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FLOG IT: Mark Stacey in Javea
Going going gone!
RAID your jewellery boxes and plunder the garage because Flog It! is coming to the Costa Blanca! Mark Stacey, renowned British auctioneer, will be in Javea on September 14 to value your trinkets and even give you a juicy offer. The TV personality has appeared on Bargain Hunt, Flog it!, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and the Antiques Road Trip - but this trip will be raising funds for charity Guardian Angels. “Six years ago Mark came over and we had over 400 people through the door,” Sue Nutbrown, president of Guardian Angels, told the Olive Press. “If your items are worth something, Mark will make you an offer and then livestream you its auctioning back in the UK.”
Help
The charity afternoon will take place at the Palacio de la Paz, 20 Calle de la Salvia, and floggers will be charged €5 for a valuation. Guardian Angels operates from Gandia down to Torrevieja guiding families, particularly expat Brits, through separation and divorce. “Our work is so important. In the UK families tend to have aunts and uncles around for support, but in a foreign country situations can get complicated,” Sue said. “We try to help in any way we can.” Sue said the event six years ago raised €6,000, which went to everything from ‘counselling’ to ‘medical care’ and ‘repatriation’. Pianists Lola Smolokowski will appear ‘jingling the keys’, while animal shelters and children’s charities would also be on site.
COSTA BLANCA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 1 Issue 12 www.theolivepress.es August 29th - September 11th 2019
Rental websites which scammed British holidaymakers out of thousands FINALLY shut down following Olive Press exposes
A FRAUDULENT villa rental website that tricked British holidaymakers out of thousands has finally shut down following an extensive Olive Press campaign this year. Dreamvillasspain.com was behind countless tales of heartbreak as it seduced holidaymakers into purchasing villa rentals that never existed. The first case was reported by the Olive Press to the Guardia Civil in April when professional chocolate taster Angus Kennedy turned up at a villa he had paid for in Mallorca. He was met with bewildered German owner, Klaus, who had no knowledge of ever putting his house up for rental. It soon dawned on Angus he’d lost
2
CRIME
Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)
mother to lung cancer a few THE Olive Press is helping years ago. victims take legal action “My nephews and nieces were against a holiday rental com- really looking forward to it as pany that scammed holiday- they have never been abroad,” makers thousands for rental Deleslie told the Olive Press. villas on the Costa Blanca. “I spent two years saving up It comes as the paper was for this trip, and we just can’t contacted by new victims of afford to pay for new villa. Dream Villas Spain, following The kids are devastated.” last issue’s report on the plight We helped the family make of the Bolton family, who lost a police denuncia, after De€2,000 on a Moraira rental. leslie said she will lose ‘more Petra Deleslie, 42, has now than €12,000’ as flights were contacted us after losing already booked and her bank €6,000 booking a villa in Mo- were unable to claim their raira later this year for her ex- money back. tended family of 18. She showed the Olive Press We agreed to help after she emails asking Dream Vitold us she was ‘desperate’ llas Spain for a refund, after for a break after losing her
SEL-FISH JAVEA Town Hall has begun legal proceedings against the owner of a property who cut off public access to a heritage fishing ground in Balcon al Mar. The unknown owner, who has a luxurious four-storey villa overlooking Cala Ambolo, built a ‘stone staircase’ with ‘metal railings’ that cut access to the Llavadora del Pinet fishery. Councillor Isabel Bolufer said
VOX’S top candidate for Benidorm mayor has been replaced
revelations he received a Socialist win
after A BRITISH for expat is being handed two-year prison sentence tigious British gong by the Queen a presfor her domestic violence in February services to tourists in Alicante. Candida Wright will receive an MBE 2018. for banher charitable Perez Brigido was work as an interpreter Davidparty THE socialist (PSOE) largest hospital in the Marina Alta, in election,thedespite the ned will hold on on to from the Valencian May 16. government sentences sometimes two-year in the upcoming The if58-year-old, known as ‘Candy’, the regional elections, in Spain according being waived volunteered with HELP of Denia & has to a market research company. Marihas no previous na Altaconsince it launched in 1984. Sigma Dos accused revealed PSOE will During that time she has helped victions. take between expats 29-30 seats, whito have through cancer, bereavement, bureaucrawas found Brigido Perez le the Popular Party (PP) will cy and court battles. ex-wife, his see its representation ‘repeatedly fall abused’ from As the president of the charity, she runs her threw 31 seats to 22-23. after he ‘shoved and the helphair desk at the Marina Salud hospital But with the her totalground, seats inpulled to the in Denia. Valencia’s Generalitat at 99, face’. “The punched her in the most exciting thing was the pink inandneed PSOE will again to form dis- I was posted with the card vitation alsoa found judge The the coalition abroad words to Brits reach the absolute conned BP (Buckingham had Palace),” Candida told majority of 50 SCAM: Dream Villas Spain site graced seats. far-right politician theand Olive‘dePress. The poll suggests returns from 2014 to 2017. frequently the PSOE‘insulted’ will “I thought it meant British Petroleum at which ‘general manager’ Ro- There is no availablemake phone was who a pact meaned’ with Valencianist the woman, first.” she joked. sella Alba Gutierrez has shut Compromis web- (17-18 stress seats)post-traumatic and number (the one on the The expat, left with who has lived in Spain for 45 left-wing populist Spain’s Companies House site has been disconnected) Podemos years, received a ‘Points of Light’ (6-7Alba award seats). disorder. and reveals that Dream Villas and the name Rosella The regional elections will fall Spain, which is registered as Gutierrez appears nowhere on Mayin 26 the same day as the Digital Dream SL, was incor- the list of employees. European elections. porated in 2014 for ‘data pro- Another victim told the OliSee our election cessing and web hosting’. had on ve Press this week she guide page 6 Based in Carrer de la Fe, in as Palma, Mallorca, it filed tax
the Town Hall began proceedings after learning that the owner had intentionally reformed the stairs, closing access to the ancient site from Calle Samuel Adler. “These works represent a very serious attack on a heritage that corresponds to us all,” said a spokesperson for Jávea Oceanographic Research Institute (IROX).
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April 25th - May 8th 2019
Gong for Candy!
two years ago from the British Ambassador to Spain. Though she is a professional interpreter, Candida often represents victims of violence in Spanish courts for free, sexual as well as offering financial support through her charity. “One of the hardest things is when someone comes to the desk saying ‘my husband died and I don’t know what to do’,” lained Candy, who lives in Ondara expwith her Spanish husband. Her two children, 35 and 25, live in Madrid and Valencia respectively. While she helps with hospital procedures, burials and repatriation, she’s often called upon to just be a ‘helping hand’ to someone in need. “You’re sometimes dealing with people who are cancer patients, or need amputations, and it just gives you a wonderful feeling to think ‘I really helped them today’.” MEETING QUEEN: Candida
CATCH THESE CONMEN
Swallow the bait
booked a villa in Marbella a surprise getaway for four friends and five 18-year-old artists have scammed a daughters as a post-A Levels CON pensioner out of €300 British present. pretending to help him reSarah Adam, based in Lon- after money left at a cashpoint don, told us she is convinced cover last Saturday. Javea THE owners of ainbike she has also been scammed. are 77, was approaStokes, Brianshop not res-for witnesses The company has appealing a British families scammed out of ‘20-something’ two byof- in theft of €40,000 for ched of stock ponded to email requests the Sa- from thousands just one minute! Spanish men outside comment. EXCLUSIVE la Nau The theft at Xabia’s Cabo deholiday bank Bikes badell in onfake Coombes By Joshua Parfitt Meanwhile, DarrenMoraira saw ninePla bikes stolen he had left €20 in claiming Dream at 4am last Wednesday mor- A from Alicante-based thenwho thieves BRITISH family the cashpoint. The booked villa, in Moraira, before transning. Press Villa Spain told the Olive a week’swithdraw holiday on the Costa ferring the deposit. they couldn’t One of the in cashing bikes, claimed a Trek LR10, the fraudsters are was Blancaand were asked shocked to see She has now confirmed worth €13,000. cash themselves drawing that their villahis on his credibility and advertised card, as avai- her “Two thieves in andtoin re-insert Stokes pro- broke lable on a completely different overfamily have been scammed users from his legitimate just a minute and a half they the holiday due for June. which stole stole. website. nine bikes,” Martin “We were this close to leaving perty business website. Stadlhofer,
Wheely fast!
40, co-owner of Xabia’s Bikes, told the Olive Press. “I’m not sure they knew what they were doing as they knocked over a bike worth €12,000 and didn’t take it—which is great for us.”
Susan Bolton, 61, soon realised she had lost the ₤1,300 deposit when Dream Villas Spain, based in Mallorca, shut off all contact. The mother-of-two from the West Midlands had spent weeks finding the perfect holiday
Animal horror
A BRITISH expat called in police after finding a group of dogs chained in an abandoned house without food. Roger Ballantine contacted the Guardia the dogs while out walking near Orba. Civil after finding Ballantine had decided to investigate ‘pungent smell’ coming from the ruin. when he noticed a Inside he found scenes worthy of kept on short chains surrounded a horror film with dogs by trash and their own excrement. “It was despicable,” Ballantine told clear that farmers have chained thesethe Olive Press. “It is four dogs.”
Mystery suicide MYSTERY surrounds the apparent suicide of an elderly British resident on the Costa Blanca. The 84-year-old expat threw herself from a bridge in Javea after being seen ‘pacing frantically’ by the railings. A neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the Olive Press he saw the woman ‘peering over the edge’ after squeezing between a fence and a steel support pillar at one end of the bridge. It was about an hour before police were alerted to a suicide attempt over the dry Gorgos riverbed while children played on a nearby football pitch. “She was holding a white paper bag and kept looking in the bag and then leaning over the edge,” the neighbour told the Olive Press. “I wanted to ask her what she was doing, but I worried she spoke only Spanish and assumed she was feeding stray cats.”
Quickly
Just after 7pm last Tuesday another Spanish eyewitness revealed she had seen the woman jump from the eastern of two bridges on
the Avenida de Augusta. for our holiday that never existed,” Bolton told the Olive SCAM: Brit family caught by “I was walking to Mercadofake villa website Press. na when I saw her take off He told the Olive Press they tations’. “I knew we had been conned had chosen her shoes, climb the railing, when I contacted them regar- different the villa out of 780 The scam comes almost two and no more,” the homes for rent on the years since woman ding an airport pick up and got site. the Olive Press told the Olive Press. “It all exclusively no response. It made me beco- They only realised they had fake holidayexposed a string of happened so quickly.” me suspicious.” websites duping Three police been scammed cars and an She added the company is now port pick-up when an air- tourists coming to Spain. ambulance raced to the scenever arrived, In a series of not responding to any calls or and he investigations ne to retrieve caught a taxi to the the body. emails. property to find the bewilde- we found dozens of tourists Police confirmed the had been scammed millions of cause Meanwhile, celebrity chocola- red German. euros from the various sites, of death as suicide, while a te taster Angus Kennedy lost “What ₤5,000 when his family dis- case is I was different in our which illegally uploaded villa spokesperson for the Town was determined to get photos from Hall said the lady was Briticovered a German man living to the house, legitimate sites. and then contac- Among sh and had lived in a block at the Mallorcan villa they had ted the press” Angus told the British those scammed were of flats next booked through Dream Villas Olive Press. Rugby Union star to the river ‘for Spain. “I think many more have been Dean Schofield, who lost many years’. €50,000 on a fake villa in Ma- Neither police or the town Kennedy, from Kent, revealed duped and the scam could be llorca. that when the family arrived worth millions.” hall would reveal her name, Spain Dream this month, the owner, who The website suggesting it was proving he used to book rate as DigitalVillas, who opegave his name as Klaus, was the trip, Dreams problematic SL, deto contact her completely baffled and knew com, claimsdreamvillasspain. clined to comment. next of kin in the UK. its goal is to ‘crea- JWe were unable nothing about the rental or te your to contact None of the residents in the dream holiday expewebsite. rience and exceed your expec- anyone at Dream Villas Spain area by the bridge knew the as we went to press. octogenarian.
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AT LAST: Scammers Dreamvillasspain.com nailed after Olive Press campaign (inset left), while (right) victim Angus and family his €5,500 and urgently needed a the Costa Blanca, booked for this place to stay with his wife and five October. young children. The mum-of-two from Kent was all “I think many more have been set to travel with 18 extended famduped and the scam could be worth ily members for a ‘much-needed millions,” Angus told this paper at break’ following the death of her the time. mother to lung cancer. With mounting cases, this paper “My nephews and nieces were realmade a collective denuncia at the ly looking forward to it as they have Guardia Civil in Moraira on behalf never been abroad,” Deleslie told of UK-based the Olive Press. “I spent two years saving up for this victims. Soon after, the trip, and I just can’t afford to pay Olive Press for a new villa. The kids are devaswas fielding tated.” calls concern- Deleslie added the cumulative loss ing bogus rent- of flights would cost her family als from Tener- €12,000 in total. ife, to Marbella Then there was Sarah Adams, who and Moraira. booked a surprise getaway to MalOne of the aga for four friends and their jointmost heart- five daughters as a post-A Levels breaking was present. from Petra De- Both Deleslie and Adams felt their leslie, 42, and stomachs lurch as they read of the collapse scam tactics of dreamvillasspain. The British expats who are pro- the of her €6,000 com in the Olive Press. m o n t h - l o n g The way the scam operated was that Brexit and proud SEE PAGE 7 villa rental on prospective renters would receive
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an email from ‘general manager’ Rosella Alba Gutierrez offering discounts for up-front payments on respective villas. But once paid, Gutierrez would shut off all contact, as it turned out the company’s phone was a fake. For months nothing was heard until a major UK news network got in touch saying the website had been shut down. The Olive Press can also reveal a second site - named and shamed in a separate article - is also no longer live. Travelvacationtour.com operated with exactly the same layout and houses as dreamvillasspain.com, and scammed Brit Donna Archer out of €5,500 for a Tenerife villa booked as a post GCSE gift to her son and his best mate in May. It is not yet clear if legal action has been taken against the companies, as both are listed as ‘active’ on Spanish Companies House. Guardia Civil could not comment before we went to press.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Hornet’s nest A TOURIST has been arrested over a fire that saw 144 people evacuated and 85 hectares land burnt in Andalucia. The French national reportedly tried to torch a hornet’s nest, before sparking the blaze.
Toking up FOUR packages of hashish have now washed up on Alicante beaches following stormy weather over last weekend. Each package contained around 30kg each.
TWO bin men are being investigated after footage emerged of them tossing rubbish bags into a river while on the job in Andalucia.
Dog fraud ‘DOG fraud’ is the name for a new crime in which an Alicante resident allegedly stole €1,335 after convincing a buyer to pay for the order of a golden retriever online. The dog was never sent.
Daylight yobbery Brit resident punched in the face in Moraira for beeping his horn at two men in the middle of the road A BRITISH expat in Moraira has described the bizarre moment two ‘possessed men’ punched him in the face for simply beeping his horn. John-Henry Ballantine claimed was driving back from El Portet when the men were spotted in the middle of the road looking at their phones. John-Henry waited for ‘10 seconds’ before ‘peeping’ his horn so he could drive past. “They ran at the car scream-
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
ing trying to smash the windows,” John-Henry told the Olive Press. “It was like they were possessed.” He said he ‘wound down the window’ to ask what the matter was when he was ‘punched in the face’. The pair, who spoke ‘rough Spanish’, then screamed more abuse before walking
ROAD RAGE: Attack on expat by ‘possessed’ men off ‘as if nothing happened’. - and in the middle of the “I’ve never seen something street!” like this happen before,” add- John-Henry made a denuned John-Henry, who has lived cia to the Guardia Civil, who in Moraira for eight years. went off to find the men in “It was the middle of the day ‘bright shorts’. There have been no arrests, and Guardia declined to comment on the investigation. “My jaw is sore, but I’m more pissed off these little arseholes will almost certainly attack someone else,” John-Henry added.
Get out already! BRITISH expats and locals in a Costa Blanca urbanisation are demanding action after an eviction order against squatters is now two weeks overdue. The Olive Press previously reported that the ‘squatters and gypsies’ illegally inhabiting 23 apartments at the Mirador Monte Pedrera complex in Denia were supposed to be out by August 15. But as of August 20, illegal squatters were still breaking into apartments - with one stealing a kitchen unit in broad daylight. The man was arrested, but once released from custody, he began ‘intimidating’ and ‘making threatening gestures’ towards Brit resident Linda Brown. “We are not just fighting this to stand up for what’s right, we’re fighting this because we have
E IV US CL EX
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August 29th - September 11th 2019
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Septic shocker A FAMILY of Brits have had their holiday ‘ruined’ after a young girl fell into a septic tank at a ‘death trap’ villa in Alicante. The group of 14 arrived at the Villa L’Arc in Moraira - after forking out almost €7,000 - only to find ‘loose hanging handrails’ over a six metre drop and a ‘loose manhole’ covering up the fetid tank. It was here Steven Wright, from Surrey, told the Olive Press his 15-year-old niece fell ‘up to her waist’ into the filthy water. “She came out screaming,” Wright, 57, said. “But if she’d been any younger she could have died in a dark concrete tank of dirty water.” He alleged his young relatives were ‘cutting their toes’ on the broken covers of the pool skimmers, and said sinks and drains were blocked for the the first three days. “When you’re paying €6,800 it really is a poor show,” Wright said. “I feel robbed, misled and cheated Alquileres Guzman should not be allowed to offer family holidays in dangerous homes like this.” Wright claimed that workmen from
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Denia court orders ‘gypsies and squatters’ to vacate apartment where British pensioners have block been threatened and assaulted
VICTORY is soon at hand for EXCLUSIVE homeowners living in a ‘hellhole’ By Joshua Parfitt urbanisation occupied by gypsies 5 NEWS Must do and squatters after a court has orbetter! ABANDON SHIP dered their eviction. At least 24 of the 64 apartments at the Mirador after requesting she turn down Monte Pedrera were illegally oc- blaring music during siesta hours. cupied as the squatters accessed She said the owners of the four water and electricity at the ex- remaining legitimate apartments in the urbanisation lived with pense of legitimate homeowners. Diving It comes after a series of Olive ‘death threats’ before, in June, disaster 15-storey fall Press stories shined a light on the a German elderly couple finally shocking takeover which left ex- caved in and left Spain after 12 years. pats living in fear for their lives. British apartment owner Linda A Spanish couple, who asked to VICTORY: For couple Linda and Arnene while (inset) previous Brown, 61, told the Olive Press remain nameless, also told the story how she was punched in the ‘eye Olive Press how they were flee- to stress. Continues on Page 5 byshire, described how the couple and the gut’ by a gypsy woman ing after the eight-month preg- “The squatters will be €60 gone by nant wife was ‘hospitalised’ due September, thank the Lord and were forced to sleep with the ‘burthank you Olive Press for cover- glar alarms on’ as the stairs up to ing the story,” Linda Brown, who their penthouse apartment were lives with partner Arnene, 72, barricaded by an iron gate. “They have no choice now, they said. THIS is the second pig to have trotted “There were 23 defendants in must all now leave,” a spokesperinto a British-run rescue centre on son for Japsa, the urbanisation’s court and 22 lawthe Costa Blanca. promoter, told the yers, it was bedThe Olive Press previously reported Olive Press. lam. how Rupert the pig ran 3km from “Our police force “But the public ‘filthy, dirty shed’ where he was the is excellent, but prosecutor was and wandered into the Easy Care living the courts were very passionate Rescue Centre near Torrevieja last Horse not giving them and firm in sum(inset top right). The clever pig month. warrants to act. trotted in ming it up.” ‘as if he knew where he was going’ “In Spain, squatThe success comes Easy Care owner Susan Weeding in what ters are given ocfollowing a ‘coup describe as ‘a nearly impossible could only cupancy rights if feat’. d’etat’ after a But that feat was repeated when they are not re62-year-old Penelogypsy pe the pot-bellied Vietnamese pig moved within 24 ‘patriarch’ moved turned up ‘completely out of the blue’. hours of entering. in, bringing his Susan admitted she has ‘no idea’ “But now all of 10 sons and their SHOCKING: Squatter how far this one has travelled in search of freedom. them have been wives and children. damage “Obviously someone has been given an eviction A reign of terror maybe flicking through the pageswatching Babe, or order and a month saw young children, many not atSusan told the Olive Press. Susan of George Orwell’s Animal Farm - the pigs are rising!” tending school, shouting ‘sons of to find a new place to live - if they added Rupert wanted ‘nothing to prefers ‘being around people’. do with Penelope’ however, as Rupert b*tches’ and ‘we will kill you all’ don’t leave, the police will kick them onto the streets.” up at the British pensioners. Linda, an ex-copper from DerOpinion Page www.theolivepress.es
June 6th - June 19th 2019
NEWS IN BRIEF
SPAIN is one of Europe’s worst culprits when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, figures have revealed. The country has seen the biggest increase in emissions on the continent, with a 51.7 million tonne rise between 1990 and 2017. Emissions grew by 17.9% during that time, while the EU collectively REDUCED its emissions by 23.5% during the same period. Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Portugal also failed to reduce emissions effectively. Climate leaders however, are optimistic as Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE government plans to boost renewable energy production. Not only will clean energy become cheaper, but there will also be more electric vehicles on the road.
EXCLUSIVE By Josh Parfitt
ANOTHER two families have fled an urbanisation that descended into ‘hell’ after squatters began a ‘violent coup d’etat’ five years ago. A retired German couple and a Spanish family have had enough of living in the Mirador Monte Pedrera estate, in Denia, which has become a ‘hellhole’ for legal residents. As reported in our last issue, only 11 of 64 apartments were sold in 2007 when Spain sunk into recession. The rest remained empty and just four of the legally-owned apartments are now inhabited all year-round, after the Germans and Spanish also moved out. According to a British couple, who still live there, one of the Germans, from Munich, had to be ‘hospitalised’ after suffering a ‘breakdown’ from stress. “The squatters want us out,
AN investigation has been launched after the body of a British diver was found 170 ft underwater off the coast of Murcia. Phillip Evans, 69, got separated from his diving group in the Islas Hormigas marine reserve.
‘Hellhole’ urbanisation sees two more families leave due to problems with squatters
King and country
2
CRIME
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Please help us! EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca
Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt
Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es
A GROUP of British pensioners are pleading for help after their block of flats descended into ‘hell’ due to squatters. The expats - who have lived in the Denia urbanisation for a decade - are desperate after a mob
May 23rd - June 5th 2019
Expat pensioners assaulted as apartment block is ‘mobbed’ their once luxury by squatters
of ‘gypsies and squatters’ began breaking in five years ago. They insist neither the police or local authorities have helped to tackle the illegal occupants, who have taken over 25 of the 64 apartments in the Mirador
Sculpture attack
Monte Pedrera complex. “They have turned what was once a lovely community into a no-go area,” said the 72-yearold, who is too frightened to give her name out of fear of retaliation.
Message from the angels
A FOUNTAIN in Alicante’s most iconic square has been attacked by a man with a hammer. The legs of the horses in the sculpture in Plaza de los Luceros were shattered by the 38-year-old assailant. An arm of an angel was also badly cracked in the attack. The Spanish man has been arrested on a charge of crimes against cultural heritage.
(Personal contacts on page 6)
A SERIES of Whatsapp messages to a girlfriend have spared a teenager from a prison sentence for armed robbery. The 19-year-old Spanish student from La Nucia was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of holding up a casino and robbing €11,500 at gunpoint. But a Benidorm court heard how WhatsApp messages backed his alibi that he was texting his girlfriend when the assault took place. After an expert’s report confirmed they could not have been manipulated and also placing him at home, he was found not guilty.
The grandmother continued that the squatters had punched a number of pensioners and even broke a handyman’s arm with baseball bats. “We came here for a peaceful retirement and what we’ve got is
FIREBUG IN TROUBLE
A PARTYGOER in Benidorm has been arrested after setting off a fire extinguisher in a karaoke bar. The man, a Brit, yanked the extinguisher wall and covered the floor, tables, drinks from the and sandwiches in thick white dust.
Justice for rapist
A BRITISH man who raped two teenage girls 40 years ago has been jailed following extradition from the Costa Blanca. Jeffrey Waite, 66, carried out the attacks in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the UK. However, he managed Waite was to skip a court hearing ty of rapingfound guilin 2016 and fled to To- gers, one the teenarrevieja, before a Eu- derage, in of them unHartlepool. ropean arrest warrant They likened led to his capture in a ‘madman’ him to and an March last year. ‘animal’.
hell on earth,” she told the Olive Press. “My partner got punched in the gut and the eye by one for simply asking to turn down a karaoke system blaring out during siesta hours,” she continued. They are due to attend court this week over the assault, but are not expecting anything to be done. Other residents, who include Germans and Spaniards, have also come under attack. “A handyman tried to stop three men breaking into an apartment and was thrashed by baseball bats just five weeks ago,” the pensioner said. “They broke his arm in two places.” The problems began when the recession curtailed sales in the block in 2007 and only 11 of the 64 apartments were sold. Many of the vacant homes were later seized by the squatters, a number of them even being sublet for money, it is claimed. Collectively the 11 owners are having to cover all the communal bills for the urbanisation, which includes a ‘€20,000 debt’ incurred by squatters stealing electricity and water In addition, they claim the developer owes €200,000 to the community. Police told the Olive Press they were unable to enter the properties as they are on ‘private land’.
NO NEED TO PAINT!
plain and simple,” British expat Linda, who has owned a penthouse apartment with her partner Arnene since 2007, told the Olive Press. “They want all the owners out so they can completely rule the kingdom.” The latest departures come just days after Linda, 61, was in court after she was punched in the gut and the eye by a female squatter. It came after she had asked the neighbour to turn down a ‘blaring karaoke system’. She and Arnene, 72, sleep with the ‘burglar alarm on’ and have barricaded themselves in on their fourth-floor apartment as they live with daily death threats and abuse. The pressure was too much however, for a young Spaniard, who told the Olive Press they were leaving after his wife, who is eight-months preg-
A BRITISH holidaymaker has died after falling from the 15th floor of his apartment block in Benidorm. Colin McGarry, 48, from Belfast, died at around 1.45 am on Sunday morning after plunging from the balcony of Torre Gerona. A post-mortem is due to take place.
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WORRIED: Legal neighbours and (inset) squatter www.noneedtopaint.com nant, was hospitalised due to steal from us, threaten us stress-related complications. and abuse us, and the law is “I wanted to raise my family not on our side until one of in this beautiful place, but I us gets hurt,” Linda said. can’t risk my wife’s life,” he “But they won’t get us out, explained. because the Brits never The nightmare began five give up. Not when we’ve years ago when a 62-year- sunk every penny into our old ‘gypsy’ patriarch broke €270,000 apartment and in with his 11 children and have nowhere else to go.” grandchildren. A legal representative for His wider family have now Jepsa, who maintain the urtaken over 24 apartments banisation, told the Olive which they sublet out to Press: “The law forbids the ‘drug addicts’. illegal squatting of properThe apartments are illegally ties and use of water and connected to water and elec- electricity, but nothing is betricity, yet police have only ing done. intervened on one occasion “We have a beautiful counwhen a man threatened to try, which is loved by people kill Linda with a hammer in around the world, but the front of an officer last year. law does not function as it “It’s horrendous. They can should.” FREE virtual quotes available!
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KING Juan Carlos has retired from public duty, exactly five years after he abdicated in favour of his son, King Felipe VI. Juan Carlos, 81, will retain his royal title as King, however.
No way
A SECOND runway at Alicante-Elche airport has been opposed by the Friends of the Wetlands of the South of Alicante (AHSA), who objected that the runway would destroy the wetlands of Agua Amarga.
Look out
GOOGLE Maps has introduced into Spain a new function that warns users of the location speed cameras, both fixed and mobile. The function is available on both Android and iOS, but only Android users can report mobile speed cameras.
Dog’s life
PETS now outnumber children under 15 in Spain, with 13 million registered at the end of last year. Dogs make up 93% of all registered pets.
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DEFIANT: Linda and Arnene nowhere else to go,” she told this newspaper. A spokesman for energy supplier Iberdrola said the squatters are ‘illegally using electricity’ and have been denounced by the company.
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Disrupting the peas THE three political parties elected to Benidorm’s Town Hall have united to request Spain’s Congress outlaw the roadside ‘shell game’. The Popular Party (PP), Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE) and Citizens (Cs) held a meeting last week to demand the government modify the Penal Code and tackle the ‘fraudulent’ practice. It comes after Brit tourist Nathan Smith, 23, was battered in the head for alerting elderly passersby to the con. The ‘shell game’ involves a conman hiding a pea beneath one of three halved potato pieces as unwitting passersby bet money on where it is. But game masters use sleight of hand and trickery to cheat passersby out up to €50 in cash. Benidorm has tried for 30 years to rid its streets of the game, according to minutes from the town hall meeting, but awareness campaigns have not been successful. Police are powerless as shell game masters are not committing a crime. Gambling is illegal, but as passersby place the bets, it is they who are breaking the law – not the conman taking the money. The motion is expected to be debated in Spain’s Congress on this week.
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
Fairway to behave? Duke of York holed up in exclusive Spanish golf resort as he flees Epstein paedophile scandal
A ‘RELAXED’ Prince Andrew has indulged in a round of golf on Spain’s most expensive course as he dodges the sexual allegations swirling around him and his paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein. The Queen’s son was pictured teeing off at Real Club Valderrama, in Sotogrande, which costs €400 a round, not including a buggy. The Duke of York, 59, drove his black Range Rover to the exclusive golf spot, before stepping out in a light blue polo shirt and slacks to play nine holes, while accompanied by a bodyguard. Surrounded by his nearest and dearest - including ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - Andrew was also known to have been at a friend’s 50th birthday and dined at exclusive restaurants
Cancha Dos and Gigi’s Beach. Fergie is believed to have mostly stayed by the pool at the 350acre €41 million mansion the former couple are believed to be holed up in. It comes as the ‘panicking’ prince has sought to escape accusations over his alleged 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts, who claims the royal slept with her three times. Flight records from the private jet of disgraced financier Epstein, who killed himself in his New York prison cell on August 10, appear to show the pair in the same location three times. But Buckingham Palace has defended Andrew as it said: “Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.” The Prince also defended him-
FLEEING: Andrew golfing self this week with the release of a new statement. It read: “I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him [Epstein] after his release in 2010 and I can only reiterate my regret that I
EXCLUSIVE by Joshua Parfitt in Ibiza
Living like kings
BALMORAL BEATER: Ibiza Villa
THIS is the huge villa the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex stayed in while on a top secret trip to Ibiza, the Olive Press can reveal. Prince Harry and Meghan lived in pure luxury with baby Archie during their six-day excursion in Ibiza from August 6-11 at the €120,000-a-week Sa Calma villa, overlooking Porroig bay in the south of the island. The ultra luxurious property boasts a 50m infinity pool, seven bedrooms, its own gym, jacuzzi and private beach. Sources at the gated Vista Alegre urbanisation where Paul McCartney, David Guetta, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Gonzalo Higuaín have stayed confirmed the location to the Olive Press. Visitors to Sa Calma are provided with a house manager, waitress, live-in caretakers, housekeepers, a Range Rover with driver and night security guard. Yacht charters, beauticians, bartenders, nannies, masseurs, personal trainers and yoga instructors are available upon request.
Benefits Consultancy If you suffer from... • Mobility problems • Pain / Breathlessness • Falls / Stumbles
In pursuit of a Prince
THE Olive Press has been helping the national news networks to locate the UK’S Prince Andrew in Spain. Via our many contacts in Sotogrande we were able to help Sky News track his movements, while ‘on holiday’ with his ex wife Sarah Ferguson. OP Editor Jon Clarke was interviewed for the Sky News report while chauffeuring senior reporter Andrew Bowden around the luxury enclave.
Or you need... • Help with washing / dressing • Supervision
You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness / disability benefits while living in Spain FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com
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Paddy paddle CHRISTINE McGuiness has wowed beachgoers by showing off her incredible curves paddleboarding on holiday in Spain. The 31-year-old tried her hand at the water sport while enjoying a sun-soaked getaway to Mallorca. The mum of three looked every inch the beach babe as she took to the waves in a skimpy orange bandeau bikini. The two-day break comes as the former model celebrated her husband Paddy’s 46th birthday. While last month Christine admitted that her and Paddy were proud parents after their autistic children went on a plane for the first time.
was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know.” In a partnership with Sky News, the Olive Press is among the world’s media currently tracing Prince Andrew’s movements in Southern Spain.
Where dreams begin
KIM CLARK
August 29th - September 11th 2019
CHILLING: McGuinness on paddleboard GREAT British Bake Off contestant Helena Garcia has high hopes of winning over judges with her Spanish style as the hit show returns. Helena, 40, lived in Spain as a child having been born in Ceuta, the autonomous Spanish City that borders Morrocco. The keen baker would watch her Spanish grandmother bake as a child and now CAPTION hopes to
Great Spanish bake-off
impress Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. It comes as Channel 4 reveals the 13 Great British Bake Off 2019 contestants. “I won a baking competition at work and that gave me the confidence to apply,” Helena told Channel 4. “Although when I learned that I had got in I had a bit of a confidence crisis thinking, can I possibly be good enough?”
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NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
August 29th - September 11th 2019
Rookie error? Police source claims ‘trainee’ was captaining Balearia ferry that ran aground
Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)
U-TURN: Captain had claimed ‘engine fault’ caused accident
A POLICE source has claimed the captain of a Balearia ship that ran aground outside Denia port was a ‘trainee’ and not a fully-fledged captain. The Pinar del Rio passenger ferry scraped Denia’s artificial harbour wall at 11.20pm on August 16, before grinding to a halt just 100m from its destination. The ship’s 393 passengers were evacuated to shore in
lifeboats, before hundreds slept on the cold, hard floor of the Balearia Port complex, according to a Balearia port worker. Ibiza and Formentera’s
Maritime Captain, Luis Gascón, told Diario de Ibiza there had been an engine ‘fault’ on the Pinar del Rio. Hours later, however, Gascón retracted his state-
Fantam attack on Brit tourist
A BRITISH holidaymaker has been hit by a flying ‘fanta’ bottle launched from the seventh-floor balcony of a Benidorm hotel. The man was struck in the arm while drinking at the Queen’s Hotel bar in the Old Town area of the popular beach resort on August 23. The man, who has not been identified, reportedly refused medical care but walked off ‘in a lot of pain’. “We were drinking at a bar next door and got splashed as the Fanta orange shattered open,” an eyewitness, named Eric, told the Olive Press. “There was a great deal of British expletives.
“The victim was taken into the hotel with his family, but did not want an ambulance. “He eventually went away but was still in pain and holding his arm at an uncomfortable angle.” Eric added the police did ‘not appear’ as other eyewitnesses suggested they ‘would not be interested’. He added that bar staff informed him it was the ‘second this week’ such an incident had happened on the Benidorm old town street. A Queens Hotel spokeman said on-site CCTV confirmed the incident, but it concerned a bottle of Powerade - not Fanta.
ment, saying the ‘fault’ had been fixed before the fast ferry departed from Ibiza. “The cause of the accident is being investigated by the Maritime Captain of Alicante,” Gascón added. A police source, who travels back on Balearia ferries to and from the Pityusic islands, alleged the captain of the Pinar del Rio was ‘inexperienced’. Balearia refuted the claims, however, saying the captain had ‘many years of experience’ with the company. “Concerning the cause of the accident, as is normal in these cases, an investigation is being carried out by the relevant authorities,” the spokesman told the Olive Press.
Faking it FAKE claims of food poisoning by Brit tourists on Spanish holidays have fallen dramatically to ‘not a single case’ in 2019. The false legal actions skyrocketed by 500% in the summer of 2016, when they were estimated to have cost the Spanish hotel industry over €50 million. But after British perpetrators received their first convictions last year, the practice has almost disappeared. “This year the issue has relaxed substantially,” a leading travel agency told Diario Informacion. In 2018, four members of a family from Liverpool were each condemned to an €800 fine and three months in prison for filing a false claim against Jet2Holidays. A second successful case saw a ₤15,000 fine imposed upon two British tourists for making a fake food poisoning claim against TUI while on holiday in Benidorm.
Diarrhoea
In both cases, the Brits claimed suffering nausea, stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting for days, and even falsified medical reports. But the publication of photos on social media in the latter case, showing the perpetrators enjoying themselves, led to the retaliatory sentence. In one of the cases, the judge said: “I cannot accept the uploading of photographs as a happy couple if the holidays were as they say.”
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NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
August 29th - September 11th 2019
Blonde bombshell
RIP: Francisco Nunez
Final flight THE body of the military pilot whose jet went down off the coast of southern Spain has been found. Commander Francisco Marin Nunez had managed to eject before the C-101 training aircraft crashed but his body was later recovered from the water. The plane had been filmed by onlookers as it hit the water at high speed near La Manga. Emergency personnel have since located and rescued the pilot’s remains. The mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo had earlier reported a plane had plummeted into the sea, in the area of La Manga Souk. Authorities have closed three beaches, Entremares, Levante and Galúa in order to recover debris from the stricken plane. It comes just months after Spain’s government approved the replacement of the C-101 fighter, a plane that first entered service in 1980. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.
Johnson asks Queen to suspend Parliament in bid to force through no-deal Brexit
BORIS Johnson has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament from mid-September, reducing time MPs have to block a no-deal Brexit. If the Prime Minister gets his way Parliament will lose a number of sitting days ahead of the UK’s scheduled departure from the EU on October 31. The move will shut down Parliament – known as prorogation – until October 14, when Johnson plans to set out his political agenda in a new
BORIS: UK PM gets royal approval for plan to leave EU by Halloween deadline Queen’s speech. “There will be ample time on week to pass legislation blockThe Prime Minister has de- both sides of the crucial EU ing a no-deal Brexit. nied the government’s aim summit on October 17 for MPs It comes as a leaked internal was to deny opposition MPs to debate the EU and Brexit,” UK government report dethe time to prevent no-deal, he said. tailed how a no-deal could calling the allegation ‘com- It comes as senior Tory back- spark chaos for British expats pletely untrue.’ benchers and former cabinet and Gibraltar cross-border members condemned the workers. controversial constitutional The secret Yellowhammer move. documents suggest that BritFormer chancellor Philip ish citizens travelling to the Hammond claimed it would EU in the aftermath will be be a ‘constitutional outrage limited to 90-day stays and if parliament were prevented subject to tighter passport from holding the government checks. to account at a time of nation- The Yellowhammer papers al crisis.’ also claimed Gibraltar was ning across the province While Liberal Democrat MP ‘underprepared’ for Britain of Alicante. Chuka Umunna, a leading Re- leaving without a deal. Javea photographer mainer, has accused Johnson This includes claims that ‘the Iván Almazán (Aialof ‘behaving like a tin-pot dic- imposition of checks at [Gimazan83) provided the tator.’ braltar’s] border with Spain’ stunning picture of the MPs return to Parliament on will disrupt the supply of electrical storm over September 2 after their sum- goods, including food, medJavea. mer break giving those op- icine and the shipment of posed to the move around a waste.
Summer storms
AN orange weather alert was declared by Spain’s Met Office (Aemet) for 14 hours on Tuesday. The gota fria weather phenomenon, where a depression is created at high altitude, saw heavy rain and dramatic light-
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Soiled treasure
VISITOR restrictions to an ecologically-sensitive cave on the Costa Blanca have not stopped un-authorised tourists from entering and even defecating in its interior. The Cova Tallada, between Javea and Denia in the marine reserve of cabo de Sant Antoni, was the first beach in the Valencian Community to restrict access due to tourism pressure. But local reports suggest rule-breakers are sneaking past guards by arriving before 9am - when security officials start work - and then staying throughout the day.
Faeces
Visitors are supposed to pre-register through 10 days before their trip to make trip sure numbers do not exceed 482 in any one day. But not only have studies detailed the ecological fragility of the cave towards human pressure above this number, but the un-authorised entrants have been spotted leaving rubbish in the cave. In one picture a water collection tank, designed to gather filtered H20 filtering from the ceiling, was even soiled with human faeces.
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6
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.
OPINION Power of the press THERE was a week in May when it seemed phone calls about villa rental fraud were never going to stop. The holidays ruined by dreamvillasspain.com were forever changing their identity: they were emotional getaways after the death of a loved one, they were A Levels celebrations and first-ever trips abroad for the kids. But each caller had the same question: what can we do to stop this? Thankfully, con websites dreamvillasspain.com and travelvacationtour.com have now shut down. Whether it was from a collective denuncia made by this paper, or from buyers becoming wise to the scam, one thing is clear: in these waning days of traditional media, the newspaper still has power. Where else would callers have got our numbers, if not through Google searches and word-ofmouth? Where else would Google have found our articles if not through the numerous stories, picked up and printed both locally and in UK nationals? The soft power of journalism is still a weapon that can safeguard the public from traps and misinformation. At its best, this is what the Olive Press aims to achieve for its British readers at home in our original and adopted countries.
Publisher / Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es
Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es
Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es
Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es
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Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es
Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es
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For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75 Newsdesk Head office
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FEATURE HILE recent statistics indicate that Spain’s drivers are among the safest drivers in the EU, this wasn’t always the
case. A new survey by the Spanish Royal Automobile Club (RACE) shows that Spain has dropped to eighth for fatalities, bringing its deaths for every million people to 39, while the European average is 51. Ten years ago, Spain’s road fatalities per million people were at 59. So what has lead to this marked improvement? According to the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), Spain’s higher safety levels can be traced back to 2000, when the country joined the European road safety strategy with the objective to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2010. Since that date, there has been a reduction of over 53% in the number of deaths, making Spain a benchmark country for the EU regarding drivers’ safety. This significant improvement, however, did not come without detailed, coordinated changes enacted over time. Originally outlined in the Road Safety Strategic Plan 2005-2008, the initiatives centered on enforcing compliance with regulations and coordinating with Health, Education, and Public Works, among other sectors, to holistically target every aspect affecting road safety. The changes were divided into eleven target groups: education and training, raising awareness and communication, compliance with regulations, health and road safety, vehicle safety, improved infrastructure, the urban area, the company and professional transport, victims, research and knowledge management, and coordination and participation. A new document was drawn up to describe the areas of intervention and measures to be implemented in the 2011-2020 period in order to make sure road safety was constantly progressing. The updated goals are based upon five values (green mobility, safety mobility, competitive mobility, and healthy mobility) which encompass the actions to reduce the socio-economic impact of road traffic accidents in the upcoming decade. While the road safety strategy spurred major progress, the fall in fatalities between 2003 and 2009 can also be attributed to other contributing factors. In particular, there was an increased use in safety systems (the use of helmets increased by 25.9% and the use of seatbelts increased by 20.6%) and a decrease in alcoholic drink consumption (the percentage of drivers who died when over the limit fell by 6%). According to surveys conducted by the European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO), Spain’s attitudes toward risk-taking are also a factor. Despite the general belief, Spanish drivers are more supportive of stricter speeding limits and drink-driving legislation relative to drivers in other European countries. There is also a higher perceived prob-
August 29th - September 11th 2019
Driving force STOP: Pulled over Spanish driver
Regina Lankenau zooms in on why Spain’s ‘terrible drivers’ are no longer Europe’s worst on the roads DROP: The number of road traffic fatalities in Spain from 2006 to 2017
ability of being checked for speeding and drunk-driving. In fact, the number of speeding tickets per population and alcohol tests did significantly increase in the period 2010-2015; the fear of stricter enforcement may lead to more drivers erring on the side of caution on the road. The country’s formal inspections of new and existing roads, as well as the monthly public road safety campaigns and compulsory driving education in all Spanish primary schools have also helped raise awareness on the importance of safe driving as a combined effort between the government and its citizens. Even the country’s infamous driver’s license points system, where points are demerited for different offences until the license is taken away, has been revamped. Pere Navarro, the chief of the traffic authority, announced steeper penalties in the points system as one of his main goals in the summer of 2018. In particular, he wished to target mobile-phone use while driving -- one of the leading causes linked to death on Spanish roads. ‘When it comes to road safety, our indicator is very visible: the death toll. The figures set our path for us,’ he told El Pais, listing all the issues that could use improvement: ‘We need to do something about secondary roads, we need to do something about motorcycles, we need to do something about cities, about distractions, about pedestrians.’ Clearly, while the country has seen a significant decrease in driving fatalities, several issues remain to be addressed in
INFO: Driver Safety Strategic Plan from the government
order to reach below the 37 deaths per million inhabitants mark. Nonetheless, Spain’s initiatives continue to serve as a positive model for other EU countries wishing to better their own roads.
www.theolivepress.es
FEATURE
August 29th - September 11th 2019
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LEAVE AND PROUD O UNMOVED: (Left to right) British expats Brent Maher, Rose Moore and Steve Dunne are still firmly in the Leave camp
Group of Brits in Spain say they would vote to leave the EU AGAIN as Brexit date looms ever closer EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
N the day Rose Moore voted to leave the European Union, she never thought it would be the last time she would speak to her son. But more than three years later, the 63-year-old expat, based in Alicante, has yet to hear from him. A graphic designer in London, he could not understand his mother’s point of view and has yet to forgive her for playing a part in the UK’s divorce from the union. While it ‘makes her sad’, the Doncaster mum-of-two does not regret her vote. “I still stand by my decision, no one has the right to tell me how to vote,” she told the Olive Press this week. Moore wants to see the bloc dismantled and said the union is ‘nothing more than a loan shark organisation’. And Brexit has turned her from a lifelong Labour activist to a Conservative support- CONTROVERSIAL: Few Brits in Spain are for Brexit and Boris Johnson er, something she said she ‘never thought that the Euro could be in danger and we without a deal. would happen’. could see a return to the days when Spain “There will inevitably be a short term negMoore added that ‘with age was a very cheap place to ative impact but I am sure that would be comes wisdom’ and while be.” counteracted. “Previous negative predicshe dislikes the majority of Brent Maher, meanwhile, tions have not come to anything.” ‘I voted for the Tories, she has faith in who lives in Catalunya with Moore, Dunne and Maher said the idea of Boris Johnson securing an his partner Tony, also has a new referendum was ‘disgusting’ and a the good of ‘11th hour deal’. no regrets in voting to leave ‘bad idea’ and that they would all fly back our country, I “If we go on no deal, the EU and would do it again. to vote Leave again. will suffer... it may be spread The former RAF engineer, The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on am a patriotic over the poorer countries , who is now a registered October 31. Englishman’ but they will feel it. nurse, said he detests the “The EU talk tough, but EU idea of an EU armed forces. Please send your views to newsdesk@ countries, particularly club “As ex-armed forces, the theolivepress.es med, will have to make deals with us.” idea and push towards a unified European Moore said she is proud to be European armed forces is repugbut sees the EU as a ‘political dictator- nant,” he told this paper. ship’. His fear comes despite Her feelings are shared by Steve Dunne, the fact that any such 67, from Yorkshire, who moved perma- move could be vetoed by nently to Alicante some eight years ago. a member of the EU, killDunne, who still owns property in the UK, ing it in its infancy, while believes the British economy will fair bet- the majority of members ter on WTO terms and wants a no-deal exit are strongly against the - despite the catastrophic forecasts made idea. by a host of experts. Maher also added that Dunne, who has owned property in Spain he is opposed to the idea since the 1990s, added that the warnings of an ‘ever closer union’ were made ‘for political gain’ and that he and that the UK will be will have no qualms in ditching the Tories strong without the bloc. for the Brexit party if Johnson fails to de- “I am convinced that the liver. UK is mature enough to The retiree added that expats who voted be able to be a strong Remain mostly did so for ‘selfish reasons’. nation without having to “I voted for the good of our nation… I am check with Brussels first,” patriotic English not Spanish, though I do the 52-year-old said. assimilate as much as possible. “I would prefer to see a “I value the prospect of UK indepen- deal but the Irish backdence.” stop MUST be removed. While he admitted there could be short- If they refuse to remove term economic impact, he added: “I think Irish backstop, then leave
Higher heights
THE Olive Press website has yet again ascended to new climes this week after entering the top 85,000 websites in the WORLD, according to Alexa.com rankings. We have officially cemented our position as the number-one English news website in Spain with our closest rival The Local ranked over 35,000 places below us. Meanwhile the Euro Weekly News is well outside the top 200,000 websites. On three days this week we got over 100,000 hits PER DAY while we are on target to hit two million for the month of August. Our readers are a healthy mix of local expats in Spain, as well as wealthy tourists and tens of thousands of people from the UK, Netherlands, US, Russia and more who have an interest in the country. Complemented by our 20,000 loyal Facebook followers and 7,000 Twitter fans, there are few people interested in Spain who are not being reached. Why is YOUR BUSINESS still spending far too much on Google adwords and other inferior websites, magazines and newspapers, when the Olive Press GUARANTEES results? Send us an email today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 so we can find you a better, more effective way to market your business.
ON TOP: Olive Press ranking is miles ahead of closest rival The Local
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
1
- The 15 foods you must avoid as second person dies in Spain’s largest ever listeria outbreak (83,215 views)
2
- Panicking Prince Andrew and Fergie escape to Spain’s Costa del Sol after death of disgraces pal Jeffrey Epstein (52,750)
3
- Single British mum fighting to stay in home on Spain’s Costa del Sol after alleged abuse from administrators (43,638)
4
- Emergency declared over wildfire on Spain’s Costa del Sol as 50 evacuated while helicopter, planes and 170 firefighters battle blaze (34,821)
5
- WARNING: 13 children develop ‘werewolf syndrome’ after taking contaminated medication from Spain’s Costa del Sol (22,832)
Visitors: 437,696
Page views: 978,533
8
GREEN
www.theolivepress.es
Flood no Moor
New system inspired by ancient Moorish civilisation could stave off devastating flash floods IN March 2017 the city of Alicante was hit by the heaviest rain of the entire 21st century. Five schools closed down, garages were flooded and streets were cut off as half a year’s rain – 137mm – overwhelmed the Costa Blanca city. But in Sant Joan d’Alacant, a new system drawing upon ancient techniques practiced by the Moorish civilisation could put an end to such devastating flash floods. The La Marjal nature reserve is a dual-function recreation area that transforms into a giant pond when it rains.
Resembling an aljibe – a Moorish cistern that collected rainwater beneath a building – the park is built to flood and stem floodwaters. Water is then diverted to a nearby treatment plant, where it returns into the water supply – instead of ruining cars and turning city streets into water parks. “The need for sustainable management has forced us to recover ancestral practices,” Jorge Olcina, professor of analytical geography at the University of Alicante, said. “You could say that these rainwater storage facilities in Ali-
Plastic fantastic THE candidates for Miss World Spain 2019 have collected hundreds of kilos of plastic from the beaches. The beauty pageant contestants picked up 350 kilos of the discarded pollutant from Playa de Horcas Coloradas in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. It comes after the 52 women were appointed ‘Plastic Free’ ambassadors for the environmental NGO Transmediterrranean. “The amount of garbage that can be found on a beach where there is hardly anyone is incredible; everything comes from the sea and it is something that I had never imagined, ” said Iadna Fregel, Miss Canarias. "Just by taking a glance at the ground you re-
OLD SCHOOL: Historic techniques prevents flooding cante are the new aljibes of the techniques such as the irriga21st century.” tion canals of the Palmeral de During eight centuries of rule in Elche – a UNESCO world herSpain, the Moorish civilisation itage site. developed water management “When the rainfall is too heavy for the storm drains to cope, the overflow is diverted to the park,” said Amelia Navarro, director of sustainable development for the Alicante water authority. “It has the capacity of 18 Olympic pools but it’s never reached more than 30%,” she said. The park has since been populated by resident and migratory birds – around 90 species have been spotted in the park, situated among apartment blocks. “We introduced larvae-eating MISS WORLDS: Turned bin women fish so that we don’t get mosquitoes,” said Navarro. alise that there is so much plastic, but there La Marjal was built for €3.7 are also very small plastics that can’t be seen million, a quarter of the cost of by the naked eye." the city’s traditional concrete reservoir, and opened in 2015.
August 29th - September 11th 2019
ROW: Costa Blanca residents have beef with Brazil boat
Save the cows! SOME 3,800 cows are STILL ‘without food’ on a livestock carrier after being denied access to Cartagena port for days. Staff at shipping company Talia fear the animals will ‘die from hunger’ after stocks ran out on Monday evening. The Julia AK ship departed from Rio Grande in Brazil early this month, calling at Cartagena to restock 370 tons of corn-based pellets, raygrass and sawdust before continuing to Derince in Turkey. The carrier was due to dock in Cartagena at 6pm on Monday, but a legal battle has seen it denied authorisation while Talia scramble to find new supplies in a different port. The standoff comes after British-owned Easy Care Horse Rescue Centre (ECHRC) on the Costa Blanca launched a Change.org petition to ‘save the cows from starvation’. Almost 4,000 have now signed the petition. “It’s horrendous that these animals would get caught in
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
the middle of a legal battle,” Susan Weeding, co-owner at ECHRC, told the Olive Press. “These animals are being led to slaughter but we must do all we can to help them. “This story is way bigger than Cartagena.” A Maritime Agency spokesman told the Olive Press there was ‘nothing’ they could do to help the situation, as a Murcia court had blocked access. The spokesman added that livestock carriers were common in Cartagena, passing by ‘two or three times’ a week carrying Brazilian cattle to the Middle East and Turkey. “Spanish fodder is of a high quality, so the ships collect it when going to the Middle East,” he added. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Brazil was the world’s largest exporter of beef in 2018. It is home to 232 million heads of cattle, nearly 25% of the world’s total cattle population.
Do you have a what’s on?
LA CULTURA www.theolivepress.es
Canine cabaret
ONE of the Costa Blanca’s biggest entertainment venues is holding an unprecedented charity night in support of abandoned dogs. Benidorm Palace will hold the Save My Life 3 event on September 29 featuring an array of local talent. The show will have everything from George Michael tributes to aerial silk demonstrations, and in-
WINNER: Rosalia
Catalan queen ROSALIA has become the first Spanish artist to win an MTV Music Award. The 25-year-old Catalan won the Best Latino Video award for her song Con Altura with J Balvin and El Guincho. “I come from Barcelona,” she said in her acceptance speech at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. “Thank you for inviting me to sing on this stage in Spanish.” The Bagdad singer also lit up the stage at the ceremony as she performed Tu x Mi, Yo x Ti with Ozuna, in which she sung a capella. It was the first time the pair has performed the hit song together, while Rosalia wrapped up her night by singing Aute Cuture. Around 20,000 people attended the 36th edition of the MTV Video Music Awards. Other winners included US star Taylor Swift, who bagged Video of the Year for her tune You Need to Calm Down. Artist of the Year went to Ariana Grande, while Billie Eilish was Best New Artist and Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus won Song of the Year for Old Town Road (Remix).
August 29th - September 11th 2019
Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es
Fin de semana
cludes a seated meal in the iconic auditorium. “I’ve worked a lot with the BBC over here - we’ve even had Pudsey Bear from Children in Need shows on stage,” Christine Climent, who has co-owned Benidorm Palace since 1990, told the Olive Press. Christine said the last two editions of Save My Life raised over €30,000. The €10 door price will go towards the price, with an optional €8 extra buying concert goers a meal of fish and chips or chicken and chips.
VALENCIA has unveiled its new ‘Shark Film Festival’ where the public can come face to face with the monsters of the deep. On August 30 at 9:00pm seven ‘marine-themed’ short films will be projected from the sea. An expert panel, including actors Jordi Aguilar and Itziar Castro, will then hand
out prizes to the filmmakers. The following evening on August 31 around 150 attendees will then get a chance to watch Steven Spielberg’s (1975) classic Jaws projected from the ocean. The free-entry event runs from August 30 - 31 in La Marina de Valencia.
‘Spanish Stonehenge’ Stone circle buried by Franco shocks villagers by appearing to rise from ground A TINY village has been left shocked after a 4,000-yearold ‘Spanish Stonehenge’ seemed to rise out of the ground like magic. For residents in Peraleda de la Mata, a village of just 1,400 inhabitants, the ‘miraculous’ event confirms a local legend about buried treasure in the area. In reality, this summer’s baking heat caused the water level of the Valdecañas swamp in Extremadura to recede more than usual, thus exposing the historic site of Guadalperal. This ancient sun temple, dating back to the Third Millennium BC, has only poked its head above water during previous dry spells and has not been seen for six decades. There are now proposals to shift the archaeological wonder from its current spot on the bed of the River Tagus to the banks. President of the local archaeological association, Angel Castaño said: “It is a
GIG GUIDE FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST
Mystic Vendetta 9.15pm
ALTEA/ALBIR: The Church
SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER
BENISSA: Oceana Club, -
ALBIR: The Church Bar - Benidorm Irish Rovers 6.00pm
Bar - Dave La and Jim Rhodes from 6.30pm
Frank Abrams - 9.00pm CALPE: Bar Central, - After Midnight - 9.30pm
DENIA: Paddy O’Connell Bar,-Velvet Rock - 11.45pm
JAVEA: Novas Rte. Costa Nova , - Soundsurf - 8.00pm MORAIRA: The Fiddler,, Gypsy Kings Tribute - 8.30 pm
ORBA:Citrus Bar,1 - Don
Dimo - 8.30pm
SATURDAY GUST
31ST
AU-
ALTEA: Brew Rock - Moon-
shine - 9.30pm
LLOSA DE CAMACHO:
Bar Emilio, - Soggy Bottom Band - 4.00pm
MORAIRA: The Lions Sum-
mer Concert at The Castle with Austin Slack - 9.00pm
ORBA: Citrus Bar, - Quin Soul Funk - 17.00 PARCENT/TARBENA
Coll de Rates Rte, Tarbena Chill Factor - 1.30pm
BENITACHELL: Rusty’s Bar - Moonshine - 8.00pm
DENIA: Arena Bar, - Dia-
MORAIRA : Saxo Garden – Jam Session with The Brink Band. 6.00pm
JAVEA: Quo Vadis,- Rockin’ Stephanie - 20.30
IT is fiesta time in Javea where annual celebrations in honour of the town’s patron saints, the Virgen de Loreto and Cristo del Mar, are in full swing. The history of this twoweek long fiesta, marking the end of summer, dates back to the year 1850, when an Italian ship carrying the statue of the Virgen de Loreto ran aground in Cap Prim. The statue was salvaged, along with the ship's bell by local fishermen, who then adopted her as the town’s patron saint. The ‘Mare de Déu de Loreto’ celebrations run from the end of August until the grand finale night on September 8.
JAVEA: Novas Rte., - Dave La - 7.30pm
CALPE: Bar Central - Talk Of
mond Jack - 8.30pm
Fiesta fever
- 8.00pm
MONDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER
Alien - 9.30pm
megalithic dolmen of great value that now, for the first time, and who knows if it is last, is completely accessible. “We grew up hearing about the legend of the treasures hidden beneath the lake and now we finally get to view them.” There are 144 standing stones in total, with some topping two metres tall, while many are decorated with carvings of serpents. After the Romans unearthed the site, German geologist Hugo Obermaier began studying the stones in 1925. But they were submerged when General Franco built a dam in the area in 1963. The Junta de Extremadura is currently deciding on the site’s future.
JALON: Casa Aleluya, -Rio
BENITACHELL:
Sabores Restaurant - Adam Daniels 8.00pm
UNEARTHED: Ancient sun temple emerges from ground, while (right) its researcher Hugo Obermaier
99
August 29th - September 11th 2019
MORAIRA: Ope, - Marise &
All the information in this gig list is compiled a week before publication date and was correct at that time.
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Howler!
CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome’ have grown after 16 children were given contaminated medication on the Costa del Sol. exInfants developed hypertrichosis cessive body hair growth - after taking omeprazole which had been contaminated by minoxidil – the active ingredient for alopecia medication. Some 13 babies had initially been diagnosed with the condition before three more cases linked to the tainted drugs were discovered earlier this month. Officials believe the contamination could have affected up to 30 Andalu50 cian pharmacies and more than drug. the of batches Malaga-based pharmaceutical company Farma-Quimica Sur SL has been found to be the source of the batch. lot The affected batch is from re11072/10/42 and most have been are called while any missing packets being tracked down. Parents have been advised to seek medical help if their child has been given the formula and check with their an pharmacy if they have purchased as affected lot. Hypertrichosis, known ‘werewolf syndrome’, is a rare condition characterised by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body. Those with the condition have historiand cally been subject to great interest in in somes cases forced to perform travelling circuses and freak shows. inSpanish authorities have said this cident is isolated to children’s formula and that adults taking omeprazole capsules should not worry about developing symptoms. When the children their stopped taking the prescription hair growth subsided.
in Malaga which killed dozens CHAOTIC: (Top right) tornadostrikes across eastern Spain of goats and (right) lightningby rapids south east of Madrid while (above left) cars swept which fell in the Castilla La and (above right) a huge hailstone Mancha region TORNADOES, rivers of hail and ferocious storms have struck across Spain this week in a series of frightening weather incidents. Campillos in Malaga saw several huge uptornadoes destroy power lines and and root olive trees, causing blackouts warnings to residents to stay in their homes. Some 70 goats were killed and at least
Opinion Page 6
six warehouses destroyed. The weather phenomenon was caused as by colliding winds, a process known DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos). fria This is similar to the famous gota - or cold drop - according to local meteorologist Jose Luis Escudero. It came as the streets of Arganda, near Madrid, were turned into ferocious
Dear Olive Press,
in At least 50 vehicles were damaged Arganda alone while several vineyards were also completely destroyed. in Residents, who had been swelteringbetemperatures close to 38C the day of fore, were forced to shovel hail out their homes and businesses. and “The storm started around 6pm has only lasted about 10 minutes but caused a disaster,” one local said. “I have been living here for 20 years and have never seen anything like it.” One shop owner says his premises hail looks like it has taken a tonne of as and said there are scenes of chaos businesses are totally flooded. storm Meanwhile, Valencia saw a huge its light up the skies last night while whole coast has been placed on orange alert for strong winds and rain. AuThe Balearics too, were struck by gust downpours yesterday, causing severe flooding in Mallorca and Ibiza - the latter of which saw sewage pipes the burst, sending human waste into Port of Ibiza.
Gibraltar Issue 104
It’s very simple (Sand Dollars, Issue 11, pg 32). Buy a ‘hire car excess’ insurance policy before your holiday. I pay less than £40 for a ‘multitrip annual policy’. In the event the hire company takes any or all of your deposit, these policies will reimburse you. Always politely refuse to take out the hire car company’s ‘super duper platinum diamond all-purpose blah blah’ overpriced cover. This is where they make their money/ commission so they’ll give you the hard sell. You are not obliged to buy it. All cars in Spain are already insured by law, not the driver like in UK so these cars already have insurance without being driven at all! Just be fastidious about checking for scrapes and scuffs before accepting the car, especially wheel rims and under the front skirt, which is an often-used sneaky spot they’ll get you for! Take lots of photos before and after hire to be able to verify that you left the car in good condition should you get a surprise a few days later when you get home. It’s like using Ryanair, it’s a pain and it’s a game but with a little effort you’ll save a packet. I got a brand new Fiat 500CC last year through Doyouspain.com (who I always use) for €4.80 for a week. Yes honestly, for a week! It would have been €200 had I taken their insurance. I hope this helps. Oh, and never ever ever ever use Goldcar!
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August 28th September 10th 2019
Vol. 4 Issue 104 www.theolivepress.es August 28th - September 10th 2019
Pay up!
As Brexit tensions boiling point, John reach Culatto explores why Gibraltar National this could be the Rock’sDay significant one yet most
MINISTRY of Defence workers could soon receive similar wages to civil servants on the Rock. It comes after Chief Minister Fabian Picardo backed the union pay claim, saying he would bring it up with ministers in London. Picardo pledged his ‘full support’ for all MoD employees against what he called UK ‘austerity’. "It is remarkable that it is now those working as locally employed civilians in the Ministry of Defence, who are being negatively impacted by UK austerity as they have been,” said Picardo. “Historically, Gibraltar has really turned a corner when we see our people having to seek parity of wages with Gibraltar Government salaries, and not the other way around as was the case almost 40 years ago.”
G
ET ready for the biggest the year when Gibraltar party of Spanish aggression. declares With it is red, white and Brexit tensions free. There is no latest National Day running high, this is bound to be bigger Rock in all its vibrantbetter time to see the than ever. than National Day character and colour Gibraltar has always stood Every year since at Casemates Square. September 10, 1992 throughout its 300-year history.by Britain the people of Gibraltar have assembled National Day is a celebration of what to show their desire Theto be British and defy Continues overleaf
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Fallen
He was referring to the fight for wages parity led by the founder of his party the GSLP, Sir Joe Bossano. The Chief Minister gave special mention to Gibraltar Defence Police officers LEAKED: Report warning of four-hour border queues sees Keith Azopardi and the soldiers of the Roy(far right) tell Picardo (left) to ‘get radical’ al Gibraltar Regiment. A Government spokesperson said that the ‘real pay of these individuals has fallen very significantly’. “The impact of this gap in Gibraltar has been even worse considering our outstanding economic growth during the same period,” said the Government. Picardo said: “We will fully support our colleagues in all By John Culatto sectors of MoD employment in Gibraltar in their claims for better remuneration and FOUR hours of queuing to get terms and conditions.” The main Gibraltar union, in and out of Gibraltar could Unite, is leading the charge be the norm in a no-deal Brexalong with the Gibraltar it scenario. General Clerical Associa- That’s one of the many stark revealed the document was the EU will create cannot warnings predicted in the tion. be published on August 1. underestimated or indeed re- especially given how those It followed Opposition criticism “I will raise this issue myself leaked Yellowhammer docu- But Picardo has been quick to solved by a new arrangement issues would affect frontier that not enough was being done with ministers in London," ment, prepared by the UK dismiss the claims as ‘planthat anyone is able to negoti- flow.” said Picardo, who regularly government in the case of a ning for worst case scenarios.’ The Government hopes the to plan for what many fear could ate. meets with top UK Govern- no-deal. “I maintain it will not be a ‘Memorandums of Under- bring Gibraltar to a standstill. “It is obvious we should be planment representatives in the Although Chief Minister Fa- of roses,” the Gibraltar bed “We have repeatedly stated standing’ signed last Gov- that we are working with year bian Picardo declared the leak UK capital. the could become ‘a non-legally ning hard for a no-deal Brexit,” was ‘out of date’, it was later ernment said in a statement. “The many problems leaving United Kingdom and Spain binding basis’ for a no-deal said GSD Leader Keith Azoparto address a no-deal situation, di. scenario. “The election of Boris Johnson has brought that prospect much closer. “The Government needs to invest more time and resources on no-deal planning and do so in a ALL AREAS much more radical way. UK BASED COVERED “Time will tell whether those preparations have been effecLettings | Sales 4G UNLIMITED tive.” Investments The Yellowhammer report highINTERNET Reliable private hire transfer lights the risk of disruption to IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV Relocations services for any occasion the supply of goods, including ALSO IPTV, for Spanish Commercial • Luxury vehicles food, medicine and the shipSATELLITE TV • Door to door service ment of waste. and Residential residents • Airport collections Picardo added: “As a responTel: +350 200 44955 • Weddings transport sible Government, we plan for www.globelink.co.uk enquiries@seekerspropertygibraltar.com • Sightseeing day trips the worst case scenarios, even • Restaurant shuttles though we are confident they tel: (0034) 952 763 840 will not occur.” Find out more at: 96 626 5000 info@theskydoctor.com With Gibraltar being on the EU’s www.simply-shuttles.com 10 Engineer Lane, +44 (0) 1353 699082 www.theskydoctor.com most southern frontier, delays tel: 951 279 117 Gibraltar GX11 1AA are likely to be substantial. info@simply-shuttles.com www.seekerspropertygibraltar.com The UK is expected to leave the EU on October 31.
Opposition urges Gibraltar to ‘get radical’ as leaked report warns of four-hour border queues
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HOLIDAY HORROR British millionaire’s daughter found dead in pool
A BRITISH millionaire’s daugh-a ter has been found dead in swimming pool in Mallorca. Josie Clacher, 18, was found at the bottom of the pool in Alaro at 7am on August 13, shortly after returning home from a ‘night out’ with friends. Mum Rachel, who co-founded call answering and live chat service firm Moneypenny, was also at the family’s holiday villa beneath the Tramuntana mountains. Neighbours reportedly raised the alarm after hearing screaming. Emergency services rushed to the villa, but paramedics were unable to revive Josie by CPR. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Josie, a former pupil at exclusive boarding school Moreton Hall, had reportedly enjoyed a night out with friends the night before she died. A well-placed source reportedly said Josie had ‘got back to the villa shortly before she was found dead in the pool’. A post-mortem is determining the cause of death. A spokeswoman for Moneypenny said: “We are all extremely devastated and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this tragic time.” Mum Rachel co-founded the communications provider in 2000 with brother Ed Reeves.
TRAGIC: Josie Clacher while
doing the right thing, treating people well and providing ongoing support.” Rachel once revealed in an interview how she discovered she was pregnant with Josie, the second of her three girls, on her first day in her company’s new office back in 2000. Josie’s father, David, is the practice director at Wrexham’s Schwarz optometrists. Honour A spokesman for the firm said: the in "We are all devastated by the Rachel received a CBE prayers Queen’s Birthday Honours List news and thoughts andthis diffithis year, thanking the Queen for are with the family at the ‘honour’ and ‘acknowledge- cult time." A spokesman for the British Forment’ of her success. “We are She also mentioned her charity eign Office confirmed:of a BritWeMindTheGap, created in 2014 supporting the family her death to give unemployed people new ish woman following in contact 15:36in Majorca, and are 16/06/2017 paths and1 opportunities career Untitled-1.pdf with the Spanish authorities.” through paid trainee schemes. She said: “I strongly believe in
HE Costa Blanca Lions Summer Camp brings 22 young people from around the world to visit the Costa Blanca and enjoy a mix of cultural, sporting and charitable activities. The Lions Clubs from around the Costa Blanca work together to put on a packed schedule of events for these youngsters and promote friendship, respect and solidarity among these international visitors. Optical chain Specsavers Ópticas has sponsored the Costa Blanca Lions Summer Camp this year by providing t-shirts for the youngsters to wear. Francisco Jurado, Store Director of Specsavers Ópticas in Torrevieja, Guardamar and La Zenia also visited the Melvin Jones glasses recycling centre with the group to see the important work they do and help to clean and sort the glasses before they are delivered to those in need around the world. They are proud to be able to support such a great initiative. “We have been collecting glasses to donate to the Lions Clubs across all our stores for many years now and work closely with our local clubs, so we are very happy to sponsor
C
PERHAPS she couldn’t wait to see Javea, or perhaps she was desperate to become an expat as soon as possible. Or perhaps little Scarlett-Rose simply couldn’t wait to meet mummy and daddy. Whatever the reason, it came as quite a shock to Shannon Holbrook when her waters broke three months early while she was visiting Alicante. The 25-year-old first time mum had arrived from Birmingham with hubby Matthew Beach, 27, just six days earlier when she dramatically went into labour. First time daddy Matthew was shocked into fatherhood as he delivered the baby himself some 25 minutes before an ambulance arrived. The 2lb baby was rushed to hos-
Club Summer Camp participants. From September we will look at other ways that we can help the centre and support the incredible work they do.” “As an international optical brand with stores in 10 different countries and a multicultural, multilingual team here in Spain, we whole-heartedly support the key message of friendship, respect and solidarity
between different nationalities. It is great to be able to welcome these youngsters to our area and help them have an amazing experience they will never forget. ”Specsavers Ópticas stores are located in Calpe, Javea, Benidorm, Torrevieja, Guardamar and La Zenia on the Costa Blanca and offer high quality, affordable optical care and free, comprehensive eye tests including important health checks. Find your nearest store by visiting www.specsavers.es.
EARLY ARRIVAL: For little Scarlett-Rose with parents (inset)
pital - where she has been on a ventilator ever since. “The nurses are brilliant and we know Scarlett is in safe hands, but it’s been very difficult,” Matthew told the Olive Press. He said Shannon and he have been ferried between six hotels and apartments since the baby appeared on July 16. “The first hotel we found only had a room for two weeks. After that the insurance company took over and we’ve been shunted around from one place
THE power of olive oil to boost the performance of athletes has been revealed in a new study. Written by a British sports nutritionist, the research has identified olive oil has one of the best sources of healthy fats and natural antioxidants. Spanish tennis ace Rafal Nadal is known to favour a diet rich in olive oil, having in the past called it the ‘best ingredient in the world.’ "When athletes are choosing fats or foods that contain fats, it is very important to consider fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids as well as understand their effects on disease and inflammation, and olive oil is a very good choice," said study author Professor Asker Jeukendrup. Spain is the largest olive oil producer and exporter, with 2.5 million hectares of olive groves containing more than 340 million olive trees.
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to another,” Matthew added. “Our current hotel is booked until August 23, but we’re travelling an hour each day to reach the hospital.” He said the room has no ‘kitchen or cleaning facilities’. The couple’s situation is further complicated as Scarlett is not allowed to fly home until October. Shannon, a care coordinator, has been on maternity leave since Scarlett’ birth. But Matthew, a self-employed carpenter, will be left ‘without any income’ while he stays by his daughter’s side. Matthew nevertheless remained enthusiastic saying that ‘fortunately, Scarlett is a little fighter’. “She’s still doing so well despite two blood transfusions, infections and breathing difficulties.” Shannon’s twin-sister, Sherri-Leigh has set up a fundraiser to help Shannon and Matthew ‘while they’re stuck in Spain’. She told the Olive Press the ordeal has been ‘a nightmare’ and ‘anything will help’. If you would like to help Shannon and Matthew, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/helping-baby-scarlettrose
Matthew Beach, Alicante
A shame I do think it’s hypocritical, but then do you really expect them to take a train and boat? The only other flight is probably EasyJet and would you use them if you didn’t have to? Everything published about them is negative and I think that’s a shame.
is now the number one English news website in spain…. see page 7
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Our money More taxpayer’s money. Yeah, we’ll save for our holiday while we pay for yours. Shirley Beale, Benalmadena
Double standards
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A FAMILY of Brits have had their holiday ‘ruined’ after a young girl fell into a septic tank at a ‘death trap’ villa in Alicante. The group of 14 arrived at the Villa L’Arc in Moraira - after forking out almost €7,000 - only to find ‘loose hanging handrails’ over a six metre drop and a ‘loose manhole’ covering up the fetid tank. It was here Steven Wright, from Surrey, told the Olive Press his 15-year-old niece fell ‘up to her waist’ into the filthy water. “She came out screaming,” Wright, 57, said. “But if she’d been any younger she could have died in a dark concrete tank of dirty water.” He alleged his young relatives were ‘cutting their toes’ on the broken covers of the pool skimmers, and said the sinks and drains were blocked for the first three days. “When you’re paying €6,800 it really is a poor show,” Wright said. “I feel robbed, misled and cheated Alquileres Guzman should not be allowed to offer family holidays in dangerous homes like this.” Wright claimed that workmen from
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British dentist Calpe Denia court orders ‘gypsies and squatters’ to vacate apartment block “Very pleased with my new dental treatment from Karan and the team. My teeth were loose, but this treatment solved the problem completely. I am where British pensioners have been nervous around the dentist, but the procedure was pain-free and usually very the aftercare was easy and exceptional. Well done.” threatened and assaulted VICTORY is soon at hand for homeowners living in a ‘hellhole’ urbanisation occupied by gypsies and squatters after a court has ordered their eviction. At least 24 of the 64 apartments at the Mirador Monte Pedrera were illegally occupied as the squatters accessed water and electricity at the expense of legitimate homeowners. It comes after a series of Olive Press stories shined a light on the shocking takeover which left expats living in fear for their lives. British apartment owner Linda Brown, 61, told the Olive Press how she was punched in the ‘eye and the gut’ by a gypsy woman
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
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has KING Juan Carlos CRIME 2 retired from public duty, he ‘Hellhole’ exactly five years after his EXCLUSIVE SPAIN is one of Europe’s comes abdicated in favour of urbanisation By Josh Parfitt worst culprits when it son, King Felipe VI. Juan Your his to greenhouse gas emissions, sees two more reporters, Carlos, 81, will retain here to Sculpture figures have revealed. the bi- ANOTHER two families have help on attack leave royal title as King, however. the Costa that Blanca The country has seen Justice for rapist fled an urbanisation after families into ‘hell’ ggest increase in emissions a 51.7 descended began a ‘violent due to problems on the continent, with squatters No way with squatters million tonne rise between coup d’etat’ five years ago. at couple and 1990 and 2017. A SECOND runway du- A retired German family have had Emissions grew by 17.9% Alicante-Elche airport NO NEED TO PAINT! the EU a Spanish the in the Miraring that time, while has been opposed by its enough of living Pedrera estate, in collectively REDUCED Friends of the Wetlands during dor Monte a British emissions by 23.5% Denia, which has become of the South of Alicante plain and simple,” owned the same period. ‘hellhole’ for legal residents. (AHSA), who objected Linda, who has with in our last is- expat Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, that the runway would fai- As reported a penthouse apartment of Malta and Portugal alsoeffec- sue, only 11 of 64 apartments her partner Arnene since WANTED destroy the wetlands when led to reduce emissions were sold in 2007 Agua Amarga. 2007, told the Olive Press. tively. Spain sunk into recession.and “They want all the owners (inset) squatter empty neighbours and Climate leaders however, www.noneedtopaint.com out so they can completely WORRIED: Legal San- The rest remained us, threaten us are optimistic as Pedro Look out just four of the legally-owned rule the kingdom.” due to steal from is abuse us, and the law chez’s PSOE government apartments are now inhabi- The latest departures come nant, was hospitalised complications. and on our side until one of plans to boost renewable ted all year-round, after the just days after Linda, 61, was stress-related GOOGLE Maps has intromy family not new said. and Spanish also in court after she was pun- “I wanted to raise energy production. duced into Spain a I us gets hurt,” Linda energy Germans this beautiful place, buthe “But they won’t get us out, Not only will clean there moved out. function that warns users in the gut and the eye in never a British cou- ched can’t risk my wife’s life,” become cheaper, but of the location speed camebecause the Brits we’ve ve- According to live there, one by a female squatter. asked explained. will also be more electric ras, both fixed and mobile. give up. Not when she had ple, who still on Mu- It came after to turn down a The nightmare began five sunk every penny into our hicles on the road. The function is availablebut of the Germans, from the neighbour apartment and years ago when a 62-yearboth Android and iOS, renich, had to be ‘hospitalised’ ‘blaring karaoke system’. patriarch broke €270,000 nowhere else to go.” only Android users can after suffering a ‘breakdown’ She and Arnene, 72, sleep old ‘gypsy’ for children and have alarm on’ in with his 11 port mobile speed cameras. A legal representative from stress. the urus out, with the ‘burglar Jepsa, who maintain “The squatters want and have barrica- grandchildren. wider family have now banisation, told the Olive ded themselves in His forbids the over 24 apartments Dog’s life on their fourth-floor taken they sublet out to Press: “The law of properillegal squatting apartment as they whichaddicts’. of water and PETS now outnumber in live with daily death ‘drugapartments are illegally ties and use nothing is behas died children under 15 rebeen electricity, but threats and abuse. The A BRITISH holidaymaker AN investigation has to water and elec- ing done. Spain, with 13 million last 15th floor of of too connected the was body from the pressure falling after The only after launched yet police have Benidorm. gistered at the end of93% have a beautiful counfound much however, for a tricity, his apartment block in a British diver was on one occasion “We which is loved by people Belfast, year. Dogs make up the try, young Spaniard, who intervened Colin McGarry, 48, from 170 ft underwater off a man threatened to around the world, but the of all registered pets. am on Suntold the Olive Press when died at around 1.45 with a hammer in law does not function as it coast of Murcia. from sethey were leaving kill Linda day morning after plunging Phillip Evans, 69, got of an officer last year. Gerona. A after his wife, who is front horrendous. They can should.” the balcony of Torre take place. parated from his diving eight-months preg- “It’s post-mortem is due to group in the Islas HormiMay 23rd - June 5th 2019
Please help us!
www.theolivepress.es
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
A GROUP of British pensioners are pleading for help after their block of flats descended into ‘hell’ due to squatters. The expats - who have lived in the Denia urbanisation for a decade - are desperate after a mob
Expat pensioners assaulted as their once luxury apartment block is ‘mobbed’ by squatters
of ‘gypsies and squatters’ began breaking in five years ago. They insist neither the police or local authorities have helped to tackle the illegal occupants, who have taken over 25 of the 64 apartments in the Mirador
Monte Pedrera complex. “They have turned what was once a lovely community into a no-go area,” said the 72-yearold, who is too frightened to give her name out of fear of retaliation.
Message from the angels
The grandmother continued that the squatters had punched a number of pensioners and even broke a handyman’s arm with baseball bats. “We came here for a peaceful retirement and what we’ve got is
FIREBUG IN TROUBLE
A PARTYGOER in Benidorm has been arrested after setting off a fire extinguisher in a karaoke bar. The man, a Brit, yanked the extinguisher from the wall and covered the floor, tables, drinks and sandwiches in thick white dust.
hell on earth,” she told the Olive Press. “My partner got punched in the gut and the eye by one for simply asking to turn down a karaoke system blaring out during siesta hours,” she continued. They are due to attend court this week over the assault, but are not expecting anything to be done. Other residents, who include Germans and Spaniards, have also come under attack. “A handyman tried to stop three men breaking into an apartment and was thrashed by baseball bats just five weeks ago,” the pensioner said. “They broke his arm in two places.” The problems began when the recession curtailed sales in the block in 2007 and only 11 of the 64 apartments were sold. Many of the vacant homes were later seized by the squatters, a number of them even being sublet for money, it is claimed. Collectively the 11 owners are having to cover all the communal bills for the urbanisation, which includes a ‘€20,000 debt’ incurred by squatters stealing electricity and water In addition, they claim the developer owes €200,000 to the community. Police told the Olive Press they were unable to enter the properties as they are on ‘private land’.
after requesting she turn down Tel: (+34) 965 837 553 - 24h emergency: (+34) 602 612 688 blaring music during siesta hours. Clinica Britannia, Avda Ejercitos Españoles 16, first floor, Calpe She said the owners of the four remaining legitimate apartments in the urbanisation lived with Diving disaster 15-storey fall ‘death threats’ before, in June, a German elderly couple finally caved in and left Spain after 12 years. VICTORY: For couple Linda and Arnene while (inset) previous A Spanish couple, who asked to story remain nameless, also told the byshire, described how the couple Olive Press how they were flee- to stress. gone by were forced to sleep with the ‘buring after the eight-month preg- “The squatters will be €60 glar alarms on’ as the stairs up to Continues on Page 5 nant wife was ‘hospitalised’ due September, thank the Lord and their penthouse apartment were thank you Olive Press for covering the story,” Linda Brown, who barricaded by an iron gate. they lives with partner Arnene, 72, “They have no choice now, must all now leave,” a spokespersaid. “There were 23 defendants in son for Japsa, the urbanisation’s promoter, told the court and 22 lawOlive Press. yers, it was bedTHIS is the second pig to have trotted “Our police force lam. into a British-run rescue centre on the is excellent, but “But the public Costa Blanca. the courts were was prosecutor The Olive Press previously reported not giving them passionate very how Rupert the pig ran 3km from the warrants to act. and firm in sum‘filthy, dirty shed’ where he was living “In Spain, squatming it up.” and wandered into the Easy Care Horse ters are given ocThe success comes Rescue Centre near Torrevieja last month. cupancy rights if following a ‘coup (inset top right). The clever pig trotted in they are not rea after d’etat’ ‘as if he knew where he was going’ in what moved within 24 62-year-old gypsy Easy Care owner Susan Weeding could only hours of entering. ‘patriarch’ moved describe as ‘a nearly impossible feat’. “But now all of Penelowhen in, bringing his But that feat was repeated Squatter them have been 10 sons and their SHOCKING: pe the pot-bellied Vietnamese pig turned up given an eviction wives and children. damage ‘completely out of the blue’. order and a month A reign of terror Susan admitted she has ‘no idea’ how far this they saw young children, many not at- to find a new place to live - if kick one has travelled in search of freedom. tending school, shouting ‘sons of don’t leave, the police will “Obviously someone has been watching Babe, or - the pigs are rising!” b*tches’ and ‘we will kill you all’ them onto the streets.” maybe flicking through the pages of George Orwell’s Animal Farm do with Penelope’ however, as Rupert up at the British pensioners. Susan told the Olive Press. Susan added Rupert wanted ‘nothing to Opinion Page 6 Linda, an ex-copper from Derprefers ‘being around people’. A FOUNTAIN in Alicante’s most iconic square has been attacked by a man with a hammer. The legs of the horses in the sculpture in Plaza de los Luceros were shattered by the 38-year-old assailant. An arm of an angel was also badly cracked in the attack. The Spanish man has been arrested on a charge of crimes against cultural heritage.
Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt
Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es
(Personal contacts on page 6)
A SERIES of Whatsapp messages to a girlfriend have spared a teenager from a prison sentence for armed robbery. The 19-year-old Spanish student from La Nucia was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of holding up a casino and robbing €11,500 at gunpoint. But a Benidorm court heard how WhatsApp messages backed his alibi that he was texting his girlfriend when the assault took place. After an expert’s report confirmed they could not have been manipulated and also placing him at home, he was found not guilty.
A BRITISH man who raped two teenage girls 40 years ago has been jailed following extradition from the Costa Blanca. Jeffrey Waite, 66, carried out the attacks in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the UK. However, he managed to skip a court hearing in 2016 and fled to Torrevieja, before a European arrest warrant led to his capture in March last year.
Waite was found guilty of raping the teenagers, one of them underage, in Hartlepool. They likened him to a ‘madman’ and an ‘animal’.
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NEWS Turtle Am I bovvered? tragedy BARKING www.theolivepress.es
Penny Jackson, Spain
Big deal So what? If I could afford it, I would do the same. Sandra Park, Mijas
If you can’t be bothered to pick up your puppy from the breeder then don’t order one (Barking Disgrace, Issue 11, pg 5).
Plastic free
Carol Montgomery, Andalucia
Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress
August 15th - August 28th 2019
Animal rights
DISGRACE
A DEAD turtle has been found trapped inside a wooden pallet off the Costa Blanca. The creature was discovered off the coast of Granadella beach, in Javea, by jetskiers last Friday morning. Bulldog puppy POSTED 1,000km The jetski group, led by a tour guide from MAREMOTOsports in the wrong direction before being on Javea’s Arenal, reportedly dived into the sea to rip the discovered on Calpe roadside pallet apart - but the turtle was already beyond rescue. A BRITISH bulldog puppy has EXCLUSIVE “The guide was crying as he been posted over 1,000km By Joshua Parfitt tried to save the animal,” Oliin the wrong direction after ver Bittner, who worked for 10 an irresponsible dog breeder day and asked mum Daniella if years at MAREMOTOsports, confused her with a ‘golden they could take it home. and shared pictures of the turtle retriever’. “My daughter was crying and on social media, told the Olive The pup was spotted in a plas- wouldn’t leave the dog on its Press. tic cage on a roadside in Calpe own,” Daniella, from London, “I’ve been patrolling these seas ‘sitting in her own poo’ and told the Olive Press. year after year, but this summer without water on Tuesday af- “She looked a pedigree, and the seas around Javea are in the ternoon. they are worth a lot of money. worst state I’ve ever seen.” A young British girl Xaidan, 10, “But the puppy was just there Bittner, 29, believed the pallet REJECTED: Bulldog saw the dog in the heat of the on the roadside for anyone to came from a ‘fishing boat’, but steal.” he said rubbish in the MediterDaniella said a Spanish speakranean was becoming an ining friend confronted the creasing problem. courier company, MRW, who The current owner of Aloha recovered the dog and took it Beach Javea Rental Company AN expat-run cafe on the Costa Blanca is believed to be inside their Calpe shopfront to said he’s seen ‘paint buckets’ the ‘first in Spain’ to solely use reusable containers for be fed and given water. and ‘boots’ out at sea, and last takeaway drinks. A spokesperson for the compayear collected 6,000 cigarette Caffe Milano banned single-use coffee cups from its esny revealed to the Olive Press butts from the Arenal alone. tablishment in Javea last April. the client in Calpe ‘ordered a But now the introduction of a reusable smoothie/frappe golden retriever online’ and shake cup, with its own straw makes its takeaway drinks had turned its courier away 100% zero waste. without paying the €450 on The new cups cost €8, but buyers get their first drink free. delivery. “Biodegradable and compostable cups are not good He said the rightful owner of enough, as they can still take years to decompose,” Britthe bulldog was in A Coruña ish co-owner Matt Lewis, 38, told the Olive Press. on the complete other side of “Reusable is the only way to go, and we hope others will Spain. follow.” “I’ve been working here for 12 SHELL-SHOCK: Turtle years and a dog has never been
SECRET GETAWAY
See page 3
EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade
the uniform for the camp and help out in activities where we can,” commented Francisco Jurado. “It was very valuable for me to visit the Melvin Jones Glasses Recycling Centre and see the excellent work they do for others and help out alongside the Costa Blanca Lions
Thank you for our story in the Olive Press, it is brilliant (Hello World, Issue 11, pg 28). I’ve sent it to our the joints families and they’ve said it’sOiling the best one yet!
IT’S OFFICIAL:
John Quigley, London Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly enjoyed an under-theradar holiday to the Balearics... but the happy couple have received by criticism for allegedly travelling private jet
Hello world
British couple ‘stuck in Spain’ after miracle baby delivered three months early
Specsavers sponsors Costa Blanca Lions Summer Camp
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(inset) mum Rachel
Frustrated at not having anyone competent to answer calls, the pair set the business up with just £10,000 of their own money. Moneypenny is now valued at more than £100,000,000 handling customer service for 13,000 businesses - from small regional firms to the likes of Google, Amazon and Microsoft.
HEALTH
Cheers LET THEM ROAR! Olive Press
Readers react to the news that Harry and Megan booked a private jet to Ibiza through ‘Uber for Billionaires’ (Online, August 16)
Play the game per rapids after 40 litres of hail fell square metre in just 10 minutes. Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET recorded more than 9,300 lightning strikes in six hours. The hail storm caused serious floodthe ing in several villages south east ofand capital, with Arganda, Valdemoro Pinto among the worst hit. Parts of the M40 and M30 motorways5 were cut off while lines and 9 of the metro were also affected. According to meteorologist Benito Fuentes, strong storms are common in August. “The rain has been fairly heavy but it is not unusual for this time of the year. At the end of summer, the atmosphere is unstable, which causes air streams to collide. This leads to quite strong rainfall and storms,” he said.
28
August 15th - August 28th 2019
How dare they
Spain battered by tornadoes and hail in series of weather phenomenons
SUFFERER: Of hypertrichosis
August 29th - September 11th 2019
The
10 10
ABANDONED: Pup turned down like this before,” a spokesperson for MRW told the Olive Press. “This really hurt me as I am a massive dog lover myself. “But the owner just turned this puppy down like it was a box of shoes.” Daniella asked the Olive Press to help adopt the homeless puppy, but it turned out the breeder had requested she be sent 1,000km to A Coruña over Tuesday night after already suffering a 500km journey to the Costa Blanca. An Olive Press investigation revealed the dog was in fact picked up at 9.30am on Wednesday by owner Elena. Speaking to this paper on the phone, Elena confirmed she had the puppy and was at the vets for a check up. Opinion Page 6
ANIMAL abuse crimes h shot up 400% in the las cade in Spain, figures f the Guardia Civil’s envi mental arm Seprona gest. The dramatic rise in e ronmental crimes in ge al - of which crimes aga animals are a part - has seen a massive incre since figures began to be corded in the mid 2000s But while the figures shocking, a leading e ronmental group has s the increase has much do with the improved ‘eff tiveness’ of Spain’s judi system. “The data may be refle ing the specialisation a better training of envir mental agents, Seprona a environmental prosecuto which is allowing po forces to gather grea knowledge of the crimes ing committed and to br the perpetrators to justic said David de la Bode responsible for the SEO BirdLife Legal Program Spain. Since 2008, investigatio into animal abuse have creased eight-fold, from ju 108 to 914 in 2017. The number of prison se tences has also increased 14 times in the same perio from just 11 to 163.
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1 Particular (6) 2 Composition in verse (4) 3 Beaten egg dish (8) 4 Extent of space (4) 5 The world of schools and universities (8) 6 Mind (6) 12 Emotional outburst (8) 13 Tough and pliable (8) 16 Rock guitarist (6) 18 Stableman (6) 20 Hazard (4) 21 Financial institution (4)
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ibraltar National Day
NOT A PARTY TO MISS From previous
National Day is a celebration of what Theresa May called being ‘part of the UK family’. This connection leads to a stream of Westminister MPs attending the event from across the political spectrum. A selection of them get to speak at the event along with the chairman of the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group chairman and the Chief Minister. In recent years, even the UK Prime Minister Theresa May has recorded a video message, so expect something from Boris Johnson too. After the politics, the party really starts, with fireworks and confetti being let off to a huge cheer from the crowd all dressed up in red and white. This year there will even be an aerial show by Rich Goodwin Air Shows over Casemates, and two more in the afternoon.
This signals the bands, dancers and DJs to take over the stage, with the music playing until the early hours.
Beginnings
So, you might be wondering how a British Overseas Territory like Gibraltar, that is not even a nation got to have its own National Day. It all started when Joe Bossano, Chief Minister at the time, went to the United Nations to argue the case for Gibraltar’s self-determination in 1992. Under his masterful guidance, the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group (SDGG) was created to spearhead this cause. Denis Matthews, a former member of the Integration With Britain Party (IWBP), was appointed chairman of the SDGG. The SDGG organised the first National Day on September 10, 1992 at John Mackintosh Square.
It was held on the 25th anniversary of Gibraltar’s first referendum in 1967 when the people decided by a massive majority to remain British rather than Spanish. From then on it was moved to Casemates Square and the rest is history with National Day becoming a family favourite ever since. The national anthems of Gibraltar and the UK are sung on National Day, along with evacuation song ‘Llevame Donde Naci’. With the return of Joe Bossano to government, albeit as a minister in the background rather
than as a national leader, the event has returned to its former glory.
Eventful day
A whole host of other activities will be held around Gibraltar on National Day. In the morning there will be live music and dancing with the results of the children’s fancy dress competition announced at 10.30am. Old and young throng in their thousands to hear what will be said before going to the beach or staying around for a drink. For those who stay around
Casemates, a DJ will keep everyone swaying until 3pm. Children will find a number of rides like a trampoline and bouncy castle at John Mackintosh Square from 1.30pm to 7pm. Nearby at King’s Bastion Leisure Centre there will more family fun like ice-skating and a Just for Kidz play area from the same time. Rock on the Rock will put on its own mini-festival at the Governor’s Parade reformed cave from 2pm. Experience the power of rock on this special day in the unique surroundings of this special venue.
Airshow fans will get the chance to watch Rich Goodwin at Eastern Beach and Rosia Bay at 2.30pm and 4pm respectively. It will all be capped up with more live music in the rock concert from 9pm at Casemates Square. Local musicians Gibfloyd will play a set of Pink Floyd covers interrupted briefly by the final fireworks display at 10.30pm from the Detached Mole.
Artistic flare
The younger crowd can flock to the Monkey Rocks festival, this
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13 August 29th - September 11th 2019 Tchaikovsky compositions in the amazing surroundings of this live cave. Art lovers will be able to enjoy the ‘I Love Gib’ exhibition from September 4-30 at the Fine Arts Gallery. The organisers invited the whole community to put forward a drawing, painting, short film, short story, sculpture, installation or digital image that shows their love for Gibraltar. A total of £2,000 in prizes donated by the SDGG will be awarded on the opening night.
Calling out
year being held at Europa Point with David Guetta as the star performer. Supported by the Gibraltar Government, the festival will be even bigger and more family-friendly than ever, with children under 12 allowed to enter for free. Other than world-renowned Guetta, Anne Marie, Becky G, Alle Farben and DJs from Mars will all perform throughout the day. Tickets for Monkey Rocks at Europa Sports Complex with its amazing views to the Straits of Gibraltar are available at BuyTickets.gi. It will be the culmination of a week of some of the best music on the planet all packed onto one Rock. First off, classical music fans will be able to enjoy the European Symphony Orchestra on September 3 in the unique setting of St Michael’s Cave. Rising Russian star Denis Vlasenko will be conducting some of the most well-known
On the weekend the main course is served with the Gibraltar Calling Festival pulling around 15,000 people to the Europa Point site. Take That, Enrique Iglesias and Liam Gallagher will be headlining the event along with Mel C, Rick Astley and Pete Doherty. Sigala, Goldierocks, Tom Walker and King Calaway will also perform between Saturday 7 and Sunday 8. There will be a Classic Stage too with golden oldies The Lighthouse Family, Nazareth, Steve Harley, Uriah Heep, 10CC, Slade and David Essex. 10 local bands will also perform including ESC4PE, The Views, Jacver, Crimson Clover, Jetstream and Dead City Radio. Then on Monday, one of the best ever opera singers, Andrea Bocelli will be at Europa Point with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The international star’s first performance in Gibraltar was sold out in a few hours but more tickets were released last week. National Day on September 10 crowns the week of culture with a wild procession in red and white.The festivities are very much in the spirit of the phrase Chief Minister Fabian Picardo coined and has been repeated ever since on National Day. ‘Gibraltar: red, white and blue, red, white and proud, red, white and free’.
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10 facts that make Gibraltar one of the coolest places on the planet
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- English is the official language of Gibraltar, but many Gibraltarians also speak Llanito, a mix of Andalucian Spanish, British English, and traces of Genoese, Maltese, and Portuguese. Words like chakaru, for bouncer or a ‘chucker-out’, chinga, for chewing gum, or juva, for vacuum cleaner, pay homage to both Spanish and English origins.
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- Gibraltar International Airport has a runway that cuts through one of the territory’s busiest 4-lane highways. If you think the commute you take every day is bad, imagine having to wait for a plane to take off or land for the road to open back up again.
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- The pastel homes, doors with archways, and green shutters of Gibraltar--not particularly Andalucian or Victorian British in nature--might transport you to the north of Italy. For a reason: in 18th century Gibraltar, 34% of its population was from Genoa, and today this lasting influence can be seen in its architecture and the distinctly Italian surnames of its citizens.
- Gibraltar is home to the Barbary macaque, a species of monkeys that have been celebrated for years. From 1915 to 1991, the British army and the Gibraltar Regiment named, fed, and controlled the monkey population. Some of these detail-oriented records taken by the so-called Keeper of the Apes were published in the Gibraltar Chronicle. One such announcement reads: “Rock Apes. Births: To Phyllis, wife of Tony, at the Upper Rock, on 30th June 1942— a child. Both doing well.”
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- On March 20th, 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono on the Rock of Gibraltar. The iconic couple initially wished to get married in Paris or at sea. However, due to the difference in their nationalities, there would be a delay in having a ceremony in any place but Gibraltar, where Lennon’s British citizenship would allow them to marry immediately.
- There are over 150 caves inside the Rock, the most well known of which is St. Michael’s Cave. A twisting maze of limestone, the cave was created from a steady drip of water that eroded the stone over time. St. Michael’s Cave is the most visited cave of Gibraltar’s Rock.
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erators, telephone lines, bakeries, and hospitals.
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Commerce.
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- For nearly 300 years, Gibraltar was the sole home to the Jewish community in the Iberian Peninsula. Once numbering in the thousands across the peninsula, after their expulsion from Spain in the 15th century they took refuge in the British territory, and now make up 2% of the Rock’s census.
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ibraltar National Day
Why National Day is so important to the Rock
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n the morning of September 10, 1967, over 12.000 Gibraltarians lined up eagerly yet patiently at the polling station in Town Range to cast their vote in a Referendum to decide their future. It was a vote they were actively encouraged to make, a vote that had been desperately fought for and - in the end - one that spoke with overwhelming clarity. Only 44 people voted for Gibraltar’s sovereignty to pass to Spain. The Referendum was a pivotal event in Gibraltar’s narrative, and a key point in the Rock’s history. In many ways it was the making of our common identity; together we had found a way to defend ourselves against Franco’s Spain and have an effective say on what our future would look like. A future that has remained dedicated to keeping the Rock British and us, as British Gibraltarians. Today, five decades later, this spirited sentiment of nationalism and nationhood is still very much alive. The fight for self-determination in the 1960s served to unite and politically mobilise Gibraltar, but it also charged Gibraltarians with a deep sense of pride and patriotism. Yet, even today there still exists a certain self-consciousness about being Gibraltarian, and it involves an acceptance of our turbulent yet progressive history and how this makes us such a unique community. It’s no surprise then that September 10 has become synon-
Reasons to celebrate FINALE: Fireworks are set for 10.30pm
ymous with celebrating what it white as thousands of Gibraltameans to be Gibraltarian. rians waving the Gibraltar and The fact that festivities begin Union Jack flags congregate to weeks beforehand (you cer- take part in the political rally. tainly can’t avoid the fervour One in which recent years has on the Rock) is quite telling: Gi- picked up in pace. braltarians enjoy a good show. Despite the political tone, the A selection of art exhibitions, emphasis is very much on feschoir and clastivity as families sical concerts, join in all the enand quirky tertainment. We all share events such With live music, as a theme dance perforstories of the painting and a mances and past; what Gib scale modelling plenty of food competition was like with a and drink, there are all on offer. is an air of a welclosed frontier coming street Most are free to the public and party. allow for an auYet it is the exthentic insight into the Gibral- change between different tarian way of life. generations that makes this National Day itself centres party so interesting. Despite on Casemates square. It will the youngest not having expebe the heart of the activity, rienced the historical context blanketed by a sea of red and setting the backdrop, there still
exists a very visceral appreciation of our Gibraltarian identity and how far we have come as a people since the first referendum took place. The year that remains most poignant for many was back in 2007. This National Day saw 30,000 red and white balloons released in the air, a symbolic representation of each inhabitant on the Rock to mark the new enhanced Constitution. As I see it, the most striking aspect of the National day celebrations is the conviviality that permeates throughout the Rock. Doors are flung open for families and friends of friends to visit. We all share food and stories of the past; of what Gibraltar was like when the frontier was closed and how resilient the ‘barricade’ years
Timetable of events
What, where and when?
Your guide to all the events in the run up to National Day ther information please contact mobile: August September 57857000 or Facebook page: Fine Arts Friday 23rd August to Saturday 31st August 8.30pm onwards Annual Gibraltar Fair Rooke site Queensway For further information please contact email: info@culture. gi Wednesday 28th to Friday 6th September 8.30am to 9.30pm ‘Our Gibraltar’ Photographic Exhibition Organised by the Gibraltar Photographic Society Lower Exhibition Room John Mackintosh Hall Entrance Free Friday 30th August 8.30pm In the Arms of an Angel A song and dance production organised by M.O. Productions John Mackintosh Hall Theatre Tickets priced at £10 On sale as from Monday 15th July at www.buytickets.gi All proceeds to the Gibraltar Community Association Friday 30th August 4:00pm Gibraltar Wine Festival Organised by My Wines Gibraltar Ltd Chatham Counterguard For further information call 20069463
Tuesday 3rd September 8pm National Celebrations Classical Concert St Michael’s Cave Organised by the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Featuring the European Symphony Orchestra and renowned international performers Tickets priced at £20 on sale from Friday 19th July at Sacarellos Coffee Shop, Irish Town, the Silver Shop at 222 Main Street and online on buytickets.gi Tickets priced at £10 for senior citizens and students are available at the John Mackintosh Hall reception at 308 Main Street. Tickets include a return shuttle from the Public Market and opposite the Cable Car. For further info contact the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society on telephone: 20072134
Gallery Gibraltar Friday 6th September 6.00pm
Boat Procession From Coaling Island to South Mole For further information contact the Rector at the Shrine of our Lady of Europe on email: rector@ourladyofeurope.net Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September Gibraltar Calling Music Festival Europa Point Sports Complex Featuring Take That, Liam Gallagher, Tom Walker, Melanie C, Goldirocks, King Calaway, David Essex, Slade and many more For further information visit: www.gibraltarcalling. com
Wednesday 4th September & Thursday 5th September
Monday 9th September 6:30pm
2nd Gibraltar Backgammon Open Tournament Organised by the Backgammon Association of Gibraltar Latinos’ Restaurant For further information please contact telephone: 20047755 or mobile: 58772000
National Day Thanksgiving Mass Shrine of Our Lady of Europe For further information contact the Rector at the Shrine of our Lady of Europe on email: rector@ ourladyofeurope.net 8pm Andrea Bocelli Concert Europa Point Sports Complex
Thursday 5th September to Friday 27th September 10am to 6pm Gibraltar Theme Painting Exhibition Organised by the Fine Arts Association Fine Arts Gallery Entrance Free For fur-
Tuesday 10th September 2019 See the poster on the right for the full Gibraltar National Day programme.
FAMILY DAY: Kids hold aloft a blow up monkey
have made us. Each different area of the Rock has its unique focus. Take for example the Caleteños, from the Caleta area. I am told many families spend much of their National Day on the beach meeting friends for a breakfast of churros, followed by a day of shared bbqs and drink on this small cove. Here sunshades can go up 48 hours beforehand to secure a good spot as visitors know the locals will look after their belongings.
Wherever the day finds you, the atmosphere is always one of goodwill. Gibraltarians know how to share and how to make guests feel welcome - and any visitors to the Rock that day will be more than looked after. We are 30,000 inhabitants living in three square miles, a fusion of different people, and in many cases cultures, that have learnt to live side by side agreeably. This in itself is enough for a huge celebration.
BUSINESS CHEATS: Spain profits
Love rats Inc. COMPANIES have been profiting from high infidelity in Spain with numerous services a v a i l able to help love cheats find their bit on the side. The sector, including dating apps and ‘love hotels,’ has been making inroads in the Spanish market, home to more than 11 million married couples. Cheating site Ashley Madison has 1.56 million online members from Spain, who are aged between 30 and 40. This makes Spain the company’s second-largest market in Europe, behind only the United Kingdom. Ashley Madison made its entrance in Spain in 2011 with a controversial billboard in Madrid featuring a photo of former king Juan Carlos next to Prince Charles and former US president Bill Clinton. The ad came with the slogan: ‘What do they have in common? They should have used Ashley Madison.’
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August 29th - September 11th 2019
Pilots takeoff
Spainish Ryanair pilots announce plan to join cabin crew in workout while Irish pilots strike ruled out by judge
RYANAIR’S Spanish pilots have threatened to go on a five-day strike in September in protest at the planned closure of bases in Spain. The SEPLA pilots union has announced this industrial action will take place the same month as stoppages already planned by cabin crew. It comes after Ireland’s High
NOT ON: Ryanair strike called off by judge questioning ballot Court granted an injunction preventing the low cost airline’s Irish-based pilots from going on strike in the coming weeks.
Justice Denis McDonald said that although Ryanair pilots had a valid case, he wanted more time to assess issues from both sides.
Taking a free ride
COSTS for business trips by Spain’s Congress of Deputies have doubled despite less parliamentary activity. Money spent on travel for politicians totalled €504,792.37 between April 1 and June 30, twice what it was during the same quarter last year. The transport expenses included plane, train and bus tickets, as well as private hire vehicles and trip cancellations. The huge spend comes despite the chambers being dissolved by the elections of April 28 and PETROLHEADS: Expenses mystery not being reconvened until May 21.
Also, he was mindful that thousands of people would be disrupted with little notice. The pilots’ parent union (IALPA) has said it will not comment further until a full ruling has been made. They represent the 180 Dublin-based Ryanair pilots who were recently balloted and decided to strike over pay and conditions, despite several pilots and the union’s own president voting against action. The Judge questioned the validity of the August 9 ballot itself and criticised a number of remarks by Ryanair about the IALPA. Nonetheless, he praised both sides for their willingness to return to mediation. After receiving assurances from the airline that it will continue its action against the Union, the Judge adjourned the matter until September. Ten days of action were mooted for next month, with flights from 13 Spanish airports being affected. Trade union officials had little hope that any compromise could be reached, given that Ryanair was unwilling to meet with a ‘negotiating attitude’. “Over a year’s worth of meetings at official Spanish institutions at which they routinely displayed a mocking attitude does not give us the slightest hope of reaching any kind of understanding,” said Jairo Gonzalo, an official at Spanish union USO.
Peking interest CHINESE e-retail giant Alibaba has taken a giant step into Spain with the launch of its first walk-in store. The company’s e-commerce service AliExpress opened its first brick-and-mortar premises at the Xanadu Shopping Centre in Arroyomolinos, Madrid. Huawei and Xiaomi mobile phones, electric scooters and drones were raffled off to those who gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the new shop. AliExpress is seen as a direct rival to Amazon and already has 3,000 Spanish companies on its database, which collectively offer 1 million products.
Black Friday 2 SPAIN’s stock market has led a Europe-wide plunge amid fears over a China-US trade war and a no-deal Brexit. The Ibex 35 fell below the 9,000 point level for the first time since February, making the first Friday in August the worst day of trading so far this year. Frankfurt, Paris and London also finished the day’s trading down, while the pound experienced the biggest monthly drop since late 2016. Banco Santander, which does a lot of business in the UK, experienced a bad day with losses of 3.71%.
PROPERTY
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August 29th - September 11th 2019
Paved with gold
IRISH PUB: The Haven
Haven in Alicante
A PUB landlord in Alicante has sourced his new property direct by having the entire bar shipped over from Ireland. John Costello has kitted out the entirety of McCoy’s Irish bar on Calle Clementina with fittings from the recently closed Haven pub in Limerick. Costello, who is from Galway, recently set up McCoys with his wife. He made the decision to have the bar shipped over from Ireland in order to capture an authentic Irish feel. Costello said: “When the Haven closed its doors in Limerick, we bought it off them and they transported the whole thing out to Spain. “The bar went through a lot to get here. It even survived a storm as it crossed the Bay of Biscay. They took it all the way, over 1000 miles, across oceans, and set it up here perfectly.”
PRICEY: Benahavis in Marbella
THE most expensive Spanish street to buy a house in has been revealed. It is anywhere in Marbella’s exclusive La Zagaleta neighbourhood, according to a new study. Buying a home in the luxury urbanization will set you back €6,758,961 on average, according to research by property firm Idealista. Among those to have splurged on a home in the community are actor Hugh Grant and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Barcelona’s Avenida del Tibidabo was the second-dearest street, priced on average at €5,858,750 and Paseo de la Marquesa Viuda de Aldama in Madrid was third with €5,700,000. Meanwhile the most expensive house in Spain can also be found in Marbella - a 12-bedroom mansion valued at €55 million.
Brexit brushoff
British buyers bypassed as luxury new Spanish development looks to sweeter markets
HOUSES in a new €130 million property development are giving the British market a swerve due to uncertainty over Brexit, it has emerged. Instead, Dutch and Belgian buyers are the target
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market of ‘The View Marbella’, which has begun construction near Benahavis. “These nationalities represent our main clients in recent years,” said Simon Boxus, sales director of The View. “Previously, the market was controlled by the British public, but since the
announcement of Brexit these two countries have climbed positions to top the majority of listings in the real estate market.” After Belgium and the Netherlands, Scandinavians are next in terms of demand, while the British are further down the pecking order.
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Foundations are currently being laid for the luxury resort of 49 spacious apartments off the Ronda Road. So far 40% of the plush pads, priced between €600,000 and €2.5 million, have been reserved. And there is much to miss out on for unlucky Brits, as The View sports a concierge service, offering everything from grocery shopping to providing homes with a private chef. It also boasts terraces with Mediterranean views, luscious gardens and a 24hour security team. The complex, spread across seven two and three-floor buildings, is expected to be completed by 2021, generating 250 jobs. Wilma Sierra Blanca are the real estate firm behind the build, while Wilma Europe Holding will market the properties.
Calpe cracker THE Muralla Roja has been named as one of the most ‘beautiful pueblos’ in Spain, according to an architects survey carried out by El Pais. The iconic Calpe urbanisation is widely renowned as most ‘Instagrammed place’ in the Iberian nation. Built in 1972 by architect Ricardo Bofill, the Muralla Roja has become one of Alicante’s most unforgettable destinations. “It’s striking colour, but also its structural rhythm and ironic dialogue with the vernacular tradition, make this building one of the most photogenic examples of a certain type of postmodern architecture in Spain,” the critic and writer Ignacio Vleming said in the survey. As a result of its beauty, residents have reportedly been forced to increase security due to the nuisance of frequently finding influencers on their doorsteps. The community has erected signs banning drones to stop prying cameras taking a selfie or a snap.
Sale away THE purchase of homes has fallen in June in the sharpest monthly decline since 2014. Sales fell 9% compared with May, and the first semester has stagnated with the same number of changing hands as compared to 2018 - around 260,000. This is in contrast with strong growth seen over the last five years as Spain bounced back from therecession. These created uncertainty about how to proceed in mortgage and notarial procedures. The regions showing the biggest slowdown include the Valencian Community, with a -3.81% reduction in house sales - Melilla was the hardest hit, registering a -22% reduction.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
What a waste!
SPAIN threw away 1.3 billion kilos of food waste in 2018, new data has revealed. The figures, released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAP), mark an 8.9% increase on the previous year. The shocking increase is due to higher temperatures during the spring and summer of last year, when wastage rates shot up by 10.5%. These numbers are a contrast to Spain’s promise to cut food waste by half by 2030, when the country adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. To tackle the problem the Government launched the ‘National Strategy for more food, less waste (2017-2020)’, which puts the onus on consumers.
August 29th - September 11th 2019
Robo-diner
Cyborgs at your service at Spain’s first bionic eaterie
SPAIN’S first restaurant with robotic waiters is set to open in Valencia at the end of the month. Chinese-Spanish fusion restaurant Crensa will however still employ human waiters too. The android staff will only serve tables and cannot yet take customers’ orders. The ambitious and futuristic set-up is the brainchild of Chinese businessman Zhijie Yan.
Brexit beer blues BRAVE NEW WORLD: Robots join the team at Crensa restaurant
The 29-year-old said he was ‘inspired’ by his native country where robot waiters are becoming in-
Men not allowed
MAN FREE: Som Dona
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SPAIN’S first women-only hotel has opened in the Balearics. The four-star Som Dona hotel in Porto Cristo, Mallorca will only be checking in female travellers aged 14 and over. Several wellness, fitness, health and detox retreats are on offer for guests, as well as cultural excursions across the island.
The pioneering ‘she hotel’ features ‘feminine-inspired’ interior design and employs mostly female staff, especially in roles typically viewed as masculine. Group president Joan Enric Capella said his firm had spotted a ‘growing business trend focused on female audiences’. Prices start at around €100 per night.
creasingly common. According to the entrepreneur, the ‘Mulan’ robots, which are also manufactured in China, are designed to ‘save some of the work’ of humans. Meanwhile the kitchen will also contain six robots (smart processors), which will speed up work and assist with cooking. Crensa is located in Benimaclet, a Moorish former village now part of Valencia, where it serves up a range of Asian and European flavours. Dishes like ‘tuna roast’ and ‘curried crab noodles’ at prices of around €25
per dish make up Crensa’s menu, which focuses on high-quality, fresh ingredients. “The mission of our company is to offer a varied, economical and healthy menu,” a company spokesperson said. It comes as another businessman, Marius Robles, said he will open the robot-staffed ‘Impossible Restaurant’ in Madrid in 2020, as part of what he calls the ‘robolution’. Yan added: “We are still many years away from fully autonomous waiters but I have no doubt that day will come.”
SPANISH breweries have warned that ale exports to Britain are under threat from Brexit. The United Kingdom is currently the third-largest importer of Spanish beer with a thirst for brands like San Miguel and Estrella. Beer consumption has recovered in Spain, where it had dropped 20% following the financial crisis, but the industry now fears the impact of a no-deal Brexit. “The UK is a country with a big beer culture which doubles or triples our consumption and also helps us to export,” said Jacabo Olalla, Managing Director of Cerveceros de Espana. “But we have felt the effects of the economic slowdown and the drop in British tourism,” he added. “Brexit is not good news for anyone.”
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FOOD,DRINK
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Fool’s gold August 29th - September 11th 2019
After a fake Polish jamon scandal gripped Andalucia, Maya Eashwaran And Regina Lankenau eat their way into the protected produce that might not be what you think Something for everyone at
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E
VER spent a dinner party arguing over the difference between champagne and prosecco? Camembert cheese and its imposter from the corner store? The EU’s designation of “Protected Geographical Indication” stemmed from this exact conundrum: a fear of imitation products that do not use traditional procedures to manufacture the food but still use the name. These imitations lure customers into purchasing inauthentic versions of items such as the Cornish pasty, Galician bread, and other regionally protected products. The regulations placed on protected products include a set of quality standards and specifications that ensure that the product stays true to its origins. Not only are these classifications vital in preserving the rich heritage of the places, artisans, and materials used in making these products, but, more importantly, they help buyers avoid getting bamboozled on their next trip to Mercadona.
Cornish Pasty
The Cornish pasty is an English classic with roots stretching back to ancient times. Originally served as a hearty lunch for miners from Cornwall, the Cornish pasty is a baked meat-and-vegetable filled good that has been a household delight since the 13th century. Today, the food is labeled as a protected and specially designated food. According to the BBC, this means that pasties can only be known as “Cornish pasties” if they are made in accordance with traditional recipes and techniques in Cornwall. The food is emblematic of Cornwall itself, and is celebrated in events from festivals to sports competitions. For the English, the Cornish pasty is a true cultural symbol.
Cava Sparkling Wine Although similar in process to its French champagne counterpart, Spanish Cava, meaning ‘cellar’ in Catalan, is a sparkling wine protected by Designation of Origin (DO) status encompassing
certain areas of Spain and the metodo tradicional (traditional method) used to make it. Champagne, on the other hand, can only be called champagne if it comes from the French region bearing the same name. Interestingly, Cava is one of the only products
French Camembert Cheese
Hailing from Camembert, Normandy, this world-famous cheese is now also designated as a protected European Union food. Traditional Camembert cheese is made from raw milk, over half produced from Normandy cows, and is moulded by hand. Recently, new camembert laws have sparked anger from chefs and cheese connoisseurs around the world. According to Food&Wine, starting in 2021, the French government will allow Camembert made without raw milk to be labeled as true, authentic Camembert. In response, a widespread Camembert boycott took place just last year, and over 40 French chefs signed an official letter to French President Emmanuel Macron asking him to kill the new law. They signed the letter, “Liberté, égalité, Camembert!” and called the imitation cheeses “pasteurized plaster,” among other colourful insults. In order to tell the difference between a true wheel of Camembert and its fake counterpart, look for the ‘PDO’ label indicating its authenticity.
to enjoy a DO status while allowing its manufacture in several regions, including around 160 municipalities such as Extremadura, Valencia, Aragon, Navarre, and Catalonia. Nonetheless, the wine’s roots can be traced to the famous Barcelona winery Codorniu where Josep Raventos Fatjo created his first bottle in 1872. It’s said that he was inspired by the sparkling wine-making method he observed on a trip to France, where the product undergoes a second fermentation. After a plague devastated his vineyards, he replaced the traditional red grape vines with white grapes native to the area; thus, Cava was born.
& TRAVEL
Queso Manchego
19
August 29th - September 11th 2019 Produced in the La Mancha region of Spain, Manchego is a sturdy, yet soft cheese that is known internationally as a Spanish specialty. Queso manchego, in order to qualify for protected status, must be produced from the whole milk of Manchega sheep. It must also be aged for at least 60 days and at most, two years. These strict guidelines have recently been at the frontlines of a case brought to the EU’s top court. Earlier this year the EU Court of Justice ruled that a cheese producer, Industrial Quesera Cuquerella, would not be permitted to use imagery associated with Don Quixote de la Mancha on it’s packaging or branding. The justification behind this momentous decision was that these images (like windmills or Quixote himself) may mislead customers into believing that products from factories that do not meet the EU’s protection guidelines are in fact, authentic representations of queso manchego.
Turrón
have been brought to Spain by the Arabs, the turron industry particularly took hold in the regions of Xixona, Alcoi, and Alicante. Xixona has been dedicated to making the treat since 1780, earning the premier Specific Designation in 1940 and sharing the Designation of Origin with Alicante since 1991. Catalonia’s turron, known as Torro d’Agramunt, has also earned its own Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). These protections indicate that all ingredients come exclusively from Alicante, Castellon, and Valencia, making this mythical treat a true gastronomic emblem of Spain—and a worthy souvenir to sink your teeth into.
Made from a concoction of wafers, sugar, pure bee’s honey, and toasted almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, or hazelnuts, turrón has come to be a staple of Christmas celebrations and tourists’ souvenir hauls. Defining and tracing the roots of this treat, however, has stirred up controversy among Spanish regions fighting for a claim to the title of its origin. What is known for certain is that the sweet originated in the Mediterranean; Greek athletes were fans, often eating it before competing in the Olympics for a much-needed spike in energy. Thought to
Welcome to Costablanca MagicMirror
A protected food sharing the same status as the English Cornish pasty, Galician bread (or pan gallego) originated in a small village in Galicia called Cea. It is identifiable by its characteristic crunchy exterior and spongy interior, created using white wheat flour mixed with local Galician flour (‘trigo gallego’) in the artisan tradition. The bread has been called a ‘symbol of dedication and tradition,’ as it has long been a staple of Galicia, whose bread artisans historically spent hours of patient kneading and baking to fulfill their role as the main carbohydrate source for thousands of families. The flour mixture used is typically dictated by the town in which it is prepared, giving rise to four main kinds of pan gallego: Neda, Carrai, Cea, and Ousa.
Pan Gallego The Galician government has even put together a 22-page document outlining the characteristics, process, and protection of the product, so you can be sure that any of the four breads are sure to represent only the finest in Galician artisan tradition.
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Health & Beauty
Snake oil
A CLINIC offering ‘miracle’ penis injections in Spain has raised alarms amongst specialists. The Doctor Life clinic in Madrid has begun to offer stem cell injections to strengthen erections, known as a Priapus Shot. This treatment costs more than €2,000 with the effects said to last at least one year. Though there is no solid evidence that stem cell use in penis injections has any benefit, according to the specialist journal Current Opinion in Urology. www.weekende “Pseudosciences generally lack ethics and create false expectations,”said Damian Garcia Olmo, head of surgery at Madrid’s Jimenez Diaz Foundation University Hospital. “Whoever does this is not on the path of science. It hurts sick people because they believe they are using a therapeutic product and that’s not the case.” A new Doctor Life clinic will open in October in Valencia.
Look better in the buff: Get your sexy bac without giving up everything you love HUGE health divides have been revealed across Spain in a new report, which shows improvements for Valencia. Navarra, the Basque Country, Aragon and Asturias have the best healthcare services according to the research by the Federation of Associations for the Defense of Public Health. Meanwhile Catalunya, Andalucia, Murcia and the Canary Islands have the worst provisions, it found. Valencia’s services are ‘de-
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Physicians Without a doctor’s prescripminutes with no Chestnuthypertrichosis something you can do about comfortable Hill, MA. provider. tion, drivers taking these We have found that it that doesn’t involve giving downtime. By and large, people are drugs may be liable to fines treatment works on all skin up carbs and sweets, doing theand pointsand lostphysiques, from their lisizes excessive crunches or having types, cences. including individuals who often invasive cosmetic surgery. This is because the drugs CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome’ previously not considered Fully one-third of were lead to lapses in ‘concentra- have grown after 16 children for‘alertness’. body contouring Americans opt for minimally candidates tion’ and were given contaminated medinvasive fat reduction or body procedures.” See www.olivepress.es ication on the Costa del Sol. POLES What’s sculpting APART: treatments to look for a fullmore, list oftruSculpt medicines Infants developed hypertrichoHealth better in the buff, according to iD produces an average fat sis - excessive body hair growth a new survey of 500 men and reduction of 24 percent, and - after taking omeprazole which women from Cutera, Inc. And visible improvements are seen had been contaminated by mithose who exercise regularly in 6 to 12 weeks following the noxidil – the active ingredient are most likely to have a first treatment. Multiple areas for alopecia medication. body-sculpting treatment, with can be treated in one session, Some 13 babies had initially been diagnosed with the condition before three more cases linked to the tainted drugs were discovered earlier this month. Officials believe the contamination could have affected up to 30 Andalucian pharmacies and more than 50 batches of When does worrying end and the drug. an anxiety disorder begin? Malaga-based pharmaceutical Anxiety disorders are the most company Farma-Quimica Sur common mental health probSL has been found to be the lem in the whole world, with able and there are lots of ways source of the batch. around 1 in 3 of us suffering to get help. Just come and visThe affected batch is from lot an anxiety disorder at some it our psychiatrist for a consul11072/10/42 and most have point in our lives. They can be tation. been recalled while any missdefined as a disorder when Clinica Britannia is a British ing packets are being tracked your anxiety gets out of control medical and dental centre down. and starts to affect your life. established in Calpe in 1997. Parents have been advised to Anxiety disorders can be dis- English, German, Russian, seek medical help if their child tressing and make it difficult French and, of course, Spanhas been given the formula and for you to live your life the way ish are also fluently spoken by check with their pharmacy if you want. However, there are the staff. they have purchased an affecteffective treatments available You can always contact ed lot. Hypertrichosis, known and effective ways to prevent them in case of emergency as ‘werewolf syndrome’, is a anxiety. Mental illness is treat- 24/7/365. rare condition characterised by With no waiting excessive hair growth anywhere lists, Clinica Brion a person’s body. tannia has at Those with the condition have your disposal the historically been subject to best surgeons great interest and in somes and anaesthecases forced to perform in travtists under the elling circuses and freak shows. supervision of a Spanish authorities have said consultant phythis incident is isolated to chilsician. dren’s formula and that adults taking omeprazole capsules should not worry about develCome and visit us. We will inform you. oping symptoms. When the CLINICA BRITANNIA, 16 BIS (next to 16) FIRST (not children stopped taking the Ground) Floor, Ejercitos Españoles Av prescription their hair growth Tel 965 837 553 - 24H 607 255 755 subsided.
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August 29th - September 11th 2019
21 21
August 29th - September 11th 2019
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BEFORE
A new, one-stop procedure can restore worn-down teeth to their former glory
Listeria fatality
Elderly woman is third to die in Spain’s listeria outbreak as Government warns public against eating a dozen foods A THIRD person has died in Spain’s biggest ever listeriosis outbreak. The 74-year-old woman was confirmed dead at Sevilla’s Virgen del Rocio Hospital at 1:15pm on August 27. She was hospitalised on August 12 after ingesting the deadly listeria monocytogenes bacteria and was among three patients transferred to the ICU. It comes after a 90-yearold woman died on August 20, while another female victim was forced into an abortion on August 12. The second death was thought to be that of a 72-year-old man who had terminal pancreatic cancer, which the Ministry of Health is still investigat-
ing. Added to those victims were a dog and a British man, confirmed earlier this week, after the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Sevilla opened an investigation on Friday. So far there are 196 known cases in Andalucia, while there are over 200 in total across the country.
Alert
The outbreak is now confirmed to have started at Sevilla-based firm Magrudis, whose ‘La Mecha’ brand meat products were found to be contaminated. The entire batch of ‘carne mechada’ has now been recalled from shops following the alerts, with
12 products to avoid
• Crema de carne mechada 250g • Crema de carne mechada 465g • Manteca colorá 250g • Manteca colorá 465g • Pringá estilo casero 250g • Pringá estilo casero 465g • Zurrapa de hígado 250g • Zurrapa de hígado 465g • Zurrapa lomo blanca 250g • Zurrapa lomo blanca 465g • Zurrapa lomo roja 250g DO NOT EAT: La • Zurrapa lomo roja 465g Mecha
What is listeriosis? Listeriosis is a bacterial infection that can cause sepsis, meningitis and encephalitis and can be fatal. Symptoms include a high temperature of 38°C or above, aches and pains, chills, feeling sick or vomiting and diarrhoea. Listeria mainly affects unpasteurised milk, dairy products made from unpasteurised milk, soft cheeses like camembert and brie and chilled ready-to-eat foods, like pre-packed sandwiches, pate and deli meats.
parent company Magrudis SL ceasing production on August 15. The health alert initially named two more La Mecha products that could be infected with listeria: lomo al jerez and lomo a la pimienta. A further 12 products from the La Mecha brand have now come under the health alert (See pullout). The distribution of these 12 products has mostly been to Andalucia, and to a lesser extent in Madrid and Catalunya, according to the Spanish Agency on Health and Nutrition. But the products are believed to have travelled as far as Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León and the Canary Islands.
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22
August 29th - September 11th 2019
GetTING ConnectED
COLUMNISTS
By Loraine Gostling
Life behind bars
Loraine Gostling never thought running a Spanish bar would be so hard, and so unforgettable past, we sold our house (to a Spanish family!), packed up our troubles in the old kit bag, a van, a ‘Shogie’ - my trusty old 4 x 4 - and exited the M25 for the last time. Our journey over the following 12 years has been remarkable in many different ways, and I have several stories - varying from panic mode (when told me how much autonomo was) to unforgettably hilarious (the
drunken fight, keep on reading). But I digress. So, going back to 2007 and being thrown in at the deep end with our New Life In The Sun... yes that old cliche... we set about buying a bar. “Why on earth would you do that?” I hear many of you say. Well, is that not what all ex-builders from London do? What could go wrong, anyway? We had some money, we were
TOUGH: Loraine (back right) and her team loved and loathed bar life
still young enough to work, we had run small businesses, so, quoting that famous RAF saying by Eric Partridge, it would all be a ‘piece of piss’. We were soon to find out how very wrong we were. Suffice it to say that, after a short break in a lovely rented villa in Altea Hills, we went in search of a bar and found what we thought would be an ideal venue in Javea. We fell in love with it (as one does) and had visions of buying a little villa down the road, complete with pool and terrace for relaxation plus, something we had always wanted, a driveway with ‘chuckies’ that make that luxurious swooshing sound when you drive in. The dreaming part is always so much fun! What we did not realise, having only ever really been on the drinking side of a bar, was that Life Behind Bars, is actually exactly that! From the day we took that key until the day we handed it over to its new owners, seven years later, we perhaps swam in the pool half a dozen times at 3am after work, sat on the terrace doing the books for a couple of hours a week and that swooshing noise... well that novelty didn’t last long! For the first few months we didn’t know what hit us. Although, I have to say, that as a family of, shall we say, ‘big boned’ people, the fact that we lived for three months on a handful of peanuts every couple of hours did wonders for our figures. Between my partner, my daughter and myself, I think we managed to lose a whole one of us in weight! We were constantly knackered - Dracula eyes would have been a compliment - but if we kept the ‘gafas de sol’ on, we all appeared pretty damned fit! It took us at least a year to stop listening to advice from people. Advice such as ‘you should turn your snooker room into a gym’... yeah because that wouldn’t cost much… or ‘you should really sell real British ale’, or ‘you shouldn’t charge so much for
[fill in the blanks] as we know hand, like Ninjas, despite havwhat it costs and we can buy ing a fit of the giggles! (Even the it in the supermarket’, or ‘you woman they were fighting over should stock X-Brand Quadru- thought it was hilarious.) ple Malt Whiskey for when I Christmas and New Year parties come in twice a were also brilyear’, all the way liant. to the famous I used to go mad It was like ‘OMG you have with the fairy watching the increased that lights, and one by 20 cents after year I replaced fight in the five years, when all the outside I can go down to terrace light fitfountain in X-Bar and get it tings with red Bridget Jones cheaper’. Maybe Christmassy so, but you will bulbs, only to Diary do €3.00 in petthen receive a rol getting there call from my eland back in that Jag. mate! dery Spanish landlady asking Now, I know that you are now me to remove them as it looked wondering how we lasted so like a brothel from the road. long. It’s a fair question and one Oops! I would answer by saying that in So, returning to my original inthose seven years, as tiring and tro… this is the reason I am a as financially unrewarding as it night owl. was, it was hard to give up what Even after fours years away had become your whole life. from life behind bars, I have It can, and did, cause a lot of never been able to return to the heartache one way or anoth- ‘normal’ world. er, but it also held some of the My body clock will, I am pretty most memorable and funny mo- sure, be breakfast at 2pm, dinments in our lives. ner at 11pm, and off to bed as Like when we had to break up others are hearing their alarms a fight by two very drunk men, for the rest of my life. so drunk in fact that neither And so, if anyone out there is could actually manage to grab, dreaming of taking on a Spanish or even get near his opponent. bar, think very long and hard. It was like You need to be prepared for the w a t c h i n g quiet hours; you need to be able the fight in to smile at all times; you need to the fountain listen to people’s problems, but in Bridget NEVER give advice, as that comes Jones Diary back and bites you in the bum! and the more Unless you have a lot of money they tried, the to employ staff, you need to be funnier it be- able to clean, cook, shop, balance accounts, fix minor plumbcame. It was only ing and electrical problems, women on move furniture, be a DJ and Agbar duty that ony Aunt - but most of all, make night and we sure you like peanuts, they keep took them you alive for weeks! both down Oh, now I miss it all again… anywith just one one selling a bar cheap?
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
Across: 7 Reformer, 8 Cash, 9 Palm, 10 Liar dice, 11 Old hat, 13 Limped, 14 Tie, 15 Hassle, 17 Amazon, 19 Research, 21 Butt, 22 Magi, 23 Stranger. Down: 1 Detail, 2 Poem, 3 Omelette, 4 Area, 5 Academia, 6 Psyche, 12 Hysteria, 13 Leathery, 16 Axeman, 18 Ostler, 20 Risk, 21 Bank.
SUDOKU
I
AM a night owl. My brain, or what is left of it now, doesn’t function so well during daylight hours, but wakes up around 10pm and is ready for breakfast. This late night life I attribute to having owned a bar for seven years, here on the Costa Blanca. My family and I arrived in Spain just after the mega Gota Fria of 2007, which we missed by a few days. We had tired of Nanny State UK and the London life and so, as many others have done in the
SPORT
23
August 29th - September 11th 2019
‘Better late than never’ Chris Froome gets to wear 2011 Vuelta winner’s jersey eight years after race
Comeback kid ANDY Murray has continued his singles comeback after hip surgery with two victories at Mallorca’s Rafa Nadal Open. The Scot, 32, beat the Slovakian Norbert Gombos 6-3 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes to set up a third-round tie with Matteo Viola. It came after he needed just 43 minutes to outclass teenager Imran Sibille in the first round, winning five of his seven breakpoint chances in that match. This marked the first time Murray had appeared at a second tier Challenger Tour event since 2005. He is due to play two events in China at the end of September, but has hinted that he may add more to his schedule. It comes after Murray pulled out of doubles in New York to concentrate on his singles career as he steps up his recovery from hip surgery. He had lost both of his singles matches prior to Mallorca, falling to France’s Richard Gasquet in Cincinnati and American Tennys Sandgren in Winston-Salem.
BRITISH cyclist Chris Foome has finally got his hands on the red jersey for the 2011 Vuelta a Espana after the original winner was caught doping. At the time of the race, Spanish rider Juan Jose Cobo was declared the winner, having finished 13 seconds ahead of Froome. Cobo has since been stripped of his title by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) after abnormalities in his biological passport were found. The 38-year-old Spaniard
who doped between 2009 and 2011, decided not to appeal the UCI’s decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “Better late than never,” quipped the injured rider who learned of his retrospective victory from his hospital bed, making him the only cyclist to become a Grand Tour winner while in intensive care. “This title, this red jersey really does mean a lot to me. That race back in 2011 was incredibly special for me. It was when I first started to believe in myself as a Grand Tour
Eurohockey
AT LAST: Froome can wear Vuelta winner’s jersey contender. “And it was the race where I had my first professional vic-
Luck of the Irish
IRELAND’S Sam Bennett timed his sprint finish to perfection as he claimed stage three at the Vuelta a España last Monday, from Ibi to Alicante. The Irish national champion took the line comfortably ahead of Edward Theuns and Luka Mezgec for his maiden Vuelta stage and fourth Grand Tour stage win. Bennett’s fellow Irishman Nicolas Roche retained the leader’s red jersey, remaining two seconds ahead of 2016 Vuelta winner Nairo Quin-
SPRINT: Finish from Ireland’s Sam Bennett tana. “It means a lot to get anoth- Geraint Thomas, plus Tour er Grand Tour stage victory,” de France winner Egan Bersaid the 28-year-old Bora nal and Giro d’Italia winner Hansgrohe rider Bennett, Richard Carapaz, are some who won three stages at last of the leading riders not competing in this year’s event. year’s Giro d’Italia. Defending champion Simon The end of stage three conYates, fellow Team INEOS cluded the Spanish Tour’s Britons Chris Froome and passage through Alicante.
tory, and I’ve got some really special memories from that race. “It’s a real purist race. August in the middle of Spain. Temperatures over 40 degrees quite often. It’s one of the most gruelling events on our calendar, if not the toughest. So it’s one of my personal favourites.” Froome recently underwent an eight-hour surgery following a horror crash that leaves him out of this year’s Tour de France. The four-time Tour de France champion was travelling at 37mph and hit the deck whilst attempting to blow his nose in high winds outside the town of Roanne. The 34-year-old suffered a fractured right femur, broken hip, fractured elbow, fractured ribs and lost consciousness during June’s Criterium du Dauphine race.
ENGLAND’s EuroHockey semi-final hopes have been ended by Spain after a must win encounter ended in a draw. Sam Ward had given England the lead but Spain went in front with two third-quarter goals, before Ashley Jackson levelled from a penalty corner. England drew 2-2 with Wales in their opening match and lost 2-0 to Belgium which meant Danny Kerry's side had to beat Spain to finish in the top two of Pool A. This result has seen England fall into the relegation pool, where they have been joined by Wales.
Slam dunk SPAIN has named its squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China this weekend. The 12-man side includes NBA champion Marc Gasol, who was part of Spain’s World Cup winning team of 2006. The second highest-ranked side in the world, Spain will face Iran, Puerto Rico and Tunisia in Group C in the first round.
THE paper not to miss in Costa Blanca
THE Olive Press is now distributing all over the coast in a whole host locations. Found at golf courses, tourist offices, museums and petrol stations, it has become the most sought-after English newspaper on the
SERVING YOU: Olive Press locations
Costa Blanca every fortnight. Look out for one of our many stands, as seen below at local newsagents. We print around 15,000 copies every issue and take our distribution very seriously, and
DENIA DENIA DENIA DENIA JAVEA JAVEA JAVEA BENISSA BENISSA MORAIRA MORAIRA MORAIRA MORAIRA GANDIA GANDIA ALBIR ALBIR ALBIR CALPE CALPE CALPE PEDREGUER PEDREGUER ALTEA ALTEA ALTEA ALFAZ DEL PI
Carrefour Consum Denia market Tourist office Iceland Yorkshire Linen Bay Radio Iceland Pepe Sal Pepe Sal Iceland Quick Save Telitec Carrefour Tourist office Consum Mendoza Albir Sur Consum Britannia clinic Calpe Dental Harris Furnishing Monroes Yorkshire linen Dial Prix Albir Colonial Costablanca
need you, the readers to keep us informed of numbers... and more importantly if each location needs more or less papers. We also want to know where you would like to see it and where you don't think we should
ALFAZ DEL PI ALFAZ DEL PI FINESTRAT JALON JALON
supermarket Mendoza PMR Marina S Cafe Ole Garcia Villas
bother. Here are a select group of a few dozen key drops. Please get in touch at Newsdesk@theolivepress.es to find your nearest drop or suggest another.
JALON TEULADA TEULADA BENITACHELL BENITACHELL
Hamiltons Consum First Stop Lady Elizabeth School Javea golf club
Advertise with The Olive Press TEL: (+34) 951 273 575 EMAIL: sales@theolivepress.es
A DRUNK driver has been stopped twice within an hour for driving over the alcohol limit on Spain’s Costa Blanca.
FINAL WORDS
Wrong move A SPANISH man is believed to be behind the cancellation of 130 flights in Munich airport after he ‘got lost’ leaving the toilets and sounded a security alarm.
Whoops A MAN has been spotted riding an electric scooter without a helmet on the CV-35 highway in Valencia.
Testing times A MAN, 26, has been gored repeatedly in his testicles at a bull run in Cuellar, near Valladolid, after he jumped a fence and became tangled.
OLIVE PRESS
The
Drunk and drunker
FREE
COSTA BLANCA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 1 Issue 12 www.theolivepress.es August 29th - September 11th 2019
TANTRIC tortoise
A RANDY tortoise has gone missing from his Costa Blanca home while his Brit owner is urgently appealing to the public for help. ‘Torte’ the tortoise disappeared from the Camino
FOOT FETISH: Tortoise gets stuck in
Appeal launched for ‘randy’ tortoise after it escapes from British centre Corrales area of Jalon last Tuesday. He is understood to come
Funny onion A MASSIVE onion has been photographed in a bar-restaurant on the Costa Blanca. The root vegetable weighed in at 2.175kg - a whole 2kg heavier than a regular onion. It was spotted at the Restaurante Pinos, in Benissa, on Tuesday. “It’s just an onion from our cottage garden,” a spokesperson for the restaurant told the Olive Press. “We grow giant onions from seed, but this is the biggest we’ve ever seen.”
from Greece, and has been in David Priaulx’s care for the last 30 years. “I’ve had so many escapades with him over the years,” David, who lives in Jalon, told the Olive Press. “He escaped once in Broad-
MISSING: Torte
&
Food fight!
stairs, Kent, and went to stay two nights in a local B&B. “When we picked him up the owner gave me an invoice, saying ‘no one had ever stayed for free and he wasn’t going to be the first’. “Torte’s like my nemesis, but I love him and so does the whole family.” David added that Torte answers to his name. He said, however, that the randy tortoise will ‘pick on anyone’ and is known to make a loud ‘shrilling noise’ when mounting the shoes of his victims. Have you seen a tortoise around Jalon? Contact the Olive Press at newsdesk@theolivepress.es
A WHOPPING 145 million tomatoes have been thrown in the Valencian region’s most famous ‘tomatina’ food fight. A total of 22,000 people reportedly got splattered in the annual festival, in Buñol, last Wednesday. The overripe fruit came from the province of Castellon before turning the Valencian town red with pulp. The event traces its origins to 1945 when an argument during a parade in the town square ended in a food fight. This year was the 74th edition of the festival, which involved 200 agents from the Guardia Civil, traffic police, Policia Local, a canine unit, Proteccion.
Bolted on
A WOMAN has been filmed riding naked upon a red Ferrari as its cigar-chomping driver cruises the streets of Ibiza. The woman appears completely oblivious as she dances to reggaeton music blaring from the slow-moving supercar. The incident was filmed at the Marina Ibiza on the Balearic island, and was later widely shared on social media. But the driver is now being pursued for reckless driving.
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www.theolivepress.es
August 29th - September 11th 2019
www.theolivepress.es
August 29th - September 11th 2019
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