The
OLIVE PRESS
VALENCIA / COSTA AZAHAR www.theolivepress.es FREE Vol. 1 Issue 18
Trio of offers include a holiday, concert tickets and books PIANO MAN
Your expat
voice in Spain
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July 29th - August 11th 2021
NO SERIAL KILLER
Police say no link between death of expat prostitute and 3 other murders, after arresting local businessman, 60
LED AWAY: Jose VR was arrested
POLICE have ruled out that a serial killer is behind a spate of four recent murders of women in the Valencia region. It comes after the Guardia Civil arrested a well known wealthy businessman on suspicion of murdering a 19-year-old prostitute Florina Gogos (pictured right). Her body was found strangled and dumped in a ditch in Albufera natural park on January 30.
By Elena Goçmen Rueda
Police confirmed they have arrested 60-yearold Jose VR at his home in Carcaixent after being traced through CCTV footage. The footage showed him picking up the Romanian sex worker in his car at 5.30pm on the day she went missing.
The car was later seen driving off from the same area, near Silla, at top speed about 20 minutes later. Police were unable to pick up the driving liContinues on Page 4
Global warming and huge increase in temperature is putting 75% of Spain at risk of desertification and the loss of dozens of beaches
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Heatwave hell ● Sea rises of up to 8mm leaves Valencia, Cadiz and Huelva in danger ● Six annual heatwaves a year now just two in 1970s ● Maximum temperature readings 3C higher than 60 years ago
Hundreds of thousands of coastal homes could also be in danger within decades, as a result of climate change. Key cities such as Valencia, DOZENS of Spain’s most beau- Cadiz and Huelva could lose tiful beaches could vanish due large areas to rising seas, acto rising sea levels. cording to the prediction by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Some parts of the coast could see predicted rises as high as 8mm a year. It comes as it emerged that 19 of the hottest years on record have been this century, claimed the US space agency NASA. The rapid rise of climate change is putting an alarming 75% of the country at the threat of extreme desertification, according to studies. “Spain is high-risk for climate SALES & RENTALS SPECIALISTS change impacts,” scientist Francisco Blanco Velazquez Moriara•Calpe•Jalon•Javea•Denia•Altea told the Olive Press this week. “The frequency of heat waves has increased significantly www.moraira-hamiltons.net GREEN SPECIAL By Alex Oscar, Cristina Hodgson and Elena Goçmen Rueda
96 649 1883
over the last ten years and we need to adapt to this threat because it is a risk for human health,” added the climatologist. Maximum temperature readings in Malaga are on average 3C higher than they were 60 years ago. According to meteorologists at the University of Malaga, the maximum heat reached on the hottest days in the 1960s was 42.8C, while last year it was 46C.
Swamped The ongoing study found an average 1.93 heat waves per year in the 1960s and 1970s, while today there is an average of six heatwaves a year. The rise in heat, which causes an increase in ice melting near the poles, is in turn putting the precious coastlines of Spain at risk. Since 1900, global sea levels
have risen between 13cm and 20cm; while throughout the previous 2,000 years, sea levels essentially didn’t change. The rate of the rise is also increasing: between 1900 and 1990 levels rose by around 1.3mm a year. But since 2000, according to the IPCC, the rate has been 3.6mm a year. By the end of the century some estimates suggest a rise of between 29-59cm. To see how the rise could affect where you live or own property, website Climatecentral.org has constructed a map detailing which parts of the world could be below sea level over the next few decades. It indicates that much of the Spanish coastline and especially its bay towns could be devastated by 2100. However, by 2050 large areas of Cadiz, Huelva and parts of Valencia, which are already struggling with rising sea levels, could be swamped.
2
CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Digging up the past THE Town Hall of Gandia (La Safor, Valencia) has been granted a €40,000 subsidy by the Generalitat to search for the remains of 62 local Republican supporters executed by Franco and buried in a mass grave.
Sentence cancelled A VALENCIA court has overturned a sentence against a man for hiding homosexual relationships from his wife during their three-year marriage, which declared the union void and forced him to pay her €3,000 in compensation.
THE son of a British tycoon who killed a woman in a drink drive incident and stood trial accused of kidnapping a model in Marbella has died. Westley Capper, who was facing prison over the disappearance of Latvian Agnese Klavina, 30, had a stroke, reportedly brought on by COVID-19. He died in the early hours of Monday in hospital after being admitted several days earlier, the Olive Press has learnt.
Died A business acquaintance close to the family confirmed he had died after spending ‘a few days at least’ at a hospital understood to be the Quiron in Marbella. “He had definitely been in hospital for a few days seriously ill having caught COVID,” the businessman, who is close to the Capper family, told the Olive Press. “We are waiting to see what plans his father and the family
SECRETS TO THE GRAVE! are going to make in terms of a possible wake and funeral but we are not bothering his father now,” said the estate agent, who asked not to be named. The 44-year-old - who killed a Bolivian mother-of-four while over the limit on drink and drugs - caught the virus near his home in Benahavis, on the Costa del Sol. Capper had been spared jail at trial in 2020 after admitting to the manslaughter of Fatima Dorado in San Pedro, in 2016. But in an earlier case Capper and his friend Craig Porter, 38, were handed suspended
Match ball TENNIS star Sara Sorribes from the Vall d’Uixo (Castellon) made history after beating world number one Ashleigh Barty in the first match of the Olympic Games at the weekend.
July 29th - August 11th 2021
NIGHT OUT: Capper, left, with Craig Porter
Expat playboy linked to case of missing model Agnese Klavina dies of COVID By Dilip Kuner
sentences of two years and six months respectively on charges of coercion after being cleared of the kidnapping of Klavina. The friends were also ordered to pay €10,000 to her family and one third of their legal costs. The charge of kidnapping – for which the British pair faced 12 years in prison – could not be proved, leaving Klavina’s family ‘stunned’. While the judge agreed that they had conspired to force her into their car following a late night at a Marbella nightclub, the prosecution was unable to prove why she has not been seen since. This was despite a large, heavy bag being seen taken onto Capper’s father’s boat four days later in Duquesa port, according to statements produced during the trial. “The family are very disappointed,” Fernando Scornik
VICTIM: Dorado (left) and missing Agnese Gerstein, representing the Klavinas, told the Olive Press at the time. “They are heartbroken at losing a daughter, sister, and the two people they believe are responsible have got such light sentences. “Meanwhile the bouncer who clearly helped force Agnese into their car got nothing.” The Madrid-based lawyer said he strongly disagreed with the judge’s interpretation of the law. “We will be appealing this verdict to the Supreme Court,” he added. The case has still not been resolved. The family lawyer had asked the court for long sentences
and €85,000 in compensation for the pair’s alleged role in the disappearance from Aqwa Mist nightclub in Puerto Banus, in 2014.
Appeal Capper was also set to appeal the coercion conviction, and had been told to lie low at his multi-million euro home in the upmarket Madronal development. Robert Taylor, the lawyer of privately-educated Capper, who attended private Aloha College in Marbella, told the Olive Press: “He had no intention to take Agnese Klavina against her will and she entered my client’s car of her own volition.”
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July 29th - August 11th 2021
VIVA LA VIDA!
KICKING BACK HE’S got every right to lie back and take it easy. Having won the Golden Boot at the Euro 2020s championships, Cristiano Ronaldo deserved a long and luxurious break. And the Portuguese star certainly looks to be having it swanning around on boats in the north eastern corner of Mallorca. He and girlfriend Georgina Rodriquez, from Murcia, have been renting the magnificent Castell de Manresa estate, near Pollensa.
The pair were seen out and about with their four children, while the Juventus star also posted images of his holiday on Instagram. The Castell de Manresa was a citadel built in 1715, which has now been converted into a luxury holiday home where prices start at €50,000 a week. It comes with a fully staffed kitchen and personal spa. It also has its own helipad, tennis court and, of course, private beach. Conveniently he also has his €6m yacht the Azimut Grande 27 on hand nearby.
Piano man zooms in
H
E has supported a host of famous acts, including George Benson, Simply Red and Michael Bolton. But now Paul Maxwel has an amazing show of his own to demonstrate why he has the nickname ‘The Piano Man’. Tinkling the ivory since he was nine years old, the Marbella-based expat has a huge, fitting concert at the recently-opened Marbella Arena next month. Showcasing his exciting new project The Elton John Experience, he will be playing alongside the Malaga Symphony Orchestra. Belting out the famous hits of Elton and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, it is expected to be a sellout show, which he then takes on a world tour. Born in England, Paul moved to the Costa del Sol with his showbusiness parents at an early age and began playing the piano at nine years old. Music is his life and he has had many successes including his song I’m So High, becoming the official composition of the 2008 European Championships, which Spain won.
COLDPLAY frontman Chris Martin, 44, and his 31-yearold actress girlfriend Dakota Johnson have been living la vida in Mallorca. The long-time couple have been spotted enjoying themselves on a romantic break in Palma, as the Balearics welcome back more than their fair share of A-list stars this summer.
Paradise gained
A PAIR of British brothers who have made fortunes investing in property and aluminium have turned their sights on Spain. But this time, David and Simon Reuben claim to be sinking their cash into protecting the environment rather than turn-
ing a fast buck. The brothers, 82 and 79, who have an estimated wealth of €25.1bn, now own 1,360 hectares in Mallorca, including a staggering 18km of virgin coastline. Their spending spree has been quietly taking place over the
Billionaire brothers buy swathes of Mallorca to protect coastal paradise past 18 months with the purchase of six separate properties in the north, east and west of the island.
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The show takes place at the Marbella Arena on August 21. For more information visit www.corteingles.es or 0034 633647260
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SHE’S the world’s highest paid model. And Kendall Jenner looked fittingly sensational as she revealed the cover of her latest shoot with Vogue Spain. The brunette beauty, 25, who is being lauded for her campaigning for mental health, showcased her long limbs in a gorgeous sheer floral dress, paired with high-waisted trousers.
AN influencer has been chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a guest at the five-star hotel in Huelva for the whole summer. Lorena Garam, who has 41,700 followers on social media, is to be paid €2,000 a month to share the highlights of her stay. The hotel attracted more than 500 applicants, in a competition to find an influencer for the job.
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Although the Balearic property portfolio includes several villas, a restaurant and a yacht club, the vast majority of land cannot be built on. Comprising sandy beaches, rocky coves and even an inland lake as well as virgin forests, almost all is classified as rural and non-developable. The brothers meanwhile, have also bought 180 hectares of land including 7.3km of coastline in Ibiza, just south of the famous party resort of San Antonio. According to a Mallorca architect, who knows the brothers, none of it is intended to be transformed into lucrative tourist developments.
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“At first I thought they were strategic investments to make land swap deals with town halls interested in preserving natural spaces but I have been changing my mind,” he told El Mundo. “Instead they are aware that space will increasingly be a greater luxury, and ultimately they are buying luxury in a paradise,” he said. The duo own more than 100 properties across London and the UK and recently acquired Manhattan’s 189-room hotel The Surrey for a reported $151 million. The brothers are descended from Iraqi Jews and were born in Mumbai before moving to London and making their fortunes in scrap metal, later dominating the aluminium trade in Russia.
4 Killer From front page
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cence of the car as it was raining so heavily on the day. The businessman, who was taken to the police station wearing shorts and a yellow polo shirt, is the owner of a chemical company in Carcaixent, who owns at least two homes in the region. He had no criminal record, although he had been a frequent client of Gogos and other prostitutes in the Albal area for some time. Police insist he is not being investigated in connection with any of the other three recent murders.
NEWS
July 29th August 11th 2021
BIG FINE FOR BULL ESCAPE BULLFIGHT organisers have been fined €3,000 after a bull escaped from the bullring and had to be shot by police. The animal injured three people when it went on a rampage through Algemesi in 2019 after managing to open the gate connecting the bullpen with the bullring during a fiesta. Police were forced to shoot the half tonne animal more than 20 times after failing in efforts to corner the bull and return it to the safety of the pen. The incident caused outcry throughout the Valencia region – particularly among animal welfare associations, who described it as ‘barbaric’. Algemesi Bullfighting Commission admitted that the animal escaped due to a safety fault.
Dumped
In each case, the women were also found strangled and dumped on wasteland, fueling fears that a serial killer was on the loose. The body of 43-year-old Olga Pardo was discovered on April 6 in a canal outside Massarrojos, while Johana Andrea A.G was discovered dumped near a countryside path outside Burriana on April 22. Meanwhile, Alicia Valera, a 45-year-old civil servant, was found dead in a shallow water channel 200 metres from her home in La Hoya, in November. “We have ruled out the possibility that a serial killer is operating in the Valencian Community,” a police statement said. “We have confirmed that there is no relationship between the cases,” it continued.
VALENCIA health authorities are being called on to calculate COVID infection rates according to summer population figures. The mayor of Peñiscola said the influx of tourists should be included when calculating COVID-19 infection rates. Mayor Andres Martinez insisted that applying analysis methods drawn up in January to the current situation is ‘unrealistic and frightening’. He said given the huge increase in tourist hotspots a better measure was ‘accumulated incidence’. COVID infection percent-
Don’t forget the tourists ages determining risk levels are worked out according to the local population which makes them higher on paper than in reality. This distortion, says Martinez, leads to vital decisions regarding emergency protocols such as nocturnal curfews and perimeter closures being taken based on the wrong statistics.
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NEWS
CHEQUERED HISTORY VALENCIA’S €98 million Formula 1 racetrack has been given an unofficial new lease of life - as a shanty town. Where once Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello pitted their wits against each other, now migrant workers are setting up home building shelters out of scrap. The city council is currently working with social services in the deprived Natzaret area to find housing, healthcare and employment for the settlers. They are mostly men of African origin with residence and work permits who are employed in temporary jobs such as seasonal fruit-picking campaigns. While residents insisted the settlers do not cause any
SPAIN’S highest court has overruled Ryanair permitting baggage to be sent on a flight other than that of the passenger. The Supreme Court backed a complaint from the OCU consumer group at the end of its 10-year legal battle
Troubled F1 track taken over by squatters, writes Glenn Wickman
problems, they say a longterm solution must be found for them and for the track, which cost nearly €100 million to build. Valmor, the company set up to run the Valencian GP,
went bust in 2014 and required a €30 million bailout by the Generalitat. The total cost of hosting the Grand Prix in Valencia between 2008 and 2012 is said to have been €308 million.
Ryanair rapped over Ryanair regulations. The judges said the carrier’s rules that allowed baggage to be transferred to another flight for ‘security or operational reasons’ were unfair.
5 GREEN LIGHT
July 29th August 11th 2021
The bench added that there might be a good reason at times when that might have to happen, but they branded the Ryanair rules as ‘too generic’. It’s the latest in a series of
FULLY-VACCINATED travellers from the EU will be able to avoid quarantining when they arrive in England, the UK government has announced. EU citizens will need to show the COVID-19 Digital certificate proving their vaccination status to be exempt from isolation upon their arrival. The announcement came after a COVID Operations meeting, attended by senior government ministers. Grant Shapps announced the news which will be welcomed by those in Spain who are longing to be reunited with friends and family. Travellers to the UK will still need a negative PCR test before they fly and another the day after their arrival. US citizens with a vaccine card proving their full vaccination will also be exempt. The quarantine exemption only applies to those returning from amber list countries, of which Spain is one, and puts those who have had approved vaccines abroad in the same category as those vaccinated on the NHS. judgments that the Supreme Court has made against the Irish budget airline. It endorsed a previous decision which blocked charges for using bank and credit cards in addition to annulling a €40 fee for reprinting a boarding pass.
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OPINION QUESTIONS NEED ANSWERING IT seems like every day there is a new headline reminding us of the very real effect of climate change on our environment. Just this week we have seen record temperatures in Aragon, fires raging in Catalunya and drought warnings in Andalucia. Another week and there might be flash floods, coastal erosion, warnings of overfishing. We are very aware that Spain is particularly vulnerable to the dangers of climate change but are we really doing enough to tackle it? Volunteers may give up a day here and there to pick up litter on a local beach or wildlife spot. And we all do the best we can to recycle don’t we? COVID may have curtailed our air travel and therefore reduced our carbon footprints over the last year, but let’s face it, we still rely too much on gas-guzzling cars, on air conditioning in summer and central heating in winter. We still want our favourite vegetables available on supermarket shelves even when they are not in season. We still eat too much meat. Even environmentalists aren’t united on the way forward as our recent reports on the protests against mass solar parks illustrate. But it’s time we woke up to the disaster ahead and pushed our governments to take it more seriously. Why has no-one been held accountable for an ecological disaster as huge as the one we have witnessed in the Mar Menor (see right)? Are the energy companies going to be allowed to continue to make big profits, and big polluters to get off scot free while the rest of us sort through our plastics and carry home our shopping in hemp bags in the belief that we are doing our bit?
Heatwaves, droughts As desertification threatens 75% of Spain and sea level rises spell doom for tourism, Shannon Chaffers takes a look at how the country is handling climate change
A
RECENT heatwave that swept across Canada and the United States set record temperatures, while flooding in central Europe claimed at least 100 lives. Both due to global warming. And while Spain swelters in yet another scorching hot July, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that the Mediterranean region is particularly vulnerable as global temperatures rise. A 2018 report identified that 75% of Spain’s land mass is now at risk of desertification, making it one of the most atrisk nations in the world. Desertification means more than just the expansion of deserts, although that is one very real result, particularly if temperatures rise to more than 2ºC
above pre-industrial levels… climate scientist Francisco Blanand the Mediterranean has al- co Velazquez. ready seen an average rise of He told the Olive Press that pro1.5ºC since the end of the 19th longed periods of extreme heat Century. officially described as heatwaves Extreme heat - will only become leads to the demore frequent as terioration of soil the region warms. For every to the extent that “The frequency of it can no longer heat waves has degree of sustain former increased signifiwarming there cantly over the plant life. It becomes less and last ten years and will be a 4% less productive. it will not change. The problem is drop in rainfall Spain knows that often worsened we need to adapt by over-cultivato this threat betion, deforestacause it is a risk for tion, and urbanization, all con- human health,” added Velazquez tributing factors placing Spain who works at Evenor-Tech, a even more in the danger zone. company that researches the im“Spain is one of the countries pact climate change has on soil. classified as high-risk for cli- Unfortunately, adverse impacts mate change impacts,” insists don’t stop there. With rising tem-
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Vaccine fury
it went on page
ress.es
July 15th - July
Female expat makes moving tribute to her famous bullrunning dad
28th 2021
DISASTER: Tens of thousands of dead fish, our report last issue (above) Jo Scott
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DOOMED T O CLOSE
OVER 40,000 signed a petition people have cinated British to allow vacthe UK without Expats to visit It comes after quarantining. pats expresse dozens of exrule that maded outrage at a them exempt and needing their return to quarantine on to see family friends back home. or The digital claimed the petition, which rule prejudic up to six million ed Britons living abroad, caused a rapid response from the ernment, defendin UK govg its ‘pragmatic approach RECENT A spokesman ’. said: “Public Blanca LY-reopened Costa already health has always hotels will have put been our close again to off making many families number one if UK a plunge for their will not risk priority and we do not pick up next bookings summer holidays month. in Spain our hard-won throwing away The regional hoteliers this year. achievements.” asso- But there ciation, Hosbec For the petition are insists that it ered in Parliame to be consid- is very difficult sands who are tens of thoureach 100,000 nt it needs to itable without to stay prof- to travel for still planning signatures. their annual masses of Britishthe normal break in the sun. tourists. The British “If British tourists Letters special government’s do not confusing arrive in August, on page 10 and frequent hotels are ly-changing messages have- doomed to closure,” ed Hosbec presiden insistt, Toni bike rentAL • e-scoo
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peratures come reduced rainfall and drought. The MedECC group (Mediterrranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change) estimates that with each degree of warming there will be a 4% decrease in rainfall. And this will bring an increasingly arid climate with more droughts and fires, phenomena that Spain is already seeing. There is also the threat of rising sea levels, as increasing temperatures have caused faster melting of glaciers and ice caps, resulting in the sea level rising globally at a rate of about 3mm per year over the last two decades. While it is uncertain exactly how much the Med will be affected, experts have made clear that Spain’s coastal regions are par-
See page 14
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
l
The
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Green Specia
ters BIKE TOURS • repair S
By Alex Trelinsk
Costa Blanca for the retur hotels are left praying n of UK touri Germans and sts French stayi - with ng home
EU COVID certifica te would bring in EU Mayor. tourists as France and Mayor regards Germany are most the last the UK as al- not recommending Spanthe summer hope in saving ish travel, which just leaves season with already gloomy an us with the British market,” visitors from outlook over said Mayor. France and Many hotels only Germany. reopened in late June “Rising COVID or early this month cases in have anticipa reduced the hope that the laxed UK travel tion of rerules as they are heavily depende nt on the i
British market. From July 19, ‘fully-va cinated’ ctourists from England going ber-listed countryto an amlike Spain will no longer have to go into self-quarantine on their return. However all British tourists, minus children under the age of four, will still need two negative They have to COVID tests. fore you get be booked beand can coston your flight up to £100 (€117) each. Holidaymakers will also have to get a gen test prior negative antito flying home.
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T’S an area that was long known for its beauty with its breathtaking geography and varied flora and fauna. But today the Mar Menor, in Murcia, makes headlines for the horrific pollution that has ravaged the lagoon killing tens of thousands of fish as people in power stood by and appeared to do little or nothing about it. Take a trip to the southern shore, an area once teeming with tourists drawn to the golden sands and clear blue water of Punta Brava beach, in Los Urrutias. Today the coastal stretch is awash with dirty mush, covered in algae and emitting a putrid ‘rotten-egg’ stench. The water is distinctly murky and, not surprisingly, there’s barely a bather in sight. Cleaning teams from Cartagena City Council come and go, but are faced with a thankless task as any work is quickly undone with a fresh wave of algae sweeping in. Los Urrutias is one of the worst pollution blackspots because of its close proximity to a creek dumping gallons of nitrate-laden irrigation water into the lagoon. So bad was the situation that in 2016 phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, came under attack, due to the high levels of nitrate in the water.
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A GOLF course judge investiga is among a blacklist of polluters given into the Mar ting the dumping of imprope to a rly-treated water Judge Angel Menor. Garrote has ordered nesses to testify, 42 agriculture-based as well as the busibosses
The surface ended up turning dark green stopping sunlight reaching lagoon vegetation and leading to the loss of 80% of its seagrass, according to the Institute of Oceanography. Within a year, all of the Mar Menor’s beaches were stripped of their ‘Blue Flag’ status. Just when it didn’t seem things could get worse, in September 2019, exceptional flooding saw excess water pumped in the lagoon, which in turn led to tens of thousands of oxygen-starved fish washing up dead onto beaches such as Villanantitos at San Pedro del Pinatar. The images flashed around the world as over three tons of fish and crustaceans were collected from the beaches. Tests confirmed they had died of anoxia (lack of oxygen) and, worse, there were countless thousands more dead on the bottom of the lagoon. It caused a national outrage and, as covered in the Olive Press, some 55,000 people marched on the regional parliament (see right) in Cartagena to call for urgent action. “The floods were the last straw,” recalls La Manga resident, Graham Bradley. “There was anger that nothing had been done for years about preserving such a beautiful area. It is incomprehensible how this has been allowed to happen,” he added.
Continues on
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Germany last fied the whole week classiof Spain as ‘high risk’ for COVID-19, but there is currentl y no outright bar on German visitors coming to Spain an EU COVID if they have certificate. The same applies to French tourists, who are the second-highest eign visitorsnumber of forafter the UK. traditionally However a French Junior Minister suggeste d that both Spain and Portugal were not ‘safe destinat tion denied byions’, a suggesism Minister Spain’s Tour, Reyes Maroto.
And it certainly is not a recent problem. Environmental campaigners have spent the last four decades slamming the huge number of farms in the area that allowed their wastewater to enter the inland lagoon. Warnings were first sounded when the dangers of intensive farming, urban development and mining were seen to pose a serious threat to the area’s ecosystem. “I remember a scientist saying in 1980 that if farming developed close to the lagoon, then remnants of fertilisers and other nutrients
July 29th - August 11th 2021
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and floods
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Live on
ticularly at risk for erosion and flooding. This poses not just a threat to those who live in coastal and floodplain areas but will have a massive impact on Spain’s
tourism industry, which currently drives 12 to 15% of Spain’s economy and much more in key regions like the Balearics, Valencia and Andalucia. Flood risk is also predicted to increase throughout
the country, as extreme rainfall events become more common in a warmer world. But increased rainfall doesn’t mean an end to water shortages, quite the opposite: Torrential rain and subsequent flooding threatens water stores, destroys drainage and water supply systems and compounds the risk of drought. These same factors also threaten Spain’s food supply. Heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall all have a detrimental effect on crops, while the ex-
pected rise of invasive species also poses a threat. This food scarcity issue could be compounded by the effects of rising temperatures on Spain’s marine ecosystem. Already, overfishing is a major problem in Spain. With warmer ocean and freshwater temperatures, combined with ocean acidification due to higher levels of CO2, once abundant species of fish will become more scarce. But amid this doom and gloom, Velazquez believes Spain has the right tools to adapt to climate change. “I think that the strategy to adapt to climate change is [on the right path]. Several initiatives are on the table and they will be adapted if it is required,” he explains. Indeed, Spain recently passed its first law aimed at combating climate change, putting the country on track to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in line with EU goals. Velazquez believes this plan sets Spain on the right track. “The current carbon neutral plan is ambitious but if it is correctly implemented, and other countries do it too, the final results will set us on the right path,” he said. But for some Spanish environmental activists, the plan falls far short of what is needed. The Spanish government was recently hit with a Supreme Court petition by activists insisting it lacked ambition and had no chance of preventing global temperatures from rising 1.5ºC by 2030.
T
HE Olive Press has been batting for Spain live on Sky twice over the last week. Editor Jon Clarke pleaded with the UK government not to put the country on the amber-plus list despite rising COVID-19 figures. He told Sky News breakfast show that, despite a sharp rise in infections, the key statistic was far lower hospital numbers. Alongside the Greek Tourist Minister, he also pointed out how well Spain had done to get 55% of the country vaccinated - overtaking France and even the UK. It means that it is largely youngsters catching COVID in Spain now and they mostly ‘swat it away easily’. The Olive Press team are regularly appearing on UK news channels, also including the BBC and ITV, giving their detailed local analysis on key issues around Spain. We have also helped on a trio of investigative documentaries, including one for Swedish national TV and another for Australia’s CBS, over the last month. We are the most trusted English media outlet in Spain, which is reflected in rising online numbers of well over 20,000 visitors a day. Thousands of regulars have now signed up to our paywall, which provides over 20 stories a day about the country.
Bison
Spain’s Mar Menor is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, and now the site of one of the continent’s greatest ecological disasters, writes Alex Trelinski would end up in the water and would annihilate the flora and fauna,” recalls one campaigner Isabel Rubio. There were other issues too. Like much of coastal Spain, the 1970s saw tourists flood in from abroad leading to a construction boom with buildings constructed all along the shore, particularly in the mid-1980s. Then followed dredging work to allow access for bigger boats that further damaged the delicate ecosystem. But the biggest environmental threat came from the large number of unlicensed desalination plants that were introduced by farmers for irrigation around the
Campo de Cartagena. A law change in 1979 meant irrigated zones increased by over ten times, while an alarming quarter of the region became ‘watered’ illegally without licences. It was good news, of course, for northern Europe, as internationally-exported crops saw their reliance on rain reduced. Fruit and vegetables ended up on UK supermarket shelves with customers oblivious to the environmental price paid to get them there. It was a similar situation in the Campo de Dalias in Almeria, where the aquifers were drained so fast by intensive agriculture, mostly under plastic, that the spread of desertification rapidly sped up. However, while these green gold crops brought a Continues on page 8
The fight against climate change extends beyond action at a national level, however, and Spaniards are walking up to the need to become more environmentally friendly at home. Aside from recycling far more, in Andalucia, farmers are being handed subsidies to switch to more sustainable methods of farming in a bid to fend off desertification. Elsewhere, both Malaga and Madrid have released plans to create a green belt around their cities (see green page 9), while other initiatives include the reintroduction of bison, long extinct within Spain, for the effective way they graze on undergrowth and help to prevent forest fires. The jury is still out whether these efforts will be enough to mitigate the impending consequences of climate change, but Velazquez believes that with continued action on the issue, we have a chance. “Climate change impacts are inevitable,” he concludes. “The increase of droughts, heat waves, and wildfires will affect us, but we can reduce their impacts if we work on it now. If we delay any longer, maybe it will be too late.”
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: luggage rules over flight switches are 1- Ryanair ruled unfair by the Supreme Court in Spain knitters create beautiful crochet screen 2- Local to keep sun off the streets in town inland from Spain’s Costa del Sol known towns worth a visit on 3- Five lesser Spain’s Costa del Sol this summer expat returns to Spain to find squatter 4- Irish living in her home and demanding money to move out Spain’s Balearic Islands will cover cost to repa5are-triate Covid-19 positive tourists whose holidays prolonged with mandatory 10-day quarantine
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8
GREEN
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MADRID has unveiled plans to create a ‘green belt’ of forest around Spain’s capital in a bid to combat climate change and reduce pollution. The project involves trans-
Madrid plans ‘urban forest’ to reduce pollution and combat climate change forming disused areas between roads and buildings by planting more than half
GreenMatters By Martin Tye
T
HE song Too Much, Too Little, Too Late by Johnny Mathis was a massive hit back in 1978, but the words could be seen as prophetic when put into a modern contect. Try applying those words to our environment which is clearly under attack.
Earlier this month the European Union announced many climate change proposals , with the target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. That is 31 years away! Right now we are witnessing events all around the world that more than prove the time for action is now: • Hailstones the size of golf balls in the UK in July • Flash floods across the world • Widespread forest fires • Temperatures rising • Sea levels rising How can this be kicked down the road by the politicians who talk the talk but never walk the walk? The EU’s draft proposals have to be ratified by the bloc’s
July 29th - August 11th 2021
GREEN BELT ELT
TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE!
Too much – climate change and pollution Too little – action Too late – is it?
Green Specia
a million trees to create a 75km long urban forest. The trees will be chosen from varieties indigenous to Spain that require very little watering and can withstand heat. Once developed the Bosque Metropolitano, as it’s being termed, will help improve city air by absorbing 175,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. “We want to improve the air quality in the whole city,” said Environment
By Fiona Govan
Councillor Mariano Fuentes. “To fight the 'heat island' effect inside the city, to absorb greenhouse emissions and to connect all the existing forest areas around the city.” The urban forest is just one phase in a city-wide plan to fight climate change that includes more pedestrian zones, bicycle lanes and restrict-
From Page 7
27 member states and the EU parliament (herding cats comes to mind). Plans include taxing jet fuel and effectively banning the sale of petrol and diesel engines within 20 years. The measures will increase household utility bills and increase the cost of flying within the EU. Surprise surprise – the plans triggered serious infighting at the European Commission. EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: “By acting now we can do things another way, and choose a better, healthier and more prosperous way for the future.” Yada yada yada or in Spanish ‘bla bla bla’ Greepeace European boss Jorgo Riss, who said: “Celebrating these policies is like a high jumper claiming a medal for running under the bar.” I agree…………DO YOU?
Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es
SOLAR PV PANELS
big influx of cash to local landowners, they spelled further bad news for the Mar Menor - or Small Sea - lagoon. Once wells and rainwater supplies dried out, the farmers began to use desalinated water which ended up mixing with fertilisers as well as residues from old opencast mines. It was a chemical time bomb, which the politicians and water authorities appeared to be largely unconcerned about because farmers were in the money. It has since emerged that huge numbers of these desalination plants were illegal and they were quite simply not properly monitored. Unfortunately, the economic consequences stretch far beyond agriculture in a region where tourism now plays a vital role in the economy.
Tourist disaster
“It’s simple. This region depends on tourism and tourism depends on the lagoon, “ local expat Jo Scott told the Olive Press. The councillor, who represents the PSOE party at Los Alcazares council, continued: “We are working on new ways to remove silt residues from our beaches because once you go into the water for a swim, it is crystal clear.” Scott, who has lived in the area for 16 years, blames the regional Murcia government run by the Partido Popular since 1995. “The government has paid little attention to the Mar Menor for decades,” she declared. Her town hall is now fighting to get a unique legal status for the area, giving it extra protection.
ing private car use. Deputy mayor Begoña Villacis described it as ‘the largest green infrastructure to be created in Europe in the next decade’. The cost of planting the estimated 600 hectares is expected to reach €75 million and take ten years. Madrid already boasts more trees per capita than any other European city and has great stretches of woodland on its outskirts with El Pardo and the Casa de Campo as well as the Retiro park at its centre.
Snout to laugh about THE climate impact of wild boars is nothing to snort about. The mischievous animals are to blame for 4.8 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide every year - equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 1.1 million cars, a new report from Australia has discovered. In their never ending search for food, the wild boars dig endlessly, exposing microbes in the soil to oxygen, which reproduce at a rapid rate, producing carbon emissions in the form of CO2. Scientists have always known the boars were a problem but only recently have they realised the extent of it.
No menor scandal
SCANDAL: Mar Menor fish lie dead in their thousands Four months ago, the Ministry for Ecological Transition in Madrid finally produced an ‘action plan’ aimed at improving the state of the lagoon. Measures include a clamp down on any illegal behaviour that causes pollution to the area with the promise of ‘severe’ penalties. As for bringing the polluters to justice, it is a long-haul job. While a fortnight ago the Olive Press reported on our cover that 42 farmers and a golf course have been ordered to testify in a court hearing in Murcia, it is not expected to see any conviction this year. Furthermore, many abusers are likely to escape justice with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) claiming that ‘over 1,000 desalination plants were putting poisonous nitrates into the Mar Menor’. Worse, the WWF report, alongside local group ANSE, claimed that politicians ‘ac-
tively permitted desalination’ in protected areas. Prosecutors have now also threatened legal action against Murcia’s Environment Ministry if it fails to investigate a further ten companies accused of polluting the lagoon. The European Parliament also launched a probe last year into what four Murcia presidents, all from the Partido Popular, did to prevent pollution. Meanwhile the United Nations this year began hearing complaints from environmental groups that Spain had breached international rules over the lagoon. So far, not one single politician or administrator has been brought to account for the disgraceful situation. But what is certain is that the whole sad tale is even murkier than the colour of the waters at Los Urrutias beach.
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Talk to the people who know
Your adviser needs to live here to be up to date and react fast to changes. Blevins Franks has been established in Spain for over 30 years and has unique insight into the needs of British expatriates. We are regulated to provide advice in Spain into 2021 and beyond.
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10
LA CULTURA The President’s Daughter by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
BOOK REVIEW
T
July 29th - August 11th 2021
World renowned Iconic Madrid sites put on UNESCO heritage list
l
HE duo who brought us the international bestseller, The President is Missing, are back with a new standalone novel. Former President and one time Navy Seal, Matt Keating, is about to face any parent’s worst nightmare. His daughter, Melanie, is kidnapped by a terrorist whose family had been killed by Keating’s Administration in the first year of his Presidency. As Keating’s personal life becomes a matter of national security, he must draw on all his skill and training as he sets out on a one-man special-ops mission to save his daughter. With Bill Clinton’s insights and Patterson’s prowess for action packed drama, The President’s Daughter is a suspenseful, and exciting thriller filled with twists and turns.
Green Specia
GREEN ESCAPE: Retiro park
NO BULL
AN account promoting a Spanish matador has been banned from Twitter after posting videos of his latest bullfight. Footage of Jose Antonio Morante de la Puebla taking part in a corrida in Algeciras on Saturday breached the network’s rules for ‘promoting sadistic pleasure’. The social media giant suspended the account of @moranteinfo, which is run by a fan of the famous bullfighter, because of the ‘explicit content that breached the site’s basic rules’.
MADRID will appear on the list of world heritage sites for the first time after its Retiro Park and Paseo del Prado was awarded the coveted status by UNESCO. The tree-lined avenue of the Paseo del Prado is one of the main attractions in the capital with six museums along its length including Spain’s most famous art museum, El Prado, the Botanical Gardens next door and Museum Thys-
Crochet shade
Torture
“You cannot share on multimedia scenes which are gratuitous (injuries, violence, torture),” it said, explaining the ban. “The showing of gratuitous bloody scenes can be prejudicial, especially if the content is published with the intention of promoting cruelty or sadistic pleasure.” The ban provoked outrage from the account holder who posted: ‘freedom in this country does not exist, enough is enough’ alongside the response he had from Twitter.
SPANISH POWER OF ATTORNEY
Across 7 Laconic (8) 8 Garnish (4) 9 Finish it once and for all (3,2,4,4) 10 "Deep ---" (1998 Morgan Freeman film) (6) 12 More secure (5) 14 Humble dwelling (3) 15 Big name in harvesters (5) 16 Be that as it may ... (6) 17 Bedfordshire/Essex neighbour (13) 20 Principal (4) 21 Nude song about old lockups (8)
Tax
If you own property in Spain, or if your beneficiaries reside in Spain, then you will be liable for inheritance or succession tax. The main difference between UK and Spanish inheritance tax is that there is no exemption between husband and wife. When one dies, the other is liable for inheritance tax on worldwide assets. A surviving spouse may be left a `life interest´ in the property instead. If you are UK domiciled you are liable to pay tax in both countries, but these liabilities can be offset against each other. An offshore trust can mitigate inheritance tax and further protect your assets. It is not uncommon for people who have a property in Spain to also want to purchase and own a boat to take advantage of the beautiful sea. How-
By Malini Peñalva, Spanish Abogada at Del Canto Chambers Ibiza ever, buying a boat in Spain requires understanding many complicated tax laws. For non-residents in Spain, there is a route to avoid the payment of these taxes, but it is dependent on whether the purchaser is an EU resident or from outside the EU. Under the scheme called ‘matricula turística’, a non-Spanish resident from another EU country will benefit from an exemption on the matriculation tax, therefore avoiding the extra 12%, although VAT must be paid. If the buyer is from outside the EU, the total amount (both the matriculation tax and VAT) will be exempt. Who is buying or selling the boat can also make a difference regarding the amount of tax to be paid. If there is a professional agent/ intermediary acting on behalf of the buyer/seller in the boat Transaction, then the tax liability may differ. If the transaction takes place between two individuals, but the buyer is non-resident in Spain, the transaction will be tax-exempt in Spain. With such complicated tax implications, it is important to seek advice before buying or selling a boat in Spain. Del Canto Chambers has a team of expert lawyers who are dual-qualified in the UK and in Spain, meaning we are perfectly positioned to support our clients with any legal or tax requirements. We help ensure you are fully compliant with your tax position, helping you plan and protect your income as best as possible.
To make a no-obligation enquiry, please either call Del Canto Chambers now on: +44 2070 430648 or complete our online form on our website’s contact page, which after receipt we will come back to you within 24 hours. Our office in Ibiza are located on: Calle Illa Plana 7, 07800 Ibiza, Islas Baleares. Contact us directly on 971 761 171
Down
OP SUDOKU
I
Iconic
Unesco included the ‘Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro’ as ‘a landscape of Arts and Sciences’ on the World Heritage list, saying: “The avenue features major fountains, notably the Fuente de Cibeles and the Fuente de Neptuno, and the Plaza de Cibeles, an iconic symbol of the city, surrounded by prestigious buildings. The site embodies a new idea of urban space and development from the enlightened absolutist period of the 18th century. It added: “The 120-hectare Jardines del Buen Retiro, constitutes the largest part of the property displaying different gardening styles from the 19th century to the present.”
OP QUICK CROSSWORD
Why you should let your lawyer handle your financial and property affairs
T is common in Spain for foreign non-residents to grant Power of Attorney to legal firms so that lawyers can deal with matters on behalf of their clients when they are not in Spain. A Power of Attorney will often be the most practical way of enabling a Spanish lawyer to undertake tasks and sign documents on behalf of their clients so that they do not have the expense and the inconvenience of having to attend in person to sign or authorise each part of a legal matter. Spanish Wills and Inheritance Tax are both important considerations if you have property and/ or investments in the country. It is normally recommended that you draft a Spanish Will to cover assets located in Spain and a foreign Will to cover any assets in other countries. It is important that there are no legal or tax conflicts between the application of the Spanish Will and the international Will.
COLOURFUL: Crocheted awnings in the streets of Alhaurin de la Torre are a striking sight created by local residents
sen-Bornemisza opposite. The Retiro is one of the finest city parks found in all of Europe. Its 118 hectares include woodland areas, a boating lake, a rose garden, a sports centre and a glass palace which hosts art exhibitions. The Paseo del Prado was described as ‘one of the first boulevards inside the city limits of all European cities and capitals...where all citizens, without distinction of class, could enjoy leisure and a stroll’, by Spain’s foreign ministry.
1 One of Eve's three (4) 2 Contest at the bar? (8) 3 Safe (3,2,3,5) 4 Seeing daunting nerds in error (13) 5 Defect (4) 6 South Africa's administrative capital (8) 11 Of the Middle Ages (8) 13 Steam or internal combustion engine component (8) 18 Look after (4) 19 Offensively malodorous (4)
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL HOLY MOLY
July 29th - August 11th 2021
13
Architectural masterpieces, history aplenty and even the Holy Grail. Jon Clarke and Shannon Chaffers take a poke around Valencia
I
T is Spain’s east coast conurbation. The country’s third biggest city with an important port, occasional grand prix and half decent football team. But for decades, Valencia has been too often overlooked by tourists, who flock to the famous cities of Madrid and Barcelona, or the historic gems further south, like Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla. Today however, Valencia has truly come into its own. It is now one of the country’s fastest-growing cities… and for all the right reasons. Aside from its stunning City of Arts and Sciences that has truly put Valencia on the global architectural map, it has worked
hard to make its gem of a city centre pedestrian-friendly and scooped some key environmental awards along the way. It is not for nothing that thousands of new expats have been relocating from other parts of Spain to make the city their home over the last few years, with Ruzafa, Cabanyal and Patacona some of the favourites. They appreciate the quality of life of Valencia, which is far better value than its bigger neighbours, but has an equally good climate and friendlier locals. So what is there to do in this wonderful Meditteranean city?
CONTRASTS: The modern City of Arts and (below) Palace of Dos Aguas and (left) the Holy Grail
History tour
F
or history lovers, there is much to explore. Occupied by the Romans, and later the Moors, Valencia has a unique blend of architecture. First up is the famous Cathedral (right), built in 1262 on the site of a former mosque. Intricate with Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles, it is most famous for the cup Jesus is said to have drunk from during the Last Supper, known as the Holy Grail, and with its own room, understandably. While 200 sites in Europe lay claim to the relic, Valencia’s is one of the strongest, given its cup has been confirmed to be Middle Eastern in origin and forged between 2BC and 1AD. The cathedral’s charms don’t stop there and we strongly recommend
climbing the 207 steps of the El Migulete bell tower for stunning panoramic views. Nearby you’ll find the Church of San Nicholas, celebrated for its magnificent interior, which has
been likened to that of the Sistine Chapel. Make sure you don’t miss the Palace of Marques de Dos Aguas, which is regarded as one of the best examples of Baroque ar-
chitecture in Spain and a true joy. Inside you’ll find a ceramics museum with prehistoric, Greek, Roman, and Arab works. Also in the centre are the Torres de Senarros towers, built in the Continues on next page
14
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
From previous page
On safari
14th century and once serving as the main entrance to the city. Another gothic gem is the Silk Exchange, a UNESCO site and hallmark of Valencia’s once thriving silk trade. The industry is well explained inside, as well as at the Silk Museum, which you will find in the Velluters barrio. Other museums are the Institut Valencia d’art Modern or Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia for a great sampling of medieval and contemporary Spanish works.
One of Spain’s most respected zoos is the Bioparc Valencia, a fully immersive zoo that allows you to experience African wildlife including lemurs, elephants, zebras, and giraffes up close. More wildlife abounds at the Albufera Natural Park, a large freshwater lagoon with over 250 bird species, including flamingos.
Market life
July 29th - August 11th 2021
STRATOSPHERIC
I
T was one event not to be missed. The Cure playing a free concert at the not-long finished City of Arts and Sciences. It was March, 2008, and well worth the drive up from Malaga to see one of my favourite British bands fill up a section of one of Europe’s most expensive architectural masterpieces. The final sections (mostly the bridges) of Valencia’s mega-site had just been finished and the controversial project was said to have been four times over budget and costing €1.2 billion, or about ten times the price of Bilbao’s amazing Guggenheim museum.
Justify
I had seen photos but I wanted to see with my own eyes how Spain’s architect Santiago Calatrava - coincidentally best known for his bridges - had converted the banks of the old Turia river that once skirted Valencia’s centre. Could the city really justify that huge cost? Having seen it then and returned again recently, I would give it a resounding ‘yes’. The giant collection of surreal buildings that give a space-
T
o get a flavour of local life and culture make sure to visit Valencia's Mercado Central, one of the oldest food markets in Europe. Described as a ‘foodie
SPACE AGE: The City of Arts and Sciences is a creative gem genheim effect revolutionised the run-down northern Basque city of Bilbao, Calatrava’s swooping lines of white concrete and glass have
age look to one edge of the city have put Valencia very much on the map. Just like the celebrated Gug-
paradise’, here you’ll find a full range of Valencian produce located in a beautiful building with domed ceilings adorned with mosaics and stained glass.
Language learning made simple COSTA de Valencia language school is offering classes, days out and accommodation during the summer season while complying with all anti-COVID requirements. Specific courses are available to prepare students to access Spanish schools and universities in September, with a wide range of intensive programmes scheduled throughout the year. Costa de Valencia offers everything from grammar and conversation to business and even Spanish football for all levels from elementary to proficiency, while those who need an official qualification can sit the DELE or SIELE exams. It also provides courses to obtain Spanish na-
tionality, extensive long-term courses for expats and au pairs, and fun days out to explore local culture and traditions. Students can spend anything from one week to a year at the centre and there are several accommodation options, including flats owned by the school as well as staying with local families and university halls of residence. It boasts certifications guaranteeing COVID safety (Escuela ELE Safe School Certificate) and the SICTED Advanced Good Practices stamp, with full contingency plans in place. For further information and to sign up, visit: Website: www.costadevalencia.com
OP Puzzle solutions Across: 7 Taciturn, 8 Lard, 9 Get it over with, 10 Impact, 12 Safer, 14 Hut, 15 Deere, 16 Anyway, 17 Hertfordshire, 20 Main, 21 Dungeons. Down: 1 Face, 2 Litigate, 3 Out of the woods, 4 Understanding, 5 Flaw, 6 Pretoria, 11 Medieval, 13 Flywheel, 18 Tend, 19 Rank.
SUDOKU
Quick Crossword
A beacon for ‘smart and sustainable’ living Valencia is the first city in Europe to obtain double UN certification as it aims to become greenest and most sustainable city in the world, writes Glenn Wickman VALENCIA is on the way to claiming the title of greenest and most sustainable city in the world. The groundwork was laid many years ago by projects such as the Turia gardens – a green belt that snakes through the city’s old riverbed, and a major hotspot for walkers, joggers and cyclists, as well as families enjoying a day out. Meanwhile, the Albufera lake, considered the city’s ‘green
lung’, withstood decades of pressure as the city grew around it and remains a beacon of flora and fauna, and the source of livelihood for countless generations of rice farmers and fishermen. However, things have been stepped up several notches lately. Valencia has become the first city to measure its own tourism carbon footprint, i.e. the environmental effect of welcoming millions of visitors every year, in order to find ways to lessen
IC
FOOD & DRINK
July 29th August 11th 2021
15
Despite costing €1.2 billion, Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences is a world wonder, believes Jon Clarke
Mediterranean Cuisine
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created an addictive unworldly creation that is definitely the city’s unique selling point today. It has changed the city’s skyline and
created a wonderful counterpoint to the surprisingly impressive historic centre, which itself is also full of medieval gems. Yes, there is still some work to do in uniting the two cities, as local expat architect Kevin Cash wrote in the Olive Press last year, but I believe the prize is there for the taking. Tourists who brought in €314 million for the city in 2018 are set to start flying in again in their droves… and Valencia has in that one complex, a feature that can’t compete with anything else in Spain, except maybe Bilbao. Yes, Aviles, in Asturias, has its Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre and yes, Sevilla has its Setas (also controversial), but nothing comes near to the sheer impact and scale of the City of Arts. I particularly like the use of water, which reflects the otherworldly creations and the way the former riverbed area is incorporated into the overall design. It is easy to spend an hour sitting and marvelling at the curving lines interjected by arches and cross beams, and at its scale as cyclists zip by or
a lorry unloads its wares. Each of the half dozen buildings have their own flavour. The Palau de les Arts d ominates the skyline with its jutting silhouette, while the L'Hemisfèric is like a reptile's eye, lurking half underwater. The Oceanographic aquarium has a life of its very own, while the mussel-shaped Agora is finally entering the fray. I also like the way you can meander up the shady riverbed from this magical collection of buildings towards the Ciutat Vella, which is crammed full of charming squares and equally alluring buildings with most of the streets traffic-free.
reservas@palaciodelabellota.com www.palaciodelabellota.com C/Mosent Femades, 7 CP. 46002 VALENCIA
Medieval
Indeed, for the City of Arts to be a true success the vast bulk of tourists need to be pulled into the casco historico to understand how cleverly designed the original medieval footprint of Valencia was and how well it has aged today. Like chalk and cheese, it is the contrast between the old and new that helps to make Valencia one of Spain’s most exciting places to visit this year.
the impact and guarantee sustainability. opment Goals (SDGs). The pioneering study focuses on several key areas Valencia City Hall has set up a specific departincluding water use, refuse collection and transport, ment and website outlining the objectives and with the aim of becoming the first global tourist desdetails of the Smart City project, which can be tination to achieve zero environmental impact by the visited here in English: year 2025. http://smartcity.valencia.es/en/ It is expected to be done by boosting renewable energy sources, making public transport totally electric, and a number of other ways to absorb carbon dioxide. It is now recognised by the United Nations (UN) as a ‘Smart City’, becoming the first in Europe and only the third in the world - after Dubai and Singapore - to obtain both the official ISO and ITU certificates confirming the use of technology to guarantee the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable DevelREROUTED: The Turia riverbed is now an effective green lung of the city
Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful environment
Paseo Maritimo de la Patacona n 14, 46120, Alboraya, Valencia I T. 96 372 40 95 I 618 356 043 I info@casapatacona.com
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FINAL WORDS
A CAMPAIGN has been launched offering young families a free house and job in Spain to those willing to relocate to Griegos, Teruel.
Red hot A NEW wildfire app has helped to raise the awareness of 84 fires in Andalucia since it launched in June, sending information to local users to warn them of the blazes.
A Legacy MALAGA regional boss Elias Bendodo has commissioned an oil painting of himself for €26,000. The portrait will be done by Malaga artist Revello de Toro.
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VALENCIA / COSTA AZAHAR www.theolivepress.es FREE Vol. 1 Issue 18
voice in Spain
July 29th - August 11th 2021
New Airbnb-style app allows you to rent a swimming pool from €12 per person THINGS could go a bit more swimmingly for cashstrapped Spanish property owners this summer. A brand new website is allowing punters to rent private swimming pools by the hour or day.
By Katherine Brook
Swimmy could earn owners over €1,000 a month by renting their pool for those who aren’t lucky enough to have one.
Still got it BUDDY, a retired Gibraltar police dog, has still got a nose for it, after he found a stash of cannabis in a stationary vehicle. The 12-year-old Golden Labrador was out for an evening walk when he detected the drugs and alerted his master - an off-duty police officer. Police later found 64 grams of cannabis, worth roughly £300, and arrested the owner.
The app has seen the number of users soar during the pandemic, as the tightening of restrictions saw the closure of all public pools. And even when municipal pools did open again, many people opted for the more secluded option, many for health reasons.
Profit
Described as ‘the Airbnb of swimming pools’; owners register their pool and then rent it to guests for hours, days or even events. The app has over 150,000
users across Spain and France, who can take their pick between over 3,500 pools. In Madrid, prices tend to range from €12 to €30 per person, for half a day. Meanwhile, in Marbella, the average price for a pool for a half day was around €14. In Sevilla, one pool in the centre costs €120 per person to rent. The pandemic has been favourable on pool manufacturers. Fluridra, the world’s largest pool equipment maker, posted a 40-fold jump in profits in May.
A FIRE crew and local police have been scrambled to rescue… a parrot caught on a balcony. Even the bird’s owner had to go up the ladder to keep him happy during an Alicante rescue this week. The Macaw had escaped from its home and found a precarious roof perch on the edge of a building on Calle Bilbao. The rescue team was assembled after the owner called the local police, who in turn brought in a fire crew because the roof was hard to access.
Rescue
Dozens of locals and tourists watched as an extendable ladder was quickly hoisted up from a fire truck amid fears that the bird could fly off at any time. The retrieval all went to plan with a happy ending in an operation that was certainly different from rescuing a cat stuck in a tree.