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Unlike its well-heeled residents don’t needyou deep pock to enjoy ets the wealth of natural wonders Benahavisin writes Joan, ne Oakley
LEAMING like a white hills above pearl in the no is the crown Marbella, Benaha wonder, classic white jewel of Andaluc vis Grant, Rod with the likes of villages sons. visitors Stewart for so many ia’s do contribu and Cristian Hugh Most famous rea- The ting to the o Ronally, it’s the village cipality town billionaires is second home hall coffers. wealthie in the region andrichest munineighbouringwho have bought to a host of the second average st per capita in property income La Zagalet swankie pushing all Spain with in €29,000. Putin is st private urbanis a, Andalucia’s reported And ly one - ation. Vladimir although the Continue
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Westminster vs Wellington The British dukes of hazard battling to be Spain’s biggest property moguls
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Why is Spain’s second richest town in a rural backwater of Andalucia?
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Boffin breakthrough ZOOMED IN: Microscope image of ‘wonder substance’
Mallorca scientists develop material capable of absorbing microplastics from the sea
Trashy tourism means exactly that
By Isha Sesay
BOFFINS in the Balearics have come up with an ingenious invention that can absorb microplastics from the sea. The team at Mallorca University (UIB) made the breakthrough while conducting experiments in the lab. Based on the doctorate of PHD student Mateo del Rio, the team discovered a material that can extract pollutants from water, including dyes and plastics. Team leader doctor Gemma Turnes hopes that it can now be used as a magnet to remove pollutants from the sea and other bodies of water. The Chemistry Faculty researcher added it was extremely stable, both 16/06/2017 15:36 chemically and thermally and is easy to regenerate.
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ISLAND REVOLUTION: Hybrid substance filters out pollution of contaminated water, and could serve to monitor sea pollution, possibly leading to larger scale projects. The young chemist stressed the need to raise awareness about safeguarding Exploitation the environment. According to his study, published in “You have to locate where the probthe ACS Applied Materials & Inter- lems are in order to act as soon as faces scientific journal, the material possible and respond to natural disascan extract pollutants from water in ters,” he added. just ten minutes. His hybrid substance has a metal-orIt can be used to clean small samples ganic structure (MOF-74) and porous carbon. There is currently much concern about the overexploitation of natural resources, which has led to a UK BASED range of measures being rolled out across the island. Between Mallorca and Menorca alone, Researcher del Rio had always focused his doctoral thesis on solving water pollution problems.
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Vol. 3 Issue 74 www.theolivepress.es February 21st - March 5th, 2020
Bundles in Benahavis
INVESTIGATORS have once again inspected the pool which took the lives of three British holidaymakers in Andalucia on Christmas Eve. It comes after a Malaga judge allowed a ‘parallel’ probe be launched by the Diya family into how the pool at the Club La Costa World Resort, in Mijas, could have killed dad Gabriel, 52, daughter Comfort, aged nine and son Emmanuel, 16. The site was visited by an engineer, professional diver and an assistant. The experts carried out several tests in front of the Diya family lawyer Javier Toro. Guests of the hotel remained lounging on sunbeds as the diver entered the water for around half an hour. He took photos of all areas of the pool, focusing on its suction systems and drains. The group then introduced a piece of cloth into the water and analysed how it reacted to the suction system. They then did the same with a swimming cap, similar to that of Comfort’s, which had been found by Guardia Civil officers in the main drain of the purification system following the tragic incident.
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A DAMNING study has found that 50% of the Med’s beach plastic ‘comes from tourists’. The project, by Blueislands, compared plastic and other waste on three different beaches on eight different islands. It found that 80% of beach litter was plastic, with tourism ‘directly’ accounting for 50% of the plastics. On each island the researchers looked at a busy tourist beach, a less popular locals beach and one almost ‘untouched’. In Mallorca, Calvia’s Playa de Tora, Es Caragol, near Santanyi, and the natural beach of Sa Canova near Arta, were studied. Rubbish, including micro-plastics and small particles, was collected, catalogued and analysed at intervals throughout the year. Other islands in the study included Mykonos, Malta, Crete and Sicily. it is estimated that some 752 million plastic particles weighing a total of 3.7 tons are present in the sea. The vast majority are microplastics of less than five millimetres in size, as detailed in a recent study by the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies. Opinion Page 6
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February 21st - March 5th 2020
Playboy back in Palma
NEWS IN BRIEF Bad message A PLASTIC surgeon has been sentenced to pay €30,702 compensation after giving a 51-yearold woman a breast lift and then telling her, via Whatsapp, to treat herself after her left breast began necrotising.
Moving fast A MAN has been arrested for attempting to throw his partner out of a moving car in Valencia. He was driving under the effects of alcohol.
NEGLECTED: Previously convicted Cohen had two month holiday in Balearics while dog starved at home
Sick puppy
Disgusting A COUPLE was arrested for throwing its newborn baby into the river in Castilla y León, after lying repeatedly to the police about its whereabouts.
Slippery slope A MAN was arrested for trying to smuggle €62.5 million worth of critically endangered baby eels from Spain to East Asia via the UK.
A FORMER TV show contestant has been sentenced to nine months in prison for starving his dog while on a
A TRIO of Policia Local officers convicted of torturing a detainee have asked for their jobs back in Mallorca. The disgraced officers were found guilty of attacking the defenceless man who was handcuffed to a chair. The attack happened at Palma’s Sant Ferran Station after the
long holiday in the Balearic islands. Javier Cohen - who appeared in hit show Mujeres
Cocky cops man was arrested for a road safety incident. None of those involved served any prison time as they had no criminal backgrounds. Convicted officers have previously been reinstated to the job.
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y Hombres y Viceversa - allegedly left his dog for two months without food and water, while taking a holiday in Ibiza. When he returned home to the Costa Blanca to find the pet, in a deplorable con dition, rather than deal with it, he took him to a shelter, claiming he had found him. The three-year-old American bulldog, Mack, had to be put down, suffering from serious malnutrition and other health problems. Cohen this week pleaded guilty at Valencia court to animal abuse in order to get
a reduced sentence.
Banned
The prosecutor had been asking for an 18 month sentence for the Alicante man. He has now been banned from owning animals for two and a half years but could avoid prison if he agrees to attend a re-education programme on animal welfare. Cohen, who has a previous conviction for gender violence, appeared in the popular dating show in 2013.
Scouse excuse A DEAF British man wanted in Spain for cashpoint robberies claims he cannot get a fair trial because he can ‘only lip-read Scouse’. Harry Meadows, 39, is due to stand trial for his part in a UK gang’s crime spree, blowing up cash machines on the Costa del Sol. The father is fighting attempts to haul him before a Spanish judge, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Spanish officials have expressed concerns that Meadows could be ‘deliberately’ exaggerating his condition. Meadows is wanted over the robbery of €350,000 from blown up machines between Marbella and Malaga. The Liverpool man and his cronies allegedly targeted 14 ATMs at banks between 2013 and 2014.
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TV contestant faces prison for starving dog while on Ibiza hols
SEX, alcohol, pool parties – that was the life of Colombian businessman Carlos Garcia Roldan before he was jailed for a huge property scam. The ‘mastermind’ behind Mallorca’s biggest real estate swindle has finally been hauled back to the island after first being put behind bars in Madrid. He had been at the Capital’s Soto del Real prison, but has now been transferred to Palma under armed guard. The South American former fugitive, known as Charly, became notorious after allegedly scamming more than 200 victims out of between €4 million and €7 million. Charly would reportedly sell his unsuspecting clients houses that didn’t exist, through his Promociones Lujo Casa company. He would entice his victims with attractive real estate projects, asking for a down payment of 10% on homes that were never going to be built. He now faces a series of charges, including aggravated fraud, document forgery, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation. When his first victim came forward to the police about the scam in 2018 Charly fled to Buga in Colombia, dramatically changing his appearance and allegedly undergoing cosmetic surgery in a bid to hide his identity.
A CANNABIS farm has been chanced upon by police who were evicting a woman from a flat in Palma. Policia Nacional officers arrested a 28-year-old woman after they stumbled across 83 illegal marijuana plants in a spare bedroom. The ‘sophisticated’ plantation also had 350 grams of dried marijuana, lamps, fans, air extractors and heaters with air conditioning. Police also found that the suspect was stealing mains electricity and possessed weapons, including a large machete. When officers first arrived at the house to evict the woman, no one was home. Shortly after finding the cannabis farm, the woman returned, saw police and tried to flee, before being arrested. She has been charged with crimes against public health. ONE Policia Local officer has been on a ticket-writing spree in Felanitx, writing more than 100 tickets for parking violations around town in a mere four hours. Without prompt from a superior, the officer set out to ticket all illegally parked cars, especially those parked on curbs where park-
Paper trail
ing is forbidden. Nearly all the fines were for €200, and many neighbours complained to the city about the tickets – some residents used the defence that they had parked illegally like that for years or even decades.
EXAGGERATING: Meadows
Spanish prosecutors are seeking to extradite Meadows to Spain, alongside five other suspects, who are all ‘in UK prisons’ for other offences. Meadows, who denies the allegations against him, already served three months in a Spanish prison, before returning to the UK. Unfit Despite a judge approving an extradition order at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in 2018, there is still an ongoing legal battle. At the High Court in 2019, Meadows’ lawyer argued that he ‘required a specialist lip-speaker who could pronounce words, and shape lips, to produce a Liverpool accent, a specialism rare in England, and rarer still in Spain’. His defence rests on the fact that he never learnt sign language and is therefore ‘unfit’ to stand trial in Spain, as he can’t lip-read Spanish.
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Trumped again
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SPAIN’S King and Queen have usurped Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez… at least in the pecking order of Donald Trump. The Spanish royals have been invited again for a state visit to America, before the new PSOE leader has even got a look in! President Trump has extended his undersized hands to Felipe and Letizia for the second time in two years. The US President will stage an official visit for the Spanish Monarchy on April 21. Their first trip across the pond in 2018, saw style-conscious Letizia outdo First Lady Melania, in a fuschia pink dress, which she paired with matching heels and clutch bag (see left). The world’s press will be watching to see what the two global style icons will be wearing this time.
King and Queen Doñana and a Gooseberry fool! THEY are a romantic pair, just like the rest of us. And so it was no different for Spain’s King and Queen who took a romantic escape to the country’s most famous national park for Valentine’s Day. Felipe and Letizia booked a long weekend in idyllic Donana for the most romantic day of the year. Staying in an isolated cortijo, they went birdwatching and walked through the famous dunes. The trip coincided conveniently with the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the national park. Making three a crowd, the president of the Junta, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla joined the royal duo as King Gooseberry at the Unesco Biosphere Reserve for a commemoration service.
Stardust stays at home! Hard luck for Banderas as he’s beaten again at the Oscars
JOAQUIN Phoenix trumped Antonio Banderas to Best Actor at the Oscars. The Malaga-born actor lost
February 21st - March 5th 2020
out to Phoenix for a second time, following his defeat at the Golden Globes last month.
New casa for Agnes LOCAL Mallorcan girl and La Casa de Papel star, Agnes Llobet, 35, has joined the cast of Acacias 38. Llobet inhabits the role of young maid Laura in the hit RTVE show set in 1899, which explores the divide between rich and poor. Her character is privy to the secrets that come with working for a family in an upper class 19th century household. The actress shared an image on social media with some of her cast members in the series, describing her work with them as ‘easy and beautiful’.
It was the 59-year-old’s first Academy Award nomination, which he received for his role as Salvador Mallo in Dolor y Gloria, directed by godfather of Spanish cinema, Pedro Almodovar. At least the award went to a deserving role and it was fourth time lucky for Puerto Rican-born Phoenix, nominated three times before. The 45-year-old picked up the coveted golden statue for his title role in Joker, the origin story for Batman’s arch nemesis. The other three nominees fighting for the prize were Leonardo DiCaprio for his
role in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Adam Driver for his role in Marriage Story and Jonathan Pryce for his role in The Two Popes. Meanwhile, Spanish animated film Klaus which won Best Animated Film at the BAFTAs failed to replicate its success at the Oscars. The biggest winner of the night was South Korean film Parasite, which made history for becoming the first non-English language film to win the Best Picture gong. “The Oscars are becoming more international,” insisted Banderas on the night.
Crooning in SPAIN’S most famous singer is heading south this summer. Julio Iglesias, 76, has announced four concerts in Fuengirola, Merida, Chiclana and Cordoba during August and September. The mini tour kicks off on August 5 at Marenostrum Castle, in Fuengirola. The GrammyAward winning singer, who has sold more than 300 million records, will then play at the Concert Music Festival of Chiclana on August 14.
Step aside Penny! PEDRO Almodovar has a brand new muse. Step aside Penelope Cruz, for the legendary Spanish director has turned to Tilda Swinton for his next two movies. The Castillian filmmaker has opted for the British star to anchor the two English-language films. It is the first time he will direct movies not in his native Spanish, and he is apparently taking no chances. The first film The Human Voice, written by poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, is to start filming this Spring. The other is a feature length film called A Manual For Cleaning Women, by Lucia Berlin. Swinton, 59, won an Oscar in 2008 for Best Supporting Actress in Michael Clayton. The redhead Thespian descends from Scottish aristocracy and is an avid supporter of Scottish independence. The mother-of-two, based in London, recently appeared in A Bigger Splash, with Ralph Fiennes, as well as Doctor Strange and the Avengers: Endgame.
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February 21st - March 5th 2020
Victory! By Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH expat couple have won a landmark legal battle against a bank after being duped into mortgaging their dream home to plunder their cash into supposedly ‘low-risk’ investments. Pensioners Barry and Marion Joyce were about to lose their home in Benalmadena, which had cost them their life savings, after becoming trapped in the sophisticated financial product. Devised by the Rothschild bank, the product targeted expats who had properties in Spain with no mortgages. It allowed them to take out mortgages worth up to 75% of the value of their homes with the proceeds then invested with an insurance company to provide an income. But things went awry when the investments did not perform as well as promised, leaving the expats unable to pay off their mortgages.
Expat couple will keep Costa home in landmark win against Rothschild bank
Now a judge from Malaga has condemned the bank, ruling in favour of the Joyces. The Torremolinos court annulled the entire mortgage and ordered Rothschild to return ‘every penny paid’ so far by the Joyces, both in their 70s. They have also been allowed to keep more than €15,000 given to them by the bank as a signing on bonus.
Demanding
It is the first sentence to directly condemn N.M Rothschild & Sons and its Credit Select Series Four arm, which marketed the Spanish Investment Transfer and Income Mobilisation Plan (Sitimp). More than 100 other cases are set to
Neigh death experience A MAN has crashed his car in Mallorca while trying to avoid a horse and cart. The unlucky driver is in a serious condition in Palma’s Son Espases Hospital, as he tried to avoid the animal on the road from Sineu to Inca. The 60-year-old apparently lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall. Two men and a woman were in the cart at the time of the accident and suffered minor injuries when it overturned. The horse reportedly broke free and galloped away.
Threatened
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come before courts around Spain over the next few years. In each case, once expats agreed to mortgage their homes, the bank assessed their property and immediately gave them 5 to 10% of its value in cash. They then used their equity to invest in what were advertised as ‘safe products’. In the case of the Joyces, they took out a loan of €227,000 with the bank which was invested into supposedly ‘low risk’ financial products abroad. This product was actually a life insurance through a company called Aspecta Assurance International Luxembourg SA, which was also condemned in the case. In the first year alone the couple’s €227,000 investment sunk by a shocking €55,443. By 2016, 10 years after signing onto the deal, the investment had not grown and the Rothschild bank was demanding €302,000 in mortgage repayments from the couple. The bank threatened that if they didn’t pay their home would be taken from them. The stress of the case was similar to many other cases the Olive Press has reported on over the last five years. In 2017, we reported how bank owner, French aristocrat Baron David de Rothschild had been forced to answer questions over the investments in an Alicante court. The multi-millionaire banking scion denied any knowledge of the complex case that saw up to 1000, mostly British pensioners, lose millions.
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DUPED: The Joyces after win
Staggering IBIZA has been included in the top five most popular foreign spots for Brits going on stag-dos. According to environment charity Hubbub, the most popular destination for Brits is Amsterdam, followed by Barcelona, Benidorm and Ibiza. Of all flights taken by men aged 20-45 in 2019, 49% were for stag parties, while the figure for women was 35%. Flying overseas for a bachelor party costs on average just over €500. It comes after the Balearic government introduced new laws to restrict ‘all-you-can-drink’ offers, which could potentially decrease the number of Brits choosing to celebrate their stag and hen parties in Ibiza.
Shocking
Rothschild insisted that he ‘did not know’ about the product. “I was not personally involved in the contracts”, he wrote in French. Marbella lawyer, Antonio Flores, of Lawbird, who is helping dozens of British pensioners mount a class action against the Rothschild enterprise, told the Olive Press: “I find it shocking that the man who’s a boss in a bank doesn’t know about what was going on with one of his companies or anything about the product that was being sold”, he said. “It’s just not believable to me.”
Give kids the vote! SPAIN’S youngest MP wants to change the law allowing 16-year-olds to vote. ERC member Marta Rosique, 23, proposed the lower voting age, insisting it’s the younger generation who lead the feminist, ecologist and anti-fascist movements. The Catalan independence supporter believes the younger generation have better access to technology than the older gen-
eration ever had. It means they are better informed and have wider political views. Opponents argue that - as seen with Brexit - voters are manipulated by fake news and the younger generation is more susceptible to this and more easily influenced by false promises. If the voting age is lowered, Spain would join Austria to allow voting at 16.
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Hidden costs
A BRITISH man has been hit with a €30,000 legal bill after lawyers brought a lawsuit ‘without his knowledge’ in Murcia. Mike Joines, 58, from Hampshire, began litigation with the well-known law firm in 2006 over fears he would lose his deposit on an off-plan villa in Dolores, near Los Alcazares. The Cadiz-based legal firm, CostaLuz Lawyers, undertook legal proceedings to reclaim Joines’ €53,557 deposit after
NEWS
British man faces €30,000 bill for lawsuit ‘brought without his knowledge’
the off-plan villa’s completion date was delayed by a year. There were also serious concerns raised about the legality of the development by Spanish firm Peinsa 97. “I’m paying nearly what I’d already lost in 2006,” Joines told the Olive Press. “I’m 58, heading for retire-
Castaway cassette A CASSETTE tape lost in 1993 during a holiday to Mallorca has washed up in the Canary Islands and is still in working order. German holidaymaker, Stella Wedell, was just 12 when she lost her ‘Best of 93’ tape featuring Shaggy, Bob Marley and the Pet Shop Boys. But 25 years on, the 39-year-old has been reunited with her treasured tunes, found some 1,200 miles away in Fuerteventura. The tape, found by photographer Mandy Barker in 2017 on one of the island’s
ment, and I can’t bear the cost of this for the next 10 years it would take to pay in instalments. “I don’t know who to turn to or what to do.” Email correspondence, seen by the Olive Press, reveals Joines paid €3,600 to the firm after being told he had a ‘strong
beaches was first sent to an audio restorer to ensure that the 90s classics could still be enjoyed. Barker then used the cassette in her ‘Sea of Artifacts’ exhibition, which highlights the plastic polluting the world’s oceans. A shocked Wedell recognised the tape and its playlist when visiting the Stockholm show and contacted the photographer. Professor Richard Thompson of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at Plymouth University said: “The fact that it has survived intact shows the durability of the plastic and the threat it can pose for the marine environment.”
February 21st - March 5th 2020
Hero teen
DELAY: Led to unwanted legal bills EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
case’ to get all his money back ‘plus interest and legal fees’. A later email on November 27, 2006, stated clearly: “That’s your last investment on litigation”. However, following a lengthy case and appeal, concurring added costs, a second lawsuit was launched in 2010 without Joines’ prior knowledge, he claims. “What is going on? I am not aware of any second lawsuit,” Joines wrote in an email dated March 24, 2010. “I have no money to keep piling into this matter. Also, with this lack of communication, it is very worrying as you have power of attorney for my actions in Spain.” The law firm replied saying they had acted on Joines’ ‘behalf’ to pursue a second case with ‘no further fees’ given they had won ‘several’ similar
5
cases in the past. “We are very confident, not to say certain, that at least 80% of your money will be recovered.” Following little communication and an entire four years of total silence, it came as a complete shock when they wrote again last month requesting €29,874 in legal bills. “I was gobsmacked and there is no way I can pay it,” he insisted this week. CostaLuz Lawyers director Maria Luisa Castro told the Olive Press there was ‘nothing else to do for the client’ and so the case was closed in 2020. She added her law firm did partially win the case ‘at appeal’, with the company Peinsa 97, which was ordered to refund Joines ‘part of his deposit’, however the company went into insolvency in 2016. She added there was a ‘risk’ to checking whether Joines was included as one of Peinsa’s creditors due to legal matters pertaining to the court win.
AN inspirational 16-year-old British boy is running every day for a year to raise funds and awareness for Battens Disease in memory of his cousin who tragically died from the condition four years ago when she was just 13. Sam Clarke is covering between five and 20 kilometres every day across mainland Spain and then Mallorca, Italy, Canada and the UK. Most recently, he finished first in the 5k Torremolinos Colour Run, with a speedy time of 22 minutes. He also ran up the Rock of Gibraltar, in the Top of the Rock Race, in which he finished first for his age group. To donate to Sam search ‘running4ayear’ on justgiving.com
Tunnel vision FOR four weeks, the Soller tunnel will be closed at night for construction works. Starting this week, until around March 18 the tunnel will be closed from 11pm until 6am during weekdays. The tunnel will remain open on Friday and Saturday nights. Night workers will be updating safety measures including changing the brackets around pipes as they can prove deadly to cyclists and motorists. New lighting and other small works will be carried out while the tunnel is closed.
features
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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 one million people a month.
OPINION
Better late than never IT has been nearly six years since the Olive Press first demanded answers from the Rothschilds for their expat loan scam. But we now finally have our first case of justice. British couple Barry and Marion Joyce this week won a landmark case against a bank. This has raised new questions. Will normal everyday people now start to get justice for all the injustices they suffered in the past? This case has opened Pandora’s Box for an abundance of cases to come before the Spanish courts against the Rothschilds. But are things really going to change? Are the rich and powerful suddenly going to become more accountable to laws? We’d like to think so and for the time being, this huge victory is worth being celebrated, especially for the people who have been cheated and will finally get their money back after all these years.
Balearic brilliance IN a world where recycling plastic is becoming all the more popular, scientists at Mallorca’s University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) have provided Mother Earth with a helping hand. It is ironic that an island full of tourists, who are responsible for so much waste, is also the location of the university that made this breakthrough. Between Mallorca and Menorca alone, it is estimated that some 752 million plastic particles weighing a total of 3.7 tons are present in the sea. There are worldwide campaigns to help protect the sea and its marine creatures and the duty rests on all of our shoulders. That means not only cleaning up after ourselves when we’re at the beach, but also trying to minimise our plastic consumption. Let’s take a lead from the scientists and all do our bit to rid the world’s oceans of plastic and other waste.
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February 21st - March 5th 2020
HERE is a chalet for sale on the Haya real estate site for €347.679. It was built in 1974 at the upmarket end of a small mountain town on the outskirts of Madrid. It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a Spanish flag flying out front. The flag was put up by a young family of squatters who moved into the property and were apparently to be ‘sold’ along with it, together with the electro-domestics. The house actually belongs to Bankia, which repossessed the property when its previous occupants failed to keep up with their mortgage payments. The new occupants pay nothing at all – not even for their water and electricity, creating a certain amount of resentment in the neighbourhood. As Vox captured much of the town’s vote in the 2019 general election, perhaps the flag was an attempt to win over the locals. The story went round that the family had come to an arrangement with the bank: they could BREAKING: A man forcing an entry at an Alicante home, while stay until the property was sold (right) a squatter who attacked an Olive Press reporter in Murcia and would be given a lump sum to move on when it was. In this case, the rumours may be groundless but the concept is not the ‘urban myth’ dismissed by Idealista real estate spokesman Beñatdel Coso.
Anarchist
Squatters for sale
According to Enrique Villalobos, president of the Regional Federation of Neighbours Associations of Madrid (FRAVM) “It goes Dodgy money deals, mafia in waves. OLIVE PRESS There are times when it is of in- involvement and squatters homes and is still demanding terest to vulture funds and finan- ‘owned by banks’. Heather LINE OF DUTY they meet the rest of their debt cial entities to coordinate with Galloway investigates with interest. the mafias.” Clare. M. who lives in Puente The most glaring instance oc- the murky underworld of de Vallecas, the second most curred between 2014 and 2017 popular area for squatting in the in Ensanche de Vallecas, Madrid real estate where free capital, agrees that there are difwhen the vulture fund Encasa accommodation comes at ferent types of squatters. “The Cibeles (part of Goldman Sachs) a hefty price young girls squatting in front of bought social housing there. “We empty and don’t pay communal GUIDE por ted, me have been up on the roof all don’t have any hard evidence but costs, which is an open invitation r e day mending it. They have vastly legal tenants had conversations to squatters, so the area gets so the company works with social improved the house. It was a with the squatters who said they run down no one wants to live services to find them alternadrug den before they came, knee expected to be paid between there. Then they get permission tive housing. Would Sareb offer high in syringes.” €2,000 and €5,000 to leave to build on land nearby, make money to squatters to leave the Meanwhile, in the Tetuan district when the time came, and there a fortune with new upmarket premises? “Absolutely not,” she close to the centre, a group of were no efforts to report them to apartments and a whole new says. “Sareb is extremely scrusquatters who participate in the police while modern neigh- pulous.” activities organised by the Anarthey were there,” bourhood in Scrupulous maybe – sympachist Occupied Space Emboscasays Villalobos. Madrid is cre- thetic, not so much. According da, worked hard to win their wary The building beNo wonder ated for people to Rivas, “Sareb is evicting the highest number of families. All neighbours over. came so run down with money. people voted we can do is keep negotiating “Dinners are organised for and lawless that That’s how it’s with them and demand that the the entire neighbourhood on Vox,” retorted the legal tenants done.” Wednesday evenings,” says Ana on social housPAH spokes- State makes Sareb’s properties one disgruntled available.” who is involved in the movement. ing rents vacated woman Marga neighbour “So the neighbours change the their homes. Job Rivas corrobo- According to current estimates image they have of squatters in done. rates Villalobos’ there are circa 87,000 illegally general. They have accepted the “Curiously all the view that money occupied properties in Spain, situation.” squatters arrived can exchange the majority owned by the But for the squatters in the together and left together,” says hands in a counter-intuitive di- banks. And while the FRAVM believes mafia-controlled squats €347,679 chalet (below) outside Villalobos. “The buildings’ apart- rection. Madrid, the reception is proving ments have since been refur- “Some funds and financial in- are a minority, their impact can frostier, despite the patriotic flag. bished and sold.” stitutions will offer squatters be devastating for a neighbourhood. “No wonder people voted Vox,” In December, the Supreme Court money to leave. But most of the retorted one disgruntled neighannulled the sale of 2,939 social families don’t want that. What However the majority of squatbour. “They want politicians who housing properties to Encasa good is €3,000 or €4,000 to ters, according to Villalobos, are are going to sort this kind of thing Cibeles by Madrid’s PP govern- them if they are back on the those reeling from a banking sysout.” ment in 2013. Then priced at street? They want to be left in tem that has repossessed their €201 million, they now have a peace and to pay a rent that cormarket value of €400 million. responds to their income.” Almost half have been sold but According to Rivas, financial inthe PAH (Platform for those Af- stitutions still have around 3.5 fected by Mortgages) is demand- million repossessed properties ing these sales be overturned or on their hands which they sell at compensation paid. market value to Other areas of individuals but for Madrid look susnext to nothing to ceptible to the investment funds. same dubious Around 60,000 strategies, acbelong to Sareb, cording to Villalobos. the government-owned so-called “Anyone looking at an aerial ‘bad bank’ set up to sell off toxic shot of the Puente de Vallecas real estate assets belonging to area south of Madrid can see Bankia, Catalunya Banc, NGC that this district will attract a lot Banco-BancoGallego and Banco of property speculation over the de Valencia. next 15 years,” he says. “Invest- Sareb spokesperson Susana ment funds are already buying Diaz told the Olive Press that here. They leave the properties while squatters are immediately PATRIOTIC: Family of squatters fly Spanish flag in Madrid suburbs ONE English website consolidates its reign as the NUMBER ress.es IT’S OFFICIAL: - 24 hours a day - visit www.theolivep in Spain…. For more exclusive content COSTA BLANCA
The
6
Your expat
tel: 966 46 38 45
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Vol. 1 Issue 13 www.theolivepress.es
September 12th- September 25th 2019
like kings’ and Spain Guardia Civil source: Squatters ‘live
WE WON’T GO QUIETLYto
after Olive Press journalist assaulted‘flash exposing ‘violent’ gypsies who the pool’ residents’ and ‘throw rats into
EXCLUSIVE BORIS Johnson has managed exBy Joshua Parfitt silence Parliament, but British pats in Spain have shown they will nonot be cowed into a harmful AN Olive Press journalist hasa deal departure from the EU. been attacked after exposing Brits around the country are mo- ‘violent’ gypsy family allegedly bilising to oppose the shutdown squatting and stealing electricity and stand up for their EU rights. from a Costa Blanca complex. Protests have spread to the Costa Simon Wade was chased down del Sol where pro-remain cam- the street and headbutted as a paigners are planning a Protect on young man tore off his glasses Our Rights march in Malaga and tried robbing his camera in September 22. broad daylight in Formentera del It comes as an exclusive online an Segura, near Torrevieja, last Satpoll by the Olive Press revealed astonishing 73% of expats remain urday. journalist was phostaunchy in favour of remaining The dedicated squats when within the European Union past tographing alleged door with the October 31 deadline (Pages the man flung open the a tattoo his chest exposed and 6-7). The Facebook poll shows that had reading, ‘I die for my family’. they been able to participate fully “My specs can be replaced, and in the biggest ‘democratic exercise the bruising will fade, but decent for generations’, the expat vote people here are living with this would have proved decisive.
24/7,” Wade said. A denuncia was made to the Guardia Civil, who called thea perpetrator a ‘wild beast’ with string of convictions. It comes as British resident, Ena Cummings, 53, contacted us claiming gypsies had thrown ‘dead rats’ into the Virgen del Rosario complex’s pool and repeatedly set terraces on fire. “They're stealing electricity and water, meaning us residents are paying for the squatters' utilities,” Cummings told the Olive Press. "They have no sense of dignity, neighbours young and old have had genitalia flashed at them by squatters.” Residents have held a community meeting, and are stuck between an expensive legal battle
Damage
“We are the people most affected and we didn't get a say, that is what is most unfair,” said protest organin iser Valerie Lawrence, 68, based Torrox, in the Axarquia. “Most of us could not vote and postal votes went missing. “Now we are just trying to stop the Brexit or at least minimise damage,” added the retired Yorkshire woman. It comes after an alarming treasury report issued two weeks ago spelt extreme danger for expats in various ways. The leaked Yellowhammer document warned of issues over penContinues on Page 7
Turn to page 7 to find out which were the biggest stories this fortnight and how to get the most up to date info
is a long way from solving crisis
(leftt), while (right) the CAUGHT: CCTV of troublemakers Press journalist squatter who attacked on Olive
‘SQUATTING’: Familes are refusing
to leave Costa Blanca flats
“The developer can’t sell their apartments, the bank repossesses the complex, and the gypsies break in,” the source told the Olive Press. “The owner of the property is the only one who can denounce the squatters - but banks don’t want to as court cases cost thousands. “If they do get an eviction order, the gypsies just break into anothEviction er complex owned by the bank. have Brit residents Linda Brown and “Either that, or the gypsies the apartArnene Ashley have been ‘in and a legal right to request housing. out’ of court suffering assaults, ment be offered as social will be death threats and most recently “This means the bank out at bewinning an eviction order for the forced to rent the flat tween 75 to 150 euros. illegal squatters last month. But the situation in Spain is fara “So the bank does nothing. for“The developers are tricking from resolved, according to eign buyers through their greed Guardia Civil source. The agent last week blamed for more money. construct“Meanwhile the gypsies in Spain ‘greedy developers’ for than the ing too many luxury apartment live in better apartments complexes at prices ordinary police officers.” Spaniards ‘can’t afford’.
and bringing in ‘security’ to kick squatters out of the eight apartments, from a total of 68. It comes after this newspaper has tirelessly reported on the ‘hellish’ Mirador Monte Pedrera complex with 24 of 64 apartments illegally occupied by ‘abusive’ gypsies and squatters in Denia.
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7
www.theolivepress.es
February 21st - March 5th 2020
Olive Press online
THE Forgotten
R
OBBED, beaten up, sleeping rough in public toilets, living on charity handouts - the story of how one British couple’s dream life abroad turned into disaster beggars belief. Vivian and John Shipley arrived here from Newcastle in 2003 after selling the bungalow they’d worked hard to buy. Spain promised work and a new life in the sun and they spent 17 happy years here before it all came crashing down. An issue with a new home was the catalyst to a chain of misfortunes that left the pair homeless in September last year. First, they were turned away from their new rental property. “The stuckup landlady saw John and said ‘I don’t like the look of him so you can’t have the house’,” recalls 64-year-old Vivian. What the landlady did not know was that decorator John, 60 had lost four stone in weight due to a virus, wrongly diagnosed after a cancer scare, and due to his illness had been unable to work.
DO I
‘Spain’s best English news website’
They came to Spain to live the Mediterranean dream but it turned into a nightmare. Joanne Oakley and Dimitris Kouimtsidis uncover the plight of homeless British expats on the Costa del Sol IN-DEPTH: On coronavirus in Spain, freak Spanish weather and long running expat Rothschild saga
real SPANISH CONTENT
V
eurotrash
ACTION: Vivian (left) and Oscar (above) petition for a building to house the homeless
Petition
They tried Fuengirola, Mijas and Alhaurin for a place to stay but it was Feria week and there was no room at the inn. Ultimately, they were forced to take shelter in public toilets in Coin which became their home for the next five weeks. While based at this insalubrious address, Vivian, 64, was beaten up and the pair had all of their belongings stolen. This unforeseen situation coincided with a banking error which left Vivian without her weekly income so they didn’t even have the price of the cheapest hostel. It didn’t help that they had their fourlegged family in tow. Angel their cat stayed with them throughout the whole ordeal but the dogs were put into care until Vivian could house them, clocking up more bills they were unable to pay. However, there are good Samartians in the world. While living on the streets Vivian met Oscar Emilio Califano who has helped the pair immensely. Now, between them, they are petitioning for a municipal homeless shelter where those who have fallen on hard times can help each other get back on their feet.
7
Oscar, a 54-year-old personal trainer from Argentina, ended up on the streets himself last autumn due to ‘short temporary working contracts and long hours’, he says. “When the contract ends it takes time to find another job and until then I couldn’t afford rent.” “The Red Cross and other charities can’t really help,” adds Oscar who is not registered on the Padron so has been unable to get official help while living on the streets. “Nobody makes sure we have a place to stay, shower, put on clean clothes and have something to eat,” says Oscar whose petition is calling for a universal payment to help others temporarily in dire straits to live with a little more dignity.
Vivian and John no longer sleep rough. The delayed money finally arrived and they were able to rent a roof over their heads. They try to look on the positive side: “Life goes on,” says Vivian with a wry smile. “I will always help the homeless, you don’t know what’s around the corner, nobody does”. Interestingly, during her time on the streets she observed a marked difference in attitudes towards her. As she told the Olive Press: “The Spanish have been brilliant, but the English ... they give you nothing but disapproving looks.” Anybody wanting to support the cause and sign the petition can email their interest to califanooscar@yahoo.com
? T U O D STAN
IRRELEVANT: Taylor Swift’s dad, Martin Freeman and Welsh OAP
W
HILE other websites offer you stories about Taylor Swift’s dad in Florida, Martin Freeman calling his kids ‘little f**kers’ and a Welsh pensioner fighting off a mugger, we stick to news in Spain. Focusing entirely on the country where we actually live, our remit is simple: Report on the important news that matters to tourists and expats based in Spain and occasionally nearby Portugal and Morocco. This includes a report on the homeless expats in Fuengirola, freak Spanish weather and the latest news on the spread of the Coronavirus. With a dozen-plus qualified journalists (all writing in their REAL names) we are able to provide a comprehensive round-up of everything important in Spain. Indeed, ours is the only resource expats interested in Spain need to use, not to mention tourists arriving here in their millions each month. With dozens of stories a day and over 1,400 links (none paid for) from global sites - including the BBC, Daily Mail and New York Post - is it any wonder we are getting over a million readers a month. Visit www.theolivepress.es and see how much content we have... and if you’ve got a business just how much exposure we can give you.
Here are the top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
1
- France follows Spain in clampdown on outdoor heating inbars and restaurants (40,391 visitors)
2
- REVEALED: British who own homes in Spain facing significant tax increase on rental profits post-Brexit transition (32,426)
3
- ‘Fuming’ British expat on Spain’s Costa del Sol files denuncia after 1,000 tonnes of rubble dumped at his Marbella dream home ‘blocks’ his view of Gibraltar and Morocco (30,397)
CT CONTA ORE FOR MMATION S THIS A L A U R VIS I N FO 3 5 7 5 O R R E S S . E S BE AS AN ISSUE 7 P D 2 E L V U 1 I L 5 O 9 €75 SS C @THEO USINEAS LITLE AS B SA L E S R U YO FROM
4 5
- EXPLAINED: The thick fog which arrived on Spain’s Costa del Sol today is a phenomenon dating back to the Phoenicians (30,020) - British in Spain must carry passport at all times or risk being detained by police, UK Foreign Office warns (26,525) Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote
PROPERTY
8
February 21st - March 5th 2020
Brexit bombshell By Laurence Dollimore
IT’S bad news for Brits who own homes in Spain and rent them out for extra cash or to help pay the bills.
Renting out your Spanish home as a Brit is about to be a lot less profitable
According to economist Santiago Lapausa, the tax paid by Brits on profits
earned from rentals will rocket by 5% after the transition period unless a spe-
Ronaldo beds down in Madrid CRISTIANO Ronaldo has announced he will open a hotel in Spain’s capital this summer – the first to open outside the soccer star’s native Portugal. The Juventus forward’s €15 million ‘CR7’ development will occupy a 1920s building currently being renovated by design studio B76. It will be followed by other openings in Marrakech and New York later this year, Manchester in 2021 and Paris in 2023.
Keys Isl nd to the
cific deal is reached. Currently, as European Union citizens, Britons pay 19% tax on the profits made from renting out their properties, and after deducting expenses. This is done every quarter. However, once the transition period ends and Britons are labelled as third country citizens, that tax will increase to 24% of the gross rental income and they will NOT be allowed to deduct any expenses.
Suffer
The warning was made by Lapausa at the Brexit and Now? conference in Marbella, organised by the Centre for Tourism Initiatives, lawyer Ricardo Bocanegra and British consul Charmaine Arbouin. But it’s not just the Brits who may suffer, given that 50% of the Costa del Sol real estate market and perhaps and even larger percent of the Costa Blanca market relies on British buyers. Brits have long been sold on buy-to-let property purchases as a way to offset mortgage costs. Additionally, property managers have created a whole industry in looking after and managing such properties.
By Amanda Butler
Light and shade
Property prices in the Balearics maintain their steady growth, while sales are down across Spain, writes Amanda Butler
WE have some interesting real estate sales statistics out for 2019 in the Balearics. According to the National Statistics Office the sale of homes in the Balearics fell last year by 10.9% to 13,951; 18% of these were new builds (2,562). This was one of the largest decreases in the country compared to the national drop in sales of 3.3% in 2019. December sales were down 2.6% (representing 1,005 homes) compared with 2018. Representing the first decrease since 2014, this compares to falls when the financial crisis started to hit 28.8% and 25.1% in 2008 and 2009 respectively. This decline in sales in the Balearic property market is being attributed to there being fewer resale homes on the
market, as well as high pricing. In comparison new homes sales increased by 1.2% to 92,844. The decrease in the Balearics was only surpassed by the Canaries with -14%. Across Spain in general, sales in December were up 1.8% to 34,767. In contrast, interesting figures to compare are the price of housing in the Balearic Islands which experienced a 5.5% year-on-year growth up to €2264 / m². Since the maximum values reached in 2007, the value of apartments in the region has depreciated by 17%. The price in the fourth quarter of 2019 is 5.5%, a figure higher than that registered in the same period for the previous year. The following charts were compiled by www.epdata.es:
A
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February 2020
enahavis
A pearl beyond price
G
LEAMING like a white pearl in the hills above Marbella, Benahavis is the crown jewel of Andalucia’s classic white villages for so many reasons. Most famously, it’s the richest municipality in the region and the second wealthiest per capita in all Spain with average income pushing €29,000. And
no wonder, with the likes of visitors Hugh Grant, Rod Stewart and Cristiano Ronaldo contributing to the town hall coffers. The village is second home to a host of billionaires who have bought property in neighbouring La Zagaleta, Andalucia’s swankiest private urbanisation. Vladimir Putin is reportedly one - although the Continues overleaf
Unlike its well-heeled residents you don’t need deep pockets to enjoy the wealth of natural wonders in Benahavis, writes Joanne Oakley
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10 February 21st - March 5th 2020
A
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B enahavis
Happy hatrick THEY are possibly the three most exclusive places to buy in Andalucia. And Aylesford Spain concentrates its efforts in all three of them. The Benahavis estates of La Zagaleta, El Madronal and The Marbella Club Golf Resort all offer privacy and exclusivity with first class leisure facilities. Among the most expensive places to buy in Spain, they guarantee high security, while space is certainly not at a premium. El Madronal and La Zagaleta have the benefit of easy access to the AP7 motorway, while Marbella Club is close to Benahavis village. Described as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of the Costa del Sol, Zagaleta offers owners the cachet of living in one of the most exclusive residences in Europe. House prices range from €3 million to €32 million in a range of styles from modern Andalucian to highly contemporary. The country club offers two private golf courses, only for use by members and their guests, superb riding stables with exercise facilities, tennis courts and two clubhouses. As some of the original owners from 20 to 25 years ago move on, they are being replaced by a younger generation looking for their private escape to an environment of tranquility and relaxation. That Benahavis should be home to three such wonderful estates is remarkable, but not surprising. The amazing weather and the proximity to everything that Marbella offers truly make them a twelve month destination. For more information on properties for sale visit www. AylesfordSpain.com or contact the team at sales@aylesfordspain.com or on 610 842 774
Mountain pure Continued from previous page
Kremlin has never confirmed it. Where celebrities lead, classy dining follows and today there are so many top-rated restaurants in the village it’s been dubbed the Dining Room of the Costa del Sol. But not all its riches are counted in cash. Its wild scenery, jaw-dropping views and natural rock pools watered by the crystal clear Guadalmina river are among a wealth of natural attractions that are totally free of charge.
Lungfulls of pure mountain we arrived. Set in the grounds air are also on the house of the chapel, stalls selling although it’s a huff and a art, tribal masks, household puff up cobbled nicknacks streets to the and recycled top of this bestclothes stretch kept pueblo Arabic stronghold in a landscape hung with painof bric-a-brac crowned by ted flower pots, as far as the and ornameneye can see. 11th Century ted with stylish It’s worth a Montemayor street lanterns, rummage - you fountains and could find some castle viewing points. of Rod’s old On Sundays the cast-offs! There effort is doubly are even food worth it for the flea market trucks for al-fresco dining if which was in full flow when you feel peckish.
Walking around the village is a free history tour that will take you back to Moorish times, evidenced by the winding streets of this former Arabic stronghold crowned by 11th Century Montemayor castle, overlooking vast swathes of the Costa del Sol. The village takes its name from its first wealthy resident, Havis (Benahavis means son of Havis in Arabic), a Moorish prince who once ruled from the castle. But it wasn’t always a good place to live. The fortress was reconquered by the Catholic monar-
11 February 19th - March 3th 2020
chs around the 15th century FAMOUS FACES: Crisbut war broke out between tiano Ronaldo took a Benahavis and Marbella and holiday last summer, raged on for 350 years until the village gained its indepen- while Tony Blair has dence. POWERBROKERS: The Goldsmith Although several kilometres clan (top Ben and Zac) and (above) from the coast in the foothills Sir James and his former guest Lady of the Serrania de Ronda, water babies will love BenahaDiana vis as the Rio Guadalmina is along with the gallery after he on the ‘must visit’ list handed one of its coolest natural at- arrived.” Marshall headed to to me by OP editor Jon Clarke tractions. Take a river ramble Benahavis for the tranquility, and he wasn’t wrong. I choalong its banks, go wild swim- away from the bright lights of se from the vegetarian menu ming in one of the deep rock the coast. Among his many (although the meat dishes pools or try canyoning along commissions, he now designs also looked divine), opting the Canon de Las Angostu- the awards for celebrity Eva for mushroom croquettes foras. Not for the faint-hearted, Longoria’s cha- llowed by spinach and melted the 50-metre rity foundation, cheese crepe. With entertaindescent starts along with gol- ment from a Mariachi band at Charca de Guadalmina, fing trophies. followed by an impromptu pialas Mozas - a the nine no performance, it went down an easy family With popular picnic golf courses a treat. Señor Manolo himself spot south of s u r r o u n d i n g insisted I finish with a chupiwalking route the water tower Benahavis, it’s to while he explained how he roundabout of around four a thriving busi- personally decorated the alluthat’s beconess venture. ring interior, graced with an kilometres me the unoffiBut the entire arty mural of flower pots. cial swimming village is an That evening I chatted to Mabaths. Dive in open air art rianne and Jerry who moved - there’s no charge! gallery, littered with poetic to the area on the strength Parts of the river were chan- quotes from Shakespeare, of one dinner chez Manolos. nelled by the Arabs in order Blake and Sabines to educa- “We came for a meal and loto supply farmhouses and te and inspire walkers as they ved the mountain feel and orchards. These routes have wander through the winding the walks, the air is easier to since been adapted for hi- streets. Camilo Jose Cela breathe here,” said Marianne. king with the addition of a plaza is named after the Spa- Jerry appreciated the choice suspension bridge over the nish author and Nobel prize of tapas bars and lack of tacAngosturas canyon, opening winner, highlighting the local ky souvenir shops. up the Sendero Acequia del affection for literary figures. The chance to do a bit of ceGuadalmina, an easy family However, with all its wealth of lebrity spotting is, of course, walking route of around four natural beauty and designer the icing on the cake. Tony kilometres. But everywhere charm, it’s the gastronomic Blair owns a pad nearby (alleyou look, there are new trails artistry that attracts hungry gedly), and the wealthy Goldsto be discovered. visitors in droves. mith family are also frequent “You can walk for ages here,” This tiny village boasts a cor- visitors. The financier and enthuses resident Charlotte nucopia of top restaurants tycoon Sir James Goldsmith Wakerley. “And I especially - Trip Advisor lists over 100. spent the weeks before his enjoy spending time at the Your only prodeath in 1997 rock pool or at the reservoir.” blem is deciat his farmhouPresent day Benahavis rea- ding where to se and his lly only began to take shape eat. I suggest A rhubarb and sons Ben and within the last 60 years as starting with a Nat and sister apple crumble one local reminisced. “When well-deser ved Jemina Kahn I left the village in the 1950’s cafe con le- not the typical still come for it was very small with only che after the holidays. They around 300 residents...on my winding drive order for a food often bring fareturn after about 60 years, through the mous guests, connoisseur the town had grown to around G u a d a l m i n a but few can 8,000!” One local celebrity gorge where trump the ocwho helped to put the village you can flick casional guest on the Google map is Scot- through the list on your phone of their dad - one Lady Diana tish sculptor David Marshall and pick your place. My first , who stayed on a few occawhose work graces many high choice was Las Canas Viejas sions. end homes and can be seen for a rhubarb and apple crum- Mostly, these famous resiaround the village. ble - not the typical order for dents keep a low profile, he“My father was the first fore- a food connoisseur but so- licoptering back and forth igner to arrive here in 1973 metimes we expat Brits crave to their palatial La Zagaleta when he started working from a sweet taste of home. The mansions where the tight a small workshop,” expla- restaurant fits the bill on the security lockdown buys them ins his daughter Kristi who savoury front too with its full the privacy they seek. But works at the David Marshall English breakfasts and tradi- even that is a privilege occagallery in Plazoleta Camilo tional Sunday roasts. sionally worth sacrificing for Jose Cela . “He helped to de- An evening cena at La Escale- a moment in Benahavis - and sign the small Aldea complex ra de Manolo Espada was also for a reminder, perhaps, that the best things in life are free.
VARIETY: From second hand market to village wedding to river walk
The Voice was forced to wait for his big day THE Olive Press revealed exclusively in 2014 that 'People's tenor' Russell Watson was left to wait nervously for 50 minutes when his new bride, Louise Harris, 33, arrived nearly an hour late for his Benahavis wedding. Not one - but two - vintage Rolls Royces failed to arrive at the allotted time to pick up his bride, and she arrived at 1.50pm rather than 1pm. Fortunately for the opera star - who sang just days before in the Colosseum of Rome with Andrea Bocelli - his bride, 21 years his junior, finally arrived at Benahavis Church in a third Rolls Royce. The 63 guests heard two readings during the 20-minute service and then gave, naturally, a rousing rendition of All things bright and beautiful.
BIG DAY: Olive Press pic of Russel Watson’s wedding He is, after all, the man behind The Voice, the UK's biggestselling classical album of all time and has sold over seven million albums worldwide. "You could clearly hear Russell's voice ringing out over the assembled throng," said
church warden Bernardo Gallagher. Watson has been a long-time visitor to Benahavis and has occasionally even been coaxed to sing while on a night out in the town (see Dining Room of the Costa later).
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February 19th - March 3rd 2020
B enahavis
Presidential perfect PALACE: The €20m mansion linked to Putin and (left) visitors Hugh Grant and Rod Stewart
‘SECRETIVE’, ‘exclusive’ and ‘elite’ – words that perfectly describe La Zagaleta, said to be Europe’s most expensive residential estate and country club. It is home to some of the world’s richest businessmen, oligarchs and celebrities, up in the hills above Benahavis and with all-encompassing views along the Costa del Sol and out to Gibraltar and Africa. Surrounded by rumours and jealousy – and one of the world’s slickest security operations – Zagaleta has the mysterious allure of a place that is both known, yet completely unknown. The longest-running rumour (rumbling around for nearly eight years since it was first reported by the Olive Press)
Swimming in riches and swirling with rumours, it’s easy to see how Zagaleta is known as ‘Europe’s most exclusive development’ with allegedly Putin as an owner is that Russian president its own separate champagne Vladimir Putin owns a €20 section, and the highest semillion palace within its bor- curity of any of the houses in ders. the estate. The soaring “Zagaleta almansion, sitready has the ting atop its It already has the best security very own peak, Spain but best security in in counts on when there’s three underSpain but when a certain perground floors, son at home, Putin comes it a garage for you can’t bedozens of cars lieve how tight goes haywire and a 200m things get and shooting range, it has its own revealed Olive security within Press sources. security,” explains one. It also has a wine cellar, with The property was later re-
Organic growth
vealed to be owned by a group taking a dip in their infinity of six incredibly wealthy men, pools and then banging off a with Putin a firm favourite to few rounds of golf (or guns). be the biggest player. They include a range of seUnofficially the cretive figures, world’s richsuch as the est man, he former mayor After his fall certainly owns of Moscow as many properfrom Grace for well as Orange ties outside Telecom foundarms dealing, Russia and, er Hans Snook, according to the estate was ex CEO of Starofficial travel wood Hotels confiscated documents, he Jurgen Bartels was a long time and Lord Stanvisitor to the ley Fink, the Costa del Sol on dozens of former Conservative Party occasions before becoming treasurer. president. And let’s not forget Athina What is for sure though is Onassis, whose family have a that this 2,200-acre enclave home on the borders, as well is exactly the kind of place as Hugh Grant, Cristian Ronone could imagine a Russian aldo and Rod Stewart, who president residing. have either owned, rented or Flying in by helicopter, before visited in the leafy enclave.
Golfing hotspot
IT’S been a busy six years for boss Javier at Benahavis’ dynamic organic supermarket. Family-run Chipolino Natural has grown rapidly and now stocks supermarkets around the region and even further afield. In store there is an impressive range of products: from dairy to pet food, toothpaste to wine, fresh bread to frozen fish. Everything in the shop, just two kilometres up the Ronda road, is certified organic and comes from over 100 suppliers, mainly local - especially its fruit and vegetables. It also has an extensive variety of gluten-free and vegan products, plus many from the UK and abroad, and serves dozens of similar eco-shops all around Andalucia. The multi-lingual team is hard working and knowledgeable and we promise: if we can’t find it we will get it for you. Visit www.chipolinonatural.es for more information
THE gently sloping foothills of the Serrania de Ronda and glistening sea views make Benahavis the ideal location for a round of golf - as nine stunning courses can testify. With more than 320 sunny days per year, golf is played in all seasons, and more often than not in polo shirt and shorts. Clubs such as Los Flamingos, Atalaya and La Quinta boast more than 18 holes. While the village itself is now home to its own driving range and hosts regular tournaments on its courses. The spectacular courses were designed by renowned golf architects such as Robert Trent Jones and golfing legends including Seve Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus. In 1991, the Benahavis Golf Club was founded, aiming to get residents playing at their local course for a reasonable price, even the luxurious fairways in La Zagaleta.
The villas vary dramatically, from elegant Moorish designs with sea views to new modern builds surrounded by forest, each complete with pools, gyms and jacuzzis. But the best views are found at the estate’s helipad, which allows those with the deepest pockets to land at Malaga airport in their private jet, hop on a helicopter and 10 minutes later they are sipping a cocktail by their pool. And Zagaleta certainly provides the security required to relax and unwind, with armed guards and pack dogs constantly patrolling on and off road. Every property is also directly linked to central security, meaning touching a panic button delivers the weight of Zagaleta’s forces to your doorstep within seconds. And it wouldn’t be the Costa del Sol without a stunning, top-of-the-range golf course. Well, Zagaleta has two. And there is no problem getting a tee time, as long as you have a home there, that is. The clubhouse was originally the home of disgraced former billionaire businessman Adnan Khashoggi, and he clearly had an eye for a good view. The entrance is studded with his hunting trophies – stag heads – and the communal areas are elegantly furnished. After his fall from grace for arms dealing, the estate was confiscated and then purchased by its current owners – a Spanish/Swiss consortium – in the mid 1980s. The development officially began being marketed in 1991 and has been regarded as the height of luxury living ever since. Currently around 30% of residents are British, 30% German, 15% Scandinavian and 10% Russian. So far nearly 300 or so homes have been built, but there is room for more than 400, with a new, final zone soon to be zoned at the back, below the Ronda road. With plots starting at around €3m alone, don’t expect to find anything for sale for less than €10m.
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Gardens of Eden
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HERE are exclusive places to stay, and then there are dreams. Staying at Alcuzcuz is to be transported back to the 19th century, when the Costa del Sol was the dream escape of wealthy European and American travellers. Part of the so-called Grand Tour these voyagers were in search of authenticity, excitement and landscapes, taking in the famous cities of Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada. Inspired by Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra (1832) or Richard Ford’s Handbook for travellers in Spain (1844) they would also often stay in Gibraltar or take the unmissable trip inland to Ronda. Coming up from Marbella would take five to six hours by horse and carriage - and Alcuzcuz was the perfect place to stop and visit en route. Today, it has become one of the true gems of the modern Grand Tour, a place to seek out for those-in-the-know looking for something original and different. While it only has half a dozen rooms, it also counts on a lovely restaurant and some of the best appointed communal spaces in Andalucia. And then there is the garden, which boasts an incredible 20 hectares of grounds, a decent section formally planted with cascading terraces, hidden redoubts and one of the most beautiful pools I’ve ever seen. With stunning views inland to the Serrania de Ronda and down to Gibraltar and Africa, you could spend the day luxuriating here with a book and never get bored. In the hands of the same family for over 150 years, the house was built in 1884 for the Countess of Aguiar by her son Jaime Parlade
February 21st - March 5th 2020
Jon Clarke takes a tour of one of Andalucia’s true hidden gems to stay and eat
Heredia. While it burnt down in 1914, it was rebuilt on the same lines and again re-imagined and upgraded in 1984 by Jaime Parlade Sanjuanerna, the Marques de Apezleguia, with the help of his wife Janetta.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL: Head gardener Mohammed and snapshots of the house and gardens
The celebrated interior designer also had a key hand in the modern garden, which is overseen by head gardener Mohammed from Tangier and two able helpers. “There are well over 1000 plants here,” he told me proudly, on his regular morning rounds. “And one of our secrets is the compost and manure we use liberally around the garden.” There are hundreds of palms and pines, many over a century old, plus a special collection of mimosas and perennials. You will be amazed taking a stroll around, before taking an hour long hike around the wonderful wooded grounds that border on the exclusive La Zagaleta estate. Current owner, great grandson Andres Parlade Ybarra - who also runs an estate agency House and Country - has now cleverly managed to open the home as a hotel, but to a very restricted, selective clientele. Refusing to use any of the modern online booking platforms, most of the clients come via word of mouth, or via articles in design or travel magazines. “We want to keep it very low key and with the right sort of people who appreciate the history and style,” he explains. You will definitely feel like you are staying in an English stately home, with its big library and well appointed drawing rooms. One give-away are the 19th century bull-fighting paintings. And also look out for the portraits that flank the living room fireplace, including a 19th-century painting of Parlade’s great-grandmother. Elsewhere an old chapel has been transferred into a guest cottage, with a Guatemalan bedcover and a Moroccan wall-hanging, while the staff are both low-key and on hand exactly when you need them. And don’t forget just 100m up the road you will find the Alcuzcuz Gallery restaurant, which doubles as an antiques shop, art gallery and excellent traditional Spanish restaurant. Visit www.alcuzcuz.es for more information
CULINARY TALENTS: Chef at Alcuzcuz Gallery restaurant
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A
FTER battling our way down the Rio Guadalmina, forced to leave one of our team behind, we had eventually found what appeared to be a way back to civilisation. But a series of bent metal steps jutting out of the vertical rock face had never looked less enticing, as I clutched my shaking body and scanned the cliff for an alternative. Two-and-a-half-hours before, four of us had set off just south of Benahavis on the river walk – sometimes called canyoning – with no idea what to expect. Driving up the valley towards the village gives no indication of the exhilarating, some would say hard-core, experience you are about to have.
Adventure
After parking our car in the village, by the water tower roundabout, we walked down to the river and initially hovered awkwardly around the first pool, uncertain whether we were in the right place. Finally taking control in true Bear Grylls fashion, amid shouts of ‘It’s not deep enough’ and ‘You’re going to smash head-first into that rock’, I lowered myself onto a slippery waterfall and went plunging into the murky water below, screaming as I went. As I resurfaced, shouting my approval while messily ejecting river water from my mouth, the others ditched their fears and bounded down to slide in after me, and that was it, we were off. A series of open pools, bridged by slippery rocks and feisty little waterfalls took us down deeper into the gorge, until the sun was obscured and the November chill began to take its toll on our exposed torsos. Little frogs and fish bounded around our ankles as we tried to locate a foothold in the riverbed, while an enormous dragonfly sent me crashing when it shocked me into losing all sense of balance. The rocky path opened up into long, deep stretches of stream that required swimming, and we were soon engulfed in the beautifully peaceful valley. But when we came upon a
A
ll about
B enahavis
Rocky river rapids The Olive Press walking team takes on the infamous Benahavis river walk, writes Tom Powell pitch black cave that had to be swum through, one of our three began to raise serious questions. Questions like: ‘Are we sure this is even the right river?’, ‘Is there ever going to be a way out?’ and, most pertinent of all, ‘Are we going to have enough energy to go all the way back up when we eventually decide to turn around?’. But untroubled by negative mumblings at the back, I surged forward through the narrow passageway and emerged clambering over slimy rocks, only to realise I was well and truly alone. After what seemed like an eternity of unanswered shouts and shivering, I beat a solitary path onwards; confident I would find the end and meet
Get Brexit ready
NOW Brexit has finally happened, it is more important than ever for British citizens to register as European citizens in Spain before December 31, 2020 in order to benefit from the Exit Deal Agreement signed between UK and the EU. Benahavis lawyer Paula Salamanca is the premier choice to assist you through this period of adjustment. She says: “There is no reason to panic if you are well informed by a professional when preparing for Brexit, even when many uncertainties remain, we can update you in the best way possible with information from proper sources.” Guidance and support is also offered on other questions raised by Brexit such as changing your driving licence and holiday homes. With 18 years experience working on the Costa del Sol Paula aims to bring peace of mind and satisfaction to residential and non-residential clients. Paula also offers specialised legal advice on conveyancing, wills, inheritance and property legalisation. For further information or for a competitive price for non-resident income taxes, contact Paula on 952 855 689 or head to the website at http:// www.paula-salamanca.com/es/
the weaklings in my group back at the car. But at that moment I was overjoyed to hear a clumsy sloshing from behind me, with only one of the team actually going back. And ten minutes later we found ourselves face to face with the questionable metal ladder, one missed step and we were dead. So instead of watching my violently shivering companion slip and slide his way up the perilous cliff edge, I got on all fours and improvised, hauling myself up the rock using grubby handholds and tree trunks. Perhaps, in hindsight, canyoning down the river is more of a hot summer’s day activity, and a brilliant one at that. But even in the winter drizzle, it was a great adventure, and I can’t wait to do it again.
DAUNTING: The Benahavis river walk will put hairs on your chest PARADISE: Stunning scenery awaits at the end of this watery trail
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Hurrah for Heredia
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HETHER it’s a glimpse as you climb the road to Ronda - or in its full glory as you enter the village - when you see La Heredia for the first time you’ll know it’s something special. This little known pueblo, which sits at 300m above the Med, is striking and attractive in equal measure for its architecture and colours. Dig a little deeper and the history behind it is just as interesting. The story begins when a young boy arrived in the Malaga area from Rioja around the turn of the 19th century. That boy Don Manual Augustine Heredia (1786-1846), becameone of the first entrepreneurs in Spain and a founding father of Spanish industrialisation.
There’s a lot more in a name than first meets the eye - enter gypsyloving Dapper Don Heredia
Melting pot
Strawberry
Records show he started work as a sales assistant in Vélez-Málaga at the age of 15 but by 1808 he had progressed and began to make his fortune with his first business projects trading nuts and wine with Gibraltar during the War of Independence. In 1826 he created the company La Concepción, mining iron ore to the east of Marbella and were thought to be as hardbuilding the first blast furnaces working and honest as those in Spain. miners and in the mid 1800’s This business expanded in 1833 the Spanish government started with the founding of the La Conto expel all who were not propstancia in Malerly baptised aga, one of the with properlymost advanced registered famironworks in the ily names. world at the time. And that’s when Don Manuel Don Manuel made so much had the brain money he was wave to adopt able to buy a every one of his huge area of land workers officialdensely forested ly into his famwith pine and ily. And so the cork trees which story goes he includes what brought a priest we now know and a notary to as neighbourthe offices of ing El Madroñal the Governor of (named after the Malaga, along strawberry trees with all of the that were once gypsies, huncommon here) CELEBRATED: La Heredia in a dreds of them. and La Heredia. While there he At his peak Sr. He- Country Life advert in 1984 proceeded to redia employed dictate a documore than 2,500 people and ment whereby he and his wife having tried experienced Welsh adopted each and every one of miners who could not cope with them, they went on to the chapel the searing summer heat a large where they were duly baptised proportion of his employees were and given the Heredia name begypsies. fore going back to work. Unfortunately not all gypsies Fast forward five generations to
We’re Going Dutch SIT on a sunny terrace overlooking the beautiful Andalucian countryside while indulging in Dutch cheese and freshly baked bread. That’s what you can get at Panaderia La Heredia. A Dutch supermarket, situated on the road from Marbella to Ronda, KM 43 Benahavis Urbanization La Heredia, caters to guests from all corners of the globe. You can buy more numerous authentic Dutch products, while also being able to enjoy breakfast and lunch on their sunny terrace. They make their own fresh bread every morning and sell world famous Dutch cheese, Stompetoren. You can also find a vast selection of freshly prepared meals, including homemade soups, but also delicious pastries and cakes. Panaderia La Heredia also takes care of your culinary wishes on location. From bbq to snack buffet, their mobile team is ready for you. They are open six days a week, Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
the early 1980’s and two descendents decided to create a unique pueblo named in honour of their great-great-great-grandfather. The building of around 50 large villas had already begun next door at El Madroñal when Francisco (Paco) Parlade, an architect, and his brother Jaime, an interior designer, identified a horseshoe shape hill with south facing panoramic views… perfect for a classic Andalucian pueblo.
Wonder
“When this pueblo is finished I would like people to look at it and wonder how many centuries it has been here,” insisted Francisco. So winding cobbled streets, plazas and fountains were introduced, alongside mahogany doors and wrought iron window rejas... and for that, like Sr. Heredia, he turned to the gypsies who scoured the local countryside. They came back with such treasures that sometimes the design of a house was changed to fit a par-
February 21st - March 5th 2020
ticularly fine old door. As Francisco would always insist he wanted to make sure the place had class and style and didn’t just make him a small fortune. “After all, I live just up the road,” he said. Adverts dutifully followed in upmarket British magazines like Country Life (see above left). Now 40 years later and the pueblo is complete, having matured beautifully into its environment with a profusion of lemon trees and bougainvillea. With its elevated position just a few kilometres from the coast La Heredia not only offers a photographers paradise, but now there are a decent number of restaurants and cafes to keep you entertained, before you take a ride further into the famous Serrania de Ronda perhaps.
“GOLF, gastronomy, hikes, along with cultural events, there is something for everyone.” That is how Benahavis Culture Councillor Mari Angeles Mena (above) describes her idyllic hilltop pueblo. “People visit the town as it is a great location, close to all amenities but far enough that it is secluded,” she says. Gastronomy is a major attraction, with many top-rated restaurants and the local cooking school for those who fancy trying their hand at the town’s traditional culinary delights. After enjoying the mountain air on a relaxing stroll why not enjoy a more spirited and flamboyant experience at one of the various parties and festivals in the Benahavis cultural calendar. Carnaval on February 22 will see you slap on the face paint and join in costume contests, as Benahavis becomes awash with colour. Easter weekend brings the traditional Huerto del Niño festival which has taken place for hundreds of years. If you enjoy fancy dress, then head up the mountain on April 25 for an American-themed fancy dress festival which culminates culture week. Culture week has an amalgamation of events, plays, concerts and activities for little ones. Benahavis, with all its quirks brings visitors from Spain and further afield, including Russia, China, the United States and Canada. Some 70% of Benahavis residents are expats, making Benahavis the perfect melting pot for a multicultural break.
Fantastic growth in Benahavis’ ‘Ronda Road’ area again ONE part of Benahavis - on the border of San Pedro and Nueva Andalucia - is home to some of the most sought after properties on the Costa del Sol. The area is known locally as the ‘Ronda Road area’ as it sits at the beginning of the mountain road which eventually leads up to the historic town of Ronda. An exclusive district of upmarket urbanisations - including La Zagaleta, La Quinta and Los Arqueros - have grown in both popularity and prices have been healthy for the last 20 years. “2019 was a particularly strong year for the region with both prices achieved and volume of properties sold,” explains Michael Odysseas-Travers, partner at the Riva Property Group. “In fact, it surpassed all our expectations.” The area frequently attracts affluent second home owners and is home to a strong international community of expats. And owners enjoy incredible peace and nature, while being connected to many great golf courses, the beach and the amenities of nearby Marbella. “While affluent, it’s also relatively accessible to most budgets,” explains Michael. “There is a wide range of properties available – both new build and resale – and prices range from about €200k for a 2-bedroom apartment to €10 million plus for a large villa.” Visit Riva in the heart of Centro Comercial Los Halcones, next to the All in 1 Cafe. Tel: +34 952 781 886 or visit www. rivapropertygroup.com
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February 21st - March 5th 2020
Buried treasure By Dilip Kuner
ON the night of October 31, 1631, the ruin of the Spanish kingdom arrived. Spain’s galleon Nuestra Señora del Juncal, loaded with more than one million pesos of gold, silver and precious stones, was swallowed up by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. But now, almost 400 years later an agreement
Spain and Mexico launch search for €1billion worth of lost treasure off South America has been reached between Spain and its former colony to renew search efforts for the buried treasure.
The new campaign, to be carried out over 10 days in the spring, will be cofinanced by the two countries and will involve a team
from the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (Arqva), led by archaeologist and historian Ivan Negueruela.
Investigate
Negueruela said: “It is a unique opportunity to
HISTORIC: A sketch of the famous Nuestra Senora develop a great joint investigation, since Mexico and Spain signed the 2001
Sa Rua MALLORCA is warming for the colourful Mardi Gras celebrations, known on the island as Sa Rua. Almost every town has a colourful parade and music to see out the last days or ‘darrers dies’ before the start of Lent. Calvia and Sa Pobla celebrate Sa Rua on February 22, with parades of dancers and decorated floats starting at 4pm. Palma’s own events kick off in La Rambla at 5pm on February 23, with floats awarded prizes, for categories such as the ‘most spectacular’. Campanet, Campos, Felanitx and Andratx all have festive celebrations on February 22.
Freedom fighters
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
Although this is a work of fiction, the story contains so much historical fact that at times it feels like reading a biography. Allende’s latest offering is a historical saga which takes us from the Spanish Civil War to the rise and fall of General Pinochet in Chile. Victor and Roser fight against Franco’s army but eventually must flee Spain. They go to France where they eventually board a boat chartered by poet Pablo Neruda to take Spanish refugees to Chile where they begin their new life only to have to, one again, endure the rule of a dictator. This is a story of love, loss and displacement and shows us the human cost of politics and conflict. It is peppered with lines from Neruda’s poetry and serves as a good introduction to the Spanish Civil War and Chile under Pinochet. €11.90, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro - www. thebookshop.es
UNESCO convention for the protection of underwater heritage. “We have 20 years ahead of us to investigate a site that could yield 150 tonnes of historical material.” The treasure had been destined to pay for the wars in Flanders. For two long years Dutch pirates had made sure none of the wealth of the Spanish colonies in America had made it back to Spain. In desperation, the Spanish king, Philip IV, ordered the fleet to set sail during the Caribbean storm season. Therefore avoiding pirates who were far too sensible to sail at that time of year, but this was a huge gamble – one that Philip was to lose. Despite needing repairs, the Juncal set sail as part of a 13-strong fleet, only to sink, taking its vast treasure to the bottom of the sea – along with 261 members of its 300 crew.
Fair play CARNIVAL rides, arcade games and street food are on offer as Mallorca’s biggest fun fair, Fira del Ram, returns. Son Fusteret in Palma once again hosts the island’s oldest and largest fun-fair, dating back to the 1500s. The Fira del Ram has all the classics of the fair, including ring toss, a fun house and bumper cars. The highlight is the 60-metre-high Ferris wheel, which provides spectacular views across the city. Fira del Ram runs daily from February 27 until April 19.
Happy 37th! EVERY year on March 1, Balearics residents take the day off to celebrate ‘autonomous community’ status, signed into law in 1983. Government buildings, museums and historic places are open to the public across the island for visits and tours, with some open for two weeks. Palma will host many of the hundreds of activities put on across Mallorca over this weekend. Market stalls and food stands will take over Palma, as well as sporting events, theatre and musical entertainment.
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what’s on
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He has been dubbed the world’s richest man under 30. Now Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster is investing his millions in Spain and he’s not the only one. Heather Galloway looks at two British aristocrats going head to head here
omen’s day
INTERNAT I O N A L Women’s Day on March 8 will see events around the island aimed to honour the island’s women – this year Manacor hosts its very first Women’s Fair.
P
ottery fun
MARRATXI’S popular pottery fair, the Fira del Fang, returns from March 7 to 15 with activities for the whole family, including workshops and farm animals.
N
ew career
FROM February 28-29 towns around Mallorca, including Muro, Marratxi, and Inca will host job fairs before the summer season.
F
estival fun
PORT Adriano will host the Festival de la Primavera on March 21, with the spring party set to offer face painting, paella, music and clowns with all proceedings going to the NGO Educaclown.
Westminster v ROMANTIC: La Garganta has played host to Prince Harry and Wills as well as (left to right) Sofia Wellesley, James Blunt and Poppy Delavigne
T
HEY say it’s hard to tell members of the British aristocracy apart, the Duke of Westminster and the Duke of Wellington are cases in point, on paper at least. Both have close ties with the British royal family and both own estates in Spain to match the size of their bank accounts. But while the 9th Duke of Wellington’s attachment to the Iberian Peninsula is rooted in the past, dating back to his ancestor’s heroic exploits in Spain’s 19th century War of Independence, the 7th Duke of Westminster’s link with the country is a 21st century affair FEUDAL: Huge La Garganta estate is shut off to hikers and looks set to become a conquest of a different sort. This seems fitting, given the generation divide – the Duke of Wellington, otherwise known as Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley – is well into Across his 74th year while the Duke of 1 Slice of bacon (6) Westminster (aka 16th Baron of Eaton, aka Hugh Grosvenor) 5 Packet (6 has age on his side, having 8 Private feud (8) celebrated his 29th birthday at the end of January. 9 Defence organisation (1,1,1,1) The world’s richest man under 10 Unfavourably (3) 30 with a fortune of £10.1 billion, Tatler magazine voted 11 Malady (8) him one of its most eligible bachelors. However he is rare13 Forgiveness (6) ly seen without his childhood 16 Worn on a necklace (6) sweetheart Harriet Tomlinson (below). 19 Adolescent (8) One Duke has medals, the 23 Quick-fire talk music (3) other money. The Duke of Wellington may have a more 24 Increase in size (4) modest fortune but it would be 25 Gesture of approval (6,2) hard to compete with the feats of his ancestor. The original 26 Die from lack of food (6) Duke of Wellington was made Viscount of Talavera by the UK 27 Make more intense (6) and Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo by Spain for his part in liberating
YOUNG AND FLUSH: Hugh Grosvenor
OP Sudoku
OP QUICK Crossword
Down 2 The New World (7) 3 Nestled together (7) 4 Charges (5) 5 Space surrounding an altar (7) 6 Argument (3,2) 7 Vows (5) 12 North American deer (3) 14 Cereal grass (3) 15 Bedtime lingerie (7) 15 Responsive to drugs (7) 18 Marry (7) 20 White heron (5) 21 More recent (5) 22 Circular (5)
All solutions are on page 20
PARTNER: Harriet
the country from the French, German aristocrat Corinna zu with La Torre estate in Grana- Sayn-Wittgenstein. She was da thrown in. the woman who triggered the La Torre sprawls over almost monarch’s fall from grace 1,000 hectares of land near back in 2011 when it transthe Andalucian town of Illora. pired the pair were hunting Said to be the secret love nest elephants in Botswana when of Prince Charles and Camilla Spain was still reeling from the Parker-Bowles when Princess economic crisis. Diana was still alive, it boasts Sun-kissed playgrounds for a 19th century palace and Europe’s blue-bloods they may enough game to satisfy Davy be, but when it comes to their Crockett. respective neighbouring comBut it is dwarfed by the size munities, these fincas have of La Garganta, the Duke of also proved highly controverWestminster’s fiefdom of al- sial. most 15,000 hectares. Lying A 40-minute drive north west between Cordoba and Ciudad of Granada, La Torre has Real, it was bought by the been dubbed ‘the Gibraltar Grosvenor Estate in 2001 for of Granada’ by locals, though a reported €90 million, laying it is private property and very the foundations for the expan- much subject to Spanish law. sion of the family’s real estate In fact historian and the Chairportfolio in Spain. man of Madrid’s Wellington With its arid landscape remi- Society, Stephen Drake Jones, niscent of the African veld, insists that such resentment La Garganta may be a far cry would be unjustified. “The last from the upmarket sophistica- Duke [who died in 2014] went tion of Grosvenor there a lot beSquare in Loncause he loved don which the to hunt. He was Prince Wills family also owns, very humble and Harry along with anothwhen he was er 121 hectares and would have regularly there of land in Maynever have fair and Belgrashot at Hugh’s treated anyone via; but this relaas though he estate tive backwater were superior. has been a reguThe family is lar retreat for very appreciaPrince Charles’ sons, Prince tive of the estate and employs Harry and Prince William. The a lot of the local people.” royal connection runs deep. In a show of appreciation, the Hugh Grosvenor is godfather current Duke - whose eldest to Prince William’s firstborn son Arthur Gerald Wellesley, (Prince George of Cambridge) Earl of Mornington, will evenwhile his late father was god- tually inherit the title - donated father to heir apparent Prince a four-figure sum around the William himself. time of his daughter’s wedding La Garganta is as much a par- to restore the tower of the loadise for hunters as La Torre, cal Church of the Incarnation only on a larger scale, but the and upgrade a disintegrating estates probably break even sculpture of Christ. when it comes to the roster Few would contest the controof European nobility passing versy that has surrounded La through their gates. Garganta, however. La Torre was the setting for Located in the Valle del Alcuthe wedding of the Duke of dia natural park and the SiWellington’s daughter, Lady erra de Madrona, it is the last Charlotte Wellesley, to Co- of Spain’s macro fincas and lombian aristocrat Alejandro is equipped with a heliport, Santo Domingo in 2016. The church, school, clinic and a singer James Blunt – married number of palatial residences, to the 8th Duke of Wellington’s not to mention a staff of 50 granddaughter Sofia Wellesley and herds of deer as well as – and Cara Delavigne’s sister numerous examples of wild Poppy were among the 200 boar and partridge. guests. But it is the high fence surBoth fincas have been graced rounding the finca and its by visits from Princess Caro- small army of guards who have line of Monaco and Prince sometimes blocked the pubErnst of Hanover and, while lic route running through the La Torre is said to have pro- property that has sparked revided the backdrop to the sentment in the nearby towns Charles and Camilla affair, of La Conquista and Minas de La Garganta also saw its fair Horcajo and enraged ecoloshare of illicit romantic action, gists. including the first meeting Now Minas de Horcajo is all between Spain’s former King but bereft of residents and Juan Carlos and his mistress, the furore has died down. But
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Wellington
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February 21st - March 5th 2020
Spain’s favourite English aristocrat
Before he became the 1st Duke of Wellington (inset), General Wellesley was a hero in these parts. After fighting a handful of battles against the French in Portugal, he moved into Spain to defeat Napoleon’s forces at the Battle of Talavera in July 1809. The British gave him the title of Viscount Wellington of Talavera on the back of it and the Spanish reciprocated, making him Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and Generalissimo of the Spanish armies. As they could not afford to pay him for this role, they gave him La Torre estate in Granada as a mark of their appreciation, though according to the chairman of Madrid’s Wellington Society, Stephen Drake Jones, he never spent any time there. In 1812, the dashing duke liberated Madrid, which brought him the title Earl of Wellington before going on to win the Battle of Vitoria in 1813, finally chasing the French over the Pyrenees. He was made Duke of Wellington in 1814, the year before he 9th DUKE: Charles Valerian Wellesley fought Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. THRONE: Queen Elizabeth II
GRANDEUR: At Wellington’s La Torre Hugh Grosvenor, known for his aversion to publicity, has made sure that his estate is one of the most secretive and exclusive retreats in Europe – and a perfect springboard for territorial gains. Already the owner of more land in Britain than Elizabeth II – 0.22% compared to the Queen’s meagre 0.03% – recent investments suggest he is
set to become a major player in the Spanish real estate market. In 2017, the family group sunk €200 million into four property projects in Madrid. The most lavish is at number Calle de Jorge Juan in the upmarket Salamanca area and is being refurbished by the Ortiz León studio of architects, complete with an on-site Mediterranean garden.
COURTING: Former king and mistress Corrina
On the other side of the city’s main drag, in the Chamberí district, 12 apartments are being designed at Modesto Lafuente while a 100-year-old building on General Arrando street is being revamped and a new building put up behind the traditional façade on García Paredes, a in 2008,” Grosvenor Estate’s stone’s throw from the British European Managing Director, James Raynor, told Cinco Días Council. last year. “In According to the Madrid, they Spanish financial still haven’t news site, Cinco Britain’s reached preDías, the 342-yearold family enter- seventh biggest crisis levels and prise has plans to taxpayer footed that’s why we have redoubled sink another €100 our investment million into the city an 82 million in the Spanish over the next 18 euro bill market.” months. Before brand“The prices in ing him anLondon and Paris have doubled since the crisis other property shark, it is in-
ILLICIT: Camilla and Charles teresting to note that Hugh has made a number of headlines in recent years for the amount of taxes he pays into government coffers. Britain’s seventh biggest taxpayer, he footed an €82 million bill on home turf and another equally eye-watering sum abroad, where the family firm owns 1,500 properties. These are reportedly worth €8 billion and rake in an income of up to €15 billion – figures that make the €6 million spent on
his 21st birthday bash seem entirely reasonable. So whatever the Duke of Westminster’s reception south of Ciudad Real, the Spanish treasury will be welcoming him with open arms … though when it comes to being accepted into Spanish high society, the Duke of Wellington wins hands down. He is, after all, ‘the most Spanish of the British nobility’, as the Spanish media would have it.
HEALTH
20
February 21st - March 5th 2020
Spain backs euthanasia PEDRO Sanchez and his new socialist Government have approved a draft bill to decriminalise euthanasia. The move would see Spain join seven other countries where assisted suicide is no longer a criminal offence. It comes after years of opposition from the Catholic Church and right wing conservative parties, Partido Popular and Vox. The ruling PSOE party, along with the centre-right Ciudadanos, discussed the bill with legislators, eventually voting in favour of decriminalisation by 208 to 140. Catalan and Basque regional parties also backed the bill, meaning that Spain could move in line with the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Public polling in Spain has shown that 89% of the population support being able to apply to end a life under the
Assisted suicide will no longer be a crime despite opposition from politicians and Catholic Church country’s healthcare system. Spanish law currently dictates that any doctor or family member found guilty of euthanasia can face up to 10 years in prison for homicide. Details of the bill explain that the person in question must have an incurable illness or a chronic disability that renders life ‘unbearable.’ Any application must be made in writing and duplicated four days later, and provisions can be made to transfer
power of attorney if the patient is incapacitated. Maria Luisa Carcedo, a Socialist MP and former health minister explained that the bill would be ‘very specific in order for it to not be mis-
OP Puzzle solutions
Across: 1 Rasher, 5 Carton, 8 Vendetta, 9 NATO, 10 Ill, 11 Sickness, 13 Pardon, 16 Locket, 19 Teenager, 23 Rap, 24 Grow, 25 Thumbs up, 26 Starve, 27 Deepen. Down: 2 America, 3 Huddled, 4 Rates, 5 Chancel, 6 Run-in, 7 Oaths, 12 Elk, 14 Rye 15 Nightie, 17 Curable, 18 Espouse, 20 Egret, 21 Newer, 22 Round.
SUDOKU
Quick Crossword
used.’ The bill has angered the Catholic Church, which has twice before managed to get previous bills thrown out of court. The Partido Popular is also strongly against the bill, wanting to instead focus on palliative care. Some medical professionals are also concerned that they will have to go against their beliefs and assist in ending a patient's life. “We have a responsibility to preserve life and respect the autonomy of the patient.” said President of the Ethics Committee of the Organisation of the Medical Colleges.
Golden oldies THE number of sexually transmitted diseases for OAPs has skyrocketed by a staggering 41% in four years. Diagnoses for syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and genital warts, among the over-65s, have all increased. The three main reasons for the shocking figures are failure to use condoms, divorce rates and new sexual partners, according to experts. Figures obtained by the BBC show that 1,845 of over-65s in England had caught these main STIs in 2018, compared to only 1,312 in 2014.
Eternal gratitude THE unnamed British dad who contracted coronavirus has thanked Palma’s Son Espases Hospital where he was treated. He expressed his ‘gratitude’ to medical staff after being quarantined along with his wife and two girls, following a ski trip. “All of our ski group, including the 11 in England and France, have recovered quickly from the virus,” said the Brit, whose family tested negative for the virus. “I would like to offer my thanks to all the staff at Son Espases who have supported me and my family in many ways during our time at the hospital.” The Brit is now home after contracting the Covid-19 virus in the French Alps from Brighton businessman Steve Walsh, who was dubbed a ‘super spreader’. Coronavirus has now claimed the lives of 2,100 people and infected 76,000.
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22
February 21st - March 5th 2020
BUSINESS
Out with the old COMPANIES in Spain can no longer fire employees who are on sick leave for a certain amount of time, a new law has ruled. Before, employers could axe workers who were on justified sick leave for at least 20% of the working days in a two month period. But the new royal decree eliminates the antiquated legislation in a bid to ‘prevent the most vulnerable from being sacked’. The change in law, which requires approval by an employee’s workdoctor has come into effect, but is not retroactive.
Pack your bags
Hanging up on huge tech show THE Mobile World Congress in Barcelona has been cancelled due to coronavirus fears. Organisers GSMA were left with little other choice after Amazon, Sony and a slew of big names dropped out of the biggest mobile phone showcase in the world.
It means the economy will miss out on a €490 million boost and some 14,100 part-time jobs. GSMA CEO John Hoffman said the coronavirus outbreak has made it 'impossible' to put on the event, scheduled to take place in Barcelona on February 24.
EUROSTAR bosses have announced that they’re planning to expand throughout western Europe, including Spain. One of the journeys planned for the train company would connect London St Pancras International to Barcelona. The projected travel time between the two cities is around six and a half hours, based on calculations of speed, distance and existing train times.
Rail giant Eurostar to connect London with Barcelona, for new super-fast six-hour journeys Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We are fully committed to expanding international rail routes as a Government – and Eurostar is too. “Among those destinations mentioned to be added in the future is Bordeaux,
Holiday essentials TOURISTS are spending most of their money in supermarkets, a study has revealed. In Valencia alone, 29.5 million foreign and domestic tourists visited in 2019 – a record number for holidaymakers. Just over €2.1 billion of a collective spend of €13.4 billion was in supermarkets alone, a figure representing 15.8%. That is according to the Trade and Territory Office of Valencia’s Chamber of Commerce (PATECO). It reported that out of the €2.1 billion, for every €10, a total of €6 was spent on everyday goods, such as food, drink, toiletries and cleaning products.
Spain and Portugal.” This new venture is pencilled in to be introduced once the planned merger with Franco-Belgian highspeed train firm Thalys comes into effect in 2021. The company wants to directly compete with lowcost airlines that offer cheap city breaks. The train is seen as a more environmentally attractive option for eco-friendly travellers who are concerned about the harmful impact of flying. This comes after the announcement that the first Amsterdam to London service was officially launched. Currently the furthest the Eurostar travels is to the south of France, which is around 800 miles from London.
More money than Oman ZARA founder, Amancio Ortega has been ranked as the fifth richest man in the world and richer than Oman. Data from Learnbonds.com indicates that the 83-year-old Inditex boss has amassed a €71.51 billion fortune. This is more than Oman’s GDP and means that clothing mogul Ortega would rank 67th in a list of the world’s countries. Ortega is still behind the likes of Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Bernard Arnault and Warren Buffet in the rich list. The Leonese is the richest man in Spain and second wealthiest in Europe, behind Bernard Arnault, known for his ventures with Louis Vuitton and Sephora.
Before it’s too late, captain
Chartered Financial Planner Jonathan Holdaway reveals the importance of hiring a Life Planner JUST before Christmas I attended a two- If you work with a life planner you quickly ‘Final Salary scheme’. dreamed of for so long. day course in London with the Kinder In- realise that it feels a little different. It was a very stressful job as he worked at If only he had spoken to a Life Planner, and stitute of Life Planning. In the first few meeta school for what can explored his long held dreams and could It was the start of my journey to become ings you’ll notice that only be described as have shown him the minimal effect five a Registered Life Planner and join one of they do very little talking. ‘bad boys’ – one step years’ less pension would have had on his the 1,500 RLP’s in over 30 countries, who Instead of graphs and away from prison. lifestyle. are a subset of the global financial plan- spreadsheets, you’ll find But he stuck at it, in He could have maybe then enjoyed a lonning community. a space in which you feel order to build up his ger retirement rather than pushing himself The next stage is a five-day advanced comfortable to voice the pension entitlement, to an early grave. course followed by a six-month mentor- things you feel are vitally so he could enjoy his Jim was my father and my mother reship program. important to you. future retirement with mained a widow until her own death 23 It’s a huge investment but one I think will It might be the first time his wife – ‘just one years later. be well worth it, being able to help my cli- anyone has truly heard more year’s pension’ This is what excites me about what I do – ents plan their financial futures properly. you, and a Life Planner he used to say every helping my clients realise they can afford In his book A Golden Civilisation George will listen to your entire year to her. Jim wasn’t to retire and enjoy their retirement without Kinder writes: “Life Planning is the term story, pay attention to in very good health fear of running out of money too soon. for a kind of coaching that financial ad- both the technical finan- DYING YOUNG: Spock didn’t live forever and was being treated Business-owners are the worst because visors do that is dedicated to discover- cial details as well as your personal goals with medication for high blood pressure. they are emotionally attached to their ing and delivering their clients into their and priorities. However, one side effect of this was that business – it’s their ‘baby’ and they are redreams of freedom regardIt’s how we know where your it increased the chance of having a heart luctant to let it go sometimes. less of their means.” energy and inspiration come attack. By use of sophisticated financial planning When you step into a finanfrom, so we can help you em- Unfortunately, towards the end of his ca- software, I am able to give you a snapshot I’m passionate cial planner’s office, you typibrace and step into your life. reer he was off sick, and fortunately the of your current and future financial situacally have a specific goal in that my clients Life Planning is financial plan- school’s employment conditions were very tions, and also run various ‘what if’ scemind. ning with heart. generous – six months at full pay and six narios to stress test it, if the worst should achieve their You might be looking for I’m passionate that my cli- months half pay. He then retired not long happen. the planner to figure out the goals and dreams ents achieve their goals and after turning 61 on August 1, 1992 – also It’s also a living document which we will amount required for retiredreams, and do not run out of his wife’s birthday. update each year to reflect changes in before they die money before they die. ment, analyse your insurThat day they went on holiday to Devon, your life and financial situation. ance needs and recommend It’s not all about the money looking forward to many such trips during I call myself a ‘Financial Life planner’ as I a suitable product, or invest – it’s also about living long his long and happy retirement. can help you plan and achieve the retiresome money in the most tax efficient way. enough to enjoy it, let me give you an ex- Sadly he had a fatal heart attack two days ment you have dreamed of and keep it on If they are really good they might even ample. later – the widow-maker I think they call it, course when life throws unexpected situprepare a comprehensive financial plan for Jim was a teacher – a bricklayer by trade, and he did not have the retirement he had ations at you. you, filled with solutions to the problems who got into teaching much later in life, you’ve bought them which, like most peo- who hadn’t built up much by way of penJonathan now has an office Malaga, which can be found here: Alameda ple, you will take home and put in a drawer sions before he started teaching, so was Colón, 9, 1, 7. 29001 Málaga, Spain. Phone: +34 951 579226 never to be seen again. extremely pleased to join the Teacher’s
Contact me for a no obligation investment product and/or portfolio review and at my expense on +34 654 898 303/+44 77230 27864 or email me at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com I’ll even buy the coffee.
SPORT
23
February 21st - March 5th 2020
Net result EXCLUSIVE By Dimitris Kouimtsidis
THE UK’s second biggest team sport for teenagers between the ages of 11 and 16 doesn’t get any funding from UK sport, meaning senior international players have to juggle fulltime jobs between their playing careers. Team GB’s Nicolette Fong-Lyew-Quee, 27, told the Olive Press: “The most important thing is funding. “In Spain, at under-20
After Team GB women suffer heartbreak against Spain in Olympic qualifier, key player reveals why UK game is playing catch up
court hire and for hotels, it’s so demoralising.” The lack of funding in the UK is what prevents the national teams from reaching their full potential, starting from a young age. “Young players see that there isn’t any money in the sport, so choose a different career.
level, players get paid to attend training camps. “In the UK, players themselves have to pay for the
“In Spain however they are encouraged and helped to play basketball. “That’s how Spain keeps
Funding
Impregnable
1-0
ATLETICO Madrid have beaten Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League match-up at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Rojiblancos played to their strengths and came away with a 1-0 victory, going into the second leg at Anfield in three weeks time, with a slight advantage. Diego Simeone’s men scored very early on in the game – in the fourth minute – with Saul Niguez being the quickest to react after a corner kick was fumbled in the Liverpool penalty area. After that, in classic Atletico fashion, they defended admirably and managed to hold out for the win. Liverpool on the other hand, despite all the possession that they had, didn’t trouble Jan Oblak in goal, failing to register a single shot on target.
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Fong-Lyew-Quee in action for Baxi Ferrol
all its best players,” she added. Team GB went into the Olympic qualification tournament ranked number 18 in the world, whereas their Spanish counterparts were going in as European champions and number three in the world. Just getting to that stage was an accomplishment in itself, for a team that receives zero funding from UK Sport. “Professional players in the UK are only part-timers, they have to juggle full-time jobs. “That’s why we can only train four times a week and late at night,” said
the Durham Palatinates player. Fong-Lyew-Quee, originally from Manchester, spent last season playing in Spain, for Galician side Baxi Ferrol, in the country’s top division. She therefore has the experience of playing in the top level of both the UK and Spain.
Behind
The reason for leaving her family and loved ones behind and moving to Spain was to play at a higher level and improve as a player. She said: “In Spain we would train twice a day, even at Christmas.
“We were paid professionals whose only job was basketball.” In the UK however, not many teams can afford to pay their players a good wage and most choose to pay the foreign players instead. “In the UK the best paid players are the Americans, whereas in Spain there weren’t that many foreign players. “All the best Spanish players played in Spain, therefore improving the quality of the league. “That one season I spent in Spain helped me realise how far back UK basketball actually is.”
SPAIN is suffering a shortage of ham carvers, according to human resources firm Adecco following a study into unfulfilled vacancies in the job market.
Ridin’ dirty
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FINAL WORDS
A PORN video was broadcast in the shop window of an Andalucian driving school, as hackers managed to manipulate the TV to display the video.
Penniless A VALENCIAN man is taking Santander to court after he won €6.5 million in the Bonoloto lottery and then lost it all through ‘toxic’ investments without touching a penny.
Blind fear AN ALICANTE man has denounced the city’s taxi association after he claims drivers refused to allow his guide dog on board.
Moove THE government of Castilla y León have fined a livestock owner €38,000 after his cows blocked a trainline.
OLIVE PRESS
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MALLORCA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 3 Issue 74 www.theolivepress.es February 21st - March 5th, 2020
Tall tale By Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH bodybuilder has been caught riding Spain’s highest waterslide after suing a company for ‘leaving him scared of heights.’ Ben Bardsley, 38, is facing a €15,000 legal bill after footage emerged of him riding the 108ft Verti-Go, in Benidorm. It came after he made a personal injury claim for an accident in July 2015 which saw him fall
What the hull
Man with fear of heights and bad back vibes rides Spain’s highest waterslide
into a garden pond. Bardsley, from Stockport, filed a claim against Koi & Aquatics after a digger knocked him into a pond the company was excavating. He claimed injuries to his neck and back meant he could no
longer lift weights and that the accident left him scared of heights.
Donkey wrong A MAMMOTH 60-metre wheelchair ramp has turned a Spanish primary school into a laughing stock. The €110,000 installation was unveiled in Sevilla and replaces a single staircase running parallel to the school gym. Bosses at Guadaira Town Hall have been left red faced after the new ramp, of six individual slopes, was mocked online. The CEIP San Mateo school went viral with its new ramp being likened to that which Super Mario climbs to fight Donkey Kong.
Aviva, the insurance firm acting for Koi, hired investigators to probe his claims. It found that Bardsley had continued to lift weights immediately after the accident and even loaded footage of himself enjoying ‘the highest water slide in Europe’.
Guilty
In the clip he insisted there was no queue ‘for obvious reasons’ before getting on the 33-metre shoot. A judge at Manchester County Court ruled he was guilty of ‘fundamental dishonesty’ and ordered him to pay costs of £14,318.
AN underwater museum is set to close due to constant leaks. The Arqua Museum, in Cartagena, is to close for six months after it was discovered to be in serious danger of collapsing. It comes after Spain’s Culture Ministry uncovered numerous flaws in the buildings’ fabric, putting many of its ‘priceless’ displays at risk. These include 600,000 coins from the Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes, a Spanish galleon that sunk in the early 19th century, as well as a Phoenician ship dating back to 700BC. The museum, which sits in the city’s port, has been suffering from humidity and damp for years. It was constructed using reclaimed land from the Med, putting it four metres below sea level. Arqua was designed by architect Guillermo Vazquez Consuegra and cost a whopping €20.3 million to build. The repairs are expected to cost around €280,000.