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Vol. 4 Issue 95 www.theolivepress.es April 24th - May 7th 2019
Eyes in the sky
Brits flocking to Spain
MILITARY drones will be patrolling the Strait of Gibraltar this year after Spain signed a huge €216 million deal with the US. Four MQ-9 Reaper drones are to carry out surveillance to tackle illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The unmanned aircraft will soon be arriving at their new base in Talavera la Real in Badajoz,
HUNDREDS of new British residents have registered to live in southern Spain. The number of registered UK nationals in Malaga has zoomed up despite the spectre of Brexit. A sizeable 600 more people were registered at the end of last year compared to 2017. And the numbers are expected to have risen further over the last quarter, believe experts. “I think many people are worried, so that has increased registrations,” Anne Hernandez, president of national support group Brexpats in Spain told the Olive Press. “And a lot of Brits are currently moving to Spain, because they don’t want to leave their dream move any longer. “Some of them just say they ‘want to escape the UK’.”
ready for action later this year. It comes as the Guardia Civil has struggled to tackle the surging drug trafficking epidemic which has seen outbursts of violence along the coasts over the past two years. It has been suggested this summer will see even more drug activity than last year.
Still in danger
Growth
By the end of 2018 there were 47,193 British nationals registered in Malaga province, the first growth since 2013. That year, there were 76,000 Britons in Malaga - the highest of any year while 10 years ago 63,000 Brits were accounted for in the area. The large drop of expat numbers mostly happened over the following couple of years due to the deep six-year recession, which was the worst in Spain’s history. This now looks to be in reverse, despite Brexit. “I know many British people who are continuing to move to Spain,” said British councillor in Manilva, Dean Tyler Shelton. “At the same time I think Brexit has been a factor in pushing more British people to register in Spain. Most have no intention of going back,” he added. Almeria had a total of 15,000 British expats registered by the end of 2018, making it the second-largest British population in Andalucia. Meanwhile, Alicante had 69,289 registered Brits in Spain in 2018, compared with 66,397 in 2017. There are 330,911 Brits registered as living in Spain, as of 31 December 2018. Last month, a royal decree was passed giving Brits living in Spain until December 31 2020 to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, granting them legal status in the country after Brexit.
Border problems loom if Vox gets into a coalition government, warns Sir Joe Bossano A RIGHT wing coalition government that includes Vox could cause difficulties on the border with Spain, former Chief Minister Sir Joe Bossano has warned. The Minister of Economic Development’s stark words come after the rising political force vowed to close the border if it got elected into government in the April 28 national elections. This would be a disaster for the Gibraltar economy that relies on thousands of workers from Spain to cross the frontier every day. “If there is a right wing majority government they would not care about the 15,000 people who would lose
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their jobs here,” Bossano, who was knighted last year, told the Olive Press. “The PP has proven that before and I think there will be an advance of the right wing, because they have taken advantage of the disenchantment there is.” Vox’s aggressive stance on Gibraltar would turn the clock back 50 years to 1969 when General Franco ordered a border closure. The party, led by former military officer, Santiago Abascal, has consistently been critical of what it sees as
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STARK WARNING: From former leader Joe Bossano
Britain’s ‘colonisation’ of the Rock. “We are fed up with the pirates who harass our fishermen and use our compatriots as hostages,” Abascal said about those ruling Gibraltar. “While we recover Gibraltar we will make them pay taxes or go live with the monkeys,” said the controversial leader during his election campaigning. Vox had previously helped unfurl a huge Spanish flag on the BASED Rock, before gaining their first 12 regional seats in neighbouring
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Andalucia last December. In a wide-ranging interview, Bossano also warned that Spain, like all EU member states, could still veto legislation on the future relationship between the UK and the EU. This is despite the Government stopping Spain from having a Clause 24-style veto that would allow the Rock to remain in a Brexit transition stage. “We do not know what that future relationship will be, and even if we want to be in that future relationship at all,” Bossano said. “But what we do know is that the veto is when Spain believes it TMcan corner us.”
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CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Spring trim BUSHES and trees on the Upper Rock have been pruned up the Rock to help the arrival of resident and migrating birds during the spring months.
Bullying outcry A RECENT questionnaire of 1,300 young people by the Voice of Young People (VYP) has found bullying to be the main cause for concern at school.
Medal winners OVER a dozen Gibraltar rhythmic gymnasts aged four to six-years-old competed in La Linea, winning gold, silver and bronze medals.
Emerging power SIR Joe Bossano travelled to Zhengzhou, China for the World Emerging Industries Summit and Bahrain to attend a start-up conference for ministers.
April 24th - May 7th 2019
Time to pay up EXCLUSIVE
AN alleged bill dodger is being investigated by police after allegedly punching a British hairdresser in front of her daughter. Jyhane Hmittou (pictured right) is accused of attacking Rose Mitchell, 45, when she was confronted over an unpaid haircut and treatment a few days before. The Moroccan woman is due in court to answer claims over the attack and failure to pay at Glow & Bubbly, in Benavista, Estepona. It comes as the Olive Press discovered she has also been accused of multiple failures to pay
Bill dodger to face justice after allegedly attacking British mum after running out on salon bill at different salons on the coast. “She ran up a bill of €200 and then disappeared,” explained Mitchell, 45, who has lived in Spain for 22 years. “But then I spotted her a few days later dropping her kids off at a bus stop and insisted she pay up only to be punched in the face.” She added: “She attacked me in front of my nine-year-old daughter who has been traumatised by it.” It comes as Hmittou, from Cas-
ablanca, was accused of racking up bills and vanishing without paying at several beauty salons and restaurants between Estepona and Marbella. Stafford-born Mitchell, who was due to give evidence to an Estepona court doctor this week, claims she knows of scores of other victims. “We hope to finally get some
Drag disgrace Bloody sunday A POPULAR drag queen has been attacked in the heart of gay-friendly Torremolinos. Satin Greco, one of the best-known performers on the Costa del Sol, was attacked by a group of ‘foreign men’ as he walked home on Saturday morning. The men reportedly shouted ‘fag’ at Greco before trying to rob him in La Nogalera, a neighbourhood deemed a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community. Luckily the commotion was heard by nearby staff from the Eden Copas bar, who all rushed over to help. Greco was taken to the local health centre where he was treated for scratches and bruises.
POLICE have arrested two men after they found a pair of violently mutilated corpses in a well in Huelva. One of the bodies is that of 25-year-old Samuel Vizcaya, who disappeared at the weekend, before his car was found burnt out next to Huelva Cemetery. Police are treating his death and that of another 37-yearold man as a case of scoresettling between gangs.
Gran and grow A YOUTH has been arrested after installing a huge marijuana farm on his 85-year-old grandma’s property. The drug grower was nicked after police discovered 260 plants inside a ‘labyrinth’ greenhouse system featuring lighting, extractors and humidifiers in Jerez.
Airport scare justice,” she added. Policia Nacional in Marbella confirmed they had received several denuncias over Hmittou and that they had handed it over to an investigative judge. Glow & Bubbly owner Corrine Correa added: “She spent four hours in our salon and we were having banter. That’s how she gains people’s trust. And the whole time she knew she was going to do us over.” Another salon owner in Marbella said: “We have also been victims, she left without paying €180 and I found two more nearby salons where she did the same, we have put joint denuncias in.” Meanwhile three other hair salons in San Pedro, a pizzeria in Diana Park, a beauty salon in Banus and two other salons in Marbella have all claimed to have been scammed by Hmittou. She did not respond to our request for comment.
POLICE have arrested a man over a double knife attack at Madrid airport. One woman, 47, was stabbed in the ear, while another, 24, received a wound to the hand at the Ryanair check in area.
Devilish deed
AN IRISH expat was sprayed with date rape drug ‘devil’s breath’ during a robbery in Tenerife. David Nelson, 27,was forced to empty his bank account and lost his phone and €600 in cash after being attacked in Playa de las Americas. A woman approached the man and accused him of trying to seduce her, and then sprayed the drug in his face. “She emptied all my accounts until the cards declined,” said Nelson.
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NEWS
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April 24th - May 7th 2019
3
Zooming in
CAR WHIZZ: Yianni and Harry Styles
Back together, arg-er than life THEY are two of the biggest stars of TOWIE. Now Gemma Collins and James Argent are forging ahead in their relationship in Spain The love-birds were all smiles at longtime friend Elliot Wright’s White Party in his restaurant Olivia’s, in La Cala. The Dancing On Ice star, 38, showed off her slimmer figure in a flamenco-style white chiffon dress with a diamond-cross necklace and gold hoops. Gemma was supporting boyfriend Argent, 31, who was performing with his band.
CELEBRITY supercar whizz Yianni Charalambou has announced an exclusive Grand Tour to London which will kick off in Marbella. The car customiser - whose clients include Harry Styles and Gordon Ramsay as well as a string of Premier League footballers - is calling on motorheads to join him on the road trip. Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches and Bugattis will make the seven-day journey
in June with drivers enjoying boozed up party pit stops along the way. You’ll have to have around €16,000 spare though - as that’s the price for just one of 100 spots available. The tour will travel through up from Marbella through Valencia, Barcelona, Geneva and Paris before ending in London on June 29. There will also be a film crew travelling with the tour and a movie will be made of the event.
HAPPY CUSTOMER: Arsenal’s Patrick Aubameyang
ROCK THAT
Tommy in town
UK’s biggest boyband sensation to headline this years MTV Gibraltar Calling festival THE biggest boy band in British history are heading this way. Take That (right) are to headline this years MTV Gibraltar Calling, minus Robbie of course. By far the biggest show ever held in Gibraltar, they will play their string of hits on Septem-
Holywood ANTONIO Banderas has once again returned to Malaga to take part in the Semana Santa processions. The 58-year-old Malagueño film star was joined by his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, 38, at his family church of San Juan. “It's my neighborhood, the neighborhood where I grew up,” he said on Palm Sunday, in the church where he was baptized and his parents were married. Banderas donned traditional white robes to take part in carrying the shrines, along with many of the congregation he grew up with.
ber 8 at Europa Point. They will be finishing the European leg of their Greatest Hits World Tour at the festival. “It’s going to be without any exception the biggest event ever held in Gibraltar,” festival organiser Richard Coram told the Olive Press. “And if you read the recent re-
views of their shows in the UK you will know it can only get better,”
PORTSIDE: Hilfiger in car FASHION megastar Tommy Hilfiger has jetted into Marbella to help launch a new collection designed by his wife Dee Ocleppo. The fashion power couple toured a boutique at El Corte Ingles in Puerto Banus where Ocleppo will market her exclusive clothes line. Ocleppo confirmed the clothes, bags, shoes and accessories will be marketed under the Hilfiger brand. “I’ve always been giving Tommy ideas for his collections until, one day, he encouraged me to launch my own brand,” said Ocleppo. “I love what I do, I love designing shoes and bags.”
Meanwhile, Scottish singer Tom Walker is also set to line up at the festival. Singer Walker (below) won the Best Breakthrough Act at this year’s Brit awards while his debut album What a time to be Alive was No1 last year. The event, which is being held at the earlier date of September 7 to 8 this year, will be aired to 220 TV stations globally. Tickets are already on sale on the festival website. The event is moving meanwhile to a new home at Europa Point which will have its ‘own challenges’, admitted Coram. These, in particular, include parking. New artists are set to be announced every two weeks.
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THE
MEWS
April 24th - May 7th 2019
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NEWS
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Brexit planning continues in Gib GIBRALTAR is STILL preparing for a no-deal Brexit despite the UK government telling its civil service to stand down such preparations. The Brexit Strategy Group is looking at how to get supplies to the Rock, despite the government continuing to reiterate its desire to see Article 50 revoked. “The preferred option for the Government is a revocation of Article 50.
Duty
“However, we have a duty to prepare Gibraltar for our departure from the European Union.” A Brexit extension until October 31 was issued by the EU after Theresa May failed to get her withdrawal deal through Parliament. If the agreement passes before the end of the extension the UK will be able to leave before then. The UK and Gibraltar will also leave the EU on May 31 if European elections are not held.
April 24th - May 7th 2019
Tragic end
Surfer who died was lawyer to stars
A BRITISH surfer who died off the coast of Gibraltar has been revealed as a lawyer to the rich and famous. Arthur Timothy LawsonCruttenden, 64, from London, was body surfing off East Side before police officers pulled him out of the sea near Catalan Bay on Wednesday. Despite attempts by medics to save his life, the father, ex-triathlete and Cambridge graduate died yesterday morning in St Bernard’s
RIP: Arthur while (right) clients Lydon and Walliams
Hospital. Lawson-Cruttenden was visiting his daughter who lives and works on the Rock. During a 40-year legal career, specialising in harassment, he represented everyone from comedian and children's author David
Walliams and his ex-wife, supermodel Lara Stone, to Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon. He also appeared on BBC show Inside Out as a legal expert, and represented other bands including The Blockheads and The Clash.
Workers unite!
Cruising in
MAY Day celebrations will be held at the Piazza with a number of speakers taking part. The May 1 date is the traditional workers’ day around the world and Gibraltar is no exception. For the first time in five years the occasion will see Unite the Union pair with the GGCA clerical workers union and the NASUWT teachers union on the day Gibraltar’s unions have this past year been more active than ever before, protesting against the use of agency workers in the civil service. Unlike previous occasions, the Chief Minister will not give a speech.
A CRUISE liner which follows the sun like a migratory bird has docked at Gibraltar. The 90m MV Sea Spirit is designed to be able to sail to both poles, making for luxury travel in extreme conditions. The ship goes north in summer and south in winter, allowing passengers to have unique wildlife experiences. Whales, penguins and polar bears are just some of the regular encounters. While in Gibraltar, the ship’s captain exchanged plaques with the Gibraltar Tourism Board, the Port Authority and local shipping agents.
GIBRALTAR is to install speed bumps on the Rock to protect its monkeys, the Government has announced. A total of 17 speed bumps are planned for roads on the upper part of the Rock in order to ‘calm traffic’ and help ‘reduce danger’ to visitors and wildlife. A Government spokesperson said the new measures protect the ‘most vulnerable’ species in the area, including baby macaque monkeys, partridge chicks and rabbits. They added: “Despite this, drivers are urged to take care on the Upper Rock and drive slowly.” The new traffic initiative is one of a series of wide-ranging ‘green’ improvements across Gibraltar. Also included, is the clearing of dense scrub, to be replaced by open habitats, which promote a richer biodiversity of animal and plant species. The Government has begun planting dozens of trees, including tamarisks near Little Bay and two eucalyptuses outside Gibraltar Parliament.
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In Gibraltar, he was a wellknown member of the Friends of Gibraltar Society, as well as previously joining the Blues and Royals regiment of the British Army. “We were deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about our friend and colleague,” said Sir Adrian Johns, chairman of the Friends of Gibraltar Society. He added: “He had strong family links on the Rock and was a moving force as a trustee and director of the Friends of Gibraltar. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Lorna, Imogen, and Venetia at this difficult time.” The RGP also offered its condolences and confirmed that a coroner’s inquest is underway.
Got the bump
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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.
OPINION Right to be concerned AHEAD of the Spanish election later this month, Gibraltarians are bracing themselves for what the tightly contested vote could wash up. With Vox threatening to achieve the first parliamentary breakthrough for a far-right party since the dark days of General Franco, Sir Joe Bossano has warned of border troubles if a right wing coalition government is elected into government on April 28. Bossano rightly points out any difficulties at the frontier would damage the Gibraltar economy. Thousands of jobs could potentially be lost if workers are no longer able to cross the frontier freely, as they currently do today. Franco imposed a punitive blockade on the Rock in 1969, a siege that lasted more than 13 years. While the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal has repeatedly lambasted what he says is Britain’s ‘colonial grip’ on the Rock. The political risks Gibraltar must now face are no longer purely historical, reclaiming the territory for Spain is a Vox election pledge after all.
Good news, at last! THE news that Brits are returning to Spain again, despite Brexit, is the best news we have had for six years. It emerged that more British nationals had registered on the Costa del Sol in 2018 than the previous year. The statistics, released by the Spanish Government, mark the first growth in Brit registrations here since 2013, when David Cameron promised an in-out EU referendum. And the increase was a sizeable 600, taking the total of Brits registered in Malaga province to 47,193. These numbers should be welcomed by all, because they show that Brits can continue to make the best of Brexit. One reason for the increase in registrations was that some were from those who lived in Spain undocumented. It may have taken the UK’s departure from the EU, but British nationals now have that little push they need. More and more Brits are sorting out their lives here and that can only be a positive thing.
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FEATURE
A guiri’s election guide Don’t know your PACMA from your PSOE? Join the Olive Press on the campaign trail for a whirlwind tour of Spanish politics
P
OLITICAL deadlock has led Spain’s embattled Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to go all-out with a snap election-scheduled for April 28. Politicians of all stripes are now out trying to woo voters across the country amid a backdrop of persistently high unemployment and out-of-control national debt. It comes as immigration fears and the Catalan crisis have deeply polarised Spanish society and birthed a resurgence of the far-right. Pre-election polls suggest Spain’s most important vote in decades is on a knife edge with no main party likely to emerge able to govern on their own. To better help our readers understand the electoral landscape, the Olive Press has provided a breakdown of each of the main parties running, the key issues on which they stand and, importantly, how expats can get their piece of the political action.
April 24th - May 7th 2019
●●
Spain is a parliamentary democracy with a ruling monarch who acts as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. ●● Women first won the right to vote in Spain in 1933, only to have it taken away by Franco. Universal suffrage was eventually restored in 1977. ●● In Spain the parliament is known as the Cortes Generales which consists of two chambers: the Upper House, which is the Senate of Spain and the Lower House, called the Congress of Deputies. ●● Under Spain’s proportional ‘closed’ list voting system, instead of putting a cross next a name, voters choose between lists of candidates put forward by their parties. ●● Blind people are able to vote without assistance in elections thanks to a system of Braille guides that Spain claims is a world first. ●● The size of the Spanish electorate is almost 35 million voters, 1.2 million of whom live abroad.
DID YOU KNOW?
PSOE
Partido Popular
Ciudadanos
Ideology: Social Democracy European Affiliation: S&D Predicted to get: 29%
Ideology: Christian Democracy European Affiliation: EPP Predicted to get: 20%
Ideology: Liberalism European Affiliation: ALDE + En Marche Predicted to get: 16%
The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party is Spain’s oldest political group. It traces its roots back to 1879, and forms the country’s current government. Once proudly socialist and overtly Marxist, the PSOE now clings to more of a centre left democratic socialist position. PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez became Spain’s Prime Minister by way of a ‘no confidence’ vote against the Partido Popular government of Mariano Rajoy in June 2018. Sanchez was forced to call the snap election for April 28 after smaller parties that propped up his minority PSOE government withdrew their support and voted down his budget. The PSOE proposes a socialist platform which looks to strengthen regional parliaments and nationalise water and energy ‘as services of public interest.’ It also seeks new taxes on financial transactions and digital services, alongside an increased rate for high earners. Sanchez is also considering banning prostitution in a bit to win over woman, who make up 40% of undicided voters.
Founded by Manuel Fraga, a prominent cabinet member under Spain’s longtime dictator Francisco Franco, the rightist PP is now the country’s largest conservative political party. A member of the European People’s Party, the federation of conservative parties from across Europe, the PP holds 16 of Spain’s 54 seats in the European Parliament. The party won a landslide victory in the 2011 elections under Mariano Rajoy who was eventually brought down by the massive Gurtel corruption scandal in 2018. Current President Pablo Casado has steered to the right in an attempt to manoeuver the party back to power. The PP manifesto includes plans to to lower the highest tax rate from 45% to 40% and reduce workers’ rights to make firing cheaper. The PP election platform also proposes mandatory life sentence for murderers and repeat rapists.
Offering voters a blend of social democrat and liberal policies, ‘Citizens’ is a secular centrist party which emerged out of Barcelona in 2006. ‘Citizens’ was founded by middle class Catalan intellectuals - university professors, writers, lawyers - who are opposed to independence from Spain. The party went on to shed its Catalan identity and expanded rapidly, setting up branches nationwide. In the European Parliament, Ciudadanos is a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe alongside Britain’s Liberal Democrats. Under Albert Rivera, Ciudadanos defines itself as ‘the party of the centre, progressive, and liberal’ but rivals like PSOE and Podemos are quick to label it right-wing. The party has already said it would not be willing to form a coalition with the PSOE if Sanchez is in charge. Citizens go into the election with commitments to tackle corruption and support the middle class. Standout policies include decriminalising euthanasia and subsiding pet adoptions.
FEATURE
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April 24th - May 7th 2019 http://www.theolivepress.es
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Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website
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espite being barred from voting in Spain’s general elections, expats seeking their political fix are welcome to vote, and stand, in the local and European elections. The path to the ballot box begins with registration in the local census, the padron municipal, which enables EU citizens to join the electoral register. A visit to the ayuntamiento, armed with proof of ID and address and a completed registration form, will secure you some wellearnt democratic rights. The entire process is free of charge and can be completed before residency papers are received. An electoral census form should promptly arrive at your door. If one fails to materialise, it can be obtained from the town hall in person or online. Once securely on the padron, expats are recommended to return
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IT has been another record-breaking month for the Olive Press website, which 1.31 is regu41,881 1.20 larly getting 50,000 visitors A DAY. Take last weekend, which saw 50,388 visitors on Saturday 26.2 and1% a massive 71,000 visitors00:0 on3:46 Sunday, according to Google’s official stats. Readers from around the world logged in to read about robberies in Mercadona, floods in Alicante and a group of pesky British kids © 2019 Google who nearly died on a Manilva beach. All exclusive stories from our team of fully-qualified NCTJ-trained journalists not scared to put in a shift over the weekend when needed. Providing original content on an almost hourly basis, seven days a week, means that our Alexa ranking - created by Amazon. com, the world’s biggest online retailer - has continued to soar. As well as being in the TOP 10,000 In Spain, we are inside the WORLD’S TOP 180,000 © 2019 Google sites. 4. es-es Number of Sessions per User 5. nl-nl
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PACMA
Ideology: Left-wing populism European Affiliation: GUE/NGL Predicted to get: 12%
Ideology: Right-wing populism European Affiliation: NA Predicted to get: 11%
Ideology: Animal rights European Affiliation: NA Predicted to get: 1%
A patchwork coalition of left-wing parties, Unidos Podemos or United We Can originally formed to contest the 2016 Spanish elections on an anti-austerity platform. The largest party within the coalition is Podemos, a populist anti-capitalist party that grew out of the 2010-11 indignados protest movement under the leadership of Pablo Iglesias. Podemos’ junior partner is Izquierda Unida, ‘United Left’ which is itself a amalgamation of the Spanish Communist Party and the smaller Republican Left party. The other party to stand candidates under the Unidos Podemos banner is EQUO, a environmental group founded in 2010 by former Greenpeace Spain director Juan Lopez de Uralde. The coalition is seeking support for a progressive vision for Spain with 100% renewable energy by 2040 and expanded rights for LGBTQ+ groups.
The youngest kids on the political block and by far the most controversial, Vox - which means ‘voice’ - is a right wing party launched by disillusioned PP members in 2014. Controversial Vox leader Santiago Abascal has called feminists ‘bitches’ and expressed a desire to reverse gay rights. Abascal has also called for a new ‘reconquista’ - a reference to the violent expulsion of Jews and Muslims from 15th century Spain. The party ran a successful hardline anti-immigration platform in the 2018 Andalucian elections and emerged with 12 seats, tipping the balance of power in the region to the right. On a national level, Vox wants to recentralise Spain and eliminate the current system of devolved powers to the regions. The far-right party also supports the deportation of illegal immigrants and the construction of an ‘insurmountable wall’ in the Spanish African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
Championing the rights of animals in a country with a rich culture of blood sports, the Partido Animalista has spent 13 years campaigning against animal cruelty. The party has been leading the fight to abolish bullfighting in Spain as well as the use of wild animals in circus acts. PACMA activists have organised protests against the practice of mutilating and abandoning hunting dogs, which occurs at the end of Spain’s hunting season each February. But the party has struggled to secure parliamentary seats, despite solid grassroots support nationwide. This is partly due to Spain’s electoral system which disproportionately rewards incumbent parties. PACMA’s policies look to strengthen the welfare and protection of animals with a call to ban hunting and sport fishing. The party also want to see a ban on animals in circuses broadened to include zoos and aquariums.
The top three most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
1
- British expat fuming after chairs and tables don’t fit into tiny new terrace Mallorca town hall painted outside her cafe (46,827)
2
- Level 1 emergency declared as largest Easter storm in 73 years hits the Costa Blanca (39,464)
3 4
- Spain’s Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol to be hit by five days of rain, flash floods and strong winds (33,421)
- BREAKING: British and Spanish children almost die after dangerous game ends in fireball on Spain’s Costa del Sol (26,684)
5
-British expat robbed twice in same Costa del Sol supermarket in just 10 days loses priceless personal mementos from dead daughter (25,218)
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Courtesy of El Pais
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Do you have a what’s on?
LA CULTURA
www.theolivepress.es
April 24th - May 7th 2019
what’s on
N
erdy things
THE 2019 Gibraltar International Comic Convention (GICC) will host a wide range of science fiction and fantasy related film subjects, on May 3-5. Venue to be confirmed.
S
tep up game
your
IF you fancy a game of chess, head down to the Calpe Chess Club at the Kings Bastion Leisure Centre (meeting room 5). They meet every Thursday during school terms and offer sessions for every age and level.
B
azaar stuff
ST ANDREW´s Church is organising a May Fair on 4 May where you can hunt for antique and vintage pieces, including jewellry, cristals and Gibraltar memorabilia. You can also rent your own stall for £10.
Z
arzuela away
MAKE sure to get your tickets in advance to see the zarzuela ¨La Del Manojo De Rosas¨ at the John Mackintosh Hall at 8pm on May 8 and 9.
Send you7th r informa April 24th - new May 2019 tion sdesk@theolivepres to
s.es
Pharma frolics
Fire alarm SPAIN has announced a safety review of all its historic monuments in the wake of the Notre Dame Cathedral blaze in Paris. Security arrangements and electrical fittings will be checked at historical sites nationwide to ensure that the country’s cultural heritage is safeguarded. Culture Minister Jose Guirao said: “Obviously the Notre-Dame fire was an alarm bell and we will review all the installations. “The danger is with old electric installations which have to be surveyed.” Architectural treasures due for inspection include the Burgos and Santiago de Compostela cathedrals, the Alhambra Palace in Granada and the Basilica of the Sagrada familia in Barcelona.
Potentially devastating resistant bugs take centre stage on the Rock
ANTIBIOTICS are the subject of a new play by one of Gibraltar’s top directors. ‘The Here and This and Now’ is a dark comedy that looks at how the pharmaceutical industry is promoting the overuse of antibiotics. “We are reaching a tipping point where we are developing an over-reliance on antibiotics,” said director Daniel Strain-Webber, who has won a
number of awards for his adult plays. “Doctors seem to prescribe them more and more for trivial illnesses. “The building up of a resistance to antibiotics could potentially be catastrophic if and when they stop working. It’s a really scary situation and a really unique premise for a play.” The play features Charlie Bishop who is hosting a day away
Ancient runes THE mysteries of Andalucia’s very own Stonehenge have been uncovered by a joint team of Spanish and American archaeologists. Dolmen de Soto, a 6,000-year-old megalithic monument, was discovered in 1923 near Huelva, where excavations revealed carved and painted standing stones depicting figures holding weapons. An investigation by the universities of Alcala, Huelva, Sevilla, Castilla-La Mancha and Texas revealed an entire ancient complex buried beneath a 60-metre wide mound.
Experts also found eight skeletons in the monument which has been dated back to the 4th millennium BC.
Sean Byrne and Erica McGrailBarabich. Performances will take place April 23-26 at the Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association premises at Ince’s Hall. “I love the intimacy that the smaller theatre venues in Gibraltar provide,” added StrainWebber. “The GADA Studio allows for smaller audiences to really feel like they are immersed in the plays and provides the actors the challenge of performing to the audience in close proximity. He added: “I think Drama in Gibraltar is going from strength to strength, I think there is a good blend of original drama and published plays being performed.”
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RONDA’S iconic Arab baths will soon be back in business following the devastating floods last October. The 5th century treasure was almost completely destroyed when the outer wall caved in due to the overflowing Guadalevin river during serious floods six months ago. Following a €175,000 cash injection from the Junta, the wall is being restored under the watch of local architect Sergio Valadez, who is also overseeing the recovery of the Paseo de los Inglesas and the Santa Maria church.
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Estepona A kind of magic A
ll about
Vol. 13 Issue 316
www.theolivepress.es
April 2019
Estepona has managed to avoid the mass market tourism of the rest of the Costa del Sol, writes Charlie Smith
Photo by Jon Clarke
A WOMAN holding the world in her hands above the blue Mediterranean sea. This is a fitting image for Estepona and is the subject of the town’s latest mural. Called Atlantis, it is the 49th work in the town’s series of street art, located up the steep hill of Avenida de los Reales, which offers unparalleled views down to the sea (see page 20). But this new painting by Jose Fernandez Rios, unveiled on International Women’s Day, reveals more than just a celebration of female contributions to society. It captures the constantly evolving nature of Estepona and its impressive global credentials, despite being a mediumsized town. Within Estepona’s mural series alone, you have the largest vertical mural in Europe, and even the first braille mural in Spain, using ceramic pieces, to assist the learning of the visually impaired. Perhaps one of the most unusual examples of Estepona’s worldwide appeal is Disney’s discovery of the area in the ear Continues on Page 18
#GOODVIBESONLY
TEL: 622 08 45 13
CALLE CARIDAD, 46, 29680 ESTEPONA, MÁLAGA
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Estepona
MUST SEE: The impressive orchidarium From Page 10
FLOWER POWER
ly 1990s – although the town was the original choice for Eurodisney but it was pipped to the post by Paris. But away from the would-be theme park dreams of decades gone by is the real beating heart of this charming town. A short walk along the marble pavements of Estepona’s Calle Terraza brings you to the charming and aptly named Plaza de las Flores (square of the flowers). In this hidden hive of activity you will find the tourism office, with maps for all kinds of excursions, including the murals tour and a host of reasonably-priced restaurants and cafeterias. Also nestled among the flowers, and spilling out onto Calle Terraza, are a handful of stylish clothes shops, mixing independent and quirky stores with more fa-
OLD TOWN: Paved streets with colourful flowerpots in Estepona
we repair! , ir pa s e d ’t n o D model Any brand, any
mous brands such as Mango. Further into the historic centre and you will notice that the town has ramped up its appeal with a ‘hanging garden’ of geraniums sprouting from multi coloured pots on every wall of every street. And it went one better than the plant pots a few years ago with its exotic glass-domed orchidarium at the other end of Calle Terraza. The futuristic greenhouse (above) with more than 8,000 species of orchids and three waterfalls welcomes more than 250,000 people each year and they continue to arrive by the coach load. Lorena Cano Bedoya, 38, who moved to Estepona in 2008 from Colombia, lives just around the corner from the magnificent orchid house with her sevenyear-old son Diego, and treasures the greenery on
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PORT PERFECT: Estepona’s working port is a hive of bars and restaurants
her doorstep. huge redevelopment. “Estepona is a town with a very special magic,” “We should be open she tells me, “starting with its climate, its sea, its by the end of May,” nearby mountains.” Erwin tells me, “It’s Sandwiched between the ocean and the high si- going to be beautiful.” erras of Bermeja, Estepona does surf and turf in Originally from Amstyle. sterdam, he made “It is a town that gives you the most beautiful the jump 17 years and quiet places to discover,” she adds, from her ago, swapping the house that is just a few minutes walk from La ‘mayhem of finance’ Plaza de las Flores. in London for the ‘auMost of all Lorena treasures the life here for her thentic feel’ of this active young son. Costa gem. “Diego is a child who likes sports and reading “The main centre for classical music,” she says. nightlife used to be “We dedicate days for those activities and I try to the port,” he says, “but educate him without screens, we prefer to spend now there is a shift towards the centre, with new time enjoying doing things together outside.” bars opening.” And its idyllic outdoor spaces and winding streets Playa del Cristo, the next beach along, is set on a are perhaps why Estepona is often described as sheltered bay with two pleasant watering holes. one of the last ‘authentically’ Spanish resorts on In fact, the fishy fare served by these chiringuitos the Costa del Sol. is surprisingly good. It has somehow managed to After supper, pick up an ice cream stave off the whitewash of celebon Calle Real or hit the bars: Louie rity yachts and designer brands of Louie’s is always guaranteed for Estepona was Marbella, while also avoiding the a good boogie or if you prefer to founded during takeover of ‘Little Britain’ in the watch, El Patio puts on a colourful likes of Benalmadena. feast of flamenco on Friday nights the golden age of Maybe that is in part thanks to its for €20. Mayor, José María García Urbano the Caliphate of And although the centre of town of the PP, who has spent €100 has seen a recent nightlife boom, Cordoba million on public works since he Estepona’s bright young things took over in 2011. still flock to the bars and clubs in During his eight-year the port on weekends. tenure, he has transformed Este- Bartenders freehand-pour drinks according to ye pona into a green paradise for those old Spanish ‘say when’ system (hic) and will only who live here, while still attracting a turf revellers out towards 4am. steady stream of foreign tourists. After that you can freshen up with a quick swim The latest edition to the 700,000 before breakfast, then face up to a long hot day of square metres of new green paying for the night before - face down on a beach space, is a public park com- towel. plete with slides and wildlife up Alternatively, if you went to bed on time, there are near the hospital. four excellent markets to get up for. This is part of the ‘Estepona, Three are held on Sunday mornings: one at Garden of the Costa del Sol’ the port (9am-2pm) and a rastro in the bullring project, which is progressing in (10am-2pm). time for the flood of summer On Wednesday mornings (9am-2pm) Avenida tourists. Puerta del Mar market is the place to be. And the high visitor numbers Or, why not head into the old town’s twisting uphill are unsurprising, and not only streets, which offer a glimpse of life as it used to because of Estepona’s 325 be in Estepona. yearly days of sunshine, 21km of While the paseo brings you right back to the prescoastline, 17 beaches, dozens ent with its lycra-clad joggers, giant chess sets of chiringuitos, eight golf cours- and intricate sand sculptures, beneath the coses and more spa hotels than you mopolitan surface you’ll find a lady with a past can shake a fluffy white towel at. who has been flirting with civilisation and repelFresh air fiends can sail in the ling invaders since neolithic times. port, go horse-riding, do high Her story is told through a scattering of watchtowers ropes at Selwo Adventure park, built to ward off the Moorish invaders, the Arab-built play padel in the poligono or clock tower and 16th century castle ruins. kick back with a cocktail and Estepona was founded during the golden age of their toes in the sand at one of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the 10th century. its glorified beach shacks. Destroyed by the conquering Christians in the 15th One chiringuito owner, Erwin century and rebuilt by Queen Isabella and King FerVanderdonck, 52, who owns dinand almost a century later, King Philip V granted Palm Beach on Playa de la the town a charter for 600 families in 1728. Rada, is already gearing Compare that to the 65,000-plus residents toup for the summer. day – a figure that more than triples in summer This beach bar, where months. chart-topping girl group And rentals, by the way, do fill up quickly at this Las Ketchup recorded time of year, so book early if you want to discover their video for Asereje, why Estepona should be number one on your Coshas just undergone a ta del Sol bucket list.
HERITAGE: Festivals (left) and architecture reflects its history
A Spanish restaurant with a twist, located on the edge of historic old Estepona Town in a converted farm house dating back to the 1890 with many features retained.
Restaurante La Pampa is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Calle Sevilla 70, 29680, Estepona Phone: 952 795 545 email: reservas@lapampaestepona.es www.lapampaestepona.es
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WHERE TO EAT
Classic act There’s no place else on the Costa for vintage cars and repairs
C
LASSIC cars have been a long-time passion of Andreas Ullstein, owner of Coast Classics in Estepona. His love affair started several years ago when he bought his first - a quintessential Ford Mustang. Fast forward a few years, his friends questioned why Andreas hadn't used his knowledge and expertise further. So, 10 years ago, the award-winning Coast Classics workshop was born. Walking into the showroom in the Estepona Poligono, customers are greeted with a salon in the style of a 1950s american diner before being shown the array of collectible motors. None of the cars on show are younger than 30 years. Andreas and his team are so good that a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 won the Gold Award from the Mustang Club of America in 2013. "It's the stories behind the cars that drive the projects," says German Andreas, who has been living on the coast for over 26 years. "Whether that be that the classic car, one of only five made in the world, or a grandparent that needs restoring to its original glory." The team can fix up any classic car and provide any service imaginable, including maintenance, repair, restoring, consignments and sales. Using the latest technology, the workshop has made a name for itself in being among the best mechanics in the country. "Most importantly we are extremely passionate in what we do," adds Andreas, "We love the work and take pride in every job, and that shines through." Contact Coast Classics on 619 270 000 or email classics@coast-classics.com
Location, location Estepona has a great collection of top places to eat if you can only locate them, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke
P
OQUITO a poco Estepona is developing a food culture to go with its rapid growth as an upmarket resort. While still lagging behind Marbella there are now plenty of reasons to head into town to check out its fast burgeoning restaurant scene. Little by little, more exciting places are opening up than the usual fried fish and tapas joints. Indeed, you can find most types of cuisine now, from Japanese to Venezuelan and Goan to Peruvian. Driven by an influx of wealthy and more demanding expats, particularly Scandinavians over the last few years, the town’s chefs have had to up their game. Between the two squares of Plaza Ortiz and Plaza de las Flores and the two streets of Calle Real and Calle Caridad you will now find, perhaps, a dozen good places to eat. One of the nicest is the excellent Argen-
tinian Sur, in Plaza Ortiz, where well travelled owner Juan is never standing still, always trying new things in terms of decor,
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wines and dishes. A classic family affair, you often find father, wife, son and daughter, not to mention son-in-law serving up juicy empanadas, lamb tagines and, of course, the best steaks imaginable. Up on Calle Caridad don’t miss the just-opened Galpon, an atmospheric place run by a group of Argentinian friends who have been storming it on the Costa del Sol for years. Cooks Natalia and Nadia do a splendid job from their open-plan kitchen, particularly with an excellent sea bass ceviche, a fabulous mushroom risotto and extremely tender noisette of lamb, which cooks for 24 hours. Maitre Martin is friendly and has a good knowledge of wines, particularly the bespoke section from
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SPLENDID: Casa del Rey revolutionised Estepona town centre
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13 April 24th - May 7th 2019
“We love wine, we love meat... What if you combine the two?”
CREATIVE EYE: Juan is constantly evolving his restaurant Sur (left)
NEW BROOMS: Nadia and Natalia at Galpon with dish (left) and sala (below)
Argentina, ranging in price from 15 to 50 euros. Heading up from here, you might want to grab a tapa in La Para, while a superb place for a cocktail is the recently opened Vibes, run by Syrian, Sam. It is a great place to chill and you can even order a hookah pipe. One place you certainly must not miss is fabulous Casa del Rey (below), which opened half a decade ago at one corner of Plaza de las Flores. Completely changing the fabric of Estepona old town when it opened, it is a stylish spot with a fantastic collection of nearly 100 wines by the glass. It has brought a new style of diner to the centre and gourmets keen to experiment
tel: 617 27 84 91 Caridad 91, 29680 Estepona
La Alcaria de Ramos is an Andalusian countryside stately mansion located high above the Mediterranean, with wonderful views
La alcaria de Ramos
Continues on Page 14
Traditional Mediterranean cuisine and creative cuisine merge to create a new concept and exquisite sensory experience
tel: +34 952 88 61 78 jare.1970@hotmail.com Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 167, 29688, Urb. El Paraíso, Estepona Close to Hotel el Paraíso, (junto al Hotel Paraíso) www.laalcariaderamos.es
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Estepona
Brilliant Benavista Home to a thriving bowling club, Benavista is so much more than just fantastic views
From Page 13
Gourmet Tour
BENAVISTA is one of the most popular places for British expats to put down roots on the Costa del Sol. Less developed and lower rise than many of its neighbours, Estepona’s ‘east end’ is aptly named - you get a better vista in Benavista! The beautiful area between Estepona and San Pedro is home to a thriving community of foreign residents that has shaped it into what it is today, and there is always something going on. “We are so spoilt for choice,” says Hughie Holgate, 71, who runs the popular Benavista Bowls Club and its Green Bar. “We have many members who play in leagues up and down the Costa del Sol.” With the club membership going from 50 members to over 150, the Green Bar is a thriving bar which serves tapas, daily specials and an extensive lunch menu. The club also has free WiFi connection. Large sunny terraces at the club are ideal for enjoying the Green Bar’s renowned Full English at €3.95. Happy hour is from 4-6pm. Benavista Bowls Club is the only bowls club on the coast to offer live streaming of matches. It is fully open to public and instructors are on hand to provide tuition for beginners. For those after even more fun there are quiz nights, and plenty of more laid back events throughout the year, where people don’t have to wear bowling whites.
PARADISE: Sea bass in salt and monster dessert from Alfonso (right) at El Pescador
with wines and tapas will love the ambi- If full, another place to check out in the ence and attractive tables outside, always square is Dona Jeronima, which is beaufull on warm evenings. tifully designed with a livThe waiters know a lot ing plant wall and stunning about wine and the ReinAn international natural lighting inside and a aldo group (which also runs great terrace. restaurant, it Reinaldo in the port as well Another interesting place to as Bar Don Ronaldo nearby) has a charming look for in the old town is also runs the Wine Room well established La Pampa, courtyard with a in Calle Sevilla, which sits in next door. Friendly owner Liliana (who a building dating back to fountain is half-Dutch and half-Spanthe 19th century. ish) is often around and A very international resPlease call the club to enquire about the differhappy to chat, when not taurant, it has a charming ent events, on +34 952 88 51 48 or visit www.benabusy keeping the group of six businesses courtyard with a fountain and a roof tervistabowlsclublive.com ticking along. race which is a great place to eat. When it comes to seafood, there can only really be one place worth visiting. Run by Alfonso for years - and very often found in its kitchen - El Pescador is EstepoFor holiday rentals near the bustling na’s seafood stalwart. Puerto Deportivo, look no further than Sitting slap bang on Marina Harbour Holiday Apartments the main beach, few places have developed as quickly and as stylSTEPONA now has a whole range of holiday rentals available for the summer season, ishly in the town over right by the port. the last decade (and POPULAR Costa del Sol Estepona Apartments, the successful renthe has just opened anclub, Groo-V is going al firm behind some of the town’s most sought other one in Marbella). through some exciting after dwellings, has now expanded to include Through sheer hard times, after launching its ‘Marina Harbour Holiday Apartments’. work and a clever eye first ever live jam session. A stone’s throw from the beach, the company’s for quality and paRun every Wednesday from new portside properties are located among the nache, he has turned 10:30pm-late, the nights hustle and bustle of Estepona’s nightlife scene, this place into the encourage local musicians whilst offering unparalleled ocean views. must visit fish restauto come together through And with the Mediterranean on your doorstep rant. the power of music. you would be forgiven for thinking these holiday You sit by the prom“It was a great night,” says homes come with a hefty price tag, but not at Es- And with the port’s amazing crop of restaurants enade overlooking the Vincent Neale, owner of tepona Apartments. serving some of the coast’s best seafood, as sea and eat only the the live entertainment venPrices start from as little as €33 a night for a one- well as international cuisine and British dishes,
Port of call
best fresh fish from the nearby port. My tip is the sea bass in salt, an absolute joy. Another excellent chiringuito right on Estepona’s main beach is Africa Beach, run for four years by the talented team from well established inland restaurant La Alcaria de Ramos. An excellent place to spend the day, you can lay back and enjoy a superb fish lunch enjoying prawns and sardines cooked on espeto skewers, then hang out on a sunbed for the rest of the day, enjoying cocktails at night. Just up the road you will find the chiringuito Palm Beach, one of the best on the coast for quality, and due to reopen again shortly. Set up by talented former Dutch broker Erwin Vanderdonck, it has a range of tasty dishes including prawn pil pil samosas
Groo-V times
E
bedroom apartment, while a two-bedroom stay can be found for €35, and three bedrooms for €45. These homes make the perfect getaway for families, golfers, or those who just want to enjoy one of the Costa del Sol’s most beautiful beaches. All apartments have an outdoor terrace area, heating, air-conditioning, fresh towels, WiFi and a fully-equipped modern kitchen for self-catering.
you really will be spoilt for choice. For those dining at home, there are several latenight shops and supermarkets nearby too. The La-Fragata urbanization hosts the one-bedroom apartment, which comes with a pool, one bathroom, and can sleep up three people. For two-bedroom and two-bathroom apartments, there are a whole host to choose from. Guests at the Puerto-Blanco rentals have access to the famous Cristo beach, with a market every sunday in the port. Meanwhile the Puerto-Alto and El-Faro residences, which both have pools, can sleep up to four guests, and are very close to an abundance of bars and restaurants. Three-bedroom and two-bathroom options are also available at Edificio-Montemayor and ElFaro. Both these homes, which comfortably sleep six, offer sea views, and are just a short walk in to the cultural heart of Estepona’s Old Town. With a range of quality holiday rentals to choose from, if you are planning a trip to Estepona, you had better choose Estepona Apartments.
Get in touch with them at www.estepona-apartments.com or ring 34 628 133 548
ue in El Paraiso. “We play everything from Clapton to Spanish stuff and from opera to reggae.” Groo-V are also launching an X-Factor competition for the Costa del Sol, with auditions beginning mid-May. “First prize gets €2,000, second €1,000 and third €500, with all of the top three getting a gig contract with us,” Vincent explains. Despite opening less than eight months ago, Groo-V has even made it onto TV, appearing on Channel 5’s Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. Vincent is excited for the future and encourages the public to visit Groo-V for karaoke nights on Friday and Sunday, and live gigs every Saturday. Visit Groo-V’s Facebook page at @groovbenavista
HISTORIC: La Pampa dates back to 1890
15 April 24th - May 7th 2019
BBQ, Fish, Cocktails, Sunbeds, Beach...good times...
TALENTED: Jose Antonio Ramos (left) runs Africa Beach and La Alcaria de Ramos
and crab spring rolls, which are melt-in-the-mouth amazing. Another superb chiringuito, just outside the port, up on the ‘secret’ Playa del Cristo you will find chiringuito Lolailo, where a friendly team serves up the freshest fish that one would expect from a good beach restaurant. A bit further afield a must visit for anyone wanting to find one
of those true dining secrets of the Costa del Sol is La Alcaria de Ramos. Run by Jose Antonio Ramos for over three decades, it sits beside an inland crossroads, between the two famous golf courses of El Paraiso and Atalaya. An ancient coaching inn, it is charm personified and has wonderful views of the coasts sitting up in an enviable posi-
tion. For many years in the Spanish Michelin guide, it mixes up traditional Mediterranean cuisine with international fare and has a superb wine list. Last, but not least if you find yourself up in Benavista, check out the excellent Green Bar, which is always busy and has a great menu del dia as well as some superb tapas.
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BUSINESS Bedding Success A BRITISH medical furniture business is set to supply beds and trolleys to hospitals and care homes across Spain. Suffolk-based Seers Medical secured a five-year contract for more than 120 items with support from the British Department for International Trade. The firm agreed the deal with Hidemar, a medical distributor based in Madrid, after showcasing at MEDICA - the largest medical trade show in the world. “We are an ambitious business and know that there’s demand for our products worldwide,” said Matt Clarke, Seers Medical marketing manager. “The Spanish market was one of the few countries in Europe we were yet to do business with.” Seers Medical is a market leader in manufacturing medical furniture for the healthcare sector and counts the NHS as a customer Clarke said: “If we can export our equipment worldwide, other British brands can, too.”
17
Turning sour
SPAIN’S booming citrus market is facing a rocky future after Donald Trump threatened to impose harsh tariffs. The US president included Spain’s citrus exports on a list of products in line for more than €9 billion worth of tariffs as part of an ongoing feud with the EU. Growers are now fearing for the future after betting
on the US as one of the key markets for growth. Last year saw a significant increase in lemon shipments to the US, with figures showing Spain exported 6,315 tonnes in 2018/19. This was a 71% increase on the 3,700 tonnes shipped the previous year. “The US is indeed an export market with potential for growth for Spain and
is framed as a key destination within our strategy to increase our sales outside
the EU,” Citrus export body Ailimpo’s Raul Alcazar said. “Evidently this news is not positive and generates concern but at the moment we do not have any more information about the additional tariff that would be established or about the date from which it would be applied.”
Million
kering ports in the Mediterranean. “Gibraltar can jump to a different level of recognition with this event,” the Oxfordbased maritime expert said.
Tranquilo,
they’re on their way home..
FRANCE - ITALY - PORTUGAL
Trump threatens Spain’s booming citrus exports
UNDER THREAT: Spain’s lemons and (right) Trump
All aboard! A ROYAL Navy ship will be the highlight of the Gibraltar Maritime Week in June. While the exact vessel is remaining under wraps, organiser Llewellyn BankesHughes told the Olive Press, VIPs and guests will be allowed on board. “The Royal Navy will be in port but we cannot yet say which ship it will be,” he said. The event is set to highlight the role of Gibraltar as one of the most important bun-
April 24th - May 7th 2019
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“The most important thing about Gibraltar is its location,” he said. “It is at the crossroads of two oceans, it has a safe harbour and has a good deal of professionalism.”
Spain exported more than €50 million of fruit and vegetables to the US in 2018, with stonefruit, citrus, apples, pears and avocados among the main products.
Cracking crypto SMALL businesses will be able to learn about the opportunities and risks of cryptocurrency at an informative breakfast meeting. The morning event on May 7, hosted by the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses at 122 Irish Town, will be free to members. The British Overseas Territory has become a cryptocurrency hub since it helped set up the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX) in 2014. The talks will be given by Philip Vasquez from Digital Asset Management Limited and Paul Astengo of Gibraltar Finance. They will cover everything from a background and history of cryptocurrencies to how small businesses can most benefit from their usage while observing local regulation. “The significance of the GSX is that it is pushing for digital securities,” said Diogo, AmaZix community manager on the Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange channel. “They are like the usual securities sold by financial houses but tokenised and based on Blockchain for cryptocurrency.”
18
April 24th - May 7th 2019
Clueless THE Junta’s vice president has been living in an illegal home for two decades, it has been revealed. Documents show Juan Marin’s house in Chipiona, Cadiz, was built without a licence on land designated for intensive irrigation. However, Chipiona Town Hall has no plans to demolish the property despite razing at least three homes on the same plot of protected land. Marin’s home, which he bought with his wife and sister in 1999, features a 34 metres-squared pool. The politician said it was given legal protection in 2012 on the grounds it cannot be expanded further. The demolition of homes built on protected land has been a major point of controversy in Andalucia over recent years. Former Cadiz mayor Antonio Peña (PP), opted to resign instead of carrying out 30 similar demolitions. Successor Isabel Jurado has said the town hall is seeking legal advice on how demolitions can be avoided as they are ‘very hard and difficult situations’.
UNDER FIRE: Marin
PROPERTY
Welcome to Gib
Towering apartment block will grace the new entrance to the Rock
A HUGE apartment block is set to grace the new entrance to Gibraltar. The E1 tower, on Devil’s Tower Road, will be one of the tallest buildings on the Rock. “No-one knows what is going to happen with Brexit so we need the beds inside Gibraltar,” developer Peter Cabezutto told the Olive Press. The area will become the new entrance to Gib once a new tunnel under the runway is finally completed. “It used to be a mainly industrial area but now it will be more residential,” added Cabezutto. The block of flats will take two-and-ahalf years to complete and more than a year’s work has already gone into ensuring it will not be affected by rock-
Real deal MADRID is no stranger to superstar footballers and another could be about to move in. Chelsea ace Eden Hazard has reportedly been looking for property in the Spanish capital, as speculation grows that he will move to Real Madrid this summer. The Belgian forward is said to be looking at homes in La Finca, one of the most luxurious and expensive postcodes in the capital. It is also where
10
falls. E1 - which will have a pool and spa is Cabezutto’s third building following the Luxurious Clemence Suites (named after his mother) and The Hub. “There is still space for more construction in Gibraltar which is an important motor of the economy,” he added. “There is not as much as before because everything that goes up means less area for expansion. “Obviously the government wants to develop the eastside reclamation but they need an investor that wants to put in a lot of money. “Before that happens Devil’s Tower Road needs to be improved which is what is happening now.”
Building boom
MOVING: Hazard many of the Real Madrid players reside, including Welshman Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and manager Zidane.
A SERIES of proposals have called for the Orange Bastion in Irish Town to become a new commercial centre. The plans, currently being discussed at the Development and Planning Commission, include a bar, brewery, shops, gallery and a new public square. The developers also hope to create new routes for pedestrians on to Line Wall Road and Reclamation Road. Across the road, the old Continental Hotel where Engineer Lane meets Main Street could be demolished to make way for a seven storey block of 22 apartments. Meanwhile, ten-pin bowling fans will be happy to hear that the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre is renovating its alley to modern standards for the Island Games in June.
Back from the dead A MAJOR repair project on the historic Maria Barrabino house in Torremolinos is set to be completed within the next two months. The town hall is spending more than €135,000 on the beautiful 19th century home, which will form part of the new pedestrianised town centre. Built around 1862, the Maria Barrabino house reflects the tastes of the then Malaga bourgeoisie, and still retains much of its original design and structure. Builders are currently restoring the original roof, while designers are renovating the inside. It was acquired by the town hall for €1 million in 2017 after being abandoned following the death of its last tenant two decades previously. Once opened to the public, the home will house a museum telling the story of Barrabino, who donated land to the poor, set up soup kitchens and helped to eradicate tuberculosis in Torremolinos.
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17:01
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Pluck of the Irish AN Irish expat has made her debut in the wine world with the release of a vwonderful rose. Lynne Coyle, who holds the Master of Wine qualification, launched the first vintage of ‘Rós’ just in time for summer. “We wanted to make a wine that reflected the area, the vintage and the grape variety,” Coyle said of her collaboration with Alicia Eyaralar of Bodegas Tandem in Navarra (both above). She describes the wine as having ‘a delicate, pale colour, with quite a strong raspberry and strawberry aroma profile.’ “On the palate it is dry, but has ripe fruit mid-palate, and refreshing acidity, which is important for balance and helps the wine to work well with food,” she added. Just 1,000 cases of the wine were made, and although Coyle has received interest from the UK, Australia and Hong Kong, and says that a few cases may make their way there, the majority of the wine will be sold in Ireland, with a retail price of €16.95 a bottle. “Rós means rose in both Scottish and Irish Gaelic,” Coyle told the Irish Times, and it is a reflection of her Scottish heritage.
Angel of Cadiz
restaurant | lunch and dinner restaurant | lunch and dinner
MichelinStarred chef dazzles judges to win gong for exporting home city around the globally
ANGEL Leon has won an award for helping improve Cadiz’s brand around the world. The so-called Chef del Mar, 42, who runs threeMichelin starred Aponiente in Chiclana, received the first ever La11Mil Award at a ceremony in Madrid this month. The gong has been set up by entrepreneurs from Cadiz and will each year award the prize to the local talent who best shines a positive light on the Andalucian region. Leon, who was born in Jerez de la Frontera, was recognised in the inaugural award thanks to his ‘invaluable foreign promotion of the province’. “His restaurants serve travellers from more than 60 countries,” the judging panel noted. “The Chef del Mar is many things: a businessman, visionary, researcher, creator, tenacious worker and an invaluable ambassador of Cadiz,” added Daniel Romero-Abreu, head of Thinking Heads, which presented the
ICONIC: Aponiente in Cadiz
award alongside the president of the Confederation of Employers of Cadiz Javier Sanchez Rojas. “La11Mil helps us to project the values of the Cádiz brand,” said Rojas. “Ángel León is one of the many people who make us feel proud of Cadiz.”
Figure
The prize is a figure created by artist Antoni Gabarre, which symbolizes the number 11 and the letter M in the Phoenician alphabet - an homage to the civilization which founded the city of Cádiz (while the 11M represents the local postcode). Aponiente, in El Puerto de Santa María, has become one of the hottest restaurants in the country after being awarded its third Michelin star last November and has been host to a variety of celebs, including the Game of Thrones cast last May.
Taking it to the MAX MAX Beach has reopened following a huge refurb. The popular beachfront haunt in Mijas now boasts a new food and drink menu, huge 25-metre swimming pool, terrace and gym. The relaunch comes after the much-loved eatery at Playa Riviera on Mijas Costa was taken over by the Metro Group earlier this year – the company behind Jacks Smokehouse, Mumtaz and Metro Italiano Ristorante. Metro Group Executive Chef Lawrence Otterburn joined forces with new Head Chef, Geoffrey Sacchi from Nikki Beach,
19
April 24th - May 7th 2019
NEW LOOK: For Max Beach
in the takeover. A beautiful redesign it features ‘stunning views, whether you sit inside with the air conditioning, or on either of our terraces’. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and a comprehensive international menu, resident DJ Aaron Phillip will be a daily fixture while in early June Max Live will open a live music venue with nightly entertainment from a ‘superb team of local and
international artists.’ The bar, nightclub and music venue will open from 9pm till late. Meanwhile the new adjoining gym, Max Fitness, has been built on the upper level of the site. It will be headed up by David Segorbe, World Powerlifting Champion and world record holder in deadweight. A sushi bar, cocktail bar and sunbeds galore are other highlights.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Holy caracole! 20
April 24th - May 7th 2019
Snails are blazing a trail in Spanish foodie circles (well, they are gastropods!) writes Claire Leibovich
IF you thought snails were only a French thing, think again. Caracoles are a huge tradition in Spain, and Snail Season - mid-April to late June - is upon us. Spain consumes around 16 million kilos of snails each year, which makes it the second largest consumer in the world after France. The gastropods are so popular in Spain that the country hosts the largest snail festival in the world in Lleida, Catalunya. Every spring, around 12 tonnes of the slimey shell-dwellers are consumed in three days in the Catalan town. This year, the festival will be held from May 31 to June 2. And according to Josep Marcelo, president of the ANCEC (National Association for Cultivating and Rearing Snails), their offspring is also a delicacy. “People are rediscovering
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snails and especially their eggs,” he says. Spaniard’s love of snails
goes way back. A 2014 study found that Palaeol i t h i c
Caracoles are easy to prepare at home, so give it a go! RECIPE for 4 servings: 200 caracoles ½ kg tomato 2 Catalan sausages 2 garlic Parsley Salt Pepper Aromatic herbs ½ glass White wine ½ glass of brandy Preparation: Place the snails in a pot of water until it boils. Wash them several times until they are completely clean and then leave them boiling in a season of aromatic herbs and salt till well cooked. Fry in a pan the onion, tomato and the sausages. Add the white wine and the brandy; salt, garlic and parsley; pepper and aromatic herbs. Add the boiled snails and cook it all till it is ready (1/2 hour approx.).
humans in Spain started eating them 10,000 years before their french Mediterranean neighbours. Much later, snails became a delicacy for wealthy Romans who bred them in protected spaces called cochlearia. In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny the Elder tells us that a certain Fluvius Hirpinus started that trend, in between the reigns of Julius Caesar and Pompey. Nowadays, Spain imports most of its snails from Morocco, Mauritania and Eastern European countries.
Expanding
However, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, snail breeding is expanding in the country, with the number of snail farms rising from 26 in 2000 to 614 in 2018. Traditionally sold at a cheap price by street vendors, you can now buy them by the kilo in markets, street stalls and even supermarkets throughout Andalucia. The average price for a kilo of snails is €7.50. Bars serve them as tapas, typically with tomato and garlic sauce. Snails are also the main component of numerous dishes such as rice and rabbit. And athough Spanish gastronomy usually avoids spices, snail recipes will include aromatic herbs, peppers, and even saffron and hot paprika. Snails are also good for your health, as researchers from the Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía have recently highlighted. They are low in calories (about 90 kcal for 100 gms) and are a source of protein, iron, Vitamin B12, magnesium, selenium and omega-3. Additionally, snail slime is used in cosmetics for its supposed antiinflammatory, antiageing and moisturising agents. Caracoles are easy to prepare at home, so give it a go!
21
April 24th - May 7th 2019
Spring
S
Walk
the
walk
Unlock the secrets of the Rock with three walks offering visitors a journey through art, history and culture
COLLECTION: Art by international artists
V
isitors to Gibraltar who thought that all there was to see was a Rock and monkeys will be mistaken. Three different walks give visitors a unique and entertaining point of view of the British territory few people know about. The first is the art walk, which starts at the Fine Arts Gallery in Casemates. Paintings and sculptures from local and international artists are often on display there. Keep on walking along Line Wall Road to the GEMA Gallery. This collection of modern art includes Gibraltar’s very own international portrait artist Christian Hook. End this walk by taking the quieter Irish Town to the City Hall. The Mario Finlayson National Art Gallery within the building holds work from its namesake as well as other top artists from Gibraltar’s history. For those interested in British history on the Rock, the letter box walk is a great option. A map downloaded from the Visit Gibraltar website shows a number of different sites where they are situated. They range from Victorian to Elizabeth II time periods after the Gibraltar postal service was set up in 1749. Starting as an occasional trickle of letters via passing ships, it became the only overseas territory to be given the ‘royal’ title in 2005. Gibraltar is full of historical monuments which are hard to miss.
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
The American and British War Memorials along Line Wall Road recall those who gave their lives in the First World War. Down Main Street, opposite an imposing cathedral there is a chunk of limestone with a bronze statue of a soldier. It is dedicated to the Royal Engineers who had a connection with Gibraltar since it was captured in 1704. Finally, at the end of Main Street is the Trafalgar Cemetery, so-called after Nelson’s famous sea victory over Napoleon. Ironically, only two of those buried here took part in the battle, but there are a number of other interesting tombs to discover at this site.
MONUMENT: Memorial to US and UK war dead
PRING is not only a good time to visit Gibraltar because of the great weather, but because there is so much to do. The Spring Festival is a two month feast of activities put on by the Ministry of Culture on the Rock. It all kicks off with May Day where dancing, choir singing and music will keep everyone entertained all day long at Casemates Square. There will then be a sequence of dance, music and art throughout May and June. From Art Dance on May 4 to pictures of comic book characters the following May 7-17, there is so much to do and see around Gibraltar. Saturdays are especially jampacked with activities. There is the traditional musical drama called a Zarzuela on May 8 at the John Mackintosh Hall (JMH) theatre. The same day will see artists compete in the Gibraltar Heritage Trust painting competition at Coaling Island and Gibraltar Forces will put on display a field gun at Casemates. The following week sees the annual flower show, a Mediterranean steps fitness challenge and a classic car rally. A photographic exhibition, piano recital and visual art exhibition are next on the agenda. These are just some of the activities throughout May and there will be much more in June, culminating in the Celebration of Opera at the Convent ballroom on June 20.
Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.
With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD
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For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi
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22
April 24th - May 7th 2019
COLUMNISTS
Writer’s blog
I
’M sat in front of the silent laptop, fingers hovering expectantly over the keys, willing the phrases I use so freely on a daily basis to transport themselves from body to technology. I promised myself I’d write a witty account of our relocation but unfortunately, my aging grey matter has other ideas. I close my eyes, trying to recall how it felt as we took our first steps into our New life in the Sun all those months ago. I rub my forehead and look out towards the mountains through the window, seeking divine inspiration from my elasticated smalls which are currently wafting themselves dry on a hastily erected rotary line, but they offer no words of wisdom, not even an opening pun.
SEND HELP: Paula with writer’s block
New wife in the sun
Blogging can be more time-consuming than you think, especially when you have an upcoming audition, writes Paula Leskovitz I sigh and get out of my seat. I may as well bring the washing in while awaiting the cascade of witty one liners to take up residence in my currently uninhabited brain. Letting myself out onto the balcony I kick an unidentifiable chewed dog toy along the tiles for ‘Brian the brave’ who hurls himself along the slippery surface, performing a skater’s turn before his head makes contact with the back wall. I pick up a couple of dead leaves from a potted plant and then saunter back indoors to the welcoming glare of the empty computer screen. A clap of thunder echoes overhead. I catch a glimpse of several T shirts still waving at me on the line and let out an audible sigh. How the hell am I going to recreate our adventures onto Spanish soil from over four months ago if I can’t even remember to bring
in my clean cottons when I’m standing right in front of them! Slamming the laptop lid resolutely shut I get up and mumble profanities all the way to the biscuit tin and consume several sponge fingers before I’ve even made it to the comfort of the sofa. Brian does his best Paul McKenna death stare, willing the sugary treats to fall in his direction while shadowing me from room to room. “If I give you a digestive will you go and write my Blog for me?” I enquire to the salivating hound but the canine one is too busy drowning in his own expectant dribble to adhere to my pleas. My husband ambles into the lounge, scratching his early morning shadow while simultaneously breaking wind, takes one look at my thunderous expression and crumb laden torso and promptly leaves the room again. “Don’t forget you have that audition today for KES at the theatre at 3pm,” he yells from the safety of the kitchen. “You’ll be good in that role, the mother in that is a right misery, you can do some method acting!” Within two hours I am transformed from Ena Sharples into Ivy Tilsley with makeup and hairspray applied and kitten heels adorned. Standing outside the theatre bar I feel a nervous flutter of excitement, armed only with the prospect of standing on an
ICONIC: Kestrel for a Knave unfamiliar stage with just a script and lines into my diet coke. my ego to hand. “Paula Lesk….lesch…lasch….skovitz?” People of all ages are milling around I lift my hand uncertainly and rise from tables, comparing characters and per- my seat and head towards the theatre fecting Yorkshire accents. doors. I sit on the outskirts watching the An elderly lady places a number on my women my own age blouse and I look down. chat good naturedly to Number 13, just my each other before their sodding luck. name is called and Straightening my shoulI toy with the they head towards the ders and fluffing up my idea of having stage, the heavy doors hair I place a nervous closing behind them, hand onto the velvet a swift vodka their rendition of this clad door and enter the Northern classic to be unknown. beforehand to heard only by the direcmen are sat waitcalm my nerves Two tors in charge. ing by the stage, hands I toy with the idea of outstretched and having a swift vodka smiles adorning their beforehand to calm my nerves but confident faces. then decide ‘Karaoke Kes’ may not be “Ah, I take it you are lighting guy’s wife, what they are looking for. we’ve heard all about you,” they laugh I see a few familiar faces sat on the conspiratorially. table opposite and smile uncertainly Taking a deep breath I look them diin their direction, but I am not invited rectly in the eye and in my best Yorkinto the inner sanctum, I have as yet shire accent reply to earn my stripes, I look down at the “Yeh, I bet you bloody ave!” script before me and mumble random To be continued...
The Feng Shui shuffle The office can make a life-changing difference, as can a move to Marbella, writes Giles Brown
I
’VE been busier than normal over the past ey, who was about five feet tall and five feet couple of weeks. round, unshaven and looking like he hadn’t The radio station moved to swanky new slept since Friday night – when the team got studios, which led to the Human Resourc- paid – was a veritable black hole of negatives department asking me if I had any prefer- ity. ence where they put my desk. The consultant turned ashen grey. I think that I may have spooked them a bit “Get HIM away from the window,” she stutwhen I came over all Hannibal Lecter in Si- tered. lence of the Lambs and replied, ‘I want a I am not sure if the Feng Shui actually window I can look out of Clarice’. worked. They have since put me in the centre of the I left the company soon afterwards – so mayroom. Facing the wall. (ED: I remember the be it did – and, after a pair of rather large basement I was once offered by Martin and imposing Yardies turned up one Monsome years ago). day morning with a quivering When I was working in pubsalesperson who had been lishing in London and the It was a Monday unable to pay his tab in the company was taken over, the crack den he had spent the morning, there weekend in – the Managing new management team employed a Feng Shui consultant might have been Director called in a drug raid to improve the energy of the on his own company. building or some such. The City of London water aua rugby game I am not sure how you realign thorities allegedly reported a that weekend a five-story office block on 400% drop in the water table Great Sutton Street but I diin Farringdon, as the entire gress. sales floor rushed to the toiThe new age consultant type wafted in and lets and flushed whatever they were carrying. shook her head as she surveyed the base- I ended up working for Reader’s Digest ment editorial department, which she de- Group, ensconced in Canary Wharf where clared to be full of negative energy, shooting the old days and ways of Fleet Street, with a withering look in my direction. liquid lunches at El Vino and a thin strata of To be fair, it was a Monday morning, there cigarette smoke permanently hovering three might have been a rugby international that feet above the subs’ desk was a thing of the weekend, and I was probably looking pretty past. withered myself. Looking out over the Thames one afternoon, Worse was to come when she visited the I decided to do my own bit of Feng Shui and sales team on the first floor. moved back to Marbella for six months, ‘just One of the top salespeople was a Glaswe- to see how it worked out’. gian ex-miner, who went by the name of Those six months turned into 20 years this Jockey (Surprise, surprise). month. If I was giving off negative energy, then Jock- Funny how time flies when you’re having fun!
SPORT
23
April 24th - May 7th 2019
Super hoop
CELTIC legend Billy McNeill has passed away shortly after he was honoured in Spain for only playing at one club during his entire career. McNeill, 79, was to be presented with the ‘One Club Man’ award by Athletico Bilbao but died before he could collect the prize after a long battle with dementia. During his 19-year career, McNeill played all of his club matches and broke the club’s appearance record. The centre-half captained the team, dubbed the ‘Lisbon Lions’, to their first ever European Cup in 1967 by defeating Inter Milan 2-1.
King of Texas SPAIN’S reigning MotoGP world champion has crashed out of poll position - only to be replaced by his fellow countryman. Defending champion Marc Marquez arrived at the Americas Grand Prix in Austin, Texas in search of a record-equalling seventh win. But disaster struck the Catalan halfway through the race when he spun off the track, allowing fellow Spaniard Alex Rins to snatch a career first victory. “This is racing, it’s disappointing as I was riding a very smooth but mistakes were there,” said Marquez. But Rins said: “I can’t explain my emotions, they are just exploding.” The next race is set to be held at the prestigious Jerez circuit.
Pardon of Eden SOME things are easily replaced, but Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly not one of them. Los Blancos’ manager is currently eyeing up Chelsea’s Eden Hazard to help fill the gap left by Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus last summer. But he said: “He [Ronaldo] is gone, but we can bring any player, and the player who comes will not do the same as Cristiano.” Madrid, who are third in the league, could spend up to €115 million on Hazard. The Belgian, whose contract at the London club runs out in 2020, is top of Zidane’s list of transfers.
RAFAEL Nadal has revealed he was very emotional while watching fellow sporting great Tiger Woods win the Masters. The 32-year-old said: “What happened during the last year for Tiger is an inspiration for everyone.” The 17-time Grand Slamwinner also said the American is probably his ‘favourite sportsman in the world’. Nadal is currently defending his title in the Rolex
Wood friends
Monte-Carlo Masters, a competition he has won 11 times.
Wolf pack
Expat family track down footy heroes in Marbella
Premiership clash - but the cameras were kept at bay. However, Wolves fan Kay Fellows, 37, her husband Ben, 39, and their two boys Hayden, 10, and Sonny, 9, managed to spot the stars. AN expat family from Wolver- “The security guard at the hampton have managed to ground wouldn’t give anytrack down their football he- thing away, just that Wednesroes at a secret training camp day was their last day,” said Kay. in Marbella. Wolverhampton Wanderers “We saw all the players,”she FC had jetted out to the Costa added, “except Neves who del Sol for some warm weath- had just had a baby.” er training ahead of their next Goalkeeper John Ruddy, defender Conor Coady and forward Raul Jimenez were among the Wolves players pictured with Kay and her family before the squad flew back on Thursday. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is hoping that the break at the Marbella Football Center will provide a boost to his side’s hopes of qualifying for the Europa League. Despite losing in the FA Cup semi-final, they can still qualify by finishing seventh in the league. They are currently sitting in eighth. “We had a good week of training sessions and, at the same time, some social time toFANZONE: Kids meet Wolves gether,” said Santo.
ON TOUR: Lads visit La Sala
The team’s last Marbella trip in February saw them dining at celeb hangout La Sala in Puerto Banus.
Karate Wonderkid A KARATE black belt from Malaga has narrowly missed out on a gold medal after losing to the world number one in Morocco. Damien Quintero failed to add his first gold of the karate world circuit after he finished second in Paris, Dubai, Salzburg and now Rabat.
Despite the defeat to Japan’s Kiyuna Ryo, Quintero has chalked up twenty-fourth medal and looks to have secure a place at Tokyo 2020. Quintero, from Torremolinos, was awarded a ‘Star of Sporting Merit’ in 2018 by Malaga Council, which described him as a ‘source of joy and pride.’
Vacancy - SaleS Manager Mix Media Group, home of Radio Mix 106, is looking for a Sales Manager for their audio/ visual productions department based in Manilva, Malaga. The successful candidate will be responsible for building and maintaining a client base for the Group’s audio/visual productions, podcasts, and services. We are looking for an experienced Sales Manager who can operate as a positive, pro-active team member, bringing energy, harmony and focus to the business, and make a positive contribution to the team. A background in media sales is an advantage but not essential as full training will be given. A knowledge of CRM systems is essential. Attractive basic salary plus commission on offer to the right applicant. Send your CV to studio@radiomix106.com Tel: (+34) 856 830 003 | studio@radiomix106.com www.radiomix106.com | @mix106fm
The Rock’s only free local paper Advertise here for as little as as £75 per issue
Toy out of pram
FINAL WORDS
TOY Story fans in Spain were left disappointed when the man who dubs over the voice of the character of Woody quit over working conditions.
Paella to go KITCHEN workers fell foul of gravity when trying to maneuver a giant paella dish through a narrow doorway in Valencia, the results being a large mess and a viral video.
All laid bare ANTI-FASCIST protestors in Coruna greeted Vox leader Santiago Abascal with their bare backsides, dropping their trousers to reveal bare cheeks painted in Spanish colours.
FREE
Vol. 4 Issue 95 www.theolivepress.es April 24th - May 7th 2019
un-moo-ved
Love at first sniff
Doggy couple can’t bear to be separated AN animal shelter in southern Spain is appealing to expats and locals to home an ‘inseparable’ doggy couple. Escobar and Judith arrived at the pound in Los Barrios in 2017 and it was love at first sniff.
“From the moment they set eyes on each other, they bonded immediately, becoming the Romeo and Juliet of the pound,” Victoria Vasquez, from Spanish Stray Dogs told the Olive Press, “They cannot bear to be
Doggy shower
A BEACH in Marbella is now home to a new stateof-the-art dog shower. The Ventura del Mar beach, which has a clearly marked doggy area, now features a circular shower which can clean your messy pooch in record time. A drinking water fountain to fill your dogs water bowls or bottles has also been erected next to the shower. In announcing the new ad-
ditions the Mancomunidad Municipios Costa del Sol Occidental reminded dog owners to ensure they pick up after their pets and that they’re up to date with their jabs.
apart and when together Escobar is constantly touching Judith to ensure she is happy. “Their love story ensures that their time at the pound is a little less bleak, but also has a dark side, we cannot break their bond to get them adopted separately. “We need a special adopter willing to adopt them both together and be part of this love story.” Vasquez added that the pound in Los Barrios is struggling with the high volume of abandoned dogs arriving every day, many of them in ‘terrible condition.’ “There simply is no space to house one more single dog, and help is needed urgently in terms of adoptions and fosters as well as donations to move the more
vulnerable dogs onto boarding kennels to keep them safe,” she added. “Overcrowding raises the dogs stress levels causing the dogs to fight with each other with sometimes terrible consequences.” Anyone interested in adopting Escobar and Judith please email adoptions@spanishstraydogs.org. If people wishes to donate they can do this via paypal@spanishstraydogs.org.
THIS is the moment a cow caused a terri-bull traffic jam on the A-7 at the weekend. Cars came to a standstill in Alcaidesa, Cadiz, when the large brown mammal was spotted on the busy motorway on Sunday. Authorities had to be called to the scene to safely remove the animal and return it to its nearby pasture.
Craicpack AN Irish company has come up with the perfect solution to beat your hangover. CraicPack has just launched the ‘Hangover Box Care Package’. The lifesaver, which can be shipped to Spain and around the world, arrives in a box emblazoned with Irish sayings and contains some well-known local cures. The package includes Brennans Bread, Lyons, Barry’s Tea, Tayto Crisps and more.