Olive Press Spain Issue 414

International Women’s Day

...HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

O P LIVE RESS The ANDALUCÍA

BITCON

A KIDNAPPING of two expats foiled by Spanish police last year is linked to an enormous crypto currency scandal set to rock the country, the Olive Press can reveal.

The incredible drama which saw the couple held for several hours took place after hundreds of investors feared they had lost as much as €70 million in the ‘crypto scam’.

The snatching of Russian Pavel Sidirov and his wife in June was initially treated by police as routine extortion, as we reported at the time.

The couple had been kidnapped outside their villa in El Campello, Alicante, by two bogus cops flashing fake Guardia Civil badges and a Russian woman acting as an interpreter. They were bundled into a car, stripped and the wife was tied up and used as a hostage.

The gang then threatened both their lives if they did not hand over the codes to a crypto wallet containing millions.

Tech guru Sidirov cleverly bought time by telling the gang that the codes were distributed in 12 separate houses that they would have to go to individually to fetch.

And in one of them - with his wife still bound and gagged in the boot of the car - Sidirov was able to call his lawyer for help.

The lawyer alerted the police, who were quickly on the scene to catch the kidnappers. Police arrested six people, including

Serious savings on currency transfers

Gender push

A NEW law will make it mandatory for corporate boards to be composed of at least 40% women.

Spain’s Parliament is set to introduce the ‘gender parity law’, which would see a similar quota set for the cabinet. It was due to be passed last night on the eve of International Women’s Day today and will be ratified by congress next month.

All publicly-traded companies, or those with over 250 employees, must comply by July next year. Although many firms on the Ibex-35 already meet the quota, several fall short.

MIND THE GAP

EXCLUSIVE:

By Walter Finch

a retired Guardia Civil officer, while the alleged ringleader, Carlos Garrido (pictured), handed himself in in the ensuing days to deny he was a criminal.

Scheme

Insisting he wasn’t a criminal, he claimed the scheme was a minor matter and he was merely representing a group of investors trying to recover €2 million ‘owed to them’ by Sidirov. While it seemed to be the end of the matter, the Olive Press can reveal today that the kidnapping is just a small part of a much bigger scandal that is set to engulf the already beleaguered crypto industry.

The kidnapping is linked to a Gibraltar-linked crypto firm that has become immersed in a murky world of trading failures.

According to well placed sources, hundreds of frantic investors are now scrambling to recover their funds from the trading platform Globix, which at its peak had almost €150 million under management. Over the last few months it has gradually become clear to investors, based in Gibraltar and Spain, that

Globix has allegedly lost as much as two thirds of this enormous sum. And in a bizarre twist, the Olive Press can reveal that the remaining €40 million is apparently in the hands of a shady IT firm based in Ukraine.

It happened after Sidirov activated a mechanism during his kidnap that sent the codes to Globix’s partners in Kyiv.

An independent investigation by a well known Gibraltar financial company told investors they had been struggling to get any money back from Ukraine. It added the CEO of the Kyiv-based firm had ‘not been forthcoming’ in his efforts to return the money and was ‘now

under arrest’.

A statement issued to investors in January, seen by the Olive Press, reads: “The police have been contacted, as has the Ministry (of Finance) and collectively we are hopeful that they will ensure the process is completed satisfactorily.”

It added: “We have the Ukrainian special police involved and they have arrested three individuals. They are looking for a fourth individual. These people hold the data that is needed to facilitate the final transfer.”

While this has been hard to independently verify, Globix’ website has not been functioning since November, when a statement was put up

DISPARITIES in pay between men and women in Andalucia vary by over 15% depending on province. While the gap is just 12.5% in Almeria, it rises to as much as 28.3% in Huelva.

And while the difference in salary in Malaga (19.8%) is close to the national average of 20.05% it means men make €20,003 per year, while women get €15,992. The most alarming statistic however, is that across Spain the pay gap appears to be widening, with the Gestha union claiming it grew by €120 between 2020 and 2021.

See our International Women’s Day pullout inside

From Franco’s 50’s pamphlet on how to be a ‘good wife’ to femaleonly bookshops and a trio of woman at the top Spanish firms...

Kidnap, crypto and the Russians: The multimillioneuro scandal that may have defrauded hundreds in Spain

Big milestone

AN Axarquia cave, Cueva de la Victoria in Rincon de la Victoria, has been included in the prestigious European Prehistoric Rock Art Trails itinerary.

Dog attack

A BRITISH woman, 67, died in Valencia after she was attacked by an abandoned dog on the roadside in the village of Macastre on Saturday.

On display

RONDA’s old museum of banditry has reopened, but has moved to El Borge. It boasts the largest collection in the world on the history of banditry, including books, weapons, engravings, newspapers and stamps.

Train vandals

GRAFFITI on Andalucian trains last year cost a total of €413,000. In addition to the cost, there were delays caused by the removal of the trains for their restoration.

BRITISH NAZI EXTREMIST PLEADS GUILTY

A RACIST British extremist who lived between Alicante and Marbella has admitted he shared a stash of terrorist documents on social media.

Kristofer Kearney, 38, confirmed to the Old Bailey that he had shared the files

that encouraged far-right terror attacks.

Known as ‘Charlie Big Potatoes’, the Liverpool man was extradited from Spain in September.

As well as sharing the manifestos of nazi killers Anders Breivik and Brenton Tar-

rant, who killed 128 people between them, he ran a social media site called ‘Fascist Fitness’ out of Spain. The Olive Press monitored him for a year, as he travelled between a villa in Albir, in Alicante, and Marbella.

Brothel creeper

Corruption scandal blows up for Socialist party over a hookers and kickbacks scheme

A LEADING politician went to a brothel on the day his party issued a firm condemnation of prostitution in Parliament.

PSOE deputy Juan Fuentes - or ‘Tito Berni’ as he is often known - visited Club Sombras, in Madrid, after a night out with clients, spending €150 on gin & tonics alone.

The Canary Islands politician has now become the focus of a kickbacks-for-favours scandal

Police chief under spotlight

that has already cost him his role as a politician in the Congress of Deputies.

The so-called ‘Mediator’ case is now probing the scandal in which he and other figuresincluding a Guardia Civil boss - are accused of running a network taking bribes for political favours.

The group is accused of spending money on sex parties involving drugs, alcohol and pros-

A FORMER Interior Minister is facing 15 years in prison for sanctioning a police spying operation on a PP party treasurer.

Jorge Fernandez Diaz, 72, faces the charges under Operation Kitchen set up to probe his involvement into the complex espionage case that has rocked Spain’s PP party.

The former minister in Mariano Rajoy’s cabinet between 2011 to 2016 is accused of setting up an irregular police network to spy on Luis Barcenas, while he was being held in prison.

titutes, in return for favourable rulings or lucrative contracts. So far 12 people are being investigated, including at least seven businessmen. The case came to light when a series of arrests were carried out in the Canary Islands and mainland Spain, including Fuentes (right). The network is alleged to have handed businesses public contracts in exchange for kick-

The heat is on

Barcenas, who himself got 33 years prison in the Gurtel kickbacks-for-contracts scandal, had been hiding numerous documents that linked many former colleagues.

The aim of Diaz’s operation was to seize and destroy this compromising material. He is facing charges of misuse of €60,000 of public funds, concealment of a crime and privacy offences.

backs, as well as bribing firms in the farming sector in exchange for positive inspections. It also ensured that those involved would receive payments from European

Union funding. Compromising photos of Fuentes with hookers have been published in the press, causing an outrage in the run up to International Women’s Day.

Fuentes trip to Club Sombras came as his boss, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned prostitution to coincide with International Day Against Sexual Exploitation and the Trafficking of Women and Children in September 2020.

Police also launched a campaign that day targeting men who pay for sex. A Tenerife court is now tasked to probe the scandal.

A LEADING Costa police chief has been arrested accused of revealing secrets and perverting the course of justice. Fuengirola’s National Police boss, Jose Maria Tocornal, is also accused of coercion and failing to pursue crimes. The 63-year-old commissioner is facing trial alongside Salomon Kadosh Chuqueron, 58, a well-established local businessman.

Drug lord

A UK drug lord wanted for smuggling cocaine, ketamine and heroin has been arrested in Spain.

The 34-year-old man was picked up in Estepona accused of smuggling 293 kilos of cocaine, 143 kilos of ketamine and 12.5 kilos of heroin into the UK. His gang moved drugs from Colombia to Antwerp and other ports in France.

BROADWAY PICASSO

STAR of innumerable Hollywood movies Antonio Banderas has revealed that he is starting negotiations with several Broadway companies about staging a musical in English about Pablo Picasso.

If the negotiations materialise, Banderas aims for the world premiere to be held at the Soho Theatre in Malaga, the city where Picasso was born 141 years ago.

The 62-year-old, Oscar-nominated actor is busier than ever, having recently completed 240 performances of the hit musical company, in which he starred and directed.

THE PRICE OF SILENCE

Husband of King’s sister wants

€25,000 a month maintenance in divorce settlement

THE former Duke of Palma - and jailbird - Inaki Urdangarin is reportedly asking for €25,000 a month from his soon to be ex-wife, the Infanta Cristina.

The two split by ‘mutual agreement’ just days after photos were published of him with another woman. Although they announced they were to be divorced in January 2022, negotiations over a final settlement have dragged on.

Now Lecturas magazine has claimed that the settlement for the divorce - which is expected to come through in April - will include the monthly €25,000, with a

By Dilip Kuner

clause stipulating neither he nor his extended family talk about the marriage.

Infanta Cristina (57) and Urdangarin (55) have been married since 1997 and have four children. At present, Cristina is said to pay all the family expenses as well as €6,000 a month to Urdangarin. The final blow to their marriage was when a magazine published pics of Urdangarin with female co-worker Ainhoa Armentia (44) during a stroll in the south of France, close to where he and his wife have a holiday home.

HAPPIER TIMES: The couple at their wedding

Urdangarin later admitted that 'these are things that happen'. The then Duke of Palma, was jailed for five years and 10 months for corruption in 2018. However, in June 2020, he was allowed out due to good behaviour and converted his

Christian concert

PAUL Jones, lead singer of The Manfreds (formerly Manfred Mann) is heading to Spain - and you can see him free.

Together with his wife, former actress Fiona Hendley-Jones, who starred in ITV’s Widows, they will appear at the Centro Alfa & Omega in Denia on April 29 at 7pm. Fiona gave up acting to tour as a Christian speaker and together with Paul will sing and also give their Christian testimony.

She and Jones both became Christians after being invited by Cliff Richard to a large-scale evangelistic event led by Luis Palau in the early 1980s.

sentence to community work. The former Olympic handball player used his royal connections to win public contracts related to sports. He then overcharged for events before hiding the money

abroad.

He was convicted of using his Mallorca-based foundation to siphon off €6 million between 2004 and 2006.

Cristina was acquitted of aiding her husband at a trial in 2017 and ordered to pay a €265,000 fine as she benefited from her husband's racket. King Felipe stripped them of their titles of the Duke and Duchess of Palma after the scandal broke.

Allegations

The couple moved to Geneva with their four children after the first allegations surfaced in 2012. Unlike her brother, King Felipe, she has not renounced her father’s inheritance, so when the former King Juan Carlos dies, she stands to inherit a fortune.

ONE ‘revenge song’ by Shakira just wasn’t enough. The Colombian superstar has just released a second aimed squarely at her ex, former Catalan footballer Gerard Pique.

She has teamed up with fellow Colombian Karol G to record TQG with the song also taking a potshot at Karol’s ex rapper Anuel AA.

The song’s title stands for ‘Te Quede Grande’, a phrase also used in Session 53, the first diss song, which was recorded with Argentine producer Bizarrap, and can be roughly translated as ‘I was too big for you’.

It turned into a world-wide smash racking up more than 350 million views on YouTube and became the moststreamed Latin song on Spotify.

FOUR Iberian lynxes have been released into the wild in the Sierra Arana region of Granada as part of a breeding program aimed at conserving the endangered species. The four wild cats, Trev elez and Tenebrio, two male Iberian lynxes and Tai and Tali, two females are now settling into their new territory.

After 40 years of ab sence of the Iberian lynx in the area, this is the second release in the Sierra Arana region in two months.

RENFE has announced its lowcost high-speed train to Andalucia from June.

Avlo trains will link Madrid with Cordoba, Sevilla and Malaga and will have stops at Ciudad Real, Puertollano, Puente Genil and Antequera.

Initially, there will be four Avlo trains: two between Madrid and Sevilla (one in each direction) and another two between Madrid and Malaga, although the timetables have yet to be set.

The Avlo service between Madrid and Alicante costs from €7.

Cheap as chips Walk this way

A NEW train service linking to El Caminito del Rey hiking trail will begin in a fortnight.

Until now, visitors had to reach the spectacular walkway by bus or private transport.

The extension of the C2 line to El Chorro is intended to boost inland tourism, connect the famous walkway ‘with the rest of the world’ and stop depopulation.

EXPENSIVE PLONK

TWO people who stole vintage wines worth €1.6 million from a Michelin-starred restaurant have been jailed.

Caceres Provincial Court has sentenced former Mexican beauty queen, Priscilla Guevara, to four years and her Dutch-Romanian boyfriend, Constantin Dumitru, to four-and-a-half years. They've also been landed with a bill of over €750,000 as compensation to the

Atrio restaurant's insurer.

The star attraction of the 45 bottle haul was a 1806 bottle of Chateau d'Yquem worth over €300,000, but none of the wines have been recovered.

The couple were arrested trying to cross into Croatia from Montenegro following extensive cooperation between Spanish cops and police across Europe.

Bomb surprise

THE bomb squad has detonated an ancient Civil War grenade at the mouth of Malaga’s Guadalmedina river. A fisherman found the explosive device, which could not be moved due to its poor condition.

Bomb disposal specialists moved in and detonated it successfully.

Ireland demands answers over missing teenager

Amy: New pressure from Dublin

IRISH officials are finally pressing Spanish police to reopen an investigation into missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick.

The Olive Press has helped spark the renewed calls after the Guardia Civil admitted its officers had yet to dig up a specific Mijas site where Amy’s remains could be buried.

Her aunt, Christine Kenny, thanked the paper this week after a ‘positive’ meet-

By Anthony Piovesan

ing with Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheal Martin.

“He is very eager to help and has already had officials contact the Spanish authorities to see how they can progress the case,” she said. In particular, she has pinpointed a stable block at the Hippodromo racetrack in Mijas, where an anonymous caller told her Amy was buried in 2014.

“The Minister seems very interested and sincere and even looked through some

of the documents himself,” added Kenny, who has continually campaigned for her niece.

She had prepared a huge dossier of documents for the Minister as she talked him through the twists and turns of the case since Amy disappeared from Mijas on New Years Day in 2008.

Compassion

"It's the first time I've actually gone to a meeting so completely different. You could really see his compassion,” she said.

A spokesman for minister

GREEN LUNG

THE cornerstone of Fuengirola’s new ‘green lung’ has been laid by Mayor Ana Mula. The Parque de La Loma will occupy 30,000 sqm - the equivalent of three football pitches - between Avenida Andalucía and the bed of the Real stream.

It will include sports and leisure facilities with 80% of the €3.7m bill coming from EU funds.

From front

Crypto con

Martin said it was ‘aware of the case’ and is ‘providing assistance’.

priests: ‘There are thousands!’

A COMMISSION set up to investigate the Catholic Church finally admitted there are ‘thousands’ of victims of paedophile priests in Spain.

A spokesman for the church-organised probe confirmed that they didn’t have an exact figure yet, but it was ‘quite a few thousand victims’.

The leader of the probe Javier Cremades has been criticised for taking so long to admit a basic figure, in particular as he is a devout Catholic and member of shady religious group Opus Dei.

In contrast, El Pais newspaper already has 1,770 registered victims and 929 individuals accused from within the Catholic Church.

In France, a special independent commission has so far compiled 6,500 victims,

while in Germany there are 3,677 cases and in Holland 3,712. The news comes as 721 sex offenders have had their sentences reduced due to a controversial new law introduced last year.

The Only Yes Means Yes abuse law has also seen 74 offenders freed from prison early, it has emerged. It came due to an unforeseen loophole, which redefined each offence and changed their minimum sentences, with most lowered in the absence of aggravating circumstances.

While prime minister Pedro Sanchez is currently in the process of repealing the law, his Equality Minister Irene Montero blamed ‘sexist’ judges for wrongly applying it.

reading: ‘We will not be taking on any more accounts’. When contacted by the Olive Press for comment, the alleged boss of Globix dismissed all the allegations against him and his company as ‘lies’.

The Gibraltarian, who lists himself on LinkedIn as a ‘crypto mining broker’, said: “I’m not allowed to speak about that at the moment. Sorry.”

He added: “Basically someone is shit stirring and if you have any evidence send it to me. On top of that it’s still ‘secreto sumario’ at Alicante court so you should talk to the court.”

According to his CV he attended the Tambov University, in Russia, before setting up ‘a crypto mining farm in Russia in conjunction with a Russian team’.

Paedo

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

Voted top expat paper in Spain OPINION

Crypto scam

THE famous adage suggested northern Europeans too often ‘left their brains at the airport’ before being turned over by the numerous timeshare scams in Spain.

And just as we spent over a decade warning readers to watch out for the timeshare crooks, we are once again telling them not to be taken in by the latest round of ‘big return’ investments.

The Globix cryptocurrency platform was sadly one of many suspect schemes that promised the earth, but in the end could not deliver.

Many of the victims of Globix we spoke to were lured in by seemingly easy money and an endless stream of winning trades.

But, like all investments, speak to experts, research the background of the organisers and do your due diligence. Remember: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

Splashing the cash

HOW can you tell when an election is coming in Spain?

Simple - the roads get repaired, museums are launched and rubbish gets cleaned up.

Politicians up for re-election have long saved their cash up over the four-year cycle to splash it out now in exchange for votes in the May 28 local and regional elections. In its broadest interpretation, this could be viewed as a form of corruption, perhaps unfairly so.

But two stories in today’s paper show that corruption remains at the very heart of much of Spanish political life. It might seem shocking that former minister Jorge Fernandez faces 15 years in prison for spying on a colleague, while Juan Fuentes, a member of Congress, is being investigated for demanding kick-backs.

But actually, after probing crime and corruption for 17 years, we find it no surprise at all.

For the Olive Press team (and long-time residents of Spain) it’s just a case of ‘same old, same old’. It is time for voters to remember to punish the crooks at the polls. Not be so easily schmoozed by a new series of white lines or a shiny new community centre.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Anthony Piovesan anthony@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

WE NEED GUARDIAN ANGELS!

The Olive Press takes a trip into Spain’s Suicide Triangle as Alcala la Real, in Jaen, launches a new approach to the problem

THE attractive mountain town of Alcala la Real is topped by a Crusader castle and cascades down a steep hillside, connecting the Guadalquivir Valley with the Granada plains.

Known for its world music festival, Etnosur, the Jaen province market town has a healthy expat population and a rich historical past that stretches back to Roman times. But sadly, today, it also has a darker claim to fame: it is the suicide capital of Spain, and part of the notorious ‘suicide triangle’, formed with Priego de Cordoba and Iznajar, both in neighbouring Cordoba.

With just over 20,000 residents, Alcala has an alarmingly-high suicide rate of 21 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the national average of 8.45 and the world average of nine. Only Lugo and Zamora in Spain’s depopulated north (and barren Alentejo, across the border in Portugal) come close. Spain, in general, is considered a high-risk country for suicides, with an alarming 11 people a day taking their lives, while over 50% of provinces have above average suicide rates.

In Alcala, this is felt acutely: the town has dealt with 300 suicides in the last three decades –the last one being an 18-year-old boy, who was found dead on Christmas Eve. Statistics show that 75% of actual suicides involve men and 25% women. However, with attempted suicides, 60-70% involve women and the main age brackets are 15 to 34-year-olds and those over 65.

By Jo Chipchase

Recent problems, including the long six-year recession and the pressures of the Covid pandemic, which strained people’s finances and mental health, have affected Andalucia’s suicide triangle.

Another key factor is the loneliness felt by single or widowed people, professional stress in a year when more Spanish companies folded than ever before (2022), causing unemployment. Youth depression is also a significant problem in Spain.

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

So, what is causing such suicidal tendencies in Alcala, a town that - on the surface - seems to have a lot in its favour? Research suggests that living in remote, mountain areas can fuel suicide rates – partly because of the topography. Historically, many people feel isolated and trapped in Alcala, and have had difficulty socialising.

A recent 2022 survey in Catalunya on the emotional state of adolescents, with 270,000 students aged 12-18, found that 43.4% had experienced suicidal thoughts, while over 40% had ‘hoped not to wake up in the morning’, and 26.8% had self-harmed.

The data is higher than in previous studies, which is alarming.

So what is being done?

ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

get out of the stigma by taking care of each other…. And breaking the pattern.”

They are strong words, but will it work?

Although the will to stop suicide exists, there are still plenty of problems. Statistics show that only 20% of suicidal people approach primary care services in the days before their attempt, using such services such as Spain’s 061 number.

This is where intervention and professional emotional support can save lives, by pointing out alternative courses of action.

But many people don’t reach out and resources aren’t always sufficiently provisioned.

The facts are that Andalucia’s mental health services are overstretched - with long waiting lists – and the pandemic made this worse. Treating depression can be handled slowly and badly.

The Olive Press spoke to one expat grandmother, whose adult daughter had a ‘suicidal episode’, as she calls it, last year.

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This is a common factor in Jaen, Granada and Cordoba, as well as parts of inland Malaga and particularly isolated inland regions of Valencia and Castellon. There also appears to be a domino effect, with people influenced by their peer group. And as suicide is a stigmatised topic, people don’t always seek help.

A spokesperson from farmacia Fernando Castenada who has studied the issue, told the Olive Press: “ Historically, this has been a traditional area planted with olive groves. The scenery is not very diverse, people frequently marry within their own families, many hardly ever leave the area, and it has very hot summers. The suicide tendency could also be passed down genetically.”

Weather is certainly found to influence suicides, with the colder, darker weather having a bad influence.

A 2021 study in Cordoba showed that women's suicides coincide more with higher wind speeds (a problem that has afflicted Tarifa, one of the windiest places in Europe) and occur more frequently in Spring (46%), while men’s attempts are higher in autumn (29%) as it gets colder and the nights draw in.

CALL

email: pat@samaritansinspain.com

Aware that the town must tackle its suicide problem head-on, Alcala has now joined the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD). Funded by the European Commission and launched in Germany in 2004, it links family doctors, mental health specialists, pharmacists, social workers, police, and community volunteers, so they can identify potential suicidal tendencies.

Andalucia’s Minister of Health, Catalina García, signed up Alcala in October, insisting that ‘mental health awareness should be a government objective’, including care for vulnerable adolescents.

To aid this new approach, Alcala’s mayor, Antonio Marino, has teamed up with Benedicto Crespo, an eminent professor of psychiatry at the University of Sevilla.

The director of the Virgen del Rocio Hospital explained that if specialists could ‘detect depression in time, they would be able to prevent suicide’.

A summer course on mental health in childhood and adolescence is now being developed and a local poster campaign is soon to be launched. Nearby, in Priego, a ‘Suicide Prevention Committee’ has been set up.

“We are thankful for this project as we know it’s a taboo subject that we must overcome and face with determination,” explained the mayor last year.

“The whole of society must get involved and be guardian angels of those you see with a lost look or lowered head. We will only

“The help is practically non-existent,” explained the British expat, based in Granada.

“My daughter put her head through a rope and stood on a chair. This tipped over and she blanked out and broke her jaw, bit her tongue, and was covered in blood.”

She continued: “We managed to get there just in time and rushed her to ‘Urgencias’, where she was referred to the public psychiatrist, who was a waste of time.

“They either have pills and sedation, or you must volunteer to be a mental inpatient.

“After several weeks, an ambulance finally took my daughter to a mental health ward, which was tiny and non-segregated.

“While there, she formed a relationship with a male inmate, who later turned up uninvited at my home. People are assessed, prescribed, and released with no proper backup. No-one is then keeping an eye out for them.”

There’s also a tendency for busy doctors to simply prescribe antidepressants instead of therapy.

Perhaps what is needed is a national approach, with more mental health provision and intervention, like the one that Alcala is pioneering.

Spain is currently working on its proposed Mental Health Law, that aims to increase the current six psychologists and eight psychiatrists per 100,000 inhabitants to 18 of each as well as 23 specialist nurses. This is grinding through the legislative process. It would be a success story well worth trumpeting around Spain. We will wait and see.

See The phone call, on page 12

FIGHT BACK: The battle has begun against suicide in Alcala

Food price inflation is big news, with rising costs putting a strain on household budgets and driving an increase in food poverty. Is the Spanish government about to subsidise our groceries – and will it help? asks Jo

Chipchase

FIRST the good news: In Spain, at least, we can still find the food we want to buy. Over in the UK, a shortage of both home-grown and imported fruit and vegetables has led to supermarket rationing, in some places. This has been accompanied by a slew of news stories with the UK government claiming it’s the ‘bad weather in Spain’ – much to the amusement of the media here.

As a spokesman for FEPEX, the Spanish federation of exporters, clarified: ‘There are no problems exporting to any countries in the EU’. Quite simply, higher production costs, the UK’s own farming policies and, particularly, Brexit, have caused the problem.

And those higher production costs are also affecting us in Spain. So, while food items are not being rationed here, they are increasingly unaffordable to many people.

To help struggling consumers, Spain’s Unidas Podemos party recently proposed a discount of 14.4% on a set of 20 basic food items. This is similar, in principle, to the 20 centimos per litre discount that applied at petrol stations between April and December.

And now, hot off the press, Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Luis Planas, assures us that Spain has “the capacity” to introduce measures such as those being implemented in France, where a 2e price cap is being put on basic products.

The Carrefour supermarket chain will offer shoppers in its 5,945 French stores a basket of 200 basic products for under 2e, from March 15 to June 15.

A constant crisis

Planas previously wasn’t so keen on the subsidy idea, saying that inflation has now finally ‘reached a ceiling’ – despite the prices remaining as high as ever.

He pointed out that the government has already introduced VAT (IVA) reductions on certain foods. On January 1, VAT was cut from 4% to 0% on basic items, including bread, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and cereals. Tax on oil and pasta also fell from 10% to 5%.

However, these foods remain expensive throughout the nation.

According to a recent study by web portal, Trading Economics, Spain’s food cost 15.5% more in January than January 2022 (the rise is even higher in the UK at 17.1%)

A weekly food shop that cost €200 a year ago in Spain now costs €231.

What exactly has risen?

Data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) confirms that the price of staple foods has reached historic highs.

Around 30 different foods are 10% more expensive than a year ago, including dairy products, such as cheese (22.1%), yoghurt (25.1%), and milk (37.5%).

And it’s really bad news if you like a fry-up: olive oil has risen by 35.2% and eggs by 29.8%.

Meanwhile, rice has increased 21.7%, pasta 19%, bread 15.4%, and breakfast cereals by 11.4%. Vegetables are up by more than 10%.

Maybe it really is time to turn vegetarian: chicken and turkey are up by 15.1%, pork by 13.8% and beef, 13.2%. Frozen fish has increased 13.2% and shellfish, 13.4%.

Why is this so bad?

People with lower incomes, and already stretched families, are disproportionately affected by food price inflation.

FOOD PRICE CRISIS

FEEDING THE MASSES

ON International Women’s Day there are some sobering statistics out there.

Despite decades of fighting, the gender pay gap is still a huge unresolved issue with Spanish women getting paid around 20% less than men.

In politics, the country fares better - the 252 women sitting in Spain’s upper and lower houses represent 42.4% of seats.

But when it comes to business, just 36% of management positions are held by women, according to a report, Women in Business 2022, by Grant Thornton. And some professions remain almost closed to women. Six times more men, for example, work in the Science and Technology industry than women, while a far higher proportion work in cleaning and admin work. But there is one profession that has long em braced women workersthe media.

And we at the Olive Press are no exception with a workforce split almost ex actly 50-50 between men and women.

Some parents told the Olive Press that goods previously considered ‘normal’ have effectively become ‘luxuries’.

Anna Langdon, a British expat, based in Granada, explained: “I’m feeding four people on a pension meant for one, and it is more of a struggle than before.

“As I’ve raised six kids on homemade soups and home-grown food with little money for decades, I was relatively prepared for the crisis. However, even staple foods have increased in price, like butter and cheese, and we’ve had to use less and less and our portion sizes have shrunk a lot.”

She added: “The price increase in pet food is difficult and as I’ve got two cats and an elderly dog it’s sometimes cheaper to buy offal and rice.”

Meanwhile, Lenka, a Romanian mother of three, based in Orgiva, explained that she is having to cook something hearty that ‘ideally lasts for two or three days’.

“For example, a whole cooked chicken can be used to make soup the second day,” she said.

However, many working parents rely on shop-bought snacks, and the cost of these has multiplied.

“I know of a case where the snack a child takes to school each day has gone up by 300%, affecting the parent’s buying behaviour,” explained Lucy Hayes Logan, who runs her own advice agency, Tus Alpujarras. “The impact can be huge for those on a set wage, one-salary households, the self-employed and people recovering from the financial losses caused by Covid.”

“The proposed 14% discount idea is a great idea, but how will it be funded? What are the food items and why those 20? Which brands? I’ve seen reduced items in supermarkets that look attractive, but the discounts are on selected lines, and often there are less-known brands that are still cheaper.”

Will a discount help most consumers?

Unless all foodstuffs are reduced, a basket of 20 goods won’t help everyone. For example, it’s unlikely to include pet food, which has seen huge rises, with a 20kg sack of cereal going from €11 to €18 to 20.

Leonie Crane, owner of the Camac health

food shop, in Orgiva, raises different concerns. “Smaller outlets need money from their sales to restock. How long will the 14% reimbursement from the government take to arrive?”

Cepsa petrol station boss, Joaquin Rodriguez, said: “When the government discount scheme for fuel ended, motorists rushed to fill their tanks, then returned to the same buying behaviour as before.” Cepsa now applies its own 12% discount with a loyalty card.

How to save money?

Whether or not the government decides to deduct 14.4% from certain food items, consumers can save money by being savvy. For starters, download the store loyalty apps: both Lidl and Dia have apps giving access to discount coupons, while Consum runs a savings scheme (the Mundo Consum card) where members can recoup a percentage of their monthly spend, delivered as an in-app voucher.

When in store, seek own-brand goods that cost less than, for example, imported British goods. Also look for discounts of the day, and multi-buy offers.

If all else fails, start planting your own vegetables and keep goats and chickens, and return to the centuries-old traditions of rural Spain. It’s not like we’re short of rural space.

Writers Jo Chipchase (above) and Cristina Hodgson (right), sub editor Sorrel Downer (below) and web and tech guru, Kate Langshaw (bottom), are just four of the highly-skilled professionals on our team. They bring a wealth of knowledge, talent and intelligence to the Olive Press, and pass it on to younger members of staffwhether male or female.

More impor

tantly, they provide an inspiration to girlsmaybe still at schoolthat if they want to enter the world of media and journalism there is a well-beaten trail open to them.

And the Olive Press is always on the lookout for good staff - so give us a call!

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

1- Leave tourism alone: Spanish tourism boss demands compensation for economic blow from EU’s new Brit-hitting tourist tax

2- Minister in Spain laughs off accusations that government is legalising bestiality

3- Spain wakes up to threat the new EU’s new ETIAS tourist tax poses to its British tourism

4-

New evidence emerges in murder case of high profile Brit killer Kenneth Noye

5- Spain’s golden visa under threat

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

WIND AHOY!

Offshore wind farm map approved by government

SPAIN'S government has given the green light to a series of offshore wind farms after approving the first-ever Maritime Space Management Plan (POEM).

The plan maps out the coexistence of the farms with activities such as fishing in addition to protecting the environment.

It is in effect a maritime equivalent of land-based planning restrictions.

Under the first POEM map, farms can be set up in 19 sections covering 5,000 km2 of territorial waters.

It means installations will be restricted to just 0.46% of the sea, with the POEM reviewed every six years.

Barring one facility in the Canary Islands, Spain has so far not gone down the offshore farm route as it chose to sort

Not welcome

PLANS for offshore wind farms on the Costa del Sol are being opposed by local councils and environmental groups which stress the environmental cost.

The opposition to the proposed wind farms follows the approval of the Maritime Space Management Plan (POEM) which allows projects off the Malaga coast. But the Association of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol criticised the national government for putting forward plans without proper dialogue with local councils. Fishermen are concerned that the proposal could significantly impact their activities, while environmentalists say wind farms could badly hit the unique biology of the area where Atlantic waters mingle with the Mediterranean.

GRIM OUTLOOK

SPAIN is one of the EU countries most at risk from the climate crisis, according to an alarming report from a Spanish think-tank.

Madrid-based Instituto Elcano warned that 20% of mainland Spain is already at risk of desertification due to climate change and overexploitation of water, particularly groundwater extraction.

By Alex Trelinski

out where they can be located.

The POEM was created after four years of negotiations with regional governments as well as the fishing and tourism sectors.

Ecological Transition minister, Teresa Ribera, said: "The plan ensures priority for areas that need environmental protection or are linked to national security or maritime transport safety.”

It will be down to Spain's regional governments to process the applications to set up wind farms that can

be installed in 19 'industrial' sea zones dotted around the mainland coast and the islands.

Some areas like the Cadiz and Huelva coasts will not see any development due to the need to preserve biodi-

YOU’LL be aware of the frequently referred term net zero, but let me introduce you to jet zero.

Governments have stated their intention

to switch to sustainable aircraft fuel by 2050.

This date is destined to be a year of reckoning.

That’s because it’s 27 years away and politicians can kick problems down the road of reckoning.

Airplanes contribute significantly to climate damage. Some 2.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from planes.

The technology is not in place to allow us to fly guilt free. And year on year we fly more.

Many countries are considering imposing frequent flyer surcharges to try to encourage us to fly less. Taxing cigarettes, alcohol and petrol to death hasn’t stopped us smoking, drinking or driving (maybe there’s a clue here).

It all comes down to investment in alternative technologies. And that costs money.

In the UK, The Royal Society looked at the three other alternatives currently being discussed:

● Biofuel from crops – London Heathrow is the largest global user of biofuels - but this represents just 0.5% of the airport’s fuel.

(It would require more than half of the UK’s farming land to produce sufficient to supply

versity. Spain has previously laid out plans to develop as much as three gigawatts of installed offshore capacity by 2030. Tenders are expected to be announced later this year for new projects.

The Doñana National Park in Andalucia, home to one of Europe’s largest wetlands, is under threat

DESERT: Spain faces water shortages

JET ZERO

UK aviation needs). So that’s not going to happen.

● Fuel made from hydrogen produced with green electricity – but countries do not generate sufficient renewable electricity to make enough green hydrogen. So that’s not going to happen. Plus existing aircraft engines cannot use hydrogen based fuels.

● Ammonia and synthetic fuels – under consideration, but they need even more green hydrogen. So that’s not going to happen.

Governments lead us all to believe that innovation will save the day. Without adequate investment there is no chance.

The airline industry self-regulates. They offer promises without consequences.

A prime example; In 2010 Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic said that by 2020, 10% of its fuel would be biofuel.

In 2021 Virgin Atlantic announced it would be using 10% alternative fuels by 2030. Get my point?

from intensive farming, Elcano pointed out. Per capita carbon dioxide emissions peaked at 8.47 tons in 2005, but dropped to 4.92 tons by 2021, as climate change measures kicked in and the country became more environmentally conscious.

By Martin Tye

‘TOO LATE TO SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT’

So said one of the co-founders of the Green Party in the UK, Michael Benfield last week. His point carries weight.

We have succeeded in helping to educate, but we have failed in dealing with the battle for environmental survival.

Green Matters

LA CULTURA

A 23,000-year-old human genome has been uncovered on the outskirts of Granada and is one of the oldest ever recorded.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology extracted DNA from human remains found in a cave. The research confirms that the southern tip of Spain provided a key refuge for humans when much of Europe was covered by ice 20,000 years ago and cave-dwelling humans would shield from these freezing conditions in rocky caverns.

The DNA has been linked to a 35,000-year-old individual from Belgium discovered in 2016.

Old timer Grammy deal

Prayers answered

AFTER two years of searching, archaeologists have finally had their prayers answered and uncovered a rare medieval synagogue in the basement of a disco.

The 14th century building in Utrera (Sevilla) has also been used as a hospital, restaurant and home for abandoned children down the years. It is just one of a precious handful of medieval synagogues to have survived the aftermath of the expulsion of Spain’s

THE prestigious Latin Grammy awards are coming to Spain this November in a three-year deal - the first time they are being held outside the United States.

By Anthony Piovesan

Jews in 1492.

In his 1604 history of Utrera, Rodrigo Caro, a local priest, historian and poet, described an area of the city centre as it had been in earlier centuries, saying: “In that place, there were only foreign and Jewish people who had their synagogue where the Hospital de la Misericordia now stands”.

Utrera mayor Jose Maria

Villalobos said it was ‘now scientifically certain that we’re standing in a medieval synagogue right now’.

Night art

THE Prado Museum in Madrid is now opening its doors on a Saturday evening, as part of a new project called ‘The Prado at Night’. The public are able to visit a selection of different galleries inside the trove of artworks on the first Saturday of each month from 8.30pm to 11.30pm.

The aim is to ‘connect more closely with all sectors of the public’, according to the museum. The project will also include musical events, and is being sponsored by Samsung.

The announcement was made in Sevilla but the specific dates and the host city were not named, though Sevilla appears to be the front-runner. The Latin Grammys were first held in Los Angeles in 2000.

Last year, they took place in Las Vegas, where Spanish artist Rosalíia (right) won best album for ‘Motomami’. Andalucia president, Juan Manuel Morena Bonilla, met with the Latin Recording Academy CEO, Manuel Abud. Both parties described the deal as 'historic' and 'unprecedented'.

“Until now there were only four such buildings in all of Spain - two in Toledo, one in Segovia and one in Cordoba,” he said.

“This is an exceptional building that’s been part of Utrera and part of its inhabitants’ lives for 700 years.

“This building was born in the 1300s and has made it all the way to the 21st century.”

Visits

One of the key reasons for its survival was that the site was always in use for one purpose or another. The building could be opened for public visits in parallel with archaeologists continuing to excavate the site. The next phase of the project will look to see if there was a rabbi’s house nearby, or a religious school.

Entry will be free of charge from 8.30pm onward, until all of the available spaces are full. Access will end at 11pm. ‘The Prado at Night’ will run on the following dates: March 4; April 1; May 6; June 3; July 1; and August 5. The museum is the most-visited in Madrid, and racked up more than 2.4 million visitors in 2022.

*Data extracted from process closure surveys after using our roadside assistance and breakdown services.

An archaeological marvel dating back seven centuries has been uncovered in Andalucia

HOLY: Synagogue used as disco in Utrera

VISIT: The Prado

ARTISANAL ALPUJARRA

IN this era of moving towards sustainability, “slow fashion” and handcrafted goods are increasingly popular. The rural Alpujarra of Granada has a tradition of using natural resources to create artisan products. This dates to Neolithic times, over 4,500 years ago, when primitive craftspeople made their own footwear, baskets, vessels, ceramics, and metal weapons.

Some of the old crafts remain today. The white villages nestling on the south flank of the Sierra Nevada are the perfect place to shop for ‘jarapas’ (rugs), leather goods, mimbre (wicker), woven

esparto grass, ceramics, cast iron products, and more. These predominate in Pampaneira, Capileira and Bubion, which also are considered amongst Spain’s “most beautiful” villages. In the Alpujarra, you’ll also find modern products made from natural fibres. These include cotton bags, hats and cushion covers, customised preloved clothes, Macarame crafts, handmade, and handdyed garments.

COLOURFUL ‘JARAPAS’

Passed down through the generations, the tradition of weaving Alpujarran rugs can be traced back to Muslim times. Historically, weaving was mainly done in the winter when crops required less work. The resulting ‘jarapas’ are thick, colorful, woven products that can be used as rugs, bedspreads, blankets, or wall hangings. In the past, old clothes went on the weaving loom but, today, wool and cotton are used.

MOVIN’ ON UP!

Freya explains how women’s fashion has progressed, along with their rights

FASHION is much more than a “cute outfit”— it’s a major reflection of our times, political movements, and history.

Boutique de moda, complementos y regalitos

abierto lunes -sábado

10 am - 2 pm

Calle Correo, 1 Orgiva, Granada, 18400

FASHION with Freya

Since the birth of the fashion industry, womenswear trends have been driven by culture, events, popular music, and celebrity influence. In the last 100 years, we’ve seen big changes in fashion, accompanying the development of women’s rights.

At the beginning of the 20th century, styles were proper and demure, with high-necked dresses and floor-brushing hemlines being the look.

By 1920, women began to feel empowered and experimented with short flapper dresses and modern, boyish haircuts.

Over the next century, fashion continued to evolve. War-rationed fabrics and gloves disappeared once women joined the workforce - first in boiler suits and, eventually, in power suits.

The disco era brought sensual silhouettes and vibrant colours. It paved the way for pop princesses like Britney Spears, who popula rised the crop top (it’s back now with the current 90s re vival).

From clothing to ac cessories, undergar ments, shoes and haircuts, women were taken on a wild style ride. Cultural shifts stopped society dic-

tating what we can wear (at least, if we live in the West).

Some looks, like a feminine full-length dress, or masculine shirt and slacks, can illustrate different sides of your personality. They can push the boundaries of gender neutrality and fluidity - a hot topic the world over.

As a girl, I wasn’t allowed to wear trousers to my all-girls school. Now, I celebrate the changing roles of women with the clothes I wear and sell.

Let’s not forget women who can’t express themselves in a patriarchal world. For example, those in Iran, burning their scarves in the streets. Let’s remember their strength, determination, and power. Women should be able to express all their facets through clothes, sexuality, intelligence, political choices, and relationships. I dream of this for women worldwide. Women are amazing.

SALE

MIMBRE (WICKER)

A few decades ago, various families from Lanjarón and the nearby Lecrín Valley worked making wicker items such as baskets, vases, chairs, lamps, bottle racks, mirrors, and shelves. Today, only a few wicker craftspeople remain. If you visit the spa town of Lanjarón, you can find mimbre products created by locals.

The rural Alpujarra of Granada has a strong tradition of handcrafting, recycling, and upcycling, writes Jo Chipchase

International Women’s Day

HEALTHY WAGE

THERE are 250% more news stories about men than women, according to a new study.

The report by Spanish firm, Llorente & Cuenca, also reveals that women feature 21% less in the headlines.

Under represented OUR BRILLIANCE IS IN OUR DIVERSITY

Moreover, when women do appear in articles there is often an explicit mention of their gender and family and their sex is more prominent than their identity.

“An example would be; ‘A woman could be the new president of the US’ rather than ‘Kamala Harris is a strong candidate for presidency’,” a spokesman explained, adding that there is a bias, which makes women invisible and anonymous.

Grim stats

THE average woman in Spain earns 20% less than men and half of them have suffered abuse at work.

What’s more, The burden of care and unpaid work falls mainly on women while companies close the doors to management positions.

According to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, the average salary for men in Spain is €26,369 whereas for women it is €21,682. Moreover, 93,6% of people who work part-time to take care of children and the elderly are women.

And the Ministry of Equality states that 57.3% of women have suffered gender violence and 13.2% have suffered sexual violence.

AWOMAN’S place is in the home. And the boardroom. In fact, it is anywhere she damn pleases, particularly in this day and age in Spain. But as another old adage goes, a woman’s work is never done. And there is no doubt, we often have to fight twice as hard to get the pay we deserve and speak twice as loud to have our voices heard in the workplace.

You’d be hard pressed to find a woman, even in 2023, who hasn’t been called ‘darling’, ‘sweetheart’ or ‘gorgeous’ in the office, and even boardroom.

And sadly, that’s getting off lightly. Complaining about these kinds of ‘compliments’ often isn’t worth your breath, since it’ll most likely be brushed off by colleagues as a ‘bit of banter.’

A working woman now knows she has to pick her battles, and unfortunately a daily scuffle with balding dinosaurs over terms of endearment - or endowment - has to be sidelined for more pressing matters such as pay, fair treatment and basic respect.

AN UNFAIR PORTRAYAL

WOMEN don’t take their kids to school in heels carrying a box of washing powder.

A recent study has found that 94% of women don’t identify with portrayals of themselves in advertising campaigns.

The questionnaire of 2000 women who were shown 20,000 adverts from 17 sectors, found they totally disagreed with the way they are used in adverts. Indeed, according to the study by Havas Media, while women make up 88% of consumer decisions, an alarming 6% feel properly represented.

Meanwhile 40% of ads are ‘sexist’ according to the Association of Users’ Communication (AUC).

Sometimes it’s a case of ‘sneaky sexism’ - a woman pouring detergent into the machine for example - while at other times it's overt. In the UK an NHS stay at home Covid ad (right) caused so much outrage, it had to be removed. It portrayed a woman at home with the kids, mopping, while ironing with a baby in her arms. Meanwhile, her husband sat on the sofa.

Please reward women equally, insists Madrid-based expat journalist Fiona Govan

It is both exhausting and astonishing that in 2023 women still have to fight for the bare minimum. Take equal pay. It is fairly straightforward in principle: creating equality of opportunity for all, irrespective of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. But somehow some of the biggest brains in business still struggle to grasp the concept.

As we face another economic downturn in the wake of coronavirus and as the Ukraine war starts to ramp up again it is clearer than ever that our old systems are failing us at every turn.

It is time to challenge the status quo and do away with outdated modes of working - and women need to be helping to usher in the new dawn. Women are just as productive and determined as their male counterparts, and businesses need to recognise this. And not just because of quotas but to build better businesses and a better future for everyone.

EQUALITY: But not in UK homes according to NHS

Speaking of the future, one that continues to pay women less than men or discriminates against anyone is a discredit to us all.

Businesses should of course be making gender equality and equal pay a key foundation of success. It is the right thing to do.

Indeed it is a shame that in 2021 the Spanish Government felt they had no choice but to intervene to ensure that women in the country are given the same pay as men. Now businesses have to share what they are doing, because they can’t be trusted to do the right thing.

Just look at women in healthcare. Research last year found that Spain was one of the best places to be a female health professional in Europe, ranking eighth, while its doctors and nurses are ranked among the top three in Europe.

A cause for celebration? Hardly. Female doctors and nurses here are earning an average of €10,000 less

than their male counterparts (see Healthy wage, above right).

And for those who brand the fight for equal pay as propaganda coming from ‘male-hating feminists’, remember we’re sticking it to the man, not men. Our brilliance is in our diversity. Recognise it. Celebrate it. Reward it. And reward it equally. That’s just good business sense.

FOR women looking to embark on a demanding career in the health sector, making sure they earn a fair amount for their hard work could be a driving factor in deciding where to relocate.

Spain has been named one of the top countries for women in health care, according to new data by Lenstore. The country, at ninth position, was found to offer some of the best opportunities in Europe.

This is down to a number of factors including average working hours, yearly salary, holiday allowance and the number of women in the industry. But upon closer inspection of the Lenstore study, Spain and the rest of Europe have a long way to go until equality is achieved.

In Spain the average female pay for health professionals stands at €29,800 lower than the €39,616 average annual salary for men.

Meanwhile in France, which was ranked as the best country in Europe to be a female healthcare professional, women still make an average of €7,000 a year less than their male counterparts. The UK came in sixth place overall, with average female pay at £30,059, lower than the £43,953 average annual salary for men.

Inpower

SPAIN has far more female parliamentary representation than the average in European countries.

The 252 women sitting in Spain’s upper and lower houses represent 42.4% of seats, compared to a European average of 31.1% and a global share of 26.6%.

The figures, collated by analysts IPU Parline, reveal that in Europe the most represented countries for women are Iceland (47.6%), Andorra, Sweden (both 46.4%) Norway (46.2%), Finland (45.5%), Denmark (43.6%) Belgium (42.7%) and North Macedonia (42.5%).

This puts Spain at ninth in Europe and 22nd in the world.

The country with the most female parliamentarians by share is Rwanda (61.3%) followed by Cuba (53.4%) and Nicaragua (51.7%).

The UK is 48th world-wide with 34.5% of its parliamentarians being women.

International Women’s Day

Painful period law

SPAIN has become one of the most forward-thinking countries in Europe after granting women who suffer from especially painful periods (dysmenorrhoea) up to three days paid leave per month.

The legislation on ‘menstrual leave’ - which can be extended to five in severe cases - is the first of its kind in Europe and takes into account the financial pressure that period poverty imposes on women.

While debate about period poverty typically relates to hygiene products, women who struggle with dysmenorrhoea are also disadvantaged by being unable to take sick leave and instead resort to unpaid leave or using up holiday.

WELCOME

Ana Botin, CEO, Banco Santander

THE fourth generation of the Botin family in the CEO role, Ana Botin (Santander, 1960) came well-prepared, first studying economics and working at JP Morgan in New York. After taking over from her father, she helped the bank evolve into one of the world’s leading financial institutions. She served as the first female president of the European Banking Federation, and outside her nine-to-five job, she’s involved with her foundation (Fundacion CyD) which encourages university graduates to apply their know-how to social and economic development in Spain.

Belen Frau Global communications manager, IKEA

STARTING on the shop floor of a local branch of IKEA in the Basque country in 2004, armed only with an allen key, she worked her way up. And how! Frau (Bilbao, 1974) became the first female CEO of Ikea in Spain in 2011, and four years later got responsibility for the company in seven countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the UK, Switzerland – and even Sweden! Now she has global control of ‘the message’ –and has even found time to have three children.

WOMEN ON TOP

They get everywhere, powerful women. Here in Spain, they’re in politics doing important things like running the country’s economy and defence – and even Madrid city. They occupy leading roles in every field from science and academia to the arts and publishing, from the National Cancer Research Centre to El Pais

PROVING Spanish women have the grit and tenacity to get to the top, whatever the obstacles, there’s Basque climber Edurne Pasaban, the first female mountaineer in the world to climb all 8000m peaks (13 of the 14 without oxygen). To celebrate Women’s Day, here’s a shout-out for five of the most powerful and influential businesswomen in the land. Some have had an easier ascent than others.

LAW A STORY OF

SPAIN’s recent anti-discrimination legislation has been welcomed by independent UN experts.

The provision of equal parenthood rights for lesbian mothers, a ban on genital mutilation for intersex children, and measures to end ‘conversion therapy’ perpetrated against LGTBI people are some of the features of the new law.

It also ensures access to assisted reproduction techniques for all women and has made Spain the first country in Europe to introduce menstrual leave (see above).

“The history of feminism is a story of persistence in the face of social injustice,” the experts - who are unpaid commentators to the United Nations - said.

Spain became a pioneer in women’s rights following

death of its machismo dictator, writes Jo Chipchase

WHILE men and women are treated equally by law, many women still report sexist behaviour and ‘machista’ attitudes. Some of the most outmoded atti -

tudes hark back to the Franco era when, in 1939, the dictator (left) removed any powers women had gained. Women were forced to be stay-home mothers and housewives, with no legal right to work,

Disciplineand fearless determination

SHE learnt early that to get ahead in business in Spain she had to be fearlessly determined, a quality she has in spades thanks to her time in the Royal Air Force.

It was during her time in the British RAF that she learnt not to accept excuses or lies, as well as gaining an iron discipline.

“Being in the RAF was one of the happiest times in my life and where I had discipline instilled in me,” she tells the Olive Press “As a result I don’t stand for any nonsense, but that also means people know where they stand with me, which is very important in business.”

It was still anything but easy for her to set up

They are the key things a

ican company, Liberty Insurance, designing special packages for the expat market and has built up a reputation as a hugely successful expat businesswoman.

own property, or get divorced. Worse, they could even go to prison for adultery, although their straying husbands weren’t punished, in contrast.

One remarkable pamphlet from the 1950s on how to be ‘a good wife’ insisted you needed to keep the house spotless, the children clean, and dinner on the table. Since Franco died in 1975, feminists have made rapid progress and as Spain developed as a democracy, women’s rights started to match those of other European countries.

needs to

on in business in Spain, explains expat Jennifer Cunningham

her insurance business on the costas three decades ago, when women were not taken seriously in business.

“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, from her home in Javea, on the Costa Blanca.

“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.

“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.”

Today Jennifer Cunningham Insurance has seven offices in Spain (including one in the Canaries) and thousands of expat customers. While an incredible success story - not just for a woman, but also as an expat - she however, is most proud of the fact that she leads a team of over 20 women across her offices.

She leads a team of over 20 women across her seven offices

“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 sympathetic 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 a giant Amer-

“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.”

For more info visit www.jennifercunningham. net or www.paulcunninghamnurses.com

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

Finally in 1987, it was ruled that a rape victim didn’t have to prove they had fought the man back, while in 2004, the government introduced the ‘Integrated Law’, which funded the Government Delegation of Violence Against Women and finally a nationwide pact in 2017.

Pioneer

“Spain is a pioneer in terms of laws that ensure equality, compared to other countries worldwide,” insists Carmen Quintanilla of women’s rural association AFAMMER.

“Until the elaboration of the 2017 State Pact, never before had a government been so committed to the eradication of gender violence.”

By 2019, Congress had the most female members in its history (and one of the highest in the world and top in Europe) with 166 female deputies, taking 47.4% of seats.

However, a backslide occurred in 2020 when the far-right Voxnow Spain’s third largest political party - claimed that the gender violence law favours women and should be replaced with a family violence law. Vox also has made

How

the

woman

get

IRON DISCIPLINE: The RAF taught Jennifer well

MOUNTAINS OF FUN

LOOK up inland and from just about every tourist resort or villa on the Costa del Sol you can see a line up of soaring peaks.

Almost always framed by bright blue skies, the majority of them trump the UK’s highest peak of Ben Nevis and are full of wildlife including rare Ibex and otters, while Black Kites and Honey Buzzards patrol the skies overhead.

Now finally, after nearly 20 years of campaigning, this stunning mountain range, the Sierra de las Nieves has been designated as Spain’s 16th National Park.

Largely untouched by tourists yet ridiculously close to the coast, it’s a weekend getaway

begging to be booked.

Highly endangered Pinsapo fir woodlands and the aforementioned Ibex and otter have helped to gain its new National Park protection.

Crisscrossed with hiking trails, it’s even possible to stroll up from Marbella, Benahavis and Mijas, while by car you are in the heart of the park within an hour via the stunning Juanar Valley (above).

An even better option is to spend a weekend in the nearby Guadalhorce Valley, which buffers the range, while in the north you will find the Andalucian Lake District and its now famous Caminito del Rey.

The polar opposite to the glitz and glamour of the nearby coast the valley - where you will find the well known towns of Coin and Alhaurin - offers a more peaceful, largely rural relaxed way of life.

A great place to kick off your exciting journey inland is Tolox, which is the back door to this incredible mountain wilderness.

As someone once described it, ‘If Coin sits at the foot of the Sierra de las Nieves, then Tolox is the toenail’.

Formerly part of the Moorish Kingdom of Solei -

A new national park, the ‘Spanish lake district’ and over a dozen white villages make the Guadalhorce Valley the perfect weekend escape or place to live, writes Jon Clarke

Pic Credit: Jon Clarke

VARIETY: A memorial/plaque in Juanar valley and a tower in Allora

BEYOND THE SALE

Margaret Mitchell and her team from Álora Properties go above and beyond to meet buyers’ needs

ÁLORA PROPERTIES owner Margaret Mitchell moved from Scotland to Spain in 1997 and has worked in the real estate sector since then selling to both Northern Europeans and Spanish clients and fully embracing and enjoying her life integrated into the Spanish community.

She now helps others to fulfill their ambition to buy either a permanent home or a holiday home in Sunny Spain.

She is particularly helping others who aspire to live in one of the most picturesque valleys in Spain, the Guadalhorce valley.

Álora Properties specialise in the sale of homes in the area known as the ‘Valle del Sol’.

The area is well connected by train; “ if you want to go to Malaga city or along the coast as far as Fuengirola there is a reliable rail service,” Margaret said.

“The pace of life here is magical, it feels like living in a real community.

“You have all the amenities you need even though you’re in a small town and Álora is also a great base to visit the rest of Andalucía with Cordoba, Granada and Sevilla all less than two hours away.”

Álora Properties has been operating since 1998 and recently moved offices to Plaza Fuente Arriba 5.

Margaret said the relationships she and her two staff members had with clients have always extended past the final purchase of a home.

“We are an after-sale service as well - we’re here, we all live here,” she said.

“It’s not just a case where we sell a property and that’s the end of the relationship” “It even happened one day when someone came to me with a brown paper bag with false teeth inside and they asked me where they could go to fix them - we sold that person a home four years previously!”

For more information about Alora Properties you can visit www.aloraproperties.com or call +34 952 498 454 or +34 609 45 44 09

man , this whitewashed village once drew visitors to dip into its Fuente Amarga spa, with its legendary healing properties.

Stress and muscle fatigue are washed away with a variety of therapies ranging from natural gas inhalation to mud spray treatments.

It should reopen one day soon. Head uphill for a couple of miles and you will find the eagle-eye views at the Cerro de Hijar hotel, one of Andalucia’s more remote places to stay.

Every hairpin bend round the steep cliffs offers up a fresh angle on the Guadalhorce Valley. Looking down as far as Malaga and to waterfalls trickling below, it’s easy to forget that the Costa del Sol metropolis is just over the mountain.

From here you head up towards the stunning white village of Yunquera and Alozaina embedded like jewels in a setting of olive groves.

The entrance to Yunquera’s charming centre is marked by stone arches while the church – the crowning glory in most of these pueblos - can be seen against the skyline from

HAPPY VALLEY

the narrow streets below.

From the striking Santa Ana church itself, there are spectacular views towards the Sierra Prieta.

A half an hour north east you cannot miss Alora (be -

low), which can be seen from miles around. This stunning place packed with Moroccan and Roman influences is topped by a castle, which sits on a lofty pinnacle looking down on this quaint pueblo.

A stop at the 17th century La Encarnacion church en route is the

SPECIAL COUNTRY

A gambol through the towns and villages of the Sierra de las Nieves reveals castles, carnivals - and cañas,

writes

Walter Finch

WE kept hearing it time and time again. ‘It’s such a special place’, ‘It’s really magical’, ‘There is simply something in the air’.

They were such common refrains during a weekend in the Sierra de las Nieves that it made me wonder if they were all paid plants signed up to the local tourist board.

The evidence however, was all around us and detectable through the five senses, in particular when we were met with a vision of freshly-dusted snowy peaks as we woke up in the village of Alozaina on the Saturday morning.

There is no doubt the rarefied inland air of Spain’s newest National Park is something special… a complete contrast to the busy hubbub of the Costa del Sol below, or its nearby city of Malaga, which is fast becoming an international tech hub.

A mountainous region of 22,979 hectares spread over seven towns, the Sierra de las Nieves park was officially inaugurated in July last year, after nearly two decades of campaigning.

A fragile western part of the Betica range, its succession of karst peaks stretch up to 2,000 metres, while it counts on 1,500 different examples of fauna and flora, some 19 exclusive to Ronda alone.

Criss-crossed with wonderful hiking

paths, its many eagles and vultures soar the skies, while its most famous feature - its ancient Pinsapo forest - is among the most endangered woodland in the world. Its boundaries take in the lucky seven of Ronda, El Burgo, Istan, Monda, Parauta, Tolox and Yunquera, while a special ZPP protection zone around it also includes land from Alozaina, Serrato, Igualeja, Benahavis, Ojen, Guaro and Casarabonela.

You can see it inland from the main resorts of Marbella, Mijas and Fuengirola, while it feels a million miles different when you are up there.

Our first port of call was to take a

Continues on next page

Gasolinera Vista Hermosa

Sirviendo a la comunidad de alozaina desde 1991

Serving the community of Alozaina since 1991

Pic credit: Walter Finch

PEAKS: of the National park from Alozaina, while (left) snowball fights in Parauta

MOORISH LAUNDRY

tapas lunch in the border town of Monda under a burgeoning spring sun.

Home to a local design college, it means Monda is also home to an interesting assortment of students, expats and locals, many of whom work in the nearby mountains. We sat in a dazzling white washed plaza that was full of life, having grown up around the old Lavadero de La Jau l, the stone-hewed baths where the townsfolk would do their laundry in times past.

Like so many of the foundation stones of the valley, it was originally built by the Moors, and was later rebuilt by Christians, this one in the 18th century.

After that, we nipped up to see the old castle on its perch overlooking the town.

A storied fortification that was also first built by the Moors as far back as the 9th century, it was captured by Christian armies and expanded in the 14th century.

Come the 20th century, it had been totally abandoned to ruins until its restoration by architect Francisco Prieto-Moreno, curator-director of the Alhambra in Granada. He started work in 1969 and it was not until 1996 that its doors could open once again, this time as a hotel.

Our winding tour took us next up to Tolox, which has a name even pre-

dating the Moors, being originally a Phoencian settlement. Another sparkling oneroad village situated, it is the quintessence of sleepy mountain life.

But the tranquillity belies a tumultuous history, where Moors and Christians continued to co-exist and clash long after the Spanish reconquered the town in 1485.

Tolox was part of a rebellion by Moorish peasants against their Christian landholders nearly

a century later that resulted in the town being depopulated and replaced by settlers from Sevilla, Cordoba and Galicia.

It is a village overlooked once again by a grand hotel, elevated high over the rolling foothills and above even the tranquil hum of village life.

A yellow-patterned mansion with a classic Spanish tower, it provided the perfect spot for a caña and a view of the beautiful Sierra de las

Nieves.

Below that, greeted by a long line of eucalyptus trees, you can find the sadly defunct Balneario de Fuente Amargosa - the spa of the bitter spring. Another beautiful construction where locals used to bathe in the clear altitudes and breathe in the natural air that reportedly eased maladies caused by respiratory or kidney problems. The biggest attraction of the weekend took place in a village that is among the smallest. Transformed for the weekend into the place to be in the Sierra de

las Nieves, people came from far and wide to participate in the annual Carnaval parade in Alozaina and a festivity unique to all of Andalucia (the Carnaval de la Harina - an enormous, clothing-and-camera-ruining flour fight that broke out on the Friday night - see right)

Long-term British resident Sarah explained how the endless countryside in all directions made it the perfect place for her four - very friendly and curious - dogs. She had been living in the village for five years and was joined by her friend Katie from Scotland. “I just think it’s magical,” Katie said. “Look around you. Look at the hills and the mountains in the distance and the green fields. I really think I might move here.” The best was to come in the tiny

MAD FOR THE MOTO

ZIPPING around the winding roads of the Sierra de las Nieves one might come across Miguel Sanchez Bermudez, a 70cc motorcyclist who has reached national acclaim.

Since his youth he has been riding and racing around his home town of Alozaina.

In 2020 Miguel reached a pinnacle in his racing career winning first place in the National Amateur Scooter race and first in the Southern Spain division. Following this incredible success Miguel suffered an injury to his leg which put him out of action for a year.

Despite the setback, he returned to racing the following year winning two consecutive races. His passion for scooter racing goes beyond his

village of Jorox, barely more than a street in the hills, with one local family-run restaurant serving up plates of stewed meat. Partially built into a cave, it only opens on the weekends, when the family comes together to run the business for the local patrons to pass a few leisurely hours.

The place is well-known (we were warned) for placing the entire bottle of gin or whatever you are drinking on your table and letting you go at it ( the Olive Press refrained).

A giant fireplace crowned the inside and on the coldest days the staff place burning coal pans under the table to warm the feet of patrons. It was the perfect spot for us to stuff our faces, drink in one more caña and enjoy the stunning views of the Sierra de las Nieves.

own participation in national competitions, setting up his own scooter team and company under the name of Triguero Racing Motor which supplies racing material, including bikes and clothing.

Telephone / WhatsApp: +34 678 356 689

Email: trigueroracingmotor@gmail.com

Instagram / Facebook: @ trigueroracingmotor

WEDDING CAKE: The white town of Tolox

POLE POSITION: Church of Alozaina overlords its own valley, while Torox (below) is a dream escape

It was part of a rebellion by Moors against the Christian landholders

One wild way to find a date, writes Nadia McDonald

IN the days before online dating, telephones, and even the combustion engine, townsfolk had to get creative in order to find a mate.

And Alozaina, a quaint hilltop village nestled in the Sierra de las Nieves, definitely won first prize in the fun and creativity stakes with their solution to the problem - the Carnaval de la Harina.

This rather unique and intriguing tradition was dreamt up by the enterprising and lovelorn residents in the latter half of the 15th century. It grew in such popularity that other townsfolk would come from all over Andalucia to participate.

Bachelors keen to find their bride could forsake the old traditional methods - you know, doing something brave, coming up with a good chat up line, buying flowers etc, - and just throw flour in the face of the comely lass who took their eye.

If the young lady in question returned the favour and rubbed flour on the cheek of her suitor, they would begin a courtship. Sim-

A sprinkling of flour in the name of love that takes the idea of a romantic pursuit to a whole new level.

Today, of course, the villagers use more modern methods of dat-

But they haven’t lost sight of the long-standing tradition, continuing to celebrate the unique custom with a village-wide flour fight on the last Friday in February - along

FLOUR POWER

with an all-night party. Among all of Spain’s wild and varied festivals, from baby jumping to tomato throwing extravaganzas, this one still stands out.

The Olive Press’ invitation to witness it first hand came with few instructions, only that we would probably ruin our jackets and have flour coming out of our ears for days.

QTELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR POSITION AS MAYOR

I have been the Mayor of Alozaina for 14 years and President of the Mancomunidad of the Sierra de las Nieves for 11. I have spent over a decade working to give back to the land that has given me so much and that has always been my main objective, to improve the lives of those who live here.

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR MAIN SUCCESSES AND WHICH ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

Without a doubt my greatest accomplishment as Mayor and President of the Mancomunidad has been declaring the Sierra de las Nieves a National Park.

HOW HAS ALOZAINA ADVANCED THANKS TO YOUR DIRECTION FOR EDUCATION?

Education is one of the fundamental pillars of our society and has always been one of the key priorities for the Council. We have added new installations at Alozaina College as well as a sport facility, these have also provided fantastic new employment opportunities. Our first ever kindergarten has significantly improved the lives of families with young children who no longer have to travel elsewhere for daycare.

AND IN TERMS OF SPORT?

With regard to sport, the astroturf football pitch “La Pasadilla” is always bustling with activity on the weekends. We also have the municipal gym, paddle court and the heated swimming pool which has plenty of activities during the summer months, in fact the pool is set to reopen within the next few days with new ad-

The festivities begin at around 9pm when everyone congregates in a marquee with bags of flour hanging from their belt loops and friendly - yet somehow menacing - smiles on their faces. Those attempting to enter flourless were quickly disabused of this notion by some teenager who would bound up and smother it on each cheek.

GIVING BACK TO THE LAND

Education, nature and sports are key pillars of life in Alozaina, explains Mayor Antonio Perez

aptations that were put in place since Covid 19.

AND WITH REGARD TO INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON?

For Alozaina, a key objective was road repairs, we enjoy one of the best networks of roads in our surroundings. They are the veins of our municipality, as much for agriculture as for tourism. We have also remodeled the centre for the elderly to bring it up to date with contemporary needs; as well as opening a new morgue, children’s playground, youth centre, library and the Guadalinfo.

WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE OF ALOZAINA?

We have achieved a lot, but I am aware that there is still a lot to do. The establishment of the National Park is an opportunity which we cannot allow to pass us by and we have to encourage the richness of our municipality and the creation of jobs.

In fact, flour was raining down from all directions; ruffled through hair, poured into coat hoods, dumped down necks and simply chucked from a metre away. There was no escape. Although not the primary purpose of the festival, most people were clad in impressive fancy dress costumes ranging from cow onesies to my personal favourite, a Martian with glow in

the dark glasses and silver locks. On later inspection, this particular character turned out to be none other than the deputy mayor of the village, Maria-Jose.

Apart from the occasional grumpy guts, everyone had shown up for the party, with toddlers scuttling around, youngsters bopping to the dj and adults dusting flour off their cervezas. The community spirit was palpablepeople greeted each-other with handfuls of flour while big smiles stretched across each whitened face.

As the evening went on, the roads resembled a baker’s board and the soles of shoes looked as though they had trudged through a tub of icing sugar.

No wonder most bars and shops were shuttered up for the night!

Around midnight, the cart laden with flour made an appearance. It was being wheeled through the crowd by jovial partygoers dressed in traditional garb, inviting those who dared to take a lie down in 50 kilos of the stuff.

This was for the hardcore flour enthusiasts, no piece of clothing or body part to be spared. As the gargantuan metal bath headed towards me, I looked over at my colleague - I was going in. This reporter’s leather jacket had already turned grey from its original black, and I realised I was committed to this now - in for a penny and all that.

The collaboration of public and private sectors is more important than ever now and we have to push for new infrastructure, like an old people’s home, new tourist establishments and homes, the latter requires the most private sector input as we don’t have enough council owned land.

So I did the only thing left to do - I leapt into the tub with my sunglasses shielding the downpour of flour. After being carted around for a few moments, I managed to extract myself, a few kilos heavier as every pocket and crevice was now overflowing with flour.

AA few minutes of enthusiastic dancing later, however, and I had managed to successfully dump the excess flour off my hair, face, glasses and jacketmostly onto my fellow flour lovers.

Pic credits: Walter Finch

GETTING MESSY: Villagers join in the fun without reserve and (inset) end up making ghostly figures

A CLOSE SHAVE

Old style skills at Barber shop Rueda

ATRUE classic barber, Barber Shop Rueda is a must visit business in the village of Alozaina. The first impression is the feeling of being in an old world barber shop. The shop is comfy and welcoming and the cosy wood burner complements that feel perfectly.

Matching the warmth of the stove is the warmth of the smile from owner Jose Miguel, who set up shop in 2006. A traditional cut throat style shave will have any gentleman feeling as if they are back in a time gone by. You'll also find a wonderful range of male grooming products for sale, along with Jose’s skills to create your perfect style.

Pop in and treat yourself to one of the best shaves you have ever had before you set off to explore the villageyou will feel like a new man!

A STINGING ATTACK

THE emblem of Alozaina depicts a woman standing atop a tower throwing beehives onto two Moors who are seen fleeing from below.

The history behind this symbol of the village is an intriguing one with Maria Sagredo, a local heroine, taking centre stage.

The story goes that in the summer of 1570 the male inhabitants of the village were harvesting wheat in the fields whilst only seven men and the women and children remained at home.

The Moors, knowing that the

What’s behind Alozaina’s unique village coat of arms?

men would be out seeing to the fields, decided to take advantage of the situation and seize the village. Some 600 Moors dressed as Castillians and marched up the hill towards the village. Seeing the inbound danger, the women disguised themselves as men and attempted to defend their home.

Maria Sagredo, a young woman, witnessing her father injured, marched through the hordes of people towards the

PiningfortheSierra

SIERRA de las Nieves is home to a unique pine tree which is one of the few species to have survived the last major ice age.

Living as long as 600 years they can grow to up to 30 metres tall.

Known in English as a Spanish silver spruce (Pinsapo in Spanish) they are only found in two small regions of Southern Spain and Morocco.

The evergreen trees have a triangular formation and thrive in areas with rocky terrain and which are subject to significant rainfall.

They play a crucial role in the topography of the area, by stabilising the land on the hillsides.

Aside from their ecological role, the pine

tower.

With fury and de termination she climbed to the top and hurled bee hives down onto the Moors as they attempted to climb the stairs up to the castle where people were taking refuge.

Hit by the angry hives and swarms of bees the Moors quickly fled.

In the meantime bells had been sounded to signal to the farming villagers that they were under attack, they returned and the Moors retreated realising they had been defeated.

The news of the incredible standoff spread across Spain reaching as far as the King, who rewarded Maria Sagredo with lands in Torrox to show his gratitude. The legend of her impressive will-power and quick thinking is commemorated in the village’s unique emblem.

FROM THE MAYOR:

branches used to decorate religious ceremonies and celebrations because of their small cross-shaped tips.

“

In our coat of arms we play homage to the legend of Maria Sagredo, heroine of our municipality who, during the attempted Moorish invasion that we suffered in 1570, showed all her courage and, after seeing her father wounded, began to throw hives of bees at the invaders which caused them to flee.”

perfect prelude to the main event atop Cerro de las Torres hill.

The castle has had a long and chequered history. Originally built by Phoenicians, before being expanded under Roman rule, it was destroyed by the Visigoths and rebuilt by the Moors.

Retracing you steps back the route south west out of Alhaurin brings you to the serene Barranco Blanco (White Ravine).

A photographer’s dream tucked away in the countryside where wild boar feel safe to roam, its aquamarine waters end in a magical waterfall.

Everyone mentions the Nazis, who allegedly used the area as a training camp during the war, due to the alliance between Franco and Hitler. You can still see a white building that was used as a sentry point as you arrive.

Arriving in Alhaurin is like deja vu as a ‘castle’ looms into view. It’s the famous brick water tower that starred in the opening credits of the Eldorado series, built to look old.

This is one of the most popular places to settle in the valley and has a great mix of shops and restaurants, while it has a true international feel with expats from all around the world.

Coin, the region’s ‘capital’ and largest town, is larger version

of its smaller neighbours (Tolox, Yunquera and Alozaina) with its emblematic church, series of squares and a multitude of winding cobbled streets.

Set up by the Romans, who made it into a market town before largely abandoning it for almost 500 years, it was then brought back to life by the Moors, who rebuilt it in 950 AD.

Much of this later success came from the quarries of marble and iron ore which were used in the construction of Sevilla’s famous settlement of Italica , the birth -

place of the future Emperor, Hadrian.

Reconquered by the Christians during a long siege in which Christopher Columbus allegedly took part, it was also popular with another great explorer Captain Cook, who visited in 1829.

After a visit to Cartama, Alhaurin and Coin, he wrote, ‘These villages are on rising ground above the river and in beauty of situation and cultivation cannot be excelled.

“They afford a specimen of the whole country when possessed by the Moors, being surrounded by gardens with orange, lemon and palm trees and abounding in all the fine as well as the more common fruits.”

Even today, the Guadalhorce Valley is considered to be among the most fertile in all Spain. Crisscrossed with streams, as well as modern and ancient acequias (man-made water channels), it has as much modern cultivation as it has wildlife, while signs of its fecundity are found in the villages where you can pick oranges and lemons that line the streets.

Daredevils

Let’s not forget what was once dubbed the ‘world’s deadliest walkway’ until the Caminito del Rey reopened nine years ago following a €3 million upgrade. While much safer now, you’ll still need a head for heights taking this high-adrenalin hike that runs through the El Chorro gorge, an immense fissure five kilometres long and 300 metres deep as it slices through towering limestone

Something for everyone

The Olive Branch is full of rustic charm and the perfect spot to stay

THE Olive Branch, situated at the base of Las Encantadas, just a 10 minute walk from El Chorro village and on the edge of the Parque Natural of Andalucia, is a bustling and friendly guesthouse with a variety of accommodation on offer to suit everyone. The property oozes rustic charm and offers a lovely natural garden, which adds to the character and helps create a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere for guests.

The Olive Branch caters for a wide variety of visitors but is at its busiest time during the winter months when hostel style accommodation is available for those who enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle. The many activities include climbing, walking, mountain biking and back-packing. The local scenery and natural environment, with the close proximity of the beautiful El Chorro lakes makes the Olive Branch a perfect location. Alternatively, in the summer it offers a perfect location for that quiet, tranquil retreat away from everything.

The Olive Branch offers a wide range of facilities for all guests. These include a communal catering kitchen where chefs prepare breakfast and evening meals, a separate, fully equipped kitchen for campers and a kitchen, dining room and lounge area in the bunk accommodation, hot showers and laundry facilities. They offer a relaxing communal area with a computer, stereo and a pool table. There is also free wi-fi. Guests requiring a little more privacy can enjoy one of the five en-suite rooms on offer.

CLIMBING | HORSE RIDING PILATES + YOGA | MOUNTAIN BIKING PARAGLIDING | CAMINITO DEL REY WALKING VIA FERRATA

Tel: +34 686 669 359 info@olivebranchelchorro.com

www.olivebranchelchorro.com

LOS ROMERALES, EL CHORRO, ALORA, MALAGA, SPAIN

Although in a beautiful, natural location, the Olive Branch is only 45 minutes from Malaga Airport, so very little time is lost in travelling, giving guests time to settle into their chosen accommodation and begin to enjoy their break in this beautiful environment. They also offer use of their private swimming pool to all guests.

All of this is offered competitively priced to suit all budgets so please check out our website for full details.

www.olivebranchelchorro.com

UNUSUAL: Street scene in Alhaurin el Grande

From page 3

SWISS BACKDROP

cliffs.

Set between the two postage stamp-sized villages of Ardales and El Chorro, it is no wonder this area garnered the nickname ‘the Andalucian Lake District’, in part thanks to a series of Olive Press travel articles over a decade ago.

The scenery is more akin to the countryside of Cumbria or the cantons of Switzerland than the average scenery on the Costa del Sol with the two villages linked by

hairpin bend roads past the shimmering reservoirs bordered by sandy beach -

Don’t miss a beat

A COIN business wants to install more defibrillators and sponsor CPR training in the case of emergencies.

Less than one in ten people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to not enough people being trained in CPR, and not enough defibrillators.

Mediterranean Homes owner Kelly Summerell said she wanted to improve the statistics and was in discussions with Coin Town Hall to install more defibrillators and sponsor CPR training for up to five people in local community buildings that have a high footfall of people.

Anyone who would like to help can email info@mediterraneanhomes.eu

es and shaded by feathery conifers.

With lakeside campsites, it’s the quintessential active weekend break for outdoor sports types, offering rock climbing, watersports, pedalos and dining under the stars at charming pine-shaded ventas.

Explore

There is a lot to explore, with one incredibly interesting side trip up to the ancient ruined city of Bobastro, found by taking a side road uphill just a few clicks outside El Chorro.

A fascinating place, it was here in the ninth century

Offering

that rebel Muslim leader Omar Ibn Hafsun, declared independence from the Moorish kingdom of Cordoba, leading to decades of conflict and the setting up of an impregnable mountain redoubt that was hard to capture and even harder to find.

Today, you can explore the site, with its various buildings and ruins that sudden -

ly emerge in clearings amid deep woodland. Most fascinating of all is an ancient church that was literally hewn out of rock, with circular shapes as windows, one presumes.

in Álora since 1998 – We pride ourselves in providing a friendly but professional service

Álora Pueblo – APA456

Bright, stylish 2 bedroom village house located in the historic centre of Álora pueblo.

Accommodation extends to 74m2 and is distributed over 3 levels; ground floor offers dining room, modern fully fitted kitchen and downstairs cloakroom, 1st floor; double bedroom and spacious, bright, living room with balcony, 2nd floor; double bedroom, modern shower room and fabulous terrace hosting fabulous views across the Andalucian countryside and down the Guadalhorce valley.

An ideal spot to sip a glass of wine and watch the glorious sunsets which we enjoy all year round in this beautiful part of Southern Spain.

Price: 89,000€

Álora – APA431

Fabulous, fully refurbished, Andalucian “cortijo” offering 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms in main house and separate guest annex, all set within 66,000m2 of productive olive and almond groves, just 20 minutes drive from Álora pueblo and less than 1 hour from Málaga city and international airport. Total build of 554m2 and great outdoor space including 4 large Andalucian patios, 10m x 5m swimming pool and shady and sunny entertaining areas . Quality finishes through out including bespoke carpentry, handmade tiles and oil central heating. Mains electricity, internet and private water supply. Ideal for comfortable family home or possibility of development as rural tourism venue.

Price: 595,000€

Álora – APA464 – SOLD!!

We are delighted to have sold this beautiful country villa within less than 5 weeks of offering it for sale, although this left other potential buyers disappointed.

WE URGENTLY NEED MORE QUALITY COUNTRY AND TOWN PROPERTIES FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE WAITING. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AND WE WILL BE PLEASED TO COME AND GIVE YOU A NO OBLIGATION VALUATION.

ALLURE: Swimming in El Chorro lake and (left) Bobastro

Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan

Founder & Director, Starlite Group

CELEBRITY broker and friend to the stars, Garcia-Sanjuan (Tenerife, 1972) organises one of Europe’s best – and longest–annual festivals, a task which involves charm and logistics. Offering two solid months of world-class nightly concerts, previous performers at Marbella’s Starlite Festival have included Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys, and Ricky Martin (Rod Stewart, Norah Jones and the Gypsy Kings are on the bill this summer). Starlite has spawned fashion, food and film divisions, and Garcia–Sanjuan also set up Quiero Trabajo which helps women at risk of social exclusion prepare for interviews and careers.

Juana

Roig, CEO, Mercadona Tech

NO doubt, being the daughter of the Spanish billionaire businessman Juan Roig Alfonso, president of Mercadona, didn’t hurt when she went through the interview process. But credit where credit’s due, after turning her attention to the supermarket chain’s under-performing e-commerce division, online billing increased 190% in a year. Apparently she told her father the website was ‘shit’. Five years on, it generates €540 million in sales. Born in 1984, the youngest of four daughters, she is touted as a potential successor.

CHANGE

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. There is work

HOW TO BE A ‘GOOD WIFE’:

to do and Spanish women earn around 10% (about €6,000) less per year than men and occupy more than 70% of part-time contracts. Of

A 1950’s pamphlet

these women, 46% affirm they are part-time because they care for dependents or cannot afford childcare services.

WHEN chemistry graduate Robina (Valladolid, 1965) joined Vitoria’s Michelin factory in 1988, she was the only woman there. Now she’s the first female boss for Iberia, responsible for a €2.6 billion turnover and 7,300 employees – most of whom (despite her sterling example) are men. ‘It is difficult for us to find women to fill mechanical positions,’ she says, blaming childhood stereotyping that leads to the notion there are things that girls just don’t do.

GO-GO FRANCO

CARNIVAL organisers who warned participating floats against playing sexist songs during their parades have been likened to officials from the Franco era.

Those taking part in the amazing orgy of fancy dress, street parades and pageantry were told they could lose their public subsidies if they played songs on a proscribed list.

The festival, held each February, is a huge event in the community that inspires young and old, but there have long been accusations that it harbours a dark side that seems to revel in chauvinism.

Accordingly, in recent years there has been a groundswell of public support to combat this by town halls in Catalunya.

Reading between the lines

Nothing can show how far women’s rights have moved forward from the female author censorship of the Franco era, than to have an all female bookshop in the heart of the capital.

GLASS CEILINGS

Winning women the vote had opposition from a surprising source, writes Dilip Kuner

THE UK has Emmiline Pankhurst, Spain has Clara Campoamor when it comes to icons of women’s suffrage.

Born in Madrid, Campoamor was one of the first women to enter Parliament in Spain and had a long history of feminism and campaigning for universal suffrage.

During the 1931 elections women could not vote but they could stand to be MPs. Campoamor and fellow lawyer Victoria Kent were the only two women elected.

Their work on the Constitutional Committee helped to enshrine the principle that women had the same rights as men in the Spanish Constitution of 1931with one glaring disagreement.

Malaga-born Kent, as a member of the Radical Socialist Republican Party, felt that it was too soon to allow women the vote.

Far left thought at the time was that women tended to be too conservative and in thrall to the Catholic Church and so would most likely vote right wing.

Campoamor, a member of the Radical Party, saw it as a human rights issue and was instrumental in achieving suffrage for women in time for the 1933 elections after ‘winning’ a debate with Kent.

Campoamor and Kent had already shown herself to

LAWYER: Kent was one of the first female MPs

be an inspiration to women. They were the first two female members of the Madrid Law Association having both broken a glass ceiling by entering university to study law.

Campoamor went into exile during the Civil War and died in Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1972 at the age of 82.

Kent too was exiled and died in New York aged 96 in 1987.

But some have argued that the issue has been muddied by the difficulty in determining which lyrics are actually denigrating to women and which are merely ‘sexy’.

And efforts to root out offending songs harkens back to the censorious days of Franco, according to one organiser.

The song ‘SloMo’, sung by Spanish star Chanel (pictured above), has been flagged as problematic, even though the singer claims to be committed to the cause of gender equality.

The Catalan town of Calafell, along the beach road where hundreds of dancers and floats were getting ready for Carnival, found itself at the centre of the debate.

Sexist

According to Pere Nin, a float organiser, each town has its own list of banned songs, and beforehand, the floats have to give the town the names of the songs it wants to play.

Nin was one of the original organisers who helped draw up the rules against sexist lyrics back in 2019.

“It’s one thing if a song is obviously sexist,” he said. “It’s another when a song has a line or a word that might offend.”

Another much-loved song, ‘Suavemente’, by Elvis Crespo, has also been banned, causing people to question the whole project.

Dancer Sara Coam said there is no room for macho music that objectifies women, while her friend Marta Tamayo said it is more complicated. “If people would stop listening, the artists would stop writing sexist lyrics,” she said.

DJ Miguel Aguila, who was also on hand, said he is against the bans altogether.

Even instigator Pere Nin is having his doubts, being old enough to remember the dark days of Franco.

“It’s starting to remind me of other periods we’d rather not remember,” he said.

Maria de la Paz Robina Managing director of Michelin Spain

RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER: Campoamor

ESPARTO BRAIDING

The Alpujarra is rich in esparto grass, as well as other natural fibres, and this is used to make everything from baskets to bottle holders, sunshades, donkeys’ heads, espadrilles, chair seats, and many other items – some practical, some novelty. Esparto was originally braided to create objects and utensils related to farming. In Alpujarran villages, some elderly people sit on their doorsteps braiding esparto as a hobby.

CERAMICS

The Alpujarra and Granada have a long history of pottery,

dating back to Moorish times.

The area is rich in clay, which can be fired in wood-burning kilns. Pitchers, pots, jars, bowls, utensils, plates and tiles are all made manually, using a potter’s wheel. Moorish potteries survive in towns such

WHERE TO GO FOR YOUR ETHICAL GOODS?

● Recycling market, Rio Chico, Órgiva - every first and third Sunday of the month.

● Órgiva market day with artisan crafts section in the town plaza – every Thursday morning.

● Mujeres Asociacion charity shop, Órgiva – open every Thursday morning.

● Acompalia charity shop, Lanjarón.

● Pampaneira, Capileira and Bubion for funky craft shops, leather goods, jarapas, the Atilier Vintage furniture store, and artisan markets.

● Soportújar (avoid peak weekend and bank holiday times).

● Cadiar - Mercado Agro-Arte-Sano (check online).

FURNITURE is one of the least recycled items in homes. Our beautiful Alpujarra is surrounded by National Park – so let’s reduce what’s going into landfill. Instead, we can give old furniture a new lease of life.

To start, choose a small piece, such as a mirror, nightstand, or chair. Visit Pintrest for ideas with colours and finishes, and keep it simple.

Any type of wood is suitable for painting, even MDF. The trick is patiently prepping the piece.

as Órgiva, Torvizcón and Ugíjar, as well as Granada. Ceramics with Nasrid heritage have been found, including distinctive pieces featuring green and blue glazes with patterns representing birds, pomegranates and flowers. These colours and motifs are still used today.

UPCYCLE, RECYCLE!

The market town of Órgiva has several stores where you can buy preloved or upcycled items. Kushti is a new store selling these ethical goods. The proprietor told the Olive Press “One of the key aspects here is recycling. Our self-sourced, vintage range contains homeware, clothing, textile, and curiosities from all over the world including India, Nepal, Morocco, France, the

TALENT: All goods are hand crafted

UK and beyond. All goods are fair trade and handmade and we have relationships with some makers going back 25 years, including an ashram in India. We also sell various items made from vintage saris. This makes each item unique.” Órgiva also boasts two charity shops – a rarity in rural Spain. You can bag clothes costing as little as €1 apiece, as well as books and homewares. Just along the road, Lanjarón has the Acompalia charity shop that supports those needing end of life care. It sells clothes, homeware, books, and electrical items. Órgiva is also a top destination to visit car boot sales, artisan, and recycling markets, as well as the municipal market that occurs every Thursday. It is a world of ethical bargains.

AtelierVintage on how to ‘shabby chic’ your furniture

such as door handles.

You’ll need rags, degreaser, wood filler, screwdriver, hammer, spatula, sandpapers with different grit, paint brushes, bucket, and painting tray.

Firstly, clean the item with degreaser, wipe it with clean water, and let it dry.

Apply wood filler to any holes, with the spatula, and dry overnight. Next, sand it lightly with 220-grit paper and clean with a wet rag to remove dust.

Now, prime the piece so the paint adheres. Use any water-based primer and dilute if it’s thick.

need an extra coat on dark wood. Drying time during winter is 24hrs and 6hrs in summer. Be patient between coats.

nish. Chalk paint requires clear wax (any furniture wax), then polish with a rag. You can distress the corners with a light sanding. Clean any ‘hardware’ with a metal cleaner, and refit. Leave finished items to “cure” for 72 hours before using, so the protective varnish or wax can settle properly.

Now you are ready to paint! Choose a water-based latex paint for a smooth finish, or chalk-based for a distressed look. It’s best to apply 2-3 coats, not too thick. Again, try to leave 24hrs between coats. Some chalk paint brands say you don’t need to prime. For a durable job, always sand and prime. The final step is to seal and protect your piece. For latex paint, use a water-based, matte var-

Before you start, remove ‘hardware’, Visit us at: Plaza del Calvario, 12 Capileira, Granada @atelier_vintage_capileira

For MDF, priming is very important. You may

If you need an expert hand, we can upcycle furniture for you. Our workshop in Capileira has inspirational pieces with various colours, tex tures, and finishes.

Dear Jennifer:

FOR THE BETTER!

What makes Jennifer Cunningham Insurances so different?

AGOOD question and I can offer you a number of answers.

I started my company nearly 30 years ago, working from home and developing the business slowly over a number of years. Once established, I employed staff and rented a large office in Javea port, where I am still to this day. How life has changed for me, and for the better.

I realised when I moved to Spain, that there was very little help available and what was available was normally in Spanish.

There was no private health insurance, no funeral plans and no insurance dedicated to the Expat, and little customer service.

I started the business selling health insurance for a British company, along with funeral plans. Having lost my husband in Spain, I realised how difficult it was to arrange a funeral and the costs were enormous.

Being very disciplined myself, I have a strong work ethic. I used to work from home during the day, and I would go out early evenings making home visits until I was busy enough to take someone on to help me. From those early days when I worked tirelessly, I built my company and now have 7 offices. I demand from my excellent and loyal staff that they treat all my clients with respect, courtesy and honesty and offer them the best service that is possible.

I pride myself that the after sales service is the best, a service very rare in Spain. I have a Claims Administrator and a dedicated Renewal department, who will make sure that as your circumstances change, your policies can change with you and you are fully aware of your coverage.

So these are just some of the reasons why we are so special. We are more than just a voice on the phone, offering good, old fashioned service. Not always the cheapest, but the best, working with Liberty Seguros and ASSSA healthcare, who both provide special Expat policies and are the best in the market.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR A QUOTATION, PLEASE CALL ONE OF MY OFFICES, EMAIL INFO@JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET

THE PHONE CALL

Giles pays a moving tribute to his close friend Graziela who comitted suicide on Valentines Day

IT was the phone call that you think that you will never get, and afterward pray that you never do again. Halfway through a nondescript working weekday my mobile buzzed into life. I was halfway through throwing the assorted detritus of my desk into my bag, and so debated taking the call, but when I saw that it was from my best friend, decided to pick up.

As I was talking to my bestie, I thought the usual funny voice answer would be appropriate. There was no funny response. “It’s bad news. Graziela killed herself yesterday”.

If my life was a Hollywood movie, this was the moment that Spielberg zooms the camera in on me like Roy Schneider in ‘Jaws’. For all my love on language, an earthy Anglo Saxon expletive was all I could manage.

Graziela had been found in the apartment that she lived in in the family home. It was February 14. Valentine’s night. The paramedics were called but there was nothing that they could do.

A former beauty pageant winner, actress and model, I first met Graziela when La Mari from Chambao played a free concert last summer. Absolutely stunning in a boho dress and brilliant beaming smile, I also soon discovered that she had the filthiest laugh on the planet. We hit it off immediately.

we recognise the (now obvious) signs of depression? Why hadn’t she let us know what she was feeling? The utter helplessness was visceral.

CALL FOR HELP: 024 is Spain’s national suicide prevention service, operates 24/7 and is free of charge (English spoken).

SAMARITANS IN SPAIN: Call FREEPHONE 900 525 100 between 10am and 10pm to talk to a trained listener in total confidence or: email: pat@samaritansinspain.com

I invited her to my birthday bash in January, but she left me a voice message apologising, but we would meet up for a coffee and a con gas soon “Besos Love” she signed off. That was the last I heard from her. I have personal experience with suicide. My mother took her own life. So I was relatively prepared for what we all felt next. If only we had called. Why didn’t

I walked up to the funeral with my best friend and her 15-yearold daughter, who is one of my Goddaughters and wanted to come and pay her respects. All three of us were dressed sombrely, mainly in black, so she made us both smile when she turned and said “I have to say. We are the most stylish here”. I love that kid… The funeral was brief but devastating. I have buried enough close friends over the years, so though I was immune to the proceedings. But there was an uncomprehending anguish to her family’s cries that shook all of us. After the ceremony, I walked

Talk to someone. Talk to anyone.

around the corner to be alone and cry. My Goddaughter came up behind me. “You’re not supposed to see this,” I half laughed. I wish there was some words of comfort, or some life lesson that I could impart. But all I can offer is that if you feel the world is too much, take the hardest option. Talk to someone. Talk to anyone. You are never alone.

You are never alone.

The day after Graziela’s death, I had a radio show. For the last song, I chose Chambao – with who she will always be linked in my mind – turned the microphone fader down and dissolved into tears in my chair.

Tread softly Graziela. I pray you have finally found the peace that you were searching for.

See We need Guardian Angels!, on page 6

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

6 Free from bias (4) 7 Bondage (7) 8 8th US President (3,5) 9 Exultation (4) 10 Auctions (5) 11 Testimonial (7)

13 Temporary possession (7)

15 Construct (5)

17 Positions (4)

19 Boreal (8)

20 School day came out of order (7)

21 Stable staples (4) Down

1 Computerized fact file (8)

2 Uncertain (13)

3 Flag (6)

4 Vicinity (13)

5 Yorkshireman (4)

7 Ride the waves (4)

11 Plaything (3)

12 Assorted letters relate to permit (8)

14 Curved outward (6)

16 Zane or Lady Jane (4)

18 Egg-shaped (4)

All solutions are on page 16

Soaring costs

INFLATION is still stalking the Spanish economy as the latest data puts the price increases on February last year at an annual rate of 6.1%.

This represents a faster pace than the 5.9% increase recorded in January and is above the 5.7% forecast by analysts polled by international news agency Reuters Spain had previously managed to rein in inflation during the second half of 2022, registering the lowest figure in the eurozone by the end of the year. However, Spain's price index has now risen for two consecutive months in annual terms, largely due to higher electricity and food and drink prices.

BAD MOVE

Recriminations in Madrid over Ferrovial’s move to the Netherlands

THE proposed departure of Spanish construction conglomerate Ferrovial to the Netherlands for ‘a better business environment’ has set off a firestorm of finger pointing in Madrid.

Ferrovial, which is part owner of Heathrow airport and generated almost 90% of its revenues from outside Spain last year, said it views the Netherlands as having a more stable legal framework.

The infrastructure company also sees potential for lower financing costs due to the country's ‘AAA’ credit ratingas opposed to Spain’s A rating.

A government spokesperson

MERGER ON

SPAIN’S Air Nostrum has been given the green light for a merger with Ireland's CityJet to form Europe's largest regional airline. It's the second time that European Com mission permission has been granted after a 2019 go-ahead was suspended due to the Covid pandemic.

A new holding company will be formed with both brands being maintained across a fleet of 70 aircraft - 48 of which belong to Air Nostrum.

The economic model is similar to that of the IAG group established after the merger of

By Walter Finch

slammed the move of Spain's 13th biggest company by market capitalisation as ‘ungrateful’ and ‘not in line with the effort that the country has made in terms of investments’.

Economy Minister Nadia Calviño also voiced her disapproval, saying the decision ‘seems to go against the interest and image of our country’, adding that she had called Ferrovial's Chief Executive Rafael del Pino (pictured) - who owns 20% of the €19bn company - to convey her opposition.

British Airways and Iberia. Air Nostrum also operates as an Iberia franchisee for regional flights. Around 2,000 people will be employed by the new combined firm including maintenance and support services.

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reminded del Pino that ‘the nation is not just about building wealth, it's about being supportive, lending a helping hand, and particularly, when your country needs you.’

Reverse

Ferrovial plans involve a reverse merger, with its wholly-owned Dutch subsidiary Ferrovial International SE (FISE) absorbing it to be listed in Spain, the Netherlands, and later the United States. Ferrovial said that the proposed headquarters shift to the Netherlands would need to secure shareholder approval and would aim to complete the move in the second or third quarter of 2023.

„ Andalucía has reduced income and inheritance taxes and abolished wealth tax – is your wealth management set up to take full advantage?

„ Many UK nationals remain liable for UK inheritance tax and frozen allowances could significantly impact your family – now is the time for strategic estate planning.

„ With the recent changes to Spanish taxation of UK pensions, getting this wrong can prove costly – specialist advice is essential.

Blevins Franks has been advising UK nationals living in and moving to Spain for over 40 years. Contact us for a tax and wealth management review.

Fuengirola Marbella

Plaza de las Orquídeas, Calle Orquídea, Local 5, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, 29660, Spain +34 952 906 581 marbella@currenciesdirect.com

Avda. Alcalde Clemente Díaz Ruiz s/n Urb. Puebla Lucia, Edificio Leo Local 1, Fuengirola, 29640, Spain +34 952 906 581 fuengirola@currenciesdirect.com

Avenida Mediterráneo 341, Mojácar (Almería), 04638, Spain +34 950 478 914 mojacar@currenciesdirect.com

A LOT OF BULL

Our special in-depth news feature on the future of bullfighting has led to battle lines being drawn…

No sense

THE new animal abuse laws certainly show the conflict between different parts of Spanish society. For them to explicitly exempt bullfights and hunting dogs from a law purporting to protect animals seems crazy to me. There is no logic to this. On the one hand people will have to take a training course if they want to own a Chihuahua and follow stringent conditions of ownership and animal welfare, while on the other if they want to chase boar, deer and other creatures to a bloody end, no rules apply! Again, try slaughtering a cow without following the proper regulations and you will find yourself in hot water, but kill a bull in a protracted ‘spectacle’ causing it much suffering, and that is perfectly OK! It is illogical and inhumane.

Benalmadena Avenida Antonio Machado, Edificio Diana I Local 13, Benalmádena Costa, Málaga, 29630, Spain +34 952 90 65 81 benalmadena@currenciesdirect.com

TIME TO PLAN AHEAD

Value and peace of mind for when the time comes

SOONER or later, we will all need a funeral, and they can be a costly burden on the grieving family we leave behind if they are unprepared.

Unplanned funerals can incur runaway costs that bring stress and aggravation exactly at the moment we are least prepared to deal with it. Here at Compare Funerals, it is our mission to ease this weight by helping you and your family to plan ahead.

We offer a range of funeral plans with the best value in Spain which you can pay monthly over a five year period at 0% interest.

Our expert and caring team of English-speaking funeral directors are dotted all around Spain and able to deliver a dignified and respectful service.

When you choose one of our three funeral plans, the process will be as simple and stress-free as you could ever wish.

DIRECT CREMATION PLAN

Our signature Direct Cremation plan offers a low-cost respectful send-off with our convenient and simple direct cremation service for a total of €2,250.

You will be picked up by one of our funeral directors in a hearse and cremated in a nice and simple coffin and the ashes along with all legal documentation returned to your family.

TERRACOTTA FUNERAL PLAN

Our mid-range Terracotta funeral plan covers your funeral arrangements without a ceremony for €3,000.

With this option, the funeral director will hold your body for up to four days to give time for family and friends to have a final viewing and say

their goodbyes.

Once we have received confirmation from the next of kin that everyone who needs to see the deceased has done so, we will proceed to cremate the deceased.

A few days later the funeral director will return to the next of kin with the ashes in an urn and paperwork.

The paperwork includes Spanish and international copies of your death certificate, as well as cremation certificates.

GRANITE PLAN

Our most comprehensive Granite plan includes a ceremony so your family can focus on grieving and cherishing memories €3,400.

It will work as the Terracotta plan, with your body held for four days and all the paperwork returned as above.

But with this plan a minister or celebrant will visit the family and discuss what they would like to be said at the ceremony.

The funeral director will also discuss a suitable day and time for the ceremony, which will take place in a chapel.

Once you choose your plan, our team of experts will take care of everything and take the worry off your shoulders and those of your loved ones.

You’ll receive all the necessary paperwork, and the money you pay towards your funeral plan will be held securely in a trust fund signed off by a third party.

When the time does come, someone you nominate must contact us at Compare Funerals and we take care of the rest.

Our emergency contact pack will provide your

No

contest

I ALWAYS thought SPORT was when both sides were even. The bull has no chance. It has a sword stuck in its neck at the start so it oozes blood at every move, making it weaker and weaker. Sport? I don’t think so.

Coleen Bryan, via email.

John Westwood, Denia

Hypocrites!

IT is ridiculous that so many foreigners stick their oar in on bullfighting when, to be frank, it is none of their business how the Spanish maintain their traditions.

Many people against bullfighting have no objection to tucking into a steak and wearing leather, and these are most likely from factory farmed animals kept in horrendous conditions.

At least the bulls used in bullfights have a pampered existence largely in the ‘wild’ before they are killed. Too many people are hypocrites on this matter.

Janet Simpson, via email

OURSIGNATURE DIRECT CREMATIONPLAN

AFTER developing years of expe- rience setting up funeral plans in the UK, we noticed a shift in what people were looking for in a funeral.

It became very clear that a lot of people

were looking for a simple, unattended Direct Cremation rather than the traditional service of old.

With one of our directors living in Spain his whole life, we noticed that not many plan providers offered such a plan. This was surprising as the funeral system in Spain seems suited to this type of service.

As funerals usually happen so quickly in comparison with other countries, coupled with the fact that a lot of expats have family living all over the world, we would have expected plan providers to offer a Direct Cremation. We could not get our heads round the fact that it was not so readily available by the larger plan providers here in Spain. Maybe it was the lower margins that put certain providers off - but not us. Our goal is to provide a service people want and need as simply as possible. It seems that other providers have followed suit and now offer clients the sim- ple plan a lot of people desire. We are proud of the fact we helped ini- tiate this change so that more people are able to get the send-off they want.

next of kin with all the information they need to take the necessary steps for when you pass.

Our hundreds of satisfied customers happily attest to the peace and comfort that our plans have provided for since 2020.

For more information or to discuss personalised funeral plans, contact Compare Funerals on +34 911 436 813 (WhatsApp +34 697 889 684) or send an email to info@comparefuneral.org or visit in person to our office located at 24 Avenida Paniagua, Galerias Paniagua de local 30-31, San Roque, Cadiz 11310.

Square eyes

Kids spend nearly five hours a day looking at screens at the expense of their health

SPANISH children spend 294 minutes per day on screens during weekends, according to an alarming new study.

The 2022 PASOS Study on Physical Activity, Sedentarism, Lifestyles and Obesity in Spanish Youth followed a previous study from 2019, which tracks obesity incidence rates and other health indicators among Spanish children. The study found more children were being sedentary during weekends, with Spanish young ones spending on average 294 minutes per day on screens.

The findings also noted a de-

By Anthony Piovesan

crease in healthy eating habits between 2019 to 2022, measured in Spain by adherence to Mediterranean diets.

It found that one in three children aged eight to 16 years are overweight or obese at some stage.

As part of a broader look at wellbeing, the study found 40% of girls of the same age felt worried or unhappy.

Spain leads all countries of the European Union in obesity, with four out of 10 girls

Bad medicine

HUNDREDS of medicines used to treat colds or flu are under review in Spain due to a potential risk of brain diseases.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) put the medications containing pseudoephedrine under review last week.

About 30 are marketed in Spain, these include the wellknown Termalgil, Gelocatil, Influenza with Pseudoephedrine, Frenadol Descongestivo and Cinfatos

The agency’s safety committee targeted the products due to a risk of developing brain diseases where there is a reduced blood supply to the brain, which can cause serious and life-threatening complications in some cases.

ESCAPING THE WEB OF PHOBIAS

In a debut column on the issues expats face settling in Spain, our mental health

looks at the pandemic and its long term mental health impacts

ALL of us can remember the difficult days of the pandemic and lockdowns in southern Spain and Gibraltar.

Our ability to do the daily things we did, like walk outdoors, go to work and meet other human beings, were all curtailed. However, while many talked about the ‘loss’ of these basic elements we take for granted, few talked about or reflected on the mental health impacts of the pandemic, which for some have been much longer term.

and boys living with obesity or deemed overweight. Obesity has also doubled in girls and adolescents in the past 20 years.

Spanish president Pedro Sanchez, High Commissioner against Child Poverty Ernesto Gasco and co-founder of the Gasol Foundation, Pau Gasol, have presented a plan to reduce childhood obesity by 25% by 2030.

Promote

The National Strategic Plan for the Reduction of Childhood Obesity has more than 200 measures that will follow six key steps; promote physical activity and sports, promote healthy eating, promote emotional well-being and adequate rest, promote healthy lifestyles, protect children’s health and create a cultural shift towards healthy lifestyles.

The fact is the pandemic did one thing for many people: It showed that the normality of life can be disrupted and not all of the things in life are under our control.

For some, this lack of control may have spiralled into thoughts about other facets of life, creating anxieties and fears that played into long-standing phobias and feelings of being ‘out of control’.

For younger people, the significant disruption to their lives may well have had deeper and more consequential impacts, given the formative nature of their years.

Some may well have felt that the world is a daunting and threatening place, particularly as their experience would be of people masked up worrying about unseen germs and the fear of death. Imagine that in the psyche of young people. Many are still left in a state of anxiety, which may have morphed into other fears. Which is why containment of these fears and working through the root causes of

COUNSELLING THE GURU’

them is fundamental to understanding them and taking away their grip.

Furthermore, the longer these fears manifest, the greater the web of phobias that can disrupt the lives of those affected will grow.

At the root of it, phobias related to anxiety are an overactive and highly developed internalised scanning process for those who suffer from them.

They may cause people to constantly live in a state of seeing the world as risky, because of an event or series of events that happened to them in the past.

Therapeutic

Exploring those roots, understanding them and accepting that life can move on and be enjoyable again is part of the therapeutic journey. Many have already done just this, but most have not.

Therapy is no laughing matter, as they say. It can and has significantly changed the lives of millions of people for the better. Over the centuries, one of the reasons why mental health issues were probably lower in frequency than they are today, is because we relied on talking to others. Our basic survival depended on being part of a family or a pack of people. This meant communication, care and support. Counselling is a form of that and there is no doubt it is the start of the healing process for many.

The ‘Counselling Guru’ is a fully-qualified UK-trained therapist, who can be contacted on Whatsapp on +34 66 46 66 252 or by e-mail on info@counselling4anxiety.eu

gone to Specsavers.

insider

TELESALES INDIVIDUALS WANTED

Marketing company looking for individuals to work in telesales, need to be ambitious with a positive mindset and communicate effectively on the telephone and learn about new products quickly.

ATTRACTIVE COMMISSION STRUCTURE.

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Across: 6 Fair, 7 Slavery, 8 Van Buren, 9 Glee, 10 Sales, 11 Tribute, 13 Tenancy, 15 Build, 17 Loci, 19 Northern, 20 Academy, 21 Oats

Down: 1 Database, 2 Problematical, 3 Banner, 4 Neighbourhood, 5 Tyke, 7 Surf, 11 Toy, 12 Tolerate, 14 Convex, 16 Grey, 18 Oval

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

POLE POSITION

THE El Lago restaurant in Marbella has received its first ‘Sol’ distinction from the prestigious Repsol Guide to go with its coveted Michelin star.

The news was revealed at a ceremony in Alicante under the slogan ‘The kitchen fills us’.

With Nerja-born chef Fernando Villasclaras at the helm, El Lago offers ‘an authentic culinary experience based on seasonal produce with a predominance of vegetables’.

On a regional level, Andalucia has the fourth-highest number of Sols, with 65 of the total of 712. Catalunya, Madrid and the Basque Country make up the top three.

World’s first official Formula 1 experience set to make its debut in Spain

THE world’s first official Formula 1 exhibition will be making its global debut in Madrid.

The show, which has been five years in the making, is billed as a vision of the past, present and future of the sport.

The ‘ F1 Exhibition ’, which will be held in the IFEMA congress halls, includes six main rooms, all of which have been specially commissioned and produced in partnership with curators, artists and filmmakers.

By Simon Hunter

“We are thrilled that this imaginative and immersive exhibition will debut in Madrid,” said Stefano Domenicali, the F1 president and CEO.

“I know it will become a must-see experience for every F1 fan,” he added. Among the themes in the rooms will be ‘ The Pit Wall ’, which ‘brings to life the sensational 73-year story of Grand Prix racing’,

ON SHOW: The wreckage of Grosjean’s Haas

according to the organisers, as well as the ‘ Design Lab ’, which offers insight into how five of the sport’s

CHERRY GOOD

ONE of the most beautiful spring sights in Spain is the cherry blossom and Malaga can boast one of the most beautiful places to view the sights.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine has recently reviewed and selected the must-see cherry blossoms in Spain this spring.

Amongst the chosen sites is Alfarnate, which has its own Cherry Blossom Festival ‘ Sakura ’.

Home to just 1,300 people,it produces an average of 60,000 kilos of the fruit a year.

In the Spring some 50 hectares surrounding the village turn pink as the blossoms bloom making a stunning natural spectacle.

MORTGAGE THINK TANK

by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

RISING COSTS

High interest rates to continue warns ECB

THE president of the European Central Bank (ECB) has offered little respite for over four-million households in Spain that are struggling to pay their variable-rate mortgages.

Speaking to Spanish TV, Christine Lagarde (pictured) said that interest rates will continue to rise this year and that they will then be at a high level for a while, until inflation falls.

She offered no hope either of a return to 0% or even negative interest rate figures seen between 2014 and 2021. “Interest rates will not return to where they were two, three or four years ago as the situation has changed,” Lagarde said.

The ECB head said she will be guided by inflation rates and projections prepared by her economic experts.

Spanish banks link their rates to the 12-month euribor benchmark which is expected to rise by half a point to over 4% later this year.

While Lagarde would not say how long interest rate hikes will continue, she did see an end to high inflation which would mean interest rates coming

back to her 2% target by 2025. With such a warning coming from Lagarde, people wishing to mitigate against the worst effects of rising interest rates should seek professional advice.

We at the Finance Bureau have advised thousands of people on mortgages down the years and have the expertise and experience to find a loan tailored to your needs. For example, we do have a new fixed-rate remortgage product, which is not normally offered by Spanish lenders, that will reduce monthly payments. Give us a call, and we can discuss your situation and find a solution that suits you best.

To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 or email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com

The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No.7 Guadalmina, 29670

MALAGA can boast of being one of Spain’s top family-friendly destinations. According to international tourism company ‘Bounce’, which produces family-friendly travel guides, Malaga is listed in the top five most family-friendly cities in Spain.

The guide has taken into account the number of parks and green spaces the cities have, as well as attractions and leisure areas for both young and old.

Other factors assessed were the average room rate of hotels, safety, the number of restaurants with children's menus and the climate, including average rainfall.

teams develop components for their cars.

Family fun Sunny outlook Cheap digs

In the ‘ Survival ’ room, for the first time ever the remains of Romain Grosjean’s Haas car will go on display.

The French driver suffered a terrifying accident at the 2020 race in Bahrain, which saw the single-seater split in two and burst into flames.

This room will focus on the issue of safety in racing. The exhibition starts on March 24 and runs until the early summer.

The experience is suitable for all ages, and tickets start at €19.99 per person. The full visit takes around two hours.

UK budget hotel chain Travelodge says it wants to expand its portfolio in Spain after announcing an acquisition in Madrid.

Travelodge has 570 outlets in the UK and currently has two hotels in Barcelona and one in Valencia, in addition to two existing Madrid sites.

It has acquired the lease for the 78-bedroom NH Villa de Coslada hotel in the Spanish capital and appointed global hospital advisors Aldaba Partners to find new sites.

Travelodge says it is targeting Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Malaga, Madrid, Palma, Sevilla, and Valencia in its expansion plans.

Mulhacen

3,479 metres

THE highest mountain in mainland Spain, and Western Europe if you exclude the Alps, Mulhacen is located in the Sierra Nevada, and is 3,479 metres. It is named for the penultimate Muslim king of Granada who was allegedly buried on the summit of the mountain in the 15th century. If true, it was an inconvenient spot to choose, but not a prohibitively challenging one.

Three trails to the summit start in the Alpujarras, the most popular being from Capileira, and most people break the hike with an overnight stay at the Refugio Poqueira. Otherwise wait until summer when you can buy a ticket from the Capileira tourist office for a bus which will drop you off at Posiciones del Veleta, just half a day’s walk from the top.

AT 3,404 metres, this is not only the highest mountain in Aragon, but in the whole of the Pyrenees.

The largest remaining glacier in the Pyrenees lies on its north face, although it is disappearing fast: In 2005, the glacier covered almost 80 hectares, but studies show that half the surface area has been lost in the last 100 years, and there are indications it might be gone altogether by 2050. Traversing rock and snow and what’s left of the glacier makes this a more technically difficult hike, but it’s suitable for both experienced hikers and beginner mountaineers.

It’s usual to spend the night before the push to the summit at Refugio Renclusa, high above the town of La Besurta, in the province of Huesca. Unless you are supremely confident, go with a guide.

PUIG Major is Mallorca’s highest mountain at 1,445 metres, however it is within a military zone and access to the summit is prohibited.

The tarmac road that goes close to the top is famous among cyclists who love a fast descent, but if you are intent on climbing by foot to the highest accessible peak on the island, you’ll need to make do with nearby Puig de Massanella (1,364 metres).

Both form part of the Sierra de Tranmontana range (known as Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca) in the north of the island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An idyllic circular trail starts and ends at the monastery in Lluc, and should take you around seven hours to complete.

It may come as a surprise to the millions of visitors who come for the beaches, but Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland

ITS 13 mountain systems cover almost half of the land, and almost a quarter of Spain lies above 1000m. The best-known ranges include the Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, the Sierra de Guadarrama just north of Madrid, and the Sierra Nevada in the south. Within each range, there are thousands of mountain trails, some the domain of serious climbers, but others accessible to hardy day-trippers. We put on sturdy shoes and multiple layers, and set off to select our pick of the peaks. Bear in mind that good physical fitness is not enough to guarantee safety. Plan ahead by researching the route, checking the best months to visit and route classifications, and be prepared to ditch your plans if the weather turns nasty. When you do go, dress appropriately, stick to the trails, take plenty of water, and always let someone know your proposed route and estimated return time. Alternatively, go with an accredited guide and enjoy the benefit of their expertise.

VISIBLE from Granada, Alcazaba (3,371 metres) is the third highest peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains after neighbouring Mulhacen and Veleta. As for Mulhacen, the preferred route leaves the Refugio de Poqueira above Capileira, before veering off. It may not be the highest, but the hike to Alcazaba is more isolated, steep and challenging, and the views more dramatic as a reward. Best to wait till summer.

ACTUALLY a volcano, Teide stretches to an altitude of 3,715 metres above sea level, making it the highest peak in Spain. It’s located on Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, and, in terms of visitor numbers, is Spain’s most popular natural wonder.

In fact, Teide National Park, which received over four million visitors in 2016, is one of the most visited national parks in Europe. There are two routes to the summit: one takes around six hours, and the other more than

eight. Both are very steep for long stretches, and classed as ‘high difficulty’. Temperatures can frequently drop to below freezing at the top in winter months, and a permit is required to get there.

Unsurprisingly, most visitors don’t bother. You can go most of the way in the ‘comfort’ of a cable car, which – over the course of eight harrowing minutes – will take you from the station on the crater floor (2,356m) to plenty high enough (3,555m).

REuse REduce REcycle

We use recycled paper

Time’s up

AN antiques repairman in Benidorm has been arrested after refusing to return two vintage clocks valued at €5,000 to their owner. One of the clocks dated back to 1823.

Serial thief

A SERIAL shop robber in Valencia has finally been jailed after more than 100 arrests. The man, 45, racked up 12 arrests in the same month but kept getting bailed.

Roof fool

TWO men, 23 and 41, have been charged with reckless driving after one of them sat on a car roof while travelling on a Castellon province highway.

O P LIVE RESS The

Offside!

Cadiz FC want league suspended over goal that shouldn’t have been

THE referee’s decision is finalexcept, that is, if you are Cadiz

CF.

The relegation strugglers are demanding that Spain’s top tier league, La Liga, be suspended while their complaint over an offside goal is investigated. They had been playing against Elche, with Cadiz ahead 1-0 in a crucial relegation six pointer

By Dilip Kuner

when Elche scored an equaliser with nine minutes remaining. Ezequiel Ponce’s goal was allowed on a VAR review but further replays showed that the player was in fact offside. Outraged by the decisionwhich meant the match ended

New heights

PEOPLE in Spain could soon receive their packages by drones, if plans for an ambitious new postal service take off.

Correos has announced a scheme to trial the delivery of parcels in any Spanish city with remote controlled flying drones.

Happy birthday

MARIA Branyas Morera, the world’s oldest person, has just celebrated her 116th birthday on March 4.

The US-born Catalan only assumed the Guinness World Record title in January, but she has now moved closer to the title of oldest person to have ever lived.

But she still has a way to go.

Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment was 122 years and 164 days old when she died in 1997 - the oldest confirmed age ever recorded.

as a 1-1 draw - Cadiz called for the match to be replayed from the moment of the controversial goal, with the score readjusted to 1-0. Now, two months

The pilot will be complemented by an air control platform that geolocates all the connected drones in real time.

Correos will pair up with Telefonica to test the usage of the 5G-connected drones to deliver packages to ‘virtually any urban environment’.

later, they have released a statement saying that they have reported the matter to the TAD sports tribunal. And, they add, they are calling for La Liga to be suspended by TAD until the tribunal has made a decision. It is highly unlikely that the game will be replayed, given that FIFA regula-

tions clearly state that the referee’s decision is final.

However, Arsenal famously volunteered to replay their FA Cup clash with Sheffield United after a controversial winner, with then manager Arsene Wenger saying they did not want to win ‘by cheating’. Arsenal won the rematch 2-1. Cadiz are currently one place above the relegation positions on 26 points, while Elche look doomed, sitting rock bottom with just 12 points.

Ana María Vela Rubio is the oldest Spaniard ever. She was 116 years, 47 days old when she died in 2017.

Bar attraction

ANDALUCIA’S second smallest village has received over 100 applicants to open the only bar in town. This followed the town hall’s call for hopeful entrepreneurs to head up the establishment for only €20 per month in a bid to avoid further loss of population. Cumbres de Enmedio in Huelva has a population of 59.

ON CAMERA: The moment when Ponce (right) was caught offside