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AXARQUIA - COSTA TROPICAL • EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
MOTRIL Council is extending a heart felt call to its community. Motril is seeking volunteers willing to devote their time to assisting the el derly and individuals with health chal lenges in caring for the cemetery in the days leading up to November 1. November 1 holds special signifi cance in Spain, marked as the All Saints’ holiday, a time to remember and honour departed loved ones. In Spain, this day is celebrated with great reverence, particularly by the el derly, who uphold the tradition of adorning cemeteries with bouquets of flowers and meticulously cleaning niches to pay their respects. However, many of these devoted el derly individuals face physical limita tions that make these tasks difficult to accomplish. Given that a significant proportion of those tending to these acts in cemeter ies are older adults, Motril is initiating an outreach effort to bring together a compassionate group of volunteers.
CEMETERY: Being extensively upgraded.
ALL SAINTS: A time to remember and honour departed loved ones.
These volunteers will assist in clean ing and maintaining the niches at the Motril Municipal Cemetery from Oc tober 24 up until the All Saints’ festi val. If you can spare the time to help, call (+34) 682 277 933. Susana Pena, the councillor for Con
sumer Affairs, emphasised the impor tance of aiding citizens in need. The councillor also expressed grati tude to all Motril citizens interested in participating in this beautiful initiative and appealed to those considering it, reminding us all that one day, we too may need such assistance.
Image: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com
Vaccination campaign AXARQUIA is gearing up for an extensive vaccination campaign, targeting both flu and Covid19. In the initial phase, the spotlight shines on individ uals aged 85 and above, residents of elderly care fa cilities, and healthcare and socialcare centre employ ees. Additionally, students in terning at these centres, along with children be tween the ages of six and 59 months, are on the list to receive the flu vaccine. Starting on October 16, the campaign will kick off, allowing those over 70 years of age, children aged six months and older, adults with underlying health con ditions, caregivers of high dependency individuals, and expectant mothers to
Ambitious project
Image: Ayuntamiento de Motril
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FREE • GRATIS
Image: Ayuntamiento de Rincón de la Victoria / Facebook
Issue No. 1997
INITIAL PHASE: Will cover individuals aged 85 and above.
receive their vaccinations. This same date also marks the initiation of flu shots for children aged six to 59 months. Moving forward to Octo ber 30, the next phase be gins, extending vaccination to those aged 60 and older, as well as various profes sional groups such as law enforcement, farmers,
ranchers, and veterinari ans.
Penitentiary institution staff will also be included. The final leg of the cam paign, commencing in De cember, will focus on those residing with individuals aged 60 or above, as well as those at risk. For all individuals eligible for vaccination, appoint ments can be conveniently scheduled through the Salud Responde app, by phone, via ClicSalud+, or di rectly at the local health centre.
RINCON DE LA VICTORIA has now concluded its ambitious project to com prehensively rehabilitate the Benagalbon cemetery, breathing new life into this significant community space. The project focused on several key aspects, in cluding the essential de molition of the oldest, di lapidated niches, and the meticulous reconstruction of 140 niches. This preservation effort ensures that burial units remain available in the municipal cemetery for years to come. The mayor, Francisco Salado, confirmed: “This was an eagerly awaited and muchdemanded ac tion by the town’s resi dents.” The project encom passed various elements,
such as enhancing the area where the old niches stood, improving pave ments, ensuring accessi bility to all the cemetery pavilions, renovating doors, and even con structing a small space ad jacent to the funeral home. This addition provides more privacy for neigh bours who use this room to pay their final respects to their loved ones. Furthermore, the in vestment extended to the upgrade of the entire cemetery’s electrical and lighting installations. As part of the project, new benches were strate gically placed to provide spaces for reflection and rest, and additional areas were designated for the preparation and display of floral tributes.
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NEWS
Walk of Hope Image: Ayuntamiento de Velez-Malaga / Facebook
SENDA LITORAL: Offers a unique and refreshing experience for locals and visitors alike.
Connecting communities Anna Ellis VELEZMALAGA has just unveiled an ex citing addition to its breathtaking shore line, the brandnew section of the Coastal Path, known as ‘Senda Litoral’. This delightful path now extends from the Paseo de Lagos all the way to the Güi River, offering a unique and refresh ing experience for locals and visitors alike. Measuring a total of 332 metres, this carefully crafted section of the Senda Litoral has been brought to life through meticulous execution, with a total in vestment of €137,527. The result? A splendid pathway that seamlessly blends with the natural
beauty of the region, inviting you to ex plore the captivating coastal landscape like never before. Jesus Lupianez, the mayor of Velez Malaga, couldn’t contain his excitement as he proudly declared, “We are thrilled to announce the completion of this re markable addition to the Senda Litoral. “Pedestrians are already basking in the sheer beauty of this infrastructure in one of our coastline’s most enchanting spots. “Not only does it provide a scenic stroll for our residents, but it also serves as a bridge of unity, connecting our mu nicipality with the neighbouring Tor rox.”
VELEZ-MALAGA is gearing up for an extraor dinary event that combines sportsmanship and solidarity as the city hosts the 40th Urban Race and the 12th Walk of Hope on Sunday, November 5. Rocio Ruiz, the councillor for Sports, has ex tended a warm invitation to residents and vis itors to be a part of this unique sporting and solidarity event. He emphasised that it’s an occasion where the community can come together to make a positive impact. Carlos Gomez, President of the Velez Athlet ics Club, delves into the details of the two re markable sporting events. “The Urban Race covers a challenging six
kilometre route through the bustling streets of Velez, catering to participants aged 18 and above. “Additionally,” he added, “We have estab lished shorter distances for younger age cate gories. "”eanwhile, the Walk of Hope will feature an approximately threekilometre route. “The first four races will follow different paths, culminating in the walk scheduled to commence at midday on Sunday, November 5. “Participants registering before October 25 will receive a tshirt, and there will be various trophies to commemorate the achieve ments.”
Taking action ALMACHAR is stepping up its efforts to com bat the persistent issue of dog faeces on its streets with an innovative campaign under the banner, ‘Your dog, your responsibility, pick them up!’ This initiative aims not only to address the problem, but also to promote hygiene and sanitation throughout the town. Almachar Council wants to make it crystal clear: “It is every pet owner’s responsibility to
ensure they pick up after their animals to maintain the cleanliness of the town.” While it’s impossible to station a policeman behind every resident, the town council is call ing for collective action. They urge residents to report irresponsible dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets, and they are ready to initiate disciplinary procedures based on photographic evidence received.
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NIBS EXTRA Former glory THE image of the Virgen del Rocío de VelezMalaga, which was affected by the fateful fire during the proces sion on Palm Sunday in April, will soon be restored to its former glory in Sevilla. The image of the Virgin suffered notable damage.
Artists unite MORE than 50 artists exhib ited their works starting on October 6 for the weekend for the seventh Art Route of Frigiliana. The event brought together 57 artists from 15 different countries, who dis played their works in 30 loca tions in the town centre.
Hispanic looks BENAMOCARRA is hosting the exhibition ‘Miradas His panicas’ (Hispanic Looks) by Rodolfo Morales from Mexi co and Antonio Montes from Spain. It can be visited at the Exhibition Hall on Calle Doctor Gomez, 23, until Oc tober 17 every day (except Saturday and Sunday) from 9.00am until 3.00pm.
Bicycle Day COMPETA is gearing up for its muchanticipated Bicycle Day on October 15. Secure your spot by emailing info@ competa.es, calling (+34) 952 516 006, or visiting the town hall on Calle Rampa in per son. You can pick up the event tshirt on the day itself!
For the kids RINCON DE LA VICTORIA Town Council has invested €92,458 in the development of the municipality’s Early Childhood and Primary Cen tres for the 202324 school year. This was announced by the mayor, Francisco Salado, who is visiting many of the schools.
Road repair THE Malaga Provincial Coun cil is finalising the repair of the MA3114 highway, be tween Moclinejo and Al machar, in its first three kilo metres of route, which in some sections suffered sig nificant deterioration.
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Green paradise 59
YOUR EWN HAS
IN a sprawling 5,000square metre facility nestled within the charming La Candelaria Urbanisation of Benagalbon, Rincon de la Victoria has un veiled a revitalised haven for the community. This remarkable project en compasses a delightful play ground, winding walkways, a spirited threeaside football court, biohealth equipment, a serene pedestrian path, and extensive upgrades to the sanitation network, among other enhancements. The endeavour has been meticulously executed, ensur ing the safety and security of
Image: Rincón de la Victoria / Facebook
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UNVEILED: A haven for the community including walkways.
the facility’s infrastructure. Sergio Díaz, the mayor of Infrastructure, illuminated the
El Majuelo THE El Majuelo Children’s Park in Almuñecar is in the final stages of its impres sive renovation. This exciting project comes with a substantial investment exceeding €210,000. Mayor Juan Jose Ruiz Joya recently paid a visit to the site, confirming: “Dur ing this visit, we had the opportunity to witness first hand the remarkable progress made on the El Majuelo playground. “This facility is on the verge of being trans
formed into a modern haven for our little ones to enjoy.” The mayor added: “Our commitment to revamp all the playgrounds in our municipality is in full swing. The next parks in line for these wonderful transformations are Tor recuevas and El Moruno. “We’re taking it one step at a time, and gradu ally, we will breathe new life into all the play grounds across our munici pality, just as we pledged to our residents.”
project’s multifaceted accom plishments. “We’ve trans formed this space into a fami
Breath of fresh air IT’S official: The Air Quality Improvement Plan, set to impact parts of Axarquia, has received the green light. This crucial plan has a sin gular mission: to combat and eliminate atmospheric pollution in the region. The plan is multifaceted, with several key objectives. First and foremost, it aims to maintain air quality at levels that are not only ac ceptable but also conducive to a healthier life. Furthermore, it’s deter mined to roll up its sleeves and rejuvenate areas that have suffered from environ
Motor Fair showcase VELEZ M A L A G A has proudly un veiled the fifth Motor Fair, revving its engines at the fairgrounds until Sunday October 15! Buckle up because you’re in for a treat! The fifth Motor Fair is set to showcase an impressive line up of companies from the automotive sector, spanning the local, provin cial, regional, and national levels. It’s not just a local event; it’s a motor extravaganza that’s turning heads all across Andalucia.
lyfriendly paradise,” he ex claimed. “The heart of the endeav our is a sprawling 510square metre children’s area, com plete with a delightful double swing and a vibrant playset. “Moreover, the project boasts meticulously designed sports areas and an intricate network of walkways and paths that beckon visitors to explore.” The project has also breathed new life into the park’s infrastructure, with ex tensive refurbishments to its pathways spanning a total length of 704 metres.
Beatriz Galvez, the councillor for Industry and Commerce, is thrilled about the fair and the town coun cil’s commitment to driving events like these forward. “At the Department of Industry and Commerce, we’re fully behind this initiative, which powers up lo cal commerce through the automo tive sector,” she confirmed. “It’s not just about cars; it’s about an event that packs a serious economic punch, drawing profes sionals from our town and beyond.”
mental degradation, giving them a chance at revival. The ripple effect of the Air Quality Improvement Plan will not only benefit the capital city of Malaga but al so extend its reach to 10 neighbouring municipalities. These include Benalmade na, Casares, Estepona, Fuen girola, Manilva, Marbella, Mijas, Rincon de la Victoria, VelezMalaga, and Torre molinos. It’s a united effort to en sure that the air we breathe remains clean, invigorating, and safe for generations to come.
STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Hospitality skills ON October 8, Nerja’s historic streets came alive with a vibrant dis play of hospitality pro fessionals showcasing their skills at the inaugu ral Waiters and Wait resses Race as part of the Feria de Nerja. The event was a re sounding success, draw ing substantial participa tion and generating significant media atten tion. The top honours of the day went to Juan Linares Montenegro, representing the Plaza Cavana cafeteria, who claimed the coveted first place. Not far behind was Daniel Rodriguez Lopez, from the renowned restaurant Paco El Churretero, se curing the welldeserved second place. Complet ing the podium was Jose Luis Flores Colmenares, hailing from the restau rant Gloria Bendita, who clinched the third spot.
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Anna Ellis RINCON DE LA VICTORIA is gearing up for its fifth annual photography con test, aptly titled ‘Tourism in Rincon’. The winning images from this competition will find their place in the prestigious Rincon de la Victoria 2024 tourism cal endar, a calendar that will be unveiled with great anticipation at the renowned International Tourism Fair (FITUR). The contest welcomes entries from individuals aged 18 and above who are residents of Spain. It’s a chance to show
Photo fun Image: Ayuntamiento de Rincon de la Victoria / Facebook
RINCON TOURISM: Showcase your favourite moments.
case not only landscapes but also moments, festivi ties, sports, gastronomy, and any other theme that
portrays the unique charm of the municipali ty. Participants are encour
PROVERB OF THE WEEK
“There is no time like the present.”
Meaning don’t wait to do something, do it now. The phrase originated in ancient English as advice to make the most of the present day and has been a popular phrase used all over the world ever since.
aged to submit their work, with no limit on the number of photographs they can enter. All submissions must be original, unpublished, and never previously featured in other contests, web sites, or any digital or printed media. Don’t miss the dead line! Submit your entries by October 31, ensuring they meet the minimum specifications of 1920×1080 pixels in jpg format, oriented horizon tally. Send your submissions via email to turismo@tur ismoenrincon.es. In the previous edition, this contest witnessed an overwhelming re sponse, with over100 captivating photographs pouring in from across the four corners of the municipality.
NEWS
Pescadores transformation EXCITING transformations are on the horizon for the Pescadores neighbourhood, as the Rincon de la Victoria Town Council has unveiled plans for a substantial investment pro ject that promises to revitalise this traditional area. The mayor, Francisco Sala do, confirmed that the primary objective is to boost pedestrian mobility within this historic neighbourhood, preserving its charming maritime character. The project’s scope includes the pedestrianisation of streets, effectively limiting ac cess to vehicular traffic, and is set to receive an investment of €449,765. Underlining the pedestrian friendly approach, Mayor Sala do explained, “The area will undergo pedestrianisation while maintaining restricted access for resident vehicles. “Additionally, controlled ac
cess for emergency vehicles will be established through a li cence plate reading system at designated entry and exit points.” The streets will be adorned with elegant paving stones set in cement mortar, layered over a compacted concrete foundation. Urban amenities such as benches, bins, flower pots, and decorative metal bars to support plants will also be integrated.
20th century produced great artists, Picasso and Dali.
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IN an exchange of cultural and educational ex periences, the mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, played host to a group of 12 enthusiastic geog raphy students from the University of Erlangen in Nuremberg, Germany. The mayor painted the students a vivid pic ture of Torrox’s recent population surge, its bur geoning tourism sector, and the remarkable economic growth it has undergone in recent years.
Playing host He also highlighted Torrox’s strategic location, with excellent transportation links connecting it to the rest of the Costa del Sol, neighbouring provinces such as Granada, and even Germany via air travel. RINCON DE LA VICTORIA Council is set to give a series of informative workshops on the protec tion of consumer rights in the municipality. The workshop aimed at both merchants and con sumers. In the case of con sumers and older people,
An intriguing tidbit shared by the mayor was the revelation that Torrox holds the distinction of being the Peninsula’s home to the largest population of German residents. He regaled the university students and their
NEWS
teachers with the fascinating tale of how Torrox earned the prestigious title of having the best cli mate in Europe, shedding light on its origins and circumstances. The mayor’s reflections extended to the high quality of life that residents enjoy in Torrox, which not only fosters teleworking opportuni ties, but also positions Torrox as a promising hub for German tourists, particularly those em bracing the digital nomad lifestyle.
Consumer rights
it will be about the rights they have when making their purchases (guaran tee, repairs, withdrawal, misleading advertising, etc); in addition to the
possible problems de rived from online pur chases. Likewise, these work shops will aim to resolve doubts and answer ques tions regarding telephone services, electricity sup ply, banking procedures, and airlines, among oth ers. The council will shortly announce the dates of the workshops and how to register. The councillor for Com merce, Lola Ramos. ex plained that “the purpose of the initiative is to pro
mote the protection of the rights of consumers and users, and to avoid discrimination that may occur derived from com mercial activity.” Rincon de la Victoria al so offers a free informa tion and guidance service to consumers, which also mediates conflicts that may arise between con sumers and businesses. located on the first floor of the town hall. Contact by email: con sumption@rincondelavic toria.es or telephone: (+34) 952 911 332.
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DOMINGO LOZANO, a dedicated officer of the Nerja Local Police, has showcased exceptional athleticism and dedication by clinching not one, but three medals at the prestigious ninth European Police and Firefighters Games held in Torrevieja, Alicante, until October 7. Lozano’s impressive achievements include two welldeserved gold medals, earned in the 200metre dash and the challenging hammer throw event.
Nerja hero Adding to his impressive haul, he secured a bronze medal in the fiercely competitive 100metre dash. The ninth European Police and Firefighters Games brought together nearly 3,000 police
Neighbourly
Image: Ayuntamiento de Rincón de la Victoria /
AGREEMENT: Promises to be mutually beneficial.
THE mayor of Rincon de la Vic toria, Francisco Salado, and the mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, have recently inked a groundbreaking protocol aimed at turbocharging tourism in both locations. This protocol, the very first of its kind between Rincon de la Victoria and Malaga, seeks to leverage their proximity and promote a complementary tourism experience. Francisco Salado expressed his enthusiasm for this collabo rative endeavour. “For Rincon de la Victoria, this marks a sig nificant stride in creating syner gies. Malaga is recognised na
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tionally and internationally as one of the most important cities. Rincon de la Victoria has experienced exponential growth in all aspects, including tourism.” He added: “Our offerings ex tend beyond the traditional sun and beach experiences, fo cusing on gastronomy, sports, and, notably, our Historical Heritage, featuring the iconic Cueva del Tesoro, Cueva de la Victoria, and Villa Antiopa. “With the aim of consolidat ing our position and continuing to expand, we have signed this protocol that promises to be mutually beneficial.”
Everyday landscapes EXPERIENCE the enchanting world of art at the Salas de Exposiciones in Calle Real 80, Frigiliana, where Jose Rivas’ captivating painting exhibi tion, Paisajes Cotidianos (Ev eryday Landscapes) takes centre stage. This exhibition is a visual journey which invites you to explore the beauty of ordi nary moments, turning the everyday into something ex traordinary through the lens of artistry. Jose Rivas’ unique per spective and creative talent breathes life into landscapes that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. You have the wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in this artistic spec tacle until October 31. The gallery doors are open from Tuesday to Sun day, welcoming art enthusi asts and curious souls alike from 11.00am to 2.00pm and again from 4.30pm to 8.00pm.
officers and firefighters from a staggering 30 European countries, alongside participants from Mexico and Brazil. This grand event not only celebrates the spirit of competition but also fosters interna
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tional camaraderie among these dedicated professionals. Francisco Arce, the councillor for Security at the Nerja Town Council, offered warm congratulations to Officer Domingo Lozano for his remarkable accomplishments in these multidisciplinary games. Arce emphasised the importance of these events in highlight ing the tremendous efforts put forth by secu rity forces and emergency services
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AFTER ‘freedom of move ment’ within most of Europe officially ended on January 1, 2021 it became necessary to get a visa to retire abroad full time. It seemed that many British pensioners simply aban doned their dreams of retiring to the sun, but as time passed there were still plenty of visits and many decided to opt for
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Brexit retirees a holiday home instead and put up with the 90/180 day rule. New research by property consultants Your Overseas Home highlights that many British people are coming to
terms with postBrexit restric tions, applying for visas and retiring to favourite European destinations in ever greater numbers. Their experts have compiled new data which shows a return to preBrexit levels of interest in retiring to Mediterranean and southern European hotspots. According to Christopher Nye, chief editor at Your Overseas Home: “Since we started helping British people to buy property in 2004, around twothirds said they were retiring and a third were buying a holiday home ex plained “Then, when you started to need a visa many of the re tirees gave up on the idea and it became roughly a 5050 split between retirees and second homers. Now it seems the retirees are back in force.” This new data came from a r e c e n t YourOverseasHome.com sur vey which gained over 5,000 responses from people who are in the process of buying a
property in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, or Por tugal. Compared with 2022fig ures, the most popular desti nations are Greece, 15 per cent up and France 14 per cent Closer to home, Spain is an other popular option. Interest
Credit: Kampus Productions Pexels
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Many pensioners still enjoy retiring to the sun.
from residents in the UK look ing to retire in Spain has in creased by 10 per cent since
last year, with 58 per cent of respondents saying that they’d like to retire in Spain.
Spain assists Ukraine ACCORDING to a news source, the Spanish and Ukrainian leaders have reached an agreement over a fresh batch of military sup port, as Ukraine looks to continue to defend itself from Russia, who invaded their eastern European neighbours back towards the start of 2022. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Spain last week for the latest summit of the European Political Community, and the crisis in Ukraine continues to dominate the agenda. During the summit, the Ukrainian leader sought to source fresh military aid for his country, with some European nations seem ingly starting to waver in terms of their com mitment. Countries like the UK, France, and Ger
many are all reaffirming their support, how ever, and Spain is doing the same with de fence systems set to be sent to eastern Eu rope. Indeed, Spain will provide Ukraine with six Hawk antiaircraft missile launchers following talks between Spanish President Pedro Sánchez and Zelenskyy at the summit in Granada on Thursday October 5. The launchers will help Ukraine ‘fight off possible Russian bombardments against civil ian targets and critical infrastructure’. Sánchez also pledged corresponding train ing for Ukrainian soldiers and demining equipment. The Hawk SAM system is a semistationary mediumrange antiaircraft missile system which is being serviced in about 20 countries.
FEATURE
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THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to provide financial assis tance for British nationals in extreme financial distress and who have no other recourse, whether friends or family or state support. The BBF works with partner charities from www.supportinspain.info across the country as well as the UK’s consular network in Spain in order to help those who have no other means and are facing dire financial straits often brought on through no fault of their own. Rachel is a single mother recently split from her ex part ner. As the split became final she decided to take a short holiday with their son to Spain. She booked flights and told him the plan. To her surprise he offered to pay for the hotel. It seemed a nice gesture and hopefully a sign of some stabili ty for their child. The hotel he had chosen was lovely and expensive and it was too good to be true on arriving late at night she discovered to her horror that he hadn’t made any reserva tion at all. Indeed, the confir mation he had sent was a fake
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Providing support Olaf Clayton of BBF.
one. To make matters worse when she tried to pay for the night while she looked for something more economical, she found her card didn’t work. She would find out later that the bank account which was still shared with him had been blocked. She had nowhere to go with a young child in the dead of night and no money nor access to mon ey. She tried phoning her mum but she was asleep there was no answer anywhere. The hotel manager took pity and gave her a small guest room till morning. It was then that we were alerted to her situation by the British consulate who had been informed by the hotel. We were able to help her with food, emergency accom modation and a flight back the
next day back to the UK. She sent a heartfelt note of thanks. You never know when you might be stuck. The BBF can only help people like Rachel with your support if you would like to make a do nation to the British Benevo lent Fund please visit our web site www.britishbenevolent fund.org thank you on behalf of the many for your help. Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF
WE live on a farm out side a small market town in northern Spain, and we’ve gone through the crucible of meeting and integrating into the com munity. It is a longer process than you would think in such a small community, but life runs at a pace here that is very differ ent than where we are from. And besides, most of our neighbours have known each other for generations. The benefit of being a newcomer is that we have no history. None of the local feuds are our feuds. And, as a result, the ice began to melt. My neighbour comes over and sits on the porch in the evening. She whispers the local gossip in my ear and gives me the lay of the
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Fitting in land. Who is doing what they shouldn’t. And those who are going through a rough time. Neighbours who have given up farming and whose farms might be up for sale soon. Or those starting new busi nesses and how much they’re spending. It seems everyone is in each other’s pockets and knows everyone’s busi ness. I feel sure they know ours, too. The other day I went to the hardware store. The man there met me in the aisle of drawers filled with screws and nuts and bolts. Things like that. I was looking
for something specific Jeff had sent me for, and I was reading the tags carefully and trying to ensure I returned with what was needed for our project. Without hesitation, he reached into the right bin and extracted the screws, telling me that he knows the project we are working on, and this is what we need. I was dumbfounded. I have never spoken to this man about our project. And while perhaps I should be freaked out, instead it made me smile. Because now I know they treat us like locals.
Kelli Field is an American expat writer/blogger living in rural Galicia, and a volunteer for Age in Spain. Some of her other writing about moving to and living in Spain can be found at www.vivaespanamovingtospain.com If you'd like to get in touch with Age In Spain, we can be reached at info@ageinspain.org (+34 932 209 741)
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FEATURE
10 QUIRKIEST HOTEL STAYS IN SPAIN SPAIN HAS MANY WONDERFUL HOTELS TO CATER FOR ALL TASTES, FROM HISTORIC PARADORES TO THE ALL-INCLUSIVE COSTA RESORT HOTELS. IF YOU ARE ADVENTUROUS, TRY OUR TOP 10 QUIRKY STAYS IN SPAIN.
Aye aye Captain.
• SIX: GET A HEART OF GLASS AT LES COLS PAVELLONS
• TWO: BE A HIGH FLYER AT HOTEL VUELING BCN.
Tucked away on the Costa Granadina, Casa Acantilado is a house fit for The Game of Thrones. A sinuous scaled roof slopes down to a ter race with an infinity pool overlooking the sea. The in side is as stunning as the outside with furniture that was digitally designed specif ically to blend with the ar chitecture. • EIGHT: ONE RING TO BIND THEM AT SOLO OFFICE
A Marriot luxury collection hotel designed by the worldrenowned architect, Frank O Gehry, the Mar ques De Riscal is a class stay. Set amid the Marqués de Riscal vine yards, the hotel features sweeping undulations of titanium and steel that house avantgarde rooms and a Michelinstar restaurant. This wine lovers’ haven offers vineyard tours, a winery and a team of vinotherapists who em ploy the properties of both grape and vine in a range of beauty ther apies. • TEN: CASTAWAY AT THE HIDDEN SECRET ON THE CLIFF Credit: booking.com
• FOUR: FUN FOR THE LITTLE KIDS AND THE BIG KIDS AT HOTEL DEL JUGUETE.
Credit: instagram.com/lescolsp avellons
THE Futurotel is a blend of futuristic, retro and jungle. If you’re a scifi fan, the spaceshipstyle pod rooms are for you; boasting smart screens for those who like to interface with their apps on every conceivable sur face and smart toilets for those who like to interface with their… never mind. For wouldbe Tarzans, there’s a junglethemed room and the ho tel has carried that theme over to its spa facilities. The hotel also offers its guests free use of a retro gaming room and use of ebikes.
A ‘flotel’ of brightly coloured mini houseboats afloat in Gibraltar with standardsized units featuring two bedrooms, a full kitchen, sun terrace with loungers and courtesy bikes to tour the area. Boat Haus gives guests the opportunity to enjoy great views of the rock whilst bobbing in the tranquil waters of the marina.
Credit: hoteldeljuguete.com
Rumble in the jungle.
Credit airbnb.es
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Located on the Atlantic coast of Spain, the hotel is a collection of large bubbles that offer a panoramic view of the stars from the comfort of a kingsize bed. Stays include a telescope, astrono my guide and planisphere and, though there’s no onsite restau rant, a gourmet meal can be or dered for delivery to your door to allow guests to eat and stargaze.
Wine and undulations
Dragon’s breath
Credit hostunusual.com
Star gazey and pie
• NINE: ROCK THE RIOJA AT THE MARQUES DE RISCAL Credit: marquesderiscal.com
• SEVEN: HERE BE DRAGONS AT CASA ACANTILADO Credit: boat-haus.com
• FIVE: BE THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR STAY AT BOAT HAUS
Credit: booking.com
• THREE: REACH FOR THE STARS AT BURBUJAS ASTRONÓMICAS ALBARARI CORUÑA.
Credit: futurotelgranadaspagarden.com
By Emma Mitchell • ONE: BECOME TARZAN OF YOUR OWN TOILET AT THE FUTUROTEL GRANADA SPA GARDEN.
Credit: vivehotels.com
Total transparency.
Cabin class.
They say it’s all about the journey, not the destination and if you sub scribe to that philosophy you’re going to love this hotel in Barcelona which goes out of its way to make you feel as though you never got off the plane.
A wheely good room.
Where activities for children are a side note in most hotels, they are the focus for Hotel Del Juguete. This Alicante hotel features family rooms themed for different toys and movies. Get prepared to wow your child by booking into the Lego, Hot Wheels, Barbie or Mar vel room (to name but a few) that, as well as the usual hotel room amenities, also boast themed toys and games. The hotel has game rooms, trampolines and every thing to keep the little and big kids happy.
Full circle.
Set in the heart of the Garrotxa Volcanic Nature Reserve, Les Cols Pavellons is a collection of pavilions with glass ceilings, walls and floors for a truly trans parent experience. With a focus on Zen philosophy, the pavilions blend nature with heated Japanese onsen bathing, futons and architectural lighting for at mospheric evenings. Nearby is the twostar Michelin restaurant Les Cols at Olot for those in the market for some classy Spanish food.
Cosy cliff-top.
Set in Matarrana, an area known as the Tuscany of Spain, Solo Office is a building that’s had the architectural world buzzing. The house, set on a plateau in the 100hectare site overlooking the Mediterranean, is a ringshaped, threebed roomed ultramodern building that allows guests to open up every room to the outside to blur the lines between nature and living space.
Occupying a lofty position in Loiba on the north west coast of Spain, The Hidden Secret on the Cliff is a house of angles with large sweeps of glass to make the most out of the Atlantic seascape. Featuring a woodburning stove and chic modern furnishings with a Scandi navian feel, the house is close to stunning deserted beaches and lots of opportunities for walking and cycling with the courtesy bikes supplied.
FINANCE Sail away THE Barclay family, which owes approximately £1 billion (€1.15 billion), is currently fighting to retain the Telegraph newspa per group, due to be auctioned this month. They are now sell ing the 60metre Lady Beatrice superyacht, which has a crew of 17 and costs a monthly €3.14 million to run, for €22 million.
High and low STATISTICS from Spain’s tax au thority Hacienda, once again revealed the prosperous leafy problem of Pozuelo de Alarcon as the country’s most affluent municipality with an average per capita gross income of €80,244. Least welloff was Higuera de Vargas (Badajoz) where each inhabitant had a per head income of €12,737.
Try again POUNDLAND, which bought 71 of Wilko’s 398 stores from ad ministrators PwC, offered jobs to more than 200 of its exem ployees. Although staff trans fers were not included in the deal, Poundland said Wilko ap plicants would be first in line for jobs in the new shops oper ating under its own brand.
Settle up THE Upper Court of Catalonia (TSJC) ordered regional govern ment, the Generalitat, to pay €80.9 million plus interest for improvements that Spain’s state railway operator Renfe carried out for the region’s sub urban train network between 2016 and 2019. Generalitat sources announced that they would appeal against the ruling.
Home and dry SHARES in the Superdry cloth ing company surged after the group revealed plans to sell 76 per cent of its intellectual prop erty assets in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to India’s largest retailer, Reliance Retail. Superdry expects gross cash proceeds of £30.4 million (€31.1 million) from the £40 million (€46.2 million) agree ment.
euroweeklynews.com • 12 - 18 October 2023
STAT OF WEEK
€94 billion
in additional credits in loans and transfers confirmed by the European Commission for Spain, with the proviso that it complies with the agreed timetable and objectives.
John Lewis exit
SHARON WHITE, executive chair of the John Lewis Part nership, will step down in February 2025 when her fiveyear term ends. Her predecessors re mained at John Lewis for stints lasting between 13 and 26 years, making White the retailer’s short estserving chair. It is under stood that she will not re ceive a payoff from the £1.1 million (€1.27 million) a year post. The Partnership lost £234 million (€270.34 million) last year and in March, staff who are partners as well as employees, had to forego their annual bonus for only
the second time since the scheme was introduced in 1953. On announcing her exit, White also requested a re view of the chair’s account abilities to ensure conti nuity in the business’s ‘successful’ transforma tion. The Partnership is making progress in its modernisation and transformation with im proving results,” she said. “There is a long road ahead and I am committed to handing on the strongest possible Partnership to my suc cessor.”
EMPLOYEES at the Big Four consul tancies have worked ‘marathon hours’ in Spain. A Ministry of Labour investigation into practices and working condi tions at Deloitte, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), Ernst and Young (EY) and KPMG, which began in Novem ber 2022 resulted in fines totalling a minimum of €1.4 million. Officials probed whether employ ees worked longer hours than records showed, as none of the companies had the clocking on and clocking off facilities that are legally required since 2019. Twelvehour working days were usual at PwC in Madrid, former em ployee Sergio Padilla told Euronews.
According to retail ana lyst Neil Saunders from GlobalDataRetail, Sharon White had
Photo credit: Retail Week
BUSINESS EXTRA
12
SHARON WHITE: No second term for John Lewis chair.
never been the right person to chair John Lewis, which also owns Waitrose. “She didn’t cause all of the issues the company faces, but she’s also done much damage,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). This included a plan to sell a stake in the com pany to raise more than £1 billion (€1.15 billion) which would have flown in the face of the traditional staff partnership. The plan was dropped after Stone won a vote of confidence by a narrow margin during the staff council’s twiceyear ly meeting in May.
Big Four’s big demands Photo credit: CC/Luis Rogelio HM
MADRID: PwC consultancy located in the capital’s business district.
Padilla a fictitious name to protect his identity was expected to work from 9am until 9pm although he re garded this as normal as his col leagues were in the same situation. The consultancy sector in Spain
suffers from “major workforce fa tigue,” according to Raul de la Torre, an official from the Comisiones Obr eras (CCOO) trade union. Some months ago, companies had attempted to impose contractual agreements to work up to 12 hours a day from Monday to Saturday, without any additional compensa tion. Working conditions had worsened since 2008 although companies have reported record profits, with the Big Four making €2.5 billion during 2021 according to the financial daily, Ex pansion.
Not so cheap
All together now
Wine scam claims
OPTING for organic products does not come cheap in Spain. A survey by the Financial Users Associacion (Asufin) revealed that a typical bas ket of everyday organic products bought in a super market costs €280.82 com pared with €141.17 for ordi nary items, an increase of 98.9 per cent. The study of 109 basic products was based on pur chases from Alcampo, Car refour, El Corte Ingles, Aldi and Lidl. Merdadona was excluded from the study as its offer is not considered ‘officially’ organic, based on the popular chain’s labelling system.
THE Daily Mail and Sun newspapers an nounced plans to combine their printing operations. Between them, Lord Rother mere’s Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) and Rupert Murdoch’s News UK own the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, the i newspapers, Times and Sunday Times. The jointventure will also print the Tele graph, Evening Standard and Financial Times, which closed down its presses in 2022, as well as Metro, plus publications for regional publisher Newsquest, New Scien tist and John Lewis. The move is likely to entail closing print ing sites at Thurrock (Essex) and Dinnington (near Sheffield). It also means that all na tional newspapers in the UK will now be controlled by two conglomerates. The second of these, Reach Newspapers, which owns the Mirror and Daily Express, also prints other titles, which include the Guardian.
BODEGA chiefs Felix Solis Yañez and Jose Garcia Carrion Jodan are both facing charges of misleading advertising, alleged fraud and false documentation. Solis and Garcia Carrion, who head bodegas that are household names, have been called to testify under caution before the National High Court judge Jose Luis Calama in Madrid on December 4. Their wineries are suspected of marketing Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva wines which did not meet requirements regarding the necessary ageing period or the time spent in oak barrels or in the bot tle. The winecertifying bodies Sohis cert and Liec Agroalimentaria are also under scrutiny for having “nec essarily” cooperated in the fraud.
Cutting costs
TELEFONICA has announced plans to close 108 properties belonging to its Operations division, respon sible for the company’s fibre optic and 5G programme. “This initiative affects lowoccu pancy buildings with 15 or fewer employees, who will now relo cate to offices in their provincial capitals,” Telefonica explained, re vealing reskilling plans enabling staff to obtain new qualifications. Closing the properties, sched uled for 2023 and 2024, will en able the company to make sav ings on energy, security and insurance costs, together with up keep. This could also pave the way for selling the buildings at a later date, as Telefonica has al ready done with its old ex changes.
Rail takeover THE Competition and Markets Au thority (CMA) approved Hitachi’s proposed £1.5 billion (€1.73 billion) takeover of Thales’ rail infrastruc ture. It gave the goahead after the Japanese multinational agreed to sell off its mainline signalling busi nesses in the UK, France and Ger many. Describing the takeover as an “effective and proportionate remedy” the CMA said offloading some of Hitachi’s rail assets safe guarded competition and guaran teed the merger would not nega tively affect clients like Network Rail. It also cautioned it would need to approve the buyers of Hitachi’s businesses while the company’s principal customers should agree to transferring the signalling contracts.
Boohoo not too happy ONLINE fast fashion specialist Boohoo predicts that annual sales will tumble by between 12 and 17 per cent. The retailer, which foresaw sales dipping 5 per cent, said they fell more than expected this year owing to strong competi tion from Shein, its Chinese rival, coupled to a resurgence of high street shopping. Sales fell 17 per cent to £729 million (€842.7 million) in the six months to August 31, putting the company £11 million (€12.7 mil lion) deeper into debt than the previous year, with losses of £26.4 million (€30.5 million).
FINANCE
14 EWN 12 - 18 October 2023
euroweeklynews.com
LONDON - FTSE 100
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page
CLOSING PRICES 9 OCTOBER
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
NET VOL
6.040,0
5.938,0
39,49K
1.364,00
1.336,00
21,51K
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
3I Group
2.005,00
2.025,00
1.995,50
57,21K
InterContinental
5.958,8
Abrdn
155,45
157,35
154,75
470,63K
Intermediate Capital
1.350,00
Admiral Group
2.364,0
2.385,0
2.355,0
10,14K
Intertek
4.131,9
4.152,0
4.119,0
2,81K
Anglo American
2.119,2
2.156,0
2.122,0
96,37K
ITV
66,74
68,50
66,56
169,57K
Antofagasta
1.366,59
1.393,00
1.367,50
28,24K
J Sainsbury
250,90
254,00
249,20
127,70K
Ashtead Group
4.827,0
4.872,0
4.816,0
23,14K
Johnson Matthey
1.542,0
1.550,0
1.530,0
8,51K
Associated British Foods
1.946,5
1.979,0
1.939,5
74,36K
Land Securities
585,00
587,20
578,40
44,51K
AstraZeneca
10.906,0
10.930,0
10.866,0
31,73K
Legal & General
215,10
216,20
214,10
754,90K
49,97K
Lloyds Banking
42,33
42,59
42,19
4,23M
8.144,0
8.228,0
8.138,0
16,67K
Auto Trader Group Plc
630,78
634,00
622,40
NET VOL
COMPANY
COMPANY
1.15676
0.86872
Units per €
US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0528 Japan yen (JPY)........................................157.47 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9598 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4569 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.506
407,60
401,20
1,33M
London Stock Exchange
B&M European Value Retail SA572,20
580,20
567,40
90,68K
Melrose Industries
452,52
454,70
445,40
132,51K
currenciesdirect.com/marbella • Tel: +34 952 906 581
BAE Systems
1.026,00
1.032,00
1.001,00
570,45K
Mondi
1.365,50
1.372,00
1.359,50
35,99K
THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER
Barclays
153,00
153,72
152,28
3,27M
National Grid
949,20
951,20
939,80
397,57K
Barratt Developments
424,20
428,10
422,10
59,36K
NatWest Group
222,70
223,60
221,30
402,20K
7.000,0
7.160,0
6.996,0
16,02K 77,61K
Aviva
401,70
Berkeley
4.094,0
4.122,0
4.086,0
12,93K
Next
BHP Group Ltd
2.281,00
2.310,50
2.277,50
57,47K
Ocado
555,20
571,40
552,40
BP
515,80
523,50
514,00
3,63M
Persimmon
1.040,0
1.047,0
1.036,5
53,87K
106,26K
Phoenix
465,00
469,10
461,10
193,77K
Prudential
857,20
870,20
855,80
177,91K 32,03K
British American Tobacco 2.478,0
2.492,5
2.475,5
British Land Company
312,70
319,00
310,90
22,51K
BT Group
113,65
114,00
113,25
404,36K
Bunzl
2.939,0
2.960,0
2.929,0
10,30K
Burberry Group
1.801,5
1.829,5
1.800,0
48,33K
Carnival
934,2
944,4
928,6
56,88K
Centrica
152,30
152,65
151,35
358,91K
Coca Cola HBC AG
2.121,0
2.125,0
2.107,0
18,66K
Compass
2.039,00
2.044,00
2.035,00
83,59K
CRH
4.570,0
4.597,0
4.542,0
34,43K
Croda Intl
4.399,0
4.533,0
4.242,0
130,20K
DCC
4.522,0
4.538,0
4.467,0
2,09K
Diageo
3.054,5
3.066,5
3.044,0
123,65K
DS Smith
277,60
278,90
276,10
139,53K
EasyJet
425,66
434,50
416,20
625,39K
Experian
2.731,0
2.761,0
2.724,0
33,36K
Ferguson
13.180,0
13.255,0
13.150,0
1,76K
Flutter Entertainment
13.115,0
13.210,0
13.095,0
11,80K
Fresnillo
534,80
537,00
529,00
162,18K
Glencore
443,35
448,35
442,35
1,48M
GSK plc
1.512,20
1.514,40
1.499,40
240,89K
Halma
1.963,5
1.981,5
1.958,5
31,94K
Hargreaves Lansdown
757,60
764,80
754,40
35,57K
Hikma Pharma
2.070,00
2.077,00
2.058,00
5,28K
HSBC
648,90
652,60
647,00
IAG
148,45
152,10
Imperial Brands
1.678,00
Informa
715,20
Reckitt Benckiser
5.750,0
5.764,0
5.714,0
Relx
2.855,00
2.875,00
2.853,00
81,92K
Rentokil
591,40
594,60
585,80
310,55K
Rightmove
574,00
579,60
572,40
41,72K
Rio Tinto PLC
4.899,0
5.000,0
4.885,0
194,40K
Rolls-Royce Holdings
207,50
208,20
205,20
1,76M
Sage
996,40
1.000,50
990,20
67,70K
Samsung Electronics DRC 1.219,00
1.224,00
1.219,00
1,09K
Schroders
390,9
393,7
388,7
44,04K
Scottish Mortgage
672,03
677,60
671,60
187,10K
Segro
712,40
716,00
709,20
38,48K
Severn Trent
2.334,0
2.339,0
2.306,0
14,29K
Shell
2.618,5
2.663,0
2.615,5
1,06M
Smith & Nephew
964,86
966,60
961,20
60,49K
Smiths Group
6,33K
1.629,00
1.637,50
1.624,50
Spirax-Sarco Engineering 9.390,0
9.404,0
9.226,0
6,84K
SSE
1.536,00
1.537,50
1.521,00
152,49K
St. James’s Place
799,80
801,20
794,40
26,49K
Standard Chartered
750,20
755,20
747,00
347,55K
Taylor Wimpey
114,20
115,00
113,55
571,28K
Tesco
276,98
279,60
276,60
386,37K
Tui
426,80
441,40
423,00
188,94K
Unilever
3.935,5
3.940,5
3.908,0
199,46K
1,78M
United Utilities
940,40
943,80
932,00
225,08K
147,35
4,52M
Vodafone Group PLC
75,03
75,34
74,65
2,37M
1.685,00
1.668,00
71,36K
Whitbread
3.289,0
3.316,0
3.283,0
15,34K
721,40
709,00
89,71K
WPP
719,00
728,40
717,80
63,42K
DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 9 OCTOBER
COMPANY
PRICE
CHANGE
CHANGE% VOLUME(M)
3M American Express Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Dow Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce Inc The Travelers UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walgreens Boots Walmart Walt Disney
88,40 149,32 267,47 177,49 187,38 266,04 162,23 53,45 53,14 50,28 312,48 292,82 184,66 142,03 36,19 157,64 145,10 248,22 103,88 327,26 97,11 144,09 207,36 162,95 524,81 30,85 235,04 21,81 156,41 82,94
89,21 150,35 268,59 177,99 188,64 268,42 164,37 53,74 53,29 50,92 315,32 294,54 185,30 142,94 36,46 158,30 145,88 250,82 104,43 329,19 97,71 144,55 208,27 164,27 525,95 31,00 236,59 22,08 158,99 83,53
86,33 4,46M 146,14 3,20M 262,23 2,66M 173,18 56,79M 182,55 5,17M 258,27 2,28M 158,99 10,12M 52,74 15,12M 51,55 30,25M 49,53 4,20M 307,17 1,58M 287,39 2,92M 179,70 3,68M 140,11 3,50M 35,18 32,55M 156,59 5,80M 142,14 10,16M 245,73 5,12M 102,92 6,85M 316,30 24,63M 95,06 8,43M 141,45 7,39M 199,89 4,90M 162,78 1,35M 515,98 3,53M 30,14 31,22M 232,75 6,40M 21,40 9,71M 151,65 14,18M 80,49 15,19M M - MILLION DOLLARS
NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 9 OCTOBER
COMPANY Most Advanced The Navigator Company, S.A. Clearway Energy, Inc. Cytokinetics, Incorporated Clearway Energy, Inc. Pioneer Natural Resources Company PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk Symbotic Inc. NWTN Inc. Lyft, Inc. Savers Value Village, Inc. Getinge AB (publ)
CHANGE NET / %
VOLUME
+11.56% +11.50% +11.39% +10.82% +10.45% +10.13% +9.52% +8.65% +8.20% +7.73% +7.67%
43,596 538,651 2.581M 2.874M 11.222M 112,500 695,445 30,216 14.039M 853,551 31,692
-12.71% -9.80% -7.20% -7.17% -7.05% -7.00% -6.82% -5.99% -5.97% -5.80% -5.80%
78,750 52,720 2.631M 366,080 40,658 94,979 737,609 909,272 1.942M 41,052 3.418M
Most Declined Boralex Inc. Koninklijke Philips N.V. Koninklijke Philips N.V. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CT Real Estate Investment Trust CD Projekt S.A. LCI Industries AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. Domino's Pizza, Inc. Telecom Italia S.p.A. Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
‘
euroweeklynews.com
BUSINESS EXTRA Merger doubts BRITAIN’S Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that Turkish multina tional Arçelik’s plans to pur chase Whirlpool could re strict the choice in washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and cooking appliances throughout Eu rope. The merged compa ny would become the largest individual supplier of these items, worth more than £3.8 bn (€4.38 bn).
Digi wins ROMANIABASED tele coms company Digi added 469,000 new mobile phone customers between Jan uary and September this year, with another 125,000 opting for landlines. Tele fonica lost 234,000 cus tomers during this period, Orange lost 130,000 mo bile lines but added 9,000 landlines while Vodafone lost a total of 465,000 lines.
12 - 18 October 2023
Single-digit food inflation FOOD prices in the UK fell for the first time in more than two years. Food inflation slowed to 9.9 per cent in September, a sizeable drop from 11.5 per cent in August, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). “This is below the three month average rate of 11.4 per cent and is the fifth con secutive deceleration in the food category. Inflation is at its lowest since August 2022,” the consortium an
Photo credit: tescoplc.com
FINANCE
KEN MURPHY: Tesco tries to lower prices, chief executive said.
No HS2 fallout SPANISH multinationals are unaffected by Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel the northern leg of the HS2 high speed project. The North of England’s biggestever rail investment would have been Eu rope’s largest infrastructure project but, owing to government concerns regard ing the cost, HS2 will stop in Birming ham. Dragados, part of the ACS group, to
gether with the UK company Mace, won a €2 billion contract in February 2019 to build Euston’s sixplatform high speed terminus. Neither this, nor the €600 million con tract for another station in Birmingham allocated to DragadosMace in 2021, will be hit by the cancellation. Ferrovial, awarded €2.6 billion con tracts to build several HS2 sections, is similarly unaffected by Sunak’s decision.
nounced on October 3. Food prices dropped on the previous month for the first time since 2021 owing to “fierce competition” be tween retailers, the BRC’s chief executive Helen Dickin son said. Meanwhile, Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy told the BBC that the supermar ket chain, the UK’s biggest, tried to lower prices wher ever possible as customers contended with costofliv ing demands. Over the six months end ing in August, Tesco sales rose 8.4 per cent compared with the same period in 2022, largely due to in creased prices. Retail profits rose 13.5 per cent to £1.4 billion (€1.61 billion), as the retailer cut its own costs and attracted more customers. The chain has now fore cast annual profits of be tween £2.6 and £2.7 billion (€3 and €3.1 billion), up from its previous £2.5 billion (€2.9 billion).
EWN 15
Good job
BANCA MARCH, Takeda, Generali, GSK and Schnei der Electric were named as the five best companies to work for in Spain. A survey by workplace experts A Great Place to Work put the companies at the head of their 2023 rankings on the strength of their records for equality, training and talent search programmes, labour flexibility and employee care.
Charge sheet THE UK needs more me chanics qualified to repair and maintain electric ve hicles (EVs), Warranty wise chief executive Lawence Whittaker said. Despite extending the deadline ban on diesel and petrol vehicles “we don’t have the talent to look after the EVs of to day, and we’re not doing enough to prepare for the future regardless of whether that’s 2030 or 2035.”
16 EWN 12 - 18 October 2023
euroweeklynews.com
Personal experience
OUR VIEW
LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT ONE of the interesting aspects of ageing is that your opinions have often been ar rived at through your own personal expe rience. Some, who disagree with your sentiments, have never actually borne past witness to the situations they dis pute and are reaching their assumptions merely through circumstances arising in the present. Unfortunately, many often retain very little knowledge of how they truly came about. Apartheid in South Africa was an episode I became very involved in during my early days in the world of pop. Consequently, when I broach this par ticular subject, my opinion is not based on a mind set of racism or antiblack sen timents, far from it. During that time I was utterly opposed to the state of affairs that had befallen the South African black population. When one day I was approached by a British theatrical agency, I simply couldn’t
wait to do what I could to further the ante apartheid cause. Equity, the per formers union felt the same. However they had decided to show their opinion by what I considered ‘fence sitting’ and merely banned all white artists from ap pearing in that country. To me this was a ludicrous decision; it meant that no mem ber of the population black or white could ever enjoy white entertainers in any capacity whatsoever. I was then informed that 60s pop icon Sandy Shaw felt the same way. I had been a fan of Sandy’s for years and felt very humble; comparing my own single chart success against the avalanche of great hits she had already delivered to her millions of fans. Her brilliant rendition of Puppet on a String had in fact won her the Eurovision song contest. The Equity Union had given instruc tions that any artist who went against their orders would subsequently be banned from performing, anywhere! We both decided with our managements to oppose their ruling. After a series of meetings they caved in. We agreed that we would only appear in venues pre pared to admit both black and white au
diences. Against all the opposition, many who were strongly against our anti apartheid views, the tour finally went ahead and what a success it was. Although the audiences were segregat ed and the black citizens were put in the cheapest seats, we had gained a great vic tory and even played an allblack prefab ricated venue in Soweto. The apartheid supporters had lost their racist battle and with Equity’s changed ruling, a whole host of British and European acts began to once more appear in that great, but sadly mistreated African country. So you see my adversary against the new regime of SA government policies and the aggression against its white in habitants is not a result of any racial ide als, but a reaction to the days when I and others took risks to help oust the white supremacist that once ruled the country. Frankly the precondition to witness the hostility against the white citizens and farmers being murdered for their land was not what we had in mind at all. No matter what colour they are. Keep the Faith Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com
Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
FEATURE
DEFIBRILLATORS SAVE LIVES
IT is estimated that every year more than 30,000 people die in Spain due to cardiac arrest (heart attacks). Councils across the country have over the years installed defibrillators in official buildings as well as municipal sports centres in order to try to help save lives. The defibrillator is basically a device designed to deliver an electric charge to the heart and hopefully allow it to start beating again normally. It is equipped with sensors that analyse the heart’s rhythm and indicate the right time to apply a charge and at what intensity. It is not particularly difficult to use one of these devices, but to really help save lives everyone should have prior training and this is clearly not possible. The good news however is that when a defibrillator has been installed in a council property, there will be someone who has been properly trained to use it. The drawback of course is that the victim of the heart at tack must be near to the site of the machine and also council offices tend to close relatively early in the day, al though airports, bus terminals, stations and large shopping centres, as well as pharmacies also possess them. In some cases, the defibrillator is automatically linked to 112 emergency services, but each Autonomous Communi ty has its own rules about use of the defibrillator with some deciding that it can only be used by a trained opera tor. Unlike the UK there doesn’t appear to be an online de fibrillator finder for Spain, so it’s best to contact your local council to ask for information on where its machines are located.
euroweeklynews.com
DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD ‘ERE we go again! Yours truly has no ticed there are not enough people with blue eyes featured in UK television commercials, soap operas and news programmes. And, despite the fact that 70 per cent of the population is severe ly overweight, fewer than a quarter of actors and newscasters appearing on our screens are obese. It must be dis crimination. Who is trying to cover up the true demographic diversity of our population? Is it a plot by the Conser vatives? In the UK, bestiality is illegal. Pre sumably, in the increasingly liberal fu ture (perhaps by 2040), it will be de criminalised if between consenting parties. Lawmakers will have to decide whether or how the animal has ex pressed its consent. A Californian preacher is already ordained to con duct marriage ceremonies between a human and an animal. In South Sudan, a man caught sh***ing a goat was forced to marry it and pay the owner a dowry. I predict that, by 2050, for ev ery hundred men married to a woman
12 - 18 October 2023
EWN 17
‘ERE WE GO AGAIN Photo credits: wallup.net and Daily Mail
FEATURE
There are not enough images of people with blue eyes or people who are overweight on British television.
in the UK, there could be 20 married to another man and one married to an animal, such as a pig or a porcupine. The proud husbands will doubtless fea ture in TV commercials. A comedian called Stuart Lee is work ing on one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. He seeks to bring Macbeth ‘up to modern standards’ by rewriting the humorous scene with the drunk porter. Why not write his own comedy piece without reference to the Bard?
By 2040, we may have to watch King Lear or Hamlet performed in modern speech, with cockney accents, set in a Millwall nightclub. Rugby matches may soon be preced ed by a warning to viewers. ‘Please note that the following programme contains scenes of extreme violence’. The transmission of afternoon match es, such as Six Nations could even be delayed until after 9pm, when sensi tive viewers are safely tucked up in
bed. At the end of each match: ‘If you have been affected by any of the scenes in this programme, you can find help on the following number’. This is all about progress, of course. First, if we allow more obese people to fill (sic) our TV screens, they will be come accepted as the norm, and we shall each feel obliged to stuff ourself unceasingly with takeaway pizzas, pork pies and Cola until we get wedged in our front door. Then there should be no discrimination. Second, a man should be free to ex press his love and desire with whom he chooses and in whatever way suits him, whether it be another man or a walrus. Third, we should not have to endure the arduous task of watching or listen ing to the greatest works in literature in their original form. And finally, if we allow our children to watch physical contact in sport, they may develop violent tendencies. We could even have teenagers stabbing each other in the street!
David Worboys’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
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20 EWN 12 - 18 October 2023
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FEATURE
C OMMENTS
OMMUNITY
https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/10/05/brexit-factor-no-longer-puts-off-retirees/ WE recently published an article about Brexit and the fact that some British pensioners are apparently no longer put off from retiring to the Mediterranean including Spain, despite the 90/180 day or visa rule. It was based on research undertaken by an online estate agent and some readers have commented that they think it was an advert for that company, but we can confirm that all paid for articles are either marked sponsored or advertorial. As this was a positive survey which said that the Spanish market was still attractive to those retiring on British pensions (and don’t forget many people receive significant private pensions as well as the State pension) we believed it in order to summarise the content. Here are some of the comments that readers made:
“
No change, the 90/180 day rule still applies. People I know have sold or are selling, but this is a nice advert with a link to an estate agent with the hope of reviving the housing market. The main problem is proving you have an income of over €35k for two people to become a resident. Martin
“Just a few forms to fill in?????? What planet is he on?” Algoz
This doesn’t solve the problem of the 90/180 rule, be careful.
stay with the earnings rule, indeed the response I got was basically British F Off.. Despite owning a home and NEVER claiming a euro, but paid in over 200k. They were so unhelpful and gave us grief over all attempts to stay. Pete
In reply to Pete I can confirm to readers that this was not an advert, simply a report of the findings of that company. The good thing is that whilst the report was positive about Spain, the article is receiving comments which we are happy to post. It’s all about communication and sharing opinions. John Smith
Charles
Indeed ! The days of arriving in Spain with £500 and then disappearing within a caravan ‘off grid’ with an expired or lost passport, have gone. Thus only comparatively ‘well-to-do’ folk will now arrive for permanent stays. Robert Faraday
I agree with Martin. What is the point of surveying your own clients. They have already made up their minds to look for a property abroad. I own three properties in Spain, two of which are long term lets and one we use as a holiday home for our family. For what it costs and will cost in the future, we could have had some great monthly rents in many different countries. If you are going to live in another country, find out all the ongoing costs and what you will need to know about medical care as you get into later years. Most go back home. Chris
In reply to Martin Yep you’re right, it’s a big sales advert. I returned from Spain as they made it so hard to
In reply to Pete Having your own home should have helped Pete, as you would not need to find rent. Apart from such an income required, if you are not of retirement age you would also have to pay for private medical insurance until you are a pensioner, which is not cheap if you are in your 60s. Have you thought about trying Portugal? That’s where people with a lower income are heading now. You only need to show an income of €12,690 per couple. Here is some info to compare both countries. Two UK state pensions are not enough for Spain. https://iasservices.org.uk/proof-of-in come-for-spanish-residency/ https://www.atlys.com/country/portugal/ national-type-d-7-visa The days of doing little jobs for cash to pay the rent in your caravan are over sadly. Back to the UK with cap in hand because you can’t stay under the radar forever. Overstay 90 days and they can refuse to let you back in in the future. Sad times. Martin
Comments should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.
PETS
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www.euroweeklynews.com • 12 - 18 October 2023
Lucy & Luna love their dog-sitter Pets passing through airports A GOOD dog sitter is worth their weight in gold As Lucy our pet owner member found when she matched with Sonya a free checked housesit ter on Housesitmatch a good dog sitter who doesn’t cost the earth is worth their weight in gold. Sonya loves spending time with Luna, Lucy’s dog in her home, it’s a refreshing change of scene for her and she enjoys caring for and walking Luna. She doesn’t charge Lucy a penny, because it is under taken as a fair exchange. It’s a fair exchange All our sitters offer a fair exchange free accom modation for free pet care and an online review. It’s a win win! If you’re planning a trip for the holidays, don’t delay. Register today as a member of our network to find affordable home and pet care. Plan ahead to secure great sitters However long your trip, pets need someone with them at home. Young and senior pets in par ticular benefit from routines undisturbed. Plan ahead of time to find house and petsitters who will come to you for free! Next steps to join Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable trav el, home and pet care. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com
Finding a great dog-sitter gives real peace of mind when you’re away from home.
2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose. How does it work? HouseSitMatch helps you find sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert with trip dates. Housesitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter you want. Trustpilot Testimonials 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experi ence has been excellent. Tristram Cosgrave Dog and cat owner, Malaga
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PASSENGERS travelling with pets are being cau tioned not to place their animals through Xray machines at internation al airports. Air travel au thorities worldwide have issued reminders after several incidents of ani mals being inadvertently screened by security equipment. While pets need to pass through airport se curity detectors, they shouldn’t be sent on con veyor belts like luggage. Instead, they should be removed from their carri ers and carried through by passengers, either in arms or walking along side. “It’s common for pets to accompany their owners on journeys and they are often regarded as family. It’s crucial for travellers to be well versed with the security measures for pets to en sure a smooth security check,” stated an official
AIRPORT SCANNERS: Pets shouldn’t be treated like luggage.
from an international air travel organisation. A vital point in pet se curity screening is under standing that they must not be subjected to Xray scans. While empty pet carriers should be screened like any other luggage, travellers are re minded that regulations regarding pet travel might differ from one air port or airline to another.
Recently, an incident was reported where a small dog was mistakenly sent through an Xray ma chine after being con cealed in a traveller’s bag. The dog appeared slightly agitated after ward, but was otherwise fine. This incident oc curred shortly after a cat was found and rescued from a suitcase at a ma jor international airport.
Adopting a senior cat WHEN considering cat adop tion, many gravitate towards kittens, enchanted by their playful antics. However, adopting a senior cat offers a unique set of joys and benefits. Firstly, senior cats’ personalities are already formed. Unlike kittens, you know exactly what to expect in terms of temperament, mak ing the bonding process smoother. Secondly, older cats typically require less supervision. They’ve passed the hyperac tive phase, resulting in fewer accidental breakages or mid night zoomies. Their selfsuffi ciency often translates to peaceful coexistence, ideal for
those seeking a more relaxed companion. Furthermore, by adopting a senior cat, you’re granting it a second chance at love. Many elderly cats languish in shel ters, overshadowed by their younger counterparts. Provid ing them a forever home is a noble and rewarding act, cre ating a deep, mutual bond of gratitude and affection. In conclusion, while kittens are undeniably adorable, the maturity, predictability, and immense gratitude of senior cats make them equally, if not more, endearing. Consider opening your heart and home to a senior feline; the rewards are immeasurable.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS POLICE/FIRE/AMBULANCE: 112 24-HOUR PHARMACY FARMACIA BERDAGUER MARBELLA: 952 773 187 CENTRAL FARMACIA LOS BOLICHES: 952 474 238 FARMACIA CAFFARENA MALAGA: 952 212 858 24-HOUR VETS CLINICA VETSUR FUENGIROLA: 952 660 596 CLINICA VETERINARIA MALAGA: 952 358 701
PET EXPENSES: Basic supplies can quickly add up.
Costs of pet ownership PETS are wonderful additions to our lives, bringing joy, com fort, and companionship. However, the expenses associ ated with their care can be sur prising, especially for firsttime pet owners. Adopting or pur chasing a pet is only the begin ning. Veterinary visits, vaccina tions, and basic supplies like beds, food, and leashes can quickly add up. It’s crucial to consider your lifestyle when getting a pet. Those who travel frequently or work long hours might face ad ditional costs for boarding or day care. Moreover, the breed of the pet can influence ex penses. Some breeds are prone to specific health issues, necessitating more frequent medical care. For instance, French bulldogs often have
health complications. Emergencies can strain bud gets. Unexpected health issues can result in hefty vet bills, em phasising the importance of regular checkups to detect po tential problems early. While pet insurance can help miti gate some of these costs, opin ions on its value vary. Budgeting and being re sourceful, such as using com munity platforms to exchange pet items or exploring afford able vet care options, can help manage expenses. Regardless of the costs, many pet owners will attest that the unconditional love and companionship pets offer are priceless. Before taking the leap into pet ownership, it’s wise to understand the finan cial commitment involved.
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Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During t h i s t i m e o f u n c e r t a i n ty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our s e r v i c e l a s t s fo r a b o u t 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. Sunday Service 11.00 am; Prayer Meetings Wednesdays 11.00am; Pa s a j e S a n M i g u e l , N e r j a , 29780 Email: info@ n l c n e r j a . c o m Website: www.nlcnerja.com Facebook:www.facebook.com /nlcnerj
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contact Fr Nigel with an email address if you would like to join us. Priest in Charge, Fa t h e r Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House 951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, e-mail: cofenerja @gmail.com.
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CHURCH SERVICES THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning a t 9 . 3 0 w e h ave a n o n l i n e ‘Zoom’ HC service - please
12 - 18 October 2023 • euroweeklynews.com
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24 EWN 12 - 18 October 2023
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ANDALUCIA WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE The Leagues are hotting up already! AWFL Over 50s League Inter Mollina 1 v 7 Malaga WFC Malaga capitalised on their good start to the season by pressing Molli na high up the pitch and forcing them into a series of errors which allowed the visitors to go in 03 leaders at half time. They continued similarly after the break, scoring two more before two separate offences saw two home players sent off for five min utes, which allowed Mollina back into the game. They used this time well for Nigel South to score a goal for the home side. However, parity restored, Malaga continued to press and bagged another two goals, altogether resulting in Pedrin scoring four, Mark Coleman two, with defender Dani scoring the other. Special mention of the Mollina goalie, Alan Morton, who had a fine game, but sadly suffered damage to his wrists; we all wish him a speedy recovery! Nerja Utd 2 v 6 AC Benahavis Although the home side valiantly attempted to keep up with their visi tors, it was perhaps Benahavis’s ex cellent preseason preparation,
MALAGA WFC: The Over 50s team are having a good start to the season.
through friendly games and tourna ments, which enabled them to play a fine team game, passing the ball around effectively, constantly at tempting to press hard and create scoring chances, six of which were converted. The Nerja attack did have moments of their own and fully de served their two goal reply, but the fi nal result was rarely in doubt. AWFL Over 60s League Torrox Tornadoes 2 v 1 Real Cala honda After both teams pressed each other hard in the early exchanges,
Rome’s Ryder Cup clubhouse in flames LESS than a week on from Europe’s iconic Ryder Cup victory, the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome was engulfed in flames. Team Europe managed to keep up a very impressive record on home soil which has seen them go unbeaten for over 30 years now, and they were largely helped by a dominating first day in the foursomes and fourball games. However, that now ap pears to be nothing more than a distant memory for the people associated with and working at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club as they witnessed it go
up in flames at a rapid speed. There was widespread panic around the golf club house in Rome when it was alight and sent smoke and flames swirling up into the sky on Thursday 6, October, which will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of peo ple who had been at the course just a few days be fore that. According to reports, the Italian fire brigade managed to control the blaze and had it totally under control, however, there will of course need to be a full in vestigation as to what caused the fire to occur. It’s believed that this blaze took place near the 18th green and pillars of smoke could indeed be seen from the city’s northeastern region of Guidonia and au thorities even contemplated evacuating local residents. However, reports claimed that nobody was injured or hurt during the blaze.
Torrox went in leading 10 at the break, courtesy of a fine strike by Andy Downing. Calahonda fought back and equalised early in the sec ond half and continued to threaten the Torrox goal, the home goalie making several fine saves and Cala honda wasting scoring opportunities. Against the run of play, Torrox eventually broke away and another welltaken goal from Downing put the home side back in the lead. Cala honda fought back but the score re mained at 21 in favour of the hosts. Sporting Benahavis 5 v 0 Competa
Boca Seniors Sporting began their league debut impressively! The early exchanges were fairly even, but Sporting rapidly got on top and only the final accurate strike was missing. Eventually the pressure told and they led 10 at half time. The second half saw Competa rarely able to get out of their half and, despite a fine performance by the vis iting goalie, the hosts were able to score four more, leaving them con vincing winners. Scorers were John Campbell, Martin Durrant (2), Bill Keep and Andy Fergusson. Nerja Utd 4 v 5 AC Benahavis Both sides quickly got into their stride to produce an endtoend game, with a string of chances being created at either end and both goal keepers being kept busy. At the final whistle, there would have been little complaint if the result had gone the other way; perhaps, as with their younger counterparts, the Benahavis preseason preparation had given them the edge. (Sponsored by www.mylawyer inspain.com)
Messi to leave FORMER Barcelona superstar Li onel Messi is already lining up his next move when he departs Inter Miami in 2025, and it will be an emotional switch. Messi has been lighting up the footballing world ever since he burst onto the scene with Barcelona having racked up seven Ballon d’Or awards and is widely regarded as one of, if not the best play er to have ever played football. However, since leav ing Barcelona he’s taken in a few years at Paris SaintGermain where he failed to help them lift the Champions League and fol lowing the expiration of his contract this summer, he de cided to jet off to America and ply his trade in MLS. It was a blistering start to life as an Inter Miami player for Messi who already has 11 goals and five assists to his name in just 12 appearances for the American outfit, but has recently been sidelined due to an injury miss
MESSI: Lining up his next move.
SPORT
UK & Ireland Euro ‘28 UK and Ireland have officially been confirmed as the host nations for Euro 2028 after last week’s news emerged about Turkey removing their bid. While Turkey withdrawing was great news for the UK and Ireland, they haven’t just disappeared into the dark ness, they have instead teamed up with Italy and the two countries have been handed cohosting duties for the following tournament in 2032. In total, there will be 10 stadia across the five coun tries used for the summer of football with six of them be ing in England, including Wembley Stadium, which will likely host the final. The rest of the venues have been split up fairly as each country has been hand ed one stadium to host the games which will take place in their respective nations.
Inter Miami ing six of their last seven matches including US Open Cup final. Despite seemingly being settled and enjoying life in the MLS and living in Miami with the great weather and lifestyle that comes with it, the Argentinian is report edly already clear on what he will do in 2025 when his contract ex pires. According to a Spanish news source, Messi has no intention of signing a new contract with his cur rent employers and will instead let his deal run out in the summer of 2025, allowing him to become a free agent. Even though that is still just un der two years away, Messi has his eyes on an emotional reunion with his former club Newell’s Old Boys, which were his very first profes sional club and where Barcelona scouted him. This will indeed come as a major blow to Inter Miami fans and own er David Beckham, but also, for Barcelona and their fanbase who have long been praying and crav ing for a return of their legend and idol.