Olive Press Gibraltar - issue 148

OLIVE PRESS

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Vol. 5 Issue 148

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The Rock’s only free local paper May 19th- June 1st 2021

Voted Spain’s most popular historic city

Prime suspect

Tragic mystery

Girl power

Good eating

Bear in the frame for series of grizzly livestock killings in the Pyrenees

The Olive Press helps TV investigation into the death of Kirsty Maxwell

The female warriors who took on Drake’s army - and won!

A hidden gem that unfussily serves up some of the tastiest food in Andalucia

See more on page 3

Mega €300 million reclamation project presses ahead despite Spanish opposition

By James Warren

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Making a splash

Development firm Harbour Development Limited has announced that it will begin work again now that the worst of the pandemic is over.

It came as the firm confirmed it had been granted a €42 million government loan, in addition to the €230 million in private funds that it is expected to cost.

X

GIBRALTAR is remaining defiant as it pushes on with a huge €300 million reclamation development.

Work is due to continue on the Victoria Keys development, despite the risk of diplomatic tension with Spain.

See more on page 6

Work

The development sits on 130,000 square metres of reclaimed land using soil

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Welcome back THERE is a distinct sense of excitement in the air as British tourists finally started making their way back into Gibraltar.

The first direct flights from the UK have been touching down bringing hundreds of excited tourists desperate for some sun.

It is great news for the Rock with the tourists set to bring a huge multi-million pound cash boost.

Experts predict a bumper summer with sun-starved Brits leading the charge.

“With flights and hotels quickly filling up, we think that it will be a bumper year for our leisure industry,” Tourism Minister Vijay Daryanani told the Olive Press.

Vibe

and construction waste on the eastern edge of the Rock. Over 1,500 apartments and homes, plus numerous commercial units, are set to be built (see photo above).

There are also potential plans for a hotel.

Gibraltar’s decision to restart the project, halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has angered the Spanish government however.

It believes the waters surrounding the Rock belong to Spain, insisting the 300-year-old Treaty of Utrecht only applied to the land.

LINES DRAWN: Pedro Sanchez (top) and Fabian Picardo on opposing sides over the €300 million reclamation development

Pedro Sanchez’s government, however, has condemned the plans, and has vowed to use ‘any legal means necessary’ to prevent the development going ahead.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya even controversially insisted this week that the treaty only applies to certain areas of Gibraltar.

Both the Gibraltar and British government firmly disagree and are set to

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continue the reclamation project this month.

The aim of the project is to help rectify the Rock’s critical shortage of housing, an issue that is predicted to worsen.

“Projects like this encourage and facilitate these relocations and ensure that new companies wishing to move to Gibraltar can get accommodation for their workers,” said Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

“There is an exciting vibe and the Government calls on the community to make it a joint effort in welcoming visitors and showing them the traditional warm Gibraltarian welcome.”

The first flight in was British Airways’ BA492 from London Heathrow that left at 7.10am.

It touched down at 11.05 local time on Monday.

The airline tweeted shortly after it took off to say it was the airline’s ‘first flight to a green list destination’.

British Airways Chairman Sean Doyle later described it as a ‘spe-

Insatiable

“It also offers more houses to local residents, a demand that has proven to be insatiable given the popularity of the most recent private developments,” he added.

Continues on Page 5

2

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF New face GIBRALTAR Film Festival has appointed a new adjudicator.

Theatre veteran and decorated director Jan Palmer Sayer will look after the judging at the Rock’s leading performance arts festival being held until May 21.

Clap back THE GHA has hit back at critics for the lack of appointments at the Primary Care Centre. In a statement, the GHA has reiterated that it is disgusted at the way Unite the Union has viewed the government’s comments on the lack of GPs and that they were simply ‘making the reasoning public domain’.

Nurses day THE Minister of Health invited nursing staff from across the GHA to attend a celebration of their achievements on International Nurses Day. Minister for Health Samantha Sacramento praised the Rock’s medics on their ‘outstanding’ work during the pandemic.

A NURSE has been arrested for allegedly stealing and re-selling COVID vaccinations from a hospital.

The 27-year-old man was working at the Hospital de La Linea at the time and is currently under investigation for potentially

Red handed A 17-year-old man has been charged with a spate of burglaries from industrial offices in Gibraltar.

The youth was arrested in the early hours of Friday in the La Marina area after reports of an attempted breaking and entering of a retail property.

Police attending the scene identified the suspect whilst conducting enquiries in the area and, after attempts to flee the scene, the youth was arrested in the Laguna Estate.

He was taken into police custody and he has since been linked to a number of similar reports dating back several weeks.

It was also established that he was allegedly responsible for an open case of a robbery at Town Range last November.

He has been charged with five counts of burglary, two of attempted burglary and being in possession of equipment related to theft.

Vaccine thief being part of a larger criminal organisation involved in unauthorised vaccinations.

Police from both La Linea and Gibraltar began an investigation after the hospital RIOTERS took to the streets of La Linea to protest over the deaths of two men in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Rubbish containers and lifeguard posts were set on fire as police from both sides of the border attempted to control the mob.

Police reported that stones and other projectiles were thrown at officers by masked rioters and roads were blocked during the unrest before the crowd moved inland.

Residents needing to pass through were diverted from the area by police roadblocks.

Protestors blamed the police for the death of the two men, a 19-year-old and a 51-yearold, who drowned after their speed boat ran into engine problems and sank two kilometres off the La Atunara beach.

After jumping into the sea to

History, adventure and romance.

That’s just the setting.

noticed doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were going missing. Hospital chiefs also noticed inconsistencies with the documentation leading authorities to intervene.

May 19th - June 1st 2021

All at sea

All eyes pointed to the nurse who was a member of the vaccination team at the hospital.

Son of a Policia Local officer and a fellow nurse, the man allegedly manipulated vaccination documents to make doses ‘go missing’.

Streets of fire Riot breaks out after deaths of two ‘smugglers’

By James Warren

try to fix the problem, the two men decided to attempt to swim to shore before encountering difficulties.

Police spotted the vessel in trouble from the shore and

instructed emergency services to assist, but despite attempts to revive the two men, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

It is thought that the boat was transporting fuel to a larger speedboat suspected of being used for drug trafficking.

Mayor of La Linea, Juan Franco, made a statement regarding the deaths, and explained that it was one of the most ‘complicated’ events that he has had to deal with since he came into office.

“I am sorry for the two deaths and I hope that an investigation will be opened to determine the causes,” said Franco.

A FATHER and daughter have been arrested for money laundering after Gibraltar police seized their £200,000 luxury yacht.

The couple were nabbed by police after an investigation by the Money Laundering Investigation Unit (MLIU) after they were linked to a drug trafficking gang operating in the area.

The RGP began an investigation which led them to the pair, 68-year-old John Azzopardi. of Crutchett’s Ramp and 29-year-old Kyra Azzopardi of Mid Harbours Estate.

The MLIU focussed its attention on the 11.5m luxury sunseeker ‘Sunrays’, a €200,000 speedboat that was found to have been bought through a third party close to the daughter.

Ties

The third party has strong ties to drug traffickers and allegedly used the proceeds to buy the boat for the father and daughter.

Police also discovered that the pair had deposited over £165,000 in cash over the past three years into various accounts.

The father and daughter are charged with various offences related to money laundering.

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May 19th - June 1st 2021

3

Great result!

OUR GIRL: Reporter Cristina took bronze (far right)

OLIVE PRESS writer Cristina Hodgson has temporarily swapped reporting for racing - with incredible results.

The 46-year-old expat, who lives in Montilla, took home two bronze medals at the Andalucia Championship coming third in both the 1500m and 800m masters race.

Despite officially hanging up her running shoes three years ago, Cristina was persuaded to compete at the Malaga tournament by friends and family.

Mum-of-two Cristina told the Olive Press: “My kids told me not to bother coming home without a medal! So I was happy to be able to bring back two for them.”

Even more impressively, Cristina barely trained for the race - but says the victory has reignited her passion for competing.

She is now heading to the national championships - but this time she has pledged to train seriously!

Prime suspect

Paw of blame pointed at bear for string of grizzly livestock slaughters in the Spanish Pyrenees

NOT CUDDLY: Bear is accused of livestock killings PABLO Picasso has been revealed to be the most Googled artist in the world, apart from in his home country of Spain.

He beats the UK’s Banksy into second place, according to website MyArtBroker.

A total of 100 artists were included in the study which found the most popular artist in each country.

While Banksy topped the list in 30 – mostly European – nations, Picasso was way ahead when it comes to online

Pablo beats Banksy searches by country.

The Spanish genius came top in a staggering 90 countries,

KIM CLARK

HE looks as cuddly as Rupert or Paddington bear. But make no mistake Goiat the bear is no marmalade-eating vegetarian.

In fact, he is on the Wanted list, suspected of being a serial killer.

Officials have named the adult brown bear prime suspect in a recent spate of mystery livestock killings in Catalunya that have farmers up in arms.

His name means ‘lad’ in local dialect but in this bear’s case that’s not so much Jack the Lad as Jack the Ripper.

His bared fangs are thought to be the last thing seen by his countless victims … sheep, goats and even horses … before he tore out their throats.

More stereotypically for a bear, the paw of blame is also being pointed at Goiat for the raiding and destruction of two beehives.

Goiat, originally from Slovenia, was released into the Val d’Aran in Catalunya in 2016 leaving other famous figures, including Andy Warhol, way behind.

But Banksy can lay claim to being the most Googled artist in the world by number of searches. He edged out Picasso in terms of volume of online queries as well as coming top in, somewhat ironically, Picasso’s birth nation of Spain.

The Malaga-born artist is hugely popular worldwide, with his ‘strongholds’ being in Asia and Africa.

By Dilip Kuner

as part of an EU project to boost the brown bear population in the Pyrenees.

The GPS-tagged animal soon became ursa non gratis and in 2018, after the slaughter of 10 horses, four sheep and a goat, a local farming union called for him to be ‘removed from the area’ permanently.

Farmers hoped they had seen the back of him when he slipped across the border to France.

Forensic

But officials lost track of him when his GPS collar fell off in October, and he has not been seen since, apart from by a trail of dead livestock.

The recent attacks resulted in the death of five goats and a sheep and coincided with a decrease across the border, leading the authorities to consider him the likely culprit.

Forensic experts have now been drafted in to analyse samples taken from the ‘crime’ scenes.

Meanwhile a team will be sent out to fit the animal with a new GPS collar for further study, with his ‘removal’ a possibility if he turns out to be a ‘problem bear’.

Brown bears have been a protected species in Spain since 1973. The project to consolidate the population in the Pyrenees with Slovenian imports has seen their number rise from three in 1993 to over 60 today.

www.laterlife.es

Wild wild west

IT looks about as English as the Amazon.

But the BBC is shooting a Western in the deserts of Almeria called The English, starring Emily Blunt.

The Devil Wears Prada star, 38, is starring alongside C h a s k e Spencer, Toby Jones and Nichola McAuliffe.

The six part series centres around the arrival of Englishwoman Cornelia Locke (played by Blunt) in the Wild West of America with a plot to avenge the death of her son.

The deserts around the town of Tabernas have long been used as the backdrop for Western films, including Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Amazon has snagged the film rights in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

BRIT: Blunt stars in The English, while (top) The Good the Bad and the Ugly

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NEWS

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Heating up

Cruising back IN a major step towards the return of cruise tourism to Gibraltar, the Transport Minister Vijay Daryanani met with Viking Cruises to discuss plans to return to the territory.

He spoke to Viking’s Vice President of Maritime Operations Matt Grimes and Chairman Torstein Hagen on board the carrier’s newest addition, the state of the art €340 million Venus liner.

“I’m delighted to be in Gibraltar to meet Minister Daryanani,” said Grimes.

“I’ve been speaking virtually with Minister Daryanani now for several weeks, discussing possibilities for Gibraltar and it is a pleasure to meet him in person.”

“We spoke on resumption of cruise services and I have explained the protocols we

May 19th - June 1st 2021

SUCCESS: Daryanani met with cruise bosses have in place,” explained Daryanani.

“I have also highlighted the success of our vaccination program, thanks to the UK Government and the management of the pandemic here, I’m heavily committed to the cruise industry.”

Viking cruises postponed operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company is due to resume cruises from May 31, announcing a host of new routes this summer including stops in Gibraltar.

GIBRALTAR police officers have taken part in a specialist domestic abuse training session as part of an effort to help combat violence in the home.

The RGP officers were given specific training at Bleak House from experts in the field on how to properly handle domestic violence cases.

The session was created to

ANTI abortion group Save Babies, Vote No is gearing up for the June 24 abortion referendum with the launch of a new campaign.

“This past 14 months has been challenging for everyone. Noone could have foreseen the fear, the illness, and even death that would befall us here in Gibraltar and around the world,” said Karenza Morillo, spokeswoman for the Save Babies, Vote No campaign.

“However throughout all the difficult challenges of the pandemic, we are being asked to vote on ending the lives of unborn babies here in Gibraltar.

“While it is true that the abortion issue is highly emotive, we look forward to a respectful debate in the lead up to the referendum, the hallmark of a functioning democracy,” she said.

Abortion has been illegal since

Abuse training ‘share best practices and raise awareness between local agencies that deal with the issue,’ according to a police spokesman.

More than 20 police men and women were joined by the Gi-

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What do you need to do if you live abroad?

Pro life campaign launched as referendum approaches

Border relief GIBRALTAR has confirmed that any Spaniards crossing the border will be exempt from any restrictions, much to the relief of cross-border workers.

Under new travel restrictions that came into play this week, Gib has given countries green, amber and red colour codes, depending on COVID-19 figures, much like the UK’s travel list.

Green DEBATE: People are putting their views forward

By James Warren

the 19th Century thanks to a law past during colonial times across all overseas territories. braltar Health Authority, the Care Agency, the Office of Criminal Prosecutions & Litigation and the UK-based domestic abuse charity SafeLives.

A spokesman from the RGP urged: “If you or anyone you know is trapped in an abusive relationship, please contact us - we have specially trained staff who can help.”

a

At present there is a punishment of life imprisonment for anyone who has an abortion and anyone who assists them.

In 2018, popular support for a change in the law started to build, promoted by the Gibraltar’s Women’s Association.

The GSLP/Liberal government studied the proposal for some time before coming to the conclusion it would hold a referendum on the matter.

The alliance passed legislation in Parliament to allow abortion in July 2019 by a majority of nine to seven.

Before that came into effect, however, a referendum would have to be held.

For Gibraltar, Spain is on its ‘green’ list and therefore freedom of movement is permitted across the frontier without the need for PCR testing or quarantining, regardless of vaccination status.

Spanish cross-border workers can also be vaccinated in Gib. The UK is also on Gibraltar’s green list thanks to the two nations’ cooperation during the vaccination process leading to the entire adult population receiving their jabs.

This means that any air travellers from ‘green’ countries will only need to fill in a locator form upon arrival.

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Gali-gone AN alarming nine priceless works by the astronomer Galileo Galilei are missing from Spain’s National Library.

Five of them are definitely lost, however, there may be up to nine of the philosopher’s works missing according to official records.

In total, there could be as many as 14,809 works missing from the library it has been revealed The total value of the missing pieces is unknown but just one alone is valued at €800,000.

Questions are now being raised after the Madrid library took more than four years to report the theft of an important pamphlet by the Italian astronomer, called Sidereus Nuncius.

It continued to display a forgery left behind by the thief instead of the original piece, without telling anyone of the theft.

The disappearance of this work, which was not disclosed until less than two months ago, prompted a government investigation into missing items from the library.

Flying the flag ANDALUCIA has been awarded an all-time record number of blue flags for the quality and cleanliness of beaches and ports.

In a massive and much needed boost to the tourism sector and the environment, the region is now the second in Spain for the most blue flags with 137, only surpassed by Valencia and ahead of Catalonia and Galicia.

Of the 137 flags, 115 have been awarded to beaches, 20 to marinas and two to sustainable boats.

Malaga province received 41 in total - 34 for beaches, five for ports and two for sustainable boats, followed by Cadiz with 35 flags, including 30 for beaches and five for ports.

Almeria has been given 33 (31 beaches and two ports).

‘Hellish and humiliating’ as British expats arrested over ‘fraudulent’ residency applications A GROUP of British expats have been detained by police after their padron certificates proving they lived in Spain appear to have been doctored.

At least eight people have been grilled over the town hall registration forms, which were all handled by the same gestor company on the Costa Blanca.

National Police confirmed to the Olive Press that detectives are working alongside the Guardia Civil to investigate all residencia applications in Alicante made in 2021.

It comes after ‘widespread fraud’ was allegedly detected in over 22 Britons attempting to become resident.

A number of elderly expats described the situation as ‘humiliating’ and ‘hellish’, after they were held for questioning under caution.

They told the Olive Press how they were carted to Alicante police station and grilled about falsifying documents submitted AN elderly British couple who have been living in a garage since their dream villa was demolished 13 years ago have finally won legal status for their property.

It means they can now be connected to mains water and electricity.

It has been a long battle for Len and Helen Prior who became infamous in 2008 when bulldozers were sent in to flatten their villa in Vera, just inland from Almeria’s coast over so-called -planning irregularities-.

But on Monday they finally got word that planning authorities had granted an AFO certificate for their property – the special licence issued in Andalucia to normalise

Testing Times THE RISE of the Indian strain means that all UK arrivals will get free COVID-19 tests when they touch down on the Rock.

The Gibraltar cabinet met with GHA Consultant Microbiologist Dr Nick Cortes to discuss the UK’s evolving situation.

As a result the Government has announced that it will provide free ‘lateral flow’ testing.

Gibraltar had previously stated that it would be welcoming travellers from the UK without the need for a PCR test, a statement that the government is keen to reiterate.

“We said before we will not require a PCR test for those arriving from the UK – and that will still be TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd the case,” said a government spokesman.

1 “Instead, all arrivals will receive a lateral flow test at no cost to the traveller.”

He added: “Our main priority is our population’s safety, and we cannot ignore the advice we have received from both Downing Street and our own health advisors.

“Given our unbreakable and almost filial link with the UK, travel between us is about families reuniting, it’s about the social aspects of our relationship, about business and trade and also about tourism.”

The lateral flow test, or LFT, is a rapid COVID-19 testing method that uses a swab at the back of the nose or throat and can produce results in under 30 minutes.

The new strain, first discovered in India and named the B.1.617.2 was designated a variant of concern on May 7 in the UK and is now quickly spreading across the country.

NEWS

May 19th - June 1st 2021

I beg your padron

with their TIE applications.

“We were wrongly arrested for submitting fake padrons, even though we put the correct ones in with our paperwork for residencia,” said Jay Elliott, 66, of Orihuela Costa, who has lived in Spain for over five years.

She and her friend Lily Higgins, 71, had planned for a peaceful retirement in the sun but are now living with the threat of a court case or even deportation.

“I’ve never been in trouble before but here I am, being treated like a common criminal,” said Higgins. “It’s humiliating.”

They added that the same gestor is being investigated for changing the date on at least 22 more British applicants.

Another couple, who asked not to be named, told the Olive Press how they had been questioned when they went to collect their TIE cards.

“We were taken into a room,

Relief properties built illegally on rural land.

For more than 13 years the couple have been living in the garage they converted into a living space after their €400,000 villa was reduced to rubble, using a noisy generator to power their home and bringing in bottled water.

“It’s a huge relief,” Helen told the Olive Press. “Hopefully we will be connected to mains services soon and then maybe we can get a proper roof in as at the moment every time it rains we run around with buckets to collect the leaks”.

“We never imagined we would

WORRY: Lily and Jay were treated like criminals Owner Matt Smith insisted EXCLUSIVE that his is anything but the only

By Simon Wade gestor business to be dragged read our rights and told to ex- into the investigation plain why our 2021 padron had “Nobody has been arrested, been doctored to show a 2020 that is a fact,” he insisted, adddate - it was hell.” ing: “Other gestors are also All those detained had used being brought in as part of an One Way Services, based in ongoing investigation into TIE Quesada, near Torrevieja, to applications.” process their applications.

A police spokesman told the Olive Press: “All residencia applications from every gestor in the spend all these years fighting province will be investigated in for fundamental rights just to case of possible connections.” live in a garage,” said Helen, All fraudulent submissions will now 77, a grandmother of six be cancelled with applicants and with three great-grandgiven the right to appeal. children. “We moved out here to have a peaceful reVulnerable tirement after working hard all our lives but ended up like Anne Hernandez of Brexpats this.” in Spain warned that a lack of Len, also 77, is recovering clear national guidelines means from life-saving open heart rules can differ from region to surgery. “We didn’t want to region. peg out and leave our chilShe added that the complicated dren to deal with this mess, application process is leaving which is something that has expats vulnerable to unscrupubeen preying on our minds,” lous gestors. he admitted.

“One would expect that when Despite having planning peryou turn to a professional for mission issued by Vera town help, you pay the money and hall, the regional government get professional advice but we revoked the licence and orhear lots of stories about people dered the villa demolished. being given the wrong information or even being exploited .

5

Exciting vibes in the air From front Page

cial day for many people’.

“Because for so long now families have been separated, business has suffered, and we know that our customers haven’t been able to take the breaks abroad that they’ve wanted. After more than a year of limited flying, we’re pleased to be back in the skies.”

Health company Practico estimates that over 81,000 travellers will visit over the summer now that the Rock has been added to the UK’s ‘Green Travel List’.

Bonanza

They will bring a bonanza for the enclave with the average British tourist spending €381 while on holiday, claims the firm, based on the last 10 years of spending habits.

This would reap a massive €30.8 million for the country’s coffers.

The enclave has become attractive due to its successful vaccine rollout, which has seen the entire population vaccinated.

The number of vaccines administered was 74,461 - 38,905 with the first dose and 35,556 the second dose.

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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 Wrong side of the law SOMETIMES you can do everything right and still find yourself on the wrong side of the law. At least, that is the case for foreigners in Spain, especially when dealing with the powerful adversary that is the clunking arm of Spanish bureaucracy.

Being a foreigner here and often not having a good command of the language means that many of us must rely on the advice of experts, those supposedly in the know, to whom we pay good money to help guide us through a system that is not easy to navigate at the best of times, even for Spaniards.

The Priors did everything possible to ensure that they bought wisely when they sold up in the UK and sunk their savings into a dream property in which to spend a peaceful retirement.

Battling

And yet they have spent the last 13 years living in a garage without access to the basic amenities of mains electricity and water while battling through a judicial system that only now has delivered a hollow victory.

The latest scandal is the dozens of Brits trying to get their residency in order who have fallen victim to apparently unscrupulous practices by gestors who should’ve known better and have now jeopardised their future in Spain.

Unfortunately there will always be crooks ready to prey on the vulnerable, but this is compounded

by Spain’s lack of clear national guidelines with differing rules from region to region and even town hall to town hall on important issues such as planning laws and residency applications.

We can all do our due diligence but isn’t it time Spain stopped making things so complicated and gave us a helping hand?

Publisher / Editor

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

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Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

Seeking the truth Olive Press reporter Kirsty McKenzie helps probe mystery death of Kirsty Maxwell for TV documentary

K

IRSTY Maxwell was just 27 when she Friends and family had no clue what connecplunged from a 10th floor balcony in tion Kirsty had to the men or what prompted Benidorm after a night out partying her to leave her own apartment, barefoot and with her friends. The Scottish lass was without her mobile phone or purse, and climb discovered lying beside the pool as the sun up to the top floor in the early hours of that rose the next morning — April 27, 2017 — so morning. peacefully still that at first no one realised the What’s worse, they had no idea what hapextent of the horror that had unfolded. pened inside the men’s room in the minutes I remember Kirsty’s story well. I wrote about leading up to her fall. her death as a trainee reporter at a Scottish It’s those unanswered questions that led me national newspaper and the to investigate her death for a details always stuck with me… new documentary series foAfter all, we were close in age, cusing on young people who A young had grown up just a few towns lost their lives in mysterious apart and even shared the woman, newly circumstances. same first name.

It was a crisp January morning Reporting on tragedy - the colliwhen I drove eight hours from married and sion of absolute horror with orthe Costa del Sol to meet the planning a dinary daily life - is always upteam, fixer Javier and my two setting, but it has a devastating family had died cameramen Adrien and Vicpotency when you can so easily tor in the boozy party capital identify with the victim. of Spain. Due to COVID-19 The initial facts upset all of us restrictions the director, proin the newsroom that day: a young woman, ducers and MTV host Linda Adey were stuck newly married and planning a family, had died in England and it was up to me and the crew while on a hen weekend abroad. to find out as much as we possibly could in Yet as more details of the case emerged it Benidorm, retracing Kirsty’s final steps and became clear this was no typical story - Kirsty looping back to the team at at home in the UK. had not fallen from her own room on the ninth And investigate we did: hunting down the ownfloor, but from the tenth floor of an apartment er of the apartments where Kirsty died, speakon the opposite side of the building. ing with the manager of a nearby hotel who Suspiciously this was occupied by five men held all the contact details of eyewitnesses from Nottingham. from that fateful morning and knocking on the

OLIV PRESSE

The

6

Bonnie Did Maddie suspec n Brueck t & Clyde aChristia female accompner have lice?

voice Spa

IN THE CLEAR

Corrupti on appeal bid

Issue 19

CIA

www.theol ivepress.es July 23rd

- August 5th

ANTI-CORRUP TION prosecutors are against a launching an appeal 34 people verdict that cleared the awardiof taking bungs over ng of an waste disposa Orihuela l contrac Alicante Provincial t.

Elche acquitt Court ed the group, in cluding former inmayors Monica Orihuela PP Lorente and Jose Manue l Medina, ruption charges of cor.

The Suprem cide if a new e court must deafter prosecu trial can be heard tors failed to get conviction corruption in the biggest-evera trial to be Alicante Provinc held in e.

The court’s ter judges decision came afof phone ruled that wiretap s conversations inadmissible, along with were cerns over consurveillance.house searches and The 34 people in the dock accused of were millions taking bribes worth granting ofof euros over the the Orihue contract dating la waste back in what became to 2006, known as Brugal case. the Millionaire Orihue la busines man, Angel saccused of Fenoli, had been and faced being the ringleader up to 37 years if he had been in jail After hearingfound guilty. the verdict Fenoli broke said: “Justic down in tears and, done after e has finally been 14 years.”

ON CAMERA: Kirsty (right) in Benidorm and (inset) our most recent Corona comeback front page on the case office doors of both detectives and judges.

A mecca for bargain holiSPANISH NUMBER PLATES days, the coastal city has Destina tion Rel axa tion long been considered Spain’s tourist hotspot brimming with 671 2 147 83 608 503 bars and spine-chillingly high 95 apartment 4 blocks.

“The Manhattan of Spain,” fixer Javier joked to me as I craned my neck to take it all in. But in January, with so few tourists in Spain, and a complete ban on pubs opening in the city, the party strip had come to a standstill.

Locked doors, shutters pulled tight and signs

That’s the ticket

Yo

exp

COSTA BLA NCA SUR FREE Vol. 1 / MUR

Page 8

But the fam and ‘disg ily of tragic Kirs usting’ way ty five men Maxwell slam ‘flaw have been ed’ inves found inno cent of

THE family idaymaker of a young holdeath from who fell to her

By Andy SPAIN’S McInnes Benidorm an apartment in have tripled COVID-infections & Dilip detective have slamm Kuner court’s ruling David Swindl ed a old, They have since July 3. conduct their not to appeal e to Kirsty’ from her risen from own investi every 100,00 tion into 8.76 for Theydeath. jumped to Scotland, had not ga- them s fam her are convin an alarmin 0 inhabitants to was lost after vital evidence to fin ced five Brits ing an alcoho death followon holiday compo This is theg 27.39. l-fuelled preserv and police night with caused Maxwell’s hen vestiga e the scene failed to disgustund same numbe cases as when death in Kirsty The five friends. tion from of the in- “The ing. lads on Spain first r of 2017.

April, from gan de-esca contamination. family be- A private Nottingham,holiday, all just as the gon, Catalunlation in May. Aracused of spiking detecti were aclooked ya ve down throu who caine into Country have and the Basque and pushinher with cothe decisio the case described Shortcom all experie tigation. outbreaks n as flawed g her to her death. nced Howev ing .

Mr Swindl did not Th er, a panel have been of concern. Contro She ma had e, ls of judges Alicante ruled put in place, conclu mistak investi some confine while no ‘strong that there in 10th floor room enly entered a ‘flawedgation was ded the significant w ment measur was mentos seriously its and evide have been at the Aparta evidence’ ’ es inality. issued.

Payma hotel, of crim- gusting’ and added it was ‘disexpecte of the d her friends for instead out family They added Wear it or ’ neighbouring through the had to find of a young lifes apartment. there was pay up P5 ing to indicat media that confusing there would noth- It comes e the 27-yea circ be no further probe.

“Kirsty and r- ing familyafter Kirsty’s grievhired retired He said: pear to have h CID no conside“There has by appare ration givenbeen shortco nt mings to police, forensi investigation which may hav evidence being l Kirsty’s parent Vehicles re-reg s Denise Curry istered in Spain ha Spanish judge’s For the re-reg September istration of nal probe to she motorbikes cars, The threeinto her , motorhome s Section Two judge as well as the transfer and caravans, vincial Courtof Ali of ownership Spanish regist was ‘affecte rule of d by al ered after vehic consuming Properties les, contact: t lent of 10 to rent and spirits the buy in the fore, appear sunny Costa s to ha Blanca apartm We have beaut ent 9A and who, after entered 10E v iful re-registerin where men were. and luxury homes for sale g over 3,000 will put villas

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€2500 965 074 546 | email: www.azul-hom info@azul-homes.co.u es.co.uk k

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Breaking the new speed limits can mean hefty fines

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EW speed limits now apply on many roads across Spain and it’s important to know about them as those caught speeding face steep fines.

The new general speed limits as outlined in the Royal Decree apply to urban roads and are as follows: ●● 20 km/h on roads that have a single lane with one way traffic and with a raised path/pavement. ●● 30 km/h on roads with one lane in each direction reduced from 50km/h. ●● 50 km/h on roads with two or more lanes per traffic direction. This speed limit remains the same except for vehicles carrying heavy or dangerous goods which must reduce their speed to 40 km/h.

Which roads will the new speed limits apply to?

The new rules apply to vias urbanas which doesn’t actually mean any roads within a town but is defined by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) as ‘any roads that form part of the internal communications network of a settlement, as long as they are not through roads (travesias) or form part of an arterial network’, according to Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).

So this encompasses most streets within a village, town or city unless they are major thoroughfares or ring roads.

To give you an idea, by far the majority of Spain’s roads are classified as vias urbanas, 165,600 km in fact, whi-

le travesias, which include motorways and dual carriageways, count for just 17,228 km or less than 10% of all of Spain’s roads.

HALVED: The footpath is on the same level

What are the penalties for breaking the new speed limits?

Failure by drivers to comply are considered a ‘serious’ or ‘very serious’ road offence by traffic authorities depending on how much over the speed limit they were caught going at.

Fines will range from between €100 to €600 depending on how fast they were going plus the loss of up to six points on the driver’s licence.

So on a two-lane road with traffic in both directions where the maximum speed will be 30 km/h, the penalty for driving between 31 and 50 km/h will be €100.

If the driver exceeds the 50 km/h mark but doesn’t reach 60km/h, it will result in a €300 fine and the loss of two points off the driver’s licence.

Driving between 61 and 70 km/h will land a fine of €400 and four points; and speeding at between 71 and 80 km /h will cost the driver €500 and the loss of six points.

It is considered a ‘very serious speeding offence’ if a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, which results in a €600 penalty and the loss of six points.

And exceeding the speed limit in urban areas by 60 km/h is considered a crime against road safety and is punishable with a prison sentence of three to six months, or community service for 30 to 90 days, and in all cases a ban from driving vehicles of between one to four years.

BIG DROP: the lack of pavements means the

NEW LIMIT: A single lane road is now just

BIZARRE: One side of the road with two

www.theolivepress.es

May 19th - June 1st 2021

7 Olive Press online ‘Spain’s best English news website’

Don’t miss out!

W

TRAGIC: Kirsty fell from 10th floor

our

pat

April 7th - April 20th 2021

As the Olive Press prepares to launch a brand new travel website, we give you a preview by taking a look around Andalucia’s historic capital

e in ain

h 2020

THE FIVE KEYS/ THEORIES ON KIRSTY’S DEATH

stigation f her dea th

Suicide SAD: Kirsty

and hotel mily in this, nd out like and for “Nothi ded their this has trary,” ng points to the grief. It is it said. “Althou con. is true cocaine gh it y has been was the bathro om and found in ey have let down woman been let ’s fingerp the dead ughout the rints were discove he Spanis inves- bathro red on an interio om window r anage theh police been possibl , it e to obtainhas not witnesses, scene, evidence strong exhib- viduali of specific ence as would and indised crimin such a tragic be The five ality.” men - Joseph e in unexpl loss ham, Ricky Graained, thony Gamm cumstances.

Holehouse, on, Anher family Northridge Callum and Daniel ap- ley been let - will not Baidown charge face any further irretrievable s.

Their lawyer in Spanis ic and crimeh chez, said: , Roberto San“I am very with the court proced happy ve resulte ures imagine my decision and I d in ing lost.” forward toclients are lookputting all behind them.” s Brian this ad appeal and Kirsty’s dad ed decision lasta cision, saying:blasted the detold the appeal “We were not elve a crimihad been and now r death. lost, we are having to the court es based at has happen to find out to go icante’s Prowhat have been ed. For us not to ed that she shown the of being kept courtesy lcohol’ and informed palling. the equiva is ape night be-- “All we have asked truth and for is the ave left her portunity yet again the opvoluntarily to get to the what happen heart of e the five been denied ed to Kirsty has to us.”

Opinion

Tel: 952 147

Her parents are adamant she was cheerful and happy and this coul not have happened. Her frien d ds backed this up insisting she was ‘happy and full of life.’

Balconing

Page 6

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s .

E are proud at the Olive Press to provide expat communities in Spain with the latest news - and plenty of features - in our six print editions.

But while each copy is guaranteed to be full of at least 50% editorial, sadly plenty of things do not make the edition, which is fortnightly, after all.

Hundreds of articles - from restaurant reviews to travel features and from crime stories to explainers on new laws - are FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SEVILLA SPECIAL not making the printed paper for many reasons.

But fortunately, modern technology has come to the rescue in the shape SNAPSHOTS OF SEVILLA and form of our website.

The portal www.theolivepress.es gives us unlimited space to expand on topics and really go to town on the most interesting subjects.

Our team of trained journalists, who have experience at The Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail, spend hours each day investigating and producing great content for the site.

Take our four-page special on Sevilla last month.

While we printed three articles SEVILKLA & TRAVEL FOOD,DRIN SPECIAL FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL in the paper, TIME TRAVEL over a dozen more were only Y published on the website.

T It will be the same with our travel special on Cordoba this issue, with plenty of other articles on the city going out over the next few weeks.

It is the same for Ibiza and the same for Madrid and other popular destinations like Ronda and Barcelona.

E n d s

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

21/6/19 13:30

on the doors and windows of restaurants and bars, clubs and takeaways alike — “Sorry we are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions” - the party was well and truly over, the streets silent with nothing but the sound of Union Jack and

Now

as the road so speed is restricted to 20kph

speed limit is just 20kph

30kph when before it was 50kph

lanes limited to 50kph, the other is 30

other northern European flags flapping in the wind.

It was somewhat appropriate that the streets felt haunted. Four years on no one has ever been charged with Kirsty’s killing. Last year, three Spanish judges in Alicante ruled that there is no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality surrounding the death and none of the five men staying inside the apartment at the time of Kirsty’s death have ever been formally accused of any crime, despite the booze and unidentified white substances found in their room by police the next morning There’s no doubt that Kirsty’s death, and others like it, have had a grip on the collective consciousness in the UK for many years, in part because she was a Brit abroad who had lost her life far too young.

But what I found over the course of my investigation in Benidorm is that Kirsty’s age and nationality are potentially why the Spanish justice system failed her.

Indeed, it is more than possible that she was just seen as another drunk Brit abroad, her death all too easily filed away as an accident.

The true mystery isn’t what happened in Kirsty’s final moments. It’s how the Spanish authorities were able to treat her case with a carelessness that bordered on contempt.

As for the theories buzzing round true crime forums, the more I investigated, the less they made sense.

It’s almost impossible to imagine that Kirsty was suicidal or sleepwalking as some Reddit threads suggest.

Her father said that she was ‘happy and full of life’ and had ‘never slept walked in her life’ - and after looking up at the terrifying height of the apartments, I am convinced not even an adrenaline junkie would attempt to try ‘balconing’ from the tenth floor.

Certainly not Kirsty, who friends insisted was scared of heights.

Indeed, up until the last hour of her life, all of Kirsty’s actions made sense. Going away with friends for a hen party, the accommodation had been carefully picked: My Pretty Payma, self catering apartments with a pool, a two minutes walk away from the hustle and bustle of the main party strip.

Nearly 20 girls flew out for the hen weekend, wearing matching pink t-shirts, all looking forward to the pool and beach and instilled with the pure joy of heading out with friends into a warm evening of laughter, drinks and dancing.

Kirsty acted as any of us would have.

What we still don’t know is what led her to leave her bedroom, less than an hour after friends captured a video of her peacefully snoring in bed.

I wonder now, in retrospect, whether the crazy theories, the accusations of drinking too much and why exactly she was in a room with five men stem from the fear of accepting something bad happened… the need to erect a clear barrier between people who behave

The idea of ‘balconing’ - as jumping off balconies into a pool is known is unlikely on various levels, in par-ticular as she was scared of heights.

Sleepwalking One theory suggests that Kirsty may have slept walked upstairs and into the apartment, although an expe rt believed it odd that nobody saw her do this and her family insisted she had never slept walked before.

Her clothes Damage to her skirt when her body was found suggested she was facing into the balcony. when she fell.

There was a snag in the fabric although her clothes which coul d have held key DNA evidence have bizarelly since been destroyed by Spanish police.

The men in the room Her friends did not know what connection Kirsty might have made to the five men who claimed she had come into the room acting ‘drun k and strange’.

They insisted they didn’t speak her and did not witness her fall. to A Spanish detective allegedly said he believed she may have been ‘intimidated’ by the men to jump.

abroad and the people who end up losing their lives.

But the truth is, Kirsty is exactly like us, exactly like anyone on holiday. Optimistic, care free.

Full of life.

The only barrier that exists now, for the family, for the private investigators and for journalists like me, seems to be the Spanish authorities.

Over the course of our investigation we uncovered some truly horrifying truth about the mistakes made by the police - and yet any attempt to get the cops or court system to explain their missteps was met with hostility or silence.

I hope pressure from the documentary will change that.

Her parents Brian and Denise maintain her death was never investigated properly and that they are still waiting on answers.

We need justice for Kirsty’s family. We need to make sure that when a foreigner dies abroad, the case is always treated with respect, sympathy and, above all, without errors.

What happened to Kirsty could happen to many of us, or our children, and that is terrifying.

- True Life Crime UK is available on MTV on demand

STUNNING: Sevilla is a city noted

for its beauty, architecture, gardens

17

and lifestyle

in Spain.

By Dilip Kuner In this four-page special, to celebrate our dedicated travel portal to Spain, the launch of HE streets of Sevilla are normally thronging at takes the this time of year. a look at some of the highlights ofOlive Press Sevilla.

The first city to be spotlighted in Tens of thousands of people flock our new to the capi- website, tal of Andalucia to witness and savour in the coming months we will be travel the solemn taking pasos, or processions, that wend their way through a close look at Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Madrid the historic heart of the city at Easter. and Valencia, plus all the other key destinations An extremely popular tourist destination around - equally Aside Spain. busy for the Feria de Abril a few weeks later - Sevilla dozensfrom the articles included here, there will be is famous for its beautiful architecture more vignettes and features on Sevilla and its outdoor lifestyle and terrace dining. as well as its wonderful province.

But, as these pictures show, now This includes potted guides to the if you want to avoid the queues - is the time to visit mona, Ecija, Osuna, as well as key towns of Carand it is all down special features on to COVID-19 restrictions. the curious communist town of Marinaleda, mounOf course you may have to wait tain escapes like Cazalla de la Sierra and the wonthe restrictions to finally lift, but a few weeks for derful Roman city of Italica. you a taste of the treats in store these photos give At the moment, while many foreign when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most missing out on their travel dreams, tourists are famous cities local at expats can make the most of whatleast the is easily Europe’s most diverse and colourful country.

Watch out for the new portal which will be at:

T

https://travel. theolivepress. es/

April 7th - April 20th 2021

EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally

packed at Easter (below centre)

19

April 7th - April 20th 2021

18

There’s no better place to get lost in history than Sevilla, the city which hosted the departure of Christopher Columbus - just ask the likes of Barack Obama and Uma Thurman, writes Laurence Dollimore

Columbus Uma Thurman Barack Obama was along Calle Betis. decided to build a fort. However, it alive with food and the explorer’s plundering of South Amergrounds were The riverbed comes become over 500 years that theMoorish, Chris- drink stalls lining the riverside calle while series).

OU can easily picture Christopher To this day you can sail along the river, ica, saw the country’s empire added to by successive old competithe world. making it during the day a centuries’ Columbus setting off for the Amer- just as the explorer did, and gaze in awe among the most powerful in oth- tian and finally Catholic rulers,attractions tion known as the La Cucana sees parBetween 1492 and 1681, gold and icas as you stroll along the banks at the medieval marvels along the way. the most emblematic attempt to walk along a boat’s er minerals from the ‘New one of of the Guadalquivir in Sevilla’s And just a stone’s throw characterised by its multicul- ticipants bow which has been slathered in grease World’ catapulted Spain in a region central neighbourhood of El Arenal. away in the Santa Cruz attempt to catch a little flag attached into an era of wealth and tural history.

The medieval shipyards here - which neighbourhood you’ll find miss the Giralda bell tower at- andthe end - with prizes for those who Murillo and prosperity, with its litera- And don’t Catedral, the top of which at have existed since the days of Julius the tomb of Columbus at and arts also flour- tached to thevia a series of ramps which complete the task.

Velazquez are ture Caesar - are central to this ancient city’s the Catedral. over the river, however, something ishing (showcased best is accessed history. be ascended by Moors on horse- Backis brewing.

The largest Gothic church new at the Museo de Bella used to just two who Boasting a Gothic style, the galleys they back before calling citizens to prayer. the in the world, covering the central neighbourhood of Alfalbuilt played an important role in the some 23,500sqm, it not just the old town centre In this chose to live in Artes).

Just ask the greats Mu- But it’s with sites, with medieval church- fa, the Soho Benita area is proving battle for the Strait of Gibraltar and was completed in the Velazquez, who packed city can also host 21st century Hundred Years’ War - and more notably early 1500s before being the historic city rillo and and centuries-old food mar- ancient gems. chose to live in the roman- es, conventsevery corner. as the launchpad for Columbus’ explora- registered as a UNESCO kets around Covering six streets (Golfo, Perez Galdos, tic city. tions.

No neighbourhood knows this more than Don Alonso el Sabio, Ortizo de Zuniga, in World Heritage Site in The former has gorgeous gardens (They also played an important role Luis Luque), it invis- Triana. still Jose 1987. can and you while Thrones, Santillana of him after Game of Flamenco named the fictional world Once home to sailors, potters, It is one of dozens of remnants from around 20 small businesses, it the birthplace of the latter tucked bull-fighters, Triana’s rich corporates posing as the crypts of the Red Fortress Spain’s Golden Age, which, thanks to behind a narrow dancers and colourful as its buildings including a modern art gallery, nail salon in the seventh season of the hit fantasy traditional barbers, and was recently street in the Al- history is as up the river bank on its iconic and as a must-place to visit by the New falfa neighbour- which light tipped Calle Betis. hood.

York Times. arraan as known once was arrival is the RecoVeco Luckily for us, The barrio given to areas separated The newest the era also saw bal, the name of Sevilla. And many in restaurant on Calle Ortizo de Zuniga, Habsburg from the centre just this year. the see themselves as strictly opened The Spanish ‘heritage’ Dynasty solidify the town stilldistinct from eatery promises traditionand create some trianero and including the AlaSevillanos, and the of Andarest surrounding the area the seasonal is al and of the cities most HE Alameda neighbourhood by bars, cafes and restaurants Believed to often referring to the lucia dishes but with an stunning sites. meda de Hercules, a long mall accompanied the Avant Garde twist - and all include neighbourhood as of These on either side. have been Republic the Alameda was once a in a super-chic setting... the stunning Real Independent Lying in the northern part of the city’s old town, place to treat founded by the the perfect loved Alcazar palace Triana. meeting point for the elites in the 1800s. quickly deteriorated into one of the have been ones for or and gardens, just Believed toa Roman colHowever following the Spanish Civil War, it prostitution - with up to 35 brothemperor yourself a night. opposite the Cat- founded by emperor Tra- Roman poorest barrios and was ravaged by drugs and ony under And you wouldn’t be the and the promenade edral. els operating in 1989.

Trajan by crossplan in the early 2000s which saw traffic limited first to want to hang out in Declared a World jan, it is entered But it is now back in action following a rescuetrees.

II bridge, a the Alfalfa barrio.

Heritage Site by ing the Isabel restored, and lined with poplar and hackberry and anyone looking for a good time. itself.

Former US President UNESCO in 1987, landmark in a traditional as the warm up acts to nightToday it is the place to be for the young, cultured with bars like Dilema, Nua and 1987 acting it is among the It’s home totile industry - with a museum Barack Obama was papped entering the It also the most gay-friendly quarter of Sevilla, eatery Bache San Pedro after oldest palaces pottery and clubs Holiday, Fun Club, Men to Men or Itaca. (which does a great Moscow Mule) and a flavourful selection of restauto the crafts - vibrant fla- popular in Europe hav- paying homage and hugely popular mar- attending a climate change summit in There are also great cocktail bars like Gigante ing begun con- menco festivals the city. rants, from the traditional to the nouvelle. what he opted for, but the struction in 913, kets and festivals. the Sevilla heat between No one knows with ‘special sauce’ is sublime, as when the caliph If you’re braving (on Calle Eslava). You may have EATING...

26, don’t miss the Vela San- pork famous cheesecake, made with cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava of Andalucia Abd July 21 and If you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you bar for a shorter wait) but it is more than worth it with one of the quirkiest held every day and night is its al-Rahman III first ta Ana festival to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the tataki), vegetable strudel and tastiest menus around. jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or it cream. terrace ice a sun-kissed and manchego cheese situated along the Alameda promenade. Boasting For Middle Eastern fusion head to Arte y Sabor, and innovative and creative salads. is unique in its wide range of vegetable dishesat Casa Ricardo, which has been serving locals since 1898. Their melt-inIf you want something more traditional, stopa cold sherry while enjoying the old-school writing of orders with chalk on the-mouth jamon can be knocked back with the bar and walls adorned with religious art. Nickel has some of the best burgers in Sevilla while Al Solito Posto has If you’re looking for something less Spanish,

El Sevilla is stunning, whether it is the OLD AND NEW: The architecture ofcentre or the modern La Seta (above) Salvador church (far left) historic

payoyo cheese from the hills of Cadiz. up Back in 2015, Uma Thurman dressedthe as the Virgin Mary while drinking at uber traditional El Garlochi bar - a watering hole like no other, with more religious art than wall space and only the holiest of music blaring through the speakers. of Alfalfa provides the perfect snapshot Sevilla, where centuries’ old traditions live in harmony alongside 21st century upgrades.

Just head to the modern-day Las Setas in the neighbouring Encarnacion barrio.

Officially known as the Metropol Parasol, the imposing structure boasts six parasols and is spread over four levels. JurIt was designed by Berlin architect gen Mayer who entered into a governthe ment-run competition to renovate area in the early 2000s.

Repeatedly ranked as the number by one tourist attraction in Spain EsTripAdvisor users, the Plaza de pana is truly a work of art. the Designed by Caidon Fox for 1929 Sevilla Expo, it was created to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits at the historic fair.

The complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running mix around the edge, boasting a of 1920s Art Deco, Baroque and Neo-Mudejar styles via The buildings are accessible the four bridges - representing

Plaza de España

four ancient kingdoms of Spain - built over a moat which runs the whole length of the complex.

In the centre sits the Vicente Traver fountain while by the walls are tiled alcoves, each depicting a different province of Spain.

If you REALLY have time to kill, you can row a boat in the moat in what is possibly the most unnecessary tourist trap - although it does make for a nice photo.

Potted barrios guide to... ALAMEDA

delicious pizzas. head to the Cereal Cafe.

Or if you want a taste of gentrified London,

a lion atop each column Roman-style columns. The northern side features At either end of the promenade you’ll find two Caesar. while the other end features Hercules and Julius of Andalucia, which bears the Pillars of Hercules and, obviously, two The two lions and Hercules represent the emblem lions. while Legend has it that Hercules founded Sevilla Julius Caesar also ruled it for a time. at its Head to Convento Santa Clara and marvelfor eximpressive cloister which is frequently used hibitions.

While there, don’t miss the Torre de Don Fadrique, ofnamed after the late owner of the site and which fers a stunning example of early Gothic architecture in Sevilla. Built in 1252, the tower is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. with Finally, the Convento San Clemente is adorned1500s fascinating frescoes and artwork from the by the and you can also buy some pastries made nuns who live there.

SITES….

STUNNING: The Moorish Alcazar is

a must-see in Sevilla

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20

pan IT is known as El Sarten, the frying dip of Spain because it’s location in a La surrounded by the olive groves of Campina means it regularly records the hottest temperatures in southern Europe. of But Ecija is also dubbed the ‘CitysurTowers’ and ‘City of Palaces’, no prise when you see the skyline interrupted by several dozen towers, some with detailed ceramic work and usually topped by a stork nest. to Located 85km from Sevilla, a visit this gem of a town is like stepping back in time. And if you are struggling under the weight of tourism in the provincial cercapital, or nearby Cordoba, you tainly won’t be here: It’s unlikely you’ll hear a single English accent, even after COVID. Narrow cobbled streets, white-washed

as Ecija: A visit to the charming city known soup’ ‘the frying pan’ of Spain, where ‘cat is on the menu

By Fiona Govan

houses and alluring porticos reveal glimpses of bloom-filled patios within.

While avenues are lined by orange

STUNNING: One of dozens of mosaics found

ROMAN CITY: Ecija is awash with

historic monuments and priceless

WHERE TO EAT

Roman statues

trees, their blossom filling the air with this the powerful scent that screams part of Andalucia.

Once an important Roman settlement or known as Astigi on the via Augusta, A-4, the longest and busiest Roman beroad in ancient Hispania, the town came Madinat al-qutn (City of Cotton) and when it fell under Arab rule in 711 setwas renamed Ecija when Christian in tlers moved in after the reconquest 1240.

This is the place to visit churches, even just to raise your eyes to admire towers the such as Las Gemelas (the twins) of or Iglesia de la Purísima Concepcion the exquisite triple bell tower of Iglesia de San Juan.

For fans of the Baroque style, don’t miss a visit to the Church of Limpia Concepcion with its fabulously ornate plasterwork ceiling, decoration that the was added in the 18th century and Iglesia de los Descalzos with an altarpiece which is said to rival that of Sevilla’s cathedral.

Then there’s the palaces. In the 18th century the city was home to 40 noble families whose patronage saw Ecija is transformed under a golden age that still possible to see glimpses of today, with some open to the public.

At the Palacio de los Palma the rooms

are preserved as they were in its heyday with all the original furniture, while to Palacio de Peñaflor is the place in marvel at frescos - some of the best of Spain - stretching across 60 metres its exterior walls. to The Palacio de Benamejí is home the tourist office, a good courtyard Rorestaurant Las Ninfas (with its man statues) and the Museo Historica which boasts a series of breathtaking mosaic floors from Roman times.

It also housesthe 2,000-year-old Amazona Herida, a perfectly preserved statue which was discovered in 2007 the when digging out a car park under city’s Plaza España.

Dine out with locals at one of the many restaurant in terrazas Plaza España or around the fountain in Plazuela de Santa Maria or grab a table on the little Plaza del Nuestra Señora del Valle and enjoy views across to the magnificent half ruined Iglesia de Santa which Cruz, was damaged in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

IN SEVILLA MY TOP FIVE Jon Clarke shares his dining

ied. eing the capital city of Andalu- I first found the likes of Tribeca and cia, the dining scene in Sevilla Abantal over a decade ago, buzzing is unsurprisingly diverse. in my book and Famous for its joints that I included of Andalucia. skillfully manages to provide central tapas website Dining Secretstoday, with the Tarquini still both at excellent prices, and it’s bars, where They are still around star, around today. typi- latter now with its own Michelin locals work of its chef But you should also look next door freshest seafood on offer cally tapear thanks to the hard where there is a brand new hip joint changes by the day with at up to five Julio Quintero. at the legend- called Bar la Sal, serving up the very and menu. new or six differ- He himself had trained local seafood - particularly tuna a not cheap, but it’s the Alabardero, a glamIt’s ent bars in ary Taberna del of the local dining best you can imagine.

- that to have shellfish, session, orous grand dame a in December 2020, its dy- place its own culinary it also has scheme that hadbut is, to be fair, a Openingowner Charo Alvarez already such as razor shells, which namic bustling training scheme, a city were served with a delicious has another restaurant in the cream of algas r e s t a u r a n t little stuffy. de San Telmo in a famous joint in soup or the community I also picked Vineria to the Alcazar, and Zahara de los Atunes, amazing puntilthat is as a great location next good food the Costa de la Luz, litas with fresh A wonderful competitive which brilliantly combines boss Juan on in Cadiz. peas and an as it is var- and wine. Its Argentinian With this place she mix of flavours onion caldo. wanted to make it more But its piece de around from informal, less punishresistance was ing on the pocket, yet the medley of Spain and still serving up the best cuts of Mero, Spain’s abroad bluefin tuna you will most popular fish ever eat in a dozen difknown as ‘grouper’ ferent guises. in English. We had At least three of her an amazing trio of belly, fillet andI tuna starter dishes have won prizes spine, some of the tastiest fish as the best tapa in Zahara’s famous have ever eaten. annual tapas competition.

The wine list is great and you can It’s the most buzzing spot around this champagne by the Bollinger have Spring and you will need to book one glass at €10. of the excellent terrace tables that take on dinsit next to the For a totally different opened c e l e b r a t e d ing, head to the recently which is one of Jardines de La Casa del Tigre original diners Murillo park the most romantic, with its amaz- in Andalucia.

Opened by four friends just before and La Sal ing trees. in December MIX: duck ham tapa at Casa del Tigre A n o t h e r the COVID lockdown after an old terrace amazing fish 2019, it got its name kept a restaurant - zookeeper who infamously flat for years. probably the tiger upstairs in hisdecorated with best in Sevilla It is sumptuously but also stylish and, among acres of velvet, doffing the best I patterns and artworks,to African have eaten at their hat appropriately wildlife. in Andalucia The food is hard to describe as is Canabota. eclectic, but This minimal- anything other than mix of flavours ist joint only it is a wonderful and abroad, inhas the very from around Spain

B

secrets in the Andalucia capital

CREATIVE: sea urchin dish at Canabota Eslava

and (right)

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cluding fish cheeks, beef mollejas (glands next to the heart basically) and the most amazing Taco de Puchero, basically an unreconstructed grandma-style croquette.

Don’t miss the cool foie and duck ham starter that comes on a bed of lettuce, while the wine list was exceptionally good, with plenty of wines by the glass.

Finally, if you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava (on Calle Eslava conveniently).

You may have to queue to be seat-a ed (opt for a spot at the bar for shorter wait) but it is worth it for one of the most original menus around.

Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef tigre tataki), vege• La Casa del table strudel • Canabota and manche• Bar la Sal cheese go • Esclava ice cream.

Telmo • Vineria San

8

E

LA CULTURA

N V I R O N M E N TA L I ST S aren’t the only ones counting the days until the big scheduled O’Burgo Estuary clean-up in La Coruña.

Funding has been approved to dredge nearly 600,000 cubic metres of sediment from the mouth of the Galician port to improve drainage, current flow, water quality and shipping lanes.

However historians also have their beady eyes on what lies beneath the seabed which could show Sir Francis Drake’s Armada victory in a slightly less swashbuckling light.

It is the long-held belief that sunken English ships commanded by the British Admiral are buried in sediment at the entrance to the estuary. If this is indeed the case, it could shed light on an overlooked chapter in Spanish history that has literally been buried

FAILED: Sir Francis Drake by the sands of time. Hence, before the €8.5-million project begins, an environmental impact statement is being considered by La Coruña officials to safeguard potentially vital new evidence.

The subtext of the infamous defeat of the Spanish Armada

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Dredging up history is well known. The vastly superior ‘Invincible Navy’ of Spain was defeated in the waters off England by inclement weather, poor strategy and by faster, more nimble English ships under Drake’s command.

A year later, swelled by national pride, Sir Francis sailed to

The true aftermath of the Spanish Armada has been buried by the sands of time … until now, writes Jack Gaioni La Coruña to drive home the advantage of what he considered newly-acquired English

SEARCH: Divers are investigating the O’Burgo estuary

naval dominance. His plan was to destroy what was left of the depleted Spanish Navy.

But things did not go well for Sir Francis, even though his fleet of 150 ships and 23,500 men greatly outnumbered the four Spanish galleons and 1,500 soldiers docked in the defenseless Atlantic harbour.

A heroic resistance by the Spanish troops and local militia held off the invading English while, according to legend, it was the women of the city who actually forced the retreat.

In one instance a woman named Maria Pita was assisting her husband in combat when he was killed by a spear.

Full of rage, she snatched the spear and killed the attacker.

The man was Admiral Drake’s brother.

Another woman instrumental in that battle was Ines de Ben. From her small metal shop, she was able to fashion weapons and ammunition. Wounded twice in the head and thigh, she heroically carried stone and sandbags to fortify the defensive positions.

In the harbour, Spain’s galleons were able to trap, and later sink, an undetermined number of ships near the entrance to the estuary.

Retreated

BATTLE: Maria Pita (inset) slays Drake’s brother and depiction of the naval engagement that saw the English fleet vanquished

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Drake retreated demoralised.

Artifacts such as cannon balls, dishes, coins and a 2.5 metre English brass cannon have been salvaged but location, the timeline, and other details have become unclear over the past 450 years.

After failing to deliver the knockout blow to the Spanish Navy at La Coruña, Drake went on to Lisbon where he was unable to stir up a Portuguese uprising against Spain.

In a last-ditch effort to establish English dominance in the Atlantic, he also failed to take the Azores and Spain remained a major naval power on the global stage for another 200 years.

The environmental impact report, authored by Arqueo-Atlantica Consultants, recommends that future dredging takes into account the ‘safeguarding of this heritage’.

The firm classifies the estuary as an ‘underwater area of great archaeological potential’. The hope is that the necessary environmental dredging work will work in concert with archaeologists to add to the historical record while also improving the O’Burgo Estuary environment.

A statue of Maria Pita dominates La Coruña’s central plaza. As she looks down on her beautiful city and harbour. My guess is that she, too, would agree with those sentiments…

LA CULTURA Operatic triumph

MADRID’S Teatro Real has won the top honour at the 2021 International Opera Awards which are opera’s equivalent of the movie Oscars.

The virtually-hosted event saw the Teatro Real given the ‘Opera Company of the Year’ award. The jury said the company had been recognised ‘not only for its outstanding work in 2019’ but for ‘its trailblazing efforts’ to bring back live opera in spite of the pandemic.

Open

The Teatro Real reopened on July 1 last year and it has remained open since.

Artistic director, Joan Matabosch, said: “Thanks to everyone who every day, with determination, professionalism and enthusiasm, manages to raise the curtain.”

Congratulations came from the Royal Family who proclaimed that ‘Spain has the best opera in the world’.

Spanish palaces are amongst most loved in the world TWO of Spain’s best loved palaces have been ranked in the World’s top 10.

The Palacio Real in Madrid and Granada’s spectacular Alhambra were voted amongst the ‘world’s most loved’ rankings Homedit.com decided tolist 20 of the most well-known royal palaces, or former royal palaces, on four criteria to determine which is the most loved by the public.

The historic sites were judged on average TripAdvisor rating, global monthly searches, hashtags on Instagram, and pins on Pinterest.

Each criteria was marked out of a maximum of 25 points to create a total score out of 100.

The Palacio Real came fifth with a score of 66, while the Alhambra was ninth with 58

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Royal approval

9

Top dollar

By Dilip Kuner

points.

The Palacio Real scored highly for its hashtags on

Night visits Night visits to the Alhambra in Granada have restarted.

The tours will run from Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10pm to 11.30pm, and permit visitors to explore the stunning architecture and decor of the 14th century palace in a ‘magical and different atmosphere’..

Night visits for the cultural and tourist itinerary of the Dobla de Oro (Golden Doubloon) will also be resumed.

The Alhambra is currently operating at 65% capacity and its opening hours are from 8.30am to 8pm every day.

Group visits are up to 10 people maximum, including the monitor or official guide, and face masks are mandatory.

A PAINTING by Pablo Picasso has been sold for an eye watering $103 million (€84.87 million).

Femme assise pres d’une fenêtre (Marie-Therese) was sold at Christie’s 20th-century auction in New York.

It was the first time a painting had sold at auction for more than €100 million in nearly two years.

The price places Femme assise among Picasso’s top-10 works at auction. The sale helped boost Christie’s total for evenings sales, including fees, to US$691 million (€569 million) in just a week.

The result for Femme assise, which carried a third-party guarantee, happened after a 19-minute-plus bidding war that escalated until two specialists from New York fought it out in a private battle.

The hammer came down on a price of US$90 million (€74.1 million), before fees from the anonymous bidder.

It was expected to sell for around US$55 million (€45.3 million).

Femme assise is one of a series of portraits Picasso painted of Marie-Therese, his muse and lover, during the pivotal year for the artist of 1932, and was a featured work in Tate Modern’s Picasso 1932, exhibition of 2017-18.

Instagram, but was let down by its TripAdvisor rating and global monthly searches. On the other hand, the Alhambra scored highly for its TripAdvisor rating, but struggled in other categories.

Beaten

Both were resoundingly beaten by Buckingham Palace (London), which achieved a score of 80.

Second spot went to Neuschwanstein Palace in Bavaria with St Petersburg’s (Russia) Winter Palace coming in third and Versailles in France taking fourth spot.

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10

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

For most tourists Cordoba is all about the Mesquita, the Alcazar and the Roman bridge.

Laurence Crumbie took the road less travelled and found a city chock full of treasures lesser known

S

PAIN is not short of beautiful cities oozing history from between the cracks of their ancient iconic buildings, such as Granada’s Alhambra and Sevilla’s Alcazar.

But one comes above the rest, according to a poll published by global travel bible Lonely Planet this year: that of Cordoba, a true melting pot of ancient, modern and everything in between.

The birthplace of renowned Roman playwright Seneca and Jewish philosopher Maimonides, to name two great thinkers, the place is a veritable warren of historic sites.

Now is the perfect time to visit Cordoba’s numerous attractions without the crowds and clamour, drifting through the town at your

Walk this way

own pace.

I wanted to explore the city without going to ‘the big three’ - the Mezquita, the alcazar and the medina - as I have a pretentious passion for taking the path less trodden. Just follow your nose and take an aimless amble around.

You won’t be disappointed. Cordoba entertained right from the get-go as I stumbled across the Church of San Francisco, built by Fernando III in the 13th century with its adjacent square with red and white porticoes. Heading west, I wound my way through sin-

uous stone streets and chanced upon the Calleja de los Flores, a quaint alleyway lined with flower pots.

From here it is just a gentle stroll to Casa Arabe, also known as Casa Mudejar, an arts and culture centre that hosts qual-

ity photography exhibitions on niche topics, including Morocco’s breathtaking blue-washed town, Chefchaouen.

After a delicious lunch of tortilla and salmorejo, Cordoba’s celebrated tomato purée topped with serrano jam (or in a vegetarian’s case,

100 ye flowe

As Cordoba’s famous patio festival marks its centennial, Fiona Govan visits the city that goes potty for plants in May

I

T’S a botanical binge to inspire the most relucFrom as far as back as the Roman occupation tant gardners. of Cordoba, houses have been built around inner For a fortnight in May, all Cordoba opens its gardens enclosed within thick walls to provide a private courtyards to the hoi polloi who traipse haven of shade during the summer months when through the cobbled alleys and duck through the mercury often tops 40ºC. doorways to be amazed by the green-fingered These internal spaces were refined to include skills of those who live here. As the child of flofountains and water features under Moorish rule, ra-obsessed parents I recall many trips around when the Umayyad caliphate built the mosque – the formal gardens of National Trust properties since converted into a cathedral - that remains a - most often in the rain and endured only for the highlight of every city tour. promise of ice-cream or a cream tea in a chintzNowadays these spaces have been elevated to filled café. works of art, where each wall in every garden has Now with a patio of my own in Madrid sprouting been designed with the festival in mind, each pot several sad yuccas, a few hardy spider plants and of geraniums carefully placed to maximise conone pitiful geranium, it was time to seek inspiratrasts and provide sensational bursts of colour. tion from a city that packs more So good are they that the patios flower power than San Francisco have been afforded UNESCO-produring the merry month of May. tected status.

A perfumed This year marks the 100th anniSome gardens belong to single versary of the Feria de los Patios, properties and others are collecpromenade when residents open their floral tions of courtyards with different through private inner sanctums to the public and dwellings looking out on them. compete for the prize of prettiest One of my favourites was No. patios in the walled garden space.

6, Calle Marroquíes where low old quarter Usually mobbed, but with COVID-19 bungalows are home to artisan keeping tourists away, it was easy workshops within a labyrinth of to find an affordable, last-minute interlocking corridors and patios Airbnb. Mine was ensconced in a quaint alley a bedecked with tumbling greenery and blooms. cobblestone’s throw from Plaza de la CorredeIt’s easy to tell the serious gardeners (the ones ra, a colonnaded square filled with terrazas fresnapping close-ups of leaves to identify plants quented by Cordoba’s student population. that might thrive on their own windowsills) from The route map provided on the website takes the nosey parkers (me). I had more fun peeking visitors on a perfumed promenade to dozens of through doors and windows, enjoying the access private patios throughout the old quarter and it’s to private spaces sealed off behind closed doors an olfactory overload even if you only visit half of for all but this fortnight in May. them.

My guide was Cordoba local Chapi Pineda, a I interspersed courtyard visits with stops at tapas celebrated flamenco guitarist with a deep love bars and bodegas and sightseeing around the of his home city and an insider knowledge that Mezquita and Juderia - a joy to do in this beautihe is proud to share: including where to taste fully compact walking city. the best tortilla in town (Bar Santos) and how to Thankfully the queues for patios were shorter find a table with unrivalled views of the cathedral and faster this year, despite social distancing (upstairs on the terrace of the Pairi Daeza restaumeasures which, fortuitously, gave everyone a rant). few brief moments alone to enjoy the space withSomewhere in the maze of narrow white-washed out crowds of selfie-takers and couples romantilanes between the synagogue and the Mezquita cally posing beneath bougainvillea. he also revealed a real local treasure: Bodega

diced egg), I meandered along the riverfront and over the marvellous Puente Romano, a 250m stone bridge that dates back to at least the second century AD. Founded around 152BC by the Romans, Corduba, as it was called then, was the capital of

BEAUTY: The patios are a colourful treat Guzman, its dark tiled interior exuding the musty aroma of fermenting wine, where a glass of local fino can be enjoyed for a staggeringly good value €1.10.

In the evening we dined at Taberna San Miguel Casa el Pisto, a typical Andalus restaurant where we sat in a tiled courtyard covered in feria memorabilia.

Beneath a portrait of the greatest matador of all time, Cordoba-born Manolete - painted by Chapi’s own father, the artist Rafael Pineda - we devoured local delicacies including the simple but divine cogollos al ajillo - who knew lettuce could taste this good?

Cordoba in May is exquisite, even for those who don’t think flowers are that interesting.

In fact, I dare you to visit and not come away with a few souvenir pots and a head full of ideas for improving your own urban garden. I certainly did.

A B O D R O C SPECIAL

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Simply stunning

T SO SPECIAL: The Roman bridge (left), the Alcazar (above), Roman pillars (below) and a work by Julio Romero de Torres

Hispania Ulterior and flourished economically by virtue of its prized olive oil.

It became a Roman colonia between 46 and 45BC, but after the city put its money and troops on the wrong horse in the civil war between Pompey and Caesar, the

latter sacked it and slaughtered some 30,000 people.

These seismic events would inspire Lucan, born in Cordoba just six years earlier, to compose one of the most extraordinary poems in the Latin language - the Pharsalia, a subversive, gory epic

years of er power

11

about the aforementioned civil war whose quality scholars still debate fiercely today.

Next up was the Museo Julio Romero de Torres, where I was the only visitor.

Tucked away on the Plaza del Potro, this cosy, elegant museum dedicated to the eponymous local painter was the unexpected gem of my trip.

Romero, born 1874, was possessed with the fervour of Flamenco, which he often personified as a naked or scantily clad lady, such as in La musa gitana (‘The Gypsy Muse’). As is the case in so much art produced by men, many of Romero’s busty women were conveniently spilling out of their garments in one place or another, leading feminists to vilify him; nonetheless, his striking style that fused a gamut of motifs - classical, mannerist, Christian, Andalucian - made a stronger impression on me than the artwork in the Bellas Artes museum opposite and lingered with me long after I left.

Lavish

My last stop of the day was the Viana Palace. Dating back to 1492, this lavish manor exhibits an unusual intertwining of Roman and Arabic architectural styles and boasts 12 beautiful patios à la the Cordoban custom, not to mention sumptuous salons that evoke the lifestyles of the various nobles who were lucky enough to call this place home.

Flowers and fruits fragrance the air and nearly every courtyard is bursting with colour. My favourites were the reception patio, with its porticoed galleries supported by stately Tuscan columns, and the serene Patio de los naranjas whose trickling fountain and spectacular purple wisteria lend it a soothing, serene atmosphere.

It made for a superb end to an excellent day round Cordoba which reaffirmed an age-old truth of travel: even if a city is best known for one building alone, scratch below the surface and you’re sure to find that the place has a whole lot more to offer as well.

Unmissable monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984

HE iconic symbol of Cordoba is the stunning Mosque-Cathedral, which is an extraordinary example of the blending of Muslim and Christian cultures.

Built in the 8th Century under the rule of Amir Abd ar-Rahman I, the mosque became a Christian church when Cordoba was conquered by Fernando III of Castilla in 1236.

Such was its stunning beauty, the christians decided to preserve the mosque rather than destroy it, enhancing its beauty by adding new spaces and monuments.

The central focus of the edifice is a shellshaped prayer niche built in the 10th century.

The mihrab traditionally faces Mecca.

However, the one in the mosque of Cordoba faces south.

The striped brick and stone arches are supported by 856 granite and marble pillars from the Roman and Visigothic ruins.

The sun’s rays create an impressive play of light between the pillars and the arches.

Also, like many cathedrals in southern Spain, the Mosque of Cordoba has an orange tree courtyard.

You can enter the Patio de los Naranjos free of charge, and this is where you will find the kiosk to buy your ticket for the oficial tour.

Entrance to the Mosque costs €11 per person. Children between 10 and 14 years old will pay €6, and children under 10 are free.

Early risers can visit the mosque for free from Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 9:30am.

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12

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Novelist Joan Fallon guides us around the ruined city that proved to be an inspiration...

W

HEN I first heard about the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, I was intrigued by the idea that a palace-city of such magnificence should have lasted for such a short time.

Civilisations come and go, as any reader of history knows but for it to last no more than 75 years seemed a tragedy.

It was the summer of 2001. I picked up a leaflet about an exhibition that was to be held in the museum at Madinat al-Zahra, just outside Cordoba. It was entitled The Splendour of the Cordovan Umayyads. I remembered my childhood love of Tales of the Arabian Nights and I was hooked. So we drove across from Málaga, on a blistering hot day to see what it was all about.

I have been back many times since and the place holds a fascination for me; so much so that it inspired me to write a novel.

I decided to tell the story of the city through a family that lived there; I had the bare bones of my novel before me, in the stone walls and paved paths, in the narrow passages ways, the ornate gardens, the artefacts in the museum. All I needed to do was to make the city come alive through my characters.

I’ve called the novel The Shining City because ‘Madinat’ (or medina) is the word for town and ‘Zahra’ means shining or brilliant. It’s said that the caliph called the city al-Zahra because, at the time it was being built, he was in love with a slave girl called Zahra. It could be true; there are certainly written references to a concubine of that name, but I think ‘Zahra’ referred to the magnificence of the city itself.

As the principle character in my book, Omar, tells his nephew: ‘It means shining, glistening, brilliant. Possibly his concubine glittered and shone with all the jewels and beautiful silks he showered upon her but then so did the city. It was indeed the Shining City. When visitors entered through the Grand Portico, passing beneath its enormous, red and white arches, when they climbed the ramped streets that were paved with blocks of dark mountain stone, passing the lines of uniformed guards in their scarlet jackets and the richly robed civil servants that flanked their way, when they reached the royal residence and saw the golden inlay on the ceilings, the marble pillars, the richly woven rugs scattered across the floors and the brilliant silk tapestries, when they saw the moving tank BE AMAZED: The arches of Medinat (above) reconstructed of mercury in the great reception from the ruins (right) pavilion that caught the sunlight and dazzled all who beheld it, the tradition of previous caliphs had good roads to communicate then they indeed knew that they and build himself a palace-city, with Cordoba and there was grander than anything that had even a stone quarry close by. were in the Shining City.’

The caliph left much of the reOf course today, looking at the been built before. ruined paths, the piles of broken The site he chose was eight ki- sponsibility for the construction tiles, the reconstructed arches lometres to the west of Cordoba, of the city to his son al-Hakam, in present day who continued work on it after and pillars, we Andalucia and his father’s death. need to use our measured one One of the most curious quesimagination to This and a half kilome- tions about Madinat al-Zahra is see it as it once tres by almost a why, despite its importance as was. magnificent kilometre. It was the capital of the Umayyad dyThe construction of the city of Ma- city endured no sheltered from nasty in al-Andalus, this magnifthe north winds icent city endured no more than dinat al-Zahra more than 75 by the mountains 75 years. When al-Hakam died was begun in the behind it and had in 976 AD the city was thriving; year 939 AD by years an excellent van- all the most important people in Abd al-Rahman III tage point from the land lived there. and took 40 years which to see who The army, the mint, the law to complete.

Having declared himself the ca- was approaching the city. It was courts, the government and the liph of al-Andalus in 929 AD and well supplied with water from an caliph were there; the city boastwith the country more or less old Roman aqueduct and sur- ed public baths, universities, at peace he wanted to follow in rounded by rich farming land. It libraries, workshops and cere-

CORDOBA SPECIAL

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Mad about Medinat monial reception halls to receive the caliph’s visitors.

But al-Hakam’s heir was a boy of 11-years old. The new boy-caliph was too young to rule, so a regent was appointed, the Prime Minister, al-Mansor, an ambitious and ruthless man.

Gradually the Prime Minister moved the whole court, the mint, the army and all the administra-

Discover the thrill First-time waterskier Cristina Hodgson dives into inland Spain to discover the thrill of wakeboarding at Cordoba’s Xtreme Gene Watersports—and the benefits of lake water in hydrating and steaming out the sinuses

B

EING sport mad as I am, any opportunity to try a new, exciting and thrill-seeking sport is a must on my bucket list, even if I’ve never heard of the full throttle tubing experience I’d signed up for—the more adventurous the better, or so I boast.

But on the wrong side of 40 and with a keener sense of danger since motherhood forms part of who I am, I was somewhat nervous on my drive to

Almodovar del Rio in Cordoba, where Xtreme Gene Watersports are located.

However, as soon as I set foot on Europe’s most popular wakeboard, wakesurf and waterski camp, the shimmering green alkaline lake that could be seen in the distance, together with the rustling, restful woodlands around, swallowed up any pre-nerves in an instant - that together with the four-legged welcome committee who had come to greet me, wagging tails, which I was later infomed, belonged to Snoop, Choco, Lambsy and Loca.

Then, before I knew it, after a quick chat and coffee with Debbie Kelly, co-owner of Xtreme Gene Watersports, I had a life jacket strapped to me and was about to experience first hand what wakesurf - the newest craze in watersports - was all about.

But first a demo exhibition by the current European Wakesurf Champion, Jordan Elizondo-Darwin, also wakeboard and wakesurf head coach at Xtreme Gene.

With the fresh air on my face and the wind playing with my hair, for an instant I fancied myself to be Jackie O in her prime on the

Christina, with the advantage that I got water on the skis without swallowing a to watch Jordan in action. gallon of lake water!

Though I’m sure all the flips, spins and The water came later, and it was like aerial somersaults he performed have an intense hydrating and steaming a technical name, for the out of the sinuses as my sake of simplicity, I’ll just knees wobbled, legs buckled and I tumbled into abbreviate them as ‘all The fresh water the lake, where the fresh freaking impressive’ and I sprayed up my water sprayed up my nose was given the best masterclass I could have wished and, I do believe, out nose and, I do for. through my ears again. believe, out Not that anything of what I effectively got the best of through my ears!

I had just seen was remoboth worlds, an intense tely feasible for me to pull spa session mixed with the off, of course. Just getting out of the personal satisfaction that I can now water on the skis, without swallowing say I walked on water - if only for a a gallon of lake water would be rated split second. as success in my books.

Mission accomplished and a huge And so then it was my turn. I carefu- thanks to the Xtreme Gene team for lly listened to the instructions given such a fun day out (and the towel)! to me by ski coach Matthew Southam, co-owner of Xtreme Gene with wife Debbie, formerly ranked in the top 10 in the world in waterskiing, but for the life of me - and I blame it on the throttle of the speedboat’s motor and not my age - I couldn’t hear a word of what he shouted at me.

Something about knees bent, arms stretched … vroom, vroom, vroom! And I was off!!

Miraculously I did get out of the

tive functions back to Cordoba, leaving the boy caliph in Madinat al-Zahra, ruling over an empty shell.

Once the seat of power had been removed from Madinat al-Zahra, the city went into decline. The wealthy citizens left, quickly followed by the artisans, builders, merchants and local businessmen. Its beautiful buildings were looted and stripped of their treasures and the buildings were destroyed to provide materials for other uses.

Today you can find artefacts from the city in Malaga, Granada, and elsewhere.

Marble pillars that once graced the caliph’s palace now support the roofs of houses in Cordoba.

Ashlars that were part of the city’s walls have been used to build cow sheds Excavation of the site began in 1911 by Riocardo Velazquez Bosco, the curator of the mosque in Cordoba. The work was slow and hampered by the fact that the ruins were on private property.

Keen Landowners were not keen to co-operate and eventually the State had to purchase the land before the excavations could begin.

The work progressed slowly but gradually over the years a number of government acts were passed which resulted in the site being designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest and in 1998 a Special Protection Plan was drawn up to give full weight to the importance of the ruins.

Today the site is open to the public and has an excellent visitor centre and museum. I can recommend a visit.

Having completed writing The Shining City, I then went on to write The Eye of the Falcon and The Ring of Flames, covering the period that is known as The Golden Age of Moorish Spain.

The three books form the al-Andalus trilogy and are available as ebooks from Amazon and in paperback from bookshops, both local and online.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL THE boss of British Airways has called on the Government to reunite Britons with their families overseas by urgently opening up air travel to Spain.

Chief executive Sean Doyle said millions of British expats were desperate to see their loved ones after ‘a very tough 14 months’.

Spain was placed on the amber travel list, along with Greece and USA, earlier this month meaning that anyone returning to the UK from these countries would have to self isolate for two weeks.

Open up!

But Doyle said that data on vaccination and infection rates for Spain, Greece and USA made a ‘compelling case’ for putting them on the green list from early next month.

“The pace of vaccination in Europe has been picking up dramatically over the last couple of weeks and that should push a number of countries on to the green list as we get into June,” he said.

SPAIN’S Foreign Minister believes that the UK must ‘rethink’ its quarantine strategy and look at regions rather than whole countries.

Arancha Gonzalez Leya said that she was ‘optimistic’ that British tourists would

UK should rethink quarantine strategy, says Spain be able to go to Spain this summer, but the UK policy needs to change.

Spain has not been included on any ‘Green’ travel lists

New Player SPANISH state train company RENFE's 80-year-monopoly has ended with French operator, Ouigo, launching services between Madrid and Barcelona.

Ouigo is owned by France's SNCF firm and is offering cheap fares on the lucrative route between the country's biggest cities.

It's Spain's busiest train route and Ouigo is pricing one-way tickets from €9, going up to €79.

The trains are larger than those put on by RENFE. That means the new operator can accommodate more travellers and offer lower ticket prices.

The two-and-a-half hour journey time remains unchanged.

Ouigo has plans to expand onto other routes while RENFE has said that it 'welcomes' the new competition.

from the UK four nations because its average infection rate is 165 cases per 100,000 residents.

Lower

But some regions are much lower. For example, the Valencian Community, is only averaging 35 cases per 100,000. Arancha Gonzalez Leya said: “The UK should move to consider regions rather than countries for inclusion on the ‘Green’ list.

“If that happens, then my sense is that the summer would look good for both Britons and Spaniards.”

“Spain loves British people and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to our country”, she added.

13

Andalucian vernacular

Unfussy Meson Sabor Andaluz in the little-visited Alcala del Valle has the vegetables as the ‘stars’, writes Jon Clarke

I

N a humdrum street in one of inland Andalucia’s most workaday towns sits this genuine dining secret.

Few readers will have heard of Alcala del Valle.

But if you’re searching for the very soul of Andalucia, the very definition of the Andalucian vernacular then you’ve come to the right place.

For restaurant Meson Sabor Andaluz is authenticity at its best; Andalucian folk presenting the very best of their centuries old cuisine.

OK you don’t walk into some charming rural idyll, with ancient wooden beams and an olive press, but its rustic decor certainly gives you that feel, as do the strains of flamenco that come from a local artist, not Cameron de la Isla or the Gypsy Kings.

The bar area is loaded up with shelves full of dried local pulses, peppers, herbs and peaches in jars. It’s a veritable pantry, with a regiment of fresh vegetables many from nearby huertas, alongside

bundles of asparagus… for this is supposedly Spain’s home of asparagus, as owner Jose Aguilera explains.

But vegetables are ‘very much the stars’ of this restaurant, particularly since his son Pedro returned after a long stint as the right hand man of Valencia’s top chef Ricard Camarena, last year.

He picked up many skills from the two Michelin-starred maestro as well as from Andalucia’s top cookery school La Consula, when back in the day it churned out bright stars like Dani Garcia, Diego Gallegos and Jose Carlos Garcia.

Pedro loves experimenting with the local produce, including artichokes, cherries, pistachios, chickpeas, green beans and figs, as well as many of the other famous products from the nearby Serrania de Ronda and Grazalema.

The menu changes by the week and is heavily seasonal,

so at the moment there was a superb baked aubergine stuffed with a tuna tartare, as well as leeks cooked perfectly on the grill with an olive and rosemary sauce.

There was a distinct lightness of touch with dishes like the ‘ensaladilla cremosa’ with prawns and chicken croquettes, as well as the wonderful ‘bunuelos’ of cod and parsley.

My main course of half a quail on bread with a herb vinaigrette was about as local inland Cadiz as you could ever hope to find.

His poached cherry dessert in their jus with a creamy yogurt base was wonderfully rich, but equally subtle in creation.

For wines, ask dad Jose, who’s been running this joint for two decades and is a huge fan of local vineyards and serves plenty up by the glass.

The total bill came to well under 40 euros for two, a postCOVID joy.

Visit at Calle la Huerta, 3, Alcalá del Valle, Cádiz or telephone on 956 13 55 10

On the palAte - Restaurant review

Think Regional

May 19th - June 1st 2021

14

HEALTH

Not me!

LATEST government figures have shown that an alarming percentage of Andalucia's pensioners are rejecting the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot concerns.

The Junta have released numbers that just under 25% of the 60 to 69 age group have rejected the AstraZeneca vaccine due to a number of deaths linked to the jab.

In an interview with Canal Sur, Director of the Vaccination program in Andalucia, David Moreno, explained that currently the region has 65% of its over 60s vaccinated.

Urge

However of the remaining 35%, 25% have been summoned but not arrived at the vaccination centres.

“So far we have vaccinated a high number or this age group, but we urge the remaining unvaccinated population to receive the dose,” said Moreno.

“Unfortunately the Oxford vaccine does not have the popularity that the other brands have, and this is putting a lot of people off,” he continued.

“Although we are investigating links between thrombosis and the AstraZeneca vaccine, the possible side effects are significantly lower than the chances of entering the ICU with COVID-19.”

May 19th - June 1st 2021

SPAIN’S government has called for people to behave ‘responsibly’ after two weekends marked by people celebrating the end to the state of alarm without masks or social distancing.

“The end of the state of emergency does not mean the end of restrictions. Far from it. The virus threat is still real,” Spain’s Justice Minister Juan Carlos Campo insisted.

“That’s why the authorities will continue to take action and the public must keep on behaving responsibly,” he wrote.

The state of alarm that had been in place for six months expired bringing an end to curfews and restrictions on travelling across regional borders, and caps on the numbers allowed to meet in a group.

After months of these restrictions people took advantage of the new freedom to dance in the street, take part in botellones (drinking in the street) many without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing.

Spain’s television stations broad-

Behave yourselves!

STALL holders in Zaragoza’s fish market have started wearing transparent masks to help deaf people lip read.

City officials handed out the masks as part of an initiative with the Association of Cochlear Implants of Spain.

Lips

PARTY TIME: People celebrated the end of restrictions cast images of crowds of revellers meeting in city squares in scenes reminiscent of festivities usually seen on New Year’s Eve. Asked about the images during an official visit to Greece, Spain’s Prime

Minister Pedro Sanchez warned against ‘lowering our guard’.

“Vaccination is progressing well, with very positive results,” he said, but “the virus continues to circulate and we must maintain barriers.”

Pandemic plus Better air saved lives during lockdowns IMPROVED air quality in Spain caused by last year's pandemic lockdown restrictions may have prevented at least 170 premature deaths.

It's largely down to fewer cars on the road, especial-

COVID milestone RESIDENTS of Gibraltar are tentatively celebrating as the government has revealed that for the first time in just under a year there are zero active COVID-19 cases among residents and visitors alike.

The welcome news was announced by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo the day before the Rock opened up a travel corridor with the UK. For the past six weeks, Gibraltar has had a zero incidence rate among residents, an enviable statistic as the region hopes to return to normal.

However Sunday marked the first day since July 21 2020 that there have been no active cases amongst both visitors and residents.

Picardo is hesitant to let down his guard but remains optimistic that it is a positive sign of things to come.

“Although this achievement is a step in the right direction, we must still be cautious,” he said.

“We do however welcome this fantastic news, one day before the UK reopened its travel corridor with Gibraltar and we started welcoming British tourists.

“This allows me to trust that we are on the right track to regain the life we had ​​ before this pandemic.”

Picardo has also noted that the Gibraltar government is closely monitoring the new Indian Strain of the virus that is currently being investigated in the UK. “We are currently keeping a close eye on news from the UK regarding the Indian variant and we remain in a position to review our entry policy to visitors from the UK if needed,” he said.

Since the start of the pandemic, 4,286 cases have been confirmed in Gibraltar with 4.192 recoveries and 94 deaths recorded relating to COVID-19.

Mask solution

By Alex Trelinski

ly those with diesel engines. The first-ever Spanish study to look at early deaths and their link to pollution studied mortality rates in the country's 47 provincial capitals.

The Barcelona Institute for Global Health(ISGlobal) analysed nitrogen dioxide(NO2) levels during the first State of Alarm between March and June in 2020.

The findings were dra-

CLEAN: Less traffic meant lower emissions

matic with the amount of NO2 across the cities falling by 51% during the

Immunity claim PRIME Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has claimed that Spain's population will reach herd immunity levels against the coronavirus by mid-August.

Sanchez said: “The worst calamity suffered by humanity in a hundred years is being overcome.”

An estimated 75 million people died during the Second World War while estimates place the worldwide COVID death toll at 3.2 million so far.

Objective

“We are under 100 days away from the European Union objective of having 70% of the population vaccinated,” added Sanchez. Despite setbacks with some vaccine supplies like the AstraZeneca doses and a delayed roll-out of the single shot Johnson & Johnson inoculations, Sanchez has maintained his stance of the 70% August target since late December.

“The vaccination figures lead me to be optimistic,” he stated.

The proclamation of herd immunity by mid-August is a bold claim. Scientists around the world differ on what percentage level of vaccinations is needed for that to become a reality. 70% is viewed as the bare minimum level that herd immunity might kick in.

full lockdown up to midMay, and then by 36% as restrictions were eased up to late June. Researcher, Herve Petetin, said: "NO2 is produced by mainly diesel cars and in some cities we discovered 65% falls during last year's lockdown.”

The ISGlobal study estimated that at least 170 premature deaths were prevented due to lower pollution levels, and that figure could actually be higher across Spain.

Co-ordinator, Joan Ballester, explained: “We only looked at major cities, so there will be other smaller centres where deaths were avoided.

Health

“Our findings show the major short-term health benefits associated with reducing air pollution," added Ballester.

"With a permanent reduction in emissions, the positive effects could be even greater as respiratory infections are cut."

The survey results were published in the same week that Spain's Congress approved a climate change and energy bill, which will see new car sales limited to electric vehicles by 2040.

Many people with hearing difficulties communicate by reading lips when the people talking do not use sign language. This has raised obvious problems during the pandemic, with masks covering people’s mouths.

The communicative mask was designed to have a four-layer fabric outer part and a transparent central window that allows the mouth to be seen.

They are also washable and reusable.

Good news!

THE impact of the COVID pandemic may not have been as bad as many experts thought might be the case.

According to the European Health Survey the pandemic has worsened the mental health of the population by a relatively modest 3%.

And while the percentage of people who have problems falling asleep has increased by 2%, remote working has actually left many people feeling better after a change in diet to healthy options.

Lack

Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) said that remote working or a lack of employment for millions has significantly reduced the numbers of people ‘feeling tired’ by up to 5% and those suffering from ‘lack of appetite’ or ‘excessive food intake’ by 1%.

Consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish has increased as people spent more time cooking for themselves.

In addition, 5% of people polled reported a reduction in the consumption of soft drinks, while intake of fast food also fell, albeit by just over 1%.

BUSINESS

Hotel expansion

TRAVELODGE has announced plans to open new hotels in Spain as part of an £175 million (€203 million) expansion.

The 'premium economy' chain says the investment will see it’s network expand to 597 locations in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Bosses at the hotel chain hope the new sites will be open in time for the summer holidays as Brits are allowed to travel abroad.

Chain

It comes as the budget accommodation chain revealed that 17 new hotels would be opened in the UK alone, creating 360 new jobs.

New sites will be developed across Europe with cash from third party investors and will also include three more ‘higher-end’ Travelodge PLUS hotels.

Craig Bonnar, Travelodge chief executive, said: “After a challenging 12 months, today's announcement demonstrates the strength in the Travelodge brand and is a key step forward as we emerge out of lockdown.”

MALAGA has recorded its lowest number of coronavirus hospitalisations in nine months.

COVID-19 hospitalisations in the city dropped to 123, the lowest it has been since August 27 of last year where there were 110 patients in Malaga's hospitals.

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Bad to worse Cash strapped airline slashes jobs

TROUBLED low-cost carrier Norwegian Airlines has announced that it will cut 1,200 jobs across Spain in a European restructuring plan as it battles with debt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Oslo based company announced that it would be laying off 85% of its Spanish workforce, a figure amounting to 1,191 jobs across the country.

The job cuts will be the result of the closure of three national bases in Spain, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur.

Hubs

Union bosses have announced that its hubs in Alicante and Malaga will remain open but with reduced capacity with just one aircraft operating out of each.

The cuts are part of a global restructuring plan of the airline, with it ceasing all its long haul operations, putting an end to its US, Asia and UK flights.

Tipping Point With the number of coronavirus patients in Malaga dropping, health experts are optimistic that the province is near a ‘tipping point’ in its

This plan has also reduced its entire air fleet from 156 to just 50 aircraft as of April 2021.

The long haul scraps have been made to protect its core domestic and regional flying routes according to the company, who are in the midst of battling the severe financial damage caused by COVID-19.

The airline, once Europe's fourth most popular budget carrier behind Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair, has amassed debts of over €4.3 billion over the past 18 months.

This led the airline to seek out support from the courts who approved a survival plan last month to bail out both Norwegian and its subsidiaries. fight against the virus.

However, to avoid another surge before reaching herd immunity in the community, health officials advise the public to get vaccinated and to continue to respect the measures to contain the pandemic such as wearing a mask and socially distancing.

SPAIN is planning to turn all public-managed highways into toll roads during 2024, with a view to making drivers pay depending on their usage of roads and as a de facto ‘polluters tax’.

The measure was announced as part of the conditions demanded by Brussels in order for Spain to qualify for funds under a national recovery plan.

Fees

TOLLS: Are on the cards states is the most extensive high-capacity road network in Europe.

“This is generating a cumulative maintenance deficit, leading to a loss of value and a deterioration of quality of service, which has consequences for road safety,” reads the plan sent to the EU Commission this week, with the government admitting a deficit of €8 billion has been racked up on road maintenance alone.

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 7 Taken out, 8 Rasp, 9 Poked, 10 Sceptic, 12 First thought, 14 Mailing lists, 17 Far more, 19 Tiers, 21 Limp, 22 Nobleman.

Down: 1 Pay-off, 2 Referral, 3 Sob, 4 Stockholm, 5 Grip, 6 Isaiah, 11 Itinerant, 13 Unsuited, 15 Arabia, 16 Syrian, 18 Maps, 20 A-B M.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

Light sky A SERIES of mystery lights in the Spanish sky heralded the coming of high speed internet to rural Spain.

Several readers contacted the Olive Press to report the unusual ‘train’ of lights.

‘It’s like something I’ve never seen before’ said one reader after seeing the strange sight over Casares in Andalucia.

We can reveal that what they saw was a string of 60 Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX. These are part of SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s vision of a vast network of satellites that will provide internet connections to remote areas.

Consumers will have to pay €400 for a package including satellite dish and router, plus a monthly fee of around €40 to access the high speed network.

TROUBLE: Norwegian is scrapping routes

Pay to drive

Under the plan, drivers would initially have to pay not only to use the autopistas (motorways that in many places already have a toll in place) but also the vast network of autovias.

But with time it would be scaled up to include fees on other national and regional roads.

The Spanish government insists that the new model is needed to pay for Spain’s huge network of roads, which the report

15

A MAJOR car and bike sales group has moved its headquarters from Devil’s Tower Road to a new facility in The Dockyard.

The new, state-ofthe-art space will be the home of Bassadone Motors, Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings and AADS. “The group has grown substantially over the years, and needed bigger workshops, warehouses and offices to cope with the growth.

It had been the intention to move for some time, and ultimately finding the

HQ move right space in Gibraltar has taken some time, but is really worth it,” The Group’s CEO Nick Laird told the Olive Press.

The group will hold an official opening on June 1 and will welcome Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo to host the event alongside the group’s President George Bassadone.

“The timing of the opening of the new building was fortunate to coincide with the easing of lockdowns in Gibraltar. As a result,

the level of energy, teamwork and informal communications have all taken a huge step up.

“It’s lovely to hear the buzz of excitement from all the teams now here, with a final few others to join over the next 9 months, as we complete the final phases of build,” said Laird.

Bassadone has been the backbone of car sales on Gibraltar since 1904, and currently is the Rock’s main dealer of numerous brands including Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Lexus.

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A MEMBER of VOX has been suspended from Twitter for 12 hours after tweeting ‘a man cannot get pregnant’, which broke its hate speech policy.

FINAL WORDS

www.theolivepress.es

Vol. 5 Issue 148

Pregnant pause

Red alert POLICE raided an Elche nightclub that flashed red warning lights if a police inspection was imminent.

Despite the alert, police found that social distancing laws were broken, and under age drinking allowed.

Going batty

GIBRALTAR

CASHED IN: Marina Abramovic won the prize

Cheap deal TAM Wilson from Glasgow has booked flights from his home city to Malaga for £35 (€40) after finding out a return trip was cheaper than the £40.50 cost of going to Dundee for a minibreak by train.

A 74-year-old Serbian performance artist, who sat in complete silence for 716 hours as people sat and stared at her, has won Spain’s top arts award.

Marina Abramovic took the arts prize in the Princess of Asturias awards, where €50,000 in prizes were handed out in each

A BLUNDERING crook who has been arrested 125 times has been nabbed again after he dropped his wallet complete with ID card at the scene of his latest offence.

The 45-year old man is a drug addict. His only source of income was to break into cars and seize valuables which were sold to fund his habit. His last act was in April when he broke into a car boot.

He fled with €2,000 of items when the vehicle owner confront-

Prize winning artist who sat and did nothing scoops €50,000

of eight categories, which included fields like the social sciences and sport.

The jury said that the work of Abramovic revealed a hitherto unknown ‘sensorial and spiritual compo-

Darwin award ed him. Unfortunately for the thief, a wallet with his ID cards fell out of his pocket leading to a prompt arrest by the Policia Nacional.

It was his 20th offence this year including stealing €5 from a child.

He has been remanded in custody, and crimes of theft from cars has since plummeted in Alicante.

nent’.

Abramovic spent 716 hours sitting still at a table while thousands of visitors took turns to sit in front of her and stare.

Courage

The Princess of Asturias jury said that ‘Abramovic’s courage in her dedication to an absolute art produces moving experiences that demand an intense connection with the spectator and make her one of the most inspiring artists of her time’.

Her work has seen her strike up friendships with the singer Lady Gaga and rapper Jay Z.

A SPANISH park is bringing in furry and feathered allies to battle a plague of mosquitos and processionary caterpillars.

Bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitos in an hour - and now bosses at El Recorral Park on the Costa Blanca want to make use of this ‘super power’ to keep the pest down without using nasty pesticides.

Shelters

They are doing this by installing bat and bird shelters to attract the creatures.

While the bats take on the mossie population, it is hoped birds will eat their way through the lines of processionary caterpillars that are normally controlled using powerful chemicals.

The pest not only damages protected pine trees, but can inflict serious ‘stings’ to children and even kill dogs.

A park spokesman said: “By not resorting to insecticides, we minimise any inconvenience to people who use the park as well as protecting endangered species.”

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