Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 298 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 12 Issue 298 www.theolivepress.es August 15th - August 28th 2018

Pension shocker

THE EGG TEST Everyone has heard of the claims that it is hot enough in Andalucia to cook an egg on the pavement... we visited Ecija, the ‘Frying pan of Spain’, to test out the theory, CRACKING JOB PAGE 6

EXCLUSIVE By Luke Madeira

BRITISH pensioners in Spain claim to have lost more than a fifth of their spending power over the last two years as a direct result of Brexit. Richard Hill, vice president of Brexpats in Spain, claims plummeting exchange rates, taxes and a rise in the cost of living have caused significant income losses. It comes as the pound sunk to a new low of just 1.10 to the euro last week, as worries of a hard Brexit magnified. The pensioner, who claims he’s around 22% ‘worse off’ since the referendum, believes expats will struggle regardless of whatever deal is reached ahead of Britain’s exit from the EU. The pensioner added: “The significant problem at this stage with Brexit is the fluctuating exchange rate. “Obviously fluctuations are normal, however the steady downward trend is seriously affecting people.”

Seriously ill Briton locked up with terrorists after being fingered for 1.5 TONNES of hashish found at holiday rental home

Plummet

It comes after the Rabobank in London warned that a no-deal Brexit could end in euro-sterling parity, while last week saw the pound plummet to an eight-month low. British expat Karen Watling, from Sheffield, claims she has lost as much as a third of her monthly budget. “Over two years this has caused us problems financially,” she told the Olive Press. “Prices and commodities have also risen so it has been like a double hit.” The exchange rate was an average 1.24 in 2014 before climbing to an average 1.38 in 2015. However the year of the referendum saw the average fall to 1.22 before falling again to 1.14 in 2017. This year so far has been lower at 1.13 and it currently stands at 1.12. Brexpats in Spain has called for a government-run internet bank offering basic current accounts, debit cards and the option to carry out international and national transfers online. The group even suggests ordering RBS - the only bank in the UK in which the government has a stake Turn to page 8

A BRITISH businessman is seriously ill in an Andalucian prison having been accused of drug smuggling. Robert Anthony MansfieldHewitt, 51, was arrested after police swooped on his rental home during a short business trip to Gibraltar two months ago. The consultant engineer, who insists he is innocent, has yet to be charged over the 1.5 tonnes of hashish police found in the garage of the villa he rented through Airbnb. He insists he has absolutely ‘no connection’ to the drugs that were being stored at the rental in Campamento, in San Roque. The owner of the villa, the Olive Press understands, was charged for importing cocaine into Gibraltar last year. In the case, that has strange parallels to the plight of Scottish student Robbie McMiller, MansfieldHewitt was woken up and ‘dragged out of bed practically naked at gunpoint’ by police officers at 8.30pm on June 27. Colleagues and friends

Trapped in hell EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

told the Olive Press that MansfieldHewitt, who has a PhD and no criminal record, is an ‘innocent man’ and has been wrongfully imprisoned. They added that the Chichester-raised engineer is currently in a critical condition and is being held in the medical wing at Botafuegos prison in Algeciras - a dangerous jail, which notoriously houses a number of Basque ETA terrorists. The Brit, a consultant at electrical company Genco Holdings Ltd in Gibraltar, who regularly travels to the Rock, suffers from severe liver disease Ascites and walks with a cane. His PA, Pilar June Ford, 54, said she was ‘horrified’ when she received a call from her boss screaming at La Linea police station. She told the Olive Press: “He was at the station shouting ‘please help me, help me, bring me clothes, there’s loads of drugs in the house.’ It was horrible. “I rushed there with a huge bag of medication, which he needs to take daily for his illness.”

CAGED: Notorious prison while (right) Mansfield-Hewitt and (above right) ETA terrorist After spending two days in a cell, he appeared in front of a judge at San Roque court before being sent to Botafuegos prison. Ford is concerned he has not been receiving the correct medication, after he collapsed in shock as his ‘body started to shut down’ on the way to prison. He was rushed to ICU at Hospital Punta de Europa where his survival chances were described as ‘touch and go’. “The doctor said he hadn’t been given

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his medication and his liver was CAPTION: functioning at just 15%. His heartbeat was almost non-existent and he was delirious.” His lawyer Jose Maria Castro Escudero believes he is now being administered the correct medication, but still remains in a critical condition. The nightmare began after police were alerted to the stash after following a man of Moroccan nationality, who pulled up outside the property and attempted to get into the garage. Police found 48 packets of hashish weighing around 33 kilos each, or almost 1.5 tonnes. If found guilty he could be sentenced to up to six years in a Spanish prison. According to his lawyer he is ‘fighting every day to free Robert’ and get him bail, meaning he would likely have to report to police once a month while he awaits his trial.

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www.theolivepress.es NEWS IN BRIEF

Robbers arrested POLICE have arrested four members from a criminal group accused of robbing multiple houses in Málaga with makeshift keys made from toothbrush.

Cocaine tofu POLICE dismantled a criminal network that was transporting a half ton of cocaine disguised as hazelnut spread and tofu from Malaga to the Netherlands.

Weed wreck SEVEN Spanish, Danish and Venezuelan members of a criminal organisation have been detained for cultivating marijuana in Malaga and Mijas.

Abuser POLICE in Cadiz have detained a 42-year-old man who is accused of abusing four children and showing them pornographic material after establishing relationships with their mothers.

Hunt for Morroccan after exploding car caused panic at Costa del Sol resort

crime

August 15th - August 28th 2018

Firestorm

By Laurence Dollimore

A MANHUNT is underway for the owner and passengers of a car which exploded just metres from hundreds of tourists in Marbella. Expats and locals reported a huge explosion with footage showing tourists fleeing the hotspot while billowing smoke could be seen from miles away. In the bizarre incident the driver’s Audi Q7 shot up in flames at the entrance to Puerto Banus port. “It was a massive explosion and really scary,” a receptionist at nearby Benabola Hotel told the Olive Press. “Everyone panicked until we realised it

CHAOS: Burnt out car while (right) tourists and locals run from scene was just a car outside.” The owner of the car has now been identified as a Moroccan man who resides in Europe, although it is not known if he

Bombay smack A GREEK man tried to smuggle more than five kilos of heroin through Malaga airport by coating it with curry. The suspect was rumbled after a search by Guardia Civil discovered his suitcase had a double bottom. The 39-year-old had arrived from Swaziland, via Doha, and intended to continue to Barcelona by bus. But cops at Malaga airport conducted a search after seeing the suspect was acting suspiciously and noticing that the suitcase reeked of curry but only contained clothes. Inside they found four grills covered in curry sauce, a ‘clear intention to confuse sniffer dogs’. Underneath were 5,519 grams of heroin in a false compartment.

was one of the four passengers in the vehicle at the time. He was identified by his port key, which is used to gain access to Banus’s front line. You usually need to own

SMOKE: From scene

a boat to have a key but there are a limited number of extra keys available for a substantial fee. Investigators want to know why the men fled the scene while fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the flames. They have said the task will be difficult given that the vehicle was reduced to a ‘tangle of twisted metal.’ Further tests are being conducted as the investigation continues. An Olive Press source revealed that the port authority believed that the fire could have been caused by a faulty airbag or battery.

I’m not a drug dealer From front page

The lawyer revealed that a judge is set to visit Mansfield-Hewitt on Thursday and will make a decision following the meeting. Escudero added: “He doesn’t have anything to do with this. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. “They don’t have a single piece of evidence that links him to the drugs, only that he was closeby. “There’s no photo or CCTV footage that shows him going into the garage and he didn’t have a car.” Meanwhile, the villa owner, who is believed to be Gibraltarian, has not been arrested and is believed to be lying low on the Rock. The other guest staying at the property that night was also arrested, yet it is unclear if he had any knowledge of the stash in the garage.

Embassy

Ford meanwhile slammed Airbnb for the lack of background checks carried out on hosts who list their property on the site. Airbnb confirmed it is ‘investigating the property owner’s account’ and has since deleted the accommodation listing. A spokesperson for the British Consulate told the Olive Press: “We are assisting a British man following his arrest in Cádiz in July, and our staff are in contact with the Spanish police.” Police failed to comment in time for press. It comes after an investigation by the Olive Press last year revealed how young Scot Robbie McMiller was arrested for four marijuana plants found on an Airbnb property he was renting, also in the La Linea area. He is still stuck in Spain as he awaits his day in court.

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August 15th - August 28th 2018

EXPAT: I’m Escobar’s love child

ON FORM: Dua Lipa

Popping out in Palomo POP sensation Dua Lipa is the latest celebrity to don the sexy clothes of Spanish designer Alejandro Gomez Palomo. The One Kiss singer wowed audiences at a concert in Toronto in a revealing bespoke two piece outfit by the Cordoba-born designer. The satin pleated mini skirt and matching knot-tied crop top, encrusted with mini gems was the perfect match for her Number One hits. Palomo has already made headlines this year after Beyonce famously wore the designer’s dress in her first official photo with her newborn twins. The Andalucian designer cites the classic Cordoba style of ruffles and rich colours, as one of his biggest inspirations.

Starry night THE stars were out in force for the annual Starlite Gala in Marbella. Malaga native Antonio Banderas and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel were among the first to arrive to the event which included a host of other stars including John Corbett and Bo Derek (right).

Spain-based Brit is writing a book about his links to notorious cocaine king Pablo Escobar A BRITISH expat claims he is the love child of notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Mallorca-based Phillip Witcomb, 53, is penning a book about his life as Roberto Sendoya Escobar, who was seized from his Columbian drug lord father in the 1960s.

By Laurence Dollimore

The artist was later adopted by a British couple in Bogota, the capital of Escobar’s infamous crime operation. His new parents had to later hire a private security team because members of the Escobar family allegedly tried to kidnap him on several occasions. The privately-educated Brit is now penning a biography which he wants to serve as a prequel to hit Netflix series Narcos.

Empire

NOTORIOUS: Escobar

Daddy cool

The popular TV show chronicles the rise and fall of his alleged father’s drug smuggling empire. Witcomb claims his adoptive father told him he was Escobar’s son when he reached his 20s. “In reality, I hadn’t really heard of Pablo then, so wasn’t really aware of what he’d done,” he revealed.

SON?: Phillip Witcomb

“But when dad told me about everything, I honestly couldn’t believe it. It all came as a complete shock and made me rethink my life.” Witcomb doesn’t have a birth certificate to prove his story but a baptism certificate shows that he was born to a Maria Lucia Sendoya and lists his father as ‘Pablo Escobar’. According to the document, he was placed in a Catholic orphanage before being adopted at four months old by his current parents.

Roughing it for inspiration RISING British star George Ezra has revealed how he lived with a stranger in a ramshackle house in Spain for inspiration for his new album Staying at Tamara’s. The Brit-award nominee moved to Barcelona for a month where he roughed it in a house that was littered with broken glass and bikes with no wheels. “I thought it would be a good idea to find a stranger on the internet

and go and live with them,” he said. “It wasn’t until I landed that I thought ‘what the f***’ are you doing man? Why are you doing this?” He continued: “I met my host and she took me upstairs and there was broken glass all over the floor and bikes without wheels. “I was thinking this is a bad idea man but it turned out to be the best thing for myself and the album.” Snubbing teams of songwriters and

producers, George preferred to go it alone to help him create an original and honest sound. The 25-year-old is fast-becoming a household name thanks to his first ever No.1 Shotgun still riding the radio waves despite being released back in May.

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HE may be knocking on for his seventh decade, but megastar Richard Gere is to become a father again. The 68-year-old Hollywood legend is having a child with Spanish wife Alejandra Silva, 35, it has been claimed. It comes after the couple tied the knot in Spain earlier this year after four years of dating. It is not yet known whether the baby will be born in Spain or the US. Richard has an 18-year-old son Homer from his marriage to second wife Carey Lowell, while Galician Alejandra has a five-year-old son Alberto from her first marriage to Govind Friedland.

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www.theolivepress.es NEWS IN BRIEF

Fountain damage INSTALLATION of decorative lighting in the Plaza de los Naranjos in Marbella was halted after it was found that a construction worker damaged a historic fountain ‘by mistake.’

Ninja robber A SERIAL robber of supermarkets in Sevilla, dressed in all black, was arrested again while threatening the employees of a supermarket with a large knife.

Baby Cheques MALAGA is accepting applications for its ‘baby cheque,’ scheme which provides economic aid to low-income families.

Lifeguard booths MARBELLA has installed 15 new lifeguard booths with better visibility and a radio system in order to increase safety and improve communication among lifeguards.

Olive Press probe discovers lethal painkiller Nolotil for sale in Gibraltar EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez, Luke Madeira & Laurence Dollimore

LETHAL painkiller Nolotil is being sold in Gibraltar despite being banned in the UK and other parts of Europe. It comes after a two-year Olive Press investigation in Spain linked the drug to at least 10 deaths of British and northern European patients. The drug - also known as Metamizole - is believed to attack the immune system by depleting the patient’s white blood cells. While not yet banned in Spain it is currently under investigation, following our probe, and is unlicenced in the UK, US, France, Australia and elsewhere. Incredibly though, the Olive Press this week found a number of pharmacies still apparently handing out the drug on the Rock. An undercover Olive Press journalist was told the drug was available or ‘sometimes in stock’ in at least three pharmacies. An employee at Wesley Pharmacy told a journalist

August 15th - August 28th 2018

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EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil

are A BRITISH expat couple Malaga fighting to save their over a home from demolition technicality. 74, Gill and Bob Ward, both a battle have been locked in which with their town hall, claims their house in Almayate is illegal. couJust yesterday the retiredgiven ple from Cornwall were

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away three THE Olive Press is giving of the best conpairs of tickets for two this summer... certs on the Costa del Solanswer two simAnd all you have to do is ple questions! the stage for an Michael Bolton takes to at Marbella’s emotive end of season night10, while EstePuente Romano on Augustconcert in years rock pona is set for its biggest with mammoth

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olive Press medical campaign finally draws blood with Nolotil regulation close

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EXclUSiVE By Elisa menendez

The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil. BritAnother ish expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same for medication shoulder mild pain on the Costa del Sol. head He developed severe Continues on Page

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(Free or paid for) Vol. 12 Issue 289 www.theolivepress.es April 11th - April 24th 2018

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AN Olive Press health campaign has led to ‘the biggest’ drug probes in Spanish history. Our investigation into the mysterious deaths of expats from the painkiller Nolotil last year, is finally being acted on. In a landmark breakthrough, a national probe is expected to lead to new regulation of the drug, which is banned in the UK and most of Europe. “It has been a long time in coming and by raising so much awareness, I am sure lives have already been saved,” medical and legal translator Cristina Garcia del Campo told the Olive Press. The medical professional found our 1000-strong petition online and took it forward after one of her patients died from TRAGIC: Graeme Ward with wife Mary (left) and the drug. “Spain wants to help, Billy Smyth, who both died from Nolotil

need for more research

fully supports Dental Care in Marbella, Dr Nina King, of Oasis Olive Press the drug is not something the campaign, telling the medication,” she prescribes. stick to safe and standarddo, it’s a drug “It’s not a drug I use, I what damage it can she said, “And after seeing future.” I won’t be using in the doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Marbella-based private drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe Almeda also agrees theOlive Press, “I have lots of British pathe drug,” she told theof what it is capable of doing. tients and I am aware more research on its impact.” “There needs to be a lot

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Kill ThE drug doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low. Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and to required ‘radical surgery’ in remove the affected tissue life. an attempt to save his

EXCLUSIVE: Poems from Gibraltar soldier locked up in Andalucia prison for murder

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Deeper Purple and tribute bands Think Floyd,out the greatest hits Whole Lotta Led rocking and Led Zeppelin of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple August 26. at the Plaza del Toros on pair of tickets to see For a chance to win a question; what year Bolton, just answer the in? was Michael Bolton bornFest in Estepona, just For the Pink Purple Zep Page born? Email Pink Purple Zep Fest tickets tell us; Where was Jimmy s.es. WIN WIN WIN: Bolton and answers to the newsdesk@theolivepres

on THE Olive Press is calling Spain to ban a lethal painkiller of unthat is killing countless suspecting expats. doctors British dentists and afare supporting the ban 75, ter Briton Graham Ward, Press complained to the Olive the of how he was prescribed a dendeadly Nolotil drug by very tist last week. It’s the blamed same drug that was their one month to knock down for killing his wife in 2006. above). expat only property (pictured by the The Marbella-based told In a court order seen was furious when he was are his Olive Press, the Wardscrimitake the painkiller by to sufferwarned they will be heldrefuse. Spanish dentist, after nally responsible if they do anying from a difficult abscess. died af“I don’t know what to of my His wife Mary, 59, had same more, I’m at the end Press, being prescribed the ter vasectether” Gill told the Olive the drug following a double “I’m totally exhausted from tomy at Costa del Sol Hospital. was whole ordeal.” “Within 24 hours shewhite now The retired pair, who haveon lein intensive care, her spent thousands of euros farmblood cell count plummeted and Billy Smyth gal costs, bought the old and to zero within days,” explains HAPPIER TIMES: Graham with wife, banned house ‘in ruins’ in 2004,from Graham, a former computer Metamizole, Nolotil is from London. UK, Ireland and were given permission to reagain. technician, alive if in the US, the but it is preVelez-Malaga town hall “He said she would be She never regained conscioussupport she hadn’t taken it, but I have most of Europe, build it. ness and was on a life scribed widely in Spain. ‘Billy’ colfrom dozens of Brits Irishman But when the original wall William machine for FOUR months, during given years heard five-day lapsed of its own accord archibefore spending threeof the and Irish who have been Smyth was given a Februdrug in added Graeme. construction, the Wards’be fine fighting the impact fail- it,” the third victim of the course of the tect told them it would town It is drug, which led to organ ary. the Olive Press has re- But when the 66-year-old reand that he would let the for ure. hos- drug hall know. Unfortunately different Spanish “The chief surgeon at thewould ported on in under a year. also as turned to a 8 pital promised me he drug Sometimes known Continues on Page never prescribe that

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that’s for sure. I have had support from every healthcare professional I have spoken to. “If I hadn’t come across your article I wouldn’t have realised what was happening to the English community,” she added. We launched our ‘Kill the Drug’ campaign against

the painkiller last August, after learning that dozens of British and Irish expats had died after their immune systems were allegedly destroyed by the commonly prescribed drug. A trio of families told us how their relatives had died unnecessarily in excruciating pain. Yet, authorities refused to take our claims seriously, despite the evidence being backed up by local doctors. Fortunately, Ali-

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Mijas Costa See page 18 xx

Vol. 11 Issue 271

Save our home!

EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality. Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked in a battle with their town hall, which claims their house in Almayate is illegal. Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given

www.theolivepress.es

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

info@simply-shuttles.com Tel: 951 279 117 www.simply-shuttles.com

gET in iT TO win iT!

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THE Olive Press is giving away pairs of tickets for two of the best three concerts on the Costa del Sol this summer... And all you have to do is answer two simple questions!

Michael Bolton takes to the stage for an emotive end of season night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on August 10, while pona is set for its biggest rock concert Estein years with mammoth

Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

tribute bands Think Floyd, Deeper Purple Whole Lotta Led rocking out the greatest and hits of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Led at the Plaza del Toros on August 26. Zeppelin For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Bolton, just answer the question; what year was Michael Bolton born in? For the Pink Purple Zep Fest in Estepona, tell us; Where was Jimmy Page born? just Email answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

Kill ThE drug

THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very one month to knock down their same drug that was blamed only property (pictured above). for killing his wife in 2006. In a court order seen by the The Marbella-based expat Olive Press, the Wards are was furious when he was told warned they will be held crimito take the painkiller by his nally responsible if they refuse. Spanish dentist, after suffer“I don’t know what to do anying from a difficult abscess. more, I’m at the end of my His wife Mary, 59, had died aftether” Gill told the Olive Press, ter being prescribed the same “I’m totally exhausted from the drug following a double vasecwhole ordeal.” tomy at Costa del Sol Hospital. The retired pair, who have now “Within 24 hours she was spent thousands of euros on lein intensive care, her white gal costs, bought the old farmblood cell count plummeted house ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and to zero within days,” explains were given permission from Graham, a former computer HAPPIER TIMES: Graham with Velez-Malaga town hall to retechnician, from London. wife, and Billy Smyth build it. She never regained conscious- again. But when the original wall colMetamizole, Nolotil is banned ness and was on a life support “He said she would lapsed of its own accord during machine for FOUR months, she hadn’t taken it, be alive if in the US, the UK, Ireland and construction, the Wards’ archibefore spending three years heard from dozensbut I have most of Europe, but it is pretect told them it would be fine fighting the impact of the and Irish who have of Brits scribed widely in Spain. and that he would let the town William drug, which led to organ fail- it,” added Graeme. been given Irishman ‘Billy’ hall know. Unfortunately for Smyth was given a five-day ure. It is the third victim “The chief surgeon at the hos- drug the Olive Press of the course of the drug in FebruContinues on Page 8 has re- ary. pital promised me he would ported on in under But when the 66-year-old renever prescribe that drug Sometimes knowna year. also as turned to a different Spanish

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Dr Nina King, of Oasis Dental Care the campaign, telling the Olive Pressin Marbella, fully supports the drug is not something she prescribes. “It’s not a drug I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” she said, “And after seeing what damage it can do, it’s a drug I won’t be using in the future.” Marbella-based private doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Almeda also agrees the drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe the drug,” she told the Olive Press, tients and I am aware of what it is “I have lots of British pacapable of doing. “There needs to be a lot more research on its impact.” doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low. Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and required ‘radical surgery’ to remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life.

The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil. Another British expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same medication for mild shoulder pain on the Costa del Sol. He developed severe head Continues on Page 2

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tosis, a severe and rapid drop in white blood cells, which leaves patients unable to fight infections. Garcia del Campo noticed that a large number of other English

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and Irish patients had been suffering with sepsis at hospitals along the Costa Blanca. “I thought, this can’t be normal,” explained the translator, from Madrid. And after looking at patients’ notes, she found that each had one thing in common - they were all taking Nolotil. Although manufacturers list side effects such as agranulocytosis, necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis, they are considered ‘very rare’ affecting one in every 10,000. The figures did not seem to add up to Garcia del Campo so she set about doing her own research. However, no information existed in Spanish media. The only articles she could find on the drug and its lethal side effects was in the Olive Press. “I was in disbelief,” continued the Javea-based translator, who lived in the UK for 18 years. “I thought this was surely wellknown and someone was doing something about it. Except it wasn’t. “I felt I had to inform Spain Continues on Page 2

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he could be given the painkiller with a prescription. A parallel investigation by GBC found six pharmacies selling the drug, and was able to buy a packet for £2.50. The Gibraltar government is now looking into several pharmacies for illegally selling the painkiller. It came after one Gibraltarian, who asked to remain KILL THE anonymous, said she was DRUG sold the drug at a pharmacy in March without a prescription. “The man just sold it to me and said with the amount of pain I was in it would be stronger,” she told the Olive

Press this week. “I was also taking 600mg ibuprofen and 500mg paracetamol but he suggested I should take the Nolotil instead of paracetamol.” Another Gibraltar resident also confirmed she took the drug on the Rock. “I go to the chemist and just buy them, never heard of needing a prescription,” she said. After we launched a campaign to have the drug regulated in Spain last summer, health campaigner Cristina Garcia del Campo took up the cause and has managed to take our case studies and around 100 more to the country’s top health chiefs. A decision on whether to bring in new regulations is

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imminent. It came after we reported how the drug left several British expats dead or fighting for their lives. Benalmadena-based Hugh Wilcock, 80, had to plan his own funeral after being prescribed the drug for pain relief following several back operations. But six weeks into taking the pills, he developed sores on his forehead and felt weaker and weaker until he had to be rushed to Malaga’s University hospital, where he remained in intensive care for weeks until his immune system recovered. He is just one of dozens who have been brought close to death. The Gibraltar government did not get back to us as we went to press last night.

SPAIN has agreed to accept refugees from the Gibraltarregistered Aquarius rescue boat for a second time. Some 60 migrants will be allowed on Spanish shores, while Portugal, France, Germany and Luxembourg will share the remaining 81 people on the boat. The vessel, from the Rock, was once again denied entry to Italy, although Malta has allowed the vessel to “enter its ports despite having no legal obligation to do so.”

Pioneering

A tweet from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s account said: “Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with six countries to distribute the reception of Aquarius people. The Spanish government is so far the only country to unconditionally accept migrants before today, but that may change as government officials refuse to become the main refugee route into Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Sanchez this weekend to discuss the fairer distribution of refugees across the continent.

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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION WHEN you book a couple of nights stay at an Airbnb holiday home, you don’t think twice that the owner could be a drug trafficker. It is also beyond belief that a drug stash found at the property could be pinned on you, when the only link is that you just happened to be temporarily PaRiS, ViLniuS, fRance 35C there. staying LiThuania 29C It is doubly outrageous then that this has happened to an apparently innocent British man who is now fighting for his life in a dangerous Algeciras prison. Meanwhile, the owner of the property, who has a criminal history relating to drugs, is walking free. Airbnb needs to do more stringent background checks on people that offer their home publicly to protect holidaymakers. And, of course, so do the police. This has all the hallmarks of a serious miscarriage of justice. eveNiNg staNdard Friday 3 august 2018

Cause for concern IT is deeply concerning that the lethal painkiller Nolotil has been handed out so willingly in Gibraltar for years. The drug has been banned in the UK for years and this is also the case on the Rock. The revelations come despite two years of campaigning by this paper to bring to light its potentially fatal side effects for those of British and northern European descent. Considering how many Brits live and work on the Rock, who knows how many may have been impacmeans a risk to life — for Italy, Croatia ted without even realising. and Switzerland. Here, the Met Office is advising Let’s the government probe uncovers how holidaymakers to keep hope out of the midday sun as well as being sensible at home. London these pharmacies were able to sell an unlicensed was set to bask in warm sunshine this weekend, as Ms Mitchell predicted temperatures in the or capitalbetter yet, how doctors were able to product, could hit 32 today, possibly 33, and 30 on Saturday and 29 on Sunday, with the prescribe it. high 20s across England.

rs tO FLEE sEa iN MaJOrCa

beach oot

ajorca, ernoon. ildren in swam a ave

right, came of the m the sand,

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pictured left. It was initially thought the shark had survived and been returned to the sea following the drama. But emergency services confirmed that these reports were incorrect and it had died.

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With temperatures hotting up to 46C the Olive Press made an egg-cellent trip to the ‘frying pan of Spain’

S Brits are being warned of scorching temperatures this month in holiday destinations around Spain, thank your lucky stars you're not in Écija, or the ‘frying pan of Spain’. | News Nestled in the heart of Andalucia, rumour AndAluciA has it this little, historic town received its name because it gets so hot you can fry an egg on the pavement. sizzling: journalist maDRiD, Laurence Just an hour's drive Dollimore frying 40C SPain on a marble from Sevilla, Écija is bench in Écija famously dubbed by Cooking eggs in the LiLLe, Spaniards as 32C the hotfRance ‘frying pan of Spain’ test part of the counBut another resident, Elisa try – where forecastMaria Cepas, 50, has Menendez different advice for locals ers in the summer struggling in the heat. “It’s Letter from ... a mistake to drink litres frequently predict and litres of water. That anDaLucia makes you vomit. You temperatures of 48C. need a sugary drink,” said BRITISH holidaymakers the nursing home carer. But how do the locals being warned of Friend Paqui Vidal, 50, scorching temperatures explains how her cope? on the Costa del Sol will colleague — an olive thank their lucky stars picker — is forced to leave "Nobody leaves their they are not in Écija — work sick on the first day dubbed the “frying pan of every olive season. houses between of Spain”. “It can be dangerous for A two-hour drive from olive pickers, many go 2pm and 6pm. It's the tourist beaches, the home throwing up with town is known as being severe sun stroke,” added a ghost town, you the hottest in the country, Paqui, an administrator at where you can cook an an agricultural company. egg on the pavement. won't even find a cafe Meanwhile, across the The temperature was main square, 27-year-old today forecast to reach open," said Enrique Ana Somoza Torres, mops 46C, only a shade below FRYING HIGH: her brow while setting up Europe’s record high. Lopradas, 51, a street tables outside a bar as the “Nobody leaves their temperature were eggedShe on byreaches an42C. Evehouses between 2pm and lottery vendor and We said: “The only way is 6pm. It’s a ghost town, you air conditioning and more ning Standard commission won’t even find a café air conditioning.” And self-confessed 'shade open,” said Enrique what about the egg-frying Lopradas, 51, a lottery theory? The anaemicchaser'. vendor and self-confessed looking one I cooked with “shade chaser”. “I drink day, my colleague Laurence on "I drink seven litres of water every seven litres of water every a marble bench in the day, wear long sleeves move and square wouldn’t grace a wear long sleeves and constantly constantly move to the Full English — but it was shade. I also shower three 6pm after all. to the shade," he adds as orhe swigs from four times a day and ⬤ Elisa Menendez is a don’t start work until reporter for The Olive Press an ice bottle, "I also shower three or four 6.30pm when it’s fresher.” in Malaga times a day and don't start work until 6.30pm when it's fresher."

Vomit

But Maria Cepas, 50, claims Enrique is making a rookie error. "It's a mistake to drink litres and litres of water, that makes you vomit. You need a sugary drink too," said the nursing home carer, "we have to send out warnings to elderly people to keep drinking things like Aquarius in this heat." Friend, Paqui Vidal, 50, explains how her colleague – an olive picker – is forced to leave work sick on the first day of every olive season. "It can be dangerous for olive pickers, many go home throwing up with severe sun stroke," added Paqui, an administrator at an agricultural company. Meanwhile, across the main square, 27-year-old Ana Somoza Torres, mops her

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brow while setting up tables outside of a bar. "The only way is air conditioning and more air conditioning. "We're in Andalucia – obviously we have siestas every day for at least two hours. You just can't leave the house until late." Although the young waitress acknowledges this can be annoying, she points out that this is the only way of life the locals know.

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BAR WORKER: Ana Somoza Torres

"I would much rather be in this heat than be cold." So there you have it, become a hermit, cover every part of your body and drink at least a gallon of water/Lucozade and you should just about survive a heatwave on holiday. And as for the frying pan egg cooking theory? Let's just say it won't be making its way onto a plate of Full English any time soon. Although, a semi-cooked, anaemic-looking egg isn't bad for a first attempt. It was 6pm after all.

LOCALS: Lottery vendor Enrique and (above) Maria and Paqui

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ABLAZE: Manilva burning while (inset left) recent drug

“If drug gangs were behind the blaze, then it’s possible a huge amount of drugs was brought to shore that night,” added Shelton. Some 400 residents had to

be evacuated as the fire began encroaching on nearby homes. It took emergency services until 8.30am to get the flames under control, pro-

haul and (top right) car pulled from sea

but these were quickly squashed given that the fire started around 6km away from the display. More than 40 firefighters tackled the fires in the area of Los Hidalgos, Hacienda Guadalupe and El Goleto residential developments and elephants or 340 people. campsites in the The tourist attraction which was Duquesa area. opened by Luke Skywalker actor, The mayor deMark Hamill and Fabian Picardo, scribed the event is believed to have been damaged as a ‘night of confuby a tool and the Government are sion’, and thanked not ruling out vandalism. The Government clarified that the authorities for other layers of the Skywalk remain ensuring no one intact but the replacement of the was hurt or indamaged glass may take up to 10jured. 12 weeks. Guardia Civil told the Olive Press they could not confirm the cause of the fire and added that INFOCA fire investigators needed at least two more days before arriving to a conclusion. The investigation continues.

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In Mallorca

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to be Small towns seem fun in Mallorca having all the Gillian this August, writes keller beach

time for lively UMMER is primewatering BBQs and all parties, mouthunder the stars. night dancing small towns across Malthe seaAnd even the know how to celebrate lorca certainly up our top fesson in style. has rounded The Olive Presskeep you entertained through tival picks to August.

Port of Valldemossa

celebrates with town of Can Picafort The little beach for two weeks mid August popular the Virgin Mary artisan craft fair. Also the a market andis a rubber ducky race, while run) among locals a spectacular correfoc (fire the tearing through party ends with and fireworks with demons town.

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He deserves what happened to him. Sorry, not being nasty but you don’t poo on balconies. Abdelaziz Benfares, Andalucia

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15th 2018 Vol. 2 Issue 34 www.theolivepress.es August 2nd - August

BOATING HORROR

Tourists plan legal action after losing arm and leg in hellish speedboat accident By Gillian Keller

TWO young tourists are planning to sue after losing an arm and a leg in a horrific speedboat accident. The German holidaymakers were testing an underwater scooter off Es Trenc beach when the speeding vessel drove right through them and left them for dead. “Suddenly a boat appeared and was going very, very fast and hit us,” said victim Max, 20. “None of the crew of that boat helped us. “I had to swim 15 meters to our boat after losing my arm, I was so afraid of bleeding out”. The boat’s propeller had sliced his arm off just above

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HORRIFIC: Guardia Civil diver finds tourist’s arm

the elbow. His friend Tobias, 26, was left floating in the water after having his leg shredded to pieces. A member of the boys’ boat helped drag them aboard before speeding to the beach where they were met by medics, some 45 minutes after the hit-and-run.

on seabed

Tobias’s leg had to be amputated due to the severity of the injuries and remains in intensive care with a critical prognosis, while Max is believed to be in a stable condition. Doctors had been hopeful after Guardia Civil divers found Max’s limb among sea plants close to the shore

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of Es Trenc beach the next day, that it could be reattached to his body. But surgeons have now ruled out the option as it was left submerged overnight. The lads had just finished their exams in Germany their and were enjoying Untitled-1.pdf first trip to the island.

Liz pops up

16/06/2017

15:36

Elizabeth Hurley sets up shop on Mallorca, see page 3

He got what he deserved. When we lived in Ibiza I was walking past a hotel with my daughter and an idiot dropped a full beer bottle from his balcony, it missed me by inches. I have no doubts that it would have killed me if it had hit me on the head. Couldn’t find who did this but I have never forgotten it. It was without doubt a British drunken yob who did it.

CMY

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of PALACE THE Sports Vista Alegre de Córdoba is being prepared to provide shelter for the 220 migrants who recently arrived in Patera as the situation is deemed a migratory emergency.

SEE MORE IN THE RESTAURANT SECTION INSIDE

Lynda Crawford, Plymouth, UK

SOME 101 cats have been rescued from a Malaga home. The feline haul came following complaints from neighbours of a ‘foul smell’ and ‘endless howling’ at night. just Grupona agents raided the home north of the city to find dozens of cats crammed into a courtyard of 12sqm. The house had been divided into two, with the owner, 37, saying he thought he only had around 45 pets.

FERAL: Some of the 101 cats

have POLICE seized six kilograms of marijuana, two kilograms of hashish, 278 grams of hash oil, packsome and ages of narcotics in a private smoking club on the Costa del Sol, arresting six.

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

Security fraud Nacional POLICIA have discovered a fraud of over two million euros over Social Security funds conducted by 21 companies in Malaga and Granada. Eight businessmen and managers were arrested.

The dweller said he began housing felt cats which started breeding but he too bad to get rid of them, adding that things had ‘gotten out of hand’. Police said the dweller was likely suffering from Noah Syndrome, which burdens sufferers with a need to horde animals. The cats had to be removed in three separate rescue missions, with Zoosanitary the to all 101 being taken Centre. Police are investigating.

Find him!

Manhunt for British expat filmed abusing his dog on Costa del Sol

Drugs bust

Diane Scrimshaw, Mijas

expat paper in Spain

Llucmajor

their patron saint of been celebrating Llucmajor has making this year’s celebrations with for 300 years, Candida a party not to miss, 12. Festes de Santa running until Augustown MaMallorca’s events and activities a concerts by 4, parades with traEvents include on August and the big event ria del Mar Bonet on the 9 and 11, ditional giants dance on August 12. and Cavallets Sant Salvador with art exhibitions, until AuArta celebrates and parties everyday concerts, parades power’ 70s gust 7. town hosts a ‘flower On August 5 thelive DJs throwing a hotly anticipatAugust party, with with after. On the final night, fit for with a party ed party the night at will fill the town 7, live music a spectacular fireworks display all, ending with

with evening concerts 22. Festival is back Sa Pobla's Jazzthe Sala Es Cavallets on August and after dark and seminars for musicians, workshops There are also continues most art exhibitions. Music Festival The Deia International September. Taiwan will be Thursdays until Yi Yang from the US and On August 2 Wei on the piano. on the cello on Bach performing Schumann Bilbao will play Asier Polo from estate Son Marroig August 16. at the stunning All concerts areMediterranean. continues overlooking thein August the Chopin festivalmonastery, Every Sunday with concerts at the local in ValldemossaCartoixa. to Claustre de la their elegant views and architecturethe throughout Andratx uses outdoor concerts host unforgettable month of August.

CAT-NAPPER PROBED

Migrant preparation

August 1st - August 14th 2018

CRIME

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Prayers and thoughts

Voted

Cala d’Or

of Authe first two weeks del Cala d’Or spendsthe Festes Sant Maria the for gust celebrating full of events fairs and Mar with a program Sporting events, fill the whole family. and parades to artmarkets, art exhibitions and pay homage of art number streets with colour Ferrari, with a ist Joan Riera installations.

4-19 the Port From August hosts over for of Valldemossa a week of celebrations sa Marina. the Festes de a popular Events include on the beach sardine grill an open-air on August 14, 16 showcinema on August fishing coning Cars 3 and 18 with a tests on August given to each box of worms The festival participant. a feast where ends with up as the diners dress Christians, folMoors and and party in lowed by music the square.

Musical notes

Can Picafort

Tulip Wijsmuller, Andalucia NEWS IN BRIEF

SEE PAGE 20

SEE PAGE 6

2018 14th 2018 - August 15th August 2nd August 1st - August

CULTURA LA LACULTURA

Party Guide

Selva

saint with honours its patron from The town of Selva for Festes Sant Llorenc an square hosts a week of festivities conThe town’s main August 5 - 11. almost every day, including On dancing. evening event and plenty of around town, tour certs, art exhibitions will be a tapas and resAugust 9 there at every participating bar with live music taurant.

Our Princeton interns travel to the Aracena, the birthplace of Jamon

We map Spain’s love - and hate for its most controversial sport

Don’t miss our Mallorca party guide for this summer SEE PAGE 10

Good, about bloody time! (Find him, issue 297) Last year they let him go when 4 people down our street phoned the police to report his horrendously vile abuse of the dog who was a puppy at the time....

British lad ‘tried to take a poo over balcony’ before plunging six floors in Spain, remains in critical condition

Force too strong

European trips leaving weekly Transport and removal services

Dog abuser

Worrying trend

viding the perfect smoke screen for the drug smugglers. Rumours had circulated that the fireworks may have been to blame for the blaze,

THE Government has confirmed that Gibraltar’s latest tourist attraction has cracked just months after opening. The Skywalk, which is located 340 meters above sea-level and boasts views of the Mediterranean, will be closed to the public while repairs take place. It comes after the Government said in March that the Skywalk could hold the weight of five Asian

August 15th - August 28th 2018

Well another young Briton enjoying his holiday with his mates. His family will be grieving for the rest of their lives. Just hope his mates learn from such a hard lesson. Prayers and thoughts are with his family.

Dumped

The grey vehicle is typical of drug gangs and is believed to have been dumped in the sea after its engine failed. The fire started at around 1.30am on Sunday night, while the Manilva feria was celebrating its end with a fireworks display. According to reports, several 4x4s were seen racing at high speed from the beach while the hills of Manilva burned.

TRIBUTE: On the Rock

LETTERS

www.theolivepress.es

A MANHUNT is underway after a British expat was filmed abusing his dog on the Costa del Sol. The 30-second clip shows the owner pick up his pet and slam him against the wall in Sabinillas, Manilva. He then repeatedly slaps and hits the animal before dragging him by his lead. The young woman who filmed the video said she started filming after hearing shouting and what sounded like a commotion. “I thought it was going to kick off, but he just picked his dog up by its neck and slammed it against the wall, it was awful to watch.

Padierna probe THE owner of luxury hotel Villa Padierna is being investigated for misappropriation of funds after terminating the services of a health and wellness company. BDB Wellness, which was loaned spaces at the Villa Padierna in Benahavis and Malaga, was kicked out of the hotel chain in 2014. But according to the charges, CEO Ricardo Arranz refused to return the equipment and prevented staff from entering the premises. The prosecution is seeking two years in prison for misappropriation, coercion and disclosure of confidential information. Arranz argued that customers were complaining about the management of the wellness services, particularly the requirement to pay in cash only. Owner of BDB Wellness Ángel Domenech denied the claims.

Manilva town for over a decade. An expat close to him told the Olive Press: “He used to be a lovely lad and was well liked around here, it’s a real shame.” Bowden, who is now believed to be a squatter, lists himself as self-employed on Facebook. He is now believed to be in danger after receiving several threats of violence on social media. “Where does he live?” one wrote, “I will find him and put him in the ground, seriand (right) shocking clip ously.” SEARCH: For Bowden (left) told the Olive trying to resist going with Guardia Civil “I wanted to do something his owner but is yanked into Press this week that they but as a young woman alone submission. have seen the video and I thought the best I could do The owner is alleged to be are actively searching for was record him for evidence known locally as Chris Jack Bowden. to give to police.” Bowden and has lived in the The poor dog can be seen

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Name and shame him! I feel sorry for all the locals who have to live and work in the area with all of these fools on their silly holidays. Can you imagine what this lads mum/ parents must think? I’m sure mortified doesn’t come close....

of the

week

Dear Olive Press, On Saturday August 11 my husband and I were escorting a group of relatives to see the historic sites in Antequera. We arrived at the Plaza de Santa Maria in front of the entrance to the Alcazaba with my husband slightly ahead of the main group. Suddenly he felt liquid hit his back and looked round to see the back of his shirt and shorts covered in what he thought was a large amount of particularly noxious bird droppings. A man approached him with a packet of paper hankies and appeared to help my husband to wipe the mess off without much success. My husband saw public conveniences nearby and headed for them and the man followed him in. We were all totally duped into thinking that the man was just being helpful while in fact once in the toilet he was carefully removing my husband's wallet, taking all his holiday money worth over €500 and then skillfully replacing the empty wallet back in the pocket of his shorts without my husband being any the wiser. We only discovered the theft later in the day when we went shopping. 4

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I fully understand the negative comments and yes something must be done to stop the astronomical amount of people fleeing their homelands. (50,000 migrants are waiting to storm Spain from Morocco) None of us have ever been in such a desperate state (and I hope we never are) but just imagine if it were you and your family: how would you feel turned away from any refuge? I don't have a solution but there must be one somewhere! DFS Mijas Costa Parque Comercial Miramar

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Migrant desperation next to Decathlon and facing Iceland

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Sue Allder, Andalucia

Fair treatment Well if they don’t want to be part of the EU they’ll have to be treated like any other non-EU on entering an EU country. (Bracing for brexit?, issue 297) Can’t have it both ways but it will be a nightmare for British expats who are frequent travellers. Jennifer Knowles, www.theolivepress.es

Pat Worthington, Ireland Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

NEWS

BRACING FOR BREXIT? August 1st - August 14th 2018

Workers claim Brits at Spanish ‘Brexit zone’ with Russians and airport to be separated into new Algerians EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

SPAIN’S airport authority AENA has denied preparing ‘Brexit zones’ ahead of the UK’s departure from the EU next year. It comes after an Olive Press reader claimed he was told by an EasyJet representative at Alicante Elche Airport that the new high tech passport control barriers being constructed were to separate Brits from other European travellers in preparation for Brexit. An Olive Press investigation has revealed the airport, one of the most visited by Brits in Spain, is constructing a separate zone which will have two small cafes and limited shops. Once travellers go through the barriers - which are apparently due to start operating this week - won’t be allowed back into the rest of the airport. “It’s ‘la zona de Brexit’,” a Duty Free sales assistant told

March last year. The new rules demand more stringent entry and exit checks on passengers from countries outside the 26-nation Schengen border-free zone - which includes UK travellers - in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. The lengthier checks caused catastrophic delays last summer and in a bid to avoid this, AENA said it is installing 50 ABC barriers in departures and 21 in arrivals at Alicante airport.

NEW BARRIERS: At Alicante airport the Olive Press this week, Regulation “the British will be sent stalled in front of the barriers. An AENA spokeswoman through there with the Rus- “They’re for the British people. said: “We sians, Ukrainians and Algeri- I had no idea what the barri- machines are installing these ans because they are the only ers were, so I asked security ports in across many airother non-EU flights that go and they told me it’s for non Malaga, to Spain, including Europeans, mostly the British speed up passport from this airport. control and “We’re all confused about because you’re leaving the EU,” cess easier. make the proIt’s got nothing what’s going on because the added the ice cream worker. to do with Brexit.” An EasyUK hasn’t left yet,” she add- But AENA told the Olive Press Jet spokesperson the new area has ‘absolutely said the ed. new measures were due to The sales assistant and a nothing to do with Brexit’ and the new EU worker at an ice cream kiosk that the barriers, named Auto- IAG, which regulation, while matic manages airlines Border Control (ABC), such also revealed two passport as Vueling, control booths have been in- are in response to a new EU ways and Iberia, British Airlaw which came into effect in chose not to comment.

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Normal days It is about 30 in the Alpujarras. (Red alerts have been issued across Spain as a killer heatwave continues to spread across the country) It always gets hot in Córdoba, Sevilla etc.- it’s called summer. By the 16th of August the days are shorter and the heat reduces. Andrew Barker, Granada

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+TheolivepressEs Picasso’s Shout out for Maria Jose trouble BE ‘APPY! and strife

III Festival de las 3 Culturas de Frigiliana, August 23 - 26

The festival was first held in 2006 to celebrate diverse cultures and promote tourism in the area, combining culture, food, and art. The event is both fun and affordable, with tapas and drinks at only 1.50€, performances by popular artists, and elaborate fireworks displays.

Big one begins

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BAD MOOD: Wife Olga

ONE of Andalucia’s most important festivals has begun. The celebrated Malaga feria features over a week of flamenco, bullfighting and buñuelos. The ten-day feria - which commemorates Malaga being seized by the Catholic Monarchs from the Moors in 1487 - continues until Sunday. Various performances take place in six key squares in the city centre, including Plaza Constitución, Plaza Las Flores and Plaza of La Merced, which has been added for the first time. At night, fun continues at the fairground in Real del Cortijo de Torres, where hundreds of casetas (tents) welcome visitors all night

Malaga’s monster ten-day feria kicks off

long with drinks, tapas and booming music. Unlike the more exclusive sister feria in Sevilla, every caseta is open to anyone who wishes to enter. An incredible 300 live performances are scheduled during the nine days of the fair with traditional flamenco shows taking place every day at the Peña Juan Breva at 1:30pm. Another popular attraction are the bullfights staged every evening in the bullring by the Malagueta at 7:30 p.m. This year’s poster chosen by online popular vote was designed by Malaga-born architect Carlos León, who used 3D models to create the artworks for the poster. The poster, which reads

Location, location, location WANT to know where Lawrence of Arabia had lunch in Sevilla and where Indiana Jones landed his plane in a chase scene in Almeria? Want to find out which beach Halle Berry famously gets out of in Die Another Day and where final shootout in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly took

place? This is all being answered in a new film tourism project launched in Andalucia. The Junta has joined forces with the Andalucian Film Commission to launch the new initiative to encourage tourists to visit key areas where filming has taken place. Called ‘Andalucia, destino de cine’ it is the first project dedicated to promote film tourism on a regional level in Spain. A new website features ‘film routes’ that take the visitors through different scenes filmed in Andalucia from famous award-winning Spanish movies such as Alatriste and La Isla Mínima to international Hollywood films.

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AN Andalucian has stolen away with Spain’s most prestigious flamenco prize. María Jose Carrasco, a singer from Los Palacios, near Sevilla, has won the Lampara Minera at the 58th International Festival of Cante de Las Minas held in Murcia. Carrasco took home the €15,000 prize, along with the trophy, for her ‘masterful’ execution of the minera, a flamenco song from the mining region of nearby Cartagena. PICASSO’s first wife is to be “I’m in the clouds,” Carrasco told the crowds, making a striking figure Download our app now and the focus of a new exhibiwith her headdress made from rosemary and with a fiery red dress. begin enjoying theartist best Spanish She previously made the finals in 2004, 2005 and 2006. tion showing how the changed his Another artist from Sevilla, pianist Andrés Barrios received the newsstyle on theasgo.often as he changed his women. highest ‘El Filón’ award and €6,000 euros in the instrumental category. The Malaga Museo Picasso Agustín Carbonell ‘El Bola,’ a guitarist from Barcelona, was presented the show next year will illus‘Bordon minero’ trophy, the highest distinction for flamenco guitar. trate the different direction his artistic representations of Olga Khokhlova took as their relationship deteriorated. The exhibition will reconnews in Spain! struct hisTOP bodyfor of work within the context of a personal story that developed alongside their fall out. Another major show for next year will explore the link between the artist and American sculptor Alexander Calder.

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Juega tu Feria (enjoy your fair) features iconic landmarks of Málaga, such as the La Farola lighthouse and the famous, giant ferris wheel.

tarlite 2018: Estopa, August 21

Coming to Marbella is the Rumba Rock sibling duo Estopa, a band which has sold over 4 million records due to their unique urban flamenco and rumba style. The concert starts at 10:30pm, and tickets cost 52€.

2nd Costa del Sol Kayak Gathering, August 25

This celebration of kayaking and canoeing will be held on the beach of La Fuente de la Salud. The participants will travel along the cost of Benalmádena and have the opportunity to take part in other games, contests, and raffles.

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Caves of COMMUNAL ORDEAL: Zambia is a metaphor for suffering

How the victims of 16th century religious persuction fused their cultures to create a unique flamenco art form, writes Grace Lee

WO rolling hills face each other across the city of Granada in the Valley of Paradise: Alhambra and Sacromonte. Although they sit less than 500 metres apart on opposite sides of the Río Darro, they couldn’t be more different. While Alhambra is a patchwork of green, Sacromonte is bare and dry and while one boasts one of the world’s architectural wonders, the other is riddled

with gypsy caves and imbued with a mystical spirit called duende. After the Christian Reconquest in the 16th century, Sacromonte became a refuge for all the minorities and misfits who faced persecution under the Catholic Monarchs. Moriscos (Muslims forced to convert to Christianity) and Gypsies were among those who hid out in its rocky hills to escape religious oppression

and societal judgement. In contrast to the grandiose palaces dotting the Alhambra, its southern counterpart, Sacromonte’s cave homes hollowed out of the bare rock, with makeshift aluminium doors and faded rags for curtains, remain telltale signs of the gypsies’ adversities. With its arid climate and steep muscle-searing hike up to the caves, Sacromonte has never offered the most

TALE OF TWO SLOPES: Verdent Alhambra and barren Sacromonte

ideal living conditions. But for these outcasts and refugees, it was a safe haven where they could find both

freedom and acceptance. It was a place to call home. The caves also allowed the natural intermingling among

their inhabitants, creating a platform for the exchange of culture and history. And like a chemical reaction, the

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CULTURA

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f hope

In the caves of Sacromonte, It’s a raw and passionate often called the cradle of art form where the dancers’ Flamenco, Zambra shows facial expressions speak as are held every evening. much as their dance moves The performance revolves in an outpouring of emotions around sathat are infeccred rituals tious. One by in a tradione, the auWe smile when tional gypsy dience in the wedding - La cave begins they smile, Alborea, La to mirror the grimace when Cuchacha dancers’ exand La Mosthey grimace. A pressions. We ca - featursmile when ing emotive communal ordeal they smile, songs and dygrimace when namic dances they grimace, unique to Sacromonte. In and breath a sigh of relief every measure of the music, as they do when the tempo the performers exude fer- relaxes. It’s a communal orvent emotions and dynamic deal. movements. With a guitarist strumming in the background, performers of the Zambra sing, clap, and dance, constantly switching between these roles and supporting each other. Even after an exuberant, intense dance with their feet constantly moving and castanets clacking, the artists return to their seats with unfading energy to join the singing, hand-clapping audience while others take their place on stage. Although Moriscos and Gypsies were the pioneers of this strong and vibrant community of Sacromonte, they are no longer alone. Down the centuries, nomads from all corners of the world have sought out Sacromonte to capture some of its free spirit for themselves. And many more visit the slopes of Sacromonte every day to take in its picturesque white-washed landscape and the gypsies’ famous Zambra shows. What started out as as a refuge for the socially rejected has now become a hotspot for visitors from every walk of life and the people of Sacromonte do not discriminate. Sacromonte welcomes and accepts them all. CAVE HOMES: Full of history and culture long interaction between these two diverse cultures gave rise to Zambra Flamenco, a fusion of Andalus, Gypsy and Moorish traditions. Zambra originates from the Arabic zámra, which means a celebration with music and dancing. The genre combines the complex emotions and vivid experiences of the cavedwellers in this celebrated gypsy art form. Both Moriscos and Gypsies were considered ‘malditos’ (cursed) in 15th and 16th century Spain and their songs express their shared feelings of neglect, pain and isolation as well as strength, vigilance and joy.

EMOTIONS: Pain, joy, strength and vigilance

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Diana Tang retraces the footsteps of Spain’s most famed and tragic poet during his centenary year

FELL in love with Federico Garcia Lorca when I was 17, sitting in a circle on a dirty school carpet with my Spanish Literature class reading La Casa de Bernarda Alba. I found myself in a world vastly progressive for its time of writing. There’s a reason why Lorca’s name has gone down in history as one of Spain’s best poets. The genius behind great literary classics like Bernarda Alba’s House and Blood Wedding constructed unforgettably descriptive,

avant-garde works that still resonate with readers today. It’s 100 years since Lorca published his first book, Impresiones y Paisajes, his only work of prose. More than a diary of his travels, the book is a social commentary on politics and aesthetics. This year would also have been the poet’s 120th birthday, which has given the city of Granada two reasons to declare 2018 the Year of Lorca. Granada held a special place in the heart of the art-

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An ode to Lorca ist who once said that if he ever became famous, ‘half of that fame will belong to Granada, which formed me and made me what I am.’ The city had a profound impact on his works, instilling his deep love for nature, introducing him to some of his closest companions, and, in the words of Lorca himself, giving him ‘a sympathetic understanding of those who are persecuted.’ Taking a copy of Impresiones y Paisajes as our guide, the Olive Press ventured forth to discover how Lorca’s Granada compares to the modern provincial capital of today.

Restaurante Chikito

MODERN THINKER: Lorca supported the perscuted

Lorca, who was sadly murdered by fascist thugs during the Spanish Civil War, found some of his closest friends and fellow intellectuals in Cafe Alameda, a meeting place for discussions of the Rinconcillo tertulia (debating society)and members of Granada’s Artistic, Literary and Scientific Society. These encounters provided an outlet for Lorca’s artistic perspective and progressive conversation. It was here he met famous musicians and artists such as Manuel de Falla, connections that would form his support

COUNTRY LIFE: Lorca got to understand how servants lived at Hierta de San Vincente

group for years to come. The cafe’s name has changed but Restaurante Chikito still upholds the spirit of the Rinconcillo. Its motto, el arte de hacer amigos - the art of making friends - is evident in the open layout of the restaurant and its cozy vibe.

Lorca is also present. His lifesized sculpture is appropriately seated at a table in the corner, pencil in hand and seemingly deep in thought. The statue was created by José Castro and unveiled in 2015 by the mayor of Granada, José Torres Hurtado, in

the poet’s memory. Lorca would be pleased to know the food is still great, but the real wow factor is being able to sit in the very room where the poet and his friends broke bread and chewed the fat over everything from the fad for Orien-

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RIP: Lorca’s alleged burial spot and plaque

CENTRE OF THE DEBATE: Statue of Lorca in Chikito

talism to fascism.

Getting to know the staff “People all over the world come here,” tour guide Francisco Ramallo told me. “It’s amazing the way people love Lorca.” Huerta de San Vicente, Lorca’s summer home from 1926 to 1936, stands in the middle of the park dedicated to his memory. From its many balconies, the Alhambra Palace and the snow-capped peaks of the and Sierra Nevada were once were visible before the city’s taller buildings blotted out the view. Lorca was inspired by nature

and the people of Huerta de San Vicente itself. According to Ramallo, he would spend hours with the servants in the kitchen, conversing and taking notes, using their stories and perspectives in his works. The desire to get to the nitty gritty of local life was a key element in Lorca’s literary style, which combined modern thought with traditional lifestyles. The house-museum presents a complete picture of Lorca as poet, artist and musician. His rough sketches of costumes and backdrops for performances by La Barraca, a theatre group he directed, hang on the wall, and a large grand piano sits in the corner collecting dust.

In Lorca’s bedroom is the exact desk on which he wrote some of his most famous works, such as Blood Wedding and Yerma. With the original furniture still intact, from the tiled floor in Lorca’s room to the old-fashioned light switch, visitors can walk in the poet’s footsteps and beam themselves back to the past.

Poet central

Dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Lorca and his legacy, the gift shop is a treasure trove combining collections of his Continues overleaf

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MURDERED: Lorca was killed by a fascist firing squad

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works with stylised covers reflecting an artist’s understanding of how his plays have contributed to the modern world. From biographies to illustrated poems to ‘Lorca for kids,’ the shop showcases the poet’s broad appeal, regardless of generation or fashion. Unfortunately closed during our visit, the centre will reopen in September with a new season of cultural events dedicated to Lorca.

Albayzin

Lorca called it a ‘jagged oriental dream against the sky’ and the description could not be more fitting. The Albayzin is a Moorish wonderland, filled with the cries of street vendors selling their handcrafted rugs, jewelry and artisan soaps. Every winding street bears witness to the timelessness of this narrow, undulating district which is just as Lorca describes in Impresiones y Paisajes: deeply lyrical, with beautiful buildings and luscious gardens in full bloom; and full of the smells of incense and the songs of street performers. But beneath the Moorish romanticism lies ‘an atmosphere of infinite anguish’, as Lorca wrote, and you can still feel it today. It is ‘an atmosphere burdened with

MAGICAL: Lorca was particularly inspired by the charming architecture and narrow lanes of the Albayzin

the strumming of guitars and phlegmatic cries of the gypsies...a murmur of gypsy

longing’, he wrote. Flamenco is a dance full of passion, energy, anguish and

emotion and the intensity of watching a dancer up close in the gypsy cave Zambra Maria La Canastera gave me a taste of that ‘gypsy longing’. The strained expressions of the dancers, the heavy guitar strums and the

shouting accompanying the song Gitana by Manzanita is the same gypsy performance that tugged at Lorca’s heartstrings. Lorca was such an admirer of the romancero gitano (gypsy ballads) he published a col-

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RELICS: Museum dedicated to Lorca’s work

LUSCIOUS: Federico Garcia Lorca park

lection of poems in 1928 by that very name. And as Lorca was inspired by gypsy culture, so gypsy culture was inspired by the poet. Walking in nearby Sacromonte, evidence of Lorca is everywhere, from a larger-than-life portrait of him in a flamenco cave to posters of upcoming homages to the artist plastered over the walls. Lorca has left an indelible mark on society in general and the city of Granada in particular. In his brief lifetime of 38 years, he touched the lives of so many with his words. The themes he sought to represent - brotherhood, culture and freedom - are especially remembered now, during El Año de Lorca, but they will never be forgotten. They remain ingrained in Granada forever.

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AIRY bikers and sporty mountainbikers hug the curvy road like a well-loved woman but if you’re a motorist going to Gaucín, wear a seatbelt! The ‘Camino de Gibraltar’, as the old road was known, was built by the Romans to provide access to Gibraltar and the sea from Ronda. And not a great deal seems to have changed, judging from the potholes. But brave the long and winding road to this classic white village and your courage will be rewarded as you arrive in a picturesque pueblo which seems to collapse in on itself. Colloquially referred to as ‘El Balcon de la Serrania’ (Balcony of the Serrania de Ronda), Gaucin has a foothold halfway into one of Andalucia’s most stunning mountain ranges. Originally settled by the Romans and extended into a military fortification by the Moors,

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A touch of class With its picture postcard villages and lush landscape, watered by the cleanest river in Europe, the Genal Valley has been called The Cotswolds of Spain. Gaucin, perched on the Balcony of the Serrania, is its crowning glory the village is rich in history. The Camino de Gibraltar, which runs through the village, made Gaucin a popular rest stop for Roman soldiers and, later, British artists such as David Roberts, a painter from the 19th century Romantic school. However one of the most infamous historical dates that stands out in the minds of Gaucin natives today is the 1808 invasion of the French during the Napoleonic Wars. A heavy loss was suffered when the village was pillaged, and nearly all of its inhabitants murdered.

Gaucin was eventually reconquered by the Spanish in a triumphant battle that is reenacted by the locals annually, wearing authentic French military uniforms. Today Gaucin is more famous as one of Andalucía’s most sought-after chill-out destinations – an artists’ enclave full of character and charm. If you’re looking for a relaxed holiday, away from the bright lights of the Costa del Sol, Gaucin is made to measure. Ask Fatboy Slim and his wife Zoe Ball who have been a couple of times, ask Jamie Oliver,

or the Sainsbury family who frequently come in summer… and above all, ask Gordon Ramsey who has spent a week filming a TV show in the town at the now defunct Granada Divino restaurant. Sleepy and slow-paced but not devoid of life, you only have to plug into the breathtaking views to recharge your batteries: a panorama encompassing the Rock of Gibraltar and Morocco on one side, and the sweeping valleys of the Ronda mountain range on the other. To appreciate these views at their best, strap on your walking shoes and get ready for some invigorating but very doable hikes along the old Camino de Gibraltar itself, following in Roman footsteps… Finding the path is easy as it is very clearly sign-posted in the village. Just don’t forget your water bottle! Turn to Page 22

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To see the valleys, pay a visit to the Castillo del Aguila (Eagle Castle), a Roman castle now in ruins that watches over Gaucin like a sentinel. It’s easy to find from the northern side of the village and well worth the trip. Throw in the mountainside church and high-rise cemetery, and the adjoining history museum, for the complete experience.

Lounge lizarding If you just want to kick back and play lounge lizard, Gaucin can help with that too. Or at least, that’s according to one British couple holidaying in the village. When asked what there was to do in Gaucin, their reply was succinct: “Sleep.” But while, it can certainly be a quiet restful place for a break, you can also enjoy the buzz in summer hanging out at one of the pavement cafes. Gaucin is bursting with personality, so hanging out in town is an entertainment. Excellent cafes, restaurants, shops and hotels are scattered throughout, and in summer the population of 2,000 inhabitants, grows manyfold. Although distinctly Spanish, Gaucin also bears the hallmarks of an expat invasion. As you browse the artisan shops and trendy clothing boutiques, look out for the handpainted ceramic lizards that adorn the walls of almost every

street. These ‘salamandres,’ as they’re known, were created by a couple of locals as a marketing ploy to give Gaucin identity.

Though no one knows why the salamander was chosen, they became wildly popular (400 went up in total) through a competition among local art-

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ists to create the most original lizard. On the subject of artists, the town has perhaps the most important collection of artists on

the Costa del Sol, with dozens having studios in the town. This all becomes abundantly clear when twice a year the group organise their Art Gaucin

weekends during which they throw open their doors and sell dozens of paintings. In between retail therapy and lizard spotting, make sure you seek out the centuries.

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Guy Hunter-Watts describes his favourite route to discover the best of Gaucin’s scenery

his route makes for a great half-day walk out from Gaucin. It’s easy to follow, the views change with every turn in the path and the ancient cork oaks which you pass are home to abundant bird life. Be prepared for a steepish haul first thing as you head up the north-eastern flank of El Hacho and another at the end of the walk when you head back up to Gaucín. After following a narrow, somewhat overgrown path early in the walk - you may feel more comfortable in long trousers - there’s a longish section of forestry track mid-walk where you can abandon yourself to the soaring views out towards the Sierra del Pino and the Sierra del Libar: your feet take care of themselves at this point. During the winter months you may come across teams of cork cutters: the oaks are particularly memorable when seen after their nine-yearly cut.

El Hacho

The walk begins at the Campsa petrol station on the outskirts of Gaucin, to one side of the A-369. Just before the entrance of the petrol station (at the northern end) head along Calle Camino del Montorio. Reaching house no.16 cut hard left and pick up a path which runs to the left of a line of eucalyptus trees. The path climbs steeply between two fences, past groves of olives and almonds. Ahead you’ll now spot the path you’ll soon be following, cutting across the northern flank of El Hacho. When you reach a fork, keep left and continue to climb. Shortly the path swings hard right, running parallel to a track which is just above you. It becomes more overgrown as it passes just beneath a large, statuesque rock where it divides. Take the left fork and continue climbing. The path becomes clearer as it passes a post with white and yellow P.R. waymarking then runs up to a pylon at the top of the ridge. (20 mins) Here pass through a wire-andpost gate then, bearing slightly left, follow a narrow path which winds down through thick undergrowth beneath the oaks and conifers. It soon becomes clearer and leads to a fence and another wire-and-post gate. Beyond the gate the path continues to wind on through thick undergrowth before angling right and descending towards a pylon. A few metres before you reach the pylon cut left and continue along the narrow path that snakes through cistus, gorse and oaks then, descending, runs past a calera – an old lime kiln. Passing beneath overhead cables it soon descends to another gate with a sign for Coto Privado de Caza. Go through the gate and bear left along a more clearly defined path. You shortly come to a rocky pass to the left of the path. Bear left here, following the path through the breach in the hillside. The path runs on beneath a green–posted fence, descends, then crosses a (dry) stream, then loops hard to the right. You now lose the fence and shortly

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The walk of the cork cutters The Nitty Gritty Distance: 11 kms Time required: 4/4.5 hours Rating: Medium Map: 1:50000 Cortes de la Frontera

(1064/14-46) Water: No springs so take plenty

come to an indistinct fork. Here bear left. The path winds steeply down then crosses another (dry) stream. Just beyond the stream the path divides. Take the lower, right hand fork and drop down the hill parallel to the stream that you have just crossed. After crossing the second of two small (dry) streams the path angles away from the fence then runs uphill and meets with a track leading towards a newlybuilt house. Here angle right and drop down the track towards a pylon. Just before reaching the pylon (1 hr) you come to a junction with a broader track. Here arc hard right and head along a broad forestry track: you’ll be following the track for the next 40 minutes so you can forget these notes at this stage.

Lazy contours The track gradually descends as views open out to the west. Passing a quarry, then a farm where pigs and goats are raised, you reach a junction. Carry straight on, ignoring a left fork down towards Finca La Capellania. Continue along the main track ignoring a smaller track which you’ll soon see leading up to the right. The track

TRECK: The road to Gaucin

contours lazily round the valley and eventually Gaucin comes into sight. Soon the track loops sharply left, crosses a tributary of Garganta de las Palas then a few hundred metres further crosses the Garganta de las Palas itself. The track now bears hard left, crosses a cattle grid, then runs on for about 600m and crosses a third stream bed. Careful! 225m past this stream look for a small white sign Camino de Gaucín a Cortes in a tree to the right of the track. (1 hr 45 mins) It’s easily missed but you should also spot cairns - manmade piles of stones - to the left and right of the track. Here bear sharply right away from the track and follow a path steeply up through the heather, gorse and lavender. The path winds on up through the cork oaks and eventually passes through a gate made from an old bed base where it broadens before meeting with a better-defined track by a green metal gate. Bearing right you eventually pass by a group of modern buildings then come to the Ronda-Gaucin road. Turn right. Just past a bandstand cut left along Calle Queipo de Llano following a sign for Centro urbano. After passing a small roundabout head straight on along Calle Los Bancos then arc right into

Calle del Corral. Continue past the Unicaja bank then cross the street and, passing right of Modas Teresa, head to the end of the Calle Barrio Alto. Here bear right and, having passed

the Guardia Civil HQ, you reach the Ronda-Gaucin road, the A-369, and your point of departure. (2 hrs 30 mins) The Walk of the Cork Cutters is taken from Walking in Andalucia

by Guy Hunter-Watts. The book is available via amazon.co.uk, ISBN: 978-84-89954-92-2. The author welcomes feedback about any changes you may encounter via guy@rondatejar.com

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aucin

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Ancient roots

My Gaucin One of the first expats to live in the area, Mary Beker remembers what Gaucin was like when she moved…

T all started with an advert in The Observer. Mary Beker, 67, originally from Warrington, moved to the town on a permanent basis in 1975 when Franco was still in charge. Here she tells the Olive Press about her early years there. “I saw an advert offering a free weekend in nearby Jimena where they would show you properties around the area. I hadn’t really thought about moving here, I just fancied the free weekend. But I just fell in love with the place. It was a bit of an adventure as it was a long way from everywhere. At the time there was no road to the coast and no ring road bridge, so you had to really want to come here, it wasn’t convenient. There are a lot of English there now but the foreigners that were there before were quire adventurous. We were very involved with the Spanish, and they kind of adopted us. I was always ‘their

August 15th - August 28th 2018

foreigner’ and because I had a car I would get invitations to weddings and pig slaughters ‘Matanzas’ because I could take people. They used to call people who had been as far as Ronda munditos because they had seen the wide world. Most of them had never been to the coast, had never been to the beach even though they could see the sea from Gaucin. Of course, back then there were only three cars in the village. Because there wasn’t much space to park I used to leave the keys in the car and someone would move it if they needed to. There was no concern about anybody stealing it and there still isnt. Women didn’t go in bars in those days and I had to change the way I dressed. All the other women still wore black. Now some of the teenagers seem half naked. It really has changed tremendously, but still, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful villages in Europe.

Dream big

After upping sticks and building a dream property Geoffrey Banham, Director at Andalucia Country Houses, is helping expats find their perfect home in Spain A MOMENT of madness back in 1995 saw me purchase a plot of land on a hillside near the village of Casares. There I built a little villa overlooking the sea and like so many before me, my love affair with Spain began! Turning my back on my city trader life in London, I wanted a different type of life. My experience of building a house in Andalucia led me to buy small village houses in the region, developing them and selling them on to expats in search of a similar dream to my own. In time I expanded into estate agency, specialising in country property, which is a specialist subject as rules and regulations are always changing. The greatest satisfaction is helping people achieve their own dream of owning a home in Spain and giving them the guidance and sup-

Gaucin was once one of the most fought over towns in southern Spain

long with Gibraltar, the town of Gaucín has served as a key gateway from the south into Europe. Ruins and architecture in this mountain town nestled in Serranía de Ronda tell the rich history of great powers grappling for control of Gaucín, a stepping stone to extend their empires further into Europe. The Castillo del Aguila (Eagle’s Castle), a military base of great strategic value, has been under the reign of numerous powerful regimes, from the Romans to the Moors.

Caesar

Roman troops took advantage of Gaucín’s decisive location to access the Ronda mountain range. Laying the foundation for the town, they build a wide network of roads, some of which are still intact today. Gaucín was

MAGESTIC: Castillo del Aguila nestled in the hills of Gaucin

used as an intermediary rest stop for soldiers after the Battle of Munda between Julius Caesar and the Optimates in the Roman Repub-

lic. While the Romans built the first castle, the original construction has been completely replaced by the traces of the following rulers: the

Smugglers’ path

Andalucia Country Houses COUNTRY PROPERTY REAL ESTATE AGENTS since 1998

In the 19th century, Gauín continued to serve as a path of covert agendas and interactions. Long gone were the days of the Romans and the Moors, replaced by smugglers and robbersCASTLE transporting contraband cigarettes and alcohol OR COTTAGE, THE “CHANGE YOUR LIFE B&B”, from Gibraltar to Ronda. The narrow, winding road they A RURAL BUSINESS, PRETTY VILLAGE HOUSE, A REFORM took through the hills is now dubbed ‘The Smugglers Path,’ PROJECT, CHARACTER COUNTRY FINCA? a popular trek for hikers and curious passerby alike. Everyone has a dream property out there somewhere, we are here to help you achieve that dream. With over 20 years experience of selling country property in Spain, we think we can safely say we know our stuff when it comes to rural property and Andalucia!

port I wish I had received all those years ago! Are we different? Maybe we are different from some agencies, maybe not. Like all serious businesses we want to offer our expertise, give good customer service, listen to our clients’ needs and respond in the best way we know how. My small, dedicated team help in every way possible, whether it is with holiday rentals, property management, listings, viewings we are a team that go above and beyond. We will offer you sound, impartial advice, guide you through the ins and outs TEL: 956 948of730 Throughout Andalucia we(+34) list any type rural of property purchase in rural Andalucia and be there for you going forward MOBILE: (+34) 682 112Casa089 tourism businesses. We specifically cover should need help with property management, reform work or just a simple phone call to a utilities company! res, Gaucin, Jimena de la Frontera, Ronda and sales@andalucia.country-houses.com www.andalucia-country-houses.com the Campo de Gibraltar. At Andalucia Country Houses, whether you are selling or Come in and Calle see Romo us, drop us an email, or 11330 give Cadiz buying a property, we just make it easy for you! 40. Jimena de la Frontera. us a call and see if we can find the solution for you whether you are buying or selling. HAIR RAISING: The road to Ronda

Moors. After the Moors invaded Spain in 714 and captured Gaucín, the castle was expanded into a grand fortress. During their reign, the castle was called the ‘Zajra Guazan’, derived from an indigenous word ‘zajra’ for rock and an arabic term ‘gauzan’ for strong.

Pirates

Gaucín was finally handed over to the Christian rule in 1457 during the reign of King Enrique IV and the Christian domain was firmly established by 1483. The first Gaucín governor was Captain Pedro del Castillo, who led the troops of Enrique IV in the battles leading up to the capture of Gaucín. Through seizing command over this strategically important location, the Christians were able to protect its lands and keep the Moorish pirates out. Now, white-washed walls and terracotta tiles welcome visitors to this picturesque destination, belying the tumultuous history of the former military hotspot.

Into the valley

T IDYLLIC: Geoffrey Banham built his dream home in Andalucia Tel: (+34) 956 948 730 • MOBILE: (+34) 682 112 089 Sales@andalucia.country-houses.com • www.andalucia-country-houses.com Calle Romo 40, Jimena de la Frontera, 11330, Cadiz

HERE are few regions as evocative and unspoilt as the Genal Valley near Gaucin. Spread over 42,000 hectares between the coast and Ronda, the valley is a paradise for walkers, wildlife lovers and those who just want to get away from it all. It even boasts one of Europe’s cleanest rivers.It is made up of a collection of 16 villages within the Serrania de Ronda, some of which are literally off the map. Moreover, while Gaucin, by far the biggest town in the valley, may have attracted an influx of expats in recent years, few have ventured further into the valley. It remains quintessentially Spanish and for

every few cars, there seems to be a donkey. In fact, taking a trip through the Genal valley is almost like taking a step back in time. “Life here goes on the same,” explains Ana Martinez who runs El Quejigo in Algotocin, selling local hams and cheeses in addition to typical artisanal crafts from the area. “There are less people these days, it is quieter but it hasn’t really changed much over the years.” Certainly tourism is not generally developed in the Genal Valley. But this is brilliant for those that still venture into it, with each authentic village exuding a sense of the ‘real Spain’ or at least, how it used to be when people lived simpler and slower paced lives.

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Merca takeover

Virgin to test the Hyperloop One in Malaga after agreeing a deal with ADIF

ANDALUCIA fashion brand Olimara has been awarded a coveted National Award for Fashion and Business Excellence, otherwise known as a Prenamo. VIRGIN are testing their new The National Association Download our app nowof and Hyperloop One in Malaga, New and Young Designers of creating more than 250 jobs begin enjoying the best Spanish Spain, the organisation bein the area in the next five on the celebrated go. hind thenews awards, years. Malaga-based Olimara for The US company has made its contribution to the Span- a deal with ADIF (Spain’s ish fashion industry. administor of railway structures) to build the €432 million facility in Bobadilla. Any size The Hyperloop system is Founded more than 30 years designed to transport both ago, Olimara is run under people and cargo at approxithe philosophy of offer- mately 1,120 kilometres per The Olive Press ing designs inspired by the hour. needs of women of any size and age.TOP for news in Spain! Project Over the past three decades, the Malaga company According to Virgin’s website, has adapted to new trends the Hyperloop One will be able by introducing new tech- to travel at ‘speeds of up to 700 nologies to the production mph’. process and expanding to The project is set to be online markets and social launched in 2020, and will networks. be used to test the Hyperloop The fashion brand currently during its expansion across has nine of its own stores the world. The system cuts out in Spain and is distributed human error by being comthrough more than 450 indi- pletely autonomous and uses rect channels. electric propulsion to power itself. ADIF claimed Virgin had chosen Malaga for its testing because of the country’s highly qualified workforce and lead-

SPACE AGE: The new Virgin designed train tunnel

Believe in the hype

ership in high-speed rail. The investment however will not go ahead unless 126 million euros is obtained through public aid, loans and grants.

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Faking it S

1. The President is then allowed to set fines between €30 and €600, depending on the important and seriousness of the matter, when breaching the above articles, regardless if any damage made has been restored. These amounts will be deposited into the community’s bank account. 2. Penalties must be notified in writing to the owners committing the infraction, describing the specific infraction and penalty imposed,

which will be charged directly to the owner. 3. The HOA (Homes Owners Association) reserves its right to take legal action against owners in violation. After rubbing my eyes in disbelief, I hastily checked up our main source of legislative updates (www.vlex. es) in case I had missed this implausible new legal change that would give nasty and corrupt presidents and administrators jurisdiction to suppress dissidence within the community of owners. But there was nothing, thankfully. So, is the above prerogative lawful? Absolutely not. The Juridical Regime of the Public Administration Act 30/1992 grants the state the monopoly of imposing pecuniary penalties or similar fines, without exception, following a due adversarial administrative procedure.

Virgin has bought an area of 19,000 square meters for the project which will accommodate all of the equipment needed to make this high-speed

technology a reality. Recently Virgin CEO Richard Branson claimed the hyperloop could be ready for passengers to travel on as early as 2021.

MATHSTONE

VALENCIA-based chain Mercadona closed the second quarter of 2018 with a share of 24.9% in the supermarket consumption. One in every four euros spent by Spanish consumers for food and household supplies was spent in Mercadona. The retail giant again dominated amongst the supermarket chains, showing a growth of 0.6% in its market share share since last year. Carrefour trailed behind Mercadona at 8.3% of market share.

Decline

Dia, a discount supermarket chain, showed the greatest decline in its figure, losing 1.0% of market share to close the second quarter at 7.6%. Its stock-market value has also dropped 60% in the past year. Despite the fall, Dia held the third greatest market share behind Mercadona and Carrefour. Eroski remained in fourth place with 5.5%.

BETTER IDEAS FOR EXPATRIATE INVESTORS

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

A new style of ex patriate investing has arrived.

Beware of phoney community fines, writes Antonio Flores from Lawbird

OME days ago, a worried property owner wrote to us with a query relating to his “Community of Owners”, along with a photo of a resolution recently adopted by the president of the said community. The text read as follows:

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August 15th - August 28th 2018

olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs Fashion forward BE ‘APPY!

15th -11th August March August 29th - April 201828th 2018

Are you ready for a change?

This is not to say that a community of owners may not, following the appropriate procedure to adopt community resolutions, agree on a fixed surcharge for late payment of fees or even impede non-payers the use of communal elements (pools for instance). But never the prerogative to arbitrarily sanction specific conducts by its members. A congress held in 2010 by an association of community administrators to debate Horizonal Property Law matters resolved that ‘it is not possible to fine owners for breaching internal regulations, even if this resolution is written into the statutes or voted by a majority’. Presidents and Administrators who despite the above insist on coercing owners into paying fines could face criminal action.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

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To learn more about secure, low-cost investing call: +34 952 768 345 or send an email to info@mathstone.co.uk

Mathstone/BFMI, Marbella Costa del Sol Avda. Ricardo Soriano 72, Edificio Golden, Portal B, 1ª Planta, 29601 Marbella (Málaga)

WWW.MATHSTONE.CO.UK

The financial advisers trading under Mathstone Financial Management/BFMI are members of Nexus Global (IFA Network). Nexus Global is a division of Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited (BFMI). All approved individual members of Nexus Global are Appointed Representatives of BFMI. BFMI is licenced and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) and bound by the rules under licence number FSC00805B.

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How Woodbrook’s CSR approach enriches communities, clients and employees

rapidly-growing international financial services company who has a base in Marbella is on a mission to promote corporate social responsibility as it expands its operations. The Woodbrook Group, led by its Irish CEO Michael Doherty, has offices in nine countries across Europe and Asia, and is on the cusp of further significant growth as it looks to extend its influence into Latin America and the Middle East. Woodbrook is domiciled in Cyprus and is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Aside from advocating the highest standards in corpo-

business / PROPERTY

Giving back

rate governance, Woodbrook also strongly believes in giving back to the communities where the company is based. In Cyprus, it plays a lead supporting role to Charisma, an innovative charity that provides artistic services to ‘charismatic individuals with special needs’. The non-profit

charity, established in 2016, enables children and adults with special needs to develop and display their talents and give them the confidence to emerge from the shadow of social alienation. Woodbrook provides support in three different ways: direct financial support, by playing

an active role on the charity’s committee to help it achieve its goals and by promoting its work directly in their sales offices to clients, suppliers and their own employees. This innovative mix of financial and hands-on support is an approach the company is looking to replicate by sup-

Read up! What you need to know about Andalucia’s new tourist rental laws, writes Adam Neale

RECENTLY joined an informative seminar at the Estepona offices of leading local lawyers, Perez de Vargas. The main topic was the new regulations regarding properties used as holiday rentals in Andalucía, prompted by the latest legislation on the topic, as outlined in the official statement below: “The Junta de Andalucía has regulated the temporary assignment of use of housing for touristic purposes, by means of the approval of Decree 28/2016 of February 2, as published in the Official Bulletin of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) that entered into force on May 11th.”

Tourist

What does all of this this mean for property owners? The team of lawyers and other specialists at Perez de Vargas explained the ramifications of the most recent change in the law. First and foremost, it removes any ambiguity over the status of short-term rental agreements that existed in Law 29/1994 of November 24th on Urban Leases, and updated Law 4/2013 of June 4th regarding degrees of flexibility in the promotion of housing for rental purposes. Decree 28/2016 concerns the regulation of furnished tourist accommodation that is marketed and promoted for the purposes of attracting holidaymakers with the aim of making a profit. It applies to apartments, penthouses and standalone properties that meet the following requirements: • The property is rented out for the purpose of generating income • The rental period is less than two months, i.e. qualifies as a holiday let • The property is residential by

•

nature. Rural properties are excluded from this as they fall under their own set of regulations (art. 48, Law 13/2011, 23rd December, and Decree 20/2002, 29th January, Tourism in Rural Environments and Active Tourism) The rental property does not form part of a group of three or more dwellings located in the same or adjacent buildings, as these are considered to be dedicated ‘tourist apartments’ and are also subject to their own regulations (Decree 194/2010 of April 20)

Homeowners who advertise their properties on the Internet with online booking must register the property via an application form that can be downloaded from the Junta de Andalucía’s website. The property may not be offered for rent until it has been duly registered and issued with a VFT number. This number must be displayed on all website advertising – in fact Airbnb has just announced that all properties offered for rent via their website must also have this number in place. This comes into effect in Septem-

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. Website: www.terrameridiana.com

ber of this year. Furthermore, owners must take care to modify the details in the Register as necessary. If an owner is found to have marketed and rented out a property without registering it, the penalties for doing so are on a rising scale of up to €150,000. As only 20,000 properties are currently on the register in Málaga, a province that is said to have around 103,500 such units of accommodation, the Ministry of Tourism will be on the lookout for people who break the rules.

Informative

Finally, owners must also pay attention to the new tax regime for declaring income from short-term rentals, in particular model 179, headed’ Quarterly informative declaration of property leasing for touristic purposes’, which enters into force on July 1st 2018 (Royal Decree 1070/2017 of December 29th). We thank the kind staff at Perez de Vargas for their informative advice and look forward to continuing a working relationship that ensures my clients are always made aware of any laws and regulations that can affect them as property owners or buyers.

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CHARITY: Woodbrook Group Director of Operations Senan McGonigle and Woodbrook CEO Michael Doherty

porting charities in other ter- usually by saving for future ritories as it expands its global education fees. Obviously this works if your children have the operations. Woodbrook’s CEO Michael mental ability to go to college. Doherty and the company’s But what if your child is disGroup Director of Operations, abled - mental or physical or Senan McGonigle, have many both? How do you help them years’ experience working with in the future?” non-profit organisations. Both One of the goals of Charisma men have children who are is to develop assisted living wheelchair users, and Senan units with a support centre to allow people with disability was previously co-founder to live independently of the Association of from their families, Irish Powerchair albeit with the Football, a sport necessary supfor people with port. Where disabilities this is not fully whose only abilpossible, the ity is to use a centres allow powered wheelmuch-needed chair. respite for famiSenan said: lies of those with “From my own disabilities to have personal and professome time to spend tosional experience, giving back to the community ben- gether. efits everyone, including the Aside from its work with wheelcompany. Building trust and chair users, Woodbrook also developing strategic partner- actively promotes environmenships in the communities we tal awareness in its offices operate in is essential to se- around the world and with its cure long-term sustainability, it suppliers. The company also fosters staff loyalty and helps privately supports and encourto attract new talent while ages staff in their own charimaking a positive impact on table activities. Woodbrook is keen to prosociety.” Michael Doherty added: “Al- mote the benefits of corporate most all of us like to help oth- social responsibility and is ers, but in our work and daily encouraged to see more comlives we are not presented panies embrace the idea of with the opportunity to do giving back to their local comthis. Through our relationship munities. M i c h a e l with Charisma Doherty said: we let our cli“Charity work ents and staff Giving back to is individual know about the the community and personal. charity and the extremely valu- benefits everyone, Our own ethos is influenced, able work that including the of course, partit does, and ly by my own how they might company and Senan’s be able to help personal expeif so inclined.” riences, but all The Woodbrook CEO said the company’s our staff have shown the same approach to corporate social willingness to help whenever responsibility directly corre- they’ve been made aware of lates with its ethos to help its opportunities. We’re not doing clients improve their own living this to be better than others – it’s a corporate ethos, but very standards. He added: “A common theme much grounded in the goodwith our clients is planning for ness of people. Just give them the future of their children, an opportunity.” *For more information, contact our team at the Woodbrook Group Office in Marbella: Av. Ricardo Soriano, 72 Edificio Golden Portal B, 1ª Planta 29601 Marbella, Málaga, Spain. Telephone: +34 952768471 Email: officemarbella@woodbrookgroup.com Woodbrook Group is regulated by CySEC.

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Ronaldo +TheolivepressEs ditches Madrid home for new BE ‘APPY! palatial pad in Italy

August 15th - August 28th 2018

Moving on

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has taken one more step to move on from his former club Real Madrid as he looks to leave ourrun-in app nowwith and behind Download his recent the Spanish authorities. begin tax enjoying the best Spanish The five-time d’Or news on theBallon go. winner has reportedly sold his home in Madrid, a €5.3 million luxury mansion in the La Finca area of Pozuelo de Alarcon. The seven-bedroom, eightbathroom home boasts indoor and outdoor swimming LUXURY: New pad in Turin and (right) the sold property in Madrid pools, a football field and a Juventus star’s pride and joy Buddha statue out front. friend Georgina Rodriguez gym. The Olive Pressfor ten years, featuring mono- The football star will be mov- and their four children. The property was the new grammed door handles and a ing to Turin, Italy with girl- He has bought two connected villas on a hill, with an imTOP for news in Spain! pressive view of the city and lush vegetation providing shelter from the prying eyes of neighbors, paparazzi, or curious fans. These villas are ZOOPLA has revealed its most viewed property for July just as extravagant as his Maa modest three-bedroom chalet in southern Spain. drid home, with separate enThe Alicante new-build is on the market for just €289,900 trances to each villa, expanand beat out a nine-bedroom chateau in Cannes, a 19-bedsive gardens, an indoor swimroom chateau in Dordogne, and an Italian 20-bedroom ming pool, and, of course, a ON TOP: Spanish chalet palazzo to take the top spot in the property website’s top well-equipped gym. 10 international listings. The neighborhood is a popuThe villa’s popularity is likely due to Brits looking for their lar spot for the rich and fadream home abroad after being inspired by their summer mous. hols. Ronaldo’s modern mansion Despite its modest price, the villa comes with its own is near the residence of John pool, garden with terrace, courtyard, large living area and Elkann, the Italian-American floor-to-ceiling windows. businessman and president of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

One to watch

The Grapevine 10 signs you’re fully immersed into the Spanish lifestyle

You consider it totally normal for shops to close between 2pm5pm. Before the idea of life closing down between 2pm and 5pm seemed like a ridiculous notion. Now however, you plan your whole day around shop opening times.

Pruna - Sevilla - TH3592

45.000 €

3 bedroom townhouse in Pruna. The property offers character and charm, with tiled entrance, a spacious lounge with open fireplace, an internal courtyard, fitted kitchen and a ground floor bedroom. The first floor contains 2 good size bedrooms, a full bathroom, private roof terrace and utility room. Recently painted and cleaned throughout, so ready for you to move in. Well worth viewing and priced to sell!

tel: +34 952 74 15 25 Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Mollina, Malaga info@inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com

by Laura Wood

Going native

You know the Mercadona jingle. You know it, you’ve hummed it and, let’s face it; you’ve probably sung it out loud in the supermarket isles. Someone has merely got to say the word “Mercadona” and you can guarantee someone to chant that ever so catchy jingle.

You know the day feria is way better than the night feria. The night feria is for children, and you know that actually the real fun really goes down during the feria de día. Those mojitos though…

Mastering the tortilla de patatas has become a major part of your life. Practice makes perfect, and this delicious dish is a lot hard to master than it may seem.

You think tostadas con tomate with a café con leche is actually the perfect breakfast. Whilst tourists are hankering over a bacon and egg sandwich, you’d prefer nothing better than toasts with tomatoes, olive oil and a sprinkling of salt. All this accompanied by a café con leche, of course.

6 DELICIOUS: Tostada con tomate

August 15th - August 28th 2018

Speaking of café con leche, you always order it in a glass and not a mug. There’s no better way to enjoy

a Spanish coffee than in a tall glass. The glass rim always burns your fingers, but the coffee itself somehow tastes so much better this way. Why this is, we will never know.

You get irritated with mispronunciations of words like Paella and Chorizo. You cringe a little inside when you hear people on the telly mispronouncing these words. You’ve probably heard the word Chorizo being said in around 5 different ways,

none of which correct.

Mañana, Mañana, Mañana. Mañana isn’t just ‘tomorrow’ in Spanish; it’s a way of life. This relaxed manner that once irritated you, has actually grown on you overtime until it eventually has become one of the most endearing qualities of Spanish people.

Even though you live 30 minutes from the sea, you rarely go to the beach.

You tell yourself “I’ll go to the beach all the time!” But in reality, why cover yourself in sand when most inland properties have a private pool?

Tinto de verano is your perfect summer drink. Literally translated into ‘summer wine’, you know there is nothing more refreshing on a hot summers day than a mix of red wine and casera/fantalimón over ice.

Visit us at Calle El Burgo, 5, Guaro or contact us at tel. 952 457 761 / enquiries@grapevine-properties.com

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Stopping Alzheimer? R E S E AR C H E R S have discovered that a drug which helps relieve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s could be the key to stop and even prevent this terrible disease. A new investi-

gation by researchers at Virginia University has revealed that the drug, Memantine, should be introduced before symptoms even appear. It stated that the best chance of recovery is to recognise patients who could be at risk by submitting them to a series of tests.

Risk

If found to be at risk, patients should start treatment on Memantine and adjust to a lifestyle which is known to slow down the onset of the disease. Researchers claim this could completely prevent the disease from appearing.

HEALTH Costa del Sol nursing home hit by scabies outbreak, by Elisa Menendez A SCABIES outbreak has rocked an old people’s home on the Costa del Sol. Up to 20 elderly patients may have been affected by the spread of the highly contagious disease at Seniors nursing home in Benalmadena. The mayor of the town confirmed he was even forced to take his grandmother out of the home earlier this year and said ‘the place smelt and the personal attention was quite bad’.

Symptoms

Many claim their relatives were misdiagnosed at the €1,800 a month residence and given treatments for a fungal infection, meaning they were eventually hospitalised as symptoms

What glasses are best for men? How to find the perfect shades to suit your face, writes Amrik Sappal at Specsavers Opticas Fuengirola

August 15th - August 28th 2018

here’s a lot of advice out there for women on how to choose a frame to compliment their look, but not much for men, so we wanted to redress that balance in our latest column.

Q: How do I choose the right pair of glasses to suit me? A: Start with your face shape and let that dictate the style. If you have a square face for example, round frames will work to soften your jawline, so are a good choice, whereas angular styles will not suit you. Those with round faces should opt for angular or geometric shapes which draw attention to the top half of your face, whereas those with long faces would best suit a wide frame with a strong top line and one colour. Q: What designers do good ranges of glasses for men? A: There are some excellent designers who are producing interesting frames for men. Some of our favourites are BOSS Orange, Converse, Quicksilver and Tommy Hilfiger. We’ve also just introduced a fantastic range from superstar, entrepreneur and tech visionary will.i.am. This exclusive collection builds on his lifelong passion for striking eyewear, which was first inspired by the hip-hop icons of his youth – such as Run DMC and Flavor Flav. The 17-piece collection references classic and iconic styles with an innovative and futuristic twist.

OUTBREAK: Seniors in Benalmadena

Scabies row worsened. Seniors launched an official investigation on July 15, while Junta health officials have also stepped in, they claim only six people have been affected at the home which houses over 100 patients. Officials at Seniors claim they informed authorities immediately and the Jun-

ta declared the home had passed the investigation without any abnormalities. But relatives insist at least 20 people caught the disease and slammed the home for taking ‘more than two months to act’ and added that it had ‘poor hygiene conditions’. One of the resident’s daughter, Ana Jimenez,

Breast is best A NEW health report has revealed yet more benefits of breastfeeding for newborn babies. Thanks to a high presence of microbiota, or intestinal flora in the mother’s milk, breastfeeding can greatly develop a healthy digestive system, according to a study released during World Breastfeeding Week organized by the WHO. The event aims to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. Among them, it could save 200,000 and 800,000 babies each year if the mother breastfeeds during the first six months of the infant’s life. The mother’s milk also works similar to a vaccine for children, protecting them from diseases and allergies that could affect them at any point in their life.

Q: How can I accessorize with my glasses? A: Think of your glasses as a fashion statement, which should complement your look and don’t be afraid to use them to express yourself. As will.i.am said when he launched his Specsavers’ range; ‘Glasses are the best way to make your outfit look fresh, put together, yet unique. If I am going to take the time to make sure my shoes, coat and hat look good together, I’m always going to complete the outfit with a great pair of glasses.’ Specsavers Opticas in Marbella and Fuengirola have an excellent selection of men’s glasses in their own brand and designer collections. To make an appointment or find your nearest store visit www.specsavers.es.

said her 80-year-old mother went into Senior’s in perfect shape, but a few weeks later started to lose weight and suspicious infections appeared on her skin.

Dehydration

The hospital’s report confirmed that the woman had scabies and suffered from dehydration and malnutrition. Seniors defended the accusations and claimed they have passed all recent inspections with the last one being just two months ago.

Hotel bug OVER 60 tourists have been sent to hospital with gastroenteritis following a stay at a Costa del Sol hotel over the past three weeks. Hotel MarConfort in Torremolinos claim the outbreak could be due to dirty water tanks collecting bacteria at the Hospital Maritimo next door.

Vomiting

IMMUNITY: Breastmilk protects from disease

It comes after the hotel received a wave of complaints with holidaymakers suffering symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever, since July 20. The hotel has called for an investigation to determine whether the water tanks are the cause of the sickness.

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August 15th - August 28th 2018

Plastic peril DUREX has been forced to recall 14 batches of condoms after they failed durability tests. The batches in Spain include the Sin Latex and Real Feel condoms, although other brands such as the Natural Feeling, Love Collection and Natural Sensation condoms have been recalled across Europe. A statement by Reckitt Benckiser, owners of the brand Durex, said: “The safety of our consumers always comes first, and this is reflected in out rigorous quality standards. “Our tests have shown that some batches which are currently on the market do NINE people have now died not pass the requirements as a direct result of Spain’s for burst pressure towards killer heatwave. the end of the shelf life for It means the sky-high temthe product. peratures have killed more

Killer heat

than one person per day over the past week. A 66-year-old man died from heatstroke in Extremadura. A 75-year-old woman passed away two days later after also succumbing to heat stroke. A 40-year-old German man who was on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage also died from heat stroke in Extremadura, as did an 81-year-old man. It comes as temperatures in southern Spain have reached just over 46C. Meanwhile in Catalunya, three homeless men have died.Two other men in Murcia – a road worker in his 40s and a 78-year-old pensioner – also died from heatstroke this month.

Safety

“There could be an increase in the number of condoms that burst during application or use“. Durex said: “There is no immediate safety concern for consumers and only a limited number of batches are affected.“

27 INTEGRAL HOME ASSISTANCE

August 15th - August 28th 2018

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MORTALITY: Rates increasing

Lung cancer on rise SPANISH women have been warned that deaths related to lung cancer could rise by 159% if drastic measures are not taken. A researcher of a study published by the American Association for Cancer Investigation, José Maria Martinez Alvarez, has explained the reasons behind these shocking figures.

Mortality

He added that although there have been ‘great advances’ in treatment for breast cancer, a dramatic increase in women’s tobacco consumption has greatly impacted lung cancer mortality rates. Meanwhile one of the most severe types of the disease, breast cancer, has a more positive outlook. Mortality rates are expected to drop from 16.1 deaths to 14.7 to every 100,000 women by 2030.

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EDUCATION

August 15th - August 28th 2018

MIXED GRADES

An increase of 3000 teachers next term comes with a cut to teaching hours for kids THE Junta has announced an increase of over 3,000 teachers in Andalucia from next month. But it comes, with a cut of teaching hours to just 18 hours a week for secondary school children. A total of 2,339 teachers are to be hired for secondary education and 500 positions are to be created for primary schools.

A further 365 teachers are to be hired in the vocational sector. The increase comes as the Junta also announced new rights for teachers in terms of holidays and rights. The Junta has also announced that it is to reduce teaching time to just 18 hours a week from September. The growth in teaching staff is primarily aimed at

strengthening diversity and supporting students with special education needs. The expansion of staff will require an additional annual investment of approximately €133 million. Tania González, the Secretary of Education, for Huelva, said it was “demonstrating continued commitment to improvement in public education.”

Education matters EDUCATION is among the three main concerns for residents in Malaga. A total of 8.8% believe it is the key issue for the region, in a study of 3,000 interviewees. The largest amount (46%) believed unemployment was the main concern, while 18% stated health was key, a sharp rise on previous years. INCREASE: Andalucia on the rise

Costa del learning

Future of business

MALAGA has become one of the top places to study Spanish as a student. According to a new study, the Costa del Sol now competes with the popular cities, including Madrid, Salamanca and Barcelona. Malaga province welcomed 16,692 language students in 2017, a 17.6% increase compared to the previous year. According to the data, there has been a continual increase in these numbers over the last few years. The foreign students cite the beaches and sunny climate as deciding factors, along with the abundance of leisure activities, as well as the amount and quality of Spanish language courses in the area. Some 28 language centres in Malaga are accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, which constitutes 15% of the total for Spain.

A NEW program to encourage entrepreneurs has been a huge. A total of 62,600 students have just finished the first year of the course, which was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2017. In total, 410 colleges and 5,880 teachers have participated in the Innicia Cultura Emprendedora courses, which aim to encourage innovation, creativity and responsibility. As part of the project, students set up their own enterprises and participate in workshops to learn about being business people.

T H E C O S TA D E L S O L’ S B E S T E S TA B L I S H E D S A I L I N G S C H O O L Classes and tuition for all ages Former Olympic and Spanish champion teachers Over a dozen sailing boats to rent from one man Lasers to six-man Gamba Contact (+34) 666 407 921

Find us in the heart of Estepona port www.escueladevelaestepona.com

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Rush of red TICKETS for the world’s biggest food fight are up for grabs. And if you want to join the 50,000 revellers who flock to the small Valencian town of Bunol the Tomatina festival, you better get one. Spain’s famous tomato battle takes place annually on August 29 - and the streets of this usually quiet town become filled with the remnants of mushy tomato, sangria and a lot of partying. The festival kicks off at 11am when truck loads of tomatoes are carted into the town, while one brave soul will climb up a two-storey high, greased-up wooden pole to snatch the coveted jamon iberica leg at the top. It’s every man for himself during the tomato battle, until time is called after just one hour and participants flock to bathe in the Bunol River.

Beach bar shame ONLY one in five beach bars on the Costa del Sol are fully licensed The Minister of Environment José Fiscal claims just 22% of chiringuitos, operating in Málaga have all the necessary permits. Of the 348 operating beach eateries on the Costa del Sol, more than half (53.74%) are still lacking some legal papers. The rest are illegally operating without any documents, however more than 80% either have an opening licence or are in the application process for a full permit. In order to be considered fully licensed, beach bars must meet beach-operating regulations set by each municipality, in addition to the opening permits issued by the Junta.

Sacre bleu SPAIN is being put over a barrel after France banned a blue wine from Andalucia, describing it as ‘fake’. Almeria-produced Vindigo has now been withdrawn from supermarket shelves in France. It comes after Gallic wine experts doubted the light turquoise colour was natural, insisting it had been added, a claim denied by the producers who insist it comes from the pigment, anthocyanin, found in grape skin. The beverage begins as a Chardonnay grape white wine, changing colour after being macerated with red grape skins at a later stage It has notes of cherry, passion fruit and blackberry. Jean-Louis Escudier, a researcher at the National Institute of Agricultural Research, claimed the practice of using red grape skin to pulp together with white wine is illegal. Researchers are not the only individuals who have taken offense. Local wine producers have accused the labelling of Vindigo as ‘de Méditerranée’ meaning ‘illegal and misused’.

R-espeto Campaign launched to recognise the ‘iconic’ espeto as a UNESCO cultural icon of Malaga MALAGA has launched a campaign to have its famed ‘espeto’ sardines recognised by the UN as a key part of its cultural heritage. Called ‘Espetacular’, the skewer cooking method is being lauded as a traditional and healthy cooking method that is important to Malaga.

Genius

Javier Lima, a representative of the Marbella Activa Association, described the espeto is a work of ‘genius’ created

By Diana Tang

by the people of Malaga. A book about espetos, literally ‘skewers’, is currently being written by historian Jesús Moreno. A photo contest ‘La moraga y el espeto de sardinas’, has also been launched. The official bid is to be handed to UNESCO next year and could take up to seven years to be successful. The Malaga authorities hope to get the support of the Junta.

Open Tuesday to Sunday. until 22.00 Closed 12.00 until mid February

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30 Food, drink & travel Food, drink travel

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MADRID

August 15th - August 28th 2018

Vintage The fierce rivalry between Spain’s two most visited cities is not confined to the soccer pitch, as Grace Lee reports

HE La Liga clashes between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are legendary but the cities themselves provoke continual head-to-heads over which has the glitziest nightlife, best shopping, oldest restaurant/bar/pastry shop/ice cream parlour etcetera. To settle the score, The Olive Press visited five antique food establishments in both cities to see which one wins this particular clash of the Titans.

Oldest Restaurante Madrid: Botín - 1725 One of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite haunts, Botín is listed as the oldest restaurant in the world in the Guinness Book of Records. Much of the four-story building’s original structure has been preserved, allowing customers to step back in time as they enter through the antique wooden entrance embellished with stained glass

Madrid: Casa Alberto - 1827

VS BARCELONA

windows. Its signature dish, cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig), which Hemingway described as ‘the best in the world’ is cooked in the old holm oak-burning oven which gives the meat its singular flavour. A point of pilgrimage for foodies and history buffs alike, be sure to book your table well in advance.

Oldest Bar

EL CLASICO

MADRID

The winner is...Madrid

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Scarlet doors welcome customers to this antique bar, where ice cold glasses of vermouth have been served across the marble countertop for nearly two centuries. It was a handy watering hole for Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, who lived above the bar during his time in

Madrid. And it’s still the perfect spot for a cold drink after an afternoon of wandering through the bustling streets of the capital. There’s always a crowd and a great atmosphere as the bar is only 10 minute walk from Madrid’s top tourist attraction, the Prado Museum.

Oldest Chocolatería Madrid: San Gines - 1890 San Gines has been serving up Spain’s favourite weekend breakfast indulgence - chocolate con churros - for more than 120 years. Down an alleyway a few steps from Puerta del Sol, the chocolatería is always packed to the gunnels with contented customers dipping sticks of freshly deep-fried dough into comforting cups of gooey chocolate, thick as custard. You can also buy homemade chocolate bars and truffles. The cafe is open 24/7/365 so whether it’s 4am after a wild night out or a 4pm coffee break from work, you can always get your chocolate fix.

Oldest Pastelería Madrid: El Riojano - 1855 One of Madrid’s oldest cake shops, El Riojano has connections in high places. It was founded by Dámaso Maza, personal pastry chef to the Spanish Royal Family who was better known by his nickname ‘El Riojano,’ and generously passed it on to the bakery. Much of the original 19th-century interior has been preserved including the stunning mahogany showcases and antique lights. Pick out a scrumptious treat from the massive selection and enjoy it with a café con leche in the tea room at the back.

Oldest Heladería Madrid: Los Alpes - 1950 This classic ice cream business was founded by Italian Pedro Marchi and his Spanish wife Marcelina Ladero. With a passion for creating homemade ice cream with fresh, seasonal ingredients, the pair started with eight flavours and worked their way up to more than 80. For an extra flourish, the artisan cones are made with an original Italian recipe. You can find the heladeria in Chamberi just across from Parque del Oeste, where you can perch on the edge of a neoclassical fountain and keep cool while you devour your cornetto.

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Barcelona: Can Culleretes - 1786 Runner-up to Madrid in longevity, the oldest restaurant in Barcelona has been flying the flag for Catalan cuisine for over two centuries. Specialities include civet de jabalí (wild boar stew) and canelos ‘los de siempre’ (traditional cannelloni), a classic favourite.

Setting back off La Rambla, one of the city’s busiest streets, visitors can get a taste of Barcelona’s past through three imposing mural paintings inside the restaurant but its deeper history is transmitted through the intense traditional flavours of its dishes.

The winner is...Barcelona Barcelona: Bar Marsella - 1820 The peeling ceilings clouded with cobwebs and the hundreds of empty bottles ranged upon the shelves attest to the countless drinks poured and drunks served who have laughed, wept and partied all night long at Marsella since 1820. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali were regulars at this bohemian bar, rumoured to have

been a clandestine hotspot for anti-establishment intellectuals and artists during the Franco regime. Bar Marsella is infamous for its deliriously strong absenta (absinthe), a highly alcoholic and hallucinogenic herbal drink served with a fork and a cube of sugar balanced on the rim of the glass.

The winner is...Barcelona Barcelona: Xocolates Fargas - 1827 The artisan chocolates of Fargas on Carrer de Pi are the Cartier jewels of the confectionary world and they come in presentation gift boxes. Although the firm has relocated to new premises a couple of stores down from the original shop, the main counter, window display cabinets and chocolate mill came too and are still in use at this historic chocolatería. The range of exquisitely-crafted chocolate truffles on display lure window shoppers inside to splurge on edible souvenirs gift-wrapped for their loved ones.

The winner is...Barcelona Barcelona: La Colmena - 1849 One of the oldest cake shops in the heart of Barcelona at Plaça de l’Àngel square, La Colmena is the sweetest taste of the city’s history you’ll ever savour. The bakery makes its pastries and tarts with exactly the same recipes that were being used in the 19th century and they’re still just as popular. The display of freshly baked pastries that are lined up in the windows every morning has become a tourist attraction and crowds are glued to the windows at all times of the day, picking out their favorite treats. One of many highlights is the massive meringues which are light and delicate and as big as your hand.

The winner is...Barcelona Barcelona: El Tío Che - 1912 Uncle Che licks Madrid’s Los Alpes into second place for longevity of heladerias having survived two world wars and shared the city’s every inglorious and glorious moment since, including the 1992 Olympics. The business started out as a horchatería serving the plant-based milk made from tiger nuts, but later expanded into artisanal ice creams. The parlour has been through multiple location changes. Today it’s ensconced in the neighbourhood of Poblenou a couple minutes walk from Playa Bogatell, where it’s creamy, thick ice cream offers a delicious beach break.

ome of the best ideas bubble up between friends over a good meal. HouseSitMatch, the award-winning housesitting network, is certainly one such idea. Founder and CEO, Lamia Walker developed the solution for home and pet owners looking for sitters while they are away from home based on personal experience. As a pet owner who travelled for work, Lamia regularly found herself looking for good petsitters who could easily move into her home and take care of her pets and property. One day a friend told her about living rent free while petsitting for short and long-term periods in Australia. The penny dropped and the idea for an online network for housesitting began to take shape. Now five years later, HouseSitMatch.com is celebrating the launch of its new website, which includes automatic ID checks of all members with an online police checking service via the website. Lamia said: "Despite significant growth in our short history, we are keen to manage our network by offering safe participation. The UK remains the largest market for HouseSitMatch and Spain is our fastest growing international market! Online ID and Police checking will help us to grow internationally giving housesitters more options for affordable travel and home and pet owners access to more FOUNDER: Lamia and Dog Nuka checked housesitters."

LOOKING FOR GREAT HOUSE SITTERS? PLANNING A HOLIDAY? Need house or pet sitters? It can be a worry preparing for a holiday. Who will care for your pets? How much do petsitters cost? At HouseSitMatch our sitters are experienced in home and pet care and they housesit for free. HOW DOES IT WORK? All new members register to join our online network. On registration we ID check everyone to ensure we know who you are, in addition we police check sitters. We charge a small fee for membership to ensure that we can afford to manage our site professionally. Benefits for home and pet owners Our membership offers access to sitters through our secure network. You post an advert ahead of your travel, we publish the ad and sitters apply. You view profiles and chat before you choose a sitter “Really great service and even better is the peace of mind of leaving your property in a checked sitter’s hands via a site with a great reputation.” Catherine White, Cat owner – Home owner Review on Trustpilot

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Food, drink & travel

The Olive Press discovers a saucy little town with more pep than the Spice Girls By Pablo Balbontin

WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM ESTACIÓONDE DE ARRIATE ARRIATE ||ARRIATE (MA(MA 7400, KM 4)KM 4) ESTACIÓON ARRIATE 7400, 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 CLOSEDON ONMONDAYS MONDAYS CLOSED

arlos was born in Granada but lived in California almost all of his life. A few years ago, he returned to Spain to commercialise his passion for spicy sauces. He set up his own shop Salsas y Especias in 1994, growing Habaneros with seeds brought from California to assure the highest quality possible. But it has been a long way to the top: “My family told me that I was crazy, that the Spanish don’t like hot spices,” he said. As with most other entrepreneurs in Spain, bureaucracy was his biggest obstacle. “It’s very hard to start a business here; you are met with objections at every step,” says Carlos. “I’ve worked in the US and Mexico, and never had such problems. Plus, there was never a spicy culture here,” he adds, which may explain why everyone thought he was mad with his strange fruit. But the company’s efforts in the Granada town of Cenes de la Vega are finally being rewarded, and sales have

August 15th - August 28th 2018

FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT LET IT BURN: Carolina Reapers and (right) founder Carlos

doubled in the last two years. Carlos confesses that they will be moving on to a bigger factory to meet the rush of increased daily orders. Although they are doing great,

at the end of the day they are a small enterprise and feel overwhelmed by the immense demand. Currently Salsas y Esepcias makes 16 sauces ranging

from sweet chili sauces to insanely hot sauces, such as Infierno, made from the hottest chilies in the world. The company has also branched out into chocolate,

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FIRE: Selection of sauces by Salsas y Especias

LET IT GROW: Rows of peppers almost ready for harvest

peanuts, jam, cheese and even beer - all with a touch of chili heat, and made in collaboration with other Spanish enterprises. Another product which caught my attention was capsaicin extract. It has no flavour, no added ingredients, just a crazy degree of pure heat. Their Lagrimas del Demonio (Devil’s Tears) measure nine million Scoville units on the Richter scale of chili heat. But why trade in such an insane product? “Medicine”, answers Carlos. “The capsaicin is used in some medicines for its anesthetic effect. This is one of the reasons growers are creating strains that are increasingly spicier.” Spanish tastes for spice are also increasing. “Not so long ago Carrefour stocked only

one or two spicy products, they don’t need to use pestinow it’s more like 40,” says cides. Their chilis are as natuCarlos, who is happily reaping ral as they come. the benefits. “We’re not rich, As a real spicy fanatic, Carlos but we’re doing well”. knows how to grow the best In fact Andalucia and Ma- peppers. Although different drid are the peppers are regions where cultivated toCarlos’ brand gether they The conditions sells most of are not crossfor growing its sauce. They bred to avoid distribute all strains that are perfect, over Spain could be lower and even ex- surrounded by the in heat. Caroport chili pulp lina Reaper Sierra Nevada to factories in seeds crossed the UK. with chipotles The condiwould produce tions for growing are perfect, a less ferocious pepper. Every surrounded by the majestic seed is kept as pure as posSierra Nevada mountains sible. with a river running through As for the future, Carlos is the farm which provides free planning to extend his saucy water for cultivating the pep- range to salad dressings, pers. There are no weeds so BBQ sauce and whatever

else he might suddenly come up with. He never knows. But of one thing Carlos is sure: “They’re going to be spicy. It’s our brand identity.”

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Food, drink & travel

Diana Tang takes her American taste buds on a tour of Cordoba’s tastiest dishes

ORDOBA was a Roman colony, an Islamic capital and a cultural crossroads where Christian, Jewish and Moorish influences mixed. From Roman olive oil to the sweet and sour flavours of Arabic dishes and the increased use of meat introduced by the Christians and the desserts influenced by Jewish cooking, each ingredient has contributed to Cordoba’s rich culinary repertoire. The Olive Press sampled four Cordobes classics at two amazing restaurants to compare results.

The Restaurants La Siesta This comfortable bar in Plaza del Potra was the perfect place to taste these four Cordoban classics. With a voucher, customers can get a free tapa with their drink! Bodegas Mezquita Cruz de Rastro Right next to River Guadalquivir, the Roman Bridge and the Jewish Quarter, this restaurant is highly rated on TripAdvisor and for good reason. All four dishes were excellent.

w Ne lla rbe t a M o tsp o h

www.cascadamarbella.com | +34 951567849 Urb Montua, 39, 29602 Marbella

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Flavours of Cordoba COSY: Bodegas Mezquita Cruz de Rastro and (right) La Siesta’s menu

The Food Salmorejo It’s a cold tomato cream soup made with olive oil and bread, and topped with hard boiled egg and diced serrano ham. Similar to gazpacho but thickened with more breadcrumbs, it takes its cue from Roman puls, a kind-of grain pottage, and almorí sauce made during the time when Cordoba was the capital of Al-Andalus. Tomatoes arrived

on the Iberian Peninsula from the New World in the 18th century thanks to Christopher Columbus, giving rise to this popular dish. La Siesta: Salmorejo Cordobés With my tinto de verano, I received a beautiful tapa of salmorejo. The thick soup was a perfect mix of olive oil and tomato flavours, and the egg and serrano ham on top provided a chewy, savoury

respite. The cold tapa was incredibly refreshing under the hot afternoon sun. Eaten with La Siesta’s bread, it was absolutely unbeatable.

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ICONIC: Bodegas in Cordoba

Bodegas Mezquita: Salmorejo cordobés emulsionado con aceite de oliva, jamón ibérico y huevo I ordered a tapa-sized portion of salmorejo emulsified with olive oil, Iberian ham and egg. The flavour of olive oil was much more pronounced than the tomato - it almost tasted like an olive oil soup. It was extremely creamy, and a bit heavy to eat, with the consistency of a dip. Regardless, it was still delicious.

dulce Pedro-Ximénez ajonjolí

These tapas-size caliph aubergines, fried in olive oil and finished with Pedro-Ximenez reduction and sesame sauce were an interesting twist on the classic. Instead of looking like fries, these were fried whole eggplants. While the outer shell was definitely more greasy than the dish from La Siesta, the contrasting sweet sauce was delectable. The berenjenas almost tasted like an Asian fusion dish with the sesame sauce, and definitely had me dipping for more at each bite.

Berenjena frita After eating these, fried eggplant will become my healthy replacement for fries and even sweet potato fries. The dish has Arabic origins and is typically served with miel de caña (sugar cane honey). They can be served in strips or round chips. La Siesta: Berenjenas fritas con miel de caña I ordered a half ration and was impressed by the plate of golden fries brought out. They looked like normal chips but after just one taste it went straight to the top of my list of fried finger foods. Crisp but not too oily or heavy, the flavours of eggplant and honey shone through. The dish was mostly eggplant and not like those cheap cardboard fries that are 95% fried batter and 5% food. Though I could have done with a little less honey, this dish was finished in a flash.

Bodegas Mezquita: Berenjenas califales rebozadas con reducción de vino

menquin, hands down. Bodegas Mezquita: flamenquín cordobés de lomo y jamón ibérico con patatas fritas This was a ration-sized flamenquin with chips on the side. The generous portion of crumbled Iberian ham in the centre made it much easier to taste, bringing out the characteristic flavour. But the pork was too dry and tough to chew and the outside was less crispy, making the roll more flavourful but more filling.

Rabo de toro Flamenquin It is serrano ham rolled in pork loin, breaded and fried, often served with fries and mayonnaise. It can also be made with boiled ham instead of pork loin, or have a variety of other fillings like fish, cheese, and chicken. According to the University of Cordoba, flamenquin was created in Bujalance, Córdoba, in the Middle Ages. Its name means ‘little Flemish’ because its golden colour was likened to the blonde hair of Emperor Charles V’s Flemish courtiers. An alternate meaning is much simpler: the roll resembles the neck of a flamingo.

This dish was allegedly invented in 16th century Córdoba to use up every bit of the slaughtered animal after a bullfight. Now it is more commonly made out of oxtail or cow tail. Some versions even include chocolate in the sauce. La Siesta: Rabo de toro The oxtail was truly cooked to perfection—the meat slid off the bone and had that melting texture you only get from slow-cooked meat. However, the sauce’s tomato flavour was extremely overpowering, giving the meat an almost too-sour taste.

La Siesta: Flamenquín de Serrano This flamenquin may have been one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Moving beyond how attractive it looks when cut, the meat was tasty and cooked to perfection, going well with the light mayonnaise. It was the perfect fla-

bite, and the hint of tomato tartness added extra kick. This comforting dish just screamed ‘homemade’, even though I have never eaten oxtail before, and I polished the plate clean far too quickly.

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put a ring on it ... or not, writes Giles Brown

ow is your summer going so far? Assuming that you haven’t melted, been driven mad by the heat or become even madder – difficult in my case,

I know – by every conversation starting with ‘Que calor’. I thought that I would broach the subject of male jewellery. I was given a skull ring as a present at the end of last

month, which had me pondering the whole ‘male jewellery’ thing. On a side note, I’ve decided to keep wearing my skull T-shirts (a staple in my wardrobe, not in some, Keith Richards ‘ageing Rock Star’ kind of way but, as I barrel into my 50s, as a mobile memento mori).

Performer

My current collection includes the aforementioned ring, a Fleur de Lyse bracelet and a brightly coloured ‘friendship bracelet’ from Nepal that my Goddaughter gave me. I don’t do piercings or tattoos by the way. The aforementioned Goddaughter, the fabulous Ziggy, who is currently off around Europe on the festival trail breathing fire and spinning hoops (she’s a modern circus performer) has enough of those for both of us. I wear the ring on my left hand for health reasons, by the way. I tried experimenting with some heavy-duty metal rings on my right hand before – an experiment that ended when I shook hands with an enthu-

siastic Dutch friend. He has a bone-crushing handshake to begin with, an effect that was painfully amplified by the metal on my fingers. I yelped, manfully, of course. I also don’t wear necklaces or medallions. Having lived in Marbella for over 30 years I’ve seen enough gold on the beach - mainly in the 80s - to put me off. Plus the thought of looking like an albino rapper doesn’t appeal to me either. You will, however, still see Spanish men of a certain age festooned with gold jewellery. This normally includes at least one image of the Virgin; in a look I call the ‘Tio Triana’. These poor souls run the serious risk, not so much as O.D’ing as O.G’ing – “Over Gold”. I once did a photo shoot and dressed up in this style. It wasn’t pretty, trust me. If you do need to ‘make a statement’ on the beach, take my advice, keep the bangles to a minimum and simply by the biggest, blingest, fake watch you can from the Senegalese street sellers. You’ll look like a billionaire on his

CONFIDENT: Jewelry look

day off and none of the bimbos who you may attract will be able to spot the difference. As long as you don’t pair this

look with a pair of Budgie Smugglers, you may just survive the Male Sartorial Minefield that is summer….

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DAVID Silva has followed Gerard Pique in retiring from international football after Spain’s disastrous World Cup. Silva made 125 appearances for the national side, scoring 35 times in his 12 years playing for his country. The Manchester City midfielder was part of the World Cup winning squad in 2010 as well as their back-to-back European

Lionel Messi breaks club record as Barca claim Super The Olive PressCup victory

PRICETAG: Kepa

Championships in 2008 and 2010. In an open letter to fans, Silva said: “The national team has given me everything and taught me how to grow from youth squads to the senior side. “I leave happy for everything I have achieved in this team, what I’ve dreamed and experienced with a team that will never be forgotten.”

RETIRED: Silva

Super duper

LIONEL Messi made history at the Super Cup final in Morocco after Ousman Dembele’s strike sealed Barcelona’s first title of the season. Messi became the most honoured player in Barcelona’s history after securing his 33rd title with the club, overtaking club legend Andre Iniesta’s 32 trophies he won during his time at Camp Nou.

TOP for news in Spain!

IT has been confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga will head to London to play for Chelsea. Athletic Bilbao announced that Kepa’s buyout clause of €71.6 million has been met and confirmed the 23-yearold goalkeeper’s departure from the club. Kepa has played for Bilbao since 2004, advancing up the ranks from its youth setup to the main squad.

Expensive

The Spanish goalkeeper is expected to head to London to take the medical examinations and meet Maurizio Sarri, the manager of Chelsea. With this new contract, Kepa has become the most expensive goalkeeper in history. Alisson Becker trails behind in second with a buyout of 62.5 million euros for his transfer from Rome to Liverpool. The transfer comes after Chelsea has been eager to find a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, the current Chelsea goalkeeper who has recently been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

VAR-cical comment Sevilla star Roque Mesa claims disagrees with Video Assistant Referees (VAR) because players “can no longer cheat.” The bizarre claims came despite Mesa scoring the opening goal in Sevilla’s Super Cup defeat to Barcelona when an offside decision was overturned by VAR. Speaking on the matter, Mesa said: “In one way, VAR is good but on the other hand, you lose a bit of the essence of football. “You can no longer cheat or trick [officials].”

39 39

Fears for Ronaldo

End of an era

BE ‘APPY!

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If youAugust have 15th a sports story, - August 28th 2018 newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

BRAZILIAN World Cup winner Ronaldo has been released from hospital in Ibiza after being diagnosed with pneumonia. He was initially admitted to Can Misses Hospital before being asked to be transferred to the private facility Clinica Nuestra Senora del Rosario at the weekend.

Suffering

He was reportedly suffering from ‘chest pains’ before going to hospital and had only been on the island for a couple of days Ronaldo tweeted on Sunday he had got ‘strong flu’ while in Ibiza before being taken into intensive care.

Wrongful

A 90th minute penalty save from keeper ter Stegen won the game for the Catalan club, their sixth victory in the competition in the last five years. Sevilla went ahead when VAR overturned a wrongful offside call, Pablo Sarabia the benefactor after nine minutes. Gerard Pique turned in a Messi free kick that rebounded off the post just before half time, before a Dembele strike crashed in off the underside of the bar to give his side the lead. It was a game of firsts for the

HERO: Messi (left) with cup

ON THE MEND: Ronaldo

competition as it was played over one leg as well as being held at a neutral venue outside of the country, this year the Grand Stade de Tanger in Morocco. Sevilla had previously threatened to withdraw from the competition as the game was being classed as ‘not professional’ which meant Barcelona could name more than three non-EU players in their match day squad.

Rahm-ing it home SPAIN’S Jon Rahm finished fourth in golfs US PGA Championship as Brooks Koepka held off the resurgent Tiger Woods to win his second major of 2018. Rahm now looks certain to be on Europe’s Ryder Cup team next month after completing his final round 11 under par, leading the European contingents charge for the title. Eventual winner Kopeka became the first man to win both the US Open and PGA Championship in the same season since Woods achieved the feat in 2000 with a final round of 66 to win the tournament by two shots. Woods’ lowest final round at any of the Masters, US Open, US PGA and The Open still wasn’t enough as he came close to his first major title since 2008.

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A VANDAL has drawn a cat face in blue on a 12th century marble sculpture at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, a World Heritage site. The vandalism is seemingly a tribute to rock band Kiss.

Masked A man wearing a medical mask and a cap broke into a coffee shop in Málaga and threatened the workers at gunpoint, robbing about 1,000 euros.

Selfie Danger A 17-year-old boy who was taking selfies with his friend at the train station in Coslada has been hospitalised after being electrocuted by a cable.

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Spellcheck

Anti-Brexit campaigner spells out simple message in original two-month European adventure

Alcohol

In total, the average 40-something eats 15,876 calories a week on holiday compared to 12,327 calories a week when at home. As well as more food they also drink more with alcohol consumption increasing by at least two times from six units a week to around 11 units. To add to the weight gain, exercise decreases from around two hours and 25 minutes to just 90 minutes during the week’s break.

By Luke Madeira

A STAUNCH anti-Brexit campaigner is to end a remarkable Europe-wide tour in Spain. The Devon consultant has quit his job to spell out ‘Stop Brexit’ across the continent on his GPS. Andy Pardy, 28,will have crossed 32 countries in his

MIDDLE-aged Britons are bringing much more than just souvenirs back from their holidays abroad. Holidaymakers are eating almost a third more than they usually do on their annual break, according to a report by Omron Healthcare

‘MAKE IT STOP’: Pardy and the map he is creating protest trip, which is expected to take two months. Costing £5,000 (€5100 approx), he originally came up with the idea while out running using a fitness app to track his route. Having bought a Volkswagen Transporter van, he will cover the tens of thousands of miles by the middle of October, in Spain. He has already spelt out the first four letters, taking in the British Isles and Scandinavia, including the arctic circle of Finland. “Of course we don’t know what the outcome of the discussions will be in terms of freedom of movement, but it’s a statement I wanted to make,” he explained. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this around Europe and I’ve been frus-

trated with the debate and the way Brexit’s been going over the last couple of years. “I wanted to leave my job and go and do something for myself, but also to try and rally as many people as I can and just do something different.” The money for the trip came out of his savings which he was using to save for a deposit on a house. Many people however criticised the trip on Twitter, stating the journey will go across Norway, Serbia, Montenegro, Belarus and Albania despite the fact none of them are EU member states. The final letter to be spelt will be ‘B’ and will take in the Iberian Peninsula in October, when he will be driving along both the Andalucian and entire Eastern Spanish coastline.

Loving the latins SPANISH lovers are only beaten by the saucy Italians, according to the British. Some 23% of Brits consider Italians the most desirable lovers, with 12% admitting to a holiday fling with Italian locals. The sizzling Spanish come second at 19%, but a whopping 18% of those questioned admitting to having flings while on holiday here. The research by dating site Match.com found the French in third at 17%, while Americans have an 8% appeal.

NOT HAPPY: Freda

Holiday spoilt by natives A BRITISH tourist has claimed her summer holiday in Spain was ruined by ‘too many Spaniards’. Geographically-challenged Freda Jackson, 81, slammed the ‘rude’ Spanish tourists, who left her in tears at the end of her two-week break in Benidorm. “The hotel was full of Spanish holidaymakers and they really got on our nerves because they were just so rude,” she insisted. “The entertainment in the hotel was all catering for the Spanish - why can’t the Spanish go somewhere else for their holidays?”

Knocked

Among her complaints about the break at the Hotel Poseidon Playa was a Spanish man who knocked her over and didn’t even stop to apologise. Thomas Cook, which organised the holiday, initially offered Jackson and a friend a holiday voucher worth £75 in compensation. In the end the offer was improved to £566, although it was mostly put down to a change to their flights and not because of the complaint about Spanish people.