Spain is a country in crisis with millions unemployed and millions more now facing poverty. Spaniards have taken to the streets in protest. The Great Spanish Crash, BBC 2012
In the 1950s the tourism industry was born … The second fastest growing economy in the world. ibid.
Every region has its own local banks. ibid.
The Spanish countryside is now scarred with sprawling and unregulated development. ibid.
Valencia’s regional government is currently in debt to the tune of twenty-five billions Euros. ibid.
A quarter of the population are unemployed. ibid.
The giant Bankia collapsed and had to be bailed out. ibid.
Europe is spending billions to keep it afloat. ibid.
When I was younger, I had some close friends who always loved European football, and Real Madrid at that time were the dominant force. I remember family holidays when we used to go to Spain, and we’d bring back replica shirts of Real Madrid and pretend to be the players when we played in the park. Gareth Bale
Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain. John Masefield
Every summer thousands of young Brits travel to Magaluf in Majorca. No so much for the sun but for what happens when the sun goes down … I discover the darker side of this notorious wild resort. Stacey Dooley Investigates, BBC 2009
Every bar employs a promoter to offer tourists on the street more cheap or even free booze. ibid.
To compete with the bars, clubs in Magaluf charge a fee at the door entitling ticket holders to a free unlimited bar all night. ibid.
It’s like a frantic panic, a rush. ibid.
Spain: In the late 1960s when three young girls witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary in a field just outside the village of Palma de Troya many seers came to pray. Exposed: Ireland’s Secret Cults, TV3 2011
Spain’s Costa Del Sol – home of sun, sex and money. Playground and safe haven for some of Britain’s toughest gangstas. For ten long years this was a sun-kissed sanctuary for British prison cells. A legal loophole made them untouchable. As they bought up luxury villas and made millions. Politicians were powerful, detectives frustrated. With their hands tied the police turned to a fearless British TV journalist. Britain’s Exposed: Ireland’s Secret Cults, TV3 2011
Knight’s criminal career started early: he started his first robbery by aged ten; by twenty he was a professional thief. ibid.
Freddie Foreman was to become a top Costa gangster as well. He developed an early taste for Spain. ibid.
The Train Robbers were the first big British criminals to hang out in Spain. ibid.
Since 2006 Spanish and British police have worked together to capture and extradite British Costa criminals. ibid.
Another US nuclear weapon mishap – this one over Palomares, Spain. A collision between a refuelling plane and a B-52 killed 7 US airmen and dropped 4 x 1.4 megaton H-bombs over Spanish tomato farms. Parachutes on two of the bombs opened. America’s Lost H Bomb, 2007
One of the pickpocket capitals of the world. Scam City s1e4: Barcelona, Travel+Escape 2012
Everyone here seems to be a tourist or someone trying to make money from tourists. ibid.
Three Card Monty – this is a game I suspect you can’t win. ibid.
King Juan Carlos is reported to have abruptly left the country. Juan Carlos: Downfall of the King I: Secret Safari, news, Sky 2023
The relationship between Juan Carlos and Corinna Larsen has been toxic for the King, the monarchy and for Spain. ibid. observer
1981: Spain may be facing a coup tonight. ibid. TV news
As his wife, Sofia put up with a lot from Juan Carlos. ibid. journalist
I mean shooting elephants in Botswana. For what? The thrill? ibid. British journalist
The King’s reputation was in freefall. ibid. observer
A state operation was activated to stop the relationship. Juan Carlos: Downfall of the King II: Hidden Boxes
Juan Carlos wanted a divorce so he could marry Corinna. ibid. biographer
The Strange Death of Sandra Mozarowsky: ‘She was five months pregnant when she died.’ ibid.
There are tapes of the amorous encounter between Barbara Rey and the King. ibid. TV producer
Yet more information about the alleged fortune of King Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos: Downfall of the King III: Dirty Money, news
No-one got off. Except the King. ibid. journalist
Spanish King Steps Down: King Juan Carlos abdicates after nearly 40 years on throne. ibid. CNN news
That’s when the famous recordings were made. When they were released in 2018 they finally tore down the facade that had been protecting Juan Carlos I’s hidden fortune for so long. ibid. dude
What Felipe VI was trying to do was build a wall between himself and Juan Carlos I. Juan Carlos: Downfall of the King IV: Poisoned Gift, dude
King Juan Carlos had received $65 million from the Saudis. And that a Swiss prosecutor was investigating it. It was the first time that there was proof of offshore funds. Huge sums of money were not declared to the tax authorities. ibid. investigator
He turned himself into a figure who destabilises the monarchy. ibid. dude
King Juan Carlos has informed his son he will be leaving Spain after investigations into his alleged fortunes in tax havens. ibid. Spanish TV news