Mallorca Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 12

PLUS... What are these leading agents and a string of celebrities doing in Mallorca this month?

Perfect for Solitude Which famous writer wrote his best selling book in this Deia property?

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Vol. 1 Issue 12 www.theolivepress.es September 28th - October 11th 2017

Monster

30km of his daughter Demmi Nicole and his grandson. He was also ordered to pay Demmi, who had mounted a private prosecution against him, a total of €180,000.

The 21-year-old, who was in court, had reported Lyttle to British police for abusive behaviour.

Lyttle, who expressed regret, admitted choking Lisa Jane with a mobile-phone cable in January 2016 during a fight.

Brit strangler admits to killing his wife… but not in a sex game

By Joe Duggan

A BRITISH expat faces 12 years in prison after confessing to killing his wife.

In a dramatic last minute plea deal, Warren Lyttle, 52, admitted strangling mum-of-one Lisa Jane, 49, in his Costa de la Calma flat and was found guilty of a lesser offence of homicide.

Car salesman Lyttle had originally claimed the mum-of-one died during a sado-masochistic sex game that went wrong.

GUILTY: Warren Lyttle has admitted to killing his wife Lisa Jane (left) with a cable

The deal struck in Palma court was agreed by the jury, with prosecutors initially seeking a 20-year sentence for murder.

Lyttle looked on in silence as the jury foreman read out the guilty verdict, with relatives of Lisa Jane Lyttle bursting into applause.

The presiding magistrate will formally announce Lyttle’s sentence this week.

The court also banned Lyttle from coming within

Trump plea

DONALD Trump has said he wants to see a united Spain.

His comments came as prime minister Rajoy jetted to the US to meet the president And Trump delivered when he said: this week.

“I’m for a united Spain, I really think Rajoy had hoped to get Trump the people of Catalonia would stay on his side ahead of the with Spain.” The pair also discussed upcoming independence Spain’s role in the EU and NATO. referendum in CataluCATA-STROPHIC SEE PAGE 6 nya. Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 15:36

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Choked

“There hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t regretted what I did,” he said in court. “At first I didn’t realise she was dead.

“We argued about money and because we had been drinking.”

He added: “I lost my wife who was by best friend.

And I lost a lot of people who were friends.''

Lisa Jane had flown from her home in Kilburn, London, to be with Lyttle two days prior to her death.

She regularly returned to be with her husband.

The court heard how Lyttle had phoned emergency services ‘two or three times’ after attacking his wife, but they were unable to arrive in time to save her.

Following his arrest, he claimed to police that Lisa Jane had choked during a sex game.

Lyttle said he ‘told them she wants money but I don’t have money’.

Several hundred local residents had attended a vigil at Calvia Town hall following Lisa Jane’s killing.

October 2017

Issue 2

MallorcaSeptember - Living 14th- September Inspiratio

n 9

27th 2017

We give your dreams

a home

Tel. +34 971 23 85 84 www.eng elvoelke rs.com/m allorca

BrIng Out the Bran

sOn

Winning team

R sort.

ICHARD Branson has opened a swish new holiday pad at his Son Bunyola re-

The 680-acre estate gan welcoming guests besummer, with two villas, last the four-bedroom Sa Terra Rotja and the five-bedroom Punta de S’Aguila offeringSa a luxury island retreat.

A smaller, third villa has now been added. The three-storey Son Balagueret is built round a 13th-century turret which would have been sentry’s lookout point whena Mallorca was invaded the kingdom of Aragon. by A central courtyard, heated pool and private chefs add to the villa’s glamorous pull.

Branson has been a longtime fan of Mallorca, having previously owned Deia’s La Residencia hotel.

He bought back the 4,000acre Son Bunyola estate for around €15 million in 2015, having previously offloaded it following a battle with the local mayor over development plans.

SHE is one half of Mallorca’s most famous tennis love But Xisca Perelló, Rafa match.

Nadal’s girlfriend, has been serving up her own aces in the Balearic property market.

Perello, Nadal’s 28-year-old childhood sweetheart, to Inmobiliaria Jaime is the heir III 2016, which she runs alongside brother Juan Miguel.

Based in Palma, the founded in 1964, deals company, sales and rentals as wellwith both as property development.

Xisca has been dating Nadal since 2005, but prefers main out of the limelight. to re“It’s not a world I want to be part of, nor do I think Rafa would chosen to be with a woman have who looked for that in life,” she said.

ToP oF THe PRoPS

Mallorca a hot favourite for Brits buying abroad this summer

CALVIA has been named among the four most popular destinations for Brits buying abroad.

The Mallorca town was beaten only by famous Andalucian resorts and Mijas, while Torrevieja Marbella topped the list.

The report by homebuilder Taylor Wimpey cited Mallorca’s growing population as a holiday destination.

“The preferred holiday destination of the Spanish Royal location of numerousFamily and the ond homes, Mallorca A-listers’ secis known for its exclusive feel,” explained Pritchard, who has headed boss Marc land’s HQ for over a decade. up the isWhile the

developer boasts numerous premium sites across the island, it is properties in Calvia that have been the most requested this summer.

While Torrevieja topped the charts,

Marbella and Mijas were very close behind.

Marbella has ‘superb tions year round’ and flight connecbeing added every new routes are year, according

Second homes surge

HOLIDAY home demand is back in business… among New research reveals that 13% of homes sold to Spaniards as well. homes, according to Fotocasa. local buyers are intended as holiday Some 59% of buyers have no intention of renting to offer holiday rentals.

“The holiday rental marketout their second home, whilst 34% plan are rising so fast,” explains is one of the reasons Another report reveals that Beatriz Toribio, head of research at Fotocasa.why rental prices more than six million Spanish in Spain, of which 3.6 million are located in coastal areas.households own a second home

17 Proper ty Shops on Mallor ca

to the report. Meanwhile, Mijas was unique in attracting holidaymakers and avid golfers.

“Many holidaymakers this holiday hotspot asfall in love with far from the sea or a golfthey are never course,” said the report.

Spanish tourism continues to break records this year with lion tourists arriving over 10.5 milmore than last year’s in July– 10% figures. British visitors were the largest group, accounting for over 2.3 million arrivals during the month.

The homebuilder has a number of projects currently underway in Mijas and Marbella, as well as in Mallorca.

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Wheely harsh Exclusive

A MALLORCA expat has expressed ‘surprise’ after receiving a police notice for locking her bike to a lamp post.

Brit Emilie, 39, found her bicycle slapped with the warning after leaving it on a secluded Palma street near her home.

With no room in her flat, and no bike racks close by, the British mum-of-one says she had no alternative.

“I’ve never bumped into anyone on this road, it’s really quiet,” she told the Olive Press.

“Now I have to walk a lot further and lock it up on a busy road full of people out drinking, which makes me worry it could get stolen over the weekend.”

She added: “You see empty bike locks around so perhaps the police have taken them.”

According to Palma Town Hall regulations, Police may remove bikes that ‘constitute a danger or disturbance to traffic or pedestrians’.

Fines are levied before withheld bikes are released to their owners.

Lightening strikes

TWO people have been seriously injured after being struck by lightning.

The couple were watching a storm from a tower in Cala en Basset, a lookout point in Andratx.

They were rushed to Son Espases hospital, where they made a recovery.

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September 28th - October 11th 2017

Measuring up

KIDS PLAY: Children help put turtles back into the sea

Tourist tax funds farming TOURISTS are set to help farmers who look after the environment.

Some €1.5 million from the tourism tax is to go towards water and soil conservation projects, as well as schemes to reuse farm waste.

It is hoped the project will boost the number of tourists visiting local farms.

WEBBS

MORE than 100 turtles have been returned back to the Med so far this year.

An incredible 70 of these (50 adults and 20 babies) were released over the last week off Mallorca shores.

It comes after celebrated turtle Cannoli (left) also made it back to the sea, after a traumatic few weeks.

Palma Aquarium helped to get him back into the sea at Cala Agulla, in front of a

large group of adults and children, who were able to touch him.

He had been rescued by an Italian sailing crew after ingesting a rope leading to serious injuries.

Many different recovery centres have helped to rehabilitate the majestic sea creatures.

The Environment ministry stressed the importance of calling the police to locate the nearest rescue centre.

Crackdown works Stricter guidelines in Calvia help to slash crime rate in Magaluf by a fifth

SERIOUS crime has dropped 22% in Calvia over the tourist season this year, figures show.

A police crackdown saw twice the number of arrests over the summer months com-

pared to 2016.

It comes after Calvia authorities issued strict guidelines regulating drunken behaviour this summer.

“The local police and Guardia Civil have shown their willingness to tackle the problems on Punta Ballena during the busiest tourist months through increased colTHREE suspected muggers who allegedly threw a woman laboration,” a Town Hall to the floor after robbing her have been arrested in Magaspokesperson said luf.

In a meeting, officials also Police officers in Punta Ballena saw one suspect jump raised concerns over the into a car, which sped off at high speed. growing number of youngThe cops asked a taxi driver to give chase while another sters from Palma visiting patrol waited at the Palmanova roundabout for the susMagaluf to drink cheaply. pects’ vehicle before arresting them.

Taxi helps catch thieves

Balcony death fall at holiday villa A GERMAN woman has died and her husband seriously injured after falling from a Pollenca balcony at a birthday party. Eva Dagmar Ruth Schulz, 63, died after plummeting nine metres when the terrace railing collapsed at the holiday

villa just after midnight.

Her husband, Jorg Gunther, 62, was rushed to Son Espases Hospital, where he was treated for multiple injuries including two broken legs.

Police are investigating the cause of the incident.

Brothels

Criminal gangs exploiting women and forcing them into prostitution was also raised, with regular meetings planned ‘to deal with these situations.

In August, six establishments suspected of being used as brothels were shut down by Calvia Town Hall.

There were also calls for the government to ban alcohol from all-inclusive resorts and ‘happy hour’ drink offers in problem areas.

TRAGIC: Rebecca with fiancee Alex

€35,000 raised to help stag get home FRIENDS and family of a husband-to-be found unconscious on a street in Magaluf have raised €35,000 to have him repatriated.

Stag Alex Green was on his stag-do when he was rushed to hospital with blood on the brain, fractures to his cheeks, nose and eye sockets.

The father of one, from Manchester, also had broken ribs and a collapsed lung, believed to be from a fall from a building site.

Within six hours of arriving, the 26-year-old fireman went missing from the group while stepping away to use the toilets.

Unconscious

Many of the 25 people in his group went searching for him, and eventually received a call that he was found unconscious.

He remains in intensive care after being put into an induced coma and undergoing surgery.

Friend Scott Cash said: “No one has got a clue what happened to him.

There was no CCTV where he was found. The group of us are very shaken. We just want him to get better.”

Alex's fiancée, Rebecca Thorpe, has flown over to be with him during his recovery.

He is currently in stable condition but will be recovering in Mallorca a while longer.

Civil war graves exhumed THE bodies of four Mallorca neighbours executed in the Spanish Civil War are being exhumed.

An unmarked grave in Campos’s Montuiri cemetery is believed to hold the remains of the four men, who were shot by Franco’s Falangists in October 1936.

Excavators are concentrating their dig, which is expected to take a week, on two sites in the cemetery, one pictured left.

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3

Sailing Queen

World at her feet

A MALLORCA stunner will battle it out for this year’s Miss World title.

Maria Elisa Tulian - a big John Lennon fan - has been crowned Miss Spain at the national finals in Girona. The 21-year-old music graduate from Palma saw off competition from Miss Cantabria, who won first dame of honour, and Miss Valencia who was named second dame.

Go-go

Narcos star launched his showbiz career as a dancer in Spain - but kept his clothes on!

Pascal

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

Baby joy STRICTLY Come Dancing star Brendan Cole and his wife are expecting their second child.

Cole’s wife Zoe confirmed that baby number two was on the way, alongside a photo of the happy couple and fouryear-old daughter Aurela in Mallorca.

New Zealander Cole, 41, has a villa on the island. He seriously hurt himself earlier this year when he tripped up and almost killed himself with a chainsaw there. “'Yes it's true! Came back from Mallorca recently with a little excess baggage!” his wife posted on Instagram.

Brendan - who is partnered with Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins on this year’s hit BBC show married Zoe in 2012.

NARCOS star Pedro Pascal has revealed that he once worked as a club dancer in Spain.

The 42-year-old Chilean spilled the beans while promoting his new lucrative fragrance deal with Solo Loewe in Madrid.

"I am in love with Spain,” the actor said, “I came here to do a study on the city for my anthropology degree at the University of New York.

“I loved it so much that when I finished, I stayed two more months in Madrid, working, going out, going to parties.”

He went on to reveal how a chance encounter with a nightclub owner landed him one of his first gigs in the

HE has become the true queen of British rock.

Now the new lead singer of supergroup Queen has had a holiday befitting his superstar status.

Frontman Adam Lambert has been spotted with the band’s drummer Roger Taylor and wife Serena cruising on a yacht around Ibiza.

The American Idol was spotted on the boat Tigerlily, owned by Taylor since the 1990s.

“I DID NOT take a pill in Ibiza. Was thrilled to learn how much more there is to the island besides giant EDM clubs. Thank you for the beauty Spain!”

Lambert wrote on Instagram.

Instead of partying, Adam went sightseeing, kayaking and sunbathing.

dance company two years later.

“He gave me work at his club, at his parties. It was in the House of Devotion, which was held every Thursday in Morocco nightclub.”

The hunk, who recently found fame as the sexually ambiguous Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones, revealed that he even danced alongside the late Ronda-born designer David Delfin, who passed away from cancer this year.

‘entertainment’ world…as a dancer!

“I made many friends. I met

a charming person named Dani Pannullo, a choreographer who created his own

Ron’s Barcelona bash ROLLING Stone Ronnie Wood didn’t look like he was under anyone’s thumb as he greeted fans in Barcelona.

The veteran rocker saluted wellwishers from his balcony at the luxury Ritz Hotel before a dinner date with 39-year-old wife Sally and

Coronation treat CORRIE star Catherine Tyldesley has shown off her new trim figure with some sexy snaps from Mallorca.

The slimmed-down soap actress shed five stone and dropped to a size 8-10 after tipping the scales at 15 stone.

Tyldesley, 33, posted the photos on Instagram, winning admiring comments, while on a Balearic break with husband Tom Pitfield.

“I actually keep a picture from when I was big on my phone to remind myself just how far I’ve come,” she revealed recently.

their twin daughters.

Wood, 70, was in the Catalan capital with Mick Jagger and the boys for this week’s sellout concert at the Olympic Stadium.

On Monday he launched his new art book Ronnie Wood Artist at the city’s Picasso Museum.

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“I did not take off my clothes, but I danced and wore silver hair,” he recalls, “I have some photos that would make you die (laughing), and I have photos with David dancing on the stage in the Morocco club.”

Pascal’s latest film, The Kingsman: The Golden Circle, is in cinemas now. Netflix is currently showing the second series of hit drama Narcos.

DELETED: Hoff pic

Hoffing and puffing THE vanity of David Hasselhoff knows no bounds.

The famous Baywatch star was so upset with criticism of a photo he had put up on Instagram (above), he quickly took it down.

The picture showed him sweating profusely while on holiday in Ibiza He got engaged to 37-year-old Welsh beauty Hayley Roberts last year.

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was a shortage of beds in the country.

A typical sevenn i g h t holiday to Lanzarote next July w i t h Thomas C o o k would be expected to increase by roughly £200 as a result.

www.theolivepress.es

September 28th - October 11th 2017

Segways goes seperate ways PALMA is preparing for a crackdown on ‘irritating’ Segways.

The transporters, as well as electric bikes, skates and hoverboards, will be banned in the capital other than on cy-

Influx A THIRD migrant boat has been intercepted in Balearic waters in 24 hours.

The vessel containing 16 people was picked up south of Cabrera, with migrants reported to be in good health apart from one suffering hypothermia.

Another 23 more migrants were detained in two boats the day before.

So far, 16 migrant vessels have arrived on the island in 2017, a five-fold increase on last year’s total of three.

Costa lot

TRAVEL company Thomas Cook predicts the price of Spanish holidays are set to rise by between five and 10% due to the weak pound next year.

A second factor driving up prices was increased demand due to safety fears in other rival destinations such as Turkey and Tunisia.

The company claims that hoteliers in Spain are ‘taking a bit of an advantage’ and that there

Mass-tourism, overcrowding and traffic congestion are main worries for Mallorcans

By Gillian Keller

THE effects of mass-tourism are the biggest fears of Balearic residents, a new survey has shown.

It comes after hundreds protested against mass-tourism in Palma as concern over the issue spilled onto the streets.

A worrying 69% of young people said the drawbacks of mass tourism outweighed the benefits, suggesting more Arran-style protests are set for the island.

Some 39% of people polled said traffic congestion was their main worry, with 30% blaming overcrowding.

In Palma, 36% of those polled named overcrowding as a main concern with 43% blaming vehicle congestion, the highest percentages of

cle paths and 30 designated zones.

It comes after residents complained of noise and overcrowding caused by electronic vehicles.

Calvia recently banned them

from pavements, with mayor Alfonso Rodríguez Badal stressing the danger caused to pedestrians and drivers.

New rules regarding age limits and helmet requirements will also come into force.

Tackle tourism! any Balearic region surveyed.

Air pollution and the deterioration of local beaches were other top concerns in the

study of 600 residents by the Balearic Institute of Social Studies.

The poll came as protesters

demanded the government adopt 'courageous measures' to tackle problems connected with millions of holidaymakers arriving on the island.

More than 50 organizations joined in the demonstration, which was protesting against an economic model that is 'overly dependent on tourism.'

The government claims it is laying a foundation to become a sustainable destination for tourism.

But many locals have been hit by rising housing prices, and are demanding immediate change.

5

Do you want to be half Spanish?

BRITISH expats are being urged to participate in a poll over taking dual or Spanish nationality.

Brexpats in Spain co-founder Anne Hernandez set up the survey after Theresa May’s ‘vacuous’ Brexit speech in Florence, last week.

So far nearly 200 people have said they would be happy taking joint nationality, while over 100 would not worry about becoming Spanish.

The poll results will be sent to the UK and Spanish governments, with dual nationality currently not available for British residents in Spain.

“I decided to set up the poll after May’s speech, which told us nothing,” Hernandez told the Olive Press.

“Her speech showed how unimportant we are. We do not seem to count for anything.”

In the first 12 hours of polling, 174 people said they would happily apply for dual nationality and 101 said they would take Spanish citizenship.

The survey can be accessed on the Brexpats in Spain Facebook page.

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The Olive Press (Mallorca edition) – 170 x 256mm

28 September

6

www.theolivepress.es Mallorca’s original community newspaper

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION Tourist issue CONCERN over mass-tourism rears its head again.

With hundreds attending a rally in Palma, and a new survey underlying the depth of locals’ discontent, this summer’s hottest issue continues to burn.

Add on concerns about the hiked Balearic tourist tax - at its priciest, a more-than-reasonable €3 a day - and you have a heady mix all round.

For the authorities, the trick lies in not scaring off the goose that laid the golden egg.

Tourism sustains tens of thousands of people on the island and is vital for the local economy.

But there is simply no ignoring the strain that millions of extra visitors puts on the island’s infrastructure.

Finding a happy medium between these two diametrically opposed interests is a devilishly tricky task. But navigating such dilemmas is how politicians earn their crust.

Catalan showdown

THE centuries-old divide between Madrid and Catalunya has widened even further this month.

On Sunday, that bitterness is likely to curdle even further.

The extraordinary sight of columns of police vehicles pouring into Barcelona from around Spain shows how determined the government is to halt the vote.

Mariano Rajoy has adopted combative language, accusing the Catalans of trying to ‘liquidize national sovereignty’.

Meanwhile, Catalunya’s top policeman is defying an order to cede control to the Guardia Civil.

Everyone from Rafa Nadal (pro-remain) to Barcelona Football Club (pro-independence) has had their say.

It remains to be seen whether seven million Catalan voters will be allowed to do the same at the ballot box on Sunday.

There are fears voters could clash with police guarding polling booths.

But given ten million ballot papers were seized in police raids this month, and the weight of police numbers, the odds of even holding a referendum seem stacked against the Carles Puigdemont government.

Depòsito Legal PM: 610-2017

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C

F e at u r e

ATALEXIT, as it has been dubbed, is a big deal all round.

As the country’s most prosperous region, Catalunya is a treasury for 19% of the national economy, and a leader in tourism, exports, manufacturing and industry.

There has been talk of secession since the founding of Estat Catala in 1922, and on October 1 the political party will have its biggest chance yet.

While the movement has peaked and troughed, it has experienced a resurgence over the last few years, thanks primarily to Spain’s economic woes, a 2010 constitutional court decision to lessen Catalunya’s sovereignty and growing distrust of central government in Madrid.

The latter has intensified in recent weeks since Madrid began a campaign to quash the vote - which it claims is unconstitutional - by arresting and charging leaders who support the referendum for ‘disobeying’ national government.

It led to thousands of Catalans protesting in the streets after 14 leaders were placed under arrest While the latest survey at the end of July found that 49.4% of Catalans were against independence and 41.1% supported it, it’s hard to know how far Madrid is helping or hindering the cause.

But if Catalexit became a reality, what would be the economic fallout?

September 28th - October 11th 2017

CataIt’s a controversial Catalunya

Short-term pain Both parties would lose out in the immediate aftermath, of that there is little doubt.

The establishment of a border would create obstacles to trade while ramping up the spending of the new state, leading to job losses and drops in income.

Catalans only account for 16% of the Spanish popula: tion, but make a huge contribution to the national econo“As a matter of foreign policy, we “I feel Catalan and I’m in my, bringing in €223.6 billion are deeply committed to mainfavour of the referendum, each year. taining a relationship with a which is a democratic prostrong and unified Spain.

Experts have claimed the cess...But I sincerely believe “We think that Spain’s presence region would gain €16 bilthat, to begin with, it would is important not only in Europe, make Catalunya and Spain lion annually in the case of a but also in the United States and weaker. Separation would split, as they would no longer also in the world.” weaken the two territories.” have to pay taxes to Spain this would lower Spain’s GDP by 2% every year.

Catalunya, however, could also take a hit, as 35.5% of its exports are to the Spanish market. The region would also have pay to create new state structures (embassies, central banks, etc.) which carry a large price tag.

Pro-independence Catalan protesters and police have been involved in Just this week, Spanish Economy Minismany stand-offs in Barcelona over the last fortnight. ter Luis de Guindos claimed that CataloThousands of marchers poured onto the streets to voice their anger at nia could see its economy shrink by 25the arrest of 14 local government officials last week.

30% and its unemployment double if it Some 40,000 people blocked off the entrance to the Catalan economy ministry, which had been raided earlier in the day.

Earlier, campaigners staged a sit-down protest in a stand-off with the Guardia Civil near the region’s local government buildings.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has called for ‘a return to normality and common sense’.

But Barcelona mayor Ada Colau backed the protests, tweeting, ‘We welcome and celebrate the demonstrations in Barcelona, Catalunya and around Spain’.

Meanwhile, Catalans around the city took to a traditional form of splits to form a separate state. protest, banging pans out of their apartment windows.

Barrack Obama

Gerard Pique:

Kicking off

Debt woes

Spain’s debt as of last year was priced at roughly €999 billion, while Catalunya has amassed one of the largest public debts of Spain's 17 regions, at around €72.2 billion euros.

Around €6 billion of this is for long-term

securities that have been issued and the rest are loans from different institutions.

It means that Catalunya holds a huge 16.34% of Spain's debt. Giving that

debt back to Spain while no longer paying its taxes to the mainland could inflict a massive hit to Spain’s economy.

While many assume that Spain will take on the debt, the transition would likely

F e at u r e

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WEBSITE September 28th - October 11th 2017

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Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s mostEnglish visited news Mallorca’s best daily newswebsites. website

olive press online October 2015

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Most read this - EXCLUSIVE: British expats arrested in massive drug swoopfortnight in Spanish resort on worked for local clubs and a hairdressing salon www.theolivepress.es (68,401)

-strophic? at will happen if referendum as big as Brexit, but whDollimore really leaves Spain, asks Laurence

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Pedro Almodovar:

“Pro-independence activists are turning Spain into a scapegoat on which to blame all their problems”.

take its toll.

Periods of uncertainty would impact investments and commercial operations and there would be a negative impact on Catalonia’s bid to expand economically.

The EU quagmire Catalunya does not have an automatic right to membership of the EU. Much like Scotland, which faced a secession vote from the UK in 2014, an independent Catalunya would need a unanimous ‘yes’ from EU members, including Spain, who is likely to block any membership bid and rally its allies to do the same.

Given that the EU accounts for around 65.8% of Catalan exports, any delayed access or a denied entrance would have severe consequences.

The new state could also face a trade boycott from Spain.

A separation from the euro and increased tariffs on their goods and services could also prove dire.

But Alain Cuenca, an economics professor at the University of Zaragoza, said last week: “The economic arguments will not be the prevailing ones in the debate over Catalonia's independence, the arguments used by both sides appeal to identity.”

Rafael Nadal:

“I think what is happening on October 1 ought not to take place because, from my point of view, everyone should respect the law.

“I don’t understand Spain without Catalunya. I don’t want to understand or see it. I believe that together we ought to be able to understand each other.”

Did you know?...

Population 16% of Spain live in Catalunya, a total of 7.45 million citizens

Territory

Catalunya makes up 6.3% of Spain’s land mass

Taxes

Some 20.8% of Spain’s tax revenue comes from Catalunya. Madrid collects €37.8 billion from the region each year

Startups

Exports

A massive 25.6% of Spain’s exports come from Catalunya.

That’s €65.2 billion every year It’s main products are cars (17.9%), chemicals (16.4%), food (12.3%), pharmaceuticals (7.4%) and textiles and clothing (7.1%).

Catalunya currently receives 56.3% of Spain’s investment for startup companies It gets around €371 million of new investment each year

Updated daily The Olive Press online Download our app now and www.theolivepress.es begin enjoying the best Spanish The website is news on the go. conveniently accessible from your desktop computer to your laptop, tablets and smartphones throughout the day wherever you are. www.theolivepress.es

The Olive Press Useful numbers

TOP for news in Spain!

Emergencies

Ambulance/ Fire brigade/ Police 112

Transport Railway Line Palma-Inca / Palma-Manacor – 971.177.777 Buses in Majorca – 971.177.777 Railway Line Palma-Soller – 902.364.711 Airport information – 971.789.000 Road Traffic Information – 900.123.505

Taxi’s Radio Taxi 971.20.12.12 Taxi Palma – 971.40.14.14 Taxis Cales de Mallorca – 971 83 32 72 Taxis Manacor – 971 55 18 88 Taxis Porto Cristo – 971 82 09 83 Taxis s’Illot – 971 81 00 14 Taxi with disabled access – 608 537 194, 619 342 979, 609 717 424

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A MALLORCA journalist has published a book about Nazis during the Third Reich.

Written in German, Alexander Sepasgosarian’s Mallorca bajo la cruz gamada. 1933- 1945 (Mallorca under the swastika) is an extensive study of the island’s 150-strong Nazi party during the Third Reich’s 12-year domination.

MICHAEL Jackson’s I Want You Back in memoriam tour showcases impressive dancing, lead by world renowned Jackson impersonator SacMJJ Download our app now and at the Palma Auditorium.

begin enjoying the best Spanish

FOOD, livestock, workshops and fun are on offer at the annual fair celebrating the mountain environment and local organic produce, held in the Monastery of Lluc in Escora.

The Olive

San Sebastian ‘can’t compete’ with Venice Press Film Festival, ourmet gig Oct TOP for news in Spain! admits director 11

G

FOODIES Night at Palma’s Puro Beach is bound to delight the tastebuds with a secret menu for gastronomes, put together by local and international chefs. Tickets €80.

C

harity race Oct 15

THE annual Palma Marathon will again take over the streets of the old town and the promenade, with a weekend full of activities including a children's run and pasta party.

THE director of the prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival has admitted it can’t compete with the Venice event for cinematic glamour.

His grumble came as the 65th edition of Spain’s most revered cinema event brought Arnold Schwarzenegger, Glenn Close and Alicia Vikander to the Basque Country.

But Jose Luis Rebordinos said: “Hollywood hasn’t turned its back on us, but we are only semi-famous in Hollywood. Venice has

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Do you have a what’s on?

NEWS

Glamour clamour

Sepasgosarian looks back beyond Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, and examines how Mallorca had a German consulate from 1868.

It also looks at 1912’s opening of the German College in Son Armadans, founded by people who, in stark contrast to Nazi ideology, were ‘Liberal thinkers who had nothing to do with racist ideas or dictatorships’.

STARS: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Vikander and Glenn Close

SALES executive Due to faster than expected growth on the island, the Olive Press Mallorca is looking for a hard-working, outgoing and driven sales person.

This is a multi-facated role building on 10 years success of the business on mainland Spain and will involve a decent basic plus excellent commision and other benefits Key Requirements: ●● Some sales experience, ●● Excellent management skills ●● Building key relationships with clients ●● Good admin and communication skills ●● Clean driving license and car ●● References essential Please send your CV to admin@theolivepress.es

become a place where north American cinema presents its candidates for the Oscars, and that affects us.”

He added: “San Sebastian can’t compete with the number of stars at Venice.”

Rebordinos also said he ‘wouldn’t bow to quotas’ to ensure more women directors were included in the festival’s line-up of films.

This year, only four films from the official selection are directed by women.

“[Quotas] seem to me an act of paternalism and machismo,” said Rebordinos.

“Of course, the lack of women bothers us but what we have to do is analyse the reasons for that.”

French Connection star honoured A SPANISH actor described

by Orson Welles as ‘Europe’s best’ is being honoured in his hometown.

The life and work of French Connection star Fernando Rey is being celebrated with an exhibition in Coruna, Galicia on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Rey, known as ‘the gentleman of cinema’, starred in films like Campanadas a medianoche (1965) and Una historia inmortal (1968).

As a young actor Rey saved his father, a Republican military officer, from Franco’s firing squad following the Spanish Civil War. The exhibition will feature family documents as well as photographs taken during Rey’s acting career.

Running for the children MALLORCA is limbering up for the Palma Marathon, a much-anticipated event on the autumn calendar destined to make a difference to the lives of many local children.

The brainchild of the Allen Graham Charity, founded in 1992 by British expat Allen Graham, the October 15 fixture will see teams of sponsored runners competing in the race through the capital to raise funds for young people in the island’s children’s homes.

Some of the children were abandoned, others entered the system when parents were arrested, one boy even ran across the Sahara Desert to later seek safety in Mallorca.

Gifted

The number of children in the system runs into hundreds but every child receives two presents at Christmas, an Easter egg in spring and a new book of their choice from El Corte Ingles on International Book Day. The charity also helps gifted children with the help they need to succeed, whether that’s paying university fees or funding accommodation. The charity paid for a violin and lessons for one talented child, and bought the kit for a young footballer accepted into the local academy.

The money comes from items sold in their charity shops, local fundraisers and general donations. Many of the children volunteer at the Palma shop once they leave the system at 18, gaining valuable work experience.

Alongside the Palma Marathon, the mainland band Amigas Para Siempre will be stag-

GENEROUS: Games and clothes

ing their annual fundraiser for the children’s charity at the Boat House in Magaluf. To get involved visit www.agrahamcharity.org or their shops in Palma or Pollensa.

Not for dry-stone cowboys MALLORCA will host a major international conference on traditional dry-stone walling ahead of its UNESCO World Heritage bid.

Experts in the technique will gather in Deia for the workshop from October 26-29.

A joint bid by European countries, including Spain, has been launched to have the technique recognised.

Dry-stone wall building has continued in Mallorca into the 21st century, with a school teaching new generations of craftsmen the ancient building skill.

Property www.theolivepress.es

Mallorca Olive Press

www.theolivepress.es

October 2017

Issue 3

9 September 28th - October 11th 2017 Mallorca - Living Inspiration We give your dreams a home

Tel. +34 971 23 85 84 www.engelvoelkers.com/mallorca

Bring out the Branson

R

ICHARD Branson has opened a swish new holiday pad at his Son Bunyola re-

sort.

The 680-acre estate began welcoming guests last summer, with two villas, the four-bedroom Sa Terra Rotja and the five-bedroom Sa Punta de S’Aguila offering a luxury island retreat.

A smaller, third villa has now been added. The threestorey Son Balagueret (left) is built round a 13th-century turret which would have been a sentry’s lookout point when Mallorca was invaded by the kingdom of Aragon.

A central courtyard, heated pool and private chefs add to the villa’s glamorous pull.

Branson has been a longtime fan of Mallorca, having previously owned Deia’s La Residencia hotel.

He bought back the 4,000acre Son Bunyola estate for around €15 million in 2015, having previously offloaded it following a battle with the local mayor over development plans.

Winning team

SHE is one half of Mallorca’s most famous tennis love match.

But Xisca Perelló, Rafa Nadal’s girlfriend, has been serving up her own aces in the Balearic property market.

Perello, Nadal’s 28-year-old childhood sweetheart, is the heir to Inmobiliaria Jaime III 2016, which she runs alongside brother Juan Miguel.

Based in Palma, the company, founded in 1964, deals with both sales and rentals as well as property development.

Xisca has been dating Nadal since 2005, but prefers to remain out of the limelight.

“It’s not a world I want to be part of, nor do I think Rafa would have chosen to be with a woman who looked for that in life,” she said.

Top of the props Mallorca a hot favourite for Brits buying abroad this summer

CALVIA has been named among the four most popular destinations for Brits buying abroad.

The Mallorca town was beaten only by famous Andalucian resorts Marbella and Mijas, while Torrevieja topped the list.

The report by homebuilder Taylor Wimpey cited Mallorca’s growing popularity as a holiday destination.

“The preferred holiday destination of the Spanish Royal Family and the location of numerous A-listers’ second homes, Mallorca is known for its exclusive feel,” explained boss Marc Pritchard, who has headed up the island’s HQ for over a decade. While the

developer boasts numerous premium sites across the island, it is properties in Calvia that have been the most requested this summer.

Torrevieja meanwhile topped the

charts, with Marbella and Mijas very close behind.

Marbella has ‘superb flight connections year round’ and new routes are being added every year, according

Second homes surge

HOLIDAY home demand is back in business… among Spaniards as well.

New research reveals that 13% of homes sold to local buyers are intended as holiday homes, according to Fotocasa.

Some 59% of buyers have no intention of renting out their second home, whilst 34% plan to offer holiday rentals. “The holiday rental market is one of the reasons why rental prices are rising so fast,” explains Beatriz Toribio, head of research at Fotocasa.

Another report reveals that more than six million Spanish households own a second home in Spain, of which 3.6 million are located in coastal areas.

17 Property Shops on Mallorca We give your dreams a home

Tel. +34 971 23 85 84 www.engelvoelkers.com/mallorca

to the report. Meanwhile, Mijas was unique in attracting holidaymakers and avid golfers.

“Many holidaymakers fall in love with this holiday hotspot as they are never far from the sea or a golf course,” said the report.

Spanish tourism continues to break records this year with over 10.5 million tourists arriving in July– 10% more than last year’s figures. British visitors were the largest group, accounting for over 2.3 million arrivals during the month.

The homebuilder has a number of projects currently underway in Mijas and Marbella, as well as in Mallorca.

10

manacor

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puerto de andratx

September 28th - October 11th 2017

santa ponsa

ibiza

intermobel.es

www.theolivepress.es Property

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

III11 11

Heavenly Jaume looks at the stars IT has one of the most stunning rooftop terraces to watch over Palma’s old town and the stars above.

But there are stars of a different type at Hotel Sant Jaume, which opened this summer, in a refurbished 18th cen-

Land grab THE average price of urban land in the Balearics has risen almost seven-times quicker than mainland Spain, new figures show.

The cost per square metre rose to €274.20 during the second quarter of 2017, the government has revealed, with the average price across the country €166.40.

The Balearics is the second most expensive area to buy land in Spain, behind only Madrid In all, the Balearic Islands is the sixth most expensive region in Spain to buy land.

Price is right YOU get more bang for your buck in Mallorca where house prices are more than a fifth cheaper than in the UK, a new report shows.

Currency expert Money Transfer Comparison shows that a house with two bedrooms, a garden and a fireplace near El Toro beach costs €495,000.

This works out at €922 per square metre, which is 21% less than the average cost in the UK. Meanwhile, a five-bedroom Andalucian house costs just €318,000, or €783 per square metre, some 94.8% cheaper than the UK.

DID YOU

Sales and values of properties soar in first half of 2017 SPANISH property sales increased in value by 55% in the first half of 2017.

An increase in domestic buyers also helped the number of purchases boom by 47%.

And according to the report by Lucas Fox, the amount of British buyers as a portion of all sales dropped only slightly to 10%, the same proportion of US and Canadian buyers.

“Spain’s economy is the fastest growing in the Eurozone, bringing greater confidence back to the property market,” said co-founder Alexander Vaughan.

tury mansion between Sant Jaume Church and Santa Magdalena Convent.

The hotel has managed to sign up Mallorca’s best established Michelin-star chef Tomeu Caldentey in its restaurant Tomeu amb Arrels.

FEATURING: Caldentey

Up and away

“We have seen growing interest from property investors, who now regard Spanish real estate as offering excellent potential for capital gains and profitability through short and long term rentals. We expect that the price recovery now taking place in the cities will extend to the suburbs and other parts of the country in the forthcoming months.”

Buyers

The Marbella office of Lucas Fox saw an increase of 150% with sales to Scandinavian buyers accounting for 80%, while in the Costa Brava half of sales were to national buyers.

Barcelona saw the biggest increases.

The number of sales in the popular Sitges resort increased by 175% with 18% of buyers from Spain and 27% from the UK.

Grand design MEANWHILE, another dreamy new hotel has opened its doors in Mallorca.

The 66-room Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous is the brainchild of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders and he has let his imagination run wild.

Themed adult-only suites include Naughty, Stargazer, Spa, Heritage, and Games, the latter featuring a pinball machine, video games and table football.

The hotel’s all-white bedrooms feature ‘symbols and constant allusions to life’, says Wanders, who has created over 1,900 design projects.

A swimming pool features white mosaic flowers, a 650-squaremetre spa, a Turkish bath and six different types of showers.

And with commanding views of the Mediterranean, guests can lap up one of the island’s most traditional attractions.

New build boost ONE of Spain’s leading property giants is planning to build hundreds of new homes in the Balearics.

Quabit has paid €52 million for 123,000-square metres of land around the Balearic islands and on the Costa del Sol. The 75,000-square-metre plot of land for a planned tourist and residential development in the Balearics was bought for €21 million.

?

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A place for perfect Solitude

●● ●●

●●

●●

●●

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Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote 100 Years Of Solitude in a 14th century Deia villa.

The Colombian writer would stayed in the stunning Can Blau while visiting Nicaraguan poet friend Claribel Alegria in the 1970s.

The Nobel-prize-winning writer’s retreat stood out in the village with its splash of blue shutters against Deia’s uniform green windows.

The building’s south-facing views taking in the awesome majesty of the surrounding mountains, was the ideal spot to write his magical realist classic.

The house was bought from Alegria by British financial adviser Stephen Thompson in 2003.

After a full restoration, it was put on the market in 2008 again and sold for around €1.1million.

OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR

Tel: (+34) 971 69 30 04 Fax: (+34) 971 69 15 05 info@tiptoptoldos.com Pasaje 19 de Marzo, 10 y 11, Poligono Son Bugadellas, Calvia, Mallorca

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www.theolivepress.es Property

12 IV

Sales in July of this year increased by a whopping 20%

S

PANISH home sales inscribed in the Land Registry increased by 19% in July 2017, according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

There were 35,124 home sales inscribed in the Land Register in July (excluding subsidised home sales), and 38,841 if you include homes subsidised by the Government, known as VPO. Home sales have risen by double digits almost every month this year, in keeping with a recovery trend that started in March 2014 when the market turned the corner after seven years of declines.

The INE’s figures are based on sales inscribed in the Land Register, not actual sales that took place in the month. As such they lag the market by about two or three months.

Sales by Region – July 2017

Summer sizzle

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

I’ve prepared the following graphs to illustrate how sales changed by selected region – those regions of most interest to foreign buyers, owners, vendors, and investors.

The first chart shows the year-on-year percentage change in sales in July, and the second one shows the same, but for the year to date (first seven months) compared to the same period last year.

If increasing home sales are a positive sign, it’s clearly turning out to be a good year for Catalonia, with some of the biggest home sale increases in Tarragona (Costa Dorada), Girona (Costa Brava), and Barcelona City. So it seems property buyers local and foreign are unfazed by the whole question of unilaterally declared independence from Spain being pursued by the Catalan regional government. Just a storm in a teacup, like some of my Spanish relatives claim? I’m not so sure. Time will tell.

New and resale transactions There were 32,049 resales recorded in the period, and 6,792 new home sales (not including off-plan sales, which won’t show up in the figures for months, but which are bound to be growing fast). Both new and resales were up, by 13% and 18% respectively.

The following chart shows how large and repetitive declines in new home sales are now a thing of the past, as I’ve been forecasting for some time.

The steady improvement in new home sales is a clear sign that the market is recovering, though new home sales are nowhere near the absurd heights they reached in the boom years.

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PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

SON VIDA Fabulous villa with panoramic sea and city views 6 Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms Sale: 3,500,000€ Rental: 12,750€ pcm

CALVIA VILLAGE Stunning family finca 4 large bedrooms all en-suite Private Pool, al fresco dining and garden Rental only: 4,900€ pcm

PUERTO PORTALS Stylish south facing sea view apartment 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Sale: 595,000€ Rental: 1,750€ pcm

SOL DE MALLORCA

CALA GAMBA

SANTA PONSA

Delightful Ibizan style villa with pool 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms

Sea front villa next to the marina with sunset views 3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms

Substantial modern sea view villa in a great location 10 Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms

Sale: 1,950,000€ Rental: 2,950€ pcm

Sale: 1,950,000€ Rental: 6,000€ pcm

Rental only: 4,650€ pcm

Gremi Sabaters 21, 2nd Floor 24, Pol. Son Castelló 07009 Palma de Mallorca

www.themallorcadeal.com

We speak Spanish, English, German & Dutch +34 871 551 307 +34 693 516 446

www.theolivepress.es Property Finest Real Estate Mallorca

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

III13 13

Son Vida: Elegant residence with spa and sea view in the most exclusive residential area of Palma. Three storey villa with a well-kept garden, 5 bed., 5 bath., outdoor pool with Jacuzzi, indoor pool, fitness area, staff apartment, terraces, under floor heating, garage. E&V ID: W-023KAU · € 4,500,000

Llucmajor: Luxury finca with open views and guest apartment located in a quiet area. It was refurbished in 2017 and has 4 bed., 4 bath. en suite, pool, elevator, central oil heating, air conditioning, own well, garage, automatic gates and much more. E&V ID: W-02958N · Price € 3,600,000

Palma: Fantastic penthouse apartment with private terrace in La Lonja. Part of a spectacular renovation project consisting of five luxury apartments with exclusive design and majorcan flair; underfloor heating, air conditioning, terraces, balconies and lift. E&V ID: W-029AR9 · € 2,500,000

Puerto Alcudia: Fantastic waterfront apartment with amazing sea views and direct beach access. Very good condition, featuring in 3 bed. and 2 bath., sunny terraces, underground parking space. Perfect location, close to all amenities. E&V ID: W-02996M · Price € 675,000

Puerto de Andratx: Luxury sea view villas with modern architecture and high-quality materials. 3 bed., 3 bath., pool, elevator, chill-out lounge, garden, underfloor heating, high-quality and fully-equipped kitchen, domotic system and much more. E&V ID: W-02793J · Price from € 1,890,000

Valldemossa: Stunning Majorcan house with impressive views surrounded by porches and gardens. It has a large entrance hall, living and dining room with fireplaces, kitchen with storage, 6 bed. and 5 bath. Pool, garage and parking space. E&V ID: W-029ZLN · € 2,250,000

Engel & Völkers Mallorca · Tel.: +34 971 23 85 84 Mallorca@engelvoelkers.com · www.engelvoelkers.com/mallorca

www.theolivepress.es Property

14 VI

Small and specialist

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

GC Property’s decade-long success in Mallorca market

W

HEN GC Property director Justin Pardon returned to Mallorca 10 years ago he says it was like ‘coming

home’.

After growing up on the island Justin, the son of Australian parents, moved to the UK, making his money in London’s City as a UBS bonds trader.

But a new chapter opened in 2007 when he and brother-in-law Dino Gillibrand saw an opportunity to snap up Formentera hotel Gecko Beach Club and enter the property market.

“I was ready to get out of the City, so me and Dino who was also my business partner bought the hotel,” Justin told the Olive Press.

“The original GC Property estate agent had been based in calvia village for years when we took over. Now we are specialists in property sales and rentals around calvia village.

“We collaborate with a lot of other agents. They know that we are the people to speak to about the area around Calvia, Capdella and Son Font.”

HUGE MIX: Properties for sale via GC range from million-euro fincas to great value townhouses

The expert team at GC Property is kept ‘lean’ on purpose, says Justin, who operates the business alongside German sales assistant Manya.

And with properties ranging from €200,000 apartments to €16 million fincas - ‘fincas are very popular with our clients’ - there is something for everyone’s price range.

“It’s very manageable with a couple of people and you can add value focusing on a small area,” he continued.

“We’ve kept it small and specialist.”

After riding out Spain’s savage economic downturn, GC Property has continued to thrive with not even Brexit having a negative impact on sales.

And with buyers from all over Europe continuing to flock to the island, the market is in ‘semi-boom’ time.

“We are seeing a lot more non-resident buyers, but it’s healthy all round and has filtered down to residents with large amounts of cash,” Justin added.

“When Brexit hit, that had the potential to derail the market. But that wasn’t the case for us. British buyers pulling out for a few months was taken up by northern Europeans.”

Buyers, too, are more discerning in their choices than pre-crisis, says Justin, and his team takes the legal side of matters ‘very, very seriously’.

“We find out what the issues are and what the consequences may or may not be and see if all parties can sit

down and come to an agreement,” he said. “Legality is something much more prevalent in today’s market.”

And as the economies of Spain and Mallorca continue to grow at a healthy rate, the island’s property market future looks bright.

“There is a fair bit of underlying demand. How far prices will go up, I don’t know,” Justin added.

“People are feeling good and there is a much healthier market. I can’t see that being derailed.”

Contact details: 0034 971 670 300 0034 628 19 69 39 justin@gc-property.com

CG Property C/ Julia Bujosa Batle, 6 07184, Calvía Mallorca Tel: (+34) 971 670 300 Mob: (+34) 628 196 939

www.gc-property.com

Bunyola – 1,980,000€

ref: BUNY11

A beautiful finca yet to be constructed with an elevated position and stunning views near the lovely village of Bunyola. With completion due in late 2018 there are 2 options, firstly to buy off plan for €1.98m or finished at €2.15m.

The plot is 17,407m2 and the house has a constructed area of 536m2 with internal living area of 356m2 over 2 floors.

For more details of this 4 bed, 3 bath property, please ask.

Son Font – 1,580,000€

ref: SF18

This Traditional Mallorcan Finca style villa situated in the peaceful mountains of Son Font.

This beautifully maintained 4 bedroom property offers unique views over its tranquil surroundings. It is bathed in sunshine all day long and boasts a beautiful swimming pool area, spacious terraces and a comfortable guest accommodation. The property also has a undercover parking, central heating, fireplace, a/c and a storeroom.

www.theolivepress.es Property

Quality not quantity

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

15 VII 15

Mallorca Best Homes offers excellent personal service for the South West region, writes Joe Duggan

A

T Mallorca Best Homes, quality - not quantity - is the name of the game.

The three-strong team of Martina Becker-Zahn, husband Stephan Zahn and Susanne Dietze offer expert real estate knowledge of Mallorca's stunning south-west coastline.

Both Martina and Susanne have been living in Santa Ponsa for more than 13 years and know the location very well.

Rather than offering properties all over Mallorca, they concentrate on the area they are at home with as their aim is to give thorough expert advice to their clients about the location of their future home.

Unlike some of the larger players in the market, the size of Mallorca Best Homes' team allows them to offer a more personal service to their clients.

It's a successful business model.

Since opening three years ago, the Santa-Ponsa-based company has gone from strength to strength, with the first five months of 2017 already surpassing previous year's sales.

Information and thorough consulting service is the bedrock of this success, and Mallorca Best Homes

done without any nasty surprises.”

Offering everything from studio flats costing €99,000 to luxury Andratx villas costing €9 million, there is something for every budget.

A regular visitor to Mallorca since the age of ten, Martina, who speaks perfect English and Spanish, ensures that her clients have a full command of what is required when buying. relationship with their clients As Mallorca's popularity continues doesn't end once you are handed to soar - it was recently voted the your keys, as Martina explains. sixth best island in the world on She adds: "We can't compete with Tripadvisor - the area around Santa the big names so we need to offer Ponsa has become highly sought something else. To after by an evermake people more growing international HARD WORKING: Martina and Susanne know the south west area well comfortable with clientele.

You get British us, offering a better, "You have an inthe price will not decrease in more comprehensive frastructure in the to rise, is not just the ideal way to mand dentists, an long run," says Martina. And of service far beyond of south west which you ensure you have a dream holiday the course, property owners who conwhat is considered to international medical cannot beat and of- home in a beautiful location. sider selling are welcomed to their "In former times people bought to be an agent´s work. fers everything right on Avenida Jaime I, to talk centre. No need to “Because of recomon the spot," says use as a holiday home, but now peo- office about possible sales prices and deAP 149 | Nova Santa Ponsa | 499.000 € H 200 | Nova Santa Ponsa | 1.950.000 € 192investment | Costa de la Calma | 745.000 € ple want to make a AP safe mendations of forMartina. drive to Palma in a politically unstable world, with tails of the sale process, including mer buyers we are "You can get British Penthouse with and fantastic views, 150 .sqm, 2 Sea view apartment in sought-after complex in 1st Renovated house with great garden no in best villa rates issues interest on savings not seatax often even asked to3 bathrooms, fantastic sea location,or1.100 German bedrooms, 1 office, 2 bathrooms, 280 sqm terrace sea line, 3 bedrooms, qm plot,dentists, 150 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 many trustful alternatives . pool. prepare the Residence docu- with 2 pools, direct sea bathrooms, Visit mallorca-best-homes.com there is an space, community view terrace. covered and internauncovered terraces, pool, “So they prefer to invest into a propaccess,for parking. garage. centre. So there's no ments a private sale as we are tional medical Email info@mallorca-besterty, which they not only can use regarded as a neutral institution, need to drive to Palma." homes.com or giving advice to both sides in order Of course, investing in a Mallorca themselves or rent it out, but they call 0034-971694055 or 0034 that due to international deto ensure that the· purchase/sale is agent 640 285997 property,for with continuing Your estate all prices budgets in theknow Southwest of the island ·

AP 149 | Nova Santa Ponsa | 499.000 €

H 200 | Nova Santa Ponsa | 1.950.000 €

AP 192 | Costa de la Calma | 745.000 €

Sea view apartment in sought-after complex in 1st sea line, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fantastic sea view terrace. Residence with 2 pools, direct sea access, parking.

Renovated house with great garden in best villa location, 1.100 qm plot, 150 sqm, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, covered and uncovered terraces, pool, garage.

Penthouse with fantastic sea views, 150 sqm, 2 bedrooms, 1 office, 2 bathrooms, 280 sqm terrace space, community pool.

· Your estate agent for all budgets in the Southwest of the island ·

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September 28th - October 11th 2017

Pushing boat ou

With more megayachts than ever before dropping anchor in Mallorca, Marbella and Gibraltar this year, Laurence Dollimore

€600,000/week

Mogambo, Price tag: €600,000/week

€408,000,000

The 74-metre Mogambo was launched by Germany-based shipyard Nobiskrug in 2012.

Designed by Reymond Langton, the superyacht is named after the classic adventure movie starring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly and set in 1950s Kenya.

Impressive leisure and entertainment facilities make her the ideal charter yacht for socialising and entertaining family and friends.

Features include four Jet Skis, three kayaks, one Seabob, two water skis and two wakeboards.

€175,000/week

€133,000,000 (€1,000,000/week)

Mia Rama, Price tag

Solandge, Price tag: €133,000,000 (€1,000,000/ week) This deep blue beast stole the show at Puerto Banus for most of the summer.

Award-winning and a firm favourite among her guests, Solandge has developed a significant reputation as one of the leading superyachts, and is available for charter at a whopping €1,000,000 per week, excluding expenses!

Built in 2013 at the German shipyard of Lurssen, the luxury liner holds 12

guests and 29 crew, and comes complete with a highly private owners’ deck, a jet stream swimming pool, a chromatherapy spa with hammam and massage room, six expansive decks, and a removable sundeck dance floor with a DJ setup.

If that wasn’t enough, you can fill your boots at the large, fully-stocked wine cellar and relax in one of the two exuberant and opulent interior hot tubs.

Mia Rama, a regular visitor to nus, Marbella and Mallorca this s mer, accommodates up to 14 gue in seven magnificent stateroo The Owner’s Suite on the main d is outfitted with a king-sized and en suite bathroom with Jacu

www.theolivepress.es

g the ut

e takes a look around some of the flashiest floating homes

Sailing Yacht A, Price tag: €408,000,000 The staggering Sailing Yacht A is a 468ft-long vessel featuring three, 300ft masts that are taller than London’s Big Ben. The mammoth megayacht was tested rigorously in Gibraltar before being handed over to its new Russian billionaire owner, Andrey Melnichenko, earlier this year.

Since then, the imposing vessel has been seen in Marbella, Mallorca and Monaco.

It boasts eight floors - with a helicopter pad on one of the decks - and an underwater observation room.

Powered by a hybrid diesel-electric package with controllable pitch propellers, she can accommodate 20 guests and a crew of 54.

17 III

As crime rises, so do CCTV installations

F The Lady Haya, Price tag: €45 million If you see this luxury yacht docked in a glitzy port, it only means one thing; the king is in town.

Owned by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the ship measures 212 feet in length and has a top speed of 18 knots. A permanent feature in Marbella and Banus this summer, she was designed by Terence Disdale and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1981, and has received many upgrades over the years.

FAM, Price tag: N/A Spotted in Mallorca, Banus and Gibraltar in the last few weeks, this 190ft giant was built by the Australian Yacht Builders at their Brisbane shipyard.

She was delivered to her owner in 1991 and refitted just last year.

Previously named The Other Woman, her luxurious interior was designed by Paola D. Smith & Associates.

She can accommodate 10 guests and 11 crew, and comes complete with an outdoor bar, jacuzzi and large sun deck area.

Other features include a gym, swimming pool, barbeque, wheelchair access, swimming platform and an exterior bar.

ROM the engine room on a 35 metre As burglary rates rise, yacht to the elephant house at a local safari park, MallorcaCCTV have installed MallorcaCCTV secures surveillance systems in every corner of the island with modern the island.

The local CCTV company have been install- technology and easy ing custom surveillance system in homes and consumer access. businesses around the island for the past four years. In the past 18 months they have seen Purdham, who founded the company with an large increase in country villa installations, partner Lee Bourke. many of which called after a burglary.

When burglars are scouting a potential job, “We live in the UK and spend most of the seeing cameras or even just the camera's summer out here near Sa Pobla in our country warning signs is a large deterrent. “We achouse. After three break-ins occurred in two tually have never had a home broken into months, it was most definitely time to install once cameras are installed, as far as we security cameras,” Mary MacDonald told the are aware,” Wayne said of their customers.

Olive Press.

“We've sent footage to the poMary is one of many people lice of incidents that occurred who have called the popular on the streets outside that we Seeing cameras caught on camera, but thieves surveillance company for custom installations. “It's incredot even just the themselves tend to walk away ible, wherever I am in the world when they spot the cameras.”

I can see my house in Mallorca, camera’s warning Most homes in Mallorca use day and night, inside and out” the cameras to keep an eye signs is a large she continued. “I simply feel on children, gardeners or emsafer.” deterrent ployees. They have also saved In January of this year the Naa few homeowners when wintional Police arrested 36 burter storms come and they are glars in Palma after a string abroad. “You can catch a broken window of home invasions and retail break-ins swept or burst pipe from anywhere in the world,” through the capital city. That was just the start Wayne said of the extra benefits of cameras. to this years high theft and burglary rates. With today's technology, camera systems are Crimes are happening not only in tourist cit- custom tailored to individual needs, with abiliies, but in private homes in smaller villages ties to both record and livestream for optimal and rural areas. Many inner island villages use. MallorcaCCTV’s camera systems will have seen an increase in trespassing and rob- lower the risk of being burgled, but if that hapberies. pens there is evidence to ease the process.

“In the past eight months over half of our new There is also the chance to catch something clients have come to us after a break-in at on camera that will win some cash on ITV's their home or business,” according to Wayne You've Been Framed!.

Digital Surveillance Systems

Be There, Even When You’re Not Quality Custom Installations Full HD Video Surveillance View your live & recorded videos from anywhere in the world. Available on your smartphone, tablet or computer Peace of mind for residential and commercial properties

tag: €175,000/week

Basumests oms: deck bed uzzi,

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

shower room and walk in wardrobe.

There are three further VIP guest suites and an additional three twin guest cabins with en suite facilities.

All staterooms and salons are fitted with Plasma LCD Monitors and Home Theatre Systems.

Tatyana, Price tag: N/A This 41-metre custom yacht was built in 1995

by Lurssen and was last refitted in 2005. Previously named Blind Date, her luxurious interior was designed by Patrick Knowles and her exterior styling is by Jorg Biederbeck.

She can sleep eight guests in four rooms, including a master suite, a VIP stateroom and two double cabins. There is also room for six crew.

Upgrade your analogue camera system to full HD. Saving you money by using existing wiring CON U S NTACT OW for

walk a free t & quhrough ote

tel: 609 758 619 info@mallorcacctv.com www.mallorcacctv.com

18 II

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Ref: 11762

Bedrooms: 2

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

Bathrooms: 2

Build: 347m2

1,550,000â‚Ź

Penthouse, Nova Santa Ponsa Stunning penthouse in Nova Santa Ponsa. This penthouse consists of 347 square meters distributed on 2 floors, on the main floor there are two double bedrooms, the master bedroom with en suite bathroom and a large dressing room, as well as stunning views of the sea, furnished and equipped kitchen with access to a terrace-dining room of about 20 meters2, a large living room with lots of light and marble floors, the walls are built with a precious Tidal stone.

The lounge has access to a terrace of about 46 meters2 with wonderful views over the sea.

On the top floor there is a roof terrace of 172 square meters where there is a lovely pool, relaxation area, shower and barbecue, from this floor the views over the sea and the Malgrat Islands are impressive as well as its sunsets. This marvelous property has 2 storage rooms and a parking space. Located in a luxury complex in the south west of the island, 5 minutes walking from the beautiful Port Adriano, 10 minutes from the golf courses of the area and with all the necessary amenities nearby.

A real dream place to live !!

Ref: 11758

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Build: 230m2

2,260,000â‚Ź

Great apartment in Puerto Portals This apartment has 230 meters2 in total and 125 meters2 living space distributed in 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of them in the main bedroom en suite, a spacious and bright living room with access to the large terrace of 100 meters2 with stunning sea views and beautiful Puerto Portals, a kitchen open to the dining room, fully furnished and equipped. This large apartment needs updating but has one of the best locations in the South West area of Mallorca. Located in one of the most sought after apartment complexes in Puerto Portals, it has a communal pool and several solarium areas as well as direct access to Puerto Portals. Located in the center of Puerto, just a few minutes from the beaches of the area, very close to several golf courses, international schools and supermarkets and only 12 km from the center of the city of Palma !!

W W W. S G I - M A L L O R C A . C O M

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September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

Y O U R PA R T N E R S I N M A K I N G Y O U R D R E A M S C O M E T R U E A PA R T M E N T S

•

TOWNHOUSES COMMERCIAL

Ref: 11764

•

PLOTS •

•

VILLAS

R E N TA L S

PENTHOUSES •

FINCAS

•

Bedrooms: 4

Yo u r s H e r m a n n K ö p p l e r

FULL SERVICE

Bathrooms: 3

Build: 650m2

895,000€

Classic Style House, Palma Nova Charming house in classic style in Palma Nova.

This beautiful house has been built on a plot of 650 square meters, the house is distributed in two levels. On the first floor there is a living room with a nice fireplace, a guest toilet, fully fitted and equipped kitchen, separate dining room with access to the outside area of terraces where there is a barbecue, chillout area and a beautiful swimming pool.

This beautiful house is located in a residential area of Palma Nova, a very quiet place to live, situated a few meters from the beach. Very close to supermarkets and international schools and only 4 km from the famous Puerto Portals and 12 km from the center of the city of Palma.

Ref: 11759

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2

Build: 160m2

575,000€

Sunny penthouse, Bendinat Sunny penthouse in Bendinat. This beautiful penthouse has 160 sqm living space distributed in 4 double bedrooms with wardrobes and 2 bathrooms, one of them en suite in the master bedroom which also has a dressing room, large living room with access to a private solarium of 110 sqm with pool views of the beautiful development. There is also a kitchen fully furnished and equipped. This beautiful penthouse is located in a luxury residential area of the most popular area of the Southwest of the island, a few meters from international schools, beaches, supermarkets and the golf course. The Puerto Portals luxury marina is just minutes away. There you can enjoy its shops and restaurants. Bendinat is very elegant and quiet to live in and its proximity to the center of the city of Palma makes it one of the most desirable places on the island.

P U I G D E S C A S T E L L E T. 1 - 2 , B L . 3 , 0 7 1 8 0 S A N TA P O S A , M A L L O R C A (+34) 971 695 912 • INFO@SGI-MALLORCA.COM

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Small steps lead to big savings.

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With over 20 years’ experience and a team of dedicated currency experts, we’ll ensure you make the most of your money, every time you transfer.

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Transfer 24/7 on the move.

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© Currencies Direct Ltd, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA, United Kingdom. Registered in England & Wales, No.: 03041197. Currencies Direct Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and is regulated by the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) in France. Our FCA Firm Reference number is 900669.

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www.theolivepress.es Property

Pound bounces back from Theresa May’s Italian Brexit speech

S

taying on top of the latest currency news can help you time your transfers more effectively, so find out what you should be looking out for over the next couple of weeks, thanks to this update from Currencies Direct

Latest currency news DURING the past fortnight the GBP/EUR exchange rate has climbed sharply higher, rising from a low of around €1.0968 to a high in the region of €1.1394.

This means EUR/GBP has slumped from around £0.9121 to a ten-week low of around £0.8776. EUR/USD has also weakened, trending in the region of US$1.2037 two weeks ago but then falling to around US$1.1864 this week.

What’s been happening?

There has, of course, been a lot going on recently to keep the currency markets occupied.

It’s been a busy period for UK politics recently, with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson causing a stir after reawakening the controversial claim that Brexit will free up £350 million per week to spend on the NHS. Theresa May also delivered a speech in Florence on the UK’s approach to Brexit recently, but markets were disappointed with the lack of clarity it provided.

Meanwhile, the US dollar has been weakened by political concerns but strengthened by an improving outlook

September 28th - October 11th 2017 October 2017

21 XIII 21

On the

again NEW BROOM:

LIKE buses you wait for one new member of staff and two pop up together.

Either way, Jonathan Ford (right) is not complaining now he has two new colleagues to help him man the Mallorca Currencies Direct office in Santa Ponsa.

Joining him this month are Alfonso Rey and Aldine Tomlinson, both more than capable in helping clients get the best possible advice and, of course, currency rates. upon US interest rates. Military tensions between the US and North Korea continue to escalate. President Donald Trump shocked the United Nations in his first address to the organisation by claiming the US may be forced to ‘totally

destroy’ North Korea in defence of itself or its allies.

North Korea responded by threatening to test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean.

On the other hand, the US Federal Re-

Santa Ponsa: new build Apartments near Port Adriano Marina, const. area from 107 m2 to 140 m2, terraces from 37 m2 to 87 m2, 3 bed, 2 bath, pool, Ref. 1511, from 610.000 €

serve has stated it will start to trim the balance sheet from next month and also indicated that it might raise interest rates one more time during 2017.

The euro has been undermined by the approach of the German Federal Elections, which saw Angela Merkel retain her majority but lose her coalition partners the Social Democrat Party (SPD), meaning that there could be weeks of negotiations as she tries to form a coalition with minor parties.

What do you need to look out for?

As well as the usual slew of inflation, growth and retail data that the pound, euro and US dollar will all respond strongly to, there are plenty of speeches in the coming days from central bankers.

Bank of England (BoE) Governor Mark Carney, European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen are all giving public addresses this week. Should they mention the outlook for monetary

policy then the pound, euro or US dollar respectively could react strongly.

Markets will be particularly interested in the UK services PMI, which is set for release on Wednesday October 4th.

Alongside the concurrent composite index, this will be the last PMI release covering the month of September – meaning economists will have access to all the business surveys for the third quarter.

This means analysts will be able to make reasonable estimates for the pace of UK economic growth during Q3. Signs of an uptick from Q2 will sharply boost the pound, while indications growth is weakening again could send GBP tumbling.

At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers.

Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 150,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch in Mallorca or give us a call on 871 510 277 to find out more.

Make sure you mention the Olive Press when you get in touch

Port Andratx: new build modern villa, const. area approx.1.129 m2, plot approx. 2.260 m2, 6 bed, 5 bath, pool, sea views, sauna, garage, heang, air con, Ref. 1480, 6.850.000 €

FARA HOMES, Calle Cristobal Colon 1, 07157 Port Andratx, Tel. +34 971 672 455, info@fara-homes.com, www.fara-homes.com

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22 XIV

September 28th October - October 11th 2017 2017 A-LIST CLIENTS: The Mallorca deal has years of experience helping celebs like Phil Collins, Steve McManaman and Paul McCartney

From the Beatles to Real Madrid stars, Gaston Montauban offers a luxury ‘Mallorca Deal’ for the island’s elite crowd

W

ITH Phil Collins and Paul McCartney as clients, it is not surprising that Gaston Montauban knows how to serve up a bit of luxury.

The long-term island empresario has organised holidays, rentals, boat hire and a lot more for some of the world’s biggest superstars over the last three decades.

Now, a new business venture is set to capitalise on his experience with precocious pop princesses, bolshy boy bands and flashy football stars.

The Mallorca Deal (www.themallorcadeal. com) offers an all-in-one service for Mallorca’s five star elite - and it’s not just stunning mansions available to buy or rent.

Super yachts, private chefs, chauffeur-driven limousines, even helicopters are all part of the offering, with Gaston tailoring each deal to his clients’ needs.

“We are promoting properties to sell or rent long or short-term for one month to three years, and holiday rentals for licenced villas,” said Gaston, who has catered for a Premiership football chairman and an international pop band in the last month alone.

“We promote the most exclusive restaurants, five-star hotels, luxury lifestyles five-star living. The villas, many around €10 to €20 million, are all fully catered and fully serviced.”

He added: “We offer whatever they want. If we don’t have it on the website we will find it for you. We give them the full service.”

A self-confessed workaholic, Gaston arrived in Mallorca in 1988, working as a chef then a restaurant owner until moving into the property market in 2002.

As business soared, Mallorca’s jet-set crowd flocked to this modest Dutchman for

‘Business with personality’

help, with the likes of Real Madrid stars meet his clients in a social environment, Steve McManaman and Arjen Robben rent- conducting business in cafes and meeting ing luxury villas from him. points around the island (he And with the island’s market spends little time in the acbooming again, Gaston, one A Premier League tual office). of the island’s most wellBoth he and his Mallorquin football star has lawyer are fluent in Spanish, known agents, is striking out once more.

German, Dutch and English just enquired “The Mallorca Deal is somespeakers, and the post-sales thing very fresh,” he contin- about a property, attention a client receives is ued. “If people want to propart of their success. he tells us mote a property on our web“Closing the sale is the easy site it is completely free. For part. It’s the after sales serrestaurants, the first year is vice that sets you apart from free.” the competition. Always, properties require Gaston is very hands on and prefers to general maintenance, we have people who

Keys Isl nd to the

T

HE pretty market town of Santa Maria is located just 14 km northeast of Palma along the M-13 motorway.

As well as the Sunday morning market it has a reputation for pottery and the roba de llengues - cloth of tongues – the cotton woven into bright zigzag patterns, as well as being the home of the vineyard Maciá Batle. It was originally founded by the Moors, but even before that, during the Roman times it was their first weigh station on the way from Palma to Alcúdia.

With the motorway and the train track running

by Santa Maria, it is a very well-connected town, with the train station in the centre.

Here you can experience the traditional Mallorcan lifestyle, with very few tourists around and a good mix of locals and expats.

Surrounded by fields, orchards and vineyards, the area offers fantastic views of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range, which towers above Mallorca’s towns from the centre of the island.

During the week it is a fairly quiet town, with old local men hanging around in the bars, neighbours stopping in the street for a quick chat and a popular stop-off for the many cyclists passing by.

That atmosphere changes immensely every Sunday, when early in the morning the weekly market takes place - an occasion for everyone to meet in the ‘Plaça Nova’ and buy fruit, vegetables, flowers and general provisions for the week to come.

Shops & Services The quaint high street that leads through town, with the old church of Santa Maria in the background, offers all essential shops and services for daily needs. A supermarket (Eroski) is located here as well as a handful of restaurants and cafes, where you can enjoy some typical Spanish tapas as well as international menus.

Bistro 19 by Livingdreams is one of my favourite

Live like a local

can fix that,” he said.

“My slogan is: ‘Business with Personality.’

That’s how I see it. I like the social side of this job and meeting so many people.”

As the stars continue to come to Gaston - a famous Premier League star just enquired about a property, he tells us - the question has to be asked: What is the secret of your success?

He shrugs, and says: “I’m no better than anybody else. In fact, I collaborate with everyone on the island.

“But I work because I like it. I work every day.”

CONTACT DETAILS: Email: home@themallorcadeal.com Tel: 0034 693 516 446 www.themallorcadeal. com

By Amanda Butler Property of the

week

This traditional and stunning Mallorca town is perfect for those who want a quieter life restaurants tastefully combined with an interior design shop.

Two big shopping centres are within a few minutes driving distance with Al Campo around an 8 minute drive and about 5 minutes to reach Festival Park a outdoor fashion outlet shopping mall. The local fiesta is 20th of July, of Santa Margarita the patron saint of the town.

Living in Santa Maria del Cami With Palma de Mallorca being so close, for those not wanting to live directly in Palma but still be close enough to it, Santa Maria is the place to be. It is an ideal location for house hunters looking for a historical village house or a country finca. Expect to pay from around €250.000 for a village house, to €5 million plus for a detached country home.

4 Bed ● 4 Bath ● 314 m² Living ● 8000 m² Plot ● €2.250.000 Traditional finca with beautiful mountain views, walking distance to village.

Beautifully presented fully renovated country home with magnificent views over orange groves and the Tramuntana mountains, located just 5 minutes from the charming town of Santa Maria del Cami, and 15 minutes from Palma.

Dating back over 200 years this delightful old stone finca offers beautiful mature gardens, a flat lawn, saltwater swimming pool, patio, lovely covered terrace, fig and almond orchard, herb garden, and several stone outbuildings. The

house has been carefully renovated maintaining its authenticity, but providing all the comforts of modern living. Distributed over 2 floors, the ground floor accommodation consisting of an impressive entrance hall, light and airy fitted kitchen, dining room, living room with fireplace, and French doors to the stone terrace.. The first floor offers a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, 3 further double bedrooms all with built in wardrobes, 3 bathrooms. Large windows from every room affords a beautifully tranquil scene in quiet traditional countryside.

Contact Amanda J Butler to buy or sell your home: Tel: +34690075169, www.mjcassociates.net. Your professional one stop property shop around the Island!

www.theolivepress.es Property

Prime moversA

Mallorca Prime Homes tailors its customer service for a global clientele

STYLISH: The clean, bright base

September 28th - October 11th 2017

XV 23

CENTRAL: The office is well located in Santa Ponsa

T Mallorca Prime Homes, manager and founder Marina Khitarova and her multi-lingual team have a core set of company values.

Professionalism, trustworthiness and a personalised service adapted to each client’s individual requirements are at the core of the Santa Ponsa-based luxury estate agent’s success in the sales and rental markets.

Their clientele ranges from mostly Western and Northern Europe, ex-Republics of USSR, but generally clients from almost all over the world.

After working in the property sector on the Spanish mainland, Marina made the move to the Balearics after ‘falling in love with the beautiful island’, with the company’s personal recommendations now spreading the word.

“We are very keen on getting more customers through the references of our existing clients who have already worked with us,” said Marina.

“The market is getting stronger, the prices are growing, a lot of foreign investors are interested in buying properties in Mallorca and there are very low interest rates.”

Legal assistance is provided for buyers and renters to guide them through the necessary pa-

Enduring through the lean years and now pushing ahead as Mallorca roars once more perwork.

And it’s not just the legalese that you will be guided through.

Whether it’s golf or hiking, beach life or mountain views, the team’s knowledge of the island will help you make your decision when snapping up your dream home.

Selecting some of the most exclusive properties throughout Mallorca, Mallorca Prime Homes offers everything from villas to chalets and apartments, with hundreds of properties to view.

Marina’s team have continued to thrive throughout Spain’s rollercoaster property market, enduring through the lean years and now pushing ahead as Mallorca roars once more.

“As usual the most popular and sought after area is still South West of the Island, from Palma to Port Andratx,” she continued.

“Mallorca is multicultural, beautiful and a varied place to spend holidays and to live. It’s very safe at the same time and has a welldeveloped infrastructure.”

And with years of experience in the market, and a focus on the specific needs of each client, Mallorca Prime Homes offers attention to detail as well as exclusivity.

CONTACT: info@mallorcaprimehomes.com +34 971 692 121

24

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Bankia boost THE banking bailout fund FROB is set to offload 7-8% of shares in the state-run Bankia.

The government has until the end of 2019 to return Bankia to the private sector after the bank was rescued in 2012.

The state currently owns around 67% of Bankia, with Economy Minister Luis de Guindos revealing FROB will place the shares on the market this year.

ALMOST a fifth of Calvia hotels are set for rebuilding work this winter, it has been revealed.

Data from the Department of Tourism shows 21 out of 122 local hotels have licences to now and Download our app carry out repairs from Nobegin enjoying the best Spanish vember into 2018. news on thecover go.

“The requests received all sorts of work. Improvements, extensions, rehabilitations, extensions and upgrades,” said a Mallorca council spokesperson.

Some of the licences granted for the building work are set to run for three years.

Flight-mare

The Olive Press SOME 400,000

Part-time push

TOP for news

SPAIN’S employment minister has met with union chiefs to stamp out abuses over temporary work contracts. Fatima Banez and UGT and CCOO bosses agreed to increase youth wages, the introduction of training schemes and increased pension funding. Employees on temporary contracts would receive 12 holidays for the first year worked, 16 in the second and 20 in the third under new government plans. After the third year, the contract would become full-time.

Ryanair passengers were left stranded afin terSpain! the budget airline cancelled hundreds of flights.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed pilots were offered bonuses of €12,000 to not take leave and reduce the number of cancelled flights.

Between 40 and 50 flights a day will be cancelled over the next six weeks, with flights to Barcelona and Madrid among those affected, although only two between Palma de Mallorca and East Midlands Airport have been cancelled tomorrow.

A Ryanair letter to pilots read: “To avoid further cancellations, we are requesting between one and two blocks of five days from every pilot who has already been

Michael O’Leary admits Ryanair cancellations caused by pilots’ holiday mess-up

assigned their month off.

“All current pilots [...] who remain operating Ryanair air-

Sandy shores

Why fear will always be an investor’s worst enemy

“

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance”.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was referring to the efforts needed to climb out of The Great Depression in 1930’s USA, but the same holds true today. We all develop irrational fears based on emotional responses to events, particularly to bad news. More recently 9/11 created a fear of flying in the US when the data did not support any actual change in airplane crashes.

More people took to the roads and the road death toll increased. Emotions get the better of us and affect our ability to make rational decisions.

None of us are immune to this as it is based on the ‘fight or flight’ response deeply ingrained in our subconscious and so necessary when we all lived in caves and were being chased by Sabre-Toothed Tigers.

But why does it matter in investment?

Making investment decisions, or worse still, deciding not to invest at all, based on emotional responses can only lead to poor decisions and ultimately poor returns. Our instinct for survival translates in investment terms to aversion to loss and availability bias based on over reaction to the latest disaster. I’m sure we all remember swine flu, mad cow disease, bird flu, Grexit, Brexit et al. All of which made investors bail out of the market only to see it rise signifi-

25 25

craft between September and October 31, 2018 will receive a once-off €12,000/£12,000 gross bonus for captains and

€6,000/£6,000 for first officers in November 2018.”

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary apologised for the shock cancellations, which came about because of a mix-up over pilot holiday rostering.

The Irish airline could have faced a €25 million fine for late arrivals if it had not allowed pilots to take holidays they were owed. Around 80% of those affected would be placed on another flight within 24 hours of their designated departure, but O’Leary refused to book passengers on rivals’ planes. “We will not pay for flights on other airlines,” he said. “We cannot afford to pay the high costs of our competitors,” said O’Leary. said. “I say sorry to them.”

MALLORCA tourist body ACOTUR has called on hoteliers, business leaders and politicians to work together to stamp out bad tourist behaviour.

It came after Palma mayor Antoni Noguera asked venues in areas blighted by drunken holidaymakers to change their business model.

Noguera singled out 132 establishments, many of them around Calle Jamon in Playa de Palma, but an ACOTUR spokesperson said everyone had the responsibility to act.

“To single out and blame establishments in troubled areas is unfair. All sectors that work with tourism are implicated, starting with tour operators and hoteliers,” the spokesperson said.

“Many of the establishments mentioned in the press conference have more than 150 employees and have invested more than €3 million.”

The spokesperson added local business community ‘needed the help and cooperation’ of the authorities to change the tourism model.

ACOTUR also claimed that hotels in the area were ‘very aggressively’ offering all-inclusive holidays without being registered to do so with the Balearic government.

Finance writer, Sandy Paterson, of Blacktower, who is here to help make the most for your finances

Be fearless Got a question?

cantly a few months later.

Risk aversion is a behavioural tendency based on irrational fears. As a Financial Adviser, I meet with clients whose past investment experience has been based on seeking out low risk investments (cash, bonds etc.) out of fear and then being very disappointed in the low return achieved.

A more promising outcome may well have been achieved by setting aside

In it together

Then Ask the Expert and drop Sandy a line.

Sandy Paterson DipFA, CeMAP, MLIBF - International Financial Adviser Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd – Mallorca Office Tel: 971 42 59 86 Email: sandy.paterson@blacktowerfm.com Web: www.blacktowerfm.com/locations/mallorca Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission. Licence 00805B and is registered by both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

Blacktower Financial Management Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

that fear and taking on a higher risk, higher potential outcome investment.

In the long-term the bias towards avoiding risk can cost investors dearly. The returns are always going to be poor and eroded significantly by inflation. UK CPI inflation was 2.7% in August vs the top 5-year fixed rate account of 2.4%, as they say in the States, ‘you do the math’.

How to quell our fears Data, diversification & time in the market is the answer. ●● Focus your attention on the data. ●● Look for consistent performers over at least 5-years amongst the fund managers.

Outperformance when the markets are down is a useful indicator also. ●● Diversify your investments across different geographies and asset classes. ●● Sit on your hands when the market is down and do not listen to the nay-sayers. Or better still invest more whilst the cost is lower. ●● Trust in the market to recover. ●● Take a long-term view. ●● Make sure you take advice, it will save you tax and make the decision less emotional. ●● We have all heard that “past performance is no guarantee of future returns” but it is what we have available. That and history showing us that markets always recover after a drop.

Roosevelt was right when he said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission. Licence 00805B and is registered by both the DGS and CNMV in Spain. Blacktower Financial Management Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

26

Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es Property www.theolivepress.es

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October 2017

Issue 16

That’s gorgeous George

September 27th - October

10th 2017

13

What could Clooney be buying inland?

SEE PAGE 10

Spain has some of the most Game of Thrones-style castles in the world, and they are waiting for their new rulersjust to move in SEE PAGE 20

What can you get for the price of an average London flat?... These three for starters

TOP OF THE PROPS

Two Costa hotspots are the most popular places for Brits buying second homes

TWO out of three of Spain’s top desti- Meanwhile, nations for Brits buying Mijas was unique in attracta second home ing holidaymakers far from the sea or a golf are in Andalucia. and course.” hand.”

“It has the perfect setting “Many holidaymakers avid golfers.

Marbella and Mijas are fall in for in the top three, this only beaten by Torrevieja, holiday hotspot as they love with ing the international growing captur- Calvia in Mallorca came in a close demand fourth in the are never for second in Alicante, according to leading homebuilder homes with amenities poll on purchasing in Spain of British buyers Taylor Wimpey. over the summer months this year.

While, Torrevieja topped the charts Meanwhile, Spanish tourism thanks to its beaches continues to break records this homes, Marbella and and affordable HOLIDAY home demand is back in business… year with over Mijas were very New research reveals among Spaniards as well.

10.5 million tourists arriving close behind. that 13% of homes sold in July– homes, according to Fotocasa. to local buyers are intended Marbella has ‘superb flight as holiday 10% more than last year’s figures. connections Some 59% of buyers have no intention British visitors were the year round’ and new routes of renting out largest to offer holiday rentals. “The holiday rental market is their second home, whilst 34% plan accounting for over 2.3 million group, added every year, according are being are rising one of the reasons arrivals so fast,” explains to the reduring the month. The homebuilder port.

Another report reveals that Beatriz Toribio, head of research at Fotocasa.why rental prices has a number of projects more than six million Spanish in Spain, of which 3.6 million currently underare located in coastal areas.households own a second home way in Mijas and Marbella, Mallorca and Torrevieja. as well as in

Second homes surge

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GRINBERG: Cuffed

Mafia raid at Marbs FC THE owner of Marbella Football Club has been arrested in a huge anti-mafia raid.

Alexander Grinberg was cuffed alongside six others in the huge crackdown at the football club.

The multi-millionaire businessman is being probed for alleged money laundering and being a member of a criminal organisation, with police believing he has ties to the Russian mafia.

The head of Mijas Water (Agua de Mijas), was also arrested in the raid, as well as businessman Arnold Taam, who was lifted at Grinberg’s multi million euro villa in Bahia de Marbella.

“This was a raid coordinated between the Mijas and Marbella Guardia Civil,” said one local source.

“There were helicopters and dozens of police vehicles involved and the streets were shut off, it was quite something.” The raids are said to be a crackdown on links to the Solntsevo gang, whose boss Vyacheslav Gulevich was arrested in Mijas last year.

Police say a ‘large amount of material’ has been seized for what is now an ongoing investigation.

EXCLUSIVE

By Jed Neill

A BLIND tourist has been thrown out of a supermarket as staff feared his guide dog would ‘eat the food’.

Ex-policeman Stephen Joiner, 63, was outraged when employees at the Prossima market in Fuengirola insisted he take his working pet Jodie outside.

The Brit, who has been visiting the Costa del Sol for 15 years, was holding a white stick, while his dog had official dog flashes and collar.

But this didn’t stop staff or even the manager at Prossima supermarket from insisting he left.

“It really spoilt my holiday,” he told the Olive Press. “I was so shocked by the whole experience

LITTLE HELPER: Stephen with Jodie

DONALD Trump has said he wants to see a united Spain.

His comments came as prime minister Rajoy jetted to the US to meet the president this week.

Rajoy had hoped to get Trump on his side ahead of the upcoming independence referendum in Catalunya.

And Trump delivered when he said: “I’m for a united Spain, I really think the people of Catalonia would stay with Spain.” The pair also discussed

2 for 1

Ex-policeman and guide dog ejected from shop

that I needed to sit down outside before I felt confident enough to move on.”

Joiner, who has had glaucoma for eight years, was shopping with his wife Julia, who works in security

Trump plea

Spain’s role in the EU and NATO. Catalunya represents a fifth of Spain’s €1.1 trillion economy and has wide-reaching autonomy.

But what would happen if Catalunya actually left Spain?

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at Liverpool airport.

They had only been in the shop (pictured left) for a few minutes when a checkout girl came over and told him he had to take his five-year old Labrador outside.

When he insisted she was an official guide dog, the employee replied: ‘You have your wife with you, you don’t need a guide dog.’

The manager was then called and asked them both to leave the shop.

When questioned, he said he was ‘worried’ that the dog would try and eat the food.

“He was very agitated, raising his voice and coming across as quite threatening,” said the ex-Merseyside Police detective.

“He was all the time on his phone, following us trying to edge us out.”

The pair, who have been spending their holiday for the last 15 years at Las Palmeras hotel, debated about calling in police to make an official complaint.

When the Olive Press contacted the shop for a response, we were told they had, in fact, been allowed to shop. “A shop assistant simply told him to wait in a designated area before going to ask her superiors for permission,” claimed the employee.

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Back from the dead

Border boost

Truck bomb exercise A TRUCK bomb causing multiple casualties was the subject of a dummy run for the emergency services on the Rock.

Titled Exercise Assure, the emergency rehearsal involved officials from the Government, the Royal Gibraltar Police, the Ministry of Defence, the Gibraltar Port Authority, the Air Terminal, the Borders and Coastguard Agency and HM Customs.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, the Police chief Eddie Yome and the Commander of the British Forces, Commodore Mike Walliker were all involved.

The exercise at No.6 involved a scenario where after the truck blew up, there was an ensuing manhunt in the Upper Town.

1

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Vol. 3 Issue 54 www.gibraltarolivepress.com September 27th - October 10th 2017

IT has taken months of complaints and news stories.

But Gibraltar’s cemetery is finally being brought back to life.

An eagle-eyed reader took a shot of workmen cleaning up the overgrown site.

In total, the team of work-

men removed ‘at least 30’ big sacks of garden waste from the burial ground.

It comes two months after the Gibraltar Olive Press launched the ‘Give Them Respect’ campaign following a slew of complaints from residents and readers.

ESCAPE TO THE ROCK EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

A SELF-confessed scammer has fled to Gibraltar from Spain with a pregnant woman’s rental deposit.

Londoner Abdelkarim [Karim] Moumene, 27, allegedly scarpered with €2,300 in cash after advertising a flat he didn’t own on a rental portal.

The wheeler dealer left Irish expat Hannah Nolan, 26, and her partner €800 out of pocket over the property in Barcelona.

Another young couple also lost €900 after Moumene allegedly pocketed their rental deposit, via an advert he placed on Ide-

Londoner moves to Gibraltar after allegedly conning expats out of rental deposits in Spain

alista.com.

Five-month pregnant Nolan, a teacher who lives in Barcelona, only realised she and her partner had been conned when an estate agent demanded they leave.

She told the Olive Press how the agent ended up trying to break down the door, accusing them of squatting and telling them to move out immediately.

“Karim seemed so charming but then he conned us,” she

said, “We wanted to find a place together for the remainder of my pregnancy before I returned to my native Ireland to have the baby.

“We're both young, so don't have have a lot of spare income and it is almost impossible to find a room in Barcelona for a couple. It has been very stressful.”

She has now reported the theft to Barcelona police and continues to try and pressurise

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The Good Eggs, very interesting article, but Gerald Brenan, who lived much of his life in Spain, wrote different essays and books, two of the most important works are South from Granada and The Spanish Labyrinth, a historical work on the background of the Spanish Civil War.

EXTRA AUGUST ISSUE

‘Pigging out’

FREE

Following the huge anti-Brexit march in London, Olive Press

‘Avalanche’ of rent calls

AN ‘avalanche’ of calls from worried homeowners renting out flats without a licence has swamped Mallorca authorities.

Hundreds of callers have rung the tourist department about getting flats regulated, despite missing the July 31 deadline.

Unlicenced homeowners are concerned about possible fines of €40,000, with platforms like AirBnb and Homeaway facing penalties of €400,000.

“It has generated an avalanche of calls,” said a spokesperson.

“The big rental sites are taking down hundreds of homes without permits to avoid fines.”

A Booking.com spokesperson refused to say how many it had removed, but confirmed it was in ‘constructive dialogue’ to comply with regulations.

Vital

LAYING LOW: Karim Moumene

Moumene to return the mon- insisting she put pressure on ey, including contacting his her son. family and launching a social In the email he wrote that he media campaign against him. was sorry he conned her and She has now finally tracked that she had ‘every right to be him down to Gibraltar through livid’ with him. He admitted it his friends, and discovered was a ‘scam’. he has been drinking in well- It is not known how many othknown Main Street pub the er people he has ripped off.

Horseshoe over recent weeks.

The Olive Press has discovOne member of staff told the ered that the conman worked Olive Press last that he had for four years at Barcelona’s indeed been drinking there re- Cheers Irish bar where, cently. strangely, he used the name The barmaid said: “He didn’t ‘John’, manager Sam Olsson really talk much about him- revealed. self. Just sat for a few pints and Police in Barcelona refused to kept himself give more details on the case, to himself.” while police in Gibraltar conThis week, firmed they would be handing in an as- our dossier over to the intellit o n i s h i n g gence department. confession, His mother did not respond to M o u m e n e calls in London and he did not wrote to No- reply to emails. lan asking for forgiveness.

Have you been the victim It came after of a rental scam like this she wrote to in Spain? Contact newshis mother desk@theolivepress.es ANGRY: Nolan in England

What’s up doc?

See Page 5

In Gibraltar

Airbnb claim the new rental legislation will cost the Balearic Islands €500 million and hit 10,000 families.

But many local property experts back the government’s moves.

One, Louisa Foster, who has worked in Mallorca real estate for 17 years, believes the regulations are vital.

“Last year, we were unable to help over 30 clients who had jobs here, but could not find affordable housing as the majority of homes are weekly rentals,” said the owner of Vogue Exclusive and First Island Properties Mallorca.

“Families rang our offices in tears unable to find places at decent prices.”

She added: “Unless the government do something now, this island will be ruined in two to three years.”

David Novi, a property market specialist with 12 years’ experience on the island, also backed the need for tighter regulation and fines.

“I believe in some form of regulatory threat,” he told the Olive Press.

“We can’t have a situation where people are being driven out as they can’t get rentals.

We need a balance.”

BEST

MUM ‘SHOCKED’ AS BANK

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

IT should have been a fun early-life experience for her young son Oliver: The raiding of his piggy bank and the deposit in his bank account.

But Alba Thomas’s local branch of La Caixa hadn’t read the script.

In an astounding own-goal, officials at the Secar de la Real bank refused point blank to take it.

“First they said they didn’t want to count the coins.

Then they said they ‘didn’t SHOCKED: Thomas and Oliver

REFUSES TO ACCEPT PIGGY-BANK

MONEY

want it’, the 24-year-old told the Olive Press.

So now, the Mallorca mum, who dates an English businessman, is vowing to shut the one-year-olds account and put the €36 into a bank that ‘does care’.

“I felt really bad because I am now unable to save money for my son. We wanted to give him the money when he was 18, as a nest egg.

SAVING UP: Oliver with his piggy “Yet bank staff made me bank feel his money didn’t have wait, any value, and I should be that she was finally told This is despite handing in ashamed to have brought staff under new rules, bank another pile of coins in the are only allowed to acit,” she continued. cept coin deposits from res- very same branch a month ago when, after bagging up After an uncomfortable taurants and shops. the money and counting it herself, bank staff sent it off to be checked and deposited it into the child’s account.

“What has changed? It’s still money,” added Alba, who has had an careered past him and a friend the same branchaccount at for eight pushing his chair. years, while her mother has He told the Olive Press: “The banked with La Caixa for 50 van was about six metres away. years.

It sped

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Joe Duggan

Untitled-1.pdf WITNESS: Wilcock 1 saw terrorist

right past us. It made a crashing noise as it reached the end. “I have never been more vulnerable,” added the Mancunian recruitment consultant.

“My mate literally disappeared in the chaos.”

“I thought;‘If they come out with guns or knives now, I am dead. I am in a wheelchair. I am a prime target. Of course they

16/06/2017

15:36 Continues on Page 2

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Expat tells of his Barcelona ‘hell’

A WHEELCHAIR-bound expat has told of his terror when he was left to defend himself during the Barcelona terror attack.

Craig Wilcock, 40, believes van attacker Younes Abouyaaqoub ran right past him on Las Ramblas, knocking over a woman who had come to his assistance.

The father of two, who has lived in Barcelona for eight years, was going to a doctor’s appointment when the terrorist’s van

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G Tweed, Mallorca

of the

week

And of course in France we have loads. Lynche Bages, Barton, Latour, Talbot, Hennessy just a few.Admittedly and not surprisingly their influence has somewhat focused on booze !!

Mark Wardell, Marbella

Brexit breakdown

Banking blues

Testing Spain’s most unusual foods

We meet Gibraltar’s deputy leader Dr. Joseph Garcia

MUCH as I loved your Good Eggs feature (Issue 12) please don't label Wellington ‘British’. He was Irish. Albeit an Irish protestant. Oh and Let's not forget the Irish influence in Spain...

Garvey sherry founded by an Irish family Patrick Garvey. Patrick Murphy founded what is now Domecq.

Lola Ortega Muñoz, Malaga

PERSON attempts to put money into a bank. Whatever next (Hog Wash, Issuu 11) ? Whilst in a bank in London I noticed a new payingin machine. I watched as the local ‘Big Issue’ salesman emptied his pockets of all manner of change HOG and then WA SH got a rec e i p t , went to the counter, and got paid in notes.

Easy. It’s clearly La Caixa that are incompetent here.

September 28th - October 11th 2017

Letter

AN OBVIOUS EGG

www.mosquitonick.ws nick@mosquitonick.ws

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SPANISH workers have been handed reassurances amid fears over Brexit’s impact on the frontier.

It comes as Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis sought to calm concerns during a visit to La Linea.

“I hope that there won’t be a hard Brexit, but we want to maintain the best relations with the UK and we don’t want to inconvenience or create a prejudicial situation for the citizens of this area,” he said.

There had been fears that following the UK’s exit from the EU, Spain would shut its frontier with Gibraltar.

This would cause economic ruin for La Linea, with an estimated 10,000 of its citizens relying on employment across the border for their livelihoods.

The town is already among Spain’s poorest, with a high unemployment rate.

letters

www.theolivepress.es

Denied

“The only reason I opened the account for Oliver, which obviously has charges, was so I could save for him.”

Staff at the branch insisted they were unable to talk to the press and referred us to the head office, which failed to comment.

According to Bank Of Spain rules, banks have the right to ‘deny the count of change if it exceeded 50 coins’.

“In the case of shops or restaurants, it is all agreed in the contract’s conditions,” a spokesperson told the Olive Press.

Opinion Page 6

readers discuss the rights and wrongs of Britain’s EU divorce Majority rules

IF the EU negotiators would drop their continual demands for excessive amounts of ‘Divorce Money’ (London Calling, Issuu 11) and discuss the real issues at stake then progress could be made to the benefit of both sides. It’s because of the dictatorial and intransigent attitude of the EU that Britain wants out.

Andy Holingbery, Mallorca

Made in Britain?

IT turns out this week that not even the new British

EL AVISO DE MALLORCA

SO the majority of the electorate did not vote and now they're whining about the result. It's quite clear that those who most passionately wanted to leave the EU, voted in greater numbers than the Remoaners.

Anonymous, JK wins!

Nightmare begins

Disputed figures

IF only these people could have awoken BEFORE the nightmare started.

‘THE majority’ did not vote to leave. Some 76% of the eligible electorate voted and 51.9% of those voted leave.

Additionally democracy did not die on June 23. If you are going to comment at least be accurate.

Stefano Liwinski, Marbella

EU win again IT’S called a democracy!

The majority voted for... so get over it. Democracy

Pig of a rule

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History man

Passports are being made in the UK. Fred G, Malaga

ALL banks have a rule about coins, some require you to place them in special plastic holders supplied by the bank and as an owner of a shop it was a chore to do before going to the bank (Hog Wash, Issue 10). That said, how many times would you like to be the person waiting behind someone while the staff member counts the coins!!!

Have a bit of consideration.

Tam,Mallorca

Jennifer Santolla, UK

Michael Pyner UK

Gibraltar Self-Determination AND then the Spanish say that Gibraltar has no right to self-determination? (Rafael Nadal hits out at Catalonia referendum saying they are ‘stronger together,’ online) Wrong about Gib, right about Catalonia?

WELL done Mr Cameron you will go down in history as the man who divided a nation.

Peter Johnson,Zujar,

Cheque hate MORE anti-Brexit tripe?

Presume your cheque from the EU propaganda department is already winging it's way to you.

Philip Hart, Mallorca

is exactly the right thing to do.

We need to change this horrible rape/trolling culture that is insidiously creeping around the world and encouraging violence and prejudice. (Spanish troll to be charged for inciting gang rape of Ciudadanos leader on Facebook, online).

Eli Plater Shaw, Malaga

The hand that feeds you

Changing of the guard

Well surprise surprise the justice system here is not good. I know first hand. (FIVE year investigation into Spain’s biggest ever public money fraud scandal sees 275 people probed but NOT ONE charged, online) Corruption plays one big hand.

Well done Inés Arrimadas, that

Jo Watson, Castril

Stephen Potts, Gibraltar

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @ olivepress

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September 28th - October 11th 2017 September 14 - September 27 0th 2017

Researchers bid to find new ‘super’ tomato

A GROUP of intrepid botanical boffins are aiming to create a new climatechange-resistant tomato in Download our app now and Mallorca.

Researchers from the Unibegin enjoying the best Spanish versity of the Balearics news on the go. have planted 5,000 tomatoes from 250 varieties on a farm near Ariany.

They are battling to develop a more resilient strain of tomato in the face of changing weather patterns.

The university team, which The Olive Press MUSHROOM season in Mal- will be joined by representatives from horticulture TOP news harin Spain! lorca is set forfor a bumper vest after September’s heavy company Agroilla, will try rains, an expert has predict- to create new species of tomatoes which need less ed.

Carles Constantino from the water and nutrients.

Make room for the mushrooms

Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences said that earlysprouting mushrooms were now being seen around the island.

Mallorca has more than 100 edible mushrooms out of some 2,000 species on the island, with the recent wet conditions providing a boost.

“It has rained on wet ground, and that is good for mushrooms because the earth is humid and there is not much wind,” said Constantino.

Tomato catchup The ramillete, a traditional Mallorca tomato which has a higher-than-average resistance to drought, is one of the specimens the scientists will examine.

Europe’s tomatoes have been put at risk by reduced rainfall due to climate change and excessive demand draining the continent’s supply of fertiliser.

Merca-massive SOME 70% of Spanish households visit Mercadona at least once a month, according to Kantar Worldpanel, an international investment data group.

The Spanish supermarket continues to dominate the local market, with 24.4% market share, having grown by 1.2% in a year.

The company has continued to open many

stores and launch new ranges of products.

Mercadona dominates its closest rival Carrefour which makes up 8.9% of the grocery market with Grupo Dia hot on its heels with 8.5%.

Grupo Eroski has 5.3% of the market and the German company Lidl commands 4.2%.

Grupo Auchan has the smallest piece of the pie with just 3.4%.

Beach bar ban?

GOVERNMENT politicians are calling for a ban on beach chiringuitos around the Balearic Islands.

The Mes coalition has tabled a motion demanding outdoor bars and sunloungers are prohibited to stop the coasts’ ‘privatisation’.

The Balearic coastline is ‘for the common good’, said spokesperson David Abril, who slammed a former PP national minister for claiming it was for profit.

The islands’ coasts should be the responsibility of local politicians and not Madrid, continued Abril.

Love, love will take you there...

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June 9th - June 22nd 2017

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MALLORCA CULTURE

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Mauled

Rugby star scammed in holiday rental shakedown

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Saluting Hugh Remembering civil war academic Hugh Thomas

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Spycatcher Spy Garbo’s links to Mallorca

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Don’t miss our C’an Pastilla special

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MALLORCA PROPERTY

AN expat has made an urgent appeal to have his sevenyear-old daughter returned from a Norwegian church after his ex-partner ran off with their child.

Heartbroken Dominic Shepherd, 40, is involved in a nightmare battle with ex Tonje Bjornsen, 37, after she sought ‘refuge’ in the place of

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PLEA: Dominic Shepherd with kids

holding’ her daughter from joining her twin brothers in Mallorca.

“I’m numb, but the boys make me strong,” Shepherd, an IT expert, based in Santa Ponsa, told the Olive Press.

“I’ve had nothing but support from friends and family.”

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BRAVE: Ignacio Echverria and (top) Sergio Farina

TRUE HEROES A PAIR of Spanish heroes came to the aid of Londoners attacked by three crazed terrorists at the weekend.

Ignacio Echeverria and Sergio Farina stepped in to save the lives of innocent bystanders caught up in the carnage that killed seven and injured 48.

It has now been confirmed that Ignacio Echeverria, from Madrid, who defended a woman from one of the terrorists, died in the attack.

Echeverria, 39, is said to have been on his way home from a skate park on the Saturday night when he attempted to defend a woman with his skateboard in Borough Market.

He was last seen lying on the pavement.

Onslaught

Desperate dad’s fight to win back seven-year-old daughter from Norwegian church asylum

worship in February.

Despite Shepherd winning custody of their three Britishborn children, Bjornsen is not allowing his daughter Maia to leave Spjelkavik Church in Ålesund.

She now faces criminal charges in Spain for ‘illegally with-

June 9th - June 22nd 2017

MALLORCA CLASSIFIEDS

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Choking back tears, the British expat, continued: “I am just concentrating on keeping my head together because those kids need a dad. We just want Maia back so we can live a normal life.”

His ordeal began last August, when Bjørnsen left Spain with the children, ostensibly for a holiday, after living on the island for three years.

However two weeks later he received a call from his partner to say she was not coming back.

Mystified, the distraught dad was forced to use the Hague Convention to win legal custody of their children.

But despite three court verdicts in his favour, he was forced to travel to Norway to get his children back after Bjornsen refused to return them.

After picking up the two boys Tobias and Christian from school, he was stunned to learn Bjørnsen had fled with their daughter - whose birthday is this week - to live in a local church.

“I was utterly lost for words,“ said Shepherd, who has spo Continues on Page 2

In a second incident, a heroic Spanish waiter put his life on the line during the onslaught.

CCTV footage shows Sergio Farina, from Galicia, throw himself against the door of his bar to prevent one of the knife-brandishing terrorists from entering.

He managed to keep the man from entering, before opening the door to help another person find safety.

“You do not even think about it,” he said, “I could have simply left, as everyone did, but I would have left 28 people behind.”

He added that ‘all he could see was a guy with dynamite’ as he tried to lower the bar windows’ shutters.

He added: “We did not know how many terrorists there were and whether they would return.”

Dozens of pedestrians were mowed down by a van on London Bridge before attackers stabbed a police officer and revellers around Borough Market with 12-inch knives.

More than 20 remain in a critical condition.

Opinion Page 6

September 28th - October 11th 2017 Food, drink & travel

S C

Try some twists on salmorejo, a Spanish classic for the autumn months

oup eas n

ORDOBA’S signature soup of salmorejo is the perfect autumn dish.

While gazpacho or ajo blanco is the perfect light summer fare, salmorejo has a bit more punch and substance.

The soup is now so well loved around Andalucia, that it has its own culinary guild in Cordoba, which is constantly promoting it as a true ambassador for the city.

Rather like the city’s other famous dish, rabo de toro (oxtail stew), it is now well known around the country and is getting better known abroad.

Some of this success is being credited on a salmorejo congress in June, which brought in food professionals from around the globe.

Indeed, so successful was the Congreso Nacional de los salmorejos that it has been decided to run the event every year.

For two days, lectures, tastings, demonstrations and discussions were held at the Palacio de los Congresos to study the authentic recipe.

The aim is to now promote a traditional ‘protected’ recipe, selected by a panel, which is to become an emblem for Cordoba.

The panel selected the classic dish after researching the most common proportions between ingredients.

Here, the Olive Press presents a couple of recipes for salmorejo, from the classic to a couple of more modern twists. then place in cold water to separate the skin from the flesh of the tomato. Peel tomatoes and blend Ingredients: in a food blender, pass liquidised 1 kg of ripe tomatoes tomato through a sieve to remove 200 gr. Telera Cordobesa Bread seeds then pour back into blender (this is a bread with a thick, and blend again, while adding heavy dough. Better if it is a bread, olive oil, garlic and salt until day old too) you have a mixture which is much 100 gr. de Extra Virgin Olive Oil thicker than gazpacho. Sprinkle 1 ‘Montalban garlic’ clove from on chopped boiled egg and finely Cordoba diced Serrano ham over and serve.

10 gr. de salt

Traditional

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to excite Here is an alternative a bit of ate cre and jo ore salm is reduce variety. All you need to do lace the rep and ad 50gr of bre with boiled egg and Serrano ham a lovely a fresh tuna tartar. It is easy to light alternative and make. the For the salmorejo follow only ), left (far s tion instruc will remove 50gr of bread, this not make it slightly lighter and as thick. You will need: a 300 gr of raw red tun steak 100gr of diced Mango ed A few sprigs of dic chives Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Arbequina) i A pinch of wasab (optional) Quite simply dice it all up and mix it well in a bowl and leave it in the fridge for 45min before serving. Serve the salmorejo with a healthy serving of tartar in the centre.

The soup is now so well loved around Andalucia it has it’s own annual congress

Crispy bu

ffalo

This vers improve ion another su need ap the salmorejo d re fire way to time withart from the sish. All you will ing the b the original re almorejo (this balls, 4 read) are 4 buffcipe, not reducsprigs of slices of Serra alo mozzarella virgin oli fresh basil and no ham, a few finely chve oil. To prepa of course extra crisp it in op up the Serrre quite simple so. Then the microwave ano ham and centre o place the mozza for a minute or Serrano f the salmorejo rella ball in the the freshham sprinkled o with the crispy some Pic basil leaves. Sver the top with immedia ual olive oil over alt and Drizzle tely. it all and serve

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Food, drink & travel

'Meat product' might sound ideal but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Although the product will contain meat of some sort, it will also have water, spices, preservatives, colours and other additives. This is why 'burger meat' is not the same as minced beef.

T

HE supermarket shelves are stacked with products bearing fancy names and labels that are downright confusing to the shopper, in Spanish or English.

Some are even there to trick you.

Many words and phrases on everyday food items are totally misunderstood, so the Olive Press went to town to try and decode them for you.

Be wary. Only mineral water from springs, real yogurt, and aromas and preservatives deserve this distinction. Everything else is an exaggeration.

ARTESANO/CASERO Artisanal or ‘homemade’ are used to signify care, expertise and quality of ingredients and products which are not massproduced. However currently there are no official restrictions on who can use these terms; it’s always worth finding out the story behind the label.

MARINADO/MARINADED Some might think this is just flavourful preparation. But in reality it's mostly added water, not worth the additives and expensive price for soaked meats.

29

PRODUCTO CÁRNICO

Gillian Keller deciphers the mysteries of food labelling in Spain

NATURAL

September 28th - October 11th 2017 September 28th - October 11th 2017

JUGOSO/EXTRAJUGOSO ‘Juicy’ or ‘extra juicy’ food sounds fresh and natural but in reality it’s another way of saying ‘pumped with water’. It is usually seen on packs of sliced processed meats and translates to less meat and quality, just more water.

Not what it says

on the

100% CARNE DE...

Just because the slices of turkey on sale are ‘100% turkey meat’, the product as a whole isn’t all turkey. It can still contain any amount of water and additives, it just means that no other type of meat has been added, other than turkey. They’re good with word play.

SABOR...

Seen in desserts and yogurts, it's simply saying it's flavoured like and tastes like something but doesn't actually contain it.

So ‘sabor fresa’ yogurt ‘tastes like’ strawberry yogurt but contains none of the fruit.

Beware of missing words as well. Sliced or grated cheeses, that don't actually say the word cheese almost always aren't legally cheese. Same goes for luncheon meats and minced meats, unless they contain the word 'meat'.

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Mallorca diaries

By Lesley Keith

T

HERE are many things on this island that cause long and indepth conversations; cyclists, weather, finances, regulations etc.

But the one issue that everyone appears to have a solution to is mosquitoes.

Those little black blighters that you rarely see, sometimes hear and yet always know they’ve been, were starting to make our lives a misery.

I was not warned about them before I got here but I very quickly became aware of the carnage they leave behind.

Within a week our careful budget had been blown on anything and everything that might help. Large itchy red lumps appeared in the most inconvenient places and it was immediately clear that placing a citronella candle close to the window was simply not good enough.

The shopping list included spray on repellent, plug in deterrents, dab on anti-itch treatments, certain essential oils they’re supposed to hate, Argon body oil from Eroski, vitamin b tablets, anti-mozzie candles and insect zapping sprays.

I became obsessed with cleaning the shower to ensure there was not even tiny standing water drops anywhere in our flat and if it rained any puddles had to go as this is apparently where they breed.

Columnists

30 30

Know thy enemy

How do you survive blood-thirsty mosquitos? Asks Lesley Keith

Oh yes, I googled them, they were the enemy and I was taking them on big time. Apart from making my life

miserable, what is the point of them, what do they actually do?

Well apparently they feed bats and

September 28th - October 11th 2017 September 28th- October 11th 2017

frogs and that’s it, hardly saving the far is making sure my partner’s with World are they? me. Once he’s there they all make a Their name means little fly and did beeline to feast on him and I’m basiyou know for instance that only the cally safe. female bites you, so 50% of them His whole body now resembles one are harmless? Did you also know of those impressionists’ paintings, that you don’t feel them bite you with all the different sized dots and because they have anaesthetic on spots and on a bad day (or good detheir proboscis so by the time you pending on how you look at it) swolsee them on you it’s TOO LATE?! len bites on his face and neck can Desperate for solutions, searches make him positively Picasso-esque. were made to find an Avon lady as When visitors arrive the first thing apparently one of their body lotions I do is thrust a bottle of insect deis a guaranteed deterrent. I was gut- terrent into their hands and not let ted to find that they no longer make them out until they’ve used it. The that product in its original form and cries of ‘Oh they never bite me!’ that the ‘new imstop after a couple proved’ version isn’t of hours outside nearly as effective. and they’re desperHis whole body (How very annoying ate for the ant-itch now resembles and why is it that new dabber. Throw in the improved versions of fact that the itching one of those anything are always gets worse when you worse than the origiimpressionists’ drink alcohol I think nals?) My dream of without the antipaintings balmy evenings sipitch treatments I’d ping cool wine on have given up and the terrace as the gone back to Blighty. sun went down was rapidly disap- We always have several dabbers, pearing. Evenings are the absolute placed everywhere like the car, the worst time of day for them and no bedroom, the lounge and of course amount of preparation would save in my handbag, in a vain attempt to us so it’s back inside with the win- stop myself ripping another chunk dows closed. We are said to be lucky out of my skin. as we have a front and rear gar- I’m assured that Autumn is the den, however both are bordered by worst time and it will get better plus hedges. Hedges are cool, dark and I will also build up an immunity but damp, which are perfect mosquito last night sitting on my sofa with a breeding grounds apparently. fly spray in my hand blasting them When they need to be trimmed I as they came my way that really have to spray them with repellent seemed pretty unlikely. first, then get into the equivalent of Someone once said keep your a beekeeper's suit for protection. friends close but your enemies closIn fact the best deterrent I’ve discov- er. This definitely does NOT apply to ered that even half works for me so mosquitoes!

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agic Mushrooms I don’t mean the hallucinogenic variety, although unless you have a masters in mycology you’ll need to know your boletus from your death cap (if it doesn’t kill you, the latter could see you spending the rest of your days on dialysis). Wait for the first autumn rains, then head for the hills with your trug for some serious fungi foraging.

Stag Parties The hills are alive with the sound of roaring ruminants as horny males gear up for the annual deer rut, known as the berrea.

Rural villages have cottoned on to the tourist appeal of listening to their love calls under the moonlight and organise excursions. But deer are flighty creatures so if you actually want to see Mr Stag getting it on with Bambi’s mother you’ll need Hubble telescope-strength binoculars.

Octoberfests No longer confined to Munich, many Spanish towns hold beer festivals this month and it’s not all about San Miguel and Cruzcampo.

Andalucia is home to over 30 microbreweries touting artisan ales like Destrapero from Jerez, Murex and Rebeldia from Malaga and Mammooth from Granada which also brews a Halloween potion made with pumpkin, orange, cinnamon

I know I’m showing my crasser expat preferences here ... But there’s something comforting about a date with the sofa on a Saturday night to watch other people make fools of themselves on the dance floor. and ginger.

Roast Chestnuts The chestnut sellers fire up their braziers on the streets of my village before September is out and its only a euro for a paper cone filled with these tasty toasted treats.

Fall fodder Take all of the above ingredients (your foraged mushrooms, a chunk of venison, a cone of chestnuts and a bottle of ale) and turn into a hearty autumn stew. Add dumplings and be damned to the waist line. If I never see another lettuce leaf again it will be too soon!

Duvet days After hot, sticky, sheetless nights there’s nothing more comforting than being able to snuggle back under a cosy duck down duvet.

Bring it on!

Strictly Come Dancing

Winter boots I’m all for the flip-flop freedom of summer but putting your bunions on public display is never a classy look. Come October, when Spain’s deceptively sunfilled streets can turn the corner into an ankle-biting Poniente, it’s perfectly acceptable to dive straight into a pair of fur-lined thigh boots, just like all the bestdressed Spanish women.

Back to school I hated that slogan when I was a kid but now I rejoice in the silent evenings, unalloyed by rascally little would-be Ronaldos kicking footballs against our garage door until midnight. All you can hear is the hush of homework.

Halloween soup The same unruly rascals will be trick-or-treating at our front door come October 31, but I forgive them for one reason: the shops will be full of pumpkins going cheap. Roast with chilli, coriander and garlic and liquidise into a velvety soup for the full-on flavour of autumn.

-final -final ofofSpanish Spanish TVTVtalent show- -final of Spanish TV talent show - talentshow 3065views views 3065 views 3065

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Sports & yachting

September 28th - October 11th 2017

September 28th- October 11th 2017

olivepressnews olivepressnews olivepressnews

+TheolivepressEs +TheolivepressEs +TheolivepressEs YACHTIES are set to take on Radio One in

Mallorca’s hottest football derby this year.

The family event at Magaluf’s Baleares International College on October 7 will raise monBE BE‘APPY! ‘APPY! BE ‘APPY! ey for Parkinson’s Support Group Mallorca.

A week’s free car hire, green fees at the Marriott Son Antem Golf Club, fine wines and a day’s luxury charter motor yacht hire are all up for grabs in a raffle.

BIG FAN: McGregor The event is the brainchild of Arrival Yachts’ Abby Lythgoe-Jenvey, whose father Ivan Download Download ourapp appnow now and and Download our app nowour and was

Knocked out

begin begin enjoying thethebest bestSpanish Spanish begin enjoying theenjoying best Spanish newsononthethego.go. news on thenews go.

Dreams THEY’VE both attracted a fair came true amount criticism for their osfor tennis tentatious front.

But when UFC star turned proboxer Conor McGregor copped fans when a sight of the €400 million Sail- Nadal and ing Yacht A near Formentera, The The Olive OlivePress Press The Press the Irishman was Olive well and truly Federer floored.

TOP TOP for news ininSpain!

Spain!

TOP news in news Spain!

McGregor wasfor enjoying afor Baleplayed aric break following his Las Vegas defeat to Floyd Mayweath- doubles er, and, never one to hide his admiration for bling, was quick to approve of the futuristic vessel.

“It’s like something out of a bond film. Can’t believe this just pull up,” McGregor posted on Instagram. “‘Sailing yacht A’ its called.

That’s how you know the owner doesn’t need to give a bollox about anything. Most expensive sailing yacht in the world..

Owned by a Russian billionaire.

Crazy!”

Sailing Yacht A, owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, has been regularly sighted around the Balearics this summer.

31 31

TENNIS fans remain in a state of euphoric shock following Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s decision to play doubles together.

Epic

‘Fedal’, as fans have labelled them, teamed up in the inaugural Laver Cup which pits players from Team Europe and Team World against each other.

True to script, Rafa and Roger beat Americans Sam Querrey and Jack

Charity shield

diagnosed with Parkinson’s 15 years ago.

“Dad moved out to Mallorca after his diagnosis and we think living here has probably saved his life because of the heat and doing exercise” said Abby.

“My company do an event for the yachties every October and we thought this year we should do something for Parkinson’s.”

Burgers, hot dogs and refreshments will be

on hand for spectators, with doors opening at 2pm.

Entertainment will come from Birds of A Feather star Pauline Quirke’s Academy of Performing Arts and the Balearic International School.

Entrance is free, but donations to Parkinson’s Support Group Mallorca are appreciated.

MATCHING GEAR: ‘Fedal’ were in sync as they wiped out the Americans

Double trouble Sock in a 6-4 1-6 10-5 epic.

Fedal helped Team Eu-

Outside the boxer

rope to clinch an overall 15-9 win over Team World.

Rafa described it as a dream come true to play on the same side of the net as his long term rival.

“It was unforgettable for both of us after the history we have behind us as rivals. Something we really enjoyed a lot.

“To have the possibility to have Roger next to me is a huge privilege, something I wanted to make happen at some point and today I made it happen.”

Roger responded by commenting, “He said it all.”

“For me personally it was a great moment too.

“This is a memory for the rest of the lifetime.”

Despite relishing the opportunity to play together both Rafa and Roger were quick to assure fans they would return to singles now the tournament was over.

“After this we’ll be rivals again,” Roger joked.

Money Transfers with a 5 star rating from customers sending money to & from Spain.

New Balearic Why 5 stars? marina projects mothballed

Market Price

THEY’VE conquered the road, now Porsche is taking to the seas.

The luxury carmaker launched its €13 million hybrid superyacht at this week’s

Monaco Yacht Show.

Known as the GTT 115, the 115-foot vessel can reach a cruising speed of 21 knots.

Offering efficient fuel consumption for 3,400 nautical miles, the sleek interior features hardwood floors and chocolate brown furniture.

A MAJOR Balearic construction project of ten new yacht“Taking the ing marinas with around 2,000 moorings has been put on spirit of highhold. performance In Mallorca, extensions to the Arenal, Palmanova, Pollensports car stylsa and Puerto Portals sailing clubs were suspended. ing to the high Club Nautico Arenal had hoped to expand by 87,774 square seas, the Dymetres, adding 147 new moorings. namiq GTT 115 It had hoped to accommodate boats with a length of 20 to is designed to 30 metres. appeal to car Altogether, around half a million square metres of coastal lovers and forand marine space would have been built on in Mallorca, ward-thinking Menorca and Ibiza. yacht owners,” In Menorca, proposed building work on the Cala en Bosch said Roland club has also been halted.

Heiler, CEO Two brand new marinas in Ibiza at Portinatx and Port of F.A. Studio Ferrat were scrapped, along with three in Fornells in Porsche.

Menorca.

So far, only There are 9,519 moorings in the Balearic Islands already, seven GTT 115s with the planned extensions adding around 20% more. have been made.

Docked over

Boats, bikes and automobiles…

Hamish is moving jobs but will be back shortly

CHARITY FOO TBALL AND FAMILY MATCH FUN

IN AID OF PARKI NSON’S SUPP ORT GROUP MALLORCA

WHERE: BALEARES INTERNATION AL COLLEGE MAGALUF

WHEN: SATURDAY THE 7TH

OCTOBER 2PM-5PM

LIVE MUSIC WITH RADIO ONE MALLORC STALLS, BOU NCY CASTLE, A FACE PAINTING FOOD & ENTE RTAINMENT, RAFFLE AFTER PART Y AT KEY WEST , PUERTO PORT ALS HOSTED BY

Just the tonic THE silver-hulled Pink Gin sailing yacht has docked in Puerto Adriano ahead of its Monaco Yacht Show debut.

The 177-ft vessel, which was delivered in July, is the biggest carbon-fibre custombuilt sloop ever built.

This summer, Pink Gin has been the toast of the Balearic Islands, dropping anchor in Ibiza as well as Mallorca.

Wit a 222-ft tall carbonfibre mast and 71-ton keel, Pink Gin sleeps ten guests, with folding balconies in the owner’s salon and main suite.

Our Price

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32

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Voted

September 28th - October 11th 2017

BEST

expat paper in Spain FREE

By Gillian Keller

HE usually leaves his opponents all at sea.

Now local tennis hero Rafa Nadal has revealed how he is at his happiest while at sea on his new yacht Beethoven.

In between sinking opponents, the 16-times Grand Slam winner is regularly found cruising the Balearics onboard his Monte Carlo Yachts 76.

Spurs

World Number One Rafa, 31, admitted that when training stops at 3pm he checks with his captain for a weather update before spending the afternoon at sea.

And with fellow stars Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Spurs ace Fernando Llorente borrowing Beethoven recently, ‘King of Clay’ Nadal has been keen to share his favourite pastime.

Miss Soaked THIS is the awkward moment a Spanish beauty queen contestant fell into a pool while trying to impress the judges.

Pilar Magro, who was representing Caceres in the Miss Universe Spain competition came a cropper when she attempted a pool-side twirl and spun herself unwittingly into the water.

Disappearing underwater with a shriek, it was left to a lifeguard to dive in and pull her out.

The humiliating gaffe may have cost Pilar the title, as it was eventually given to Sofia del Prado of Castilla La Mancha.

The new Miss Universe Spain will now go on to represent her country in the finals next year.

Vol. 1 Issue 12 www.theolivepress.es September 28th - October 11th 2017

Captain Rafa Tennis star reveals how his yacht Beethoven hits the right note

RIDING THE WAVES: Mallorca’s Rafa Nadal

CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH AND FAMILY FUN IN AID OF PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP MALLORCA

WHERE: BALEARES INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE MAGALUF

WHEN: SATURDAY THE 7TH OCTOBER 2PM-5PM

LIVE MUSIC WITH RADIO ONE MALLORCA STALLS, BOUNCY CASTLE, FACE PAINTING FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT, RAFFLE AFTER PARTY AT KEY WEST, PUERTO PORTALS HOSTED BY

“I have a lot of great memories being with my family and friends, spending days on the water around Mallorca,” he said.

“Ever since I was a kid, my father had a small boat and I loved to go out with the boat and dive. Every time I have the chance, I come back to Mallorca and get on the water.

“Because I have a yacht, I am able to forget about everything and get away from that tiring stress,” added the winner of this year’s French and US Opens.

Steals on wheels

HOSPITAL staff caught stealing food at work have been fined by a Mallorca court.

The three workers were discovered pilfering from Son Espases in August 2015, with the case only arriving in court this month.

One employee was caught on CCTV removing a painting from a skip before he and two others went to the hospital kitchen, filling bin bags with food and placing them in his car.

A subsequent inventory revealed meat, chicken, olive oil and dairy products were missing from the kitchen.

All three were fined €120, with the man handing back the stolen painting canvas in court.

Enhorabuena Jezza IT takes a lot to shut Piers Morgan up.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn left the Good Morning Britain presenter tongue-tied by speaking fluent Spanish to Arsenal star Hector Bellerin at an awards ceremony.

Morgan was cut out of the conversation by fellow Arsenal fan Corbyn, whose wife is

Mexican, when he switched to Bellerin’s native tongue.

When the former Daily Mirror editor asked Corbyn what he had said, he smirked: “I told him to please send Arsene Wenger my very best and assure him he continues to have my full support, even if he’s lost yours, Piers.

“Especially if he has lost yours.”

When the exchange went viral on Twitter, Corbyn rubbed it in further, tweeting to Bellerin in Spanish: “It was a pleasure to meet you.

“It’s better we don’t say what we were talking about as he [Morgan] wouldn’t understand it.”

Well played, Jeremy.

Highway wheels A DAREDEVIL in a wheelchair wove in and out of traffic on a busy road in Coll d’en Rabassa, with a video of the dangerous stunt going viral.

Motorists were stunned not just at the wheelchair being on the road, but the speed it picked up while zipping around lorries.

The user even sat in his chair while going around a busy roundabout.

The Guardia Civil are currently investigating the identity of the dangerous driver.

Royal rumble KING Felipe and Queen Letizia were greeted by dozens of wellwishers at the inauguration of Palma’s Congress Palace, but walked into a political storm.

The royal couple took a

stroll to meet the crowd, shaking hands with onlookers.

Some controversially chanted nationalist slogans backing the Guardia Civil ahead of Sunday’s Catalan referendum.