The agency suspects that a series of bankruptcy proceedings related to some twenty separate companies were actually a manoeuvre to avoid the collection of these debts, which exceed eleven million euros, not including surcharges or interest.
As part of this investigation, officials from the Tax Agency went to his home in Mallorca last week and seized computer data. Kühn, who settled in Switzerland in 2013, was in Mallorca because of the Supreme Court ruling that the Balearic government must pay him 96 million euros compensation in respect of the blocked development of Muleta II in Puerto Soller.
It is understood that, during the bankruptcy proceedings, the Tax Agency was offered the rights to possible compensation for Muleta as payment for the tax debt and that this proposal was rejected at the time. All of the bankruptcy proceedings were later declared 'fortuitous', with no responsibility on the part of Kühn for the debts, although the Treasury did not collect most of what it claimed.
Matthias Kühn operated a network of some forty companies before he began to experience financial difficulties. The 96 million euros compensation would allow him to lift bankruptcy proceedings of his companies and pay a liability of four million euros to creditors.
]]>The isolated Soller Valley life is changing, and a new page is being written. The ‘free’ Soller tunnel, the frequent bus service, the fact that there an equal number of cars as people in the Valley means the freedom which mobility brings. The changes this has brought to the connection to the nearest villages is interesting to understand.
From the Soller Tunnel to the industrial estate of Son Castello lies one straight road. It has a number of roundabouts built in recent years to enable access to the villages en route. These include the most visited places such as, Alfabia Gardens, Son Amar and the Raixa centre. This straight road was often used as a racetrack by the petrol heads of the past. The roundabouts and police surveillance have largely ended those days when it was a badge of honour to achieve a speed of 200 km per hour.
Soller has a population of approx 13,500 people. There are another 11,000 people who used to knock on the door and demand entry. The villages the ‘other’ side of the Coll have a part of their being, in Soller. It is an accident of a mountain which keeps them on the ‘outside’.
I love a wander round the three villages which make up the communities on the Soller Road. First up is Bunyola with its old Church, traditional Plaza and marketplace. A population of 7343 in 2023 and growing. Easy commuting to Palma these days on the Soller Train and a decent bus service. The countryside and walks on the doorstep make this a favoured place in the Tramontana. Very connected with Soller in its history of factories and industry of the past.
As Bunyola expanded it decided to create a new village down the road. The new village name comes from an amalgamation of Palma and Bunyola and is called Palmanyola. Very much little sister of Bunyola but as it grew it wanted to be more than just a dormitory space for both Palma and Bunyola.
Palmanyola (population 2207) is unique in that it is Mallorca’s only minor local entity. This is a form of administration created in 1924 under Spain’s municipal statute and which grants devolved powers to, organise its own public works amongst other functions. In September 1985, Palmanyola became such an administration, the result of an initiative led by three residents to give Palmanyola a form of autonomy and its own voice.
When you wander the streets of this relatively new village you will find it spaciously laid out on a grid system All roads are named after flowers and the Church in the centre is a modern design. Many medical staff working at nearby Son Espases hospital live here.
Son Sardina (population 1729) is an ancient village which now finds itself between the Son Castello Industrial Estate and Son Espases hospital. To live in such close proximity to either makes it a very popular residential zone. Son Sardina has a beautiful old Church which sits alongside the football ground. Son Sardina is home to one of the finest women’s football teams on the island. Factories were a feature of the past but now most workers head for the businesses on its doorstep.
The majority, driving to Soller never think to take a turn off for an adventure. I love doing just that and am delighted by what I find and who I meet. I hope you find time to enjoy the villages of our world.
]]>Anticipated passenger numbers at Birmingham are projected to surge by nearly 60% compared to 2023, accompanied by the introduction of 16 new routes. This summer, easyJet Holidays anticipates its busiest season ever, with Mallorca emerging as a key destination among others like Dalaman, Antalya, Sharm el Sheikh, and Tunisia, drawing a significant portion of their customer base.
EasyJet flights from Birmingham to Palma will start on Sunday, March 31.
Looking ahead, the budget airline has outlined plans to unveil more routes for the winter season from Birmingham and other UK airports in the near future. Johan Lundgren, the Chief Executive Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the inauguration of the latest UK base at Birmingham, underlining its role in fostering increased choice, competition, and connectivity while bolstering employment opportunities for over 1,200 individuals in the region.
Nick Barton, the airport's Chief Executive, lauded the strengthened partnership with EasyJet, emphasising the introduction of the 16 new routes and the flexibility afforded to customers, whether opting for flight-only or full package holiday experiences.
]]>The burglary was between July 28 and 29, 2018. A friend of Cathy Guetta and the administrator of her companies, Rosario B., had given a set of keys to an unidentified person. The court concluded that it was not proven that this individual had taken jewellery and other items.
Rosario B. acknowledged that he had provided a set of keys to this person. This was in order to intimidate Cathy Guetta into making payments owed to him. He insisted that he had just wanted to scare her.
The house had been rented from the former French international footballer, Zinedine Zidane. Cathy Guetta provided a list of 150 items valued at 489,000 euros which were said to have been stolen.
However, the court did not give credibility to what was supposedly stolen. "It is hard to believe that a person goes on a trip for a week and takes with her eleven watches and more than forty pieces of jewellery, which is what has been stated." (Eleven Rolex and Hublot watches with a total value of 250,000 euros were itemised.) "Just as it is also hard to believe that, over the summer, she had all of this in a property where she couldn't keep it in a safe because she didn't have a key."
The court concluded that she had not provided any evidence that everything reported as stolen was in fact taken from her.
The court did find it proven that Rosario B, Marius V., and a third person who has also not been identified went to Cathy Guetta's offices on August 15, 2019, used the keys to enter and deactivated alarms. Once inside, they painted graffiti on the furniture and the floor and broke into safes.
The total amount of money they stole was 53,230 euros. They also took the keys to a Dacia Docker and headed to Sa Caleta, where they set fire to the car, which had documentation stolen from the offices inside. For this, they were sentenced to two years and eighteen months, respectively.
]]>On tourism, Mercedes Garrido of PSOE says that reform of the tourism law and an end to the moratorium on granting new tourist accommodation places will be like offering a "free bar".
Given the housing crisis in the Balearics and despite the Prohens government's support of the PP's national policy on housing, Més and Podemos are demanding that the whole of the Balearics be declared a so-called "stressed area", meaning that rents can be capped. The government has stated it will not make such a declaration.
Garrido insists that PP are creating deliberate confusion when it comes to intervention with rents. Caps would not apply to small property owners, only to large ones (e.g. banks). One measure which would affect small owners, as Garrido points out, is that rents could not be increased by more than the rate of inflation.
Meanwhile, Podemos are returning to the theme of non-resident purchase of homes. A motion is to be presented to Congress on Tuesday calling for limits.
Lucía Muñoz, the Podemos coordinator in the Balearics and a Palma councillor says: "We are asking the president (speaker) of Congress, Francina Armengol, to influence PSOE to vote in favour." She recalls that PSOE were not opposed to limits on non-resident buying when this measure was debated by the Balearic parliament.
]]>She will be sailing into Palma on April 19 as part of a Mediterranean cruise. Arvia has over 30 bars and restaurants onboard. Arvia's onboard spa, available at extra cost, has several facilities, including a hydrotherapy area with a salt steam room, cold room, sauna and experiential showers.
On 16 March 2023, Arvia was named in Barbados by Nicole Scherzinger. The naming ceremony was a beachside ceremony. Olly Murs was also singing in the event. Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley was also present in the event and gave a speech during the event.
Top ten biggest cruise ships in the world.
1. Icon of the Seas
2. Wonder of the Seas
3. Symphony Of the Seas
4. Harmony of the Seas
5. Allure of the Seas
6. Oasis of the Seas
7. MSC World Europa
8. Costa Smeralda
9. P & O Arvia
10. P&O Iona
]]>The councillor for Health, Manuela García, attended an event today, Monday, in the Playa de Muro, where the ‘Smoke-free beach’ sign has been placed on the beach.
The event was also attended by the president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer in the Balearics, José Reyes, along with volunteers from the organisation.
Counting eight more beaches in the municipality of Manacor, ten beaches are incorporated into the campaign this year.
There are now 50 beaches that form part of the Balearic network of smoke-free beaches.
The aim is to prevent smoking in the marked areas, promote healthy habits and raise awareness among the population about the importance of not leaving waste in natural areas.
The Regional Ministry has stressed that tobacco consumption is currently one of the main causes of avoidable illness and death worldwide.
According to recent data from the survey on drug use in the Balearics, 34.5 percent of students aged 14 to 18 say they have smoked tobacco at some time in their lives; 6.9 percent have smoked daily in the last month.
For this reason, the councillor has valued every step “to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of tobacco, to work on prevention and to promote healthy lifestyles is ground gained”.
García invited the municipalities that are not yet part of the initiative to join in.
The campaign also focuses on tobacco waste, which contains more than 7,000 toxic chemical substances that poison the environment.
The Director General of Coasts and Coastal Areas, Carlos Simarro, insisted that the campaign aims to “raise awareness of the impact of tobacco both on health and on our natural spaces”.
]]>You’d think with all that is happening in the world, a small mistake made in editing an image would be at the bottom of the worry list for most people but apparently not. One UK broadsheet journalist was so insanely convulsive and conspiratorial on the issue that I considered calling the emergency services and the men in white coats. Thankfully, sane readers had had similar thoughts which I read in the comments section. Let’s hope the whole pathetic matter will now blow over. Let’s leave poor Kate to get well in peace. Surely, it’s the least the UK’s more paranoid citizens can do.
This week, we learnt that three million UK citizens under the age of 25, ie Gen-Z-ers, were not working, mostly through choice. They felt getting free dole money was much more edifying and meant they could just sleep, drink, and smoke all day. I see their point. I mean, my taxes become excruciating when I work harder and earn more to the extent that I begin to think in the same way as French tradesmen which is to take the foot of the pedal, earn less and get taxed less. French tradesmen are canny beasts. They mostly work the hours that keep them under a higher tax threshold and the rest of the time they can float around enjoying the good life, presumably on a bike with a string of garlic around their necks.
Anyway, the number of those on the dole in the UK has spiked since Covid-19, many citing mental health issues. Well, one broadsheet candidate certainly gets my vote for being incarcerated as quickly as possible. Her aside, hasn’t everyone got some kind of mental health issue? I mean, how does one define it and how bad does it have to be before you can claim dole money? I was a Samaritan in the UK, so I know what serious mental health issues look like. Ugly, let me tell you. Those are the people who deserve our help, not fakers and takers.
After a lazy lull in exercise the last few weeks, following the Seville marathon, I’m back in harness, running and attending pilates classes again. It took some time to convince my body that this was a good idea but finally, sulkily it gave in. The extra hours without exercise gave me more time at the desk which has been sorely needed but running gives me more energy and lightens my mood, so it has to be done. I’ve had a marathon work period since the beginning of January and it’s not getting any quieter. I shouldn’t complain, and I don’t really. It’s just that now and then I would love a whole day off but that is coming at the end of May. I shall hold that thought.
On the subject of running, a local woman approached me on the beach this week and suggested that I should be careful because running could play havoc with knees and was generally bad for you. I asked her whether she had ever run, already knowing the answer.
Oh no, she assured me, that would never happen. All the same, she was happy to advise me on a topic that she knew absolutely nothing about. Frankly, the only advice I take on the subject is from my splendid dry-humoured physio, Jos Alkemade in Santa Maria, or fellow runners.
I winced as she struggled off down the beach, bowed down by extra weight and arthritis. Many years ago, a couple of alcoholic expats used to habitually stop me on my mountain runs to tell me about the perils of running. They revelled in peering from their car windows to issue some doom-laden prophecy about how my knees would be shot through by the age of fifty. Both of them died before their time, one of cancer, the other from heart disease. I was sad to learn of their demise, but it proved a point. We never know what lies ahead and all we can do is to keep on trucking and doing what we think is right for us, not for anyone else.
Of course, poor old Jim Fixx, the American bestselling author of The Complete Guide to Running, published in 1977, came unstuck. At 52 he was out jogging, had a heart attack and died. I’m well past that particular milestone but anything can happen. Still, I’ll keep a positive attitude and if running is the way I’m to pop my clogs, so be it.
We have a dedicated cat angel in the Soller valley. Her name is Antonia Vives, and she runs the local Soller cat association. Many of us are volunteers who help with feeding local cat colonies and fundraising and I do my small bit along with many others. It was therefore fantastic that she and her deputy were awarded beautiful cat statuettes at a cat focused gathering of volunteers at Soller townhall last week. There are many unsung heroes and heroines in all our communities. Antonia is one of them but this time, a little recognition went a long way.
]]>Of course, there will always be exceptions, but in general, locals will happily sit at bars and restaurants for ages, waiting patiently for their orders to be delivered. They will soak up the ambience, chat contently and hardly notice that the coffee or ‘Pa amb olis’ haven’t arrived yet. Sadly, some other nationalities are more vocal after a very short wait, and shamefully complain about service after only a few minutes, often quite loudly. I have even heard visitors shouting at staff and storming off after a mere 5 mins wait! Bit harsh, and certainly NOT the way to behave as a guest to our beautiful island! What’s the rush? You’re supposed to be chilling on holiday!
Patience is however, not only the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting! And this philosophy is what the Mallorcans are so brilliant at practising, and something visitors could learn a great deal from by adopting the same, patient vibe! A Mallorcan in a queue is an example of perfect control.
Whenever I think of Mallorcans queuing or waiting patiently, I immediately think of the ‘farmacia’ (chemist). Here in Mallorca, you can almost guarantee that for every person inside the chemist you must calculate an average waiting time of around ten minutes. For example - in our small, local farmacia, with only one person serving behind the counter, 6 people ahead of you could easily represent a one hour wait! And I’m not kidding. The culture here in Mallorca happily embraces lengthy private and personal conversations across the counter which at times can interrupt the serving process. But interaction, along with a good gossip, is a great part of local culture, and customers seem more than happy to just wait, eavesdrop, then wait some more; for here in Mallorca they are blissfully graced with the ability to sit around, seemingly doing nothing while enjoying the moment.
The actual prescriptions themselves in the farmacia also seem to take forever to process and dispense, especially if there is a customer involved with a long list of medications. Each prescription requires a bar code to be cut physically from the packaging with a Stanley knife, which is then sellotaped to a printed form and signed off. Considering 2024 embraces a digital world of advanced technology, one might assume a bar code could easily be scanned and recorded on a contemporary device. But then this is Mallorca and they still like to do things their way, patiently!
But it’s not just the farmacias where you might expect to wait in line for hours. Both banks and post offices are also great places to camp out in for the day! Our local post office in Inca has a digital ticket system (like most), so you work out roughly how long it might be from the current number displayed above the counter, then go and do a bit of shopping, and come back in time to buy a stamp. However, if you are holding number 200 in your hand and they are only displaying numero 20, then you might as well go to the beach for the day, and still get back in time to post that annoying letter!
A local bakery is another great place to waste a morning. There is no urgency whatsoever to serve customers with their ‘pan Mallorquin’. Having a good chin-wag and sharing a bit of local gossip is a priority over any pastry on offer. And the majority are delighted to do so as they wait their turn, often chipping in with their own version of events. The Mallorcans specialise in turning simple, everyday events like banking, posting a letter, shopping etc into a social gathering. So next time you find yourself in a long queue, do what I’m going to do in future - take sandwiches and a flask. But above all, BE PATIENT. Happy waiting!
]]>The tour, the first of its kind, was co-organised and financed by the Mallorca Film Commission, directed by Pedro Barbadillo, and the scouts toured the island, getting to know the vast selection of locations which could be used for future film productions. And they all left Mallorca extremely impressed.
The group of six was accompanied by Eduardo Rodrigálvarez from the Palma Pictures locations department. Mallorca, as a film location, is certainly going “to be in the mix” of future discussions with regard to shooting locations for some of the biggest film productions.
The group comprised David Pannington, location supervisor on Game of Thrones, Guardians of the Galaxy and Christopher Nolan’s recent Oscar-winning film Inception; Dee Gregson, location supervisor on films such as Wings of the Dove, Alex Rider and Chloe; Christian McWilliams, who has worked on World War Z, Mission Impossible, Mamma Mia!, Gladiator 2 and John Wick, among others; Mick Ratman, whose film credits include Welcome to Sarajevo and The Flag; Ben Macgregor, a location scout who has worked on projects such as Once Upon a Time in London, Blitz and RocknRolla; and Kay Ponting Wilson, location scout on Good with Wood, Casualty and Father Brown.
Vast potential
It was actually the first time in 30 years that Kay had returned to Mallorca since having spent her gap year working as a holiday rep in Puerto Pollensa, which was one of the locations they were taken to along with Palma, the Serra de Tramuntana, Andratx, Calvia, Soller, the Torrent de Pareis and the Nus de la Corbata, among others.
They also had the opportunity to get to know a number of maritime locations with boat trips from Andratx and Pollensa. And the vast potential the island has really caught the eye of Christian McWilliams, who has just finished work on Gladiator 2 in Malta with a crew of 550 people and 2,000 extras a day.
“I’ve been to Mallorca before, but on holiday and clearly never saw what I’ve seen on this trip,” Chris told the Bulletin.
“I remember seeing the great house (La Fortalesa) in The Night Manager and wondering where the hell it was. I had no idea it was in Mallorca until I saw it on this trip. You’ve had a few shows which have been made here recently that have been done incredibly well and have been incredibly well received and they - The Night Manager, parts of The Crown and Lioness for example - have really put you guys on the map.
“So the audience of those three shows has created a huge new interest in Mallorca and shooting here. And obviously, Palma Pictures has really become quite a famous outfit over the past 15 years. We’ve all heard of and met many producers who have worked with them, not only here but also on the mainland, so the word has gone out that Palma Pictures is based here and that it is one of the busiest and best production companies in Spain and Portugal - and they’re helping to fly the flag for Mallorca.
“We all know about Michael Douglas’s house and all the other famous folk who have landed here, but we didn’t know about what the island has to offer as a location,” Chris said. “One of the things we’ve been talking to Pedro about after one of the boat trips is the most amazing military base which is right next door to where The Night Manager was shot in Puerto Pollensa. And we all asked ‘why are you not using it for filming?’ That’s an asset which you’re not using, so it was interesting to see assets like that which are not being made the most of by the film industry. Another example is the number of abandoned farmhouses. For some people they may be an eyesore, for us they are locations, ideal for a CIA safe house. There is so much potential on this island which is not being used.
A film industry is a huge asset
“Having done five different films in Malta, I’ve seen how much islands are dependent on tourism in the key months. But if you were able to bring big productions here out of season, say between September and May, you would triple the island’s workload, not to mention revenue. What I’m saying is that the film industry is an asset which bring so much to a location, especially the larger and longer productions. Another plus is that apart from only being a two-hour flight from London and most other major European cities, it’s a safe destination, so friends and family can come and visit. And that’s also a big plus for production teams, they can get to see their family more often.
“Plus, with regard to the logistics of shipping equipment etc. it’s much easier to get here by ferry than it is the Canary Islands, for example. It’s also cheaper and that’s always a plus. Whatever the size of the budget, producers always want to save as much money as possible, so the quick and easy access to Mallorca is a huge bonus as well.
“So, if hotels and the like were open during the off season we would come and fill them. To be honest we’re all starting to get a bit bored of Malta,” Chris said.
“And another mystery is why you’re not making more of the sea. Everyone has a boat in Mallorca but you’re not using it for film - that’s my point.
“Having a water tank is all very well, but it’s not the same as actually filming at sea - that’s the whole thing. And even if you have a tank in the future, it’s got to be right by the sea like in Malta, you don’t want it inland. They are always built by the sea.
“On one my productions we spent nearly five weeks shooting at sea and three of those were in a sheltered bay. You’re never more than 100 metres away from the shore because you need to move equipment, crew, cast etc. and Mallorca’s got some of the most amazing bays to film in.
“So yes, as a location we’ve all been very impressed and Mallorca has a bright future in the film industry. The island is film friendly, there’s a film history here and filmmakers always go where other filmmakers have been. And at the same time you’ve got the basis of a crew here,. With Palma Pictures being based here you’ve got the infrastructure that is instantly accessible.
“Plus there’s a big connection between where people go on holiday to where people want to make pictures and that’s another wonderful benefit for Mallorca. It’s so comfortable - to come and work would be a dream. You’ve also got some great film festivals, so it’s coming together, it’s all there, it’s just that more needs to be made of it.
Extraordinary opportunities
“And if a production does well, comes in on budget and is a commercial success, it does Mallorca a favour because success means it works. Malta, which has half the population of Mallorca, had 26 productions last year. I don’t think Mallorca had as many but you’ve got a bigger population and a much bigger island and I just think the opportunities here are extraordinary. There’s so much more land, so much more coastline. But I repeat, it is not being used.”
Chris also said that they stayed in the most amazing hotels in Mallorca.
“The standard of accommodation here is outstanding, far higher than in many other countries, and that is something also that productions enjoy because film crews like to be in comfortable places. It’s the whole combination. Mallorca’s got it all and it’s great that Malta, for example, has now got some competition. It’s so nice to be able to go and work somewhere else,” Chris added.
“I talk to some 15 different location managers every week and I’m going to be telling them all about Mallorca once I get back. I’ll be telling them it’s amazing. And they’ll be asking if I saw a great harbour, a spectacular house, beaches, cliffs, mountains. We will all carry with us this great publicity campaign for the island. Now we can speak in an educated way about Mallorca and the opportunities which are here and these are the great things about trips like these.
“And you have to take into account that location managers are extremely important to productions. After the producer and director are on board and the production designer has been brought in, we are the next on the list, we’re the fourth person in.
“We’re the ideas people. We come up with the ideas for where things can and can’t be filmed. So while a producer will be looking at logistics and whether sets will have to be built on location, we come in with solutions which could save millions of euros by saying that we know of a real place and that nothing has to be built.
“So that is probably one of the things about us that is quite unique, that we all possess a knowledge of what is real. And now we have the knowledge about what is real in Mallorca and the options are endless.”
]]>Spanish travel agencies have welcomed China’s visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revive the tourism sectors in China and Europe. China applied a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from five European countries in December, including Spain.
Then in January China added eight more European countries in total to its visa-free policy list on a trial basis.
According to Spain’s tourism agency Turespana, over 60 percent of direct flights linking China and Spain before the pandemic have been restored. From March 31, Air China will have daily flights between Barcelona and Beijing while Cathay Pacific plans to restore direct flights to Hong Kong from Barcelona in June.
According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office, over 380,000 people visited Spain from China last year. However, the figure is well below the level before the pandemic, when more than 700,000 Chinese tourists visited Spain in 2019.
And, last year the Balearic government contacted two Chinese airlines in order to study the possibilities of direct flights to Mallorca.
The aim would be to promote Chinese tourism to the island.
This isn’t the first time that there has been talk of direct flights from China.
Five years ago, when the Routes World fair was held in Guangzhou, Aetib, the government’s tourism, attended in order to discuss possibilities. In 2019, Mallorca featured in a TV series for the Chinese market entitled Spain Passion.
But, whatever possibilities may have existed were put on hold by the pandemic.
]]>Mallorca’s average home attendance last season was 14,798 and this season it currently stands at 17,193. The club has a record 20,000 season ticket holders compared to 16,000 last season and there is no doubt that the stadium improvements with more still to come are a big factor in this. The league form hasn’t been amazing and there’s still work to do to avoid relegation but the run to the Copa del Rey final has caught the fans attention. I talked last week about the difficulty in getting to the final in Seville but you could see as many as 20,000 make the trip.
Tourism is our number one industry and I hear about more and more people coming to the island to take in a game. Mallorca have five home games left and two of those are against Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid which I’m sure will draw sellout crowds.
The success of Real Mallorca’s first team has helped its U-19 Division Honor team to make history by winning the Copa del Rey Juvenil for the first time in their history. The team won 4-2 on penalties against RCD Espanyol in Oviedo after 120 minutes of high quality football but with no one managing to score a goal. This is a competition with the majority of teams from La liga represented including Real Madrid and Barcelona. A friend of mine went to watch the game and was very impressed by the team. Some of those players will be integrated into the first team or the B team next season and some will move onto other professional teams but it’s great to see them doing so well.
Probably one of the best players Real Mallorca has produced is Marco Asensio. He started at a local club Platges de Calvia, followed by Real Mallorca. He then moved to Real Madrid and is now plying his trade at Paris Saint Germain. This week it was announced by Calvia Council that the Platges de Calvia stadium in Magalluf will be renamed the Marco Asensio Stadium in tribute to its finest player.
Whilst this is all good news for Mallorca I’m still surprised that they still haven’t got a Women’s team, despite the island providing two of Spains World Cup winners in Cata Coll and Mariana Caldentey. It’s a subject I’m trying to get more information on. However our other professional team here in Mallorca, Atlético Baleares does have a very successful women’s team which to be honest is currently doing better than their Men’s team. Despite only being formed in 2018 they have made their way from local leagues to the Segunda RFEF which in women’s football is equivalent to the third division. They are currently in third place with an opportunity to get promoted to the Primera RFEF and then they will be one promotion from the highest women’s league in Spain. A great achievement.
Success on the pitch comes from good coaching and two of the biggest clubs in the English Premier League have coaches that were born here in Mallorca.
Carlos Vicens of Manchester City was born in Colonia de Sant Jordi here on the island and started his career as the academy director and assistant manager at CD Llosetense. He joined City’s academy in 2017 and after a successful season in 20-21 as a Head Coach of the U18s, winning the FA Youth Cup and being crowned U18 Premier League National Champions, he was promoted to the first team as Assistant Coach under Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2021. As assistant coach he was credited on Match of the Day last Sunday as the architect for Jon Stones goal against Liverpool last weekend.
Carlos Cuesta at just 28 years old has already got a very impressive coaching CV. He was born here in Palma and was an accomplished footballer playing at Santa Catalina Atlético and representing a Balearic representative side alongside fellow Mallorquín and Real Madrid player Marco Asensio. But playing wasn’t his thing, he enjoyed coaching so started with his clubs Benjamin(U-9 to U-10’s) team.
After training the kids for four years, at 18 years old, Carlos moved to Madrid to study at INEF (Faculty of Sciences for Physical Activity and Sport) and also helped out at Atletico Madrid. Where, as he did here in Mallorca, he took control of a number of the youth teams and all the while he watched Diego Simeone coach the first team. Since then he has worked at Manchester City with Pep Guardiola and at Juventus with Max Allegri and Maurizio Sarri. He is now part of the new set up at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, who was part of Pep’s coaching team where he first met Carlos.
He speaks a remarkable six languages; English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French and Catalan and works on a one-on-one basis with the players.
His focus is heavy on technical skills and tactical ideas, while physical loading is kept to the minimum. The training sessions are filmed and Cuesta does a lot of video analysis with Arsenal’s stars individually. For him it’s about holistically working out a player’s identity to find out what they need to thrive, leaning on their physical, mental, technical and tactical capabilities and requirements. That without doubt would have helped the players in the penalty shootout win against Porto last Tuesday. Even though he is only 28, he is already being talked about as a future manager.
Once again Mallorca shines through in another industry and it’s remarkable when you think the population is just under one million people.
]]>In addition to this, there are the communal areas, a “spa and gym” and only 11 neighbours.
Rafa Nadal may not have banked much money on the tennis court over the past year due to injuries, but off court he is still a magnet for sponsors and also a very astute businessman.
According to El Mundo, Rafael Nadal’s net worth figure stood at $323.61 million in February 2023.
Only recently, he managed to bag a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Subway alongside the likes of NBA star Steph Curry, which could help him reach the $350 million mark possibly by the end of this year.
And, according to Forbes, Rafael Nadal’s overall earnings are easily in the range of $500-550 million if taxes and other reductions are considered as well.
Tennis writer Dhruv Rupani for The SportsRush says that it also helps that no other tennis player on the planet has as many social media followers as Nadal if Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are combined, which stands at 49 million at present. So it is expected that many of his sponsors will extend their associations with him post his retirement.
Brands such as Nike, Babolat, Kia Motors, Santander, Emperio Armani, Richard Mille, Tommy Hilfiger and Telefonica are in his portfolio and many of them have supported him since the beginning of his professional career on the ATP Tour.
In 2021, Nadal reportedly earned $23 million only from appearances at special events, endorsements, merchandise and licensing fees, making him the world’s fifth-highest paid tennis player that year.
It is believed that Nadal wore a limited edition Richard Mille watch at the French Open 2022 final, which was worth $2.52 million at the time.
Currently, he is the biggest and oldest tennis name on Nike’s payroll, as he reportedly earns a guaranteed $10 million per year from that deal.
Add to that his investments in property, restaurants and hotels, the Mallorcan is playing a very clever game.
Members of the Guardia Civil were waited in the port for the ship to dock after receiving a tip-off from the ship’s security team.
After refusing to testify on Sunday, the Court of Instruction number 2 released the suspect.
The events reported by the 30-year-old woman allegedly took place on board the cruise ship after she and the 26-year-old Kenyan-born man had been dancing all night.
At one point, the suspect allegedly forced her to have sex.
Some time later, the woman, in a state of shock, alerted the ship’s captain, who in turn informed the Guardia Civil.
As soon as they docked in Palma, where the passengers were going to stay for a few days, the Guardia Civil arrested the suspect.
On Sunday, the man used his right not to testify before a Palma magistrate, who ordered his release.
The Guardia Civil said that the investigation remains open.
The analysis centre dedicated to economic and social research has detailed that, in 2023, the percentage of foreign-born population in the European Union countries as a whole amounted to 13.3%, according to Eurostat data.
For its part, Spain had 17.1% of foreign-born residents in 2023, close to countries such as Sweden (20.4%) and Germany (19.5%), and ahead of France (13.1%) and the other southern European countries: Portugal (16.1%), Greece (11.3%) and Italy (10.9%).
According to data from the Continuous Population Statistics, analysed by Funcas in the latest Focus on Spanish Society, January 2024 will see the highest recorded number of foreign-born residents in Spain, 8.8 million people and 18.1% of the population, one percentage point more than in 2023.
By autonomous communities, the highest percentages correspond to the Balearics (27%), Catalonia and Madrid (24%), Melilla (23%), the Valencian Community and the Canary Islands (both 22%).
The regions with the lowest percentages are Extremadura (6%), Asturias (10%), Castilla y León and Galicia (11%).
Among people of foreign origin resident in Spain, approximately four out of every ten (42%) are between 25 and 49 years of age, a bracket which, within the working age group, concentrates the bulk of the active population of any society.
In this respect, Funcas highlighted that this figure places Spain among the European countries with the highest proportion of foreign-born people aged between 25 and 49 (out of the total foreign-born population), above the European average (37%), although below Denmark (44%), the Czech Republic (46%) and Finland (49%).
It has also highlighted that in regions with more immigrants, such as Catalonia and Madrid, as well as the Basque Country and Navarre, a higher proportion of them are in the 25-49 age group.
On the other hand, it is precisely some of the regions with the lowest proportion of immigrants, such as Asturias, Galicia and Castilla y León, which have the highest percentage of immigrants aged 65 and over (around one in four).
A significant number of these older immigrants come from countries such as Argentina, Cuba and Venezuela.
“Immigration plays an increasingly important role both in the labour market and in the socio-demographic structures of European societies. The weight and age composition of immigrants reflects not only the potential of these societies to attract new populations, but also raises the need for a public discussion on the long-term implications for ageing societies in terms of integration, labour market adjustment and social protection,“ he explained.
With regard to the acquisition of nationality in EU countries, he pointed out that in 2022 there were 989,940 people, the majority (857,173) from non-EU countries.
In Spain, 181,581 people obtained nationality in 2022, i.e. 18% of all naturalised immigrants in the European Union.
This places Spain, together with Italy (22%) and Germany (17%), among the countries with the highest share of naturalised immigrants in the European Union.
In Spain, 38% of the new citizens were citizens of Central or South American countries, and 32% came from North African countries.
By contrast, in Germany, almost half of the naturalised immigrants were of Asian origin, many of them from Syria (29%), Turkey (9%), Iraq (4%), Iran (3%) and Afghanistan (3%).
]]>Today I’m speaking with Lucy Ireland, originally from the UK, she’s been based in Mallorca 19 years ago. She is the co-owner of Superyacht Uniforms, Superyacht Eco and Orca Superyacht Signs with her husband David.
We originally moved here for the weather and a better way of life. I’m not sure if we ever planned it to be forever but once we arrived and put our heart and soul into our first business, we knew this was our home for good.
Finding a good Chinese restaurant!
I was only 23 when we moved here. I was fresh out of university where I studied business and was ready for my first challenge. My partner David had left yachts several years before where he’d started as deckhand and worked his way up to Captain.
After selling our original business several years ago we now have a new range of businesses offering various services to the superyacht industry. Superyacht uniforms supplies uniforms. With 19 years’ experience we are in a perfect position to advise and assist our key accounts with their uniform requirements moving to more sustainable supply wherever possible. We also have Superyacht Eco supplying Ecostore Products. Superyacht Eco have been in partnership with Viveco yachts since last year expanding our offering of sustainable products. Finally with Orca we supply Yacht, shop, and car signage, and more. We have a customer facing studio in the hub of Santa Catalina with warehouse, offices and a production facility just a few minutes away. A further eco warehouse in Holland and clothing factory facilities in Europe and Asia.
Our focus has always been on personable customer service. This is paramount to all our businesses. As is the move to more sustainability in all our operations and the suppliers we use.
For uniforms our USP is also supplying our own brand of clothing to control quality and continuity for the client.
Our team. Life is too short to spend time doing something you don’t enjoy so we always strive to make our workplace somewhere enjoyable. Our current team is more like family. The energy in our studio and offices is positive and friendly and I do feel that rolls over to the clients and how they feel.
Every day is a challenge but in a good way. We never get bored. With a diverse range of businesses no day is the same. Our team stay fluid, dynamic and interested purely because their days are not monotonous. We love a challenge!
Our plan now is to stay at our current number and just work on constantly improving our services. Our focus is to continue increasing sustainability and expanding our own range of clothing.
I like beautiful sail yachts like SY Marie. The Maldives would be amazing. I’d take my 3 daughters and husband as family is everything to me.
I can be found on the padel courts, or sharing reiki healing with my friends and family. Spirituality is a priority in everyday life, treating people how you like to be treated and treating everyone with love and respect in both professional and private lives. I spend a lot of my free time sharing these values with others and bringing my 3 girls up with these principles.
It’s very challenging, more so now than 19 years ago but if you have the right mindset and determination it can be a fantastic way of life.
Yes we will still be here. I can think of no better place to bring children up. The businesses will be thriving and we will be happy and healthy.
]]>The domestic market accounts for a 57.2 % of the share of bookings, followed by the United Kingdom, with 15.3 %, Germany, with 3.7 % and the Thai market, with 2.8 % of the share - an increase of 28.6 %.
Further more, the rise in bookings in recent weeks has led many Spanish hotel companies to bring forward the opening of their hotels to the end of March, coinciding with Easter, which this year is earlier than in previous years.
And all this despite the increase in prices as a result of inflation, which peaks at 15% on the most critical dates and in the most popular destinations, according to SiteMinder.
The good weather, together with an early Easter week has led the Mallorcan hotel chain Meliá to bring forward the opening of its hotels, especially those in the Balearics, to the end of March.
The same has happened to another of Spain’s major hotel companies, Riu, which has taken advantage of Easter and has been brought forward the opening of some of its hotels. They will open about a week before the public holidays on March 22.
According to the Smart Observatory prepared by the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Cehat), advance bookings in Spanish tourist accommodation have grown significantly this year, despite the fact that inflation has raised prices by between 4 and 6%.
The companies’ forecasts show a promising outlook for the next three months, with occupancy in the portfolio at 45% (5.7 percentage points higher than in 2023).
The improvement in the anticipation of bookings together with the proximity of Easter has led to a 13% increase in occupancy in Spain compared to 2023, with particularly good results on the islands and coasts.
One example is Calvia, which expects a total of 149 of the 230 tourist establishments to be open in March.
According to the town council “the tourism in Calvia is moving towards deseasonalisation”.
In Palmanova and Magalluf, more than half of the hotels are expected to be open by the end of March.
Anyone heading to Palma Airport could be hit with delays due to terminal changes and maintenance.
Jet2 has warned that holiday-goers could “be waiting slightly longer than normal” in both departures and arrivals.
On its website it states: “There is currently maintenance work taking place at Mallorca (Palma) Airport.
“We are working with the airport to ensure that any disruption to your airport experience will be kept to a minimum.
“Due to this ongoing work you may be waiting slightly longer than normal to clear immigration in both departures and arrivals, our friendly Customer Helpers will be on hand to help.
“We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding should you experience an extended wait time, which is beyond our control.
“All Jet2.com flights will be using check-in desks 31 to 33 and boarding for all flights will be from Module C.
“This information will also be displayed on the airport information screens.”
A delightful day is expected in Palma with temperatures soaring to lofty heights and clear skies. Light south-westerly winds are forecasted, with the morning temperature peaking at 12.9 degrees Centigrade. The afternoon temperature is expected to rise even higher, reaching a comfortable 19.27 degrees Centigrade around mid-afternoon.
The light breezes are expected to continue throughout the afternoon. Come evening, anticipate a mild drop in temperature to a cooler 14.32 degrees, whilst the skies remain clear and the winds gently blow from the south-east. The weather forecast for tomorrow carries a similar tune with reasonably high temperatures and clear skies, perfect for exploring the wonders of our beautiful city in the best of weather.
Usually, during this time of year, the city luxuriates in good weather, making it ideal for touring and soaking up the beauty of Palma and all that it has to offer. March is typically a dry month with high temperatures and low winds. However, bear in mind that Mallorca occasionally experiences showers around Easter.
During the morning: Low of 12.79 and a high of 19.27 degrees Centigrade
During the afternoon: High of 17.45 degrees Centigrade
During the evening/night: Low of 14.32 degrees Centigrade.[/p>
Captain Antonio Raillo nodded in our tenth corner kick of the game in the 84th minute. Once again main strikers Cyle Larin and Vedat Muriqi found scoring difficult, both of them missing sitters.
Granada, who won La Segunda last season, did precious little to worry the home side and their coach “Cocique” Medina did what all good coaches never do, making a double substitution in a dead-ball situation. The visitors’ goalkeeper Augusto Batalla was the main reason the game finished goalless after 45 minutes.
We lacked any threat from midfield but all that was about to change after the interval. Manu Morlanes came on and he became the game changer. By now ’keeper Batalla was a man inspired, and made a hat trick of back-to-back saves.
Then came a player introduction that had the 16,447 crowd on their feet. On loan from Torino attacker Nemanja Radonjic struck the woodwork with his second touch with a volley and his passing with the outside of the boot was a joy to behold.
In the 84th minute came the winner. Binissalem’s Javi Llabres swung over a worldy corner and Raillo rose high to head in, his effort bringing the team closer to staying in La Liga for another season.
I’ve never seen such an emotional goal for Mallorca for a long time as after the game some fans said they felt tearful after Raillo scored. Before that it was one of those games where we did everything but put the ball in the net.
In the last home game before the Cup final, Mallorca dug deep to snatch a late victory. However, Saturday’s game was the same old story for Mallorca this season : dominate the game, great build-up then in the penalty area it all goes haywire. Coach Aguirre has his work cut out on the training pitch to try and rectify our lack of goals, 25 in 29 games is a poor statistic. Our goal once again came from a set piece and was scored by a defender. Our last four goals have been scored by them, namely Nastasic, Gio, Copete and now Raillo. Larin remains a problem and I reminded people after the game that he signed a five-year contract.
In our next game, away at Valencia on Saturday March 30 at 6:30, both Abdon and Radonjic deserve their chance to start. Centre half and captain Raillo has scored three goals so far this season, more than 7 million euro striker Larin who has only netted twice. Mallorca added three points of incalculable value as La Liga pauses for the international break and we have one eye on the Copa del Rey final.
]]>According to the Palma Fire Department, the fire broke out at 05.50 in a chimney in a room of the Palma Riad hotel, in Sant Jaume de ‘Ciutat’ street.
Firefighters from the Sa Teulera and Magdalena Rigo fire stations rushed to the scene.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
By the time the fire brigade arrived, the hotel staff had already evacuated all the guests.
However, the hotel will remain closed as a precautionary measure at least until next Monday, when the fire brigade, together with municipal technicians, will assess the structure of the establishment.
The National Police are investigating this new incident involving the use of firearms in the early hours of last night in Marbella.
The incident took place at around 01.30 hours in an establishment in the aforementioned municipality of Malaga.
Following the incident, a young man in his 20s was injured and remains in the Hospital Clínico de Málaga.
According to health sources he is undergoing surgery for knee injuries.
This new shooting is the second to take place in the aforementioned municipality in just seven days.
Last Monday, 11 March, there was another incident involving a firearm in a catering establishment, although no injuries were reported.
Another incident occurred on the night of 10 February, also in Marbella, where a shooting took place, resulting in a gunshot wound to one person.
]]>Sources have confirmed that it has been “impossible” to intervene inside the property despite the fact that there are several witnesses who clearly indicate the location of human remains a few metres from the swimming pool.
The only search that has been carried out to date inside the estate took place in September 2020 and was very limited.
Experts had hoped to expand the area of interior intervention, but permissions were not obtained.
This latest intent is to confirm, as the construction worker claims, if there are human remains in the location, and in case of finding them, what is their origin.
The main hypothesis is that they may be the remains of Francoist prisoners used as slave labour in the construction of the Camí de Cala Barques between 1940 and 1942.
The Camí dels Pressos begins just a few metres from the location under investigation and ends in a network of tunnels in the mountain where the Francoist military authorities wanted to install a battery.
When the map of graves in Mallorca was drawn up, there was no indication of the existence of a possible grave in Cala San Vicente.
The situation changed in the spring of 2017 when a retired construction worker contacted Ultima Hora to confess that “while carrying out work on a villa in Cala San Vicenteyears ago, numerous human remains and clothing (shoes and belts, among others) had been found”.
The witness was very upset and dismayed. He assured that he had kept silent “for fear of reprisals” from the owner of the house who asked them (according to the witness’s version) to throw away the remains found during the excavation of the land to install the machinery for the swimming pool.
“We threw some of them away and reburied others,” he explained.
In 2017 a Porreres grave had already been exhumed, the images of which stirred the collective conscience. “I cannot continue with this burden,” said the witness.
The then mayor Miquel Àngel March (Junts Acançam) reported what had happened to the Council of Mallorca and initiated a series of enquiries at municipal level that succeeded in locating other workers who had witnessed the events during the construction of the swimming pool.
They all confirmed the veracity of the first testimony and pointed out to the experts the exact location of the incident.
To this day, all the hypotheses are still open, whether it is archaeological remains, a Francoist grave or even a crime.
The initiative includes information on how to improve ventilation or light in homes to make them more beneficial to health, and other more global measures that involve meeting with the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, and asking him to close the city’s main roads over the weekend.
The reason, they claim, is to encourage healthy family habits and reduce traffic thus reducing pollution.
Both groups have singled out the Paseo Marítimo sea front, as already seen during the pandemic, or one of the Avenidas, for closure.
“It would be about repeating something we have already experienced,” said Bernat Nadal, dean of the College of Architects.
“It is not new in Palma, a city that is used to hosting popular events when streets are temporarily closed. We have all walked through the centre of Jaime III”, added the president of the COMIB, Carles Recasens.
Both have highlighted that cities like Barcelona and Madrid already close key roads on weekend and they believe that the reduction of vehicles in the centre of Palma is key for the future of the city.
However, they are aware that the measure requires an improvement in public transport to make it more efficient and less polluting, and a pact between administrations, for example, such as the Council of Mallorca to be able to create more parking.
“In urban planning you can’t play politics. These are measures that require seriousness and responsibility in order to decide the city we want”, added Nadal.
]]>Gary is the last person to be voted off Celebrity Big Brother and he has since been asked about his niece.
He said of her that “she’s on the right track. She has the best support on the planet, she has the best people looking after her”.
Kate Middleton’s uncle has set a date for the return of the Princess of Wales to the public eye: “They (Royal Household) said we would see her at Easter and nothing has changed since then. They’ve been very transparent.”
The Chelsea-supporting uncle of the Princess, with whom Kate Middleton and Prince William stayed in 2006, lives in a famous villa called La Maison de Bang Bang in Ibiza.
Gary Goldsmith having earned a reputation for being colourful, did attended the royal wedding and is said to have regularly accommodated the royals and their friends over the years in the Balearics.
Goldsmith is the younger brother of Kate Middleton’s mother, Carole and splits his time between his Ibiza villa and a mews house in west London.
He made his first million by the age of 30.
So, if you are off the beach and in town, keep your shirt on and don’t get shirty with the local police.
You are not supposed to drink alcohol in public places and you will also be faced with a hefty fine if you decide to leap off your balcony into the swimming pool.
Also, while there are beaches on which smoking is prohibited, don’t stuff your fag butts into the sand. Apart from damaging the environment, it is highly disrespectful for other sunbathers.
The FCO states on its website: “In some parts of Spain it’s against the law to be in the street wearing only a bikini or swimming shorts. Being bare-chested is also illegal in some areas in Spain. You may be fined if you’re caught wearing swimwear on the seafront promenade or adjacent streets.
“For security reasons, some public authorities in Spain do not allow the burka or niqab to be worn in their buildings. If you visit town council buildings wearing a burka or niqab, you may be asked to remove it while inside.”
Also, while the actual act of being shirtless while driving is not illegally specifically, Spanish law prohibits anything that prevents safe driving.
Wearing inappropriate clothes or footwear is covered under this rule and if drivers are caught they could be hit with a 200 euro fine.
]]>
John was born in Peebles, Scotland, and at the age of 15 decided that he wanted to join the armed forces.
“I was accepted into the Royal Navy to start with, but I didn’t like it very much, so I transferred to the Royal Marines, did my Commando course, got my Green Beret and was sent to Singapore. I spent three years out there before a couple of tours of Northern Ireland in the early to mid seventies.
It was a bit scary at times, and during one of the tours The Pipe and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards came and played for us in Armagh. I got speaking to the Pipe Major, told him I played the bagpipes. I had started playing when I was 12 although I played the drums first, and he asked where I was from. It transpired that he was also from Peebles along with a number of other pipers in the band so he asked me what I was doing with ‘this lot’. I said I was with the Marines, who used to have a pipe band in Singapore but that it had been disbanded and I was the only one left. So he asked me to join them.
“Trouble is you can’t really transfer from the Royal Marines to the Army, but he said if I wanted to, he would make it happen and sure enough he did. And at the time, their recording of Amazing Grace rose up to number one in the charts a few months later, and I transferred over in August, 1972.
“From there I went to Germany where the regiment was stationed. Obviously with Amazing Grace being number one we were very popular all over the world and we just revelled all over on the name of Amazing Grace. We did a couple of trips to Australia, New Zealand, North America and Canada.
“Basically, when I was in the Army, although I was a piper, we had to train as tank crewmen, so initially I trained as a gunner and then as a driver and eventually crew commander.
“I spent the rest of my time with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, mostly in Germany. I did my Senior Piper’s course and my Pipe Major’s course, which was nine months’ long, at Edinburgh Castle in 1979. I learnt about the history of piping, famous piping families and various pieces of classical Highland music for the pipes called piobaireachds.
“The history is very important. The pipes were introduced in the Army to put fear in to the enemy basically, and it worked quite well. Imagine sitting in a trench in the middle of the night and you hear the bagpipes coming towards you and you don’t know what they are. Hence why we got the nickname ‘The Ladies from Hell’ by the Germans I think it was.
“Then I took over as Pipe Major of the regiment in 1983 and remained there until I finished my time in September, 1991. That’s when I retired from the Army. I had just returned from the first Gulf War and was offered a job in Oman which, after one thing and another, I eventually accepted and stayed there for 26 years teaching the Royal Army of Oman how to play the bagpipes,” John said.
But apart from travelling the world as a piper and Pipe Major, John has played as the lone piper on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle during the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, although the first time it was so foggy no one, including his parents, could see him.
“I also played for the Queen many times in Scotland and at Ascot, for example. I played for Pope John Paul at the Vatican and he gifted us with a set of Rosary Beads which had been blessed by him. I played for President Reagan at The White House while we were on a tour of America and we got invited to play on the lawn before drinks during which I had to translate a Gaelic label on a bottle of whisky for the president and explain its history,” John recalled. “He was very satisfied with that, and the whisky.”
The pipes are still very much part of his life, although John describes it as a hobby. “Living in an apartment makes playing somewhat complicated,” he joked.
But since moving to Mallorca he has been hired for a host of events from marriages to weddings and birthdays. Last month it was his task to ‘Address to the Haggis’ at the first Bulletin Burns Day event at the Mallorca Country Club and he has already been booked for a Burns Supper in Ibiza next year. So he’s not hanging up his pipes just yet.
]]>According to the Balearic High Court of Justice of the, the final result of the arrests, which concluded early this morning (Saturday), is that seven of the detainees have been sent to prison without bail, six others have been released with bail ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 euros, and ten others have been released with charges.
Among those released is Joaquín Fernández, el Prestamista, known for his starring role in the television series ‘Gipsy Kings’, while Carlos Cortés, el Charly, president of the Federation of Gypsy Associations of the Balearics, has been remanded in prison without bail.
In total, the Guardia Civil have seized 1.3 tonnes of cocaine, arrested 64 people of Spanish and Colombian nationality, blocked 148 current accounts and seized 40 properties in Mallorca and the mainland worth 8.8 million euros.
As a result of the final phase of the operation, in which 300,000 euros in cash have been seized, the Guardia Civil are confident that the drug trafficking gangs led by El Charly, El Prestamista and relatives of Pablo, who is serving a prison sentence for similar crimes, have been dismantled.
Most of the drugs came from Colombia, with some shipments from Brazil.
It entered Europe in containers via Portugal and a large part of it arrived in Valencia and Barcelona to finally end up in Mallorca.
In the first phase of this operation, the security forces discovered 1.3 tonnes of cocaine camouflaged in blocks of Brazilian granite in an industrial warehouse in Cehegín (Murcia), where nine people were arrested, including the head of the Colombian cartel in Spain.
In the second phase, carried out at the end of January this year, 23 searches were carried out and 16 people were arrested in Valencia, Palma and Toledo.
Finally, the last phase of the operation took place this Wednesday and Thursday in Palma, in the Mallorcan municipality of Marratxí and in Valencia, and resulted in the arrest of 39 alleged members of the network after 71 searches of homes and premises.
The operation was carried out by the Judicial Police Unit of the Balearics and the Balearic Organised Crime Team of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil, with the support of units from the mainland.
The US anti-drug agency and the Colombian, Brazilian and Portuguese police have also been involved in the investigation.
And it transpires that drug king ‘El Pablo’ lived in a property fit for a movie set, nothing was what it seemed.
The Palma “palace” is a real fortification.
The most remarkable thing is that it has an underground tunnel of about 30 to escape from police raids.
The palace was made up of ten houses merged together, with a swimming pool, lift and Asian designer luxury.
Investigators estimate that Pablo Campos Maya had merged ten houses to build a mansion in the neighbourhood of La Soledat.
]]>Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp purchased a four million euro home in Santa Ponsa two years ago and it is being extensively modernised and in some cases rebuilt.
When he comes to the island he stays at a hotel because of the building work.
Klopp’s new home is close to the Mallorca Country Club where he plays padel almost every morning when he is on the island and he is a regular at the ATP tennis tournament hosted by the club.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta always comes on holiday to the island with his wife, former Miss Spain Lorena Bernal, they in fact got married in Mallorca and will no doubt return this summer.
And then there is the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola who over the past few years has been a regular player in the Puma Legends Trophy 2022 at Pula Golf Resort in Son Servera which he sponsors.
The question is which one will come to the island having won the title?
Running from Friday March 22 until Thursday October 31, with the first bus leaving Palma Airport at 8am and the last bus at 12.05 midnight. This is a Monday to Sunday service. You can also get the bus back to the airport from your resort.
The A32 is a express service, meaning you can only travel from/to the Airport on this route. Trips between intermediate stops are not allowed.
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the TIB website or directly on the bus on the day of travel. Your contactless bank card enables you to travel without having to purchase a transport ticket beforehand. The card simply has to be validated at the entrance and exit of the bus, train or metro. It's that easy! Just tap-in and tap out and pay as you go. In addition, by using the same bank card, significant discounts are offered to groups of up to 5 people.
The general price for a ticket is 8.10€ online or by card on the bus, and 13.50€ if you pay cash on the bus. Children under 4 who do not occupy a seat travel free.
Here is the 2024 season timetable for the A32 line:
See the route and the stops below:
]]>The Aerotib to Calvia will be up and running from next Friday, March 22 taking thousands of people to and from Palma airport. This route includes main tourist areas such as Magalluf, Palmanova and Santa Ponsa.
Running until Thursday October 31, the A11 service has it's first bus leaving Palma airport at 8.15am and the last bus at 11.45pm. This is a Monday to Sunday service. You can also get the bus back to the airport from your resort.
The A11 is an express service, meaning you can only travel from/to the Airport on this route. Trips between intermediate stops are not allowed.
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the TIB website or directly on the bus on the day of travel. Your contactless bank card enables you to travel without having to purchase a transport ticket beforehand. The card simply has to be validated at the entrance and exit of the bus, train or metro. It's that easy! Just tap-in and tap out and pay as you go. In addition, by using the same bank card, significant discounts are offered to groups of up to 5 people.
The general price for a ticket from the Airport to Palmanova, Magalluf or Santa Ponsa is 4.05€ online or by card on the bus, and 6.75€ if you pay cash on the bus. Children under 4 who do not occupy a seat travel free.
Here is the 2024 season timetable for the A11 line:
See the route and the stops below:
]]>Among the selection made for this campaign, the most important are commercial properties (699 units) and homes (149 units), as well as warehouses (112), offices (90), storage rooms (44) and a wide variety of parking spaces.
The average property price is just over €110,000, although the selection includes homes from €15,300, according to Altamira.
As for tertiary assets, commercial premises cost an average of €75,000, while offices are valued at around €105,000 and warehouses at €261,000.
The selection includes properties strategically distributed throughout the country, with Madrid, Valencia and Almeria being the provinces with the most properties.
On the other hand, Huelva (59 properties) has the highest concentration of commercial premises, while Seville has the most offices. There is also a wide selection of warehouses in Barcelona and garages in Madrid.
]]>This policy underscores a steadfast commitment to offering only experiences that uphold the welfare and conservation of animals, recognizing their crucial role in the global ecosystem.
Aligned with ABTA’s animal welfare guidelines, this policy stands as a testament to easyJet holidays’ aspiration to set industry standards.
It has been crafted in collaboration with esteemed animal rights organisations, including World Animal Protection. Concurrent with the policy announcement, the tour operator pledges to collaborate closely with its hotelier partners, fostering awareness about the significance of animal welfare.
Under this new directive, easyJet holidays will abstain from featuring or endorsing any harmful animal-related attractions in its tours and activities portfolio.
This includes refraining from promoting captivity-based establishments like zoos and marine parks, as well as events involving animal performances, rides, and sports.
This initiative represents the company’s ongoing efforts, which span from combatting food waste in hotels to offering sustainable travel alternatives such as electric transfers and introducing offbeat destinations like Akureyri in Iceland.
Moreover, easyJet holidays has forged a partnership with UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO) to pioneer the development of the first-ever environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework for tourism enterprises. Together, they are co-designing a robust measurement tool aimed at enhancing the monitoring and management of tourism’s impacts, thereby fostering responsible tourism practices.
Matt Callaghan, easyJet holidays’ Chief Operating Officer, said: “As one of the largest tour operators, we’re committed to being an industry leader when it comes to responsible travel. Our own research tells us that sustainable travel experiences are important to our customers, so we want to make it easy for them to holiday better.
“We’re passionate about the protection and respect of all forms of nature in the destinations we offer holidays to, which is why we’ve made the decision to not offer or promote attractions that exploit animals within our tours and activities programme.
“We know tours and activities are a brilliant way to experience our holiday destinations, so we look forward to continuing to offer more sustainable and responsible experiences for our customers to further enhance their well-deserved holiday.”
Katheryn Wise, Wildlife Campaigns Manager at World Animal Protection UK, said: “easyJet holidays has really stepped up for animals with this strong and ambitious animal welfare policy.
From the outset easyJet holidays have been clear that they are committed to offering their customers responsible, wildlife friendly travel options and it has been a pleasure to work with a company focused on listening to their customers and choosing not to profit from captive wildlife entertainment. It is through working together and commitment like this that we can truly expect to see lasting change for wild animals across the world.”
]]>The whole operation was organised by Adrian with the support of the council. Adrian thanked Ryanair for their support in bringing the shamwock to Mallorca.
Writing in today's Bulletin the Lions President spoke of the importance of Saint Patrick's day.
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, in Irish "Lá Fhéile Pádraig".
Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony under the direction of the colony's Irish vicar, Ricardo Artur. More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in Boston in 1737 and in New York City on March 1762.
Saint Patrick, who was born in the late 4th century, was one of the most successful Christian missionaries in history. Born in Britain to a Christian family of Roman citizenship, he was taken prisoner at the age of 16 by a group of Irish raiders who attacked his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland, and he spent six years in captivity before escaping back to Britain.
Believing he had been called by God to Christianise Ireland, he joined the Catholic Church and studied for 15 years before being consecrated as the church’s second missionary to Ireland. Patrick began his mission to Ireland in 432, and by his death in 461, the island was almost entirely Christian.
Early Irish settlers to the American colonies, many of whom were indentured servants, brought the Irish tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s feast day to America.
Americans of Irish ancestry celebrate their cultural identity and history by enjoying St. Patrick’s Day parades and engaging in celebrations that generally involve public parades and festivals, céili (Irish Dancing) and the wearing of green attire and shamrock.
Shamrock is a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair and simply means "young clover".
Here in Mallorca specifically Calvia and Santa Ponsa, St Patricks Day has been established and celebrated since 2013 by the then Mayor Manu Oineva and organised by Calvia Townhall with many events on March 17th.
This year again there will be many events taking place in Santa Ponsa.
Go along and join in the celebrations enjoy a glass or two of Guinness, from one of the many bars.
Listen to Irish traditional music by the famous Raggle Taggle Gypsies, Mick the Fiddler plus other Irish musicians.
If you have heard the Irish talking about having great "craic", it means enjoyable social activity or having a good time.
Go along to Santa Ponsa join in the fun and CRAIC
The Balearic Ornithology and Nature Group (GOB) has joined a European and national campaign to demand a commitment from political leaders against the “uncontrolled growth of air traffic” because of its harmful environmental and social consequences.
According to the protectionist association in a statement, in the case of the Balearics, in recent years the historical records of air passengers prior to the covid pandemic have been surpassed, which has resulted in an increase in investment to increase airport capacity.
At Palma airport, one of the most profitable in the Aena network, which generates 20 % of its revenue, work is under way to add eight new gates and handle 15 % more flights, some 4 million more tourists, say the environmentalists.
The government, which considers that the institutional leaders “have shirked their responsibilities” in the face of this growth, also accuses them of encouraging it by supporting with their promotional policies the creation of new air connections with Palma.
“The opening of new routes not only has consequences in the increase of tourist overcrowding, but we have also seen the increase in the real estate sector, the promotion of a model of tourism with high purchasing power that hinders the problem of access to housing for residents,” says the environmental organisation.
For this reason, its demands also include regulating the purchase of homes by non-residents, as has been done in New York, Berlin, Paris and Andorra, among other places.
It also advocates a ban on private jets, a highly polluting segment of the airline industry in which Palma is among the top ten airports in Europe.
]]>The Guardia Civil has concluded this macro-operation led by Palma’s Court of Instruction number 7, in which 300,000 euros in cash have been seized and the heads of two prominent drug clans in Palma have been arrested: Charly the Moneylender and relatives of Pablo, who is serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking.
Most of the drugs came from Colombia, with some shipments from Brazil.
It entered Europe in containers via Portugal and a large part of it reached Valencia and Barcelona before finally ending up in Mallorca.
In the first phase of this operation, in December 2023, agents discovered 1.3 tonnes of cocaine camouflaged in blocks of Brazilian granite in an industrial warehouse in Cehegín (Murcia), where nine people were arrested, including the head of the Colombian cartel in Spain.
In the second phase, at the end of January this year, 23 searches were carried out and 16 people were arrested in Valencia, Palma and Toledo.
Finally, the last one took place last Wednesday and Thursday in Mallorca, in Palma and in the Mallorcan municipality of Marratxí, where 39 alleged members of this large network of traffickers were arrested.
The chief colonel of the Guardia Civil in the Balearics, Alejandro López Mosquera, congratulated all the agents involved in this “complex” operation on Friday, in terms of the investigation and the deployment of resources used.
The US anti-drug agency DEA and the police forces of Colombia, Brazil and Portugal took part in the operation.
The third phase of the operation involved the deployment of 200 agents, many of them from the mainland, who carried out 60 searches in Palma and Marratí.
In this case, the Guardia Civil seized several kilos of hashish, marijuana, cocaine and crystal meth, as well as 8 marijuana plantations. In addition, 100 bank accounts and 32 properties were blocked.
At the same time, 11 searches were also carried out in Valencia related to the Valencian clan.
The investigators found that those arrested in Mallorca took extreme security measures at the drug sales points, with armoured doors to make it difficult to open them and devices for the rapid destruction of the drugs.
In the Palma neighbourhood of La Soledad, the agents entered the house of Pablo Campos, nicknamed Pablo, which consisted of several houses joined together. From the outside they looked like “shacks” and inside there was a great deal of luxury.
The agents were surprised by the underground tunnel they discovered in Pablo’s house: it was almost 30 metres long, it was not yet finished and its purpose was to serve as an escape route in case of a police search. It also had security cameras on every corner.
Among those under investigation are also the president of the Federation of Gypsy Associations of the Balearics, Carlos Cortés, el Charly, and Joaquín Fernández, el Prestamista, who became popular for his participation in the television programme ‘Gipsy kings’.
The operation has been carried out by the Judicial Police Unit of the Balearic Islands and the Balearic Organised Crime Team of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil.
Jaque Mate is one of the most important anti-drug operations ever carried out in the Balearic Islands.
The seized drugs remain under heavy guard at the Guardia Civil headquarters in Palma, where they have been exhibited to the media.
This today, 23 detainees, including the main leaders of this drug trafficking network, were brought before the courts in Palma. Some of those initially arrested have been released.
]]>As a new crew member, finding the right balance between work and personal time is crucial for long-term well-being and professional success. In this guide, we'll explore effective strategies to help you navigate the demands of your role while prioritizing downtime, self-care, and stress management.
Recognise the importance of downtime for mental and physical well-being. Whether it's a few minutes of quiet reflection or a day off when possible, prioritise moments of relaxation to recharge your energy. When guests are on or perhaps it’s during a crazy fast turnaround between trips, when you’re able to take a break, do it. If you can get off the yacht for a walk, a quick coffee, a run… whatever it might be, take advantage. If you’re on trip or on passage, if you have time to stop for a break then go for it – maybe it’s in your cabin watching a tv show, reading a book, making a quick phonecall to someone, or maybe it’s hanging out in the crew mess chatting, it’s good to pause from work when you’re able.
While technology is essential in the superyacht industry, be mindful of its impact on your personal time. We all know how much screen time impacts our ability to relax and sleep, but don’t underestimate its effects on your mental health. I will no doubt write a whole article on social media’s impact on yacht crew soon but in the meantime, try to limit your usage and don’t get sucked into anything that makes you feel less than good about yourself. If you’re using your device when you should be sleeping, it better be for a good reason, like telling your mum you love her!
Efficient delegation and collaboration are key components of a well-balanced work environment. Often heads of department especially will take on more work to allow the juniors to rest up but careful not to burn yourself out. Without you leading the team, things might go awry. So don’t be afraid to distribute tasks among the crew and leverage each other's strengths to minimize individual workloads. There’s no I in Team afterall.
Prioritise self-care practices to foster physical and mental resilience. This may include regular exercise – like I said above, if you have the opportunity to hop off the boat for a walk, a hike, a run, do it, healthy eating (instead of reaching for the haribo when you’re tired, I know easier said than done!), and activities that bring you joy. A well-cared-for crew member is better equipped to handle the challenges of the job. Check out number 6 about mindfulness.
Cultivate relationships with your fellow crew members. Having a supportive network can provide encouragement, share experiences, and offer valuable insights on maintaining balance in a dynamic environment. You’re all in this together so lean on each other for support. But be careful not to just unload and moan at your crew mates, let them moan too and then make sure you all focus on some cheery stuff. Don’t be a Debbie Downer too much.
Acknowledge stress as a natural part of the job and develop effective stress management techniques. This may include deep breathing, or hobbies that help you unwind. Lots of crew meditate or do a few yoga stretches at the end or start of their day, just practicing a little mindfulness may make all the difference.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a new superyacht crew member requires intentional effort and mindfulness. Remember that finding the right balance is an ongoing process, and adapting to the unique challenges of life at sea involves continuous self-awareness and adjustment. Prioritize your personal time, embrace self-care practices, and build a supportive community within your crew to ensure a rewarding and sustainable career in the superyacht industry.
]]>But it could have an impact on the Balearic budget.
The Balearic budgets currently have a hole of 619 million euros.
Pedro Sánchez’s announcement means that there will be no budget and this means that last year’s budget will be automatically extended, and this is where the problems begin for the Balearics.
So, on paper, the Balearics will receive the same amount from the government as in 2023 in the form of payments on account, a total of 3.362 million euros, but the government’s budget for this year contains 3.981 million.
This is the forecast that the Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, communicated to the Vice-President, Antoni Costa, at the end of the year.
Spain has been rolling over last year’s spending plan after the new budget was delayed by an inconclusive election last July and four months of talks for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to renew his term.
“The extended (2023) budget over has sufficient room to carry out the investments and commitments set in the recovery plan itself,” Cuerpo told a news briefing alongside European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni in Madrid.
Cuerpo said there won’t be “any brake” or “constraint” on the implementation of the plan.
The government decided on Wednesday not to present this year’s budget bill and to focus instead on next year’s spending plan, after the Catalonia region called an early election that could throw government support in parliament into disarray.
Spain is one of the main recipients of EU recovery funds, with a total of 163 billion euros earmarked for the country, approximately half in grants and the rest in loans. It has already received 37 billion euros.
]]>On the one hand, there’s talk of a record-breaking season. On the other, such as the case of Playa de Palma in Mallorca, the hotel federation has admitted that bookings for the start of the season are not living up to initial forecasts and that fewer hotels have opened as early as planned.
This week, industry chiefs and financial experts warned that the prospects for the tourism industry this year are clouded by high jet fuel prices, global flash points, problems at plane manufacturers and wage disputes.
Ryanair, for example, has issued an alert that flight prices will have to be hiked. So on the face of it, the ingredients make for an interesting mix and the final result could be leave a bitter sweet taste in some mouths.
And just to give the situation some extra spice, the anti-tourism movements in the Canary Islands, the Costa del Sol and the Balearics have sprung back into life on the back of the lack of affordable housing, rise in the cost of living and the general discomfort of having to spend half of the year living with mass overtourism and the strain on natural resources.
There’s a limit to just how much weight a camel’s back can withstand.
They’re even on the brink of sorting out their 20,728 ticket allocation for the final with 50,000 fans going into a draw to decide who’s lucky enough to get into the match in Seville on April 6.
It’s also rumoured that 10,000 plus will make the long trip to Andalucia without tickets just to savour the atmosphere.
Mallorca, on the other hand, seem to have a “couldn’t care less” attitude and were slow in giving out information about ticketing, when Bilbao had already closed registration for fans wanting to buy tickets. In the meantime, Mallorca seem to have drawn the short straw and will play in their third-choice turquoise ensemble with Bilbao in their normal red and white stripes.
Having been to Bilbao twice on match days, I can verify that every street has flags flying in anticipation of upcoming games, while in Palma there is a distinct lack of visibility to indicate that Mallorca have even made it to the cup final for only the fourth time in their 108-year history (it’s Bilbao’s 44th).
Fans here have taken to social media to suggest that we should be more like Bilbao with flags flying in Jaime III, El Borne, Plaza España, Plaza Cort and the Consulat de Mar, and loads of other locations on the island. Long before the last cup final in 1998 in Valencia, Palma buses and taxis were flying flags and apartment balconies were covered in Real Mallorca paraphernalia.
Before going to Valencia we queued up outside the old Luis Sitjar ground to collect our match-day red chubasqueros (raincoats) donated by the Consell de Mallorca. It brought a tear to a glass eye to see 15,000 Mallorquinistas wearing their coats at the Mestalla North End. The Consell de Mallorca should be leading by example again to get behind the team, as it’s great publicity for the island.
The club has announced that tickets will be available to season ticket holders (only) online from 10:00am on Tuesday, March 19 until March 26.
After that, if tickets remain, season ticket holders can buy an extra one for a friend. All tickets will be digital, not printed, and non-transferable from the name given on it. I made my mind up early on that I’m not going to the final, having been to three of them, including the last ever Cup Winners Cup final in Birmingham, and it was easy getting to them all.
However, this time it’s not so straightforward, with the distances and lack of infrastructure involved. There were little or no direct scheduled flight seats or accommodation available before the semifinals had even taken place. As I’m of a certain age, I don’t want the hassle of hanging around airports for an unspecified time, and I most certainly don’t want a 7-hour trip each way by boat (to Denia or Valencia) and then another 7 hours by coach.
The hierarchy of the club have done a magnificent job with the refurbished ground, sorting out the finances and setting a record for season ticket sales, and American ownership has helped to achieve all this, but fans are puzzled by the apparent indifference and lack of understanding that reaching the Spanish Cup Final is something huge to be celebrated, about which fans are proud and passionate but the owners seemingly less so.
Many of those going to the final weren’t even born when we were in the last two (in 2003 and 1998), so it’s a novelty for them. There’s a feeling that the club is losing its identity, and fans have proposed bringing in a Mallorca-born retired ex-player (such as Miguel Angel Nadal or Pep Luis Marti) as a figurehead to promote the club and give it a more “Bermellon” identity.
Meanwhile back to the nitty gritty – Real Mallorca, with ten games left to play, reach the business end of a pretty average league season with a home game tomorrow (Saturday 16th) at 2pm in Son Moix against almost-relegated Granada.
There’s a saying in Spanish football that objectives are fulfilled in the last 10 games. We reach this stage in 15th place on 27 points, five above the relegation zone. Granada have only won twice all season, one of them against us (3-2) last August. They also inflicted one of our heaviest home defeats ever, winning 2-6 in May 2022.
Once again our biggest problem this season has been our lack of fire power upfront. We’re good in goal with two top ’keepers, serious in defence, competent in midfield but up top the lights go out. Scoring goals looks mission impossible. In 12 of our 28 games played, we’ve failed to score and only once in our last 11 games have we kept a clean sheet.
Vedat Muriqi has missed a big part of the season through injury and still doesn’t look 100%. Local hero Abdon Prats is the player for the big occasion but he’s been used sparingly of late. Canadian Cyle Larin is our enigma. There’s no doubt he puts himself about a lot and is super fast but when he gets in front of goal it just doesn’t happen. His repertoire of missed one-on-ones with the opposing goalkeeper has almost reached double figures. So far he hasn’t lived up to his high price tag (for us) of seven million euros. Two goals in 26 starts isn’t good enough. Personally, I would start tomorrow with new loanee Nemanja Radonjic just behind Muriqi then bring Larin on later.
The club have officially tied down their charismatic 35-year-old attacking midfielder Dani Rodriguez for another year (with an optional 12 months extension). Born in Galicia, “El Tigre de Betanzos” arrived from Albacete in 2018 and quickly became a huge fans’ favourite. He’s now scored 27 goals with 32 assists in 230 appearances. In my opinion Dani is one of the best box-to-box players we’ve ever had and continues to play a pivotal role for Real Mallorca.
AND FINALLY, the other day on BBC daytime TV show “The Tournament,” a contestant was asked “From which final port on the South coast did Titanic sail on her maiden voyage ?” (A) “Leeds” she replied. They walk amongst us !
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