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voice in Spain

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Fiona Govan Digital News Editor

International Women’s Day – celLTHOUGH Spain treats ebrated annually on March 8 – is men and women equally a day that commemorates by law, the and the government social, political and worked hard to educate has achievements of women.economic the entire population about This year is particularly many women still report equality, as we watch our sister poignant sexist beUkrainians haviour and ‘machista’ suffer the brutal reality attitudes. rights.

Some of the most outmoded making our own perceivedof war, atti- Feminists made strugtudes hark back to the gles for equality in our rapid progress after compared to other countries in Eu- voters Franco era of the dictator’s generally clearly approved.

National Catholicism when, safe environments pale death and as Spain rope and worldwide. Until the elaboin 1939, developed into comthe dictator removed as a democracy, women’s ration of the 2017 State Pact, never Vox also has made some question- parison. any powers rights started women had gained. to match those of other before had a government been so able statements about women’s Eighty years ago, almost working roles. committed to the eradication to the forced to be mothersFemales were European countries. month, as the Second of gen- And when it World War der violence.” wives, with no legal right and house- The husband’s permission comes to the workplace raged, my grandmother rule to work, was itself, own fled Quintanilla points out the proportion of women Kyiv abolished in 1975, the property, or get divorced. that, in May managerial adultery law 2019, in as a Jewish refugee, the only Spanish Congress had positions remains around go to prison for adultery,They could went in 1978, and divorce member of her family was legal- most female the a third of that of to survive. straying husbands weren’t although ised in 1981. men with members She lost her family, her punished. home, her – 166, taking 47.4% in its history bers dropping even furtherthe num- belongings In 1987, A 1953 guide showed of seats. This reers as caand even her name as women how agreed the Spanish Supreme Court made the Spanish progress. to be a good wife, including that a rape victim didn’t she adopted a fake have leader in gender parliament the EU Spain's female executives identity ensur- to prove they ing that the house was had fought the parity. earn 15.1 forged papers to begin a new and percent less than their life, children tidy, and dinner spotless, the In 2004, the government man back In the Cabinet, that number is male counter- firstly in Iran and then when introduced higher, with even once Women were told not on the table. what is known as the “Integrated women taking the major- parts, although this is just below the again forced to flee during the IsEU average salary husband with “trivial” to bother their Law”, which funded the Government ity of ministerial roles, including that according to the gap of 16 percent lamic Revolution, in England. of Deputy Prime a patriarchal society, chatter. It was Delegation of Violence Against latest EU data from But she never lost with women en. And, Wom- job yet though. Minister. Not the top 2017. her treated as chattels. in 2017, a State Pact ble Ukrainian spirit and indomitawas However, a backslide Quintanilla says: “On average, that same formed against gender Progress has been made spirit is apparent in every image 2019 when the far-rightoccurred in ish women earn €5,977 less Span- of women Carmen Quintanilla, viceviolence.

Ever since Franco died per year Vox president of Spain’s broadcast from the in 1975, wom- AFAMMER, en’s groups and female third largest political - now than men and occupy more than 70% war-torn country which works for women party of part-time contracts. since - claimed that the gender have worked to rid the politicians in rural areas explained: “Spain Of these wom- sian invasion - whether the Rusviolence en, 46% affirm is a law favours reporting ‘machista’ culture and country of a pioneer and benchmark they are part-time from the frontline, country in placed with women and should be re- because they secure equal terms sheltering in care for dependents of laws that ensure equality, a family violence bunkers spite this being controversial,law. De- cannot afford childcare services.” or to safety or trekking miles to get across borders. some Does Spain have a high femicide rate? March 8 is a day to celebrate The Spanish government site for do- grandmothers, our mothers, our mestic violence (DV) and equality sisters and our daughters, our provides annual statistics our Sarah Cowley fellow about womankind and and to come femicide. At the end of The new Deputy Head of 2021, Spain together in solidarity and Mission at the British Embassy became the first European peace in Madrid is a pioneer as country in the hope of creating a better to start recording all femicides, the first ever UK ambassador world. in cases where the aggressor even portantAnd this year it is more imto take maternity leave than ever. didn’t know the victim.

Last year, 44 women Her message on International Women’s Day is one that and nine of the male were killed to all aspects of life and perpetrators transfers had previously been denounced “There is a responsibility career. for for those of us who have domestic violence (DV). do something to showcase been the first to that to others, so they can pares to 47 in 2020 and This comdone and how it can be see it can be Harking back a decade,55 in 2019.

“Women shout not hide done. their achievements and 73 deaths of women at Spain had est about them. They may or be overly modthe hands of male partners or ex-partners but to other people they not seem like big achievements to you in 2003 and 72 in 2004, so You could be a role modelcould be really inspirational. rates have at and blaze a trail for what least decreased. others can do.”

Spain’s come a long way tle for equality isn’t over but the batyet.

Spain has some of Europe’s most progressive gender government-funded education laws campaigns discouraging and violence. But is it working?

Jo Chipchase takes a look. domestic

www.theolivepress.es March 9th - March 22nd 2022

UKRAINE CRISIS SPECIAL

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PEOPLE POWER: Protests have been held across Spain in anger at the Russian invasion

Cruel irony

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See pages 28 & 29

Ukrainian expat terrified her Kyiv-based daughter could be killed by her ex-husband, a Russian soldier UKRAINIAN Halyna Surkova (pictured right), 53, has poured her heart out to the Olive Press about the shocking irony that the couple’s daughter is currently trapped in the besieged city, while he is attacking it.

The Malaga-based translator fears her daughter, 31, and her grandson, 3, could be killed while cowering in a basement as Putin’s forces surround the city.

“I am suffering a lot of distress, I had to visit the doctor because this situation is heavily impacting my mental health,” revealed the former Kyiv resident.

“It is terrible to think that my ex-hus-

EXCLUSIVE

By Jorge Hinojosa

band is among the forces that could kill his own daughter.”

She added he was a senior and ‘very experienced’ soldier, who had killed ‘many times’ before.

However she didn’t want to give more information for reasons of her family’s security and safety.

She has only managed to have intermittent contact with her family back home since the invasion began two weeks ago.

“Many of my family, especially the children, are very afraid. They are Benahavis living in basements and in fear for their lives,” she explained.

Describing the close relationship between the Russian and Ukrainian communities in Spain, she insists she doesn’t blame Russians individually.

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His visit came in an auspicious While they may never want to leave month for the pretty town, the exclusive gated with the producers Zagaleta or Madronal,estates like La filming a from Netflix, also in situ famous holiday of celebs including Hugh Grant, Cristiano Ronaldo for the hit series The Crown. Lady Di and Princess Diana Renting out a villa have in all the chosen the leafy enclave exclusive as the perfect enclave of Zagaleta, they portrayed base from which to enjoy the bright- the mid-1990s holiday Diana er lights of nearby took with her friend Jemima Goldsmith at being able to retreatMarbella, while her family estate, Tramores. to privacy and seclusion just a few minutes drive The cast and crew were away. regularly seen around the village, both The most recent visitor was the Brit- various scenes, as well as filming ish Prime Minister enjoying their time off. who the Olive PressBoris Johnson, first revealed, Continues overleaf SCREEN-WORTH

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relationship with some Russians here,” she said. “The majority of them disagree with Putin, but they are scared to share their views.”

According to the Spanish Institute of Statistics (INE), 112,000 Ukrainians live in Spain, 56% of whom are based in Madrid, Valencia and Andalucia.

Some 79,485 Russians are officially registered as residents.

Despite all the damage the war is causing Ukraine, she is trying to stay positive about the future.

“If Ukraine joins the EU, it will grow economically because Ukrainians are very hard-workers,” she insisted.

Opinion Page 6 See Ukraine Special, pages 2 & 3

UKRAINE CRISIS

NEWS IN BRIEF Impact on Spain SPAIN’S Prime Minister warned that the Russian invasion would impact Spain’s economy and cause an increase in energy bills.

“The result will be an economic slowdown and less investment at a key moment for Europe as we consolidate the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis,” said Pedro Sanchez.

Right track REFUGEES fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been offered free rail transport throughout Spain.

Sp-oils of War THE Spanish government has given two million barrels of its oil reserves to the Ukrainian army.

Free calls to Kyiv EXPAT phone company Lobster has waived charges on any calls and texts made to Ukraine.

The company said it was the right thing to do ‘during these difficult times’.

RUN AGROUND

Will Spain seize superyachts and luxury villas owned by Russian oligarchs under sanction rules?

AT least four superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs are currently moored in Spain and could be seized by authorities under sanctions threatened by the EU in retaliation for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Three palatial yachts currently being serviced in Barcelona ports and at least one in Mallorca could be targeted under sanctions against some of Russia’s wealthiest men.

Among them is mineral tycoon

By Fiona Govan

and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich who could see his 139-metre Solaris seized.

The vessel, dubbed the ‘most expensive custom-made yacht’ with an eye-popping price tag of €600million, is currently undergoing a refit in Barcelona’s MB92 shipyard.

A UKRAINIAN sailor has been arrested for attempting to sink a €7million superyacht owned by a Russian arms dealer moored in Mallorca.

The 47-meter Lady Anastasia belongs to Alexander Mijeev, a close associate of Vladimir Putin and head of one of the largest Russian weapons production companies.

The five berth ship had been anchored in Port Adriano, near Palma, when it nearly sank.

"My boss is a criminal who sells weapons that kill the Ukrainian people," explained the 55-year-old identified by police as D.Taras O. The 55-year-old who worked on the yacht as a mechanic surrendered to police after his ‘act of sabotage’ explaining he had been moved to carry it out after watching footage of Kyiv being bombed on the news.

“I watched the news about the war and there was a video of a helicopter attack on

Other vessels known to be owned by associates of Putin have recently left Spanish ports

Direct action a building in Kyiv. The armaments used are produced by the owner's company. They were attacking innocents,” he told a court.

A few hours later he decided to "take revenge on the owner by causing only material damage, not personal damage".

He explained how he opened valves to allow the boat to take on water and told the crew, most of whom were also Ukrainian, to abandon the vessel.

The yacht was only partially submerged and is salvageable, according to local reports.

The Ukrainian added that he planned to return home to Kyiv to defend his homeland against the Russian invasion. “Today was my first battle,” he said when leaving the court.

to head out to international waters as the conflict in the Ukraine intensified.

Meanwhile a superyacht believed to be owned by Putin himself sailed out of a German shipyard to a Russian port just days before the invasion.

Assets

Dozens of other pleasure craft belonging to wealthy Russians are moored in ports across Spain and its islands. Although not on the scale of the mega-yachts they could still be among the assets seized if their owners appear on the black list.

Some of the most expensive real estate along Spain’s costas is also owned by Russians linked to the Putin regime as well as a villa in upmarket La Zagaleta rumoured to belong to Putin himself, and could be seized by authorities under sanctions.

6,000 refugees to arrive this week

SPAIN is set to welcome more than 6,000 refugees who have fled Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion.

Authorities said they were setting up three large processing centres to speed up the intake of refugees when they arrive this week.

The government is planning for the arrival of a ‘significant volume of refugees’ who will go through centres in Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante.

The Spanish authorities are working to provide transport ‘for all those who want to come’ in collaboration with the consular services of Romania, Poland, Hungary and Moldova.

Spain is also talking with the Ukrainian authorities to organise transport for children, some of whom are unaccompanied.

Over 1.7 million refugees are estimated to have fled the Ukraine so far, according to the UN. The bulk of these have crossed into neighbouring countries with around a million already arriving into Poland.

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SPECIAL FOCUS A GROUP of expat Ukrainians have quit their jobs in Murcia to join the resistance against Putin’s invading forces.

Sergio Curas is among thousands of Ukrainians abandoning their safe lives in Spain to fight for their homeland.

Curas, a builder, and two friends left Murcia with news of the invasion on February 24 and are already in Kyiv getting trained in the basics of resistance fighting.

“We used to be normal citizens, and we left our job to join the war,” he said.

“We are going to get weapons and we are going to wait for them,” he said of

Here’s what you can do to help

Not bricking it the Russian soldiers who are currently marching towards the capital.

“I feel very proud of the Ukrainians who are resisting the aggressiveness of Russia,” he said. “If we don't help them, who is going to help?”

He has joined up alongside many ex-servicemen from other European countries, who feel moved to travel to the embattled country.

In echoes of the International Brigades, who fought for the government during the Spanish Civil War, Ukraine

has set up the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine and called on foreign volunteers to help.

“I invite you to contact foreign missions in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too,” said Dmytro Kuleba, minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine.

Russiaphobia On the road!

A RETIRED British expat is set to drive to the Polish border to drop off goods and pick up refugees.

Malaga-based Martin Orbell, originally from London, is a former lorry driver.

The 68-year-old made the decision after chatting to a Ukrainian named Eugenio who owns a chicken shop in Mollina.

Now he is set to drive to the Polish border with his friend Frank, who is a British army veteran.

“All I want to do is show support,” he told the Olive Press this week.

Coming from a family of hauliers, he is used to long journeys.

He is now hiring a minivan to fill with supplies for Ukraine.

He admits that the venture is a far cry from the quiet retirement he had planned but feels it is his duty.

“We’ve had ups and downs in our life but nothing compared to what the people of Ukraine are going through. Any little thing can help,” he said.

“I have never done anything else like this before. I once dressed as Father Christmas for a fundraiser, but that’s about it.”

LIBERTYCASHBACK

Russians in Spain struggle as sanctions bite over Ukraine invasion

RUSSIANS in Spain are facing a backlash after the invasion of Ukraine, with reports of assaults and blackmail.

And as banking sanctions start to bite, many find themselves with no cash and credit cards blocked with no way of buying food and essentials.

While many long-time residents of Spain have local bank accounts, others have relied on their Russian accounts and credit cards,

PEACE: Russians march against war which are now frozen.

Alexander Chepulrnoy, president of the Russian associa-

‘We’re not Putin’ “I regret what has happened to Russians like me here in Spain, though our problems are nothing compared to what is happening to the people of Ukraine,” Igor Bagaev, 56, told the Olive Press.

He has no idea if he will be able to go back to his homeland, as he has been openly critical of the Kremlin.

“I have no plan. We are all hostages to Putin. Most of all the Ukrainian people,” said the music and cultural promoter who moved to Estepona six years ago.

For all the talk of sanctions on Russian oligarchs, there has been little consideration of the effects on those Russians who sought to escape Putin’s influence.

“I wanted to move my family to a free society. I never voted for Putin.” he said.

“Since the invasion my wife cries several times a day and I am scared for my children. My little boy had his first day of school today, but I can’t help but feel worried about his future. Normal Russians are not the enemy and I am not an oligarch.

Until APRIL 25th 2022

We are having a bad time, we are losing friends, people are feeling very low at the moment.

tion in Alicante, told the Olive Press: “Someone called me two hours ago, saying that his bank accounts had been blocked. I told them that they should go to the bank to see if they can solve it.”

He believes that if the bank accounts of Russians based in Spain continue to be blocked, they will not be able to pay their bills - which means sanctions against Russians will have a knock on effect on Spanish companies.

Blackmail

Chepulrnoy, added that Russians based in Spain are suffering from ‘Russiaphobia’ “I know of two cases of Russians being assaulted and also of blackmail”.

He said that this situation is impacting the Russian community emotionally. “We are having a bad time, we are losing friends, people are feeling very low at the moment.”

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S we all watch the desperate situation unfolding in Ukraine, it is easy to feel helpless as you watch events unfold. But there are things everyone can do aside from attending rallies, signing petitions and writing to your politicians.

Another easy step is to donate money for Ukrainian people to defend themselves or help the humanitarian efforts and help refugees flooding into Europe.

It is also important to keep yourself properly informed and be cautious about false information spread by Russian-backed ‘sources’ involved in spreading misinformation on social media.

Here The Olive Press provides a quick guide to help our readers lend their support.

MAKE A DONATION: Below are some recognised organizations working to help Ukrainians during this crisis.

VOICES OF CHILDREN Voices of Children is a charitable foundation that focuses on addressing the psychological effect of armed conflict on children.

Founded in 2015 it provides art therapy, mobile psychologists and support to traumatized children.

United Help Ukraine This charity focuses on providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid, and raising awareness of the conflict.

Sunflower of Peace Started five years ago as a fundraiser to provide backpacks with first aid and medical supplies to front-line doctors, Sunflower of Peace is currently providing backpacks to Ukrainian soldiers, citizens, and volunteers.

CARE International humanitarian organization CARE has set up an emergency Ukrainian Crisis Fund with the goal of providing immediate support for 4 million people.

International Medical Corps This nonprofit is focused on providing health-care services, psychosocial support, and care to citizens of countries dealing with disaster, disease, and conflict.

Project Hope Project Hope is an international organization that coordinates with health-care workers to provide on-the-ground medical support to countries in crisis. It's currently sending medical supplies to Ukrainians.

World Central Kitchen Spanish chef Jose Andres has taken his NGO to provide hot food to refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. You can make a donation or offer your help as a volunteer.

LOCAL COLLECTION POINTS Across Spain there are collection points for practical donations such as clothes, food, blankets, tents, medicines and medical equipment.

You can also reach out to Ukrainians in your local community to see how you can help. Ask your nearest Ukrainian consulate or Ukrainian supermarket what efforts are taking place locally.

The principal items required are: Basic first aid such as bandages, iodine, painkillers, ointments for burns and hygiene products.

They also need generators, torches, blankets and sleeping bags, batteries, baby food, mats, boots and non-perishable food, such as tinned food, energy bars and dried fruit and nuts.

For up to date information on collection points, please see our Ukraine section on www.theolivepress.es Drop us a line and let us know what your doing to help at newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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4

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF License extension FOR the fourth time, Spain has extended the validity of UK driving licences - until April 30 - while negotiations are ongoing to agree a permanent solution.

Fatal fire AN eight-year-old boy has died after being trapped in a burning house in the village of Almonte, in Huelva. He was trapped by smoke from the blaze shortly before 1am on Tuesday.

Bikers down TWO motorcyclists, aged 31 and 41, have been rescued after crashing their bikes and falling down a 15 metres steep embankment in Cortes de la Frontera (Malaga) on March 2 afternoon.

Restriction free THE Junta has agreed to extend until May 19 the order made on December 7 that removes the restrictions on opening hours and capacity established previously for towns in Covid-19 alert levels 1 and 2.

A MAN described as ‘one of the most dangerous drug traffickers operating in Spain’ has been arrested in Marbella.

Known as ‘Don Carlos’ the dealer had known links with powerful drug cartels in Colombia and was involved in bringing in huge quantities of cocaine from South America.

Policia Nacional arrested the kingpin following an 18-month operation and

Kingpin nabbed seized 60 kg of cocaine as it was being moved from Sevilla to Malaga.

“Their modus operandi was bringing the drug hidden in flowers from Colombia to Spain,” the Policia Nacional said in a statement on March 5. “He was arrested when he was trying to transport

March 9th - March 22nd 2022 the drugs to the end buyers.”

They said the man had been in Spain since 1993, when he established a network with drug traffickers from South America with links to the notorious ‘Medellin Cartel’.

A raid on a property in Marbella belonging to Don Carlos -whose initials are FCFG- saw the seizure of €200,000 and a revolver.

Staying put SPAIN’S former King Juan Carlos has said he will remain in exile in the United Arab Emirates despite fraud investigations against him being dropped.

Scandal-hit Juan Carlos, 84, who left Spain for the UAE in August 2020, has been the subject of multiple money-laundering investigations

by Spanish and Swiss authorities for the past two years.

The Spanish prosecutor's office

Scandal-hit former King Juan Carlos rules out a return to Spain

By Jorge Hinojosa

had been investigating Juan Carlos for allegedly receiving kickbacks linked to Spain’s high-speed train contract in Saudi Arabia.

The decision to drop the probes - which followed a sim-

TWO women ran up a bill of nearly €3,000 in a hotel in Malaga before doing a runner.

The pair, a 54-year-old Spaniard and a 57-year-old from Argentina, spent three nights at the 5-star Gran Hotel Miramar on a pre-Christmas minibreak staying in a deluxe room with views of the sea.

On top of the €375 a night they also spent €375 on a slap up meal in the hotel restaurant as well as enjoying the minibar, hotel spa and room service.

But the pair, who checked in on December

ilar move by Swiss prosecutors late last year - came last week after investigators failed to find sufficient evidence of criminal activity.

This led to speculation that the former monarch would consider returning to Spain.

But a statement from Spain’s Royal Palace of Madrid ap-

SCARPERED 12, absconded without settling their bill of €2,759.50 and left their car in the hotel car park.

They were finally tracked down by police in January and were arrested for fraud.

A spokesman at Gran Hotel Miramar told the Olive Press: “We cannot confirm whether or not this happened in our hotel because of the Data Protection Law.”

peared to rule that out.

"For reasons that remain private and that only affect me, I prefer in this moment to continue living in a permanent and stable way in Abu Dhabi, where I have found tranquillity," wrote Juan Carlos to his son King Felipe VI.

Regret

“I am totally aware of the importance for public opinion of past events in my private life and that I sincerely regret, as I also feel legitimate pride in my contribution towards the democratic coexistence and freedom in Spain,” he wrote.

He added that he will return frequently to Spain to visit family and friends but will stay in private accommodation.

Splat!

TWO men have been arrested in Benalmadena accused of robbing tourists in a long spate of 'bird poo’ attacks.

The suspects, aged 54 and 60, were cuffed in connection with six crimes of theft and five instances of fraud.

The pair are alleged to have stolen bank cards and money after telling unsuspecting victims they had bird droppings on their clothes before wiping them down.

Police said the men would target elderly people and tourists, approaching them from behind before tossing an unknown liquid on the back of their clothing.

Poop

Appearing concerned, the suspects then approached each victim separately and told them they had bird poop on their clothing and would help clean them up, police said.

During the ‘exaggerated’ wipe down, officials said, the suspects removed wallets and other valuables from their victims.

They suspects are accused of then using contactless payments to access funds from the stolen credit cards.

Between them, the pair had 175 previous charges relating to fraud.

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March 9th March 22nd 2022

5

FIND THE TALL MAN!

New twist in decade-old case of tourist murdered on Spanish stag do A NEW lead in the case of a British tourist killed while on holiday on Spain’s Costa Brava a decade ago has brought new hope that his murder could be solved.

Craig Mallon was 26 when he was dealt a killer punch while in Lloret de Mar, Catalunya, in May 2012.

Craig, from Cambridgeshire, was on his brother’s stag-do when a group of French men attacked him and his friends as they left the Rockefellers Bar. Despite multiple eyewitnesses of the incident, local police were never able to find a lead.

However, this week it was re-

By George Mathias

vealed that a woman had made a call from the scene of the crime on the same night.

Now a team set up specifically to find the killer has launched a fresh appeal to find the unknown caller.

“An English-speaking woman telephoned the emergency services at 6:26am on May 19, 2012,” a spokesman for the The Craig Mallon Appeal told the Olive Press.

“The woman spoke about a tall man and others involved in a fight. The description of the dis-

Tell-tale whiff A TEAM from Spain’s Guardia Civil uncovered a massive marijuana plantation hidden in Antequera after following their noses.

Officers detected the tell-tale whiff given off by the plants as they were laid out to dry in a warehouse during a routine inspection.

They put a surveillance team on the industrial buildings and discovered a marijuana processing operation involving 26,000 plants.

Five people were arrested during raids.

VICTIM: Mallon was killed by a single punch tinctly tall man features in other witness statements. The woman’s information is vital.”

“This is very encouraging and I would urge the woman or someone who might know her to come forward,” said his father Ian Mallon.

“They did the right thing making the phone call that night, but they might not have known what happened to Craig.”

David Swindle, who heads up the inquiry team for the case, said: “We will keep pushing with this and we are now approaching the 10th anniversary. We do hope the woman or someone who knows her comes forward.”

6

NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

OPINION NO PASARAN WATCHING Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsey shot at and wounded along with one of his team, while clearly working for the press in Ukraine, was harrowing in the extreme.

That his team was targeted by Russian soldiers while attempting to report on the conflict should however, not be a surprise.

The world may have changed in the fortnight since our last edition, but what has not is the tyrant Putin’s hatred and disdain for journalists.

Russia has, after all, been one of the most dangerous countries to be a reporter over the last two decades.

Over 20 journalists have been slain in the country since Putin came to power, while most opposition leaders have also been imprisoned.

The dictator simply does not want his dirty laundry aired or anyone questioning him.

What ALSO hasn’t changed is the strength and generosity of the expat community in Spain.

Faced with the third giant crisis of the century, we have quickly rallied around our fellow Ukrainian expats, who number around 112,000 in Spain, mostly on the coast.

With an outpouring of compassion and generosity, the great Community of the Costas has jumped to help.

Showing their true colours, they have collected, donated and organised themselves to help in any way possible.

Alongside the Spanish (and some Russians, it should be pointed out) we have donated in our tens of thousands, with many offering their homes to refugees - and even driving there to pick them up.

Some have even upped sticks to go and fight.

And that should be no surprise - particularly for all of us schooled in the history of Spain and its infamous, tragic civil war.

Just as tens of thousands of foreigners joined to fight for the Spanish Republic in the 1930s - collectively known as the International Brigades - Ukraine has set up its own International battalion and is now recruiting.

Take note Russia: Madrid was completely surrounded, but under the passionate rallying cry of ‘No Pasaran’ (or They Shall Not Pass) it was NEVER taken during the savage three-year war.

Joining to fight for the democratically elected Spanish Republic in 1936 was described as the ‘last great cause’.

With Kyiv now nearly surrounded, this must be the first great cause of the 21st century.

For Putin is now definitively an evil pariah not scared to kill innocent civilians and journalists doing their jobs.

Said to be the world’s richest man, which is hard to prove due his lack of transparency, he certainly has the full trappings of wealth, befitting of the most corrupt leaders.

This includes a mansion on the Côte d’Azur and, closer to home, a giant mansion near Marbella with a helipad, 24-hour security and three underground floors. As first revealed by this paper over a decade ago, completely denied by Moscow’s official press agency, which derided us as a ‘tiny and biased’ newspaper called ‘the Olive Tree’.

We have always stood by the story with impeccable sources and knowing he was obviously not going to be buying it in his own name and would, of course, deny it.

But it’s the giant complex that Putin’s been building on the Black Sea for the last decade that will ultimately spell his downfall. In fact it almost guarantees it.

For the massive estate displays the very same megalomania displayed by the former Communist dictator of neighbouring Romania.

And it was appropriately from his gross, outsized 7000-room, 13-floor Bucharest Palace that tyrant Ceaucescu was summarily dragged out of by an angry mob and later hung in 1989.

Dear Vlad: it’s coming!

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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THE MYSTERY O Despite changing her appearance and name to ‘Maria’, Britain’s Most Wanted woman Sarah Panitzke has been snared after eight years in hiding. But what made the public school educated Masters graduate do it?

By Alex Trelinski, Jorge Hinojosa & Elena Goçmen Rueda

S

HE was long Britain’s most wanted woman for her part in a £1 billion (€1.2 billion) VAT scam.

Somehow escaping the reach of British and Spanish police for eight long years, she changed her appearance and disappeared deep into the Catalan outback.

But finally the long arm of the law has caught up with Sarah Gina Panitzke, 47, after she was arrested while walking her dogs near the town of Santa Barbara, in Tarragona province.

As unlikely as it was surprising, she was filmed by the Guardia Civil being detained in a park in the town looking like a harmless middle-aged Spanish housewife.

Incredibly she had been living in Catalunya for two decades and even after police had tracked her down to the Barcelona satellite town of Olivella, in 2015, when they followed her husband who took her regular supplies.

But somehow she was able to escape, before changing her appearance and moving to Santa Barbara.

It is understood she completely cut off from her Spanish husband and family back in the UK, who she previously communicated with via Facebook, and moved into an anonymous apartment, above an English academy in the town.

While the former owner of the now-closed Enjoy English language school insists she did not work there, neighbours told the Olive Press this week she was ‘mysterious’ and didn’t communicate much.

She did however change her name, we can reveal, to Maria and ‘could have been masquerading’ as a Spaniard, thanks to her excellent grasp of the language picked up during her time studying at university in Barcelona and a Spanish degree in the UK. “All I know is she was known in the town as Maria,” the mayor of Santa Barbara, Antonio Olles, told the Olive Press. “I really can’t tell you much more.”

An enigma she certainly was. Public school educated, she got ten GCSEs and three A-levels at York College for Girls, before taking Spanish at Manchester University and then a Masters in Business Management at Pompeu Fabra University, in Barcelona.

She made dozens of contacts and good friends around the autonomous region, as well as a network of expats in Spain.

She initially worked as an English teacher before running businesses, including one, the

SHACKLED: Panitzke after arrest and (above) the UK’s most wanted poster

Universal Transolution group SL, that ‘produced electronic components for all types of devices’.

According to her Linkedin page, she even ended up landing the plum job as the manager at the four star Hotel Subur Maritim, in upmarket Sitges, from 1998 to 2000. Quite an achievement.

But inexplicably she found her-

self recruited into notorious tax criminal Geoffrey Johnson’s web of 18 fraudsters in Britain via an acquaintance.

She opened a company called Investerest and became part of a shady network of companies that bought cheap mobile phones in overseas countries without VAT, then sold them in the UK for a big profit.

Panitzke ended up travelling to places like Dubai and Andorra to ‘clean’ the money the gang had stolen.

Originally from York, Panitzke disappeared in May 2013 before being convicted and sentenced in absentia to eight years behind bars.

She was the last of the gang to be caught, with other members collectively sentenced to 135 years in jail at Kingston Crown Court, in 2013.

Investigators were tasked with locating her and found plenty of leads in Spain.

Under Operation Vaulter, UK holidaymakers were asked to help catch the ‘Most Wanted woman’ with various appeals going out from 2016 on the National Crime Agency’s

Most Wanted list.

She was said to have ‘disappeared into thin air’ and in 2019 police revealed that she was responsible for laundering approximately one billion pounds.

It was a shockingly large sum and she must have known the net was closing in on her.

While she appeared to live a humble life when arrested a week ago, she did certainly own at least one other property in Spain, on the Costa Blanca in Villajoyosa, we have discovered.

She was a regular visitor there, according to one ex-boyfriend, British expat James Brooks, who went on holiday at her home in Villajoyosa, near where he now lives.

What’s certain is that she must have had control of a lot of money as she is also now facing another nine years added to her sentence due to the non-payment of a £3 million confiscation order.

While currently fighting extradition in Madrid, she is expected to be sent back to face justice over the next few weeks.

One friend, who she met while on a TEFL teacher training course in Barcelona described her arrest as a ‘total shock’.

Teacher Loretta Louise Lacour, 54, who now lives in Lanza-

OFF MARIA!

March 9th - March 22nd 2022

7

MEET THE OP TEAM

Woman of mystery Arrest: In the town of Santa Barbara and (below left) a young Sarah Panitzke at €20,000-a-year private school

rote, told the Olive Press she ‘seemed completely straight’ there but didn’t wish to comand believed ‘she must have ment further. But before slambeen influenced by someone’. ming down the phone, he conAs to who, she can’t say, but she firmed that the company was did meet her boyfriend - a Cata- owned by Sarah’s husband. lan called ‘Joan’ - on a couple of We were unable to track down occasions.

Ribas Carceller - who also has “When I met her in Barcelona links to Investerest and many we just clicked straightaway… other companies - before going She was very friendly and we to press. got on very well.

Either way, the arrest came as “I didn’t know anything about a huge coup for the British au[this crime side], I was totally thorities. shocked when I found out. She Tom Dowdall of the UK’s Nationseemed completely straight and al Crime Agency said: “Sarah it is not the Sarah that I met.”

Panitzke has been on the run She added she had visited her for almost nine years. Given the upmarket home length of time in a gated comshe might have munity in the thought we had She seemed seaside town stopped searchso straight, I of Vilanova i la ing, but she reGeltru, south of mained on our wonder if her Sitges. radar.

“She lived in a husband Joan “Joint working very nice house, between UK law in a secure pri- influenced her? e n f o r c e m e n t vate area, then and our partners one day she disin Spain led to connected all of her numbers her being apprehended. This and I lost touch with her.” should serve as a warning to She continued: “I met with her others on our most wanted list boyfriend Joan at their house – we will not rest until you are for dinner once. I only met him a captured, no matter how long it couple of times and he seemed takes.” normal too, but I wonder if he A spokesman for Spain’s Guarperhaps ended up influencing dia Civil meanwhile revealed her?” that they had been keeping a The Olive Press has discovered close watch on her friends and that the boss of the compa- family for the last few years, but ny, the Universal Transolution she had apparently ‘broken off group, where Sarah was an ‘ad- all physical contact’. ministrator’ was a man called “Finally, we found a woman Joan Ribas Carceller. closely matching the suspect’s According to official Spanish physical description who lived in company house records the a block of flats on the outskirts company had another director of the town of Santa Barbara. with the name ‘Juan Ribas Car- “Mindful of what had happened celler’ also on the deeds. in 2015, a large team of plainA former employee of the com- clothes officers was deployed pany, Josep Maria de Cara Tora, and she was arrested while out confirmed that Joan worked walking her pets.”

FAMILY: Brother Leon and mum Paula Panitzke and (above) Sarah being proceesed by a Guardia Civil officer

I

A focus on Olive Press Digital News Editor Fiona Govan

T’S International Women’s Day this week and no better time to present our indefatigable digital editor Fiona Govan.

A journalist in Spain since 2006 when she moved to Madrid from London as correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, she has a deep understanding for the country which she now calls home.

For eight years she reported for the British broadsheet on all the big stories, covering the economic crisis, political changes, Catalan independence, as well as the big crime stories, corruption scandals, two plane crashes and countless terrorist attacks perpetrated by ETA and jihadists.

She followed then Prime Minister David Cameron as he took three holidays in Spain, interviewed Equatorial Guinea’s dictator Teodoro Obiang at his palace in the central African country, travelled to Chile to report on the rescue of 33 miners trapped below ground and visited Cuba to report on the death of Fidel Castro.

She has also reported from Morocco, France, Greece, Poland and Iran and extensively covered the case of missing Madeleine McCann in Portugal where she was mistakenly identified by the tabloid press as a ‘mystery woman’, as seen in newspaper clipping above right.

Career highlights include interviewing people as diverse as former rugby fly-half Johnny Wilkinson (left), Hollywood legends Brad Pitt and George Clooney as well as Michelin-starred chefs from across Spain.

She also worked for France 24 reporting in front of the camera to an international audience before joining The Local Spain as editor in 2015 and then The Olive Press as online editor and Madrid correspondent in March, 2021.

A big part of her focus has been on the important issues that affect the expat community in Spain, especially as a result of Brexit as well as keeping abreast of tourism trends and exploring the wealth of travel, food and culture experiences Spain has to offer.

She remains committed to reliable informative news gathering from across Spain and growing the online readership.

Above all, she loves exploring Spain with her rescue dog Rufus.

Happy Anniversary Fiona!

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: clocks go forward in Spain as 1- When doSpring 2022 edges closer could seize superyachts owned by 2- Spain Russian oligarchs under sanction rules The boy’s New Zealand actor Antony sta3- rred after a bar brawl while filming a guy ritchie movie in Spain’s Alicante Ukrainian sailor arrested for sinking of 4-superyacht owned by a Russian arms dealer in Spain’s Mallorca rules ease as EU non essential 5- Spain traveltravel ban is axed.

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for more info

8

Regulated

by RICS

LETTERS

March 9th March 22nd 2022

Conflicting Olive Press readers react to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine THE RIGHT CHOICE

NOT IN MY NAME

IN reference to your article Spanish retail Giant Inditex closes 502 stores in Russia over Ukraine Invasion, I’m happy to learn that the Inditex group is taking action on the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Well done Amancio Ortega. I have been following all the coverage on Ukraine on your website.

The authors have managed to explain everything very well. However, I am a bit confused when he says that the company is working on a plan to protect its workforce. I question what the plan is and what this means for employees who have no responsibility for the war. Also, it would have been great to mention that the Spanish retail company Mango was the first one that decided to leave Russia. Other than that, keep it up with the great coverage on Ukraine.

Normal Russians are not the enemy here and I am not an oligarch. I have run an arts business from Estepona for the last six years but now my assets have been frozen and I can no longer work. Ukrainian citizens and soldiers have suffered greatly, but the wide scope of the sanctions do not only impact the bad guys.

Charlie Spencer, Alicante

Editor's note: Thank you for your letter. Inditex has not specified yet what the plan is about. But, we will continue to inform you about the latest developments in Russia.

Igor Bagaev, Estepona

JUSTIFIED? In response to story about Ukrainian arrested for sinking yacht belonging to Russian oligarch: Arrested? Seems to me that a Medal of Honour would be more appropriate!

Name and address supplied

EVERY LITTLE HELPS

Current Market Valuations

It’s heartening to see the widespread efforts, both big and small, being made by communities across Spain to help refugees fleeing the Ukraine.

We came across these two young boys doing their small bit for the cause in Estepona and wanted to share with the Olive Press.

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HISTORY REPEATING? I think it is more than unfair that people now blame all people from Russia for what is happening in Ukraine. It is exactly what the Germans did under Hitler to the Jews.

Otto Hund, a German resident in Spain

OP QUICK CROSSWORD Across 6 It lay in the house that Jack built (4) 7 Crude source (8) 9 Finely chopped (8) 10 Pop, air and cap (4) 11 Recent architectural genre (13) 14 No-nonsense stance (4,9) 17 Opera singer --- Terfel (4) 19 Total sales (8) 20 Reorganising ripe romp is unseemly (8) 21 Disney dog (4)

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www.theolivepress.es

March 9th - March 22nd 2022

DO SOMETHING!

MEPS visit Spain to study Mar Menor pollution MEPS have been on a fact-finding mission in Spain to see why the Med’s biggest saltwater lagoon is ‘dying’.

The European Parliament delegates will compile a report over the next three months that aims to get an all-party consensus to approve a package of financial help to clean up the Mar Menor in Murcia.

Audit

Latvia MEP and a member of the Green group in Brussels, Tatjana Zdanoka, said that she would propose that any EU funds allocated to help the regeneration of the Murcia lagoon should be fully audited.

Zdanoka said that the MEPs were able to verify ‘firsthand the gravity of the environmental state of the Mar Menor’.

“It is a problem which has many origins, which must be addressed at all levels of administrations, which includes European bodies,” she said.

Drying up SPAIN’S reservoirs have dropped by 155 hectares of water in just one week adding to the severe threat of drought.

This means water stores have fallen by 0.3%.

Currently 24,713 cubic hectometers of water are stored in Spain’s reservoirs about 44% of overall capacity.

This is nearly a third less than the ten year average and 31.33% less than in the same week a year ago.

The Mar Menor has suffered a series of mass death events with tonnes of fish and other sea creatures washed ashore.

Scientists believe that a lack of oxygen has been the probable cause. This problem has been blamed on

high levels of fertiliser and pig slurry seeping into the water from the Campo de Cartagena.

It has become a big issue, with thousands of demonstrators demanding action at a series of marches over the past few years.

Shameful record SPAIN has been given a shameful title - the biggest exporter of shark fins in the EU. A report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare highlighted the nation’s ‘key’ role in the trade, which it claims is leading several species to extinction.

Spain shipped 51,795.32 tonnes of fins, with Hong Kong. Taiwan and Singapore major importers.

Portugal, the Netherlands, France and Italy were next in line as exporters. Despite shipping the most shark fins, Spain was behind Italy when it came to exports of shark meat. Italian fishermen sold 608.47 tonnes of the fish.

As electricity prices soar, end users might like to know about one of the fat cats cashing in

WHAT A BUGGER’S MUDDLE WE are all up to speed with the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, but at what cost to the environment?

Simple answer: MASSIVE!!

This horrifying international conflict is just another reason why humanity must cut its reliance on nonrenewable resources such as gas and oil.

Reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable. FACT. The war in Ukraine is tied to the climate crisis in many ways.

The aggressor is a petrostate whose long term economic future depends on slow action to cut emissions.

On the one hand European dependence on Russian oil and gas is driving conversation on accelerating the transition to clean energy. That’s the good news.

On the other hand terrible actions are occurring.

Fossil fuel extraction is set to increase. In Germany the anti-nuclear Green Party, which heads the coalition in power, is starting to think that nuclear is a better option than depending on Russian gas. And it’s considering reviving coal mines to generate electricity.

In Hamburg, energy company Vattenfall, has halted preparations for dismantling the Moorburg coal plant as a consequence of this war.

The 27 countries in the European Union get 40% of their natural gas from Russian controlled sources.

Putin sees this as a distinct advantage.

SHALE IS BACK The climate movement has fought hard to stop fracking and phase out fossil fuels. But fracked shale gas is making a comeback in America because it’s plentiful.

MILITARY POLLUTION The world’s militaries are the largest climate polluters in history. The military uses more liquified fossil fuels and emits more CO2 than most countries do.

Green

HIGHER DEFENCE SPENDING

Putin is dragging the world into a new era of higher defence spending and military priorities. This will have a direct impact on the necessary finance required to meet targets agreed to at COP-26.

War will slice through the resolve countries have to tackle climate change. COP-26 was less than four months ago and already the landscape has drastically changed.

PUTIN: “The smiling climate change assassin”

HEADLINES CHANGED This war has understandably grabbed the headlines.

A major climate change report, important to us all, is not getting the publicity it should.

The IPCC report once again hammers home the need for change. The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutteres described the contents as ‘An atlas of suffering’.

(Not all Russians support Putin. The Moscow delegation at the IPCC apologised on behalf of those opposed to the conflict to the IPCC co chair Hans-Otto Portner.)

How will Europe manage its energy crisis?

ONE THING IS FOR SURE…OUR UTILITY BILLS WILL RISE Gas and electricity bills will continue to rise.

As will petrol and diesel prices. Oil has now topped US$105 a barrel - the highest for eight years.

Remember how you thought not that long ago petrol would never get to €1 a litre? Soon we’ll see it hit €2 a litre.

Remember cheap electricity 18 months ago? We all go ouch when bills arrive now!

How long before a KWh of electricity costs €1?

RUSSIAN IRONY It’s ironic that whilst this war wages on, climate issues in Russia are a real concern for Russian citizens. (Not the top of Putin’s list).

In Russia the very ground is moving. Melting permafrost is believed to have brought one of the worst environmental disasters in the country’s recent past. In 2020 during a heatwave the subsiding earth caused a tank to split, spilling 20,000 tons of diesel into the rivers and lakes near Norilsk.

And while Russia pursues its imperial war in the south, in the north climate change has launched a chemical war. Anthrax released from the melting soil in recent years is only the first warning shot. Tackling these problems requires huge investment and planning.

This should be Russia’s priority. Not unsolicited territory grabs.

For those not familiar with the term ‘Bugger’s Muddle’, it comes from a 1950s post war expression meaning an absolute mess.

Bugger - to sodomise, ruin, wreck, incapacitate, thwart.

Just about sums up Mr Putin.

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952 85 50 25 www.benahavis.es March 2022

enahavis

AYUNTAMIENTO DE BENAHAVÍS

MOUNTAIN ESCAPE HILLTOP HEAVEN: Benahavis is often frequented by the British elite (inset Boris Johnson with Sunday Mirror front page), and with stunning views and fantastic cuisine, it’s easy to see why

Hillside views, top tucker and a stone’s throw to the bright lights of the Costa del Sol… is it any wonder the British Prime Minister recently chose Benahavis for his hols?

I

T is the place to be if you wantto get away from it all - just ask a string of the rich and famous who have visited or have homes in Benahavis.

The people who have it all recognise a kindred spirit in Benahavis, the pueblo that also has it all - from mountain seclusion and nature to buzzing Costa del Sol restaurants and nightlife within incredibly easy reach.

While they may never want to leave the exclusive gated estates like La Zagaleta or El Madroñal, celebs including Hugh Grant, Cristiano Ronaldo and Princess Diana have all chosen the leafy enclave as the perfect base from which to enjoy the brighter lights of nearby Marbella, while being able to retreat to privacy and seclusion just a few minutes drive away.

The most recent visitor was the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who the Olive Press first revealed,

came for a week last autumn to take a few hikes and dabble in a bit of painting, one of his favourite pastimes.

Staying in the amazing home owned by the UK’s wealthy Goldsmith family, he was only spotted once by an eagle-eyed photographer as he stood by his easel on a sunny west-facing terrace.

His visit came in an auspicious month for the pretty town, with the producers from Netflix, also in situ filming a famous holiday of Lady Di for the hit series The Crown.

Renting out a villa in the exclusive enclave of Zagaleta, they portrayed the mid-1990s holiday Diana took with her friend Jemima Goldsmith at her family estate, Tramores.

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

Continues overleaf

SCREEN-WORTHY: Benahavis is the setting for filming of Netflix new series ‘The Crown’

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March 2022

B enahavis

From front

PEARL OF THE COSTAS “It was the ideal way to promote the village,” explains councillor Scott Marshall, a British expat, who grew up in Benahavis.

“And you could call it the ‘Boris bounce’ as it brought global attention to us, promoting the village in a different way, especially its green side and it definitely brought more tourism.”

He added that both visits were thanks to the village’s connection to the Goldsmith family, who have ‘worked hard for years’ to protect the local environment, in particular planting trees.

“The Goldsmiths do a lot for the area and we are proud to have their links here. They work hard to look after the landscape and Ben is especially focussed on nature,” adds Marshall, whose artist father David, owns a gallery in the town.

“But it is one of the greenest places to live in Spain with 75% of our land being protected and non-urbanizable, so the quality of life and nature is high.”

The fo-

cus on nature and high profile visits have certainly enhanced Benahavis’ fortune. Since the pandemic began the town has seen a staggering 12% population growth.

And it is ‘quality not quantity’ stresses Marshall with most of the growth being wealthy professionals, most from abroad, who came to tele-work from home utilising the high-speed fibre optics in Benahavis.

Some 60% of the local population of around 10,000 is now foreign, with 101 different nationalities and a sizable British population of 1,400.

The influx has helped the town hall to improve its famously good sporting facilities, that are mostly free to residents.

“We are modernising and upgrading all the facilities and installing a full size running track,” continues Marshall, adding that they have widened and upgraded all the country paths, particularly either side of its famous gorge.

And it doesn’t stop there as the village will be holding the prestigious Ping Junior Solheim cup 2023 at Zagaleta golf club next year.

Swankiest Tucked into the southern slopes of the Serrania de Ronda above Marbella, 20km from town as the Porsche flies, it’s no wonder the hills of Benahavis boast some of the swankiest homes in Spain.

And Covid has barely put a dent in demand. It is still one of the best performing property markets in Spain, as well as one of the wealthiest per capita.

Yet despite being a playground for the well-heeled, the municipality has the

lowest property tax in the country.

And being one of the wealthiest municipalities in Spain means there are all sorts of subsidies that don’t exist anywhere else.

Becoming a resident Benahavian comes with all kinds of fringe benefits you wouldn’t get anywhere else – including your photograph immortalised for posterity in the town hall records!

Registering on the town hall padron gets you free access to language lessons, arts classes and a variety of sports including padel, tennis and basketball.

And crime is almost unheard of

thanks to the security cameras snapping every car registration that comes through its pearly gates.

And the heavenly parallels don’t end there. Zigzagging up from the coast’s sandy beaches along a gently winding mountain road following the Guadalamina river is like entering a Garden of Eden: every twist and turn reveals another gleaming mansion peeping between the foliage, each more opulent than the last.

Other benefits are either finished or on the way, including a bigger medical centre, better transport links connecting Benahavis to Marbella, and a pos-

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A TASTE OF TRADITION

Guillermo’s Dutch Butcher builds on generations of know-how to offer the best, hand-selected cuts of meat and delicious home-made dishes BR AS SE R I E – DE L IC AT E S SE N – PR I VAT E C AT E R I NG – TA K E - AWAY –

H

sible new school.

Golf fanatics will also be thrilled to hear about the development of a spectacular 18-hole golf course, which will see the famous Marbella Club Golf resort doubling in size.

At the heart of the community is the quaint village with its retro postcard appeal: sun soaked bars and coffee shops sit alongside bijou art galleries and quotes from Shakespeare, Blake and Sabines resonate in script on the sides of whitewashed buildings.

It’s a reflection of this cosmopolitan community - with generations of Brits, Americans, Asians and Europeans adding to the rich heritage of the town.

“There’s a place for everyone here and we are

proud of that” adds Marshall, whose remit is tourism, immigration, communication and local development. “We have a cultural hub here which has its own library and seminar room that can be used for meetings and lessons and upstairs we have photographs of everyone who has lived here over the years. There’s a real sense of community. Families look out for each other.”

He continues: “People always talk about Marbella and Estepona, but I think Benahavis is the real hidden gem of the coast,” he says.

Come and find out for yourself. Year-round, its alleyways, restaurants and leafy courtyards are always buzzing and you can catch a real Babel Continues overleaf

AILING from a traditional Dutch butchering family Guillermo, AKA Willem Van Beek, is steeped in a proud history of proffering quality meats and homemade delicatessen products to the public for generations.

Together with his wife Dominique they offer a friendly welcome at Guillermo’s Dutch Butcher (Guillermo Carniceria Holandesa), situated in the commercial centre of the La Heredia urbanisation in Benahavis.

A connoisseur of all things meat, and consistently offering the highest standards of quality, Guillermo’s counter is a feast for the senses.

His mouth watering selection of Irish black Angus beef and Spanish dry-aged beef from Galicia and his range of top cuts of American beef, as well as his delicious free-range chicken, are just a portion of his tasty offerings.

Guillermo sausages His famous, succulent Dutch-style Carniceria are a ‘must-try’, thanks to Guillermo’s own seHolandesa cret recipe.

Pondering over catering for a special occasion, party or business event? Then, look no further than Guillermo and his team to cater for your special event with care, quality and a professional approach.

You can choose from a delicious range of homemade dishes, including beef bourguignon, goulash, lasagne and spaghetti bolo-

De 193sd 7

A Taste of Tradition!

Stocking a mouth watering selection of Irish black Angus beef and Spanish dry-aged beef from Galicia, TOP CUTS of American beef, as well as delicious free-range chicken, are just a portion of tasty offerings.

gnaise. And there is no need to worry about the drinks, be selected Guillermo’s Famous,which succulent can DUTCH-STYLE SAUSAGESfrom are a ‘must-try’ , thanks to Guillermo’s own secret recipe. own bodega, which boasts a selection of chamCATERING for a special occasion, party or business event? pagne, fineGuillermo wines and from range France, Look no further than and his team.cognacs Choose from a delicious of homemade dishes, including beef bourguignon, goulash, lasagne spaghetti bolognaise.

Spain and Italy and are, sure toand add some fizz Drinks, can be selected from Guillermo’s own bodega, a selection of champagne, fine wines toandyour event. cognacs from France, Spain and Italy are sure to add some fizz to your event.

Take a well-deserved hiatus from and TAKE AWAY a delicious homemade dish forcooking, dinner. from a wide selection including curries, goulashes, French and call Choose into Guillermo’s to take away a delicious Spanish favourites, hearty homemade soups, as well as a range of homemade dishdesigned for dinner. inspiring sauces, to add that ‘special touch’ to dinner.

Choose from aMartes wide selection of10.00 tempting HORARIO/OPEN: a Sabado / Tue to Sat - 16.00 choices,Tel: including curries, goulashes, 952 92 74 78 / 653 09 12 25 French and Spanish favourites, hearty homemade email: carniceriaholandesa@gmail.com soups, as well as 43, a range ofAndalucia, inspiringSpain sauces, Carretera Ronda, Benahavís, designed to add that ‘special touch’ to dinner.

Not sure what to have for dinner this evening?

Then pop in for a chat with Guillermo for some expert advice and inspiration. Choose from his impressive display of meats and delicatessen choices, while enjoying a complimentary beer.

Will it be a steak or a roast, or perhaps a delicious, ready-to-go gourmet Guillermo dish? The choice is yours!

Call Guillermo’s Dutch Butcher on: +34 952 92 74 78 / +34 653 09 12 25 or email him on: carniceriaholandesa@gmail.com.

You can also find him on Facebook at Guillermo Carniceria Holandesa

BR AS SE R I E – DE L IC AT E S SE N – PR I VAT E C AT E R I NG – TA K E - AWAY – B ODE G A

Des 193 de 7

A Taste of Tradition!

Stocking a mouth watering selection of Irish black Angus beef and Spanish dry-aged beef from Galicia, TOP CUTS of American beef, as well as delicious free-range chicken, are just a portion of tasty offerings.

Famous, succulent DUTCH-STYLE SAUSAGES are a ‘must-try’, thanks to Guillermo’s own secret recipe.

CATERING for a special occasion, party or business event?

Look no further than Guillermo and his team. Choose from a delicious range of homemade dishes, including beef bourguignon, goulash, lasagne and spaghetti bolognaise.

Drinks, can be selected from Guillermo’s own bodega, a selection of champagne, fine wines and cognacs from France, Spain and Italy are sure to add some fizz to your event.

TAKE AWAY a delicious homemade dish for dinner.

Choose from a wide selection including curries, goulashes, French and Spanish favourites, hearty homemade soups, as well as a range of inspiring sauces, designed to add that ‘special touch’ to dinner.

HORARIO/OPEN: Martes a Sabado / Tue to Sat 10.00 - 16.00 Guillermo Carniceria Holandesa

Tel: 952 92 74 78 / 653 09 12 25

email: carniceriaholandesa@gmail.com

Carretera Ronda, 43, Benahavís, Andalucia, Spain

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March 2022 From page 3

Brexit busting Benahavis of languages ringing out across the squares, popular with families late into the evenings.

Follow the smell of tapas and enjoy food at popular haunts like Bodeguita El Chico, La Escalera and Los Abanicos.

Walking off the calories isn’t exactly a problem, with padel courts and football pitches free for residents. Golf is also big here, as is hiking into the mountains along the well-signposted trails.

“There has been huge investment in sports facilities and miles of walking and cycle tracks,” says Scott. “It’s really a great place if you like to keep fit, particularly when the sun is shining.”

And it almost always is - the Costa del Sol sees an average 320 days of sunshine a year, making it an obvious place to settle, especially for those fed up with lockdown in Britain.

“We’re seeing a lot of people looking

for more outdoor space than ever before,” says Scott. “People are really keen to have as much space as possible and are turning away from flats to bigger properties.”

Nor should Brexit put British buyers off, Scott believes. “We have lots of ‘floating residents’ here, many of whom are from non-EU countries, so we are very familiar with the process of helping people settle in from outside the EU. “The town hall is definitely here to help.

“I don’t see Brexit or Covid changing people’s mind about Benahavis. We don’t see big price swings, rather a slow, steady increase, year after year,” Scott adds. “It never goes out of fashion!”

CHARMING: The heart of Benahavis is a popular place to dine

A TASTE FOR THE EXOTIC

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HE picturesque Andalucian mountain village of Benahavis, with its charming winding streets and Moorish past, has long been known as ‘el sarten’ (frying- pan).

It is the gastronomy hotspot of the Marbella area, with some of the best restaurants in the region to be found here.

Indian Spice restaurant, which specialises in authentic Indian cuisine, and its sister restaurant, Lemon Grass, which serves an original Asian fusion-style menu, are two such restaurants which should not be missed!

The inspiring menu at Indian Spice offers a tantalising range of tradiOffering range of the tional Indian dishes, including a superb choice a of wide seafood, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free and healthy options,most all cooked with care succulent andby experienced Indian chefs using only the best organic spices and ingretraditional dients. Try a traditional Tandoori or Biryani dish, or, Indian perhapsdishes. a classic Tikka or Madras curry. Feeling brave or adventurous? Take a chance on their spicy Vindaloo or their even spicier Phal, curries! Cool down, and combine your curry with a cocktail from their exclusive cocktail menu.

Lemon Grass restaurant, located just around the corner from its older sister, Indian Spice, is a refreshing feast for the senses, with its imaginative Asian-fusion menu. Choose from their extensive Sushi menu, including a mouth-watering 44 piece platter- the ideal choice to share with a group of friends or family. Relax and enjoy a drink in the bar or on tel: 952 60 55 13 the outdoor terrace before dining. Choose from inspiring dishes such as Plaza del Castillo 1 Prawn Kadapi, or Benahavís, Andalucia, Spain tuna tartare with Asian dressing, www.indianspicebenahavis.com tempura, noodle dishes or indulge in their delicious fillet steak, all ASIAN cooked to perFUSION fection by top B E N A H AV Í S Thai fusion chef, Ken.

LEMON

grass

For more information and to check out their menus, go to: www.indianspicebenahavis.com and www. lemongrassbenahavis.com. For reservations or inquiries, call Indian Spice on: +34 952 60 55. Call Lemon Grass on: +34 952 96 62 71 or WhatsApp on: +34 658 12 86 79. Email the restaurants on: info@indianspicebenahavis.com or at lemongrassbenahavis@gmail.com

B enahavis

FIT FOR A PRINCESS Benahavis has hosted royalty, oligarchs, politicians and world famous actors

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ECRETIVE, exclusive and elite – words that perfectly describe La Zagaleta, said to be Europe’s most expensive residential estate and country club.

It is home to some of the world’s richest businessmen, oligarchs and celebrities, up in the hills above Benahavis and with all-encompassing views along the Costa del Sol and out to Gibraltar and Africa.

Surrounded by rumours and jealousy – and one of the world’s slickest security operations – Zagaleta has the mysterious allure of a place that is both known, yet completely unknown.

Residents include a range of secretive figures, such as the former mayor of Moscow as well as Orange Telecom founder Hans Snook, ex CEO of Starwood Hotels Jurgen Bartels and Lord Stanley Fink, the former Conservative Party treasurer. Most notoriously Russian President Vladimir Putin is rumoured to own a palace here.

And let’s not forget Athina Onassis, whose family have a home on the exclusive estate, as well as Hugh Grant and Rod Stewart, who have either owned or rented in the leafy enclave.

Another famous visitor was Princess Diana - or at least her actress double Elizabeth Debicki. The spotlight was thrown on La Zagaleta when scenes for the latest series of The Crown were shot there.

The sumptuous villa used has a price tag of €15 million and is just the sort of holiday villa befitting a princess.

It boasts eight bedrooms spread over two wings and a cinema, billiards room, Turkish bath and gym.

Doubling as the estate where the princess escaped the world’s media following her divorce from Prince Charles, it is far closer to the true location than anyone could

possibly imagine. that they were staying around the vilIndeed, Villa Mozart, as it has been lage, they were never spotted again that named for the series, sits just around holiday. a kilometre from the real escape, Torre “It was a stroke of luck and Diana was de Tramores, where British Prime Minis- able to get her life back on track and ter Boris Johnson recently stayed for a discuss her next moves after her divorce holiday. with one of her best friends,” added the The UK and Spanish press went to town source. on Johnson’s break in the villa, with him “They had a great holiday although they featuring on front pages pictured paint- did feel a bit holed up even in that big ing on the terrace of the fabulous home. estate,” he continued.

It was to 600-hectare Tramores, owned The villas in La Zagaleta vary dramatiby Tory peer Zac Goldsmith, that Diana cally, from elegant Moorish designs with is understood to have hid out on two oc- sea views to new modern builds surcasions in the mid-1990s. rounded by forest, each complete with Visiting with her close friend Jemima pools, gyms and jacuzzis.

Goldsmith (then Jemina Khan, married But the best views are found at the esto Pakistan president Imran Khan), she tate’s helipad, which allows those with was able to try and get her life back on the deepest pockets to land at Malaga track away from the prying eyes of lens- airport in their private jet, hop on a hees. licopter and 10 minutes later they are Her trips to Tramores, which dates back sipping a cocktail by their pool. to Moorish times, came close to getting And Zagaleta certainly provides the rumbled when she had her sons, princ- security required to relax and unwind, es William and Harry in with armed guards and tow, in 1995 or 1996. pack dogs constantly pa“While they had the entrolling on and off road.

The sumptuous Every property is also tire estate to themselves and had plenty of opdirectly linked to cenportunities to ride and villa has a price tral security, meaning swim, the princes had tag befitting a touching a panic button been, perhaps inevitably, delivers the weight of looking for more exciting princess of €15 Zagaleta’s forces to your modern-day pursuits,” doorstep within seconds. million said a local source.

And it wouldn’t be the “It was agreed they Costa del Sol without would go and try out the a stunning, top-of-theexciting new inland water-skiing lake range golf course. Well, Zagaleta has in nearby San Pedro, where users got two. And there is no problem getting a towed around, not by boat, but by a ca- tee time, as long as you have a home ble-ski.” there, that is.

A novel idea, but it proved to be foolhar- The clubhouse was originally the home dy as, within minutes of arriving, they of disgraced former billionaire businesswere recognised by fellow visitors, one man Adnan Khashoggi, and he clearly of whom contacted a local Spanish pho- had an eye for a good view. tographer, who zoomed up with a friend The entrance is studded with his huntand started to take photos. ing trophies – stag heads – and the “By incredible fortune the princes communal areas are elegantly furcovered themselves in blankets and nished. were able to get away, driving, not as After his fall from grace for arms dealthe paparazzi were expecting towards ing, the estate was confiscated and Marbella, but inland to Benahavis,” re- then purchased by its current owners vealed the source. “They managed to – a Spanish/Swiss consortium – in the get away.” mid 1980s.

The trail went cold and, despite rumours The development officially began being marketed in 1991 and has been regarded as the height of luxury living ever since.

Currently around 30% of residents are British, 30% German, 15% Scandinavian and 10% Russian.

So far 300 or so homes have been built, but there is room for more than 400, with a new, final zone soon to be zoned at the back, below the Ronda road.

With plots starting at around €3m alone, Offering a wide range of the most succulent don’t expect to find and traditional Indian dishes. anything for sale for less than €10m.

ROYAL RETREAT: La Zagaleta is located in the hills above Benahavis

tel: 952 60 55 13 Plaza del Castillo 1, Benahavís, Andalucia, Spain www.indianspicebenahavis.com

International

Women’sDay

A special four-page pullout www.theolivepress.es

March 2022

END THE VIOLENCE A WOMEN TAKE TO THE STREETS: Marches are held across Spain for a cause not yet won

LTHOUGH Spain treats men and women equally by law, and the government has worked hard to educate the entire population about equality, many women still report sexist behaviour and ‘machista’ attitudes.

Some of the most outmoded attitudes hark back to the Franco era of National Catholicism when, in 1939, the dictator removed any powers women had gained. Females were forced to be mothers and housewives, with no legal right to work, own property, or get divorced. They could go to prison for adultery, although straying husbands weren’t punished.

A 1953 guide showed women how to be a good wife, including ensuring that the house was spotless, the children tidy, and dinner on the table.

Women were told not to bother their husband with “trivial” chatter. It was a patriarchal society, with women treated as chattels.

Progress has been made Ever since Franco died in 1975, women’s groups and female politicians have worked to rid the country of a

Spain has some of Europe’s most progressive gender laws and government-funded education campaigns discouraging domestic violence. But is it working? Jo Chipchase takes a look. ‘machista’ culture and secure equal rights.

Feminists made rapid progress after the dictator’s death and as Spain developed as a democracy, women’s rights started to match those of other European countries.

The husband’s permission rule was abolished in 1975, the adultery law went in 1978, and divorce was legalised in 1981.

In 1987, the Spanish Supreme Court agreed that a rape victim didn’t have to prove they had fought the man back In 2004, the government introduced what is known as the “Integrated Law”, which funded the Government Delegation of Violence Against Women. And, in 2017, a State Pact was formed against gender violence.

Carmen Quintanilla, vice president of AFAMMER, which works for women in rural areas explained: “Spain is a pioneer and benchmark country in

Blazing a trail

terms of laws that ensure equality, compared to other countries in Europe and worldwide. Until the elaboration of the 2017 State Pact, never before had a government been so committed to the eradication of gender violence.”

Quintanilla points out that, in May 2019, Spanish Congress had the most female members in its history – 166, taking 47.4% of seats. This made the Spanish parliament the EU leader in gender parity.

In the Cabinet, that number is even higher, with women taking the majority of ministerial roles, including that of Deputy Prime Minister. Not the top job yet though.

However, a backslide occurred in 2019 when the far-right Vox - now Spain’s third largest political party - claimed that the gender violence law favours women and should be replaced with a family violence law. De-

Sarah Cowley The new Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Madrid is a pioneer as the first ever UK ambassador to take maternity leave Her message on International Women’s Day is one that transfers to all aspects of life and career.

“There is a responsibility for those of us who have been the first to do something to showcase that to others, so they can see it can be done and how it can be done.

“Women shout not hide their achievements and or be overly modest about them. They may not seem like big achievements to you but to other people they could be really inspirational.

You could be a role model and blaze a trail for what others can do.”

spite this being controversial, some voters clearly approved.

Vox also has made some questionable statements about women’s working roles.

And when it comes to the workplace itself, the proportion of women in managerial positions remains around a third of that of men with the numbers dropping even further as careers progress.

Spain's female executives earn 15.1 percent less than their male counterparts, although this is just below the EU average salary gap of 16 percent according to the latest EU data from 2017.

Quintanilla says: “On average, Spanish women earn €5,977 less per year than men and occupy more than 70% of part-time contracts. Of these women, 46% affirm they are part-time because they care for dependents or cannot afford childcare services.”

The Spanish government site for domestic violence (DV) and equality provides annual statistics about and femicide. At the end of 2021, Spain became the first European country to start recording all femicides, even in cases where the aggressor didn’t know the victim.

Last year, 44 women were killed and nine of the male perpetrators had previously been denounced for domestic violence (DV). This compares to 47 in 2020 and 55 in 2019.

Harking back a decade, Spain had 73 deaths of women at the hands of male partners or ex-partners in 2003 and 72 in 2004, so rates have at least decreased.

Spain’s come a long way but the battle for equality isn’t over yet.

Fiona Govan Digital News Editor International Women’s Day – celebrated annually on March 8 – is a day that commemorates the social, political and economic achievements of women.

This year is particularly poignant as we watch our sister Ukrainians suffer the brutal reality of war, making our own perceived struggles for equality in our generally safe environments pale in comparison.

Eighty years ago, almost to the month, as the Second World War raged, my grandmother fled Kyiv as a Jewish refugee, the only member of her family to survive.

She lost her family, her home, her belongings and even her name as she adopted a fake identity and forged papers to begin a new life, firstly in Iran and then when once again forced to flee during the Islamic Revolution, in England.

But she never lost her indomitable Ukrainian spirit and that same spirit is apparent in every image of women broadcast from the war-torn country since the Russian invasion - whether reporting from the frontline, sheltering in bunkers or trekking miles to get to safety across borders.

March 8 is a day to celebrate our grandmothers, our mothers, our sisters and our daughters, our fellow womankind and to come together in solidarity and peace in the hope of creating a better world. And this year it is more important than ever.

International

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March 2022

Taking on the bitcoin bros

N

FT art typifies the modern age.

It is techy, in high demand, and confusing to a large proportion of the population.

Bought via cryptocurrency, the art is rendered using blockchain, which creates a unique stamp of the artwork, making each piece completely unique.

The underworld of cryptocurrency and NFTs is male-dominated and has given rise to a dubious stereotype: the bitcoin-bro.

But artist Gala Mirissa is taking on the big boys, one of the few female artists to ride the crest of the NFT wave.

Her art features in forthcoming Hollywood film ‘Fresh Kills’ directed by actress Jennifer Esposito and she was named by BeInCrypto on International Women’s Day 2021 as one of the three most influential hispanic women in the cryptocurrency industry.

Recognition

She also recently designed a world first NFT cover for ELLE magazine.

Speaking exclusively to the Olive Press, Mirissa says: “It wasn’t difficult to start making NFT art, but I found it much harder to get recognition as a woman. My social media following was increasing rapidly, but I wasn’t given the same opportunities and projects that I wanted to be a part of always ended up in male hands. In addition, most collectors are men who buy from men, and if they do make an offer to a woman it will be much cheaper.”

“I think that when a man does something related to new technologies it is considered a profession, but when a woman does it it seems to be more like a hobby, something she does simply because she likes it and wants to try it. But actually, lots of women are into cryptoart and new technologies.”

She hopes her success will inspire other women: “Many women who are starting out making NFT art write to me and ask me for a lot of advice, which I am happy to give. I hope my success can start to make the industry more female friendly”

WORLD FIRST: Palvin’s NFT cover for ELLE magazine

Women’sDay

GOING GREAT

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HIS year’s International Women’s Day is dedicated to recognising women’s achievements no matter how small.

So it’s the perfect opportunity for the Olive Press to showcase women from the expat community in Spain who are doing great things.

One of the biggest advocates for women in Spain has to be Ali Meehan. Ali set up what is one of the biggest women’s networking groups in Spain – Costa Women – more than 10 years ago. There are now 12,500 members and Ali and her Costa Women team have more than 20 events every single month.

It is not all about business. As well as offering training and online business networking events, Costa Women offers discussion forums on important subjects like menopause, a book club, and the opportunity for women to get together socially all over Spain.

Ali says she is immensely proud of how Costa Women has grown. Since January alone she has welcomed 275 new women to the group and launched a brandnew website and member app.

Women are often too modest to blow their own trumpets, so we sent Helen Barklam to speak to five inspirational women and do it for them

PROUD: (From left to right) Mari Miota Villalba, Sam Bayley, Helen Johnson, Debbi Skyrme and Ali Meehan

at Andalucia Lab in Marbella and she is crazy time. soon launching a new show ExpatRadio. “Paulina is now five and about 18 Mari Miota Villalba was born and raised months ago I decided it was time to in Alcala de Henares, Madrid. She get back to work. I secured a role as an moved to London and worked her way independent real estate agent for the up the ladder in Transport for London, biggest franchise in the world, Remax. becoming a very successBefore finishing my first ful senior reliability analyst year, I was named the “It has been a privilege and an honour with all the perks, and all best agent of the month If women to create Costa Women as a space for in her second language. out of 50 agents and believe in women to connect socially and share When Mari became pregreceived a huge promotheir businesses. We tend to forget that nant with her daughter, tion. I couldn’t believe it. as foreigners we have achieved much everything changed. Mari themselves they “I don’t think there is by first making the move to another and her husband Liam just one big achievecan achieve country. Then we create businesses in decided to move back to ment to celebrate. Movanything a language not our own, deal with bu- Spain to raise Paulina on ing to London, speaking reaucracy, and market our products and the coast. hardly any English and services in a different way, or on differ- “It was a scary prospect making a huge success ent platforms to those we are used to,” to pack up our lives and move back to in my time at Transport for London was she said.

Spain, and a part that I did not know incredible. But then moving to a new It doesn’t stop there. Ali has just updat- well here on the Costa del Sol. Not only part of Spain and juggling both worked the Costa Women business directory had I left my home, I left an amazing job ing and being a mum has been a big and plans are in place for the organisa- to go to a strange place where I had no challenge. Everything has been worth tion’s annual conference on the May 12 friends and a new baby in tow. It was a it to be able to spend time with Paulina and be a good example and role model for her.

“If women believe in themselves, even at the worst times, with perseverance, persistence, hard work, and empathy and kindness towards others, they can achieve everything they are determined to do,” she added.

Bilingual celebrant Debbie Skyrme is a huge inspiration and BOSSY lady in a kilt with a ‘big bottom’ hardly sounds like role model for women across your typical war hero. the world. She moved to Spain But that’s exactly how Fernanda Jacobsen was described 12 years ago after she gave up by those that met her when she was sent to Madrid – the her job in the UK as a registrar beating heart of the social revolution – to help the wounded as of births, deaths and marriages. the Republican government faced off Nationalist forces in 1936.

After eight years in rural Spain When military leader General Franco - backed by fellow fascists Debbie moved to the Costa Mussolini and Hitler - launched his bloody attempt to overthrow Tropical where she realised she the elected Spanish government, Fernanda was one of the first of could put her skills as a registrar almost 2400 Brits - around 550 of them Scots - to leave the safety to good use and become a wedof her home to join the fight against fascism. ding celebrant. Since then, she A ‘furious’ middle aged woman, Fernanda was working as a sechas won award after award for retary in Glasgow when she went to aid the humanitarian effort in TARTAN ARMY: Jacobsen organising food donations her work.

Despues praised Fernanda and her ‘chicos’ for their humanitarthe poorest and worst hit parts of Madrid.

“I have been presented with the The Scottish Ambulance Unit (SAU) was formed by her boss, the ian work in an article entitled ‘¡ESCOCIA POR ESPAÑA!’.

International Wedding Award for wealthy and generous Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Sir The unit was twice called back to Britain, in part because they three years running. Last year were mentally and physically exhausted, but also so they could Daniel Macaulay Stevenson. was one to remember. I was He believed his fiery Spanish-speaking assistant was the only per- collect food donations and old buses from Scottish companies awarded European Celebrant of son who could lead his team of medical volunteers to Spain safely that could be used to ferry the wounded to hospital. the Year.

- and when the first convoy of six ambulances left Glasgow in Sep- Fernanda remained behind and appealed for contributions in Debbie has faced a challenging tember 1936, Miss Fernanda Jacobsen stood proud - a little over The Guardian, warning that the people of Madrid were ‘weakfew years since she set up her ened by malnutrition, not to say starvation, without fuel, without 5ft - as their loyal Commandant. business. coronavirus hit and Fernanda was only meant to stay in the necessaries of life, the coming of winter is to many of them all travel and foreign weddings Spain a few days, helping with trans- a sentence of death’. were cancelled. lation and sourcing contacts but soon The appeal was successful and Fernanda was able to open two “I had to reschedule 50 wedshe became indispensable and ran porridge canteens in January 1939 to provide food to the starvdings due to the pandemic ing people of Madrid. the unit for nearly three years. and I am still catching up now.

Despite having no medical training Franco's military coup ultimately succeeded and the dictator deMy business has changed alot Fernanda found herself at the heart clared victory on April 1, 1939. The government-led Republicans since Covid. There is a new of the fighting in Toledo and Madrid, were crushed and one of Fernanda’s canteens was taken by the category of people getting marfeeding the starving and tending to Falangist relief organisation Auxilio Social, much to her fury. ried. Many are elopements Her work continued beyond the end of the war, and she returned the injured. with just the couple present, Spanish newspaper Politica said to Scotland in August 1939. She later received an OBE for her or micro weddings, with 10 or at the time: "The work already work in Spain. less guests. Many couples have carried out by these Scotsmen A tiny woman with a fiery temper, Fernanda was described as been diddled out of their wedwho came to Spain to mitigate ‘as indefatigable and bossy as Florence Nightingale herself’ ding elsewhere due to Covid and the sufferings of war is really and she was never seen without her kilt, military jacket and want to come out and do the big extraordinary.” Indeed, local Glengarry bonnet. dress and the photos here in people were so amazed by She later said: “My kilt costume was always my best protection, Spain. And others are coming the resilience of the Scottish a perfect ‘Salvoconducto’. There are always troubles if I am about here on holiday and want to force, they named them sent and the Macaulay kilt gets me everywhere without harm to combine it with a wedding,” she me or those accompanying me”.

‘Los Brujos’ - the wizards. explained.

Another newspaper Not all heroes wear capes - some prefer tartan.

During Covid, Debbie recognised what was going to happen when

Remembering Madrid’s civil war battleaxe - a nurse from Glasgow

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March 2022

the world opened up again. She spent renovations, all from orders taken at the lockdowns here in Spain reaching out to market. It was incredible. I was good at other multi-lingual celebrants to create drawing and scaling, so I had an idea to the Celebrants in Spain directory. draw and paint cartoon characters onto “It was important to me that any wed- pieces of wood. It came to a point when dings that needed rearranging could go we were selling 50 pieces a week on the ahead on the date the client requested. market.

And on top of that, my biggest fear was “From 2008, for around four years, it getting sick, losing my voice or being was really tough. We had to rethink struck by Covid and not being able to the business to fit in with what people officiate the wedding. I couldn’t bear the wanted and could afford during this thought of my clients losing their wed- recession period. We turned to helping ding again. people to renovate existing kitchens to “As much as Covid really rocked me, it fit budgets so our clients felt like they has actually made my business stron- had a new kitchen, but we had just reger. Now, I don’t have to turn anyone freshed it. That has been the business away.” model ever since.

Sam Bayley’s business, Painted Kitch- “For years I was mostly found in a mask en, began 30 years ago when she ar- in the spray room, very much in the rived in Spain as a 27 background. I came out year-old new mum… proto do any specialist deviding her husband with sign work. It worked reWe have sandwiches to take to ally well around the kids customers who and schooI. But in 2014 Fuengirola market. Now she has her own specialwas at a networking have been with Ievent ist painting business and representing Joe’s works alongside some business when I realised us from the huge global brands. that the work I was doing start “Joe, my husband, startcould be a stand-alone ed off showcasing mock business. That was when ups of kitchen and bedPainted Kitchen was room furniture that he could create and born,” took orders each week at the market.

Sam is now travelling up and down the “It grew and grew to a point where we coast from Nerja all the way down to were doing full kitchen and bathroom Sotogrande and Gibraltar doing profes-

How one of Spain’s most successful expat entrepreneurs came to lead an all-female team, writes Fiona Govan

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ENNINFER CUNNINGHAM is proud of the fact that she leads a team of twenty women in what has become one of the most successful expat businesses in Spain.

“It isn’t a policy to only employ women, it just turns out that they are the ones that have thrived,” she explains.

“Applications are open to everyone and we have employed men and I try to keep a balance in the teams, but it’s the women that seem to be most successful in this business and the ones that stay on for years and years, while the men just don’t seem to keep up.”

She is talking about her business empire comprising seven offices across the Costa Blanca and one in Lanzarote offering private insurance designed especially for members of the expat community.

Cunningham, a long-term resident of Javea, learnt early on that to get ahead as a woman in a male-dominated business sphere in Spain, she had to be fearlessly determined, a quality she has in spades thanks to her time in the Royal Air Force.

“Being in the RAF was one of the happiest times in my life and where I had discipline instilled in me,” she recalls. “As a result

sional spraying and hand painting.

“I think my greatest achievement has been to realise that I am quite good at what I do and luxury brands like Clive Christian Homes want to work with me.

I am really proud of how a nugget of an idea on Fuengirola market has turned into what it has,” she added Helen Johnson has taken her business from a phone box in Mijas to a business with clients from Almeria to the Portuguese in the 36 years she has been on the coast.

Her and her husband run Envirocare Spain, which is an air conditioning and pool heating business and Masterbuild Spain – a kitchens and bathrooms renovation company.

Helen said: “A magazine came through our door in the UK and on the front of it was an apartment in La Cala Golf covered in beautiful purple bougainvillea. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I am not quite sure how it all happened, but we rented out our house, packed up our car and drove down to southern Spain.

“We had no money. We used the rent from our house to pay the rent on the apartment, but there wasn’t much left. I got a job in a telesales call centre selling air conditioning. They didn’t pay me the first week. No money the second week.

By the end of the month there was still no money. I left and took my leads with me.

“My husband and I went down to the local phone box as there were no internal phones and couldn’t believe it when the first lead we called bought an air conditioning unit. My husband was an engineer, so he could fit it. The deposit just about paid for the unit. And that was the start of our business.

“We have customers who have been with us from the very start. I think our biggest achievements are to create what we did back when we arrived and create a life for us and our family out here.

“Stuff doesn’t just happen. You have to embrace the country you are in and make a life where you are. I think that is really important for women who are moving to this wonderful country and want to make a success of themselves.

I have worked hard with my husband to create an amazing business,” she added.

Over to you. What are your biggest achievements? Let’s shout about them!

Pamela Twissell-Cross MBE, Her voluntary work during the Covid crisis rewarded with Queen’s New Year Honour

Care and compassion

P

AMELA Twissell-Cross had never imagined her life would take such a turn, after retiring to Spain.

After a long career saving lives in the NHS, life in Spain was missing one important element - the need to continue helping others.

Following a decade of voluntary work with the Royal British Legion, she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, for services to British nationals overseas.

Pamela became involved with the Royal British Legion as a welfare volunteer caseworker in 2011, becoming District Community Support Coordinator three years later.

Despite the role being voluntary, the satisfaction she gained from the job made it almost full time.

Pamela became involved with coordinating all the welfare work for an area stretching from the Spanish border with France down to Almeria.

As if that wasn’t enough, she also took on responsibility for a similar role in the Balearic Islands.

Pamela works tirelessly in her efforts to find men and women that would benefit from the Royal British Legion’s help and support.

Once found, she ensures relevant and specific help is provided for those beneficiaries.

Deserved

By 2020, Pamela and her team assisted an incredible 569 people throughout Spain.

Pamela told the Olive Press: “I feel very honoured to be nominated for this honour, let alone chosen.”

Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott said: “As with most voluntary organisations, the Covid-19 pandemic has added to the RBL’s workload and, as their patron in Spain, I know how busy Pamela has been over the past two years, managing and supporting an increasing number of calls to the helpline.”

“Yet, despite the volume of work, Pamela treats each beneficiary as an individual, showing seemingly endless compassion and care. She is also a tremendous help to our consulate in Alicante, providing a level of support to prisoners, and welfare and hospitalisation cases, which we would not be able to offer alone. This honour is very richly deserved.”

She received the news from the British Ambassador by telephone, thinking it was a joke.

“We’d been talking about routine business and going through some figures,” explained Pam, “and then, very matter-of-fact, Hugh asked if I’d mind getting an MBE!” “It was a complete surprise and probably the most wonderful surprise I have ever had. I do wish my parents were still here to see it.”

“I felt so privileged and excited because I do the work to give back to the community for the wonderful life I have had - I never expected anything in return.”

“However,” she continued, “It would be impossible to achieve anything without the amazing team around me, especially the caseworkers who support beneficiaries in so many ways and I cannot thank them enough for their support, ideas and trust.”

I’M PROUD THAT WOMEN THRIVE IN MY BUSINESS I don’t stand for any nonsense but that also means people know where they stand with me, which is very important in business.”

But she recalls the hardships of starting up three decades ago when it was hard for a woman to be taken seriously.

“I was a widow, surviving on a meagre widow’s pension and so the only way I could start up was to re-mortgage my home, borrow money and make it work,” she recalls.

“I had problems finding a bank who would support me and I remember the first time I presented my business plan to get a loan, the bank manager wouldn’t address me directly but kept looking towards the male friend I had brought with me.

“I had to point out that it was me who was borrowing the money, that I was the business owner and when they didn’t take me seriously, I walked out and went somewhere else.”

She eventually found a sym-

pathetic bank manager, a man who has supported her ever since her first venture, and who she has stayed with as he moved across different banks.

She then began working with Liberty Insurance and ASSSA Seguros designing special packages for the expat market and has built up a reputation as a hugely successful expat businesswoman.

“At the beginning they didn’t want to take me on and they felt sure that I would fail,” she reveals.

“My style of selling was completely new to them, the culture here in Spain was so different.”

“As an entrepreneur I had to take risks and convince those who had the financial backing of huge institutions behind them to take a risk on me, but I proved myself and in the end, those very same people looked to me to lead strategy and even asked me to teach them how to do it.”

Outside of work she is committed to building up a hospice charity that offers invaluable support to the terminally ill and their families among the expat community on the Costa Blanca.

Over the last year alone, the charity and its team of 20 volunteers has helped more than 100 people by providing care at the end of life.

The charity is very close to her heart as she set it up following the death of her son Paul from cancer when he was only 33-years-old after witnessing the care he was given during his last days in a Sue Ryder hospice in Bedfordshire.

“They had taken such exceptional care of my son but on my return to Spain I looked around to see what would happen if someone was in the same circumstance here in Spain and discovered that there really wasn’t anything similar. People were simply being sent home to die to be cared for by their family, but what if that wasn't possible?”

The realisation led her to set up the Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity, which is run thanks to volunteers and donations with three charity shops on the Costa Blanca – although fundraising has taken a hit with the pandemic.

“We are always looking for volunteers and it would be great to have some fundraising events now Covid is less of a threat,” she says.

“The business and the charity have been my reason to get out of bed and do justice to my life and to his,” she admits.

Visit www.jennifercunningham.net or www. paulcunninghamnurses.com for more info

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B enahavis

Take to the fairways Benahavis is a putting paradise

5 March 9th - March 22nd 2022

T

HE gently sloping foothills of the Serrania de Ronda, blue skies and glistening sea views make Benahavis the ideal location for a round of golf - as 14 stunning courses can testify.

With more than 320 sunny days per year, golf is played in all seasons, and more often than not in polo shirt and shorts.

Clubs such as Los Flamingos, El Paraiso and La Quinta boast more than 18 holes. While the village itself is now home to its own driving range and hosts regular tournaments.

The spectacular courses were designed by renowned golf architects such as Robert Trent Jones and golfing legends including Seve Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus.

In 1991, the Benahavis Golf Club was founded, aiming to get residents playing at their local course for a reasonable price, even though it has no course of its own.

Atalaya Golf & Country Club was first on the scene, opening in 1968. Located between Marbella and Estepona,it has remained very popular over the years, being one of the more forgiving courses on The Costa del Sol. Most of the other local courses are hillier and a buggy is advised.

They offer visitors magnificent facilities and immaculate fairways and greens but perhaps the best club is out of bounds to all except members and their guests The two courses at La Zagaleta, designed by the American Bradford Benz, offer golfers splendid views over the Mediterranean and Gibraltar. It could be described as Europe’s answer to Augusta, such is its exclusivity.

Located in a fabulous resort of almost 900 hectares, at the start of the road from Marbella to Ronda, La Zagaleta Country Club is one of the most exclusive in Europe.

The surroundings of the golf course are second-to-none, as the fairways are set in a nature reserve.

The Club is strictly private, for the use of members and their guests. It also includes, three fishing lakes, hiking trails, stables and a magnificent clubhouse for those who can afford the €100,000 joining fee and annual €11,000 fee.

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March 2022

THE PLACE TO MEET

All in 1 café, bar and restaurant is about much more than its fine food and live music

T

HE All in 1 Cafe, with its warm, inviting atmosphere, top-notch food and live music events, is the number one restaurant- bar to be, in Benahavis.

It is much more than just a cafe, bar or restaurant, but a meeting-hub for family, friends and holidaymakers alike, in which to meet, socialise and relax.

You can be sure to be given a warm welcome and some delicious homecooked food from this family run business, which has been established for more than 18 years.

Indulge in a sumptuous dish from their menu, curated by their celebrated head-chef, Pablo Castillo, with each and every dish freshly prepared and cooked using only the finest ingredients.

And you can kick- start your day with a healthy breakfast or a freshly- blended smoothie, or treat yourself to an indulgent full English breakfast. No time to cook, or just not in the mood?

Treat yourself to one of their aromatic curries, a home- baked pizza, or an All-in-1 rice or noodle bowl or perhaps their legendary Beef Paradise, for dinner.

Browse their menu online and find something to tickle your tastebuds on their extensive menu which includes a fragrant selection of Oriental dishes, pastas, pizzas, seafood, as well as a selection of steak, ribs and marinated chicken, all cooked on a charcoal grill for the most delicious flavours.

The popular, three- course lunchtime set- menu, which runs from Monday to Friday, is an excellently- priced €10.90, and the perfect reason to treat yourself and a friend or colleague to lunch.

Their legendary Sunday roast, loved by locals, and served from 1pm (until it’s gone!) is a musttry, and comes with a complimentary glass of wine or beer for just €14.90.

Head to the All in 1 Café every Friday from 9pm, and every Sunday from 3pm, for the best live music events. Relax and catch the all the latest football games and sporting events live on their multiple on- premises screens while enjoying a leisurely dinner or drink. Choose from their inspiring menu, and pick up a take- away for dinner for the perfect pick- me- up!

Go to www.allin1cafe.com for more information and to view menus.

Call: +34 952 789 315 or +34 670 642 046 for reservations or to speak to one of the friendly staff or email: allin1cafe@gmail.com.

Dine-in or takeaway: Monday– Sunday from 9am to midnight.

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The company acts as the ‘vital link’ between property owners and potential buyers. Listing your villa or apartment with them is the altogether smarter way to sell your property quickly and safely - even if you are abroad, or you are busy or unavailable.

The specialised service-oriented team at OwnersLink lists and facilitates the sale of the property, from beginning to end, and helps everything to run smoothly in-between.

Choosing to list your property with OwnersLink offers complete peace of mind and a minimumhassle, stress- free experience to busy clients. They take care of everything in the most professional and effective manner using their ‘Three Step - 12 Point’ strategy, which aims to:

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. Launch your property, listing it with their extensive network of agents and contacts which they have built up in the industry, both nationally and internationally. The team will arrange to have professional photos taken and virtual tour videos made, and a stylist to come in and ‘stage’ your home and showcase it to its best, should you wish. They will also act as a secure and trustworthy ‘key holder’ for your property, and as your single, ‘go-to’ point of contact throughout the entire sale process

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. Find a suitable buyer for your property, by taking inquiries, arranging and attending viewings with the agent on your behalf, as well as providing you with regular updates and feedback. OwnersLink also recognizes the importance of monitoring your property’s security and vets all visitors. They will, if necessary, screen prospective buyers, to ensure their financial viability.

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OwnersLink offers a unique and bespoke service to property owners interested in selling their property efficiently, for the best price and to the widest market possible. Giving charge of your sale to them ensures peace of mind, and a professional, hassle-free process in the sale of your property, leaving you free to get on with life and more pressing matters!

For more information go to: www.ownerslink.net Contact Rob or one of the team on: +34 650 848 603 or +34 607 163 757 or email: info@ownerslink.net

B enahavis

ROCKY RI RAPIDS The Olive Press walking team takes on the infamous Benahavis river hike

A

FTER battling our way down the Rio Guadalmina, forced to leave one of our team behind, we eventually found what appeared to be a way back to civilisation.

But a series of bent metal steps jutting out of the vertical rock face had never looked less enticing, as I clutched my shaking body and scanned the cliff for an alternative.

Two-and-a-half-hours before, four of us had set off just south of Benahavis on the river walk – sometimes called canyoning – with no idea what to expect.

Driving up the valley towards the village gives no indication of the exhilarating, some would say hard-core, experience you are about to have.

Adventure

After parking our car in the village, by the water tower roundabout, we walked down to the river and initially hovered awkwardly around the first pool, uncertain whether we were in the right place.

Finally taking control in true Bear Grylls fashion, amid shouts of ‘It’s not deep enough’ and ‘You’re going to smash head-first into that rock’, I lowered myself onto a slippery waterfall and went plunging into the murky water below, screaming as I went.

As I resurfaced, shouting my approval while messily ejecting river water from my mouth, the others ditched their fears and bounded

down to slide in after me, and that was it, we were off.

A series of open pools, bridged by slippery rocks and feisty little waterfalls took us down deeper into the gorge, until the sun was obscured and the November chill began to take its toll on our exposed torsos.

Little frogs and fish bounded around our ankles as we tried to locate a foothold in the riverbed, while an enormous dragonfly sent me crashing when it shocked me into losing all sense of balance.

The rocky path opened up into long, deep stretches of stream that required swimming, and we were soon engulfed in the beautifully peaceful valley.

But when we came upon a pitch black cave that had to be swum through, one of our three began to raise serious questions.

Questions like: ‘Are we sure this is even the right river?’, ‘Is there ever going to be a way out?’ and, most pertinent of all, ‘Are we going to have enough energy to go all the way back up when we eventually decide to turn around?’.

But untroubled by negative mumblings at the back, I surged forward through the narrow passageway and emerged clambering over slimy rocks, only to realise I was well and truly alone.

After what seemed like an eternity of unanswered shouts and shivering, I beat a solitary path onwards; confident I would find the end and meet the weaklings in my group back at the car.

But at that moment I was overjoyed to hear a clumsy sloshing from behind me, with only one of the team actually going back.

And ten minutes later we found ourselves face to face with the questionable metal ladder, one missed step and we were dead.

So instead of watching my violently shivering companion slip and slide his way up the perilous cliff edge, I got on all fours and improvised, hauling myself up the rock using grubby handholds and tree trunks.

Perhaps, in hindsight, canyoning down the river is more of a hot summer’s day activity, and a brilliant one at that.

But even in the winter drizzle, it was a great adventure, and I can’t wait to do it again.

7 March 2022

IVER

TAKING A DIP: Adventures on the Benahavis river

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March 9th - March 22nd 2022

Gastronomy Gastronomía

952 85 50 25 www.benahavis.es

AYUNTAMIENTO DE BENAHAVÍS

B enahavis

LA CULTURA

Fire festival back on the streets of Valencia

THE Fallas de Valencia celebrations are in full swing with a return to pre-pandemic schedules. The heady mix of fireworks, bonfires, flowers, festivals, and eye-catching giant statues are back in Valencia streets through to March 19.

The celebrations were cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19

March 9th March 22nd 2022

23

RETURN OF THE FALLAS

By Alex Trelinski

pandemic and a scaled-down version was staged last September six months later than normal.

This year’s Fallas started with a firework display at Serrano Towers and a professional demonstration of rocket-lighting in Valencia’s Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

The origins of Las Fallas dates back to the 15th century when carpenters celebrated the arrival of spring on March 19 by burn-

ing wooden planks used to prop up their lamps during winter. That date is also the

On the tiles

A LARGE mosaic dating back to Roman times has been uncovered at an olive grove in Cordoba.

A ‘fortuitous earth movement’ led to a farmer making the remarkable discovery in the town of Adamuz.

He then reported the major artifact to the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) and archaeologists began digging on the site.

Archaeologist Alejandro Ibañez, who led the team of excavators, said: “This province of ours does not stop giving us surprises”.

For security reasons, and to avoid looting, the specific place of the discovery has not been revealed.

Mayor of Adamuz, Rafael Angel Moreno, said that

HIDDEN TREASURE: In Cordoba

feast day of the patron saint of carpenters, San Jose, who is also Valencia’s saint.

The discarded wood from the carpenters would form the foundation for a bonfire built up with old belongings and rags to give the structure a human appearance. Over the years these have transformed into what they look like today - namely extremely well crafted giant statues.

Many of them lampoon famous people - Donald Trump, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, and General Franco have all featured in recent years. They are then burnt in the Crema, the culmination of the Fallas on March 19.

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LA CULTURA LA CULTURA The future’s here A 24

March 9th - March 22nd 2022

WORLD’S first exhibition in Gibraltar will feature digital art work

by Spanish and expat artists.

Xapo Bank will be transformed into the ‘Crypto Art Island’ exhibition in April, showcasing the most exciting new crypto and NFT artists in a world first.

NFTs (non fungible tokens) have taken the world by storm, changing the game of the art world and making headlines with million dollar sales. They are digital artworks which can be bought with cryptocurrency and have a kind

of digital watermark making them impossible to duplicate.

Spanish artists are tapping into this new cultural phenomenon which has been both praised and derided in equal measure.

There is currently no law on the use of cryptocurrencies in Spain, meaning the purchase of NFT art has a somewhat murky legal status, but this has not prevented crypto-artists from flourishing here, with many having sponsorships with some of the biggest international brands.

The exhibition in Gibraltar features work from artists around

ESTUCO INTERIORS

Spain, including several expats.

Co-founder Joëlle Dinnage, an international art dealer said: “The NFT art market is booming and interest has never been higher. We are taking this opportunity to focus on true Crypto Art for the discerning NFT art investor and collector in an exclusive Crypto Art Island experience highlighting world-renowned NFT

Digital art from Spanish and expat artists to feature in world first exhibition

artists. It will be the event of the year.”

Co-founder PedroTerol said: “We have put together an impressive line-up of top artists for this first European NFT art fair.”

There were around $11 billion of

sales from NFT purchases from June to September last year, according to DappRadar, a market tracker.

The Olive Press takes a look at some of the artists on show.

Javier Arres

A

rres is one of the most recognised crypto-artists worldwide. The Andalucian is known for his hyper realistic works detailing cities, intricate machines and toys. Winner of the London Art Biennale 2019 and the Illustrator People Choice Award Creativepool 2017, he counts The New York Times, The NFL, and Corriere della Serra among his clients. His works have fetched over a million dollars at auction.

Nacho Riesco

N

acho Riesco is a 2D/3D Artist from Madrid, Spain. With a background in fine art and illustration, he is distinguished for the precision with which he captures each art piece. Using the software KeyShot, he likens his artistic process to film-making.

Oscar Carrasco Edward Hopley An award winning British photographer, Hopley has spent the last 25 years travelling the world. His work centres around topography and the nature he surrounds himself in. His widely praised 2001 exhibition at London’s Association of Photographer’s gallery put him on the map and his works are held by a raft of private collectors worldwide.

F

rom Minsk, Belarus, Maxim is known for his skills of photo manipulation. His illustrations often exhibit the fantastical and surreal, usually a reflection of Maxmi’s mood. He says: “In my works I try to express a different perspective, from an outside point of view. It is hard to say that works have a certain style, only the viewer can determine that.”

Centro Plaza 56-57, Avda. Manolete s/n, 29660 Nueva Andalucia info@estucointeriors.com, www.estucointeriors.com, +34 952 810 633

Chilean Oscar Carrasco’s work reflects a poetic and dreamlike vision of time, memory, order and chaos. He is world-renowned for his photographic works of abandoned places around Europe. Currently, he is exploring new paths combining photography, and landscape decomposition. He has received more than 150 national and international awards and his work has been exhibited across the globe.

He has been awarded the 2018 HIPA International Photography Award in Dubai, the 2009 Generation Award and the 2011 Short Film Contest awarded by Caja Madrid.

Maxim Mitenkov

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 6 Malt, 7 Oilfield, 9 Shredded, 10 Guns, 11 Postmodernism, 14 Zero tolerance, 17 Bryn, 19 Turnover, 20 Improper, 21 Lady.

Down: 1 Bathrobe, 2 Street corners, 3 Voodoo, 4 Virginia Woolf, 5 Glen, 8 Lodge, 12 Del, 13 Succeeds, 15 On top, 16 Errors, 18 Rams.

SUDOKU

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LA CULTURA

March 9th - March 22nd 2022

25

HOLIDAY RENTALS HANDLED PROFESSIONALLY Carol Carpenter

Eva Meenhorst

A

dutch born artist who resides in Marbella, Eva has been painting on oversized canvasses since 2013. She makes digital travel collages that transport you to far flung places across the globe with her hyper realistic style. She told the Olive press: “I am super excited about the Crypto Art Island Fair.

It is the first in Europe and I feel honored to be allowed to show my work there. Until now most digital images were only online and were traded online.”

Gala Mirissa

Gala is Barcelona based artist who recently created the first NFT cover for ELLE magazine.

Her work has been commissioned for a new Hollywood film Fresh Kills, to be directed by Hollywood actress Jennifer Esposito. The film features a collection of NFT artworks paired with music. Gala was named

by BeInCrypto on International Women’s Day 2021 as one of the three most influential Hispanic women in the cryptocurrency industry and ranks as one of the most sought after artists in Crypto.

Gala told the Olive Press: “I am really excited to participate in the first European NFT art event because they raise crypto art to the artistic level it deserves.

B

orn in the United States, Carol Carpenter is an award winning intuitive painter who uses experimental processes and a saturated palette to create vivid works. Inspired by the beauty in nature, she uses color to transcend the balance between reality and imagination.

She says: “Creating works of art is a compelling life force. It encompasses passion, spontaneity, intellect and self discovery. My art is meant to appeal to the senses and heighten the human experience.”

Let Suncoaster handle your rental problems

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Crypto Art Island place at Xapo Ba takes nk, Gibraltar, on April 30 continues throug and May 4. Opening h to are 10am to 6pm.times To find out more apply for a VIP or to tion please coinvitain fo @c ry pt oa rti ntact: sla nd . com or visit: cryp toartisland.com.

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BUSINESS Dia’s denial 26

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

SPAIN’S Dia supermarket chain insists it is business as usual despite its key figure being placed on an EU Russian oligarch blacklist following the invasion of Ukraine.

The struggling retailer was taken over by the LetterOne investment company (LIHS) in 2019 after a two-year battle to secure a majority shareholding.

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Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, 57, co-founded LIHS, which holds 78% of Dia’s shares. After Fridman’s name was included in an EU sanctions blacklist of oligarchs, Dia said it was not controlled by Fridman or

Form 720 is required to those who are tax resident in Spain when the value of any assets held abroad surpasses €50,000 including: ● Bank accounts ● Investments: including shares, securities, insurance… ● Properties

By Alex Trelinski

LIHS co-founder Petr Aven, who has also been blacklisted.

The retailer said that despite LIHS having the ma-

SPAIN has clocked up its biggest annual inflation hike since 1989 according to figures from the National Statistics Institute.

Preliminary numbers for February released last week stood at a 7.4 % year-on-year increase.

The largest price rises were for food, fuel, and non-alcoholic beverages. It’s the 14th successive month that inflation has gone up in Spain.

February’s figures showed a 0.6% rise on the previous month’s total, which had fallen compared to December.

The increase is larger than what economists had predicted.

Core inflation, which doesn’t include food and fuel, rose by 3% - the biggest increase since 2008.

Energy prices are set to soar further due to the Ukraine invasion and Europe’s dependence on Russian gas supplies.

EU declares penalties for breaching infamous form 720 ‘disproportionate’

T

BLACKLISTED: Part-owner Mikhail Fridman

Inflation spirals

OUT OF ORDER HE 720 form is in question. This infamous and abusive Spanish tax form has now been declared contrary to the free EU movement of capital.

The EU Court of Justice ruled on 27 January 2022 that the penalties imposed are disproportionate and are not necessary to guarantee the effectiveness of the Spanish tax legal system.

On top of that, the power of the Spanish Tax Office to treat that information as an undeclared capital gain, even before the four years statute of limitation has elapsed, is abusive. Form 720 is still mandatory, and it should be prepared before the end of March 2022. However, the Spanish Government must modify the current penalties.

This process is not going to take less than a few months.

Del Canto Chambers is now considering potential legal action to be brought against the Spanish Tax Office for those affected.

Form 720 is a full declaration of absolutely all the assets held abroad by the Taxpayer, with heavy fines and penalties for lack of compliance.

Oligarch owner put on EU blacklist

Claudio Rodríguez, Tax Counsel European Lawyer and Spanish Abogado (London) The fines imposed for not complying are: ● €5,000 for every piece of information that is not submitted, or if it’s not accurate. €10,000 is the minimum fine paid if this omission is detected by the authorities. ● €100 for every piece of information on the form when it is submitted by post, rather than electronically. €1,500 is the minimum fine paid if the individual does not complete the electronic form. ● €100 for every piece of information on the form when it is submitted after the deadline and before it is requested by the Tax Authorities.

But that’s not all. Any assets not listed on the form will be included in your taxable base as an undeclared gain. In that case there was a penalty of 150% applied to the relevant unpaid tax.

Thankfully, this has now been declared illegal by the EU Court.

Del Canto Chambers has an in-depth understanding of international tax, legal affairs, property law and residence issues.

We offer a Tax and Legal Residence Opinion service that will clearly set out your options with regard to living and paying tax overseas.

To make a no-obligation enquiry, please either call us now on: +44 2070 430648 or Make An Online Enquiry at delcantochambers.com.

We will come back to you within 24 hours and we will be delighted to help you.

jority shareholding in Dia, it claimed that no individual shareholder controls LIHS and so Dia would not be affected by sanctions.

In a message to LetterOne employees, Fridman, said that ‘war can never be the answer’ and pleaded for an end to bloodshed.

Crisis

Fridman, who was born in the Ukraine added: “This crisis will cost lives and damage two nations who have been brothers for hundreds of years.”

Dia last week reported a €257 million loss for 2021 across its outlets in Spain and abroad, following an intensive period of restructuring and store closures.

March 9th March 22nd 2022

Tax break TAX cuts on electricity bills and a windfall tax on power companies will stay in place until the end of June.

IVA on bills was slashed in October from 21% to 10%. The cut came in tandem with the elimination of a 7% generation tax paid by power firms and the reduction of an electricity tax from 5.11% to 0.5%.

The measures had been extended twice and were due to expire at the end of April.

Windfall tax

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the latest extension to Congress, saying that a windfall tax will remain on energy firms, who he believes benefited from selling at higher rates boosted by increased wholesale gas prices.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sanchez called on Spain’s 17 regions to take measures to help the most vulnerable people in society at a time of general price rises.

In a separate move, power giant Iberdrola said it would freeze tariffs for domestic consumers who would otherwise be exposed to swings in wholesale market prices.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

On schedule

THE recovery in international flights is under way with the flight offer at Malaga-Costa del Sol airport back at 2019 values.

Airlines have scheduled more than 16.5 million seats at Malaga-Costa del Sol airport for the summer season - which runs from the end of March to October - placing the offer at similar values to 2019.

In fact, according to the airport’s director, Pedro Bendala, the request for seats for the high season is 4% higher than in the pre-pandemic year, when the Malaga infrastructure had its best passenger balance.

Fifty airlines have shown their interest in flying to the Malaga-Costa del Sol airport this coming summer season, which will connect the Costa del Sol with more than 120 cities in 34 countries.

March 9th - March 22nd 2022

Spain relaxes Covid travel regulations for visitors

TRAVELLERS from nonEU countries will be allowed entry to Spain if they have a Covid recovery certificate, in the latest loosening of travel restrictions.

Until now Spain had only allowed tourists from ‘high risk’ third countries if they were fully vaccinated with EU-approved vaccines and had a certificate to prove it.

But Spanish authorities have relaxed the rules and now allow all WHO approved vaccines as well as certificates proving that a traveller has recovered from Covid within the last six months.

Recovery certificates must be recognised documents issued by health authorities in the travellers home country, such as an NHS pass.

Although the rules have been

relaxed for non-EU/EEA nationals for non-essential travel, some proof of either vaccination or recovery is required.

Those non EU/EEA citizens

Top shelf shopping HIPERCOR owned by department store chain El Corte Ingles has been ranked as Spain’s ‘most-valued’ national supermarket retailer.

The verdict comes in a customer survey compiled by Spain’s OCU consumer organisation. Catalunya regional Esclat-Bon Preu came out on top, with Hipercor leading the nationwide rankings.

Condis, Dia, and Spar got the low-

ROBERT DE NIRO’S WAITING

LOOSER RULES

By Fiona Govan

est appreciation from customers.

The OCU stressed that lower marks did not mean that outlets were viewed as bad, but it was simply a means of comparing customer experiences.

The all-round rating was achieved by ranking opening hours and product availability in addition to offers and fresh food selection, and overall price levels.

27

who are unvaccinated and do not have a recovery certificate are still banned unless their reason for travel falls into one of the exemptions. These do not include tourism.

The rules apply to all travellers over the age of 18, although 12 to 17-year-olds who don’t have a full vaccination record can instead produce a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before travelling.

SUPERSTAR Robert De Niro was treated to a slap-up 16-course meal cooked up by five of the world’s top chefs.

The 78-year-old was served the show-stopping menu by Michelin-starred Spanish chefs Quique Dacosta, Carles Tejedor, Joan Roca and Martin Berasategui, as well as Argentinean Mauro Colagreco.

The Taxi Driver star spent more than three hours in the royal suite at Madrid’s newly refurbished Ritz hotel along with partner Tiffany Chen, even slicing jamon himself.

Staff reported he was in very good spirits, quipping once he sat down: “Give me everything leftover to go.”

But at the end of the meal the chefs joked that he seemed to want even more then the multitude of courses served.

The chefs pulled out all the stops, serving, among other things, white asparagus and truffle contessa by Roca, beetroot with Osciètre caviar sauce by Colagreco and caramelised mille-feuille of smoked eel, foie gras, spring onion and green apple from Berasategui.

He was invited to the unique meal as part of Madrid Fusion, saying he couldn’t wait to return to the food fair next year.

Booster

Children aged under 12 don’t need a PCR test or vaccination record.

Current rules also demand that the last dose of a vaccine must have been administered between two weeks prior and within nine months of entry – so for many people proof of a booster is now required.

POSH NOSH: Spain’s top chefs prepared dishes for De Niro

HEALTH YOU AND YOUR PSA PANDEMIC POUNDS 28

M

OST mature men, and their wives, have heard of the blood test for your prostate called PSA but how many of you understand it?

First of all what is it, where does it come from and what does it do? Prostate Specific Antigen is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and by prostate cancer cells.

It’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood, and the amount rises slightly as you get older and your prostate gets bigger.

A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.

It’s an enzyme that results in the semen becoming more liquid, which is important for fertility. It goes up for lots of reasons; age, the size of your prostate, urinary tract infections, inflammation or prostatitis, trauma, manipulation, catheterisation and finally prostate cancer.

We started using it as a ‘tumour marker’ for prostate cancer in the 1980’s although it was controversial. Why? Well there are several reasons and it’s about a balance between risk and benefit.

1. Prostate cancer is only one of several causes of a raised PSA test.

2. Historically, two thirds of men with a raised PSA level didn’t have cancer cells in their biopsy and old-fashioned biopsies were neither pleasant nor accurate.

3. Some 15% of men with prostate cancer have a normal PSA.

March 9th March 22nd 2022

What to look for and what to do if you have prostate problems Mr. James Allan FRCS

4. The test doesn’t distinguish between aggressive and slow-growing cancers and may detect tumours that would not otherwise become evident.

5. There is very little good evidence that a screening programme based on PSA testing significantly changes your prognosis. So what should you do or who should have a PSA test? The answer is easy. If you have developed waterwork symptoms, going frequently or urgently, getting up at night or a slow flow, bloody urine or if you have a family history of prostate cancer, then you need to chat to a sensible urologist about having your PSA done and possibly an MRI scan of your prostate.

MRI scanning is the new kid on the block and has revolutionised prostate cancer diagnosis.

There is real hope of a screening programme, which will radically change this terrible disease that visits far too many men and families.

As the technology advances then it is now reasonable for the over 50s to be counselled, tested and for prostate cancer to be beaten!

You can now meet Mr Hughes or Mr Allan at HC Marbella hospital or in Gibraltar or simply check out www.theurologyclinic.gi

Dear Jennifer: Read the small print to make sure you have the correct policy

O

N a number of occasions, I have extolled the virtues of Liberty’s fully comprehensive house policy.

When asking the right questions, you will discover that many house insurance policies are inadequate.

You do need to read the small print on your house policy, including checking that you have the correct policy with Liberty Seguros.

Years ago, when I first started, Liberty did not offer a house policy as they were studying the British policies to discover what we, as Expats, were used to.

What they offer today is the best but only if you have the updated version. There will be a number of people, that for various reasons, have stayed with their original policy, although the staff in my Renewals Department ask if you would like to know the advantages of upgrading. The other very important issue when discussing house insurance is the amount of contents cover, always remembering that with Spanish Home insurance the kitchen is included in the contents, not the buildings.

Accidental

Also there is a wonderful extra you can add to your policy and that is accidental damage, which is unique to Liberty Seguros and covers many breakages and claims within the home.

Therefore can I please ask you all to double check the coverage of your home policies, whether you are with Jennifer Cunningham Insurance and Liberty, or another company, to understand the cover you actually have. Finding out you have the incorrect and insufficient coverage when you want to make a claim is far too late.

My ladies are currently working on assessing the home policies, and if they feel you would benefit with increased, additional coverage, they will contact you. In the meantime, if you have any concerns or questions, please contact one of my offices and we will be able to give you the advice you require and answer any questions.

Just remember that your property is probably your most expensive asset, but also your home, which of course, needs the right protection.

IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR A QUOTATION, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF MY OFFICES, EMAIL INFO@JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET

D

Spain’s obesity problem worsens during Covid crisis with more than half of population now overweight SPAIN is turning into a nation of fatties, with health bosses warning that more than half the population is overweight.

According to a study carried out by the Spanish Society of Obesity (Seedo), the rise in the number of people considered obese is ‘alarming’ with the pandemic blamed for worsening the problem.

The data shows that 53.8% of people asked have problems

By Jorge Hinojosa

with their weight, with 36.3% classified as overweight and another 17.2% considered obese.

Sedentary

Weight problems are afflicting more over 65s with 66% categorised as overweight.

Thie study also revealed how

Robot surgeon A CADIZ hospital has started to use a robot to perform kidney transplants.

The Puerta del Mar University Hospital has released a video of a 56-year-old patient who was the first to undergo robotic kidney transplant surgery at the hospital.

The hospital has already performed the first three robotic kidney transplants in Andalucia, making it the first in Spain outside Catalunya to incorporate this technique.

Worldwide, it is rare for robots to be used, with just 15 hospitals in Europe performing the procedures.

The hospital plans five more such operations in the coming months.

RIVING past the OxygenSpa, you cannot help but be intrigued by the silver, futuristic-style metal tube that looks like it could have dropped down from outer space! On closer inspection, the unusual structure reveals itself to be indeed linked to the future- the future of all round improved physical and mental health and vitality for those who regularly use the OxygenSpa. Oxygen is vital for life, and the quality of the air we breathe around us and in our local environment, has a profound and lasting impact on our general health and well-being, with air-pollution being a problem in many cities and urban areas globally. The typical air which we breathe everyday contains 21% oxygen. A session in the increased atmospheric pressure of the OxygenSpa gives your body a doubled oxygen content of 40% as well as a unique composition of hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases which promote optimal results from oxygen therapy sessions.

Oxygen therapy supports and aids the treatment of a wide range of diseases and debilitating conditions including chronic pain and coughing, long Covid, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, as well as cardiac and endocrine illnesses.

Hydrogen is well known as a strong antioxidant, promoting the activation and optimal functioning of the body’s repair and regeneration mechanisms.

Therefore, it makes it an excellent additional, complementary therapy for clients recovering from cancer and the effects of chemotherapy, as well as promoting accelerated healing for clients with post-operative wounds and other types of wounds and burns. Athletes and clients who like to train intensively also benefit from oxygen therapy, as it aids

little physical exercise is carried out among the population with 40% admitting they do no exercise at all.

The Covid pandemic has increased the number of people with weight problems according to the Spanish Society of Obesity.

The rise is blamed in part on Covid restrictions. Even after Spain experienced the strictest lockdown in Europe when everyone was confined to their homes, sports centres remained closed for another four months. And after they reopened, many people were put off from going because face masks were still compulsory at gyms.

A previous survey by Seedo revealed that 44% of Spaniards had gained weight during the quarantine in 2020.

The latest survey also showed that more women than men wanted to lose weight, with more than half of those asked admitting to dieting in the previous six months.

A breath of fresh - oxygen Breathe in health and vitality in San Pedro! and boosts pre/ post-training preparation and recovery, remarkably, according to research and testimonials from sports people. It is also hailed as an effective treatment in delaying the signs of aging, and so acts as an excellent boost to beauty treatments and procedures OxygenSpa is a unique device, and the first of its kind in Spain. There is lots of research on oxygen therapy as well as hydrogen and its beneficial effects are backed up by proven research conducted by teams of scientists worldwide.

However, an OxygenSpa as a device and completely new technology is just starting to conquer the world.

“I visited the spa twice after having a dry cough for over 6 weeks and taking 2 courses of antibiotics, and after 2 sessions it’s almost gone. Would recommend this!”

Mia, Marbella “My 13-year-old son has had type 1 diabetes for two years. We were looking to find something to improve his condition.

We decided to try the OxygenSpa, did some test sessions and we noticed that during the session, his blood-sugar level

Contact the OxygenSpa team for more information, and for additional special offers for Olive Press readers on: +34 623402334 or inquiries to: info@oxygenspa.es Go to www.oxygenspa.es to read more about this potentially life-changing addition to the Marbella area or to make an appointment.

dropped to normal and remained the same until the next day. We decided to do a full course and his blood-sugar levels have now stabilized. There are no strong surges anymore, and his general health is good. We really like the effect of OxygenSpa, we will definitely take our son for more sessions. Thanks!”

Natalia, San Pedro Try out OxygenSpa in San Pedro, today, and experience the benefits for yourself. Enjoy better quality sleep, a boosted metabolism, a clearer, sharper mind and increased energy-levels and vitality. Feel relief from pain and chronic symptoms in a relaxing environment, complete with reclining chairs, airpurifier, ambient music, complimentary herbal teas and coffee- and the ‘must-try’ accompaniment to your session, ‘Redox’ or hydrogenated water, which is known to have multiple health benefits.

OxygenSpa is currently offering a special offer, exclusive to Olive Press readers. Bring this newspaper to the OxygenSpa to receive a 50% discount on your first session.

HEALTH

29

March 9th March 22nd 2022

ANDALUCIAN schools will be able to ease up on their mask policies once 80% of children have been vaccinated.

There is currently a high percentage of vaccinated children, but with the first dose only.

“We have to get the second dose, and when there is a percentage of around 80%, it will be a measure that can be adopted,” added Deputy Health Minister

Un-masked Catalina Garcia.

Garcia also praised the behaviour in schools during the pandemic which has been ‘exemplary’ thanks to the bubbles and the protected spaces that teachers have created.

Breast milk shock A STUDY of breast milk in Granada has shown higher levels of arsenic than in oth-

er studies around Spain and Europe.

The study analysed the con-

Fourth time lucky THE most vulnerable people to Covid can get a fourth jab, providing five months have passed since their last one.

Andalucia’s health ministry has administered the most jabs of any province in Spain, with over 17.8 million used.

Despite the sixth wave being in a steep decline the requirement to wear masks inside is some way from being abandoned as they are proven to prevent the spread of infection.

Other measures may also be reviewed if infection rates continue to fall.

centration of mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic in 242 milk samples.

These were obtained from 83 donor mothers with an average age of 33.

Care that comes to you

Arsenic

The metals studied are associated with various health problems, with pregnant women and children being particularly vulnerable.

The study showed that 97% of the milk was found to contain arsenic, 81% mercury, 50% lead and 38% cadmium.

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March 9th March 22nd 2022

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Marbella journalist’s life is normally deciding which restaurant, club or new development launch I should grace with my presence. The nearest I ever come to danger is the threat of being ejected from an establishment at high speed by an enraged bouncer or getting a cocktail olive wedged in my windpipe.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine might seem as far away from a Costa del Sol hack’s orbit as the Andromeda system. Having a dark and twisted sense of humour, my first thoughts were to stage a covert mission to take La Zagaletta back from the Russians (those of you with long memories may remember that old fake news story about Spain giving up all claim to Gibraltar if they could have Marbella back from the Brits).

I also thought that I might impose my own sanctions by

31

March 9th March 22nd 2022

SLAVA UKRAINI

refusing to play Boney M’s dreadful disco dirge ‘Rasputin’ or anything by the equally awful Russian duo t.A.T.u on my radio shows.

The coast has already seen several demonstrations against the invasion by the expatriate Ukrainian community, which probably made life extremely uncomfortable

PRESENTED BY

for a number of international schools where the Svetlanas easily outnumber the Suzys, as well as the various mayor and real estate firms that had welcomed rouble rich oligarchs.

I watched my friend, the former British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, make an impassioned speech in his new role as the UK’s man at the UN. Later that week I conducted a live Zoom interview with my ex BBC stalwart John Sweeney, huddled in his apartment in Kyiv who finished by informing me that he was just off to buy a flak jacket. Both brought home the fact that this is a conflict that will affect us all.

So, for what it is worth, from the Casita by the lake ‘Slava Ukraini’.

GREAT SAVINGS ARE ON OFFER AGAIN WITH LIBERTY SEGUROS There are many things that make you feel great, but when it comes to living the dream in Spain you need an insurer that brings you peace of mind for the unexpected

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What’s more, LIBERTY SEGUROS looks to always make things that bit better with fantastic offers for both existing and new customers, helping them to ensure they can live their very best lives.

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OLIVE PRESS

REuse REduce REcycle We use recycled paper

Ashes to C-ashes

FINAL WORDS

JARS of volcanic ash from the La Palma volcano are the new must-have tourist souvenir with proceeds going towards helping those affected rebuild their lives and homes.

Diablo double?

British popstar Dua Lipa has found herself in hot water over accusations that her smash hit ‘Levitating’ is plagiarised from Spanish singer Miguel Bose disco track ‘Don Diablo’.

Bed-handed THREE burglars were caught in the act robbing an Alicante apartment after making useless attempts at evading police. Officers found two men crouched behind a bed while a third was hiding behind a sofa.

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Vol. 15 Issue 389

Massive lineup of UK’s finest set for summer festivals

By George Mathias

BRITAIN’S best are set to descend on Spain this summer at a series of long-overdue music festivals.

They include Arctic Monkeys, Liam Gallagher and the Chemical Brothers at the recently announced Cala Mijas festival in September.

It is the first Chemical Brothers concert in Spain for seven years.

www.theolivepress.es

Your

Gotta Basque ‘em all

expat

voice in Spain

March 9th - March 22nd 2022

HITMAKERS: A stella line-up of British acts are coming to Spain this summer

HERE COME THE

In addition, creative Londoner James Blake is joined by Hot Chip and Bonobo.

TORREVIEJA has become Europe’s first city to install warning pavement lights to warn mobile phone distracted pedestrians of dangers at crossings.

Red and green lights have been put into the pavement in a pilot scheme at a crossing on in front of Torrevieja Casino.

In a recent survey by

Billed as ‘the perfect end to summer’, Cala Mijas invites attendees to ‘embrace the warmth and feel the

Sign of the times Axa 37% of people admitted to crossing streets looking down at their phone and not concentrating on the situation at hand.

The ‘smart’ system works in parallel with the traditional traffic lights on the Avenida de La Libertad crossing and will show pedestrians looking down at the pavement when entering the crossing either a red or green light.

breeze of the south on your skin’.

Elsewhere, James Blunt and Madness are performing at Barcelona’s Jardins de Pedralbes Festival.

Alternative music festival Primavera Sound, also in Barcelona, includes a host of British bands, including Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz and Trip-Hop supremos Massive Attack.

At Mad Cool in Madrid in July you’ll find Stormzy, Muse, Alt-J, Placebo and Florence and the Machine.

FANS of Pokemon are convinced that the release of two new games will be set in a virtual world based on Spain.

Trailers for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were released by Nintendo last week, revealing the game’s new map which many fans said looked remarkably similar to the topographical outline of Spain.

The colour scheme chosen for the games, Scarlet and Violet also recalls the Spanish Republican flag, whilst some of the architecture featured looked to many like a homage to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.

Each of the Pokemon games’ setting is normally inspired by real life countries or regions.

Fuecoco

A further clue was given thanks to the release of a new pokemon character - Fuecoco - the word is an alleged mishmash of ‘fire’ and ‘crocodile’ in Spanish.

While another new character called Sprigatito, uses the Spanish ‘ito’ suffix, presumably meaning this pokemon will be small and cute.

There were also parallels between the house featured in the trailer and traditional andalucian country houses.

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