Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 164 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 7 Issue 164

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ANGRY: The Whatleys and (inset) Casares del Sol urbanisation STYLISH singer Sade was snapped shopping in Marbella recently. The British beauty known for her multimillion selling songs including Smooth Operator and The Sweetest Taboo - stopped of fin Puerto Banus for a bit of retail therapy. She visited New York designer Michael Kors’ shop, before signing autographs for fans. Sade last visited Marbella in 1986 when she performed live at the Puerto Banus bullring.

Smooth Shopper

Casares del Sol urbanisation have been removed by the Guardia Civil after the body of Sydney Chatwin, 87, was discovered in mysterious circumstances a fortnight ago. Officers have sealed the apartments only allowing residents to enter under police escort while they investigate what they believe to be an ‘illegal care home’ operating in the building. Contrary to reports in Sur in English however, both the owners - and various tenants - deny that any of the residents suffered from negligence. They also insisted that the residence is not a ‘care home’, but rather individually-leased apartments with ‘assistance available if needed’. “We simply lease apartments and provide help

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Pensioners kicked out of their own flats after care home probe is launched following the death of an elderly expat A GROUP of frail and elderly expats have been forced out of their homes following an investigation into the mystery death of a British pensioner. Several tenants of the

Don’t let the Don’t thein bankslet cash banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk see page 13

EXCLUSIVE By Mason Jones when it’s required,” owner Robert Whatley, a former builder from Hampshire, insisted to the Olive Press. The 60-year-old explained how Chatwin, from Warwickshire, had arrived at the urbanisation – via charity Age Concern - in April after allegedly being robbed. “We were contacted by the charity and asked if we could help in an emergency case as he was old and in a bad way. He had nowhere else to go.” Age Concern insisted any financial issues ‘would be sorted out later’. “He had come straight from the Costa del Sol hospital and he had nothing but an empty wallet, his passport and the clothes he stood in.

“We took him to the medical centre and contacted his family to let them know he was in one of our apartments. “It was all done at our expense and we took care of him for two months and did everything in our power to help him,” added Whatley, whose wife Sheila, 71, also works with him.

Health

Under his new regime, Chatwin’s health stabilised until he suddenly took ill on June 13, which prompted Whatley to call an ambulance. But after being rushed to a medical centre he was brought back having been given the all clear. He died the same night. When police arrived on the scene, a day after the body Turn to page 5

Police shoot at Gib jet skier

EXCLUSIVE THE Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo has written to British Prime Minister David Cameron after a Guardia Civil boat fired shots at a jet ski off the Rock. The incident took place on Sunday at around 7pm when the jet ski was in the Western Bay area. Dale Villa, 32, (pictured above with his mum) told the Olive Press of his terror at being chased by armed police who shot at him twice. The father-of-three revealed how he had been fired at as he tested his brand new Yamaha Wave Runner with family and friends on Sunday afternoon. “I was very shaken and furious,” said the delivery driver. “When a huge boat is hurling after you and you hear gunshots it is very scary. “There were three policemen on the boat and I actually saw one of them with a gun in his hand. Turn to page 6

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CRIME NEWS

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Nailed! By Mason Jones

WEPT: Rogers cried in court and (top right) the accused

Toni Muldoon and his Costa cronies convicted for Costa del Sol mega-scam

TWO decades of fraudulent behaviour have finally come back to bite Toni Muldoon. He and his gang of Costa cronies have been found guilty for their involvement in a €6.6 million escort and debt recovery scam. Muldoon has been found guilty of masterminding the scheme, while his right-

Letter for Amy A CHILLING letter predicting Amy Fitzpatrick’s disappearance was sent to the authorities before she went missing, it has emerged. The letter, written by the mother of Amy’s friend, was sent to Spain’s Irish embassy in 2005, three years before she vanished. “It is probable she will disappear. Amy is scared for her safety,” read the letter. The document has emerged just weeks after her brother Dean was killed by his mother’s boyfriend, Dave Mahon, who says the stabbing was self defence. In our last issue, the Olive Press, backed by Amy’s aunt Christine

Kenny, launched a new appeal to find the former Mijas resident. In the hand-written message sent to the embassy in Madrid, a woman whose daughter went to school with Amy raised concerns about her welfare. “She wants to live with her father,” the note continued. The news comes as her father, Christopher Fitzpatrick, told Mahon to stay away from his family. “We’ve been through hell this last month and we will never come to terms with Dean’s killing,” said Fitzpatrick. “We will never accept an apology from Mahon and don’t want him anywhere near our family.”

hand men, former police detective, Christopher Taylor, 57, and Bradley Rogers 29, have both been convicted of money laundering at Ipswich Crown Court. Three others, Mark Bell, 41, Colin Samuels, 61 and Geraldine French, 60, were each convicted of two counts of conspiracy to defraud. At least 14,000 people have been conned by Muldoon’s schemes. The Costa del Sol-based gang conned people into signing up to act as ‘nonsexual’ companions with the promise of earning up to €700 a day. Clients paid an upfront fee of over €400 but never received any work. Muldoon, a former timeshare boss, has also admitted masterminding another scam in which the group cold-called people and promised to eliminate their debt.

Jail

Judge Rupert Overbury told the group that jail sentences were inevitable before remanding them in custody. Rogers, who cried as he was led from the dock, is said to have received over €880,000 into his account. It has also emerged that Taylor, who denied any knowledge of Muldoon’s illegal activity, had documents on his computer regarding his boss which were named ‘Born to be a Costa Conman’. The case, investigated by Suffolk Trading Standards over three years, turned into the biggest of its kind ever taken on by a local authority. TV company Tiger Aspect is now making a documentary on the mega-scam while all six involved are due to be sentenced in July.

Costa journalist faces new sex charges A LA CALA-based travel writer awaiting trial for alleged sex offences against children is set to face further charges over the possession of indecent images. Mike Souter, 59, from Norfolk, is charged with sexual offences against boys, as well as a charge each against a man and a woman. Souter, who has homes in La Cala and El Faro, is now likely to face charges of eight counts of making indecent images of children. The former BBC Radio host is due to stand trial in September.

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Something to smile about Parfitt wife cancer scare from IVF? THE wife of Spain-based Status Quo star Rick Parfitt has been left wondering whether her battle with breast cancer was caused by IVF. Lindsay Parfitt, who shares her time between Alhaurin and Marbella, gave birth to twins Tommy and Lily Rose following the treatment five years ago. Now aged 54, the mother recently discovered that a cyst she thought was harmless was in fact four tumours. She is now on a five-year course of hormone treatment, following a lumpectomy to remove the growths and a three-week course of radiotherapy.

Ain’t getting no Moore

Despite desperately struggling to resuscitate him during a Costa del Sol holiday, Thin Lizzy guitarist left nothing to his partner WILDMAN guitarist Gary Moore, who died in Spain, left none of his £2million estate to his devoted partner – because he did not draw up a will. The rocker, 58, died from a heart attack in February 2011 after a heavy alcohol binge at the Kem-

pinski Hotel, near Estepona. The Thin Lizzy star and girlfriend Petra Nioduschewski, 37, had just arrived in Spain, checking into the hotel earlier that day. They immediately went on an all day bender, with an autopsy put-

Singing at his Supper TAKE OFF

ANTONIO Banderas is to celebrate his birthday in classic showbiz style this summer. The 52–year-old actor (right) will sing at his very own Starlite Gala, in Marbella, alongside Spanish heartthrob Alejandro Sanz (left). The pair confirmed the duet via a live video link between Madrid and Miami at a press conference yesterday. The proceeds of the event, held at the Marbella Auditorium on August 10, will go to a selection of charities. “I’m really looking forward to the event” said Antonio “I’m from Málaga and I do whatever I can for this place that I love”

I’ll be there (in Marbella) JERMAINE Jackson has been hanging out in Marbella. The Jackson Five member – who delivered an emotional send off at brother Michael’s funeral four years ago - was in town for the SOS Animal gala at Villa Padierna Hotel. He made the most of the celebrated local nightlife visiting Newscafe, then moving to the recentlyopened Aqwa Mist. Also recently seen clubbing at Aqwa Mist were high profile footballers Guti, Romelu Lukaku and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

THE third annual Sotogrande Charity Fun Fashion Show will take place this Thursday at El Pirro restaurant, in the Mar Y Sol commercial centre. A series of local models will parade outfits from shops including Superfly, Golfino, and Tiger Lily. There will be a raffle and live entertainment with proceeds going to four local charities. “It’s always a fun night and raises a lot of money for charity,” said coordinator Sarah Burgess.

ting the guitarist at five times over the drink-drive limit. It emerged that he had 380mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system – the legal limit for driving is 80mg of alcohol. Miss Nioduschewski, who lived with the musician at his £635,000 home in Hove, tried unsuccessfully to revive him. Although Moore was reported to have proposed to her, she will receive none of his estate as he had not drawn up a will. Under intestate rules, it is believed his fortune will be split between his four children. Moore was a regular visitor to Estepona, and frequently jammed with the inhouse musicians at the now closed Las Dunas Hotel.

A HOLLYWOOD legend joined his co-stars at the Madrid premiere of the new Superman movie. Australian actor, Russell Crowe, 49, was beaming as he posed for the cameras and signed autographs for the fans with leading man, Henry Cavill. With the film Man of Steel hauling in over €95 million in US cinemas in the first weekend alone, the Gladiator actor certainly had a reason to smile.

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HELP US HOME From Page 1

residents claim they were ‘man-handled’ and forced to go to hospital. One tenant’s daughter, who has asked only to be identified as Mrs Brunton, complained about the treatment of her 89-year-old father, who was described in the Sur in English report as being in a ‘very poor state of health’. “It is simply not true. The Sur said he was really ill, but if he was so ill why was he let out of hospital the same day?” She is adamant that the whole attitude of police and the courts was inappropriate. She continued: “The police came in mobhanded and a judge ruled he was dying and shouldn’t be here. It was ridiculous.

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Mojacar’s dry beach First it was dominoes, now Mayor Cano bans boozing on the beach

News IN BRIEF

Toll Hike A JOURNEY along the entire length of the Costa del Sol toll motorway is now 38% more expensive than last winter and tolls are €.6 more expensive than last summer.

New reps

Nightmares

“The police wouldn’t even let Robert or Sheila explain what was happening to him. “They just took him to hospital and didn’t even ask for any of his medical history,” added the outraged daughter. “He’s been having nightmares because of this, all my dad wants to do is go home,” she added. “He loves it there.” Leila Bourquin, 74, a close friend of another tenant at the urbanisation has also defended the ‘assisted living’ apartments. Bourquin, who is currently letting her 73-year-old friend Fleur Fitzgerald stay with her while the investigation is under way, said: “It is Fleur’s apartment and I don’t know why the authorities think it is illegal, she has her own tenancy agreement. “I just think they haven’t seen anything like this before and it disturbs them.” Age Concern President Eileen Dry expressed her surprise at the raid, adding: “As far as I was concerned they were fully registered there.”

Job aid from EU

THE EU is to give Spain €2 billion to help combat its massive youth unemployment problem. The injection was agreed on Monday after a meeting between the government and Spain’s labour unions. Unemployment in Spain is 27% of the active population, and a shocking 57% of young people are without jobs. The plan, which would award Spain between €800 and 900 million per year, is set to go into effect in 2014. Regional governments are using different methods to combat the problem meanwhile. Following a trend of sending young Spanish professionals to countries with more jobs, Cadiz will now send 30 young nurses to work in Germany next week.

MOJACAR’S infamously strict mayor has started sending police on the beach to confiscate alcohol. It comes after right wing PP mayor, Rosa Maria Cano, became internationally famous after calling for a ban on playing dominoes last month, insisting the game was ‘too noisy’. Now, locals and tourists are being forced to have their bags and cool-boxes searched after Cano announced a zero-tolerance approach to drinking on the beach. The mayor, who has already carved a reputation for herself, has also prohibited taking any beverages purchased

EXCLUSIVE

By Brian Sherwood from a chiringuito on to the sand. Tourists spoke of their shock after watching four local police officers search the belongings of families and couples. Maria Gonzalez, who had driven down from Murcia for the weekend, said she would ‘never come back’ to the town following her treatment from the police. One local expat, who watched the commotion, said the police spent half an hour on the beach before disposing of any alcoholic drinks discovered.

Simon Manley will succeed Giles Paxman as the British Ambassador to Spain, and Charmaine Arbouin will replace Steve Jones as the British Consul for the Canary Islands and Andalucia.

New Coach German football coach Bernd Schuster has been appointed Malaga manager on a fiveyear contract.

FEATURE

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

OPINION Wave of anger THE waters around Gibraltar are nowadays the setting for an almost daily standoff between Royal Navy Vessels and the Guardia Civil. Sunday’s incident, when a Guardia Civil vessel chased and apparently fired shots at a Gibraltarian jet ski being ridden by two people, is the most serious incident in months. And it is understandable that the Chief Minister has written to the British Prime Minister for his support. The pilot of the jet ski had been giving a young child a ride ten minutes before the Guardia Civil incident, and only pure luck avoided a nightmare scenario. So Gibraltarians have every right to fear what will happen next. It is time for Spain to stamp out this kind of ridiculous recklessness and provocation that doesn’t help anyone on either side of the border.

Still not right While it is good to hear that the European courts have officially sided with the wronged woman, there is still a great deal about the story of the mistreated mother that makes for uncomfortable reading. There is something seriously amiss with any social services department that would separate a child from its mother solely because of a lack of money. This poor woman had gone into the office asking for help, but instead her problems only got worse. Why couldn’t they have found her work or lodging before making the drastic decision to move her child into foster care. The €30,000 in compensation is not nearly enough to make up for the suffering she has had to endure. And it certainly won’t bring her child back.

Changes afoot CURRENTLY enjoying our best year in seven, the Olive Press gets even bigger and better next edition. We hope you have noticed our huge growth over the last six months with larger papers and more editions printed for the Costa del Sol, in particular. It has seen us recently work with some of the world’s finest blue chip companies, including John Lewis, Waitrose and Orange, not to mention becoming key media partners with this year’s prestigious Starlite festival in Marbella. In line with our fast expansion plans over the next five years, the paper will be going to a new, larger format next issue with more space for stories, investigations and hard-hitting features. The Olive Press just keeps getting better.

Got a news story? Contact our team of journalists in our Costa del Sol office on 951127006 or 691831399 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

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Tel: 951127006/951166060 (admin/editorial/sales/ advertising) or admin@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 198,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 Urb Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon 13, Arriate 29350 Malaga Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Reporters: Annabel Grossman annabel@theolivepress.es Mason Jones mason@theolivepress.es

Distribution: Irene Oliver 951 166 060 Admin/accounts: Pauline Olivera 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress.es SALES TEAM: West Costa del Sol Jane Jewson 673 958 858 Axarquia Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 Cadiz Elizabeth Gould 683 337 342 Ronda/San Pedro/Marbella Jon Clarke 691 831 399

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As TV show Gibraltar – Britain in the Sun grips UK viewers, Mason Jones asks if the Rock has finally hit the jackpot with its latest gambling business venture?

HILE unemployment soars to record levels in Andalucia, just over the border a bustling business sector continues to grow in Gibraltar. Boasting a keen eye for making the most of an area of just seven kilometres squared – the world’s smallest colony the British enclave has gone from strength to strength thanks to a unique ability to move with the times. Now, starring in its own hit TV show Gibraltar – Britain in the Sun (see review on page 16), it is also rightfully garnering headlines as the only one of the European economies that has grown consistently for the last five years. And its leader Fabian Picardo, a personable man - who cites the Kings of Leon and Liverpool FC as among his main passions in life - has predicted growth of 50% in just four years. In the annual budget speech this week, the Chief Minister told politicians that this year would see a ‘record budget’ and further growth. The statistics certainly seem convincing. Public debt has been reduced yet again by £140m, while cash reserves have soared from £20m in 2011 to £85m today. Now he predicts that GDP for 2013 is expected to rise to £1.2 billion putting the enclave 17th in the world with a GDP per capita a record fifth in the world. It is fair to say that Gibraltar is certainly going in the right direction. Once a struggling outpost that served as little more than a base for the Ministry of Defence, Gibraltar has cleverly managed to utilise its location to break into the lucrative shipping market. Indeed, the Port now sees over 10,000 vessels, including 200 cruise ships, arrive each year after crossing the straits. It also happens to be home to one of the largest bunkering ports in the Mediterranean, with a staggering 4.2 million tonnes of oil delivered annually to boats. A low-tax regime has meant that both the real estate and financial service industries have also excelled. Not to mention the ever growing tourism sector, which now draws over seven million foreign visitors to the country each year and just keeps growing. The latest growth sector, however, may prove to be the

Steady as a Rock biggest pay out yet for the enclave. While there’s hardly a strip of neon, nor gambling chip, in sight, Gibraltar is rapidly becoming a virtual Las Vegas. For the last 16 years, the Rock has licensed over two dozen international gaming companies, helping to generate revenue which now equates to a quarter of its GDP. ‘E-gaming’ - as its known - is quickly forming one of Gibraltar’s largest industries, employing around 12% of the enclave’s workforce. Multi-billion-pound firms such as Ladbrokes and William Hill were some of the first to arrive on the Rock with the hope of benefiting from the lower tax regime. They are now well established and growing in size each year.

“The gaming sector has really helped Gibraltar,” estimates online casino employee Jamie Szymonik. “I think this is an industry that is able to withstand economic downturns well and the Gibraltarian government has helped by being very flexible.” He continues: “While the enclave has been able to change and adapt quickly to current situations, Spain has

Police shoot at jet skier From Page 1

tually saw one of them with a gun in his hand. “I was just about to drop my friend off at West Beach when I heard the first shot. I don’t really think we took it seriously or believed it could be a gun, but clearly it was. “Anyway I jumped back on again and whizzed off before realising the boat was chasing after me and had soon fired three more shots at me.” A video, seen by The Olive Press, shows the jet ski being chased by the vessel and shots can clearly be heard. The Royal Navy confirmed last night that it had challenged the unlawful incursion by Guardia Civil vessel Rio Cedena. A spokeman said: “This is a very serious incident and the government has been in close contact already with the Royal Gibraltar Police. As Villa added: “I had only just taken my friend’s 10-year-old daughter out for a spin and was about to pick up her grandmother so we were not being threatening or doing anything wrong.We were just having a nice family day out. “Maybe these guys were bored it being a Sunday but I really hope something is going to be done about it, as it is outrageous.”

not, which makes it extremely difficult and costly to set up business there.” The Chairman of the Gibraltar Funds and Investments Association James Lasry agrees that Gibraltar’s ability to diversify and its range of businesses has been paramount to insulate the local economy from Spain’s deepening crisis.

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FEATURE

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POMP: Picardo (in suit far right) at Treaty of Utrecht celebrations ent work,” adds Lasry, whose family has lived on the Rock for over 100 years. “This includes trust and company formation and management of private wealth. With the new businesses developing in gaming and financial services, such as funds, fund management and insurance, we are doing more value-added business. “Perhaps we have less clients than we used to, but we do more work for those clients than we used to. “This also means that we are developing in sophistication as a financial centre which I think is a very positive move for us,” said the chairman, who has held the position for four years. “Finally, what I think is very special about Gibraltar is that it is very cosmopolitan. WARMTH: Scenes from Gibraltar series with Spall (bottom) “For such a small place, it could be somewhat insular and cliquey but it is not. It ac“It would be nice to say that are faring relatively well.” shrewd planning is the cause Indeed, of Gibraltar’s 30,000 cepts foreigners - who come of this, but I think we just live residents, only 900 people to do business and genuinely in a different economic reality are unemployed. Across the contribute to Gibraltar - with than say Spain next door,” he border in La Linea, however, open arms,” adds Lasry. explains. some 32,000 of the 65,000 It is the size of the country which Yan Delgado, Man“Diversification of our econo- inhabitants are out of work. my has helped, so if we have “Before the gaming and fi- aging Director of Hyperion had somewhat of a slowdown nancial services sectors Group of Companies, believes in the real estate sector, we started moving into promi- to be the Rock’s saving grace still have gaming, financial nence, Gibraltar was primar- at a time when the rest of Euservices and tourism, which ily a jurisdiction for private cli- rope is suffering.

“A while ago there was nearly a crisis within the real estate market here, but because Gibraltar is small it was easily manageable,” said Delgado, who tells me that the property market is a strong indicator of a country’s buoyancy. “Gibraltar is not a tax paradise any more, but the laws here are friendly and attractive with many schemes that

More Spaniards are working here, whether it be in gaming, construction, cleaning or security people can still benefit from. “And because of the strict tax laws for new residents in Spain, people are automatically looking to Gibraltar instead,” he adds. Delgado, who founded Gibraltar World Music Festival, has also noticed an influx of Spaniards crossing the border each day in the hope of finding work. “La Linea is struggling big time,” he explains. “More and more Spaniards are coming to work here, whether it be in

gaming, construction, cleaning, security, anything and everything. There is no speciality. “I can also tell you that the Chief Minister and the Mayor of La Linea are working hand in hand though, they are trying to find solutions for the town,” he adds. E-gaming has certainly had a positive impact for neighbouring La Linea. One employee, who works for William Hill, explained that his company was now ‘employing loads of Spanish’. “At least 10% of the main telephonists are Spanish and there is now a special Spanish department that only takes on Spaniards.” “In fact as people have left to return to the UK we have hired local people and a lot of Spanish too.” It is also certain that Chief Minister Fabian Picardo’s openness and fresh approach to how to deal with Spain has much to do with the enclave’s current success. Replacing long-term leader Sir Peter Caruana in 2011, personable former lawyer Fabian Picardo has continually pushed for Gibraltar to be recognised on the world business stages. At a time when a Belgian MP

called for the EU to investigate the gaming trade regarding tax evasion, Picardo defended the industry vigorously. Just recently, Picardo dubbed Gibraltar ‘The Silicon Valley of online gaming’ after it emerged that 60% of all UK bets are processed on the Rock. The 41-year-old father-of-one is not content with just leading the way in internet gaming, however, Picardo now has his sights set on making Gibraltar a European hub of technology. The government’s senior executive for insurance, Michael Ashton, says Gibraltar already boasts a strong technology sector. “There’s a lot of innovation around both insurance and technology. Gibraltar is the ‘silicon valley’ of the e-gaming industry and, in some ways, lots of insurance businesses in Gibraltar are also technology businesses,” said Ashton in a recent interview. While it is true that a country of 30,000 is easier to manage than a nation of 47 million such as Spain, Gibraltar’s defiant victory of the recession can not entirely be based on its size. The Rock’s ability, or courage perhaps, to focus on business ventures which are not entirely mainstream, has meant that some of the world’s largest companies have flocked to the country. As Gibraltar continues to push itself as one of Europe’s premier business centres, its size, security, and of course its tax regime, will make it a sure bet for bringing in more international investors. And with tourism on the Rock currently booming, the residents who are this year celebrating their 300th anniversary of independence, have every right to believe they might have finally hit the jackpot.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

News IN BRIEF

Pretty Flamingos FLAMINGOS have flocked in record numbers to Fuente de Piedra, one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Due to the high rainfall of last winter, 22,000 pairs of birds have been counted.

Tourism Up The beginning of June saw better numbers of tourism than expected for the Costa del Sol. With about 70% of hotels booked, things may be looking up for the holiday season.

Jellyfish App A new app designed by the Aula del Mar marine centre warns beachgoers of the locations and levels of jellyfish on the Málaga coast.

DEFIANT pet owners have joined together to take on one of Axarquia’s most notorious businessmen. The group of expats are setting up a website warning pet owners against using a pet courier company owned by Jeremy Griffiths, after at least two dogs died in his care. Despite an Olive Press expose last year, Griffiths, from Torre del Mar, has continued to trade using the domain name www. pettaxitransport.co.uk and is even advertising his services in local newspapers on

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We’ll click him into touch

EXCLUSIVE By Annabel Grossman

the coast. Fed up with inaction from the authorities, the group came up with the ingenious idea of purchasing a similar domain name to thwart

him. On the site they plan to post stories, experiences and photos from Griffiths’ victims. They will also do the same

OUTRAGE OVER TORO TORTURE

BULLFIGHTER Joao Moura Jr is set to incur the wrath of animal rights groups around Europe after posting a series of shocking photographs on his Facebook page. A private corrida at his house has caused outrage in Portugal after pictures showed a pack of pit bulls attacking a calf at his finca. Animal rights group ANIMAL revealed that they had received numerous emails regarding the ‘barbaric action’ and stressed that they would do ‘everything to ensure

that these people are punished’. In a statement, Moura expressed his regret at posting the images on the social media site, before adding: “But, most of all, I regret not being able to prevent it.” He said: “It was an isolated incident as the dogs inadvertently entered the ring where the cow was; it was not an animal fight.” ANIMAL have replied that they ‘don’t believe for a second’ the bullfighter’s statement, claiming that he only ‘regrets the fact that he was caught’.

Ingenious community web campaign is being launched to take on a notorious local businessman

for his car hire company One Way Van Hire, that has also been the subject of continual complaints. The idea is that when pet owners search for Pet Taxi Transport, their new site will come up alongside Griffiths in the search results,. “That way any potential clients will be alerted to his wrongdoings,” explained Dianne Lunt, 54. Lunt had been left devastated after the family’s beloved pug Wasabi died while travelling from Spain to the UK in the care of Pet Taxi. As the Olive Press reported,

Wasabi allegedly collapsed from heat exhaustion and suffered a cardiac arrest during the journey, The mother-of-three said that she had continually begged the Sur in English newspaper to stop advertising Griffiths’ company but had not even received a reply to her letters. The Olive Press stopped taking adverts from Griffiths two years ago, after complaints from readers. “We have contacted the Sur many times to try to stop them taking his adverts,” she said. “It was a direct result of those ads that we sent our poor Wasabi with him.” Now she is adamant that others owners should not have to go through the same distress. “If we all click enough on our new website bringing up its search rating then anyone searching for him will also get us,” Lunt explained. “There is nothing he can do to stop this.”

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Bitter-sweet victory Mother separated from child for being ‘too poor’ awarded just €30,000

A MOTHER who was forcibly separated from her child for ‘not having enough money’ has been given just €30,000 in compensation. Despite the European Court of Human rights ruling in the mother’s favour, she will not be awarded custody of her 11-year-old daughter. The young agricultural worker from Jaen, identified only as Cristeta, went to the Andalucian social services to ask for financial help in August 2005 after falling on

by Rose Lapp hard times. Social services in Motril then decided to take away her three-year-old child just four days later. The social worker in charge of the case then claimed Cristeta was so angry and aggressive during later visits to her daughter at a foster home that judges suspended visiting rights altogether. The girl was then moved to a

Princess visits Malaga THE world’s most luxurious ocean liner visited Malaga on its maiden voyage at the weekend. Launched by the heavily pregnant Duchess of Cambridge the previous week, the Royal Princess stopped off in the city on its way to Barcelona. Able to accommodate 3,600 passenger s the 142,000 tonne has private poolside cabanas, a private dining venue and balconies on all outside state rooms.

second foster home without notifying Cristeta, who never stopped trying to find her. Following an appeal, the European Court of Human Rights has declared this forcible separation of mother and child a violation of Cristeta’s rights. The court found that the child was never physically or psychologically harmed while under her mother’s care, leading the judge to rule that the only reason for the child’s removal was poverty. The court in Strasbourg awarded the 40-year-old resident of Chiclana de Segura just over €30,000 in compensation for her mistreatment by the Spanish courts. However, while Cristeta continues to fight for the right to be reunited with her daughter, the Andalucian authorities have continued to look for an adoptive family for the child, declaring her to be abandoned by her mother. According to the ECHR, the child has not yet been adopted.

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Please can Carlos! Popular Malaga hospital Carlos Haya must change its name due to Fascist connections By Giles Brown

IT has become one of the best known landmarks in Malaga city with thousands of tourists and expats being treated at the Carlos Haya hospital every week. But the vast majority will be unaware that the coast’s leading hospital is named after a former Fascist fighter pilot, who may have even strafed the city during his reign of terror. Now, appropriately the Junta is demanding that the mayor of Malaga enforces a name change of the popular hospital.

MALIGNED: Hospital and (top) Haya himself Three years after the Law of Historical Memory was passed in Spain, politi-

Brother arrested over Costa link to Alps murders THE brother of Alps massacre victim Saad al-Hilli has denied hiring a hitman to shoot three family members over an inheritance feud involving Spanish property. Zaid al-Hilli, 54, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder following the brutal gun attack in France last September.

Mijas

Detectives are now following a line of enquiry that centres on the €1 million-plus inheritance which includes an apartment in Spain and property in Iraq. Their father millionaire Kadhem al-Hilli, who died at a care home in Benalmadena in 2010, lived for over two decades in Mijas and is understood to have more property in the area. The Olive Press revealed that he had made money from a string of factories and was cared for by a local Moroccan girl until his death. Annecy’s public prosecutor said Eric Maillaud: “Formal and written evidence leaves no doubt about the very violent family dispute that pitted the two brothers on the issue of the inheritance of

FLASHBACK: Our page on the Spain link last year their father.” Saad al-Hilli, 50, his wife, Iqbal, 47, and her mother, Suhaila al-Allaf, 74, were murdered with two shots to the head at close range in their family BMW.

Bludgeoned

Their daughter Zainab, aged seven, was shot in the shoulder, bludgeoned over the head and left for dead. Her sister, four-year-old Zeena, escaped unhurt. Zaid can only be interviewed as a witness which held them back from asking certain questions. “That doesn’t mean he is guilty,” Maillaud said, before adding: “Some serious questions will be asked of him.”

cians are furious that such blatant references to the Franco era still exist. Carlos Haya was the dictator’s personal pilot and flew him and other Fascist troops over from Morocco at the beginning of the Civil War.

Killed

Known as the ‘Convoy of Victory’ many of the planes were later used to bomb the city of Malaga, which was the only Andalucian city to stay defiantly Republican for the first year of the war. It is not known if Haya was actually involved in the bombing or the later massacre of civilians as they fled the city towards Almeria as it fell to the rebels in February 1937. He was later killed during combat over Teruel. “If mayor Francisco de la Torre is a democrat, he has no reason not to enforce a state law,” insisted Luis Naranjo, from the Junta’s Ley de la Memoria Histórica department.

Costly

“It is incredible that there are still many Fascist symbolic references in Málaga’s streets” Naranjo added that he had finally reached a verbal agreement with the Health Department about changing the name of the Carlos Haya Hospital to ‘Hospital Regional de Málaga’. And he dismissed claims from PP party that changing the name would be too costly during the current economic crisis.

3,000 could lie in new communal grave EXCAVATORS believe that up to 3,000 bodies may be buried in a mass grave near Ronda. Work has begun to finally dig up the site, along with a separate one, near Cañete la Real, where a further 38 people shot by nationalist firing squads during the civil war may lie. The Junta has also announced that it is to set up a series of Civil War ‘memorial routes’, around Malaga, which would also take in the famous Cerro Lucero battle. The Junta is also planing a documentary on the massacre of civilians during their retreat from Malaga to Almeria in 1937.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Axq IN BRIEF Student fund THE IU party in Torrox has urged the town hall to set up a fund to help students pay for their university education.

Robber held The police have detained a man, 31, in VelezMalaga who is presumed responsible for eight robberies of yachts and country houses.

AXARQUIA NEWS

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Killer gang face jail

By Kat Mayhew

16 Competa youths are facing prison after the murder of expat Stephen Mallon in 2009 SIXTEEN youths will be prosecuted for the killing of a British man in June 2009. Stephen Mallon, 49, died in hospital 11 days after he was

Bike meet Velez-Malaga’s air strip hosted a motorcycle convention celebrating Harley-Davidson’s 110th anniversary to raise money for the Cudeca cancer foundation.

NOW AND THEN: Tito in 1980 and today

brutally beaten and pushed over a four-metre high wall. It came after an argument inside La Estrella bar between Mallon, his two sons,

THE BLUE TOUR IT is a fantastic way for fans of 1980s hit TV show Verano Azul to re-live the series. A new tour of the town will be lead by its star Miguel Joven, who plays the part of ‘Tito’. Although only 19 episodes, Verano Azul drew close to 20 million viewers in Spain, and was broadcast internationally as well. The show is re-run almost every summer.

three British friends, and 16 Spanish youths. The argument escalated and was taken outside the bar, where the accused beat the six British men and ultimately pushed Mallon over the wall. His two sons were also injured. One was hit with an iron bar and consequently was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. The accused, all between ages 18 and 25 and from Competa, Canillas de Albaida and Archez, are charged with various crimes, the most serious of which is one 12 year sentence for homicide. Two others are charged with causing injury with a dangerous instrument, and the other 13 face one-year prison sentences for brawling. The prosecution also called for the victim’s wife to be paid €120,000 and each of his two children €90,000.

Bill is finally busted MOROCCAN police have arrested the dangerous British paedophile who fled Spain after trying to kidnap a child in Velez Malaga. Robert Edward Bill, 58, was arrested near the town of Tetuan after residents caught him trying to abduct a six-year-old. The former teacher is also believed to be responsible for the rapes of two young Moroccans in Tetuan and Chefchaouen. Bill, who was convicted of sex crimes in the UK, fled Torrox in November 2012 after attempting to pull a Spanish minor into his car outside the courts in nearby Velez Malaga. The Olive Press revealed that Bill was working as an estate agent forEl Pino Properties, in Torrox Park, just before he left Spain. In 2009, Bill was found guilty in the UK of the attempted abduction of a girl of five, indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl and of possessing 730 pornographic images of children.

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GIB NEWS

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Rebecca Maguire gives her view on the new Channel Five documentary Gibraltar – Britain in the Sun

N D E R S TA N D A B LY Channel Five’s new series Gibraltar - Britain in the Sun is causing quite a stir on the Rock. And ultimately, opinion is very divided on whether it shows its citizens in a good light or not. Either way, the show is certainly focussing on the quirkier side of the ‘world’s smallest colony’. So far, topics tackled include predictably the ape population and British-style bobbies, as well as dolphins, beach life and its tiny runway. Designed to appeal to a curious British audience and narrated by actor Timothy Spall, each episode follows locals and British ex-pats who call the Rock home. The series opened with teenage lifeguards showing off their physiques. But as 17-year-old Jesse McLaren knows, it’s not all posing. After spotting a woman sunbathing topless, he approaches cautiously and politely but firmly says: “Excuse me, sorry to interrupt, but you can’t be topless on the beach. Thank you.” Then returning to the camera, he says: “That wasn’t very nice. It was an old

Gibraltar – (Little) Britain in the Sun

woman, not very nice looking boobs anyway, but it’s what I have to do.” Spall’s phlegmatic, “Phew, disaster averted,” only adds to the carry-on style humour.

You half expect David Walliams and Matt Lucas to pop up to offer acomplimentary Daily Mail Expats Tony Watkins and Shane Athey run Gibraltar’s Dolphin Adventure Tours, creating a Heath Robinsonesque show with underwater dolphin cameras, but their invention’s success is thwarted when they get lost in a sea

ON the Rock

New Olive Press guide to the best of What’s On in Gibraltar over the next two weeks June 25 – July 12. Gibraltar Photographic Society’s annual competitive exhibition at John Macintosh Hall, 10am to 10pm, for more information contact 00350 57363000 or 56219000. June 28. Med Dance Group annual show at The Alameda Open Air Theatre at 9pm. Tickets £12 from On Pointe Dancewear Store, Unit 7F Casemates Square. For more information contact Nichol Montovio on 00350 54013520 or email Nichol@gibtelecom.net Friday 28. Lunar Walk for Breast Cancer Support.Registration £5, from 9pm. 5K starts at midnight from Casemates Square. Further information from breastcancergib.org Friday 28, Saturday 29, Sunday 30. Gibraltar Darts Trophy 2013. The world’s best darts players live on the rock. Tercentenary Hall, tickets from the box office, Leisure Centre and Ministry of Culture office.

fog. The pair’s eccentric exploits and constant banter are reminiscent of Top Gear, but when they explore the wreck of the 1916 steamer, SS Rosslyn, viewers are given a fascinating glimpse into the hidden treasures of Gibraltar’s waters. Aerial shots and quirky Benidorm-style theme music introduces Gibraltar’s airport. You half expect David Walliams and Matt Lucas to pop up to offer a complimentary Daily Mail. Instead airport manager Dani Lecris informs Liverpool passengers that their flight has been diverted to Malaga: coaches will arrive in an hour and the journey will take two hours. Narrator Spall mutters: “Mmm, no sugar coating then Dan.” Overtones of Come Fly With Me intensify as it emerges security has mislaid the keys to let the disgruntled passengers out of the terminal. “It’s never happened before,” says an embarrassed Dan. If you want a serious investigation into Gibraltar’s controversies and complexities you’ll be disappointed, but if you have a fascination and fondness for the unique territory and its vivacious inhabitants you will enjoy the idiosyncrasies the programme offers. Gibraltar’s booming tourist industry already attracts seven million visitors a year. After this series has aired, the Rock can probably expect to have to make room for many more.

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GIB NEWS

TB outbreak on the Rock

Children to be tested after four-year-old confirmed to have tuberculosis CHILDREN in Gibraltar are to be tested for tuberculosis after a four-year-old contracted the disease. The health authorities have contacted all parents of children who may have been in close contact with the toddler, to offer tests and give out fact sheets. The child, whose identity has not been revealed, had

been attending two separate nurseries, but the GHA have stressed that it is very rare for children to be infectious to others. Apparently the child contracted the disease from an adult, possibly one of its parents and both patients are in isolation and will be monitored and given anti TB treatments.

Burger joint was front for Tobacco smugglers

OVER a dozen people have been arrested as part of a huge tobacco smuggling operation that made as much as â&#x201A;Ź24,000 a day. It apparently centred on a resident of Arcos de la Frontera, who is linked to a hamburger joint in La Linea, which served as cover for the racket. Police have now seized cars and cash, and frozen various bank accounts. The gang brought tobacco to the burger bar in vehicles, by boat and in person.

Director of Public Health Dr Vijay Kumar, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no risk to the public at present and no restrictions on children attending these nurseries.â&#x20AC;? Tuberculosis is rare in Gibraltar with an average of one to two cases detected each year. The BCG vaccination and good nutritional standards are effective in preventing the disease. The disease spreads from an infected person through the air, but only to close contacts. Around 5 to 10% of people who inhale TB bacteria will develop the disease. Young children and the elderly, as well as people with weak immune systems, are the most likely to fall to the disease. The most common symptoms of TB are a persistent cough, sometimes with blood in the saliva, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever and sweating, extreme fatigue and tiredness.

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GREEN NEWS

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Ocean plant warning A EUROPEAN-wide project is raising awareness of one of the region’s most endangered plants. The Life Posidonia Andalucia scheme aims to help the ocean plant posidonia oceanica which is close to extinction. The plant, native to the Mediterranean region, is vital to the health of the seas. It purifies water by absorbing CO2 and emitting oxygen, and serves as both a spawning ground and feeding site for many marine species. Unfortunately, due to pollution, excessive construction, and overfishing, the grass is dying off. The travelling exhibition funded partly by the European Union, aims to educate the public on this little-known but pressing problem. It is due to arrive in San Roque this month.

Sustainable Living

Taking on the developers

In conjunction with our Costa de la Luz supplement this issue, Phil Spiers explains how campaigners are cleverly taking on coastal developers in El Palmar

ITH summer here and everyone heading to the beach, where better to turn our ‘sustainable’ eye than to one of the last unspoilt coastlines in Spain. El Palmar, on the Costa de la Luz, has so far avoided the overdevelopment that we’ve seen on other parts of Spain’s 1,000km of coastline, and many people would like to keep it that way, as a last reminder of what natural coastlines looked like. Unfortunately, the area does not have nature reserve protection, and other vested interests want to see a new macro-development built, changing forever what makes this part of the coast special. El Palmar has been my personal favourite place to visit for the past 10 years, and its charm lies in the low rise, relatively small scale village that is only busy during two months of summer. The rest of the year, its wide, white sand beaches are home to surfers and nature. With the arrival of a huge ‘aparthotel’ complex, as reported in the Olive Press last issue, it would be like dropping downtown Tokyo into a Somerset field. And what would come next?

The infrastructure simply isn’t there to support it, and the rapidly growing campaign to fight it shows that neither do thousands of other people. Leading by example, local activists have also started proceedings to buy some of the land where the proposed development will be, much like Greenpeace and other collectives did to prevent the third runway at Heathrow being built. Although there are now 63,000 signatures for a petition to stop the project, campaigners don’t have enough resources to buy the land yet, so they are reaching out to all the other conservation groups like Greenpeace, WWF and Friends of the Earth to help make it happen. The land in question, Malcucaña, was managed by toxic bank Bankia, and the activists hope that with the bank in liquidation, the value will have plummeted, making the scheme to buy it viable and getting in before the promoter, Grupo Tarje, who owns the other half of the land, can make its bid. If you’d like to get involved the web site is www. salvarelpalmar.es

DRIVING AHEAD

A necessary drop in CO2 emissions comes by default as less people use their cars THE economic crisis has done at least one good thing for Spain: it has significantly reduced the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. It comes as Spaniards stopped using their cars to save money, leading to the country seeing a 1.9% drop in CO2 emissions. In a country that has previously far exceeded the limits set by the 1990 Kyoto Protocol, it has come as a welcome change. Environmental groups warn however that, although a promising sign, the decrease in emissions is no cause for celebration.

By Kat Mayhew In 2012, coal-fueled electricity generation rose by 35%, probably due to coal’s inexpensive price tag. It has led green group WWF to insist that now it is now vital for the government to switch to a more renewable energy model once and for all. “The crisis is an opportunity to promote a paradigm shift, which is what we will ask from the government,” said spokeswoman Mar Asuncion.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 84.73% full Same week last year: 64.66% Same week in 2003: 65.90% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.32 American Dollars 0.853 British Pounds 1.37 Canadian Dollars 7.45 Danish Kroner 10.25 H Kong Dollars 7.89 Norwegian Kroner 1.68 Singapore Dollars

LETTERS

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Thanks Olive Press!

Dear OP A big thank you to all at the OP for your article about our Coast to Coast charity walk. The excellent news is that, thanks to your mention, we have already had a number of calls from people who are keen to get involved. And the number of walkers joining me for all 430 kilometres has now risen to six. Please give us a call or drop us an email to support a really worthy cause. Guy Hunters-Watts El Gastor

No service Dear OP In regards to the Paella Punch Up article - This is happening more and more. The Spanish are trying everything to rip foreigners off. I have lived on the Costa del Sol for 12 years and have seen ridiculous cover charges for a slice of bread, charges for butter, overpriced beer and stubborn waiters who never put customers first. There are great value good quality places but you have to search for them. Adrian Sarson Marbella

Holiday hell

Dear OP We have returned from a holiday at the Marconfort Beach Club Hotel in Torremolinos which was completely ruined by lack of sleep due to the thumping loud music into the early hours from the club. We complained to the management of our hotel who are trying to stop this problem and were advised to call the police. This did not work as the club turned the music down when the police came and back up again when they were gone. Torremolinos is such a beautiful place but we would have enjoyed our stay even more had we not felt so tired and stressed through lack of sleep. I find it hard to believe that the district licensing laws allow such noise levels especially as the club is opposite a hospital. If this lovely town wishes to embrace tourists then this type of nuisance will put people off. I understand that young people need to be entertained but at what cost to other not so young people who go on holiday to relax? Frances Ross London

A smoking success? Dear OP In ref to your casino smoking law change story, smoking, drinking and gambling bring in the money and create jobs. The more sensible way would have been to keep the smoking and non smoking sections with proper air extractors fitted, if a bar wanted to go fully non smoking leave that up to them. Many bars in my area have gone out of business and those that are left are clinging on by their finger nails with very few customers in the winter months. Finally the law should not be repealed for one premises as that merely implies that you can buy the law…what am I saying of course is, you can buy the law. Peter Johnson Fuengirola

Clothing clue for Amy Dear OP With regards to the Missing Amy story, this will probably lead nowhere but on June 6 I bought a lemon with black spot vest type T-shirt in Chain at La Trocha. There was an ‘H & M Young’ label on it, age 14 years, and attached to that was a name tag with A. FITZPATRICK which originally had self adhesive glue on it. I kept the label and have it here. It is printed not hand written. Sincerely Marilyn Sellers, Alhaurín el Grande

ED: This is one fascinating case and there has got to be one shred of evidence out there. We do however recall Amy’s mum finally clearing out and taking her clothes to a charity shop which might explain it.

CROSSMOT 11

Across 7 Localizar (6) * 8 Cheer (6) * 9 Pony (4) * 10 Essential (8) * 11 Chorros (7) * 13 Sonrisa (5) * 15 Rod (5) * 16 Liberación (7) * 18 Quacking (8) * 19 Orejas (4) * 21 Hojas (6) * 22 Escaped (6). Down 1 Pit (4) * 2 Acquainted (13) * 3 Rechaza (7) * 4 Atrevido (5) * 5 Circunferencia (13) * 6 Classrooms (3, 5) * 12 Peleas (8) * 14 Dedicado (7) * 17 Primero (5) * 20 Maduro (4). L = 199

Gas scam? Dear OP We live in the campo, near Cartama, and have just had a guy arrive by car wearing a dark blue polo shirt with a logo and sporting no more than an A4 sheet saying something about gas inspections. His English and my Spanish were limited, but he wanted to inspect our gas installations for a five year contract on behalf of Repsol. I kept telling him that we were not going to pay him any money for anything and he went away muttering something about Repsol. He was not aggressive, but also not happy. I don’t know whether he was genuine or not; he showed no ID. If he comes back, I will obviously say that Repsol need to write to make an official appointment, but in the meantime, do you know if this is this a legal requirement? In the five years we have been here, we have just replaced the bottles at the local garage without a problem and we always ensure our fittings are safe. Regards Pat Szalai Cartama

Letters should be posted to Urb. Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon 13, Arriate 29350, Malaga or emailed to letters@theolivepress.es The writer’s name and address should be provided. Published opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

la cultura

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SAVIOUR?: Can Man of Steel save spanish cinema?

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Armageddon for Spain’s cinemas

Real Dog Day Afternoon as nations cinemas record worst ever figures

UB or Not UB?

REGGAE fans can be excused if they think they are seeing double this summer. It is not the wacky backy, but UB40 really are appearing twice in under a fortnight in two different guises. Ali Campbell’s UB40 (left) will be appearing on August 10 at the Plaza de Toros in Fuengirola, while the official band (right) with his brother appear at the Starlite Festival in Marbella on August 21. Best known as the singer on UB40’s huge hits Red Red Wine and I got you Babe, Campbell quit the band in 2008 under a cloud.

IT will be seen as the Armageddon for Spanish cinema. And the weekend of June 15 and 16 was certainly a very dark one for the Spanish box office as it recorded its worst ever weekend of takings. Even more depressing was the news that it was 30% worse than the previous lowest record, also this year. Indeed, only about 300,000 people went to the cinema over the two days, compared with the previous minimum of 500,000 on the weekend of April 20 and 21, also this year. In alarming statistics, six of the last nine worst weekends in box-office history were recorded in 2013. The warm weather and the lack of a big blockbuster

are being blamed for the cinematic turnoff, claims Rentrak Espana, the company that measures box office numbers. The total income for the weekend was just €2.1 million, which is about the same as a single movie used to over the same period. These numbers spell disaster for the industry, with Pedro Perez, president of the Spanish film producers association, claiming the industry is ‘in a static of panic’. But it seems that they won’t go down without a fight. “We have to fight back with aggressive pricing policies,” said Perez. “If people aren’t going into theatres at the moment because they think the cinema is expensive, it doesn’t matter what we think: we have to act accordingly.”

21 21

what’s on

ntequera,

June 26-29, El Torcal Astronomical Observatory, enjoy a magical evening of stargazing through the observatory’s powerful telescopes. €8 per person.

alaga, June 29,

English Cemetery, Avenida de Pries 1, French Horn Ensemble Concert, 8pm

arbella, June 29,

Feria del Libro San Pedro Alcantara, Plaza de la Iglesia, Municipal Band Summer Concert, 9 pm

ranada, June

21-July 12, International Music and Dance Festival, with musical and dance performances, including flamenco, in locations throughout the city

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the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

What a creative lot MORE than 350 people were treated to a showcase of the best creative talent from the Marbella Design Academy at an exhibition of its students’ latest projects. The Expo event included a runway fashion show, a graphic and interior design static showcase and an awards ceremony where the students were presented with their diplomas. Guests also enjoyed free paella and cava at the student restaurant, situated in the academy’s specially designed school.

Hurray for Alhaurin Top turn out to hear Joanna Eden’s ode to Alhaurin THEY flocked out to hear an ode to their local town in their droves. And in doing so, so great was the throng that the good people of Alhaurin el Grande raised over €2,000 for local horse and donkey rescue centre ARCH. In total over 300 people turned up to hear British singer Joanna Eden perform her new song Alhaurin

and others at the Miralmonte restaurant. The evening was hosted by local radio station Heart FM and the performances also included flamenco dancing from Lourdes of Alhaurin El Grande. For more details about the charity please visit the website: http:// www.horserescuespain.

Essence of Calahonda THE biggest urbanisation on the Costa del Sol is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an art exhibition. Sitio de Calahonda will host the showcase of works from 14 artists living in Mijas at El Campanario Iglesia Noruega, the area’s oldest building. The theme of the exhibition is The essence of Calahonda. Each artist will display one piece, and will be at the exhibition to talk with all who are interested. All of the artwork is for sale. A reception will be held this Friday at

3pm, and the exhibition will be open Friday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. For the program of events for the weekend, visit www.calahondaeuc.com

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Art festival in danger Organisers fear this year could be the last for FIAM EXCLUSIVE By Giles Brown

Real shame to fold

Rose Lapp takes a look around the FIAM festival

ALKING up the Avenida del Mar was a delight to behold. The street was lined with white tents, each displaying the work of a different artist, while a trio of tenors sang from the stage in Parque Alameda. Though the Marbella International Art Festival (FIAM) was advertised as an outdoor art

gallery, it had no trace of the stifled or commercial atmosphere that can plague a normal exhibition. All kinds of people were wandering around, from well-dressed businessmen sipping wine to children in swimsuits who had come from the beach, attracted by the crowds and the music. The artists were available and willing to talk to people

about the inspiration for their work, and though everything was for sale, there didn’t seem to be any pressure to buy. This type of cultural event benefits all members of the community, as well as being important for Marbella’s tourism industry. It seems a shame that it lacks the kind of support it needs in order continue and grow from year to year.

MARBELLA’S annual art festival (FIAM) is under threat of folding unless sponsorship can be found. Its organisers insisted this year ‘could be the last’, with little funds to pay for lighting, marketing and stalls. “This year has been very difficult and without financial backing from businesses the festival will die,” organiser Caroline Bowley told the Olive Press. “We really hope that this year a kindly company owner enjoyed it so much he or she is prepared to support it next year.” Meanwhile, the FIAM launched a Friends of the Festival campaign which offered a range of special offers for a donation of €50. “We all know that it is a difficult time for ev-

Concern: Bowley with Marbella tourist boss eryone financially but an event such as this should be a focus as cultural importance as it draws visitors and residents and can be highly profitable. “We believe that the art festival is vital in presenting Marbella as a cultural destination and we need businesses and politicians to support us in making the festival bigger and better and creating other cultural events”.

la cultura

24 the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013 24

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From

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ll about

Issue 164 June 27 2013

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osta de la Luz

Let in the light JON CLARKE takes a trip along the Costa de la Luz, Andalucia’s most unspoilt, if sometimes rather breezy, coastline

T was in a sleepy backwater, up a dead end road close to Vejer de la Frontera that I found one of the last redoubts of quintessential Andalucia. Tricky to find and easy to miss even when right outside, there are few places left in the region that are quite so unpretentious. Authentic in the extreme and little changed for decades, Venta el Toro, in Santa Lucia, near Vejer, is where those locals in the know go for a dose of nostalgia and a darn good tapas lunch. It is here that you will find local hoteliers es-

caping their clients and lovers heading for a secret rendezvous. For me it is typical of the entire Costa de la Luz (or Coast of Light), a wonderful stretch of coastline that signifies the very essence of escape. The concept is perhaps best summed up by the sense of space and views you get when taking lunch at restaurants like Tesoro, high above Tarifa or, sitting, for example, on the stunning roof terrace at boutique V Hotel in Vejer. For spreading out in front of you are uninterrupted ten-mile vistas of rolling fields all

FRONT ROW: Watching kitesurfers at Valdevaqueros beach and (below) authentic Venta el Toro

the way down to white sandy beaches, with very little built on them. An incredible sight, this patchwork quilt of greenery and long, unspoilt beaches is sadly almost unique to Spain these days, and what the majority of Andalucia’s coastline would have looked like 50 years ago “This incredible expanse is like nowhere else around,” explains lawyer Carmen Atkins, who has been based in Vejer for two decades. “The great mix of coast and hills and these lovely towns luckily still hold a lot of the old Turn to Page 27

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In the eye of the Hurricane It is a quarter of a century since film producer James Whaley joined his brother to create the first hip hotel on the Costa de la Luz

T was around 25 years ago that my elder brother stopped in Tarifa en route to a windsurfing holiday in Portugal. By chance finding the windiest spot in Europe, he decided to ask around if there were any small houses for sale and was shown a 12 room abandoned hotel, owned by an incredible 19 siblings, involved in a big family dispute. He bought it for an incredible price but I had soon convinced him that he would never make any money out of 12 rooms, so we obtained permission from the town hall to build an extra 23 and an architect from Ibiza was drafted in. A year and a half later the Hurricane opened and we quickly converted the bricklayers into our staff, some becoming cooks, others waiters, others receptionists or gardeners. I explained to the builders that

making a cake was as easy as making cement. All you had to do was throw the right ingredients into a mixer and stick it in the oven at the right temperature for the appropriate amount of time. The food back then in Andalucia was not very good, apart from gazpacho of course. The salads consisted of tinned everything: maize, asparagus, grated carrots, tuna in nasty oil. So my first task was to set up a herb and vegetable garden. It seemed that none of our builders had heard of basil, coriander, sage, parsley and thyme – never having listened to Simon and Garfunkel. As I had lived in Italy I got an Italian friend to send me rucula, or rocket seeds, which the builder/cooks thought was disgusting. It took a month to get our first client, a German, who ordered

VANGUARD: Whaley

a bottle of Marques de Riscal rose, which he claimed was corked. The plasterer/waiter Jose served him another bottle which was again not to his taste. Nor was the third. Not to be outdone Jose instead found an old bottle of cheap white wine and added half a glass of red to it. ‘Fantastico’ the German client exclaimed and the next day brought his friends. From our friend Hans the hotel had lift off... it has never looked back.

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UNSPOILT PARADISE: View across undeveloped Valdevaqueros beach to Tarifa

Please save our beaches!

HIDDEN CHARM: Conil square, boats in Barbate and partygoers in Canos

Coast with most From page 25

Spain in them.” The coastline is only matched in beauty by Cabo de Gata in Almeria and there is something incredibly haunting about the stunning windswept beaches, particularly around El Palmar and Tarifa. The Costa de la Luz is certainly intrinsically different. Laid back and unshowy, its friendly, unfussy locals compliment the breathtaking scenery and distinctive vibe. The coastline is, without a doubt, for the more discerning tourist and, in particular, for lovers of fine food. Vejer, in particular, has an incredible mix of stylish boutique hotels and probably the highest concentration of top restaurants per capita of anywhere else in Andalucia. This is a true food capital and over the last few years, I have found at least a dozen great places to eat within a ten mile radius of the town. Tarifa has an altogether different feel. This is a party town, particularly in summer, when the back streets are heaving with lively bars well into the early hours. But its stylish mix of shops and restaurants added to its melting pot of worldly Spaniards and interesting expats make for a distinct Tarifa scene, not dissimilar to the one you find in Ibiza and it is one of the few places – thanks in the main to its breezes – that still has enough going on through the winter. The Moors would never have had it so good on arriving in Tarifa in 710AD. While later dubbing Andalucia ´paradise´, it was certainly anything but peaceful when they used the town as their bridgehead into southern Spain. This is quickly obvious wondering around Tarifa, its historic ramparts littered with statues and references to stirring catholic heroes such

as Sancho El Bravo and Guzman el Bueno. The Costa de la Luz is Europe’s true deep south; a windswept flood plain, fringed by long dune beaches and crowned by a series of austere ‘cubist’ towns, which were built by the Moors who ruled this land for nearly 800 years. If you have never taken a ride to these shores, just the other side of the Rock of Gibraltar you are in for a surprise. There are literally miles and miles of mesmerizing and largely unspoilt white, soft and sandy beaches, ideal for a bucket-and-spade-break away from the over-built towns the other side of the Rock. Sightseers will be spoilt by the numerous sites from the famous Trafalgar lighthouse – off which the crucial naval

battle once took place - to the historic fishing village of Sancti Petri and from the Roman ruins at Bolonia to the twisting, white-washed streets of Conil. Then there are the hidden gems, like exclusive Roche, where Madrid’s captains of industry take their holidays, and Zahara de los Atunes, the sleepy fishing village, which is fast garnering a reputation for its food and wonderful beach. And still there is more, with El Palmar claiming to have the best surfing waves in Andalucia and Europe’s largest sand dune, at over 30-metres in height in Bolonia. And don’t forget Caños de Meca – the fun capital of the region – or gritty Barbate, whose fish restaurant El Campero is among the best in Spain.

The 200km coastline THE Costa de la Luz officially stretches for around 200kms all the way up into Huelva and to the border with Portugal. Split in two by the stunning Donana national park, the coastline also includes the so-called sherry towns of Sanlucar de Barrameda, Rota, Chipiona and El Puerto de Santa Maria. It also includes the cities of Cadiz and Huelva.

ADLY all is not well on the Costa de la Luz. As is the case with the Cabo de Gata natural park in Almeria, the economic pressures on cashing in from tourism are making inroads here. It has already happened in the sprawling, ugly development of Novo Sancti Petri, whose endless roundabouts, golf courses and luxury condos give a flavour of the nearby Costa del Sol. But there are all sorts of other daft plans on the horizon, including a ludicrous 1400 hotel room development on virgin land alongside Tarifa’s celebrated Valdevaqueros beach, for which the town has recently been given two ‘black flags’ by Spain’s leading environment group Ecologistas en Accion. Another scheme would see a huge apart-hotel development again on virgin land, right by the beach alongside the stunning Trafalgar lighthouse, in El Palmar, and Vejer currently has two or three other scheme bubbling under. A protest group PELP has been fighting the developers for years and has the 40,000 signatures it needs to force the development to go to a public enquiry. “It would be crazy to allow all this to happen,” says Tarifa fashion designer Maria Malo of Mala Mujer. “This is one of the very last unspoilt coastlines left in Spain.” The Vejer petition can be signed at www.salvarelpalmar. es

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the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

JUST try it,” said Dave. “It doesn’t taste that fishy.” The last person to try that was my mother, when as a babe in a high chair I refused to eat my fish fingers, dashing each spoonful to the floor. To my dysfunctional palate, all fish smells of ammonia and tastes worse. But, despite being a pescaphobe I found myself at the annual Tuna Festival in Zahara de los Atunes and agreed to try some, all in the line of duty, of course. The dish set before me didn’t look like fish: orange and round with a tiny leaf, it could have fallen from a neighbouring tree. That was the whole idea! Paripé de Mandarina (Mandarin Deception), was created for this year’s tapas competition – one of 36 imaginatively-prepared dishes, each representing the chef of a different restaurant.

Dance to a Different Tuna

Gin Tunics, tuna lollipops and tuna yachts... despite Belinda Beckett not eating fish, Zahara’s V Ruta de Atún festival had her hooked! Huge thought goes into the presentation to give a humorous twist, or to perhaps outwit my own picky taste buds. I was determined to find out… There was so much choice! Tuna burgers, tuna lollipops, bars of tuna wrapped in gold leaf, tuna with ice cream, tuna shaped like yachts... even fashioned into miniature pizzas with their own printed boxes. There was even liquid tuna, wittily named ‘Gin Tunic’. Every tapa came with a glass of chilled manzanilla and, at €3.50 a throw, it was a nobrainer for fish aficionados. “All the same Dave, I think I’ll wait to try the tuna toffees,” I reasoned, discovering that the Mandarin Deception contained raw tuna tartare! Which was a bit of a nuisance for Dave as the tuna toffees were being served down the

road in Atlanterra (Zahara’s posh sister resort) and we’d been lucky to find a parking spot in town. Fish lovers travel from far and wide to the Costa de la Luz in Springtime to taste the first succulent almadraba tuna caught by an ancient method dating back to Phoenecian

Eat 12 tapas for the chance to win a smart LGD TV, a Samsung tablet or a Nintendo Wii times, just as these Leviathans leave the cold Atlantic for their warmer Mediterranean spawning grounds. During festival week there

are as many fish fanciers on land as there are tuna in the sea, when the population of this pretty maritime pueblo of 1,300 residents fills up with another 15,000 hungry souls. Last year they munched their way through 65,000 tapas made from 200 tuna weighing some 200 kilos apiece, netting restaurateurs an impressive €400,000 over one weekend– not bad in an economic crisis! And tuna isn’t the only temptation. There are some enticing prizes for eating it too, which only steeled my resolve. Eat 12 tapas for the chance to win a smart LGD TV, a Samsung tablet or a Nintendo Wii. Eat all 36 and a weekend for two at the posh Hotel Atlanterra could be yours. It was all so well organised (something of a surprise, in Spain). Everyone gets a menu

map detailing the location of each restaurant and its speciality tapa, divided into six colour-coded zones, plus a sheet of paper drawn up with boxes that you have to get stamped as you eat. The man responsible for this shining example of entrepreneurialism is local restaurateur Gaspar Castro, President of local traders association ACOZA. “For most towns May is the month for communions and weddings but we don’t cater for those events in a big way as we’re only a small fishing village,” he says. “At the same time, it’s one of the best months to eat fresh red tuna, caught in our unique way. We’ve been making a party of it since 2009 and it’s really paying off.” If high drama is you’re bag, there’s plenty of it with music,

PESCAPHOBE: Belinda gets a stamp dancing, street parades and a demonstration of tuna filleting that’s pure theatre, complete with buckets of blood! It’s called a ‘ronqueo’ after the ‘grunting’ noise the knife makes when separating flesh from bone. It takes experts with cleavers and sharp knives under tenminutes to reduce one silvery 200-kilo tuna to 17 choice cuts the colour and texture of prime beef (which is why bluefin tuna is confusingly called atún rojo in Spain) “Hardly

Picture credit: David Cussen

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the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

HOOKED: Locals enjoy the parade while (top) the Mandarin Deception any goes to waste which is why we call the tuna ‘el cerdo del mar’,” Gaspar told me. (That explains the float I saw go by, bearing a bunch of cheering children dressed as Peppa Pigs.) A 200-kilo almadraba tuna will fetch €3,800 on the open market in Spain and the ventresca (stomach, best for tuna steaks) sells for €40 per kilo but some cuts are particular delicacies: the morillo (a kind of muscle in the head) costs circa €55 per kilo and the female eggs, €80 per kilo. Huevos de leche are also relished, though aren’t for the faint-hearted (being tuna sperm) but Gaspar swears they’re ‘very tasty’. Although, as his restaurant was responsible for the Mandarin Deception, I’m not so sure I believe him! The most fascinating aspect of the local tuna industry is the almadraba – the large structure you can glimpse one kilometre out to sea. It’s a complex labyrinth of nets several kilometres long and more than 30 meters deep, designed to guide the tuna into a central trap (el copo) from which there’s no escape. Ecologically sound, immature tuna can wriggle out through the mesh and live to spawn

another day. The thrilling part is the Levantá. Several will be held between April and June, dependent on wind, tides and sea conditions and decided by the almadraba’s ‘captain’. Then, the fishermen encircle this seething cauldron of captive tuna in their boats and hoist the nets out of the water. They will have no more than six hours to raise thousands of kilos of frenzied fish. ‘Almadraba’ is Arabic for ‘place of fighting’ and the name’s well-justified. Zahara boasts one of the ‘big four’ Atlantic almadrabas in

The current record for a bluefin sold at auction in Tokyo is 155.4 million yen - a cool 1.1 million euros Spain, along with those of Tarifa, Conil and Barbate which also hold their own rutas de atún during May and June. In 2010, Barbate welcomed 50 celebrity chefs to its festival including Ferrán Adriá, Juan María Arzak and Dani García. Quotas are strictly controlled to preserve declining stocks

of this endangered fish and today, Japanese ships queue up in the bay to buy tuna directly from the almadrabas. Atún rojo is a highly prized ingredient of sushi and sashimi and sells in Japan for four or five times its price in Spain. The current record for a 221 kilo bluefin sold at auction in Tokyo is 155.4 million japanese yen – a cool €1.1 million! If you can time it right, you can book a boat trip to see the levantá from a distance but there’s little chance of taking part, unless you’re well-connected or prepared to bribe your way onto a boat (a figure of €200 a head has been mentioned). Gaspar is disapproving . “It’s illegal and dangerous – one tourist lost three fingers.” I was content to enjoy the festival atmosphere and coo over the cutest foals on the short coastal drive to Atlanterra where I finally got to try the tuna toffees! They looked the part and Dave enjoyed them - two little sweet-shaped cubes wrapped in shiny paper, presented in a pretty tin. But I was caught out by yet another deception. It was all just window dressing containing no toffee at all – only fish!

Ten facts about the bluefin tuna 1. Bluefin tuna can swim up to 80 km/ hour 2. They can live to be up to 30 years old 3. They can grow to be more than two me tres longs and weigh up to 200 kilos - to give you an idea, that’s roughly the same size (if a bit bigger) as basketball player Shaquille O’Neal 4. The largest tuna on record was 3.3 metres in length and weighed 726 kilograms! 5. They can plunge down to depths of 1000 metres 6. It is thought to be the fish that best regulates its own body temperature, allowing it to travel through the chilly waters of the northern Atlantic 7. The population from the East Atlantic usually swims counterclockwise and penetrates the Mediterranean to spawn in its

warm waters. They cross the Gulf of Cadiz in late April or early May, and the fishing seasons starts then and lasts for only about two months. After spawning, they return to the Atlantic in search of food 8. Japan consumes 270,000 tons of raw tuna each year, five times the consumption of the second country on the list (the USA) 9. In 2011, Spain sold 1,970 tons of bluefin tuna to Japan for 36.4 million euros. Just one kilo of the desired ‘sashimi grade’ good stuff can sell for €18.50 10. Due to excessive—and often illegal— farming of bluefin tuna in the eighties and nineties, the species is now nearly endangered. Thanks to recently established quotas by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, the bluefin tuna may be on the road to recovery

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Costa de la Luz special

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WHALE OF A TIME

LOCKS of tourists are not the only arrivals to southern Spain each year, with pods of killer whales a common sight in the Straits of Gibraltar. The orcas are attracted to the area by the large number of Mediterranean blue fin tuna, when in season, and this sometimes brings them into conflict with local fishermen. They also share the same habitat with pilot whales, as well as sperm whales and fin whales who also migrate through the Straits from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Three different types of dolphins inhabit the recently established Natural Park of the

Strait of Gibraltar: common, striped and bottlenose. A number of local companies can take you out on a trip to see the whales. And that won’t be all as you will almost

Tarifa is a fantastic place to go whale and dolphin watching

SPOTTED: The crew sees a whale

Seeing a sperm whale wave hello with its giant tail is always fun certainly also see dolphins, and most of the companies try their best to be as respectful to the mammals as pos-

UNDERWATER ADVENTURE

Super Sub ONE of the most exciting things to do is go diving. Yellow Sub can organize dives out to numerous wrecks and, as the area is now a protected natural park, divers are bound to see numerous fish and sometimes dolphins. Among the best things to spot are moray eels, octupus and scorpion fish. The visibility is always good and the temperatures stay at between 15 and 20 degrees. “We get a lot of people coming up from the Costa del Sol as we have the best diving around,” says Italian Enrico Demelas. “We can offer short learner dives and four and five day PADI courses for those who want to go in depth.” Visit www.divingtarifa.com

HIKE IF YOU LIKE In terms of hiking, one short, yet adventurous trek takes you up into the Paraje Betijuelo mountains west of Tarifa. From here, you have views across stunning landscape in all directions, in particular inland towards the Los Alcornocales Natural Park. The walk starts from Punto Paloma, which is well signposted around four kilometres on the road out of Tarifa westwards. From here the signs are easy to follow. It is a stunning walk and those that take it are rewarded with one of the most beautiful ‘secret’ beaches in Andalucia.

sible. Turmares Tarifa is a company dedicated to the art of whale watching and the mission of conservation. It offers tours that unveil the intimate lives of the inhabitants of the sea. Witness a mother orca with her young calves, the massive fin whales – the second largest animal in the world – break the surface of the

water with a resounding blow. And seeing a sperm whale wave hello with its giant tail is always fun. The company boasts a 95% sighting success rate and, in the rare case that whales are not sighted, a second trip is guaranteed free-of-charge. For more information, visit http://www.turmares.com/.

Costa de la Luz special

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Riding the wind The Costa de la Luz is a great spot for activities and in particular wind and waves

AKE a walk out to the famous Trafalgar lighthouse in Canos de Meca or along Tarifa’s stunning Valdevaqueros beach and, on a windy day, you will be in for a real treat. Like a day out in rural China, you will see dozens – sometimes hundreds – of large colourful kites bobbing up and down and weaving around in the prevailing winds. Zoom in and you will soon realise that practically the whole of this stunning dunebacked beach is being dominated by the high adrenelin sport of kitesurfing. It has literally taken the area

by storm and over the last decade the traditional sport of windsurfing has been massively blown out by this fashionable new sport. “These days about 99% of our clients are renting kitesurfing equipment,” says Guido, of Kite Concept “It has become so incredibly popular over the last few years.” Both Kite Concept and other shops like Surf Centre Tarifa rent from just €50 a day. “It has certainly become one of the key economic dynamos of the town and brings in a lot of money,” says Hector Garcia, 38, who works

out of the hip Arte Vida hotel just outside Tarifa. “It brings in a lot of income and helps to make the town an all-year round holiday destination.” While appearing complicated it is apparently quite an easy sport to learn. Tarifa’s leading beach hotel the Hurricane is offering three day courses for adults and week long courses for kids. Its owner James Whalley is adamant that is enough time to learn. “It is amazing how quickly people pick it up,” he says. Famed as ‘the Wind Capital’

On the crest of a wave

WHILE Tarifa is known for its kitesurfing, El Palmar, near Vejer, is known for its surfing. This stunning (mostly) undeveloped beach is a great place to learn how to surf. One of the best surf breaks in southern Europe, in summer there are up to a dozen surf schools lining the beach, with a handful operating all year around. Friendly English-speaking teacher Kike (left with pupils) teaches anyone from “six to 96” through his company 9 Pies surf. Classes start from 20 euros and he also organises surf camps and rents boards.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Swap shop

IT has come to be something of a regular fixture on Sundays. A clever idea, the Mercadillo de los Domingos in Tarifa is the perfect way for locals to find something new and to clear out things no longer needed. The second hand market is a great place to pick up clothes, toys and numerous other items. Set up by the owners Eva and Macu from nearby restaurant Delicatessen, the only proviso is that items cannot be new. “People have a lot in their houses that they don’t need,” explains Eva, originally from Sevilla. “We have given them an opportunity to raise some much needed money recycling their stuff.”

of Europe, it is unsurprising that Tarifa´s Valdevaqueros Beach is a Mecca for windsurfing and kiteboarding, even occasionally playing host to the World Championships. Alongside Diamond Head in Hawaii and Fuertaventura in the Canaries, there are no other places that rival it for constant winds, either the Poniente from the west or Levante from the east. The best wind for kitesurfing is the Poniente, which comes in from Portugal. It

There are no other places that rival it for the constant winds measures between two and five on the Beaufort scale and brings in a cooler breeze from the sea. It also happens to be the dominating wind in Tarifa. The best wind for windsurfers is the Levante, which comes from the south east from Africa. It normally builds up for a few days and at its peak – when everyone gets sent mad – it can reach up to eight or nine on the Beaufort scale. “Either way the winds here in Tarifa are extremely constant and it is rare to get a week with no winds,” adds Hector Garcia.

SADDLE UP IF you are looking for something different why not go horse riding in the stunning Alcornocales park just north of the coast. Rancho Los Lobos is in a fabulous spot surrounded by rolling green hills with cork forests, cattle and horse pastures. This lovely old farmhouse is a paradise for nature lovers and hikers, the perfect place to spend a relaxing holiday.

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ITH its high arched ceiling and uberstylish entrance, it feels like the high temple of dining. And with a chef who trained at Europe’s (recently voted) number one restaurant El Cellar de Can Roca it certainly has the correct pedigree too. What, however, is most remarkable about the opening of the new restaurant Delicias is its location... NOT in Madrid or Sevilla, but in a tiny town half way along the Costa de la Luz. This is all part of the incredible success story of Vejer de la Frontera, which has reinvented itself as one Andalucia’s main culinary points of reference over the last decade. Like a slow-cooked pork belly, the beautiful white town has gently fused the ingredients together to rival anywhere else in the region. It is little short of amazing how many good places there are to eat in this stunning white town and the nearby villages of Patria, La Muela, Santa Lucia and Canos de Meca. This is a true gastronomic paradise with a melting pot of chefs from all around Spain and Europe. “We set the bar high,” explains James Stuart, boss of celebrated hotel and restaurant La Califa, which now has its own diffusion tapas restaurant, as well as its own twist on a kebab joint. “There is plenty of competition between restaurants and all of us keep taking the level higher in order to get ahead.” This is the serious goal that has to be taken by new restaurants like Las Delicias, as well as its equally charming new neighbour Italian La Tarantella, which sits in a beautifully renovated townhouse garden overlooking one of the best views in Christendom. It is no surprise that this second new joint to open this spring – in the heart of the worst recession Spain has ever seen – is owned by a former purveyor of fine fish, who sold his profitable business in Sevilla to settle in the town. And the entrepreneur Paco Pacheco knows more than anything else that he has to get the offering right... and above all, deliver quality. “There is so much competition now I had to work out carefully what would be my niche. I certainly know about fresh fish, but figured that what the centre still didn’t have was a good Italian res-

At th front of fo

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How Vejer de la Frontera reinvented itself as a food Mecca, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke taurant,” he explains. It is this level of thought that has helped to make this small Cadiz town into such a foodie Mecca. Much of the ingredients of Vejer’s success are down to the local surroundings, which produce some of the best quality ingredients in the world. The obvious examples are sherry, fish and the wonderful pork and beef from the classic brown ‘retinto’ cows, which you often see wandering around the nearby hills. Of course the amazing blue fin tuna, caught nearby is spectacularly good and the vegetables available are also of a high quality. Another reason is the type of tourists who visit the town, which sees a distinctly better heeled crowd than its nearby rivals on the Costa del Sol. “We don’t just rely on beaches,” explains restaurateur Ramon at Vina y Mar, which has its own wine shop with over 200 references. “And many of

AMBITIOUS: Owners and (top) chef at Del the people who visit are keen food lovers, who come here specifically to eat.” This is certainly the case and the huge mix of restaurateurs, who herald from France, Denmark, Britain and the north

of Spain ha together a r fering for the Frenchman long-running cho typifies Having cook – and even the Roux br roche in Lo plenty abou Constantly last decade is set in hi home in the with some

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tables. “We hope w that makes great, good above all, g he explains. His near nei er Duenas, Sur, on emb za de Espan ing well, wit of ingredien “It all began 1990s wh and his pa opened th restaurant explains Stu hip hotel C niently put influx of foo the square. “It was the food cultur opened our in 2002 to some comp continues, c gar, Califa a

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Jon Clarke gives some of his top tapa tips and more in Vejer

licias, while (top left) Damian at La Brasa

ave helped to put rich and varied ofhem. Damian Giroud at g La Brasa de Santhe mix. ked since his teens n had a stint under rothers at La Gavondon – he knows ut cooking. evolving over the de, his restaurant is elegant historic e heart of the town, fabulous outdoor

h spot overfields down e sea near the ambis incredible

we know what it is s people’s holidays service and, good food,” . ighbour Javiat Garimba blematic Plana is also doth a fine mix nts and style. n in the late hen Javier artner Pedro heir famous Trafalgar,” uart, whose Califa conveup the new odies across

start of the re and we r restaurant o give them petition,” he citing Trafaland Castille-

ria, run by Juan Valdes, as the three cornerstones of the scene. But it perhaps outside the town where the bar is really being pushed higher and higher. Up in Santa Lucia you have one of Andalucia’s best meat restaurants Castilleria that gets better and better each year and next door Venta el Toro, one of the most beautifully authentic restaurants around. Describing its food as ‘comida de cuchara’, basically home-cooked ‘spoon food’, it just serves simple, delicious Andalucian classics. From here, take a ten minute drive up to Patria to find out why Tomas and his lovely wife Ase are currently topping all dining polls. A stylish spot, overlooking

HERE is a huge variety of dishes and tapas on offer in Vejer. One of my favourites has to be the mini retinto beef hamburger at Vina y Mar (above), which comes in a coconut milk and bamboo sauce. Recently selling 400 in one day, best of all is the fact that it can be washed down by over a dozen wines by the glass, including two or three local Cadiz producers. Nearby Las Delicias, recently opened by four friends in an 1840s theatre, has some real chestnuts, including a wonderful carpaccio of thinly sliced pork belly. Former Madrid Ritz chef Hector Sanz also offers an excellent choice of salads and a seperate menu of ‘mini burgers’ and ‘molletes de la Janda’. At Brasa de Sancho look for the delicious salmon mini quiche (crujiente) with broccoli, as well as chef Damien’s take on Ajo Blanco, before launching into one of the town’s best steaks, including a fabulous seven-year-old retinto beef chop. At recently opened La Tarantella I enjoyed the leg of octopus (top), cooked on a grill, with paprika and balsamic vinegar sauce and a delicious warm provolone cheese. At Jardin de Califa, which has a distinct Moroccan theme, you might want to try the classic ‘pastela’ of warka pastry filled with chicken and almonds, cinnamon and turmeric, as well as spinach with prawns and squid in a spicy sauce. At Califa tapas why not try a skewer of tuna tempura in a mustard sauce or fried and battered Grazalema goats cheese in an apple sauce. fields down to the sea near Cadiz, the ambiance is second to none. While the menu is compact, the regularly-changing specials are becoming increasingly experimental and always look delightful. “A lot of our success is the fact that we use so many vegetables,” explains Dane Tomas (right with sous chef), who lives next door with his family. A laid back chap, who spends his spare time surfing, he sums it up perfectly: “We know we have to constantly evolve and create new things if we are to keep up with the excellent quality in

town.” It certainly seems to be working and, the couple even now have a restaurant book, serialised earlier this year in the Olive Press, with recipes and local dining tips.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Costa de la Luz special

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Hannibal’s holiday James Bryce has a poke around Chiclana and Sancti Petri, where ancient leaders Hannibal and Caesar are said to have taken their time off

HAD popped into the salt of the earth fisherman’s bar after a morning of sightseeing and was given an instant reminder of Chiclana’s links to the high seas. The walls were adorned with black and white photographs dating back to the 1920s. In one, a crowd of locals watched on as fishermen hauled the carcass of a huge whale onto the quayside, while other images showed fishermen chatting as they tended their nets. Separated from the coast by six kilometres of tidal salt flats, Chiclana has always had close ties with the ocean. The almadraba fishing technique used to catch tuna is famous along this stretch and at one time fishermen using this method would head out into

ALLURING: Sancti Petri and (inset) Chiclana

the Atlantic from the thriving nearby village of Sancti Petri. Sadly the village is now abandoned, sitting largely in ruins, with long-forgotten fishing boats serving as a poignant reminder of its seafaring past. It is claimed that Franco commandeered the village as a holiday retreat for his family while he was in power, forcing the villagers out. It then fell into disrepair following the dictator’s death, although there is talk of some villagers moving back to Sancti Petri to renovate properties in the settlement. As I wandered around the nearby modern marina beyond the village, I was reassured to see that the area still has a strong maritime theme running through it. A large number of boats were moored, accompanied by the occasional clanking

sound of metal clasps knocking against the masts in the breeze, while a handful of anglers sat patiently by their lines. A small selection of restaurants and sailing clubs attended to the lunch crowd, alongside companies operating out of portacabins offering a variety of water sports. The strong winds, which are a regular fixture on this stretch of coast, make it the ideal spot for sailing, and a cursory glance out to sea indicated there were no shortage of people taking full advantage. For the slightly less energetic, boat trips run twice daily to the Castle of Sancti Petri, located on an island just off shore. The island is situated at the mouth of the Sancti Petri channel between San Fernando and Chiclana and is steeped in history. Legend has it that the island was once home to the Temple of Hercules, widely regarded as one of the most important religious buildings in the Ancient World. Roman historians claimed that the remains of the mythical God were buried beneath the temple and Hercules’ leg-

acy is acknowledged today in the form of a street name and an imposing statue located at the entrance to the marina. Classical sources claim the famed Carthaginian military commander, Hannibal, came to the island to offer sacrifices to Hercules before embarking upon his conquest of Roman Italy. Meanwhile Julius Caesar is said to have had a dream which foretold his domination of the world while staying at the castle. In the evenings, the emphasis shifts from the centre of Chiclana to the nearby beach front promenade of La Barrosa. The beach attracts plenty of sun worshippers during the day and was voted by the Sunday Times as one of the top five beaches in Spain last year. But as day becomes night the bars and restaurants come alive with families and couples alike, drawn in by the promise of fantastic sunsets and seafood. As I tucked into a variety of dishes, including octopus and tuna, against a backdrop of excitable chatter, it was easy to see why the area is so popular with Spaniards. And as I sat there listening to the waves despite not being able to see them, I was reminded of the town’s links to the sea. Chiclana may be a town that is slow to reveal itself, but those who take the time to explore it will find a diverse and enjoyable stop off along the Costa de la Luz.

Business tips Chiclana counts the largest number of expat businesses on the Costa de la Luz. It has long been popular with the more discerning English, who don’t fancy slumming it up on the Costa del Sol. A number of excellent businesses have set up to work with the expat market, including lawyers Temple Cambria, who can undertake numerous types of conveyancing. Meanwhile Monopoly is a popular English supermarket with a wide range of greetings cards and books run by friendly Hazel, her partner Billie and son Jack. Local tradesmen include Steve, a carpenter, and another Steve Harris, who is a whiz when it comes to all TV and satellite issues.

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Costa de la Luz

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WHERE TO STAY

Home of hip hotels

HE Costa de la Luz is literally creaking with hip places to stay. In Vejer you arehard pressed to beat the seminal Casa de Califa, in the town’s loveliest square, surrounded by its best restaurants. The Moorish building sits around a charming central patio, where guests take breakfast and dine under candlelight each evening. Equally charming – and with one of the best roof terrace views in Spain – is Hotel V run by a Belgian nobleman and with a distinctly upmarket feel. Nearby, right on the beach, in Canos de Meca, is Madreselva, set around a central courtyard and with a decent

pool for the kids to splash in. A short drive inland and you will find the charming hotel La Vista in the white town of Medina Sidonia, which is fantastically sited for visits to all the main towns, as well as Jerez, Cadiz and Sanlucar. In Tarifa you have an equally good group of stylish hotels. On the beach, the best established is the Hurricane, which is now 25 years old and run by the coast’s long-serving dynamo James Whalley (see article on page 26), who also owns the more luxurious Punta Sur across the road. Dos Mares is another fabulous option, slightly nearer town and also right on the beach. In the heart of the town you

STUNNING: View at Hotel V will also find the evocative Dar Cilla, which is normally voted as Number One hostel in Tarifa on Trip Advisor and, quite rightfully, for its lovely well appointed rooms and amazing views across to Africa. If on a budget make sure to check out great value Posada Vagamundos, which sits in a tiny alley, with calm, comfortable rooms (assuming you stay at the back). Finally you might consider Camping Tarifa if you like to camp, but also consider its bungalows, which are great value at just €80 a night for a family of four, including breakfast.

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Costa de la Luz

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To dine for! WHERE TO EAT

The food on the Costa de la Luz just keeps getting better, reckons Jon Clarke

VERLOOKING rows of vines and a sea of undulating umbrella pines the restaurant high up in the hills above Tarifa is extremely hard to beat. Called appropriately ‘Tesoro’ – or Treasure – this is one pot of gold that really is worth seeking out. Aside from the fabulous food - including fresh langoustines and a classic ‘retinto’ steak typical of the region – the views over the Gibraltar straits to Africa are impossible to improve. Down in the main town there

RELIABLE: Head chef Juan at Pescadaria and pizza making at La Trattoria (top) is a massive melting pot of restaurants on offer, including Argentinian, French and Italian restaurants. The place to head is Calle Alameda, where you will find the father and son team Javier and Daniel, whose two neighbouring restaurants La Ternera Mimosa and Lola Mora, have been open for ten years. Both have a Mediterranean flavour, while La Ternera Mimosa now

STYLISH: New Campero in Zahara

has its own charcoal grill and some amazing artisan pizzas and grilled fish. Lola Mora is better known for fish and has the prestige of having won the annual best tuna tapa competition (a tuna tartare in puff pastry with a beetroot salmorejo) when it was held in the town for the first time last month. Interestingly, Javi’s brother Rodrigo (and wife Patricia) also own a brilliant Argentinian joint Patagonia, just around the corner. Both atmospheric and charming in equal mea-

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STALWARTS: Daniel and Javi at Lola Mora and (right) brother Rodrigo (and wife) at Patagonia, while (right) Juana at Tesoro with Nono from Venta el Toro sures, it naturally has some of the best steaks in the town, not to mention great empanadas. Back on Alameda you must look out for the pair of former architects – good friends Victor and Paolo – who run La Trattoria and La Pescaderia. Trattoria serves up classics including Osso Buco and sauteed provolone cheese with honey and such is its renown it is about to open a sister restaurant in Marbella. Next door, La Pescaderia – now celebrating its tenth anniversary - is certainly able to compete, in particular with his fabulous blue fin tuna menu and excellent wine list. A massive tuna fan, boss Victor, goes out of his way to prize the very best specimens out of the clutches of the Japanese. “It is vital as our clients absolutely love it,” explains the friendly Argentinian. In town one of the coolest spots to head to is La Cueva, where Scott and his chef brother Andrew, who recently arrived from the Mermaid Cafe, in Dublin, serve up an enticing Mediterranean menu on the lines of a classic UK gastro pub. The wings with fresh ginger and lemon in a chilli sauce were hard to beat and Scott, recently a dad for the first time, is a personable, erudite chap. Also in the heart of the town look out for the excellent Delicatessen, where you can eat an incredibly healthy mix of dishes. Run by two friends from Sevilla, who have a passion for good food, expect specials of the day to include leek and carrot soup and a great tapa of carillada ‘bulls cheek’. The most exciting new restaurant in Tarifa is, without a doubt, Silos 19, set in a stun-

ning 18th century grain silo, which has previously served as a post office, disco and HQ for the Falange. A massive new investment it has a Moroccan Russian chef installed producing traditional Spanish dishes with modern touches. The place is literally stunning, with a strong emphasis on art, in particular its off-the-wall ‘time machine’, made by Juan Sanders, which, among other things can open a wine bottle. If it is beach dining you are harking for then a true chestnut is Bien Estar, right on the

This is a true tour de force of cooking and one place to miss at your peril beach. It is open all year and claims to be the southernmost restaurant in Europe and has been set up by three friends with over 50 years of catering experience between them. Up the coast a little bit you will find Hotel Dos Mares, a charming place to stay, but also to eat, now that it has its own restaurant Yamani which bills itself as offering an ‘experience for the senses’. Nearby you should always drop in to the cool hangout Pacha Mama, which is where the kitesurf crowd go for a series of excellent pizzas and other Italian fare. On the subject of blue fin tuna, Andalucia’s best place to eat it must surely be El Campero in the workaday fishing town of Barbate. Here, Jose ‘Pepe’ Melero has catered for celebrities, politicians and fellow chefs for two decades and runs the restaurant with military precision,

often serving well over 300 people for lunch alone. This is a true tour de force of cooking and is one place on the Costa de la Luz you miss at your peril, particularly now that Pepe has now opened a new sister Campero in nearby Zahara. Called Taberner de Campero, it sits in a charming old house with some wonderful modern touches and an amazing set of rope patterns on the ceiling. Over in Vejer you have one of Andalucia’s top culinary towns (see page 24), with stunning places to eat, including El Jardin de Califa, which sits in an atmospheric candlelit patio, as well as Brasa de Sancho whose chef Daniel trained with Michel Roux, no less. Then there is Garimba, with its charming tables out on the same square and nearby Castilleria, where dynamo Juan Valdes serves up the best meat dishes in Cadiz province. Practically next door is the most authentic restaurant in Andalucia, the Venta el Toro, where you eat whatever the owner’s aunt is cooking that day. Nearby, in Patria try to visit Restaurant Patria, where Thomas and wife Ase are fast garnering a reputation as having some of the best food in the area. Finally Oasis bar in Barrosa, Chiclana is a friendly spot for the local English population and always has plenty of special events.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

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The Olive Press’

monthly youth and education section

treme

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DOUBLE FIRST By Kat Mayhew

IT is definitely a case of a double first for one British expat family in Spain. In a remarkable feat, two English sisters have landed some of Spain’s highest marks in two separate school years. This year’s scholar was Cordelia Pickford, 18, who

Language school boon

Expat sisters net highest school marks in the country

got 13.85 out of 14 in her end of school bachillerato exams. The highest mark for the region of Asturias and likely to be among the best in Spain. Similar to Britain’s A-levels, she achieved top marks in Greek, Latin, English, Spanish Language and Lit-

No computers in the bedroom CHILDREN should not be allowed to have computers in their rooms. UK schools minister Lord Nash warned of the dangers of youngsters watching online pornography at night and how damaging it can be.

erature and 9.5 in both Philosophy and Technical Drawing. Her remarkable scores come as no surprise; her elder sister, Anastasia, received a similarly high score of 13.7 in 2011. Anastasia now studies Veterinary Studies at Complutense University in Madrid, where Cordelia hopes to join her to study Art and Design in the autumn. The girls moved to the small town of Cue, in Asturias at the ages of six and eight and

SMART: The Pickford sisters attend a local public school. Their father Tim, who is an economist working in Zaragoza, said: “We are incredibly proud of our girls. Everyone is saying how amazing it is, but it is all down to their own hard work. “We didn’t push them particularly, we just opened the door for them... They did all the work themselves.”

When they arrived in Spain they were immediately forced to “sink or swim” in Spanish school, while their mother Pippa taught English. The bachillerato exam is similar to Britain´s A-levels, and not only demonstrates the depth of learning at the high-school level but is also a pre-requisite for university entrance.

MALAGA has become Spain’s second most popular place to study Spanish abroad. The city is now second only to Salamanca for students wanting to learn the local lingo, generating the region an estimated €40 million a year. A total of 33,000 tourists are currently estimated to come to Malaga each year to work on their Spanish. Over a third of these students are reported to return to their language school each year. Though the majority of these students are German, Swedish, English and Dutch, tourists come from as far away as China and India to improve their Spanish.

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Xtreme

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White boys come bottom But they are at their most under achieving in rural and seaside communities

BOYS from white workingclass families are now the worst performing ethnic group in the UK. In what has been described as ‘a change in the educational landscape’, their re-

By Annabel Grossman sults are rising at the slowest rate in the country. According to the Ofsted report the gap between

wealthy and poor pupils remains ‘stubbornly wide’. In a curious twist however, the schools that under performing pupils are most likely to attend are in villages and seaside towns rather than crime-hit inner cities. The educational watchdog highlighted that urban communities with high unemployment are achieving above-average exam results, while rural areas are failing their pupils.

Alluent

“Many of these children live in areas that might be considered generally affluent, but nonetheless are performing poorly,” said Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw. “Many others live in places such as rural communities and coastal towns. We need new policies and approaches to deal with underachievement in these areas.”

Students sacked

SOME 30,000 Spanishuniversity students face expulsion for not paying their enrolling fees. The news comes against a background of rising education fees, while student grants are being cut. Ruth Abad, 30, who has been studying Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Complutense University in Madrid, told El Pais that she applied for a grant to cover €1,300 of enrolling costs but was refused. “I’ve studied, I’ve worked, and the system has failed me,” she said.

THE party of the summer By Sian Kirkham

FORGET about Nikki Beach’s White Party or the Starlite Festival, Marbella’s glitterati only had eyes for the BSM’s summer fair. With a bulging VIP guest list many well-heeled, jet set types had to be turned away in their dozens having queued at the school gates all night, such was the demand to be snapped by the paparazzi at our annual fundraiser. To be fair, many of them were queuing up to throw wet sponges and buckets of water at teachers Miss Scales and Miss Potter, who raised a small fortune for charity in the process. There was also a yummy mummy exercise routine by Princess Studios (not surprisingly this proved popular with the dads), some comedy clown antics and a bouncy castle. The school production of the Pied Piper of Hamelin meanwhile went down well with 100 budding thespians taking to the stage for the three performances. Rumours of touts selling tickets for triple their market value are now being investigated by our Year Four monitors.

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Xxxxxxxx IN

Xxxxxxxxxx

Top Dollar

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WITH global envoys including Kate Moss and Penelope Cruz surely anything is possible? Now Spanish fashion giant Mango is planning to expand by five times over the next few years. It comes after the company made a number of substantial changes to its branding and pricing strategies early last year.

Frocks

These included producing more wearable everyday items and less party frocks. The gambit certainly appears to have worked with sales last year growing by a spectacular 20% on a turnover of €1.69 billion.

Going the extra mile for customers LIVING up to its pledge of ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’, John Lewis has been named Retailer of the Year at the Which? 2013 Awards. The UK department store was recognised for its promise to match rivals’ low prices, while ensuring it brings the best quality, responsibly sourced products to its customers. It was joined by the likes of discount supermarket chain Aldi and budget car brand Skoda on the winner’s board. Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, said: “In these tough economic times it’s fantastic that there are companies who still go the extra mile for their customers.”

The Olive Press fortnightly business section 45 taking a look at the Spanish economy and the olive press - June 26 - July 10, of2013 45 fering tips on how to save AND make money

Can Kate and Penelope help Mango quintuple? Even better its profits grew by an incredible 80%. “We realised that the girls at our offices no longer wore Mango clothes, because they couldn’t always find the things they wanted to wear for work. So we decided to turn that around. And it’s working,” said boss Enric Casi. Up to 2011 nearly 70% of the items available in stores were meant for special occasions, such as parties or events.

“Only the other 30% was for everyday use,” he explained. “Now, most of the collection is made up of garments that are more wearable on an everyday basis.”

Young

The company also plans to launch two more chains under the Mango umbrella, one for plus sizes and one for a slightly younger audience.

ON THE MEND Economy making ‘strong progress’ reckons IMF, but Spain still needs to work harder on unemployment YOU hardly want to whisper it. But Spain might finally be heading for the recession exit. This is according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which estimates the country’s economy will start to grow later this year. However, the next few years will still be tough, and the country needs to do more to boost job creation, as well as shield its banks better from recession. “Strong reform progress is helping stabilise the economy and external and fiscal imbalances are correcting rapidly,” the IMF said in its report. “But unemployment remains unacceptably high and the outlook is difficult, “This calls for urgent action to generate growth and jobs, by both Spain and Europe.” Unemployment has risen steadily across the European Union since the start of the economic crisis, reaching unprecedented levels in Spain this year. Joblessness in Spain stands at 27.2%, with more than six million people currently out of work. The IMF said the Spanish government’s main priority should be to reform labour laws further, making it easier for companies to change working conditions rather than dismissing employees. It also urged Spain to provide more training to young and unskilled people to help them into employment. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has previously said he is unwilling to amend last year’s labour reform, which resulted in two general

strikes in the space of just six months. But the prime minister has now agreed to an overhaul

By Annabel Grossman

of state bureaucracy by cutting red tape and clos-

ing redundant institutions - although he has not made it clear whether reforms would mean job cuts.

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Top Dollar

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Best May on record!

Last month saw the best visitor numbers in history

LAST month was certainly one for the record books. This May saw the highest-ever number of foreign tourists in Spain for the same month. An incredible 5.8 million tourists visited the country, a jump of 7.4% more than May 2012. It comes as no surprise that the countries that sent the most visitors were the UK, Germany and France. However the largest growSOME men may have an evolutionary advantage ing groups came from Norway (a 20.2% leap) when it comes to succeeding in business. A study conducted by researchers at Sussex Univer- and from Switzerland, sity suggests that men with broader faces are more with a 15.9% growth. Ireland sent a very relikely to succeed professionally. A wide face—in men only—could suggest higher lev- spectable 15.7% more els of testosterone, the hormone that fuels aggres- visitors than the previous year. sion and dominance. These traits lend themselves to the ‘alpha’ mentality In contrast there were that is thought by some to be particularly helpful in 16.4% fewer Italians and 12.9% fewer Americans. business.

Broad face, large...career

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Reform Act starts to take a grip I WAS speaking with an excolleague concerning an appeal for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and it is clear that aspects of the Welfare Reform Act of 2012 are starting to really hurt people. A staggering 83% of people that they have helped claim ESA over the last year have been turned down at the assessment stage. In the light of recent allegations by Dr Greg Wood, who resigned from his post at Atos Healthcare,we should probably not be surprised.

Mobility

He claims that evidence for claims was never put forward by the company for doctors to use and that medical staff were told to changefavourable reports to claimants. The fact that 37% of deci-

Benefits specialist Kim Clark on new rules that penalise claimants sions appealed against were successfully overturned shows that there are serious flaws. Coupled with the fact that contributions-based ESA is only payable for 365 days thenit is clear that many people who have worked and paid contributions but no longer find themselves fit for work are going to be considerably worse off. For people living outside of the UK to be able claim to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance they must show a genuine and sufficient link to the UK. Crucially, those people who lose their ESA could therefore also lose their entitlement to DLA. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the signs are already that even more people are going to be deprived of money. The criteria for the mobility component have been dramatically toughened.

Review

The High Court has granted permission for a full hearing of the judicial review challenge to the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s introduction of the more stringent qualifying criteria. What is extremely concerning is that the government had already projected figures of how much the introduction of PIP will save from the welfare budget before a single person

had been assessed. Equally disturbing is the fact that most people will be assessed by private organisations. I have seen the considerable and positive impact that claiming disability benefit has on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. That extra income enables people to remain as independent as possible and helps reduce the link between poverty and health. There are countless people living in Spain who would undoubtedly be entitled to more income by claiming disability benefits but many are unaware of what is out there for them. If you or someone you know is suffering from disability then please call so that we can advise you as to what you may be entitled to. Contact Kim Clark at 950 169 729 or www.ukbenefitsinspain.com

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Top Dollar

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Ombudsman outrage ANDALUCIAN officials have responded with outrage at the government’s proposal to do away with ‘one of the core institutions’ of a functioning democracy. Political parties have also slammed the plan to scrap ombudsmen from the autonomous communities. They have united to oppose the reforms, which the government wants to introduce as part of a new wave of austerity measures. They maintain the government has no right to undertake the cutbacks and that these reforms are impossible in their region, given its large geographical size and

population. The Defensor del Pueblo - or ombudsman - is responsible for defending the rights of citizens against any possible infringement by the government. News of the proposed reforms arrives just after the appointment of a new ombudsman to Andalucía. The outgoing Jose Chamizo (pictured) left after 17 years in the position, reportedly unhappy with some government decisions. Continually outspoken over his long reign, one of his last tasks was to publicly criticise the way town halls are looking for ways to develop the

Parties unite to oppose government austerity plan to scythe the public defenders

final virgin beaches in Andalucia, in particular on the Costa de la Luz. Under the new government austerity measures, there are also plans to eliminate numerous local courts and local agencies, with federal government assuming greater responsibility. The government has advised communities that it is in their best interest to comply with the new proposals if they wish to help alleviate Spain’s financial woes.

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Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

AVE you ever wondered if selling your property in Spain and making a loss could actually result in a capital gains tax charge in the UK in addition to tax being withheld in Spain? As crazy as that may sound, it is absolutely possible and I will explain why. Of course, this does not affect everyone and perhaps, in some ways, I am using an extreme example, but this has caught some people out. It is just one more factor that needs to be thought through if you are selling your property in Spain any time soon. As an example, let’s say you have remained a UK tax resident and purchased a property in Spain in 2004 for €500,000. This was before the peak in property prices, so it will have continued to rise in value for a while and then would have dropped again as the market fell back. In 2004, the exchange

Don’t hit the roof! Make sure you don’t end up getting taxed in two countries if you sell your home, warns Olive Press finace specialist Richard Alexander

rate between Sterling and the Euro was just about 1:1.50 meaning that in Sterling terms, the property cost £333,333. By the time the market peaked, that property could have been valued at up to €750,000 to €800,000 but has since dropped again and

As I understand it, some people have been waiting up to four years or more to receive their refunds is now sold for €450,000 that is creating an actual loss of €50,000. As a non resident, the authorities will automatically

hold back a tax charge of 3% of the sale price - €13,500 in this case - which will only be repaid once it has been proven that all other debts in Spain have been cleared. As I understand it, some people have been waiting up to four years or more to receive their refunds. What is worse though is that the story does not end there! Remember the exchange rate is also a factor and with the current rate being around £1 = 1.17 Euros, the actual value of the sale of the property amounts to £384,600. This is in fact a gain of over £51,000 and as we are talking about a second home here, this will be assessable for capital gains tax in the UK. For a single owner who is also a higher rate taxpayer,

this could result in a tax bill of over £11,000. Convert that back to Euros and the combination of taxes amounts to in excess of €26,000 on a loss of €50,000. Sadly, when you work this through, as nonsensical as it may seem at first glance, it does actually make sense

financial planning and tax considerations can get complicated and deserve professional input after all! If you really want to stretch the thinking, if there was a sizeable mortgage on the property, once that has

been repaid from the sale proceeds, there may not be enough money left to pay the UK tax! As always, financial planning and tax considerations can get complicated and deserve professional input at times as we have seen recently

with the overseas asset filing requirements – we learnt a lot from that exercise and have recently published a newsletter to highlight our experiences. If you would like a copy please email to info@ ra-fp.com to receive your free copy.

Richard Alexander Financial Planning Limited is an appointed representative of L J Financial Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Contact him at Richard@ra-fp.com

Law

50 54 the olive press - June 5126 - July 10, 2013 50

Antonio Flores continues his watch on the many costa fraud and scammerchants still at large

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

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Scam alert

HAT the Spanish Courts took ten ycars to achieve, the Ipswich Crown Court has resolved in one. I am referring to the sentencing of Costa-based conman Anthony Muldoon (see page 2), now found guilty in both countries of ripping others off by employing the ‘advance

fee’ scam on in-existent services offered over the phone. It’s excellent news, of course, and has snared six of his staff at the same time, but why did it take so long to prosecute him in Spain? You will all have to guess. But ultimately Muldoon is anything but alone; with several ‘boiler rooms’ still plying their

Ask Ant

Q. How can I know If am dealing with a fraudster in Spain? A. First and foremost: use your common sense, that will help avoid most fraudsters. Secondly, make an effort by properly researching the company on the internet. You will usually be surprised by the results returned. Police forces use it extensively to gather ‘intelligence’ on potential scams and to investigate existing ones. Q. What should I do if I believe I have been a victim of a scam?

FINALLY CAGED: Toni Muldoon

A. The best option is to report it to the closest National Police Station, or Guardia Civil. They will be able to make some preliminary investigations, gather evidence, make arrests and eventually, will transfer the case to the courts. What they will not do is act as a lawyer or keep you regularly updated, as they are not obliged to do so. At the end of the day, they work on behalf of the public interest, nothing more.

trade up and down the coast. One of the latest purports to be from various law firms and continues to pound victims of previous scams offering to recover the monies they previously lost to other scammers. One Marcelo Fabian Ramirez (http://www.specialist-lawyers.com/), is well known to the Spanish police but surprisingly, he and his team keep operating with a sense of disgusting impunity. The gentleman in question even had the gall to file a criminal complaint for defamation of character, a claim promptly dismissed when it was exposed that he had been arrested four times for…offering bogus legal services. More recently, I bumped into a Marbella-based Iranian national who claimed that he could get residency for fellow nationals against payment of €40,000 within a month. According to him, he had ‘contacts’ at a consulate level that would ensure that any objections were removed, all the while squeezing a process that takes around four months to four weeks. When I told him that the word ‘contactos’ in Spanish slang meant ‘brown envelopes’ to civil servants he

disappeared. And what about property frauds? Well luckily, off-plan property development is an almost defunct business so the chances of losing hefty sums on real estate have diminished considerably. We are seeing an increasing number of deals, however, where some dishonest real agents ‘load up’ property prices substantially by adding a sum on the purchase price. This becomes their commission, and the scammer then hopes that vendor and buyer do not meet up at some point and discover where part of the money went (powers of attorney become useful tools to operate this fraud). Finally, one should also keep an eye on ‘investment opportunities’. Normally the conman offers high returns on initially small sums of money, which he actually achieves, to lure the victim into parting for larger sums where no returns are forthcoming because the money was never invested in the first place. A Costa-based British lady was recently arrested for operating this system to swindle a couple out more than €200,000. When it comes to these great offers, it is always better to stick to the old saying: ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.’ Contact antonio at a.flores@ lawbird.com

U J p the

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ardin path

Pesticide peril

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MOTOR

Using normal garden insecticides is lethal for pregnant women and infants

AN alarming 54% of pregnant women use insecticide that is harmful to their child, Spanish researchers have found. The study, conducted by the Higher Public Health Research Centre (CSISP), surveyed 2,500 women across Valencia and Asturias. “Pesticides are being used in domestic environments to control of insects or Ashamed to let your feet out in public? Sue Rodgers has herbal remedies infestations other living creatures,” said lead researcher, Sabrina Llop. “This is despite an exposure during pregnancy or infancy proving to have a ell, there are a will zap any unwanted smells of painful corns? The Greeks negative impact on growth number of herbor infections, leaving the feet believe that painting the and neurological effects, as al remedies to feeling fresh. Combine bi- corn with lemon juice, then well as increasing the risk get your feet in carbonate of soda with dried taping a piece of lemon peel of childhood leukaemia,” shape for the beach. One sage and thyme – best to on overnight, will help. This she added. of the best ways to refresh grind the herbs into a powder might be more fragrant than The results also showed your tired overworked feet first, then sprinkle in shoes, another country remedy that that most women continis to soak them in a warm particularly those smelly train- suggests putting onion juice ued to use pesticides durfoot-bath to which is added ers left in the hallway! Guaran- on the corn. ing their offspring’s first five drops of peppermint esteed to remove all odours as The Chinese believe that toxyear. sential oil. If you don’t have well as any nasty fungus ins and germs are excreted Llop warned that as chilany essential oil make an If you have been overdoing the by the feet, so you should dren’s breathing zones are infusion with a couple of sightseeing and have devel- wash the feet before retiring closer to the ground, where peppermint tea-bags and oped unsightly blisters, resist so they can’t be reabsorbed. pesticide levels are higher, add to the foot-bath. the urge to pop them; instead A five minute massage with they are more likely to If your other half has particdab some distilled witch ha- some sweet almond oil to have contact with plants, ularly smelly feet, then add zel, which will dry the blister which five drops of peppergrass and other surfaces. a couple of tablespoons of out and reduce the pain. To mint essential oil will leave Bicarbonate of Soda - the speed up recovery, put a little your feet soft, fresh and best deodoriser ever – to a calendula cream on a plaster pampered. Socrates said foot-bath with an infusion of and place over the blister. ‘when our feet hurt, our bodthyme and sage. Both these Who can resist wearing those ies hurt’, so best to look after herbs are anti-fungal, antihigh heels, but perhaps are them ! bacterial and anti-septic so suffering the consequences

Best Foot Forward

HE KNOWS HIS ONIONS! by Peter Langdale

Summer Cycles

S gardeners we always keep a weather eye open for any conditions that may influence our gardening habits. No doubt a lot of readers are commenting on the fact that so far we have had a very cool April and May. Many have heard the English saying ‘never shed a clout until May is out’. Here we have a similar saying ‘hasta el 40 de mayo no te quites el sayo’ - the 40th of May is the 10th of June! As I sit writing this we have had our first really warm day with temperatures in the high 20s. There would appear to be some truth in the old sayings. The ‘in’ word or fad at the moment is climate change and its effect on our future or even what we plant in our gardens in 30 years time! Any gardener who has pretensions to be the next Capability Brown may have to take

potential climate change into consideration. For me the jury is still out on the proposed influences of climate change but I strongly believe in climatic cycles as I feel can be demonstrated by the last few months. My father always referred to the winter/spring of 1947 in the UK as the worst he could remember. I can remember 1963 which, apparently, was similar. This winter /spring has been in the same vein with cold temperatures prevalent into April. Here in Spain our weather has also followed the patterns of these two years with temperatures and rainfall levels akin to ‘47 and ‘63. In both these notable years, the cause and effect has been down to the displacement southwards of the jet stream in the upper levels of the atmosphere. By now you maybe asking what all this has to do with

this months gardening tips. My answer is that I sincerely believe that as you begin thinking what the summer has in store, and what plant in the garden, a long term summer weather forecast may give you a guide. Based on my previous comments I suggest you look up weather archives for the summer’s of ‘47 and ‘63 and you should have an answer. Failing this, find some old lag in your village who can remember! When you have finally decided what to plant please please come and visit us at Garden La Palma and offload some of your hard earned cash before you give it to the hacienda at the end of the month in your declaracion de la Renta.

AIN AG ED ALE P P KS 0 RO E D QUIC 0,00 C I 3 R R 1 O P € F

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Have a weekend lie in to avoid diabetes MOST of us consider our lazy Sunday lie-in to be a bit of guilty pleasure. But now researchers are suggesting that extra slumber at the weekend could actually be good for you. A recent study revealed that catching up on sleep by dozing for longer on Saturday and Sunday morn-

ings could prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. This form of the disease is associated with obesity and lack of sleep, and can result in complications such as strokes, heart attacks, blindness, kidney disease and nerve and circulatory damage. By analysing 19 men with weekday sleep restrictions, researchers found that insulin - which converts sugar into energy and stops working properly in type 2 diabetes suffer-

ers – functioned far better after ‘catch-up sleep’ at the weekend. “We all know that we need to get adequate sleep but that is often impossible because of work demands and busy lifestyles,” said researcher Dr Peter Liu. “Our study found that extending the hours of sleep can improve the body’s use of insulin, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in adult men. Reducing the incidence of this chronic illness is critical.”

PUTTING LIVES AT RISK By Annabel Grossman

Healthcare cuts could be leading to spiralling medical problems, claim experts AUSTERITY cuts could be leading to an increase in infectious diseases and significantly damaging Spain’s health. Researchers from the UK’s leading health magazine BMJ believe that cuts of between 10 and 15% are effectively dismantling large parts of the country’s healthcare system. This, they fear, could lead to a rise of diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV, with the country struggling to deal with increased demand on already stretched resources Doctors and nurses, in particular, in Catalonia claimed that the ‘cuts are going to kill people’. A total of 34 doctors and nurses reported feeling ‘shocked’, ‘numbed’ and ‘disillusioned’ about the cuts. Dr Helena Legido-Quigley said: “We are seeing detrimental effects on the health of the Spanish people. “If no corrective measures are implemented, this could worsen with the risk of increases in HIV and tuber-

culosis – as in Greece where healthcare services have had severe cuts.” She added there was a risk of a rise in drug resistance and spread of disease. The research noted that cuts to healthcare and social services of almost 14% at the national level and of 10% at the regional level in 2012 coincided with an increase in demand for care. This was especially true for the elderly, the disabled and the mentally ill. It also highlighted the fact that Spain already has one of the lowest public expenditures on healthcare relative to GDP in the European Union. Further cuts would put vulnerable people at even greater risk, it insisted. Despite the warnings, the government is going ahead with new cuts, including the exclusion of illegal immigrants from accessing free health services and increasing payments by patients for extra treatments such as drugs, prosthetics and some ambulance trips. “For five years, policies to

address the financial crisis have focussed almost entirely on economic indicators,” said Professor Martin McKee, co-author of the report. “Our paper sheds light on the burden of human suffering that has followed from these policies.”

Eating less, but still putting on weight? Here’s why... If you’re a frustrated dieter who feels as though you’re eating less and still gaining weight, you are not alone. As it turns out, simply avoiding sweets and unhealthy snacks may not be enough to keep the weight off. Recent research shows that while the average British person eats 600 fewer calories now than 30 years ago, the country is steadily getting fatter. Some experts speculate that this unexpected weight gain may be a result of a nation-wide decline in physical activity. Most people have office jobs that keep them sitting at a desk all day. And while electrical appliances have made cleaning and other housework easier, they contribute as well to a more sedentary way of life. Another reason why an average British adult now weighs about 30 pounds (14kg) more than they did 30 years ago could be the growing consumption of high fructose corn syrup. This processed sweetener is being used as an alternative to sugar increasingly often in British foods. To combat this trend in weight gain, experts suggest increasing daily physical activity, as well as avoiding processed sweeteners and foods high in fat.

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MERCURY RISING Spanish women are found to have six times European average of mercury in their bodies, writes Rose Lapp

R&H Clinica Dental Marbella’s Dental Implant Specialists advertorial

ITH its highly specialised clinicians and state-of-theart technology, R&H Dental Clinic in Marbella has established itself as the “new standard of excellence in dentistry.” Although the clinic does regular check-ups and cleaning, it also has the ability to handle more sophisticated dental problems, such as replacing missing teeth with advanced dental implant surgery, with two experienced implant specialists in its team. Best of all, the clinic's brandnew 3D full-facial x-ray machine minimises error, maximising precision. Indeed, it is one of the only machines of its kind in Marbella. Dr Rebeca Daemi Zabalza, one of the clinic’s many spe-

THE huge amount of fish consumed each year in Spain is not without consequence. In fact, a new study may prove it to be extremely harmful. It has emerged that the mercury levels in Spanish women is more than six times the European average and it’s mostly down to fish. A recent European-wide research project - which tested mothers and children for harmful contaminants – puts the level down to a high consumption of blue fin tuna, swordfish and shellfish. Andalucía is one of the most

at-risk regions of Spain, along with Murcia, Valencia, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria. Unsurprisingly all are coastal regions. Although the results serve as a warning against eating large amounts of fish, the type of mercury found in fish is only seriously dangerous for the neurological development of infants. For this reason, pregnant women are advised against eating tuna, swordfish, and shellfish during pregnancy. It is also recommended that parents strictly limit their children’s consumption during the first few years of life. Although mercury can also be found in household items such as batteries and paint, fish is the main source of mercury exposure.

Dangers of mercury

cialists, is a certified periodontist and implantologist. Half-Spanish, though raised in Ireland, she has lived in Marbella since 1996 and regularly treats the town’s large and growing English-speaking population. Recently, many people from

the UK have been flying down to receive treatment - and perhaps have a holiday while they’re at it. With prices for procedures about three times less expensive at R&H than in the UK and Northern Europe, they don’t have a tough time persuading people to come

down for dental treatment. And the best part is, most people then have a good excuse to holiday in Marbella again, for future check-ups and cleanings. Please contact the clinic on 952 000 000 or visit www. rhclinicadental.com

Reasons to

SMILE

EAR of the dentist is one of the most common reasons why patients are unable to seek the help they need to have a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile. However, there are many options available to help patients relax during their treatment. General anaesthesia (where you are completely unconscious) is only really safe in a hospital, however ‘conscious sedation’ is becoming increasing popular. The type of sedation is chosen with the patient as there are a range of different techniques available. These include: • Intravenous sedation with midazolam ( small injection in the back of the hand) • Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen

A NEUROLOGICAL toxin, mercury is known to damage infantile development. Fetal exposure, as well as exposure during the first few years of life, has been linked to neurological problems in areas such as memory, language, spatial awareness and vision. When high levels of methylmercury - the kind of mercury found in fish - are amassed later in life, the health effects are less serious. However, extremely high levels can lead to symptoms such as impairment of senses including peripheral vision, speech and hearing problems, as well as muscle weakness.

Just like a G&T

Dr Nina King believes ‘conscious sedation’ may be the answer for nervous patients (‘laughing gas!’) • Oral sedation with benzodiazepines ( eg valium) These drugs all work to relax the patient, creating an effect which many have described as being the equivalent of drinking lots of ‘gin and tonics’! At the Oasis Dental Clinic, we offer IV sedation where the effects of the midazalom can be carefully measured to match the individual’s response; so an older, fragile woman will require less drugs to produce the same effect as a young active male. Patients do remain conscious during the process so they are able to understand and respond to requests from the dentist. However, they may not remember much (or anything at all) afterwards because the drugs used for IV sedation

produce either partial or full memory loss (amnesia). As a result, time will appear to pass very quickly and afterwards they may indeed remember it as being ‘asleep’ during the procedure. The effects can be immediately reversed so that the patient feels well and acts normally on leaving, although continued supervision by an escort is essential for the journey home as they will feel sleepy again later. Although many nervous patients do worry about injections this literally is a small scratch in the back of the hand for a few seconds and everyone manages with the procedure easily. With the help of this treatment nervous patients can finally feel able to receive the care they need and have confidence in their smile!

Dr. Nina King is dentist and owner of the Oasis Dental Clinic, in Marbella. She is a UK registered specialist in Prosthodontics (implants, crown and bridgework and dentures) and provides both specialist treatment and all types of general dentistry at the clinic

Complementary Salud!

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Hidden dangers!

VERY year thousands of holidaymakers flock to Andalucia to make the most of the sundrenched Spanish summer. And every year tourists are inundated with warnings of the dangers of sun exposure. But if you live here in Spain year-round, it is all the more important. Even if you avoid the sun, it’s highly likely you’ll be subject to ‘intermittent exposure’. “Sunbathing has become more taboo for some, but people still think it’s OK to be outside gardening for two hours without any sunscreen on,” said consultant dermatologist Dr Bav Shergill. In reality, any exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can put you at greater risk of suffering from potentially fatal skin cancer. Plus, sun exposure is one of the main contributors to premature ageing, and can lead to unattractive sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles. While many of you will probably know about wearing a high factor sunscreen, there are a number of other essential steps we all ought to take to ensure we stay safe in the sun this summer.

The Olive Press gives five key tips on how to avoid sunburn and skin cancer

1. Remember ‘hidden areas’ it’s all too easy to get burnt on areas such as ears, upper lip and scalp. However, doctors are increasingly seeing mela-

nomas developing on these ‘hidden areas’, so its vital to do a thorough job when slathering on the sunscreen. 2. Reapply – as tedious as it may seem, it’s important to reapply sunscreen regularly. Experts recommend roughly every couple of hours, as well as after swimming as creams can ‘wash’ off.

3. Beware of clouds – clouds tend to give us a false sense of security as it’s still possible to get burnt on a grey day in Spain. Many skin care experts recommend slapping on the sunscreen from as early as March (or even during the winter) to ensure your skin stays looking young and healthy.

Avoid the baby blues

Geoffrey Wattinne explains the benefits of osteopathy for pregnant mothers

REGNANT mums have to adapt to the arrival of a new baby. It can be a stressful time dealing with the dramatic changes inside her body. Pregnancy hormones do many jobs, including softening the body’s tissues, allowing for the expanding uterus and preparing for the baby’s birth. However, even a seemingly mild physical trauma can cause tension and disrupt this natural process. A knee injury, for example, can upset the body’s natural equilibrium as it tries to compensate to regain posture and balance by using different muscles around the pelvis. This can result in compromising

the natural mechanism that opens the pelvis during birth, leading to complications such as extended labour and the need for forceps or vacuum delivery. Any of these run the risk of compressing the baby’s skull. Osteopathy can re-establish the symmetry of the mother’s pelvis to reduce the possibility of any complications. It can also release tension in the mother’s back, re-balancing posture, which is changed by the forward weight of the developing embryo. For more information contact Geoffrey on 622 09 89 16 or email gwattinne@hotmail.es

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

4. Know your skin type – certain skin types are more vulnerable to sun damage, as lighter skin has less melanin. By doing a little research and understanding your skin type, you’ll be far better equipped to know how much protection you need to stay sun safe. 5. Consider sunscreen options – a high SPF is impor-

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tant but it’s also worth considering brand and spectrum. In general, it’s best to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that will protect against UVA and UVB rays. Finally, make sure you apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before stepping out in the sun, as this gives the ingredients time to bind to your skin.

OP Columnists

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It’s the Surreal Thing

ON STEROIDS: Montenmedio is half golf course, half art gallery

Belinda Beckett (aka Mistress Sizzle) takes a trip to an unusual space that combines golf with art

E were hunkered down behind some ornamental bushes, ready to shoot, like Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt in a scene from The New Avengers. Two daft tourists with oversized Nikons, creeping around the grounds of a chichi country estate near Vejer, stalking our prey. There must have been at least a dozen of them: an ostentation of jewel-coloured cocks (to use the pukkah collective noun for peafowl) and a modesty of brown hens (my own made-up word). And they weren’t cooperating one bit. “I could do with a drink but the bar looks closed,” I called from behind a potted ficus, wanting to give up this wild peacock chase. “Shush, you’ll scare them,”

Rodents

hissed Dave, as our photo opportunity scuttled off into the undergrowth, fan tails furled in sheer bloody-mindedness. Another David Attenborough moment blown… But what an astonishing place, this Montenmedio Golf & Country Club … a curious hybrid that can’t decide whether it’s a golf course, a natural park, an equestrian

centre or an al fresco art gallery. It’s easy to find, opposite km 43 on the N340 Tarifa-to-Cádiz road. If golf is a good walk spoiled, Montenmedio is a marathon on steroids. Private roads meander beneath cork oaks and umbrella pines to the green wellie set’s idea of heaven: extraordinary artworks a la derecha, Paintball and quad

bikes a la izquierda, posh restaurants with strutting peacocks straight ahead, polo fields, paddocks, pure bred Spanish horses, fresh air and indigenous wildlife over yonder. All immaculately designed and laid out in an area 30 times the size of Lords Cricket Ground. For the original owner, Antonio Blázquez, it was the re-

’VE always been more than sceptical about karma. I know that many of you out there believe that every action causes a reaction somewhere in the universe, but I had always had my doubts about it all. Until last week. Driving back to Giles Towers late last Thursday a young wild boar ran out in front of the Freelander. I didn’t have time to break or swerve so I hit the beast full on, killing it stone dead. Not wanting to have to deal with a dead wild boar or even its angry mother (of all the ways I’m going to meet my maker, being dispatched by a boar’s tusks would be one of the more unexpected) I carried on without stopping.

alisation of a dream to open ‘a unique and special tourist destination that brings together nature, culture, sports and dining’. To think he spent all that money and no one I’ve spoken to knows about it! Dave did but he’d forgotten. It came back to him during one of those what-shall-we-do-atthe-weekend discussions.

San Juan’s the One

Boar karma I

“There was this huge park with a lake and deer … a pine forest with weird sculptures … oh, and this really enormous centenary oak tree … We had lunch with the owner, nine courses! But it was years ago, it might not be open …” “Can we go, oh please can we go,” I cried, jumping about with journalistic fervour, scenting a story. We went. And it was all there, as Dave had said (though looking a little neglected, he added). The lake was closed, pending maintenance, and there wasn’t an antler in sight.

I really enjoy the San Juan festival, but love it even more when my friends try and convince me that it is a Christian celebration. So let me get this straight. You dress in white, party on the beach, leap over a bonfire and then take your first dip in the sea during a full moon? Nothing pagan about that then whatsoever! The following day I decided to do a little kayaking on the lake and, fancying myself a bit of an intrepid Indiana Jones-type explorer, I went as far up one of the streams as I could, before getting out to wade a little further. After about five minutes I came across a pool, which had a mudhole and some fresh boar tracks. Deciding to move on, I pushed my way against the undergrowth when a spring loaded branch hit me full in the face. With a bloodcurling scream I feel back into the water. Soaked to the skin, I staggered back to the kayak convinced I had heard the sound of wild boar sniggering...

More Boar As an aside, the most often asked question when I told the boar story from my Spanish friends was “Why didn’t you put it in the back of the car? Very tasty”. I think that just goes to show that my English notions of what’s acceptable to put on the menu still hold strong. Brits don’t have a tradition of cooking roadkill. Otherwise, most of the UK would be dining on hedgehog and urban fox each night

But we saw the pine forest sculptures (you follow a trail signposted with yellow mushrooms so you don’t get lost) and some very odd installations hiding in Nissen huts. This amazing open air museum run by the NMAC Foundation showcases the installations, sculptures, photography, videos and architectural fantasies of some 40 international artists. Montenmedio’s equestrian centre is one of the largest in the world. As are the horses. We watched massive Andalusian beasts rearing up to take fences with perfect poise, not displacing so much as a hair on the heads of their riders. These riders have excellent seats, I thought … one or two of the men in particular! If you are not a golfer, the view of Vejer de la Frontera from the first hole, scattered on the distant hilltop like pearl sugar on a cinnamon bun, is a compelling reason to take up the sport; another is that there’s no one leaning over their garden gate to photograph your lousy swing. This must be the only non-urbanised golf course in Spain (and let’s hope it stays that way). The majority of spectators have fur or feathers. The deer we didn’t see are fenced off in the forest but pheasant, partridges, wood pigeons, rabbits and various small burrowing rodents all have the freedom of this fairway to heaven (probably much to the chagrin of the green keepers).

Peacocks

There’s a nice-looking hotel too – The Hacienda. But the food doesn’t get rave reviews on Trip Advisor and the bar was shut on our visit. It was while looking for a working fountain with which to slake a four-hour thirst that we spotted an exotic flash of turquoise … Peacocks! At least a dozen of them. We hadn’t got a single photo of a pheasant, a partridge, a wood pigeon, a rabbit or a small burrowing rodent, so this was our chance for a David Attenborough moment! Which of course, we messed up. Oh well, there’s always next time!

49 www.theolivepress.es

nly in recent years have we learned that carbohydrates can be an unhealthy part of our diet, especially if we eat too many of them. But we need to understand that carbohydrates, basically sugars, are necessary for our bodies to function properly. The key is determining which carbs are the ‘good’ ones and which are the ‘bad’. Starches and sugars - the ‘white carbs’ - are not healthy. They add empty calories and unwanted weight. They lead to cravings and can result in chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. So what are the good carbs? Well, they are fruits and vegetables and whole, unprocessed grains. Eating a variety of good carbohydrates provides us with the fibre we need in our diets to stay trim and healthy. They come in an amazing variety of shapes, sizes and colours. If you look for a variety of colours on your dinner plate, you’ll find you’re eating a healthy diet. When choosing fruits, you’ll find that those with more skin per unit have more fibre and antioxidants. So all fruits are good choices, but those like blueberries are the best food value. And don’t forget that air-popped popcorn is a whole grain when you want a salty snack. Let’s take a look at whole grains you can add to your diet that may replace the white, starchy potatoes and rice we so often rely on for

the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013

Good Carbs Good Health

Juliet Hambro offers her top tips on how to get ‘good carbs’ into our diets our meals. I’ll also supply several recipes for each of these healthy carb items to get you started using them on a more regular basis. Wouldn’t it be great to drop a few pounds, find some new delicious recipes and know that we’re treating our bodies to good health? Here we go.

Whole wheat pasta, breads and brown rice Whole wheat and brown rice are unprocessed for better food value. They have a stronger, richer flavour which may take a while to become accustomed to, but which you’ll appreciate with use. Whole wheat spaghetti with garlic, parsley and lemon - A tasty change from white spaghetti noodles and spiced up with parsley and lemon zest. Use extra virgin olive oil to sauté the garlic, parsley and lemon zest. Whole wheat penne with broccoli and chickpeas - Use just a bit of crushed red pepper to spice it up. Use canned chickpeas and freshly-grated parmesan to finish. Baja black beans, corn and rice - This recipe gets its zip from fresh cilantro, a diced jalapeno, fresh lime juice and a dash of hot sauce.

Amusing Granny Facts: Are they becoming more modern? 33% have been married more than once 38% report having sex at least twice a week 10% have a tattoo 15% have demonstrated for a cause 17% have attended a rally 7% have used recreational drugs 6% have started a blog 3% have run a marathon 2% have gone skydiving

Quinoa Quinoa is similar to cous cous. It’s a whole grain high in protein. For better flavour, be sure to rinse before cooking. Veggie quinoa quesadillas - Begin with whole wheat tortillas and fill them with cooked quinoa and a medley of veggies including summer squash. Add cheddar cheese and serve with sour cream or greek yogurt. Zesty quinoa salad - This easy-to-make side dish includes black beans, green onions, red pepper flakes, cumin and cherry tomatoes.

Barley Barley comes in two styles and both are good sources of fibre to lower blood cholesterol. Pearled barley has the bran removed and quickcooking barley has been parboiled. Mushroom barley - This is made with caramelised onions done in olive oil and barley cooked with chicken broth. Season with dill and salt. Barley and lamb stew - This is made with a lamb shoulder cut into bite-sized pieces. The carrots and barley are seasoned with fresh oregano.

Bulgur Bulgur is cracked wheat that has been parboiled. Most recipes will require you to soak it in hot water before using. Pour the boiling water over and allow to stand for thirty minutes. Bulgur with ginger and orange - This is a tasty side dish using fresh ginger, scallions, almonds and two whole oranges. It is seasoned with a bit of soy sauce and brown sugar. Lemony bulgur salad with shrimp and spinach - This is a tasty salad using radishes, pine nuts, baby spin-

www.askgranny.com is a unique website and resource for grandparents and senior citizens worldwide created by Granny Juliet and provides useful information on a number of topics.

ach and lemon zest to heighten the flavour of the shrimp.

Wheat Berries Wheat berries are whole, unprocessed kernels of wheat. They are a good source of B vitamins, zinc, magnesium and fibre. Rinse and cook with four times the water. Bring to the boil and then simmer for up to an hour until tender. Wheatberry black bean chili This is a one pot meal using chipotle peppers and onions, and garnished with fresh avocados. Wheatberries and sweet potatoes – This is a colourful dish using corn, broccoli, minced parsley, basil and chives and a hint of nutmeg.

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FOOD & DRINK 60 the olive press - June 26 - July 10, 2013 60 with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Pancho’s Punch

ACK in the early 90s American TV‘s Sixty Minutes reported on ‘The French Paradox’, based on a research by scientist Serge Renaud. The French Paradox is the catchphrase frequently used to explain why French people have a relatively low

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HOW HEALTHY IS WINE?

incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in fats and being heavy smokers. The research showed that moderate wine drinkers are less likely to suffer heart attacks than abstinent or heavy drinkers, suggesting the alcohol in wine might be a fac-

tor. This programme had a considerable media impact at a time when fitness and healthy lifestyles were becoming fashionable among middle class young entrepreneurial Americans. Some believe that this TV documentary triggered the tremendous success of wine in America,

TORO AND QUINOLA 2009 TORO is the name of a small town in the northwest part of Spain situated in Castilla-Leon and not far from Ribera del Duero. Toro is also the name of one of the most interesting wine appellations. In fact, the famous wine guru Robert Parker stated a few years ago that the most promising regions for the production of fine wine are Jumilla, Priorat and Toro. Until a decade ago, the wines from Toro were rustic, alcoholic and slightly aggressive. Things have changed a lot since then. Numerous wineries have started to use modern wine making techniques resulting in wines that are powerful and full-bodied as well as balanced and elegant. These types of wines are ideal to match with some of the local food specialties, such as roast lamb, red meats or traditional suckling pig. A good example of this new style is this Quinola. The wine is made with grapes coming from vineyards that are over 80 years old which produce very concentrated and rich wines. Because the vineyards are located at an altitude of approximately 800 metres, this helps preserve a nice balanced acidity. The result is a wine with tremendous complexity, powerful and elegant at the same time, and showing a nice and refreshing acidity.

A little bit of what you fancy does you good, says Pancho Campo

making the United States the biggest consumer of wine. Reports have shown that drinking wine in moderation has several health benefits. Moderate wine consumption may lower the mortality rate and risk of heart disease. Studies also show that wine in moderation can improve the balance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol) to high-density lipoprotein (HDL ‘good’ cholesterol). The alcohol in wine also has anticoagulant properties that limit blood clotting. Clots are responsible for blocking arteries in the brain and the heart, which is the origin of strokes and heart attacks. Wine is a very powerful antioxidant thanks to a group of compounds found in the skin of grapes known as phenolics, which are especially present in red grapes. Another very strong antioxidant

present in wine is Resveratrol, which has received a lot of attention in both the media and medical research community for its potential health benefits. Resveratrol has also been shown to slow down the ageing process of animal cells. The amount of Resveratrol, however, in a bottle of wine is not enough to provide humans with such benefits. This is why it had to be isolated by scientists and it is found nowadays in pharmacies. Because of its antioxidant, but especially its anti ageing properties, Resveratrol has become extremely popular among women. Regardless of the French Paradox and the numerous research papers available, it is extremely important to define what drinking wine in

moderation means. Although numerous wine publications and even medical magazines talk about two to three glasses a day being healthy, this is not exactly accurate. Recent studies show that two glasses a day for men and a glass a day for women is the maximum level allowed to really see the mentioned benefits. Excessive alcohol consumption can have totally the opposite effects, causing higher blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, weakened heart muscle and numerous social and psychological disadvantages. It is also important to emphasise that the real health benefits are much more evident when wine is consumed together with food.

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FOOD & DRINK 46 with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

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Sweet invention for allergy sufferers TWO young bakers from Coin have invented a new pastry designed to dodge food allergies. Pablo Romero and Jose Maria Monzon have created the pastries free of gluten, egg, milk, soy and nuts. Muuglu Allergy Free products include muffins, carrot cake and plum cake all ideal for vegetarians and vegans as well. The project was started after Monzón was diagnosed with lactose intolerance, while Romero is allergic to peaches. Their company has now been named an ‘Excellent Product’ by the Andalucian Society for the Study of Food Intolerance.

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Push and watch them scuttle HAVING to wait around for the bill at the end of a meal when you’re in a hurry and waiters are nowhere to be found can be both inconvenient and frustrating. But with the invention of a new wireless notification system, customers in more than 100 restaurants and cafes across Spain are getting more efficient service. With a push of a button, customers can call a waiter, cancel their call, or ask for the bill. Andy Chapell, who has just started using the Pulsayvoy device in his

popular Ronda restaurant Molino del Santo, says: "On a big and busy terrace this system helps us to ensure everyone is in contact - kitchen, waiters and customers. “The system allows us to offer the best possible customer service.” Even his head waiter Diego (right, with the device) was enthusiastic, after using the mother device which is strapped to his wrist for a week. “Most days it has hardly been used, but when it has guests have been very impressed and it doesn't bother me at all.”

Away with the sherry A corking invention THE satisfaction that comes with enjoying a bottle of wine is often marred by the difficulty that comes with opening and storing it. Not any more. The Helix, a new cork and bottle pair that allows consumers to enjoy their wine by simply twisting the cork in and out, offers an easier alternative. Amorim, a Portuguese cork manufacturer, worked with American glassmaker O-I to create the product. Helix pairs a thread on a cork stopper with a matching thread in the neck of

a glass bottle, making it easy to twist open and closed. The cork is breathable, yet almost airtight, just like an old-fashioned cork. According to a spokes-

man, the cork even ‘has the maturing benefits that natural cork brings to wine’. The Helix is even airtight enough to store champagne, an improvement over a traditional wine bottle.

THIRTY years of hard work have finally paid off for Jerez native Jose Luis Jimenez. The president of Cine-Club Popular has announced plans to publish a book of his research, which lists and analyses 250 films that mention sherry. Three decades ago, Jimenez began making a note of each cinematic mention of the wine. Soon, friends and family were doing the same, sending him tips about where to look. Sherry is made from white grapes that are grown near Jerez, and is an Anglicisation of Jerez, its name in Spanish. Jimenez began searching for difficult-to-find movies all around the world, and took detailed and methodical notes. He found, for example, three references to sherry in The Philadelphia Story and two in An American in Paris. Most of the films in his collection are in English. Jimenez explains the large role of sherry in the cinema by noting that the wine also has a large presence in literature, citing Dickens, Poe, and Henry James as examples. The book, which is scheduled for release this autumn, will contain pictures and detailed notes about each film, as well as dialogue in both English and Spanish.

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Angel’s Delight

ANDALUCIAN culinary genius Angel Leon has become Spain’s best chef – official. The Cadiz wunderkind has been awarded the top prize in the annual Gastronomic Awards. The chef, whose restaurant Aponiente in Puerto de Santa Maria now has a Michelin star, beat Valencia’s Ricard

by Rose Lapp Camarena and Madrid’s Mario Sandoval to the top spot. Sometimes called the ‘Chef of the Sea’ Leon’s recipes are based almost exclusively on seafood. The judges at Spain’s Royal

‘Chef of the Sea’ Angel Leon voted Spain’s best chef

Academy of Gastronomia were particularly impressed with the ‘innovation and creativity’ of his cooking. This is the second major prize this year for the chef, who was one of five winners of the Chef Millesime 2013 award in May for his contribution to the international prestige of Spanish cuisine.

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Millions of moths descend on Madrid

A MASS of moths has engulfed Madrid following a population explosion of the winged creatures. It is thought that a combination of spring rains, a sudden wave of summer heat and gusts of wind wafted the moths into the Spanish capital. Roger Vila, researcher at the butterfly diversity and evolution laboratory in Barcelona, said many of the flying insects came from southern Spain, while others may have made the long migration journey from northern Africa across the Gibraltar Straits. “What happened is that there were very special climactic conditions,” he explained. The moths, which carry no health risk and are not the clothes-eating variety have been spotted in large numbers by residents across the city.

Covering Andalucia in 2013 with 198,000 papers www.theolivepress.es (130,000 digital) and around 150,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

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AVE Ace MORE than ten million passengers have taken the Malaga-Madrid line since it opened in 2007, making it the most used AVE train in Spain.

Nadal turfed out of Wimbledon by Belgian 130 places below him in the rankings

Grant Blow

By Kat Mayhew

DISASTER: Nadal is devastated

THE Raging Bull has been bitten by a shark. In fantastic news for Great British hope Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal has been turfed out of Wimbledon. In one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, Nadal (nickname Raging Bull) lost to unknown Steve Darcis in the first round of the tournament. Known as ‘The Shark’, the 29-year-old Belgian beat fifth seed Nadal 7-6, 7-6, 6-4. He was the first player ever to defeat the Spaniard in the first round of any Grand Slam tournament. And ranked at No. 135, he became the lowest-ranked player ever to beat Nadal in a tournament. Although an impressive effort on Darcis’ part, the victory was slightly tempered by Nadal’s fitness. Visibly limping during the match, it appeared his knees just couldn’t hold up. Britain’s hope Andy Murray, ranked No. 2, played confidently to advance to the next round. He beat German Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. The Scot won gold last year at the London Olympics, but a Wimbledon victory has eluded him. He would be the first Brit to win in 77 years.

FINAL WORDS

Spain’s university deans have demanded that the new system of awarding grants to students be revoked, believing it will dissuade many students from pursuing higher education. While university fees are rising, the new system would reduce the amount of the individual grants.

San Juan Madrid’s bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics looks in good shape. The International Olympic Committee released their evaluations of the three finalists; they were more critical of Istanbul and Tokyo and highly complimentary of Madrid.

UMBRELLAS: The usual sight at Wimbledon

Oh and PS... The UK is set for yet another rainy summer IT looks like there will be no reprieve for Brits hoping to see the sun this summer. Six of the last seven summers in the UK have experienced higher than average rainfall, and the next ten years should be no different. Due to an increase of natural warming in the Atlantic, experts from the Met Office predict five to ten more years of rainy summer weather for the UK. The warming pushes the jet stream air further south of Britain increasing the likelihood of continuous heavy rain, say scientists. History tells us not to worry though. The weather cycled through similar patterns in the fifties, early sixties, and 1880s. But after a period of rain, the Atlantic cooled down again, bringing with it more desirable summer weather. If history is any indication, warm weather is on the horizon—but don’t put your umbrella away any time soon. That is, unless you’ve already had the sense to move to sunny Spain! No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the explicit permission of the publisher. While efforts are made to ensure the authenticity of advertisements and articles appearing in The Olive Press, the publisher does not accept any responsibility for claims made, nor do contributors’ opinions necessarily represent his own. Copyright Luke Stewart Media S.L 2013