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COSTA DEL SKI The Sierra Nevada is the perfect winter escape for adrenaline-seekers, writes Iona Napier (above), recalling her ‘pizza-shaped’ teaching tips with an Olive Press ski virgin
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T had been a tricky day on the slopes for ski virgin Rob Horgan. And after a rather ambitious blue run with three consecutive wipeouts, his sense of humour had vanished without trace. “There’s no way I’m skiing down that,” he barked at me. “I’ll walk up, get my ski and take the lift down.” His grimace was all too apparent despite the layers of scarf, hat and goggles. And this time, fair enough, as he’d tumbled down at least 25 metres past one of his skis, that perched precariously on the edge of the run. I was playing mother hen on an SNOW AND SUNBATHING: The Sierra Nevada has consistent snow from early December to May, when outing with a group of Olive Press It was always going to revellers come skiing in bikinis and be a testing outing and it swimming trunks him a bit of gentle cajoling, we set colleagues. didn’t help that the rest off down down the Olympic run, the highest mountain in peninsular While a few of us had been skiing had zoomed back to of our impatient group in the Laguna valley. base for a hot chocolate, making ‘giant pizza slices’, as my first Spain, Perhaps southern Spain’s most amazing view, from for years, a couple of them only without a second thought the top of teacher the Laguna slope you had called them, with our skis. knew the sport from the BBC’s Ski I had ended up becomingfor Rob. survey not just his impromptu ‘prothe Costa del Sol, but in the distance most of the Med and half He was soon back in the saddle and Sunday. fessor’ and after rescuing his ski the Rif mountains of north and giving considering a career change, as I later I was Africa. sped It was the beginning of the perfect Sierra perfect powder snow, bright sunshine Nevada weekend, with and some of Spain’s best après ski. The Sierra Nevada is easily Spain’s pistes spread over 110kms, all abovetop skiing resort, with 134 1200 metres in height. The longest piste, Aguila, is a dreamy magnificent views, while the series 6.3km of easy turns and of black runs, including Trampolin and Visera, that will test most skiers.
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Bikini run Of course the resort is most famous the adage of being able to ski in the for allowing tourists to test morning and sunbathe on the coast, a cava in hand, by late afternoon. And on the subject of sunbathing, some fanatics - including me even brave the slopes in a bikini for late April or early May (‘la bajada enthe last day of the season in Believe me, it’s an unmissable day bikini’, as it’s called). near nudity and plenty of hedonism.festooned with champagne, But it’s not just for fun junkies; expert skiers insist the snow, particularly in springtime, is a soft the tightly-packed icy pistes found inand sumptuous ride, unlike The long termers call it ‘cream snow’many European resorts. say it is at its best from February to (nieve crema), and most often begins in late November, as April, although the season it did this year, weather permitting. Best of all, the price for passes has not gone up much over re-
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December 2025
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SCAN here for the latest news December 18th - December 31st 2025
Feliz Navidad, mate! Spaniards now a minority in their own backyards as expat ‘parallel societies’ turn the Costas into a festive home-from-home By Alessio Ghirlanda & Dilip Kuner
tute (INE) shows the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol are Ground Zero for this foreign surge. In a revelation that will send shockwaves through Madrid (but cheers through the local English pubs), the map shows that in Rojales, just north of Torrevieja, a staggering 81% of residents COSTA EXPAT: On are now the Costa del Sol, European Europeans dominate expats. around Mijas, San T h a t Pedro and Manilva means as Santa prepares his sleigh this Christmas, he’s going to need a lot less coal for the YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENCY FOR BENISSA, CALPE, MORAIRA Roscon de Reyes and 966 112 428 · areacostablanca.com a lot more
stuffing for the turkeys. In these neighbourhoods, you are statistically four times more likely to hear Jingle Bells than a traditional flamenco ‘carol’. And it’s not just a freak anomaly. Just down the road in Orihuela, Spaniards have been relegated to just 17% of the community, while European settlers dominate a massive 70% of the census. Further north, the holiday magnets of Benidorm, Teulada, and Javea are painting a similar picture, with foreign populations soaring between 65% and 70%. The streets are alive with the sound of English, German, and Dutch, creating a cosmopolitan Christmas cocktail that is shaking up the status quo. Even the glitzy Costa del Sol is feeling the squeeze. While locals are holding the line in some neighbourhoods, areas of Mijas and Estepona have seen European numbers rocket to 45% and the gap is closing fast. The trend is sweeping the islands too. In southern Tenerife, the British invasion is in full swing, with the municipality of Adeje now 60% foreign-run, and Santiago del Teide tipping the scales at 52%.
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But let’s be honest, this isn't a crisis; it’s a fiesta! These ‘parallel societies’ are breathing new life into the coast. While much of rural Spain empties out, these expat enclaves are booming, bustling, and bringing the spending power. So, what is driving this population explosion? Put simply: You are. And you’re bringing your wallets with you. While the official maps don’t name and shame specific nationalities, there is no guessing who is leading the charge. British buyers are officially the kings of the Spanish property market, snapping up more than 5,500 homes in the first half of 2025 alone. Whether it's the lure of the winter sun or an escape from the UK gloom, Brits
ENCLAVES: Red dots show huge European clusters around Torrevieja and the northern Alicante coast are arriving in droves to enjoy a Christmas dinner on the terrace in 18-degree heat. +Andalucia and Murcia remain the top picks, absorbing nearly a quarter of all British buyers between them. This influx has pushed Spain’s total population to a historic high of 48 million, a boom fuelled almost entirely by foreign arrivals. In fact, the expat community is now growing 20 times faster than the local population.
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ADIOS amigos! It is the ultimate demographic takeover, and just in time for the holidays. Spaniards have officially become an endangered species across vast swathes of the southern coast, with shocking new figures revealing that locals now make up as little as 11% of the population in some sun-drenched hotspots. A stunning analysis of census data has exposed the rise of vibrant ‘parallel societies’ where Spanish is rarely heard in entire enclaves and the menu del dia has been swapped for a Sunday Roast. As we gear up for the most wonderful time of the year, the seismic shift laid bare by the National Statistics Insti-
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Spain now ranks fifth in Europe for foreign-born residents, with 9.3 million people - nearly one in five - born abroad. For the economy, it’s a lifeline. The ‘silver economy’ of retirees is keeping bars open, contractors busy, and golf courses green. We might be creating ‘parallel societies’, but they are societies built on a love for the Spanish way of life - even if we do prefer our tea with milk and our Christmas pudding flaming. Opinion Page 6
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NEWS IN BRIEF Glass acquittal IRISHMAN Gerard Lenihan, 41, who glassed a passer-by outside a Valencia bar on Christmas Day, 2022, has been cleared of attempted homicide and given a suspended 23-month sentence for assault.
Number up
THE number of children convicted of sex offences in Alicante province has almost doubled in seven years, with 48 minors found guilty in 2024, according to official statistics.
Nicked! A BRITISH fugitive jailed for life for drugs and weapons offences has been arrested in Benidorm after Spanish police executed a UK warrant over UK convictions dating back to 2020.
Stab spree
A DUTCH woman injured three people in Torrevieja after attempting to rob a bar armed with knives, then launching a stabbing spree across nearby restaurants before being arrested by police.
A MAN accused of murdering expat John George and dumping his body under a lemon tree in Rojales has been granted bail set at €100,000. Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Alan Smyth, 27, from County Antrim, had fled Spain following the Belfast father’s disappearance
CRIME Out of jail last December. George, 37, was staying with Smyth in the Orihuela Costa when he vanished. His body was found on January 7, having been shot
AT LAST!
SPAIN'S 'Most Wanted' criminal couple have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Torrevieja. The husband and wife team - aged 36 and 44 - have been jailed by a local court. They had accumulated 62 outstanding arrest and court imprisonment warrants across Spain. The duo - of undisclosed na-
December 18th - December 31st 2025 twice. Smyth was captured in Portugal in March and extradited to Torrevieja. A judge has now sided with the defence, ruling that custody is no longer essential. However, strict measures are in place to prevent flight. Smyth must report to court daily, establish a residence in Spain, and surrender his passport. Additionally, a one-kilometre distancing order forbids him from approaching anyone involved in the case.
‘Most Wanted’ couple caught in Torrevieja over property rental scams
charges of identity theft. The scammers replied to ads placed by people looking for a tionality - offered non-existent flat and offered fake properties rental homes to people so that at below-market prices. they could access their bank ac- After gaining the trust of their victims, they asked for their percounts. The Guardia Civil has not re- sonal documents and sent them vealed the total amount of mon- bogus contracts. They even sent photographs of ey they pocketed. They have been accused of 49 alleged property owners who counts of fraud as well as four actually belonged to other people whose identities had been usurped. The couA JUDGE has closed inquiries into was subsequently found on fire some ple used the February 2024 shooting of a 20km down the coast at El Campello. the stolen Russian pilot who defected to the Kuzminov seized control of a Rusidentities to Ukraine because no suspects can be sian Mi-8 helicopter in August 2023 contact new identified or located. and brought it safely to an airbase in victims and Maxim Kuzminov, 33, was sprayed the Kharkiv region of the Ukraine. to register with bullets at an underground car After the defection, Russian Intellipre-paid park of an apartment complex on gence Service officers appeared on phones. Calle Marinada in Villajoyosa. state television making clear that an The GuarA resident found his body on the ‘order’ had been given for Kuzmindia discovramp spotted a car driving away that ov’s assassination. ered they activated By Alex Trelinski
DRAWN A BLANK
up to six lines in the name of the same person within a few days to use in fresh scams. Victims were told to make deposit and first instalment payments using cardless cash withdrawal codes generated by online banking accounts. Using those codes, the couple immediately got the money from ATMs.
Conned
Many of those conned got police and court summonses for crimes committed by the couple under their stolen identities. The husband and wife lived in Torrevieja since 2022 as virtual hermits to avoid being spotted. Their home window blinds were always kept down and they barely went outside except for ATM visits. A search of their property uncovered 25 phone cards, five mobile phones, two electronic tablets, as well as drugs.
Forbidden ivory POLICE have removed 32 pieces carved from elephant ivory from a Valencia home. The female owner, 71, now faces charges for trafficking and for smuggling. The items had been on sale online and were said to be worth €3.6 million in terms of damage caused to fauna. The Guardia Civil became aware of the elderly dealer in October during ongoing investigations into people selling goods involving protected species. The items, all of them carved with oriental characters and scenes, were confiscated and sent to specialists for analysis. The Guardia raided a Valencia antiques shop last August and removed 127 elephant ivory items - one of the biggest such seizures in Spain.
Close call AN alleged British gang leader is lucky to be alive after surviving a hail of bullets in an underground car park on the Orihuela Costa. Peter F, 32, was struck three times - in the chest, leg, and elbow - during the ambush in Lomas de Cabo Roig last Thursday. Up to 15 shots were fired at his vehicle just two weeks after he was released on bail. The victim, previously arrested in April for allegedly extorting Vega Baja cannabis clubs, was rushed to Torrevieja Hospital and is reportedly out of danger.
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NEWS
December 18th - December 31st 2025
NO STEP TOO FAR FOR DAD
HE battled hallucinations, uncontrollable shivering and agonising leg cramps - all to answer one question: How far can you go when you have nothing left? George Nayda is a man who likes his comfort. A sedentary real estate advisor, the 38-year-old is usually found safe inside the air-conditioned cocoon of his Peugeot 3008, cruising the Costa del Sol’s glitzy coastline. He admits he hates the gym. He averages a measly 5,000 steps a day. But last month George traded his leather seats for a living
Expat’s agony as he walks ‘non-stop’ for 24 hours to honour father who died at 38 hell. In a heartbreaking tribute on his 38th birthday, George set out to walk from Malaga city without stopping for 24 hours. No sleep. No music. No distractions. Why punish himself? Because 38 isn’t just a number to George. It is the exact age his father was when he tragically died, leaving George fatherless
SUNRISE: George took this photo at Carvajal seven hours into his journey
By Rachel Gore
as a teenager. “Life is extremely short and comfort makes us forget what we’re capable of.” Starting at the stroke of midnight at Muelle Uno in Malaga port, George stepped into the darkness, determined to stare down the ghosts of his past. Most walkers would plug into a podcast or blast high-tempo tunes to drown out the pain. Not George. He chose total, deafening silence. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts, to mentally commune with the father he lost too soon. But as the hours dragged on, the silence became a heavy burden. “It was quiet, dark, and lonely,” George admitted to the Olive Press. Without distractions, the night forced him to ‘stay present’ as
his body began to scream. By the time the sun began to bleed over the horizon at Carvajal Beach just before 7am, George was already fighting a war with his own biology. He was suffering from ‘micro-naps’ terrifying moments where his brain would shut down for one or two seconds during his brief 15-minute breaks. By the time he reached the glitz of Marbella and San Pedro, the glamour was lost on him. His legs had ‘stiffened up’ like concrete. Every time he stopped, starting again was torture. But George, a self-proclaimed ‘global citizen’ who has lived everywhere from Singapore to Ukraine, where he was born, refused to quit. He was fueled by the gritty philosophy of ex-Navy SEAL David Goggins: The 40% Rule. The theory claims that when your mind tells you you’re done, you’re only 40% depleted. You have a
EPIC JOURNEY: George and the route he took, covering 83 km in 24 hours
massive 60% left in the tank - if you have the guts to find it. George found it. He trudged into El Paraiso at midnight, exactly 24 hours after he started. The stats were Herculean for a ‘desk jockey’: 83.15km covered, 112,299 steps taken. But the physical toll was terrifying. George was left with ‘uncontrollable shivering’, unable to regulate his own body temperature. He needed scalding hot baths just to stop the shaking. The next day, he couldn't even stand up. Yet, through the physical ruin, something miraculous happened.
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AST week I read that Britain powerful, our emand Spain are more alike than pires gone, and you’d think. the people we According to an Economist once colonised survey of OECD countries compar- demanding coming social, economic and cultural pensation using indicators, Old Blighty has more in the languages we common with España than with, for gave them. example, the US or Germany. But there is good I will now shamelessly shoehorn a news here in Christmas theme in here by com- Spain. Two onceparing our nations’ ghosts of the great enemies, past. who executed Basically, from the 15th Century, thousands over both Spain and Britain conquered which version of huge parts of the world, treating the Bible was holy, now live side locals terribly, plundering wealth by side, sharing a love of food and and, in some cases, selling people drink. Thankfully, this mostly hapinto slavery. pens in the country We also wasted a lot with the more agreeof cannonballs chasable climate. Spain has us ing each other around What of the future as in sailing ships trying we blend our cultures beaten hands to pinch the other’s further? There are down, with the things about the UK ill-gotten gains. The only real difference that I miss, but nothing best bar food seems to be which I’d recommend as the version of God we on Earth way of the future here. were working for as When it comes to hoswe raped and pillaged pitality, the locals in our way across the globe. Spain have us beaten hands down, So, to the spirit of our own time, as with a great atmosphere and the the famous Dickens classic goes. best bar food on Earth. We find our two nations much less So, with all this great fare for the
George says the agony ‘mentally changed’ him. The brain fog of modern life vanished, replaced by a crystal-clear mind. “I feel more grounded, more mature and more confident,” he revealed. He wanted to see the coast at ‘human speed’, but he ended up seeing his own soul. George Nayda proved that while grief can weigh you down, it can also drive you to walk to the ends of the earth. He hopes his journey inspires others drowning in self-doubt to get up and move. Because, as George now knows, you never know how far you can go until you refuse to stop.
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expat community to enjoy, why would anyone think that what Spain needs is a branch of Wetherspoons on every corner? There are some great traditional British pubs in the UK, but this Brexit-supporting, sticky-carpeted budget outfit does not come close. And yet I see that somehow ‘Spoons’ - known for the beersoaked, unwashed early arrivals found in most UK towns - has managed to get a foothold at Alicante airport. This needs to be nipped in the bud just in case it catches on further. And on that note, I wish all Olive Press readers a very Merry Christmas!
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Councillor suspended A JAVEA councillor has been suspended after a sexual harassment complaint from a municipal employee. Jose Marcos Pons is the farright Vox party’s only councillor on the authority. A council statement said the suspension will run until 'the facts are clarified' and that it is acting with 'maximum transparency'.
Innocence
It added that the presumption of innocence is 'fully maintained'. Javea's mayor, Rosa Cardona, said that trust in institutions is 'reinforced by acting rigorously and responsibly'. An internal Vox probe had cleared Marcos Pons of any wrongdoing. “This is a deliberate attempt to smear my public image and that my party,” he commented.
NEWS
December 18th - December 31st 2025
Drones galore
TORREVIEJA'S €1.4 million package of Christmas events will once again feature a large-scale lighted drone show this Sunday. Following last year's success, two performances will take place along the Paseo Juan Aparicio.
The 15-minute shows will be staged at 6.30pm and 8pm. The performances are spaced at least 90 minutes apart to allow for the maximum number of people to enjoy them. The event will feature a coordinated display of lights, aerial figures, and choreographed movements performed by a minimum of 220 drones.
Let them in! n! SPANISH bosses have issued a plea to the government: “Let more workers in or we go bust!” Business chiefs in Catalunya have warned the country will cease to be competitive unless it opens the doors to hundreds of thousands of new foreign workers. A report by the Foment del Trebell association claims
TOLL FREE ALICANTE'S AP-7 ring road has become 'toll-free' permanently after a successful experiment launched in July 2024. Spain's government has approved the change after the trial period was set to end in February. It stated the motorway is now a 'permanent and free alternative to decongest traffic on the A-70- especially of long-distance motorists.. Alicante mayor, Luis Barcala, said: “We've asked for years for tolls to be scrapped on the AP-7 because our main ring road, the A-70, was reaching maximum levels and also clogging up roads linked to the city's urban areas.”
Bosses ask for 140,000 migrants a year as Spain faces ‘competitiveness’ crisis By Alessio Ghirlanda
Spain needs to welcome a staggering 140,000 immigrants every single year for the next decade just to keep the lights on. President of the association Josep Sanchez Llibre didn’t mince his words, blasting: “Without immigration we cannot produce, we are not competitive. Public authorities need to listen to us.” The demand comes despite new data revealing Spain has already absorbed 1.5 million immigrants in just three years - as many as the next four EU nations combined.
But according to the bosses, it’s still not enough. The study warns ‘IMMIGRANTS that without fresh NEEDED’: blood, over 6% of According to jobs nationwide Josep Sanchez will sit empty, skyLlibre rocketing to 12% in struggling, depopulated regions like ‘crime and vandalism’, he Galicia. insisted the economic realThe report also predicts a ity is stark. With an aging seismic demographic shift. population living to 84, the By 2035, one-third of Spain’s country needs young workpopulation - over 34% - will ers to pay the pensions. be first or second-generation It comes as Spain’s popumigrants. lation nears the historic 50 While Sanchez Llibre ac- million mark, fuelled almost knowledged rising political entirely by expats, whose tensions, noting that 25% numbers are growing 20 of people link migration to times faster than locals. THE annual Christmas Day beach party led by British and Irish expats takes place next Thursday at La Zenia’s Cala Bosque beach. It’s branded as Europe’s biggest festive beach party with thousands of people donning Santa Claus costumes and other seasonal-based attire. As usual, a few brave souls are expected to go into the sea for a dip with the fun starting at 10am. The annual celebration was first held over a decade ago and has grown in numbers every year. It brings together residents and visitors from over 100 nationalities.
XMAS PARTY TIME CASE NO. F2025-013749 Extract from complaint currently being dealt with by Bærum Conciliation Board, case No: F2025-013749 Complainant: Bank Norwegian, En Filial Av Noba Bank Group Ab (Publ) Nuf, Postboks 110, 1325 Lysaker, Org.Nr. 00916573154 Defendant: Eva Sundene, Marian Golf, Calle Pablo Picasso 18, 35610 Fuerteventura, Spain The Complainant has filed a complaint against the Defendant with Bærum Conciliation Board with a demand for payment of NOK 47912,28 with the addition of interest at the legal rate and legal costs. The Defendant is ordered to reply to the Conciliation Board in writing by 02.02.2026 stating whether or not the Defendant acknowledges and accepts the Complainant’s claim. If a reply has not been delivered prior to the expiry of the stated time limit, judgement by default can be pronounced on the basis of the Complainant’s representation of the facts of the case. As the Defendant has no known address, service will be executed with authority in the Courts Act Section 181. The complaint and order to reply will be deemed to have been legally served when it has been posted at the legal venue for four weeks. The documents pertaining to the case can be collected from the Conciliation Board’s office at Kjørboveien 33, 1337 Sandvika, Norway. The documents can be sent to a new address supplied by the Defendant if the Defendant so requests.
STOP PRESS!
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IT has been another bumper year of breaking the biggest stories in Spain - from the
We’re taking a festive siesta… but get ready for a massive fiesta in 2026
expat population boom to the property market surge - but now the Olive Press team is putting down its notepads and picking up the Cava.
Break
We will be taking a well-earned break from our print edition over the Christmas period to recharge our batteries. But this isn’t just about turkey and tinsel. Behind the scenes, we are preparing for something truly spectacular. 2026 marks our 20th Anniversary. That’s right - two
Holiday rentals cut
THE Valencian government has this year stripped 18,304 properties of approved status for holiday rental homes. They had fallen foul of tougher regulations including the lack of a cadastral reference or having an official tax registration number - NIF. An additional 14,500 homes are facing a similar removal threat. Valencia's tourism minister, Marian Cano, said the new law which came into force in August 2024 has led to a 'profound transformation for the regional tourist economy'. “This year's increase in visitors is being handled in a sustainable and coordinated way which respects the environment and cuts saturation to maintain a destination’s quality,” claimed Cano.
Spain stands alone SPAIN has stood alone against the rest of Europe by rejecting a controversial new plan to speed up migrant expulsions. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska refused to back the EU proposal, which would allow member states to deport asylum seekers to ‘safe third countries’ - even if they have no connection to them. While other ministers backed the hardline rules to fix the EU’s low deportation rates, Grande-Marlaska warned the move violates international law and endangers lives. “We cannot accept measures that bypass our legal obligations,” he insisted. The draft law still requires European Parliament approval.
decades of campaigning for, investigating, and championing the expat community in Spain. To celebrate this historic milestone, we are thrilled to announce a brand new national relaunch. FIRST EDITION: But what will we When we return look like after our relaunch (left)? to the stands next year, we will be unveil- never sleeps! Make sure to ing a totally new look. Ex- keep up to date with breakpect a fresh design, sharper ing stories and essential focus, and an evolution that updates on our website reflects the changing face of throughout the holidays. Spain. It will be the Olive From all of us to all of you: Press you know and love, Have a wonderful Christbut bigger, bolder, and bet- mas and a Happy New Year. ter than ever before. See you in 2026 for the start In the meantime, the news of a whole new era!
GREEN
17 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS Scan to find out more
December 18th - December 31st 2025
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Catastrophe calling Desertification threatening huge areas of Spain as land dries up
THE Balearic Islands and Murcia on the mainland are hurtling towards an ecological catastrophe, with a staggering 85% of the archipelago and an incredible 99.8% of Murcia facing desertification. New findings from the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), paint a terrifying picture: years of relentless human pressure, from farming and livestock to the massive tourism industry, are pushing the islands to the point of no return. A new report, the first-ever De-
By Dilip Kuner
sertification Atlas of Spain, has unified the work of dozens of experts to reveal the shocking scale of the nation’s environmental crisis. Spain has been over-exploiting its natural wealth for too long, and the consequences are now brutally clear. The Balearics are a major flashpoint, with huge tracts of once-vibrant land becoming increasingly barren. Nearly 40% of Spain's entire
TEST APPROVAL
territory is now caught in the grip of desertification. The crisis is widespread, but the Balearics are singled out as a critical hotspot with an alarming 85% of land deteriorating rapidly. The Region of Murcia leads the grim statistics, with a devastating 99.8% of its land now classified as arid. The Atlas confirms that 43.35% of Spain is officially vulnerable to degradation. Even more concerning, 60.94% of the country's existing dry zones are
DRYING UP: Swathes of Spain are turning into desert
already showing unmistakable signs of desertification. This totals an immense 206,203 km². The devastation is clearly ELON Musk’s Tesla has been given a major boost after seen in areas the Spanish government approved nationwide tests of like Alicante, its fully self-driving vehicles – without a human onwhere a chillboard. ing 98.9% of The decision makes Spain the leading European testing arid land is ground for Tesla’s Full Self Driving system, FSD, allowunder threat. ing more than a dozen cars to operate in real conditions Valencia folwith no limits on time, traffic or routes. Onboard safety lows with operators will be optional, while remote monitoring is 81.9%, and permitted under a deal that runs until November 2027. Castellon But the move comes as Tesla sales continue to stall in with 57.3%. Spain. Industry group ANFAC revealed that new regisExperts warn trations fell 8.75% in November to 1,532 vehicles comthat Spain is pared to the same month in 2024, despite a 103% surge rapidly losing in overall electric car sales. its ability to The slump mirrors a wider European backlash, with sustain its hissales plunging 58% in France and 49% in Denmark. torically fertile regions.
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At the very core of this environmental nightmare is Spain's profound water scarcity. Jaime Martínez Valderrama, a lead project scientist, highlighted a crucial fact: four out of five Spaniards now reside in arid zones. The attraction of the ‘mild climate’ is masking a growing resource conflict. Martínez Valderrama stressed that managing water is paramount. Spain is drastically over-consuming its water supply. The scientific consensus is clear: we need urgent, multifaceted solutions, including vast improvements in wastewater recycling, greater reliance on desalination, and essential upgrades to water networks to halt catastrophic leakage.
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The experts behind the Desertification Atlas hope their 66 detailed maps - covering everything from climate to biodiversity - will force political leaders to finally make sensible, longterm decisions about land and water management. One major opportunity is better water recycling. Urban centres use 4,000 cubic hectometres of water annually, yet currently, only a mere 12% of this is being recycled for a second use. The clock is ticking. The 85% desertification rate in the Balearics is an alarm bell. With climate change accelerating the decay and over-exploitation causing irreversible damage, immediate action is no longer optional.
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NEWS FEATURE
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 two million people a month.
OPINION No laughing matter IT is easy to chuckle at the headlines. The idea of a Spanish town where finding a Spaniard is harder than finding a decent pint of Guinness serves as excellent fodder for pub quizzes. But the latest data revealing that locals now make up as little as 11% of the population in areas like Rojales isn't just a quirky demographic anomaly; it is a flashing warning light for social cohesion. We often use soft terms like ‘expat enclaves’ or ‘residential tourism’. However, the experts use a harder phrase: ‘parallel societies’. When a municipality becomes 80% foreign, integration doesn't just stall; it becomes unnecessary. Why learn Spanish when the doctor, the butcher, and the barman all speak English? Why adapt to local customs when the community is large enough to impose its own? The result is a form of luxury segregation. We are in danger of creating sun-drenched ghettos where the host culture is not just diluted, but actively displaced. There is also the economic double-edged sword. Yes, the 5,500 homes bought by Brits in early 2025 injected millions into the economy. But this purchasing power prices young Spaniards out of their own birthplaces, turning vibrant towns into retirement dormitories for Northern Europe. We claim to move here for the ‘Spanish lifestyle’ - the relaxed pace, the community focus, the culture. But if we simply replicate the UK in the sun, displacing the very people who created that lifestyle, we destroy the thing we came for. Living in Spain should mean living with Spain, not just on it. If we don't burst the bubble, we risk losing the authentic charm of the Costas forever.
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‘Marc M’ has exploited Spain’s legal loopholes to illegally occupy vacant properties, blackmail owners, and evade jail time despite facing numerous lawsuits and detentions
squatter O
N July 17 this year, a man shattered the glass of a first-floor balcony window in Cardedeu, a small town south-west of Barcelona, and slipped inside the empty flat. An alarm began to wail, but he sauntered over to the control board, switched the siren off, and quietly settled into the apartment. That man was named Marc M., and he had done this before – more than 200 times in the past four years. Marc, a 22-year-old man originally from Saint Boi de Llobregat near Barcelona, is a professional squatter. He makes a living by illegally occupying empty flats in and around Barcelona. Most of his targets are owned by banks or investment funds: he will blackmail owners into paying him hefty fees to leave, or sell the keys to low-income families who are desperate for a place to stay and will move in once he is gone. Since 2021, he has been sued 225 times over the scheme and detained 31 times – but he has never been to jail, because in Spain his offences are classed as minor misdemeanours and punishable only by fines. Authorities in Barcelona are at their wits’ end, but as long as he continues to pay his fines, there is little they can do. That is how the law works. In February this year, an exasperated judge took the most drastic measure yet: he barred Marc from entry into his native Saint Boi. The judge said: “He has made crime, especially in Sant Boi, his way of life for nearly four years.” Marc simply shifted his sights to other towns in the province of Barcelona and has been operating undisturbed since. Authorities do not know how much the scheme has fetched the squatter so far. But in April this year, Marc threatened a property fund manager that he would occupy a house in Arenys de Munt, north-east of Barcelona, unless he was paid €17,000. On that particular occasion the manager refused to oblige, and Marc sent back photographs of
the house had no electricity. About a himself strutting into the property after he had month later, on May 15, power went out across the entire disabled the anti-squatting system. But most owners prefer to cave in to Marc’s de- Arenys de Munt urbanisation. A resident in Arenys relied on a respirator to mands and pay him to leave. In Spain, when squatters illegally occupy prop- survive, so the electric company was forced to erty, the resulting court cases can drag on for intervene urgently. two or three years before an eviction order is Technicians traced the blackout to the house issued, so it is simply cheaper and faster to occupied by Marc and his associates. The property owners pressed charges, and buckle and pay up. the group is now under invesPart of the problem is that Marc tigation for their most serious embodies a legal paradox. alleged offence to date, La Spanish legislation is designed Some 11,000 Vanguardia has reported, after to protect vulnerable tenants jeopardising the life of a local from fast-track evictions, but people were resident. the law is routinely exploited by In late May, officers returned investigated squatters for profit. to the house to find Marc was And despite the flurry of court or arrested for gone. A Romanian man had cases and injunctions against occupied the flat in his place – Marc, repeat offending is not squatting and even begun the process of considered an aggravating facregistering as a resident. tor in squatting cases. Authorities believe the man Another issue is that Marc does not work alone. Police investigations have de- bought the keys from Marc. In 2024, according to Idealista, more than scribed him as part of a structured group. Different members handle different stages of 11,000 people were investigated or arrested the operation: scouting vacant flats, forcing en- for squatting in Spain – a record high, up 17% try, disabling alarms, negotiating payouts, and from previous years. ultimately selling the keys to new occu- Meanwhile, more than 23,000 properties listed for sale by September 2025 were identified pants. Marc is often the face as being ‘illegally occupied’. of the break-ins, but That is about 3% of all property listings on maofficers say the jor real estate sites. network extends Squatting in Spain has become more than a across several towns legal headache – it is a mirror of the housing in the greater Barce- crisis, where empty apartments sit unused lona area, allowing while demand for affordable homes spirals out them to move quick- of control. ly when pressure The law struggles to keep pace, leaving both residents and authorities caught in a cycle mounts in one place. On April 15, the day after of frustration and compromise – as people Marc blackmailed the fund like Marc seize the opportunity to prey on the manager over the Arenys de wealthy and the vulnerable alike. Munt property, police turned In July, after Marc broke into the Cardedeu up at the house to find another man – apartment, police were called to the scene. When officers called out to him from the street named as Ivan S. – lounging inside. The squatter casually informed officers below, Marc emerged on the balcony brandishing a chair and threatened to toss it at them. that Marc had moved in. When they pointed to loose cables snak- Sued over the incident, Marc is now scheduled ing across the floor, Ivan said he was to face trial in January 2026. By then, he may “making some adjustments” because have occu- pied dozens more homes.
By Alessio Ghirlanda
AI pick the lucky BE LUCKY! Can numbers for Spain's
W
ITH just weeks to go until the much-anticipated 2025 Christmas Lottery Draw, AI has entered the game, offering its predictions on the ‘luckiest’ numbers to snag the famous El Gordo prize. As the December 22 draw approaches, thousands of hopeful punters are turning to artificial intelligence to help pick their lucky decimos (lottery tickets), hoping to get a bit of tech magic on their side. The AI-driven predictions are based on data analysis of historical patterns, trends, and numbers that have appeared most frequently in previous years. It’s a high-tech twist on Spain’s oldest and most beloved tradition, where, despite it being a game of chance, players believe these insights might offer them an edge.
HOW AI IS ‘PICKING’ THE WINNERS AI-powered programs don’t just pluck numbers out of thin air – they analyse decades of past draws, studying which numbers have won the most often, as well as identifying lucky number patterns, repeating sequenc-
‘El Gordo’ Christmas lottery? asks Dilip Kuner es, and geographical trends. While experts insist that lotteries remain ultimately a game of luck, many punters find the data-driven suggestions a fun and interesting way to make their choices, moving beyond gut feeling and superstition.
THE TOP 5 NUMBERS TO WATCH IN 2025 According to one of the most popular AI prediction systems, these are the five lucky numbers to consider for the 2025 Christmas Lottery Draw: 1. 5.213 – This number stands out thanks to its recurrent appearances in winning combinations over the years. While not a top pick traditionally, AI suggests it has the potential to strike gold. 2. 22.202 – For fans of numbers with repeating patterns, this one’s a top recom-
mendation. AI has flagged it due to the repetition of the number ‘2’, a sequence that has popped up in past winners. 3. 13.406 – Breaking with superstition, this number features the often "cursed" number 13. However, the data shows that historically, numbers considered unlucky have still bagged big prizes, making it a
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COSTA DEL SKI
December 2025
The Sierra Nevada is the perfect winter escape for adrenaline-seekers, writes Iona Napier (above), recalling her ‘pizza-shaped’ teaching tips with an Olive Press ski virgin
I
T had been a tricky day on the slopes for ski virgin Rob Horgan. And after a rather ambitious blue run with three consecutive wipeouts, his sense of humour had vanished without trace. “There’s no way I’m skiing down that,” he barked at me. “I’ll walk up, get my ski and take the lift down.” His grimace was all too apparent despite the layers of scarf, hat and goggles. And this time, fair enough, as he’d tumbled down at least 25 metres past one of his skis, that perched precariously on the edge of the run. I was playing mother hen on an outing with a group of Olive Press colleagues. While a few of us had been skiing for years, a couple of them only knew the sport from the BBC’s Ski Sunday.
SNOW AND SUNBATHING: The Sierra Nevada has consistent snow from early December to May, when revellers come skiing in bikinis and swimming trunks It was always going to be a testing outing and it didn’t help that the rest of our impatient group had zoomed back to base for a hot chocolate, without a second thought for Rob. I had ended up becoming his impromptu ‘professor’ and after rescuing his ski and giving
him a bit of gentle cajoling, we set off down the highest mountain in peninsular Spain, making ‘giant pizza slices’, as my first teacher had called them, with our skis. He was soon back in the saddle and I was considering a career change, as I later sped
down the Olympic run, in the Laguna valley. Perhaps southern Spain’s most amazing view, from the top of the Laguna slope you survey not just most of the Med and half the Costa del Sol, but in the distance the Rif mountains of north Africa. It was the beginning of the perfect Sierra Nevada weekend, with perfect powder snow, bright sunshine and some of Spain’s best après ski. The Sierra Nevada is easily Spain’s top skiing resort, with 134 pistes spread over 110kms, all above 1200 metres in height. The longest piste, Aguila, is a dreamy 6.3km of easy turns and magnificent views, while the series of black runs, including Trampolin and Visera, that will test most skiers.
Bikini run Of course the resort is most famous for allowing tourists to test the adage of being able to ski in the morning and sunbathe on the coast, a cava in hand, by late afternoon. And on the subject of sunbathing, some fanatics - including me even brave the slopes in a bikini for the last day of the season in late April or early May (‘la bajada en bikini’, as it’s called). Believe me, it’s an unmissable day festooned with champagne, near nudity and plenty of hedonism. But it’s not just for fun junkies; expert skiers insist the snow, particularly in springtime, is a soft and sumptuous ride, unlike the tightly-packed icy pistes found in many European resorts. The long termers call it ‘cream snow’ (nieve crema), and most say it is at its best from February to April, although the season often begins in late November, as it did this year, weather permitting. Best of all, the price for passes has not gone up much over re Continues overleaf
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December 2025
All about
The Sierra Nevada’s stunning slopes offer snowboarding thrills and spills
From front page
All a-board
CARVE UP: Superpark Sulayr and, below, Jesus and South Star
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ITH snow like fine powder, the Sierra Nevada is a Mecca for thrill-seeking snowboarders. For beginners and experts alike, Spain’s highest resort is a glorious setting and gets more and more popular by the year. Stunning scenery is matched by the top-class facilities, which saw the resort host the Snowboard World Championships in 2017. Novices should head to Borreguiles, where lifts deposit snowboarders on a smooth and groomed area where they can hone their skills. Once ready, or for those of a higher standard, they then need to head up to the SuperPark Sulayr, Europe’s largest freestyle snowboard park. At 2,700 metres on Borreguiles, Spain’s most famous snowboarding park also houses the country’s biggest halfpipe. Measuring an astonishing 165 metres in length with a height of six metres, the special design flattens the snow
on the side of the half-pipe so boarders can jump on both sides. For the best deals in snowboarding equipment and rentals visit South Star, which has three shops in the resort.
cent years (from €50 for an adult day pass depending on time of year, with children from €30). “It’s a magnificent place with sun and a great location,” explains Mercedes Delgado, who has worked in the resort’s admin team for over three decades. “The temperature is usually pleasant and makes for excellent snow conditions, with late night skiing too, and the season usually continues to May making it very versatile.” She continues: “And our proximity to Granada city is a huge plus, whereas many European resorts are very isolated. “You can come to the Sierra Nevada and also see the Alhambra, eat some famous Granada tapas.. . there is something for everyone.” She is one of many long-timers, who have worked in the resort for verging on half a century. Take a wonder around and chat to the various business owners and you’ll be amazed at how experienced they are.” Take Brits Giles Birch and Jonathan Buzzard, who set up their well known British Ski Center (yes, American spelling) in the 1990s.
And having worked here for 30 odd years, they are still relatively young, by local standards, with plenty of the Spaniards here having done five decades on the slopes, be it teaching or running hotels or restaurants.
Mix One of the best things about the Sierra Nevada is the great mix of visitors. The strategic location is near the beach, not far from Madrid, and perfectly accessible from most of southern Spain (Valencia, Murcia etc) and Portugal. While there is a loyal expat crowd, who flock in from the costas, the majority of the skiers are Spanish. They are particularly drawn to the resort’s authenticity and charm that swanky French resorts have long since lost, with prices to match. The place was quietly successful in the 1980s, but grew massively since the world ski championships in 1995. Spanish is still the lingua franca – although virtually all restaurateurs speak English. By contrast, in high-end Swiss re-
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December 2025
POCKET-FRIENDLY RESORT
The Sierra Nevada is incredibly good value, blasting the international competition out of the water. A day ski pass averages at around €55, while Colorado’s Beaver Creek charges often over €250 per day, Whistler in Canada over €100 and Switzerland’s Zermatt costs from €93.75 and Meribel from €69. In terms of ski hire it comes in around €25, while skiwear is found as cheaply as €20 per day, with a small helmet supplement which is a must, regardless of your vanity. sorts or in France’s Courchevel or Meribel, where the super-rich walk their Chihuahuas in white skin-tight salopettes, you’re hard pushed to find a native French speaker. The resort is very family friendly, with the majority of the runs at a beginner or intermediate level. There are several zones purpose-designed for little ones: with magic carpet lifts, bike-skiing and toboggan runs for kids
or non-skiers. More experienced skiers - and hundreds of snowboarders head to the Sulayr Terrain Park, where there are well over 100 different ramps and rails, with the largest ski-jump in Europe. The cool kids also hang out in the Loma de Dilar area, which boasts the biggest permanent half-pipe in Spain, with a cross country ski and snowboard run. And it’s not just the class ski-
ing that keeps punters coming back, the nightlife and restaurants are second to none. And the Sierra Nevada’s businesses are delighted to meet you, friendly down to earth businesses that do not mock their customers with ski-high prices. Try Nichi at Bar Ski for some apres-ski vibes of the highest calibre… his bar and the ones around it are perfect for a cheeky beer or glass of wine be-
‘The Finland of Andalucia’
● Angel Ganivet, Spanish Consul to Helsinki, gave birth to the idea of turning Sierra Nevada into a ski resort at the end of the 19th century. He likened his Granada homeland to the ‘Finland of Andalucia’ in a local newspaper. ● 1898 marked the creation of Diez Amigos Limited, a group that led skiing excursions around the area. ● Thanks to their continued success, the organisation was able to create the first youth hostel in the area not long after rebranding itself Sociedad Sierra Nevada in 1912. ● The main road from Granada to Sierra Nevada and a cable car were both put in place at the beginning of the 1920s, which allowed more people to discover the joys of snow-oriented fun. ● The boom years of the resort began in 1964, when Centros Turísticos S.A. (CETURSA), was created, allowing its rapid development. ● Sierra Nevada is the southernmost ski station in Europe and sits at the highest point in Spain. ● The station hosted the World Alpine Ski Championships in 1996. It has also welcomed several Alpine Ski World Cup events, with the first in 1977. In addition, it has been the main venue for the Winter Olympics. ● In 2017, Sierra Nevada hosted the FIS Snowboard and Freestyle World Championships, a major international contest put together by the board of the International Ski Federation.
fore heading to one of the nearby restaurants. Looking for a bit of the high life, you will easily find yourself distracted by Marbella Club’s exclusive outposts, El Lodge and its sister hotel the Meribel. It’s fair to say that perhaps half
of those who stay in these stunning joints don’t even ski. These are the sort of top end places that rival anywhere in Ibiza or Cannes, and keep the wealthy expats on the Costa del Sol more than happy whether
there is snow or not. And you can easily get a slice of it (even a high-end pizza slice) for a lot less money than you might realise as their restaurants are open to everyone.
December December 18th17th - December - December 31st 30th 20252025
The Olive Press highlights three ways in which YOU can help this Christmas Ai image
Time TO GIVE
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By Rachel Gore
I
T’S officially the giving season; a time where many not only purchase presents for their loved ones but also donate to those in desperate need. So with Christmas around the corner, the Olive Press is spotlighting some ways that you can give back during this year’s festive period.
TIS THE SEASON:
Age in Spain Urgently requesting that the local community support its latest initiative is Age in Spain, a charity that believes companionship is a vital gift to give during this holiday season. Their new campaign, ‘Nobody should be alone at Christmas’, focuses on their Friendline which offers weekly calls between volunteers and isolated older people in Spain. The chats bring joy, encouragement, and human connection to ‘thousands of older foreign residents who face loneliness’. This isolation is particularly felt during the festive period - for many, family are overseas and language barriers make communication challenging. Therefore, through Friendline, Age in Spain trains a team of volunteers who provide a ‘safe, friendly, and non-judgemental space where older people feel seen, heard, and valued’. A half an hour long conversation is had between each pairing at a regular time every week with the volunteers and elderly being carefully matched through the sharing of basic information. ‘You come off the phone and you feel like life is worth carrying on,’ said one Friendline customer. This Christmas the charity is calling for individuals to support this initiative so that no one has to deal with loneliness and sadness alone in the coming weeks, or at all. One does not have to volunteer to support Friendline, a simple donation goes
bold but potentially lucky choice. 4. 37.808 – A number with symmetry and mathematical progression, it stands out in the AI’s analysis. Similar patterns have shown up in previous winners, making it one to watch this year. 5. 61.739 – This number is statistically significant, with AI finding a consistent recurrence in past draws. Its combination of digits has made it a standout in the predictions for 2025.
CAN AI ACTUALLY PREDICT RANDOM OUTCOMES? Well, not really. Mathematicians agree that a true random draw can’t be predicted by any system, no matter how clever. While AI can spot trends and patterns in past results, each lottery draw is independent, so patterns from previous years don’t hold much predictive power. But AI’s predictions can still offer intriguing insights into the historical distribution of winners, showing which numbers have appeared more often in the past. But don’t bet the farm on it, experts warn – it’s like looking at roulette results: past spins don’t affect future outcomes.
HELPING HAND: Christmas is the perfect time to give to thoe in need a long way. Just €10 matches an elderly person with a volunteer, €25 covers a month of weekly calls, and €50 funds the training and supervision of new volunteers, who are essential for Friendline’s continuity. Donating now will help towards Age in Spain’s aim that no older person faces Christmas, or any other week, without a friendly check in from someone who cares.
Blood donation Another way to give back this Christmas is through blood donation an act which those who lived in Britain between 1980 and 1996 can now participate in. Spain had prohibited people who fitted into this category from donating blood due to fears that they could transmit the human form of ‘mad cow disease’ (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) from being exposed to the illness during its UK outbreak in the 1980s and 90s. That was until this summer, when a long awaited rule change permitted those who lived in the UK during this time period to donate blood. A scientific advancement showed that the actual risk of transmission of ‘mad cow disease’ through these individual’s blood is extremely low - therefore Spain has copied the move made by other countries, such as Australia, the US and Hong Kong, and changed their rules. This change is particularly relevant on the Costa del Sol due to the high number of Brits in the area who previously could not give blood. Donating blood is vital as it cannot be fabricated but is essential for surgery, transplants, cancer treatments, and many medical emergencies. One donation can save up to three lives according to the Centro de Transfusion Tejidos y Celulas de Granada. What you donate is usually only 10% of what you possess, a percentage that in
no way interferes with the work that your organs carry out. Therefore there is no reason not to give blood this year, every single donation saves lives. For more details visit your local region’s website.
Cudeca Cudeca Hospice, which is based in Malaga and has pioneered palliative care in Spain, has launched a new donation campaign, titled ‘You are the key piece’, which will run through the festive period and into the new year. Aiming to raise €355,000 for their Inpatient Care Unit, the charity is appealing to the public in this campaign which marks their 20th anniversary. Cudeca sends teams to care for patients at home and also has a Daycare Centre in addition to its Inpatient Care Unit. ‘You are the key piece’ focuses on the latter which costs €735,000 to run annually - €380,000 of this is covered through a contract with Andalucian Health with the rest being raised entirely through crowdfunding. “The care Cudeca provides is totally free, it offers medical help to patients but also emotional support to them and their families,” said Marisa Martin, the Manager and Medical Director of Cudeca Hospice. The hospice cares for adults and children alike with its Inpatient Care Unit having ten beds and treating 240 individuals every year. Demand for palliative care is growing - in 2024, over 300,000 people in Spain required care of this kind but only half were able to access it. Every donation to Cudeca ‘is a key piece in continuing to provide specialised care and dignity to those who need it most,’ says Martin. By the end of this year Cudeca’s spending is set to reach €8 million, highlighting the complexity of the services it provides. So this Christmas become a ‘key piece’ in the work that Cudeca does - your donation will support so many.
Gift an Olive Press subscription to your loved ones with 30% off
T
HE Christmas season is now fully upon us, as is the interminable search for suitable gifts to shower on our friends and family – and in-laws. Why settle for another pair of socks or a generic box of chocolates when you can give the gift of what’s going on in Spain, delivered directly to their inbox? This year, give a gift that really does keep on giving all the way up until next Christmas – an annual subscription to the Olive Press for your friends, family, or anyone who loves Spain. For a limited time, you can purchase an annual digital gift subscription at a special Christmas discount of 30% off! What they'll get with an Olive Press Digital Subscription: ● Unrivalled coverage: Access to all our in-depth news, features, and investigations across Spain, covering everything from travel and culture to politics and property. ● Breaking news of what is going on in Spain, from costa content to national news and how Spain interacts with the world. ● Exclusive content: Dive into our archives and enjoy content not available anywhere else. ● Delivered daily: A clean, easy-to-read digital edition delivered straight to their inbox every week. ● Support independent journalism: Help us continue delivering the trusted, vital news that matters to the expat community and lovers of Spain worldwide.
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BUSINESS Holiday
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expense
THE Spanish government has slapped Airbnb with a staggering €64 million fine for advertising over 65,000 unlicensed tourist apartments. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs identified 65,122 listings that breached consumer protection laws, including properties lacking required licenses and others falsely claiming to be legal. The €64,055,311 penalty represents six times the profit Airbnb generated from these illegal listings. The US-based platform has no right to appeal and has been ordered to immediately remove all unlawful content.
Powerful
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy declared: “No company in Spain, no matter how large or powerful, can be above the law,” warning that such business models are forcing families out of their homes. The fine is part of a wider crackdown on illegal holiday lets, blamed for inflating rental prices across the country. Spain currently has nearly 400,000 tourist flats, a statistic that has fueled mass protests in cities like Malaga and Barcelona. Under new laws, platforms must begin sharing detailed registration data with the Housing Ministry by August 2025.
SPANIARDS have rallied behind UK newspaper Financial Times after it ran a full-page advert accusing Spain’s tax agency of operating a ‘perverse’ system that punishes ordinary citizens. The ad, funded by Amsterdam & Partners, claims Hacienda rewards inspectors with bonuses tied to how much
Ad reaction
they collect – even when courts later overturn the bills. Economist Marc Vidal said the ad simply states what many Spaniards have argued for years: a model that incen-
December 18th - December 31st 2025 tivises inspectors to ‘collect first and justify later’, creating conflicts of interest and years of legal uncertainty. Social media reaction was swift, with many calling the criticism ‘well deserved’ and praising an international outlet for exposing long-running frustrations with Spain’s tax bureaucracy.
NO ESCAPE
Spain’s tax agency will gain sweeping new powers to monitor every bank account in the country from 2026, as the government launches its toughest crackdown yet on tax fraud and money laundering. From January 1, banks must supply the Agencia Tributaria with detailed monthly reports covering account balances, deposits, withdrawals, loans, and all card or digital pay-
By Walter Finch
ments. This includes transactions made via credit and debit cards, prepaid and virtual cards, mobile apps such as Bizum, and other electronic platforms. Until now, banks were required to report only large or unusual transactions, along with annual account summaries. Smaller payments and
Rich get richer
SPAIN now has 32 billionaires after adding eight new ultra-rich individuals this year – but two thirds owe their fortunes to inheritance rather than entrepreneurship. The findings come from UBS’s 2025 Billionaire Ambitions report, which tracks global wealth trends and the growing dominance of dynastic money. Spain’s billionaire pool holds a combined €182 billion, equal to 11% of GDP, with wealth rising 21% in the past year. More
REAL-LIFE MONOPOLY
day-to-day card use often went unreported, authorities admitted. Under the new system, banks will hand over far more data, far more often. The rules apply to both individuals and businesses, though the thresholds differ. Freelancers, companies and professionals must report all payments they receive through cards or digital platforms, regardless of amount.
than half belongs to a single figure – Zara founder Amancio Ortega, whose €124 billion stake makes him Spain’s richest by far. Only 34% of Spain’s billionaires are selfmade, one of the lowest ratios in Europe. The rest inherited vast empires, including Inditex heirs Sandra Ortega and Marta Ortega, and the Del Pino siblings of Ferrovial. Self-made fortunes are the exception, coming from the likes of Ortega, Mercadona boss Juan Roig and real-estate magnate Tomas Olivo, underscoring Spain’s status as a country dominated by legacy wealth.
Just like death, there is no evading taxes in Spain
Ordinary account holders will only be included if their annual card payments and charges exceed €25,000, or if they carry out significant cash deposits or withdrawals. Banks must also report all loans and credits issued, along with any cash movement above €3,000. The reform follows repeated warnings about gaps in the old reporting system. Between 2016 and 2021, Spain lost an estimated €31 billion in corporate tax to “fiscal engineering”, according to El Pais. In 2022 alone, around €4.5 billion went uncollected due to fraud, evasion or errors. Last year, however, the Agencia Tributaria recovered nearly €19 billion through two million inspections – a 13% rise on 2023. The new rules, in force since April, are designed to push oversight even further and tap into revenue the government believes is still slipping through the net.
DUMB BRIT RUNNER
A BRITISH tourist has been arrested after racking up a €19,000 bill at a luxury Mallorca hotel, vanishing without paying a cent, then trying to check in to its sister hotel.
High life
The audacious holidaymaker spent six glorious weeks living the high life in Santa Ponsa before pulling a grand-scale ‘dine and dash’. But his getaway plan had a fatal flaw: absolute stupidity. Just 24 hours later, he tried to check into another hotel owned by the same chain in La Palma.
Alert
Naturally, the computer system screamed ‘alert’, and staff called the police. Officers arrived to find him sitting quietly in the lobby. In Spain, skipping a bill over €400 is a criminal offence carrying potential jail time. He has now swapped his five-star suite for a slightly less luxurious police cell.
You too can participate in the property market without committing your life savings
A
RE you tempted to buy a home before Spain’s rising property prices make them too expensive to afford? In the game of Monopoly, we buy property so we can charge rent instead of paying it to other players. In Spain, we buy property for similar reasons. What isn’t well known is that an alternative way to participate in the real estate sector has existed in Spain since 2012. One that doesn’t require committing much of our life savings. It’s called a SOCIMI (Sociedad Anónima Cotizada de Inversión en el Mercado Inmobiliario). Unlike the board game, we can’t buy SOCIMIs using Monopoly money. Nonetheless, they enable us to take part in the local real estate market without cashing in the bulk of our hardearned savings just to get started. The game of Monopoly originated in the US in 1935, the UK version of the game began in 1936, and
Peter Dougherty • MBA in finance • MS in Spanish taxation • BS in economics • European Financial Planner in Spain • Certified Financial Planner ® in U.S. • Author of two financial planning books
Spain’s variation of Monopoly dates back to 1961. Coincidentally, 1961 is the same year that ordinary investors in the US were introduced to a new way to invest in real estate: the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Prior to the creation of REITs, real estate investment was typically only available to those who could afford to buy and manage properties directly. REITs changed that. A REIT owns, operates or finances income-producing real estate and allows people to invest in that real estate by buying shares - just like buying stock in any other company. They were established to make real estate more accessible, diversified and liquid and they enjoy special tax benefits if certain requirements are met. Since they were first introduced in the United States, REITs have been established in a great many other countries includ-
ing Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Germany. The popularity of REITS is directly related to the numerous advantages they offer investors: ● Professional management ● Hedge against inflation ● Transparency: publicly traded REITs issue regular reports ● Investors gain access to highly diversified real estate portfolios ● Ease of valuation: like any other stock, REITs listed on an exchange are valued at market price ● Small minimum investment requirement ● Specific knowledge isn’t needed to invest in REITs vs. buying real estate directly SOCIMIs are the Spanish equiva-
lent of REITs. Since their creation in 2012, SOCIMIs give ordinary investors in Spain access to the real estate market in a diversified manner, with a low minimum initial investment, through a liquid product with favourable tax treatment. They provide investors with greater opportunities to access real estate assets. Currently, more than 100 SOCIMIs are publicly listed in Spain. Several conditions must be met to qualify as a SOCIMI: • At least 80% of its assets must be invested in land, urban real estate for leasing, or shares of other real estate companies ● Its properties must be held for at least 3 years ● At least 80% of its income must come from rental income or dividends from oth-
For more information, please visit the website www.financial-planning-in-spain.com
er real estate companies ● It must distribute most of its profits as dividends each year If all legal requirements are met, in most cases SOCIMIs pay 0% corporate income tax. Thus, unlike a typical company that pays corporate taxes and then passes after-tax dividends on to its investors who, in turn, pay individual taxes on the dividends they receive, SOCIMI income is taxed only once as a rule. In the end, SOCIMIs may not come with Monopoly’s tiny green houses, but they’re redefining how the real estate board in Spain can be played.
HEALTH
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December 18th - December 31st 2025
13
FIND THE BALANCE
I
F there’s one thing that defines southern Spain, it’s the great food, the endless kilometres of coastline, the warm and open character of its people, and above all, the climate. We live in a weather paradise where sunny days invite us to go outside and enjoy outdoor activities. As a sports-loving physician, I’m often out practicing different activities, and I’ve noticed that sports like tennis still have incredibly loyal followers, as does golf, even with the rise of new sports such as padel and pickleball, which are starting to challenge the more traditional ones (I still consider myself firmly attached to those classic sports). The truth is that the mix of excellent weather, the desire to stay fit, and the strong social component of these activities means we see more and more people every day who are truly passionate about them. But practicing these sports isn’t without a price, they often come with joint pain that limits our daily activities. Even so, most of
In the third edition of his exclusive new Olive Press health column, Spain’s national football team head doctor Dr Claudio Vazquez explains how to avoid sports injuries
us are reluctant to give them up because of the pleasure, enjoyment, and endorphin release they provide. THE RISKS OF SWING According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, up to half of all tennis injuries affect the elbow and shoulder. Most are the result of poor technique, which creates biomechanical stress on the joints and leads to the dreaded tennis elbow or rotator cuff injuries. If there’s one phrase that defines amateur golfers, it’s: “I never imagined my back could hurt this much.” The swing, although it usually looks smooth, generates a huge amount of lumbar rotation. Studies show the forces placed on the spine during the swing can even exceed those
seen in some impact sports. While lower back pain is the most common complaint, rotator cuff injuries, wrist tendinopathies, and hip issues due to repeated rotation are also frequent. In the U.S., a recent study (Hess et al., 2023) found that pickleball-related injuries have increased by 90% since 2018, especially among people over 55. Quick accelerations and sudden stops often in individuals who haven’t trained consistently in years lead to common injuries such as soleus tears (‘tennis leg’), Achilles tendinopathies, and ankle sprains. On top of all this, the biggest risk factor is the continuous and repetitive nature of these sports, which leads to what we call overuse injuries. At the start of physical activity, once the body warms up, tendinopathies tend to improve, allowing us to play relatively normally. The real problem arises after finishing, when we cool down and the pain becomes constant, making everyday
tasks difficult. The key to enjoying these sports more safely is combining them with strengthening and conditioning work. A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Lauersen et al., 2018) shows that strength training can reduce injury risk by up to 50%. Just two weekly sessions of 20 to 25 minutes focusing on the gluteus medius for hip and knee stability, core training (essential for both golf and tennis), and exercises for shoulder and wrist rotators significantly lowers the risk. AND DON’T FORGET TECHNIQUE Even a single session with a tennis or golf instructor can reduce shoul-
der and lower back injuries by up to 50% (Elliott, J Sci Med Sport, 2006). All these recommendations help, but the most decisive factor in preventing injuries is proper management of physical activity. Sometimes the solution is something as simple as reducing the number of weekly sessions and combining your favorite sport with other activities. In my consultations, I always say the same thing: it’s not about giving up what you love, it’s about balancing it with other sports or exercises that also bring you physical and mental well-being. Finding that balance isn’t always easy, but it’s often the key to enjoying your sport without pain.
For more advise and consultations contact Doctor Claudio at his clinic at Vithas Almeria on 616169096 or Euroclinicas Vera on 950391300
OP QUICK CROSSWORD Across 7 Oil, to a garage man (4) 8 Soldiers’ wear (8) 9 Hot dish sounds cold (6) 10 Parade (6) 11 Italian sausage (6) 13 My Fair Lady song (4,2) 14 “--- Little Indians” (Agatha Christie) (3) 15 Le Carré’s superspy George --- (6) 17 Troubled lassie found in church (6) 19 Like Hawaiian shirts (6) 21 “Swann’s Way” author (6) 23 Spectator (8) 24 Chamber (4)
OP SUDOKU
Down 1 “You --- Know” (Alanis Morissette) (6) 2 Yacht stabilizer (4) 3 Dampness of the air (8) 4 Petty quarrel (4) 5 Vichyssoise base (8) 6 “Slim Shady” rapper (6) 12 Rag Ellen about nuts, for example (8) 13 False teeth (8) 16 Coconut rum (6) 18 Singer Sheena --- (6) 20 Nothing, on court (4) 22 Soup thickener aka lady’s fingers (4)
All solutions are on page 14
14
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
December 18th - December 31st 2025
Christmas cheer!
W
HILE globalisation has led us to expect a certain homogeneity on the high street - especially at this time of year when we can’t escape Jingle Bells as a soundtrack and Santa Claus as a motif - at the Christmas markets that pop up across Spain you’ll still find clues to long treasured traditions that are quintessentially Spanish. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the annual Mercado de la Navidad in Spain’s capital where little wooden huts transform the cobbled square of Plaza Mayor into a veritable Santa’s grotto that won’t just get you into the Christmas spirit but provide a deep insight into Spanish traditions around the holiday season. During the late 1800s when it was first
SWEET TREAT: Spanish cakes are for sale in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor Christmas market
The streets are ablaze with colourful lights, Nativity scenes have appeared in plazas and the scent of roasted chestnuts is filling the air: it must be December and that means Christmas markets…everywhere! By Fiona Govan
ed to their sale. Back then while their parents would shop for food, children would gather in groups to sing villancicos - an olden day version of Christmas carolling - and although it’s unlikely you’ll come across modern day youngsters doing the same, you may spot zambombas, the little hand drums beaten to accompany the singing, still offered for sale among the Christmas decorations. In Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, huge numbers of stalls are dedicated to the sale of Nativity decorations - for each
held in the Plaza Mayor, merchants from across Spain brought their luxury goods to the Christmas market. Once upon a time live turkeys were marched up the Calle Mayor in a cabalgata on Christmas eve when they would be slaughtered for the feast - until a municipal ban in 1894 forbade livestock in the city centre. Nowadays turkey isn’t considered much of a Christmas treat in Spain and families usu- Once they came home traditionally sets up its own ally dine on seafood and roasted in the form of Belén. These go way beyond the tradisuckling meats on Nochebuena tional figures you expect to find in the (Christmas Eve). peasants in a Holy scene. Alongside the handcarved Bakers and confectioners from white shirt and figurines of Mary, Joseph and the Baby across Spain would bring reJesus in a manger are the usual colgional specialities to sell at red beret lection of accolades; A donkey, some Christmas; crunchy almond tursheep, the shepherds, the wise men, rón from Alicante, crumbly cinperhaps riding camels and of course namon-dusted mantecado from an Angel. Antequera, delicate marzipan made by cloisBut you’ll also find - in miniature - every aspect of tered nuns in Toledo and powdery polvorones village life, from a windmill to a washerwoman, to wrapped in brightly coloured paper. tiny market stalls laden with teeny replica fruit and Such dishes remain as much of a Christmas vegetables. Some families collect a new figurine to staple in Spain today as Quality Street chocplace in their Belén each year, replicating their own olates are in a British home and in markets villages or building one from their own imagination. across the country you’ll still find stalls dedicatOften Christmas markets are held in squares where the municipality has installed a Belén, some stretching across their own purpose built barn while others, such as the one in Alicante this year, are giant structures stretching into the sky. Catalunya adds its own unusual twist to the tradition with the addition of a figurine known as a ‘caganer’ a Christmas crapper. You’ll find them squatting with their pants down in a corner of the Nativity scene, bare bottom visible above a little pile of poo in a tradition supposed to bring good luck and prosperity to every household. Where once they came in the form of peasants in a white shirt and red beret they now depict famous figures from royalty and world leaders to sports icons and musical superstars. At a Catalan Christmas market you’ll find entire stalls dedicated to the sale of caganers with bestsellers listed each year Leo Messi and Donald Trump topped the charts last year. Those in Catalunya should look out for another scatological figure, Caga Tió, a defecating log wearing a red beret and a big smile. Tradition dictates that the creature is placed in a fireplace where on Christmas Eve children thump it with a stick while singing a song urging it to poo out gifts to the well-behaved. More familiar Christmas decorations such as fir trees and mistletoe will also be prevalent at your local Christmas market - the former usually sold in pots as there are bans on selling cut trees in many BELEN: Above and, below, choosing a caganer for Christmas!
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 7 Lube, 8 Uniforms, 9 Chilli, 10 Flaunt, 11 Salami, 13 Show me, 14 Ten, 15 Smiley, 17 Aisles, 19 Floral, 21 Proust, 23 Observer, 24 Room. Down: 1 Oughta, 2 Keel, 3 Humidity, 4 Tiff, 5 Potatoes, 6 Eminem, 12 Allergen, 13 Snappers, 16 Malibu, 18 Easton, 20 Love, 22 Okra.
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December 18th December 31st 2025
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NAVIDAD IN MADRID: The Plaza Mayor Christmas market is a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike
CASE NO. F2024-014840
places across Spain, while harvesting mistletoe from the wild is illegal. Of course you’ll find depictions of Father Christmas or Santa at Christmas markets, it is only relatively recently that he has become part of the Spanish festive season. Traditionally it is the Three Kings - or Reyes Magos - that bring gifts to children and not until the eve of Epiphany. This highlight comes on the night of the 5th when processions are held across Spain with actors or local public figures dressing up as the magi to ride on elaborate floats and fling out candy to children lining the streets. These days Spanish children expect stockings from Santa alongside their main gifts appearing on the morning of the 6th. Because if there is one thing better than getting presents - it’s getting presents twice!
Extract from complaint currently being dealt with by Oslo Conciliation Board – Dept. 3 Case No. F2024-014840 Complainant: Kredinor Finans As, Postboks 782 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo Defendant: Francisco Javier Sanchez Sanchis. Sist kjente adresse: C/Pou No 3, Es-46184 San Antonio De Benageber, Spain The Complainant has filed a complaint against the Defendant with Oslo Conciliation Board with a demand for payment of NOK 188 598,42 with the addition of interest at the legal rate and legal costs. The Defendant is ordered to reply to the Conciliation Board in writing by 02.02.2026 stating whether or not the Defendant acknowledges and accepts the Complainant’s claim. If a reply has not been delivered prior to the expiry of the stated time limit, judgment by default can be pronounced on the basis of the Complainant’s representation of the facts of the case. As the Defendant has no known address, service will be executed with authority in the Courts Act Section 181. The complaint and order to reply will be deemed to have been legally served when it has been posted at the legal venue for four weeks. The documents pertaining to the case can be collected from the Conciliation Board’s offices at Pilestredet 19, 0033 Oslo, Norway. The documents can be sent to a new address supplied by the Defendant if the Defendant so requests.
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Festive Benny BENIDORM is preparing for a festive rush as thousands of Brits flock to the Costa Blanca for a ‘proper British Christmas’, filling hotels, bars and beaches and turning the resort into a lively winter community abroad.
Happy Xmas! THE print edition of the Olive Press is entering its winter break. We will be back on January 22. See you then!
Bare cheek A NAKED man attacked police in San Vicente del Raspeig after being spotted running through the streets. He knocked an officer to the ground before being restrained and arrested.
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BOARS BOUNTY
December 18th - December 31st 2025
Owl inclusive TWO American owls are living it up at a Spanish resort after a transatlantic journey on a luxurious cruise. The pair of burrowing owls are currently enjoying a five-star ‘owl-inclusive’ break in Murcia after stowing away for a 4,500mile transatlantic voyage on one of the world’s most exclusive cruise ships. The savvy pair, a mating couple from Miami, sneaked aboard the massive Royal Caribbean liner Allure of the Seas just before it departed Florida for a 12-night crossing to Spain. But they didn't settle for steerage.
Feathered freeloaders know how to travel in style
By Rachel Gore
Instead, the birds - a threatened species in the Sunshine State - bypassed the buffet and set up camp in the ship’s swanky ‘Central Park’ neighbourhood. Surrounded by 12,000 real plants and al fresco dining, they spent nearly two weeks dodging the paparazzi (passengers with iPhones) and enjoying the high seas breeze. Their free ride finally hit the rocks when eagle-eyed crew members launched a capture operation. While one was netted quickly, the other led staff on a wild goose chase, escaping capture until just hours before the ship docked in Cartagena. Far from being thrown in the brig, the VIP detainees were handed over to Spanish officials and whisked away to the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre in Murcia. There, they are currently enjoying a lavish quarantine ‘hol-
LUXURY: The owls sailed across the ocean in this ship iday’, dining on top-tier snacks before their next big adventure: a free flight back to the USA in mid-January, courtesy of the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Amazingly, they aren’t the first.
In 2023, another burrowing owl enjoyed a two-week jaunt on the Symphony of the Seas. Perhaps this pair heard the rave reviews on the grapevine and decided it was time for a European tour!
ROUGH TIME
WHAT was supposed to be a quick one-hour ferry ride from Algeciras, Spain, to Ceuta, Africa, turned into a three-hour vomit-inducing rollercoaster ride thanks to Storm Emilia. The 3,500-ton ferry was tossed around like a beach ball, leaving passengers regretting every choice that led them to board the Ciudad de Mahon.
HUNTERS in the Valencian region will get €40 for every wild boar they manage to kill. Environment minister, Vicente Martinez Mus, said they needed to combat rising boar numbers and to stop African Swine Fever from reaching the region. Killed boars will be delivered to designated collection points for hunters to receive their fee. The boar population is estimated to range between 100,000 and 200,000 in the region. Action will also be taken in 353 hunting reserves and extra trap boxes will be installed. “We need to maintain a buffer zone against swine fever,” said Mas.
Storm Emilia, wreaking havoc across the Strait of Gibraltar, had already canceled earlier sailings, and the boat was fully packed for the wild ride. After a few hours of dodging waves and desperately trying not to lose lunch, the captain decided it was safer to turn around when he could not enter Ceuta port, leaving passengers to repeat the horrific voyage and causing some serious bumper-to-bumper damage to their cars.