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Calvià
August 2024
from beaches and nightlife Discover the best of Mallorca, All in one town to sports and gastronomy.
IT’S COOL TO BE IN CALVIÀ sailing. a boat trip traditional Mal- ing, or row streets lined with Church of Sant An excellent option is to take and the stunning coastline lorcan houses, visit the but Calvià back origi- to explore By Dilip Kuner T may sound like a cliche, Joan Baptista - which dates of the hidden coves. or those simply looking really does have it all. nally to the Christian reconquest gastronauts, if you seek a century - and enjoy For a decent meal, the region boasts a You need look no further for beaches, exclusive and region in the 13th that Portals Nous are more beaches and local cuisine at one of the restaurants captivating blend of stunning selection of top class restaurants nightlife. are seemingly round ev- cater to the most discerning palates, as charming villages, and lively the main upscale areas with pristine Peguera is a qui- and cafes that down to earth establishFor a large number of visitors, coastline, luxury amenities, while beautiful coves ery corner. Serra de well as more often showcase the best eter alternative offering attraction is the beautiful For nature lovers, the nearby ments which each with its and a relaxed ambiance. mountains offer hiking and which boasts 35 beaches, to different pref- Of course, while beaches are a major Tramuntana where visitors can discov- of Mallorcan produce. locally own charm and catering explore cycling trails Expect to find fresh seafood, Calvià has much more to from er hidden waterfalls, charming villages, sourced meats, and an abundance of erences. is a fami- draw, venture away For example, Santa Ponça bay, per- for those willing to and panoramic views. aromatic herbs and spices. costa. are spoilt for choice, Beyond the cuisine, Calvià’s restaurants the ly-friendly resort with a beautiful lovers Sports attractions see sports. Top of the list of must Here you can with several world-class golf courses provide an ambiance that complements fect for swimming and water gamto Palmanova Expect elegant défrom as well as the full Many families head overknown for their is Calvià Village itself. the charm of the to choose sports from the thrills of jet the culinary artistry. service, and breathtakand Magaluf, which are extensive water immerse yourself in ut of water paddleboard- cor, impeccable town’s historic centre. lively atmosphere and nar- skiing to more sedate views. ing through stroll to gastronomy. It is an opportunity sports facilities and Cas Català and Meanwhile, Illetas and
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COOL TO BE CALVIÀ
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MODERN MIRACLES
MODERN MIRACLES The minimalist theme of new Spanish churches
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NOT SO SWIFT W
10 years on, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium renovation finally complete
The minimalist designs of Spain’s new churches
See our special pull-out inside
AUGUST 2024
HEN Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium hosted tour, all eyes were on the Taylor Swift’s Eras But for the football club thepop superstar. real star of the show was Swift’s concert marked the first occasion the ground the stadium itself. beit ‘unofficially’ - after was fully a massive revamp some announced. 10 years after the plans open - alwere first But now it has been ‘officially’ unveiled. It took €1.8 billion - about GMP Architekten, L35, and€1 billion more than initially planned - for architects public attraction, boasting Ribas & Ribas to transform it into a multifaceted a Real Madrid ces, and a skywalk offering Museum, dining and retail spapanoramic views. It also boasts a sliding ‘greenhouse’ where the roof and even an underground turf pitch can be retracted optimal growing conditions. for A striking feature of the stadium is its sinuous stainless steel facade. This metallic skin, designed to conceal the original concrete structure, gives the Bernabeu a distinctive, sculptural form. “The curved stainless steel the Bernabeu with a new louvres have imbued identity, solidifying its status as a Madrid landmark,” said a spokesman for GMP Architekten. “From afar, the metal facade shimmers like a jewel, reflecting light in countless ways.” Beyond aesthetics, the metal cladding serves functional purpose. Horizontal a louvres allow natural ventilationgaps between the for the stadium's interior. The renovation also increased seating capacity by 3,000 to 85,000, added VIP and hospitality lounges.
STILL GOING UP
PROPERTY prices are climbing ever higher in Spain as demand outstrips supply. Since 2019, only the Balearics tilla-La Mancha (€939), Extremadura have seen faster price rises than (€976) and Castilla y León cia, according to a report AndaluWhile Spanish authorities(€1,198). by BBVA ife, where seller expectations By Walter Finch urgently Research. rose by it stands at €4,477 try to build new houses, supply 18.6%, with Las Palmas sqm. is still Both new and existing homes (13.5%) sec- Across Spain ond and Malaga (12.2%) third. house prices rose by expected to fall short of meeting the creased in price by over 20% have in- from 2000. growing demand. 3.9% in 2023 and 4.3% in the first BBVA forecasts Despite the boom, BBVA since 2019. The Canary Islands has seen the By cities, the most significant rise quarter prices are yet to reach the estimates sharpest rise with houses being 16.4% was in Malaga, where prices grew by dicting of 2024, with forecasts pre- permits in 2024, 120,000 construction peaks of more expensive an a 5% increase in 2024 18.2%, followed by Alicante the previous real estate bubble and from the previous increase of 10,000 than (18%), 4.7% in 2025. year. The Soria (17%) and Valencia from It is followed by the a year ago. two decades ago. (16.1%). Balearics months of 2024 saw a 14.8%first four the Valencian Community (11.9%), The smallest rises were in Melilla According to BBVA’s Real Estate in permits growth Current prices are still (11.5%), Observatory 2024 report, compared to the same perikey factors od last year, those levels (8% for new 9% below the Community of Madrid (11.5%), (0.3%), followed by Pamplona (1.1%), driving indicating this Palencia (1.8%), Vitoria 10% existing) with only homes and Murcia (8.8%), Andalucia (8.7%). (2.1%), and economy, trend include a booming tion cycle driven by a new construcMadrid Pontevedra higher increased demand. and family incomes, de- However, By province, 45 have (2.4%). the Balearics having surpassed mand from challenges such as zoning prices a year ago, led by higher prices than The price of property in Santa Cruz de Tener- now Madrid is terest rates. foreigners and lower in- issues, labour shortages, €4,622 sqm, while in Barcelona tory uncertainty continueand regulaThe most affordable regions to hinder are Cas- new projects.
The areas where property and where it’s still good prices are growing the fastest in Spain value
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RIP Maria SPAIN’s oldest woman in the world has died at 117. The family of Maria Branyas announced her death via social media on Tuesday. In a post on her X account they wrote: “A few days ago Maria told us: ‘One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yoghurt…, I will also leave my memories, my reflections… and I will cease to exist in this body. One day I don’t know, but it’s very close, this long journey will be over. “‘Death will find me worn out from having lived so long, but I want it to find me smiling, free and satisfied’.” Maria was born to Spanish parents in San Francisco on March 4, 1907, but moved back to northern Spain when she was very young. Scientists last year took samples from Maria in a bid to discover her secrets to a long life – and to develop cures for diseases. She incredibly had no health complications other than hearing and mobility issues. The ‘Super Grandmother’, who regularly updated her followers on X, beat Covid in 2020 and had survived the Spanish Civil War, a deadly earthquake in the US and a major fire. The mantle of oldest person alive has now passed to 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka from Japan.
Vol. 7 Issue 188 www.theolivepress.es August 23rd - September 4th 2024
A BRITISH expat claims he has been targeted by local police in a shocking campaign of ‘racist abuse and harassment’ because he can’t speak Spanish. Shop owner Mark Lumsden believes that the Policia Local in the Mallorca village of Valldemossa have maintained a vendetta against him for over eight years. He even alleges that an off-duty officer approached him outside a bar one night in 2020 and screamed at him ‘have some respect’ and ‘learn Spanish or go back to England.’ “Two people at the bar had to grab him and force him off down the street,” Lumsden told the Olive Press. “I only found out two days later that this man, who I had never seen before in my life, was a local policeman.” The 64-year-old moved to Mal-
British expat claims local police have targeted him in ‘racist’ campaign of verbal abuse EXCLUSIVE By Walter Finch
lorca from Stockton-on-Tees with his wife and young daughter, then three-years-old, in 2013, where he opened a gift shop called Valldemossa Secrets. For Lumsden, the sleepy village of 2,000 people on the north side of the island would be a ‘a great environment to bring up my child’. But the peace and tranquillity wasn’t to last as Lumsden seemed to make enemies of a high-ranking police officer who is reported to have told neighbours he openly ‘hated’ the Englishman. Some days after the encounter outside the bar, Lumsden claims that the same officer came to his shop accompanied by the chief of police. Expecting to receive an apology or explanation from the officer now he had ‘sobered up’, the shop owner was shocked to find that the policeman launched into another rant about how he must learn Spanish. “The chief of police had to tell him to shut up and took him away!” said Lumsden, who’s been running the shop for nine years. But then, according to Lumsden, the senior police officer returned the following day with a cap and plain clothes ‘like Inspector Clouseau’, looking to see if there were
ABUSE: Lumsden says he ha been targeted by local police for not speaking Spanish
cameras in the shop that had recorded the exchange. “And when I challenged him, he said ‘no, no, no, no – I was just looking at the tiles.’” On a separate occasion on June 6 this year, Lumsden found that a van passing outside the shop had accidentally damaged his sign. EVIDENCE: A van wrecked “The lady who lives opposite came his sign but police were not See Viva España page 6 down and gave me a picture of the interested vehicle,” he explained. “It was a commercial van with the name of the company and a totally clear picture of the number plate. “She said he hit the side of my veranda first, and then he smashed her side, then mine again.” Salt water hot tubs • FIVE years guarantee But when he went to report the incident at Lowest electrical consumption the local police staMain agent with dedicated service in the Balearics tion, a separate officer refused to process the www.hotspring.co.uk wwe.hotspring.com claim. Display showroom Alcudia Tel +34 650 092 510 “He just said they didn't see it so they can’t do anything. I THE ONLY said ‘I’ve got the picture, I've got a witness AUTHORISED who saw it, and you’re HOTSPRING telling me nope.’ And he just shrugged his MAIN DEALER shoulders and walked IN THE - Craig Dickson away.” And then most reBALEARICS cently, on August 5, Lumsden had to go to
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the station to file a police report in order to make a bank claim. “Who should be sitting there? Nightmare of nightmares – him again!” The same officer who had allegedly abused him outside the bar and in his own shop ‘refused to even speak’ to Lumsden. “He just said I don’t understand enough English.” But Lumsden had anticipated such a problem and had already had the claim translated into Spanish. But the officer ‘wouldn’t even look at it.’ Another police officer came over, according to Lumsden. “He listened to what I had to say, then looked at the translation, and his first words to me were: ‘How long have you lived in this village?’ “I said, ‘why does that matter? I just want a report.’ “He said: ‘I speak English. Why don't you speak Spanish?’” Despite his best efforts to make formal complaints about the alleged treatment, to both the local town hall and the Guardia Civil, neither has come to anything. Lumsden insists that the Guardia Civil have been sympathetic to his situation, but they too have lacked the translators to process his complaint. A police officer at the local station in Valldemossa told the Olive Press that they have ‘no problem with him – neither personal nor professional.’ But she added that she could not comment further.