Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 321

Your expat

voice in Spain

Mijas Costa FREE

Vol. 13 Issue 321 www.theolivepress.es July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Big Bill...

Olive Press columnist becomes a councillor Why life’s a giggle on the Costa de la Luz

All about

C

10TH ANNIVERSARY SUPPLEMENT

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osta de la Luz www.theolivepress.com

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UROPE’S most southerly town looks out across the Strait of Gibraltar where two mighty continents collide. But the clash of cultures is entirely geographic.

Indeed, Tarifa radiates such a calming vibe it would threaten to relax the mighty shoulders of the titan Atlas himself but there’s no danger of the sky falling down...Hercules’ two mythological pillars (Gibraltar and Mount Jebel Musa in Morocco) have long since relieved him of that burden.

Shaded by pine forest, cushioned by soft dunes, and 14 kilometres from Africa, this Costa de la Luz gem’s Carribean-copy beaches and laid-back vibe set it apart from the more structured resorts along the Malaga coast to the east.

And that’s unlikely to change thanks to Tarifa’s protected location in El Estrecho Natural Park.

The coastal town in Cadiz province is an endearing mix of beach bum bohemianism and boutique chic, with the added attraction of great seafood and restorative Atlantic winds.

It makes it the perfect escape (along Continues overleaf

A BRITISH expat has made history on the Costa del Sol. Olive Press columnist Bill Anderson has become the first UK councillor in Mijas.

“I feel very honoured and proud to be in this position,” the 61-year-old from Edinburgh said this week.

The lecturer at Marbella’s Les Roches University, stood for the PP party alongside winner Angel Nozal, who is expected to be invested on Friday.

After living in Andalucia for 17 years, Anderson said he now hopes to help the international community to ‘integrate’ better in the town.

EX CL PI USI C VE

See Bill’s regular column on page 46

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of our annual Cadiz special

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

AN Irish expat is calling in police after she was robbed while staying at a hospital on the Costa del Sol. Paula Brody, 75, from Dublin, woke up from a serious leg operation to find her smart phone and charger were stolen from her bedside table at the Hospital Costa del Sol. The former admissions boss at Dublin’s Institute of Education told the Olive Press how her ‘whole ward’ was robbed during the night.

“I was devastated to wake up alone in my bed in pain and unable to move and also unable to contact any of my family or friends,” she revealed.

Horrific

Why aye read the Olive Press when I come to Toon

Find out why on page 3

Brody, who lives in Manilva, had been rushed into hospital after suffering a horrific fall last week.

The pensioner suffered a broken tibia and fibula as well as a deep gash in her leg, when she fell down a friend’s stairs.

She had to be rushed to the hospi-

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Bed mugged Robbers targeting patients at Costa del Sol hospital

curity is seriously lacking there.

It seems anyone can simply enter and wander around.”

Apart from the loss of her Samsung phone, she insisted that the medical care and nursing was ‘excellent’.

“The care was fantastic but the poor nurses were very overworked and so cannot look out for your belongings,” she added.

When the Olive Press asked security how many people were robbed on the alleged night, our enquiries BROKEN: Paula were met with a shrug. The hospital meanwhile, has refused to give Paula a formal letter confirming the phone has been stolen, making it difficult to report the issue to police and her insurers.

“But I am going to make sure this case does not go undealt with. The police will find out all about it,” she added.

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tal by ambulance and was quickly sedated and rushed in to surgery.

She believes the thefts, which included other phones and jewelry, were carried out by two teenage boys, around 15, who were seen by the patient in the bed next to her.

The woman told her the two lads had fled when questioned about what they were up to.

“Who knows if it was them,” added Paula, who moved to Spain two months ago.

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CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Unexpected baggage A MILITARY official travelling with Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro was detained in Sevilla after 39kg of cocaine was found in his suitcase on the presidential plane.

Bladerunner A KNIFEMAN has robbed the Ibercaja Bank in Alburquerque, stealing €3,000, as police are still searching for him.

Taxi rapist’s costa plans

ONE of the UK’s most dangerous men has been learning Spanish as part of his plan to relocate to Spain on his release.

Infamous 62-year-old taxi rapist John Warboys - who now goes by the name John Derek Radford - is hop-

Black cab sex offender Warboys plots new life in Spain from prison cell ing to start a new life here, when released.

But the sex offender, who was set to be released this

year, may spend a lot more time behind bars at Wakefield prison after a massive public uproar.

PICTURED - Expat chef who allegedly killed tourist

‘Killer’ chef

Hammer blow A SPANIARD, 42, has been arrested after hammering his wife, also 42, to death, before fleeing to Madrid with the couple’s two children and confessing to police.

Krem-inal A RUSSIAN expat has been found guilty of killing her sedated husband, whose body was later eaten by her dogs.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

SUSPECT: Cook Gardinar

A BRITISH chef has appeared in court over the killing of an Irish holiday maker in a Costa del Sol pub.

Mijas Costa cook Leigh Anthony Gardiner, 49, was arrested after he was suspected of stabbing John Pender, 53, to death with two broken bottles.

Pender, from Dublin, died after the vicious attack in the toilets of Pogs Old Irish Rock Pub, in Fuengirola.

The charity worker stumbled to the door of the pup, before collapsing in a pool of his own blood following wounds to his neck.

Leigh, who allegedly works at Club la Costa, ‘made advances’ on Pender’s wife, Caroline McGuigan, and founder of charity Suicide or Survive.

Pender, a charity worker, had been on holiday with his wife and their two children Conor, 21, and Amy, 18, who were not at the pub.

The attack came after Gardiner apparently ‘pestered’ several women in the pub.

Luckily Gardiner was restrained by security guards until police arrived to arrest him.

Dumb and dumber

MONSTER: John Warboys

“He had all the books and DVDs and was becoming pretty fluent,” a source at the prison a UK newspaper.

“He wanted to eventually live in Spain where, worryingly, he’d be totally anonymous and God only knows what he’d get up to out there mixing with tourists.

Attacks

“He had also changed his name so he could slip under the radar.”

Worboys was jailed in 2009 for a spate of sex assaults on 12 women in London.

He could have obtained permission to travel abroad from probation officers after a Parole Board deemed him to be no longer a danger.

But the decision is expected to be reversed when he goes in front of a judge to be sentenced in September after he admitted attacks on four more women.

A MOTHER and daughter have been arrested after reporting their hitman to police.

The pair, from Madrid, claimed the contract killer - the daughter’s boyfriend - swindled them out of €60,000.

The 29-year-old convinced the pair he was a spy for the Spanish government and he would kill the partner of the mother.

The fake spy - who said he spoke 22 languages, including Bengali and Hawaiian - made the victims sign a contract and requested a deposit of €7,000, but the hit never took place. The mother and daughter decided to report the scam to police seemingly unaware they were confessing to conspiracy to murder.

San Juan assault TWO men have been arrested over the sexual assault of a young woman, 20, in Fuengirola, during San Juan celebrations.

The pair, a Moroccan, 27, and an Indian, 24, are accused of pinning down a Finnish woman on the ground and sexually assaulting her.

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NEWS

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PIMP MY RIDE: 50 cent

Power drive

AMERICAN rap legend 50 Cent has used a supercar rally to arrive in style at the premiere of his new TV series.

The musician-turned actor, 43, was one of several celebs to speed off from Marbella in the Yiannimize Grand Tour (see pg 43).

But during the A-list road trip, the Get Rich or Die Tryin star took time out to unveil Season 6 of drama series Power in Barcelona.

The Catalan city was one of as number of locations along the route, which also took in Valencia, Montpellier, Geneva and Paris before arriving in London.

Sucker punch A FORMER boxing champion has been rescued off Spain after a fire broke out on a luxury yacht he was renting.

Ex world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitshko, who retired from boxing in 2017, was on a boat trip off Mallorca with family and friends when a fire started onboard.

The yacht was reported to have been adrift 10 miles southwest of Port Adriano with nine people on board.

“No worries: we are all fine!,” he reported the next day.

BOXER: Klitshko

Second rounds

England ace Gazza tells Olive Press he has stayed off the booze despite breaking his thumb on a quad bike during Spanish hols EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Parfitt in Benidorm

BRINGING one of the UK’s most legendary boozers to Benidorm was always going to be risky.

But former England star Paul ‘Gazza’ Gasgoigne told the Olive Press he had ‘no intention’ of taking a drink while enjoying a two-week break in Spain.

“I haven’t come here to drink,” he revealed to the paper before a speaking event in the Costa Blanca resort.

“I can drink in my own house if I want to, I don’t have to come to Benidorm to do that.”

The ex-Tottenham legend who has notoriously been in and out of rehab for years revealed that he had instead been horse riding and jet skiing.

The 52-year-old, who also played for Lazio and Rangers, said he was ‘feeling great’ af-

ANTICS: Fishing in costa pool and (left) on jet ski ter his first proper holiday for years.

“I hadn’t been on holiday in a while and I came here to enjoy myself without booze.

“I’ve been working out every day for the past six weeks, keeping busy and enjoying life,” he added.

The former England ace who famously cried after England failed to reach the 1990 World Cup Final - has had trouble with drugs and alcohol since his retirement in 2005.

Despite being widely recognised as the most naturally talented player of his generation, he has been addicted to everything from cocaine to Calpol.

He admitted he was a ‘connoisseur of rehab’ and also

Read it, it’s the truth!

As accolades go they don’t get much better.

Expats along the costas have been given an order: Read the Olive Press, by Paul Gascoigne.

Holding up the paper, he insisted: “Read it, it’s the truth!”

suffers from being OCD and bipolar.

He revealed that his public speaking gigs, which saw him in Orihuela and Benidorm last month, have given him his ‘football buzz’ back.

This was despite being accused of singing a ‘foul mouthed’ anti-catholic chant in a Benidorm pub, the night before.

However, he laughed this off as a joke (“I wear a cross around my neck, I’m not anti the Pope”) and insisted the only scrape he had was when he crashed a quad bike in the nearby hills.

“I went a bit crazy going through some trees, hit a boulder and backflipped over the quad.

“I was cut to bits and broke my thumb - it’s well out.

He later told the audience at La Marina hotel, in Benidorm, that he was back to ‘feeling great’.

Gascoigne’s manager Shane Whitfield told the Olive Press that Gascoigne does ‘50 events’ a year now for his company Kong Events.

Whitfield explained three years ago when he relapsed in a hotel room before a gig in the UK. “Because of who he was, the people close to him have broken his trust,” Whitfield said.

“I’ve given him back the basic things in life he never had: just calling him up for a coffee, or taking him jet skiing.”

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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Trans posed A MISS W o r l d trans-fer battle is set to begin as four sizzling Andalucian contestants compete to take over the Miss Spain title from current transgender holder Angela Ponce.

The beautiful bunch is made up of Noemi Delgado, Julianna Ro, Rosa Ortega and María del Mar Aguilera, representing Malaga, Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba respectively.

The hopefuls travel to Melilla on August 18, to see if one can win the right to attend the 69th Miss World contest in London on December 14.

The last winner Sevilla-born Ponce became fam o u s after becoming the first e v e r transgender winner of Miss Spain last year.

Perfect sands A SPANISH beach has made the world’s top 10.

La Concha Beach in San Sebastian was ranked as the fourth best globally, by Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2019.

The Basque beach was rated an average of 4.5/5 by 8,736 Tripadvisor users.

The number one spot went to Baia do Sancho, in Brazil’s archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

Cuba’s Varadero Beach was ranked second best in the world, while Eagle Beach in Aruba, came third.

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NEWS

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Something in the water A BEACH in Andalucia has been shut after a dangerous bacteria was detected in the water.

Stunning Playa de Fuentebravia, in el Puerto de Santa Maria, was closed after E.coli was found at dangerous levels in the water.

An E.coli infection can cause diarrhoea, blood in poo, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever, according to health experts.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

For the chop Desperate race against time to save hundreds of animals from being condemned to death

RIP: Boss Peter Koekebakker

AN animal shelter has appealed for help as hundreds of its dogs and cats face death due to a land dispute.

The Animal In Need Foundation faces eviction after its manager died, having only

APPEAL made ‘verbal agreements’ with the land owner.

In a shock move, a ‘for sale’ sign was stuck to the doors of the La Linea-based shelter just a day after 58-yearold general manager Peter Koekebakker’s funeral.

A number of developers are said to be interested in the site, which has sea views and is just a stone’s throw from Puerto Atunara.

The non-profit organisation said it now needs to raise €165,000 to buy the plot in Camino Torrenueva.

Pigs, birds, donkeys, horses and even a pair of bulls are also among the 750-800 an-

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REUNITED: Martin with lost rattle

Death rattle

A BABY’s rattle found alongside the remains of a mother executed during Spain's Civil War has been reunited with her 83-year-old son.

Catalina Munoz Arranz, a mother of four, took the toy with her when she faced a Nationalist firing squad in 1936 near Palencia.

The colorful rattle belonged to her youngest son, Martin de la Torre Munoz, who was just eight months old at the time. Almudena García-Rubio, an anthropologist who helps uncover civil war graves, said: “This rattle is a very symbolic object, the lively colors next to the earth-colored bones is a reminder of a motherhood that was cut short.”

See Roses of Zufre, P6

Collared A WOMAN has been arrested after her dog died from strangulation and heatstroke.

The 27-year-old is charged with animal abuse after her ‘dying’ pet was spotted on a balcony in Valladolid.

After police officers saw the animal ‘panting intensely’ and could not break in, firemen were called to rescue the animal.

But the dog could not be saved, and it died of ‘suffocation due to strangulation’, according to a vet.

THREATENED: Dogs arrive at centre

imals to face the chop if the cash is not found.

The public can help the Animal In Need Foundation by donating just €15 a time, which pays for 1m² of land.

In a statement, the centre called the situation a ‘worstcase scenario’ and said ‘time is of the essence’, but did not confirm how soon the site could be bought.

“With this burden on our shoulders and the fear of losing everything that Peter worked for his entire life, we nevertheless are trying to uphold the spirit and continue,” it added.

Feared

It comes as a volunteer at the centre told the Olive Press he feared the classification of the land could also be changed if it cannot be bought soon.

Gonzalo Martin, 47, who is a land administrator and real estate agent, said this would give the ‘green light’ for development and potentially raise the price per square metre tenfold.

“The land is currently classed as ‘rustic’ but could be built upon if it is changed to ‘urban’,” he told the Olive Press.

This newspaper contacted La Linea Ayuntamiento, but nobody was available to comment on the situation.

Donations can be made at this link: http://paypal.me/ redhetasiel For more information visit animalinneed.com +661 71 50 60

END: Binmen stop strike

Bin it to win it A REFUSE strike on the Costa del Sol is set to end after a provisional agreement was signed giving workers more money.

It comes after piles of rotting rubbish remained uncollected for nearly a week in Mijas and Alhaurin el Grande.

Workers from Urbaser in Mijas have agreed to hold off more strikes until a new town council is sworn in later this week.

That is the deal negotiated between PP winner Angel Nozal, who is expected to become the new mayor, and some 127 staff striking over working conditions and pay.

An extra €1,000 a year in wages and a fairer working week are among the features of the deal.

The workers downed tools last week leaving 270 tonnes of rubbish building up on the streets of Mijas and nearby Alhaurin.

British councillor Bill Anderson described the situation as ‘pretty bad’.

He told the Olive Press the problem came after a million euros was cut from the annual contract with Urbaser and Mijas. “Angel has got them to agree to suspending industrial action until the new council is sworn in on Friday,” he said.

Alhaurin mayor Toni Ledesma is also expected to sign an agreement.

www.theolivepress.es

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Hospital horror THE news that vulnerable people have been robbed in a hospital of all places, will have blood pressure spiking, up and down the coast.

Sick and injured people recuperating in their beds expected care, only to have some rechid thieves help themselves to valuables.

Paula Brody was left alone in pain and without any way to contact her family and friends, after lowlives nicked her phone.

Poor Paula, who had been rushed to hospital after a horrific fall, and others at the Hospital Costa del Sol do not deserve the added stress these crimes cause.

To top it off, when the Olive Press asked security how many people were robbed in the alleged night, we were met with a shrug.

The hospital also make it more difficult to report thefts to the police as they have refused to document the crimes.

This cannot stand, and it is good to hear Paula is going to make sure her case does not go undealt with.

Future expat danger A CRIMINAL starting a new life in Spain.

It all sounds very familiar (The Dirty Dozen, Issue 220, pg 6-7).

That is until you realise that said crook is serialis rapist John Worboys, who - it has emerged - is learning Spanish from behind bars.

In a bid to follow numerous British convicts to Spain, the black cab sex offender has apparently been practicing the language with ‘books and DVDs’ in prison.

The monster, from London, was jailed for the sexual assaults of 12 women, and has even now changed his name to John Derek Radford.

The British and Spanish authorities cannot allow his move to Spain.

Worboys would be among the sickest and most dangerous expat criminals to have ever inhabited this country.

We are used to conmen, drug dealers and even killers in these parts.

However, if Worboys does settle here upon his release, it would mark a whole new league of depravity.

John Worboys must be blocked from entering Spain.

Publisher / Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es

Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es

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Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

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AWARDS

2016 - 2019 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2019 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

FEATURE

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Remembering the Roses As it emerges Spain is second only to Cambodia for missing persons, a mass women’s grave is set to be opened in Andalucia, despite Franco still staying put in his Madrid burial place, writes Heather Galloway

A

HUSH descended on the tiny village of Zufre as the names were slowly read out.

It was November 4, 1937 and approaching dusk in the mountain settlement that sits inside the stunning Aracena Natural Park, in Huelva.

Most of the local villagers had just made their

The 16 Roses of Zufre RESTING PLACE: Higuera de la Sierra

way back into the village from the nearby fields.

A total of 16 women were called out and each was asked to jump aboard a truck that was supposed to be en route to the nearby market town of Aracena.

Ostensibly they were to make statements about the Civil War before the Nationalist authorities, who had secured the region for dictator Franco some months earlier.

However, nobody locally believed it and, according to witnesses, there was an eerie understanding that the fascist soldiers on the truck had other plans for their captives.

Zufre, after all, had been a staunchly left-leaning Republican town on the outbreak of the war in 1936 and the local militiamen quickly captured 60 Nationalists soldiers as prisoners.

Franco had been furious and ordered an aerial bombing of the town, which quickly liberated his soldiers, with most of the locals fleeing into the nearby hills or ‘relocated’ to Badajoz.

The 16 mothers, daughters and grandmothers rounded up that day were never seen again.

That is until this month, when a mass grave is expected to be opened in the nearby village of Higuera de la Sierra.

It is the fifth unmarked mass burial site to be opened in Andalucia over the last few years and archaeologists are expecting to find the bodies of women, who were most likely tortured and raped before being killed.

“They were rounded up in 1937, when Franco’s forces made a concertARE YOU OWED THOUSANDS FROM ed effort to find the locals who had deserted YOUR BANK? villages across Andalucia,” explains Cecilio Did you have an illegal floor clause Gordillo, the driving inserted in your Spanish mortgage? force behind the organiMillions of homeowners were wrongly charged thousands of euros due to underhand tactics, now outlawed after being exposed by the courts.

Fairway L AW Y E R S

1. Teodora Garzón Núñez, 46, married.

2. Remedios Gil Cortés, 58.

3. Modesta Huerta Santos, 30, widow and UGT socialist labour union activist.

4. Josefa Labrador Arroyo, 40, married.

5. Elena Ramos Navarro, 55, UGT socialist labour union activist.

6. Bernabela Rodríguez Ruiz, 39, married.

7. Dominica Rodríguez Ruiz, 39, widow.

8. Felipa Rufo Alcaide, 40, married.

9. Amadora Sánchez González, 53, married.

10. Mariana Sánchez Vázquez, 51, UGT socialist labour union activist and avid reader, married.

11. Antonia Padilla Blanco, 51.

12. Encarnación Méndez Díaz, 56, member of the UGT socialist labour union.

13. Faustina Ventura Sánchez, 62.

14. Amadora Domínguez Labrador, UGT socialist labour union activist.

15. Carlota Garzón Núñez, 47.

16. Alejandra Garzón Acemel, 62, aka la Pistola.

sation Todos los Nombres.

For the last 13 years he has been investigating the fate of the ‘disappeared’ victims of the Civil War, a third of whom were buried in Andalucia.

“There was a wave of repression against the women who lived in Andalucia,” the former bus driver told the Olive Press.

“Western Andalucia is the only place in Spain where they have found graves filled exclusively with women and Zufre will be the fifth such grave, though it is suspected there may be a few men in there too.”

However, he warned: “At least two graves believed to have contained the remains of executed women were empty so you never know what you will find until they are opened.”

He, along with the CGT-A Andalucia Working Group for the Recovery of Social Historical Memory were given the go-ahead last year and it is still expected to go ahead from July 15, despite the new right-wing PP-Ciudadanos-Vox coalition

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LOCATION: Zufre in Huelva

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proposing to cut the historical memory bud- adds Gordillo. get.

“Or they believed that by torturing and executHowever the dig will be highly controversial ing the women, the men would emerge from and emotive, as they usually are. their hiding places in the sierra.”

“We are having a meeting this Thursday to As they trudged up the hill to Don Angel’s discuss the exact timescale,” confirmed local medical clinic, where the truck waited, some Higuera archaeologist Jesus Roman, who is passed their husbands, while others gazed involved in the dig. longingly at their children who had gathered The move comes just weeks after the five as usual around the local fountain to judges in Madrid postponed moving the body play. of General Franco from Spain’s huge Valle de Apparently, on seeing their los Caidos memorial, which is meant to be for mothers’ hands tied and victims of both sides of the war. their faces streaked with It would be something of a disaster to not tears, the children turned afford these women a decent proper burial, their heads away. believes Gordillo.

Though the truck set off He explained that most of the 16 women in the direction of Araceknew this was to be a one-way ticket, despite na, it apparently drove their innocence. only as far as Higuera One of them, 62-year-old Alejandra Garzón de la Sierra, just 12 km Acemel, aka La Pistola, turned to embrace down the road. a friend, whose name was omitted, crying: The centre of the town, “Carmen, my dear, we are which like not going to see each other Zufre had again.”

The cries of those around 1,000 Few of them were guilty of inhabitants, was wretched souls generally lively in the anything more than being members of the UGT socialwith children playcould be heard evenings ist trade union with some of ing in the square and elderly them having family members across the whole men slamming down domialready jailed for being linked noes and cards. town to it.

But by 7pm when the truck The wave of terror launched drove in, the light was fading on the women of Andalucia fast and many had already however, was a strategy for hunting down gone indoors, leaving few witnesses to the their menfolk. atrocity that ensued more than 80 years ago.

“They were trying to make them reveal the However, Rosario, one living witness, did rewhereabouts of a brother or a husband,” call the macabre scene.

“A truck stopped loaded with women in front of the bar at 7pm,” she explained in her testimony to the association. “Their cries were chilling. They were told to get down and they filed along the street that leads to the graveyard.

“It’s a short stretch; maybe some of them didn’t know where the street would take them, but others would have known. ‘In line, that way!’ their executioners shouted.

“The cries of those wretched souls could be heard across the whole town. It gave you goosebumps. The people of Higuera were terrified.

“The women who refused to climb down from the truck where dragged off it, with kicks and a bayonet. Some may have arrived almost dead.

“The offloading took place quickly and they shot them at the gate to the cemetery.

“The old iron gate, which has been painted hundreds of times since, is still marked by ‘KILLERS’: Franco’s suspected firing squad the impact of the bullets.

“They buried them in a very deep grave that was already open, where they had already thrown bodies of others they had executed.

They buried them in layers.

“They scattered soil on the last bodies in, then added more bodies.”

Ironically today at the entrance to the cemetery there is a headstone in memory of Franco’s Civil Guards who lost their lives in the attack on their barracks by the militias in 1936.

Of the poor women who died, there is precisely nothing to remember them by.

The youngest of the women was 30, the oldest 62.

Only seven of the 16 gunned down by the firing squad were officially recorded as dead.

It would be another 42 years before the fate of the others was even registered.

“My father was just seven when they took his mother,” explains Josefa Salguero, the granddaughter of Carlota Garzón Núñez, who was just 47 at the time of her death.

“I live in America and hope I will soon be able to visit the grave where my grandmother is.”

Higuera de la Sierra’s Culture Councillor, Maria del Prado confirmed the town hall had conceded permission to look for the grave.

“We are not otherwise involved. But it is hoped that if the grave is found it will bring peace to the families,” she said.

Certainly, it will address a painful chapter in the history of both Higuera and Zufre, closing this historic chapter in the history of the area.

“People have been saying when we open the first mass grave, you’re going to start another Civil War,” says Gordillo.

“Well, a lot of these graves have already been opened and absolutely nothing has happened.”

He continues: “We have a Christian culture and burying bodies is a Christian ceremony is the right thing to do.”

Spain is said to be second only to Cambodia when it comes to ‘missing’ persons.

By July, Todos los Nombres will have 100,000 names of the estimated 114,000 on its website.

As Gordilla points out: “We send a special division of the Guardia Civil to search for bodies in Yugoslavia and Guatemala.

“We have budgets for archaeologists seeking Pharaohs in Egypt, but what about our own grandfathers? It is time to deal with this once and for all.”

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UNCOVERED: Victims of firing squad exhumed from mass grave, while (below) memorial to women killed under Franco regime

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Pirate wars Brits arrested and fined in new crackdown on ‘pirate taxis’ at Malaga airport

BRITISH and Irish expats have been fined thousands of euros for giving lifts to and from Malaga airport for cash.

It comes as Policia Local launched a new summer operation to combat the socalled ‘pirate taxis’ earlier this month.

The unit is made up of at least four agents, two dressed

in uniform and two plainclothed, who will monitor vehicles throughout the season, particularly during peak times.

In the crackdown’s first week earlier this month, the operation arrested a British man of Irish origin who tried to flee the scene when cops caught him picking someone up to

Still missing DOZENS of expats have joined a search for missing Brit Michael Owen who was last seen on the Costa del Sol more than a week ago.

Mayor of Manilva Mario Jimenez was joined by British councillor Dean Tyler Shelton and a search party of around 40 police, firefighters and locals, who set off from Aldea Hills.

Michael, 32, was last seen in short grey pants and a white t-shirt nearby on Friday, June 21.

He has no

HOPE: Search party phone, wallet, cash, passport or credit cards and his family are becoming increasingly concerned.

He suffers from mental illness but is not dangerous.

“He may be disorientated,” said his father Gary. “So it is important to locate him as soon as possible.”

Contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es if you can help

TRAGIC: Tot Kian died

Drowning tragedy take to Gibraltar.

Another British driver and three Spaniards were also caught but were only fined.

Four more were stopped a few days later, including a British man who, according to police, tried to pretend that the three tourists he was taking to Puerto Banus were his friends.

The clients denied this and said they had paid €70 for the trip thinking he was a legal taxi.

Two Hungarians and another Spaniard were also stopped.

In all cases, the passengers were handed their money back and the drivers are now facing fraud charges.

The cars were also impounded

by Policia Local, with a sanction of €1,380 - or €966 if it is paid back within a month.

The crackdown has come following a barrage of complaints from licensed taxi drivers who say people offering lifts for cash are taking away their business and undercutting their prices.

A BRITISH toddler has died after drowning while visiting his expat grandparents in the Axarquia.

Kian Megoran was staying with grandad Chris in La Vinuela, when he wandered into the swimming pool and fell in.

His parents, Tom Megoran and Steph McGuire, were believed to be having breakfast inside the home in the hamlet of Los Romanes when the tragic accident unfolded.

“It’s a real tragedy,” waitress Beatriz Lopez, who works in the local El Charco restaurant just metres from the home, told the Olive Press.

“They are such lovely people, so genuine. It could not have happened to nicer people, life is so cruel.”

Chris Megoran, who coaches the local football team Aston Vinuela, has lived in the village for decades and is a well established member of the community.

His son Tom is a plasterer and builder by trade and grew up in the area.

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10 Shocking snap reveals extent of shipping pollution in Gibraltar THIS is the moment huge clouds of toxic black smoke billowed from a ship in the waters of Gibraltar.

The image taken from the 30-second video clip shows a huge vessel emit the toxic fumes not far from blocks of flats and homes.

The video sparked outrage online, with locals labelling the pollution a ‘disgrace’.

The woman who recorded the video told the Olive Press: “Residents are getting fed up with this issue.

“The air quality is suffering which in turn affects people’s health but the Govern-

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SINGLE IMPLANT

THE Guardia Civil have created the ‘five second rule’ to determine if pavements are too hot for dog paws this summer.

A post on social media asks dog owners to put their own hands on Spanish roads in the summer heat.

‘Can you stand for five seconds the heat of the asphalt?’, reads the post.

‘Then your dogs will feel the same on the pads of their paws.’ The move comes as a massive heatwave is expected to hit Spain for much of the summer months.

GREEN

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

‘We’re being poisoned’ EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

ment does nothing about it.

“They have declared a climate emergency but still allow this practice day in and day out.”

A local commented on her video: “I watched it happen in real-time…all the smoke went into the flats at Admiral’s Place.

“Shame on the government that allows this.”

Another blasted: “Nothing is ever done here in Gib we

TOXIC: Tanker off Gib

Climate apartheid THE rich and powerful will simply ‘buy their way out’ of climate change’s impacts while the poor will suffer, a UN report has warned.

The UN’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty Philip Alston said that ‘millions could be impoverished’, even if the world’s aspirational target of limiting global warming to 1.5C is met.

It comes as Spain continues to be at high risk of desertification, with doomsday warnings predicting that most of the south of the country could be desert by the end of this century.

The world’s poorest ‘could be hardest hit by rising temperatures – and the potential food shortages and conflict that could accompany such a change’, the report warned.

It added: “Developing nations are expected to suffer at least 75% of the costs of climate change – despite the fact that the poorer half of the world’s population generate just 10% of emissions.”

IMPLANT BRIDGE

are slowly being poisoned.”

A government spokesperson told the Olive Press: “Gibraltar Port Authority VTS operations yesterday spotted a vessel anchored in the western anchorage emitting considerable dense smoke from its funnel.

“VTS immediately contacted the vessel and ordered this to be stopped and warned that the vessel would be ordered to leave BGTW (territorial waters) if there was any further repetition.

“This action from VTS took place prior to receiving any complaints from the general public.

“The vessel was continuously monitored during the remainder of its stay in BGTW, including throughout the night by means of the thermal imaging cameras operated by the Port Authority.

“No repetition of this issue was observed and the vessel subsequently departed early this morning.

“The vessel in question is not a banned vessel, and as is the case with all vessels calling at Gibraltar there is a process for the clearance of the vessel prior to its arrival.”

IMPLANT DENTURE

Do you have a what’s on?

LA CULTURA www.theolivepress.es

Snap off!

Abandoned homes photography competition with cash prize launched in Malaga

1

ICON: Picasso’s The actor

Zucker punch A NEW York gallery has been allowed to keep a Picasso sold by a Jewish businessman fleeing the Nazis.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was allowed to keep the Malaga painter’s The Actor from 1904-5, a court ruled.

The claimant was Laurel Zuckerman, the great-grandniece of Paul Leffmann, who fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1937. A year later Leffmann and his family sold the painting for €10,500 to two art dealers, to fund an escape from Switzerland. The United States Court of Appeals in Manhattan found Zuckerman had waited too long, after laying claim to the piece in 2010.

A PHOTOGRAPHY competition has been launched highlighting the abandoned building developments which litter Spain.

‘Ghost Urbanisations’, organised by legal firm Lexlegis and the Clic Clac Photographic Association, is accepting entries from both professional and amateur snappers until December 30.

Entrants are in with a chance of getting their hands on the €300 prize for images that show the ‘scars of the real estate bubble’.

Experts from the world of professional picture-taking make up the jury, which will decide the winner, to be announced at an awards ceremony in February.

It comes after thousands of properties built in the boom years remain blots on the landscape, with Malaga, Alicante and Madrid being some of the worst affected areas.

At the height of the bubble in 2006, authorities gave the green light for 865,561 new home licenses, despite

LITTERED: Ghost urbanisations across Spain demand not being greater than 250,000.

Banks dished out loans to

2

PABLO Picasso is being framed in a whole new light at an exhibition in Spain.

The Malaga maestro features as the protagonist in Picasso, Photographer’s Gaze, in a selection of candid shots - some of them taken by the man himself.

Included is a 1952 portrait by French photographer Robert Doisneau in which the painter appears for the first time with his trademark marine striped jumper behind a window, leaning on the glass. The show is running at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona until September 24.

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what’s on Virgin Procession ALONG the coast, from Nerja to Manilva, traditional processions of Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of sailors, will take place on July 16.

Estepona Feria

Different strokes

MAESTRO: Picasso in stripes

11 11

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

developers, who weren’t concerned if projects flopped, which resulted in €175 billion of wasted housing being abandoned.

These ghost urbanisations provide ample material for photographers, such as Markel Redondo, who first snapped Spain’s empty houses for his 2010 collection Sand castles.

For this competition, participants may enter three of their own black and white or colour 40x50cm images, which must be unframed and on photographic paper.

For more info, email lexlegis@lexlegis.org

FEATURING live music, open bars, dancing, a parade, and a fireworks show, the Estepona Feria is the main attraction on the Costa del Sol from July 2 - 7.

Wine O’Clock 10 WINE Street hosts the third edition of 10 Wineing Street, Spain’s largest outdoor wine tasting, in Estepona from July 13-14 with live music.

Is it a bird?

ON July 14, the beach of Torre del Mar features one of the most important air shows in the region, with 42 aircrafts from five different countries.

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o n l y .

S u b j e c t

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c o n d i t i o n s .

E n d s

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

21/6/19 13:30

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Roman finds in Mijas to form part of new huge cultural attraction THE Costa del Sol’s first ever Roman olive oil press has been unearthed in Mijas.

The ancient find is one of many at the site of Finca de Acebedo, a Roman villa which continues to be excavated by archaeologists.

Experts came across the counterweight for the fourtonne device, which they believe was used between the third and fourth centuries, late last week.

The press consisted of a large stone bowl (mortarium) into which the olives were poured and then crushed under two concave stones (orbes) attached to a central beam (cupa) fixed to

Do you have a what’s on?

LA CULTURA It’s oil in the past d your information to July 3rdnew-sdes July 16th 2019 k@theo livepres s.es Sen

ANCIENT: Mijas olive oil find

an iron pivot (columella).

This latest find adds to the two ovens and extreme-

ly well-preserved Roman baths that were discovered in the same area a few

By George they’ve got it (at last)!

A 16TH century sculpture of Saint George has been restored to its - mostly - original

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state after receiving an infamously botched makeover.

The wooden statue of St George astride a horse in San Miguel church in Estella, Navarra, had turned dark brown with age.

But its

Jump start A

restoration by a local crafts business left the soldier with a pink face and a look which social media users mercilessly compared to Tintin or Woody from Toy Story.

Authorities fined the church and the crafts business €6,010 each. Now, after three months of work in an official laboratory in the nearby city of Pamplona for a cost of €30,000 paid by the parish, St George is back to normal.

months ago.

The site will become the largest archaeology park on the Costa del Sol with plans to turn it into a major tourism and cultural attraction.

The head of Mijas’s Historic Heritage department, Juan Jose de la Rubia, has described it as ‘one of the few existing sites from the early days of the Roman presence in the province’.

Important

It is also said to be hugely important for studying the transitional period between the Carthaginians and Romans.

The Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 206BC. Scipio Africanus was victorious at Alcalá del Rio near present day Sevilla and founded the city Italica.

His army soon crushed the resistance of the native Iberians and turned Andalucia into one of Rome’s richest and best organised colonies.

This included Mijias, then called Tamisa, which became an affluent city close to the road connecting Malaga and Cadiz.

THEY’VE played alongside Mel B, Jools Holland and even performed for the Spanish King.

But now the New Orleans Jumpband are reuniting for a handful of exciting gigs in Andalucia.

NDALUCIA’s globetrotter jazz phenomenon, the New Orleans Jumpband have reunited for a handful of ‘hometown’ gigs on the Costa del Sol. After a wedding at Sotogrande’s Hotel Monasterio on July 6, the famous fivepiece then take their jazz sound on tour.

The expat five piece, (Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Sousaphone and Banjo), have had countless musicians and celebrities sing with the band over the last few decades.

The band have played for the King of Spain, the opening of Real Madrid’s training facility and played festivals in France, Spain and the UK. On top of this Seve Balles-

teros and Darren Clark have sung with them and they have played with Lonnie Donegan and Jools Holland, as well as backed Kenny Ball on a Spanish Tour.

Their most recent gig was at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival 2018, which saw them come out of retirement for a special performance marking 30 years at the sharp end.

The decision to reunite on the Costa del Sol will give fans a great opportunity to see and hear the original band, who first formed in Sotogrande in 1987.

The band are playing Restaurante La Quinta, Sotogrande Port and Origin Restaurant in Castellar on Sunday 7 July) and followed by an evening

gig on Bahia Limon Gigs include, Restaurante La Quinta, Sotogrande Port (1pm, July 7), Origen Restaurant, Castellar (8:30pm, July 7) and Bahia Limon Chiringochill, Torreguadiaro (July 8).

Banjo-player Mike told the Olive Press that the performances, ‘will feature their famous acoustic walk around’.

He is joined by bandmates Andy (trombone), Stewart (clarinet), David (trumpet) and Jonas (sousaphone).

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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A C T TOUCH OF TROPICAL THE

Can the eastern Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical rival Marbella and Estepona? Find out in special pull out inside

THE success of the Brexit party in the European elections could bring the no-deal scenario Gibraltar is dreading.

This is the message from Sir Bossano, whose party has been Joe focussing on cutting down costs and creating a rainy day fund.

“The result of the European ParliaFREE Vol. 4 Issue 99 www.theolivepress.es ment election is considered by many June 19th - July 2nd 2019 in the EU, including Spain, to have increased the probability of a no deal Brexit in October,” said Bossano in his annual budget speech.

“Last year in the face of such uncertainties the GSLP took a policy decision there should be a limit placed on the pay rise of public sector workers by not more than 60p an hour.”

This decision received criticism from Unite the Union leader Len MacCluskey earlier this year, which he branded ‘austerity’.

Despite the uncertainty the GDP of Gibraltar is now at £2.1 billion, the fourth highest per capita in the world.

He stressed the importance of the gaming sector, where a few companies were helping the growth of the private sector.

In case there was a shortage of funds after Brexit, Bossano has reserved a Community Care and Rainy Day GIBRALTAR police have blasted Fund. social media users for ‘falsely They would be boosted by the claiming’ £85million surplus recorded during an off-duty officer was the last financial year. behind a late-night bar brawl.

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June 2019

DRAMA: Rugged

Nerja coastline

and (inset) Frigiliana

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GIB SAVE THE QUEEN

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+THE SKY DOCTOR+ ALL AREAS COVERED

MISS Gibraltar Celine Bolanos has been presented with her £1,000 first prize after winning the local beauty pageant.

Minister for Culture Steven Linares also presented cheques for £1,000 and £500 to first and second princesses Janice Sampere and Jyza Balban respectively.

The competition was held at the Alameda Open Air Gardens and was well attended by the Gibraltarian public.

Linares also presented a £1,000 cheque to last year’s Miss Gibraltar, Star Farrugia, as she made way for Bolanos.

He thanked her for ‘wonderful work she had done throughout the year’ and wished Miss Gibraltar and the two princesses all the best in the year ahead.

Miss Gibraltar will now take part in the Miss World pageant to be held in Thailand on December 7.

UK BASED

DEEP: Alleged wounds of man caught up in fight

in the first place.”

The RGP statement added: “We are acutely aware of how these defamatory expressions can have a negative impact on the public’s confidence in the police, and are not prepared to stand idly by while our integrity and good name is unfairly smeared.

“The RGP does not normally intervene in ‘debates’ of this sort, but these particular comments are so misconceived and injurious that we have deemed it appropriate to make a public statement to categorically refute them.”

Lettings | Sales The fight was so raucous it could be heard by nearby Investments | Relocations residents, with many taking to social media to ask Commercial and Residential what was happening.

Various posts on FaceTel: +350 200 44955 book site Speak Freely, enquiries@seekerspropertygibraltar.com claimed emergency services were also attacked during the fracas.

“Numerous people were 10 Engineer Lane, arrested, a situation esGibraltar GX11 1AA calated and emergency www.seekerspropertygibraltar.com services personnel were assaulted,” wrote one.

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ERASED: Controversial art

No more mural

A MURAL protesting tourism has been painted over with controversy in Soller.

In 2016, artist Soma painted the mural titled 'tourism engulfing Mallorca' – a large snake representing tourism, eating Mallorca and pooing out the trash that's left behind.

The mural has stood for the last three years, but just four days after the Popular Party took over the Soller government it was painted over with white.

The local PP, now headed by Carlos Simarro, has said that 'there is no special motive' for erasing the mural.

The town plans to paint a map of Soller on the wall instead.

June 21st - July 4th 2019 Vol. 3 Issue 57 www.theolivepress.es

THE death of a British teen who plunged from a Mallorca apartment wall ‘could have been prevented’, a coroner has said.

Holidaymaker Thomas Channon, 18, died from ‘catastrophic injuries’, the third fatality at the Magaluf resort in the same year.

The teen, from Rhoose, in thea Vale of Glamorgan, fell over knee-high wall during a holiday to Mallorca with pals, as they

British teen’s death after plunging ‘was from Magaluf apartment wall preventable’ coroner says celebrated finishing their Alevels.

The tragedy, in July 2018, saw the new graduate fall 15 metres, before being found dead in the courtyard at the Eden Roc com-

Proud to be expats

AN overwhelming majority of our readers are not offended by the term ‘expat’.

That’s the initial result of our online poll which asked ‘Do you find the use of the word 'expat' to describe British ofand foreign nationals living in Spain

fensive?’

The vote came after a barrage of emails Olto the newsdesk complained of the ive Press’ use of the word, requesting or that it be switched out for ‘resident’

Untitled-1.pdf

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‘immigrant’.

However a snapshot of our readers’ opinions revealed that two thirds were not bothered by the term.

On our Facebook poll, there have so far been 881 votes.

Out of those, 656 said ‘no’, while 223 said ‘yes’.

The results were repeated on Twitter, 16/06/2017 68% of 80 votes said they did where15:36 not find the term offensive.

TYPICAL EXPATS: Brits and (top) Dutch

C

plex.

Channon’s death came around a month after Tom Hughes, 20, from Wrexham, also fell to his death at the apartment block.

An inquest in Pontypridd found that Channon may have been ‘intoxicated and fatigued’ after he returned from a night out and fell seven floors.

Coroner Graeme Hughes did however add: “I do not find Tom was ridiculously drunk or out of control.”

A post-mortem revealed the young lad was twice the legal drink-drive limit, after he had been watching Croatia beat England in the World Cup. The student of St David’s College in Cardiff was found to have died from blunt force injuries to died on holiday the trunk,including pelvic frac- RIP: Channon tures. fallen some distance. He has Hughes added: “It is absolutely sustained catastrophic injutragic that simple steps of erect- ries.” ing the temporary fence were Channon’s mum Ceri said at the not instigated following Thomas inquest she was glad that there Hughes’ death in June 2018. had been ‘recognition’ that her “These simple steps would have, son’s death could have been in all probability, prevented prevented.

Thomas Channon from meeting The inquest heard that ‘steel his death on July 12 2018. bollards’ are now in place at the “For reasons unknown, he has complex. travelled beyond the wall and

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Keep your eyes peeled for the best value wines in Spain Page 26

AN overwhelming majority of our readers are not offended by the ‘immigrant’.

However a snapshot of our reaterm ‘expat’.

That’s the initial result of our ders’ opinions revealed that two online poll which asked ‘Do you thirds were not bothered by the find the use of the word 'expat' to term. describe British and foreign na- On our Facebook poll, there have tionals living in Spain offensive?’ so far been 881 votes.

The vote came after a barrage Out of those, 656 said ‘no’, while of emails to the newsdesk com- 223 said ‘yes’. plained of the Olive Press’ use The results were repeated on Twiof the word, requesting that it tter, where 68% of 80 votes said be switched out for ‘resident’ or they did not find the term offen- TYPICAL EXPATS: Brits and (left) sive.

Dutch

RUFF JUSTICE

A FIVE-year legal battle has led to a ‘landmark’ sentence under Spain’s animal abuse laws.

A British-run animal sanctuary claimed victory after it stepped in to help a group of dogs from starvation in 2014.

The Spanish owner of the dog pound, near Zaragoza, has received ger, near Denia, saved five dogs and a six month prison sentence, a hea- reported the Spanish owner to povy fine and is banned from keeping lice.

President Barry Caufield, 71, was so animals for three years.

A. R. G., 39, was also ordered to pay outraged by the state of the animals all legal costs, by the judge at court (pictured top right), he insisted something had to be done.

Number 4, in Zaragoza.

It comes after Alicante animal cha- The dogs were found abandoned rity SCAN (Society for the Care of in plastic boxes without food, whiAnimals in Need), based in El Ver- le the remains of dead ‘half-eaten dogs’ lay nearby. Huge amounts of excrement were scattered around the plot, in the village of Fayon.

A MAN has been dog “It was vile arrested in Denia for food away from the shouting: ‘I deand disgusting animal abuse after cide when I feed my and we simstarving his dog so he dog’. ply had to do ‘didn't have to pick up When arrested he adwhat was riits poo’. mitted ght,” Caufield He was cuffed after the doghe had not fed told the Olineighbours were at- so he for three days, ve Press this tacked for attempting clear didn’t have to up after him. week. to feed the ‘weak’ and The dog has now been “I’m ‘dehydrated’ dog. delighted rescued that The 34-year-old Spa- of the by members justice Protectora de has been sernish owner kicked the Animales of Denia. ved and that we have had a

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case has set a ‘legal precedence’ as abandonment is now written into article 337 of the Spanish penal code.

“This is a landmark, because at the time of trial the law did not consider ‘abandonment’ of animals a criminal offence,” Raquel Lopez, one of Spain’s top animal rights lawyers, told the Olive Press.

When the man was first charged in 2014, article 337 of the penal code only considered direct physical harm against animals as a crime.

“Despite the law not mandating it, we managed to get the maximum VICTORY: For Barry and SCAN sentence for a ‘basic’ crime of anipositive affect. mal abuse,” Lopez added.

“If you’re only interested in making “Without legal action taken a noise about it, nothing will ever SCAN, this case would almost by cerchange,” added Caufield, a former tainly have been archived.” director of an insurance company In total, SCAN managed to find new in the UK. homes for two griffon cross-breeds, According to SCAN’s lawyer Raquel Chicho and Carbon, while the others Lopez, the shelter’s intervention has were rehomed near Zaragoza. made legal history in Spain.

The charity spent a total of Although R. will not go to prison €14,000 in legal costs and rescue as sentences under two years are- and rehoming. waived for first-time offenders - the Opinion Page 6

Tel. (+34) 96 649 18 29 info@hispaniahomes.es www.hispaniahomes.co.uk

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Law for everyone Dear Olive Press, I was astounded to read Tina Dove’s disapproval of people being required to abide by the law on your last letters page (Biting the hand that feeds, Issue 320, pg 16).

One case she highlighted was a person walking two dangerous dogs.

That person apparently had the permissions to have the dogs, and thus knew, for the safety of the public, by law he could only walk one dog at a time.

She also wrote about a driver who was reprimanded for not having his original British passpor t, i.e. the only legal ID Brits have, which they are obliged to carry at all times.

Tina was also concerned about someone living here who had failed to legally transfer his car license plates to Spanish ones.

Again that is the law.

If one wants to live in any civilised country they are required to abide by the law.

Tina the law in Spain is not just for the Spanish!

Elena Gonzales, Malaga

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Ex-expat I was an expat for many years, working in foreign countries to make money. Now that I’ve retired to Spain I consider myself to be an immigrant. Although, I can relate to being a European citizen too.

Neil Hollow, Fuente de Piedra

To be frank It’s not offensive. But I think it is used by some to claim superiority. We’re immigrants, the same as any other. I call myself both though, to be honest. Maybe rephrase the poll. Instead of ‘offensive’ use ‘arrogant’. I would definitely say yes to that.

ED: SPOT ON ELENA

Julie Frank, Malaga

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

www.dragoninsure.com

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HOUGHT provoking, insightful and interesting.

I really enjoyed How to Stop Time.

Tom has a dangerous secret. He is old. Very old. 432 years old to be precise, but due to a rare condition he only looks like he’s in his 40s.

Though the idea of longevity or immortality is appealing to most people the reality of it can be tragic.

Beginning in present day London the story is told almost like an autobiography weaving the present and past seamlessly together.

The paranoid and superstitious nature of people has meant that Tom has had to live his life changing his identity and moving regularly.

It is at times humorous, poignant, heart breaking and insightful and, at all times, utterly captivating.

Matt Haig has a beautiful way of seeing the world and How to Stop Time is a beautifully written novel.

€11.90, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro www.thebookshop.es

is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. F u ll-bodied and well-struc-tured, it presents complex aromas with spicy and balsamic notes, and is velvety on the palate.

It goes well with lamb.

€3,70

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Solar Viejo Tempranillo, Rioja This classic red wine from Rioja Alavesa presents notes of ripe fruit, red fruit and spices.

‘Really good, like those historic reds from Riojan harvests, but modernised in process and taste,’ says Martín.

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Acidic yet, at the same time, fresh and mellow. According to Martín, this wine from the Monóvar winery is particularly good this year.

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Pair it with rice dishes, salads and all types of seafood.

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This blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha combines aromas of fruit and wood.

It’s the perfect partner for lamb, veal and poultry.

This wine tastes a bit like kiwi, ‘that marvelous g r e e n fruit, exotic but not warm or tropical’.

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Great article but also look out for the ‘finos’ from the Alvear bodega, the oldest in Andalucia (Superwines, Issue 320, pg 40). They are not so much what we are used to, but are produced with care and traditional processes.

You can visit the bodega in Montilla (Cordoba province) and have a tour in English. The wines are surprisingly cheap compared to the prices we are used to.

Natalie Louise, Weymouth

Stay vigilant A letter in your last issue warned about being careful when changing money (You have been warned, Issue 320, pg 16). There is very little crime in Spain when compared to similar towns in the UK, and what there is, is usually non-violent, committed by means of a trick or pickpocketing, as was the case the writer described. He said, unfairly without any evidence, that it was committed in Mercadona.

However, one needs to be vigilant at all times and not invite or make it easy for someone to steal from you.

That is a fact which applies wherever one is, not just in Spain.

Julian Ward, Benidorm

Race to the bottom People go for the cheapest they can buy, whether the quality is good or not (Oil or nothing, Issue 320, pg 38).From olive oil to t-shirts to car washes or nail salons, and sod the harm to the environment, or the children on a pittance of a wage or in modern day slavery to make it.

Felicity Coakley, London

OP QUICK Crossword 1

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7 Tomb inscription (7) 8 Crustacean (4) 9 Italian sausage (6) 10 Sweet secretion of flowers (6) 11 Storm (7) 14 Lake or pond (4) 15 Rime (4) 16 Greyish-fawn (7) 20 Major German port (6) 21 Security (6) 23 Heel (4) 24 "The great grey-green, greasy --- River" (Kipling) (7)

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Our drop in Bookclub book, by Matt Haig, for July 15th – All are welcome

41

June 19th - July 2nd 2019

RED WINES Bodegas Ontañón Comportillo Crianza, Rioja

This rich and intense wine

Riesling, Alicante

I don’t particularly have a problem with the term, other than it being a bit ‘colonial’ and old fashioned. I prefer to think of myself as a European.

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A ‘very glamourous’ wine, says €13,95 Martín, ‘because it maintains its intensity while having the texture of English marmalade’.

It is almost exclusively made from Pinot Noir, but has a small percentage of Trepat to keep it fresh.

The colour is a clean and shiny pale pink with tints of blue.

It tastes fresh, light, with a refreshing acidity and slightly bitter notes.

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All the above wines are edition, but others are the most outstanding of this more affordable - less than €4.

This wine from Tarragona, in Catalunya, is fresh, fruity and voluptuous with some acidity.

‘The climate of the region and its Gascon and Occitan heritage make this wine very French,’ says Martín.

I just don’t like the word. l think it refers to the type of Brits who live abroad, but consider themselves superior to the locals, and only mix amongst themselves.

How to Stop Time

www.globelink.co.uk 96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082

LAST issue we looked at the 10 best-scoring Spanish wines combined the highest quality that prices. This week our themeand bodega bargains as we select is best of the cheapest wines the you can find in Spanish supermarkets, such as Alcampo, Carrefour, Lidl, Dia and El Corte Inglés.

There is an overwhelming choice of supermarket wines in Spain, so we went to the reference guidebook, Los Supervinos (Linde Editions) by oenologist Joan C. For the ninth year in a row Martín.

Martín has hand-picked 110 superwines that cost less than €7 and another 40 under €15. He evaluates wine according to 10 differenteach teria, including display, taste, cricolour, information to the consumer, aroma and quality-price ratio. final average score ranges The one to five ‘eyes’. So keep from your eyes peeled too...

MO Salinas Monastrell, Alicante

In 2018 it was named Best frank and natural’. This Superwine for second superwine is made the con from Syrah, year s e c u t i ve C a b e r n e t S u p by Los ervinos S a u v i g n o n guide.

The and Merlot. prize It goes per- the goes to fectly with the wine with best red meat, lity, price,quas t e w s , gularity sinand I b e r i a n origin. pork sau- This one s a g e s , mes from cothe goat and Sierra Salinas, s h e e p tern Spain, in southeasa landscape cheese. as green as a Swiss valley in the midst of a very dry region. It is well structured with a balanced acidity.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Typecast THE NAY’S HAVE IT: Our expat poll results

Mallorca Issue 57 for Spanish residents

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violent disorder that occurred at the weekend in the Watergardens area,” a statement read from the RGP. “Although we are aware that the incident in question is under investigation, we must emphatically deny that this was sparked off by an off duty officer who was under the influence.

“These are baseless allegations.

“Neither the trouble was sparked off by an off duty policeman under the influence, nor was there a policeman under the influence

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Martín describes it as ‘refined, elegant with an intense aroma,

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OP Sudoku

Lighting the fuse POPULAR 90s pop band Lighthouse Family will take part in MTV Gibraltar Calling festival. the The biggest cultural event of year will be held at Europa Pointthe on June 7-8 with Take That and Liam Gallagher also playing.

Tynesiders Lighthouse Family will be publicising their comeback bum Blue Sky in Your Head on alSaturday evening performance. the Lighthouse Family are best known for their Lifted single from Ocean Drive album released the in 1995.

After 18 years away from the musicscene they have got back together for this latest offering and they have a few surprises up their sleeve.

With the festival already more than half sold out, tickets can be bought online or at a number of outlets around Gibraltar.

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Police issue angry statement one of its officers was behind denying late night arrests

The RGP issued an unprec- fracas that saw five edented statement, insisting claims that a fight leading to five arrests was caused by one of its football 10-0 against Belarus.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and officers was totally untrue.

The affray took place outside Wales were also playing in key the Pig and Whistle pub in the qualifying games that night.

Watergardens area on Saturday The problems began when a local woman claimed on social June 8.

Sources told the Olive Press that media that a drunk policeman an 80-year-old man was one of had started the brawl. those arrested but has not yet been charged.

Violent However, at least four other “The RGP takes note men were arrested following rious, false accusationsof the semade in the fight, which took place af- social media against ter Gibraltar Under-21s lost in isation in connectionthe organwith the

See Budget special on page 4

IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV

mill

Life in the laid-back East (of the Costa del Sol) has never seemed more appealing, ‘West End Boy’ writes Laurence Dollimore

‘

WELCOME to the most beautiful in Spain,’ toothless town local Jorge calls out in broken sweat from myEnglish as I wipe the brow. (OK, so look like a tourist, I still despite four years Spain.) in I had just hiked liana which has up to the top of Frigiindeed been crowned one of the country’s pueblos, as plaques most picturesque through the village will tell you at every turn.

A 10-minute drive up from the coast from Nerja, it’s white-washed the pearl in a string of villages glistening hills of the Axarquia in and its nearby the nada neighbour, GraEither way, this the Costa Tropical. eastern end of is the very laid-back boy, take it fromthe Costa del Sol, and near Marbella, me a ‘westie’ based it really is a breath fresh air. of “This is our little paradise,” grandfather Jorge, beams who has lived here

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ropical

www.theolivepress.es

Strong arm of the law See page 9

LE T T E R S

40

June 19th - July 2nd 2019

SUPERWINES

After giving you Spain’s most expensive wines, here we offer you the 10 best value chestnuts at supermarket prices

by Claire Leibovich

No offence

Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es Gibraltar Issue 99 Ready for the worst

LETTERS

A Spanish restaurant with a twist, located on the edge of historic old Estepona Town in a converted farmhouse dating back to the 1890 with many features retained.

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www.theolivepress.es All about

10TH ANNIVERSARY SUPPLEMENT

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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UROPE’S most southerly town looks out across the Strait of Gibraltar where two mighty continents collide. But the clash of cultures is entirely geographic.

Indeed, Tarifa radiates such a calming vibe it would threaten to relax the mighty shoulders of the titan Atlas himself but there’s no danger of the sky falling down...Hercules’ two mythological pillars (Gibraltar and Mount Jebel Musa in Morocco) have long since relieved him of that burden.

Shaded by pine forest, cushioned by soft dunes, and 14 kilometres from Africa, this Costa de la Luz gem’s Carribean-copy beaches and laid-back vibe set it apart from the more structured resorts along the Malaga coast to the east.

And that’s unlikely to change thanks to Tarifa’s protected location in El Estrecho Natural Park.

The coastal town in Cadiz province is an endearing mix of beach bum bohemianism and boutique chic, with the added attraction of great seafood and restorative Atlantic winds.

It makes it the perfect escape (along Continues overleaf

SERENE: An inlet near Barbate, horse riding in El Palmar and arch in Tarifa PERFECT PLAZA: In Vejer

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ll about www.theolivepress.es

osta de la Luz

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Let in the light From Page 15

with its near neighbours, including Vejer, Zahara and Canos de Meca) from the high season heat and bustle of the nearby Costa del Sol. The brisk breezes, in particular, make this remote corner of Andalucia a Mecca for wind and kite surfers, a community of barefoot adventurers who came and never left.

But it is not just the wind that drives tourists to Tarifa, which harbours more than a thousand years of history within its atmospheric old medina.

Pass through the famous Puerta de Jerez archway and drift effortlessly into a maze of whitewashed streets, past a mosaic of hip boutiques, tasty

STREET SCENE: Tarifa architecture and partying (right)

tapas bars and evocative secret plazas.

“I only came out here as a favour for a friend, with no real plans to stay yet here I am 15 years on. But that’s Tarifa,” cafe owner Adele told me with more than a little pride.

Adele’s cosy ‘cafe in the arch,’ as it is known about town, is a popular pit-stop for newcomers, who mingle effortlessly with the affable Tarifidians and digital nomads who seem to have taken up semi-permanent residence inside.

From here your feet naturally gravitate downhill to the ocean, along meandering cobbles and through arabesque squares perfumed by orange trees and shaded by palms.

The journey ends at Tarifa' s bustling port where old salts still embark to fish the tuna-rich waters with almadraba trap nets, the ancient Phoenecian way.

Various local companies navigate the waters of the Strait, offering close encounters with the dolphins and whales that swim this salty corridor running between Spain and north Africa.

Cross it you probably will if you’re

staying here for any length of time... dating from 996, but the citadel walls You can resist the beguiling views of protectively encircling the old town the hazy purple Riff mountains for have been scrubbed clean and reonly so long before curiosity wins out pointed and look like they were built and you find yourself yesterday.

Tangier-bound on one In fact Tarifa was key of the frequent daily to the entire Moorish Tarifa was key ferries. invasion, captured to the Moorish and given its name in But you can get some of that exotic north Af711 by Berber military invasion and rican vibe in Tarifa. commander Tarif ibn Former leader Guzman given its name in Malik. el Bueno, the chap enIt became the base 711 by Berber joying the best views from which Arab atop a pillar outside armies from the the port, was MorocMaghreb set out to can himself although he later worked conquer Cordoba, Granada and Sevilfor the other side, defending Tarifa la, beginning the centuries of Muslim from attack by his countrymen for the rule that shaped this funky seaside king of Spain. town.

The castle he defended is Moorish, But the area goes back before that,

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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July 2019

SNAPSHOTS: Of Tarifa streets, patios and ‘Los Lances’ beach (left) dating from 1A.D when the Romans were coining it in with their fish-salting business and built a sizeable town right on the coast at nearby Bolonia.

The visitors centre of Baolo Claudia, where you can walk along ancient Roman roads and take a seat in the amphitheatre is an extra reason to take a side trip to this glorious beach with its 30-metre tall UNESCO-listed dune (the biggest in Europe).

Flop down at one of the wooden chiringuitos scattered along the sands and order up a feast of fresh fish, crisp calamares, pimientos de padron and an ice bucket of wine.

Moors, Cathaginians, Romans, they all recognised the Costa de la Luz as an exceptional place to live, and it’s this patchwork of cultural influences that makes Tarifa so wonderfully atmospheric and open minded.

These days it’s more famously Europe’s kitesurf capital and the only conquerors storming the city are those looking to stake a claim on the white sands of Playa Chica or Los Lances.

Day after day, depending on which way the fickle Atlantic wind blows, kites in luminous colours and patterns are hoist from the sand where they bob above the waves like little half moons (or ‘painted toenail clippings’, as someone said) against a blue screen sky.

No matter how you spend the day in Tarifa, you should stick around for its legendary nocturnal life. The surf set has attracted some of the coolest night spots on Spain’s southern coast or even, dare we say it, on the party island of Ibiza.

Come sundown, the narrow alleyways around Calle Cervantes are crowded with drinkers easing their way in and out of the numerous cocktail bars and surfer haunts.

Perched in one such surfer bar I was immediately immersed in conversations that confirmed the cosmopoli-

FUN FACT

Tarifa is sometimes credited with being the origin of the word ‘tariff’, since it was the first port in history to charge merchants for the use of its docks.

tan nature of this unique community.

Jovial chatter filled the room in accents that ranged well beyond the extent of Spain’s borders … Dutch and English, French and Portuguese, Argentinian Spanish as well as Andaluz.

“Tarifa is melting pot, always has been, that is the source of its appeal,” kitesurfing instructor turned Tomatito bar owner Dom tells me, in between calling out ‘holas’ and ‘qué pasa hombres’ to arriving customers.

Eager to extol the virtues of Tarifa and share the treasures of the place he traded for Norwich many summer moons ago, he continues: “Everyone

is friendly here and will look out for you.

“If someone comes in on their own they won't be wanting for company for long if they want it. It’s that kind of openness that I value about this place.”

Indeed it is not hard to see why so many people intending to pass through on their way to somewhere else tend to stop here and settle.

It is much more than a simple case of travellers reaching the edge of Spain, stopping and saying this ‘will do.’

There is a magnetic charm to Tarifa that is reflected in the warmth of the people you meet, unrattled by even the most stubborn Atlantic wind.

Perhaps it’s those same welcome summer breezes that also keep the folk in Tarifa so spiritually cool in this fascinating melting pot that simmers all summer with good vibrations but never boils over.

WHITEWASHED: Typical Tarifa corner

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THE Costa de la Luz officially stre from Tarifa all the way up to Hue tches for over 200km tugal. Split into two parts by stunlva’s border with Poral Park, the most well known sectning Donana Nationto Cadiz and includes a string of ion goes from Tarifa ing Vejer de la Frontera, Zaharawhite pueblos, includbate, El Palmar, Canos de Meca, de los Atunes, BarConil and Chiclana.

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EVERY HOUR is happy with HAPPY HOUR prices ALL NIGHT + RUSH HOUR 2200-2300 Cheapest Drinks in Tarifa Imported Beers from UK/Germany/Belgium English/Irish/Polish Owned Table Football/Beer Pong/Darts/Live Football/Juke Box OPEN ALL YEAR in the centre of old town TARIFA Free Shots for all our friends* Voted friendliest bar & best place to get drunk in Tarifa*

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Sixteen years after her first taste of Tarifa, Iona Napier (above) returns to the windy capital of Europe for another taste of bohemian bliss

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Where the wind blows FORTIFIED: Tarifa’s castle

I

ALWAYS wear my billowing maternity-style dress in steaming summer temperatures, smugly satisfied that I’m ‘cooler’ than everyone else.

But, be warned! This style of outfit should come with an embarrassment warning on the Costa de la Luz, where I spent a day holding down the hem, while loosely resembling an inverted lampshade.

Welcome to Tarifa, wind capital of Europe where the naughty levante breezes can play havoc with a girl’s dignity.

Luckily, no-one gives two hoots, as they get on with their day, shopping, surfing, kitesurfing and cultivating ‘the look’ of studied cool.

While the wind might be Beaufort Scale-busting blustery, the natives are as serene as a summer snooze, and the tourists (most of them) radiate a distinct sense of style.

The beach strip is a fashion catwalk for the Hawaii 5.0 set with their Billabong T-shirts and Rip

bar tapas

Almacen % restaurante

Curl surfboard shorts. Watch them flexing their bronzed sixpacks as they lug their unruly kite sails into the water to turn tricks above the waves like a circus act.

It’s the best free show in town!

But there’s also a healthy population of everyday Spanish folk who keep Tarifa authentic and are happy to share it with the adrenaline junkies.

I meet some of the old guard as I scale a hilly Moorish passage in the old town and happen upon four cosy Spanish ladies gathered in a front room, which stinks of acetone.

I’m impertinent enough to stare and Loli – lady of the house-cumsalon – invites me in, plonks me down and embarks on an unsolicited (but much-appreciated) manicure for the princely sum of €4.

“It’s just a chiringuito, really,” she laughs, flummoxed when I ask the name of her homely salon, before baptising it on the spot: ‘Salon de Marilu’, after her daughter.

“We’ve lived here all our lives,” explains Lola, “If I won the lottery maybe I’d get a place in Malaga for the winter, but summer here is magical.”

Chattering with these women in their unpretentious hideaway gives me a behind-closed-doors glimpse of the old Andalucia in a

town that has seen huge changes over the last decade.

I too have a long affinity to the town, as it happens.

My first memory of Tarifa came in a series of aircon-deprived road trip holidays with my family, where we conquered a huge chunk of Spain’s must-do list. On one trip, aged nine and deeply ensconced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I was oblivious to the wondrous views as we passed from Malaga into Cadiz and dipped down towards Tarifa’s endless white sand beaches, where the Atlantic kisses the Mediterranean. I recall being bundled out of the car on an overcast day – with similar wardrobe malfunctions – to a greying, tired town swarming with ‘looky-looky men’.

And things certainly looked up when I coerced my mother into buying me a turquoise handbag from a street stall, although I don’t remember much else.

Fast-forward 15 years and, although the wind continues to buffet the town’s ramparts, the

sun has shone favourably on Tarifa.

Los Lances and Valdevaqueros beaches have become vast watersports amphitheatres and you don’t have to pay for tickets to watch the aerial acrobatics of colourful kitesurfers whizzing above the waves and windsurfers slicing through them.

Other high-adrenalin sports like scuba diving, quad biking and hang gliding, and the more gentle pursuit of whale watching, have ushered in a prosperous new age, creating a polyglot society.

I meet blues band ‘Us’: Bob from Los Angeles, Paco from Tarifa and Alberto from Buenos Aires serenade tourists in the bunting-festooned Plaza del Oviedo at dusk.

A wild night ensues, and I struggle to understand how such a chilled, sleepy-by-day town becomes such a pumping metropolis after dark in high season.

Next morning, blear y-eyed but upbeat at how many people you can meet here in just a few hours, I burn up the coast towards the capital of Cadiz through a kaleidoscope of colour.

Pale gold sands, turquoise waters, rolling green hills, neon kites and spinning white turbines flick through my peripheral vision at speed until I arrive at – officially – Europe’s 10th best beach.

If Cadiz capital is intent on being the jewel in the Costa de la Luz crown, Tarifa is her jingly-jangly silver anklet – less precious, but unequivocally more rewarding in high winds. And talking of windswept, don’t forget your Bridget Jones knickers if you’re planning to wear a dress…

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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Between the sea and the sierra, the former outpost of Vejer de la Frontera lies waiting to be discovered

T

HE name says it all. Vejer de la Frontera, a hilltop fortress on the Costa de la Luz, was once a last frontier of Christian Spain.

The scene of invasions and bloodthirsty battles for hundreds of years, this much sought after strategic outpost changed hands numerous times, finally becoming part of King Ferdinand’s Spain in 1248.

Later, in 1805, the sound of heavy gunfire could be heard again, as Admiral Nelson destroyed the unified French and Spanish Armada at nearby Cape Trafalgar.

The Civil War years were violent too, with calls for land reform from residents met by General Franco, sending 24 soldiers to occupy the town, killing anyone who stepped out of line.

Strategic

Nowadays, however, the only thing likely to knock you over are the stunning views from this delightful white village, exposed to the gusting Atlantic from its hilltop perch between the sea and the sierra.

An unmissable component of any visit to the Costa de la Luz, the medieval quarter oozes history, its castle walls intertwined with whitewashed homes discovered along twisty-turny, cobbled streets.

The Moorish castle – or Alcazaba – hides down a side-street lined with eucalyptus trees.

FINAL FRONTIER: Local residents enjoy a natter on Calle Corredera

Hilltop hideaway

The jasmine-scented courtyard houses the den of the local scout group, who will happily show tourists around the ramparts of what is otherwise mostly residential now.

The streets all tend towards the town’s central square, the highly picturesque Plaza de los Pescaitos with its exquisite, bright fountain decorated with 19th-century Triana tiles from Sevilla.

The plaza (right) takes its name from the little goldfish – pescaitos – which used to swim in the fountain when it was built in the 1920s.

The surrounding streets and alley-

ways are a hive of activity, belying their sleepy appearance. There are handicraft shops, art galleries and flamenco haunts, as well as cafes, bars and restaurants serving up the best produce from the turbulent Atlantic and encircling farmland and forests.

In particular look out for Pajarra, a shop that for over a decade has provided visitors to the Costa de la Luz with an amazing range of stylish, original, hand-printed t-shirts… right in front of your nose.

Above all, make sure to head up to the turreted walls, from where views

spread out across cultivated fields to the mountains and the 5,000 hectare Las Brenas Natural Park.

It’s easy to see why this immaculate village was voted second Most Beautiful in Spain on Trip Advisor.

There is certainly something special about Vejer, which appears to lord it over its neighbouring fishing villages from its exalted hilltop eyrie, its white cubist houses tumbling down the hillside like tossed dice.

And it’s a safe bet, if you’re new to the Costa de la Luz, that you’ll be leaving nothing to chance if you take a trip to the former final frontier.

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Photos by Jon Clarke

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Frontier of food

Combining sea and sierra, Vejer de la Frontera counts on wonderful scenery, history and restaurants in equal measures, writes Jon Clarke “IT’S classic Mediterranean fare mixed with the Atlantic, with a pinch of Korean and a dash of Japanese.”

This was how a waiter explained the enticing menu of a new restaurant 4 Estaciones in the heart of Vejer de la Frontera. In Spanish, of course.

A true frontier of food, what makes this charming white-walled town so special is it’s sheer variety of quality ingredients, mixed together with a high level of expertise.

Indeed, to open a restaurant here you will not only need a great chef, deep pockets and a sharp business acumen, but you will also need a keen eye for style… and also some luck.

For Vejer is the definitive food capital of Cadiz province, a place literally creaking with excellent places to eat. All compet-

MELTINGPOT: Boss Nono at Venta el Toro, fishes drying and (right) a table at 4 Estaciones itive in the extreme.

Foodies, like me, travel from miles around (and from abroad) to spend a few days sampling its heady mix of eateries, that spread around the heart of town and into a series of small hamlets nearby.

I first found my culinary Nirvana (well, my second after San Sebastian) in a sleepy hamlet called Santa Maria, up a dead end road near the town.

Tricky to find and easy to miss even when right outside, there are few places left in the region that are quite so unpretentious.

Authentic in the extreme and little changed for decades, Venta el Toro is

where those locals in the know go for a sniff out the joys of Patria, where Danish dose of nostalgia and a darn good tapas expats Ase and Thomas Donso have lunch. been ploughing their cuIt is here that you will find linary furrow for over a local hoteliers escaping decade.

Like heading their clients and lovers Like heading back in back in time, heading for a secret rentime, their eatery in La dezvous.

Muela, is romantic and La Muela, is One of the last redoubts groundbreaking in equal of quintessential Andalumeasures. romantic and cia, the hamlet counts on You sit on an ancient cobauthentic another amazing restaubled terrace with views rant, Castilleria, which as far as Cadiz, watching has been constantly the sun-set with dishes as evolving for 25 years. good as you might find in Copenhagen’s Up a parallel hill, serious foodies will also Noma. Life gets no better.

In the heart of historic Vejer

All part of the food capital of greater Vejer, within 15 minutes of here you can easily find a dozen good places to eat.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a place that two decades ago you would probably only stop for a coffee or maybe a venta lunch if you couldn’t make it to Tarifa or nearby Conil in time.

Like a slow-cooked pork belly, the town has gently fused its ingredients to become a culinary hive only rivalled by Marbella, Sevilla and Malaga in Andalucia.

“We set the bar high,” explains local restaurateur James Stuart, who owns a string of restaurants in the town, including award-winning El Jardín del Califa, as

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July 2019

Open every day from 11 to 11 Corredera 33, Vejer de la Frontera tel: 637 423 506 www.CalifaVejer.com CHANGING LIGHT: Sunset approaches in centre of the town

DINING CENTRAL: Garimba, Trafalgar and Califa all sit around Plaza de los Pescaitos well as Califa Tapas and stunning Corredera 55, with his new wife Ellie Cormié, who previously ran a Michelin-starred restaurant in Scotland. “There is plenty of competition between restaurants and all of us keep taking the level higher in order to get ahead,” he adds. “If you’re new on the block and not good enough your restaurant won’t last long. The Vejeriegos themselves have become foodies, a whole new generation is learning that quality and imagination are a winning formula”.

The Scotsman was one of the first expat businessmen to open a hotel in the area, La Casa del Califa, and at the time there was almost nowhere good to eat. That was until a new restaurant the Tr-

DETAIL: At Califa Hotel

afalgar opened on the square op- that’s different”. posite his hotel and he had some- Much of Vejer’s success is down where to send his guests. “It was to the local surroundings, which definitely the produce some of start of the culithe best quality nary revolution,” Vejer’s success ingredients in the he explains. “The world. is down to the food was so fresh The obvious exand so creative, amples are shersurroundings and it caused a real ry, fish and the buzz. And things the quality of its wonderful pork sort of went from and beef from produce there. When we the classic brown opened the Jar‘retinto’ cows, dín in 2002 the which you often whole idea of a Moroccan restau- see wandering around the nearrant seemed madness to most by hills. people but as I pointed out the Of course the amazing ‘almadraingredients are the same both ba’ bluefin tuna, caught nearby, is sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, it’s spectacularly good and the vegejust the way they’re put together tables available are also of a high quality, particularly from Conil, just down the road.

Another reason is the type of tourists who visit the town, which has seen a distinctly better heeled crowd than its nearby rivals on the Costa del Sol. “We don’t just rely on beaches,” explains restaurateur Ramon at Vina y Mar, which has its own wine shop with over 200 references. “And many of the people who visit are keen food lovers, who come here specifically to eat.”

This is certainly the case and the huge mix of restaurateurs, who herald from France, Denmark, Britain and the north of Spain have helped to put together a rich and varied offering for them.

Madrileno Javier Duenas at Garimba in the main square has done extremely well constantly expanding and improving his restaurant.

“We pride ourselves on working incredibly hard, never standing still and keeping the prices down,” he says.

Taperia Sumia

“My best recipe is my passion” The perfect place for tapas and drinks with Vejer’s best view tel: 621 00 89 47

Calle de la Corredera, 49A, 11150 Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz

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Whale of a time

Flying fish, dolphins and giant turtles pay a visit on a trip into the Straits, writes Jon Clarke

W

E are about equi-

distance between Yellow Sub Tarifa • • Spain and MorocYellow Sub Tarifa Estacion Maritima, Local 1, 11380 Puerto de Tarifa • Yellow Sub• Tarifa • Sub Tarifa • co in the deepest Yellow Estacion Maritima, Local 11380 Puerto de Tarifa Tel/Fax: +34 1, 956 680 680 part de of the Straits of GibralEstacion Maritima, Local 1, 11380 Puerto de Tarifa Tel/Fax: +34 956 680 680 Estacion Maritima, Local 1, 11380 Puerto Tarifa Movil: +34 655 813 064 / 655 813 046 • Yellow Sub • Tarifa tar.

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Soon we have found a school of dolphins swimming around the boat and, being so calm, we can see them clearly under the water.

CENTER CENTER

MATERNAL: Dolphin with mother

It’s an almost religious experience for the boat-load of tourists, as the stunning mammals clearly swim over to take a closer look at us.

“These two are particularly inquisitive,” pipes up a voice from the cockpit above, as one particular pair come sniffing up to the boat, then swim underneath at an amazing speed.

The words come from Dr Katharina Heyer, a remarkable woman of 75 years of age, who has become, without a doubt, one of the world’s authorities on sea life off the tip of southern Spain.

It’s her 20th year working with her foundation Firmm, which was set up after she was guided to Tarifa to see whales and dolphins by a ‘spiritual man’ in 1998.

Then running her own fashion company in Switzerland, she visited the area to find nobody organising trips to see the mammals and almost no research on them.

“I arrived on a really rainy,

awful day to find no whale boats, just fishermen, and had to rent a diving boat to take me out,” she explains.

It may not have been perfect weather conditions, but what she saw completely changed her for good.

While she had long enjoyed diving holidays with her teenage sons in the Caribbean and the Maldives, seeing a group of Pilot whales and Bottlenose dolphins had a strong and immediate impact on her.

So moved was she by these large and graceful mammals that she quickly moved out to set up her ‘respectful whale watching’ foundation in Tarifa and has never looked back.

Indeed, so respected has been her research into the mammals over the last two decades - in particular her sensitization work for them - that last year she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel.

GIANTS: Ships share the straits with whales

There are now a handful of companies taking visitors out to see the mammals from Tarifa, and on most days they can expect to see Sperm whales, Pilot whales and even Orcas, not to mention various types of dolphins and many other fish.

It is one of the best places in the world to see them, with the currents bringing a lot of food from both directions, explains Katharina.

However, this brings in itself severe risks, as they are entering one of the busiest waterways in the world with more than 300 freighters and other sea traffic passing every day.

Indeed, as you look out into the Straits you are witnessing a battle for survival.

“The lives of dolphins and whales are at risk from ferries getting faster and faster, the noise from shipping traffic and more,” she explains.

“We are trying our best to monitor their numbers and do our best to minimise the issues they face.”

U

NDER the sun-kissed sea there lies an alien world, teeming with colourful life that makes the coast’s crowded beaches and bars seem a million miles away.

Scuba diving, a thrilling yet serene sport, abounds all around the Straits, and in particular near Tarifa.

Whether you are an experienced diver or a novice, you will be struck by two underwater wow factors: the clarity of the water and the infinite variety of fish.

A number of companies operate out of Tarifa harbour taking punters of all experience levels on dives and offer official PADI courses.

After a thorough land-based briefing on safety, science and equipment from my dive manager, at Yellow Sub, one of the longest running firms in business, we kitted up and made our way to the boat.

Given that my previous introduction to scuba diving was a university swimming pool, I was blown away by the vivid underwater landscape and clear visibility. The sheer number of aquatic species of all sizes and colours of the spectrum is astounding.

We chugged around Tarifa’s mini is-

HIGHLIGHTS: Off Tarifa

Bucear

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July 2019

en Tarifa

Underwater world

land, Isla de la Palomas, investigating every nook and cranny, marvelling at the magnificent orange anemones clinging to the rocks.

Sassy sea cucumbers, evil-looking moray eels with their malevolent mouths agape, fish that camouflage themselves in the sand… even Sir David Attenborough would

wax lyrical!

At one point we came upon a pair of octopuses entwined in a passionate embrace, and, feeling like a third wheel, I edged away, but soon realised they were fighting over the best hiding place under the rocks. It was fascinating to watch and, as the victor took up residence, the loser powered off to regroup.

Whether you’re a rookie or an expert seeking fresh challenges, Yellow Sub, or other companies such as León Marino will show you a breathtaking underwater world you’d never imagine existed.

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Tel.: +34 956 62 70 08 Mobil: +34 619 45 94 41

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Gardens of E

From shady garden restaurants to its hip beach club, the Hurricane Group keeps up its credentials as the coolest hotel group in Tarifa, writes Jon Clarke

T

HE sound of water percolates from every corner of the shady El Jardin restaurant at Hotel Punta Sur. This secret leafy enclave (above) is a classic place to hide out for lunch (or the day reading a book) when the infamous Tarifa winds start blowing a hoolie.

Anyone can join the lucky hotel guests, who are spoilt with a massive outdoor pool (probably the biggest on the coast), as well as a tennis court and expansive semi-tropical

gardens, where a harem of peacocks, appropriately strut around at will.

New head chef Jose Antonio (right), from Algeciras, won’t let you down, having done his time at the best five star hotels on the Costa del Sol. He likes to keep the menu local and seasonal with a ‘few special touches’, he tells me.

A classic option is his fabulous dish of dressed tomatoes from nearby Conil, with fresh basil, almond slices and mozzarella.

His salmorejo cold soup with

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tuna flakes meanwhile was perfect for a hot day of summer, while the red tuna tartare, caught from the nearby almadraba nets, was perfectly marinated and had a superb punch.

Hotel Punta Sur is one of the best places for families on the Costa de la Luz. The grounds are huge and the friendly staff are quick to help and make suggestions.

The rooms themselves feel like suites and are stylish and comfortable, unlike many others on the coast.

Sister hotel The Hurricane, just up the road, goes one notch better in terms of location, sitting slap bang on one of Andalucia’s prettiest beaches.

Also sitting in wonderful grounds, it counts on a gym and beach club, where you can rent windsurfers and kite surfs.

The first boutique hotel on the Costa de la Luz, it has now been serving savvy European travellers for over 30 years.

Next door, you will find the excellent Hurricane Hipica, where you can hire horses by the hour, morning or day.

LOCATION: Hurricane sits on the beach, and has a stunA series of wonderful ning dining area (right) and a pair of parrots treks are organised right from the door and the horses are in impeccable condition.

Nearby, you will find a third hotel owned by the same group, but this one with a twist.

Valdevaqueros only counts on a handful of rooms, but you a r e staying in one of Andaprises the unique Tarifa vibe. men to a rail of lucia’s hippest Sit on a beanbag with a cock- bikinis, while the hangouts. tail in hand and watch the sea is a wonderTake a slice of Ibiscene unfold as the kitesurf- ful clear blue and za cool, a dash of ers kit up and a cornucopia of perfect for a dip.

London savvy and a characters pass on through.

Back up in the gust of Europe’s most wonIn one of the most pictur- protected leafy derful wind and welcome to esque settings imaginable, c o m p o u n d , Valdevaqueros. you will be mesmerised as the you can grab a This is where the world’s best dozens of colourful kites bob healthy buffet lunch, or a delicious kitesurfers and windsurfers up and down with a backdrop burger, and also shop in the hip mix with some of Andalucia’s of green mountains and the clothes shop Graffiti next door. coolest kids. massive Punta Paloma sand If you feel active you can rent a windFrom the friendly staff to the dune in the distance. surf board or book a kitesurf lesson, athletic punters, this is a Take a stroll down to the white while the vast majority of visitors simplace to spend the day and sandy beach and you’ll find ply grab a beer or cocktail from the best understand what comeverything from trinket sales- Tumbao bar and sit back and relax.

Ride free HORSERIDING along the bright, windswept Costa de la Luz is a wonderful adventure. Hurricane Hipica, in Tarifa, has established itself as an equine epicentre, offering rides that take you over breathtaking beaches and forested mountains.

Run by world-class Dutch equestrian Klaartje Muijser, the horses are incredibly well looked after, living shoe-free in open fields.

For more information, check out www.tarifahip.com

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Eden HIPSTERS: At Valdevaqueros

Hurricane blows in

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he story behind the Hurricane group began over three decades ago when the oldest of three brothers Peter Whaley (right) made an unscheduled stop off in Tarifa, en route from his home in Ibiza to a holiday in Morocco.

A keen windsurfer he unwittingly found himself on the windiest beach in Europe and had the vision to launch a business there.

It was 1984 and he had soon found a partner (an Australian boardmaker Barry Pussell) to help him open the coast’s first rental business.

Named 100% Fun (now a successful nearby hotel) – the shack rented out windsurfs and sold clothes from his wife Terese’s successful fashion label Graffiti Ibiza.

“It was a low key launch and we had no idea how well it was going to go,” Peter explains “What we did have was a great board maker and fantastic, totally Spanish-made clothes.”

It was the spark to launch the wind revolution on the Costa de la Luz, an industry that now brings in tens of millions of euros every year.

Strength

Boss David Alvarez, a butcher by trade, works hard to run a happy ship, by bringing in a mix of good DJs and flamenco groups.

Grab a plate, wade into the buffet and chill out for what will be a fun afternoon of people-watching.

But, Peter quickly realised that in order to keep the growing number of surfers happy they needed to offer accommodation, so the following year he and his brother Michael, a builder, bought an old ruined 12-room hostel just up the road.

His well connected third brother James, who recently passed away (see below), also got involved, helping to make it one of Andalucia’s hippest places to stay.

“It just grew and grew organically,” explains Peter, who still spends half the year in Ibiza, where he has a farmhouse.

“But now we think we have just the right ingredients to continue to be successful for years to come.”

Their fourth hotel, Hurricane Jeri, in Jericoacoara, in Brazil, meanwhile, continues to go from strength to strength, having opened a new wing last year and a second restaurant this year. “It is coming along really well,” explains Peter. “It has become a very popular place to stay and is nearly 90% occupancy all year round.”

Saying Goodbye

HE was often described as the ‘life and soul’ of the Hurricane Hotel group.

And James Whaley, who died earlier this year at the age of 69, will be sorely and the Ants - he spoke an incredible missed by many. seven languages, and could muddle by A man with a keen eye for style, he was in two or three more. creative down to his core and a classic Said to have come up with the first script culture vulture, travelling the world on a for Absolutely Fabulous, he produced regular basis.

1970s punk film Jubilee, as well as most A writer and film director/producer - who of Derek Jarman’s films, including SeDREAM LOCATION: at The Hurricane once managed massive 80s band Adam bastiane, which Dinner he co-wrote.

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Picture credit: David Cussen

Dance to a Different Tuna Gin Tunics, tuna lollipops and tuna yachts... despite Belinda Beckett not eating fish, Zahara’s legendary Ruta de Atún festival had her hooked!

“

JUST try it,” said Dave. “It doesn’t taste that fishy.”

The last person to try that was my mother, when as a babe in a high chair I refused to eat my fish fingers, dashing each spoonful to the floor.

To my dysfunctional palate, all fish smells of ammonia and tastes worse. But, despite being a pescaphobe I found myself at the annual Tuna Festival in Zahara de los Atunes and agreed to try some, all in the line of duty, of course.

The dish set before me didn’t look like fish: orange and round with a tiny leaf, it could have fallen from a neighbouring tree.

That was the whole idea! Paripé de Mandarina (Mandarin

Deception), was created for this ioned into miniature pizzas year’s tapas competition – one with their own printed boxes. of 36 imaginatively-prepared There was even liquid tuna, witdishes, each representing the tily named ‘Gin Tunic’. chef of a differEvery tapa ent restaurant. came with a Huge thought During festival glass of chilled goes into the manzanilla week there are and, at €3.50 presentation to give a humorous a throw, it was as many fish twist, or to pera no-brainer for haps outwit my fanciers on land fish aficionados. own picky taste “All the same buds. I was de- as there are tuna Dave, I think I’ll termined to find wait to try the out… tuna toffees,” I There was so much choice! reasoned, discovering that the Tuna burgers, tuna lollipops, Mandarin Deception contained bars of tuna wrapped in gold raw tuna tartare! Which was a leaf, tuna with ice cream, tuna bit of a nuisance for Dave as shaped like yachts... even fash- the tuna toffees were being

served down the road in Atlanterra (Zahara’s posh sister resort) and we’d been lucky to find a parking spot in town.

Fish lovers travel from far and wide to the Costa de la Luz in Springtime to taste the first succulent almadraba tuna - caught by an ancient method dating back to Phoenecian times, just as these Leviathans leave the cold Atlantic for their warmer Mediterranean spawning grounds.

During festival week there are as many fish fanciers on land as there are tuna in the sea, when the population of this pretty maritime pueblo of 1,300 residents fills up with another 15,000 hungry souls.

In total, they munched their way through 65,000 tapas made from 200 tuna weighing some 200 kilos apiece, netting

restaurateurs an impressive €400,000 over one weekend– not bad in an economic crisis!

And tuna isn’t the only temptation. There are some enticing prizes for eating it too, which only steeled my resolve. Eat 12 tapas for the chance to win a smart LGD TV, a Samsung tablet or a Nintendo Wii. Eat all 36 and a weekend for two at the posh Hotel Atlanterra could be yours.

It was all so well organised (something of a surprise, in Spain). Everyone gets a menu map detailing the location of each restaurant and its speciality tapa, divided into six colour-coded zones, plus a sheet of paper drawn up with boxes that you have to get stamped as you eat.

The man responsible for this shining example of entrepre-

HOOKED: Locals enjoy the parade

PESCAPHOBE: Belinda gets a stamp neurialism is local restaurateur Gaspar Castro, President of local traders association ACOZA. “For most towns May is the month for communions and weddings but we don’t cater for those events in a big way as we’re only a small fishing village,” he says. “At the same time, it’s one of the best months to eat fresh red tuna, caught in our unique way.

We’ve been making a party of it since 2009 and it’s really paying off.”

If high drama is you’re bag, there’s plenty of it with music, dancing, street parades and a demonstration of tuna filleting that’s pure theatre, complete with buckets of blood!

It’s called a ‘ronqueo’ after the ‘grunting’ noise the knife makes when separating flesh from bone.

It takes experts with cleavers and sharp knives under tenminutes to reduce one silvery

ANCIENT METHOD: But the Almadraba system of nets has been effective since Phoenician times

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ANCIENT: Technique from the Phoenicians traps tuna in the Almadrabas 200-kilo tuna to 17 choice cuts ifa, Conil and Barthe colour and texture of prime bate which also beef (which is why bluefin tuna hold their own ruis confusingly called atún rojo tas de atún during in Spain) “Hardly any goes to May and June. In waste which is why we call the 2010, Barbate tuna ‘el cerdo del mar’,” Gas- welcomed 50 cepar told me. lebrity chefs to its book a boat trip to see the (That explains the float I saw go festival including Ferrán Adriá, levantá from a distance but by, bearing a bunch of cheer- Juan María Arzak and Dani there’s little chance of taking ing children dressed as Peppa García. part, unless you’re well-conPigs.)

Quotas are strictly controlled nected or prepared to bribe A 200-kilo almadraba tuna will to preserve declining stocks of your way onto a boat (a figure fetch €3,800 on the open mar- this endangered fish and today, of €200 a head has been menket in Spain and Japanese ships tioned). Gaspar is disapproving the ventresca queue up in the “It’s illegal and dangerous – (stomach, best The record for a bay to buy tuna .one tourist lost three fingers.” for tuna steaks) directly from the bluefin sold at I was content to enjoy the sells for €40 per almadrabas. festival atmosphere and coo kilo but some rojo is a auction in Tokyo Atún over the cutest foals on the cuts are partichighly prized short coastal drive to Atlanterular delicacies: ingredient of suis 2.7 million ra where I finally got to try the the morillo (a shi and sashimi euros tuna toffees! kind of muscle and sells in JaThey looked the part and Dave in the head) pan for four or enjoyed them - two little sweetcosts circa €55 five times its shaped cubes wrapped in shiny per kilo and the female eggs, price in Spain. The current repaper, presented in a pretty tin. €80 per kilo. cord for a 278 kilo bluefin sold But I was caught out by yet anHuevos de leche are also rel- at auction in Tokyo is a cool other deception. It was all just ished, though aren’t for the €2.7 million! window dressing containing no faint-hearted (being tuna If you can time it right, you can toffee at all – only fish! sperm) but Gaspar swears they’re ‘very tasty’. Although, as his restaurant was responsible for the Mandarin Deception, I’m not so sure I believe him!

The most fascinating aspect of the local tuna industry is the al1. The Almadraba method is one madraba – the large structure of the oldest ever recorded and takes advantage of you can glimpse one kilometre the migration of Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna between the out to sea. It’s a complex labyMediterranean and the Atlantic. rinth of nets several kilometres 2.Th e size and flexibility of the nets, or long and more than 30 mealmadrabas, means there is no damage to ters deep, designed to guide ceta dolphins that populate the straits. ceans or the many the tuna into a central trap (el 3.A high percentage of the caug copo) from which there’s no ht tuna are adult specimens that have already spawned escape. on Ecologically sound, immature 4. The almadrabas are only insta several occasions. lled seasonally, meatuna can wriggle out through ning the system does not alter the tunas’ natural routes the mesh and live to spawn or their life cycle. another day. The thrilling part 5. With the almadrabas installed close to the shore and is the Levantá. Several will be always in the same place, it is easy for authorities to held between April and June, ensure compliance with environm ental protections. dependent on wind, tides and 6. The fish are loaded onto boa ts using ropes and crasea conditions and decided nes, instead of hooks, avoiding unn by the almadraba’s ‘captain’.

7. Almadraba is not a ‘mass prod ecessary suffering.

Then, the fishermen encircle uction’ system, being less than 2% of world productio this seething cauldron of capn 8.

The syst em cons umes little energy as the fisherma tive tuna in their boats and n rely on the weather, skilled han hoist the nets out of the water. ds and good luck 9.

The tuna remain in the structure They will have no more than six of the almadraba for a limited time to protect against hours to raise thousands of kiover exploitation which has endangered the survival of los of frenzied fish. ‘Almadraba’ tuna 10. Only the best specimens are stocks. is Arabic for ‘place of fighting’ han caught while the rest are released d selected to be and the name’s well-justified.

Zahara boasts one of the ‘big that the tuna shoals can regenera back to the sea so te. four’ Atlantic almadrabas in Spain, along with those of Tar-

10 facts that make ‘almadraba’ the most sustainable fishing method in the world

DID YOU KNOW?

Whether it’s day or night time, the surroundings are magical and the atmosphere is friendly, but best of all is its flavour!!!

www.restaurantecastilleria.com Location Pago de Sta Lucía s/n, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz. Spain Phone +34 956 45 14 97 Opening Hours Open every day of the week for lunch, except from October to March when we are closed due to end of season

Reservation Every day in the morning from 11.30h to 13.30h

+34 956 45 14 97

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PRESERVED: A Roman statue stands proud by dozens of pillars at Bolonia, while (right) Tarifa statue

Panoramic Terrace – Open every day from 12 to 12 Plaza de España 16, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz tel: 956 44 77 30 CalifaVejer.com

Romans and moor!

Roman ruins and pristine beaches ... Tom Powell is blown away by historic Bolonia

T

HE pungent scent of tuna is wafting down the street from the salting factory, while toga-clad townsfolk make their way to the forum to shop and socialise.

It’s mid morning, and maybe later - in the heat of the day - they will duck for cover and chill out at the town’s spa, punish a few slaves and then treat the wife to a show at the theatre.

Picture the scene at Baelo Claudia 1,800 years ago, at that time one of Spain’s most important Roman settlements.

The ruined Roman city on the beachfront at Bolonia, a ten minute drive west of Tarifa, had a booming economy back in 2AD, based on its fish salting industry.

Today, at this reconstructed living museum, you can walk the cobbled streets, explore old Roman villas or declaim a few stanzas by Seneca from the stage of the ancient amphitheatre.

Shut your eyes and you can almost believe you’ve been beamed back a couple of centuries.

Stepping through the town gate and exploring this once magnificent Roman city is

MUD BATH: At Bolonia’s Cala del Picacho

more than enough to set the imagination racing.

The Iberian Peninsula’s biggest Roman city – complete with walls, aqueducts, baths, temples, forums, villas and more – is a rather special place. It is designed to be taken slowly, at a stroll, while breathing in the fresh Atlantic air as the wind wafts you gently through the ruins.

Baelo’s main road – decumanus maximus – runs from east to west, connecting two large town gates.

From here a well-signposted route leads you around

the Roman settlement, with plenty of information in English to accompany the strikingly well-preserved ruins.

The town had really started growing in 2AD, after a product, known as garum, made in Baelo, took off among the chattering classes of Rome.

Made out of fish guts it was a pungent, but allegedly tasty addition to any meal and the whole area became dedicated to its production, with Roman ships arriving and departing on a daily basis for Italy, loaded up with the magic product.

Biggest dune in Europe

Bolonia’s iconic, giant sand dune is the texture of icing sugar, its waters Caribbean blue.

The largest on the Continent it dares to be climbed, just to see what lies beyond.

While there is no secret cove or crock of gold at the end it is a lovely slow transition into a cool, scented pine forest. And the stunning views from the top are a reminder of how all coastal Andalucia once was.

Nearby look for Cala del Picacho, for some therapeutic mud-baking.

The mud treatments are popular and you smash up some wet slate stone to create your own mudpack, before letting it dry off.

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July 2019

Coast with the most WHERE TO EAT

The ingredients, expertise and vibrancy of its restaurants make the Costa de la Luz Andalucia’s No1 foodie retreat, writes Jon Clarke

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TRAILBLAZER: El Campero

S the orders start streaming in, it’s nothing short of amazing to watch the team at Hotel Antonio jump into action.

Under the watchful eye of Joaquin Olmedo, who has worked here for nearly 40 years, the dozen chefs in this Zahara kitchen stay incredibly calm, despite double the number of waiters running in every few seconds on behalf of their clients.

Concentration etched on their faces, they create handsome dishes that taste even better than they look.

I’ve seen Antonio (www.restauranteantoniozahara.com) develop over the last two decades from a small charming seaside hotel with seafood restaurant attached, to a total temple of food.

Now an absolute must for foodies wanting to try the best

fish - and in particular - bluefin tuna on the planet, it has both stylish swagger and professional staff to match.

Rather like the Waterside Inn (the UK’s longest-running three Michelin starred restaurant), this is very much a restaurant with rooms. But please, please make sure to spend at least a few hours on the amazing beach beside it, after or before your meal.

There is something about the Costa de la Luz that brings out the best in restaurateurs.

A combination of style, creativity and, above all, positive vibes has created some of my favourite places to eat in Spain.

Much of it to do with the ingredients, there are so many delicacies that can be sourced around the definitive coast with the most.

Be it bluefin tuna, retinto steak or incredible seafood, foodies are spoilt for choice in the restau-

TASTY: Chef Joaquin Olmedo and waitress at Antonio rants dotted along the coast and inland, in particular to Vejer.

The one thing you have to try is the tuna, which is caught twice a year via the ancient Almadraba method at half a dozen specific spots, with very strict quotas and, of which, 90% is exported.

It is like no other tuna you will ever have eaten and what is left can be eaten at a handful of fabulous joints, including aforementioned Antonio, or its nearby rival El Campero, easily as good, in Barbate.

This pair have been consistently competing to become the best places to eat Cadiz’s most famous export for the last few decades and both have recently undertaken remarkable transformations in terms of decor and style.

El Campero (www.restauranteelcampero.es) is run by the stalwart chef Jose Melero, who directs his team with Zen-like calm.

He turned down a career in the Spanish air force to run his restaurant, and he certainly needs military precision when his team is serving up 400 people in a busy summer sitting.

He will serve up to 20,000 meals in the three months of summer, mostly including the various tuna dishes he has in around 30 different guises, including tuna lasagna and cuts almost unheard of, such as Facera, Galera and Parpatana.

There is also a tapas menu, with such delights as tuna tartare with shavings of truffle on toast and an unusual looking ‘monton crocante’, or mini towers of crunchy maize with spicy tuna inside.

The most up-and-coming place on the coast though, is most certainly Tarifa, which is finally developing a decent food scene.

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LA BREÑA – HOTEL &

Catching up on long-standing leader Vejer, there is a distinct buzz about the style and quality of places to eat here.

Much of this is thanks to a group of hip young couples, who have opened their own joints, such as Mic Moc and Raizes.

This year, one of my favourites is La Bonita (www. labonitatarifa.com), where Jorge and his team have turned a previously tricky alleyway restaurant into a must-visit foodie feast.

While dining outside is a joy now they have managed to block off the wind, the decor inside is quirky, the music original and the food is distinctly fusion in feel.

It probably helps that there are three chefs, all from Toledo, and all competing with each other for ideas.

I loved the creativity of the Saam of panceta Iberica with ajoblanco de coco, as well as the Gilda 2019, which comprised a spoon of white bait and vinegar with olives.

Another carefully considered dish was the squid with poyoyo goats cheese croquettes with crisps of squid ink.

Also doing well on Calle Alameda is Almacen %, which is run by husband and wife team from Italy and has a great shady ambience on Tarifa’s busiest street.

It’s a good place for lunch and also has some excellent light bites and tapas.

Also going great guns nearby on Calle Alameda is long time favourites include Trattoria (www.latrattoriatarifa.com), run by ambitious Italian magnate Luciano Fabricio, 47, from Naples.

With a fondness for his country’s top ingredients not to mention the excellent Slow Food Movement - his restaurant just gets better and better.

He has another excellent, simpler spot Pizzeria con Cucina nearby, as well as the famous Pacha Mama restaurant and beach club (www.pachamamatarifa. com) on the road out of Tarifa towards Vejer.

In a wonderful sheltered garden, with plenty of shade and an excellent pool for the kids to play in, you will be spoilt for choice, with excellent wood-fired bbq treats and a wood oven pizzas, not to mention the amazing homemade Italian ice creams.

Nearby, right on the beach you will find the wonderful Italian, Osteria del Sole, which is a beautiful place and has some incredible RESTAURANT fresh pasta, not to mention an amazing Italian wine list.

Also along this stretch of coast look out for the famous Hurricane Hotel and its superb lunch

STYLISH: La Bonita and (right) Tamara at La Pequena Lulu buffet, as well as the recently opened El Jardin restaurant at the Punta Sur hotel (see Gardens of Eden, centrespread), which is an amazing place to chill out and eat incredibly well.

Heading towards Bolonia, overlooking rows of vines and a sea of undulating umbrella pines, Tesoro – or Treasure – is one pot of gold that really is worth seeking out.

Aside from the fabulous food - including fresh langoustines and a classic ‘retinto’ steak typical of the region – the views over the Gibraltar straits to Africa are impossible to improve.

Dish of Kings

Moving along the coast you come to the charming Canos de Meca, which has a couple of excellent places to eat and stay.

One of the most exciting is La Pequena Lulu, which is literally the last place you reach before you dive into the stunning nature reserve of the Acantilado de la Pinar de la Brena.

It sits in an imperious position overlooking the sea and next to the amazing Playa de los Castillejos beach.

But forget the surroundings, the food itself is some of the most creative on the coast.

This stylish eaterie (think, cool jazz, authentic Cadiz style), counts on chef Simone and his wife Tamara, both Italians, who are nuts about food and creativity.

It describes its menu as Andalucian ‘with a touch of Japan’ and that is certainly the case.

But this is not a copycat faux Japanese style, but something genuinely different.

I loved its Tempura maki of blue fin tuna - a real dish of kings - as well as the niguiris of eel in teriyaki sauce.

The sashimi of wild corvina fish with a wakame seaweed salad, marinated in miso with a delicious avocado sauce base was also excellent.

A wonton lasagna with cuttlefish sauce and a poached egg on top was as off-the-wall as it sounded and was as fun to eat as anything I’ve tried so far this year.

Next door Hotel Brena (www.hotelbrena.com) is also an amazing place to

La Breña – Avda de Trafalgar, 4 Caños de Meca · Cádiz (C.P: 11149) T · 956 437 368 / 627424343 E · info@hotelbrena.com www.hotelbrena.com

LOS CAÑOS DE MECA

Review score 9.5

CHARACTERS: At Almacen % and La Caja with Yolanda (inset)

eat.

You sit on the most stunning shady terrace, also overlooking the sea, but with a wonderful mixed menu, particularly good with tuna.

They insist that ‘we love what we do’ and they are obsessed with finding the best fresh, healthy and seasonal ingredients.

In particular head here to try fantastic Almadraba tuna alongside marine plankton.

Also in Canos de Meca, you have to look out for the superb La Laja (www. la-laja.es), which sits near the famous Trafalgar lighthouse.

This is a joy to visit, with a fabulous shady garden overlooking the sea and with a superb mixed menu and decent wine list.

Set up by long time cookery teacher Yolanda Roman - who has taught many of Spain’s best chefs, including twice Bocuse d’or winning Juanma Salgado - it specialises in traditional Spanish cuisine with various modern touches, but particularly featuring fresh, local produce.

In particular try the tuna belly and couscous salad, that come highly rated.

Vibrant Vejer

The highlight of any culinary journey to the Costa de la Luz must be Vejer, which is a true foodie Mecca and one of the best in Andalucia.

Over the last two decades the place has become more and more famous in Spain and abroad as a place to eat well.

Its history goes back to the late 1990s when two Madrilenos Pedro and Javier took the plunge to open the elegant restaurant Trafalgar on the main square in town.

It was the perfect foil to the other two key restaurants of reference in the area, El Campero in Barbate and Cadiz’s most famous meat restaurant Castilleria, in nearby Santa Lucia, which both opened in 1994.

Into this melting pot of talent have marched two talented British expats.

The first James Stuart started his now seminal restaurant El Jardin del

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...our kitchen 13:00-23:30 – Wednesday to Monday For bookings call 651 907 364 Av Trafalgar, 146, 11159 Los Caños de Meca, Cádiz

Described as “excellent” by 212 travelers Atun rojo a la sal con escabeche de verduras y crema de piquillos

Pulpo asado con roca de patata, alga fritas y arena de pimenton

Both dishes have been published in the book ‘Project Atlantico de Ediciones Vengueren’ along with the recipe.

VARIETY: (Clockwise) team at Castilleria, terrace at La Brena, chefs at Garimba, waiters and chefs at 4 Estaciones Califa (www.califavejer.com) nearly three decades ago.

The canny Scotsman has bit by bit created a stunning, must-visit restaurant, reached through the labyrinthine corridors of the 16th century Califa hotel. It is one of the most successful restaurants on the coast.

Its exquisite palm courtyard is enclosed by ancient walls and is lit with Moroccan lamps after dark.

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: delights such as baba ganoush, shish taouk, pastela filled with chicken, almonds and cinnamon and tempting tagines.

Meanwhile, Stuart’s Califa Tapas, just up the road on Calle Corredera, is getting more and more popular, with its special mix of dishes and amazing views to match.

But it’s nearly next door, where the second expat, Ellie Cormie (coincidentally James’s wife) has created one of the best restaurants in Vejer.

Having run a series of restaurants in Scotland - some with Michelin stars - she is now at the helm of the fabulous Corredera 55 (www.califavejer.com), where she has brought a unique sprinkling of magic, much of it learnt via four years in Asturias en route.

The menu changes regularly and is always fresh and healthy with wonderful dish-

es such as the amazing mint and pea gazpacho, with wild basil.

Another superb Vejer restaurant is long-standing Trafalgar itself, which goes from strength to strength.

Now run by new chef Karlos (inset), it has a traditional Spanish menu with plenty of modern touches.

Well installed in the Michelin guide for the last decade, you eat either in the charming square below or in the elegant restaurant above, which has some fantastic paintings on the wall, linking to the famous Trafalgar battle, which was fought nearby.

Next door, you must look out for Garimba, which is a wonderful place to eat with one of the best summer terraces in Spain.

And, as ever, in Vejer there is more.

In particular, 4 Estaciones (www.4estacion e s v e j e r. c o m ) blew me away this year.

Sitting on a corner in the heart of the old town, its menu immediately leapt out as being original and different… and that it was.

Set up by Alberto Reyes, a long-time rated local restau-

EVOCATIVE: Stunning courtyard of Tarifa

rateur, it is as charming as it is adventurous.

I particularly liked his menu, which had a clever ‘fresh summer dishes’ section, which I would happily eat every day.

The Saam of king prawns with guacamole and red onion perfectly set the tone, while the summer ‘puchero’ was a total winner.

Original in the extreme, it balanced the crunchy texture of pork spring rolls with a delicious ice cream mint sorbet and plenty more in the mix.

Also worth a mention is his excellent wine list, which had two dozen sherries by the glass, with an Oloroso from L & B working, in particular, with the tartaki of blue fin tuna on a pad Thai with satay.

Another brilliant new place is La Juderia ( w w w. l a j u d e r i av e j e r. com), hidden up the most charming street in Vejer.

Quite possibly the most instagrammed street in Cadiz right now, its owner Mario, from Utrera, has landed on his feet.

Not only does he have a charming restaurant with a decent simple menu and superb wine list to match, he has a roof terrace to die for, from which you can see both Morocco and inland to Grazalema.

The former sommelier, who trained in Madrid, found this place completely run down while on a recce in Vejer from Sotogrande, where he used to work as head of events for the Santa Maria polo club.

“I knew straight away that this was it and I could bring it back to life,” he explains.

With 50 wines by the glass plus a typical Andalucian menu that has no pretensions he cannot go wrong.

Continues on Page 33

#saboresqueencajan

C/ Juan Relinque, 3, Vejer de la Frontera - CÁDIZ 640 626 908 hola@4estacionesvejer.com 4estacionesvejer.com

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ll about www.theolivepress.es

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

osta de la Luz

Pat on the back Danes Ase and Thomas have been leading the charge with Patria in Vejer de la Frontera for over a decade

W

HAT could be more satisfying than a restaurant that just keeps getting better every year?

Like a fine wine, Patria, in the hills near Vejer, is one of those places.

I have been coming here since it opened over a decade ago and still get that knot of excitement as I take the 10 minute drive up from Vejer.

As charming as it is trailblazing, its mixture of creativity and tastes is a surefire winner for anyone looking for an origi-

Juice on the loose The delicious juices of Patria Pura are now on sale at 70plus shops, restaurants and hotels around Spain.

Recommended by newspapers including El Pais, They come in a mix of flavours, including fresh mango, lemon and ginger, strawberry lemonade, the fresh juices are made each day by Thomas and Ase Donso and then delivered as soon as possible.

Visit www.patriapura.com

nal meal.

Much to do with the Zen-like attitudes of its Danish owners Ase and Thomas Donso, it makes for a Romantic evening with a capital ‘R’.

This incredibly creative couple - who also own a successful juice business Patria Pura (see below) - run this stunning dining secret with effortless talent.

Its stone terrace is always beautifully candle-lit at night and is surrounded by vines, oleander and olive trees, not to mention offering some of the best

views in Christendom.

Inside it’s a typically Scandinavian affair, maximising on light and style, with a great mix of soulful, jazzy music.

Your hosts do not disappoint when it comes to the food, which is almost all locally sourced.

As Thomas explains: “The joy of cooking is about what's in peak season.

There is no need to import anything from far away.”

He raves, quite rightfully about the quality of the local produce, and adds: “We work around what our suppliers can provide us locally be it wild asparagus, rabbit or bulls’ heart tomatoes.

“It is all about being able to adjust, change and create.”

You choose from a short good value 3-course set menu or from the a la carte, which has widened over recent years, thanks to the number of chefs in the kitchen.

I particularly liked the local Conil aspara-

ROMANTIC: The stunning terrace at Patria gus, cooked in filo pastry with chorizo. promised me. And he was right. I’m still It was as delicate as anything you might thinking about it. try in Noma, back in Copenhagen, and Last but not least, I couldn’t resist the showed the true artistry of organic roast chicken which Thomas. came on the set menu.

A homemade green yucca Not the sort of thing I would taco with marinated red normally choose in a restausnapper, lime, tomato and rant, but I fancied trying the cilantro was also superb, corn bunuelos that came while the home smoked with it. And it ended up hittuna breast (right) with dill ting the spot perfectly. was as good as Thomas Well not quite, for the actual promised. end was served by Thomas’ It is marinated overnight lovely wife Ase a few minutes and then smoked in his later… appropriately ‘Salsa back garden at a very low Ingles’ or basically vanilla temperature. custard with bell peppers, peanuts and “You won’t eat this anywhere else,” he raspberries. What a mix. What a place.

For more information, please call 687 231 923, visit www.restaurantepatria.com or come and see us at Camino de Patria 48, La Muela, Vejer de la Frontera

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

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July 2019

WHERE TO STAY

Dream retreats T VISTAS: The perfect evening meal at Taperia Sumia

Vejer vibes From Page 31

Also in the heart of Vejer, with one of the most picturesque terraces in the region, check out Taperia Sumia (above).

On the famous Calle Corredera, Moroccan Anne Soumia has done an excellent job bringing this place back to life.

There is the terrace outside with amazing views, plus a cool cave inside for super-hot days or rainy winter nights.

Outside of Vejer you are also spoilt for choice with some genuine dining secrets, including Castilleria (www. restaurantecastilleria.com), sitting in the idyllic hamlet of Santa Lucia.

A charming spot in the extreme, you sit in a leafy garden and eat the best steaks available in Spain. Broken down into the different types of meat, the steak menu is broken into 8 to 12 months, 4 to 6 years and even 9 to 11 years.

The place just gets better and better

and is definitively where the wealthy and privileged go for lunch and dinner.

You will need to book. It is very popular.

If you cannot get a table then you may just be in luck by visiting Venta el Toro, just down the street, which has been picked by the Guardian newspaper as one of the most charming restaurants in Spain.

And if it is charm you are looking for, few places beat Restaurant Patria (www.restaurantepatria.com), in the hills near Vejer, where Danes Thomas and wife Ase consistently serve up some of the tastiest dishes on the coast (see separate article left).

Also worth looking out for in El Palmar is La Torre restaurant, which is the only one that sits right on the beach, with amazing views in both directions.

Set up by a local vegetable growing family, that sells its produce around Spain, it is based in the old Guardia Civil barracks.

HE Costa de la Luz has loads of cool places to stay from beachside gems to village properties.

In Vejer the seminal Casa de Califa (www.califavejer.com), in the town's loveliest square, is a fabulous Moorish building sitting around a charming central patio, where guests take breakfast and dine under candlelight each evening.

Next door, its sister Las Palmeras de Califa, also oozes history, but has a fabulous pool to cool off in after a day of sightseeing.

Even better, it has just been given a splendid new renovation, making it one of the most luxurious places to stay in Vejer.

RELAXING: Las Palmeras

Some ten minutes outside Vejer towards Zahara look out for amazing Cortijo el Indiviso (www.cortijoindiviso.com), which is the very epitome of the rural dream, sitting in nearly 20 hectares of stunning countryside, with views to Vejer and far further.

An equestrian estate, time really stands still at this historic cortijo, which counts on a lovely pool for relaxing after a hard day’s sightseeing, as well as a charming patio and fabulously cool and quiet bedrooms.

Recently taken over by former Chelsea club doctor Eva Carniero (a huge animal lover) and partner, businessman Jason de Carteret, it is expected to go through a transition over the next year or so.

Either way, you can still enjoy heading out for horse rides in the nearby countryside, while new hotel managers Cat and Erika will more than look after your every need.

If beaches are more your thing, head to Canos de Meca to laid back Madreselva (www.califavejer.com), set around a central courtyard and with a decent pool for the kids to splash in.

You are just paces from the lovely local beach as well as in the heart of the action, but the rooms remain lovely and quiet.

Also in the heart of Canos de Meca, look out for La Brena (www.hotelbrena.com), which sits in an amazing spot by famous Castillejos beach, one of the most colourful in Spain.

The rooms are incredibly comfortable, while the best have amazing views to the Trafalgar lighthouse and across to Morocco.

A new pool in the garden is the icing on the cake.

Cortijo El Indiviso Stay~Enjoy~Relax A beautifully restored Andalusian Cortijo in the heart of the Cadiz countryside. Only 15 minutes from white hill-top towns and the spectacular beaches of the Costa De La Luz. This stunning 22 acre hotel & farm offers riding, swimming, yoga; spectacular sunsets and complete relaxation.

Available for private events, fiestas, weddings & film locations.

Horse Riding~Yoga~Surf Book now: +34 621 209 050 Facebook: Cortijo Indiviso email: reception@cortijoindiviso.com or events@cortijoindiviso.com www.cortijoindiviso.com Manzanete, 9, Km. 1.1, Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, 11150, Spain

CHARMING: Cortijo Indiviso Nearby, just a short walk from the Trafalgar lighthouse is evocative Casas Karen (www.casaskaren.com), a super chilled retreat, sitting in a wild spot between pinewoods and beach. Its collection of chozas (straw huts) and traditional farmhouses, blends perfectly into the landscape.

In Tarifa you have an equally good group of stylish hotels, one of the best being the Hurricane Hotel (www.hotelhurricane.com), right on the beach, as well as the more luxurious Punta Sur across the road, with its fabulous grounds, massive pool and tennis court.

In Zahara you have the excellent Hotel Antonio (www.antoniohoteles. com), sitting on one of Andalucia’s top beaches.

Best of all, it has an amazing restaurant so you don’t even have to leave the grounds, unless you fancy the short walk up to nearby Zahara town.

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BUSINESS

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

IOU big time

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i n s t a l a c i o n e s info@instalacionesemasur.com www.instalacionesemasur.com

Blacklist reveals jailed IMF chief, Hollywood actress and sports star among Spain’s biggest debtors SPAIN has published a list of tax dodgers who each still owe over €1 million, despite being warned.

A total of 4,028 individuals and companies collectively owe the Tax Agency an eye-watering €14.1 billion - although it’s 7.8%

Taking the Huawei HUAWEI has announced ‘significant growth’ in sales in Spain despite the ongoing spyware scandal surrounding the Chinesestech giant.

The director of the consumer business unit of Huawei Spain, Pablo Wang has declared sales in the country are ‘ rather better’ after a decline in global sales.

It comes as Madrid was chosen as the location for the Chinese firm’s largest store in the world.

The 2,500-square-metre commercial space on Gran Vía 48 will feature direct sales outlets, demonstration areas, free training and exhibitions.

less than in 2018.

Rodrigo Rato, the imprisoned former International Monetary Fund boss, is the most infamous of these slippery characters.

The former Bankia president and Spanish Economy Minister from Madrid owes the public coffers €1,019,740.

Joining him is Despicable Me 2 star and TV presenter Patricia Conde from Valladolid, who owes €1.82 million and is clearly living up to the movie’s name.

Two-times 250cc motorcycling world champion Alfonso ‘Sito’ Pons still owes €1.95 million after a fraud probe alleged he falsely claimed to be living in Monaco.

Meanwhile the top offender is Isolux Corsan, an international construction firm, which owes Spain €315.9 million in unpaid taxes.

Andalucian multinational energy firm, Abengoa, owes a total of €3.14 million through its subsidiaries, following financial difficulties.

But despite the huge debts still owed to the Government, some 2,000 taxpayers highlighted in the list’s inception in 2015, are not included in this edition.

Blacktower Financial Management has some important advice for you

O

N July 1, 2019, significant changes to the Maltese pension regulations came into force.

The changes are designed to provide extra security for pension members by placing additional licencing requirements on advisers.

Under the new rules, an EU or EEA based adviser must be authorised to provide investment advice both in the home country where the advisory firm is established and in the jurisdiction within the EU/EEA where the advice is being given.

When the investment advice is being provided cross-border (i.e. the advisory company is regulated in a different country to where the advice is given) as is often the case in Spain, the adviser must be authorised to provide that service in accordance with the MiFID II (EU Directive 2014/65/EU) and, if a life assurance product is also used, the Insurance Distribution Directive ‘IDD’ (EU Directive 2016/97).

If the Advisory firm does not meet the above requirements, they will no longer be authorised to act as the member’s appointed Investment Adviser.

TAX DODGERS: (Left to right) actor Conde, ex-IMF chief Rota and moto-cyclist Pons However, the list could be ex- wished to lower the threshold panded in the future, as acting to name and shame those owFinance Minister, Maria Je- ing the Treasury €600,000 or sus Montero, hinted that she more.

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20 years of experience

Do you have a Malta based pension (QROPS)?

This would mean you are unable to receive advice on your pension, no changes can be made to your investments and you may not be able to receive any payments from the pension until the position is rectified.

If you are in any doubt about the status of your adviser, you should check with them.

If they are not authorised, the main options open to you are to: 1. Appoint an authorised Discretionary Fund Manager (DFM) to act as your investment adviser or 2. Transfer to an alternate advisory firm which is properly authorised Most advisory companies would typically be authorised under IDD but only very few would meet the MiFID II requirement, which means they will not be authorised to provide their clients with investment advice.

Option 1, i.e. the appointment of an authorised Discretionary Fund Manager, may be the logical solution being offered by the advisory company only holding IDD. A word of caution though needs to be made in that case, and the questions you would need to ask your adviser are: Will the appointment of an authorised DFM incur an additional charge to you as a member?

We have seen that as much as

www.theblacktowergroup.com an additional 1% per year is being applied, which in the end means that the lack of sufficient licensing comes at the expense of the client.

Where will the recommended DFM be authorised?

Will this be in a strongly regulated EU jurisdiction, or not?

To which extent is the DFM a true Discretionary Fund Manager who, by definition, discretionally manages your funds in line with your situation and objectives?

Or is it a mere facilitation tool at your cost to try and get around the lack of required authorisation to keep on servicing you.

Where will your point of contact for the investments be?

Here, easy to reach, on your doorstep in Spain, or in yet another non-EU jurisdiction?

Many of the foreign resident community in Spain have since 2006 transferred their pensions for different reasons to a QROPS, many of whom to the jurisdiction of Malta.

If you hold a QROPS in Malta, check with your advisory company if they hold both the IDD and MiFID II license.

If your advisory company does, which is the case for Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd and hence for all our clients, then you will not have to do anything and nothing will change for you.

If you have been contacted by your advisory company and asked to sign a form to have the investment advice transferred to a DFM, it means that your advisory company does not hold both licenses.

In that case make sure you ask all the questions above.

Then give us a call.

Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited are fully authorised under both MIFID II and the IDD. The Blacktower Group was formed in 1986 to provide independent wealth management advice and a bespoke service for both individual and corporate clients.

We celebrated our 30th anniversary in 2016.

Our international financial advisers continually keep pace with the changing needs of our clients and of changes to regulations and legislation.

We follow a strict regulatory and compliance framework to ensure protection of clients’ assets at all times.

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain

36

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

PROPERTY Not cool! www.theolivepress.es

Golden

Each villa has more than 1,000 square meters and a further 500 square meters of terraces and porches with green areas.

The prices range from €5.5 million to €6 million.

The Marbella-based Velum Group has its origins in the exploitation of oil wells in the former Soviet Union and began investing in finance in Europe following the collapse of the Communist Bloc in the 1990s, before eventually venturing into property in Spain in 2016.

The firm’s other projects include the Golden Mile’s La Finca de Marbella, an urbanisation with 104 villas, also expected in 2021.

It is also developing Alcala Valley, which involves the construction of 220 apartments, specifically in La Cala de Mijas, with a planned date, too, of 2021.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Russian to invest

A RUSSIAN investment firm has revealed its €200 million investment portfolio planned for the Costa del Sol. It comes after Velum Group officially revealed its Los Palacetes de Banus project - one of four plans for the costa - to investors last week.

Consisting of eight luxury villas in the Rio Verde area built in a contemporary style and designed by architect Oscar Garcia De La Pena, from Estudio Arquim, it is set to be completed by 2021.

tel: +34 952 741 525

37

Politics and uncertainty likely causes of cool down in Spain’s property market

THE Spanish property market is experiencing a cool down.

That’s the verdict of BBVA Research - part of the BBVA banking group and one of the biggest in Spain - in its latest report.

It points to how property purchases grew just 1% year-onyear in April.

“Home sales are showing a certain sluggishness, despite the fact that conditions remain favourable,” it said.

“The variables related to con-

HEADQUARTERS: BBVA struction activity do not point towards any big gains in the next few months either.”

New mortgage lending is also slowing down, with BBVA describing it as ‘practically stagnant, despite the fact that we are in a financial context that is still promising for the sec-

Can you dig it ESTABLISHED for over 16 years, Costa Diggers has all the to you need for a successful construction job.

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Check out the new Costa Diggers’ website www.costadiggers.com or drop them an email to costadiggers@hotmail.com or call +34 678 450 051 for more information.

tor, given the low interest rates.’

Other cited factors include a fall in the number of land deals closed in April, and the first fall in construction jobs in 39 months.

Property expert Mark Stucklin of Spanish Property Insight argued it is political forces causing the disruption.

“Since about January I’ve been flagging up the signs of a slowdown in the market,” he said.

“Given how far the market and sector crashed between 2008 and 2014, it strikes me as too early for the recovery to have run its natural course.

“I suspect politics and bad policies are holding back demand.”

It comes as Spain still has no government and Pedro Sanchez has announced he will seek parliamentary support to become Prime Minister regardless, which some analysts believe risks another general election.

BBVA Research did forecast that house prices will continue rising between 3% and 5%.

37

PROPERT Y OF THE WEEK

VL750

189.950€

Puente Genil, Cordoba This incredible property offers 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and amazing outside space and private swimming pool.

The property benefits from two entrances, so it could be completely divided into two separate dwellings or one large beautiful family home, this truly is an amazing buy.

info@inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com

H OW M U C H I S YO U R TIMESHARE CLAIM WO RT H ?

Are those maintenance fees and finance bills weighing you down?

INTRODUCING OUR NEW TIMESHARE CLAIMS CALCULATOR With just a few clicks of a button you can now find out how much your claim is worth.

You could be sitting on THOUSANDS! How would it feel getting the call that your resort has been ordered to pay you £50,000? This happened recently to a client who won a case against Club La Costa conducted by the Spanish law firm M1 Legal.

All you have to do to find out how much you can potentially claim is visit www.ecc-eu.com/cfc/ Alternatively call our advice line on 0203 670 4616 or email pr@ecc-eu.com

“time to share your story”

PROPERTY

38 www.theolivepress.es 38 July 3rd - July 16th 2019

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Networking IS working!

S

O now I’ve outlined the benefits of working with a chartered financial planner, how do I get the message out there (apart from in this column)?

When I was building my business in the UK, I had always sought referrals from like-minded professionals, who also had the sort of clients I would be able to help with their financial planning needs.

A great fit for me were accountants and solicitors, as they not only had the right clients, but they also recognised the quality of the advice I was able to provide – given my qualifications and extensive experience.

But how would I meet these different types of professionals?

For me, networking was the answer.

From the very start of my financial services career I had always regularly attended meetings of the professional bodies I belonged to – starting in 1988 with the Life Insurance Association (LIA), the Society of Financial Advisers (cutely shortened to SOFA), or the body that was created when these two merged in 2005 to form the PerNETWORKING: Can bare fruits sonal Finance

Society (financial planning arm of the Chartered Insurance Institute).

I also volunteered to be on the committee of the Hampshire and Dorset region, where I lived and worked, which culminated in me having a two year tenure, where I was outgoing Chairman of both the LIA and incoming chairman of the newly formed PFS. I remember chuckling to myself when during an oversight I was incorrectly announced at the CII annual dinner in Bournemouth as the president of the PFS - a position much higher than the one I actually held!

All this would not have helped me achieve my aim, which was to meet other people involved in my target professions of accountants and solicitors.

I therefore started going to regular meetings of the local Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

All this naturally increased the

What’s a Chartered Financial Planner?

Most people will be aware of the Chartered moniker - probably heard of a Chartered Accountant or Chartered Surveyor, but what exactly is a Chartered Financial Planner – and what does it mean?

A Chartered professional is a person who has gained a specific level of skill or competence in a particular field of work, which has been recognised by the award of a formal credential by a relevant professional organisation.

In my own case this would be the CII, which was established in 1912, and is the main professional body for financial professionals throughout the world, with currently over 120,000 members in 150 countries – but interestingly only 10% outside the UK. They already offered a few Chartered titles - Insurer, Insurance Practitioner and Insurance Broker, but these were ‘General’ Insurance related and nothing to do with financial planning.

Then in 2005 the CII obtained permission,

by Royal Charter, to introduce the Chartered Financial Planner, and anyone with sufficient examination credits would immediately be allowed to apply for the title (incidentally you also needed five year’s work

experience, adhere to the Institute’s code of ethics’ and be subject to their disciplinary procedures).

To quote Wikipedia ‘Chartered status is considered a mark of professional competency, and is awarded mainly by chartered professional bodies and learned societies.

Common in Britain, it is also used in Ireland, the United States and the Commonwealth, and has been adopted by organizations around the world.’

Chartered status originates from Royal Charters issued to professional bodies in the UK by the British Monarch, although such is the prestige and credibility of a chartered designation that some non-UK organisations have taken to issuing chartered designations without Royal or Parliamentary approval.

In the UK, chartered titles may still only be awarded by institutions that have been incorporated under Royal Charter, with the permission of the Privy Council.

Many chartered statuses in the UK and Ireland are also regulated professional titles under European professional qualification directives’.

Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864

number of advocates for my services, as it’s not just ‘who’s in the room’ but who do they know that you don’t?

As a result, I can attribute acquiring a large number of good quality clients directly to my networking activities.

Because of my success in the UK, when I arrived in Spain four

38

A lifetime of networking has helped get Jonathan Holdaway where he wants to be

months ago, I actively sought out English-speaking networking groups in the area.

The two groups I found were BTB Club (www.meetup.com/ Malaga-Networking-English), who offer a weekly networking breakfast and GBO (www.globalbusinessowners.com) who have a fortnightly lunch or din-

ner.

One of my colleagues once quipped to me, as I was heading out of the office one day to a networking lunch, ‘off NOT working again then Jonathan?’

He obviously didn’t get the power of networking as I did!

AGONY Property ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Real estate of affairs Chaos ensues with new laws on Spanish mortgage loans, writes Lawbird’s Antonio Flores

T

HE recently enacted Real Estate Credit Act 5/2019 has not left anyone indifferent; from those who applaud a reinforced protection for consumers - traditionally seen as the losers in the lender-borrower equation - to the more selfish who predict a sharp decline in real estate transactions due to the obvious hassle of formalizing an even more complex procedure.

A quick glance to the last few days’ national news headlines show little sympathy for a law seemingly written up to prevent bank abuses in the last boom-crisis cycle.

El Mundo said: “New Mortgage Law: Notaries the purchase sale to undergo a test; in it, the in a mess, tougher lending criteria and…prop- Notary public will have to evaluate the borrowerty sales dropping?” er and his understanding of the document he/ El Economista: “The New Mortgage Law will she will be signing in 10 days’ time. make it more difficult for More so, the Notary is to provide younger borrowers.” the borrower with two key docuIdealista: “Mortgage law ments forwarded by the bank: Not easy? madness: last-minute rush of the ‘FEIN’, which is the European Now think of a banks and notaries to avoid a Standardized Information Card slowdown in sales.” and the ‘FIAE’, a standardized foreign buyer El Español: “First cock up with Warnings Card that includes the new Mortgage Law: banks that speaks no mortgage parameters (opening and notaries fail to synchrocommission, early maturity due Spanish nize their electronic register.” to non-payment and what exBut what’s the deal with this penses are applied in this case) law and why are so many reand a few other fairly elaborate porters up in arms? items and mathematical formulas.

The answer is not straightforward: whilst most Not easy? Now think of a foreign buyer that recognize the underlying bona fide mission speaks no Spanish, with a notary that equally of protecting consumers, intensified credit does not understand foreign languages, and checks on borrowers and the intricate pre-con- you have a deal-breaker. tractual stage of new loan agreements can Not to mention the unassumable 10-day perionly be deterrents for new business. od for busy investors and the yet-to-be defined To qualify for a loan, any borrower will have to role of lawyers here: advisers or just translavisit a Notary office 10 days prior to closing on tors? Time will tell.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL www.theolivepress.es

39

RIP to a maestro

STAR CHEF: Los Remos

Beers to future CERVEZAS Victoria has announced a €1.2 million project to expand its factory in Malaga.

The iconic beer brewery in the La Azucarera industrial estate said the works will take around four months and will expand allowing it to increase production by up to 27%.

Tourists or fans of the beer will still be allowed to visit the factory on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays by making reservations on their websites.

TRAILBLAZING Cadiz chef Alejandro Fernandez Gavilan has died.

Gavilan, whose legendary Los Remos de San Roque earned the province’ its first Michelin star in 1993, passed away at the age of 79 last week.

He and his wife Nati, who helped run the restaurant, retired in 2002, bequeathing the nation some of his iconic recipes incluyding his shrimp and seaweed tortillitas, served at the grand opening of Expo 92 in Sevilla.

Gavilan opened Los Remos, next to the

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Guadarranque River, in 1957.

In 1985 it was crowned the best restaurant in Spain for the preparation of raw foods.

The following year the couple scooped the National Gastronomy Award, a feat they repeated in 1989, topped in 1993 when they won a Michelin star.

39

restaurant | lunch and dinner restaurant | lunch and dinner

Basque-ing in glory

Basque Country shines with five of Spain’s seven top 50 restaurants

SPAIN has again dominated the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List with three establishments in the top 10.

The country equalled its record haul of 2018, with seven Spanish restaurants handed gongs at the event, dubbed the ‘Oscars of fine dining’.

ICONIC: Victoria brewery Pipping the Spanish to the post this year though was Argentinian-Italian chef Mauro Colagreco’s Mirazur in Menton, France.

Spain’s Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, in the Basque Country, rose to third best OLIVES from Spain have in the world after coming crossed the Atlantic and proved 10th last year. a hit at New York’s prestigious Another Basque star, Angastronomic fair, the Summer doni Luis Aduriz’s rural restaurant Mugaritz in San Fancy Food Show.

Led by Spain’s pioneering Sebastian, climbed to sevchef Jose Andres, the ‘Have enth. an Olive Day’ campaign Meanwhile ninth place went showcased the humble table olive to more than 17,000 culinary professionals.

Spain has targeted the American market with an investment of €7.5 million following the yearly growth in US imports of European olives to more than 155 million pounds in weight.

In fact, 95% of the pepper-filled olives loved by Americans come from Spain. ROCA: Brothers absent

The Big Olive

TOP CHEF: Colagreco of Mirazur to last year’s highest new en times: El Bulli on five ocentry, the avant-garde Dis- casions and El Cellar de Can frutar in Barcelona, which Roca twice. shot up from 18th.

The Basque Countryfaired well at the glitzy ceremony, held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands hotel, with five restaurants in the top 50 compared to Barcelona’s two.

Azurmendi in Larrabetzu came in at 14, followed by Elkano in Getaria (30) and v “An Amazing Setting” Bilbao’s Nerua (32).

Conspicuous by their abv “Delicious, Imaginative Food” sence from the list were the famous Roca brothers of El v “Wonderful Staff ” Celler de Can Roca, whose Catalan kitchen had previv “So Much Local Information” ously been the best on the top 50 list. v “Stunning Gardens” But don’t worry - in this year’s awards, sponsored

by S.Pellegrino & Acqua v And a Station 500m away Panna, previously crowned now WITH Trains ‘best in the world’ restaurants have been elevated to a new ‘Best of the Best’ list. v Special Room Rates for SumSince its inception in 2002 the illustrious parade of mer Stays - ask global gastronomy has put a Spanish restaurant top sev-

Ginspirational!

A FAMOUS old Cadiz gin favoured by royalty two centuries ago is making a comeback with a new look and taste.

Spanish-British Burdon gin disappeared in the 1970s but will now be gracing shelves once more in three distinct flavours.

Distilled in El Puerto de Santa Maria, the trio of ‘high quality’ tipples feature the Original Dry Gin Burdon (dry and citrus) and two newcomers - Cerezas (cherry sweet and fruity, €12.75) and Hierb-

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abuena (a refreshing hint of mint, €13.99).

Burdon was founded in 1821 by British expat John WIlliam Burdon, who had settled in Cadiz.

By 1854 it was famous around the world and King Alfonso XIII himself granted Burdon the rank of Supplier of the Royal Household.

It continued to enjoy success up until the 1970s when demand trickled, but it is now back once again, almost 200 years after it was founded.

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FOOD,DRINK High seas cuisine 40

A Spanish restaurant with a twist, 40located www.theolivepress.es on the edge of historic old Estepona Town in a converted farmhouse dating back to the 1890 with many features retained.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Health boost

Spanish cuisine is taking to the high seas with a new Sasso menu

Restaurante La Pampa is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Calle Sevilla 70, 29680, Estepona Phone: 952 795 545 email: reservas@lapampaestepona.es www.lapampaestepona.es

A LUXURY cruise line has rolled out Spain’s Michelin-starred Anthony Sasso as head chef at a new specialty restaurant.

Windstar’s new Cuadro 44 restaurant will feature ‘modern and inventive’ Spanish cuisine inspired by Sasso’s own travels across the Iberian Peninsula.

Sasso is known for his work at New York restaurant Casa Mono, earning the restaurant a Michelin star on ten separate occasions during his 13-

Smells fishy MERCADONA’s anchovies have sparked a huge backlash for misleading customers with tin labelling.

The supermarket chain had to clarify the origins of its anchovies after labelling them ‘from the Bay of Biscay’, made in

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year tenure.

“I’ve spent a lifetime studying Spanish food and culture, working in several Catalan kitchens, traveling the Iberian landscape and learning from and getting inspired by the masters: everyone from the Roca Brothers of El Celler de Can Roca to the unmatchable Pablo Picasso,” said Sasso.

“This new venture with Windstar will be the perfect vehicle to showcase the universally enticing flavors of Spain and Morocco and packaged in Spain.

The apparent contradictions in the label have been seized upon by customers, whose comments went viral on social media.

One Mercadona customer said: “They fish in the Bay of Biscay and ship them to Morocco, which is cheaper!”

CHEF: Anthony Sasso its coastal seas.

“I’m extremely excited and honored to be involved with this innovative company.”

Sasso has planned for the Cuadro 44 menu to showcase all of the coastal areas of Spain, especially southern Andalucia and Jerez.

“Dining at Cuadro 44 will give guests the opportunity to try legendary jamon iberico, a 24-month aged pork made from black pigs raised solely on acorns in Southern Spain, almost exclusively served in Spain,” said Windstar Director of Hotel Operations Peter Tobler.

A SPAIN-based healthy food business behind the Rebel Kitchen brand has set up a plant in England.

Murcia-headquartered AMC has announced the new 55,000 sq ft site in Skelmersdale will produce dairy-free and allergen-free yogurt for London-based healthy food firms.

Mike Bullock, fresh foods director at AMC Group, said: “There’s an exciting future in store for the site.

Forefront

“Plant-based products are in huge demand and there is a gap in the market for a dairy-free factory producing fresh, quality products at scale.

“Our expertise in citrus, grapes, flowers, juice, ice cream, dairy-free and soups puts us at the forefront of the food industry to help consumers make those healthy choices.”

& TRAVEL

www.theolivepress.es

Sport and food

T

HE Island Games to be held in Gibraltar between July 6-12 could be the biggest edition of the event ever.

Just before the first day athletes will get the chance to stock up on energy reserves at the Calentita food festival the day before at Casemates Square.

Over 3,000 athletes, coaches and fans will descend on the Rock to participate in track and field events, shooting, basketball and other sports.

The two new grounds at Europa Point and Lathbury were made ready for the games in record time considering the short window organisers faced.

Two new beach volleyball grounds and a formerly derelict Nuffield pool renovated for the week of sport.

“I am very proud indeed,” said Chief Minister Fabian Picardo of the work that had been done.

“I know Gibraltar will open their arms to welcome visiting athletes

41

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

41

Before Gibraltar’s Island Games, there is no better place to be than the Calentita food festival

and they will want to return with their families.”

The Rock’s leading statesman was adamant that the show would be surpass any other sporting event held locally.

“I think people want to come to Gibraltar because it is an exciting place,” he added.

“We have a lot of events like the Summer Nights evening entertainment and Calentita food festival around the Island Games.”

If you are wondering what a Calentita is, you might be surprised to know it is Gibraltar’s traditional food.

It is also a Spanish name for something hot and there will be a lot of hot food on offer during the Calentita food festival being held on the evening of July 5.

“Every year we put together a variety of foods that represent the Gibraltarian community,” said Calentita organiser Owen Smith.

“It started with English, Spanish, ‘Yanito’, Indian and Moroccan

CROWD: Gibraltar’s Island Games representatives

www.bistropoint.gi UNIVERSITY OF GIBRALTAR, EUROPA POINT

Reservations on 200 76588 or bistropoint@huntergroup.gi

FOOD: Main attraction food but every year we add something new.

“This year we are excited about having a Brazilian and a Portuguese stall for the first time.”

The other novelty is that there will be five vegan food stalls as well as cocktails, live entertainment and cookery demonstrations.

It comes as Picardo personally reached out to the Costa community via the Olive Press.

“My message to those who may be reading my messages further up the coast is to come to Gibraltar during the Island Games,” he told readers.

“Watch the sport, eat the food and enjoy the facilities because this is going to be a magnificent place to be.”

History, adventure and romance.

That’s just the setting.

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling.

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What a month

Peter Manley reflects on a busy but successful month of golf at Alcaidesa

J

UNE has been an excellent month for the Estepona Golf Society, who now play at Alcaidesa after having their membership terminated at Estepona Golf because the Management wanted to move the club in a different direction, more towards the ‘Pay and Play’ option as opposed to membership.

Other than a longer trip for the players to meet there are no other disadvantages to the move, the two courses are infinitely better, the facilities are excellent and the staff very friendly.

This month maintenance has been carried out on both courses, firstly the Links so we played for two weeks on the Heathland and latterly the Heathland where we played for the two weeks on

the Links, an obvious advantage of having two courses.

Early in the month the Pontiff (Mike Pope) had an exceptional round of 42 points and we all thought that he was on the road to redemption or at least to get back to a reasonable handicap but it transpired to be somewhat of a false dawn and although having lessons from Andrew Butler (the Club Pro. at Estepona) the progress has not been maintained, however his scores this month were high enough so that he missed out on the Oscar.

The Monthly Trophy this month was won by Geoff Scott who has definitely been the golfer of the month with two first prizes and a second to his name and his handicap has gone from 23.3 down to 20 during the month.

Green tech

Super Chris

VALDERRAMA OPEN: Winner Christiaan Bezuidenhout lifts prize in Sotogrande

South African wins Andalucia Masters wins in 30° heat as favourite Garcia comes seventh CHRISTIAAN Bezuidenhout has won the Andalucia Masters, as Sergio Garcia failed to bag a consecutive triple.

The South African, 25,

cruised to a six-shot victory in the tournament at Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande to claim the €3 million prize.

He took a five-shot lead moving into the final round, before a couple of birdies saw his gap at the top extended to seven.

Spaniard Jon Rahm, 24, who was Bezuidenhout’s playing partner, cut the champion’s lead to just three, after he registered four bogeys.

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89

FERGUSSON’S ESTEPONA

Englishmen

Victory for the 39-year-old tournament favourite would have secured a consecutive trio of titles, after he won in 2017 and 2018.

The final standings were: -10 C Bezuidenhout (South Africa); -4 A Quiros, J Rahm, E De La Riva, A Arnaus (all Spain), M Lorenzo-Vera (France); -3 S Garcia (Spain).

The highest placing Brit was Andy Sullivan, who finished on one under par, while fellow Englishmen Jack Singh Brar and Steven Brown, and Scot, Scott Jamieson all finished on level par.

Golf tourism THE National Golf Centre in Madrid has held a debate on the ‘golf tourism’, which brings 1.2 million visitors to Spain each year.

The star-studded line-up included president of the Golf Federation of Madrid, Ignacio Guerras and head of Sports Tourism, Nature and Wellness of Tourespaña, Ana Cristina Gozalo, among others.

Topics discussed, included the sport’s contribution of 1.2% of total tourism revenues, with the UK, Scandinavia and Germany largely responsible for this.

The panel also highlighted that 70% of golf customers to Spain pay for their trips online, with 275,000 bookings every year.

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strong position, to see him over the line for his first European Tour title.

“I’m proud of myself for hanging in there today after a tough stretch in the middle of my round,” he said after his victory.

Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia could not complete his title defence, finishing in seventh behind four other Spaniards.

A GOLF club in Andalucia has undergone huge updates after becoming the first in Spain to use new eco-friendly ‘Bermuda’ grass on all its greens.

Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa in Casares laid down the sustainable turf earlier this year, allowing the luxury club to use 30% less water.

Renovations to its Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, also now include the installation of a GCQuad launch monitor, which analyses technique with cameras, and is used by pros such as Rickie Fowler.

Swing Catalyst Video Analysis Software and a Swing Catalyst Balance Plate are among the other new additions to its infrastructure.

A FRENCH golfer has been embarrassingly booted out of an Andalucian tournament for running out of balls.

Clement Berardo was disqualified from the first round of the Andalucia-Costa del Sol Match Play 9 event on the 16th hole after losing his final ball.

It marked the end of the 32-yearold’s horrendous tournament at the Valle Romano club in Estepona.

Prior to his early exit, the world number 1,909 from Auxerre was 10 over par, following a quadruple-bogey nine on the first hole and a double bogey on the 10th.

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CARBON dioxide emissions from new cars has shockingly increased across the EU, new figures have revealed.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), 2018 was the second consecutive year that emissions increased, reaching 120.4 grammes of CO2 per kilometre.

It means manufacturers will have to reduce emissions of their fleets significantly to meet the upcoming 2020 and 2021 targets.

Spain has been lagging behind in the fight against carbon emissions with the latest tests reporting levels of 558 CO2 per kilometre.

The main factors contributing to the increase include an increase in sales of petrol cars, especially in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment.

Moreover, the market penetration of low-emission vehicles, including electric cars, remained slow in 2018.

With the 2021 target of 95 g CO2/km approaching, much faster deployment of cars with low emissions is needed across Europe.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

ONE of the most luxurious yachts in the world has docked on the Costa del Sol. The Lady Moura, owned by Saudi Tycoon Nasser Al Rasheed, berthed at Malaga’s pier 2 last week.

Nasser owns engineering consultancy firm Rasheed Engineering and advises the Saudi royal family.

His white vessel, worth more than €200 million, measures 105 metres long by 20 metres wide and its name is inscribed in pure gold.

Designed by the Italian architect Luigi Sturchio and built at the prestigious Ger-

Luxury convoy of supercars rally from Marbella to London

ON THE UP: Pollution

Green 952 147 834 for go 43

www.theolivepress.es

A TROOP of millionaire petrolheads have completed a luxury rally from Marbella to London.

Some 100 suped-up motors left the Costa del Sol last week after drivers forked out around €15,000 EACH for a ticket on the seven-day road-bender.

Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches and Bugattis all joined the journey, which saw lucky drivers enjoy boozy VIP pit stop parties along the way.

The event was the brainchild of supercar customiser Yianni Charalambous, who is responsible for customising the cars of the world's biggest celebs including Marbella fan Anthony Joshua and One Direction star Harry Styles.

Tickets to become a member of the Yiannimize Grand Tour cost a whopping £14,000 (€15,600) a pop and were given out on a strict first come first serve basis - with each additional team member costing another £7,000 (€7,800).

The event saw the motors cruise through Valencia, Barcelona, Montpellier, Ge-

man shipyards Blohm + Voss almost 30 years ago (1990), it has already been refurbished twice.

It comes with * O f a f espa, r vcasino, a l i d party f o r room, n e w several bedrooms, an operating room in case of accidents or injuries at sea, a heliTheOlivePress-256x170-HOME02.indd 1 port and several smaller boats.

It can accommodate up to 30 passengers, although it has double the number of crew (circa 61). It has its usual base port in Palma de Mallorca, like many other boats of this type. Its diesel engines pack 6,900 of horsepower and the lady flies at a maximum speed of 20 knots.

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c u s t o m e r s

o n l y .

S u b j e c t

What is the car insurance Green Card?

The Green Card or International Insurance Card is an international certificate of insurance accepted by the authorities of all 48 countries for which the Green Card is valid. It certifies that visiting motorists have the minimum compulsory third party liability insurance cover required by law.

The Green Card System Each year over 400,000 road traffic accidents occur in member countries of the Green Card system. The system was founded in 1949 to provide a series of guarantees compensation for victims of cross-border road traffic accidents and its handling bureau ensure legitimate claims can be settled in accordance with national legal provisions. It also facilitates the flow of cross-border traffic by avoiding the need to obtain insurance cover at each of the 48 member countries.

Member countries Austria, Albania, Andorra,

neva and Paris.

The tour said on its site: "The Yiannimize Grand Tour aims to bring together like-minded entrepreneurs and their cars, offering them the opportunity to drive through different countries and their breathtaking routes. "Whilst the tour aims to do this by day, by night the setting will be glamorous and exclusive, giving the members of the tour a chance to socially network and enjoy the fabulous entertainment provided by ‘The Rich List Group’."

LUXURY: Ferraris and Lamborghinis

43

t o

c o n d i t i o n s .

E n d s

Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Finland, Liechtenstein, UK, Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Israel, Iran, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Morocco, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. (Source: The Council of Bureaux). The following countries are eligible for future membership: Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya and Syria.

How do I get it?

Motorists can obtain a Green Card from the provider of their motor insurance policy. Currently the UK and Spain belong to the European Economic Area, which means that the cost for the Green Card is included in the price of the insurance policy.

We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 14 78 34. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

3 1 /

44 44

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July 3rd - July 16th 2019

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

Lionising Hercules

O

UR pueblo is all of a-flutter this month over the arrival of a new centrepiece for the town roundabout.

For years it was crowned by a giant pink birthday cake that lit up with candles at night.

A bit of a tacky monstrosity, we thought at the time, but when it was replaced by a concrete hexagonal fountain flashing disco lights we kind of missed it.

A ripped Roman hero and his ‘pets’ get Belinda Beckett’s roar of approval

Now we have our very own statue of Hercules, worked in bronze, with a ripped torso and a very neat butt (if you’re wondering, he’s wearing a loincloth).

But what really made me look twice, being a cat lover, are the two enormous wild pussy cats he’s stroking: a pair of magnificent male lions, as splendid as the ones in Trafalgar Square and quite something for Los Barrios, an address that generally provokes the puzzled response, ‘Que barrio?’

It didn’t instantly register why we’ve got big cats on the roundabout.

A new use for the bullring? Circus coming to town?

Or David AttenborSTRIKING: New big cats on Los Barrios road

ough?

Unlikely, unless he’s interested in the small feral variety…I even vaguely wondered whether the lions might be symbolic of the pueblo’s pioneering Trap Neuter Release alley cat scheme I wrote about last month.

In the days when Spain and Africa were one continent – before Hercules split them to create his mythological Pillars, Gibraltar and Mount Jebel Musa across the Strait in Morocco – lions did leg it up from the Serengetti to roam these parts.

But finally the penny dropped. They reference the lions on the Andalucian Flag, doh!

(Historical note: the emblem of Hercules subduing the lions was chosen by Blas Infante, the ‘father of Andalucian nationalism’, born just up the road in Casares, to symbolise man’s power over animal instinct).

Hercules is a big dude all over the world, having got about a bit while fulfilling his 12 Labours…such as slaying the nine-headed Hydra and the man-eating Stymphalian Birds and capturing Cerberus, the Underworld’s very unpleasant dog.

I’m not sure what the Me Too movement would have to say about him stealing the girdle of Hippolyta; and he did kill the Nemean Lion, which would now

International recognition

‘I will work hard for you’, says Olive Press columnist Bill Anderson, who is the first ever Brit to serve on Mijas Council

A

T the time of writing this, we should have had a government in place in Mijas for almost two weeks, but instead we have to wait until July 5 for the investiture and appointment of the government.

This is thanks to VOX who presented last minute in the elections, whose number one on the list resigned, and then a day or so before the elections un-resigned leaving the number two on the list who headed their ‘campaign’ without the one seat they won.

This has gone to court and it was decided that the said number one is to have the seat.

Now we have to wait and see if they will appeal the decision and possibly delay things even further.

People keep asking me what is going to happen: is Angel Nozal going to be Mayor?

Is he going to pact with another party?

Are the other parties going to pact?

Frankly, I haven’t a clue.

What I do know is that parties will need to work together, whether in coalition or informally to make Mijas move forward.

I have also been asked how it feels to be a councillor.

Actually, I am still technically

‘councillor elect’ until the investiture.

Honestly, it doesn’t yet feel any different than before.

I am still going to my work in the morning, still grading students’ papers and filling in the mountain of paperwork that goes with teaching at a university.

And it will continue this way until July 5.

Whether we end up in government or in opposition, I am still clear what I want for Mijas.

I want a clean, safe Mijas, led by a forward thinking and responsive government.

I would like to see a system which facilitates rather than prevents, a system which is inclusive, whether we are talking about the children of Mijas, the unemployed,

HISTORIC: Brit Bill Anderson

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 7 Epitaph, 8 Crab, 9 Salami, 10 Nectar, 11 Tempest, 14 Mere, 15 Hoar, 16 Oatmeal, 20 Bremen, 21 Safety, 23 List, 24 Limpopo.

Down: 1 Female, 2 Giza, 3 Panics, 4 Chant, 5 Ice cream, 6 Damage, 12 Playmate, 13 Two, 15 Heroin, 17 Assume, 18 Action, 19 Knell, 22 Foot.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

By Bill Anderson

7 9 1 2 5 4 3 8 6

3 6 5 8 7 1 9 4 2

2 4 8 3 9 6 5 1 7

8 7 3 5 1 2 4 6 9

9 2 6 4 8 3 1 7 5

1 5 4 9 6 7 2 3 8

6 1 9 7 4 5 8 2 3

4 8 2 6 3 9 7 5 1

5 3 7 1 2 8 6 9 4

Puzzle by websudoku.com

be a protected species, and turn it into a trophy loincloth.

But he wins double brownie points for cleaning up the Augean stables in a day.

I’ve been on at Dave to sort out our garage for nearly a decade.

In Andalucia, geographically attached to one of his Pillars (Gibraltar actually gets a mention around the base of our sculpture) all seven provinces pay their respects to Hercules in some shape or form: a wall frieze at the Alhambra Pal-

ace in Granada; a lofty column in Sevilla’s Alameda Gardens; and there’s a particularly stirring statue (sans loincloth) in Sancti Petri Poblada, over Cadiz way.

But in my humble opinion, none are finer than our own.

Los Barrios sculptor Bernardo Martinez Torres: Respect.

Yeah, I know there’s a cool Hercules in Ronda with lions. But check out their curly mains.As our Roman hero would scoff, they’re nothing but overgrown poodles!

Up, up and away!

MIJAS MATTERS the elderly, or the disabled. I would like the opportunity to work closely with the ‘International Community’, to give answers, to inform, to involve, and to help with integration.

As the first Brit to serve on Mijas Council and only the second ‘foreigner’ to be in this position in 40 years of democratic government, I want to acknowledge the commitment which Angel Nozal made to the International Community of Mijas, firstly, by inviting me to work with him, and secondly by placing me high on the list, ensuring a seat for the internationals.

Now, it will be up to me as to how I work for the people of Mijas.

I have a lot of plans, but these will to some extent be determined by the outcome of the vote for Mayor on July 5.

If Angel is successful, I will be working full-time for Mijas and if we are in opposition, I will continue my teaching, and balance the two tasks.

In either case, I will be available to the Mijas community and will work hard for you.

RIPPED: Hercules statue in Sancti Pectri Poblada

Giles Brown is more Christopher Biggins than Christopher Reeve as he learns to fly

I

F you were a child in the hang gliding and the like include former 70s, there were three films leave me cold – or sweaty Red Devils – the British Arthat you would have seen. palmed to be precise. my’s crack parachute display This was in the age before Even rock climbing scenes in team – who purchased the Internet, DVDs, Netflix or films make me turn pale. equipment after using it to films on demand, so in order Little wonder, then, that I train Tom Cruise for the film to see a film you actually had have absolutely no desire to Mission Impossible: Fallout. to get off the sofa and traipse skydive.

Tom, by the way, is apparentoff to the local cinema.

Let’s be honest, with my ly totally professional, very So going to the pictures was track record with all things friendly and has a penchant a proper occasion. mechanical, especially trans- for practical jokes.

Seventies kids therefore saw port, going up in a light air- And the ex-paras I spoke to Star Wars – and lights sa- craft is never going to be a gave pop pipsqueak Justin bered each other in the foyer good idea.

Beiber no chance if he does afterwards, Grease, singing When I got the invitation to step into an MMA ring with loudly along with John Travol- go and check out Fly 4 Real, him… ta and Olivia Neutron Bomb, southern Spain’s first out- After a safety briefing and and Superman. door skydiving simulator, I the donning of a rather natOne of the things that I dis- was intrigued. ty flying suit, although I had tinctly remember about go- Rather than leaping out of a brought the wrong shoes ing to see the latter was the plane, you are kept aloft in a and had to have my Mofact that not only my mum, wind tunnel. roccan sandals duct taped but also all the other mums It’s somewhat like being in a to my ankles – a look that came to the cinema with us. huge hairdryer, although ob- won’t catch on – it was time Normally one longsuffering viously it’s been years since I to climb into the wind tunnel adult would have to be in was near one of those. with my instructor and fly. charge of half a dozen nine- The founders at Fly 4 Real While I didn’t soar like Superyear-olds. man, I didn’t bounce With Superman, off the bottom of however, is while the the wind tunnel in a nine-year-olds becrumpled heap and if lieved a man could fly, nothing else, the upthe mums all believed ward blast gave me that Christopher the most thorough Reeve looked pretty facial treatment in damn good in a cape. years.

Since then, howevAlthough I was more er, I haven’t had any Christopher Biggins great yearning to than Christopher take to the sky.

Reeve, you could beI’m not good with lieve a (small, bald, heights, so abseil50-something) man ing, bungee jumping, IS IT A BIRD: Giles (far left) goes skydiving could fly!

SPORT

47

www.theolivepress.es

Stars and gripes

SPAIN and England’s Women's World Cup dreams have ended as the USA knocked them both out 2-1.

Steph Houghton had the chance to equalise for the Lionesses, but her weak 84th-minute penalty was stopped by USA keeper Alyssa Naeher.

Minutes later Phil Neville’s side’s hopes were fully smashed when captain Houghton’s defensive partner Millie Bright was given her marching orders after a second yellow card.

A Christen Press header gave tournament favourites USA the lead inside 10 minutes, before England hit back through a reflex Ellen White strike.

But a pacey first half saw England go behind again after striker Alex Morgan’s headed effort beat reserve goalie Carly Telford before halftime.

VAR played a huge part in the clash, as England midfielder Jill Scott’s superb goal was disallowed, before the technology later resulted in Bright’s dismissal for her second bookable offence.

The semi final tie at Stade de Lyon, France - watched by an impressive crowd of 53,512 came after Spain were knocked out at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims.

Two spot kicks in that game to help the USA set up a dream tie against hosts France in the quarterfinals, before the England match. The Americans will face either the Netherlands or Sweden in the final on Sunday July 7.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019 RAFAEL Nadal has complained about being seeded below rival Roger Federer at this year’s Wimbledon.

The Spaniard argued that the seeding system based on official world rankings meant ‘more complicated

Raf justice draws’ for players than they deserve. Being seeded third rather than second means he could now face Wimbledon defending champion Novak

Djokovic in the semi finals.

Wimbledon 2019 kicks off on July 1, with Nadal seeded third, Federer second and Novak Djokovic first, the players holding 18, 20 and 15 Grand Slam titles respectively.

Ta ra Torres FORMER Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has called time on a glittering career of competitive football.

The 35-year-old Premier League golden boy from Madrid said the ‘time has come’ for him to hang up his boots.

Spain’s

Premier League golden boy retires with match against Spanish teammates in Japanese island third-highest goalscorer of all time has for the last year been at Japanese J1-League club Sagan Tosu.

At a press conference in Tokyo, he said: “I have something very important to announce.

“After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put

One for sorrow RAFAEL Benitez has left his role as Newcastle United manager after his contract expired, but will now be paid €13.4 million a year.

The Spaniard, 59, secured Premier League safety for the Magpies last season after they finished 13th and will now manage Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.

The former Liverpool boss, who arrived at St James’ Park in 2016, leaves after no improvement was made to his €6.7 million-a-year salary. Originally from Madrid, Benitez was the last manager to win the Champions League for Liverpool, before Jurgen Klopp this season.Weeks after his 2007 victory, he endeared himself further to Reds fans by securing his compatriot, a young Fernando Torres in a pre-season transfer.

an end to my football career.”

He will now see out his career in a Sagan Tosu home fixture against the team of his countrymen David Villa and Andres Iniesta.

Torres’ fellow world cup-winners both play for Vissel Kobe, and will travel to the island of Kyushu for the match on August 23. The forward has not revealed what is next for him, but appeared to suggest to Daily AS, that a ‘return’ to Atletico Madrid in a coaching role may be on the cards. The striker scored 82 goals for the club in 214, before breaking Liverpool’s transfer record at the time, with a €22.6 million move to Merseyside in 2007. He went on to be the fastest player in the club’s history to score 50 goals, before his €55.9 million switch to Chelsea in 2011, which broke the Premier League transfer record.

July 3rd - July 16th 2019

47

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Wardrobe Malfunction

FINAL WORDS

A BRITISH make-up artist, 31, has been forced to leave an EasyJet flight from Malaga to Stansted for wearing a revealing shirt, citing her ‘disruptive behaviour’.

Brit first SCOTTISH striker Jack Harper has become the first Briton to play in La Liga since Mallorca loanee Alan Hutton in 2013, after signing for Getafe from Malaga FC in a five-year contract.

Bad timing?

SEVILLA FC have sacked Argentine coach, Eduardo Berizzi, just a week after he returned from a prostate cancer operation.

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Vol. 13 Issue 321 www.theolivepress.es July 3rd to July 16th 2019

Russia with love A BRITISH schoolgirl’s message in a bottle has travelled more than 2,000 miles from the coast of Spain to a river in Russia.

Four-year-old Taylor Powell had thrown the bottle into the sea off Barcelona while on a family holiday.

The note, which contained a picture of her, ,invited whoev-

A British schoolgirl’s handwritten greeting has made it all the way from the coast of Spain to Moscow er found the bottle to respond with the name of their country and a picture.

Incredibly, a Moscovite couple, named Sasha and Alex, found the message and replied to Tay-

Barce-clona

A LIONEL Messi lookalike has denied using the Barcelona megastar’s identity to trick women into sleeping with him.

Iranian ‘Messi’ Reza Parastesh has hit back after claims he used his resemblance to bed 23 women went viral on social media.

Paratesh has amassed 700,000 followers on Instagram where he displays pictures of himself posing

as the Argentine forward, complete with beard and full Barcelona kit.

In a video he said: “Hi friends: “A piece of false news about me is trending on social media with regards to me sleeping with 23 women because they thought I was Lionel Messi.

“Please do not play with people’s reputation and credibility.

lor’s father Richie, 31.

Powell, from Somerset, told SWNS news agency: “When I told Taylor someone had replied to the message, her face lit up. She was so happy.

“I asked them to send proof and received a pin of their location to my phone. We were absolutely ecstatic.

“We told Taylor her the bottle will pass by mermaids and sharks - for it to turn up in Moscow is magical for her.

She’s so excited.”

The bottle may have travelled around the Bay of Biscay and west of Ireland, before

A GROUP of elderly Spanish women have smashed gender roles by recreating historical images featuring men.

Ana Amado’s playful exhibition sees the ladies of Lideresas of Villaverde, who are all over 65, pose in several shots.

Images included are Hugh Hefner posing with his Playboy playmates, Steve Jobs unveiling the first Iphone, and the Beatles’ Abbey Road cover.

Sexier than you JOY: Taylor got a reply going across the North Sea, according to an expert at the National Oceanography Centre.

“From Spain there is a generally northwards current which could take the bottle northwards along Portugal, around the shelf break in the Bay of Biscay, then up through the Rockall Trough west of Ireland, then up to the north of Scotland and Shetland,” said Dr Adrian New.

BRITS are better looking than the Spanish, according to a new poll.

The survey of the top 50 best-looking nationalities ruled that Ukranians are the world’s most beautiful people.

Brazilians, Australians and the English all made it into the top 10.

The Spanish came in 16th.

At the other end of the table came the Irish, who came in last place, while Americans ranked at a paltry 45th.