WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! The
OLIVE PRESS
FREE
MALLORCA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 3 Issue 76 www.theolivepress.es March 20th - April 2nd, 2020
Olive Press online YOUR ONLINE PORTAL TO TRUST
It has been the fastest moving story in our 14 years of publishing... and we have hardly stopped to draw breath. Well over a MILLION people have visited our site over the last week thanks to our coverage of the coronavirus online with hourly updates even throughout the weekend.
7,485
globally
Civil war
ON GUARD: Soldiers keep watch at a key intersection in Palma this week as lockdown tightens DESERTED streets, patrolling soldiers and border closures. This past week has left Spain looking like the set of a post-apocalyptic film trailer. As the country’s coronavirus cases now near 18,000, it is however, comforting to know that decisive action is being taken by the government. Amid the lockdown in Mallorca, acts of heartwarming humanity have also shone through. From a DJ entertaining Palma’s Son Espanyolet district with daily rooftop gigs (see back page), to residents coming out on their balconies to applaud the doctors battling the virus, the solidarity shown on the island has been more than stirring. Others meanwhile prepared food and shelter for the homeless, while Chinese residents in Soller donated hundreds of masks and medical supplies to the authorities. Although the massive clampdown on free movement, not seen since the Spanish Civil A veil of silence has settled upon a normally War, is already helping some regions halt the teeming island as the number of coronavirus rapid infection rate of COVID-19, Mallorca’s cases are spiking and show the importance of cases continues to spike in Mallorca conforming to the rules. In just one week, the number of confirmed cases has doubled to on PA systems in Spanish, Catalan, Eng- for some time, especially for an island that reach 128, and a cancer patient became the sec- lish and German continue to sound across depends so heavily on tourism. ond victim killed by coronavirus after becom- the island, warning people to stay indoors. Expat-run ‘Look Mallorca’ luxury rentals ing infected in hospital. Elsewhere, rebels have Those who flout the emergency orders will business told the Olive Press the situation defied the self-confinement orders, looting be slapped with fines of up to €30,000, is ‘frightening’, as it reduces its working day-care centres, vandalising cars, biting a po- and dozens of people have already been hours for all employees. lice officer and threatening neighbours. In one sanctioned, including a man who walked “Despite giving clients every opportunity appalling incident, a local thug was arrested af- his dog for longer than considered nec- to change the reservation dates on their ter he chased an elderly lady down the street, to essary. Units from Palma’s 47th Infantry villa bookings, every single one has canrepeatedly cough in her face. The airport mean- Regiment are bolstering patrols, while sol- celled,” explained a spokesperson. while, is running an eerie ghost schedule, and diers have been drafted in from Valencia’s The virus will be contained, but its impact all ports have now been closed. This message regiment to disinfect streets. still awaits to be seen. of civil responsibility is driven home But for many, the pandemic is concealing Crisis special, p2-7 daily by the police, where messages the huge economic damage that could last
Don’t mention the war! ONE cheeky fan of a yet-to-be cancelled show by legendary comic John Cleese, pleaded with the star: ‘Please don’t die, I've got tickets!’ It comes as the iconic Monty Python star confirmed he is ‘self-isolating’ from coronavirus ahead of his landmark first gig in Mallorca. The 80-year-old British funnyman, who is in the ‘at-risk’ category for Covid-19, is still set to play Palma Auditorium on April 16. The show is part of Cleese’s Last Chance To See Me Before I Die tour, which is still going ahead, according to the venue’s website. But fans are worried for the star, including Dutchman, Sidney Brandeis, who posted online: “Stay safe and please don't die. I bought tickets for your show.” Cleese said: “Thank you. I am self-isolating but little has changed as I have very few friends.”
UK BASED
TRAVEL INSURANCE for Spanish residents www.globelink.co.uk 96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082
It is, of course, a horrorshow # 164 for all of us with businesses in # 230 tourism, retail or catering on the island. But we are all in the same boat and now you are all stuck at home, trying to stay healthy, we are working even harder to ensure we keep you up to date on the latest news from around the country. News on the spread of the virus, what you can and cannot do, and plenty of ideas on how to get by at home. Remember with the Olive Press online you are not alone. It is not for nothing we are now in the world’s top 10,000 most visited websites (see above) and in the top 250 in the UK and Spain. Our team of over a dozen writers are out and about making sure you are abreast of everything you need to know... visit:
www.theolivepress.es
2
www.theolivepress.es
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
Catch these scammers
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
With coronavirus fear taking a grip, the Olive Press exposes a Spanish firm cashing in on people’s fear and paranoia
A COMPANY in Madrid is conning nervous people and cashing in on the coronavirus pandemic that has taken over the globe. Ecomerzpro is charging a
Marching orders THE army has been drafted into the major Spanish cities as the country’s fight against coronavirus ramps up. So far Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Leon and Zaragoza have seen troops from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) deployed. Soldiers were dispatched to
EXCLUSIVE By Dimitris Kouimtsidis
staggering €49.95 for a face mask, which can usually be found on sites such as aliex-
press.com for around €3.40 (per pair). The Spanish company which also distributes across the globe is audacious enough to label the masks ‘discounted’
from an original price of €99.90. They’ve named this product SafeMask and claim it’s ‘the best protection against viruses,’ taking advantage of
clean up swathes of the capital, which officials feared may have been infected by large crowds. All units are being commanded by General Miguel Angel Villarroya. The move comes as military personnel were granted the authority to issue orders to the public after Spain entered a state of emergency. The military will have the power to control the streets and limit freedom of movement, in a boost to back the police.
Walkies anyone? Fido for rent
FACING FINES: Group of women smoking on a street in Marbella
OFFERS to rent pets for a walk have emerged to get around the strict coronavirus quarantine measures. Adverts seen on website MilAnuncios include a podenco in Valencia, charging €25 for a ‘walk’. “Podenco for walking or running during the quarantine to avoid fines,” the offer reads. It comes as a royal decree ordered a strict stop on the freedom
of movement around Spain. Anyone breaking the rules can be fined anything from €100 to €600,000 depending on the category of their disobedience. One way around the rules to leave the house is taking a pet for a walk, although it is one person per dog and walkers must observe social distancing measures.
desperate people. To make matters worse, the name SafeMask has already been trademarked by Canadian company Medicom – stealing intellectual property. This week, the Olive Press found another company, Origo International, based in South Africa, selling the same FFP2 quality masks – with all the relative certificates – for just €2.94. The company’s spokesperson, Nicholas Tsaperas told the Olive Press: “We’re sitting on 60,000 units here and just want to help in any way that we can. “We know there’s a shortage in Europe but we’re selling them at normal prices, not inflated. “We are not looking to make a profit at the expense of desperate people.” Ecomerzpro, which trades in other items apart from face masks as well, is not known for its trustworthiness or good quality service. It has an abysmal rating of 1.5 stars on Google reviews, 1.2 stars on Trustpilot and 1.3 stars on Facebook. Ecomerzpro was approached for comment but failed to respond before we went to print.
TOURIST BACKLASH: A visitor to Ronda crosses its famous bridge with a mask on this week
TM
952 147 834
*Offer valid for new customer s only. Subject to conditions. Ends 31/12/20.
TheOlivePress-256x170-HOME0220.indd 1
20/2/20 13:11
www.theolivepress.es
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
Semana Santa OFF ALL Semana Santa celebrations have been cancelled in Mallorca to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The announcement was made by the Bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull, who confirmed that all processions and public gatherings scheduled during Holy Week would no longer go ahead. It comes on the recommendations of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
Euros OFF
EURO 2020 has been postponed due to coronavirus. The European football tournament has been pushed back a year. It comes after a high level UEFA meeting also agreed to push back the Champions League and Europa League back by a month.
Jobs in peril TENS of thousands of workers are facing redundancy in Spain as the coronavirus takes hold. Heavily reliant on the tourism industry, thousands of workers are set to lose their jobs in the hotel sector in Mallorca, while a similar number could be out of work from restaurant closures. Thousands more are expected to lose their jobs at the airport, as well as those who work in car hire businesses and retail stores. However, the biggest losers by far are in the hotel sector, as the President of the Balearic Government, Francina Armengol, ordered all national and international tourists to return to
Tens of thousands laid off in scything of tourist jobs just before Easter their place of origin and ‘only come back when normality returns.’ However with a surge in infections on the island over the last week, the next few months are looking particularly vulnerable. As the strict instructions were laid down that all hotels must
Checkpoint Carlos Barking mad
A SPANISH joker is facing a big fine after being stopped walking a toy dog during the coronavirus lock-down. The man was stopped by police in Palencia with the stuffed dog, which he hoped would get him around the restrictions of going out. Police confirmed he faces ‘a huge fine’ in the ‘very serious situation.’ “He didn’t fool us and he will be punished... It is a question of public health,” said a spokesman.
POLICE are demanding to see food, petrol and pharmacy receipts throughout the coronavirus lockdown. The Guardia Civil are inspecting anyone out during the current two week lockdown period. They are being joined by local police in many towns to enforce the state of alarm rules, with many fines already having been handed out. People are only allowed out for eight reasons, which can be found on our website. People travelling for work-related reasons will also need special certificates confirming the necessity of their job, with a maximum of two people allowed per car. Everyone else must travel alone. It comes as a Royal Decree was published on Saturday night, centralising control of the police and health system during an unprecedented 15-day quarantine period. The closure of bars, restaurants, businesses, hotels, museums, venues and events has also been enforced across the country. Residents are still allowed to walk DOCTORS in Madrid have said their dogs, one person 'thank you' as Spaniards under at a time. coronavirus lockdown have or- The Guardia Civil said ganised nightly applause. crime reports would Under the hashtag #aplausos- have to be made online anitario, videos have gone vi- during this period. ral on social media with empty The loss of any ID or bestreets across Spain filled with longings, theft, burglarthe sound of clapping. See more videos here: www.you- ies and damages must be reported through tube.com/c/olivepressnews this channel.
Rounds of applause
progressively close this week, 50% of establishments have already shut their doors, with the remainder anxiously waiting for paying guests to return home. The President of Palma and Cala Major Hoteliers, Javier Vich, implicitly stated that he had ‘never seen such a drastic measure proposed in the history of tourism in the Balearic Islands,’ but the decision had to be made to guarantee the viability of the island. Weighing in on the unprecedented closures, the President of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, Gabriel Llobera, described the health crisis as having a ‘brutal impact’ on Mallorca’s economy, as well as in business activity and job creation. “We all hope that this situation is temporary and that normality returns, but the forecasts at this moment do not look good.” Car rental companies have also taken a considerable hit, as all new bookings have been prohibited and reservations up to March 31 have been cancelled. OK Rent-a-Car, which employs some 600 people on the island, has already put the majority on ERTEs, with the exception of those in managerial positions. Taxis are also feeling the pinch, as a 1,300 strong fleet in Palma are reportedly being stung with a 60% loss in takings, and most drivers are now operating on shifts. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez estimated the amount of temporary jobs lost around Spain due to the virus will easily go over 100,000. Most airlines are warning of big job losses, with BA’s Chief Executive, Alex Cruz, describing the situation as, ‘a crisis of global proportions like no other we have known’. Iberia has also slashed its flight capacity by 75% in the midst of border closures and a lack of bookings.
Solicitors and Accountants who speak your language and understand your particular needs • Property Law • Inheritance • Business Accounting • Resident and Non Resident Tax Returns • Employment Law • Court Solicitors C/Miguel de los Santos Oliver, 10, local 3 07181 Palma Nova, Calvia Tel: 971 591 118 / 660 383 060 www.maricunningham.com Registered with the Law Society of the Islas Baleares and with the Law Society of Scotland
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
3
In good company
LEADER: PM Sanchez and Begona Gomez
W
ITH coronavirus sweeping Spain and 145 other countries, it appears that nobody is safe from the viral infection. Covid-19 is not picky about who it chooses to infect, with politicians, actors and athletes among those to have tested positive. In Spain, Vox leader Santiago Abascal and his number two Javier Ortega Smith have both succumbed to the virus. So too has the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Begona Gomez, along with MaVOX: Abascal drid Mayor Isabel Diaz and the President of Catalunya Quim Torra. Best-selling 70-year-old Chilean author Luis Sepulveda also tested positive in Oviedo, while Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta has succumbed. Football’s other confirmed victims here also include various Valencia players, while in the UK Chelsea winger Callum Hudon-Odoi PRESIDENT: Torra has it. Hollywood meanwhile, has not remained untouched with hunk Idris Elba, from London, getting infected, as well as Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wil-
STARS: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson son. The pair tested positive while shooting Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley movie in Australia, and are now isolating. Other silver screen heavyweights, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson, have posted pictures online of themselves donning masks. And even the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is worried, and warning people to stay at home and to ‘listen to the experts, ignore the morons.’ HUNK: Idris Elba
4
www.theolivepress.es
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
Keys Isl nd
By Amanda Butler
to the
This too shall pass Mallorca’s stellar reputation for real estate will help it weather the coronavirus storm, writes Amanda Butler SO, another week, another world altogether! Italy on lockdown and now Spain, followed by France, with the UK following slowly behind. Unprecedented, with the global economy in chaos. The Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera have one of the lowest infection rates in the Kingdom of Spain. At the time of writing we have 169 reported patients that tested positive (obviously the figure will differ to the true numbers, since many with minor symptoms will be at home) with only four severe and two fatalities. So the Balearics appear to have locked their borders in good time, and hopefully the measures taken will ensure the spread is restricted. The infrastructure of the Balearics can comfortably accommodate more than double the current population and there is currently no feeling of panic among residents. The supermarket shelves are being replenished, most are not hoarding and the 10 private and public hospitals are reportedly well prepared. Schools are shut and have reportedly arranged for internet-based teaching and home schooling. The ports and airports are officially shut now with only essential repatriation and transport of food, medical and energy supplies guaranteed by law. There is now a solid €200 billion relief package in place.
A BRITISH woman has been dragged from a swimming pool in handcuffs after ignoring strict coronavirus lockdown rules. The British tourist was arrested in Tenerife yesterday to jubilant cheering from onlooking guests. It came after she was ordered to get out of the pool at Paradise Park hotel in Los Cristianos by staff. Footage captured the rebel holidaymaker jumping into the closed pool and then yelling at a police officer who asked her to leave. When she refused to leave, the officer was forced to strip down to his boxers and jump in to drag her out. A second officer then pinned her down and handcuffed her before she was escorted away.
Kicking and screaming
Booking giant outrage
Impact on real estate market
The Balearic Islands have been a favoured destination for mainland Spain and Europe for decades past. The strong measures in place protect the islands’ natural environment, conserve vast stretches of beautiful natural habitat, and considering the size of the islands, should help continue to attract the wealthy, rich and famous from near and far, despite this current hiatus. Past financial crises cannot be compared to this unprecedented global health crisis but we, as real estate agents, are certain of the resilience of the Mallorca and Balearic Real Estate Market. The recent volatility of the stock markets and the sudden realisation that we should not take life as we have known it for grant-
ed, may well reflect a strong increase in demand for real estate investment opportunities in the Balearic Islands, reaffirming the reputation of Mallorca and its sister islands to be a safe and secure place to invest in property. To quote an ancient Persian adage: “This too shall pass”. In the meantime, keep your distance, wash your hands and phones, appreciate your loved ones and keep safe - if not for you, for those weaker and more susceptible around you. Sending best wishes to you all. Amanda J Butler – an holistic approach to real estate in Mallorca. MJC Associates - +34 690075169, ajb@mjcassociates.net
OP QUICK Crossword Across 7 Ceded (7) 9 Wear away (5) 10 Creatures (7) 11 Scowl (5) 12 Remove dirt with a broom (5) 14 Cosmetic brand (7) 16 Permanently inactive (7) 18 Aegean island known for its sweet wine (5) 20 Gaiety (5) 22 --- Ffestiniog (7) 24 Form of address for a woman (5) 25 Late (7) Down 1 Road around an obstruction (6) 2 Dregs (8) 3 Notion (4) 4 Acts (8) 5 Game played on horseback (4) 6 Minute (6) 8 Miller’s nickname (5) 13 Wide view of an extensive area (8)
OP Sudoku
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
15 Fruit drink (8) 16 Bivouac (6) 17 Forbidden (5) 19 Shallow dish (6) 21 Whirlpool (4) 23 Peak (4)
All solutions are on page 14
GLOBAL booking site Booking.com has sparked outrage among its many hotel clients in Spain when it advised travellers to cancel their bookings over virus fears. The site worsened an already awful situation for most hotel and apartment owners when it sent out a warning text message this week to anyone travelling over the next few weeks. Despite the small print apparently protecting struggling owners, Booking.com overruled them and gave most travellers’ entire deposits back. “It is a shocking decision as many businesses are attempting to stay open to save jobs and their livelihoods and in any case the forced closure ends in under two weeks,” said one hotel owner in Marbella.
Death line
A PENSIONER could face a heavy fine after catching the virus and still travelling down to Murcia from Madrid to his second home. The 88-year-old man had begun falling ill in the capital, but still decided to travel to his villa in the Mar Menor. He travelled by train despite the ad-
vice of doctors and even went round a shopping centre before being admitted to Hospital Los Arcos, claimed a doctor. “There is a long list of people who think self-isolation means a holiday to Murcia,” said president of the Murcia region Fernando Lopez. Lopez insisted any travellers from Madrid must self-isolate for 14 days.
GO HOME
Tourists ordered to pack up and leave Spain’s Mallorca as hotels SHUTDOWN amid crisis THE unprecedented lockdown has crippled the tourist sector in Mallorca, with all holidaymakers being asked to return home. President of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol insisted all tourists leave the islands immediately and to only come back when normality returns. “We will give tourists all the support that is necessary for them to leave. “It does not make sense that visitors remain locked up in their hotel rooms.” Since the state of alarm decree was enforced, hote-
EXCLUSIVE by Isha Sesay
liers across the island have reported colossal damage to profits, spelling disaster for the tourism season ahead. Strict instructions by the Government of the Balearic Islands stopped them from taking any new reservations over the next 15 days. Speaking at a press conference today, the President of the Hotel Chain Association of the Balearic Islands (ACH), Gabriel Llobera, confirmed that there will be a progressive closure of all
Dirty dozen
A NUMBER of businesses in Magaluf have been fined for advertising offers on alcohol. The Ministry of Health in the Balearic Islands has launched proceedings against 12 establishments which failed to comply with the tourism of excess decree. Passed in January, the law serves to stamp out excessive drinking and anti-social behaviour in Playa de Palma, s’Arenal and Magaluf, as well as Sant Antoni in Ibiza. The 12 businesses were found making cut-price offers on alcohol via their web pages. Calvia Police charged them
with a serious breach of the decree and they face fines of between €6,000 and €60,000. Some establishments may be forced to close during the high season as further punishment. This zero tolerance approach has targeted destinations popular with British holidaymakers and strictly prohibits any promotions of booze. Guests on ‘all inclusive’ holidays will also be stung by the decree as they will only be allowed to have three free alcoholic beverages at lunch, another three at dinner and all ‘happy hour’ offers have now been banned.
hotels. “It is not feasible for hotels to continue operating at a business level without receiving any income. “This has led us to make the unthinkable decision to close all hotels,” explained Llobera. Meanwhile, the Olive Press has been informed that tourists have been ordered to pack up and return to their country of origin as soon as possible by hotel staff. Furthermore, until they leave they must adhere to the current rules to remain indoors. Briton Andy Uddy, who arrived last week, received these orders yesterday afternoon from the management at Son Caliu Hotel. “Yesterday, we were asked to leave the hotel as soon as we could due to the lockdown. “We have been trying to get on a flight home today as we don’t think we will be able to travel tomorrow,” Uddy told the Olive Press. “There is not a single soul on the streets, not a car on the road, and all hotel guests have been confined to barracks,” he added. The government was also working hard on restricting all national and international visitors arriving to airports or ports, with the exception of residents or emergency cases.
6
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
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
Different strokes COMPARING Spain and the UK’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic is like comparing chalk and cheese. While Spain seems to have the people’s health as a first priority, for the UK it seems to be about the economy. Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday told people in Britain to avoid pubs, clubs and restaurants. Unlike in Spain, he refused to make closures mandatory, which would have allowed the affected businesses to claim compensation. Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez has been quick to react to the coronavirus crisis. He refused to outlaw large public gatherings and then imposed heavy fines on anyone leaving home. Johnson explained last week he would not be shutting schools, while telling people with symptoms to self-isolate for just a week - no mention of social distancing or other suggested measures. Not much had changed as the number of cases in the UK surpassed 1,500 yesterday. By contrast, Spain began closing schools on March 9 when it had just over 1,000 cases. It has now brought in a total clampdown, which while horrific for the tourist industry, will hopefully slow down the spread of the virus. Thank God we live in Spain, where the government has vowed to do everything it can to cushion the blow for small and medium businesses and workers. This week it brought in an unprecedented package of payments to companies and individuals who are set to suffer and ruled that mortgage payments will be suspended in April and this could be extended. A total of €200 billion has been set aside to try to help. It is also set to approve a bill that will allow SMEs and freelancers (autonomos) to delay their tax payments by six months. While London, the economic engine of Britain, is seeing the fastest spread of coronavirus in the UK with over 400 cases, the real numbers are hard to know because health authorities there have stopped testing people who do not need hospitalisation. Yet no businesses had been ordered to close as we went to press while people have only been ‘advised’ to not attend events like the St Patrick’s Day celebrations tonight. A former director of the World Health Organisation revealed: “You test the population like crazy, find out where the cases are, immediately quarantine them and do contact tracing and get them out of the community. This deals with family clusters. That’s the key bedrock of getting this under control.” That was the approach by Spain, which worked tirelessly to trace the origin of each of its infections as it began to spread across the territory. And despite these measures, it now has over 11,000 cases. The whole country is therefore on lockdown for at least two weeks, with all businesses closed - apart from a few essential stores - and people ordered to remain in their homes. It is a horrible business, particularly for most expat businesses, which are going to really suffer. But there’s a comfort in knowing that the government is taking a decisive approach to this unprecedented crisis. And the virus will finally abate. Then we can all work out how to pick up the pieces.
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
Cabin fever
The Olive Press presents a Survival guide for parents at home with their children during quarantine. By Cristina Hodgson
D
OES it feel like a crowded house? Are you crawling the walls? Got cabin fever already? With schools, parks and playgrounds off limits, the answer is almost certainly a unified cry of YES! In fact, for many, the fortnight ahead may feel somewhat daunting. Energetic children locked indoors with their parents, working remotely or simply because they have no choice. It is a potentially explosive combination. Being stuck indoors with no school or social contact with friends to break the daily routine may trigger some rebellion and frustrated behaviour from the kids (and perhaps not just the little ones). Take my advice, the first thing is to establish is a new daily routine. Routines are essential for children, as they give them security and peace of mind. Establishing routines at home to encourage their autonomy, making them participate in the preparation of meals, in the cleaning of the house, setting play schedules, homework and daily exercise will make them find an order in all this uncertainty. Here we select 20 easy activities to help keep children entertained - and parents sane - during lockdown:
Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es
John Culatto johnc@theolivepress.es
Dimitris Kouimtsidis dimitris@theolivepress.es
Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es
Joanne Oakley joanne@theolivepress.es
Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es
Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es
Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es
Distribution ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 273 575 distribution@ theolivepress.es
Newsdesk: 0034 951 273 575 For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75 Head office
Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva Deposito Legal MA: 835-2017
AWARDS
2016 - 2020 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.
2012 - 2020 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.
2. Foot drawings: Are you able to write your name with your foot or draw a house? You may find you surprise yourself, but you’re guaranteed a giggle in attempting to master the pen with your toes 3. Plant a seed: Take a lentil or chickpea and plant it in some wet cotton. Watch it grow
12. Catwalk: Anything goes. Open the wardrobe and play with impossible combinations. 13. Family tree: Outline your own family tree, see how far back you can go. 14. Create bookmarks: With paper, cardboard, stickers, magazine cutouts... design your best bookmark! 15. Hot and cold: Hide an object. The only clues you can give for someone else to find it is ‘cold’ for far and ‘hot’ for near. The more difficult the hiding place, the better 16. Chinese whispers: Think of a strange phrase. Now pass it to whoever is on your right, but say it very quickly. What comes out in the end? Perhaps you could try it in Spanish and put your language skills to test
4. Homemade Puppets: Find some old socks, sew some buttons on them as eyes, and make your own puppet show
17. Homemade Tent: Collect fabrics and blankets and set up your own tent, where you can tell stories and have a titbit
5. Hide messages around the house: Take some post-its and hide surprise messages around the house; you’re sure to get a smile out of the person who finds them
7. Play volleyball with a balloon: If you have a balloon, blow it up and play a game of volleyball in the living room
Publisher / Editor
Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es
1. Spider’s web: Turn the hall into a spider’s web: with tape or wool... you have to go through it but without touching it!
6. Pillow fight: Nothing like a pillow fight to release tension and laugh out loud
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
8. Equilibrist: With a ribbon or wool, walk over it as if it were a tightrope walker’s cable. It’s not as easy as it looks!
The Must Do’s for kids at home Make sure to include in the new daily routine: 1. Normal chores, (meals, bath, breaks, homework), 2. Housework (helping to make the bed, setting the table, removing dishes from the table) will help children feel useful and positive about themselves. 3. Daily exercise: Lack of physical exercise can increase a child’s irritability and stress that can affect his or her emotional state. Add music and dance to the daily routine. Jumping competitions on who can jump higher or jump over obstacles. If you live in a house with stairs, run up and down them a few times. However, make sure the exercises are done before 6pm to avoid activating your children too much before going to bed.
9. Treasure map: Hide an object and then draw a treasure map of your house, marking the spot with an X. Who can find it?
10. Collective drawing: Make any scribble on a piece of paper and then someone else has to complete the drawing and try to make it into a clearcut picture of something 11. Basketball: Use a bucket or a bin... Each time you move the ‘basket’ further away. Do you have a ‘Michael Jordan’ in the house?
18. Write a diary: Write down what you’ve done every day. It may not seem like much now, but it will become very, very special with time 19. Stranger for dinner: Have dinner with your family but pretend you don’t know each other. What would you talk about, how would you introduce yourself? Have fun! 20. Talk Nonsense: You say something, the next person answers with something that has nothing to do with what’s been said and so on. Let’s see who can go the longest without laughing.
Print out or write down the above list, cut out each idea and put them into a draw, pick one out and go have some fun! Don’t forget the typical card and board games like UNO, snakes and ladders etc. Have a movie night (with popcorn), camp night, where everybody sleeps in the living room. Have fun with a bit of karaoke, musical statues, bake a cake. The list is endless.
March 20th - April 1st 2020
7
Capital punishment Dispatch from Heather Galloway in Madrid
I
In scenes reminiscent of the civil war, the army is on the streets of Madrid and the locals are going mad at home. The Olive Press sent a reporter out onto the streets to take their temperature
T’S not exactly the Civil War or a scene from the 1936 Battle of Madrid when the Republican icon, La Pasionaria famously declared ‘No Pasarán!’, but there is a definite siege mentality in Madrid. While Thursday March 12 saw a number of people trying to maintain some semblance of normality with people still eating out on terraces, by Friday 13, the streets were all but stripped bare of life with the chairs and tables of the street cafes and restaurants DESERTED: The Prado Museum was closed for first time in years piled and chained. By Monday the army was on A state of emergency has And while chemists are stickeasily grasped in these parts, the streets! though there are some who Following Prime Minister been declared. Licenses for ing sold out signs for masks are clearly getting to grips Pedro Sanchez’s announce- restaurants, gyms and clubs and hand wash in their shop with it. ment that Spain will have have been suspended, and windows, on Thursday the “My wife and I had to stop 10,000 recorded cases of the the city’s dwellers were or- tactile Spaniards were still people from shaking our virus any time now, it seemed dered to retire to their homes. wrestling with restraint when hands at a meeting last like the Madrilenos finally “All the bars closing is the last it came to their customary week,” says journalist Anthohad no choice but to sit up straw in Spain,” laughs local greetings. Luis Perez. Distance is not a concept ny Luke. and take note. “But then we went to a government office to ask for a document that was delivered by a man behind glass wearing a mask and gloves and were told it was uncivil of us to be there.” The streets are now empty of people and also traffic. Like August, but without the tourists. This is bad news for taxi vorce rates rising significantly contagion which depicts a bat- drivers, and as one driver By Joanne Oakley since couples have been hav- tle against a mystery disease Julio tells me: “I’m not woring to spend more time togeth- are experiencing sales spikes ried about getting the virus er in self containment and increased viewing because I’m not getting any THERE are always winners clients!” and losers in any major global · Online dating sites are ex- Across the pond however, the Tourist numbers dropped by event like the coronavirus. periencing a surge in activity trend is slightly different but 45% in the capital, last week, And while many businesses, as more people are staying at maybe unsurprising, with guns while this week it is almost such as hotels, airlines and home due to social distancing and body armour sales shoot- down to none. stock markets, are reeling with the likes of Tinder using ing up. They don’t exactly have anyfrom the shocking lockdown safety pop ups for those who However, coronavirus is of where to go as everything is and spread of Covid-19, some may be tempted to meet course having a detrimental are doing well. effect on entire business sec- shut, museums, restaurants Of course toilet roll, face · Netflix and other digital tors resulting in redundancies and bars. masks and hand sanitiser subscription services are of and businesses going into ad- Chinese shops, meanwhile, have had their shutters down brands are booming, as are course benefitting as people ministration. naturally supermarkets. will be sitting at home watch- Here in Spain, restaurants and for longer than most. “The But as the Olive Press has dis- ing a lot more television hotels are closing and some general feeling among the covered, here are 10 other in12,000 workers on the Costa Chinese,” says Luke, “is that the Spaniards are not takteresting businesses that are · Amazon is also surfing the del Sol are losing their jobs. doing well: coronavirus wave as it is re- A fleet of rental cars on the ing the whole thing seriously portedly taking on more staff Costa remain almost entirely enough and they are afraid of · Pornhub, the adult content as orders have spiked unused with thousands of can- being infected or re-infected.” company is offering a free cellations. On Friday, Luke laughed month of premium content in · Deliveroo and other food A number of airlines are strug- when asked to draw parallels a bid to ‘help to pass the time takeaway agencies are thriv- gling with the likes of Jet2 can- with a wartime scenario but and keep ourselves enter- ing as restaurants have closed celling all flights and demand by this week he was having tained’. The porn site offered for many others plummeting second thoughts: “I thought this service in Italy initially, · Whatsapp, Skype and other due to restrictions on travel, last week that this is hardly rolling the deal out to Spain digital connection services leading British Airways to conthe walking dead but now…” following lockdown at the have all registered an increase sider redundancies. weekend in use with people calling up High streets will feel the hit as For such a noisy and lively their loved ones instead of vis- they are shut down as non es- metropolis, the veil of silence that has fallen on Madrid · Sex toys company Woman- iting in a bid to fight isolation sential businesses. izer has reported an increase Those in the automotive indus- is nothing short of freakish. in sales across Europe since · Online gaming has seen a try have been asked to stay at Unlike the Brits, Spaniards are not ones to stay indoors the spread of the virus. Per- boost as people are finding all home with factories closing. haps by those isolated from sorts of ways to fight lonliness And also, those who are self or keep themselves to themtheir partners employed will also potentially selves. · Dean Koontz’s book, be at huge risk with calls to It’s not in their nature. Which · Divorce lawyers are doing thought to have predicted the cease the autonomo pay- is undoubtedly why Covid-19 well, with China reporting di- virus, along with a 2011 film, ments. has proved so virulent here.
Not getting stung! The winners in the Covid stakes
Olive Press online ‘Spain’s best English news website’
Users
2M
3.6 M 5.3 M
ON TOP: Olive Press website traffic for last four weeks
TOP 200
THE march of the coronavirus has helped the Olive Press website enter the highest echelons of the world’s top publishers. Our online portal www.theolivepress.es is entering uncharted territory as it soars up into the world’s top 8000 sites. The most trusted English website in Spain at 239th position, we are also making huge in-roads in both the UK and Ireland, where we also sit comfortably inside the Top 200 sites for each country, according to Alexa.com, owned by Amazon. We put this down to consitently updated, relevent and well researched content. Our hard-working team of over a dozen journalists and writers around Spain are first to the news that matters, on a daily and, even hourly, basis. We also stick to the key stories that matter around the peninsula and its islands. We are not interested in Eamonn Holmes’ tax bill, a shooting in a Manila shopping mall and, particularly, the death of the Monkees singer some 12 months late! And nor are the 3.5 million visitors who came to our site over the last four weeks. According to Google analytics (see above) they were treated to 5.2 million ‘hits’ (or pages read) on everything from the spread of the virus, to things to do at home and ways to avoid it. The site has become the only resource expats interested in Spain need to use, not to mention tourists arriving here in their millions each month.
7,485
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.
# 164 # 230
Here are the top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: EXCLUSIVE: Tourist season in Spain’s Mallorca by coronavirus as major events cancelled 1and-crippled scared tourists cancel summer holidays (127,367 visitors)
Spain puts ENTIRE COUNTRY in lockdown citizens to their homes except for these 8 2-confining reasons (112,539) HAVE TOILET ROLL AND GIN’: Jet2 Brit3ing- ish‘WE holidaymakers on Spain’s Costa del Sol enjoybeach despite coronavirus lockdown (110,413) CORONAVIRUS: Spain’s Costa del Sol, Malaga and Guadalhorce declared ‘special containment 4- areas’ as cases in Andalucia top 100 (105,582) - EXCLUSIVE: Coronavirus ‘worries’ Costa del Sol and Andalucia hotels and restaurants as 5 holiday bookings plummet in Spain with 35 now dead (82,461)
Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote
8
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
Stuck at home and not sure what to do with yourself? Beat the coronavirus lockdown with these virtual museum tours from home, writes Cristina Hodgson
A
LA CULTURA
See the Prado in your PJs
S coronavirus continues to dominate our daily lives, with Spain’s state of alarm in force and measures to limit freedom of movement, avoiding public spaces doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a dose of culture. You can now experience the world’s best museums from Madrid to New York in the comfort of your own home. Many institutions across Spain have joined the viral hashtags #YoMeQuedoEnCasa and #QuedateEnCasa, offering the possibility of online art collections, which can be viewed virtually along with their corresponding information. This Olive Press guide will keep the boredom at bay, and proffer a little culture and education while you’re at it.
Three Top Spanish museums which offer online tours:
1. Prado
2. Thyssen
3. Picasso
Spanish museums aren’t the only ones offering virtual tours where you can learn about art, history, and science. There are literally hundreds more places to choose from.
mous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Enjoy the virtual tour and get a peek at artworks from Monet, Edgar Degas, and Gauguin, among others.
including: Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s masterpiece Madonna and Child dating from the first half of the 14th century.
Here is the Olive Press Top Ten: (In no particular order)
4. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul: Google Arts & Culture makes it possible to visit one of Korea’s popular museums from anywhere around the world. Google’s virtual tour offers the best stories and featured content curated by experts from the museum and takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea.
Madrid’s Museo del Prado opened to the public on November 19, 1819 as a Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture. The Prado has been described as a museum of painters not of paintings, given that some of its artists, such as Bosch, El Greco and Goya are represented with more than 100 works. The Prado does a live show on Instagram, also visible on Facebook, every morning at 10:00 am. The live tour lasts one hour. museodelprado.es
GET COMFY: And virtually stroll through Malaga’s Picasso Museum
At the end of February, the Thyssen in Malaga opened one of its star exhibitions, dedicated to Rembrandt and his portrait art in Amsterdam. At the moment it cannot be visited in person, but it can be viewed digitally thanks to the magnificent virtual tour of all the rooms. You can view 80 paintings, never before seen in Europe, directly on your screen. museothyssen.org
1. British Museum, London: This iconic museum located in the heart of the city allows virtual visitors to tour the History of Time exhibition and discover the ancient Queen of Sheba and Egyptian mummies. Don’t miss out on the British Museum’s fantastic virtual tour. 2. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C: This distinguished American art museum features two online exhibits. The first ‘Fashioning a Nation’ is an exploration of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including the portrayal of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Verme and the Masters of Genre Painting.
3. Musée d’Orsay, Paris: In the centre of Paris on the banks of the Seine, installed in the former Orsay railway station, you can find this iconic Parisian museum which houses dozens of fa-
5. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam: This gem has the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters. By virtually visiting this museum, you can easily appreciate the talent of this ingenious self-taught painter. 6. Museo Archeologico – Athens: The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the most important in the world. With three types of exhibitions: ‘Temporary’, ‘Permanent’ and ‘Unseen’, the museum offers numerous online videos to follow and learn more about the Predynatic period, the Ancient Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom. 7. Pinacoteca di Brera – Milan: The palazzo was built on the remains of a 14th century monastery of the Umiliati order which was subsequently given to the Jesuits. In the early 17th century it was turned into the solidly austere building that can be seen today. Its online collection hosts 669 records
The Palacio de Buenavista houses the Collection of Museo Picasso Malaga. It is located in the heart of the old city, and the building is a magnificent example of 16th-century Andalucian architecture. The ground beneath the Museo Picasso Malaga preserves important evidence of the city’s roots in the past. Exceptional Roman and Moorish remains show visitors the fragments of the city’s history, dating back to the seventh century BC. museopicassomalaga.org
8. Musei Vaticani – Rome: ‘The Vatican, the Museum of Museums,’ not only houses the extensive collections of art, archaeology and ethnoanthropology gathered by the Popes over the centuries, but also contains some of the Apostolic Palace’s most extraordinary and artistically significant rooms. You can take a virtual tour through these richly detailed spaces. 9. The Musée du LouvreParis: The Louvre is one of Paris’ most visited attractions, hosting a collection of 35,000 priceless masterpieces and antiques. The museum was once a fortress, built in 1190. In the 16th century, it was turned from a fortress into a royal palace. Visit the museum’s exhibition rooms and galleries, thanks to a virtual tour sponsored by Shiseido. 10. Galleria degli Uffizi – Florence: The Uffizi Gallery is a prominent art museum located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence. It’s one of the world’s top art museums - housing some of the most important works of the Renaissance, including works by Leonardo da Vinci as well as its outstanding collections of ancient sculptures and paintings (from the Middle Ages to the Modern period). Discover the masterpieces of its collections and history, travelling through captivating descriptions and HD pictures
Property
go S -to pa se pr in’s ct op io er n ty
www.theolivepress.es
March 2020
Self-isolating this month? Our top Covid-19 Spanish hideaways include castles and country estates See page 14
Nice one, Ron! Harry Potter helps inspire cool Madrid studio with elevated bed A MADRID architect has used Ron Weasley’s fictional home as inspiration for her latest project. Pia Mendaro was given the brief by her friend and artist Clara Cebrian, who said she wanted her 10m2 studio to resemble the home of the muchloved Harry Potter character. “Clara is an artist and does not like overly designed things,” she told Designboom. “She wanted something like Ron Weasley’s house; something that could adapt to the needs that appear over time.” The highlight of the makeover is the elevated bed, which Mendaro designed with Manuel Ocana and is capable of holding up to five people while giving the studio much
Mortgage freeze SPAIN’S government has announced plans to freeze mortgage payments for families affected by the coronavirus crisis. The measures, part of a €200 billion package approved this week, will force banks to put a moratorium on mortgage payments from workers who have lost income, or are out of work, during the 15day state of alarm. The moratorium applies to the principal residence of affected workers, and includes the self-employed (‘autonomos’) suffering a lack of income caused by the outbreak.
Details emerged this week after a never-before-seen virtual Council of Ministers meeting led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the bunker of La Moncloa palace. The royal decree, the second of Spain’s coronavirus crisis, also includes a ban on cutting basic supplies (water, electricity and gas) to vulnerable people. The Council of Ministers has debated whether to extend the moratorium on rents – but currently there is no agreement, claimed El Pais. Ministers will also help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by deferring or reducing
more floorspace. It also connected to a long balcony on the roof of the property. Meanwhile, the terracotta bathroom, hidden behind a wall, gives a splash of colour.
Homeowners given a break amid coronavirus crisis but tenants left wanting
their tax contributions for six months, without interest. In addition, €400 million will be set aside for companies and the self-employed in the tourism, transport and hospitality sectors. The State will pay unemployment benefits to all people who are left without work, even if they do not meet the requirements for it. Companies will be obliged to make workers work from home, where technically possible. In business where it is not possible to work remotely, the government will encourage reductions in hours and flexibility.
MD let us guide you home
Buying or Selling a property come to visit us in our brand new office, Plaza Portals nous. 3. or visit www.themallorcadeal.com
PROPERTY
10
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
Escape to
Asturias Castle, 14 million euros Where better to self-isolate than in a fortified castle? This 15-bedroom, 14-bathroom estate was the mastermind of King Alfonso III who built it on a previous settlement in a bid to protect the coast and estuary from Norman invasion. The property spreads over 43,485 m2 and is enclosed by a high crenelated wall. On the highest part of the land sits a quadrangular tower of 119.57 m2 while the new construction of 1,227 m2 with a featured balcony sits adjacent to the tower wall. The Italian-style gardens feature fruit trees and shrubs and species which have been growing there for over a century.
Hunting Estate, Madrid, (Price on request)
This sweeping estate could get you through the apocalypse, nevermind the pesky coronavirus. With 15 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, your family and friends will be more than comfortable. Set among sloping hills and valleys, its 10 artificial ponds collect enough rain water to provide a fresh supply throughout the year. Meanwhile, the hunting grounds include mouflon, wild boar and roe deer and the surrounding lands are extensive enough to keep livestock. The estate is located to the west of Madrid and 74 km from Avila and 67 km from Toledo, allowing easy access to visit any of these cities in a day. Its vast forests also feature centuries’ old Holm oaks and meadows nestled between the Sierra de San Vicente and Sierra de la Higuera.
Segovia Castle, 15 million euros This 20-bedroom castle will transport you back to the medieval era while allowing you to live off the grid. Declared a National Heritage site, the Gothic-Mudejar estate also features Arab and neoclassical details, with historians believe it could date back to the eighth century. No relics from that era remain but its arches (left) do date back to the 1100s, while it was home to the King of Aragon in the 14th century. The large estate, sprawling over 780,000 acres, also features a traditional mill, campsite, crypt and several warehouses.
The Property Insider
T
by Adam Neale
Speechless
HE Irish have a saying that goes, ‘if you can’t say anything, say nothing,’ and it seems particularly apt in the case of Google’s Local Reviews where it is possible for any ‘person’, who may have never used your service, to give your company a one star rating without any comments, justification or explanation. Such a state of affairs means anyone with a computer and multiple Gmail aliases can damage your company’s hard-won reputation. And here lies the real problem – according to Google there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. This happened to Terra Meridiana. A ‘user’ (robot, real or otherwise we will never know) who to our knowledge had never used the services of our company, gave us a one-star rating, and this is the important bit...they did not leave a comment. Now I am not saying my company is perfect, but we do try to offer a good service, so when we received this one star review we were pretty upset, especially since we had no record of this ‘person’ ever having used the services of our company. Moreover, since the ‘person’ did not leave any feedback, how could we know how we had failed or how to improve our service? It is entirely possible the person mistook our com-
pany for another company; we wanted to know. We responded to the reviewer and asked them to explain the reason for their one star rating, but to date we have not received a response. Overnight we went from five stars to 4.8 without, it appears, any justification, so we decided to contact Google.
Google’s guidelines for the removal of negative reviews I won’t bore you with the process of complaining to Google although if you are interested you will find some excellent resources online. Suffice to say, Google considers receiving a low star rating without a comment is not a good enough reason for removing a negative review. And this is why Google’s guidelines for removal fail to do their job. Are ratings reviews? Google says: “Reviews from your customers can provide valuable feedback for your business, and replying to reviews can help build your customers’ trust.” The reality is Google’s guidelines for the removal of negative reviews are not good enough. So what Google really means to say is – ‘we have no
guidelines for what constitutes a genuine review’. Google’s best practice for reviews is: Google allows anyone to post a rating of your company without a comment there is no way of verifying the reviewer is indeed a customer of your company. So we decided to consult Google’s best practices, where we learnt, “Reviews from your customers can provide valuable feedback for your business, and replying to reviews can help build your customers’ trust.” Somewhat surprisingly – or perhaps those who have written to Google in the past will say it is no surprise – it said that a one star rating with no explanation ‘did not meet their guidelines for removal’. It would have to stay. To us this seems completely absurd. So, we sent
Terra Merridiana’s Adam Neale explores Google Local Reviews and why you cannot trust them the following response to Google: “I do think Google should allow users to differentiate what exactly they are rating with comments: for example: A. I want to make a comment about this website B. I want to make a comment about the services of this company All ratings should require a comment or be disallowed. Any comments?” To date we have received no answer. As this article, How to Delete a Google Review points out, bad reviews can break a business, especially one that is new, or is classified as a small to medium enterprise. While Google does have a Small Business Support team to whom you can complain about a negative review, there is no guarantee that they will help, as we found out, because the review was not abusive, nor did it break any of Google’s other related policies. We would suggest that Google change its policy and disallow reviews without explanations. That includes five star ratings. A review is of no use to anyone unless it is honest and transparent. If you don’t like us, tell us why, but if you can’t say anything, say nothing, and step away from your keyboard!
Terra Meridiana, 77 Calle Caridad, Estepona • 29680 • Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 . Email: info@terrameridiana.com. Website: www.terrameridiana.com
PROPERTY
11
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
the country These mansions, castles and country estates provide the perfect hideout from the coronavirus epidemic, writes Laurence Dollimore
Gumuchdijan Villa, Sotogrande, 12.295 million euros
This eight-bedroom eight-bathroom property will keep you more than occupied in the exclusive enclave of Sotogrande. Spreading over 16,000sqft, the ultra-modern home comes complete with a gym, spa, outdoor AND indoor swimming pool, wine cellar and unique water feature. All properties are available through Sotheby’s International.
Mallorca estate, 17.5 million euros This 15th century property in the hills of Calvia provides the ultimate escape from civilisation while being just 30 minutes from Palma Airport. The main house is complimented by a guest house, providing 15 bedrooms in total. But it’s the extra features that make this
property special, with the old oil press now a home cinema. There is also a swimming pool, library, wine cellar, abundant olive groves, water well, fruit and vegetable garden, tennis court, several garages and more. And of course the ever essential living quarters for the staff.
Arranging a funeral abroad can be
complicated
We make it simple A pre-paid funeral plan from Avalon is an easy way to arrange and pay for your funeral in advance so your family doesn’t have to deal with unfamiliar procedures and language barriers.
Why choose Avalon? Fastest growing funeral plan provider in Europe, helping more than 70,000 customers over 25 years
24/7 expat bereavement helpline
The UK’s most trusted funeral plan provider*
We work with local, independent Funeral Directors
Local support for you and your family
A funeral in Mallorca or the UK
Plan your expat funeral with us today and enjoy your life in the sun. Talk to us on +34 871 55 18 15 www.avalonfuneralplans.com/mallorca *Based on over 1,500 reviews on Trustpilot
Plan happy, choose
12
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
PROPERTY
Au natural Stunning new Ibiza home of the future is almost 100% self-sufficient This picturesque home is the picture of simplicity. The work of local architect Maria Castello Martinez, Ca l’Amo is spread over 42,385m2 at the north end of San Mateo in Ibiza. Its stone walls have been erected in an increasingly wild forest area filled with pine and juniper trees. The house is separated into five distinct areas and has been designed to allow for natural ventilation during the hot summer months - helped by the use of stone, wood and marble materials and natural shading from the surrounding trees. Meanwhile, all interior pavements, wetland coverings, pool and terraces are made of natural limestone. The property also relies almost entirely on rainwater which it collects and stores in a cistern capable of holding more than 200 litres.
Elegant sea view villa in Old Bendinat for sale. 7 Beds
5 Baths 620 m² - Constructed 1600 m²- Plot Pool €7.7m Ref: 19021
Luxury Mallorcan villa situated in Old Bendinat, one of the most prestigious residential areas of Mallorca. Boasting beautiful sea views from all living areas, this classical style property is beautifully presented with bright south-facing rooms and oak parquet throughout. Distributed over 3 floors, double lounge and dining room, 7 spacious bedrooms, master with walk-in wardrobes and private terrace. Nicely landscaped gardens, al fresco dining and delightful sea views over the pool. Just 10 minutes to Palma.
Contact Amanda J Butler your one stop property advisor in Mallorca email: ajb@mjcassociates.net or tel: (+34) 690 075 169
Life in a box THEY are 1.2 metres in height by 2.5 metres in length and, believe it or not, they are ‘living accommodation’. When finished, they will rent out for €215 a month… and they also come with rules - no smoking and no sex between residents (as if there was room)! No wonder these ‘hive floors’, as they’re being called, are causing such a buzz of controversy in Madrid. Developer Haibu 4.0 plans to build ten of these blocks in the city containing an incredible 579 rooms. Relatively-speaking, they provide no more space for humans than hives for bees. And Madrid city council claims it is trying to stop these new developments which are illegal in the capital because they ‘flout urban planning regulations’. A spokesman insisted that the ‘homes’ did not yet have the correct permits. Dubbed ‘coffin homes’ in Hong Kong, they’re stacked on top of each other next to the common spaces available to all the residents. This has stopped plans to present them publicly next month, according to company sources. Haibu 4.0 points out that it takes just 15 days to build each housing development and has expressed its intention to build them on both private and public land. In addition, only workers and students with work can rent, residents who have already lived in the city have priority and the age range is between 22 and 63.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
13
March 20th - April 2nd
Aroma of success By Joshua Parfitt
Pork of the town
THE best torrezno in Spain has been revealed. Last year Spaniards ate 13.5 million torreznos de Soria – a deep fried strip of bacon – similar to a pork crackling. The snack, usually served as a side, has had a resurgence in recent years, with more and more chefs competing in the annual ‘best torrezno’ contest. This year’s golden boy, chosen through a blind taste test, was Fernando Arranz, from Bar Restaurante Piscis in Soria, Castilla y Leon. A torrenzo veteran of 45 years, Arranz scored 10 out of 10, for his recipe’s ‘golden crust, crunchy texture and perfect flavour’, which was inspired by his grandmother.
POLICE in Valencia have shown Olive Press readers how to make a cheap alternative to protective masks. In an exclusive video, Guardia Civil agents in Gandia, explained that coffee filters are as good as FFP2 masks to
Guardia Civil trick to fashion homemade masks costing less than 5 cents each
ward off the coronavirus. The cops insisted their homemade alternatives can do ‘a great job’ as mask stocks run dry around Spain. The mask can be made using various brands of paper coffee filter – which cost just
BEAN THERE: Reporter Joshua demonstrates the grindingly good method online
€2.29 per 100 in supermarkets – and fastening them with elastic bands. Bands with a barbed end can be inserted into two holes perforated at two opposite sides of the filter. Elastic bands can also be stapled onto both sides and pulled back around the ears. It comes as volunteers and residents visiting the sick or elderly have been advised to wash their hands and wear protective masks. However, many are intended for single use, or can become moist. Olive Press medical correspondent Jeremy Kenton said: “Remember that if a protective mask becomes moist you actually are at risk. “You only need a mask if you are in close contact with people, or fear you may be infected. “Washing your hands and avoiding touching your face may still be more effective than using a mask to prevent infection.” Watch the video online: www.youtube.com/c/ olivepressnews.
Friends.
Reset.
Music.
At OD Port Portals we have our own star rating. In fact, we have all the stars of the Mallorca sky and we will enjoy them all together every summer night at OD Sky Bar, on our spacious terrace and at our restaurant On Top. A hotel full of local experiences, music, art, gastronomy, yoga, pre-parties, flea markets, brunches, concerts, Pilates, tardeo, sea, sun and all the stars. A hotel full of life.
Horizon.
Sunset.
Memories.
BUSINESS
14
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
When you take out an advertising campaign with the Olive Press, you get a lot more than just the printed newspaper vi te ee ial 00 si Fr tor 0,0 eb i 1 w ed ur ay o -d in r-a to si
Sponsored posts on our website with to your site and with an average of links 50,000 visitors per day
ur s to Yo ory d 00 er st ote 0,0 low 2 l om ly fo pr ar ok ne bo ce Fa
We promote you on our hugely popu Facebook page with 23,000 likes lar and as many followers
The Olive Press gives you more! contact sales@theolivepress.es or 951 27 35 75 for more information
SPAIN has announced a €200 billion package to help business owners, the self-employed and laid-off workers from the coronavirus crisis. The Prime Minister said the economic measures – equivalent to around 20% of Spain’s GDP – are the ‘largest’ mobilisation of public funds in modern Spanish history. Pedro Sanchez promised that he would leave ‘no-one behind’ in a comforting press conference on Tuesday. “We must protect our employment, our companies, our families…there will come hard times, but united we can resist the pandemic,” he promised. The key moves were the freezing of mortgage payments for affected workers, and a special benefit for the self-employed and laidoff workers whose incomes have been affected.
Alarm
All self-employed (autonomo) workers with severe losses will be able to access a special benefit and will be exempt from paying social security contributions while the state of alarm is in place. Companies who have salaried staff will be able to temporarily lay off workers without paying severance packages – and workers will likewise be able to access unemployment benefits. Employers will not have to pay social security contributions for their laid-off workers while any temporary layoffs (ERTE) are in effect. Once the temporary lay off period is over, the workers will resume work and employers resume paying social security contributions as before. Sanchez has urged compa-
AXED: Valencia’s Fallas cancellation could be a €500 million loss
Spain’s €200 billion plan to aid ‘autonomos’, employers and laid-off workers through the coronavirus crisis
WATER DAMAGE Finding an emergency plumber to fix a burst pipe in the early hours of the morning can be a stressful experience. Damage can run into the thousands. Most home insurance covers water damage from leaking pipes. But what is covered and what is not, can be confusing.
GUARANTEED PROTECTION
Home insurance from Línea Directa covers your property 100% against any water damage, which means we will guarantee the insured contents for their full base value. Our policy also covers accidents, unforeseen spillage and leaks from neighbouring properties. Our policies also cover flooding, mudslides or an accidental diversion on the ordinary course of water flow in channels, ditches or sewage flows.
DISCOVER A LEAK
If you discover a leak, turn off the stop valve to stop the flow of water. Then turn off the mains electricity supply. Place a bucket under the leak to catch as much water as possible, while turning on all the taps to reduce the system pressure. Take photographs of any damage and retain any possessions that have been damaged. These may be needed in the event of a claim. If you would like some further advice on this matter, please call our English speaking customer service on 902 325 325.
as a result of economic stagnation following the lockdown. Half of the €200 billion package is earmarked as ‘liquidity’ for at-risk businesses.
Far from home TENS of thousands of tourists have remained on the Canary and Balearic islands respectively, despite the coronavirus. Approximately 100,000 tourists across both sets of islands are still in hotels and private accomodations, despite the lockdown throughout the country.
Infected
The President of the Canaries, Angel Victor Torres confirmed in a press conference that the number of guests still on the islands of the coast of West Africa are between 80,000 and 90,000. A rough estimation of the number on the Bale-
arics is about 15,000. Torres has asked the health authorities to close down all remaining hotels and expedite the repatriation of foreigners. This comes after all flights from mainland Spain to the two sets of islands were cancelled from last night, as per an Aena statement. The islands do not stand alone in dealing with this however, as the Federal Government announced that it will give the autonomous regions €210 million in the fight against coronavirus. In Spain there are over 17,000 people infected with the virus, an increase of 25% since Wednesday.
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
TM
Across: 7 Yielded, 9 Erode, 10 Animals, 11 Frown, 12 Sweep, 14 Yardley, 16 Extinct, 18 Samos, 20 Cheer, 22 Blaenau, 24 Madam, 25 Overdue.
902 123 282
We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com
ivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1
nies ‘not to fire any staff’ and plans for a second royal decree to stop a major blow to the economy. This is in response to the over 100,000 workers, who are facing temporary layoffs
*Fully comprehensive offer valid for new customers only. Guarantee subjec t to cover, repair at approved garage, and cour tesy vehicle availabilit y. Subjec t to conditions. O ffer ends 30/11/18.
2/8/18 17:01
Down: 1 Bypass, 2 Sediment, 3 Idea, 4 Performs, 5 Polo, 6 Teensy, 8 Dusty, 13 Panorama, 15 Lemonade, 16 Encamp, 17 Taboo, 19 Saucer, 21 Eddy, 23 Apex.
SUDOKU
PROTECT YOUR HOME
Critical care Semana Santa
A further €30 million is for scientific research to develop a covid-19 vaccine and cure. Another €17 million is to support the groups most likely to suffer from the effects of the pandemic. The International Monetary Fund has warned that the ongoing paralysis to Spain’s tourism industry is an unprecedented situation with growth forecasts impossible. Meanwhile the European Central Bank has announced anti-crisis measures to help banks support the economy. In a conference call to European leaders ECB leader Christine Lagarde said the economic situation could become ‘as bad as 2008’ if governments are not decisive enough. The huge Fallas festival in Valencia, which usually injects around €500 million into the economy, has been cancelled alongside the key Semana Santa celebrations which are huge earners for the Andalucian economy in particular. The Feria de Sevilla, due to take place at the end of April has also been cancelled. It is the city’s largest festival after Semana Santa and has an economic impact of €800 million.
HEALTH IN the midst of the coronavirus pandemic the question on everyone’s lips – well except ‘where are all the toilet rolls’ – is inevitably going to be ‘is there a cure?’ Covid-19 is sweeping across the world, with infections and deaths rising everyday. Globally, 182,000 people have been infected with more then 7,000 dead. Scientific teams across the world are scrambling to create a vaccine to prevent or cure the infection. So far, there is no proven cure or treatment but some scientists are claiming they are closing in an end to the viral spread. The first to create a vaccine was Chinese researchers in February and after further research, it is thought that human testing will begin in April. The drug used is an antiviral and is believed to have been developed for Ebola. Closer to home, Spain is now launching its own clinical trials into this vaccine and will test the drug on infected
15
The race is on
Spain joins US, China and Australia in bid to find a cure against coronavirus
patients. These trials will be carried out in three hospitals across Spain, in Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona. Meanwhile in the US, a human clinical trial has begun testing an experimental vaccine to protect against the virus. The drug apparently uses genetic engineering to create bits of the virus, therefore being recognised by the immune system. Although health officials have said it may take up to 18 months to test any vaccine fully, it is thought that this drug could protect peo-
ple in the short term while a vaccine is properly tested. There are also researchers in Australia who may be even closer to the goal, claiming that a HIV and anti-malaria drug has cured Covid-19 patients.Professor David Paterson from the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research said: “It’s a potentially effective treatment. Patients would end up with no viable coronavirus in their system at all after the end of therapy.” The professor is hoping to trial the vaccine on a large scale by the end of the month.
March 20th - April 2nd 2020
Above and beyond As well as your expertise in eye care, what other support do you provide to the visually impaired in Spain? By Jorge Martinez de Lizarduy Araico, Specsavers Opticas IN March Specsavers Opticas announced the launch of its national fundraising campaign in aid of ONCE Foundation for Guide Dogs (FOPG), to help support vulnerable people with severe vision loss. We have pledged to raise more than €5,000 over the next year, to support the important work of the FOPG and shine a light on the incredible service it provides. What is ONCE? ONCE stands for the Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos Españoles, or the Spanish National Organization for the Blind. It is a charity working hard to improve the quality of life for the blind, those with visual impairment and disabled people in general throughout Spain. They have 72,231 members (figure correct as of 31/12/2019) and of those 87% have a severe visual impairment and 13% are completely blind. What is FOPG? Under the umbrella of ONCE sits another charity; Fundacion ONCE del Perro Guia (FOPG) – the ONCE Foundation for Guide Dogs. The foundation runs the only centre which breeds and trains guide dogs for blind people, or those with serious vision loss, to help them gain better mobility and more independence. It provides its services to people with visual disabilities throughout Spain, by virtue of the collaboration with ONCE itself, which offers the guide dog as a free social service for people affiliated with that organisation who request it and are eligible. The foundation breeds its own dogs and takes responsibility for the entire process of training the
To find out more or book your next appointment head to your nearest Specsavers Opticas store or visit www.specsavers.es
Complete glasses from €
29
Santa Ponça Avda. Rei Jaume I, 117 Tel. 871 964 331 Includes standard single-vision lenses. Other lenses and Extra Options available at an additional charge. ©2020 Specsavers Ópticas. All rights reserved.
Olive Press Mallorca - 20th March 2020 - 170 h x 256 w
guide dog and pairing it with the most suitable applicant. They also train the new owner how to make best use of this mobility aid and supports both the owner and the dog throughout its life as a guide dog. Why has Specsavers Opticas chosen FOPG as its official charity? As an opticians, we’re passionate about improving the lives of people with sight loss, so we’ll be doing all we can throughout the year to raise funds for the foundation. A guide dog makes a huge difference to the lives of those with vision loss, but it takes a long time and a big investment to breed and train these very special dogs and support their owners throughout their lives. So the charity needs donations to ensure that each person who needs a guide dog can have access to one. Why is it important that people have access to guide dogs? Vision loss can be incredibly isolating, leading to feelings of loneliness and depression. However, thanks to the foundation and the work they do, people can gain a new sense of independence and confidence. The work of this foundation is essential to increase the autonomy of blind people or those with a serious visual disability. Changing from walking with a cane to doing it with a guide dog represents a huge improvement in their mobility, speed and security of their movements and allows them to integrate with society in a much more meaningful way. Find out more about FOPG www.perrosguias. once.es All nine stores in Spain are supporting this charity campaign. Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store.
A MAN dressed in a Batman suit has gone viral on social media as he was filmed distributing toilet paper along a street in Spain.
Teen spirit SPANISH
doctor
FINAL WORDS
and campaigner Jesus ‘Spiriman’ Candel has raged at ‘selfish kids’ entering hospitals with their mates and asking for coronavirus tests.
Madre mia A MAN in Vigo has asked police to arrest him as he is fed up of being confined at home with his mum. The 44-year-old told local police he was ‘tired of being at home with his mother’ due to the state of alarm and coronavirus lockdown.
OLIVE PRESS
The
Marvelous
FREE
Ray of hope
MALLORCA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 3 Issue 76 www.theolivepress.es March 20th - April 2nd, 2020
RAISING THE ROOF Innovative DJ takes to the rafters to entertain locals confined to their homes
AS Mallorca remains on lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus, one DJ has found a moment of joy amid the unfolding health crisis.
By Isha Sesay
Not allowing his birthday to be ruined by the strict orders to remain at home, local restauran-
Budget battle RYANAIR has finally been forced to help its worried customers. The global low cost airline is waiving the controversial flight change fee on all bookings in March and April. INSPIRED: Jaume on the decks as neighbours sing
teur Jaume Colombas decided to share the occasion with his self-isolating neighbours. Taking to the rooftop of his apartment in Palma’s Son Espanyolet district with full gear in tow, Jaume played a special set to lighten a somewhat tense mood. Speaking to the Olive Press, Jaume explained that he couldn’t let his birthday pass without some sort of celebration and wanted to boost morale at a time when his community had been ordered to stay indoors. “It was my 32nd birthday yesterday and the isolation has been a little boring so far, so I decided to do something about it, ” explained Jaume. For Jaume, the cherry on the cake was a loud round of applause as surrounding residents sung Happy Birthday to him in unison.
A NEWBORN baby has brought some welcome good news to the Olive Press team. Elsa Hansen-Dollimore was born at the Costa del Sol hospital on Sunday as the coronavirus curfew came into full effect. The niece of Olive Press digital editor Laurence Dollimore weighed in at 4kg (8.8lbs) and is at first glance fully healthy. Proud parents, British expat Leanne Dollimore and her Norwegian partner Alex Hansen, based in Mijas, were kept in the hospital for a couple of days as a precaution against the virus. While the rest of the family have yet to meet the new arrival due to strict hospital regulations on COVID-19 contagion, the news is a welcome positive amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Extinction rebellion POLICE in Murcia have had to take to social media reminding citizens that fancy dress costumes are not a valid way to avoid the lockdown. National rules only allow people to leave home to walk their dog for as long as necessary. It comes as one canny Murcian thought he could evade the rules by wandering the streets dressed as a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur. Despite being questioned by police, he was later seen (and filmed) by a neighbour taking his rubbish out.