Colon in the centre of the city, where Mackay once lived.

Make sure to rummage in the minibar and make a toast to Señor Mackay, the British Don of Spanish football.

● Ultimately, Brazil would win the 2002 World Cup making them the first and only country to have won the World Cup five times.

● Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno (right) was arrested in 2010 in New York for trying to smuggle six kilograms of heroin hidden in his underwear. He would serve two-and-a-half years in prison.

David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo were part of a Madrid line-up humbled by Recreativo in the shock tri umph.

WINNERS: The early Huelva teams where multiple cup holders including the Seamen’s trophy

Gamal Al-Gandhour wrongly disallowed two goals and had a litany of incorrect off side calls - some called from just 15 me tres away.

FURY: At two Spanish disallowed goals, leading to corruption claims of match fixing

● Santiago Cañizares would recover from his severed tendon enough to play a few more years with Valencia CF.By 2010 Cañizares, the great competitor, suc cessfully changed sports. He competed for the first time in a scoring event for the Spanish Rally Championship driving a Suzuki. In 2017, he earned his first victory winning The Rally de Ceramica driving a Porsche 997.

DID YOU KNOW?

Pundit Hayward wrote: “This tournament has descended into a farce.”

BARCELONA, the glittering jewel of the western Mediter ranean, could be enshrouded in clouds of thick toxic smog, have its green spaces wither away and lose some of its most beau tiful beaches by the year 2100.

A new AI-powered model of future climate change shows a computer generated image of the city’s iconic Eixample neighbourhood and its grid layout ringed by a thick and oppressive cloud of smog as the skyline is lost in the pollution.

The home of FC Barca is fa mous for its seafront setting and mountain views, but these could all be lost to the pollution that would also clog the spires of the Sagrada Familia and the upper floors of the distinctive ly-shaped Torre Glories.

In addition, over the coming century the city could face pro longed periods of heatwaves that result in desertification of the coastal area.

Other threats include rising sea levels and flooding, which would wipe out beaces, wild fires in the surrounding hills, and degradation of the infra structure, health and living standards of the city’s predicted

Power on

ENERGY giant Iberdrola will invest €17 billion in renewable energy over the next two years as it aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Nearly half of the amount will be spent on offshore projects in Europe and the US.

Iberdrola is pushing to remain one of the leaders in global renewable pow er at a time when utilities are facing a challenging transition away from fos sil fuels.

By Walter Finch

six million inhabitants by 2100.

While AI suggests extreme smog due to air pollution, floods and desertification,

Uswitch, which sponsored the report, also tasked the tool to envision a best-case scenario for the future should the goals

DANGEROUSLY close to the point of no return were the words used by UN Secretary Gen eral Antonio Guterres last week at the COP 27 conference in Egypt. AND HE’S RIGHT.

Seven years ago at the Paris Summit all nations agreed to a target of re stricting global warming to 1.5 degrees by the end of this century.

He then went on to say: “The 1.5 degree goal is on life support and the machines are rattling.”

Why? It’s very simple.

Developed countries around the world are not putting money where their mouths are.

It’s not rocket science. We all know the solution. Yet still inaction is the order of the day.

In the 22 years that have elapsed this century, we have seen temperatures rise by 1·1 degrees al ready. This century we have already witnessed new levels of climate induced disasters.

The United Nations Environment Programme an nounced last week that we are heading for an in crease of 2.8 degrees by the end of the century.

If actions verbally committed to do in fact materi alise, then this would result in an increase of 2·4 degrees.

Do the maths……we are nowhere near.

An increase of 2 degrees globally results in:

● 90% of all coral dying

● A rise in sea levels of 10 centimetres

Difficult decisions have to be made. The public at large understands that we will leave a shameful leg acy if we allow politicians to prioritise popularity at the voting booths over saving the planet for future generations.

of Net Zero be achieved.

The more positive results show cased clear skies and the return of wildlife to populated cities.

Big green deal

DANISH shipping com pany Maersk will build two major wind and solar powered hydrogen pro duction centres in Spain as it looks to decarbonise its fleet.

The freight transporter has signed a deal with the Spanish government for large-scale green fuel produc tion in the country.

The company will invest €10 billion in Andalucia and Galicia to develop two of the ‘five or six’ production centres it needs to produce carbon-neutral fuel to serve its international energy needs.

NO RETURN

Richer nations became rich off decades of using fossil fuels.

Now is the time to pay the climate bill. Developing nations are trapped in a crisis of public financing fuelled by debt, and yet have to fund climate disas ters on their own.

This is simply unfair and unjust.

ARE THERE SIGNS OF HOPE ?

The signs are mixed. On the negative side, look at the share of electricity from coal in these coun tries:

● INDIA 79%

● CHINA 69%

● AUSTRALIA 51%

● US 20%

● EU 15%

While these figures remain high little progress can be made.

On the positive side:

● The US has passed sweeping laws to confront climate change

● The war in Ukraine has accelerated European focus on renewable solutions

● India has declared it will get to 50% of its ener gy requirements from renewables. (An obstacle to that could be India’s plan to reopen 100 coal mines)

● Brazil has a new President, Luis Inacio da Silva, who has stated his wish to fight the climate cri sis. (Unlike the nutcase Bolsonaro who champi oned more mining in the Amazon)

● Australia also has a new Prime Minister, Anthony

●

LOBBYING CONCERNS

We all know that smoking causes death. Tobacco is still on sale because of the millions spent on political lobbying and the immoral governmen tal dilemma of losing tax revenue versus saving lives.

And so it is with the environment.

The COP 27 conference has fossil fuel lobbyists from more than 30 countries attending. The cam paign group Global Witness has found more than 600 people at the talks in Egypt linked to fossil fuels.

To me, COP 27 looks more like a fossil fuel industry trade show.

Surprise surprise….the biggest single delegation is from the United Arab Emirates, who will host COP 28 next year.

SHAMEFUL.

Barcelona forecast to become a beachless, smog-enshrouded hell hole by 2100 under worstcase climate predictions

Albanese, who is accelerating climate positive plans

China, not responsible for historical greenhouse gas emissions, but still an enormous polluter, has become the biggest investor in renewable energy

Green Matters By Martin Tye

FILTH: City will be engulfed in smog

Whether the property is in Spain or the UK, whether it’s your home or an investment, there are many tax implications to consider.

Besides capital gains tax and income tax on rentals, we also need to consider Spain’s annual wealth tax and plan ahead for Spanish succession tax. And when moving country, are you better off selling as a Spain or UK tax resident?

Blevins Franks can advise you on the various tax liabilities and tax planning opportunities; help you weigh the pros and cons, and recommend personalised tax and estate planning solutions.

Real distress

Dear Olive Press,

SO many people are in real and demon strable distress with the driving licence issue.

Yet the Spanish and Andalucian gov ernments are running huge tourism campaigns in Britain. Now the new dig ital nomad visa is also meant to attract many Brits. Do they not realise that the licence issue is working against them?

Time for action

The driving licence debacle rumbles on with no agreement in sight and continues to dominate our inbox

The whole thing is a mess.

Many Brits are thinking about leaving for Portugal as it seems more friendly to Brits and has a lower tax regime too. Spain has to understand the optics of this are terrible and for the many thou sands of Brits who have been here for so many years, it seems that Spain is treat ing them with utter contempt, which is incomprehensible and disgusting. This needs much more press coverage to elevate this across the board to embar rass the DGT and Spanish, and regional governments.

How can the country promote itself as a place for digital nomads when it can’t even have an equivalent driving licence swap agreement with a major ally coun try, and why can’t they simply extend the period for conversions?

It begs the question: Will digital nomads be allowed to drive while Brits who be came residents and Spanish taxpayers cannot? The whole thing is a joke!

Please, please pick this up and get your reporters active to ask all official bodies involved what they are doing about it.

Legal claim

I WAS wondering if there was any legal challenge to the suspension of UK driv ing licences in Spain.

My belief is that this is illegal due to the fact it goes against the rights of peo ple who became residents in Spain just prior to Brexit but were not given the opportunity to exchange driving licences as their residencia had not come through.

I believe this was against the human rights of these people under EU law.

If nobody has challenged the Spanish government on this then I (and anyone who wishes to join me) may raise a legal case to try and get an answer on this.

James Murray (by email)

Editor’s note: Not that we know of James. If anyone is interested in taking legal action with James, email newsdesk@theolivepress.es and we can put you in touch.

Simply madness

SOMEONE should publish an ‘open letter’ to the Interior Ministry pointing out the contradiction that Spain wants digital nomad visitors and to extend the 90 day rule, but still will not allow residents who are full taxpayers to drive. It is madness.

Any help would be appreciated. I am about to give up my Residency!

Not fair

I HAVE seen many comments online that people who failed to swap their driving licences have only themselves to blame.

Personally, I swapped mine in 1994 when it was mandatory to do so. But since then the rules changed and it no longer was a requirement.

Paul

Roberts, Name and address supplied

Editor’s note: As you may be aware, we have been running a campaign on this very issue, and will contin ue to do so until it is resolved.

Martyn O’Rourke (by email)

Editor’s note: Giving up your residency is a drastic step - but one that shows the difficult position many British citizens have found themselves in. The latest ‘official’ news is that an agreement is ex pected - but when that may be is anyone’s guess.

To retroactively change the rules again - which is effectively what has happened - is unfair. For the life of me, I can not understand why Spain and the UK don’t come to an agree ment, as many other countries in the EU have.

Mary Williamson, Fuengirola

LEAD: UK Ambassador Hugh Elliott is chief negotiator

Immersive Picasso

Little Spain?

A UK TV and film production company co-founded by com edy performer and children’s book writer David Walliams is looking into using Alican te’s recently reopened Ciudad de la Luz studios.

The studios are regarded as one of the best in Europe both for their facilities and for their geographical location and transport connections. They were closed by the EU in 2012 over illegal public fund ing but allowed to reopen this summer after an operating ban running until 2027 was revoked.

Visit

On a visit to London for the World Travel Market, Valen cian president Ximo Puig met with Adam Browne from King Bert productions.

The company was set up in 2014 and specialises in mak ing family and children's en tertainment for both the big and small screens. Clients have included the BBC, Chan nel 4, Sky, and Disney.

Adam Browne said a King Bert delegation would pay a fact-finding visit to the Ciu dad de la Luz studios short ly - adding that they needed new locations and to explore possibilities.

Police

SPANISH police have seized two fake paintings that had been sold for €33 million as well as a third item which was on the market for €12 million. They were all originally owned by a Santander man who said the works came from a family inheritance and were always regarded as genuine.

The recovered fakes in cluded a self-portrait of Diego Velazquez, which was sold for €30 million and another Velazquez work for €3 million.

Ecce Homo, supposed

By Alex Trelinski

ly painted by Titian, had gone onto the market for €12 million.

Officers from the Histor ical Heritage division of the Valencia region po lice were alerted in March about the paintings being sold online.

The initial concern was that paintings considered to have National Heritage value should not be sold to somebody living outside Spain.

The paintings were re

‘Imagine Picasso’ is being displayed at the capi tal’s IFEMA centre. Not only is it the largest im mersive exhibition ever staged in Spain, but it is the first dedicated to Malaga-born Picasso, who died in 1973.

It arrived after touring around

Some

SEIZED

Jurassic find

RESEARCHERS have dug up the fossilised bones of a large dinosaur about 150 million years old.

The excavations by the Teruel Dinopolis United Paleontolog ical Foundation at the El Car rillejo site in Riodeva unearthed the remains of a diplodocid sau ropod dinosaur.

They are from Upper Jurassic deposits and have characteris tics very different from those of other sauropods of the same geological age found in Teruel, such as the European giant Turiasaurus or the first dinosaur described in Spain, Aragosaurus.

These dinosaurs are charac terised by having a small head relative to body size and longer necks than other saurischians. Scientists estimate the dino saur just discovered would have been about 25 metres long.

Art attack

moved by Cantabria police and taken to Valencia where experts at the city’s Muse um of Fine Arts confirmed that the works were fakes.

HORRORS OF WAR

A LEADING film director is devel oping a movie exploring the theme of atrocities committed during the Spanish Civil War.

J.A. Bayona, who directed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and helmed two episodes of the Lord of the Rings TV series for Amazon , will shoot Manuel Chaves Nogales’ short story collection A sangre y fuego (Blood and Fire) which is regarded as one of the best fiction books about the Civil War.

He’s working with writer-director

Agustin Diaz Yanes to develop a script. Speaking at the Sevilla Euro pean Film Festival, Bayona said he had been developing the project for several years and is ‘especially in terested in the humanist vision’ that Chaves Nogales showed in his novel. A sangre y fueg o is a work of fiction featuring nine stories ranging from an account of Republican executions in a Madrid bombarded by Franco’s forces through to an Andalucian mar quess who sets out to hunt commu nists with his personal death squad.

The three forgeries are being held at the Pont de Fusta police station in Valencia. No details have been disclosed about pos sible legal action against their owner.

Investigation

Last year the Olive Press reported how police broke up a gang trying to sell forgeries of paintings by Spanish masters like Goya via the internet.

The Valencian Historical Heritage police seized the works of art in the Castel lon area, with 27 paintings removed, which were be ing sold for a total of €1.7 million.

Experts deduced that 18 of the collection were fakes.

TWO climate activists glued their hands to the frames of Goya’s Las Majas paintings in Madrid’s Prado Museum, in the latest of a series of protests in art galleries around the world. The female protesters also daubed ‘1.5ºC’ in black paint on the wall between the two works of art.

Via a Twitter account called FuturoVegetal (Vegetable Fu ture), a video of the protest was shared, accompanied by a message that read: “Last week the UN recognised the impossi bility of keeping below the Paris Accord limit of average 1.5ºC temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels.”

confiscate three forged paintings worth €45 million

FORGERIES: Three fake artworks held in Valencia

EXPOSE: Bayona is on a mission

BOLD: Protestors filmed

A NEW ‘immersive’ exhibition dedicated to the revolutionary Spanish artist Pablo Picasso has opened its doors in Madrid.

the world with the latest stops being in North America.

217 of Picasso's most famous paintings, in cluding Guernica and Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, are beamed on the walls, the floor and some gi gantic polyhedral structures inspired by the ori gami pieces that Picasso made for his children.

Boutique de moda, complementos y regalitos

abierto lunes -sábado 10 am - 2 pm

Calle Correo, 1 Orgiva, Granada, 18400

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

JUST south of Granada, Mulhacen is the Iberian Peninsula’s highest peak. Part of the Sierra Nevada range, nestled between the Vega de Granada, Lecrin Valley and La Alpujarra, it reaches 3,479m and is surrounded by Veleta, at 3,398m, Alcazaba at 3,666, and several other 3,000m peaks.

Translating literally as ‘jagged, snowy moun tains’, the Sierra Nevada can be seen from all over the region. When driving south from Grana da, you can’t miss the north face of Veleta, rising above the famous ski resort at Pradollano, which is snowy during winter months (although climate change is diminishing the natural white stuff).

Mulhacen lies nearby and, thanks to modern tourism initiatives, the two peaks can be reached easily on foot.

For the intrepid (or energetic) at heart, the full set of tres mil 3,000m peaks can be visited on a five-day walking tour.

Sierra Nevada’s lower altitudes of 1,800m are popular for their ancient network of interconnect ed trails, catering for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.

MULHACEN – ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE

Popular with visitors of all nationalities, Mulha cen is named after Abu-I Hasan Ali, known as Muley Hacen in Spanish – the penultimate Mus lim king of Granada in the 15th century. Legend says that he was buried at the summit. Not quite Spain’s answer to Everest or K2, Mul hacen isn’t a dramatic mountain, or especially steep, and is ranked the 64th highest peak glob ally.

A constant flow of hikers appears in summer,

FOXY FAUX FUR

NOTHING says winter glam like fur (keep it faux… we’re animal lovers)! Sadly, many women hesitate to buy fur, as they’re unsure how to carry it off without feeling over the top. Faux fur these days is absolutely gorgeous in terms of quality, styles and shapes, and can create effects that don’t exist with real fur. Such as a softness and sheen that only comes with being faux… How cool is that, right? Cruelty free and even more stylish than the real thing, faux fur is the only furry option in our modern

gentas and icy greys update the look, but classic blacks and browns bring a luxe elegance that will remain stylish for years to come.

So, how to wear such a dramatic look?

The first thing is: consider the style you’d like

to create. Is it glam? Formal? Ca sual?

If it’s casual, pair a cropped faux fur jacket with skinny jeans, sneakers and a slogan t-shirt.

Go for modern colours - bei ge, pale pink or even teal are hot colours for this season. Make sure you look more “on trend” than “round the bend”.

I personally love to team a soft beige furry gilet with a tracksuit and plat form trainers for a sportier daytime

Want to stay ahead of the trends? Go bright! Choosing a bold colour for a faux fur jacket not only looks sophisticated, but also gives an edgy, glam look while showing off your unique personality. To ramp up the glam stakes, pair

while more expe rienced outdoor enthusiasts don crampons, snowshoes, and ice axes during the winter months.

The south flank is gentle and easy to climb, for those who are reasonably fit. The north face is more challenging and requires moderately steep climbing on snow and ice. For that, you’ll need the right equipment and a mountain guide.

Richard Hartley, an experienced guide from Spanish Highs, warns that hikers must be pre pared for the prevailing (and changing) tempera tures on the Sierra Nevada.

He says: “At 3,000m in January and February, the air temperature without wind chill can fre quently dip below -10C.

In July and August, a normal daytime tempera ture at 3,000m would be 15-20C.” So, pack the windcheater and suncream!

TRANSPORT YOURSELF NEAR THE PEAKS

In summer and autumn, Mulhacén can be climbed in a single day from either Capileira or Trevelez, with the Trevelez route involving a much steeper ascent. Nowadays, transport options take visitors close to the peaks.

For example, the ski resort at Pradallano has chair lifts operating in July and August, dropping off passengers a 15min walk under Los Poci siones de Valeta, which lies at 3,100m. There’s also a bus from Hoya de la Mora in Monachil, at 2,700m, to Los Pocisiones

FASHION with Freya

de Valeta. This runs from late June until mid-September - or lon ger if decent weather persists. When you arrive at the drop-off point, it’s a 45min hike to the Veleta peak. From there, you could

cross to Mulhacen on an ‘old road’ that takes approximately three hours each way.

From Capileira, in high season, you can catch a bus from the Servicio de Interpretacion de Al tas Cumbres to Alto del Chorillo at 2,700m. This takes an hour, and the set-down point is a 2hr hike below the Mulhacen peak and 1hr above Refugio Poqueira, which offers basic accommo dation with 84 beds. This bus is over-subscribed, so reserve several days ahead. It keeps operat ing on autumn weekends, weather allowing. Our reporter caught the bus on a windy October afternoon and decided not to go hiking (what a wimp!).

Regardless, the experience was impressive. The bus twists and turns on forestry roads above Capileira, affording panoramic views towards the Costa del Sol, Sierra de Contraveisa, Loma de Canar, Rio Chico, Rio de Trevelez, and – finally – Mulhacen.

Enquiries regarding bus from Capileira to Mulha cen on +34 671 564 406.

On route, the affable Paco from the Servicio de Interpretacion Altas Cumbres explains key points about the Sierra Nevada.

The guided journey includes a stop-off at an information point with several illustrated boards, meaning you’ll go home with fresh knowledge about Spain’s highest peaks.

your fur coat with a hat in a coordi nated colour.

For extra points, add driving gloves in the same hues.

Wearing faux fur to work? Yes, you can wear faux fur to the office and still look professional.

You just need the right coat or jacket.

Go for a fitted gilet, with streamli ned fur, in soft or natural colours.

You can layer it over a trouser suit or a formal blouse.

For that chic office style, keep the rest of your outfit formal and in si milar tones to the fur.

If you’re shy about your first foray into faux fur, why not try a shawl or gloves with a faux fur trim?

Next year, I guarantee that you’ll be wearing a full length, pink, faux fur coat.

It’s addictive!

Fashion advice and styling can be found in The Armario de Freya, Calle Correo 1, Orgiva, 18418 Granada

atelier vintage

Why a foray into fake animal skins is essential for your winter wardrobe

Sierra Nevada is the perfect active tourism destination at Spain’s highest altitudes, writes Jo Chipchase

PropertypropertySpain’sbest maginEnglish

Tech BOOM!

HUNDREDS of new luxury homes will be needed on the Costa del Sol after Goo gle announced it was making big moves into Malaga.

Global developers are jostling for posi tion to satisfy the expected demand as the city becomes the new ‘Silicon Valley of Europe.’

US property giant Berkshire Hathaway is aiming to build an initial 400 luxury villas to meet demand, after Google announced a cybersecurity ‘centre of excellence’ in the city.

Its Spanish chief believes many of the buyers will be Americans relocating for the new jobs, having been seduced by the lifestyle and climate.

“The interest Americans are showing in Malaga is especially significant as the city

quickly positions itself as the Silicon Val ley of Europe,” explained Bruno Rabassa at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Spain, which has opened an office in the city.

“In a short time the city will have to ac commodate many displaced workers from large companies.”

His new office in the city centre intends to offer 400 new luxury properties to serve the burgeoning tech sector after Google’s announcement.

"The technological and cultural attrac tions, the climate, and above all the life style have turned Malaga into a strategic key point for the real estate sector," he told SER radio

His company has already opened an office in Marbella, with plans to develop over 1,400 luxury properties along the Costa del Sol.

Google released new details on its ‘centre of excellence’ at its annual cybersecurity summit in Madrid, a fortnight ago. The Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) is being developed inside the shell of a historic building by the port of

Malaga.

It aims to open its doors to budding cy bersecurity professionals in the second half of 2023.

And rather than just focus on southern Europe, as originally believed, the Malaga centre is now aimed at becoming a global hub.

It will be ‘at the heart of the digital rev olution’, revealed Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer at Google.

“This is going to change the rules of the game: In 2023, Malaga will become our new Google Security Engineering Cen

ter, a global centre for cybersecurity and malware research,” he said.

Google released a slick video showcasing the new development, featuring some of the most iconic locations including the Pompidou Museum, the port and the cathedral as part of its promotion for the new project.

Such a development is expected to create an agglomeration effect, drawing a wider range of tech enterprises to Spain’s south coast, creating the ‘Silicon Valley’ effect.

By Walter Finch

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE: The legend of Karl Lagerfeld in Marbella

How do they do that? Spain’s most outlandish, original places to live

The €30 million mansion for sale

YOU barely need a reason to leave this giant 4,540 square metre Marbella mansion.

It has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a tennis court, gym, an outdoor pool and enchanting bo tanical gardens.

The ‘authentic Spanish villa’ is selling for a whopping €28,900,000.

Fitted with fine wood furniture and beautiful chandeliers, well-matched upholstery and fiery streaks of blues, reds and greens throughout, makes for a charming Mediterranean experi ence.

The property is just fifty metres from the beach in the heart of the Golden Mile.

Christie’s International Real Estate describes it as ‘a true luxury opportunity by the sea’.

It’s located in the Puente Romano area, close to Marbella town centre and Puerto Banus.

Homes for millionaires

WHEN regular visitors and local own ers include Hugh Grant, Boris Johnson and Ronaldo, it makes sense to set the bar high.

Getoutyour fur coats

By Cristina Hodgson

THE coldest village in Spain is in sunny Andalucia. While the icy waters around Galicia’s Cies Islands make Pontevedra decidedly chilly and the so-called ‘cold triangle’ in Teruel brings the tempera tures right down in Calamocha, the ic iest place in Spain is Dilar, in Granada. While the province becomes a veritable frying pan in summer, when the winter sets in, sub-zero temperatures become the norm around Dilar just south of Granada. Sitting on the western slopes of the Si erra Nevada, at an altitude of 878 me tres above sea level, it positively shivers come Christmas.

But no worries for its 2,000 residents who always have warm coasts at the ready, for when the mercury regularly drops to between -9ºC and -12ºC.

And they don’t mind with their direct access to the nearby Natural Park and location next to the Rio Dilar, making it an ideal place for rural tourism.

Other chilly locations in Andalucia, include nearby Viznar, just north of Granada, Aroche, in Huelva and Velez Blanco, in Almeria.

Around Spain Molina de Aragon (in Guadalajara), Reinosa (in Cantabria) and Cerler (in Huesca) all see regular sub-zero temperatures

DIVINE INTERVENTION

ONLY one village made it into Spain’s Most Beautiful list this year.

Puentedey, in Burgos, was the only place selected for the prestigious network, which counts 105 villages around Spain and its islands.

While 22 applied, only Puentedey met the strict criteria to join the as sociation, Los Pueblos Mas Bonitos de España, which was set up in 2011.

The village, which dates back to the 14th century, is built on a natural 15-metre high stone bridge, formed over millions of years and with the river Nela running through it.

It got its name, Puentedey, meaning ‘Bridge of God’ from this natural formation.

OnlyPuentedey-‘Bridgeof God’-madeitintothisyear’slist

Now, a brand new high-end property website has launched to focus on the most exclusive homes for sale in Benahavis.

Set up by long term local agent Scott Marshall, Premium Property Benaha vis features hundreds of stunning villas around the town, just inland from Mar bella.

Part of the so-called Golden Triangle, that also includes Estepona, the majority of villas are well into the seven figures.

Broken up into 20 easy-to-use sections, potential buyers can search everything from Spain’s most expensive urbanisation of Zagaleta to the more affordable Puerto del Capitan.

“We have already become the specialist go-to agency in Benahavis so it made sense to develop the new site,” explains Marshall, who was born in the town, and owns PropertieSpain agency.

“Benahavis is our blood so we focus ex clusively on properties here and our local expertise means we can not only offer the best properties but also offer first hand local advice.”

The settlement, an hour from Bur gos city, has a population of just 48, and is known for its nearly intact Ro

mantic architecture. Its San Pelayo church (on top of the bridge, above) is a charming mix of Romantic and Gothic styles, while the nearby Palacio de Brizuela (left) dates back to the 14th cen tury with two tow ers added in the 15th century. The 105 villages in the Los Pueblos Bo nitos group, all are under 15,000 in population and have

perfectly preserved historic cores, as well as an ‘architectural or natural heritage’.

While only one village made it in 2022, a record 11 places, including Genalguacil, in Malaga and Banos de la Encina, in Jaen, made the list in 2021.

Tourism

The potential rewards for the vil lages are huge, with the promo tion they get globally from being members and the huge growth in tourism it brings. Some of the Olive Press fa vourites include Setenil de las Bodegas, in Cadiz, El Castell de Guadalest, on the Costa Blanca and Alcudia in Mallorca.

Marshall, whose artist father David de signed the charming La Aldea urbanisa tion in the heart of the village, is a keen walker and loves the nearby hills of the new Sierra de las Nieves national park.

“The Sierra de las Nieves is one of the most privileged plac es to live next to in Spain, so near the coast, yet so wild and now completely protected,” he explains.

“Benaha vis is a true gem right next to it, so for nature lovers there is no better place to live.”

Lawbird is a firm of English speaking lawyers who specialise in property law, corporate law, litigation and immigration law.

Whether you plan to buy a house, start a company or relocate to Spain, we offer a no-nonsense service to assist you.

Lawbird Legal Services Slp C.Ricardo Soriano, 19 29601 Marbella (Spain) TEL: +34 952 861 890 FAX: +34 952 861 695 gary.newsham@lawbird.com www.lawbird.com

By Jon Clarke

NATURAL SELECTION: The village is built over the River Nela arch

A JIGSAW of solar panels are set to create a giant sustainable dome in Sevilla.

The ingenious project, designed by Bjarke Ingels, will become the permanent home for the European Commission’s Joint Research Cen tre when built in 2024.

Described as a ‘cloud of pergolas’, it is inspired by the shaded plazas and streets of the city and will shelter the entire centre site from the sun.

The main buildings, plus a plaza and garden, will all sit underneath the dome, created by a series of col umns covered with photovoltaics.

Based at the original Expo 92 site at Isla de la Cartuja, the canopies themselves will be made out of lightweight solar panels, which will then be used to power the complex.

In addition to the energy harvest ed from the panels, the canopies

BRIGHT IDEA

By Alex Trelinski

will also incorporate integrated rainwater collection technology.

The area's design will allow natu ral cross ventilation and ideal light that will cut energy consumption in terms of conventional lights and air conditioning.

It is hoped the building will be carbon neutral, in particular as the materials for the building will also consist of low-carbon concrete.

The centre will be part of Sevilla's vision to become a global bench mark for sustainability by 2025 and to make all of the Isla de la Cartuja powered 100% by renewable energy.

Countryside law looms

THE final regulations of a new country side construction law are about to be pub lished.

They have been on the drawing board for a year, since the Junta approved the new LIS TA law in December 2021.

The law will allow the building of more homes in the countryside under strict cri teria and conditions.

“It should spell good news and, yes, it will bring change,” explained countryside spe cialist Anita Schmidt, at Villas and Fincas, based in Casares.

“We don’t want overbuilding in the country, but it will mean many Spanish families may finally be able to do something with their grandparents’ land, and that will mean it being better maintained, so less risk of fire.

“It will also bring life back to some of the forgotten villages, the ones suffering from depopulation.

“And of course, foreigners with patience and perseverance may be able to find the right plot to build their dream home again.”

But she added nothing had been finalized yet and it ‘wouldn’t surprise’ her if it will take another year before local town halls have figured out how to handle these new regulations.

The new law means the PGOM town plans of various coastal resorts and inland towns can now finally be completed.

Marbella could be one of the first to bene fit as the mayor Angeles Munoz met with officials from the Junta in Sevilla last week to ratify a plan passed in the resort in Sep tember. Among the planned changes are an increase of land that can be developed (‘sue lo urbano’) from 40 million metres squared to 52.2 million.

Giantsolarpanel dome aims to make new EC research centre carbon neutral

BUILT into cliff faces, perched on pla teaus and hidden in woods, each of these properties posed its own challenges to the ar chitects involved in their creation. After the BBC included two homes in Spain in a series on extraordinary properties, the Olive Press takes a look at some other unusual homes found in Spain, and the solutions their desig-

Parade Hotel on Governor’s Parade

Bringing tourism back into the Town Centre

IN the wake of the disastrous Covid-19 Pandem ic, the ‘normal’ way of life was interrupted. Government restrictions on social interaction and travel meant that the hotel industry had to reinvent the hospitality sector in order to adapt to the changes in market demand and operational management.

The emphasis was put on ensuring the health and safety of all customers and providing a safe envi ronment for holiday makers.

At the same time, Gibraltar has seen a decline in the number of hotel beds, with established hotels such as Continental Hotel, Queens Hotel, and now the renowned Caleta Palace Hotel demolished for redevelopment into residential schemes. This has added to the under supply of existing ho tels and bed space in Gibraltar and has inevitably led to a sharp increase in the demand for serviced apartments for short term holiday lets.

Main Street and will provide a substantial devel opment with basement and six upper floors and a total build area in excess of 2,900 m2.

development of 48 detached and terraced houses is underway as scheduled following the successful off plan sale of Phase I. The North Gorge development has been shortlisted for a Gibraltar Sustainability Award. Few remaining properties for sale in phase II with prices ranging between £1.450 to £1.895 million.

There is currently a market gap for BnB accommo dation, which is much needed in Gibraltar, to avoid the situation of Summer 2021, when demand for rooms exceeded availability.

Projects are now focusing on locating hotels back into the city centre with all its amenities to bring back tourism to the heart of town.

It is estimated that there are on average only 650 hotel beds available in Gibraltar and this shortage has led to more demand for short term holiday apartment lettings.

With a couple of exceptions, most hotel projects under way in Gibraltar are small scale at around 20 keys.

There is nothing else that provides for a city centre hotel in the way that the Parade Hotel Develop ment does.

This well-planned project has full planning permis sion to provide a hotel over two freehold properties. The scheme has been under planning for around two years in order to carefully perfect the concept that is now ready for development.

The properties are a stone’s throw from Central

The hotel design and concept provides conference and meeting areas in the heart of town, lush dou ble, and executive double hotel suites - all with lavish ensuite bathrooms - special needs suites, balconies, with bright and airy rooms featuring gallery height ceilings and views overlooking the Garrison Library Gardens and Governor’s Parade.

The hotel suites at every level are serviced by corridors peering into the central courtyard with covered Atrium where quaint seating areas are at ground level for the restaurant and other commer cial amenities.

Demand

There are plans for bars, restaurants, basement cinema, conference meeting rooms, a rooftop pool, gymnasium and sun decked terraces.

Given that the demand for hotel rooms is still high with average occupancy rates around 60-70% all year round and almost 100% during peak season, now is the time to take such an investment oppor tunity forward which is ready to go.

The properties are also currently under town plan ning applications with an alternative scheme for residential apartments that could be serviced apartments.

These will follow the same concept as the hotel and include the same amenities but with apart ments which can be held by the same operator or sold piecemeal under a Hotel Operational Man agement structure.

This would attract particularly good returns for investors seeking rental returns on property investment.

For more details on the Hotel Development Scheme please contact BFA Estate Agents - Mark Francis - Director MRICS on (+350) 200 71131 or speak with one of our agents.

EXTRAORDINARY: The whole home is counterbalanced by this rock

3. THE SOLO HOUSE

Location: Matarranya, Teruel

Project architects: KGDVS

It could also be called the Round House, as it offers 360-degree panoramic views from a plateau setting that overlooks wooded wilderness. It is designed in a modular fashion with units accessed from the 1,000m2 interior patio complete with a pool carved into the rock. Modu les can be shifted to alter li ving space. It is intended to make residents feel alone in the woods as part of a small project of unique homes set in 100 hectares.

Set in a desert-like landscape, the House of Three Sisters (named after the siblings who had it built as a holiday home) is designed to change over time. The architects say: “Sun and precipitation will change the colour of the wood, and on the facades there are signs of life growing on this building.”

PIC CREDIT Solo Houses

Location: Bullas, Murcia

Project architects: Blancafort-Reus Arquitectura

6. SATELLITE SUBURBIA, HOUSE WITH COLOUR MOOD

THIS project has paid the greatest attention to minimising its impact on the natural environ ment. Despite the wooded plot, no trees were felled and the house was raised to avoid dama ging the soil substructure and animal habitats. This was taken to such lengths that trees actua lly grow through the structure of the home.

It may be (interestingly) brutal from the outside, but the great feature of this house is the inspired use of co lours. These bring warmth and light into the interior in a unique and hi ghly imaginative way.

BUSINESS BOOMING

The director of Marbella Estate Group took a plunge to open the firm, and it’s a move that has paid off

SAM Shaje sold three properties during his first summer working as a real estate agent in Marbel la more than six years ago.

When he told his boss that he was dis appointed with the low commission, his boss replied: ‘If you don’t like it you can open up your own agency’.

And that’s exactly what Sam did.

In 2017 he launched Marbella Estate Group and business has grown ‘tenfold’ since then.

“At first we started with a single employ ee and now we have nine people work ing for us,” Sam said.

Marbella Estate Group is based in San Pedro and offers top properties to buy and sell in all of the Costa del Sol area, with a special focus on Marbella.

The company has also ex panded its horizons with Marbella design group, a division of the group which specialises in design and architecture.

Sam actually studied ar chitecture in Valencia, choosing to leave Sweden to pursue his studies in Spain.

“Our drive lies in the satisfaction of our customers by helping them reach the best solutions and property goals based on family

situations, leisure time and relocation to Spain,” he said.

Marbella Estate Group also helps peo ple navigate the paperwork and bu reaucracy involved in the relocation process.

“A lot of our clients from outside the EU are looking for that golden visa,” Sam said.

“We have lawyers who spe cialise in that so that we are not only helping cli ents purchase property in Spain, but follow up and help them get living rights.”

Sam said Marbella Estate Group aims to follow through with clients from ‘start to finish’.

“We strive to be the firm that will help you fulfill your purpose in the Spanish market in the most efficient and com fortable way possible,” he said.

PIC

Location: Ibiza

Architect: Andre Jacques

Location: Mar Menor, Murcia

Architect: Javier Peña of Xpiral Arquitectura

PIC CREDIT Xpiral

SAM SHAJE CEO / Founder

Fairway LAWYERS

FEELING THE PINCH

THE 12-month Euribor, the rate normally used to calculate mortgage interest rates in Spain, continued its steep climb in October.

It has now risen for 10 con secutive months, pushing up borrowing costs in the process.

The Euribor turned positive in April after 74 months in the red (since January 2016) and finished October on 2.629% As you can see from the

Mortgage interest rates continue steep climb, writes Mark Stucklin

chart, Euribor has climbed more steeply this year than at any time in the quarter of a century since it was first publi shed at the end of 1998, and is now at the highest level it has been since December 2008.

As a result of the latest in

crease a typical 20-year variable-rate mortgage of €120,000 resetting in No vember will incur higher monthly mortgage repay ments of around €172 at a

time when borrowers are al ready feeling the pinch from consumer price inflation.

Euribor is being driven up by the European Central Bank’s attempts to dampen inflation, which hit 10.7% in the Eu ro-area this October

Experts expect it to rise to between 2.8% and 3.0% by year end, with some forecasts as high as 3.5%.

For more detailed information about the Spanish market, visit www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

Contact Diego at Fairway Lawyers diego@fairwaylawyers.com

Tel: 952 77 11 50 WhatsApp: 606 307 885

www.fairwaylawyers.com

C/Nuestra Señora de Gracia 28, 1C 29602, Marbella (Malaga)

Renovated modern luxury villa, probably one of the best in this complex due to its central location and views. Located in a gated community of only 40 villas, offers 24h security, a clubhouse with a gym, an indoor heated pool and a restaurant. The parking area and main entrance of this home are on the top of the building, where you have a hall and access to the lift and stairs. Coming down one level we find a large floor that consists of a high-quality open plan kitchen, next to a dining area that opens to the living room, where we see a cosy fire place and access to the panoramic terrace that enjoys fantastic views of the sea and the mountains surrounding Benahavís, on this same level there is a guest toilet. BED: 5 | BATH: 4.5 | BUILT SIZE: 336M2 | TERRACE SIZE: 86 M2 GARDEN/PLOT: 524 M2 | PRIVATE HEATED POOL

Why

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EXPERIENCE

Panorama is Marbella’s longest established real estate agency, bringing buyers and sellers together in harmony for over 52 years.

PRACTICES AND ETHICS ARE REGULATED

The only residential agency on the Costa del Sol to be regulated by RICS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, with respect to our procedures and ethical conduct which gives extraordinary protection to our clients.

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

Panorama has won Best Real Estate Agency in Spain at the International Property Awards in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

PROFESSIONALISM AND TRANSPARENCY

We have an unrivalled reputation for professionalism, transparency and expert local and product knowledge.

A FULL-SERVICE AGENCY

Offering sales, rentals, plots, development land, commercial properties, professional consulting services and Client Services. 6

WE HAVE TIME FOR YOU

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BUYERS & SELLERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

Together we speak 13 different languages.

We are more than 30 highly qualified and experienced professionals. 7

STRATEGIC & CENTRAL LOCATIONS

Our offices are located along Marbella’s Golden Mile, in the Puente Romano Beach Resort and opposite the Marbella Club Hotel.

PARTNERSHIPS THAT GUARANTEE PROPERTY EXPOSURE

We operate a second agency - Puente Romano Real Estate, in collaboration with the owners of Puente Romano.

This gives extraordinary exposure to the properties of our seller clients to the guests at the Puente Romano and Nobu hotels.

Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 www.panorama.es

Offices at Puente Romano and opposite the Marbella Club hotel

ROCK BOTTOM

THREE potential bu yers have emerged for a deserted Cas tilla y León village priced at just € 260,000. That’s after attempts to sell it for millions of euros fai led in recent years.

Salto de Castro is part of the Fonfria municipality in Zamora Province and is close to the Portuguese border.

Located in the Aribes del Duero natural park, it was built to house workers at a nearby dam but was aban doned in 1989 after the dam site was automated.

Covering 4,000 square metres, the sale includes several buildings including 44 homes, a bar, a church, a school, and a small hotel. Thrown into the package are the old Guardia Ci vil barracks, a swimming

By Alex Trelinski

pool, and sports areas.

Salto de Castro was bou ght by a family in 2000 with the aim of creating a tourist village. The project was abandoned due to the economic crisis a

few years later. The owners tried to sell the village for €1.7 million in 2017, and then two years later, hiked the asking price massively to over €6 million.

Unsurprisingly there was no interest, but the new € 260,000 asking price has attracted the interest of a

university and two NGOs. Sales information indica tes that a potential buyer would have access to na tional and regional go vernment subsidies with a likely investment of up to € 2 million required to get everything in order for tou rists to stay there.

Buy your own village in Spain for just €260,000, but there’s a catch

THIS COULD ALL BE YOURS: A whole village is up for sale, including a church, school and bar

MARBELLA may be home to a multitu de of pricey, luxury villas, but there are some qualities for the wealthy that cannot simply be tacked on to the real estate shopping list - such as the signature of one of the most famous fas hion designers in history.

The announcement of five vi llas to be constructed under the visionary design princi ples of the late haute coutu re legend Karl Lagerfeld has awoken a frenzy among inter national property buyers.

Coming three years after the death of Chanel’s creative director in 2019, two of the villas have already found a buyer, the Olive Press un derstands. One, a Dutch businessman was willing to part with €15 million for the honour of owning a villa de signed by legend Lagerfeld, even before ground has even been broken.

The keys for the luxury develo pments, financed by a €51 mi llion investment in the project, are expected to be handed

THE RIGHT CHANEL!

over on completion in 2024. But the villas, built next to each other just off Marbe

lla’s famous Golden Mile, will each be slightly different, and of course with their own pools, spas and cinemas. They count on five or six be drooms and spread over

between 1,045 and 1,305 metres squared and will have a heavy focus on the environ ment and sustainability.

Designed by international architecture house The One

Atelier, under the principles, vision, and iconic aesthetic of the designer. A website boasts: ‘Each bes poke residence is built to shimmer like a faceted gem as it reflects the environment.’

The five principles of Lager feld’s design are listed as sus tainability, genius loci, inclusi veness, dualism and framing.

“These villas are a translation of what he would have imagi ned, his legacy in every detail, in sustainable and responsi ble architecture,” said Lager feld’s CEO Pier Paolo Righi.

“Karl's vision has always in

cluded a willingness to open doors to other worlds, and he did so, day by day, in many ways,” continued Righi.

He added they reflect Lager feld's ‘passion for architec ture, photography, interior design, innovation and sus tainability’.

Marbella-based real estate developer Sierra Blanca Esta tes is charged with finding the final three buyers.

“Never before have we had the prospect of commercia lising not just a home, but a brand experience too,” said boss Carlos Rodríguez.

Luxury villas of ex-fashion boss, Karl Lagerfeld go up for sale on Marbella’s Golden Mile - with two already sold

By Walter Finch

PENTHOUSE, NUEVA ANDALUCÍA

Opportunity to buy a beautifully presented penthouse.

3 Beds | 2 Baths | 142m2 Built | 88m2 terrace

REF: 176-02206P | 875.000€

Beautifully presented penthouse in the popular complex of Cumbres del Rodeo. Easy access from the (2) underground parking takes you directly to the penthouse. As you enter you can appreciate the generous size of the living and dining room where all the front has access to the large terrace. The terrace (80+m2) in a south westerly position which has ample space for lounge areas, dining area and sun loungers, all enjoying grand views towards the sea, coastline and mountain range. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a guest toilet as well as a fully fitted kitchen and small laundry area.

TOWNHOUSE, LA QUINTA - BENAHAVIS

Classic original style townhouse in La Quinta Hills, La Quinta – Benahavis.

3 Beds | 2 Baths | 240m2 Built | 53m2 terrace

REF: 176-02241P | 450.000€

West facing with views over the La Quinta Golf course and the hills of La Heredia and surroundings. Distribution is entrance hall opening up to the guest toilet, kitchen and living/dining room which leads out to the terrace (both covered and uncovered) and the private small garden. Upstairs you have 3 bedrooms, the master en-suite and the other 2 share a shower room. The is a small west facing terrace from 2 bedrooms.

APARTMENT, NUEVO ANDALUCIA

Top floor apartment in gated community.

2 Beds | 2 Baths | 234m2 Built | 80m2 terrace

REF: 176-02212P | 495.000€

Great top floor apartment in the heart of Nueva Andalucia with one of the best solariums for sale at the moment. A well planned 2 bed 2 bath top floor unit with 2 large terraces of the living room and master suite. The apartment has a south west orientation with plenty of sun and an open aspect view from the lower terraces. On the top floor you have the fantastic solarium with bbq, electricity and water so that you can enjoy this space properly.

SEASON OF OCCASIONAL FRUITFULNESS

WHEN we launched Survey Spain in Sep tember, 2003, an im portant local agent advised us to make sure we bought a place we liked to live in and not just as an investment, ‘as prices are just too high’.

I was lucky to find such a place, at a reasonable price, and we are still here…near Estepona.

But how wrong he was on pric es: They have kept increasing driven up by insatiable demand, and even more so by the avail ability of cheap finance for de velopers and buyers.

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Back in our early years (2004/2005 etc), each phase of any development had to be higher priced than the one be fore, so the agents could show what a good investment it was.

Slick salesmen, meanwhile, sold the dream and encouraged people to max out and borrow as much as they could.

But inevitably that led to disas ter. Having reached impossible heights for most buyers, the prices crashed spectacularly in 2007/2008, and in many areas have only recently caught up. This time, with a recession looming, we appear to be on a stronger financial footing, so

any ‘correction’ should not have the devastating consequences of before.

Countries have borrowed more and banks are less likely to re ceive any rescues/bailouts as they got in 2008 and onwards.

Despite all the two steps for ward and one step back over the last few years, with Brexit and Covid being the main cul prits, 2022 was going really well until Russia invaded Ukraine.

That brought the ‘just live with Covid’ confidence to a halt, add ing a distinct nervousness to the market.

On a plus side it has led to a significant increase in buyers from the former soviet republics and Eastern Europe looking for safety, either permanently or as an escape, in case the Ukraine situation spreads. They’ve far outweighed the loss of Russian buyers.

The spectacular rises in energy costs and inflation are also af fecting everyone, although its effects are likely to be dispro portionately large for the lower end of the market.

permanent residence.

● Madrid is also promoting a new ‘digital nomad’ visa, al lowing people to work and live in Spain all year.

LOOKING TO PORTUGAL

Free Marbella seminar explains Portugal’s Non-Habitual Residency tax scheme for expats

WITH Spain having one of Eu rope’s harshest tax regimes, that can drain the funds of small business owners and retired people alike, many British expats and Spanish nationals are looking to Por tugal for a tax situation that will improve their lives.

The opportunities arising from Portugal’s Non-Habitual Residence (NHR) tax scheme will be explained by expert speakers from the Por tuguese offices of financial companies and law firms at a seminar taking place in Marbella on Friday November 25.

The NHR tax scheme offers new foreign resi dents an effective tax holiday for the first 10 years of the residency, with pension income taxed at a flat 10% and other passive income -such as dividend proceeds - taxed at 0%.

Information will also be provided about the D7 and Golden Visa residency options, as well as advice about legal requirements, insurance, and real estate.

Companies taking part in the event include Sovereign Group, Martinez Echevarria lawyers,

C1 Brokers insurance experts, Fine & Country Algarve estate agents and the Ombria Resort. The event is organised by Bruce Hawker, CEO of the Open Media Group - Portugal’s leading publisher of foreign language media.

He comments: “The event will answer ques tions from people who are interested in moving to Portugal. Having spoken to estate agents and other partner companies, we identified an increasing demand from residents of the Costa del Sol, who are attracted to Portugal by the tax breaks. These people are of all nationalities, including Spanish.”

Tax relief

Open Media Group holds seminars in Portu gal and other countries, including the USA. The Living in Portugal events are run in association with the Algarve Regional Tourism Board and co-financed under the Portugal 2020 EU fun ding programme.

Two identical seminars will take place at the Don Pepe Gran Melilla Hotel, Marbella, on November 25: one at 11am and another at 3pm. Before and after each session, guests can talk to the various event partners.

Anyone who wants to attend can book free of charge at www.portugalseminars.pt

Once again, the Brits, who are 16% of foreign buyers, are up and down and hard to predict as the pound keeps gaining and losing value, not to mention the issues surrounding Brexit and time spent in Europe. And many of the other northern European countries, such as Sweden, are having their own domestic issues. Here are the key things to consider this au tumn:

Keys to the Autumn (so far)

● Strong demand continues, although traditional UK buy ers are being replaced by more Eastern Europeans.

● There is an increasing ner vousness among agents that the market probably cannot escape the turmoil elsewhere and things are getting tougher.

● As before, demand is princi pally from Spain, Morocco, and all Northern European countries, with America, Middle and Far East also providing buyers. The mar keting of the Costa del Sol as the place to ‘over-winter’ and avoid the inclement weather is certainly seeing a lot of Nordic buyers.

● There is a shortage of supply at all levels but especially the higher end.

● New construction is continu ing abate, absorbing much buyer demand, despite high er than average prices and increased building costs.

● Prices have started to creep up and will probably do more if the supply shortage and excess demand continues. Some discounts are still pos sible, especially for resale properties.

● With the increasing cost of living and finance issues, it’s likely that there will be more distressed sellers in the months to come.

● ‘Golden Visas’ are still pop ular for non-EU buyers, contributing to higher de mand for properties over €500,000 as they permit

● Climate change still has far too little a mention, although the alteration in lifestyle that the increasing number of changes demands, will be having a hidden effect. Gradually, people are be ginning to take the Energy rating (CEE) of the house into account, with solar and PV panels becoming more sought after, although far behind a good internet con nection.

● Marbella is finally getting its revised town plan into con crete, with agreement with the Junta. The 1986 plan to which the municipality has been obliged to work up to now is getting distinctly creased and dog-eared.

● Reference Values, on which property taxes are based, are a sorry joke, as they are so inaccurate, with most be ing way below the current market level.

● The euphoria of Andalucia’s cancellation of Wealth Tax collapsed after Madrid effec tively created new taxes that would offset the benefits.

Average Difference Between Asking Price and Actual Selling Price

Last Quarter of 2021

October to December – 9.39%

First Quarter of 2022

January to March – 5.72% - It was a busy quarter, reflecting the post-Covid optimism, before the start of Putin’s war.

Second Quarter of 2022

April to June – 4.63% - This difference is the lowest, Third Quarter of 2022

July to September. 7.09% - is the most recent quarter, where the market is perhaps beginning to reflect the seriousness of the European and World economic situation and sellers are more nervous and so willing to accept offers at less then ask ing price.

Changes in Multi-Listing Site – Resales Online and Rentals

On the Costa del Sol there are 14,841 properties for sale at €100,000 or more, 131 (0.9%) of which are new develop ments.

There are 3,579 (24.12%) priced at over €1,000,000, 56 (43.75% of the total) new developments.

1,591 (10.72%) of the 100,000+ properties have a discount of 10% or more since first listing, which is a significant drop from the previous record of 15.84% in January 2022.

Those increasing their price numbered 1,281 (8.63%), which is higher than the previous 6.52%

Some 1,595 properties are available for long-term rental, with 1,271 (79.69%) being at more than €1,000/month, over the minimum wage in Spain, and only 17 (1.07%) are at less than half that.

Some 679 (42.57%) are available at €2,000/month, twice the minimum wage, and 227 (14.23%) are over €5,000/month

CONCLUSION

The change in prices indicates that sellers are feeling more confident, as the reductions are less and the increases more. The absence of lower priced rentals indicates the difficulty lower wage families have in finding a home, with these tend ing to be the service industry workers.

At the same time restaurant owners are finding it difficult to get staff. The recent changes, actual and proposed, give tenants more rights, are likely to make property owners less keen to take the risk of letting, thus reducing the number of rentals even more.

Surveyor Campbell Ferguson on why this recession shouldn’t lead to the big slump of 2008

Alhaurin El Grande, fantastic villa built on one level on flat plot nearthe town, very pleasant and sunny it offers 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, lounge, conservatory, large terraces surrounding the house facing the garden and private swimming pool, lock up garage and parking area, it has great rental potential and makes a fantastic home!

Ref: 198 – 325.000 €

Fuengirola centre, bright apartment within very quiet position close to all kind of services and beach, very charming and sunny with 2 bedooms, bathroom, fully fitted modern kitchen, bright bathroom, spacious lounge and sunny terrace with pleasant townviews, completely renovated, air conditioning, community garden and parking. Makes a very cosy home! No lift.

Ref: L006 – 179.000 €

Las Lagunas, Mijas área, a unique penthouse in good location near shops, schools and all kind of amenities, makes an ideal Family home to enjoy large solárium and lounge, 18 m2 terrace with sun all day. Comprising of 82 m2 living área with 2 single bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen, utility room and 82 m2 solarium. Good condition ready to move in with underground garage space. Must be seaen!

Ref: 148 – 215.000 €

Ref: 103 – 1.795.000 €

Magnificent villa in a privileged position, very private, bright and sunny with panoraminc views over the sea, mountains and Fuengirola bay. 519 square meters built on 1730 m2 plot, comprising of 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, granny flat, large fully fitted kitchen, lounge, terraces, garden, swimming pool, garage, artificial lake, floor heating, air conditioning, and lots more. Must be seen to appreciate it. Ideal home and great for rental income.

Pueblo Lopez, beatiful apartment, very cosy and with lots of charm and character, very sunny and bright top floor in very quiet área close to amenities, services, beach, etc. Spacious with 2 bedrooms, bathroom, fully fitted kitchen, lounge and sunny terrace overlooking beautiful square. Very quiet área makes it an ideal home!

Ref: L018 – 249.000 €

La Capellania, magnificent villa in a privileged position, very private, bright and sunny with panoraminc views over the sea, mountains and Fuengirola bay. 519 square meters built on 1730 m2 plot, comprising of 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, granny flat, large fully fitted kitchen, lounge, terraces, garden, swimming pool, garage, artificial lake, floor heating, air conditioning, and lots more. Must be seen to appreciate it. Ideal home and great for rental income.

Ref: L010 – 399.000 €

Fuengirola centre, Pueblo López, beautiful townhouse in very quiet position with all amenities and services at the doorstep. Ideal Family home and great for rental income. Very bright and spacious with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open plan fully fitted kitchen, utility room, large lounge leading to private patio with swimming pool. Excelent condition, definetely worth a visit.

Ref: L096 – 475.000 €

BENALMÁDENA, LA CAPELLANIA

FUENGIROLA CENTRE

ALHAURIN EL GRANDE

LAS LAGUNAS, MIJAS

FUENGIROLA CENTRE

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REAL ESTATE WITH THE PERSONAL TOUCH

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Very

Established in 1999 Imperial Estate offers clients a dedicated and personalised service, individually tailored to their clients’ in dividual needs and requests.

A family business, centrally located in Fuengirola, Fabiola and her team bring to bear an intimate knowledge of the local market.

And as part of an extensive network of estate agents with a shared database they guarantee that your property will be visible and accessible to any potential buyers.

You can take advantage of the free cutting-edge virtual tours service, professional photographs, energy efficiency certification among many other features and personal touches which Fabiola and her team provide, as part of their service.

You can also trust the team at Imperial Estate to take care of renting out your home or property, and ensuring it is managed securely and professionally.

So why not drop into their Fuengirola office to speak to Fabiola or to one of her friendly, knowledgeable, multilingual team about your property requirements and take the first step in finding your dream home.

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Check out their handy online property valuation tool, and sub scribe to their mailing list, and be first in line to receive the latest property listings.

Ref:

Call or email Fabiola and her team on: +34 952 664 966 or +34 656 815 699, and at info@imperialestate.com

IT is all over the news, you can’t avoid it. The energy crisis is pushing inflation and the cost of living through the roof, all over Spain.

Despite this, demand for pro perty on the Costa del Sol con tinued to rise in 2022 and rea ched unprecedented levels, with a 73% increase in sales against 2021, according to reports.

It might explain why the pool of properties available on the professional intranet for agents, which had some 22,000 pro perties at this time last year, has now only 11,000 in stock.

Work globally, to live locally and sustainably

Lower

FUENGIROLA, TORREBLANCA

Obviously, Covid caused an initial influx of professionals who suddenly had the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world.

Marbella and nearby towns like Estepona and Mijas offered the combination of true year-round services and activities, mild wea ther and world-class internatio nal schools.

TORREBLANCA

However, what seemed like a temporary arrangement at the time, has now become more permanent: with companies to

day equipped with the techno logy allowing remote working, (plus, perhaps being reluctant to bring workers back into offices). Some governments, like Ger many, are actively encouraging their pensioners to live in Spain in the winter to save energy costs. Simultaneously, Andalucia saw the opportunity and for the last two years, there has been in creasing investment in infrastruc ture. This includes a good im provement in a patchy internet service.

Then from September 19, there was the removal of the wealth tax and reduction of income tax by 4.3% for those in lower ear ning brackets.

The move is designed to attract high spenders to stay over the 180 days threshold to become residents in the region to boost the economy through indirect ta xes (including IVA or VAT).

In addition, the energy crisis has put the need for energy efficient construction at the forefront for developers on the Costa del Sol.

Many were alre ady ahead of the game to ad dress the requirements of inter national buyers.

At a congress for real estate agents I attended in Estepona earlier this year, I noticed that having eco-credentials was one of the main requirements from

high-end investors.

Finally, when data looks at the spiralling rise in the cost of living in Spain as a whole, it greatly ignores the specific conditions of the Costa del Sol, where people can live without putting the hea ting on for most of the year.

And when it comes to food, one can splash out or be as frugal as you like.

I have recently discovered one local producer in the Guadalmina area who sells his own organic pro duce at a fraction of supermarket prices. He is not the only one. Producers like him live in every town.

Work globally, to live locally and sustainably. It is definitely cost-effective to live here and the reason so many people keep choosing the Costa del Sol. Now more than ever.

In

More information at www.thespanishestateagent.com

Imperial Estate brings more than 20 years experience to help smooth the way in your property transactions

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Despite rising costs to borrow and a soaring cost of living, demand for property on the Costa del Sol continues to rise. Vanessa Davila explains why

DIRECT: A fruit trader in Casares sells straight from the land to the consumer

Having ecocredentials was one of the main requirements from investors

Banking without the hassle

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A true Eden

Alcaidesa – an emerging luxury destination for those in the know

ALCAIDESA is a hidden gem, ideally located alongside a sweeping sandy beach and su rrounded by protected nature reserves.

Just minutes from Sotogrande, it has stunning views across the Mediterranean over to Gibral tar and Africa.

Alcaidesa is also currently un dergoing a big transformation. The recently redesigned Links

Golf Course and the construc tion of the five-star Fairmont Hotel, which is due to open in 2023/2024, plus the propo sed upgrade of another hotel to offer a five-star experience, will ensure Alcaidesa features in the top choice of visitors and residents alike to this area.

Only 20 minutes from Gibral tar airport and less than an hour to Malaga, Alcaidesa is easily accessible for holidays, golf trips and for residents with families who live fur ther afield.

One Eden has now launched Se renity Alcai desa, an offplan frontline golf residen tial resort development with 1-4 be droom apart ments and penthouses. Set amongst lush lands caped gar dens, facilities will include

AGONY ANT

Turning gold to lead

THIS year saw intense debate in the Eu ropean Parliament over the legality of ‘CBI’ Schemes (Citizenship by Invest ment) offered by three EU countries: Malta, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. Many EU MEPs offered their opinion on the schemes and called for an immediate ban by arguing that they pose a threat to European security and democracy as they can be used as a backdoor to the EU for dirty money.

Some country representatives added that the procedures lacked fairness compared to conventional migration and naturalisation channels, and impact equality as they bene fit the rich and they are an offence against EU values (opinion of MEP belonging to the Spanish Government’s party!).

Separately, ‘RBI’ (Residency by Investment or ‘Golden Visa’ Schemes) is also being of fered, apart from the above countries, by Es tonia, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Portugal, on the basis of a minimum invest ment that varies from country to country. Such schemes have brought immense cap ital to the EU: a study - by the very same European Parliament where their legality is being questioned - estimated that the ben efit of Golden Visa schemes on the EU was of €21.4 billion, with 132,000 people ben efiting.

Still, this astounding level of investment

seems for many MEPs (with their varied political inclinations) a negative record be cause, in their opinion, they potentially in volve a broad spectrum of criminality: fraud, tax evasion and money-laundering practic es.

But whilst this argument could have some merit, Golden Visas per se do not increase the above-mentioned risk, or indeed lack fairness.

Checks

Firstly, any person can invest in the EU, with or without ‘Golden Visa’ schemes. Second ly, vetting procedures are in fact higher with investors that apply for Golden Visas ver sus those who do not as, in addition to the source/proof of funds checks, a background check in the form of a criminal record certif icate is required.

And lastly, most if not all non-working resi dency schemes in the world are based on financial capacity, and this will never change whether we find it morally acceptable or not. In fact, tourist visas are the same and this will hardly change either.

a beach entry pool, lap pool, children’s pool and play area, co-working area, an indoor gym, crazy golf and a serene yoga and meditation zone.

Investors

An impressive on-site show apartment and miradors (viewing spots) makes it easy to appreciate the spectacular views and location of these luxury apartments that are al ready appealing to residents, visitors and investors alike.

To arrange a personal visit and tour please call or what sapp 00 34 663 493 630 or view www.oneeden.com/ serenity-alcaidesa

WE HAVE YOU COVERED

GRUPO Dvos is a full-spectrum, frontto-back, start-to completion property developer, offering building con struction, ready to move in proper ties, renovated projects and more.

Whether you are looking for an investment opportunity, holiday home or a permanent residency, Grupo Dvos can and will have you covered with high-quality property in the best locations along the Costa del Sol.

The list of extraordinary coastal villas, apart ments and and penthouses that Grupo Dvos offers will leave your jaw on the ground, and once you buy a property through them an all-in clusive package of services unfolds, such as cleaning services, car rentals, property man agement, babysitting, and gardening etc.

The process for buying a home with Grupo Dvos is as follows:

● You show them your ideal home; the fea tures, the location, the style, the expecta tions, the preferences.

● They will do a thorough search through their listings of beautiful properties to see what matches your expectations, or if you wish to build or refurbish an old property.

● Together, you and they find your perfect match of what your aim is with your prop erty purchase. To make a good profit or to find your dream home.

● They guide you through all the potentially complex and hazardous legal procedures that are required to buy a house abroad.

● If your budget is over €500,000 they will help you get a GOLDEN VISA which gives you residency in Spain.

The relationship between the client and Grupo Dvos endures long after the pur chase is complete and you are happily ensconced in your dream home.

This year Grupo Dvos Properties have been particularly recognised in the category of Best Luxury Residential Property 2022 for the villa ‘Calma en el Alma’ in Cos ta del Sol, Spain.

This spectacular beachside home is located in Guadalmina Baja, on the western tip of Marbella, just 100m from the beach and 10 min utes from the centre of Marbella.

info@grupodvos.com tel: +34 663 78 99 18 C. La Dorada, 12, 29688 El Paraiso, Estepona, Marbella, Málaga www.grupodvos.com

Completely refurbished inside and out, the home offers ample space for modern family living with its large open-plan living area.

WINNER 2022

Visit www.grupodvos.com or call +34 663 789 918 for more

LOCATION, LOCATION: By a beach and golf course with stunning views of Gibraltar and Africa

Whether it’s an investment property, holiday home or somewhere to live, Grupo Dvos has the right opportunity for you

Malta and Cyprus passport schemes threaten existence of Spain’s Golden Visas

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Serenity is an exciting new development on a prime front line golf location in Alcaidesa, offering the highest quality 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments and penthouses with Phase I consisting of 77 meticulously designed homes.

These homes embody style and quality with private terraces, golf, sea, lake or mountain views.

The Resort will be set amongst landscaped gardens that will provide residents with extensive leisure facilities such as indoor gym, lap pool, yoga area, beach entry pool, children’s play area, co-working space and many more

TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

Sierra Nevada National Park – a protected paradise

The Sierra Nevada National Park was cre ated in 1999 and spans the provinces of Granada and Almeria, encompassing 45 different municipalities. It is Spain’s sec ond largest national park. Much of the landscape was shaped by glaciers, caus ing U-shaped valleys. A protected space, it is famed for its fauna and flora, which is studied by geologists.

Here, you’ll find Ibex (mountain goats), wild boar, foxes, vultures, oak trees, pop lar trees, maritime pines, chestnuts, and many species of flower.

Information can be obtained at the Tour ist Information office in Pampaneira, which is staffed by Fernando, who holds a rare university degree all about the Si erra Nevada.

WITH its diverse environment, the Sierra Nevada is the per fect destination for cycle tour ism. Formed of ancient glacial valleys and terraces, it has a vast network of interconnecting tracks, perfect to ride along.

This beautiful area attracted Michael Saunders of Switchbacks to create his company in 2001. At that time, there was no mountain biking in the Sierra Nevada.

The company launched with a 100km route from Pico de Veleta to Castell del Ferro that could be done all in a single day! This was the longest descent in Eu rope and remains one of the company’s most popular routes.

Switchbacks quickly became successful.

Micheal started working with the ‘Medio Ambiente’ over what could legally be rid den in the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. For example, that 1,800m is the limit for riding on single track.

Previously, the authorities considered the bicycle ‘a vehicle’. He lobbied to have bikes recognised differently and persuad ed local town halls to support his compa ny.

In 2001, many of the trails had disap peared through disuse and the weather ing of time. However, Michael rediscov ered them using 1940s military maps. Since then, cyclists have played a major role in keeping them open all year round.

A legal ride

Micheal emphasises the importance of using a legal cycle tourism company. It must be registered in Spain, have public liability insurance, use qualified guides, and respect the national park laws. Meeting all legal requirements, Switch

backs runs weekend or weeklong holidays of 4-7 nights. Guests are collected from Malaga and are accommodated in a vil lage house in Bubion on a self-catering basis.

The day consists of riding from 9.30 to 4.30pm with a quick lunch. The cyclists are shuttled to 1,800m in a van and are then expertly guided through La Alpujarra. The group size is usually two sets of seven cyclists, with separate routes, vehicles, and guides. Switchbacks can cater for inter mediate to advanced riders Most people bring their own bikes, but the company has some for hire. A support vehicle is always on standby.

In the summer months, Switchbacks is based in Bubion with its cooler tempera tures. In the winter, it moves to Mijas Pueblo, in Malaga region, which is “one of the best places in Europe to ride a moun tain bike.”

To book a mountain biking holiday, visit www.switch-backs.com or call +34 660 623 305

Mulhacen (3,482m) - Climb it, Trek it, Scramble it or, even Sleep on it!

The highest peak in western Europe outside the Alps. We offer on demand day ascents in summer condition and 2-day winter ascents staying at the Refugio Poqueira. Also available are summer night ascents to see the stars and spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Winter ascents on skis or snowshoes when conditions permit.

Spanish Highs, Sierra Nevada spanishhighs.com Email: info@spanishhighs.com

Mulhacen (3,482m) - Climb it, Trek it, Scramble it or, even Sleep on it!

The highest peak in western Europe outside the Alps. We offer on demand day ascents in summer condition and 2-day winter ascents staying at the Refugio Poqueira. Also available are summer night ascents to see the stars and spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Winter ascents on skis or snowshoes when conditions permit. Spanish Highs, Sierra Nevada spanishhighs.com Email: info@spanishhighs.com

Switchbacks in Southern Spain provides the perfect mountain biking holiday

GRANADA: is well known for its moun tain biking trails

We

Big spenders

ANDALUCIA is set to see its largest budget ever in 2023 after a resounding growth in tax revenue.

It will have over €45 billion to play with next year, a €5 billion increase on the cur rent budget, and will oversee a generous boost in public expenditure for essential ser vices such as health and ed ucation.

Nearly half of the record in take will come from tax rev enues, which has grown 25% to €20.8 billion.

Budget boosted by €5 billion

By Walter Finch

This is mainly off the back of a post-pandemic rebound that saw strong growth in income tax and VAT, equal to €1,800 per person. The figure is slightly mirage-like, however, as it is also driven by rising inflation.

The budget is based upon a forecast GDP growth across

Grand Cru Andaluz

AGRICULTURE and natural building materials are the main sectors behind the three richest people in Andalucia.

The Forbes’ Rich List has revealed Spain’s top 100 earners, with the three biggest fortunes in Andalucia in the hands of the brothers Eduardo and Francisco Martinez-Cosentino (with about €500 million each) and Santiago Domecq Bohorquez (who is worth €450 million).

The Martinez-Cosentino brothers are the leaders of the Cosentino group, which started in the marble sec tor and today has brands focused on surfaces for ar chitecture and design such as Silestone, Scalea, Sen sa, Eco, Prexury and Dekton.

Meanwhile, Santiago Domecq Bohorquez has made part of his fortune thanks to the breeding of fighting bulls, a sector to which his family has been linked for several generations.

Spain of 1.9% and an infla tion rate of 4.5%.

“The inflation rate prediction is subject to the impact of the war in Ukraine, the rise in energy and raw materials, and the rise in inflation,” said Economy and Finance Min ister Carolina España in the Andalucian Parliament.

“However, Andalucia has had superior growth and better than average labour market performance. All this allows us to face an uncertain future with determination.”

The largest single expendi ture will be on health, which will enjoy a 10% increase on this year’s outlay, to €13.8bn. This is the equivalent of 7.4% of the GDP of Andalucia.

Spending

Similarly, education spend ing will be boosted by 15% to €8.5 billion.

Financing from the EU has also been another pillar of next year’s record budget haul, with over €5 billion coming in from European structural funds that will be key to an 83% increase in investments the Andalu sian Parliament is looking to make.

Focus on inflation

GBP/EUR exchange rate slumps as BoE forecasts a two-year UK recession

THE pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate fell sharply through the first two weeks of November as it became increasingly apparent that the UK economy has entered a recession. Over the last fortnight, GBP/EUR traded between highs of €1.166 and lows of €1.131. The pair ended up wavering below €1.14, posting significant losses.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?

The pound euro exchange rate took a tumble as we moved into November as the afterglow of Rishi Sunak’s appointment as Prime Minister faded away.

Instead, GBP investors became increasingly focused on the UK’s dire economic outlook. On Halloween, declines in both mortgage approvals and credit card borrowing added to fears of a downturn in the UK.

The euro’s gains against the pound were capped, however, amid similar concerns about the Eurozone economy. The bloc’s final man ufacturing PMI revealed a larger-than-expected contraction.

Sterling then nosedived on Thursday after the Bank of England (BoE) delivered a grim analysis of the UK economy. According to the British central bank, the UK has already entered a recession which could last two years – the longest period of negative growth on record. Meanwhile, the euro enjoyed its negative correlation to a weaken ing US dollar and hawkish comments from European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde.

The following week, the pound euro exchange rate initially bounced back. GBP attracted some dip-buying while Russia-Ukraine worries weighed on EUR.

Alas, Sterling’s recovery was short-lived. Downbeat news from large UK business – falling profits, asset sales, and insolvencies – once again raised fears for the country’s economy.

Meanwhile, the ECB’s downbeat assessment of the Eurozone econ omy in its latest Economic Bulletin weighed on EUR.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?

Looking ahead, some high-impact data for both the Eurozone and the UK could cause significant movement in the pound euro pair. In mid-November we have the latest UK labour market report. Although Britain is likely now

in recession, the jobs market remains strong. If the unemployment rate remains close to a near 50-year low, Sterling could catch a tail wind.

UK and Eurozone inflation will also be in focus. If price pressures continue to rise, expectations of more interest rate hikes could boost their respective currencies.

The UK government’s fiscal statement also promises to be a huge event on the economic calendar. With PM Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt set to impose more austerity measures on the country to fill a fiscal hole blown into the budget by Liz Truss, worries about a worsening recession outlook could hurt Sterling.

That said, if the PM and Chancellor are able to restore the UK’s fi nancial stability and deliver a plan for growth, GBP could rally. Either way, we could witness some volatility.

The next day, an expected decline in UK retail sales could see Ster ling fall further.

The following week brings the flash PMI surveys for November, both for the Eurozone and the UK. GBP and EUR investors will be watch ing the results closely. Any evidence of recession could infuse more volatility into the pairing.

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 three-cent gap between €1.16 and €1.13 translates to a €6,000 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 differ ent tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency 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 dedicat ed account manager there to provide guidance and support when ever 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.

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XMAS ON THE ROCK

DO THE JINGLE BELL ROCK

Gibraltar has a very unique take on the Christmas season

WHEN Bobby Helms first released ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ 65 years ago, he could easily have been talking about Gibraltar, where Christmas is in the air right through to the day itself.

The festive atmosphere around the Rock is second to none, with its dis tinct mix of Britishness combined with its Mediterranean climate. Throw into this unique mix some of your time-honoured shops like Marks and Sparks, your favourite

pub grub from old Blighty and en tertainment for all the family down its streets and you have a winter holiday destination that will make you feel at home with its own pe culiar twist.

Crusty the Snowman might not be a feature, but neither will the cold be a problem.

The Rock’s sub-tropical climes will make you grin from ear to ear as you shop around marvelling at du ty-free prices below the coloured Christmas lights that adorn its

START feeling festive at Ocean Village! It is the ideal destination to get you into the spirit of the season… whether you’re with kids, family, or friends. With international restaurants and bars overlooking the marina, our venues offer perfect cosy indoor and outdoor dining experiences.

Our Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Thurs day, December 1, starting with Live Music from 4pm, Carol singing at 5pm by St Anne’s Upper Primary School Choir and Magical Disney Hide ‘N Seek from 5.30pm (£5 per child) to raise money for GBC Open Day. Enquire now on disneymag ic@oceanvillage.gi Plus… Street Food, Mulled Wine & Mince Pies!

Santa Claus is also coming to Ocean Village! Come and have tea with Santa in his Grotto on December 18 from 11.30 to 3.30pm at Café Fresco . This includes a photo with San ta and a chocolate gift per child. Enquiries: santasgrotto@ oceanvillage.gi Sunday, December 18 is also World Cup Final Day! Enjoy live music with Musicians Association of Gibraltar outside Café Fresco from 12 midday till 3.30pm, with the live screen ing kicking off at 4pm.

By John Culatto

winding streets.

Jolly

In between shopping, treat yourself to a pint of lager over fish and chips that is even fresher than in the UK, often having been caught that day.

Continues on Page 18

XMAS ON THE ROCK

what’s on Fun facts

Gibraltarians pride themselves on being friendly and welcoming so do not hesitate to speak to the locals either.

You will learn about what makes the season special for them as Brits from different roots.

There will be regular festive enter tainment too, kicking off with the Festival of Lights on November 18.

Featuring the Gibraltar Scout Group, St Bernard’s School and Gi braltar youth choirs, you can hear the carols that remind you of your childhood.

On March 20th, 1969, John Len non married Yoko Ono on the Rock of Gibraltar. The iconic cou ple initially wished to get married in Paris or at sea. However, due to the difference in their nation alities, there would be a delay in having a ceremony in any place but Gibraltar, where Lennon’s British citizenship would allow them to marry immediately.

The entertainment will be the pre lude to the Christmas lights being switched on across the Rock, a magical moment for all to see at 7.30pm.

After the show, why not whisk off to Ocean Village, where you can lounge in the luxurious marina set ting while sipping your favourite brew.

You can dine out at some exotic

World first

Gibraltar International Airport has a runway that cuts through one of the territory’s busiest 4-lane highways. If you think the commute you take every day is bad, imagine having to wait for a plane to take off or land for the road to open back up again.

restaurants here too, offering very British food, global cuisine or re gional delicacies.

If you are feeling like treating your self, why not go for a first class din

GIBRALTAR became the first country to print stamps bear ing the mark of Charles III in a special Christmas edition.

The set, called ‘12 days of Christmas’ after the 18th Century British festive carol, features typical presents given during this season.

The stamps were designed by Stephen Perera and printed on high-quality gummed paper.

The stamp set is available at the Philatelic Shop on 104 Main Street or online via gibraltar-stamps.com.

“We are honoured and proud to become the first country to issue a set of stamps with His Majesty’s Royal Cypher,” Min ister for Portal Services Vijay Daryanani said.

ner at the Sunborn five star hotel. The static ship is the main attrac tion of the stylish Ocean Village complex, complete with its own top deck restaurant where you can eat

in style. Cap off an amazing day of shopping with a refresh ing cocktail or champagne after a satisfying din ner with exclusive waiter service.

Perched above the marina complex with the Rock on one side and the setting sun on the other, you could be forgiven for forgetting about your worries, even if for just a second. Then you can party the night away in the Sunborn’s own hip casino or drift out to see what the rest of Ocean Village has to offer. All in all, Gibraltar has a special package for every visitor, so why not try something different this Christmas and do the Jingle Bell Rock!

HOME OF DIABETES

OUT of five million people in Spain who have diabetes, 1.5 million of them are unaware they have the condition, according to alarming new data.

Research from the IDF Diabetes Atlas 2021 showed Spain was the second country in Eu rope with the highest prevalence of diabetes.

About 14.8% of the population between 20 and 79 years old suffered from the pathology, according to the figures, compared to a Euro pean average of 9.2%.

Some 9.6% of the population between 20

to 79 in Italy and Greece had diabetes, and France registered 8.6%.

Turkey was the only country with more con cerning data than Spain, recording 15.9% of the population with diabetes.

Most of the five million cases of diabetes in Spain could be linked to Andalucia, according to Federation Español of Diabetes (FEDE).

There were 800,000 cases in the region, Catalunya had more than 700,000, Madrid over 600,000 and the Valencian community was fourth with just over half a million.

BE SECURE

AS a company, Liberty Seguros, one of Spain’s largest in surance companies, offers two excellent types of policies, National and Expat,

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances is an Expat agent and I am very proud to work with Liberty with policies that have been designed specifically for the expat living in Spain – so the policies provided are more in line with what we are used to and give us a wider range of benefits than provided on the national policies. Yes, of course they can be a little more expensive, as there are so many add-on options and additional benefits. These policies are available in various languages, including En glish and Liberty provide English speaking services, wherever possible. This stops you struggling to understand and purchase an insurance policy in Spanish. My company provides further support for you with a Claims Administrator to assist you with the claims process and I also have a Renewals Department, unlike many other companies who just do automatic renewals.

My Renewals ladies will contact you each year with details and costs of your policy and should you need any amendments or updates to the policy, Renewals will be able to assist.

Liberty provides a comprehensive range of insurance products including, car, house, pet, commercial, community, life, accident and marine.

The house policy in particular is extremely special and can be tailor-made for your particular requirements, with a selection of add-ons, one of which is accidental damage covering both your home and your garden, with a certain amount allocated for your garden and much more.

My company policy, with regards to vehicles, is to ensure all the seats have adequate cover. Should the worst happen, this gives more help and support to everyone in the vehicle and protects the driver/owner against claims from the passengers, which could go on for years if a passenger is badly injured.

The life policies are available and can be adapted for your own needs, from small policies to cover funeral costs, to full life poli cies and mortgage protection policies.

And don’t forget Jennifer Cunningham Insurances can also offer health insurance, travel insurance, and both funeral insurance and prepaid funeral plans.

variant

THE new Covid variant that is taking over in Spain has unofficially been given the delightful moniker of ‘hell hound’ by social media users.

It is certainly easier to re member than its official designation - technically referring to two separate Omicron subvariants - as BQ.1 and BQ.1.1.

Spanish health minister Carolina Darias said that while ‘Hellhound’ current ly only accounts for 2.7% of Covid cases in Spain, it is expected to become the dominant strain in the com ing weeks.

Hellhound’ already ac counts for 25% of cases in France, 10% of new infec tions in Belgium and has ticked up to 5% in Italy.

Lactose-free victory

A MADRID nursing home resident has won a court case which forces centre managers to give her lac tose-free food.

Beatriz Cano, 72, has been in the home in the Usera district home since 2010 but was diagnosed with lactose intolerance the fol lowing year, “There was no way they

gave me a menu that my condition demanded,” said Beatrix. She had several meetings with the centre’s bosses but, as the court said, she ‘was given a com pletely inadequate diet’.

Her only concession, after a long battle, was to have her own fridge containing lactose-free products. Beatrix recounted that

Drag me to hell

staff as sured her that some meals would be fine for her but that wasn't the case as she broke out in hives and oth er ailments.

A Madrid government spokesman said they would ‘abide by the court’s decision’.

Dressed to kill

THE scourge of mosquito bites could become a thing of the past thanks to the creation of a new clothing range by a Barcelona busi nesswoman.

Silvia Oviedo’s StingBye products include an adult t-shirt at €25 plus trousers and leggings as well as clothes for children.

The range is impregnated with an insect repellant, which is effective against mosquitoes as well as lice, bed ticks, fleas, and mites.

Clever

By Walter Finch

The European Centre of Disease Control (ECDC) issued a report on October 20 claiming that the two sub variants will account for more than 50% of cases in Europe at the onset of win ter due to its resistance to

Virus threat deaths

FIFTEEN people from the province of Malaga have died from Covid-19 in one week, according to health authorities.

The Ministry of Health reported that there had been 34 deaths across Andalucia in seven days.

In Malaga hospitals there were 46 patients admitted with coronavirus, representing an increase of three compared in the course of a week.

Four people were in the intensive care unit due to infection caused by Covid-19.

In Andalucian hospitals, 213 patients were hospitalised, of which 16 were hooked up to ventilators.

It comes as the climate starts to cool, with the onset of win ter bringing back the threat of Covid-19.

the existing vaccines.

The subvariants garnered their terrifying name from German Twitter users who named it ‘Cerberus’, based on expert forecasts of how it would spread across the continent.

They likened it to the ma ny-headed guard dog of hell who stops the denizens of the underworld from escaping.

Warning

Symptoms include a sore throat, a cough, general malaise, voice loss, diar rhoea, and a runny nose.

Preliminary data suggests that ‘Hellhound’ is 10% more contagious than pre vious incarnations of the vi rus, but no more severe.

The repellent effect lasts for more than 100 wash es. StingBye has also pro duced an additive that can be put into a washing machine to offer pro tection for ex isting clothing and will stay effective for at least 20 washes. Despite 20% of business coming from Spain, the main de mand for the clothes and ad ditives is com ing from South America.

for two very different markets

‘Hellhound’: The ‘delightfullynamed’ new Covid

Lying labels

A BORDEAUX court will rule in the New Year over a massive scam where 4.6 million bottles of cheap Spanish plonk was false ly labelled as French-pro duced table wine.

A group of wine merchants face fines as well as prison time.

Authorities have identified 34,587 hectolitres of im ported wine that was used in the deception. The scam started in 2013 when ad verse weather conditions affected French vineyards which were forced to scale down wine production.

Prosecutors say that be tween 2013 and 2016, over 130 tanker trucks shipped in Spanish wine to France.

It was then bottled with bogus labels claiming to be French table wine, with some bottles claiming to contain wine made in Bor deaux.

Que Syrah, Syrah

THIEVES have managed to pull off another wine heist, this time targeting Miche lin-starred restaurant Coque.

The exclusive eatery was re lieved of 132 bottles by the criminals, with a total value of more than €200,000.

The sommelier at the Madrid restaurant, Rafael Sandoval, explained that the thieves tried to enter the restaurant via a hole they made in the neighbouring property.

But when they were unable to gain access that way, they en

By Simon Hunter

tered a courtyard shared with a pharmacy next door, and broke in via a window.

“More than anything it’s an emotional thing,” revealed Sandoval, whose brother Ma rio is the chef at the two-Mi chelin starred restaurant.

“We’ve been working for 40 years to get some of those bot tles, they are vintage bottles that even some of the wineries themselves don’t have.

Next stop, Malaga

IMAGES of Malaga will be displayed through out London as part of a tourism campaign to promote even more visitors to the city.

Pictures of the city are plastered across the popular City Sightseeing double-decker tour ist buses which transport thousands of tour ists around the English capital every day.

The tourism promotion campaign comes ahead of the Year of Picasso 2023, the 50th anniversary of the death of the Malaga-born artist.

“It was a high-precision rob bery, these people could have robbed the bank of Spain,” he added.

Sandoval also raised the alarm among his colleagues, ‘be cause this is happening in a lot of restaurants in Europe’.

The robbery comes in the wake of a high-profile case in Caceres.

Custody

In 2021, a couple managed to walk out of the hotel and restaurant Atrio with 45 bot tles of wine stolen from the cellar, with a value of €1.6 million.

The alleged culprits were eventually tracked down by police and are being held in custody until their trial.

The wine has never been re covered.

90-DAY PLEA

SPAIN will ask the European Union to change its 90-day rule which is restricting stays by UK residents with property in the country.

Post-Brexit, the UK had to fall in line with other non-EU countries where Brits can only stay for up to 90 days every 180 days in Schengen Zone coun tries like Spain.

That's cut down British winter visitor numbers as homeown ers opt to use their stay allow ance during warmer times of the year.

It’s also reduced the potential for UK ‘digital nomads’ and has reduced off season takings at expat bars and restaurants.

Tourism Secretary, Fernando Valdes said: “It is in Spain’s in terest to get rid of the rule but we cannot do so unilaterally.”

He added that Spain will now ask the EU to make changes, including a possible exemption for UK residents.

“It is in our interest to convince the EU that we can try to work out something but the solution must come from them,” said Valdes.

Wine not French

Thieves walk out of Michelinstarred restaurant in Madrid with 132 bottles of priceless wine valued at over €200,000

SOMMELIER: Rafael Sandoval at work

FRAUD:

BUS: features Malaga

CHILDHOOD INSPIRATION

As we prepare for the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death, Dilip Kuner goes on a study trail

AS we approach the 50th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso - a series of events are planned for 2023 – it is true to say that his legendary status remains undimmed.

The Malaga-born artist came to define 20th century art, and unlike many of his predeces sors, he attained superstar status in life.

Born in Malaga in 1881, the Picasso family moved to A Coruña in Galicia when his father, Don Jose Ruiz y Blasco, took up a position as a professor at the School of Fine Arts. This was where Picasso first received formal training in the arts before he headed as a young man to Barcelona, which was perhaps the most influential city as he developed his unique style. Today, his legacy and impact on the contempo rary art scene can be found in galleries across the world.

While he spent most of his adult life in France, it is to Spain that one should look to understand the man and his work. And there is much to learn by following in the childhood footsteps of Picasso across the country.

Malaga

It is only apt that the start of the trail should be in his birth city of Malaga. The house where he was born – now the Pi casso Birthplace Museum (C asa Natal Picas so ) – was declared an official heritage site in 1983. It is found in the heart of the city in the historic Plaza del Merced and has a selection of the artist’s prints and ceramics, as well as a collection of Picasso’s home and personal life. A short walk through the winding city streets will bring you to the Museo Picasso Malaga. It opened in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace, and has 285

works do nated by members of Picasso's family.

Madrid

While the logical next stop on the trail would be Galicia, where Picasso moved next, the 10-hour drive can be broken by stopping off in Madrid. The city is home to some of Spain’s greatest galler ies, with a collection of Picasso’s most iconic paint ings among them.

Probably his most celebrated picture – artistically and culturally – is Guernica, which is housed at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.

Prints do not do the work justice. To truly appre ciate the massive artwork – it measures approxi mately 11 ft (3.5 metres) tall and 24 ft (7.8 metres) wide - it must be seen in person.

A visit to the Prado Museum is also a must. Picas so himself first visited in 1895 and he was highly influenced by the works of Diego Valazquez and El Greco. Art by Picasso is included in the permanent collection as well as regular temporary exhibits.

Galicia

To get a taste of Picasso’s childhood influences it is time to get back in the car and head for A Coruña. The northwestern coast of Spain was highly import ant to the young Picasso.

The azure tones of sea and sky featured in his works throughout his life. And it was on Riazor Beach that he is said to have first discovered femi nine nudity, when sketching near bathing huts. The next step for Picasso was Barcelona, where he entered adulthood – but that is a story for an other day.

INFLUENTIAL: Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid is a true masterpiece

WORKS: of art are housed in the Museo Picasso

FINAL WORDS

Cops and geckos

A NEIGHBOUR called police on a man in Elda (Alicante) because a gecko had taken up res idence on his balcony. He has complained of a waste of police resourc es after cops sent in ani mal protection.

Wrong trip

A TRAVEL agency got Spain’s capital and a Turkish city mixed up, leading to a group of Russian tourists ending up in Mardin as opposed to Madrid when the wrong flight was booked.

Kick starter

MAYOR of Madrid Jose Luis Martínez-Almeida managed to boot a ball into the face of a pho tographer - the third time he has hit people at an honorary kick off.

O P LIVE RESS The

WELL HUNG

Schlong arm of the law

THE days of dressing up like a giant penis and walking down the streets of a Spanish city could be doomed under new proposals put forward by the local council.

Other public activities to be banned in Malaga’s draft legis lation include walking around in just underwear, going com pletely naked, and wielding giant inflatable sex dolls.

It is part of a drive to tame un ruly stag and hen parties that have come to dominate the city’s nightlife scene.

By Walter Finch

The proposals will comple ment already-existing laws that prohibit anti-social be haviour, such as peeing in public, impromptu boozy street gatherings and shouting or using megaphones at night.

The moves are part of a drive to encourage a ‘high quality’ form of tourism to Malaga, which saw over three million visitors to its airport in the third quarter of 2022 alone.

A MAN who hid an illegal gun from the po lice by stuffing it down his boxer shorts end ed up in hospital after he shot his penis.

The wounded Alicante man, 22, had a crim inal record for various crimes and spotted police officers waving down cars in the town. In his haste to hide his gun, he inadvertent ly blasted a point-blank shot into his penis.

Rather than seeking immediate medical at tention, he eluded a patrol car and headed

As the gateway to much of the south of Spain for internation al travellers, the convenience

DICK MOVE

home.

As he continued to bleed out and suffer in tense pain, his family took him to Elda Hos pital. A four-hour reconstructive surgery was performed on what was left of his penis. As soon as he was wheeled out of the operat ing room, police arrested him.

of accessibility tends to attract the stag party crowd.

This is especially so since fel low Andalucian cities such as Granada and Sevilla are far less friendly to this form of tourism and already have sim ilar statutes on the books.

Those who violate the pro posed legislation would first be warned that they are break ing the law by being dressed as a penis.

And if they carry on regard less, they are liable to be slapped with a €750 fine.

ANIMAL rights party PACMA has shared a bizarre video of a naked hunter with a dead partridge dangling from his privates.

The man is shown wearing just boots, socks and gloves, and brandishing a shotgun. From the weapon are hung a number of dead partridges, as well as one hanging from his err, other weapon.

The man goes on a rant shout ing: “Don’t ever stop this, let the system continue, so we can catch partridges!”

What’s in a name

A COURT has banned a couple from naming their child Hazia, which in Basque means ‘seed’ but has the double meaning of ‘semen’.

The family has pledged to ‘fight to the last’ to see their daugh ter’s name on official docu ments as Hazia rather than the court ordered name of Zia.

Some 96 citizens in Spain have the first name Semen. They are Ukrainians and the name is a phonetic translation.

Dressing up as a giant member could lead to a €750 fine

MALAGA: Slams giant penis costumes