Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 292 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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POLLY GONE: Soly missing again

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Party parrot, missing again!

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Olive Press grills mayor of Spain’s last communist town

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Issue 292

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OUR STAR IS RISINGagain

but some Marbella may be an international brandeditor things never change. Olive Press newsglitz to unearth Laurence Dollimore digs beneath thedecades the character he has known for two

HINK Marbella and a glamorous jet-set lifestyle springs to mind. The classiest hotels, the liveliest

nightclubs and the most fashionanyable and well-heeled clientele found where in Andalucia and maybe Spain.(you But peel back the ‘Marbs mask’ TV know, all the Arab billionaires, reality stars and ex-Premiership footballers) and and you’ll find its hidden character

history. it. Before we go any further, I’ll admit a I was lucky enough to grow up with Guaholiday home here, up in the leafy dalmina hills. and This pretty much meant sun, sea sand on tap, along with many a late night staggering along the infamous second

row of Puerto Banus sometimes known as ‘hurricane alley’. In other words, during my misspent youth sprawled out on award-winning beaches by day and crawling out of head-spinning Marbars by night, I never got to know bella’s deeper persona. Over a decade later, no longer a callow and shallow teenager, I am doubly lucky at to have been given a second chance living here (albeit having to work hard), thanks to ‘the boss’ at the Olive Press. And while the temptations in this tourist honeypot remain, I am finally appreciating the culture, the history and so much else that has changed for the better. Continues on Page 18

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Fit for Queeny Find out what a British expat once cooked for her Majesty

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Ex-RAF expat, who taught Prince Harry, reveals how his pensioner neighbour ‘nearly died’ in squatter assault

A SQUATTER has been released on bail after allegedly trying to kill a British expat pensioner with an axe. The unnamed Moroccan assailant was picked up in a midnight raid after allegedly hacking at Michael Devitt, 75, during an argument with two other squatters. Witnesses told the Olive Press how the former lorry driver’s

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A PARROT - who is something of a night owl - has gone missing yet again after an Olive Press appeal found him propping up the bar at Marbella’s exclusive Olivia Valere club in 2016. Soly, a stunning Hyacinth Macaw - valued at €14,000 - has escaped the home of his expat owner Richard Breuer. Breuer, 42, is now offering a reward for anyone who can find him alive. It comes after he disappeared two years

ago only to be found outside Olivia Valere discoteca by one of the staff. Nightclub owner Olivia took the partying parrot to her aviary in her Guadalmina Baja home, where Richard later collected him. If you have seen Soly, email newsdesk@theolivepress.es or phone Richard directly on 671255918 .

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HOSPITALISED: Victim Michael Devitt after treatment and (right) X-ray of shattered arm EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

arm was ‘left dangling’ after the savage attack in the village of Aguadulce, near Sevilla. “The guy came out of nowhere,” neighbour Alan McGarva, 70, told the Olive Press, “he just raised the axe in the air and aimed for his head, there was blood everywhere, it was horrific.” By incredible fortune, Devitt blocked the blow with his arm, causing it to break from the impact. The attacker, who was later arrested at a nearby squatted home, has been charged and will stand trial next year. “He will only face a maximum of six years for grievous bodily harm,” explains Scot McGarva,

SCENE: Of horror attack a former RAF air traffic controller, who trained Prince Harry how to navigate. “It’s ridiculous, it was surely attempted murder?” The attack has shocked the British community in the Sierra Sur area of Sevilla province, where many Olive Press readers live. They are now demanding action on the issues of squatters, who have illegally lived

in homes on various private urbanisations for nearly five years. “It’s just not fair,” McGarva added, “We’ve had five years of hell and they’re destroying homes and bringing down the price of everyone else’s. “Our street has been plagued for years and no attempt has been made to rid the village of them by police or the authorities.” He claimed that numerous families were living in at least six homes in his urbanisation, all of which have been destroyed and boarded up. “The local Spanish are frightened to do anything against these people and it is just a matter of time before someone gets killed.” According to McGarva, the

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incident erupted during an argument over a parking space when two female squatters asked him to move his car from outside his home so they could park their van. “They started screaming at me, it was nuts,” he explained. The former prison guard - who also worked for the RAF for years - agreed to move his car while neighbour Devitt tried to calm the situation. But as the argument continued, McGarva’s wife Averil, 72, noticed a man running up the street with something in his hand. “He just came running at Michael and tried to axe him in the head,” she recalls. Police and an ambulance arrived within 20 minutes but the axeman had already fled the scene. He is known locally for causing trouble, having moved into an abandoned home last year. At least 10 homes on the street are empty following the financial crash of 2007. PSOE Aguadulce mayor Estrella Montaño blasted the attack but insisted only three homes were illegally occupied in the town.

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www.theolivepress.es NEWS IN BRIEF

Brexit hit SPANISH exports to the UK fell by 6% last year as uncertainty over Brexit caused the pound to retreat against the euro. Meanwhile Spanish exports to the EU rose by 8%.

Summoned ISRAEL has summoned the ambassador of Spain after it voted in favour of an investigation into the death of over 100 Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border at the UN Human Rights Council session.

Dumped ALVARO Morata has been left out of Spain’s World Cup team after a disappointing season at Chelsea. The defending champions will first play Switzerland first on June 3.

Paula Neale cuffed after defrauding holidaymakers in Spain for years EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

SERIAL expat fraudster Paula Neale who was first exposed by the Olive Press has finally been arrested in Spain. It comes after dozens of stories over the past FOUR years detailed how the British fraudster was cheating holidaymakers out of thousands through fake holiday rentals. Thanks to our tip-offs, authorities began Operation Neale in a bid to track her down. The 44-year-old was reportedly picked up in Burgos as she was getting into a stolen

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Gone fishin’

Born to be wild

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Manilva’s laidback vibe is founded on fish and wine and that authentic flavour is still something to savour, writes Jed Neill

of tiny TS rock pools full British darting fish recall of old seaside holidays still while fishing boats compete with sunloungers beach. for space on the unlike your Manilva is quite average Costa resort. Duquesa maEven in swanky the history rina, you sense first health of a town whose Caesar. tourist was Julius into the And when you tuck speshellfish - Duquesa’s the locals ciality - you realiseabout fish. know something Manilva was In Roman times, like Gento garum (a paste, that was all tleman’s Relish, what Jerez rocky coves can practione of the many July and August, you have great rage inofRome) theoutside (inset) kids play on drying squids, while Indeed on many weekends sherry.and a good number is yourself… to to a shopping line of roots in fish saltcally have the beaches beaches include you to explore on. The town’s - and place Sights on Manilva’s deep the perfect runfind chiringuitos to eat still you ing owe NATURAL WONDERS: Chullera, of of tourists a handful remains another wild grasses and flowers seeatthe On one beach at Punta stillwhile the sea, into can del Sol. coves fringed with TS hidden craggy rugged coastline than Spain’s Costa of Manilva, a rock pools and divegroup of squids drying on a line. which is 16 of Manilva, on Page next to a draws Continues more to Cornwall’s protected natural beaches Duquesa main N340 sunbathe just one of the natural from the heavily commerthat lie below the But these are the attractive But the beaches are areas; beach-front Sabinillas, port-side unspoilt beaches, of golden lovers. Worlds away page to the half dozen of true haven for nature Mijas or Fuengirola, four kilometres broadly split into three Continues on next del Sol and some shallows coastal road. reserve. cialised sands of nearby rocky Manilva beaches on the Costa ecological as anAn eel in the wildDAY: and rare species of “These are some of the best Bish Witkowski, owner of local Castles being kept OF THE playas areCATCH explains here since snowy plovers, chameleons of the least known,” Endangered western the flora and fauna in renaissance estate agency. dune plants are amongwas created in 2011. Sabi_ink to be drawn the conservation zone are also beginning eagle-eyed tourists BRUNOS Unsurprisingly, RIA

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Travel special Publisher Jon Clarke’s postcard from Brazil

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EXCLUSIVE By Jed Neill

POLICE are in pursuit of seasoned expat fraudster Paula Neale who has fled to France following an Olive Press probe. Detectives contacted us following a tip off that the mother-of-two was staying in a hotel in Catalunya and preparing to cross the border this week. She had been staying at Hotel Figueres, near Girona, and asked to pay for the room using her ‘husband’s’ credit card. It comes after four years of investigation by the Olive Press has uncovered more than 30 victims of her rental scams undertaken in various false names.

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BORDER DRAMA

Ransacked

Neale, 43, took rental deposits for properties she didn’t own and allegedly ransacked properties she had rented before selling the stolen goods online. However, despite four stories her hotel and at least eight denuncias ON THE RUN: Paula and (above) Spain-France border and against her, she has yet to be hire car. They’re singling He refused to leave his hopicked up by police. me out! They claimed she had a long NEWS tel room or open the door to This is looking increasingly chequered track record of at her, setting off alarm bells for unlikely after a receptionist Freeze on scams and problems, and had that Paula Neale, who packed up and left the hotel confirmedplastic a third son, who was taken after repeatedly trying to raise had checked out on Tuesday into care. him. morning. The friend described her as an Neale’s speedy departure She had been planning to IN DENIAL: Guerrero ‘unfit mother who long discame as the Olive Press was cross into France with her two played erratic behaviour’. handing over details of varichildren, Nina, 12, and Oscar, On one occasion she even preous denuncias and victims to 14 and live in Bordeaux. Balcon wins big tended to be her daughter to room aboard! the Guardia Civil in Malaga. Staff at the hotel saidAllthe PROBE: Previous story in A detective confirmed they try and strike up a connection mess’ THE alleged lynchpin in was left in a ‘complete with her long-lost son. the Olive Press a hurry, with were ‘in a race against time’ Spain’s biggest ever political after she left inwithin an hour. to get an arrest warrant with arriving fraud claims he made SIX policeplan France to escape to LIBERTYHOME Catalan police. Her ducer’. previous confessions up. RRP 3,000€ One of her victims, Sara Belwas rumbled by her own pal, the Former Junta employment actor Anthony Webster, who But after meeting herto atdrive mont, says Interpol has been boss Francisco Guerrero in- ratted on Neale when he found hotel and agreeinghe said he notified but because the her to Bordeaux, sists he did not personally out her real identity. crimes were committed in felt ‘something wasn’t right’ gain from the ERE scandal, Webster told the Olivehave Press Spain, she must be charged you when she claimed her mother that saw up to a billion euros this week that he had recently there. got that had suddenly died and that she embezzled over a decade. Family and friends back in befriended Neale online. Liberty needed to leave immediately. to OUR PRICE the UK meanwhile, confirmed He claims he only gave details He said she had promised feeLing? He researched her online and that she had made it across Seguros makes of the so-called ‘reptile fund’ help his acting career and Liberty that € stumbled upon our catalogue a better insurance film the border on Tuesday in a that he allegedly oversaw, she knew people in the experience. of stories. pro‘a after police put considerable industry, claiming to be go to www.libertyexpatriates.es 10

NEWS

the olive press - October 16 - October 29 2014

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ashya thanks

BRITISH ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, has thanked the Hospital Materno Infantil in Malaga for its treatment of Ashya King, on behalf of the British government.

Top stamps

SPECIAL edition stamps of King Felipe and Queen Letizia have been launched by postal service Correos. Showing official photographs of the Royal duo, they can be bought for €1.

www.theolivepress.es

suICELAND is the first to permarket in the world remove plastic packaging from its own-label products. EXCLUSIVE Customers of Overseas, By Jed Neill which stocks Iceland products in 20 shops across A SEASONED British fraudster will Spain and Portugal, has struck again. in the benefit from the five-year Paula Neale - exposed in two in plan to reduce plastics Olive Press four times dirty 1,400 products. Calling years - has brought heragain. the plastics a ‘scourge’ on tricks to the Costa del Sol has world, Iceland managing The rentals conwoman director Richard Walker snared a series of unsuspecther well said: “A truckload is entering foreigners through propermining our oceans every oiled ruse of sub-letting ute, causing untold damage ties. lost to our marine environment A number of victims haveafter – and ultimately humanitythe thousands in lost deposits, since we all depend on she took over a two-bedroom oceans for our survival.” apartment in Mijas. trays Tate’ Plastic ready meal folUsing the alias ‘Sharon apartwill be removed first, she rented the Riviera before lowed by frozen vegetable ment for three months, bags changing to a paper based material.

Pensioner, 70, complains of discrimination after being ordered to take down extension, despite neighbours all having the same

January 17th - January

A FINNISH grandmother ordered to demolish a nineyear-old extension has accused Estepona Town Hall of being 'racially motivated' and 'singling' her out. Terttu Balson, 70, has been involved in an ongoing six-

without the correct planning permission. Several other properties in the Seghers community have similar extensions without planning licences - including Balson's next door Spanish neighbour - but Balson is the

EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan

year legal battle with the town hall after they served her with a demolition order and fined her €24,300 in 2008 for building a loft extension

Strike four! Boozy trips

ONE in seven youngsters coming to Spain on holiday have admitted that they are drunk on the plane, according to a survey by website Jetcost. com.

Seasoned conwoman Paula Neale caught by the Olive Press a fourth time

Wasn’t me

Big Willy

MANCHESTER City goalkeeper Willy Caballero has told La Liga officials that he was approached by a match-fixing syndicate when playing for Malaga last year.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Terttu’s ‘illegal’ extension and adjoining

30th 2018

only resident facing court action. "It is completely discriminatory, I cannot help but think that it is not a coincidence that I have been chosen when I am the only foreigner living here," she told the Olive Press. Balson believed she had received planning permission when she contracted a Spanish architect Mario Jones in 2005. Now however, she feels that he did not do his job properly despite being paid €2,500 to take over the project and sort out the building licence. Jones, however, said he feels 'no guilt or responsibility and that Balson is to blame for the situation. He said: "I told her from the beginning that she wasn't allowed to build. Most people get away with it but she hasn't. "She is definitely being unfairly treated and I am not sure why. I hope that the town hall is not targeting her because she is foreign. "Maybe that sort of thing happened in the old days, but

DESPERATE: Balson and dogs

with so many foreigners living on the coast I don't think it happens now." Despite numerous attempts Estepona Town Hall did not answer any of our questions.

neighbour’s (right)

Still on-the-run

Offer

A WANTED property fraudster has been tracked down to a luxury home in Benahavis, after an exclusive Olive Press kids barely went to school investigation this month. and rarely even came out to According to neighbours in play. upmarket La Heredia urban“She never mixed with the loisation, Rebecca Wells, 37, cal community here and one has fled owing money to sevday she was gone leaving an eral businesses. unpaid electricity bill.” Keen horserider Wells - who The Olive Press has still been spent eight years posing as unable to contact Wells, over an estate agent - is now being her defrauding of expats who sought by police, as reported paid rent on properties she in the Olive Press last issue, did not own. after four denuncias were Wells, aka Prior, allegedly posted against her. took a series of deposits for DISAPPEARED: Wells and La Heredia, where she rented a “She owes money to the homes which she did not own. home butcher, restaurant and the reported concern for her four If you have any information baker, as well as for repairs to former neighbour Frank Coabout Rebecca Wells, please children. her car,” said one neighbour. myn, president of the PalmComyn, who lived opposite contact newsdesk@theoliveAn expat couple living oppo- eras del Golf urbanisation her for two years said: “The press.es site Wells’ house in the ur- in Benalmadena Costa, has banisation reported that they saw her packing all the family’s possessions into a rental car on October 1 the day our expose came out. When the Olive Press visited a few days later, the house had clearly been abandoned Fabulous food and entertainment including a 5* Christmas and the family car - a black or New Years Eve Gala Dinner with fine wine Chrysler - was apparently dumped outside. FOR GOLFERS Meanwhile another includes 3 rounds of golf

FaNtastiC DEals For YEar the locks she has preChristmas & NEw to change else moving in. Paying €1,700 from November she was vented anyone just the short in to February, Paula said her child and However,of time she was over Taken with for moving in a ride amount two disappointed black cat. our ex- this month, However, after reading Decem- couples arrived to stay. Russia had pose on Neale in early to “One couple from deposit of ber, Belmont quickly started prop- paid a two monthrental. They year’s investigate and found her to rent €1,400 for a Belmont told the erty being advertised were gutted,” through a variety of Facebook Olive Press. later an Enggroups. incred- “Then a few hours up, also with One had been shared an lish couple turned and having paid ible 4,000 times. able to a year’s lease unknown how Fortunately she was over a deposit.” It is total fell for the move fast and after coming many people in was in a scam, but her property and a terrible state with a stereo three toolkit also stolen. It tookgot to days to clean. “It has “When stop,” added Belmont. far she is this going to end?” So down has been unable to trackreward Neale, but has put up around notices in various vets Olive Calahonda. In 2017, theNeale’s Press twice exposed antics. But it has also emerged the that we exposed her using 2016 in name ‘Sharon Tate’ in numinland Malaga. A new UK did ber Paula had been using not answer our calls. UP UP AND AWAY IN

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Police probe alleged expat property fraudster who ‘took deposits homes she didn’t for own’

HUNTED: Rebecca Wells on her horse

EXCLUSIVE

Maddie: New sighting claim

VICTIMS are hunting an alleged property fraudster who Costa del Sol owinghas vanished from the EXCLUSIVE tens of thousands days as a holiday euros. of By Imogen Calderwood me around it andrental, but she showed The Guardia Civil convinced me to confirmed last night an 11-month contract. sign is investigating horse-owning it posits Page 11 “I want her caught expat Re- claim to rent properties that she has becca Wells after and punished,” he no clared. to. decias against her. receiving four denun- One victim, British Wells, a mother-of-two Briton Wells, 37, told the Olive Press:expat Raymond Paul, hampton, from Wolver“I accused of dupingalso known as Prior, is posit on renting a homeIost a €1,000 de- same trick appears to have repeated the people into paying at different properties she didn’t own. de- “She had actually only rented around the it for four A region over the last eight years. Facebook campaign has now been launched by the group, aiming to gather as many victims as possible. In the case of Paul, 60, from Yorkshire, he put down €500 as a deposit and €500 for the first month’s rent erty in La Cala at the propde Mijas in August. But after just three asked Paul and days Wells his wife to clear out ‘so an urgent energy certificate matter could be dealt with’. AN embattled animal “We were left in rescue the dark for centre owner has two days, and upon the place is ‘out of admitted discovered anotherreturning Kim control’. couple Halliwell (above) staying there, with has many of now agreed to allow our possessions an initial still inside,” 15 dogs and many he said. cats to leave her Mijas kennels, “We still haven’t following get some things managed to an Olive Press investigation. back, we are It comes after police absolutely furious also infiled a denuncia.” and have spected the site, following various denuncias When Paul set up from foran urgent mer staff. meeting with Wells to dis- After we told of the ‘terrible cuss what had happened, she conditions’ at Kim’s Animal failed to show. BLAZE: F1 legend Rescue, friends and Gachot (inset) However another loses yacht in fire couple in ers rallied around supporttheir early 20s also turned aim of cutting the with the up telling him they number of similar amount of had lost a animals by half. The Olive Press money. “Lots of her victims attended an worse situation than are in a emergency meeting, spoke with us, and various other centres who knows how and has are still to come many more found new volunteers. out of the We have now launched woodwork,” he added. an appeal to find homes Another victim who for the lost out animals. is Stuart Hall, 44, and his

It’s the pits! EXCLUSIVE

‘Animal centre needs rescuing’

A LUXURY yacht nus is owned by that burst into flames in Puerto Bertrand Gachot, ex-Formula One racing driver Bait can be revealed. The 51-year-old Frenchman, who raced for Jordan between 1989 and 1995, is the owner €2 million yacht Gilliana of the that blew up on Sunday morning.

Two crew members with serious burns were rushed to hospital, one to his hands and woman, 34, was treated another, a The 23-metre Princessfor smoke inhalation. yacht Gilliana costs €42,000-a-week to rent, via Diamovit Rentals. Exclusive A source said: “Gachot is very upset.” The driver was Grand Prix team famously thrown out of the Jordan the roundabout atfor spraying CS gas at a taxi driver ceived a two-monthHyde Park Corner, for which he on reHis race seat was prison stint. acher, making histemporarily filled by Michael SchumFormula One debut.

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CHASING CORRUPTION P6

OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 14 February

SEVEN people have been arrested after a mob attacked a group of off duty police with clubs and bottles in Algeciras. A 40-strong gang allegedly attacked the Guardia group after they dined at a local restaurant out of uniform. The fight left eight of the police needing hospital treatment, mostly minor injuries, and only stopped after one fired three shots in the air. Four of the seven detained allegedly have police records for drug-trafficking. A Guardia Civil spokesperson claimed the attack could have been in ‘retalia-

tion’ for the recent crackdown on mafia gangs in the well-known drug trafficking hotspot. The officers are part of a specialised team that has been deployed in Cadiz from Madrid to tackle the growing drug crisis in the area. Families of the arrested claim it was the officers’ fault that they started the fight because they ‘had left the restaurant drunk’. Algeciras has seen a record number of cocaine drug busts in recent months. Some 40% of all drugs which are trafficked to Spain arrive via various ports in the province of Cadiz.

she set up a new Tinder profile, describing herself as ‘not your typical English woman abroad’. The Guardia Civil said: “The detainee is suspected of vehicle theft, stealing car number-plates, falsifying public documents and fraud, namely four crimes of holiday rental fraud.” Neale hooked in victims by placing fake holiday rentals on Facebook and taking money from them over Paypal. Brit Sara Belmont, just one of more than a dozen victims we have spoken to, told the Olive Press earlier this year how two couples turned up within hours of each other to rent an apartment she owned in Riviera del Sol near Fuengirola after it is claimed Neale moved in as a tenant under the alias Sharon Tate. A source said Neale had been released on bail after appearing before a judge in a closed court hearing pending an ongoing criminal probe. The source said she had not been remanded in custody for the time being because of her young children.

Immigrants kidnapped FIVE people have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping immigrants in Algeciras. The Guardia Civil detained four Moroccans and one Spaniard - a mixture of men and women - as part of an operation launched last August. The gang has been charged after imprisoning immigrants before demanding money from their families in exchange for their return.

Wealthy

They focused on incoming immigrants who appeared to come from wealthy families and would promise to help them reunite with their families in Spain. They instead transported them to a house in La Bajadilla, in Algeciras. The immigrants were locked in rooms, stripped of all their personal belongings, and then interrogated in order to determine how much money could be asked from their relatives for their safe return. The gang would then contact the relatives by telephone and ask them to pay a ransom of anything between €500 and €2,000, depending on the family’s financial circumstances. The men were responsible for finding the immigrants and transporting them to the house, while the women were in charge of the custody and surveillance of the victims.

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Re-e-wind! Knockout deal for Conor CAGEFIGHTER Conor McGregor is soon to join the Marbella jetset after purchasing a luxury holiday home for a cool €1.5million. Located near La Resina Golf Course on the resort called The Heights in between the celebrity hotspot and Estepona, the property features an LED lit driveway, customised gym and a home spa.

Guitar greats AMERICAN, Italian and even Bulgarians are to star in this year’s International Guitar Festival in Ronda. The US Ian Sconti Trio will be joined by Marco Battaglia, from Italy, and Bozhana Pavlova, from Bulgaria, in a series of fabulous concerts being held in the historic mountain town. The five-day festival, from June 5, was founded in 2015 by Andalucian maestro Paco Seco, alongside British wife Lucy Stewart, of the Ronda Guitar House “We are delighted to be celebrating the legacy that is the guitar; a great promoter of Spanish culture!” Lucy told the Olive Press. “The festival strives to highlight the versatility of styles that the guitar embraces: classical, romantic, flamenco, jazz and contemporary. Appealing to the musical tastes of a wide audience.” All the festival’s activities will be held at the Santo Domingo exhibition centre in the heart of the historical old-town with two concerts per night. There will also be an exhibition of guitars, including the work of 10 master luthiers from Spain, Italy, Portugal, UK and Canada.

CRAIG David is returning to the Costa del Sol. The British R&B star will be bringing back his TS5 event to La Sala by the Sea. Tickets for the pool party event start at €80. Visit www.lasalabythesea.com for more information.

SPOILERS

ACTORS: Visiting Sevilla FC

The Don lives at last!

After the unluckiest production in history, Terry Gilliam’s Don Quixote epic finally gets released By Elisa Menendez

IT took three decades to get there… and the lives of two leading men. Now, Terry Gilliam’s film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote has finally hit the big screens. Appropriately dedicated to

the memory of John Hurt and Jean Rochefort - who had both previously taken the role before disaster struck - it had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival at the weekend.

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

And true to form Monty Python director Gilliam almost didn’t make it after he had a stroke just two weeks before. But he was there proudly showing off his film along-

Grave date PAUL O’Grady has revealed he has been exorcising the ghost of Cilla Black three years after she died in her Costa del Sol home. The 62-year-old said he had been trying to reach his best pal after her ‘frequent visits from beyond the grave’. Having enrolled in a new course that focuses on the supernatural activity, he said: “I've been exorcising ghosts. I've actually been exorcising our Cilla!” He said the late Blind Date host will not be visiting him anymore, but added he was glad he did it. “I was very conscious so I'm glad I've done it. I actually loved doing the exorcising ghosts thing. It was a thrill.” Black died in her Estepona home after suffering a stroke and hitting her head.

THE presence of the Game of Thrones cast during a football match in Andalucia has given new clues to how the next season will shape up. The actors took a break from filming the eighth season to visit the Sevilla football team. The presence – or lack thereof– of actors who play certain roles in the fantasy series gave some clues as to who will be in the final episodes.

side Pirates of the Caribbean star Jonathan Pryce and Star Wars actor Adam Driver. After securing financing for the movie 29 years ago, Gilliam was plagued with illness, the death of actors, flooded sets, lawsuits and insurance difficulties. So feted was the film, that in 2002 Gilliam released the documentary, Lost in La Mancha, featuring Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, which told the story of one of the abandoned versions. Even this time it almost had its release delayed after Gilliam became locked in a legal battle with former producer Paul Branco, who claimed his company owned the rights to the film. Loosely based on the celebrated Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes, the 2018 comedy-adventure sees Driver play a cynical advertising director who gets caught up in the delusions of an old shoe-maker, who believes he is Don Quixote. In what has infamously become one of the most troubled productions in movie history, Gilliam said the constant uphill struggle has been a blessing in disguise. “It’s not the film I set out to make, it’s a much better film,” insisted Gilliam. “The film I set out (to make) was just not a patch on what this film is. “It’s taken all those years of marinating in my life to get there.”

SNAPPED: Jurgen Klopp with expat Peter Bennett

Get in the Pool LIVERPOOL FC have been soaking up the Spanish sun after taking part in some warm weather training in Marbella. It comes just before they are set to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League Final this Saturday. According to the club’s website the boys took part in a two-hour session comprising of physical and tactical drills as well as a competitive game of foot-tennis, in which the three-man team of Virgil van Dijk, Alberto Moreno and Danny Ings prevailed over the rest of their teammates. This is the second time the team have spent some time on the Costa del Sol, after jetting in for a few days in February.

PLAYER: Roberto Firmino

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www.theolivepress.es EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

MIJAS town hall has reneged on its promise to introduce measures to protect ‘abused’ donkeys used as taxis in the pueblo. It comes after Swedish expat Mike Frizell was told by Mayor Juan Carlos Maldonado that ‘immediate action’ would be taken following his seven-year campaign to bring in new laws. Campaigners say animals have died after working in the stifling heat and carrying adults too heavy for their frames, CAMPAIGNER: Mike Frizell and (right) tourists riding donkeys while they are allegedly beaten by their owners and bound-up to walls, forcing them to sleep stood up in their own faeces.

Lies

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“The town hall have told lies after lies,” the 55-year-old told the Olive Press, who said tourists leave the town crying after witnessing the donkey cruelty. In what he thought was a breakthrough move last week, Frizell ‘held back tears’ as town hall officials agreed on new working animal rules, including only allowing children to ride the donkeys. He also received permission to build a safe stable where all 140 donkeys would be housed after raising the €120,000 needed through his own money and donations from locals and even the Swedish royal family. “They told me they would make changes starting that same day,” added the campaigner, who set-up the 1,400-strong Facebook page, Mijas Pueblo Cruelty. But one week later, nothing had

Kick in the teeth Expat vows to end Mijas donkey trade after town hall abandons plans for new laws

‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’: Donkey shelters been done and Frizell has now been told action will be taken ‘in the future’. He vowed: “The town hall don’t keep their promises, so I will

close down the donkey business. “The respect for animals in Andalucia is the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Frizell, who claims he has received death threats for generating ‘bad publicity’, is now planning a 4,500km walk from Mijas to Sweden via the UK to raise awareness across Europe. A previous meeting with the town hall in April had to be cancelled after officials failed to show, leaving Frizell and 70 supportive locals waiting for hours. The town hall failed to comment in time for press. Visit www.mijaspueblodonkeys.webnode.com to help Frizell.

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www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION

Do something! IT is unbelievable that squatters have been allowed to take over homes in a gated community for almost FIVE years without anything being done by the authorities. Not only do the residents - who have paid small fortunes for their homes - feel threatened on an almost daily basis, but now the value of their homes are being brought down by freeloaders who have damaged at least six homes on one street. What happened to Michael Devitt is truly shocking and we hope he makes a full recovery. Surely now, the authorities will do SOMETHING to move the squatters on. As expat Alan McGarvar said, it’s just not fair.

Time for change THE donkey situation in Mijas has been rumbling on for years now and it’s about time something was done. While they are emblematic of the Costa del Sol town, they are a living beings that should be treated with respect and dignity. Kudos for expat Mike Frizell who has worked tirelessly for the past seven years to bring about change. Let’s hope the town hall has a wake up call and does what most people think is right.

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After May Day demonstrations divided Spain, Elisa Menendez (right) took a trip to Europe’s most communist town where everyone is equal

PORTRAIT of Che Guevara casts a Farm Workers was born leading to the first watchful eye over a room adorned democratic elections since the collapse of with socialist memorabilia from all the Republican government. over the world. The workers’ collective CUT (Colectivo de A sculpture of two giant marble fists bound Unidad de los Trabajadores) gained an abby a broken metal chain, inscribed with the solute majority in Marinaleda and at the name MARINALEDA has pride of place on age of 30, Gordillo was elected mayor. He a grand wooden desk. has been in office ever since. Behind it sits a small, bearded man wear- The struggle for ‘land to those who work on ing a Palestinian ‘keffiyeh’ headscarf and a it’ continued for another decade, through multi-coloured shirt. 1980’s historic 700-strong ‘hunger strike He is Juan Manuel Gordillo Sanchez, mayor against hunger’ which lasted for 13 days of the last truly communist town in Europe. and involving occupations of nearby private “Capitalism is like King Midas,” he tells the estates that were not being cultivated. Olive Press, “Everything it touches turns to For 90 days Marinaleda villagers occupied gold, commodity, trade and death. I think the Cortijo de los Humosos, a farmhouse the capitalist system is necrophilous.” owned by a wealthy duke who left its vast Now 70, he has run Marinaleda, near Se- fields uncultivated while families starved. villa, for almost 40 years, having spent de- Daily, the Guardia Civil violently expelled cades fighting the system to them, and daily they recreate his ‘Utopian’ village. turned. Everyone is offered a job at Finally, the government This place grabs granted them the land the same salary and a house with a mortgage of just €15 your heart and it’s and Marinaleda has never euros a month, the total cost looked back. not about money The duke’s cortijo now deducted if the occupant helps towards its upkeep. bears the proud words: Our trip to this small town here, it’s great to ‘This land belongs to all the in the heart of the famously unemployed labourers of be a part of flat ‘Campina’ area between Marinaleda’. Cordoba and Sevilla coin“After all this, we know cided with the nationwide there is nothing you can’t May Day protests which saw thousands achieve. Even your wildest dream can becampaigning for better working conditions, come a reality,” says Juan Manuel. dignified pension payouts, higher salaries And it is not just local Andalucians. and more job opportunities. Cristopher Burke is one of the six Brits living While regional unemployment is running the ‘good life’ in Marinaleda. The 70-yearat 25%; only 4% of Marinaleda’s 3,000 old Liverpudlian moved to the town eight citizens are out of work. And that is mostly years ago with his wife after falling in love ‘their choice’. with the community spirit during a holiday. The town’s success lies in a cooperative “This place grabs your heart, people are where villagers work in the fields or fac- so kind and it’s not about money here. It’s tory to earn €47 for a 6.5 hour working day, great to be part of something that is a difbringing in €1,200 a month. Even the un- ferent outlook on society.” employed receive €400 from the town each Farm hand Alba Martin left once before but month. now she’s here to stay. “The work is fairer As well as 352 hectares of olive groves, than in other places,” says the 24-yearMarinaleda also cultivates broccoli, arti- old, speaking from bitter experience from chokes, broad beans and peppers, when she worked in Mallorca where which are jarred at the factory and her €600-a-month income didn’t go distributed across the country, crevery far. ating a year-round harvest. “The workers are looked after “The money from sales is reinvested here,” she adds. into the town to improve the comPicking broad beans beside munity. It is never for anyone’s her is 42-year-old Antonio personal profit. The land is for Casares, who returned to anyone who wants it,” says the his native town six years mayor. ago after working in conMarinaleda’s struction in Barcelona journey to LEADER: and Ibiza. Utopia began He too worked for a ‘misafter years of Juan erable’ salary of €600. r e p r e s s i o n Manuel “You can’t live on that,” under Fran- Sanchez says Antonio, whose co, when unwife and teenage employment daughter work alongstood at 80% and Gordillo side him in the fields. saw ‘hunger reach the stom“The working days are achs of many labourer famia lot shorter and life is lies’. better here, you feel Four decades later, the Union of protected.”

Antonio believes in Marinaleda’s model as it has provided almost everyone with a job and he says it’s all thanks to the mayor. Gordillo is voted in with an overwhelming majority every year. “If it weren’t for him, we would not have this,” he says. It is clear the town’s folk greatly respect the mayor, who was allegedly the subject of multiple assassination attempts for his political protests.

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A day in Utopia HISTORIC: Farmhouse once owned by wealthy capitalist and (left) workers sort broad beans

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At his request, everyone calls him by his first name and gossips with him like a close friend. And he has time for everyone he bumps into. A history teacher until four years ago, he lives on a modest street of small terraced houses. It’s well-known he has never taken a mayor’s salary and earns the same as everyone else. “I don’t think anyone is more important than anyone else,” he tells me. During the recession, this revolutionary made international headlines, leading raids on supermarkets to provide food for the hungry. Some called him a Robin Hood, others a robbing troublemaker. “The true thief is capitalism. It is a thief of human rights,” he insists. “Europe is the biggest food importer in the world, yet it is throwing its farmers and labourers into bankruptcy.” And what would he say to people who call him a rebel? “Well I am a rebel,” he responds with a mischievous smile. “Rules are made to be broken.” When rules are broken in police-free Marinaleda, civilians face nothing more than a stern word from the mayor.

MURAL: Youth call for socialism in Andalucia

“We do not punish anyone. Education is better than repression,” he says. However expat Cristopher warns: “Because it has a reputation of having no police, it can attract people buying and selling drugs from other places - like a mini drug market.” Although Marinaleda is dubbed communist, the mayor describes it as a melting pot of ideologies – socialism, communism and humanism. He draws inspiration from the likes of Gandhi, Lenin, Marx and, of course, Che Guevara, his Cuban hero.

Unlike strict communist models, he believes this system can work anywhere in the modern world. “The main objective should be to conserve public property, such as land, housing and energy. “There needs to be a direct exchange between the producer and the consumer, with no private business in the middle. “If we continue to be ruled by money and by the selfishness of the global market, we will be on our way to WWIII. “The system is just a new type of fascism,” he adds, while admitting that his ‘utopian’ model is difficult to achieve as many people don’t like sharing. With Gordillo’s age and health problems, the question on everyone’s lips is what will happen when he is no longer here? “It’s the $64,000 question,” says Cristopher. “People want it to carry on but he is the central pillar. And it is too early to know if the mayor’s only son, aged seven, will continue his legacy. Only the mayor is not worried. “This is a collective effort,” he says simply. “I would like the project to be continued for a future of solidarity. And I have faith it will.”

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Fears over first big Brexit casualty despite Gib government giving stiff denial that Bet365 ‘plans move to Malta’ By Laurence Dollimore

THE Gibraltar government has denied the Rock could be set to lose one of its biggest employers thanks to Brexit. It comes after the Times of Malta claimed Bet365 had announced it will relocate to Malta once the UK leaves the EU. The newspaper claimed 1,000 workers could lose their jobs. Both Bet365 and the government were this week forced to rebuke the story, claiming the company ‘remains committed’ to the Rock ‘and its workforce’. A spokesman for Bet365 said. “We can confirm that we will be retaining our strong presence

Place your bets in, and commitment to, Gibraltar where our main operational hub is based.” Bet365 has an annual revenue of GBP1.5 billion and around 23 million customers worldwide. It is the leader of the online gaming industry, employing over 3,000 people on the Rock - the equivalent of 10% of the territory’s population. There have been fears since the

Swooping to tragedy andrewfergussonnn@gmail.com

A PARAGLIDER has died after plunging into the sea in Granada. The victim fell into the water by playa de La Herradura, near Almuñécar. Witnesses said the paraglider was overwhelmed by strong currents. An investigation has been opened into the circumstances of the incident.

UK’s leave vote that some of the 30 gaming companies based in Gibraltar could move their headquarters. Financial expert Chris Cousins told the Olive Press the Bet365 move - if true - could be catastrophic. “It would be a big loss for Gibraltar,” said the boss of fintech company Ignite. He added: “It’s understandable that they have to prepare for such a move. “Most of their workers live across the border in Spain, if there are problems post-Brexit and there are daily three-hour border queues for example, that’s going to impact their business, so they have to hedge their bets a little.” Minister for Gambling Albert Isola meanwhile agreed that Bet365 was managing risk by scaling up in Malta, but said the company was not leaving the Rock.

www.theolivepress.es news May 23rd - June 5th

Expats join protest for town hall to return money spent to partfund a practice bullfight EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

BRITISH expats have protested against a bullfight after discovering it was funded with their tax money. Jeni Obard, 55, was one of five Brits who took part in the demonstration led by Malaga Animal Save outside the Plaza de Toros in Coin during an event for training matadors on Saturday. “The people of Coin were not consulted about this and it’s partly funded with their taxes,” added Obard, who moved from the Isle of Wight two years ago. The protest was organised alongside a 1,300-strong petition set up by a local Spaniard in a bid to demand Coin town hall return the money spent to part finance the event. Alhaurin-based Obard said a request to hold a peaceful demonstration of up to 30 was ignored by the town hall despite campaigners’ daily calls. The vegan expat described the treatment of the bulls as ‘extremely traumatic’ and recalled blood dripping out of the truck that took the dead animals away after the fight. “Parents take their children to watch this and it desensitises

MARCHING: Brits join protest over bullfight funding

Give the money back! them to think it’s okay to treat animals like this,” added the expat, who was a staunch fox hunting protester in the UK. “I can see the beauty of the moves and I know they train for years but it’s so barbaric. “People think it’s an art and culture but it’s torture.” Five bulls were killed at the training event, which are criticised by campaigners for causing the animals a more painful death than usual because the matadors-to-be have not yet

been trained to kill more humanely. A spokeswoman from Coin town hall confirmed to the Olive Press that some tax money was used to sponsor the event, organised by Escuela Taurina Diputacion de Malaga and Toros de Mediterraneo, but she insisted this was not something they were hiding. Some of the funds also came from the bullfighting school and other organisations.

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

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War on wet wipes SPAIN is waging war on wet wipes … or, rather, the practice of flushing them down the loo. A call by the Grupo Parlamentario Vasco to halt to the environmental damage caused by disposable wipes was unanimously

Controversial circus defends using elephants after horrific crash killed one and left several of the creatures injured By Pablo Balbontin

CIRCUS Gottani has hit back at accusations of animal abuse after one of its performing elephants died and two were seriously injured in a road accident in Castilla La Mancha. Five elephants were being transported in a truck when it overturned on the A-30 highway. The four surviving animals were let loose to roam the highway with ‘bloodied faces’, a surreal sight which lead to massive traffic tailbacks closed the road for two hours. The accident occurred as the truck tried to overtake a car and tipped over – likely

approved by all parties in the Senate. Now the government is to mount an awareness campaign highlighting the risks of throwing them to the toilet, which leads to blocked pipes and home

floods and can be very costly to repair. Besides the campaign, there will have to be a major rethink on how wipes can be relabelled to identify which are biodegradable and which are not.

Jumbo problem TRAGIC: Injured elephant following crash

due to the uneven weight distribution and the movement of the elephants, ac-

cording to Spain’s DGT highway authority. The driver was unharmed.

Animal rights group PACMA accused the circus of abusive treatment but Gottani, has announced it will take legal action against the organisation for false accusations. According to the Circus, the animals are domesticated and the progeny of zoo elephants, adding that they have never employed wild animals which is illegal. PACMA claims that the elephants are confined to a small plot in Albacete, however they will try to stop the animals being returned to a zoo.

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ACCORDING to Beatriz Villanueva, head of the Instituto para la Producción Sostenible (IPS), Spain has vastly increased its use of recycled containers, thanks to

legislation relating to waste and contamination soil brought in in 2011. The laws encourage people to utilize paper, wood or carboard in seperate and designated containers, leading Spain to become a leader among the countries of the European Union in recycling. Villanueva, as the director of the IPS, stated that it is necessary to create and restructure more enterprises that are more respectful with their workers, their environment and are more energy-efficient.

CUTE: Three Iberian cubs born in Andalucia

Triple whammy NEWBORN Iberian lynx kittens have passed their first health check with flying colours in Cadiz. The entrancing trio which belong to the world’s most endangered feline species were born just under two months ago at Jerez Zoo. This will be the fourth time their proud parents have produced a litter at the zoo, with their previous offspring now reintroduced to the wild. It is expected these young lynx will also be destined for release once they are old enough. The Iberian lynx was facing extinction at the beginning of the 2000s, with only 100 adult cats and 25 breeding females in the world living in southern Spain. The new arrivals are part of a reproduction project, LIFE Iberlince, set up by the Spanish government, the EU and various global conservation NGOs. Thanks to the conservation scheme, the species has been recovered from the brink of extinction, with its status downgraded to ‘endangered’. Now, just over 400 cats live in the Mediterranean forests of the Iberian Peninsula, the majority in Andalucia.

LO-BIN IN: Recycling

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

www.theolivepress.es www.theolivepress.es poli t i cs Pressure mounts on Junta boss as probe, linked to ERE scandal, finds millions of public money was spent on golf and strip clubs

11 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

FAFFING JOKE

JUNTA leader Susana Diaz has come under attack after it emerged millions of euros was squandered on strip clubs and golfing for executives as recently as seven years ago. The so-called FAFFE quango (the Andalucian Fund for Training and Employment), spent more than €3.1 million on hotels and entertainment between 2008 and 2011. The money, which went through various travel agents and golf clubs, was spent by political leaders to curry favour with contacts and friends. According to the Guardia Civil, the pub-

lic-funded body, set up by the PSOE-led Junta, was meant to be spent on battling unemployment. However, much of the money was squandered on luxurious trips, including €20,000 at the 18-hole La Cañada Golf Club, in upmarket Sotogrande. It also spent €4,229 at the Club de Campo de Granada, another exclusive resort. Former employment minister Fernando Villen meanwhile spent thousands on dining out in fancy restaurants, as well as nights at the Don Angelo ‘exotic’ strip club in Sevilla.

New Catalunya tensions TENSION is rising again in Catalunya after Mariano Rajoy rejected the region’s newly appointed ministers. Spain’s Prime Minister said he hopes the region will soon form a ‘viable’ government that obeys the law and works toward ‘restoring a normal political situation’. Although the government recognises the powers of new separatist leader Quim Torra, it refused to approve his chosen ministers who are former advisors of ex-leader Carles Puigdemont.

Four of the appointed ministers are either being held in custody in Madrid or are living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, facing charges related to the independence referendum. Once the government is formed and cabinet ministers are appointed, Madrid must end the direct rule it imposed on Catalunya following the referendum in October. Torra describes himself as the ‘interim head’ of the government as he believes Puigdemont is the true leader.

Thousands of euros from the slush fund were also made available to companies owned by relatives of Junta leaders. On many occasions they overcharged for jobs and business trips unrelated to their line of work One plumbing company, Inmohel, owned by the brother-in-law of the FAFFE director charged the fund €700,000 in one year for catering, courier services and waste collection. The secretary general of the PP in Andalucia, Loles Lopez, insists that Junta boss Susana Díaz (above) ‘can no longer remain silent’, as she was very much involved in the Junta during this time. “The longer she is silent, the worse it will become," she said. Lopez said that the FAFFE scandal ‘is an example of the lack of respect the PSOE in Andalucia has for justice, institutions and Andalucians.” She added: “They used money meant for Andalucians on parties, fairs and strip clubs.” She went on to blast the ‘excuses’ of Diaz, who when commenting on previous scandals like ERE said ‘they happened ten years ago.’ “No one is buying that,” added Lopez, “It is clear that Susana Díaz has a lot to hide and that's why she does not want to talk... every day she keeps her silence it makes us more suspicious.”

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 Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

SOCIALMEDIA

la cultura

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Matador G mayhem

+TheolivepressEs Beirut Connection BE ‘APPY!

what’s on

A MALAGA artist is set to host an exhibition in Beirut to celebrate the opening of a new HQ for the Cervantes Institute. Domi Moreno’s ‘Revisitaciones and co’ will explore cultural icons from both our Lebanon Download app nowand and Spain. begin enjoying bestwas Spanish Juan Manuel Casado,the who born in news Antequera, on the go.has been running the Lebanese capital’s Cervantes Institute for three years and is overseeing the A BULLFIGHTING festival in Andalucia sold out in just 10 launch of the new centre. He said the exhibition aims to hours after a world-famous present a “modern, avantgarde matador was revealed to be takand cultural Spain”, while tear- ing part. ing down stereotypes about The news that Jose Tomas Beirut and Lebanon. It will run (above), based on the Costa del Sol, will be competing in the until JuneThe 25. Olive Press upcoming Feria Taurina in Algeciras sent fans into a frenzy TOP for news in Spain!

THE King of Reggaeton is coming to the Costa del Sol. Colombian superstar J Balvin will play at the El Pozuelo Stadium in Malaga on August 12. The 33-year-old has worked with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Beyonce, while his anthem Mi Gente has more than 1.8 billion views on YouTube.

Do you have a what’s on?

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

olivepressnews

Balvin bonanza

green

Tickets for controversial Costa del Sol bullfight sell out almost immediately last week. After online tickets went on sale on Thursday morning, it was announced on the website that tickets had sold out by 8.15pm

Icons revisited GOOD news for the lovers of 70s and 80s cinema, the ilustrator Agustín Méndez, born in Málaga and best known as Sr. Sleepless has reworked some of the posters of the most iconic films of those decades, which marked the childhood of the author. Rocky, Star Wars, Willow, Grease or The Goonies are

that night. The Plaza de Toros de Las Palomas website had faced huge queues the night before, with people anxiously waiting for

some of thefilms that we can find on this exhibition, entitled El cine que me parió… Y los amigos que lo soñaron conmigo, which will take place on the Ateneo de Málaga, until July 27. The exhibition will cover from the birth date of the author, 1976, to 1988, when he consider that his childhood ended.

aelic fun day, June 9 COSTA Gaels Marbella will be holding a sports day with live music and BBQ on Saturday June 9 from 11 am at the Trocadero Marbella rugby club.

tickets to go on sale. World renowned Esteponabased matador Tomas will be taking to the Algeciras bullring on June 29 alongside Miguel Angel Perera. This is not the first time the 42-year-old has caused events to sell-out within hours, as he boasts some of the most loyal fans in the bullfighting world, dubbed Tomasistas. Unlike other matadors, Madrid-born Tomas is a mysterious ‘celebrity’ who rarely gives interviews and performs infrequently, meaning fans have to watch him live in the bullring to see him at all. The four-day tournament, which kicks off on June 27, will welcome matadors from across Spain and Peru. It is still unclear whether more tickets will be available for the feria but local reports say there could be a re-sale on June 12.

irque du Soleil, June 1 WORLD famous show full of acrobatics and contortionists at the Recito Ferial Cortijo de Torres in Malaga.

nergy workshop, June 2 TWO women from the UK have united in the Costa del Sol to bring a special one-day healing retreat workshop at the Centro Comercial Picasso in Benahavis. info@thenergywithin.com

THE CLARO! RESTAURANT & BEACH CLUB is open 7 days a week from 10am to 11pm

Discover our new menu from the 1st June Come and taste the sardines, fish and meat on the barbecue/espeto!

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la cultura

A night at the movies

Grease, The Full Monty and Titanic - all the tributes!

The Moonlight Theatre

CHARITY CONCERT / CONCIERTO BENÉFICO

Saturday / Sábado 26/05/18

a night at the movies

...Plus ecial a very sp TO TRIBUTE

Presented by

Ricky Lavazza with special guest

Karen Danzig

TRIBUTES TO:

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BIG STARS: Include Ricky Lavazza and Karen Danzig ous illness. Great raffle prizes are will be up for grabs including 4-star hotel accommodation, return flights to the UK courtesy of Jet 2, golf green fees, meals for 2, a luxury GHD item, and many more to be confirmed! Tickets for the concert are just €10 per person and can be purchased at the Sunset Beach Club Leisure Desk (Open Sunday to Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm) or calling Joanne on 695 887 366. 100% of the entrance ticket sales and raffle ticket sales will be donated to

these very worthy causes! A little more about the charities we’re supporting at this event: Butterfly Children Charity (DEBRA Spain) The Butterfly Children Charity helps children with EB, a condition which makes skin as fragile as a butterfly wing. EB sufferers require painful daily wound care routines and parents are generally the sole carers. Barretstown Founded in 1994 by Hollywood actor, Paul Newman, Barretstown (located in

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t’s a night not to be missed on Saturday May 26. Sunset Beach Club hotel in Benalmádena will be hosting a Charity Concert Night at the Movies in aid of three children’s charities. Presented by one of the coast’s most popular entertainers (and Sunset Beach Club resident performer), Ricky Lavazza, and with special guest, Karen Danzig, you’re guaranteed a fun evening of fabulous music and dancing to songs from your favourite classic films. It will be a thrill filled night, especially with a fantastic closing act where Ricky and a few volunteers will be performing a Full Monty tribute! The aim of the event is to raise funds for three kids charities which the hotel has been supporting for the last four years as part of its ‘Sunset Breaks’ initiative. At a similar event last year, they managed to raise just over 12,000 Euros for these charities and they’ll be hoping to surpass this figure at this year’s concert. The charities supported, Make-A-Wish® Spain, Barretstown and Debra Spain all have a theme in common, creating special memories for children battling seri-

May 23rd - June 5th 2018 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

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May 23rd - June 5th 2018

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LETTER S

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Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

Embarrassment Readers react to Sevilla introducing €3,000 fines after a hen do interrupted a religious procession with phallic inflatables

No excuse Sad situation. No excuse for this type of behaviour anywhere much less in a country where you are a guest. Sylvia Taylor, Ronda

Funny side

Letter

of the

week

Dear Olive Press, In reference to your front pag article in the edition May 9, e find it refreshing that you hadI the courage to put out a positive note for the freedom-fighters, because that’s what they are: it is good when people are awakened to the fact that all elec tronics are hackable and that‘security’ and ‘privacy’ on the web are ‘jokes’! W o r s e only when people are made to believe those HACK who are ‘secret inFEARS te llig e nce ’ are the good guys, and only the hackers are ‘bad’. It is the opposite: those licensed ‘securit guys’ are only exploiting sociy ety on behalf of the elite: whilemost of today’s ‘hackers’ are heroes who are exposing government and the elites’ schemes. By the way, typical that the Olive Press dared to take up such a subject. Great paper! Keep up the good work! What do the Mother of Dragons, Property King Alfonso XIII, a Swedish billionaire and Denise Van Outen have to do with Spanish FOREIGN AFFAIR property? Voted www.theolivepress.es

olive press

www.theolivepress.es

May 2018

Issue 20

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

SEE PAGE III >>

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

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

alaga was one of popular regions for the most last year was the highest number since ber ers last year, new foreign buy- 2008’s crash. Brits still one investment, figures have est revealed. percentage of the make up the larg- and Alicante rounding and the Canaries saw sales foreign market at shoot up More than 460,000 It comes as figures off the top three. sales were regis- 15%, with Brexit seemingly doing compared to the yearby 11.15% in 2017 by Panorama tered in Spain last little to put off investors. The before, numbers revealed erties revealed Marbella, EsteponaProp- pre-2007 levels by 10.4%. exceeding tionals accounting year, with foreign na- Malaga was And now, as Benahavis are officially and a result of Spain’s booming market, The total number for 13% of purchases. area for foreignthe fourth most popular ‘most of properties bought mature’ markets inthe hottest and International Monetary buyers the Spain. Figures the lowing the Balearic in the country, fol- from the longest-running country’s economic Fund has raised Islands as the numestate agent growth forecast in Marbella showed the three towns in 2018 to 2.08% - giving Spain the strongest economic

growth in the Eurozone. PROPERTIES SELLING FAST AT THE SPANISH ESTATE AGENT!

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We prefer Rock to Scotland ENGLISH voters would rather keep Gibraltar than Scotland if the Brexit situation demanded it, a new poll has found. They would also prefer to keep the Rock British, rather than lose Northern Ireland. A total of 37% of English voters said losing Gibraltar would not be a price worth paying for Brexit, compared to 35% for Scotland and 31% for Northern Ireland. The hypothetical answers, posed by Panelbase, has deeply wounded many in Scotland, which only narrowly voted to stay in the Union in a referendum three years ago.

XXXX

The poll, commissioned by pro-independence website Wings Over Scotland, put the question to 1020 people. “The voters of England – that’s Remainers and Leavers combined – would drop Scotland like a hot potato if it were somehow to be necessary to secure Brexit,” website owner Stuart Campbell insisted. “The only thing that our English cousins were almost reluctant to sacrifice was a tiny rocky outcrop of someone else’s country and has roughly the same population as Dumfries. “The English would rather hang on to the 34,000 citizens (plus some apes) of Gibraltar than the 7.2 million of Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

The Rock’s ONLY free local paper

23rd - June 5th 2018 Vol. 3 Issue 71 www.gibraltarolivepress.com May

Fears over first big Brexit casualty despite government giving stiff denial that Bet365 ‘plans move to Malta’ By Laurence Dollimore & Susie Granic

THE Gibraltar government has denied the Rock could be set to lose one of its biggest employers thanks to Brexit. It comes after the Times of Malta claimed Bet365 had announced it will relocate to Malta once the UK leaves the EU. In the alarming report, the newspaper claimed 1,000 workers could lose their jobs as the online gambling giant planned to take its business elsewhere. Both Bet365 and the government were this week forced to rebuke the story, claiming the company ‘remains committed’ to the Rock ‘and its workforce’. “We have decided to increase our existing presence in Malta, which provides a mature and robust regulatory environment for the industry,” a spokesman for Bet365 said.

XXXX

“We can confirm that we will be retaining our strong presence in, and commitment to, Gibraltar where our main operational hub is based and will continue to maintain our existing dual regulatory and licensing strategy and presence.” Bet365 has an annual revenue of GBP1.5 billion and around 23 million customers worldwide. It is the leader of the online gaming industry, employing over 3,000 people on the Rock

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A day with Spain’s most famous communist mayor to celebrate May day SEE PAGE 6

PLACE YOUR BETS

CAPTION:

- the equivalent of 10% of the territory’s population. There have been fears since the UK’s leave vote that some

of the 30 gaming companies based in Gibraltar could move their headquarters. Financial expert Chris Cousins told the Gibraltar Olive Press the Bet365 move - if true could be catastrophic. “It would be a big loss for Gibraltar,” said the boss of fintech company Ignite. “It would be pretty devastating for the local economy.” He added: “It’s understandable that they have to prepare for such a move. “Most of their workers live across the border in Spain, if there are problems post-Brexit and there are daily three-hour border queues for example, that’s going to impact their business, so they have to hedge their bets a little.” Minister for Gambling Albert Isola meanwhile agreed that Bet365 was managing risk by scaling up in Malta, but said the company was not leaving the Rock. He said: “We understand that business

needs certainty and has to manage risk. “There is no single risk management solution here as the issues are complex. “That is why we are working with operators and with other jurisdictions to establish the best overall regulatory framework in which to do business.” He added: “They are not leaving Gibraltar by any stretch of the imagination. Neither are they having to choose between us and Malta. “What remains true is that Gibraltar remains the jurisdiction of choice for the most

reputable gaming companies in the world. Brexit isn’t going to change that.” A cyber security expert who works for several gaming companies told the Gibraltar Olive Press other big names in the industry were considering an emergency relocation from the Rock in case of unfavourable Brexit outcomes. “It’s the clever thing to do, every big gaming company I work for has what’s called a Disaster Recovery (DR) site in another location, and Bet365’s DR in Malta was set up two to three years ago.” Asked whether Bet365 or the government would withhold information about the alleged move, the expert, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “It’s an extremely delicate situation, news like that could have big on consequences the industry and Gibraltar itself. “It’s not something you would want to become publicly known.”

In Gibraltar

Thinking of Selling?

Is it just me or is the picture of this in my head hilarious? It’s a pity the ‘offended’ were not so vocal about corruption within these religious institutions.

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Mijas Costa See page xx 4

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Vol. 12 Issue 291

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PLUS: Spain’s fabulous castles SEE PAGE 15

(Free or paid for)

May 9th - May 22nd 2018

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

679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_MIJ 23/02/2017 AS_COSTA.indd 11:31 1

End of ETA

But will the wounds left in its wake ever heal?

Page 6

Get fishy

How to cook the the perfect ‘espeto’ sardines

EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

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

Faulty

Page 42

“If they have a faulty process that allows someone to take over the Government-controlled website, they can use the same process to hack key data stores,” the cyber professional, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Olive Press. His worries were backed up by shadow Minister for Finance, Roy Clinton, who con‘EXPECT US’: Anonymous firmed he would be asking further questions in ParliaThe perfect wine cocktails for the security of the website ment on the case. the infamous Panama Papers, the upcoming heat He told the Olive Press this and how the shock attacks which exposed how many week he has ‘concerns’ about were able to happen. Page 44 The GSD politician said: “I global leaders and business sincerely hope the hackers moguls hid their money. didn’t get any sensitive infor- In the first attack, on Tues- censorship. mation. If they did it would be day April 24, the website col- Although the site was reTel: 952 939 738 – 952 934 412 of lapsed for over 12 hours. stored some hours later, grave concern.” The hacktivist group is in- All Government content was hackers took control again, removed and replaced by the with Fetajo Rent a Car famous the site remaining offline for holding various Your Quality Local Car Hire Company international Governments group’s AnonPlus logos and a for a further two days. and terrorist groups to ac- mission statement in Italian, A Government spokesperencouraging readers to join son count. told the Olive Press no personal data had been acIt comes after a year of fi- the organisation. www.fetajorentacar.com nancial scandal involving AnonPlus is believed to be cessed and the website had offshore enclaves, following a social network branch of remained offline while techAnonymous which targets nicians worked on the CMS

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Hot water

SOME 14 fire bosses have

But when their employees

found discrepancies in the consortium’s training courses. Large sums were paid to a company to provide training courses, but no evidence has been found that these courses took place. Meanwhile, irregularities were also found in grants and subsidies, which cops believe were used to pay for private trips. The irregularities date back to 2008 and cops believe at least €7 million has been stolen by those at the top.

Pipe ban

FRUIT growers in the Axarquia are facing a 60% reduction in water use from the La Vinuela reservoir with no solution in sight. The Junta has decided to limit its use as the reservoir is already at 22.7% capacity and could drop even lower if the dry weather keeps up.

Go home!

Different strokes A giant inflatable phallus is a religious symbol… to some.

That is so disrespectful, they deserve any fine! Parties like these give the British a bad name.

These stupid people should know how to behave in another country. They should be given a hefty fine and put on the first plane back home and have their passports taken from them.

Chrisy Rolf, Malaga

Susan Gail Cortes, London

Bad rep

Opinion Page 6

Reliable privatebeen arrested for allegedly hire transfer services for any embezzling occasion €7 million in public • Luxury vehicles funds. The Policia Nacional found • Door to door service that the Consortium of • Airport collections Bomberos Cadiz took out • Weddings transport early retirement insur• Sightseeingmass day trips policies. • Restaurantance shuttles Find out more retired at: early, chiefs siphoned www.simply-shuttles.com off the money from the paytel: 951 279 outs. 117 info@simply-shuttles.com Authorities also

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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 25 April

Good news, they should have had the decency to leave when requested to do so!

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

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www.theolivepress.es NEWS IN BRIEF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEWS

SNATCHED: Acourt

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

Travel More Makes no sense worry less

Weird how they never seem to get any of the drugs like cocaíne that are flooded across southern Spain (GROWING CONCERN, issue 291). No they'd rather go after someThis exchange allows the sitter thing that isto experience about to be legalised everysomewhere new and interesting, whilst giving the owner a peaceful night’s sleep knowing where. that their furry friends are in safe hands. If you’re heading off somewhere, vets agree that most pets are happiest at home. That’s why TrustedHousesitters helps give pet owners peace of mind whilst they go on holiday, by finding sitters who will look after their home and pets for free.

2017

From Page 1

Probing

It began probing the three star hotel and apartment block in 2011 after it was denounced over planning rules which set aside the plot for a four star hotel only. According to the PGOU town plan an apartment block was not permitted and it also breached rules by being over 700 square meters bigger

December 6th - December 19th

‘He deserves it’ Not enough stars

DOOMED: Costa hotel

than permitted. Although the town hall and developer maintain this excess was later corrected, the judge ruled that the rectification would have taken place after the granting of the licence, so does not count. The building has 61 apartments and 46 parking spaces. The original building was granted planning permission by then mayor Enrique Bolin in 2001.

SMUGGLERS’ WALL

POLICE officers have formed a human wall along a beach in La Linea to ensure construction of a beach wall went that the The wall, between the church ahead. of Nuestra Senora del Carmen and the perimeter wall of the fishing port of La Atunara, hopes to

deter drug smugglers from using the beach as a drop off zone. A combined police presence of Guardia Civil, local and national officers were fears grew that drug smugglers present as would try and disrupt the work.

He even got himself a financial known radio station, through whichadvice slot on a w he snared unsuspe ing victims. However, a comprehensive Olive Press investigation e posed his scams that involved stamps, coins and gold. We also revealed how he and his close pal Barry Nath wined and dined up to a dozen criminals, anonymous through the food column. He eventually fled the country but we soon tracked him down to following our expos changed his name by deed poll andthe UK, where he ha was selling coins an antiques on eBay from a small Berkshire cottage. He was quickly found guilty under English law of connin people and given a suspended prison sentence only due to health reasons. “And because he promised to go back to his online cons,” one never of the British victim explained. But this is apparently not the case two victims claiming he is still with using eBay to sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps from his unpaid flat in Brighton, using the names ‘gqtrading’ and ‘gqtrading2’.

“We are pretty sure he has broken his bail conditions and will have to finally go back to prison,” said one victim. “The nerve of this man is unbelievable.” His landlord last night insisted something was up from the start. he should have known “When we met to sign the contracts slippery, I went to pay for my coffee I thought he was a bit tell me he had left without paying only for the barista to his bill.” He continued: “He paid for the first couple of months but then just stopped. He told us his account had been frozen due to a money laundering investigation, which is probably true. “He then told us to stop contacting him and accused us of harrassment. “Now he is claiming he is seriously ill and can’t work to make payments. “We’ll see him in court.” Opinion Page 6

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Growing concern

Costa del Sol hotel has three months to fight decision before it is demolished

A HOTEL is to be knocked down for not having enough class! Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista de Rey must be demolished within three months, a court has ruled, Andalucia’s Superior Court of Justice ruled that the hotel falls short of its four-star requirement.

One day I’m going to be swimming and I’ll bump into one of these floating bundles of hashish, and all my sundays will have come at once (GROWING CONCER, issue 291). Ian Upton, Malaga ED: Beware, if you touch it you become a smuggler!

Don’t buy it What a load of cod (Spain takes top spot for boasting best beaches in the world, issue 291). Even Britain has nicer beaches but crap weather. Who writes this stuff.... Millenniums? (SIC) Dave Pope, Malaga

Ignorant

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Contact Tim (0034) 677 195 638 Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

24/11/2017 11:18

Issue 292

Marbella www.theolivepress.es

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Our star is risingagain

Marbella may be an international brand but some things never change. Olive Press news editor Laurence Dollimore digs beneath the glitz to unearth the character he has known for two decades

HINK Marbella and a glamorous jet-set lifestyle springs to mind. The classiest hotels, the liveliest nightclubs and the most fashionable and well-heeled clientele found anywhere in Andalucia and maybe Spain. But peel back the ‘Marbs mask’ (you know, all the Arab billionaires, reality TV stars and ex-Premiership footballers) and you’ll find its hidden character and history. Before we go any further, I’ll admit it. I was lucky enough to grow up with a holiday home here, up in the leafy Guadalmina hills. This pretty much meant sun, sea and sand on tap, along with many a late night staggering along the infamous second

row of Puerto Banus sometimes known as ‘hurricane alley’. In other words, during my misspent youth sprawled out on award-winning beaches by day and crawling out of head-spinning bars by night, I never got to know Marbella’s deeper persona. Over a decade later, no longer a callow and shallow teenager, I am doubly lucky to have been given a second chance at living here (albeit having to work hard), thanks to ‘the boss’ at the Olive Press. And while the temptations in this tourist honeypot remain, I am finally appreciating the culture, the history and so much else that has changed for the better. Continues on Page 18

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From Page 17

Marbella

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The resort has grown into an international brand, becoming one of Spain’s most lucrative tourist destinations. The stats don’t lie. In 2017 Marbella welcomed around four million international tourists and this year is set to be even better. People come here to see and be seen, whether its a hen-do thirsty for a splash of glamour, rubberneckers desperate to see a star like Hugh Grant or Robert de Niro or a top politician looking for a cultural break. This chameleon-like jewel of the Costa del Sol can adapt to every visitor. Let’s start with one of the places I know best, more lounge lizard than chameleon; Puerto Banus. Stroll into the port just to the west of Marbella and you’ll witness a scene like no other, depending on the hour. This could include hendoers trying The glitz and their best to glamour flows in a pull off ill-fitting dress thick slick out of fancy costumes afcelebrating the port and along ter their last night the Golden Mile of freedom, or members of the ‘1% club’ disembarking from mega-yachts or Ferraris to shop ‘till they drop’ at the likes of Gucci and Prada. Banus has become an unashamed melting pot for the rich, famous and wannabe glamourpusses. The glitz and glamour flows in a thick slick out of the port and along Marbella’s Golden Mile, home to exclusive nightclubs Le Suite and the extravagant Roberto Cavalli – where a round of drinks could probably blow your weekly budget if you haven’t already splurged it on a swanky designer outfit – an essential if you want to mingle with the Who’s Who of Marbs. Along this same elitist strip the likes of Lord Alan Sugar, Simon Cowell, Sean Connery and the Saudi Arabian royal family have invested in their own villas. The Assad family are another story.

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

BEACH LIFE: A yoga class in the centre

Thinking globally

Labelled as ‘the new Ibiza’, Marbella exploded onto the international party scene thanks in part to reality TV shows The Only Way Is Marbs and Made In Chelsea, whose drama-packed episodes helped shape the area’s image as the place-to-be for the young and famous. When TOWIE aired a two-episode Marbella special in 2015, hotel searches soared by an incredible 72% overnight. But it’s not just reality TV stars who are raising Mar-

LEAFY: The old town is full of orange trees

bella’s profile and putting Malaga airport’s second runway into action. World leaders too, are magnetically attracted to Marbs. The Olive Press revealed in 2014 that Russian President Vladimir Putin had bought an estate here. And we were the only newspaper to speak to Michelle Obama on her famous visit to the town’s ‘casco historico’ in 2010 (ED: Well we asked her two questions, if that counts).

A couple of Britain’s ex-PMs have taken a break from politics here; David and Sam Cameron celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in the nearby hills of Benahavís last June, staying at the exclusive €270-a-night Alcuzcuz resort, and Tony and Cherie Blair have been spotted here twice in the last four years. Actor Hugh Grant is now said to own a home up in the Zagaleta hills, as does Mark Thatcher (Maggie’s wayward son). Plenty of Premier League foot-

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May 23rd - June 5th 2018

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SNAPSHOTS: Marbella’s Old Town is full of charm and is jam packed with tapas restaurants and dozens of independent shops selling everything from clothes to food and souvenirs

ballers also have homes here. to flaunt your designer beachwear than the It’s quite a list, which could go on and on… and internationally-renowned beach clubs, where these guys are not here to attend champagne all-white parties and party sessions are the spray parties. So what brings the global elite to flavour du jour all summer long. Marbella? From May to October, the beautiful and Cue the beautiful old town and its orange-scented wealthy splash their cash on Balinese sunPlaza de los Naranjos. beds, cocktails and long, lazy al fresco lunchThe Moorish pueblo is just a five-minute walk from es, check La Sala by the Sea! the world-renowned beaches and stunning 17km As for gastronomy, Marbs is a foodie’s parapromenade that runs from Marbella to San Pedro. dise twinkling with over half a dozen Michelin Orange Square – festooned with citrus trees - is star restaurants. The competitive gastrofound at the centre of the maze of streets windscene has ushered in a vast array of top qualing through the casco antiguo. Some of its quaint ity dining options that makes it a tough call whitewashed houses have been standing since the not to OD on carbs. town was re-conquered from the Moors in 1485. High profile events like A Cuatro Manos at Parts of the original 11th century Arab wall still the Puente Romano resort, which recently surround the square, while churches, the town hall brought together a veritable constellation of and the Old Governor’s House go back to the 16th chefs with 71 Michelin stars between them century. for a four-day cookathon, The Church of Saint Mary, are giving Marbella some dating from 1618, is a point serious street food cred. of pilgrimage for its stunningThe fine art scene is also Baorque red stone entrance booming, with a spate of and the most impressive galleries like Houses of organ built in Spain in the Art at the Marbella Club last 125 years – consistHotel popping up along ing of 5,000 pewter, copper the Golden Mile. and wooden pipes and four This month’s Marbella manual keyboards. International Art Festival The old town’s mosaic-cobwill showcase hundreds bled streets lead past leafy of works by artists from squares begging you to stop more than 20 different for a tapas and cana in the countries. sunshine. Stylish boutiques, The performing arts are jewellers and delicatessens also celebrated big-style. on every corner importune Marbella International you to come in and spend, Film Festival, now in its and the most amazing resseventh year, is becoming taurants set out their stalls as well-known as Cannes under designer awnings, seso you’re looking at a fuducing you to sit down and ture culture capital of Euenjoy. rope. For old school romantics, Marbella has come a long there’s the allure of a horse way from its fishing viland carriage tour while, lage days, all thanks to across from the old town, a German Prince and a cool green Alameda Gardens rogue British car engine. beckons with its stunning Maximilian de Hohenlohorticultural display and arhe-Langenburg and his ray of quaint fountains. son Alfonso had to stop EPICENTRE: Tourists and The town has come a long in Marbs when they were locals love to walk around way since the Romans settled having trouble with their Rolls here in 1 AD, but you can still Royce in 1946. Alfonso liked Orange Square see signs of their lost civilisathe area so much he decided tion, whether it’s the 1st century to buy some land and build Roman bridge embedded in the himself a house, before selling gardens of the Hotel Puente Romano or the baths plots to his Rothschild and Thyssen friends. and settlement ruins in Guadalmina. He soon turned his home into the Costa del Even 2,000 years ago, the Romans knew that the Sol’s first luxury hotel in 1954 – The Marbella beach was the place to be, becoming the first civiliClub – which to this day remains a mainstay zation to spark a coastal real estate boom. on the Golden Mile. Before long, Ava Gardner, Fast forward to today and it seems this hasn’t Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Laurence been lost on the ruling elite of Marbella. Millions Olivier were all hanging out there, raising the have been invested to bring the beaches up to Costa del Sol’s international profile and atglobal standards. tracting a wave of jetsetters and investment. Marbella’s 27 kilometres of coastline encapsuFrom a pure accident of fate the resort has lates 24 playas while San Pedro and Puerto Banus gone from strength to strength, despite fly the prestigious blue flag, a quality standard the economic and political woes that have awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Eduplagued Spain since the financial crash of cation. 2008. As for beach clubs, you won’t find anywhere cooler Mayor Jose Bernal, now ousted by the PP’s

Angeles Muñoz, campaigned on ending the institutionalised corruption that plagued the town for decades. He has introduced new transparency and integrity rules for those in office, including himself, having most recently made his spending figures public. With a booming restaurant scene, an international art and film community, world class beaches nightlife and shopping and a corruption-fighting mayor, what more could you ask for? Perhaps an airport with international links, do I hear you cry? No need. Malaga’s just 45 minutes’

drive away, and Gibraltar the same in the other direction. Stunning mountain views? They’re already available from La Concha, Marbella’s own mountain, or on a day trip to the hilltop citadel of Ronda, easily doable by car or bus. Surely not a thrilling treetop adventure park? Err, yes, look no further than Aventura Amazonia, in Las Chapas. Suffice to say, whether you’re a foodie, an urban junkie looking for a city break crammed with culture, a beach addict after a classic family holiday or an 18-30 reveller thirsty for a party break, Marbella delivers it - in style!

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Marbella

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ll about

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

While reports of Marbella’s A-list glitz and glamour play on like a stuck record, locally-based Spanish journalist Pablo Balbontin prefers a different side

ARBELLA is well known for its lifestyle of luxury and exclusivity. Almost every report you read singles out the most expensives shops, the most prestigious chefs, the latest Porsche models prowling the streets… They are powerful tourist attractions, no doubt, but this is not one of those reports. There is another side to Marbella where the middle classes live, where prices are not exorbitant, where people have normal jobs and struggle to get to the end of the month on their wages. Welcome to the real life on Marbs. The old town of Marbella is probably its best treasure. Among the modern city centre buildings and traffic noise, the Moorish centre is a place from another era, a perfectly preserved and charming small Andalucian village. Here, hiding between the upscale tapas bars and Michelin starred restaurants you can savour a taste of the past at Casa Eladio, a restaurant that has been serving the populace for over half a century. Founded in 1965 by Eladio Cabello, it is currently run by his son Carlos who has just overseen its complete renovation. It’s still a great place to taste traditional homemade food, but now in a modern way.

Flip

ORIGINAL: One of the half dozen Dali sculptures

to the

B-side

Another old-time option is El Altamirano, a 30-year-old veteran of victualling specialising in fish and seafood. Beyond the casco antiguo, El Asturiano is another local favourite of mine. As its name suggests, the focus is on food from northern Spain. If you’re a

fan of fabada, cachopo or callos, this is your oyster. There’s also always a place at the table for the well-known fast food franchises, found around town and at La Cañada, probably the most recognisable shopping mall on the Costa del

DESERTED: The beaches in Elviria are much quieter than Banus Sol. Here, as elsewhere in Marbella, there are entertainment possibilities for all kinds of budgets, from coffee shops to music stores and a cinema. And don’t leave Marbella without eating churros in front of the town hall in Plaza de los Naranjos, an autumn/ winter tradition that has continued for decades. As summer approaches, the beach beckons. But forget about those in the centre of Marbella and around Puerto Banús which are way too crowded in peak season. It’s worth travelling 10 km east to the long, sandy stretches of Elviria, El Rosario and Cabopino, distinguished by their tranquility and sense of isolation from the crowds, even in the height of summer. Another side of Marbella that has been traditionally overshadowed is the cultural offer. If you thought the resort didn’t have museums as important as those in big cities like Málaga or Sevilla, you must have missed the

Mirós at the Museo del Grabado, hanging alongside the prints and lithographs of famous contemporary artists like Dalí, Picasso and Tapiès. The Ralli Museum, meanwhile houses one of the biggest collections of Latin American art in all Europe and the Palacio de Congresos puts on various temporary exhibitions throughout the year. There’s also Marbella’s al fresco art gallery of Dali-esque sculptures sweeping down from the Alameda Gardens to the prom. The sculptures are homages to the Catalonian artist, based on some of his most famous works. The rhino is fabulous. This surreal outdoor stage is perfect for a sunset stroll. Marbella’s glamorous bars and spas, golf courses and beach clubs may be the chart toppers that are always a hit with visitors. But just as in music, for a purer and less commercial experience, the B-side is always worth playing.

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Marbella

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ARBELLA has been my home on and off for over 30 years and, like all long-term relationships, the town continues to baffle, bewilder and bewitch me in equal measure. I’ll deal with the baffling and bewildering bit first. If you mention Marbella to most Brits, they will immediately think of the TOWIE wannabe brigade and topless trashed tourists teetering off their heels – and that’s just the men – on a booze fuelled hen or stag party. The town hall’s recent warning that those improperly dressed would face fines hit the headlines in the UK, but to think that the town is merely an upmarket version of Magaluf is to miss the point. Granted Marbella has its fair proportion of late night bars, beach clubs pumping house music during the day and provides ample ammunition for those intent in getting up to no good (trust me. I have the scars to prove VISITOR: Eva Longoria it. Mainly on my liver). But away from the hundred miles an hour hedonistic histrionics that make tabloid headlines, Marbella continues to grow as a luxury tourist destination. High-end properties are continuing to sell and the hotels, beach clubs and restaurants are once again expecting recordbreaking numbers. High profile events such as the Marbella Luxury Weekend, Starlight Festival and Global Gift Gala continue to attract media attention to the town and celebrities including Robert de Niro, Eva Longoria, En-

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

ICONIC: Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe and (right) Giles enjoying his youth in 80s Marbella

My Good, My Bad, My Marbella Marbella lifer Giles Brown explains why, after four decades, he still loves his adopted town

rique Iglesias and Antonio Banderas have all been spotted over the past 12 months. The opening of de Niro’s Nobu Hotel, as well the €72 million redevelopment of the old Don Miguel Hotel marking Club Med’s return to Spain as a luxury holiday provider, as well as the first stages of the W Hotel to the east of the town signal the arrival of serious money and players in Marbella.

On the subject of hotels, the Marbella Club ues to pour in from traditional investors Hotel, where it all started when Prince Al- such as the Kuwaitis and Saudis, as well fonso von Hohenlohe stopped off in Mar- as the British, Irish, Scandinavian and, bella in the 50s, is still going strong. most recently the Russians. The Chinese Needing to make a telephone call he was are widely tipped to be the Next Big Thing told that a line would be available after in property, and on a more substantial lunch, and so decided to have a picnic scale than just the Bazaar Chinos that under the pines close to Finca Santa can be found everywhere. International Margarita. Alfonso was so analysts have identified only enchanted by the location three cities in Spain for inthat he decided to buy the - Madrid, BarceloMarbella has an vestment land and open a small hotel na and Marbella, and while for his friends, the Marbella official population Madrid is a city of six million Club Hotel. and Barcelona has four milIt’s over 60 years since 200,000, showing lion, Marbella has an official that picnic, the hotel has population of 200,000 peoits investment become a byword for luxury ple, underlining the fantaspotential and Prince Alfonso’s cousin, tic investment potential that Count Rudi von Schönberg, Marbella has. who is a walking encyclopeWhile the Town Hall talks of dia of Marbella history, can be found there multi million euro projects, and the British most days. Press concentrate on the antics around I remember interviewing ‘Condi Rudi’ for Puerto Banus, if you scratch the surface, a short magazine article. After the best behind the bling you will find an enchantpart of morning reminiscing, we broke for ing old town as well as a friendly intersandwiches and when returning, Count national community that make Marbella Rudy announced, “Now, where was I. Ah a little slice of paradise all year round. I yes! It was 1963…” know that it may sound a little soppy, but, Serious wealth, unfazed by the shenani- despite my frequent mutterings, I really gans happening in Puerto Banus, contin- wouldn’t live anywhere else. And that’s the bewitching bit…

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Marbella

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Snaking high above the town’s new boulevard like a section of Scalextric track, San Pedro de Alcantara’s sensational bridge is a symbol of the town’s new traffic-stopping appeal

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, which has become a must-see on the Costa del Sol. It’s more Gehry’s Bilbao Guggenheimmeets-Calatrava’s City of Arts and Science in Valencia than typically Andalus. 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 underground car park and the new state-of-the-art boule-

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

g n i g d i Br

p a g e h t PICTURESQUE: San Pedro’s boulevard bridge snakes over Marbella’s popular seaside pueblo

Sanpedreños no longer feel the need to cling onto Marbella’s coat tails vard with its amphitheatre, children’s play areas and ample green spaces are other examples of the shiny new image being heavily promoted by the municipality of Marbella, to which the town still belongs. Although perhaps in name only now, rather than in spirit. Nowadays, Sanpedreños no longer feel the need to cling onto the Brioni and Armani coat tails of Marbella. They have long called for their own municipality, although as yet to no avail. Nevertheless, the San Pedro success story continues. It’s just had large parts of its town semi-pedestrianised, including the bustling Marques del Duero, and several swanky new tapas bars and a museum are reportedly also on the way. Paired with its promenade, ornamented with sculptures and water features, San Pedro can easily compete with Marbella’s elegant elephant beach showers now! With jogging tracks and extended cycle paths, its waterfront piles on the wow factor. The town centre conceals other attrac-

HISTORIC: San Pedro’s central church

tions amidst rows of whitewashed houses, tree-lined roads and shady plazas. Home to the impressive 19thcentury Iglesia de San Pedro, the main plaza is laid out as a square within a square: the inner square, dominated by the church, is bordered by statues, benches and water features; the outer square of bars and restaurants looks inward on the architecture of a bygone era. It’s a perfect example of how San Pedro subconsciously reflects the greater regional culture of southern Spain, while consciously attempting 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 this walking town 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 many other coastal 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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May 23rd - June 5th 2018

Mas to come

One of the coast’s youngest estate agents is on a roll, writes Laurence Dollimore

HE’S taken on communist governments and traded millions of euros worth of art as a dealer for Sotheby’s, so it’s no surprise Margareta Stjernstrom has taken the Costa del Sol property scene by storm. The Polish businesswoman set up MAS Properties four years ago

with her Swedish husband Joakim Stjernstrom, and they’ve been unstoppable ever since. From just the two of them working out of an office in El Rosario, they have opened another base in exclusive Centro Plaza in Puerto Banus, providing a top of the range service offering villas, apart-

INTERNATIONAL TEAM: The agents at Mas speak many languages

ments, plots of land and more. And what a spot, the corner office the true pride and place of Centro Plaza with some of the best views in Marbella.

Their team has grown to 10 while their client list and sales figures have continued to boom. “We have aimed to double in size each year and we have more than

Market Trends - summer 2018

DES RES: Amazing views from MAS office

Estepona has benefited from Marbella’s strict building laws and its mayor’s forward thinking policies meaning investment will continue to pour into the town, believes Margareta. Benalmadena is also popular at the moment, especially the new 800-home Urbana city development, for which MAS Properties is the number one seller. The Polish are buying a lot more thanks to the country’s recovering economy, while Moroccans are buying more in the Marbella area than anyone might think. Interestingly, Brexit has had a stabilising effect on the rate of price increases, which in the end has proved healthy for the market. While the company is selling all the way down the coast, Marbella is still the most wanted location.

done that,” says CEO Margareta, who was once forced out of Poland for protesting the oppressive communist government while studying to become a doctor. And the key to the company’s success? It’s all about the property. “The fact is we only list high quality properties and our mission is to find that one property that is right for the client,” explains Margareta. “We are also extremely transparent and honest with our clients, if we don’t think a property is right for them we won’t waste their time trying to force a sale.” And they’re guaranteed to speak your language, with English, Russian, French, Spanish, German, Arabic and Swedish all spoken by the staff. The company is also clear from the get go that clients will probably have to compromise. “There are three things you are unlikely to always get, and that

Prestige and privilege FROM MADRID TO MARBELLA: The 9 Lions projects are spacious with amazing views

Jon Clarke talks to boss of Marbella’s exciting 9 Lions Residences development

“

IT’S all about locations, prime locations,” explains Fraser Denton, whose company has recently launched its first Andalucia development in the heart of Marbella. Already boasting of two prestige projects in Barcelona and Madrid, 9 Lions Residences in Nueva Andalucia is the logical first dip into the healthy Costa del Sol property market. The stunning collection of apartments, each well-appointed with wonderful views and big terraces, has recently gone on the market, with almost a dozen of the 53 already sold. “It’s all about the finish, the privileged elevated site and all of them have sea views,” continues Fraser, 50, who moved to Barcelona from London two decades ago. With a love of architecture and property, the father-of-four has spent the last few years overseeing two prestige properties in Spain’s two major cities. The first in Barcelona’s trendy 22@ business district was a converted five-storey textile mill that has now been leased out in its entirety to US giant Hewlett Packard. The second in the heart of upmarket Chamberi

district of Madrid comprised 41 apartments, all of them selling out in months at an average price of around €1 million. Designed by architect Sara de la Mata, of Bunch, it has a very contemporary feel with large floor to ceiling windows letting in plenty of natural light. “We are continuing with this concept now in Marbella,” explains Fraser, who studied surveying at Bristol University, before doing an MBA in Manchester. “It is clear there is very limited new product in the area, particularly of the standard we are building. “Marbella is a very international and global market and is recovering very well and seeing the return of its cachet from decades ago,” he continues. “We are also seeing a real drive towards quality, with groups like the Starwood group and the W hotel, plus the return of Club Med. “We continue to look for prime locations along the Costa del Sol, but they have to be the right ones and we are in no rush.” As for the Spanish property market in general, he believes it is in a strong

position. “The residential market in Spain is very buoyant right now after years of little activity due to the recession. “There was a lot of pent up demand that was waiting for the economy to pick up and now it certainly has.” The surveyor had originally moved to Madrid in 1999, working for the Australian Investment giant, Lend Lease, developing shopping centres, including the UK’s Bluewater. After a brief return to the UK in 2002, he returned to set up his own company in Barcelona. “I lasted just six weeks in London before I had to come back. I really love it in Spain and feel I fit in. “I’ve lived all around Europe, but Spain is now very much my home,” adds Fraser 9 Lions Residences is part of UK & European Investments, which is owned by the LTG group, which owns fashion brands, including River Island. The group’s investment commitments in Spain now total €130 million. Visit www.9lionsresidences. com or ukandeuropean. com for more info

BOSS: Margareta

is size, location and price, and we tell that to our clients so they know beforehand that there will be a compromise.” And it works, the company is one of the most time effective on the coast, turning around a sale in an average of two days. But what is really driving the company forward is the team. Listings agent Maria Mayol has 25 years’ experience at Sotheby’s and has been fundamental in bringing in clients. Meanwhile, the new sales executives are bringing a younger and more dynamic energy to the team. Already with a few years’ experience under their belts, all are trained by MAS Properties in customer care, sales, property law and management. The company, which operates between Malaga and Sotogrande, is already looking to expand and has plans to open offices in Malaga and Tarifa next year. www.maspropertymarbella.com

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May 23rd - June 5th 2018

NE of the fastest growing British real estate companies is expanding rapidly along the Costa del Sol. Award-winning Fine & Country has opened in Marbella’s exclusive Centro Plaza after already setting up in Mijas. The pair are the latest addition to a network of already 330 offices around the world. And their secret? Innovative marketing, a high level of service and expert local knowledge. There’s a reason the company has won the Best International Real Estate Agency Marketing award at the International Residential Property Awards for the past FIVE years. “We take the instruction to sell your home as a privilege, an honour and as a very serious commitment,” says Director Karina Karlsen Norris, who first earned her stripes selling property in Mijas 17 years ago. “The market is growing here so it is logical that the company would expand along the coast?” adds the motherof-two. “The weather is beautiful, it’s easily accessible and there are a lot of investment opportunities here,” continues the personable Dane (right). And no matter who handles your sale, you’ll be in good hands. Every Fine & Country agent is a highly trained independent estate agent and follows a strict code of conduct. “We have a great team here and we speak almost any language, including

Award-winning real estate giant couldn’t resist the ‘booming’ Costa del Sol market

Mighty Fine

TEAM: At the Mijas office

TOP FOUR TRENDS THIS SPRING

• • • • EXPERIENCED: Karina has sold in Mijas for 17 years Slovenian and even Indian!” explains Karina, who has lived in Mijas for 31 years. “I have seen the market go up

and down a few times over the years so I have a lot of local knowledge, as do all of our trained agents and staff.”

Scandinavians are the fastest growing client base More British are selling up and moving back home - possibly due to the exchange rate Mijas Costa, Nueva Andalucia and San Pedro are the hot locations Estepona is good value for money and is expanding fast while strict Marbella planning rules are making it difficult for developers in the town.

Their hundreds of offices worldwide, meanwhile, offer widespread exposure to the international market. Pair this with national marketing cam-

paigns and local expertise of carefully selected property professionals, and there’s no reason to go anywhere else. www.fineandcountry.com

C.C Atalayas local No1, Urb. Riviera Del Sol, Mijas Costa 29649, Malaga Tel: +34 952 93 05 32 Tel: +34 670 673 472 Email: karina@fineandcountry.com www.fineandcountry.com

GUADALMINA MARBELLA 5 Bedroom Villa

NUEVA ANDALUCIA 7 Bedroom Detached Villa

LAS BRISAS NUEVA ANDALUCIA 4 Bedroom Villa

€4,750,000

€4,400,000

Ref: 0218024_R3183925

Ref: 0218026

Amazing, elegant villa situated in Guadalmina Baja, a beachside tranquil residential area west of Marbella. Walking distance to the beach, 5 star hotel, two 18 holes golf courses and several restaurants. The entrance hall accesses the double ceiling living room with fireplace, TV room and library, dining room and fully fitted kitchen all with direct access to the terrace overlooking the beautiful garden and pool.

This is an extraordinary contemporary villa located in the exclusive area of Nueva Andalucía, only a 5-minute drive from Puerto Banus, beautiful beaches and great restaurants. This newly renovated villa is built to the highest standard. You instantly feel at ease while exploring the rest of the beautiful house – divided over three levels, having carefully considered the distribution to maximize the light and magnificent views surrounding the property.

It’s construction is in minimalistic style though the interior decorating skills and creativity of the owners have made this home very inviting. When entering the villa a 400 year old Olive tree is left in peace inside the construction. All 4 bedrooms are positioned well apart for total privacy. One bedroom and en suite bathroom is located directly to the right from the entrance. As you continue through the hallway another bedroom with en suite bathroom is located left of the entrance.

Ref: 0218003_R3136507

€2,100,000

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Protec going strong

ROTEC Group is a construction and refurbishment company located in Mijas, at the very heart of Costa del Sol, and our work focuses on new constructions of villas, houses and apartments as well as renovations, windows and doors (manufacturing and installation), carpentry, flooring and also additional services such as annexes or extensions of poolsides and terraces. Protec Group offers its customers all trades around the house. For all activities we provide a guarantee, especially on the windows and doors area, where we grant usually a 10-year guarantee on the highquality materials used and on to the professional installation with our own highly qualified staff. Our three pillars: CONSTRUCTION We build new villas and houses of all kinds and styles. REFURBISHMENT We offer complete or partial renovation on buildings with the best and newest materials on the market. WINDOWS & DOORS Manufacturing, distribution and installation of windows and doors of the highest quality on the Costa del Sol.

construction sector, which immediately reflected the ethos of the group, following the need to differentiate between the two sectors. These building works were and continue to be undertaken by Protec Construcciones SL. In the year 2002 Velisa Negocios S.L. was formed as an autonomous Real Estate company but still operating under the umbrella of the Protec group. This enabled us to cover a new sector with additional services for our clients who are always our main priority.

Our history

Our aim

The Protec Group was first launched in 1996 as a windows company under the name of Protec Ventanas SL. In the year 2000 the founder, owner and CEO AndrĂŠ Jensen created a second company, in the

We see ourselves as a team, in which individuals are connected to each other as an efficient group of professionals. We offer, with commitment and passion, an exceptional and complete service to all our

clients. We are a thriving company within the building sector because we consistently produce outstanding results which will last for generations. Our priority is to always provide our clients with the highest quality products and services available. Please contact us or visit us at the Poligono Industrial Los Perales in Mijas. On our

website www.grupo-protec.com you will find more information about us, our services and galleries of some of our works as well as testimonials of our clients. As we hope to hear from you soon, we offer you a 5% discount on a quote when you mention this newspaper to us.

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Exterior designs Leading Costa del Sol interior company opens yet another shop

HIS is one design and paint company that keeps on rolling. The talented team of designers from Marbella’s Estuco Interi-

pers on the market, with everything from Farrow & Ball to Designers Guild. “It’s great to be expanding again,” explains owner Christel Jurgensen. “When such a good prime location came available we decided to jump.” With an incredible vision and passion for creativity, it is little surprise that Estuco have grown consistently for the last two decades. The team offer bespoke designs perfectly tailored to meet your needs – from conception to completion. And they have built up a trusted network of craftsmen, builders, painters, electricians and suppliers who are always on time, on spec and on budget.

The company, run entirely by women, stocks the best paints and wallpapers ors have opened yet another shop in the heart of Centro Plaza. The prestige corner location facing the main road is the third in the popular centre, in Nueva Andalucia. The company, run entirely by women, stocks the best paints and wallpa-

ESTUCO

LADIES WHO: Design team and (top right) new shop

INTERIORS

INTERIOR DESIGN DECORATION PROJECTS Furniture, fabrics, illumination, artwork and decorative items. Stockist of Farrow&Ball and Designers Guild paints and wallpapers.

ESTUCO INTERIORS Centro Plaza 51 - 52 29660 Nueva Andalucia info@estucointeriors.com +34 952 810 633

For more info visit www.estucointeriors.com or email info@estucointeriors.com

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May 23rd - June 5th 2018

Woodbrook Group expands Marbella operation Andrew Heath Appointed Country Manager for Spain Brings 16 years’ offshore market experience to this major new initiative. Heath heads up expanded Spanish team to meet this fast-growing client base. ‘Seeing how forward-thinking Woodbrook are, I knew this was the match for me.’

Woodbrook Group, regulated by CySEC also has expertise in Investment and Wealth Planning, QROPS, SIPPS, Trust and Trustee Services, Taxation, Accounting, Audit and Legal services, Company Formation and Administration, Cross-Border Structuring, Domiciliation and Corporate Services among many others.

Andrew Heath Country Manager Spain

Michael Doherty CEO Woodbrook Group

Spain, Marbella Office: Costa del Sol, Av. Ricardo Soriano, 72 Edificio Golden Portal B, 1ª Planta,29601 Marbella, Málaga, Spain Tel.: +34 952768471| Email: officemarbella@woodbrookgroup.com |Website: www.woodbrookgroup.com

Marbella

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Where to eat Marbella is the true foodie capital of Andalucia, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

STAR: Jon meets Joan Roca OR the last three years I have met more famous Michelinstarred chefs in Marbella than I have in the rest of my life put together. From Joan Roca to Juan Mari Arzak and Joel Robuchon to Ferran Adria, they have all taken trips down to the definitive culinary food capital of Andalucia. All attending the A Cuatro Manos event, which is now a regular fixture organised by the town’s very own two Michelin star wonderkind Dani Garcia, they add a very appropriate sprinkling of foodie glamour each Spring. For Marbella has really come into its own as a global dining magnet over the last decade, counting six of its own Michelin-starred joints. No less than half of the Michelin starred restaurants in Andalucia can be found in the town, including El Lago, Messina and Skina, which all have their own unique style and flavours.

June 8th - June 21st 2016 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

Dining central

CHEF CITY: Arzak and Adria join Dani Garcia

bella what it is. An emporium of glass and seductive lighting, its real strength though, lies in its wood-decked terrace, that is 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 Another restaurateur who shows no are always well catered for and there signs of slowing down is Ian Radford, is always a contemporary twist. boss of the La Sala group, whose But if you are looking for some rorecent openings include the Oak mance, you need to head into the restaurant and hip heart of Marbella Mahiki beach, in the old town, where you heart of town. Marbella old town, are literally spoilt for The original La Sala choice for excellent where you are on the way up to the places to eat. Nueva Andalucia Take a wonder around literally spoilt for bullring is, without a and take your pick doubt, the most fachoice for places from dozens of intermous Marbella restauesting places, with the to eat rant abroad. better ones including This is a must-visit for Casanis, Tempora and any holiday to Marbs Cafe Flore. and a huge hit for 'ladies who lunch', Another continually improving resnot to mention movers and shak- taurant is Cibo, on the Golden Mile, ers, celebrities, footballers and the which is beautifully decorated and has wealthy empresarios who make MarContinues on Page 36

And then you have some excellent beach restaurants, such as Bono Beach, La Sala by the Sea and Casanis Plage.

Super Sala

CONSISTENTLY GOOD: La Sala flagship restaurant “We keep getting better and better here and pushing the boundaries,” Garcia told me. “And I expect it to continue.” And that is very much the story, as the town has one of the largest variety of

top eateries in Spain. There are over 100 different nationalities cooking in Marbella, from leading Japanese places like Takumi to hidden gems like Cascada and to exciting new Italian A Casa Mia.

Come and discover the new dining secret in the hills above Marbella

Just 10 mins up the A-397 Ronda road

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From Page 34

TASTY: One of the dishes at A Casa Mia

a great menu. Owned by the capable Metro Group (Jacks, Mumtaz, Metro, etc), it is excellent value and a romantic spot for dining out. In the heart of Marbella, take a visit to the superb Harbour (see review on page 38), which has recently been taken over by the team from Becketts and the Playwright, both with highly rated kitchens. It’s a fabulous spot to watch the world go by from your bird’s nest position high above the boats, and with an excellent kitchen to boot.

Marbella

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

A Casa Mia

Vinoteca • Wine • Tapas Located in the heart of Calahonda A blend of unique Spanish & International wines to enhance our Fresh and Creative Gastro Tapas with a Twist “Tasting Tower” 7 sample gastro Tapas + 2 glasses of wine For 14.95€ available 1.30pm-6pm We cater for private functions Av. De España, Urb Rincón del Mar, Local 6, Sitio de Calahonda Large Terrace Open Mon-Sat 1.30pm til late

Tel: 639 20 73 73

tapavinocostadelsol@gmail.com www.tapavino.eu Reservations Recommended

In contrast, high in the hills above the town (it’s technically in Benahavis) make sure to visit A Casa Mia, which has just opened in the exclusive address of La Heredia on the road to Ronda. The creation of talented Italian couple Bepi and Roberta, its wisteria-clad terraza is one of the most charmed dining terraces on the coast. And when it comes to the food, you will be blown away, unsurprisingly with the pair having cut the mustard for decades in central London, with no less than SIX cafe/delis under the La Bottega brand. This is Italian food of the highest quality, pulled together by chef Emiliano, from Bergamo, under the watchful eye of Beppe. I was particularly impressed with the haddock and vegetable tempura with mayonnaise and slices of ginger, which was original as it was tasty. I also loved the handmade tagliolini of porcini mushrooms with shavings of black truffle. What joy. Another exciting new place is Funky Tapas Gastro Bar, which sits just behind the H10 hotel in Nueva Andalucia. Set up by capable Mancunian restaurateur Debbie it has got better and better not just with its food but with its entertainment offering. Promising ‘mouth-watering flavours from around the world’, its dishes don’t just look delicious, but they are. Come and find out for yourself. You sit on a fantastic terrace and service is second to none, while the cocktails are also su-

NEW ADDITION: Funky Tapas (above)

JOYOUS: Owner Roberta at A Casa Mia

Foodie feast

JAPANESE WINNER: Dishes at Takumi

perb. Up in San Pedro you will be spoilt for choice, but really look out for Macaao, which really stands out as a special place to visit. 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, no surprises, mussels, as well as oysters, shrimp croquettes and ceviche. Also in San Pedro is the very elegant L’Impronta, an upmarket Italian joint, run by capable Francisco Vacas, who actually heralds from Cordoba. Finally another man helping to change the face of San Pedro is Malcolm Spendlove, who has been at the helm of the ever popular Passion Cafe (www.passioncafe.eu) for the last 18 years and now heads up one of the coast’s best hamburger joints, Mr Gourmet Burger (www. mrgourmetburger.com) on the boulevard. Finally, up the coast in the charming little known port

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37 May 23rd - June 5th2018 2018 March

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

POLE POSITION: Delicious tapas starters at The Harbour

of Cabopino, you have to make a beeline for Alberts, an absolute institution. Sitting right by the water, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a better setting and the food is always amazing.

FRONTLINE: Bono Beach and Alberts are two excellent spots to eat

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Marbella

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Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke makes a bowline to The Harbour

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

N one direction I’m looking up to the Sierra Bermeja and Gibraltar, and the other to the Sierra de Mijas. But the real fun is the beach and port below, where you watch a flotilla of wetbikes and boats, not to mention the sunbathers and looky, looky men, as you graze on some of Marbella’s finest tucker. I’m testing out the recently renovated Harbour restaurant in the royal Marbella yacht

club. Almost unique to the coast, you are perched literally above the boats in a classical setting, well out of the way of prying eyes, perfect for captains of industry and celebrities looking for a private meal. This is not Puerto Banus, but Marbella’s older, more authentic port, with a much more discerning those-in-the-know clientele. This is the brainchild of long-time restaurateurs Mark and Penny, who already own two popular restaurants, Becketts and the Playwright, in Marbella. Here, they have branched out into something way more ambitious, but the gamble seems to be paying off.

VIEWS: Across Marbella port are superb

CLASSICAL: Decor has been modelled on the Titanic dining room

Shipshape Designed in the style of the Titanic, the interior is sumptuous, classic - almost Caribbean - and with a fabulous terrace at the back. The menu matches up to the style, broken into six broad sections, starting with the Sharing Platters, such as anchovies and red peppers and the ham croquettes, a real winner, made with Cinco Jotas jamon and served on a

bed of Boletus mushrooms. The Organic and Healthy Bowls section was most intriguing and included such delights as the ‘Zen bowl’, which came with sunflower and pomegranate seeds, warm quinoa and wilted greens, sweet potato and chilli flakes. I felt like I’d had my five

portions for at least three days in a row it was so darn healthy. Next up was the Raw Bar section, including the usuals such as steak tartare and tuna tartare, and an excellent sea bass ceviche. I then dived into two main courses, firstly a fabulous grilled wild sea bass in an original parmesan crust with asparagus, which was cooked by chef Andy Dagnell to a tee. Then I had the genuinely excellent pork ‘presa’ which was tender and well garnished and as good as the best presa I have eaten in the Sierra Morena of Huelva, where the country’s best wild Iberian pigs come from. While the wine list was short, I was steered to an excellent white by the glass from Castilla y León, Finca la Caraballas, a verdejo, but with real aromatic apricot notes, quite unlike most supermarket verdejos. All in all, congratulations to Mark and Penny for taking over this previously tired old place, which, given time, is bound to come up trumps for them. And then it will be Plain Sailing all the way!

The Harbour Club Maritimo, Puerto Deportivo, Marbella 2604 CONTACT US ON email us: info@theharbourmarbella.com ot call: 952 86 55 34

The Jammy Deli Freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, salad bar and homemade cakes. All coffees, smoothies, milkshakes and pre-prepared meals to take away

Hours 8.30am - 4.30pm Phone Amy: 603 47 15 65 Calle Mérida de Jarales, 29649 Calahonda, Málaga

You Jammy lot!

Brand new deli for Calahonda

HE Jammy Olive in Calahonda has opened it’s newest venture, The Jammy Deli, right next door to the already successful and busy cafe. The Jammy Deli is a dream for those who don't have the time and just need to grab a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner for take away. Whether it be a slice of freshly made quiche, a salad from the self service salad bar or a ready made sandwich. The salad bar offers the traditional basic, alongside the more adventurous options. Whether it be the Edamame and broccoli salad with soy, orange and sesame or the butternut squash, Parmesan pesto pasta. For the gym lovers, protein lunch boxes of turkey, eggs and chilli, cumin and beetroot hummus are available. Offering ready made meals such as a sweet potato and goats cheese moussaka, a chilli lime and coconut chicken curry, or a feta, pea and courgette quiche, the problem is what to choose! With a wide selection of home made cakes, sliced roasted meats such as beef, turkey and Coca Cola ham, marinated olives and her soon to be famous hand made pork pies and sausage rolls! She focuses on providing food that is healthy, always home made and tasty. The BBQ meat counter offers a selection pack of Thai chicken skewers, beef koftas or mini Indian burgers to take the hassle out of BBQ' s! However, don't panic you can still grab a Jammy classic for on the go. An avocado, spinach, pear and apple smoothie, an Oreo milkshake, a slice of carrot cake with pineapple frosting, a coffee or even the Thai coconut and banana porridge. Outside catering is also available, for those who want cold or hot buffets, BBQ's, breakfast buffets or even a 3 course meal. Every detail and menu is individually prepared and planned to suit your needs.

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May 23rd - June 5th 2018

T Sky’s the limit

HERE is almost no better view on the entire Costa del Sol. The stunning vistas from the Benabola Hotel Sky Bar stretch as far as the eye can see… and then some. Lording it over the famous Puerto Banus marina, this beautiful new addition to the celebrated hotel is the dream spot for an early evening tapa and cocktail, or a nightcap following supper. Even better, come for the evening and relax at easily one of the coast’s genuine secret spots. For those having two cocktails or more there is free underground parking. And, if you want to really experience the high life then book a room at the hotel and if you are lucky you’ll have a suite with a corner living room with views to match the Sky Bar above. Visit www.benabola.com

Swedish delight

IT is no surprise that the fruit and vegetables at Miadel cafe and deli is possibly the best quality in Marbella. It’s owners have been exporting Andalucia’s best produce to Sweden for nearly three decades. Sourcing their wares from all around the region, nobody has a better grasp on where to find the best avocados and mangoes, not to mention chirimoyas and starfruit. But their wonderful supermarket and cafe, just off the A-7 near Puerto Banus, is a genuine Aladdin's Cave of goodies. While mostly catering to the Scandinavian market, this is THE place to pick up excellent fresh bread, as well as pastries, cheeses and cold meats and plenty of organic produce, including free range eggs. There are also over 100 different wines from all around the region and abroad and a lovely back garden to eat sandwiches, quiches and salads made on the premises. It can be found at Calle Rio Volga, 3, in Nueva Andalucia

Monday - Friday – 10.00 - 19.00 Saturday – 10.00 - 17.00 Sunday CLOSED Facebook / Mia Del +34 952 81 91 96 miadel@miafruto.com Calle Rio Volga 3 29660 Nueva Andalucia, Marbella

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QUALITY HOMES IN MARBELLA With our selection of quality homes and a dedicated team of property professionals, we are able to provide you with a premium property service in Marbella. Come and meet our multilingual team in our new office at Centro Plaza, Nueva Andalucia.

CALL US TODAY 951 20 30 35 info@masproperty.com, www.masproperty.com

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21/05/2018 13:01

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SOME 95% of private holiday BEsoon ‘APPY! rentals may be declared illegal in Madrid. It comes after a new raft of measures were announced by the left-wing coalition council of Manuela Carmena. Locals have been demanding STUNNING: Three homes in one features on the BBC action to control mass tourism Download our app and after struggling to keep upnow with soaring rent prices. begin enjoying the best Spanish The proposed regulations want newsresidential on the go. use of ‘to preserve buildings, putting a stop to permanent use (by tourists) and replace it with temporary use, thus preventing housing from becoming accommodation exclusively for tourists’. A HOME in southern Spain How clever design solved sibling has featured on BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary rivalry over rights to the family plot Restrictive Homes. The Olive Press The new laws will take effect in Viewers saw ‘A House for further two bedrooms. four different zones of the city, three Sisters’, a sweeping All three siblings work tofor news in Spain! with the TOP most restrictive affectgether to run a fashion busiproperty that doubles as a ing Centro district that includes miniature village, the brainness in the city centre, makthe areas of Malasaña, Chueca, child of three sisters who all ing their village home a welSol, La Latina and Lavapiés. come retreat from the hustle wanted to live on the same Tourist flats will not be able to plot of their father’s land. and bustle, with the design albe rented for more than 90 days The home, in Murcia, was lowing them to all have their a year while flats in the central built by Blancafort-Reus Arown private space. zone will require an indepen- chitecture. “Five years ago we decided to dent and separate entrance to Maria, Rene and Manuka inbuild the dream,” the trio said the street to the other apart- herited their father’s land in on the show. ments in the building. Presenters Caroline Quentin Bullas and they wanted a deEntire apartment buildings sign that would allow them all The houses are all identi- and Piers Taylor explored will be prevented from being to live on the land together. cal - although one is ‘flipped’ three other extraordinary turned into tourist accommo- They decided to create a mini according to architect Piers Spanish homes in the epidation unless they get the same ‘village’, consisting of three - but each has a private out- sode, revealing how the arlicences as hotels - although the separate homes linked to- side space, a roof terrace off chitects behind them have handing out of these will be fro- gether by a shared courtyard the master bedroom and a pushed the boundaries and zen for a year. downstairs living area with a rewritten the rule book. at the centre.

Sister act

La Bobadilla - Jaén - VL849

47.000 €

This is a pretty little property is sat on the outskirts, but still in walking distance to all local amenities. It has 3 good sized bedrooms, a large kitchen with open fire, living room, separate diner and family bathroom. A large garden to the rear with separate access to the road, which can be made bigger into a private garage. With stunning views over the village and surrounding mountains.

tel: +34 953 587 040 Calle Abad Moya 4, Bajo 23680, Alcalá la Real, Jaén info@inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com

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The Grapevine

May 23rd - June 5th 2018 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

By Laura Wood

In a new regularly monthly column ‘The Grapevine’ , Laura Wood fills you in on life in inland Malaga

rom a husband and wife team working out of a wooden shed in the garden to a team of now over 10 people (it’s safe to say it was getting a little crowded), Grapevine Properties has evolved organically over the past 12 years. Nowadays, you can find us on Calle El Burgo in the pretty white village of Guaro. Keep an eye out for a white door with purple grapes and please feel free to pop in for a coffee.

So, what do we love so much about inland Málaga? We believe that when you purchase a property in inland Málaga you are buying so much more than bricks and mortar, that is just the beginning. The lifestyle that property will bring to you is incredibly rewarding in so many ways. For one, the opportunity to get to know and live within an entirely different culture is something most people never get to experience. The chance to learn a new language and to be in place where you can actually put what you are learning into prac-

LONDON VISIT: A Place in the Sun Many people commented on how - at last - someone was representing the real Andalucía and we felt so proud to be a part of that.

Country life

Change of weather

INLAND LIVING: Guaro village and (inset) annual Grapevine BBQ

tice on a daily basis will bring you closer to the Spanish locals. We have decided to tell you a little about our monthly lifestyle via The Olive Press for just this reason. We love inland Málaga and pretty much want to shout it from the top of the Sierra de Mijas. We plan to use this regular section to tell

you about local events, lifestyle matters and tips for improving your language skills. We will also fill you in on the current property market and what us at the Grapevine family have been getting up to recently. This month for example we had the pleasure of attending the A Place in The

Sun Exhibition at Olympia, in London. Founders Jo and Graham spent the three busy days chatting to people interested in starting a new life here in Spain. As most of the stands at the exhibition were specializing in coastal properties, we found that sometimes being the odd one out can work in your favour.

Now that the sun has finally decided to rear its head we have also been out listing new and exciting properties. We are lucky enough to have an inhouse professional photographer to show off the properties in their very best light. The dawning of Spring also meant it was time for our annual Grapevine BBQ. Hosted at the Alpujata de Monda, it was a fantastic day full of great food (a hog roast provided by T & S Butchers in Coín), beautiful weather and even better company. The year is still young; we have so much planned and can’t wait to share it all with you.

Visit us at Calle El Burgo, 5, Guaro or contact us at tel. 952 457 761 / enquiries@grapevine-properties.com

Taxi for wealth tax?

All you need to know about the current and future state of wealth tax in Spain

Amazing opportunity

This is a chance to take over the running of one of inland Andalucia’s most charming rural restaurants. Award winning Quercus, near Ronda, has been open for two decades and comes with all its furniture and, most importantly, kitchen. The rent is just 400/month. Surprisingly low price for value. Call Mari Luisa on 952 180 041 - 625 233 670

EATH and taxes are two inevitable constants, but given the profusion of different taxes, Wealth Tax is one that sometimes takes people by surprise. What exactly is the status of what in Spain is called Patrimonio? If you move to Spain you will reasonably expect to be paying VAT (known here as IVA) on goods and services, along with municipal rates and taxes, and of course the universally familiar ones such as income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. However, having been reinstated during the financial crisis, wealth tax is the one that takes many foreign residents by surprise. This is especially true of British citizens, as there is no such thing in the UK. However, both Spaniards, foreign residents and nonresidents are eligible for wealth tax – providing they own a property in the country. Beyond that, the specific rules applying to residents and non-residents do vary considerably. If you’re a non-resident you only pay wealth tax on your Spanish assets, where the tax for residents is calculated against their total (worldwide) assets, but these are subject to generous allowances, that if applicable, can greatly reduce the amount payable. What makes life (even) more complicated is the fact that while this is in the first instance a national tax, it is generally one set and regulated by Spain’s many different regional authorities – in our case Andalucía. They are often the ones who determine the nature and size of tax-free allowances, de-

ductions and rebates, as well as the taxable rate itself. The law of the region you live in, or own assets in, is the one that applies to you if you are resident, while the national wealth tax regulations concern non-residents, who are also legally required to have a local fiscal representative in the form of a lawyer or gestor. What you’re taxed on The assets that fall under the taxable category include real estate, business/professional activities, savings, insurance and investment policies, luxury items such as valuable jewellery, art, cars, yachts and ownership of royalties or intellectual property rights. Pensions, normal household items, personally owned and run businesses and author’s rights are exempt, if relating to the individual’s main activity and source of income. Spanish wealth tax was reintroduced in 2011 as a ‘temporary’ measure, but these have a way of sticking and as of yet there is no clear indication of when it will be abolished, if at all. Compared to France and Portugal, Spain lags behind in making itself more attractive to foreign residents and investors. Since 2012 the Government has been postponing year by year the implementation of the 100% tax allowance stipulated in article 33 of the wealth tax law. For 2018 such extension has not yet been agreed, however, as our resident expert Adolfo Martos Gross from GAM Abogados comments: “Considering the 2019 wealth tax is due on the 31st of December 2018, the Government has time enough to agree.”

What other countries are doing The fact is, like many countries in Europe right now, Portugal is a high tax country for its citizens while offering attractive incentives for foreigners, who can apply for a ten-year Non-Habitual Resident Tax exemption – a loophole that allows you to live up to 100% tax-free in the country during this period. Residency is most easily acquired through the Golden Visa programme of buying property in the country, or by investing in an economic activity, and it can even lead to citizenship. France, too, has been implementing tax reforms as part of an overhaul designed to make it more economically vibrant and competitive. As a result, wealth tax on savings and investments is being abolished, while the tax rate on income from investments is being lowered. And Spain… While its neighbours are becoming leaner and more attractive in terms of their fiscal policy, Spain for the moment remains locked in stasis. Anticipated in the near future is not the abolition of wealth tax, but rather a series of reviews in each of the individual autonomous regions. For now there is no indication that this will usher in significant reductions or make the system more lenient, but there is hope that in the medium term Spain and its regions will want to follow the example of countries such as Portugal, the Czech Republic and France, who themselves are emulating steps taken by the likes of The Netherlands and the UK some time ago.

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. http://www.terrameridiana.com

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May March 23rd - June 2018 29th -5th April 11th 2018

Spain’s weapons exports explode its own record

SPAIN sold €4.3 billion worth of military equipment CAPITAL: Malaga last year, new figures have revealed. Download our app now and It is a 7.3% increase on 2016 and the second year in a row begin enjoying the best Spanish the country has broken its own record. news on the go. According to a report by the ONE in three Malaga busi- Stockholm International nesses are franchises, a new Peace Research Institute, study has revealed. Spain was the seventh-largest The Costa del Sol capital has exporter of weapons last year. more franchises than Sevilla, The bulk of all sales were airwhile 56% of restaurants be- craft assembled at a plant in long to a chain like McDon- Sevilla. alds or Subway. The EU accounted for 72.6% The studyThe by consultancy Olivefirm Press of Spain’s weapons exports. Franquishops argued that Outside the bloc, the counthe city’sTOP the for tourism model try’s biggest client was Saudi news in Spain! has made these types of busi- Arabia with €270.2 million in nesses more successful. sales, a 133% rise from 2016. However, it claimed this has a The Spanish government negative impact on indepen- blocked four sales last year, dent retail stores which have including two worth €1.9 milstruggled with the competi- lion meant for Israel. tion.

Franchise frenzy

Jobs crisis THE economic crisis is continuing to pinch the jobs market in Malaga province where 53,500 fewer men are in work compared to a decade ago. And despite a 2.2% rise in employment rates during 2017, this figure is not positive enough says a report presented by CCOO Málaga.

Military coup Sales to China and another to Myanmar were also blocked. Germany was Spain’s top client, purchasing €1.2 billion worth of weapons. Other major clients were Britain, France and Turkey. Aircraft assembled in Sevilla accounted for 79% of Spain’s military exports. Saudi Arabia topped Egypt as Spain’s number one nonEU client last year, spending €270.2 million on a carrier aircraft, unmanned aircraft, replacement parts, mortar shells and more. The weapons will likely be used for Saudi Arabia’s assault on Yemen. Since its operation began there in 2015, orders of Spanish weapons have almost tripled from €34.7 million in 2016 to €90.1 million in 2017. The Middle-Eastern power has been accused of crimes against humanity in the war. Amnesty International, Ox-

SOARING: Spain’s weapons exports (El Pais) fam Intermon and Green- enough monitoring of how peace say that there is not the weapons sold are used.

Cheaper taxis? UBER has announced it is launching on the Costa del Sol. The taxi-style app is looking to take advantage of the millions of international tourists who will visit the holidaying hotspot. The service will cater to preexisting users when they arrive, meaning they won’t have to install a new app or enter card details. The company says some 150,000 people have opened its app on the costa since 2015, illustrating how location-based app services can also generate freebie business intelligence. “With the launch of UberX in time for the busy summer season, we are thrilled to bring on-demand transportation to the Costa del Sol,” an Uber spokeswoman told Techcrunch. “We are committed to being a true partner to the cities of this famous tourist region for the long term.” The UberX professional licensed driver service will launch in early June, and will cover more than 60km — including the coastal cities of Marbella, Malaga, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas.

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Property AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Spanish tax office is described as ‘Inquisitor’ by 35 professors

HE Spanish Tax Office has come under heavy fire from a select group of 35 tax and law professors for what they consider an ‘inquisitorial’ approach to tax-collec-

tion. The experts, who met in Granada a few days ago,

Under fire showed no sympathy for a state organisation that ‘bullies’ taxpayers into submission by flouting principles like presumption of innocence, juridical and legal security and equality. The declaration signed by the legal experts

touches on various aspects: - Gradual conversion of the role of a taxpayer into a ‘tax servant’. - Excessive zeal for aggressive tax collection campaigns -perceived as unfair and un-

Burst of energy

just- that are producing a deterioration of legal security. - Higher tax tolerance for multinational companies who, due to their unlimited resources, can dramatically reduce their tax exposure in Spain. The document refers to online giant retailers that avoid taxes by distorting the interpretation of ‘geographical’ location in revenue legislation (and get away with it). - ‘Cantonization’ of the Spanish tax system by reference to the notable differences, or discriminations, between different Spanish territories. - Usurpation by the Government of tax legislative functions, in detriment of the Parliament’s functions. Far from easing their grip on taxpayers the Spanish Revenue System, commonly known as ‘Hacienda’, has upped the ante by finalising the drafting of a Code of Good Conduct where tax advisors and lawyers handling tax affairs will be held jointly liable with their clients, in cases of fraud and evasion. Whilst many see in the Spanish Tax Office a tyrannical entity intent on extorting wealth from law-abiding citizens, others see this as the price to pay to become a full ‘Western’ nation in control of its people. As George Washington states more than two centuries ago: “Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

GAS DROP Thousands have made the switch to green provider Energy Nordic

INCE the official launch in September last year, Energy Nordic has gone from strength to strength. Due to this the office is expanding in Fuengirola to ensure the fantastic level of customer service is maintained. “It has been a phenomenal nine months” says commercial manager Phil Mitchell. “With the help of our marketing partners including the Olive Press, our message has been spread far and wide and is reaching further every day”. The business is built on Scandinavian values with a very easy message; The Power of Simplicity. Customers receive green energy at a great price all backed by English speaking customer service. The customers who have joined are amazed by the quick and seamless process. “To a degree, people are still wary of switching supplier as, let’s face it, nobody wants to be without power,” says Phil, “over the last nine months we have

TEAM IN ACTION: At Fuengirola HQ and (left) Commercial Manager, Phil Mitchell proved to thousands of clients how easy the switch is and how quickly the benefits of being an Energy Nordic customer can be realised.” The statistics show that at least nine out of 10 customers who contact Energy Nordic will save money and even those who won’t save greatly financially are still

joining for the ease of dealing with a company that speaks your language. The majority of the clients are signing up for the flex price product as this gives them cost price electricity for a small handling fee of €5 per month. Many also then switch to a day and night tariff which gives them close to half price electricity for 14 hours a day. “Many people are not aware of the options available to them so we pride ourselves on explaining very clearly what we would recommend. Some people don’t even receive a bill from their current supplier, it just disappears out of their account and of course this means they have no idea what they are being charged for,” explains Phil. Energy Nordic emails bills out so you always know exactly what you are being charged for and you will receive it wherever you are in the world. If you would like to join the growing number of Energy Nordic customers, contact us on 916358626 or email customerservice@energynordic.com www.energynordic.com

30 more years! A MARBELLA interior design store is celebrating 30 years in business. Casasola Decor has been run by the same family for three decades and has made a name for itself as one of the go to stores for furniture and interior design on the coast. The huge 2,000m2 exhibition space just off the A-7 near Funny Beach is home to the latest high quality furnishings. “We have lots of different styles and de-

signs that can adapt to the tastes of the cosmopolitan Costa del Sol,” explains FURNITURE & Cati. “We also adapt to the budget and tastes of

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

SLIP ROAD ON TORRE REAL AREA, KM 184, 5, CARRETERA CÁDIZ-MÁLAGA MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 9.30 TILL 19.00

our customers looking for the best qualityprice.” The company provides a full ‘turnkey’ service, with staff responsible for sales, delivery and assembly. “We love to personalize each project and work it as our own so that the final result is special for each person,” adds Cati. Visit www.casasoladecor.com for more information.

HOUSEHOLD gas cylinders will be almost 5% cheaper starting from this week. A 12.5kg butane gas bottle will now cost €13.27 - a saving of 69 cent. This is the second time the price has dropped this year, despite an increase in international material costs, as the euro has gained value in comparison to the dollar. The new reduced price will be valid for two months, until July 17, when it will be reviewed again. This regulated price change affects mostly household butane cylinders which weigh between eight to 20kg.

Mobile mail AN Irish fintech firm is helping customers of Spain's postal service get access to Google Pay with their prepaid credit cards. The relationship between Prepaid Financial Services Limited (PFS) and Correos began three years ago when the post office launched its prepaid offering. Hundreds of thousands of holders of the prepaid Mastercard, available across 2,400 post offices in Spain, can now purchase using Google Pay functionality. Deputy Head of Corporate Development at Correos, Martin Gonzalez de Haro, said that PFS technology and the collaboration with Correos allows citizens to make mobile transactions without a traditional bank account. "Correos, as a company, is focused on providing cardholders with the most innovative payment services and this integration with Google Pay certifies Correos as the first prepaid programme to be enrolled on mobile payments, making access to this new technology easy," he said. PFS CEO Noel Moran said that the launch places financial tech at the heart of Spain's ecosystem. "Correos is the country's 5th largest employer with 53,000 employees and we are honoured to continue our partnership with the post office network. "Correos continues to welcome advanced solutions and versatile payment products for an increasingly tech-savvy customer base," he said.

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A day of excellence IT was a stunning sight, 30 Ferraris winding their way up the Ronda road to one of the most stunning houses in Andalucia. The property in La Zagaleta was the venue for the first Marbella Excellence Experience event, sponsored by Bang & Olufsen, Black River caviar and Bocanegra Gestoria. The event, attended by 200 lucky invitees, included a fashion show by La Perla, as well as a great range of other entertainment. The villa owned by a wealthy British client was shown to clients by Drumelia real estate, while a DJ Miguel Heras played some fantastic tunes. The event on May 10 is the first of various special days taking place over the next few months.

PRIME LOCATION: La Zagaleta in Marbella

For more info visit www.drumelia. com

MAKING A SPLASH: The first Marbella Excellence Experience event

Can You Help? On December 4th 2016 the dog pound in Los Barrios was flooded. Were you part of the rescue team that helped evacuate the dogs from the shelter to the bull ring? If so did you make any films or photographs?

My name is Paul Murphy. I am making a documentary about the stray dogs of Spain and I need films from the flood and the evacuation of the shelter. If you feel that you might have something and are happy for me to use it please email me at paul@paulmurphy.com Thank You

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Do you want to make a difference to someone’s life whilst developing a career with a leading live in care provider. Contact: Tracy Jackson on 0034 951 507 423 or 0034 622 047 351 email: Tracy.Jackson@thegoodcaregroup.com

Cleaning Boats, vans, lorries, villas & construction sites

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Pet/house sitter Pet and house sitting available from January to March next year anywhere in Spain in exchange for rent. References available. Jim. Phone 514 731 8622 Canada.

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SALE EXECUTIVE

The following key positions are now available at theEXECUTIVE Olive press SALE

We are looking to expand furher and a professional, motivated and hungry sales person.

We are looking to expand furher and a ADMIN/Accounts professional, motivated and hungry sales person. assistant

We are looking for a motivated candidate to help with our busy and growing accounts and administration department in Manilva ♦♦ Must have experience ♦♦ Bilingual in English and Spanish ♦♦ Be reliable ♦♦ Be self motivated

The following key positions are now available at SALE theEXECUTIVE Olive press

We are looking to expand furher and a Distributors professional, motivated and hungry sales person.wanted

We are looking for a motivated candidate to help with the distribution of our 2 fortnightly publications ♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦

Must have large vehicle Have good local knowledge Be reliable Be self motivated

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CONTACT US BY TELEPHONE Phone ES: 676 14 89 94 Phone UK: 679 04 20 73 OR Email: integralhomeassistance@gmail.com integralhomeassistance

health

May 23rd - June 5th 2018 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

To mark the launch of Kylie Minogue’s new range of glasses at Specsavers Opticas, we asked her some questions about her new range

Candid Kylie Q. What are the key themes for the collection? A. I built the collection upon three key themes: modern classics, subtle bling and reinvented vintage. Modern classics is just as it sounds – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! There are classic shapes like round-eyes that work for most people, so we took those and put my twist on them. Subtle bling is another part of the collection – I think the crystals

worked really well in the first collection because there’s just that surprise element. I Q. How’s it been designing this colthink I will probably always have a bit of lection? sparkle in my life somewhere – thank A. I’ve absolutely loved designing goodness I have a job where I can inthis collection. Glasses are a big dulge myself in that a lot. I’ve kept it part of my life, day in, day out. I subtle and wearable, so that it’s not really tried to inject my personaloverpowering. ity into it – for me that means Reinvented vintage is something close functional daytime - but stillto my heart because I have loved vinfabulous glasses, which can tage since I was a child. I have always transition to a dinner date or been and always will be influenced by an evening show. classic designers and Hollywood icons, who wore styles that are still so relevant.’ Who is the collection for? I honestly hope that this new collection appeals to everybody. I don’t know what the fashion rules are – I hate rules, so maybe there are none. I hope that there is a little Breastfeeding can reduce bit of everything in my cancer, claims kid charity collection so that people can choose exactly what UNICEF they like. These new styles will be available exclusively at Specsavers Opticas from BREAST cancer is one of the main causes of 820,000 children under the age of five every the 23rd of May. View the female mortality in the developed world but year. collection online at www. children’s charity Unicef claims breastfeeding For mothers themselves, breastfeeding not specsavers.es or visit can reduce the risk. only aids with bonding but could help to avoid your nearest store. In its new study, Breastfeeding: A Mother’s more than 20,000 deaths from breast and gift: for every child, the NGO also recom- ovarian cancer, as well as protecting against mends it as a way to ‘build healthy, smart and post-partum haemorrhage and post-natal deproductive societies’. pression. Breast milk promotes healthy growth, can The report also analyses the differences beguard against life-threatening and chronic ill- tween breastfeeding in 123 countries. It conness and even improves brain development. cludes that in high-income countries like the Students who have been breastfed show a bet- US and Spain more than one in five babies are ter performance in intelligence tests. Mother’s never breastfed, while in lower-income coun- THE Junta de Andalucía milk could also save the lives of more than tries almost all babies are breastfed. will give Malaga a new hospital. The town hall has made it clear that it won’t be a substitute for Carlos Haya. On the contrary, this brand new centre will try to exTHE death rate among undocumented migrants in Spain has pand it. risen 15% since reforms denied them access to free public It will count more than 800 healthcare. beds and be equipped with Migrants were excluded from access to public healthcare folthe latest technology. lowing a reform introduced by the Spanish government in 2012. It is planned that its locaAccording to research by the University of Barcelona's EcoPART OF tion will be behind the natal nomics Institute and the University Pompeu Fabra's Center for wing, where currently there Research in Health and Economics (CRES), it has had a direct is an empty plot. impact on mortality rates in the population residing in Spain It is expected that the cenbetween 2009 and 2015 compared to the previous period from tre will be finished in 2024. 2009 to 2012. Although Carlos Haya will An additional 70 deaths per year were registered among unkeep its functions, it will documented migrants since the law was approved in 2012. The perform a hospital for mereforms were introduced by the conservative government led by dium and long term pathe Partido Popular. tients.

Breast is best

New Hospital

Migrant mortality up

CMY

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Food, drink & travel www.theolivepress.es

May 23rd - June 5th 2018

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Expat chef recalls the meals he cooked for celebrities including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and even the Queen EXCLUSIVE By Elisa Menendez

EVER wondered what it would be like to share an evening with a global superstar? A Costa del Sol chef has cooked for many of them, including Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson and Shirley Bassey, to name just a few. British chef, Steve Hyatt, has also served up dishes for the Queen and Frank Sinatra too. “I spent three nights drinking until the early hours with Frank, he was such a nice guy,” added the 66-year-old expat, who upped sticks to open his restaurant the Blue Marlin in Mijas three years ago with his wife Alison. The expat, who has worked at a string of five-star hotels from South Africa to Australia, recalled how the Rat Pack crooner called him to come out of the kitchen to congratulate him on a great meal.

Jazzed up

A night of drinking ensued in the city of Durban, in which they shared ‘numerous’ travellers tales. “The next evening I cooked him oysters but he wasn’t keen,” laughed Steve, who later jazzed up the dish and prepared ‘Rockefeller-style’ oysters which were more to Sinatra’s taste. On the third night, the superstar burst through the doors and shouted: “Stevie, it’s post time!” and poured a strong glass of liquor before a small, private performance. Another major icon to walk through the Southern Sun Hotel doors was the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. “He was quiet and polite and really quite childlike,” recalled Steve, who cooked a traditional South African dish for the superstar. But not all of the expat’s celeb encounters were plain sailing, as he recalls how Dame Shirley Bassey was ‘horrible’.

Night with the stars CELEB CLIENTS: Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Rod Stewart

My dish for Queen

Scrambled Egg with Black Truffle and Smoked Salmon A favourite of Queen Elizabeth

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

Ingredients

· This creates a breakfast for 4 persons · 100 grams Smoked Salmon, cut into slivers · 25 grams Black Truffles (finely grated, a small quantity reserved for shaving on top of finished dish) · 6 Eggs (stored overnight with the fresh truffles) · 60 ml Cream · 4 slices of bread · Butter · Salt and Pepper to taste

“She was stoned out of her brains and hacked off after she performed a concert where a lot of people walked out,” he added. After the singer ordered

Instructions

1. Beat the eggs, cream, salt, pepper and the finely grated Truffle in a small bowl. 2. Lightly toast the bread slices on each side, and butter. 3. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a non stick pan and lightly cook the egg mixture. 4. Spoon the egg mixture over the toasted bread, layer the smoked salmon slivers on top, and finish with truffle shavings.

room service at 1am and requested lobsters, she claimed she had not ordered them and an aggressive outburst followed. “She got abusive towards

MAESTRO: Steve Hyatt the staff and even a bit racist,” added Steve, who said the diva had no recollection of her actions the next morning at breakfast.

High life

The fine-dining chef got his first taste of the high life when he became an apprentice at the age of 16, on the prestigious Queen Elizabeth 2 ship. It was there that he met his first global figure, the Queen of England. “It was quite intimidating,” he admitted. He cooked a dish of smoked salmon and truffles (recipe below), as the Queen apparently doesn’t eat starch. Now, the expat is enjoying his own new-found celebrity status as he is recognised as ‘the man off the telly’, following his appearance on the TV show, A New Life in the Sun.

restaurant||lunch lunchand anddinner dinner restaurant

Jumping for Joyce A SPANISH chef had to be content with third place after being topped by an Irishman and an Englishman in the Best European Chef competition of 2018. Javier Artero was pipped by Irishman David Joyce to the crown in the final head to head session with six chefs. In true Masterchef fashion, the finalists had to prepare a three-course

meal in four hours from a pre-selected shopping basket. The winners were chosen by a panel, including Carlos Fernandez from Martin Berasategui and Oscar Teixido, culinary coordinator at the School of Hospitality in Barcelona. UK chef Stefano Corrias came in third in the competition set up by Aramark.

WINNER: Javier Artero

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Food, drink & travel Food, DRINK & TRAVEL Food, drink & travel May 23rd - June 5th 2018

There are some great wines grown on our doorstep, writes Aleesha Hansel

Wine in a can TWO British friends have launched the first wine in a can with the help of a Spanish illustrator. The Uncommon, the brainchild of Alex Thraves and Henry Connell, uses Bacchus grapes grown in Surrey and is produced with the help of Dorking-based Litmus Wines. The pair said: “Our business model is to partner with multiple thoughtful producers across the UK, which allows us to ensure consistent high quality fruit. “We add CO2, which is a common method in lightly sparkling wines such as a Vinho Verde. This way we can freshen up the wine without making it overly fizzy or sweet which is often the case with traditional or charmat method wines such as Champagne and Prosecco.” Enlisting the help of Spanish illustrator Yido to design the cans, Thraves and Connell have achieved an exclusive listing in Selfridges where the 11.5% ABV sparkler retails for £4.99 per 250ml.

Keep it local T

HIS fortnight’s column has been inspired by my recent trip to Ronda. After walking around and exploring the historic and very instagram-worthy mountain top city, I stopped off for a spot of lunch. Naturally I asked to see the wine list, the response to which was ‘House or Ronda’ - I chose Ronda. One of the things I love about wine and the reason I enjoy learning about it, is that it tells a story. It is all about history, geology, anthropology even, and so much more all wrapped up in a liquid. So here, for what it’s worth, is my analysis of the three key regions of Andalucia, minus Jerez and its wonderful sherries.

Malaga

Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez are the hero grapes of the Malaga region, generally producing sweet, fortified wines that pair brilliant well with dessert such as tarta de manzana. The origins of viticulture in the area can be traced back to the Phoenicians during the eighth century, a similar story to many other regions in Spain. The Greeks and the Romans both did their bit to increase the appetite for and technology of wine pro-

Wine time With Aleesha Hansel

duction and even the centuries of Moorish muslim occupation did little to dissuade its popularity. Despite the Koran prohibiting alcohol, ‘Xarab Al Malaqui’ (Málaga syrup) was still made with producers simply being required to pay an extra tax to get around the religious authorities. When Malaga was reconquered by the Christians, a ‘Wine makers fraternity’ was established called the Hermandad Sacramental de Viñeros and quickly went about promoting the virtues of wine drinking.

Ronda The area of wine production known as the Serrania de Ronda forms part of the so -called DO Sierras of Malaga. Although not well known on a global scale yet (although that is changing) wine from the area has been produced and sold for millenia, with the nearby town of Setenil de los Bodegas (there is a clue in the name), for example, being where the Romans stored their wine in caves. Roman coins from 47-44AD found in the nearby settlement of Acinipo, ten minutes from modern day Ronda, feature a cluster of grapes - suggesting that wine played an important position in the economy. There is a well preserved Roman amphitheatre there and appropriately Ronda’s biggest vineyard Ramos Paul sits just below it. The majority of Ronda’s vineyards, which number around 30, sit between 750 to 1000 m altitude and produce both

red and white wines that thrive with the influences of both the warm Mediterranean climate and cooler Atlantic influences. This duality allows the vines to develop acidity, ripeness and complexity. Many can be put down for years. Reds can be a blend of Romé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Tempranillo and with white varieties including Chardonnay, Macabeo, Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc.

Huelva Legend has it that when Columbus set sail for America he left from the port of Palos de la Frontera in Huelva. He and his team packed plentiful supplies for the trip including dried tuna, vegetables and of course lashings of wine. With the closest vineyards being just inland, it could therefore be said that Huelva wines were the first Spanish wines to be exported to America, and indeed the wines Condado de Huelva are now known as the ‘Discovery wines’. Traditionally the region produced a fortified, earthy and nutty flavoured wine similar in style to Oloroso. However Condado Viejo, made with the indigenous grape Zalema, was vastly overshadowed by its more famous cousin - the sherries of Jerez and as such many vines were pulled up and strawberries planted instead. Today the area’s wine industry is making a slow comeback will unaged white wines that are light, fresh and neutral, a decent match for the local seafood. One winery, Cooperativa Nuestra Señora del Rocío in Almonte, not content with making just table wines has pushed the boundary and are now making Andalucia’s only sparkling wine, Raigal.

with DINING SECRETSwww.theolivepress.es of ANDALUCIA.com May 23rd - June 5th 2018

Unlike the Royals, our new columnist Lisa Burgess explains how she was fast to react, when regulars passed over lunch for a day on the beach

Quick service

ESTAURATEURS need to be reactive chameleons. Let's start with the rapid decline in lunch business these past two weeks due to those whose golden tans are paramount over Joffrey's culinary delights. Lunch service has therefore been ditched in favour of our new Tapas Platter & Wine offering from 4pm when the sunseekers' have had their fill of Vitamin D. The good news is that Joffrey is getting more of a lie in - well apart from the daily 9am wake up call from the fruit and veg man, who still hasn't adjusted to the new regime. My month has been a whirlwind of organising events, most of all the Royal Wedding luncheon. Bunting, flags, large TV screens and incessant new recipe tryouts for what else than - coronation chicken. I won't bore you with the details except to say I had a recurring nightmare that the internet would be down on the Big Day. Spanish internet works much like the Royal Family itself. Slow to react and when it does can be resistant and inconsistent. My credit card machine, which relies on our internet provider, had one such evening a few weeks ago and failed to engage in my pleading. Not many people carry cash these days, so I spent the whole night squirming behind the bar pointing in the direction of the nearest cash machine. Next up is the Classic and Sports Car Show and Luncheon planned for June 23, ‘planned’ being the key word. I duly submitted my plans to the Mijas Foreigners Department who were the epitome of charm and helpfulness till I got the ‘list’.

The List This is a list of things I need to accomplish before said day. Needless to say Theresa May has it easier with Brexit. On a brighter note we have had somewhat of a grand Irish invasion this month. This includes my good friend Helen Martin, a socialite from Irish Tatler, gracing our crisp white linens and supping fine wines, while we enjoyed some delectable gossip from home. Then dear Jerry McCarthy, a notable celebrity photographer, joined us with his sizeable entourage. His sister thanked me for the ‘best meal she had

ever had on the coast’ and I was beaming from head to toe.

Pigeon plucker July 14 ushers in Bastille Day and if you saw us on Channel 4’s A New Life in the Sun you will know this featured heavily in the series with an eight-course degustation menu. When the pigeons arrived frozen last year, Joffrey started imitating a French style Gordon Ramsay and he was caught on camera throwing said pigeons around the kitchen. What you don't know is that after much bribery via g&t's for the camera crew this was thankfully edited out. Merci dieu! This year will be a much simpler four-course affair, sans pigeon, with accompanying live entertainment. I would love to proffer you the menu but Joffrey is still perfecting his deconstructed prawn cocktail for the wedding. And yes, even the strawberry and apple crumble will have mini Union Jacks per cruet. Nothing can go wrong, can it? Well except we just had a water leak. Two plumbers later and endless vexing discussions in Spanglish and apparently we need a lorry with a suction machine to rectify the problem. This is the DAY before the Big DAY. Mon Dieu! Will the linens arrive? Will the fish be fresh? This is Spain and after all, life's a beach....

Granny’s Creme Brulee Here is Joffrey's grandmother's recipe for his signature Creme Brulee. 200ml of Cream 3 egg yolks 80g Sugar 1/2 Vanilla Stick

Joffrey’s is open Tuesday to Saturday 6.30-10.30pm for A La Carte Dinner and Wednesday to Sunday for a 2 Course €20 Lunch. Call 952493909 or 658 748 919 for further information.

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

FREE MONTHLY MENU AND A FREE ROOM UPGRADE! May 23rd - June 5th 2018

The monthly menu at Molino del Santo is very popular and at €29 offers great value for its creative innovation. You can see the latest monthly menu at www.molinodelsanto.com Now, for a limited time only, if you book a room at Molino del Santo we will offer you one FREE MONTHLY MENU per room if you mention code OP292 We’ll also give you a FREE ROOM UPGRADE on arrival, subject to availability. Don’t delay! There are lots of busy dates at Molino del Santo already and this offer only applies to some rooms for some dates. Reservations can only be made by e-mail - info@molinodelsanto.com and the room must be paid in full in advance. Rooms can only be booked with this special offer within 7 days of arrival and the offer only applies to new reservations. Contact us now to check availability and enjoy a little taste of magic for a limited period only. Grab this chance to visit Molino del Santo with this very special offer.

“As always, had a really enjoyable couple of days and thoroughly appreciated the Chef ’s hard work” EARLY BIRD MENU – BEST QUALITY AND VALUE ON THE COAST Includes a starter and main course with a complimentary glass of wine/small beer or soft drink. Available 6pm - 8pm – 20€ • Early Bird 20€ - 6pm - 8pm • A La Carte Menu

RW - unsolicited comment 14-05-18

Can’t manage an overnight stay? Mention OP 292 to receive a small gift if you come to our restaurant before the 7th of June 2018. Booking essential. Whether you come to the restaurant or to stay over, we look forward to seeing you at Molino del Santo soon. ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

More information of any kind e-mail

info@molinodelsanto.com

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

52 952 155 www.theolivepress.es Tel: 756

May 23rd - June 5th 2018 Food, DRINK & TRAVEL

email: belobelo501@gmail.com Avenida de España, 64 29680 Estepona

PLACE TO BE: Erik’s Jazz bar

Erik’s Jazz Bar

Jazz it up

N Saturday May 26 at 8pm you are invited to an exploration of tastes with a Scandinavian hint. Swedish guest-chef Seth Tåqvist will be your host for the evening guiding you through a degustation-menu aimed at creating lasting memories. Some 15 years ago in May, swedish haute-cuisine chef and lifelong foodie Seth Tåqvist had been running his exceptionally well renowned restaurant Seth's in Stockholm for a solid decade and was ready to move on to The High Coast area also known as Ådalen in the center of Sweden. Ever since he has been busying himself producing and sourcing a wide variety of unique sustainably produced delicacies for a selection of Sweden's most discerning restaura-

teurs. These delicacies include specialties such as birch-syrup, a range of different types of smoked salmon and its derivative salmon terrines, matjesik (a fresh take on a very traditional swedish speciality (marinated white fish for you non-swedes), his own brand of "tunnbröd" (crispy flatbread), all sorts of berries, fruits and jams, and the mythical chaga (many have heard of it but few have tasted it). He is also developing production of supreme quality meats from free ranging cattle, and refining it into exclusive charcuteries. Ask Seth and he will tell you about the concept binding this seemingly disparate mix together. Make your reservation at newly opened Erik's Jazz Bar on Avenida de Espana at 952 155 756 or belobelo501@gmail.com.

C/ San Sebastián, 8. Mijas Pueblo

Reservas / Bookings : 952 59 03 93

“Descubre nuestro gran secreto” “Discover our great secret” www.aromacafeandsecretgarden.com

www.theolivepress.es

May 23rd - June 5th 2018 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com La Cascada is a true oasis just minutes from the heart of Marbella, writes Jon Clarke

OU feel like you are high up on the Costa Brava, with a backdrop of mountains and stunning views towards the sea. Sitting in a sleepy valley beside a babbling brook, with the croaking of frogs and twittering birds, this is a true garden of Eden. In fact you are just two miles from Marbella town centre, and a stone’s throw from La Canada shopping centre. A genuine secret spot - and there are few of them in Marbella - there’s no doubt that 99% of the expats on the Costa del Sol will not have visited this place. And more’s the pity. For Cascada is a wonderful find, and not just to get away from it all. This stunning new restaurant - meaning ‘waterfall’ and hidden up a dirt track and surrounded by deep undergrowth - has been taken over by the talented team from Castillo de Monda. Closed for some time, since a controversial German chef failed to make his mark, the Monda crew have done a wonderful job with the decor. Very contemporary in style you walk into a romantically lit dining room with turquoise tiles giving a real sense of calm. There is a hip fire place for winter and a big wine cellar, which creates a nice feature in the centre. Best of all, it is open all day and all the

Waterworld TALENT: Javi Aisa Garcia

LOOKING GOOD: Cascada has had a makeover and (right) delicous ceviche dishes come in half portions, meaning you can try twice as much, great for a gastronome like me. The menu is as adventurous as the one that Jaap creates on a weekly basis up at the castle. New chef Javi, a local lad, has taken the creative kick of his Dutch colleague and added in some chestnuts, such as the corvina ceviche with came with a tomato mayonnaise, dill and a

‘pipparana’ of red peppers and onion, something of a departure from the Peruvian classic, but equally tasty. I also loved his carpaccio of pigs tongue, which came out incredibly thinly-sliced and smelling of roses, with truffled hummus and a melted Payoyo cheese with ‘filo pastry chips’. And his chick pea ‘potajillo’ of prawns was a lovely spicy kickstarter of a dish, perfect for a cool evening, with just the

right level of spices. The suckling goat meatballs might upset the vegans, but in almond sauce and mushrooms, I was in meat-lovers heaven. There were plenty of other more traditional dishes, broken down into their various sections (‘from La Lonja’, from ‘tradition’ and from the ‘dehesas y corrales of Andalucia’), with such delicacies as venison and mussels. I was just happy to finish up with, what could easily be, the prettiest-looking dessert on the coast: the chestnut tiramisu, which was served on a fabulous hydraulic tile plate. It tasted good too. So, don’t hang around, get up to this wonderful spot before it gets busy come summer time.

Cascada, C\ Roque Nublo, 5 Puerto del Carmen Tías, Lanzarote 35510, call +34 928 512 953 or email contacto@restaurante-lacascada.com

w Ne lla rbe Ma pot ts ho www.cascadamarbella.com | +34 951567849 Urb Montua, 39, 29602 Marbella

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Columnists

May 23rd - June 5th 2018 May 23rd - June 5th 2018

Glorious May! May is truly the best month of the year in Andalucia

THE MONKEY: And Natalie

HE month of May signals its arrival in Marbella each year with the blossoming of Jacaranda trees all over town and, as the pretty, purple petals bloom, scatter and dance in the wind, I wish it could stay like this forever. It’s the loveliest month here by far and whether meandering about the old town, cruising along by the sea or rambling fur-

ther inland, Andalucía in May is picture postcard perfect. When visitors ask me what activities I recommend doing in Marbella, climbing La Concha, the town’s most famous landmark and the statuesque backdrop of the town usually tops the list. It’s a delightfully scenic hike (not to mention a fantastic workout!) and the views from the summit are

Marbell diariesa

By Natalie

Rose Kern

truly mesmerising. I’ve climbed La Concha many times over the years in varying weather conditions, and every single time I am blown away by the magnificence of the natural beauty of this corner of the earth. The charismatic DJ and Marbella personality, Russel Sodden, organised a climb to raise funds for local photographer, David Toms, who was left paralyzed following a motorcycle accident in 2016, so The Monkey and I raised sponsorship and joined the

climbing party. With its stunning wildlife, daring drops, ragged edges, and a diverse landscape that is forever changing, this is a day out for nature lovers, sporty types, adrenaline junkies and Sunday ramblers alike. Pass through a dry terrain of pretty olive groves, before entering a dark and dense pine forest and, as you climb higher, venture over uneven ground, rocky paths and a couple of challenging precipices. It took us about three hours to reach the summit, (two and a half to descend) but there was no chance of getting bored as the landscape is so varied and the higher we climbed, the more spectacular the views. The Monkey kept us entertained with mischief and anecdotes and sprinted ahead with the boundless energy of a tenyear-old, shouting back to us with thoughtful warnings and helpful suggestions for the less confident climbers. Until finally came that glorious moment when we hit the summit and exhaustion and exhilaration collided. The MonShe invited us to her Dad’s new key and I stood together taking business opening that night, so in the splendour of the view: The all suited and booted, shoulder Istan Lake sprawled out below

Costa del Crime capering

FTER the shocking San Pedro slaying of a suspected drug lord earlier this month, it seems Marbella could be heading back to the dark and dodgy days of what the British tabloids loved to call the ‘Costa del Crime’. I moved to Marbella in the 80s, in the days before Britain and Spain had an extradition treaty. Old style London gangsters such as Kray Twins associate Freddie Foreman, Great Train Robber Charlie Wilson and Brinks Matt Job suspect and ex husband of Barbara Windsor Ronnie Knight were all living on the coast, although the papers were perhaps playing fast and loose with the truth when they described Ronnie as having a villa ‘in the hills overlooking Marbella’. He lived in Benalmadena. You would have to build a pretty impressive roof terrace to see Puerto Banus from there… Some of them had legitimate businesses, so you would bump into them from time to time – my mother famously met Foreman who commented “Sally Brown? I’ve heard so much about you…” - and I unwittingly once attended a restaurant opening owned by one of Glasgow’s biggest drug barons. My best mate Brenty and I had been doing our Marbella teenage beach bum thing and got chatting to a pretty young Scottish girl, who we’ll call Heather.

pads and hairsprayed up – it was the mid 80s – Brenty and I rocked up to the restaurant. It was a lavish affair, and we both got stuck into the champagne and canapés with gusto. About an hour into the proceedings, I looked over from my nibbles, spotted a large figure in the middle of the room, and froze. This was none other than the man who the previous week had been splashed across the ‘Daily Record’ as a major drug importer who was currently on Glasgow’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. “Brent!” I hissed, “Do you know who that guy is?” “Him?” said my mate, nonchalantly downing yet another glass of cava. “Oh, that’s Heather’s Dad”. Brenty was most upset with me as I hustled him out of the door seconds later. The ‘Costa del Crime’ days came to an end soon afterwards, with Foreman arrested and deported one morning from his Banus apartment and Wilson slain in the garden of his Marbella villa. And after our experience, Brenty and I decided not to go to any restaurant openings for a long time…

us, shimmering in the sunshine, to the east: Marbella, San Pedro, Estepona, Sotogrande, Gibraltar and Morocco on the horizon, and to the west: Elviria, Benalmadena, Mijas and Cabopino. Finally we slumped to the floor exhilarated. We were also invited to the British Ambassador’s Residence in Madrid to celebrate the Royal Wedding. The ambassador, Simon Manley, was a formidable host, inviting expats from all over Spain to thank them for their contributions to the local communities. The Olive Press was honored with an award for its ‘Outstanding Contribution’ and we spent a marvelous afternoon munching on cucumber sandwiches, tarts and quiches and meeting other expats who have traded Blighty’s grey skies for Spain. And I did chuckle as I overheard a group in passionate debate over the most British argument I’ve heard in years. Is it pronounced scooooones or scones? A perfectly British afternoon was the cherry on the cake or jam on the scone (skon?) of a glorious month of May.

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

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+TheolivepressEs Dreams dashed BE ‘APPY!

A SPANISH-Moroccan player will miss the World Cup after his appeal to play for Morocco was rejected. Barcelona star Munir El Haddadi, whose father is Moroccan, has been barred from switching national teams by now and Download our app FIFA’s Players’begin Status Comenjoying the best Spanish mittee. on the go. El Haddadi hadnews made a cameo appearance for Spain's senior side in their 5-1 thrashing of Macedonia on September 8, 2014, during the Euro 2016 qualifiers, and will not be able to represent the Atlas Lions in Russia. He had dreamed of representing his father’s country at Press The Olive the World Cup. "Such decision is now con- ISIS fanatics have threatened to behead Spain footballers Lionel Messi and CrisTOPrequest for news Spain! firmed and the to in change the sporting national- tiano Ronaldo at the World Cup in Russia, ity of Munir El Haddadi from in a series of distressing posters. Spain to Morocco remains One of the photoshopped images shows denied," read a statement the Barcelona and Real Madrid stars befrom the Court of Arbitration ing pinned down by jihadists while they slit their throats on a pitch in a packed of Sport. stadium. The caption, ‘Your blood will fill the ground’, featured below the shocking poster which shows the two best football players in the world in agony. A second mocked-up image shows an extremist walking into a football stadium filled with thousands carrying what looks like a small bomb in his hand. Above the scene a chilling message reads: ‘Islamic State - Fifa World Cup Russia GUTTED: Munir

sport May 23rd - June 5th 2018

SPAIN has been effectively disqualified from next year’s Rugby World Cup. The team were looking for a reprieve after an investigation into their defeat by Belgium which led to Romania qualifying. They had claimed the Romanian referee was biased. But the panel ruled that Spain -

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Rugby woes as well as Romania and Belgium - had broke eligibility rules, with all three having points deducted. It means Russia has qualified instead, joining Ireland, Scotland and hosts Japan in Pool A.

Sickening

ISIS threatens Messi and Ronaldo at World Cup in Russia in twisted posters

2018 - Victory will be ours’. Both of the sickening posters, released by a pro-ISIS group, brandish the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia logo. It comes as Islamic extremists made similar threats earlier this year about the tournament, which kicks off in June. SHOCKING: ISIS threat This is not the first time Barcelona forward, Messi, has been the target. Some months ago, an image was released of the Argentinian star in an orange prisoner-style jumpsuit, handcuffed and kneeling down in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium pitch, while an extremist holds him down. The latest threat was revealed by Dark Web infiltrators, Sixgill - a cyber intelligence platform which tracks ISIS conversations.

GOODBYE: Iniesta

Farewell ANDRES Iniesta has played his last game for his boyhood club. Barca gave Iniesta the perfect send-off when they hosted Real Sociedad on Sunday. The 34-year-old midfielder announced he would be leaving the club he has played at since he was 12 last month. He will reportedly move to Japan to play in the Far East. The club paid an emotional tribute to their captain, with an elaborate mosaic reading 'Infinite Iniesta' in Catalan displayed by fans in their Nou Camp stadium.

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Plummeting

FINAL WORDS

SPAIN will see a shortage of plums this year after heavy rainfall has affected harvest, delaying exports by three weeks.

BBQ bust

BRITISH tourists staying in Magaluf set fire to their apartment after trying to light a disposable BBQ in their hotel room. Firefighters rescued seven people.

Reality bites

AN investigation revealed Mallorca airport is infested by fleas and cockroaches after workers complained they need constant medical attention.

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Ramadilemma

Muslim in quandary at vagina factory during Ramadan

A MUSLIM worker has spoken of his difficulty in working for Spain’s biggest fake vagina factory during Ramadan. The issue arose as Muslims are forbidden from having any sexual thoughts during Ramadan. The problem for Mamadou Barry, originally from Guinea, is that he is in charge of all the orders at the company Fleshlight, near Sevilla, which produces up to 2,500 artificial private parts per day. “I normally try to go on holiday at that time,” he explained. “And if I can’t, I try to occupy my thoughts

WORKER: Barry with other things to avoid thinking about it.” His family, who live in Almeria, are already shocked about his line of work, particularly when he visited them last year with one of the

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devices. “I put it on the table and my mother first thought it was a lantern,” he added. “Being very religious, she was really shocked,” he says, “But since my parents saw I was happy and they themselves liked the factory on a visit last year, they ended up supporting me.” Fleshlight Spain, an offshoot of its American parent company, has a turnover of almost €9 a year. The man behind the product Steve Shubin is as a former US police officer.

Pane-ful PHOTOS of a woman cleaning her windows in Spain have gone viral. The shocking images show the resident climbing out and around the windows of her apartment, in Santander, which is several stories high. The images were shared on the Facebook group ‘things that happen in Cantabria.’

PARTY TIME: Torremolinos pride

FULL OF PRIDE TORREMOLINOS gay pride is an event not to be missed, and this year it’s bigger than ever. More than 40,000 locals and visitors will descend on the LGBT+ hotspot with NINE days of events and parties planned. The fun kicks off on May 30. Manilva pride will also host its second annual pride on June 15 and 16.

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Prawning it in! A SPANISH football shirt dubbed ‘one of the ugliest ever’ has become a smash hit… in Manchester. The shirt makers from Loja football club, in Granada, have had over 1,000 orders after it became a favourite at the Manchester National Football Museum. The shirt covered mostly with prawns is sponsored by local fish importers Mariscos Apolo.

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