Month: October 2015

39 drown off Almeria coast

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39 people are believed to have drowned this morning after their boat went down. The Spanish coastguard have been looking for a patera (immigrant boat) since Wednesday night after being warned that one with 54 passengers had set sail from Morroco to reach Spain. At midday today, 15 survivors from the wreck were discovered clinging to the remains of their inflatable boat 40 nautical miles off the coast. 13 men and 2 women. It is Continue reading 39 drown off Almeria coast→

Easy jet to improve Greece off season

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Hotels and restaurants in Greece may stay open for longer to provide an alternative destination for winter holidaymakers who are avoiding countries on the other side of the Mediterranean after the Tunisian terrorist attacks. EasyJet is trying to persuade Greek tourist chiefs to extend the holiday season, which normally runs from May to September, to March until November. The talks are aimed at avoiding a repeat of bed shortages in the Canary Islands last year Continue reading Easy jet to improve Greece off season→

Can we finally kill off the Walt Disney born in Mojacar myth?

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I’ve been researching the beginnings of the Walt Disney was born in Mojacar myth for my column in the Costa Almeria News. It’s one of the great stories of Mojacar, that Walt Disney was the illegitimate son of a Mojaquero and a washerwoman. It has many variations, but the basic story is this: The woman, Isabel Zamora, fled local opprobation with her baby to live with family in Chicago, USA. Jose Guirao Zamora, as the Continue reading Can we finally kill off the Walt Disney born in Mojacar myth?→

Real Madrid, Barcelona fc match fixing claims

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Spanish police are investigating claims by a linesman that he was told to favour Real Madrid over Barcelona in next month’s El Clásico. The assistant referee, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, made a formal complaint to the specialised anti-corruption prosecutor in which he claimed that he was pressurised by La Liga’s refereeing committee. In papers filed to a court, which were published by L’Esportiu, a Catalan newspaper, the official claims that Continue reading Real Madrid, Barcelona fc match fixing claims→

Almeria “to do what it takes” to get an IKEA

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Almeria city is ready to “do what it takes” to get an IKEA says the council, although the original Spanish headline I read was more along the lines of separating knees… ahe hem. Land, permits and a big smile are all on the table ready from the Swedes if they deign to pop by. They’ve been trying to open in Granada or Valencia but have been having problems, so Almeria is trying to grab the Continue reading Almeria “to do what it takes” to get an IKEA→

First jailed for animal cruelty

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Some b*stard in Palma beat his horse to death after he lost a horse race in Manacor, Palma de Mallorca. And a Judge has ruled he must now serve his eight months in jail. He’s the first person ever to serve jail time for animal cruelty in Spain. Sorky the horse lost a 2012 race, and shortly afterwards the man whipped it to death in the stables at the racecourse. A horrified vet denounced him Continue reading First jailed for animal cruelty→

Tortoise sanctuary plans dropped for a second time

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The planned tortoise sanctuary in Cuevas del Alamanzora has again been put on hold. The national government had planned to expropriate 500 ha of land which would have closed farms, a campsite, two quarries and eleven homes. The plans were dropped earlier this year in favour of a new plan slightly off to the right. This plan has now been dropped after more complaints. A third plan is being mooted to put the sanctuary over Continue reading Tortoise sanctuary plans dropped for a second time→

Palomares nuclear waste removal to be a secret

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The US – Spanish nuclear waste cleanup op in Palomares is to go ahead, but the protocol is to be kept a state secret it seems. But the budget is there – the US has committed to spending 500 MILLION dollars on the project! However, Spain will have to reimburse some of the cost. How much is not known. But don’t expect miracles. So far, all that has been officially agreed is for a joint Continue reading Palomares nuclear waste removal to be a secret→

News across Almeria

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NIJAR SEAFRONT San José in Nijar is to get a new sea front promenade thanks for a 400.000 euro grant from the national government. Senator Rafael Hernandez (PP) said it was an important investment into a major tourism zone and would help improve tourism figures in an area that was economically dependent upon this sector. Work on the promenade started in 1999 but were cancelled for budget reasons in 2000 by the local council. Work Continue reading News across Almeria→

Vera to sue central government over flood defences

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Local council says environmental ministry is ‘refusing to carry out its promises’ The Vera town council voted this week to start legal actions against the central government and the Ministry of the Environment for not fulfilling promises made after the 1989 and 2012 floods across Pueblo Laguna. The council says that “concrete measures” against a repeat of the flooding that should have been taken by the central administration have never been carried out, and that Continue reading Vera to sue central government over flood defences→