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Vol. 4 Issue 91 www.gibraltarolivepress.com February 27th - March 12th 2019
‘Rubber man’ bounces back
Plane terror
THIS is the dramatic moment a British Airways plane hit heavy turbulence while trying to land in Gibraltar. The clip, which went viral on social media, shows the plane tilting violently from side to side while attempting to land. One Gibraltar resident, said: “I was in that plane, it was very scary indeed.” Another witness of the plane, that was eventually forced to divert to Malaga, wrote: “It was awful! Never seen a plane rock from side to side as much! I’m still shaken by it!” British Airways confirmed the plane was diverted due to strong winds and that it landed safely in Malaga. Opinion Page 6
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto
“That first wave knocked me forward, cracking my rib and half-flooding my boat,” Baglietto, a former Gibraltar footballer, revealed. “The next wave threw it onto shallow rocks. It was very scary. If it had capsized I would not be here to tell the tale.” Speaking at his Glacis Estate home, he revealed: “I then waded across the rocks while being lashed by the waves until I got to dry land near the Europa Point cottages.” He continued: “I was soaked right through and in quite a lot of pain, also with a broken toe and plenty more
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THE Gibraltar government waded into a dramatic day in Parliament yesterday, insisting the cancelling of Article 50 and staying in the EU would be ‘the best possible outcome’. A spokesman made the comments, just hours after the UK’s Labour Party announced it would support a second referendum, while Theresa May confirmed MPs would get a vote on whether to delay Article 50 on March 13. Gibraltar said it would back a ‘remain’ outcome in any new referendum, despite the many concerns it had over EU institutions and countries. However, the Rock remains concerned over the delay of the so-called meaningful vote for MPs until March 12, just two weeks before the UK departure date.
80-year-old Hector Baglietto tells Olive Press how he survived dramatic Europa Point boat crash
again AN octogenarian fisherman whose boat was smashed on rocks during strong winds has told the Gibraltar Olive Press how remaining calm was key to staying alive. Pensioner Hector Baglietto, 80, was forced to swim to safety and clamber over jagged rocks when his sixmetre fibreglass ship, Tyjack, ran aground close to Europa Point (pictured left). The former fireman, who had been fishing when a three-metre wave slammed his vessel onto rocks, told the Gibraltar Olive Press: “I am lucky to be alive.” He added however he was ‘never afraid’ when he got into trouble during strong winds last Tuesday.
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Consequences
REPLICA: Of boat while (above) brave Hector
bruises.” Despite his injuries, he added that he was ‘very calm’ throughout the ordeal thanks to his decades of experience. The grandfather, who is one of 11 children, is known to his friends as the ‘rubber man’ as he always manages to get back up without serious injury. “It is a nickname that I have had for years, and it seems appropriate this time, that is for sure,” he joked. The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) responded to the distressed vessel off Europa Point at 9:00am on Thursday after Baglietto had set sail at 6:30am. Gibraltar Fire and Rescue
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Service treated the ‘shaken’ Gibraltarian, before he was transferred to St Bernard’s Hospital for medical attention. Hector explained how he had been brought up in a family of fishermen in Catalan Bay. The brave local, who retired from the Admiralty Fire Service at 50, admitted it would be the last time he went out sailing on his own. He said: “I was planning to stop in summer anyway so I think that is it for me. “I was sad to lose my boat I had named after my daughters Tyrene and Jaqueline, but as my nephew said, better my boat than me.”
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Tel: 902 123 282 902 123 282 See page 2
If May’s deal is rejected, MPs will then vote on whether they want to leave the EU with or without a deal on March 13, before a vote is held on extending Article 50. “The Government is concerned about the consequences of an extension for obvious reasons,” the No6 statement added. Gibraltar will continue to brace itself for a no deal Brexit. “The position of the Government is that Gibraltar must continue to prepare for all eventualities as we leave the EU. The detailed planning for a no deal Brexit will continue.” Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: “The final potential outcomes of this process remain unclear. “We have therefore been working hard on all reasonably predictable outcomes to deliver the results we need certainty for all citizens and businesses alike. “We will continue to do so and to engage with the UK, the EU institutions and Member States, including Spain, to ensure all our citizens are equally and reciprocally protected in all eventualities.”
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NEWS
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NEWS IN BRIEF Brexit planning JOSEPH Garcia gave the GFSB a lengthy and detailed briefing on planning for Brexit with the help of Civil Contingencies Coordinator Ivor Lopez and Principal Secretary Caine Sanchez.
Opportunists THE Government declared election opportunism was the reason for Spanish claims that the Eastside development is illegal, especially after it was approved by the European Commission.
In ore AN 18th Century watch belonging to Henry Cowper, a former goldsmith of Gibraltar who left the Rock during the Great Siege, has been bought for just over £5,000 at a UK auction.
Listen up kids A GROUP of students were given a lecture by Liberal party leader Joseph Garcia on how Gibraltar gives work to 14,000 people and accounts for 25% of the Campo economy.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
Rep the Rock! UK government to weigh up giving Gibraltar an MP in London
A MASSIVE petition to give Gibraltar an MP is to be presented to Downing Street. The man at the centre of the year-long petition - which now has 14,000 signatures - told the Olive Press the imminent impact of Brexit made representation of the Rock a necessity. “Our petition is asking the government to give Gibraltar representation in the House of Commons and the House
Keep ‘em sweet
A COLOMBIAN cocaine trafficker has told Spanish TV that corrupt police officers, security or dock workers keep ‘between 25% and 30%’ of cocaine smuggled through Spanish docks. The Malaga-based smuggler, whose face was obscured to protect his identity, told Telecinco that these corrupt officials did not drive around the nightclubs selling the drugs, but took a predetermined cut as payment.
PUSHED BACK: Pedro
No way, Jose!
By John Culatto
of Lords,” said Joe Caruana, a former Gibraltar minister. “Coincidentally, Andrew Mackinlay MP has moved a bill for the representation of the people of Gibraltar to a vote, which is now on its second reading. “It is very interesting that this MP, who is not related at all to Gibraltar should feel like
RECOGNISE US: Joe Caruana to the UK government we do, that Gibraltar’s people - who are full British citizens - should be able to vote in UK
Late night mayhem FIVE men have been arrested after a car drove three times at high speed through a petrol station forecourt. The incident, recorded on a phone, shows a BMW driving wildly around the Sundial roundabout Petroil station while pedestrians shouted at each other. Despite the RGP arriving on the scene after the first lap they were unable to stop the car driving through twice more. The scene brought back memories of when the frontier was closed and Gibraltar was called a ‘Scalextric’ like the children's car-racing game. The video was posted on social media sites and via mobile messaging apps. Police continue to investigate the incident with more arrests being possible. Any eye witnesses should call the RGP on 200 72500.
elections. “It is not proper that British citizens have no input in what happens in Parliament except when we have friends who do stand up and speak for Gibraltar. But we do not know if those friends will be there tomorrow.” The petition - which was also signed by many Gibraltar ministers - is the largest ever put together on the Rock. Until now, the overseas territory has been represented only by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gibraltar, which is led by Conservative MP Bob Neill. “The problem only gets worse now when Gibraltar will not have representation in the EU Parliament which we do have now through the South West constituency,” added Caruana, a minister in Sir Robert Peliza’s 1960s government.
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THE European Parliament has stumped the Spanish government’s attempt to use Brexit as an opportunity to re-define Gibraltar. It comes after Spanish diplomats had cunningly included the footnote that Gibraltar is ‘a colony’ in draft Brexit legislation. The move was ratified by the European Council but MEPs unanimously overturned the draft following outcry from the UK.
Inappropriate
Parliament insisted that Gibraltar is ‘not a colony and it is completely inappropriate to describe it in this way’. Czech MEP Petr Jezek added: “The aim of the legislation was not to deal with Gibraltar so it should not be complicated by this”. Negotiations are set to continue between the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to find an agreement that suits all sides.
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NEWS
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February 27th - March 12th 2019
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No walls UNDERFIRE: Allen
Courting controversy MALIGNED Hollywood star Woody Allen has begun scouting locations for a new film project in Spain. It comes after the American director, who was recently accused of sexually abusing children, secured financing for a new film from Barcelonabased Mediapro. The Spanish company previously financed Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Midnight in Paris. The partnership comes after Allen lost his lucrative distribution deal with Amazon following a slew of accusations of molestation and sexual misconduct. After his own adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow accused Allen of assaulting her at the age of seven, Amazon shelved the director’s A Rainy Day in New York project. Allen is currently suing the tech giant for € 70 million for breach of contract. His new project in Spain does not yet have a working title and the plot is unknown.
CASTING CALL CHANNEL 4 is looking for expats who have recently taken the plunge and moved to sunny Spain. The casting call is for the e v e r popular A New Life In The Sun series, which follows the trials and tribulations of plucky Brits making the move to the holiday favourite. If you, or someone you know, has a great story to tell or think they have something different to bring to the show, get in touch with casting at anewlifeinthesun@truenorth.tv
JAVIER Bardem couldn’t resist taking a pop at US president Donald Trump while introducing an award at the Oscars. The Spanish actor, 49, spoke in his native tongue as he introduced the ‘Best Foreign Film’ category and said: “There are no borders or walls that can restrain ingenuity and talent.” The comment was a thinly veiled criticism of Trump’s proposed border wall between the US and Mexico. Roma became the first film from Mexico to win an Oscar in the foreign film category as it scooped the award at the glamorous ceremony.
Castanet clicks please... POP SHOT: Bardem on Trump
Bale-ing out After six years in Spain British footie ace Gareth Bale speaks almost no Spanish and is in bed by dinner time
IT should have been the opportunity of a lifetime. A big money move from the Premiership to the heady heights of Spain’s capital city, famous for its late night lifestyle and buzzing social scene. But Gareth Bale might have been better off on the Costas, as he has failed to pick up the lingo and prefers a game of golf than a slap up dinner with his Real Madrid team mates. The Welsh forward - signed from Tottenham for around
BRIT ABROAD: Gareth Bale hasn’t fitted in well €90 million in 2013 - mostly heads to be early, avoiding la cena with his colleagues. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who joined the side from Chelsea last summer, suggested that Bale, 29, has still not adapted to the Spanish lifestyle
Big balls A FORMER Premier League star has chased off a gang of burglars who targeted his luxury Spain pad while his wife and kids slept . Ex-Manchester City star Martin Demichelis discovered the thieves raiding his Marbella house in the middle of the night. The gang fled when they saw him, but not before grabbing some cash and jewellery from the former Argentinian HERO: Demichelis international’s mansion. Wife Evangelina Anderson revealed: “They were sleeping when Martin woke up by chance, he went downstairs and bumped into four hooded people. “He intercepted them, there were shouts and the criminals were reportedly scared and left.”
despite being at the club for SIX years. In contrast, Courtois insisted: “I live like somebody who is born and bred in Madrid. I eat late, I go to bed late…it is their way of life. “The other night we had dinner with the entire squad. But Bale and (the German midfielder) Toni Kroos did not turn up. They reckoned the dinner was too late at night. “We had arranged to be in the restaurant at 9.30pm and we started our meal around 10.15pm … and by midnight we were having coffee.” The Frenchman added the squad go to bed at about 1am, and train each morning at 11am. He said: “I think that is a perfect time. But Bale has told us: ‘I am not coming to join you guys. I go to bed at 11.’” Another teammate, Marcelo, confirmed that the footballer from Cardiff, does not speak Spanish. “He only speaks English and we talk with gestures,” said the Brazilian. Opinion Page 6
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AN Andalucian flamenco star has won a prestigious British award for her pioneering dance show. Rocio Molina received the Critics’ Circle award at the British National Dance Awards for her Fallen from Heaven show, which combines flamenco and contemporary dance. The Malaga native is set to perform at London’s Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells in July.
The caliph of crime
C
ELEBRITY gangster Dave Courtney has revealed how he ‘accidentally’ converted to Islam while inside one of the UK’s toughest prisons. The ex-debt-collector, who gained a reputation for wielding a knuckle-duster, told a 40-strong crowd on the Costa del Sol, it happened at London’s Belmarsh Prison after he grew jealous of extra ‘packed lunches’ being given to Muslim inmates after the sun went down.
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
When told by staff the food was ‘exclusively’ for Ramadan - which he thought was a type of food - Courtney said he blagged his way out of the ‘Church of England designation’ on his prison papers and was duly handed the extra rations. ‘’Then I heard this banging on my door at 3am saying it was Ramadan again and gave me some more food!’’ Courtney told the audience at Bar Montoni, in Fuengirola. He said that he grew increasingly fond of his new religion until lunchtime when he was refused a ‘bacon sandwich’. ‘’When they told me it was prayer time, I told them to **** off,’’ Courtney added. The gangster-turned-author rose to notoriety for organising the security for Ronnie Kray’s funeral in 1995, and EX-CROOK: Dave with OP’s has since written six books. Joshua
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Ringing out QUESTIONS have been raised over the amount of competition in the Gibraltar telephone market after Limba Telecom closed down last week. The company, which was registered as Eazitelecom, had around 1,500 customers on the Rock. Popular Soundcloud podcast, Aqui Que Pasa?!, criticised the ‘monopoly of the governmentowned Gibtelecom’ and the ‘lack of more competition in the market.’ First launched as Shine in 2012, a letter to customers informing of its closure cited ‘repeated major technical problems’. It comes after their 4G data service went down for a short time in January. “These problems have made it impossible to grow the company’s business and reach any profitability,” said the company in its statement. Despite a £17 million investment, it was unable to pay administration fees that ran into six figures and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority was forced to withdraw its licence. “We would like to apologise to anyone affected by this decision,” said a Limba spokesperson. “We are genuinely sad to leave Gibraltar.” A social media message by Limba pointed former customers to use ‘alternative, authorised operators’. It suggested that in order to keep their old numbers they would have to ‘go to Gibtelecom directly’.
Campaigner blasts the Rock’s ‘out of date’ views on women’s rights and abortion GIBRALTAR is ‘50 years behind the rest of the world’ when it comes to women’s rights, a leading campaigner has claimed. Tamsin Suarez, from the No Means No charity, blasted the Rock for failing to tackle the gender pay gap and for its ‘antiquated’ abortion ban. The Gibraltarian, who helps run the Breast-Feeding Association, made the comments ahead of International Women’s Day of March 8. “The gender pay gap is one of the main obstacles to equality
NEWS
February 27th - March 12th 2019
Get with the times! in Gibraltar, where a woman can only be paid so much for the work she does as opposed to men,” she told the Gibraltar Olive Press this week. “Sexual discrimination is also present in the workplace, where women are not recognised for their abilities. “Unfortunately there are no official statistics for any of these or even for more crimi-
nal issues like sexual violence.” She insisted Gibraltar’s abortion ban is ‘antiquated’. “Women have always been sent to the UK or gone to Spain for an abortion,” she added. “It’s not a debate we invented recently - it just hasn’t been talked about. “People have realised it
‘Bloody nuisance!’ FABIAN Picardo has branded Spain a ‘bloody nuisance’ following a string of navy incursions and challenges to the new Eastside property development. It comes after a military boat with its guns manned ordered commercial ships to leave ‘Spanish territorial waters’ while Madrid claimed new east side development by reclamation was illegal. “Spain is not achieving anything by this other than to greatly annoy us and commercially try to affect what we do,” said the Chief Minister. “But we resist that pressure by demonstrating we are in control of those waters.” He added, pointedly: “Spain does not
CAMPAIGNER: Suarez
take us to the European Court and does not go to the International Court of Justice to determine the ownership of these waters because they know we are right.” A protest was held following the incursion outside the Convent after the Governor branded it ‘innocent passage’.
should be a healthcare provision here at home. “Hopefully there will be a bill on it soon as it is an international obligation declared by the UN.” She added: “I know young women who have been raped only to go to A&E and get told off for being in a vulnerable situation!” she added. Abortion is still illegal on the Rock and punishable by life in imprisonment, making it one of the toughest punishments for the practice in Europe.
Tragic plastic
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GIBRALTAR has promised tough new legislation against plastic following the deaths of three birds in the last month. This included a pair of Gannets, with one dying of starvation after a plastic biscuit wrapper got stuck in its stomach, preventing it from ingesting its food. The other died after becoming trapped in a plastic netting, while a third bird, a sandpiper, died, despite being rescued from tangled netting. “Having watched these magnificent birds around our shores ever since I was a child, the tragic death of this Gannet saddens me greatly,” said Minister for the Environment John Cortes. “And it angers me to know that it has died due to the direct effect of my own species. We are responsible for so much harm to our wildlife. “As a community we must reduce the use of plastic and recycle what we use. We know what we have to do. “Government will be publishing laws about this soon and, together with NGOs will continue to campaign. But we don’t need laws to know what we have to do.” A government spokesman confirmed it was planning new legislation on plastics, and is engaging with the construction industry with ‘a view to reducing single use plastic in that sector’.
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www.gibraltarolivepress.com Voted top expat paper in Spain
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
FEATURE
February 27th - March 12th 2019
Mapping the gar S
PAIN is a rainbow nation of biodiversity offering Med sunshine and snow, desert and rain belt, lush river valleys and soaring mountain peaks all within its borders and volcanos too, if you count the Canary Islands. It is also a veritable forest with 7.5 BILLION trees spread across 18 million hectares of land which makes it the second greenest country in Europe af-
ter Sweden. And unlike many countries, the forest mass has actually increased by 31% between 1990 and 2010 thanks to protection efforts by Spain’s leaders, and now absorbs 37% of all the CO2 in Spain. Occupying two thirds of the Iberian Peninsula, washed by three bodies of water - the Atlantic, the Med and the Strait of Gibraltar - Spain’s windswept coasts
Out of date GIBRALTAR is burying its head in the rock when it comes to women’s rights. Tamsin Suarez from the No Means No charity insists there are no official statistics for sexual discrimination in the workplace, nor sexual violence in general. Ignoring an issue doesn’t make it go away. Gibraltar still has the toughest anti-abortion laws in Europe, locking women up for life, even when a mother’s life is in danger. Like the 1861 Offences against the Person Act, on which the current law is based, Gibraltar’s stance is in need of an upgrade.
The fame in Spain The age-old saying ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ has universal application - even to football’s highest-paid superstars. What a shame Welsh striker Gareth Bale can’t even be bothered to spend a pipa of his massive €400,000-a-week salary on learning basic Spanish. It is shocking to discover that after six years of playing for Real Madrid he still speaks to clubmate Marcelo in ‘gestures’. And they’re not even gracious gestures - goalie Thibaut Courtois revealed the long-haired Welshman ducks out to avoid a night out with the team. Bale’s moody celebrations after scoring the winning penalty against Levante show that money might buy you world fame, but friends still take an effort. As an expat, he is anything but setting the perfect example. Publisher/ Editor
Cantabrian paradise As green as Ireland or the west coast of France thanks to the plentiful precipitation, its wet and temperate oceanic climate helps lush pastures and forests to thrive. Encompassing the Bay of Biscay, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria, the climate is determined by the Atlantic Ocean winds whose moisture gets trapped by the mountains - perfect growing conditions for emerald forests of beech, oak and, since the late 20th century, plantations of eucalyptus and Monterey pine which supply the paper industry. The valleys of Laciana and Omaña y Luna, the Picos de Europa and Los Ancares are all UNESCO protected biosphere reserves.
Upland ‘Meseta’ plains This vast plateau surrounded by mountains with Madrid at its centre extends over 210,000 km2 and is the oldest and most complex geologic formation on the peninsula. Dry and prone to temperature extremes, vegetation has to struggle harder here. Encompassing Castile-León, Castile-La Mancha and the wilds of Extremadura, think Don Quixote riding over the dusty plains and you’ve got the picture. However its river basins of the Duero, Tagus and Guadiana provide ideal growing conditions for some of the best wines in the world and three of its mountain ranges - the Montes de Valsaín, Bejar and Francia - are UNESCO biosphere reserves and heavily wooded.
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IN NUMBERS • 80% of Spain’s forests are privately owned • 17,000 football stadiums make up Navarra’s Irati Forest, Europe’s second largest beech forest • 11,200,000 hectares of protected forest areas in Spain • 18,000,000 hectares of forest • 1,500,000,000 oak trees account for 20% of all trees in Spain • 7,500,000,000 trees in Spain
The mountainous south
The multiple personalities of Andalucia, offer alpine mountains and dust bowls, fertile plantations supporting subtropical fruits and olive trees that date back to the Norman Conquest. Think of it as two distinct mountain ranges with a river running through it. The Sierra Morena, one of the last strongholds of the endangered Iberian lynx, spans Huelva, Sevilla, Cordoba and Jaen. It’s dominated by narrow valleys, evergreen forests and shrubland with huge swathes reserved for grazing, viticulture and olive farming. Along its rivers you’ll find alders, elms, ash and hackberry trees, just like in England. In southeastern Andalucia the land abruptly rises into the Baetic Cordillera mountain range which includes the snow-capped ski wonderland of the Sierra Nevada. As well as Los Alcornocales Natural Park - Europe’s largest cork oak forest - the Baetic is home to Mediterranean woodlands and coniferous forests. Further south the terrain turns into the arid ‘badlands’ that cover much of Granada and Almería provinces with huge swathes of desert, known as the Andalucian Steppes. It’s an area facing a high risk of future dessertification.The Guadalquivir River flows southwest across most of Andalucia before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean west of Cadiz, irrigating the region’s famous plantations which provide the rest of Europe with year-round strawberries, avocados CONTRAST: From arid Almeria to green and salads. Grazelema and cork oaks
FEATURE
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rdens of Spain and scorching interior make it one of the most climatically eclectic countries in the world. In fact it has 13 climate zones, not counting the Canaries, which is why you can find everything from date palms and chestnut trees to ancient dwarf olives and statuesque pines as tall as they grow in Canada.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
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olive press online
Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website
That contrast is vividly showcased in its five distinct landscapes: the Andalucian Plain, the Meseta Central Plateau, the Cantabria Mountains, the Pyrenees and the Canaries. Check out our vegetation map to discover how Spain’s multi-geographical garden grows.
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
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- WATCH: Dad pulls live parasite from
daughter’s cooked Mercadona fish (10,934)
Reveller ‘pulls out gun’ 2 WATCH: during fight on Spain’s Costa del Sol (10,684) -
WATCH: Terrifying moment plane 3 hits severe turbulence while trying to land in Gibraltar (9,414) -
High frontier
Stretching for 430 km from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay, this mountain backbone forms a natural border between Spain and France. The western end sees an abundance of rainfall, making its foothills a hotbed for vegetation. Home to some 200 endemic species of flora which only grow on its high mountain passes, including several types of saxifrage, the Pyrenees is almost as biodiverse as the Alps. It’s also one of the last refuges for several endangered species of fauna including the brown bear and the lammergeier.
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Police begin huge drug bust on 5 Spain’s Costa del Sol and Cadiz with boats and helicopters (7,489) -
Visitors: 223,723
Canary Islands Cut off from the mainland in a different latitude off west Africa’s Atlantic coast, the Canaries are of volcanic origin and contain the highest peak in Spanish territory, Mount Teide which rises to a skyscraping 12,198 feet on the island of Tenerife. According to their position with respect to north-east trade winds, the climate can be mild and wet or very dry which gives each island in the archipelago its own distinct VOLCANIC: Mount Teide and (above) La Gomera forest microclimate. The westerly islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera have a climate influenced by the moist Canary current. They are well vegetated, even at low levels, with extensive tracts of sub-tropical laurisilva forests whose broadleaf trees flourish in humidity. All four of the islands’ national parks are under protection - Garajonay, La Gomera and Teide in Tenerife as Unesco World Heritage Sites and Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma, and Timanfaya in Lanzarote as World Biosphere Reserves.
Celebri-trees
Costa del Sol police arrest young 4 mum for trying to throw daughter, 3, out of 10th floor window (8,550)
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Spanish trees listed in the Hall of Flora Fame
Big boy
Dragon tree
Millennium olive trees
This majestic oak tree in Tineo, Asturias, is so huge that it won an award for its size. The Carballon Valentin stands 16 metres tall and its trunk is a mighty 10 metres in girth - a measure of its great age. So it’s no surprise to discover it has stood here for almost 1,000 years after being seeded around the year 1160, with documents from around that time confirming its longevity. It won an award from the Forests Without Borders group in 2008 as part of a bid to raise awareness for the protection of green life in Spain.
It doesn’t breath fire, despite its volcanic location. But El Drago in Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife, is one of the major tourist attractions in the Canary Islands. Although the species is found across Asia and Central America - and even in Gibraltar Tenerife’s dragon tree may be up to 3,000 years old, with many believing it’s the oldest tree on the planet. The tree gets its name from the red resin it excretes when its bark or leaves are cut. It was once believed to be dried dragon’s blood which was thought to have healing properties - hence many were uprooted until the species was granted protected status.
La Senia and Ulldecona in northeast Spain are credited with the highest concentration of the world’s oldest trees. Over 400 ‘millennium olives’ have been catalogued, and two of them have received ‘heritage tree’ status from the Catalan government.Some are thought to have existed since Roman times. They can be found along the Via Augusta, an ancient road that once connected Cadiz to Rome.
IT’S been another bumper two weeks for the OP website, as we have shot into the top 200,000 in the WORLD, leaving our English rivals in the dust.
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what’s on
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oung artists show up AN exhibition of GCSE and A-level artists will be run from February 27 to March 8 at the John Mackintosh Hall dealing with some ‘deep issues’ according to organisers Gibraltar Cultural Services.
S
piritual shapes F I NN I S H artist Kim-Peter Waltzer-Girda will be exhibiting his bronze and crystal sculptures inspired by nature and spirituality from February 26 to March 2 at the Fine Arts Gallery in Casemates.
C
LA CULTURA Mad for murals
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Feb 27th - Mar 12th 2019
hurch raises cash A CHARITY craft and collectors' fair for antique and vintage items will be held at St Andrew's Church in Governor's Parade on Saturday March 2 from 10am.
Send you r informa February 27th - March 12th 2019 newsdesk@theolive tion to pres
Government so impressed by new murals it wants ‘many more’ plastered around the Rock
THE Rock is set to be plastered with dozens more murals. It comes after the government confirmed it was inviting more artists over, as it unveiled a new set of paintings on Castle Street. After insisting they were ‘breathing life’ into the area, minister Stephen Linares added he wanted to see
Do you have a what’s on?
‘many more’. “We are going to have many more. If we have characters like these which are parts of drawings by Gustavo Bacarisas the area will look nice and colourful and we only have to provide materials,” he said. The artist who painted the murals, known only as Jupp, used characters from Bacarisas’ pictures to relive a bygone
MULE-ING IT OVER: Minister John Cortes
era in Gibraltar’s history. “This part of the town reminds us of what life was like
Caught on camera CCTV has been installed at an Axarquia cultural centre in a police crackdown on graffiti artists. The Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana now has security cameras to protect the 18th century site from vandalism. Classified as a ‘Building of Cultural Interest’, the 1766 fort was a key military stronghold in the region. After the site was graffitied, the Mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, Francisco Salado, said police research meant they could now act ‘immediately’ against graffiti artists. Police training was put to use as officers in Rincon caught three graffiti artists
SHAME: Damaged site
red-handed while they spray-painted the walls of an urbanisation in the area. Two of the three masked youths, aged 20, 22 and 25, have been arrested for graffiti vandalism before.
at the time,” said Minister for Urban Renewal John Cortes, who said he welcomed suggestions on new artworks. “There are a few more to go in this set and we are shortly going to go out for a second callout to street artists to come forward with their ideas. “The street art will be placed wherever there is a wall that can take it. The Upper Town will have a theme similar to this one while newer buildings will have different themes. “There are other murals near the market and at Alameda Gardens, each with their own themes. We have a committee which includes heritage, town planning and culture which approves and selects the themes.”
s.es
Beet that! A PRIVATE collection of 15,000 beetles and butterflies has been donated to Madrid City Council and can be viewed by the public. Father and son entomologist team Manuel Ortego Gamboa and Manuel Ortego Fornies curated the insect haul, which is one of Spain’s largest. Gamboa’s family has now given up the creepy crawly collection, which is housed in the Manuel Ortego Entomological Centre, named after his father. Some butterflies in the collection, which dates back to 1940, are now extinct. The four-month restoration of the building that houses the collection, in Madrid’s Casa de Campo, cost €175,000.
HUGE: Beetle collection
Novel idea When the line blurs between truth and morality... An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
F
ROM the authors of the bestselling novel, The Wife Between Us, comes a new psychological thriller. Seeking women aged 1832 to participate in a study on ethics and morality conducted by a preeminent NYC psychiatrist. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
Jessica Farris is a make-up artist living in NYC. One evening while working she overhears a message about an ethics and morality research study which pays subjects to answer questions. Knowing that her client will not be able to attend, Jessica decides to go in her place. The rules of the study are simple: Be open and truthful and avoid pivoting away from any embarrassment or pain the questions provoke. Jessica is so open and honest in her answers that the psychiatrist running the study, Dr Shields, asks her to continue. As the study progresses and the questions become more invasive Jessica begins to wonder if she is being manipulated by Dr Shields. A suspenseful and thrilling novel about secrets, betrayal and morality. Available from The Bookshop San Pedro for €16.90 www.thebookshop.es
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Vol. 4 Issue 91
Manilva, Sabinillas and Duquesa
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WE GOT Hooked
Take 9 Five
February 27th - March 12th 2019
C/ Isaac Peral, 6, Sabinillas
952 93 61 70
February 2019
The ports, beaches and hilltop town of Manilva are home to a significant foreign population. Joshua Parfitt finds out what’s drawing them in
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T Kinsale restaurant in the heart of Duquesa port you can order a fantastic homemade pie washed down with Guiness, while almost next door is Tim’s Fish & Chips. Around the corner buy a copy of your favourite British daily paper, while an English butcher has plied his trade for nearly two decades nearby.Brexit? Sod that. Perhaps that is why the municipality of Manilva has
such a high percentage of foreign, settled residents - 42% according to Dean Tyler Shelton, one of the only British councillors in Spain, and Manilva’s councillor for foreign affairs. Officially over 3,000 British expats live in the 17,000-strong municipality, either in the coral-white marina of ‘La Duquesa’, upon the mile-long beachfront of San Luis de Sabinillas or up on the hilltop lookout of Manilva itself. Though the Brits and the 180-odd
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Continues on Page 16
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February 2019
Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa
February 27th - March 12th 2019
Marvellous Manilva From Page 15
other nationalities come from all walks of life and occupations (some have even set up a newspaper here, yes Sabinillas is the home of the Olive Press!) they all have something in common. Like Manilva’s first health tourist, Julius Caesar, who visited the Roman baths around 60BC, it seems that people come here for a temperate life beneath the jaw-dropping mountains, fed by the fruits of the sea. Walking around the yacht-dotted marina I meet expat John Jackson, a 73-year-old Scotsman, counting the fish in the shallows, watching them eat crumbs from his pan flauta, or Spanish baguette. “It’s a really well maintained port,
MURAL: Showing famous grape pickers
VARIETY: Take a history tour at Duquesa’s Castillo and then enjoy the unspoilt coastlines nearby friendly and safe too,” the former February is exactly the right time for second-hand designer wear. business consultant told the Olive British expats Peter and Jackie, who Running further west the other side Press. have had a holiday home here for of Duquesa, the coastline gets wildJohn moved to la Duquesa in 2012, the past 12 years. er and less and less developed. where in the winter months the ma- They say they come to ‘Sabi’ - as Here, you will find an extensive narina remains virtually untouched by they affectionately call the town - in ture zone and golden beaches edged tourism. winter to escape the with wild grasses and Wandering the cozy, pedestrianised biting cold of England flowers. streets, it’s clear that this place is and to avoid the busThe Punta Chullera The market small enough for everyone to know tling crowds of sumarea is a rock-pool poteveryone - and while collecting my mer. terer’s paradise and is a bargain chips and curry sauce from a take- On Sundays, however, offers the occasional away, a local waiter pops in to prac- the famous flea mar- hunter’s paradise curious sight, such as tise his English. ket Rastro de Sabinilfresh octopus hanging Nearby, San Luis de Sabinillas offers las proves that the stretched across on washing lines to dry another take on coastal living with Spanish do not hiber(see front page). 300 stalls its collection of ‘chiringuitos’, where nate and there is still Here is where I meet the salt sea air is flavoured with the much to see and to Belgian biker Robert aroma of ‘pescaditos fritos’ - fried do. Vermeulen, who winds fish, Spanish style this time. Held weekly at the fairground off the down to the rocky headland ‘to do These informal beach restaurants Camino de los Banos de la Hedion- nothing’ but enjoy his retirement. often open around Easter in prepa- da, the Rastro is a bargain hunter’s The 68-year-old makes the journey ration for the holiday season, and in paradise stretched across 300 stalls to the beach from his Casares puebthe winter lie dormant like a grape- piled with jewel-coloured fruit and lo apartment by motorbike to take vine, waiting for the sun. veg, antiques, local handicrafts and long walks and soak up the sea air.
The Curtain & Bedding Co
“I think the coastline is just beautiful,” he says, in his leather biker’s jacket as the sun pokes out. The local fisherman still have a place in the community, he tells me, pointing out the numerous vessels parked in front of the promenade. Next to the gin palaces bobbing at anchor in la Duquesa’s pleasure port, he appreciates that Manilva has not lost its authenticity. If resting on your well-earned retirement laurels is not for you, then you can still head for the rugged hills of Manilva, which unfold like a fan along several walking and off-road trails. These capillaries are ever more deeply etched into the landscape by the coast’s growing number of biking and walking enthusiasts who enjoy the trips into nature. Adventurers should also make a pilgrimage to Manilva itself, which traces its roots dominance back to 16th century vineyards famed throughout
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February 2019
Bases covered
FECUND: Collecting the potatoes in the Rio de Manilva valley the world for their sweet wines, known locally as ‘vino mosto’. The story of its thriving wine industry is beautifully told at the Nilva Wine Museum where you can also take a vineyard tour. While meandering through the resting vineyards I bump into Dave and Nicki, who say they only make the trip now for old-time’s sake. Having run their own property business for 15 years on the Costa de la Luz, they came to Manilva to open up shop and capitalise on the throngs of holidayhome buyers eyeing up the area. The 2008 economic crash changed that and their business suffered in the ensuing years. “People stopped coming, even the Brits,” recalls Nicki. Despite a tainted experience, the couple say that Manilva is back in business and shows no sign of slowing down, with ‘more Brits here now then there have been in previous years’. Indeed, in the town centre I see both Spaniards deftly opening salty ‘pipas’ sunflower seeds baked in shells - in one bite, and two mums with thick Yorkshire accents keeping tabs on their skateboarding children. Nearby, on the border with Casares, you can go back in time to one of Costa del Sol’s earliest recorded new arrivals: the Roman baths of Hedionda. The cloudy blue pools reposing beneath arched brickwork allow you to take in the sublime atmosphere of hundreds of years of history, where medicinal sulphur spring flowing out of from the limestone is said to cure a whole host of ailments, including sunburn. In fact, that is what brought Julius Caesar to Manilva when he was governor of southern Spain to cure a nasty skin infection. Apparently, it worked. Whether here for work or for pleasure, the sun, the sea and the fresh food are never far from people’s reasons for residence - Spanish or foreign. Somehow it still feels as if a certain spell hangs over these hills, attracting people here from near and far.
FISHERMEN: Pull up their boat on Sabinillas beach
Perfect port
Duquesa is the true gem of Manilva with dozens of restaurants and an international clientelle to match
D
UQUESA is a small harbour with a big personality. Any lunchtime, even in winter, the pavements are filled with tourists taking the sun and enjoying the huge range of restaurants on offer. If the idea of travelling around the world in 80 restaurants floats your boat then this is the perfect spot to drop anchor. A walk around this whitewashed marina takes scarcely longer than five minutes but just count the blackboards promoting cuisine from all over the globe: China, India, Japan, and Singapore, and a plethora of European ports of call too! It could be argued that La Duquesa lacks Spanish identity, with more English voices than yachts and more burgers than tapas. But step out either side of the port, where Spanish chiringuitos (and boatfuls of grilling sardines in summer) fringe sandy beaches and you’ll be left in no doubt which country you’re in. This social meeting point sings through its restaurants, cafes and bars, the people who work in them and the visitors who sit in the sunshine enjoying them. This elegant enclave of turrets and towers, pretty plazas and steps leading to different levels jutts out from the mainland, encircling its attractions like an oyster encloses a pearl. Quirky and eclectic, it’s like a younger sister to Puerto Banus – less glam perhaps, but less snooty too; more affable and, importantly, very much more affordable. This sociable spirit is enhanced by the people who work here, who hail from all over the world and are woven into the ethnically diverse fabric of La Duquesa.
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WHEN Charlotte Levy met Sandra Marin, the pair immediately hit it off. While coming from different walks of life - Sandra, 37, is from the Ronda mountains, Charlotte, 22, from affluent lowland Essex - they share a similar world view and get on like a house on fire. The pair, who both have degrees in business, have now set up a brand new real estate and accountancy firm in the heart of Sabinillas. Called Le Vack & Marin, the company typifies the rapid changes taking place in the Costa del Sol’s fastest-growing resort. The business offers everything from property sales and rentals to advice for foreigners, help in dealing with inheritance tax and undertaking annual and quarterly tax returns. The pair originally met, while Sandra was working for Charlotte’s father Robin as an accountant in nearby Estepona. A long-time property developer in the UK and Spain, he has built dozens of homes on the Costa del Sol and spends much of the year here. “We are all very excited about the changes in Manilva and how quickly things are picking up,” explains Charlotte, who spent five years at school in the town. “We are already building a series of new properties here, which will be available soon.” Sandra continues: “On top of that we are offering to sell homes at just 4% commission and I have been working as an accountant and advisor since 2005 so we have a lot of experience of helping expats here.”
Contact the team at www.levackmarin.com
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February 2019
Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa
Once upon a time Manilva was among the richest and bestconnected places in the world
R HISTORIC: Roman mosaic art in Spain
OMAN roots run deep throughout the Iberian Peninsula but this westerly corner of the Costa del Sol really tickled Roman legion fancies for the climate, the fishing, the farming … and for its strategic position at the gateway to the Mediterranean … and home. Stone Age man and many later invaders liked it too but it was the Roman Empire - to which it once belonged - that really put what we now call Manilva and San Luis de Sabinillas on the map. What did the Romans do for us? They made the region rich, they brought work, they built roads just like in the Monty Python sketch. The area was as well-connected then as it is today. They left behind fascinating ruins and a working Roman health spa you can still check into. And it’s free. First, a little history … Baetica, the Roman name for Andalucia, became one of the most dynamic and economically developed regions in the farflung Roman Empire, rich in resources and modern in outlook, even welcoming liberated slaves. Before the legions arrived in the second century AD life was
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February 27th - March 12th 2019
Empire days
VIA ROMANA: Roman bridge at Banos de Hedionda hard and simple, the land dot- the development of a fish saltted with small and isolated ag- ing industry fuelled by increasricultural settlements. However ing Roman presence on the Iberian Peninsula saw most of these segmented populations moving to the coast, settling in the town we now call San Luis de Sabinillas. At that time, salt curing was the best method for preserving fish for export by sea to Rome and other parts of the Empire. ria. Casares, under the Roman Manilva bename of Lacipo, came known was a strategic as Saltum and Showcases the gateway from came under the valley to the remnants of the administramountains of tion of ConvenCadiz and MalRoman Baths, tus Gaditanus aga. - a vast region curing factory and Manilva and stretching from Casares boastm o d e r n - d a y even a necropolis ed road links as Cadiz province good as EU fundand along the ing has provided the entire Costa del Sol to Alme- today. They were connected by HEALING: Taking a swim in the Banos de Hedionda one of Baetica’s main thoroughfares to Carteia (currently San Roque where the Roman ruins of Carteia still partially survive), Corduva (now Cordoba) and the city of Baetica, together with Italica and Hispalis, both in the Sevilla region. Some of that amazing infrastructure still survives. Roman remains can be found in Sabinillas, Haza del Casareño, Lagunetas, Manilva and Castillo de la Duquesa which showcases the remnants of a Roman Baths, town, curing factory and even a necropolis. However, undoubtedly the most popular ‘asset’ is La Hedionda, the Roman baths built around a natural mineral spring where Julius Caesar himself is said to have cured a skin complaint. Still in working order today, the name means ‘stinky’ in Spanish and comes from the sulphurous waters which smell like rotten eggs. The good times ended when Baetica was invaded by Visigoths and the Roman’s Iberian empire fell around 5AD. People started to abandon the coastal settlements, returning inland in search of other ways to survive, perchance to dream of the glory that was once Rome.
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February 2019
Manilva over millennia 6,000 BC - Neolithic farmers arrived in Manilva, leaving stone tools and pots in places like the Sierra de la Utrera caves, just north of Sabinillas. 1,500 BC - The Phoenician civilisation spread across the Mediterranean, leading to settlements in Cadiz (meaning ‘fort’ in Phoenician) and the Castillejos de Alcorrín settlement in Manilva.
The Olive Press talks to Manilva mayor Mario Jimenez Rodriguez What is the biggest draw to Manilva?
200 BC - The Romans invaded the Iberian peninsula in 206 BC, establishing a fishing village in Manilva. Julius Caesar became governor of Southern Spain in 61 BC and is believed to have cured a skin disease in the Roman baths at Hedionda.
I’m a big fan of the green spaces and the fantastic expanse of coastline, some 8 kms in total. We are working really hard not to over-develop the coast and have actually dropped density levels since I came to power
711 AD - The Moors invaded the Iberian peninsula and established the settlement of Martagina just south of La Chullera.
What about the history here?
1400-1500 AD - Barbary pirate raids forced most of the population to flee into the hills for security. However, many still returned daily to fish. 1515-20 - Following the Reconquista, the Duke of Arcos conceded land in present-day Manilva to the fortified town of Casares for growing grapevines. 1530 - The hilltop village of Manilva proper began to take shape thanks to its Duke, who parcelled off pieces of land to encourage people to settle there. 1722 - The Church of Santa Ana in Manilva village was destroyed by an earthquake. 1796 - Manilva gained independence
from Casares, when it was given a ‘royal privilege of the town’.
Well there is actually an incredible amount to enjoy, such as the castle, near Duquesa, and the fascinating Roman archaeological site we are currently exploring beside it. The Romans had a key base in Manilva and we understand they made a lot of the celebrated fish paste Garum here, which was exported back to Rome. I am also fascinated by the Fortress of Los Castillejos de Alcorrín, an eighth century castle - and much older settlement which was only discovered in 1989. Why did you run for mayor? I’ve now spent 16 years in public office, and have held posts such as councillor of sport, youth and infrastructure, as well as working in the technical office in the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol. But as I am from here I wanted to come back and help my village, where I originally ran a plumbing shop.
Everyone welcome in our green paradise VINES AND MORE: View from village north-east After two years in office, what have you achieved? I am happy with the changes we have made to the historic centre, as well as the covered pool in Sabinillas and the improvements with the wine museum. I think we have bettered the local quality of life (better cleaning, more green spaces and gardening, etc) while also lowering taxes for three years in a row. What steps are being taken to get the type of town you want? We’re very lucky that Manilva has a lot
Ramos Established 1962
of potential in terms of tourism, sport and culture. My plan for the future is based on creating new infrastructure projects and aiming to get 5% of the cultural tourism that comes to the Costa del Sol. How would you define yourself politically? While initially from the IU (United Left) party I am much more central in terms of my views today. I live in the heart of town, near the town hall and feel like just another member of the community, leaving my door open to everyone.
CHANGES: In town centre Any future projects you want to highlight? We’re due to further improve the historic centre of Manilva, in particular with four streets and with more works on the church. I want to encourage more people to come up to the old town. Any message for the foreigners here, particularly with Brexit looming? We are very proud that so many foreign residents have chosen Manilva as their home, in particular the British, who number 3,168 out of our official census of 17,500. We know there are many thousands more, perhaps 5000 who come and go and we hope they continue to enjoy our town. And we will certainly make you feel welcome whatever happens with Brexit. We are really hoping for a positive result on March 29.
From 20th February 2019 to 21st December 2019 open every day from 11am to midnight Paseo Marítimo, s/n frente residencial La Noria, Sabinillas
Fish Restaurant in Sabinillas – Specialising in ‘espeto’ skewers and fish – Chiringuito Ramos, a place you should visit
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14 February 2019
Rose to the challenge
tel: 952 89 21 73
LA CASITA
BA R R E S TAUR A N T Serving lunch and dinner
International style USA - Spain - Italy - Argentina OPEN: 11.00 - 00.00 Closed Monday Calle Fernado Pessoa, Local 2, San Luis De Sabinillas, Andalucia, Spain
La Taberna 2 El Castillo
In the quaint village of Castillo de la Duquesa, Plaza Miramar Menu del Dia – 3 course 13.95€ Early Bird (6.30pm-8pm) 2 Courses– 17.50€ available Mon-Fri (closed Tue)
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Sunday Roast 1 course - 12.95€ 2 courses - 15.95€ 3 courses - 19.95€
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Reserve your table: telephone 951 97 96 54 OPEN: Wed to Sun (Closed Tuesday) Lunch 1pm-3pm & Dinner 6.30pm-10.30pm
Castillo de la Duquesa, Manilva, Malaga restaurantinmanilva
AN expat favourite is celebrating a successful first year in business with an exciting new menu. Since opening last February, the Rose & Thistle in Duquesa port has made a name for itself for its superb bar and grill menu and traditional Sunday lunches. Now it will be the only venue in the port to offer succulent rotisserie-cooked chickens, to eat in or takeaway. In addition, new dishes being added include slow-cooked chorizo in red wine, roast topside beef with horseradish and roast loin of pork with apple sauce. And there are plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, including a Mexican quinoa stew and garlic mushrooms with lemon and fresh coriander. “We’ve had a brilliant first year and want to thank everyone for supporting us,” said British owner Simon . Food is available from 1pm Tuesday to Friday and 1pm on weekends, and starting in March it will be opening for breakfast. There are also multi-screen TVs for a wide range of live sporting events and there is plenty of live music including favourites such as Rocking Jonny and the UK’s number one Michael Buble tribute act Peet Rothwell.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
O
NE of the Costa del Sol’s most famous chicken restaurants is FINALLY reopening after a huge upgrade. Restaurante Las Brasas, in Sabinillas, will open the doors to its revamped eatery on February 29, much to the fanfare of locals and experts who have missed tucking into its juicy rotisserie chickens for the past couple of months. The much-loved joint promises unbeatable prices for large portions of roasted meats, excellent rice dishes and fish. Serving everything from chickens to BBQ pork ribs and paella, the favourite will also offer a takeaway service, available on 952 893 198 (phones will not be answered on Sundays or bank holidays).
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February 27th - March 12th 2019 Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa
There is more than just good fish restaurants in the seaside resort of Manilva, writes Jon Clarke
E
VER since I took a photo of giant octopus’ drying on a line at one of my favourite secret chiringuitos a few years ago (see front page), I have known that Manilva is a little different. But being the definite Wild West of the Costa del Sol, you definitely take your chances when it comes to eating here... Believe me, I’ve had some shockers! Certainly when it comes to seafood you can hardly go wrong with Ramos restaurant, established since 1962 on Sabinillas sea front. Run by local brothers Manuel and Juan Antonio for the last few decades (one front of house, one in the kitchen), it has the perfect location with stunning views up and down the coast. It is famous for its ‘espeto’ skewered sardines cooked on a boat outside, as well as any other fish you fancy and it’s not only good value, but its staff are incredibly friendly. Just around the corner sits another institution, La Casita, where Gabriel and his wife in the kitchen have never rested
HATS OFF: To team at La Casita
Net gain
on their laurels. chicken, you will be (and I mean Indeed, the pair have been serv- this) amazed at how good the ing an excellent mix of interna- poultry is at Las Brasas. tional dishes for 17 years, since While winning no beauty prizes they arrived in Spain, via Italy, sitting on a roundabout with no from Argentina. views apart from the N-340, it Expect to eat denonetheless licious prawns, draws in punttender rabo de ers - and hunServing goodtoro and sucdreds of them value food for culent steaks, on busy days and remember from many decades and for -miles to book, particuaround larly at weekan amazing 365 for possible the ends when it best chicken on days a year! gets incredibly the Costa del popular. Sol. Another good Heading up the place nearby is Miel, run by coast to the port of Duquesa, friendly Belgian Kaat Buelens, I rarely venture past Kinsale who also plays a key and it doesn’t matter when or at role at the emblem- what time, as this institution has atic Roman Oasis in been serving good-value food nearby Casares in the for decades and for an amazing summer. 365 days a year! Her beach spot “And we stay open late, often though is very much very late,” explains manager an institution with high Tom McNeil, 24, from Berwickstandards for break- on-Tweed. “Put it this way I often fast and lunch and is bump into the cleaners coming very often full. in when I am locking up for the Other nearby spots night.” to eat include legend- A bar/bistro it has an excellent ary long-standing pup range of dishes, and always O'Callaghan's, run some superb specials including by friendly British expat great homemade pies, as well Rob and his dad, as as paella. well as Cafe Nenit, With 20 staff, service is fast and where Jose and his efficient and you won’t miss a team serve breakfasts game of football or rugby with and pastries from early nearly a dozen big screens. morning, tapas for In Duquesa you have a warren lunch and bar snacks of other good places to eat ininto the evening. cluding the decent La Taberna And don’t forget Take 2, as well as Capitanos and Five, an amazing Parapiros, two of the longestcafe for snacks, while running Italian restaurants on Pollo Pronto is an in- the coast. stitution for take away You will also find an excellent roast chicken and Moroccan, called appropriately chips. Casablanca and its neighbourBROTHERS GRIN: Manuel and Jose On the subject of ing joint, the Mexican Grill and
Reservations: 951 276 728
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Centro Eroski, next to Duquesa Golf (N340) Manilva Great food • Good Value
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Modern spacious comfortable restaurant with outside terrace We can cater for any party of up to 100 people
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February 2019
Pluck of the Irish
PORT VIEW: From the terrace at Kinsale Bar, which is authentic in the extreme. For Manilva’s best fish and chips you need to head up the road a little to track down Marlows, on the main road, which first plied its trade in Gibraltar in the 1960s. A true institution, owner Steve Marlow, has run restaurants around the world and is a classically trained chef, with a good knowledge of the business, having learnt everything from his father. Punters often drive for over an hour - from Ronda, for example - to sample MOUNTAIN ESCAPE: Sarmiento the amazing cod and chips. best restaurant in Spain, it is run Last, but not least, if you are look- by capable brothers Juan and ing for something amazing in the Miguel. hills, head inland past Manilva to Their head chef is Victor Carracethe neighbouring village of Casa- do, who has also worked around res. the world for leading chains, inYou cannot fail to be blown away cluding Ritz-Carlton and Hilton, with Sarmiento, which sits and is currently head chef at Marabove the most photographed bella’s five-star Don Pepe hotel. white town in Andalucia, with Their new restaurant is ‘based views AND food to match. on the essential pillars of the Already winning plaudits from Andalucian lifestyle: authenticity, food websites including El Tene- spontaneity and the enjoyment of dor, which ranks it as the 34th friends and family’.
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XPAT couple Danielle Carroll and Michael McGuinness haven’t looked back since opening a pub on the Costa del Sol just over two years ago. Despite not having pulled a pint in her life, Danielle, 26, from near Belfast, has successfully launched the friendly pub with partner and ex-barman Michael, 27, in the heart of Sabinillas’ expat community. And if you recognise the bubbly couple, you probably saw them on your screens last year when they appeared on Channel 4’s A New Life in the Sun. The hit show documented the young pair’s stressful renovation project and the ups and downs of launching a new venture abroad. Well its been up and up for the popular pub, which attracts expats and locals with its competitive prices and unique cultural offerings. An Irish music trio (featuring one Scot) brings the crowds each Saturday night with their fiddles, guitars and traditional singing, while fun game show nights see hundreds of euros up for grabs for lucky punters.
Enjoy the view from our Enjoy the Winter view from our wonderful terrace wonderful Winter terrace
Special Midday Menu 15€ Special Midday Menu 15€ inlcluding 1 drink (weekdays) inlcluding 1 drink (weekdays) Available for Events Available for Events Fridays Fridays Live Live Music Music Bar Bar Open Open Weekends Weekends till till 01:00 01:00 tel: 952 952 89 89 50 50 35 35 info@restaurantesarmiento.com info@restaurantesarmiento.com tel: Wed-Mon: 13:00 13:00 to to 16.00 16.00 & & Wed-Sun: Wed-Sun: 19:00 19:00 to to 22:30 22:30 Wed-Mon: Crta. de de Casares Casares Km Km 12’5 12’5 Crta.
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Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Tapas, Sandwiches, Sharing Platters, Dinner, Sunday Lunch and Paella Wednesdays... Open every day 9am til late! Upper Level, Frontline Puerto de la Duquesa, Manilva, Malaga
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Best wine shop on the Western Costa del Sol
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Find what you need in an idyllic place in Manilva, attended by professionals where tradition and modernity becomes synonymous. Official Euromillions Representative – lamardevinos@yahoo.es Calle Bolivia, 1, Sabinillas, 29692 (Manilva) MALAGA KM 144.5 – N340 - on the roundabout opposite Repsol
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BUSINESS
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Brit for purpose
BRITISH investment in Spain has increased, despite Brexit, but companies are moving their headquarters elsewhere, figures have revealed. UK investment in Spain increased by 80% from 2016 to the end of 2018, compared to the previous three years, the Office of the State Secretary for Trade reported.
Investment
The total invested by UK businesses in that period was €7 billion, but companies are still choosing other cities like Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin ahead of Spain. “Although it is true that the investment figures are good, we are not seeing big movements in Spain as a result of Brexit,” said Spanish Chamber of Commerce economist Raul Minguez.
Here come the girls Women signed onto board of GFSB in positive move for equality
THE Women in Business group has joined forces with the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) and it could help bring gender equality at the workplace. This was the message at the GFSB’s Annual General Meeting, where the Women in Business committee were voted on to the GFSB board. “It is a really positive connection with the GFSB because they always struggled to get women on the board,” said Brenda Cuby, vice-chairwoman.
Role models
Hacked off ANDALUCIA businesses receive more cyber attacks than any other Spanish region, new government data has revealed. Cyber attacks, which can cost €3 million each to deal with, are a particular problem for Andalucians and ‘all companies are threatened’, experts have warned. During a conference, organised by the Association of Entrepreneurs of Southern Spain, it emerged that cyber attacks in Spain had shot up by 22.1% in 2017, the last recorded year. The data, provided by the Ministry of the Interior, showed that in 2017 Spain saw 81,307 cyber attacks.
Wing and a prayer BRITISH-owned Iberia has been given just six months to reorganise its shareholding structure in the event of a nodeal Brexit. The UK-owned Spanish travel giant could be penalised by the EU for not being more than 50% owned by EU shareholders. Like British Airways, Iberia are owned by UK holding company IAG. From March 29, the date the UK is set to leave the EU, the operator will have six months to comply with EU legislation. Failure to do so could see all its flights from the UK to Europe grounded.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
“We can be role models for other women looking to move into board roles as well as continuing the nurturing and supporting. “Our membership has grown every year so we feel by joining the GFSB we can help each other. Women often start up
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RAKING IT IN: Chiclana de la Frontera
Front-era of the pack
GOOD NEWS: Women join Gib business group
small businesses to complement their home lives because they want to do something with their brain. “Going back into the workplace can be quite daunting so we can support them in this new challenge.” She said it was not easy to be in this situation so she urged women to join in at the women’s dinner on the Thursday before International Women’s Day. “It is not about women or men being better, but having the balance in the business community,” said Cuby. “Women can bring a different perspec-
tive to the conversation and we will hope to bring that message to the rest of the GFSB.”
A SMALL Cadiz town is the surprising third-most profitable holiday destination in Spain, new figures have revealed. According to tourism industry group Exceltur, hotels in Chiclana de la Frontera made more profit than any other destination on Spain’s mainland last year. It was only beaten by two Ibiza locations, San Josep de Sa Talaia and the white isle’s capital Eivissa. The destinations were ranked by revenue earned per available room (RevPAR), a metric used widely by the hotel industry. It combines occupancy and price figures over a certain period of time. For example, if a hotel has two guest rooms at €100 each, but only one is occupied over the analysed period, the RevPAR is €50. Some 106 tourist destinations were studied to find the profitability of Spanish hotels last year, with the results being broken down into city destinations
and resort destinations. The Balearic Islands and cities performed the best, while the Canary Islands felt the competition from rivals Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and Greece. San Josep de Sa Talaia topped the list with a RevPAR of €124.1, a 10.5% rise from the year before, while Eivissa came second despite a 7.1% drop to €121.8. Chiclana came in third with a RevPAR of €111.9, a 4.3% rise compared to 2018. Fourth spot went to another municipality in Ibiza, Santa Eulària des Riu, with €109.8, while fifth place went to Adeje, in the Canary Islands, with €101.8. Cartagena (€44.2), Denia (€46.8) and El Puerto de Santa María (€35.6), also in Cádiz, filled out the bottom three of the rankings. Chiclana is a hugely popular destination for Spaniards escaping to the coast from the likes of Madrid and Sevilla during the hot summer months.
Banking on EU SPAIN’S former finance minister, who oversaw the financial crash, has been elected president of the EU banking agency (EBA). Senior Santander banker Jose Manuel Campa has
Shut down CAIXABANK has said it will close 126 branches in Andalucia, 10 of them in Malaga. The move, which affects some 400 staff in the region, comes as part of the financial giant’s new ‘Strategic Plan 2019-2021’. Nationally, CaixaBank will lose 17% of its branches, while 2,157 staff will be made redundant across the whole of Spain. In total the group will shut 52 offices in Sevilla, eight in Huelva, 22 in Cadiz, 10 in Malaga, 14 in Granada , four in Almeria, six in Jaen and 10 in Cordoba. Meanwhile, the company is considering opening 101 Store and Business Bank offices with fewer staff and specialised opening hours.
Buying or selling your property may be the most important transaction you will ever make... Attention to detail is crucial. BOSS: Manuel Campa
been nominated as head of the EBA as it leaves its London base due to Brexit and sets up home in Paris. The EBA is the European body responsible for carrying out the stress tests on Europe’s biggest banks. A total of 48 financial institutions were examined in 2018, four of them Spanish.
Political
Campa managed to see off competition from both French and Hungarian candidates for the role. The appointment comes as Spain looks to recover political weight in European institutions and organisations.
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Drugs ship for sale A CARGO boat used to transport 16 tons of hashish has been put up for auction by the Port of Almeria. The merchant ship ‘Lady Boss’ was intercepted in August 2017 just off the coast of Almeria, and is now on sale for €190,400. The captured vessel was awarded to the Almeria Port Authority in a National Court case which saw the 13 crew members jailed for between four and six years. The 85-metre-long boat can be visited at the port during working hours and from 08.30 to 14.00 with prior notification to port services. Bidders have 30 working days from February 20 to present their offers.
Right-wing coalition could end illegal homes heartbreak for expats EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith
THE President of illegal homes action group AUAN has said Andalucia’s new government could favour the legalisation of homes built with illegal licences. Maura Hillen, told the Olive Press that the PSOE party’s huge loss in the regional elections could prompt movement on a crucial illegal homes bill.
New order
The left-wing party had been responsible for rejecting a vote in October allowing greater certainty over illegal homes. But with the balance of power shifting, Hillen believes that things may now
Lap of luxury THE 10 most exclusive areas in Marbella have been revealed in a new report by Andalucia Realty. Included in the estate agency’s overview of the glitzy resort city are areas such as Puerto Banus, Los Monteros and Sierra Blanca. Also on the list is the La Zagaleta neighbourhood (actually in neighbouring Benahavis) where, as the company points out, Rod Stewart, Vladimir Putin and Hugh Grant all own property. A company spokesperson said: “Our experience provides us with the necessary knowledge and skills to offer our clients the best service and support in finding the required property.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
change. She told the Olive Press: “The change of government has been good news for illegal homes campaigners. “The old PSOE party was in an ivory tower and stuck in its ways.” Hillen was speaking as so-called AFOs (temporary legal status) may now be re-voted on after the PSOE rejected it.
Party
LUXURY: One Marbella pad
Specifically, the vote is a law amendment so that town halls can grant AFOs to houses waiting to be given legalisation through the town plan. AFO stands for ‘Asimilado Fuera de Ordenación’ and grants homes partly legal status. Hillen believes that the new leader of Andalucia,
GIFT: From Marquez
Flood of money RONDA Town Hall has allocated €100,000 to repair the Arab baths that were badly damaged in the October floods. Dramatic footage at the time showed the collapse of the historic 14th-century landmark as the Rio Guadalevin river burst its banks.
Shocking
EXPERT: Maura Hillen
the PP’s Juanma Moreno, will be good for the many expats who have fallen victim to buying homes on protected land. The AUAN president reassured expats that as long as their house is on ‘nonurbanisable land’ with no future plans to build on it, they can apply for an AFO.
The shocking moment came after 200-300 litres of rain per square metre fell in just five hours. Ronda delegate of Public Works and Urbanism, Francisco Marquez, announced the new cash injection, which will be put towards clearing the six areas of the baths, rebuilding walls and constructing two new school gyms.
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Culinary crime
FOOD fraud in Spain is on the rise, a leading expert has warned. Among the counterfeit produce seized by Europol and Interpol last year were shrimp paste containing pesticides, alcohol mixed with methanol and rotten meat. “The number of notifications grows every year,” said Javier Ruiz-Santaella, an intelligence analyst at the EU Network Against Food Fraud. Individual frauds reported by the information-exchange group increased by 30% in 2018 compared to the previous year, with 239 cases in total. Last year the organisation helped European police confiscate over 3,600 tonnes of counterfeit produce. Worldwide, the black market food industry is worth around €30 billion.
Wine win A SPANISH restaurant has scooped a prize for its wine at the inaugural World Restaurant Awards in Paris. Mugaritz in San Sebastian won the ‘Forward drinking’ award in the ‘Big Plates’ category. The two-Michelin star restaurant holds around 1,600 wines in its cellar.
CENTRE STAGE: Cher’s trousrers
Work-shy Spaniards leave fruit farmers on shelf ONLY 970 Spaniards have responded to 23,000 job offers to pick strawberries in Huelva despite the province having the third highest unemployment rate in Spain. Fruit growers are now being forced to look abroad for workers to fill the labour gap. Last month, plans were set in motion to hire more than 19,000 seasonal workers from north Africa to help harvest strawberries and other berries. After a slow beginning this year, farmers who produce strawberries for export across Europe, said they need 19,179 extra pairs of hands by no later than March to cope with the harvest. Some 11,500 of these workers will have picked berries in Huelva before, others will be first timers.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
Salad dodgers
Rock on
HARD Rock Cafe is to open its second restaurant on the Costa del Sol in March. Restaurant bosses announced the news this week but have not revealed the exact date. The new site in Malaga will join the chain’s existing branch in Marbella, making it the 9th Hard Rock Cafe in Spain. Currently the restaurant giant also has cafes in Barcelona, Ibiza, Madrid, Mallorca, Sevilla,
Tenerife and Valencia. Pop memorabilia set to adorn the walls of the new venue include a Bon Jovi guitar, Cher’s trousers, a Jimi Hendrix coat and a Beyonce bag. Around 80 staff will serve customers in the new restaurant, which will seat 350 guests and feature a rooftop terrace.
Union sources told local media they are extremely disappointed with the poor response rate from work shy residents in Huelva when unemployment in the province
is 22.79%. Only Badajoz and Cadiz have higher rates of joblessness with 24.10% and 27.35% each. Pay for picking strawberries ranges from €30 to €42 per day.
It even has a prime slot at No. 1 of the Muelle Uno shopping centre.
Too posh to pick? Berry big deal Huelva is soft fruit and berry capital of Europe. In 2018 it produced 280,300 tons of strawberries, 19,170 tons of raspberries; 38,000 tons of blueberries and 1,800 of
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blackberries worth €437.2 million. Just over 11,464 hectares is dedicated to growing berries in plastic tunnels. Strawberries take up about 6,000 hectares.
The work is mostly carried out by Moroccan women who work at least 39 hours per week, and sometimes 10 hours more. Last year the Andalucian Employment Service offered 11,000 fruit picking jobs and the response from Spanish jobseekers was just as bad with fewer than 1,000 people taking up the opportunity. In total, the producers association Freshuelva estimates that 80,000 workers will be needed to this year to pick the wide varieties of berries in Huelva, with the majority of those being migrant workers.
ONLY 45% of Spaniards now eat the ‘Med diet’, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation has revealed. “We are eating a lot of food from the top of the food pyramid such as pastries, sweets and cold meats,” said Tara Rendo, a professor at the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Diet. Her comments come after a Spanish Nutrition Foundation study found that Spaniards now eat just 269 grams of vegetables a day, 40% less than in 1964. The Mediterranean diet is renowned for its balance of fruit, vegetables, olive oil, seeds and oily fish. Spain is famed for the diet but in the National Health Survey it emerged that 17% of Spaniards are now obese.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL February 27th - March 12th 2019
Body and soul An Ayurvedic detox diet can help you bounce back from winter bingeing, writes Andalucia-based chef Manna Teji
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Open Tuesday to Sunday. until 22.00 Closed 12.00 until mid February
ID you overdo the comfort food eating this winter … on top of the usual festive season blowout? Now that the chillier months are nearly over it’s a good time to put a spring back in your step with a detox diet. Being Indian, I naturally turn to the Ayurvedic healing system which originates from my homeland and is thought to be one of the world’s oldest ‘bodymind’ cleansing systems. Our natural state is health, balance, and happiness, according to Ayurveda, but from time to time toxins enter our body or mind to interfere with that natural state. They can be physical toxins found in our food, personal and household products, air, water, and other elements of our environment; or emo-
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Foods to eat:
PURIFYING: Ginger tea is a great digestive booster
tional toxins such as negative thought patterns and beliefs, self-criticism, chronic stress and other painful experiences. Ayurveda therefore recommends detoxifying on a regular basis to eliminate damaging elements and return to our innate state of health and wellbeing. Although fasting is one of the best detox methods – and one that I use regularly – we can achieve similar results just by simplifying our diet for three days (or longer if you can). This allows our body to redirect its energies to rid itself of toxins that have built up. For a detox diet we need foods that come from the vegetable kingdom - freshly harvested and low in calories as opposed to foods that are packed, come from animals and are high in calories. As our digestion is strongest when the sun is brightest, it’s best to eat our largest meal at noon, and have a light dinner when the sun goes down, such as a vegetable soup. Other ‘musts’ are to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water to flush out toxins, (around eight glasses a day). Also try to include the six Ayurvedic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, and astringent) in every
meal, along with healthy oils for example a combination of sesame seeds and raisins. Ginger tea is recommended as a purifier and digestive system booster and there are many other great detox foods you can try on my list. To complete the detox, set aside time for at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise daily - enough to leave a fine film of sweat on the skin to eliminate toxins. Hot baths and saunas also help! I normally go to Casona Granado’s wonderful sauna while I work on the menus there. At the same time as cleansing our bodies, we need to detox our minds too, by limiting use of electronic media and turning to activities that nurture our senses. TV viewing and social media create emotional toxins. Get outside, read a book, do a creative or physical activity or simply sit and meditate. I hope you have enjoyed delving a little into the Ayurvedic detox tradition and feel inspired to try it yourself. To help you on your way, here’s a delicious recipe for lentil soup that can be a mainstay of your detox program. Enjoy and happy cleansing!
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Foods to avoid: 22 Animal and dairy products (clarified butter, or ghee, is fine in small amounts) 22 Refined sugar and flour products 22 Canned, leftover, processed, and microwaved foods 22 Fermented foods, including pickles and vinegar 22 Cold and raw foods 22 Fried foods
22 Alcohol 22 Caffeine 22 Chocolate
Lentil soup - serves 4 to 6 This lentil soup is an all-time favorite of northern Indian cuisine. It is light, tasty and nourishing and a source of easily digested proteins. It is also comfort food for winter as it fills you nicely and is easy to make. In my family home every day in winter we had some sort or other of lentil soup. This is very alkaline in nature so it’s a good food while you are on a detox program. INGREDIENTS: 1 cup of mung bean lentils 4 cups of water 1 small chopped onion 1 inch chopped ginger 2-3 cloves of garlic chopped 1 hot green chilli chopped (optional) Juice of half a lemon
Salt and Black pepper to taste ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds (optional) ½ teaspoon turmeric powder ½ teaspoon Gram masala 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter) or coconut oil 1 pinch of asafetida 10 grams of fresh chopped coriander leaves
METHOD:
l
33 Lentil soup 33 Kitchari (savory porridge made with rice and lentils) 33 Light vegetable soups 33 Steamed or sautéed broccoli, carrots, zucchini, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and beets 33 Lightly steamed greens such as spinach, chard, and beet greens 33 Basmati rice, quinoa, millet, and barley 33 Spices such as ginger, cumin, coriander, and fennel 33 Flaxseeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds 33 Poached apples and pears; cooked apricots, prunes, and figs 33 Fresh berries – raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries
Wash the lentils, rubbing them gently with plenty of water till the water runs clear. Leave them to soak while you prepare the rest. In a pan heat ghee or coconut oil and add the cumin seeds and black mustard seeds and wait till they start to crackle. Add chopped onions and sauté till they are translucent. Add chopped ginger and garlic. Stir fry till they are golden brown. Add the rest of the spices and the soaked lentils. Let them cook for 30 minutes, stirring them occasionally if you are using a normal pan and for 10 minutes after the first whistle if you are using a pressure cooker. Once the lentils are done, take them off the heat and add the lemon juice. Decorate them with chopped coriander leaves. Your lentils are ready for serving hot with naans, chapatis or rice, whichever you want.
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COLUMNISTS Saving Private Brian
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“
Boot Camp? Like in the Military? I don’t even own any boots, only trainers. Is Brian going too?” My son stares at me through narrowed eyes, arms crossed, already a couple of inches above me in height and leagues ahead of me in attitude. Prepared for his reaction, I silently place a flyer in front of him which explains the 5-day summer course based up in the Alhaurin hills called ‘Eagles Training Camp’. With a sullen expression he reads it, grunts a couple of times and then looks back up at me. “So, basically it’s like the scouts but with
OFF TO CAMP: Paula’s son
February 27th - March 12th 2019
Haribos and ice cream. Can Paula Leskovitz convince her son to go to bootcamp
no dib dibbing, considerably hotter with mutant-sized mosquitoes?” he enquires. I nod my head in agreement and remain quiet as he takes the pamphlet into his bedroom and closes the door. I can hear the familiar sound of the Xbox controller being taken out of its stand and I reach for the phone, hoping he will forgive me in years to come for making this decision on his behalf. Thinking back to my own childhood filled with fresh air and conkers amid endless summer holidays, I smile at the recollection of my bygone youth. San izal (medicated toilet paper), a prerequisite in all the school toilets then once we escaped the confines of our dusty classrooms, playing kiss chase until the sun set over our freckled faces. Faggots and peas or Findus crispy pancakes graced most of the dinner tables in our cul de sac, in fact anything highly processed and on offer at Kwik Save being the staple diet of most children of the 70s, the more E numbers, the
better. Looking down at my weathered hands, I dial the number on the flyer and after a brief conversation with a lovely lady called Debbie, the wife of Micky (exmilitary, no nonsense) my only child is booked on the five day survival course which provides children and teens the basic skills to cope in the wilderness, and also how to deal with bullies in the real world. The small selection of boys and girls would sleep in adjoining tents placed adjacent to the family house, high up in the hills and I smile to myself, wishing I was young again and able to happily function on a daily basis without the aid of HRT or Silverkrin. Sitting on our apartment balcony I hold the still warm phone in my hand and look out over the street. The world is passing by in a sunny haze of garbled conversation and noisy mopeds. My son’s bedroom door opens and he walks over to where I am sat. Silently, he places his arms around my neck and gives me a hug. I smile up into his brown eyes, knowing full well the difficulties he faces, an English child in a foreign land approaching
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ICONIC: Mr Brain’s faggots his teenage years. “Ok, I’ll do it, it actually looks good fun. “But I want to take lots of Haribo for snacks and get my hair cut before I go”. Nodding my head in agreement I hug him back and fail to mention that he is already enrolled starting the following Monday and that, although the camp is in the wilderness, they conveniently have a tuck shop available on site from 3-5pm. Brian places a paw upon my lap and looks beseechingly at me; it’s time for his morning walk. Clipping his lead on, I bribe the boy child to accompany us on our jaunt with the promise of an ice cream en route. The hairy hound is also partial to a lick of a strawberry mivi and we all set off before the sun has time to heat up the
New wife in the sun
pavement below his naked pads. “Where’s the car parked mum? I’ve not been in it for weeks,” my son enquires, as we make our way over the Miramar Bridge. I point in the direction of the car park where our dusty jeep sits forlornly in the corner, patiently awaiting its next adventure. Unfortunately, the one downside of living in the town centre is the lack of parking, food shopping is nigh impossible. A trip to Lidl involves double parking outside the apartment, hurling all of the shopping into the communal hall, jumping back into the car, parking it several miles away, sprinting back on foot to the flat to find everything has already defrosted and henceforth, that evenings tea will consist of a various assortment of food items that cannot be refrozen. “Why don’t you sell the car mum and get a couple of motorbikes; at least we can leave those parked outside the flat…can I have 3 scoops?” he asks all in one breath while perusing the assortment of sugar-laden helados on offer. I stop dead in my tracks, of course, this is the obvious solution, why didn’t I think of it myself. Flog the car and get a couple of mopeds, do as the locals do, when in Rome and all that. After all, what could possibly go wrong? Follow our further adventures and video clips on www.anewwifeinthesun.com
The Quiet Life?
An idyllic cottage by the lake gave Giles Brown a bit more than he bargained for
W
HEN I moved into my idyllic cottage by the lake and escaped the madding and frequently maddening crowds on the coast I did so for a variety of rea-
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sons. Some were financial; it's a lot cheaper inland. Some were spiritual, although I have yet to turn all ‘New Age’ and there is a permanent ban on crystals, wind chimes and anything resembling a dream catcher at the Casita. As an aside, why do people put dream catchers in their cars? Shouldn't they be focusing on the road ahead rather than allowing themselves to dream? Although, in all fairness, dream catchers in Marbella are pretty much the equivalent of furry dice in Essex. And then there were the health issues – as in, I stood a higher chance of not getting my face mashed in by a bouncer again if I was living in Istan. It was the quiet life I was after, and with the sun setting over the lake and wild goats grazing on the far bank, it seemed that I was living in an office cube rat's screensaver. Looks can be deceptive, however, as the past few days have proved. First off was my well-documented run in with the Wild Boar. Now, I'm not sure if they read the Olive Press, but after my column appeared in the last issue, the tusked terrors have redoubled their efforts and last week carried out what looked like a precision bombing operation on the top garden, with turf,
stones and the remnants of the shrubbery, flung in all directions. Luckily for me, Florin, my unflappable gardener has moved back. As a Romanian ex-paratrooper, he took one look at the devastation, muttered something in a very dark language (I'm guessing a Transylvanian curse) and set about constructing some boar defences. It's been very quiet up there since, although I'm reluctant to check. I might find myself hanging upside down by my ankles from a tree, or much worse, on the wrong end of one of his fiendish traps. It's not just my place that has been lively, however. Istan was rocked by the discovery of a mummified pensioner at Zahara de Istan, one of the more upmarket resorts in the area – so full of wholesome quinoa-eating young professionals that it looks like a version of Dawson's Creek – which added a dash of David Lynch-style macabre horror. And then there was the police raid on a large villa two kilometres up the road that ended with two Camora Mafia fleeing into the surrounding campo. 'Lock your doors and windows', advised the Guardia Civil, 'there are desperate Italians on the loose'. At which point, one of my best female friends who lives in Cerros del Lago, a more, ahem, 'bohemian', urbanisation than Zahara, sent me a text message. 'Desperate Italians on the loose?’, she purred, 'I'm leaving my doors and windows wide OPEN!'
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Not so badminton REIGNING Olympic badminton champion Carolina Marin has begun training again after injuring her knee in January. The three-time world champion, four-time European Champion and former world no. 1 ruptured the cruciate ligament in her knee during the final of the Indonesian Masters Tournament on January 27. Marin’s Instagram profile showed her still wearing a leg brace following surgery on January 29, but the Spanish star also posted a video of her walking with ‘just one crutch’. Marin, 25, from Huelva, Andalucia, said her goal to win gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 kept her motivated and keen to get back on the court. “What makes me train is the desire to do what I enjoy
Barcelona and Madrid will headto-head three times in one week FANS of Spain’s footballing giants will need multiple shirts ironed as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona prepare to meet twice this week. But as if two El Clasicos weren’t enough, the Real Madrid basketball team will also travel to northeastern Spain to face Barcelona Lassa on Friday, making this a week of triple Spanish classics. La Liga leaders Barcelona already drew with Real Madrid on 6 February in the first of two semi-final legs for the Copa del Rey. La Copa, as the knockout competition is also known, is the oldest Spanish football competition and the rounds of 32, 16, quarters and semi-finals are always
REAL: Madrid
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February 27th - March 12th 2019
Triple showdown
played over two legs. In this month’s previous Clasico, the two Spanish sides drew 1-1, but since Los Blancos bagged an away goal a draw of Wednesday would see them striding to the final. Real Madrid and Barcelona are the world’s top two most-followed teams on social media, and there is a history of devoted players baiting the crowds with after-goal celebrations - both Ronaldo and Raul have shushed Barcelona fans, and in 2017 Messi held out his shirt like a red rag to a bull after a 93rd minute winner.
Controversy
Come a copa SPAIN’S version of the Community Shield, the Supercopa de Espana, will be played abroad, it has emerged. The four-team tournament will be held between the Copa del Rey finalists and the top two teams in La Liga. “In this way, we get the brand of the Spanish clubs to participate in a more important way,” Royal Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales said. Last year’s edition saw Barcelona beat Sevilla in Morocco, in what was a one-off game outside of Spain.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
The match also comes after controversy in the Real Madrid changing room as Welsh winger Gareth Bale angrily shrugged off his teammates following his winning penalty against Levante on Sunday. In basketball, Real Madrid already met Barcelona Lassa on 17 February for the basketball Copa del Rey final, which Barcelona won 94-93 following a questionable call made at the buzzer. With Madrid leading in the basketball league tables, and Barcelona in the football, this week is set to be a thriller for fans all across the sporting world.
Twin-turbo IDENTICAL British twins Simon and Adam Yates have missed out on a podium place in their first appearance in the Vuelta a Andalucia. Adam, 26, came 5th in the general classification, while his brother Simon, also 26, trailed in 41st. Last year’s Vuelta a España champion, Simon took the fourth stage last Saturday on the challenging Hazallanas mountain pass, in Granada, which peaks at an altitude of 1,679m.
RIVALS: Barcelona and Madrid to face off
Forehand to four-iron RAFAEL Nadal is best known as the tennis world no. two, but the Mallorcan superstar has another trick up his sleeve: golf. Nadal, 32, took second place at the Balaeric Islands Golf Championships at Vall D’Or Golf Club and finished the game with 70 shots (- 1). Interestingly, the Spaniard has a 1.5 handicap, making him eligible to become a professional. Back in 2011, Nadal penned an essay on his passion for golf, saying he’s ‘more aggressive’ on the golf course, and that his success was due to his ability to ‘accept difficulties and overcome them’.
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Vol. 4 Issue 91 www.gibraltarolivepress.com February 27th - March 12th 2019
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MINISTER for Health Neil Costa congratulated Vikki Ward on becoming the new Mental Health Matron saying she would provide "highly competent, safe and compassionate care".
Elevating skills FIREMEN attended a special seminar at the Casino Calpe on how to rescue people, including those who have disabilities, who might have got stuck in lifts.
Face off GIBRALTAR University launched its first face-toface part-time Masters course, an MBA in Business Administration.
February 27th - March 12th 2019
By Laurence Dollimore
A GIBRALTARIAN has been left fuming after her complaint about a huge pile of dog mess ‘fell on deaf ears’. It comes after the Rock forced dog owners to register their dogs’ DNA with authorities in a bid to crack down on excrement last year. The unnamed local came across the poo in an un-named part of central Gibraltar, while walking her dog last week. The woman told a social media group she had waited for four hours in case the offender had ‘run out of poo bags’ but came back to find the excretion still in the same spot. “I gave the benefit of the doubt in case they had ran out of bags but four hours later it was still there,” she wrote on Facebook. “I called Environmental Health
-dunnit ?
Dog-walker furious that authorities fail to tackle dog mess despite new DNA database and was told by the officer that they don’t come out for one-off DNA tests. “So I asked him what was the point of doing the DNA blood testing to each dog which is quite distressing for the dog and also an extra expense to responsible dog owners. “His response was they only come when there are several complaints in certain areas but they will put it on their list to monitor it.” She added: “What is the point of DNA testing, and the stress of this exercise if it is not going to make a difference when it comes to irresponsible dog owners and their animals?” The government told the Gi-
braltar Olive Press: “Attending to a particular specimen when reported is not done for a variety of reasons. The main one is that the sample will likely not be fresh and so is less likely to have a positive result. What is done in response to such calls is that the area is monitored and usually targeted on a later occasion. “The taking of DNA samples is not stressful to all dogs, and when it is the law provides for alternative methods of collecting DNA. “DNA has been used to identify a number of cases which have led to fines. Details have been given in Parliament Questions on a number of occasions.
“Because irresponsible dog owners will not collect their dogs' faeces and will also not register their dogs, the Department of the Environment has stepped up checks for registration. “In combination, the measures have resulted in a reduction of the incidence.”
Back to Africa A FUTURE rail and road link from Spain to Morocco could be back on. Plans to dig a tunnel or construct a bridge are being undertaken at a senior level, a government minister has confirmed. “We have been working for years with Spain for the railway line between the two countries and we are now in the process of deepening technical studies,” Morocco’s Transport Minister Najib Boulif said. He added that the research could be completed in less than two years. “Swiss experience has shown that some of the proposals, which were not feasible in the last 20 years, are now possible,” he said. The Moroccan minister was referring to research carried out by the University of Zurich and Herrenknecht, the world’s largest tunnel-building firm. The joint study showed that the tunnel, which could cost €8 billion, is possible to build.
ARE YOU A UK NAT ONAL LIVING IN SPAIN? As the UK prepares to leave the EU, there may be changes that affect you. From residency rights, to work and pensions and local healthcare, you can find the latest information in the UK government’s living in Spain guide. Sign up for email alerts and get the latest information at gov.uk/living-in-spain