Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 241 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 10 Issue 241

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June 8th - June 21st 2016

Win Tickets to FRENCH OR SPANISH: see Seal Answer one question...and you could win tickets to see pop legend Seal in concert. Celebrating 25 years in the music industry, Seal will showcase his new album in a concert at Puente Romano tennis club on July 18. To get the chance to win a pair of tickets simply send the name of his latest album to newsdesk@theolivepress.es

What was Hugh Grant’s choice of tipple on a night out?

Hugh’s who of Marbella - PAGE 3

• Euros countdown P14 • 24-page Marbella supplement P17 • Brangelina buy in Spain P41

Corner’s human trafficking link EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

THE ex-boyfriend of missing expat Lisa Brown has been linked to a people-smuggling gang. Simon Corner, 33, currently in prison accused of her disappearance, is believed to be connected to a British man, charged with smuggling 17 Albanians into the UK. The murder suspect has now been connected to alleged smuggler Stephen Jackson, whose yacht was intercepted by police in Chichester last month with the migrants on board. The Olive Press can confirm that Jackson also owns another yacht DayDream, which has been impounded in Lanzarote in connection to the disappearance of the motherof-one. It is thought that Liverpudlian Cor-

THE FATIMA

FUND

Murder suspect’s yacht probed over Lisa Brown disappearance

ner used this boat in the suspected homicide of Brown, who lived near Sotogrande. “Police are investigating whether DayDream could have been used to dispose of Lisa Brown’s body at sea,” a source told the Olive Press. “They are still scouring it for clues.” This week the UK’s Maritime and

Coastguard Agency confirmed that the yacht is registered to a Stephen Jackson, of Exeter, along with a woman we are not naming for legal reasons. It comes after it emerged that Corner left Spain for the Canaries, where he allegedly spent time on the yacht, before flying to Ireland and then Denmark, where he was arrested in April. Brown, 32, has not been seen since she went missing from her Guadiaro home, last November. She had been dating Corner, described as a ‘wheeler dealer’ who had various yachts and did frequent trips across the Med.

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A BIG-HEARTED expat has offered a job to the struggling partner of tragic Fatima Dorado who was killed in a hitand-run accident last month. The businessman will also pay childcare for Tomas Ramirez’ baby daughter Katherine so he can take up the job in Marbella. The Brit - who owns restaurants - felt ‘compelled to help in any way possible’, after reading about his plight, in our last issue. A father himself, he knew the problems Bolivian Tomas would face after his lover was killed by notorious expat Westley Capper on May 9.

Grateful

“There are no words to describe what Tomas must be going through and we will do whatever we can to get him back on his feet,” insisted the businessman, who asked to remain anonymous. “I am truly grateful for this extraordinary offer,” said Tomas, 48. Left holding the baby -P6

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CRIME

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June 8th - June 21st 2016

Model prisoner

Inside man A SECURITY guard at Malaga airport has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs to the UK. He was arrested with two other men as they tried to board a flight to London Gatwick with 4.5kg of marijuana in their hand luggage. The men, all Spanish nationals, are believed to belong to a drug smuggling ring.

A SLOVAKIAN swimwear model has been handed 15 years in prison for murdering her British exboyfriend in Estepona. Mayka Kukucova, 26, has also been ordered to pay €200,000 to Andrew Bush’s daughter and sister, after being found guilty of the slaying jeweller in 2014. She shot him once in the shoulder and twice in the head in a jealous rage after he arrived home with his new Russian girlfriend.

KILLER: Mahon

Forgiven! AUDREY Fitzpatrick has ‘forgiven’ her husband Dave Mahon for killing her son. Dean Fitzpatrick died outside his parents home in Dublin after being stabbed by his stepfather, who used to live in Mijas Costa, where his stepdaughter Amy, 15, went missing in 2008. Audrey confirmed she had ‘forgiven’ her husband but would never ‘forget’ Dean. Mahon’s lawyer confirmed that he will not be appealing the guilty verdict for manslaughter and will be sentenced on June 13. He was cleared of murder charges, when a jury ruled that he had not deliberately set out to kill his stepson. Amy Fitzpatrick disappeared on New Year’s Day 2008 after walking home from her friends house in Mijas. Her body has never been found.

Champagne stabbing

PROOF: Boat owner connection

Trio arrested after TOWIE star is hospitalised in Marbella brawl A TRIO of British expats have been arrested over the vicious stabbing of TV star Jake Hall. The men, who are allegedly linked to a Costa del Sol crime gang, were picked up after

TOWIE star Hall, 24, was stabbed in the kidney with a broken champagne bottle. The three men got into a fight with Hall, who was drinking with some friends from Liver-

Cyber revenge

A GROUP claiming to be part of the notorious Anonymous hacktivist network have leaked thousands of Spanish police names, contact details and passwords. Information of around 5,400 police officers was released by the group @FkPoliceAnonOps, which was done as revenge for Spain’s controversial new ‘gag law’. The dumped information gave access to the police’s social security database.

MONDAY

Smuggler claims

pool, at Aqua Mist nightclub in Marbella. The group had argued earlier at another nearby beach club, where a bottle had been thrown. The reality TV star underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition after he was caught in the middle of the trouble. Hall was rushed to Costa del Sol hospital where he was placed in intensive care due to ‘fears over his kidney’. The following day he posted a picture on twitter with the tagline ‘you can’t get rid of me that easy’.

From front page In December, the Olive Press reported how Corner had double crossed ‘two or three big criminal gangs’ and had been involved in a ‘serious incident’ in Ceuta connected to two women, as well as a possible stabbing. A source said: “I know there are some Moroccans who are scouring the globe for him.” Corner was also convicted of making death threats with a knife in Gibraltar last year. The Liverpudlian disappeared just days after Lisa was reported missing and firstly went to Thailand, before being finally arrested in Denmark. Jackson has been charged with people smuggling, as the UK sees a surge in illegal migrants being shipped across the English Channel to small ports by criminal gangs. Last month, 18 illegal Albanian migrants and two Britons were rescued off the coast of Kent from a sinking boat.

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Comic relief THOUSANDS were raised at the International Theatre Studio’s annual 'Lark in the Park' performance at Benahavis Parque Torre Leoner. Sponsored by Gibraltar-based insurance firm Ibex, the programme included a one-act comedy about a bizarre agency for film extras followed by three superb musical acts – the Art Thieves rock band, the blues duo Two True, and solo artiste 'Stella'. More than €2,000 was raised for Caritas International, a global Catholic relief charity.

IN LOVE: Sansom and Mullins

Sweet Sansom LOVED up football legend Kenny Sansom has gone down on bended knee in Gibraltar. The former England and Arsenal defender popped the question to his partner Denise Mullins after flying in to Gibraltar for an all-star tournament.

LARKING ABOUT: ITS

I predict a riot!

BRITISH indie band Kaiser Chiefs are heading to the Costa del Sol for a 'Mega Summer Concert' this August. The Leeds group, who wowed the Gibraltar Music Festival last year, will play at Torremolinos' El Pozuelo football ground on Saturday, August 6. Ricky Wilson and the boys have had two number-one albums and five top-ten singles, incluindg I Predict a Riot and Ruby. The first 500 standing tickets bought through www. crazymusicproductions. com will be priced €35. Call 952 883 832 for more booking details.

Denise, 60, has stuck with Kenny throughout a turbulent decade long relationship during which he has battled alcohol and gambling addictions, as well as depression. Other legends making the trip to Gib included Dennis Wise and Mark Wright.

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Summer lovin’

FIRE breathers, dancers, and aqua gymnasts entertained partygoers at La Sala by The Sea’s White and Gold party. To celebrate the start of the summer season, guests were treated to champagne, as well as non-stop hors d’oeuvres including sushi, thai spring rolls and brie canapes, while live violinists and drummers played along to the latest tunes from DJ Strutton. “We have been very lucky with the formula we have found and this is going to be our busiest summer ever,” co-founder of La Sala group Wayne Elliott told the Olive Press.

Hugh’s who of Marbella

Bumbling British film star tucks into the vino with pals at upmarket old town bistro

HUGH Grant looked quite the connoisseur as he swirled wine around a glass during a glamourous night out in Marbella. The floppy-haired Notting Hill star looked relaxed as he dined with his Swedish girlfriend and two friends at popular bistro Casanis in the old

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier

town. Fellow diners revealed the party of four tucked into a bottle of French rose and sipped on white wine before savouring a bottle of Alion, a velvety

IT must be the definition of ‘marrying well’. The Duke of Wellington’s daughter has tied the knot with Colombia’s second richest man… appropriate at the Duke’s enormous Andalucian hunting estate. Former king Juan Carlos, Camilla Parker-Bowles, James Blunt and Eva Herzigova all travelled to Ilora

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EXPERT: Hugh savours his wine

Ribera del Duero. Grant, who is reported to have a villa in exclusive La Zagaleta, started with a soup before eating ‘fish of the day’, according to a fellow diner. “They were clearly happy with the meal, but only after they were moved to the terrace outside,” he added.

“Originally they were sitting inside but the party were quickly whisked outside to eat al fresco. “They got stuck in and were having a terrific night.” TV producer girlfriend Anna Eberstein, 37, who is the mother of two of Grant’s four children, wore espadrilles and a white dress while the actor wore a shirt under a charcoal V-neck sweater. The typecast bumbling romantic, 55, was later pictured taking a dip in the in Manilva, the same week. nearby briny, looking a Dutch expat owner Peter little on the chilly side. Nette and his fiancee Karen He was later slammed by tied the knot, with their feet tabloid newspapers for in the sand and a crowd of ‘letting himself go with over 200 revellers dressed four bellies and a turkey all in white. neck’.

Well spliced! in Granada for the nuptials of Lady Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo. That said, for classic Andalucian vibes it was hard to beat the beach wedding of the owners of chiringuito Floria

NE WS

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June 8th - June 21st 2016

Killer crash

NEWS IN BRIEF Under pressure SPANISH prosecutors want footballer Neymar to face trial for ‘concealing gains’ from his €57m Barcelona signing.

Murky waters A 28-year-old Italian woman and a 46-year-old Russian man were found dead on a luxury yacht in Catalunya.

Meat heads MEAT exports in Spain jumped 16% from last year to nearly two million tonnes following a surge in Chinese demand.

Circus killer A CIRCUS worker has been accused of killing his girlfriend after she missed a flight at Sevilla airport on Wednesday.

Historic win Daniel Rodriguez, 23, from Tenerife, has become the first openly gay man to win the Mr Spain competition.

TRAGIC: Doomed bus after the accident

Google lists controversial Costa del Sol car rental firm as ‘permanently closed’ EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan A NOTORIOUS Costa del Sol car rental company has been mysteriously ‘closed’ by Google. After 29 years of service Brian’s Rent-a-Car has been listed as ‘permanently closed’ by the search engine. But while some previous disgruntled customers were ready with the champagne, boss Brian Ballard insists the Benalmadena-based company is ‘going nowhere’. “I have no idea why Google would have done that,” Ballard told the Olive Press. “So many things end up on the internet that are untrue these days.” Showing his usual passion

TWO people have been killed and 46 injured after a tragic bus crash. The bus, travelling from Algeciras to Madrid, crashed into a broken down lorry at 3am on the A-4 road near Montoro in Cordoba on June 5. Those injured included 31 Moroccans, two Singaporeans, an American, a Colombian, an Ecuadorian, a Romanian, a Mauritian, and a person from the Ivory Coast. The bus driver and another Spaniard were killed while four people sustained severe injuries.

Mystery closure for customer service, he added: “Everything is still operating as normal. We still have the same w***** clients who don’t clean the cars and who crash them all the time.” Brian’s Rent-a-Car is notorious for coming under fire from angry customers. The Olive Press has run a number of stories on the company, which also has a string of posts on TripAdvisor about unreturned deposits and rude behaviour, stretching back as far as 2011. One previous customer,

Tony Seymour, told the Olive Press that he ‘cannot believe’ Ballard is still operating. “I am surprised he’s still in business, the champagne will stay on ice for now,” he said.

“My main disappointment is with the Spanish authorities, who have done nothing to stop him.” More recently a client, UK hypnotist Ken Webster, discovered a condom on the back seat of his car rental.

POPULAR expat chiropractor Mark Lane has died in a motorcycle crash. Well-known for his involvement with the Los Pussies motorcycle club, Lane tragically lost his life doing what he

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King of cuts KING Felipe of Spain has allowed independent auditors to analyse the royal family’s books for the first time. The move is an attempt to restore confidence in the monarchy following the scandalhit reign of his father. The accounts show the King earns €236,544 a year after taking a 20% pay cut since assuming the throne in 2014. Last year, the royal household also made savings of €155,000 out of its €7.7m budget. A recent poll revealed 52% of Spaniards now support the new king, a stark improvement from when his father abdicated.

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loved. After spending several years in Australia, Portugal, Republic of Ireland and Indonesia, he settled in Marbella where he set up his business.

P O LI T I C S

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EX-Junta leaders ManuEye el Chaves and on Juan Antonio Grinan will be p r o s e c u t e d CORRUP TION in the €855 million ERE redundancy payment scandal. After a five-year investigation, Judge Alvaro Martin has ruled that they should stand trial with 24 other PSOE officials, over their involvement in diverting funds intended for the unemployed. The news comes as a hammer blow for the PSOE, in the run up to elections. The judge believes that they were clearly linked to a scandal that saw millions being syphoned off for bogus companies and redundancies between 2001 and 2010. The trial is scheduled to take place in January 2017.

Get lost Gove!

Labour minister joins Gibraltar leaders to blast top Tory’s ‘nightmare’ Brexit outburst GIBRALTAR has rounded on Michael Gove after he claimed Spain wouldn’t

‘show disdain’ towards the Rock after a Brexit. Chief Minister Fabian Picar-

do and opposition leader Daniel Feetham joined forces to lash out at the Tory Justice Secretary. Weighing into the row, LaTHE British Leave campaign has closed the gap following the release of EU bour’s Shadow immigration figures. A June YouGov poll has put the Brexiteers four points in Foreign Secfront after they had been trailing by 13 just two weeks prior. retary, HilThe news has come after official migration statistics released at the end of ary Benn, also May showed the number of EU citizens moving to the UK had matched an slammed the all-time high of 184,000. The vote is on June 23. ‘deeply worry-

Please mind the gap

Political parties fail to inspire ahead of election re-run

HE wimpish June 26 election campaign has kicked off with no new ideas and no new strategies. It appears that the four political parties are again more interested in taking over government in a protagonist role rather than addressing the needs of the country. Almost inevitably, Podemos, now rejuvenated with their pact with the prehistoric United Left, will attempt to entice - yet again - the socialists into a grand leftist coalition.

On the other hand, interim PM Rajoy and his Popular Party are still hoping the PSOE will group together, along with centrist Ciudadanos, to form a grand coalition. Neither scenario is going to happen unless something major occurs. The late night talk shows and interviews with candidates are full old rhetoric heard a thousand times before... no one is offering new ideas, and their focus seems only on rampant corruption, which is, understand-

RIO

ALEGRI

Same old story

Junta heads on block

June 8th - June 21st 2016

MADRIDS MATTER

ably, one of the major concerns of Spaniards. They all seem to agree on one issue: no one wants to go through a third round of elections. But the only way that is going to happen will be if Spaniards go out and vote en masse. And the only way to attract them to the ballot box is by offering them new solutions.

ing’ comments. Talking to the Olive Press exclusively, Benn said last night: “The way Michael and the Leave campaign casually dismiss the risks to Gibraltar’s security and economy is deeply worrying. Sir Graham Watson, EU council in Brussels for the Gibraltar government also attacked Gove’s comments, telling the Olive Press they were ‘naive and negligent’. It comes as uncertainty over the crucial June 23 referendum sent the pound sliding. And Spain’s Foreign Minister Garcia-Margallo recently insisted a PP government would raise the subject of Gibraltar ‘the next day’ after a Brexit vote. Picardo said: “Michael Gove is 100% wrong about the Spanish government’s attitude to Gibraltar.” His GSD rival, Feetham told the Olive Press: “Where has Gove been during the last three years when we had border queues of up to eight hours?”

A left turn

AN election pact between left wing parties Podemos and the IU has catapulted them ahead of the Socialist PSOE in opinion polls. The Unidos Podemos coalition stands to get 25.6% of the vote in this month’s general election, according to the Metroscopia poll. It puts them well ahead of Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE socialist party on 20.2%, while the PP are only narrowly ahead on 28.5%. With Pablo Iglesias and Alberto Garzon’s parties pushing the PSOE aside, Spain’s traditional centre-left party now faces its sternest test since Spain returned to democracy in 1977. Ciudadanos’ share of the vote is up 16.6%, from the 13.9% in December’s election. But with no party commanding an overall majority for the June 26 poll, Spain again faces the nightmare scenario of its politicians trying to thrash out a coalition government.

PARTNERS: Garzon and Iglesias

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OPINION

IT has been an excellent week for Marbella. While Hugh Grant’s outing in the old town confirms it’s still number one for Hollywood’s finest, a random act of kindness from a Marbella businessman shows the town still has a beating heart. For the British expat to offer grieving Bolivian expat Tomas Ramirez not only a job but also to pay for his childcare is the sweetest gesture. To add to the general feeling of goodwill a special 24-page Marbella supplement this issue shows off the very best of the town’s culture, activities and businesses. Weeks like this remind us how great it is to be a community newspaper able to report and promote the very best from around the region.

Misguided Gove IT was interesting to hear the subject of Gibraltar raised during a live Brexit debate on Sky TV. It shows its plight is registering with Britain’s electorate ahead of the EU referendum. But Michael Gove’s answer was far less encouraging. Perhaps he was caught off guard on a subject he hadn’t been briefed on, which is worrying enough. Worse, however, is the possibility he really believes Spain won’t ‘show disdain’ towards Gibraltar after Brexit. If Gove thinks that, he is foolish... he has airbrushed the truth to fit his narrative.

New look, same quality

AFTER 10 years and nearly 250 issues, the Olive Press is rebranding. As dedicated, eagle-eyed OP readers will have noticed, the paper has a markedly new look this issue. But fear not… It may be different, but the OP will continue breaking news and digging where other papers dare not tread. Recently voted the ‘second-best expat paper in the world’, we vow to continue to expose wrongdoing, corruption and other key issues however different we may look this week. Voted top expat paper in Spain Vol. 10 Issue 241

www.theolivepress.es

June 8th - June 21st 2016

The original and only English language investigative newspaper in Andalucia ADMIN/SALES (+34) 951 273 575 Newsdesk (+34) 665 798 618

AWARDS

2015/2016

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

2012 - 2016

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

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Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618 Rob Horgan rob@theolivepress.es Iona Napier iona@theolivepress.es Joe Duggan joe@theolivepress.es Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es Designer James Partington design@theolivepress.es Admin & Accounts (+34) 951 273 575 Mirian Moreno – General Manager admin@theolivepress.es

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Left holding the baby

June 8th - June 21st 2016

THE FATIMA

The great and the good

FREE

FE AT U R E

FUND

Iona Napier meets grieving partner Tomas Ramirez in the home he once shared with hit-and-run victim Fatima Dorado and their one-year-old daughter

‘

THERE are just too many memories here,” Tomas Ramirez tells me, choking back tears, holding his 18-month-old daughter Katherine. “Everywhere I look I think of Fatima, who was the nicest, warmest woman, always chatty and friendly with everyone. “There’s too much of a gap here without her, but what chance of moving now, in the heart of summer? The prices are sky high.” For now at least the softly-spoken Bolivian builder, 48, must stay in the home he made with tragic expat mother-of-three Fatima Dorado, who was cruelly scythed in a brutal road traffic accident exactly one month ago. The simple rented apartment in the heart of San Pedro feels strangely eerie. It is spotlessly clean, but somehow anodyne. There are few signs that this was the two-bedroom home of tragic Fatima, who was killed by drunk-driving British expat Westley Capper, who failed to stop and instead went for a curry. It is uncluttered and quiet, but the very opposite of Marbella luxury, sparsely furnished with a few personal effects and photos of the baby, but none of her mother. A tiny terrace has just enough room for drying clothes and there is a sofa, TV, a few papers and a telephone. The two-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen, overlooking a quiet San Pedro street below, feels like it was once a homely, happy place. But it is now very bare. Fatima and Tomas had both independently moved from Santa Cruz, in Bolivia, ‘for a better life’ and ‘more stability’, although they didn’t know each other at the time. Salaries are so low in Bolivia you can earn more doing manual labour in Spain than as an accountant or doctor back there. Tomas landed in Benidorm as a builder in 2000 and moved to the Costa del Sol two years later while Fatima arrived in San Pedro a decade ago with her then husband, Silvio, who promptly left her to return to Bolivia. It was a horrible start to life in Spain, but after a year, she met Tomas and the pair fell in love

Behind bars

Fatima’s killer Westley Capper is awaiting trial in Alhaurin prison and has also been charged over missing Agnese Klavina, who disappeared from Puerto Banus in September 2014. The privately-educated expat has admitted killing Fatima, while being over the legal alcohol limit, as well as fleeing the scene of the crime and not helping. It could be as long as eight months before a court decision is reached. Meanwhile in the case of Latvian Agnese he is charged with unlawful detention along with his friend Craig Porter. In contrast, Fatima’s family is expecting a measly €1,500 compensation from the state to be split between her blood relatives, and it is supposed Capper will also have to pay up.

DEVOTED MOTHER: Fatima and daughter Katherine and had soon moved in together. While Fatima embraced her life in Spain and had applied for nationality, she still had dreams of one day returning to Bolivia, where her older children, Carla Mishel, 19, and Sebastian, 15, were living. “She was grateful of her work here, but she missed her daughter and son back in Bolivia,” explains Tomas. But neither of them could have dreamed the horrifyingly premature circumstances of her return… in a coffin at a massive expatriation cost of €7,000 alone. Tomas looks reasonably well for a recently wid-

Roadblock

A PETITION to reopen a San Pedro boulevard roundabout shut on May 11 two days after Fatima’s accident has gathered 700 signatures.

owed man, wearing a white shirt and dark jeans, but his dark eyes reveal a sadness his friendly demeanour hides. He has had a dramatic lifestyle switch to full-time single-parent, with ‘not many friends’ to help out. Between his salary as a builder and hers as a waitress at nearby Alabardero they used to be able to afford childcare for Katherine, as well as send money back to their four children in Bolivia sometimes as much as €1000 per month. Now supporting himself and the baby is incredibly tough, let alone sending money home. It is hard for him to get a job and to find the necessary money to pay for childcare during the day. It is for this reason the Olive Press helped to launch The Fatima Fund, which has already raised almost €2,000 towards this endeavour. “The truth is I am still in shock,” admits Tomas, who was taken by police to see Fatima’s body with their daughter the morning after the accident. “Fatima was set to take a month off work at the end of the year and go bowlers back to Bolivia to BUDDING see her two kids are being urged to there, she was so sign up for a charity event at Benavista excited.” “She was a great Bowls Club. mother, what little Taking place on June she had left after 10, all funds raised rent and food she’d will go to Fatima’s spend on toys and family. clothes for our For more information call 952885148. daughter. “Isn’t it ironic that we came here because it was safer, she worked so hard and then she dies. And for what?” Luckily there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel with help from big-hearted expats up and down the coast. So far, dozens have donated money to the fund, from as little €5, with many leaving touching messages of support. One said: “When I heard about the news I felt sick to my stomach, and wanted to help even if just a small gesture.” Another said: “I don’t know the victims or driver but I do feel the pain after reading the Olive Press. Meanwhile Fatima’s sister got in touch with the Olive Press to express her gratitude. “You did not have to do this and my family and I would like to send our sincerest thanks for your kind-hearted gesture, and thanks to all who have helped,” wrote Shirley Dorado Para. Tomas is deeply grateful for the touching tributes and donations however small, and with our help he may still give baby Katherine the future he desperately wishes Fatima could be here to see.

Bowling for Fatima

Visit www.gofundme.com/24hx5ks

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E have been polluting our planet since the Stone Age. Caves in Gibraltar and Spain show how Neanderthal man’s primitive fires tainted their surroundings with heavy metal pollution. Today, our methods of contamination are more fiendishly advanced than prehistoric ash and fumes. And more harmful too. It’s a problem that last month’s World Health Organization (WHO) report into global air quality placed centre stage yet again. The WHO’s study directly links high levels of PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants with respiratory health problems. The headline news, however, was that Gibraltar’s PM10 pollution levels are higher than anywhere in the UK and 99% of Spain, including neighbouring La Linea. Furthermore, the report claimed that between 2008 and 2013 Andalucia was the ‘dirty man’ of Spain.

Strategy

La Linea, Puerto Real and Gibraltar registered three of the four worst readings for PM10 particles on the Iberian peninsula. The two Cadiz towns were also both in the bottom three for even more harmful PM2.5 particles. Gibraltar’s government has stressed it is taking firm steps to tackle the issue, pointing to plans to use cleaner fuel in the new power station and measures to reduce traffic. In fact, government figures show pollution levels on the Rock have declined since 2013. Responding to the WHO report, Dr John Cortes, minister for Health and the Environment, said: “Many of the more serious sources of pollution are outside our direct control, but our data shows that we are nevertheless making great progress in improving our air quality. “Our energy strategy – and no other Gibraltar Government has had one in the past – heading towards natural gas, solar and marine energy, and our incentives towards hybrid and electric vehicles, are proof of that.” The newly opened wave-power plant - which will generate up to 15% of Gibraltar’s energy - is a bold step on the green path. And one benefit of Spain’s brutal economic crisis has been a lowering of industrial pollutants around the Campo de Gibraltar, as University of Huelva scientist Jesus Rosales has pointed out. “From 2007, there has been an improvement in air quality thanks to a reduction in traffic and the closure of businesses,” said Rosales. But many blame pollution levels in the Campo de Gibraltar for some deeply worrying trends in the local population’s health. The region has consistently topped cancer charts for years. In 2010, a report by Spain’s Ministry of Health showed cancer levels in the Campo de Gibraltar were well above average. Hospitalisations from tumours were the worst in Andalucia.

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Smoked out What is being done to tackle pollution around the Campo de Gibraltar?

In 2013, activists from green group Verdemar Ecologistas en Accion estimated that 7.7 million Andalucians - 92% of the population - were breathing air each day that breached WHO limits. “Campo de Gibraltar citizens are exposed to huge levels of these particles due to heavy industry,” said Verdemar activist Raquel Neco. “The chronic health crisis in this region is clear, but the public authorities turn a blind eye. “And it doesn’t worry them, even though we are the region with the highest levels of cancer among men and women.” In fact, the European Union got involved in 2010 by issuing a report which slammed the Junta for failing to take action. “The inhabitants of Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar believe they have the right to health just like other areas of Andalucia and the right to know why they die earlier here than in other similar areas,” said a European Parliament Petitions Commission statement. Cancer rates in the area are a complicated and emotive issue. Socio-economic health factors - such as smoking - contribute to cancer levels that hit hardest in poorer communities, many of which are in Cadiz. And southern Spain’s arid skies and susceptibility to wind-blown Saharan dust increases its PM10 and PM2.5 pollution levels. Time and time again, local opinion in the Campo de Gibraltar has

pointed to the refineries at San Roque and Algeciras as a primary cause of the area’s pollution problems. Shipping, too, plays a major part. Just last month, a Guardian report showed that the world’s largest cruise liner, Harmony of the Seas, recently in Barcelona, burns 150 tonnes of fuel a day, emitting more sulphur than several million cars. And whereas the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive controls pollution from heavy industry on land, the less stringent MARPOL directive sets a much lower barrier for ships, says Europe’s foremost expert on air pollution, Professor Xavier Querol. He describes Gibraltar as ‘an extreme hotspot for shipping emissions’, especially from the high polluting sulphur oil which ships burn when they aren’t in harbour. “MARPOL is very soft,” Querol tells the Olive Press. “So soft that countries in the North Sea made a special law to allow only vessels that burn low sulphur oils. “There is a debate to make a low sulphur zone for shipping in the Mediterranean, as there are 80,000 vessels per year passing through the Straits of Gibraltar.” Querol also points out ways towns and cities in the arid climes of southern Iberia could combat car pollution. “Half of traffic particles comes from cars’ brakes and tyres. But if roads get wet at around 4am

Spanish towns and cities in Andalucia exceeding WHO air quality limit

before rush hour, dust particles are greatly reduced,” he says. “In Europe, there are 220 low emission driving zones, 73 of them in Germany. Only cars that meet German and EU pollution standards can enter these areas. If a car doesn’t have the necessary sticker, the driver is fined.

Statistics

“And since 2007, the whole of Stockholm has been included in a congestion charge zone. They have reduced traffic and emissions there by 30%.” Amid the fog of statistics, there are some bright lights here already. Sevilla has transformed itself into Spain’s cycling capital, with an 11-fold increase in the last few years (although the PP council has now reversed town centre traffic restrictions). Meanwhile in Gibraltar, this year saw the introduction of the first hybrid taxi, which uses less fuel and releases fewer exhaust fumes. But local activists are constantly pushing authorities to do more. The Rock’s Environmental Safety Group has called for real-time monitoring of pollution levels and more environmentally friendly buses. It also wants an independent, cross-border examination of cancer rates in the bay area. At last week’s Gibraltar unveiling of Europe’s first grid-connected wave-power plant, Eco Wave Power co-founder David Leb addressed the issue of man-made damage to our planet. “We are all in a fight against climate change and we all need to be making a change, however big or small,” said David. “The future is here and the future is now.” It’s both a local and a global problem. One so pressing it brought the world’s leaders together to sign December’s landmark Paris climate change agreement. More than 30,000 years on from our ancestors’ smokey caves, we are still searching for ways to clear the air we have dirtied.

- British expats could lose right to live in SpainMost after read Brexitthis Rajoy warns (4,104)

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the www.theolivepress.es Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es G I BR ALTA R

Crackdown

SPAIN has announced it will close 26 coal mines by 2018. The government won EU approval to spend €2.13 billion on the closures, which will cover production losses and support laid-off workers with severance payments and social security benefits.

‘Environmental terrorists’ HORRIFIC: Wolf’s severed head

A WOLF’S head left hanging from a road sign in Spain has infuriated conservationists. The head was found in Asturias, and is thought to be a sign of growing discontent for conservation management among farmers and poachers as Spain’s wolf population has swelled to 2,500.

Cry for help?

Controversial Loro Parque under fire AGAIN after orca suicide attempt

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June 8th - 21st June2016 21st 2016 June 8th - June

A VIDEO of a captive killer whale attempting to ‘commit suicide’ in Spain has enraged activists. The footage shows the whale, Morgan, deliberately beaching onto a concrete slab after a show at Tenerife's controversial Loro Parque. Visitors walked past andstopped to take selfies with her

War of the bluebells

BRITS may be 10 to the dozen on the Costa del Sol but a Spanish invader is upsetting the applecart in the UK. The future of the beloved British bluebell is in jeopardy after an ‘invasion’ by its Spanish cousin. Originally imported as garden plants, the Spanish bluebell has begun growing in British woodland and cross-breeding with the local species.

SUICIDAL: Whale’s woes as she laid motionless for more than ten minutes. While bosses at the park insist this is ‘natural behaviour’, animal activists have slammed the conditions. The Dolphin Project, who posted the video, said while it could not explain the reason for her behaviour, saying ‘the juxtaposition of a previously-wild orca against the stark backdrop of the park's performance area is unsettling’. It comes just two months after footage emerged of a distressed orca slamming itself against a gate at the park. The park – which has close links with SeaWorld – recently came under heavy criticism in a tell-all documentary on Sea-

World called Black Fish. The documentary focuses on the death of SeaWorld trainer Alexis Martínez who died in 2009 after being dragged into the water by an orca. While orcas are known to beach themselves temporarily when hunting, they are usually constantly in motion, even swimming while asleep.

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AX A RQ U I A

Breaks on

NEWS IN BRIEF

Table tragedy

TORROX town hall is reaping the rewards of its €307,000 investment into a new breakwater for Ferrara Beach. The semi-submerged device, which slows down beach erosion by reducing the force of waves, has already added 20-25 metres of natural beach. Construction of the 115 metres long and eight metres wide defence, which began in February, has been completed in record time, four months earlier than expected. Mayor Oscar Medina praised its speedy completion, saying it was ‘a milestone for the municipality of Torrox.’

A BRITISH expat, 42, has tragically died from loss of blood after she tripped over a table and fell on a glass while out with friends in Nerja.

Drive fine DRUNK-DRIVING Velez-Malaga councillor Jose Antonio Moreno has been fined €1,440 and had his licence confiscated.

Smarten up NERJA is getting free WiFi zones and ecofriendly street lights as part of Andalucia’s €9.8m Smart City project.

Walkies EIGHT Axarquia animal charities marched in Nerja to raise awareness of animal cruelty and inadequate kennel standards.

Lift off PILOTS from the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Italy have signed up for the Torre del Mar International Air show.

June 8th - June 21st 2016

BREAK-POINT: Beach defence

Prom slasher A TEENAGER is lucky to be alive after having his throat slit at his end of year prom. The Spanish school leaver was rushed to the Regional Hospital of Axarquia after losing ‘litres of blood’. The wound only missed the victim’s carotid artery by two centimetres. Witnesses say an altercation arose after the victim accidentally brushed the arm of the 18-year-old assailant while dancing.

Student left fighting for his life after being stabbed in the neck at end of year prom

A teacher who witnessed the incident said the attacker then challenged the victim to a fight. CCTV footage shows the 17-year-old being pushed and shoved. The attacker is then seen looking into the camera before allegedly carrying out the attack out of view. A waiter rushed to the victim’s aid and used his shirt to apply RINCON de la Victoria’s town hall will send pressure to the wound, keeping volunteers to aid refugees in Greece. him alive until the ambulance arAs part of the #SOS Niñas Refugiadas project, 15 volunteers will visit refugee camps between rived. June 25 and July 1. The assailant fled the scene on They will organise activities with the children, a motorbike but has now been most of whom have fled war in the Middle issued a restraining order and East, and provide emotional and psychologicharged with causing serious cal support. bodily harm.

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From Glastonbury to Marbella, BE ‘APPY! On display Terry Shaughnessy HE has trekked all over Spain chats to the in search of artistic inspiration. And now famed British artist Olive Press Richard Long is exhibiting the about his new app now and myriad Download results inour Malaga. His Cold Stones docubegin enjoyingwork the best SpanishCosta del Sol ments the 18 days he spent news534 on the go. hike from residency on an epic mile +TheolivepressEs

Cordoba to Santiago de ComTERRY Shaughnessy is no postela. The pieces are made from raw stranger to the music busimaterials such as stone, wood ness. The singer-songwriter and mud, and include the huge has shared the stage with the 4.5 x 31.4 metres Muddy Water likes of The Zombies, The Proclaimers and the late great Wall mural. Also on display is the Bark Cir- legends Ian McLagan and Joe cle, made entirely from pieces The Olive PressStrummer. Now the Liverpudlian and of cork. frontman for The Universal TOP for news in Spain! who were voted the Best Live Act at Rock Realms and recently won the Galaxy Award for their album The Outsiders - has set up shop on the Costa THE second edition of Grana- del Sol. da’s ‘amphitheatre in the Terry’s unplugged sound mountains’ festival is set to un- has seen him take the stage at Glastonbury and T in the fold this summer. Award-winning social develop- Park, but he has now swapped ment project Un Teatro Entre the north west of England for Todos will bring the Alpujarras sun-soaked Marbella. to life with multiple produc- “Marbella and the Costa tions from international art- seemed to be the perfect ists and groups for festival ‘Me place,” says Terry. “I’ve started to play more Vuelves Lorca’. For more information, visit shows and festivals in Euwww.mevuelveslorca.com or rope, so I don’t have to have a permanent base in the UK.” call Anna on 649 420 681

la cultura

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

SINGER: Terry

Minack

UNPLUGGED: The Universal Terry grew up surrounded by music, his uncles both played in bands, one of them even drummed for the legendary Eurythmics. “I always knew what I wanted to do, I probably drove my Mum nuts when I was younger, making up songs all the time and bashing about on the pots and pans and biscuit

tins,” he laughs. But his sound has come a long way since then. The Daily Mirror recently praised his band - who he still gigs with in the UK and Europe - for ‘stripping Britpop back down’ to the days where bands did nothing other than ‘perform great tunes packed with infectious guitar riffs’.

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Marbella rocks

Spain’s

“My sound is no frills… no backing tracks, no autotune, no tricks,” he adds. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ve got to be able to do it live, learn your craft, re-learn your craft and learn it all over again, if you’re not this kind of musician, you’ve got no right walking onto a stage.” When not touring and playing at his residencies along the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar, Terry is recording in his new studio in Coin, and plans to release two albums by the end of the year after landing a record deal with US label Spectra Music Group. Terry plays weekly at The Hendrix in Gibraltar and once a month at Our Bar in Calahonda. He is playing a special gig with Global Radio DJ Mark Peters at the Reggae Beach Hut in La Cala on June 12.

MOVING: Artwork

Gallery therapy A MOVING exhibition of drawings and paintings by Syrian children has launched in Barcelona. The 44 depictions of weapons, wheelchairs and drownings at sea by kids aged 10 to 16 are being sold to raise money for the the young artists recovering from trauma.

Old wounds

A CONTROVERSIAL campaign has been launched to build the first Spanish Civil War museum. The unprecedented initiative, led by a host of internationally respected historians, is likely to ruffle feathers in Spain, where ‘a pact of forgetting’ has been in place since the war’s end in 1939. The museum, planned for Barcelona, would be the first in the country to document the war, which killed 500,000 Spaniards and left a bitter legacy.

la cultura

14 Beer gardens and sports bars are set for a bumper summer as the continent gears up for Euro 2016. And with a booming expat community in Andalucia, who are the guiris backing come kick-off on June 9? More importantly, will they be donning the red and yellow of Spain if their home nation falls at an early stage? From Ireland to Italy and Sweden to Wales, the Olive Press goes in search of answers among the melting pot of expats in southern Spain

Spain: Mirian Moreno, 32, Sabinillas Spain will win, no doubt about it. It will be a great way for Vicente del Bosque to bow out after a historic tenure. Controversially, Gerard Pique is my favourite player and I for one won’t be booing him. Having spent a lot of time in England I will be cheering on The Three Lions should Spain falter.

June 8th - June 21st 2016

what’s on

arbella, Ongoing ED Chapman’s mosaic pictures created from record vinyl, guitar plectrums and bullet cases are on display until July 19 at Casino Marbella.

orremolinos, Ongoing AN exhibition at Plaza Costa del Sol of Cordoba sculptor Aurelio Teno will commemorate the IV centenary of Cervantes’ death until August 31.

Away days

ijas, June 24 A TRIBUTE concert at the Municipal Auditorium celebrating the greats including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson and U2.

oclinejo, ongoing CANA Flamenca will see flamenco music and dancing in the open air from 6pm to 2am until September 30.

oin, June 25 THE TAPAS Summer fair baking competition will host stalls, fashion shows, tombola and more on Cartama road from 10am.

Northern Ireland: Hands down, Northern Ireland will win. The lads are in great form and have Michael O’Neill to look after them (a man from my home town so I am totally biased). There’s a wee song called ‘We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland’, and that is the best way to sum things up. If it rattles the rooftops and the lads give it socks then I will be happy. Leicester showed this year that just

Italy:

England:

Justin Parks, 38, Marbella

because you’re an underdog, it doesn’t mean you can’t bite! On the off chance that Northern Ireland don’t win it then I will be cheering on Spain.

Grace Gaywood, 24, Estepona

Pier Barileño, 35, San Roque

France will obviously be the favourites but if England win their group comfortably I can see them going far. My loyalties are split for the Wales game being half Welsh so a draw would be good for me. I was in Madrid when Spain won the World Cup and the atmosphere was incredible so I will of course be cheering them on if England drop out.

Personally I’m backing France to win. Being the home team they have a massive advantage, like they did in World Cup ‘98. It will be an emotional tournament for Italians as it will be Buffon’s last Euros and I would love Italy to win it for him. I love living in Spain but I will never support them, not a chance.

Belgium:

Wales:

Claude de Hennin, 76, Calahonda

James Partington, 22, Sabinillas

England or Germany will win it. When comparing all the sides, they definitely have the best chance. I think Belgium will do well to reach the semi-finals, but once they are out I won’t be cheering on Spain.

I think Spain will make it three in a row. It’s great to see Wales competing in the competition, they never normally make it this far so as long as they do their best I’m happy. Having grown up in Spain I will of course be cheering on la furia roja, so long as they don’t come up against Gareth Bale and co.

France: Camille Pujos, 36, Estepona As a Frenchman, I will of course be supporting France. If they get knocked out, my money would be on Germany or Spain to win. Sadly I won’t be travelling back to go to the match but I will probably watch it at home with friends or perhaps in an Estepona bar. I love the huge championships, they’re so exciting and even if you’re not that into football everyone likes to get involved.

The facts Last winners: Spain, 2012 First winners: Soviet Union, 1960 Most wins: Spain and Germany, 3 Most finals: Germany, 6 Record scorer: Michel Platini, 9, 1984

Republic of Ireland:

Sweden:

Seamus Hayes, 33, Estepona

Tom Bjornstjerna, 36, La Linea

For me France on home soil have to be the favourites with Croatia as my outsiders. Ireland have their work cut out and will need to hit the ground running. If they don’t get three points against Sweden on day one then it will be tough. I’ll be cheering on from Tom’s Bar in Estepona and am looking forward to seeing Shane Long make history.

I am looking forward to the Euros but I don’t have much hope for Sweden. We are in a tough group and I doubt we will get through the group stage. Zlatan is obviously a big factor in how Sweden do, he is a spectacular player. For me, France have the strongest team and playing at home they are the team to beat. When I’m not cheering on Sweden I will be supporting Spain; I have to, otherwise my neighbours will kill me.

And who will Gibraltar be supporting? Cheryl Jefferies, 30, Gibraltar Spain has a very good team. They have amazing top quality players who play around the world, however I will be patriotic and support The UK teams... C’mon Engaaland! I won't be cheering on Spain, and as I don't want any confrontation with neighbours I will probably be watching the footie at home with my dad and boyfriend.

Olive Press predictions: Winners: England Top scorer: Harry Kane (Eng) Dark horse: Austria Player of the tournament: Gareth Bale (Wal) Young star: Jeff Hendrick (Irl)

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the www.theolivepress.es Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016

Grand gesture CRACKING gesture by the Olive Press to help support Fatima’s family following the tragedy that saw her killed (For Fatima, issue 240). Perhaps Westley Capper’s millionaire father should be putting his hand in his pocket and taking responsibility for the son he raised. The tragedy really does show the two ends of the spectrum of Marbella life: the rich, greedy and stupid. And the poor, downtrodden and, sadly, soonto-be forgotten.

No shock

MY wife and I have just returned to the UK after a week-long visit to Gibraltar, and I felt compelled to email you to basically say what a superb newspaper you have. We picked one up from somewhere (vol. 1 Issue 18) and we both found its content informative, useful and entertaining. It was really a joy to read. Not too much information to set the boring buds alight, but just enough to maintain interest without overdoing things. Well done, and thank you Martin Hunt, UK

Fed thanks I THINK the Guardia Civil often don’t get the credit they deserve, especially when it comes to expat cases. In the Lisa Brown case they have been quietly working away without taking any credit and it looks as though they are finally turning up answers. A lot of that is probably down to having Simon Corner in cuffs. He is either handing over information or the police were waiting until they had him to seize his yacht and arrest the other two British suspects. Either way, they seem to be

June 8thwww.theolivepress.es - June 21st 2016

The big smoke

Number crunching 37.6% of the world’s expor-

THE World Health Organisation’s report comes as no surprise to me. I lived in Yorkshire for most of my life, but moved to Gibraltar for work two or three years ago. I have lived in a number of different places in Gibraltar and the Campo and have found the quality of air to be disgusting. It is only when I go inland or fly back to my hometown that I really notice the difference.

Kirsty Riggs, Alhaurin

Good job!

LE T T E R S

ted lettuce comes from Spain, who exported 796 million kilos last year.

40% of Spaniards cannot

afford to go on an annual holiday, according to the national department for statistics.

Steve Roache, Gibraltar

Smokestacks attack

Problem finding

THERE is no doubting the toxic effects from the Algeciras smokestacks (Chocker, issue 240). But in some ways (in the Campo de Gibraltar, in particular) another factor comes into play. The Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean is host to massive shipping movements. Ships burn the dirtiest fuel imaginable, pumping it out for the prevailing winds to spread it across the areas of land mentioned here.

WHAT do you expect? 30,000 people living in such a confined space, of course the air quality is going to be poor. And that is not even to mention the pollution from Algeciras, the airport, the shipping routes etc. People do not go to Gibraltar for a ‘greener’ way of life, so why should it be slammed for being polluted, when so much of its success (i.e. shipping) depends on those same pollutants?

Katy Birch, La Linea

Cheryl Rose, Estepona

moving forward and hopefully Lisa’s family will have the answers they need soon. Rachel White, Sotogrande

Dental works

CONGRATULATIONS to the Olive Press on a well-deserved victory against an infamous crook (Biting back, issue 240). Raj Rao deserves everything he gets. More power to your elbow in fighting for justice on behalf of ordinary people. One thing though, how is the toothbutcher still practicing?

Stefano Liwinski, Marbella ED: Thanks for the support Stefano, and much like you we are appalled that Rao can continue practicing in Spain. But for an administrative error he would be banned in Spain as well.

Silent embassy I RECENTLY emailed the British Embassy requesting information about Brexit as my husband and I are very worried about the implications of Brit-

ain possibly leaving the EU. We are concerned about changing passports, residencia in Spain, especially owning a property, but our main worry is about the possible change to pensions. I asked the Embassy for information regarding pension status and was totally shocked at the response received : ‘The British Consul does not respond to all emails’. Apparently they are only interested in - urgent assistance emergency travel documents - notarial services. Joan Hunt, Tolox

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

14,000

-year-old Paleolithic cave paintings of animals were uncovered in Spain’s Basque Country in Axturra.

120,000 fewer Spa-

niards signed on as jobless last month, meaning there has been a 3% decrease in unemployment.

499,444

cars were bought or registered in Spain between January and May, a 12.5% increase from last year.

€150m in annual revenue is expected from Barcelona FC’s new football kit deal with sports brand Nike.

€25bn

of revenue is expected to flush into the five big European football leagues following the new cycle of TV deals.

ll about

Issue 241 www.theolivepress.es

24 - page supplement sponsored by;

arbella

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Gracefully growing up While now an international brand some things never change in the vibrant gem of Marbella, writes Laurence Dollimore, who’s been visiting for two decades

QUAINT: A tourist rests under a tree near the main church in Marbella old town

PARTY TIME: Revellers in Puerto Banus bring huge amounts of money

HINK Marbella and a glamor- certainly making the most of it. ous jet-set lifestyle springs to The resort has grown into an internamind. tional brand, becoming one of Spain’s The classiest hotels, the liveli- most lucrative tourist destinations. est nightclubs and the most fashion- The stats don’t lie. In 2015 Marbella able clientele Andalucia, even Spain, welcomed around three million interhas to offer. national tourists and this year is set But peeling back ‘Marbs’ mask (you to welcome more. know, all the Arab billionaires, real- People come here to see and be seen, ity TV stars and ex-Prewhether its a bunch miership footballers) and of 20-something girls you’ll find a town steeped thirsty for a splash in charm and history. of glamour, rubber Before we go any further, necks desperate for I’ll admit it. I was one of a glimpse of a TOWIE those lucky enough to star, or a top politician grow up with a holiday or celebrity looking for home here, up in the a cultural break. This leafy Guadalmina hills. chameleon-like jewel Now while this pretty of the Costa del Sol much meant sun, sand can adapt to every visiand sea on tap, it also tor. meant many a late night Let’s start with one staggering along the of the places I know infamous second row best, more lounge lizof Puerto Banus, someard than chameleon: times known as ‘hurriPuerto Banus. cane alley’. Stroll into the port just Sprawling on awardto the west of Marbella winning beaches by and you’ll witness a day and crawling out scene like no other, of head-spinning bars depending on the hour. by night, for years I was This could include totally oblivious to how hen-doers trying their much more Marbella had best to pull off ill-fitting to offer. fancy dress costumes Over a decade later - and after celebrating their no longer a teenager - I last night of freedom, am doubly lucky to be or members of the living here again (albeit ‘1% club’ disembarkhaving to work hard at ing from mega-yachts the Olive Press). VISITOR: Michelle Obama or Ferraris to shop ‘till While all the best bits they drop’ at the likes about this tourist honeyof Gucci and Prada. pot remain more or less the same, I Banus has become an unashamed am finally appreciating the culture melting pot of the rich, famous and and history, and so much else has changed, and for the better. And I am Turn to Page 18

the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016

Old Towns most evocative hideaway Voted Marbella’s top hotel on TripAdvisor.com

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wannabe glamourpusses. The glitz and glamour flows out of the port and along Marbella’s notorious golden mile, home to luxury hotels and exclusive nightclubs – where a round of drinks could probably blow your weekly budget, if you haven’t already blown it on a swanky designer outfit – an essential to mingle with the who’s who of Marbella. It is on this elusive stretch where the likes of Lord Alan Sugar, Simon Cowell, Sean Connery and the Saudi Arabian royal family have invested in their own villas. Labelled as the new Ibiza, Marbella recently exploded onto the international party scene thanks in part to reality TV shows The Only Way Is Marbs and Made In Chelsea, whose dramapacked shows helped shape the area’s image as the place-to-be for the young and famous. When TOWIE aired a two-episode Marbella special last year, hotel searches increased by an incredible 72% overnight. But it’s not just reality TV stars who are raising Marbella’s profile and putting Malaga airport’s second runway into action. World leaders too, like to flock to this Andalucian gem. The Olive Press revealed in 2014 that Russian president Vladimir Putin had bought an estate in the hills above San Pedro, while we were the only newspaper to speak to Michelle Obama on her famous visit to the ‘casco historico’ in 2010. And then there is Britain’s very own David Cameron who has chosen the tourist capital to take a break from running the Western world, not to mention former PM Tony Blair, who has been spotted here twice in the last four years. Actor Hugh Grant meanwhile who was visiting last week is now said to own a home here up in the Zagaleta hills, as does Mark Thatcher (Maggie’s wayward son). It’s quite a list, which could go on and on… and these guys are not here to attend champagne spray parties. So what brings the global political elite to Marbella? Cue the beautiful old town and Plaza de los Naranjos, AKA Orange Square. The Moorish pueblo is just a five minute walk from the world-renowned beaches and stunning 17km promenade that runs from Marbella to San Pedro. At its heart beats Orange Square – named so for its abundance of orange trees – which has been nestled among quaint white houses and narrow streets since the town was re-conquered from the Moors in 1485. An 11th century Arab wall still surrounds the square, while churches, its town hall and the Old Governor’s House all date back to the 16th Century. The most important building in the town is The Church of Saint Mary, whose construction began in 1618. Its main facade is adorned with a

PRETTY: Old town fountain stunning red stone entrance worked in Baroque style, while the interior holds the most impressive church organ built in Spain in the last 125 years – consisting of 5000 pewter, copper and wooden pipes and four manual keyboards. The old town oozes charm as you navigate your way through its mosaic-cobbled streets, and after a tapas and cana in the sunshine, there are stylish boutiques, jewellers and wine and jamon shops around every corner, not to mention amazing restaurants (mostly away from the square). For the romantics, hop onto one of the horse and carriages for an old school tour, or if you’d rather stay on foot just enjoy a gentle stroll around its narrow streets and nearby parks and gardens. The town has come a long way since the Romans settled here in 1 AD, but you can still see mementos from their use of it as a population centre – whether it’s the first century Roman bridge (see Built by Romans, opposite) embedded in the Hotel Puente Romano resort or the baths and settlement ruins in Guadalmina. Even 2000 years ago, the Romans knew that the beach was the place to be, becoming the first civilization to have a coastal real estate boom. Fast forward to 2016 and it seems this hasn’t been lost on the ruling elite of Marbella, who, alongside foreign investors, have invested millions to bring the beaches to the highest of global standards. The 27 kilometres of coastline feature over 24

19 June 8th - June 21st 2016 NARROW: Backstreets of the old town alive with music (left) while restaurants jostle for trade (far left and right)

beaches, and San Pedro and Puerto Banus fly the prestigious blue flag after being awarded it for their quality by the Foundation for Environmental Education. From May to October, the beautiful and wealthy splash the cash on sunbeds and cocktails at the coolest sandy spots, now with the new sunbed reservations ap. But beyond sun, sea and sand, a gastronomical awakening is selling Marbs as a foodie’s paradise. With an incredible four Michelin star restaurants, the resort’s competitive gastro-scene is ensuring vast top quality dining options that will make it almost impossible not to load up on quality carbs in Marbs. Recent event A Cuatro Manos at the Puente Romano resort, saw chefs with a constellation of 71 Michelin stars cook culinary feats over four days, are giving Marbella some serious food street cred. Its art scene is also booming, with plenty of galleries. Meanwhile, the Marbella International Art Festival will see hundreds of pieces of works from artists from more than twenty different countries. Pair this with its booming film scene and its seventh annual Marbella International Film Festival, which is growing in notoriety and hopes to, one day, rival Cannes, and you’re looking at a future culture capital of Europe. Marbella has come a long way from its fishing village days in the early twentieth century; all thanks to the German Prince Maximilian de Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his son Alfonso

Built by Romans...

MARBELLA began its life as a town in the seventh century BC, when it was a Roman settlement called ‘Salduba’. This is also the name of a well known bar at the entrance to Puerto Banus that has been there for centuries too. Meanwhile an original Roman bridge (above) still stands surreally in the middle of the Puente Romano Hotel and a few kilometres away is the restored Roman villa at Rio Verde with its beautiful mosaics. A sleepy town during the period of Al-Andalus, Marbella was retaken by Christians in 1485. The Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square) has been the focal point of the town since then and the town hall is still located there today.

– with a little help from some good old British troducing new transparency rules for those in engineering. office, including himself, having most recently The pair had to stop in Marbs when they were made his spending figures public. So with a having trouble with their Rolls-Royce in 1946, booming restaurant scene and an internationbut Alfonso liked the area so much al art and film community, he decided to buy some land and beautiful world class beaches build himself a house, before sellalongside thriving nightlife ing plots to his Rothschild and Marbella has come and shopping, all backed by a a long way from Thyssen friends (see Celebrity corruption-fighting mayor, the playground on P22). future looks rosy. its fishing village The resort has gone from strength Whether you’re a foodie, an days in the early to strength, and continues to grow urban junkie looking for a city twentieth century despite the economic and politibreak full of history and culcal woes that have plagued Spain ture, a beach addict after a since the financial crash of 2008. classic family holiday, or even Elected last year, mayor Jose Bernal has cam- a 18-30 reveller thirsty for the best party break, paigned on ending the institutionalised cor- Marbella will always have something for everyruption that plagued the town for decades, in- one.

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Out of the shadows Skate parks, ice rinks and architecture, as modern urban planning goes San Pedro takes some beating, writes Rob Horgan

F proof was needed that San Pedro has stepped out of the shadow of sassy sister Marbella, it’s the town’s head-turning pedestrian bridge. Coupled with the buzzing boulevard, the bridge has became a focal meeting point for locals; be it families ice-skating on the allweather artificial ice rink, teens hanging out at the skate park or work colleagues enjoying friday night drinks at one of the boule-

vard’s swanky watering holes. The bridge itself is more Gehry’s Guggenheim in Bilbao-meetsCalatrava’s City of Arts and Science in Valencia than typically Andaluz. But it has bridged the gap between the former farming community and its glitzier sibling and brought San Pedro screaming into the 21st century. The €85 million tunnel diverting dangerous high-speed traffic below the town centre, an under-

COOL: At the skatepark

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STATUESQUE: Don Miguel Gutierrez and (right) on the ice rink

OLD AND NEW: (Above) new bridge and (inset) Iglesia de San Pedro ground car park and the boule- too. vard’s amphitheatre, children’s Its swanky new promenade, ornaplay areas and ample green mented with sculptures and waspaces are other examples of ter features, can easily compete the shiny new image being heav- with Marbella’s elegant elephant ily promoted by the municipality beach showers now! With jogging of Marbella, to which the town tracks and extended cycle paths, still belongs. Although perhaps its waterfront piles on the wow in name only now, rather than in factors. spirit. The town centre conceals other Nowadays, Sanpedreños no lon- attractions amidst rows of whiteger feel the need to cling onto the washed houses, tree-lined roads Swarovski crystal-studded coat and shady plazas. tails of Marbella. They have long Home to the impressive 19thcalled for their own municipality, century Iglesia de San Pedro, the although as yet to no avail. main plaza is laid out as a square Nevertheless, the San Pedro suc- within a square: the inner square, cess story continues. dominated by the church, is borPlans for a massive new com- dered by statues, benches and mercial centre on the outskirts of water features; the outer square town are now in motion and the of bars and restaurants look inbeachfront has moved upmarket ward on the architecture of a by-

SCENIC: New 17km promenade gone era. It’s a perfect example of how San Pedro subconsciously reflects the greater regional culture of southern Spain, while consciously at-

tempting to be progressive and different. Behind the church, the city flaunts its patriotism with a Spanish flag, hoisted 15 metres into

the air behind a statue of Don Manuel Gutierrez de la Concha the man who set the ball rolling for San Pedro in the 19th century. Gutierrez, an army general, acquired nearly 5,000 acres of agricultural land which extended across Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona in the 1860s and formed the farming colony of San Pedro. As workers arrived from Valencia, Murcia, Granada and Almeria, San Pedro evolved into a sizeable town. Growth came to a standstill during the early 20th century, when Spain was torn apart by civil war. But the town was back in business during the late 1940s and 50s when street lighting was introduced and the main road was

built. Independent in spirit if not in practice, a stroll around town – do-able in an hour - shows that San Pedro is very much its own place. Growth may have been less dramatic than that of other tourist towns and cities but the slowand-steady transformation has allowed San Pedro to cling onto its character. Despite its 21st century additions, it retains the essence of Andalucia other towns lack. It is distinctly Spanish with a friendly feel. It may even be one the last resorts on the Costa del Sol that can rightfully make that claim. But that won’t stop go-ahead San Pedro from planning a racier, rosier future.

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22 the Olive PressllNovember 22 about 14th - 25th 2016

HIP: Daniel Boardman

Not stuck in a rut HE has worked in some of the hippest hair salons in London. And now, Daniel Boardman is taking Marbella by storm, running his own stylish boutique and lots, lots more. While just 28, the Croydon lad, already counts Errol Douglas, in Knightsbridge, and Headmasters, in Mayfair, on his CV, as well as three years at top local salon Reflexions. But now he has his own joint opposite the H10 hotel, which specialises in ‘beautiful, confidenceboosting hair’. “I’ve worked in salons since I was 13, so I have a good idea about giving clients the most fashion forward looks. “I give them what they want, but don’t let them get stuck in a rut,” he insists. And, best of all, it even includes his mum and dad, who got married in Gibraltar this month. “Of course, I couldn’t let my mum tie the knot without my help,” he adds.

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Celebrity playground

HETHER it was Diana Dors or Sean Connery, Ava Gardner or Audrey Hepburn, James Hunt or Rod Stewart, none would have come to Marbella without the influence of Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe. For the German aristocrat was the svengali with the necessary capital to turn the dusty village into a highfalutin millionaires playground to rival the likes of Cannes and Deauville, in France. It was in 1947 that the charismatic playboy had been sent to the coast by his father Prince Maximilian to purchase some land. The family already had business interests in southern Spain, particularly in Malaga. The 23-year-old was told to hook up with his eccentric uncle Ricardo Soriano, who had been eulogising about the merits of the coast for a number of years. A huge fan of watersports, Soriano especially liked powerboat racing and lived an enviable bohemian life. He was soon chaperoning his nephew up and down the coast in his vintage Rolls-Royce looking for land. The bilingual Alonso – who was a keen painter - was immediately taken by what he saw in Marbella. Sheltered by the dramatic Sierra Blanca and with crystal-clear waters just a stone’s throw away, the savvy prince immediately saw a

FILLING HIS BOOTS: Sean Connery and Jackie Lane

The Olive Press looks back at the lives of the aristocrats and celebrities that turned a small fishing village into a glitzy, star-studded resort for the ‘jet set’

wealth of opportunities. He ordered his father to sell off his wine cellars in Malaga and began developing his now seminal Marbella Club hotel, which opened in 1954. But that was not enough and the well-connected prince soon embarked on a European-wide campaign to convince all his high-flying friends that Marbella, not San Sebastian or Cannes, was the only place to be. And his campaign worked with the grand families of central Europe, including the Bismarcks, Rothschilds and Metternichs, coming to see what the fuss was about. A string of celebrities followed suit, with actresses including Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, photographer Patrick Lichfield, footballer George Best, model Brigitte Bardot, and Rolling Stone Bryan Jones joining the in-crowd. Even British aristocracy got in on the act, with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward and Mrs Simpson) visiting the hotel. “The people I met in Hollywood, in New York, and in Europe, they were the roots, the bridge that brought people to Marbella… who made

STARS: Sinatra and Ava Gardner flew in

Marbella,” explained Alfonso. Marbella took pride in being cut off from the hectic, stressful and often scary modern world. Indeed, news of the Cuban Missile Crisis did not reach the resort until it was over. “Everybody had the most gorgeous parties when the rest of the world was trembling that World War III was starting,” explains Count Rudi Schonburg, a former manager of Marbella Club. Coining the nickname the ‘King of Clubs’, Alfonso’s reputation quickly preceded himself and he soon opened up a disco which got the club swinging every Tuesday and Friday nights.

Despite revelling in its exclusive status, the Marbella Club was anything but formal. “At dinner everybody arrived with a dinner jacket, but I said ‘Stop! This is not the Marbella way! You only wear a dinner jacket on New Year’s Eve,” recalled Alfonso. As the inspired prince’s creation boomed, so did Marbella and its surrounding hillsides. New restaurants, bars and sports clubs began sprouting up as the Costa del Sol quickly entered its so-called golden era. Developers included Jose Banus, who built ON THE BALL: Puerto Banus marina and King Fahd of Saudi who built a white palace (still there toGeorge Best Arabia, day) that is modelled on both the White House spent time in and a mosque. Marbella The likes of multi-millionaire arms dealer Ad-

Here at Daniel Boardman we pride ourselves with delivering creativity, quality and consistency to every client. Our team of experts focuses on each and every hair and beauty service performed so to meet and satisfy the needs and wishes of all of our customers with great professionalism. Whether you fancy yourself elegant and glamorous or funky and edgy you will walk away feeling like a Star because it’s not just hair and nails… It’s a work of art.

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Golden days remembered GLAMOROUS: Diana Dors sunbathing, while (Top right) nuns on a beach, (right) the Romeria near San Pedro and fishing boats

nan Khashoggi (who formerly owned La Zagaleta, Spain´s most expensive urbanisation) were able to dock their luxury yachts in the port. “Thanks to my initiative, Marbella’s Golden Mile alone now provides 60,000 jobs,” Alfonso once said. While his friends called him the ‘King of Clubs’ or the ‘Little Prince’, locals came to know him affectionately as Ole-Ole, because of his difficult to pronounce surname. Yet as the Costa del Sol dream began to spiral into uncontrollable development, Alfonso became aware of the monster he had helped stir. Concrete towers were sprouting up as far as the eye could see, from Malaga all the way down to Estepona, almost 100 kilometres away. Worse still, wanted British criminals began to take advantage of a lack of an extradition treaty between England and Spain. This influx of crooks and subsequent crime left the idealistic Alfonso disillusioned with the vision of rich grandeur he once envisaged for Marbella. After growing weary of the mass tourism that was

lowering the tone of his town, he sold up all his Marbella business interests in 1978 in search of a new vision. Entering his 60s, the prince settled in his last home with his third wife Marilys Haynes, a Gibraltarian divorcee. He plumped for a mountain retreat, in the hills close to Ronda, with a trout lake, partridge wood and an impressive library. And the ever-inventive Alfonso decided on another successful business pursuit – producing the soonto-be award-winning wine Principe Alfonso. And it was nestled in the heartland of Andalucia, close to the sleepy village of Arriate, where Alfonso finally found true happiness before passing away, leaving his estate to his children, in 2003. “I have lived in castles, in Venetian palaces and the world’s finest hotels. I have watched the sun rise over the beaches of five continents and I have looked into the eyes of the most beautiful women of the universe,” he famously remarked. “Everywhere I sought my dreamed-of city and at last I have found it in Ronda.”

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Laurence Dollimore joins the hen crowd at Linekers Bar, albeit a little overdressed in white shirt and blazer

‘

MY office is like NASA these days,” explains Lina Hodgkins, marketing director of Puerto Banus’ famous Linekers Group. It is hardly surprising, as she launches into yet another weekend of hen party fun and games, which involves the management of somewhere in the region of 5000 people. “It’s a massive task organising so many hen and stag-do’s,” adds the star of reality TV shows Life on Marbs and soonto-screen Playa in Mar- DREAM TEAM: Lina bella, with Elliott Wright. and Laurence “We’re taking care of 40,000 people on these breaks this summer alone. “It’s crazy and involves working silly hours, but SHIP SHAPE: Smart and clear-headed before a night to remember (top left) clients outside Linekers main entrance I love it.” While the bar, founded by Paul Bowcock and Wayne Lineker, is still popular with partygoers of all ages, it has managed to brand itself as THE must visit for hens and stag do’s in Marbella. they have never looked back. “We even grew the groups are waited on hand and foot by a morrow, with the resident DJ banging out evIt was just over a decade ago since Lina came through the recession and we have already dedicated waiter in their own roped off VIP erything from 90’s club classics to the latest up with the idea to focus on the then-neglected sold out for the summer months. This will be area, complete with personalised plasma TV’s house tunes. hen party sector. our biggest summer yet and, these days, we which the hen-doers can upload photos to. Within five minutes of getting in I am taken in “I saw a massive gap in the market, after com- get groups booking a year in advance,” ex- In the heart of Hurricane Alley, as it is some- under the wing of a hen do from Belfast. ing here 14 years ago with a hen party and plains Lina, 55, who lives in Marbella. times known, you can really feel the buzz of the The bride-to-be, Courtney Speers, waxes lyrical there was nowhere to go.” The monopoly on hen do’s is impressive but place as you approach midnight. about her choice of venue, as do her friends. So she put together a package for the Linekers it’s not surprising given the service. The place is on fire and hordes of hen nights “I can’t say I’m original. A friend of mine came group - which is still in use to this day - and Meeted and greeted at the door with bubbly, and revellers are dancing like there is no to- here for hers and said it was amazing, but we’ve had such a good night and you get so well looked after here!” A few shots later and we were adding each other on Facebook and making plans to meet up at the weekend. Cousins, mother of the groom and friends were all out in force to celebrate the 23-yearold’s last night of freedom. It wasn’t long before I regretted my outfit choice - dancing your heart out to ‘I’m a dreamer’ in a blazer and shirt will only leave you looking like you have just stepped out of a sauna. Just as I was to have a dancing break the pole dancing competition kicked off - the break would have to wait. While the Belfast girls did their best to impress the DJcum-pole-dancing judge, it was another hen night group from Wales who took home the bubbly. The sign of a good night is how sad you are when it’s over, and very sad I was. Puerto Banus can get a bad rep from time to time, but it seems to me Linekers will always be a safe bet if you want a fun and crazy night out with STAGS AND your mates - and who doesn’t HENS: Enjoy want that? a night out at For more information visit www.linekersgroup.com or Linekers Linekers Bar Puerto Banus BROS: Wayne and Gary Lineker (above) MUMMY MARBELLA: Lina on Facebook (centre) with guests

Clucking good fun

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Photo M. Gibert. Photograph used as a reference only. Thanks : Taschen.

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Styling Marbella

Rolex roadshow IT'S not just British royalty, Premiership footballers and Saudi princes who head to Marbella in the summer months. Ian Shaffer, founder of BQ Watches, one of Europe's leading buyers and sellers of luxury watches and specialising in Rolex and all luxury watches, has also been coming to Marbella for many years. He comes to relax but is always inundated with questions about watches and jewellery - after all, his firm is a top buyer of Breitling, Omega, Patek Phillipe and other high end jewellery, dia-

monds, and gold coins. The company has been buying watches and jewellery from all over the world for more than 30 years. In fact, on a recent trip to Luxembourg an elderly gentleman came to a BQ Watches roadshow with a badly beaten old Rolex Submariner from the 1960s expecting around €600. The watch turned out to be the same model Rolex as worn by Sean Connery in an early James Bond movie. He was astounded when BQW paid him €41,600 for his watch. Founder Ian has decided to bring his roadshow to the Coral Beach Hotel in Marbella this year and will be there with his team from June 1315 from 10am until 5.30pm. Bring your goods for a free valuation without any appointment or obligaEXPERT: Shaffer tion to sell. For more information call +34 911 230 491 or email info@bqwatches.com

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THE TEAM: Real Capital Solutions have seen €50 million of sales in just two years REAL Capital Solutions has successfully acquired and sold more than one billion euros of assets in the US. This will soon be mirrored in Spain with €50 million of sales in the first two years alone. The American private equity fund arrived in 2013 with a clear vision of what it wanted to achieve, firstly turning redundant buildings into valuable real estate and then watching local prices start to rise. Fund partner, Taylor Cox, explains: “We analysed the economy and saw an affinity to market conditions back home – especially where second-homes are popular, such as in Florida. “Our first task was to acquire and add value to projects that had ceased due to lack of funding during the downturn. “The second phase is about providing new properties planned, designed and built to the high standards that our buyers expect.” The strategic concept - now involving the launch of developments in Benahavis, Estepona and Mijas - is to bring quality property to the whole Costa del Sol – ‘developing property with integrity, transparency and care’.

Real Capital Solutions unveils development plans Each site has been designed specifically to suit its location with a choice of entry-level apartments, ultra-high-luxury apartments and villa properties. Real Capital Solutions is based in Centro Plaza, Nueva Andalucia. Tel. 951 239 866.

IN the heart of Marbella old town sits a dazzling trove of Louis Vuitton holdalls, Chanel handbags and nostalgic Frank Sinatra LPs - not to mention classy pieces from Gucci and Dior. Coining ‘vintage’ long before it was cool, Richard and Amanda Zizzi-Knight opened Déjà Vu Marbella Vintage in 1997 and have been riding the classic wave ever since. They are soon to celebrate 20 years running the boutique and three decades in fashion on the coast. Bath-born Amanda’s mother was a model in the 1940s and an eye for style runs in her blood. “If you have a special piece for us from the three big designers - Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel - we will buy it outright in cash but generally work by giving you the money after your piece is sold,” she tells the Olive Press. “The beauty of being in Marbella is that iconic fashion models from the 1960s and 1970s bring in clothes to sell - and you just never know what treasures will come through our door ,” adds Richard. “Vintage to us is anything top quality, great design and perfectly preserved.” Drop in on Calle Pedraza 8, call 952 82 55 21 or visit www.dejavumarbellavintage.com

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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

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30 the Olive PressllNovember 30 about 14th - 25th 2016

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June 8th - June 21st 2016

Specialistt in Internal Internal Medicin Medicinee and Gastroenterology logy Col. No. No. 29/29/10551 29/299/10551

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A Concha is to Marbella what Table Mountain is to Cape Town or the statue of Christ the Redeemer is to Rio de Janeiro. Wherever you are, its 1,215-metre shellshaped peak rises up before you like a talisman, its colour changing with the angle of the sun. If you haven’t been tempted to climb it yet, you will be. The mountain is best reached from the north, diverging off the main road up towards the Refugio de Juanar. Set amid pine trees, the wonderful old hotel and restaurant - once a Parador - could be a perfect overnight base camp for your ascent which, truth be told, is no pushover. However, anyone used to hiking and not afraid to get their hands dirty should have no problem, and the soaring panoramic views are definitely worth it. Former cavalry office James Hewitt, he of Lady Diana fame, once told the Olive Press he regularly climbed it (there and back) when he lived there in ‘well under three hours’, and not at a forced charge. But, being realistic you should leave four hours to include a couple of nice breaks and to enjoy the view at the top, which is really something else. The peaks of Africa’s Atlas mountains can be seen in the distance, as can the Rock of Gibraltar down the coast, sticking out into the shimmering sea. Here, walking guide Guy Hunter Watts, gives a breakdown on the way to the top.

THE WALK From the Refugio de Juanar, descend 100m to a junction, then turn right at the ‘Mirador’ sign. Looping up through the pines you reach a parking area, then pass a green metal gate and continue along the track following the sign, GR243.1 Istan. After passing a ruined stone hut you reach a sign that says PR-A 168 La Concha, pointing right off the track. (20 mins) Cut right away from the track towards the green mesh fence of Cortijo de Juanar, then angle hard right down through an olive grove for 100m to a four-way junction. Cutting left into a stand of pines you come to a three-way junction. Here, angle left following another sign that says PR-A 168 La Concha. Reaching the top of the ridge, head straight on for a few metres, then angle right and continue along the ridge, now heading almost due west between low-growing oaks. Having run just left of the ridge, the path cuts up right to its highest point and passes a large cairn (1 hr 10 mins) before descending for a short distance. Cairns mark the way from here. Angling slightly left, the path passes beneath a steep cliff face, El Salto del Lobo, where there are steep drops to the right: care should

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One of Andalucia’s most rewarding mountain adventures lies in wait among the pine trees just a few miles inland from Marbella

BREATHTAKING: Views over Marbella

be taken on this section. Zigzagging steeply up left (a hands-on approach at this point will be useful) it then drops steeply back down to a more level path running towards La Concha. Cairns still mark your path as you head on just south of the ridge, before angling back up to the top. A massive panorama opens out to the south as you reach a cairn where you’ll see blue and red stripes on a rock. At this point you’re actually a few metres higher than the official summit of La Concha. From here, angle down left following cairns and red and blue way-markings, sticking close to the ridgetop. The Istan reservoir comes into view to the west. The path runs a few metres beneath the ridge, on its southern side, before cutting up to a three-way marker post. (1 hr 45 mins) Here, carry straight on, following a sign saying ‘La Concha 15 mins’ along the ridge to a large cairn. Here the path angles right, descends, then picks up the continuation of the ridge before climbing steeply once more. (You may feel safer using your hands from time to time, as there are steep drops to your left.) Red and blue flashes still mark the way and lead you up to the summit of La Concha (1,215m). (1 hr 55 mins) After enjoying the amazing panorama, retrace your footsteps back to the Refugio. (3 hrs 45 mins)

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Above the clouds

This enchanting trail begins in the pine forest, continuing across stunning open fields of olive groves before the rocky climb to the peak begins. It takes between 90 minutes and two hours to reach the summit, and the same to come back, so

NUTS AND BOLTS bring plenty of water and, if you’re a picnic person, a decent lunch to enjoy at the top. For more information and walks: www.guyhunterwatts.com

THE F A RM Ho

nest Foo

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ORGANIC FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMERS

ENJOY LIVE MUSIC IN OUR SECRET GARDEN Plaza Altamirano n2 29601 - Marbella Old town. www.thefarm-marbella.com +34 952 82 25 57 - Hola@thefarm-marbella.com

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June 8th 8th -- June June 21st 21st 2016 2016 June

Buyers and holidaymakers continue to flock to perfectly situated Guadalmina, writes Laurence Dollimore

Location, location, location

UST a stone’s throw away from Marbella’s Golden Mile sits the luxurious urbanisation of Guadalmina. I was lucky enough to spend the summers of my youth at my home away from home, Guadalmina Alta. Some 15 years later and this quaint village-esque resort still boasts a neighbourly and tranquil atmosphere in an envious location. It’s just five minutes from Puerto Banus and ten minutes from Marbella, while the charming old pueblo of San Pedro is a short walk away. The development may have a tranquil exterior but don’t be fooled, it can still pack quite the punch. When you’re done sunning by the pool, try a round of golf at its sprawling 18-hole course, or get your kicks down at its famous cable ski where thrillseekers are thrust around a scenic lake on a pair of skis or wakeboard.

The quality of its restaurants has also sky-rocketed over the last ten years. Boasting almost 20, the variety ranges from the unrivalled Argentinian steak house La Rosa to the longest-standing spot for a traditional English breakfast, Tricky Ricky’s. The latest additions include a vegan cafe and a japanese wok spot. Pop over the road from the restaurant front and you’ll find Guadalmina Baja, home to huge villas which wouldn’t look out of place in Beverly Hills. If you’re there at the right time, you might even spot a celeb - ex-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Aznar is often seen jogging with his four brooding bodyguards, while the Princess of Monaco is also rumoured to live close by. It’s no surprise then that the Spanish, Irish, British and otherwise, whether holidaymakers, expats or royalty, continue to set up shop here. The food is exquisite, the scenery is stunning and everything you need is right on your doorstep.

LIFE OF LUXURY: In Guadalmina, home to Jose Aznar, Princess of Monaco (left) and Rick and Lyndsay Parfitt (below)

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

After victory over a dodgy dentist, Adolfo Martos Gross of GAM Abogados aims to reclaim hundreds of thousands of euros for expats who lost off-plan deposits

T took six years and a lot of perseverance but eventually lawyer Adolfo Martos Gross came up with the goods. Winning the Olive Press costs of over €5,000 from dentist Raj Rao, who had wrongly sued us, came as quite a coup when it finally happened last month. But for Adolfo, of GAM Abogados, it was merely another day at the office. The gentleman lawyer has been standing up for the rights of expats for two decades from his two offices in Marbella and Malaga. “It was merely a case of hanging in there, continually reminding the court and insisting that you had a right to get your legal fees paid,” Adolfo explains. “The key is to never give up and while it is outrageous that it took so long, I am delighted that justice was finally done.” Now, the chairman of the international legal association “TEN, The European Network” (www.ten-law.net), Adolfo has a new crusade... to help expats get refunds on deposits put down for offplan properties that were never built. It has emerged that up to 100,000 British investors could be in line for a payout after their dream homes failed to be built when the recession kicked in. It comes after a momentous Supreme Court ruling last year, and with payments mostly being between

€20,000 and €80,000 it is generally people’s life savings. The good news is the Madrid-trained lawyer, who has 21 years experience in the trade, is completely in the know on the latest ruling. “The Supreme Court ruling on December 21 is excellent news for anyone who put down a deposit for a dream home, only to find it was never built and could not claim their money back,” he tells the Olive Press. “If you think you are owed money you lost on an off-plan deposit, now is the time to investigate and get it back!” The Supreme Court decision ruled that banks are now responsible to pay back the deposits that were put into their accounts as down payments against off-plan schemes. Now banks are liable even if a bank guarantee was never made between them and the developer – which means more people are eligible to claim. And successful claimants get the money lost, plus interest AND legal fees paid. “The banks will now be obliged to check, with contracts up until January 1 2016, whether the developers followed through with their promises, which gives people who lost their money at that time a much stronger case,” says Adolfo. “And whether you had an official

ADOLFO; (centre standing) and his team

guarantee or not, you should be eligible to reclaim the money you lost with legal help.” It was law 57/1968 that decreed a bank guarantee was necessary for the deposit, but buyers often didn’t know or fraudulent developers pretended they already had them. When developers went bankrupt, without the banks taking responsibility, there was no safety net for those having paid deposits. But after several local civil court cases were successful in suing banks, the Supreme Court passed the ruling. “We already have a handful of clients we are representing on this and we expect many many more,” Adolfo continues.

Preloved up A BRAND new boutique has joined the Marbella circuit of luxury shops. Preloved Boutique opened on Friday June 3 in Centro Plaza. Owners Lana and Shelly founded the shop where anyone can bring their new or nearly new designer or high-end clothing and sell it, sharing half the profit. Fashion shows are set for later this year.

You can take action against the banks up to 15 years after the date the properties were set to be finished – or on October 2020, whichever comes sooner. So act fast! Adolfo advises: 1) Send a letter to the bank to determine your eligibility 2) Employ a good lawyer to help investigate, make your claim and offer support throughout the process 3) Make your claim For more information visit www.gamabogados.com or call 952 82 89 43 (Marbella) or 952 22 31 82 (Malaga)

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From Michelin stars to Malaysians, Marbella is a true dining melting pot, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

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June 8th - June 21st 2016 LUNCH AND LOUNGE: At Beach House, while (right) Alvaro preps at Takumi

www.theolive

MAKING FRIENDS:

press.es

Editor Jon Clarke

TASTY: Top Jamon chefs, including laid out for Ramon Freixa

August www.theolive 6th - August 19th 2015 press.es April 27th - May 10th

By Laurence

STARS ALIGN:

Superstar chefs

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pose with Marbella

night was never going to be anything less than fabulous. Stellar Malaga chef Dani Garcia’s

answers questions

Clarke meets Spanish

at event

superchef Ferran Adria

’D made a point of lotted time for the arriving an hour before the alMichelin-starred culinary love-in when two dozen it, particularly the south, where it emerges his grandfrom around the chefs descended on Marbella mother is from. “I love it down here, Being a seasoned world. particularly nearly two decades,food and travel writer - spanning my blood, with my grandmother as Andalucia is in dy for the Daily Mail since my first article on Burgun- Overa, in Almeria,” he explains. coming from Huercal the chance to meet in 1998 - I was not going to miss “The region really is extraordinary now and just keeps Joan Roca and Joel culinary geniuses Ferran Adria, getting better and better. “There are at least I soon found myselfRobuchon, all in the same room. five or six really amazing restauchef Ramon Freixa chatting to Madrid’s two-star rants here that did not exist a decade ago and creFrank, from Horvath,and friendly German Sebastian ativity is now very much at the fore, with some talented young chefs in Berlin, who jamon to see his face on page 49 was as happy as It was at his sister like Dani Garcia.” Press. of the last Olive da Benazuza, that restaurant near Sevilla, at HacienAfter catching up I was first introduced to the greatreviewed in Madridwith Rodrigo de la Calle, who I had ness of Ferran, some 10 years ago. Humm, the world’s last year, I had a laugh with Daniel Over a four-hour, 25-course master-class, I discovrestaurant Eleven Number Five chef, from New York ered why Spanish chefs are now Madison Park, who credited as being as me to be meeting was as excited the most creative in the world, having taken the French. easily overThey were here for some of his culinary heroes. event and they wereDani Garcia’s A Cuatro Manos It was mind-blowingly original, but not was sumptuous and all in their classic black) tunics, including tasty, unlike some just that, it white (or modern, Robuchon himself, of the more chatted to in pidgin who I to name. over-the-top creative geniuses, I prefer French, while holding dining room. not court in the It was my first three-Michelin Well all but one! starred meal in Spain and it did not disappoint. For prowling around gy and a distinct glintthe premises with nervous ener- “But there is a whole world out there past Michelin stars,” insisted Ferran. in his eye, was who didn’t need to “People need to wear a uniform. one super-chef create and not worry In a buttoned cardigan about awards and inspire and think and say. and slacks, he was what people ately recognisable immedi- “Just keep as THE chef of the forging away and Having held the World’s 21st century. working hard and you azine’s annual awards Best spot in Restaurant mag- will get there in the end.” (coming second twice),for El Bulli from 2002 to 2009 There have never been truer words one of the reasons said… Ferran Adria, rightfully claim to I launched my book and it was be Spain’s best cook 53, can also DiningSecretsofAndaluc and But, as he explained of all time. ia.com six years website ago… to awards or stars one to me, he isn’t fussed about locate, track down and encourage his younger brother bit these days, leaving that to coming chefs around the region, new and up-andwhich the Michelin (who was also at theAlbert, from Barcelona’s Tickets guide never got anywher near. It is true to this day These days running event by the way). that dozens, courage youngsters cookery schools and trying to en- brilliant restaurants in Andalucia even hundreds, of are not even getas a kind of Spanish to be creative, he travels around ting a look in from the so-called French food ambassador… hopefully I am helping food and he loves Visit to make a difference. bible. So www.diningsecretsofand alucia.com

Dollimore

NE of the perks is being able of being a journalist to talk your way exclusive events into way outside your pay grade. I was set the task of blagging the €350-a-head a ticket for night of A Cuatro meal on the opening 'Confidence is Manos. proached the key,' I told myself as I ap‘Laurence fromclipboard-clutching hostess. ran her pen overthe Olive Press,’ I said. She her list with a of perplexity. growing look “Your name isn't "How strange," on here.” She ushered I replied. gastronomical over a colleague few minutes of and after the likes of four-day event saw was allowed to Spanish back and forth, a Humm and Ferran Adria, Daniel I enter. Sebastian Frank I picked up a glass come of congratulatory together to pay pagne, only to chamhomage bump into my to the great French Clarke, who informed editor, Jon chef me I had Joel Robuchon. the pre-event press junket. only got into Guests including practice I guess. Still, all good Mayor of Marbella the While much of the Spanish press Jose Bernal were dutifully for waited treated to rounds of curious come down the world-famous chefs from the enclosed to cocktails while the muscled our way bar, we world’s top rather, sleuthed into their stronghold - or culinary alchein, fully aware mists mingled have been overstepping that we may with the crowds. the mark. Through Jon's Superstar to talk to the broken French we managed Humm, whose Daniel of the show. "I famous Joel Robuchon, star Madison Park Eleven years ago to first came to Marbella three rant in New restautold us, "and eat at Dani's restaurant," he rated number York is ting better andthe chefs here just keep getbetter." the world, told five in The French maestro, Press: “If you the Olive on four continents, who has restaurants added that relevant todaywant to be house in Calpe in food which he adores.he owns a you have to But as I snapped Spain, Spain experience buchon we were some pics of Jon and Rois so imrumbled. As we portant to gastronomy ered out I grabbed were ushan expensive today.” jamon that had slice of been laid out On the event’s - tasty! for the chefs guest of honour, the Back in the legendary Joel Robuchon, making the press zone, cocktails were rounds. I tried Humm added: “There them, for journalistic all four of are only a purposes of course. few chefs in history 'Hot Lips' was who have really creamy tequila the house favourite made such a concoction with an impact and of chilli. a splash chon is definitely RobuI was soon talking one of them.” Puente Romano’s to John Thomson, the The manager, figuring food and beverages opening night if anyone could saw the chefs be him to get it would prepare me into the banquet. a menu of We chatted about 20 of the French maestro’s heritage before our shared Glaswegian most iconic dishes new bar and he gave me a tour of the at Puente Le Suite nightclub. Romano’s Dani fered me a free He ofGarcia restaurant. and a night out meal at the restaurant John Thomson, coverage. I was at the club in return for getting there. food and beverages But just as my charm was for the Puente manager roads, the crowds making of paying guests ingroup said: “It Romano ushered into were ible, this is is incredhost of chefs the main event, where the were preparing amount of the most inspired by Robuchon. 20 courses stars that have Michelin John wished me all the best under one roof ever been tered in for the as he saunmeal of the decade. and possibly in Spain, I watched enviously in Europe! and with the It’s pretty unprecedentslice of jamon single in my belly headed ed and the event nearby McDonalds seems where with one to a to be growing consolation I each year.” key ate a burger created less than Dani by... no Garcia himself!

STARRY NIG HT

WITH an incredible 71 Michelin stars clustered together under roof, the A Cuatro one Manos opening

GRILLING: Ferran

2016

How I blagged a Dani Garcia Mcdonalds … burger

Humm

‘There’s a whole world past Miche lin’

Olive Press editor Jon

FEATURE

chats to Daniel

Marbella eclipses the world as dozens of Michelinstarred chefs hit town for a four-day extravaganza

Mayor Jose Bernal

TRIBUTE: Iconic

chef Joel Robuchon

(right)

Capital of food

LEADING LIGHT: Clarke and Dani Garcia and (inset) A Cuatro Manos review

T was no coincidence that dozens of Michelinstarred chefs from around the world descended on Marbella for the A Cuatro Manos event this Spring. The town is now well and truly on the global dining map - counting no less than FOUR Michelin starred restaurants - and can be considered the definitive dining capital of Andalucia. As two Michelin-starred local lad Dani Garcia told me at the event, attended by legends including Joel Robuchon and Ferran Adria: “We keep getting better and better here and pushing the boundaries... and I expect it to continue.” Aside from quality there is a massive variety with over 100 different nationalities cooking in Marbella. “You have just about every style you can think of,” explains Japanese restaurant owner Alvaro Arbeloa at Takumi. “But most of all, whatever restaurant you open, if the quality is not good

enough you will not survive. The clientele here is well off and demanding of quality.” One place that certainly epitomises quality is Ban Thai. Attention to detail and customer service is all too apparent from Malaysian boss Efandi, who set up just three years ago. “There are new oriental places opening almost by the month these days and I just keep telling my staff not to worry, focus on customer care and quality and we’ll have no worries. It certainly seems to be the case.” Another place that shows no signs of waning is Beach House, in Elviria, possibly Marbella’s best chiringuito/beach restaurant. A fabulous location is only matched by the views and top quality food, thanks to its team of chefs, led by Jeff Mynott. Constantly changing the menu under the watchful eye of livewire owners Guy and Lucy McCrow this is a must-visit for any foodie.

Even better, come for the day and laze out on the amazing new ‘luxury’ day beds (see above) and fill your boots with the special seafood menu. Another restaurateur who shows no signs of slowing down is Ian Radford, boss of the La Sala group. Opening a brand new restaurant, The Oak (see P51), this week, the ex-professional squash player has been constantly adding to his La Sala brand. With a series of famous backers, including footballers David Bentley, Stephen Carr and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he has been able to create two of the town's landmark restaurants; La Sala in Puerto Banus and nearby La Sala by the Sea, a fantastic Thai restaurant. The original La Sala on the way up to the Nueva Andalucia bull ring is, without a doubt, the most famous Marbella restaurant abroad. This is a must-visit for any holiday to Marbs and

a huge hit for 'ladies who lunch', not to mention movers and shakers, celebrities, footballers and the wealthy empresarios who make Marbella what it is. An emporium of glass and seductive lighting, its real strength though, lies in its terrace, that serves as the ideal tourist sun-deck. But, let’s not forget the food, which has so far never let me down. Whether you are after meaty fare (ribs, burgers, etc) or fish dishes and seafood, you are always well catered for and there is always a contemporary twist. But if you are looking for some romance, you need to head into the heart of Marbella old town, where you are literally spoilt for choice for excellent places to eat. One of the most celebrated is Belgian-run Casanis, where boss Guy Sirre has been constantly evolving for the last decade. Recently reunited with his former chef Tulio

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HANDS UP: For Tulio explaining a dish (right) at Casanis to waiters

Spoilt for choice...

Enjoy International, Mediterranean, Asian flavours and Tapas…..

Zampieri - who has been on a four year cook’s a brand new beach restaurant La Plage this tour taking in jobs in Mexico, Fiji and Barcelona month in nearby Las Chapas. the place gets better and better. Another casco historico restaurant heavily foNow in charge of nine chefs at Casanis and sevcusing on good quality local ingredients is the en at the nearby sister restaurant Cafe Flore, he appropriate named The Farm, which sits in a has brought in plenty of new ideas, charming square and counts on its picked up on his travels. own shady palm-covered courtyard “But I am also trying to stay local with terrace to boot. ingredients and Iove the excellent loInsisting on ‘honest food’ the charmcal food markets and fresh fish,” he ing couple behind this wonderful says. new restaurant Maria del Oso, from Even better, the restaurant now has Asturias, and Elio, from Argentina, its own nearby organic huerta from are working to be as close to KM.0 where, in season, they can get 25 to (or using just local produce from the 30% of their fresh produce. “It saves area) as possible. us between €500 and 800 a month, “We only use seasonal and almost for sure,” estimates Tulio, who has all of it comes from around the Malworked at Spain’s leading three Miaga region,” explains Maria, who chelin-starred restaurant Celler de searched for the ideal restaurant in Can Roca, as well as locally Skina Tuscany and the Canaries, before and Messina. finding the ‘dream spot’ in Marbella. His dishes certainly impress, particu“We try to be as sustainable as poslarly the fabulous ‘tiradito of corvina’, sible and even recycle the tootha variant on a Peruvian ceviche with picks,” jokes Elio, whose specialitomatoes, coriander, chives, baby CHARMING: Cafe ties include delicious sea bass and red spinach and crispy sweet corn, Flore squid in potato. served up with wafer thin slices of Another great spot in the heart of toast, while the 24-hour roasted suckthe old town is Niki’s Gastro Bar ling pig, comes with an original creole sauce and restaurant (also known as Madre Tierra), from Argentina. which sits in a wonderful leafy square. While Cafe Flore is more Italian in flavour, with Set up by Italian expat Genesio, it has a creative good healthy ingredients, the team are to open menu that includes some fabulous tuna tataki

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O foam, no spray parties, just pure harmony for the whole family to enjoy. Situated in the white sandy El Rosario beach, Karma Beach Marbella offers the ultimate chill out experience. With Cabana beds just metres from the water’s edge, the beautiful surroundings are perfect for relaxation. And the food alone is worth the trip. A delicious daily fish course, Karma is also famous for its

Asian fusion and Greek tapas. And with a hot stone grill, classic Mediterranean dishes are also popular with diners. And for Olive Press readers, boss Hayley and her crew are offering a free glass of cava with your meal. All you have to do is bring this article along with you. Open seven days a week from 10am, Karma beach offers everything from luxury dining to drinks next to cosy candlelight. For info visit www.karmabeachmarbella.com

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Exquisite Thai food, contemporary design and first class service combine to create a memorable dining experience

AL FRESCO HAPPY: Diners at The Farm, while (above) owners Elio and Maria and (right) dishes at Ban Thai and Macaao (right)

NEW BROOM: Niki’s

with a tempura of vegetables and algas wakame, as well as original croquettes of ‘ossobuco de ternera’. Chef Curro, from Sevilla, is incredibly keen on quality and has a very good eye for fish too, including the amazing turbot I tried. At night the place comes alive with some super fresh original tapas and the best cocktails in the old town, which even apparently the curate who lives upstairs, enjoys. Another continually improving restaurant is Cibo, on the Golden Mile, which is beautifully decorated and has a great menu. Owned by the capable Metro Group (Joys, Jacks, Mumtaz, Metro, etc), it is excellent value and a romantic spot for dining out. (see article P38) Up in San Pedro you will be spoilt for choice, but look out for Macaao, which really stands out as a special place to visit. It was set up by Belgian Michel Dhondt, who heralds from a long line of restaurant owners and

trained with Alain Ducasse on the Cote d’Azur. Open all year, it concentrates on fresh, seasonal ingredients and there are always loads of specials, including, mussels, as well as oysters, shrimp croquettes and ceviche. The black cod is not cheap but it is amazing. In fact, the perfect cod. The Vietnamese nems are stunning and the raspberry creme brulee was as fresh and light as it could be. “All thanks to my training with Ducasse,” jokes Michel. Meanwhile, a great place to drink wines with fine food is at the long-time rated Albert & Simon restaurant in San Pedro. The brothers Albert and Simon, appropriately, took over the baton from their father, who had one of Marbella’s first Michelin-starred restaurants. Also in San Pedro is the very elegant L’Impronta, an upmarket Italian joint, run by capable Francisco Vacas, who actually heralds from Cordoba.

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arbella

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Good service and great value cuisine is helping to get Cibo noticed, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

DELICIOUS: Lobster linguine

Clawing to the top

HE attractive outdoor terrace was awash with evening sun as we sat perfectly positioned to watch a slice of Marbella society. This is Cibo, a year after it opened on the Golden Mile, where eponymous Polo House once sat before it. Elegant in the extreme, try and get a banquette seat below the clematis-covered terrace, which is a wonderful place to sit in warmer weather. The feather-in-the-cap of the Metro group (Jack’s, Mumtaz, Joys, etc), its chef Simone Riccioni, has been well-trained by the group’s culinary boss Lawrence Otterburn, a former Gordon Ramsay protege, who has cooked for Ronnie Wood, Kate Moss and Roman Abramovich.

I was looking for the ideal spot to take my son, 8, for a birthday meal and Cibo hit the spot. A big kids menu, with excellent pizzas and pasta, drawing pad, pencils and puzzles, we were off to a flying start. The service was also excellent with, in particular, half-Italian, half-Spanish Manuel doing an excellent job charming the nippers. While broadly geared towards Italian food, if anything, Cibo pitches itself more towards quality, but with excellent value. There is a simple, easy wine list where even Italy’s two best reds Barolo and Brunello come in for just €60. A glass of ice fresh verdicchio was good value at under €5.

Local by name, global in style HE knew instinctively it was the perfect finish for his new cafe-bar The Local. While walking the streets of Los Angeles, the amazing wall collage jumped out at News Cafe boss Sebastian Cohen. “It really jumped out at me and started a chain in motion to get it on the wall,” he explains. Finding a

KIDS DREAM: Pizza heaven and banana split happy

But the biggest shock was the price of a lobster, not something this humble food critic (and journalist) usually gets a chance to eat! Here I had a choice of lobster on its own for just €32, while a half weighed in at €23, and for the same price I could also have it with linguini, a better-looking dish being hard to find on the Costa del Sol. Already cracked open and with a slightly spicy sauce, this is one seafood dish that deserves an award this summer. But there are other chestnuts too, such as the ‘Vincisgrassi’, which is a splendid twist on lasagna, heralding from a 17th century recipe Lawrence picked up from his father.

local artist Slovakian Mareck they bit by bit recreated the LA graffiti masterpiece, burning the midnight oil until 6am one night. The end result is a stylish, urbane feel to the new cafe, cocktail bar and lounge, which is an excellent addition to the area behind the H10 in Nueva Andalucia.

“It was how we invented lasagna, before we ruined it with bolognese,” explains Lawrence. With crunchy minced Parma ham and porcini mushrooms, not to mention a pinch of black truffle, this was a definitive ‘posh lasagne’, easily the best I have ever eaten. The starters were excellent too. A carpaccio of wild duck ham with rocket and spicy peach was a real looker, while the truffled forest mushroom bruschetta did a splendid job. The ‘sharing’ boards looked fun as well, but I tried the ‘capesante e caponata’, a joyous dish of baconwrapped scallops, which were meant to come with courgettes and aubergine, but which had at least half a dozen other vegetables in it, including pine nuts, asparagus and carrots. Pudding-wise, I loved my cheesecake with cherry coulis, but the definite winner was the banana split, which, in the words of my daughter Maia, was ‘fabulously fabulous’. It also came in the price of the special kids menu priced at just €6.95. Boom. Blvd Principe Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, 11, call 952900380 or www.cibomarbella.com

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03/06/2016 15:26:01

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OlivePressNewspaper olivepress olivepressnews

Hollywood power couple +TheolivepressEs snap up luxury Mallorca pad BE ‘APPY!

Jolie good buy TOP for news in Spain!

STUNNING: Puerto Andratx in Palma and (inset) Pitt and Jolie

BIG screen superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have splashed €3.47 million on a swanky Mallorca bolthole. Brad, who has been making his new movie Allied in Gran Ca-

Steady as she goes

HOUSE prices rose by 0.1% in April compared to last year, property appraisal firm Tinsa has revealed. It is a more moderate increase than the year-onyear growth recorded in February and March of this year which saw price hikes of 2.1% and 0.8% respectively. Cumulatively between January and April, Spain’s prices rose by 1.9% on the same period last year. The Mediterranean coast was by far Spain’s most successful region for the sale of now and secondhand property.

naria, was reported to have sealed the deal following filming. The eight-bedroom mansion, which boasts stunning views of the Mediterranean, is found in Puerto Andratx, west of the capital Palma. Although the property is ‘modest’ in comparison with the Italian pile he purchased with wife Angelina in 2010, it is ‘very private and difficult to access’, according to the Diario de Mallorca.

Bricks of change

THE construction industry is booming once again in Spain. While workers are earning 4% more than they did in 2010, building activity also rose by 13% year-on-year in February. The huge jump spells great news for the recovering economy given the Eurozone’s overall construction sector fell by 1.1% year-onyear in the same month. Meanwhile, Spanish Builders are better paid now than they were five years ago, reveals Adecco, averaging a monthly salary of €1,630 compared to €1,565.

Bated breath! Focus on the bigger picture as uncertainty marks the lead-up to Brexit vote

HE international Spanish property market is now certainly feeling the Brexit effects. Agents, lawyers and surveyors are noticing that potential buyers and clients are putting off their commitment to purchase until after the result. FX companies are reputedly expecting a 20% drop in value of the pound against the US dollar if Britain does leave. It will be large against the euro too, though the EU will have such problems with the UK’s pending departure that the euro could fall just as steeply. And it will continue to be uncertain for a further two years as apparently there is a ‘cooling off’ period for negotiation, after a decision has been made, during which there is the possibility of any decision being reversed and the UK being ‘permitted’ to stay in. Can any benefits be worth all that hassle? Some obviously believe so and, as I write, the certainty of the vote deciding to leave, based upon betting money placed, has risen from 15% to 25%. But how did I get onto this topic? Well, it must be the macro-economic training of my Land Economics qualification from long ago. Looking at the bigger

June 8th - June 21st 2016

A date with Mr Right

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The Olive Press

picture and how that’s going to affect individuals – and also how the actions of individuals can affect whole populations. A decade ago I gave a talk about how the actions of individual developers and owners were spoiling the countryside with developments and individual ‘campo’ casas appearing like graffiti in beautiful valleys and hillsides. Could they not see that these developments were destroying the natural assets that were attracting the people in the first place? This ‘progress’ was stopped by the recession, but now that the market is getting stronger again, and if Brexit goes the ‘right’ way, that will continue. There are indications and cranes popping up in increasing numbers. Will there be false confidence in the insatiable desire for the whole world to come to Spain, now that tourist demand for Spanish and Portuguese destinations is apparently 30% up on last year. These people must be wooed to generate a loyalty to these Costas and not be treated as a never-ending resource to be fleeced with high prices and off-hand attitudes. Hopefully these days are past,

Confirmed

“Brad Pitt fell in love with the Balearic Islands after shooting his new film in the Canaries and that’s why he asked us to find him a house in Mallorca,” the newspaper wrote. The paper also suggested it was ‘for a single man, not purchased for the family’. Italian property mogul Alessandro Proto, who is a business partner of Donald Trump, also confirmed the purchase.

11+

SOME of the coast’s leading real estate figures have attended a seminar held by UK property giant Rightmove Overseas in Malaga. Hundreds turned out, including boss of Savills Gibraltar Sammy Armstrong-Cruz, Alex Radford, from My Lawyer in Spain, and Vicky Kimberley, from Evita Estates, to discuss the market and pick up valuable online marketing tips from Rightmove executive Chris Please. Please told the Olive Press: “We have seen big growth in Spain this year and are predicting a big jump in July after the EU referendum.” The overseas boss added: “There is no doubt concern over Brexit is having an effect on the market though. “Indeed we estimate double the number of buyers putting their interest on hold, compared to last year. “I’m sure this will all end up positively one way or another, but particularly if the UK votes to stay in the EU.” Head of business development at FX specialists Smart Currency, Jana Korpova, who helped to organise the event, said: “It’s been a really interesting day with hundreds attending. “I think everyone gleaned a lot of specialist information.” She continued: “While 2016 thus far has been one of the strangest years for real estate, we have heard a lot of positivity from estate agents in Spain. “It was a fantastic forum for the industry to get together, exchange experiences and network with like-minded people.”

years experience in

ALL PROPERTY MATTERS

RICS SURVEYORS & VALUERS BY BUILDING CAMPBELL FERGUSON

peace as ofindividual mind follow but I haveFor my doubts greed is a culture hardproperty to stop. buying rules these And that’s evidenced by the proposal for a compost factory behind Cancelada, Estepona. Your Property For the sake of Find an individual promoter plus probably a few other ‘beneficiaries’, a whole valley’s attraction could be destroyed. Many hectares of land, environmentally suitable for development that Instruct will take Instruct pressureBuilding off areas of high landscape Surveyor Lawyer value, could be sterilised by an environmental disaster in the making. And that’s not counting the thousands of existing homes that will be affected, potentially destroying the quality of life Buy with Knowledge and health of tens&ofConfidence thousands of permanent and holiday residents. The economics don’t make sense in the location proposed as it can’t be profitable and+34meet the re952 923 520 environmental Connect with us! quirements. admin@surveyspain.com Esteponasurveyspain.com will be sterilising land where development could bring much-needed revenue. Ah, but maybe the EU will come to the valley’s aid and stop this foolishness. Like with the referendum, we wait and hope for common sense to triumph.

Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com

BOSSES: Please and Jana

EXPERTS: Jon Clarke (above, left) with attendees

Property

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Mansion where French general took refuge going for a bargain

Owners, 2016 is a record year for holiday guests – are you prepared? Writes Christine Trainor

Prevention better than cure

AY didn’t just bring the sun, but also the steady arrival of guests. The holiday season is almost in full flow and it is an essential time to make sure your property is prepared for the constant wave of visitors. The warm weather means most guests reach for the A/C control when they arrive, so the last thing you need is your air conditioning units to break down at the start of the season. Essential maintenance carried out now can save you a lot of expense from having to repair the units during the long summer months. If your air conditioning breaks down, a guest can ask for compensation, or even to be relocated, resulting in loss of rental income on top of having to pay for getting the unit fixed, and during the busy summer season parts and labour can often be in short supply. This is also an opportune moment to go through a checklist for all your appliances and furnishings. Does your kettle need descaling? Do you still have enough cutlery and crockery for the number of people accommodated? And what about your pillows and duvets (including the protectors) - do they need changing after the last season? Are your curtains or sofa looking tired and worn? A little investment at this stage can go a long way as worn out furnishings can spoil an otherwise perfect setting. There is also the exterior of the property to consider, even for apartments. Terraces need checking that the drainage is clear, the planters are weeded and any terrace furniture is still in good condition with no broken legs or weathered tops. As well as wanting everything to look great for the guests, you want to avoid any accidents occurring. When renting out your property, prevention is definitely better than cure, so take time now to help ensure you are not caught out. Trust me, it will pay off!

Visit www.homecareontheweb.com for more information

Place to be

Brits are still seeking out a switch to Spain and a trip to the Place in the Sun’s property show was concrete proof of that

LIVE LIKE NAPOLEON: Palace up for a steal

Pit-stop bargain A SPANISH aristocrat’s palace that once hosted Napoleon is on the market. For the bargain price of €350,000, you too can rest your head where the French military general once did. Five-bedroomed Castrojanillos palace in Valderas, Valencia, was a refuge for Bonaparte when he was travelling through the peninsula. The neo-classical pile changed hands in 2014 for €540,000 but the current owner is clearly keen to pass it on as the price has dropped by almost €200,000. It has two bathrooms, seven balconies and a sizeable 1,200 square metres of floor

MORTGAGE THINK TANK by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

space. The history-drenched property was declared ‘of cultural interest’ in 2008 and belonged to the Marquis of Castrojanillos for many years. Best of all, it comes fur-

which helped liberate Spain from French occupation. Cadiz played a strategic role for the allied forces to defeat the French while British naval gunboats from Gibraltar also worked to fight the attacking French forces.

Palma palace A STUNNING 12th century palace in Mallorca has been shortlisted in Billionaire magazine’s ‘seven most majestic properties on the market now’. The list, compiled in honour of the British Queen’s 90th birthday, showcases castles in Edinburgh, Staffordshire, Portugal and Siena. The Palma de Mallorca pile, in the heart of the old town, is a lavish 20-bedroom property based around a typical Spanish courtyard. With nine-metre high ceilings, grand arches and stairways, a library and a wine cellar, the €10.5 million house is fit for a rey.

MAJESTIC: 12th century Mallorcan palace

RITISH people are as interested in in Spain. In truth a number of clients have buying property in Spain as they said they are putting off a move until after have ever been. That is not my opin- the Brexit referendum. ion, it is a fact. However, a large number of ready-to-be exLast week, I sampled that interest first pats I met at the show are steaming ahead hand at the Place in the Sun property event regardless. in Kensington, London. With a number of And it was the same feeling across the Costa del Sol agents at the fair, I worked event, where properties on offer ranged non-stop for three days. In total I spoke to from southern France to Florida. upwards of 70 clients all seriously consid- With over 150 official agents on display, A ering a move to sunny Spain. Place in the Sun is the official exhibition of Ironically it was 29 degrees the Channel 4 TV show and out on the streets of London the largest overseas properbut I was cooped up inside ty exhibition in Europe. dealing with prospective cli- A large number of They hold shows in London, ents. ready-to-be expats Glasgow and Manchester Offering advice on all mortand I have previously visited gage and insurance queries, I met are steaming shows in Birmingham. I was on hand to help all the ahead regardless As a mortgage broker these Spanish firms, being an indetrips are necessary to keep a pendent agent. finger on the pulse of moving And although it was tough markets. work it was encouraging to Last year I went to Dubai to see such a high demand in Spanish prop- sample the interest and a trip over to Iran erty from British buyers. has been tabled for later this year. And it wasn’t just the buyers out in force. With the relaxation of sanctions imposed The Costa del Sol was well represented by on Iran since the nuclear deal with the several esteemed agents and they weren’t West, demand for overseas property, with alone as a number of Costa Blanca agents Spain at the forefront, is bound to boom… were also showcasing what they had to of- But, with interest as strong as ever, I am fer. sure that the Brits will continue to make up All in all the feeling was good about buying the majority of my clientele. To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 Email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670

nished already so the vintage, shabby chic ambience is included. Napoleon spent many years trying to invade Andalucia, but French troops were finally forced to retreat in 1812’s Battle of Salamanca,

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Property Sterling Agony Uncle

June 8th - June 21st 2016

POLITICAL uncertainty is never good for a currency, and we have seen sterling suffer tremendously over the last few months, as the Brexit referendum approaches. Before a June referendum was announced, Sterling had suffered a 12-cent drop, edging under the 1.30 mark. While that decline was mostly due to interest rate expectation adjustments, it is likely that the potential for Brexit was also influential. It seems a long time ago now, but when David Cameron successfully renegotiated Britain’s membership terms with the continent, there was relative optimism, as the Pound actually rallied on the news by nearly 2%. Over that weekend, we saw the referendum announced for June 23 and sterling began to fall apart, challenging fresh lows, with the gains of 2015 wiped out. If Britain does indeed vote to leave the EU, most analysts agree the Pound is likely to suffer, certainly in the short term. Goldman Sachs is suggesting that it could be as much as a 20% decline in Sterling’s value overnight, which would put levels near parity in sight, as we saw (but did not quite reach) in 2008/2009. Fortunately, the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum provides some precedent. It looked incredibly close to most pollsters in the run up and Sterling lost nearly 2% of value across the board. However, this was quickly

lowdown A

Matthew Harris of Cambridge FX, explores foreign exchange market movements in the run up and aftermath of the Brexit referendum

recovered when the union remained intact. Another useful event to consider was when Britain found itself without a government for a few days following the 2010 general election which saw the first hung parliament in nearly a century. When it became clear that this was likely, sterling began to slide, dropping from 1.19 the day before the election to 1.12 the day after. Again, this was corrected when a coalition was formed, though the Pound still found itself worse off compared to the week prior. Given that experts are split on what the referendum impact could be, the risk of trusting one side over another seems rather high. As a result, the question for those with a large future currency exposure has shifted from

‘What is going to happen with the result’ to ‘How do I want to manage the currency risk’. We have seen a significant increase in clients employing hedging strategies (contingency planning) to protect themselves from adverse market movement. The most common strategy is to use a forward contract, which allows you to lock in the exchange rate at the current level, then when you need to use the currency, that is the rate you get. Other strategies like limit orders and stop losses allow you to set a target (limit) or worst case (stop loss) level. All of these tools are offered by most currency specialists free of charge, and you should talk through each scenario carefully with a specialist before committing. To discuss your foreign exchange obligations please email costadelsol@cambridgefx.co.uk or call 0034 952830176

S it’s my first column, I would like every reader to understand the two simple steps necessary to make your adventure - living in this beautiful country - a memorable experience. It’s essential for those who wish to have peace of mind as well as making the most of the Spanish lifestyle. If you want to take advantage of what is available, services such as medical/health, financial/banking, property, business et al, then you will need to accept, that without considering these steps, life could prove rather frustrating and stressful. Naturally, all of this is for those expats wishing to establish themselves here for six months or more. Generally, these two steps apply to those coming from both the EU and further afield, obviously those from the EU will be treated more favourably, governed by less conditions and therefore less paperwork. Step One El Padron, Empadronamiento. Registering with your local council (ayuntamiento). This is a fairly simple process of entering the council offices with proof of address (service bill, rental contract, property deeds) and normally within a week you will have your notification of enlistment. This enables you to vote, use council services, participate in local events and so on. It is always worth asking your town hall for the benefits of this. Also, stipulate that you wish to be placed on the electoral register, this document is normally free. Step Two N.I.E.(Numero Identificacion Extranjero) This is the Expats ID card/document obtained from the National Police station (Foreigners Dept). With this in your possession, all becomes possible, from opening a bank account to contracting a service provider, purchasing a property, working, setting up a business and obtaining free medical care. It’s worthwhile making sure you acquire all the relevant paperwork for this. In the majority of cases you will need your passport, a copy, three passport photos, your application form, EX15, a copy, notification of private health insurance, and for those not working, a bank statement showing at least €5,000.

With Leon Cohen

Two simple steps

Get your papers in order to take advantage of the dream Spanish lifestyle, writes Leon Cohen in his debut Olive Press column In some places, you may find it possible to pre book an appointment. But this is not the norm outside of cities, so be prepared and patient, setting aside sufficient time. You can also download the form from the Internet, something unheard of 10 years ago. After your appointment, you will be issued with the stamped photocopy of the form and be told to return to collect your ID within two to six weeks. Again, you will need to produce your passport and the stamped copy of the form EX15 for them to issue you with your document. The cost of €21 is payable, alongside the form issued at the time of application. Having put yourself through these two tasks, you should feel proud and begin to enjoy the culture and lifestyle that living here provides. God bless, be well, stay happy... Any queries, don’t hesitate to drop me a line or call direct, it’s my business to help relieve the stress and uncertainty, making for a happier expat experience.

For more information call Facilitator Spain on 692212567 or email leonc052@gmail.com

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April 2016

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June 8th - June 21st 2016

Pick of the bunch

Now LA Liga wants to re-brand itself as world’s best football league

THE Spanish tourism surge is in full swing with new figures THE quality of Real Madrid, confirming holidaymakers are Atletico and Barcelona are unshunning Turkey and North deniable, having dominated Africa for ‘safer’ European des- the Europa Champions League tinations. Download our app now and for years. But La Liga pales in While tourist arrivals in April comparison with the likes of begin enjoying the best Spanish jumped 11.3% to 6.1 million England’s competitive Premier newswith on the go.same month League, where a Cinderella compared the in 2015, tourist numbers for the story like Leicester is always a first four months of the year are possibility. up by a massive 13%. La Liga now wants to raise the A total of 18.1 million people profile of its 17 other teams. have holidayed in Spain up to This year has seen it open ofApril. fices in New York, Singapore, British visitors were up, with 4 Johannesburg and Beijing, and million coming over, a 19.4% hire past greats like Raul to increase compared to the same serve as global ambassadors of projects, all in a bid to portray their friends,” said La Liga’s The period last year.Olive Press the Spanish game. a friendly image and build up director of sales and marketing Last year’s Tunisian attack in Each office comes with acad- a network of global local supAdolfo Bara, “We call ourselves forsaw news Spain!emies, scouting and coaching porters. “We think it’s very SousseTOP which 38 in people the ‘Liga Amiga’, the friendly tragically shot has halted the programmes and community important that we are seen as league. That means that we North African country’s tourism. While visitors to Turkey, which has seen several bombings this year, fell by 28% in April comLARGE sections of Spain’s high-speed pared to the same month last A RECORD-BREAKING underwater megarailway are deserted, according to new year. cable between Spain and the US is being built data. 26% of Brits plan to retire here. by Facebook and Microsoft. In total, one in four AVE stations are The 6000km cable will run from Northused by less than 100 passengers a day. ern Virginia to Bilbao, and can carry record Two stations in Valencia, Requenaamounts of data at 160 terrabytes per second. Utiel and Villena, have come under Scheduled to be completed next October, the particular criticism for their lack of lead will link Europe, the Middle East and use. Asia with the US via Spain. Both welcome around 20 passengers It is hoped it will act as a springboard for IT per day, despite a combined cost of €24 based companies in northern Spain. million to construct. IN DEMAND: Spain

STEP UP: La Liga is aiming high

Viva La Liga

Ghost trains

want to be seen as the property that helps to develop football in the different markets, but with a very humble approach.” They are also hoping to increase the quality and volume of their global media rights sales. Broadcaster’s looking to show their games must commit to three live games every weekend both on TV and online. “The way to increase the value of the rights is to increase the value of the brand,” said Bara, “so that’s why we want to increase our presence in different markets.” The League recently closed their first centralised global TV deal worth €1.6bn, and is aiming to increase it by €2.5bn in the next sales cycle.

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46 the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016 46 NEWS IN BRIEF

New horizons SAMSUNG Pay - where you can pay using your Samsung mobile - has deployed into its first European market in Spain.

Stand still RYANAIR had to cancel more than 75 flights due to the French Air Traffic Control’s 50th strike.

You’re hired! THE number of jobless people in Spain fell under nine million for the first time since 2009 in May.

Fancy EUROPE’S first luxury Park Hyatt Hotel has opened on the Spanish island resort of Mallorca.

Warning SPAIN’S central bank has warned that the next government must rein in spending and implement tougher rules to battle the deficit.

TOP DOLLAR

Real success stories Lawyer Jose Manuel Diaz at Konsell Abogados reveals how his firm works hard to make clients’ lives easier

VERYONE knows two things are certain in life: death and taxes. You should hopefully already know that any will made in Spain should match your UK will, going on the new EU regulations, And most importantly, succession cannot be overlooked and taking action now will prevent your loved ones going through unnecessary suffering. Don’t just lie back thinking it will not affect you, it may come back to haunt you. We are here to help, and here are some of our clients who we have helped in the past:

Big fish She worked her way up through a multinational oil company from personal assistant to become, eventually a big fish… indeed, one of the top managers in the Netherlands.

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MAKING LIFE EASIER: Konsell team

One day using her expertise she decided to set up her own business assisting executives, working remotely here in sunny Spain! She took on her sister and another employee, who had experience in the export flower market, and the company has grown and grown. After trying several tax-legal firms, but failing to find the high level of service she had grown accustomed to back home, she got in touch with Konsell Abogados & Asesores. Now three years on and she is delighted to see how her business is growing without having to worry about her legal or tax matters. Indeed, for the last two years in a row she has received more than €10,000 in IVA refunds, thanks to the hard work of four different professionals at Konsell, who have all played their part in helping her.

Happy Hans

Taking on incompetence

One day we received a peculiar phone call from a legal colleague in Barcelona. He was in a real pickle, as he had tried to assist his German friend and businessman, Hans, to buy a villa on the Costa de la Luz. After getting him to sign a contract and letting him pay a €15,000 deposit, he realised he had messed it all up as there appeared two embargoes, one from a bank and another from social security, on the property in question. Wisely, he decided to look for skilled professionals in Andalucia to get out of the legal quagmire and in just 45 days we got Hans a clean and unencumbered title which gave considerable relief to a comrade!

We have just started helping a businesswoman whose tax advisor - a very cheap one - had been hiding notices of fines and infracciones from the tax authorities (Hacienda) for years. She only found out when, out of the blue, Hacienda withheld €25,000 from her business account. On visiting her local tax office she discovered she owes €75,000, including tax bills, fines and interests. We are now dealing with the issue and making this advisor face the consequences of his actions, as we have done in similar cases several times before. We expect success. Can we help you with your issues here in Spain? Contact Konsell Abogados & Asesores for any legal and tax matters wherever you are at info@konsell.es or (+34) 956 330083

Better to plan ahead W Advertorial

A member of the IFP-Iberian Group

e all know, from our own experience or that of close friends, how traumatic it is to have to cope with paperwork, officials and bureaucracy at a time when we are emotionally vulnerable. And yet, that is precisely the situation that we find ourselves in when there is no funeral plan in place. This time of grief can be made much easier on your family by having a pre-planned and pre-paid funeral plan ready in the event of your death. Iberian Funeral Plans SL.established in 2006 is one of the key professionals in the sector and want to be able to offer the full range of benefits of an Iberian Funeral Plan to everyone, irrespective of where they live. That is why Iberian has developed a network of locations throughout Spain, Portugal, and its island’s. With Locations at Alhaurin el Grande/Malaga, Benijofar, Ayamonte, Castila, Nerja, Tenerife, Tavira, Portimao By pre-planning now you fix the cost of your funeral at today’s prices, which are inflation proof irrespective of how long you live. Our plans start at €3390 and Payment can be made in euros or sterling either as a lump sum or by a deposit and regular installments which attract no interest. Our plans ARE NOT subject to IVA, furthermore we do not charge a set-up fee, administration fee

or interest –. Plan Benefits are transferable to the U.K. and other EU countries. Iberian is a fully operational registered Sl company, with Iberian Lda in Portugal and IFP – Iberian Ltd in the UK, (The Iberian Group). All funds are held in secure ring fenced accounts with Santander, HSBC and BBVA bank. Thru our own funeral directors Iberian Servicios Funerarios SL, with a centralized freephone bereavement helpline we work with several major funeral directors enabling us to operate to the highest possible standards. Please contact us for further information or a no Just a note to say thanks for all your help at Iberian from start to obligation/no pressure chat or visit from one of our repfinish. It us an excellent service. From signing up...costs...and finally the funeral itself, everyone in- resentatives. volved did an excellent job and with care and dignity. In recognition of beWhat could have been a stressful and sad experience...was haning established 10 dled efficiently and with care. Your funeral director Juan and the humanist speaker Maria were years in Spain we are wonderful and went the extra mile for us so that my father experi- offering until June enced more of a UK funeral than a Spanish one. It sounds bad but 30th €100 off our the cost was also very good...an important issue for the elderly. cedar plans when Thanks to you and your plan our loved ones will not have to think you quote reference too much about the practicalities of death.

Shirleys funeral

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En buen camino

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47 47

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Safety Space for all... THE Guardia Civil has launched a campaign urging drivers to keep cyclists safe on the roads. The ‘A life goes on a bike’ campaign begs drivers to leave cyclists a berth of 1.5 metres when overtaking them.

EXPLOSIVE: Crash

Fireball A FIERY crash has occurred in the Moto2 race at the Motorland Aragon near Zaragoza. An exploding gas tank erupted into a huge fireball, engulfing most of the track and endangering four riders. It happened when Xavi Cardelus lost control of his bike, flying off it before it flipped several times, causing the fuel tank to break off and land in the middle of the track. The red flag was immediately shown and, somewhat amazingly, no competitors suffered major injuries. The race was restarted without Cardelus, whose bike was irreparable.

LUCKY: Cardelus

“It’s not a cyclist, it’s a father or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter that you’re overtaking - so give them 1.5 metres as there’s space for everyone,” reads the statement. The latest statistics confirm there

were 6,890 cyclist accidents on Spain’s roads with 75 deaths, 54 of them on dual carriageways, in 2014.

No pain, no claim No payout for Spanish car owner who bought faulty Volkswagen

A SPANISH car owner has been left thousands of euros out of pocket after buying a faulty Volkswagen. The owner took his claim against a Volk-

swagen dealership to court in Cantabria, but the judge ruled in the defendant’s favour. It was decided that the €10,000 car had

Easy rider THE world’s first 3D-printed motorcycle has arrived. Designed and produced by European consortium Airbus and APWork, the vehicle weighs 35kg and can reach 80 km/h. Spain is a pioneer in 3D printing and the country made headlines when it brought the technology into the world of food and fine dining. WORLD FIRST: 3D printed bike

Hell of a repair job...

COLLISION: Hamilton and Rosberg

MECHANICS at Mercedes have been working in overdrive since Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed in last month’s Spanish Grand Prix. The team has been forced to inspect 1,200 parts of its Formula One car following the collision on the first corner at the Catalunya track. Rosberg has subsequently taken the blame for the collision yet F1 rules state that each part of the car must be inspected for safety reasons. Any part deemed safe will be salvaged and used to put both cars back together.

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been sold in ‘good faith’ with no knowledge of the faulty engine and therefore the claim was thrown out. This is the first case to be brought against Volkswagen in Spain and the first in the world to side with the car manufacturer.

Thrown out

The claimant is now taking the decision to EU court after exhausting his options in Spain. In contrast, eight similar claims in Germany have all sided with the claimant. Last year, Volkswagen admitted 800,000 VW cars worldwide have faulty CO2 emissions, 50,000 in Spain.

SMASHED UP: Cars

Cop crash TWO guardia civil cars have collided spectacularly while chasing a suspect. The fugitive, suspected of burglary, fled through Torrevieja town centre on foot after his vehicle was punctured, with the two police vehicles in hot pursuit. But the officers crashed at the intersection of two streets, one colliding with a tree and the other with a bollard. While the injured officers were taken to Torrevieja hospital, the suspect was captured and arrested.

48 48 48 the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016

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the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016

Believe it or not, his ITV Brexit interview was not Giles’ small screen debut

OU will all know the familiar saying about never working with animals or children on TV. After my recent appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, that saw me holding forth on all things EU referendum with presenter Kate Garraway, some might be tempted to add ‘bald bearded expats’ to that list. However, my TV history actually dates back to the 70s. I had a happy birthday message read out on the brilliant and anarchic Tizwas – hosted by Chris Tarrant long before his ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ heyday. A kids breakfast TV show that was hugely enjoyed by adults, Tizwas featured Spit the Dog, the Phantom Flan Flinger and a very young Lenny Henry.

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As seen on TV Blue Peter was the other show that shaped my childhood, very much the polite and goodmannered choirboy to Tizwas’s problem child. I tried in vain to get a Blue Peter badge. It’s probably scarred me emotionally somewhere. My first proper appearance on TV came in the late 90s. The Jerry Springer Show was

www.theolivepress.es June 8th - June 21st 2016

TV STARS: Giles with Garraway

a huge hit over in the US and regional TV stations in the UK decided that they needed their own combative talk shows. The only problem was that they needed guests who could talk semi-intelligently in front of the camera, wouldn’t swear and wouldn’t end up knocking seven bells out of each other. A harder task than you might

The dark art of chuletas

Cheating in exams begins very young in Spain, discovers English teacher Sam Goodwin

OES anybody enjoy exams? First there’s the revision. Lonely nights stuck by a lamp reading through dog-eared textbooks. Then there is the actual exam. Row upon row of frowning faces, racking their frazzled brains for answers. As an English teacher in an academy in Spain, I give out my fair share of exams to a variety of ages. The country’s education system is overwhelmed by exams. Young students tell me on a weekly basis of tests in their colleges and it only continues into adulthood. La Selectividad, for example, is a necessary exam to get into a Spanish university. It consists of six 90 minute written exams over three days. That’s before university! If only there was another way to pass an important test for those who struggle to knuckle down and study… Well, there is ‘copiar’, or cheating, as we say in English. There is no exact translation for the word ‘cheat’, but ‘to CHEATING: Student copy’ is the umbrella term for all forms of the dark art. I recently found a cheat note in the bin of my classroom, which sits just behind my chair and desk. The dastardly culprit must have said ‘goodbye’ to me after the exam, dropped the note in the bin and sprinted off. And this was an exam for eight year olds. The use of a cheat note is common enough in Spain to warrant its own name, ‘chuleta’ (which also means pork chop). The chuleta I found was a long, crumpled up piece of paper with a list of present to past verbs. Unfortunately for this culprit the ink was red. This

meant I could match the only exam paper I received that had answers written in the same colour. Caught red handed! But why did the student do it? Without the chuleta I am certain they still would have passed. But what is more striking is the age of the schemer. There seems to be a culture of ‘copiar’, both for young and older students, that may be a result of pressure. The amount of important exams to progress in a career in Spain is incredible, particularly in the fields of teaching and engineering. Anxiety to succeed can influence the noblest of students. However, experience tells me cheat notes better reflect a lack of studying and disregard for any consequential punishment. And it appears the chuleta is getting a 21st century technological upgrade in Spain. Instead of paper tucked into a pencil case, recent news reports claim students are inserting small microphones right into their ear. They can then listen to recordings of answers or formulae to aid them. After the exam, they remove the small black object with a magnet. This reminds me of an episode of Spongebob Squarepants when he inserts a walkie talkie into his head in one hopeless pursuit to pass a driving test. But in Spain, it appears this isn’t a joke. The companies that actually sell these tiny devices are themselves the real cheaters, raking in hundreds of euros for people who are desperate, and very likely unprepared, to pass a difficult exam.

think for an embattled producer, so an actor friend of mine set up a covert agency to provide ‘members of the public’ for the shows. And it really was no expense spared with me being picked up in a limo from London, driven to the studio (it was normally Central TV, so that meant Nottingham) being allowed to indulge myself of the freeflowing hospitality in the Green Room and then having my 15 minutes of fame, normally as the bad guy. It could get quite heated. On one show I was holding forth on why I didn’t like bottled blondes (I always got the serious debates) when a voice from the audience shouted out on live TV, “You can talk. You bald b*****d!” On my return to Marbella I was swift to sign up with a couple of agencies that needed, ahem, ‘interesting models’. This led to two day’s work as an extra in Eastenders when they filmed in Marbella, and more memorably, being a Genie in a Romanian chocolate bar commercial.

Hauled

This entailed me having my head shaved, donning a pair of giant Spock ears and being spraypainted chocolate brown. Thankfully the advert never made YouTube... These days however, my TV appearances are limited to news stories, such as the Coin fires and Ashya King saga. The impending EU referendum has also seen me hauled before the cameras to discuss the impact that Brexit might have on the expat community. So far this year I have voiced my opinion on BBC, Chinese TV, ITV and most recently Good Morning Britain, the latter entailing that I be at the five-star Puente Romano Beach Resort and Spa at 5.45am. This was, however, more than compensated by an outstanding buffet breakfast spread and my 15 minutes of infamy live on national TV. All went smoothly, although one of my old friends who partied with me in the 90s commented that if I was the voice of reason on the Coast then we were all doomed... For the record, if leaving Europe means that we don’t have to endure the Eurovision Song Contest, then I’m all for it!

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

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THE best Irish bar outside of Ireland has officially opened its doors on the Costa del Sol. With champagne bottles, Guinness and Elvis impersonator at the ready, Healy Mac’s cut the ribbon in style. Unveiling a new deck area, the popular watering hole in Estepona port now boasts three separate terraces to enjoy the sea view.

BE ‘APPY! ON HOLS: Ricky and son Download our app now and begin enjoying the best Spanish news on the go.

June 8th - June 21st 2016

As well as its picturesque setting, Healy Mac’s is also the best place to watch sport, with several flat screens accessible both inside and out. Throw in Stelvis (British Elvis impersonator, real name Steve) and a stellar menu - look out for the chicken goujons and filet steak - and the pub ticks all the boxes.

A family owned business established in Cork, Ireland, Healy Mac’s set up shop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2009 where it was crowned ‘the best Irish bar outside of Ireland’. Bringing several members of the Malaysian team over to Spain, Healy Mac’s is already a hit with expats and is bound to be full come the Eu- STEVE: Or Stelvis ros this month.

Red-faced

BOXING legend Ricky Hatton has taken on and defeated a 2,500-calorie ‘Benidorm Breakfast’ while on hols with his son. The heart-clogging meal consisted of six slices of toast, four sausages, two fried eggs, mushTheand Olive rooms, beans a side of Press chips, THE world’s most famous food fight all chugged down with a can of is facing a backlash from tomatoTOP for news inwho Spain! diet coke. The 37-year-old, famished Nigerians. held various titles across a glitNewspapers in Nigeria have slammed tering career, is known for his the Tomatina festival which sees love of food, but sees the funny some 100 tons of tomatoes lobbed side of his reputation. across the streets in Bunol, near VaThe boxing promoter tweeted: “I’ve never walked away from lencia, every August. a challenge and this is one. But The African country is currently exthere is only one Ricky Fatton.” periencing a massive tomato shortage

MAMMOTH: Brekkie

Nigerian backlash at Tomatina festival amid tomato crisis

which the media has labelled ‘tomato ebola’. Massacred by a moth called the Tuta Absoluta, crops have been reduced by as much as 80%. The massacre has resulted in a huge price increase for the red fruit, with a box of tomatoes which previously cost €1.20 now costing as much as

€40. Aware of Spain’s upcoming food fight, one paper, Newsroom, ran a series of photos under the headline ‘La Tomatina: 17 tomato photos that’ll make Nigerians cry, “Where is our God?’’.

Rejected

Another, News 24 Nigeria, ran a similar story titled ‘Five tomato photos that will make Nigerians cry’. However the mayor of Bunol, Rafa Perez Gil, has rejected the idea his town is at fault. “The food fight is not to blame for the problems in Nigeria,” he said. “Although I am open to see how we can help, but the problem is very big and we are just a small town.”

Kill Bill SPAIN has raised concerns over Ireland’s new bill tackling the sale of bargain booze. The Public Health Alcohol Bill, currently in its second stage of approval, seeks to enforce mandatory health warnings, calorie labelling and a ban on TV adverts before 9pm. Spain and ten other EU countries have issued concerns over its affect on their alcohol trade. Ireland has until the end of July to issue a response to each member state, but insisted the bill is needed to tackle its binge drinking culture.

Fakin’ it THE Guardia Civil seized more than 120 tonnes of fake olive oil in a targeted sting. Operation Cloroil led to the arrest of nine people in Jaen while two more are being investigated.

K KOKOMO GLAMOUR: Guests mingle at the Oak launch

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Ricky Fatton

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

RESTAURANT, GARDEN & GRILL

Out of acorns

T was the most exciting restaurant launch of the summer so far. The great and the good of Marbella stepped out for a taster of what is expected to make The Oak Garden & Grill mighty. Appropriately centred around a stunning

oak tree that has been installed at a cost of thousands, the views up towards La Concha mountain are amazing. Local business figures mingled with footballers and models at the venue in Puerto Banus, which is part of the La Sala group. Champagne flowed sweetly alongside some of the country’s best jamon iberico from Jabugo, in Aracena. Head chef James Adams has created an intriguing international menu, with a range of exciting dishes, including cognac-infused Lobster Bisque and freshlyflaked Alaskan crab ceviche with avocado.

Intriguing

Long-time Marbella restaurateur Garry Waite has been drafted in to help make the restaurant a success. There are 10 types of beef, including Wagyu and American Black Angus, while guests got to try out a taster of the stunning Galician beef, served with cherry tomatoes.

For information and reservations

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Food, drink & travel

With its prancing horses, Grand Prix racers and fiery flamenco, the city with the PX factor also delivers culture by the barrelful, writes Nick Nutter in an extract from his book, The Sherry Triangle

ENTION Jerez de la Frontera to most people and they will immediately think of sherry. Quite rightly, since Jerez is the world centre of the famous wine called sherry, and in 2013 Jerez de la Frontera was appointed the European Capital of Wine. A lesser-known achievement is the 2014 award of Motorbike Capital, the first in the world, gained for holding the Grand Prix motorcycle racing events since 1987 at the nearby Circuito de Jerez. This event occurs in late April or early May when tens of thousands of bikers from all over the world home in on the city. Jerez is also known as the city for flamenco and horses. Although there is no heavy industry and no civil service presence, Jerez is the centre of an agricultural industry that includes the cultivation of fruits,

Make merry in sherryshire BEAUTIFUL: Jerez and (inset) the drink

Jerez – a potted history from 1000 BC

JEREZ was founded in 1000BC by the Phoenicians, before the Romans developed it, leaving tellingly, among other items, a mosaic depicting vine leaves and tendrils. Always a favourable site for wine with its chalky albariza soils, it was the Moors however, who in 711 named the city Scheris, from which its current name and famous wine heralds. While it was the 500 years of Moorish rule to which the city owes much of its rich culture, the British actually made the city rich when by the 17th century around 70 per cent of the area’s wines were being exported to England. Drunk by Kings, Shakespeare’s character

grain and vegetables and horse and cattle husbandry. Not forgetting those all-important products - wine, sherry and brandy. It has become the centre of transportation and communications for the province, surpassing even the capital city of Cadiz in economic activity. Over recent years there have also been successful initiatives to increase the tourist trade to the city, based not least on its historical heritage that dates back to the Neolithic period. So, what to expect from the city? Most people arrive by car, after all Jerez is billed as a transport hub. The hub is the ring road. To actually penetrate the heart of the city you must leave the security of that road and take to the unknown, naively

Falstaff in King Henry the Fourth, regaled that sherry ‘ascends into the brain; makes it quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery . . . and becomes excellent wit’. At its peak there were said to be 10,000 bodegas in the city, with hundreds of English merchants setting up alongside the Spanish. It is even said that Sir Francis Drake worked as a merchant before going on to command the fleet that later sank the Spanish Armada in 1588. In the claims by historian Diego Parada, his well-chronicled hatred for the Spanish came after he was attacked and beaten up by another merchant called Melgarejo.

following the signs for ‘centro de ciudad’ until you start to recognise corners, junctions, bodegas, even local men and women sitting in the sun outside their front doors, and realise that you are travelling in ever-decreasing circles. The vehicular signposting is atrocious. One of the best aids to navigation is the Gonzalez Byass, Tio Pepe weather vane, the largest in the world, towering over the Gonzalez Byass bodega. First impressions may be that there is a very ‘British’ feel to the place. The British have, of course, been involved in Jerez for 300 years now, as financiers, industrialists and partners in the sherry in-

dustry. The many posters, billboards and name plates outside the bodegas, each the size of a small village with grand wrought iron, gilded gates, bear witness to that with names such as Sandeman, Harvey and Williams and Humbert … but there is more. Walking past a line of shops, a gents’ outfitters will catch the eye, not because they do not have such shops in Spain, but because the window is full of tweed and lounge suits with leather elbow patches, brown brogues, trilby hats and gentlemen’s scarves. Once you have seen such a shop you will notice that many of the men are indeed wearing that apparel - clearly a British influence at work here although I am not sure brown shoes go with dark blue suits, even if they do have elbow patches. If you happen to be in Jerez during a rainstorm, you will see what I can only describe as ‘the sprouting of the umbrellas’. They suddenly appear in everybody’s hands and form a jostling carapace over the footpath, just like Oxford Street on a wet Friday. Or perhaps the atmosphere is a direct result of all shopkeepers, assistants, bar proprietors and restaurant waiters immediately recognising you as British and addressing you in perfect English. They all have a certain cheerfulness about them that I can only describe as, well, British. Which brings me to my next point. Jerez is a cheerful city and it is not wholly due to the

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

53 June 8th - June 21st 2016

HISTORIC: Stunning architecture and feria culture in Jerez

amount of sherry produced and consumed. It is colourful with great patches of green areas studded with flower beds, hanging baskets but, most of all, those bodegas. Each one seems to have its own roundabout at the gate and each one seems to be in competition with the next to make its roundabout the most attractive. The walls surrounding the bodega are usually sparkling white, allowing occasional glimpses of the manicured gardens within. A lack of heavy industry means the air is clear, and that must help to keep the buildings within the town clean. It is a pleasure to wander the streets and plazas. Whilst wandering, you will stumble across any number of cafes, restaurants and bars. It is in the latter that you should try the sherry. There are nine types produced within the Sherry Triangle, an area of land formed by a line between the

towns of Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlúcar de Barrameda and dozens of manufacturers and labels. They range from the driest fino sherry to the sweetest Jerez dulce so there is plenty of choice and many decisions to be made as to which you prefer.

Exquisite

In order to value the sherrytasting experience, it is worth savouring the moment by first visiting one of the city’s many attractions. The 12th-century Alcazar is one of the last examples of Almohade architecture in Spain and contains an exquisite little mosque. For horse admirers, a visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is essential. This school is ranked with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and it is here that Andalusian horses are taught to ‘dance’, a carefully choreographed performance from horse and rider.

Alongside the school premises is the Carriage Museum, a collection of horse-drawn road carriages ranging from sporty little numbers to elaborate gilded coaches. If you have time, then a visit to the clock museum is worthwhile. Its 302 clocks, mainly British and French and dating back hundreds of years, are dedicatedly wound periodically and maintained to keep perfect time... well almost. On the hour, all the British chiming clocks chime and the time is set so that as one finishes, another begins; and at the half hour, the French chiming clocks strike up. There is a definite bass note to the former and a twinkling light-hearted treble from the latter. Time now, I think, for that sherry. ‘The Sherry Triangle’ is a book written by Nick Nutter. It is available now on Amazon and Kindle.

Noche de

San Juan en PLAYA ANCHA

CASARES COSTA Jueves 23 de Junio 20:30h Animación y atracciones infantiles en la playa

22:00h Fin curso de la Escuela Municipal de Baile de Casares Costa (flamenco y ballet) y baile flamenco de María Soler. A continuación la Orquesta de Frank Bravo “La Bravissima”, que nos acompañará durante toda la velada

00:00h HOGUERA DE SAN JUAN

2016 Concejalía de Casares Costa Ayuntamiento de Casares

WHERE WOULD

YOU RATHER BE? HERE?

OR HERE? Escape to the mountains this June. Because of the wet weather in May, everything is still green and very beautiful in the hills. Wild flowers, butterflies, eagles, peace and quiet. Mix that with a comfortable small hotel where you’ll enjoy personal service and great food and you can relax from the minute you arrive. Award-winning Molino del Santo would love to welcome you this June - whether you visit just for lunch or dinner or manage to arrange to stay over. Ideal for special occasions and celebrations of all kinds with an experienced team who will make sure you have an amazing time, why not head for the mountains soon. Read the reviews on Trip Advisor - or just ask around. For a small place we’ve got a big reputation. If it will be your first visit, let us know and we’ll have a small gift waiting for you. So what’s your excuse? Molino del Santo is waiting to welcome you.

Molino del Santo in Benaoján Station near Ronda It doesn’t suit everyone. Last minute offers sometimes available - e-mail for details. ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

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the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016

ur y Ho Happrom f 0 - 18:3 16:00

Golf

Super Sergio SERGIO Garcia has matched golfing legend Seve Ballesteros’ Spanish record of nine PGA tour wins. After victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament in Texas, USA, Garcia is now on par with his former mentor. The win came despite two

Garcia equals Seve Ballesteros’ Spanish record with ninth PGA tour win wayward shots which ended up in the water. In the end, the Spaniard

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www.theolivepress.es June 8th - June 21st 2016

GOLF enthusiasts have reason to celebrate as Estepona Golf has unveiled its summer special deals. Tailored offers to suit holidaymakers and residents alike have been made to suit all levels. The most popular package is the Early Bird Special, which includes 18 holes of golf, buggy hire and a full English breakfast for just €55. A Captains Day competition is also being hosted on July 2 in memory of George Pusey???. The competition follows a Texas scramble format with teams of four urged to sign up. It costs €70 per person and all funds go to the British Heart foundation and BFBS Salute.

needed a play-off to fend off American challenger Brooks Koepka after the pair ended

Below par

SPAIN saw off a spirited England side to claim victory in the annual Under-16 mixed international golf tournament. The eight-strong English squad fought back in a tough match at the Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid, but still ended up losing 14.5 - 9.5. Coach Sarah Bennett said they should be very proud of themselves after clawing back a big first day deficit of 9.5 - 2.5, and winning the second day’s play 7-5. “They all showed a lot of grit and determination,” she said. “I’m so proud of them for the way they came back. They could so easily have gone out there and thought they had lost.”

up level. Garcia, who also triumphed in Texas in 2004, paid tribute to Ballesteros who died five years ago last month. “I won a bit like Seve,” said Garcia. “This is going to drop me nicely into the Ryder Cup points league. That means a lot.” He will also be representing Spain at the Rio Olympics this summer, but his main focus is making his eighth European Ryder Cup team - five of which were successful. Despite his success on the tour, Garcia is still without a major honour.

The Butterfly effect TWO big fundraising events in early June rallied support for the Butterfly Children Charity. A golf tournament and prize-giving presentation took place at Aloha Golf Club on June 4 with sports all day and prizes from 8:30pm. The club also hosted a Gala Ball the following

evening with a special guest in the shape of two-time US Open winner Michael Campbell. Both events raised awareness and funds to help those suffering from Butterfly Skin and their families. Visit www.debra.es or contact butterflychildren@debra.es for more information.

LEGEND: Garcia (right)

Sport

www.theolivepress.es

CHAMP: Joshua en route to Gibraltar

Ready to rumble HEAVYWEIGHT champion of the world Anthony Joshua has his sights set on the Rock. The pin-up boy of British boxing will be hosting a meet and greet event aboard the Sunborn next month. Recently crowned IBF champ after dispatching American Charles Martin, Joshua will be taking some time out to meet with fans after his next bout against Dominic Breazeale. “Anthony appreciates that he has fans all over the world and wants to meet as many of them as possible,” a spokesman for the Londoner said. “Coming to Gibraltar will be a great chance for him to unwind, hopefully following another great win.” Joshua is no stranger to this part of the world. Last year he was photographed in La Sala in Puerto Banus and spent time travelling around the Costa del Sol. There are three price brackets for the event on July 15. £150 will get you a meet and greet, meal and photo with the big man. £100 will get a meal and photo and £75 for meal and entertainment.

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

5555

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Games on!

SPANISH athletes will be able to compete at the Rio Olympics despite the country’s main anti-doping laboratory being shut down. Spain’s participation in Brazil was thrown into doubt after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspended the Madrid headquarters for failing to meet international standards. However, athletes have been given reassurances that they will be able to compete. A spokesman for WADA confirmed that the suspension would usually make athletes ineligible to compete in international events.

Spain’s participation in Olympics thrown into doubt as Madrid doping laboratory is shut

However, WADA will negotiate an independent testing programme for Spanish ath-

Zika fears

SPANISH and British athletes are considering pulling out of the Rio olympics due to concerns over the Zika virus. Tennis’ world no.2 Andy Murray has said he will seek medical advice before deciding whether or not to attend. Spain’s leading basketball play Pau Gasol has also admitted he will consider pulling out.

A star is born GARBINE Muguruza has become Spain’s new tennis star after her shock French Open victory over Serena Williams. The 22-year-old claimed her first Grand Slam triumph when she beat the world no.1 in straight sets, (7-5, 6-4) in the final at Roland Garros. DRONE racing has debuted Wiliams failed to match in Spain at the National Muguruza’s aggressive Open drone race in Galicia. form from the start. With an attached video camera, pilots steer their flying She was once again denied machines around an obstathe chance to match Steffi cle-laden course. Graf’s open era record of The drones can reach speeds 22 Grand Slam singles of up to 130km/hour. titles.

Taking off

letes as the country has been ‘hampered by the lack of a formal government’.

The decision to suspend the lab comes after a WADA inspection in March declared Spain ‘non-compliant with the world anti-doping code’. The suspension, which takes effect immediately, prevents the laboratory from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples. Spain’s other laboratory in Barcelona has maintained its accreditation.

Messi business

LIONEL Messi has claimed he had no knowledge of any attempts of tax avoidance at his trial in Barcelona. The Barcelona forward is accused of defrauding the Spanish government of €4.1m. Both him and his father are said to have concealed profits made from the sale of image rights between 2007 and 2009, using offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay. While his father managed all his financial affairs, it was argued he may have known enough to be culpable. Tax authorities are demanding they both serve almost two years in jail but the public prosecutor is only pursuing Messi’s father. UNDER FIRE: Messi

TRIBUNAL: Eva

Doctor’s orders FORMER Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro has settled her constructive dismissal case against the Premier League club minutes before giving evidence. In a confidential deal, the Gibraltarian also dropped a claim of sexual discrimination and harassment against ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho. Carneiro, 42, was expected to give damaging evidence before Croydon Court. She had accused Manchester United manager Mourinho of calling her ‘a daughter of a whore’. In a statement, Chelsea apologised ‘unreservedly’ and said Carneiro was a ‘highly competent and professional sports doctor’.

the Olive Press November 14th - 25th 2016 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) Covering Andalucia

and around 600,000 page views each month…

www.theolivepress.es Moving on up

Voted BEST expat paper in Spain FREE

Monkeying around THE birth of a rare Bornean orangutan has been broadcast worldwide from Madrid using the video app Periscope.

FINAL WORDS

Bug fight THE Spanish Olympic team is taking 3,000 bottles of mosquito repellent to Rio to protect athletes from the Zika virus.

Snap crazy A SURVEY revealed British tourists spend 46% of their time posting pictures on social media when visiting landmarks.

Jelly swarm EXPERTS have warned holidaymakers of a boom in jellyfish along the Mediterranean coast.

Vol. 10 Issue 241

www.theolivepress.es

June 8th - June 21st 2016

Beer battle shock

Own-brand supermarket beer wins poll of 30 brews

A SHOCK ranking of Spain’s 30-plus beers has put a supermarket own-brand on top. In the study by the Organisation of Consumers (OCU), Hipercor’s white-label lager, Cerveja, came above household names, including San Miguel and Cruzcampo. In total, 31 beers were ranked according to taste, price and composition, with Mahou and Heineken coming in second and third. Cerveja costs €4.32 euros for a pack of 12.

They bagged the sunbeds, now the Germans have the towels TWO Germans have been arrested for stealing beach towels. Police were called to a fight between the tourists and a shop owner, in Mallorca, who had 10 towels stolen by the pair. The shopkeeper chased the tourists, who fled with the towels under their arms. One of the pair then attacked the salesman and a fight broke out. The theft which they claimed was for a bet has led to them being charged with ‘robbery with violence’.

Stunt fail

A BRITISH tourist has ended up in hospital after he slathered himself in suncream and tried to slide head-first across concrete into a swimming pool. The stunt, which ended in failure, left him covered in cuts and bruises as the concrete tore the skin off his belly. The footage was captured by mum-of-three Kelly Crouch as she looked on wincing from her balcony in Benidorm.

January

6th - January

19th 2016

NEWS

Blind faith

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olivepres

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Hover nice day

Music Gibraltar bethe 2016 - months tickets forin just one hour out the EARLYBIRD have sold edition of Festival are due to be announced. for the fifth fore acts batch of tickets December 20. place on The first went on sale on affair, taking two-day festival popular will again be a Duran head3-4. The festival of September of Leon and Duran also set the Kings the Feeling the weekend event saw Chiefs and be invited Last year’s rockers Kaiser the Faith will line, while Paloma to the crowd at stage alight.to be seen whether ‘Hola España’ It remains she shouted last summer. back, after performance start of her

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A YOUNG climbing champion who almost lost his hand has thanked the Olive Press after generous readers stumped up money for a vital operation Cris Pineda Rodriguez, 18, was overjoyed that Costa residents including many expats - helped to raise €9,000 for his surgery in Barcelona. Suffering from the degenerative wrist condition Kienböck disease, Cris had feared he would never climb again. But after five months of gruelling physiotherapy, the Manilva champ has been given the all clear by doctors to climb again. “I’m so happy to be climbing again,” he told the Olive Press after returning to training. “I want to thank all the Olive Press readers, and everyone around Andalucia who donated money,” he said.

HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD GOT an opinion on Brexit? ITV News is searching for expats and Spanish locals to interview for a live broadcast from the Costa del Sol on EU referendum night. The channel, which has broadcast from Spain several times in the lead-up to the crucial vote, will be in Duquesa Port on June 23 for the special live show. Get in touch if you would like to be interviewed via newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

Dance for joy MORE than 300 people took part in a zumba masterclass in Manilva to raise money for Down syndrome charity Luisana. In total €889 was raised at the event organised by Manilva town hall.