I recently met a young man called Koen Darras, a self-proclaimed “Adventurer, Keynote Speaker and Content Creator”. He is the first person in history to climb the ten highest mountains of South America and Africa in succession and conquer the iconic peaks Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, and Eiger in just nine days.

From summiting Denali in Alaska to traversing entire continents, Koen is an undeniable risk-taker and he likes to film it all. He hopes that by pushing his own limits and sharing these expeditions as a full cinematic experience, he may inspire others to step out of their comfort zones too.

Once of his next objectives is to be the world’s first person to cross the Atlantic by kitesurf, some 5,000 kms and 60 days at sea. He plans to start out from the Canary Islands, travel via Cape Verde and then head towards the Caribbean. Although Koen will surf alone he will be accompanied by a sailing boat all the way and a very dedicated team.

In order to prepare for this 2027 mission Koen had been training in the Canary Islands and took the time to come to Marbella on his way back to Belgium to share his passion for this very ambitious adventure.

Koen was accompanied by his 10 year old daughter Lio, who kindly helped me with some recording for the TV interview that I with her dad. From just the brief encounter it was easy to see that she, like her father, embraces the belief that limits are only invitations.

What a great team they make and what an inspirational encounter all round.

Between April 13 and 19, officers from the Guardia Civil Traffic Group set up a grand total of 3,537 control points across Spain. They checked speeds of a massive 1,256,540 vehicles during this period. The figure shows an increase of more than 235,000 checks, even bigger than the previous summer operation. It just goes to show that the traffic authorities (DGT) are cracking down harder than ever on speed.

Speeding incidents contributed to 22 per cent of fatal crashes in 2024, making it one of the leading causes of all road deaths. The authorities are now responding each year with ever more targeted enforcement and additional cameras on Spanish roads.

Motorways see majority of penalties

To give an idea of the issue, both DGT and Guardia Civil officers recorded over 78,000 drivers breaking speed limits, representing 6.2 per cent of all vehicles monitored. Motorways and dual carriageways accounted for 53.5 per cent of these penalties, with 41,772 fines dished out there. This area shows a 10 per cent rise versus conventional roads, where officers issued 34,215 fines.

Fifteen drivers faced court proceedings for exceeding limits by more than 80 km/h. Such extreme cases have doubled over the past two years.

Lawmakers consider new 190 km/h offence threshold

Interior Ministry officials are now supporting changes to make rules more effective at stopping dangerous behaviour. A proposal before Congress is hoping to automatically classify driving at 190 km/h on motorways as a criminal offence with potential jail time. The idea is to deter reckless actions that put lives at risk on high-speed routes where many violations occur.

New support line helps accident survivors

At the close of the enforcement week, traffic chiefs introduced a dedicated helpline for people affected by road crashes. The 018 number now delivers free assistance to survivors and their families dealing with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and practical difficulties after incidents.

The service is available in English on request, is not meant for emergencies (continue to use 112 for that), is a free-of-charge call, and is available from 8am to 9pm daily. There is also a WhatsApp version on +34 645 713 823, and even an email service (also possible in English) via victimastrafico@dgt.es.

Trained psychologists, social workers, and legal experts will be staffing the service to help anyone who has been affected by a road accident in Spain. They guide users through administrative processes, provide emotional counselling, and monitor serious cases over extended periods. This resource addresses growing demand from individuals coping with long-term consequences of collisions on Spanish roads.

Change in speeding culture in Spain

Speed enforcement is really starting to take off in Spain as a form of changing a decades-long culture of pushing the accelerator down too far. With more vehicles checked and stricter rules under discussion, drivers can expect ever increasing pressure to respect limits, especially on high-capacity routes.

One does not simply skip Malaga. Frodo and Sam, two of cinema’s most beloved hobbit characters, are reuniting in Spain this October, as Comic Con Malaga 2026 confirms that Elijah Wood will join Sean Astin at the pop culture festival.

Wood’s attendance was revealed by Fernando Piquer, the newly appointed director of the event, in an interview with Gamereactor. 

Two icons, one festival

Elijah Wood achieved international fame in the early 2000s for playing Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. He beat out 150 actors for the role, famously filming a homemade audition tape wearing crudely made hobbit feet. Great news for super fans as he has recently been confirmed to reprise the role in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, due in cinemas in December 2027.

Astin’s impressive career spans four decades and over 180 acting credits, built on iconic role,  Mikey Walsh in The Goonies (1985), the inspirational title character in Rudy (1993), Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, and Bob Newby in Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 2. During the filming of The Lord of the Rings, the two became genuine close friends forming a bond that has lasted over two decades and gives this double appearance an extra exciting punch. 

Middle-earth on the Costa Del Sol

San Diego Comic-Con Malaga is the official European edition of the world’s most influential international pop culture convention. It is now in its second year in Andalucia being held from October 1 to 4. Astin will participate in panels and fan sessions, with meet-and-greets, signings, and public discussions about his career. Fans are hoping Wood will follow the same programme. Other confirmed guests include Iñaki Godoy (One Piece), Kevin Smith, Michael Rooker, and John Romita Jr., with further names to be announced to join the line up. 

How to join the pop culture convention

Tickets went on sale on May 4  via the official website and Ticketmaster. Following feedback from the previous event held, organisers have promised improved crowd management after the 2025 debut received criticism for enormous queues and capacity pressures, so early booking and planning your day in advance is strongly advisable.

FYCMA is located at Avenida Ortega y Gasset, 201. Full details can be found on the official website for the festival.