The Weekend World Newspaper by ClearVision Marketing

W Marbella EEKEND

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WORLD

NEWSPAPER WITH A DIFFERENCE

GIBRALTAR

Keep Calm and Harley On Page 35

WEEKEND WORLD - 1

Exclusively available in The Casino Marbella and other top-quality locations along the coast

Issue 04 Jul 30 - Aug 12, 2015

loses out A FTER a year of reviewing the 54 appeals brought by the defence and prosecution in the Malaya Case, the judges of the Second Cham-

ber of the Supreme Court have raised the sentence for the main accused, Juan Antonio Roca (pictured below) from 11 to 17 years in prison. The High Court has

also imposed a new tax offense on Roca, the former adviser of Urbanism and mastermind of the plot, adding a further two years in prison, and has raised his bribery sentence from two to three and a half years and his money laundering sentence from five to seven years.

LUCKY The last mayor, Marisol Yagüe, has been luckier and has seen her sentence reduced from six years to five and a half years in prison, as has Isabel García Marcos, whose sentence was reduced from four to three and a half years. The most striking aspect of the judgment is that the Criminal Division of the High Court has annulled the decision of the Provincial Court of Malaga who confiscated property and fines to pay the debts generated to the city of Marbella and has ordered that such amounts are to be awarded to the State.

FOOD & FINE DINING

New gastronomic project Page 76

W Issue

UPDATE: Bin baby mum may have dumped a previous child

TRAVEL

Edinburgh - the home of vibrant festivals Page 91

SPORT

JOSE: Master of mischief Page 100

OLICE are investigating whether the mother who recently abandoned her baby in a Madrid bin dumped another child two years ago. As featured in our last edition a baby was discovered hidden in a backpack in an underground rubbish container near Madrid on July 15th. At a press conference Madrid officials said that they discovered the mothers origins from a baby bottle found with the infant. The bottle had been issued by the Alcalá de Henares hospital and officers were able to search through a list of women who had recently given birth there and matched the baby’s blood type, A positive, to a birth on June 30th. The mother was then identified as Catalina A.M aged 37 and she was subsequently arrested on July 16th. In prison she confessed that in February 2013 she had a fourth child, a daughter, and had handed her to a

couple just outside the hospital whom she did not know. Now police are investigating what has happened to the little girl. According to investigations, the little girl was born without any problems at the Hospital del Henares Coslada in February 2013. The mother spent three days in hospital and was discharged. According to the Civil Guard, the woman did not register the child’s birth and after extensive searches no health records can be found. When questioned, the father stated he knew nothing of a pregnancy and the subsequent birth. He explained that his wife suffers from an ailment and knee problems and was not surprised when she asked to be taken to hospital. The mother maintains she did not dump this child. Instead, she says, upon leaving the hospital with her new-born daughter she stopped in a park of Mejorada and

03 Ju ly

GIBR

ALTA R

Biggest NATO Cold exercis War e

FOOD DINI & FINE NG

The hum

ble sard

ine

Page

since

the Page 35

16 -

29, 20

KEN WO D RLD

N EW

S PA

P ER

Page

SPOR T

Prince head Harry’s Invi to USA ctus

Games Page

100

EN C

Issue

03 Ju

ly 16

ual and College plaint to e ‘abu fondling psycholoclaiming the sup sed his pos accu sexerio ition gical his offic and sex sing Javier ity’. He r and a pers as a doc abuse, tor, years e and his without Criado of constansubmitted on of auth a con “lewd home. of his pati underst suffering, ort ther This abusent” in were se “has both asked apies whe ents ‘to the alle anding andpain, fear abo led of to mistrea ged victims embarra rejection, to live ut themselv continu re they ally talk ssm 20 yea tment has . The claim ent” claimmis- stor s’. All the womes and rs. bee en tell their sex n goin s also stat ed lock y and exp Accord the sam e g on lain how ing to for the the his the doo the com he wou e r afte last prem plaint, ises and r they ente ld eith er Javier Some on the sofa were abu red Criado, claim of the affe or the sed floo and all to have bee cted wom r. no impof them repon hypnot en rt ther ized derlying rovemen e t prescrib conditio in their was made ing med n, despite unicin tient’s any diagnos es. ‘He nevhim is of er the patiproblem, the nev records’ ent and mad er info parmed it stat e no med es. ical

Her babo cops y du save mpe T n d in ew-bo tras rn h

WO Spa nish ers old bab have resc police offic ued a rubbish y from a weekwalker container submerged The unnheard his after a dog crie fied the amed man s for help was pas emergen who not . cy serv ising area in Mej a children ices near orada ’s play Mad Wednes rid, at del Campo, 7:15 a.m. the tot’s day whe on n he Spain’s wails. heard rived Civil Gua rd on initially the scen officers arinfant unable to e but wer e locate silent, because the waste they con he’d gon e collecti tacted who the on rais The two workers and bot ed the hero offic con through h the dog tainer , ers with above the little wal the youngs ker and the trash, baby boy (cred officers ground which ter. He’d beeuntil eve it: Twit thrown had then n stuff ntually find trawled ter/Guard ed been ing the “#Happ away. ia Civil placed inside a ruck ) two GuayWednesda into a bin bag sack, this bab rdia Civi y for Carl and l the Gua y from a officers whoos and Andrés, rdia Civi rubbish have l tweeted contain rescued er in . Madrid”,

FE R

TRAV

H A D IF

The pr proc osecution ee prom dings for of Sevil la ha inent alleg a senio psyc ed se s open Sevil r brother hiatrist Jav xual abused la rel igiou of one of ier Criad e against s broth the o erhoo most famFernande z, ds – HE six the Pa ous of made patients, all ssion a Medical formal comwomen hav

Official naming complain t mad Javier Criado e to the Fernande College of Phys z ician

The wor tourism ld of win in Cro e atia

WEEK

END WORL Exclu sively D-1 avail in Th able Marbe e Casin o top-q lla and other ualit along y location the co s ast

Pr psyocminen abu hiatr t ses t ist rust W IT

ACTI A spo ON kesm ant, an for the confirm lawyer the complai nalso beeed that Manuel the fact Seco, tion of n brough s hav asking the Archbisht to the atte e the mat him to take op of Sev nant is ter becaus action illa, ove e the brotherthe head defe r of an hoo - the d importandPassion. penance on the of Sev nt The ille, of the prelate, as y have calle the visib d opportuChurch in le hea Sev senior ne measure illa, to ado d ‘it has brother and s against pt cult to been extr they indi the aord or hus tell our chil inarily cate diffi ban ing thro ds of wha dren, pare t we wer nts The grouugh’. e gofor mor p have ope sjavierc e testimo ned an email riado@g nies mail.com victim-

Our cover story from issue 3 gave the child to two individuals in their 30s, who she did not know, telling them they could keep it and asked them to look after the child. She added that she doesn’t know who these people were. A judge will now question the parents individually to see who is telling the truth however all evidence points to the mother telling the truth.

THE BIN BABY UPDATE: Marco, named by hospital workers, has now been welcomed by a foster family while his mother is facing charges of attempted murder.

- 29,

2015

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

2 - WEEKEND WORLD

NEWS

Two years on from train crash

‘Still no justice’

FTER two years of judicial investigation, only one person - the train’s driver - has been charged over the crash on the outskirts of the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela on July 24, 2013. The Alvia-type train tore off the tracks and ploughed into a siding while hurtling round a bend at 179 kilometres per hour (110 mph) - more than twice the speed limit for that stretch of track. As Spain mourned its worst rail disaster since 1944, courts in the north western Galicia region launched an investigation amid allegations of faults in the railway’s automatic speed-control systems. The driver, Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, faces 79 counts of reckless homicide over the accident. An association representing victims of the accident puts the full death toll at 81. The courts have questioned various officials from the state railway company Adif but

Last week relatives of some of the 79 people killed in a high-speed train crash in northwest Spain marked its second anniversary and angrily demanded Spanish leaders answer for the tragedy have dropped charges against all of them. Dozens of protesters rallied on Friday on the square in front of Santiago de Compostela’s grand cathedral - a destination for Roman Catholic pilgrims from around the world.

STATEMENT The association behind the rally said in an online statement that victims had suffered “humiliation and deceit” by the government and authorities which they said were “causing them even more pain”. “They are trying to bury the truth,” said Arturo Dominguez, a spokesman for the vic-

tims’ association. “This was a foreseeable accident, so the driver is not the only one guilty,” he told reporters. The protesters demanded a parliamentary commission be set up to investigate the causes of the crash. The association, in an online statement said victims had suffered “humiliation and deceit” by the government and authorities which they said was “causing them even more pain”. A judge has brought charges against the driver Garzon but is still investigating the case and has yet to rule on whether he will face trial.

Simply Media Group is one of the largest English media advertising and publication groups here is Spain. We aim to always give you original editorials and news from not just here in Spain but from around the world. As members of the British Press Association and EFE we aim to ensure that all our news is current, factual and more importantly interesting to you the reader. Editor in Chief:

Mr Stan Israel

Production Manager: Ms Lisa Brown Production Assistant: Rachael Wyer Design & Layout:

Jackie McAngus

Graphics:

Paul Scotton

Published by Simply Media Group SL CC Atenea Nº 18 – 19 CN 340 – KM 168.5, Estepona T: 951 127 200 info@simplymedia-group.com www.simplymedia-group.com

The Weekend World reserves the right to make grammatical & spelling corrections as and when deemed necessary and to classify correctly and advertisement. Although ever care and attention is made to ensure the advertisement is correct at time of print, regrettably mistakes do sometime occur The Weekend World accepts no responsibility for the content of advertisements, nor for any claims made by advertisers Deposito Legal Nº: MA 298-2013

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 3

NEWS

HE controversial new Citizen Security Law - dubbed the ‘gag law’ by critics - came into force on the first of July and one young Spaniard has already fallen foul of it. The 27 year-old man, identifed only as Eduardo D from the town of Güímar, Tenerife, is facing a fine of between €100 and €600 for calling local police a “class of slackers” on Facebook. Eduardo made the comments on the Facebook page of the Popular Party mayor of Güímar, Carmen Luisa Dorta. He is a member of a Facebook group where, along with friends he posts satirical criticisms of the local town council.

TRAPPED He made three comments on Facebook. In the first, criticizing the money spent on police facilities in the town, he said: “the Gúímar police, who rescue pigeons and people trapped in their bathrooms (ha ha) will have even bigger facilities than the Civil Guard. What pros!” In the second comment, he asked whether an investigation was needed after local au-

First gag law fine for ‘lazy police’ social media post Welcome to life under Spain’s new gag law, where one of the first offenders has been fined €600 for calling police ‘slackers’ on social media thorities changed the purpose of a public building in the town. In the third comment he referred to local police as a “class of slackers” saying that they might as well have their own little kiosks with cocktails, “a hammock and a swimming pool”. Eduardo made the comments on the morn-

German man T detained in Marbella for robbing banks

ing of Wednesday, July 22nd. That evening, two police officers knocked on his door and presented him with an official complaint for “making comments on social media that showed a lack of respect and consideration for Güímar’s local police”. Eduardo told a local newspaper that he had

HE 41 year old arrested is accused of robbing 2,700$ and 1,000€ by intimidating his victims by claiming he had a pistol which he never showed. The National Police made the arrest and the German now faces charges of theft with violence and intimidation in banks in Málaga and Puerto Banús. The Málaga theft was in the Avenida de Andalucía where the German asked for money from one of the employees claiming he had a gun and got away with 2,700$, according to the National Police. After detailed investigation, the agents engaged in the case man-

been an enormous surprised to receive a visit from the police, and his lawyer was now dealing with the incident. He said it was “madness” that he was being penalized for making “humorous comments”. The “gag law” has come under fire for harking back to the days of Franco, in limiting free speech and the right to peacefully protest. The United Nations and Council of Europe have warned Spain against the sending back of immigrants who cross into the North African Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

aged to identify the suspect and later make the detention on July 16 in Marbella by Marbella Local Police. Once in custody, it was established that another similar robbery had taken place last November in a bank in Puerto Banús, where he made off with 1,000€ after threatening an employee to hand over all the money available. The investigation was carried out by agents from the Robberies Group of the Provincial Brigade of the Judicial Police from the Provincial Police Station in Málaga, and the Marbella Police Station.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

4 - WEEKEND WORLD

GENERAL NEWS

Lulu to turn Scotland Yard into luxury hotel

ULU Group International, the Abu Dhabi-based retail chain, run by Yusuffali Kader, one of India’s richest men has announced it has finalised a £110 million deal to acquire the Great Scotland Yard, home of London’s Metropolitan Police Service, with plans to transform the building into a five-star luxury hotel. In a statement released by the Lulu group it said - it plans to develop a 92,00 square-foot, five-star hotel within the building after signing an agreement with Galliard Homes, a London-based property company who had previously acquired the lease in December 2013. Once completed, the hotel will be seven floors high with two basement levels, and will retain the Edwardian Imperial red brick and stone façade. Speaking at a press conference, Adeeb Ahmad, managing director of Twenty14 Holdings, the hospitality arm

of Lulu Group said that hotel will retain the Great Scotland Yard name, and capitalise on it by incorporating the building’s history into the guest experience. However, he expected the location to be the hotel’s unique selling point.

cal factors, so it’s not that different from what we’re doing here,” he said. The historic building will be refurbished at a cost of £50m by Galliard Homes. “The Great Scotland Yard Hotel will be a brand synony-

mous with exceptional service and refined luxury and quality,” said Don O’Sullivan, managing director of Galliard. The Great Scotland Yard Hotel in set to open early 2017.

ATTRACTION “The location is what’s going to play a key role [in attracting demand]. It’s very close to 10 Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square, which is a huge tourist attraction, so it would have a good mix of both government business and touristic side,” he said. “In London, you have the likes of The Berkeley, Claridge’s, The Lanesborough, so it’s unique to that market that each property would have its own characteristics. None of the major London properties are actually called by the operator name; they’re always known for their histori-

Buying or selling property in Spain? Get bank-beating exchange rates and fee-free transfers

Get in touch T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W currenciesdirect.com

The Metropolitan police pursued some of its most infamous cases from behind the Edwardian brick and stone facade, including the original Jack the Ripper case of 1888. It was used later as a headquarters for the Royal Military police and as a recruitment office by the British army. It was reputed to be here that Lord Kitchener famously told First World War recruits that “your country needs you”. More recently, it was used by the Ministry of Defence as a library until 2004.

Investment and Pension Specialists Mobile Offi ce Web Email

: 691 219 354 : 951 242 684 : www.AESandalusia.es : info@AESandalusia.es

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 5

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

6 - WEEKEND WORLD

UK NEWS

It’s all a bit hazy!

London’s historic Borough Market

EXPLORING a historic site, while beautiful, can be a bit dull. However, come July 31st that will no longer be the case for an old monastery at London’s Borough market. The entire space is more-or-less turning into a giant cocktail - welcome to London’s newest drinking craze: inhaling alcohol. The idyllic sounding Alcoholic Architecture ‘walk-in cloud bar’ is the brainchild of food scientists Bompas and Parr, and offers a ‘fully immersive alcohol environment’ where visitors simply walk into a fog of booze instead of actually drinking it.

HUMIDIFIER Fine spirits and mixers, combined at a 1:3 ratio, are released into the air as heady alcoholic clouds using a powerful humidifier. Alcohol then enters the bloodstream not only through breathing, but incredibly, thorough the eyeballs as well. Customers will have to wear protective suits so their clothing doesn’t get damaged by the high humidity, and will only be able to spend an hour at a time enjoying the thick boozy mist. The bar is located in a basement space on the site of an ancient monastery, and will be heavily influenced by the gothic location, serving spooky alcohols created by monks, such as Chartreuse and Benedictine. Tickets to the quirky pop-up are available online, at £10 for an hour in the cloud (the maximum time you’re allowed in - or you may need carrying out.)

EASYJET OVERBOOKING THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS T HE UK’s biggest budget airline, EasyJet, is overselling thousands of peak-season flights, breaking up family groups and telling some holidaymakers who bought tickets months ahead they must travel by alternate routes to reach their destination. Andrew Whelan, a financial services executive from Warwick, booked a family holiday in Spain for six. But when they turned up at Luton airport for the EasyJet flight to Barcelona, he was told that his daughter and her school friend, both aged 15, would be offloaded.

VOLUNTEERS Mr Whelan negotiated for his two sons, aged 18 and 26, to miss the flight instead. No attempt was made to persuade other passengers to take a later flight in return for cash or travel vouchers, even though EU passengerrights stipulate airlines must seek volunteers. European regulations also require airlines to get offloaded passengers to their destination “at the earliest opportunity”. Accordingly, Mr Whelan asked for his sons to be booked on the next available British Airways flight from Heathrow to Barcelona. But EasyJet refused, insisting they must fly 32 hours later from Bristol. Mr Whelan described his treatment by EasyJet as “truly shocking service - honestly the worst I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve travelled widely.” A spokesman for the airline said cases of denied boarding due to overbooking were “extremely rare”. He said 2.6m EasyJet passengers a year fail to turn up for booked

flights. On average, across our flights we will only overbook by one or two passengers per flight.” European legislation stipulates that anyone denied boarding against their will must be paid immediate compensation - ranging from €250 for short flights to €600 for longhaul trips. As airlines try to maximise their summer po-

tential it appears that EasyJet is not the only airline company to do this, British Airways failed to follow EU rules when it overbooked a BA flight to Split in Croatia. Virgin Atlantic stranded a woman from Dorset in Havana for four extra days because the airline had overbooked her flight back to Gatwick plus it took the airline eight weeks to pay the stipulated compensation.

As the Sun exposes saluting Queen, Twitter reveals other Nazi sympathisers FOLLOWING the furore of The Sun Newspapers expose of the late queen mother and Queen Elizabeth gesturing in what appears to be a Nazi salute, the social media site Twitter has gone into meltdown with thousands of followers posting pictures of what they believe are other Nazi sympathisers With a bit of tongue in cheek wit - here are a few suspicious suspects:

Left to right: Sooty and Sweep, Hilary Clinton, Santa, Holly Willoughby and the Statue of Liberty

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 7

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

8 - WEEKEND WORLD

Exceptional Properties Exclusive Locations

SPAIN’S LEADING LUXURY INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE AGENCY

MARBELLA OFFICE:

+34 951 319 994

www.lucasfox.com

BARCELONA · COSTA BRAVA · GIRONA · IBIZA · MADRID · MALLORCA · MARBELLA · MARESME COAST · SITGES · VALENCIA · ANDORRA · PORTUGAL

Despite the crisis there are 178,000 millionaires in Spain Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 9

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

HE San Roque Observatory in the Canary Islands has won the vote to host Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the largest gamma ray telescope in the world. “This is a strategic European installation and the fact that it is coming to Spain is an extraordinary scientific opportunity” said Rafael Rebolo, director of the Canaries Astrophysics Institute. Rafael Rebolo, director of the Canaries Astrophysics Institute said the vote was 10 to four in favour of Spain. A second telescope is to be located in Chile. Aside from Spain, the other 13countries taking part in the project are Germany, Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Namibia, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, South Africa and Switzerland. Following the decision in Berlin on the 16th July, negotiations will now begin with companies and institutions from both countries to build the observatories.

Spain to host planet’s largest gamma ray telescope

DEVELOPMENT The gamma ray telescopes will be located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, estimated at a cost of around €90 million, with Spain’s government promising to provide €40 million, most of which will come from EU funds for regional development. El Roque will be the location of some 20 telescopes of different sizes. The biggest will have a primary mirror with a 23-meter diameter, and all are being designed by a team of universities and research institutes in Japan,

Italy, France, Germany, Brazil, India, Sweden and Croatia, which are working with Spanish teams from the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE), and the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technology Research (CIEMAT), located at Madrid’s Complutense University. Teams

SPANISH TOWN BRINGS IMPOSES SIESTA LAW

VALENCIAN town is living up to the Spanish stereotype by bringing in a law that ensures each citizen has the right to enjoy an afternoon kip. Between the hours of 2pm and 5pm you will struggle to find anyone in the Valencian town of Ador. The town’s summer siesta tradition is so deep-rooted the mayor has enshrined his citizen’s right to an afternoon snooze in law and ordered that that town’s inhabitants stay quiet between 2pm and 5pm. “Everything closes between 2pm and 5pm,

Ador citizen’s have the right to enjoy an afternoon kip

bars, shops, the swimming pool, everything.” It is well-known that taking an afternoon siesta is good for you and it was even scientifically proven in early 2015. But Ador could be the first town in Spain to actually make taking a siesta obligatory by law. Mayor of Ador, Joan Faus Vitòria, also stipulates that children should remain indoors: “Children should stay indoors between 2pm and 5pm so that they do not go outside and play with balls and disturb older people,” the town hall spokesman said.

from the IAC, the Science Council’s Institute of Space Sciences, and the University of Jaén are also taking part. The CTA project is an initiative to build the next generation ground-based very high-energy gamma-ray instrument. It will serve as an open observatory to a wide astrophysics community and will provide a deep insight

into the non-thermal high-energy universe. The CTA’s website outlines the aims of the project as: ‘understanding the origin of cosmic rays and their role in the Universe... understanding the nature and variety of particle acceleration around black holes, and searching for the ultimate nature of matter and physics beyond the Standard Model’.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

10 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Ex-boxer Scott Harrison loses appeal bid over extradition to Spain

ORMER boxer Scott Harrison (pictured above) faces extradition to Spain after appeal judges rejected his latest legal bid. The 37-year-old fighter was handed a four year sentence for assault by a court in Malaga in 2012 and a Scottish sheriff agreed to extradite him earlier this year. But on Friday lawyers acting for Harrison went to the appeal court in Edinburgh to seek leave to appeal against the decision. Advocate Stephen Govier argued that Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC shouldn’t have ruled that Harrison should be extradited. However, the three judges who heard Mr Govier return a unanimous verdict. The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Carloway, Lady Smith and Lady Clark of Calton rejected the application. Speaking afterwards, Harrison’s father Peter, 66, said: “I’m a Scottish person. I’ve brought my family up Scottish. I was proud of my country but not proud of it now with what happened in Scotland today. “It’s hard to believe.”

WARRANT Earlier this year, Harrison’s legal team argued at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that the Spanish authorities hadn’t followed extradition law when they issued a European Arrest Warrant for him. The warrant was issued after he was sentenced in Spain. The fighter had returned to Scotland before he could begin serving the jail sentence. The senior judge also said that for leave to appeal to be granted it was necessary to identify a ground of appeal that was at least arguable. Lawyers acting for Harrison maintained that legal requirements had not been complied with because of a number of deficiencies in the warrant. They had also submitted that Harrison had not been convicted in his presence. Harrison was present and was legally represented at his trial. But a judgement was issued later convicting him and sentencing him - by that time he was no longer in Spain. Mr Harrison also expressed concerns that his son had previously been assaulted in jail in Spain. He said the British embassy went to see him and agreed with him that he had been assaulted. Mr Harrison said: “I’m not asking for special treatment for my son. Scotland should not be sending a Scot to Spain.”

SPAIN SETS NEW RECORD FOR TOURIST ARRIVALS O VER 29 million foreign visitors have travelled to the country between January and June indicating that 2015 will be a better year for tourism in Spain. The country saw a record 6.67 million international tourist arrivals in June a 1.4% rise on last year, which already represented a historic high. In the first six months of the year, 29.2 million foreigners visited Spain, a 4.2% increase on 2014 and the best first halfyear in the historical series compiled by the Tourism Studies Institute. A majority of visitors between January and June came from the United Kingdom (over 6.7 million, a 2.6% increase from 2014), followed by Germany (4.7 million, a 1.6% rise) and France (4.5 million, a 7.5% increase).

SURGE Tourism from the United States and Switzerland surged 15.7% and 9.7%, respectively, on the back of their appreciating currencies against the euro. On the other hand, tourism from Russia dropped 35% to just 360,746 arrivals in the first half of the year. Catalonia continues to be the preferred destination for inter-

Tourism in Spain on the up

national travellers to Spain, 7.4 million of whom visited the north-eastern region between January and June, representing 25.5% of total arrivals. The second top destination is the Canary Islands, which received 5.6 million foreign tourists in the first half of the year, representing 19.3% of all international arrivals. The archipelago is followed by the Balearic Islands with 4.4 million tourists and Andalusia with 4.02 million.

Abandoned Spanish airport (made famous by Top Gear) may be about to sell for only 10,000€

PAIN’S abandoned Ciudad Real Airport, made famous by former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May drag racing supercars along its abandoned runway, could be about to be sold to a Chinese firm for the paltry sum of just 10,000 euros. According to China’s state-run newspaper the People’s Daily Chinese company Tzaneen International plans to turn the socalled “ghost airport” into a European hub for Chinese companies. It also aims to buy additional land and invest in buildings and

equipment as part of its cargo plan, which is expected to cost between 60 million and 100 million euros, according to the report. Other bidders can still try to buy the facility, located in a sparsely populated area 125 miles south of the Spanish capital, if they make an offer of at least 28 million euros, or 70 percent of the airport’s estimated value, within 20 working days. The airport, having been granted approval back in 2006, cost one billion euros to construct and operated for two years between 2010 to 2012 before closing. Its main runway, some 2.5 miles long, is large enough to handle an Airbus A380.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 11

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Rich and poor divide revealed T HE northern Spanish region of the Basque country has Spain’s highest GDP per capita, at €30,051, almost double that of Spain’s poorest region, Extremadura, at €15,133, a new study has revealed. The Basque Country has traditionally been one of Spain’s main industrial hubs, and today is home to thriving aeronautics and energy industries while at the other end of the

A new study carried out by the Government of Catalonia highlights the divide of wealth across Spain’s regions

scale Extremadura industry has been based around agriculture. When purchasing power parity (a theory

Bilbao in the Basque Country

Spanish town declares dogs and cats ‘nonhuman neighbours’ And why not?

HE Valladolid town of Tr i g u e r o s del Valle, with about 300 inhabitants, has become the first municipality in Spain to recognize in a statement to their dogs and cats as ‘human neighbours’ of the town. The application of the so-called ‘Declaration of Renedo’ ensures that these pets enjoy living conditions and reasonable health.

DIGNIFY The goal, explained to EFE Pedro J. Perez, Mayor of Trigueros del Valle (PSOE), it is “to dignify the work of dogs and cats, as they are animals that have been with us for thousands of years and in many cases have worked hard for us. “ The idea of this proposal, adopted unanimously at the first plenary session held

on the Consistory with the new municipal corporation is to “establish a statement of principles that create a series of rights and duties between animals and their guardians, detailed Mariano Vallestillo, a member of the grouping Rescue 1. This organization is specialized in covering the vital needs of the animals and has collaborated with Animalist Libera Association, with Defaniva ( Defense of Animals in Valladolid) and Dianva ( Animal Defense Vallisoletana) to bring the City of Trigueros this proposal.

which states that exchange rates between currencies are in equilibrium when their purchasing power is the same in each of the two countries also known as PPP) is taken into consideration, the Basque Country remains the region with the highest incomes per capita (€27,895) while Andalusia becomes the region with the lowest (€18,058). The study also emphasized that the difference between the highest income regions and the lowest had gone down from 98 percent to 54 percent. The study, carried out by the Government of Catalonia and presented last week by Jaume García, professor at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, also looked at the cost of living in Spain’s autonomous communities and found a huge difference between the poorest and richest. The cost of living in Madrid is 43 percent more expensive than in the Extremadura region in western Spain that comes in as the nation’s poorest.

WELLBEING The study estimated the PPP of different Spanish regions using data from 2012, allowing researchers to investigate levels of production, wellbeing, the cost of living and poverty in the Spanish economy while eliminating factors like price variation. According to the study’s authors, there are three distinct groups of regions according to PPP. The first and richest is made up of Madrid, Catalonia, Navarra and the Basque Country, where the PPP is higher than Spain’s average. The second group of regions has a PPP of around 10 percent lower than the Spanish average and includes Andalusia, Aragón, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Valencia, Galicia, Murcia and La Rioja. The third group of regions – Asturias, the Canary Islands, Castille-La Mancha, Castilla y León and Extremadura – has a PPP of between 10 – 20 percent lower than Spain’s average. The objective of calculating the PPP was to encourage “better implementation of regional cohesion policies,” so that the Spanish government can better allocate resources around different geographical areas of the country. Within Europe, Spain continues to be relatively cheap. According to a new ranking released by cost of living index, Expatistan, the cost of living in Barcelona and Madrid is the 38th and 39th most expensive in Europe, placing Spain’s two biggest cities way below other European capitals such as London (3), Paris (7) and Rome (28).

Off with his head! Barcelona City Council removes bust of King Juan Carlos from chamber

BUST of the former Spanish King Juan Carlos I was removed from the Barcelona City Council chamber last week, as part of a review of iconography of the monarchy in the city. The initiative has come from the new mayor of the Catalan capital, former social activist Ada Colau. “There is an inflated symbolism relating to the monarchy, which is in contrast to the under-representation of other citizen traditions that are more appropriate in this city,” explained the deputy mayor, Gerardo Pisarello, and the councillor in charge of Historical Memory affairs, Xavier Domènech. The pair also announced a study to evaluate changes to other elements relating to the monarchy, both in terms of municipal buildings and place names.

VISIT The removal of the bust coincided with a visit by Spain’s new king, Felipe VI, to the city and came just hours after King Felipe VI warned Catalan leaders to obey the law in their drive for autonomy, as tension mounted over the region’s bid to break away from Spain. Pisarello did not confirm where the bust of Juan Carlos would be sent. “It’s possible that it will go to the Barcelona Museum of History,” he explained. Under a 1986 law, all council chambers must have an image of the reigning monarch, whether it’s a painting, photo or a bust. For now, though, there is no sign of an artwork depicting Felipe VI going up in the Barcelona City Council. “We still don’t have one of him,” municipal sources said.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

12 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

NTIL now the illegal homes built on illegal plots were completely outside regularisation as the LOUA establishes these crimes are never prescribed. Which in effect means the illegal homes could be demolished at any time. However, last week the Government Council took a step forward to facilitate an exit and to eliminate the uncertainty which owners find themselves’ in. The draft law, and the three modifications, will benefit the homes built on small plots where future disciplinary action is now ruled out and the owners have to apply as ‘assimilated outside ordination’ (AFO). In Andalucía it is estimated this change in the law will benefit some 25,000 homes, many of them in the Axarquía (Málaga) and Almanzora (Almeria).

BENEFIT The Mayor of Alcaucín, Mario Blancke, who has been campaigning with Save Our Houses in Axarquía (SOHA) welcomed the change as some 150 properties in his village alone could benefit. Now the draft law will have to be remitted to the Andalucía Parliament to continue its progress, and including a possible vote on the final draft. The isolated residential properties where the legal time for regulation has passed or been prescribed can now regularise their situation provided the property has been standing for at least six years, has not been built in a flood zone or nature protected area and is not affected by administrative fines.

Junta de Andalucía bring in draft law regularise illegally built properties The Government Council has approved a draft law which modifies three articles in the Andalucía Urban Ordination Law (LOUA) which offers the owners a solution for their homes In addition to the three modifications, there are three additional clauses designed to make the process of identifying the illegal properties easier, to guarantee full information to the owners, and to facilitate their registration in the case of regularisation. The first clause establishes the Town Halls have two years to redact a new planning map which

Illegal homes can be demolished at any time

is necessary to identify the homes and apply the AFO. It’s a sort of census. Secondly the local corporations are obliged to respond in a maximum of two months to the questions placed by the citizens in this situation, and thirdly a complementary regime to the AFO which will register all the homes which have completed the process.

According to the Andalucía Councillor for the Environment and Territorial Ordination, José Fiscal, the changes will ‘regularise and not legalise’ given that once these modifications are made the judicial situation of the construction being on non-buildable land will remain, and in consequence it implies the recognition or tolerance on the part of the administration.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 13

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Spain to accept just a third of its EU migrant quota S PAIN has rejected the proposed quota for migrants and will accept just a third as EU ministers failed to agree on how to redistribute 40,000 refugees across member states. Migration ministers from all 28 EU member states met in Brussels on last week in an attempt to finalize European Commission plans to resettle 40,000 refugees based in Italy and Greece and another 20,000 asylum seekers from outside of Europe. The original relocation proposal announced earlier this year by the European commission called for a binding distribution of the migrants across member states to alleviate the asylum demand pressure on Greece and Italy, where most migrants first land after crossing

the Mediterranean. But after several hours of talks, the European Commission’s plan remained in limbo as some nations asked for more time before committing to a set quota. Spain had rejected the compulsory quota plan and instead offered to relocate just 1,300 migrants as part of the scheme, a figure representing less than a third of the commission’s original proposal. Speaking in Brussels after the meeting, Jorge Fernandez Diaz, the Spanish Interior Minister said that he “radically disagreed” with the European Commission plan on migrants arguing that it sends the wrong message to migrants and the organizations that traffic them. He likened Europe’s immigration problem to “a house suffering lots of leaks that is flooding different rooms” and dismissed the pro-

posed solution as “the distribution of flood water between the rooms rather than plugging the leak.” The meeting saw nations make voluntary provisions to relocate 32,000 migrants but that leaves another 8,000 who need to be allocated by the end of the year, the EU said. “We are almost there. The remaining 8,000 will be allocated by the end of this year, by December,” EU home affairs commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told a press conference. “I want to be frank with you. I am disappointed that this did not happen today but it was a very important step forward. This shows that a voluntary scheme is difficult to implement and whenever it was tried before, it has failed,” he said. At least 1,900 migrants seeking refuge from conflicts and poverty in Africa and the Middle East have died this year attempting to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. Some governments including those in central and Eastern Europe objected to earlier EU proposals to establish quotas on migrant arrivals.

EU sources said the countries that were most reluctant to admit migrants were Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Baltic countries and Spain

Germany and France have offered to take the most with 10,500 and 6,752 respectively, while Sweden, which already accepts the most asylum seekers per capita in the EU, offered to relocate just over 1,800 migrants as part of the scheme. Both the UK and Ireland have opt-in on justice and home affairs policies and don’t have to participate. But Ireland decided to take in 600 people anyway. Denmark’s opt-out clause on justice issues means it won’t be involved.

CRIME RATE IMPROVES THE latest crime statistics published by the Ministry of the Interior for the first half of 2015 show that there were 1.9% fewer offences than in the equivalent period of 2014, an improvement which places Spain amongst the safest countries in Europe. In total 1,018,301 incidents were recorded which gives Spain a crime rate of 44.3per 1,000 inhabitants. The Ministry of Interior claims the improved situation is down to the implementation of new policies and citizen awareness.

African migrants sit atop a border fence during an attempt to cross into Spanish territories

Buying or selling property in Spain? Get bank-beating exchange rates and fee-free transfers

Get in touch T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W currenciesdirect.com

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

14 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Fake policeman caught using Hollywood actor’s ID A SPANISH man has been caught using a fake police ID with the photograph of Oscar-winning Hollywood actor, Adrien Brody. The man was detained in Valencia, when officers saw him running down a street “as if he was being chased by someone”, according to a statement released by Valencia local police. When police surrounded him he spun around to avoid them, forcing the officers to follow on foot. As they neared the man, he pulled out a gun he was carrying in his belt and fired it under a nearby car. When he was finally detained the man began shouting, “I’m one of you, man, I’m a Civil Guard!” and pulled out a police ID card and badge in a leather wallet. But police were surprised when they looked at the ID and saw the photograph was of US actor Adrien Brody, known for his Oscar winning role in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist, as well as a host of other starring turns in films such as King Kong and The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Spanish man also had some handcuffs, some latex gloves and a leather gun holster. The 45-year-old man, identified by Spanish police only by his initials of J.V.B, claimed to have found the police paraphernalia on the beach. The man, who was born in Valencia was arrested by police and is awaiting charges.

NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED FOR ALHAMBRA PALACE IN GRANADA Reynaldo Fernandez Manzano will replace Maria de Mar Villafranca

EYNALDO Fernandez has been named as the new Director General of the Patronato de la Alhambra, which includes the palace and gardens of one of Spain’s most important monuments. The complex attracted over 2.4million visitors las year and is an iconic symbol of the Moorish heritage of Andalucia. The appointment of Reynaldo Fernandez has been based on his cultural experience rather than his political activities.

EXPERT He is a cultural expert in medieval history, he has studied Arabic and is currently the director of the Andalucia Musical Documentation Centre, a position he has held since 1985. Within his new job role, he is expected to focus on the cultural aspect of the complex to help attract new visitors. His appointment comes in response to the announcement of Maria del Mar Villafranca’s early retirement following accusations of

Reynaldo Fernandez Manzano, the new Director General of the iconic Alhambra tourist attraction

supposed irregularities in the awarding of service contracts related to audio guides for Spain’ single most popular tourist attraction. The alleged wrongdoings date back to 2007 when contracts were awarded. The terms of

these contracts paid a fixed fee of €77,000 per year for the contracts, plus 47% commission for the sale for each audioguide. However, once the contracts had been signed, the contracts were modified, reducing the

annual fee to €30,000 plus 15% commission. It has been concluded that over 5.5 million euros of potential state revenue cannot be accounted for. An investigation continues.

©Photograph: Ernest H. Brooks II, « Blue in Profile », Edition Fifty Fathoms 2008

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 15

MISSION PARTNER OF

Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe

Pristine Seas Expeditions

PUERTO BANUS MUELLE RIBERA, CASA O, LOCAL 5 - TEL. +34 952 81 38 37 WWW.TOURBILLON.COM

www.blancpain.com

16 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 17

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

things Spaniards do better than anyone else THE SIESTA It might be an age-old Spanish stereotype, but the siesta is still just as much a part of many communities as ever, with one Spanish town recently enshrining in law the right to an afternoon snooze. Taking a break from 2pm until 5pm ensures sensible Spaniards stay out of the blazing sun, while also guaranteeing that they have the energy to stay up late into the night.

We’re not saying Spaniards are perfect, but there are certain things they just seem to do better in Spain than anywhere else in the world. Here we give you a rundown of the top ten

STAY UP LATE Spaniards are great at burning the midnight oil; they watch films late, they work late and they eat late. Any tourist visiting Spain will tell you of their surprise at Spanish meal times - Spaniards eat later than almost anyone else on earth. Don’t expect to have lunch until around 2pm while dinner can start as late as 10.30pm and that’s not to mention the sobremesa, or after-dinner conversation, which leads into the wee small early hours.

TALK Spaniards can talk the hind legs off a donkey, in the nicest possible way. We might be generalizing here, but Spaniards are loud. None of that shy northern European whispering here, Spaniards seem to enjoy shouting at each other. It could be due to the fact that in most bars they are battling to be heard over the noise of the television - its volume often turned up high.

LOOK AFTER THEIR FAMILIES Families in Spain are close-knit affairs, and Spanish culture is very much centred on looking up to - and after - your elders. It is completely normal in Spain to see different generations of family members enjoying a night out, an afternoon stroll or a morn-

ing shop together. Grandmas and grandads are revered and cherished, often living with younger family members and helping to look after the grandchildren. Families are so close, in fact, that young Spaniards are really not too eager to fly the nest.

FIESTA Spaniards love a fiesta, every little town has its own special day, when residents decorate the streets and eat, drink and dance into the small hours of the morning. Spain’s Catholic tradition means it has among the most public holidays in Europe, thanks to its many saints days, which are always celebrated with a huge party.

FOOD Has there ever been a better food idea than tapas, those delicious morsels that allow you

to try five or six different dishes in one meal? The Spanish diet is a healthy mixture of fresh fish, vegetables and lashings of olive oil and the country is home to the best restaurant in the world. And to top it off, you can enjoy some of the freshest, most delicious ingredients in Spain even if you are on a modest budget, everyone in Spain eats well, even the old men propping up your neighbourhood bar can dine like kings.

DRINK Among Spaniards, you very rarely see the fall-down-drunk-in-the-gutter style of drinking that is so prevalent in northern Europe. Spaniards enjoy a drink (the country has the highest ratio of bars to people in Europe), but are generally not binge drinkers, prefer-

ring to enjoy a tipple alongside some tapas, ensuring their stomachs are lined and preventing the dreaded next-day hangover. And with so many Spanish drinks to choose from there is something for everyone.

GAY RIGHTS While the United States has only just legalized gay marriage, Spain was way ahead of the game, bringing same-sex marriage into law back in 2005, only the third country in the world to do so. Spain has also been ranked as the most gay-friendly country in the world and plays host each summer to one of the biggest gay pride celebrations on the planet.

WORK TO LIVE, NOT LIVE TO WORK Contrary to the negative stereotype, Spaniards are hard-workers, putting in some of the longest hours in Europe. But where they differ from other nationalities is their attitude towards work and family time: the latter always comes first. Spaniards work later so they can take a long lunch break shunning eating at their desks in favour of meeting friends or colleagues for a sit-down lunch. And weekends are sacred family-time, never to be disrupted with anything so trivial as work…

MAÑANA, MAÑANA Why stress about something today when it can be dealt with tomorrow. It may be a typical stereotype of the Spanish way of life. But Spaniards definitely have a stress-free way of dealing with difficult and sometimes annoying situations. Just put it to one side and deal with it tomorrow!

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

18 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Are water shortages turning Spain into the new Africa? Parts of southeast Spain and other areas in Southern Europe are drying to the point that they are beginning to resemble the climate of Africa a recent report written by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) states

HE drying is most likely due to the combination of global warming, pressures from water transfer plants on farmers to switch to more thirsty crops, and a recent land development boom. While cyclical droughts have been a historical characteristic of Southern Spain, scientists say the current water crisis is probably emblematic of a more permanent change. In fact, “the Spanish Environment Ministry estimates that one-third of the country is at risk of turning into desert from a combination of climate change and poor land use.” With this ‘Africanization’ of Spain’s climate have come new conflicts. Farmers in affected areas have begun battling developers - as well as fellow farmers - for water control.

ILLEGAL The black market for water from illegal sources is swelling and the crisis has exposed public officials engaged in water use and development scandals. While only some farmers have changed their growing habits, the crisis has spurred the Spanish government to sponsor a European water conference this summer and to develop a plan to stave off desertification. Among other efforts, the government seeks to switch to more efficient irrigation techniques and establish desalination programs. The nation’s average water exploitation in-

dex, a measure of water resources used compared with long-term renewable resources, indicates moderate levels of stress. (A measure of 20 percent indicates stress, while 40 percent is severe stress that is clearly unsustainable; Spain’s index is 34 percent.) However, the regions of Andalusia and Segura have water exploitation indices of 164 percent and 127 percent respectively, meaning that these regions abstract more water each year than is replenished. Declining groundwater in southern Spain’s Guadiana Basin has dried out peat land, and over-abstraction in some coastal aquifers has resulted in saltwater intrusion, decreasing the quality of aquifer water. Under these conditions, continued and increased reliance on irrigation, in addition to industrial and urban demands, will only increase the stress on these resources, especially in areas where stress and overuse already exist Water stress and scarcity, however, is certainly not an issue unique to Spain. The United Nations estimates that desertification resulting from climate change has the potential to eventually force 135 million people off their land, primarily in developing countries. The reports states that: “The battles of yesterday were fought over land... Those of the present centre on oil, but those of the future - a future made hotter and drier by climate change in much of the world - seem likely to focus on water.”

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Firefighters go on strike as wildfires ravage Spain H

UNDREDS of people have been evacuated in Catalonia due to wildfires that are still raging, while Spain’s forest firefighters announce an indefinite strike. Over 800 people were evacuated from the villages of Ca l’Esteve, El Bosc Gran and Monserrat Parc in Ódena near Barcelona, after wildfires broke out over the weekend. At least 1,000 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed by the fire, which broke out last week. The evacuated residents were spread out over neighbouring villages, where they sought refuge overnight in a basketball arena and a library, quickly set up to accommodate them.

INDEFINITE To make matters worse, firefighters from Spain’s forest firefighting service (BRIF) began an indefinite strike on Monday in protest against working conditions and low pay. It is the first time such a strike has taken place while wildfires sweep vast areas of Spain, the association of forest firefighters, Atbrif, said in a statement on its website. “Is it fair that we make a ridiculous amount while we put our lives at risk?” the firefighters’ association said.

DRONES TO THE RESCUE V

ODAFONE Spain has launched a project to field sea rescue drones on popular Spanish beaches. A pilot was started on 16 July at five beachs: Cabopino, Marbella; Ribadesella, Asturias; Isla, Cantabria; Cartagena, Murcia; and Benalmádena, Málaga. The remotely piloted aircraft will help lifeguards to reach swimmers in distress. After being alerted to a possible incident, the drone and lifeguard head towards the sea. The drone’s speed will allow it to reach the swimmer first and drop a lifebuoy. According to Vodafone, the drones will make response times three times faster, which has the potential to reduce the number of drownings. Currently, an average of 400 people drown off Spain’s beaches each year, said the firm. The rescue pilots have been trained according to AESA (State Agency for Aviation Safety) standards. In order to operate the drones effectively, they require a high level of knowledge of communications, navigation, meteorology, operational procedures and aviation law, and must have ‘absolute control’ of the devices, said Vodafone. To reach their targets, the pilots must be able to perform vertical take-offs, spirals and high speed, two-way flights. They must also work in close collaboration with the lifeguards. The project will run until September 15.

WEEKEND WORLD - 19

20 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 21

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Italy fined 20 million euros over rubbish

Third time lucky family find $1m of Spanish gold A

FLORIDA family of treasure hunters have made their third discovery in three years, this time finding Spanish gold worth more than $1million from a 300-year-old wreck. The find includes 51 gold coins and 12 meters (40ft) of ornate gold chain, which were recovered exactly 300 years after a fleet of 11 galleons sailing from Havana to Spain sank during a hurricane. More than 1,000 people drowned and the treasures, listed on the convoy’s manifests and valued at $400m in today’s money, were lost to the ocean floor. The amazing find was announced by Brent Brisben, the owner of the 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC salvage company, which bought the rights to the wreck in 2010. The discovery was made by Eric Schmitt who was diving near Fort Pierce during his yearly treasure-hunting trip with his wife, his sister and his parents on the family salvage vessel named ‘Aarrr Booty’, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel.

It was the third discovery made in the area by the Schmitts who subcontracts the right to search the wreck site for treasure from Brisben’s company. Although they have yet to make a public statement about their latest discovery, speaking after their first find Hillary Schmitt told JCKonline: “We never expected to get rich off this. We do it for the love that we have for treasure hunting, for finding part of history.” The centrepiece of the Schmitts’ latest find is a perfect specimen of a coin called a royal, made for Spain’s King Phillip V and dated 1715. Only about six of the coins are known to exist. “It’s incredibly rare and incredibly valuable,” Brisben told the Orlando Sentinel. “It returned from the depths on its 300th birthday.” Under US federal and Florida state law, 20 percent of the find will go for display in a state museum, while the remainder will be split between Brisben’s company and the Schmitt family.

Buying or selling property in Spain? Get bank-beating exchange rates and fee-free transfers

HE European Court of Justice has given Italy a €20 million fine for failing to resolve waste management problems in the southern Campania region. The problems of waste management in Campania are well documented and difficult to resolve.

DUMPING Years of toxic waste dumping for profit by mafia groups have caused parts of the region to be dubbed the ‘Land of Fires’. Mafia infiltration of public waste disposal is widespread, and the area contains large stockpiles of historic waste known as ‘ecobales’, which the EU estimates could take 15 years to clear.

The so-called Land of Fires gets its name from the high number of uncontrolled fires that break out in the area due to uncontrolled dumping. Last year firefighters extinguished 2,531 across the area. But it’s not just flames that are the problem. Pollution caused by toxic waste dumping has also led to levels of cancer in the area being way above the national average. In calculating the fine, the court found Italy had repeatedly failed to fulfil its obligations in establishing “an integrated and suitable network of installations” to ensure the safe disposal of waste in the area. The court also handed Italy a daily latepayment fine of €120,000, which must be paid each day the problem goes unresolved.

Get in touch T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W currenciesdirect.com

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

22 - WEEKEND WORLD

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

“Panorama KDF-Block” by R. Weber

Nazi island resort turned into luxury apartments

RORA Colossus on the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea was originally built as the world’s biggest hotel, stretching along 4.5 km of one of Germany’s best beaches with 10,000 rooms. The Prora resort was never used as a holiday resort for the masses in World War II or afterwards, although it was used by the military. As part of the Nazis’ “Strength Through Joy” program, the resort’s purpose was to prepare up to 20,000 citizens for war through organized leisure. The outbreak of

A vast Nazi mega-complex meant as holiday homes for German workers and later used by the Soviets as a Cold War barracks is about to be turned into luxury flats the war put an abrupt end to its construction in 1939, yet even in its incomplete version it was one of the biggest Nazi building projects.

In the 1950s the compound was used as a military barracks, but after the fall of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany, the building became an abandoned blight

on the island’s coast. But a new project for Prora is set to change that. Block 2 of the complex is being redesigned as 4-star luxury holiday apartments complete with underfloor heating, parquet floors and flat screen TVs. Guests will have access to a spa, hot baths and a fitness studio. According to the plans, one of the apartments, with a living area of 350 square meters, will be “the biggest penthouse in Rügen.” The first 48 apartments will be ready in October, reports travelbook.de, and 130 of the 150 apartments have already been sold. the lowest priced costing €176,000 for a small three-room apartment.

UNINHABITABLE

Panoramic view of a block’s landward side

Artist impression of the new resort

AUCTION OF GLAMOROUS SPY’S MEDALS FETCHES RECORD PRICE

UCTIONEERS say the medals awarded to a glamorous World War II heroine Violette Szabo have fetched a record price of € 447,370 (£312,000) including commission - far above the previous record of €133,000 (£93,000) for a George Cross, a decoration awarded to civilians and military members for courage. Szabo, an Anglo-French undercover agent, was tortured and killed by the Nazis after being captured after the D-Day landings. Szabo’s 73-year-old daughter Tania, who decided to sell the medals after a fire, had wanted to make sure the medals would be seen and that her mother’s memory recalled for generations to come. The medals will now be put on display at the Imperial War Museum.

Ever since its construction in 1936 Prora has never been completed and never fully used. Its original cost (around a billion euros in today’s money) proved burdensome to its Nazi architects and the sheer size meant that by the time war broke out in 1939 only eight buildings had been erected. And even they were uninhabitable concrete shells. As the war spread through Europe funds were diverted elsewhere and the buildings remained empty. When the Soviets took over eastern Germany in 1945, and with it Rügen, they used Prora to house refugees, as well as placing Germans there whose land had been confiscated. By the 1950s access to Prora was shut off to the public and part of it was turned into a military barracks. After the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the reunification of Germany, the building fell into disrepair and ruin. Various groups fought over whether it should be turned into a museum or whether its location was too good for it not to be renovated as holiday homes. In the mid-nineties a museum about the building’s dark past was opened but it closed down again a decade later. A grand opening is planned for October of this year, with the first full-time tenants already expected to move into to what is being called the ‘Colossus of Rügen’.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 23

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ENSIONS have been running high in the French Riviera ever since it emerged that King Salman of Saudi Arabia and his entourage of no fewer than 1000 people have annexed a public Riviera Beach so they can have it all to themselves during their traditional summer visit to the south of France after local authorities gave the family permission on the grounds of security. The king and his inner circle will be put up at the family’s private villa, which stands just metres from the Mirandole beach in Vallauris (right) which stretches across a kilometre of Riviera coastline between Antibes and Marseille.

‘NON’ to Saudi royals taking over beach

ELEVATOR The royals have further inflamed relations with locals when it emerged they were given the green light to build an elevator down to the sand to make it easier for them to access the beach from their villa. While the king’s three-week visit is a boon for the local economy, it has also sparked anger among local residents. A petition against the “privatisation” of the public beach gathered more than 45,000 signatures in eight days. The online petition reads: “This beach, like any other public maritime domain, should be available for everyone, including residents, tourists, French people and foreigners. It called on France to “recognize the unanimous wave of indignation” and to rectify the situation by reversing the decision to privatize the beach. The petition comes as part of an open letter to France’s President Francois Hollande, as well as the interior, foreign affairs, and ecology ministers, penned by opposition councillor Jean-Noel Falcou. Francois-Xavier Lauch, director of the office of the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture, said that the closing of the beach was simply a question of security. “This move is consistent with the visit of a head of state

and it would be the same if it was President Hollande visiting or Barack Obama.” While some complain about the public being denied access to the beach, . Francois-Xavier Lauch said the royal visit would be extremely beneficial to the local economy. Indeed, some 700 other members of the king’s en-

tourage will be accommodated at top hotels on the promenade in Cannes. Hundreds of other Saudis will be following the king on his holiday - as is the tradition - bringing the total number of Saudi citizens flooding into the southern French beach resorts to around 1,000. “Clearly this

Greeks called to return 40 billion euros in savings B

ANKS say their liquidity problems would be solved if the 40 billion euros that was emptied over the past seven months is returned to accounts. In an interview on Greek TV, Louka Katseli said banks would function normally again if account holders brought back some of the 40 billion euros withdrawn since December during Greece’s economic uncertainty. “If we take out the money from our safes and our houses - where, in any case, it isn’t safe - and we deposit it in the banks, we will reinforce liquidity,” she told the Mega TV channel. Capital controls remained in force despite the banks re-opening again after a three-week shutdown ended; instead of being limited to 60 euros per day from ATM cash machines, Greek customers could now withdraw the full weekly allowance of 300 euros all at once. Still, many customers complained that they couldn’t access their whole salary or welfare payment. “I came today to collect my pension but unfortunately I could only get a small percentage of it,” said Spyros Papasotiriou, as he left his bank in a northern Athens suburb. The temporary limit will remain in force until the end of the July when it will then be raised to 420 euros. Although some other capital controls have been eased, Katseli said it was too early to say how long it eould be until the banking system would return to normal.

One key limit still in force was a ban on most transfers to foreign banks, although Greeks can again use their credit cards to make purchases overseas. Some analysts predicted that restrictions would remain in place for months if not years. They were introduced because negotiations with Greece’s creditors had reached a deadlock, fuelling increased fears of a bank run if Greece was to enter bankruptcy. Greeks also have to contend with further hikes in sales tax, which aims to raise around 800 million euros a year for the government in Athens. The increase in value-added tax (VAT) from 13 percent to 23 percent applies to a wide range of products and services for the first time - including processed foods, along with drinks and food served at restaurants and bars. Other products that saw tax increases include fresh and frozen meat, coffee, tea, juices, eggs, sugar, rice and toilet paper. The measures are part of reforms demanded by international lenders before talks could begin on a third Greek bailout, worth 86 billion euros, to help the country avoid bankruptcy. The tax changes also remove special treatment previously afforded to many Greek islands - something the ruling Syriza party tried hard to avoid in recent negotiations with creditors.

is good news,” said Michel Chevillon, president of an association representing hotel managers in Cannes. “These are people with great purchasing power which will pop up not only the luxury hotel industry but also the retail and tourism sectors of the town,” he said.

24 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 25

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AND YOU THOUGHT THE NHS WAITING TIMES WERE LONG!

N Italian hospital built some 58 years ago still has not treated a single patient. Work on the San Bartolomeo in Galdo hospital, Campania, began in 1957. The grand plans for the hospital envisaged a modern five-floor structure that would deliver state-of the-art medical care for the 35,000 inhabitants of the Fortore Valley, in Benevento, Campania. The project included an operating theatre, intensive care unit, a cardiology unit, and analysis labs, as well as gynaecology, paediatric, radiology and orthopaedic departments.

LOCATION Perhaps the plans for the super hospital were a little excessive for the local residents, but that was not the only strange thing about them. The site chosen for the hospital lies at the top of a mountain that can only be reached by driving along a winding road full of potholes, so even if the hospital had ever opened, it would still be quicker for residents

mid-1990s, with works still in full swing, the local health authority hired 90 medical and administrative staff to work there, including local anaesthetist Pietro De Vizio. “There was an operating theatre, but not one where you could work,” he told a local newspaper. “I worked there for a few months but there was nothing there to do, so I was transferred to another hospital.”

REFURBISH to go to nearby Foggia for treatment, a journey that takes about an hour by car. With the strange location not being deemed a problem, the first stone was laid in 1962 and after a series of delays the structure was finally completed by the middle of the 1970s But subsequent revisions as to the precise function the hospital would serve meant that it never opened. Initial plans were for 133 beds, but this was then reduced to 90, then 49 and finally 20. As the years went by and the eventual function of the hospital changed, so did the leg-

islation. By now, so much time had elapsed that the majority of the fittings inside the hospital no longer conformed to health and safety laws, meaning the hospital couldn’t be opened for business. No problem. Contracts were tendered for the hospital’s refurbishment and companies started (but never finished) fitting the hospital out with modern furnishings. In a remarkably optimistic move, a heliport was even built just 300 meters from the hospital it is now covered by sprouting weeds. But stranger still was the hiring of staff. In the

In spite of more than €19 million being invested to refurbish the hospital, constant legislative changes and structural problems blighted all attempts at opening the hospital. De Vizio, the one-time employee of the ghost hospital, is pessimistic about its future. “I grew up with that hospital. I even asked to work there, dreaming it would open from one day to the next... now I’m retired,” he said. The story is reminiscent of recent reports about a hotel in Sicily which, despite work beginning 61 years ago, has never welcomed a single guest.

Gérard Depardieu ruled ‘a danger to Ukraine’ F

RANCE’S larger than life actor Gérard Depardieu has been added to a black list in Ukraine, which features names of people judged “a threat to national security”, according to reports last week. Depardieu’s name has reportedly been added to a list of around 600 individuals who have been blacklisted by the country’s ministry of culture. Those on the list are considered a “threat to national security” and as a result Ukraine media are banned from talking about them or publishing their images. The appearance of the controversial French actor on the black list was reported by Ouest France, who quoted Russian newspaper Vesti. While it may appear slightly bizarre that the star of Welcome to New York

and the Asterix movies is judged a threat to Ukraine, it may not be entirely surprising. Depardieu is a big fan of Vladimir Putin, who in January 2013 handed the French actor a Russian passport, which was warmly accepted. The actor is registered as living in the town of Saransk, with his address listed as No. 1, Democracy Street.

CONFLICT He has also frequently spoken out in support of the Russian president and has angered Ukrainian leaders with some of his comments at the height of the ongoing conflict in the east of the country. According to reports Depardieu was cited for his speech at a film festival in Riga, Latvia in August 2014, when he said: “I love Russia and

Ukraine, which is part of Russia.” At the Moscow film festival in 2013 he also commended Russian president Putin. “I do not really like presidents, I like men,” he said. “Putin is very strong. Russia needs this man. God bless his soul,” Depardieu said. The actor is pretty much blacklisted in France too although he might not be quite judged a threat to national security, just yet. Depardieu quit France in 2012 to become a tax resident of Belgium, a move that was judged as “pathetic” by the then French PM JeanMarc Ayrault. He has frequently tried to wind up the French government by claiming he “was proud to be Russian” and that called France a “sad” place led by an uninspired government where people are “fed up”.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

26 - WEEKEND WORLD

DESIGN is INTELLIGNCE made VISIBLE

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Give your business the presence it deserves with our affordable, professional service • Corporate Identities • Flyers / Leaflets • Online PDF’s • Posters • Invites • Web Graphics • Adverts • Magazines / Brochures • Cartoons ...plus much more

Simply Media Group S.L. Centro Comercial Atenea Local 18 - 1 • Km 168 CN340 • 29688 Estepona • Malaga T: 951 127 200 • administration@simplymdedia-group.com

www.paulscottondesign.com

Paul Scotton Design A PRESSPREFER COMPANY

www.simplymedia-group.com

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 27

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

DISRUPTIVE COMPENSATION T HE company that runs the crossChannel rail tunnel wants the British and French governments to pay it nearly 10 million euros compensation for disruption caused by migrants trying to reach Britain from Calais, even though it announced profits of 39 million euros for the first half of 2015 last week. Eurotunnel announced 39 million euros’ profit for the first six months of this year, compared to a loss of 11 million euros in the same period of 2014.

TARGETS So the company believes it is on course to reach its targets of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of 535 million euros in 2014 and 580 million euros in 2016. But Eurotunnel says it has spent 13 million euros this year on efforts to prevent migrants trying to board trains crossing the English Channel - as much as it spent in the whole of 2014. So it wants the British and French governments to pay it 9.7 million euros in compensation. Two-thirds of that sum would be for security

Eurotunnel wants 9.7 million euros compensation for migrant disruption despite massive profits costs, such as erecting fences, and onethird for losses, for example those incurred by trains being held up while they are searched for stowaways. Britain has already agreed to pay 4.7 million euros, the company says. But it

points out that nearly all its problems are in the French port of Calais and accuses the French government of playing down the number of migrants camped out there. Eurotunnel won a similar demand for compensation about a decade ago.

Eu orders EDF to pay back 1997 tax break

THE European Union has ordered French electricity giant EDF to repay 1.37 billion euros of tax breaks granted in 1997 – causing the company’s shares price to plunge 2.8 per cent after the decision was announced. The exemption from a decade’s worth of corporation tax on investments in France’s highvoltage transmission network was “incompatible with EU rules on state aid”, the European Commission said in a statement. EDF, which is 85 per cent state-owned now, was entirely public property at the time. The exemption was unfair because no private company would have made such an unprofitable investment, the Commission argued. “It is therefore state aid that has strengthened EDF’s position to the detriment of its competitors, without furthering any objective of common interest,” the Commission said. The case has been making its way through the EU’s court and regulatory system since 1997. EDF said it “took note” of the EU’s decision and would “proceed to repay the indicated sums”, warning they would have a negative effect on its financial results this year. Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said that Wednesday’s ruling will not undermine the company’s finances.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015 Benahavis Mountain Setting

28 - WEEKEND WORLD

Tucked away in the folds of the Sierra Bermeja mountains, Benahavís Hills benefits from expansive panoramic views across the Mediterranean coastline from Marbella to Gibraltar.

NEW LUXURY ESTATE

A perfect hide-away for those seeking peace, tranquillity and a healthy lifestyle, while also being conveniently located just located just 7 kilometres inland from the glamorous coastal hotspots of Puerto Banús and Marbella. For a more Andalucian experience the acclaimed restaurants and entertainment venues offered by Benahavís Village are literally the doorstep. This unique private estate is comprised of just 40 luxury homes serviced by an exclusive members-only wellness centre, providing quality dining, fully equipped gymnasium and spa facilities, outdoor recreational zones with a large communal swimming pool and entertainment areas. Benahavis Hills Country Club comprises 36 villas and four townhouses, each with private swimming pools and landscaped gardens – all homes benefit from panoramic sea and mountain views and expansive interior and exterior living areas. These luxury rustic contemporary villas, have been re-conceptualised and upgraded to the highest specifications - offering all the amenities that one could wish for: • Spacious interiors with options ranging up to 757 square meters! • Private gated estate with 24 hour onsite security • Large individual swimming pools with infinity options • Lush garden areas with decking and covered terraces • Grand en-suite bathrooms in every bedroom; underfloor heating • Large basement areas offering a blank canvas of options • Fully fitted Gunni & Trentino designer kitchens with all appliances • 7 Individual property layouts, with options to suit all requirements Those taking advantage of the excellent facilities at the Benahavis Hills Wellness Centre receive help to achieve specific fitness or performance goals “while our elite staff will motivate and inspire you as much as the surroundings do”. The centre features complete Cybex cardio and weight training equipment, heated indoor pools, Jacuzzi, steam and sauna, and an outdoor pool with stunning views and cabanas “where you can not only soak in the magnificent vistas but relax as our expert massage therapists pamper your body”.

Sales are managed by Smart Property Professional: (+34) 951 239 866

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 29

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

SOTOGRANDE AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Sponsored by

www.ibexinsure.com & 952 887 125

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 45

LORD

BYRON

HANDMADE LUXURY BRITISH INTERIORS

Those luxury touches that would previously have been considered price prohibitive, even at the very top end of the market, are considered standard features within the Lord Byron Interiors range. Each & every component is conceived, designed and manufactured in our own UK factory, ensuring the same consistently high standards and build quality. ‘QUALITY’ should not be confused with ‘LUXURY’. A facade may present the appearance of luxury, but behind the facade is where the real quality becomes self evident. Quality lies with the choice of materials, and achieved with top quality traditional cabinet making practices.

Our products are all totally exclusive and are now available in Marbella

“Quality is not an act - it’s a habit” ARISTOTLE

LORD BYRON INTERIORS DUBAI • RUSSIA • CHINA • EUROPE T: 952 888 848 | www.lordbyroninteriors.com

FOCUS ON HOMES

46 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

DMC’S is a family run business with over 190 years of combined experience in the glazing, construction and steel industry. We are specialist manufacturers of Glass curtains, stainless steel, windows & doors and Pool surrounds. We use only the highest quality materials including 316 marine grade stainless steel so as not to cause corrosion problems. We have our own Glass toughening plant which means that the complete glass curtain system, including the glass, is manufactured under one roof. We also manufacture UPVC and Aluminium windows and doors, we can manufacture roofs including sliding (Electric or manual), complete steel structures, Acoustic glass for bars, mirrors, table tops, sealed units, splash backs, shop fronts, shelves, walk on glass, stairs, Glass balustrade, pool surrounds, in fact we can assist you with all your glass needs. RDMC’S are experts when it comes to pool surrounds and all the legalities required for either your villa or your community pool, they manufacture all the stainless steel themselves with 316 marine grade so as to cause no rusting around the pool, they also manufacture the self closing gates that are required, they

have now completed many complex pools to meet with the new regulations, please contact them should you need any advice.

The Glass Curtain system that we manufacture is a German system, it is typical of German design, much time and thought has gone into the system making it one of if not the best system available on the market today. The system is completely different to other systems that are of similar money, it is top hung which means that the weight of the glass is distributed evenly and not all sitting on the bottom rubbing metal against metal, this system runs on stainless steel wheels and stainless steel thrust needle bearings, each panel of glass has four holes drilled into it so that the profile can be bolted to the glass as well as glued, this is the only system to do this, all other system are merely glued to the profile.

WE KNOW BEST Other companies will claim that a bottom hung system is better however as glass manufacturers who make our own glass and understand the weight that is involved per square meter for 10mm glass, we know that the best way for a system to function correctly is to hang the glass so as not to impose

such weight and strain onto the system below causing scraping and juddering over a period of time and regular use. Also being Top hung you do not need to maintain the system like you would a bottom hung system where you would have to clean the bottom track out regularly so as to keep it running as smooth as possible, with the top system this is not necessary as no dirt, leaves rubbish etc. can get in there. Our Glass Curtains also come with an additional adjustable bar, this means that if there is any movement at all the glass curtains can be adjusted up or down with just an alan key instead of having to take all the panels of glass out and start again. The system has undergone many tests in Germany including an opening and closing test of over 10,000 cycles and also a wind test of up to 2000 Pascal’s, all the test documentation can be viewed at our offices.

COME AND VISIT We also recommend that anybody looking to install glass curtains or stainless steel, visit the factory and see where they are being manufactured. With this financial climate many companies on the coast have filed for bankruptcy, unfortunately you will find that these companies are still trying to trade without proper premises and licences and merely change their company names. Do ask questions, a reliable company has nothing to hide.

For any info please email us on rdmcsglass@hotmail.com or check out our website on www.rdmcsglass.com to see installation photos, information about our system and also customer references. Or see our facebook page for regularly updated installations. Alternatively call us on 952 477 963 and 677 712 742 Pol Ind El Cañadon, Nave 16 & 18, Km2, Camino De Coin, Mijas Costa, Malaga 29650 - Opening hours Mon – Fri 8.30 – 6.00

Ceramic fruit good enough to eat GLAZED ceramic fruit sculptures look unusual and very interesting offering a stylish alternative to home decorations for interiors and outdoor living spaces. Ceramic pears, apples, lemons and cherry sculptures bring new designs and fresh energy, reinventing artwork and home decorating ideas.

Artist & designer Lisa Pappon from São Paulo in Brazil, has created exclusively for BULL & STEIN, inimitable ceramic sculptures that combine familiar shapes with typical and unconventional colours, creating classic home decorations that look contemporary and surprisingly good – good enough to eat!

Investment and Pension Specialists Mobile Office Web Email

: 691 219 354 : 951 242 684 : www.AESandalusia.es : info@AESandalusia.es

For more information visit: www.masterkool.es

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 47

48 - WEEKEND WEEKEND WORLD WORLD

FOCUS ON HOMES

Issue 04 July 30 - August ADVERTORIAL 12, 2015

MAJOR LIFESTYLE TRADE SHOW CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY!

AISON & Objet Paris, a biannual trade show founded in 1995, has long been considered the fashion week of the

design world. The big brands present their newest collections. Great young talents have a moment to show their stuff and turn heads. Buyers and editors scout the next best thing and this year, the legendary fair celebrates its 20th anniversary, Maison & Objet Paris is an important international industry event held within the ParisNord Villepinte Exhibition Centre. It offers a unique opportunity to gain an overview of the trends in decoration, furniture, home and furnishings. The event has been structured into three sections: MAISON - OBJECT - LUXURY MAISON is spread out across Halls 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5B, and organized into four sensitivities: ECLECTIC (Hall 1), COSY (Hall 2), ELEGANT (Hall 3 / Hall 4), and ACTUEL (Hall 5B). Settling into halls 5A and 6, the OBJET section presents products and accessories: smart gadgets, cooking utensils and other essential home-fashion pieces. Its rise in influence reflects the influx of concept stores into the retail landscape. FRAGRANCES, COMPLEMENTS, CRAFT and COOK&DESIGN (Hall 5A), and FRESH FASHION, BELOVED, and KIDS (Hall 6). Lastly, halls 7 and 8 have come together to give rise to LUXURY, DESIGN & INTERIOR DECORATION.

The Maison & Objet Paris will take place over 5 days from Friday, 04th September to Tuesday, 08th September 2015.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 49

50 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON HOMES

Increased demand for Spanish property could push up prices Summary: Increased interest from buyers could drive growth in prices for Spanish property, according to a new report INCREASED demand among international buyers could push up property prices in Spain, according to new data from real estate portal Kyero. Kyero says it’s just had its busiest quarter in its history. 28% of all queries from prospective buyers concerned properties priced between €50,000 and €100,000. Renewed interest and demand for Spanish property could start to drive growth in values. A separate report from valuations company Tinsa reveals that 35 popular Spanish locations have seen price rises in the last 12 months, compared to just four areas in the year before that. Coastal locations in Spain are favoured

among international buyers looking for a second home with easy access to beaches. Unsurprisingly, Alicante – home to the Costa Blanca – is the most popular province, with 31% of all enquiries. Malaga came second, with 15%. Apartments attracted 39% of buyers’ interest during the last quarter, a full 10% ahead of villa enquiries, according to Kyero’s founder, Martin Dell. Whether you’re moving to Spain or transferring money overseas, it’s important to keep on top of the currency market. For more information contact us on +34 952 906 581 or visit currenciesdirect.com

Let’s talk currency Plaza de Las Orquideas, Local 6, Nueva Andalucia, 29660 Marbella T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W www.currenciesdirect.com

Moving money overseas? Get bank-beating exchange rates and fee-free transfers

Get in touch T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W currenciesdirect.com

SPA - Weekend world 1/4 page - v1.indd 1

05/06/2015 10:44

MANSION developer Issue 04 Group July is 30a specialized - AugustBelgian 12, 2015 with 20 years experience in building and promoting exceptional villas in the Costa del Sol. We work together with you listening to your expectations, analysing your lifestyle and learning about your needs, aiming to make your dream house become a reality in this spoilt region in the South of Spain.

WEEKEND WORLD - 51

MANSION Group consists of a passionate team of professionals in constant search for excellence and with the ambition to contribute to the preservation and enrichment of the wonderful heritage that lies behind the beautiful villas of the Costa del Sol. Architect, engineer, technicians and workers at MANSION Group bring together their knowledge and expertise to serve the most discerning clientele. Our team is trilingual in French, Spanish and English and, given that each of our villas is tailor made, we develop specific solutions for each project, so that we can exceed your expectations, while being compliant with existing rules of art and regulations. We carry most of our work with our own staff and equipment. We also offer 3D animations for a better understanding of our projects before their implementation, which help envisioning the final outcome and avoid unnecessary additional costs. Quality, timeless construction and competitive budgets are the keywords on which our reputation is built, as our past customers give testimony of, they being our best ambassadors.

selection of villas and lands available for sale on the Costa del Sol. We are committed to offer a full service to our customers. All our building contracts incorporate an after-sales service with a coverage that goes beyond official guarantees, and we may also provide a maintenance service for villas upon request (pool, gardens, installations….), for a totally stress-free experience. If you are considering purchasing a plot, we may facilitate a free of charge counselling service provided

by our in-house architect, Ivan Costenoble (www. cotenoble.eu). He will conduct a complete study of feasibility of the plot from the topographical, geotechnical, architectural and town planning points of view, along with a preliminary study of construction costs. Such professional study elaborated by skilled professionals will include all needed parameters to provide full confidence before purchasing your land and developing your own project.

You are welcome to visit our constructions and experience by yourself the perfect blend between authentic architecture and natural noble materials, new technologies, cosy and welcoming spaces. MANSION Group offers a range of services including architectural and urban projects, project management, building permits, interior design, decoration, landscaping and maintenance, along with the best

The residential area Altos de los Monteros is a unique natural reserve in Marbella, immersed in a green landscape environment with breath-taking views over the sea and the Costa del Sol bay. Its privileged location in a clean and relaxing surrounding is at the same time at easy reach from any facilities you may require. You will find Marbella’s lovely city centre with its well-preserved pedestrian Old Town at only a few minutes drive. Even closer than that, the Costa del Sol main hospital and one of the most prestigious areas, Bahia de Marbella, lay at the bottom of the valley, where you will find beaches with natural dunes and beachfront restaurants serving traditional Spanish cuisine. The area of El Rosario is located 5 minutes away, offering two of the best bilingual international schools, a tennis club including a gym and Pilates studio, and various shops, restaurants, supermarkets and access to beautiful beaches. For a wider shopping offer, La Cañada shopping mall is located at 10 minutes drive, where to find a big international supermarket, cinemas, beauty centres,

restaurants, bars, and all offer in national and international brands for fashion, cosmetics, books, and gadgets. Whether you are a keen golfer or you are willing to learn, three of the most prestigious golf courses in the Costa del Sol surround Altos de los Monteros. Rio Real Golf -which includes its own 5-star boutique hotel-, Santa Clara Golf -with a golf academy and charming social club-, and Marbella Golf & Country Club, also featuring an elegant social club and golf academy, as well as tennis courts. 5-star accommodation facilities are also located at a few kilometres, such as Los Monteros Hotel, featuring a SPA and a fabulous beach club. Altos de los Monteros is defined as an area where to live peacefully. Surrounded by nature and within reach of all the amenities that Marbella has to offer, Altos de los Monteros is a valuable investment for the future, with existing area projects that will improve its facilities and incorporate new services. Definitely a unique opportunity to start living... the Marbella dream…

www.mansionbuilding.es info@mansionbuilding.es (+34) 619 063 724 (+34) 951 271 130 Urb. Altos de los Monteros, C/. Jara 19-3, Marbella (Spain)

52 - WEEKEND WORLD

Create a definite ‘WOW’ factor in any home Swings and hammock chairs are great for outdoor entrainment and indoor fun. Modern and interior design with swing and hammock chairs are one of the latest trends in decorating homes and offices. These playful seats bring with them energy, vibrancy and joy to the design project and decoration look. Swing and hammock chairs are fantastic for creating a unique, pleasant interior design turning a room into a fun retreat by adding a touch of outdoor entertainment into the home. In the past these pieces of furniture have been overlooked as furnishing for the home but with the “bringing the outdoor in” trend they should really be considered as a modern interior element. There are so many styles available in swing and hammock chairs, from classic wood swings to European wrought iron, wicker hammock chairs & four poster designs.

FOCUS ON HOMES

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

In the swing of it

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

An element of relaxation Everyone enjoys the benefits of a relaxing swing or hammock chair, picture having your coffee or tea in the morning while swinging gently, enjoying the morning views and sounds of nature on your patio, or in your sun room. Additionally a swing or hammock chair can add a romantic feel to an interior design when used in the bedroom or swimming pool area, or can create fun in a childs playroom or bedroom.

FOCUS ON HOMES

WEEKEND WORLD - 53

54 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON HOMES

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

DISCOVER THE SPANISH ARTISAN MAKING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE TOYS THERE is no doubt whatsoever that the most wanted product of Macarena´s whole catalogue is her kitchen. Every toy kitchen is a special and exciting parent-child bonding. You can see the excitement in every kitchen made by Macarena Bilbao, each detail is carefully hand made, enviromentally friendly and customised to every client´s taste.

From her workshop in the Canary Islands, Macarena gets to the nitty gritty of every single order with outmost dedication. The pinewood boards are cut, sanded and shaped. After that, each piece is painted in the color chosen by the client and it is finished up with a coat of bee wax. Later, it is assembled and the finished product is shown to the client. This whole process takes up to about 7 days because each piece is custom made for each client.

TREASURES In addition to her kitchens, Macarena keeps conceiving treasures to please any child´s imagination: washing machines, fruit and vegetable stands, dressers, desks, shelves, headboards, nightstands, hangers, toy guitars, toy telephones, cameras, wooden fish, accesories, kitchen utensils... make up a great part ofther repertoire. She is now very excited with her new challenge: a doll house that she is now designing with interior designer Rebeca Terrón. Although still a prototype, it will soon be in her catalogue. More information can be found on the website: www.macarenabilbao.com

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON HOMES

WEEKEND WORLD - 55

56 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

MONEY MATTERS

WEEKEND WORLD - 57

58 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

IGH costs and low returns could soon spur a new wave of consolidation in Spain’s banking industry, where the number of banks has already dropped to 14 from 55 since the 2008 financial crisis. And with a new round of mergers this could take that total down to just single digits, putting the country on a par with Britain and France.

It would also cut a swathe through a still bloated retail banking network that, according to the Bank of Spain, had the most branches per capita in Europe as recently as 2013. “Business volumes are simply not high enough to sustain the sector at its current size,” said, Jose Carlos Diez (above), economy professor at Alcala de Henares University near Madrid. The banks that are the most likely targets in this process are below the top tier in Spain, where Santander and BBVA, the two largest, were able to ride out Spain’s economic crisis partly because of the international spread of their businesses. The biggest among the handful of banks now under threat is Banco Popular, senior banking sources advice. The bank is ranked

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

Don’t bank on it! MORE SPANISH BANKS TO BE SWALLOWED UP sixth by domestic assets but is weighed down by low profitability and heavy exposure to property loans that turned sour during the crisis. Banco Popular has been racing to grow abroad, with purchases announced in the United States and others expected in Mexico or Portugal. But such small-scale deals may not be enough to prevent it being swallowed up, a senior Spanish bank executive said. Former savings banks such as Liberbank, and unlisted BMN and Ibercaja will also be under the microscope from mid-2016, when analysts and economists expect the merger activity to kick off again as margin pressures on the industry increase.

RESTRUCTURING Before the crisis, which led to a 41.3 billion euro restructuring of Spain’s banking industry, the volume of credit flowing from the banks to the economy was close to 2 trillion euros and the banks’ average profitability, or return on equity, was 20 percent. After the crisis, the volume of credit has shrunk by 500 billion euros and return on eq-

London bank closes US expat’s account after taco found in deposit box

N American expat living in Chelsea has reportedly had his bank account closed after staff made a surprising discovery in his safe deposit box. Bank employees investigated after a peculiar smell was detected in the vault, and an inspection

WEEKEND WORLD - 59

of the American’s box revealed a partiallydecomposed taco. The bank’s manager, who declined to be named, stated that he was not entirely surprised by the find. “While storing a taco in our vault is quite odd, we’ve actually had even more extraordinary cases, such as the time a Danish gentleman deposited a case of pickled herring. We only discovered the fish after one of the jars exploded. Our vault smelled like Billingsgate Fish Market for weeks!” Sadly, in the case of the mouldy taco, the bank manager had no choice but to close the account. “Unfortunately, in this case, the deposit was just a bit too fruity for our liking,” he said “I’m not too chuffed to close his account, but we just can’t tolerate the stashing away of spicy nosh”

uity dropped to a third of what it was, well below the banks’ cost of capital. As of March, Banco Popular has a return of equity of less than 3 percent and a cost of capital of 10 percent. It also has soured real estate assets of more than 27 billion euros, which are proportionally the highest in Spain at around 25 percent of total loans. But the bank’s strong small business portfolio may attract suitors with Caixabank, Spain’s biggest bank by domestic assets, high on the list. Caixabank is strong in retail banking and made an informal approach to Banco Popular in 2012. “Popular would complement it well given its corporate business and by giving it access to Galicia, where (Caixabank) has a smaller presence,” one investment banker said. Caixabank’s business plan to 2018 does not include acquisitions, but CEO Gonzalo Gortazar has said it would consider any opportunities during “the second round of consolidation.” Banking experts predict the new wave of mergers will kick off in about a year, when banks will no longer be able to benefit from

Caixabank Chief Executive Gonzalo Gortazar speaks during a recent news conference in Barcelona

a fall in financing costs that result from the low interest rate environment. Consultancy Analistas Financieros Internacionales (AFI) estimates this could save the sector around 5 billion euros. “2016 will be problematical because no one will benefit from the lower cost of financing deposits,” AFI partner Paula Papp, referring to the fact that they have already fallen sharply and are close to bottoming out. Under that scenario, those of Spain’s remaining savings banks with low profitability and high levels of bad debts will be vulnerable.

60 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

LONDON • SPAIN • SWEDEN • POLAND • IRELAND • LUXEMBOURG BELGIUM • DUBAI • QATAR • SWITZERLAND

WWW.AESandalusia.es • Are you an expatriate living in Spain looking to protect your money but also receive a regular tax-eﬃcient income? • Are you receiving little or no interest on your capital in the bank? • Do you have existing investments that are not performing as you thought they would? • Are you living and working in Spain but have not started saving for your retirement? If the answer to any or all of these questions is “YES”, then you should speak to AES International.

Investment Advice and Retirement Planning in Andalusia Specialising in • Lump Sum Investments (from €50,000) • Existing Investments reviewed • Advice on UK Pension Transfers to reduce taxes • All advice delivered in a personalised written report

: 951 242 684 (10am - 5pm) : 691 219 354 : info@AESandalusia.es

Hear our adverts on Spectrum FM We cover the coast and inland from Malaga to Gibraltar

Secure your future Testimonials from existing clients: “Having contacted two or three Financial Advisers and waiting over two weeks for any news or advice, I contacted AES through an advertisement in a local newspaper, having checked the companys in-depth advice on the web. The response was immediate, they phoned to set up an impartial meeting to advise me what was involved and required. We met again and I was impressed with AES´s service and efficiency and would not hesitate to refer them to friends and family as Financial Advisers to trust.” Iain “I spoke with several other Financial Advisers and AES were the only ones who took the time to explain everything clearly. I am now very happy with the outcome.” Mr.H “AES wrote an article on investment in a local newspaper which impressed me with its statement of honesty in locating the investment to suit their clients. I telephoned them to obtain some further information and an interview. On meeting, I found the adviser to be truly interested in how my husband and I managed our finances and how best we could invest to provide a good return. He provided clear details, both verbally and printed, which were easy-to-follow, step-by-step, and always with backup so that we were reassured. The adviser was experienced in financial management and well qualified, as can be testified. That was very important to us too. He was not intrusive with his advice and listened carefully before suggesting how we could proceed. His attention to detail was most impressive and generated confidence.” Mr. & Mrs. G

AES International is a trading style of AES Financial Services LTD which is registered with the Comisiόn Nacional de Mercado del Valores (CNMV) and Direcciόn General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones (DGS) and is authorised to give investment advice under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) and insurance advice under the Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD)

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 61

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

62 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

Has the ‘whatever it takes’ worked for the Eurozone?

HREE years ago, on July 26, 2012, Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank, made his promise to do “whatever it takes” to save the euro. Its impact was little short of miraculous. Since then, despite the drama of the past month in Greece, the capital markets have been brought under control. The threat of the bond vigilantes suddenly kicking a country out of the single currency has been ended. Borrowing rates have fallen dramatically. So long as they knuckle under to the conditions of the bail-out programmes, even the most heavily indebted countries can keep themselves afloat. Draghi’s intervention, on

Last Sunday marked the third birthday of what, in retrospect, may well have been the most successful speech in central banking history that measure, was a spectacular success. The trouble is that, while solving a financial crisis, he created an economic one. The Eurozone is no longer at risk of an imminent financial collapse. But it is facing a grinding depression that has gone on now for years and sadly shows little sign of ending and given time, it will go on to create a political crisis, just as it has already done in Greece.

It is easy to forget just what a dire state the Eurozone was in three summers ago. Greece had gone bust, and so had Portugal and Ireland. Bond yields were climbing higher and higher in two of the Eurozone’s largest economies, Spain and Italy. Both breached the 6pc level, at which their debts would become unsustainable. Every government bond auction turned into a nail-biting cliff-

hanger, with no one really sure whether the paper would sell. So when Draghi took centre stage at an investment conference in London in July that year, he was determined to end all that. “The ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro,” said Draghi that day. “And believe me, it will be enough.” At the time, it was greeted with plenty of scepticism, but as it turned out he was right. The point of the intervention was that the markets did not believe the ECB was a proper central bank – that is, one which would print the money to prevent a government going bust. Draghi was making it clear that it would.

BETTER TERMS Since then, the bond markets have been brought under control. Extraordinarily, the Italian and Spanish governments can now borrow on better terms than even the mighty US (or, for that matter, faster growing Britain). Spain’s 10-year bond rate is 1.97pc, and Italy’s 1.92pc, compared with 2.3pc for the US. Ireland’s 10-year bond yield, more than 12pc at the height of the crisis, is now below 2pc. It is a dramatic recovery. But is the problem actually solved? In one word NO! If we ignore the problems of Greece, the performance of the rest of the continent remains in turmoil.

BRINGING BACK THE CLASSICS During their 1787 trip to the Crimea, Admiral Fürst Potemkin gave his Empress, Catherina The Great, a local vodka which she enjoyed very much. Its recipe was handed down during the ages and is still being used to make a fine Vodka. Fürst Potemkin Vodka is an elegant Vodka with a delicate taste, a pleasant palate and a smooth finish. The recipe for this premium vodka has been composed by Fürst Potemkin himself. It won him the heart of Catherina the Great.

- Finland, for example is a prosperous northern European country, which has stuck to all the rules. But its economy is a catastrophe. It has been hit hard by a recession, which can only partly be blamed on the decline of the once formidable Nokia. Its economy is still more than 5pc smaller than it was when the financial crash struck in 2008. - The Netherlands is another country struggling with mounting debts – its economy still hasn’t recovered its 2008 output either. - Over in Italy, the never-ending recession grinds relentlessly forwards with no end in sight - Portugal has just about managed to struggle back to growth this year, based mainly on a rising consumer spending, but its debts are still spiralling out of control. - Spain is held up as the one example of an economy that has recovered. True, it has put on a growth spurt – it will expand faster than the UK this year, and unemployment has come down. But it looks very flimsy. Consumer spending is rising by almost 4pc annually, and another building boom is getting going, with construction output rising by 14pc year-on-year. - Germany is not doing so well. Its industrial production has stalled, and retail sales per capita have been declining for a decade now – ordinary Germans don’t have any more money to spend. In reality, Draghi has put a plaster across the Eurozone he has calmed the bond markets and launched a blitz of quantitative easing. But a central banker cannot turn around an economy by himself so sadly the “Whatever it takes” has turned out to be not quite enough!

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

WEEKEND WORLD - 63

64 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015 ADVERTORIAL

SO MUCH TO WIN A

TRIP to Casino Marbella is an absolute must when you visit the Costa del Sol, offering a chance to relax in an exclusive atmosphere where you can enjoy an art exhibition, have a drink and sample a delicious selection of gastronomical delights. Situated in Puerto Banús, Casino Marbella hosts its famous Jackpot Paradise, with more than 100 latest technology Slot Machines, an Exhibition Hall, a Restaurant, two Bars and three Gaming Rooms. In this unique and exclusive environment, Casino Marbella is a place where visitors can enjoy the most attractive nights in elegance and ambience, starting the evening with an exquisite dinner, before trying their luck at the Slot Machines or at the game tables. PRIZES In its main room, Casino Marbella offers the visitor the most traditional games: Black Jack, Stud Poker, American Roulette; while in the Slot Machines Area clients will find games from the traditional roller machines to the most advanced technology machines with tactile screens offering games such as Bingo and Keno - or the last arrivals like Roulette and Electronic Texas Hold’em Poker. It is also possible to take part in the best accumulated prizes in Jackpots. Casino Marbella organises many Poker Tournaments during the year, the most famous is the MARBELLA CLASSIC POKER, which has become a league this year with six rounds and an exciting final. Winners are awarded with big cash prizes and free entries to international tournaments. This kind of event will bring to Marbella well known international players as well as make the Casino a reference point in the International Poker field. Casino Marbella Restaurant has always been known for its refined gastronomic offerings. Its wide choice of international cuisine together with a special care for quality service, have contributed to making it a renowned night spot in Marbella.

TODAY’S YOUR LUCKY DAY... COME AND TRY YOUR LUCK Present this ticket for entry to the Casino and a gift! It is necesary to bring your National Identification Card (DNI), Passport or Driver’s Licence to enter the Casino

Code: WW3

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 65

ADVERTORIAL

MORE THAN JUST LUCK

VERYDAY, from midday onwards, the Jackpot Paradise opens its doors. It is an area with more than one hundred slot machines with a modern design by the architect and designer Juli Capella from Barcelona. He has created a new space focusing on fun and entertainment that houses the latest technology in gaming machines. As it is the main Casino at the Costa del Sol, Jackpot Paradise includes ten of the latest technologies in gaming machines from Atronic and Keno Party. This new installation has converted the Casino into the perfect place for leisure, for entertainment and gives the gamer the chance to earn great prizes. In fact, last June one of the prizes reached â&#x201A;Ź63,000, from Keno machine. JACKPOTS With 8 jackpots in the room, the Casino gives all the clients an uncomparable area to enjoy. More than â&#x201A;Ź500,000 has been won in Jackpots during the last six months. Besides mixing gaming and gastronomy, you can try the full Jackpot Experience which includes entrance to the casino, a drink, a snack and a bonus for gaming, every day Also, if you want to get more fun, you can Join the Paradise Slot Club. you will enjoy all the advantages of a very special club in which you always win: luxury dinners, tickets to the best shows, golf tournaments and loads more exclusive gifts await you, just for using this card. Every month you will have a special party and a slot tournament where you can win more points and have even more fun. Come and join the club.

66 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

The Ultimate Lifestyle Experience Health, Body & Mind If you are seeking a unique atmosphere of Wellness & Fitness and a fulfilling country club experience with a friendly, intimate, active lifestyle surrounded by beautiful nature and breathtaking views then you have found the perfect place at Benahavis Hills Country Club

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 67

SPA CENTER Interested in joining? Complementary Day Pass with the use of all of our facilities! Our facilities include:

www.benahavishills.com

SPA with heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, steam and sauna. Fitness & Gym studio fully fitted with the latest Cybex equipment and an open air relaxation terrace. We offer various activities as yoga, pilates, aqua wellness and more. Enjoy the lounge area by the outdoor pool and our openair Hills cafĂŠ with its ocean breezes and stunning views of the Mediterranean! Benahavis Hills Style is designed for you. This is your time. This is your place. Start Your Dream, Wellness & Wellbeing Journeyâ&#x20AC;Ś Limited introductory membership opportunities are available now! For more information contact us:

0034 952 856 171

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

68 - WEEKEND WORLD

ADVERTORIAL

Your professional real estate partner for all types of properties in the Marbella area. We can offer you a selection of more than 15.000 properties. You can choose between brand new luxury developments, fantastic well priced resales, and attractive bank repossesions & distressed sales in all price ranges. Established on the coast since 1998

A-22501-D

Luxurious modern living - Reduced by 60% Set on the slopes of the Sierra Blanca one of the most exclusive areas of Marbella, this avant-garde development captures the Zen philosophy offering an aesthetic use of light, water and space. This spacious development is home to a selection of 58 private luxury townhouses, split into 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms and range from 350m2 to 940m2. The spacious properties have been designed to allow light to enter the rooms at every angle ensuring no dark spaces are visible. High gloss materials, glass, wood, stone and marble have been carefully chosen for their quality and luxurious finish to add to these luxurious properties appeal. Lavish features include ample terraces, private swimming pools, gardens, wine cellars and private lift access from the secure garages below. Under floor heating, intelligent alarm systems and of course air conditioning round off this special development for only the most disconcerting of clients. The development also offers three Spas where you can enjoy the use of saunas, Turkish baths, an indoor pool and a fully equipped gym. This is an urbanisation where luxury has no limits!

€715,455 - 2,600,500 | £529,436 – 1,924,370 Henger Real Estate Hotel Andalucía Plaza Local 26 / N340, Km 174 E-29660 Nueva Andalucía Marbella Tel. (+34) 952 90 87 66 info@henger.es www.henger.es

THORSTEN HENGER (+34) 659 476 421 (+34) 952 908 766 MICHAEL HAAS (+34) 619 161 680 (+34) 952 908 766

Golden Mile Marbella Las Lomas del Marbella Club Urb. Coto Real, Fase 1, Local C/ Sierra Bermeja, s/n E-29602 Marbella

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

WEEKEND WORLD - 69

Is fast food killing off the once healthy Mediterranean diet? T HIS dietary change highlights not only a social transformation that goes far beyond food but a way of life as the Mediterranean diet was once a basis of families gathering together, but now eating and dining out has morphed into something that is a means to an end – food on the run. The Mediterranean diet as a nutritional concept was born after World War II and based on research by the US doctor Ancel Keys, who’s Seven Countries Study found a much lower incidence of cardio-vascular disease in Southern Mediterranean countries than in northern Europe or North America. This was basically a poor man’s diet, featuring lots of vegetables and little meat, and was eaten by people who worked hard in the fields. It also reflected the food shortages of Europe’s post-war era. According to the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, its foundations are olive oil, an abundance of foods of vegetable origin (fruit, vegetables, pulses and nuts), bread and food made from cereals (pasta, rice); seasonal products that have undergone little or no processing; dairy products (mostly cheese and yogurt), moderate amounts of red meat, if possible as part of stews; a lot of fish; water and wine but only with meals. A June report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) notes that the Southern Mediterranean region is shifting away from its traditional diet, and warns that the effects of this shift go beyond nutrition. “The abandonment of traditional habits and the emergence of new lifestyles associated with socio-economic changes pose important threats to the preservation and transmission of the Mediterranean diet

THE GENERATION GAP

Eating habits reflect a society at a specific historical moment. The pure Mediterranean diet, born in southern Europe after World War II, represented a society with few resources where people spent their time out in the field, with no access to supermarkets. Today, the food industry is bigger that it was a few decades ago, there is an abundant amount to choose from and far too often these new choices are lacking in nutritional content which in turn has led to the obesity epidemic.

The rise of fast food outlets in city centres – where the most popular item on the menu is often a hamburger – is just one of the signs that a slow but inexorable change is underway: the healthy Mediterranean diet is coming to an end! to future generations,” reads the report Mediterranean Food Consumption Patterns. People don’t cook as much as they used to, they don’t use fresh produce and far too often eat a lot of ready meals, the report states. The problem is also a lack of knowledge: you need to know how to cook fish and vegetables, or how to shop for fresh food... All of this is a very important part of the Mediterranean diet,” says

Serra-Majem, who coauthored the FAO study.

Implement the Mediterranean diet into your lifestyle ● Grains, vegetables, and fruits are eaten at most meals. Including these plant foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, energy, antioxidants, and ‘Fiber promotes optimal health and weight control. The majority of grains are consumed in their whole, minimally processed form and include wheat, oats, rice, rye, barley, and corn. Vegetables provide satiety and key nutrients, which are amplified with the addition of olive oil. Whole, unsweetened fresh fruits are included regularly. ● Olives/olive oil is the principal fat. Olives are eaten whole, used in cooking, and used for flavouring dishes. Olive oil is the main source of dietary fat used in cooking, baking, and preparing salads and vegetables. ● Nuts, beans, legumes, and seeds are essential foods. These whole foods not only provide healthful fats, protein, and ‘fiber to the diet, they infuse flavour and texture into dishes.

● Herbs and spices are used liberally. Adding flavours and aroma to foods, these plant seasonings reduce the need for added salt as well as boost health-promoting antioxidants in the diet. ● Cheese and yogurt are eaten often. In low to moderate amounts, cheese and yogurt may be important for bone and heart health. ● Fish and shellfish are important protein sources. Omega-3–rich fish such as tuna, herring, sardines, salmon, and bream, and mussels, clams, and shrimp are consumed frequently. ● Eggs are included regularly. Good sources of high-quality protein, eggs are used in place of meat in traditional dishes. ● Meats are eaten in small portions. Small amounts of lean meats are consumed, along with moderate portions of poultry, which is lower in saturated fats.

● Sweets are consumed in small amounts. Fruits are a regular treat, while small servings of sweetened desserts are consumed less frequently. ● Wine is consumed often but in moderation. Up to one 5-oz glass of wine per day for women and up to two 5-oz glasses for men is considered moderate. ● Water is the primary beverage. Essential for life and proper hydration, adequate water intake makes a positive contribution to health, well-being, and energy levels. ● Portion size is under control. Meats, sweets, wine, poultry, and eggs are consumed in small to moderate portions. ● Moderation is key. The dietary pattern includes a balanced approach to enjoying foods, such as wine, treats, and meats in moderation.

70 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

WEEKEND WORLD - 71 ADVERTORIAL

LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH Do I need a policy for cover just in my country of residence, the rest of Europe or Worldwide? By restricting your cover to treatment just in Spain you will certainly reduce the premium and this could be combined with a travel insurance to cover trips outside of your country of residence. What are the benefit limits on the policy? This is the maximum the insurer will pay in a policy year and again the lower the limits the less the premium will be. The limits should be realistic at both the lower and top ends – a €15,000 limit may not quite cover a hip replacement and at the other end of the scale you are unlikely to use a €2 million limit. Do I need a policy for hospital only treatment or do I want one that covers outpatient (doctor consultations, tests or scans) as well? Although a policy that just covers hospital admission will be less expensive, outpatient treatment can get costly so think carefully before excluding this cover.

Medical insurance can be confusing and a bit of a minefield as no two policies are alike. So here are some useful tips and questions to ask yourself before you decide on a suitable policy Do I need cover for dentists, medicines, pregnancy, complementary medicine such as chiropractic, osteopathy and Chinese medicine? If these, often optional, risks are included then the premium will be more expensive so again think carefully if you are going to need them because they will be costed into the policy. What is the excess (deductible) and can I increase it? The excess is the amount that you pay out of your own pocket before the insurer will reimburse you. It is usually on an annual basis but some policies apply the excess to each medical condition. If you are generally healthy and don’t habitually go to the doctor then taking a voluntary higher excess is a good way of reducing the premium as most insurers give generous discounts for this.

Will I be able to use any doctor or hospital or will I have to use a network? Most of the health insurers we work with have different plans so you can choose the option that best suits your needs. You can use their network of doctors and hospitals to maximise the benefits of the policy and therefore the premium will be lower. The network is usually widespread so this type of policy can provide real value for money. You can still go outside of their network but be aware that the reimbursement may be lower with usually a monetary cap on doctor consultations. Will there be a waiting period before I can claim? Check the policy conditions carefully as there could be a waiting period of up to 3 months and even 12 to 18 months for certain medical

conditions. The International policies tend not to have this waiting period and if you are moving from one health insurer to another, without a break, then often the waiting period is waived.

Will my pre-existing conditions be covered? Generally, if you have an on-going chronic medical condition, requiring check-ups and medication, it will be excluded from the policy. You are usually asked to complete a medical questionnaire and the underwriters will either: • include any previous/on-going condition • exclude the condition for a certain period of time • exclude the condition completely. With some insurers you do not need to complete a questionnaire and they will underwrite the policy on a moratorium basis, which means that any medical condition that you have had (usually) in the previous 5 years would be excluded for 2 years. It would only be accepted after the 2 year period if you have not taken medication, consulted with a doctor or experienced symptoms during this period.

Private Medical Insurance can be a minefield …. Ibex Insurance has a range of policies and we would be more than happy to make a comparison and help you choose the right policy at the right premium. Leave it to the experts and give Donna, Fi or Sam a call on 952 887 125 or Angela & Shauna on 952 581 561. As your local insurance broker Ibex can find the policy to meet your needs.

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

72 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WHICH SUN CREAMS?

ITHsummer in full swing Which? Have tested 10 well-known sun creams, including some from international brands such as Nivea and Hawaiian Tropic as well as cheaper brands from shops like Aldi and Boots to see what offers the best protection and is the best buy Which? Sun cream test The sun creams were tested to strict British standards to see whether they provide adequate protection against two types of UV radiation (UVA and UVB). UVB is the main cause of sunburn, while UVA has been connected to premature ageing of the skin. Both have been linked to skin cancer. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) gives an indication

of the amount of protection sunscreens offer against UVB. We tested whether each sun cream provides the level of SPF it claims on the label (SPF30). A second test is required to see how much protection sun creams offer against UVA. We tested whether each sun cream met the EU recommendation for UVA protection. The third test involved asking a panel of testers to rate how each sun cream felt when applied - they rated how easy the sun cream was to get out of the bottle, as well as how each one felt, looked and smelled on the skin. In the table below, you can find out how these 10 sun creams faired:

Brand and model

Price

Price per 100ml

Size (ml)

Application rating

SPF

UVA

Overall pass?

Avon Sun Clear Spray SPF30

22.50 €

15.04 €

150

★★★★★

Yes

BEST BUY

Boots Soltan Dry Touch Suncare Lotion SPF 30

15.50 €

7.75 €

200

★★★★

Yes

BEST BUY

Calypso Sun Lotion SPF30

4.00 €

1.69 €

250

★★★★

Yes

BEST BUY

Garnier Ambre Solaire Dry Mist SPF30

22.50 €

11.28 €

200

★★★★★

Yes

BEST BUY

Nivea Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30

14.99 €

7.40 €

200

★★★★

Yes

BEST BUY

Aldi Lacura Suncare Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30

3.99 €

1.97 €

200

★★

Yes

Garnier Ambre Solaire Moisturising Milk SPF30¹

17.35 €

8.67 €

200

★★★★★

Yes

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Lotion SPF30

19.70 €

9.78 €

200

★★★★

Yes

DON’T BUY

Malibu Protective Lotion SPF30

8.50 €

4.25 €

200

★★★★

DON’T BUY

Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid SPF30

23.95 €

15.97 €

150

★★★★

Yes

DON’T BUY

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion SPF30 (200ml) / Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid SPF30 (150ml)

All of the products we tested had a claimed SPF of 30, but our tests found that three sun creams didn’t meet their claim. We don’t think you can rely on these sun creams to provide the level of protection you’d expect, so we’ve made these products Don’t Buys.

Both of these products failed to provide their claimed SPF of 30 in our tests. We retested a second batch of both sun creams but these didn’t pass our tests either. If you use these products they may not provide the level of protection they should.

Any sun cream that doesn’t offer the protection it claims could expose you to a greater risk of developing sunburn than one that meets its claim, as you’ll be getting less protection than you think. In addition, many of us aren’t applying enough sunscreen, which further reduces the level of protection we’re receiving.

Our results suggest that paying more doesn’t guarantee greater protection - Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid SPF30 200ml and Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Ultra Radiance Sun Lotion SPF30 200ml are two of the most expensive products we tested.

According to the World Health Organisation, applying a smaller quantity of any sun cream leads to a disproportionate reduction in protection - if the quantity applied is reduced by half, protection may fail by as much as two thirds.

www.which.co.uk

We alerted the makers of these two products to our findings. Hawaiian Tropic told us all of its products, including the one we tested, are rigorously tested at independent laboratories and meet EU regulatory requirements. It is confident about the results from its own testing. Piz Buin said all of its products are assessed for safety and efficacy in compliance with EU regulations. The SPF labelling of its products is based on a package of information that considers formulation as well as rigorous testing. It is confident that Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Sun Fluid provides SPF 30 protection and noted that variability in test results between laboratories is associated with the SPF test.

Best Buy / Don’t Buy

Malibu Protective Lotion SPF30 (200ml) In our tests, this product not only twice failed to provide the SPF30 it claims to offer, but it also failed our UVA protection test. The EU recommendation is for sun creams to offer a UVA Protection Factor (UVAPF) that is a third of their SPF in order to be considered to provide effective protection against UVA. In our test, Malibu Protective Lotion SPF30 (200ml) had a UVAPF lower than 10 - so did

not achieve this. All of the other sun creams we tested passed our UVA test. Malibu told us that it is confident in the performance of its sun cream which it tested at an independent laboratory in 2002. It added the level of complaint about the product has been exceptionally low, with zero complaints in 2013.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

The perfect smile SWITCH on the television or open a magazine and there they are - perfect teeth. More than hair and definitely more than waistlines, smiles - and more importantly teeth - are often the first things you notice about someone, especially if they are bad. Americans are obsessed with their teeth. They spend more than any other country on the planet maintaining and perfecting their pearly whites. However, over the last few years this obsession has crossed the pond and now creating that perfect smile has become big business. But is a perfect smile the same as a healthy smile? Dr Anders, Cosmetic Dentists specialist of The Dentists explains: dentistry is a complex part of medicine that requires experts who are specialized in their own field to ensure that not only do you have beautiful looking teeth, but that you also have healthy teeth. Here at The Dentists we have specialists in Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Orthodontists who can offer our patients the best possible treatment and advice available according to their personal needs. People often believe that looking after your teeth is simply just about getting an occasional filling of having a tooth removed but in fact thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot more to it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just ask anyone whose suffered with an agonising toothache. But we look at why the tooth aches and erosion has occurred and correct the problem at its source. Located in the quiet area of Paniagua in Sotogrande, our clinic is equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art equipment necessary to provide a fully comprehensive, highest quality service in dental health and cosmetic dentistry. We believe that by using only the best equipment can we provide the best service. And that is what our clients deserve.

www.dentistsotogrande.com

WEEKEND WORLD - 73 ADVERTORIAL

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

74 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

A PERSONAL TESTAMENT FROM ANNABEL MILNES-SMITH “In November last year, I had a serious life-changing accident or so I thought until I was introduced to Dr. Seara, a leading orthopedic surgeon from Clinica Santa Elena. Going back to that time in 2014, I slipped on a recently cleaned floor here in Spain which had no legal yellow warning signs, and shattered my knee-cap in fifteen places. The ambulance was there within three and a half minutes and I was rushed with lights blazing, and sirens blaring to the local Marbella hospital. I could not quite understand why the ambulance was going like the clappers 190km, when all it seemed was that I had broken my leg. That was until I arrived at the A & E where I was rushed in and my back was immediately x-rayed. To my horror they thought I had broken it. Thank heavens the result was negative. So then it was time to sort out the secondary problem, the knee. I was operated on two days later with enough metalwork in my leg to create a metallic version of Legoland and was discharged in a full plaster cast together with the obligatory crutches. Following months of hospital visits, the plaster cast being removed, a replacement leg brace, exercises using weights and enough pain-killers to knock out an elephant, there followed yet another painful incident. In May, now walking without my leg brace, out of the blue, my knee gave way and there I was not only back in hospital but back to square one. It was now time to take action. This was where Dr. Guillem from Marbella Cosmetic High Care took over. He had not been happy with my progress since day one and referred me to see Dr. Javier Seara. Within minutes of meeting him, I realised I was finally in safe hands and for the first time felt that I may be able to walk again. However, what I heard during that preliminary consultation shocked me to the core. Firstly, I should never have been put in plaster, secondly the metalwork work should have been removed in February and thirdly, I should never have been told to use weights whilst doing the exercises. The diagnosis - an immediate operation for the removal of metalwork from the right patella and arthrolysis of the right knee. So now it was off to Clinica Santa Elena for yet another operation. Yes I was scared, but I now knew I was now in capable hands at one of the principal hospitals on the Costa del Sol.”

A leader in orthopaedic surgery & comprehensive care in all medical specialities Dr. Javier Seara, a leading orthopeadic surgeon and my saviour

Literally working miracles for their patients from far and wide

LINICA Santa Elena was founded in 1970. It is located in Los Alamos Urbanization, between Malaga and Torremolinos. Since its foundation, the clinic has taken a special interest in medical assistance focusing on The Costa del Sol’s touristic element and becoming a referral clinic for visitors. Over the years it has made numerous extensions aimed at providing the most comprehensive care in all medical specialties. In particular, they have 40 single rooms each with a bed for a partner or friend, 4 suites, an (IVU) ICU with 6 boxes, the largest private unit of hemodialysis, 4 state of the art operating rooms and a day hospital for outpatient surgery. The staff comprises a full complement of specialist doctors and a skilled nursing service, guaranteeing the most caring medical attention. The caring medical attention was irrefutable from the moment I arrived with my dear friend Vicki Wood, who was staying with me throughout. God bless her. I was warmly welcomed by Pacqui Gonzalez, who in my eyes had been an angel throughout, answering all my questions of which there were countless, mainly down to my anxiety of the unknown. Being terrified by the prospect of yet again going under the knife, she put my mind at

rest and immediately put me at ease. Within thirty minutes I had completed a battery of tests, including blood works, ECG and a chest x ray. Their swift efficiency was paramount and thankfully everyone spoke English, unlike the Marbella hospital where I was originally admitted, (one bonus in all of this is that my Spanish has greatly improved)!

PRISTINE It was then time to be shown to the room. On entering, one may have thought they

were staying in a hotel. It was pristine, large and with beautiful views overlooking the sea. I felt overwhelming calm even though in a matter of hours I was about to go under the knife. In a matter of minutes in came the nurse to insert the catheter into my arm. She did it one go. I did not feel a thing. In the previous hospital my arm was left black and blue after six attempts! There followed the anaesthetist Dr. Francisco Fernandez. He asked me kindly what my habits were. I was honest especially over my smoking habit. He

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

WEEKEND WORLD - 75

The rooms are pristine, large and have beautiful views overlooking the sea - more like a hotel than a hospital

Santa Elena have the latest technology for advanced diagnostics

decided on a general anaesthetic. I was not sure, but understood I was now in the hands of professionals. Dr. Javier Seara was the last person to arrive, explaining in immaculate detail, the procedure; any final worries I had were rapidly dissipated.

tempting at the best of times; the food was not only good but plentiful. We actually left with more goodies than we arrived with. My only gripe was no caffeinated coffee. I was only allowed decaf. A wise decision as they obviously wanted me to sleep. However I did not. Vicki yet again came to the rescue and all times of day and night walked into the thriving metropolis of Torremolinos and duly delivered my caffeine fix. On the third morning at 8am Dr. Javier Seara arrived to remove the leg drain – a simple procedure. He asked me to take a deep

CONTENTED Within an hour I was off to the theatre, and in one and a half hours I was back. Albeit being completely away with the fairies, I was very contented with a drain attached to my knee. Vicki was waiting, in the room, what a tremendous relief to have a friend there staying with me. Following the last operation, I was left totally alone and asked when I came out of theatre where my family was to look after me! First there were tears (a common symptom of coming out of a general anaesthetic) and that is when the fun began. My opening gambit was “where is the dog?” Vicki assured me that dogs were not allowed and although she was somewhat surprised by my question, felt it might have confused the issue further if she tried to tackle the subject of me not even owning a dog. This was followed by “how many dogs was I allowed? Although she was desperate to take full

advantage of the situation and say “They wouldn´t let me bring the dogs, but I have brought your King Cobra”, she decided to curtail her humour and let me sleep off my anesthetic hangover. This I did and much to her relief, I went straight off to the land of Nod. Although I was strictly restricted to staying in bed for the next forty-eight hours due to my leg drain, the continuous care and attention I was given alleviated my limitations. It felt like I was waited on hand, foot and finger. Nothing was too much trouble. A simple push of a button put me straight through to one of two nursing staff - Aurora Fernandez and Aida Florido, via an intercom, who promptly came to my aid including a regular change of my bed pan, with which Vicki also took it upon herself to help me. Not the most pleasant of tasks! The next two days positively flew by with regular visits from Dr. Javier Seara, again unlike the last hospital where I did not see my surgeon for a staggering 24 hours after the operation! Although Vicki and I had raided Supersol supermarket prior to my arrival to stock up on goodies, knowing that hospital food is not

Fully equipped theatre

Clinica Santa Elena. Urb. Los Alamos, 29620 Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain Tel + 34 952 38 62 66 – 952 38 53 67 Email: csantaelena@csantaelena.com or log on to www.csantaelena.com

breath. I did as I was told and almost shot through the ceiling. Boy was it painful. I later discovered that taking a deep breath stops you from screaming! He was as sympathetic as I grabbed his shirt until the pain eased. It was then time to be discharged. I thanked him profusely and armed with prescriptions and a list of exercises. I left elated and full of praise for the staff that made this one of the best medical experiences of my life, in my opinion, one of the finest hospitals, not only in Europe, but worldwide. Thanks to you all.

76 - WEEKEND WORLD

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

FOOD & FINE DINING

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 77

COOKING UP MEMORIES WITH AGUSTÍN ROMÁN ADVERTORIAL

ASINO’S restaurant is well-known for its Mediterranean cuisine based on the quality of its products and service. With a focus of using seasonal ingredients to highlight quality and offer the most essential flavors of Mediterranean gastronomy Agustín Román, changes the menu 3 times a year. “We recommend many of the dishes with some of our favourites; sliced cured “Jamón Ibérico”, Salmon with garnish and cured Manchego cheese. We also have many meat and fish dishes plus a tantalizing selection of desserts”. A wide selections of wines and cava’s are readily available. The maître d’, Gerard Val-llaura, is a great sommelier who carefully selects the best wines from Spain

and around the world. Together, Agustín and Gerard make a perfect professional team and run the restaurant successfully. During the summer time, the restaurant is open everyday from 9:30pm to 3.30am and snacks are also served until the Casino closes at 05:00am. The menu is available in five languages: Spanish, English, French, German and Russian. The Casino Marbella Restaurant (close to Puerto Banús) also offers a Tasting Menu and Special Menus for groups. Don’t forget to book your table! Phone : 952 81 40 00. Visit www.casinomarbella.com to read the complete menu. Please note that it is necessary to bring your National Identification Card (DNI), Passport or Driver’s Licence to enter the Casino.

78 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

A toast to Italian winemakers! C

HINESE are quaffing more Italian wine. According to data published by the market intelligence group, Wine Monitor, Italian wines are enjoying a boom in China. The figures published on Friday reported that for the first five months of 2015, the volume of Italian wines sold in China was 21 percent higher than for the same period in 2014, with sales representing a 19 percent increase in value on the year before. This is encouraging news for Italian winemakers, for whom China represents a huge potential market - but one which they have long struggled to penetrate. European wine exports to China have experienced an exponential growth since the turn of the millennium, spurred on by a growing urban middle-class who view drinking European wine as a status symbol. European red wines are especially popular. Last year alone, the Chinese uncorked an impressive 1.86 billion bottles of red, according to data by market researchers Vinexpo. In China red wine sells particularly well as the colour is said to bring good luck. But in spite of the boom, Italian wines have enjoyed a lower market share than their

French and Spanish counterparts. According to Il Fatto Alimentare, Italy’s failure to capitalize on the European wine craze in China saw their share of the Chinese market drop by almost half between 2006 and 2011.Current figures show that while more Italian wine is being drunk, China still represents a problem for many Italian producers. The majority of Italy’s winemakers are small to medium-sized businesses who face a raft of linguistic and legislative problems when trying to distribute and market their wines in China. “Italian wine companies are on average smaller than, say, French or Australian ones which make it much more difficult for them to directly invest in the Chinese market,” said Denis Pantini, the president of the Bologna-based Wine Monitor. Additional problems brought about by the huge number of fake and illegally labelled products on the Chinese market also compound the problem. Still, Pantini is optimistic that as the Chinese appetite to learn more about wine grows, then so will Italy’s share of the market. “I’m sure Italian wines can enjoy a great success in China, but it will take a few years before we see a real and true boom as other countries have enjoyed,” he said.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON MOTORS

WEEKEND WORLD - 79

80 - WEEKEND WORLD

AMIE Oliver’s restaurant chain has launched an investigation after a customer was hit by falling MAGGOTS at one of their Italian diners. The incident occurred at Jamie’s Italian branch in Norwich. A 48-year-old man was eating with a friend when the insects fell out of the ceiling. The diner, who asked not to be named, said: “We got a table by the window and the food was nice but when we were halfway through the meal, maggots started falling on my head. “I felt something on my head and found a maggot but I brushed it off at first and presumed it must have been a caterpillar that had fallen whilst walking to the restaurant. “But then others fell onto the table. It was gross and we were shocked. “It was like spaghetti, a salad for my friend and a side order of maggots. “I called over a waitress and she said ‘oh my god’ then another landed whilst she was there and made her jump.

SEARCH In the end the manager came over and spoke to us and waived the bill and then we left. I was scratching my head for ages afterwards and I can’t be 100 percent sure I didn’t eat one.” It is understood that an initial search of the area above the table and on the room above found no evidence of dead animals, so the restaurant thinks the problem could be woodworm. In a statement, a spokesman for TV chef Jamie said: “A single, isolated pest control incident occurred at our Norwich restaurant. The incident in question was dealt with im-

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

Fancy a side of maggots sir? A customer at the celebrity chef’s restaurant in Norwich has spoken of the “gross” moment maggots fell onto his head and table as he ate lunch mediately and is being fully investigated.” The diner has made a formal complaint to environmental health and a spokesman for

Norwich Council said all complaints made would be looked into by their food safety team once logged.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 81

The spice of life

“To share a relaxed meal with friends or colleagues is one of life’s little pleasures”

“Sheikh rattle n roll” Sheikh is the super freindly owner. A nice guy. His food is freshly cooked. I LUURVE my indian food and my meal was excellent. We’ve had takeaways and they’re excellent too.

NO two people in the country will agree on the exact recipe of a favourite dish. Recipes are handed down from generation to generation, verbally in the kitchen and are closely guarded secrets in most cases, but all agree, a dish is well cooked when the spices blend into the well cooked meat. The spices should not have disparate flavour, or taste raw. No one spice should over-power the other and be so intrusive as to completely hide the true taste of the vegetable or meat dish being cooked. It should help maintain and enhance the character of the dish, give it colour and fragrance and leave you wanting more!. Spice Village situated on the New Golden Mile, prides itself on offering the most exotic and delicious dishes from India in a warm relaxed atmosphere. Our food is freshly made to order, so whether you prefer mild dishes such as Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala or a fiery Vindaloo or Phal dish we can ensure you’ll find the right curry to suit tantalise your taste buds.

Open Tuesday-Sunday Lunch: 13:00 -16:00 and Dinner 18:00-23.00 For reservations or take away orders please call 951 27 82 86 Urb: Guadalmansa, Edif Saliñas, Local 6, CN 340 KM 163 – 164, Estepona

82 - WEEKEND WORLD

www.campari.com Please drink responsibly

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

速

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

HURSDAY 23rd July saw the opening of the Ambrosia Gourmet Food Market in Puerto Banus, situated in the urbanization La Alzambra, just next to the new and exclusive Cavalli Club. With some similar experiences in Madrid, Barcelona or Córdoba, this entrepreneurial project emerges with an investment of one million euros and the creation of nearly one hundred direct jobs. A total of one thousand square meters on two floors have been refurbished with an Andalusian atmosphere that is even more attractive for visitors. Ambrosia has been billed as a multi-sensory culinary experience for everyone’s enjoyment, an evolution of forgotten central squares and traditional markets with an ambience similar to that of the famous San Miguel Market in Madrid. It offers on-site tasting of natural and prepared products, the selling of food and drink for every day and occasional consumption, national and international delicatessens

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

WEEKEND WORLD - 83

A new gastronomic project in Puerto Banus and the organising and hosting of special events. The market has four terraces and is spread over two floors with a serving capacity for 400 people. Food can be purchased from any of the 14 individual concessions and eaten within the market or taken home. With cuisine from many different countries including Italy, Thailand, France, Germany and of course Spain, there is a wide range of products and prices, offering exquisite dishes that are not always accessible to everyone in other gourmet establishments. Open for 365 days a year from 10:00 – 00:00 weekdays and 10.00 – 02:00 at weekends when there will also be live music.

You can find more information at : www.ambrosiamercadogourmet.es

84 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON CELEBRITIES

The Human Transformer The beast to beauty transformation of Calvin Harris

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

2008

ALVIN Harris, one of the highest-paid DJs in the world, and the 31-year-old Scottish DJ’s radical transformation is second only to Caitlyn Jenner’s , with the release of his 2nd Armani underwear campaign we are simply amazed by Calvin’s Hollywood good looks. He may have dated some of the hottest women on the planet, and be one of the most sought after DJs and producers in the industry, but Calvin Harris hasn’t always looked quite as attractive. Calvin has gone from being a total geek to a sexy Armani model and a +1 to one of the industries favourite celebs.

SHOCKING So how has Calvin Harris gone from this: The shocking old photos of Calvin were taken back in 2008, right before his second album, Ready for the Weekend, was released and turned him into a household name. Unfortunately, the then up-and-coming DJ did not look very ready for the weekend at the time! To this? : Now, in 2015, Calvin has a much cleaner look. His hair is well groomed, and he dresses much better — with blazers, fitted jeans, and super sexy button down shirts. Today the international chart star is the highest paid DJ in the world according to Forbes, earning $66 million in 2014 - and has collaborated with Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Kelis as well as being nominated for numerous industry awards. It just goes to show what a total body make-over can do for you!

Madonna: ‘I’m like Picasso’

2015

POP superstar Madonna has compared herself to iconic Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, declaring she shares his drive to continue working into her twilight years. The singer’s career has spanned more than 30 years since she released her first album in 1983, and the ‘Holiday’ hit maker, who unveiled her most recent album Rebel Heart in March, is adamant she will never retire, just like Picasso, who refused to quit painting in the years preceding his death in 1973 at the age of 91. She told the New York Post, “I like to compare myself to other kinds of artists like Picasso. He kept painting and painting until the day he died. Why? Because I guess he felt inspired to do so. Life inspired him, so he had to keep expressing himself, and that’s how I feel... I don’t think there’s a time, a date, an expiration date for being creative. I think you go until you don’t have any more to say.”

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON CELEBRITIES

KATE MOSS SPLITS FROM HUSBAND JAMIE HINCE Kate Moss fuels marriage-split claims as rumours emerge she has been joined on solo holiday by her ex

UPERMODEL Kate Moss has fuelled fears her marriage is over after being snapped on holiday at Niagara Falls without rocker husband Jamie Hince with allegations that former partner, Jefferson Hack, may have joined her on the American break.

The couple split up in 2003 but remained friends and are thought to have jetted off to Niagara Falls last week along with their daughter Lila Grace. A source said: “Jefferson has been Kate’s rock through all of this.He has been comforting her and helping her through her problems with Jamie. Jamie was supposed to go [on the trip] but Jefferson came instead.”

APART

Kate Moss’ marriage with Jamie Hince has reportedly reached “the point of no return”

Kate Moss pictured sitting next to her ex - and Lila Grace’s dad - Jefferson Hack at London Fashion Week in 2010

Kate & Jamie were last photographed together at the glamourous Alexander McQueen : Savage Beauty fashion Gala held at the V&S museum in London, and although they were all smiles on arrival it has been claimed they spent most of the evening apart. Sources close to the couple say the couple who married in July 2011 are hoping for a quickie divorce without any hassle or fuss despite the absence if a pre-nuptial agreement, “Jamie doesn’t want a penny of her fortune, he has never been motivated by money.” But The Kills rocker has vowed to hang on to his valuable collection of vintage wines. Sources say Jamie, 46, is happy to walk away with none of Kate’s cash – more than £20million for her companies alone. The source added: “The relationship isn’t working but Jamie respects Kate’s hard work over the years and wouldn’t want to take anything she has worked hard for. It is thought Kate struggled to accept Jamie’s close friendships with other women. Meanwhile Jamie is thought to have disliked Kate’s wild lifestyle and love of partying.

Equifashonista goes for gold K

ATIE Price loves a bit of glitz and glamour and the horse-mad star has managed to add even more sparkle to her unusual equestrian get-up with a pair of 24 carat gold stirrups. The 37 year old model is a keen rider and has been spotted many a time in nearby Sotogrande, famous for its polo.

EXCITED Price uploaded a picture of the gold plated stirrups with Swarovski Crystal embellishment to her Instagram page telling her half a million followers that she couldn’t wait to get in the saddle and show them off. She captioned the picture: “So excited my stirrups from @elequineuk have arrived can’t wait to use them woo” E.L. Equine, who make the stirrups, provide all sorts of fabulous equestrian equipment including platinum horseshoes and rose gold spurs. The company posted on their Facebook account: “Great to see Katie Price received her pair of 24ct Gold Plated Swarovski Crystal Stirrups. Head to our website to get yours (sic).”

Doggystyle in Marbella

NOOP Dogg, once know as Snoop Doggy Dogg but is now known as Snoop Lion (following his conversion to the Rastafari movement on a trip to Jamaica in 2012), will be performing in Marbella on 8th August. The event is being held at the Cavalli Club a new venue for 2015 at the site of the old Sleek nightclub in Puerto Banus. More Information and VIP packages available from puertobanus.cavalliclub.com

WEEKEND WORLD - 85

86 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

PET CORNER SHOULD YOU DO IT ANYWAY? Your responsibility should be primarily for the cat or cats already in your care. Think hard before asking a very elderly cat to put up with a new companion. Kittens may be accepted better than an adult cat, but kittens often pounce on and pester old cats. Some old cats will mother a kitten; others definitely won’t! A very energetic kitten can make an old cat’s life a misery. It can take months and months for harmony and sometimes the cats will never be friends. An introduction takes at least a month – don’t hurry it. The slower you do it, the more likely it will work out OK. Cats which are used to a multi-cat household will be less upset than a cat which has lived alone. Get a kitten from a cat shelter, which will promise to take it back if the introduction really doesn’t work out. A male female mix is probably better than all female. Be careful about accepting the local stray into your home. Ask yourself if an existing cat should have to put up with a former stray, who may bully her/him. Also think about checking for FIV, the cats Aids equivalent, before final acceptance. In the case of a stray cat, you can feed it, and then when it is tame enough find it a new home the local rescue centre.

WEEKEND WORLD - 87

WE INVITE READERS’ COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ON DOGS AND CATS. PLEASE SEND THEM TO: info@simplymedia-group.com

ADDING NEW CATS TO EXISTING CATS

THE INTRODUCTION The best way to introduce a new cat is to give it an indoor pen with food, litter etc. If you can’t borrow or buy one, give the new cat its own room, so that it feels it has safe territory. Shut doors windows, and block chimneys before letting it out. If possible retreat holes like a covered cardboard box with entrance hole, or a cage-den. Put familiar toys (if available), feeding bowls etc. in the room. Put litter tray in the room. You can’t expect a cat to go outside in the first few days, and if you let it, you may not see it again. Mix the smells. From the point of view of a

cat, anything which smells strange is an intruder. Give the new cat something to sleep on which smells of the old cat, then visa versa. Using same grooming tools on both cats. Pet one, then go to next room and pet the other. Transfer used litter from the new cat tray to the old cat’s tray and visa versa to mix smells. If you have a large indoor pen, all this can be done while the kitten spends time in the pen. You can start feeding them in the same room – one in the pen, one out of it and the other

Questions & Answers I wonder if you can help re my neighbours constantly barking dogs. They are Spanish, have 4 dogs, 1 small, 1 medium terrier type, 1 x Alsatian and 1 x Spanish Mastif. These dogs are kept permanently outside (as is the norm), but in a very tiny space. These dogs bark constantly, particularly at night, and June 23rd until July 5th the owners were away on holiday and the dogs were left alone apart from when someone came and fed and watered them for about 5 minutes. I managed 2 night’s sleep in the fortnight. The neighbours concerned have been informed by our landlady several times about the disruption but their dogs are still barking. I spoke to the woman who came down to feed and water the animals, she then rang the owners on holiday, but still nothing was done. I was informed that they were going to come and discuss it with us, but as usual nothing has happened. My husband and I are at the end of our tether now, and the noise prevents us from opening doors and windows, particularly during the night time when the weather is cooler, (the house is stifling

due to the hot weather). We have lived in our house here for 11 years, and the neighbours only moved in 12 months ago. Is there any law that I can quote re this nuisance, and to whom do I make an official complaint? I have informed the Ayuntamiento, but all they did was give me a phone number for the local police. I await your reply (I do hope you can help). Yours in anticipation Sue - Manilva Dear Sue The stress level you are suffering is on par to divorce and death! I would suggest you make contact with the local Police and ask for Sanidad Division. If you find no satisfaction then your next step would be The Guardia Civil Seprona Division. Telephone 900 101 062 email: seprona@guardiacivil. org If you pass the property and say you are nervous because your fear the dogs, then this works very well! Good luck

side of the room. If you have the new cat in a separate room, feed near the door so that the cats associate each other with food. Also tie a cat toy at both ends of a piece of string, and place under the door. The idea is that they play with the toy from either side, associating each other with the pleasure of play. Vets can sell Feliway. It reduces anxiety and will therefore help. Spray it at chin height on things a cat would rub with its chin, all round the new pen and the room where the pen is. Or get the easier plug-in Feliway Diffuser which lasts for a month and will reduce feline anxiety in the room in which it is used. If you don’t have a pen, first transfer all the smells while the new cat in the separate room. Then use a cat box with the new kit-

ten in it for the first introduction. That way, they have the chance to see each other in safety. Watch the body language closely. Introduce the animals together when the new cat is used to his room and territory. Make sure there are escape routes for whichever cat wants to run away. Do not leave strange animals together alone. You must be there to make sure accidents don’t happen. Staring, puffing up fur, hissing, growing etc. may happen. This is OK as long as it isn’t translated into aggressive action. Do not intervene unless you think one cat is being seriously hurt. Do not pet the newcomer in front of the old cat to begin with. Give the old cat extra affection. It’s very important that there are enough feeding bowls, water bowls, litter trays and beds to go round – so that the cats don’t have to compete for them. Install water and food upstairs on a tray as well as downstairs in the kitchen. Litter trays in more than one location. One litter tray per cat and one over is best. Accept that they may never be friends. If they tolerate each other, that should be good enough. Try to make sure they both have safe places to retreat to. But if one cat is seriously bullied -- not able to eat without being hassled, ambushed on its way in and out of the litter tray, harassed in its cat bed, spending all its time under the bed, then think of rehoming. Spraying – if this starts you MUST get Feliway as soon as possible.

Chocolate Danger to Dogs CHOCOLATE made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobtomine are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half-life of those compounds in the human body is in the order of 2 to 3 hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours. In a dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through the animal. This repeats itself a number of times and instead of getting rid of the substances the dog keeps repoisoning itself. There are many formulations of chocolate with varying amounts of caffeine and theobromine. The lethal dose of sweet milk chocolate for a dog is 2 oz. per kilogram of bodyweight. For a 5 kilogram dog this would be about 280 grams. A lethal dose of milk chocolate for a 25 kilogram would be about 1.4 kilograms. Dark chocolate is at least 10 times as lethal. A 25 kilograms dog could die from the methylxanthines in 5 ounces. Symptoms include vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, hypersensitivity to touch (a dog will jump when touched very rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing rate. A loss of control of leg muscles, muscle tremor seizures, general weakness, coma and finally death follows. It would be a tragic mistake to encourage a dog to develop a taste for chocolate. A small dog left alone in a house with a box of chocolates might well follow his nose to the goodies and commit suicide by poisoning.

88 - WEEKEND WORLD

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

MOTORS

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 89

LIMITED EDITION AUDI A8 MARKS 21 YEARS OF PROGRESS

LITTLE over two decades have passed since the ground-breaking Audi A8 was first introduced, and to celebrate the enduring appeal of its luxury saloon Audi has announced the launch of a bespoke model – the Edition 21. Incorporating a choice blend of the latest developments in design, technology and luxury from the recently revised A8 range, many of which are fitted as standard exclusively to this version, the A8 Edition 21 will be available in standard and Long Wheelbase formats A tailored selection of interior and exterior styling enhancements sets this special model apart, starting with the recently introduced Sport styling package. Creating a look that references the flagship S8 model, it comprises redesigned front and rear bumpers as well as pronounced side sills, and is normally reserved for standard wheelbase A8 models. Adaptive Audi Matrix LED headlights – which debuted as an option for the new generation A8 and were the first ever fully digital LED headlights on a series production car – are also fitted as standard in conjunction with LED rear lights and dynamic indicators fore and aft. Also unique to this model are 20inch double spoke alloy wheels with a titanium-look finish that complement the four exterior colour options, which include the Daytona grey pearl effect shade that is only normally available for the 520 PS S8. The model is already available on order, with prices for the SWB version kicking off at €102,630 (£72,520) OTR whereas the LWB model costs €108,241 (£76,490) OTR. Audi says customer deliveries are programmed to start in November.

Land Rover updated LAND Rover has announced a series of upgrades for its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. Both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport have been updated for 2015, with improved performance, more in-car tech and wider scope for personalisation. Available to order now, each model will now feature Land Rover’s InControl connectivity interface as standard. The Remote branch of this system features an integrated SOS Emergency Call function, Optimised Land Rover Assistance and a smartphone app allowing users to connect remotely with their vehicle from anywhere. Meanwhile, the Secure arm tracks your RR in the unlikely event that it’s stolen. Debuting alongside this tech are two new tools, InControl Apps and WiFi. The first allows owners to sync smartphone apps to the vehicle’s touchscreen, and is compatible with Android and Apple, while the second provides instant in-car access to a mobile hotspot that can support up to eight devices at once.

years ago. However, home will w get the best rates and great always be home, hoIssue and04 we can’t service. You want someone July 30 - August 12, 2015 e you for wanting to go to talk to you, to understand what’s important to you and what you want to achieve. But ng your property over- most importantly, you want to as, moving back to your make sure your funds are in home country and repatriating rep riating safe hands. After all, it’s your your funds doesn’t have to be money we’re talking talkin about. a complicated process. Banks Currencies Direct have Cu en around since 1996, so try to get a chunk of your hard- been earned money with hidden they have credibility and lonange rates. gevity. Both of these are fundamental when choosing the right currency r exchange pron you are plan- vider company.

90 - WEEKEND WORLD

Regular overseas payments? Don’t let the banks take a bite

Make sure you look for a

Every time you transfer money overseas with your bank you’ll lose money in hidden fees and a poor exchange rate. Use our regular transfer service and you’ll be making great currency savings!

Give us a call on +34 952 906 581 to find out more. Let’s talk currency

Ignacio Ortega

Paul Ellis

Johanna Gabrielsson

Melanie Radforrd

Jill Gregory

James Barrett

Alex Barrett

Regional Sales Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Executive

Client Account Executive

Spain – Marbella

Spain – Fuengirola

Get in touch

Plaza de las Orquídeas C/ Orquídea, Local 6, Nueva Andalucia Marbella, 29660

Avda. Alcalde Clemente Díaz Rui s/n Urb. Puebla Lucia, Edificio Leo, Local 1 Fuengirola, 29640

T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W currenciesdirect.com

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

TRAVEL

WEEKEND WORLD - 91

92 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

Adventure knows no bounds

There is no other travel experience that can quite compare to a voyage that encircles the globe

LTRA-LUXURY line Silversea built its reputation on providing guests with an exemplary cruise experience at every turn. Small, intimate ships featuring comfortable public areas and uncommonly spacious staterooms mesh well with the line’s dedicated service and cuisine. Did you know that every suite aboard Silversea comes with the service of a butler and stateroom attendant? Their goal is to anticipate your every need; even the ones you haven’t thought of yet. It’s this kind of service that has made passengers return voyage after voyage. But every good line needs to grow, and what better way than a round the world cruise - Silversea has just announced it is now accepting reservations for its 2017 World Cruise, an exclusive 116-day ocean voyage from San Francisco to Monte Carlo aboard Silver Whisper.

ADVENTURE This extraordinary travel adventure will encompass 62 unique destinations in 25 countries, with numerous late-night and overnight stays allowing ample time to take in all the amazing sights, sounds, and flavours of great cities, great wine regions, and architectural spectacles both old and new. Departing January 6, 2017, the elegant, all-suite Silver Whisper will sail from San Francisco Bay for the idyllic isles of Hawaii and cross the International Date Line to the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia. Then, weaving her way through such tropical wonderlands as Bali and Sandakan, she will arrive at the shores of vibrant Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, before setting a course for the ancient temples of India, Arabia’s enchanting desert dunes, and the storied capitals of the Mediterranean. “World voyages are all about cultural immersion, new discoveries, and having time to get to know your fellow travellers,”

said Kristian Anderson, Silversea’s senior vice president of sales and general manager for the Americas. “Our intimate Silver Whisper accommodates just 382 guests, providing the perfect club-like ambiance where cosmopolitan guests can

mingle and form lasting friendships as they journey to experience some of the most fascinating and secluded places on Earth.” Guests sailing the full 116 days of World Cruise 2017 will en-

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

WEEKEND WORLD - 93

joy a variety of special amenities, including a gala Bon Voyage reception, dinner and overnight stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, baggage valet service, business class air and transfers (between airport, hotel, and Silver Whisper), a €3,500.00 on-board spending credit (per double-occupancy suite), complimentary laundry service, and commemorative gifts. Plus, Silversea is enhancing the perks in 2017 with the addition of complimentary dry cleaning service and free unlimited Wi-Fi for all full-cruise guests.

SUMPTUOUS In addition, three shore side events will be available on a complimentary basis to full-cruise guests. These events offer the opportunity to explore the site of China’s famed terra-cotta army of warriors in Xian on an overnight tour from Shanghai; witness free-roaming exotic animals on Sir Bani Yas island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, followed by a sumptuous lunch at the island’s elegant resort; and dance back to the 1940s with live music at a nostalgic dinner served amid the planes and heroes of Hangar 37, the entry point to Hawaii’s Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor. Also, two Silversea Experiences will be complimentary for guests sailing 50 or more days: a festive beach party featuring lunch and entertainment set on the powdery white sands of Boracay Island and an exclusive presentation at Malta’s Teatru Manoel, a beautifully restored 18th-century theatre. Guests will also have the chance to meet and mingle with distinguished destination experts, academics, journalists, diplomats and other specialists. Local entertainment, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and regional specialties will provide further immersion in each global destination. All-inclusive fares for World Cruise 2017 start at € 50,000.00 per person, based on double occupancy.

LUXURY

A byword for the next generation of cruise ship

ECENTLY, high-end Silversea Cruises announced that its 596-passenger, all-suite Silver Muse, its largest ship to date, will set sail in spring 2017. Meanwhile, Regent Seven Seas is building its 750-passenger, all-suite Seven Seas Explorer and Seabourn Cruises has its 600-passenger all-suite Seabourn Encore, both which are launching in 2016. And finally Crystal Cruises have announced it will be offering more spacious ships with overthe-top amenities like submarines and helicopter landing pads, and an all-business class airplane. The flood of swanky new ships comes at a time when luxury cruises seem even more appealing than ever to empty nesters and retirees, especially those who can afford it. But it’s not just older travellers who seem to have the cruise bug. MMGY Global a market research company found that millennials (whom we define as between ages 18 to 34 in 2015) have caught the cruising bug because it fits well with their desire to explore new places by waking up at a different location each morning. That’s where Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and its first foray into the cruise industry comes in with its 1,430 passenger ship targeted at a younger, yet still affluent audi-

The race for the next generation of cruise ship is underway and it’s all about luxury ence. So what will these ships look like? Beyond the standard promises of high thread count sheets and towels, doting butlers, and flowing Champagne, many of the new bells and whistles on these floating palaces have yet to be revealed. Some highlights include the fact that celebrity chef Thomas Keller of California’s French Laundry will be the big name behind the dining program on the new Seabourn ship. In addition, Regent’s new ship will have the Regent Suite, which with its own sauna, steam room, and heated lounge chairs is being billed as the most decadent suite at sea. If you consider that 55 percent of affluent travellers want to be treated like a VIP and 53 percent are willing to pay for luxury lodging, we can expect to see even more high-end luxury at sea in the future.

94 - WEEKEND WORLD

DINBURGH is the world’s leading festival city, with 12 major annual festivals bringing talents from more than a third of the world’s countries to the streets and stages. Dating back to 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival was established after World War II to create “a flowering of the human spirit” in the Scottish capital. In that same year the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Edinburgh International Film Festival also started. Other festivals followed, from military grandeur to intimate jazz and blues, captivating science to underground theatre and children’s entertainment. As these festivals grew into world leading celebrations, international excellence in art, culture and science became a permanent and inescapable part of Edinburgh’s identity.

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

The capital of Scotland, the seat of Scottish power and the home of

VIBRANT FESTIVALS

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: 7th August – 31st August

Every August, the Edinburgh International Festival transforms one of the world’s most beautiful cities, presenting three exhilarating weeks of the finest creators and performers from the world of the arts. Edinburgh’s six major theatres and concert halls, a few smaller venues and often some unconventional ones too, come alive with the best music, theatre, opera and dance from around the globe. What makes it special? Founded in 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival grew out of the rubble of the Second World War with the aim of providing ‘a platform for the flowering of the human spirit’ by inviting the world’s best artists and companies to perform, whatever their nationality. EIF presents arts of the highest possible international standard to the widest possible audience, reflecting international culture to audiences from Scotland, the rest of the UK and the world, and offering an international showcase for Scottish culture.

Iconic military spectacle

THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO: 7th August – 29th August

The Tattoo is an iconic Edinburgh institution and a sell-out year after year after year. There is music, dance and precision displays from the Massed Pipes and Drums, the Massed Military Bands, cultural troupes, singers and the poignant refrain of the Lone Piper set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. What makes it special?

The Chinese Ballet performing at the Edinburgh International Festival

Each year’s Tattoo is very much a ‘Global Gathering’ - showcasing the talents of musicians and performers from every corner of the globe. Each and every Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is different from the last. The Tattoo embraces different themes; nature, creativity and Scotland’s homecoming are just some of the concepts explored in recent times. More than 13 million people have attended the Tattoo, with an annual audience of around 217,000. In addition, around 100 million people see the Tattoo each year on international television. Not a single performance of the Tattoo has ever been cancelled.

EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL: 30th July – 30th August The UK’s largest annual celebration of visual art, attracting over 250,000 visitors each year, Edinburgh Art Festival brings together the capital’s leading galleries, museums and artist-run spaces, alongside new public art commissions by established and emerging artists and an innovative programme of special events.

Faile’s Deluxx Fluxx Arcade at the Edinburgh Art Festival

What makes it special? The vast majority of the festival is free to attend, and includes exhibitions, performances, screenings, artist talks and guided tours 2014’s festival included over 45 exhibitions showcasing some of the best contemporary art alongside important artists and works from modern and historical periods, in the city’s leading galleries, museums and artist-run spaces. Each year Edinburgh Art Festival commissions new work by leading and emerging Scottish artists, with a particular emphasis on artists who are developing work for non-gallery contexts.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

WEEKEND WORLD - 95

EDINBURGH FRINGE: 7th August – 31st August

The world’s largest arts festival transforms Scotland’s capital every August. Thousands of performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows for every taste, from big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers. What makes it special? Totally open-access, the Fringe is proud to include in their programme anyone with a story to tell and a venue willing to host them. See theatre, comedy, dance, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, physical theatre, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events. It’s a magnet for creative producers, the industry and the media making it the biggest and most dynamic international arts market in the world.

Everything from stand-up comics to street performers

Right about now, millions of Scandinavians are forcing their freezing bodies into the sea – where the water temperature is just 16°C. We have the buyers! We are Sweden’s leading real estate agency in Spain. And we’re growing fast, from Barcelona to Gran Canaria. We know the market and have a register full of frozen Scandinavians who dream of a life in the sun. Let us prove ourselves! If we don’t manage to sell your home, you don’t pay anything. But since we sell more than one home every day, that’s probably not going to happen...

FASTIGHETSBYRÅN MARBELLA, 951 191 000 / FASTIGHETSBYRÅN ESTEPONA, 952 807 777 MARBELLA@FASTIGHETSBYRAN.SE / FASTIGHETSBYRAN.SE/OVERSEAS

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

96 - WEEKEND WORLD

W TEASERS... 1

47 Steer clear of

10 Mineral springs

51 __ attention; make a scene

14 Can wrapper 15 Chicken of the Sea product 16 To the __; fully 17 Male relative 18 Martial __; judo or taekwondo

49 Housecoat

54 Marine bird 55 Black-and-blue mark 56 Cold weather accessories

6 Grand __; fourrun homer

36 Night twinkler

10 Breaks into bits

38 Most terrifying

11 __ beans

40 Firstborn of two

12 Change slightly

43 Perón & Gabor

13 __ up; arouses

45 Guess; reckon

21 Cooking herb

48 Bodies of water

23 Aware of the shenanigans of

50 In a comfy way

25 Bart’s mom

19 “Nay” voter 20 Look like

63 House of snow

22 Spicier

64 Many of Keats’ poems

28 “__ hard job, but...”

26 Martians and others 29 Social division in India 30 Decay

67 Examination 68 __ up; arranges 69 See __ eye; agree

31 Egg __; small sandglass

DOWN

33 Certain exams for graduates

2 Walkway

37 Green velvety ground cover

4 Remove text

29 Relinquished 32 Have coming 34 Smallest continent: abbr.

51 Man of the cloth

7 5 8 4

4 3 1

6 4

52 Exchange 53 Songs 54 Makes gentle 56 Vane direction 57 Chimney pipe 58 __ Worth, Texas 59 Unexceptional 62 Fawn’s mother

Solution to puzzle from issue 3

7 1 3 1 7

4 8 9 6 1 3

1 2

1 Make indistinct 3 Basics

41 Formal attire

5 Out of one’s __; not in your comfort zone

42 Gap; opening

6 Piece of celery

44 Feels dizzy

7 Plastic fish bait

39 Windowsill, e.g.

4 6 2 9 35 Take a fancy to

27 Closed circle

66 Speaks ill of

5 8 6

9 5 2

9 Prepares spuds

61 Eden resident

25 Trusted guides

8 Social insect

26 Upper limbs

65 Runny __; cold symptom

60 Source of woe

24 Yellowishbrown wood

50 54

46 Music from Jamaica

7 8

1 Part of a knife

2 7

ACROSS

SUDOKU Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game. If you play Sudoku regluarly, you will soon start to see improvements in your concentration and overall brain power.

24 26

5 9

7 1 2

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 97

W EIRD W ORLD Cambodia

A team of specially trained rats have been drafted in from Africa to sniff out unexploded landmines that remain hidden throughout the country. 15 rats arrived from Tanzania with the help of a Belgian organization

that apparently specializes in training rats to hunt down explosives. Tragically one rat has already passed away (not due to an exploding mine; this rat is believed to have had trouble adjusting to the different climate

CODEWORD

Norway

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number! To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters. 8 15 15 6 10 13 9

in Cambodia). The remaining team of rats will commence their formal training in the landmine field shortly and will be assigned to their special mission one they pass strict tests. Apparently these rats are commonly used for land mine – as well as tuberculosis – detection in multiple African nations. Norwegian sexual health charity RFSU have come up with a novel way to promote sexual health and the use of contraception, by dressing up a volunteer in a giant penis costume and having him randomly fire gold glitter out of it at people in the street.

21 9 13 25 7 14 23

L L I

16 9 8 18 6 8 9 13 20 8 4 3 12 15 8 18 23 13 9 2 6

4 3 6 14 25 12 12 22

25 14 10 7

25 5 4 14 16

It’s believed that contraception is used less in Norway than other countries in the region, which has a large impact on the rates of chlamydia and other conditions. It’s hoped firing loads of glitter at unsuspecting Norwegians will help drive awareness of the perils of unprotected sex.

L L L I

Romania

12 6 14 4 12 13 4

11 13 14 16 10 6

6 26 23 9 25 6 16

25 6 14 6 22 8 12 21 8 15 24

8 15 24 8 15 14

8 25 14 5 6 6 9

12 7 4 16 8 15 18 4 17 9 3 19 26

7 3 11 15 8 24 12 19

14 13 8 5 14

20 6 12

Following a gruelling interview process that has taken months and received over 700 applicants, one internet Start-up Company in Romania has finally managed to fill the post of Communications Manager with - a cat.

The town of Portsoy has played host to the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival each year since 1994. So serious are officials about the event which generates an estimated £4 million for the local economy that they place a blanket ban on bananas on the entire area for the duration of the event. Signs are posted around town and even the local icecream parlour stops selling banana flavoured ice-cream. The ban stems from an old sailors tradition of not allowing bananas on board their vessels. It’s unclear exactly what these old sailors had against bananas, although it’s thought it may go back to the early days of the banana oat trade when boats were often overloaded leading to a spate of capsizing vessels.

Solution to Wordblock puzzzle from issue 3 poisonous - poisons - spinous - poison - snoops spoons - nisus - pions - poons - sinus - snips snoop - spins - spoon - ions - nips - nous - onus pins - pion - pons - poon - puns - sins - snip - sons soon - spin - spun - suns - unis - upon

Solution to CODEWORD from issue 3 14

B O U R B O N

14 22 14 3 10

I I I I

R E J O I C E

L N A E O U N V E X C E L

3 17 1 9 14 21 15 6

I L

10 13 14 1 1 15 19

Scotland

2 6 8 15

I I L

they are dispatched to their customers. Boss is starting on a generous salary of EUR200 per month. 25% of the cash will be spent on Boss’s food, while the remainder will be paid to the cat’s owner.

P R O

R I F L E

N I A H F O L N D I V U L G E

22 13 14 17 25 9 3

I L 1

T A R Z A N

A W H O

P E L V I S P L A T E A U L K N S N T

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1

4 17

5 18

6 19

WORD BLOCK From the 9-letter grid, find words of 4 letters or more. Words must contain the middle letter, and there is at least one nine-letter word. Target: 46 words

7 20

8 21

9 22

10 23

11 24

O U T R A G E Y

The successful applicant is a nine-month-old Scottish Fold with a very suitable name: Boss. The company, www.Catbox.ro focuses on personalized gifts, and they have announced that Boss will stamp all the gift boxes before

P A W

P O N C H O

L H

C O B R A A

S T A P L E

M A X I M U M

I N Q U E S T

C U

I N K S

I M A G E

D R Y N E S S

Solution to SUDOKU puzzles from issue 3

W A E

V S G

A Y I

3 2 6 4 9 8 7 5 1

3 5 2 9 1 7 4 6 8

8 1 4 2 5 7 9 3 6

9 4 6 2 5 8 1 3 7

5 7 9 6 3 1 8 2 4

7 8 1 6 4 3 9 2 5

4 5 3 1 6 9 2 7 8

1 9 8 3 7 5 6 4 2

9 6 2 7 8 3 1 4 5

2 6 4 8 9 1 5 7 3

1 8 7 5 2 4 3 6 9

5 7 3 4 6 2 8 9 1

6 9 5 3 1 2 4 8 7

4 1 7 5 3 9 2 8 6

7 3 8 9 4 6 5 1 2

6 2 5 7 8 4 3 1 9

2 4 1 8 7 5 6 9 3

8 3 9 1 2 6 7 5 4

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

98 - WEEKEND WORLD

W CLASSIFIEDS... FOR ALL OUR LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM: 951 127 200 INFO@SIMPLYMEDIA-GROUP.COM n 50 cents per word n If placed in a black & white - additional € 20.00 + IVA n If placed in a colour box (colour) - an additional € 30.00 + IVA

AIR CONDITIONING AIR CONDITIONING installation. Service & repair to any make or model, also repair fridge/freezers, bottle coolers, car A/C & A/C on boats. All work guaranteed. All areas covered including campo. Contact Williams Refrigeration: 952596404/679284959 AIR CONDITIONING installations, repairs and service. Quality installations -20 years’ experience on the coasts. All Areas Covered. www.envirocarespain.com info@envirocarespain.com 952663141/670409759 AIR CONDITIONING repairs + installation. Tel. Jim 652023012

HMS PROFESSIONAL builders. General reforms, extensions, pools, damp specialist. We improve on any competing quote. Any size job. Call 610502623

BUSINESS SERVICES ACCOUNTANTS. English and Spanish Accountants for all accounting/ bookkeeping jobs. Tax and company formation. Professional, reliable, confidential. Tel: 952440773 BUSINESS 1st have 2 Breakfast Networking groups on the CDS. Mijas Costa & Estepona. Est since 2009, 30 plus members meet twice a month, new referrals at each mtng. +34 664227400 www.business1st.es INVITE potential clients inside your business with a VIRTUAL TOUR from Plush Global Media. Prices from 60€, added to Google+ and Facebook! Sell your property faster by using virtual tour photography. Prices from 100€ for 2 bed apartment. Contact: 951193436 MISLAID your payslips/ P60 or other paperwork? Recovery document service available, fast confidential, reliable. 617910147 alan1l@yahoo.co.uk

DECORATORS

GARDENERS

NO NEED TO PAINT, we won’t just paint your property we’ll PROTECT it with longlasting, waterproof and breathable wall coating! Looks like normal paint, but last 10 times longer! Flexible so no cracking, peeling or flaking! www.noneedtopaint.com info@noneedtopaint.com 640 519 482 or 952 594 425

EXPERTGARDENERS - a company for maintenance, design and construction of gardens, maintenance of pools and installation of system irrigation. Tel. 656327329 Email: info@expertgardeners.es

CASA TASHAM is a bespoke Interior Design company offering a personalised service and great rental packages from 8,500 euros. All furniture is purchased directly from major suppliers so we can offer a full service at very competitive prices. Natasha Mills: +34 699 02 15 57 www.facebook.com/ casatashaminteriors

BUILDERS PROMAS BUILDING, a professional team of builders with over 10 years experience in Spain who carry out any reforms from complete houses and extensions to smaller home improvements, swimming pools, kitchens, bathrooms, patios and more. www.promasbuilding.com Call Andy on 699582569 FREE CONSULTATION UNTIL 30.08.2015! Estomar91 offers a bespoke construction service, with the architect, design and planning team working closely with a client on each individual project. www.etomar91.com +34 952 816 686 SUNRISE PROJECTS General builders Extension, reforms, insurance work 13 years in Spain Call Fran; 695528692 RENOVATIONS large or small; including bathrooms, kitchens, building work, replacement windows and doors. Competitive quotations. All areas covered. www.spainmultiservices.com / info@spainmultiservices.com

HOUSE clearance specialists. Houses, gardens, garages cleared. Cash on collection. Man & van removal services. Fast & reliable Call Rich: 639 229 604 / Joanne 649 9777 23 HOLA CREDITO. Instant short term loans against valuables. Quick, easy and always discreet. Tel: 900 123 457 www.holacredito.com

IRIS-IRRIGATION & LANDSCAPES. New installations and problem-solving. Turf (supply and laying). Garden and patio constructions. Clearing and maintenance. 676747521

HEALTH DESIGN

GRAPHIC

DESIGN

BUY/SELL SECOND hand shop, buy and sell. Tim’s established in 1992. Atalaya ( San Pedro). New opening hours: Tuesday – Friday10:30am – 7:00pm Saturday 10:30am – 2:00pm Sun + Mon (closed) 666903499 angelsmarbella@gmail.com

DREAM GARDENS: Landscaping architecture, design, water features, irrigation. Specializing in beautiful gardens. Also planning/maintenance. 610502623. www.dreamgarden.es

MARBELLA CHIROPRACTIC. Serving Marbella more than 10 years. Dr Mark Lane, AEQ member. Family wellness practice. English and Spanish spoken. Free health class. Exit 170 o_ A7. C.C. Guadalmina, San Pedro de Alcantara 952 880 398 info@marbellachiropractic.com SKIN Specialist - NHS Registered. Treats all kinds of skin problems. Consultation 70 euros. Dr. Eva Fuengirola / Calahonda 664747267 www.dermadelsol.com PROFESSIONAL Sports massage. 15 year’s experience. 1 hour: 40E, 1.5 hours: 55E. Elviria. Wendy 952852330/ 634310821 Mobile Services +10E

paulscottondesign.com simplymedia-group.com

951 127 200

ITEC diploma courses in holistic massage, sport massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, SPA and beauty therapy. Now available intensive holistic massage course with online support. 951311216 www.naturaclass.net

administration@simplymdedia-group.com

DRY CLEANERS

OPTICA BANUS specializing in luxury brands. Professionals in vision & style. Free eye test. 952 815 702 info@ opticabanus.com AFFORDABLE private health Insurance linked to Bupa. For quotation call 952383127 / 670217272 / 649072417

CLEANING SERVICES

HOT OFF THE PRESS The only genuine ECO friendly dry cleaners in Southern Spain. WHY ? We don’t use any petrochemicals in our dry cleaning process. We only use pure natural silicone. Los Jarales, Calahonda, km197 952 930 392

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY professionally cleaned, 20yrs experience, wet or dry clean. Honest, reliable service. 678808837/952669701

FINANCE

SECURITY of Spain. 24 hour locksmiths. 30 years’ experience. www.securityofspain. com Call Daren. 636770865 / 952660233.

Do You Need Award Winning Independent Financial Advice on your Pensions and/or Investments? Call 951 242 684 today or see our main ad on page 60 AES ANDALUSIA

LOCKSMITH 24/7 Emergency/ Appointment. Doors opened without damage, locks changed, patio doors, windows secured. Call Paul 657466803

OVEN CLEANING, domestic, commercial & professional cleaned from 40 euros. www.ovencleaningcostadelsol.com 632569282

LOCKSMITHS

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

MOBILITY

SECURITY

Scooters, electric wheelchairs, wheelchairs, for sale or rent, new batteries supplied and fitted. 609581139 www. mobilityscootersdirectspain.com

DO YOU FEEL SAFE IN YOUR “HOME SWEET HOME”? Would you like to remotely control your door locking, your alarm or your car tracking system? Prosegur, the 3° security company in the world, can Offer you that! Andreea Rosca 620 69 08 07

MORTGAGES QUICK-FINANCE fully licenced and regulated for all your mortgage needs. We won’t make a mountain out of your mortgage. No up-front fees charged. See main ad on page 60. +34 952 81 61 23 info@quick-finance.com www.quick-finance.com

MOTORS

REMOVALS & STORAGE BRITANNIA Southern. Worldwide container shipping. Proven track record. Customs formalities and advice. Quality packing materials sold. 952470707 www.southern.es

TYRES-2-U.COM the Coasts ONLY to your door mobile tyre fitting store. Puncture repairs, callouts , new tyres. 7 days a week. +34 676186499 www.tyres-2-u.com Malaga to Gibraltar

WWW.SPAINUKSPAIN.COM Vehicle leaving Spain 9th-19th-29th, returning 10th-20th-30th. Prices from 90 pounds per m3. Cars 525. Bikes 325. Dogs 395. Cats 295 including vet checks/ travel with your pets. Various vehicles cater for your needs. 952596213, 665150227

CALLING AUDI OWNERS! Need an Audi Specialist to keep your Vorsprung Durch Technik in the shape it left the factory? Bright Sky Cars, Audi Specialist. Sales & Service 14 years Audi experience. www.facebook.com/brightskycars

STORAGE MARBELLA Dry warehousing storage space available short or long term excellent rates. Collection and delivery can be arranged call 952 816 582 or email move@freinternational.com

BRITISH mechanic workshop. Repair, service & ITV to all makes of cars, van and SUV’s Call Steve 951 914 025 / 605 407 369 Nº1 CARS for all your luxury car needs. Services & Repairs, Painting, ITV, Diagnostic & testing All makes models, cars, motorbikes & scooters info@no1marbella.com 952 926 544 / 952 898 603

PETS EURODOG, boarding Kennels & Cattery, fully licensed & sanitary approved, safe, secure and loving environment. Large kennels & play areas. Fully refurbished, inspections welcome. www.eurodog.es 952464947 - 679786669 PETCARE Pet Hotel: Alhaurin El Grande. Holiday accommodation for dogs & cats. Individually heated/air-con kennels. 952112284/ 685400216 www. petcarespain.com Follow us on Facebook at Petcare Spain STEFANIES Kennels and Cattery Estepona. Est. 1986. Excellent facilities. Viewing welcome. 952790943 www. stefanieskennels.com TERRAVET Veterinary Clinic, complete veterinary service, emergencies, housecalls, dog and cat grooming. San Pedro Alcantara. Tel: 951500175. Emergencies: 663363626. www.terravet.es Sotogrande Veterinary Clinic has over 10 year’s experience. Our team consists of veterinarians, veterinary assistants and groomers united by a common goal: to provide the best care to improve the quality of life and the health of your pet. www.veterinariosotogrande.com / 910 327 715 / 685 849 370

WEEKEND WORLD - 99

SWIMMING POOLS POOL Covers and Rollers: Quality covers at competitive prices. 20 years’ experience all areas covered. www.envirocarespain. com / info@envirocarespain.com 952663141/ 670409759 PERFECT POOLS: Maintenance/repairs, professional and reliable service. All areas covered from 70 euros p/m. www.perfectpools.com / info@ perfectpools.es call 650348785

VACANCIES

SKY / TV MISSING your UK Free to Air Channels? We offer the most reliable and cost effective solutions to replace the UK channels +movies, sports & series. No monthly fees. Contact us 952937582 -663271531 or info@pjsat.tv

Media Group Creating the best magazines

ALL sky channels free view no dish no card. Internet only. 1.5 MGB speed only. No Contract ! Irish Channels. Jose Sotto 952443838 670443838 josesotto@ono.com

Simply Media Group - an exciting and growing media company is recruiting:

SOTOSKY. Installation and maintenance of all types of electronic equipment. Antennas, SKY TV, home cinemas & Domotic call 956 795973 www.sotosky.com

are required to sell for rapidly expanding magazine & Newspaper Company. Experience in media sales is essential, as candidates will be required to liaise with businesses and individuals at all levels. Candidates must be professional and with a smart appearance, able to drive and have their own car.

VAN/CAR HIRE SELF DRIVE VAN HIRE – half day rates, daily rates and weekend special rates. Car hire also, daily, weekly, long term and rent to own. Contact AutoOasis – 952623297, info@arrowcars.es www.autooasiseurope.com CAR hire. Long & short term. No petrol extras 607 334 610

TOP QUALITY SALES EXECUTIVES

The post is offered with a good basic salary (OTE) and candidates MUST possess a “can do” attitude, be target driven and fluent in both English & Spanish.

FREELANCE JOURNALISTS & CONTRIBUTING WRITERS for new English language newspaper and magazine publications. In the first instance please send your CV by email to:

info@simplymedia-group.com

PLEASE MENTION THE WEEKEND WORLD WHEN CONTACTING BUSINESSES

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

100 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

As the Premier League season kicks off we ask how safe are our football managers? Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool The oh-so-nearly drama of 2013/14 was followed by the never-going-to-happen mediocrity of last season and, with his stock continuing to fall, the pressure is immediately on Brendan Rodgers to get Liverpool going. Raheem Sterling decided to buy out of Rodgers’ philosophy this summer, sparking a £75m spending spree to refresh the squad at Anfield. Unless he can steer Liverpool back among the top four, Rodgers faces another nine months of questions over his methods. Job security: THIS SEASON IS MAKE OR BREAK FOR BRENDAN

Steve McClaren, Newcastle (33/1) Former England coach Steve McClaren was not only seen as the man to bring some stability at St James’ Park, he was also appointed to the club’s board of directors. Eager to prove himself after almost a decade away from the Premier League goldfish bowl, and apparently with money to spend, McClaren is likely to be given a season at the very least to revive Newcastle’s fortunes. Anyway, if things aren’t going well, he can always give himself the dreaded vote of confidence... Job security: THE MAC IS BACKED

Tim Sherwood, Aston Villa (7/1) You’re never quite sure what the immediate future holds for Tim Sherwood, who lurches from heroic to shambolic in the blink of an eye. Morale-boosting wins were undermined by a spectacular 6-1 collapse against Southampton and a run to the FA Cup final was

Louis van Gaal, Manchester United (50/1) It wasn’t going to be easy to lift Manchester United out of the short-lived Moyes era’s malaise, as Louis van Gaal discovered last season. The Dutchman has been given the funds to carry out his rebuilding process over £200m and counting - and his new-look side will need to hit the ground running to silence any lingering doubts about his longterm prospects. In any case, though, who’d want to be the man who tells Louis van Gaal he’s sacked? Job security: VAN GAAL IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

met by a meek defeat to a rampant Arsenal. Sherwood is very much an impact manager, but does he have a masterplan to turn around Villa’s long-term fortunes? Keep an

eye on that win ratio. Job security: TIM HAS TIME Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City (8/1) With little patience for Premier League mind games, Manuel Pellegrini found last season’s title race a little too intense and City tailed off alarmingly. Champions League progress is yet to materialise under the Chilean and, with Pep Guardiola emerging as City’s preferred long-term target, he may face more irritating questions over his future at the Etihad. Job security: SAFE – HE STILL HAS THE BACKING OF THE FANS Roberto Martinez, Everton (20/1) “Roberto’s first words to me were ‘I’ll get you in the Champions League’,” said Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. Martinez was almost true to those words - his side finished fifth in 2013/14, with a record Premier League points tally - but the Spaniard was unable to capitalise on his early success and Everton finished down in 11th last season. Martinez has the luxury of his chairman’s full trust and patience but his earnest footballing philosophy needs to bear fruit sooner rather than later. Job security: SAFE - THE CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham (20/1) Upon becoming Tottenham’s tenth manager in 12 years, Mauricio Pochettino would have been forgiven for wondering just how long he had to impress his footballing philosophy on White Hart Lane. However, his insistence on an aggressive, high-pressing game and the extended opportunities for young players won over the fans, despite some chequered home form in 2014/15. The target this season is clear: Champions League football. Job security: SAFE – FOR NOW

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea (50/1) Memories of Jose Mourinho’s sudden departure from Chelsea in 2007 haven’t been erased, but his relationship with Roman Abramovich seems blissful this time around. League title success is what the owner expects, but more Champions League glory is what he craves. Petr Cech’s move to Arsenal didn’t amuse Mourinho much, but - with the total support of his players and the Stamford Bridge faithful - it’s difficult to imagine another parting of the ways like eight years ago. Job security: SAFE – YOU CAN ALWAYS BET ON JOSE TO ACHIEVE Arsene Wenger, Arsenal (50/1 to be the first manager to leave his job) Now firmly secured in Arsenal history alongside Herbert Chapman, Charlie George and Gunnersaurus, Arsene Wenger has a job at the club seemingly for as long as he wants it. Occasional supporter unrest about the Gunners’ underachievement - communicated through the medium of A4-sized banners has been placated by two successive FA Cup wins. Wenger has loosened the purse strings for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in recent seasons, has the full respect of his squad, and still has the hunger to take Arsenal to the top of European football. Job security: SAFE – ARSENE IS PART OF THE ARSENAL FURNITURE

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 101

SPORT NEWS

GLORIOUS GOODWOOD WILL BE FINAL BOW FOR RICHARD HUGHES AS CHAMPION JOCKEY SET TO RETIRE

ICHARD HUGHES (right), 42, the champion Flat jockey for the last three years, is to unexpectedly retire at the end of Glorious Goodwood. The Irishman, who hopes to have his first runners as a trainer this autumn, said: “If you have backed me to win the title, (Jockey’s Championship), I can only apologise. I need to stop being a jockey, sadly sooner rather than later.” Hughes is poised to embark upon a training career as early as this autumn and admitted the demands of preparing for his new vocation, allied to performing to his best on a racetrack, hastened the decision to move forward his retirement plans. He added: “I’ve always given 100 per cent in everything I’ve done and I don’t want to stop doing that now. “To be a champion jockey and to be successful you have to be totally committed. It’s become clear in the last two weeks that I’ve realised what that (training) will entail. I always knew this was going to be my last year, and I’m comfortable with the decision (to retire after Goodwood). Now is the time.”

Big guns set to clash at Qatar Nassau Stakes M

ARKING the end of the summer social season and just weeks after Royal Ascot, the annual five-day Goodwood Festival has been a highlight of the British horse racing calendar for more than a century. Key races include the Goodwood Cup, the Sussex Stakes and the Nassau Stakes on the final day of the event where three Group One winners are on course to compete in Saturday’s clash of the Titans. Aidan O’Brien

David Wachman’s 1000 Guineas winner and Oaks runner-up Legatissimo, John Gosden’s French Oaks winner Star Of Seville and Aidan O’Brien’s Pretty Polly heroine Diamondsandrubies are set to light up the last afternoon as they feature among 11 confirmations. O’Brien may also run Wedding Vow, who broke her maiden in the Kilboy Estate Stakes and Outstanding, who finished third in the Belmont Oaks. However, Investec Oaks winner Qualify was a notable absentee. Mick Channon’s Malabar, fourth in the Guineas, David Elsworth’s Arabian Queen, Luca Cumani’s Lady Of Dubai, third in the Oaks and Gosden’s Jazzi Top, who was two places further back at Epsom, complete the ninestrong three-year-old team.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

102 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

HALF TERM REPORT TEAM MERCEDES The dominant team of this hybrid era. They have made some schoolboy errors with some dubious strategy calls in Malaysia and in Monaco. They also seem to struggle when not leading from the front.

As we approach the season’s mid-way point we take a look at the team and driver performances so far been up to the task. Qualifying has been poor and there have been too many mistakes on Sundays - Ferrari should look elsewhere.

TEAM WILLIAMS The hope was that Williams would kick on after an impressive 2014, but with their limited resources, perhaps it was always overly ambitious to expect them to challenge Mercedes. They still don’t always seem to be the maximum out of promising situations, Silverstone being the best example.

Daniil Kvyat After a dismal start, the young Russian has begun to establish himself. Yet plenty remain unconvinced that Kvyat can translate flashes of incredible speed into consistent performances. The podium in Hungary was an encouraging sign.

TEAM FORCE INDIA All things considered – including their financial troubles at the start of the year, and the almost total lack of testing - it has been a fairly decent first half of the season. But they still never look like making it out of the midfield.

Lewis Hamilton Hamilton has addressed the one weakness of his 2014 campaign: qualifying. He has been firmly in the ascendancy but not without significant errors. His overeagerness to stop in Monaco cost him the race and an appalling race in Hungary have coloured an otherwise strong first half of the year – If he continues to perform in this way he could win another title Nico Rosberg It’s been a puzzling season for the German. In the first few races he seemed gone at all levels, lashing out at Hamilton in China, but has found a way to come back. Still, when he had the opportunity to punish Hamilton in Hungary, he wasn’t up to the task. Pushed he makes easy mistakes and gets flustered which is great news for Hammy - Still a lot of room for improvement.

TEAM FERRARI Given how awful the team were in 2014, it’s a minor miracle they have managed to claw themselves back even to this level. They’ve all but eliminated the power deficit to Mercedes, and when there has been a sniff of victory – in Malaysia and Hungary – they’ve taken it.

Valtteri Bottas Despite all the talk linking Bottas with Ferrari, we don’t quite see what the fuss has been about this year. He has been good, but only slightly. He really needs to start dominating his team-mate again in the second half of the year. Felipe Massa By now, you know what you’re going to get from Massa: the occasional off-colour weekend and some suspect wet weather driving, but otherwise an experienced, fast racing driver. The Brazilian seems to have found a happy home at Williams.

TEAM RED BULL Oh how the mighty have fallen. 2014 was not great, but at least then it seemed as if almost all of it could be blamed on Renault. At times this season they are barely faster than the junior team, Toro Rosso. It’s been a season dominated by threats to quit the sport.

Sebastian Vettel Seems to have bounced back after a dreadful 2014. And with his recent win in Hungary the German seems to have regained some of his hunger. Perhaps he was being flattered by Raikkonen, but it has not taken long for him to dominate the Finn and adjust to his new surroundings. Kimi Raikkonen Oh dear. It has not been all bad – Bahrain was a fine drive – but generally speaking the Finn has not

Nico Hulkenberg The highlight of his season came away from Formula One, with a memorable victory at Le Mans. The German has been solid and consistent albeit not especially spectacular. Will he ever get a chance with a top team? Sergio Perez Perez seems to have reached his level, which is not quite as high as Hulkenberg’s, but he is less erratic than he used to be. The biggest excitement will come with a home race in Mexico on November 1.

TEAM LOTUS It has been a marked improvement on 2014, but with the Mercedes engine the best in the sport you would have expected Lotus to have performed better. Sadly they have not been helped by both of their drivers crashing at inopportune moments. Romain Grosjean The affable Frenchman is doing a better job than Maldonado, yet that isn’t saying a great deal. There have been some careless errors – cutting up Will Stevens in Canada for example – alongside his usual promise. He’s still not a consistent enough performer.

Daniel Ricciardo It’s hard to evaluate his performance, given how slow his car is, but the likeable Australian seems to be doing a solid job. Kvyat has occasionally got on terms, but Ricciardo still has plenty of credit leftover from a stunning 2014.

Pastor Maldonado It has been a fairly standard Pastor Maldonado season: the usual mix of crashes coupled with some blistering speed. All of which does not seem to produce good enough results on a consistent basis. His £28 million is still the reason he is in Formula One.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

WEEKEND WORLD - 103

SPORT NEWS

TEAM TORO ROSSO

TEAM MANOR

Although they have not picked up too many points, Toro Rosso have been one of the pleasant surprises of the year. It must be a source of endless satisfaction for James Key and his design team that they are often as quick as Red Bull.

Their very presence on the grid is something to be admired, given their collapse at the end of 2014, but other than that they have been woefully slow. Question marks remain about their owner, Stephen Fitzpatrick, and his commitment to F1. Roberto Mehri Despite carrying a significant weight disadvantage compared to Stevens – he is taller and bizarrely has to be stronger for the Renault 3.5 series – Mehri has steadily managed to get the better of his team-mate. Jenson Button Regardless of his driving, which seems to have been creditable with the car this slow and unreliable it is almost impossible to tell – Button has to score highly simply for remaining upbeat despite all the gloom. He is the team’s best asset; a jolly, motivated frontman.

Max Verstappen The 17-year-old has proved that in this current formula age is irrelevant. He has not been error-free – that is impossible to imagine for someone only in their second season racing cars – but has shown glimpses of utter brilliance to turn heads in the paddock. Carlos Sainz Jnr. The Spaniard has been just as impressive as Verstappen. That should be expected, with greater experience, but he has still made a strong case for himself. The second half of the season will be key for both.

TEAM SAUBER Much improved from 2014 but their inability to develop a car – which comes down to a lack of resources – has seen them fall away dramatically from the result in Australia. The farcical mess over who was driving in Melbourne was another low point.

Felipe Nasr The Brazilian has done better than many had expected. For a rookie, it’s been a creditable first half of the season, but he has not earmarked himself as a star of the future Marcus Ericsson Everything about the Swede’s public persona is bland. He is trained to say what he should and drives like a fairly competent but unspectacular racer. Despite an extra year in F1, he has looked a shade worse than Nasr so far.

TEAM MCLAREN Where do we start? How could the team that won the title with Hamilton in 2008 have dropped so low? To say they have been below expectations is being phenomenally generous. A lot of the blame has to go with Honda, who are in an awful mess. But it was McLaren’s decision to go with the Japanese manufacturer – The buck stops here and they have made a bad judgment Fernando Alonso The circumstances around his crash were bizarre and neither Alonso nor McLaren covered themselves in glory in the fallout. But the Spaniard can still be thrilling to watch. It is a shame that this episode has forced him to talk more and more about life away from Formula One.

Will Stevens A host of promised sponsors took a while to arrive and he has lost his edge over Mehri. There’s a good chance we’re looking at another Max Chilton: consistent but ultimately off the top pace.

Issue 04 July 30 - August 12, 2015

104 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

EEKEND

WORLD

JOSE: Master of

mischief A

S the new season kicks of Jose Mourinho as always has added a touch of comedy to the proceedings by accusing Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez of “destroying the best team in Europe” when the Spaniard replaced him at Inter Milan in 2010. The Chelsea boss spoke after Benitez’s wife joked her husband was “tidying up” another Mourinho “mess” at Real. As well as Real, Benitez also managed Chelsea - although he did not directly replace Mourinho at either club. “The lady is a bit confused,” Mourinho, 52, said after Chelsea’s International Champions Cup win over Barcelona. “Her husband went to Chelsea to replace Roberto Di Matteo and he went to Real Madrid and replaced Carlo Ancelotti. “The only club where her husband replaced me was at Inter Milan, where in six months he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time. “Not content with setting the record straight, Mourinho then made a jibe about Benitez’s physical shape. He said that if Montserrat Seara, Benitez’s wife, focused on taking care “of her husband’s diet” then “she will not have any time to talk about me”. Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, who is Jose’s usual target whom he once labelled “a specialist in failure” must be pleased that someone else is receiving Jose’s attentions. Only last week Mourinho accused his bitter rival of trying to buy the title after reopening hostilities with Wenger by insisting Arsenal have spent more than Chelsea recently.

Macklin sets his sights on world-title shot F

ORMER Irish, British and European champion, middleweight Mathew Macklin is returning to the ring next month in Marbella in the first of a three fight plan that he hopes will lead to another world-title shot. Macklin will headline an MGM Promotions black tie event at the H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel in Puerto Banus on August 28th. The Irishman has two further outings planned for the year and is hoping for a fight in Birmingham in October followed by a bout in Ireland before the end of the year, which will give the fighter a good base to push for his 4th world-title shot in early 2016.