Spanish

ORLANDO, Fla. — After Paola Freites was allowed into the U.S. in 2024, she and her husband settled in Florida, drawn by warm temperatures, a large Latino community and the ease of finding employment and housing.

They were among hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came to the state in recent years as immigration surged under former President Biden.

No state has been more affected by the increase in immigrants than Florida, according to internal government data obtained by the Associated Press. Florida had 1,271 migrants who arrived from May 2023 to January 2025 for every 100,000 residents, followed by New York, California, Texas and Illinois.

Freites and her husband fled violence in Colombia with their three children. After some months in Mexico they moved to Apopka, an agricultural city near Orlando, where immigrants could find cheaper housing than in Miami as they spread throughout a community that already had large populations of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Her sister-in-law owned a mobile home that they could rent.

“She advised us to come to Orlando because Spanish is spoken here and the weather is good,” Freites, 37, said. “We felt good and welcomed.”

The data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which must verify addresses of everyone who is allowed to enter the U.S. and stay to pursue an immigration case, shows Miami was the most affected metropolitan area in the U.S. with 2,191 new migrants for every 100,000 residents. Orlando ranked 10th with 1,499 new migrants for every 100,000 residents.

The CBP data captured the stated U.S. destinations for 2.5 million migrants who crossed the border, including those like Freites who used the now-defunct CBP One app to make an appointment for entry.

Freites and her husband requested asylum and obtained work permits. She is now a housekeeper at a hotel in Orlando, a tourist destination with more than a dozen theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. Her husband works at a plant nursery.

“We came here looking for freedom, to work. We don’t like to be given anything for free,” said Freites, who asked that the AP identify her by her middle and second last name for fear of her mother’s safety in Colombia.

Orlando absorbed new immigrants who came

Historically, Central Florida’s immigrant population was mainly from Mexico and Central America, with a handful of Venezuelans coming after socialist Hugo Chávez became president in 1999. In 2022, more Venezuelans began to arrive, encouraged by a program created by the Biden administration that offered them a temporary legal pathway. That same program was extended later to Haitians and Cubans, and their presence became increasingly visible. The state also has a large Colombian population.

Many immigrants came to Florida because they had friends and relatives.

In Orlando, they settled throughout the area. Businesses catering to newer arrivals opened in shopping areas with Mexican and Puerto Rican shops. Venezuelan restaurants selling empanadas and arepas opened in the same plaza as a Mexican supermarket that offers tacos and enchiladas. Churches began offering more Masses in Spanish and in Creole, which Haitians speak.

As the population increased, apartments, shopping centers, offices and warehouses replaced many of the orange groves and forests that once surrounded Orlando.

The economy grew as more people arrived

New immigrants found work in the booming construction industry, as well as in agriculture, transportation, utilities and manufacturing. Many work in restaurants and hotels and as taxi drivers. Some started their own businesses.

“It’s just like a very vibrant community,” said Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, executive director at Hope CommUnity Center, a group that offers free services to immigrants in Central Florida. “It’s like, ‘I’m going to work hard and I’m going to fight for my American dream,’ that spirit.”

Immigrants’ contributions to Florida’s gross domestic product — all goods and services produced in the state — rose from 24.3% in 2019 to 25.5% in 2023, according to the pro-immigration American Immigration Council’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s annual surveys. The number of immigrants in the workforce increased from 2.8 million to 3.1 million, or 26.5% to 27.4% of the overall population. The figures include immigrants in the U.S. legally and illegally.

Immigrants looked for advice

Groups that help immigrants also increased in size.

“We got hundreds of calls a week,” said Gisselle Martinez, legal director at the Orlando Center for Justice. “So many calls of people saying ‘I just arrived, I don’t know anybody, I don’t have money yet, I don’t have a job yet. Can you help me?’”

The center created a program to welcome them. It grew from serving 40 people in 2022 to 269 in 2023 and 524 in 2024, Melissa Marantes, the executive director, said.

In 2021, about 500 immigrants attended a Hispanic Federation fair offering free dental, medical, and legal services. By 2024, there were 2,500 attendees.

Hope, meantime, went from serving 6,000 people in 2019, to more than 20,000 in 2023 and 2024.

Many now fear being detained

After President Trump returned to office in January, anxiety spread through many immigrant communities. Florida, a Republican-led state, has worked to help the Trump administration with its immigration crackdown and has enacted laws targeting illegal immigration.

Blanca, a 38-year-old single mother from Mexico who crossed the border with her three children in July 2024, said she came to Central Florida because four nephews who were living in the area told her it was a peaceful place where people speak Spanish. The math teacher, who has requested asylum, insisted on being identified by her first name only because she fears deportation.

In July 2025, immigration officials placed an electronic bracelet on her ankle to monitor her.

Because a friend of hers was deported after submitting a work permit request, she has not asked for one herself, she said.

“It’s scary,” she said. “Of course it is.”

Salomon writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.

After making a cameo during Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s 2020 halftime show in Miami, Bad Bunny will return to the Super Bowl stage next year — this time, as the headlining act.

The 2026 Super Bowl LX will take place Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The Puerto Rican hitmaker’s performance is expected to be the first fully Spanish-language performance on the stage, and he’s the first Latino man to headline.

The announcement came after Bad Bunny, full name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, said he would not tour his latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” to the continental U.S. due to the ongoing threat of ICE arresting his concertgoers. “There was the issue of — like, f— ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he told i-D magazine.

Instead, the Grammy-winning artist’s No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí (I Don’t Want to Leave Here) residency — which took place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan — brought an estimated $733 million to Puerto Rico as 600,000-plus tourists came to the island for his concert.

As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico still has an ICE presence. In June 2025, Benito posted footage on his Instagram stories of an ICE raid in progress in Carolina, showcasing agents arresting alleged undocumented immigrants.

Yet since announcing his Super Bowl halftime show, the singer hasn’t voiced concerns about ICE. His post on X, which strays from his previous remarks on avoiding the States as a stance against ICE, reads: “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States.”

As Santa Clara County is a sanctuary jurisdiction, Lina Baroudi, an immigration attorney in San Jose, believes local law enforcement is unlikely to cooperate with ICE. “Federal agents can operate independently. Sanctuary laws don’t prevent them from entering public spaces or executing federal warrants,” she says.

Between January and July in the Bay Area, ICE made 2,640 arrests— a 123% increase compared with 2024. “By June 2025, around 60% of ICE daily arrests in California were of people without criminal charges or convictions,” Baroudi says. The agency has historically had an increased presence in cities hosting the Super Bowl. ICE will likely be prohibited from operating inside the stadium, but ICE can operate in public spaces such as the parking lot, where fans may gather to hear the performance.

Amid an uptick in violent ICE arrests, mass deportations, people dying in ICE custody and the Supreme Court’s approval of profiling people for speaking Spanish, it’s of deep cultural significance that Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl. Still, some fans are speculating that his firm stance against performing in the U.S. due to ICE was performative, now that he has accepted the Super Bowl gig.

And yet, given the Trump administration’s hostility toward immigrants and Spanish speakers in the U.S., it feels especially poignant that the country’s biggest sporting event of the year will showcase a performance sung entirely in Spanish.

“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”

It’s worth noting that Bad Bunny’s appearance at the Super Bowl poses a massive commercial advantage for the NFL. Second to the United States, the largest resale of Super Bowl tickets on StubHub were purchased by fans in Mexico. There are 39 million Latine fans of the league in the U.S., making them the most rapidly growing fan base. Latine viewership of the Super Bowl rose 51% from 2021 to 2024.

The NFL has made a concerted effort over the years to globalize American football, with a special focus on building a fan base in Latin America; it recently enlisted Colombian pop star Karol G to perform at a halftime show in Brazil. Given that the Latine buying power in the U.S. is estimated at $3.6 trillion, tapping Bad Bunny as the headliner is a strategic move toward the league’s international expansion.

The global superstar’s performance will likely boost ratings as well. Bad Bunny broke Amazon Music’s livestream record last week with the most-watched single artist performance on the platform. Upon its release in January, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” topped the Billboard 200 and maintained Bad Bunny’s place as one of Spotify’s most-streamed artists in three of the past five years.

Year after year, since 2022, artists have broken the record for the highest viewership during a Super Bowl halftime show. During the 2025 Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar drew the largest audience ever, with 133.5 million people tuning in for his performance, surpassing the actual game’s viewership.

While the Bad Bunny halftime show has the potential to break viewership records, bring in new audiences and educate viewers on the Puerto Rico he loves — it also poses a potential security risk for his Latine fans in attendance, who deserve solidarity and increased institutional support.

The NFL announced the musical headliner for Super Bowl LX’s halftime show, and — much to MAGA’s chagrin — it’s not Kid Rock.

Music’s most lucrative spot went to a relevant artist who actually sells albums: Bad Bunny. Letting the Puerto Rican rapper and singer turned global megastar perform 2026’s halftime show gifts right-wing influencers with a fresh conduit for the old grievance that woke culture has permeated every crevice of American culture, especially the Super Bowl.

Their proof: The NFL chose a predominantly Spanish-language artist who is known to wear women’s dresses, who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, and who has decried this year’s immigration sweeps. Clearly, this decision was designed to irk them rather than serve Bad Bunny’s millions and millions of fans.

“The NFL is self-destructing year after year,” conservative commentator Benny Johnson wrote on X. He said of Bad Bunny: “Massive Trump hater. Anti-ICE activist. No songs in English.”

Other critics accused the reggaeton artist of flip-flopping, particularly following Bad Bunny’s statements earlier this month that he would not include any mainland U.S. dates on his Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour out of concern that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents might target and detain his fans.

“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate — I’ve performed there many times,” he said to I-D magazine. “But there was the issue of — like, f—ing ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

The artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, explained his decision to join the long list of Super Bowl halftime notables in a short statement following the NFL’s announcement Sunday.

“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” he said. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown … this is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”

Bad Bunny in glasses, not a dress.

(Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP)

The year-after-year decision to cast top-ranking pop artists and music legends in the featured Super Bowl halftime spot is hardly a mystery. They are stars that sell or performers that appeal to millions. But that dull reality hasn’t stopped the characterizations that the Bad Bunny decision is a deep state conspiracy, designed to rot American households from the inside out.

“Barack Obama’s best friend Jay-Z runs the Super Bowl selection process through his company Roc Nation which has an exclusive contract with the NFL. This is who chooses the halftime show, the most-watched musical performance in America,” wrote alt-right figure Jack Posobiec.

The NFL in 2019 partnered with rapper Jay Z’s entertainment and sports company, Roc Nation, to produce its Super Bowl halftime shows. The first show under the new partnership featured 2020’s Latin music in performances by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. Since then the institution’s halftime performances have largely featured hip-hop artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna and the OG trio of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Eminem.

Lamar’s 2025 politically charged performance was the source of condemnation from the right. Clad in red, white and blue, his predominantly Black dance crew assembled in an American flag formation. And guest star Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, called out the nation’s systemic racism. Lamar had already rankled the right with 2017’s “The Heart Part 4,” where he referred to Trump as a “chump.”

Kendrick Lamar performs during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59.

(Frank Franklin II / AP)

It’s one of many moments over the last decade that have galvanized conservative factions around calls to boycott the Super Bowl, or at least publicly bash the event. Beyoncé’s 2016 Super Bowl halftime show was once such flash point, where she performed “Formation” featuring dancers in Black Panther-inspired outfits and paid tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement.

At least those complaints were rooted in a performance that actually happened, as opposed to claims that the NFL was manipulating games for the Kansas City Chiefs to enable tight end Travis Kelce and his then-girlfriend (now fiancée) Taylor Swift to endorse Joe Biden. Sure, totally feasible.

Yet there should be no secret around why the Super Bowl hasn’t featured wildly popular, globally celebrated MAGA-promoting performers: There aren’t any. It’s no wonder Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood always seem to be the entertainment of choice for Trump rallies.

Bad Bunny is the most-streamed male artist on Spotify, running just behind the platform’s most-streamed artist of all time, Swift. As of Sunday, his release “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” became the first album of 2025 to surpass 7 billion streams on Spotify. And the 31-year-old artist just finished a sold-out, month-long residency at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Though the Super Bowl is still five months away, those who aren’t among the haters can enjoy an early kick off: Bad Bunny is scheduled to host the new season opener of “SNL” this weekend.

I spent my childhood in Spain, and while many UK travellers opt for the likes of Majorca and Tenerife, there’s one northern town that’s a true hidden gem.

I spent a large chunk of my childhood and teenage years in Spain, having moved from Argentina when I was just six. Marbella was the first Spanish city I called home – and it was absolutely delightful. It offered warm weather, stunning beaches, and plenty of options for outdoor play with other children.

Relocating from Marbella to the Mediterranean town of Denia during my teenage years might not seem like a significant shift, as both places offer similar conditions. However, sandwiched between these two coastal locations, I spent a few years, specifically from age eight to 12, in the pristine northern town of Oviedo.

Northern Spain is quite distinct from the southern holiday hotspots or the island resorts of Mallorca and Tenerife. For starters, the north is much cooler, greener and culturally more reserved, with locals still deeply rooted in their traditions. That’s why Oviedo, while less famous than most regional capitals, possesses such an enchanting allure.

Oviedo’s public spaces are well-kept, virtually free of litter and brimming with unexpected historical landmarks. One such sight is the imposing Cathedral of San Salvador, which is considered one of Spain’s most significant Christian pilgrimage sites, even predating Santiago de Compostela’s rise to prominence.

It’s one of the traditional stops for pilgrims taking the Camino Primitivo, the oldest known route of the Camino de Santiago.

Due to its characteristically wet climate, Oviedo boasts lush greenery throughout, featuring numerous parks and the cherished central Campo de San Francisco, where locals love to wander leisurely and meet for coffee.

Asturias’ capital also represents a culinary paradise, offering substantial fare in warm, inviting establishments perfect for recuperating after adventures like ascending nearby Monte Naranco to discover pre-Romanesque structures whilst gazing over the city, or exploring the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa natural reserve.

The region’s most celebrated dish, Fabada, consists of a substantial bean casserole (fabes) accompanied by meat, sausage and morcilla.

Though served in remarkably abundant, satisfying portions, diners frequently follow it with cachopo, an enormous breaded veal creation stuffed with cheese and ham.

Tierra Astur restaurant has earned recognition over many years for delivering exceptional cachopo.

Whilst southern Spain attracts European visitors as a renowned beer hotspot, Asturias revolves around cider traditions.

Oviedo’s Calle Gascona earns recognition as the “Boulevard of Cider” where unpretentious, tavern-style sidrerías provide genuine sidra (cider), served from an elevated position using the traditional “escanciado” technique.

Establishments Casa Fermín, Casa Lobato and Del Arco rank amongst the city’s finest dining venues for experiencing local specialities, whilst NM by Nacho Manzano specialises in sophisticated, contemporary Asturian gastronomy with meticulous craftsmanship. Asturias, a farming region, is renowned for its top-notch homegrown produce, including over 40 varieties of cheese (most notably Cabrales, a potent blue-veined type with DOP status), high-quality beef reared on mountain pastures, and artisan preserves made from local apples, pears and wild berries.

Local bakeries and desserts provide another reason to wander the old town – Asturian treats may be rustic in appearance but they’re extraordinary in taste. The carbayón, a rich almond-filled puff pastry glazed with syrup, typically found at Camilo de Blas in Oviedo, is the most iconic.

Another local favourite is the moscovita, a delicate almond biscuit coated in chocolate, originally from the historic Rialto bakery. Restaurants often serve rich, homemade options such as a local, creamier version of rice pudding, casadielles (deep-fried pastry rolls filled with a mixture of walnuts, sugar, and aniseed), and frixuelos, a crêpes-style dish typically filled with sugar, jam, or cream and rolled up.

The Old Town (Casco Histórico) is ideal for a walking holiday, with the Cathedral and Calle Uría offering the city’s hustle and bustle. For quieter stays, consider places slightly off Calle Mon or Postigo Bajo.

In a crackdown against unregulated tourist accomidation, the Spanish government have removed over 50,000 flats on booking platforms, and are turning them into residental properties instead

According to the Spanish government, 53,000 tourist flats have breached the national Single Register of Tourist and Seasonal Accommodations and will now turned into permanent housing instead.

The illegal tourist flats failed to comply with regulations that have been in place since July 1, and crackdowns on accomodation platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb have been asked to remove adverts for rule-breaking properties by the Spanish housing ministry.

For Brits who own holiday homes in Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez shared a post on X on Sunday that read: “We will demand that platforms remove 53,000 tourist flats for failing to comply with regulations. So that they can become permanent rentals for young people and families in this country.”

READ MORE: Stunning UK train journey named the best in the whole of EuropeREAD MORE: ‘Prettiest village in Wales’ is one of the UK’s best seaside towns

As of July 2025, the Spanish government introduced the nationwide system for regulating temporary rentals and The Single Rental Register requires all properties rented for short-term stays to be officially listed, ensuring compliance with local regulations. If a property is not on the register, it is not permitted to be advertised for temporary rental.

According to Travel and Tour World, this regulation aims to curb the growing number of unlicensed properties being offered through online platforms, which have become a source of tension in cities where housing shortages are particularly acute. The new law is seen as an effort to restore balance between the tourism industry and the need for affordable housing.

It means if a property is not on the register, it cannot legally be advertised online and Airbnb and the Spanish Ministry of Housing identified that less than 10 per cent of the listings that were turned down by the registry were on Airbnb. The crackdown comes as an aim to boost the housing sector by reclaiming properties previously used as temporary rentals.

The decision comes after months of scrutiny over the booming short-term rental market, which has seen platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com become a staple of Spanish tourism.

With this new move, Spain is effectively reclaiming valuable residential properties, thereby addressing the housing shortage in several cities, including Seville, Barcelona, and Marbella.

An Airbnb spokesperson said: “The vast majority of non-compliant listings are not on Airbnb. So we are calling on other platforms to join Airbnb’s ongoing enforcement effort with local authorities,” according to The Independent. The rental platform added that 70,000 more Airbnb listings have shown a registration number since January and will no longer be allowed to function as short-term rentals.

Airbnb said: “Those listings (that show a registration number) are the ones that our customers love, leaving us with no significant business impact. We are setting the ground for a new and resilient business model in Spain.”

The Independent further reported that from the withdrawn tourist flats, 16,740 were discovered in Andalusia, 8,698 in the Canary Islands and 7,499 in the Valencian Community and for Spanish cities, Seville saw 2,289 cancelled registrations, Marbella 1,802, Barcelona 1,564 and 1,471 in Malaga.

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One traveller came back from a Spanish holiday hotspot bearing crucial advice for anyone mulling over an Autumn break there. Tasha Penney took took to TikTok to share her advice with people

As Britain battles yet another spell of cold and miserable weather, countless people are fantasising about fleeing to warmer shores. The urge to dash off somewhere tropical feels overwhelming, particularly when confronted with Britain’s never-ending downpours.

One traveller who came back from Lanzarote bearing crucial advice for anyone mulling over an Autumn break to the Canary Islands. Tasha Penney, known as @tashapenney_ on TikTok, warned holidaymakers in October last year against trusting weather forecasts too heavily regarding Lanzarote’s conditions. In her eye-opening clip, she explained at the time: “If you’re coming to Lanzarote, and you’ve been worried about the weather, because when you look up online about Lanzarote weather, it always says windy, cloudy, overcast.

“It pretty much says the weather’s like not great most of the time. Don’t be worried, because it’s all a big lie.

“We’ve been here for three days and, every day, it’s said it’s going to be like 24C, cloudy. It actually predicted rain yesterday. None of the times we’ve had any of that. It’s been clear blue skies, the clouds are like that.”

Banishing any remaining concerns, Tasha revealed that the genuine temperatures felt considerably warmer than predicted, offering comfort to prospective tourists that weather worries are unnecessary.

Regarding the climate, she had absolutely zero complaints.

Her footage subsequently become a sensation, amassing hundreds of views and triggering countless responses from watchers, loads of whom are weighing up a Lanzarote getaway this year. Holidaymakers have been raving about Lanzarote, dubbing it the ideal year-round escape destination.

One fan gushed at the time: “Lanzarote is great all year around. My second home.”

Another traveller commented: “I was here for a week. It was roasting, overcast three days, sunny four. Probs it was highest 30.”

Heaping further praise on the destination, a third visitor revealed: “I’m going with my best friend in December to break up the cold. Can’t wait.”

A fourth sun-seeker posted from the island itself at the time, declaring: “Here now and it’s lush. It’s rained a little bit, usually late at night or for less than a minute, but it’s been so hot.”

The appeal of Lanzarote, situated amongst the stunning Canary Islands, comes as no shock given its standing as an excellent winter sunshine retreat.

The destination regularly enjoys a delightful average temperature of 20C during January, seldom falling beneath a mild 16C.

Better still, getaways there won’t break the bank.

For budget-conscious travellers, you can either secure a package holiday or hunt down bargain flights and sort out your own accommodation.

Spanish court documents, including the toxicology report for Jay Slater, were fraudulently leaked and shared on social media – despite being highly confidential

Jay Slater’s Spanish toxicology reports were fraudulently leaked online following the teen’s death. The teen, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was found dead in July last year after a month-long search for him.

Just weeks before Jay’s death, the teen had been attending a festival with friends Lucy Law, Brad Hargreaves and Brandon Hodgson. Jay was found dead in a ravine in Tenerife’s Parque Rural de Teno on July 15, 2024, following a month-long search. After leaving the RG music festival in Playa de las Americas on June 17, he travelled with two men to an Airbnb in the national park area, 22 miles from where he had been staying with his friends.

But following his disappearance, social media was flooded with conspiracy theories relating to his vanishing, including people claiming Jay was actually alive and his disappearance was a “scam”. But a new Channel 4 documentary reveals that the toxicology report from the Spanish courts was also fraudulently leaked.

It was revealed by Preston Coroner’s officer Alice Swarbrick that Jay’s body had traces of MDMA and cocaine in the hours prior to his death, but while there was evidence of the drugs in his system, this didn’t mean they formed part of the cause of his death. Jay’s mum explained that while it was a shock to her. “He’s a young adult and that’s what they do when they go to festivals, it’s not a shock, it’s just upsetting,” she said, adding that it was “upsetting the way he died.”

However, Jay’s heartbroken mum was informed that the toxicology report had only been disclosed to her and wouldn’t be shared anywhere else. But the documentary instantly cut to a string of YouTube videos, which shared screenshots of the toxicology report, stating Jay’s full name – Jay Dean Slater.

“25th March 2025. In Tenerife, Spanish court documents are fraudulently leaked and published on YouTube,” the caption says, adding: “Including Jay’s Spanish toxicology reports.”

Speaking on the documentary, Jay’s mum, Debbie Duncan, said: “It’s just another kick in the teeth, but how is it even allowed? Official court documents, talking about our son, it’s lawless, ain’t it? There’s nothing we can do, we’re just powerless.”

Later on, pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd, explained that ruling out injuries inflicted by a third party was “a very, very important part of this investigation, as Jay had “not been shot, he’s not been stabbed, he’s not been strangled.”

“A major head injury at the side, how do we explain that?” before going on to state that Jay’s injuries are consistent with severe trauma to the head, which could have been a result of falling down a slope. He also stated that he couldn’t rule out the possibility of Jay being pushed, as the push would leave no marks.

Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen explained that the case had become complicated due to social media coverage, as witnesses had expressed fear over giving evidence, due to the social media commentary from online slueths. “Social media has made obtaining answers more difficult,” he said.

Only three of five witnesses were able to be located: Ayub Qassim and Lucy Law both gave virtual evidence, while Bradley Geoghegan gave evidence in person. Jay was found dead in a ravine in Tenerife’s Parque Rural de Teno on July 15, 2024. After leaving a festival in Playa de las Americas on June 17, he travelled with two men to an Airbnb, 22 miles from where the friends were staying.

The Channel 4 film also reveals previously unheard audio, as well as unsent messages, as well as access to the Slater family as they continue to search for answers about what had happened to him.

The Disappearance of Jay Slater airs on Channel 4 on Sunday, September 28, at 9pm.

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Millions of people head to the Spanish sunshine from the UK every year making it the country’s most popular holiday destination

As summer disappears and the cooler months approach, it’s time for many people to look back on their summer break and begin to plan their next venture. Last year around 18 million people travelled from the UK to Spain for their holidays.

The lure of brighter sunshine and warmer coastlines can be very attractive but it is still important to make the most of your spending money. Now, a new study has revealed the Spanish cities where Brits can get the best value for their money.

Learn Spanish with James, led by James Smith, a fluent Spanish speaker with over 10 years of teaching experience and extensive living experience across Spain, Argentina, and Costa Rica, conducted comprehensive research into 29 popular Spanish destinations. He said: “Having lived in Spain for years, I’ve seen firsthand how different cities offer vastly different value propositions for British visitors.

“While Spain is generally affordable compared to the UK, some cities stand out as exceptional bargains where your pounds can stretch much further.”

The study analysed hotel costs, dining expenses, beer prices, transport fares, and attraction entry fees across 29 Spanish cities popular with foreigners. Data was collected from Booking.com for accommodation, Numbeo for living costs, and TripAdvisor for attraction prices.

All costs were converted to GBP using average exchange rates. These were then normalised into a Holiday Value Score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better value for British tourists.

James, an expat living in Spain, added: “Some cities offer exceptional value for British tourists by combining low daily costs with rich cultural and leisure experiences. What makes these top-ranking destinations special isn’t only their low prices, but how they balance affordability across all aspects of a holiday, from where you sleep to what you eat and see.

“Cities like Cádiz and Córdoba are proof that you don’t need to sacrifice quality for value. These places offer authentic Spanish experiences, incredible history, and local charm at prices that make your pounds work harder.

“For Brits considering a move to Spain or planning an extended stay, understanding these cost differences can literally save thousands while opening doors to some of the country’s most fascinating destinations.”

Top 10 Spanish Cities Where Brits Get the Best Value – GBP

Rank

City/ Municipalities

Avg. Cost of 3-star Hotel per Night

Avg. Cost of Meal for Two at Mid-range Restaurant

Avg. Cost Bottle of Beer

Public Transport Ticket Price (One-way)

Avg. Attraction Entry Fee

Holiday Value Score

1

Cádiz

£ 126.16

£ 29.50

£ 1.19

£ 0.93

£ 20.08

79.34

2

Córdoba

£ 80.89

£ 35.83

£ 1.20

£ 1.10

£ 26.88

77.18

3

Torrevieja

£ 65.83

£ 33.72

£ 1.00

£ 1.31

£ 44.37

70.02

4

Cartagena

£ 104.35

£ 42.15

£ 0.87

£ 1.01

£ 37.90

69.34

5

Granada

£ 99.31

£ 31.61

£ 1.25

£ 1.18

£ 32.39

68.62

6

Alicante

£ 104.18

£ 42.15

£ 1.12

£ 1.22

£ 32.39

67.20

7

Murcia City

£ 104.91

£ 37.09

£ 1.07

£ 1.10

£ 99.76

63.60

8

Ourense

£ 77.73

£ 37.93

£ 1.38

£ 0.72

£ 37.57

62.90

9

Vitoria-Gasteiz

£ 78.17

£ 37.93

£ 1.19

£ 1.18

£ 67.05

60.78

10

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

£ 73.40

£ 42.15

£ 1.35

£ 1.26

£ 31.74

60.76

1. Cádiz – The Unbeatable Value Champion (79.34)

Cádiz claims the top spot with an impressive Holiday Value Score of 79.34, making it the ultimate destination for budget-conscious Brits. While hotel costs sit at £126.16 per night, the city more than makes up for it with incredibly affordable dining at just £29.50 for a meal for two, and bargain beer at £1.19 per bottle. Transport is particularly cheap at £0.93 per ticket, and attractions cost just £20.08 on average.

“Cádiz is a hidden gem that British tourists frequently overlook,” explains Smith. “It’s one of Europe’s oldest cities with stunning beaches and incredible history, yet it offers some of the best value you’ll find anywhere in Spain.”

2. Córdoba – Moorish Magic on a Budget (77.18)

Córdoba secures second place with a score of 77.18, offering exceptional accommodation value at just £80.89 per night. Dining costs £35.83 for two people, while beer remains affordable at £1.20. The city’s rich Moorish heritage, including the famous Mezquita, comes at reasonable attraction prices of £26.88.

“Córdoba perfectly balances affordability with cultural richness,” notes Smith. “You can explore one of Spain’s most historic cities without breaking the bank.”

3. Torrevieja – Coastal Living for Less (70.02)

Torrevieja rounds out the top three with a score of 70.02, boasting the cheapest accommodation at just £65.83 per night and the most affordable beer at £1.00 per bottle. Meals for two cost £33.72, though attraction fees are higher at £44.37.

“Torrevieja is perfect for Brits who want that coastal lifestyle without the premium prices of more famous beach destinations,” says Smith.

4. Cartagena – Naval History Meets Great Value (69.34)

Cartagena offers excellent value with a score of 69.34, featuring the cheapest beer in our top five at just £0.87 and reasonable transport costs of £1.01. Hotel prices sit at £104.35, with dining at £42.15 for two.

“Cartagena’s naval history and stunning Roman theatre make it a fascinating destination that won’t drain your wallet,” explains Smith.

5. Granada – Alhambra on a Shoestring (68.62)

Granada completes our top five with 68.62 points, offering reasonable accommodation at £99.31 and excellent dining value at £31.61 for two people. Despite being home to the world-famous Alhambra, attraction costs average just £32.39.

“Granada proves you can experience Spain’s most iconic sights without paying tourist trap prices,” Smith adds.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says Israel must face the same sporting sanctions as Russia did after the Ukraine war.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged international sporting bodies to ban Israel from competitions, saying its treatment should mirror Russia’s exclusion after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Speaking to his Socialist Party on Monday, Sanchez said Israel’s participation in global events was incompatible with its assault on Gaza.

“The sports organisations should consider whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep participating in international competitions. Why expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and not expel Israel after the invasion of Gaza?” he asked. “Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition.”

His remarks came a day after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the closing stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race in Madrid, throwing barriers onto the course in protest at the participation of the Israeli team Israel-Premier Tech. Police clashed with demonstrators near the finish line, leaving 22 people injured and arresting two.

Last week, Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria said Israeli teams should be banned from sport in the same way that Russian sides broadly were in 2022 after the country invaded Ukraine, highlighting a “double standard”.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar lashed out at Sanchez, calling him an “anti-Semite and a liar”, without elaborating on why the criticism of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza was anti-Semitic. Israel has been accused of weaponising anti-Semitism to target criticism of Israel’s policies against Palestinians.

Last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the International Criminal Court anti-Semitic after the Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes.

Tensions between Madrid and Tel Aviv have sharpened in recent months, with Spain’s left-leaning coalition openly backing activists who staged demonstrations during several stages of the Vuelta against the Israeli team’s presence.

Weapons deal with Israel cancelled

Spain is also reportedly planning to scrap a major weapons deal with an Israeli defence manufacturer. According to official documents seen by AFP, Madrid cancelled a contract worth nearly 700 million euros ($824m) for rocket systems designed by Israeli firm Elbit Systems.

The deal, signed in October 2023, involved the purchase of Elbit’s PULS rocket launchers, known in Spain as SILAM. Its cancellation brings the total value of Israeli arms contracts annulled by Spain in recent months to nearly one billion euros ($1.2bn). A previous agreement in June, reportedly with defence company Rafael, was also halted.

Neither Elbit nor Rafael has formally commented, though the Israeli daily Haaretz, which also reported the cancellation, quoted a source as saying that no official notification of cancellation had yet been received. Neither government has confirmed the move publicly.

Al Jazeera, however, could not independently verify the reports.

Spanish media reported that Madrid is exploring ways to distance its defence industry from reliance on Israeli technology. La Vanguardia said officials are studying a plan with Spain’s main arms producers to replace the Israeli systems affected by the embargo.

Last week, Sanchez unveiled nine measures aimed at ramping up pressure on Israel, including banning docking and overflight rights for ships and planes carrying weapons to the country. The prime minister framed the steps as part of Spain’s responsibility to push for an end to what he described as Israel’s “barbarity” in Gaza.

Other steps include banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Sanchez pledging 10 million euros ($11.8m) in new funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and a total of 150 million euros ($176m) in humanitarian aid for Gaza by 2026.

Barcelona is a popular city in Spain that attracts millions of tourists year-on-year and it is famous for its art and grand architecture, but a visitor shared one thing not everyone knows about it

There are several countries in Europe that attract large amounts of tourists, including Spain, France and Italy. Many people from the UK enjoy going to Spain in particular as it is not far from Britain but offers beautiful beaches, warmer and sunnier weather, has a vibrant culture and is seen as relatively affordable to explore.

Spain consistently ranks as the top holiday destination for Brits who often visit coastal and island sites, like Majorca, Ibiza and Benidorm. A popular city in Spain for holidaymakers is Barcelona, the capital of the country’s Catalonia region. According to Statista, Barcelona’s hotels welcomed nearly 7.9 million overnight tourists in 2024.

The tourist hotspot is known for its art and architecture but locals have been protesting against the issue of overtourism in the city, which saw some tourists being sprayed by water guns.

One visitor who recently travelled to Barcelona shared one thing international visitors might not expect.

He posted a video on TikTok at the end of August showing the wet weather with puddles on the ground of a largely empty street and a small group of people shielding themselves from the rain with umbrellas.

Overlaying the clip, he sarcastically wrote: “Okay Barcelona we get it, you don’t want tourists. Message received loud and clear.”

Barcelona experiences short-lived rain showers in August and September but average temperatures this month reach 26°C during the day so it’s still warm with plenty of sunshine, as per TUI.

The caption of the tourist’s TikTok post caption reads: “The teabags I packed turned into tea in my bag.”

The clip has garnered 247,300 views, 23,800 likes and almost 150 comments, at the time of writing.

A Spain local commented: “As a Catalan we really wanted the rain so sorry but we really needed it, the heat was HORRENDOUS.”

Another agreed: “In fact, the locals were waiting for this good weather after 15 days of boiling air. Enjoy it with us.”

A third TikTok user said: “Barcelona better behave in September.” A tourist who visited Barcelona shared: “I was there, had to hide in the Burger King until it stopped raining.”

A second chimed in: “It passed very quickly and honestly makes the air much more bearable! Don’t think I could handle 40C, 30 is hot enough!”

The TikTok user who posted the clip revealed in the comments section that the rain “only lasted 30 ish minutes and it’s been sunny ever since.”

A different user, unbothered by wet weather, remarked: “A great place to visit. I love it . What’s the rain got to do with it?”

Someone else highlighted: “Better that than the heat that comes later.” A number of commenters were surprised to see rain in the Spanish city at this time of year, while others knew it is normal for there to be some rainfall.

Spain’s Vuelta cycling event has added extra security following pro-Palestine protests against Israel-Premier Tech.

Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria has said Israeli teams should be banned from sport in the same way that Russian sides broadly were in 2022 after the country invaded Ukraine, highlighting a “double standard”.

The presence of a team named Israel-Premier Tech at the Vuelta a Espana cycling grand tour has led to huge protests in Spain. The Spanish government has described Israel’s offensive in Gaza as “a genocide”.

Israel-Premier Tech is a private outfit owned by billionaire Israeli-Canadian property developer Sylvan Adams, not a state team, but has been hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for refusing to quit the Vuelta despite vehement protests.

“It is difficult to explain and understand that there is a double standard,” Alegria told Spanish radio station Cadena SER.

“Given that there has been such a massacre, a genocide, such an absolutely terrible situation we are living through day-by-day, I would agree that the international federations and committees should take the same decision as in 2022,” she added.

“No team, no club from Russia participated in an international competition, and when the individuals participated, they did it under a neutral flag and without a national anthem.”

Alegria said she would like Vuelta organisers to block Israel-Premier Tech from competing, but accepted that such a decision could only be taken by the cycling world governing body, UCI.

Various stages of the Vuelta have been affected by protests, with stages 11 and 16 shortened during racing, while Thursday’s stage 18 time trial has also been cut short in advance for security reasons.

Alegria said she hopes the race can be completed, with Sunday’s final stage heading into Madrid expected to be targeted by various protests.

“It would not be good news if the race cannot finish,” said Alegria.

“However, what we’re seeing these days with the protests is, in my opinion, logical,” she added.

“[The protests] are a clear representation of what the people feel, sport cannot be distanced from the world that surrounds it.”

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing coalition government has taken one of Europe’s strongest pro-Palestinian stances, straining ties with Israel.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive in October 2023 in retaliation for an unprecedented cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,139 people, most of whom were civilians.

Israel’s bombardment has killed at least 64,600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza.

“[Israeli forces] have killed more than 60,000 people; children, babies [are] starving to death, hospitals destroyed,” added Alegria.

“So it is important that sport, given this situation, takes a position at least similar to what it did against Russia.”

Important recommendation for parents who are planning to take young children on a trip to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerteventura have been issued by one mum

A British mum has shared important crucial guidance for all parents with young children planning a getaway to one of a number of popular Spanish islands. Mother-of-one Melissa O’Donnell praised a firm that assisted her baby during a recent family break to Gran Canaria.

“If you are taking a baby abroad to one of these locations – Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerteventura – you need to listen to this,” she began in a TikTok video. Confirming that the firm in question played no part in creating her clip, Melissa stated: “I’m doing this off my own back – I just want people to know how helpful it is.” She went on, revealing that Travel 4 Baby provides parents with the chance to rent “anything you could possibly need” for your baby whilst you are away.

“Cots, bath seats, sterilising machines, buggies, car seats – even down to potties – they have everything you’d want to put it in your suitcase but aren’t able to bring,” Melissa raved. “They are priced really fairly too.”

To highlight her point, she revealed she paid €20 [£17.34] for a snooze shade “for as long as we wanted it”. Melissa added: “They drop the item off at the hotel wherever you are staying and come and pick it up the day that you leave.”

Scores of others rushed to commend Travel 4 Baby as well, sharing their own holiday experiences with the firm.

“We used them when we went to Lanzarote!” one TikTok user wrote. “They have no idea how much it helped us!”

A second satisfied customer shared: “We used them for Lanzarote when baby was only 12 weeks old. When we arrived at hotel the steriliser, bottle, formula and water were all there when we arrived at check in. Definitely recommend them.”

A third added: “We hired so much from them in Tenerife last month. Made life so much easier and they were brilliant to deal with. Everything waiting for us at the hotel.”

Whilst a fourth person praised: “They are fab. We used them back in 2022 for our little one’s first holiday. Walker (so he can mooch about tiled rooms safely) and travel cot. But they have so much more – even bottle safe water – fab company.”

Travel 4 Baby also caters for those holidaying to several destinations across Spain and Portugal including major cities, and plans to extend its services to further hotspots including Benidorm in the near future.

The company offers further advice online, listing its top tips for a stress free trip with baby – which are:

• On the plane, babies under two years old can sit on your knee or some airlines let you book and pay for an extra seat for more space and comfort
• Change your babies nappy or take them to the toilet just before you board the aircraft
• Try keep them awake at the airport so they will sleep on the plane (fingers crossed!)
• Feed them when you get on the plane rather than before. The combination of feeding and the rocking and noise of the plane, will often send your baby to sleep.
• Take extra formula, snacks, nappies etc just in case of a delay.
• Always remember, if you don’t want to be traveling with too much luggage and baby items, check with us before you travel as most baby items can be hired and delivered to you in resort. Travel 4 baby has everything you will need and the less luggage you have to bring the better.

A few years ago, camping with friends, I watched in awe as Becky set up her pitch. While the rest of us were stringing out guy ropes on tents as glamorous as giant cagoules, she arrived with a bell tent, duvets instead of sleeping bags, sheepskin rugs and vintage folding chairs. For all the talk of breathability, practicality and “high performance” gear, it was Becky’s tent we all wanted to sleep in. In the years since, I have never quite achieved her level of camping chic – until this summer, when I discovered the innovative Spanish camping brand Kampaoh.

It all began back in 2016, when Kampaoh CEO Salvador Lora and his partner were backpacking in the Dominican Republic. One night they came across a campsite with pre-erected tents within which were mattresses and blankets. “We were in the middle of nature, surrounded by peace, and lacked nothing,” he tells me.

Back home in Spain, Salvador wondered if something like that could work there – and decided to experiment setting up a handful of tents in Tarifa. Today the company has 90 sites across Europe, most of them in Spain, but also in Portugal and Italy. Coming across the brand by chance when looking for somewhere to stay in Andalucía, I booked into Camping Los Villares, one of its showcase sites, in the hills above Córdoba.

Arriving in the golden hour, after travelling overland by train, Los Villares looks like a dreamy backdrop to a Sofia Coppola film. From the entrance, the land drops gently away to reveal avenues of cream-coloured canvas tents, the sun filtering through tall Aleppo pines.

Los Villares has a wide range of accommodation, from bell tents to vast, safari-style Bali tents, cute triangular Buka tents (with private, rustic-chic washrooms outside), Tiny Love cabins (with private baths with views), and Tiny Play family cabins (with a slide from their mezzanine bunks down to the living areas). My mid-range Anza is a lofty, triangular tent with a shower and toilet tucked behind the sleeping area and a raised, decked porch. The site is open year-round and the tents have air-conditioning and a small heater. There’s space for basic tent campers and a small campervan area, too.

Outside the school holidays, with the campsite’s restaurant closed midweek, dinner that first night is sliced tomatoes, olives and tortilla foraged from a nearby village shop. As I eat on the terrace, all is deeply peaceful – the wind twisting through pines, blue-tailed Iberian magpies resting on branches overhead.

Inside, my white, cream and wood tent is decorated with fairy lights and faux pot plants; the low platform bed (with proper mattress and pillows!) made up with white bedlinen. Plates, cups and cutlery are provided – and if I’d brought a pet, a mini version of the tent would provide a shady dog bed. An information sheet encourages me to tag @kampaoh on social media; arrival details had been sent via WhatsApp.

It’s perfectly designed to appeal to gen Z travellers, the experience-seeking, social media-canny cohort that are becoming the dominant demographic in travel. While aesthetics are important, blingy, performative luxury is not; conscious of overtourism and the need to prioritise wellbeing, they look for off-the-beaten-track outdoor stays where they can run, swim, surf and cycle, as well as social connection. If Kampaoh’s campsites ticked any more of the demographic’s boxes it would break TikTok.

“We wanted to bring back the magic of connecting with nature and outdoor adventures without giving up comfort or style,” says Lora. “The new generation love experiences like camping but they also have high expectations for design, comfort and aesthetics. Visual appeal isn’t superficial; it’s part of how we live and share our experiences.”

Kampaoh isn’t the only camping brand tapping into this market. In France, the Parisian hotel brand Touriste recently launched three stylishly revamped holiday parks under its Campings Liberté brand, while Huttopia, which began in 2000 with a small, nature-based campsite in the French Alps and a devotion to wood and canvas structures, now offers 152 sites in eight countries. Unlike other glamping providers, the aim is not to add on hotel-style frills, but to increase basic comfort. Setting themselves apart from big, pre-erected tent and cabin operators such as Eurocamp, operators like Kampaoh keep sites relatively small and, crucially, stylish.

As I sit on the restaurant’s terrace sipping coffee the next morning, shielded by fig trees, I watch a steady trickle of campers heading out for the day in hiking or cycling gear. It was 37C in Córdoba when I collected my hire car, but up here it’s a pleasant 26C. With the smell of hot pine needles in the air, I follow them out to explore.

The campsite is in the Parque Periurbano Los Villares, a protected area of 484 hectares (2 sq miles) that’s peppered with bird hides, signposted botanical trails and picnic areas. The GR48 long-distance footpath goes through it, and a network of cycling routes around it. After hiking up to a viewpoint behind the park’s visitor centre to get my bearings, I drive to the small town of Santa María de Trassierra to walk the 20-minute path to the Baños de Popea.

Remote and jungly, this river pool was a favourite spot with Córdoba’s Cántico group of poets and artists in the late 1940s. The tumble of small waterfalls and pools – full from unusual spring rain – form a magical spot, reached through glades of bear’s breech (Acanthus mollis), and paths edged with beams of gorse-like French broom.I could easily spend all day here, but there’s still Córdoba to see, with its parks of orange trees, the shady gardens of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and the famous mosque-cathedral of Mezquita.

The highlight, for me, however, is the Medina Azahara archaeological site, just out of town. Its construction was started in 936 by the first caliph of Al-Andalus, Abd al-Rahman III. This palace-city saw service for only 70 years but its evocative ruins and richly decorated archways are a powerful reminder of its opulence. Walking the Medina’s ancient stones as grasshoppers hop and jasmine scents the hot air, it’s easy to see the appeal of this strategic location, between the mountains and the Guadalquivir River.

Driving into the campsite afterwards, off a road flushed with hot pink oleanders, the landscape is washed in pale gold. Momentarily distracted by the view, I double-take as four hoopoes suddenly appear in front of me, their black and white stripes backlit by the sun. I probably ought to have taken a photo and posted it with the hashtag #kampaohvibes. Instead, I keep very still and watch. Some experiences are still tailormade for us analogue Gen Xers.

The trip was provided by the Spanish Tourist Office, with support from Andalucía and Kampaoh, which is open all year. Anza tents at Kampaoh Córdoba cost from €63 a night for two people, or from €76 a night for four; both minimum two nights

The bustling capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz is a city that offers a perfect mix of beach relaxation and cultural exploration – and it’s just a short flight away

Santa Cruz, the vibrant capital of Tenerife, is a favourite amongst holidaymakers with its stunning black and white sand beaches and rugged mountainous landscape.

With a matter of weeks before the end of summer, the UK is already bracing for the cooler temperatures and frequent heavy showers of autumn and winter. Luckily, there is a Spanish port city offering a warm haven for Brits in search of some winter sun.

Tenerife boasts warm temperatures all year round, averaging 24C throughout November and a comfortable 21C well into December, reports the Express.

A post-Christmas getaway to this Spanish city could be just the ticket, especially as Santa Cruz hosts one of the world’s largest carnivals each February.

During the carnival season, the streets of Santa Cruz come alive with music, dancing and a riot of colourful costumes.

These festivities typically draw around 150,000 tourists, contributing to the nearly one million participants who join in over the approximately five weeks of celebrations.

Outside of the carnival season, Tenerife offers a more tranquil retreat, making it the perfect time to unwind and soak up the rich cultural history of Santa Cruz.

Nestled near the city centre is the Palmetum of Tenerife, a vast botanical garden boasting one of the world’s largest collections of palm trees, where you can also savour breathtaking views of the island’s coastline.

The main beach in Santa Cruz is Las Teresitas, a stretch of golden sand specially crafted using sands imported from the Sahara desert.

In the bustling port of Santa Cruz, one of Spain’s busiest, holidaymakers can discover the Auditorio, a contemporary concert hall that echoes the design of the Sydney Opera House and is crafted to resemble a ship’s sails.

Tenerife, already a favourite amongst British holidaymakers, is frequently serviced by numerous budget airlines, with a flight time just over four hours from the UK.

Santa Cruz, situated near the North Airport at the island’s peak, offers flights from London for a bargain price of as little as £36 during the winter season, according to Skyscanner.

With the 1980s came an influx of Western women ascending in white-collar professions — and their increase in power demanded some formidable work wear to match.

As ruthless as she is seductive, Spanish businesswoman Marioneta Negocios (voiced by Pepa Pallarés) is among them. We meet her when she lands in Quito, Ecuador, to wreak havoc in Gonzalo Cordova’s stop-motion animated show, “Women Wearing Shoulder Pads,” Adult Swim’s first-ever Spanish-language program, which premiered Sunday.

In the South American country, cuys (guinea pigs) are part of the local diet, but the conniving Marioneta wishes to change the local mindset so that the creatures are seen as pets. Her plan angers Doña Quispe (Laura Torres), who makes a living selling cuys to be eaten, leading to a melodramatic feud.

True to her name, Marioneta is a puppet whose look is immediately recognizable as that of Carmen Maura’s character Pepa in Pedro Almodóvar’s 1988 “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” The show is profoundly indebted to Almodóvar’s universe.

Cordova, 39, lived in Ecuador and Panama until he was 6 years old, when his family moved to South Florida. He discovered American culture through copious hours of TV, with “The Simpsons” and comedian Conan O’Brien becoming key influences on his sensibilities.

“It’s just such a joy to have this TV show that mixes together all these childhood memories of Ecuador, but also TV and movies, smashing them together into one thing,” he says during a recent video interview from his home in Pasadena.

“Women Wearing Shoulder Pads” from creator Gonzalo Cordova.

(Warner Bros)

The genesis of “Women Wearing Shoulder Pads” occurred at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cordova had been working on a Mexican American project, but he ached to create a story that specifically reflected his Ecuadorean background.

Having worked as a story editor and producer on the animated series “Tuca & Bertie,” Cordova had a relationship with Adult Swim, Cartoon Network’s programming block aimed at mature audiences. He pitched them his idiosyncratic idea inspired by Almodóvar’s ‘80s films, Ecuadorean culture and his love of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, an L.A. institution.

At first, Cordova did not tell Adult Swim that he intended for the show to be in Spanish. He tried to ease them into the idea. “I did not mention that in the pitch,” he admits. “They showed some interest and when I was writing the script, I started telling them, ‘This really should be in Spanish.’ But I always knew that was the correct way to do it.”

Executives were surprisingly receptive and allowed him to move forward with the pilot, with the caveat that they could change course. “I’m not going to lie and say that it was just smooth sailing,” Cordova explains. “But Adult Swim really listened to me and was very supportive. It has taken a big risk.”

The funniest version of this TV show had to exist in Spanish, he thought. His conviction derived from his experience writing jokes and testing them in front of an audience.

“I did stand-up comedy for eight years in New York, and if you don’t believe in the thing you’re doing and don’t fully commit, it’s not going to work,” he says. “The audience feels it. And to me, doing it in Spanish was just part of the commitment to the bit that I’m doing.”

The HBO Max show “Los Espookys,” which set the precedent that a U.S. production could premiere in Spanish, deeply emboldened Cordova in his creative impulse. “That show gave me a little bit more of chutzpah in asking for this,” he adds.

For Cordova, “Los Espookys,” created by Julio Torres, Ana Fabrega and Fred Armisen, conveyed “a Latin American sensibility and sense of humor,” which he describes as “a little offbeat and a little quirky.” That tone is also what he sought for his show.

First, Cordova wrote “Women Wearing Shoulder Pads” in English over two months with an all-Latino writers’ room, where each person had different levels of Spanish proficiency. Writing in English, their dominant tongue, allowed them to “shoot from the hip,” as he puts it. “The show really relies on absurdism, which heavily relies on instinct,” he explains.

To ensure that the jokes were not getting lost in translation, Cordova worked closely with Mexico-based Mireya Mendoza, the translator and voice director on the show. Once they had made way in the Spanish translation, the production brought on Ecuadorean consultant Pancho Viñachi to help make the dialogue and world in general feel more authentic.

“Pancho started giving us these very specific, not only slang, but also Quechua words and things that would make it feel very specifically Ecuadorean,” Cordova says. “I took that very seriously too. We spent maybe as long translating it as we did initially writing it.”

That “Women Wearing Shoulder Pads” is decidedly a queer show with no speaking male characters came from Cordova’s desire to further exaggerate the fact that in melodramas or classic “women’s pictures” the male parts are secondary to their female counterparts.

“Once you go, ‘No male characters,’ your show’s going to be queer,” he says smiling. “You wrote yourself into a corner because you can’t do a parody of these kinds of work without sex in it and without romance or passion. I was like, ‘The next step is to also make this very queer.’”

As for the decision to use stop-motion, Cordova credits Adult Swim for steering him in that direction. “Initially, when I pitched the show I wanted to do an Almodóvar film with marionettes and Adult Swim very wisely said, ‘This is going to create more complications for you,’” he recalls. “They suggested stop-motion and connected me to Cinema Fantasma.”

Based in Mexico City, Cinema Fantasma is a studio that specializes in stop-motion animation founded by Arturo and Roy Ambriz. The filmmaker brothers are also behind Mexico’s first-ever stop-motion animated feature, “I Am Frankelda.”

Cordova visited the studios throughout the production, gaining a deeper appreciation for the painstaking technique in which every element has to be physically crafted.

For Cordova, creating “Women Wearing Shoulder Pads” entailed mining his memories of Ecuador in the late ‘80s, including growing up hearing over-the-top, partially fictionalized family stories. Those recollections also helped shape the look of the puppets.

“We used a lot of film references. That’s why some of the characters just looked like they come straight out of a Pedro Almodóvar’s film,” he says. “But I also sent Cinema Fantasma a large Google Drive folder with tons of family photos. And we started finding like, ‘Doña Quispe is going to look like this relative mixed with this drawing from ‘Love and Rockets.’”

In this scene, Marioneta leads a “guinea pig rights group.”

(Warner Bros.)

The prominence of cuys in the show also stemmed from remembering how seeing them at restaurants or in cages would shock him when he returned to Ecuador as a teen after living in the U.S. for many years. Now he looks at the practice with a more mature perspective.

“I understand that this is a food and it’s no different than being served duck in a restaurant,” he says. “The show tries to make that point, but also preserves my childhood perspective on it through other characters.”

The line between the creative and the personal blurred even further because many of the costumes were based on designs that Cordova’s mother created when she was studying fashion in Panama and thought would never see the light of day.

Though she was delighted by this homage, her thoughts on the show surprised him. “My mom’s reaction has been interesting because she was like, ‘This is just a good drama.’ The comedy elements are not on the forefront for her,” Cordova says with a laugh. “For her it’s like, ‘I want to know what happens next,’ which I didn’t really expect.”

By putting Ecuador in the forefront of his mind and of this hilarious work of collage, Cordova made a singular tribute to his loved ones.

“There are so many weird little moments in the show when my family was watching and they were like, ‘Oh, that’s your tía’s name, that’s your sister’s nickname.’” Cordova recalls fondly. “It’s almost like how in superhero movies they’ll put Easter eggs, these are Easter eggs for my family only.”

But there’s another opinion Cordova is eager to hear, that of Almodóvar himself. His hope is that, if the Spanish master somehow comes across the show, he feels his admiration.

“I hope that if he does watch it, that he knows it is just very lovingly inspired by his work and that it’s not a theft,” Cordova says. “I make it very obvious who I’m taking from. I may have borrowed from him quite a bit, so I hope he sees that it’s done out of a deep respect.”

A Briton who moved from the UK to Barcelona in 2017, has said that locals are frustrated by the influx of foreigners and that things have gotten worse since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic

A British expat living in Barcelona has said that locals are becoming increasingly frustrated with the transformation of their neighbourhoods.

Gemma Askham relocated to the popular Spanish city in 2017 due to her half-Spanish husband’s work and has resided there ever since.

Whilst the first six years were relatively uneventful, a surge in expats, coupled with anti-tourism sentiment fuelled by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET) movement, has altered the local area.

Due to the influx of foreigners and tourists to Barcelona, the economy has shifted to cater to their preferences and requirements, rather than vice versa. Gemma noted that this dynamic between expats and their adopted country intensified following the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an article for Grazia, she stated: “In 2023, a street pedestrianisation project aimed at improving community life was completed. But there are now eight English-named brunch cafes within two blocks.”

She also said that her 69-year-old neighbour, Toni Fontclara, is puzzled by people lining up at 11am for avocado on toast “a dish not from the region, served at an unheard-of eating hour for the Spanish, with a menu in a language he doesn’t speak”.

Gemma isn’t alone in noticing the changing face of Barcelona, which has seen a decrease in tourists following years of anti-tourism protests.

Another Briton, also residing in Barcelona, revealed that certain parts of the city had become significantly quieter, as visitors are being deterred from travelling there.

Laura, who has called the city home for two-and-a-half years, turned to social media to share footage of deserted streets earlier this month, capturing just how eerily silent they remained throughout the day.

She said: “Day one of recording how quiet Barcelona is now the tourists don’t feel welcome. The businesses must be feeling it The streets are so quiet now. These businesses last year used to wake me up in the morning. One has just recently been renovated.”

Laura’s footage shows just how successful some of the demonstrations have been, though opinion remains split on their intentions.

While some demonstrators have been demanding tourists leave, others maintain the protests stem from a wish to safeguard locals, rather than alienate visitors.

Professor Marina Novelli explained: “Places like Lisbon, Venice and Barcelona are increasingly reduced to lifestyle backdrops where locals feel like strangers. The SET movement is about cross-border solidarity. Ultimately, it’s not anti-tourist, it’s pro-resident.”

The coastline of Alicante has been placed under a red alert for hot temperatures from midday today (August 18) until the evening, while the region of Vega del Segura is also under a red alert

British holidaymakers in Alicante and Benidorm are facing a rare red weather warning, with scorching temperatures set to hit 42C today (Monday, August 18).

The Alicante coastline and Vega del Segura region, encompassing Murcia city, have been slapped with a red alert for extreme heat from midday through to evening.

Meanwhile, amber warnings are active across southern Spain with the mercury expected to soar to 40-42 °C. This covers Huelva in the south west and Seville. It comes after holidaymakers abandon Marbella as waiters left ‘with heads in their hands’.

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Yellow warnings have been issued for central and northeastern Spain, reports the Manchester Evening News. Whilst conditions won’t be quite as blistering here, temperatures are still forecast to climb into the high 30s.

Similar sweltering conditions are anticipated across the Balearic Islands. Ibiza, Formentera and northern Majorca are under amber heat warnings, with peaks of 39C predicted.

Menorca faces a yellow alert and could see the thermometer hit 36C. No warnings are currently in place for the country’s northwest. Looking ahead to Monday, August 18, Aemet forecasters said: “Significant drop in temperatures in the northwestern half of the Iberian Peninsula.

“They will remain significantly high in the southeastern half, as well as in parts of the Balearic and Canary Islands, reaching 40 degrees in the Guadalquivir and low-pressure areas in the southeast.”

Areas in the north east could experience downpours and thunderstorms, especially close to the Pyrenees. Majorca stays under a yellow heat alert, with temperatures reaching 36C predicted, whilst the Mediterranean coastline will continue to swelter.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Aemet stated: “A significant drop in temperatures will occur in the southeastern and eastern parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

“However, temperatures will remain significantly high in parts of the Mediterranean peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands. Showers and thunderstorms will be locally heavy with very strong gusts in the Pyrenees, the eastern Iberian Peninsula, and areas in between.”

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Health authorities are warning people to keep their distance from “risky” animals

The Catalan Department for Health has issued a warning as 21% of animal attacks in the area are now considered to be “risky” for disease transmission. Bats with rabies are a particular concern according to the authority.

It urged people in Catalonia to avoid contact with bats at all costs as these animals are the main carriers of rabies in the area. Rabies is passed on through bites, scratches and other close contact from an infected animal such as an infected animal licking your eyes, nose or mouth.

The authority cautioned: “It is important that if a person finds a bat, they do not handle it, even if it seems harmless or injured. And in this case, notify rural agents so that they can take charge of its management.

“In the event of a bite, scratch or lick from an animal considered at risk, both in Catalonia and in any other territory, in addition to immediately washing the wound with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection, it is necessary to consult a healthcare centre so that it can assess the actions to be taken.”

Officials also reminded people to be wary when travelling to other countries or areas that might have endemic rabies but Catalonia is currently free of terrestrial endemic rabies. This means that animals such as dogs, cats and ferrets in the area have no risk of contagion. The authority has highlighted that occasional instances of bats carrying the infection have been reported in the area.

Between January and 29 July this year, there were 88 animal attacks reported in Catalonia, with 22 involving bats, a figure consistent with previous years. However, this year has seen a significant increase in cases requiring intervention due to potential rabies infection, accounting for 63% of all incidents.

The health authority clarified that people who have been attacked by an animal deemed at risk of carrying rabies are typically administered anti-rabies medication and must adhere to a vaccination schedule following the suspected exposure.

Historically, June, July and August have been the peak months for animal attacks in Catalonia, with most incidents occurring during tourist trips in the region, on the streets or within domestic settings.

The NHS has issued a warning to travellers heading to Asia, Africa, Central America and South America to be particularly vigilant for rabies, as these regions have a higher prevalence of the disease.

In certain circumstances, a rabies vaccine may be recommended for those travelling to areas where access to emergency medical assistance may be limited or for those likely to come into contact with animals, such as those engaging in extensive outdoor activities.

Rabies is extremely rare in the UK and can be transmitted by various mammals including dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes. Currently, much like Catalonia, it’s only sporadically found in some bats in the UK.

Rabies can be prevented if treatment is sought promptly after exposure, according to health services. However, once symptoms begin to manifest, the disease becomes untreatable and is almost always fatal.

They’ve packed too much, surely? The cabin crew do not look thrilled as I try to help squeeze each bag into the overhead lockers or the footwells under the seats in front. My 19-year-old has brought five and a half bikinis – we are away for a week – and her sister, four. (For comparison, I’ve taken my one and only pair of trunks.) The 19-year-old’s boyfriend has mercifully adopted a more minimal approach – just one wheelie for him – while the 17-year-old’s best friend has a different outfit for every day.

If there is an unusual sense of excitement among us right now, then it’s because of the extra human baggage in tow. The fact that each daughter has been permitted a plus-one on our family summer holiday this year means that we can still be together, but mostly apart.

It’s how they like it these days.