Quixotic city DECO DREAMS
JAIL FOR JODY
SHE was best friends with TV star
Denise van Outen and had more shoes than notorious Filipino first lady Imelda Marcos.
But the glamorous life of fashion designer Jody Smart has come to an abrupt end after she was found guilty of fraud in Spain.
Smart - aka Jodie Pearson - will now swap first-class trips to New York’s fashion week for a Spanish jail cell for the next three-and-a-half years.
An Alicante Court ruled she was behind part of the notorious €35 million Continental Wealth Management (CWM) swindle and must pay €370,000 to two victims.
Judge Francisco Javier Guirau also found her guilty of conning a third victim, Mark Davidson, out of €930,000, however tragically he passed away before the verdict was reached.
Smart told the Olive Press the frauds were ‘a consequence of loans between individuals, in which my…signature does not appear.’
Her lawyer added it is ‘uncertain she will end up in prison’ as he launches an appeal this week.
The court however, established that Smart
Costa restaurateur found guilty of fraud after scam linked to €35 million CWM scandal
EXCLUSIVE
By Jon Clarke & Walter Finch
was behind the fraud of one victim of €300,000 un der the false pretence of purchasing a property.
Along with colleague Alan Gorringe, who has since died, Smart also defrauded another victim of €70,000 through a sham loan agreement.
was thought to be the mastermind. Smart, who describes herself on Instagram as a ‘fashion designer, wellness expert, philanthropist, wedding planner’, also runs a successful beach club, Oceana, in Benissa.
The court ruled Smart was the sole administrator of Continental Wealth Trust, while the court also named her then-husband, Darren Kirby,
as being in on the scheme.
While Smart was involved with CWM when it collapsed in 2017, Kirby was the sole adminis
Victims claim she founded her fashion label off the back of the many people she scammed out of their life savings through the CWM investment scheme.
On Instagram she flaunts her glamorous lifestyle on foreign trips to Greece, Thailand and Venice.
The victims meanwhile - at least one who committed suicide after losing his life savings - have had to wait nearly a decade for justice after a series of delays.
But, the sentence, issued by Alicante’s Audiencia Provincial court, is being seen as a massive victory for the victims and could now open the floodgates to many more.
Incredibly, at least half a dozen other senior CWM figures have so far managed to evade justice.
Angie Brooks, a pension expert, who the Olive Press has worked alongside to expose the decade-long fraud, said she was ‘delighted’ at the judgment.
“It’s great news, I’m happier than
But
I’ve been in seven years,” said Brooks, who helped to guide the long complicated class action.
“It’s been a seven-year battle, back and forth to the court in Alicante from my home in Granada and it’s cost me a fortune in legal fees.
“At least some justice has been done and she will have to cough up nearly half a million euros in damages and fees.”
She continued: “Incredibly, Darren Kirby has, so far, managed to get off as he was not a director or a shareholder in the company.”
A separate court in Denia ruled there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to
prosecute four other senior figures of CWM in a decision that devastated the victims in 2023.
“It was complicated and the judge couldn’t get her head around it and threw the case out,” explained Brooks.
“But now we are bringing a much bigger, stronger case against them.”
She continued: “We will send out a shuddering message to the pension industry.”
The Olive Press is aware of other civil cases meanwhile being brought in the Isle of Man.
GLOBE TROTTER:
her travels have been ended by a Spanish judge
Picasso Popularity
PICASSO’S popularity has been steadily growing amongst the Asian market with “Buste de femme” (1953) selling for £4.3 million to an Asian private collector at Sotheby’s last month.
Solo in Soller
MORE than 2,800 homes in Soller have been described as empty or not used as primary residences, according to data from the National Statistics Institute and the Balearic Government.
Easter pardon
TWO brothers convicted of drug offences have been granted a royal pardon and released from prison as part of a centuries-old Semana Santa tradition in Malaga.
Jailed
THE 15-month prison sentence imposed on a farmer who abandoned 170 geese to die of hunger, with ‘total disregard to their life’ has been upheld by Spain’s Supreme Court.
A RUSSIAN couple has been arrested in Mallorca for trafficking exotic animals after an undercover operation. The pair, aged 48 and 46, are accused of selling protected species through social media, including a €60,000 panther.
They were detained at a finca in Ariany, with an Israeli accomplice
TEARS, tension and trauma rocked a Spanish courtroom this week as the heartbroken mother of Kirsty Ward, the Irish woman allegedly murdered by her boyfriend on a make-or-break holiday to Salou, broke down giving harrowing evidence.
“I didn’t like him. I didn’t trust him,” sobbed Jackie Ward as she faced Keith Byrne, the ex-soldier accused of strangling her 36-year-old daughter to death in their hotel room at the four-star Magnolia Hotel in July 2023. “She would never take her own life - she lived for her son.”
Public prosecutors say Byrne, 32, used a hair straightener cord to strangle Kirsty just
for murder
still under investigation. Guardia Civil's Seprona environmental unit raided their home in March 2024, discovering 19 felines - including servals and caracals - kept illegally in cages. The traffickers’ social media accounts showcased rare animals like white tigers, hyenas, and black leopards to buyers worldwide. Authorities seized animal passports, phones, and computers during the raid, revealing a vast international network trading in protected species from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
Mum of Kirsty Ward breaks down in tears in court as soldier ex stands trial
By Dilip Kuner
hours after she dumped him. They claim he couldn’t handle the breakup and snapped. A grim five-page indictment alleges he waited until 9pm before storming back into the room to kill her. Prosecutors want him caged for 21 years, and compensation of €150,000 for her son Evan, 14 at the time she died, and €150,000 for Jackie. But Dubliner Byrne - who
once guarded the Queen at Buckingham Palace - claims he’s the real victim.
Speaking from a Catalan prison in an exclusive 2023 interview with the Olive Press, Byrne insisted: “I found her cold. She’d already gone. I screamed for help and tried CPR. I loved her.”
He claimed CCTV proves he was at a beach bar before discovering Kirsty dead with a ligature around her neck, blocking the door from inside. His family backed him. Sis-
The animals are now being relocated to the Son Servera Safari Zoo and Primadomus rescue centre.
‘She would never leave her boy’ ANIMAL TRAFFICKERS BUSTED
ter Tara insisted Kirsty, who suffered from mental health struggles and had reportedly been hospitalised in Dublin, was spiraling. “She’d gone off with another man the night before. Keith wanted to end things on good terms. He was heading back to pack and leave.”
The court heard that Kirsty had decided it was ‘make or break.’ Jackie told the court: “I knew something was wrong when she left. A mother knows.”
TRAGEDY: Kirsty on a plane with alleged killer Keith Byrne
Trouble in paradise
IT’S exactly the sort of high-end luxury that would suit the pampered characters of The
With its breathtaking location, expansive grounds and high-level security, the new Four Seasons Formentor hotel in Mal-
lorca has unsurprisingly been tipped as the next setting of the fourth series of the HBO show.
While no official confirmation has been made, it has been widely hinted that the producers are looking for the right location in Europe.
Having filmed in Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand, they wanted something less exotic, but still with unbelievable exclusivity.
The cast, including Jason Isaacs, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Parker Posey, also
complained that Thailand was too hot and too isolated.
And HBO drama chief Francesca Orsi recently admitted ‘chances are somewhere in Europe’, while producer Mike White does ‘not like the cold’ so it won’t be a skiing resort.
Intriguingly, the hotel that has only just reopened after a three year renovation, is offering guests an immersive experience inspired by 'The White Lotus'.
Until May 14, ‘the White Lotus Cabana’ offers visitors an exclusive poolside retreat with a curated menu reflecting the show's exotic locales.
Rock ’n’ rolling in
Spain prepares for a huge host of international names this summer
SPAIN’S summer music calendar is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded in history.
A host of recognised artists will descend on local stages across the country - from re mote mountain towns to coastal resorts.
One of the first big fes tivals is the Mallorca Live Festival in June, which welcomes British headliners Massive Attack and Suede, plus American legend Iggy Pop Later that month the Azkena Rock Festival kicks off in Vitoria on June 21 featuring Fogerty, of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame, who plays his only Spanish date there.
By Tom Ewart Smith
Manic Street Preach ers, Buzzcocks Dead Kennedys punk grit to the bill. Mad Cool Festival (Ma drid, July 10-13) remains Spain’s most internation al offering, with pop sensation Rodrigo mak ing her Spain debut, while Kings of Leon, ser Chiefs, Leon Bridg es, and Wombats all line up. Down south the Prod igy and DJ legend Carl Cox play the
A VIKING IN SPAIN
ERLING Haaland has been pop ping up like Where’s Wally on the Costa del Sol.
The Manchester City striker was spotted by eagle eyed Olive Press readers at Los Naranjos Golf Club and also in San Pedro. Haaland, who owns a €6 mil lion mansion in the Sierra Blan ca area of Marbella, was visiting the UC San Pedro girls team.
The Norwegian fell in love with the area when his national team trained there during COVID. The attacker has already scored over 30 goals this season, de spite his injury setback.
castle in Fuengirola at the Marenostrum festival in July and August, the Blaze Lionel Richie also
have shows.
In Marbella, the glitzy Starlite Festival will once again serve as a magnet for international stars.
Headlining this year’s lineup is Will Smith, who continues his foray into music after years away from the stage.
He’s joined by an eclectic mix includ-
ing The Beach Boys, Seal, Kool & The Gang, Santana, and The Script, bringing decades of chart-topping hits to the boutique venue nestled in a limestone quarry.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams meanwhile, will perform in the remote mountain town of Hoyos del Espino at the 18th edition of Musicos en la Naturaleza, a festival renowned for its dramatic natural setting in the Sierra de Gredos.
In the Canary Islands, Granca Live Fest in Las Palmas (July 3-5) continues to punch above its weight, drawing Jason Derulo to the Estadio de Gran Canaria alongside Latin and Spanish acts.
Finally, in Valencia, the Deleste Festival (May 16-17) will bring indie flair to Jardines de Viveros with The Vaccines and Teenage Fanclub.
From iconic legends to pop trailblazers, Spain’s 2025 festival season is shaping up to be a landmark summer for music.
de Armas and Tom Cruise have set tongues wagging after being spotted arriving in London together - after
The duo touched down via Tom’s private helicopter, with Spain-based Ana, 36, juggling her two beloved dogs. Cruise, 62, looked sharp in a white polo and dark pea coat. Though Ana - best known for playing Marilyn Monroe in
a
after being seen dining together in
Sources claim their meetings are strictly professional, with talk of working on a Days of Thunder sequel, but fans are convinced something more is brewing.
LOCALS in sleepy Market Harborough in the UK were left gobsmacked when more than 100 Spanish football fans descended on their nonleague ground - chanting, singing, and turning a routine Saturday match into a fiesta to remember.
Olé The Bees
Harborough Town FC, who usually play in front of a modest crowd in the seventh tier of the English league, found their Bowden Park stands packed with noisy visitors in yellow kits, all the way from sunny Spain.
IT came from a wild partnership with Spanish YouTube channel La Media Inglesa, whose 440,000 subscribers voted to ‘adopt’ the Bees as their English club of choice.
The Spanish supporters - some travelling nearly 1,000 miles - brought drums, banners, and a carnival atmosphere. Despite the continental backing, Harborough Town fell 2-1 to St Ives Town.
ANA
Blonde - was born in Cuba, she holds Spanish citizenship and has lived here for years. The pair previously caused
stir on Valentine’s Day
Soho.
STORMING IN: (From left) Iggy Pop, Olivia Rodrigo, Kings of Leon, Bryan Adams and Jason Derulo
King of Clay BOOZE CRUISE
By Samantha Mythen
IN a tale that sounds more like a deleted scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Poundshop Years , two homeless men have been nicked after commandeering a 12-metre yacht from a posh Mallorca marina - and then getting hopelessly lost at sea.
The dynamic duo, aged 53 and 59, allegedly swiped the sailboat - gloriously named Peregrin Tuk (yes, like the Hobbit) - from swanky San Antonio de la Playa Yacht Club in Can Pastilla.
Pear-shaped
CCTV footage reportedly caught the pair setting sail like they were off on a jolly around the Med... except it went pear-shaped fast.
Several hours later, the amateur Argonauts had to ring up the Spanish coast guard from the Cabrera area, utterly baffled as to where they’d ended up. Enter the Guardia Civil, who promptly hauled them back to shore in a pa-
RAFA Nadal, 38, will be honoured at this year’s French Open in a special tribute, marking his legendary clay court career.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion from Manacor retired last November after a Davis Cup match in Malaga.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo promised a surprise-filled ceremony on the opening night, calling it ‘something special and exceptional’.
Shambolic
seaside saga leaves yacht owners fuming
DRUNKEN SAILORS?: Guardia Civil patrol took the stolen yacht in tow
trol boat.
The men were marched before a judge in Manacor on Tuesday, with the case now sailing its way to Palma’s courts.
Meanwhile, the fuming yacht owners are absolutely seething: “They’ve destroyed it. They’ve vandalised it. They’ve turned it into a floating bin.”
Apparently the boat’s once-pristine interior now resembles the aftermath of
ROME’S holy corridors are buzzing with whispers as the Vatican gears up to elect a new Pontiff following the death of Pope Francis on Monday. Insiders say several Spanish cardinals are in the running for the top job in the Catholic Church, with fiery speculation mounting. Top of the list is Cardinal Juan Omella of Barcelona, 79, a close ally of Francis with a heart for the poor. Hot on his heels is Cardinal Jose Cobo, Madrid’s fresh-faced archbishop at just 59 years old.
TOURISM BRAKE
MALLORCA is set to pull the brakes on booming tourism as officials agree to cut the island’s tourist capacity - currently capped at a whopping 430,000 beds.
Tourism minister Jose Marcial Rodriguez revealed the dramatic move comes under a new tourism decree, giving the Consell de Mallorca the power to slash numbers without waiting for red tapeheavy plan revisions.
“We can’t keep heading down the road of chaotic overgrowth,” said Rodriguez, warning of the toll that mass tourism is taking.
With 33 million visitors flooding Palma Airport last year - a 7% spike from 2023 - the island is straining under the pressure.
A study will determine just how deep the cuts go, but officials are eyeing a drop to 412,000 beds.
Shu trip
a budget stag do, complete with mystery stains and ‘several large bottles’ of booze the owners insist weren’t theirs.
And it’s not just the seabound squatters in hot water - the yacht club’s security is also under fire, with the owners demanding to know how two homeless people managed to pinch a boat without so much as a raised eyebrow.
F1 ICON Michael Schumacher has made a rare journey from his ultra-private Mallorcan retreat to Geneva - to lay eyes on his first granddaughter, Millie. The seven-time world champion, 56, who vanished from the public eye after a catastrophic skiing accident in 2013, is believed to have taken a private helicopter to his daughter Gina’s Swiss home, stunning insiders and fans alike. Sources close to the Schumacher camp have dubbed it a ‘deeply moving milestone’ in the star’s long recovery, describing it as ‘the most positive sign in years’.
Schumacher was reportedly determined to be there for Millie’s arrival, taking the twohour flight from his palatial estate — the €30 million Villa Yasmin, once owned by Real Madrid’s Florentino Pérez - ‘meticulously planned for months’, according to German magazine Bunte.
My friend the Pope
AS the world mourns Pope Francis, Jorge Milia, 76, grieves a personal loss. A retired journalist in Mallorca, Milia was once a rebellious schoolboy in Santa Fe, Argentina, where Francis - then Jorge Mario Bergoglio - taught him literature.
“To you, he was Francis. To me, he’ll always be Jorge,” Milia told mourners at Palma Cathedral. The two never lost touch, even after Bergoglio became
Holy race
And don’t rule out 64-year-old Salesian supremo Angel Fernandez Artime, originally from Asturias, who has global reach and a missionary spark. But bookies still favour candidates from outside Spain, like Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin or Filipino favourite Luis Tagle.
Pope in 2013. “He never stopped being my teacher and my friend.” Milia recalled the future pontiff’s gift for guiding restless teens: “He made us question, think, even form a Beatles cover band!” Francis even wrote the introduction to Milia’s book in 2006. Milia often visited his old friend in Rome. As the Church prepares for a humble papal funeral, Milia’s farewell is deeply personal: “You’ve lost a Pope. I’ve lost a friend.”
CONTENDERS: (from left) Cardinals Angel Fernandez Artime, Jose Cobo and Juan Omella
HOLY PAL: Jorge Milia with the late Pope
Cover up?
THE mother of a Brit who died in a Spanish resort has slammed the police for caring more about protecting the town's reputation than catching her son’s killers.
Dad Brett Dryden, 35, from County Durham, was found dead with a gash to the head at his seaside apartment in Mojacar, Almeria, last July.
Police had initially told the family that Brett had died from a blood clot on his lungs after falling and hitting his head.
But a recently obtained autopsy contradicts this version of events, revealing it was likely a robbery and ‘there were significant marks on the body to indicate a physical struggle.’
Now, Brett’s mother, Sarah Adams, has told the Olive Press she’s ‘disgusted and angry’ at the ‘sloppy work’ and attitude of the Guardia Civil in investigating his death.
“They would rather bury it and claim it was an accidental death just to keep the good image of the town,” fumed the 56-year-old.
“We flew out immediately after hearing the news, but it was about five days before we managed to speak with them.
Embolism
“When we did they said it was a terrible accident, and he had had a pulmonary embolism, which led to him falling and banging his head.
“They were clearly trying to rush us to have the cremation in Spain. They even let his friends walk through the crime scene not once but twice.
“They actually closed the case, and a judge only ordered it to be re-opened and investigated correctly when I pointed out that Brett’s phone and money were missing.”
She continued: “We've just come back from Spain after getting the autopsy results, which was a right struggle to get hold of. And it states that there were signs of a robbery and a struggle in his villa.
“It’s now nine months since Brett’s death and we’ve still had no contact from the police.
“All we want is for them to cooperate and speak to us and give us an update. I want to know that they're doing something.”
The family are now planning to protest outside the town hall later this month. Their son had moved to Mojacar in
WELCOME A LEGEND
PALMA is bracing itself for the biggest cruise ship in the world to sail into port next year.
The jaw-dropping Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class giant, will debut on August 2, 2026 with a seven-night Med cruise from Barcelona - and Palma will be one of its ports of call.
Stretching a staggering 365 metres and packing in 7,600 passengers, this floating mega-resort boasts eight ‘neighbourhoods’, 40plus bars and eateries, wild water slides, and even an AquaDome for jaw-dropping entertainment.
Tickets start at €1,200, and it’s all about the family - from toddlers to teens and the in-laws too.
After summer in Europe, she’ll cruise off to her new home in Fort Lauderdale. Until then, she’s still under construction in Finland.
By Walter Finch
2019 to set up a legal cannabis club.
The former Nissan worker was found dead by friends when he failed to return from a siesta.
Adding to the family’s suspicions that he had been the victim of a crime, his Gucci sunglasses, cash savings and phone were found missing.
Most disturbingly, Sandra insists that a silent call was made to her from his phone after he died, leaving her convinced that someone stole it.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘It’s disgusting they’ve tried to brush my son’s murder under the carpet’
The senior care worker said Brett’s friends found him ‘covered in blood’ and that police told them it had been a ‘violent death’ and that he may have been ‘hit with an axe’.
Sandra claims she was not even informed of a 4x5cm gash to his head, which she only discovered upon seeing his body at the crematorium.
CCTV footage from the neighbours reportedly showed three men fleeing from the scene around the same time.
Two-thirds flood victims in Valencia
NEARLY 70% of all flood death victims in Europe last year were in Valencia. Some 232 out of 335 deaths were in the Valencia area.
Malaga
Fatalities also occurred in Albacete, Cuenca and Malaga, while infrastructure damage and economic losses were severe, totalling around €16.5 billion.
EXPERTS WHO CARE ABOUT YOU
TRAGIC: Dad Brett was likely murdered
Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.
OPINION
Getting off lightly
HOLIDAYS in paradise, celebrity friends and, of course, philanthropy.
Jody Smart was to some sections of costa society a wonderful woman, a heroine to be worshipped.
But the truth is she is a dirty, rotten scammer who should be remembered for the countless victims of the CWM investment scandal, not her charity work.
She only managed to lead her sickening life of luxury - including first class travel to New York and holidays in Thailand - off the back of defrauding thousands from unfortunate investors.
We have been tracing her disgraceful part in the fraud for nearly a decade and know the courts have only just scratched the surface.
Thousands of people lost their retirement savings due to Jody and her band of unscrupulous conmen.
Thankfully there are a few brave campaigners out there vowing to ensure she gets a lot more than three and a half years in prison she deserves.
Dead and buried?
IT is as if they are all six feet under.
For not one former employee or family member is prepared to come clean about what has happened to Iberian Funeral Plans.
Surely it wouldn’t be too much to put a small notice on the website? Some explanation to what has happened since owner Stephen Nelson died.
Our hearts go out to the many clients, who have been calling and emailing us about their concerns this month. Most of them only learned about the collapse of the company through our reporting and they have nowhere else to turn. How horrible for them to discover there is no more funeral plan for when they or their loved one dies.
We have been trying continually for two weeks to reach friends, family and former employees of Nelson, both here, as well as in Portugal and the UK.
It has been a painstakingly slow process, with nobody prepared to talk, but we are starting to get somewhere.
Thankfully our investigative team at the Olive Press is very good at one thing: digging!
And we vow to keep unearthing as much as we can about what has happened, until it finally kills us.
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es
Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es
Samantha Mythen samantha@theolivepress.es
Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es
ADMIN Victoria Humenyuk Makarova (+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es
Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es
Joshua Parfitt josh@theolivepress.es
Dylan Wagemans dylan@theolivepress.es
OFFICE MANAGER
Estefania Marquez (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es
DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 154 841 distribution@ theolivepress.es
HEAVEN CAN WAIT!
WHEN the small group of mourners gathered in Faro on March 5, it was appropriately one of the worst spells of weather on record.
A bleak day on the Algarve, they had come to mourn the passing of a once jolly, largerthan-life expat, Stephen Nelson, who had run one of the costas’ best-known foreign businesses.
While only four people made the low-key service, the real tragedy was soon to become apparent: Nelson’s company, Iberian Funeral Plans, was collapsing with potentially thousands of victims facing investment losses of at least €4,000 each.
As a lawsuit is launched to help them get their money back, questions of where the estimated millions have gone are seemingly buried with Nelson.
It is a mighty fall for a company that at its peak had nine offices around the Iberian Peninsula and dozens of employees.
Initially launched as SPN Funeral Plans SL in 2006, it advertised on radio stations and almost every expat publication in Spain. Selling funeral plans that wouldn’t leave loved ones with costly burial services, thousands took up the offer, often paying monthly or annually.
But what they couldn’t know was that the company had never been officially regulated and their funds were in no way protect-
The Olive Press investigates the vicious family battle brewing behind the mysterious painful collapse of Iberian Funeral Plans
By Jon Clarke
ed from mismanagement, or worse.
As the Olive Press has now established in a hard-hitting investigation spanning three countries, the firm and its subsidiaries had been in free fall for years.
What is also now certain, since Nelson died in February, funerals around Spain and in the UK have stopped getting paid, causing untold anguish at a time of major grief.
Despite the website still working, selling the ‘Oak plan’ for €7,250 and additional ‘mortuary days’ at €185, nobody has confirmed the collapse of Iberian or what is going on.
As Myra Azzopardi, at Spain’s Citizens Advice Bureau, explained this week, this is ‘extremely unusual’ and completely ‘heartless’.
A lawyer, Carlos Haering, who we reveal on our front page is launching a legal claim, added: “It’s clear the company doesn’t intend to provide any services or reimburse
the money taken.”
Downfall
It appears the downturn for Iberian began when Nelson moved from Alhaurin el Grande, in Malaga, to the Algarve just under a decade ago.
Facing various legal issues with rival funeral companies, he decided it would be easier to
MULLINS IT OVER
IT’S my first Easter as a proper member of the expat community. Sure I’ve been here over the bank holiday before, but now I’ve decided to become a permanent fixture here, I’m seeing things a bit differently… and some of what I see ain’t all milk and honey!
It might sound a bit boring but what’s been going on with the damn weather? Until I saw the forecast for this week moving forwards I was beginning to think I was some kind of rain magnet. But there’s a serious point in here somewhere and it’s right up my alley: Just because it’s sunny a lot of the time doesn’t mean builders get a pass
base himself there, while leaving a team to run the main office in Alhaurin.
Unfortunately though, his health took a turn for the worse and a serious battle with chronic diabetes left him without a leg and with other side effects.
The Olive Press has established that he died in Lagos after being admitted to hospital from his home in the village of Altura, in February.
Living alone, since his partner Karen Krejzl left him to return to Spain, he rarely socialised and only saw his daughter Emma on occasional visits from the UK.
Emma and her husband made up half the mourners at his funeral last month and, so far, she has refused to open up about his death.
“He died a sad and lonely man,” an expat friend, based on the Algarve, told the Olive Press this week. “And he certainly didn’t live a ‘jet set’ or affluent lifestyle.
“Every morning he would have two coffees and a cheese and ham sandwich at his local cafe. That was it.”
But Nelson certainly wasn’t living on the bread line, as we have established. He had a small boat, appropriately named Heaven Can Wait, plus a five-bedroom home currently for sale at just under one million euros.
The amazing villa with a giant swimming pool, gym and two jacuzzis, sat atop its own hill overlooking the sea.
“But just because he had this big house doesn’t mean he had a lot of money,” continued the friend, who had known him for years.
“He had taken a backseat from the business for a long time because he was ill and Iberian certainly wasn’t just him,” he added pointedly.
Ain’t all milk and honey!
Rather than complaining about tourists, locals should rise up about building standard on putting up houses to the most basic of standards.
After just two months of wet weather, 90% of the homes in southern Spain are leaking like a sieve.
It would be nice if someone could come up with (and enforce) some proper building regulations.
Protests
Not too much that goes on in and around Malaga gets into the international press but that wasn’t true for the anti-tourism protests we’ve had recently.
Obviously it all kicked off in places like Barcelona and the Canaries, and I get that people need somewhere affordable to live.
But is that really true for here? Or are they just jumping on a popular bandwagon?
I’m told this coast used to be known as the ‘ Costa del Viento ’ or the windy coast and before tourists began to come, build homes and resorts, all that was around was a few fishing villages.
So if people of all nationalities got over their silly differences and protested about shoddy workmanship instead of each other, we might get somewhere.
Being a plumber is both my enemy and my friend, but the simple fact is local builders need to up their game
DECO DREAMS
Coal to culture
A forgotten Spanish power plant gets an epic makeover,
writes Dilip Kuner
IT was a clever way to utilise a waste product from a local industry in Andalucia.
A team from Spanish and British universities have worked out a way to create eco-friendly building materials from sugarcane. The group from the University of East London (UEL) and the Bagaceira Project, in Barcelona, worked out how to repurpose
As the Art Deco movement reaches a century, we celebrate Spain’s contribution
ONCE a towering titan of industry, the iconic Tres Xemeneies power plant is set to become the beating heart of Barcelona’s cultural future.
The 1970s relic, named after its three colossal chimneys (that’s Tres Xemeneies in Catalan), has been gathering dust since it shut down in 2011.
But not for much longer. Architecture dream team Garces de Seta Bonet Arquitectes and Marvel have just released dazzling visuals of their wild new vision: E la nave va - a name borrowed from a classic Fellini flick.
Out goes coal and in comes creativity. This bold transformation will morph the hulking plant into the ‘Catalunya Media City’, a buzzing hub for media, tech, and public arts. The mammoth turbine hall will be reborn - with vibes straight out of London’s Tate Modern and NYC’s Park Avenue Armory.
We’re talking 17-metre ceilings, epic sound studios, labs, and enough flexible free space to host everything from film fests to virtual reality showcases.
And the origins of the station have not been forgotten, with it still producing power - 4,500m² of solar panels are to crown the roof, and its smart eco-friendly design will help shrink its carbon footprint.
“This is about turning an industrial past into a cultural future,” said architect Jonathan Marvel. And with views over the Med and Badalona, it’s looking like the power plant's second act will be nothing short of electric.
SWEET DEAL
Andalucia has become the centre of a groundbreakingsustainablebuildingproject usingsugarcaneinsteadof concrete
By Tom Ewart Smith
‘bagasse’, the fibrous pulp left after extracting sugarcane juice. Their research found that products made from this waste outperformed traditional concrete and clay bricks. Bagasse is typically burned for fuel or used as cattle feed, both of
which release carbon into the atmosphere.
In contrast, their project traps carbon in the new building materials, reducing environmental impact. Made by combining bagasse with sand, the bricks have a carbon footprint six times lower than conventional clay bricks. The project launched in 2022 when UEL researchers Alan Chandler
and Armor Gutierrez (far left) began exploring agricultural waste as a potential construction material.
The project is now exploring industrial-scale Sugarcrete production, which could utilise up to 8 million square metres of sugarcane plantations in southern Spain. Estimates claim it will capture carbon emissions equivalent to 46,000 cars. If given the go ahead the team will turn a number of former concrete factories into bio-based production hubs, boosting the local economy.
Further research is planned in Granada this summer, while they have already used the product to build a school in India as well as a prototype at the Burning Man festival in the US.
CARBON TRAPS: The Sugarcrete bricks used at Burning Man Festival
1. Casa Judia, Valencia (1930)
A bold burst of colour and geometry on Calle Castellon.
Known as the ‘Jewish House’, this private residence is a
2. Edificio
Sagasta, Malaga (1903)
A graceful corner building with rounded balconies and ornate ironwork, Sagasta is a striking example of early pre-Deco blending with Modernist touches. Built by Jeronimo Cuervo, it set the tone for Malaga’s architectural leap into the 20th century. Still a landmark today, especially when bathed in that golden Costa del Sol light.
candy box of intricate detail, with star-shaped windows and bright mosaics. Designed by Juan Francisco Guardio -
la Martinez, it's one of Valencia's most photographed examples of pure Spanish Art Deco.
DECO DREAMS
WHEN someone once asked Prime Minister Clement Attlee to define socialism, he replied that he couldn’t - but he knew it when he saw it.
Art Deco is much the same. Hard to pin down, easy to love.
Elon Musk is trying to reinvent it for the 21st century, but Deco has been turning heads for over a hundred years.
So what is it?
It’s a style, a spirit, a vibe - something that says how things should look.
Whether it’s a skyscraper or a cigarette case, Art Deco dictates that everything we make can, and should, be beautiful.
And oddly enough, the more troubled the times, the more elegance we seem to crave.
Emerging in the aftermath of World War One, the ‘arts decoratifs’ movement – from which Art Deco
3. Hospital de Maudes, Madrid (1916)
Originally a charity hospital, this luminous white building blends functionality with Gothic and Deco lines. Designed by Antonio Palacios – a Deco pioneer – it stands as one of Madrid’s most imaginative and humanist structures. Today, it's a cultural venue, its inner courtyards just as beautiful as the facades.
How Spain gave glamour a home in the hardest of times
By Dilip Kuner & Michael Coy
takes its name – was born during one of the bleakest decades in modern history.
Think Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing through the Great Depression. Nobody wanted films about hardship. They wanted ocean liners, tuxedos and big bands. Deco gave the world beauty with bold lines and big ideas. It’s sleek. It’s modern. It’s escapism. Today, Elon Musk calls his ‘robovan’ a new Deco icon. But back in the early 20th century, it was countries like Spain that gave the move -
DREAMS
ment its original flair.
Despite staying neutral in both World Wars, Spain suffered its own traumas - economic collapse, political assassinations, and a brutal civil war.
As the old ways collapsed - monarchy, Church, and rural life - cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia boomed, and with them came a burst of architectural creativity.
Even in chaos, elegance found a home.
Spain became a canvas for modern materials and ambitious visions – a land where Deco’s bold lines could shine in the sunlight.
From concrete to chrome, from decorative staircases to sweeping facades, Spanish architects were building a future they could believe in.
Here are the Olive Press’s Top Six Art Deco-style buildings in Spain, each one telling its own story of ambition, innovation, and sheer style.
5. Colisseu Balear,
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
LOOKING FOR MORE PROPERTY STORIES?
4. Palau Guell, Barcelona (1888)
Gaudi before Gaudi got weird. This early gem leans into symmetry and clean lines more than his later works, with iron grilles and curving stone forms hinting at the Deco spirit to come. Commissioned by industrial tycoon Eusebi Guell, it’s a masterclass in restrained luxury with a Catalan twist.
This bullring may surprise Deco lovers, but its elegant arches and repeating motifs make it a strong Deco masterpiece. Built just a few years before the Spanish Civil War, it fuses tradition with modernity –showing that even in sport, Spain wasn't afraid to flirt with futuristic design.
6. Edificio Espana, Madrid (1948)
An imposing vertical statement at Plaza de Espana, this skyscraper (once the tallest in Spain) is a late-Deco titan. With its wedding-cake tiers and American-style ambition, it captures a nation emerging from civil war, looking up –quite literally – to a brighter future.
PROPERTY
November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR
THE province of Huelva is hosting a series of unusual online house auctions until the middle of May with homes starting at an unbelievable €7,000.
A great way to get onto the property ladder, the regional authorities are ‘selling off’ a range of homes and anyone can buy.
Bag a bargain
The whole auction process is being conducted 100% online and any ‘snag’ (for example, a live-in tenant) has to be declared.
The lowest-priced property is an urban home in Trigueros, while the sec-
ond most affordable is a rural property in Hinojos, appraised at €7,515. Another home is available in the stunning hillside village of Almonaster la Real for €79,444, while a property in Punta Umbria (right) costs just €66,353.
COSTA LOTTA
By Walter Finch
RENTING in Spain’s most sought-after holiday locations has never been more costly, with Sotogrande, Marbella, and Estepona among the priciest in the country.
According to a new report, 30 locations have average monthly rent exceeding €1500, while some have
GoldenTriangletownsof Malagaare amongSpain’spriciestplacestorent–but themostexpensivesuburbof Madridtops outatover€4,000amonthonaverage
areas command eye-watering prices of over €4,000. The Costa del Sol continues to dominate the luxury rental market, with Marbella leading the way at
Hotels for sale
IF YOU'VE ever fancied owning a hotel in Spain, there are plenty of options with the Idealista property portal.
There are almost 1,400 hotels available via the portal after a sharp increase in hotels being put up for sale in the wake of
AN increasing number of sustainable houses are being built in Spain due to a combination of strict regulations and high-energy prices. And it’s the luxury end where some of the most exciting homes are appearing.
Take Villa Noon, in Sotogrande (right).
The trailblazing carbon neutral property is a true symbol for the future, and a green one at that.
This stunning zero-consumption/zero emission home is the work of architect Fran Silvestre.
It consists of five large marble-clad cylinders that offer a total living space of 2,000sqm.
All connected, they each have solar panels and a geothermal system that provides heating and cooling, and high-capacity batteries ensuring energy is stored for continuous use.
An advanced water management system meanwhile harvests rainwater and extracts water from air humidity, while also recy-
the Covid-19 pandemic.
an average of €3,018 per month, according to the latest data from idealista.
Neighbouring Benahavís, known for its exclusive villas, isn’t far be-
Unsurprisingly, tourist areas like Alicante, the Balearic Islands, Granada, and Malaga have the highest numbers on the market.
The biggest rises in the last 12 months came in Almeria, Leon, and Murcia.
Two areas recorded triple figures of availability, namely Alicante province with 126 hotels and the Balearics on 102.
hind at €3,815, while Sotogrande, the upscale resort in Cadiz, known for its golf courses, averages €2,815. Estepona, another Malaga gem, also makes the list with rents averaging €2,557
per month.
These figures highlight the enduring appeal of the Costa del Sol among affluent renters, particularly international travellers and expats seeking sun, sea, and luxury amenities.
The Balearic Islands are another standout, with Santa Eulalia topping the list at €3,919 per month. Other expensive locations include Sant Josep (€3,566), Calvia (€2,828), and Eivissa (€2,584).
These areas, popular with highnet-worth individuals and celebrities, offer a mix of stunning views, vibrant nightlife, and exclusive properties.
Topping the national ranking is La Moraleja, an affluent suburb on the outskirts of Madrid, where rents average a staggering €4,001 per month.
Is self-sufficiency the future of luxury housing?
By Dylan Wagemans
cling wastewater.
The cool price of €11,4 million reflects its desirability.
Another carbon neutral home nearby is Villa Garnacha (left), located in a gated community in Sotogrande.
The €5 million villa is designed with an emphasis on sustainability, natural light and architectural finesse.
Constructed with CLT, which stands for Cross-Laminated-Timber, this modern construction method uses engineered wood panels that are strong, fire-resistant and
sustainable.
The four-bedroom home has large windows offering great views of the coastline and the Rock of Gibraltar.
Finally in the La Quinta hills above San Pedro de Alcantara (below left), a luxurious €5 million eco-friendly villa has been designed by Tobal Architects.
The four-bed spacious open plan property has retractable glass doors that provide access to the terrace and infinity pool.
Any individual or legal entity may bid by following the steps described on the platform.
Auctions are scheduled up until May 20, allowing interested parties to prepare their documentation and submit their bids in time.
All homes can be accessed through the official Social Security auction portal, where the details of each property are listed.
Home draw
SPANISH football sensation Nico
Williams has just bagged himself a swanky new pad in Marbella’s ul tra-exclusive Sierra Blanca.
The exciting striker is joining the A-list ranks of Novak Djokovic and Erling Haaland who also call the area home.
The 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao ace has forked out millions on a designer villa from the ‘Marbella by Fendi collection’.
It is one of just five in the plush de velopment masterminded by busi nessman Pedro Rodriguez. Williams can most certainly af ford it, with earnings from Ath letic a reported €10.4 million a year. Perched between Marbella and glitzy Puerto Banus, the jaw-drop ping estate sprawls across 9,000 sqm of prime real estate, tailor-made for those who love sun, lux ury, and a touch of bling.
CIRCLE OF LIFE: Carbon neutral masterpiece in Sotogrande
HILLSIDE GEM: Charming home beinhg auctioned in Almonaster
So who is in charge?
While there is, as yet, no cast iron proof of wrongdoing or even an intent to mislead, Iberian’s agents have been jumping ship for some years and all the offices began to shut one by one until the service was run solely online. Iberian’s main office in Alhaurin closed just a year ago, we have established, and is now rented out to a real estate company.
One agent, Roger Brierley, who claims he left Iberian’s Costa Blanca office in 2022, told the Olive Press the company was ‘running fine’ back then.
He insisted he was shocked at its recent closure and he had been attempting to contact ‘others involved’ over recent weeks, with ‘no luck’. He refused to hand over any names or numbers.
not responded to us.
Webb, based in Stockport, was appointed company director from May 2012 until her resignation in 2023 and the business was dissolved voluntarily last year.
On paper, English expat Krejzl, whose parents live in Manilva, was the director of the Spanish subsidiary, Iberian Servicios Funerarios SL, from 2016 to 2023.
I was one of the many not paid ... I have nothing further to add
As the Olive Press understands it, the company is now in the hands of Nelson’s children and, possibly, his ex-partner Karen Krejzl, while a long-time employee, Jose Luis Rios, was working for Iberian, in Malaga, as recently as February. Nelson’s sister, Fiona Webb - who was involved with the UK arm of the business registered under the name IFP - Iberian Ltd, until 2024 - has
DRAGTASTIC: Charlie out on the streets of Fuengirola this Easter
and get some of the basics right. Quite simply, homes need to be watertight and fit for human habitation!!
And on that note while I’m not currently running for Archbishop of Canterbury, I do have an Easter message and it’s for all the insurance companies out there processing victims’ claims.
Think of your fellow man, be charitable, and if that’s not in the underwriters holy handbook, have the grace not to hide behind too many ridiculous loopholes. Yes, play the Good Samaritan and leave some bread for those who have been less fortunate during these recent great floods.
SOCIAL SPIKE
The Olive Press gets crafty: a new approach to our social media platforms sees 375% growth
While she officially resigned as administrator in September 2023, she is said to have been running the Alhaurin-based company from the sidelines, in particular looking after the Spanish-based clients, while Nelson looked after the Portuguese ones.
While we were unable to locate Krejzl during a visit to the former headquarters in Alhaurin, we did talk to her son Thomas, who lives nearby.
While admitting he had been an employee ‘a long time ago’ (we have correspondence of Thomas representing Iberian in May 2023) he insisted Nelson was the ‘boss’ and he was still owed money.
“I was one of the many not paid,” he said, but then began to clam up. “I’ve got nothing further to add.” When asked if his mother Karen would talk to us he insisted she had ‘nothing to say’.
More telling is a series of recent messages, seen by the Olive Press, purportedly sent from Nelson’s daughter Emma to Krejzl over the last couple of weeks.
As the true extent of the collapse began to become known, she accused Krejzl of being ‘fully accountable for its (Iberian’s) actions’ and threatened legal moves.
In the WhatsApp messages addressed to Krejzl and seen by this paper, she wrote: “You were involved in that company as was your son, Thomas. I was never part of it and have no knowledge of its operations beyond the fact that it deals with funerals.
“You, Thomas and Jose Luis continued to run the company for years after my father stepped back due to ill health.
“You are all accountable for its actions, and your names will be provided to my lawyer… and I am deeply upset ... that
it’s come to this.
THE Olive Press social media platforms have spiked by 176% this year.
The combined outlets of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have never been performing so well.
Facebook alone reached a whopping 4.7 million views over the last month…an increase of 204%, while since January (right) it has risen by 375%.
Visitors to the Meta platform watched a staggering total of 61 days of our content.
Engagement shows that one-minute views have gone up by 379%.
Meanwhile, Instagram has seen another huge rise, particularly among women, who are 61% of our visitors.
We have had 147,000 views on the platform over the last fortnight, with an incredible 5.9% of visitors coming from Marbella, 3.4% from London and 2.8% from Madrid.
“I am not being left in the shit when I wasn’t even involved!”
We were unable to contact Jose Luis Rios as we went to press.
GOING UNDER
THINGS were clearly not well for Iberian with the authorities in the UK dissolving a sister company IFP - Iberian Ltd, in January last year.
The writing was on the wall when the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) started to regulate pre-paid funeral plans in 2022.
Iberian did not apply for authorisation, meaning the Financial Services Compensation Scheme could not protect its clients if it went bankrupt.
The FCA went on to advise people not to buy a plan from the firm if they wanted their funeral in the UK.
In Spain, the industry has never been regulated and it is unclear of the status of Iberian’s two linked companies here.
Iberian Funeral Plans SL is still listed as trading here, having set up in 2011, to take over from the sister company SPN Funeral Plans. Nelson is listed as the owner and administrator.
A separate company Iberian Servicios Funerarios SL was set up in 2016 with a start-up capital of €12,000.
Karen Krejzl was the main administrator until she resigned in 2023, when Nelson was handed the role.
However, Nelson’s status was changed again to become the ‘sole owner’ in August last year. Why he did this and what exactly this means is unclear.
An impressive 85% of views this year have come from regular followers, while we have reached 130% more new accounts.
This all comes hand in hand with the staggering growth of our website last year, which reached nine million unique visitors and a 924% rise in a year.
But, it is on social media that we have focused this spring, after adding the talented social media guru, Alicia Kirk (left), to our team. The university graduate, 25, has done a fabulous job promoting our brand and reaching out to new readers.
Thanks to her work, you can now enjoy a steady flow of engaging content across Facebook, InsYouTube
Lucky winners!
THE Olive Press has been flooded with entries for the Tom Jones competition.
Over 350 of you got in touch to grab the two pairs of free tickets to his Alicante concert on August 13.
And after spinning the wheel the two lucky winners are: Angela Taylor and David Mitchell - congratulations!
Angela and David will have an unforgettable night along with their fortunate guests, as The Welsh Tiger hypnotises the crowd with his soothing voice.
Today (Wednesday) we will be choosing the lucky winners of the David Walliams competition as the funnyman flies in for a rare appearance in Gi braltar this Thursday.
Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951154841 for more info
QUESTIONS: For Karen Krejzl from Nelson’s daughter Emma (below)
PALATIAL: €1 million villa on the Algarve and (left) a boat like Nelson’s
DESERT BOUND
A SHOCKING new study reveals that Spain will no longer have its iconic Mediterranean climate in 25 years.
Instead, much of the country will fall under the harsh classification of ‘steppe’ and even ‘desert’ climate as rainfall dries up by 2050. The research, conducted by the
HIDDEN CROWN
By Dilip Kuner
party gets its way
University of Catalunya, paints a grim picture of what’s in store. As the Mediterranean continues to heat up, it’s clear Spain’s climate will be unrecognisable in just a few decades.
According to the study, rainfall is expected to plummet by between 14% and 20% compared to cur-
rent levels.
The Mediterranean climate will go from covering 24% of Spain to just 10% by 2060.
Meanwhile, desert-like conditions will increase dramatically, expanding from a tiny 1% of the country to a whopping 10% by 2050.
The coast and the Ebro Valley will bear the brunt of this transformation.
15,000-hectare forest just 12 kilometres from the city centre, has been locked away behind a 66 km fence, with only the royal family allowed to roam its pristine grounds for centuries.
But now, political party Mas Madrid wants a change, asking for El Pardo to be declared a National Park and ‘opened up to the people’ of Madrid.
The proposal, set to be debated later this month, argues that this verdant treasure is ‘too good to be kept for royalty alone’.
Currently, just 900 hectares of El Pardo are accessible to the public, with the rest reserved exclusively for the
family. Mas Madrid argues it should be like the other iconic green areas like the Retiro and Casa de Campo, which were once off-limits to the public. “Why should the royal family have it all to themselves?” insisted a spokesman for the party. “It’s time to open the gates and let everyone enjoy this incredible place.”
The proposal includes a plan for sustainable visits, ensuring the forest’s ecosystem stays protected while giving people the chance to explore.
The area could also be added to the Biosphere Reserve of the Upper Manzanares River, offering even more protection.
INCLUDE WWF SPAIN IN YOUR WILL
Please cut out and send this filled out form to WWF Spain at Gran Vía de San Francisco 8-D, 28005 – Madrid. We will contact you as soon as possible to resolve your queries without.
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royal
GREEN LUNG:
15,000 hectare El Pardo park is just 12kms from central Madrid
TASTE OF THE FUTURE:
Huge areas of Spain could turn into desert like the Bardenas Reales in Navarra
MADRID’S best-kept secret could soon be open to the public in a move that could
ruffle a few feathers at the royal palace. El Pardo, the sprawling
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
High-speed vision
A BOLD new proposal from Copenhagen-based think tank 21st Europe aims to connect 39 cities including Barcelona and Madrid with a 22,000km high-speed rail network called Starline. Operating like a metro across borders, trains would run at 300–400 km/h, slashing travel times and cutting short-haul flights by up to 80%.
The plan promises seamless travel with unified ticketing, modern stations as cultural hubs, and no class divisions— just quiet zones, cafes, and open-plan seating. Publicly funded and EU-regulated, Starline could generate millions of jobs and help meet 2050 net-zero goals.
“Now we begin building the network to push for real change,” says 21st Europe.
Mad rum madness
HAVE the anti-tourism protestors finally won? Brits are turning their backs on Spain in droves, fed up with rising hostility, new rules, and a welcome that’s growing colder by the day.
Latest research from One Sure Insurance reveals UK holidaymakers are now favouring other European hotspots – with Amsterdam
By Walter Finch
RUM lovers, get ready - Madrid’s about to go full pirate mode.
From May 7-12, the capital will be swimming in sugarcane spirits as ‘Mad Ron Week’ rolls into town - a brand new celebration of all things rum, cocktails and chaos.
Hosted by a crew of top brand ambassadors, the boozy blowout promises to shake up Madrid’s already-thriving bar scene. Expect tastings, mixology masterclasses, and themed menus at hotspots like Farandula Fearless, Lovo, and the tiki-tastic Volcano.
The fun all builds to a fiery finale on Monday May 12: the Daq-Off, a speed competition where bartenders battle it out to see who can sling the quickest Daiquiris - one for the judge, one for themselves.
OP QUICK CROSSWORD
soaring to the top of the wishlist at 42,000 monthly flight searches, overtaking Spain. The shift follows mass protests across Spanish tourist favourites last week, where furious locals blamed visitors for rocketing rents and vanishing communities. Demonstrators took to the streets in many cities, including Malaga, Palma and Valencia, calling for curbs on tourism and foreign property buyers. Throw in new clampdowns on booze, smoking and vaping at beaches, and Spain's once-irresist-
7 “--- Don’t Preach” (Madonna hit) (4)
8 Egg dish which might be Spanish (8)
9 Gin cocktails (8)
10 Short room heater? (3)
11 Gadabouts (5)
12 Exalted Padre is out (7)
14 Established judicial ruling (4,3)
16 See 3 Down (5)
18 Drop a clanger (3)
19 Prosecutor (8)
20 Publicly condemn (8)
21 Bomb fin (4) Down
1 Distrust, and then some (8)
2 Where parents go when they retire (6,7)
3 --- Mubarak, former President of 16 Across (5)
4 Hot water source, or spring (6)
5 Graphical representation of progress (8,5)
6 “Shell shock”, formerly (1,1,1,1)
12 Internee during period of conflict (1,1,1)
13 Advocate organizes next Open (8)
15 Quakers in the forest (6)
17 Judas, Juniper and Joshua (5)
18 Inspects (4)
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?
Scan
Queen of the Med
BRITISH travel expert Annie Bennett has declared Valencia the ‘queen of the Mediterranean’,praising its vibrant food scene, culture, and affordability. “You can keep your spending down in Valencia without even trying,” she said. With a glass of wine for €5, coffee for €1.40,
BREXODUS
and very affordable tapas, the birthplace of paella offers flavour without the hefty price tag. Unlike commercialised resorts like Benidorm, Valencia blends history, stunning architecture, and golden beaches with charm and authenticity.
From the futuristic City of Arts (left) to the lush Turia Gardens, it’s no wonder Brits are flocking to this sun-soaked Spanish gem.
Brits ditch Spain as anti-tourism fury grows
DETERRENCE: One of the main goals is to stop ‘overtourism’
ible charm is fast fading.
“We’re seeing more Brits looking for culture, history, and fresh experiences – without the drama,” a One Sure Insurance spokesperson said. Staycations and lesser-known gems like Budapest, Krakow and Athens are surging in popularity – while Edinburgh has stormed into fourth place. The blow is massive for Spain.
In 2024, 18.4 million Brits visited, spending a whopping €22.6 billion – more than any other nationality. Tourism makes up 12% of Spain’s
GDP, with UK visitors propping up resorts on the Costa del Sol, Balearics and the Costa Blanca.
The trend raises questions about whether the vocal anti-tourism protests may ultimately damage the very economies they claimed to be protecting.
“Brits are moving beyond the usual beach holiday locations to cities which offer not only history and culture, but also a fresh experience,” the One Sure Insurance spokesperson added.
UNIQUE EXPERTISE
‘A talented financial planner can steer a family or individual away from risky investments’
PETER Dougherty isn’t like any other fi nancial planner you’ll meet. That’s not because he has credentials that stand out in a crowd (although his credentials do stand out in a crowd). Instead, it’s because he thinks the best way he can help others is by using his knowledge of finance. It’s a unique point of view.
SAY ADIOS TO JAMON
TAKING jamon, chorizo or Manchego cheese back to the UK?
Think again. UK travellers have been banned from importing meat and dairy from the EU due to a growing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Europe.
The ban covers all meat from pigs, cows, sheep, goats and deer, plus cheese, milk, butter, and yoghurt- even sandwiches. Exceptions include infant formula and some medical foods under strict conditions.
The move aims to protect British livestock from FMD, a highly infectious animal disease. Offenders risk confiscation, fines up to £5,000, or destroyed items. Fish, poultry, eggs, fruit and veg are still allowed under certain rules. Officials urge travellers to check guidelines before packing food souvenirs.
As Dougherty says: “Doctors and firefighters aren’t the only professionals able to rescue a client from potential danger. A talented financial planner can steer a family or individual away from risky investments and toward a successful financial future. This is particularly true for English-speakers living in Spain. Not only is there little guidance for expats about how to navigate finances between two countries, but the information available in Spain is often confusing and sometimes misleading.”
So, Mr. Dougherty has made it his mission to provide the financial planning and investment assistance that Americans and other English-speakers throughout Spain need. That’s why he earned a master’s degree in Spanish taxation from Nebrija University last year. And that’s why he works at a firm called BISSAN Wealth Management, where he is the only employee who is not a native Spanish-speaker. This was intentional on Dougherty’s part. By combining his knowledge with that of local experts already in place, his clients receive the best financial planning advice available in Spain. What further sets BISSAN apart, Mr. Dougherty believes, is its relationship with clients: “Some financial advisors see themselves as the main
character in any story involving financial matters. But at BISSAN Wealth Management, we look at it differently: each client is the hero of their story. After all, each clients’ financial dreams are their own. Nonetheless, Spain is full of confusing, sometimes contradictory information about money matters. So, the role of a financial planner should be as a trusted guide who helps clients reach their financial goals. If you’re able to find the right guide, it’s much more likely you’ll get to your destination.”
Peter Dougherty is a Financial Planner at BISSAN Wealth Management in Spain. He holds an MBA in finance from Columbia University in New York and an MS in Spanish taxation (Máster en Fiscalidad y Tributación) from Nebrija University in Spain. He is certified as a European Financial Planner (EFP) in Spain and as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® and Investment Adviser Representative in the United States. BISSAN Wealth Management is both authorized by, and supervised by, the National Securities Market Commission (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores), the Spanish government agency responsible for the financial regulation of the securities markets in Spain. BISSAN has offices in Barcelona and Bilbao.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
QUIXOTIC!!
Little-Known Cordoba: The Olive
Press takes you on a tour to discover hidden corners that Cervantes lived and loved in
THE city of Cordoba is one of Andalucia’s most spectacular treasures. Most visitors are familiar with the Mezquita - the astoundingly beautiful former mosque - or the Patio Competition, held ev ery May, when exqui sitely decorated courtyards compete for prizes.
But this time, we’re veering off the wellworn path to explore some of Cordoba’s hidden cornersthe backstreets and tucked-away plazas that are too often overlooked.
Let’s be clear from the outset: the plac es we’re about to highlight are just a handful of the city’s many gems. This arti cle could easily have been five times as long!
We begin at the charming Plaza del Potro, or ‘Square of the
By Michael Coy
Foal’, named for the fountain at its centre featuring a carved horse dating back to 1577 (the horse figure itself was added a few years later).
This atmospheric square has at least four claims to fame.
First, it’s home to Cordoba’s Museum of Fine Arts.
Second, it houses the Centro Flamenco Fosforito (more on that shortly). Third, it’s the setting for one of Don Quijote’s most humorous adventures.
At the far end of the square, once the site of a tavern, Cervantes’ deluded knight checks in and spends the evening standing guard with a colander on his head, convinced it’s a helmet. Cervantes, who knew Cordoba well and appreciated its cheeky sense of humour,
has the landlord mock Don Quijote with a list of ‘famous’ locations - all, in fact, brothels - to which Don Quijote solemnly replies that he has indeed guarded them all. Lastly, the square is home to the Museo Julio Romero de Torres. The artist, born in 1874 and a lifelong cordobes, lived in this very building. Today it houses the finest collection of his works. Romero
was known for his dedication to capturing the essence of Cordoba’s womendark hair, olive skin, intense eyes - and he was never short of muses.
From here, we move on to another of Cordoba’s lesser-known spaces: the Plaza de la Corredera.
Unlike any other square in the city, this large rectangular plaza now hosts an open-air market. But in centuries past, it served as the city’s bullring.
Built in 1683, its stark architecture reflects the austere psychology of 17th-century Cordoba. It also has a darker history: it was once the site of public executions, where non-Christians were sometimes burnt at the stake. Thankfully, Cordoba also offers plenty of lighter fare. A short stroll away is the Casa Mudejar, a cluster of interconnected houses from the 1500s, designed in traditional Arab style. Cordoba, after all, remains Spain’s most ‘Arabic’ city in character.
Perhaps the city’s most iconic figure is Manolete, the legendary bullfighter who was fatally gored in 1947.
His memory still looms large here, and nowhere more so than at the Municipal Bullfighting Museum, located in the Jewish Quarter.
Then there’s the Centro Flamenco Fosforito, a cultural centre dedicated to An-
tonio Fernandez Diaz - better known as Fosforito - widely regarded as Cordoba’s greatest living flamenco singer.
But this isn’t just a museum. Ever wondered what a seguiriya is? Here, interactive displays walk you through the various palos (styles) of flamenco music.
And if you’re staying more than a day, consider catching a live performance
the twist: the Flamenco Centre is located in the very building that once housed Don Quijote’s infamous tavern - the one where the Man of La Mancha stood guard with a kitchen strainer on his head. History, humour, and haunting melodies - that’s the magic of Cordoba’s hidden corners.
at the centre. Because here’s
HEART OF THE CITY: The Plaza del Potro (above) while (right) the Museo Julio Romero de Torres and (inset) the artist’s Chiquita Piconera. Meanwhile (below right) the Centro Flamenco Fosforito of Don Quijote fame
HIDDEN DELIGHT: Cordoba’s Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bella Artes), while, above, a Muslim arch tucked away in Cordoba’s famous Mezquita
SIGHTS TO SEE: The magnificent Plaza de la Corredera was used as a makeshift bullring, while (left) the Casa Mudejar dates back to the 15th century
Salmonella scare
A BATCH of chicken burgers sold by Spanish supermarket chain DIA has been slapped with a health warning after testing positive for the dangerous salmonella bacteria.
The warning applies to a lot of ‘burger meat de pollo – Selección DIA’, packed in plastic trays containing six patties (90g each, 540g total), with a use-by date of April 19, 2025.
The Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN) blew the whistle after the contaminated burgers were found lurking in fridges across nine Spanish regions – including Andalucia.
Officials are racing to take the infected meat off shelves and have issued an urgent warning to households: “Do NOT eat these burgers!”
If you’ve tucked into one already and start suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or headaches, experts urge you to get to a doctor ASAP - as these could be signs of salmonellosis, a nasty foodborne illness.
A MEASLES outbreak is sweeping across Andalucía, with health chiefs warning the Costa del Sol is one of the worst-hit areas. So far, 56 cases have been confirmed in 2025 - including 32 in Malaga province alone.
Two new outbreaks were reported this
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Measles warning
week in El Ejido and Huelva, both involving Moroccan nationals.
Officials say 27% of cases are imported, mostly from Morocco, which is grappling with a huge outbreak of its own.
Worryingly, 41% of patients have been hospitalised – some with pneumonia. Kids under one year old account for 14% of infections. Despite high vaccination rates in Spain, 28 cases involved unvaccinated people. Locals are being urged to get their jabs as health bosses try to contain the spread.
SILENT KILLERS
The two factors causing a steep rise in cancer among young people
AN expert has revealed ‘the two silent killers’ behind alarming levels of cancer within youngsters.
cardiologist Curelio Rojas claims ‘detection of cancer among young people has surged by 80% in recent years.’
Flour
The doctor has identified sugar and refined flour as the ‘undetected enemies’ which cause cancer, as opposed to the more common reasons.
Cancers within young people ‘are associated with elevated levels of insulin, which acts as a powerful factor in growing, stimulating the proliferation of cancer cells’.
By Tom Ewart Smith
Specifically, the expert is talking about breast, stomach, pancreas, colon, and prostate cancer.
The two foods contributing to a rise in insulin production are sugar and refined wheat flour, according to Rojas.
“Coincidentally, they are the two products that produce the most heart issues also. So if you want to prevent disease and look after yourself, you already know what foods to avoid,” he claims. If youngsters wish to avoid becoming part of such a horrifying statistic, it would be wise to cut down on sugar and refined wheat flour in their daily diets.
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
Across: 7 Papa, 8 Omelette, 9 Martinis, 10 Rad, 11 Goers, 12 Praised, 14 Case law, 16 Egypt, 18 Err, 19 Pursuant, 20 Denounce, 21 Vane.
Down: 1 Paranoia, 2 Master bedroom, 3 Hosni, 4 Geyser, 5 Learning curve, 6 P T S D, 12 P O W, 13 Exponent, 15 Aspens, 17 Trees, 18 Eyes.
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Located in Jarandilla de la Vera, a rural village nestled between mountains and crystal-clear rivers in Spain’s Extremadura region, it’s the perfect place to bring Spanish language and culture to life. Jarandilla is where community intertwines with nature. Its cobblestone streets, adorned with flowers and friendly smiles, create a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home.
“From the very first day, I felt like I belonged here,” shares Anne, a participant from Paris. “The warmth of the people and the beauty of the place made learning Spanish more
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Our Spanish classes cater to all levels and focus on practical conversations, allowing you to communicate right from the start. “The experience was enriching,” says Marco from Brazil. “Not only did I learn the language, but I also connected with the local culture and enjoyed the relaxed lifestyle here.”
Afternoons are filled with outdoor
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At Aloha Vera, we also prioritize well-being. Outdoor yoga sessions and shared meals featuring local delicacies foster a deeper connection with others and yourself. “Eating together, sharing stories, and laughing under the
Watch what you eat
OLDER men and women battling the bulge might be on the brink of a bone-boosting breakthrough – thanks to a slimmed-down Mediterranean diet and a bit of a jog around the block!
A new Spanish study has revealed that tucking into an ‘energy reduced’ version of the Med diet – packed with veggies, olive oil, fish, and pulses but adjusted to have less calories (watch the portions!) – and moving those hips with regular exercise could protect your bones from crumbling with age. They discovered that ‘older women’ who embraced the energy-reduced diet and got active managed to ‘boost bone mineral density (BMD)’ in their lower backs – one of the most fracture-prone areas in later life. They also lost weight without sacrificing bone strength.
warm sun is part of what makes this experience unique,” says Peter from Belgium. Our retreat is fully inclusive, covering classes, accommodation, and meals, so you can focus on what matters most: learning and enjoying. We also provide free pickup in Madrid to take you to Jarandilla. If you dream of improving your Spanish while basking in the sunshine and connecting with a beautiful place and its people, we look forward to welcoming you this spring or summer. Jarandilla de la Vera is the perfect place to make memories and build language skills that last a lifetime.
Learn more and reserve your spot for the next available retreats starting on 25 June, 7 and 15 July, 23 September, insert the promo code ‘TheOlivePress’ at www.alohavera.es and get a 25% discount. For more information contact Natalia Rivas (Co-Founder & Executive Director) by telephone on +34 626 99 41 11, by email: vive@ alohavera.es, visit www.alohavera.es or visit in person at C/ Altozano 10, 10450 Jarandilla de la Vera, Cáceres. Extremadura. España.
DANGER: Keep clear of sugar and refined flour!
Pawsh pastries
Sagrada selfies
TOURIST’S will be able to pose outside Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in a zone specifically for selfies, with officials hoping it will ease congestion ahead of the cathedral’s completion next year.
Ape terror
TWO teenagers were caught on camera fleeing in terror from a group of Barbary macaques on the Rock of Gibraltar with one monkey seen reaching for one girl’s bag.
Donut ban
SPAIN’S government has banned soft drinks and junk food from being sold in high schools to combat a third of kids being classed as overweight.
On our way!
SUNBURN? Check. Socks and sandals? Obviously. Paella with chorizo? You heathen!
A Spanish Instagram account has sparked laughs - and maybe a few cringeswith its cheeky take on classic tourist stereotypes in Spain. The viral post from @spain says (boasting over half a million followers) unveils the ultimate ‘Guiri en España Starter Pack’. Featured essentials? A lobster-red Brit, dodgy Hawaiian shirt, pint of beer, and yes… the tragic belief that real
BASEBALL cap on, elbow pads strapped, and a mischievous grin in place - Juanjo Urbizu isn’t your typical pen sioner.
At 88 years old, this Spanish daredevil is tearing up skateparks and turning heads as
By Tom Ewart Smith
paella includes chorizo. Sacrilege! Also in the kit: camera round the neck, chino shorts, dark shades, and an unwavering love for shouting “OLEEE!” at inappropriate moments. Basically, everything you’d expect to see around a beachfront bar in Benidorm by 3pm—ideally clutching a novelty inflatable and absolutely butchering basic
Tourists get roasted in
‘guiri’
holiday starter pack
Spanish. It’s all light-hearted fun, of course— but behind the satire lies a question: Are these caricatures fair, or are we just laughing because they hit way too close to home?
Ramps for gramps
he drops into concrete bowls with the confidence of a teenager. Locals in Bilbao’s gritty Begoña neighbourhood watch in awe as Urbizu - clad in joggers and a tucked-in tee - glides across graffiti-covered ramps like it’s second nature. Juanjo only took up skateboarding at 70, swapping snow sports for something cheaper but just as thrilling. Now, he skates twice a week and charms locals with tales of his latest tricks. In an ageing Spain,
FORGET your croissants and donuts – Spain’s latest fad bakery is for furry foodies.
Dulces para Perros , Malaga’s first-ever bakery dedicated entirely to dogs, has opened its doors – and tails are wagging all over town. The boutique bakery whips up handcrafted goodies just for pups – we’re talking cakes made of chicken and carrot, liver cupcakes, and even tuna tarts for the feline friends.
Tasting
No salt, no sugar, no nasties – just all-natural treats that even the fussiest pooch would fancy. There’s even a tasting bar, so your pet can pick their favourite snack before you splash the cash. Planning a paw-ty?
where over half the population is 44 or older, Juanjo’s story is a breath of fresh air. To seniors thinking of joining him on the ramps? “Take it slow,” he warns.
“Concrete hurts way more than snow.”
They’ll custom-make a birthday cake for your dog too! Find it at Avenida de los Guindos 29 – and yes, dogs are very welcome.
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