Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin March 15

FEATURED ARTICLES: "How Spain is gearing up for the Easter holidays" and "Instructions for making your own home-made mosquito trap"

Next Wednesday, March 20, is the Spring Equinox, when we wave farewell to winter and usher in the start of spring. The inexorable march of time also brings us closer to Semana Santa, the Easter holidays in Spain, and in anticipation the pubs and the politicians are busy polishing off their preparations ready for the big event.

Processions, parades, plenty of tourists and probably sunshine – here’s what’s in store this Easter.

Plus, in this edition, we’ve got a handy manual for a home-made mosquito trap to protect you from bites as the weather gets (even) hotter, and a series of unfortunate events involving foreigners in Spain recently.

Brits (and beyond) behaving badly

It’s normally well into the high season before we’re bombarded with horror stories of boozed-up tourists wreaking havoc on the Spanish costas, but it seems summer has come early this year.

The first shocking saga comes to us from the Canary Islands, where a young British woman, allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol, lost control of her car and mounted a footpath, mowing down a group of pedestrians.

Tragically, the accident resulted in the death of a four-month-old baby girl from the UK. The collision injured six others, including the infant’s parents and grandparents, and a mother and daughter from Sweden.

The 23-year-old motorist has since been named as Olivia Brown, and expat who has been living and working in the Lanzarote tourist resort of Playa Blanca for several years.

At the scene, the driver claimed there was a problem with her steering, but several eyewitnesses reported that she was driving erratically and much too fast. Police also confirmed later that she tested positive for alcohol and narcotics.

Ms Brown appeared in court this week to answer charges but her hearing was postponed after she had a panic attack and a doctor ruled her unfit to make a statement. She has been released on bail but will have to check in regularly with the court and she has been banned from leaving the island.

Moving over to the Costa Blanca now and a 38-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man, both originally from the UK, have been arrested for manslaughter caused by omission in the Alicante town of Rojales. The pair allegedly failed to seek medical help for three days after the woman’s 76-year-old mother suffered a serious fall and later died.

The suspects reportedly spent the 72 hours after the terrible accident drinking and smoking while the elderly victim slowly succumbed to her injuries.

However, the suspects claim that they did raise the alarm in the early hours of Tuesday morning, March 12, once they realised that the victim had passed away.

It’s understood that the victim’s daughter and the male suspect, believed to have been a friend of the pensioner, have been released on bail pending a full investigation.

I think it would be fair to say that the Brits get a pretty bad rap for their shenanigans when on holiday, particularly where drink is involved, but plenty of holidaymakers from other countries make waves too.

Staying in southern Spain, the recent trial of five French tourists accused of the attempted gang rape and sexual assault of two Norwegian holidaymakers back in 2019 has sent shockwaves through Benidorm. Although all of the men pleaded guilty in court not long ago, they reached a last-minute deal with prosecutors that means none of them will spend a single day behind bars.

The incident occurred on August 6, 2019, when the five suspects, aged between 18 and 19 at the time, reportedly attempted to gang rape and sexually abuse a Norwegian woman and her friend after they had been drinking heavily.

The five defendants were arrested by the Guardia Civil at the time and were subsequently charged with sexual abuse and assault. They have now been sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to two years, suspended pending good behaviour. The court has also ordered them to pay compensation to the victims, totalling 38,000 euros.

This harrowing case has sparked outrage over the leniency of the punishment, with several victim’s rights groups saying it highlights serious shortcomings in the Spanish judicial system when it comes to gender violence and sexually motivated crimes. The private prosecution representing one of the victims has appealed the sentence, seeking harsher punishment for the perpetrators.

Yet another Briton has been brutally injured in Spain this week, this time in a paragliding accident in the Andalucía region of Córdoba. The tourist, in his 40s, plummeted to the ground and landed on rocks just seconds after take-off from the summit of the Sierra de Aras Mountain near Lucena.

Due to the potential risk of spinal injuries, the victim was carefully stabilised on the mountainside before being airlifted to Reina Sofia Hospital in Cordoba.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was part of a tour group organised by a German company that specialises in paragliding trips for beginners and occasional fliers. The British man’s current condition remains unknown.

Finally, a 67-year-old foreign national suffered severe injuries when he was hit by a car while out cycling at the intersection of the Formentera del Segura urbanisation with CV-9032 and Daya Vieja, in Alicante province.

The victim was quickly transported to Alicante's Doctor Balmis Hospital via medical helicopter.

The incident occurred at approximately at the ‘Patatas Beltrán’ crossroads, which has gained notoriety in recent months as a dangerous ‘black spot’ due to multiple serious accidents taking place there. This latest incident has heightened concerns among local residents, who frequently utilise the road to avoid the nearby CV-860 roundabout.

Mozzie madness

There are so many sounds that herald the arrival of summer in Spain, from the electric hum of cicadas to the delighted shrieks of kids splashing about in the pool. But there are few noises that elicit such dread as the incessant drone of mosquitoes.

Rather than evoking images of peaceful evening strolls or leisurely barbecues, mosquitoes are more likely to bring to mind restless nights spent scratching itchy bites and worrying about the possibility of contracting diseases. For some unfortunate individuals, these pesky insects may even necessitate a trip to the pharmacy or doctor.

And there are reports of mosquito populations being more prevalent than usual and earlier this year as a result of the unusually warm, dry weather. So what can you do to avoid being bitten by these pesky pests?

Well, fear not as a solution to this problem may be closer than you think. With a little creativity and some household items, you can create an effective mosquito trap without breaking the bank. So, say goodbye to those sleepless nights and hello to a bug-free summer with the help of this simple yet ingenious DIY solution.

Believe it or not, all you’ll need to keep mozzies at bay for good is an empty 2-litre plastic bottle, some water, sugar and a little fresh yeast, which can be easily found in any supermarket.

Check out the full instructions on how to make your own mosquito trap here, along with a handy diagram.

Beaches and bars at the ready

As we crawl ever closer to Easter, which this year falls on the last weekend in March, we start to look towards the spectacular religious processions and holidays. Semana Santa comes on the last full week at the end of March, and that’s when all the parades, masses and Easter activities will be taking place in towns up and down Murcia and Spain.

With the arrival of spring come the eagerly awaited lists of the world’s best beaches. Expansión, a renowned Spanish publication, has now unveiled its ‘Ranking of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World 2024’, and two exceptional coves in Spain have secured a place on this esteemed list.

Spanning across the globe, from the turquoise waters of the Caribbean to the golden shores of Spain, the list showcases 15 spectacular beaches. In Spain, Cala Pola in Tosa del Mar, Girona, and Los Genoveses in Níjar, Almería are the two beaches that have earned a well-deserved spot on this distinguished ranking.

The Playa de los Genoveses beach, situated within the awe-inspiring Cabo de Gata Natural Park, is described by Expansión as a “virgin beach” with an untouched and raw ambiance. Its vast expanse of fine sand and ideal conditions for water sports make it a haven for windsurfers and thrill-seekers alike.

Moreover, the beach lies in close proximity to the charming town of San José, tucked away in the Campillo del Genovés region, which boasts an unspoiled and captivating charm.

According to Expansión, all of the top 15 picks are “beaches that promise unforgettable experiences for lovers of the sun and the sea.”

Another aspect of Easter that excites many people each year is the opening up of other tourist attractions, such as the chiringuitos on the beach, and Cartagena City Council in Murcia has assured that most of the beach bars in the municipality – which runs from La Azohía past Playa Honda and Cabo de Palos up to La Manga and Los Nietos – will be allowed to open this Easter.

There are actually four chiringuitos, two of them located on the beaches of Cala Reona-Cabo de Palos and La Manga, one on the Playa de los Alemanes beach and another in Los Urrutias, which have not been given permission to open as they have been told that they first need to clear up the mess that they left “abandoned” on the beach last summer.

Even among those beach bars that have been given the green light to open, though, not all of them will open as some of the managers of these establishments have decided that the 10-day Easter week holiday does not bring in enough customers and cash to justify the outlay involved in purchasing supplies, hiring staff and more.

Cartagena Council are also busy cleaning the muddy sludge off the Mar Menor beaches and installing other sundry beach facilities to make the shores nice and inviting for the tourists.

They’re taking the seaweed away to be used as fertiliser for mushroom farms, burying the ‘fango’, the sludge, under the sand – work that is being supervised by the Scientific Committee of the Mar Menor to ensure that it meets strict environmental regulations – and putting new benches in at La Manga. They’re getting the foot washing stations ready, putting up signs to tell people the rules for being on the beach, planning where to deploy the lifeguards, putting up sunshades and installing floating pontoons over certain beaches to be able to access the water without walking over the sludge.

In short, it’s all systems go in the run-up to Easter. And the weather forecast could hardly be better, as it seems it will be gorgeous and sunny for the upcoming holidays. Almost too sunny, if anything. The rains of last week are a thing of the past and the southern coast of Murcia has actually been declared the driest spot not only in Spain but in the whole of Europe.

Little surprise, then, that the drought has now officially been declared in the Segura Basin, which covers pretty much all of Murcia. For now, there will not be hosepipe bans or water restrictions placed on the general public, the CHS water authority has said, as there is still enough water coming down through the Tagus-Segura transfer pipe bringing H2O from the wet north of Spain. Rather the “situation of extraordinary drought” in Murcia will mainly mean that farmers cannot water their crops as much. It also means they will very soon open the ground wells in Calasparra to provide more water resources to the Region.

Murcia

House prices in the Region of Murcia are on the rise, and it’s among the fastest growing autonomous in the whole of the country. It seems as if the secret which those of us already in Murcia knew about is now out of the bag, and it’s fast becoming a favourite alternative coastal location to, say, the Costa del Sol or Alicante.

So, how much does it cost to buy a house in Murcia? Well, the overall average price of property per square metre is 1,205 euros. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the most expensive places to buy are La Manga del Mar Menor (€1,747/m2), San Javier (€1,554/m2), Los Alcázares (€1,444/m2), Mazarrón (€/1,417m2), San Pedro del Pinatar (€1,348/m2), Murcia city (€1,269/m2), Águilas (€1,244/m2), Torre-Pacheco (€1,214/m2), Cartagena (€1,191/m2) and Lorca (€1,094/m2).

Those are the places where house prices are above 1,000 euros per square metre, but there are still beautiful parts of Murcia where you can buy a house for less than 20,000 euros. Bullas (€450/m2), Cehegín (€570/m2), Alguazas (€568/m2), Yecla (€613/m2), Archena (€624/m2), Lorqui (€625/m2), Jumilla (€639/m2), Caravaca de la Cruz (€648/m2), Abarán (€665/m2), Ceuti (€685/m2) and Beniel (€696/m2) all offer great alternatives, if you don’t mind living in a quieter countryside town further inland. Each of these towns has its own unique charm and attractions, ranging from historical and cultural richness to peace and natural beauty.

Indeed, it seems visitors to Murcia, whether tourists or those who come to purchase property and settle down here, are on the rise. According to the latest stats from airport management company Aena, the Region of Murcia International Airport closed the month of February with 27,561 passengers passing through its terminal, which is an increase in traffic of 32.6% compared to the same month in 2023.

Most of these were foreigners coming to visit this part of Spain, and among them the Brits once again formed the biggest group. In terms of the number of flights, Murcia airport handled 250 movements in February, 38.9% more than in February 2023.

Okay, so yes it’s still about 40% lower than the figure for February 2019, the year in which the airport opened, and it is a lot lower than the number of passengers the old San Javier airport had in February 2007 (180,572). But it’s still an increase and anyway, it’s here to stay. San Javier is not coming back, so we should all get behind Corvera. The airport just won the award for Best European Airport in the category of airports with fewer than 2 million passengers for the third year in a row. More evidence that it continues to be grow, slowly but surely, along with the popularity of the Region.

On a slightly different note, there is an English-born resident of Murcia who has been selected from among hundreds of candidates to represent the Region of Murcia in one of the most important national beauty competitions in Spain, Miss RNB España.

Madison Ounsley was born to British parents in Devon but moved to the Region of Murcia when she was just 5 years old. Now 20, she says she feels more Spanish than English, having lived here for most of her life and grown up here in a Spanish community with Spanish friends.

All the same, she says she is “honoured, being an English person, coming over from England, and being able to represent the place where I’ve lived all my life.”

“I'm not only proud of my English roots but I’m also extremely proud to represent the place where I’ve grown up and lived nearly all of my life,” says Madison. The title of Miss RNB España will be contested at a gala in Barcelona on Saturday April 13, and if Madison wins she will proceed to the Miss RNB Supranational contest to represent Spain on a global level.

And if that’s not testament to the growing integration between the Spanish and international communities who live here, what is?

You can vote for Madison and help her to earn more points towards winning the competition by liking and following the Miss RNB Murcia Facebook page here.

Check out our EVENTS DIARY to see the best selection of events coming up soon in the Region of Murcia:

Spain

Summer is so close we can almost taste it and in a country so reliant on tourists, this means a much-welcome boost to the bank accounts of many people living and working in Spain. It’s been a pretty lean winter, with the cost of everything from energy bills to mortgage interest rates putting serious pressure on the average consumer.

Grocery prices also seem to be climbing every month and with this in mind, supermarket chain Carrefour has launched a very unique initiative – the first of its kind in Spain, in fact – to help save shoppers a few quid.

Enter the ‘surprise cart’ – Carrefour’s mystery trolleys filled with hidden goodies that are reportedly five times cheaper than the normal retail price of the products inside.

Consumers will be able to find two types of mystery carts: the first trolley contains basic and common food and hygiene products for the whole family valued at 50 euros and which can be purchased for only 9.99 euros.

The second cart, made up of non-food items, includes small appliances, stationery, clothing and household items worth 150 euros, and this will go on sale for just 29 euros.

But just like the ‘Too Good To Go’ boxes and other similar cost-saving initiatives in Britain, shoppers won’t know what they’ve got until after they’ve gone through the checkout, so there’s always the possibility of ending up with things you don’t need or that your family doesn’t like.

The initiative has already been well received in Madrid and Andalucía and it will be extended to the rest of Spain in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on social media for the date it will land in a supermarket near you.

But it’s not just in the supermarkets that bargains are to be had. Getting in well ahead of the competition, one of Spain’s main rail operators, Ouigo, has announced a bumper sale starting next week that will cover travel all the way to December 14.

Tickets starting at just 7 euros one way go on sale on Tuesday March 19 and include some of the company’s most popular routes, including trips between Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Tarragona, Albacete, Alicante, Valencia, Valladolid, Segovia and Cuenca.

Tickets will be available on the Ouigo website and app, and customers will be able to choose from a variety of fare options.

It’s all well and good taking advantage of great deals and special offers to save a few euros, but it’s just as important to avoid any blunders that could end up costing you money.

In Spain, parking can be a stressful experience, especially when returning to your car to find another vehicle parked too close, making it challenging or nearly impossible to exit the parking spot. Not only is this a nuisance, but it can also result in substantial fines. Municipal laws dictate that parking too closely to another car can cost drivers between 80 and 200 euros.

But what constitutes sufficient space between parked vehicles? Although there is no explicit legal guideline, the Associated European Motorists (AEA) advocates for leaving at least 30 centimetres of space between cars as a matter of common courtesy. This helps avoid inconveniencing fellow motorists and prevents potential conflicts.

Moreover, Article 91 of the General Traffic Regulations states that “stopping and parking must be carried out in such a way that the vehicle does not obstruct traffic or constitute a risk for the rest of the road users.”

Therefore, the amount of space needed will ultimately depend on the location and circumstances.

Don’t forget to join our Driving in Spain Facebook group to keep up to date with all the latest motoring and travel news

Alicante

The Costa Blanca continues to make a name for itself as one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Spain and the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is the gateway to this little piece of paradise.

The airport has recently achieved a remarkable milestone, recording an unprecedented number of passengers in the month of February.

According to just-released statistics, the airport welcomed an impressive 1,002,310 travellers last month, representing a significant 26.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This notable growth is a testament to the province’s enduring appeal, attracting visitors from far and wide.

When looking at the data by nationality, it comes as no surprise that the United Kingdom leads the way, accounting for nearly a third of the airport’s total passenger traffic in February. The British contingent comprised an astonishing 335,411 travellers, underscoring the strong connection between the two countries.

The Netherlands follows closely behind, with 76,245 passengers, while Poland, Belgium and Germany complete the top five, with respective figures of 60,125, 58,032 and 54,646 passengers.

Overall, Alicante Airport has enjoyed a strong start to the year, handling a total of 1,960,398 passengers between January and February. This impressive figure represents a 23.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Benidorm, the tourist capital of the Costa Blanca, is set to expand further with a new hotel, shopping centre and 200 homes planned for a 43,000-square-metre beach frontspace. The project, with an earmarked budget of more than 500 million euros, was recently acquired by the investment fund Bet Capital.

This company is run by a Valladolid businessman and, having led several projects on the Costa del Sol in the past, Bet Capital has now focused on the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia for its new operations.

According to Alfonso Bayón, President of Bet Capital, this latest investment in Benidorm is “the best asset to represent our bet on the Levante”. The fund has a history of successful investments in the province, including projects in Alicante, Calpe and Dénia.

With business booming and investments rolling in left and right, publicans and even customers have been left somewhat dumbfounded this week by a decision from the regional government in Alicante City that threatens the entire tourism industry.

Under a new public ordinance, bars and restaurants that have outdoor seating areas will have to pull in their tables and chairs and clear the footpaths an hour earlier than before. The rules will mainly apply to the nine months of the off season.

In a nutshell, pubs will be allowed to use their terraces between 8am and midnight during the week. On Fridays and Saturdays, as well as holidays and the day before a non-working day, they’ll have to wait until 9am to start, but they can leave customers seated outside until 1am.

Additionally, a special regime will be established during the summer season and festive periods associated with Easter and Christmas holidays. Terraces must be removed at 1am between Sunday and Thursday, while the limit will be extended to 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of holidays.

Unsurprisingly, this move has satisfied nobody. Local petitioners have argued that the regulations don’t go far enough and that bars should be made to close much earlier, while publicans in Alicante City aren’t happy about forcing customers to sit inside on sweltering evenings.

Andalucía

To Seville now, where the City Council is taking a pioneering step to tackle overcrowding in certain areas by introducing regulations on tourist housing.

They plan to present a proposal prohibiting new licenses for tourist apartments in eleven congested neighbourhoods, including the Old Town and Triana, where such accommodations exceed 10% of residential spaces. This move follows a recent law passed by the Junta de Andalucía granting town halls authority to limit vacation apartments for public interest reasons.

The ban, effective from this April, will affect 2,500 homes in Zone 1, with gradual reductions expected over time. In zone 2, controlled growth will be allowed, while licences will continue to be granted in Zone 3. The Council has also pledged to review the zoning annually to support residential housing.

In the city’s bars and restaurants, there is controversy over a sort of ‘sun tax’, with a local establishment in Seville facing backlash after a customer complained of being charged extra for a table out in the sun, despite having a reservation.

The customer expressed frustration at initially being seated in a gloomy area and requested a sunnier spot, only to be informed of a 10-euro surcharge for premium tables. It’s no new thing to be charged an extra euro or so to be seated and served outside rather than inside, but many commentators are saying that 10 euros is an excessive amount to charge for such a ‘privilege’.

The restaurant has defended its policy, stating these tables were pre-booked and paid for, offering superior views and dining experiences. While some tourists have criticised the supplement, the restaurant maintains that the extra fee is for the premium location and views of Seville’s iconic landmarks such as the famous Triana Bridge and the Guadalquivir River, as advertised on their website.

The incident has sparked a debate over fair pricing and customer satisfaction, with the restaurant emphasising the added value of their premium tables. What do you think? Should bars and restaurants be allowed to charge more for tables out on the terrace with the best views or is it unfair to diners?

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