Press Newspaper – Issue 225 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

WHY SPAIN IS MORE TRADITIONAL ABOUT HALLOWEEN - P.16 The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

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Vol. 9 Issue 225

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October 28th - November 11th 2015

Rato’s Rock secret

What have Cliff Richard, Croydon and a severed hand got to do with General Franco?

See our 40 Franco facts on the 40th anniversary of his death - P. 6-7

British Legion appeal to prevent Armistice Day fraud Urgent warning after thousands of Remembrance Day poppies and collection boxes vanish

RED ALERT! EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell

IT is a time of year when big-hearted expats rally around raising money for one of the world’s most worthy causes. A time to remember the millions who fell during two world wars, many of us will be wearing a poppy on our lapels to honour and support retired and injured personnel. But this year, be extremely careful before putting your euro into the collection tin. For, in a ‘deplorable’ state of affairs, an incredible 9,000 poppies and dozens of blue collection tins are believed to have been stolen from a storeroom on the Costa del Sol. The Olive Press can reveal that the entire stock of poppies for the Estepona and Manilva areas was ransacked in March, along with a sentimental coffin-sized Union Jack flag for funerals. Now the British Legion is warning expats and tourists alike to be ‘extremely wary’ of poppy boxes. Insisting that any poppies sold in the Western Costa del Sol will most likely be ‘illegal’, the Estepona branch is now trying to solve the mystery. Chairman Keith Ranshaw, 67, told the Olive Press: “I want to warn people that any poppy appeal box-

es found west of Estepona this year are illegal. “We don’t know for certain if the boxes were actually stolen, but I don’t understand how anyone could see them and not know what they are. “It’s exasperating to think somebody could just dump them, or worse, try to con people with them,” added the former RAF pilot. Earlier this year, Ranshaw, who has owned an apartment in Duquesa for nine years, discovered the locks on the storage room had been changed af-

ter a bank repossession of the next door apartment. When Ranshaw filed a report with the local police, he was told that there was ‘nothing they could do’ as there was no proof of a theft. When they eventually gained access to the locker, it was empty of all poppies and boxes, along with a flag and all the branch’s paperwork and AGM minutes. Manilva councillor for foreign affairs, Dean Tyler Shelton labelled the saga ‘deplorable’. “I will be letting expats know to be on the lookout for this potential fraud occurring over the next few weeks when poppies would normally be almost everywhere,” he told the Olive Press. Meanwhile, the Estepona Branch has been forced to close, due to a lack of volunteers. It means the only official places to buy poppies in Estepona will be at the International Citizens Centre and the Wheel House. The owner of Fathoms Bar in Sabinillas, Tony Fathoms, has ordered a poppy box directly from the Legion’s central base in Coin.

DISGRACED ex-IMF chief Rodrigo Rato allegedly has links to 26 Gibraltar-based companies. The former Spanish deputy prime minister attempted to hide the connections from authorities, it has emerged. Rato apparently owns two of the companies in question and has strong ties to the others, sitting on the board of directors in many. Accused of money laundering, authorities have been clamping down on Rato over the last year.

Scandal

During investigations, he has been accused of setting up a number of businesses in family members’ names in order to launder money and avoid tax payments. According to media reports, he now also stands accused of failing to declare the extent of his wealth, allegedly hiding a number of offshore companies in ‘tax havens’ such as Gibraltar. As president of Bankia, he was also found responsible for the so-called ‘black cards’ credit card scandal as well as mismanagement of the banking group. Last year, Rato was ordered to pay €3 million to the banking group for his role in the scandal.

Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es if you information.

Opinion Page 6

Search for Lorca begins again Page 3

Last miners of Spain snapped Page 14

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2 www.theolivepress.es

CRIME NEWS

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Rooted out!

SPAIN’S dental body has reacted angrily after a bogus dentist was given a paltry €1,000 fine for practising without a licence. The Board of Dentists described the sentence as ‘insufficiently mild’, after the dodgy

Not coming home CONVICTED killer Kenneth Noye will not be heading to Spain anytime soon. The two-time convicted killer and mastermind of the Brink’s-MAT gold bullion robbery was eyeing up a return to his Costa de la Luz pad, after it was announced that he will be released from UK prison within the year. However his Spanish getaway plans have been scuppered, with Justice secretary Michael Gove rejecting a ruling to release the 68-year-old con. The criminal mastermind hid out for two years on the Costa de la Luz, before he was arrested for the murder of Stephen Cameron, 21, beside the M25, in 1996. Despite being Britain’s Most Wanted, police took two years to track him down to his stunning multi-million euro villa in Atlanterra, near Zahara de los Atunes (top).

OUCH! Outrage as bogus dentist fined just €1000 after working from dad’s house for five years dental technician was found guilty of treating patients at his dad’s house for over five years.

Women freed

AN illegal brothel has been broken up in Marbella. Nine prostitutes kept in squalid conditions have been freed in a police raid. Three Portuguese pimps have also been arrested after keeping the women - from North Africa and TWO suspected Mafia coEastern Europe - hostage caine traffickers have been against their will. arrested by Spanish police. The victims were lured to The Italian nationals, aged the Costa del Sol on the 42 and 55, are accused by promise of a well-paid job. Italian authorities of colInvestigations began in laborating with Mafia orJune 2014 when two womganisations and face 20 en reported their entrapyears in prison if convicted. ment to a client.

Mob hit

The Spaniard, who the authorities have bizarrely refused to name, had even been fitting false teeth without using prescription medication. He has now been made to pay legal costs and €1,250 in civil damages to two patients after being found guilty of ‘professional intrusion’. The judge at Algeciras Criminal Court ruled: “He jeopardised the health of all those who attended the consultation, by not having the necessary training to work as a dentist.” The Board of Dentists has now called for a change in legislation and tougher penalties for such crimes, describing the sentence as ‘very mild and insufficient’.

Controversial absent publisher loses court case 6

Olive Pres thethe Olive s June 25th Press June May 13th - July 9th 11th -- May June 27th 2015 24th 2015 2015

OPINION Standing

TROUBLE: Weekend World boss Israel failed to turn up at court and (right) our story

‘Mr Angry’ is found guilty

models

A BOXER, head to Marba tennis player and After a week ella on their holida a footballer all their heads on the beach, two ys. in a cloud held high while the head home with which one of controversy… No other heads back prizes for guess While Britisthat was. ing tennis ace h boxer Anthony Joshu Novak Djoko the sun, young vic enjoyeda and Serbian English footba their alish dropp ll starlet Jackfun in Like many ed the ball. Grea young footba old Grealish ller before him, 19-ye binge-drink is facing a slap on aring the escapades wrists UK. when he return for his Will these s to the footballers never learn? Probably not.

ell

E claims world, quiteto offer the Stan Israel’literally. s Perfect Home parently availas magazine is apof the world’ ble for sale in ‘all It is one of s 196 countries’. heavy glossya range of large, magazines duced by prothe Simply Group, based in Estepo Media But since the Olive na. vealed Stanle Press reBuckinghamsy Byron Israel, from sued by one hire, UK is being gest printin of Andalucia’s bigg firms over ment of €8,00 non-pay0 dating 2013, half back to have come a dozen more victims Meanwhile,forward. known as Israel - sometimes occasionally‘Stanley Haw’ and, ‘Stanley more of How’, launched which later - has fortnightly his new project, a newspaper ‘Weekend World’ called . Claiming to newspapers rival all other local ‘in every came out in dribs and way’, it with 104 pages drabs, of, well, a bit everything, of to be exact. However, while printed on very best the per, it hasbleached white pawell receiv not been entirely ed, with big name

He must get award for the one of the being coast’s most seri serial non ous -payers of staff

www www .the olive .the olive pres s.es pres s.es

Rogue trader?

Expat pub being sue lisher sales bos d by former s is a serial non-payer with a che of staff business quered history

advertisers teros Sanitaincluding Helicopand Gibral rios, Specsavers perplexed tar’s Sunborn hotel adverts into find their full-page the paper agreeing nothin despite An investigationg. way, in particu is now underers and Helicolar at Specsavpteros, out how the advert appeato find Israel’s paper. red in THE followi Meanw hile, no longer ng companies are the €8,000 Israel, 52, denies printing debt DECEPTIV ness with allowed to do busi- - Jaipur Purple, Estepo company Tecno the newspape E: Israel’s impr graphic - with Olive Press Reservatauro, Ronda na (Luke Stewa even a court essive-loo r Weekend and adverts from king B91664029)rt Media SL - CIF - Webuycarsinspain. Worl dence agains case - but the evies - Motor , due to some of whic totally obliv d launched with standing debts: Indeed, Olivet him is mounting. long - Best Trader h are now ious companies ing to the Costa Coches - MWM Invest have learne Press enquiries investigat ... del Sol in d of a long But ing - Petersham ments Ltd record track get most importantly, he2010. ticular of court The details Coins, Marbe the award must pany , over the way the - Investor Spain panies closing cases and comlla support of are being published for being one com- tant was structu the coast’s down in turmo in other - Simple Care both of In court red. compa most may be unawa Rudy in England il, non-pa nies that serious serial documents, - Autotunes and before re of the yers that in slammed hisGedeon has also that might seen Olive Press, Manilva Take formeof staff. former emplo be faced by problems Despit Tenerife. she alleges by the for not paying - Hotel Embru credit r e believe Sales yer providin his facilitie that claims jo, Arriate at Simply she He s she Manager their presen s to the businesses andg successful media of being a very was initiallyhim. printing figureswas exaggerating t individual who previoMedia, Lola Gomez, mogul - turning over million ter being askedowed €4,000 afowners. usly worke ents by perhap to potential clis in Pais’ d profit for El A Prisa group, ous compa - his previtember 2013, to leave in Sepclaim Israel s ten times. nies have been and is now taking The original victed for serious February, and having started in and con- over Israel to court in Malag “I felt defrau strongly denies. investigative only English-language offences includnon-payment ded newspaper in ing dumping paid €1,50 has still not been Andalucía of her salarya been cheating and that I had 0 of that. Gomez began EE And he left waste illegally. “He my . Gome a trail of at z, who hasclients,” said wouldpromised all his staff rael in Septem working for IsFR dissolved compa least 10 only they paid for 15 have sports left after just ber last year, but Tel: 951 273 nies before days of work.been houses cars and mov- to ‘anxie 575 (admin two month trial will in the Baham ) Accounts: ty and stress s due tober now take place on The fore long, but as 658 750 424 20 in Oc- he ’, in parthe truth is beSales: 655 825 wasn’t turnin or admin@ that Meanwhile, Malaga court 4. 683 theolivepress. g over enoug former accou money es or sales@ h A campaigning, n- staff,” to even pay printer theolivepress. community s and expatriate commu Gedeon told es newspa nity in souther per, the Olive Press the Olive (130,000 digitally n Spain represe )

Press pathe yments that is not possible, it will seize itOlivefrom firm’s assets. VICTIM: Gomez began working for Israel in SeptemLola the ber last year, but left after just two months “It’s such a relief after olive pres s due to ‘anxiety and stress’. to finally have some justice victory Her lawyer, Manuel Dominguez, told the Wafter anguish and hat aa year Twit ofbadly. court that Gomez was made to exaggerate being treated printing numbers to potential clients by ‘up I “It’s not so much about the money but the to ten times’. complete disrespect Israel has shown me afOutside court, Gomez told the Olive Press: ter persuading me to leave my previous job (at El Pais’ Prisa group).” Israel, 52, who previously ran the Sunsearch Media Group, failed to turn up to court for the October 15 T seems like the impossible task, producing a 100-plus page newspaper hearing, insisting he had while giving ads away for free. been given the wrong date. Especially given there are just five members of staff listed as producing When contacted, Israel, Weekend World, none of whom is a journalist. who is said to be planning Yes, something doesn’t quite stack up. a newspaper for Gibraltar, Well now the Olive Press can finally reveal just how it works. claimed: “We sent everyAs well as failing to pay sales staff (and others to boot) publisher Stan Israel also thing to the court explainfails to pay journalists; instead simply lifting numerous stories word-for-word from ing about Lola and that we other publications and websites. hadn’t paid her because Indeed, at least five stories in the most recent issue have been copied verbatim she still had a company from European news provider thelocal.es, while others were lifted wholesale from mobile in her possession. websites including Spanish News Today. “We have documents sayNot just nicking the stories, intros and conclusions, Weekend World even has ing the court case was on the chutzpah to use the same headlines the 20th which was why we AND standfirsts. didn’t turn up on the 15th.” But it is not good news for Stan, with the The businessman, who forStockholm-based media group, the Lomerly lived in Tenerife and cal, now threatening legal action. runs a series of magazines, “The Local takes any sort of plagiarism then openly threatened the very seriously,” said Spanish editor Fiona Olive Press team and pubGovan, a former Telegraph correspondent. lisher. “We are making urgent enquiries and will “I have been very forgiving take all necessary steps to protect our so far. Those days are now THE LOCAL: Sep 17 copyright, including legal action where apover,” he added. “If you WW: Oct9 propriate.” write this story, then you Meanwhile, Zoe Cooper, editor of Spanwon’t get to see the world. ish News Today, said: “It’s outrageous Do not mess with me.” and it makes me incredibly angry when He continued: “You do I see my team’s work lifted. not want to have Mr An“In fact, I come down like a ton of bricks gry coming down to your and sue anyone committing internet office, trust me, I am not piracy,” added Cooper, who has been the kind of person who running the site from Murcia for seven doesn’t follow through on years. threats.” In response, Israel said: “Many articles In June, the Olive Press are provided to us as press releases, via reported on a string of our paid subscription to new agencies other former staff who so obviously stories will on occasion be had not been paid, as well the same.” as Israel’s practice of publishing free adverts lifted THE LOCAL: Sep 24 SPANISH NEWS TODAY: Sep 29 Opinion Page 6 from other publications. WW: Oct 9 WW: Oct 9 with an estimate nts the - 200,000 more than 500,000 people d readership, copies distributed huge monthly a month. including the Luke Stewart website, of B91664029 Media S.L - CIF: Iona Napier 951 273 575 Iona@theolivepr Carretera Naciona ess.es l 340, km 144.5 Calle Espinos a1 Admin / Distribution Edificio centro / Accounts: planta primera, comercial El Duque, Maria Gonzále 29692 San Luis z Sabinillas, Manilva de accounts@theoli vepress.es Printed by Mirian Moreno Corporación de Andalucía de Medios S.A. admin@theolive Editor: Jon press.es Clarke jon@theolivepre ss.es SALES TEAM: Newsdesk Newsdesk@the Chris Birkett 652 512 956 Tel: 665 798 olivepress.es Stephen Shutes 618 671 834 479 Classified Tom Powell Sarah Adams Tom@theolivepr 655825683 ess.es Rob Horgan Axarquia Rob@theolivepr ess.es Charlie Bamber 661 452 180

The Madrid RIO ALE MA should kno councillor slammed for w better, writ es our man anti-semitic tweets year in the capital, s N politics, everyt Mario Aleg ago MADR When it comes hing is fair and ria MAT ID a politician’s to digging up dirt unfair. cultural post about past, 48

IA GR

A COSTA del Sol media boss has been ordered to pay €2,800 to his former sales boss by a Malaga court. Stan Israel, owner of Simply Media Group, including the Weekend World newspaper, was found guilty of not paying Lola Gomez for two months. The judge ruled that if the €2,840 sum is not paid to Gomez within 20 days, the court will take it from Simply Media’s income, and if

Real role

NEW FEA S TURE

By Tom Pow

firm

IT does not come easy tion. to knock anoth er publicaIn the cut-th roat media recession world often key. - solidarity between - particularly in a rival public But two years ations is staff at Simpl of calls from forme r members investigate y Media and Sunse canno t be ignored. arch asking us of A former to mer distrisales manager, forme butor r bookk and forme eeper, forunpaid. Not r writers have But when to mention at least all gone some one printe one history of boss Stanlewith the chequered r. eryone else’s y Israel threa business No certainty hard work, he needs tens to ruin evof print run to be verts that numbers, exposed. have not been printi to distribute ng adin the world contracted and claim lounges... ’s top ing Stan, enoug For the first h is enoughotels and airport Press stand time in Costa del Solh. s alongside history, the sential Maga the Euro Week Olive ly News on this chara zine and Hot Maga zine to call , EsWe all have de. time our differ ments, but ences hard in veryevery one of us has and our disagreeHard work, tough times to still worked incredibly be here. integrity count days. s for every thing these

...and this is how they do it

TERS

hours after it is all been national electo he had ral process. part of the ue to appointed, but vowed surprising how and incidents keep his seat So it isn’t to continvocative Tweetsa Madrid councillor’s on Counc the years at that have taken place pro- shouldil. His detractors the Madrid City places synagogues, came to light over just hours believe public leave last week for after he was city’s culture all, while his government once that he front of thethe Jewish community,meeting appoin and Israeli Embas supporters, and Mayor Manue chief by incomingted the was a victim who claim for Zapata claims sy in Madrid in leftist his la Carmena. of Guillermo freedom of dirty politics, believe he apologised for he was a victim and . that in this speech guaran his has screenwriter,Zapata, a novelist violate day and age,offending Tweets. But tees were and a There d. said he meant when he posted when we are flagran t human rights seeing on his Twitter no harm tween is a very thick border some years on prejud violations speech freedo account line comments, back a series of anti-Se hate; the latter m and freedo be- sacre of ices, including the recentbased includ a mitic Spanis group of African m to while just doesn masing one that at the Holoca ’t exist h law they poked fun -Americans Basque terrori ust, and criticisms Spain has books. A toleran on the a church held a Bible study humour’, he sm victims. It was of the anti-Semitic never been considt country, of ‘dark in the United States course at all ‘dark humou , this type ered an says. nation compa Under pressu European countr tred and resentr’ only goes to fomen red re, Zapata t ha. listed in annua ies. However, it to other Zapata should gave up his is often l interna know rights report – s with a short tional human ity,which he claims to better. For a leftist be – social toleran list of abuse equals lute virtuesce and civil rights are abso.

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ADIOS: Game of Thrones finishes filming in Spain

NEWS

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Sweet send off - but not for Dothraki

Hot Hannah

THE cast of Game of Thrones had a sweet send off when they said adios to Spain with a celebratory cake. The stars of the hit fantasy show have been filming the sixth series in Girona, Bardenas, Zafra, Peñiscola, and Almeria for the past few months. And makers HBO called it a wrap with a cake showing the five different Spanish locations. New scenes filmed include the arson of a Dothraki camp by Daenerys’s Dragon and the Tower of Joy.

AMERICAN screen goddess Daryl Hannah has been strutting her stuff in Madrid. The stunning blonde, famous for her roles in Blade Runner and Kill Bill, looked decades younger than her 54 years in a little black dress and heeled ankle boots. The event, Spain’s Netflix launch party at El Matadero, saw a host of celebrities including Hannah’s Sense8 costar Spanish actor Miguel Angel Silvestre and Orange is the New Black’s Taylor Schilling.

Third time lucky! By Joe Duggan IN a nondescript industrial estate, in a small village in Granada, a group of historians and archaeologists could soon be making global literary history. The British, Spanish and Argentine team hope to unearth the bones of one of the world’s most famous writers, Federico Garcia Lorca. The search for the poet and three other Civil War victims shot by fascists in 1936, is set to begin in Alfacar, near Granada, this week. Led by historian Miguel Caballero and archaeologist Javier Navarro Chueca, it is the third time an official excavation has been approved to

A third bid to find poet Federico Garcia Lorca’s body is due to start 79 years after his execution find the celebrated poet. Executed in the early stages of the civil war, mystery has long surrounded the burial place of Lorca, celebrated for works including Blood Wedding and Poet in New York. The Granada poet, who was a homosexual, was deliberately targeted and shot and buried in a mass grave alongside at least three other victims, one an Anarchist bullfighter. Previous attempts to find Lorca helped by Irish historian Ian Gibson in 2009 and another in 2014 both

Branching out Leaking roof and Christmas trees, winter’s-a-comin’ for Elliott Wright

LA CALA

WELL the rains have finally come haven’t they? Despite not being bad for business, we have had a few leaks in the roof, which needed patching up by my builders John and Dave. Thankfully they did a great job (as well as my dad who works the crowd) while I was back in the UK for a few days of meetings and partying. Highlights included a fabulous sirloin at STK London, while I also met girlfriend Sadie’s extended family; we went for lunch at 1pm and were still there at 12:30 in the morning! Safe to say we all got on well and they fell for my Essex charms (at least, I hope they did). I’m now getting set up for Christmas which is already looking rammed – my main challenge is getting hold of a massive Christmas tree. Can anyone help? (Ed: tried Lapland Elliott?)

proved fruitless. With private donors and a crowdfunding campaign backing the bid, the team could be on the brink of a historical find. “If they are there, we will find BY rights he should become one of the most-cherished expats them,” said Navarro. “We on the Costa del Sol. now have a more advanced After 10 months of preparation, Down Syndrome hero Reuben knowledge of the land and Coe, 31, has launched his very own blog and website. scientific knowledge that has Reuben, who has lived in San Pedro for three years, raised ruled out certain spots.” money through crowd-funding website IndieGoGo to launch Gibson, however, told the Olive Reubensworld.com. Press that although he didn’t “I love Spain, the food and the beaches especially,” Reuben told believe Lorca was buried the Olive Press earlier this year. where the digwas, it should His brother Manni Coe, of Toma Tours, told the Olive Press: “I still go ahead. NEWS have “Lorca is the most famous 5 never seen a blog directly from a person with Down SynNews drome IN BRIEF before, we’re so excited to see where it will go.” disappeared person in the Poker risks world. He symbolizes the horrors of the civil war,” Final resting pla said Gibson. writer and fou ce of Blood Wedding r others will be exhumed “The Spanish state is not Wind protests looking for its dead and that’s a monstrous affront to Franco’s victims. Lorca symbolizes that.” The team is now awaitDouble trouble ing the rubber stamp at Fight from the Andalucian Mauthoriarbella nightc HUNT Brother maFor terialiLorca lu sm mur b ON: der ties for the dig to get underway. wit (above) h unifo and

BRAVE new world!

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THE final resting Andalucia’s most place of writer Federic famous Lorca could be o Garcia excavated next week. The Junta has family of the given the poet two weeks Grenadine the opening of to oppose grave he is saidthe mass to have been buried in. The long-running taken a decisive saga has the Junta sidedtwist after families of four with the other men buried beside Lorca.

Lorca to be dug up next week the olive press

- September 03,

Secret

All of them were Franco’s right wingshot by grave. pushed during the Spanis forces Granada council employ- exhum for the grave to be h Civil ee, Fermin War in 1936. ed. Roldan cia, was murdered Gar- For more than 70 Although Lorca’s years the in the exact rela- early hours tives have made fate of the left-win of August of their desire to no secret 1936 and buried alongsi 18 poet and playwright, g 38 de when killed, remains untouc leave the Lorca. has remained a subject of specula have indicated hed, they After his granddaughte that they rs It is hoped that tion. learned of the will not oppose the discove mation that will the exhu- they promptly called ry, ing of the grave will opendeterfor mine the from September take place his remains to be circumstances of recov- Lorca’s ered. The Junta recentl8. death after he was also ered evidence y uncov- In addition, the indicating of remains squadkidnapped by a death that a fifth person a teacher and two in August 1936. mer government – a for- chists are also believeanar- Lorca was denounced official lie in as - also rests in the Alfacar site d to republican, a communista the mass their and and a homos families have also exual before his execution.

EXCLUSIVE By Andrew

MASS GRAVE:

viewed by police. Pearce The victim, who lives in the Nueva Andalu A GLITZY Marbel cia area, had earliernightclub – host la been spotted looking to celebs including drunk and agitate Bruce Willis, Naomi Campd at nearby Puro Beach bell and royals Bar. as Prince Harry such Celebrities been the scene - has sports stars flockand of a Costa del Sol ganglan to the swanky Puerto d attack. Banus nightclub Shocked revellers during the summe at the Olivia Valere r months. ATTACK: Victim disco had to duck It costs around Valere nightclub stabbed at Olivia cover as a man for euros just to buy20 was shot last year viciously attacke was a coke and mingle d at with cans, who alleged knifepoint. the rich and famous in the face before ly glassed him It emerges that . Ironically it was stabbing him. the Iranian “It this had been the victim was complete time last year lier attack, reporte of an ear- waitress told the chaos,” a club Press reporte that the Olive ive Press, at Nikkid in the Ol- “There was blood all Olive Press. Beach night d how Nikki over the place club in Elviria Beach last and everyon summer. had taken the e was screaming. decision to “I am also pretty The 40-year-old businessman someon certain that close the season early, after a was rushed to hospita similar attack on e fired a gun, l althoug the leaving victim. h On that nobody was hurt.” a trail of blood. occasion he was The victim was shot Just seconds before taken to hospi- twice in the legs in front of Holhe was seen having the attack tal, but discharged lyoaks star Jennife r Metcalf. debate with a group a heated emergency treatm himself after The nightcl ent the next ub denied last of Moroc- mornin night g, to avoid being inter- fired. that any shots were

Opinion Page 6

Lorca (inset) lies

A POKER player was shot during a private game at a house Nueva Andaluciain on Monday night. The Spaniard, 42, was in the legs, while shot fellow player was a hit over the head when thieves dressed in black broke into the house.

2000 people have protested over a planned wind turbine projec off the Costa det Luz near Chipio la na. The offshore scheme has pitted Spain’s Green Party against the local Ecologistas en Accion group , which insists the Las Cruces del Mar schem could endangere the movements fish and migra of tory birds.

here

rms

2009

A BROTHER who killed his two elder siblings over inheritance money in the village of Villanueva del Trabuco is facing 50 years in prison He had contracted. professional hitmana to help him in the March 2008 murde rs which saw Juan Francisco Cabelloand Podadera shot by 12-bore shotgun. a

our 2009 story

Ronaldo’s big secret

CRISTIANO Ronaldo revealed he’s working on a ‘topsecret project’ after tweeting a video of himself with Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio. The Real Madrid star was all smiles as the pair cosied up for the camera following Ronaldo’s split with Russian supermodel Irina Shayk. “We are not going to say what we did because it’s a secret, we hope you are going to like it,” teased Ronaldo.

A SPANISH profess bringing back schoolor has proposed attempt to curb the uniforms in an brand name competition among pupils. Jaume Sarramona society is one of claims to Spanish the most hedoni and consumer-orien stic The professor of ted in Europe. teacher training Barcelona’s Autono at says that children mous University tomed to parents have become accusgiving in to demand for games, clothes s or mobile phones, but give back nothing in return. He believes it is time for children to learn to appreci ate the true value things, and spoke of can bring them by of the incentive it earning someth for themselves through ing sacrifice, effort and respect.

See our Back to School special on page 27

Not kidding

AN Axarquia man, Carlos Diaz, has patented an inventi that could save liveson by warning people who have left their children in cars. The pressure pads inserte d under rear seats would set off an alarm once they had locked the car. Every year dozens of children die after being left in hot cars.

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NEWS

October 15th - October 28th 2015

NEWS

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October 28th - November 11th 2015

Get them to jail! Briton who lost €200,000 in property scam pleads for fraudsters to be jailed TWO YEARS after guilty ruling

BROKEN DREAM: Riddoch (inset) bought this land off crooks in 2006

Driving ahead

RESIDENTS in up to a dozen towns are overjoyed that the Junta is to finally spending money repairing one of the region’s worst roads. Villages in the Genal Valley, as well as in Manilva and Gaucin, are all set to benefit from repairs to the crumbling A-377, totalling €6 million. The Junta’s 2016 budget also revealed it is spending €5 million on the first phase of Antequera’s so-called ‘dry dock’ project. It is also financing bike lanes in Malaga and Marbella, while the largest sum of €95 million is to finish the metro in Malaga.

THEY had hoped to follow in the footsteps of bestselling author Chris Stewart and build their own dream home in the Alpujarras. But British couple Neil and Caroline Riddoch’s plans quickly became a nightmare, after it turned out they had paid €92,000 to fraudsters for land in a nearby village. After seven years of legal wrangling and court costs, London-based businessman Riddoch thought the thieves had finally been brought to justice when they were found guilty at Granada’s Supreme Court in 2013. However, more than two years later, Riddoch, 56, has received less than 10% of the money he

Holidaymaker dies in custody A BRITISH father of two has died in a Spanish prison after police arrested him for ‘rowdy’ behaviour. Antony Abbott, 36, was on a family holiday in Benidorm when his heavy drinking led Hotel Palm Beach staff to call the authorities. Within 60 minutes of being taken to the police station the Manchester man was dead and his family found him the next day with multiple bruises to his head. His partner, Catherine Corless, and two children do not know the cause of death. “We are devastated and want answers,” said Corless.

TRAGIC: Abbott’s death

EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell is owed for the 2006 purchase in Carataunas. And worse than that the pair of fraudsters haven’t spent a second behind bars. “After they were found guilty of defrauding me, my barrister told me I had two options. They could either serve their one-year sentences immediately, or have them suspended for 18 months and be made to pay me back entirely during that time. “I was told I would get my money back quicker if they didn’t go to prison, I thought I had won.” But Riddoch has, to date, received just €10,400, which only covers the court fees on the day of their sentencing. The crooks, who run a mining business near Sevilla, have not refunded any of the initial €92,000 they charged Riddoch. They had managed to pretend the estate was theirs by registering it illegally at Granada’s land register office (Catastro). Riddoch, boss of London printing company Colour Fast World, only realised the con after he was sued by the land’s real owner when he saw electric pylons and a generator spring up. Caught up in a legal minefield, he even ended up paying the actual owner thousands in legal fees. In total he estimates he lost €200,000, which includes €47,000 in legal fees plus what he paid in land tax, translation and traveling. “It’s about justice now and I would forgo the money just to see those two fraudsters go to jail,” Riddoch told the Olive Press this week. “On the day of the sentencing, they smiled as they left court because they said they were lucky to avoid prison. They actually went to buy lottery tickets,” he added. The couple have now given up on a life in Spain, opting to purchase a second home in France instead.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Work and play hard THE latest batch of American students have flown in from across the pond to play semi-professional football while studying at The American College in Marbella.

Shaw success A SHAW Marketing Services’ networking event in Sotogrande raised €200 for charity Nuevo Hogar Betania to fund free hot meals for the most vulnerable.

Hot property DISGRACED royal sonin-law Inaki Urdangarin is attempting to sell two apartments in Mallorca to cover a string of legal debts relating to his money laundering case.

Pet register DOG owners in Malaga will face €500 fines if they do not register their mutts before March 2016.

Walk this way WORK has begun to turn Torremolinos town centre into a pedestrianised zone.

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OPINION Remember what’s important A TIME of remembrance has been somewhat spoilt by the disappearance of 9,000 poppies in Estepona. And if someone has in fact lifted the goods for their own gains then it is indeed a heartless crime that should be punished. However, worries and squabbles over lost flowers should remain a side note to what is more important. For Remembrance Sunday is about the millions of people who gave their lives so we could live in a free world today.

FEATURE

August 6th - -August 19th 11th 20152015 www.theolivepress.es October 28th November

Long-lasting shadow

Deplorable JOURNALISM is not an easy career. In most cases, a journalist has A-Levels, a university degree, a postgraduate journalism qualification and numerous work experience stints under their belt before their first job. This is why the actions of Stan Israel are so deplorable, brazenly cutting and pasting from other people’s livelihoods. And then, when he is confronted by journalists who actually find their own stories and in a professional manner, he fires a volley of sinister threats down the phone. We have just one question for our readers… do you think this is the way to go about running a business?

Lorca hopes resume

Olive Press payments THE following companies are no longer allowed to do business with the Olive Press (Luke Stewart Media SL - CIF B91664029), due to long standing debts: - MWM Investments Ltd - Petersham Coins, Marbella - Investor Spain - Simple Care - Autotunes Manilva - Hotel Embrujo, Arriate

the EE

- Jaipur Purple, Estepona - Reservatauro, Ronda - Webuycarsinspain.es - Motor Trader - Best Coches The details are being published in support of other companies that may be unaware of the problems that might be faced by providing credit facilities to the businesses and their present individual owners. The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

Tel: 951 273 575 (admin) or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Iona Napier Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 iona@theolivepress.es 951 273 575 Joe Duggan Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5 joe@theolivepress.es Calle Espinosa 1 Admin / Distribution / Accounts: Edificio centro comercial El Duque, planta primera, 29692 San Luis de Maria González Sabinillas, Manilva accounts@theolivepress.es Printed by Corporación de Medios Mirian Moreno de Andalucía S.A. admin@theolivepress.es Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Newsdesk SALES TEAM: newsdesk@theolivepress.es Chris Birkett Head of Sales Tel: 665 798 618 652 512 956 Stephen Shutes 671 834 479 Tom Powell Sarah Adams 655 825 683 tom@theolivepress.es Axarquia Rob Horgan Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 rob@theolivepress.es

IS death marked the pivotal moment in modern Spanish history, releasing the country and its people from his horrific 39-year dictatorship. In the years that followed Francisco Franco’s passing on November 20 1975, Spanish society underwent an astonishing transformation from a cruel fascist dictatorship to one of the world’s most liberal democracies. That evolution was powered by a rebirth of free thinking known as la movida which reached its zenith in Madrid. But, four decades on, Franco’s memory still casts a long, dark shadow over Spain. To his supporters, El Caudillo (the Lead-

HE latest jobless figures may put Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s administration, which faces a tough battle on December 20 to retain its majority in Congress, in a positive light. Nonetheless, the numbers don’t provide any irrefutable argument that Spain’s economy is heading for better times. The government’s statistics office reported last week that unemployment fell below the five million mark for the first time in five years. Just some 4.85 million of the active population are out of work, which puts the country’s official jobless rate at 21.18%. That is still one of the highest figures in Europe. This past weekend in Alicante, a buoyant Rajoy attributed the lower numbers for the

er) was Spain’s saviour from godless left-wing ideology. To his detractors he was a brute presiding over a murderously vindictive regime. Some 500,000 people died - not all of them on the field of battle - during the three-year Spanish Civil War, triggered when Franco led a military coup against the democratically-elected government in 1936. As many as 200,000 of those men and women were executed extrajudicially or on flimsy legal grounds. A further 20-to-30,000 were put to death on El Generalisimo’s orders in the years after. His final resting place, Valle de Los Caidos, is now the subject of legal wrangling. Families of Republicans killed during the

Spanish Civil War are demanding their loved ones’ remains be removed from the vast mausoleum, where 33,000 bodies are buried. Republican prisoners were forced to help construct their hated enemy’s tomb. The Pacto de Olvido (Pact of Forgetting) agreed by Spain’s political parties as the fledgling democracy took shape in 1977 was an attempt to draw a line under the war’s horrors and absolve the crimes of the regime. But a new generation of Spaniards is demanding answers. Forty years on, the ghost of Franco and the atrocities he perpetrated still have the power to haunt. Spain is not, yet, a Franco-free zone.

Game plan

RIO

ALEGRI

Accounts: 658 750 424 Sales: 692 725 475

With the 40th anniversary of Franco’s death looming large next month, Joe Duggan uncovers 40 facts about El Caudillo

THE search for Federico Garcia Lorca has captivated the public and baffled historians and archaeologists over the years. Once again, world attention will be drawn to a plot of land outside Granada as a third attempt in five years is launched for the murdered poet’s remains. Lorca, a homosexual intellectual with ties to the Spanish Republic, symbolised everything Franco despised. He is one of thousands of civil war victims buried in unmarked graves. This joint British, Spanish and Argentine bid to find one of the world’s most loved literary figures could finally put an end to one of Spain’s great mysteries.

Is political spin enough to save the PP? third-quarter to higher tourism and rigid labour policies he introduced after he came to office at the end of 2011. The Popular Party (PP) has acknowledged that it may lose seats in both chambers to the up-and-rising conservative grouping Ciudadanos, which is gaining strength in many parts of Spain. The only way for the PP to stay in government would be through the formation of a coalition with Ciudadanos, but this wouldn’t guarantee that Rajoy would remain as prime minister. Ciudadanos leader Albert Ri-

vera has said that the prime minister’s office would no doubt be a bargaining chip in any partnership negotiations. On another front, the Socialists, who lost to Rajoy after two tumultuous terms under Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, have also seen their political fortunes rise thanks to the fears and uncertainty of radical change being offered by the left-leaning Podemos party. Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez has proposed altering some of the PP government’s policies while adopting similar, but less radical, ideas that Podemos is

proposing. The Socialists are nearly n e c k and-neck with the PP, according to recent polls. Ruling party strategists have now advised Rajoy to focus his discourse on his ‘experience’ over these three political novices, and convince voters that there will be a continuation of ‘economic stability’, as the campaign is formally set to begin. The problem with this game plan is that most Spaniards have not experienced any improvements in their household finances in many years.

Franco was born in 1892 in the Galician naval town of El Ferrol, the son of a naval officer, Nicolas.

His father, who Franco was not close to, deserted the family and ran off to live with his mistress in Madrid.

After failing to follow his brother, father and grandfather into the navy, Franco left for the Toledo infantry academy and became an officer in the Spanish Army

corps.

Salvador Puig Antich, an anarchist robber who killed a policeman, was executed in 1974, the final person to be garroted under Franco’s regime.

A pact of non-intervention was agreed by the world’s major powers when war broke out in 1936, but Franco enlisted the help of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Franco was nicknamed Franquito or ‘Frankie Boy’ as he wouldn´t participate in his fellow students activities.

Franco was sent to Morocco in 1912 to fight in the colonial war, where he stayed until 1926. He received a wound near Ceuta that almost killed him in 1916 and developed a reputation for courage and brutality.

A British pilot, Cecil Bebb, took off from Croydon Airport on 11 July, 1936, to collect Franco in the Canary Islands and take him to Tetuan, Morocco to start the army uprising.

Franco showed his brutal methods in the Asturian miners’ uprising in 1934, when his troops killed almost 2,000 miners.

The Malaga to Almeria N340 road was the scene of a bloody slaughter in February 1937 when up to 5,000 fleeing Republican refugees were killed as Franco’s fascist planes strafed and bombed them. A huge statue of Franco on a horse was removed from his home town, Ferrel, in 2002.

Juan Carlos, who was later to become King of Spain, was a firm favourite of Franco and the dictator chose the young prince to be the next head of state in 1969. Juan Carlos was instrumental in pathing the way for Spain’s transition to democracy after Franco’s death.

Cliff Richard was denied victory in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest when Franco´s regime fixed the contest by offering bribes for votes, Montse Fernandez Villa´s 2008 documentary claimed. Spain´s Massiel won the competition with the song La, La, La.

When Franco died in 1975, half a million Spaniards visited his coffin as he lay in state fpr 50 hours. One mourner tripped and fell into his grave a few hours before he was buried.

During World War Two, Franco wrote a semi-autobiographical novel called Raza, using the pseudonym Jaime de Andrade. It was later turned into a film.

77 7

The Socialist government passed the Historical Memory Law, in 2007 which called for Francoist monuments to be pulled down and state help given to relatives wanting to recover loved ones buried in mass graves.

He became the youngest general in Europe aged 33.

smuggle millions of pesetas-worth of her father’s gold and valuables out of the country.

August 6th- November - August 19th 2015 www.theolivepress.es October 28th 11th 2015

FEATURE

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Franco made dubbing compulsory in Spanish cinema in 1941 so his censors could completely control the content of foreign films.

The German Condor Legion’s infamous attack on the Basque market town of Gernika killed up to 400 civilians and inspired Pablo Picasso’s painting.

Work on Franco’s final resting place, Valle de los Caidos (below), began in 1940 and was finished in 1959. Much of it was built by Republican prisoners.

During his dictatorship, Franco banned the public use of the Basque, Catalan and Galician languages.

Around 35,000 people from 53 countries came to fight for the International Brigades against Franco, including 4,000 from Britain.

Franco made Luis Carrero Blanco his Prime Minister in 1973. The admiral would have succeeded Franco, but an ETA bomb blew him up six months later.

The families of two Republican brothers buried at Valle de los Caidos have asked the courts to exhume their bodies. The case is currently going through the courts.

Barbate in Cadiz was known as Barbate de Franco until 1998 because the dictator used to holiday there.

Franco was fanatical about dams, and insisted on being present at the opening of each new facility his regime built.

On Christmas Eve 1961 Franco was injured when his shotgun for hunting exploded in his left hand.

The Spanish government’s National Heritage pays for the upkeep of the site which attracts thousands of visitors each year and contains a Benedictine monastery.

Franco is the only person buried at Valler de los Caidos who did not die during the civil war. Falangist founder Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera is also buried at the site.

Franco oversaw Spain’s rapid economic development, los anos de desarrollo, which was powered by tourism. Between 1961 and 1973, Spain’s economy grew faster than any developed country apart from Japan.

Franco slept next to the severed hand of St Teresa of Avila, which was looted from Ronda by a Republican prisoner in 1937.

It was revealed in a book by Jose Maria Zavala in 2009 that Franco only had one testicle after being shot in the abdomen in 1916.

Franco met with Adolf Hitler in Hendaye on the French border in 1940 to discuss Spain entering World War Two (see photo left).

The 152.4-metre high stone cross at Valle de los Caidos is the largest freestanding crucifix in the world.

Although Spain remained neutral, Franco sent the Division Azul, a unit of volunteers, to fight on the eastern front for Hitler.

Franco’s daughter, Maria del Carmen Franco y Polo, was arrested at Madrid’s Barajas Airport in 1978 as she tried to

sion.

Under Franco, women were banned from owning property, travelling, taking employment or opening a bank account without their husband’s permis-

Divorce was prohibited and adultery was heavily punished. Franco was believed to have been faithful to his wife, Maria del Carmen Polo y Martinez-Valdes.

On his deathbed, the 82-year-old Franco said: “I ask pardon of all my enemies, as I pardon with all my heart all those who declared themselves my enemy, although I did not consider them to be so.”

Franco attempted to open negotiations with Britain over Gibraltar, and in 1969 he closed the border to the Rock. A 1967 referendum showed 99% of Gibraltarians wanted to stay British.

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New multi-million euro Junta probe ANTI-corruption chiefs are demanding an investigation into yet another multi-million euro fraud case linked to the Junta de Andalucia. Fraud prosecutors have filed a case to look into irregularities surrounding €185 million of European Union funds awarded by the Junta development agency ‘Soprea’ between 2007 and 2013. A police report has so far identified 17 separate FIFTY protesters braved projects that it is believed the rain at a rally in sup- wrongly received Soprea port of crusading judge (Sociedad para la proMercedes Alaya. mocion y reconversion The group held up plac- economica de Andalucia) ards demanding justice, funding, via the so-called after Alaya was removed Jeremie funds. from the ERE corruption In particular, they are scandal, despite a personal looking at how Soprea appeal to stay on. boss, Mariano Pobre BeThe judge had worked on jarano, became director the estimated €2billion general of one of the comJunta fraud case case for panies to benefit, Kandor four years until she was Graphics, shortly after it replaced last month by received €5 million in JerJudge Nunez Bolanos. emie funds.

Thieves out… not the judge!

Find his fortune! POLICE have raided a dozen houses and offices around Spain belonging to former Catalan leader Jordi Pujol. More than 200 officers took part in the operation, which is looking at money-laundering and tax fraud. The probe centres on the origin of a family fortune that was hidden abroad for decades as well as the business dealings of three of his sons. Pujol, 85, founded the Catalunya Convergence party and was president for 23 years.

POLITICAL NEWS

October 28th - November 11th 2015

All for the Bag Handbag bribe lands mayor in the dock in political kickback scandal By Rob Horgan A FORMER mayor is to stand trial after accepting a luxury handbag as a bribe. Ex-leader of Bormujos, near Sevilla, Ana Hermoso (right) is accused of selling her council vote in exchange for the €2,000 Loewe handbag. The bag was allegedly given to

her by scandal-ridden businessman Jesus Calvo before she cast her vote as a councillor in a deal to remove CORRU PTION an earlier mayor. Calvo is accused of money laundering, tax fraud and influence peddling in the Gurtel case, a nationwide investigation into kickbacks for public contracts.

Eye on

Pablo’s election PLEDGE PABLO Iglesias has promised to give Catalunya an independence referendum within weeks of getting into power. The Podemos leader would also give similar votes to other regions in a bid to create a ‘better democracy’ in Spain, should he get into power in December’s general election. Among a raft of policies, his party would immediately introduce measures to tackle corruption as part of five major constitutional changes. The party also wants an improvement in social rights and to break links between the legal and political systems and big business. There will be re-nation-

alisation of key industries, higher taxes for the rich and the introduction of subsidies to low-paid workers to boost monthly wages to €900.

“It’s great that we have rich people, but for the rich to be rich, the key is not to impoverish the rest of the country,” Iglesias said.

Bar banter THE leaders of Podemos and Ciudadanos have made national TV viewing history in a head-to-head live debate.The Pablo Iglesias/Albert Rivera faceoff (above) was watched by 5.2 million - or 25.2% of the viewing figure at the time - for news programme Salvados.

Not the first, and surely not the last, Hermoso, who denies the bribe, joins a host of political figures caught out accepting gifts in return for political favours. Former mayor of Valencia Rita Barbera also faces accusations for accepting a luxury handbag as a bribe, while exValencian president Francisco Camps was found guilty of accepting suits totalling thousands to release funds. Meanwhile a raid on disgraced Marbella councillor Juan Antonio Roca’s home in 2010 turned up a number of exotic animals and a Miro hanging in his bathroom, all accepted as bribes.

Left and right unite to fight A LEFT-WING Spanish council has handed an ‘historic’ olive branch to its right-wing representatives. The left-wing IU, which holds four seats in Cuevas de San Marcos, signed an agreement with the PP’s three councillors to bring them into the government team.

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the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th

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AXARQUIA

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Facebook fallout

Brush with success

A COUNCIL spat played out over Facebook continues to rage. Nerja’s deputy mayor Jose Garcia has been forced to resign after badmouthing two Ciudadanos councillors over social media. Garcia was ordered to apologise for saying two female councillors had ‘done nothing but protest and not collaborated on anything’ over the last few months. He failed to get any backing from mayor Rosa Arrabal.

A NERJA artist’s work will be displayed at a major new London exhibition. Rachid Hanbali was selected from more than 1,250 artists for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ annual exhibition at Mall Galleries in December. Moroccan Hanbali, from Sidi Ifni, is heavily inspired by his country’s landscape and people.

NEWS IN BRIEF Home improvements OVER 300 homes will receive emergency repairs in Velez-Malaga with the Junta stumping up €268,000 for essential rehab work.

Fire starter WORK on Nerja’s fire station is four months ahead of schedule and should be completed by the end of the year.

Road ruined THE road from Motril to Lujar has been deemed ‘too dangerous’ to drive on and has been closed due to damage caused by flash floods.

More than sour grapes! By Iona Napier CALLING it sour grapes is, without a doubt, an understatement. But one of the Axarquia’s biggest fruit and vegetable companies has won an E-Coli battle, which nearly squeezed it into oblivion. It comes after a German court ruled that Frunet, in Algarrobo, was wrongly blamed for an out-

Millions in compensation for fruit and veg firm wrongly accused of massive E-Coli outbreak

break of the disease, which killed 50 and hospitalised over 4000, in 2011. The vegetable grower will be compensated €2.3 million. Spanish cucumbers were embargoed by supermarkets around the world during the

Feeling the squeeze GRAPE growers are feeling the squeeze after one of the smallest harvests for 20 years. Five years of summer droughts followed by flash floods in the autumn have taken their toll on the crops, with just 4.2 million kilos of grapes harvested in the Axarquia this year - 20% lower than expected. In fact, production has steadily decreased since a record yield in 2007 when 10.31 million kilos of grapes were recorded in the region.

crisis, with estimated losses of €180 million per week. The Hamburg court ruled that the outbreak came instead from a Mexican producer of jalapeno peppers. Frunet sales manager Richard Soepenberg said the company was ‘happy and proud’ to have cleared its name. “Pointing the finger at a company can destroy it completely in seconds,” he said. “Fortunately we’ve managed to rebuild our company from scratch and are back at pre-cucumber crisis sales.” The World Health Organisation predicts agricultural losses across Europe came to €1.18 billion.

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GIBRALTAR NEWS

October 28th - November 11th 2015

ON the Rock October 31, Halloween Special

NEWS IN BRIEF Sunday service GIBRALTAR will commemorate Remembrance Sunday (November 8) with a ceremony at the American War Memorial on Line Wall Road.

Border visit FIVE European Commission representatives made a surprise inspection to the Gibraltar-Spain border on Tuesday October 27.

BEFORE AND AFTER: The attractive transformation of Ince’s Hall has been awarded

Born again

Park life

Online fraudsters now one of the ‘biggest threats to Gibraltar’ with over £1 million stolen this month alone

REPAIR work at Commonwealth Park is due to finish by the end of October with turf being relaid, according to a government spokesman.

A STRING of Gibraltar businesses have been stung by cyber criminals, leaving them over £1million pounds out of pocket. Police describe the problem

Smoked out A BRITON driving a car concealing £7,000 worth of tobacco has been caught by customs officers.

Inquest date THE inquest into the death of a family of four in a Boschetti’s Steps flat in March has been set for 10am on December 7 at the Coroner’s Court in Town Range.

IT is a transformation to rival London’s Tate Modern. And now the Gibraltar International Bank has been awarded with a Group Heritage Award for the ‘sensitive conver-

sion’ of the old Ince’s Hall into its attractive head office. The tired building, last used as a nightclub, has been carefully restored to retain many original features.

Cyber siege By Rob Horgan as ‘one of the biggest threats to Gibraltar’, after the incred-

Power struggle

A WAR of words has broken out between Gibraltar’s main political parties over the planned £77 million power station. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo’s GSLP has published safety reports which give the green light to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal needed supply fuel for the new North Mole power station. The recommendations from the UK’s Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) and also Lloyd’s Register have effectively signaled the start of the construction process. However, GSD party leader Daniel Feetham has criticised the government for pushing through ‘inconclusive’ reports before November’s election. They believe the LNG terminal could pose safety concerns to residents, arguing that the full safety reports have not been published. The project will now progress, with a significant consultation process to be conducted by Shell and HSL, involving all stakeholders and the local community.

ible sum was siphoned from up to 100 companies in the last month alone. Using a series of elaborate ‘phishing’ scams, cybercrooks are attacking vulnerable businesses, with firms on the Rock currently facing a shocking 1,000 cyber-assaults daily. Most of the businesses targeted are ‘small, privately-run companies’, however larger companies are also said to be ‘at risk’. One victim, Bruno Callaghan, of Callaghan Insurance Brokers said he was ‘horrified’ by a recent cyberattack. Losing £18,000 to a phishing email scam, he is now urging other companies to ‘up their defences’. “There is huge stigma attached to being duped,” Callaghan told the Olive Press last night. “But this is a problem that is only go-

ing to get worse and people cannot be ashamed if caught out. “Businesses must work together to protect themselves.” The Financial Services Commission (FSC) and police are now working to ‘improve security systems and implement new firewalls’ into Gibraltar’s three internet service providers. “The attacks are real and we must remain vigilant,” FSC chief information officer Alan Pereira told the Olive Press. “Taking measures is now a priority. It is no longer nice to have cyber security; it is essential.” Meanwhile a police spokesman told the Olive Press that cybercrime is now ‘one of the biggest threats to Gibraltar’s economy. “This type of criminal activity is becoming increasingly sophisticated,” he added.

A Halloween variety show organised by Ideal Productions takes place at Ince Hall from 8.30pm. Information: idealproduction@live.com or mobile 350 54026013

November 4-11, Gibraltar Interna-

tional Art Exhibition 2015 Taking place at Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery, The Balcony, Casemates Barracks, Casemates Square between 10.30am and 18.30pm, Saturdays 10.30-13.30pm. info@culture.gi

Election countdown

GIBRALTAR’S general election on November 26 gives voters just one month to make their minds up. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo revealed the date in a snap party political broadcast aired on GBC. It gives the ruling GSLP and opposition GSD, led by Daniel Feetham, four weeks to persuade voters they should be given the chance to govern Gibraltar for the next four years.

www.theolivepress.es 1212the Olive Press October 1st - October 14th

GREEN NEWS

the Olive Press October 28thwww.theolivepress.es - November 11th 2015

Happy snappers

Tyre trouble

A PAIR of Andalucia snappers have been awarded at the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. Juan Tapia claimed the top gong in the ‘Impressions’ category for his picture of swallows entering an old storehouse in Almeria. Meanwhile, Pere Soler was recognised for his image of the algal blooms in the wetlands of Bahia de Cadiz Natural Park. Canadian Don Gutoski was crowned overall winner for his photo ‘A tale of two foxes’.

Outrage as Prestige tanker crew cleared in Europe’s ‘worst environmental disaster’ By Rob Horgan

SPANISH authorities are looking for a shredder to dispose of a rubber mountain that has been building up for 13 years. The 90,000 tonne heap composed of five million tyres is a blot on the landscape overshadowing a housing estate between Toledo and Madrid, as well as a serious fire and environmental hazard. Local authorities announced in October they are putting out a tender from January to find a company to shred the tyres, which have been there since 2002. A company originally in charge of recycling them was unable to cope with the vast operation and folded in 2011.

WINNERS: ‘A tale of two foxes’ and (right) Tapia’s snap

Oil at sea 14

Bluefin banditsfishing network

os RhiNOTer

illegal A MAJOR up on the Costa has been broken charges del Sol. people face A total of 18marine violations afcaught relating to of illegally ter 1,800 kiloswere seized by the bluefin tuna in Estepona. Guardia Civil are linked to alThe fishermanactivities along the leged illegal using speed boats to entire coast, catch back to their transport their Estepona base.

MESS: Galician beach and (inset) Prestige sinking

CMY

2015

s, Almeria at Palomare operation Clean-up COMING: LONG TIME t has fithe THE US governmen to clear up nally agreed at the Almerinuclear fall-out of Palomares. years, only cardamIn the ensuing an coastal resort Force planes colradioactive dealt in US his25% of the Two US Air bombs properly nuclear accidentof complaints age has been rying four nuclear killing seven tory’ and years decontaminawith. lided in 1966, than 45,000 from residents, take place. In March, morea change.org crew members. to apart, disset is split 16,000 tion signed a town of Two bombs radioactive matex- people demanding the US Palomares, are British and seminating three square mess ‘once nuclear petition - half of whom clear up the covered in ter over nearly of Palomares. pats - was the for all’. kilometres decades later after to begin in waste. The job is due Nearly five dubbed the ‘worst new year. what was to take two It is expected years to complete. t of EnThe US Departmen to dig up affected ille- ergy plans them out in condenounced ship groups have Bay of Algeciras. areas, and bury them in the s tainers environmental in the TWO Spanish for killing dolphins submitted complaint Nevada desert.

for one of our of wellbeing. with us with source Hide Away and find your in and relax. holiday retreats s to just stay accommodation We also have llbeing.com

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with widespread criticism. The state prosecutor is now demanding the Supreme Court overturns the Galician court’s decision. Slamming the ruling as ‘illogical, erroneous and outrightly wrong’, prosecutor Luis Navajas insisted the crew are criminally responsible. He is also demanding they pay €4.3 billion for the environmental damage caused by the spill. The crew are accused of acting negligently, resulting in 75 million litres of oil being released into the sea. The spill happenned after a storm off the coast of Galicia resulted in one of the ship’s 12 oil containers splitting. After being denied access into French and Spanish ports - due to the spill - the ship eventually split in half and sank after six days, resulting in the ecological disaster. The Supreme Court will now take one month to decide whether or not to prosecute Captain Apostolos Mangouras, 80, and his two lieutenants.

the Olive Press

Green grow

in Andaelectric cars SALES of up a whopping 35% in only 84 lucia were frighten you. a metre long, number was about the name 2015, but the behave. DON’T letos iguanas are only red on long as you units. Rhinocer in green-powe hurt you as A bony outgrowth So the increase motorists are uncertainly and they won’t for their name? but most one in vehicles means The reasonwhich looks like – stuck behind found likely to be the snout is primarily from 698, up traffic. isn’t – a horn. d lizard species ranging in Spain hit Overall salesthe same period last This threatene , with skin colours a green. 29.02% on in the Caribbean to a forest too, as Fuengirol year. a steely grey del Sol is in luck creature. to this special But the Costa also home Bioparc is

THE men behind the ‘worst environmental disaster’ in Europe have been acquitted of negligence. The decision to acquit three Greek sailors over the 2002 Prestige tanker spill has been met

October 15th

At last!

GREEN NEWS

ress.es

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Malaga CP 29199, Blanco, Coin, – Barranco 514 733 Finca La Fuente 951 204 306 / +34 669 tel: +34 fwellbeing.com eing info@thesourceo hesourceofwellb Facebook.com/t TMENT ONLY 13:42:30 Y BY APPOIN 02/10/2015 ss.pdf 1STRICTL VISITS AF-10-1-olivepre

ar clear up nucle America to nearly half rophe disaster site after catast a century

fiends Fishermen

is leading have both gal fishing crews Verdemar the Straits of Gibraltar in PACMA and tuna fishing that illegal ry deaths to the ‘unnecessa of dolphins’. political party PACMA, a animal that championscalls for an rights, is leading into whether investigationare being comthe crimes or Gibralmitted in Spanish tarian waters. of these dolphins “The death clear malice,” told is done with spokesman a PACMA “The abuse r’s floods the Olive Press. should OUS: Septembe of these dolphinsd by any DISASTR or not go unpunishe be it Spanish legislation, British.”

Sea clearly

now

in leading the way MANILVA is clean up the seas. an attempt to divers will be Twenty volunteer seas off Sabinillas taking to the until the end of and Duquesa a bid to remove the month in the seabed. rubbish fromin the Olive Press As reported sea crusadlast week (Deeplitter and polers, Issue 223) the world’s of lution are depleting half the number oceans, with disappearing in species marine 45 years.

up’s Green gro g flood warnin

for the Junta deaths has denounced ntal group September caused four in AN environme ’ after floods d’ build‘negligence hills, ‘totally uncontrolle around Granada. coast’s crumbling en Accion criticised Ecologistas greenhouses on theand land movement. to ing work of ‘enormous’ erosion that is dragged which causes s also produce rubbish it is not The greenhouse rains. said: “While events the sea by heavyen Accion spokesman known that fall, it is well of the land has a An Ecologistas the rains will the state known when common and that have occurred. are that swallow s floods like these the misfortune die, and the lot to do with wait until hundreds “Should we houses?” schools and

why not

IN ACTION: Kerry and (inset) we first broke the news last issue

Let the clean-up commence!

IT’S official: the US government is set to clean up and remove the remains of a nuclear disaster that happened in Almeria 49 years ago. And all for the bargain price of €640 million. Secretary of State John Kerry and Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo signed a Madrid agreement that the site of Palomares will be cleaned up after a plane collision and nuclear spill in 1966. TORRENTIAL rain The US agreed to remove storms last week left the 50,000 cubic metres of conchestnut crops of the Getaminated soil and transport nal Valley severely deit by boat to Nevada (USA) pleted. where it will be stored. Andalucian farmers are They will decontaminate land mourning the loss of up to while ensuring the safety of 25% of their chestnut harthe local population of around vest after 250 litres per 16,000, many of whom are Britsquare metre of water fell. ish expats.

Storm damage

Landslide clear-up A BLOCKAGE in a storm water culvert has been blamed for causing the landslide in Gibraltar lastweek. Europa Road is now open again after five days work following the collapse of a retaining wall. The Rock Hotel, which owns the land in question, brought in a local civil engineering firm to work with the government’s Technical Services department.

Before the rubble can be cleared, the slope must first be regraded to make the area safe. Pedestrians will not be allowed on the road at any point until it is reopened. However, access for pedestrians will be allowed through Alameda Gardens from 7:30am. Traffic heading towards town can use Europa Road between 7:30am and 10:00am on Thursday and Friday, due to safety measures put in place. But the road will be closed completely over the weekend. Planned resurfacing works along Queensway have been postponed to avoid further SPAIN has been slammed by the European Commission for failtraffic congestion. ing to clampdown on illegal timber traders. Technical Services staff have Despite a 12-year programme, the EC has announced that Euidentified a blockage in the rope is still ‘falling short’ with its efforts to stop illegal logging. storm water culvert on EuAlongside Spain, Greece, Hungary and Romania have been roport Avenue as the likely singled out for being countries ‘of concern’. cause, with the over-pumping “As the chain of control is only as strong as its weakest link regime unable to the excesin the single market, illegal timber can still be imported via sive rainfall of over 22mm in these four countries,” Karel Pinxten, EC auditor, said. less than two hours. “The EU needs to put its own house in order.”

Timber tirade

Repsol UN pledge

A snail’s tale NOT all snails are hell-bent on poaching raspberries from your vegetable patch. The giant African snail, which is one of the largest in the world, has bigger fish to fry. Languishing among the roots of a fallen tree at Fuengirola’s Bioparc, this 400g beast moves lightening fast (for a snail…) thanks to strong foot muscles and is herbivorous. It measures four to seven inches long with a life expectancy of up to ten years. Track the creatures down next to the pythons!

SPANISH energy giant Repsol has pledged to support UN climate change pledges ahead of the Paris world conference. Repsol was one of ten companies in the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative group to back the UN’s goals of tackling global warming. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change conference starts on November 30 in the French capital. US president Barack Obama has also received assurances from 81 of America’s leading companies to back White House initiatives for reducing emissions.

la cultura

what’s on

alaga, until November 20

Photographic exhibition charting history of the Spanish photographic portrait from its origin until first half of the twentieth century at Centro Cultural Provincial. Tel: 952 13 39 50

uerto Banus, October 29, 30, 31 and November 1

Michael Jackson fans can moonwalk to Teatro Goya for this homage starring Francisco Jackson, Spain’s King Of Pop tribute act. Tel@ 952 81 79 43 infomarbella@teatrogoya.com

uengirola, ber 30,

Octo-

The Casa de Cultura hosts this concert by the Karelia Trio with violin, piano and cello from 20.30. Tel: 635795955

Words worth singing SPAIN’S long wait for a vocal national anthem may be drawing to an end. A Madrid composer has written lyrics to accompany the military march which has served as the country’s anthem for 250 years. Bereft of words to belt out since Franco’s regime, Spaniards have had to put up with a lyricless anthem for 40 years. But that might be about to change. Victor Lago, 43, has launched a campaign to collect 500,000 signatures needed to present to the lawmakers. “I think we deserve, at long last, to have a decent anthem that can be sung with pride by everyone the length and breadth of our land,” said Lago.

October 28th - November 11th 2015

A tenor for unity

Sitges scene-stealer THRILLER The Invitation terrified Sitges Film Festival judges enough to win best film at this year’s event. Karyn Kasuma’s tense drama about a friends’ reunion that spins out of control picked up top gong at the 48th annual award in Catalunya. The Sitges festival’s popularity soared this year, with 76,336 tickets sold, up from 55,000 in 2014.

INVITATION: Wins best film award

THE END OF AN ERA

THE last miners in Spain have been immortalised by a worldrenowned French photographer. Resident in Madrid since 1988, Pierre Gonnord has spent the last five years snapping the final generation of miners in northern Spain.

Photographer captures Spain’s last miners as 40,000 workers prepare for unemployment The pits will close in 2018 after centuries, marking what Gonnord views as ‘the disap-

pearing of a community integral to Spain’. “Coal is on the way out of Europe, and it is dying a slow and ugly death,” he said. “When the pits close it will mark the end of an important part of Spain’s culture and history.”

Protests

COAL FACED MINERS: Days are numbered

Photographing workers in the mines of Carbonar, Monsacro, Pozo Santiago, Maria Luisa, Candin, Nicolasa, Tineo, Cerredo and Villablino, since 2009 Gonnord has built up a emotive portfolio. The end of the mining industry means 40,000 workers who will lose their jobs when the axe falls. The closures have been met with fierce opposition countrywide, with more than 10,000 protesters marching on Madrid in 2009, and sitins, roadblocks and other protests staged to no avail over the past five years.

PLACIDO Domingo has sung out in favour of Spanish unity. The multi-award-winning tenor and baritone stated his belief that Catalunya and Spain ‘need one another’. Domingo, who performed at the Barcelona Olympics closing ceremony, cancelled October concerts after being admitted to hospital with gallbladder inflammation. But the conductor and opera star has given voice to his cherished credo, stating: “My grandfather and my father were from Barcelona. I was born in Madrid. I consider myself Spanish and I am very proud of Madrid, my city, and Barcelona, where I lived for so long.” “Catalunya needs Spain and Spain needs Catalunya,” insisted.

Heritage heroes A BARBARY macaque expert and the authors of a series of historical fiction novels have won individual Gibraltar Heritage Trust awards. Primatologist Brian Gomila, who educates and entertains through his Monkey Talk outings, described the prize as ‘an honour’. Dr Sam Benady and Mary Chiappe were equally commended for bringing 18th century Gibraltar vividly to life in the Bresciano Mysteries.

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OLIVE PRESS – 105mm x 256mm – Colour

28th October

la cultura

Hold the front page! The Olive Press makes fashion headlines that give new meaning to the ‘rag trade’

FUNKY CHIC: With OP

TRAMPS use them to keep warm and all the best-dressed fish and chips are wrapped in them, it’s true. But who would have thought old newspapers could play a role in the glamorous world of fashion photography? Not any old rag of course. The Olive Press is always at the cutting edge of the Spanish news so why not as the backdrop for a fashion photoshoot? You can ‘read all about it’ in Society magazine, where dance teacher-cum-model Isla Rose Forgeron shows off the latest looks from the Elle Morgan Boutique in Laguna Village. Posing in a number of racy outfits in front of our column inches, the Puerto Banus-based beauty from Target Models caused as much of a sensation as our own splash headlines on distribution day. “The photoshoot was lots of fun,” a Target Models spokesman told The Olive Press. “The outfits were chosen as part of October’s ‘funky street chic’ collection and so we had to make the setting fit. “Using the newspapers and graffiti certainly achieved that.”

la cultura

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Trick or tradition?

Galicia’s magical brew

MAKE your very own Spanish drink as they do in northern Spain to keep the ghoulies away. The making of this Galician speciality is a spectacle, often conducted outside in public in a large cauldron. Moonshine Unground coffee Sugar Lemon rind or orange peel

Directions

Pour spirit and ingredients in large earthenware pot and set alight while stirring Recite a spell (esconxuro), conjuring up witches, demons, spirits and owls Consume (from a pumpkin) once the flames have burnt out Ideal: accompanied with bagpipes or by the fireside The Fiesta de la Queimada happens in A Coruna in last weekend of August

ID Spain arrive late to the Halloween party? Whether you see it as an opportunity to dress up as a sexy nurse, to honour the dead or the chance to bag some free sweets, the October festival is growing in popularity. And unlike the commercial hype in the USA (with all respect to our beloved Princeton interns and American readership) Spain approaches Halloween with a more low-key, family-oriented take. Legend has it that the northern Spaniards with their Celtic roots sip the ancient drink queimadas – local fire wa-

MALAGA MERRIMENT FOR five years, Malaga held a ‘Zombie walk’ where spookily dressed characters paraded the streets. The tradition was discontinued after 2012 but Halloween parties and festivals are gearing up around the city – from a Michael Jackson tribute in Puerto Banus to an electronic rave in San Luis Poligono… the city is set to buzz.

Halloween in Spain is one part religious fervour to two parts riotous fun, writes Iona Napier

ter infused with herbs and set aflame – around a log fire. But others insist that the most vibrant celebrations will be found in the areas with the most expats such as Andalucia and Barcelona. “Halloween is really big here on the Costa del Sol simply because of the

numbers of foreigners bringing their own celebrations to the table,” said mother-of-two Mirian Moreno. “Last year my daughters dressed up for school (right) and occasionally we trick-or-treat but there’s less hype here in Spain than, say, London.” It has been described by natives as ‘a festival for the very old and the very young’. While kids compete to see who can exhibit the most fake blood, the elderly can be found commemorating the dead by the grave. And what about the age abyss in the middle? Student towns and cities go in for Hal-

FURTHER AFIELD IN Galicia, October 31 is called Night of the Pumpkins, and sees pumpkin carving, fancy dress, bonfires and rituals. A colourful food festival can be found in Catalunya. La Castanyada is an All Saints Day festival in Barcelona serving up autumnal delicacies such as chestnuts, sweet potatoes, sweet wine, panellets (marzipan and almond Catalan cakes). The tiny village of Sant Feliu Sasserra in Catalunya, holds a two day witch festival. The 23 women sentenced to death for witchcraft during the inquisition are remembered in a parade known as Fira de les Bruixes.

loween club nights and fancy dress parties, and in rural areas kids and teenagers can be found doorstepping local bars and cafes in search of loot. Historically, Halloween in Spain is a three-day celebration collectively known as All Souls kicking off on October 31. The day of the witches (October 31), All saints day (November 1), and Day of the dead (November 2). Far from a nationwide commercial moneymaker, the Spanish take the commemoration of their dead extremely seriously. All Saints Day is a public holiday and many families gather at the grave of their deceased relatives with holy water, flowers, food and drink to celebrate the lives of their ancestors. Graveyards and cemeteries come alive with flowers, and the religious significance for this Catholic country is undeniable. The opportunity should not be missed to see play Don Juan Tenorio – it is annually performed on all saints day and is regarded as the most romantic version of the mythical Don Juan.

LETTERS

28th - 28th November 11th 2015 1818 18the Olive October Press October - November 11th

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 55.01% Same week last year: 63.95% Same week in 2005: 49.79% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.11American dollars 0.72 British pounds 1.46 Canadian dollars 7.46 Danish kroner 8.57 H Kong dollars 9.22 Norwegian kroner 1.59 Singapore dollars

Costa crash

Ticket talk

I WAS in the SmartCar that was hit by a van on the wrong side of the road last weekend (Car crash chaos, Issue 224). To its credit, the Noddy-esque car was remarkably resilient. The bumbling driver going too fast on a mountain pass in the icy drizzle could have left me with far more than a bruised hip and a sore neck. The driver himself was not totally responsible as poor drainage and low-grip surfaces sent him aquaplaning onto our bonnet. I am quite sure that were it not for the road barrier he would have plummeted into the ravine… taking us with him. Edwina Noyd, Estepona

Spanish schools THE Spanish school day is one hour and 15 minutes longer each day than the British school day. That’s almost two lessons of 40 minutes each a day more and it’s no wonder my 16-year-old daughter’s maths is so much more advanced than the equivalent level in England (Spanish school holidays are too long, Online). While noting the longer holidays in Spain, she starts (state) school in Spain at 8am and finishes at 2.45pm, with no break for lunch, which she takes when she comes home. So altogether that is six hours 45 minutes of school per day. Her cousin goes to a non-private school

MOST people know the Malaga authorities have sold out of tickets to the Caminito del Rey. But how many are aware that you can only buy tickets if you book a table at one of the restaurants or hotels in the area? I am completely against this manner of selling - tickets should be sold to individuals rather than corporations and companies. Not only does it force people to consume in a local hotel or restaurant, but tourists have to jump through the same hoops. What if I want to go with my backpack and tupperware? All entrances are sold out because the restaurants and hotels in the area have bought them. Bravo for the Malaga mafia! Absolutely outrageous. Kokomodo Modokoko, Ardales

I HAVE heard people moaning about local restaurants offering Caminito del Rey tickets as part of a dining package. But so what? The best part of having a worldfamous attraction is the boost it brings to the local area. There are some wonderful restaurants and hotels near El Chorro and it is a great idea to sell tickets through them, meaning that everyone wins. Rowan Liburd, Marbella in England which starts at 9am and finishes at 3.30pm, with an hour for lunch, which is five hours and 30 minutes. Jane Quinn, Benalmadena

UBER fight I’M going to say this for the first time – well done the PP! UBER is another American company that only cares about making money and not about paying tax (Three hundred taxis ‘from Spain’ rally against Uber in Brussels, Online). Also well done to these Spanish taxi drivers. Everyone complains about taxi fares, but how many want to do this job, especially those

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days when late at night so many drivers are attacked. It’s not a healthy job being very sedentary. Just whose interests are Brussels and Strasbourg looking after? Certainly not the ordinary working stiff. Stuart Crawford, Sabinillas

TV times I’VE just came back from Gran Canaria and went to Wortens electrical store in a shopping centre just outside the airport. After spending €1,200 in there, I got my new TV home and realised the LCD screen had broken. So I phoned Worten, but the people there were so rude and no help whatsoever. I took it back to the shop, which was an hour away, to be told by the manager that he thought I’d broken it and that they can’t do anything for me. Basically throw your money down the drain. Does anybody know what I could possibly do to get an exchange? Andy Harborne, Mijas

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Winter woes MANY expats are not as wealthy as you would imagine. I did not come over here until I was 70. While in England I paid all my taxes. I also saved the government a lot of money by caring for my mother-in-law and

then my husband’s elderly aunt. Me and many other women saved the government millions by not having any children. I now get 70 pounds per week pension. Fortunately my husband gets considerably more. We came to Spain for our health and because it is far cheaper to live out here. I believe that I and many more expats have saved the British government millions and if they paid us the winter fuel allowance until the day we die they will still be left owing us millions. Margaret Hickney, Estepona

Basket case I FOUND Belinda Beckett’s column (Off my Trolley!, issue 223) very funny. My wife has half banned me from shopping with her in Morrisons, but seems content to drag me around Mercadona. She even lets me select stuff now and again. You’re right about ripeness selection…. many a yellowing broccoli has had to be eaten on the day because I didn’t notice. Having said that, the exotic stuff she buys ends up in the bin as it’s gone off. And how many toothpastes can you have even if they are three for two or half price. I’d have to clean them five times a day for life to get rid of our current supply. John Peters, Malaga

Horro tail IT’S quite simple. If there is any suspicion that an animal is being mistreated - as obviously poor Horro is (In the Doghouse, issue 223) - the Police or an appropriate authority should have the power to immediately take the animal from the owner and place it in an approved sanctuary until a court order is obtained. If found guilty, in my opinion the owner should be named, shamed and punished... preferably by methods used in Saudi Arabia. Carolyn Lloyd, Cadiz WHAT I find mysterious is the amount of vet practices in Spain. The Spanish love animals and yet we see time and time again animals being treated badly in this country. Dogs on tiny balconies in the sun, birds in tiny, tiny cages left on balconies, kicking horses and donkeys, and poisoning cats. Throwing dogs and cats in the bins, dragging dogs behind cars, hanging unwanted working dogs, and that’s before all the fiestas and animal killing and abuse. The list goes on. Change needs to come! Jane Savage, Fuengirola

Letters should be emailed to letters@theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

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19 19 19

errania de Ronda Vol. 9 Issue 225 www.theolivepress.es

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Renowned for its plunging gorge and recently voted in the world’s top 100 travel destinations, romantic Ronda is enough to make a girl giddy, writes Iona Napier

PHOTOS BY JON CLARKE

A trip back in time

A CHAIRMAN JULIO: Ronda’s olde worlde charm couldn’t be better personified than by chairmaker Julio Sanz. Alongside one of his oldest friends, he sits on a wall in the old town, as he has done for decades, weaving his raffia magic

DRENALIN surges through my veins as I edge my feet over the ledge in pursuit of the most original shot of Ronda’s iconic gorge. One of Spain’s most photographed sites, wrought iron railings are the only barrier between me and the River Tajo almost 400 feet below. It is 15 years since my last visit, and while I may be a foot taller and, hopefully, a little wiser, my vertigo certainly hasn’t improved since then. Looking down, alongside hundreds of other tourists, it is what celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli once described as the ‘cono moment’... the second you see that amazing chasm and the sheer

Continues Page 20

RESTAURANTE PUERTA GRANDE Calle Nueva 10, 29400 Ronda, España Tel +34 952 879 200

ll about

errania de Ronda

PICTURESQUE: The streets of Ronda’s old town

YOU’RE Gorge-ous From Page 19

beauty of the backdrop towards distant soaring mountains. I was just nine when my father decided to tour Spain on his faithful BMW motorbike, while the rest of the family trailed alongside him in a clapped-out burgundy hatchback (without air-con in high summer!) An incredible three week journey across the whole of Spain, of all the countless towns we visited, Ronda is the one that is most etched in my memory. Today, although memories of museum visits and plates of paella elude me, the famous Tajo’s plunging depths incite an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. I recall my mother’s horror as I threw my head over the wall to gaze down until I got a blood rush, coming back up redfaced and giddy for air. Fast-forward to 2015 and I’m back to capture the ramshackle white houses, church spires

TRANQUIL: Ocho canos fountain and Felipe V arch place, in 2014, 300,000 overand historic walls and towers. night visitors registered at the Ronda is basking in the glory of tourist office, while there are its latest accolade: travel site millions of day trippers every Trivago classed it in the world’s year. top 100 destinations (at num- Targeted by history lovers, naber 82 and one of just four ture lovers and lovers in generSpanish cities). al, there is a romantic, fairy tale Andalucia’s third most visited element to ‘the city of dreams’

that even cast writer Ernest Hemingway and actor Orson Welles under its spell. And while the most memorable chapter of Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls recalls the horror of Franco’s victims being hurled over the ravine to their death - related to actual events during the Spanish Civil War much of Hemingway’s work is a love letter to the town. The American literary giant visited on many occasions and famously wrote in his 1932 novel, Death in the Afternoon: “It is where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or if you ever bolt with anyone. “The entire town and as far as you can see in any direction is romantic background.” Certainly BBC TV presenter Nick Knowles and his wife Jessica, who live in Sotogrande, agree having spent a romantic weekend here in June. “It really feels like you’re on top of the world and the views are amazing,” Jessica told me.

21 October 28th - November 11th 2015

They join a long list of celebrities who have holidayed here – Prime Minister David Cameron, US first lady Michelle Obama and a whole library of literary figures including James Joyce and German poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Bill Gates came on a secret visit last year, while Madonna infamously shot her music video, Take a Bow, in Ronda bullring on a windy, wet November day in 1994. Perhaps Ronda’s allure is down to the pride the locals have for their town, which bubbles over into a universally warm welcome. Restaurateurs beckon in diners and drinkers with joie de vivre, a spirit I catch from meeting Spain’s (officially) best pizza chef, Flavio, of Italian restaurant La Vitta e Bella. From Calle Nuevo’s good-value eateries to those off the beaten tourist circuit (Casa Mateos’ chorizo in Jerez wine is amazing), creative cuisine is waiting to be discovered around every romantic corner. At the tourist information centre, Isabel Melgar and Eva Roman will help you find the b e s t restaurants, not to mention just about everything else. They tap into 30 years of experience between them to present me with a fan of brochures and map out a tailormade walking tour, finished off with live Flamenco. Wending my way over Puente Nuevo (200 years old and anything but new) and taking a

PHOTOS BY JON CLARKE

TIMELESS: Pensioners rest in a typical square, while (above) a former mosque

Trailblazers

The word on the street from some of Ronda’s famous visitors… American author Orson Welles (1915-1985) “A man is not from where he is born, but where he chooses to die.”

Syrian prince Abu’l-Fida (1273-1331) “Elegant and lofty city in which the clouds serve as a turban and its towers as a sword belt” Irish novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941) “Ronda with the old windows of the houses, the eyes which spy out hidden behind the latticework so that their lover might kiss the iron bars.” sharp right I discover El Morabito just as the heavens open. This stately family home-cumrestaurant provides a roaring log fire welcome and a parapet viewing point over the gorge severing the old Moorish citadel from the ‘new’ town, built by the Romans and remodelled by the Christians in 1485. Charming Juan serves us goblets of Rioja and the best lemon meringue pie I have ever tasted as we shelter from the elements. “It may be quiet and not very exciting for young people here

German poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) “The spectacle of this city, sitting on the bulk of two rocks rent asunder by a pickaxe and separated by the narrow, deep gorge of the river, corresponds very well to the image of that city revealed in dreams.” Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) “It is here, in Ronda, in the delicate penumbra of blindness, a concave silence of patios, leisure of the jasmine and the light sound of water, which summoned up memories of deserts.”

HISTORIC: Old tower and (left) Iona with sister

but I have spent time in Australia and Ronda is still the place that I want to be,” he explains. If cosying up by the fireside isn’t your style, there are some 30 museums, galleries and churches to explore – 15th century Santa Maria church is my favourite – and no one goes home without doing a circuit of the bullring. Spain’s oldest (230 this year), it is a stunning classical building well worth a visit, with some fabulous Goya etchings in a side building. Outside there is a statue of local lad Pedro Romero (born 1754) who is dubbed the ‘father of the corrida’ for introducing bullfighting on foot and the CLASSICAL : Ronda town hall and (top) torero Fran Rivera matador’s balletic style. He killed over 5,000 bulls and a horse ride or a 4x4 romp are immortalised with a bullring passed his skills down the line, an excellent option. statue, alongside one of Orson with the Romero family provid- The A-397 from San Pedro Welles whose ashes are scating Spain with over three gen- snakes through rugged ‘cow- tered on the nearby farm of erations of bullfighters. boy country’ to the vertiginous his bullfighting buddy, Antonio September’s annual Goyesca mountain town which pierces Ordoñez. bullfight in 18th the clouds at Since Hemingway celebrated century cos750 metres his own final birthday in Ronda tume pays tribabove sea in 1960, the town has seen Sipping coffee in ute to Romero level – giddy massive growth. Its wine indusPlaza del Socorro, and Goya’s matlimits that try is a case in point. it’s easy to imagine have been From just two bodegas 15 ador paintings and is famous inspirational years ago, there are now 23 Hemingway scribthe world over. to so many. one of Spain’s 18 wine bling in the shadows Sipping cof- and In 2009, Armani routes takes in Ronda. designed one of fee in the Hemingway, who frequently the matador’s main Plaza overindulged in the local grape outfits. del Socorro, it’s not difficult to himself, would have approved. If you prefer your nature less imagine Hemingway scribbling in ‘Wine is a grand thing. It makes ‘red in tooth and claw’, Ronda the shadows of a backstreet café. you forget all the bad’, he wrote is encircled by three natu- His legacy remains in a street in A Farewell to Arms. ral parks – the Sierra de las running round the back of the But even Hemingway needed Nieves, Sierra de Grazalema Parador Hotel - the Paseo de no vino-tinted spectacles to and the Alcornocales, so a hike, Hemingway. He will be further see the romance of Ronda.

the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th

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Mountains of fun Ronda is surrounded by two national parks, the Sierra de las Nieves to the East and the Sierra de Grazalema to

the West. Both are full of wonderful walks and pretty towns. Here are a few suggestions for excursions out of Ronda

1 - GRAZALEMA AND ZAHARA Zahara and Grazalema (pictured right) are two of the most evocative towns around Ronda. Both set in spectacular scenery and with some lovely sites, Zahara has a towering castle above it and a great restaurant Al Lago, while Grazalema (a beautifully conserved gem) was once the centre of the wool industry and you can still buy delightful rugs and bedspreads.

4 - BENAOJAN AND MONTAJAQUE If it is wonderful mountain scenery you are after and villages famous for their bandits then this pair are worth a visit. Montajaque has a cave with the oldest cave paintings in Spain, while Benaojan is the centre of the ham and sausage industry. There is a fabulous walk from Benaojan Estacion down the river to Jimera de Libar, from where you can get the train back. At each end is a great lunch spot, with Molino del Santo the obvious pick.

2- JUZCAR While Griffon vultures and crag martins dominate the skyline in the Genal valley south of Ronda, there is another rather different species enticing tourists in - Smurfs. Juzcar is in many ways the same as other beautiful pueblos in the region with its quaint smattering of houses perched on the side of a mountain, surrounded by lush forest. Except for one major difference - it isn’t white - it’s bright blue. In 2011 the tiny village was painted ‘Smurf blue’ by Sony Pictures to publicise the release of the new Smurfs movie. Although initially intended as a temporary change, Juzcar’s transformation into a blue village increased tourism to such an extent that residents declined to change it back.

5- RONDA LA VIEJA (ACINIPO) A 15-minute drive from Ronda at the top of one of the highest hills in the area the Roman’s built their ancient city. It still has much evidence of their skills with a large part of its amphitheatre intact and a lot more to look at, not to mention the views. The visitor centre is only open for the morning, but one can always climb up to the amphitheatre out of hours.

3- SETENIL DE LAS BODEGAS Only 20 minutes drive away, the historic Roman town of Setenil is a real eye opener and amazing for photography. Nestled in the rolling landscape north of Ronda, it was built on a series of caves, which served to keep the wines of the Romans cool in summer, hence its name. It is best to leave your car outside the town, wander up to the old fortress before heading down to the famous overhanging cave (left) for a fine tapas lunch.

ONDA Properties is the creation of its owners Thorwald Bodensiek and Irene Cox-Ortiz, a husband and wife team previously based in the U.K. The Real Estate Agency was established in 2006 and specialises in inland property with an extensive portfolio of white village and country houses, equestrian fincas, vineyards, Spanish Cortijos, lifestyle and character properties, renovation projects and large farmhouses. A forward thinking, contemporary Estate Agency, Ronda

Ronda Properties’ ideal homes Properties takes pride in its personal service and professional practice with a track record of successful sales. Its portfolio of clients include expats, Spanish, Scandinavians, central Europeans and overseas investors. The natural setting of Ronda is quite stunning surrounded by the majestic mountain ranges of the Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra de Las Nieves and the beautiful Genal Valley. It benefits from clean air, a quiet and

traditional environment and offers a good standard of living with easy access to the Costa del Sol, main cities and International Airports Whether you are looking for a small village house, finca or a large country estate Thorwald and Irene offer an extensive knowledge of the local area and property market, and aim to meet your wishes on both a personal and a professional level. Their aim is to make buying a

property in rural Andalucia a pleasant experience and to help you find the right property at the right price. The web site features only a selection of the properties listed in our portfolio and it has a wide range of inland properties that could suit your criteria. Spanish, English and French are spoken. Contact: 952 18 7313 Email: info@rondaproperties.com Website: www.rondaproperties.com

PROPERTY in Ronda is on the up again! And following the much awaited - and applauded - decision to stop work at the controversial Los Merinos site, the value of legal property is now heading in the right direction. As Villas and Fincas boss Oscar Ernstsen (Above) explains, ‘property in Ronda and nearby areas is now highly sought after’. “We are now looking to expand our portfolio in Ronda,” he adds. “We are looking at everything from fincas to farms. “Following the Los Merinos ruling, having a legal country property is all of a sudden priceless.” Villas and Fincas already has a number of listings in the Ronda area including the exclusive La Melonera estate where properties are worth around €5 million. The company - which is expand-

From fincas to farms ing into Sevilla in the next few months - also has plans to develop its agricultural arm. Tapping into the growing Arab and Asian markets, Villas and Fincas has seen an increased demand not just for country homes but for country lifestyles. “The agricultural market is a very exciting one for us,” Oscar says. “Everything from a small farm for personal use to 500 hectare farms to be used as businesses are becoming more and more popular.” For more information visitwww.villasfincas.com or call 952 89 51 39

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Dawn of the web

THE recession has been as deep in Ronda as anywhere else in Andalucia, but that hasn’t stopped one expat from succeeding. Dawn Hutchinson, 34, took a risk in relocating to Ronda in 2007 to set up her online marketing business ArayoWeb. But her gamble has paid off in style, with ArayoWeb now one of the major English-speaking web agencies in the whole of Spain. “Our expertise in online marketing and SEO is well proven with a first place position (position 1, page 1) in Google globally for the English keyphrase ‘web design Spain’,” explains Dawn, originally from the UK. “Our client base is continually expanding, not just nationally, but also into the rest of Europe including the UK, Belgium and Holland. “We’ve also just taken on a contract to create the platform for what will be the next biggest multi-listing real estate portal in Canada and the US.” National newspaper La Razon has not overlooked ArayoWeb’s success, interviewing Dawn on the topic of Business Excellence in E-commerce and online marketing after she was shortlisted for an award. But she still has time for the local market, recently taking on a local Ronda based client who owns the Toy Planet franchise in the town. Not forgetting the Costa del Sol too, which brings in lots of business from English companies. The ArayoWeb team continues to expand, with a new Sweden-based programmer now on board as well as the first Rondenan, who fought off 200 applicants to get the job.

On your bi

Joe Duggan takes a ride into the mountains to meet a To

THIRD weetabix is a must if you’re planning to cycle to Ronda from base camp San Pedro de Alcantara. The 48 km ascent to this mountain eyrie is a tour de force on a Tour de France scale but ‘vale la pena’, as they say here in Spain. And with my cyclist’s antennae twitching over tales of Roman amphitheatres, gorge dwellings and underground cave systems hidden around Ronda, I wasn’t going to sit and spin the wheels on my 18-gear Rocinante. Those embarking on the climb are offered spectacular views. Pedal past Los Arqueros Golf Club’s gilded gates and Zagaleta, home to the rich and famous. To your right, La Concha’s awe-inspiring peak points the way. The A374 twists past thick

ACINIPO: Roman ampitheatre

green canopies of fir trees carpeting the landscape. A ‘Welcome to the Serrania de Ronda’ sign greets me 22km up, as do warning signs for snow. I push on through and take a detour to Parauta, one of Andalucia’s famed white villages, guarding the gateway to the majestic Sierra de las Nieves. A thin ribbon of road leads to this tiny village in the valley, built around the 16th century Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, cobbled streets and steaming chestnut braziers adding to its charms. It’s a sharp climb back to the main road, but this is the home straight. The fading sunlight deepens the landscape’s burnt ochres and vivid emeralds as I power on to Ronda, serenaded by the gentle toll of cow bells. Ronda’s old town bustles with Friday evening revellers, but I can’t linger for too long over El Tajo’s swooping splendour. I’m meeting a man who knows a thing or two about cycling. Jesus Rosado is a born-and-bred Ronda cycling legend who battled his way to Paris in the 1990 Tour de France after hon-

ing his skills in his hilly homeland. He opened his bike shop on Plaza del Ahorro 22 years ago but he loves to recall the glory days. “It was like a dream. I was 23 years old; a year before I was cycling in competitions, and suddenly I was cycling in the Tour de France with my idols; Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond. It was an incredible experience,” he says. “This region’s unique climate certainly helped me become a good cyclist.” Not even the angels are stirring as I leave heavenly Ronda next day at first light. I cycle towards Arriate, the countryside’s gold and green parading its Saturday morning best. Arriate’s emigrant monument recalls leaner times, but the town, which has grown in recent years to 4,000 residents, is now home to quality shops. Its train station, built on one of Europe’s steepest track gradients, is part of Mr Henderson’s Railway, the 1890 brainchild of British engineer John Morrison and financier Sir Alexander Henderson. It’s a punchy climb from here to Setenil de las Bodegas, burrowed into a gorge carved out by the River Trejo, its houses embedded into the rock like Hobbit homes. After refuelling with café con leche and a thick slab of pan con tomate on Calle de las Cuevas, the sinuous climb out of Setenil gives way to a flat road

PEDAL THE ME Joe on w Parauta (right) T France hero Je Rosado

ONE Rond of es area come de la ucts In Ig wom keep form

25 October 28th - November 11th 2015 DREAM RIDE: Ronda circuit takes in the stunning Arriate valley on route to Setenil and Roman Acinipo

bike!

our de France legend

TO ETAL: way to a, and Tour de local esus o

lined with olive trees leading to the Roman ruins of Acinipo. The 2,000-capacity Roman amphitheatre, completed circa 200 AD, crowns the escarpment, offering stunning views. From here, black asphalt, untroubled by the rumble of cars, cuts through golden sunflower fields as craggy mountain peaks serrate the horizon. It’s a stunning section of the ride.

Meanders

Disaster strikes as my lower gears malfunction. But help is close to hand and the three bells of the Iglesia de la Virgen del Carmen ring me into Montecorto, where the 450 inhabitants are also gearing up for their first Independence Day celebrations. Bougainvillea climbs whitewashed walls and a fresh mountain spring meanders through the village. A khaki-fa-

tigued hunter, rifle slung over shoulder, strides past. Also here to greet me is Claire Higgins, who has run Andalucian Cycling Experience with her husband Ashley for 10 years. The company organises cycling holidays and accommodation around Ronda. Not only has Ashley mapped my route but Claire attends to my bike’s gear issues (finding a mechanic is like divining water in a desert to the stranded cyclist). “We fell in love with Ronda,” says Claire. “It’s got good mountain-biking, there are flat rides for families and some really big climbs for those who want to test themselves.” As I say goodbye, the clouds burst (October and November are Ronda’s wettest months). I seek sanctuary in a nearby restaurant before braving the

What to buy: an esparto bag

thing to look out for in the da area are baskets woven out sparto grass that grows in the a. Once the main source of ine for many families in the Sierra as Nieves, sadly esparto prods are now a dying trade. gualeja however you can visit a mens’ cooperative that aims to p the tradition alive as well as ming jobs for locals.

elements and the steep climb towards southern Europe’s oldest subterranean cave system, the spectacular Cueva del Gato. Its waterfall and natural pool make a refreshing stop for the summer cyclist. And it’s not all downhill from here. If you’re feeling a little saddle sore, head to Benaojan-Montejaque station where a train will speed you and your bike back to Ronda for a wellearned beer.

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Top of the world

IDYLLIC: View from the hotel pool, and (right) Arriate

Hotel Arriadh has stunning views of the Ronda mountains and the fantastic village of Arriate just below, writes Chris Birkett

DAVIDS DO WHEN you’ve got a formula working, why change it? Such is the case at Ronda’s longestestablished patisserie Daver, where three generations of the same family have kept up standards for over 50 years. All conveniently named David Verdu, there is even another younger David Verdu waiting in the wings to take over from his dad. “It’s our tradition,” explains current boss David Verdu, who has done cooking courses around Spain and worked in the best patisseries in Barcelona and Asturias. As well as two patisseries in Ronda, there is a new Daver in Algeciras, all selling the delicious range of sweets, cakes and gourmet products, including dozens of Ronda wines.

T Hotel Arriadh you leave your worries at the door and relax among the breathtaking views of the Serrania de Ronda. Set above the bustling village of Arriate, this stylish ‘zen-like’ retreat offers not just a warm welcome from its personable hosts Wilbert and John, but its location couldn’t be better to explore the nearby mountains. The public areas are bright and airy with some fabulous outdoor terraces and grounds, now including an amazing infinity pool. Bedrooms meanwhile, are designed with luxurious fittings and sumptuous king size beds to sink into, with small outdoor terraces maximising the stunning view towards the distance Grazalema Natural Park. Sit on the balcony with a glass of wine, sit at your desk writing a postcard and, above all, wake up to one of the best backdrops in Spain. There is an honesty bar, meals can be provided and the Wifi is about as good as anywhere in Spain. Yes, you hardly need to leave the place. At the very least though, you should take a short stroll down to the village of Arriate below, which counts on dozens of excellent restaurants, including El Muelle, one of Andalucia’s best, not to mention atmospheric Taberna Manolo and Juntera Gin & Tonic. There are plenty of good local shops, a series of historic ham factories that must be sought out and even an ancient cinema, which is now Los Caireles and easily the hippest bar in the Serrania. Indeed, so much is on hand, you might not even need to visit Ronda, just five minutes up the road. Call 952114370 or visit www.arriadhhotel.com

www.theolivepress.es October 28th - November 11th 2015

T is unsurprisingly easy to find a great place to lay your head in the ‘City of Dreams’, as Ronda was once described by Dutch poet Rilke. In the heart of the city there are many emblematic choices, including the highly original Hotel En Frente Arte and the historic San Gabriel. But real peace and quiet at spectacular value can be best found at Hotel Boabdil, set up by a friendly expat couple in a charming, historic street near the Almocobar gate. Peace personified, the rooms are clean and airy and afford some good views of the surrounding countryside. Another good cheap central choice is Hotel Morales, which sits in pole position right in the heart of the town, perfect for the shops, and the main transport links. It is in the nearby Serrania though that the whole Ronda experience comes into its own. Close to the city, beside a bubbling stream is the ancient converted water mill Molino del Puente, with an excellent restaurant and well appointed rooms. Run by friendly English couple Ian and Elaine Love, this historic spot is very popular with visitors from the coast and, best of all, it has a highly-rated restaurant La Cascada, thanks to Ian’s cookery skills, which were honed on the coast in Cabopino. A bit further away in Benaojan you must certainly consider incredible Molino del Santo, a classic rural retreat, which has been serving the area for nearly three decades.

Where to stay Spoilt for choice with romantic and hip places around Ronda ANCIENT: Terrace at Molino del Puente

Dream on

RURAL DREAM: Molino del Santo Run by English couple Pauline and Andy, the hotel has the knack of keeping guests happy with just the right mix of comfort, good food and character.

Regularly coming top on TripAdvisor, not just for Ronda but Andalucia, it sits by a raging stream, that emerges as a spring out of a rock just above the hotel. Once an ancient mill, it conserves many of its original features, and always displays a fabulous range of local artists. Best of all, it counts on one of the best rural restaurants in Andalucia, its chef Alberto, continuing to adapt classic local dishes with many twists he picked up from his time working in the north of Spain. Closer to Ronda, in the charming village of Arriate, check Hotel Arriadh (see Top of the World article left), which counts on some of the best views anywhere in Spain. Often described as ‘zen-like’ the clean lines and maximising of light and views is all thanks to the talents of Dutch couple John and Wilfred. Excellent value, it has an amazingly peaceful garden and a recently added infinity pool. Another good rural option is Los Castanos, over in the Genal Valley, sitting in the authentic village of Cartajima. A well appointed village house, you can walk from the door and its cultured expat owners Diana and John Beach, always go of their way to ensure you have a superb break. Last, but not least, why not try out Hostal Anon over in Jimena, which is a great place for a romantic break. It’s been a classic stopover for travellers for decades and the rooms have a Spanish rustic feel, while the outside intertwining terraces have a Moorish décor.

the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th

the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th 28

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Ronda has one of Spain’s best collections of restaurants… but you need to know which ones, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

Melting pot Where to eat

NE of the key ingredients for the perfect stay in Ronda is a good place to eat. And few places in Spain have such a good range of restaurants as the Serrania de Ronda. But beware… there are plenty of dreadful places to eat. Get it right and you will get an enthusiastic chef using excellent local ingredients, including olive oils, cheeses, hams, mushrooms, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Get it wrong and it will be a lousy tourist-trap serving cheap, substandard fodder. The real chestnuts include long-standing winners, such as Pedro Romero, Casa Santa Pola and soulful Almocobar, while the rural delights of Molino del Santo and El Muelle,

in Arriate, continue to take the biscuit. Up in Ronda check out creative Tragatapas, run by former Michelin-starred chef Benito Gomez, who trained at El Bulli, as well as authentic Porton – an institution - run by the same two friends Javier and Pepe for the last four decades. Steeped in bullfighting history, here you will find my favourite Ronda tapa, the wonderful quails egg with ham on toast, not to mention some excellent sea food. Right in the heart of the old town in the most emblematic town hall square, you will love whiling away the day at Meson El Sacristan. Run by friendly Antonio from Campillos, this busy spot, which counts on Roman ruins in the basement, has easily the best steaks in the town, cooked to a tee in the only wood-oven around. Another great spot for the full traditional monty and the perfect sit down on a wet day or cold night Pedro Romero, opposite the bullring is hard to beat. Run by two brothers, including Tomas, one of the best somme-

LUNCH WITH A VIEW: At Meson El Sacristan

WELCOME: At Puerta Grande

Hop on over

NEW TEAM: At El Pino

liers in Spain, history is all around you and, of course, rabo de toro is one of the very best picks. Another incredibly atmospheric spot is Casa Santa Pola, which certainly takes some beating for location and views, sitting literally in the famous tajo. But food-wise it is also a big winner (and one of the few places mentioned in the Michelin guide) thanks to Catalan chef Ignacio, who knows Spain’s culinary scene like the back of his hand, and who has worked around the country and likes to experiment as much as possible. This hard-working talent has just opened a new restaurant in Sevilla, but he and his son maintain the quality here I am pleased to report. Another long-term stalwart is

IN a land of mass-produced beers the real ale drinker may despair at the idea of finding quality, flavoursome beers. So it came as a particular surprise for a Belgian brewery boss to discover one of his bespoke craft brews on sale at Malastrana Cervezateca. On holiday in the town, he marched in, hugged the owner Carlos and bought a bottle of his brew for all ten customers in situ. The recently-opened bar stocks over 60 beers from as far afield as Canada, America and Belgium. Malastrana Cervezateca can be found on Calle Pozo, or BEER BOSS: Carlos call 646 656 095

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October 28th - November 11th 2015

PERSONALITIES: Boys at Porton, chef at Tragatapas and brothers at Pedro Romero

the three decades old Almocobar, in the Barrio San Francisco. Run by a tight-knit team, there are plenty of vegetables and tip top service. Above all, presentation is important and the spectacular wine list, which features practically all the local vineyards, is a massive bonus. Across the road check out excellent value Bar San Francisco, while one brand new and exciting spot finds Antonio, ex-Almocobar maitre d for two decades, ploughing a new furrow at El Pino in a nearby side street. A classic hole in the wall local, Antonio is charm personified and his tapas, including an amazing spinach and chicken burger, are fabulous. If you just fancy a browse of various different places to eat, you need to head to Calle Nueva, opposite the parador, where you will find a series of excellent places, cheek by jowl and vying for your custom. There is an Italian, La Vita e Bella (see box) an Indian and the celebrated Tragatapas too. The best places for tapas is charming Casa Quino, a family-run joint, where its big boss Joaquin does a great job in the kitchen, producing a range of classic local dishes. A keen photographer, he also has the best collection of old photos of Ronda. Next door, the pair also have a new place Nueva 13 more geared towards tapas and wines

Traditional dishes of Ronda

GRAFTERS: Casa Quino bosses and (right) Ignacio and son at Santa Pola gentinian Buenos Aires, run and with a very different style. For a more formal sit down you by characteristic Omar. It is an should try Puerta Grande, excellent spot for tapas, breakconsistently highly-ranked on fast or just a pint to watch the TripAdvisor and with excellent UK football. It also probably also serves up the best coffee quality food and service. And in pole position, right on in town thanks to its fresh milk. the emblematic square by Outside of Ronda a number of the famous bridge check out great places stand out. One of the very best, is El Taberna Muelle, in Arriel Puente, where, in a ‘Number One’ out of ate, which has top of Trigood sign, its 19,100 restaurants been pAdvisor for the owner Paco whole of Andain Andalucia, this is often to be lucia for nearly found in the coverted railway three years. kitchen. storeroom is a must Yes, ‘Number Specialising One’ out of in gourmet 19,100 restauhamburgers, paella and salads, best of all, rants in Andalucia, a trip to visit the kitchen produces various this converted railway storevegetarian dishes, in particular room is an absolute must, as many people do on a day trip some for celiacs. Ronda also has a friendly Ar- from Malaga and even Sevilla.

Pizza pizzazz

HE is officially Spain’s best pizza chef, as judged by the World Pizza Championships held last year in Parma. And although his mother was Spanish, Flavio Lo Tartaro is most certainly Italian and jokes that his kitchen skills are thanks to ‘something that runs in the blood of Italians’. Originally from Salerno on the Amalfi coast, Flavio, his wife Monica and sister give a warm, Italian welcome in Calle Nuevo’s restaurant La Vita e Bella, which he opened ten years ago. The ‘pizza de la casa’ - a masterpiece in ham, fresh tomato, mozzarella, rocket and parmesan with a squeeze of lemon, is a delicious work of edible art. “Ronda is a beautiful, wonderful place to live and work and I was proud to represent it in the world pizza championships,” says Flavio.

PIZZA KING: Flavio

Run by friendly Dutchman Frank Rottgering and with chef Isa from nearby Alcala del Valle, it has maintained its attention to detail, its customer service and, above all, its amazing prices. Another amazing rural spot is Molino del Santo, where Alberto just keeps getting better under the watchful eye of owners Pauline and Andy. Probably the best quality food in the Serrania, the menu changes by the week and there are always plenty of twists and flourishes. Expect excellent wines, mostly local and seasonal produce and easily the nicest outdoor dining terrace one can imagine. Booking is essential. Another charming rural spot is La Cascada, at hotel Molino del Puente, where Ian Love has been winning plaudits for his tasty creations for many years. Set up with wife Elaine after a number of years on the coast, his food is so highly rated the place is frequently in Andalucia’s Top 20 on TripAdvisor. Finally, over in Zahara de la Sierra you will find Al Lago, set up by talented chef Stefan Crites, from America, and his wife Mona, from the UK. Stef specializes in local ingredients, including venison, wild boar and mushrooms and the views across the stunning Zahara lake are very difficult to beat. www.diningsecretsofandalucia.com

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Property

the Olive Press June 25th - July 9th 2015

Spanish homebirds SPENDING 50% of their income on housing is a way of life for Spaniards, according to a survey from real estate network RE/MAX Europe. This expense includes rent, mortgages and running costs - and Spaniards splurge way more than the European average of 40%. Almost 60% of those surveyed believe Spain is an expensive place to live, and 26% claim it’s getting pricier. While 61% of Europeans are homeowners, in Spain 80% of couples with children live in rented properties. In Spain, 17.6% of adults live with their parents, and the figure is almost 55% for those aged 20-29. Just 7% of Spaniards live on their own, significantly lower than the European average of 15%.

Tree trend WOODEN houses are gearing up to set the housing market on fire. Building your house from wood saves up to 90% in energy and constructions are cheap, quick to build and durable. Spain’s largest wooden house is 650m2 and yet the monthly bill (electricity, hot water, heating) comes to just €140. The property in suburban Madrid, Torrelodones, cost €800 per square metre to build and consumes very little energy. Spain now has an estimated 20,000 wooden houses which cost on average €1,100 per square metre to build.

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Fighting for exclusivity

Trio of property developers battle to construct Spain’s priciest home

THREE big fish in the property world are fighting to sell Spain’s most exclusive pads. And, by exclusive, we mean as much as a whopping €14,000 per square metre. The battleground is Madrid, and the armies are Spain’s biggest property tycoons, Villar Mir; Asia’s richest man, Chinese multi-billionaire Wang Jianlin, and US investment firm Pimco. Three unimaginably luxurious developments are going head to head: Villar Mir’s Canalejas project in the centre of town, where one square metre sells for €12,000; Wang’s iconic 2014 Edificio Espana, from €4,000 up to €14,000 a metre and Pimco’s Juan Bravo 3 in SalamanIMPRESSIVE: Canalejas (top), Juan Bravo 3 (left) and Edificio Espana (right) ca district at €10,000. Just a 200 square metre chunk A LEGENDARY Andalucian-based expat of any one of these properties architect has received a coveted annual will sell for €2 to 3 million. award. Villar Mir’s project comprises Donald Gray won the Premio Internacio22 luxury homes of 200m2, nal de Arquitectura Clasica y Restauracion Pimco has built 50 at 250m2 de Monumentos Rafael Manzano, which each and Wang is streakincludes €50,000 and a commemoraing ahead with plans for 300 tive medal. dwellings in Edificio Espana The Australian’s standout designs -- approval pending. include the Marbella urbanisation “We are seeing soaring prices La Virginia, Las Lomas del Marbella not just in the affluent SalaClub, the City Hall in Pitres and the manca district,” a property Hotel La Tartana in La Herradura. expert claimed. The award recognises work that re“These prices mark a clear spects the surrounding countryside ‘before’ and ‘after’ in Spain’s and traditional Spanish architecproperty market.” ture. They would only be surpassed Gray is a Spanish national and if an attic flat in the Millenhas spent decades working on nium building above Plaza the Costa del Sol. de la Independencia went up He lives in Granada’s Alpujarras. SHADES OF GRAY: Architect’s grand design for sale, where a square metre can sell for €15,000.

Gray wins gold

Property

the Olive Press June 25th - July 9th 2015

October 28th - November 11th 2015

AGONY ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

EDRESS against negligent lawyers and their insurers - also applicable to notaries, registrars and procurators - is not new and there is substantial precedent that gives us an idea of how courts view the different cases.

Let’s see some real-life examples: · Missing procedural deadlines or time limitations to bring an action (called ‘diary oversights’). A clear example is one where a lawyer fails to advise the family of a person who drowned of their right to bring an action in tort against the owners of the swimming pool (within 12 months). · Not filing an appeal, full stop. The lawyer was not late in filing, he simply did not file. · Not advising a client of the certain failure of an action due to expiration of his right to bring a claim: particularly relevant in relation to the award of court costs, which can be substantial and, obviously avoidable, had the lawyer advised properly on the opportunity not to bring an action. · Not claiming ‘lost profit’ on a

Real life lawyers Calling lazy lawyers and legal eagles into question

judicial action when it clearly lent itself for bringing such petition: a good example to cite is that of the sole-trader owner of a tractor that was destroyed in an accident caused by the other party. Although the lawyer filed a claim for damages to the tractor he missed the opportunity to claim for non-realized profits as a result of the soletraders inability to work. · Inadequate technical approach to a legal matter and continuous string of errors, also technical, that provoked a multiplicity of procedures, making it impossible for the client to obtain legal redress. · Rather laconic exposé of the alleged responsibilities of the defendant and incorrect display of evidentiary material, showing little understanding of the case itself. The lawyer, it seems, had other things in mind, or nothing at all, when dealing with this case.

Compensation in such cases is calculated by reference to the “loss of opportunity”, which is not easily measured but for “reference to conjecture”, best known as Absolute Probability Judgment, where the Court is faced with the assessment and quantification of the error, and its impact on a result had the error not occurred: in other words, what would have the chances of a claimant been had he been properly represented? Common Law here is probably far ahead as it resolves these issues under what is deemed a judgment of feasibility of the case, which requires a study into the merits of claimants arguments’. In this jurisdiction, it is known as the Case-Within-aCase Rule, according to which, a legal-malpractice claimant must show that, but for the lawyer’s negligence, the claimant would have won the case underlying the malpractice action.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es

MORTGAGE THINK TANK by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

Capital power MADRID’S cheap office rental prices give it the most potential for growth among leading world cities, a new report reveals. At €26 per square metre a month, the Spanish capital is the tenth cheapest in Europe, according to property company Knight Frank’s Global Cities 2016 report. And Madrid tops the list of cities predicted to see a rise in office rental costs over the next three years, ahead of Bombay and San Francisco.

Stock up WHILE the Spanish property market recovers and houses begin to fly off the shelves, some properties will not be sold, says rating agency Fitch. There are currently 600,000 brand new but unsold houses in Spain, and the agency predicts that some 150,000 will be ‘practically unsellable’ due to being ‘poorly located’. The properties, which have lost around 67% of their value, are located in areas where the economic recovery is predicted to be slower. On a positive note, the depreciation of properties has stabilised and, with unemployment falling (now at 22.4%), house purchases are on the rise.

Prices rise SPAIN is in the vanguard of European house price increases. Third only to Cyprus and Austria, Spain’s property prices jumped 4.1% in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period of 2014.

Buyers are flocking to our shores as the property market is in full swing, Mortgage expert Tancrede de Pola offers a word of warning for prospective borrowers

Cautionary tale T HE property market’s resurgence is showing no signs of slowing down, so now really is the time to buy… but be warned, an air of caution must be still be applied. With banks waging war to offer the most attractive mortgage rates, buyers can easily get carried away. That is where the broker comes in: to highlight any hidden fees or compulsory add-ons tucked away in the small print and ensure you get the best possible mortgage rate to suit your needs.

Trap-related products

When contracting a mortgage you need to be aware of any ‘hidden’ add-ons or trap-related products in the small print. These will be additional products attached to your mortgage and usually include insurance policies. It is important to know exactly what is attached to your mortgage. What may seem like a great rate can be soured by expensive - and sometimes unnecessary - insurance packages. Using a broker will save both time and money as

they will be looking out for these hidden add-ons and, ways to lessen their impact. Thankfully at the Finance Bureau we have recently launched an insurance arm and can therefore guarantee you the best deal not only on mortgage rates but also on insurance policies; be it home, life, health or building cover.

Hidden fees

While the vast majority of banks specify the fees and commissions they charge, not all of these costs are always declared. Many financial institutions refrain from publishing less known fees such as early redemption charges. These are, however, regulated by law, and may not exceed 0.50% for the first five years and 0.25% from the sixth. It is advisable to ask the bank to specify all commissions and how many there are, before signing the contract. This will spare you unwanted surprises down the road. But the best way to ensure a good mortgage that does not hide anything in the fine print, is to solicit the help of a mortgage broker.

To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670

Top Dollar Tax crackdown

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28th - November the Olive Press October 1st - October 14th11th

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October 28th - November 11th 2015

Costa lot less

BRITS heading abroad get the best value for money in Spain… and the Costa del Sol is easily the cheapest European destination. The Post Office Travel Money service found the Costa del Sol to be the cheapest of 12 destinations surveyed, while Marmaris in Turkey was found to be the most pricey.

OMENTUM investors need to have a regulated approach to following sector trends in the stock market. With hindsight it’s not difficult to spot the best trends to follow. Getting it right at the time is the tricky bit. Some would say the function of forecasting is to make astrology look respectable. However following the numbers is not forecasting and catching and identifying a rising sector correctly can lead to riches. To remain successful you must have access to continuous, up-to-date, accurate information. Your decisions should not be based on rumour, speculation and hearsay. An example of the importance of this goes back to the days of sail. Clipper ships returning from the Far East before proceeding up the Eng-

Spain ramps up efforts to reclaim billions of euros lost in unpaid taxes

GONE are the days when crafty expats can cheat the hard working man in the street by dodging taxes. An international campaign including 51 nations is clamping down on tax evaders and making it harder than ever for them to not pay their dues. Spain tops the list of countries ‘aggressively’ fighting this ‘not just illegal but immoral’ behaviour, according to chancellor George Osborne. It is followed by Germany, Brazil, Argentina and

Russia. Participating countries will now automatically share tax information. The CXC Global manager specialist study revealed that the UK did not make the top five of the list and lauded Spain’s effort to be tougher. Chancellor Osborne also claimed that tax evaders ‘rob their fellow citizens’ and should be treated like a ‘common thief’.

KISS investments

lish Channel to London would call in at the port of Falmouth at the western end of England. From here they would send coded messages by horsemen to the ship’s owners in London. These messages not only gave

details of the cargo of spices, teas and exotic goods but, more importantly, relayed international news. Armed with this information, the traders had a head start on their competitors and would make their de-

Keep it simple, keep it cheap and keep at it

cisions and fortunes based on these facts. Another important mantra to follow when looking at your investment portfolio is that tomorrow will be better than today. Do not get disheartened when you make mistakes and have failures. Treat these occurrences as opportunities to learn. To minimise the effect of any setbacks you must create your own risk pie-chart. You will then avoid the temptation (or innocent default) of ending up with too large a percentage of your portfolio invested in funds which lie in the higher reaches of volatility and risk. The more volatile your selection, the greater the risk of losing your gains when the trend you are following reverses direction. Investing should be enjoy-

able and not a do-or-die situation. You will then feel more inclined to keep at it and enjoy the benefits of time and compound interest. The Saltydog Tugboat portfolio maintains a cautious approach by ensuring that at least 70% of the portfolio is in what we call ‘Slow Ahead’ funds. This has meant that in less than five years our portfolio has gone up over 50%, and we have successfully avoided all the market corrections. To find out more about Saltydog Investor, or better still to take the two-month free trial, please go to their website www.saltydoginvestor.com.

Making millions SPAIN is among 20 countries with more than 1,000 people in the ‘ultra-rich’ bracket. New international census figures reveal there are 1,390 Spaniards with more than €43 million to their name. This puts Spain ninth worldwide, with the USA topping the list of the super rich.

Flying high BUDGET airlines are taking off big time, with 8.7% more passengers travelling to Spanish shores with low-cost carriers in 2015, government figures reveal.

34 34

Top Dollar

Top specialist at Over 50s Show INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed coin, medal and stamp specialist Mike Kelly (below) is set to appear at the Estepona Over 50s Show at the end of November. Appearing alongside Eric Knowles - renowned for his appearances on BBCs Antique Roadshow - Kelly will be on hand to give free valuations of coins, notes, medals and stamps. “I’m looking forward to meeting expats and advising them,” Kelly said. “I know there are a lot of retired service people living on the Costa so I anticipate great interest.” Kelly is not only one of the world’s foremost coin collectors and numismatic experts, he is also the organiser of the International Coin and Stamp Fair at the Royal Dublin Society, which has been running for 20 years. He has written several best selling books on coins and medals and is a regular on UK and Irish radio and TV, giving advice on the value of Irish and British coins and stamps and what to look out for as a collector. The Over 50s Show takes place at the Palacio de Congresos, Estepona on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29. For further information contact info@slp.ie

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the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

Exotic or toxic? Expat Brits are being targeted for poisoned chalice investments

FTEN packaged as exoticsounding investments promising income generation or capital growth way above the norm, buyer beware of UCIS. UCIS stands for Unregulated Collective Investment Schemes and the Financial Conduct Authority has labelled them ‘toxic’. Their sale was severely restricted in the UK by new legislation which came into force on January 1, 2014. But now expats globally are being targeted by the sellers of these lucrative products. The law was designed to protect what the regulator calls ‘retail investors’ from UCIS which, by their very nature, often comprise complex financial instruments, the true workings of which can only be fully understood by their creators. For ‘retail investor’ read ‘man in the street’ – the ordinary Joe Public who would not want to take significant risks with their money.

Before the regulator stepped in, the sale of UCIS in the UK saw casualties as the underlying investment structures fail to produce the promised returns. The failure of Lehman Brothers back in 2008 saw many such schemes fail. For the first time, people realised that it was not only market risks which affect investments. For these types of product, the ‘counterparty’ risk should also be considered. That is where a supposedly reputable financial institution with all the right ratings and agency accreditation stands as some kind of guarantor behind the arrangements. However, if they fail as was the case with Lehman’s, their guarantees become worthless and the vulnerable investors are the losers. Arguably, for experienced sophisticated investors, UCIS do have their place and offer some opportunities but only for those who really understand the risks. Even then, if there is any kind of run on the investments – as was the case when the UK regulator labelled UCIS

toxic – funds are often suspended to protect the majority while the schemes are unravelled, which can take years. If this was your nest egg relying on immediate returns it could leave you in a very difficult place, as many such investors have found out to their cost. And that always presupposes that the investments were legitimate in the first place. All too many are out-and-out scams. As always, it is the vulnerable who are most at risk. And, as the UK regulator closed the door to UCIS in Britain, sales teams are looking for softer targets and homing in on the expat market around the globe. The sellers earn high commissions, the cost of which is often disguised within the contract and will typically be skimmed off your investment at the outset. Their sales patter is very slick and reassuring as they tell you what you want to hear. But the difference between ‘exotic’ and ‘toxic’ is only the letter ‘e’. You have been warned.

Richard Alexander Financial Planning Limited is an appointed representative of L J Financial Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Contact him at Richard@ra-fp.com

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the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th

amino E C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 36 the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th 36

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n Buen

October 28th - November 11th 2015

Fascist Fiat

TRAFFIC: In Spain

Highway to hell SOME Spanish drivers spend more than one day a year sitting in traffic jams, with the national average being 17 hours. Residents of Barcelona were backed up for 25 hours on average in 2014, a report from driving data company NRTX reveals. In Madrid, drivers weren’t far behind, kicking their heels in queues for 22 hours. Spaniards waste 16% of their fuel looking for a parking space at an annual cost to motorists of €3.9 billion. Another study by driving app Wazypark showed Spanish students spend more than seven hours a month looking for a place to park.

A FIAT Uno covered in Francoist symbols for a political art project has been banned from driving around town. Nuria Guell and Levi Orta plastered a Nazi flag, a Falangist banner and an image of Spain’s late dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco on the car. They intended to drive the car around the Catalan town during this month’s festival of contemporary culture, Ingravid, to observe people’s reactions

Provocative political artists wanted to drive Nazi car through town centre

ROYAL RIDES: Going under the hammer

King Juan Car-lot JUAN Carlos may have taken a back seat in the Spanish Royal family, but his sports cars are still riding the fast lane. The former king was given a gift of two Ferrari FF models, which he donated to the Spanish state before his 2014 abdication. The exclusive cars are now being auctioned by the treasury ministry for €350,000 and €345,000. The Ferraris were a present from the prime minister of United Arab Emirates in 2011, although the King is not believed to have used them. Prospective buyers have until October 30 to make a bid.

Provactive

But local authorities ruled that the provocative work, called Ideologies Osciliatories, should be prohibited. “We are surprised. We were hoping that no government that says it is democratic would censure a political work like this, especially in Catalunya,” a statement from Guell and Orta said. “The saddest thing is it brings back ways we have overcome. “Fascist symbols have gone the way of fossils, but not fascist attitudes.

OUT OF LANE: The Fiat

“We believe that with different masks, fascist attitudes are still present in state institutions and in Spanish society.” Guell has previously tackled such tough social subjects as immigration and unemployment in her political artwork.

(Seat)belttightening SPAIN’S second-biggest bank, BBVA, is ditching company cars and chauffeurs for all but the president and CEO to ‘move with the times’. The new talent and culture (HR) manager has implemented more ‘casual’ systems in the company, with fewer perks for the management team to reduce the sense of hierarchy. The move to strip board members of their cars, which some used to take their kids to school, has not gone down well. But unlike Bankia, which auctioned off the Audi A8s of top bosses Miguel Blesa and Rodrigo Rato, BBVA’s BMWs are being kept in garages and available on request strictly for professional use.

CLASSY: Car on show in Costa del Sol

Vintage Costa show OCTOBER saw Costa del Sol’s vintage car enthusiasts rev up their engines for an annual drive down the coast. The Costa del Sol International Route set off from San Pedro Boulevard before winding its way to Estepona, Benahavis, Fuengirola, Mijas and Marbella. The three-day event was organised by the Club of Historic Vehicles.

www.transmatic.es

GOLF In the swing of it

37 23 37

Sergio’s gold star Garcia garlanded with Spanish sporting honour after golfing achievements SERGIO Garcia’s outstanding contribution to golf has earned him one of Spain’s highest sporting honours. The five-time Ryder Cup winner was

WINNER: Garcia (right)

awarded the Real Orden del Merito Deportivo gold medal by Spain’s minister of education, sport and culture in recognition of his distinguished ser-

vice to sport. Garcia picked up his award along with former cycling star Alejandro Valverde. “As a sportsmen there are moments that fill you with pride,” he said. “One is to represent your country all over the world. Another is to be able to receive the gold medal of the Real Orden del Merito. “When I went up on stage lots of my great sporting highlights came to mind, but also the hard work required to get here.” Garcia, 35, has racked up eight wins on the PGA circuit and 11 on the European Tour during a distinguished pro career.

McMicking anniversary SOTOGRANDE golfers raised a club in honour of the 25th anniversary of Joseph McMicking´s death this month. Millionaire McMicking developed the first course in Sotogrande, the luxurious Royal Sotogrande Golf Club, in 1964. Designed by the finest golf designer of the age, Robert Trent Jones, it gave Sotogrande a gilded golfing paradise for the elite. McMicking later went on to design the Valderrama Golfing Club, rated Europe’s best course. And a quarter of a century after McMicking’s death, the resort’s enduring popularity and beauty is a fitting tribute to McMicking’s vision.

VISIONARY: McMicking (right)

Winter wonder deals

IS there anything better than the winter sun rising over a Costa del Sol golf course? At Estepona Golf, winter brings extra value, and the cooler weather doesn’t get in the way of a great game of golf with beautiful scenery all year round. An exclusive golf break deal combining a Tryp Valle Romano hotel stay with unlimited games at Estepona Golf promises to banish any lingering autumn blues. “We are enjoying another busy high season at Estepona Golf,” says managing director Jason Callow. “We are always looking for new ways to give our customers the best value-for-

money experience, and there are more exciting offers coming in 2016!” Bookings made by November 30 guarantee a long weekend on the greens with three nights’ accommodation for just €147 per person between December and March. And for a week’s golf in the same period, it is just €320 per person with breakfast included, all packages for two sharing. Grab a buddy and enjoy the excellent value while it lasts. Email jasoncallow@esteponagolf.com for more information.

Girl power

IT is not a man’s world, and golf is not exclusively a gentleman’s game. The Women’s Golf Network Europe (WGNE) works to connect female golfers and make sure they are catered for and can network and compete across Europe. And one of the coast’s greatest ambassadors for women’s golf is Marbella-based Catherine Shiels, founder of WGNE and lady captain of Marbella Golf and Country Club. The Cork woman is planning a tournament in March 2016 for around 120 women and is proud to count over 300 women in the network.

Smart move A NEW smartphone app is giving golfers a taste of the professional game. Green App Golf allows players to keep tabs on friends’ scores to create tournaments as they go round the course. Users can find out hole-by-hole rankings and check how their opponents are faring. The app is available for all types of mobiles.

Germans targeted A COSTA del Sol golf club is hoping to entice thousands of German golfers to the region’s ‘Golden Triangle’. Villa Padierna Golf Club has been promoting Estepona, Benahavis and

Marbella courses during a trip to Munich. The luxury course is aiming to attract 12,000 more German golfers to the Golden Triangle, which holds most of the Costa’s golf resorts.

Ricardo Arranz, president of Villa Padierna Hotels and Resorts, said: “Thanks to these facilities and the excellent weather we have a unique product to promote luxury tourism in this sector.”

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41 October 28th - November 11th 2015

Rock Blues

For Gibraltarians abroad, homesickness goes with the ‘British Territory’

’VE been wracking my brain for a killer best-seller to earn me tons of money, but a survival guide for Gibraltarians going to British universities is one I never thought of. I mean, they’re not going to Outer Mongolia. They speak English in Britain! And, as Gibraltarians proudly tell the world at every opportunity, so that even Outer Mongolians probably know it, they are British. Nevertheless, it’s one hell of a niche market, as discovered by Gibraltarian postgraduate Philip Vazquez, who’s been to Cardiff, done the graduation ceremony and got the law degree. Before he even published it, news of Youniversity, Gibraltar’s Guide to Studying at University, and its companion website, was spreading across the social networks and into the Olive Press. Some 900 Gibraltarians go to British universities each year, and will continue to do so (even though Gibraltar now has its own university). Philip and his team of contributors have got it made! Jealous, moi? Maybe just a tad, but mortar boards off to him. My question is, why? You would have thought Gibraltarians would feel right at home on the soil of their sovereign motherland – particularly in Cardiff where (imho) the Welsh lilt doesn’t sound far off the Gibraltarian English accent. Ketchup from Tesco must taste much the same as it does from Morrisons, and they

Child’s play

can pay for it in pounds and pence, just like they do at home. Yet according to Philip, they do worry… about flying and travelling by tube (which they should be used to with all their underground tunnels) and managing their money. Although with 100% government scholarships and an annual maintenance grant, the poor wee lambs could probably afford to hire their own accountants.

They also worry about not being able to cook, as their mums and grans have always done it for them. The family’s still nuclear-powered in Gib! Of course, they can always pack a copy of Justin Bautista’s best-seller, based on his grandma Mamma Lottie’s recipes, which he cooked up at university to stave off homesickness. The book has become a bestseller locally, with huge support from the government, which put it forward for a prestigious Gourmand Award. Young Gibraltarians have got jam on it … financing all the way from uni fresher to PhD, with great work experience opportunities out of term back home and, in all likelihood, jobs at the end of it. Speaking as an ex-student who worked in a scary bar in Fratton at the rough end of Portsmouth to pay for journalist college and unsavoury ‘digs’ run by an unspeakable landlady, I find myself turning an envious tinge of green. However, according to Philip’s survey, students’ greatest fear is being alone in a strange city, away from family and friends. They miss the shelter of a Rock where the sun usually shines, where people leave their doors unlocked and look out for each other like family (which they often are); they miss having nowhere to buy tomate frito! Maybe Gibraltar’s homesick freshers need a Youniversity survival guide after all. I’m just sick I didn’t think of it first!

How I broke the first rule of a peaceful existence… childcare

S the theatrical saying puts it so succinctly, ‘Never work with children or animals’. It’s a motto that pretty much sums up the single male lifestyle philosophy that has carried me, more or less successfully, into my late 40s. Admittedly I do have a cat, the infamous 50 Shades, but she wasn’t so much a lifestyle choice. She just rocked up at the Casita one day, had a look around and decided to stay, much to the local rodent population’s dismay. But apart from that, I have managed to resist the temptation to get any other pets. The same goes for children. The only pitter patter of tiny feet that I hear around the Casita on a regular basis are either the aforementioned rodents in a desperate attempt to flee 50 Shades, or serve as a timely reminder that I really should clean up the kitchen as there are some seriously large ants making off with last Tuesday’s pasta. (In common with most single males, there are some items that haven’t just formed cultures at the back of the fridge. They’re actually advanced civilizations with their own languages. Last year’s Christmas Stilton growls at me when the fridge light goes on). Though I may not have children of my own, I am Godfather to two delightful girls - I play my Marlon Brando ‘el padrino’ role to great effect, and am unofficial Wicked Uncle to several

others. I’ve also made it a point of principle to try to be nice to all kids, especially if their parents are strapping Scandinavians or Dutch. Not being the tallest person on the planet, by the time some boys reach their teens they tower over me, and I don’t want to be the victim of some savage revenge because I wouldn’t let them watch Peppa Pig when they were five. Which leads me to my latest adventure.

Gallant

The Hottie Hippy was stuck without a babysitter for the weekend recently and had to attend an exhibition for her work. Judging by the WhatsApp messages I received from her, ‘work’ seemed to involve an awful lot of corporate dining. Being the gallant chap I tend to imagine I am, I said that I’d, ahem, ‘bolster my reputation’ (and it needs all the bolstering it can get at the moment, trust me) by looking after her sevenyear-old son for the night. Said seven-year-old has a bit of a reputation for being what you

DENNIS THE MENACE: A cartoon Satanito? might euphemistically call ‘a bit of a handful’ or ‘boisterous’. When I mentioned that I was looking after the child (whom I can’t name for legal reasons, so I’ll just call him Satanito) my social media was flooded with the type of valedictory messages not seen since those sent to men going on active duty to the Russian Front. All went well at the beginning, with a male bonding session of hamburgers and driving games on the PlayStation. But the fast food diet and video gaming came back to haunt me... I took Satanito down to the rugby club to watch England get thrashed by the Aussies and on my return, went through my usual ritual of getting out of the 4x4 and walking around the

front to unlock the main gate. As I fumbled for my keys, I heard a small voice yell, ‘I’m going to kill you’ and looked up to see that Satanito had undone his safety belt, clambered onto the driver’s seat and was manically sawing away at the steering wheel. The fact that my 4x4 is automatic, the engine was running and all he had to do was knock the gear stick down to flatten me meant that I let out a blood curdling cry as my life flashed before my eyes. (Though when you’ve had my Rock n Roll lifestyle, that bit was rather entertaining) Satanito shot out of the driver’s seat into the back, and I reflected that I really should work with safer animals. Like Great White Sharks...

FOOD & DRINK

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Waste not, want not IN Spain, 25% of purchased groceries never reach the table. In an effort to fight the average household’s 80kg (€1,000 worth) of food wasted annually, technology company Zaimo published a guide to cut the waste. It includes: storing food according to use-by date and fridge temperature, separating cooked and raw foods in the fridge, avoiding over-stacking, making the most of the freezer and cleaning the fridge regularly. “The fridge is the appliance with the biggest power over your budget,” it explained.

A dog’s life,

T’S a sad time of year for a hotel dog. The end of the season looms close and the hotel kitchen scraps come to an abrupt end. From mid-November onwards it’s mostly just dry dog food, which is hardly going to produce a waggy tail. However I’ve been cocking my ears because there is talk of the master and mistress checking all of the hotel’s walking routes this winter. This means different tracks for me and some proper walks that take half or even full days! I am also hoping that, given we have over three months for maybe 20 different walks, the old master will choose sunny

World’s greatest Spanish restaurants bring home the bacon in world’s top 20 - officially

by Eddie the hotel hound

Winter walkies Eddie’s tail is down as the coast heads into ruff weather days for the excursions. I’m not good on technology – hell of a job to punch keys with my paws – but I do know that there are such things as weather forecasts. Last weekend, with the threat of storms, we

set off on an hour’s walk along the Atlantic coast. Why? Just tell me why? Five minutes in, the heavens open, thunder rumbles, he gets soaked, I get soaked and I can hear him saying things like: “Hey Ed, not many other people or dogs are out enjoying this.” He’s right about one thing. There is NOBODY else out. As for enjoying? How sad is his life? How crazy is he? I’ve got a comfortable, warm and dry basket and here we are, striding across gale-blown, rainblasted sand dunes. But I’m a good dog and go along with it all. It’s best to humour him even if it is hard to keep my tail flying at full mast.

To get in touch with Eddie, contact his owners Andy and Pauline at the Hotel Molino del Santo. Bda Estacion s/n, 29370 Benaojan, Malaga. 952 167 151 - 952 167 927. info@molinodelsanto.com

A TASTY trio of Spanish eateries have made the list of the world’s 20 best restaurants. The millions of traveller reviewers who voted on TripAdvisor named a Basque restaurant as number one! Food at Martin Berasategui, in Lasarte near San Sebastian, was described as ‘culinary poetry’. Also keeping Spain prominent on the food map is Catalunya’s El Celler de Can Roca, which won the top spot in 2013 but now sits at number 11. Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke reviewed the three-Michelinstarred, familyowned restaurant in October 2014, not rating it highly. Finally, El Club Allard in Madrid came in at number 18 with its contemporary fusion cuisine hailed for its ‘surprising, imaginative, progressive, fresh and amazing’ food. The UK and France are the only other two countries with three restaurants in the world’s top 20. Impressively, Adam’s in Birmingham and Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham were both near the top, sitting at fourth and fifth place, respecVICTORIOUS: Berastegui, while (left) El Celler tively. chefs and (right) El Club Allard’s Maria Marte

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FOOD & DRINK the Olive Press October 28th - November 11th with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

S I sip a fabulous Gin Mare at the bird’s nest bar to the stern of the Sunborn Hotel, I can’t help but think this was a masterstroke. High above the Friday night throng of Ocean Village, there is a distinct sense of calm and, above all, privilege. Overlooking lines of yachts and up onto the green slopes of the Rock, the terrace of the new La Sala restaurant brings a whole new experience - and indeed focus - for diners and night owls in Gibraltar. A much needed addition to the rapidly growing marina scene, this is an undeniable masterstroke for the Marbella restaurant group, now nearly a decade old. The fifth in a chain of quality eateries, owned by a string of professional footballers - including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shay Given and Raheem Sterling - this could well be the best yet.

Glamorous

Opening the restaurant aboard the former cruise liner, now a five star hotel, brings enormous prestige for the group headed up by expat businessman Ian Radford. We step inside after our aperitif, to find a buzzing dining room of glamorous guests, dressed up for a special occasion, a business dinner with clients, or romantic night out. One of the most original cover bands I have heard for years, the La Sala Project, are belting out songs by the Clash and The Cure and Kings of Leon and Kaiser Chiefs, in a clear salute to the stars of the recent Gibraltar Music Festival. We are led to a grey slate velvet banquette with a good view of the stage and quickly thrust a comprehensive, detailed menu. A wine list has a good mix of Spanish and international wines and we are guided towards a Pesquera crianza that had a wonderful bouquet and consistency. So far so good, the menu throws up a large range of the La Sala classics that thrill diners in Marbella, San Pedro and back in London. A glass of gazpacho arrives with some nibbles and soon a beef salad of rocket and mixed leaves with hoisin sauce, pesto and olive tapenade, is working well as a starter.

45 45

REVIEW: The Sunborn Hotel

All aboard

Cruising ahead The new La Sala restaurant in Gibraltar is really making waves thanks to an expected sprinkling of glitz and glamour, writes Jon Clarke

SEDUCTIVE: The stylish dining room

Following on, a parcel of smoked salmon is generous to the point of lunacy. For mains we opt for the stand-out dish of lobster and prawn linguini, plus my favourite crispy duck pancakes. The amazing caramel cheesecake is the perfect finish, rich and easily enough for a family of four. Soon we are back out on the terrace enjoying the midnight air and noticing how the earlier hubbub below is slowly settling down. Thankfully, we can enjoy a decent nightcap before heading back to our great value prebooked room on the boat below. All in all a fabulous evening, setting up perfectly a Saturday morning’s sightseeing around the Rock, one of the fastest growing and affluent economies in the world… and plenty to see for the tourist.

THE five-star Sunborn Hotel arrived in Gibraltar a year ago to a fair degree of cynicism. A massive former cruise liner, there were plenty of people sceptical that it would not take off, with visitors and tourists preferring to lay down their heads at the more historic Rock Hotel, or La Caleta. However, it has slowly come into its own and become a useful hub for tourists and businesses alike, that find the location superb. There is a definite sense of glamour arriving into the clean retro lobby with its huge glass disco ball/ planet hanging above and jazzy marble floors. Being five-star you are quickly helped by a porter and reception staff are polite and efficient. Best of all though are the rooms, which make clever use of light, as well as the stunning maritime location overlooking lines of yachts and towards shimmering views of the Serrania de Ronda. Technology is paramount with everything focussing around a touch screen and the curtains opening by touch. Mood lighting is good and the sheet quality excellent. On board you will also find a casino, gym and, of course, beauty parlours plus various places to eat, drink and generally be merry. All in all it was great to be aboard!

FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com FLOWER POWER by Steven Saunders of the Little Geranium

Walk on the wild side

Local Master Chef Steven Saunders of BBC TV Ready Steady Cook fame rustles up a dish for the stars of Born Free A FEW years ago I was patron of The Born Free foundation which does great work in protecting beautiful wild animals from extinction. I even ran the London Marathon for them in 2001 to help raise funds. Virginia McKenna (the actress and founder of Born Free) became a close friend and introduced me to Kiki Dee. Famous for her Don’t go breaking my heart duet with Elton John which charted at No 1 back in 1993, Kiki also sang the title track for Born Free and released it as a single. (The original soundtrack was performed by Matt Monro back in 1966.) Virginia and Kiki came to my restaurant and, in the middle of dinner, Kiki stood up and sang a moving version of Born Free, acapella .... Wow, it was powerful! The room fell still with appreciative silence and I noticed some of the guests wiping tears from their eyes. Not competing you understand, but I had a song in the charts many moons ago called Crying Tonight. (You can see it on YouTube if you have time to waste but be warned, it’s pretty awful.) So I suggested reprising Don’t go breaking my heart, with me singing Elton John’s part. Sure, said Kiki, breaking into a slow version of the song, which was also very moving. As I looked down to read the lyrics I noticed that the dish I had created for the evening was getting cold so I said, ‘Kiki that was amazing but you should now relax and enjoy the special dish I have made for you’. It was tofu, fried crispy and tossed with mint leaves, basil and coriander in an oriental dressing. ‘Steven’, she said afterwards. ‘I am so pleased that we didn’t have to eat an animal!’ Not known for my diplomacy (I once stood in front of the entire board of the RSPCB at a conference and used the analogy of killing two birds with one stone) I replied, ‘Kiki isn’t that your leather bag under the table?’ ‘Sure’, she replied, ‘but I’m not eating it’.

Crispy fried & spiced tofu salad Serves 2 people as a main, 4 as a starter 400g / 14 oz firm tofu, patted dry then cut into 2 cm cubes

For the salad:

6-8 assorted cherry tomatoes, halved 1 red onion, peeled halved and thinly sliced 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves 1 small bunch fresh mint leaves 1 small bunch fresh coriander A good handful of rocket leaves 2 tablespoons cornflour seasoned with salt and black pepper Maldon salt to season at the end

For the dressing;

1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce ( tamari is the best) Zest and juice of 1 lime 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon honey ½ red chilli, finely chopped with seeds removed 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger

Method:

Make the dressing by whisking all the dressing ingredients together with a whisk in a small bowl. Set aside. Put all the salad ingredients (herbs and leaves) in a separate glass bowl. To fry the tofu, heat your deep fat fryer to 180c (or use a wok with veg oil), toss the tofu in the seasoned cornflour and cook until golden brown and crisp, shaking the basket to ensure that the tofu browns equally, then drain on tissue paper. While still hot, season with the Maldon salt. Toss the tofu into the glass bowl (with the leaves and herbs), drizzle with the dressing, divide onto 4 plates and serve immediately. I’m not sure the argument makes much sense really so let’s avoid the debate and move swiftly on to the dish that I cooked for Kiki and Virginia (and for Elton, who didn’t attend but sent his love to us via live satellite TV connection). He even commented on my trousers which were even more eccentric than his. LOL! If you fancy a break from meat you really should try this dish, it is yummy.

Steven Saunders FMCGB - www.thelittlegeranium.com - steven@thelittlegeranium.com +34 952 49 36 02

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As Spain’s 17 best baristas did battle in Malaga to be crowned the nation’s champion, Tom Powell and Iona Napier added a little sugar to proceedings

Cuppa del Rey

HE crowd is transfixed, the judges are scribbling furiously on clipboards and the air in the auditorium is rife with nerves and the aroma of coffee. But instead of the chemical tang of Mercadona’s stock instant powder, this is unequivocally the best coffee in the country. I’m at the café con leche equivalent of the Copa del Rey, a two-day coffee-making championship, with the 17 best baristas from Spain battling it out to be crowned the nation’s finest. The Olive Press sent me down to drink in the atmosphere, sniff out the winners and sip on the tension. So far so good, except for one tiny, unimportant titbit of information: I don’t drink coffee. “Do you have anything descafeinado?” I ask tentatively at the hectic, free-sample corner, where I daren’t mention tea. The baffled barista points at a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. “Fine, you’ve forced me into this. Forget the fact I am pretty much a medical danger to myself under the influence of caffeine. I’ll have a cappuccino.” And it was sumptuous. Frothy, hearty, smooth… the Cristiano Ronaldo of cappuccinos, a 50- goals-a-season sort of coffee. Wired, ready and with a chocolate strawberry in my hand, I headed to the auditorium to watch the finals play out. Each contestant had 16 minutes to prepare two pairs of coffees, one pair of cappuccinos, one non-alcoholic combination and one alcoholic combination. Sounds tough? Not for these pros. There were fancy splashes of alien liquids, sticks of cinnamon, grated nutmeg, syrupy syrups, chemical contraptions straight from Frankenstein’s lab and – last but not least – some actual coffee beans. But the baristas also had to talk the 300-strong audience through the entire process, and what’s more, they even had to choose their own backing music. However, it appeared the dj might have had one too many caramel macchiatos, with the erratic volume increase on an Ed Sheeran hit drowning out all other noise in the arena. six remaining, fighting to be Angry gesticulations from the crowned winner of the 10th entire left-hand side of the au- edition of the event hosted by dience soon had him sheepish- the Forum Cultural del Café. ly turning the volume way back Forum’s former president, Jodown, so we could once again sep Casayas Puig, tells me: hear exactly what coffee-tastic “This event is all about surprise was being brewed in a promoting coffee particular test-tube. culture. Around 200 professionals com- “Last year’s peted in nationwide events to winner, who earn a place at this final, held in came from the impressive Palacio de Con- Asturias, was gresos, so they have a right to be sent to Uganannoyed if the music’s too loud. da on holiday But by this point, there are just to learn how

GOLD BLEND: A Barista shows off and (inset) the Olive Press’ Iona Napier and Tom Powell tuck in they produce coffee beans. This year the prize is a week in Colombia.” The judges are all experts from around Spain, many of whom have previously competed in the event. One from Barcelona, Isaac Sancho, also runs a coffee blog. “Every year there are more people at this event; Spain is getting more and more excited about coffee,” he reveals. “It’s the second most consumed drink after water after all!” He’s right. The nation does appear to have woken up and smelt the coffee when it comes to, err, coffee. There is a surprising amount of 16-18-year-olds who are study catering at college, and are desperate to see how the experts do it, taking photos, notes and a lot of free samples.

Respectable

FULL OF BEANS: Dancers drink up before performance

Kitchen nightmares GORDON Ramsay was nowhere to be seen, but culinary hell let loose in a Valencian restaurant when the manager stabbed a waiter in the back several times for serving tables too slowly. The frustrated assailant, who had previously threatened to kill the hapless server, was arrested by national police for severely injuring him with a 35cm knife during mealtime.

The event ends with a bang as Damian Seijas, again from Asturias, wins the FA cup of coffee thanks to some stunning concoctions. (If only I’d got to try one…) Andalucia’s own Rani Aouam came a respectable third, with the man from Valencia, Javier Carrion, bagging second spot. Seijas also received special prizes for the best artistic latte and the best ‘special drink’. On this evidence, coffee-lovers need to pack their bags and head north to Asturias for their morning brew! Now where can I get a decent cup of tea…?

Milestone

FINAL WORDS

ENRIQUE Iglesias is the only Spaniard to surpass one billion views on YouTube, with 1.84 billion tuning in to his Bailando music video.

Furry fossil A 125-MILLIONYEAR-OLD fossil of a rodent-like mammal has been described as ‘cute’ by the head researcher in Spain.

Golden hour SPAIN’S richest man Amancio Ortega became the world’s richest man for 24 hours when he refloated Inditex, only for Bill Gates to repass him the next day.

Outlawed TECHNO-savvy globetrotters will be delighted to hear roaming charges across Europe will be scrapped completely on June 15 2017.

Canned AROUND 220 workers at a Coca Cola factory near Madrid have won a court case to prevent the factory’s closure and save their jobs.

the

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Covering Andalucia in 2015 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 500,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

olive press F

Telephone: 951 273 575 IN baaaarely believable scenes, 2,000 sheep flocked to Madrid and took over the city centre. The shepherds’ protest in favour of droving rights brought the Spanish capital to a standstill. Sheepdogs, bells and loud bleating were all part of an annual protest, in its 22nd year to draw attention to traditional grazing and migration rights threatened by urban sprawl.

October 28th - November 11th 2015

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WHAT A PAIR: Silvia and Pisharello

Not just the girl next door

Bleat Street

Miss Diversity

While chosen to represent Cadiz... a transexual has lost her battle to become Miss Spain

SPAIN’S first ever transsexual beauty queen has lost her battle to become Miss Spain. Despite making Miss World history, Angela Ponce - currently Miss Cadiz - didn’t make it to the final 10 competing for Miss Spain’s crown. While she got to the final 25

By Iona Napier at the contest in Estepona, she was pipped to the title by Miss Barcelona, model Mireia Lalaguna, with Miss Asturias and Miss Baleares coming second and third. Despite being born in a boy’s body, Sevilla-born Ponce was overjoyed to make the finals. She also feels passionately about the need to normalise gender diversity. “Society isn’t educated for diversity, that’s what I really want to publicise,” said Ponce. “I am here and I’m not that rare, I’ve just got a different story. I am not ashamed of anything.” She follows in the footsteps of transgender woman Jenna Talackova, 27, who won a legal battle to win Miss Vancouver in 2012.

It’s a fix LA Liga’s most iconic football match has been shrouded in controversy after allegations of match fixing. Anti-corruption police and match-fixing officials are investigating the upcoming El Clasico fixture after ‘serious’ claims from an official. The unnamed linesman, scheduled to officiate in Real Madrid’s clash with Barcelona on November 21, claims he was being pressured into favouring the Madrid outfit.

Fan love THERE’S nothing worse for a football team than playing to an empty stadium. So La Liga team Getafe have launched a dating app in the hope that their fans will reproduce and multiply in number. ‘Getafinder’ works much like popular dating app Tinder, with the aim to be matched with someone who swipes right back.

I’M NOT RARE: Miss Cadiz was born a boy

IF the two most beautiful women in Spain and Gibraltar can get along, why can’t everyone else? Miss Spain International and Gibraltar’s First Princess were snapped embracing one another in Japan during the buildup to the 55th Miss International competition. But the smiles and hugs will be put to one side when Cristina Silva from Cadiz and Bianca Pisharello, flying the flag for Gibraltar, face off in Tokyo on November 5.

Unrepentant A MICHELIN-starred restaurant owner continues to wage a bitter war against his ‘noisy’ Christian brotherhood neighbours. Despite the owner of Marbella joint Skina Marcos Grande complaining officially three months ago about the damage done by Rocio Brotherhood’s raucous celebrations, little has been done. Aside from Marbella town hall obliging the fraternity to remove their chairs and tables from the street, they continue to congregate noisily to the discontent of local businesses and residents, he claimed in a press conference.