Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 291 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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MOVINGMay IN9th - May 22nd 2018 Denise Van Outen has been spotted hanging out on the Costa del Sol after investing in her first home here

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What do the Mother of Dragons, King Alfonso XIII, a Swedish billionaire and Denise Van Outen have to do with Spanish FOREIGN AFFAIR property? www.theolivepress.es

May 2018

SEE PAGE III >>

Issue 20

DISNEY INSPIRATION: As Game of Thrones descends on Spain’s magnificent castles once more, we take a look at the country’s most enviable historic fortresses

Brits make up the biggest foreign market in Spain and Malaga is booming

alaga was one of the most popular regions for foreign buyers last year, new figures have revealed. More than 460,000 sales were registered in Spain last year, with foreign nationals accounting for 13% of purchases. The total number of properties bought

last year was the highest number since 2008’s crash. Brits still make up the largest percentage of the foreign market 15%, with Brexit seemingly doing little at to put off investors. The numbers revealed Malaga was the fourth most popular area for foreign buyers in the country, following the Balearic Islands as the num-

ber one investment, and the Canaries and Alicante rounding off the top three. It comes as figures by Panorama Properties revealed Marbella, Estepona Benahavis are officially the hottest and and ‘most mature’ markets in Spain. Figures from the longest-running estate agent in Marbella showed the three towns

saw sales shoot up by 11.15% in 2017 compared to the year before, exceeding pre-2007 levels by 10.4%. And now, a result of Spain’s booming market, as the International Monetary Fund has raised the country’s economic growth forecast in 2018 to 2.08% - giving Spain the strongest economic growth in the Eurozone.

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Vol. 12 Issue 291

Concerns grow for protection of official data after Gibraltar government website faced cyberattack

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End of ETA

But will the wounds left in its wake ever heal?

Page 6

EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

A LEADING website security expert fears official data could have been compromised after the Government website was hacked twice by infamous cyber group Anonymous. The IT expert, who works at a leading gaming company, described the attack which led to the official website being down for three days as ‘very nerve-wracking’.

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Hack fears

‘EXPECT US’: Anonymous the security of the website and how the shock attacks were able to happen. The GSD politician said: “I sincerely hope the hackers didn’t get any sensitive information. If they did it would be of grave concern.” The hacktivist group is infamous for holding various international Governments and terrorist groups to account. It comes after a year of financial scandal involving offshore enclaves, following

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the infamous Panama Papers, which exposed how many global leaders and business moguls hid their money. In the first attack, on Tuesday April 24, the website collapsed for over 12 hours. All Government content was removed and replaced by the group’s AnonPlus logos and a mission statement in Italian, encouraging readers to join the organisation. AnonPlus is believed to be a social network branch of Anonymous which targets

censorship. Although the site was restored some hours later, hackers took control again, with the site remaining offline for a further two days. A Government spokesperson told the Olive Press no personal data had been accessed and the website had remained offline while technicians worked on the CMS

platform. “The website is currently hosted in the UK and is totally separate to the Government Network and its systems, therefore no information or data was compromised,” she added. A new site with enhanced security measures is expected to be live before summer. “As part of the introduction of eGovernment and Digital Services, a complete review of Government security infrastructure and plans for its implementation are both well underway,” she said. The security web expert however, was not convinced. “What I want to know is how on earth was a Government website hacked and taken over for three days in the first place? “It’s embarrassing. If these are the same people that are looking after my data then I would feel very nervous.” Opinion Page 6

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Faulty

“If they have a faulty process that allows someone to take over the Government-controlled website, they can use the same process to hack key data stores,” the cyber professional, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Olive Press. His worries were backed up by shadow Minister for Finance, Roy Clinton, who confirmed he would be asking further questions in Parliament on the case. He told the Olive Press this week he has ‘concerns’ about

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www.theolivepress.es NEWS IN BRIEF

Come forward EXPERTS believe up to 80% of rape crimes go unreported in Spain, with only 2.65 sexual attacks per 100,000 inhabitants being logged with police according to Eurostat.

Pay up MANCHESTER United manager José Mourinho has admitted to two charges of tax fraud and agreed to pay €800,000.

Get tough THE Spanish government has announced it will consider imposing harsher penalties on perpetrators of sex crimes following the ‘Wolf Pack’ case.

Campo police fear worsening of the drug crisis as family bands gangs together By Laurence Dollimore

A DRUG cartel in Spain’s ‘narco town’ is growing stronger by the day thanks to the return of two brothers. Six Cadiz gangs have joined forces to form the Castañitas Cartel, allegedly headed by siblings Antonio and Francisco Tejon. The brothers are believed to be the lynchpins after managing to group together six gangs to form a successful smuggling operation. The Tejons have reportedly returned to La Linea after a brief exile in Morocco. The Tejon clan, including brothers, children and wives, are all allegedly dedicated to the smuggling of drugs, mostly hashish. Police estimate Antonio and Francisco have around €20 to €30 million in cash hidden around La Linea de la Concep-

May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Growing concern BROTHERS IN ARMS: Francisco (left) and Antonio cion. They also have at least 24 bank accounts and became known for allegedly throwing huge parties with prostitutes and paid-off police officers. They fled to Morocco to lay low last year after around 30 of

A BRITISH expat has been arrested on suspicion of sharing child pornography on the Costa del Sol. The 63-year-old, based in Mijas, was caught at Malaga airport after returning from a trip to the Canary Islands. Police were alerted to someone downloading and sharing child pornography online.

their members were arrested. But police intelligence says they are back and have brought with them a rise in violence and brazen aggression against law enforcers. “We feel afraid,” said Juan Fernández, national

Brit peado snared Authorities traced the person’s computer IP address to Mijas and identified the expat. According to officials, the accused had shared numerous explicit videos and pictures of children.

spokesperson of the AUGC police union, “We cannot allow these gangs to organise themselves.” Fernandez has called for an education or employment plan in the area, given that 40% of the Campo are unemployed. Among the young it is even more startling, with 80% unemployed, making them easy targets for traffickers looking for new recruits. The AUGC union has warned that recent government promises to increase funding and officer numbers are little more than ‘sticking plasters’ and will not be enough. A whopping 80% of drug-related arrests in Spain happen in Cadiz province, compared to 14% in Almeria and just 5% in Valencia. In La Linea, at least 3,000 of the 63,000 population are estimated to be working for drug traffickers. Meanwhile, the Guardia Civil of Algeciras, which covers the Campo de Gibraltar, has just 1,100 agents, a third of the size of the drug gangs’ 3,000-strong workforce.

SNATCHED: Acourt

Caged at last STEPHEN Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt has been arrested in Spain after being on the run for two years. The 41-year-old was swarmed by armed police at Barcelona airport in connection with a €4.5 million marijuana plot. He was captured as part of Operation Captura, an initiative between the UK’s National Crime Agency, Crimestoppers and Spanish police. He will be extradited to the UK after not contesting the ruling by a Spanish judge. “Acourt thought he could evade capture, but as a result of an intelligence-led operation his days on the run have ended,” said Ian Cruxton, head of the NCA’s International operations. Acourt is alleged to have been involved in the murder of Stephen Lawrence in April 1993. A gang hurled racial abuse at Lawrence before stabbing him fatally in London. Acourt has never stood trial for his alleged involvement in the murder.

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Benidorm has NOT been axed!

JUST WATCHING: Rafa

Grow up! RAFAEL Nadal has been forced to defend himself after being spotted supporting Atletico Madrid. The longtime Real Madrid supporter was seen donning an Atletico scarf during the club’s Europa League semi-final against Arsenal on Sunday. The Mallorca tennis ace said: "Well, there is a problem with today's society, that to be a true supporter of one team, it seems that you have to be anti another team. “I just support Real Madrid. I have a lot of friends that are from Atletico. "I just wanted to see a great football match."

HEMSWORTH: And wife

Tonto!

ACTOR Chris Hemsworth knows when is in trouble when his Spanish wife, Elsa Pataky when she talks to him in her native tongue. “When I hear Spanish directed at me, it’s usually unfortunate, controversial, aggressive situations,” the Thor star said on US chat show, Ellen. Despite being married to supermodel Pataky since 2010, the Australian admitted he still only knows one sentence in Spanish. Hemsworth, 34, who lives with Pataky, 41, in Australia, added that when she is telling off their children he just stands around and adds the occasional ‘that’s right’. It leaves him as the only non-Spanish speaker in the family as his five-year-old daughter, India Rose, and four-year-old twin sons, Tristan and Sasha, are all bilingual.

THE hit series Benidorm might not be over after all. Despite a slurry of headlines, followed up by local rags in Spain, the show’s creator has insisted the popular ITV show has NOT been axed. Fans across Spain and the UK were devastated after news broke that the comedy series’ 10th season would be its last. But creator Darren Litten, 47, has now said that may not be the case. He said he had merely sparked concern the long-running programme had been cancelled this week, after posting ‘Crazy to think Wednesday will be the last episode of Benidorm!’ Yet after the finale aired on Wednesday, Derren admitted he was only referring to the last episode of the season, not the entire show. But when asked if it will definitely return, he said: “The honest truth is I don’t know.” COMING BACK?: Benidorm cast

Sir Ian Botham’s charity paid his daughter’s company more than €100,000 despite no charity work

How’s that?

BRITISH sporting legend Ian Botham’s charity paid his daughter’s company more than €100,000 last year, it has been revealed. The former cricket star, who has had a home in Andalucia since 2007, used his foundation to pay the money to Sola Events - which organises golfing trips to Spain. However it did not spend a penny on charitable activities despite receiving more than

€130,000 in donations. The £94,217 (€107,000) was allegedly spent on ‘planning and upfront costs’ for Botham’s charity walk through Australia in 2017 and a ball, attended by Piers Morgan and Michael Parkinson. Sola Events, run by his daughter Sarah, organised golf tournaments in Spain for the foundation as well as ‘Beefy’s Big Birthday Bash’ in QUESTIONS: For Bothams 2015. It also organised an evening with Mallorca-based British expat Jeffrey Archer. Both Sir Ian, 62, and Sarah, 38, bought homes in the Desert Springs Resort, in AlmeSPANISH cinema’s golden couple have ria, in 2007. opened this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Sarah also owns Bar RestauJavier Bardem and Penelope Cruz ofrante los Pepes in the Andaficially began their French connection lucia hotspot after opening it eight years after Bardem first declared the same year and expanded his love for Cruz at the festival. it to sit 82 diners. The Oscar-winning actors both star in Sir Ian previously said his Iranian Asghar Farhadi's Spanish psycharity was a ‘family afchological thriller Everybody Knows, fair’ but he has not followed which kicked off the festival. Charity Commission rules by Bardem proclaimed his love for Cruz failing to list Sarah or Sola in 2010 as he accepted the best actor Events, or make clear that award for Spanish film, Biutiful. payments to Sola are ‘related"I share this joy with my friend, my party transactions’. companion, my love, Penelope. I owe GOLDEN In 2016 the charity received you a lot and I love you so much," he COUPLE: £690,000 in donations and said, leading to his now wife’s eyes well- Bardem and spent £340,000 on charitable ing up as she blew him kisses. Cruz activities.

French affair deepens

Holy moly! RIHANNA looked unholier than thou as she channelled the Pope at this year’s New York Met Gala. The 30-year-old stole the show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a silver mini dress and jacket designed by Gibraltar maestro John Galliano (inset). The designer from the Rock designed the piece for fashion house Maison Margiela. The Barbados native finished the look with a matching hat, chunky necklace and Christian Louboutin heels.

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Fine parents of teenage boozers PARENTS of underage drinkers in Spain could soon be slapped with fines under a new law. It comes after an official government report on drugs and alcohol proposed new measures to crack down

RIP: Kieran O’Brien

A sad end for Kieran MOURNERS have paid their respects to an expat teen who was found dead near his home. Dozens of locals attended the service for Kieran O’Brien, who took his own life after an argument with his parents. The 17-year-old stormed off from the home in Alhaurin el Grande following the heated row. His body was found in woods near his home while a public search was being organised. “His family are going through hell,” said friend Sandie Ashing, “It’s the stuff of nightmares.” “They thought he had gone for a run in the forest to burn off steam,” she told the Olive Press. She added that he was ‘very well liked’ in the community with a lot of friends.

on binge drinking in minors. The tradition among Spanish teens of drinking in the street, known as ‘botellon’, is blamed for the growing problem of underage drinking. Every year around 6,000 Spanish

teens fall into a coma due to excessive alcohol consumption. Under a new proposed law, teens and their parents could choose to take part in educational workshops instead of paying fines.

Doctoring?

HUNDREDS of holiday sickness claims have been put under the spotlight after a British doctor was revealed to have made €136,000 writing reports citing food poisoning. A clear conflict of interest has been declared in at least 70 of Dr Zuber Bux’s cases after it was revealed his wife works at a law firm which instructed him in some of the claims. The issue came to light during the trial of two British holidaymakers, from Liverpool, who claimed they became ill during a Thomas Cook holiday to Spain. The court heard how the tour operator was not made aware of the relationship between Dr Bux, 47 and Mrs Bux, 42, who is a partner at AMS lawyers. Judge Peter Gregory adjourned the trial after hearing that Dr Bux was a GP with no expertise in gastroenterology.

A court has suspended a sickness claims trial after it emerged a doctor was instructed by his wife’s law firm

UNDER FIRE: Dr Bux Despite this, over the past two years he has prepared 684 holiday sickness reports for medical legal agency MLLS at £180 (€205) a report, earning him a total of £123,120 (€140,000). Ian Denham, representing Thomas Cook, said Dr Bux’s

reports were supposed to be independent but all followed ‘the same template and come to the same conclusion’, which was that the claimants in each case had suffered stomach bugs on holiday. Dr Bux denied leaving out details from his reports in a bid to boost their chances of success but said: “Perhaps my reports weren’t comprehensive enough.” AMS have since sacked Bux citing ‘problems beginning to be raised’ over his competence. Dr Bux and his wife deny any wrongdoing. In total, 27 solicitors’ firms in the UK are being investigated by legal watchdog the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA), over their links to the

fake sickness claim scandal. It is not known if AMS is one of them. The rising number of package holiday illness claims has become an ‘epidemic’, with a whopping 500% increase in recent years. 5,000 claims were issued in 2013, which raised to 35,000 in 2016, revealed The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). This is despite the fact travel industry data on global trends reported that the incidences of sickness in holiday resorts have declined in the past few years. It is costing the travel industry upwards of €300m a year to cover the cost of claims.

Triathlon tragedy FRIENDS of a British tourist who died after suffering a heart attack during Marbella’s IronMan triathlon have organised a run in her honour. Sharon Lang, 39, was found face down and unresponsive in the sea while taking part in the swimming event of the competition. She was rushed to shore to receive medical help, before being taken to the Costa del Sol Hospital, where she died last Monday. Her death is currently being investigated by local authorities, while IronMan event organisers said they will ‘continue to do everything possible to provide a safe environment for our athletes’. Sharon, from Plymouth, had travelled to Spain with her friend Kirsty Prowse, who also competed in the female 40-44 age group of the competition. A spokesperson for the event said: “We are deeply shocked by the death of one of our athletes. “Our condolences to her family and friends, who we will continue to support. “We are working with local authorities to gather information on how the incident occurred and we will continue to do everything possible to provide a safe environment for our athletes.”

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Fe at u r e

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 Watch this space There is a well known phrase that ‘one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist’. Anonymous, would presumably, place themselves firmly in the former. While it is obviously not a crime to be a member of the decentralized international hacktivist group, it is of course a crime to hack. And yet, history repeatedly shows us that many things we would determine as unthinkable today, only came about through a brave bunch of lawbreakers. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white person, Emily Davison threw herself in front of the King’s horse. They did this to change laws they felt were unjust the segregation of people based on skin colour and the denial of votes for merely being born a woman. “Sometimes to do the right thing, you have to break a law,” once said Edward Snowden. Whatever your thoughts, it will be interesting to see what is released in the coming weeks. Watch this space.

Embarrassment! Brits used to be known for their manners and for the respect they showed others. But now, thanks to an ever-growing bunch of morons, we are becoming labelled the ‘sickmen of Europe’, as scores and scores of holidaymakers in Spain and beyond attempt to cash in on fake sickness claims. In the name of greed, tourists are feigning illness to claim their money back from hardworking hoteliers and businesses here and further afield. But now, to add insult to injury, it looks as though even doctors at home could be riding the gravy train after it was revealed a British doctor made more than €120,000 by signing almost 700 sickness claims for the past six years - despite having NO training in gastroenterology. Let’s hope those faking to make a quick buck are named and shamed and face the full punishment of the law.

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After more than half a century of waging war against Madrid, ETA, the Basque terrorist movement, has laid down its arms. The bloody conflict is over, but how long will it take to heal the wounds?

Report by David Baird

T was a bizarre, nerve-wracking rendezvous. On a street near the San Sebastian waterfront a stranger had thrust into my hand a roughly scrawled map. “Mikel will meet you,” he said. “He’ll be wearing a blue jacket. Don’t worry. He’ll know who you are.” Now I was sitting in a cafe in Hendaye just across the border in France, waiting to meet a member of the terrorist group ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna or Basque Country and Freedom). Suddenly he was there, sitting down opposite me. ‘Mikel’ was young, good-looking and quietly spoken. Nothing wild-eyed or revolutionary about him. Trained as an economist, he and three idealistic friends had joined ETA. Pursued by the Spanish police, five years earlier he had taken refuge in France. He denied that he had ever killed anybody, but admitted: “I carried out some operations. Nothing special, planting bombs in government buildings, that sort of thing. But If I had been required to kill a policeman,

‘I carried out some operations... planting bombs in government buildings’ yes, I would have done it.” Despite his mild manner, he was ready to defend violence - ‘it grows from a consciousness of national and social oppression, from concern about political-social problems.’ Finally however, his branch of ETA had decided to seek independence for the Basque Country through political rather than violent means. That was why he had agreed to meet me, to put across the so-called PoliMilis’ point of view. “Armed struggle has reached a dead end,” said Mikel, in my dispatch, written for The Economist magazine and later the Boston Globe. That was in 1982. But ETA’s more fanatical followers did not renounce violence. Only this year, this very month, did ETA’s hard-liners finally lay down their arms for good - after a campaign which claimed more than 850 lives. To this day there are scores of unsolved crimes, unexplained disappearances, families whose lives were torn apart in what came to be known as ‘los años de plomo’ (literally ‘years of lead’ i.e. of bullets). ETA was formed back in 1959 by students determined to create an independent Basque state incorporating parts of northern Spain and southern France. In 1968 it carried out its first assassination, shooting a notorious secret police chief, Meliton Manzanas, in San Sebastian. Its most spectacular coup came in 1973 when it killed Franco’s prime minister and heir apparent Luis Carrero Blanco by blowing up his car. After the dictator’s death extremist groups piled on the pressure. ETA saw it as a chance to blast Madrid into granting independence to their region. In return, right-wing death squads killed alleged ETA supporters.

The past is another country May 9thMay - May 9th 22nd - May 2018 22nd 2018

FRONTLINE: Expat journalist David Baird saw first hand the tensions ramping up in the Basque region

POLICE PRESENCE: A regular occurence on Basque streets Many innocents were caught in the crossfire. Inevitably, covering the turbulent days after Franco’s death, I met some of the victims, including fellow journalist José Antonio Martínez Soler, editor of a weekly magazine. On February 2, 1976, he was seized and driven into the country. Demanding details of a banned military union, the kidnappers beat him on the head and soles of his feet. He was dumped in a forest, managing to free himself from his bonds before he froze to death. Less fortunate was José María Portell. He acted as a go-between in secret negotiations between Madrid and ETA. I interviewed him in the Bilbao office where he edited the paper, Gaceta del Norte.

Not long afterwards I met his widow, Carmen. She told me: “It was a normal day. He left for the office and then I heard the sound of shots. I found him lying next to his car. ETA claimed he had somehow betrayed them but he was just trying to use his contacts to help reach an agreement.” That occurred on June 28, 1978. But the killing was far from over. To combat Basque terrorism the government secretly created its own terror group, GAL (Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación). Often it employed incompetent French gangsters to do the dirty work. They held a French furniture dealer, Segundo Marey, for 10 days thinking he was somebody else, and killed several people by mistake. Years later police officers Jose Amedo and Michel Dominguez and leading politicians José Barrionuevo, Rafael Vera, Julián Sancristóbal and Ricardo García Damborenea were convicted for running GAL. Left hanging in the air: how involved was prime minister Felipe Gonzalez? When I met Pedro Aristegui, Guipuzcoa’s

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Civil Governor, in his San Sebastian office, he emphasised that terrorism was an international business with involvement of everybody from the IRA to the KGB. But our talk was interrupted by a phone call. He rushed off to Bilbao where an ETA commando had just killed three people, including two policemen, in a restaurant. Aristegui himself suffered a violent end. A few years later, when as ambassador in Beirut, he was killed by a Syrian bombardment. For many Andalucians the País Vasco is another country, with its own language and customs. But they have suffered from the conflict because so many, fleeing the hardships of rural life, served there as Guardia Civil. To ETA members they were an army of occupation, a target. I recall a funeral in my village in Malaga province. One grey and rainy morning, briefly, unwillingly, the pueblo focused the attention of all Spain. Dignitaries alighted from chauffeur-driven cars and stumbled about on the wet cobbles. Generals, politicians, clerics, officers, television cameramen, reporters and photographers arrived for the funeral of local boy Antonio. He was the pride of the pueblo when he was

picked as a member of the Royal Guard. One morning, driving the top brass about, he halted at a Madrid traffic light. A motorcyclist drew up alongside. The pillion passenger dropped a plastic bag on the roof of the car and the motorcycle took off at high speed. Seconds later, the bomb blasted through the roof, killing Antonio, a lieutenant-colonel and another soldier. Now the violence is over, but the scars of conflict are not only evident in the cemeteries. Peace has come but not reconciliation. The families of those who lost loved ones cannot forget. Neither can hardline ETA sympathisers. In towns like Hernani and Renteria, hotbeds of ETA support, certain bars and streets are still off-limits to the ‘traitors’ who support or collaborate with Madrid. Homage is openly paid to the ‘patriots’, Etarras serving time for their crimes. Recently two off-duty Guardia Civil officers and their partners who entered the wrong bar in Navarra were violently attacked. Eight young assailants face jail sentences. Nearly 300 Etarras remain in prison (close to 90 in Andalucia, 53 in France). The Spanish government is not inclined to release

them for they were found guilty of violent crimes. And what of Mikel? Long after our cloakand-dagger meeting in France, I talked to him again. The years of clandestine meetings and open rebellion were over, but his basic beliefs had not changed. “Please don’t mention my real name and history,” he requested. “It may worry the clients.” Now he was managing a luxury hotel. Yes, the past IS another country. Foreign correspondent, author and photographer, David Baird worked on newspapers and magazines around the world before basing himself in Andalucia. Between Two Fires (published by Maroma Press), a poignant account of an anti-Franco guerrilla movement in Málaga and Granada, has won praise from historians Ian Gibson and Paul Preston. His other books include East of Malaga, a guide to the Axarquía and Costa Tropical, and Sunny Side Up, a nostalgic account of life in an Andalucian village.

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Kidnap torture drama AN expat has been killed following a suspected kidnapping on the Costa del Sol. The body of the unidentified eastern European man was dumped on the roadside in Marbella, along with his South American girlfriend who survived. The pair were found on Monday night close to the Hospital Costa del Sol, after the woman was seen covered in blood trying to flag down drivers in a bid for help. She was admitted to the hospital with concussion and multiple bruises but is now stable.

A driver who spotted the woman called a friend in the police force, along with emergency services who quickly arrived at the scene. Paramedics however, were unable to save the 52-year-old man, whose lifeless body showed signs of violence. It is believed he was severely beaten and tortured. Detectives are keeping an open mind to the causes of the kidnapping which took place the day before. The investigation continues.

Up in smoke

Company which listed properties around Spain mysteriously disappears

EXCLUSIVE by Laurence Dollimore

A PROPERTY portal has vanished into thin air after taking thousands of euros from British expats. Sell 4 less Spain, which advertised in local newspapers and was branded as an ‘exciting alternative’ to estate agents, has disappeared. One victim, British expat Terry Wayne, 68, paid the company €450 to list his Estepona home. However, he discovered last week that his home was apparently no longer

for sale. “When I clicked on my property on Rightmove it said it was no longer for sale which was concerning,” recalls Wayne, who has lived on the Costa del Sol for 22 years. “I contacted Sell4Less. com but they never responded to my emails or

Migrant surge ALMOST 500 migrants have been rescued attempting to cross from Africa to Spain. Spain’s maritime rescue service said it saved 476 migrants over the weekend, with no reported casualties. It comes as a Spanish charity dedicated to helping migrants at sea rescued 105 other migrants in waters near Libya on Sunday. The group Proactiva Open Arms found the migrants, from Bangladesh, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria and other countries, drifting at sea in a motorless boat. The UN says 615 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean so far this year.

calls. “I’m not saying it was an out and out con but we haven’t got what we paid for, we were told it would be listed until it was sold. “If the company has gone out of business, fair enough, but at least let people know.” Sell 4 Less Spain advertised itself as a property advertising portal that would cut out the middlemen and hook you up directly to buyers. As well as listing properties from Spain and Gibraltar on its own site, it promised to place its clients’ adverts with market leaders like Rightmove Overseas, Zoopla, Prime Location, Onthemarket. com and others. It had been operating for at least three years before it vanished. The company was unreachable for comment before we went to press. Did you pay to advertise with Sell 4 Less Spain this year? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

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clude; 1: We sent them AGES ago! 2: Our Sarah took them all to the post office, but they didn't have Spanish stamps. 3: We had a flood and it all got wet so the insurance company are trying to fix it. 4: I can't find the envelope you left with the postage money in. 5: The French have blocked the ports again. ...and you've probably heard many more! The founders of expatpost have all lived abroad and experienced these challenges at first hand. That is why we offer you a choice of real UK street addresses with dependable, affordable mail forwarding (all you pay for is the onward postage, at cost), secure online mailbox controls, and a scan and send option for when you MUST have that important letter today! Go and have a look for yourselves at www. expatpost.uk.

May 9th - May 22nd 2018

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‘They knew all along’

Police tells court Junta leaders were behind the ERE scandal

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IT is one more nail in the coffin for the former leaders of the Junta de Andalucia. A series of detectives have told a court how the region’s political leaders were fully aware of a public money scandal, that syphoned up to €855 million over ten years. The four policemen told Sevilla

court how the so-called ‘cupola’, or leaders of the Junta, ‘knew about and guarded the system’. Their testimony comes after years of investigation into the ERE case that has so far seen two ex-leaders Manuel Chaves and Jose Antonio Grinan in the dock.

With more than 140 witnesses left to testify, it is a damning blow to the two ex-PSOE bosses, and 20 other political figures, who stand accused of embezzlement of public funds. The decade-long scandal saw politicians from the socialistrun Junta divert public money from an Madrid and Brussels

Return to sender

A BRITISH expat has warned of a scam targeting elderly residents on the Costa del Sol. Kathleen Cain, 74, from Yorkshire, received a letter to her Benalmadena home last week claiming to be from Australian law firm Benjamin Meredith Law. The letter told her she was to inherit more than seven million Australian dollars (€4.4 million) and offered her the ‘opportunity’ to split the money with the firm before encouraging her to email or get in touch by phone. “I could tell it wasn’t legitimate, the stamp showed it had come from Portugal,” Cain told the Olive Press. “But I am very worried that some other elderly person could open a letter of this kind thinking it could be authentic. “There are some really vulnerable people out here who could easily become targets.” Have you received a similar letter? Get in touch at news- FAKE: Inheritance scam desk@theolivepress.es

meant for unemployed and retired workers. In total, at least €141 million in public funds were fraudulently taken via the Junta. Three Guardia Civil agents, of the UCO financial crimes department, told the court how vast sums of money were given to business owners and politicians for favours or to pay for ‘political affinity’ to the PSOE. In particular, many socialist mayors in the north of the Sevilla province were beneficiaries. Under the scheme numerous companies were set up to merely employ bogus employees, who would then be given payouts for being laid off. They also revealed that the concept of syphoning off money for friends and family of politicians, started as long ago as 1999 with the quango IFA, which later changed its name to IDEA. Meanwhile, judge Juan Antonio Calle has expressed his frustration over the defendants’ claims that they ‘cannot remember’ or were ‘not informed’ about certain aspects of the process.

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Hard day’s work IT had been a hard day at the zoo for this baby gorilla. The cute primate was snapped mid-yawn at Bioparc in Valencia by photographer Dusica Paripovic. The 32-year-old was visiting one of the zoo’s most popular enclosures when she saw the sleepy monkey nodding off against a wall. “The baby gorillas are so adorable and expressive. They play with twigs or whatever they can find, they stumble and fall, they playfully wrestle with other gorillas,” she said. “They are one of the most active animals in the zoo, and probably the most expressive. And who can resist photographing a cute baby animal?”

green

Campaign for change EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

A LEADING expat has secured the speaker of a lifetime at a high profile climate change conference. Marbella-based Pancho Campo has confirmed former US president Barack Obama for this summer’s Climate Change Leadership Summit in Portugal. This will be the fourth c l i m a t e change con-

ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS SPEAKER: Obama coming to Porto

Expat secures ex-President Barrack Obama for key climate change summit ference the Chilean expat has organised in the Iberian peninsula, each focusing on the wine industry. The businessman (left), who works closely with Al Gore’s green organisation, told the Olive Press his main goal is to ‘empower people’ to tackle climate change. “Whether you are a

Winging in to help! A RARE African eagle that makes its nests in crop fields is to get vital help from the Junta. Inspectors have been tasked to locate the nests of the Eaglet Cenizo, around the Guadalquivir valley of Sevilla and Cordoba, to prevent combine harvesters from destroying them, as is often the case.

May 9th - May 22nd 2018

student, a politician or a CEO, we want to engage them and put into practice what Obama and the others are going to tell you,” he urged. Pancho, whose British wife runs the American College in Spain, became passionate about climate change after witnessing its effects on skiing trips and ‘unbearably hot’ summers in Florida 15 years ago. After extensive scientific research for a thesis, the ‘worrying’ data he compiled compelled him to take action by organising the first Climate Change and Wine conference in Spain, in 2006.

“It was a big flop because nobody believed in climate change back then,” he added. But in 2008 he managed to secure former US Vice President Gore as a speaker in Barcelona, after he had just won a Nobel Peace Prize for his climate change film, which earnt him worldwide recognition. This year’s summit on July 6 in Porto will feature a keynote speech from Obama, who will be joined by other experts and campaigners. “Climate change is happening. People have to start acting immediately, they cannot wait any longer,” he said.

This week: 68.56% Same week last year: 56.52% Same week in 2008: 70.07%

Run from the sun

SPAIN’S biggest wind company has said it believes Spain will run solely on renewables by 2020. “If we manage to get all the renewable energy types in the mix, we’re going to reach that goal for sure,” Spanish Wind Energy Association boss Juan Virgilio Marquez claims.

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THE Prime Minister’s press secretary has been caught saying how she would like to tell protesting pensioners ‘f**k you’. Carmen Martinez Castro is facing calls to resign after her lewd comments were picked up by a microphone. She told a party aide: “How I would like to show them the finger and say f**k you.” It came as her boss Mariano Rajoy had been at-

Rajoy’s press secretary facing calls to resign after insulting protesting pensioners tending a meeting in Alicante on Saturday at which pensioners were protesting. Pensioners have staged a series of large demonstrations across Spain in recent weeks demanding a rise in state p a y -

ments. José Luís Ábalos, a Socialist MP, said her comments ‘showed a lack of respect to pensioners’. Castro said she had been joking and said she was sorry to those who ‘felt offended.’ “The best I can do is not explain because that makes no sense but to simply apologise,” she said during a radio interview. Castro has been Rajoy’s communications and PR guru since 2011.

The Spanish Wire A LEADING American TV producer has been forced to deny he is stirring up political conflict with a new show about an American battalion fighting in the Spanish Civil War. The Wire creator David Simon has based his series A Dry Run on a group of Americans who came to fight against former dictator Franco in the 1930s. Created in collaboration with Barcelonabased Mediapro, it tells of the bravery of the legion, who fought for the democraticallyelected Republic.

However Simon has been accused of ‘trying to start another civil war’ by various Twitter followers. One described it as a ‘very sad episode… which should not be taken lightly.’ Simon however defended the series insisting that while he was aware that ‘many in Spain prefered not to reflect on the past’, as a journalist he did not agree. His critically-acclaimed show The Wire was described as ‘the best TV series ever’ by the Guardian.

 Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

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olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs Hogging the limelight

Do you have a what’s on? Send your informati on to newsdesk@theolivep ress.es

Lights, camera, dragons

BE ‘APPY! A HISTORIC site in Anuntil May 18. A CONTROVERSIAL exhidalucia has been closed Last year, scenes in the rubition which shows videos off to the public for ins, or the ‘Dragonpit’, saw of pigs copulating has been the filming of Game of the largest ever gathering taken on by a Spanish muThrones. of characters in the series’ seum after being kicked out The Roman ampithehistory. of New York. atre in Italica, in SantiThe eighth and final seaThe Theatre of the World, ponce, Sevilla, will be son of Game of Thrones an installation byapp Chinese Download our now and awash with cast fawill not air until 2019. artist Huang Yong Ping, is vourites from the There will only be six begin enjoying the best Spanish made up of two cage-like hit fantasy show episodes. FILM SET: Sevilla ampitheatre news on the go.a video structures, while from artist Xu Bing entitled A Case Study of Transference (1994) shows two pigs copulating while surrounded by members of the public. Both will be put on show at the Bilbao Guggenheim. “The work explores the relationship between man, Theculture. OliveThey Press nature and are two pigs copulating, TOP newspictoin Spain! and one hasfor Chinese grams on its skin, and the other, characters from our alphabet, in a kind of union between East and West. It’s a historical document; it doesn’t involve live pigs,” curator Alexandra Munroe said. The exhibition was deactivated in New York following A PICASSO painting is expected to It depicts a waif who was selling which include other Impressionist animal rights protests. fetch more than $100 million (€83 flowers around Montmartre in masterpieces, duck decoys and the The show, which features m) at auction this week, and could France at the time. dinner service that Napoleon took live insects and reptiles, help break a record. “That probably represented the to his exile in Elba. opens in Bilbao on May 11. Young Girl with a Flower Basket, most expensive single set of invest- In the next two weeks in New York The Bilbao Guggenheim has painted in 1905 during the Malaga ments he made in art,” said David alone, another 45 Picasso works are defended the inclusion of artist’s Rose Period, is being sold by Rockefeller Jr., the late philanthro- estimated to fetch more than $305 the controversial works as David Rockefeller Jr through auc- pist’s son. million (€255 million). an exercise of freedom of tion house Christie’s in the US. Now the work stars in his parents’ Sellers include embattled billionaire expression, and of respectThe painting is a tender and haunt- collection which went on the block casino mogul Steve Wynn and the ing the artistic creative ing depiction of a nude girl with a from May 8 at Christie’s. estate of Joan and Preston Robert process – providing that no basket of red blossoms and was first The Picasso, estimated at about Tisch. harm is caused to any aniMAESTRO: collected by David Rockefeller Sr €83 million, is the highest valued “Picasso is collected across the mals. from Gertrude Stein in 1968. of more than 1,500 Rockefeller lots, globe,” said Nicholas Maclean, a coPicasso founder of Eykyn Maclean gallery in New York and London. “For most people when they are starting out, he is the artist they look to buy." With $212 million ACTOR Kiefer Sutherland will be appearing And he’ll be here on a double date to air his (€177m) of Picasso works havin Spain next month as you’ve never seen him debut album, Down in a Hole, playing to Maing already sold at auction this before - as a country music singer. drid’s Teatro Barceló on June 16 and Barceloyear, 2018 is shaping up as the The son of movie star Donald Sutherland na’s Sala Bikini the following day as part of his best ever for the Spanish masis better-known for his role as Jack Bauer Reckless Tour 2018. The album was released ter and could see him break the in the TV Series 24 and films like The Lost two summers ago but Sutherland promotes current annual record of $568 Boys, Flatliners, A Few Good Men and it with sporadic tours in between filming. million (€475m) set in 2015, A Time to Kill. But the British-CanaCurrently the actor is starring as Presiwhich he set himself when his dian actor is a bit of a country boy at dent Thomas Kirkman in the ABC TV Les Femmes d’Alger (Version heart. series Designated Survivor. O) fetched €149m. WHOLE HOG: Art show

Pablo Picasso could break own record at auction this year as painting expected to fetch more than €83 million

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

On a roll

Kiefer goes country in Spain

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Dedicated to cultural expression and Andalusian art, this first edition will happen on Calle Cuernavaca. Attendees will also be treated to the second album from Fuengirola quartet Glasswork.

nternational IBF Boxing Championship, May 11

Held at the Ciudad Jardín de Malaga Sports Centre, the evening will see five international matches, as well as a fight for the Super Middleweight title and four Olympic boxing matches.

ow to read classical music, May 18

For adults who are not musicians but would like to know more, this day course gives a brief historical overview of western music. Taking place at Las Lagunas de Mijas it covers rhythm, melody, harmony and timbre.

Marbella Film City DIRECTORS are queuing up to make movies in Marbs. More than 25 audiovisual productions used the resort city as a location between January and April this year, according to Marbella Film Office. Series like Snatch (an adaptation of the popular 2000 film) and Living The Dream have been filmed in Marbella, along with pop videos, TV commercials and fashion shoots. Since its inception, the MFO has worked with well over 500 audiovisual projects of all kinds, according to Laura de Arce, general manager of Marbella Tourism Office.

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April 27th - May 10th 2017

Olive Press launch coincides with Palma boat show

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Mallorca’s original community newspaper Vol. 1 Issue 1

Rocker’s villa going for a song on Mallorca

t’s the most exciting launch to hit the island in a decade! The first edition of the Mallorca Olive Press is now on the loose… and totally free! Already voted the best expat paper in Spain, we now promise to deliver the news that really matters in Mallorca. Available in the four corners of the island, we also vow to deliver a blend of irresistible, entertaining and informative features… as well as campaigning on key issues and problems. Aimed at the huge foreign market in Mallorca, the readers will be a healthy mix of Scandinavian, Dutch and Germans… not to mention the British and Irish, of course.

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Listen up Expat bar owners protest over draconian sound limiters stopping music quieter than a vacuum cleaner

AROUND 100 island bar owners and entertainers are expected to stage a silent protest today after being forced to install new €3,000 sound limiters. It comes after Calvia Council imposed draconian new rules, in effect from May 1, in a bid to ‘reduce noise pollution’. But British and Spanish business owners say the new laws are ‘killing’ the party hotspot and are ‘prejudicing’ live music and karaoke venues. The new limit is - incredibly the level of an air conditioning unit at 100 feet and less than a vacuum cleaner. “This could put us out of business, it’s unreal,” Fennigan’s bar owner Mick Cormican, 55, told the Olive Press. “A car going by is louder than the limit, it’s particularly prejudicial to live music and karaoke bars as they simply cannot perEditor Jon Clarke reviews Spain’s form within the sound limit.” alleged best restaurant A collective of 20 business ownPage 28 ers and entertainers yesterday

The OP’s roundup of Spain’s most corrupt politicians

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for the future ‘THEY’RE KILLING US’: Singer Steffi (right) and bar owners fear oped nodules, making them unmarched down to Calvia town able to perform. hall to petition the mayor, “It’s affecting our work and where they were met by Guarhealth,” she added, “It could dia Civil, police and a TV crew. prevent us singing.” works They plan to return at 3.30pm fine and I have never had a During a meeting of 100 busitoday (Thursday), when the complaint,” said owner of ness owners and performers, councillors discuss the new attended by the Olive Press, the Stepps, Dave Woodward, 59. limiters, in the hope they can Meanwhile, British singer Steffi group blasted the council for change their minds. Lorena, 25, claims the limits ‘giving in’ to tourists who come If unsuccessful, all venues are affecting the livelihoods of to the party areas for a quiet around Calvia will be ordered performers. “It’s impossible to holiday. to install the limiters through sing within the new limits,” the “The council are protecting the the same engineering company owner of Santa Ponsa’s Retro wrong people,” one exclaimed, by May 1. “They are protecting two Brits bar told the Olive Press. Once installed, the device au“We opened in February and I who come for a quiet holiday tomatically turns down music was forced to fork out €3,000 and complain about the noise, if it goes over 62 decibels, deon a new limiter and if we have it’s a disgrace!” scribed as ‘restaurant conversaa loud crowd or they start clap- One bar owner, on the island for tion or background music’ by ping the music goes down and 15 years, claimed the council is industrialnoisecontrol.com. being manipulated by hotels you have to strain to be heard. Those going over the limit will “It’s got to a point where it is and clubs who want to drive face hefty fines, with some alactually damaging performers, business away from the bars. legedly already being fined “The new rules are twisting the it’s not worth it.” €6,000. Some local singers have devel- spirit of EU rules, and instead of “I already have a limiter that helping us, they are punishing us,” he said. “We will be forced to keep noise levels lower than in the industrial areas… the rules are imposDE MALLORCA sible to comply with and we fear police are likely to fine anyone who fights back!” He alleged that clubs sell tickets MORE from stands without the correct revenue with licenses but that the authorities German clients! look the other way. “The council knows that the sale Put your ads in stands from the clubs break the EL AVISO rules as they use secondary linewspaper! censes known as ‘Licencia complementaria’ when the primary license operating the business is closed,” he added. CONTACT US

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April 26th - May 9th 2018

First birthday issue has special 12-page Property Magazine, double page Boat Show special and a dozen exclusive stories and articles

Pride

By Laurence Dollimore

Page 4

Dirty dozen

(Free or paid for) Vol. 2 Issue 27

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After operating for a decade in Andalucia and Gibraltar, our team of professional journalists pride themselves on understanding the needs of our discerning readership. We also promise to ensure that our editorial takes up, at least, half of the paper and we will not jam it full of adverts, particularly of a sexual nature. Finally, we would like to thank everyone for making us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived. We now clearly understand why Mallorca is leading the way in Spain for property and tourism and why so many celebrities and dignitaries visit the island and make it their home. The incredible scenery, great local food, cosmopolitan feel, accompanied by the warmth of the locals makes it truly unique. It’s safe to say, we will be sticking around!

IdyllIc: local coast

COLLECTABLE: First issue

A YEAR ago this week, the Olive Press’ boat first steamed into Mallorca. Coinciding appropriately with the island’s celebrated boat show, we have not left port since. After more than a decade of growth in southern Spain and Gibraltar, we arrived on

the island to bring the expat community some muchneeded real reporting in English. Whether than be hard-hitting investigations, colourful features or effective local appeals, we have tackled the lot. From campaigning for res-

IT’S WAR! Protesters planning a new battle against mass tourism amid claims visitor numbers are pushing the island into a ‘precarious state’

EXCLUSIVE: By Joe Wallen

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ANTI-tourism groups are lining up a series of new protests around Mallorca, the Olive Press can reveal. Two local groups, Arran Palma and GOB-Mallorca, have confirmed plans to organize a number of demonstrations against the ‘mass touristification’ of the island. Both groups claim that too many tourists are visiting the Balearics and the unsustainable numbers are impacting heavily on the lives of the local population. Their comments fly in the face of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s recent condemnation of the Consell, which is set to COMING SOON: Protesters promise sequel to last year’s outbursts introduce new laws reducing but it is most visible in Magaour territory and condemns the protest against the Symthe number of holiday rentals luf and s’Arenal.” the working class to misery,” phony of the Seas, is on the island. also She confirmed that “Mallorca has a very seri- would be more proteststhere a representative wrote at the concerned about the ‘already like time. saturated islands’. ous mass-tourism problem,” the recent one that welcomed a representative from Arran the world’s biggest cruise According to the group little “The city is becoming a stage has changed this year and rather than somewhere Palma told the Olive Press ship, Symphony of the to Seas, they have vowed to continue be lived in by its this week. citizens,” to the island last month. their ‘war’ against the grow- claimed member Margalida “It is completely focused on There could also be more pro- ing number of visitors. Sastre. partying and there is no prop- tests like the one last summer In 2017, the Balearics, which “It is leaving people without er control,” the spokesperson, that saw a tourist bus full of have a population of just over work, degrading who asked to remain anony- British tourists have its tyres one million, received 13.8m ity of life - it is antheir qualmous, continued. economic slashed in broad daylight in visitors, a four million in- model that is not socially fair “Too many tourists have no central Palma. crease on 2010. or environmentally sustainrespect and the problem can “Mass tourism kills our Local political party GOB- able.” be seenUntitled-1.pdf throughout1the16/06/2017 island 15:36 neighbourhoods, destroys Mallorca, which organised The protests come as Palma

city council took the unprecedented step this week of banning tourist rentals in multifamily homes from July.

It is hoped the move will reduce rental prices and ensure enough affordable property remains on the market for residents. However, Spain’s leader Mariano Rajoy does not agree, seeing the move as an attack on Mallorca’s valuable tourism industry. Speaking at a PP conference in Palma this week, he accused the President of the Balearics, Francina Armengol, of having a ‘phobia towards everything that works and that is good for Spain’. He said she was running a ‘government which is dedicated to inventing problems and promoting division and confrontation’. The Balearic government is yet to respond to his comments. The Association of British Travel Agents has warned holidaymakers to be aware of rising ‘tourismaphobia’ in Mallorca.

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Issue 20

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HE Balearics were the most popular region for foreign crash. buyers last year, figures have revealed. new Brits still make up the largest And now, as a result More than of Spain’s booming tered in Spain last460,000 sales were regis- the foreign market at 15%, withpercentage of erty market, the Brexit seem- has International Monetary propaccounting for 13%year, with foreign nationals ingly doing little to put off investors. raised the country’s Fund The numbers found The total number of purchases. that the most popular forecast in 2018 to 2.08% economic growth area for foreign of properties bought - giving Spain the year was the highest buyers in Spain last ic Islands, is the Balear- strongest economic growth number since 2008’s followed by the Canaries, Alicante It was also reported that in the Eurozone. and Malaga. on-going political uncertainty in Catalunya MALLORCA is enjoying had not affected Spanish market a mini property boom this the as much as predicted. approved than year, despite in 2017 but more shortage of developable a family-sized “I don’t think nary locals are houses. land, cording to the being priced out needs to worry one Association of ac- The number of townhouses the market. of veyors and Architects. Sur- ing planning gain- Furthermore, much about the too permission also Planning permission propcreased. in- construction he highlighted that erty market in Barcelohas been However, awarded to over costs in Mallorca na,” said a spokesman Association President main high when rethe first quarter 400 properties in Daniel compared to the from Registradores, than any time in of the year, more must Tur has warned that more other Balearic islands be done to ensure which published and that the last few years. this Significantly there the that the out could also put off those withfigures. has also been boom benefits all Malloquins. cash to burn. a change in the “Barcelona will type of properties Tur explained that the One suggestion constructed, by local firm with fewer chalets on the island was stillprice of land inba is to an exciting city still be to own construct taller Prohigh due to scarcity, meaning a holiday flat in, buildthat many ordi- ings with more floors. fantastic culture with and entertainment bined with sun comfabulous beaches.”and

Dozens of our exclusive stories have made headlines abroad, while we have continued to expose a continuing tide of plastic and raise ‘awareness on water’ shortages. Aside from that we have helped reunite a Norwegian father with his daughter held captive in Oslo, and questioned bizarre island zoning laws… all thanks to having a team of excellent journalists based on the island. Meanwhile, the response to our product has been overwhelming, with advertisers flooding in to partner with what has become the island’s most popular expat read. So as another year beckons, we would like to thank everyone in Mallorca for welcoming us with open arms. We vow to continue bringing exclusive and original content every issue. We promise you that. If you have a story or want to see your advert in the Olive Press, email newsdesk@theolivepress. es or sales@theolivepress.es

AHOY!: Publisher Jon Clarke and News Editor Laurence Dollimore with first issue

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Why are people commenting on a process they know very little about? If you read all of the information that is available then it simply implies that the police have no evidence that he was involved in her disappearance, 'innocent until proven guilty' applies in Spain too. Most comments are suggesting he is guilty, which they cannot possibly know. OK so he ran away while on bail, if I was under suspicion of a murder I didn't commit I would run too, back to the safety of my home country, so that fact cannot be used as an admission of guilt. I have no idea if he is guilty or not, however, like the majority of level headed people I will keep an open mind, which is the very essence and basis of due process. I wouldn't trust the Spanish judicial system. It is inherently corrupt.

Trust linked to government minister buys key Rock property from Syria’s evil ‘Butcher of Hama’

By Laurence Dollimore and Jon Clarke

A GIBRALTAR office building owned by the uncle of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is being bought in a knock-down deal by a company linked to a government minister. Europort Trust, managed by Financial Services Minister Albert Isola and two of his relatives, is buying 6-9 Europort from ‘the Butcher of Hama’ Rifaat alAssad for £13 million under a valuation price, a court judgement shows. The sensational ruling - which the Isola family tried to keep private - reveals that the property was bought for £17.5 million, well under its official £31 million value. And furthermore, the controversial deal was brokered by a sister company - Fiduciary

CAPTION:

- also run by the family trusts of Lawrence, Albert and Peter Isola. The purchase is set to go through despite hundreds of Assad’s properties around France, Spain and the UK being currently embargoed by the authorities, while he is being probed for money laundering, corruption and tax evasion. It also comes to light in the same month that Syrian dictator Bashar Assad was accused again of gassing opponents and his own civilians - including many children - during the bloody civil war. Ironically the building houses

ish properties were allegedly various key government bodbought through trusts set up in ies, including the Financial Gibraltar. Intelligence Unit (GFIU) and According to a even Albert Isola’s high level Giown Ministry of CRIME source, braltar Financial Services No bail for Assad is ‘likely Spanish office. jewelselling thief the GibralUnder the deal, tar property to which has been reunlock some cash vealed by a public while his accounts Supreme court ruland property have ing, the property FOUND IN FUENGIROLA been embargoed in is being sold to Spain and France’. Trust, Glenthorne 091 He added: “Whatwhich, again, is ever way you look 75% owned by the at this, this is bad family trusts of for Gibraltar PLC. Lawrence, Albert CAPTION: It is not good for and Peter Isola. our reputation. As revealed by “It is surprising that the French the Olive Press, last issue, RiSick of smudges? and Spanish judges did not nickname faat - who earned the force an embargo in Gibraltar ‘the Butcher of Hama’ when he killed up to 25,000 people in a ruthon less crackdown Sunni Muslims in 1982 - is currently under investigation in many countries. He is alleged to have invested hundreds of millions into property in France and Spain - with more than 500 properties in Marbella alone, it has been alleged. police Spanish raided 15 of his properties in Marbella last year after judge Jose de la Mata launched a money laundering investigation. Many of his SpanCAPTION: 2

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Walk of shame

TWO Gibraltarian men have been extradited from Spain, via the land frontier, after a European Arrest Warrant was issued for GBH last August.

Ganja getaway

A DRUG smuggler who rammed a Guardia Civil police car, leaving an officer hospitalised, has been arrested. The 60-yearold from La Linea was caught with 27 bales of cannabis.

Dole dupe

SOME 43 people have been identified in a Social Security racket that defrauded more than €15 million. Conspirators were found in Cádiz, Granada, Malaga and Sevilla.

Stories and features in this edition of Gibraltar’s original community newspaper

Trial set for exiled Syrian who used Gib companies to invest ‘stolen money’ into Spanish properties

Washed out

April 11th - April 24th 2018

THE uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is finally set to face trial following a Europe-wide probe into alleged ill-gotten gains. Dubbed the ‘Butcher of his properties in Marbella from Syria’s coffers by Hama’, Rifaat al-Assad, 80, and Puerto Banus last year when he was exiled Rifaat in the amassed his fortune in Syria after judge Jose de la Mata 1980s. during the 1980s, before al- launched a money laundering Rifaat and his relatives are legedly using companies in investigation. believed to have bought 503 Gibraltar and Panama to pur- A total of 76 companies and properties, including garages, chase more than 500 proper- 16 people connected to the holiday homes, luxury ties in Spain and dozens of property empire, had their apartments and countryhotel esaccounts frozen. chateaus in France. tates. Spanish cops raided 15 of Some €300 million is be- Most of the properties are lieved to have been looted in the Marbella as well as in

AN Irish expat wanted for the murder of a dissident republican five years ago has been arrested on the Costa del Sol. Dean Evans, from Dublin, is one men charged with the murder ofof three fatherof-three Peter Butterfly, who was shot dead in a car park in County Meath in March 2013. Spanish police arrested 27-year-old Evans on Thursday lunchtime in Fuengirola.

A European arrest warrant was by the Special Criminal Court in issued Ireland last year, after Evans failed to show up

for his trial and disappeared with his girlfriend. Evans, along with 35-year-old Edward McGrathand and 46-year-old Sharif ly, was due to stand trial on charges Kelconnected with the murder of 35-year-old Butterfly. Butterfly was found collapsed in a car park after he had been from a car and died shortly after. shot at It was alleged that Evans shot Butterfly while he was sat in the back of the car. McGrath and Kelly were sentenced to life in prison after standing trial without Evans.

A SPANISH thief has been refused bail after being caught with watches and jewellery worth 50,000 pounds. Builder Antonio Miguel Leon Sanchez, from Marbella, has been charged with theft at the property in Cormorant Wharf, where he was undertaking a renovation job. The owners informed police of items missing

once the ‘BUTCHER’: Rifaat works had been completed. While France. Sanchez denied His largest property in Spain the theft forensic analysis is the 3,000 hectare estate of matched his DNA to DNA La Maquina, which takes up a found on the jewellery boxthird of the area of Benahavis es. and is worth a reported €60 The builder argued in court million. that he had merely moved The total market value of the boxes and all the family’s properties sonal belongings other perstored in a in Spain is reported to be a wardrobe so he could replace whopping €691 million. flooring. Last year, €862 million was confiscated by the French auScientific thorities, where he is set to go on trial later this year. However this He may also face charges in with his initial was at odds police interSwitzerland, where he has view when he denied seeing been under investigation them or touching anything since 2013 for war crimes allegedly committed in the inside the wardrobe. Stipendiary Magistrate 1980s. Rifaat’s brother expelled him Charles Pitto denied bail, from Syria in the 80s because insisting his account was at he feared he was organising a odds with the court’s evipolitical coup. An announce- dence and the supporting ment on a trial is expected in scientific evidence. Sanchez will next appear in the coming weeks. court on May 2.

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million. Last year, €862 million was confiscated by the French authorit i e s , where he is set to go on trial too. Ultimately where did thislater this money come from in the firstyear. place?” A legal source added: “This is huge and the whole thing stinks. It’s unlikely to go away in a hurry.” Hama’, of Dubbed the ‘Butcher Rifaat al-Assad, 80, amassed his fortune in Syria during the 1980s, before allegedly using companies in Gibraltar and Panama to purchase more than 500 properties in Spain and dozens of chateaus in France. Spanish cops raided 15 of his properties in Marbella and Puerto Banus last year after judge Jose de la Mata launched a money laundering investigation. A total of 76 companies and 16 people connected to the property empire, had their accounts frozen. Some €300 million is believed to have been looted from Syria’s coffers by Rifaat when he was exiled in the 1980s. Rifaat and his relatives are believed to have bought 503 properties, including garages, holiday homes, luxury hotel apartments and country estates. Most of the properties are in the Marbella as well as in France. His largest property in Spain is the 3,000 hectare estate of La Maquina, which takes up a third of the area of Benahavis and is worth a reported €60 million. The total market value of all the family’s properties in Spain is reported to be a whopping €691

reserved.

11 April

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CAPTION:

It added such levels could cause ‘serious environmental and health problems’ to the local population. The European Commision has already calculated that up to 50,000 people die prematurely from air pollution caused by ships, in particular due to emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxide. Both groups are calling for much stricter regulations on pollutants by these vessels, in a bid to cut back on pollution.

Not convinced

25th - May 8th 2018 Vol. 3 Issue 69 www.gibraltarolivepress.com April

CHOKING GREEN groups are warning that pollution from ships could be seriously damaging the health of Gibraltarians. A damning report by Ecologistas en Accion, alongside German ecological group NABU, claims that ultra-fine particles from boats in the Straits are up to 70 times higher than in cities. The study claimed that one recent reading measured 143,000 ultra-fine particles per cubic centimetre in the air near the Rock. While the local group Verdemar admitted the measure was taken just after the departure of a ship the difference between ‘normal’ city levels of approximately 2,000 particles per cubic centimetre is ‘alarming’.

The Rock’s ONLY free and local paper

Readers react to the news that Lisa Brown suspect Simon Corner has bail conditions dropped

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Foreign buyers continue to pour into Mallorca, Brits make up the while foreign market in biggest Spain, writes Gillian Keller

taurants in Santa Catalina to appealing for urgent blood donors for plucky expat Serena, we have certainly had some success.

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LE T T ERS

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Ignorant If you knew what you were talking about Lee you would know he didn’t run to his home country, he didn’t even hang about to help look or answer any questions when Lisa disappeared, then when he was eventually caught and jumped bail again he still did not return to the UK. He has only just come

Stay strong into London and again it is a Spanish judge who has removed bail conditions from all involved so how does that explain your theory that the Spanish justice system is corrupt?

I just do not understand how this can be happening. For God’s sake the world has truly gone mad. The poor family, please stay strong and keep going.

Wendy Graham, UK

Helen Jones, Gibraltar

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Is it because it will cost so much money to get him back here to Spain? And can he not be tried in the UK? It’s just madness and I feel for the family.

Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.

If you haven’t committed the crime then why would you want to run away twice - without even an effort to try and help look for her - if there is nothing to hide from? Not to mention throwing two phones into the water before being nicked. October 2015

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Doesn’t add up

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Wise up!

 Torremolinos to open Andalucia’s biggest shopping and leisure centre - 3122 views

The people who run the country are stupid, especially in the south (Malaga based artist faces jail for placing art on historic buildings, issue 290). Trying to do anything productive is a nightmare, which is why the economy is so poor. Anyone who has ever tried to do any business here will agree with me. Worrying about petty nonsense, as per this story, is petty-minded and self-defeating. They should worry about education and give their young people better opportunities. I love Spain despite 'its' stupidity.

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April 25th - May 8th 2018

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Immerse yourself in the Malaga exhibition of one of the world’s most famous artists

13 13

Send your newsdesk@tinformation to heolivepres s.es

what’s on We are very sad to confirm that the body B found in Alhaurin el grande is indeed that of Kieran O’brien (BREAKING: Body of missing BritishS expat Kieran O’Brien found, online). As I am sure you can imagine this familyxx-trav andagant friends are devastated. They thank everyone for sharing the posts, and searching in person. Thank you for being so very supportive. Please give his family and friends time to grieve. RIP Kieran.

Download our app now and ANDY Warhol’s work is begin enjoying the best coming to the Costa del Sol. A MALAGA-based artist Spanish is news on the go. facing up to three years in A special curated exhibition prison for plastering historic at Museo Picasso in Malaga will showcase the complex buildings with his artwork. Known only as Invader, the artistic production of one of the biggest names in art hisFrench artist began creating mosaics on buildings across tory. The show will centre on the the capital in May last year. His canvases included Epis- development of Warhol’s copal Palace, the Palace of legacy during his career. Salinas The and other OlivebuildPress Contrive ings of the Historic Center d of Malaga, protected by the It will demonstrate the for news in Spain! Law ofTOP Historical Heritage petitive, schematizing ‘reand of Andalucia. contrived The offence is being consid- Warhol’s nature of Andy visual works’ that ered as a ‘penal infraction’ the artist has explored and by a Malaga court which exhibited for more than is punishable by anything three decades ‘through his from a fine to three years in feverish creative activity.’ prison. Entitled Warhol. MechaniA judge has asked the affect- cal ed buildings for the costs of showArt, the exhibition will repairing the ‘damage’ be- that off the iconic pieces made his career one of fore making its decision. the The works have created a 20thmost succesful in the century, including bitter dispute between local Campbell’s Soup Cans. authorities and the Junta, There the former of which sees the pieces will be almost 400 on display, including 29 different mosaics as ur- his paintings, sculptures, ban art and has advocated for it to remain in place.

Dream team

Adrian Day, Andalucia MALAGUEÑO Antonio Banderas will feature in Pedro Almodovar’s next film

Tough call

but it helps.

 Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi -final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

alongside Penelope Cruz. Dolor y Gloria will begin filming this July and is described as a film with male protagonists – in contrast to his last outing, Julieta – Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory) stars Banderas and

enalmadena, May 20

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e a f o o d f a i r, Benalmadena, April 27May 1

ORIGINAL: Pop Art maestro

POPPING OVER

drawings, silkscreen paintings, installations, artist books, films, record sleeves, posters, magazines, designer objects and photographs. Every piece has been sourced on loan from 45

Andy Warhol will have major

different sources. Warhol was the master and creator of pop art, creating iconic portraits of the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor and Jackie Kennedy. His work has remained pop-

retrospective

ular and worth millions to this day.

Andy Warhol’s Mechanical Art is scheduled to be on view from May 31 through September 16.

MORE than seven tons of seafood will be up for sale with 5,000 litres of beer.

BRIT Indie band, The xx, have announced their latest Night + Day festival will be held in Bilbao. Pop-up shows, film screenings, radio, gigs and DJ parties curated by the band will take over the Basque city from July 6 to 11. Pioneering English DJ, Jamie xx, is set to host his own exclusive party with guest bands at the extravagant Guggenheim Museum. Tickets for the week-long festival will go on sale on Friday 13 at 10am (English time) at thexxnightandday.com

Sandie Ashing, Alhaurin el Grande

Butcher is settling down

While this enhances the building you can’tBankiHe selling up and looking to buy a nice cotng onis Banksy just allow anyone and everyone to place art on tage in the Cotswolds as he steps down from historic buildings (Malaga based artist faces public life (‘Butcher of Hama’ and uncle of Syrjail for placing art on historic buildings, issue ian president Bashar Al-Assad to make MIL290). There has to be some control but if one LIONS from sale of Gibraltar building, issue asked permission it would be refused for sure, 290). He is looking forward to gardening and so I can’t think of a solution. Hopefully he won’t making his own fine wines. go to jail. Ian Upton, León Neil Hollow, Malaga Asier Etxeandía in the leading roles. The film recounts ‘a series of meetings, some physical, others remembered decades later, of a film director now in his twilight years,’ according to Almodovar. He added that it will encompass ‘the first loves, the second loves, the mother, mortality, an actor with whom the director worked, the 60s, the 80s, current times, and the emptiness, a sense of incommensurate emptiness, caused by the inability to go on making films.’ There is expected to be much speculation over how much the film is inspired by Almodovar’s own life.

RESIDENTS of a small town in Spain have woken up to what they believe is the country's first Banksy. The wall in Ferrol de Coruña, Galicia, graffiti treatment in the style of the has received the space that has been reserved for him British artist in a The piece shows two Guardia Civil for years. appears to have been signed off officers kissing and by the world famous enigma, whose work sells for millions of euros at auction. It comes after the Meninas de Canido sored by Estrella beer, was launched initiative, sponpleading for Banksy to use their wallsseveral years ago, for a new piece. The spot, by number 23 on calle Muiño de Vento, was reserved for the British artist as part plan for the neighbourhood which of a regeneration began eight years ago. Last September 35,000 people attended the eighth edition of its urban art festival. A spokesman said: "We do not know has appeared in the reserved space if the work which If confirmed by Banksy, it would beis original or not." the first of its kind in Spain, after one found in San Sebastian was erased after not getting confirmation of its authorship.

Feel their pain I imagine those protesting don’t gain at all from tourism, but only see the negative side (Anti-tourism groups plan new wave of protests in Spain, online). This is not unusual, all around the world there is too much greed and not enough equality. I have travelled a lot and do understand the benefit of additional income for those that need it, but all too often the small entrepreneur renting out a room is penalised and the tourist travelling demands too much. Tourism should be for everyone. We have always put our money as best we could in the hands of those that need it most. I Would suggest that others do the same, it is not a cure all

Wake up

This is valid concern (Experts in Spain warn of ‘grave consequences’ in rise of pseudo-therapies like homeopathy and reiki, issue 290). Homeopathy has been debunked thousands of times. Anecdotal evidence cannot be used for scientific research. Also, the power of self suggestion and the placebo effect are immensely powerful. ‘What harm can it do?’ way of thinking actually causes deaths. This is again a luxurious way of thinking that the majority of the world cannot afford as they need proper medication and care. Eero Kosma, Fuengirola

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

Property www.theolivepress.es

MOVINGMay IN9th - May 22nd 2018 Denise Van Outen has been spotted hanging out on the Costa del Sol after investing in her first home here

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May 2018

SEE PAGE III >>

Issue 20

DISNEY INSPIRATION: As Game of Thrones descends on Spain’s magnificent castles once more, we take a look at the country’s most enviable historic fortresses

Foreign affair M Brits make up the biggest foreign market in Spain and Malaga is booming

last year was the highest number since 2008’s crash. Brits still make up the largest percentage of the foreign market at 15%, with Brexit seemingly doing little to put off investors. The numbers revealed Malaga was the fourth most popular area for foreign buyers in the country, following the Balearic Islands as the num-

ber one investment, and the Canaries and Alicante rounding off the top three. It comes as figures by Panorama Properties revealed Marbella, Estepona and Benahavis are officially the hottest and ‘most mature’ markets in Spain. Figures from the longest-running estate agent in Marbella showed the three towns

saw sales shoot up by 11.15% in 2017 compared to the year before, exceeding pre-2007 levels by 10.4%. And now, as a result of Spain’s booming market, the International Monetary Fund has raised the country’s economic growth forecast in 2018 to 2.08% - giving Spain the strongest economic growth in the Eurozone.

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II 16

Property

www.theolivepress.es

May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

Things are looking up for the Spanish property market, with an increase in sales, writes Mark Stucklin of Property Spanish Insight

he number of Spanish home sales inscribed in the Land Registry was up by 18% in February compared to the same month last year, the biggest February increase since the boom years more than a decade ago. There were 37,412 Spanish home sales inscribed in the Land Register in February, and 41,480 if you include homes subsidised by the Government, known as VPO, all according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), based on sales inscribed in the Land Registry. Home sales have grown by double digits in most months since March 2014, when the Spanish housing market recovery started. That said, sales are still down by 44% compared to the peak year of 2007. Sales in the boom years were exaggerated and unsustainable, so not a normal benchmark, but there still looks like room for more growth. Bear in mind these figures are based on sales inscribed in the Land Register, not sales completed in the month. As such they lag the market by a few months. More timely figures from the Association

ON A ROLL: Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property market is seeing sale numbers near pre-crisis levels

STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

of Spanish Notaries for home sales that took place in February were up 2.7%. New home and resale transactions were up 17% and 16% respectively in February, showing that the recover is now firing on both pistons, having relied almost exclusively on resales between the start of the recovery in 2013 and May last year. New home sales have increased

by double digits almost every month for the last year, driven by the recovery in demand for new homes in Spain. Looking at the evolution of sales by region with a focus on areas that attract foreign buyers in significant numbers, year to date sales have increased strongly almost everywhere except Extremadura (where foreign demand is

not a big part of the picture) and Catalunya, where the constitutional crisis and political uncertainty are discouraging foreign buyers. Sales were up 59% in CastellĂłn province, home to the Costa del Azahar, in what looks like the first signs of recovery in a coastal market that has suffered the crisis longer and harder than most.

The overall picture is one of surging sales in most areas of Spain that attract foreigners in significant numbers, with the exception of the Catalan provinces of Barcelona, Girona, and Tarragona. But even in those regions sales were positive, despite the political turbulence. www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

902 123 282 *Offer ends 31/06/18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions.

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16/4/18 13:54

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May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

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This is the life!

EXCLUSIVE

Denise Van Out-in DENISE Van Outen has bought a property on the Costa del Sol, the Olive Press can reveal. The British TV presenter invested in a home in Mijas Costa two months ago, after putting her UK home on the market in January this year. The 43-year-old blonde bombshell announced last month that she was moving in with her long-term boyfriend Eddie Boxshell. The pair have been spotted taking in the sights of Mijas and eating at expat haunts, including Joffreys.

SPAIN is still the top choice in the EU for Brits looking to start a new life abroad, a new report has found. More chose to up sticks and move to Spain than any other European nation in 2017. Spain houses some 293,500 UK expats who make up 37% of the total British population living in Europe, revealed a study by the Office for National Statistics. France came in at second place, hosting 19% of Brits, followed by Germany with 12%.

Fair bnb? MALAGA politicians are considering introducing tourist rental bans to cope with rising tourism numbers. The city council is in favour of adopting restrictions in Malaga following a similar decision in Mallorca last month, which saw Palma become the first Spanish city to ban short-term tourist rentals. The legislation in the Mallorca capital aims to combat mass tourism on the island which has led to overcrowding and soaring rental costs for locals. During 2015 and 2017, the number of unregistered short-let apartments on the island grew 50% to reach 20,000.

Diverse

Out of the 20,000 available, only 645 properties were found to have the correct licenses. “Palma has always been a bold and diverse city,” said Mayor Antoni Noguera. “We believe it will create trends in other cities when they see that finding a balance is key.” Malaga, meanwhile, is soaring in terms of tourism numbers and is becoming one of the most visited cities in Spain. The ruling PP party in Malaga has yet to comment either way but PSOE spokesman Daniel Perez said it’s time to put caps on the quantity of tourist flats ‘to avoid bigger problems’. In Palma, there are roughly 180,000 homes, of which 23,000 are single-family and therefore potentially unaffected by the new law. “There is a parallel between the evolution of vacation rentals and the rise in rental prices,” said Jose Hila, the former Mayor of Palma. “This decision is meant to protect residents as tourist accommodation affects the makeup of buildings and neighbourhoods and it also affects social harmony.” The island’s Ombudsman has seen a steep rise in the number of complaints filed by residents complaining about tourists renting in their buildings. It soared from 42 in 2015 to 192 in 2017.

RENTAL WORRY: Malaga

SOLD: Previous home in Marbella and (inset) the couple’s newest property nearby

Billionaire expat thrown huge bachelor party in Marbella complete with mansions, five-star hotels and private jets

Jon-y Bravo A SWEDISH billionaire expat has given the world an insight into his lavish bachelor celebrations in Marbella. Jon Olsson, 35, shared a video to his 1.1 million followers on YouTube which showed the party begin with a staged kidnapping from his luxury Marbella pad. The Swedish professional freeskier and alpine ski racer will soon marry his glamorous partner, lifestyle and fashion blogger Janni Delér. His billionaire father-in-law Rickard Deler organised the party. Olsson was dragged to a helicopter hangar blindfolded where he was treated to a lapdance before boarding a helicopter which took the stag do over the Costa del Sol and to Ronda’s famous Ascari racetrack. “This is probably my favourite place in Spain — they have a lot of toys and a lot of fun things,” Olsson said before choosing a car and tearing up the track. The group then raced to exclusive property hotspot Sotogrande for a game of polo, before travelling to a nearby airfield, where they boarded an €60 million private jet and flew to Barcelona. “You guys are crazy in a fantastic way,” Olsson told his friends as they stepped on board the jet, complete with leather furniture, seafood and champagne. They then checked into a luxury suite at the five-star W Hotel in the Catalan capital, complete with a jacuzzi and rotating bed. “I feel like I’m in a movie in Vegas,” Olsson said. It comes after Olsson, who splits his time between Marbella and Monaco, recently put his old Marbella home, Casa Como, on the market for €1.7 million last July.

POWER COUPLE: Jon Olsson with his soon-to-be wife Janni

LIVING THE DREAM: Olsson gets comfortable at W Hotel in Barcelona

JETTING OFF: Olsson on private plane

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Property

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Buyers at the biggest man-made lagoon in Europe will be welcomed to a cinematic experience and plenty more, writes Elisa Menendez

s the day turns to dusk, grab the kids, hop on a boat and sail across the waters to watch your favourite film on a big floating screen. Welcome to Alcazaba Lagoon, the first Crystal Lagoon in Europe. The luxurious €200 million residential development, in the hills of Casares, next to Estepona Golf, opened its amazing Crystal Lagoon last summer, and it is already wowing visitors with its sparkling turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. And this summer is set to get even better as a brand new water-side chiringuito opens along with the giant floating cinema. “You will be able to sit, have a beer and something to eat while you watch a movie, or even a football match, with the backdrop of the lagoon,” said Pablo Chenevey, General Manager of Osim, which is developing the project. “We’ll be showing everything from kids films to World Cup games and cult classics,” he explained. “But there’s so many new things to offer... and some nice, big surprises,” added the Chilean

Life in film

May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

SUPS UP: You can kayak or paddleboard on your doorstep

walking distance from their homes, without having to drive to the coast. “So we said, why don’t we have a private beach for our clients? A space where people could walk to, sunbathe, enjoy kite-surfing or sailing - just like being at the beach. “And the best thing is you can relax EUROPE FIRST: The game-changing Alcazaba Lagoon knowing that your children are being watched by lifeguards in a protected area.” expat, whose company With a depth up to three metres freely use kayaks, stand up paddles, The lagoon is also environmentally friendly as it uses little water conis behind numerous de- and a surface area of 1.4 hectares, sailing boats and pedalos. velopments along the the private lagoon is a watersport Chenevey said: “We wanted people sumption, little electricity and next Costa del Sol. lover’s paradise, with the option to to feel close to the water, within to no chemicals. Chenevey added: “You might think that we use a lot of water but the great thing is that once the lagoon is full, you need just half of the water you would use for a lawn. “We use only 2% of electricity that you would use for a regular swimming pool due to the cleaning system here.” The grand complex also boasts two pools, a children’s pool and play area complete with a zipwire, beach volleyball nets, wood fire hot tubs and a sauna. So far 100 properties have alNine Lions is the ready been first Andalucian sold, while another 78 development by are currentglobal investment ly on the market and are set group UK & to be completed from June 2019. European Prices range from €220,000 for a two bedroom apartThis is a chance to take over the HEY have undertaken a ment, and up to €400,000 running of one of inland Andalucia’s series of high end qualfor a penthouse. Soon there ity investments in Catamost charming rural restaurants. will be the option of an onlunya, Madrid and the site sales and rental office, Award winning Quercus, near Balearic Islands. offering services for those So Marbella town hall was CUTTING THE RIBBON: Councellor Garre and Denton (left) Ronda, has been open for two renting out their apartment rightly happy to be cutting the for a fixed rental guarantee decades and comes with all its Ronda, the well appointed The investment commitments ribbon at the first development apartments are being built by by the group in Spain now total or by splitting rental fees. by the UK & European group in furniture and, most importantly, “We will take care of everya family firm from Ronda and €130 million. Andalucia. have been kitted out and Whilst the UK-based group is thing - check-in, cleaning, kitchen. Councillor Cristobal Garre furnished by local com- looking for similar schemes booking, maintenance, etc. Murcia welcomed the pany Blackshaw Inte- around Europe, Denton insists It will be hassle free for cliBritish group and its rior Design. he is ‘very positive’ about fur- ents as someone will be here director Fraser DenThe rent “We have been looking ther potential investments in in case anything happens,” ton at the launch of the is just 400/ for development sites Spain, particularly Andalucia. added Chenevey. 9 Lions Residences, in across the whole of “Even in times of crisis! Be- And it doesn’t finish there, Nueva Andalucia, and month. Spain,” explains Den- cause past experiences have with plans underway to build then cut the ribbon for ton, who lives in Barce- proven that the market always a further 222 apartments the development. lona. “But our criteria is comes back strong. Marbella, and a 40-room hotel over the “It’s great to have such strict as we seek only in particular, is consistently ap- next five years, Alcazaba Laan esteemed group prime projects. This pealing,” he added. joining the high-quality means that the de- The developers are part of the goon is set to be one of the end of the market in velopment must com- Lewis Trust Group, a family- most exclusive places to buy Marbella,” he said. bine a privileged location with owned company based out of on the Costa. In an enviable location with www.alcazabalaunique designs, styled with the London, which owns fashion Visit stunning views across the Med goon.com buyer in mind.” brand River Island. Call Mari Luisa on 952 180 041 - 625 233 670 and inland to the Serrania de

New territory

Amazing opportunity

Surprisingly low price for value.

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PROPERTY IN SPAIN?

Save money on your electricity and get your bill and customer service in English Call +34 916 358 626 Energy Nordic is your English-speaking electricity supplier in Spain. Everything we say and write to you will be in clear, direct English. Should you have any questions, you will always have an English-speaking customer service team ready to assist you. Quite simple! We have an office in Fuengirola and you are always very welcome to drop by. Find out more at energynordic.com

*At the moment 9 out of 10 can save money on their energy bill if they switch to Energy Nordic (based on our current customer profile)

Energy Nordic S.L. C/San Pancracio 18 29640 Fuengirola +34 916 358 626 energynordic.com

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Property

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Castle kings S As Game of Thrones announces its eighth series is to heavily feature an Andalucian castle, the Olive Press picks out its top ten best built Iberian fortresses

PAIN undoubtedly has one of the largest and most stunning collection of castles in the world. It’s no surprise that Game of Thrones will be featuring one in its upcoming eighth series. Announced this month, the Almodovar del Rio castle (top right) near Cordoba will

May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

take centre stage in the hit fantasy series’ penultimate season. Previously a Roman fort, the current structure is of Moorish origin, from the year 760. During the Middle Ages, it underwent several renovations and reconstructions. Below we have rounded up 10 other castles from Spain’s enviable collection. DANGEROUS GAME: The Throne gang

Castle of La Mota, Valladolid This reconstructed fortress dates back to the 11th century. Many kings of Castile and Aragon fought over it, but it has been a Castilian holding since the 1400s. The castle dominates the surrounding Valladolid Province. At one time it was a well-known prison, housing inmates like Hernando Pizarro, conqueror of Peru, and Cesare Borgia.

Alcazaba of Almeria

This fortress sits on a hill overlooking the city of Almeria. It was first built by Muslims in the 10th century and was later added to by the Catholics. Moviegoers may find portions of the alcazaba look familiar, especially if they’ve seen Conan the Barbarian or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Continues overleaf

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www.inlandandalucia.com May 9th - MayMarch 22nd2018 2018

by our 2017 customer database survey of 13,500. SEE for yourself

VOTED BEST and MOST INFORMATIVE WEBSITE

*includes videos *google street maps *full descriptions *chat box

59.000 €

Rute – Córdoba

TH3558

The house has access to two streets, with possibility of doing a garage. There are two floors, on the ground floor it has a great lounge, two bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom, utility room, and a nice storage type cave in the courtyard.

134.950 €

Antequera - Malaga

VL678

Beautiful Villa that sits within a plot of 5000m2 of land that consists of patio areas, established gardens, Garage and parking area, Private swimming pool with terrace all surrounded by stunning andalucian countryside. The living space is laid out over one floor with a spacious entrance hall that opens to 4 bedrooms and a full family bathroom.

28.000 €

Jaén

TH3319

The property is located on a quiet street with stunning views over the town and countryside. The ground floor of the property offers a living room, double bedroom, fitted kitchen and patio area. On the first floor you will find a second bedroom which boasts those stunning views.

49.950 €

Castillo de Locubin - Jaén

TH3609

Situated on the outskirts of the lovely Spanish village of Castillo de Locubin and close to the natural springs of the river San Juan this spacious townhouse with views over the countryside and village. 3 beds, 1 bath. Countryside views. 117m2 plot.

49.000 €

Moclin - Granada

TH3695

89.000 €

Iznajar - Cordoba

CJ418

97.500 €

La Mina - Cordoba

VL841

79.995 €

Priego de Cordoba - Cordoba

CJ420

A pretty double fronted semi-detached townhouse with 2 floors and a basement perfect for storage. At the moment there are 3 bedrooms but you could easily make more if needed. There is also a decent sized terrace which boasts views over the village and catches the sun all day long.

This charming detached 4 bedroom character cortijo is nestled amongst olive groves with stunning countryside views. Outside there are several patio areas where you can truly enjoy outside living with a vine covered shaded area for those hot summer afternoons.

This delightful single story property of a central hall way that leads to a bright good size lounge with fireplace and air-conditioning, 3 spacious double bedrooms all with plenty of natural light and a separate dining room, fully fitted kitchen with plenty of storage and a full family bathroom.

This fabulous Cortijo has a plot of 500m2 a great space for growing veggies and even adding a pool, there are also various outbuildings which can be used as storage. You have off road parking, the property comes part furnished and is detached. Perfect location!

Malaga Office

Jaén Office

Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Molina, Malaga

Calle Abad Moya 4b, 23680 Alcala la Real, Jaén

info@inlandandalucia.com

contact@inlandandalucia.com

952 74 15 25

953 58 70 40

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advice

VII 22

Property

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Bellver Castle, Mallorca

This castle is the only circular fortress of its kind in Europe. Not only is the wall around the castle circular, but so are the towers and the castle itself. King James II of Mallorca built the masterpiece in the 14th century. It was later used as a military prison for political prisoners and today houses a museum.

Lorca Castle, Murcia Lorca Castle was designed to be a defensive fortress, and it worked, having never been forcibly taken by invaders since being built in the Medieval era. It sits on a site of a former Muslim citadel, and is now a heritage center, known as Fortress of the Sun.

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Penafiel Castle, Valladolid Penafiel is noted for its length (150 metres) and its resemblance to a ship. Standing tall at 30 metres, this fortress was built between the ninth and 15th centuries and still holds an imposing presence, especially when its lit up at night.

Olite Castle, Navarra Also known as the Palacio Real de Olite, the castle was rebuilt on first century Roman ruins. Various monarchs added to it over the years, using a variety of architectural styles, with towers, courtyards and gardens. The castle eventually fell into disrepair, though the Spanish government has been restoring it since 1937.

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Coca Castle, Segovia

With only three sides, Coca Castle is unique among Spain’s cast of castles. It is built into a hillside that provides a defense from invaders who would have attacked from the rear. Its architecture was influenced by the Moors though it was built by Christians in the mid-15th century. Much of the castle’s interior was destroyed in the last century, but the exterior still retains Moorish features.

www.theolivepress.es

May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

VIII 23

New Castle of Manzanares el Real, Madrid

This 15th century fortress is one of the best preserved castles in the Madrid area. Its other claim to fame is that it featured in a scene in the epic movie, El Cid. Built entirely of granite, The six-floor castle is a shining example of Spanish military architecture. Today it houses a museum on Spanish castles.

Alhambra, Granada

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to talk about Spanish castles without mentioning the stunning Alhambra. As one of, if not THE most visited tourist sites in the country, there is nothing quite like it. The Alhambra - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Red Castleâ&#x20AC;? in Arabic - has intricate architectural details representing the influence of the Moors who inhabited it for several centuries. Because this is such a popular attraction, the number of visitors is restricted; Alhambra officials recommend booking tickets in advance.

Alcazar of Segovia The Alcazar of Segovia is the fairy-tale mold of European castles and is reported to be the inspiration for the Cinderella Castle at Disney World. The castle sits on a hill and gives visitors the impression it is like a ship sailing toward them. Royalty lived here, including Isabella I who was crowned here in 1474. The castle is a museum today with paintings and an armory.

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

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May 9th - MayMarch 22nd2018 2018

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Property

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May 9th - MayMarch 22nd 2018 May 2018 2018

PIONEER: King Alfonso XIII was determined to build hotels to rival London and Paris

STATELY: The Ritz is famous for its elaborate interiors

Spritz up the Ritz T

Iconic Spanish hotel receives €99 million makeover

HE Ritz Madrid is the most iconic of all the hotels left behind by King Alfonso XIII - and the already palatial establishment is now getting a €99 million makeover. The hotel closed at the beginning of March to Alfonso wanted a hotel to rival stately counterreceive the refurb from the Mandarin Oriental parts in the likes of London and Paris, so he comGroup. missioned French architect Charles Mewes to The upgrades include the reindesign a new grand project in the statement of a glass roof in the capital in 1908. centre of the property, a basement The finest of fashions were seAlfonso wanted spa and pool and a royal suite lected: heavy-pile, richly patterned overlooking the Prado, the city’s a hotel to carpets woven in the local Royal eminent museum which houses Tapestry Factory (which have rerival stately numerous pieces by Goya and Vemained in place until today); mirlázquez. The much-loved terrace counterparts in rors from Pereantón; china by Ligarden at the front of the hotel will moges. stay, while the restaurant will move London and Paris Its high standards were unparalback to its original site. leled in the city, and a who’s who King Alfonso began commissioning from the Roaring Twenties to the parador hotels - lodgings in historic buildings - in Noughties have checked in over the years, in1926. cluding Eva Perón and Madonna, Gabriel Garcia He is forever immortalised in the Alfonso XIII in Márquez and Salvador Dalí (after whom a cockSevilla, a Mudejar-style palace full of azulejo tail is named). tiles and minarets, which he had built for the The work is expected to be completed by late 1929 Expo. 2019. But the Ritz Madrid was his greatest legacy.

STUNNING: The hotel is already one of a kind for its beauty

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May 9th - MayMarch 22nd2018 2018

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Property

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Gibraltar property will make its mark at A Place in the Sun Live for the first time

GIBRALTAR estate agent will be the first from the Rock to appear at the A Place in the Sun Live expo in London. EFPG Estate Agents will be giving its expert advice on the advantages of buying in Gibraltar to more than 18,000 visitors at the London Olympia between May 11 to 13. It comes after the company, based at 15 Irish Town, announced a joint initiative with Raine and Co,

one of southern England’s largest independent estate agents. ‘EFPG Raine’ aims to combine both companies’ strengths to promote property both in Gibraltar and the UK. They will offer selective developments in southern Spain and Portugal in the future.

Rock-ing London

May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

LOCAL: Branch in Irish Town

THROBBING: Up to 10,000 visitors are expected at the show from May 11 to 13

“It’s a really exciting time for us,” explains marketing manager Tanya Wilkinson. “Gibraltar is a great place to live and we are very proud to be representing the Rock in London.”

EFPG raine-international, will be showing a selection of Gibraltar’s new developments, attractive buy to let investment properties and resale properties. EFPG will be available offering their expert ad-

vice. A Place in the Sun Live is the official exhibition of the hit Channel 4 TV show and one of the largest overseas property exhibitions in Europe.

If you are interested in your property or development being included in EFPG’s portfolio, Email enquiries@efpgestateagents.com or call 00 350 200 65065. www.EFPGestateagents.com.

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Put your trust in us WITH more than 15 years experience in Spain, Casas y Reformas has made a name for itself as one of the most trusted construction firms on the Costa del Sol. Operating between Malaga and Manilva, the company can help you at any stage of the construction process, from consultancy on building plots, drafting of projects and technical reports, to the final decoration of your home. “Our works speaks for itself with more than 300 projects completed to date,” explains Swedish site manager Robert. “We made it through the financial re-

cession thanks not only to our solvency but the quality of our work.” Casas y Reformas prides itself on quality, commitment and customer service, and offers services in seven languages, including Swedish, English, Finnish, Danish, Russian, French and Spanish. So if your villa needs a facelift or you need advice on building on a new plot, call 951 245 389 or visit casas-reformas.com. http://casas-reformas.com/en/ contact/

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May 9th - MayMarch 22nd2018 2018

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WE BUILD YOUR DREAMS! Nordic assurance throughout the entire construction process. For over 15 years, the Nordic construction company Casas & Reformas has helped clients to create their dream homes on the Costa del Sol. With the highest focus on quality and communication, we will assist you with everything from minor renovations to new production and make sure you are in safe hands throughout the entire construction process. Our international team has a solid experience from the Spanish, English and Nordic construction industry and we speak English, Swedish, German, Finnish, Danish, Russian, French and Spanish. Together with our partners in the form of interior designers, architects and suppliers we offer a complete service for you and your project.

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Property

Stream team

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Sales are flowing fast at Riverside, the first project in Benahavis village for over a decade

ONSTRUCTION has begun on the first building project in Benahavis village for more than 10 years and it’s selling fast! Since going on the market just over a month ago, almost a quarter of the offplan apartments in the Riverside complex have been snapped up. Marketed by Propertiespain, the eco-

friendly homes are just a stone’s throw away from Benahavis’ buzzing restaurant and bar scene. “They’re perfect to live in all year round but can also make a great investment as rentals,” explains CEO of Propertiespain Scott Marshall. “It’s no secret that there is an incredibly high demand in Benahavis right now.” The homes are constructed by Quabit, a stock exchange listed company and one of Spain’s most trusted developers. “We have only the best working on Riverside,” adds Brit Marshall (right), who launched Properties Spain 10 years ago. “These are high-spec apartments with open plan kitchens, underfloor heating in bathrooms and huge doubleglazed windows.” He added that Dragados, the firm building the homes,

May 9th - MayMay 22nd 2018 2018

GROUND-BREAKING: Construction has begun on the environmentally friendly project is one of the most respected in the country. The modern dwellings have taken everything into account, including the environment, as they are run using Aerothermia systems. Aerothermia collects its energy from warm and atmospheric air and has been recognised as a renewable form of energy by the EU.

It means it’s up to 50% cheaper to heat your home as it uses only 25% electricity. The 75 apartments all come with parking and storage space included in the price and there is a communal pool for residents. Construction will be completed between the end of 2019 and January 2020. Anyone interested should call 952 85 54 89 or visit www.propertiespain.com.

Why Riverside? ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●

You’ll be surrounded by deeply forested mountains with stunning rambling paths. A golf paradise with six golf courses is just a seven-minutes drive away. Just 500 metres from Benahavis’ famous gourmet restaurant scene and its authentic laid back feel. Only 18 km to Marbella and Estepona for something different. Only 7 km from the beach.

Dream rural escape comes up for sale IT is a genuine secret spot, whose secrets unravel slowly to the untrained mind. High up in the soaring Sierras of the Alpujarras of Granada, Cortijo Poqueira is the perfect country estate for dreamers and adventurers. In the heart of the famous Barranco Poqueira, this is the perfect escape for hiking, biking and skiing. Either way, boredom it is not an option. Now, this amazing country estate with five separate residences, has come up for sale. Owned by Aurora Susino since 1983 she and her husband have developed the place into the perfect rural retreat. Each property is different, some

ideal for families, others for couples. “We also have a lot of writers who need peace to work on their novels, and in recent years many people who work online,” explains Aurora. This is great communication between the estate and the nearby towns and it is just five minutes by car to Pampaneira and 15 minutes to Orgiva. While the estate has just come on the market, it has plenty of holiday rentals and longer term clients booked in. “We are pretty full and we have plenty of new clients every weekend,” she adds. www.aurorasusino.es

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May 9th - MayMarch 22nd2018 2018

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Property

May 9th - May 22nd 2018 May 2018

STUNNING: One of the dozens of photos snapped by Mark Redondo in his award-winning series on Spain’s empty homes

Marchena - Sevilla - VL811

150.000 €

This beautiful Villa sits within a plot of over 2500m2 which has beautifully landscaped and wraps around the property creating patio areas for dining and an amazing private swimming pool with plenty of green space for the family. Its offers 3 spacious double bedrooms, a well fitted kitchen with plenty of storage and a full family bathroom. This really is a lovely property in an amazing getaway location well worth viewing.

tel: +34 952 74 15 25

Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Molina, Malaga info@inlandandalucia.com ANUNCIO OLIVE PRESS ENERO 18 OK.pdf 1 22/1/18 www.inlandandalucia.com

15:33

Bleak beauty

Drone shots of Spain’s abandoned homes scoop photography award

HIS is the award-winning photography series cataloging Spain's abandoned homes. Mark Redondo has spent nearly a decade documenting the millions of homes left empty following the 2007/8 global financial crash. By 2011, Spanish census figures

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put the number of empty houses at 3.4 million, roughly 30% of all of Europe’s empty property. Around half a million developments were only partially completed. Redondo revisited some of the original properties he photographed this year, for a second installment called Sand Castles (part II).

The British Journal of Photography’s DJI Drone Photography Awards funded the project. "I wanted to present the developments like postcards,” said Redondo. "In the way that the developers and constructors would have imagined them, with nice light, but obviously with the feeling that something is wrong.” The new perspective also puts the developments in a stark contrast to their surrounding areas. “I knew the developments were big, but I could not imagine their true extent,” he added. "The sites are completely deserted and the locations are difficult to reach so, unless you are determined to go there, most people don’t ever see them."

CMY

FROZEN IN TIME: Piles of bricks and an unfinished cul-de-sac are part of the collection

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MORTGAGE THINK TANK Make sure you follow these dos and donts when applying for a mortgage, writes Tancrede de Pola

Top of the tips

HE Finance Bureau in Marbella has helped thousands of prospective expats and locals find the mortgage that’s right for them. In his decades of experience, director Tancrede de Pola has been asked everything and anything about the often tricky ins and outs of buying abroad. And while the market is doing great right now, there will always be certain dos and donts when searching for a mortgage. ●●

Better deals are to be had through your broker than the internet, we know what we are doing!

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Avoid flashy advertising which is often misleading, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

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Quotes can only be compared on the same day due to market changes

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Watch out for incomplete terms and conditions

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Remember that a mortgage product has to be considered as a whole. There is no point having the best interest rate if the term is short and bonus products are over-priced.

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Don’t rush: If you are offered a quote without giving over all your details, beware!

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Make sure you keep up with all existing mortgage and loan payments.

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Improve your credit score by putting all expenditure on a credit card and paying it off in full each month.

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In the twelve weeks before you apply for a loan, run your bank account as if you already have a mortgage.

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Make sure you are registered on the Electoral Roll at home.

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Ensure you have a good estate agent, a good mortgage broker and a good lawyer.

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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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs Pet sitters wanted Travel More BE ‘APPY! worry less

Positive numbers for hotels

STAYCATIONING locals rather than vacationing visitors kept A UK house sitting company the Costa del Sol’s hotels busy has arrived in Spain after last month. expanding to more than 130 Figures for March, which incountries. If you’re heading off somewhere, vets clude Easter, have continued TrustedHousesitters, which agree that most pets are happiest at home. That’s why TrustedHousesitters helps give 2018’s upward trend in hotel works like a free Airbnb for pet owners peace of mind whilst they go on bookings, with the number of house petsitters sitters, boasts holiday,and by finding who will look after our appmemnow and their homeDownload and pets for free. guests up 8.7% on March last more than 500,000 bers begin enjoying best Spanish Thisglobally. exchange allows the sitter the to experience new and interesting, whilst giving Thesomewhere service allows the owner news a peaceful sleep knowing onnight’s thehomeowngo. furry friends for are in house safe hands.sitersthat totheir advertise

year. This has been powered mainly by national tourists, who expanded their presence by 23.2%. The number of international visitors remained stable at 0.1% less than March 2017. Costa del Sol tourism chief Elías Bendodo said Holy Week

had contributed to the favourable figures which are also boosting growth in tourism-related jobs. Among foreign visitors, arrivals from North America increased the most at 38%, followed by the Irish (29.4%), Danish (23%) and Italians (20.9%).

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ters for when they are travelling or on holiday. In return housesitters can stay for free in homes across The Olive Press the world. The company hasnews proven TOP for in aSpain! hit, growing at a rate of 80% year-on-year since its inception and saving its members more than half a billion euros in accommodation and pet care costs. Members must pay an €89 IT was a good day at work for fee to join but it is nothing Zara founder Amancio Ortega. compared to the costs of pay- The 82-year-old raked in a ing directly for either service, whopping €693 million in one and everything else is free day thanks dividends on his going forward. stocks in Inditex, his umbrella TrustedHousesitters has company responsible for more five star reviews than brands Massimo Dutti, any other company of its Pull & Bear, Zara and kind after facilitating more others. than two million nights of The company repet sitting.

Zara founder receives €693 million in ONE DAY as clothing business booms

warded its shareholders by paying them each €0.75 per share. Shareholders received the first half of the dividend last week, with the rest coming

on November 2. It will mean Ortega will have made €1.38 billion from stocks in his own company alone this year. Given that there are 3,113 shares on the market, it means the company will pay out €2.3 billion to its investors. Originally from Galicia, Ortega opened his first small Zara store in A Coruña in 1975. He is now worth €57.8 billion and has more than 2,266 stores around the world. Inditex recorded a net profit of €3,37 billion euros in its fiscal year 2017 (from February 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018), a 6.6% increase over the previous year (€3,16 billion). Taking into account the price of shares of Inditex in the Stock Exchange, which is at €25.78 the value of Ortega’s stocks amounts to about €47.6 billion.

Splash the cash MIJAS town hall has voted to increase its budget by €66 million. It comes just two months after agreeing to a €100 million budget. The extra cash will be mostly for capital expenditure and improvements to infrastructure. The funds have been made possible after Madrid relaxed restrictions on councils to allow better-run ones to spend more cash.

Less woman in leadership BEFORE the Spanish recession just two out of ten women were in leadership positions at work, and not much has changed since. According to a study by ICSA Group and EADA business school, women in Spain only make up 7.5% of marketing managers and 5.4% of production managers. While they now make up 32% of managers in human resource jobs, men are still paid more for the same work. A male director receives an average €79,545 each year, while his female equivalent just €68.072, according to the report.

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Property AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

The costly experience of using a phony driver’s license

T is a well-documented fact that the Spanish costas’ rich variety of foreign residents increases the complexity of legal issues and driving licenses - which turn out to be fake - is one of them. This same paper reported some months back that a US national was fined €500 for carrying a ‘bogus’ international driving licence,

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An expat is facing 19 months in prison and a fine for ‘forging’ a driving licence

SPAIN’s foreign minister Alfonso Dastis has said that expats will be allowed to stay in Spain if no deal is reached between Britain and the EU. He said he would ensure that the lives of ordinary Britons in Spain are ‘not disrupted’ in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

Rejects Dastis told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “I do hope that there will be a deal. If there is no deal we will make sure that the lives of ordinary people who are in Spain, the UK people, is not disrupted. “Over 17 million Brits come to Spain every year and many of them live here or retire here and we want to keep it that way as much as possible.” According to the Office of National Statistics Spain hosts the largest number of British citizens living inside the EU. Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has suggested holding a second Brexit referendum if Parliament rejects Theresa May’s deal with the EU. Khan said: “If Parliament decides to accept the deal that our Government makes then we are leaving the European Union. “If Parliament rejects the deal made by our Government then that opens up a whole host of questions.” Brexit negotiations have so far stymied progress to trade talks, despite Angela Merkel setting out a potential December start date.

Fakin’ it EXCLUSIVE By Jed Neill

A PENSIONER is taking legal advice after being fined for using a ‘bogus’ international driving licence bought from a wellknown expat businessman. American Andrea Barnett, 60, is demanding a refund from David ‘the Dogman’ Klein, after he sold her the ‘suspiciouslooking’ document for €300. The Marbella-based motherof-two, from Illinois, is furious after police told her the licence wasn’t legal, and fined her €500. “They were completely certain that it was not real,” she told the Olive Press. “They told me it was dodgy, fake and I needed

SEE MORE P 22

Women threatened with jail after buying ‘fake driving licence’ from notorious expat

‘DOGMAN’: Klein to pay the fine or I would go to jail. “They weren’t interested who had sold it to me. They just wanted my money.”

But expat Barnett, who by her own admittance was a little naive, has decided that enough is enough and has now called in two lawyers to investigate the case. “I want the police to change their attitude and to investigate those that sell these licences. I don’t want it to happen to anyone else,” she said. “If I had been told clearly that I could not just use this licence on its own I would never have paid so much.” As well as probe the legality of the licences, she hopes to get a full refund from Klein, who

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it was a lucky escape I should say considering that a another middle-eastern businessman is facing prison time for using an ‘International Driver’s License’ issued by an entity named as the International Automobile Alliance (IAA), purportedly based in New York.

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writes a pet advice column in a cences are made in Taiwan, the local newspaper and has a raOlive Press has discovered. dio show. “It is a fantasy document,” stat“It never occurred to me that ed a police spokesman, adding anyone here would sell me a the man had bought it off the fake driving license,” she said. internet for just €100. “I contacted Klein after seeing The Olive Press investigated an advert in a local paper and the same issue three years ago met him at a petrol station, after Spanish motoring writer near Benahavis and handed Brian Deller had his website over €300 in cash after showmysteriously hacked. ing him my American passport The site, www.spainvia.com and license. which warned of the dangers of “He looked successful and fake licences - was remarkably wealthy. You tend to trust peoredirected to Klein’s then webple like that.” site for the Costa del Sol Action Two weeks later BarGroup. nett, who has two Conveniently, all daughters, received the mentions of the lilicence (right), which cence issue were looks unprofessional erased from the weband badly printed. site. It has validated by the We reported that ‘O&E Auto Club AssoKlein had sold numerciation’, an organisaous permits – via clastion that apparently sified adverts with his does NOT exist. mobile phone number The language is strange and at – for many years. the bottom it states: “We are a When contacted by a prospecprivate organization not affilitive client as part of the invesated with the United Nations or tigation, Klein did indeed offer any other quasi government ora ‘10-year licence’ for €300, but ganization.” admitted it was ‘risky’. The licence is fake, as police in “I can get you an international Alicante confirmed after conlicence that will last for 10 victing a driver with a license years, but it is a risk (to use it in from the SAME organisation Spain),” he told our journalist. in 2013. Continues on Page 4 The vast majority of these li-

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According to the State Prosecutor’s writ of accusation, the licence was deemed ‘fake in its

entirety’, having a photograph affixed by the owner or a third person’ and, based on those

findings, requested to the Court that the alleged offender be sentenced to a minimum prison term

of 19 months for forging a public document and plus an additional criminal fine of 12 euros/day for a period of 18 months if the offender is unable to show evidence that he did have a valid driver’s licence from another country (it now appears that only U.S. officially-approved ‘AAA’ and ‘AATA’ associations can issue such international licences). There are many online ‘businesses’ selling fake driving licences, along with passports and IDs. One advertises its business offer as having ‘years of experience producing original quality real/ false passports, ID’s, drivers’ licences.’ Alongside these obvious clandestine operators, there is second tier of businesses that - purporting to have a specific Government official approval - state they can issue valid international driving licences pursuant to Annex 9 of the Geneva Convention and Annex 6 of the Vienna Convention. To sum up, a) international drivers’ licences are generally only issued by officially recognised agencies to drivers who already have a valid licence from the country and b) the agencies issuing them must be approved by the specific Government.

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UR bodies are covered in microscopic creatures, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Not surprisingly the vast majority of this microscopic life resides in our gut. Scientists have discovered that more than 50% of the human body’s total cell count is made up by microbes. Understanding this human microbiome is leading to new innovative treatments for many conditions including neurological diseases and allergies More interestingly, our ‘human’ cells only account for between 0.01 and 1% of the total number of genes in our bodies. Some scientists now say that by combining with our own DNA, the genes of our ‘microbiome’ augment the activity of our own cells thereby playing a pivotal role in health, wellbeing and disease. Scientists now believe that this resident microbial material effects how our bodies work and are studying the role the microbiome plays in digestion, regulating the immune system, protecting against disease and manufacturing vital vitamins. This revolutionary way of thinking about microbes promises to change medicine. Historically we have fought microbes with antibiotics, vaccines and gene focused therapy, but perhaps all that is about to change. Whilst many of these innovations have been good and saved lives, they may also have done untold damage to our ‘good bacteria’. Over the last 50 years there has been a huge increase in the incidence of autoimmune disease, allergy, and cancer which we now think may be linked to our microbiomes and which some now associate with specific diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson's, depression and autism. Furthermore, there is clear evidence that gut bacteria may play a role in some cases of obesity. Whilst family history clearly plays a role, more importantly portion size, and a diet of burgers, sugary drinks, processed food and chocolate will significantly affect both your risk of obesity and the type of microbes that grow in your diges-

tive tract. Research suggests that a bad mix of bacteria metabolizes food in a way that contributes to obesity. Experiments have shown that feeding lean sterile mice (without any bacteria) faecal bacteria from obese humans results in obese mice and that reversing the bacteria, makes the mice thin again! In the future, microbes could become a new form of medicine and it has been suggested that we should be taking bugs instead of drugs which has led to a growth in probiotic consumption. Research now suggests that repairing someone's microbiome can actually lead to remission of diseases such as ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. This might also be true in some cases of obesity In the future we may need to monitor our microbiome on a daily basis in order to record information about our health. The evidence clearly suggests that these tiny microbes transform our health in ways we are only just beginning to understand.

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On the brink DOZENS of protests have taken place in Spain over the May Day holiday to demand better working conditions. Organised by the country’s main labour unions UGT and CCOO, the more-than 70 nationwide demonstrations called for gender equality, better jobs and decent pensions. CCOO chief Unai Sordo, asked ‘for the streets to fill up with people in order to shake up the comfort zone that employers’ associations are basking in, thanks to the government’s labour reform.’ Rallies took place across the country, from Madrid and Barcelona to Valencia, Sevilla and Zaragoza. “We are aware that street mobilisations are the leverage that enables policy changes,” said Pepe Álvarez, UGT Secretary General. “Spain hasn’t been in a situation like this in a long time,” he added, alluding to recent protests over pensions and gender equality. It comes after the CCOO and UGT warned in April that unless something is done to improve

Unions warn of social unrest over poor working conditions as thousands take to streets wages and reduce precariousness, there will be social unrest. It comes as Spain continues to be the fastest-growing economy in the eurozone, which unions say is not being reflected in the lives of ordinary citizens. “We are starting to see indignation, an-

ger and impotence. Either growth is shared out, or there’s going to be conflict,” warned union bosses last month. Spain’s third-largest union, USO, said it will seek pay raises based on the CPI cost-of-living index plus four percentage points.

Workers walkout HUNDREDS of H&M workers have gone on strike in Madrid. Some 318 employees at the clothing giant’s logistics centre in Torrejon de Ardoz have started a wave of stoppages to force bosses to comply with their collective bargaining agreement. Staff claim they are owed money for night shifts worked during holidays in 2017 and 2016 and are calling for improvements for employees who perform specific jobs at the centre. Unions claim they have tried to reach agreements with the management on two occasions but the negotiations have come to nothing. It comes just weeks after Amazon employees in Madrid staged walkouts amid similar claims.

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Olay, olé! MADRID President Cristina Cifuentes has resigned after footage of her stealing two tubs of anti-ageing cream in 2011 went viral. The embattled leader was already embroiled in a fake university degree scandal after it emerged this March that she had lied about receiving a Masters. Already facing calls to resign, the video clip was the final straw for the 53-year-old’s political career. It shows Cifuentes being held by two security guards after swiping two tubs of Olay antiageing cream, worth €40. She was vice president of the PP in Madrid at the time. She was rumbled by a perfume saleswoman who alerted nearby guards at Eroski in Puente de Vallecas. Cifuentes was held for 45 minutes before two Policia Nacional agents arrived and decided to take no further action after recognising who she was.

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018 May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Crash van wallop THE archetypal ‘man with a van’ is in the vanguard of traffic accidents in Spain. Between 2011 and 2015, the number of road accidents involving vans shot up 41%, resulting in a death toll of 935 and 4,600 cases of serious injury. The figures were released in a study published by Insurance Company Línea Directa. Explaining the facts behind the stats,

General Manager Francisco Valencia attributed the rise in accidents to a boom in ‘man with a van’ businesses. The rise of electronics commerce and the higher number of freelance workers and non-professional van drivers has seen an increase in this kind of vehicle on the roads. The numbers speak for themselves. Of the 940,000 accidents registered by the insurers, 23,000 involved vans.

It all depends where you fill up … MOTORISTS in some provinces of Spain are paying up to 20% more for their petrol. If you tank up in Valencia, Murcia or Badajoz you’re quids in, but not so lucky if you refuel in Oviedo, Mallorca or Lugo where petrol prices are among the highest in the country. Málaga and the Costa del Sol fall somewhere in the middle, according to a surprising new study by Spain’s Consumers and Users Association (OCU). Their research into the best places to fill up your tank shows that prices oscillate between €237 and €330 euros. Also, depending on the kind of fuel, prices may vary by as much as 15-20%. The study estimates that depending on the provincial location of the gas station, a driver can save €237 by choosing 95 octane fuel. This increases to €240 for diesel and a whopping €330 for 98 octane fuel. But the most determining factor is the region and province. The most expensive regions include Galicia, Asturias and the Balearic Islands, while Castilla y León, La Rioja and Navarra are among the cheapest. Andalucía

Cheapest fuel in Spain? falls in the middle with a saving rate of between 8% and 13%. Some of the best provinces for saving fuel are Valencia, Bada-

Speedy crackdown A NATIONWIDE purge on speeding has seen 21,823 drivers receiving letters from the DGT informing them that they’ve been caught on speed cameras. The massive mailshot was achieved in just seven days from April 16 to 22. Among those nabbed, there are 18 cases set to go to trial for exceeding the limit by over 80 km/h, which can carry a jail sentence under Spanish law. A majority 72% of offenses were committed on B-roads with only 28% occurring on motorways. According to Trafico, this is because there are more speed cameras placed on minor roads due to their having a higher accident and death toll than motorways. The DGT has published some of the most extreme cases of reckless driving on social media, including an Audi travelling at 170km/h on a 100 km/h road, a limit that will soon be reduced to an even more restrictive 90 km/h.

Auto Quick

e c i v er S

joz, Murcia and Almeria. This is due to there being a large number of independent petrol stations to break the Repsol and Cepsa monopolies and keep prices competitive. In places like Lugo, the Balearics and La Coruña where there is a larger presence of the big fuel companies, prices are also higher because of local hydrocarbon taxes.

Seat sales drive SEAT is celebrating its best sales season in history with plans to hire 250 workers and roll out 2,300 cars a day. Between January and March this year the Spanish car manufacturer sold 139,000 vehicles - up 18.7% on the same period last year. Seat already produces two best-sellers in their segment - the Leon and the Ibiza.

Opening times: 9am - 6pm Mon-Fri Tel: 952 493 997 Mob: 629 270 222 Email: info.autoquick@gmail.com C/ Fuengirola 2 (Bajo Gasolinera BP) 29649 Mijas Costa (Malaga) www.autoquick.es

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Barca wins Clasico food battle BARCELONA has pipped Madrid in the food stakes. The city has come above the Spanish capital in the ranking of the best places to eat in the world. While the more celebrated foodie haunts of San Sebastian and Bilbao have been curiously omitted, Barcelona ranked fourth in the poll by TripAdvisor, while Madrid came in eighth. The Catalan city was noted for its contemporary cuisine fusion and a huge lineup of tapas bars, all-day eateries and upscale, Michelin-starred restaurants. Madrid meanwhile was praised for its hidden gems, Michelin starred joints and popular food tours. Incredibly, both cities were pipped to the post by Italian favourities Rome and Florence, which came in first and second. Paris came in third. The ranking is created based on data gathered using an algorithm that looked at bookings, traveller reviews and ratings from its 455 million visitors each month.

May 9th - May 22nd 2018

May 9th - May 22nd

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Raisons to be cheerful THE humble Malaga raisin could help to regenerate the Axarquia region after being given special international status. The unique agricultural process that sees Moscatel grapes grown on steep slopes, before being dried and sometimes turned into wine, has been recognised by the United Nations. A committee formed to support international agriculture methods has now awarded the 2000 family growers of the region with a special status. The sun-dried raisins have been produced around villages, including El Borge, Cutar and Almachar, for centuries. Now a meeting of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Rome, has confirmed the importance of this method to the local economy. Awarding it as a so-called SIPAM, or system for the Promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean, local growers are now set to capitalise by setting up a foundation to promote it. The news comes as a UN study showed that food products

Ancient Axarquia dried grape process is recognised by UN

RURAL BONUS: For the Axarquia raisin farmers linked to their place of origin are economically and socially beneficial to rural areas and promote sustainable development. Food products registered with a Geographical Indication (GI) label boast an annual trade value of over €50 billion worldwide. The study looked at nine specific foods, including Manchego cheese, in Castilla la Mancha, Taliouine saffron in Morocco and Tête de Moine cheese in Switzerland.

In all nine cases, the price of the final product, went up by between 20% and 50% when they had GI status. One reason is that consumers identify unique characteristics - such as taste, colour, texture and quality - in GI products, and are willing to pay higher prices. "Geographical indications can be a pathway to sustainable development for rural communities," said Emmanuel Hidier, Senior Economist at the FAO.

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

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Reservas / Bookings : 952 59 03 93

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

By Benaojan Eddie

I’m in Trouble

hat is the matter with my owners? Why don’t they understand all of the complicated thoughts that go on in a dog’s head? They’re not bad on the food front to be fair, they do get the idea that I love going out for walks and they are quite good at playing with my toys. However like many a dog loud noises frighten me – and this week has seen the local feria in our village of Benaoján. If you have ever experienced a small village celebration you will probably be familiar with the concept of ‘cohetes’ - rockets that are fired high into the sky where they explode with a loud bang. I am terrified of them and if my owners are around they will give me a hug and scratch my ears which helps to minimize the shock I feel. I still tremble a lot but reassurance that all is not a disaster will minimize this. The problem happens when they are out. When I am left alone I do not know what to do with myself so usually just pace around. That is not great but it’s Ok if I can get outside. This past week one evening they closed the front doors and left me inside. I got so anxious to be with them that I decided the way to do that was to bite my way through the wooden door frame. I suppose with hindsight I shouldn’t have chewed both doors. I only destroyed a little bit, honest but I was upset. How was I to know that the doors were new and, according to them, very expensive? I heard them talking about it – they’re going to have to get a carpenter in especially to repair them. They were very sympathetic with me actually and didn’t tell me off because they know how scared I get. It won’t happen again as long as they take me with them when there are rockets going off – or when there are thunderstorms. Promise.

First start with some fresh fish

Add a sprinkle of salt

Whack them on the grill

READY, STEADY, COOK

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

Contemporary fine dining

Joffrey Charles is a French chef born and raised in Normandy. He has worked, for the past decade, in fine dining restaurants in Mont Saint Michel, Val D’Isere, Corsica, Dublin and London. Joffrey recently featured in a 2018 Channel 4 programme about his cuisine & opening a restaurant in Spain.

Wed to Sun 1-4pm, 2 Course Lunch €20 & Tues to Sat 6.30-10.30pm, A La Carte Dinner

tel: 952 493 909 or 658 748 919 reservations@joffreyslasmimosas.com Urbanización las Mimosas, 3A, La Cala De Mijas, 29649 Mijas, Málaga Plenty of parking available outside restaurant www.joffreyslasmimosas.com

Follow our seasoned espetero as he shows you how to cook the perfect ‘espeto’ sardines

WORDS AND PICS BY JON CLARKE

TALES OF A HOTEL DOG

42 DRINK & TRAVEL Food, drink & Food, travel Food, drink & travel

Take a break, talk to the guests...

...and voila! Fresh espeto sardines ready to serve

f you thought cooking ‘espeto’ sardines was as simple as A,B,C… then think again. A good ‘espetero’, as they are known, has often spent years mastering the art of cooking fish on a skewer, or ‘espeto’ and budding chefs can even undertake month-long courses on the art. The word comes from the verb ‘espetar’ meaning literally to skewer, and an espeto normally refers to six or seven sardines put on one. Cooked over a pit of coals, a lot must go into the perfect seasoning which is usually olive oil and sea salt, and the heat of the coals and the length of timing cooking them is the true art. Aside from that you can have espeto fish of various types, but mostly - it means sardines.

43 Photo by Jon Clarke

with DINING SECRETSwww.theolivepress.es of ANDALUCIA.com May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Tasty grilled sardines at their best

Spain PM snubs Michelin star restaurants for Mcdonalds during Ronda trip restaurant, one local source told the Olive Press. Local restaurateurs queued up to slam the PP leader, who was apparently taking ‘a private family visit’ to the town, despite also meeting local PP leaders. “It is a disgrace - all those fantastic local restaurants and ingredients and he goes to McDonald’s!” exclaimed Mari Luisa Martin, owner of Quercus restaurant, in nearby Jimera de Libar.

Or just want to make someone feel valued and appreciated?

When you want to celebrate an occasion it’s always good to find a special place where quality and attention to detail is guaranteed. You don’t want to leave anything to chance and are looking for a memorable experience. Just outside Ronda is a small hotel and restaurant that may have just what you are looking for. Molino del Santo in Benaoján has over thirty years ‘ experience of making occasions unforgettable for all kinds of people.. Tucked by a mountains stream you will find an oasis of calm and tranquility where you can enjoy time with someone you care about whether you come to stay over or for a meal in the much-acclaimed restaurant. English-speaking staff can help you to tailor your visit to your requirements and we try our very best to make sure that your experience is memorable and ticks all of your boxes. If you fancy an escape from the hustle and bustle of the coast we have just 18 comfortable rooms where you can wind down and enjoy time with someone important to you. The mountains views from many of the terraces will live long in your memory as you relax and enjoy the high standards of the hotel . Log fires in the cooler months, summer nights on the riverside dining terrace, unforgettable spring flowers right now, … which images will remain strongest for you?

I’m slummin’ it IT’S known for its celebrated local ingredients, a bustling food scene and is home to a Michelin star restaurant... so where did Spain’s Prime Minister go to eat when he visited Ronda? He opted for fast food joint McDonalds and national tapas chain 100 Montaditos. Confirming his quest for a Big Mac wasn’t an ‘I’m just like you’ photo opportunity, Mariano Rajoy was also said to have visited a pizza

May 9th - May 22nd 2018 Are you looking for somewhere special for a birthday celebration or an anniversary?

“It shows how much he cares about good local organic food and businesses. Some support. It’s shocking.” Rajoy, who stayed at the Parador, could have walked 50 metres to eat at the excellent restaurant Bardal, where chef Benito Gomez has recently got a Michelin star.

VOTED NO.1 SEAFOOD RESTAURANT IN COSTA DEL SOL ON TRIPADVISOR

Would you like a special menu designed just for your party? Or would you prefer to peruse the imaginative menus and let someone else do the thinking and planning? Fresh quality local ingredients are used by a skilled team to produce delicious meals served by a friendly but professional staff. “I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all the staff at Molino del Santo for making my birthday meal such a great experience last Saturday! Myself, friends and family had a wonderful afternoon and despite a slightly overcast start to the day the sun came out so that we could sit outside. Great service, food, ambience and beautiful surroundings made my 50th a very special day as did the cava!! I look forward to several more visits as do all my friends and, once again, thank you all for such a memorable day.” (Unsolicited e-mail received 02-05-18)

EARLY BIRD MENU – BEST QUALITY AND VALUE ON THE COAST Includes a starter and main course with a complimentary glass of wine/small beer or soft drink. Available 6pm - 8pm – 20€ • Early Bird 20€ - 6pm - 8pm • A La Carte Menu

Hundreds of people return to Molino del Santo every year. If you are one of them already you will know why. If you are a newcomer, we are confident you will join the many for whom Molino del Santo is a special place. More information is available by telephone or by e-mail. Contact us on 952 16 71 51 or at info@molinodelsanto.com Our website - www.molinodelsanto.com - shows you our latest menus and more information about the hotel and the area.

WE hOpE TO SEE yOu AT MOLINO DEL SANTO SOON ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

More information of any kind e-mail

info@molinodelsanto.com

www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51 ESTACIÓN DE BENAOJÁN, NEAR RONDA, MÁLAGA

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018

Vintage transfer Six million bottles of Spanish wine looks to have sealed the football deal of the year!

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A CHINESE Super League football team has offered to buy six million bottles of wine to seal a deal with Spanish player Andres Iniesta (right). Chongqing Dangdai Lifan have reportedly offered the Barcelona midfielder an €80 million deal to switch countries for the next three years. And to sweeten the deal, the club also vowed to order six million bottles of wine from Iniesta’s vineyard, in Fuentealbilla, Castilla la Mancha, worth six euros each amounting to an extra €36 million. It means the total deal would be worth €116 million. Iniesta, who has already confirmed he will retire later this month, said: "This is my last season here. I know what it means to demand what it means to play here year after year. "There are still things to be sorted. I have said I will never play against Barca, so I won't play in Europe. Barca has given me everything." Iniesta’s family have owned the vineyard, Bodega Iniesta, since the 1990s. (See right)

A growing concern

N initial 10 hectares of vines were planted at the Bodega Iniesta, in Fuentealbilla, in the early 1990s. That was before the son of viticulturist Jose Antonio Iniesta, went on to become one of the world’s best paid footballers. As the money flooded in from his career with Barcelona, Andres wisely invested it in the family business, based between Cuenca and Albacete.

In the mix

ts taken its time, but I think I can safely say that summer is just around the corner. It’s so close I can almost taste it! With that sentiment in mind then, this fortnight’s column is dedicated to wine-based cocktails - guareented to give you that summer feeling, even if the weather doesn’t.

White Sangria Sangria is synonymous with Spain. The wine and juice fusion are especially loved by holidaymakers, is a classic go-to. But it doesn’t need to just be all about red wine. White is the new red. Dry and crisp wines are best to use for this, such as Albarino (Rías Baixas) or Sauvignon Blanc. Once chosen, it’s time to get creative. Berries, apples, stone fruit, spirits and liqueurs are all welcome, but if you need a little more guidance to start look no further:

w Ne lla rbe t a M o tsp ho www.cascadamarbella.com | +34 951567849 Urb Montua, 39, 29602 Marbella

And the vineyard in the DO of Manchuela area has paid back in spades having seen substantial growth over the last three decades. The vineyard now counts 200 hectares and produces a string of wines, including Corazon Loca and its better quality Finca El Carril. The later is a crianca made from the local Bobal grape and has been receiving some excellent reviews over recent years.

Ingredients 1 lime, thinly sliced into rounds 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar 60 ml apple brandy 1/2 green apple, cored, skin on, chopped into small pieces 1 ripe peach or nectarine, thinly sliced 1 cup (166 g) sliced strawberries 1 750 ml bottle dry, crisp white wine, chilled Instructions Add lime, lemon and sugar into a pitcher and muddle Add apple brandy and muddle again, then add the rest of the fruit and stir Continue stirring while adding the wine Taste and adjust flavour as needed, adding more sugar or fruit Add ice or frozen berries

Wine time With Aleesha Hansel

Agua de Valencia

According to legend this cocktail was invented in 1959 when a group of Basque travellers asked Constante Gil, bartender at Café Madrid de Valencia, for something more exciting than their usual ‘Agua de Bilbao’ - the bar’s best cava. Gil rose to the challenge and concocted what then became known as ‘Agua de Valencia’. So popular was this new drink, that the group continued to order it every time they re-visited. Ingredients 200 ml orange juice 50 ml gin 50 ml vodka 1 750 ml bottle semi-seco Cava Sugar Instructions Place orange juice, cava, vodka and gin into a pitcher Add sugar to taste Chill before drinking

Rebujito A popular drink for festival goers in Andalucia, it is the traditional beverage served at Feria del Caballo in Jerez and Feria de Abril in Sevilla. Quick and simple to make, it takes the star of the south - Sherry - and provides an interesting alternative for Tinto de Verano lovers. Ingredients Fino or Manzanilla Sherry Gaseosa/Sprite/7UP Sugar Mint Lemon Instructions Traditionally made with one third Sherry to two thirds soda. Pour Sherry and soda into pitcher and add sugar, mint and lemon to taste and stir till sugar dissolves.

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018 May 9th - May 22nd 2018

VEGGIE DELIGHT: At Califa and Corredera 55

Gourmet greens!

TOP STOP: Califa and 55

The rise and rise of vegetarian and vegan cooking is finally hitting Andalucia, writes James Stuart, of the Califa restaurant group

HE rise of healthy eating at home and abroad has taken vegetarian and vegan food into the mainstream gastrosphere and finally on to restaurant tables. Being a vegetarian in Andalucia has never been easy unless of course you are a fan of ‘ensalada mixta’ (order without the tuna!) and the ubiquitous tortilla Española the heavyweight cousin of the simple omelette. Local venta menus are meat heavy where even a ham bone will find its way into the stock used for what would otherwise be a simple pumpkin and bean stew. Meanwhile, most of the coast’s chiringuitos are simply fried food joints, where any real quality goes out of the window. All that changes however in Middle Eastern cooking where the soul of a meal is primarily vegetable-based dishes, with spices and grains to fill the flavour and protein needs of a meal. I have long sought to incorporate many of these dishes into my variety of restaurants on

the Costa de la Luz. Our Califa group of eateries in Vejer have become an increasingly popular destination for vegans and vegetarians with more than 50 dishes for them on our menus. The Jardín del Califa’s top-selling dish, for example, is our ‘Mezze’, which is entirely vegetarian and comprising a mix of Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Taboule, Feta cheese and a Marrakesh salad. Other favourites include the ‘Palmyra’ salad with roast aubergine, basil, red pepper, dill and a black garlic yoghurt sauce - full of flavour! Meanwhile, Corredera 55’s summer offerings include ‘Green Gazpacho with peas, mint, avocado and cucumber’, a ‘Beetroot Risotto with Manzanilla sherry and fresh goats cheese topped with toasted pine nuts’ or the ‘Fresh Cauliflower Fritters with turmeric and coriander and a yoghurt and honey sauce’. There are many more to boot. The top-selling vegetarian dish at Califa Tapas meanwhile, is the ‘Goats cheese from Grazalema, deep-fried and served with apple compote’ followed by the beguilingly simple ‘Aubergine slices, fried with honey’, both an Andaluz and 1 green pepper Moroccan cooks’ fa1 large avocado (stone vourites. and peel removed) Making vegetarian 1 cucumber dishes at home is Half a cup of also incredibly simmint leaves ple. Cup of packet My 10-year-old peas daughter Isabella 2 cups of whizzes up a slick chilled vegehummus in less than table stock five minutes and with Half a cup of a big smile on her coconut milk face. 2 tablespoons Add in some cubed of lemon juice steamed beetroot 2 cloves of and you have a deligarlic cious vitamin and protein-rich dish alWhizz up all most at the drop of together in a a hat. blender. Here, is one of my Dress with favourite veggie reciApple vinegar pes. and a slice of cucumber and Visit www. serve straight califavejer.com for away. more information

EASY AS A,B,C Corredera 55’s Green Gazpacho with peas, mint, avocado and cucumber

Fresh, vibrant, healthy home cooking from the mediterranean Corredera 55, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz Open every day tel: 956 451 848 www.CalifaVejer.com

Columnists

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Once more unto the beach (club)

After

BEFORE

OU know that the summer is finally on the way when the beach clubs finally open. Of course, when I drive down from the lake and hit the coast – normally at some speed as my timekeeping is getting even worse as I get older, a result, I think, of my increasing love of ‘pottering about’ – the first metropolitan mass I hit is Puerto Banus. In Banus they define beach club a little differently from the way I do. I spent a considerable amount of time in the 80s as a teenage Marbella beach bum, all Keith Haring print shorts and occasional mother of pearl earring. A bottle of San Miguel in one hand and a mixtape in the other Sony Walkman on constant play – normally Led Zep or Van Halen - I sat in the shade, taking in the surroundings from behind my Wayfarers. Windsurfing and water skiing were always a no no, and if asked by some beach babe why I wasn’t out on the water, I would normally reply that I really wanted to get out there, but I was competing in the Nationals next week and my coach had forbidden me to do so… Your modern Banus beach bar, however, is somewhat different. For a start they are all called Beach Clubs and offer a range of food and drink somewhat more refined – and

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May 9th - May 22nd 2018 May 9th - May 22nd 2018

transparency? what a joke It’s been yet MIJAS another month MATTERS of controversy By Bill Anderson in Mijas after a councillor resigned in murky circumstances

M BEACH BUM: Young Giles and (right) as we know him today considerably more expensive – than my 150 pesetas bottled beer. While my sole intention of ordering a drink was to imbibe, the modern beach goer often orders in champagne purely to spray on fellow beachgoers – an act that would have earned you a look of incredulity followed by a good kicking in the 80s. Mind you. I probably wouldn’t be able to make it past the security. The beach club crowd dress up rather than down, so a sleeveless tie dye T shirt, the Keith Haring shorts and my Converse sneakers would stand out somewhat. As for the openings - as opposed to the ramshackle scattering of beach beds at some

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point in May that would signify that your favourite beach shack was open – the modern opening is a much more flamboyant affair. The dress code is always White and Silver, White and Gold or White and even more White, with half the cast of Cirque de Soleil providing the entertainment and more high-powered explosive in the firework finale than the opening salvo of the First Gulf War. I don’t think I’ll be at the beach much this season. You’re more likely to find me on my terrace with an mp3 player rather than a Walkman – but still listening to the same music. If only I knew where I had put those Keith Haring shorts…

The pots of gold

KNEW there was a floral thing going on in Estepona but nothing quite prepared me for the botanical binge laid on for visiting Costa Press Club journos on the only sunny afternoon in soggy April, by invitation of the Mayor; a mayor who is clearly potty about plants. José María García Urbano didn’t hold back on his dream of transforming his town into the Garden of the Costa del Sol. Some astonishing stats were quoted on our perfumed promenade through town: 20,000 geranium pots and planters embellishing 100 cobbled alleys in the Old Town – painted and polka-dotted in rainbow shades, a different colour for every street; one million spring flowers bedded in along 16km of roads, adding to the olfactory overload; 1,500 species of rare orchid sheltering in a triple-domed designer hothouse with an indoor waterfall; and an unlikely trio of bulbous Argentinean baobab trees gracing one of 11 new public green spaces. The colourful cornucopia could move the dullest soul to poetry but for that there’s no need. Witty ditties penned by famous bards past and present are inscribed on 30 ceramic plaques throughout the streets and chocolate box plazas, including an excerpt from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. He’d love it, especially as every contributor has been honoured with a bust of their likeness in a newly-inaugurated Poets Corner. A collection of 31 sculptures, from classical to Henry Moore modern, and 50 giant murals to brighten up unaesthetic tower blocks were commissioned by the Mayor to complete his vision of Estepona as a walkthrough open air museum. Not since the Renaissance has a Spanish town seen such a flowering of art, literature and horticulture. In 2012, when the seeds of the project were sown, some might have questioned the sanity of spending €8.2 million on an urban garden in a beach resort. But it wasn’t such a potty idea. Last month, Estepona got the green vote from 500 national parks and gardens experts who came to town for their 45th conference – the first ever to be held outside a provincial capital. Licenses for eight new boutique hotels worth €40million of investment have replenished town hall coffers while Roman archaeological remains unearthed during the excavations have given Estepona an unexpected new tourist attraction. Meanwhile, far from being disgruntled at their parking spots being turned into picturesque pedestrian thoroughfares, proud residents are not only voluntarily tending the flower pots in their unpolluted, traffic-free streets but adding more of their own! Six years ago, Estepona was a resort without an identity, an also-ran to glitzy Marbella, LGTB-trendy Torremolinos and Sunshine City Fuengirola. Today it’s looking bloomin’ estupendo, not merely a garden but a Kew Gardens-come-Tate Modern-meets-the Ledbury Poetry Festival. But perhaps even more impressive is the civic pride that that has been cultivated among an entire community by a local Mayor who believed in the power of flowers, and saw how a few terracotta geranium tubs could be transformed into pots of gold.

IJAS continues to be a hotbed of controversy, dodgy dealings and endless poor decision making. So, what has been going on? The Ciudadanos party coordinator has apparently resigned after one of the councillors (no names, but there are only five of them) appointed his sister in law to a €50,000 a year consultant post. Ciudadanos managed to win their five seats on a platform of transparency and anti-corruption, so not a good advert. Then there is the rubbish collection. We had a big announcement that they had negotiated, albeit two years after the contract had ended, a reduction of €1 million euros per year. Well done, ladies and gentlemen. What they didn’t mention was that they had agreed to build the company a depot costing €3 million plus the cost of the land at around €1 million. Now, my maths is terrible, but over a four-year contract that comes to an additional €4 million. They are actually gifting all of this to Urbaser. Call me stupid, but that doesn’t sound like a saving of €4 million. Call me stupid, On the subject of my terbut that doesn’t rible maths, work this one out. The Chiringuitos. Maysound like a or Maldonado announced that the nearly 30 chirinsaving of €4 guitos were going to have million a massive investment and create 600 new jobs. Actually, there are 21 which, even with my poor maths, is near to 20 than 30. The number 30 is also how many new staff each of them is apparently going to take on. I spoke to some owners at the weekend and after they had stopped laughing... actually they didn’t stop laughing. Maldonado also ‘slapped’ the leader of the PSOE in the face as he is responsible for the beaches, and he wasn’t invited to the meeting with the Chiringuito owners. They are supposed to be working together. I wasn’t laughing when I heard that Fuengirola is to receive €10 million from the European Social Fund and Mijas is getting NOTHING. The reason is simple, we didn’t apply for any. There was a nice cycle run organised last week; great idea, except that no one was there to ensure that the riders complied with the law, and several children and adults were photographed going topless; sorry let me clarify that, not wearing helmets. Thank god there were no accidents or their liability insurance would have been void. Finally, the Council had decided to clean out the bank accounts, probably illegally, and spend all 65 Million in the next 8 months. What makes me sad is that there is no money for the residence for the elderly, no money for the donkeys of Mijas or for the refuge for abandoned animals. Probably because neither donkeys, nor the cats and dogs can vote! For your information, Mijas Matters has set up the third meeting for the International Community on May 17, in Club La Naranja, Calahonda. Angel Nozal and Mario Bravo will be there. For more information contact mijasmatters@gmail.com. So, all in all, it has been a quieter month for news!

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Download our has app now and A BRITISH radio host blamed Hectorbegin Bellerin’s enjoying rethe best Spanish cent poor formnews on on histhevegan go. diet. TalkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil blasted the Spain fullback’s eating choices after RAFAEL Nadal has said he Arsenal crashed out of the is ‘in trouble’ every time he Europa League semi-finals to steps on the tennis court because his opponents would do Atletico Madrid. Bellerin, 23, became a vegan anything to beat him. at the start of the season but It comes as the Mallorca pro is on an Open Era record of claims he has The more energy Olive Press on and off the pitch since the 46 consecutive wins on clay. He had a scare after being switch. for to news Spain! forced to defend three set But Brazil saidTOP he needs get in points against Martin Kilzan a steak inside him. "Get a steak down you, pal! in the Barcelona Open quarBellerin, that steak down you terfinals, but managed to avoid an upset. raw! That'll help. "He was a good player but He now insists he is wary of he's gone. I don't know what's players gunning to make a name for themselves by caushappened to him. "Look at [Diego] Costa - do ing an upset against him. you think he has a Caesar sal- "You're in trouble every day, every time you go out ad every Sunday lunch? "Vegans don't say 'Hi, how're there, you can lose or you doing?' they say, 'Hi, I'm win,” Nadal said. “Every day that I go a vegan'. They get it in first." Bellerin claims he no longer out on the track, has to strap up his ankles to I have the utmost respect play since going vegan. for my rival

World No.1 Nadal is wary of unknowns gunning to end his winning streak because everything can happen. "I am happy with how things are working and more after a difficult season start with injuries, both in Davis Cup and in Monte Carlo and Barcelona things have come out the best way possible." Nadal is now gearing up for one of his favourite Masters events in Madrid next week. "Playing at home is always special, my relationship with the public in Spain is very special, the support is total and I am very grateful for it,” he added. “The matches and going out on the track feeling the affection of so many people is difficult to explain but very special. "Right now the one that excites me the most is Roland Garros.

Simply the best ALOHA College are the 2018 Costa del Sol Athletics Champions for the first time in over a decade after beating 11 other international schools

WINNERS: From Aloha College

and finishing over 100 points clear of the second placed team. Aloha students were outstanding on both track and field setting numerous stadium records throughout the day. Notable events were the 100m in which Aloha won 5 out of 8 races and the relays winning 6 out of 8 races. A spokesperson said: “It was superb collective team performance of which we as a school are extremely proud. Well done to all involved!”

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BARCELONA players let their hair down at a luxury hotel to celebrate winning the La Liga and Copa del Rey double. Lionel Messi was joined by his teammates at the five-star upmarket Hotel Sofia.

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m ay 1 7 , 2 0 1 8 Rahman String Quartet Talented young musicians from Estonia. Tickets are €3 5 and include food, drinks and shuttle transport from La Posada (Calle Fuentes, 49), El Gastor. Starts 19:30 with tapas. Transport to La Donaira 20:30. Concert 21:00. Tickets can be paid for on the day, but should be booked in advance. Contact: info @ ladonaira.com, +34 615 38 11 19 Easy access from Ronda (30 mins), Seville (1 hr) and Malaga (1 hr 40 mins) co m i n g s o o n All-male a capella The Ramparts (June 9) Visit our website www.ladonaira.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for details of future events.

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A LANCASHIRE quarry has been selected to supply Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia with stone after reserves near Montjuic ran out.

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‘Most handsome policeman in Spain’ is a married violinloving father of three 56

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FACEBOOK has opened an operations centre in Glòries Tower, Barcelona dedicated to combating 'fake news'. It will be the second in Europe.

Forking out The city of Villanueva de la Serena, is to erect a €20,000 monument to tortilla. The giant concrete slice will have a metal fork extending 15ft high.

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Cheesed Off MAKERS of Manchego are battling with Mexican copy-cat producers who are using the same name for a cheaper cheese. It comes after an EU decision allowed them both to continue trading with the Manchego brand.

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Vol. 12 Issue 290

dressed in uniform, inside we are not different from you,” the tweet read. “We work for your freedom and safety. If you need us, call 062.” When approached by the Olive Press a Guardia spokeswoman in Madrid insisted: “We have been inundated with calls about him and after holding a meeting we have decided to not reveal his identity.” And we were not the first, with ‘dozens of other newspapers and magazines’ also having got in touch with the same idea.

Manhunt for ‘hottest policeman ever’ hits dead end after Guardia Civil inundated with calls

POLICE in Spain have refused to reveal the identity of the ‘hottest cop ever’. It comes after a tweet including a photo of the handsome Guardia officer went viral last week. It has been liked by more than 11,000 Twitter users and

HEARTBREAKER: Policeman

retweeted more than 3,000 times.

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The tweet read: “Although from the outside you see us

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DO you fancy an all expenses paid trip to Ibiza and Barcelona? Would you like to visit various other Spanish cities and also hang out in the Balearic islands? Well now you can thanks to an ‘innovative’ new documentary series being made by BBC Three. In the reality TV show, groups of friends between 18 and 25 will have their antics filmed as they travel around. You need to be available for one month of filming between midthis year. Have you seen this po- June and August name, age, contact liceman? Get in touch Email your and Instagram account to at newsdesk@theolive- details BBCThree.Spain@bbc.co.uk.

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THE hot cop who sent Twitter into meltdown last month has finally been revealed. It comes after a tweet shared by the Guardia Civil featuring the chiselled policeman went viral, with thousands of likes

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and shares. It caused a nationwide manhunt as press from around the world, including the Olive Press, got in touch with the force in a bid to track him down.

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AN airport in Murcia is set to fly its passenJust Call Jack.. gers to ‘Manchester United’. This, according to the president of the region, when he announced news of the December flights from Corvera airport this week. During the comical broadcast blunder, PP leader Fernando Lopez Miras confused the city with the famous football team, with tickFor an estimate and some expert advice

May 9th- May 22nd 2018

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A SPANISH woman who looks like US president Donald Trump has gone viral. from Farmer, Dolores Leis Antelo, La Coruna, became an internet sensation after images circulated of her following an interview.

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A SPANISH reality TV star has had her breasts exposed to a live audience. Oriana Marzoli, 26, who was in the final of Survivor Spain, accidentally lifted up her top in front of TV presenter Carmen Gahona. Oriana then dropped to the floor in shock as she tried to protect her modesty as the audience began laughing.

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ets already available to buy. He told national TV: “The airport will be operating in December and we can already buy tickets for 2019 from Corvera to Leeds and Corvera to Manchester United.” After becoming the subject of jokes on social media, Miras later tweeted: ‘Now we can buy tickets to travel from Murcia to Manchester United or to Manchester City.’

Cheek of it VISITORS to a Spanish airport were shocked to see a foreign tourist stripping off outside the terminal. The tourist - whose nationality is unknown - was filmed taking off her trousers and knickers at Palma airport. A man lying next to the woman, seemed unfazed by her shameless strip at the taxi rank. The behaviour is not unusual on the Balearic Island, especially in summer. Last year, over 100 people were reportedly fined in Calvià for having sex on public roads or for stripping naked in the street. A total of 2,500 tourists with fined for inappropriate behaviour.

SHOCKER: Nude tourist

He can now be named as Cantabrian-born Jorge Perez Diez, 35, who joined the force in 2005 because he wanted to ‘take care of others’. Having worked on counter-terrorism and narcotics in the Basque Country and Catalunya, he now handles security issues in Aguilar de Campo, near Burgos. The father-ofthree moved to the village of just 7,000 people out of love for his

wife, who lives there. He found out about his fame, while giving his eldest son violin practice, when various friends sent him screenshots and tweets. The photo was taken by the police press office three years ago in San Sebastián. “I’m flattered by all the goodwill from people, and also the compliments and I’m taking it all with a good sense of humour,” he explained.