THE FESTIVE COUNTDOWN BEGINS - FROM PAGE 19 The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía
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November 12th - 25th 2015
PROPERTY BOMBSHELL
The strongest boy in the world?
MARBELLA is in shock after its 2010 urban plan was scrapped, leaving 16,500 houses in legal limbo. All properties built since 1986 could be illegal. “It brings great uncertainty to potential investors, who could recoil as a result of the ensuing chaos,” Marbella lawyer Antonio Flores told the Olive Press.
EXCLUSIVE Meet the 15-year-old Brit pulling trucks, flipping tyres and smashing world records
Page 3
EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell A DESPERATE battle is being waged to stop the iconic Trafalgar lighthouse being privatised and lost as a public monument. The historic landmark, close to where Admiral Nelson’s British navy defeated an allied French and Spanish fleet in 1805, is loved and cherished by many expats. The emblematic lighthouse, built in 1860, is also in a spot of serene natural beauty, located near Caños de Meca, on the Costa de la Luz. But now, 200 years after Nelson died in a heroic victory, a second battle of Trafalgar is being fought. For a German firm has been awarded a contract to convert the stunning landmark into three luxury holiday apartments, and in the process cut it off from the public. Under the controversial agreement, company Floatel is to take control of the 34-metre lighthouse for the next 30 years, with the option to renew for another 10. However, a group of Cadiz businessmen including longestablished expat James Stuart is taking up arms against the project. Joined by local environmentalists, Stuart, boss of the Califa Hotel group in Vejer, has now filed an official complaint with the Cadiz port authority over ‘irregularities’ in Floatel’s application. The businessman, who runs a string of hotels and restaurants on the Costa de la Luz,
Marbella SOS - Page 31
We will fight them on the beaches
Expat unites with green group to save iconic Trafalgar Lighthouse from privatisation
BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR: The lighthouse is being converted into private apartments while (right) Stuart is fighting to stop it has united with a group of key Spanish businesses in a bid to keep it entirely open to the public. “We firmly believe the lighthouse and its environs should be in the public domain,” Stu-
art told the Olive Press. “It should have the same status as the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia, near Tarifa, where there is a museum and the site is free to the public.” His group believes the Port
Authority is simply looking for a way to ‘relieve itself of the financial burden of maintaining the site’. Insisting the last-ditched protest has nothing to do with his group’s own application
being turned down, he added: “We would also take over the running and costs of the lighthouse, but at the same time keep it open for everyone to enjoy.” The Califa group’s proposal,
NAVAL HERO: Nelson which came second, guaranteed to maintain the appearance of the lighthouse, as well as add a free interpretation centre, restaurant and picnic area employing 15 to 25 staff. By contrast, Floatel’s plan involves employing just two staff, closing the main entrance and cutting off more than 50% of the land and buildings to the public. It also plans to charge for entry with limited opening times. Stuart was motivated to challenge the decision after being swayed by local opinion. In particular, green group Ecologistas en Accion has filed a complaint with the Cadiz Port Authority against Floatel’s plans. “We are against the privatisation of public facilities such as the Trafalgar Lighthouse,” explained a spokesman. The Cadiz Port Authority has until November 15 to respond to both appeals.
Opinion Page 6
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CRIME NEWS
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News IN BRIEF
Maroua Kharbouch is of Moroccan descent
ELECTRONIC cigarettes are to be banned in Andalucia’s colleges and health centres. The move follows a similar measure taken in Catalunya last week.
Gang bust
A SOUTH American gang has been dismantled by Spanish police investigating the murder of an American man who was shot dead. The man was found dead tied to a chair in a Mijas flat in May. Guardia Civil arrested 14 Colombian and Cuban nationals, 13 of whom were sent to prison, during the operation in Malaga, Madrid, Toledo and Guadalajara. Three firearms, a silencer and 32kg of cocaine were also recovered.
Caught red-handed A TUNA-CHOMPING policeman’s fishing catch has come back to bite him. Los Barrios bobby Manuel Gil Marquez was caught with a bluefin tuna while fishing without a licence off Gibraltar’s Europa Point. Marquez initially threw his precious catch overboard when approached by Gibraltar Police but was later fined €1,123 for fishing without a licence.
November 12th - 25th 2015
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Collision course No vapping
NABBED: Crooks
NEWS
PROUD TITLE: Miss Gibraltar
City for rent
SEVILLA City Hall is to rent out some of the city’s historic
THE hunt for a notorious Costa del Sol conman has been stepped up after he left three UK transportation companies over €28,000 out of pocket. Peter Ian Greenberg - who formerly lived in Nueva Andalucia and used the aliases Peter Green and Ian Berg is wanted by a string of UK
UK companies launch mission to track down infamous Costa del Sol transport conman
Metro success
companies after using their services without paying up. The Olive Press first reported on Greenberg in 2013 (right) after he lost five vehicles being transported on the same consignment, taking shipping payments totalling thousands from hapless expats.
Mob hunt
A GANGSTER believed to have ordered the murder of Salford ‘Mr Big’ Paul Massey is thought to have fled to the Costa del Sol. The man suspected of putting the contract on Massey is said to have teamed up with Spanishbased drugs gang to escape Salford’s drug wars. Massey died in a hail of bullets when
SLAIN: Massey
masked men shot him in July, one of 21 shootings in 18 months. Police are said to know the suspect’s name.
A GROUP of 7000 passengers has successfully tested a new stretch of the Malaga Metro. They were transported along a route which stopped at five stations.
THE mayor of Gibral tar has praised Gibraltar during a feast for the Muslim Miss Year. New Anthony Lima has during the Feast of complemented Morocco would never forget Achour, saying the Rock its rescue when the how the country came to frontie r was closed in the late 1950s and 1960s. Lima said: “I have no doubt that without rocco, Gibraltar would Mosurviving the Spanis have had difficulty in h Blockade. The people of Gibraltar will never forget this.” He also praised Kharbouch, saying Miss Gibraltar, Maroua dicted that one day:: “Who would have preGibraltar would boast Miss Gibraltar of Moroc can descent? Marou a you make us all so a proud.”
Where’s my motor gone?
and emblematic buildings. It is offering contracts of up to 50 years as it can no longer afford the upkeep on some of its most costly property
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
s
Mayor’s Moroccan tribute
EXCLUSIVE By Claire Wilson
Expat loses his Land Rover for six months catalogue of errors in
A BRITISH man claims to the tune of thousan he has been ripped off portation company heds by a dodgy car transused to repatriate his vehicle. second driver.” Chris Mullender, from Eventually, Mullender Transporters in March Preston, hired Eurocar shell ended up having to this year, expecting the out another €800 to a job to take just five days. third firm to bring the vehicle back. But after a series of disaster When rest of the transportation s, including the ar- turnedhe took up the matter with Green, things truck nasty. driver, and the “I loss of both his car and had numero us convers car again for six monthsits key, he didn’t see his Green, and on every occasio ations with Pensioner Mullender, . n he tried to exonera back to the UK from who recently moved paymen te himself of respons ibility for the Fuengirola, said: “After t. the driver was arrested rocar boss Peter Green on the advice of Eucompany, Transco, to I employed a second Thre ats complet e the shipping. “I agreed, before being “I had tried missing again. When it told my car had gone in his repliesto contact Green via email, but he became threatening, down by the police a fewwas eventually tracked things like ‘I know saying where you live’ the arrested truck driver weeks later I was told “It is disgrace . I didn’t know where my “Once I had sourced a had lost my key. car was for six months my troubles would be replacement I thought Eurocar has . over, but that wasn´t the since been end of it and I still didn’t ously, Green himself is wound up and, curiget my now going by the name car back. “A month or so later I found out it was being Ian Burg. held at the port in Felixsto we, along with six He runs another company, Car Transpo other vehicles, because rtaGreen had not paid the tion, which he claims bought out Eurocar Transporters. When the Olive Press contacted Burg, he said the issues with Mullend OFFROAD: cause the car had been er’s car had arisen betoo full to move onto Mullender the lorry that was dispatch (left) and his rest of the original driver. ed following the arHe said: “We were unable Land Rover to move the car because it had too much (below) loaded onto the originalstuff in it. It had been truck by a pulley, but the second truck didn’t When questioned abouthave one.” his change of name, he said: “My name is Peter Ian Greenburg.”
Dozens of other victims have since stepped forward, accusing Greenberg’s former company Eurocar Transporters of swindling them out of thousands. Darren Winn, managing director of Winn Transport, is now leading the search and is ‘desperate’ to track Greenberg down after Winn’s company transported four cars for Greenberg and never received payment. “We are desperate to track him down,” Winn told the Olive Press. “We need to find him in order to rebuild our good name that Greenberg nearly destroyed. “I had heard dubious things about him, but he met us in person and persuaded us he was trustworthy.” Winn added: “We transported four cars on the promise that payment would be made before we hit the UK. “It never materialised but we felt so sorry for the customers
that we delivered them anyway, paying for the service out of our own pockets.” Two other companies - who wish to remain anonymous - were also conned by Greenberg and are appealing for any information. If you know of Greenberg’s whereabouts contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es
Crap trick EXCLUSIVE MELTED chocolate and bird poo aren’t commonly considered the perfect ingredients of a scam. But a light-fingered Duquesa Port thief left holidaymakers €220 lighter when he posed as a helpful stranger. John and Muriel Kingston, 83 and 75, were wandering through the port when their backs got splattered by ‘bird poo’ and were helped by a ‘friendly’ stranger armed with tissues. Later they realised John’s pockets had been emptied and their clothes were covered with a mixture of melted chocolate and sand. “People target older people because they think we are stupid, and I suppose on that morning we were a bit,” said Muriel.
Gay hate
A GIRL has been assaulted and drenched with a bucket of dirty water in a callous ‘gay hate’ crime. A 27-year-old man has been arrested for discrimination after allegedly launching himself on the young woman at Fuengirola feria as she walked with her girlfriend.
NEWS
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EXCLUSIVE EVERYONE from housewives to football fans will be crying into their stocking after TV heartthrob Ben Shepherd prematurely announced a Christmas visit to the Rock. The presenter caused havoc when he told viewers on ITV’s This Morning that he was set to turn on the Christmas lights in Gibraltar this year. In fact, the presenter, who also works for Sky Sports, jumped the gun, mistaking a caller’s invite as a genuine request. The Gibraltar government and Shepherd’s agent have both confirmed to the Olive Press that no official invite had been made.
Holiday time for over-worked Elliott Wright
ICE COOL DAD: Elliott with kids
November 12th - 25th 2015
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YOU may see the odd photo of me living it up with celebs and beautiful women and think my life’s one long holiday. But although we are having an exclusive invite-only James Bond dinner on November 19 - hopefully with a few celeb guests - my real life is much more of a grind. Since the spring I have spent every hour I have had working at Olivia’s, which is why I have taken my first real holiday in four years – to a spa hotel in the Gambia with girlfriend Sadie. I stopped off en route to spend some QT with the kids in Dublin and took them to throw some shapes on the local ice rink. It’s fair to say they were pretty impressed, no serious wipe outs or broken limbs!
De Roeck solid Teenage muscleman smashes world records
STRONG LAD: Leon at the World Championships
ANTONIO Banderas has courted controversy by releasing a ridiculous-sounding perfume and supporting the Israel military, all in the space of a week. First, the 55-year-old actor released his own perfume with the cringeworthy name, King of Seduction Absolute, before attending a Friends of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) gala in Los Angeles, which helped to raise €35 million for the military.
ROYALS IN TOWN Photo by Geoff Harding
That stinks!
MOST 15-year-olds are accustomed to lifting up PlayStation controllers or smart phones… but not Leon de Roeck. The teenage muscleman has been smashing records at the WPC Weightlifting World Championships in Portugal. Breaking the bench press world record for his age by 15kg, Gibraltarian de Roeck benched an incredible 155kg at the event in Maia. Later on, de Roeck lifted 235kg ni the deadlift event, again setting a new world reord. Weighing in at 103.6kg, de Roeck told the Olive Press that
ROYAL VISIT: In Malaga
QUEEN Letizia wowed Malaga during a royal visit. The monarch and King Felipe were in the capital for the National Awards for Innovation and Design. Mother-of-two Letizia looked at her regal best in a cream bowed blouse and a black top with slashed sleeves. Wearing her hair in a braid, Letizia was the main attraction for crowds gathered outside the Teatro Cervantes. During his speech, King Felipe praised Malaga as a ‘city of science and innovation’.
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan ‘failure was never an option’. “I am over the moon that I am not just breaking records but smashing them,” he added. Meanwhile mentor Cyrus Licudi told the Olive Press that he expects de Roeck to set more world records in the coming days as he competes in more events. “No one can believe the strength and ability for a boy of only 15,” he told the Olive Press. “Leon continues to break new records. He sure is making Gibraltar proud.” Brought up in good company, de Roeck trains in Palmones alongside Spain’s strongest man, Juan Carlos Heredia. In addition he also regularly trains with six-time Mr Olympia Dorian Yates at his Marbella gym.
Hot stuff
ELSA Pataky appears to have reclaimed her va-vavoom in a skimpy lingerie campaign after a string of interviews saying she ‘rarely feels sexy’. The stunning Spanish actress and model, who is married to Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, smouldered in barely-there black lace underwear and a mane of tousled blonde hair for her new Women’s Secret campaign. In the new TV advert, the 39-year-old mother-ofthree showed off her trim figure.
Un-Belieber-able JUSTIN Bieber marched out of an awkward Madrid interview after arriving 40 minutes late. The Canadian wild child seemed irritated as interviewers addressed him in Spanish. And the controversial star got up and left after the excruciating eight-minute exchange and did not return. A video of the interview shows Bieber getting increasingly restless at the broken translation of the questions. The Los 40 Principales hosts called for Bieber to come back, but he left without performing new single Purpose.
RADIO RANT: Bieber
4
NEWS
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Dog day
A MAN who left his dog to starve and die in 2013 will spend a year behind bars in a Mallorca prison after his brother denounced him.
Costa quake AN earthquake measuring 2.4 on the Richter Scale hit Casares and Manilva but thankfully no injuries or damage were reported.
Health hope RONDA is to finally get a new €48 million hospital with 186 rooms and 800 staff after the Junta’s 2016 budget confirmed the hospital will open next year.
BA boss SPANIARD Alex Cruz will take over as head of British Airways from Willie Walsh in April when he moves from his role as Vueling boss.
Park life
THE Rio park in Madrid has been awarded the prestigious Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design by Harvard University.
Call that a garage?
EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan THE legality of a double garage has driven two expat friends into a vicious court battle. It began when Brits John and Jean Foyen discovered that the carport at a home they were buying in Mijas did not have an official licence. Terrified of owning an illegal property they pulled out of the purchase and demanded their money back from expat developer Derek Furnell. Now, after a seven-year legal wrangle, a judge has sided with them and ordered Furnell’s company Monte Athos to return their initial €155,000 deposit, plus costs of €85,000. While it is an apparent victory for the former retirement home owners, both 67, from London, it has come at a serious cost. Not only has Monte Athos now folded, but they have been told by their former friend Furnell that they are unlikely to be paid anytime soon. “My wife is devastated that a so-called friend could do what he has done,” said John
November 12th - 25th 2015
Expats win long legal battle over illegal carport BRICKED UP: Garage grief for Foyens and (inset) Furnell Foyen. “We’ve known Derek for 20 years and socialised with him regularly. “Now he has ruined our retirement.”
Expat found dead A FINNISH girl who went missing in Fuengirola has been found dead in mysterious circumstances. An alert was raised for Ida Lilia (right) when she did not return to Fuengirola by train after a trip to Malaga. However a few days later, it emerged via her mother’s Facebook page, that she had died ‘from a disease’. In a heartbreaking message her Torremolinos-based mother, Sinna Kreeta Maria, thanked helpers for joining in the search.
The case began when the couple agreed to put down the deposit on the three-bed semi-detached home by El Chaparral golf club in 2004. Their dream retirement home however, turned into a nightmare when it emerged that the Licence of First Occupation could be in jeopardy as the garage of the home was not legal. They discovered that developer Furnell had bricked up the developments’ garages in order to get town hall approval and were advised by lawyers that they should pull out of the deal. And this is when the problems really began, with Furnell suing them to force them to complete the purchase.
While they eventually won the case and also an appeal, they believe they will never get their money back. Meanwhile, Furnell continues to work through a new company set up by his wife. Last night, Furnell confirmed that he continued to sell plots in the Chaparral area. He said: “I am very sorry it’s ended up in this situation. I have been building houses here for 26 years and never had a problem. “I hope to see a brighter future when this is resolved.” When pushed on a date for paying the money back, he added: “I can’t give him a date at the moment. It’s in the hands of the courts.”
‘El Horrible’ indeed! NOT only is the infamous Algarrobico hotel an environmental menace, it has now been given the thumbs down in an architectural beauty contest. The illegal hotel in Almeria has been dubbed one of the ‘world’s ugliest hotels’ according to the Daily Telegraph. The 400-room monstrosity, built on a virgin beach in the Cabo de Gata natural park, features on a list of the world’s 20 most ill-conceived buildings. Dubbed ‘el Horrible’ by the Olive Press, it came in at number 10, with Spain’s only other entry being the AC Hotel in Las Palmas. Although a definitive ruling to conclude a nine-year legal battle over the Algarrobico’s future was set for September, the case remains unresolved. Please email us your list of Spain’s best and worst buildings for our next issue. Newsdesk@ theolivepress.es
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NEWS
October 28th - November 11th 2015
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OPINION Battle of Trafalgar IT is enough to make Admiral Nelson turn in his grave. Trafalgar lighthouse is a beautiful monument in a historically important site, not a money-making vehicle for private developers. Denying the public free access to the lighthouse is nothing short of a travesty, and those fighting for it to remain open to all deserve all the support they can get. Clearly Cadiz port authority has grown weary of the lighthouse’s costs, but as is all too often the case, ‘irregularities’ in the application process have thrown up serious questions. It is time to take a stand and fight for this significant historical monument.
Save our houses A DEEP insecurity has descended on Marbella as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn 2010’s urban plan, leaving many in limbo. The controversial decision has left homeowners, agents and lawyers banging their heads against the wall in confusion. Any house built since 1986 that doesn’t comply with guidelines of that year may be illegal, which is a terrifying reality for a thousands of expats. For a country and, closer to home, a construction sector that was back on track after a harrowing crisis, it spells devastating news. The town hall must act rapidly and efficiently to find a solution as Marbella, and the the income it generates, is one of Spain’s most precious assets. The powers that be would do well to remember that.
Captain Fantastic
August 6th - August 19th 2015 www.theolivepress.es November 12th - 25th 2015 66
FEATURE
Dirty rotten scoundrels
Power-hungry politicians and greedy businessmen tragically still rule in the country known as the ‘land of the kickback’. With new cases of corruption emerging almost weekly, Rob Horgan investigates ten scandals bubbling under the surface in Andalucia
F
ROM public figures laundering money to politicians taking kickbacks, Spain’s dirty washing regularly flutters in the breeze. From training centres that do not exist to tourism companies with no employees, the laundry basket is filling up at an incredible rate. But while disgraced royals and high profile mayors have been put through the wringer… sadly not everyone gets hung out to dry. As the general elections approach and the watchword ‘corruption’ becomes one of the key issues to be debated, new scandals are being uncovered on an almost weekly basis. While for decades the problem of taking backhanders and launder-
Eye on CORRUP
TION
1 Animal feed greed
HATS off to Captain Adam Stoaling! A simple gesture can go a long way and the actions of this one EasyJet pilot must be applauded. In this day-and-age when rules and regulations often get in the way of people’s humanity it is refreshing to see humour prevail. As happy customer Arran Harding summed it up: “It didn’t cost him anything and yet the impact was priceless.” Pilots around the world, be it on budget or leading airlines, can learn a lot from the charismatic actions of Captain Stoaling.
TWO factories have recently been shut down in Sevilla for using diseased carcasses to produce animal feed that was ploughed back into the human food chain. Over two years, the Dasy production plants pulverised the bodies of sick livestock, producing over 20,000 tons of animal feed worth a staggering €6 million. While the majority was sold for cat and dog food, some was distributed to chickens, cows and pigs, finally destined, of course, for human consumption. A dozen employers have now been detained on crimes against public health, smuggling, fraud, forgery and unfair market competition. And the key figure accused of aiding the company? None other than the chief of Andalucia’s Animal Welfare in Sevilla, Luis Vazquez.
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or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Iona Napier Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 iona@theolivepress.es 951 273 575 Joe Duggan Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5 joe@theolivepress.es Calle Espinosa 1 Admin / Distribution / Accounts: Edificio centro comercial El Duque, planta primera, 29692 San Luis de Maria González Sabinillas, Manilva accounts@theolivepress.es Printed by Corporación de Medios Mirian Moreno de Andalucía S.A. admin@theolivepress.es Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Newsdesk SALES TEAM: newsdesk@theolivepress.es Chris Birkett Head of Sales Tel: 665 798 618 652 512 956 Stephen Shutes 671 834 479 Tom Powell Sarah Adams 655 825 683 tom@theolivepress.es Axarquia Rob Horgan Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 rob@theolivepress.es
Taking no prisoners
2
IT cost €117 million to build and €1,700 a year to run yet the Malaga II prison is mysteriously devoid of inmates. Completed three years ago but never opened, the facility in Archidona is Europe’s largest ‘vacant’ prison, with 350,000 square metres and space for 2,000 prisoners. But instead of homing the country’s criminals it has become a scandalous public money pit that deepens year by year. Latest statements suggest the prison gates could be opened in late 2016. But until that day dawns more and more taxpayers money will be flushed down the clink’s pristine ablutions.
R
EGARDLESS of what occurs this week in Catalunya, the fallout between the central government and regional separatist leaders will undoubtedly lead to one of the biggest voter boycotts in the general elections. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said he hopes he doesn’t have to deal with the inflamed Catalunya situation until after the December 20 race. But the regional parliament pushed through a debate on self rule last Monday and approved a motion to begin a secession process. Last week, the constitutional court decided not to grant appeals filed by the Popular Party (PP), Socialists and Ciudadanos asking the court to block the debate. Rajoy has also tried to douse
Poll war General election voter boycott on the cards
the flames by agreeing to discuss constitutional reform, should he win the elections, but the PP hasn’t thrown out any proposal that might look like it could cool the Catalan separatists for now. Any new regional leader chosen in the parliamentary vote will have to deal with a heated issue that will draw in all citizens from the northeast region. But perhaps the most damaging consequences coming out of this entire bitter confrontation will be seen
at the polls next month. There are more inactive proindependence supporters in Catalunya than there are members of the traditional PP and Socialist parties in the region. And they don’t like what they see. Many are fed up with Rajoy’s stubbornness to seek a viable solution to put an end – at least publicly – to the political crisis, and their frustrations could be registered at the polls on December 20. A boycott – or a low voter
RIO
ALEGRI
A
FR
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ing money was brushed under the carpet and largely ignored, it is now all too apparent that almost everyone was at it. Like moths to a flame, the country’s politicians have for too long been easily led astray by a simple brown envelope with euro signs flickering in their eyes. And it is not just politicians, with leading businessmen, bankers and property tycoons all playing their part in the game. Every corner of Spain’s economic sphere has been sullied in the past few years. And the scandals are as rife in Andalucia (if not more) than anywhere else. Here, the Olive Press offers 10 local cases of corruption that have largely flown under the radar.
MA
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MADRIDS MATTER turnout – during the general elections will do two things. It will stir up the separatist rebellion that is getting underway and also drum up support among Catalans, who believe they have been treated – regardless of their own political stands – unfairly by the central government’s strict regional financing rules. Even if there isn’t a low voter turnout, a message will clearly be sent to Madrid that politics in Spain has changed for good.
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EXCLUSIVE A TRIO of expatri opposates sued for course ing a huge golf virgin scheme on been woodland have exonerated. the The case against Meriso-called Los been nos Three has court. thrown out of acThe group were opcused of publicly macroposing the s project that include , 800 two golf coursesand a luxury homes hotels star ve fi of trio ed on Unesco protect land. Continued page
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AS A MILLION PEOPL E DEMAND THAT RAJOY
THE Olive Press has been exposing corruption cases in Andalucia since day one. Be it urban planning (Rotten to the core, July 2007) or a politician jetting off six assistants to a ballet in Russia (Taking the Pas de deux, December 2011) we have covered it all. The worst cases include the ERE scandal when it first broke in 2012 (Junta chief ‘spent EU grants on cocaine’), and lawyers feathering their nests (Lawyers in the dock) in the same year. Was it any surprise that by 2013 there was only one question left to ask: Who will cut out the cancer destroying Spain?
By James Bryce
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February 07 - Feb 20,
Opinion polls show 77% believe he is nowthat no longer fit to lead the try, while 54% believe counthere should be a general election. Opposition leader Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba has called for his head, demanding that Rajoy be grilled in Congress about the allegations. The prime minister stands accused of accepting illegal cash payments made to ranking party officials topover a 12-year period.
Slush fund
Rajoy however fiercely denies the claims, describing them as ‘totally false’ has said he will publish and his tax returns online. Among the other politicians accused of taking ‘bungs’ are current General Secretary Maria Delores Cospedal, Senate President Garcia Escudero and Pio former Prime Minister even Jose Maria Aznar. The money was allegedly taken from a â‚Ź22 million slush fund hidden in a Swiss bank account controlled former party treasurer by Luis Barcenas. Barcenas kept secret ledgers of money received between Turn to page 2
seepage see page13 4
Who will cut out the cancer destroying Spain? MUST RESIGN OVER
SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is battling to save his political after facing increasingcareer pressure to resign over the PP corruption scandal. Nearly a million people have signed an online tion calling for him to petistep down, amid widespread protests.
BUNGS SCANDAL...
POINTING THE FINGER: But Rajoy and many of his cabinet are said money from a Swiss to have received black bank account
While millions sit on the highest unemploythe breadline with and expats come into ment in history, new laws and taxes, the firing line with took 30,000-a-year the PM allegedly slush fund... Enoughfrom an 22m offshore is enough!
33 Avenida America,
Mine of misinformation
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A COMPANY that won a contract to urgently clean up a heavily polluted mine paid off millions in backhanders to officials in return for winning the contract. Judges are now investigating the circumstances behind how the firm Minorbis won the â‚Ź25 million restoration contract in Aznalcollar. Police believe the bidding process was rigged between the Junta and the company, ensuring that bosses and politicians both profited to the tune of millions. While allegations were denied, rival company Emerita has provided documentary evidence of the scandal.
CHARGE sheet Andalucia’s track record of corruption makes for grubby reading
ERE In 2001, the Junta allegedly set up a fraudulent slush fund with public money from the EU and Madrid, supposedly to help support struggling companies lay off workers. However, this money was used in many other ways, particularly as kickbacks and to feather the nests of Junta executives and their families. The so-called ‘reptile fund’ first came to light in 2008, when it emerged that the driver of Junta employment minister Javier Guerrero - known as the ‘cocaine chauffeur’ - set up two bogus companies and in the process took up to â‚Ź1 million in grants. Former Junta leader Manuel Chaves and 20 other officials have since been arrested by super-judge Mercedes Alaya.
Training scheme scam A massive embezzlement investigation, part of Operation Edu, has so far led to nine arrests. The investigation centres on government funds allocated to retraining programmes for the unemployed, where â‚Ź3 billion was allocated while an unprecedented â‚Ź2 billion was creamed off the top. A second part of the scandal involves the embezzlement of funds through fictitious training centres. Under the scheme, millions of money was stolen in grants for bogus academies, which were set up in disused buildings. It has emerged that in order to get official Junta sign-off for monies released, a company was used to set up an entire office with tables, chairs, filing cabinets, computers and even local volunteers, before packing it away the day after the inspection.
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Highway robbery
YOU may now be able to drive the entirety of the A7 coastal road to Barcelona, but it has come at a cost. The maintenance company contracted to undertake the daily works is now on strike after a contract for 25 million remains unpaid. While the Junta supposedly set this money aside it has apparently disappeared into a pothole. Police are now investigating.
Septic cemetery
NESTLED between two rivers in an idyllic spot a stone’s throw from a busy town centre, you would expect to find a rural Utopia. However, this is anything but the case in Huelva where mother nature is fighting a losing battle against the largest landfill site in Europe. With more than 120 million tons of toxic waste spread over 1,200 hectares of marshes, the Fertiberia and FMC-Foret chemical site constitutes one of the worst environmental scandals on the continent. Producing up to 150 times the maximum legal level of radioactivity, Fertiberia has now been ordered to clean up its act and regenerate the land after it was deemed to be having ‘serious’ health impacts on nearby residents. And - surprise, surprise - the owner of the company is none other than Juan Miguel Villar Mir, a former Spanish finance minister and Spain’s sixth richest man.
Railtrack to nowhere
7 Ghost airport THE courts are now investigating how a company was set up to run an airport that does not exist. The airport in question, in Huelva, has no runway or terminal, yet Aeropuerto Cristobal Colon already has 11 board members, four from the town hall and one from the chamber of commerce who have so far reportedly split â‚Ź500,000. In addition, they are set to receive a further slice of the â‚Ź82 million they are asking for from central government to better commercialise the Huelva region for tourism.
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IT is one of the most expensive tracks of railway that will never be used. Incredibly some 77 kilometres of AVE rail track was laid between Antequera and Marchena, before the project was scrapped by the European Union. Costing â‚Ź279 million, the ‘El AVE ghost’ line was abandoned after the EU slammed it for breaking environmental laws, in particular in building a viaduct over the protected Los Ojuelos lagoon. European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik demanded that the bridge be torn down as it disrupts the habitat of key breeding birds protected under EU law.
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Malaya A cash-for-contracts scandal – known as the Marbella Malaya Case – saw around ₏670 million paid in bribes from municipal funds over three years in the mid-1990s on the Costa del Sol. The largest-ever corruption trial in Spain concluded with former Marbella Town Hall advisor Juan Antonio Roca being sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined ₏240 million for masterminding a network of real estate fraud and bribery. In total, 53 people were convicted after a two-year trial, including former Marbella mayors Marisol Yague and Julian Munoz, who were sentenced to six and two years, respectively.
Money for old rope
JUNTA leader Susana Diaz has been left red-faced after it emerged a fellow minister was being paid â‚Ź2,000 a month for a job he didn’t have. Appointed director of Jerez’ flamenco centre in 2012, Luis Guerrero (pictured) received â‚Ź72,000 over three years while claiming he was unaware what he had been appointed to. Described by political party Ciudadanos as ‘mafia practices’ Guerrero said he believed the additional funds were a ‘bonus’ to supplement his wage.
White Whale Launched by Interpol, international money laundering operation – codename Ballena Blanca (White Whale) – began in 2003. With over ₏250 million allegedly passing hands, Marbella Town Hall was found guilty of accepting – and encouraging – bribes from property developers to build on protected land.
Majestic An Eastern European crime syndicate - headed up by the ‘Polish Al Capone’ Ricardo Fanchini - tied a deal with Casares mayor Juan Sanchez in 2010. Agreeing to let the gangsters build on illegal land, Sanchez allegedly received six-figure payoffs over five years. With Fanchini and many of his cronies banged up stateside for money laundering and drug charges. Sanchez is now facing 18 years in Spain and a â‚Ź1 million fine.
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High Court hiatus
MOST European countries have their fare share of expenses scandals but few are as high profile as the Junta’s monthly secret payout to High Court President Lorenzo del Rio (right). It has emerged that the judge has been pocketing â‚Ź1,300 a month for ‘living expenses and accommodation’ for the last 12 years. This is despite Spanish law barring expenses to judges and prosecutors from regional governments. The Junta payout is on top of his â‚Ź90,000-ayear salary, and the payment has reportedly been kept off the books for over a decade - with no official payment being listed from the Junta.
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Don’t let the Don’t thein bankslet cash banks cash in www.hifx .co.uk www.hifx .co.uk see page 13
10 Expenses leak A WATER company is facing a backlash after a â‚Ź100,000 ‘immoral’ expenses scandal was unveiled. Sevilla utility company Ecija is being investigated for paying 20 mayors and councillors a combined ‘allowance’ of â‚Ź100,000 each year. Seen as being bribes for continuing business arrangements, the expenses are meant to cover travel to meetings but are also used for ‘entertainment’ purposes, ranging from cinema trips to bar tabs.
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POLITICS
November 12th - 25th 2015
Warm welcome
Nazi pension scandal GERMANY is still paying the pensions of 41 Spaniards injured while fighting for the Nazis in World War Two. The men were part of General Franco’s Blue Division who fought for Adolf Hitler on the eastern front. A letter from Angela Merkel’s government in response to a parliamentary question revealed €107,352 is paid annually by German taxpayers to the veterans, eight widows and one orphan. Left-wing German politician Andrej Hunko said IN a fall from grace, Toit was ‘a scandal that 70 lox’s former mayor starts years after the war, Germahis prison sentence. ny is still paying more than Juan Vera faces 15 months €100,000 a year to Nazi in Alhaurin de la Torre collaborators’. prison for urban planning The agreement to pay the crimes. pensions was struck beNot only can he not take tween Franco and Germapublic office for ten years ny in 1962. but there are twelve outAround 47,000 Spaniards standing crimes with sentences pending, all related volunteered to fight for to handing out licences Hitler, with 22,000 killed, which were not approved injured or listed as missfor development. ing.
Eye on
Behind bars
Aznar’s Iraq claim FORMER Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has defended his decision to lead Spain into the Iraq war. The PP leader brought Spain into the conflict despite polls showing more than 90% of Spaniards didn’t support the war. The PP lost the 2004 election after it claimed the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people were the work of ETA rather than Islamic extremists. “In terms of influence and international support for our goals, Spain came out a winner,” Aznar said. “Since taking office, the strengthening of relations with the United States was a priority. “It was strategically good for Spain and stemmed from a basic sense of political reciprocity – you cannot ask a friend for help and then later, when that same friend asks you for something, say no.”
CORRUP
TION
THE secretary of state for security, Francisco Martinez, gave a personal welcome to the first group of refugees officially accepted into Spain as part of the recent asylum deal to take 854 this year and 15,000 longer term. By welcoming one Syrian and 11 Eritreans, the country became one of five European countries to kickstart migrant relocation.
FAMILY BUSINESS: This 1986 family photo shows Jordi Pujol with wife Marta Ferrusola and their eight children. Oldest son Jordi is behind them in the blue shirt
In the genes Catalan BREAKING AWAY: Mas (second left)
By Tom Powell
AS far as family businesses go, Pujol and Sons was a success for all the wrong reasons. The eldest son of Catalunya’s former president Jordi Pujol doled out millions of corrupt money to his six siblings over the last 25 years, it has been revealed. A High Court investigation has discovered that Jordi Pujol Ferrusola handled more than €40 million through ten different bank accounts in Andorra. His father, Jordi Pujol Soley,
Son of former Catalan president distributed millions from Andorra bank accounts
who led Catalunya between 1980 and 2003, resigned all his honorary positions last year after admitting he had kept an undeclared fortune in tax havens for more than three decades. Since then, investigators have continued to reveal more about his alleged money laundering and tax evasion.
Police said the Andorra bank reports indicate huge illicit gains, with one showing a €500,000 transfer to a Dutch company owned by businessman John Rosillo. This same man was jailed for six years in 1999 for huge real estate fraud, and in 2007 was found dead in a hotel in Panama.
vote
THE Catalan regional parliament has voted on a plan which could lead to separation from Spain. The nine-point resolution was approved by 72 of the 135 representatives. President Artur Mas’s legislation calls for the ‘beginning of the process toward the creation of an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic’. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said: “The government not allows this to continue.”
www.theolivepress.es
the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
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10 NEWS IN BRIEF Extreme damage ISLAMIC extremists vandalised Rincon de la Victoria Church of our Lady of Carmen. They destroyed sacred objects and graffitied ‘Allah’ on the wall.
Water buddies A PLAN to connect the Axarquia to the Costa del Sol’s water supply is under consideration to help meet the agricultural sector’s need for more water.
Good catch OVER 60kg of underwater rubbish was collected by 30 volunteer divers at Torre del Mar’s Puerto de la Caleta in a nationwide trawl that collected over two tons of waste.
Tourist traps MORE than 30 public tourist attractions in the Axarquia have received an official tourist certificate in a project to improve the quality of local tourism.
Dress up NERJA’S Frock Exchange is celebrating 25 years on the coast with a charity fashion show on November 21 with proceeds for Cancer Research and a Nerja hospice.
AXARQUIA
November 12th - 25th 2015
Eau de street
Puppies with poppies
TORRE del Mar’s streets are smelling of roses after the deputy mayor’s latest splurge. The town hall is waging war on stinky smells by perfuming its streets with a vehicle that releases a pleasant-smelling substance on the road. The investment, from a local start-up, will transform 200 pongy streets across town, with ten streets scented per day. Citizens can call upon the service via social media or over the phone.
FOLLOW the example of these prime pooches and get togged up for Remembrance Day. The photo of these two wellheeled Airedale Terriers was shared on Torrox Tail Animal Rescue.
Man claims drug-induced mental illness led him to stab girlfriend 131 times with broken bottle THE boyfriend of the murdered director of the Nerja Caves has appeared in court. Barman Francisco Martinez faces 28 years in prison for stabbing Ana Marquez 131 times with a broken bottle at her Torrox home. When police arrived at the scene, Marquez was found in a pool of blood in her bathtub. Martinez, 42, is claiming drug-induced mental illness and his lawyers have request-
Coked up killer By Rob Horgan
MURDERED: Marquez
ed a formal psychiatric test. He has admitted to being on cocaine and having drunk alcohol prior to the attack. Martinez claims he is a depressive drug addict, having tried to commit suicide in 2012 while on drugs after the death of his son and parents. He is also accused of carrying out ‘violent acts’ during sex, having previously been convicted of domestic abuse.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Siege burial MORE than 200 skeletons found buried under Gibraltar’s old St Bernard’s Hospital could have been victims of an 18th century siege, analysis has discovered.
Big break WORLD snooker stars including Stephen Murphy are heading to Gibraltar for the Rock’s first professional tournament, organised by sports impresario Barry Hearn.
Late decision THE GSLP is leading the way with 39% of the vote in a recent pre-election opinion poll, although a third asked were still undecided.
A knead to know GIBRALTAR’S two political parties have been at loggerheads over the development of an old bakery in the run-up to the November 26 election. GSD leader Daniel Feetham claimed a ‘secret’ loan was provided to the Risso Bakery site developers by the GSLP government’s company Credit Finance using the Gibraltar Savings Bank. However, Picardo has now publicly admitted and defended the £400,000 loan to private developer Threepwood, which went on to demolish the building, despite opposition from the Heritage Trust. He added that the loan has already been paid back ‘with interest’.
GIBRALTAR
November 12th - 25th 2015
No sell out FOR decades it has been one of modern society’s biggest travesties. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of edible food is binned by supermarkets across Europe while the poor, homeless and vulnerable go hungry. But now, as part of a UK-wide Morrisons initiative, Gibral-
EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell
tar’s own branch will be donating all of its unsold produce to local charities. The aim is to end the waste of food that is past its sell-by date but still safe to eat. Andrew Clappen, Group Cor-
Tunneling our way out
A SPANISH firm’s multi-million airport tunnel battle with Gibraltar has finally come to an end. Lauded as Chief Minister Fabian Picardo’s ‘most important achievement’, the UK Supreme Court has thrown out OHL’s appeal, ending a three-year legal tussle. The legal battle was launched after a lucrative £34.1 million contract to build a tunnel under the airport runway was scrapped due to contractual differences. OHL disagreed with the contract termination and launched legal proceedings to the tune of £20 million. Picardo said the result marks ‘the end of the road for OHL’ with no more legal routes to follow. He has also confirmed that the tunnel is set to be finished as soon as possible.
porate Services Director, said: “We don’t like the idea of good food going to waste and this programme will ensure we find a home for the small amount of unsold or used food in our stores.” A spokesman for Morrisons confirmed to the Olive Press that the Gibraltar store will launch the scheme early in the new year. “The store manager will get the details in the new year and he can then start to look at organisations in the local area which we can support,” she said. Tinned food and packets as well as fresh fruit and vegetables will be donated, following successful trials in more than 100 stores in Yorkshire and the North East of England. Gibraltar is home to Morrisons’ only store outside Great Britain, and since it arrived 21 years ago it has been a great success, despite the logistical challenges involved.
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ON the Rock
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ovember 12-15,
N
ovember 18,
Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival The third festival’s outstanding line-up features Guillem Balague, Antony Worrall Thompson and Esther Rantzen in four days of public events. Info: www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com Wonderful Things Tutankhamen’s Tomb & Treasurers Art Lecture by Lucia Gahlin is organised by the Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society and takes place at O’Callaghan Elliot’s Hotel, Governor’s Parade. Info: www.nadfas.org/ gibraltar
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A COMET explosion brighter than the full moon has lit up the skies over southern Spain. Fragments from the comet Encke entered the earth’s atmosphere at 100kmh at around 3am local time. The ball of fire headed northeast before extinguishing 25km above the Mediterranean. A tiny part of the comet is believed to have survived the impact and landed in the sea, a very rare phenomenon. The comet’s path was tracked in astronomy observatories in Almeria and Sevilla.
Comet blazes Med trail
GREEN NEWS
Waters will be safe! €100 million operation to be launched to clean up thousands of diseased lakes and rivers
Sun tax revolt
Meaty message
MEAT consumption in Spain is harming the ozone layer, a nutrition professor says. In what seems to be a departure from the healthy Mediterranean diet, last year the average Spaniard ate a staggering 51kg of meat, which weighs in at tenth highest in the world. Lluís Serra-Najem claims it would be more effective to consume cereals used to feed livestock, which produce methane and require vast quantities of water and energy. “If Spain returned to a Mediterranean diet not only would people be healthier, but greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production would fall by 72%,” his study concluded.
By Rob Horgan
STILL THE ‘BEST NEWSPAPE R IN ANDALUCIA’ ACCORDIN G TO THE NEW ROUGH GUIDE
Let HiFX help you reach your destination. www.hifx.co.uk ELECTION LATEST
COLOBUS monkeys are not so much all fingers and thumbs, as just all fingers. Bioparc Fuengirola’s treedwelling colobus monkeys have adapted to their environment in a unique way. Unlike other monkeys, these Kenyan kings of the swingers have no thumbs. This evolution allows the Colobus to avoid getting hooked up in branches when they leap through their natural habitat.
Pastoral pyromania A GOATHERD-turned-firestarter has been charged with seven counts of arson on the Costa del Sol. The 46-year-old is being held accountable for burning 86 hectares of forest in the last decade, including three fires in Casares this summer. Allegedly burning land for cattle grazing, he has a prior arson conviction from 2001.
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THE winds of change TOWIE star Elliot have truly blown Wright launches in as TV presenter dozens of anti-corrup a no-holds-barred tion Arty tapas is the Nick Knowles parties made substantial column on Page 3 special of the day and stunning gains in town halls before we grill him on across in a new column wife Jessica lift Spain. our food pages. See from former the lid on their Voters made clear The Wright Stuff on they Michelin-starred escape to Sotoare ready to ditch Spain’s Pages 54-55 TV chef Steven grande on Page 3 traditional two-party Saunders. system as new parties See Page 49 Podemos and Ciudadanos performed well at regional and local elections on Sunday. All over the country the governing PP lost absolute majorities, meaning it will have to pact at least, one other with, Estepon a Town Hall fails to to form legitimate party clean gov- up a deadly ernments. river often played in Some of the big mayors by in children danger include MarbelWhat is E-Coli? la’s Angeles Munoz A DEADLY bacteria Malaga’s Francisco and found in an Esteponahas been E-Coli is a type of fecal EXCLUSIVE de la Torre. A strand of the killerriver. coliform bacteria usually By Rob Horgan E-Coli bacteria has been detected found in the intestines in See A Spring of Change, the Arroyo del Hornacinos, animals and humans. of Residents of the neighbouring on Pages 4 and 5 a stream often played Its presence in water Villas Andaluzas are now in by children. strong indication of is a ing in the Guardia Civil’s callrecent sewage or animal ronmental arm Seprona, enviwaste contamination. written complaints to the after town When the bacteria lives hall came to nothing. in animal or human intestiThey insist that the nal tracts it is harmless. overrun with rats andarea is mos- CONCERNE However when it appears quitos and the town D: Resident Sam Hall hall has at river’s bank in inadequately treated been completely ‘inactive’ deworse. water spite receiving the first it produces a toxin report “It is which is harmful and in April. an absolute disgrace from Surrey, as well as varipoous neighbours, have and worse, a serious tentially fatal to humans. Independent analysis submithealth water shows that theof the hazard,” said British resident ted a number of formal complaints to the town hall. poses a serious health river Sam Hall, 78. risk ing about it,” In Hall added. He added: “It’s especially response, a town hall and could be fatal. “On hot days spokesman told the A report from Laboratorio worrying because we couple unbearable the smell is so that seen children playing have Mayor Jose Urbano Rafael Perez Rodriguez was able to sit out in we are unour that the quantities of stated the water where it flows near ‘aware of the problem’ and it Ironically, Esteponagarden.” into would be forms’ were so high that ‘coli- the sea. ‘sorted out’. was rewere ‘too many’ to count.there “If anyone were to be struck However, when a clean up cently honoured with a Green E-Coli can cause vomiting, down, it would be a national was finally ‘promised’ for May Flag Award for boosting environmental awareness. 18, nothing happened. scandal.” diarrhoea, liver disease and Hall and Estepona Which ageing costa his wife Susanna, “They say one thing to keep respond Town Hall failed to to Olive Press quesDJ’s you happy and then do noth- tions. show
River of shame
A REAL DOG DAY
was cancelled after he crashed his new €60,000 Range Rover into the studio’s front door?
THOUSANDS of diseasethreatened lakes and rivers will be cleaned up in a €100 million operation. The ministry of environment will evaluate 5,000 bodies of water across the country in the next six years in an urgent attempt to stave off disease. The works are aimed at tackling potentially lethal waters in line with European directives. In May the Olive Press reported on an E-Coli-infested river nearby a children’s play area in Estepona (River of shame, issue 214).
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CONCERNED: Resident Sam Hall at river’s bank
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Kicking up a stink PLANS for a giant composting waste site have outraged Estepona expats. Residents have now served the town hall and the Junta with a denuncia for breaching environmental law, after collecting over 100 signatures in a change.org petition. Protests were launched after LEADING environmen- the town hall approved the tal groups are appealing to project to be built on protectSpain’s political parties to re- ed land that is close to thousands of homeowners. think the so-called sun tax. The levy on solar power intro- They are complaining that the duced in October hits people site infringes on environmenwith installations larger than tal law because it is less than 10kw generating their own 2km away from residential properties. electricity. Green groups now want a The developers, however, invice-presidency of sustain- sist that the composting site ability set up after the gen- violates no laws and will have no impact on nearby homes. eral election.
November 12th - 25th 2015 www.theolivepress.es
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Despite residents complaints to the town hall and the Guardia Civil the Arroyo Hornicos has yet to be cleared up. The Ministry has not confirmed if the Estepona river will be among the 5,000 bodies to be examined and the town hall could also not comment on plans to clean up the river. An online directory of all the rivers inspected will also become available for the public to check on the water quality of nearby rivers and lakes. See our ad inside for details.
OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER
27th May
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what’s on
M
alaga, Until November 13
The ever-popular French Film Festival returns to Cine Albeniz for its 21st edition with film premieres and selections of cult and children’s films with a gallic flavour. Tel: 952 228 242
M
alaga, November 14-15
Don’t Get Dressed for Dinner is a comedy by Marc Camoletti at Teatro Alameda. It tells the tale of Fernando, Mercedes and Susi, Fernando’s lover. Tel 952 60 37 05
F
uengirola, November 20-24
The stage adaptation of the Dogme film Festen comes to the Salon Varietes Theatre from November 2024. Tel: 952 47 45 42
A
ntequera, until December 18
Sixty-nine works on display including 11 originals by Malaga master Pablo Picasso at Centro Unicaja de Cultura. Info www.fundacionbancariaunicaja.es
November 12th - 25th 2015
WIN WIN WIN - Dirty Cash giveaway
GANGSTERS, guns and salacious activity are aplenty in new Costa del Sol based movie Dirty Cash. Produced by British director Craig Ruddock, the much anticipated thriller hits the screen this month. Shot in Malaga and Cadiz, Dirty Cash sees
an ambitious heist go badly wrong with the double-crossing fall-out running head long into a very different type of criminal enterprise. If you’re a fan of cliff-hangers, the action-packed ending won’t disappoint. And the Olive Press is giving away two free tickets.
My first kill
To enter answer the following question: Which famous thriller features the Overlook Hotel? Screenings are at Manilva Theatre, Manilva Town on 29th November and 5th and 6th December. More info at www.dirtycashmovie.com
Child matadors covered in blood slay bulls in shocking new video
SHOCKING footage of baby-faced matadors slaying bulls has emerged. A video showing children as young as 14 killing bulls in Madrid has gone viral. The graphic footage shows schoolboys covered with blood thrusting swords into bulls in front of cheering classmates. Taking on calves aged under two, the youngsters thrust swords into the bull’s body between shoulder blade and A ROW has erupted over the authenticity of a priceless heart. painting in Spain’s most famous museum. An older matador is forced to The Prado in Madrid has denied claims that Hieronymus kill a number of bulls that are Bosch’s Table of the Seven Deadly Sins is not the work of left paralysed but still alive. the Dutch artist but was produced by his followers. Animal rights party PACMA The Bosch Research and released the video taken at Conservation Project, Pedrezuela Bull Ring. PACMA President Silvia Barwhich scrutinises the quero admitted she had been artist’s work, believes moved to tears by the footage. this and Christ Carry“Seeing these children preening the Cross in Ghent’s ing and making gestures of Museum of Fine Arts are pride towards the crowd as imitations. The findings these young animals lie dying come ahead of a major in the background, turned my 2016 exhibition celestomach,” Barquero said. brating 500 years since “It demonstrates the dark Bosch’s death. side of something its supporters try to glamourise.”
Brawl over ‘fake’ painting in El Prado
Death blow for bullfighting EUROPE has dealt a serious coup de grace to bullfighting in Spain. The European parliament yesterday voted to put an end to funding the sector through public subsidies. The industry had been benefiting from the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) which funds fighting bull breeders indirectly. “This is a great victory, European citizens no longer want to subsidise anything involving killing animals,” said European Green Party’s Florent Marcellesi.
Kandinsky expo A MAJOR Wassily Kandinsky exhibition in Madrid is showcasing four decades of work. The event celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Russian painter’s birth. Kandinsky, Una retrospectiva will showcase around 100 paintings, drawings and photographs at CentroCentro until February 28.
Health problems A NEW play is taking a lighthearted look at the worst health club going. The International Theatre Studio’s production Waiting for Gateaux comes from comedy writing duo Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood and is directed by Kate Jackson. Mo-tivators is a club with a death wish with owner Maureen (played by Eileen Audas) pitted against duplicitous Sophie (Beverley Stonehewer). Both can outwit Donald (Paul Baker), who has managed to lose weight, unlike the others. Things reach a climax when the isolated club becomes snowbound. Performances are at Atalaya Park Hotel’s Mayoral Discoteca on November 20, 21 & 22. Ticket info: 952 880 630 or 952 896 739
Civil War slaughter A BRITISH historian’s new book is shining a light on ‘the worst Republican atrocity of the Spanish civil war’, with its chief architect compared to Hitler. Julius Ruiz’s Paracuellos. An Uncomfortable Truth addresses the execution of 2,500 Madrid prisoners between October 28 and December 4, 1936.
Casting around TAKING the United States political merry-go-round to the big screen, American director Jon Augustine is set to film in Marbella. Looking for actors to feature in the TV series Operation Naked, Wana Halcyon Television will be set on the Costa del Sol and in the States. The edge of the seat drama is about US operatives during the controversial impeachment hearings in the 1990s based on reports from a US army officer. To apply for casting - wanda@shawmarketingservices.com
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la cultura
November 12th - 25th 2015
Bird’s eye view DUQUESA is more famous for its boats, beaches and bars than for birds of the feathered variety, so who would have thought a rooftop in an urbanisation could be a twitcher’s dream. That’s exactly what James White from Hereford experienced during his 16-night stay, spotting more than 3,000 birds, including 2,000 birds of prey, he claims. From a resident family of kestrels on the next urbanisation to more than 1,500 honey buzzards, the skies above the western Costa del Sol kept on providing. Black kites, booted eagles, marsh harriers, ospreys, swallows and swifts kept the 66-year-
Downtown Duquesa a birdwatcher’s paradise as tourist spots over 3,000 birds from his rooftop terrace old company on his rooftop adventure. Griffon vultures with a wingspan of 3.7 metres were another remarkable sight, as they are normally only found on African plains working over the carcass of a dead animal. And other birds such as redrumped swallows and bee eaters also gave a colourful display. James, a keen bird watcher and
wildlife photographer, exclaimed his surprise at the sheer volume and variety of birds he witnessed. “Due to its great geographical positioning close to Africa on the natural migration path, Duquesa is a perfect destination,” he told the Olive Press. It’s easy to see why, sitting comfortably on a roof with a fridge nearby, rather than out in a field or up a mountain.
Griffon vulture Like all vultures, this distinctive bird is a scavenger, swooping over open areas on the lookout for dead animal carcassses. It is a typical Old World vulture in appearance, with a very white head, broad wings and short tail feathers.
Booted eagle This medium-sized bird of prey is stocky with a rounded head and heavily-feathered legs. It hunts small mammals, reptiles and birds.
Marsh harrier This large bird of prey winters in tropical Africa, but can be seen summering in Andalucia’s fields and reed beds. It was hunted to extinction in the UK a century ago, but has since recolonised naturally.
Bee eater This brightly coloured bird is a strong migrator, which comes to southern Europe to breed while wintering in tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka. It nests in sandy banks near river shores during early May. As the name suggests, bees are usually on the menu, as are hornets and wasps.
Honey buzzard These hardy travellers migrate to Europe for the summer, with great numbers often seen crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. They can often appear restless, with much ruffling of the wings and shuffling around on their perches.
Red-rumped swallows A small passerine swallow, it breeds in the rolling hilly landscape of Andalucia, normally nesting in gaps in cliffs and mountains but also happy to adapt to old buildings.
KEEN EYE: James White
In fact, residents might want to consider hiring out their rooftops to birdwatchers during the summer months. “They’d make a bomb!” joked James.
Kestrel If you have the good fortune to spot the lesser kestrel on a hunt, you’ll be amazed by its speed and agility as it swoops to snatch its prey. Mainly confining its European range to the Mediterranean coast, it prefers to lay its eggs in cosy cliffside nooks or old buildings.
Black kites This long-winged bird of prey strikes a dapper image in its black, white and grey plumage and ruby-red irises. As its name suggests, the kite has a habit of hovering in the air as it scans the ground for prey before swooping to snatch its next meal.
18
LETTERS
the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 55.71% Same week last year: 63.18% Same week in 2005: 50.36% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.08 American dollars 0.71 British pounds 1.43 Canadian dollars 7.46 Danish kroner 8.34 H Kong dollars 9.22 Norwegian kroner 1.53 Singapore dollars
www.theolivepress.es
Trust no one
Grave discovery
DEAR OP,
SETTING foot in Estepona cemetery on the day after Halloween felt like wandering into the opening scene of Almodovar’s film Volver. Penelope Cruz, unfortunately, wasn’t grave cleaning but many were. As most Brits and Americans were dressed up as witches and ghouls, Spaniards could be found tending to the graves of their ancestors. Fresh flowers, candles and the payment of respects made an incredible atmosphere. Long may this respectful, touching ritual of remembering those who have come before us continue.
CYBER crime can be mitigated and actually stopped very easily, but it requires very strict working practices that must be drummed into people so they act correctly (Cyber Siege, issue 225). Firewalls have nothing to do with phishing. Phishing does not require penetration (hacking) of systems, and can be done over the telephone and via conventional mail, so it really is more about awareness. Using information gleaned from existing sources, the attacker (fraudster) is really just acquiring trust. The act is not really even ‘stealing’, as the fraudster is not taking anything – trust no one is a good place to start, I find. Fred Smith, Marbella
Harsh truth NO-ONE deserves to die and I’m absolutely sorry for his family but... I have little understanding how someone vacations with his family, is drinking and misbehaving while he should be a role model especially as a father (Holidaymaker dies in custody, issue 225). Tragic but preventable. Alma Ruebe, Malaga
Will Cooke, Ronda
Pay problem DOES anybody know how long it takes for a non resident to claim back their 3% retention tax on sale of property? Has anybody had experience of this and had a payment? So far I’ve been waiting for 16 months since I sold. I was initially told by lawyer seven months after one month of sale, which is eight months. There was also a €1000 retention by the buyer’s lawyer to cancel the mortgage, and my lawyer won’t give me the exact cost of this transaction as well as going very quiet on the 3% retention tax. I hope I’m not being stitched up. Maybe the 3% is taking much longer now due to the amount of expats selling up.
dog is not really enough (Man imprisoned for a year for letting dog die, OP online). But, at the very least, it is a small step in the right direction to illustrate to others that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Spain. Friends of mine wanted the man to go to prison for five years and others even suggested his food should be deprived to have a taste of his own medicine. Let’s hope he learns the error of his ways. Winnie Tobago, Ronda
Big notes
how many €500 notes are in circulation in Spain. It is definitely the top European country for the pink note. In fact, I nearly ended up in a tricky situation when visiting France in 2007 as I decided I didn’t want to incur charges on my credit card so took cash. It was late in the day and I had to visit three different French banks before I found one that would accept a €500 note to break down into reasonable denominations. I had to show my passport and supply documentation of where I lived in Spain before they would do it. Stuart Crawford, Coin
IT never fails to amaze me
Rainy day reading
Robert Mullet, Torremolinos
Behind bars
WHATEVER the weather, there’s always time to catch up with the Olive Press, particularly our new Gib edition. No one knows this better than Johanna Van Doorn, 52, who lives with her husband in Manilva. ED: Thanks for sending us your photo, Johanna!
JUST one year behind bars for the man who starved his
Centre of debate Bigger not better
Each print issue of the Each issue of the Olive Olive Press can be read in Press can be read in full its entirety on at www.theolivepress. www.theolivepress.es es. The website is also And our site is updated updated hourly with live daily with the latest news, news covering Spain and making it one of Spain’s Gibraltar. WEBSITE most visited news websites.
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Torremolinos to open Anda-
WELL that should just about kill off the last of independent traders in Torremolinos (Torremolinos to open Andalucia’s biggest shopping and leisure centre, OP online). Small shops are struggling as it is. First they built the San Miguel shopping centre and then they built the Carrefour shopping centre, now the San Miguel centre is empty and the same will probably happen to the Carrefour centre. All over Spain, town and village life is being killed off by shopping centres. We have Plaza Mayor, Miramar and La Canada. It is becoming a competition between Mayors to see who can build the biggest shopping centre. Mike Bannister, Marbella
Great idea FANTASTIC news, this is exactly what Torremolinos needs. I am not too fussed about the shops, but the giant wave machine and dry ski slope sounds amazing. I usually get up to the Sierra Nevada once or twice a year but am always a bit
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rusty after having the summer off. What a great idea! The wave machine also sounds like bags of fun and I cannot wait to take the kids. Gemma Hill, Malaga
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Festive countdown
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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
Christmas and New Year in Andalucia
Vol. 9 Issue 226 www.theolivepress.es
November 12th - 25th 2015
THE GREAT ESCAPES The twinkle of Christmas lights are set to transform Spain’s streets into a winter wonderland. The Olive Press takes a trip around Andalucia and Gibraltar on a mission to discover the top festive getaways
MALAGA: Christmas lights are an annual attraction and among Europe’s finest
W
ITH the jingle of Santa’s sleigh just a few weeks away, now is the time to pull up your stockings and get ready for Christ-
mas. Rudolph and Dasher are getting ready for their yearly commute but old Saint Nick doesn’t have to be the only one getting away over the festive season. With many magical spots along the coast, inland and over in Gibraltar waiting to be ex-
plored, a much deserved winter break can be enjoyed by everyone… and Prancer and Dancer won’t be needed to get you there. Be it a day trip to Malaga to view some of Europe’s top Christmas lights or a weekend break in Jerez where gypsy carols are belted out at the town’s many zambombas, there is plenty to do and see this winter. And while Lapland may be the spiritual home of Christmas there is another white wonderland much closer to home.
With the mountains expected to be awash with snow and the slopes open for the season, the Sierra Nevada truly is magical at this time of year. But if heading downhill at break-neck speeds isn’t on your Christmas list then fear not as there are plenty of fairs and festivities to do while stood upright. From Ronda to Calahonda and Casares to Cancelada it is fair to say Christmas is all around us!
19 1919 19
20
Festive Special PHOTOS BY DAVID P ROJAS
IN SNOW: Ronda clings to a craggy outcrop in the high Serrania mountains
L
IKE a three-bird roast, Ronda has many layers to explore and goes down a treat come Christmas. Ideal for couples looking for a magical getaway or for families to explore the breathtaking scenery, a trip up into the mountains is an absolute cracker. From country walks in the Serrania to a gentle stroll around the romantic old town, there is plenty to be explored. And with a chill in the air - and the possibility of snow - the town’s landmark 400 foot gorge is somehow more emphatic at this time of year. Just as impressive are the surrounding villag-
Into the hills
Tucked up by the fire or bearing the elements in the wilderness, Ronda’s many layers offer up scenes worthy of a Christmas card
es and excellent local walks. For somewhere good to stay, there is no beating the comfy warmth of a Molino del Puente room gazing out at the magical Ronda countryside. With a wood-burning stove in the top-notch restaurant, La Cascada, it is the perfect place to beat the winter chill. Just ten minutes from Ronda, it is run by seasoned hoteliers and restaurateurs Ian and Elaine Love and is the perfect base for walking, bird-watching and horse riding. On Christmas Day, pianist Alf Bowman will be performing live to add an extra sparkle to the delicious food and ambience.
Festive countdown
21 November 12th 25th 2015
PHOTOS BY JON CLARKE
21
Gourmet restaurants are blossoming like Christmas cacti from well-kept window boxes in Vejer, the gastronomic capital of the Costa de la Luz, writes Ellie Cormie
Frontier of gastronomy
O
NCE upon a time, in Spain, you could tell a good place to eat by the number of prawn heads littering the bar floor. Not in Vejer de la Frontera, a best kept village where potted geraniums flower perennially and even the tiniest tapas bar sports a swanky designer makeover. But it’s not just window dressing. The gourmet dishes being rustled up by local restaurateurs live up to the high expectations of visitors who makes it to the summit of this stunning white hilltop pueblo where the views are equally mouth watering. The lush landscape spreading out below this historic Moorish frontier town are behind Vejer’s reputation as the gastronomic jewel in the Costa de la Luz crown. The abundance of organic homegrown produce is a source of inspiration to local chefs. For proof, count the number of restaurants in Calle de la Corredera – Vejer’s ‘foodie street’ in the medieval quarter.
Flavours
My new restaurant Corredera 55’s, beneath the castle walls, overlooks a landscape of rolling hills, Quixotic windmills and spectacular sunsets. The menu is a fusion of world flavours including bouillabaisse soup, swimming in local seafood. And don’t miss the carrillada Iberica, (pigs cheeks) from butcher Antonio, braised for five hours in vino de Jerez and served with cinnamon-scented cauliflower puree. Sundays have a following for the shareable, whole-roasted spatchcock chicken and a lazy flick through the Sunday papers, accessorised with a pot of Moroccan tea and a blanket to keep out the autumnal chill. Designed by James Stuart, who opened Vejer’s Hotel La Casa del Califa over two decades
VEJER VIEW: Hilltop heaven
CULINARY CENTRE: Vejer and a dish (right) ago, this inviting spot houses works by his favourite local artists and his cookbook collection. Meander round to the Plazuela to find intimate Valvatida (meaning starfish), owned by Jesus Recio and partner Tamara Cansino. Creative home cooking with seasonal produce from the huertas of Conil and La Muela is their ‘USP’. Starfish may not be on the menu – Tamara named the restaurant for her fisherman father who brought her back gifts of starfish from his trips – but you’ll find many inventive dishes: prawns in manzanilla with Iberian pork and nuts and octopus in seaweed mayo are just two. Culinary creativity continues at family-owned Casa Varo, facing Divino Salvador church.
NEW BOY: Corredera
Bougainvillea canopies the terrace and owner Juan Varo will tell you everything you need to know about their speciality almadraba tuna – ecologically caught in trap nets, a method dating from Phoenician times.
Exquisite
Only the finest specimens are used in their signature dish, tuna carpaccio, the tataki and tuna tartar melt in the mouth quality. There are 70 wines, one to complement every dish. Of the restaurants that put Vejer on the gastro map is La Casa del Califa’s award-winning El Jardin del Califa. Reached through the labyrinthine corridors of the 16th century hotel, the exquisite palm courtyard enclosed by ancient walls and lit with Moroccan lamps after dark radiates a 1001 Nights buzz. If you aren’t hypnotised by the scent of frangipani, jasmine and incense, wait until you try the menu, a heavenly harem of authentic flavours from north Africa and the Middle East: babaganoush, shish taouk, popular pastela filled with chicken, almonds and cinnamon and tempting tagines. The tagine Rif combines local organic beef with caramelised pumpkin and figs. The delicious homemade desserts and pastries taste even better with a pot of Moroccan mint tea.
Complementing the culinary repertoire, the bodega stocks over 80 wines – including Tunisian Sidi Brahim and Lebanese Ksara. The hotel and restaurant are open all year and there are no end of cosy corners to curl up on a pile of Moroccan cushions with a book and a
glass of warm spiced wine. A visit to Vejer isn’t complete without tasting the vast range of libations at Vina y Mar. Ramon Fernandez offers over 40 sherries by the glass, ranging from a €2 manzanilla to a special reserve (VORS) at €6, plus over 200 wines, and there’s an
open kitchen in case your hunger catches up with your thirst. Vejer’s success story is a simple recipe: local knowledge, generous helpings of homegrown produce and a bunch of dynamic international restaurant owners who’ve added their own dash of creativity. Enjoy!
22 22 the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
22
Festive countdown
www.theolivepress.es November 12th 25th 2015
Christmas spirit T
HE one sure-fire way to bag a kiss under the mistletoe this winter is to combine a little Christmas spirit with a lot of flavour… in a glass, with a little umbrella perhaps. It’s that time of year to delve into the liquor cupboard and drag out those spirits that sit unused for the other 11 months. Add a little zing with some seasonal Spanish flavour and you’ll be in for a very ‘merry’ Christmas indeed… or a recipe for a new year hangover. Chin chin!
The red Rudolph Pour 200ml of vodka and 200ml of Cointreau into a jug, add 600 ml of cranberry juice and 400ml of orange juice. Add the peel from two limes and serve over crushed ice.
Christmas cosmo Mix 500ml vodka with an equal amount of ginger wine in a jug. Stir in a litre of cranberry juice, the juice of five limes and some sliced stem ginger. Serve garnished with
FESTIVE FUN: DIY eggnog is the way to a loved one’s heart
lime zest.
and a cinnamon stick.
Elfs’ eggnog
Snowball
Refrigerate all the liquids so they are very cold. Beat six eggs in a mixer until they are frothy. Gradually add 200g of sugar, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Turn the mixer off and stir in 500ml whipping cream, the same of milk, 175ml brandy and 75ml rum. Chill before serving and garnish with sprinkled nutmeg
Pour 200ml of Advocaat into a large jug, add 100ml of lime cordial and 100ml of sherry. Mix and add 200ml of lemonade. Serve over ice in a tall glass.
Amaretto Amor Mix 400ml Disaronno with 600ml orange juice and two 75cl bottles of sparkling wine
in a big jug. Serve up with a strip of orange peel in each glass.
Mulled over Boil 100g of light muscovado sugar in a pan with one star anise, one cinnamon stick, four cloves and 150ml water. Simmer for two minutes, then pour into a large jug. Add a sliced lemon and two clementines, along with 150ml of Cointreau and 750ml of red wine. Serve warm.
Winter in Jerez
23 November 12th 25th 2015
PHOTOS BY JON CLARKE
Weekend with Uncle Pepe T
HE season of goodwill is the one time of year to drink copious amounts with distant relatives… so this year why not take the family on a trip to meet Spain’s most famous uncle, Tio Pepe. Jerez means sherry, and like a cantankerous old English aristocrat the town has grown large on the stuff. In fact, the importance of the wine industry is obvious from the moment you set foot in the town… And that is never more apparent than at Christmas when the bars are packed with tipsy Jerezanos belting out gypsy carols, known as zambombas, throughout the night (see Gypsy Kings, Pages 24-25). Arriving at Plaza Esteve in the heart of the old town on a Saturday lunchtime you could be forgiven for thinking that it is a town of drunks, with packed bars leaving customers sprawled outside onto the pavement and into the nearby market. Tio Pepe, a flinty, white fino, is the town’s most famous tipple and there is no escaping the logos, which stretch across the old town and down to its bodega… not to mention numerous roadside hoardings around the region, along with the famous bull of Osborne, from the nearby town of El Puerto de Santa Maria. If you follow the stream of tourists down from
An escape with sherry by the barrel, horses and flamenco to spice things up, winter in Jerez is a getaway to rival any other the market, you will arrive in Plaza Arenal, a beautiful spot, originally used as a space to amass troops before battle. Nowadays more laid back in atmosphere, bitter orange trees and date palms line up regimentally around the central fountain as a substitute for the soldiers, who would once have stood in the same spot, with more cafes, bars and restaurants springing up beyond. All around the charming centre you will find an amazing catalogue of grand and sizeable mansions, the majority built out of profits from the sherry industry. When sherry was first exported to England in the 13th century the drink took the name of Jerez, albeit by an anglicized version of ‘sherry’. The city’s remarkable growth was kick-started by the arrival of large-scale wine produc-
tion in the 17th century, but sherry and wine have been produced in the area for well over 1,000 years. Even the arrival of Islamic forces in 711 did not kill the wine industry, which was tolerated as a ‘source of energy’ for troops. Today, after decades of being in decline, the industry is making a much-greeted comeback, thanks to a revival, in particular, in the UK. The historic bodegas continue to get the highest rankings in Spain, in particular from Robert Parker and the huge wineries, often dubbed ‘the new cathedrals’ of Jerez, are a joy to have a look around. The highlights are Lustau and Gonzales Byass, open every day, as well as Fundador, the producer of the famous Harvey’s Bristol Cream. On a midday tour, you not only end up with a fantastic tasting of the many varieties of sherry, but an excellent explanation of how they are made. At Fundador you follow in the footsteps of Bo Derek, Placido Domingo and Charlton Heston, and end up at the biggest wine bodega in Europe, La Mezquita, which houses a
Turn to Page 24
ICONS: Sherry giant Pedro Domecq in front of his home and (inset) Cathedral figurine
24
Winter in Jerez
staggering 40,000 butts, as they are known. If time allows, you must definitely visit the Alcazar castle with its arabic baths, gardens and mezquita, as well as the cathedral, with its incredible vaulted ceilings, wooden figurines and a painting by Zurbaran. But simply wandering around the back streets of the old town, in particular up to the neighbourhoods of San Miguel and Santiago, is a joy. The winding cobbled streets are full of decaying, genteel mansions, sleepy squares and thankfully plenty of ‘tabancos’, where you can dip in if its raining, for a glass of ‘sack’ as Shakespeare once described sherry. Reindeer may be more seasonal, but Andalucian horses are a symbol of Jerez and a good example of the way the town is trying to take advantage of its assets. Originally used as war horses,
G w
It’s a musical instrument, it’s a riotous Spanish Christmas celebration and zambombas originated in Jerez, writes Joe Duggan
From Page 23
V
ISITORS taking a yuletide eve stroll through Jerez de la Front cobbled streets are sure to stumb one of Andalucia’s most joyous C mas secrets: a zambomba. An authentic Jerezano celebration, t Christmas gatherings blend flamenco, erence, Catholicism and sherry in a un taste of Andaluz culture. “This is our way to celebrate,” says Aleja Abrio Maraver, manager of La Fonda ranco hotel.
JEREZ: Sherry bodega La Mezquita is Europe’s biggest and (inset) the ‘Nelson’ vat
In Charlton’s wake and historically given as gifts to European kings, the Carthusian breed of the Andalucian Horse is now used for activities ranging from dressage to polo. Displays are regularly held at
STAR SIGNING: Placido Domingo at Fundedor
The School of Equestrian Art, which promises a tightly choreographed ‘equestrian ballet’ though winter visitors should be aware that shows are less frequent prior to Christmas but will begin again in January. But if horses don’t take your fancy, there is only one must-see attraction in Jerez – flamenco, with the city boasting an annual festival in February and being credited as one of Spain’s key centres for the musical genre. The club – Pena Flamenco Los Cernicalos - sits on a quiet backstreet, with only a small plaque on the door distinguishing it from the houses on every side and is far and away the best place to catch a show. But tourists should be warned – the flamenco on show in Jerez is a million miles from the cruiseship stuff of frilled shirts and
flamboyant costumes. This is serious stuff. Jerez became a hub of flamenco partly because of its status as a haven for gypsy communities evicted from elsewhere, and the songs reflect the pain woven through their stories. And in many ways, flamenco songs seem fitting in a place which is still stinging from the economic crisis. Indeed it is one of Spain’s poorest cities, with a debt to the tune of over €1 billion and an unemployment level of 30%. Lying behind the idyllic image of wineries and dancing horses, the songs make as much sense today as they did when they were written. And yet, wandering the streets on a cool winter’s evening with uncle Pepe’s coat staving off the chill is as perfect winter getaway as one could imagine.
Raucous
AT FUNDEDOR: Bo Derek (top) and Charlton Heston
“I promise everyone can join the party everyone who comes always wants t turn.” Originating in the 18th century in Je patios de vecinos, zambombas draw cr to street corners, plazas and raucous throughout December to perform villan - flamenco Christmas carols. All the way from Plaza de la Asunsion, up Calle Consitorio, in particular around re rant Albores, you are bound to find any ber of groups plying their trade. Soulful gypsy voices are complement zambombas, the instrument the festival its name from - clay pots covered in le played by rubbing a wet stick against the Further musical accompaniment is pro by tambourines, bells and makeshift z mbas - usually empty bottles of anis whi
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25 November 12th 25th 2015
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ZAMBOMBA: Flamenceo-flavoured Christmas carol and (right) the instrument
bar/restaurant Las Cuadras is one of the best spots to experience this Jerez tradition. “I grew up with zambombas,” says Jerez-born David, who is steeped in sherry history. “But there’s been an explosion of them in recent years and there are zambombas everywhere, around every corner. Jerez people like to party.” Once the stables of the emblematic ADVERTORIAL Countess of Casares’ palace, Las Cuadras’ whitewashed stone walls echo to zambombas every Friday and Saturday afternoon from November 20 onwards. Hundreds more zambombas bring visitors and Jerezanos together over Christmas as their popularity continues to RE is not much Gerry Rylance does not swell. w about English… and the same could The city’s Semana Santa brotherhood said for food and wine, particularly sherry. and flamenco penas organise impresing worked as an English teacher in Jersive performances and impromptu outthree decades he is in an unrivalled podoor zambombas stretch long into the xplain the countless complexities of the night. ustry, not to mention recommend a dish Crowds swell into the hundreds, but the out every decent ‘tabanco’ in the city. bawdy content of some villancicos probs certainly put his experience to good ably wouldn’t make it onto Songs Of running one of Andalucia’s top lanPraise. ademies, counting on leading compa“In my square, the Hermandad del icians and top UK schools, Eton and Mayor Dolor have had 1,000 people conregular clients. verging,” says David. “Jerez folk know the 1984, Tenidiomas is due to expand songs by heart. Everyone sings along. ncreasing its clients from 750 to well “In theory it’s all praising the Virgin Mary 0 a year. and Jesus - very Catholic. But some a new floor with five more classrooms, songs are quite explicit and talk about alising on being the official Cambridge putting hands where they shouldn’t be.” aminer for Cadiz province, as well as And with Jerez Town Hall hoping to e of only three Cambridge Platinum have zambombas recognised as part of n Andalucia. Spain’s national heritage, this vibrant he gold-standard in language awards, it is also now on the ofChristmas celebration continues to grow.
ted by l takes eather, e hide. ovided zamboich are
rubbed with spoons or forks to produce a crystalline sound. Onlookers fortify themselves with local sherry by the skinful and pestinos, a traditional Jerez Christmas pastry, while warming themselves around roaring bonfires. David Fraser-Luckie’s authentic ‘tabanco’
e Eton and Harrow English academies
antes Institute list of leading centres in Spain. to keep up with demand and will also be adding a library and r students,” explains Rylance, 59, who is responsible for exam000 Cambridge English students a year in the Cadiz province. r-of-three, luckily now counts on a reliable team, including his Carlota as his deputy, to help him keep things on track. cludes keeping big groups of UK students, from schools includnd Harrow, in check. “We get mostly the 14 to 15-year-olds and ys have fun, but in a safe place to be,” he says. from many school groups, his academy has countless private p classes, tailored to each individuals needs and level. he courses involve a week or two staying in the wonderful city, s from as little as 310 euros a week. rived in Jerez in 1980, Rylance quickly settled into the pace of ng the city’s unique culture and history. n of its famous sherries, two years ago for the academy’s 30th ry he commissioned an Oloroso blended from ten different vince 1913. unique blend that could never be repeated again with the same stics. er a dozen bottles to Cambridge University and one will be inthe centenary time capsule.” ues: “We have long had a close relationship with the wineries ven do a special course focusing on the world of sherry, includo the wineries.”
w.tenidiomas.com for more information
AUTHENTIC: Las Cuadras
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Winter in Jerez
Sherry good
Jerez de la Frontera has finally got a range of top class places to eat, writes Jon Clarke
Match made in heaven
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OR the perfect introduction to Jerez and its sherries, the best way is via a maridaje or ‘marriage’ with food. At Jerez’s fantastic La Carbona - an atmospheric former bodega - this union has been taken to a new level, and the food is easily matched by service and atmosphere. Two starters – one hot, one cold – followed by catch of the day (currently sea bass), then a Cantabrian steak are finished off with a cheesecake with raspberry coulis. The wines graduate from pale yellow to deep cherry in colour and are selected especially to bring out the flavour of the dishes, or to ‘potenciar’ (strengthen) them. The definite picks were the Palo Cortado with a sweet mackerel terrine, while the Oloroso went perfectly with a T-bone steak and a bone dry Fino was splendid with sea bass… and all for under €40 per person. www.lacarbona.com
Where to eat
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IKE a sleeping giant Jerez has finally developed a food culture that incorporates the best of Cadiz’s celebrated ingredients. Think local bluefin tuna, retinto beef and seasonal vegetables and mushrooms, all washed down with dozens of the city’s top sherries by the glass. Yes, in Jerez you have it all. The epicentre is the so-called ‘golden mile’, centering on the Calle Consitorio/Plaza Plateros axis, where you find a great mix of tapas bars. Starting with Cruz Blanca, the menu changes daily, particularly now that a father and son culinary team are both jostling in the kitchen. There is a large range of tapas, with plenty of sherries by the glass. Top tip: try the beef tar-
SLEEK: Reino de Leon
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Festive countdown
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Christmas reads Steve Davies at the Sabinillas Bookshops recommends his pick of local authors’ work to get your teeth into this festive period TASTEFUL: Albores and Cruz Blanca’s father-son team tare washed down with trendy La Panesa fino. Next up is Albores, run by talented Madrileno Julian Olivares de las Heras, which has just doubled in size and is overflowing with punters at the main times of the day. Albores means ‘new beginnings’ and it is founded on the seven principles of food… salt, potato, tomato, olives, grapes, cereals and coffee. The beginning and end for me is the tuna tartare with caviar and wasabi sauce, not to mention chanterelle mushrooms with free range eggs, ham and mustard. Even more stylish perhaps is Reino de Leon, an inspirational gastrobar run by two brothers in Calle Latorre. This wonderfully-designed spot has a regularly-changing menu, where you’d struggle to find a better dish than the seasonal Boletus mushrooms in garlic and olive oil. Another fantastic spot, Las Cuadras, meaning ‘stables’, sits in an evocative building on Plaza de la Asuncion and has a regularly changing and tasty menu. Run by friendly Englishman David Fraser Lucky, it counts on many original features, such
as bullfighting posters from the 1800s and iron bars that were installed when it was used as a prison in the 17th century. Food is great and the menu changes regularly. Finally if you are looking for the best Italian food, then Da Enrico is a must. Charming in the extreme, Enrico and his wife Katerina, from Turin and Venice, are busy most nights of the week. Their pizzas are fantastic, but equally their fresh pastas, including the original Pasta Martini, invented by Enrico, with speck ham, lemon, parsley, cream and Martini, is excellent.
Where to stay
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OR a claw-biting tale of bravery and persistence, read the beautifully-illustrated Landing on my Feet by Sotogrande-based Adelaide Godwin. The first book from the expat is based around a real feral cat, Poohka, she found on a private estate in her neighbourhood. €9.95 Struggling to shake vampires and werewolves from your mind after Halloween? Then read Vlad the Inhaler by Sabinillas crime author and creative writing guru Lorraine Mace. The popular children’s book follows the story of Vlad the asthmatic half-human, half vampire, who must escape his dangerous aunt and uncle with his friends’ help. €9.95
ELEGANT: Da Enrico
Fabulous Fonda A FABULOUS place to stay is Fonda Barranco in the heart of the old town. While peace personified you are just 400 paces from the Golden Mile of restaurants, not to mention the cathedral, alcazar and just about everything else. Run by friendly local Alejandro, the 19th century, former merchant’s home, is becoming one of Andalucia’s most stylish boutique hotels. Colours are easy on the eye, furniture is mostly antique, while the beds are the very best in the business. Meanwhile customer care, not to mention breakfast, is very difficult to beat.
The aesthetes among you will enjoy the intricately-illustrated Monte Vivo, written by Seamus Shortt who lives in Jaen. Acclaimed by University of Cambridge researchers as ‘a prime example of literature and conservation collaborating’, it is a lyrically-written portrait of natural Spain. €20 Delve into Andalucian history with Estepona expat Joan Fallon’s The Shining City. The prolific author has written seven books and is a firm favourite among the Costa del Sol’s lit loving crowd. It’s an exotic, historical story of love, family and consequences. €14.95 Swapping fiction for the real world, nothing will inspire you
to get out there better than Gaucin expat Hugo Chittenden’s The Volunteer. With a rousing foreword by Bear Grylls and an intro by David Cameron, the practical guide features celebrity tips from names as big as James Blunt (Help for Heroes) and Isabella and Sam Branson (Big Change). €14.95 For the stove enthusiasts among us, Gaucin Gastronomia Popular by Miguel Vazquez Gonzalez is a beautifully-presented bilingual cookbook. What the Gaucin-born author does not know about traditional cuisine is not worth knowing and the simple but handsome gift is perfect for anyone whose tastebuds are titillated by Spain. Try the autummal rabbit casserole with green peppers. €15
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER
Home baked goods & preserves, Clothing,Christmas gifts, fancy goods and many other bargains! Food & Drink available Not to be Missed! CLUB Calle Malaga, Calahonda clubnaranja@gmail.com
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Festive countdown
Hemingway’s hamper
Flying without wings THE sky really is the limit in San Pedro this Christmas. Opened last month, a wall-towall bounce heaven is sending kids and adults skywards. Filled with 50 interconnecting trampolines, basketball hoops and a foam pit, CostaJump is the only indoor trampoline park on the Costa del Sol. Run by expat Donny, who also runs CostaWaterPark, the trampoline centre located between the I.T.V and Parque 3 Jardines has brought a new level of family fun to the area. With basketball ‘slam dunk lanes’ Donny says the centre also gives you the opportunity to ‘dunk like a pro’. There are also regular games of dodgeball as well as fitness classes on the trampolines and the centre caters for birthdays and corporate events. And at just 10 an hour for kids and adults alike For more information visit www.costajump.com or email info@costajump.com
FOR great food, great views, great entertainment and a warm friendly atmosphere, head down to Hemingway’s this Christmas. The Duquesa Port establishment is laying on a festive feast for anyone eating out on Christmas Day with Chris Kalli singing yuletide favourites. Crusted sesame seed tuna salad, turkey stuffed with ricotta and three cheeses and wrapped in Italian ham, crusty sea bass, and homemade tiramisu are all on the menu. And with the bar open from 10am til 3am, you’re assured a great day out. Christmas Eve and Boxing Day entertainment comes from Lesley Harrison and karaoke. For information call 666792847
Campo of good tidings Weekend fair in Los Barrios to bring yuletide cheer and help local causes THE Los Barrios Christmas Fair at Hacienda Almoguera is always a festive hit, but organisers want this year’s event to be a charitable occasion. With 45 stands, a flamenco Christmas choir, ceramic painting and pony rides for children among many other attractions, there is lots to entertain visitors on November 28 and 29. But as Christmas is a time to remember the less fortunate, Catherine and her family hope guests make a small donation to local charities. “We would like to ask our guests to donate non perishable food items - rice, pasta or
canned foods for the local Food Bank, Banco de Alimentos de Campo de Gibraltar,” “Any profit made from the €3 car parking fee goes to Cruz Blanca to help refugees and local families in need,” says Catherine. Stalls selling pottery, jewellery, children’s clothes and festive favourites such as legs of jamon, minced pies, mulled wine and Christmas trees are sure to get your yuletide off to the perfect start. The ninth annual fair starts at 11am, with live music in the evening. For info call 660863437
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www.theolivepress.es November 12th 25th 2015
Jingle bell rock Nowhere does Christmas like Gibraltar, writes Tom Powell
I
F, like George Michael, the heart you gave someone last year was binned on Boxing Day, it might be a good idea to head to Gibraltar and buy some proper presents this time around. With classic shops such as Marks and Spencer’s, BHS and Toys R Us combined with quirky independent stores, Gibraltar is the perfect place to find presents for all the family. Plus, there’s enough festive spirit going round the Rock to make visitors want to stay more than just another day. Fes-
tive shows, Santa’s grotto and Christmas fairs are just a few of the treats on offer. And for some of the best food
Santa’s coming! WHISPER it quietly, but Father Christmas is coming to Gibraltar a few days early this year. Kings Bastion Leisure Centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland as the elves take over from December 7-23. Plus, Santa will be inviting lucky kids to meet him in his grotto before heading back to his North Pole workshop for final preparations. Entrance is £5 and includes a gift. Santa’s Grotto is open every weekday from 4:30pm-6:30pm.
and wine (mistletoe optional) this side of Lapland, Gibraltar’s the one thanks to its huge range of bars and restaurants. There won’t be snow falling all around us, but the whole place will be having fun when the Christmas lights are switched on during a party in John Mackintosh square. Featuring songs and dance, the show will last from 5:30-8pm on November 20, so make sure you drive/cycle/walk home in time for it.
IN THE VILLAGE
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HRISTMAS is a magical time of year and what better place to spend the holidays than Ocean Village, Gibraltar? Santa will be bringing Christmas cheer when he appears at Ocean Village on November 30 for the Switching On Lights ceremony and children can see him in his grotto until December 2. The Grotto will be in aid of Kids Come First, a local charity established to raise funds for children in need. It works closely with the Care Agency and takes referrals of children who need support over the past years they have provided presents and hosted a Children’s Christmas Party to help make Christmas a special time for every child. There will also be an artisan market selling all sorts of festive goodies, a performance by Stylos Dance Academy, and the beautiful harmony of Christmas carols. The resort also offers a wide variety of delicious family dining experiences from around the world as well as the Sunborn hotel with two casinos and the recently opened La Sala bar and restaurant. In addition to the great choice of cosy cafes and bars, Gibraltar’s top nightclub, Dusk, will be topping off the festive party atmosphere with some unforgettable Christmas and New Year celebrations.
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Property the Olive Press June 25th - July 9th 2015
November 12th 25th 2015
PLEASE HELP US The Olive Press is searching for the best and the worst buildings in Andalucia. Ahead of our Property Magazine next issue, send your architectural dreams and disasters to newsdesk@theolivepress.es
Marbella SOS EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier
On a high
THE high-rise of tomorrow has been unveiled. In an attempt to rejuvenate the reputation of high-rise tower blocks, an Italian architect has created a greener ‘forested’ version of the concrete jungles that shot up across Europe in the 1960s. The first one will be erected in Switzerland in 2016, with building firms in Spain and the UK said to be in negotiations with architect Stefano Boeri. With 195 residential units over 29 floors, the tower block also contains oak, maple and cedar trees integrated into the building.
Sheik up MALAGA port could be set for a €100 million injection of Qatari money, the largest property investment in its history. Qatar Investment Authority’s plans for a luxury 135-metre high five-star hotel in Levante dock moved a step closer with the payment of a €2 million guarantee. Proposals for the 35-storey building were put forward in May, but the tender process allowing other parties to bid would begin once the Official State Bulletin publishes the Qataris’ interest.
Clean up HOMEOWNERS in a Costa del Sol town centre are being ordered to clean up or clear out. Council letters sent to Casares town centre residents in November warn them to fix dilapidated buildings in the old town or sell them. Abandoned houses could be forcibly sold if they breach health and safety requirements, with the council planning to meet some homeowners.
Only the best SCRIMPING and saving on accommodation is not the Spanish way. When it comes to holidays, almost half of Spaniards opt to stay in a hotel of four or more stars and spend €100 per night on average.
ASTOUNDED Costa del Sol realtors believe the annulment of Marbella’s 2010 planning regulations could seriously damage the town – and Spain’s - profile. The Supreme Court has controversially overturned a Junta approval of Marbella’s 2010 PGOU (general urban plan). It argues the 2010 plans were drawn up by someone without sufficient powers, Manuel Gonzalez Fustegueras. It means any structure built since 1986 that doesn’t comply with the regulations of that year could be illegal - leaving at least 16,500 homes in limbo. Furthermore it means the town hall cannot currently
Shocking Supreme Court town planning annulment leaves 16,500 houses in legal limbo
grant any more licences and invalidates its ability to compensate homeowners. “The decision will do serious damage to the image of Marbella, and indeed to the image to Spain, as far as foreigners
Supreme Court leaves Marbella in the lurch
Back to the past
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The Property Insider
HREE rulings by by Adam Neal e Spain’s Supreme Court, handed down on November 4, have left the owners of more than 16,500 homes built in the municipality since 1986 in legal limbo. And the big questions are still unresolved. In a series of decisions, the country’s highest court has declared null and void Marbella’s urban planning regulations (Plan General de Ordenación Urbana, PGOU). They were passed in 2010 and legalised thousands of homes constructed since the previous town plans were approved. In response to appeals against previous Supreme Court of Andalucia decisions, the rulings all arrived at the same conclusion: the town hall does not have the power to retroactively declare legal properties that have been built illegally. That rests with the courts, they claim, and nor can the town hall alter land classifications, nor legal liabilities. At the same time, the Supreme Court decisions mean that individual property owners, even those who bought in good faith, will be held liable for illegal constructions, rather than passing the responsibility on to developers, as the 2010 plan sought to do. Much of the problem arose during the three terms of the GIL (Grupo Independiente Liberal) government, from 1991 to 2003, 11 of which were under the town’s mayor Jesús Gil. Gil, with his cronies, ran Marbella like a corrupt fiefdom, funnelling cash under the table in exchange for carte blanche building licenses. Subsequent administrations, under mayors Julián Muñoz, Marisol Yagüe, and Tomas Renones (all sentenced to jail time for offences following the Malaya scandal), were little better, leading to the suspension of the entire town hall in 2006 by the central government. They made way for a team of auditors who tried to unravel Marbella’s finances. So, what now? For a start, all the paperwork for every property built in Marbella since 1986 will need to be looked at very carefully indeed. There are two possible outcomes: either a property is legal, because it was built on urban land as per the 1986 town plan, or it isn’t, because it wasn’t. But the real, $64 billion question is this: if a property is one of the 16,500 homes that were legalised under the 2010 plan, what next? Marbella town hall and the Junta will be studying the rulings closely over the next few days to determine the ‘implications’ and come up with solutions, according to a press release from the current mayor, Jose Bernal. The only thing that can be said with any certainty at this point in time is that, in fact, nothing is certain in Marbella. Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. http://www. terrameridiana.com
are concerned,” Panorama boss Christopher Clover told the Olive Press. “It creates a nightmare of legal insecurity for thousands of owners whose properties do not fully comply with the 1986 zoning.” Clover predicts a medium term solution offered by the Junta should help alleviate the ‘highly unusual situation’. Adam Neale, Terra Meridiana boss, was shocked at the lack of alternative plans. “It is unbelievable and a very strange situation,” he told the Olive Press. “It seems Marbella has taken five steps backwards and the town hall must find a solution.”
Opinion Page 6
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Tech savvy THERE was an unusual appearance at the annual Dublin Web technology summit this month. Alongside usual suspects, Microsoft, Google and Facebook was Spanish banking group Santander. In an effort to ensure it doesn’t fall foul of an unstable financial industry, the bank is branching out into the world of technology. Backing a number of technological startups in the financial sector, Santander invested 92 million into its peerto-peer lending technology service InnoVenture in July. It has also piled millions into five other startups, ranging from retail-payment specialist to early-stage investment advisors.
Profit take-off RYANAIR’S profits have leapt 37% after the strong pound and cheap fuel prices boosted the no-frills airline. The budget carrier was flying high this summer with half-yearly profits boosted to €1.1billion. Chief executive Michael O’Leary attributed the results to a ‘very rare confluence of favourable events’.
MONEY MAKERS: (From left to right) Daurella, Botin and Ortega
Rolling in it POWER women are coining it in across the boardrooms of Spain. There may be four fewer Spanish women on this year’s Forbes’ rich list, but the main players remain, led by Inditex heiress Sandra Ortega Mera. As Spain’s richest woman,
Spain’s 10 richest women are worth over €20 billion collectively the 47-year-old daughter of Amancio Ortega - who was momentarily the world’s richest man in October - also inherited her mother’s 7% share
Safe as houses THE Fort Knox of the mobile phone world is Spanish-made. Cast aside your iPhone and forget about your Android, because Blackphone, made by Silent Circle, is the world’s most secure, impregnable telephone. CEO and creator David Puron, and his small Madrid army of engineers, work out of a tiny Paseo de la Castellana office. The €580 telephone launched in 2014 is commonly used by Navy Seals and spies and has seen demand boom since the telephone hacking scandals.
in Inditex in 2013. She is worth a cool €7.5 billion. Ortega is followed by CocaCola Iberian Partners boss Sol Daurella, worth €3.9 billion, and Santander group president Ana Patricia Botin, who has €3.45 billion. The ‘top ten’ also includes Prosegur president Helena Revoredo Delvecchio (€1.5 billion), Omega Capital owner Alicia Koplowitz (€1.5 billion), Corte Ingles shareholder Carlota Areces Galan (€1.2 billion) and art Baroness Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza (€900 million).
AGONY ANT
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YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
T is a little known fact among most property owners,but management of ‘communities of owners’ in Spain has become a source of real corruption. According to consumer organisations, 30% of community’ managers – whether professional administrators or ‘presidents’ - are demanding commissions of between 5%-10% from contractors and supplier companies serving these communities. Where the communities have expensive-to-run or higher maintenance facilities such as gardens, pools or security requirements, providers have larger margins to play with. Corrupt professional administrators that engage in these practices will demand - or expect - a kickback for awarding contracts, but in a rather discreet elegant manner. After all, they are professionals that get paid for their services and need to hide any illegal activities unexpected of them. Corrupt presidents on the contrary don’t get paid to do their jobs. They become unusually keen on governing the community, will typically behave with crass insensitivity towards ‘dissident’ owners and show despotic man-
Foul play Bribery in communities of owners
ners at AGMs. Often, they will cultivate a web of friends that are nothing but naïve neighbours who, through ignorance, will lend them support by giving out proxies for up and coming community meetings, thus perpetuating the fraud. These communities are often teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The Spanish Criminal Code can deal with these individuals, if they are uncovered. This is what article 286 states under ‘Corruption between private individuals’: Whoever, personally or through an intermediary, promises, offers or grants executives, directors, employees or collaborators of
a trading company or any other firm, partnership, foundation or organisation, an unfair benefit or advantage of any nature, in order for them to favour him or a third party against others, breaching their obligations in acquisition or sale of goods or in hiring of professional services, shall be punished with a sentence of imprisonment of six months to four years. There would also be a barring from practice of industry or commerce for a term from one to six years and a fine of up to three times the value of the profit or advantage obtained. But where they are not uncovered, there is only one solution: naive neighbours have to wise up and get involved, whether they live in these complexes permanently or occasionally. They must replace these corrupt presidents or administrators and establish transparent practices for every provider bidding process - sealed bidding being the fairest and most secure.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es
Top Dollar
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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015 November 12th - 25th 2015 ADVERTORIAL
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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
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Top Dollar
FOLLOW the horses; the trouble is, the horses I follow also follow the horses! How many times do you hear people say something along those lines after they have lost their shirt at the races? More often than not. They put their money on before the race starts, the die is cast, and they have to live with their choices. The opposite is true of momentum investing, where you can change horses midstream. Last month’s Saltydog newsletter looked at the timing of the purchase and subsequent sale of two funds in one of their demonstration portfolios: AXA Framlington Biotech and GLG Technology. These two cases demonstrated very clearly the principle of momentum investing. Unlike in a horse race, these funds were chosen after the race had started when the funds were performing well;
www.theolivepress.es
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November 12th - 25th 2015
Backing a winner Investing is like a day at the races
while the race was still underway, we decided to ‘dismount’ as both funds started to falter and lose ground. Therefore we still retained the gain between the buying and selling prices. There were some people who chose to stay the course, hoping that their horse would recover. They are now looking at a situation where the selling price is less than the purchase price. They are in a loss/ loss situation. They backed a horse that was following other horses! As a Saltydog subscriber, with
Spain a top hotspot for money laundering and tax evasion SPAIN is among Europe’s worst offenders for helping firms launder money and avoid paying tax. According to European Network report, 50 Shades of Tax Dodging, Spain is the fourth worst offender behind Luxembourg, Germany and Italy. The report accuses Spain of conducting the most aggressive tax treaty negotiations with developing countries outside the EU. It claims Spanish firms avoid paying tax due to state collusion with multi-nationals outside the European trade agreement.
access to all the fund performance numbers and graphs, why should we get tempted to break the rules? After all, buying and selling Unit Trust/OEICs is quick, and virtually free on a supermarket fund platform, while a sale made too early can easily be rectified with a repurchase. So why, myself included, do we end up occasionally running loss-making situations? It must be down to built-in facets of human nature. · Inactivity. It’s sometimes easier to do nothing and ignore the evidence.
· Loss aversion. Investors are happy to lock-in a profit but reluctant to lock-in a loss. · Selective thinking. We give more credence to the facts that confirm the beliefs we already hold, and sideline those that do not. · Positivity. One of the reasons that the human race still exists, and goes forward, is its ability to remain positive in the worst scenarios. This may not always be the best approach to investing. These facets are attitudes of mind that I have to take into consideration when looking at my own investments and decision making. It’s only too easy to end up with the horse at the back of the field. To find out more about Saltydog Investor, or better still to take the two-month free trial, visit www.saltydoginvestor. com
Artful dodgers Meanwhile Luxembourg and Germany are accused of knowingly introducing new policies which allow companies to hide the real owners - therefore
ADVERTORIAL
Rev up for winter SNOW may be scarce on Spain’s south coast but preparing for the (moderately) big freeze is still essential for motorists. If your car is parked outside during the worst of the winter months, or you’re planning to visit the interior or venture north, there are some simple steps you can take to keep it road ready. Lights, heaters and wipers put high demands on the car battery and they have to work harder in colder weather. If your battery is over five years old it may be time to shop around for a replacement. Also, top up your windscreen wash with a more concentrated mix of antifreeze and give locks a quick spray with WD40. In the event of being stranded, make sure you have a phone charger as well as blankets, a folding shovel, jump leads, towbar and tow rope. If colder weather is forecast, make sure you have a full tank of fuel, as you may need to keep the engine running to stay warm until help arrives. Driving conditions can become challenging, so change to winter tyres to help with stopping. For more information contact Línea Directa on 902123282 or visit www.lineadirecta.com
helping them avoid tax. At the other end of the scale, Denmark and Slovenia are leading the way for financial transparency by launching fully public registers with information on owners. The report comes one year after the Luxleaks scandal which revealed how hundreds of international companies were forming illegal tax deals with Luxembourg.
Growth spurt THE Spanish economy is the fastest growing in the Eurozone, new figures suggest. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which gives an indication of the health of the manufacturing sector, points to 0.7% quarterly growth in Spain. The Eurozone growth is estimated at 0.4%, with Germany’s growth 0.4%, Italy’s 0.3% and France’s 0.2%, according to the report.
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Just like shoes, it’s all in the fit says Leighton Griffiths, store director at Specsavers Opticas Marbella
Top spec glasses
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OO many people put up with ill-fitting specs. Glasses come in different sizes, just like clothes and shoes. The arm length, bridge diameter and frame width should all be displayed in millimetres on the arms. What warning signs should I look for to indicate an incorrect fit? · The top edge of the frames should be no higher than the line of your eyebrows. · The bridge should keep a comfortable and secure fit on your nose so they don’t slip down. · The lower edge of the frames should not sit on your cheeks, even when you smile, so that they don’t rub or irritate
How can I ensure I get the right fit? We have introduced a cutting-edge, new way of selecting and fitting customers’ glasses, using imaging software on tablet devices. Digital Precision Eyecare ensures everyone receives the right professional care and advice in frame selection and dispensing for their prescription, vision and lifestyle needs. This is very clever kit and gets customers much more involved with the frames and lens selection. It’s a quick and easy process which ensures a perfect fit every time. How does it work? Following an eye examination, the optical team assists customers in selecting their preferred glasses. Imaging software on a tablet is then used to take an image of them wearing the
glasses, which in turn captures a range of essential dispensing measurements. These are unique to the customer and their chosen glasses. Can it help with style too? Yes, the tablet can also be used to show you what you look like wearing a range of different glasses to help you make your choice. The intelligent software also helps you choose any lens options you might want, by demonstrating what they do in real time. Digital Precision Eyecare is now available in Specsavers Opticas stores in Marbella and Fuengirola. To find your nearest store visit www.specsavers.es
Survival of the fittest PLENTY of sunshine and activity outdoors are an ideal recipe for perfect health. And the Spanish statistics institute INE says 71% of Spanish adults believe that’s just what they have. Men are the most confident, with 75.1% thinking they are healthy, compared with 67%
Med-icinal cure A MEDITERRANEAN diet containing fruit, vegetables, olive oil and fish can stave off Alzheimer’s, a new study claims. The Columbia University report says the lack of red meat and dairy products may be linked to losing fewer brain cells as people age. The findings, published by the Neurology journal, show those eating a Mediterranean diet have a larger brain volume than those who don’t.
A whopping 71% of Spaniards believe they are healthy, but who is the fittest? of women. Regionally, Navarrans are at the top, with 74.9% feeling
Healthy jamon FIT: 70% of Andalucians think they’re healthy
AN expert on links between diet and cancer has given Spain’s celebrated air-cured hams the all-clear. Dr Carlos Alberto Gonzalez was responding to October’s WHO report, which warned of red meat’s carcinogenic risks. But Spanish jamon, either the serrano that comes from white pigs raised on commercial feed, or the delicacy of a bellota, whose black pigs are fed on acorns, carries little risk, the head of cancer organisation the IARC said. “The ham of these pigs doesn’t have so much saturated fats, only polyunsaturated fats, and evidence indicates this doesn’t carry health risks,” he said.
Don’t be a whinging guiri!
they’re in tip-top condition, while Galicia trails at the bottom at just 60%. Andalucia sits just below average at 70.8%. Spaniards do not shy away from healthcare, with 85% going to the doctor, and high blood pressure, lower back pain, high cholesterol and osteoarthritis are the most common complaints. Part of the reason for that could be that only three in 10 adults get any physical exercise more than two days a week. But on a brighter note, the number of smokers is only 23%.
MY
Martina Willis of The Source Of Wellbeing spa in Malaga dishes out tough love for ‘typical expats’
M
Y first summer season at The Source Of Wellbeing is over. And it has given me huge insight into the ‘typical expats’ who move to southern Spain. My conclusions about attitudes, behaviours and motivations will stir unease - maybe even rage - in some. But as a ‘change coach’ I am not in the business of being ‘nice’. I exercise ‘tough love’ so people can see their ‘reality’, giving them a fighting chance to change. Be aware! Running away will eventually get you, even in southern Spain. So many people come here thinking it will change everything. What they seem to forget is that they can never escape from themselves. Other people, places and things are not to blame for their circumstances, only themselves. For those unwilling to face up to the reality of what brought them to where they stand today, even the Spanish sunshine remains powerless to help. Although many don’t even see the sun anymore. It’s blotted out by the dark cloud of gloom, doom, groaning and gossip that hangs over their lives, obscuring any feeling of gratitude for being lucky enough to live in this beautiful country. And for a great many it gets worse over time
- the lack of life purpose, the disconnection from old friends, job and family. Instead of asking themselves why they have the same nagging doubts they felt in their homeland, and becoming aware of attitudes and behaviour patterns that got them to this point, they turn to emotion-numbing substances such as alcohol or drugs. Or they flee into the world of ‘unrealistic’ spirituality, waiting to be saved by God/the universe/angels/ spiritual guru… you name it. The problem here is only that the universal law of ‘free will’ hands the responsibility for your life straight back to you. No God or angel can live it for you or help if you are unwilling to accept that responsibility and become what we all are: co-creators. Please, only contact me for assistance if you are ready to become a co-creator of your life. That means being ready to take back what is yours: responsibility and power over your life; to be willing to face all of you - the good, the bad and the ugly; to wade through the murky waters of emotions and shine the light of awareness into your dark corners. That is the true path to becoming an ‘enlightened’ human being.
Landline: +34 951 20 43 06 Mobile: +34 673 293 333 www.thesourceofwellbeing.com martina@thesourceofwellbeing.com
Top Salud 37
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Screen war at a school near you
DITCH the chalk and take down the whiteboards – even the interactive ones are outdated - because iPads are taking over as a learning facility in schools. With children as young as two completely screen-literate, health professionals are con-
Eating alone could damage kids’ health
cerned. Leading psychologist Carla Domecq has stated that kids under seven years old should not watch television or look at screens, as the nervous system is not yet developed and it could affect a child’s visual and hearing ability.
Food for thought
CHILDREN sitting down alone to their toast and orange juice aren’t just being deprived of mum and dad’s company. A new study reveals 40% of Spanish youngsters eat breakfast alone which can damage kids’ health and cause hypoglycaemia. The Fundación Española de Dietistas-Nutricionistas (FEDN) study says children are less likely to adopt healthy eating habits if they eat breakfast alone. “From the evidence available, breakfast could be the key for children’s nutritional growth and educations, so parents should pay attention to this,” said Giuseppe Russolillo from FEDN. The report also reveals that 8% of children over the age of six don’t eat breakfast every day, and that 13% of parents admit their child is overweight.
Healthy childs play A NEW Spanish website is teaching children how to improve their health. City Salud aims to educate youngsters about balanced nutrition, personal hygiene and exercise. The Pfizer Foundation website is designed so teachers can use the pages to teach in classrooms.
37 November 12th - 25th 2015
Sexual healing Empowerment therapist Louise Van der Velde helps people overcome their personal challenges and spice up their love lives
Dear oc Love D
Tantric trouble
Another lonely day
Dear Louise,
Dear Louise...
MY girlfriend wants us to do tantra, she has read a book and keeps saying it will help our relationship, I’m unsure about what to expect. Our sex life is already really good, so I don’t see why she wants to change things.
I’ve just gone through a breakup and I’m finding it really hard to readjust to being on my own. I feel sad and lonely and even though I know my ex-boyfriend is not for me, I had no choice but to leave as I was unhappy..
Louise says:
Louise says:
Tantra is an ancient practice that, if embraced for even just an hour a week, will take your love life to a whole new level. I’d suggest you be open-minded and give it ago. There are hundreds of exercises, some involving blind-folding and feeding the senses, which builds trust. You leave any problems you have outside this ‘sacred space’ and get back to soul connection away from the stresses of life and relationship issues. I suggest my clients take about an hour a week in the daytime to try it. You don’t have to have sex at the end of it - that’s not the point - but often this happens and you’ll find it is a deeper, more intense sensation that you can enjoy together. I run classes in this, so feel free to come along.
It’s really important that we can feel happy on our own before we enter a relationship. I’m guessing this isn’t something you’ve been used to. Be gentle with yourself, be sure you take time on your own for a while and don’t rush into anything else. Find new interests, join a club and be around friends. You will look back on this time as an empowering period in your life, as what hurts most we grow from. You must now put all the energy you were investing in the relationship into making yourself feel good. Join a gym or start yoga, treat yourself to a massage. Keep busy and block your ex totally for a while.
Email Louise at louisenlp@gmail.com or visit www.loveliferetreat.com
38 The Olive Press’
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monthly youth and education section
treme
Throwing in the cloth
PEDRO POWER: R.E to be scrapped if PSOE win election
PSOE PM candidate wants to scrap religious education from Spain’s schools RELIGIOUS education could be a thing of the past if PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez triumphs in December’s general election. Sanchez has vowed to pull religion courses from both public and private schools if elected, only allowing them to be taught as extra-curricular activities outside of school hours. He claims religion ‘should no longer be forced upon children’s schooling’. His plans have already met strong opposition from the Roman Catholic church. “Sanchez’s proposal is just a way of stirring up problems,” said a spokesman for the bishops, Father Jose Maria A SPANISH technology firm has been named by Forbes in Gil. “Sanchez needs to keep its top 10 list of education companies. in mind that most people in Blinklearning allows teachers and students to access intercountry, the people voting for national and national educational material. him, are Catholics. A Forbes statement said: “Blinklearning provides a mine “Religion is an important of digital content that allows teachers to create customised part of this country and of the content based on content from leading publishers. world, and religious courses “Teachers can customize the content for each class or each need to remain on par with student based on learning speed.” the rest of the subjects.”
DIGITAL DATA
Students stumped ONLY two-thirds of Spanish university students enrolled in a four-year course finish on time, a new report claims. Of 54,634 students starting in 2010, those who did so amounted to 35,397 (65%), while the rest dropped out during the first year or had to repeat courses, according to the Department of Education’s Bolonia plan.
Note perfect
AN INNOVATIVE dance and music school is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Atheneum of Music and Dance’s expert tutors teach children aged four and up using the Malaga school’s unique training structure. The private schoolprovides classes in elementary dance and music, which pupils take alongside their main education.
CHECK-MATE: Rookie classes to be more common
Board-ing school THE sight of children pondering where to move their rooks, pawns and bishops will soon be more common than ever. Chess is already a popular pastime in Spain, and the country’s education board has decided to work it into the curriculum. In an effort to boost pupils’ maths and reading marks, an hour of chess a week is being introduced into most Spanish primary schools from the turn of the year. Education studies in Madrid suggest that just that one hour can improve pupil’s maths performance by 30%.
HE’S Top of the class
FORGET Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, there’s a school director working his own magic on the Costa del Sol. Director Julio Morales has been awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 award by the CIT-
Marbella association for Tourist Initiatives. This is recognition for over 30 years of dedication and hard work in converting the Instituto Internacional de Idiomas into a leading language school in the Malaga province.
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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
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Columnists
www.theolivepress.es November 12th - 25th 2015
Never mind molluscs
I
T’S been an eventful summer up at the Casita. We’ve had everything from long summer picnics to corporate team building events full of hungover Irish executives - who were more interested in the hog roast and the possibility of a cold beer than the activities, if truth be told - to Saudi royal family picnics (no small affair) and a brilliant stag weekend for my friend Tom Schneider. (The wedding was even better, but I wrote about that before). But as well as all the great stuff that goes on at the lake, including being able to swim in the water in October, flinging myself off the diving rocks (when, at my age, I should know better) and expeditions on the boat packed with grinning adults and kids, there have also been some problems. There was a big fire 500 metres to the north of the Casita in May that had to be dealt with by helicopter. I was lucky that the wind was blowing away from the house or it might have burnt down - it was pretty damn close. I still caught idiots trying to light BBQs at the lake in August, but a few choice Anglo Saxon phrases convinced them of
The Zebra Mussel is the least of your worries this autumn, reveals Giles Brown
SIGN RULES: But not a thing about litter or respect
the error of their ways. People still leave litter around this outstanding natural area of beauty, also a huge fire risk not to mention the harm it does to the local wildlife. This has resulted in me stomping around the lake collecting rubbish like a particularly bad-tempered
Womble on more than one occasion. Worse still, there have been random acts of theft and vandalism. My hand-painted Casita del Lago sign was stolen over the summer, kayaks have vanished from secure moorings and, at the end of one busy Sunday, I even
found that someone had urinated in one of my boats! So when I spotted three Junta de Andalucia 4x4s heading down the track and erecting a sign last week, I expected it to read something along the lines of ‘Please look after this unique place, take your rubbish with you, don’t nick anything and for Christ’s sake have a pee before you drive over’. This being southern Spain, of course, it was none of the above. The sign, which must have cost a few euros to produce, warned us all of the danger of the Mejillon Cebra, or Zebra Mussel. Apparently the little blighters, which hail from the Far East, have been laying waste to the local species all over Andalucia, and anyone using the water has to make sure that their boat, rods or boogie board has been properly cleaned before taking them to the lake. What’s worse they aren’t even edible, which scuppered my bright idea of opening up the Casita as a Champagne and Oyster bar. But with all of the other goings on at the lake this summer, I did let out an exasperated cry of ‘Never mind the Molluscs!’
Olive Press BLOG OF THE MONTH - to view more visit www.theolivepress.es. To begin blogging yourself, contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es
Easy like Sunday afternoon
Blogger of the Week Luke Andrews finds nothing to do but drink sherry (hic) on a lazy Sunday in Jerez
M
ANY would argue that a successful business should open 24/7 or, at least, at convenient times for customers. But not, it seems, the museum curators and bodega custodians of Jerez. While cities like Madrid and Barcelona have moved with the modern opening hour times, Jerez is stuck in the Dark Ages of half-day closing. Tourist sites in town religiously open during the normal weekday hours. Many also very kindly extend opening hours to Saturdays. But Sunday trading? Forget it. Good luck finding anything open that isn’t a bar or restaurant in this neveron-a-Sunday town. Jerez remains firmly in the grip of God’s fifth commandment: ‘Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy’ – Exodus 20:9. Beware, too, if you’re contemplating a long sightseeing weekend because even Saturday opening hours are somewhat erratic. The Archaeological Museum opens from 10am-2pm on Saturdays and that’s your lot. But the prize for the daftest hours of business goes to Piscina Jose Lagu-
SHERRY TIME: When even the gym is closed
illo.This swish public sports centre with its state-of-the-art pool and tennis courts was built with the locals in mind. However the chances of working Jerezanos ever being able to use it are slim. To gain access you have to buy membership from the office, open Monday to Friday from 9am-2pm. It may surprise the Spanish authorities to learn that many people tend to be at work themselves, during that time frame. Even the locals agree that it’s stupendously inconsiderate. “We do have jobs you know,” said one. “How are you meant to buy member-
ship unless you are a housewife?” But even that inconvenience pales into insignificance beside the zero ‘Sunday Service’ in Jerez. Museo Arqueologico – closed. Sherry bodegas – closed. Gimnasio – closed. Zoobotanico de Jerez – open! This enlightened establishment operates seven days a week from 9am-7pm. But if you’re not keen on zoos, the only thing that you can do in Jerez on a Sunday is go on a tapas crawl and see the town through the bottom of a sherry glass. Copious sherry glasses… At least you’ll come away with a souvenir hangover.
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Sun chefs THE seemingly endless Spanish sun has many benefits, and now budding chefs are learning to cook with it. Sun cookers are used in Murcia and Almeria, two of Spain’s hottest regions. Exhibitions in October showcased the outdoor ovens in Seville, Cordoba and Granada, with Andalucians learning how the giant bowl concentrates the sun’s ray on a saucepan. Spanish environmental expert Manolo Vilchez has already introduced the cookers in Haiti.
Ripe times TOMATINA festival goers will be jumping for joy to learn that tomato prices are set to plunge. The red fruit, protagonist of one of Spain’s most bizarre festivals, is enjoying a harvest to remember, with record figures expected to be released in Almeria. The increase of produce is good for tomato eaters and throwers, with a kilo set to drop to as low as 40 cents.
the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015 43
The only English-language newspaper in Spain with a dedicated food and drink section every issue
Gordon couldn’t save it Gaucin restaurant graced by Ramsay closes after two years of business
Exclusive by Iona Napier
A PICTURESQUE Gaucin eatery that appeared in Gordon Ramsay’s Costa del Sol Kitchen Nightmares has closed its doors for the last time. Already failing after only eight weeks in business, La Granada Divino was massively overhauled when the kitchen giant descended for a gruelling week in October 2014 to transform the restaurant into a potential winner. Following his visit, owners Milan and Gina Varmuza were taking €7,090 a week, and the restaurant built up a reputation as one of Gaucin’s top food spots. Olive Press publisher and food critic Jon Clarke was even drafted into sample the culinary delights and give them his stamp of approval. But the effects of astronomical summer rents ‘and
DIDN’T PAN OUT WELL: For Gaucin restaurant and (above) boss Gina talks to Ramsay with team
lots of other reasons’ forced Milan and Gina to throw in the towel last month and retire. “It’s got nothing to do with Gordon and the show,” Milan told the Olive Press. “We got a huge amount of publicity due to the show – and our Facebook page continues to do so – but we were too busy to continue this.”
He continued: “We are selling absolutely everything from the complete professional kitchen to light fittings.” It is hoped that the restaurant, tucked away in the town’s backstreets, will reopen under different ownership in the future.
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Bug banquet FLIES, crickets and beetles could soon be crawling their way onto Spanish dishes. Gibraltar’s neighbours will adopt the European Parliament’s new regulation and legalise the cultivation of insects for human consumption, ministry of health sources suggest. Chowing down on crunchy critters is nutritious, healthy and good for the environment, the UN has reported. The law is set to come into effect next year, but tapas bars may wait a while before putting Beetles Bravas on the menu.
Fruity affair EVERYTHING from apples and pears to rhubarb and radishes was on display at the seventh edition of the Fruit and Vegetable trade show this year. Taking place in Madrid, producers and exporters - largely from Huelva - met up with customers from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. This year’s event specifically promoted the Huelva berry industry.
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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
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Special ingredients Celeb chef set to spice up the Gibraltar literary festival
KEEP an eye on your cheese and wine this weekend, celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson is coming to Gibraltar. The Rock’s foodies are getting ready, steady for the arrival of the TV chef, who was famously caught pilfering from a Tesco store in Henley three years ago. Worrall Thompson, who appeared in ‘I’m a celebrity… get me out of here!’ in 2003, is set to prepare a festival lunch on November 14 at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel.
READY, STEADY, TALK: Worral Thompson to appear at Gibraltar Literary Festival Later that day, at 5pm, he will be interviewed at the hotel by food writer Donald Sloan. Having found fame on shows such as ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ and ‘Saturday Kitchen’, Wor-
Tempting tapas FUENGIROLA’S erotic tapas festival is leaving lunchers licking their lips. One hundred bars are participating in the 7th edition of the Ruta de la Tapa Erótica until November 15. A saucy tapa and a cana are available for €2. Last year’s festival served up more than 300,000 tempting tapas.
rall Thompson now spends much of his time at his villa down the coast in Mijas. Meanwhile, the ‘Medicinal Chef’, a.k.a. Dale Pinnock, was also due to be appearing at the festival in an interview with Sloan, as well as preparing the menu for the closing dinner on Sunday November 15. However, the expert nutritionist cancelled his appearance as the Olive Press went to print, citing an ‘inability to travel to Gibraltar due to unforeseen circumstances’. For more information on the festival, visit www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015
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FLOWER POWER by Steven Saunders of the Little Geranium
La Cala Master Chef Steven Saunders spills the beans on the soccer supremo’s saucy request
Bend it like Beckham!
I
HAD just launched The Lowry in Manchester with a grand opening by Her Majesty The Queen, fantastic fireworks and amazing canapés, so I was feeling pretty satisfied with myself. The Lowry was the main UK Millennium project for the North of England and simple dishes, all homemade, were the key ingredients. The menu included beef bourguignon, steak pie cooked with oysters and ale and fish and chips in a tempura batter, served with a bespoke tomato dip made from roasting the tomatoes with garlic and onions. It was a wet and windy lunchtime and, as I looked at the new bridge connecting us to Trafford Park, I saw a couple walking towards us who looked very familiar: David and Victoria Beckham. “Hello David and welcome,” I said. “Hi Steve, you got a table?” asked Becks. It was really busy but of course I had a table. This was David Beckham, for Christ’s sake! On order I shouted, ‘One
house salad with dressing on the side and one fish & chips’. I guessed that David would be having the fish and chips as ‘Posh’ is not renowned for eating much! Now, as our USP was homemade everything, I had banned things like Heinz ketchup and Daddies sauce and chosen to make my own similar but better alternatives. Our brown sauce was made with fresh tamarind, star anise and wine vinegar and our tomato sauce was amazing. “Is everything Ok for you David?” I asked. “Yes Steve but what is this?” David replied, pointing at the tomato sauce. “It’s a fresh tomato fondue made with good heritage tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil,” I proudly responded. “Bring me some ketchup will you, Heinz please,” he demanded. So off I went to the kitchen and shouted to a young chef, “Quickly get me some Heinz ketchup from the local shop, ASAP!” “But chef, you said you would not serve bottled sauces,” said the bemused chef.
Steven’s fresh tomato fondue Ingredients 1 onion peeled and chopped 6 ripe good quality red tomatoes blanched and peeled (skinless) 2 cloves garlic peeled and sliced 1 stick of celery sliced thinly half a red pepper sliced thinly Pinch of fresh cumin Drizzle of olive oil Maldon salt and white pepper 2 tablespoons of tomato puree paste or tomato frito 1 tablespoon of orange honey (or plain honey) A good handful of fresh basil leaves finely shredded Method · Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water in a saucepan (making a little cross on the top with a sharp knife), leave for 10 seconds, then remove and chill in iced water. · Peel the skin off, slice the tomatoes in half and place on a baking tray. · Put the garlic, olive oil, celery and pepper slices on top and season with salt, pepper and cumin. · Roast in a pre-heated oven (160 C) for approx. 8 -10mins until soft and juicy · Blend to a puree in a food processor · Put the tomato paste/frito in a thick-bottomed saucepan and stir in the fresh puree · Cook on a moderate heat for approx. 30 mins until reduced and thick. · Taste and adjust seasoning, stir in the honey and finish by topping or stirring in the fresh basil “Shut it and do as I say… (this is David Beckham)!” I muttered. So David got his ketchup and we had a rethink on all those homemade sauces. We still carried on serving them but
always had Heinz on standby! However the real foodies loved our fresh tomato fondue, so I’d like to share it here for the benefit of true connoisseurs!
issue 43:The Local Issue 5 11/11/13 12:28 PM Page 9 Steven Saunders FMCGBLocal - www.thelittlegeranium.com - michele@thelittlegeranium.com +34 952 49 36 02
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Sherry sharing A JEREZ bar owner is determined to smash a world sherrydrinking record. David Fraser-Luckie hit upon the idea when around 700,000 drinkers tweeted the hashtag #sherryTT while raising a glass during November’s Sherry Week. David, who owns Las Cuadras bar, wants a worldwide sherry tasting event sponsored by a local producer. “I think we can do it better,” said David. “Why not beat the world record for people tasting sherry worldwide at the same time? Think big!”
We are the champinoñes Mushrooms are in season, in vogue and a third of the UK price, writes Iona Napier
Fast food THE largest goods train in the world will soon be transporting Spanish foods to China. The ‘silk train’ currently transports electronic and retail goods between the two countries, largely benefitting the Chinese market since it launched a year ago. But the Spanish food sector is now set to get a piece of the action by exporting everything from olives to chorizo along the 13,000km track from the New Year.
Queen of the woods A domestic delicacy, the exquisite mushrooms ‘amanita caesarea’ variety were named as such because the Roman emperors favoured them. Also known as ‘the king’s egg’ or ‘the death cap’, it is one of gastronomy’s favouites. In search of a prime mushroom concoction? Try ‘revueltos’, an easy, quick fix combining free range eggs, mushrooms and ham.
CURSE not the autumn rains! Although we wave goodbye to unbroken sunshine and welcome the wellies, we can also celebrate the arrival of the mushroom season. And Spain is a huge producer taking an impassioned interest in the cultivation of this little fungi, of which there are over 50 varieties in Andalucia alone. While mushroom-tasting menus sweep the country during te autumn, fungi in all its forms - from oyster to button to chantarelle – are a common dinnertime staple. Peasants and pageantry alike can enjoy the delicacy, selling for around €2.30 per kilo in Spain compared to the British supermarket (Tesco) equivalent of €6.80. Vegans and veggies love the protein-rich food as they can be used as a meat or bean alternative and at 30 calories per 100g, it is also popular with weight-conscious slimmers. One thing is for sure, chefs here know their mushrooms and are imaginative with their recipes… from mushroom and manchego croquettes to truffle-stuffed turkey on Christmas Day. Almost all (95%) of Spain’s mushrooms are produced in La Rioja and Castilla La Mancha while the country is the world’s leading producer of the Pleurotus mushroom. Whether you’re scouring the Pyrenees for mushrooms or stuffing a canvas bag full of them at the grocer’s, one’s thing for sure – mushrooms are at their tastiest now. High in iron, low in calories and a rich source of vitamin B12, C and D, they are so original that they have their own kingdom. Not quite a vegetable and definitely not an animal, the mighty mushroom is truly unique!
47 by Eddie the hotel hound
A dog’s life
It’s been a long, busy season and we’re all dogtired
F
ROM November 15 when the hotel closes for winter, it’s time to relax and kick back. The old Master is talking about lots of work at the hotel and how busy he is going to be. Going on lots of holidays is not exactly stressful in my book but he does like to moan. Of course there is a good side. While he’s away I get the house to myself – I still get walked and fed every day. His absence gives me time to catch up on my sleep and not have to put up with his constant need to bother me. My wagging tail is interpreted as an indication of what a wonderful human being he is. I’m not stupid – if a waggy tail means I get walks, warmth and food, why wouldn’t I do it? Doesn’t mean he’s anything special... Before we know it, our next season will have started. I look forward to meeting more of you after March 4th 2016. In the meantime may your Christmas be filled with whatever your heart most desires – for me it’s marrow bones.
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
Expat failure SCOTSMAN David Moyes has been sacked by Basque football club Real Sociedad after a just a year in charge.
FINAL WORDS
X-rated A GALICIA Town Hall is officially complaining to Google Translate after its website promoted a ‘clitoris festival’ due to an automatic translation gaffe.
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Covering Andalucia in 2015 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 500,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!
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November 12th - November 25th 2015
2015: A Space Odyssey
MYSTERY surrounds two black balls that hurtled from space into Spanish fields. The first orb was discovered by goat farmers in Murcia with the Guardia Civil believing it fell from a rocket or satellite. Investigators have said it is not radioactive and could be a pressurised gas container. And then, less than a week later, a second, similar sphere turned up just a few kilometres from the original.
Gaelic girls ANDALUCIA’S first ever women’s gaelic football match saw Eire Og Sevilla claim victory over the Costa Gaels by a single goal.
Not so Blessed
IT’S not everyday you turn down an original Picasso sketched especially for you. But that’s what British actor Brian Blessed did when he, aged 14, met the artist in Sheffield and asked him to draw a picture to prove his identity. The sketch of a dove failed to impress the outspoken Blackadder actor and he threw it away. “I said, that shows you A DOCTOR outraged a lesbian paare not Picasso, that’s tient by describing her sexuality as not a dove… and in do‘abnormal’. ing so I threw away Alicante resident Maria Eugenia, about €70 million,” said 33, visited her GP to book an apBlessed. pointment with a gynaecologist. The dove now hangs in a But the doctor said the patient’s Sheffield gallery after it recurring illness was linked to was picked up by a passer her being a lesbian. by.
Doctor derides lesbian
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COCKPIT CRACKER British pilot changes the face of budget travel through stand-up routine
FASTEN your seatbelt, locate your nearest exit and sit back and enjoy the jokes. Budget airlines have a reputation for being impersonal money-making machines… But there is one British pilot determined to change all that! Taking to the aisle for a preflight stand-up routine, EasyJet pilot-cum-comedian Captain Adam Stoaling is changing the face of budget travel and leaving flyers in fits of laughter. Regularly flying the MalagaLondon Southend route, passengers are treated to a five minute performance by the Nottingham-based pilot before take-off. “He won the hearts of all of us with such a simple gesture,” Malaga-based singer Arran Harding told the Olive Press. “It didn’t cost him anything and yet the impact that he had was priceless. “He welcomed us aboard, said he felt budget air travel had become an unenjoyable and then told a few jokes. “He had the whole plane in laughter and received a standing ovation.” An EasyJet spokesman told the Olive Press that the com-
UNWANTED: Royal car
Only Juan bid for King’s cars A GOVERNMENT auction of ex-King Juan Carlos’s Ferraris got stuck in first gear after receiving just one bid. The only offer posted was less than half the starting price of €350,000 for each FF model. The monarch’s motors were a gift from the UAE before Juan Carlos donated them to the Spanish state in 2012. The Finance Ministry hasn’t yet said what will happen to the cars.
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
pany had not directed pilots to take to the aisle but they encouraged ‘all members of staff to make journeys as enjoyable as possible’.
Opinion Page 6
Fallen star MOTOGP legend Valentino Rossi’s bad week could get even worse. After narrowly missing out on the MotoGP title to Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, the Italian motorbike rider could now be stripped of his star at Jerez’s Walk of Fame. Over 3,000 people have signed a petition to remove the star after Rossi intentionally knocked Spain’s Marc Marquez from his bike in the Malaysian Grand Prix. As punishment Rossi was made to start at the back of the grid in the final race of the season in Valencia.
Dr Where THEY say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But it was severe depression that made a Sevilla doctor flee Spain, get declared dead, only to be found in a tent in Italy 19 years later. Mushroom pickers found Carlos Sanchez Ortiz de Salazar, 47, deep in a Tuscan forest, who told them he had lived there since 1997. The beardy forest-dweller had been legally declared dead in 2010 and his elated family flew to Italy to find him. But the nomad had moved on and the search continues.