THE Gibraltar Football Association is in the spotlight once again after another player pulled out of the women’s team amid accusations of a ‘divided dressing room.’
Striker Reighann Olivero, 20, accused temporary women’s coach Scott Wiseman of subjecting her to ‘unfair treatment and blatant double standards’ in her withdrawal letter that she published to social media.
The Olive Press understands that Olivero felt she was pressured to drop other sports and hobbies such as hockey in order to be picked for the women’s team, while other players were not.
Even when she did so, she was still dropped from the women’s squad, sources close to the situation have told this newspaper.
The GFA ignored the player’s complaints when made aware of her feelings and refused requests to meet with the player’s family, according to the same sources.
An open letter posted to team captain Shania Robba’s facebook page on the same day, signed by all but one of the 32 players in the women’s squad, called Olivero a ‘bitter ex-player’.
“The nature of sport and the harsh reality of not being picked or played should not be confused with false accusations of bullying,” the letter read.
The issue is muddied by the fact that Olivero’s father, Janssen Olivero, was the women’s team coach until he was abruptly removed and replaced by Wiseman in 2023.
“That's what happens when you don't invest in women's football; players' dads coach the team which then can lead to problems,” one source told the Olive Press “When Scott Wiseman took over there was a division in the dressing room.”
When men’s team coach Julio Ribas suddenly stepped down earlier this month, Wiseman was quickly appointed interim head coach.
Continues on page 2
P LIVE RESS O GIBRALTAR
Come away with us on a road trip to Portugal and the
see page 14
WHALE OF A BATTLE LOOMS
EXCLUSIVE: Yachtie threatens to kill an orca this summer if dangerous ‘interactions’ are not tackled
A MOROCCAN sailor is threatening to kill orcas this summer if solutions are not found to stop dangerous ‘interactions’ in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Anger is rising among sailors whose livelihoods are at threat from a pod of orcas who have been damaging ships.
The stark warning comes after a five-year spree saw the whales cripple hundreds of vessels.
Now, a series of captains claim it has become too risky for yachts and catamarans to navigate the Strait.
Yassine Darkaoui, a sailor who runs a repair shop in Tangier, has warned he is prepared to kill a whale if nothing is done. It comes after he told the Olive Press
By Walter Finch
he had fixed the rudders of three separate vessels attacked by orcas in the last year.
“I meet a lot of sailors who tell me they are prepared to shoot these motherf***ers if they try to harm their boats or endanger their families,” said Darkaoui.
“These guys have often invested their life savings in their boat. So when you see them being attacked by those beautiful monsters, it could lead to shooting them.”
The sailor, who had to shelve plans to open a sailing centre in Tangier because of the attacks, added: “It is only a matter of time – and summer is coming.
“Once the tuna migration begins the orcas will be back and it might be that we need to kill one of them to teach them a lesson.”
Prison
And he added: “But let me tell you, if I kill an orca, I will kill it with a tear in my eye.”
The chilling threat comes despite the Iberian orca being a heavily protected species.
you turn it on, they stay around 500 metres or a kilometre away,” he said.
Plans are afoot to trial an acoustic deterrent later this year, but it has received a cool reaction from some sections within the marine biology community.
Janek Andre of marine conservationists WeWhale fears that such an implement could ‘damage their hearing, which is highly sensitive.’
“The animals could get lost or even die because of hearing damage,” he told the Olive Press
“And if all boats had the device then the orcas will have to leave the area – their home!”
tigers in India, and we must therefore find ways to coexist with them,” CA lead John Burbeck told the Olive Press
“We suggest treating orca encounters like stormy weather or man overboard. These are serious risks that crews prepare for.”
But many skippers have described these measures as ‘unworkable’ and instead are calling for a more robust solution – one which allows them to continue their livelihoods.
Collision
Under Spanish law anyone harming an orca could face two years in prison. The interactions that have taken place since 2020 are being blamed on around a dozen of the 40 whales that inhabit the Strait. Various attempts have been made to ward them off, including throwing firecrackers overboard as orcas are acoustically sensitive to loud noises.
Darkaoui told the Olive Press he also wants more research into a type of sonic tool which could be reliably used to keep them at bay.
“Something that, when
Conservationists and marine biologists alike have been at pains to insist that these interactions are not ‘attacks’ nor signs of aggression, but merely a playful hunting practice.
Solutions proposed include skippers sticking near the coast to avoid the centre of the Strait, while remaining in frequent communication with one another.
WeWhale also offers to escort boats on regular trips, such as from Tarifa to Tangier, and they plan to open a hotline this summer for skippers to call to get the last known location of the pod.
The good news is that reported incidents were down last year from 2023’s peak of 186 interactions, according to data collected by the Cruising Association (CA), pointing to the effectiveness of these solutions.
“These orca are protected, much like
“Even if you know where they are, you can’t necessarily avoid them, as these creatures are fast,” another sailor told the Olive Press.
“They can go from one side of the Strait to the other in two or three hours. Sticking to the coast does seem to help, but the cost of it adds up.
“Journeys take much longer and there are hazards near the coast, such as tuna nets, and sudden swells that can push you against the rocks.
“You can spend two or three months waiting for a new rudder. That’s three months of lost business, which is something you can’t claim on insurance.
“Anyone would defend their house if it was under attack, so you can’t entirely blame the captains.
“People are afraid to go out sailing.
“There is definitely a collision coming this summer.”
TERRORISED: The orcas target the rudders (above) of yachts and catamarans
DANGER ZONE: ‘Attacks’ (orange symbol) have focused around Gibraltar and the Strait but stretch all the way up to Galicia
Estimated migration end
Estimated migration area and routes based on satellite data from previous years
Algarve,
DEADLY: Yassin Darkaoui (left) is prepared to kill an orca if they go after his vessel
Football glamour
UKRAINIAN superstar
Andriy Shevchenko paid a visit to the Rock and Victoria Stadium ahead of last weekend’s round of international football.
Art export
THE Gibraltar art exhibition A Tale of Two Cities will open in Tangier on April 10. It will showcase a wide range of works from seven local artists as part of longstanding ties with Morocco.
Royal goodbye
THE Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute was waved off from the Rock this week in stormy weather after a weeklong stopover.
Rock fall
A SERIES of controlled rock releases have been carried out on the east side of the Rock around the Dudley Ward Tunnel this week in a warning to drivers and mariners.
POLICE NEEDED
EXPATS are demanding a greater police presence in Manilva following a ‘worrying’ spike in crime.
Numerous bars in both Duquesa and Sabinillas have been broken into, while brazen robbers are smashing car windows in broad daylight outside supermarkets.
Now businesses and locals are questioning the running of the town hall, with some insisting they don’t feel safe. It comes as the Rose and Thistle was robbed for the third time in JUST six months last week after thieves shattered a window and snatched various charity tins among other items.
Alarmingly, despite a trio
Crime spree hits expat businesses in sleepy Costa del Sol town
By Laurence Dollimore
of suspects being arrested two days earlier, they were released on bail within 24 hours.
“We had the Guardia Civil here, but basically there’s nothing they can do,” said owner Simon Dearing (pictured).
“They didn’t take fingerprints as apparently it's pointless due to it being a public area so they would be smudged.
“They didn’t even want to test the large kitchen knife used to
TOBACCO smuggling from Gibraltar to Spain took a further blow with a double seizure, one on each side of the fence.
A 45-year-old Spanish man was arrested while attempting to flee from Gibraltar customs officers in a car.
Officials had descended upon a small boat being loaded with commercial quantities from a vehicle on Neil Piñero Road earlier this month.
HMC Searcher was deployed to the scene, where tobacco boxes were discovered floating in the water and on nearby rocks.
Customs confiscated 600 cartons of tobacco, while the Spanish man was arrested on suspicion of possession and attempted export of a commercial quantity of cigarettes. Meanwhile, nearly 10,000 packets of cigarettes were seized in operations carried out
pry open the fruit machine.
“They entered by smashing through the main folding windows, took all the charity tins, and even a pot of notes we collect for a group of local disabled children."
He added: "This is gut wrenching as our weekly quizzes raise money for this. They also took a few beers and confectionery and change from the till.”
He added they left ‘a lot of damage’ including smashing plenty of beer bottles.
The businessman added there have been 'numerous' robber-
Age old crime
both at the La Línea customs office at the border and in San Roque.
Customs agents checking cars coming into Spain found a number of vehicles with hidden compartments specially designed to conceal tobacco.
One tobacco-smuggling car even had an electrically operated false bottom, where 350 packets of tobacco were discovered. In another vehicle, 50 bags of rolling tobacco weighing 26kg were found.
In similar operations, the Guardia Civil tracked a number of vehicles that had aroused their suspicion and pulled them over.
Officers found around 9,000 packs of contraband cigarettes during their searches.
ies in the area lately.
This includes ‘at least two’ in the port this week and ‘others in Sabinillas’.
“I’ve had three break ins in the last six months,” added the angry boss.
“There is a petition going around for better policing.
Maybe it’s too little too late.”
It follows multiple reports of cars being broken into outside the Lidl supermarket in Sabinillas.
One picture showed how a thief had smashed an expat’s passenger window to steal a bag from the back seat.
The Olive Press has continually failed to get replies from councillor Dean Tyler Shelton, a former estate agent, working for the PP party, over recent weeks.
Expat Shelton - who was recently in Berlin promoting the town at a tourist fair - is closely involved with the local St.George’s charity and the Facebook site Manilva Coffee Chat.
Double standards
For Gibraltar men’s competitive match against Montenegro this week, Wiseman did not name Reighann’s brother Jayce Olivero, who had been a regular under Ribas. The match ended 3-1 to Montenegro.
All eyes will now be looking to see if midfielder Tiffany Viagas, who was the only player not to sign the open letter supporting Wiseman, is in the next women’s squad. Meanwhile, captain Shania Robba is a close relative of GFA General Secretary Ivan Robba, Operations Officer Gary Robba, and former Finance Director Charles Robba. Former Gibraltar women’s goalkeeper Kyrelle Revagliatte is another player who pulled out of the squad previously.
Others have suggested that the 31 players who did put their name to the letter posted to Shania Robba’s Facebook page were ‘coerced’ and they did it because they ‘all fear reprisals.’
The GFA has strongly encouraged ‘any footballer experiencing mental health challenges or personal struggles to make use of its confidential, anonymous, and free Club Assistance Programme.’ The Olivero family declined to comment for this article. The GFA did not respond when contacted by the Olive Press.
VALENCIA’S iconic Fallas festival culminated with the traditional Crema ceremony, where hundreds of satirical sculptures were set ablaze.
This year’s event held special significance as it addressed the devastating floods that ravaged the region last Oc tober, claiming hundreds of lives.
The sculptures, crafted by local artisans, critiqued the handling of the disaster, with depictions of regional leader Carlos Mazon and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to the fore.
Some figures high-
Sad fallas
lighted the resilience of volunteers, while others celebrated heartwarming moments from the
The festival, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, drew large crowds and provided a moment of catharsis for the community.
Meanwhile, King Felipe VI made a
TRAGIC: An effigy of falleraswomen in traditional garb
surprise visit to the festivities in Torrent (left), one of the hardest hit towns in Valencia, to show support for flood victims.
Good job!
Amanda and Alan’s featured TV property has brought a giant surge to depopulated inland Spanish village
EXCLUSIVE
By
A RENOVATED townhouse that featured on BBC's Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job has brought an avalanche of interest to a sleepy inland region.
The three-bedroom propertywhich has gone up for sale for €245,000 - has led to nearly 100,000 property searches on Moclin this year.
The sleepy village, 35 kms northwest of Granada city, hosted TV celebrities Amanda Holden and Alan Carr as they spent a year renovating the historic home.
Since the series went out on national British TV in January there have been nearly 1000% more people searching for
Jordan, the charismatic former F1 team owner who died last week, had a deep connection to Spain through his longtime residence in the exclusive enclave of Sotogrande.
In the late 1980s, Johnny Herbert, one of Jordan’s former drivers, fre quently visited the villa.
He fondly recalled Jordan’s warmth and hospitality, describing him as ‘one of the greatest hosts you could ever come across’. Jordan built his Costa del Sol home after purchasing a plot of land from golfer Tony Jacklin in 1983.
property in the area.
“There have been over 85,000 searches for Moclin so far this year, compared with just 104 at this time last year,” explained a spokesman at property portal
Rightmove
“That’s a surge of 800 times and the biggest year-on-year increase we have recorded of any overseas location in 2025,” he added.
Local agent Ian Rutter, mean-
FINAL LAP
Over the years, he, his wife Marie, and their four children enjoyed Sotogrande’s sunny climate and worldclass leisure activities.
In the past decade, he also made use of Sotogrande’s marina to dock his 155ft luxury superyacht, a £32 million vessel that reflected his love for the finer things in life.
while, told the Olive Press he had been ‘inundated’ with visitors looking for homes in the pretty inland area.
“We have been getting dozens of inquiries a week and lots of people have headed over to visit,” said Rutter, who appeared in the show a couple of times.
The mayor of the town, Marco Perez, added: “It has been the most amazing boost for Moclin.
“It has really put the town and its surrounding area on the map.”
Perez, who travelled with the TV show to various festivals including Granada, continued: “Amanda and Alan were such fun to work with and we are already missing them.”
The property that sits opposite Moclin’s town hall was completely restored over the last year, with new staircases, roof and windows.
Features include 'a large central island, a chimney breast that houses the cooker and storage in ‘traditional’ cupboards'.
Katy comeback
AMERICAN superstar Katy Perry will return to Spain after a seven year absence for her latest tour. She will appear at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi on November 9, followed by Madrid’s Movistar Arena on November 11.
Perry announced her return with a poster bearing red and yellow butterfly wings.
The Lifetimes Tour is a collection of Perry’s greatest hits, from Roar to Firework Tickets will range from €48-€110 in the seated section and from €80-€140 standing.
PIQUE TEARS
FORMER Barcelona defender Gerard Pique broke down in tears when quizzed by a Madrid judge over an alleged corrupt business deal.
The case involves a lucrative agreement that saw Spanish Super Cup matches being hosted in Saudi Arabia.
The ex-partner of pop star Shakira told the judge that he has ‘suffered a lot’ and that the case had tarnished his reputation, before he let his emotions get the better of him. A court is probing corruption and money laundering allegations following a big deal made by former Spanish football federation president, Luis Rubiales, in 2019.
Some €4 million was paid annually as a commission to Pique’s sports entertainment company Kosmos for helping broker the agreement.
ON SALE: Moclin townhouse costs just €245,000
Jon Clarke & Alex Trelinski
EDDIE
Train ahead
THE feasibility study contract for the proposed Costa del Sol train line between Algeciras and Nerja is set to be handed to a joint venture firm that received the highest score among fifteen competing bids.
Consultancy firms WSP Spain and Apia were awarded 97.54 points during the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility procurement committee meeting last week.
The study will look at strengthening the current C1 line that runs between Malaga and Fuengirola, and examining potential expansion westward to Algeciras – with a potential stop in La Linea –and eastward to Nerja.
Viable
It will be divided into five sections: one toward the Eastern Costa del Sol (between Malaga and Nerja) and four toward the Western Costa del Sol (Malaga-Fuengirola, Fuengirola-Marbella, Marbella-Estepona, and Estepona-Algeciras).
The joint venture's bid of €819,761.25 represents a saving of almost €400,000 compared to the government's initial budget of €1.2 million for the project.
A tale of two drills
THE Royal Navy is suspiciously absent from large scale NATO naval exercises taking place in the Gulf of Cadiz this week.
The Spanish Navy is leading a force of 30 ships plus two submarines, a complement of harriers, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters, as well as 1,500 marines from six allied nations.
France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey are represented in exercises designed to test the combined forces’ ability to operate together and project force in a ‘high intensity’ scenario.
Meanwhile, the Gibraltar Squadron carried out its own exercises this week on the eastern side of the Rock in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
A similar exercise earlier this month prompted a diplomatic complaint from Spain for supposedly violating their sovereign territorial waters.
Trump’s beady eye
US investigation into ‘trade and shipping constraints’ in the Strait of Gibraltar has Spain sweating
A US government review of the globe’s seven major maritime chokepoints – including the Strait of Gibraltar – will ‘open Pandora’s box’, according to geopolitical analysts.
Final talks?
THE Chief Minister and his team have been in London this week for the ‘final rounds’ of talks on a treaty to govern Gibraltar’s future relationship with the European Union. Picardo attended what Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty called ‘the final’ round of negotiations between the UK and the EU along with European Commission Principal Adviser Clara Martinez Alberola and Spanish State Secretary for the EU Fernando Sampedro. One of the major outstanding issues in the negotiations has reportedly been resolved, according to Alejandro del Valle, a professor of the EU’s external borders.
He told an audience at the University of Gibraltar that all military issues between the two sides have now been ironed out.
CHOKEPOINT:
Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar will all be concerned by US interference
By Walter Finch
dependent body, the findings of the report are likely to be politicised to justify whatever policies the [Trump] administration wishes to pursue in the region.”
Once officially awarded, the report will take approximately around 18 months to complete before giving its verdict on whether the project is viable.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced it will look at a range of factors that may hinder US shipping and trade flowing through the narrow 17km gap between Europe and Africa. The FMC highlighted several concerns in the Strait of Gibraltar, one of which relates to the ‘issues surrounding the status of Gibraltar.’
“With these investigations, once they’re initiated you can never be quite sure where they’ll go,” Michael Walsh, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told the Olive Press “Although the FMC is an in-
Capital gains
GIBRALTAR’S shipyard is aiming to move up a tier by expanding its drydocks to accommodate aircraft carriers.
It was announced at Gibdock’s Defence Ship Repair event at the House of Commons that the shipyard is looking for private investment to expand its dockyard, according to GBC.
The FMC will investigate the ‘causes, nature, and effects, including financial and environmental effects’ of any constraints on US trade and shipping and consider what steps to take to ‘alleviate’ them.
Friendly
These are likely to include numerous EU regulations American vessels must comply with, as well as ‘geopolitical tensions’ and the ‘laws, regulations or practices of foreign governments.’
While the idea of being under
UPGRADE: GibDock wants expand its drydock facilities
a US government microscope might make those happy with the status quo in the Strait uneasy, Walsh suggests it is Spain which has far more to worry about.
Gibraltar has long been a friendly port for the US Navy, including regularly hosting the fleet’s nuclear-powered attack submarines.
On the other hand, despite being home to the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet in the Rota naval station, Spain has been in America’s bad books since the Biden administration for refusing admission to USflagged vessels transporting military equipment to Israel.
The FMC had already initiated an investigation after Spain refused entry to the Maersk Denver in early November, which instead was
diverted to Tangier – another US ally.
Spain, which formally recognised Palestine as a state last year, reportedly refused port entry to two more vessels reportedly carrying arms to Israel.
Punish
Coupled with Spanish support for a case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, and it’s easy to see why analysts suspect Trump might jump on the FMC investigation to punish Spain for its foreign policy. However, US interests in the Panama Canal – another global choke point in the investigation – may well overshadow any Trump designs on Spain.
Packed port
A MINOR collision between giant ships while manoeuvring in the congested Bay of Gibraltar that has sparked fresh debate about the need for a pilot when departing.
In a statement, the government emphasised that ‘the status quo we have enjoyed post-Brexit is not an option’ and it is committed to securing a treaty which is ‘safe and secure for Gibraltar.’ However, it underlined the precarious nature of the talks by adding: ‘No Deal would be better than a bad deal.’ It comes after Sampedro had expressed optimism that a deal could be reached but ‘pending issues’ must be resolved first.
Calm down, calm down
PUPILS born in Gibraltar have been assured they have ‘nothing to worry about’ after a shake up of the free scholarship entitlement caused a furore.
The government announced that the new restrictions on university scholarships are only targeted at ‘fraudsters and freeloaders’.
‘Genuine cases’ of pupils born on the Rock will not be affected and the government is ‘generally aware of the background of pupils who attend state schools’.
The new changes mean students who ‘attend private schools here or outside of Gibraltar and who claim rights to automatically qualify for scholarships via links to Gibraltar’ will have to undergo means testing.
Currently, Gibdock operates three dry docks, with the largest capable of handling Panamax-sized vessels approximately 294 metres long and 32.3 metres wide. These dimensions aren’t wide enough to service the Royal Navy’s new flagship aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth-class, which are about 39 metres in width (and 280 metres in length).
“Full deployment of Gibdock would add 23% to UK Defence commercial dry docking capacity,” Gibdock said in a submission to the UK parliament.
“It would enable Gibdock’s modernisation and create a surge capacity for NATO’s Standing Naval Forces to maintain, repair, refuel and rearm all classes of naval assets – including the largest capital ships and most advanced submarines, as well as frigates and destroyers, both in training and operational / conflict scenarios.”
The facility also boasted of its ‘320 days a year of perfect outdoor working conditions’ and its role in monitoring of and countering the activities of the Russian Shadow Fleet.
The LNG carrier SM Kestrel made contact with the anchored bulk carrier Diamond Star II as it was attempting to exit the western anchorage around 1am last week.
Gibraltar authorities have confirmed that no injuries were reported, no pollution occurred, and neither vessel suffered significant damage.
Kestrel remains at west anchorage after undergoing inspections, while Diamond Star II is currently docked at Algeciras at the time of writing.
Spanish environmentalists have accused the maritime authorities of overseeing ‘almost 10,000 bunkering-related operations [in the Bay of Gibraltar] without pilots in order to save money.’
They also blame ‘a deficient maritime traffic control system which causes continuous accidents that put the Spanish coast at risk.’ This incident comes shortly after the publica-
tion of the OS35 collision report last month, which concluded that the accident, in August, 2022, could have been avoided if the manoeuvre had been supervised by a pilot.
The vessel was intentionally beached to prevent sinking, later broke in two, and was only fully removed by 2023 after a complex salvage operation.
Currently, vessels departing Gibraltar’s waters are not required to have a pilot on board.
The Environmental Safety Group (ESG) of Gibraltar called the collision an ‘urgent reminder’ for the Port Authority to implement the recommendations from the OS35 report.
EXPERTS WHO CARE ABOUT YOU
Voted
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
You must not harm an orca – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a solution
WHEN nature runs up against commercial business, there is usually just one winner.
The baffling orca interactions have been going on for five years now and the economic pain it has caused has been adding up.
Patience at these marvellous and powerful creature’s seemingly aggressive behaviour has started to wear thin among those who are shouldering the burden – namely the boat owners.
And their frustration is spilling over onto the experts, who have failed to offer a lasting solution to their woes and have even seemed glib towards their suffering.
Many would simply argue that the yachties’ economic needs come second to the rights and welfare of the orcas, and if they can’t do business while respecting those then they should not be in business at all.
The Strait is the home of the orcas, not people, and harming a critically endangered species in order to be able to sail a boat is unconscionable.
The Iberian orca is declining, with conservationists reporting a lack of young whales spotted in the pod.
So what can be done and what should be done? Some promising solutions have been trialled.
The orcas can’t destroy steel rudders – but they can still damage the steering system through the vertical shaft.
Perhaps an acoustic tool, set to be tested out this year, could be the solution, assuming it can be developed while adhering to environmental regulations to protect these creatures.
Maybe the well-regulated free market can handle it: There is demand for a non-harmful solution; there are numerous rules and laws and bodies ready to uphold them.
The first company to figure out what that solution is, test it and bring it to market, while strictly adhering to all safety and conservational requirements, will make a killing, pardon the pun.
Expats demand urgent regulation of the funeral plan sector in Spain after collapse of Iberian
By Yzabelle Bostyn
BRITS are calling for tougher regulations after losing a small fortune to a dodgy funeral plan company in Spain.
An Olive Press investigation suggests the number of clients left with worthless contracts after the collapse of Iberian Funeral Plans could run into the thousands. And with each policy costing over €3,000 (and sometimes as much as €7,250) the money missing is well into the millions of euros.
The disappearance of Iberian - as reported on our front page last issue (see right) - has left the expat community in tatters with joint legal action being threatened and many fingers being pointed.
We have been inundated with emails and calls from anxious clients, who bought one of three different packages from the Iberian firm. With the website still apparently working it seems possible that unwitting clients may still be filling in details for the ‘Cedar plan’ for €3950 or the ‘Oak plan’ for €7,250. A church service is being offered for €420 and ‘additional
IHATE it when an unlucky waiter is posted at the door of a restaurant in an attempt to draw punters in. But sometimes it’s an indicator of status.
The other day I was walking down a street in Ronda, where I live, when an enthusiastic 18-year-old waitress accosted me. Before I could answer, a regular shouted out: “Don’t waste your breath on him, love – he’s been here longer than you.”
That’s when I knew I was an expat.
The German comedian Henning Wehn (a fine example of an expat) has a
theolivepress.es
CONCERN: Clients of Iberian Linn Mcnally and Billy Steele (below) fear they have lost thousands
mortuary days’ at €185 per day.
While incredible that the website still has no confirmation of the company’s departure it seems certain that its British owner Stephen Nelson has recently died.
However, we have yet to get official confirmation from any of the dozen numbers we found from the various offices which stretch across the Iberian Peninsula.
There were once nine offices - or at least local reps - in Alicante, Alhaurin el Grande, Lorca, Manilva, Mallorca, Nerja, Tenerife, Portimao And Tavira.
One angry expat client, who has lost out, John Dyer told the Olive Press he was ‘angry’ that no official statement had been put
Kieran Kiernan, 80, Irish
Immigrants are those who come on boats. Whereas expats want a second chance and a better life. They have a better life than immigrants, immigrants have nothing.”
“I wouldn't want anyone to think I was an immigrant because it has heavy connotations.
out.
“There is a lot of money in an account somewhere so surely they have solicitors and accountants with the knowledge to put out a statement of the running of the business,” he insisted.
The closest we have had to confirmation was from former Iberian salesman Roger Brierley, who said Nelson died of ‘natural causes’ in Portugal ‘about a month ago’.
The employee, based in Alicante, said everything seemed ‘fine’ when he left the firm three years ago.
“Everything was above board, but of course anything can happen in three years,” he
What’s in a name?
Are foreigners in Spain expats or immigrants, and what IS the difference, asks Michael Coy, an expat for decades rule. He says if you move to a country richer than your own, you’re an immigrant. If you move to a poorer country, you’re an expat.
And I’m sure you’ve noticed how all the locals here think we’re millionaires. So most of us must be expats.
If you express the mildest interest in a car or a flat, the Spaniard immediately multiplies the price by a factor of 10. And one thing for sure the locals definitely don’t tip.
Ask your Spanish friends if they ask for change if you give a taxi driver a
We took the expat vs immigrant (or resident?) debate to the streets of Spain with a vox pop around San Pedro de Alcantara
Olof Pettsson, 78, Swedish (Stockholm), former managing director, Guadalmina
I am not an immigrant because Sweden is a part of the EU and there is free movement. Immigrants are from outside the area, so you could call expats from the UK, immigrants. However, they use the word expat to soften it if they feel negative towards immigration.
Ali Alzayani, 44, Bahraini/English, businessman, San Pedro
Expat sounds like you made a choice, immigrant sounds like you had to move. It’s unfair but it’s how the world sees it. You can start as an expat thinking it’s temporary but then you build a life, settle in, and suddenly you’re more of an immigrant.
Sandra Russell, 73, former restaurant owner in Estepona
I hate the word expat. To me it just doesn’t ring right. It’s like an old fashioned name for the British in Hong Kong or Singapore. I don’t think it fits foreigners in Spain, I refer to myself as a ‘foreign resident’ because I am pretty much integrated and speak Spanish although I am fair and look like a guiri. I don’t mind using that word because I have always looked at it with humour.
Jane Willy, 79, Welsh, retired hairdresser, San Pedro
I am neither an expat nor an immigrant, I would call myself a resident as this is my forever home. I’ve booked my cremation. But if people call me an immigrant that’s fine, I have no problem.
Mary Page, retired headmistress, Estepona
I’ve only heard the word ‘expat’ in Spain. I think it’s used mainly by non-Spanish speaking inhabitants of ‘Brit bubbles’ who see themselves as separate from the natives. It’s something out of the long-gone age of Empire. I was an immigrant until I changed nationality and am now a proud Spaniard.
LOOKING for the ideal space for your classic car collection?
With its 15-car garage, built like a showroom, this is the ideal home for every motoring enthusiast.
Dream on petrolheads Nick Mason, Jamiroquai and Rowan Atkinson, Villa Enso, in La Zagaleta, Benahavis, is roaring for a new owner.
For a cool €34 million you get indoor and outdoor pools, 21 bedrooms and a 12-seat indoor cinema.
Even better, for an extra €3 million, the owner will include two Ferraris and a Lamborghini in the sale as well as his rare F1 memorabilia collection.
This extraordinary cornucopia includes Michael Schumacher’s race suit, a Niki Lauda Ferrari wing and a Nigel Mansell front wing.
Looking like a spaceship about to return to the mothership, the contemporary villa sits on a large hillside
out what €200k will get you across Spain
Petrohead palace
plot inside Spain’s most exclusive enclave.
Featuring views to Gibraltar and North Africa, at 3,500 metres squared it is believed to be one of the biggest and best properties ever built on the Costa del Sol.
Distributed over three floors, all connected by a lift, Villa Enso has a palatial master bedroom and nine additional suites for guests.
Naturally there is a spa, with two jacuzzis, sauna, steam and massage centre… but few will be expecting its own ice room and hair salon.
A wine cellar, games room, bar and lounge area are located downstairs.
A number of the suites have their own private sitting rooms, while all have their own private terrace.
The master suite has its own lounge area with fireplace, plus a huge walk-in wardrobe and its very own Japanese garden.
And let’s not forget the gardens that have their own poolside gazebo featuring a bar, bathroom and entertainment area under a pergola.
There is an office area, as well as solar-power installation and a complete security system with CCTV, in addition to 24-hour security provided by the urbanisation.
The property is being sold exclusively by www.terrameridiana.com
ONE of Spain’s leading mortgage experts has just had his best month in 22 years.
Tancrede de Pola at the Finance Bureau had a ‘record January’ with dozens of clients purchasing homes via his firm.
And February was also in the ‘top 10’ best months his firm has ever had.
“February was our best ever and the year has started incredibly well, probably the best in our history,” de Pola told the Olive Press.
“And last year was already our best ever in terms of turnover, thanks to a steady growth in sales prices.”
The British financier, from London, has been running his mortgage advisory service in Marbella for over two decades. His company has grown ‘organically’ and will employ seven brokers by Easter.
The tennis-playing mortgage specialist puts his company’s growth down to ‘di-
While the British market has dropped from 80% of its business to 40% over the last few years, it has been made up made up from dozens of other nationalities.
In total, de Pola speaks to around ‘20 different nationalities’ a week, and now has the staff to help cater to them.
“There have been lots of Americans
buying and I think Trump coming in has only added to the flight, with more people trying to leave to get away from him.
“It started three or four years ago when the dollar and euro hit parity and that market has just not stopped growing.
“It is also easy for Americans to simply relocate these days with the likes of the Digital Nomad visa. It is definitely making it favourable for them to come.”
There has also been a big rise in clients coming from near the Ukraine, such as
Poland, Lithuania and Estonia.
“We are certainly seeing a lot more Finns coming too, while the Swedish are by far the strongest Scandinavian market.”
And he adds: “The uncertainty created by the Ukraine conflict has certainly driven a lot of people to Spain, not to mention the colder northern European client.”
He also says small changes in local tax rules have seen some dramatic shifts.
This includes a claim that ‘10,800 millionaires’ left the UK last year. “Quite a few came down to live in Spain,” he insists.
And in the Netherlands, a new tax levied on rental income last year led to dozens of new clients calling him each month.
“I was getting about five calls from Dutch people a day the week after the new rule was introduced.”
The financier - who is on ‘speed dial’ to dozens of bank managers - adds the socalled ‘Beckham law’ is a very popular option for buyers at the moment. The law allows expats to move to Spain and pay just 24% on global income up to €600,000.
Visit www.thefinancebureau.com for more information
Mark Stucklin
www.spanishpropertyinsight.com
Spain’s property market had a stellar year in 2024, with home sales reaching levels close to all-time highs. According to newly released figures from the Spanish housing ministry, 715,429 homes changed hands last year, marking a 12% increase compared to 2023. This figure was just short of the decade-high 717,734 sales recorded in 2022—a year supercharged by pent-up demand from the pandemic. If not for that exceptional surge, 2024 would have been the biggest year for home sales since 2007, the peak of Spain’s previous property boom.
Last year’s sales were also 24% above the ten-year average,
ON THE UP
Spanish property market hits near record-high sales in 2024
highlighting the strength of the market. Despite economic uncertainties and inflationary pressures, demand remained resilient, especially from Spanish buyers. Local buyers drive the market
Strong
All segments contributed to last year’s strong performance, but it was local demand that led the way. A relatively strong economy, rising wages, and job growth helped drive a 14% increase in purchases by Spanish buyers. This was one of the highest growth rates in recent years, reflecting con -
tinued confidence in property as
ten-year average, underscoring the continued appeal of Spanish property. The slowdown in non-resident purchases suggests that the post-pandemic boom in second-home buying may be stabilising.
What’s next for the market?
Looking ahead, there are no clear signs that the market is set to decline. With interest rates falling, borrowing conditions should become more favourable, potentially encouraging further demand. The European Central Bank is widely expected to continue cutting rates in 2025, which could ease financing costs and attract more
mand was slower, both segments remained over 20% above their
However, property markets are cyclical, and some fluctuations are inevitable.
With such a strong performance in 2024, a slight cooling-off period would not be surprising. That said, unless there is a major economic downturn or policy shift, the broader trend remains positive.
For now, Spain’s property market appears to be in good health, with near-record sales in 2024 reinforcing its resilience and appeal. If economic conditions remain stable, 2025 could be another strong year, particularly as lower interest rates make financing more attractive. Let’s see if the market can maintain its momentum for another year.
Rental auditions
A DRAMATIC shrinking in Spain’s rental housing stock has seen landlords become more discriminatory when choosing tenants, according property portal Idealista
The latest data indicates that demand has surged by 319% since before the pandemic, and it has led to property owners conducting ‘rental castings’.
Idealista spokesperson Francisco
Iñareta warned that these processes have become the number one concern among families who need housing, often surpassing high prices.
Fierce
He said: “With fewer properties on the market and fierce competition, the profiles being chosen are increasingly elitist.”
He added that landlords are primarily evaluating income levels, longterm financial stability, and the ability to recover the property in case of non-payment.
It follows on from a surge in the number of interested parties per listing, which has rocketed from just seven in late 2019 to 30 by the end of 2024.
Malaga has seen demand increase by 437%, while Alicante experienced a 339% surge. Palma de Mallorca recorded one of the highest increases nationwide at 495%, now with 48 families vying for each rental listing.
Sofa so bad
LANDLORD has listed a sofa on a popular rental platform for €450 per month in Estepona.
Now deleted, the ‘property’ was in the Parque Central area of the beach town.
Room
It consisted of a white sofa bed in the flat’s living room, right next to the dining table.
From the few pictures uploaded, the living room seems to be lacking a door, making it the perfect property for extroverts who do not need any personal space.
It comes after a landlord in Marbella sparked fury last summer after renting a sofa in a shared flat for €400 a month.
A COSTA del Sol spa resort is in the running to win at the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Spain 2025 awards.
The five-star SO/Sotogrande SPA & Golf Resort has been nominated in the category of Best Health, Sports and Wellness Hotel.
Located in one of the most exclusive
areas of the Andalucia resort is already a big name in the field, having won the prize in the 2023 edition of the awards.
A PAIR of ‘cunning’ estate agents are facing seven years in prison after they syphoned off sensitive company data, while setting up their own new business.
The expat agents have been ordered to post bail of a staggering €1.9 million.
German Oliver Koch and Frenchwoman Maeva Varlet have been accused of stealing confidential information to drum up their own client base and sales.
Prosecutors claim the pair formed Koch & Varlet Luxury Realtors while still working for Costa Blanca agency Mir-
By Alex Trelinski
albo Urbana which builds and sells luxury homes. They are accused of selling villas on behalf of their own company while still on the Miralbo payroll by diverting customers to their enterprise. The Javea-based pair were 'found out' when a client mistakenly sent a payment to Miralbo, rather than to the couple.
A Denia judge imposed an extremely high joint-bail figure for them - totalling €1.9 million - due to the fear of flight risk.
Prosecutors want them jailed for a total of three-and-a-half years each for fraud and dis-
€50 million marvels set new record
PROPERTY prices continued to surge in the Balearic Islands with two Ibiza homes selling for a record price last year.
As well as the two villas selling for €50 million each last year, over 100 properties cost over €6 million in the Balearics. The most expensive villas were in Sant Joan de Labritja and prices in Ibiza rose higher than any other region of Spain.
The average transaction across the Balearic islands last year was €360,000 but there was an
Mourning in Mocha
GIVEN the world’s current state of affairs - and Spain’s dreadful Spring weather - one must concede that Mocha Mousse has taken its responsibilities seriously.
The colour of the year for 2025 is a yucky, dirty shade and has perfectly captured public opinion.
Selected by American colour giant Pantone, it embodies the gloom, but fear not - it also offers hope.
The company, ba sed in New Jersey, claims it is about ‘empowering’ and is ‘capable of creating moments of luxury.’
What would we do without this delight ful brown hue? How would we ever find refuge in this period of hardship?
“We are more excited than ever,” insisted president Elley Cheng.
upturn in sales at premium prices. Overall, there was more than €5 billion of sales last year, spread out over 13,847 properties.
In Palma, 21 luxury home deals averaged out at €18.4 million per property.
The most up-market sales on the island were in Calvia, with 30 homes averaging out at €9.8 million each.Andratx had 12 luxury sales above the €6 million mark, coming in with an average of €10.4 million per deal.
ACCUSED: Oliver and Maeva ‘syphoned contacts’ and ‘stole’ clients
closing business secrets.
An investigation was launched after Miralbo Urbana denounced them after they allegedly broke signed confidentiality agreements with the company manager.
They are accused of 'fraudulent practices’ to steal customers, as they had access to all databases, contacts and customers.
They also tried to ‘obtain illicit financial benefits, empty stored emails, and took information on clients and projects'.
The pair vehemently deny the charges.
CAN’T afford to buy a property on the Costas? Then head to rural Catalunya where apartments are selling for less than €60,000 each.
Property giant Idealista, which covers the whole of Spain, has just published figures on the most and least expensive areas to buy.
In January 2025, as expected, Barcelona was among the priciest locations. However, prices have stalled further inland.
An 80-square-metre flat in Barcelona costs around €220,000. However, move 55 km inland to Calaf, and the same 80-square-metre apartment costs around €58,000.
Calaf, a small town with 3,500 inhabitants, sits halfway between Lleida and Manresa. It has good road and rail links to Barcelona and remains largely unspoiled, with its own ruined castle and a compact perimeter of less than a square kilometre.
A VILLA costing a whopping €22.5 million has hit the market in Sotogrande, the most exclusive neighbourhood in the Campo de Gibraltar.
Located in ‘The Seven’, a privileged private community in La Reserva de Sotogrande, the modern mansion was designed by ARK Architects.
Known as ‘Villa Niwa’, the property seamlessly combines natural landscapes, golf courses and panoramic views of the Mediterranean sea.
“NIWA blends in with nature, becoming an integral part of it and creating a sense of peace, balance and security for its inhabitants,” the property’s webpage reads.
…But ‘embrace the brown’ insists Tom Ewart Smith with Pantone’s new colour fitting the mood in Spain and globally
In 2023, we lived in ‘a joyous and optimistic celebration’ with Viva Magenta, a colour hailed as ‘brave and fearless.’
It is a bold statement, considering last year’s winner, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, was ‘a velvety gentle peach tone’ intended to usher in a peaceful and compassionate era.
Now, just two years later, we are left clutching our Mocha Mousse, a colour that - while noble in its own way - feels more like a resignation than a rallying cry.
Chosen to herald in the new year the ‘Colour of the Year 2025’ has truly captured the essence of our times…a colour described as ‘a warming brown hue imbued with richness’ which supposedly ‘captures the global zeitgeist.’ PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse also, apparently, ‘extends further into our desire for comfort.’ Deep stuff.
But, as far as I am concerned, the message is clear: embrace the brown.
MALAGA’S soaring property market has reached new heights with an 11m2 studio apartment listed for sale at €125,000.
Situated on Calle San Telmo, in the historic centre, the flat’s ‘spectacular location’ is compromised by its price.
The property is listed at 14m2, but the advertiser notes only 11m2 is usable.
That puts the price per square metre at €11,364, which is nearly triple the average price per square metre in the city centre, standing at €3,932.
To make it even less desirable the studio is located on the ground floor of a residential building.
While the apartment’s size is minimal, the listing on Idealista highlights its clever space optimisation.
The key features include a living area with an integrated kitchenette, equipped with essential appliances, a compact and modern bathroom, and a lofted sleeping space which makes use of vertical height to create separation from the main living area.
The flat also has an exterior-facing window, providing some natural light despite the limited space.
Villa Niwa is 4,231m2 and is surrounded by 10 hectares of land, while boasting nine bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, plus a jacuzzi, sauna, gym, two swimming pools, wine cellar, games room, spa and lift.
EUROPEAN Union funds are being used to pedestrianise Malaga’s historic centre. The plans will cut congestion in the old town and generate new interest in the areas of El Molinillo, Cruz de Humilladero, Capuchinos and Las Flores. The €30 million project will benefit over 48,000 residents by ‘regenerating run down areas’. As well as pedestrianisation, new squares are being created with sustainability at heart. One of the main projects will increase access to the Gibralfaro mountain, including new hiking paths from Calle Victoria and picnic areas.
Calle Ollerias and Calle Marques de Cadiz will both be semi-pedestrianised, with trees added and footpaths widened. The area around the Mercado de Salamanca and Calle San Bartolome will also be pedestrianised with additional green areas.
A
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
CHOP AND CHANGE
What €200,000 buys you around Spain in 2025: The Olive Press takes a regional view alongside Kyero
FANCY playing a game of Spanish property bingo?
Property portal Kyero has scoured the regional markets to see exactly what €200,000 buys you this year.
Whether you dream of waking up to Mediterranean views, tending an olive grove, or running a historic hideaway on Galicia’s Camino de Santiago, Spain has something for everyone.
It’s clear from a basic trawl of the country on the in ternational site that €200,000 can stretch from a small studio in the Balearics to a big mountain villa in Almeria.
ALICANTE
The Costa Blanca offers some of Spain’s best value coastal properties.
In Playa Flamenca, €199,000 gets you a thoroughly modernised two-bedroom bungalow that wouldn’t look out of place in a design magazine, complete with 60m² terrace and private solarium.
“Spain’s property market rewards the flexible buyer - those willing to look beyond the familiar destinations and perhaps trade a sea view for a mountain vista,” Louise Dell, Co-founder of Kyero, told the Olive Press.
“There is a good chance they might just find their perfect slice of Spanish life for a bargain price.”
Here, we take a peek behind some front doors and see how far your euros could stretch around eight regions.
MALAGA
The Costa del Sol continues to command pre mium prices, but venture slightly off the tourist trail and €200,000 still goes remark ably far.
Take Nerja’s Capistrano neigh bourhood, where €195,000 secures a one-bedroom apartment (inset above) with enviable sea views, complete with community pool and maintained gardens.
Meanwhile, nearby Algorfa demonstrates why the area remains popular with budget-conscious buyers. A €195,000 two-bedroom villa in Lo Crispin offers a private garden, communal pool, and glazed-in terrace, all within an established urbanisation.
Reference: THK44-62436-2851
Reference: P7334
MURCIA
While the Costa Calida might lack the name recognition of its flashier neighbours, it compensates with seriously competitive pricing. In La Manga, €199,000
€200,000 buyers, but persistence reveals some hidden gems.
In Santa Ponsa, for example this budget stretches to a 33m² penthouse with mountain views and access to two community pools - though you’ll need to embrace compact living.
More surprisingly, inland Sant Joan offers a different vision of island life: a rustic 40m² farmhouse set in over 10,000m² of land. Complete with solar power and mains water, it proves that even in the Balearics, compromising on location and size can still secure a slice of Mediterranean charm - albeit a rather petite one.
ALMERIA
For those willing to trade sand for serenity, inland in Alcaucín (below), €199,000 buys you a three-bedroom villa in need of an upgrade but with enough land to add a pool.
Reference: DG1976
Reference: VS1158
ment with direct Mar Menor views - a position thatnificantly more in equivalent Costa del Sol
room, two-bathroom layout makes it an ideal lockand-leave holiday home. Inland check out La Puebla where a three-bedroom terraced house with generous outdoor space can be yours for €199,000
Reference: 4 1 2F (LMBC)*2
Reference: EH246
MALLORCA
The Mediterranean’s playground presents a tough challenge for
For those seeking an escape from coastal crowds, Almería’s mountain regions offer remarkable value.
In Los Blancos, near Chirivel, €195,000 secures a recently renovated detached villa with spectacular mountain views and enough garden space to rival a small farm.
Sitting at 1,000m altitude, it offers that increasingly rare Spanish property combination: genuine tranquility with easy motorway access.
Meanwhile, in Vera, the same budget buys a brand new apartment just 400m from the expansive El Playazo beach. It features aerothermal heating, private parking, and community pools.
Reference: SKNBG-32209k CATALUNYA
The northeastern corner of Spain
Reference: 2374 Reference: 948 €195,000
reveals some surprising gems.
In Tossa de Mar, €195,000 buys a townhouse in Santa Maria de Llorell with sea views and access to private coves - a rarity on the premium Costa Brava.
For those preferring terra firma to waves, the same budget in Tortosa secures a beautifully restored 94m² stone farmhouse set in an impressive 19,000m² of land. Complete with fruit orchards, mountain views, and just minutes from the historic city centre.
GALICIA AND ASTURIAS
Spain’s verdant north offers a dramatic departure from the Mediterranean, both in style and value.
In Mondoñedo (above), in Galicia, €199,000 buys a sprawling country house with nearly 7,000m² of land, bordered by a stream and sitting directly on the Camino de Santiago. Future pilgrim hostel, perhaps?
Meanwhile, in Asturias (top), a traditional stone house with an authentic hórreo (granary) commands a similar price.
Reference: 1194
Reference: 2057
CANARY ISLANDS
Island living comes at a premium, but €200,000 still opens doors in Tenerife. In tourist-friendly San Eugenio, this budget secures a studio apartment with Siam Park views and heated pool access - ideal for winter sun seekers. For those preferring a more local vibe, Puerto de la Cruz offers modern apartments with mountain views and holiday rental potential at €195,000. While space is more limited than mainland Spain, year-round warmth and strong rental yields continue to attract investors
Reference: 8515.
Reference: RF/34
told the Olive Press, adding he himself also had a policy.
“I’ve been told it is unlikely that anyone will get any money back,” he insisted.
Another ex-employee, insisted that Nelson had not been involved in the day to day running of the business for ‘at least’ two years, and had lived anything but a ‘lavish’ lifestyle as some victims have claimed.
“He moved to Portugal some years back suffering from diabetes and poor health,” said the source who we are not naming. “He was very overweight and struggled to move around.”
The former salesman, who was based out of Manilva, continued: “As far as I was away he had handed over the running of the business to his ex-wife and sister in the UK.”
Either way, victims and experts alike are understandably urging Spanish authorities to
€20 note for a €19 fare. I’ll tell you the answer: 99% of them ask for change.
A British ‘immigrant’ to Spain is someone who always leaves a big tip, and probably tries to pay their bar bill as they order a round.
So, do you find yourself feeling nostalgic for Yates’s Wine Lodge, sausage rolls and wall-to-wall carpeting?
If so, you’re more than an immigrant. And for expats, no matter how long you live in Spain, you likely insist on PG Tips for breakfast and, possibly Earl Grey in the afternoon.
And it’s highly likely you still wear socks with your sandals? Oh, and are you wearing a vest?
When you shop at the supermarket, you’re drawn to sliced white bread, and not to baguettes. And you never, ever eat squid or snails.
Do you also get a perverse pleasure from confusing Spanish people?
Here are some questions to ask them: not only will they not give you a coherent answer, I guarantee they won’t even understand the question.
One: Where can I buy a kettle?
Two: We’re out of HP – is Daddy’s OK?
Three: Is Keir Starmer batting on a sticky wicket?
An expat will never fully integrate. Here’s the test. (And I’m not talking about the Spanish knack of wearing a suit at a summer wedding, without sweating).
Go to a cafe and wait until they pull out that unique Spanish disinfectant, the one that’s 10 times fiercer than prussic acid.
Order a Russian (Kiev - ed.) salad. If you can eat it while you’re surrounded by those uber-toxic fumes, congratulations – you can now call yourself Spanish.
take action to prevent disasters like this from happening again.
Linn Mcnally, 77, told the Olive Press she was ‘sickened’ after ‘scrimping and saving’ for years to afford her plan with Iberian.
“After my husband died, I was trying to get by on a basic pension. It was very difficult and I struggled to keep up with the monthly payments but somehow I managed it. I’m having sleepless nights now that it’s all gone,” she added.
The former teacher contracted a plan with Iberian in order to ‘make life easier’ for her two disabled daughters and busy son back in the UK.
Like many expats, she trusted the confident sales patter of the salesman she met when she moved to Pedralba, Valencia.
“You’re more likely to trust someone of your own nationality because you think you’re all in the same boat and helping each other,” she said.
“Spain is certainly still behind England in a lot of ways, and it’s like stepping back in time with a lack of regulation.
meaning you also risk buying from English cowboys.”
He advises doing thorough research before investing in a funeral plan, including ensuring it is Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated in the UK.
“Iberian offered services below market value and that is immediately a red flag,” the 52-year-old, based on the Costa del Sol, warned.
“If it’s cheap, it’s because they aren’t using your money for funerals but to buy Ferraris, helicopters and mansions in Puerto Banus.”
He sympathised with victims looking for justice, warning any funeral plan without FCA regulation runs the risk of being abused for personal gain.
Spain is behind England and regulation is like stepping back in time
“You have no choice than to be more trusting and that leads to situations like this.”
Fellow Costa Blanca resident, Billy Steele agrees: “These companies hit you as soon as you land in Spain and you have a million things going on so you put your trust in them.”
The 65-year-old former veteran continued:
“The law should do more but everything in life is a risk nowadays, especially for older, retired people.
“They are targeted more because scammers know they have money.”
Funeral director, Neal Toplis, agrees: “Of course there should be more regulation but the problem is the system is different in Spain.
If you use the Spanish system, which is getting funeral insurance with a company like Ocaso, you’ll be ok.
“But many expats want an English product,
“People want someone to pay for this, but the only person responsible is in a coffin,” he told the Olive Press.
While we are trying to establish if this is definitely the case, Rob Barker, Head of Compliance at Avalon Funeral Plans, echoed the call for further regulation.
“It highlights the importance of consumer protection in the prepaid funeral plan sector- especially in Spain where the industry remains unregulated,” he insisted.
He called for better ethical standards, compensation protection, ombudsman support and secure trust funds like those seen in the UK.
If these changes were put in place, consumers would be protected from funds being misused and companies collapsing, with providers held accountable for delivering services.
“In the UK, it took years of lobbying to bring plans under FCA regulation and similar advocacy has not yet taken place in Spain and may not gain traction as the number of expats here is relatively small compared to the overall population,” he said.
“Pre-paid funeral plans in Spain generally target expatriates, while Spanish nationals often use alternative methods for funeral expenses.”
HOW TO KEEP YOUR MONEY SAFE
Check the FCA register – Only firms authorised by the FCA are regulated. You can verify a firm’s status at www.fca.org.uk/register
Looking for the FSCS logo – UK-regulated financial services firms are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which protects your money.
Check memberships – Ensure the provider is a member of the National Association of Funeral Plan Providers (NAFPP).
If a provider is not regulated, ask the following questions: Where is my money held? What percentage of my funeral cost is secured in a trust? What happens if the company fails?
Be cautious of unregulated providers making bold security claims. Many use terms like ‘secure trust’ or ‘separate accounts’, but if they are not FCA-regulated, there are no guarantees your money is safe.
EASTER RELIEF
The Olive Press website launches sweet subscription deal following a miserable March
IT has, without a doubt, been one of the most depressing months in recent Spanish history.
Nearly four weeks of uninterrupted rain have wrought havoc on businesses across the country by warding off tourists and keeping locals locked up at home.
Bars and restaurants that would usually cater to thousands of punters over weekends in March were seen empty, with many not even bothering to open.
As anyone who lives here knows, good weather equals good business, and long spells of disruption can have deep knock-on effects on the economy.
With everyone feeling the pinch in the run-up to high season, the Olive Press website is offering a limited time deal on its annual subscription package.
AD-FREE BROWSING
For our Easter special, we are slashing the price of our yearly subscriptions to just €29.99, down from the usual €49.99. Only paying subscribers get unlimited access to all of our online articles and, most importantly, they can enjoy them ADVERT FREE.
To join this privileged club - to which thousands of you already belong - scan the QR code on this page.
The QR code will take you to the checkout area with the discount already applied.
More than 73,000 people have now registered an account at press.es, more than double that of a year ago.
After significant investment and changes to our paywall provider and web server, we are now seeing around 50 people registering with us each DAY.
So what are you waiting for?
Join the conversation today and become one of thousands of Olive Press subscribers.
NO OP, NO COMMENT
ACTION NEEDED: Funeral director Toplis (right) advises avoiding ‘cheap’ deals
Restrictions reduced
WHILE Gibraltar’s reverse osmosis plant chugs on obliviously, residents in the Campo can breathe a sigh of relief after water authorities announced an easing of drought restrictions following the recent rainfall. It was confirmed on Tuesday that water-saving measures that have seen only a trickle come out of taps after midnight have been relaxed. Most notably, the daily water usage for town dwellers will increase from 200 to 250 litres per inhabitant, providing much-needed relief to municipalities that have endured months of strict water restrictions.
Farmers are also in line to benefit, with irrigation restrictions being substantially reduced. This news is expected to provide relief to local farmers who have struggled with water scarcity in recent months.
STILL IN THE DANGER ZONE
EXPERTS at Doñana National Park have warned recent rainfall may not be enough to stave off drought come summertime.
Juanjo Carmona, WWF coordinator at Doñana, says it is ‘too early’ to celebrate the dramatic rainfall seen this month as the park ‘could still dry out’ in summer. He says the March down-
and lower health costs,
FOLLOW THE TREND…
CURRENTLY, we are in a season where we do not feel the effects of climate change as strongly: Compared to increasingly hot summers, less cold winters, or stronger autumn storms, the climate in spring is still moderate. We all eagerly await the arrival of summer. However, even if we do not currently feel climate changes in Europe, the climate continues to change steadily. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently released a new State of Global Climate Report, which can be summarised in six points:
1. Warmest Temperatures on Record: 2024 was the first year to average more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, specifically 1.6 degrees. It’s not just 2024; the last 10 years have been the hottest decade on record.
2. 1.5 Degree Goal Not Necessarily Exceeded: The Paris Climate Agreement aimed to limit warming to 2 degrees, if possible 1.5 degrees. These figures are averages, so even if a year is hotter than 1.5 degrees, the average can still stabilize at 1.5 degrees.
3. Highest CO2 Levels Ever: In 2023, approximately 3.276 billion metric tons of CO2 were in the atmosphere, the highest level in 800,000 years. Other greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide are also present in very high concentrations.
4. Oceans Are Significantly Warmer: Over the past 20 years, ocean warming has doubled compared to the period from 1960 to 2005. Previously, the average was about 20.2 degrees Celsius; recently, it was around 20.8 degrees. This seemingly small difference poses significant problems for marine life, as these are average figures and variations are higher in many areas. Coral reefs are particularly threatened by this temperature change, leading to bleaching and death. Since they are the foundation for many other organisms, these also die. Additionally, CO2 dissolves in the oceans, causing acidification, which is a major problem for fisheries, especially in the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, equatorial and tropical Pacific, and parts of the Atlantic. This acidification is likely irreversible.
Ever more flooding is a sympom
5. Glaciers and Sea Ice Are Melting: Both sea ice and glaciers are retreating in all regions. Even sea ice in Antarctica is now declining, which is surprising since it had remained relatively stable for a long time.
6. Displacement of 800,000 People Due to Extreme Weather: As climate change progresses, more areas of the Earth are becoming nearly uninhabitable. Due to prolonged droughts, more frequent floods, heavy rainfall, or other extreme weather events, 800,000 people had to flee last year, 1.1 million were injured, and 1,700 died due to climate change impacts.
This WMO report highlights once again how important it is for us to take action! If we act quickly, we have a chance to prevent much greater harm. However, action must be taken swiftly.
In preparation for the World Climate Conference this November in Brazil, the head of the UN Climate Secretariat, Simon Stiell, has called on all countries to submit their climate protection plans. These plans should describe the measures they intend to implement by 2035 and must be submitted by September this year. UN scientists will then calculate the gap between these planned measures and the internationally agreed targets for limiting global warming.
A mid-term assessment of current efforts by all countries was provided by Stiell, stating that we are currently on track for a three degree increase in global warming if all countries continue as they are.
This is a good achievement, as it looked like we would reach six degrees of global warming at the start of climate conferences in the 1990s. However, three degrees should not be the final goal.
Even now, having just exceeded the one-anda-half degree mark, we are already experiencing significant climate changes. There are also countries that are making good progress with their climate plans. According to Stiell, these countries are already seeing benefits: stronger economic growth, lower energy costs, less environmental pollution, and resulting lower health costs. So, let’s all follow this trend.
Please send your questions or comments on how to be greener to christin@theolivepress.es
By Yzabelle Bostyn
pours are indicative of a new trend, where instead of rain falling progressively in the winter months, huge deluges inundate the park in spring.
“We used to see 80 litres of water in November and 90 in December, last year we got 20 and 30, compared to 150 litres in March,” he said.
Although any rainfall may seem like a godsend in drought ridden Andalucia, gradual rainfall helps to sustain water systems much better than sudden downpours. “Progressive rain helps feed rivers and sustain ground waters. If water falls all at once, it can cause serious problems and quickly overwhelms congested groundwater systems” he said.
“This month we’ve had incredible rainfall, like I haven’t seen for years. It’s great for some species and I’ve seen some animals more than ever. But I’m concerned it won’t last.”
Experts warn Doñana rainfall may not be enough to sustain the park through ever rising temperatures
He warns if record temperatures repeat themselves, the area would quickly dry out, leaving the species that have made their home on the once-humid wetlands vulnerable to predators and starvation.
“Because the water has fallen suddenly, it’s largely superficial meaning it’s likely to evaporate. If it disappears, aquatic birds that are so important to Doñana will be in great dan-
ger as predators such as wild boars will be able to reach them,” he said.
Once a ‘refuge’ for wildlife, he warns Doñana is being damaged at the hands of climate change, agriculture and hunting issues.
“I hope the temperature doesn’t rise too much and the water stays so that the park can recover a bit. It’s not about getting pretty photos of the rain, we need to keep Doñana going,” he said. “We can celebrate at the end of summer when we know if the rain has had a significant impact.”
LOTS OF WATER: At Doñana but for how long?
Countries with climate change plans experience stronger economic growth, lower energy costs
explains Christin Hagemeier
CLIMATE CHANGEM:
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
THE British press is warning tourists of po tential hikes in holiday charges of up to 200%.
The Sun and Wales On line have reported that holiday taxes on some Balearic Islands could
Cava setback
SALES of Spain's Cava sparkling wine fell by 13% last year as vineyards in the main producing area of Catalunya suffered from the ongoing drought. Export sales figures dropped further by 18%.
Cava prices rose by 11% due to inflation and reduced supplies.
The Cava Designation of Origin, which includes main producers like Codorniu and Freixenet, said that domestic sales were only down by 3.56%.
The group represents 349 wineries with 38,000 hectares of vineyards.
Spain is the world’s main consumer of cava, followed by Belgium and America.
Total DO Cava sales were 218 million bottles in 2024, with around 30% sold at home.
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
TOURIST TAX HIKE
shoot up dramatically this summer. They claim cruise ship passengers could see overnight charges increased from €2 to €6. It comes as part of new measures
proposed by the Balearic government which would affect Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.
Maximum overnight charges could rise from €4 to €6 per per-
Moment in the sun
Restaurants join elite 3 Sols club in 2025 Repsol guide
TWO restaurants have been given the highest 3 Soles award by the 2025 Repsol Guide at a gala ceremony held in Tenerife.
Joining the select 3 Soles group of 44 establishments are La Finca under chef Susi Diaz in Elche and Baga run by Pedro
Border red tape
BRITISH travellers to Spain and the EU will face delays at border controls from 2026 due to new biometric screening and continued passport stamping.
The EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES), set for phased roll-out from October 2025, aims to replace manual passport stamping with digital biometric registration.
THE Valencia region, in recent years, has become a magnet for expats, tourists, digital nomads, and retirees, offering a harmonious blend of cultural charm, modern amenities and breathtaking coastlines. Many are drawn to the Costa Blanca for its coastal allure, or Valencia city and its history and energy.
However, for those willing to venture inland and who have a deep appreciation for nature and tranquility, the Requena-Utiel region presents a captivating alternative.
Less than an hour inland from Valencia city, this magical little-visited region is renowned for its high mountain peaks and rolling wine country, and it even has its own Natural park.
Full of vineyards (among Valencia’s best) and wonderful places to eat, it also counts on excellent outdoor activities and festivals that showcase its deep cultural richness.
Here, American expat Layi Ali, who settled here with his wife two years ago, picks out his top five reasons to visit:
1. Wine Tourism and the Excellence of Las Ocho
The Requena-Utiel region is steeped in viticulture, with a winemaking heritage spanning nearly 3,000 years. The area is particularly celebrated for the Bobal grape, native to the region and responsible for producing distinctive, high-quality wines. Visitors can explore
son per night. On the higher end of the scale, four and five-star accommodation could be slapped with a €42 per person per week tariff.
However, there is good news for winter travellers, with tourist fees for January and February scrapped.
By Alex Trelinski
Sanchez in Jaen.
Susi Diaz opened her restaurant 40 years ago in an old farmhouse.
“Making a dish that triggers
Travellers must provide fingerprints and facial recognition data, stored in a central database.
However, the staggered implementation means UK visitors will endure both biometric checks and passport stamping until April 2026, leading to bottlenecks at airports, ferry ports, and railway stations.
With millions of British tourists visiting Spain annually, experts warn of severe congestion and travel disruption.
memories of my childhood is more important than thinking about the future,” she said.
“There is a mackerel marinade recipe from my grandmother which I have brought up to date with an aroma that wakes up the diner!”
For Pedro Sanchez, offering variety is important.
“I think more about what the product asks me for, rather than about the actual dish.
“I try to visualise it as if I didn't know it so that without any bias, I can come up with an original treatment,” Sanchez added.
Some 17 restaurants received 2 Soled for the first time, with a further 71 getting a single Sol from the prestigious food guide.
GO WEST!
dozens of vineyards each with their unique history and wine-making traditions.
Many offer guided wine-tasting ses sions led by owners who have cen turies of deep knowledge of winemaking that has been passed down over the gen erations.
One of the standout wines from the region is Las Ocho from Bodega Chozas Carrascal in Requena. This exquisite blend, featuring eight different grape varieties, represents the pinnacle of winemaking in the area.
2. Outdoor Adventures
Aged to perfection, Las Ocho offers a complex and elegant profile, making it a must-try for any wine enthusiast. The winery itself provides a top-tier tasting experience, where visitors can learn about the meticulous production process that makes this wine so special. Notable wineries such as MurviedroBodega Histórica and Pago de Tharsys also offer immersive experiences, including tours of historic underground cellars and tastings of their finest selections.
The region is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The Hoces de Cabriel Natural Park (right), for instance, offers breathtaking landscapes ideal for hiking, cycling, and bird-watching.
The park's diverse terrain includes deep gorges carved by the Cabriel River, dense forests, and expansive meadows, providing a serene backdrop for nature walks and picnics.
The park is also renowned for its place in Spanish history because it’s also home to numerous bunkers that were built during the Spanish civil war.
For those seeking more adrenaline-fueled activities, the area's rivers and reservoirs are perfect for kayaking, rafting, and fishing.
Local adventure tourism companies cater to both novices and seasoned adventurers, ensuring safe and memorable experiences.
One of the unique highlights of exploring the region is the chance to encounter cabras montesas, the mountain goats that are the true kings of these peaks.
Around 60 inspectors made the choices with expert knowledge of cuisine and restaurants in a particular region.
There are now 789 restaurants with Repsol awards across Spain, with the largest number - 115 - in Catalunya.
Andalucia boasts 77 accolades and the Valencian Community has 65.
Repsol’s chairman, Antonio Brufau, highlighted ‘the chefs’ willingness to economically boost the environment, collaborating with producers, artisans and other local businesses’.
“This is a commitment that creates community and is the key to continue growing,” Brufau stated.
The Olive Press offers five good reasons to visit this hidden region of Valencia, under an hour inland
3. Cultural Experiences
The towns of Requena and Utiel are rich in history and culture.
Strolling through their medieval quarters, visitors can admire well-preserved architecture, ancient churches, and charming plazas.
The Cuevas de la Villa, in Requena, is a network of underground caves, offering a glimpse into the town's storied past, having served various purposes from wine storage to refuge during conflicts. In particular the town’s Grape
BEACH HAPPY
A BIZARRE new study analysing 100 beaches worldwide suggests that Spain is home to the happiest beach on the planet. London-based travel agency CV Villas used AWS facial recognition technology to scan thousands of Instagram photos, determining which beaches had the most smiles - an unusual but intriguing method of ranking the world’s most joyful coastlines.
Spain dominates the podium, with two of its beaches ranking among the top three.
Taking the top spot with a near-perfect ‘beach happiness score’ of 98.42 is Sitges Beach (below), located 40 km from Barcelona.
The second ‘happiest’ beach in Spain is Port de Soller, located on the picturesque northwest coast of Mallorca.
It ranks third worldwide, behind Praia da Falesia in Albufeira, Portugal. Meanwhile, Cala Pregonda, a secluded gem on the north coast of Menorca, takes 11th place globally.
Harvest Festival in late August sees locals and visitors come together to celebrate the bounty of the grape harvests with music, dance, and, of course, wine.
4. Culinary Experience
No visit to the Requena-Utiel region would be complete without indulging in its culinary offerings.
The local cuisine features traditional dishes like ajoarriero (a flavorful blend of cod and garlic), casseroled rice, and hearty stews.
Many wineries complement their tastings with local cheeses and cured meats, providing a holistic gastronomic experience.
5. Rest and Relaxation
Whether exploring the nearby natural parks, visiting the region’s wineries, or simply enjoying the slow pace of village life, guests will find that every moment at the wonderful expat-run Hotel Raimblanc, which is infused with warmth and authenticity.
The attentive team ensure a personalized experience, offering packages for local excursions and hidden gems. As the sun sets over the rolling vineyards, you will love relaxing by the fireplace in the lounge or in its restaurant savouring a glass of local wine and enjoying a delicious dinner, while recounting the day’s adventures.
SUNNY DELIGHT: for Susi Diaz and Pedro Sanchez
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Just a few hours drive from Malaga’s coastline, Portugal’s Algarve region is a gem at any time of year.
But it shines especially bright in spring, when sun drenched beaches have not yet been inundated with summer tourists.
While the trip is manageable in one sitting (as we did), you could stop along the way in the Spanish spots of Sevilla and Huelva to make the most of your journey.
The Andalucian capital, Sevilla, comes alive at Easter with religious spectacles, ornate thrones and pompous parades.
You’re sure to notice a buzz around town, as well as the pointy hats of the Nazarenos as dozens of brotherhoods throughout the city hold processions during holy week.
I recommend going on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday to catch a few before heading onwards.
After Sevilla, head straight to Portugal or if you don’t mind spending a night in Spain, continue onto Huelva.
There, you can admire the beauty and wildlife of Doñana National Park, and if very lucky see the rare Iberian lynx. Nearby, the enchanting town of El Rocio is worth a look for its sandy, picturesque streets frequented by handsome horses.
If you can’t get enough of Huelva, check out the main city and surrounding beaches such as Playa de Rompeculos.
Whether you’ve spent a couple of days between Sevilla and Huelva or hopped straight to Portugal, your first stop is the hamlet of Cacela Velha.
After driving to the border town of Monte Gordo on a Friday afternoon and sleeping at the Hotel Quinta da Rosa Linda, we set off bright and early on Saturday morning to discover this quaint spot.
A coastal village dotted with blue and white fishing houses, Cacela Velha makes a charming introduction to Portugal.
Wander along the cobbled streets to reach the church, where you can admire panoramic views over the ocean.
Trace along the wall to the old fortress before making your way down the steps towards the beach and lake.
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
CROSSING THE BORDER
Looking for an Easter escape? This road trip from the Costa del Sol along the Algarve is the perfect weekend getaway
VIBRANT: The city of Lagos is full of culture, while (right) the stunning Benagil sea cave
By Yzabelle Bostyn
On a sunny day, you will be treated to a landscape of golden sands, blue skies and vibrant greens, dotted with ramshackle fishing boats. Though small, Cacela Velha is well worth your time on your way to the Algarve.
About a 15 minute drive away
you’ll find your first stop in the coastal hotspot, Tavira nestled along the Gilao river.
Popular with expats and tourists, Tavira’s historic centre is full of beautiful town houses decorated with intricate tiles.
The Jardim da Alagoa is the perfect spot to enjoy a coffee and a pastel de nata on a spring day, with plenty of local cafes lining the square.
Once refreshed, make sure to explore the surrounding narrow streets filled with artisan ceramic workshops, souvenir shops and adorable boutiques.
Stroll across the Puente Antiguo to reach the castle and its excellent views over the city and coast.
After wandering down through the garden, enjoy lunch in the Praca da Republica before heading to your next destination.
Next is one of the highlights of your Algarve adventure, the city of Faro. Dubbed the ‘Palm Springs of Portugal’, Faro is home to the largest concentration of modernist buildings in southern Europe.
Though often unloved and overlooked, this is exactly what lends the city its ‘laid back’ charm, perfect to be enjoyed on a lazy spring afternoon.
A visit to the historic centre is incomplete without a wander to the old cathedral, the town hall and the creepy Capela dos Ossos, decorated with the bones of former monks.
Vibrant
After a stroll on the seafront, we began to feel peckish so opted for dinner at Cantinho, a traditional eatery with tasty options for veggies
and meat eaters alike.
However, if you have time to spend another day in the area, we recommend venturing out of the town to discover Faro’s highlights.
The Parque Natural da Ria Formosa is a great excursion in kayak or boat, alongside the Ilha Deserta and the stunning rock formations at
the views but if you manage to tear yourself away, the city of Lagos waits for you.
A vibrant city, Lagos’ collection of restaurants and bars peppered with bright facades and street art makes it feel youthful and exciting.
the coast.
Fine, golden sand stretches as far as the eye can see, only interrupted by towering rock formations which stand out against the turquoise water. You could spend hours wandering between the coves and looking out at
Popular activities include a wander around the old town, museums and other excursions to nearby islands and
The final stop on this mammoth Algarve road trip is the dramatic coastline of Sagres, the most western point in Eu-
While you can visit the historic Fortaleza de Sagres, you can also enjoy the impressive views around the fortress without paying a penny.
I recommend taking a walk around the cliffs before admiring the force of nature as huge waves crash against the rocks.
Unfortunately, this was the end of the road for us, but if you are lucky enough to have more time, the western coast of Portugal is also home to stunning beaches waiting to be explored.
PARADISE: The stunning Portimao beach
LA CULTURA
A story of water Forging new paths
MELILLA has inaugurated its own Camino de Santiago route, the first path to run from the African continent.
The ‘Via Rusadir’ was inaugurated by Galicia’s regional president, Alfonso Rueda and Mellian leader, Juan Jose Imbroda.
According to the Melilla Memorial Foundation, the 972 km route has been designed with scenery in mind.
The route begins at the Capilla de Santiago, Africa’s only gothic style chapel.
It stands in the shadow of the Melilla la Vieja lighthouse; the silhouette of which forms a Mediterranean Scallop, a symbol of the Camino. Pilgrims then continue along the coast with views of the stunning Ensenada de los Galapagos beach.
A DOCUMENTARY about Doñana National Park will come to Spanish cinemas this summer.
DOÑANA: Where Water is Sacred explores the park’s traditions, ecosystems and species. It also shines a light on the effects of severe drought on the region as well as efforts to conserve the Iberian Lynx.
By Span-
ish production company, WandaVision, the documentary is one in a series of films focussing on the country’s nat-
ural resources. The films have frequently been honoured by Spain’s filmmaking industry, with Guadalquivir and Cantabrico both nominated for Goya awards.
“By bringing Doñana to the big screen we’ve found a new way for Spaniards to get closer to nature,” director Carmen Rodriguez said.
San Patrick
A SPANISH enclave in North Africa is one of the few places outside the English-speaking world to officially recognise St Patrick’s Day - thanks to an Irish military hero.
Melilla has been honouring Waterford-born General John Sherlock with 10 days of fes-
OLD TIMER
KEY FIND: Could the jaw be crucial in understanding evolution?
By Walter Finch
tivities to mark the 250th anniversary of his historic defence against Moroccan forces.
Sherlock - known locally as Juan - is credited with successfully defending Melilla against a
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the oldest known human face in the West - a 1.4-million-year-old cheekbone and upper jaw - from Sima del Elefante, a cave system near Burgos. The fossil belonged to a human and predates pre vious finds in Western Europe. Researchers believe the remains resemble erectus but could be a distinct branch, naming it Homo af finis erectus. The fragment, nick named ‘Pink’ after
BUSINESS
100-day siege by Moroccan Sultan Muley Mohamed Ben Abdal-Lah and his 40,000 troops in 1775.
The siege was lifted on March 19, just two days after St Patrick’s Day, making last week’s commemorations particularly significant for residents.
Pink Floyd, provides new insight into early human life in Europe. At the time, Spain was a fertile landscape teeming with wildlife. Fossilised tools and butchered animal bones suggest early humans thrived here. However, extreme climate shifts around 1.1 million years ago may have led to population changes. This discovery adds a new piece to the puzzle of Europe’s earliest inScientists say more fossils are needed to confirm where this species fits in human evolution.
RISING STAR
SPAIN has been highlighted as one of the emerging economic success stories. In a recent article, the Financial Times referred to the nation as a ‘new economic star’.
Spain’s economy praised by internationally renowned economist
2010s, and the more recent pandemic, forced significant fiscal reforms.
These changes have now contributed to its current recovery. The country implemented
THE OECD says Spain's economy will grow even faster in 2025 and 2026 - upgrading last December's forecast. It added that the country was in a stronger position than the rest of the EU to deal with the fallout from new US tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. The OECD has raised growth
“It was the biggest challenge of my career so far, filming over thousands of miles while the park was in a very delicate situation.”
Filming in the ‘most important wetlands in Europe’ while they were ‘bone dry’ was a challenge, but it forced the crew to consider a diverse range of subjects as well as presenting the dangers of water scarcity. It will be released on May 30 in cinemas across Spain.
Why
does Melilla officially celebrate Paddy’s Day and what are its Irish links?
Melilla, a 12 square kilometres Spanish territory on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast with 86,500 people, has maintained strong ties to Ireland since Sherlock’s heroic stand.
This year’s celebrations included exhibitions, tours, and lectures about Sherlock’s life and the famous siege.
The enclave’s Irish connections don’t end there.
Three streets are named after generals of Irish heritage, including General Leopoldo O’Donnell, a descendant of Donegal’s O’Donnell clan, who won a decisive battle in 1860 that confirmed Melilla’s status as Spanish territory.
A ‘Sherlock Route’ guided tour is set for March 29, taking participants through Melilla’s Irish street names with bilingual ex-
planations and musical performances.
Melilla and its sister enclave Ceuta have been flashpoints in Spain-Morocco relations for centuries.
Spain insists both territories have been Spanish since the 15th century, but Morocco disputes this - mirroring Gibraltar’s sovereignty debate. Both enclaves sit at the frontline of migration to the EU and are heavily fortified with security fences.
Recent diplomatic tensions include Morocco closing customs posts in 2018 and allowing migrants into Ceuta in 2021. Despite ongoing disputes, Melilla and Ceuta residents remain firmly in favour of staying Spanish.
By Tom Ewart Smith
measures such as reducing benefits for pensioners while increasing aid for its impoverished population,
Growth upgrade
forecast by 0.3% to 2.6% this year, in line with government predictions, with 2.2% in 2026.
In contrast, growth figures for EU members including France, Germany and Italy have been downgraded.
Ruchir Sharma, chair of Rockefeller International, writes that, for Spain, the Eurozone crisis of the leading to a decrease in deficits and public debt. Spain’s economic recovery also stands out due to its response to demographic challenges.
While many European nations are tightening borders, Spain has adopted policies to attract immigrants and has eased labour market regulations to address labour shortages, a key factor for long-term economic stability.
Spain is part of a broader trend in which nations, often after crises, have restructured their economies and started to see positive results.
Sharma points to Spain, Greece, Argentina, South Africa, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka as notable examples. These six countries ‘were forced to reform because their finances were stretched thin by the pandemic,’ the author says.
“The recovery is visible in rising stock markets and improving credit conditions,” he claims.
The Financial Times highlights that while no country is without its flaws, nations undergoing deep reforms are showing signs of long-term recovery.
The rise of Spain, alongside others, reflects the ongoing cycle of economic renewal, where nations are reemerging as economic players after periods of crisis.
BE CONNECTED
THE Sky Doctor is a market leader in the telecommunications industry and offers premium customer service.
Founded in 2000, The Sky Doctor has been helping its customers in Spain connect with their favourite UK and European TV channels.
Based on the Costa del Sol, the company offers stateof-the art satellite systems, Fibre Optic, CCTV Security systems, and MIFI rental internet, among other superb products.
Aimed at those of a ‘Brexit’ generation, The Sky Doctor’s 360-degree approach is perfect for anyone looking to purchase TV services for a temporary period or on a month-to-month basis.
The key to their success is the personalised service they provide for customers.
The Sky Doctor was born out of a belief that their clients need products that suit
their own requirements - at a good price.
Mark Wood, owner of the company, says customer service is ‘paramount,’ and notes that ‘if someone has a problem, we are on it’.
“That’s why we do it,” Mark says, emphasising the company’s commitment to fostering a positive and trustworthy relationship with clients.
Beyond just offering services, The Sky Doctor provides expert advice and onthe-ground support, ensuring that customers - whether residents or holidaymakers - stay connected with ease. With over two decades of experience, a loyal customer base, and a reputation for fast, reliable service, The Sky Doctor remains the goto provider for British expats and international clients looking for seamless entertainment and internet solutions in Spain.
Saved by a heroine
A YOUNG Cordoban woman has been praised after jumping into the Guadalquivir river to save a cat during intense flooding last week.
Gill-ty
A MADRID smoker’s club has been shut down for selling drugs and keeping an exotic shark. Police arrested three people and seized over 400 grams of illicit substances.
Moo-vie star
SUPERMAN actor Henry Cavill visited A Coruña last week to buy some Galician Blonde cows. Rumoured to be the next James Bond, Cavill has a farm outside London.
Satisfalla
Welcome to NewCADIZtle
Locals joke that they are ‘living in the UK’ after weeks of non-stop rain and storms
ANDALUCIANS are joking southern Spain has turned into Britain after weeks of non-stop storms and rain soaked the region.
Social media users in Andalucia joked: “Mama made
By Yzabelle Bostyn
fish ’n’ chips for tea – it’s official, we’re Brits now!”, after 18 days of relentless downpours left streets look-
Couldn’t wait
A BRITISH ‘groom to be’ has been escorted off a plane by Guardia Civil agents after reportedly vaping on a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Alicante. It was shared by TikTok user and comedian @Katerinarobinsoncomedy.
“This man was vaping for the whole of the flight, he had a warning from the pilot and then when we landed the police arrived,” she said, showing the Guardia Civil agents waiting for the man.
ing more Scarborough than Sevilla.
Another commented: “I went to order an Alhambra 1925 today and the waiter told me they only had Guinness or London Pride.”
“Everything was kicking off. Apparently the man was getting married in Spain, imagine that being the man you’re marrying, how embarrassing, all for a pineapple vape on a two hour flight.”
Meanwhile in Sevilla, an X user quipped: “The Giralda now looks like Big Ben!”
Local news outlet Andalucia
Directo posted a picture of a typical Andalucian breakfast of tomato on toast slowly morphing into a full English with the caption ‘12 days of non-stop rain.’
A VIBRATOR shaped sculpture championing ‘female empowerment’ was spotted at Valencia’s fallas festivities. The ‘satisfyer’ sex toy is seen coming out of a UFO with a nearby sign reading ‘CAUTION: abduction area’. Dubbed the ‘saisfalla’, it was exhibited in Calle de Turia before being burnt in the crema festivities. While it seemed a funny aside to many, the sculpture was actually part of the ‘Stellar Revolution’ falla recognising the ‘astronomic’ future of women and girls.
Rocket
On Instagram, users added to the jokes, saying: “Now Malaga is Malachester, Cadiz is Newcadiztle, Almeria Almeripool, Sevilla Seffield and Huelva Huelvham.”
Another chimed in: “Next thing you know, we’ll be queuing for tea and moaning about the rail strikes!”
Weather boffins blame a ‘stubborn low-pressure system’, but drenched Andalucians reckon it’s karma.
It showed a girl holding an astronaut’s helmet, looking up at a lipstick rocket and was designed by Raul Martinez, el Estudio Chuky, and Marina Salazar (No Queda Tinte). It is surrounded by tongue in cheek references to women in science, such as a breast shaped planet, references to a ‘girl invasion’ and a robot wearing high heels. According to Salazar, it symbolises ‘empowerment and breaking the glass ceiling’.
