Weekender Alicante North Issue 098

10 FRIday 14th June 2019 www.weekender.news
Winter wonderland
- in June
TRAVELLERS to by Alex Trelinski
Spain this week hoping
to get a nice tan will at this time of year
have been surprised people travel there for
when they were met activities such as hiking,
with heavy snowfalls. probably wishing they
The northern strip of had packed their skis
the country close to instead. The entire
the Pyrenees saw falls north of the country was
of about 20cm above several degrees cooler
2,000 metres, extremely than usual, although the
rare for this time of south and the Costas saw
year. While this part of normal temperatures
the country gets plenty although with some rain
of snow in the winter, around.
Profile of a gambling addict
THERE were 588 new
cases of people who suffer
from what is referred to as
pathological gambling in
Spain last year, according
to figures released by the
Ministry of Health and a big
rise from the 400 reported in
2017. Much of this is being
blamed on online betting
and the ease of access for
many who would not be seen
in a gaming bar or casino.
More men than women
are classified as gambling
addicts, over half of these
by Simon Russell
under the age of 34, while
six were under the legal age
to bet, highlighting another
issue with internet gambling.
The report said that the
profile of the “average”
gambler was a 41 year old
male, married, well educated
and in work. An expert
on addictive behaviours
has recommended that the
banning of advertising for
bookmakers and betting sites
be banned.
Heavy snow in northern Spain
SUNDAY SERVICE
SHOPPERS looking for a by Simon Russell
day out every Sunday will be
able to spend their euros in
the Valencia region as from
this weekend, until after the
Three Kings holiday in the
New Year.
The Sunday-shopping law,
controversially introduced
by the Valencian government
last year, closes most stores
in the area on a Sunday for
six months per annum but
allows them to be open for
trade from Sunday, June 16th
for the rest of 2019, as well
as certain holidays earlier in
the year like Easter.
Last year´s switch led
to a rise in shoppers going
to adjoining regions like
Murcia, who have no such
Sunday restrictions, and
which have been criticised
in hitting tourist areas across
the Costa Blanca.
Cliff fall tragedy
TRIBUTES have
been pouring in for a
28 year old Glaswegian
man who died when on
holiday with friends in
Ibiza last week. Johny
Doherty vanished on
Monday morning after
leaving the villa where
he was staying with
friends for reasons
unknown. Several
family members flew
out to the island to help
look for the man, while
local police organised
a formal search of land
and sea in the Cap
Martinet area where he
was last seen. Tragically
they discovered a body
floating in the sea three
days after Mr Doherty
first went missing and
the authorities have
now confirmed that
it is that of the young
Scotsman, a father of
two.
The Guardia Civil
are now trying to piece
together events leading
up to the tragedy. He
went out sometime
between 6am and 10am
without telling anyone.
Friends and family
back in the UK were the
first to become aware
there may be a problem
after the man didn’t
by Simon Russell
reply to messages or
calls. Friends at the
villa were contacted
and when they checked
the victim’s room the
bed had not been slept
in. The group had been
drinking until the early
hours and had assumed
their friend had gone
to bed. His sister said
Mr Doherty never went
anywhere without his
phone, which had been
left in his room. The
Spanish authorities are
conducting an autopsy
but concede the death
may remain a mystery.
Johny Doherty
vanished on
Monday morning
#dermaclinicspain
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