Olive Press Newspaper Issue 271 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 11 Issue 271

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EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

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

Continues on Page 8

Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very same drug that was blamed for killing his wife in 2006. The Marbella-based expat was furious when he was told to take the painkiller by his Spanish dentist, after suffering from a difficult abscess. His wife Mary, 59, had died after being prescribed the same drug following a double vasectomy at Costa del Sol Hospital. “Within 24 hours she was in intensive care, her white blood cell count plummeted to zero within days,” explains Graham, a former computer technician, from London. She never regained consciousness and was on a life support machine for FOUR months, before spending three years fighting the impact of the drug, which led to organ failure. “The chief surgeon at the hospital promised me he would never prescribe that drug

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

Need for more research

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

HAPPIER TIMES: Graham with wife, and Billy Smyth

again. “He said she would be alive if she hadn’t taken it, but I have heard from dozens of Brits and Irish who have been given it,” added Graeme. It is the third victim of the drug the Olive Press has reported on in under a year. Sometimes known also as

Metamizole, Nolotil is banned in the US, the UK, Ireland and most of Europe, but it is prescribed widely in Spain. Irishman William ‘Billy’ Smyth was given a five-day course of the drug in February. But when the 66-year-old returned to a different Spanish

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

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

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THE Olive Press is giving away three pairs of tickets for two of the best concerts on the Costa del Sol this summer... And all you have to do is answer two simple questions! Michael Bolton takes to the stage for an emotive end of season night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on August 10, while Estepona is set for its biggest rock concert in years with mammoth

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

one month to knock down their only property (pictured above). In a court order seen by the Olive Press, the Wards are warned they will be held criminally responsible if they refuse. “I don’t know what to do anymore, I’m at the end of my tether” Gill told the Olive Press, “I’m totally exhausted from the whole ordeal.” The retired pair, who have now spent thousands of euros on legal costs, bought the old farmhouse ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and were given permission from Velez-Malaga town hall to rebuild it. But when the original wall collapsed of its own accord during construction, the Wards’ architect told them it would be fine and that he would let the town hall know. Unfortunately for

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CRIME

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Tourist trap POLICE have dismantled a criminal gang which exclusively targeted wealthy tourists in Marbella. Six Algerian men, between the ages of 26 and 33, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in robbery, belonging to a criminal organisation and an assault of a police officer. Four of them were arrested in Marbella last Saturday after they successfully stole a watch worth €24,000. A further two were detained when they arrived at the apartment of those arrested in Fuengirola with the stolen watch some days later. Subsequently, investigators found a hotel room in Fuengirola where part of the network was staying with false identity documents. The haul saw a dozen watches worth €400,000 recovered, along with five mobile phones and cash. Those arrested have been placed in prison awaiting trial.

Missing Lisa Brown suspect found adrift in the Atlantic EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

A SUSPECT in the Lisa Brown case has been found adrift in the Atlantic. Suspiciously, 71-year-old Ron Beasley, from Wales, was found drifting 200 miles off the coast of Portugal. The sailor, who has a wooden leg, was said to be so disoriented he was unable to recall his name when an Italian catamaran crew came across his shipwrecked yacht, the Doolou. His ship was drifting without electricity or engine power in a busy shipping path and was at risk of being mowed down by a freighter. Beasley told his rescuers that he was on the run from gangsters. When they asked him if he required assistance, he said: "No radio, no engine, no electricity." It comes just weeks after the Olive Press exclusively revealed Beasley was ‘hiding from criminal gangs’ in a port in Portugal. Beasley, who was friends with

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Murky waters

Deadly drug From front

he was forced to leave La Linea by local criminal groups. He says they believe he could be a police informant after beThe Kaskazi, a 60 ft ing docked close to people who catamaran on the final leg of work in the drugs trade and ilthe crossing the Atlantic legal dealings in Alcaidesa port. “I’m just a guy on a boat trying to enjoy the easy life, I mind my own business. “But they came to me The Kaskazi managed to tow and gave me 24 hours the yacht to the Portuguese to leave Beasley’s yacht was found drifting or they said coast, 13 hours away without power in a busy shipping lane they would slit my 200 miles from Gibraltar throat. “They think I’m a Brown and her now-suspect “The last time I saw Lisa was grass, if I go back to Spain I’m a boyfriend Simon Corner, told on November 1, (three days dead man.” the Olive Press how he had ab- before she vanished), when I He claims he has been pleadsconded from bail after being asked her if she had got some ing with the British Embassy arrested for withholding infor- antiques I had delivered to her for help, but that they had not mation in the case. home, and that’s all I know. returned Beasley’s calls at time Brown was due to start a new “If I knew where Lisa was, I of press. job in Gibraltar when she went would have told the police.” Lisa’s sister said she could not missing in November 2015, He is now involved in a legal comment directly about his but Beasley said he knew noth- tussle with Spanish police to involvement. Helen Jordan, ing of her disappearance. have his passport returned. 50, said: “We just want him Speaking on a mobile from his The Swansea-born expat, who to tell the truth and maybe the boat in Portugal, he added: needs heart medication, claims authorities will then help him.”

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sores and was hospitalised when his white blood cell count plummeted to near zero. He was so close to death he was planning his own funeral. The drug seems to mostly affect people of fair skin, from the likes of the UK and Scandinavia, by poisoning their bone marrow and destroying their white blood cells. While not yet conclusive, research has shown that a gene may make someone more at risk from the extreme side effects. Despite its lethal capabilities, it is regularly handed out by doctors and dentists in Spain for mild pain such as toothaches, headaches, arthralgia, neuralgia, myositis, mild to moderate visceral pain and high fever. In the case of Graham Ward, he was told by his dentist that the drug was only dangerous for Scandinavians. “It was so naive and wrong and made me so angry,” recalls Graham, “people need to know how dangerous this drug is, it needs to stop being handed out so willingly. “It’s just criminal.” Boehringer and Ingelheim, the pharmaceutical giant behind the drug, refused to comment on Nolotil. The health ministry in Madrid and authorities in the Junta refused to comment despite repeated attempts. To sign a petition calling for the ban, visit www.change. org/u/748159939

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Meet the parent ENRIQUE Iglesias still hasn’t introduced his girlfriend to his father despite being with her for 16 years. The Spanish heartthrob said his tennis-champ partner Anna Kournikova and record-selling singer father Julio Igelsias are rarely in the same country. “They still have not met, no,” he said, “They have to meet at some point.” He added that he has no plans to marry Kournikova. “We’re just as happy. There comes a point when you’ve been with someone for a certain amount of time that I beleive that you are like, married. “I guess the only difference is that we haven’t walked down the aisle.”

HAPPY: Enrique and Anna

A dab of this.. TOP Gear legend Jeremy Clarkson is back in Mallorca and posting about it on Twitter, of course. Clarkson landed in Mallorca for another holiday in the sun having been to the island many times for work and play. The car buff first tweeted ‘Mallorca is #Lit lol x,’ with apt emojis.

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Beach bare DANNIELLA Westbrook has bared all on a Marbella beach. The 43-year-old whipped her green bikini top off as she lay back in the sun, before showing off her slim figure on the shore. The former Eastenders actress recently revealed she has bought a strip club in Benalmadena. Despite only just leaving a rehab centre for alcohol and drug addiction, the mother-of-one said she belonged behind the bar and that move was purely a business decision.

Saudi royalty touch down on Costa del Sol THE Saudi royal family have landed in Marbella. Expect to see closed down stores, silver-plated Bentleys and mega yachts. Prince Abdul Aziz, worth more than €10 billion and the son of King Salman, is rumoured to have arrived last week and has settled in his residence named the ‘Palace of Riyadh’. It comes after Aziz’s mammoth yacht was pictured docking into Malaga a few weeks ago (pictured right). The prince’s pad is located in the El Rocio estate in the west of Marbella, which was built for King Fahd, who passed in 2005. Him and his entourage may be spotted visiting the nearby mosque also built by ‘amigo’ King Fahd in the 1980s. Aziz’s father King Salman is the oil minister in Riyadh, meaning he is in

FEELING FREE: Westbrook gets relaxed in the sea

Royal jolly charge of everything concerning the ‘black gold’ in Saudi Arabia.

The billionaire family have long visited Marbella during the summer months

HUGE: El Rocio estate built by the late King Fahd

Looking back in regret?

LIAM Gallagher has revealed that he was so stressed out with his divorce and child custody issues that he almost moved to Spain. The Oasis rocker said his divorce from Nicole Appleton and a custody battle with ex-mistress Liza Ghorbani had a severe impact on him, revealing he almost started things over with a new life in Ibiza.

to escape the crippling heat back home. There are no exact figures on the impact on the economy of Marbella, but Chela Figueira, head of the town’s communication department, said ‘it’s evident they generate wealth.’ Despite the legends about excesses, the life of the Saudi royal family in Marbella has been characterized by discretion. And do they pay their property tax on the hundreds of thousands of square metres of land they own? “Religiously,” says Figueria.

New life

"I knew that whatever happened with the money I would be left with (after the divorce), I wouldn’t be able to live where I wanted to live in London, so I might have to f*** off for a bit and get a nice place abroad — get a bit of sun, eat some nice food, and try and come up with a plan. Just start again,” he said, “Two years ago I got this close to going by myself. Googling properties. It weren’t f***ing Magaluf - I’m not that broke, but not far off. “My kids weren’t bothered. They were just asking if it would have a pool or not, the cheeky f***s.”

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www.theolivepress.es News IN BRIEF

Investigation commences A THREE-YEAR-OLD has been found dead on Malaga train tracks after parents lost sight of her during dinner.

Off the rails A TRAIN has failed to brake properly while pulling into busy Francia Station in Barcelona, injuring 40 people.

Steps down SPANISH FA president, Angel Maria Villar, has resigned from Uefa and FIFA positions following his arrest on suspicions of corruption.

Girl gored A 14-YEAR-OLD girl suffered serious injuries after she was gored in the thighs by a bull while she stood on the sidewalk during a bull run in Hellín, Albacete.

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August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Forced out Expat returns to Ireland following accommodation row with Costa hotel

EXCLUSIVE By Laura Duckett

AN elderly Irish expat has been forced to leave her home of 13 years. Catherine Macdonald, 79, was told to leave the Fuengirola Park Hotel by the end of July, but the stress of the ordeal led her to leave of her own accord on July 22. She is understood to be living with relatives in Ireland for the timebeing. It’s been alleged by her friend, Lynda Martin, that management tried to charge the pensioner an extra €2,800

RETURNED: Catherine

to stay for the summer on top of the €1,100 she already paid per month because they wanted to capitalise on the summer prices. “I think because she is very frail, they wanted her gone before she died. I don’t think they wanted to deal with that,” she told the Olive Press. “It’s very sad. She has paid the price of a decent sized flat

to live in this room all these years and this is how they treat her,” said Martin. When contacted by the Olive Press, a spokesperson for the hotel said that last winter, the hotel management decided to limit the long stay in all of its six hotels to six months per year.He insisted the change was not prompted by commercial, but legal reasons. “We keep the door open, and any of them LET HER w h o STAY! have already NG S TU booked n e w SALE 59 s t a y s next year can come back always with that six-month limit. “We have a very special relationship with these clients, and consider them part of our ‘familia’, after many years living at our hotels.” Voted

Migrants mistreated A DAMNING report by Human Rights Watch has blasted Spain’s treatment of migrants. The study claims asylum seekers and other migrants arriving by sea to Spanish shores are held in poor conditions and ‘face obstacles in applying for asylum’. “They are held for days in dark, dank cells in police stations and almost certainly will then automatically be placed in longerterm immigration detention facilities pending deportation that

Mystery solved

may never happen,” the report reads. Malaga’s facilities in particular, according to the report, have substandard conditions. “Málaga’s central police station has underground jail cells, which are in particularly poor condition,” it reads. “There is no natural light or ventilation, and during the visit the stench in the enclosed, dank space was overpowering… these cells are unsuitable for even short periods.”

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Vol. 11 Issue 270

STAR HOSTS: Can you match these four famous faces to their Spanish Property hotels?

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Building dreams

CGI IS BELIEVING: How

FIND OUT IN OUR PROPERTY MAGAZINE INSIDE

Issue 15

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2017

SEE PAGE 3

DOUBLE BUBBLE

the offplan development

boom is really taking hold

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this year turn to Page

OREIGN investment into is expected to break all Spanish property records this year. Demand from abroad has years straight, according grown for seven still tops the list as the to international consultant firm JLL. for property destination second most searched in Spain. In the first half of this year Malaga is in third position, alone, foreign buyers It comes as it was revealed that Spain and funds have more is still the increasing by quiry price of €191,830. with an average enthan doubled the invest- most searched for destination for 53% from last year. ment on the same period Brits looking At €126,054, to buy abroad. Chris Please, Head it also has the lowest average of So far external investors last year. According to Rightmove, en- that Spain remains Rightmove Overseas, said Spain is the most pop- quiry price of the most popular sunny regions. the most exciting investlion into buying Spanish have sunk €888 mil- ular destination According to Rightmove, ment property, smashing last for Britons looking to relocate 62% of Alicante enqui- “Over for British buyers. year’s record of €330 million. or buy a second home. ries are for houses, while 38% are looking for 2.5 12 months, we received an average of While Madrid and Barcelona flats or apartments. million searches a month are the leading Average monthly internet searches total hotspots and attract for property in over With an Spain, the most interest from 2.5m, some 74% above its closest foreign buyers, Malaga, rival and sec- property average enquiry price of €397,813, countryindicating just how in-demand this sunny ond placed France. in Mallorca is most popular is for property-seekers. bao and San Sebastian Sevilla, Mallorca, Bil- Portugal came with high “Whether it’s budget buyers, are also bringing in big third on the list, followed numbers. by the apartments and with 54% looking for flats and sunny climate, the large expat community, the US and Italy. 46% looking for houses. the food or simply the easy Alicante was the most searched tranDespite properties in sition into relaxed Spanish Mallorca region in Spain, times higher in price than those being three Britons enthralled, Spain’s culture that has proximity in Alicante, it cheap flights and short travel time to the UK, has it con-

Huge growth in foreign investment, which is set well over €1 billion in 2017 to go

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It’s your move!

‘Frail’ elderly expat faces eviction at 80 from her hotel home of 13 years to cash in on tourism

Another mayor gets prison

EXCLUSIVE By Laura Duckett

AN EXPAT pensioner is being heartlessly ‘thrown out’ of the hotel she has lived in for 13 years. Brit Catherine McDonald, who is almost 80, must leave Hotel Monarque Fuengirola Park by the end of this month or pay a further €2800 for the summer. Irish-born McDonald, 79, well known in the community for her unassuming nature, is al-

VE SI CLU EX

ready paying €1,100 for the basic room. She has spent over €150,000 on the simply-decorated room since moving in in 2004. This week, friend Lynda Martin

A BRITISH expat feels like going to the police after being stung €379 for two tickets to watch Sting… sitting on the ground. Expat Jackie Brown, from Elviria, told

the Olive Press she was ‘furious’ after her ‘Silver Package’ tickets to see the star didn’t even guarantee her a seat. The 67-year-old, from Guildford, spent €200 over the regular price to find there was nothing exclusive about the package, apart from being closer to the stage at Fuengirola’s Marenostrum Music Castle Park. “I was so disappointed,” said Brown. “I ended up sitting on the floor and with the arthritis in my knee it was pretty uncomfortable.

“Considering the age of people coming to watch someone like Sting, you would think organisers would provide seating.” The Olive Press was unable to speak to the promoters as we went to

press.

told the Olive Press that she is ‘very stressed and fragile’ at the prospect of leaving the hotel. A CROOKED Costa del “She is desperate and disSol mayor has been finally traught and is worried the only sentenced to eight years in other option she has is to return to Ireland, a country she left in EVICTION: For Catherine prison. Ex-leader of Casares Juan 2004,” explained expat Martin. Sanchez has been found The demand came when hotel brother before his death, exguilty of taking bribes bosses allegedly decided to turn plained Martin, from Los Bolifrom eastern European her room into a family room ches. gangsters after a long poover the busy summer season “She doesn’t know how it works, all she knows is that the lice investigation. to make more money. They have allegedly told her she money gets paid to the hotel The former IU chief is can return in winter when de- each month. joined by architect Rafael “This is no way to treat a lovely, mand decreases. Duarte and crime figure “She has paid the price of a kind lady,” continued Martin. Armenian Frank Robert decent sized flat to live in this “She doesn’t even ask them for Mani over the Majestic room all these years and this is a heater in the winter. She said corruption scandal. how they treat her,” continued ‘oh no, I wouldn’t want to deHe has been found guilty mand that of them.’ Martin. of fraud, money launder“She is really upset that all of “I just think it’s a terrible thing ing and prevarication over the money she has put in for to do to someone who has taking at least 282,000 eumore than a decade doesn’t made her home there.” The ros to help launder money Olive Press approached Hotel count for anything.” in an illegal urbanisation When McDonald moved to the Monarque Fuengirola Park on promoted by Mani and Costa del Sol, her brother, now several occasions, but failed to various gangster partners. deceased, set up a trust fund for get a response before we went to print. According to the judge of her and set her up in the hotel. Malaga’s Provincial court She was dependent on her Opinion Page 6 Continues on Page 4

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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 19 July

THE mystery behind a British expat couple who were found dead in their Costa del Sol home has been solved. Pensioners Michael and Valetta were both found dead in separate rooms of their Sabinillas apartment two weeks ago. An autopsy revealed Michael had had a stroke and died almost instantly, while his wife Valetta, who had Alzheimer’s, died two days later.

Fraud capital MALAGA is the Spanish province with the highest rate of insurance fraud attempts. According to Unespa, a business association that groups insurance companies in Spain, Malaga has 1,379 cases of known fraud attempts per 100,000 inhabitants. It is far more than secondplaced Alicante which has 927, followed by A Coruña’s 855 and Murcia’s 853. Last year, Malaga recorded around 22,500 attempts at insurance fraud, most of them related to personal, health or accident insurance, which totaled about 14,000. These were followed by car insurance, with 5,700, and finally the other various insurances (home, trade and civil liability), which were about 2,800.

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www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Listen up! How many more expats are going to have to die or be brought close to death before the health authorities in Spain decide to look at Nolotil? We contacted them on several occasions but they have yet to act or even promised to hold a review. Let’s get as many signatories to our petition as possible and hope it puts some sort of pressure on those in charge. There’s a reason the drug is banned across most of Europe, Australia and the US. We hope no more lives are lost because those in charge failed to act.

Unfair What’s happening to the Ward’s is shameful and unfortunately is something we see far too often. How could a judge order the demolition of a home on a minor technicality? The sheer injustice is only made worse by the fact that the Wards put everything they had into that property when they moved from Cornwall to Malaga some 13 years ago. They are now, in their 70s, facing the very real threat of being left homeless and with nothing. Shame on the courts if they are unable to act with common sense and compassion in this case.

Feat u re

Vogue

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Spain’s young designers are taking the fashion world by storm

ver since Beyonce’s Instagram photo with newborn twins Sir Carter and Rumi, in which she wore a beautiful, floral coat designed by Alejandro Gomez Palomo, was posted (right), the 25-year-old designer has been the center of attention in the fashion world. A native of Cordoba, Palomo grew up in a town teeming with a unique culture. Influenced by this style, and driven by a desire to blur the boundaries of gender, specifically in menswear, Palomo has succeeded in creating collections that have caught the eye of the fashion industry. While the fashion industry has its eye on Palomo, we should have our eyes on these eight, young, Spanish designers too, who are not only taking their first few steps into the world of fashion, but are making a splash in the industry, with promising talents and styles that create the looks of an even more promising, and fashionable, future.

Juan Carlos Pajares Winner of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talent Award, for his True Cost collection, Pajares (right) emphasizes a more sustainable and ethical use of natural resources in order to create his line of women’s clothing. He combines art and architecture in order to create fashion, without sacrificing the element of femininity in his clothes. Born in 1993 in Guadalajara, the young designer graduated with honours from the Superior School of Design of Madrid and the Central Saint Martins of London, and now collaborates with international brands such as H&M and Missoni.

Amai Rodriguez Publisher/ Editor

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Alejandra Jaime Mendoza From Huelva, 26-year-old Mendoza (pictured below) is the designer behind the brand Maria Magdalena, a controversial name that reflects the controversial issues that her designs grapple with. This designer, who adds Spanish flare to her styles by utilizing ruffles and traditional ‘Sevillana’ silhouettes, works toward fusing the details of the conflicting styles prominent in Sevilla during the 2000s. This style is meant to highlight the figure of the woman in society, and draw attention to the power of women vs the inequality, and stereotypical gender roles that society places on them. Mendoza also plays with the idea of humans as animals that need to satisfy natural and basic needs. Her brand is two seasons into hitting the catwalk, and won first prize in a contest for young Andalucian designers, and was debuted in the Samsung EGO for young designers during Madrid Fashion Week.

Born in Pontevedra in 1985, Rodriguez (left) utilizes an interesting concept as the inspiration for her designs. Her collection plays with the idea of an astronaut, who is a lonely man that gets lost in a strange realm of other-worldly colours and lush vegetation, and his relationship with a sad woman who yearns for his return. The goal of the designer, who studied Fine Arts at Vigo’s University and Fashion design in Galicia, is to evoke feelings in the observer by telling a specific story with every collection.

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Maria Luna Prados Soto(Marlina Pradsot) This designer (pictured left), from Jaen, is a student at the School of Art of Cadiz, and recently experienced the first debut of her work at the Samsung EGO competition during Madrid’s Fashion Week in February. Her designs stem from ideas of the human obsession that surrounds reaching a state of perfection. Soto uses only white shades, and gives her clothing a structure that is meant to distort human shape, and thus, play with this concept of perfection. Her philosophy is that error is a part of maturing, and even with error, this process is beautiful.

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Rocio Laseca Like Maria Luna Prados Soto, the Samsung ECO competition was Laseca’s first big fashion show. Wanting to reflect this new step in her career path, in her work she boldly chose to work with new materials, such as methacrylate and silk. Her collection,

appropriately named ‘Who Are You?’, was inspired by the iconic British group, The Who. The designs and materials of the clothing reflect the clothing of the time (1960s), and reflect the idea of youth rebelling against the establishment.

Nacho Costa Costa, a designer from San Fernando, Cadiz, studied at the School of Art in Cadiz. His style is inspired by instrumental music; the shape of the instruments, as well as the sounds and rhythms they create. The designer blends these qualities with an architectural structure of creating clothes, resulting in straight lines and neutral colours that work in harmony with one another to form styles reflecting the unseen, internal portions of instruments such as xylophones and drums. His colour palate often ranges from off-white to light grey.

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Influenced by Asian culture and the Japanese aesthetic, Cagigas is the creative force behind the brand Threeones. Her philosophy includes the idea that beauty is incomplete, imperfect and impermanent, and she uses simple lines and neutral colours, which are inspired by the style of traditional Japanese ceramics, in order to accomplish this. In addition to this, Cagigas also places emphasis on the eco-friendly processes of reconstruction and up-cycling in order to create her masterpieces, and believes the future of fashion must involve sustainability. She has a degree in Fashion Design from the University School of Design, Innovation and Technology in Spain.

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David Mendez Alonso The designer behind the Outsiders Division brand, and the ‘Fantasy Forever’ collection, Alonso is able to transport observers back to

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1988, Alonso now lives in Barcelona where he continues to work on designs and continues to incorporate Converse shoes into all his works.

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UK’s ambassador to Spain warns of legal proceedings against sickness scams

Back to health

BRITAIN’S Ambassador to Spain Simon Manley has lashed out at tourists making bogus holiday sickness claims. Manley was speaking out after Downing Street announced a clampdown on the fake claims scams, which are costing Spanish hoteliers some €50 million a year.

Last month, three British holidaymakers appeared in a criminal court charged with making a false claim for around €50,000 with more legal action expected in other cases. “The recent measures announced by the British Government show how seriously we take this issue, and our determination to clamp down on loopholes and fraudulent claims,” said Manley. “Eighteen million British tourists visit Spain each year, and whilst the vast majority of holidaymakers will shocked to be told on July 5 not make false claims, these of this year that their home recent measures will help would be demolished on July clamp down on those who 17. do. The house was briefly saved “As our travel advice says, by two temporary court ormaking a false claim could ders, but they have both result in legal proceedings in been thrown out of court. the UK or in Spain.” “They can’t take much more The Ministry of Justice has of this,” explains daughtermoved to close down loopin-law Emma Baker, who holes which have allowed the lives in Torrox, “The house claims to be made. is tiny, they invested everyLegal costs paid out have thing they had into it, how is been limited and the costs this fair? of defending a claim for tour “We have to keep fighting operators has been reviewed. but we are not too optimisThe Government has also tic, we’re hoping to raise as asked the Association of much awareness to apply British Travel Agents (ABTA) pressure on the courts to and other industry represenmake a compassionate decitatives to present further sion.” data on the volume and costs of claims.

HOUSE BATTLE From front

the Wards, that never happened. Gill was charged and taken to court for knowingly building without the correct licence in 2013. “My lawyer told me to plead guilty and pay the €1,000 fine and everything would fine,” claims Gill. The pensioner was given a two-year suspended sentence as well as being ordered to apply for, and present to the court in Malaga, a new permission to carry out building work in order to make the property legal. After hearing nothing for two years, the couple were

www.theolivepress.es ax arq u ia

‘we won’t forget you’ Worrying A WOMAN was hospitalised after she was found wandering around half naked at a VelezMalaga roundabout. She is said to have been wearing a bikini when she was found in the early hours of the morning of July 28, disorientated and very nervous. A group of young people called the police after observing her unusual behaviour at Avenida Amethyst roundabout. The police arrived and called an ambulance to the scene, which transferred her to the Comarcal Hospital of La Axarquía. The woman claimed she fled because her father and a friend wanted to kill her, which, along with dilated pupils, raised concerns that she was intoxicated or suffering from a mental disorder.

Collision A GERMAN motorist has died in a car crash in Vélez Málaga. The 62-year old motorcyclist, identified only by his initials M W, died from a collision with a truck on the N-340 near Mezquitilla. The incident took place at 6.23pm on July 25, and sources confirmed that the driver died tarjeton.pdf 1 30/03/2017 during the frontal9:57:08 collision against the tractor head of a truck.

THE government will give Axarquia €6.5 million in an effort to generate employment and wealth. Spokesperson for the People's Party Natacha Rivas accused other parties of neglecting the area: "While others forget about this region, the PP fulfills its commit-

Heartless abusers arrested for torturing horses

A 40-year-old man and his neighbour have been arrested on suspicion of abusing and neglecting horses in the Axarquia. Inspectors raided the man’s finca following a tip-off and found the corpse of a young mule who had been abused and neglected. Veterinary reports verified the unhealthy conditions in which five horses lived on the land, located in the Zamorana estate. One of the horses was found outside its stable and tied by the neck with a rope to a thick chain without water or food, other than some tomatoes scattered on the ground. Another found in a stable without water or food was thought to have been left alone for months. The owner was arrested for animal abuse, lack of nutrition and veterinary care of animals, as well as the omission of legal duties. The horses are being brought back to health by specialist vets in Fuente de Piedra.

ments," she said at a press conference in Vélez-Málaga. €1.04 million of the investment will go the Velez-Malaga municipality. It is hoped these investments will cater to many of the demands of citizens of the area.

Horse horror

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Down in the damps

Mum fears for her children as damp levels in her house lead to health complications

FAILURES by the housing ministry has left a toddler so ill he may need surgery, his mother has claimed. Mother-of-two Janine Suetta says efforts to remove damp from her home only made matters worse, and made her threeyear-old son Jay-Z increasingly ill. It comes after the 27-year-old’s

EXCLUSIVE By Laura Duckett

home on Laguna Estate was severely flooded in October. Despite pleading to housing for several months, it was only following an Olive Press story in May that workmen arrived at the property to repair the damage.

Ricky calling RICKY Martin has been confirmed as a headliner for Gibraltar MTV Calling's first day. The Vente Pa' Ca singer will join other stars including Years & Years, Jonas Blue and Steve Aoki on the main stage on Saturday, September 2. On Sunday, Craig David, Bastille, the Kaiser Chiefs and Tinie Tempah will take to the same stage, along with other familiar faces. In addition, seven local bands will represent the Rock, including rock band Jetstream and Layla Rose Band. Tickets are on sale now at gibraltarcalling.com

“It’s embarrassing and frustrating that it took so long,” Suetta told the Olive Press, “and that my kids have had to live in a mould and damp-filled flat all this time.” She is now demanding to know why she, her son and daughter Tiana, 5, were not rehoused during the works. “Even the workers couldn’t believe we were living here while the works were being carried out,” she claimed, “There were strong fumes and broken glass in my bathroom which cut my son’s leg.” According to the single mother, inspectors came to measure the levels of damp and humidity after the work had been completed last week. She claims in some places the readings were higher than they were before the work started. “My kids lie awake at night coughing and having trouble breathing. Sometimes I just feel like taking some blankets and sleeping on a park bench with

them, because anything would be better than where they are living now.” She also claimed workmen left a light fixture ripped out of the ceiling, and an exposed plug hole with cables hanging out, and that two monkeys have since come into her home due to a broken window. She has now received three letters from doctors confirming that the damp in the house was causing harm to her children’s health. They have been on and off antibiotics for several infections including tonsillitis and bronchitis, causing them to miss school for extended periods of time, and now her son will have to return on August 23 to see if he has to have an operation on his glands. “It’s not fair that my children are missing out of their education because of this.” The Olive Press failed to get a response from the government before going to print.

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politics

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Unknown territory

FREEDOM of movement ‘will not continue as we know it’ post Brexit. Theresa May has insisted that the free movement of people from the EU into Britain will end in 2019. It contradicts suggestions from Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond that the current rules in place could continue for a transitional period after the UK leaves the European Union. Last friday, Hammond said there should be no ‘cliff edge’ for im-

No more free movement after Brexit, UK prime minister Theresa May warns migration when Britain leaves the EU in 2019. He implied that current immigration rules should remain in place during any transitional period after Brexit, which could last up to three years. "At the present time, we have a

high level of dependence on foreign workers in the UK. "Nobody wants us to go over a cliff edge in March 2019 where suddenly our health services are unable to cope, social care is unable to deliver," he told the press. Disagreements within the con-

servative party are sparking disapproval from opposing MPs. "The government is in total disarray. Unless the cabinet can agree a position how can it possibly negotiate Brexit on behalf of Britain with the EU?" Tom Brake MP said. The government has not specified what the arrangement will entail, although MPs have brushed off the idea of a Norwegian-style arrangement.

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Rajoy gives evidence

MARIANO Rajoy has become the first sitting Spanish prime minister to give evidence in court. The PP leader denied all knowledge about an allegedly corrupt financing scheme within his party. Thirty-seven people, including three former PP treasurers, are standing trial over the allegations in the Gurtel case. It is alleged that prior to the 2008 property boom construction firms paid politicians bribes in return for contracts. “I never heard anything because, as I have said, I was never in charge of financial matters within the party,” said Rajoy. One of the accused is Luis Barcenas, a former colleague and friend of Rajoy, who has claimed the top echelons of the PP knew about the scheme. Rajoy had texted Barcenas following his arrest to say 'we are doing what we can', "I’m in the habit of replying to messages and he had my number. I could have used that phrase or any other one; it doesn’t mean anything," said Rajoy. “‘We’re doing what we can’ means precisely that we’re doing what we can; it means we didn’t do anything that might have prejudiced any trial.” The case has centred on Francisco Correa, a businessman is accused of bribing PP officials between 1999 and 2006. Rajoy denied associating with Correa, who was known as Don Vito after the Godfather gangster. "The truth is I didn’t know [Correa]," he said. "But I’m absolutely sure that I saw him at a public event once. "I had absolutely no dealings with him.” Pedro Sanchez described Rajoy's court appearance as a 'black day for our democracy.'

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Bremain bashes UK’s Brexit team CAMPAIGN group Bremain in Spain has blasted the UK government’s Brexit negotiating team. Chair Sue Wilson criticised David Davis’s team’s ‘lack of preparation’ which contrasted with ‘the professionalist of Michel Barnier’s team’ during the first round of Brexit talks in Brussels. The EU’s comments about freedom of movement has ‘sent shockwaves’ through the 1.2-million-strong British community in the EU, Wilson said. “Citizens’ rights barely received a mention,” she said. “We have repeatedly been told we are the number one priority in these negotiations but it hardly looks that way “How much longer must people live with uncertainty and worry?” She added: “The offer on citizens’ rights, presented weeks ago, reassured us that the EU intended to protect all our rights and freedoms, as if Brexit had never happened. “This new threat to our freedom of movement is of great concern, especially to those who work, or wish to work, in more than one European country or travel across borders from home to their workplace.”

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green

Rubbish rules MARBELLA residents have been threatened with fines of up to €3,000 for throwing their rubbish out at the wrong time. New posters from the town hall have sprung up around rubbish bins in a bid to limit bad smells in the summer heat. The notices state that all rubbish must be thrown out between 8pm and 11pm between April and October and between 7pm and 11pm during the rest of the year.

Wrong

They add that anyone who breaks the rules can be fined from €751 to €3000. Paper and cardboard must be put into the blue bins, plastic in yellow bins and glass in the green bins, it warns. For old furniture, a number must be called to arrange a pick up from the nearest bins. “Whoever throws rubbish on the street or outside of the containers and bins, or tries to throw out the rubbish at the wrong time, will face a fine between €751 and €3,000,” the notice reads. The town hall was unavailable for comment at the time of press. It comes after San Pedro and Marbella installed 13 new rubbish collectors at the end of 2015 in a bid to clean up the towns and to be more environmentally friendly.

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Hunted online A SPANISH hunter has killed herself after receiving threats on social media from animal rights activists. Melania Capitan, 27, was found dead last Wednesday from an apparent suicide at her apartment in Huesca. Capitan, from Catalunya, had amassed a huge fan base on social media posting images of her big game hunting exploits. She had almost 39,000 followers on Facebook, where she shared hunting tips.

‘Hated’ hunter takes own life after being bullied on social media

However some posts proved controversial for animal rights activists who would leave harassing messages. It is not known if her death was directly related to the cyberbullying, but it is believed she may have phoned some friends to say goodbye before she took her own life.

TRAGIC: Hunter Melania took her own life

“We did not expect this, it’s like a horror movie,” a friend told Spanish newspaper El Mundo. “I knew her for years. She was an extraordinary person. It is inexplicable what happened.” The blonde hunter is reported to have left a suicide note for friends, but the contents of the letter have not been released. Critics continued to flood her Facebook page with messages even after she died. “She’s finished the lives of many animals and no one defended the death of them… I think our [lives are] worth the same as theirs,” one person wrote. Others mourned her death, saying the loss was a ‘shame.’ “I do not like hunting, defending animals and killing for a hobby seems horrible to me. But it’s a shame that this girl took her life,” another user wrote.

Bullfights banned… almost taquillaonline.bioparcfuengirola.es

#muydecerca In the heart of the Costa del Sol

Unique in its specie

THE Balearic Islands have banned the harming or killing of bulls during bullfights in a groundbreaking move. But the national government has warned it may fight the new law in Spain’s Constitutional Court. The court had previously ruled the country’s autonomous regions did not have the power to ban bullfights outright. But with 30 Balearic towns declaring their opposition to bullfighting, the new measures have been welcomed by many, including Humane Society International (HSI) director general

Joanna Swabe. “Taunting and killing bulls for entertainment is a brutal anachronism and so this is a very satisfying victory for compassionate policy making,” said Swabe. “Rather than allow the Constitutional Court ruling to stand in the way of ending the cruel spectacle of bullfighting in the region, a crossparty group of politicians got creative to effectively ensure that the torture of bulls for public entertainment is relegated to the annals of history on the Balearic Islands.” unconstitutional,” he said.

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SPANISH artist Cinta Tort Cartró is painting over stretch marks in a bid to battle body image issues. Inspired by her own experiences and struggles with body image, the Catalan artist, 21, aims to celebrate aspects of the female form that society deems shameful as well as tackling racism and xenophobia by painting and photograph-

what’s on

ing women of different races. “I grew up feeling sometimes out of place. I’m tall and big, so it’s important for me to state in my art that everyone is beautiful and those ‘flaws’ are not that,” she said. “They make us unique and special.” You can see Cartro’s artwork on her Instagram page @zinteta.

Surreal, right?

A LOCAL British artist has begun exhibiting his muchacclaimed celebrity portraits in Sabinillas. Tony Faulkner, 48, from Painter’s Barnsley, is a self taught witnesses were shocked to airbrush artist who has moustache still discover the surrealist paintThe Olive Press created celebrity portraits er's moustache was pointed of the likes of Amy Wine- intact 28 years and waxed upright in the ‘10house (above) Winston TOP forand news in Spain! after death past-10 position.’ Churchill. The Spaniard had his remains “I am once again promot- SALVADOR Dali’s moustache disinterred during a fouring and trying to establish was found perfectly intact hour operation in Figueres in myself in the area,” he told as his body was removed for Catalunya. the Olive Press, “I have been DNA tests in a paternity case. It follows a claim by a woman into art since I was a young Upon examining the corpse, born in 1956, María Pilar Abel boy, but graffitti opened up my world and led me into airbrush.” Faulkner’s pieces will be showing at Bunty’s in Plaza THOUSANDS descended on Marbella to tures, photography and video. de los Naranjos. “I frequenttake in its third annual contemporary art The six day event, from July 28 to August 2, ly paint live in restaurants fair. saw creations by legends such as Joan Miró and bars, and I’m always Some 40 international galleries showed off and Eduardo Chilli, at the Palacio de Ferias available for commissions their best works, including paintings, sculp- y Congresos Adolfo Suárez. so feel free to get in touch!”

Art fair success

EN ROUTE: DJ Manuhutu and (below) Lopez

Summer’s set

ESTEPONA’S newest club is set to host some of the best DJs in the world this summer. From August 11 to 26, Mosaic will welcome the likes of Chelina Manuhutu, Wally Lopez and Cristian Varela, putting it on the map for places to party this season. After her brilliant career as a professional model, Dutch DJ and producer Manuhutu has taken her deep tech style to the best international clubs, including Pacha Ibiza, Blue Marlin Ibiza and Carpe Diem in Barcelona, while López hosts Insomnia Radioshow on Europa FM and has won numerous international awards. The schedules and tickets for all shows can be seen on the Mosaïc website www.club-mosaic.com. The club will also continue its extremely popular Costa del LOL project. The British humor show is built around host of the project Tom Houghton, who in each performance is accompanied by two notable British comedians. The next show will be on August 31 at 21:30. Early tickets are sold at between €10 and €15 at the box office.

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Martínez, who claims her mother gave birth to her after having an affair with Dali. If true, the woman could claim part of Dali’s estate, which is currently owned by the Spanish state. It is thought tests on Dali’s remains could take weeks to clear up whether the artist is Martínez’s father. Martinez, a tarot card reader, brought her case against the Spanish state after claiming her mother, who worked as a cleaner in nearby Cadaques, had an affair with Dali the year before she was born. She claims both her mother and her grandfather told her Dali was her father.

aen - August 5-6, Conquering of the City Medieval Fiesta ‘The Conquering of the city’, this commemoration to the capture of Alcala de Real from the Moors will feature archery demonstrations, theatre, dance and medieval food, and take place against the background of La Mota Castle.

ompeta - August 11 15, Night of Wine The Night of Wine is a festival wine festival which traditionally celebrated grapepickers. Today, poets, writers, and artists take part. Flamenco shows, mural paintings, and many more events will take place, the hghlist being free wine.

adiz - August 14 - 15, Fiesta of San Roque A large party, the feature is bulls being released and chased through the streets on the night of the 14.

alaga - August 1220, Malaga Fair Beginning in the city center during the day and moving to the recinto once the sun sets, this fair promises a lively and fun-filled atmosphere with rides, games and casetas.

14 14

Literary

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English-speaking writers keep falling for Spain’s charms. Joe Duggan looks at some of the best authors over the decades

PAIN has captivated wave after wave of English-speaking writers for generations. Even now, with so much written about every corner of its magisterial landscape, Spain’s rich traditions and sorrowful past are a siren call to artists from rainy northern climes. Popular, modern-day writers like Britain’s Chris Stewart and the Anglo-American Jason Webster, are re-introducing readers to Spain’s allure, as the country weaves its spell on the next generation. It’s far from an unrequited love affair. In a relationship stretching back centuries, expat historians, journalists and novelists have left an indelible and invaluable stamp on Spain’s cultural map.

Labyrinth

Indeed, Gerald Brenan, with books like South of Granada, the Spanish Labyrinth and The Face of Spain, cemented his place as perhaps the most authoritative voice on Spain, albeit one with a clipped British accent. The perspective of British writers like Brenan and Hugh Thomas, following the Civil War, was crucial in forming an accurate historical analysis of the bloody conflict and its aftermath. With Spanish historians and scholars neutered by Franco’s vicious suppression of free speech, British writers fixed a powerful beam on the Generalissimo’s murky regime. Here is our guide to ten of the best British and Irish writers on Spain.

Michael Jacobs THE art historian, travel writer and hispanophile Jacobs was one of Britain’s foremost writers on Spain. A bon viveur, he settled in the Andalucian town of Frailes, writing his much-loved Between Hopes and Memories: A Spanish Journey and The Factory Of Light, set in the village he had come to call home. His final, unfinished work was a book on Spanish art, focusing on Velázquez’s masterpiece, Las Meninas, and his relationship with it. As he was dying of cancer, he pointed out the irony of the darkened figure in the background of the painting, quietly exiting the scene up some stairs. He died in 2014 aged 61.

Jimmy Burns Staying with Barcelona, Burns’s lifelong passion for the Catalan football giants is given vivid expression in a superb labour of love. Barca: A People’s Passion is a forensic examination of the club’s history, tragedies and glories, both sports book and historic account. Burns is a committed cule (the name given to the club’s fans comes from the

la cultura

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Robert Hughes

ART critic Hughes’ peerless Barcelona is an aria to this most elegant of cities. Avoiding the fiery civil war years, his meticulous research and acute observation cast a magisterial eye over the Catalan capital’s 2,000-year history. In the city’s transexual prostitutes plying their trade, Hughes divined Barcelona’s endlessly rich spirit of reinvention. He warmly evokes nights spent in bustling working-class restaurants around the fisherman’s quarter Barceloneta in the 1960s, and vividly recalls the then-seedy Placa Real where you could feel ‘the germs mutating’. But it’s the sheer historical scope of Hughes’ book that so impresses.Tracing the city from its Roman roots, he explains how Catalan developed from the class of Latin conquerors who settled in the area. Barcelona’s art, architecture, its struggles with Castilian and foreign monarchs and the surge in Cata- l a n nationalism are all given generous attention in Hughes’ scholarly masterpiece.

George Orwell

George Steer

HOMAGE To Catalonia is a typically Orwellian sneer at the absurdities and hypocrisies of war. An early volunteer to the Marxist POUM, Orwell was initially energised by the anarchist revolution he encountered on arrival in Barcelona in December 1936. ‘When one came straight from England the aspect of Barcelona was something startling and overwhelming,’ he wrote. ‘It was the first time that I had ever been in a town where the working class was in the saddle.’ Dispatched to the front, Orwell describes with a journalist’s detail the squalor, fear and dom of life as borea soldier. While

TIMES journalist Steer was the first reporter on the scene after Hitler’s Condor Legion eviscerated the ancient Basque market town of Guernica. Filing his copy the day after the 1937 massacre, Steer was quick to point the blame at the Nazis, identifying Junkers and Heinkel bombers and fighters as responsible for dropping more than 3,000 incendiary bombs before machinegunning fleeing victims. The overall death toll is estimated to have been as high as 1,500. Franco denied the bombing was carried out by nationalist forces, ludicrously blaming the massacre on the Republicans. Steer’s detailed on-the-scene account for the Times and the New York Times was a bold repudiation of Franco’s lies. Four days after reading it, Picasso began painting his iconic Guernica.

there, he was shot and wounded in the neck. While recovering, Orwell was in Barcelona again during a key moment in Spain’s Civil War, where he watched the bullets fly between rival leftist factions

Catalan for ‘arse’, he reveals, as before the Nou Camp was built, fans’ backsides would hang off the walls of small stadiums). The club’s motto, Mes Que Un Club, is examined by the journal-

on the Republican side from the rooftops of the Ramblas. He was forced to flee Spain with his wife for fear of being assassinated by Communists. His book remains a key firsthand document of the war.

ist as he talks extensively to fans, players and officials connected to the Catalan titans. Barca has, over the years, become a political and social phenomenon, at times acting as an engine of social change and a symbol and forum for dissent. The club’s emergence from a group of English, Swiss and Spanish players, the 1936 assassination of president Josep Suñol and Barca’s reawakening with Johan Cruyff's arrival are all brought to life by Burns in this excellent account.

LEGENDARY: George Steer and (below) Guernica

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YOUNGER DAYS: Legendary British author Laurie Lee

Laurie Lee

Ian Gibson IRISH scholar Gibson has devoted much of his life’s work to examining the murder of poet Federico Garcia Lorca. During 60 years in

Spain, the Dubliner has interviewed giants of Spanish life, writing books about Salvador Dali and assassinated political leader Calvo Sotelo, among others. But it is for his definitive work on Lorca that Gibson is most instantly associated. Publishing the first of five books on the Granada poet in 1971, Gibson admits he was forced to bend the law in his pursuit of what happened to Lorca, who was shot dead near his hometown shortly after the Civil War broke out. Pretending he was a professor of botany, the scholar bravely walked into one military office demanding to see a map of the area where Lorca was shot. His most recent book, Aventuras Ibericas, was published this year and examines his love affair with Spain. Part travelogue, part memoir, it draws on Gibson’s rich experiences during six decades writing and working in Spain.

Washington Irving THE American writer travelled from Madrid to Granada in 1829, taking up residence in the dilapidated Alhambra. Irving, who had won fame as a short-story writer, was enchanted by the fading glory of the Moorish Palace and the Andalucian city which had remained largely unchanged since the15th century. Irving had travelled to Spain to research his book, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, which was published in 1828. Moving on from Madrid to Granada, his Tales of The Alhambra hit bookshelves four years later. Irving’s collections of short stories conjured a magical image of the Alhambra which endures to this day. PORTRAIT: Of Washington Irving

LEE’S autobiographical As I Walked Out One MidSummer’s Morning is a lyrical paean to Spain and to one young man’s questing wanderlust. Landing in Vigo in 1935, Lee encountered a country unmoved by centuries of European progress but on the brink of changing utterly. Armed with nothing more than a violin, he was almost devoured by wolves in Galicia and just about survived the flaying heat of Castile’s sun-scorched plains as he headed south on foot. Sleeping rough and busking for money, he gained a unique insight into a coun-

try on the brink of war. When Spain’s toxic political

John Hooper HOOPER’S The New Spaniards is essential reading for anyone interested in how Spain flourished in the years following Franco’s 1975 death. During two stints as Spain correspondent for the Observer and the Guardian, Hooper assembled the information to write perhaps the most definitive account of modern-era Spain. In his foreword to the book’s third edition, Hooper illustrates the extraordinary changes that swept over Spain in the 20 years after democracy was restored. He wrote: ‘A predominantly rural society has become transformed into a mainly urban one. A dictatorship has become a democracy. One of the world’s most centralised states has been made into one of the world’s most decentralised. A society that was intensely sexually repressed has become notably permissive. There has been a revolution in the roles of men and women. ‘Other countries have undergone several of these transformations but I know of none that has experienced them all, and in such a brief time-span.’

brew reached boiling point, the young British writer witnessed a tax inspector chased from an Andalucian village by enraged peasants, then the accidental bombing of the village.He was evacuated by a British warship from Gibraltar shortly after war broke out. Controversy surrounds Lee’s account of his time in the International Brigades in A Moment Of War, with some Brigadistas denying he was present at some of the events he describes.

Richard Ford OXFORD-EDUCATED Ford’s 1845 A Handbook for Travellers in Spain, and his 1846 follow-up Gatherings From Spain, are regarded as benchmarks in the travel genre - 19th-century Rough Guides for Britain’s moneyed classes venturing south. Ford struck out in an era when Spain’s inhospitable terrain had yet to be mastered by concrete, tarmac or rail track. Riding on horseback, he journeyed the length and breadth of the country. From Galicia to Granada and the Basque Country to Badajoz, he spent four years delving into every aspect of Spanish life. From its cuisine and wine, and from bandeleros to bullfights, Ford was a true pioneer in promoting Spain’s wild exoticism, a frontier land about which little was truly known by his fellow countrymen.

LE T T E R S

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Number crunching 2 hours - Average amount of time spent waiting in lines for security checks in Barcelona El Prat’s airport following labour dispute.

% - Percentage of trips made by bike in the city of Seville.

12 % - Increase in tourists visiting Spain in the first six

months of this year compared with last year.

% - Increase in money lent through mortgages in Spain in May, according to latest sales figures.

Animal abuse? Can they go and do something about the poor donkeys in Mijas Pueblo (Two people arrested in #Malaga for shocking abuse against horses, issue 270)? Adults should never be allowed on them and their living conditions need improving. Chris Jopp, Unknown

Bears and sheep It’s a bear doing what comes naturally (More than 200 sheep dead in #Spain after bear chases entire flock off cliff edge, issue 270). How many sheep are killed by dogs off leash? Oh, and those sheep would have been slaughtered. Not saying it was great for the sheep, but the stats go against humans and our dogs far more than with the bear. Julie Wilkinson, Huddersfield

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Ryanair Debate

Our readers react to Ryanair’s statement that all flights between the EU and the UK will be canceled post-Brexit Scaremongering I'm sure Europe won't be wanting to miss out on the income from tourism that uk citizens spend each year - of course a deal will be made...Scaremongering.

Retaliation

A smart businessman

If UK does not honour the current open skies EU agreement then it's just down to cost and hassle. The fact that an Irish airline can fly from UK to Spain, or Portugal to France is only possible due to this agreement. If the UK pulls out then surely the French and Germans will retaliate with heavy levies.

Michael O’Leary is a businessman & a very successful one at that. Unlike most airlines he makes record profits by offering what the majority of passengers want i.e. inexpensive travel. The passengers get to ride in modern aircraft & experience few delays. Many people love to hate him & his airline but if you care to check, all that happens, is Ryanair gets even more passengers. O’Leary speaks his mind & holds back no punches. That’s why he’s successful & when he’s listened to & his warnings taken into account & acted on accordingly, both his airline & the others that offer services to Europe, will continue to succeed. If not, then inexpensive travel to the EU from the UK after Brexit will cease to exist.

Felicia Ang, San Pedro de Alcantara

Replaced

Messiah Nigel Farage

If he stops flights from UK another operator will fill the void. Where there's money.....

7,847 people reached Spanish shores between Ja-

I'm not at all worried, The Messiah Nigel Farage said nothing would change after Brexit, (British citizens in the EU could lose right to live in another EU country post-#Brexit, issue 270). he even said his herd of unicorns would double in size once restrictions on breeding by the EU were removed.

All Talk

nuary 1 and July 26, this year, compared with 2,476 during the same period in 2016.

300,000

- Number of spectators who at torre del Mar’s second International Air Show on July 29 - 30

Peter Johnson, Zujar

Peter

Teresa Wheldrick, Doncaster

17.1 % - Unemployment rate in Spain - down from 19.9% a year ago.

most. Does O’leary really think that Spain for instance is going to turn it’s back on 17 million UK tourists? I bet a double quick deal will be done on this issue. He also needs to remember Ryanair is not the only budget airline on the block.

Alan Dixon, London

David G, Marbella

The UK is alone

And he's going to give up all that income? Really?? David and Ann Warnes, Galera

Stupid remarks

He's talking bollocks. If non-EU members like Israel, Turkey and Morocco can have unlimited connections with the EU, then so can the UK.

I’m almost speechless at these stupid remarks, only al-

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

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Casual elegance

Laurence Dollimore finds a down-to-earth welcome in the high society paradise of Sotogrande

TRANQUIL: Picturesque Sotogrande beach with Rock of Gibraltar visible in the distance

IT’S an absolute privilege to live here,” enthuses 29-yearold Georgina Taylor, welcoming me to her eponymous chiringuito Gigi’s. “It’s such a beautiful, elegant paradise.” This is Sotogrande, Andalucia’s largest privately-owned residential super-estate. And super it most certainly is. Sometimes described as Spain’s ‘millionaire’s playground’, the enclave was purpose-built for a wealthy cosmopolitan crowd with the added bonuses of 24-hour security, designer boutiques and quality restaurants My first introduction to this LA-like loca-

tion came via a lifelong Soto resident who loured enclave of luxury apartments, villas struggled to end a sentence in anything and mansions. other than ‘dahling’, ‘sweet“There’s a lot of wealth here ie’ or ‘fabulous’. but it’s not vulgar or ostentaYou could have mistaken her tious,” says Georgina a.k.a. “There’s a lot of ‘Gigi’, who grew up here,. for being too posh to pass the time of day. But within wealth here but “My clients may be million30 seconds of meeting her, aires but they are happy to it’s not vulgar or walk around in flip flops and preconceptions melt away. And it’s the same with Sotoeat chiringuito-style.” ostentatious,” grande, an uber chic urbanSotogrande is where the says Gigi isation in the municipality of wealthy come to relax in San Roque. peace, they’re not here to The bluer-than-blue marina, show off or be seen. stacked with gin palace yachts and sailing Perhaps this helps explain why the resort’s boats galore, is the backdrop to a multi-co- economy has consistently outperformed

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its Costa neighbours. Throughout the last crisis, while areas like Fuengirola saw property prices plummet by as much as 11%, in Sotogrande they remained stable and even increased, some well into the double figures. And with huge new exclusive developments planned in La Reserva, where homes are expected to go for around the €13 million mark, that looks only set to continue. And while the grapevine may have you believe the area is full of snooty money-makers, scratch beneath the tranquil opulence and you will find a down-to-earth, sporty community ready to welcome visitors with open arms. “There’s such a community spirit here,” confirms new resiDesigned by Web Express Guide dent Sue Davies, 51, who relocated with husband Wayne last August. “There’s a great mix of nationalities and everyone is so supportive of each other, it makes it a wonderful place to live.” “There’s just so much to do here too - golf, tennis, padel tennis, sailing or the beach,” she adds. “You have everything in one place and that is ultimately why we love it. It’s a one-stop paradise.” While sailing has long been an obvious pastime for residents, the sports scene has always been ahead of the curve. Padel tennis, Europe’s fastestgrowing sport, has been a Soto Individual and favourite for years. It is also group sessions polo’s most southerly Europeincluding home visits an home. from Marbella to Gibraltar The big summer tournament at

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Boats and the beach HAPPY: Sotogrande residents From previous page

Santa Maria Polo Club in August is almost as famous for its pop-up shopping village and Grey Goose vodka after-parties as the gladiatorial sport itself. That’s largely thanks to the scores of royals and Spanish celebrities who come for the month to spectate and join in when they fancy it. This year’s is expected to draw around 80,000 visitors, 30,000 more than last year and without a doubt its biggest to date. The resort has been tagged with the brand of exclusivity ever since it was first developed by multi millionaire Joseph McMicking in

1962, after he fell in love with the her daughters, the princesses location on a chance trip to Spain Eugenie and Beatrice are all fawith his wife. miliar faces at Sotogrande polo. A Who’s Who of Then there are Akings, princes, sullist visitors like Rod tans and aristos folStewart, Mariah A Who’s Who of lowed in their footCarey, BBC’s Nick steps and bought Knowles and Genkings, princes, homes or rented esis’ Mike Ruthersultans and villas here, includford, who have all ing former UK Prime aristos followed in sought a low-key Minister Tony Blair, break in this exclutheir footsteps Glenn Hoddle, Edsive enclave. die Jordan and the On any good day current and former you might also spot Chief Ministers of Gibraltar. 73-year-old Robin Byers cruising Princes William, Harry and An- around the puerto in his 1978 drew, Fergie, Duchess of York and blue beetle convertible.

CERAMICS: At flea market

“I have travelled around the world and I can say with confidence that there’s not a development in the whole of Europe that rivals Sotogrande,” he tells me. “When you think of Monaco or St Tropez, they don’t have all the sports that we do and they don’t have Gibraltar and Andalucia on their doorstep. “And we have fantastic views and food.” This has become even more true over the past year, with the opening of 20 plus new restaurants, bars and clubs thanks to new American owners of the resort. And the exclusive village is vis-

Filling the gap between injury and returning to normal life at unique Sotogrande clinic

Re-establishing and maintaining healthy whole body movement after an injury or illness is the key to long-term recovery, say Carole Falconer, a physiotherapist and Andrea Young, a Pilates practitioner and functional movement specialist.

They have both observed a gap in physical injury aftercare and now work in tandem to ensure clients don’t repeat the injuries that brought them to their clinic in the first place. “Just because you’ve been discharged by a doctor or surgeon doesn’t always mean you’re fit to immediately return to previous activities, either work, home or sports related” explains Andrea, who provides fitness training in the same building as Carole’s physiotherapy clinic in the heart of Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro. “For example you might break a bone or damage a joint, a surgeon will repair the injury and that’s their job done. After that you’ll go to physiotherapy to re-establish pain-free movement, and then be discharged to return to your normal life. Frequently however, many people are still unready to resume their previous activities. Some go right back to activities that got them into trouble in the first place. Others, having subconsciously ‘favoured the injury’ during the initial recovery period, have created compensatory habits making them move differently thus creat-

Let’s get physical ing new issues. Following physiotherapy, Andrea works to restore the client’s healthy movement patterns so they can more easily and safely return to a full range of activity. “We both firmly believe in the need to take account of who the person is, what they do for a living, what recreational activity they take part in and what they need and want to be able to do to live life fully. We treat the person, not just the injury.” Carole, who has trained with the re-

nowned James Cyriax, often described as the father of orthopaedic medicine, goes to Andrea’s classes herself. “I often joke that these women could do a degree in anatomy after a few weeks because Andrea explains exactly what they’re doing and why, and people understand things much better that way,” she says. Both notice the way their clients’ bodies change, their confidence grows and movement becomes much more fluid, efficient and importantly pain free.With

a combined experience of 50 years,

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mand for their unique service.

Contact them here: Carole Falconer: (34) 629 518 160, carolefalconer123@gmail.com http://sotograndephysiotherapy.com Andrea Young: (34) 690 691 371, enquiry@corefitforlife.com, http://corefit-

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Come in and take a look at our intriguing collection of antiques, collectables and curios. From all over the UK and Europe OPEN: Monday to Saturday 10am-2pm & 4pm-8pm Sat & Sun 10am-4pm Appraisal service and house clearances

STUNNING: Sotogrande’s beaches and port (below)

Endas Collectables Tel: 956 236 156 info@endascollectables.com Calle San Francisco 7, Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro

ibly far more busy than last year, with the new haunts bringing a buzz to the area. And you can’t help but feel at peace when strolling around the marina, although make that Segwaying around the marina. Personal transporters are the in thing here, whether it’s workers zooming to the office, coffee in hand, or hipster teens taking turns on motorised skateboards. After dodging the two-wheeled-speedsters, you might want to check out the port’s bustling Mercado de Levante flea market. From ceramics to vintage fashions, everyone is welcome under the candy-striped awnings that pop up along the quayside. Unfortunately, in search of respite from the Soto sun, I found the gelato truck was closed so I had to settle for a cerveza. But I was spoilt for choice, with high quality café’s, bars and restaurants on every corner of the port. At The Hairy Lemon, a favourite expat haunt, I got chatting to James Eden, 38, from Kent. “Soto has a great ambience, and we love coming here to get away from the bustling coast,” he explains. “It’s obviously a bit pricier but it’s worth it, and my wife likes the shopping. “We have a place nearby in Casares but if I could afford somewhere here I

would snap it up in a heartbeat.” Despite its upmarket nature, this enigmatic resort 25km east of Gibraltar is full of mostly down-toearth and warm-hearted people. “You don’t have to be a snob to get on in Sotogrande, people aren’t like that here,” Sarah Smith, 51, tells me as she watches her son at padel tennis training. “To be honest it’s nowhere near as flashy as Marbella where people like to show off their wealth. “People in Soto are a lot more genuine, they mind their own business, meet up with friends and have a

good time. We’re all just trying to live the good life.” Her words resonated as I drove through Sotogrande’s leafy avenues to Galerias Paniagua, the bijou commercial centre where the residents buy their foreign newspapers and paperbacks and can eat out when they don’t want to cook in, and where I bump into Graham and Jane Astle from Cheshire were enjoying a late lunch. “There’s a huge mix of nationalities, it’s not a British bubble which is what we love about it,” explains Graham, 71. “On top of that it is easy to make friends as everyone is so approachable.” Of that I certainly concur. Maybe it’s the tranquility lacking in Marbs or Banus, or perhaps the beautiful views of Gibraltar from all around. Aside from its sports and familyfriendly beach bars, Soto also has nice beaches to relax on. And had work not beckoned the following morning, it’s more than likely a cabana and cocktail session would have been calling my name. Perhaps next time. I left Soto reluctantly, sad that I couldn’t stay longer, jealous that I wasn’t part of this close-knit community. But I’ll be back and, having met a whole cast of hospitable residents, I know that I will be welcomed as if I were one of their own.

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Hot to trot Barking up the right tree C Boutique products are the result of an nine year process that begins in the Spanish and Portuguese cork forests. Cork trees live for approximately 300 years and are harvested every nine years, removing only the outer bark. It takes 20 to 25 years before the first cork can be removed from the Cork Oak tree. Raw planks of cork are then boiled making them flexible and elastic. This cork skin is extremely lightweight, waterproof, vegan, durable, and most important to us at C Boutique, eco friendly. A mature cork oak tree will produce hundreds of kilos of cork skin at each harvest, and lives for many generations. We believe in happy trees, a happy World and happy products at Cork Boutique, the gift shop with conscience.

OTOGRANDE'S youngest Horse riding school is the hippest in town. Set up three years ago by Cristina Hernaiz, Hipica La Paz stands out from the other stables for its hands on approach. Riders of all ages are welcome, and can enjoy everything from light trotting to dressage and jumping, and all take part in brushing, stableclearing, feeding and more. "We like our students to get a lot more involved with the horses here," explains Cristina, "it's very interactive, so you have lots of fun but also learn a lot about horses

while doing it." No one knows this more than the kids at the summer Pony Camp, held from Monday to Fridays from 9:30am to 1:30pm. "They are doing everything from bringing the ponies in from the field, brushing them, clearing their stables, and of course riding them," explains Cristina, "we make sure it's a really friendly atmosphere and an easygoing place to have fun and learn about horses." Contact Cristina on 644 402 252 or find Hipica La Paz on Facebook.

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SOME 80,000 people are descending upon Sotogrande for the annual World Polo Tour circuit event at Santa Maria Polo Club. For a month, the ‘Wimbledon of polo pitches’ is hosting ten teams of 50 horses and 200 staff, along with spectators, who include the Brunei and British royals. Four of the tournament’s championship cups are classified as World Tour cups, signifying the event’s prestige. And equally prestigious is the host club. The club’s PR manager Pilar de la Puente told the Olive Press: “Sotogrande is the known as ‘the cathedral of European polo.’ It’s the best club in Europe and the ranked third in the world.” Though the tournament is unsurprisingly posh, with such high-end sponsors as Maserati and Cartier, it does have one bit of democratic flare. For every match except the final, attendance is open and free to the public, with crowds usually growing above 50,000, and this year is promising to be the biggest yet.

Located just 5 mins from Sotogrande Port on Main Street, Torreguadiaro

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CHUKKA TIME: In Sotogrande and James Beim (left)

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Villa, Sotogrande Costa

Villa, Central Sotogrande

6 bedrooms / 7 bathrooms • 1179m2 built, 3003m2 plot Indoor lap pool • Cinema • Pool house with full kitchen • Staff quarters Minutes drive from beach

6 bedrooms / 5 bathrooms • 550m2 built 2858m2 plot Wonderful mature garden • Swimming pool • Tennis court Snooker & cinema room • Great family kitchen

Price: €2,750,000 – REDUCED

Price: €1,600,000

Villa, Sotogrande Alto

Cortijo, Gaucin

Villa, Sotogrande Alto

5 bedrooms / 7 bathrooms • Fully refurbished 446m2 built, 1189m2 plot • His & Hers offices Poolside BBQ area • Excellent condition

5 bedrooms / 5 bathrooms 924m2 built, 68 acres land • Central heating Former private hotel • Own tennis court Swimming pool • 5 min drive from Gaucin town

4 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms 280m2 built, 1495m2 plot • Quiet cul-de-sac Charming with beamed ceilings Lovely flat garden • Interior walled patio

Price: €965,000

Price: €1,495,000 – REDUCED

Price: €690,000

Villa, Sotogrande Marina 3 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms • Private storeroom 111m2 built, 38m2 terraces Lovely marina views • Lots of natural light Walking distance from port • 2 parking spaces

Price: €395,000

Pueblo Nuevo De Guadiaro Calle Sierra Bermeja Tel. 956 795 300 / 628 574 953 WWW.JS-SOTOGRANDE.COM

Apartment, Alcaidesa 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms • Stunning sea views 102m2, 87m2 terraces • Allocated parking space Ground floor with huge terrace • Storeroom Well-kept urbanization • Walking distance to beach

Price: €275,000

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Savills boss and golf fanatic James Stewart is ‘buzzing’ about Soto’s property market after a difficult 2016

E’S swung the irons with Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, shared Valderrama’s greens with US President George Bush Snr and teed off with Prince Andrew... few people have enjoyed better job perks than James Stewart whose business is associated with the UK’s biggest estate agents, Savills. But he has certainly earned it. Despite decorating his office with photographs of famous golf partners and retelling stories of how he helped bring the Ryder Cup to Spain for the very first time, it is clear that James’ first and most important love is his business. And after 35 years in Spain and 18 years in Pueblo Nuevo there is not much James doesn’t know about the property market, which is good news for Soto. “I am very optimistic about Sotogrande,” he says. “Last year was difficult with the shock Brexit result and the following uncertainty, but things have recovered relatively quickly. “The British have dropped a little but we are seeing them come back, additionally, the Spanish market is growing stronger as the economy grows and people have more money to spend.” And Sotogrande’s appeal as the ideal spot for a new home just keeps growing. “There are around 20 new restaurants, bars and shops,” explains

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

we are Out of the bunker

JAMES: With Ballesteros

Open everyday from 11.00hrs to 20.00hrs tel: 956 236 612 mob: 607 203 130 www.caladecai.es facebook: chiringuito cai

Stewart, “it means there are a lot more people here than last year, there is a real buzz about the place again which is exciting. “We expect to finish the year off in a strong position.” Outside of the property world, James loves to be on the golf course... in particular in Sotogrande’s esteemed Valderrama where he is a member. A member for 30 years, his love-affair with the club dates back to the early 90s when club owner Jaime Ortiz-Patiño brought him in to help bring the Ryder Cup to Spain. “It was a great honour for me and I got to meet some top players,” he says. “Seve

Humble hippies

LOCATED in one of the only coves of this area (‘Calas’ in Spanish), Chiringuito Cai is the perfect spot to spend your day at the beach. You can park right on our doorstep and we are open from 11am to 8pm. We have sunbeds and parasols to rent and we serve a variety of fresh local foods and drinks. Coffees, fresh fruit smoothies, cocktails (such as our signature mojito), a variety of Spanish, French and South African wines and our delicous Alhambra beer. Our menu is a mix of typical Spanish chiringuito dishes like cala-

was by far my favourite, a true gentleman and ambassador to the sport.” He adds: “I’ll never forget playing in the Volvo Masters Pro Am in 1997 with Seve and Zimbabwean pro Mark McNulty. “On the 18th I had the putt to win the tournament and Seve and Mark both took turns at lining me up. I felt huge relief when the ball fell in the hole.” With a separate office in Puerto Sotogrande, James Stewart in association with Savills has established itself as a top agent for Sotogrande and surrounding areas. For more information visit www.jssotogrande.com or call 956 795 300

mari, seabass, dorada or rosada and famous Cai specialities such as caesar and goats cheese salad or our magnificent Cai burger. And if you have a sweet tooth you are in for a treat as our most popular dishes of all are our homemade banoffee pie and chocolate brownie. Come and give us a try, you will love our happy humble hippie chiringuito! For further information please visit us on facebook: chiringuito Cai Or our website www.caladecai.es Email: antonela@caladecai.es Phone: 956236612 or 607203130

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London and international architects behind Soto’s newest and most exclusive hillside villas

OTO’S newest hillside development promises to be its most exclusive yet. The Seven, located atop the La Reserva, will consist of seven six-bedroom villas built into the hillside, starting at €13.5 million. Each villa will be designed by an architect of international notoriety,including London-based Philip Gumuchdjian. A house in The Seven will fetch between €14 million and €18 million euros and occupy between 1,800 and 2,400 square meters. All of them will have anything that a millionaire, or billionaire, could want: private spa, indoor and outdoor pool, cinema or gym. "We take care of everything. From paying bills, maintaining the garden and the house, opening it when the owner wishes, daily service, chef, purchase, cleaning, restaurant reservations or transport , it will be the same as living in a hotel," says Marc Topiol, the chief executive of the resort, who has spent 25 years working for leading hotel groups, including Marriott and Ritz-

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

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August 7 - August 20 2014 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Lucky number seven Carlton. But if you can’t afford the €5,000 basic monthly fees, then a villa here probably isn’t for you. The project is part of the La Reserva project, Along with The Seven, there will be another 22 exclusive villas, in an area called El Mirador. Two villas there have already been sold for between €9 million and €11 million. A reservoir is in the making, as is an ar-

tificial beach and another 47 villas. They will come complete with a beach club, spa, port, clubhouse and gastronomic centre. The Seven collection will see a level of security and privacy never seen in Sotogrande, with enclosed spaces, and in addition to the seven-hectare park designed by famed French arhcitet Jean Mus, each house will have zero water waste, water recovery and waste minimization features.

EXCLUSIVE: Luxurious properties designed by renowned architects will go for millions

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August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Grand affair Sotogrande’s first Grand Prix has put it on the map for motorheads

OTOGRANDE’S first ever Grand Prix has put the exclusive location firmly on the map for motorheads. Featuring a Rally, Concours d’Elegance and more, the five-day event in May saw entrants make their way from Sevilla’s iconic Plaza De España, through cultural hotspot Cordoba before culminating in a Flying 1/4 Mile into Sotogrande and Concours d’Elegance. Winners of the Sotogrande Concourse included an OSCA MT4 for Most Exciting Design, an Aston Martin DB2 DHC received a special award by the jury ‘Coup De Couer’ and Best of Show was awarded to a Hispano 1910, the favourite car of Alfonso XIII, King of Spain.

Winners

Additional winners included a Porsche 550A taking Best Preserved Car, a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Mulliner DHC capturing Most Elegant Design and Most Iconic Design went to a Jaguar E-Type 3.8 OTS. Meanwhile, the Sotogrande Rally for vintage cars led participants off the beaten track along the backdrop of spectacular roads, charming whitevillages and magnificent mountain scenery. A 1957 Porsche 356 A won the Rally, followed by a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 and a 1956 Porsche 356 A Speedster. The concurrent Sotogrande GT Tour for cars built in the last 20 years was won by a 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S.

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August 7 - August 20 2014 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Up Soto creek with a paddle Arriving in style, Jon Clarke takes a trip down the Rio Guadiaro

ROW YOUR BOAT: Life afloat Jon Clarke taking a trip down the Rio Guardio (above)

T is by far the most exciting way to arrive in Sotogrande. But you are likely to get wet so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bring your gladrags. One of the best family adventures on the Costa del Sol, you can rent a kayak and paddle the whole way down the Guadiaro river from El Secadero, which is actually in Casares, to the mouth of the river at Soto-

grande port. Taking a couple of hours, you will see a huge range of birds and feel like you are in total wilderness for much of it. There are even a few rapids to get the heart racing. Organised by Andalucia Activities, kayaks come in three sizes and can comfortably take three people in the larger ones. I joined a group descent, with around 100 people in dozens of canoes, arriving early and getting kitted out properly, with a full safety drill before heading off. But you can also get a special day out for groups or individuals organised by Andalucia Activities. And as well as kayaking, the company also offers walking expeditions as well as paddle board lessons and wakeboarding. For more information visit www.andaluciaactivities.com

Wild and free T

HE hidden gem of the Sotogrande estate is a 27-hectare area of marshland housing an abundance of wildlife. Boardwalks criss-cross the thick foliage and a lagoon with extensive reed beds attracts many winged visitors. The Junta spent â&#x201A;Ź198,000 on the boardwalk in 1999, along with fences, gates and a bird hide. After several acts of vandalism, however, the hide is now rarely open to the public. But bird-watching is still easy enough for those with the will and the

rewards include purple gallinules (swamp hens) penduline tits, cormorants and gulls. The location of the estuary, where the river Guadiaro enters the Mediterranean, is perfect for birds moving along the coast and migrating to Africa. It also provides the best place for views of the estuary and the coast, and, after a morning spent wildlife spotting there is the glorious Guadalquiton beach to unwind on in the afternoon.

CHIRP: A purple gallinule (left), a penduline tit (far left) and the rickety board-walk (above)

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Serving up ace facilities, Ian McDougall is nurturing the latest generation of tennis and padel stars in Sotogrande

E played with Bjorn Borg during the Swede’s golden years, represented Great Britain at youth level and even named his dogs Tennis and Padel… it is fair to say that boss at Octogono Club Ian McDougall is crazy for the court. Moving to Spain as a 21-year-old tennis coach in 1982, Ian landed himself a job at the prestigious Puente Romano centre. The 11-time Grand Slam champion Borg had put his name to the club and for six days a year he made an appearance at the up-market Marbella resort. Luckily for Ian, that meant he had the chance to play alongside the Swede as they partnered up for doubles exhibition games against the likes of Spanish legend Manuel Santana. “It was great to play alongside Bjorn,” he says. “He was a really nice guy, quiet, kept himself to himself. “On the court he was at his best, although I had to encourage him to get forward a bit more as he tried winning every point from the baseline as he did so well throughout his career.” In 1987, Ian was crowned the first Padel World Champion in Marbella with partner Marcus Ludlow. From there Ian moved to Argentina where he played at the highest level for a year. Nowadays, father-of-four Ian spends his time running the Octogono club. With five padel courts, three hard tennis courts and three red clay courts,

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

For the love of tennis

DREAM TEAM: Ian with Bjorn Borg (left), Ian and Davis cup team (above) and his club courts (below)

knock about on Octogono’s courts, Ian is just as interested in getting kids on to the court. As well as running its own summer camps, Octogono also hosts the Soto Academy which nurtures rising stars in Andalucia. Junior competitions are scheduled throughout August for both tennis and padel and local players are encouraged to sign up. And while Ian’s 10-year-old son Johnny hasn’t beaten his dad yet, he says he ‘will soon!’ Meanwhile, Ian’s 29-year-old son Oliver is following in his father’s footsteps and works as a coach at the club. But it is not just a club for kids, tennis mix-ins for seniors take place every Wednesday and Sunday morning while padel mix-ins are run throughout the week. And with a nomembership policy everyone is welcome.

NEXT GENERATION: Ian with son Johnny

the 55-year-old Yorkshireman has transformed the centre into a hub for up-and-coming stars.

And while the likes of former England boss Glenn Hoddle, and British royals Eugenie and Beatrice have enjoyed a

For more information visit www. tennissotogrande.com or call 659 453 444/ 677 589 895

Golf glorious golf Sotogrande is home to more topnotch golf courses than you can shake a nine-iron at

T would not be unfair to call Sotogrande the home of Spanish golf. After all, it has some of the oldest courses in the country and has even hosted the Ryder Cup. Indeed, anyone with half an interest in sport will remember the fantastic last few holes of the 1997 Ryder Cup, when Colin Montgomery played the best round of his life. That was at Valderrama, now viewed as one of the must-play golf courses in Europe, beautifully maintained, pricey and, some say, a touch too challenging. Golfers up for a change should try Alcaidesa, claimed to be the only Links golf course in southern Europe. Seaside courses require a different style of play from your standard 18 and if the ball lands in the water, forget it! As an added touch, Alcaidesa may be the most scenic of all the Sotogrande courses, with breathtaking coastal views to Gibraltar and North Africa.

It might explain why the course entices a serious number of high-quality events to its doors each year, from parties to society weddings. There are, of course, half a dozen more courses on the Sotogrande circuit. Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, a.k.a. the ‘Old Course’, was the first to be built in the area and said to be a dream to play after tricky sister course, Valderrama. It was here that so-called Bermuda grass was first introduced into Spain. Almenara Golf, designed by Ryder Cup champion turned respected course architect David Thomas, is up in the hills where celebrities Glenn Hoddle and Glen Johnson have homes. La Canada, La Reserve and San Roque complete the ‘famous five’. “There are few places with such a high concentration of great golf courses,” says Ian Bateman, of Holmes estate agents. “When you add the fabulous tennis facilities and polo club, with its 11 full size courses, the facilities in Sotogrande are second to none.”

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Sotogrande’s property market is in full recovery mode, and Holmes’ Ben Bateman knows why

ROPERTY sales in Sotogrande have bounced back following the uncertainty that loomed over the market last year with the EU Referndum, and Brexit. While Brexit fears and currency devaluation took its toll, Soto has weathered the storm and looks set to get back on track by the end of 2017. “We have recovered all but one of our Brexit ‘casualties’,” explains Holmes Sotogrande boss Ben Bateman. “We are very optimistic that we will end this year very well, and much improved on last year and 2015” And the secret? Soto’s ‘casual elegance’ and unique authenticity appeals to everyone. “The British market has not pulled back as much as we expected and since May it looks like the demand from the British market is coming back strong. “But we are seeing more Scandinavians, Spanish, Belgian, Dutch and surprisingly we are seeing a significant interest from the French market. “As southern France is becoming too expensive, the French are being attracted by Soto’s casual elegance and authenticity.” Bateman says the gentle charm of Sotogrande’s well manicured streets has a down-to-earth feel yet its upmarket nature is hard to beat. “You can walk around in flip flops and a t-shirt and feel comfortable here, or dress to the nines and not look out of place, it’s truly a world of its own.” And once you add that to its facilities, it’s unrivalled. “Of the five golf courses in Sotogrande three of them, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Real Club Valder-

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Blooming good news

KNOWLEDGEABLE: Ben Bateman of Holmes Sotogrande rama and The La Reserva Club Ben’s passion for Sotogrande drives are world-class championship golf his enthusiasm towards running his courses and amongst the best in business. Europe” says the boss of Holmes, “I grew up in Sotogrande, and now I established in Soto in 1979, “they am bringing my family up here,” he are in the best condition I have ever says. “There really is nowhere quite seen them. like Sotogrande. “All in all, we are all very happy and “When describing it to someone who look forward to finishing the year has never been before it is hard to with strong results.” portray the magical atmosphere that Set up by his father in 1979, Ben Sotogrande has.” began working at Holmes 15 years He adds: “I get so much pleasure ago. Taking the reigns in 2013, from helping people find their homes and then watching them and their families enjoying Sotogrande for five, 10 or 15 years,” he adds, with a smile. “It is always sad when families leave, but on the bright side they have loved this place and are now entrusting us to help open the door for a new family to move to Sotogrande.” To contact Ben and the team, visit www.holmesotogrande.com or call 956 795 340

The next generation of car cleaning has arrived...

Steaming ahead HAVING moved to Spain some 9 months ago and being a car enthusiast my aim was to find a site whereby I could offer specialist car cleaning and valets at attractive prices. After several months I found the perfect site which is located on the opposite side of the main road to marina duquesa (adjoining the garden centre). This site will allow clients to leave their cars for cleaning and stroll into the marina for a coffee whilst their car is being cleaned or valeted. Clients are able to drive in or book a convenient time or day to suit. Appointments can be made between a Monday and Saturday 9 until 6 for their cars to be cleaned and in some cases full valets can also be carried out on a Sunday morning by arrangement. WHAT CAN DAN'S STEAM CAR CARE OFFER... 1. Exterior steam clean 2. Exterior and interior steam clean throughout 3. Mini valet with hand polish 4. Full valet with interior upholstery deep cleaned All products used are environmentally friendly and all cars are steam cleaned which is safe on car surfaces, rejuvenates paint work, eliminates pet and smoke odour and sanitizes your steering wheel, dashboard and air vents. Our steam cleaning method is 100%

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Tutoring for success August 7 - August 20 2014 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

In today’s competitive, busy dren on their way. world, parents are under I am a teacher with many pressure to ensure that they years of international expeprovide a strong, worthwhile rience in education working education for their children. with high achievers; children This is vital to safeguarding with potential; underachievyour children’s future. ers and children with speA high-performing school cial needs. As an ex-headwith a variety of extra-mural teacher, I have advised and activities is a good place worked with experts in evto start and is the minimum ery aspect of education and that parents ask and hope have acquired a great deal of for. Sadly, this is not always knowledge and understandthe case and despite schools ing about how children learn. doing the best they can, chil- My experience working in difdren can be ‘lost in the sys- ferent countries gives me the tem’, resulting in a lack of edge to empathize with and progress. A parent’s worst carefully consider the renightmare, as no-one wants quired support your child will their children lagging behind need. their classmates. I relish the work I do with chilFrom the first day that our dren and am enthused by the children attend kindergarten positive results that I realise or nursery school, as parents, in a relatively short space of we find ourselves comparing time. No matter the issue, I them to their peers and won- have seen and dealt with it dering how to improve their before and can provide an performance and make them answer to the next step. top of the class or at the very My services cover: private least, achieve their best. sessions in the comfort of Sitting and doing your chil- your home; group sessions; dren’s homework with them pre-school preparation; is one way of accomplish- booster lessons; catch-up ing this but who has time to lessons in Englishm and do that with so many things mathematics and preparagoing on at once in today’s tion for exams, from ages 3 modern world? There is an to 14. easier way: Extra lessons, which is where I come in to Please call me for a no oblisupport and help your chil- gations chat on 6966 30412

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Booming July predicted following ‘pause’ in run-up to EU referendum Special report by Iona

BOSSES: Cox and Wells

IN COME THE BIG BUCKS!

A HUGE US property fund is splashing €45 million on three new Costa del Sol developments. The American bosses Real Capital Solutions behind have snapped up sizeable plots in Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis and continue to look at further opportunities along the coast. The company, based in Marbella since 2013, already has five other developments, including The Retreat, in Elviria.

“We have spent around lion here so far and have€86 mila fund of €100 million to spend,” plained Managing Partner exWells, based in Colorado. Peter “We are one of the largest opers on the Costa del develSol and our emphasis is on distressed properties.”

He added: “Also we do transparently and always things try and deliver on price and quality.” The company - which made hundreds of millions buying ing distressed propertiesand sellUS - has 16 staff working in the its office at Centro Plaza. out of Local boss Taylor Cox, added: “The coast is really starting come alive and it’s a pleasure to to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

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Where is Gillian buying?

Napier

ESTATE agents in Spain lining themselves up for and Gibraltar are the busiest July on record. It comes as some British buyers put purchases on hold due to referendum on June 23.the forthcoming EU Most agents the Olive Press firmed they had various spoke to con‘paused’ awaiting the result,sales currently despite the British market remaining The majority believe that strong. pected result - to stay in the ex- will lead to the pound Europe strengthening with a red hot summer of sales to follow. Ben Bateman, at Holmes Sotogrande, described the lead up as a ‘pause forreferendum British buyers’ due to thought for concerns over the weak pound. “After a remain vote however, we expect to see a strong finish to the year - and a sudden wave of bids from British buyers,” he told the Olive Press. One agent in Gibraltar has gone one step further actually employing July. Savills director Sammy extra staff for Cruz-Armstrong said: “Everything is on but I am convinced we hold due to Brexit, and am taking on extra will stay in Europe with the expected delugestaff in July to deal Benahavis agent Scott of business.” Marshall of Proper-

Spanish property sales

tieSpain, meanwhile, described the pause as ‘very psychological’. He said: “It’s a combination the vote and the exchange of the uncertainty of While many agents have rate right now.” rently on hold, some havea couple of sales cur“We have up to ten sales seen more. til after the referendum,” currently on hold unboss of Castles, in Manilva.said Victor Witkowski, “Buyers are not necessarily they are biding their time pulling out, but to see what happens.” Fellow Manilva agent, confirmed a slowdown, Shani Hamilton, also predicting a huge influx but added: “We are a decision is made.” of business as soon as

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Deals

by nationality and quarter

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Where are the coolest

Source: Registradores

Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016

Either way, official statistics out this month confirm the British market remains strong and tens of thousands continue to look for their dream home. Respected analyst Mark eign demand for SpanishStucklin insists that forin the first quarter with property was up 16% of foreign buyers at 22%Brits the biggest group “The British still dominateof the market share. property and there is no the foreign market for able decline in demand evidence of a noticeas yet,” he said. And certainly not everyone One agent, Graham Govier is suffering. of Inland Andalucia has seen ‘no negative impact’ at all during the referendum lead-up. “In fact it is the opposite. cheap right now and we Prices are extremely are selling two times as many properties as we were He added: “My salesman last year,” he said. a local celebrity - has justPaul - already a bit of enth consecutive sale and completed his sevpeople are buying because they can see that won’t wait around for themthe incredible deals Paul made headlines in forever,” he added. the Olive Press last year when he sold an impressive nine properties in a row.

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Young and stung

Victoria beer recrowned CERVEZA Victoria will open the doors of its new brewery in Malaga on September 7. The historic beer will be able to reprise its famous motto, 'Malagueña and Exquisita', some 21 years after the closure of its Malaga

base in 1996. The beer, owned by the Damm Group, will revive local production at the Velázquez Avenue factory - an investment of €6 million that will create 40 new jobs. The 3,374.26m2 premises has been designed by Gha-

na Architecture. The new brewery will have a space where visitors can learn the process of making Victoria step by step and taste it freshly made. There will also be a small museum dedicated to the beer’s provenance.

Rental woes Costs of renting

ONLY The 15% ofOlive young Press people in Malaga can afford far outpacing to leave beforeinthey TOPhome for news Spain! growth in reach the age of 30. It represents one of the low- house prices est figures in Andalucia, a region which in turn has one of the lowest figures in RENTAL prices in Spain Spain. are rising four times faster A typical young person than house prices. in Malaga earns €781 per New research has shown month, which compared rental costs have increased with average rental costs on average by 8% in Spain of €635 means they would in the first six months of have to spend 81% of their this year. salary on rent alone. Meanwhile property prices The bleak figures are made increased by only 2%. worse by the fact that 40% The average price of propof Malagueños under 30 are erty stood at 1,263 €/m2 unemployed. at the end of June. The re-

port paints a picture of a sustained recovery in the Spanish housing market. “All the data confirms a path of sustained growth nationally that began several quarters ago, although now more moderate and less intense than in previous quarters,” explains María Enríquez, at property consultancy firm Gesvalt. It comes as local residents across the country claim they are being priced out of their neighbourhoods by wealthy tourists who pay much higher than the average rent.

Lagoon life THE first crystal lagoon in Europe has officially opened. The new complex next to Estepona Golf Club covers 1.5 hectares and is three metres deep at its deepest point, allowing for sailing, canoeing, paddle surfing and more. The facilities will only be accessible to residents living on the adjoining urbanisation.

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Marques del Duero will also receive a new museum dedicated to the artist Vicente de Espona. The works have been awarded to company Obras Generales del Norte at a cost of

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Property of the Week

Malaga/Cuevas Bajas - VL797 54.950€ This single storey, corner villa is located in the bustling town of Cuevas Bajas close to all the local amenities municipal swimming pool, shops, bars and restaurants, with easy access to Cordoba, Malaga, Granada and Seville.

tel: +34 952 741 525 Calle de la Villa 14, 29532, Mollina, Malaga info@inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com

August 2nd - August 15th 2017 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

ALMOST 600,000 visitors stayed in hotels in Malaga city in the first half of this year. The 598,296 figure is a 4.6% increase on last year. It has been described by tourism councillor Julio Andrade as the best half-year since records began. He added that the increase is thanks to an increased demand from international markets. Some 356,434 of all visitors from January to June were from abroad, a 14.5% increase from 2016. Average hotel occupancy in the city throughout the period was 2% higher than last year at 75.07%.

Sales expected to break 500,000 barrier for first time in 13 years HOME sales in Spain are expected to be 10% higher than last year. The research division of Spanish bank BBVA forecasts that they will break through the 500,000 barrier for the first time since the crash. BBVA say they have upped their home sales forecast by 3% since their last report on the Spanish prop-

Healthy boom

erty market because of the improving job market at home, continued low interest rates, and the improving EU economy. The Spanish property market has recovered well so far this year, with

sales up 14.5% to 213,074 transactions in the first five months of the year, promising another year of growth. This will be the fourth consecutive year of growth since the market touched

Rejected EIGHT municipalities in Malaga have seen their applications for EU funding rejected. It comes after the likes of Ronda, Marbella and Torremolinos applied for tens of millions of euros from the European Strategies for Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development funds (Edusi). Ronda was asking for €5 million to upgrade its historic centre. Torremolinos wanted €10 million to part-pedestrianise its town centre, while Marbella and Benalmadena wanted €15 million each for several projects aimed at improving mobility, energy saving and the restoration of Roman remains. All municipalities can apply again in the autumn, but they will be competing with towns from across the country.

bottom in 2013 with just 300,000 homes sold that year. BBVA forecast that house prices will rise 3% on average this year to 1,570 €/ m2, bringing them back to where they were 13 years ago in 2004. Commentators point out that the increase won’t be uniform, with prices rising faster in some hot local markets, whilst continuing to fall in other areas. BBVA also forecast that new home building will continue to recover this year, with 80,000 planning approvals, up 20% on last year, and that residential investment will drive almost 10% of Spain’s economic growth in 2017. BBVA have scoffed at suggestions of another house price bubble inflating. “During the crisis house prices fell 35%, and in the last three years they have increased by 5%,” said an economist at BBVA Research.

Pedestrianisation peril RESIDENTS have blasted the San Pedro pedestrianisation scheme after an elderly man reportedly became the second person to be injured during the upheaval. Local resident Jose Duran posted pictures of the man on Facebook on Thursday. ‘Another accident in the blissful reform of the marquis de duero street,’ he wrote. ‘The unfortunate man has fallen off his electric chair and into a ditch after losing control when wheels got stuck in one of the many small and large holes. ‘He didn’t kill himself, though it looks like he broke something in one arm.’ Emergency services can be seen attending to the man, who has had his arm placed in a sling. Local sources have told the Olive Press he was taken to Costa del Sol Hospital. ‘How long will this take?’ asks Duran.

EXCLUSIVE

‘When are the authorities going to take action? What are the local police doing? Do the Deputy Mayor and the rest the town hall’s officers not walk around the area?’ The works in San Pedro began in January of this year and will see €2 million invested into renovating its town centre. The aim is to semi-pedestrianise the areas between the town and the boulevard, making the latter more accessible. Planned in Marques del Duero, pavement, street furniture and signage will be renewed, as well as the entire sanitation network, telecommunications infrastructure and natural gas distribution network. There will also be a new public lighting, irrigation and electricity. Street parking will be eliminated, making the area more pedestrian-friendly once the sidewalks have been widened.

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IT’S official. The Costa del Sol is the cheapest holiday destination in Europe. A major study found a jolly on Spain’s southern coast was less than half the price of rival hotspot Ibiza and even outpriced notoriously cheap Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.

Europe’s cheapest holiday hotspots revealed

The sum total of the items, which included ice cream, sun-lounger rental and a banana boat ride, reached just £77.23 on the Costa del Sol. It was followed by Sunny Beach on £80.57 and the Costa Blanca on £95.16.

Bad for business

having a positive impact.

The poll conducted for the newspaper by consulting firm Deloitte surveyed 265 companies which employ more than 800,000 individuals and have combined turnover of over €1 billion. The tourism sector is particulary concerned about secession's negative impacts, as Catalonia's beaches are a popular destination for many European visitors. Three out of four hoteliers perceive the push for independence as hurting their business. The tourist sector accounts for 11% of Spain's and 12% of Catalonia's GDP.

AGONY Property ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Not im-pressed

National press slams Marbella’s growing ‘trash and noise tourism’

lerted by groups of neighbours suffering from a small number of establishments throwing endless daytime parties with blasting music, Spanish national TV press has taken at interest in Marbella’s night, as well as day, party life. Among the venues investigated is a hotel, located close to Marbella, that runs like a de facto day disco. But also clubs that are offering unlawful live concerts with expensive DJs and similar functions. The Andalusian Ombudsman already sent a threat in the form of an extensive report to all town halls in Andalucia reminding licensing department officials in charge of supervising summer clubs, open air discos and other infringing establishments that they are likely to be prosecuted criminally if they grant music licenses in breach of Decree 78/2002 of Andalucia. According to the Ombudsman’s report, except for occasional or exceptional concerts or recreational activities for the public, music in Andalusia can only be played in private establishments catalogued as ‘bars or pubs’ or ‘discotheques/night clubs’, with adequate soundproofing, and always within the premises - never outside. Besides these cases, it is illegal for a town hall to grant permissions, licenses or authorizations for music to be played in day bars, pools, restaurants or hotels. There are serious fears that Marbella becomes a stag-and-hen-party destina-

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

What they costa

BE ‘APPY! SPANISH oil giant Repsol has been forced to cease drilling in a disputed part of the South China sea. It comes after a plea from China’s Foreign Ministry. The area being developed by Repsol, in cooperaFavourite Download our app now tion with Vietnam, is and in- The UK’s Post Office enjoying Spanish side a begin large area the of best ocean Travel Supermarket study claimed byonChina, news the go. which it compared the price of 10 says overlaps its oil con- items in 15 holiday desticessions. nations which are a favourite with Brits, including Ordered the Costa Blanca, MallorRepsol has been ordered ca, Portugal’s Algarve and to leave the area, accord- Greece’s Crete. ing to a BBC source, just days after the company The Olive Press had confirmed the existence of a major gas field. TOP has for news in Spain! Beijing indisputBUSINESS leaders think Catalonia's able sovereignty over the bid for independence is negatively afSpratly Islands as well as fecting the economy. jurisdiction over the relThree out of four directors of Spanish evant waters and seabed, companies believe the push is provaccording to Foreign Mining detrimental to the national econistry spokesman Lu Kang. omy, a poll published in the Spanish “China urges the relevant Newspaper El Pais has revealed. party to cease the relevant Meanwhile within Catalonia, the unilateral infringing acshare of respondents who held this tivities and with practiview was 43%. cal actions safeguard the Some 20% of national respondents hard-earned positive situbelieved the referendum bid was not affecting the national economy, while ation in the South China 1% of respondents believed it was Sea,” he said at a briefing.

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Mallorca’s Palma Nova and Ibiza helped round off the list with £126.77 and £176.70 respectively. The study showed a huge difference in food costs, with a three-course evening meal on the Andalucian coast costing just £40.60, compared to £112.39 in Ibiza and £77.77 in Mallorca.

Expensive

The most expensive destination was Italy’s Sorrento, where a three-course evening meal would set you back £133.07. Prices across the board have increased by 9.8% on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, and by a whopping 23.6% and 25.6% on Mallorca and Ibiza respectively. Meanwhile, second-placed Sunny Beach in Bulgaria only saw a price increase of 2.6% on last year.

News IN BRIEF

Inequality bypassed ACCORDING to a Caritas study, about 70% of Spain’s poorest neighborhoods have not felt the economic recovery.

Going backwards SPAIN has warned Catalonia that independence will cause its unemployment rate to double.

Bankia THE economy minister has stated Spain is considering selling more of national bank Bankia.

Ronaldo CRISTIANO Ronaldo has begun court proceedings following a state prosecution accusation that he has defrauded the tax office of €14 million.

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tion and national press has picked up on this, Cuatro Television national TV station among them, who sent a crew to film scenes not dissimilar to those regularly taking place in resorts such as Mallorca, Magaluf. Illegal parties were also filmed and will be exposed on the tv channel.

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business

Taking off TENS of thousands of UK travellers were jetting off on their annual breaks today at the start of the school summer holidays – with most of them heading for Spain. Britain is expecting its busiest ever day in the skies with more than 9,000 planes passing through British airspace over the next 24 hours. In the UK alone, nearly 148,000 holidaymakers are set to fly to or from easyJet’s UK airports on almost 1000 flights. The airline was breaking the record for peak summer travel day.

VUELING has received a €340,000 fine after passengers were hit by cancellations and delays. In the past year, some 191,000 passengers were affected by problems on flights to and from airports on the Balearic Islands. The regional government slapped the charge on the airline after 66.4% of Vueling’s 2,411 flights suffered some form of delay or cancellation. Vueling had committed a ‘very serious offence if we bear in mind the number of people affected and the airline’s dominant position in the market’, according to government minister Patricia Gómez. The company was given a €320,000 fine for the delays and cancellations and a further €20,000 fine for ‘repeatedly ignoring requests for information needed to clear up the facts’. “[Vueling] has violated the Consumer Protection Law by its widespread non-compliance of the air transport contracts signed with the passengers of the Balearic Islands,” he said.

by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

What to expect when buying a mortgage in Spain as a non-resident

Great expectations

And Mallorca, Malaga, Alicante and Faro tops the company’s list of favourite sunshine destinations. And there was good news for parents who find it difficult to keep their kids occupied during the flight. In a new initiative, the airline is giving books to youngsters to read during the journey. The airline welcomed more than 264,500 customers travelling on 1,700 flights across its network. This compares to 2016’s peak summer travel day on September 2 when more than 255,000 customers took to the skies. Sophie Dekkers, easyJet’s UK Country Director said: “Year after year the summer getaway continues to grow and this year is no exception. “For the 750,000 families flying with us over the course of the summer break our new onboard Flybraries will entertain the children whilst at the same time encourage kids to get hooked on a book, so look out for the children’s classics in seatback pockets.”

• Expect to provide a credit rating Non-residents are usually required to provide a credit rating from their country of origin or residency. These are provided by Experian in the UK. The origin of any funds the buyer contributes to the purchase has to be accounted for. This is due to efforts by authorities to combat money laundering. • Expect to translate all documentation Fotunately, in most cases the only docuemntation that needs to be translated are those associated with a foreign company buying the property, and in this case they will also require the Hague Apostille, an international authentication similar to a notarization. This can be sent by email to the bank for confirmation, but the contract must be signed by the interested party or by a legal proxy. If you’re a non-resident foreigner, you should request a NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) at a police station or in a Spanish embassy or consulate, or give your lawyer power of attorney to do the same. • Expect to pay 3% tax when you sell the property Taking out a mortgage in Spain does not grant you residency. This means non-residents will be subject to the same legislation as Spaniards, but will have to declare the property bought in Spain on their tax return at home. When non-residents sell their property, they will have to pay 3% of the value to the Spanish tax office in lieu of capital gains tax. Any over-payment in this regard is returned once the correct amount of this tax is calculated by the tax office.

UYING a property in Spain for non-residents can be difficult, but not impossible. Some Spanish banks may not lend money to people living abroad, whether they be Spaniards or Brits, but many others will. It is important to know the ins and outs when borrowing to avoid unpleasant surprises. Expect to pay more Non-resident expats will pay higher interest rates than those with resident status. Fixed-rate mortgage typically start around 2.75% for 20 years. With a variable rate, you can expect the margin added to the Euribor index to be between 1.1% and 1.25%. Non-residents pay higher interest rates because they are buying a second home and will find it harder to meet some conditions that could reduce costs, such as having a bankassociated life insurance or a salary that gets paid into the bank. • Expect a 20-year, fixed-rate mortgage Banks like to give fixed rates to help ensure the amount the purchaser repays is steady. This helps offset uncertainty and reduces risk later on. The usual maximum repayment period for non-residents is 20 years while non-residents can extend it to up to 40 years. • Expect to be lent less money Even though as a rule, a mortgage should not be more than 70% of the value of the property, residents in Spain are often able to borrow up to 100%. In the case of non-residents, the figure is usually around 80%, and 100% in certain cases. This is because in the event of non-repayment, the bank’s only guarantee is the property itself.

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

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Fashion king

ZARA owner Amancio Ortega has been named as the second-richest retailer in the world for 2017. The son of a railway worker and housemaid left school at 14 and steadily built up his company Inditex into the world’s biggest clothes retailer, with annual sales of nearly €22bn in the year to January 2017. He sits behind Amazon boss Jeff Bezos on the RetailWeek list, who has a networth of €71 billion compared to Ortega’s €70.4 billion. The group now has more than 7,000 outlets in 88 countries. Ortega started working in a clothes shop in La Coruna when he was only just into his teens. By his early 20s he was making bathrobes with his siblings and the woman who would become his wife, Rosalia Mera. After opening his first Zara

Bad rates HOLIDAYMAKERS embarking on their summer holiday on the busiest day of the year last month were stung by dismal exchange rates, with one bureau de change offering just €0.88 to the pound. The pound’s slump in the wake of David Davis’s announcement that Brexit would go ahead whether or not a trade deal was in place with the EU delivered sterling’s worst rate against the euro this year, down to €1.11. The low market value allowed airport currency exchanges to sell euros at a pitiful rate, with the Forexchange at Cardiff Airport offering walk-up rates of just 88 cents, one of the worst ever seen. Other airports provided little better, with Birmingham providing €0.96 to the pound, Moneycorp at Gatwick just €0.97 and ICE and Travelex at Heathrow a smidge over one euro at €1.01, according to currency analysts FairFX. The pound has climbed back slowly since it was announced the UK economy grew by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2017, up 0.1% on the first.

August 2nd - August 15th 2017 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Spanish retail king pipped to the post in ranking of richest retailers in the world

Outperforming

SPAIN’S economy is expected to grow much more than predicted by the IMF this year. The world banking institution had forecast growth of 2.6%, but it revised this to ‘at least’ 3.1%. Strong consumption, investment and exports have helped to keep Spain’s four-year economic recovery on track. The country’s gross domestic product also likely surpassed its pre-crisis level in the second quarter of this year, according to the IMF. But the body added that Spain’s economy

could end up growing more than 3.1% in 2017, if momentum from past reforms accelerates more than expected. Spain restructured its banking sector and made tweaks to its labor laws several years ago to try to boost growth after the country plunged into recession when a building boom went bust. The IMF called on Spanish authorities to take advantage of robust economic growth to focus on chipping away at public debt, which remains high at around 100% of GDP.

store with his partner and late brother in 1975, Ortega went on to build a fashion empire which continues to expand strongly even as he now takes a back seat. Inditex, which includes Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius, owes its success to multiple refinements of its range through the year. By manufacturing more than half of its clothing in Europe and North Africa, it can get its products, designed at its headquarters, into stores in just three weeks. This fast fashion was allied with a 100% bonus scheme for store managers hitting sales targets. The result has been a potent retail force. Inditex floated on the Madrid stock market in 2001 and Ortega retains a near 59% stake, worth €61bn, in the business. He is the third richest man in the world.

Cheers to that! MAHOU San Miguel has invested €3.7 million into its Malaga brewery. The figure is a 76.2% increase on last year, and includes 31 projects aimed at maximizing its sustainability, efficiency and ‘operational reliability’. The upgrades will see the renovation of a bottle washer, the improvement of its internal communication networks and different projects of industrial efficiency that incorporate the most modern technology. Mahou San Miguel has already improved its environmental impact by reducing its water consumption by 19% and its energy consumption by 21.5% since 2000, as well as reducing its CO2 emissions by 52%. The plant, which has an area of 60,000 square meters, produces 2.5 million hectoliters of beer per year. “We have shared with Málaga more than half a century of history and we have made a constant effort to continue improving our facilities year after year as a way to materialize our contribution to the generation of wealth in a key region for the whole country,” says José Manuel Huesa, director of the Mahou San Miguel Production Center in Malaga. “In the last decade, we have allocated €32 million to equip this plant with the most advanced technology, placing it at the forefront of the sector at the national level.”

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Anything but a dump

Mogul’s Marbella TV debut

PAGE III

Tivoli world makeover

PAGE V

A dedicated Spanish architect has spent more than 30 years turning a rundown cement factory into his perfect home and office space

Page XI

BAD PRACTICE

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I’m backing British expats ALBERT Rivera is giving his ‘total support’ to British migrants living in Spain. The Ciudadanos leader told the Olive Press he realised the importance of British expats and tourists on the costas. In the week Brexit is being invoked, he promised to back our rights to stay here. He later told a rally in Mijas he was going to be fighting corruption in Andalucia over the coming years and hoped to bring a train line to the coast. BACKING BRITS, PAGE 9

T is a practice that most property professionals had hoped was a thing of the past. But Olive Press Property can reveal that tionable practice of charging buyers the ethically quesrearing its head again on the Costa del as well as sellers is Sol. According to sources, at least two agents in the Marbella area have recently stung their buyers with bills of up to 5%. scene’, especially when you consider The so called ‘finder’s fees’ are in addition from taking comhigh purchase taxes which are often inthey already have very mission from the seller. “We as agents are paid by the sellers excess of 10%. “It’s disgusting,” said Terra Meridiana’s and we never charge a fee to a buyer,” he said, “On the whole nothing wrong with finder’s fees if you Adam Neale, “I have very well as it is, without the need to start our industry works ent beforehand, but I have heard from agree it with the clicharging such high additional fees to buyers. We should certain agents are adding a 5% fee with several buyers that be encouraging them to invest here!” “It’s bad ethics and gives agents on the no prior warning. Costa del Sol a bad Ben Bateman of Holmes in Sotogrande name.” added he was aware of the practice happening ‘in a few cases’. Mike Smith, Chairman of Marbella-based “It is totally unethical and gives our business agreed that charging potential buyers First Choice Spain, a bad reputasuch fees was ‘obtion for sharp practices,” he said.

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EXCLUSIVE: Agents unite as some ‘bad apples’ are slapping finders fees on buyers without warning

“I have no objection to agents operating with a finder’s fee, but I do object when these so called without declaring from the outset that buyers bill both sides He added: “When unscrupulous agentsthey will be doing so.” abuse the system by adding extra amounts, the whole industry suffers. “Beware of this sharp practise.” Legal expert Antonio Flores added that such practises can be deemed illegal. “It is not illegal to have your commission with the agreement of the vendor,” he built into the price, The problem is when an agent adds told the Olive Press. but does not tell the buyer or seller. a commission on top “This happens when the agent is the middle man and the parties are not in touch via their lawyers. This is actually a criminal offence.”

Granada’s new eco-village

PAGE XIV

Andalucia’s highest towns

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WHAT A PANE! Expats take legal action on double glazing firm over thousands of ‘missing’ euros

revealed that he was offered a €187 discount if he did a bank transfer immediately. “The man’s impossible to deal with,” said Jones, 69. “We could never get him again. “We have used another company now. I just want my money back from Ware.” Another victim, Pete Jones, paid Ware half of a €9,000 quote for bifold doors in his as deposits on contracts kitchen in October. that were never completed, After hearing nothing for some up to €20,000.” five weeks, Jones was told Kaiser, who lived in London by Ware via text that he was for 30 years, began work at having computer problems the Marbella-based compaand that work would start ny four years ago working ‘imminently’. as a salesman and on social “Of course, nothing hapmedia. pened,” said Jones. “Since However, it soon became then I have been constantly apparent that boss Vincent trying to contact him withJones, claims he never two patio doors in Estepona Ware, also 58, was not deout luck. heard from Ware again aflast October. livering what he promised. “I am sure, like others who ter transferring €2,000 for Jones, from Cheltenham, One victim, expat Graham have lost money, plea for there is very little Becky that can be done. “I think exposing his practices will at least help people in the future.” A HOMELESS couple towards a deposit for a By Chloe Glover One client, hotelier have received much needflat, which they are in the Andy Chapell, was plight last issue. ed financial help thanks to process of looking for. forced to go to court Kennedy, who runs the “If it wasn’t for groups an Olive Press story. to demand the reHelp the Homeless Costa Leslie and Paul Dunt, who and people like Joel, we turn of €800 paid del Sol Facebook page, were left sleeping between wouldn’t be as close to for a safety fence, said the money had been their car and a shed, have finding anywhere,” said which never arleft over from a recent been offered €500 by Paul. “We are very graterived. group fundraiser. good samaritan Joel Kenful for their generosity and Malaga Court ruled Paul will put the money nedy who read about their support.” DONOR: Joel

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

A WORD IN YOUR SHELL LIKE: Olive Press reporter Joe Duggan interviews Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera

March 29th - April 11th 2017

AN employee at a well known glass and windows company has come clean after dozens of clients complained about unfinished work. Expat Rudi Kaiser, 58, revealed that tens of thousands of euros of work has not been completed by his former firm Andalucia Glass & Steel. He admitted he ‘could not take it anymore’ after receiving a barrage of complaints and being cited in various court cases. “I have been tarnished by this company and I’m not happy about it,” the German told the Olive Press this week. “We are talking about large Lastpaid MARBELLA of money, amounts LANDMARK FOR ditch NEWS

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March 15th - March 28th 2017

CANCER BATTLER

MORE than 160,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org asking for a street in Marbella to be named after brave cancer sufferer Pablo Raez. The campaign has been set up in response to Raez's inspirational campaign to increase awareness, as well as the num-

ber of bone marrow donations. Raez sadly lost his battle to leukaemia in February, but not before launching a campaign that went viral, its aim being to increase donors from 230,000 to one million. The petition has now been submitted to Marbella mayor José Bernal. MISSED: Pablo Raez

Homeless plea 4

Eviction

“We are really grateful we have this hut for now, but it has no running water, electricity, heating or gas. “I’m really worried what effect living in these conditions will have on Paul’s health and my own,” she continued. The couple, who moved to Spain 15 years ago, had fallen into financial difficulties last year when Paul had to stop working when he had a pacemaker fitted following a heart attack. As he was unable to continue running his mobile car valeting service they quickly fell behind in the rent. “The heart attack left him dependent on crutches to walk which meant he couldn’t work for 18 months,” added Leslie. After receiving a letter in January from the landlord telling them he was taking them to court, they were evicted on March 7. “It was horrible to find police and bailiffs banging on our door telling us

We’ve got Andalucia covered

A DETERMINED expat is devastated after being told she cannot have the drug she has been campaigning for. Doctors told Coin resident Becky Baker, who has cystic fibrosis, she is now too ill to have the Orkambi drug, despite being well enough when she first requested it a year ago. It is the latest blow for Becky, 32, who spoke to the Olive Press last issue (see left) after Malaga’s Carlos Haya hospital, where she NEWS Br-exodus - as they is a patient, said she was no longer fight to leave UK!eligible for for a lung transplant due to having too low a lung function. She had been campaigning to have American drug Orkambi legalised in Spain, which thins mucus, to help Coast clear those with the progressive lung condition. “For the hospital to only say now I could have had the drug were I betback on your ter when I began to campaign to get Due money long ago is so gutting,” said Becky, originally from it so mortgage? Spanish Somerset. FREE family has ramped up its plea to find an alternative HerRISK Call us today - 952 78 03 38 treatment. 647 20 20 29 - NO FEEout there has any other suggestions for us or NO WIN “If anyone In association with... would like to fundraise to enable more research into CF that would be great,” said Becky’s mum, Sarah.

Olive Press story helps homeless couple March 1st -

www.theolivepress.es March offer

Long term expat couple need urgent help after being forced to live between their car and a hut

By Chloe Glover

A BRITISH couple have pleaded for help after eviction left them living between their car and a shed. Leslie and Paul Dunt are desperately hunting for somewhere to live for themselves and their 17 rescue dogs after being thrown out of their home in Coin. Paul, 56, who has a pacemaker, and Leslie, 63, who has a serious back problem, now fear for their health, as they struggle to survive on a small plot of land of a friend in Alora. “We can’t believe what’s happened,” said Leslie, who comes from east London.

SOUGHT: Boss Vincent Ware and (above) Rudi

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March 14th

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Drug plea

fibrosis believes Expat with cystic help save lives new pills could

of EU citizens THE numberUK actually inleaving the last year. By Chloe Glover creased by 17% the amount In the year of Brexit,to the EU or is pleading for of people returning increased A BRAVE expat denied a vital moving elsewhere help after being 103,000 in one operation. from 85,000 to lung transport who has cystic year. Becky Baker, revealed that relies on an New figures also fibrosis, currently as UK breathe. Spaniards registering oxygen mask to from Coin, is fell by 2,000. a residents also The 32-year-old, readers to get has been Meanwhile, there asking Olive Press campaign in the number sharp increase the country folbehind a nationwide new US of Brits leaving June 23 result to legalise a pioneering lowing the shock drug called Orkambi. for somelast year. She is also searching the Office for able to help her The figures from one who may bemedication. show that National Statisticsthe UK rose find alternative live,” said Becky, emigration from “I just want to Spain with her in 2015 to now and before by 9%, from 297,000 who moved to lungs. Becky Baker, from Burncluding my newa chance that I 323,000 in 2016. 20 BRAVE: mum Sarah Spencer Málaga to push in Somerset “If there was treatment or a Fibrosis Quística ham-on-Sea could get more UK I would go its legalisation. to years ago. campaigning stay alive every for transplant in the there is re“I’m fighting to life and am in “We’ve been for the past year back but the weather get it legalised single day of my to repair lungs and I don’t expensive costing ally bad for mybe here now if I’d WORK is underway constant pain. kilos (1.25 stone) and yes it’s patient per year…. wrecked by think I would Malaga beachesfloods. that “I’ve lost eight months alone, €120,000 per you consider stayed. it of any other last December’s will be spent in the last few pills a day and but when who are using “If anyone knows have to take 50 fed at night as some people to take their othA total of €4.1m may help I would sand and retreatment that have to be tubemany calories as now don’t needor stay in hospital them as I am on restoring of love to hear from at the mo- pairing the infrastructure er medication I’m burning so so high. from feeling very down my heart rate is Spanish doc- it’s not bad.” coastal areas stretching recently refused ment.” Spanish doctors “At the moment, a campaigning Manilva to the Axarquia. been a lung transplant, anything to help Becky, who has have already tors won’t do only keep me to give Becky See Off CF Spain, her main hope website called a fundraiser for Diggers sand from one stretch which had been me. They will hopes to launch cystic fibrosis moving to another in Estein of survival. stable. amyloidosis of beach which is legal Marina, research into more because I have “But Orkambi, that has been “It’s pona and at Casares cures. a as well,” said Becky. the US, is a drug both badly hit with Becky to even if I had lung function by To get in touchhelp, go to www. which were “They said that proven to boost too the confrom floods. find out how to of kidney transplant and would thinning mucus. it, as would lots seeoffcfspain.com dition would return organs, in“I’d love to try know here.” other other people I up with charity damage my She has teamed

Contact spencersarah46@yahoo.com or visit www.seeoffcfspain.com if you can help

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MAKESHIFT: Leslie and Paul are living between a Ford Fiesta and a hut

are desperate and don’t know what to do.” Their good samaritan, a local Spanish landowner, jumped in to help after seeing a plea a friend of theirs had posted on Facebook. He quickly offered blankets and dog food and allowed them to live in the hut on his land. “But now we need someand permanent thing would be over the moon if anyone out there could help us. “We almost have enough to pay a deposit and would find enough money somehow. “We just need a little help to get us over this hump. It is incredible how quickly you can fall here.”

to leave. “Fortunately we were able to move our belongings to

our neighbours’ houses temporarily and live in our Ford Fiesta, but we

Anyone able to help can contact Leslie and Paul via newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

Continues Page 4

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August 2nd - August 15th 2017 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Boom-tique Granada mechanics make luxury cars out of retro motors

BUSTED: Windscreen

Oh hail, no! HAILSTONES the size of golf balls rained down in the northeast of Spain last week, smashing through car windscreens. More than 25 litres of rain fell per square metre in just one hour, with Castellon, Tarragona and Teruel the worst affected regions. The massive pellets were reported to have caused extensive damage to cars, leaving windscreens with gaping holes. It is unclear whether anyone was injured in the latest summer storm to hit the country.

AN Andalucian mechanic is turning retro-inspired cars into spectacular luxury motors. Hurtan, based in Granada, has a team of ten workers who hand-build every car. It currently has two models in its lineup. The Author is a convertible that evokes pre-WorldWar-II automotive styling. The Route 44 uses a Fiat Ducato van (known in the United States as the Ram ProMaster) to create a spacious commercial vehicle with a retro face. The firm’s commercial director

Juan Ignacio Hurtado said the goal is to create ‘special cars for special people’. “The brand is born from my father’s passion for classic cars,” said Hurtado. “He is a bodybuilder by profession, working in the sixties at Seat, on projects such as the development of the Seat 800 and then different workshops in Granada. However, his idea was always to build his own vehicle. “We developed it little by little, in free time, until one day we took it to a fair, almost by chance, and we saw the potential that could have. “From there, we started to manufacture seriously.” By boutique vehicle standards, the Author is rather affordable with a starting price of €35,000 value-added tax.

STUNNING: Re-designed vintage cars

Fighting fire with hire MADRID’s transport officials are hiring hire more than 200 new staff to help reduce the risk of fires on buses. The new maintenance workers will begin working within the next year in an effort to prevent fires breaking out on the city’s fleet. It comes after nine vehicles have al-

ready burst into flames this year. Javier Herranz, from the UGT labour union, said that hiring these specialist workers is the first serious measure that Madrid City Hall has taken. However, he also stressed that it is ‘essential’ to speed up the purchase

of new buses. Pubic transport company, EMT, is set to reduce the average age of its fleet from 8.3 to 6.6 years. It will also incorporate automatic extinguishers throughout the whole fleet up from the nine buses that currently rely on them.

Hypo-carites BREXIT ministers have been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged they have been chauffeured around in a Spanish-built car. The Department for Exiting the European Union said it has been provided with two cars for its ministerial team since its creation in July last year. The car available to Brexit Secretary David Davis and his three ministerial colleagues was built in Spain, according to the department. Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “The ministers responsible for pushing through an extreme Brexit are being chauffeured around in a car imported from the EU. You couldn’t make it up. “If the Brexiteers have their way and we leave the single market, new cars imported from Europe will cost around £1,500 more. “The sad truth is it’s people across the country who will suffer most from an extreme Brexit, not these hypocritical Government ministers.”

Pop-up power

ELECTRIC car manufacturer Tesla has opened up a pop-up shop in Marbella. The American firm has opened a temporary store in Corte Ingles in Puerto Banus where Model S cars and Model X SUVs will be sold until August 31. Tesla said it chose Banus because it attracts more than 50,000 daily visitors during the summer and is located in a wealthy area. The port is the first stop for the Tesla on Tour programme across Southern Europe, which also includes the Algarve, Cannes in France, and Sardinia and

Toscana in Italy. Tesla has given assurances it wants to stay in the Spanish market, where it opened a store in Barcelona in De-

cember. That outlet in Catalunya seemed to be permanent but closed at the end of July.

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golf

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August 2nd - August 15th 2017 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Golf for it!

Appy days for la manga

That’s not my name

COSTA del Sol golf courses have been selected to host more world-famous championships in the next year. The Costa del Golf will once again be holding the European Circuit, the Andalucia Valderrama Masters and the Women’s Spain Open. Together with the Match Play Andalusia Challenge, they will be the most important events to be held in the region. The Costa del Golf boasts more than 70 courses which are open almost 365 days a

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On course

Blind date? Don´t let your smile let you down.

Winner again RAFAEL Cabrera-Bello has won his first european Tour title in more than five years. The Spaniard beat Brit Callum Shinkwin in a playoff at the Scottish Open, having birdied the two final holes in an eight-under-par course record of 64. Shinkwin took four shots from the edge of the green to tie with Cabrera-Bello, 33, on 13 under par overall. When the two returned in the play-off, Cabrera-Bello set up a tap-in birdie to seal the third Tour title of his career. He said: “I’ve won before and I have been up there so many, many times, and things not really working out for myself. I was starting to feel a little bit of pressure every time I was up there contending. “So, really, really happy how I played today. I mean, in the play-off, I really gave it a go and extremely pleased it worked out for me.”

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Food, drink & travel August 2nd - August 15th 2017

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com New craft brewery opens on the Costa del Sol A NEW craft brewery has opened in Marbella. Located on Avenida Ramon y Cajal on the edge of the Old Town, Noisy Budgie offers one of the widest array of craft beers, gourmet tapas and cocktails. The team have selected their top craft beers from Spain and across Europe and will be launching their own range of five new and exciting craft beers this year. The bar will feature beer sampler paddles, where customers can try small glasses of four different beers. “Being able to sample lots of different beers in small

Cheers to that!

Wine truce AGRICULTURAL ministers from Spain and France have met for talks in a bid to reduce tensions in the ongoing ‘wine war’. The ministers met on July 25 in Paris to discuss the ongoing grievances brought by French wine producers, which flared up last year after it emerged many French supermarkets were choosing to sell cheap Spanish wine instead of supporting local French varieties, thanks to Spain’s lower prices of labour and land. The meeting comes after the creation of a mixed FrenchSpanish committee on the issue, with producers from both sides apparently trying to work together since May this year.

quantities is the perfect introduction to craft beer and allows customers to find their favourite blend,” owner Brian Coldwell told the Olive Press. All the beers will be paired with gourmet tapas which complement their flavour profiles. The bar also has a dedicated cocktail bar, with an expert mixologist creating exciting and innovative cocktails as well as the classics. Caldwell added: “It has been a long held dream to open a bar selling the best craft beer, food and cocktails, along with great service. We are very excited to be bringing this new concept to Marbella and we look forward to sharing our favourite craft beers with the masses.” The bar will be open from 10am to 2am seven days a week. Call 952 77 78 69 to reserve a table, to find out more visit www.noisybudgie.net

“

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T’S hard to picture summer without the accompanying image of a condensation-coated glass, filled to the brim with ice-cold beer and placed beside a plate of tapas. Seeing that Spain is Europe’s fourth largest beer producer, right behind Germany, the UK and Poland, and that the average Spaniard consumes anywhere from 46 to 86 litres of it per year, it seems that most inhabitants of Spain would not disagree with this statement.

Food, drink & travel 44

MAPPED: Where each beer dominates in Spain by sales

Emperor

Beer’s introduction here is usually attributed to Roman Emperor Charles V, who gained power of Spain in 1516. Charles hailed from the ale-drinking nation of Flanders (modern-day Belgium). So that he could continue to enjoy beer in a country that strongly favored wine, he ordered brew masters to accompany him to Spain, and even had a brewery opened along the Manzanares’ River. His son Philip II opened more breweries when he came to power after his father’s death. Yet despite the growing industry, the beverage remained widely unpopular. Some historians attributed its lack of favour to the people’s dislike of the emperor; others said that it remained runner-up to wine because wine was tastier and cheap. The beer downer continued until around the

20th century, when major breweries such as Aguila, Cruzcampo and Damm began opening. Beer became cheaper than wine, and the emperor’s strange choice of beverage became the staple and beloved cerveza of Spain. The word cerveza comes from the GalloRoman word cerevisia, which was meant to honor the Roman Goddess of the harvest, Ceres. In Spain, cervesa has different names depending on the glass it is served in. A caña is a small glass often served with tapas, the idea being that the beer won’t be warm by the time you are done drinking it. If you have a stronger thirst, you can order a tubo, a tall, thin glass, or a pinta, pint.

August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Don’t worry, be hoppy! Danielle Fortuna dons her beer goggles to tap into the brewtiful history of Spanish cerveza

What is poured into the glass also differs, depending what region you are in. In Spain, the beer industry is dominated by brewer-

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ies such as Heineken España, Mahou-San Miguel, Damm, Hijos de Rivera, Alhambra and Ambar. If you are walking along the streets of any town in Andalucia, you’ll be very unlikely not to encounter at least one Cruzcampo sign hanging above a restaurant doorway. Cruzcampo, a Heineken España product, dominates in Southern Spain. Mahou is prominent in Castilla, while San Miguel claims the market in the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, the Basque region and Navarra. Ambar is popular in Aragon, Estrella Damm in Catalonia and Estrella Galicia in Galicia. Raise your glasses as we take a pub crawl through Spain’s top breweries.

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August 2nd - August 15th 2017

IF you have a thirst for something more adventurous than a brewery tour but still want to taste Spain’s speciality tipples, why not hop on a beer bike? The activity is exactly as it sounds; you sit on a communal bike that doubles as a bar, and enjoy different types of beer while pedalling through the city, quenching your thirst in the cooling breeze. You can find them in Tarifa, Sevilla and Granada this summer, and in Cordoba during September. If that sounds too much like hard work, many food and tapa tours in Malaga and Granada include beer tastings where you can enjoy your cerveza at a more chilled pace. Salud!

This Sevilla-based brewery, also with a footprint in Jaen, has been owned by Dutch brewmasters Heineken since 1991, and is the biggest-selling beer in Spain, as well as one of the top selling brands in Europe. Founded in 1904 by two brothers, the name came from the phrase, la cruz del campo, which means ‘the cross of the field’, and refers to the location of the first factory. A very popular choice in Andalucia, this company was the first to produce a cerveza sin - beer without alcohol. Their latest product is a malty premium Gran Reserva 1904 (6.4%), which costs €2.50.

MahouSan Miguel This company was born in the fields of Manila, where Spanish Monks brewed it in the San Miguel district of the Philippines’ capital. In 1957, a Spanish businessman bought the rights to the beer and started producing it in Spain, where it became part of the Mahou-San Miguel Group. Now widely popular, this company controls 30% of the Spanish market. In 2004, they introduced the first organic beer to Spain, San Miguel ECO, and also have an apple, alcohol-free beer. The San Miguel factory in Malaga even welcomes visitors to make an appointment and experience the brewery for themselves. Their highest ranked products are the Mahou Maestra (7.5%) at €2, and the San Miguel 1516 (4.2%) at €0.80.

Alhambra As you probably guessed by the name, this beer originates from Granada, its two lions symbol referencing the Patio de los Leones at the Alhambra Palace. Partly owned by Andalucia’s first independent brewery, Alhambra SL, and now by Mahou-San Miguel, its Cordoba factory boasts a production of 60,000 cans per hour. Alhambra even dedicated a red ‘Abbey’ beer to the city of Cordoba, called the Mezquita (7.2%), which sells for about €2. The Alhambra 1925 (6.4%) was featured as one of Spain’s best beers, costing €1 and available in most supermarkets.

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Wheel ale

Cruzcampo

HAVE YOU VISITED August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Damm Founded in 1876 by August Küntzmann after he and his wife fled Alsace and the Franco-Prussian War, this lager-producing company is based in Barcelona, and is the oldest in Spain. The beer they brewed was lighter than central European ales and more suitable to the warmer, Mediterranean climate. Now the most dominant brand in Catalonia, Damm’s Inedit (4.8%), priced at €3.95, and Vall-Damm Doble Malta (7.2%), priced at €1.10, are two of Spain’s highest-rated beers.

YES

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CONTACT MOLINO DEL SANTO SOON TO PLAN YOUR NEXT VISIT.

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Hijos de Rive-

ra (Estrella Galicia)

Not to be confused with Estrella Damm, this completely family-owned business was started in 1906 by Jose Maria Rivera Corral after he returned to La Coruña from his travels in Cuba and Mexico. Unsurprisingly, this beer dominates the market in the Galicia area. One of their topranked tipples is Estrella Galicia 1906 (6.5%, €0.80), a malt-flavored beer with toffee, flower and herb undertones, which was created to commemorate the company’s anniversary.

La Zaragozana Group (Ambar) Aragon’s abundant barley inspired a group of friends to set up this brewery in 1900. They then took it on a promotional tour, after which it became well-known in London and Paris as well as Madrid. Today, the Ambar Export Tres Maltas (7%), an extra lager priced at €0.90, is considered one of the top beers in Spain. Based in Zaragoza, the brewery always welcomes guests, inviting them to see and enjoy this ‘live museum of beer’.

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46 46

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restaurant | lunch and dinner

46 46 How to avoid the heat, the crowds and the madness

UMMERTIME and the livin’ ain’t easy, to misquote Ella Fitzgerald. It’s that point in the year when we jaded residents mutter the expletive, ‘tourists!’ and go to ground, only emerging for the weekly Mercadona shop.

Columnists

August 2nd - August 15th 2017 August 2nd - August 15th 2017

Escaping August better ones:

Squeezing

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For ten months of the year we have the paseos, parks and parking spaces almost to ourselves. Then suddenly half of Spain, his wife, their kids and two sets of abuelos are squeezing into the family Seat and heading for the Costas, where an international crowd has already established a beachhead stretching from Nerja to Gibraltar and round the corner into the Atlantic. It’s a wonder the entire litoral doesn’t sink under a scum of suntan oil and stressed plumbing. From now until September 15, when the tide of visiting Spanish retreats like bathwater gurgling down

GO TO THE MOVIES ‘Screen’ yourself from dazzling UV rays in the dark, air-conditioned depths of your local cinema and escape the reality of August. You can take chilled wine and cava into the one in Puerto Banus. Mine (on the less-palatial Los Barrios industrial estate) is so quiet it’s like attending your own private premier.

the plughole, those of us who haven’t gone off to Galica – quite ‘The Thing’ among savvy locals down here – will be praying for

the speedy advent of that auspicious date; and going to church isn’t a bad idea, if you want sepulchral cool and quiet. But here are five

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A racy weekend among the Who’s Who of F1

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 12.00 til 22.30 Kitchen closed 15.30 til 19.00 Sunday 12.00 til 16.00 Closed on Monday Reservations: elgarden2016@gmail.com

WAS back in the UK last month for the British Grand Prix. Regular readers of my witterings will know that one of the great jokes of the universe is my somewhat disastrous relationship with cars – I've been through four in less than three years, and car number five, the inappropriately-named Felicia, is making terminal-sounding noises as the ITV approaches, while The Tank is now only used to tackle the track to get to the Casita. This is especially ironic as, back in the 60s and 70s my father was an international racing and rally driver of some repute, competing in a variety of exotic cars in classic events such as Le Mans 24 hours, the Targa Florio and even the World Cup Rally in 1970, racing pretty much non stop from London to Mexico. (They were 13th when they hit a huge rock 13,000 feet up in the Andes and that was game over). Dad was sponsored by JCB, which also lead to Lord Bamford becoming my Godfather (I haven't received a birthday present from him since I was about 12, so I'm hoping he'll make up soon with a really big one. A yacht would be nice.) In recognition of his achievements, Dad was also invited to become a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), which is basically a Who's Who of British motorsport and includes Sir Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Lewis Hamilton as members. The BRDC also own Silverstone Circuit and have two fantastic clubhouses there, complete with all the racing memorabilia a petrol-

head like me could wish for, though the portrait of playboy world champion and sometime Marbella resident James Hunt beaming down on the stairs did raise a wry smile. As a BRDC member and guest (me) we had passes to most areas during the weekend, even getting a pit walkabout on the Friday afternoon for a closer look. I grabbed a picture in front of Carlos Sainz's car, though the drivers had retreated to the massive motorhomes in the paddock. On the Saturday I brazened out a cold qualifying in the stands, enjoying the cheers when Fernando Alonso briefly topped the timesheets, and when Lewis took pole. Then it was back to the clubhouse for tea and overpriced catering (No change from ten pounds for a coffee and a Thai Style sandwich) and to watch Wimbledon on the big screen. The Grand Prix itself was pretty much perfect, with Lewis speeding to victory from the start, and rival Vettel finishing down the order with a late puncture to huge cheers. Afterwards we had sandwiches on the lawn (brought in from Waitrose this time) and watched Federer effortlessly win an eighth title. As I always do at races I became as excited as a four-year-old by the sights, sounds and sheer speed of the F1 cars and the only change I noticed was in the conversations of my Dad and his racing mates. When once they talked about bits dropping off their racing cars, now the talk was of bits dropping off them!!!

FIND A DESERTED BEACH On the Costa del Sol? Forget it. Even the sweeping Atlantic beaches of the Costa de la Luz are a secret nobody’s keeping. However the dunefringed sands edging Doñana National Park are still impressively virginal – although you’ll have to pee in the sea and bring your own beach furniture and picnic. There are no services – to protect them from tourists. CHILL IN SEVILLE Yes, I have been to Andalucia’s capital city in August and no, I’m not mad (yet). The +40C noonday heat is positively the only drawback – and all the best restaurants have air conditioning outdoors and in. It’s an easy drive on fast roads as los Sevillanos are headed in the opposite direction, which means shorter queues for attractions and cheaper hotels. Splash out at the iconic Alfonso XIII, turn up the aircon, don’t venture out between 14.00 and 20.00 and everything will be cool. POSE AT THE POLO in Sotogrande. It’s mobbed on cup final days (although with a select set), and matches chukka off in the daytime when it’s still el scorchio but it’s worth the sweat for the gladiatorial thrills. And after sunset, the vibe in the elegant white-tented village pitched between Santa Maria Polo Club’s mint-green fields is wonderfully chilled ... more so if you base yourself at the Grey Goose Vodka Ice Bar. STAY INDOORS The obvious choice for avoiding the heat, the crowds and the madness. I spent the first two weeks of July watching Wimbledon with a bowl of strawberries (from Huelva) chilling in the fridge and a pitcher of Pimms (from Morrisons) at my side; beats getting all het up in traffic and worrying that the Guardia Civil will haul you over at the next roundabout. Embrace it or escape it, here’s to August!

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Froome out for Spanish glory

Friday 17th - St. Patricks Day 2.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 4.00 pm 7.00pm 9.00pm 10.00pm

Cheltenham Races All Ireland GAA Club Finals 4€ Biddy Mulligan´s Golf Society Party Live Music with John Maddocks Ireland U20´s vs England U20´s Ireland Women vs England Women Live Music with Alan Shiels

t r a d i t i o n a l

St. PATRICKS DAY menu served all day

Guinness, Kilkenny, Magners €4 St Patricks Day Shots €2

KickedFACEoff PAINTING

saturday 18th - 6 Nations Final Day

THE boss Spain’s 1.30pmof Scotland vs Italyfootball 3.45pmhas France vs Wales federation been arrested 6.00pm Ireland vs England after an9.30pm in-depth corruption Live Music with Layla investigation. Sunday 19th - Premier League Angel Maria Villar, president 1.00pm Middlesbrough vs Man Utd Spurs vs Southampton of Real3.15pm Federacion Espanola 5.30pm Man City vs Liverpool 9.30pm(RFEF), Live Music with Murray de Futbol hasSean been charged with misappropriation, Check out our Facebook page for our Virtual Tour, corruption andSpecial misrepresenOffers, Whats Coming Up tation. Villar, who is also a BiddysLaCala seBiddy Mulligans Tel: 952 494 877 nior vice-president at Fifa and Uefa, was arrested last Tuesday morning along with his son Gorka and three other federation executives. The Guardia Civil said the football officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters.

On the Ron? CRISTIANO Ronaldo has denied hiding millions of euros from Spain’s tax authorities. The Real Madrid star was appearing at a Spanish court where he has been charged with tax evasion. He is accused of not declaring €14.7 million earned from image rights. "I have never hidden anything, nor have I had the intention of evading taxes," Ronaldo, 32, said. "I always voluntarily file my tax returns because I think we all must file a return and pay taxes according to our income. “Those that know me, know what I ask my advisors: that they have everything up to date and properly paid, because I don't want problems." The four-times world player of the year is accused of evading tax via companies based in the British Virgin Islands and Ireland. Judge Monica Gomez Ferrer will now decide if the case should go to trial.

Nadal No.1? RAFAEL Nadal is eyeing up the number-one spot in the tennis rankings. The Mallorcan maestro saw Roger Federer bag his 19th Grand Slam with victory at Wimbledon. But Nadal, who secured his 10th French Open win in May, is ready to do battle with his old rival to regain top spot in the world rankings. “It’s true that we (Roger and I) are better prepared to compete for nice things at the end of the year but it depends on what we’re able to do from now until the end of the year. We’ll have to wait and see,” said Nadal. “The person who will be able to keep his high level for a longer period of time will have more options to fight for the world No 1 ranking. “But the same can be said of Murray, and many others who are up there. Maybe they haven’t had the best six months this year but they are also candidates.”

Coutinho for Camp Nou? BARCELONA are closing in on Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho. Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly denied the Brazilian maestro is set to team up with ex-Kop ace Luis Suarez. But with Coutinho's contract running until 2022 with no get-out clause Liverpool could be tempted to cash in on the €90 million-rated Brazilian. However, Barcelona striker Neymar is eyeing up a move to Paris St Germain and is rumoured to have begged fellow Brazilian international Coutinho to join him there. The pair have been firm friends since they were 14 years old.

Tour de France champ wants to secure Vuelta a Espana CHRIS Froome says he is going to the Vuelta a Espana with ‘a sense of mission’. The four-times Tour De France winner secured his fourth yellow jersey in glorious style in Paris last month. And now the Team Sky leader is preparing for the gruelling Spanish grand tour as he bids to become only the third rider in history to win both races in one season. "Previous years, the Vuelta felt like an afterthought. This year we've thought about it a lot. We're going there with a sense of mission and I just want to have a real shot at it," Froome said. Froome also revealed the pain he endured during some the toughest stages of his year’s Tour de France.

During Stage 12 to Peyragudes, Froome faded badly and lost 22 seconds, with the British rider blaming his lapse on failing to eat properly in preceding days. “The legs felt good, the power was there but I had a fuelling problem. My mistake wasn't on that day but in the buildup to it," Froome said. "We'd done two flat stages before Peyragudes and I'd eaten less than I should have. That had a knock-on effect even though on the mountain day itself I ate plenty. “You learn lessons in every Tour and that was an important one for me. From Peyragudes to Paris I didn't stop eating and ended weighing almost 1.5kg more than I'd been at the start of the race."

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Vol. 11 Issue 271

Lynx homecoming

FINAL WORDS

A 14-year-old lynx has been returned to his home at a breeding center in Donana National Park after a month in the wild following the June forest fire.

Shock defeat SPAIN’S Women’s Football Team drew 1-1 away against Scotland after a shock 1-0 defeat to the same side last week.

Tortilla trouble SIMON Manley, UK’s ambassador to Spain, created a ‘British’ version of the Spanish tortilla to the horror of food show El Comidista host Mikel Iturriaga.

Marbella officials fed up of boozy Brit holidaymakers causing havoc MARBELLA tourism chiefs are cracking down on ‘savage’ Brit tourists. Under new rules, revellers who exhibit drunk and disorderly behaviour could could be slapped with hefty fines. To nip the problem in the bud, they have threatened to revoke licences from businesses which encourage the unruly behaviour. Security official Javier Por-

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‘Brits are savages’ cuna (pictured top left) said in a press conference last month: “We are not talking about controls which go further than what the council can do, but there are types of licences which are absolutely discretionary and we will assess if they are contributing to the im-

provement of the Puerto Banus ‘product’ or if they are taking a step backwards.” Tourism professor Josep-Francesc Valls, from ESADE Business School, condemned those who walk around without a shirt or in a bathing suit and cause damage to the

streets during drunken brawls. He added that such ‘acts of savagery’ must be punished if Spain’s tourist destinations are to thrive. Many blame the increasingly low priced flights and holidays to Marbella and nearby Puerto Banus.

Sounds fishy SCIENTISTS are toying with the idea of a sunscreen made of DNA. And it’s main ingredient might not sound appealing to every beach goer - salmon sperm. The brains behind the idea realised if they placed a layer of DNA over the skin to act almost like a second skin, the sun would damage the DNA in this superficial layer, leaving the skin beneath protected. They also found that over time, the solution gets better at reflecting the UV light. As an added benefit, the solution acts as a moisturizer for the skin. When harmful UV light, from the sun, comes into contact with the skin, it can damage the DNA present in these skin cells, resulting in the more visible effect of a sunburn. Sunscreen prevents this damage by deflecting these harmful rays, but when it eventually wears off, skin is again left vulnerable to damage.

Grisly end for sheep A BEAR has chased more than 200 sheep off a cliff to their deaths in northern Spain. Some 209 sheep were found dead at the base of a cliff in the Pyrenees near the border between France and Spain. Experts believe the bear targeted one of the sheep, which sparked panic among the flock and sent the animals hurtling over a cliff and crashing on the ground 200 metres below. The mass death occurred in a gorge outside the village of Lladorre in Catalunya.

Lost in translation IT’S happened to the best

of us. That red-faced moment when we attempt the lingo on holiday but end up saying something completely nonsensical.

Stuck

And even those who speak for a living aren’t exempt from such incidents. Classic FM presenter and Newsreader Bill Turnbull was returning from Spain when he got stuck in a car park. He spent several minutes explaining himself to a staff member before losing his temper and shouting ‘lavar el barrio’. Although this means ‘wash the neighbourhood’, and not, the intended ‘raise the barriers’, his raised voice seemed to do the trick, because the barriers did rise, and he was able to exit, to the bemusement of the car park worker.