ISSUE 574
roquetas & almerimar
15 - 21 feb
SolTimes book you can find us on face
est. SINCE 2005
bar and restaurant serving
fish & chips daily Ribs, burgers, specials and much more Yummy Sunday Lunches Charity Quiz Night each week
t: 950 121 936 - e: sales@soltimes.com - www.soltimes.com
Calle Faro, Almerimar At the entrance to the port
Tel: 616 731 808
MOJÁCAR MOURNS
Mojácar, along with so many others, is saddened by the death of the Belgian cyclist, Serge Baguet. Belgian Serge Baguet survived a career in
professional cycling – with a break to roof houses and a return to triumph in the Tour de France – but died due to colon cancer. The 47 - year-old discovered the problem
in October 2014 when he urgently attended hospital while on holiday in Spain. He broke the news after surgery. “They say you should try to check for colon cancer
when you’re 55, I’m 45 and have paid the price,” the ex-professional from Letterhoutem, Flanders, said in an interview. “If you feel something in your stomach or notice something strange in your stool, then get yourself checked immediately.” Born on August 18, 1969, Baguet followed in his father Roger’s footsteps to become professional rider. After four years without a win, however, he quit and went to roof houses with Roger. He kept riding and his colleagues thought it only made sense to call him ‘The Roofer’ when he returned to team Lotto in 2001. He raced with Lotto until
Spain is attempting to lure tourists with shopping city breaks to widen its appeal to the biggest spenders -- and not coincidently to keep its economic recovery on track. The Canalejas shopping complex is at the centre of Madrid’s luxury makeover. It is a private initiative - due for completion in 2018 - which involves refurbishing seven
buildings and which will house Spain’s first Four Seasons hotel. With a price tag of 500 million euros (426 million pounds), the work includes renovating the ornate pillars, crumbling marble and mahogany wood interiors in the 19th century buildings, which were once used as head offices by Spanish banks. “We are failing to attract the tourists we want,”
said Maria Jesus Escobar, public sector officer at Ernst & Young, at a recent tourism summit in Madrid. “We want to target those with the most purchasing power.” Tourist arrivals in Spain have reached record highs for four years in a row, growing to 75.6 million in 2016. But some 20 percent of those were potentially “borrowed” from other Mediterranean destinations that have
suffered from recent violence, such as Turkey or Egypt. As for what is on offer, few Spanish brands attract the same recognition as Paris or Milan-based fashion houses. Luxury leather label Loewe or designers Adolfo Dominguez (ADZ. MC) and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada may stand to benefit, and Madrid also boasts flagship outlets of
2005 and with Belgium’s other top team, QuickStep in 2006 and 2007. The comeback was worth it. ‘The Roofer’ hammered his rivals with two stages in the Ruta del Sol stage race and the Belgian road championships in 2005. The one that stuck – and many remember on this emotional day – was his Tour de France win in 2001. On stage 17 to Montluçon, US Postal controlled the group behind and ahead, an escape group broke into pieces. Massimiliano Lelli attacked Jakob Piil and Baguet, but cramped. Baguet, in his red and black Lotto-Adecco jersey, no helmet and sunglasses, sprinted ahead of the two
and raised his arms in the air. His days as a roofer were over. In 2007, 11 years after his first goodbye, he retired. Cancer took hold, however. After a fight, doctors lost hope early this year. Mojácar Council, on behalf of the whole town, has sent an official letter of condolence to the family and friends of Serge Baguet, to share in the grief that the town feels for his loss. Today, cyclists are very much part of Mojácar’s winter landscape, but in the multi-coloured pack riding along and around the town’s roads, there is no doubt that there is a very empty space that is impossible to fill.
Inditex, owner of highstreet brands Zara and Massimo Dutti. Fine jeweller Suarez, which already derives 60 percent of its sales from foreign tourists, has done the same and also hired Russian-speaking sales staff for its store in the high-end resort town of Marbella. “We need to create a cosmopolitan experience: one that is unique and that means
promoting international brands alongside Spanish ones,” said Carlos Delso, director of the 70-yearold family business which designed Queen Letizia’s engagement ring. Ernst & Young calculates that turning Spain into a shopping hub could more than triple spending by non-Europeans on tax free purchases to 5 billion euros by 2019 - and create 50,000 jobs.
MAJOR BOOST
British Grocery Store
20 Large Freezers! New Zealand Lamb, Liver, Gammon Joints, Black Pudding, Crumpets, Gree>ngs Cards etc. Over 200 different Spices & Flavouring’s now in Stock Mon-Sat 10:30am – 2:30pm. Lun-Sab 10:30 – 2:30pm. *** Closed /Cerado “Na>onal” & “Local” Holidays ***
Tel : 950 334 081 / 666 129 567 Web : arkrites.com We are next to Gamba de Oro, Toscana & Gerardo’s Bar Pasaje de Andaluz, Avenida de Mediterraneo in the Urb. Roquetas de Mar
Property Management RENTALS SALES MANAGEMENT RENOVATIONS CLEANING SERVICES INTERIOR DESIGN LEGAL ADVICE INSURANCE
Contact us:
RMS Apartamentos C/. Sierra Nevada, 35 04740 Roquetas de Mar
Tel: +34 950 33 46 56 Mob: +34 670 67 34 60
www.rmsapartamentos.com · info@rmsapartamentos.com
Almerimar MacGowan’s Bar & Restaurant Guinness ◦ Murphy’s ◦ Authentic Indian & Thai Curries ◦ Argentinian Steaks ◦ Homemade Burgers ◦ German Schnitzels & more OPEN MIC JAM SESSION EVERY THURSDAY
Plaza Batel Almerimar 04711 (Almeria)
Tel: 950 609 546