Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 302 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 13 Issue 302 www.theolivepress.es October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Hail and brimstone as Autumn finally arrives

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To herald the arrival of some proper weather we offer two new sections:

Staying in?

Need a good read? See our book review section

Page 15 6

Expat hospitalised for a month after being bitten by a black widow, which could kill a child

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

12 15 16

22 24

Brain teaser

Can you tackle Andalucia’s toughest crossword?

Page 16

SPIDERS which can kill young children and babies are living on the Costa del Sol, an expat has warned. Aurelia Nesslany, 49, is sounding the alarm after she was hospitalised and treated for OVER A MONTH after being bitten by a mysterious eight-legged beast in Estepona. The French expat was enjoying a game of cards at the

THE Costa del Sol has been rocked by flash floods and hail storms after an orange alert was issued this week. In heavy downpours even a truck was pictured struggling to drive through the streets of San Pedro, while cars were unable to use the Puerto Banus underpass, as the water levels reached a worrying height. Another video sent by a reader showed a home in San Pedro being filled up with water as it gushes through the windows. In the main picture, captured by Julia Begbie, a huge black cloud is pictured moving over the village of Gaucin. “When the cloud broke it dumped a curtain of hail on the Sierra de Crestellina,” she said. “A friend was caught in it driving and said it was incredible heavy.”

Widow warning

town’s Nautical Club when she was bitten behind her knee in August - and she has only just recovered. “I immediately felt the bite and the pain was absolute agony,” she told the Olive Press, “I tried to sleep it off that night but my legs and arms started cramping.”

As her condition deteriorated, Nesslany was rushed to nearby Hospiten the next morning. “The venom had got into my blood and doctors told me my whole body was infected, it was really scary.” The venom was so strong it caused Nesslany to catch ne-

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BED RIDDEN: Aurelia was floored by spider bite crosis - a reaction that sees the skin and tissue begin to die and rot - on her leg near the bite. “I had to have an operation to remove the dead skin,” she recalled, “I was also vomiting and felt nauseous for a week.” Nesslany had to check in with doctors every other day for

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over a month before she was given the all clear, although doctors told her the venom will remain in her system for six months. While the type of spider was never confirmed, doctors told Nesslany her symptoms were a match for only two breeds - the Violinist tarantula and the Mediterranean Black Widow - a close relative of the fatal Black Widow, found predominantly in Australia. “Expats and locals need to be really careful,” added Nesslany, “I really hope the club has fumigated or done something because if that spider bites a baby it could easily kill it.” The Nautical Club failed to comment in time for press.

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CRIME

Police must twerk harder!

NEWS IN BRIEF

Heating up THIS September was the hottest in Spain for 50 years with an average temperature of 23C.

Respetame SPAIN’S transsexual Miss Universe candidate Angela Ponce has called for ‘respect’ after Miss Colombia said the pageant should be for women ‘born women’.

Crying shame A MADRID court has found a former doctor guilty after he took a newborn baby from its mother during the Franco era and gave it away in the first trial of the ‘stolen babies’ scandal - but he won’t be punished due to statute of limitations.

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

FLAUNTING FREEDOM: Tejon enjoying girls and booze in music video

ONE of Spain’s leading drug bosses has taunted police after appearing in a rap video surrounded by scantily-clad dancers. Career criminal Francisco Tejon is surrounded by twerking beauties dancing to Reggaeton singer Clase A. Spain’s most wanted has been on the run since 2016 after being identified as one of the leaders of the prolific drug trafficking gang La Castañitas, which operates out of the Campo de Gibraltar. The X-rated music video is believed to have been shot

Fingered!

Gypsy drug dealer has digits removed after Estepona kidnap A GANGSTER kidnapped from Estepona in a dramatic late night shooting incident ‘had his fingers cut off’ before being murdered and dumped in Algeciras. According to sources, Brian Martos Carmona, 27, was tortured and suffered a brutal

By Laurence Dollimore

death designed to ‘send a message’ to a rival gang. Known by police as a drug trafficker, Carmona, a gypsy, was abducted from Mr Noodles in Estepona in a terrifying

incident (see below), which saw 13 shots fired and a chase around the centre. He was seen violently bundled into a BMW and later found dumped in Algeciras hours later. It is believed Martos was attacked after stealing drugs from a safe house of one of the Campo de Gibraltar’s biggest gangs. “His death was a message to anyone thinking of betraying the drug cartels,” a source told the Olive Press, “that includes police too, a lot of who are involved in helping them.” Martos was thought to be eating with another man when he was kidnapped. The potential witness, is understood to have fled to Morocco and no arrests have yet been made. “There is so much fear, there are a lot of people whose lives

BRUTAL: Brian was tortured are at stake right now,” the source added. It is one of several shootings and ‘settling of scores’ between drug traffickers that have rocked the Costa del Sol this year, the third in Estepona.

My night of terror

By Elisa Menendez

T was supposed to be a romantic dinner on a quiet Tuesday evening in Estepona. My boyfriend and I were celebrating my birthday at Italian El Rincon Toscano, when we heard the sound of a dozen gunshots just metres away. We looked at each other wide eyed and I said: “It’s probably just fireworks or something…” And that’s when we saw a stampede of people running for their lives down the busy Calle Real. I’ve never seen anything like it. You never think you’ll be involved in something so horrific, it’s something you just see on the TV. It all became terrifyingly real when the panicked waiters piled us inside the restaurant, while a woman carrying a small baby sprinted past unsure where to turn. The waiters bundled her inside too and we all huddled together questioning, was it a terror attack? Was it a drug gang? Could they open fire through the glass-fronted restaurant? After what felt like a lifetime we were given the all-clear to go outside. To lighten the mood the waiters gave us a shot of limoncello before we headed to the promenade and saw 13 orange cones next to the bullets on the road and numerous police cars. Even the waitress from Venezuela said she’d never seen anything like it. Only on the Costa del Crime.

around La Linea. Tejon can be seen exiting a Bentley car before he is greeted by nearly a dozen semi-naked women, waiting for him with champagne, on sofas and in a jacuzzi. The villa boasts a swimming pool, bar and round beds with sadomasochistic sex toys. Sources say it is being used as a brothel by members of Tejon’s gang. He has been branded ‘Spain’s most wanted narco' and detectives in Madrid are said to consider him to be the most important cannabis trafficker in Europe. His older brother Antonio was arrested in June in an operation involving 100 officers. Tejon’s gang was blamed for a violent raid on a Spanish hospital in February, when gang member Samuel Crespo Dominguez was ‘rescued’ by around 20 masked men.

SCENE: From video

Rat to his hole! RODRIGO Rato will go to jail for his involvement in the infamous credit cards scandal which saw millions of euros stolen. The former PP minister and ex-boss of Caja Madrid, is just one of 63 people expecting to receive sentences.

Prison

Aristocrat Rato, along with dozens of others at Caja Madrid - now Bankia - fraudulently spent over €15 million on undeclared company credit cards between 1992 and 2012. Rato, who also led the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to get four and a half years in prison.

BANGED UP: Rato

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es A TRIO of British sitcom legends are bringing a classic British working class edge to the Marbella film festival this week. Ricky Tomlinson (left) from The Royle Family, Will Mellor from Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Paul Barber from Only Fools and Horses are among the celebrity guests set to strut their stuff on the red carpet at the town’s International Film Festival (MIFF). As Jim Royle would say: ‘My arse. Barb, I’m not leaving the lounge for that shite.’

RIP: Caballe

La Superba passes SHE was described as ‘one of the last of the true divas’ and had one of the sweetest voices in musical history. So successful was her debut in New York, in 1965, she received a 25-minute ovation from the crowd. She was immediately catapulted onto the global stage, ending up recording 80 albums, including one with Queen legend Freddie Mercury. So it was fitting that both the Queen and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended Monserrat Caballe’s funeral in Barcelona this week. The Spanish soprano, who could hold notes for an incredible 20 seconds, died on Saturday aged 85 in the Catalan city. In an illustrious career spanning six decades the queen of opera, known as ‘La Superba,’ made thousands of performances. S h e was Born into a working class family in 1933.

ICONIC: Opera star

Glamour my arse

Now in its 13th year, the trio are presenting a variety of projects at the festival. Other familiar faces include distinguished theatre actor Steven Berkoff, who will be running a workshop on ‘the secrets of acting’. Also flying the flag for Britain, are TV presenter Denise van Outen - who the Olive Press revealed recently had bought a house in nearby Mijas - as well as comedian Alexei

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Sayle, who has a home in the Lecrin Valley, near Granada. Other British actors include legendary heartthrob Terence Stamp, from Superman and Wall Street, as well as Rachael Stirling, from Tipping the Velvet and Doctor Who. For Game of Thrones fans, keep an eye out for Ian Beattie who played Ser Meryn Trant and Murray McArthur otherwise known as the wilding elder Dim Dalba. Over 100 production companies are attending and from over 1,000 films submitted, there will now be just 25 featured at the festival, including a whole host of special shorts. The cinematic celebrations last until October 14.

Who’s the daddy?

After bedding 3,000 women Iglesias may be about to see his 41-year-old love child enter his life JULIO Iglesias could face a paternity trial over claims he has a Valencian love child, following a passionate night with a Portuguese ballerina. Spain’s most famous lothario - who has a huge estate in Marbella - has allegedly admitted to friends that ‘there may be a paternity trial.’

Javier Sánchez, 41, from Valencia, originally claimed Iglesias, 75, was his dad in 1992, but his claim came to nothing, despite being initially accepted. He tried again last year, however a 99.99% DNA match was deemed inadmissible, as it had been taken illegally from his son. While a judge initially ac-

...his father’s son ENRIQUE Iglesias has locked lips with one lucky fan in Kiev - and it isn’t the first time he’s made out with someone from the audience. It seems, much like his father, Enrique has a lot of love to give – even though he’s been dating Anna Kournikova since 2001 and the couple welcomed twins in December. Performing in Kiev during his All The Hits Live tour, the Spanish singer engaged in a touchy display with a reveller who had been invited on stage. The 43-year-old delighted the fan by serenading her before planting a passionate

SMACKER: On stage kiss on her lips. Footage of the kiss went viral, but fans of the Spanish star said it is a regular occurrence at his shows.

I didn’t rape fan!

BAD BOY: Julio

cepted the link taken via Julio Iglesias Jr, it was later annulled after it emerged it had been taken illegally from his bins in Miami. Now however, his lawyer Fernando Osuna, is asking a different court for a DNA test to prove once and for all that the world-class crooner really is his father. He has asked the judge at Valencia’s Court Number 13 that Iglesias submit a saliva or blood sample at Instituto de Medicina Legal in Madrid. According to Osuna, Iglesias, who once claimed he’d slept with 3,000 women, has requested that the hearing be held behind closed doors. He also insists that the case should ‘not be reopened’ as it has already been closed. The judge is expected to make his decision this month, with a possible trial expected in January or February.

NICOLAS Cage was cool as a cucumber as he denied he raped a woman while attending the Sitges Film Festival this week. The Hollywood legend, 54, was forced to deny that he attacked Vickie Park while being grilled by a journalist at a press conference. “I have already made a statement on this subject, but to make it clear, this never happened,” he said. Park claims Cage raped her last September during the Vienna Film Festival, but Cage and his ex-wife Alice Kim have labelled the allegations ‘absurd’. Cage was in Spain to promote his new movie Mandy, donning a two-piece grey suit and crisp white shirt. Set in 1983, the dark film charts the story of a haunted man on the hunt for the unhinged religious sect who butchered the love of his life

Fitness break EMMA Willis has been spotted strolling around Ibiza with her pop star husband Matt. The Big Brother host, 42, is on the white isle on a workout holiday at the famous Body Camp fitness retreat. The pair, who have three children together, later headed into town hand-in-hand for lunch. Former Busted rocker Matt revealed the pair had enjoyed a boxing session, an abs workout and bleep test. He added they had taken a

cooking lesson, yoga session and meditation class before dinner.

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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Record Jetski marathon cut short by heartless thieves A JETSKI record breaker has called in police after his latest attempt was almost ruined by thieves in southern Spain. Marinus du Plessis (below) was travelling from the Arctic to Athens to perform the longest-ever journey made on a jetski in 40 days. But the South African, 55, had to cut his 11,000km Guiness World Record attempt short after thieves in Barbate, Cadiz, stripped down his jetski for parts while it was docked overnight. “I’m so disappointed with what happened here,” Plessis, a food exporter, told the Olive Press, “Criminals took so many bits off it, it half sunk. He continued: “My security alarm went off at 3am but by the time I got to it the equipment was all stolen. “To make matters worse they returned the next night to strip down the rest.”

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Taken for a ride

Jettisoned!

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

NEWS

Expat’s stolen car goes on 14,500km test drive

SALVAGE: Jetski Plessis was making the epic journey on behalf of Gift of the Givers Foundation - a charity for disabled people in South Africa. He still managed to beat the previous record by more than 4,000km. He first broke a world record by jet skiing 17,500km from Alaska to Panama in under 95 days. Plessis stressed that he hasn’t let the unfortunate event put a downer on his experience. “Although I was very disappointed in what happened I also had the most fantastic experience with the locals,” he said. “Most locals in Barbate were fabulous.” He added: “This mission was about more than breaking records. It was a matter of experience, and it has exceeded all expectations.” Police are analysing CCTV footage to try and identify the thieves.

A BRITISH expat is on a mission to discover why thieves took his car on a 14,500km journey around Europe. Elliot Higgins, 24, is baffled after the Spanish couple carjacked him during a test drive of his Ford Mondeo. The expat from Chiclana de la Frontera, in Cadiz, had taken them for a drive, after they contacted him via an advert to sell the car online. So he was amazed when the man and the woman sped off as he filled it up during a petrol stop half way through the test. “I couldn’t believe they stole

EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith

it from right under my nose, in broad daylight,” he told the Olive Press. “I did feel a little naive and baffled.” Some three weeks later Higgins, an amateur filmmaker from Crawley, in Kent, received a call from police to say his car had been dumped at a car dealership in Alafar, Valencia, some 780km away. A GPS radio in the car revealed the stolen vehicle had been driven all the way to the Czech Republic and Poland.

EXPAT SLEUTH: Higgins while (inset) suspect thief According to witnesses, the thieves, one of them armed with a gun, immediately stole a Mercedes in Valencia.

No master of trickery THE leader of the opposition will not be investigated over allegations his master’s degree was falsely obtained. The Supreme Court will not probe PP boss Pablo Casado (right) after he admitted that Madrid’s Rey Juan Carlos university waived 18 out of 22 of his regional law assignments. While he described it as ‘favourable treatment,’ he insisted it did not amount to criminal activity. The court agreed. The PP party has now, in turn, called

for PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to resign over claims his doctoral thesis had been written by someone else. Two ministers, Cristina Cifuentes and Health Minister Carmen Montón, have already resigned over degree scandals this year See Magical Masters on page 6

When Elliot identified the suspects to Guardia Civil officers in Chiclana, the police revealed that the pair are known in the area for stealing motorbikes. They confirmed the man is 32 and has 38 arrests for other crimes, including sexual assault. He said: “I am glad it happened the way it did because they were planning on stealing my car regardless. They might have shot me.” The carjackers are believed to be linked to drug dealing and people trafficking, as well as an alleged sexual assault. Higgins is convinced the thieves are ‘small fish’ and part of something bigger. The amateur filmmaker is now planning to turn his woes into a mini-crime drama.

902 123 282 * Fu l l y c o m p r e h e n s i v e o f f e r v a l i d f o r n e w c u s t o m e r s o n l y. G u a r a n t e e s u b j e c t t o c o v e r, r e p a i r a t a p p r o v e d g a r a g e , a n d c o u r t e s y v e h i c l e a v a i l a b i l i t y. S u b j e c t t o c o n d i t i o n s . O f f e r e n d s 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 8 .

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FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Masters of none THERE is no question that the reputation of Madrid’s Rey Juan Carlos University has been damaged by the fake degrees scandal, but have things really changed? Students were vocal, as they always are, about the negative press affecting their institution, striking in April, when the former Madrid premier Cristina Cifuentes was under fire over her master’s, but since then Spain’s political class seem to remain as lofty as ever. The PP leader Pablo Casado will not face any further action it seems, despite completing a meagre 20% of his modules and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has brushed off claims that he plagiarised his thesis. It is this sentiment, that politicians can put in zero effort with maximum reward, which is surely the main gripe of students across the country. Sanchez and his ruling Socialist party will need to show the young electorate that they are in touch with the issues they care about. In his four-month tenure as Prime Minister he has already felt the shockwaves of political scalpings, as Health Minister Carmen Montón joined her PSOE colleague Cifuentes in resigning, again over a dodgy master’s degree. With Andalucia going to the polls early in December Sanchez and his Socialists need to save themselves from being master’s of their own downfall. Publisher/ Editor

Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

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A fake university masters scandal is rocking Spain’s top leaders and has led to resignations and claims that two party leaders are involved, writes Lenox Napier

OLITICS in Spain has fallen to a new low - and the gloves are off. Whether it’s fabrication, secret recordings or character assassination, the good old days of politicians simply syphoning off a few million euros have been overtaken by the far-more intriguing use of slander, lies and half-truths. The goal, at least from the Partido Popular (PP) and Ciudadanos, is to see the end of the ‘Okupa’ (or the ‘Squatter’ as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is frequently referred to after he won a vote of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy’s corrupt government in June). But this particular new sleazy chapter in Spanish political history started with the tearful resignation of a high-ranking regional president back in April. That was Cristina Cifuentes, president of Madrid province, who was found to have fudged her Master’s degree. Despite public outcry, not much happened as a result, since Cifuentes, being a politician, had ‘immunity’, and besides, her party, the PP, didn’t see it as anything of special importance. While the debate raged, with numerous calls for her resignation, she only resigned four months later when a news site published a copy of an unrelated video showing her

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

agical asters

CONTROVERSIAL: Madrid university is under intense scrutiny

stealing two tubs of Olay anti-wrinkle cream from Eroski supermarket. Cifuentes had obtained her Master’s from the University of Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), in Madrid, and it gradually became clear that she was one of a group of politicians (and, one can assume, captains of industry) who

had earned themselves their titles without the formality of having properly studied for them. The first name that came up was the man who took over the PP from Mariano Rajoy following his departure from politics in June. Finally triumphant from an embittered con-

gress in July, Pablo Casado took over the leadership of the PP, and he publicly made light of his improper Master’s degree from the URJC. He had immunity, as he pointed out, and his supporters frankly didn’t care what he might have written on his resume. Meanwhile, as the PP congratulated itself on its handsome, new leader, a man supported by José María Aznar (and reputedly an Opus Dei member), the ruling PSOE in its minority, with just 85 seats out of 350, were indeed in choppy waters. They began by approving the PP’s previously presented national budget for 2019 without any changes, but the PP and Ciudadanos announced that they were now fully against them and, with the PP senate majority, refused passage. Obfuscation? Even the American Republicans would have been impressed. Sánchez and his Socialist government are having a hard time. His enemies want his head, the media is against him, and his allies have their own agenda... even his strongest ally, the hard-to-please Pablo Iglesias and his Podemos group. Within a couple of months of the PSOE taking over the running of the country this summer with its record

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THE REAL ‘DON’: Pablo Iglesias

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FEATURE

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

olive press online

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website

Smash hits! Olive Press website goes into overdrive!

OOPS: Cifuentes holds up her ‘faked’ degree before later resigning and (right) Casado admitted he didn’t complete 80% of his masters

number of female ministers ( 11 out of 17), one of them, the Minister of Health Carmen Montón, was found to have also been a recipient of the URJC’s curious policy regarding titles. And in an honourable breakaway from the example set by the PP, she quickly resigned. Encouraged by this, the PP leader Pablo Casado attempted to show that Pedro Sánchez also had a dodgy masters (from another, rather more reputable university), and when that proved false, he tried a different tact. To claim that Sanchez had improperly copied some text – ie. plagiarised his dissertation - from another source in a book he had read.. The conservative press (and that is almost all of the daily newspaper, bar El Pais) pumped the story for all it was worth. Then it came out that the leader of Ciudadanos, he’s called Albert Rivera, was quietly changing his own profile regarding his titles. “I’m still studying for my Master’s,” he explained. The only political leader who seemed safe from this witch-hunt was Pablo Iglesias, the leader of Podemos, because his other job is a university don.

So he doesn’t need to acquire a masters! One thing she is heard to say on the recordThe URJC, by now looking a bit tawdry, was ing is worrying a few senior judges about their then found by investigative journalists (trea- behaviour on a trip to Colombia in connection sure them, there aren’t many left) to have with some minors they picked up there. sold titles to 500 Italian engineers for the The recordings – there will be others – come modest price of €11,000 a pop. from an ex-police commissioner and semiAn internal investigation is currently under- private investigator called José Manuel way at the university. Villarejo, who is now in jail (as an untried Did anyone mention the prisoner where he threatens bridge that collapsed in Italy ‘to reveal all’). He puts his (rethis summer. The one in Gevenge) material on a political noa, where 43 people died? site he is in some way tied to She suggested Watch this space. moncloa.com. that the freedom called The right-wing press is now Pedro Sanchez replied to the attempting to smear two accusations by saying ‘the of the media other PSOE ministers. First, words of a corrupt person will should be Pedro Duque, the popular not decide the political agenMinister for Science and Inda’. Villarejo promises fresh regulated novation (he was Spain’s revelations. first astronaut), is accused Indeed, the pressure from of holding property in a comthe media on the PSOE is pany name (while not illegal, around 20 other currently so acute, Carmen Calvo, the Vicedeputies do the same). And second, Dolores president (and something of a socialist diDelgado, the Minister for Justice, over a din- nosaur) has suggested that the freedom of ner-conversation from nine years ago which expression enjoyed by the media should be the ex-judge Baltazar Garzón described as regulated. ‘...a despicable campaign with a conversation The PP leader Pablo Casado himself was used out of context’. meanwhile threatened with a probe by the Supreme Court regarding his university distinctions, but last week that was suddenly dropped. No surprise perhaps, with four of the five judges on the Supreme Court placed there by the last PP government. Casado, we hear, and to the palpable relief of the conservatives, has no case to answer. Nevertheless, and despite support from every newspaper from El País sideways, Casado is quickly slipping into a difficult position regarding his reputation among the general public. The opinion polls – where ordinary people are asked their views – are ‘buoyant’ for the PSOE at 30%, ten points over the second runner, the PP. In all, the question becomes – can Pedro Sánchez with his minority Government continue until 2020 as he hopes... or will there be fresh elections by Christmas? If there are, as Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias says, things won’t be much easier afterwards as the days of a single-party majority have passed. And perhaps we should listen to him, as he’s currently the only Spanish leader with a genuine master’s degree. CONCERNED: Questions remain over plagiarisation of Sanchez’s dissertation

IT really has been an amazing month so far for the Olive Press online. We are consistently knocking our downmarket rivals into a hat by many times when it comes to the number of hits on our top stories. And it’s no surprise as we leave them trailing in the wake of a string of exclusive stories, brought to you around the clock by our trained team of professional journalists… including a shooting in Estepona at 11pm, last week, and floods around Spain this week. An incredible 14,603 people read our storm warning on Monday, while 13,478 of you read about our plea to expats for a wanted murderer and 11,468 of you read about the Estepona kidnapping. We have an average of over 10,000 unique visitors a day and each visitor is spending over two minutes on the site and reading nearly two stories per visit. NB...Businesses should take note of our special web/print marketing packages, that include display advertising, on and offline, as well as editorial and social media… the best way to capitalise on the biggest expat and tourist audience in Spain. Contact sales@theolivepress.es for more information

DATES: September 25 - October 9 The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

1 2

- Warning for storms and rain on Spain’s Costa del Sol from TOMORROW (14,603) - EXCLUSIVE: British mum pleas for expats on Spain’s Costa del Sol to help find son’s suspected murderer (13,478)

- BREAKING: Reports of gunshots on Spain’s Costa del Sol as expats and locals locked inside restaurants while police chase suspects (11,468)

4 5

- British Agnese Klavina suspect Craig Porter arrested on Spain’s Costa del Sol (8,034) - Brutally murdered body dumped in Algeciras may be victim of last night’s kidnapping on Spain’s Costa del Sol (7,551)

Unique visitors: 195,905 Unique page views: 219,482

Updated daily The Olive Press online www.theolivepress.es

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NEWS

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

NEWS

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SPAIN’S richest politicians have had their assets revealed in a move to restore public faith. Three millionaire ministers are among the 38 officials included in the list published by the Spanish government. Foreign Minister Josep Borrell topped the list of fat cats with assets totalling €2.77 million, while Education Minister Isabel Celaa is worth €1.62 million. "This government is really moving forward on the path of transparency, which it believes is the only way to advance in democracy,” said Celaa. Science Minister Pedro Duque, a former astronaut, was the other millionaire on the list and worth €1.5 million in assets.

Probed

Duque has been probed over tax irregularities over the purchase of a house in Valencia in 2005, while culture minister Maxim Huerta stepped down in June after just a week in the job when it emerged he evaded €256,000 between 2006 and 2008. Justice Minister Dolores Delgado is currently facing calls to resign after recordings were released of her talking to former Spanish police chief, Jose Villarejo, who is under investigation for corruption. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared assets of €343,000 and liabilities of €192,000, while his predecessor Mariano Rajoy had €1.54 million in assets.

Giving a home Red landslide? A Will the socialists yet again maintain their hold over Andalucia in snap elections?

IT has been staunchly socialist since the death of Franco in the 1970s. And the Socialist party is likely to hold on to power in Andalucia when the region goes to the polls in December. The challenge to the opposition parties has been set, after Junta boss Susana Diaz called a snap election for the region on December 2. She insisted the decision to bring forward the election by many months was to battle the ‘instability’ around the rest of Spain. “My land does not deserve

EAGER: Susana Diaz

Gaining momentum A SPANISH far-right party has attracted thousands to a rally as polls indicate it could win a seat in Congress. Vox, founded in 2014, drew its largest ever crowd with some 9,000 supporters showing up to the Madrid rally at Vistalegre Palace. The party has revealed plans to revoke Spain’s gender violence law and to deport ‘illegal immigrants who come to Spain not to make it greater, but to receive handouts.” Secretary general, Ortega Smith, took to the stand to quote US President Donald Trump saying, “Together we will make Spain great again.” An opinion poll suggested this week that Vox is painstakingly close to earning a seat in Congress with a predicted 1.5% of votes at the next general election, scheduled for 2020. Vox’s key message has resonated greatly with supporters who have expressed concern over defending Spain under the threat of Catalan separatists, illegal immigration and attacks on family values.

the instability we are seeing in the rest of Spain,” insisted the PSOE leader. The move will be seen by many as an attempt to use the momentum created when Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took over in June following a no confidence vote in the former PP government. Diaz insisted that early elections will give a clear indication of the public mood, after the PSOE minority government - which only has 84 out of 350 seats in congress - took power in Madrid. Andalucia has always been a thermometer for national attitudes. It is the country’s most populous region, and if the PSOE party can improve on 2015’s slim win of 47 of the total 109 seats, it will be a good sign for Sanchez in Madrid. Africa’s migrants are a political headache for Sanchez, as he looks to maintain the support from left-wing base, while also keeping check on the rise of nationalism, perpetuated by the populist Vox party, which can easily seize on the migrants issue. In 1998, the number of foreigners in Spain made up 1.6% of the total population and by 2016 this had risen to 12.2%.

T PA ES EX RO HE

Millionaire ministers

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Expats help homeless pensioner get back on his feet

GROUP of expats are appealing for funds to help a homeless expat pensioner get back on his feet after he lost his entire family. Rebecca Pattinson, 26 and fiance Dave Langshaw, 32 (right), helped take in Graham Nobbs (right top) last week after noticing him sleeping rough in a Lidl car park, in Albox, Almeria. The Stockport couple want to help the 69-year-old, originally from Kent, to get a passport, bank account and NIE number. “Graham is an incredibly intelligent man,” Rebecca told the Olive Press this week. “He hasn't been able to claim any of the pension that he is owed as he has no bank account, passport or any means of communication with the pension people back in the UK.” The kind-hearted couple, joined by several others, have set up a ‘gofundme’ page where people can donate to help Graham, who worked as a salesman for House of Fraser and Barclays in Kensington, and who has walked around 25,000 miles across Spain since becoming homeless five years ago. Another couple have already set up a fundraising page which has so far raised €400 and Rebecca says any extra money will go towards getting Graham a flat of his own. She told the Olive Press: “It’s not right to see a frail old man on the street, we’re not heroes, we’re just doing the kind thing. “It’s really opened both of our eyes over the past few days and it makes you appreciate the little things.” The expats have already raised hundreds but are hoping to get to €1000 and are still looking for donations to their page, which can be found here: www.gofundme.com/helpforgraham. Do you have a positive expat story? Someone who has done something special? As a community newspaper we want to hear your stories… email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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GREEN

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Flaming hell

MORE TO COME: Fires in Spain

Spain’s fight against air pollution suffers a blow as Malaga and Granada become more hazardous TWO of Andalucia’s most popular cities have become almost twice as deadly. It comes after air quality data showing a spike in two of the most hazardous pollutants for human health was published by the Spanish government this week. The worrying report, which contains data collected from 2017, shows higher levels of contaminants nitrogen dioxide (N2) and particulate matter (NO2) in many of Spain’s urban areas, which now include the Andalucian cities of Granada and Malaga. Despite the highest levels of contamination detected in ma-

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THE risk of fires will increase by 40% in climate change’s best case scenario - a 1.5C global rise in temperatures. That’s the worrying forecast in a new study by green group Nature Communications. And if temperatures rise by 3C, the number of wildfires in Spain and across the world could double. “Global warming is undeniable, every summer we set new temperature records and this summer the heat wave reached central and northern Europe, instead of solely Mediterranean Europe,” explained Marco Turco, one of the study’s researchers.

Up in smoke

jor cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, Granada and Malaga have seen a rise from an in-

Real time

AEMET has begun measuring air pollution in real time. Continuous recordings of methane and carbon dioxide levels will now take place across Madrid in a bid to analyse the effectiveness of current efforts to reduce air pollution. The new system will also allow for a larger sample of gases which will give scientists a bigger picture when it comes to determining how polluted the city’s air is.

dex pollutant level of 3 (where 1 is low and 10 extremely high) to a more alarming 5 in just the last year. N2 and NO2, attributed to high density traffic and industrial emissions, are highly noxious pollutants and are associated with a wide range of serious health problems such as acute respiratory diseases, cancer and strokes. Following a ‘Final Call’ from the world’s leading environmental scientists to save the world from ‘climate catastrophe’, the stark figures reveal that Spain is failing to make progress in the fight against pollution, despite previous warnings from the EU, which threatened legal action unless the situation improved earlier this year.

EASIER: Solar panels

Sun tax scrapped

SPAIN has taken its first steps towards abolishing the controversial ‘sun tax’. The Council of Ministers approved a royal decree on Friday, introducing urgent measures to force the country’s transition to a clean and accessible energy model, including eliminating the socalled sun tax. The main focus of the decree is to introduce a law supporting self-consumption across Spain, meaning you can create your own energy. Meanwhile NGO Greenpeace welcomed the changes but is urging the government to take further action and introduce a tax that forces ‘the polluter to pay’.

COMMITTED: Pedro

Let’s do it PEDRO Sanchez has committed Spain to joining the Carbon Neutrality Country Coalition. Spain’s new prime minister made the vow at the One Planet Summit in New York, where he outlined his commitment to environmental issues. The PSOE leader promised to take ‘important measures’ to achieve several ‘ambitious goals’, reiterating that it was in his country’s interest, given it would be one of the worst affected by climate change.

Do you have a what’s on?

LA CULTURA www.theolivepress.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es

what’s on

Images of Spain

SNAPPED: Historic images

RENOWNED lensman Leopoldo Pomes has won Spain’s National Photography Award 2018. The Barcelona native received the €30,000 prize for his life’s work which has ‘contributed to the history of the image of Spain’. Born in 1931, Pomes bought his first camera in 1946 and had his first exhibition at the Layetanas Gallery in Barcelona. Considered one of the greatest contemporary photographers of the late 20th century, his work hangs in the world’s top galleries including the Valencian Institute of Modern Art, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, the Museu Tèxtil i d’Indumentària de Barcelona, the Andalucian Center of Photography (Almería) and the Michael Hoppen Gallery in London, among others.

Art master MÁLAGA’S Museo Picasso Málaga welcomes the public to their Picasso’s South. Andalucian References exhibition running from October 9 to February 3, which will see around 200 pieces of the Andalucian artist’s work go on display.

VANGUARD: A Pomes snap

Go Palomo! Andalucia designer to face off Rihanna and Will Smith’s kids for top design award

FAMOUS: Malaga lights

Christmas in October IT may still be beachgoing weather on the Costa but the Christmas countdown has already begun. With 12 weeks to go before the big day, Malaga is already planning the city’s seasonal celebrations, which draw tens of thousands of visitors each year. Meanwhile, Gibraltar announced the date for its big Christmas switch-on (November 23) before September was even out.

Party

In Malaga city, the party starts a week later on November 30 with the traditional fiesta in Calle Larios. This year there is talk of extending performances and events beyond the main arena of Plaza de la Constitucion to other parts of the city. Cordoba-based Illuminaciones Ximenez will once again be in charge of lighting up Malaga but this year’s design is being kept firmly under wraps.

A LOCAL fashion designer is battling popstar Rihanna for a coveted British design award. Cordoba’s Alejandro Gomez Palomo’s SS 2018 Menswear collection has made it onto the list of nominees for this year’s Beazley Designs of the Year - but he’ll have to beat out the Barbados music icon to get it. In its 11th year, the exhibition and awards comprise 87 nominations across six categories: architecture, digital, fashion, graphics, product and transport. Selected by a panel of distinguished international designers, curators and critics, the awards showcase the most original and impactful products, concepts and designers in the world today. Palomo Spain, which has dressed Beyonce and Rita Ora, faces stiff competi-

tion in the fashion category from the likes of Fenty Beauty by Rihanna and Nike’s Nigeria National Football Team collection. Palomo shot to fame for his avant garde menswear brand which challenges gender norms and sees models rocking dresses and outlines typically reserved for the female form. He hit headlines last year when Beyonce donned one of his designs in her pregnancy reveal picture, while Rita Ora strutted his sexy ‘dressing gown’ ensemble at the MTV Video Music Awards. Organised by London’s Design Museum, other contenders for the award include the world’s first plastic-free shopping aisle, Marvel’s Black Panther costumes designed by Ruth E Carter and an eco-friendly water bottle made by Will and Jaden

BATTLE: Rihanna VS Palomo

Snatch In Málaga FINALLY the second season of Snatch is available in Spain, exclusively on Orange Series. Shot entirely in Malaga, the local location was a coup pulled off by homegrown production company Fresco Films, which also handled the Game Of Thrones shoot in Sevilla. Based on the famous Guy Ritchie film, the series stars Rupert Grint, best known as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, and Luke Pasqualino from Skins.

SHOOT: Cast in Malaga, including Grint

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Red carpet MARBELLA’S international film festival comes to town again from 10 to 14 October, where 25 independent films will be screened and British actor Steven Berkoff will be giving acting classes.

High octane EXPECT to see lots of motorcycles in Torremolinos from October 12 to 14, as the VIII Concentración Mototurística is in town, including a stunt show, food trucks and much more.

First position RUNWAY: Models from Palomo’s range Smith. A winner will be selected in each category and one overall winner will be announced on

November 15. Beazley Designs of the Year will be on display until January 6 2019.

TCHAIKOVSKY’S Swan Lake, the story of a princess-turned swan, will be performed by the Russian National Ballet at Málaga’s Teatro Cervantes on October 16 at 8pm.

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Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2018

Check out our Top 10 rundown of the nation’s runway rebels who are helping to break down barriers, writes Pablo Balbontin

LA CULTURA October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Runway rebels

FASHION editors call them Spain’s ‘Model Mafia’ and they’re dominating the world’s catwalks right now. A trend kick-started a decade ago by trailblazing Spanish trio Jon Kortajarena, Andres Velencoso and Oriol Elcacho, they have been joined by a host of astonishing talent including a transgender mannequin and a model with Down Syndrome. Here, we take a look at Spain’s top models from the last 20 years... Angela Ponce

Andres Velencoso Kylie Minogue’s squeeze from 2008 to 2013 still found time to carve out a glittering career, on the catwalk and in film. Born in Girona (Catalunya) and now pushing 40, he has worked for a vast collection of designer labels including Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier. He has been spotted on the covers of Elle, Vanity Fair and L’Officiel Homme.

She’s famous for opening doors to trans women in the world of high fashion and gaining acceptance for transsexuals on the global stage. Born in Sevilla in 1991, she was the first sex-change female to win the Miss Universe España Contest this year but her path to the world’s runways hasn’t been easy. Rejected as a Miss

World contestant for not being born a woman, she refused to give up, winning the Miss Cadiz title last summer.

Marcal Taberner This catwalk wunderkind is one of the new discoveries of Spanish fashion. Spotted by a talent scout while he was appearing in a musical show, he’s just 21 years old and has already modelled for the likes of Loewe and Bottega Veneta. His fragile, androgynous look, rarely seen on the catwalks, is in big demand in Paris, where he now lives.

www.theolivepress.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Judith Masco

Eugenia Silva

A veteran of the fashion world who turns 50 next year, she’s still the only Spanish model to have made the cover of Vogue USA. The ‘Face’ of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, she was also the first Spanish model featured in the Swimsuit Special of Sports Illustrated back in 1990. In her busy career the versatile Mascó has hosted TV programmes, acted in films and collaborated with numerous NGOs on humanitarian missions including the campaign to free Joaquín José González from Death Row. Marian Ávila

This 21-year-old from Benidorm rocked the fashion world last month when she became the first Spanish model with Down Syndrome to walk down the catwalk at New York Fashion Week. It was the fulfillment of a childhood dream which all started when a young model from Florida, Miss Citrus State Jr. Teen, heard of her heartwarming ambition and struggle to overcome her disadvantages. The daughter of the model coordinator at NYFW has shown that if she can achieve h e r dream, a n y o n e can.

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

She comes from a family of legal eagles and has a law degree from Madrid’s Complutense university but fashion turned her head. It all started when she moved to New York and became the face of Oscar de la Renta. Since then, she has appeared on the covers of all the top magazines - Harper’s Bazaar, Telva, Elle - and has modelled for fashion titans like Armani, Versace and Prada. Away from the runway, she’s an Ambassador for Fundacion Plan Internacional, an NGO focused on helping children in developing countries.

Jon Kortajarena One of the best-known Spanish models in the world, his face is familiar even to those who haven’t a clue about fashion. Countless brands rely on his clean-cut looks, from Dolce & Gabbana and Armani to Chanel. Such is his celebrity, he also gets work from some of the world’s top musicians clamouring to feature his suave charm in their music videos, including Madonna, Fergie and Kanye West.

Oktober BierFest & Hangover Party

Saturday 13 October & Sunday 14 October from 13.00 Oriol Elcacho He has been called the ‘rebel aristocrat’ of the fashion world who looks elegant even with a hangover. Like Velencoso and Kortajarena he’s a true ambassador of Spanish style but unlike his compatriots, he never had modelling ambitions and was more interested in the financial side of the business. Talent-spotted on a show in 2000, he has since worked for a host of top brands including Bvlgari, Custo and Polo Ralph Lauren. He says: “I came into the business by accident but I took the chance I was offered and I’ve never regretted it.”

SATURDAY MUSIC

Jochen Janz – Sticky & the Poorboys Mitad Doble – The Coven

Cristina Piaget Her fame rocketed when the designer Paco Rabanne declared that she was one of his favourite models alongside former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s fashion model wife Carla Bruni. The daughter of actor Paul Piaget, she was only 14 when she made her catwalk debut and she’s not just a pretty face. She has studied at Madrid’s Real Conservatorio de Danza Clásica de Madrid and the London Academy of Music and Drama and speaks four other languages: English, French, Indonesian and Italian.

Nieves Alvarez

SUNDAY HANGOVER PARTY Jake Levinson Band – Equis

MORE THAN 30 TYPES OF BEER!! Lots of music – Lots of smiles Ronda Parque natural de la Sierra de Grazalema

Sierra de las Nieves

Jimera de Librar

Cortes de la Frontera

Armani famously made her change outfits minutes before she was due to step out onto the catwalk because she looked so gorgeous and he feared the audience would notice her rather than his design! She has been through some dark times, overcoming the ‘model’s disease’ anorexia with her sheer determination and courage. “In this world you need patience and perseverance,” says Alvarez, who is in big demand with the top French couture houses, including Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior.

Jimena de la Frontera

TRAIN LEAVES: Algeciras San Roque Jimena Cortes

Allioli Oktober Bier Fest 2018

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Plaza San Roque Estación Jimera De Líbar, Jimera De Líbar, Andalucia, Spain

Tel: 606 692 753 / 671 501 054

Marbella Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 12. Tel. 952 863 332 Fuengirola Avda. Ramón y Cajal, 6. Tel. 952 467 837

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10 October

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Popular expat-run German beer festival is celebrating its 10th year

HE Oktoberfest festival at Bar Allioli, in Jimera de Libar, will kick off this Saturday. Music is planned from 1pm until 11pm and there are three bands playing at the unique hangout by the train station in the pretty mountain town, near Ronda. Sticky and the Poorboys who played the first festival are reforming especially for this event. Meanwhile, getting everyone up dancing will be Mitad Doble from Malaga, playing ska, reggae and rumbas, while the Coven from Algeciras will play an hour of Beatles

LA CULTURA

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Decade brewing NICE JUGS: At San Roque festival

Mind over matter Popular spiritual festival back on the coast THE popular Mind Body & Spirit Festival returns to Estepona this month, offering visitors a chance to raise their vibration frequency, explore their spirituality and even contact the ‘other side’. Jennifer Mackenzie and Lee and Paul Petulengro are among the top international mediums and healers who will be setting out their stalls at the H10 Andalucia Plaza Hotel from October 27 to 28. Among this year’s novelties, you can get hypnotised, pick up tips on how to talk to your pet

from an animal communicator, have a psychic reading, enjoy a holistic body massage and taste healing kangen water - a cutting-edge Japanese technology that transforms tap water into alkaline, ionised hydrogenenriched medicine. Empowering spiritual talks, alternative therapy demonstrations and stands selling everything from crystal jewellery to natural health and beauty products are other attractions. The expo is open on both days from 11am to 8pm. Admission €10.

For more info contact Jacinta + (34) 670628468 www.mindbodyspiritmarbella.com • www.kangenrunningwater.com

songs and other rock classics. Between the bands Jochen Janz will be getting everyone into Oktoberfest mood with typical German beer songs while catering company Dianez will be making sure nobody goes hungry. Bar Allioli, owned by British expat Paul Darwent and wife Synnove, will be running the bar and there will be at least five draught beers. On top of this there will be more than 30 different bottled beers available. Bar Allioli specialises in international beers and in the bar is a small museum with a collection of 600 bottled beers. It always has a big selection available. On the Sunday there is the Hangover Party, with a sausage BBQ and more music. The Jake Levinson band are starting their tour of Spain here and closing the afternoon is local band Equis. The festival attracts people from all over and especially from San Roque and Algeciras as you can arrive on the train and get back easily later. Manilva town hall also organises a bus excursion. Further details from Allioli@usa.net or 606 692 753

PARTY: Last year’s event

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Launching a brand new book section this issue, Alicia Duggan, reviews a new tome on the world’s most dangerous man… and a great cooking book to help you learn Spanish! Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward Bob Woodward has shared in two Pulitzer prizes for his reporting on the Watergate scandal and his coverage of the 9/11 attacks and has spent over 30 years reporting on the American Presidency with impartiality. Drawing from hundreds of hours of interviews with first hand participants, official documents, personal diaries and his own interviews, Woodward has put together an impeccably researched, unbiased, unflattering and shocking fly on the wall account of a White House in chaos. Donald Trump is undoubtedly the most divisive President in the history of the USA. This book follows his campaign trail and election and deals with the major scandals and policy decisions surrounding his first year in office. What we see is a dishonest and disloyal man of immense privilege with a complete lack of understanding of politics, economics and international relations. It shows a man who frequently berates his staff and how his impulsive decisions can have a far-reaching impact on domestic and global issues. It also shows how his team in turn protect him and the country by attempting to manage him with platitudes, hiding executive order documents and memos to prevent serious international and domestic situations from arising. This is a fascinating and informative read for anyone looking to find out more about Trump or American politics in general. €25.90, From The Bookshop San Pedro - www.thebookshop.es

PURE GARBAGE: Ocean waste turned into art

Trashy art

• Let’s Cook Spanish, A Family Cookbook by Gabriela Llamas PACKED with authentic recipes, Let’s Cook Spanish is a bilingual cookbook for all the family to enjoy together. The pages on the left are in English and on the right, you have the same recipe in Spanish. Each recipe includes an interesting piece of trivia about the key ingredients or the provenance of the dish and the recipes themselves are easy to follow and super tasty when completed! From tapas to main courses and to desserts this is a great introduction to Spanish cuisine and an easy way to improve your Spanish while having some family fun in the kitchen. Our favourite recipes are Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish Omelet), Pimientos de Piquillo Rellenos (Cheese-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers) and Tarta de Santiago (Santiago Almond Cake). Buen provecho!

Mandy Barker’s pictures look like rubbish - and they are!

BRITISH photographer has brought her thought-provoking photo exhibition on the damage of plastics to Spain. Mandy Barker’s SOUP looks like a colourful collection of abstract art. In reality, it’s all created from shots of rubbish she picked up from seas and beaches around the world - from Hull in the UK to the Canary Islands and as far as Japan. “The objective of my work is to

create a visually attractive image that at first captures the viewer’s gaze and then surprises them with the caption and the data of what the work represents,” explains Barker. “The contradiction between beauty and sobering facts makes people wonder how and why their packaging of food, computer or shoes ended up in the middle of the ocean.” The exhibition is running until October 21 in La Coruña.

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Picardo in war of words with By Laurence Dollimore & Elisa Menendez

the GSD, the Chief Minister was also accused of ‘lying’ to Gibraltarians after he refused to publish the event’s financial expenditures. The party accused the Rock’s leader of spending taxpayers’ money on a ‘grace and favour

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ORE buyers than homes to rent out ever are snapping up second - and the Costa del second hottest destination Sol is the of choice. According to new bought as investments. research, more than thirds of owners now rent out their two “In a low interest part or all of their second homes to cover rate environment costs, reversing the out income-generating investors are seeking ago. trend of 50 years Even up to 2000 that figure assets,” said Paul director for only dropped to eight Tostevin, associate 10 homeowners. The top three locations out of “Today’s Savills World Research. benefiting from the But times are changing second home buyers ond home boom are buy-to-let want properties to international market,the Costa del Sol, which has 4% sec- their holiday home into with more buyers hoping to turn them financially and they’re increasingly work for a nice little earner, cover looking not just to Algarve, in Portugal, the Costa Blanca, also at 4%, of the survey by Savills and HomeAway. according to a He costs but to turn a profit.” and the In the added: “Global tourism Back in the 1970s, with 5%. early 2000s, only continues 14% of second homes national purely for second homes purelynine out of 10 homeowners kept were bought billion. tourist arrivals up by 7% last to grow, with intertheir But by therental rather than personal use. for themselves. year to At the same time, time of the rapid expansiona record 1.3 holiday home platforms to 19% and now the credit crunch, this figure had of online such as HomeAway more than a third risen market to new of second homes opens up the are owners to maketarget groups and makes it much easier for their properties income-producing.”

Costa del Sol is cashing in buy-to-let boom on a

Letter

tar by saying that we would increase ticket prices at the but they need to be managed UP to one in three reviews on responsibly. This is not the Trip Advisor festival,” he added. is fake, a new in“Will the Government now Government’s money – it is vestigation has found. An analysis of tens of thoupublish the list of invitees to the people’s money.” its VVIP enclosure?” ques- He added that if the GSD was sands of reviews shows topin power the festival would rated B&Bs tioned Azopardi. have almost twice as many ‘fake’ reviews as lowerThe attacks led to a vicious be put out to open tender. row between the government “We would certainly not have ranked accommodation. and the GSD after it emerged a grace and favour private The Times caught restaurants that this year’s festival alleg- enclosure for friends, family trying to buy 5-star reviews, as edly lost a staggering £3.1 and party activists. There is well as negative reviews of rivals. no case for the Chief Minister It comes million last year alone. after the Olive Press It also came as ticket sales to lord it over the rest of pay- exposed a series of Costa del dipped for this year’s two- ing customers as is the case Sol businesses paying for dozens of fake five-star reviews on day event, organised with every year,” he said. TripAdvisor in a bid to increase MTV alongside Londontheir rankings. based business Neon Angel Tirade Limited. The Chief Minister hit back The GSD claimed that the with a personal Negative £3.1 million loss figure for GSD opposition,tirade at the last year was the ‘highest their ‘contradictoryslamming Despite TripAdvisor stepping ever’, but this year it could ocritical behaviour’, and hyp- in to investigate, the Times inbe considerably worse ‘given that many of the claiming vestigation insisted enough was MPs had not being done to stop the bothe diminished list of acts, accepted an invitation to the gus reviews. worse timing of the festival festival. Another recent study and the undoubted effect on In particular, he slammed that almost nine in ten found ticket sales’. hospishadow finance minister, Roy tality businesses have been In addition, a government Clinton accusing him of being tims of negative reviews. vicclaim that around one bil- critical as he ‘does lion viewers would tune in to this kind of music not enjoy Consumer groups say fake reanyway’. views are a growing problem watch the festival on TV was He added: “Heaven forbid and it is believed almost €16 bilscuppered when the Broad- that Mr Azopardi casters Audience Research position to run theis ever in a lion a year is spent on travel and Board showed only 6,200 would end up as festival! It hotels following reviews. people viewed the highlights and irrelevant as unexciting Do you know of any businesses the GSD.” selling fake reviews? Or places programme in the UK. The Government also insist- abusing social media or review Azopardi continued: “The ed that to describe GSD is in favour of organis- val as a loss is ‘too the festi- sites? Contact newsdesk@theosimplistic’. livepress.es ing cultural and entertainment events such as these Opinion Page 6 Trick Advisor, page 7

of the

week

Dear Olive Press,

Since the MTV brand has been splashed over the previously NEWS NEWS named Gibraltar Music Festival, Hot Hot water water ‘Hees deserv it’ es it’l has made an NotNot ‘He deserv the festiva alleged loss of millions in the last two years enoeno ughugh the music, Gib issue 80). stars stars I(Face think there will probably be no festival in 2019 or personally I’d think it would be much better if the Pipe ban Pipe ban MTV presents brand is ditched and SMUGGLERS’ SMUGG WALL LERS’ WALL the festival go back to GMF brand, more organised, more well known names, previously more stages. MTV out and I am sure many who A range A rangeA range A range have attended a of Waitroof seWaitro ofse Waitroof seWaitrose Gibraltar Music wines wines wines wines Not Festival prefacing the rap! MTV will agree. 4

4 www.theolive press.es www.theolivepress.es

December 6th - December December 19th 2017 6th - December 19th 2017

Costa del Sol Costa del Sol hotel has three hotel has three months to months to SOME 14 fire bosses have SOME 14 fire bosses have fight been arrested for allegedly been decision fight decision arrested for allegedly embezzling €7 million in embezzling €7 it million before is in before it is public funds. public funds. The Policia Nacional found Thedemolished Policia demolished that the Consortium of that the Nacional found Consortium

From Page 1

He even got himself a financial He even gotslot advice himself on a awell financial advice slot on a well known radio station, through which knownhe radio station, snared through which he snared unsuspectunsuspecting victims. ing victims. However, a comprehensive Olive However, Press ainvestigation comprehensive ex- Olive Press investigation posed his scams that involved posed stamps, hiscoins scams that and involved stamps, coins and gold. exgold. We also revealed how he and We his also closerevealed pal Barry how he and his close pal Barry Nathan Nathan wined and dined up to a dozen wined and dined criminals, up to a dozen criminals, anonymously, anonymously, through the food column. through the food column. He eventually fled the country He eventually following our fled expose, the country following our expose, but we soon tracked him down buttowe thesoon UK, tracked where he him down to the UK, where he had had changed his name by deed pollchanged and washis namecoins selling by deed andpoll and was selling coins and antiques on eBay from a smallantiques Berkshire oncottage. eBay from a small Berkshire cottage. He was quickly found guilty under He was quickly English lawfound guilty under English law of conning of conning people and given a suspended people and given a suspended prison prison sentence only due to health reasons. sentence only due to health reasons. than permitted. “And because he promised to than permitted. “And because he promised to never never Although the town hall and Although go back his online cons,” one go of back the to town theto his online cons,” one of the hall and developer maintain this ex- developer British victim explained. British victim explained. maintain this exBut this cess was later corrected, the cess was iscorrected, apparently not the case But this is with later apparently not the case with judge ruled that the rectifica- judge two claimingthe he is still twousing victims claiming he is still using ruledvictims that rectificaeBay to tion would have taken place tion would sellthe ‘dodgy’ coins andeBay to sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps stamps have taken flat place from his unpaid after the granting of the li- after the in Brighton, from ushis unpaid flat in Brighton, usgranting the li- anding the ing the namesof ‘gqtrading’ cence, so does not count. ‘gqtrad-names ‘gqtrading’ and ‘gqtradcence,ing2’. so does not count. The building has 61 apart- The building ing2’. has 61sure apartare pretty he has broken ments and 46 parking spac- ments“We “We are his pretty sure he has broken his andconditions 46 parking bail andspacwill have to bail es. conditions and will have to finally finally es. go back to prison,” said one victim. go back to prison,” said one victim. The original building was The original “The nerve building of this man wasis unbelievable.” “The nerve of this man is unbelievable.” granted planning permis- granted also breached rules by being over breached His planning landlord last permisnight insisted His he rules by being over landlord should last sion by then mayor Enrique sion by havenight insisted he should have known known 700 square meters bigger 700DOOMED: something then mayor was up from Enrique Costa bigger the something square meters start. hotel DOOMED: was up from the start. Bolin in 2001. Costa hotel Bolin “When we met to sign the contracts in 2001. “WhenI thought we met to hesign wasthe contracts I thought he was a bit a bit slippery, I went to pay for my coffee slippery, onlyI went tobarista for the pay forto my coffee only for tell me he had left without paying FRUIT growers in the Axar- FRUIT growers tell me his he had left without paying his bill.” the barista to bill.” in the AxarHe continued: “He paid for theHe quia are facing a 60% reduc- quia are continued: first couple of“He facing a 60% reducpaid but months for the first couple of months but then just stopped. He told us his tion in water use from the La tion in water then just stopped. account had been Hefrozen use from the La told us his account had been frozen due to a money laundering investigation, Vinuela reservoir with no so- Vinuela due to a money reservoir with no solaundering which is prob- investigation, which is probPOLICE ably true. “He then told us to stop lution in sight. ably contacting a humanofficers true. “He then lution in sight.officers have formed POLICE wall have him told deterformed and us drug smugglers a human from ac-to stop contacting him and acwall using cused a beach in La Linea to ensure deterthe us of harrassment. The Junta has decided to The along drug smugglers beach along cused from a beach us using of that harrassment. in Junta the the La Linea beach as has a dropto decided offensure zone. that the as a drop off zone. “Now he is claiming he is seriously limit its use as the reservoir is limitconstruction of a beachto construction “Now he ahead. of a beach is claiming ill and its use can’t work as the A combined he istoseriously ill and can’t work wall went reservoir iswall went ahead. police The presence ofAGuardia make payments. wall, combined already at 22.7% capacity and already between to police presence Civil, Theofwall, church make payments. between Nuestra Guardia Civil, at 22.7% theand local church capacitythe of Nuestra national and the Senora “We’llof officers were local del Carmen see could drop even lower if the couldSenora him and present in national court.” and as “We’ll officers perimeter del see him in court.” were present as Carmen wall andgrew even lower if the fears the perimeter that drug wall ofdrop the fishing smugglers fearswould dry weather keeps up. grew try port that drug of thehopes fishing dry weather to port of disrupt La Atunara, and keeps up. of La Atunara, the work. hopes to and disrupt the work. smugglers would try Opinion Page 6 Opinion Page 6 of Bomberos Cadiz took out Bomberos A HOTEL Cadiz is to took out be knocked A HOTEL is to be knocked mass early retirement insur- mass early down forretirement not havinginsurenough down for not having enough ance policies. ance policies. But when their employees Butclass! class! when their employees Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista retired early, chiefs siphoned retired early, chiefs Rey must off the money from the payoff de be siphoned demolished de Rey must be demolished the money from the paywithin three months, outs. a court within three months, a court outs. has ruled, Authorities also found dis- Authorities has ruled, also found disAndalucia’s crepancies in the consor- crepancies Court Andalucia’s Superior Court in Superior the consortium’s training courses. of Justice that the ho- of Justice ruled that the hotium’s trainingruled courses. Large sums were paid to a Large tel falls sumsshort wereof its four-star tel falls short company to provide training company requirement. paid to a requirement. of its four-star courses, but no evidence has courses, to provide training but no evidence has been found that these courses been found that these courses Probing took place. Probing took place. It began probing the three It began Meanwhile, irregularities Meanwhile, probing the three irregularities were also found in grants and were star apartment star hotel and apartment alsohotel found and in grants and subsidies, which cops believe subsidies, block inwhich 2011 cops after believe it was de- block in 2011 after it was dewere used to pay for private were nounced used toover rules nounced over planning rules pay planning private trips. which set asidefor trips. the plot for a which set aside the plot for a The irregularities date back Thefour star hotel only. irregularities four star hotel only. date back to 2008 and cops believe at to 2008 According to thebelieve and cops PGOU at town According to the PGOU town least €7 million has been sto- least plan €7 an apartment million has been block sto-was plan an apartment block was len by those at the top. lennot by those permitted at the top. and it also not permitted and it

In Mallorca UP to one in three reviews on TripAdvisor is fake, a new investigation has found. An analysis of tens of thousands of reviews shows toprated B&Bs have almost twice as many ‘fake’ reviews as lowerranked accommodation. The Times caught restaurants trying to buy 5-star reviews, as well as negative reviews of rivals. It comes after the Olive Press exposed a series of Spanish businesses paying for dozens of fake five-star reviews in a bid to increase their rankings.

Victims

Despite TripAdvisor stepping in to investigate, the Times probe insisted enough was not being done to stop the bogus reviews. Another recent study found that almost nine in ten businesses have been victims of negative reviews. Consumer groups say fake reviews are a growing problem and it is believed almost €16 billion a year is spent on travel and hotels following reviews.

Is this the new look for Palma’s seafront? Find out in our Property supplement inside

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10th s.es September 27th - October Vol. 2 Issue 38 www.theolivepres

9 Lives charity pair acosted Expats vow to continue feeding stray cats despite vicious attack from local EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

2018

by resident

NO PAWS

RAPPER: Valtonyc

AN expat mum and daughter have refused to give up their cat charity 9 Lives after being assaulted by a local Spaniard. Aimee Baert, 28, and mum Sharon, 54, are set to call in police after they were attacked as they fed stray cats in the around the Pollensa area. the island. 6th - December 19th 2017 snide comments Trick advisor page 6 north of “We’ve hadDecember The South African pair were from locals before but this was A BELGIAN court has releft badly shaken after a local on another level,” continued fused to extradite controverMallorquin accosted them as Aimee, who moved to Malsial rapper Valtonyc back to they gave food to the feral cats lorca five years ago. Spain. near Pollenca’s old town. “Unfortunately people don’t The judge refused to comThe man ‘turned very aggresunderstand that we are actualafter the ply with the order sive’ and started to threaten From Page 1 ly helping keep the number of the cats forcing Aimee to step Mallorca musician was senstrays down,” she continued. slot on a well for charges to prisonadvice in. a financial tenced cas-himself andgot even neutering He are “We and wall a unsuspectmonsnared which he the “He had me against to insulting through related cats we station, of theradio trating as manyknown have to push him off me,” the I had SOME 14 fire bosses archy in his lyrics. ing victims. can.” exinvestigation Press name real Olive Alcudia hotel manager told been arrested for allegedly whose incomprehensive violent a The artist, the However, But despite in Press. and gold. Arenas, the Olive embezzling €7 million Miquel coins loverhisAimee scams that Josep stamps, is involved cident, animalposed Magaluf pal Barry ‘ROWDY’:public his close in Nathan funds. “It was very scary and unsetandexile to Belgium feline revealed how also friends wentheinto - who has 22We found anonymously, criminals, and, for a moment, I redozen a The Policia Nacionaltling to out up sentenced be back and dined May after he was wined at her finca - will of for the worse.” ally feared that the Consortium in column. her mum the food to be knocked and a half years in through to three feeding cats with Sharon A HOTEL - who suspect is unnamed The out Bomberos Cadiz took the country following our expose, Brave volunteers Aimee and enough eventually fledjail. UNBOWED: having He not tow. for Font down La insurthe where in UK, finca to thehe is free he had down mass early retirementowns a tracked himthe nails soon we we and time the pair have been ac- “She’s hard asbut moment he rents out to area and ‘affecting his busiand was sellingincoins and area, whichclass! ance policies. be “For by deedispoll to name it hashis Vista changed definitively costed, while looking after won’t be put off, free them forHotel and ahesmall Benalmadena’s cottage. Berkshire tourists - blasted ness.’ cats done,” she vowed, But when their employees stray from of “although eBay on dozens lawyer many antiques his the demolished said the to be must vermin’ Belgium,”under English law of conning de Rey ‘bringing more Alarmingly, it is not the first retired early, chiefs siphoned boyfriend mywas quickly found guilty I’ll be taking He Bekaert.prison within three months, a court money from in the payoff the a suspended given Paul businesses week in andcase CONCERNED with me this people has ruled, outs. of control are demanding only due to health reasons. sentence Santa Ponsa things get out to never Andalucia’s Superior Court areafound disTerrorism prevent the also “And because he promised changes to Authorities again.” in the consorof Justice ruled that the hocrepancies cons,” one of the duoonline the ‘new Magaback to his than permitted. from becoming The mum andgodaughter “There is no terrorism inandtheir charity tium’s training courses. tel falls short of its four-star 9 Livesexplained. fur-town hall British victim luf’. there is no inciteset up stoppingthe all,Although volved, were paid to a Large sums not the case with so there an “It has happened to us Atdeveloper this exrequirement. hotel assoago. years is apparently maintain more this than fourBut The Santa Ponsa a transitional ment TRAIN drivers have denounced provide training to Calvia still using ther than we planned. heofis terrorism, company with the butcorrected, the two victims claiming ciation has met was later of a crime acthe world, lack of safety measures on the station it's not the end of cess has no question is coins no evidencealarming but other and stamps police and eBay to sell ‘dodgy’ Probing mayor, localcourses, judge ruled that the rectifica-Missing to Belgian these courses island. cording us-law.” foundathat the end of the line, it is.” been in Brighton, series flat demand braking andthe from his unpaid businesses to have taken place one entraction three has at added that tion would began turning probing They sayItthat own‘gqtrading’ However, began ‘gqtradtheir company place. and he for The took seculooking one improve have to While linames the the trains of ing after of measures as some after the granting irregularities been affected and apartment gone missing, a European Arrest Warstar hotel gine off as a temporary measure Meanwhile, cats which hading2’. electricity. innot count. rity in the resort. to save caughtsofire if the does and turned it was de- de the electrical substation cence, be issued of sure his afterFerroviaris found in could 2011 broken inoff rant of grantsengine wereaalso block he has summer realised the pretty arescale “Wefull to behas 61they It comes after apartServeis appears from over it The believe group later rules building cops The months which finallytravels to planning torapper but have May, rise subsidies, 24-year-old will nounced a sharp problem. bail conditions and thespacthe Palma runs trouble including used also the which 46 parking a Mallorca, pay for private plot for ments andthat hundreds victim. countries. were set asidethe prostisaid one whichexposed of illegalto of safety the norm. “We’ve neutered to prison,”other lack go back in the numbers out Metro, have have also pointed this es. years, is unbelievable.” trips. Pobla artist was conhotel only. over the starCosta The Sa this man vendors. of is four of cats nerve generator caught The drivers “The Palma tutes and street in was Son routes back the have known ten date building since the he should to getlast night terrororiginal irregularities The automationly two of of glorifying could behuge issue that victedinsisted apermisthe area According to the PGOU town landlord Histends Hotels fear The that at fire. cops believe planning ignored,” start. right-wing Aimee. was up ism, to 2008 block was granted added from the Ballena', threatening so they have speed stop devices Punta and an apartment planaltered something some trains come 'the new approach sto- have he was a bit has been“They I thoughtand undertowe €7 million contracts then mayor Enrique locals cally brake the trains as they leastpart the by it also Campos the sign of Magasion and to want Jorge traction met “We the permitted politician “When affects not it women the most rowdy but two power, the barista to coffee only forcomreally working a stop. Earlier this month for mydefamatory len by those at the top. use less breached being over Bolin in 2001. stand we are slippery, I went to pay rules driver. making oneby luf. train in Palma did not DOOMED: Costa hotel and braking,” said paying his Spanish thebill.” brake as were hit when a it arrived at a station towards keeping he had left without meters andbigger menumbers tellthe Demands include more police ments against 700 square accelerate cannot of months but “We after couple time feeding first in the just for not break trafare paid he drug we “He off,” down, He continued: family in April. had been frozen intervention against royal well with one engine turned a speed stop. 15:36 without told us his account the cats.” such as Am- is probUntitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 then just stopped. He ficking, street vendors and vioOrganisations continued. investigation, which have due to a money laundering lent prostitutes, who 'are nightInternational nesty him and accontacting stop told us to people'. to robbing ably true. “He thencampaigned ly dedicated FRUIT for Valtonyc’s growers in the Axaris a work to cused us of harrassment. that arguing ill freedom quia are facing a 60% reducandit can’t he is seriously beach the claiming is using he La from the “Now speech. from of use smugglers water drug tion in breach of freedom human wall deter make payments. Meanwhile Pedro Sanchez’s POLICE officers have formed a Vinuela reservoir with no sothat the as a drop off zone. Civil, “We’ll see him in court.”socialist government is along a beach in La Linea to ensure A combined police presence of Guardia lution in sight. new ahead. officers were present as construction of a beach wall went repealingPage 6 C The Junta has decided to of Nuestra local and national working towards Opinion would try The wall, between the church limit its use as the reservoir is wall fears grew that drug smugglers the controversial Citizen SafeM Senora del Carmen and the perimeter the work. disrupt and law’. already at 22.7% capacity and ‘gag to the hopes dubbed law ty of the fishing port of La Atunara, could drop even lower if the Y dry weather keeps up.

Do you know of any businesses selling fake reviews? Or places abusing social media or review sites? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

www.theolivepress.es

Hot water

No more Magalufs

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

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‘He deserves it’ Not enough stars

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Train safety concerns

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Wolfgang, Torrox

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man performs at MTV festival

Readers react to Theresa May telling EU to ‘respect’ her and the UK

ARTWORK SETUPARTWORK TO 25% OFSETUP ACTUAL ARTWORK TO 25% SIZE.SETUP OF ACTUAL ARTWORK TO 25% SIZE. OFSETUP ACTUAL TO 25% SIZE. OF ACTUAL SIZE.

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It’s absolutely ludicrous for Mrs May to demand the EU come up with a plan when we are the ones leaving the group and going to be hard done by. And where was her commitment to us expats who have absolutely no idea what is going to happen to us once the UK leaves? It is appalling that we have been left in limbo like this, we deserve reassurances it has been more than two years now, get it together!

Welcome to the Olive Press’ first ever crossword, aimed to be accessible to readers of all ages and education levels

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1 Quivered (8) 2 Israeli intelligence agency (6) 3 Illustrative craft (3) 4 Verge (4) 5 Largest desert (6) 6 Wood (4) 11 Mischievous (4) 13 Relating to aircraft (4) 14 Sanitary (8) 17 Excite (6) 19 Scandinavian kingdom (6) 21 Second son of Adam and Eve (4) 22 Formerly Mesopotamia (4) 24 Grass (3)

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NoloTil VicTory

679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_MIJAS_COSTA.indd 23/02/2017 11:31 1

olive Press medical

EXCLUSIVE: Poems from Gibraltar soldier locked up in Andalucia prison for murder

BEST

CAMPAIGNER: Cristina

2/8/18 17:01

I’ve just read your article printed in April 2018 about the deaths caused by this drug Nolotil. I was prescribed it in September after I visited Hospiten in Estepona for an ankle muscle sprain. I have private medical cover here in Spain and I’m British, born in Ireland. I have only taken a few of these tablets, thanks to my friend who happened to ask what medication I was prescribed. After reading your article I cannot understand why it’s being allowed to happen, surely the doctors are aware of the concerns surrounding this drug, why do they continue to give this to people who it may harm?

See page xx 4

campaign finally draws blood with Nolotil regulation close EXclUSiVE By Elisa menendez

AN Olive Press health campaign has led to ‘the biggest’ drug probes in Spanish history. Our investigation into the mysterious deaths of expats from the painkiller Nolotil last year, is finally being acted on. In a landmark breakthrough, a national probe is expected to lead to new regulation of the drug, which is banned in the UK and most of Europe. “It has been a long time in coming and by raising so much awareness, I am sure lives have already been saved,” medical and legal translator Cristina Garcia del Campo told the Olive Press. The medical professional found our 1000-strong petition online and took it forward after one of her patients died from the drug. “Spain wants to help,

loomS TRAGIC: Graeme Ward with wife Mary (left) and Billy Smyth, who both died from Nolotil

that’s for sure. I have had support from every healthcare professional I have spoken to. “If I hadn’t come across your article I wouldn’t have realised what was happening to the English community,” she added. We launched our ‘Kill the Drug’ campaign against the painkiller last August, after learning that dozens of British and Irish expats had died after their immune systems were allegedly destroyed by the commonly prescribed drug. A trio of families told us how their relatives had died unnecessarily in excruciating pain. Yet, authorities refused to take our claims seriously, despite the evidence being backed up by local doctors. Fortunately, Ali-

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EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality. Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked in a battle with their town hall, which claims their house in Almayate is illegal. Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given

Continues on Page 8

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Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil EXCluSiVE By laurence dollimore

one month to knock down their only property (pictured above). In a court order seen by the Olive Press, the Wards are warned they will be held criminally responsible if they refuse. “I don’t know what to do anymore, I’m at the end of my tether” Gill told the Olive Press, “I’m totally exhausted from the whole ordeal.” The retired pair, who have now spent thousands of euros on legal costs, bought the old farmhouse ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and were given permission from Velez-Malaga town hall to rebuild it. But when the original wall collapsed of its own accord during construction, the Wards’ architect told them it would be fine and that he would let the town hall know. Unfortunately for

tribute bands Think Floyd, Deeper Purple and Whole Lotta Led rocking out the greatest hits of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin at the Plaza del Toros on August 26. For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Bolton, just answer the question; what year was Michael Bolton born in? For the Pink Purple Zep Fest in Estepona, just tell us; Where was Jimmy Page born? Email answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

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THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very same drug that was blamed for killing his wife in 2006. The Marbella-based expat was furious when he was told to take the painkiller by his Spanish dentist, after suffering from a difficult abscess. His wife Mary, 59, had died after being prescribed the same drug following a double vasectomy at Costa del Sol Hospital. “Within 24 hours she was in intensive care, her white blood cell count plummeted to zero within days,” explains Graham, a former computer HAPPIER TIMES: Graham with wife, and Billy Smyth technician, from London. She never regained conscious- again. Metamizole, Nolotil is banned ness and was on a life support “He said she would be alive if in the US, the UK, Ireland and machine for FOUR months, she hadn’t taken it, but I have most of Europe, but it is prebefore spending three years heard from dozens of Brits scribed widely in Spain. fighting the impact of the and Irish who have been given Irishman William ‘Billy’ drug, which led to organ fail- it,” added Graeme. Smyth was given a five-day It is the third victim of the course of the drug in Februure. “The chief surgeon at the hos- drug the Olive Press has re- ary. pital promised me he would ported on in under a year. But when the 66-year-old renever prescribe that drug Sometimes known also as turned to a different Spanish

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Dr Nina King, of Oasis Dental Care in Marbella, fully supports the campaign, telling the Olive Press the drug is not something she prescribes. “It’s not a drug I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” she said, “And after seeing what damage it can do, it’s a drug I won’t be using in the future.” Marbella-based private doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Almeda also agrees the drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe the drug,” she told the Olive Press, “I have lots of British patients and I am aware of what it is capable of doing. “There needs to be a lot more research on its impact.” doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low. Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and required ‘radical surgery’ to remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life.

The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil. Another British expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same medication for mild shoulder pain on the Costa del Sol. He developed severe head Continues on Page 2

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Nolotil, or Metamizol, is still one of the most popular painkillers in Spain, yet the most feared side effect is agranulocytosis, a severe and rapid drop in white blood cells, which leaves patients unable to fight infections. Garcia del Campo noticed that a large number of other English

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and Irish patients had been suffering with sepsis at hospitals along the Costa Blanca. “I thought, this can’t be normal,” explained the translator, from Madrid. And after looking at patients’ notes, she found that each had one thing in common - they were all taking Nolotil. Although manufacturers list side effects such as agranulocytosis, necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis, they are considered ‘very rare’ affecting one in every 10,000. The figures did not seem to add up to Garcia del Campo so she set about doing her own research. However, no information existed in Spanish media. The only articles she could find on the drug and its lethal side effects was in the Olive Press. “I was in disbelief,” continued the Javea-based translator, who lived in the UK for 18 years. “I thought this was surely wellknown and someone was doing something about it. Except it wasn’t. “I felt I had to inform Spain Continues on Page 2

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How sad to read this. Not too long ago I spent many times in this part of Spain often alone and felt very safe (Estepona shootings are ‘normal’ in town housing international criminals and mafia, says police commissioner, online). Glad I moved to where I live now though. It’s sad that people were scared and had to hide from gunshots. I have heard a few (what I consider to be) sad stories in an area which has happy memories for me. Teresa Ramsey, Inland Andalucia www.ibexinsure.com

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ORE buyers than ever homes second to rent out - and are snapping hottest up second the Costa According thirds of destination del Sol of choice. is the part or owners now to new research, all of their rent out ago. their second more than costs, reversing The top two homes the trend to cover ond homethree locations of 50 years Even boom are benefiting international up to 2000 bought 10 homeowners. as investments. that figure Algarve, market,the Costa del from the buy-to-let “In a low Sol, which only dropped interest Back in in Portugal, the Costa Blanca, sec- But times are out income-generating has rate environment with 5%. to eight also at 4% of the their holiday changing with second the 1970s, nine director out of 4%, and homes survey home into out of more assets,” investors purely the In “Today’s for Savills World by 10 homeowners said a nice little buyers hoping for themselves. are seeking the earlySavills and HomeAway. second Research. Paul Tostevin, earner, to turn them financially home buyers kept their purely for 2000s, only associate according cover rental rather 14% of But by to a He costs but and they’re want properties second increasingly to added: to 19% the time of the than personal homes were to “Globalturn a profit.” looking work for and now credit use. bought national tourist tourism not just more than crunch, billion. continues to At the arrivals up a third this figure had to grow, of second risen holiday home same time, by 7% last year with intermarket homes the platforms to are owners to new such rapid expansiona record 1.3 to make target groups as HomeAway of online their properties and makes opens up it much the income-producing.” easier for

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UP to one TripAdvis in three reviews vestigationor is fake, a new on inAn analysishas found. of tens sands of of rated B&Bsreviews shows thouhave almost topas many ‘fake’ reviews twice ranked accommo as lowerThe Times dation. caught Mother trying to buy 5-star restaurants makes heart well as negative reviews, as Press reade reviews of It comes rivals. her rs to find felt plea to Olive exposed after the Olive son believ Press businessea series of Costa del ed to bealleged killer of s paying fake five-star for dozensSol A DESPERA in Mala of appealed reviews in ga increase TE mother a bid to their rankings. their eyes for expats to has EXCLUS suspected peeled for the keep man, By Yvonne IVE of killing Victims Tracey Hanson’s her son. Pardo Despite TripAdvis three years plea to investigat where like or stepping since her comes in Josh, 21, was e, the Times Mijas or only insisted enough na,” she allegedly son Estepoprobe by tattooed killed was done to stop Josh wasadded. Irish stabbed the bogusnot being Shane O’Brien. gym fanatic Another in a crowded in the On the recent studyreviews. bar, in neck that almost London, third anniversa found of his death, West nesses have nine in ten in what on October 11, 2015, ry she believes witnesses busi- O’Brien is been victims negative a random describe ‘very likely’ reviews. and motiveles as of immersed in to be Consumer tack. munity like an expat s atgroups comviews are say a growing fake re- Her views the Costa del Sol. and it is believed problem a recent are backed Gibraltar up by almost lion a year Metropol is spent on €16 bil- report - with itan Immedia hotels following travel tely after a rewardPolice dent reviews. and of €50,000 - which offer the O’Brien, he may 30, from incidon, the claims Do you know Marbellabe living around investigatchief suspect inLonselling fake of any businesse area. the reviews? the UK onion, managed to the SOUGHT: €50,000 s “He was definitely abusing social Or for info spotted He was a private plane. flee son Josh media or places Gibraltar and sites? Contact in leading later review we lots have had of expats GBH, while arrested newsdesk to O’Brien livepress.e on bail. He in Spain @theo- us since for ’s arrest s quickly fled. the following living in Prague contact Since then and (right) peal two a Crimestoppers year. However have been he is reported Tracey ap, tragically “I really years ago. with seen in to were unable erlands, , police the Nethlying low believe he could to link him UK “We’ve had murder although Nice and Gibraltar and hiding be to the an extraordi despite efforts ed under as he was arrestin some, response police there, the false from the Enzo Mellonce I’ve evenon social media nary to find furtherthey were unable name of Olive li and released O’Brien’s had people and evidence. “I am in “He was Press, this week. the worst holiday ‘Wanted’ posterstake We need an innocent and kind of TM pain imaginable”, on tence, anda trial and a boy. some of the put them up in Tracey told sen- around remotest we need most importan places the world. an opportun tly Josh’s voice ity for to be heard.” O’Brien Vigilant tattoo on- who has a menacing “We can’t holding his back of an eagle in Prague let what took Europe’sa skull - is now one happen again!”place See page of The Met continues nals with most wanted crimi5 courage a sum of to offered the £50,000 vigilant, public to enfor any leading to especially informati stay on and urges anyone if abroad, “If it wasn’t his arrest. they might See page who thinks campaign for the public, Josh’s 2 to contact recognize O’Brien MINIMA there”, his wouldn’t be RKET Freshly mother continued out mediately local police Baked UK BASED Deli Products . He was imed to have . last notTel: 602 514 384 dark hair, shoulder length WhatsAp *Offer p: 602 559 ends 3 known to a full beard and Opp St 0/11/1 385 Anthony’ is 8. Not ing clubs frequent gyms, valid boxLa Cala s College and for ren nightclub HIs distinctiv ewals. Hills Closed s. Subjec Mondays e back t to co too covers for Spanish nditio tatns. ‘Shannon a previous tattoo, 15-04-06 resident CASHBACK ’. s

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VILLA in Mallorca made headline legedly the ‘most expensive’ news an even costlier in Spain … this month for being Marbella-listed to say about although almansion might the owners of At a staggering that. have something €65 million, the country it’s that have market continues seen their one of the many properties worth soar to recover. Our Olive as the country’s across Press Property most expensive property Magazine homes in Spain’s sleuths rounded hottest locations. up some of the

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Most of the people who seem to have a problem with refugees are the racist ‘expats’ - despite this not even being their bloody country (Spain among most welcoming countries for refugees, issue 301). They think they have a right to say who should and shouldn’t be allowed to come. The thing that gets me though is that they’re being racist on someone else’s turf! How the hell can they be nationalists, when they abandoned their country?! Colonial racists are the worst kind of racists. They’re not only being ridiculously territorial of their homeland. But they think they can colonise whatever country they wish. False sense of superiority. Embarrassing. Julie Frank, Malaga

This is all part of the pathetic Brexit plan. Now the inevitable brick wall has been met, the next move is to blame the EU for perceived intransigence and stalk off in a huff, claiming the whole thing is impossible because of the unreasonable 27 other countries who insist on sticking to the rules. The madness that is Brexit gradually slithers to its inevitable conclusion. Nobody gains from this. Everyone loses, not least the expats trying to continue with their lives in Europe. Also, it’s hard to see how Gibraltar bending the knee to Spain can mitigate any of this disaster.

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jamboree’ to entertain friends in an exclusive VVIP area. “Gibraltar is getting used to Picardo’s spin and lies,” slammed GSD leader Keith Azopardi. “With refusing to publish a real and complete breakdown of figures on the festival, Mr Picardo has now lied to the people of Gibral-

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GIBRALTARIANS are to be banned from keeping whales and dolphins in captivity. It is one of the specific changes to be made to the ‘out of date’ Animals and Birds Act. Under new proposed animal protection laws there will also be tougher penalties for cruelty. Anyone convicted of committing cruelty to pets faces up to five years in prison. Under the new Animals Act, as it will be called, officers will be able to confiscate pets left in hot cars, or any other pets in distress. The changes come after an extensive review carried out by local organisations. “Our law was very out of date and the powers and penalties at present do not reflect what out 20th century society expects. This is a significant and important piece of legislation,” said Minister for the Environment John Cortes.

GSD while (right) Rag’n’Bone

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Vol. 3 Issue 80 www.gibraltarolivep ress.com September 26th - October 9th 2018

GSD slams Fabian’s ‘jamboree’ after MTV festival loses millions of ‘taxpayer money’

UNDER FIRE: (Inset) Fabian

9th 2018

INTERIORS WORLD CUP, PART 2 See page XXVI

Page VI

Page IV

FACE THE MUSIC THE Government has been slammed over losses for its Gibraltar Calling festival to the tune of £9.3 million. The GSD opposition party accused Fabian Picardo of a lack of transparency and claimed he ran the festival like his own personal ‘jamboree’. In a damning statement by

September 26th - October

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Casa or Cave

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

The UK has decided to leave the EU. So it is not up to the EU to offer a solution but it is Mrs May’s duty to make an offer which the EU might be able to agree to (Give us respect! Issue 301). I still believe that a no-deal could be reasonable for the UK if the UK is willing to negotiate with Spain on a joint government of Gibraltar. In that case, Gibraltar remains as part of the EU and therefore the full package of EU trade benefits are available to the UK without having to accept the free movement of people. It is also hard to understand that the UK is going to accept migration from Pakistan, India and Hong Kong, but no migration from Poland, Germany and Spain.

In Gibraltar www.gibraltarol ivepress.com LT D

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16 www.theolivepress.es October 10th - October 23rd 2018

XVI

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Vol. 14 Issue 302

an Pedro de Alcantara www.theolivepress.com

Carnes de Caza y Pescado

Pedro Power

FERIA FUN: San Pedro’s annual carnival is the last of the season

AN Pedro de Alcantara is dressed for all kinds of success, and I don’t mean flamenco costumes (although look out for them if you’re down that way in mid-October. The San Pedro fair famously closes the feria season on the Costa del Sol). Like this season’s debutantes, Marbella’s ‘kid sister’ has come out in style, stepping from under her sibling’s shadow into the limelight with glitzy attractions, gourmet eateries and resident celebs all of her own. In my 16 years of having a home here, I have never seen the place go through so many transformations. For a couple of years now, where snarled lines of traffic once backed up along the coast road, a striking urban boulevard sprouting trendy pavement cafes like NAO and Ambrosia has reclaimed the once maligned area. With a new skating rink, a skate park and a hat trick of new children’s play parks, the seaside town is unrecognisable from a few years before. And it is still in transformation, investing

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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As San Pedro gears up to see Andalucia’s feria season out with a bang, Laurence Dollimore discovers a town that can throw a party to easily match Marbella

more than €2 million in reinventing its town centre, with semi-pedestrianised zones between the boulevard and its commercial heart. This expat favourite, which continues to offer one of the most authentic Spanishpueblo vibes on the Costa del Sol, is also getting a new museum dedicated to the artist Vicente de Espona. And perhaps more fortune will come its way after its main political party, Opción Sampedreña (OSP) helped bring back former Marbella Mayor Angeles Munoz in a

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018 October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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dramatic vote of confidence at the town hall this summer. There are also rumours that former UK premier Tony Blair has bought a holiday home in the town’s exclusive Guadalmina urbanisation. And he wouldn’t be the first world leader to set up shop here, with ex-Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar among them. Meanwhile, the head-turning footbridge with its serpentine coils, is doing for San Pedro what the Golden Gate did for San Francisco and the Guggenheim for Bilbao - okay, on a slightly smaller scale. And although very much part of the municipality of Marbella, San Pedro has forged its own shiny new identity that’s quite separate, yet complementary to, its jet-setting neighbour. Just 10km west of Marbs, it has been reborn over the last decade as a modernised microcosm of Spain. But some things have never changed in all the years I have been visiting the town, named after 16th century Franciscan friar, St Peter of Alcantara. The evenings still see veteran San Pedranos gather on shaded benches around St Peter’s statue, outside the parish church; the traditional Saturday market remains a weekly highlight; and the pavement cafes and ice cream parlours are heaving on Sunday nights in summer, when Spanish families enjoy their ritual paseo along the prom. What has kept San Pedro special has been its ability to hang on to its Spanish persona in the face of massive investment from Marbella Town Hall - nearly €100 million, including the tunnel below. It must have felt like winning the lottery jackpot but San Pedro has spent the money wisely. The central boulevard, crowned by its snaking pedestrian bridge, has turned the town from an also-ran suburb into a

QUAINT: San Pedro’s main church and (right) Saint Peter himself

SAN PEDRO, ACTUALLY spanking new social hub where whole families come to skate on the all-weather artificial ice rink and enjoy the regular food truck festivals. Office workers make a beeline for its congenial cocktail bars on Friday nights. The bridge may be more Gehry’s Guggenheim than typical Andalus but it has forged strong new connections with visitors who used to think Marbs ended at Puerto Banus. The €6 million boulevard it meanders over boasts an amphitheatre and is now the official site of the town’s four-day feria, the last of the year in Andalucia, timed to celebrate St Peter’s feast day on October 18. Other welcome upgrades have included the €85 million tunnel diverting dangerous high-speed traffic below the town

centre, and a much-needed under- beaches and fabulous promenade, San ground car park. Pedro is pretty much perfect.” “San Pedro really does have it all,” says Beneath the glitzy exterior, San Pedranos Sean Woolley, 47, CEO of Cloud Nine are as friendly and unassuming as they Properties, who has run his company were in their 19th century farming days. from town for 15 years. And if anything is a re“The new boulevard minder of those rustic and urban park have origins, it’s San Pedro’s The beachfront become a magnet for resident pig! On any reveals clues of given Sunday this socianew restaurants and bars and it has created creature and town ancient visitors ble a place that now offers mascot can be seen something for everystrolling around its new - a 3rd century one,” he says proudly. neighbourhood, uttering Roman baths... “There is this charm contented grunts of apand tradition of a typiproval. cal Spanish town fused Army General Don with trendy and cosmopolitan additions, Marquez Manuel Gutierrez de la Confrom organic cafes to lively wine bars. cha founded the farming colony in the When you couple this with its sandy 1860’s when he acquired nearly 5,000

acres of agricultural land across Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona. But with malaria scything through the local populace and poor irrigation, the Marques introduced a series of innovative reforms, including an agricultural school for local farm workers, river bridges, dams and state-of-the-art machinery. Workers soon flocked from Valencia, Murcia, Granada and Almeria, and San Pedro grew into a sizeable municipality. A statue of Gutierrez now stands next to the old town, keeping paternalistic vigil over his creation. Although development slowed during the early 20th century when Spain was ravaged by civil war, the town bounced back during the late 1940s and 50s, with street lighting and a main road. But San Pedro has never seen the rampant over-development of other costa resorts. Central to its evolution has been its bustling beach promenade that links seamlessly to Banus and Marbella, putting the town on the map for cyclists, joggers and walkers. Its beaches fly the prestigious blue flag, the worldwide standard of excellence, while chic chiringuitos like Macaao and Guayaba are hotspots for the cool and hip. The once-barren wasteland between the boulevard and the ocean now sports shops, restaurants, residential communities and world class amenities like Nueva Alcantara paddle and tennis club, which hosts regular international tournaments. The beachfront also reveals clues to the presence of less-recent visitors – a 3rd century Roman baths and a 16th century watchtower looking out over the panorama of sun worshippers and jet skiers. While, set back from the waterfront action, you’ll also find relics of the 6th century Paleo-Christian burial site, Vega de Mar, excavated in the 1930s. A new road network has also made San

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

I GET YOUR KICKS: Down at the cable ski Pedro more accessible to visitors and local chefs have cooked up an exciting dining scene in response. Just behind the boulevard, Alfredo’s traditional Spanish fare is always in big demand while next door La Bodega del Cantinero offers an exciting foodie fusion featuring foie gras with apple and honey, tuna tataki with wasabi mayonnaise and shelves of vintage sherries. Further additions like L’impronta, La Buena Vida and Restaurant 1870, where you can enjoy spider crab gazpacho in a scenic garden setting, have made San Pedro a key dining reference. And there’s more. San Pedro has its own leafy satellite suburb in the shape of Guadalmina (Baja and Alta), just west of the town

centre. “I adore it here, you feel like This exclusive neighbourhood you are in the real Spain,” raves – a kind of western golden mile 39-year-old Guadalmina new- boasts multi-million euro man- comer and artist Debbie Lush. sions galore. “You are so close to Marbella and Guadalmina Baja is home to ex- Estepona but without the madSpanish Prime ness and busiMinister Jose ness of Puerto Maria Aznar, who Banus, it’s perYou can walk to is often seen jogfect. ging along the the beach, cycle “You can walk tree-lined aveto the beach, to Marbella and cycle to Marbella nues, flanked by four burly bodythere are there are great and guards. so many good Guadalmina Alta, places to eat, you places to eat on the opposite have everything side of the A7, on your doorhas an 18-hole step,” she adds. course and the coast’s only cable Like most locals, these days, ski lake which thrill-seekers can she’s proud to tell anyone who circuit on water skis or a wake- asks that, no, she’s not Marbelli board. she’s ‘Sanpedrano, actually’.

It’s hot, hot, hot

T has become one of the hottest places to buy on the Costa del Sol. It was perhaps only natural that San Pedro de Alcantara would suddenly explode, following the massive decade-long infrastructure project that created the spacious boulevard with its tunnel below. “No-one wanted to live here 15 years ago,” explains local estate agent Alexis Barbovitch, who has lived on the Costa del Sol for nearly 30 years. “It was scruffy and run down and totally out of fashion. But now after these huge infrastructure changes, everyone is looking here now.” And the 34-year-old should know, having grown up with a developer father, who build dozens of homes on the Costa del Sol. His company Prime Realty (www.primerealtymarbella.com), based at the end of the boulevard, offers dozens of developments around the San Pedro and Marbella area, as well as nearly 200 along the entire coast. He and his partner Alina Florentina decided

to base themselves here as it is such a good nerve centre and very central for their thriving business. The former hotel manager, who has worked around the world adds: “From here to Estepona is really growing fast, and particularly in Cancelada, with the mix of children at the school becoming much more international fast. It’s the same in San Pedro.” Another local agent who has continued to see big changes this year in San Pedro is Wolfgang Schlesier, of Casa Marbella. “It was a bit quieter in the summer, but the first half of the year saw some very healthy growth,” he explains, adding that the British sector continues to buy despite the issue of a looming Brexit. “Between 20 to 25% of our buyers are British, which is broadly speaking the same as it was along the coast in 2016,” he says. “It is no surprise. San Pedro is better than ever, it is so busy these days and a very vibrant community.”

Calle José Echegaray Local 8, 29670 Marbella +34 951 468 237 info@primerealtymarbella.com www.primerealtymarbella.com

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Guadal-great

If you’re hunting for a des res on the Costa, guapa Guadalmina ticks all the boxes

HE leafy enclave of Guadalmina on the westerly fringes of San Pedro has become as sought-after an address as Marbella’s own ‘Golden Mile’. I was lucky enough to spend the summers of my youth there, when Guadalmina Alta became my home away from home. Some 16 years later and this village-sized resort still has an enviable location and a neighbourly feel. It’s just five minutes from Puerto Banus, ten minutes from Marbella and an easy seafront stroll from San Pedro and there are all kinds of reasons to make that journey - not least an 18-hole golf course and a cable ski lake offering adrenalin-charged thrills for the watersports set. The local dining scene is also a lot tastier than 10 years ago, with a score of restaurants offering a feast of multi-ethnic fare, from a new vegan cafe and Japanese wok restaurant to the unrivalled La Rosa Argentinian steak house and the long-established Tricky Ricky’s, still doing a roaring trade in traditional English breakfasts. Over the road from the restaurant strip, Guadalmina Baja is home to palatial villas that

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

PICTURESQUE: Beach, (inset) rock pool and golf course wouldn’t look out of place in Beverly Hills and the list of celebrity residents is growing lon-

ger, with an ex-Spanish Prime Minister now in residence and royalty too. The Princess of Mo-

naco is rumoured to live close by. It’s no surprise that local and

international home buyers are also gravitating to this peaceful green San Pedro suburb for its

THE paper not to miss in Malaga NOW 12 years old, the Olive Press is distributed on every stretch of coastline along the Costa del Sol, as well as inland. Found at over 1000 locations, it is Alhaurin de la Torre Alhaurin el Grande Alhaurin el Grande Alhaurin el Grande Alora Alozaina Antequera Antequera Benahavis Benahavis Benalmadena Benalmadena Benalmádena

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where you would like to see it. And if you cannot find it... here are a select group of a few dozen key drops that have had it for years. Any more you want? La Cala La Cala Loja Los Boliches Los Boliches Málaga Málaga Málaga Airport Málaga Airport Marbella Marbella Marbella Marbella Marbella Mijas Mijas Pueblo Mijas Pueblo Mollina Monda Monda Pizarra Pizarra Puerto Banus Puerto Banus Puerto Banus Puerto Banus Puerto Banus Riviera del Sol Riviera del Sol Ronda Road Ronda Road

Smart Money Exchange Hotel Tamisa Golf The British Grocer Spainsburys Woody’s Celtic Irish Bar Tourist Office Helle Hollis Information Desk Aloha Golf Club Panorama Properties Los Naranjos Golf Swans School Specsavers Splash pools Tourist Office BP Garage Saydo Hotel BP Station Tobacco/Paper shop Maskrom BP garage Bookworld El Corte Ingles La Sala Iceland Shell Garage Miraflores Bowls club Super Estrella Los Arqueros Golf All in 1 Café

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Hurrah for flamenco

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2018

San Pedro is hosting a passionate revival of Andalucia’s celebrated gift to the world

LAMENCO is turning San Pedro into a must visit this month. Corazón Flamenco is a series of events around the town put on by the town’s Cultural and Youth department. Taking place all week until October 13, some of the highlights include Rebeca Lauret and Manuela Utrera in the Plaza de Istán, as well as Luis El Rubio, Camarón de Pitita, Rebeca Lauret and Curro Román at Pasaje Robledano.

Perfect

Those interested get the perfect opportunity to see the performers embrace the three distinct elements of the art form - the cante or song, the toque or play-

PERFORMING: Rebeca Lauret

ing of the guitar, and the baile or dance. Another show will feature the theatrical piece Quejío, an exploration of the works of Salvador Távora, the grand master of Andalucian theatre and Flamenco, who grew up in Sevilla. There will be singing and

Booking in AVID readers Alicia and Derek Duggan always dreamed of owning their own book shop. Now, after 13 years living on the coast, the couple have opened the appropriately-named The Bookshop, in San Pedro de Alcantara. Beautifully laid out, with a huge selection of books, as well as games and greetings cards and wrapping paper, it is easy to find next to the Passion Cafe at the La Colonia shopping centre. The decision to open the shop this year came after Alicia had worked in several book shops and retail outlets in the Marbella area. With their daughters finally at a more independent age and seeing a gap in the market they set about searching for the perfect location. Since opening The Bookshop in May they have had an overwhelmingly positive response from customers. Half the shop is devoted entirely to children’s and young adults’ books including the titles on the Laude Primary Reading list. The cookery section boasts, among the usual suspects, a great range of healthy eating, vegan and raw titles. With all the new and bestselling fiction and non-fiction titles, a comprehensive classics section and a weekly book ordering service, The Bookshop is bound to satisfy all your book buying needs. Check them out at www.thebookshop.es or pop in for a browse at CC La Colonia, San Pedro de Alcantara. +34 951 77 97 85 Email info@thebookshop.es

dancing masterclasses throughout the week and to top it all off on Saturday, the Huelva-born singer, Argentina, will present her critically acclaimed fifth album La vida del artista at the outdoor amphitheatre on the Boulevard. Flamenco originated in 18th century Andalucia and is linked to the region’s gypsy culture. For more information contact Marbella town hall (+34) 952 825 035 or visit http://www.marbella.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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Culinary hive San Pedro has a great mix of restaurants, with new ones opening every month, writes Jon Clarke

urant a t s e R Cafe &

Open 7 days a week

Home Bake Section

952 781 583

D DINNER N A H C N U L , B R E A K F A S To u r s : 0 9 . 0 0 - 2 3 . 0 0 O p e n in g he v e r y d a y

Centro Comercial La Colonia, San Pedro de Alcántara, Marbella.

info@passioncafe.eu | www.passioncafe.eu

Olive press_April 2013_120x145.indd 1

01/04/2013 11:59:43

T’S the fastest-growing culinary scene on the Costa del Sol. Blink and you will miss the opening of a new restaurant on or near the celebrated Boulevard. The knives have been drawn in a turf war between literally dozens of new restaurants that have opened since the celebrated urban project was finished three years ago. Everything from Swedish to Argentinian and Japanese to French... most nations are represented in this pavement tussle, which is good for the end user. “It’s been an exciting first year for us,” explains Pablo Castillo, 41, who opened his exciting Savor restaurant last year. “There is a lot happening in San Pedro and it’s perhaps no surprise being so close to Marbella,” he continues. His new spot is part of what is fast becoming known as ‘Restaurant Row’ among those-in-theknow in the town. It was here, in Calle Andalucia, after all, that Alfredo opened his famous same-name restaurant in the heart of San Pedro well over three decades ago. His neighbour Pub Charles has been around for nearly 40 years too, while, the excellent La Bodega del Cantinero is well over a decade. The newest arrival is Hustle N Flow, an original and healthy concept, which opened a couple of months ago at the other end. Restaurante Alfredo is the most remarkable of the places to eat here. And not just for its excellent food, which is tra-

DYNAMO: Alberto pours sherry the proper way ditional Andalucian, with some amazing tapas, such as mushrooms when in season, but for the fact it stays open for a near-record 364 days a year, only shutting on New Year’s Day. It is also a great place to find a buzz on an ordinary weekday and a more Spanish joint you cannot find, with its stuffed bull's heads (and plenty more) hanging from the walls. A true family affair, only its chef Ivan is an outsider and he’s been knocking around for over 20 years. Father Alfredo and his sons and daughter offer a great mix of meat and fish and plenty of seasonal fare to boot. Oh, and there is a great shady terrace outside ideal for business lunches, while inside for winter is rarely anything but packed. Next door you should also try out La Bodega de Cantinero, run by friendly superhost Alberto, who has been working in restaurants since he was 14. This is THE spot for lovers of sherry and he has hundreds of them and many going into the hundreds of euros, including a 1946 Pedro Ximenez and a 40-year-old Amontillado from Azuleta. It also has an excellent wine list and the food is also excellent and varied and there are always plenty of specials, including one of the best ajo blancos I have tried on the coast. Best of all though - in fact maybe the winning dish in San Pedro - was the amazing tartaki of bluefin tuna, with a wakame salad, egg roe ‘tobiko’ and SLICK: New pizzeria Snackchats mayonnaise wasabi. In a word; perfect. It is no surprise that last year the restaurant won a national ‘gold award’ from Radio TurGYM Junkie Café is celebrating fruit, farm-sourced maple syrup ismo and he continues to go three years of growth near the or 100% natural peanut butter. from strength to strength. Boulevard, in the heart of San It’s the right choice - where else Newcomer Savor is the most Pedro. can you enjoy great food with- exciting place to try, thanks to its chef Pablo (see side bar), They have become an expat fa- out regret. vourite for their mission to bring Both passionate about healthy who has not only worked with you fresh, healthy, nutrient-rich food and Gym Junkie’s them- some of Spain’s best chefs, infood and beverages at afford- selves, owners Jamie and Deb- cluding Ramon Freixa, but did able prices. orah from London set up this five years, as executive chef for the Melia hotel group in Cuba. They have proven such a hit that friendly family-run business. they are looking to expand not They felt there was a dramatic He mixes a superb range of only in Spain but in Europe also. surge of gyms opening up in local Andalucian dishes, with Their secret? They use tasty, the Marbella area but a serious national Spanish as well as a natural ingredients and super- lack of healthy eateries.”We are fusion of Latin America, parfoods packed with nutrients targeting people who live an ac- ticularly Cuban. and vitamins to benefit your tive lifestyle and who train regu- I particularly liked his taco mind and body. With the hectic larly. People who want to get full of ‘ropa viejo’ (literally ‘old clothes’), which was shredpace of daily life Gym Junkie results from nutrition. Café cares for your health and “We all want to live a healthy ded beef with guacamole and wellness providing you a great lifestyle and to eat cleanly both onion… a total winner, which alternative to other establish- in our home and when we eat coincidentally won a prize as ments. out. At Gym Junkie Café we best tapa on the Costa del Sol It’s perfect for a detox juice and have created a community for this year. a healthy breakfast before you gym-junkies....a place where But he impressed with a train or a tasty lunch post-work- you can relax, rejuvenate in number of different dishes, out. Try their high protein grilled comfortable, modern surround- such as his clever handling lean meat with healthy carbs ings. Where you can refuel of bluefin tuna, impressively or healthy salads and mouth- with our superior, healthy food served with gherkins and a watering wraps. served by friendly, courteous wakame salad, as well as a turbot, which came with a Refuel with their high qual- staff.” ity whey protein shakes. Taste Gym Junkie Café will help you very original ‘three textures of their delicious protein pancakes eat better and perform better in broccoli’. His creamy croquettes of loaded with all your favourite your daily life. Jabugo ham literally explode

Attention gym-goers!

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Spicing up the scene Jon Clarke has a Cuban journey at Savor

T is perhaps little surprise that in just one short year, Pablo Castillo and his team (below) at Savor have won a string of awards. Hanging on the walls of their atSpain tractive corner restaurant, on Calle Andalucia, they show clearly the trajectory of this exciting new eatery. It is almost full circle for Pablo, 41, who has come back to Malaga, having trained at the Bellamar catering college as a chef nearly two decades ago. In between he plied his trade around Spain at numerous restaurants and hotels, including the Kempinski, Messina, and the Westin La Quinta, before undertaking a five-year stint for the Melia group in Cuba.

ICONIC: Alfredos while (inset) chef Ivan

in the mouth! Elsewhere, stalwart Passion Cafe continues to impress (and stay phenomenally busy) after nearly 20 years in business, while its sister joint, the excellent Mr Gourmet Burger makes, now open for three years, makes impressive strides. This is THE go-to burger joint in the Marbella area (in fact the Western Costa del Sol)

and counts on 100% beef burgers, halal too, while kids are encouraged to make their own 'Junior G' burgers in 'four easy steps'. And now there is another new eatery, almost next door on the Boulevard, a pizza joint called Snack Chats. Bright and cheery, it does exactly what it says on the tin with a superb range of pizzas - over two dozen to be exact and with some excellent starters, the garlic mushrooms a good pick.

951 571 327

There are also set to be plenty of specials through the autumn, as the menu continues to develop. Just up the road another incredibly busy place is Hogan Stand. This popular Irish pub and restaurant, named after the famous Gaelic football stand at Croke Park, is always busy.. As well as having its typical bar snacks it also has a good mix of quality dishes, including rack of lamb and fish, and you dine on a nice terrace at

While there he moved up the group to become Executive Chef with 70 staff under him - as well as finding himself a Cuban wife. “I learnt so much in Cuba and have infused much of it with my cooking here,” he tells the Olive Press. “It was a constant battle to get the best ingredients there, so what a joy to be here in Andalucia now, where we have the best quality in the world.” His food is very international and stylish, with plenty of original touches. “It is sort of street food but all the time looking for more gourmet-style touches,” he explains. I particularly liked the award-winning taco tapa ‘ropa viejo’ with its Cuban fusion style, as well as the excellent Cuban sandwich. There was a bit of Thai influence in his food, to boot, and his handling of fish was superb. The wine list was ample enough, but lacked depth. I particularly liked the leftfield background music, which included Fleet Foxes and Radiohead and the outside terrace is a lovely place to sit for lunch or dinner. Trying is believing and he has an incredibly capable team, working hard to make this place one of the true rising stars of Marbella.

SAVOR, Calle Andalucia, 6, San Pedro de Alcantara, www.restaurantesavor.com the front. And then there is the Gym Junkie Cafe, one of Spain's first protein eateries, serving up vitamin-stacked meals ideal before or after a workout. The cafe’s mouthwatering

menu includes grass-fed beef, protein pancakes and an omelette bar - complete with seaweed, broccoli and tuna omelettes. To sum up San Pedro, manager of Hogan Stand Ross Duggan explains: “San Pedro has

completely changed over the last few years. It has a completely different atmosphere and all the scruffy builders and fraudsters we once had have well and truly moved on. “Now we can concentrate on quality.”

SnackChats Pizzeria

Eat in or take-away 16.00 - 23.00 Closed Tuesday

Savor fuses traditional Mediterranean food with cuisines from the rest of the world and elaborated with great skill and passion by chef Pablo Castillo and his team.

Tel: 951 53 17 77 C/ Andalucía 6, local 4, San Pedro de Alcántara, Málaga

Bulevard San Pedro, 22 - San Pedro Alcántara Next to Mr.Gourmet Burger our sister restaurant

W W W. R E S TA U R A N T E S AV O R . C O M

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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16 UPSTAVE .00 O 0€

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www.primerealtymarbella.com

Alexis Barbovitch

Operations & Marketing Director at Prime realty Marbella

Alina Florentina

Operations & Listing Director at Prime Realty Marbella

BUSINESS www.theolivepress.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Primera compensation rush

PRIMERA Air has officially ceased trading. It means hundreds of flights have been cancelled now and in the future – but can you claim compensation? First of all, don’t waste your time trying to use the contact section of the Primera Air website, that is no longer of use. As the Danish airline confirmed: “Kindly understand that the usual options for contacts (via email or phone) can not be offered any longer.” The bust airline will obviously not be in a position to be handing out refunds, so everything depends on how you booked the flight

and whether or not you bought insurance. If you bought your Primera Air ticket via an airline ticket agent then contact them ASAP as there may have been insurance included. If you have a UK credit card then get in touch with your provider as they will be jointly liable thanks to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. You may be protected if you used PayPal due to its Buyer Protection Scheme, contact them for more info. Travel insurance might also cover you for airline failures, consult your policy.

TAKE DOWN: Airline goes bust

off the rails Electric surge A NEW Ipsos Mori survey reveals 40% of Europeans will opt for an electric car next time round - with the Spanish and Italians in the driving seat. Of the 4,500 European citizens polled, seven per cent admitted it was ‘very likely’ they would flip the switch to electric, while 33 per cent said it was ‘somewhat likely’ they would go for a plug-in version. At 48 per cent, the Spanish and Italians are most likely to buy or rent an electric car as their next vehicle, but only 26 per cent of respondents in Great Britain said the same thing.

Models

Motorists from Poland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, France and Hungary were also included in the survey, conducted for the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Greg Archer, T&E’s clean vehicles director, said: “Europeans are open to buying electric cars, but carmakers aren’t doing enough to offer attractive, affordable electric models. “This is the single biggest obstacle to a faster shift to electric mobility. “Citizens want carmakers to do more and governments should set ambitious CO2 standards to ensure they do so.”

Cadiz company brings Elon Musk’s Hyperloop dream closer to reality AN Andalucian firm has built the first passenger capsule for the highly-anticipated Hyperloop rapid transport system. Airtificial, based in Cadiz, reached the global milestone in a project with Californiabased Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, and believes it will create wealth across Spain. The first full-sized 40-seater pod, designed to propel passengers through large tubes at a speed of 1,200km/hr, was unveiled at the company’s plant in El Puerto de Santa Maria. Said Airtificial cofounder Rafael Contreras: “They told you about a historic train, but what I want to emphasise is that we are making history. “We are from the south of Spain. I call Cádiz Kilometer Zero and, from here, we have become global.” Javier Moreno, responsible for design, is convinced the rapid transport project will generate great wealth in the region. “When we were shown the drawing, we raised our hands to our heads. We received a wonderful sketch that we had to make reality and we had to think about everything - rivets, raw materials, problems with the assembly ... more than an Airbus,” he said, “ We

Tourist downturn SPAIN’S visitor figures fell by 1.9% in August. It was the second monthly drop in a row following five years of recordbreaking growth. It comes as rivals like Turkey and north Africa are enjoying a resurgence in holiday bookings.

First

TUBEWAY BOUND: The new passenger pod have created wealth with this project.” The next step is to integrate the capsule into an entire Hyperloop technological system. The company is already developing a second shuttle for a network project in Abu Dhabi. “It will be ready by 2019,” the company said.

Race

Hyperloop stems from an idea by Elon Musk, the former president of Tesla and founder of PayPal, together with SpaceX and Tesla Motors. There are several other consortiums in the race to make the idea a reality. One is Californian company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, which employs more than 800 professionals from 38 different countries within a project whose investment exceeds €100 million. Another is Virgin Hyperloop

Spain’s the ticket RYANAIR has announced a record 36 new routes between Spain and Europe. The new connections will be in place for next summer with the majority operating between Spain and the UK. There are 11 new routes to and from Great Britain, including Malaga to London Southend, London Exeter and Luton and Sevilla to Edinburgh and Bristol. In total, the budget airline will offer more than 600 routes between Spain and Europe, transporting 48.3 million passengers annually and increasing its traffic by 3%.

One, which recently signed an agreement with Adif to build an innovation centre in Bo-

badilla, Antequera, to investigate the possibilities of the Hyperloop.

It is the first time August registered a decline in tourist numbers since 2009, according to official data. The number of tourists visiting Spain in the first eight months of 2018 fell by 0.1% to a total of 57.3 million.

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Rental threat Spanish short-term rentals to be scrutinized by Communities of Owners

THE Spanish government wants to give neighbours vetting powers over short-term rental apartments. If the proposed law changes are finally passed, the quorum required in Communities of Owners general meetings to prohibit holiday rental activities will be reduced substantially. Currently, the required quorum to vet short-term or touristic lets is unanimity; this wants to be changed for a minimum of 3/5 of the voting rights. The law also wants to define what is a ‘season or holiday let’ as opposed to a ‘shortterm or touristic let’. Some of the proponents want to establish a minimum of 45 days for a rental contract to be classified as a holiday let, below

which they will be classified as short-term rentals. Such law change could deeply impact property investment trends by creating clearly segregated short-term rental buildings or areas, separate from those neighbourhoods that choose to stick to exclusive residential use (by banning letting use). Real estate agencies selecting properties for clients, and lawyers acting for them in the conveyancing process, would have to ensure what the specifications of each neighbourhood are in respect to potential statutory prohibitions to do short-term rentals. We are eagerly awaiting further news on this proposed law change.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

Our courtesy

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Does your insurance company guarantee a courtesy car after a bump?

IF your vehicle is involved in an accident and has to go in for repairs, the last thing you need to worry about is organising alternative transport while your car is off the road. Fully comprehensive car insurance with Línea Directa guarantees a free courtesy car after an accident, for an unlimited period of time, until your car is back on the road. To qualify, policyholders need to take out additional Replacement Car Cover and ensure that the vehicle is repaired in one of their approved national network of authorised repairers. * Fu l l y co m p re h e n s i ve o f fe r v a l i d fo r n e w c u s to m e r s o n l y. G u a ra n te e s u b j e c t to cove r, re p a i r a t TM

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Audi This includes free pick-up and drop-off of the vehicle and they guarantee original manuTheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1 facturer replacement parts. With a fleet of nearly 1,000 Audi A1 courtesy cars, Línea Directa is already helping to keep its customers on the move. Following a claim, here is what one customer has said about this new and enhanced service: “I am very impressed with Linea Directa in this instance. “They have since updated their courtesy car, I noticed. The car that was allocated to me in this instance is an Audi A1, with Línea Directa livery displayed on the doors. “The car, I think, had done only 350 kms, so was brand new! “Thank you and the company for your help and understanding in this matter.”

2/8/18

New Costa del Sol projects are attempting to appeal to the super rich MALAGA is getting a huge new marina for megayachts of the super rich. Bidding has been opened for the space at the Marques de Guadiaro dock in the city’s port With the maximum bid set at €9.5 million, interest investors have three months to make their offers before a 17:01 winner is announced in February. The new marina will accommodate a maximum of 40 vessels, from 30 to 100 metres in length, and will cover 41,484sqm of water and 4,830sqm of land. There will also be a 770-metre pier.

Glamour

If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 282 or visit www.lineadirecta.com.

It comes after it was announced that the famous Four Seasons hotel is coming to Marbella in a bid to bring ‘more glamour’ and battle the area’s seasonality. The luxury hotel has a budget of €650 million and will be built on the beach front with the first brick having being laid on October 5. It has been described by sources as a ‘huge project’ which will bring back some ‘glamour’ to the tourism hotspot after a rise in loutish behaviour from boozed

BUSINESS

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

COMING SOON: Megayachts to new Malaga port

Luxury appeal up tourists in the summer months has tarnished once upmarket areas like Puerto Banus. The land is owned by Villa Padierna Hotels & Resorts and occupies 700 metres of beach. The laying of the first brick was attended by the who’s who of business and politics in Andalucia. Junta president Susana Diaz, Four Seasons CEO J. Allen Smith and Marbella mayor Angeles Munoz were all be among the guests. The luxury hotel is the brainchild of architect Richard Meier and has been de-

scribed by those involved in the project as ‘a marvel’. Much like its Miami and Dubai counterparts, the complex will include private residences as well as hotel rooms. It is hoped it will kickstart a ‘new era’ in luxury tourism in Marbella. Ricardo Arranz, President of Villa Padierna, which is a partner of the project, said: “Marbella and Madrid need the glamour that these types of brands give.” The Four Seasons will be the first in Spain, opening its doors by the beginning of 2019.

From Friday October 26th to Saturday November 3rd - Open 9:30 till 20:00 (closed 28th October and 1st November)

SHOWING 2019 MODELS 8 SPECIAL PROMOTIONS ON STOCK

NO LUNCH BREAK!!!

PROPERTY www.theolivepress.es

Historic victory against timeshare firm as British couple win hundreds of thousands of euros in damages EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Time’s up

A BRITISH couple have won one of the biggest ever victories against a timeshare company in Spain thanks to a local law firm. The Sewell-Rutters, from Southampton, won €365,000 against La Pinta Beach Club in Tenerife after having to remortgage their home in the UK and losing most of their life savings thanks to dodgy contracts.

Historic

The historic victory came after the judge ruled that the contracts should be deemed null and void due to perpetuity. Under Spanish Timeshare Law timeshare weeks sold after January 5 1999 cannot be in perpetuity and not for more than 50 years. The Sewell-Rutters said:

TIME TO CELEBRATE: The Sewell-Rutters

“We have had timeshare weeks with La Pinta for over 10 years and every year we went there, we were approached by the resales department, pressuring us to buy additional timeshares which they promised to sell at a profit. “They put so much pressure

on us each time to make us part with our money, that we felt quite exhausted and gave in. “As a result we lost most of our savings, having to remortgage our house and take out a bank loan. In the end we had lost a considerable amount of money.”

Going native

What registering as a resident in Spain means for your taxes

SSUES surrounding residency and taxation are important to any overseas buyer purchasing a property in Spain. Ultimately you want to avoid dreaded Double Taxation (CDI) and maximise the use of the treaties between Spain and other countries to reduce your tax burden. The first important point to note is that even if you don’t register as a resident in Spain, you will still be considered one for tax purposes if you spend more than 183 days of each year in the country. These don’t have to be consecutive, they simply have to add up to that number in total over a 12-month period. If you don’t want to be taxed by Spain, you will have to prove tax residency in another country and if you reside in a tax haven, the Spanish tax authorities will want proof of that as well. You’ll also be considered a tax resident if you have an economic link with the country. This is defined thus: ‘That the main core or base of his/her activities or economic interests are directly or indirectly located in Spain.’ There is also a presumption that you are tax resident in Spain if you have a spouse and children living in the country, even if you don’t live with them. However, if you are legally separated this rule does not apply. Double taxation complications There are however, some exceptional situations where two countries may both consider a person to be tax resident. To resolve

this, you will need to have a tax lawyer examine the Double Taxation (CDI) treaty between Spain and the other country in question to determine where you stand. Article 4 of these treaties is where the relevant information is usually found. Consequences of being a Spanish tax resident If you are a Spanish tax resident, this is what you can expect: •

You will pay personal income tax (IRPF) on your worldwide income

•

The Spanish tax authorities have to be informed about any immovable assets you own inside and outside Spain

•

Your tax declaration has to be made by 31st December in Spain and must include all assets and finances worldwide

•

With regard to the first point, the legal wording states, ‘This is without prejudice to what is stated at the CDI signed between Spain and country where the taxpayer obtains the income’.

It is a complex situation that requires expert advice, especially for those with assets, businesses or bank accounts in several countries. When seeking advice, make sure you choose a reputable and experienced tax advisor.

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

Sharon Johnson, of Malagabased M1 Legal, acting for the Sewell-Rutters, told the Olive Press: “As far as we are aware, this is the largest timeshare victory ever achieved. “M1 made this possible due to the continuous dedication and commitment supporting this case.” M1 Legal provides legal services to support European Consumer Claims (ECC) who have been subject to mis-selling and subsequent breach of statutory duties by the resort in relation to holiday ownership products and services sold transnationally. These include floating week timeshares; points based timeshare products; holiday clubs and fractional ownerships. For any other timeshare enquiries contact Sharon Johnson at sharon@m1legal.com.

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Crane crazy

CONCRETE CRISIS: Costa Brava under threat ONE of Spain’s last unspoilt Mediterranean coves is under threat from a new building frenzy. Environmentalists are growing concerned for the Costa Brava after several projects which were halted in 2008 have been resumed. According to SOS Costa Brava, some 20 projects are underway along the 160 km coastline. HOME sales in Spain rose by Among them is a 26018% year-on-year in July, new home residential develfigures have revealed. opment at Aiguafreda According to the National Inwhich had been stalled stitute of Statistics, sales were for 15 years due to buup in every province apart reaucratic hold-ups, from Las Palmas in the Canardivisions among invesies. tors and the economic New home sales were up 5% crisis, sparked by the to 7,105 and resales were up implosion of a decade19% to 38,120, both returning long property bubble to a growth trend in evidence “There is a renaissance since the spring of 2017, havin construction,” said ing paused for breath in June. Pilar Marcos, of GreenAndalucia saw a 21% bump in peace, “We are falling sales, 3% higher than the nainto the same trap.” tional average. The group has urged The highest growth was in Terthe PSOE government uel, with a 44% increase, while to adopt stricter laws Las Palmas in the Canaries saw against building on the a 3% drop in sales. coast.

Looking good

www.theolivepress.es

Property of the Week

Martos, Jaen - TH3894 39.000€ Great value, furnished townhouse is situated in the popular town of Martos in the Jaen region of Andalucia. The property has electric heaters, internet, town water and electricity connections and is being sold fully furnished excluding the TV’s .

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

PROPERTY

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

You don’t dictate!

Franco granddaughter under fire for failure to declare property profits

DICTATOR General Franco’s celebrity granddaughter has been slapped with a €525,063 fine for failing to declare profits from the sale of shares in the family’s property business. The Tax Agency claimed the Duchess of Franco, Carmen Martínez-Bordiú, 67, sold shares in FR Promociones del Suroeste S.A. on the same date in 2006 as receiving a donation from her mother Carmen Franco - who has since died.

and 2007, I declared all the capital gains obtained from the sale of shares and accepting bonuses.” Martínez-Bordiú’s brother Francisco Franco, 64, runs the property business and is currently appealing against a 30-month prison sentence he received this year following a Guardia Civil chase where he rammed their car.

IN TROUBLE: Carmen Martinez-Bordiu

Meanwhile...

Dancing

According to the Spanish treasury, socialite MartínezBordiú received a donation of €9 million, but fraudulently claimed she had only received €6.7 million. The former contestant on Spain’s Strictly Come Dancing hit back at the media and authorities, claiming ‘the statements made by the press are absolutely distorted and insidious.’ She said: “I would like to clarify that in my personal income tax return for 2006

He also hit the headlines for defending his dictator grandfather, saying the exhumation of Franco’s remains from the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum near Madrid ‘would simply divide Spaniards even more.’ His sister’s bill from the treasury is a drop in the ocean of the Franco estate’s total value, thought to be worth over €500 million.

FRANCO’S bedroom in the Palacio del Pardo near Madrid has officially been closed to the public, Patrimonio Nacional has confirmed. Spain’s national heritage agency said there is no likelihood of the fascist dictator’s former chambers at the historic Madrid landmark ever reopening. His dressing room, office, bathroom and personal theatre are also off limits to tourists, the explanation being that rooms are closed for ‘internal conservation work.’ However property specialists have said there is no conservation work being carried out at the house, used by Franco be-

The Grapevine

tween 1939 and 1975. The move comes as plans continue for the exhumation of Franco’s remains from his tomb at the Valley of the Fallen near Madrid, where over 33,000 Spanish Civil War victims are also buried. The rooms were originally closed in 2010 under Spain’s socialist leader José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, only to be reopened a year later when conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took over. Among those attractions now hidden from public view are Franco’s toilet, the chapel he prayed in each morning and the table he used to sign his death sentences.

by Laura Wood

Expats of the future Our experience at A Place in the Sun in the UK taught us a lot about Brits moving to Spain

e spent last weekend unapologetically gushing about our region at the Place in the Sun Exhibition in Birmingham. Here are our takeaways: We found that approximately 80% of people are coming to the area looking

for a bolt hole in the sun to use as a holiday home with a view to retire and spend more time here in the future. Everyone we met was talking about coming over for a change of lifestyle and that although the property itself was important, the move was more about

integrating into a typical Andalucian lifestyle. Budgets of between 50,000€ - 100,000€ were particularly common. •

BREXIT, the one word on everyone’s lips. Whereas at the last edition we attended we noticed that people were unsure about the current climate and preferred to wait a while before making the move, at this edition in Birmingham we noticed that people we looking to leave because of Brexit.

•

One of the more surprising things we learnt over the weekend was that some people didn’t think of Málaga as part of Andalucia and hadn’t realized that you could be within an hour of the airport and still be immersed in the typical Spanish lifestyle.

•

LIVE: At Birmingham’s NEC

It was also lovely to meet clients in person that we had been chatting over email with previously. People were planning trips over before Christ-

mas with a view to buy as soon as they find the perfect property! •

As previously mentioned, townhouses were our most requested type of property however there was still interest in country properties and urbanisations.

•

This isn’t our first venture to an international property exhibition. We also take part in the Second Home Expo in Utrecht twice a year and have featured in the Brussels and Gent editions of the fair. We are so proud to be representing our beautiful valley overseas.

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

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL www.theolivepress.es

October 10th October 23rd 2018

Russian sanctions harm Spain

RUSSIAN sanctions on EU imports are decimating Spain’s fruit and vegetable industry. Data from ICEX (Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade) up to August 2016 shows that Spain accrued an eye-watering €534 million loss due to the export squeeze. José María Pozancos, general director of the Spanish Federation of Fruit and Vegetable

Capital vino SPANISH chef Jose Pizarro has launched his own brand of Cadiz wine in London to capitalise on Spanish vino’s popularity among the local cognoscenti. On the menu at his three restaurants in the capital, the range includes a 2017 Chardonnay and a 2016 Syrah blend made in Arcos de la Frontera. “I’m passionate about promoting Spanish wines, cavas and sherries in my restaurants and hopefully in the near future they will be easily accessible in grocery stores and wine merchants throughout London,” said Pizarro.

Obscure

The wines are made at Bodega Huerta de Albalá which produces a wide range, including obscure tipples like Tintilla de Rota. The Chardonnay boasts aromas of ‘white flowers, citrus fruits, peach and aromatic herbs’ while the Syrah blend of 20% Tintilla de Rota and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of ‘blackberries, cacao, leather, spices and vanilla’.

UNCORKED: Pizarro wine

Exporter Associations (Fepex) said sanctions have had a ‘very serious’ impact on Spain. The Fepex chief said: “The consequences are still felt, as Russia is a natural market for Spanish fruit and vegetable products. “The Russian market absorbed approximately 600,000 tonnes of exports for the Spanish sector, taking both direct and indirect exports into account.”

restaurant | lunch and dinner restaurant | lunch and dinner

Spain’s best chefs could soon be printing your fillets and sirloins - and they’ll be meatfree FIRST came 3D-printed guns, then homes and now ...steaks. Scientist Guiseppe Scionti, 31, has spent three years developing a ‘steak printer’ at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) that could make the traditional fillet and sirloin dead meat - and the world’s top chefs are interested. Made entirely from plantbased ingredients, the ingenious invention manages to create the texture of meat - although its appearance might need a little work. Guiseppe hopes his invention can help decrease the impact of animal farming on the environment while providing a solution to malnutrition in poorer countries. While he plans to present his project to the World Food Organisation, he has already caught the attention of celebrity Spanish chef Ferran Adria and the research centre run by the famous Roca brothers. “They are interested in something that looks like a steak but tastes like a mushroom,” revealed Scionti.

Plant-based

The machine is made up of syringes which hold several ingredients within a strawcoloured paste. The syringes are placed in the 3D printer and it manages to combine the contents into a steak. It takes between 30 and 50 minutes to create a 100g piece of ‘meat’ and costs around €2, a price which will decrease as volume increases. The ingredients are protein powder (from rice or peas) and seaweed components – food that is normally consumed by vegetarians and vegans as di-

Fake steak

etary supplements. “The difficulty lies in reorganizing the nanofibers from vegetable proteins to make them seem like animal proteins,” explains Scionti. “First you have to study the histology of the animal tissue, how the muscle fibers are organised, and then you have to try to replicate that with plant-based ingredients that have not been genetically modified.” Once the steak comes out of the printer, it is ready for cooking. It makes a sizzling sound in the pan, just like any regular piece of meat. “They cook really well,” says Margarita, the cook at the university center where Scionti works. “They don’t burn or stick to the pan.” Scionti has filed for a patent and in October he is planning to launch a startup, Nova Meat, to market his invention. If it catches on, the future for the traditional steak looks fried.

Market forces for Arroyo BENALMADENA is getting its own farmers market. Arroyo de la Miel’s current open shopping centre

The bans, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014 over the West’s retaliation to Russian military activity in Ukraine will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Spaniards. Pozancos said Spain had lost an ‘estimated 10% of the total demand,’ adding there was ‘clearly a negative impact on the fruit and vegetable sector.’

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

will house the €1 million project, which will include butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg sellers and

charcuterias. The market will cover 1,000m2 with 30 to 35 stalls. Councilor for Commerce and CEO of Innoben, Bernardo Jiménez said: “It is a project that was born to boost trade in the area, open to entrepreneurs who have not yet opened a business in the municipality and entrepreneurs who want to have a new business.” He added that the project has an excellent location, with easy parking and close to the train station.

WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM ESTACIÓONDE DE ARRIATE ARRIATE ||ARRIATE (MA(MA 7400, KM 4)KM 4) ESTACIÓON ARRIATE 7400, 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 CLOSEDON ONMONDAYS MONDAYS CLOSED

SPOT THE

DIFFERENCE We’re not saying one is better than the other but if you like small, friendly places where you stand a good chance of a personal insult from the boss, then Molino del Santo may be just the spot for you. Great food, location, ideal for a special occasion - or just a relaxing time. Call soon - we close on the 4th November 2018 until March 2019. Ask for last minute offers, within one week of arrival. ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

More information of any kind e-mail

info@molinodelsanto.com

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

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Bunch of stunners! Six Andalucian villages are among Spain’s 40 prettiest villages HALF a dozen villages in Andalucia are included in Spain’s Top 40 most beautiful places to visit. The settlements all under 10,000 inhabitants in size, are part of a comprehensive list of Spain’s most stunning 250 villages, compiled by El Pais. According to the poll, published this month, Frigiliana, on the Costa del Sol, is Andalucia’s prettiest village. The attractive spot, near Nerja, sits on the edge of the Sierra de Almijara, with a wonderful climate and views. It is joined by five other Andalucian villages, which are Grazalema, Cazorla, Pampaneira, Setenil de las Bodegas and Mojácar. These beauty spots are included for their history, architecture and culture and show that Andalucia really does have it all. Number one however goes to the amazing village of Albarracin, in Aragon, which is situated on the curve of the Guadalaviar river. The second and third most beautiful places are Cudillero, a pretty fishing village in Asturias and Santillan del Mar, a Cantabrian gem. Here the Olive Press runs a rule over the top three and our local gems.

Albarracín, Looking at photos of Albarracin you can understand why it has been dubbed the most beautiful village in all of Spain. It has been suggested that the narrow streets of this unspoilt medieval wonder should be made a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cudillero, Asturias Not a regular tourist hotspot this seaside beauty is filled with pretty little houses that seem otherworldly. A fishing port, it boasts a Gothic church, a lighthouse and a row of fisherman’s taverns. The whole colourful place has the appearance of rolling from the mountain next to which it sits.

Santillana del Mar, Cantabria The medieval town is complete with cobbled streets, Renaissance palaces and the Romanesque Santa Juliana Collegiate Church. Santillana del Mar is a well-preserved gem and consequently only residents are allowed to bring vehicles into the town’s old centre. It even has a zoo, with ring-tailed lemurs, snow leopards and tigers.

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com www.theolivepress.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Cazorla, Jaén Grazalema, Cádiz

Cazorla was founded by the Romans six centuries before christ and is renowned for its highquality olive oil production. Two well-preserved castles, the Moorish La Yedra and the Christian Cinco Esquinas, make for an interesting visit and the annual Cazorla Blues Festival in July is a particular highlight.

The idyllic white-washed homes in the mountain village of Grazalema are surrounded by limestone peaks of 1,500m, producing a unique microclimate that allows all kinds of flora to thrive. This was once the centre of Spain’s wool industry, but it contracted suddenly 200 years ago, leaving this almost intact rural gem.

Frigiliana, Málaga

Mojácar, Almería

Pampaneira,

Setenil, Cádiz

Coming in at number 11 it is easy to see why this network of elegant cobbled streets just north of Nerja is so popular. The award-winning Mudéjar barrio is the bohemian village’s crown jewel and the exquisite sea views provide a perfect setting to enjoy some tapas.

With views over the Mediterranean the scene is set for a pleasant stay in this small town, which has Moorish origins. The beautiful white houses of the town sit below rocky terrain and above the Palmeral and Cueva del Lobo beaches. Mojácar’s hilltop Plaza Nueva offers unparalleled views of the Valley of the Pyramids.

This tiny village clings to the slopes of Barranco de Poqueira at 1,000m and is one of a trio of gorgeous settlements, the others being Bubión and Capileira. The village centres on a pretty square where travellers will find the 16th-century Mudéjar church, the Iglesia de Santa Cruz. Look out for handmade rugs - a Pampaneira speciality.

Despite having grown out of the caves this town is not stoneyfaced and has several welcoming cafes and hotels. The houses literally emerge from the rock and can be visited by arrangement. It is a peculiar place, some of the roofs having olive groves growing over them. Although named after their old wineries or bodegas it is the chorizo that is the real prize.

The perfect Autumn escape. •

Plaza de España, 16. Vejer de la Frontera • Tel. 34 956 447 730 www.califavejer.com

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

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Spain is famous for its cornucopia of home-grown produce but you won’t find all its exotic offerings down at your local supermarket. Charlie Smith samples some of the more surprising specialities in its culinary larder Percebes DANGEROUS DELICACY

Found clinging to the cliffs of Galicia, this tiny delicacy - known beyond Spain as the gooseneck barnacle is highly dangerous to harvest. The percebeiros of Galicia risk their lives plucki n g these revered crustaceans from their habitat, making it one of the most expensive forms of seafood around. One kilo can fetch over €200. Compared to sweet clams and lobster, the edible part is contained in a black sleeve, capped by a spiky shell resembling a dinosaur claw. The soft pink flesh is boiled in seawater and traditionally served with a simple aioli dressing.

Angulas SLIPPERY SPECIALITY Known as ‘glass eels’, these slippery customers can cost more than €1,000 per kilo. They traditionally appear on Spanish menus on Christmas and New Years Eve and the Day of San Sebastian on January 20. In the original recipe from Bilbao (angulas a la bilbaína) the eels are fried in garlic and chilli until crunchy. Their journey starts when mature 10-year-old eels swim from European rivers to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die. The hatchlings then drift towards Europe on the Gulf Stream where fisherman on Spain’s Atlantic Coast wait with nets. Though legal in Europe, angulas are so popular in Asia that illegal trade in them bagged one Spanish gang over €37 million.

Something special, sir? Organic caviar - WORLD FIRST

Black truffles BLACK GOLD Spain is one of the world’s largest exporters of truffles, and the expensive subterranean fungus is readily found in the mountainous east of the country. These so-called black diamonds are notoriously difficult to find and fetch up to €600 per kilo on international markets where truffles are prized for their delicate but instantly recognisable flavour. Truffle season is February to March and the provinces of Huesca, Teruel, Soria and Castellón are particularly known for the delicacy. The truffles are sniffed out by trained dogs that can detect their aroma at 50m away, even when buried 50cm deep.

w Ne lla rbe t a M o tsp ho www.cascadamarbella.com | +34 951567849 Urb Montua, 39, 29602 Marbella

The tiny village of Riofrio in Granada province hit the headlines way back in 1960 for producing the world’s first organic caviar. And celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey is one of many fans. The sturgeon are farmed in crystal clear spring waters from the mountains and have European-cer-

tified organic production. But what is most unique about Riofrio’s black gold is the time it takes to produce. Patient farmers allow 16 years for the female sturgeon to grow naturally to double the length of other caviar-producing sturgeon on the market

Ethical foie gras - WORLD FIRST Controversially, the production of foie gras uses the inhumane ‘gavage’ system, where geese are force-fed corn through a tube. But Extremadura company Sousa & Labourdette have taken the cruelty out of the process to become world leaders in the production of ethical foie gras. Run by farmer Eduardo Sousa and bird expert Diego Labourdette, the pair allow geese to feast natuseeds and - most waiting a whole year of their worldTheir caviar aptop tables and has Barack Obama by

their European greylag rally on wild grass, crucially - acorns, to produce a batch renowned product. pears on the world’s even been served to chef Dan Barber.

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com www.theolivepress.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

October 10th - October 23rd 2018 Gamoneu cheese - SPAIN’S STINKIEST Gamoneu, named after the Asturian town where it is made, is a fatty cheese made with cow, goat and sheep milk. It can take up to five months to mature in caves where it grows slightly mouldy, gaining a blue tint round the edge. It has a light smokey flavour, a thin rind and will set shoppers with fat wallets back a whopping €35 per kilo. The cheese is DPO-protected and has a reputation for being Spain’s stinkiest, only thought to be the second most pungent worldwide after Italy’s Casu Marzu ‘maggot cheese’.

Saffron - WORLD BEST Saffron de la Mancha has its own Protected Designation of Origin (DPO) - the only spice in Spain with this national quality guarantee. One of the most exclusive spices in the world, saffron was introduced in La Mancha during the Caliphate of Cordoba. Every saffron flower produces very little of the sought-after golden powder and it is harvested by only experienced pickers. It takes 25,000 flowers to produce 500 grams and Spanish saffron is renowned for its quality, which explains how one kilo can cost €3,000.

Orange and cannabis wines RIOJA RIVALS Andalucia’s urban orange trees are not just for decoration and marmalade. The bitter fruit are also in big demand for flavouring vino de naranja - and there are regional differences. Those from Sevilla should be sipped like a fine whiskey. Producers there use an oloroso sherry base, made from Garrido Fino and Pedro Ximenez grapes, and age the wine for between five and seven years. Huelva and Málaga use the solera system where white wine is flavoured slowly. The orange peel is dried and then macerated in the alcohol. The Málaga version is almost clear while Huelva’s is a richer brown shade. If cannabis is more your thing, Andalusian winery Pisando Fuerte has a weed wine that will have you in high spirits. It is the first red wine steeped with cannabis, which is actually classed as hemp due to its low THC content, at the legal maximum of 0.2 per cent. Rafael Hoyos is the brains behind this this smoking hot vino, which c o m b i n e s Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes with cann a b i s leaves. The comp a n y has just launched the first 500 bottles of their ganja-grape concoction.

Lampreys - ROYAL CONNECTIONS Lampreys, better known by the bloodthirsty nickname ‘vampire fish’, have lurked in the rivers of Galicia for over 500 million years. They have eel-shaped bodies and gruesome circular rings of teeth adapted for feasting on the blood of larger fish by sucking them dry. Don’t be put off though, as they have a delicious flavour, especially when cooked in red wine. In Arbo, Pontevedra, near the Portuguese border, there is a food festival at the end of April dedicated to these prehistoric monsters. They were the favourite food of King Henry I of England who reportedly died from ‘a surfeit of lampreys’ but it was probably food poisoning. Málaga mangos EUROPE’S BEST Axarquía is home to more than 4,000 hectares of mango-growing land. Producing between 10,000 and 30, 000 tonnes annually, the area east of Málaga grows more mangos than avocados - another of its staple exports. The exotic fruit originally came from Southeast Asia, but was introduced to Andalucia in the 1980s. Now Spain leads European commercial mango production, also having sites in the Canary Islands. Sicily is the only other serious European player in the mango game.

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Migrant equality FREE healthcare for undocumented migrants has been approved by Spain’s parliament, a right removed in 2012 by the former conservative administration.

Favour

While the PSOE have a minority of just 84 seats in the 350-seat assembly, the measure introduced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez passed with 177 votes in favour and 133 against. It grants undocumented migrants access to public health ‘under the same conditions as people who have Spanish nationality.’

HEALTH

Flabbergasting! Family doctor puts Spain’s tubbiest town on a mass diet A SPANISH town has committed to losing 100,000 kilos by 2020 after being named one of the flabbiest in the country. Naron, a town of 40,000 people, has 9,000 residents registered as ‘overweight’ and another 3,000 declared ‘obese’. Following the summer months, the town has now kick-started its sport programme as part of the weight loss initiative. “In the 21st century, people forget they’re made to walk,”

says Carlos Pineiro, the 63-year-old family doctor who prescribed the mass diet and workout programme, which has the full support of the town hall. Pineiro often swaps his practice for the local wooded park where he helps dozens of others warm up and exercise. Retiree Conrado Vilela Villamar, a regular of the programme, said: “In Spain where people say that you can eat everything in the pig, from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose, the first food

Need to know! Take heed of this eye care advice for World Sight Day

ORLD Sight Day (WSD) will be celebrated this Thursday October 11 to focus global attention on blindness and visual impairment. To support this important initiative Specsavers Opticas is offering this important information about impaired vision and how to protect your sight.

Visual Impairment Facts There are approximately 285 million people worldwide who live with impaired vision and blindness. Of these, 39 million people are blind and 246 million have moderate or severe visual impairment, yet 80% of visual impairment is avoidable through treatment and protective measures. The leading causes of avoidable blindness are: • • • •

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Cataracts Glaucoma Age Related Macular Degeneration Diabetic Retinopathy

WEIGHT BATTLE: Piniero has put his town Naron on a diet

I stripped from my diet was tripe, pork belly and cold cuts.” Galicia is the fattest region in Spain, according to a study by the Spanish Society of Cardiology. “The rainy weather means people stay at home a lot with a very big daily ingestion of calories,” added doctor Pin-

eiro. More than 4,000 residents – one tenth of the population have joined the project. Some 18 restaurants now offer healthier dishes by promoting an Atlantic-style diet full of seafood. “I replace salt with algae, fish infusions or a simple dehydrated mussel, and butter

with virgin olive oil,” says Diego Platas, a 37-year-old restaurant owner. The idea took root after the World Health Organisation warned that obesity and the growing proportion of people who are overweight risked reversing the general trend of rising life expectancy in Europe.

Royal treasure A LOST Henry VIII tapestry rediscovered in Spain is set to go on display for the first time. Commissioned by one of Britain’s most famous kings during the1530s, it has emerged that a Spanish dealer bought the artwork which depicts Saint Paul’s life - in the 1960s, selling it on to a Barcelona collector. It was eventually sold again to an unidenti-

fied buyer in Madrid, who has now sent it to Britain to be cleaned and conserved. The magnificent 20-feet wide work, woven with silver and gold thread, is one of the most important Renaissance tapestries ever to go on display in London, after it was thought it had been destroyed centuries ago. It can be viewed at London’s Franses Gallery from October 1 - 19.

All of these conditions and many others can be easily identified with a complete eye test and early diagnosis is crucial to effective treatment and avoiding permanent vision loss.If necessary, the optometrist will refer you directly for further medical examination to an Ophthalmologist or doctor. How to Protect Your Sight • •

• •

Get your eyes tested regularly – every year for children, over 70s and people with family history of eye complaints and every two years for those with no issues Eat a healthy diet – A diet full of the following foods has been shown to help reduce the occurrence of Age-related Macular Degeneration; chicken, saffron, dark green leafy vegetables, peppers, broccoli,pumpkin, yams, squash and sweet potatoes,apricots and citrus fruits, sardines and nuts. Know the signs – Being aware of the symptoms of these common conditions will help you identify them quickly. Take action - Don’t delay in seeking professional help if you do notice any changes, the quicker any condition is identified the easier it is to treat.

Specsavers Opticas have stores in Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. To book an eye test, or find out more about eye health visit www.specsavers.es HISTORIC: New tapestry will reveal clues about medieval life

www.theolivepress.es

October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Return of the Mac A HOTEL in Mallorca plagued by hand, foot and mouth disease is back under control, according to health officials. Throughout September the Club Mac hotel in Al-

cúdia, Mallorca could not shake its reputation for causing case after case of the childhood illness that can also affect adults. Maria Ramos, the Balaeric director for public

health, told The Olive Press the situation is under control. She said: “The outbreak started at Club Mac, but there are now just three or four cases.”

Medicine that can kill

IVA FREE October 10th - October 23rd 2018

DOCTORS and researchers in Spain have warned of the deadly dangers of pseudoscience-based treatments. In an open letter to Health Minister María Luisa Cancedo, the 400-strong group of health professionals are demanding immediate action against practices which ‘kill patients’ who abandon their treatments in favour of ‘alternative’ medicines such as homeopathy.

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EAT UP: Diet typical in Spain will always extend your life

Med or dead

IT’S never too late to benefit from a switch to the Mediterranean diet. That’s the conclusion reached by re-

searchers in Italy whose study revealed that adding more fruit, veg, nuts, beans, fish and olive oil from the age of 65 and onwards can still prolong life. Even cutting back on meat and dairy products can reduce an elderly person’s chances of dying within a year by 25%. The Neuromed Institute in Pozzilli told the British Journal of Nutrition that moderate drinking with a meal can also have a positive effect on Crta de Cadiz 174 (Opposite Puerto Banus behind health.

The call comes after several in depth studies proved homeopathic medicines were not effective ‘at all’ in curing illnesses. The letter cited Rosa Morillo, an economist who died last year of breast cancer because she swapped traditional treatment in favour of a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy groups have hit back, stating they don’t offer treatment as the only solution, or as a substitute for surgery or chemotherapy, but as a compliment to conventional treatment.

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Brexodus HOSPITALS in the UK are facing an ‘extreme shortage’ of staff as nurses return home to Spain and elsewhere due to fears over Brexit. Staffing has dropped by almost 8% in Oxford since the referendum result according to Bruno Holthof, Chief Executive of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust who highlighted the dire situation at the trust’s annual public meeting. “We have had quite a lot of nurses from European countries going back to their country of origin – mostly Spain and Portugal,” said Holthof. “We need to remind our European staff that the government has made a commitment that any European staff working in the NHS will not be impacted by Brexit – although it has already had an impact. “We are extremely short of people to care for our patients and this has an impact because you have to close beds.”

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

All the red tape in Spain has left new expat Paula Leskovitz red faced

A nother B Brit In The Wall

EFORE we left the UK to reside in Spain I enjoyed nothing more than a good old moan about the country I was born in. I’d rant to my neighbours for hours about how all the decent high street shops were now empty and abandoned - even though our entire Christmas last year was ordered online from Amazon. I regaled anyone who cared to listen about the decline of decent job opportunities for the over-40s, conveniently failing to mention that I’d quit my own employment because the obligatory nylon uniform was itchy and unflattering and the hours unsociable. I bemoaned the fact that not one of my Carol Vorderman-inspired dresses fitted around my middle-aged torso anymore before consoling myself with a customary Grints Sausage roll and can of Cream Soda. But the topic I loved moaning about most was the British weather. The UK government should declare August 15 a national public holiday. We could name it ‘I’ve moaned all winter that I’m frozen but now I’m too hot and can’t use a hosepipe’ day. Over in Spain, where the weather is a blessing we count, it’s an entirely different matter. The Muhammad Ali of anguish and stress for expats hands down is

Autumnal issues

ND suddenly it was October. I’m not sure when September decided to turn into the Usain Bolt of the Gregorian calendar, but it seemed to speed by with indecent haste. As my Welsh Grandmother used to say: “And there he was. Gone!” There are always a few telltale signs that autumn is on the way. I spent the first weekend of October listening to the sounds of the Marbella Beach Club closing parties. No matter that I live several kilometres inland – the amount of ordinance used in the fireworks at these lavish occasions makes the ‘Shock and Awe’ phase of Operation Desert Storm look like waving a sparkler at a soggy bonfire party in Swansea. Then there is the great duvet dilemma. In the summer months we sleep with just a sheet on, but this time of year is a nocturnal No Man’s Land- It’s too hot for the full duvet, too cold for

a light sheet (careful how you say it). And when you do, finally, get the temperature just right, the cat decides to sleep on you. In the meantime the hoodies and beanie hats – essential headwear when you are as follically challenged as myself – have been excavated from the back of the chest of drawers The other indication that autumn has arrived on the coast is the fair in San Pedro Alcantara, which marks the end of the feria season. Nowadays it’s about the only thing in San P that hasn’t been knocked down, modernised, pedestrianised, concreted-over or generally ballsed up by the OSP buffoons allegedly in charge. We are still waiting to see what the formerly charming church square looks like after they have finished with it. At the moment my money is on something akin to a multi story car park in Macclesfield… San Pedro Feria should be a fitting final fling

New wife in the sun

the local bureaucracy! Let me elaborate. As an employed person with a contract, my husband was in the enviable position of qualifying all of us for state healthcare. Armed with all the confidence and naivety only newbie expats possess, we both headed over to our nearest clinic, grabbed a ticket from the deli counter-inspired number system and took a seat in line. The Spanish, knowing full well that we Brits are lazy with languages, had sourced a couple of bilingual volunteers to help with form filling. Once our number was called we plonked ourselves down in front of our two saviours - a pretty young woman and (surely not) Blanche from the Golden Girls. “Hello, we are new to the area, and we need some healthcare please” I began enthusiastically. “Where do you live? Do you own or rent?” cut in Blanche. “Ermm… we don’t actually have a permanent address as yet, we are staying up a mountain in a wooden shack next to a goat farm but we are hoping to move to Fuengirola centre pretty soon…to escape the kitty-eating vampire slayer” I added with good humour. “Do you have an NIE?” interrupted the interpreter, ignoring my ice breaker. “My husband has one through his job, I’m going to apply for mine, I promise” I replied nervously. “Residency? Social Security Number?” I shook my head, sinking further into the chair, my thighs making an unattractive sucking noise as they detached from the plastic seating. “Then may I suggest you go and get all these items first and when you’ve moved into your permanent accommodation, go to the town hall and register for empadronamiento” smiled the elder assassin through her shiny non-government funded white teeth. With tails firmly between our legs, we reversed towards the exit, mumbling our thanks as we hit a wall of humid air outside, clutching our dose of reality like a consolation prize. WRAPPING UP: Giles hard at work “Well, that went well” sighed my husband. “Shall we go and cheer ourselves up with for the 2018 season, though it will have to a glass of something that doesn’t require a go some to top my local feria in Istan, where prescription?” I nodded, trying not to think the local brass band decided to play a chaabout all the things we had to do to enable us otic version of Bruno Mars’ ‘Uptown Funk’ at to claw our way into the Spanish system while 9am on a Sunday. I live two kilometres outBlanche’s voice followed us down the steps side, and it woke me. “I hope you threw some “And don’t forget all your British documents shapes”, a friend remarked. need to be apostilled!” “At that time on a Sunday I was throwing Whatever that means ... anything that bloody well came to hand!!!” I “Sod the glass,” I said to my husband. “Better replied make it a bottle”. To be Continued…

we do integrate!

MIJAS MATTERS

By Bill Anderson

But British expats need to get involved in the political process

OF PORTRAYING MARBELLA’S BEST

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17 YEARS

AM going to do something that is slightly spect from all parties. We are fortunate that out of character; I am going to fly the flag our British norms and traditions are not funfor British immigrants in Spain; myself in- damentally at odds with Spanish culture. cluded in that number. But, the Brits in Spain pay their taxes, run In a recent article in a rival English language their businesses, raise their families, often Newspaper, a ‘British-Iraqi’ journalist wrote: in Spanish speaking schools; they love to at“In the 27 years that I’ve lived in Spain I’ve tend flamenco events and the ferias, have seen how the English live in closed commu- their ‘pan con tomate’ for breakfast with nities, and the great lack of integration,” she their ‘café con leche’, often take a siesta, said. I was fascinated to read the tirade of and dine out late in the summer evenings. comments, some supporting this point of They love the spectacle of Semana Santa, view, but most suggesting similarities with and the various local celebrations. And, they pots and kettles. turn out in force for the free sardines on the This came a week or so after reading an ar- beach in May. ticle with the Mijas Foreigners’ Department What we have brought is more than just our which gave a clear message: money and I would have to “The Brits do not integrate!” mention animal protection This took me down an interestgroups and charity shops. I ing road which suggested to see people well integrated in What we have me that these writers miss the the correct use of the word. brought is more distinction between integraIt is true that language can tion and assimilation. be a barrier to further intethan just our Let’s start with the easiest gration and we Brits are noconcept which is assimilation. toriously bad (or lazy) when it money According to a paper produced comes to learning foreign lanby Cardiff University, assimilaguages. I think that the Emtion is the process whereby pire has something to do with outsiders, immigrants, or subordinate groups it, and the fact that we are an island without become indistinguishable within the domi- neighbours speaking other languages. nant host society, eventually conforming to Apart from this I would love to see the Brits the existing cultural norms of society. Basi- more involved in the local political process. cally, the old culture and ethnic identity die These are only Spanish elections we can vote off in favour of adopting the host nation’s in and which make the biggest impact on culture. our lives. If you need information about how Integration, on the other hand, is something to register to vote, contact mijasmatters@ quite different and, clearly, misunderstood. gmail.com and we can help you. It is not about losing cultural identity, and Whom you vote for is your decision, but I am entails being able to celebrate differences voting for change, and to bring back Angel within civic society. According to the Cardiff Nozal and his team to restore Mijas to its study it is a process that requires mutual re- glory days.

Down: 1 Trembled, 2 Mossad, 3 Art, 4 Edge, 5 Sahara, 6 Holt, 11 Arch, 13 Aero, 14 Hygienic, 17 Arouse, 19 Sweden, 21 Abel, 22 Iraq, 24 Rat.

SPORT

If you have a sports story, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

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Too hot to handle

REFEREES in Spain will be able to suspend a match if the temperature surpasses 35C before 7:30pm. The Real Federacion Española de Futbol (RFEF) changed the rules after months of debate.

Hydration

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October 10th - October 23rd 2018

Nadal and Laver label each other the best tennis players in history RAFAEL Nadal has said Roger Federer and Rod Laver are the best tennis players in history. The Spanish ace has won 17 Grand Slam titles while Swiss maestro Federer is on 20, making them the two most successful players in the game. Laver managed 11 during his illustrious career and, in 1962, became the first man to win all four Grand Slams in the same year. And Nadal thinks the Australian, along with old foe Federer, is the greatest.

You’re the best RAKING IT IN: Bullfighting

Bulls bring in billions

Picture

MORE POWER: To refs

The Mallorquin said: “For me, (it) is difficult to talk about things in which I don't have all the information. “But Rod Laver is in the picture. “If I have to say something about Rod, if we can compare Roger with him as he is also the best in history, it has to be with Rod Laver because it is true that for sure is one of the players that going to be in the history of our sport forever.” The affection between the two men, it seems, is mutual. Earlier this year, Laver

RESPECT: Nadal with hero Laver claimed that Nadal was ‘possibly the greatest athlete ever in tennis’. “He proved to be superhuman at Wimbledon - to win Roland Garros and come very close here on grass is truly

amazing,” he said. “Possibly the greatest athlete our sport has ever known.” Laver was referring to Nadal’s Wimbledon campaign, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

MORE people attend bullfighting events than demonstrate against them, a new study has found. The poll, commissioned by Fundacion Toro de Lidia, shows that Spaniards still love their bullfights, despite opposition from animal rights activists. Spain’s economy is boosted by €1.6 billion a year from the world famous sport, which sees 1,553 fights held each year out of a total 20,000 bull-related events. The annual San Fermin feria in Pamplona brought in a whopping €74 million in 2018, while the San Isidro feria in Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring brought a similarly huge €73 million.

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FINAL WORDS

AT least two people have been infected with Dengue fever in southern Spain, a disease carried by tiger mosquitoes (see right).

Fake it THE IMF falsely upgraded its description of Spain’s 2012 economy from ‘bleak” to ‘very difficult’ to avoid rattling the markets and triggering apocalyptic media headlines.

On the rise UBER has announced it will be expanding further across Andalucia, launching its service uberX in Sevilla this week.

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Lock-in till 10am

LOCK-ins may be common in pubs, but one red-faced reveller took it to a whole new level this weekend. The lad found himself locked overnight in Malaga’s Theatro Club, after a heavy night

Lad spends night in nightclub after falling asleep in the loo

saw him end up asleep on the toilet. The unidentified clubber’s ear-

ly hours trip to the little boy’s room had embarrassing consequences, as he finally stumbled

Tiger trouble THERE has been a massive surge in tiger mosquitoes this year. Environmental groups are warning residents and tourists on the Costa del Sol to be aware of the more aggressive strain. According to Ecologistas en Accion there have been dozens of complaints of 'unusually strong' reactions to mosquito bites from locals, particularly in the Axarquia area. The bites seem bigger and are often accompanied by a large red circle, mostly affecting the legs and arms. Their behaviour is also different from that of the common mosquito, since they do not usually perch on the walls of houses, but fly around, particularly at a lower level, mak-

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into the light of day at 10am the following morning. After a night on the razz the young man’s misfortune was revealed, as he was rescued by office worker Javi Gabarrony, who heard him banging on the club door. Gabarrony said: "We heard someone banging on the metal door and a voice shouting: "Is there anybody there?" Gabarrony said the man shouted ‘I have fallen asleep in the bar and I just woke up now’ and says that without his mobile phone he had no idea of what time it was. He and his colleagues managed to contact the Theatro boss, who was swiftly on the scene with keys to the lift the shutter and open the doors, ensuring the man’s escape. Footage shows the young lad stumble into the busy morning street, as the curtain finally came down on his wild night.

Zoom zoom... and a new broom

Has the village of Arriate got a new road sweeper? Here a local nun does her civic duty in the run up to a local parade. Meanwhile (top), a lad gets a lift from his gran on a mobility scooter. Seen anything funny or quirky? Send it to newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

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