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Game over A STUNNING electoral defeat has ended the PSOE’s stranglehold on Andalucia after more than three DECADES in power. The 36-year reign - mired by a litany of corruption scandals - has finally come to an end, and Spain’s most populous region looks set to usher in a right-wing government for the first time since 1982. In a dramatic twist, Sunday’s snap election saw the Socialists lose a massive 17 seats, just months after leader Susana Diaz called for the vote, confident of a resounding victory - after all, Andalucians had always voted for the left. But the once loyal voters, it seems, finally snapped. Misstep The epic misstep left the PSOE with just 33 seats, which when paired with Adelante Andalucia’s 17, gave her a coalition of 50, five short of the 55 absolute majority needed to form a government. It comes after decades of corruption have plagued the region and made once sensationalist stories the norm, from the ERE slush fund to the millions of euros of public money spent by bent politicians on strip clubs and luxury items. Paired with a lacklustre approach to the migrant crisis and the perceived lack of progress made on the local economy, voters finally turned to the right for an alternative. Centre right Ciudadanos picked up 12 new seats, giving them a total of 21, while the far right Vox - which campaigned hard on illegal immigration - picked up its first ever seats with an astonishing 12 members elected to the regional parliament. Coupled with the conserva-
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GET LOST IN THE GUADALHORCE Charlie Smith discovers why so many expats have found their Eldorado in the white towns of the green Guadalhorce
Don’t miss Coin’s famous Flea market, while (left) a town near Alhaurin
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SPEND 15 minutes gaw- It feels like we’re in the with a piping ping at the rugged Alhau- wilds cafetiere of Over a second cuppa, Hazel g r e e n , rin el Grande mountain licias, but this is Las De- the good stuff, lives up to and fellow British expat Ur- g r e e n range from our balcony Coin an urbanisation in the Las Delicias name. sula before I realise I am late for laga, just 33 km west of Ma- We aren’t the only guests at galingLewis endorse that, re- grass of me with tales of their her and 30 km north of the Palms breakfast. ex-hoand Lights B&B adventures Marbella. through the me. which Hazel runs with her valley We’re running on empty After during their 25-year “Every pulling my travelling husband but the cloud-covered peak partner SunTony, having made friendship. day there is a flea of the Sierra de Mijas loo- fortable Juan from his com- the leap to Spain from Wo- “Sundays ming beyond the palm trees downstairsbed, we amble kingham 18 months ago. gettable,” in Coin are unfor- market in La Trocha,” says Ursula, who Hazel continues, where our host There are outside the window is more Hazel referenRennalls has cooked ying which Americans sta- has travelled over 600 km cing the swish than enough to distract me up is clear proof. from her home commercial a mean breakfast. in Valencia centre Guadalhorce from hunger pangs. ‘Spanish toast’, complete ternational Valley has in- for another glimpse of the likes that has enticed the of El Corte Ingles and appeal. valley - a reminder of the Dunnes Stores to branch
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Outrage after Spanish warship sails into Gibraltar territory while blaring national anthem
AUDACITY! A SPANISH warship has ‘illegally’ sailed into British waters off Gibraltar while blasting its national anthem. Gibraltarian Fisherman Nicholas Karnani filmed the Spanish naval vessel passing the Rock before uploading the incendiary clip to Twitter. In the video, ‘Marcha Real’ can be heard blaring in
the latest gesture of military might near the British Overseas Territory. Karnani wrote: “Enough is enough, it may not undermine sovereignty for the UK, but for us Gibraltarians it's an invasion of BGTW (British Gibraltar Territorial Waters). “The UK Government must take action in defence of its people.”
The UK Defence Journal also confirmed the news and said the boat was an Infanta Elena, a Descubierta class corvette dating from 1980. Another Gibraltarian, John Connor MBE said: “Clear provocation. Looking forward to the Foreign Office’s impotent PC verbal response.” The inflammatory military exercise by the Spanish comes after the British nuclear submarine HMS
Astute arrived in Gibraltar at the weekend. Last month also saw a Royal Navy ship off Gibraltar fire a warning flare when a Spanish Guardia Civil boat got too close to nuclear submarine HMS Talent. There have been growing tensions between the UK and Spain since discussions over the future of Gibraltar’s sovereignty emerged during the Brexit talks. Spain’s troublesome foreign minister Josep Bor-
rell ignited fierce debate after he said: “I think the United Kingdom will split apart before the Kingdom of Spain.” He also claimed Spain would not stop an independent Scotland joining the EU before Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also appeared to reopen the debate on the sovereignty of the Rock when he attempted to amend the draft withdrawal agreement to include more Gib concessions.
SPANISH activists have demanded the UK government stop docking nuclear submarines in Gibraltar. Ecologistas en Accion blasted the British Navy following the arrival of the HMS Astute S119 into the overseas territory at the weekend. The green group called the submarine a ‘floating bomb’ and said it put the whole of Andalucia at risk from a nuclear fall out. “This is the largest submarine in the British Navy, a successor to the Trafalgar class with
a capacity of 7,400 tonnes,” the group said in a statement. “It is the same submarine which ran aground on the island of Skye in Scotland - without there being victims - before being refloated and repaired later.” It criticised the vessel being docked on the Rock in 2014, 2015, and 2016, adding that the ‘floating bomb’ is ‘endangering the population of the Campo de Gibraltar end beyond’. It added: “We regret that Gibraltar welcomes submarines of different kinds which have
continually had breakdowns or design flaws, and which are continuously putting at risk the Campo de Gibraltar area.” The group, which campaigns on environmental issues, said it was time for Gibraltar to be ‘free from nuclear-powered submarines and other vessels that are real floating bombs once and for all’. “A nuclear submarine like the ‘HMS Astute 119’ can cause a nuclear accident with a fallout radius engulfing most of Andalucia and the Maghreb,” it said.
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CRIME
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Eyes peeled
Brit Luke Daniel Clarke is believed to be on Costa del Sol or near Gibraltar BRITISH police have issued an urgent appeal to find a wanted man who they believe has fled to the Costa del Sol or Campo de Gibraltar. Luke Daniel Clarke, 22, was due to appear at Warwick Crown Court on November 22 to be sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. Officers fear the Brit, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, has now fled to Marbella or
By Elisa Menendez
Malaga. Clarke was arrested and charged in November 2015, after officers stopped the car he was travelling in and found £15,000 in cash and £40,000 worth of cannabis. It comes after a Clarke and his gang knocked down a police officer as they tried to evade arrest on a dual car-
Sacre blow! AN expat has been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking after crashing his car and exposing almost 480 kilos of hashish and cocaine in Malaga. The 30-year-old Frenchman was busted after crashing his Range Rover into a truck in Las Pedrizas, where officers found a cache of 15 packages hidden inside several backpacks. They contained 450 kilos of hashish and 28 kilos of marijuana. Officers also discovered that the car been stolen from Switzerland with a false registration plate stuck on top of the original. The incident took place at around 10.45pm on Saturday on the A-45 towards Granada.
SEEN HIM?: Clarke
riageway in Coventry. They were were travelling in a VW Golf and a Ford
Pistol whipped POLICE have arrested a Uruguayan man after he pistol whipped a mechanic in San Pedro before fleeing in a car. The 60-year-old was held on crimes of threats, possession of illegal weapons and assault, after he discarded his firearm in a bush. He repeatedly smashed his victim in the face, before they were rushed to hospital in Marbella. After the South American beat his victim, who pleaded for help, he threatened everyone in the shop and sped off in car.
Transit, when officers tried to stop them as part of an intelligence-led operation, reported Coventry Live. The car was brought to a halt but the van sped off, knocking down the officer. Clarke has previously pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply in connection with a different incident in May 2016. Warwickshire police are collaborating with Spanish police to find the Brit.
Hope
Detective Sergeant Richard Brown said: "We believe Clarke has fled to Malaga or Marbella and we are working with the Spanish authorities to try and locate him and ensure he is returned to the UK so he can be sentenced. "We're appealing for anyone who has family or friends who live in or are visiting Malaga or Marbella to share our appeal on social media in the hope that they can help us locate him." Anyone with information that could help police locate Clarke, contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call Warwickshire Police on 00441926410000.
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Andalucia lurches right
From front
tive Partido Popular’s 26 seats, it means a coalition of the right-wing parties is the only likely outcome with a 59-seat majority across Ciudadanos, Partido Popular and Vox. It is a shocking defeat for Diaz, who had hoped to boost freshfaced PSOE prime minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid - who now faces an uphill battle come the general election in 2020. Diaz looked exhausted as she addressed crowds on Sunday evening while warning against the rise of far right Vox - which wants to undo gay marriage and abortion rights. Her unprepared concession speech came after the polls failed to read the situation on the ground, with most predicting the incumbent Socialists to pick up 47 seats - while Vox was forecast to win just one. Corruption naturally loomed over the elections as the infamous ERE trial continued to rumble on in Sevilla. One of the biggest corruption cases in Spanish history, the scandal saw mostly politicians from the PSOE-run Junta embezzle public money meant for unemployed and retired workers. In total, at least €855 million in public funds were fraudulently taken via the Junta over a decade. It’s just one of several fraud cases to have rocked the Junta since the end of the Franco regime in 1975. Current leader Diaz was forced to defend ex-PSOE junta bosses Manuel Chaves and Jose Antonio Griñan, who both served consecutive terms for a combined 23 years, when they appeared in court earlier this year. In what was a PR disaster for the Socialists, Diaz insisted they did not personally benefit or become rich through the scandal. Chaves is facing a 10-year ban on running for public office while Griñan is looking at six years in prison and a 30-year ban on running for public office for misappropriation of public funds. Under Chaves’s presidency between 2001 and 2008 more than €576 million was diverted into the fund. In what was bad timing for the PSOE, they both appeared in court last week. Elsewhere, voters looked for a tougher stance on migration after a record-breaking year in terms of migrant arrivals - explaining the two seats picked up by Vox in each of Almeria, Cadiz and Malaga.
NEWS
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
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Bridging the gag
COUPLE: Arg and Gemma
Made in Marbs ANOTHER celebrity wedding is set to come to the Costa del Sol. The Only Way Is Essex stars Gemma Collins and longtime on and off love, James ‘Arg’ Argent have announced plans to marry in their favourite holiday hotspot Marbella. Although Arg, 30, hasn’t popped the question yet, he insisted he’s asking the ‘GC’ to marry him in the new year.
Bashes
And Gemma is more than ready, announcing that she would like at least five bashes to celebrate the affair - with one definitely in ‘Marbs’. "The first time we made love was in Marbella, so it would be nice to get married there," said the 37-year-old blonde bombshell. ‘Marbs’ has long been the go-to holiday destination for the TOWIE stars, with six spin-off series in the Costa del Sol town.
KEVIN Bridges has revealed how an impromptu trip to Spain saved his career in comedy. The Glaswegian funny man was ready to throw in the gags after becoming disillusioned with the showbiz industry two years ago. The 32-year-old said he became jaded towards the end of his 145-date tour in 2016. “I just got fed up one night and I was questioning how much I was enjoying it because I’m not motivated by money. So much stuff in my own life had been put on hold [for the tour] and it was a wee bit of a shambles,” he said. He decided to take some time out in Madrid, which he revealed ‘cleared his head.’ “I was walking about Madrid where nobody knows you. You have a freedom and you start to think life’s alright and I started missing stand-up.” Bridges’ The Brand New Tour DVD is on sale now.
All I want for Christmas
An abandoned Galician village is the perfect gift for loved ones, says Gwyneth Paltrow
FORGET socks, jewellery or candles for Christmas presents, now you can buy a Spanish village. At least this is what Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow recommends on her famous lifestyle and gift website, Goop. Ahead of the festive season the Shakespeare In Love star has compiled ‘The Ridiculous But Awesome Gift Guide’, including suggestions such as breakfast with giraffes, a clip on toilet bidet, 24K gold rolling papers, or even an aban-
Señor Shelby
PERFECT GIFT: Aldea village while (inset) Paltrow doned village in Galicia. For a modest price of €149,550 the quaint Aldea, in the province of Lugo, can be bought complete with a 360sq metre house next to a river.
New pace of life
MERSEY BOND: No more for Gerry
SIXTIES Brit icon Gerry Marsden has hung up his guitar to retire on the Costa del Sol. After almost six decades of touring around the world, the You’ll Never Walk Alone singer has announced his retirement, saying he wants to spend more time with his family in Spain. The 76-year-old lead singer of Gerry And The Pacemakers has a home in Mijas and now spends most of his time there with his wife Pauline. Announcing the news on his website, the post read: “Gerry would like to say a special thank you to all his fans for the unconditional support down the years and will sadly miss them all.” The Pacemakers made history as the first Liverpool band to reach number one and were the second group to sign to manager Brian Epstein after the Beatles.
The little two-story home features a 22sq metre bread oven, a cellar, a hay barn and a horreo - a typical Galician stone building used for drying maize. Admittedly the abandoned village - of which there are 1,949 in Galicia alone - seems like an unusual choice for a multi-millionaire actress. But Elvira Fafián, who runs the estate agency selling the property, said it is ideal for ‘rural tourism’ and has received a lot of interest from Swedish, Swiss and Dutch expat buyers. “She appears to have chosen it at random,” added Fafian, “But for the price of a space in a parking building in Madrid or Barcelona, you can buy a village and leave the stress of city life behind.”
REAL Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has sent Instagram into a frenzy after a picture of him and his son had fans comparing him to Peaky Blinders. The Andalucian hunk’s upload to the social media site received 750,000 likes and saw the centre back likened to gang boss Tommy Shelby, the lead character of the BBC drama. One admirer wrote of the father-of-three, ‘Sergio Shelby,’ while another commented, ‘who needs Peaky Blinders when Ramos is here.’ The 32-year-old and four-time Champions League-winner, captioned his father-son snap: “My Alejandro is taking a roll. I like that face, 'old man'. I love you with all my soul.” In the picture Alejandro sports grey chinos with matching Nike trainers and jacket, while Ramos pairs a smart felt coat with a casual shirt and brown flat cap.
Splash the cash
CELEBRITY Masterchef winner Ona Carbonell, 28, has given her €75,000 prize to charity and pledged to ‘help children.’ “I want to help children fulfill their dreams,” said the synchronised swimmer after she blew actress Paz Vega out of the water in the show’s final. The athlete-turned chef admitted she could not even make a fried egg before the competition, despite her win, which was judged by former triple Michelin-starred chef Ferran Adria. “I am not a mother, but I understand that there is nothing worse than having a sick child,” the star added, commenting on her donation to the Pequeño Deseo Foundation.
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
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NEWS
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phlegming outrage A COMEDIAN has appeared in a Madrid court for blowing his nose on the Spanish flag during a TV sketch. Spanish television host, Dani Mateo, faces serious allegations following the comic act last month on La Sexta’s satirical news show, El Intermedio. The judge is investigating whether Mateo committed a crime of offense or public affront to Spanish symbols - an article in the country’s criminal code which is punishable with a fine. If it is found to be a hate crime, he could be sentenced to up to four years in Spain. It comes as Spanish actor and activist Willy Toledo faces prosecution ‘for offending religious sentiments’ after he made comments on Facebook insulting God and the Virgin Mary. In the sketch, Mateo joked that the only text which has ‘general consensus in Spain, is the patient guidelines on a packet of [cold remedy] Frenadol’. As he read out the instructions for the drug, the comedian pretended to sneeze and blew his nose on the Spanish flag. “Christ, sorry! I didn’t want to offend Spaniards, nor the kind, nor the Chinese who sell these rags. Not rags, I didn’t mean rags,” joked Mateo. The comedian soon became a trending topic on Twitter where social media users slammed him for the act, causing La Sexta to pull the sketch the following day.
December 5th - December 18th 2018
Total War-fare EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith
A BRITISH war veteran is suing Ryanair for €30,000 amid claims the airline falsified documents and fraudulently took his money. Expat Dan Sweeney, 73, claims he has proof from a leading handwriting expert that the budget airline ‘copied and pasted’ his signature. The Malaga-based ex-soldier has been locked in a vicious 12 month legal battle with the Dublin-based airline, which denies his claims. The dad-of-four, who lives in Casarabonela, Malaga, claims a document apparently signed by him could not ‘possibly’ have been, as he had flown back to Spain two months prior. “It’s absolutely disgusting,” Dan said. “Ryanair are ripping people off left, right and centre - and getting away with lies like this.” It comes after Dan took a trip back to the UK for a military reunion last year and hired a car via Ryanair’s website. He ended up booking the car via local company Easirent, based at Stansted airport. Although he had already paid
War veteran recruits fraud expert to investigate budget airline
for the car online he was told by was signed November 3, two Easirent staff that they had not months after Dan had returned received payment. to Spain. Under duress he agreed to pay Luckily he had kept the origithe extra fee, as staff assured him nals, so he and wife, Yvonne, 71, he could claim it back through poured over the documents. the airline online. “We kept staring at the two docBut when the pensioner checked uments and it dawned on us that his bank statement, a few weeks they are identical,” added Dan. later, The pair he was decided shocked to recruit to disone of c o v e r the UK’s that he leading had been h a n d charged writing twice. experts, H o w Margaret e v e r , Webb, when he who speb r o u g h t EVIDENCE: Alleged faked signature cialises up the in fraud. discrepancy with Ryanair, the She concluded that Dan’s signacompany initially refused, before ture had ‘100%’ been copied over agreeing to investigate further. and said ‘there is no natural variA month later he was subse- ation evident’, while most signaquently sent a copy of the rental tures vary slightly each time they agreement, in which he realised are written. his signature had been falsified. She added: “Mr Sweeney’s origiA refund was quickly made. nal signature has been used Fundamentally, the document by the copy and paste method,
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EXPAT: Dan Sweeney which has been fraudulently applied. It is not possible to sign one’s name identically.” It comes after a Sunday Times investigation revealed in October that another Ryanair-affiliated car rental giant, Goldcar faced scores of allegations from British holidaymakers over claims their documents had been falsified and money had been stolen. “It’s really outrageous. I’ve given up a year of my life working on this, but it will only be worth it if we can stop them,” Dan continued. “I have been fighting people all my life though,” the veteran of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, added, “so I have been around the block a few times.” Ryanair insisted that it was not responsible for the case, adding the money had been refunded, and pointed us to the hire car company instead. Easirent told the Olive Press: “Mr Sweeney has been shown a freshly-generated rental agreement which shows the date the copy was generated, rather than the original rental date, which may explain the confusion.”
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FEATURE
www.gibraltarolivepress.com 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 Chance for change THE all but confirmed departure of the PSOE from the Junta is a chance for leaders in Andalucia to finally root out the corruption which has plagued this region for decades. Spain’s most southern autonomous community has so much to offer and has great potential, but it has not been given the chance over the past 30 years thanks to self-serving leaders who cared about nothing more than lining their own pockets. It is time for leaders to address the REAL concerns of the people and to start actually doing their jobs. If current leader Susana Diaz had made a real effort to stamp out corrupt practices then perhaps she would have held onto her job, but she chose to ignore the rumbling discontent among the people and arrogantly called a snap election thinking the voters would never turn right - she thought wrong. Publisher/ Editor
Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es
SALES Sam Adams newsdesk@theolivepress.es (+34) 634 611 836 sam@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618 Newsdesk
Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es Elisa Menendez elisa@theolivepress.es Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es Pablo Balbontin pablo@theolivepress.es Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es Designer Keith Franks
Tina (+34) 647 078 775 tina@theolivepress.es Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es
In the aftermath of the tragic death of British teen Richard Fitzsimmons, the Olive Press investigates triggers for teenage suicide and how parents can look out for the signs By Elisa Menendez
A
COLLECTION of teddy bears, flowers and delicately handwritten notes decorate the wall of a busy department store. It’s hard to believe that one month ago a teenage boy took his own life by jumping from the fourth floor of El Corte Ingles in Puerto Banus, in an apparent suicide pact with his girlfriend. The untimely death of 16-year-old Brit Richard Fitzsimmons and the circumstances that surround it have rocked the coast and united many in grief. But the incident has encouraged many to take action by raising awareness about mental health in teenagers and, above all, try to break down the stigma that engulfs it. Aloha College, the private school Richard and his girlfriend, 14, attended, quickly activated a plan following his death and brought in a psychologist to talk to pupils. It also circulated emails advising parents to talk with their children about what had happened. In an open letter, the college described him as a ‘wonderful boy’ and offered their sincere condolences to his family. “Aloha College continues to be focussed on the wellbeing of its pupils, to help them through this difficult time. He will be warmly remembered, and sorely missed.” Although it is unknown what tragically drove the youngsters to suicide, unfortunately their story is not an unusual one. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged between 15 to 29 in Spain, following tumours, reveal national statistics. And growing numbers of teens killing themselves in the UK are sparking fresh concerns over the mental health crisis in young people in general.
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EXPERT: Harvard professor Alejandra Hallin
December 5th - December 18th 2018
Let’s talk mental health
In 2017 there were 177 suicides among 15 to Olive Press. 19-year-olds, compared with 110 in 2010 - fig- Dr Hallin, who owns mental health centres in ures which have risen almost every year, accord- Marbella, Sotogrande, Malaga, Gibraltar and ing to the UK Office of National Statistics. Cadiz, believes the surge in depression is a reDepression and bipolar are the most common flection of a pressurised, stressed society and causes of suicide globally, followed by sub- suicide is a consequence of ill-treated mental stance abuse, schizophrenia and anxiety disor- health. ders, says Marbella-based child psychologist Dr “The Spanish mental health system is problemAlejandra Hallin. atic, unless you are dying they won’t see you While Samaritans in Spain volunteer, Jilly Hodg- - that’s a luxury they cannot afford. They don’t es, says exam pressure, gender have enough resources. issues and feeling like an out“We have to start valuing our cast are the main reasons exmental health and invest in it. pat teens call the Costa del Sol When there’s diabetes in the Another helpline feeling suicidal. family, you’re more aware of “Some have a lack of friends, important factor what you eat. It should be the or are unhappy having left their same for mental illnesses, it’s that is very friends in the UK, or feel like an genetic.” outsider especially in Spanish damaging is the The doctor also adds that exspeaking schools,” the Costa pats are one of the groups most del Sol-based Samaritan tells language we use at risk. the Olive Press. Moving to another country, she Despite great advances in meninsists, is the second biggest tal health awareness in recent years, why do so cause of depression, as foreigners do not have many still suffer in silence? the same support network. Dr Hallin says the main problem with suicide is Another important factor that is incredibly damit is still considered taboo, despite it being the aging - reflecting societal views on mental illness second leading cause of death in the world. and suicide - is the language we use. “There are so many programmes and adverts Supposed ‘throw away’ everyday terms such teaching you what to do when someone has a as ‘I just wanted to kill myself’ are loaded comheart attack or stroke, but there’s nothing about ments for people who have thought about killing suicide,” the Harvard University doctor told the themselves, or for those who have been through
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FEATURE
December 5th - December 18th 2018
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olive press online
NSPCC Social media guide
NSPCC tips for safeguarding children on social media:
Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website
• Talk to your child regularly about what they are doing online and how to stay safe. Let them know they can come to you or another trusted adult if they’re feeling worried or upset by anything they have seen. • Explore your child’s online activities together. Understand why they like using certain apps, games or websites and make sure they know what they can do to keep themselves safe. • Agree your own rules as a family when using sites, apps and games. • Manage your technology and use the privacy and parental control settings available to keep your child safe.
Smash hits
Olive Press ranked Spain’s leading English news website - and top 200,000 in the world
TRAGIC: Friends of Richard leave flowers below a message from his mother the trauma of losing someone to suicide. Along with ‘I’m depressed’ or ‘he/she is a nutter’ are phrases that have become the norm but unknowingly increase stigma. “Someone who is feeling low and someone who is clinically depressed are not the same thing,” says Dr Hallin, “if you feel better after exercise or socialising, it is a passing emotion, it is not a clinical illness.” Social media has also shown to cause psychological stress. Many have blamed sites like Instagram and Facebook for the surge in teen self-harming and suicide. And it isn’t difficult to see why. Pages and forums dedicated to self-harming, ‘suicide games’, or eating disorders - where thousands share tips for hiding signs from family members - offer outlets for teenagers to feel part of a dark online community. Although they offer a place of refuge for many to normalise their feelings, these pages encourage dangerous selfdestructive behaviour. It comes after a recent Children’s Survey report found that more than 100,000 children aged 14 in the UK are self-harming, with one in four teenage girls deliberately hurting themselves this year. The charity found that nearly a quarter of children aged 10-17 said they continuously heard jokes or comments about other people’s bodies or looks. The Olive Press has found numerous alarming and easily accessible Instagram pages dedicated to self-harming. Graphic images of deep wounds bleeding into sinks, hundreds of scars brandishing a girl’s wrist and piles of razor blades are just some of the shocking pictures discovered during the investigation. A pro-anorexia site promotes itself as a ‘diet and lifestyle programme for beginners’ and even offers the option to subscribe. It also sends tips on how to suppress hunger, gives recommendations of dangerous diet pills and even gives advice on how to hide vomit. It’s incredibly harrowing and sad reading.
An NSPCC spokesperson told the Olive Press that social media platforms such as Instagram should filter out content which breaks its own rules. “Young people on Instagram should never be exposed to this kind of harmful and distressing content. “We know from contacts to our Childline that many children are being driven to self-harm as a way of dealing with the pressures and demands of modern-day life,” she adds. Recently the NSPCC launched its ‘Wild West Web’ campaign to call for stricter regulations on social media networks and bring in a law to fine sites which are not adequately safeguarded. Following the campaign, the British government announced safety laws will be brought in to keep children safe on social media and prevent dangers such as online grooming. “It’s vital that the Government holds its nerve and commits to an independent regulator with the powers to hold social networks to account,” adds the spokesperson. But for Dr Hallin these terrifying pages are not a cause but an effect of mental health problems. “Usually a person has already thought about suicide or self-harming before visiting these pages. They’re there if you go looking for them. “For example there aren’t more people cooking now we have the internet. But the problem is that now we have instructions online with hundreds of recipes available, showing you how to do it in an easier way.” The Olive Press has reported the shocking findings to Instagram, although as we went to press we had received no comment. The social media argument is somewhat of a two-pronged attack. With more proximity to celebrities than ever before, it can be easy for impressionable teens to believe that re-touched images and collageninjected lips are the norm. They are more dangerous than magazine photo shoots because these images are uploaded in real-time from a mobile phone, giving the impression this is really their ‘perfect’ lifestyle and that person looks flawless in real life. Recently British TV presenter Jameela Jamil, waged war on celebrityendorsed products which claim to aid weight : Dr Hallin’s advice for parents to spot signs in children loss, such as the famous Flat Tummy Tea. herself, or him killing s mention child your t momen • The Social media feeds are take normal not it’s n, attentio for calling is it even if plagued with images onal. professi them to see a medical of stunning celebrities of lack s, tearines ity, irritabil but • Every child is different flaunting their toned abs warning are wn withdra appetite, insomnia and being crediting the ‘teatox’ for signs. their enviable figures. on• Even if the child does not want to talk to a professi “Give us the discount al, parents should see a psychiatrist alone to find out codes to your nutritionwhether there is a more serious problem. ists, personal chefs, percan’t they If help. seek always doubt, in ever • If you’re sonal trainers, airbrushtrust. may they else e someon talk to you find ers and plastic surgeons space able comfort a create and • Ask them if they are okay you bloody liars,” tweetfor them to talk. ed Jamil.
Seeing the signs
“If you tell your fans to be thinner, you don’t care about them or their mental health or self worth.” Activist Jamil (above) has been particularly vocal about her own teenage eating disorder where she ‘didn’t eat a meal for three years’ and slammed the media for the ‘weapon’ that is airbrushing. In a bid to fight back, Jamil has launched the positive campaign ‘i weigh’, which encourages social media users to post images of themselves including words which celebrate their skills, talents, personality traits, differences and disabilities - something which has gained much media attention and public participation. Given all of this heavy information, undoubtedly it makes sobering reading, but there is a lot parents can do to look for signs of depression in their children and safeguard their online activity. But the best piece of advice all experts offer is to talk more. Costa del Sol Darkness Into Light mental health campaigner Michael O’Halloran advises teens to act when they notice a school friend is acting out of character. “Do not walk away and think he/she is weird. Stop. Ask the question, ‘are you okay?’,” the expat tells the Olive Press, “sometimes that’s all that is needed to get the person in distress talking.” There are countless organisations making an impact in the UK and Spain offering great support. A group, Teen Talk, is set to support young people across the Costa del Sol with hopes of creating new youth hubs, a helpline and community events from the new year. Global movement Darkness Into Light on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca promote suicide awareness and self-harm prevention through fundraisers and walks. The more we start to discuss and accept mental health, the more we will break down stigmas. Remember, it’s okay not to be okay. Anyone struggling with the issues raised in this article can contact the following numbers: Samaritans in Spain: 900 525 100 Ayuda a ninos y adolescentes en Riesgo (ANAR): 900 202 010 International Bipolar Foundation, Suicide Hotline Spain: 914 590 050 Telefono de la esperanza: 717 003 717 Mind UK: +34 (0)300 123 3393
THE Olive Press’ original and in-depth reporting has sent us into the stratosphere. After receiving over ONE million unique visitors over the last two months, we have climbed an incredible 75,000 places globally. According to Alexa.com we are - by far - the highest ranked English newspaper in Spain, sitting at 200,007th place in the world out of over a billion websites. Our amazing year leaves us far higher than any of our rivals, including Euro Weekly News (EWN), which ranks at just 232,000, and Sur in English at 416,000, despite both being in business for many years longer. This might have something to do with a massive 707 important global sites linking in to our stories, including the BBC, Fox News and the Daily Mail, compared to just 402 for the EWN. What’s more our readers - who average around 10,000 unique visitors a day - come from a healthy split between Spain, the UK, America and the Scandinavian countries. We are also in the top 10,000 most popular websites in Spain, sitting at an incredible 9,079th place out of more than 2 million websites in Spain, last week. Our readers spend an average of 2.21 minutes on the site and read two stories. Alexa.com is owned by Amazon.com and ranks the most visited websites globally by analysing traffic statistics. Just two years ago the Olive Press print edition was voted best expat newspaper in Spain and second best in the world, after a worldwide poll of 27,000 expats by The Expat Survey Consumer Awards (TESCA).
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
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- One punch killer British tourist arrested in
Spain for killing pensioner on Costa del Sol
(10,157)
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- British icon Rod Stewart set to perform on
Spain’s Costa del Sol (8,103)
- MURDER MILE:
Nationality of Marbella shooting victim revealed as murder rate surges (6,706)
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- Rise of the right in
Andalucia could make life more difficult for British expats, expert warns
(4,378)
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- ROCKY ROAD: Drivers narrowly avoid fall-
ing 5-tonne boulder in Andalucia (10,215)
Visitors: 130,886 Page views: 202,281
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what’s on
M
ull it over
ST Andrew’s Church will host a Christmas craft and collectors fair on December 8 from 10am to 2pm, which includes a mince pie and mulled wine for £1.
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LA CULTURA
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azz fans
THE Gibraltar International Jazz Festival in St Michael’s Cave on December 8 will star the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.
B
ack again
FROM December 7 to 11 the Gibraltar Backgammon Open Tournament will see 32 players battle it out in the main event.
D
ancing in the street
CASEMATES Square hosts the ‘Winter Party in Town’ on December 16, a musical extravaganza put on by the Ministry of Culture.
Cavemen may have invented the Zodiac to keep track of time, a new study reveals
ANCIENT Spanish cave paintings have revealed how humans used astrology to tell the time as early as the Paleolithic era, scientists have revealed. What were originally thought to be abstract depictions of animals could be zodiac signs based on constellations as they appeared at the time. The new research suggests that humans had sophisticated knowledge of complex star systems as long as 40,000 years ago. Cave art found throughout Europe reveals that humans measured time by watching how stars change position in the night sky, using them to mark events such as comet attacks. The phenomenon, known as SPAIN has made ‘no effort’ to return priceless art looted by Nazis during World War II, US officials have revealed. After 600,000 paintings were stolen during the war, with 100,000 still missing, the Washington Principles was founded in 1998 to return them to their rightful owners. Some 44 nations including Spain committed to the treaty.
December 5th - December 18th 2018
Stellar discovery
ANCIENT: Cavemen’s drawings in Spain precession of the equinoxes, is of years later. caused by the gradual shift of Their knowledge may have Earth’s rotational axis – a dis- even aided navigation on the covery previously credited to open sea, giving us a broader the ancient Greeks thousands understanding of prehistoric
Give it back!
But US official adviser Stuart E Eizenstat, slammed Spain for ‘taking no steps’ to fulfill the principles. Spain refused to return Pissarro’s looted 1897 Rue SaintHonore, Apres-Midi, Effet de
Pluie to heirs of the Cassirer family, once-noted Parisian art dealers. The painting - worth around €26 million - is housed in Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza, a museum established by the Spanish government after buying the collection from the Thyssen family. After years of legal battles, the government claims it is a ‘private museum not covered
human migration. Teams from the universities of Edinburgh and Kent studied Palaeolithic and Neolithic cave paintings in Spain, Turkey, France and Germany. “Early cave art shows that people had advanced knowledge of the night sky within the last ice age,” said Edinburgh university’s Dr Martin Sweatman. “Intellectually, they were hardly any different to us today.”
Sophisticated
The team discovered that all sites used the same method of recording dates based on sophisticated astronomy, even though the art was separated in time by tens of thousands of years. Animal symbols daubed on the cave walls were aged by chemically dating the paints. Then the team used computer software to predict the positions of stars when the paintings were made. The results showed that what looked like abstract depictions of animals could be interpreted as zodiac signs based on constellations of the time.
AUTHOR: Barry Waters
Destined for the top A NEW expat novel about London’s gritty criminal underbelly has been taking the Costa del Sol by storm and is available just in time for Christmas. “It’s gang warfare, romance, humour with a little bit of sex thrown in,” the book’s author Barry Waters told the Olive Press. Barry, 63, from Newcastle, is happily retired in Manilva where he has lived with his wife Louise, 65, for five years.
Guitar
It is the first novel from the British expat, who had previously focused on poetry, short stories and playing his guitar. “It is surprising how easy it was to write, it just flowed out,” said Barry, who was raised on a literary diet of Lee Child and books about the Kray Twins. Barry revealed that he is already ‘well into the sequel,’ and will even be taking inspiration for his follow-up from some of Manilva’s more unsavoury characters.
Wild at heart
Sir Attenborough’s new book chronicling his adventures is perfect for nature lovers
Journey to the Other Side of the World by Sir David Attenborough
T €19.50, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro - www.thebookshop.es
HE further adventures of a young David Attenborough - from Madagascar and New Guinea to the Pacific Islands and the Northern Territory of Australia. The world has changed enormously since Sir David Attenborough began his fascinating documentaries over 60 years ago and the manner in which they were filmed and reported set the standards for the modern
nature documentary. In his latest autobiography Attenborough delights us with stories of indigenous tribes and awesome wildlife, all delivered with his inimitable charm, wit and warmth.
We're Going on an Elf Chase by Martha Mumford A fun-filled Christmas book for 2-5 year olds, We’re Going on an Elf Chase, is an action packed, lift-the-flap, delight of a story. Four bunnies set off to find ten little elves hidden under the flaps. But you’ll have to run, run, run if you’re going to catch them all!
€9.50, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro www.thebookshop.es
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All about Vol. 4
Issue 85
uadalhorce
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Get lost in the Guadalhorce Charlie Smith discovers why so many expats have found their Eldorado in the white towns of the green Guadalhorce Valley
Don’t miss Coin’s famous Flea market, while (left) a town near Alhaurin
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SPEND 15 minutes gawping at the rugged Alhaurin el Grande mountain range from our balcony before I realise I am late for breakfast. We’re running on empty but the cloud-covered peak of the Sierra de Mijas looming beyond the palm trees outside the window is more than enough to distract me from hunger pangs.
It feels like we’re in the wilds but this is Las Delicias, an urbanisation in Coín just 33 km west of Malaga, and 30 km north of Marbella. After pulling my travelling partner Juan from his comfortable bed, we amble downstairs where our host Hazel Rennalls has cooked up a mean breakfast. ‘Spanish toast’, complete
Ye Ole’ Butchery A Traditional Butchers supplying all the best cuts of meat. Homemade sausages, burgers, cooked meats and savouries.
with a piping cafetiere of the good stuff, lives up to the Las Delicias name. We aren’t the only guests at the Palms and Lights B&B which Hazel runs with her husband Tony, having made the leap to Spain from Wokingham 18 months ago. There are Americans staying which is clear proof. Guadalhorce Valley has international appeal.
Over a second cuppa, Hazel and fellow British expat Ursula Lewis endorse that, regaling me with tales of their adventures through the valley during their 25year friendship. “Sundays in Coin are unforgettable,” says Ursula, who has travelled over 600 km from her home in Valencia for another glimpse of the valley - a reminder of the
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green, g r e e n grass of her ex-home. “Every Sunday there is a flea market in La Trocha,” Hazel continues, referencing the swish commercial centre that has enticed the likes of El Corte Ingles and Dunnes Stores to branch
out into the rural hinterland to cater for the growing expat population. Continues overleaf
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“The market is brilliant,” Ursula cuts in. “And very cheap. You can get anything from a pipe for your toilet to a lovely wardrobe.” Just as you can get pretty much anything in Coín, the valley’s cultural centre, a mix of old and new, traditional and expat. The feel of authentic rural Spain with a European veneer explains why so many expats from the UK and other parts of northern Europe, have chosen to call it home. Even one of the tapa we enjoyed at the Nueva Alameda cafeteria was a fried bacon, eggs and mushrooms dish. Does it get more British? Only the name Coin, perhaps, when spoken of by newbie Brits. It’s pronounced ‘Co-een’ but they call it like the money. Historically, Coin is very much on the money with a cosmopolitan past stretching from the Roman Empire to pop culture. ‘Eldorado’,
Los Barcos, the setting for “Eldorado”
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Tolox is the back door to incredible mountain wilderness
the BBC’s famously flopped soap, was filmed on a purpose-built set outside town. The Romans set the place up as the market town of Lacibis, mining the terrain for minerals and laying the foundations for the area’s latterly burgeoning ‘Green Coin’ ceramics trade. Marble from the quarries of Sierra Blanca, five kilometres south, was used to construct the amazing Roman town of Italica, near Sevilla, the birthplace of the mighty Emperor Hadrian in 76AD. Then, like many parts of Spain, Coin fell to the Moors in the 900s before being reconquered by the Christians in the late 15th century. The town buckled under a siege in which, legend has it, the great New World explorer Christopher Columbus took part. The fascinating 9th century Moza-
rabe Monastery will take you back de las Nieves, then Tolox is the to those swashbuckling times. toenail’. But the draw of the mountains is Once part of the Kingdom of Sotoo strong and we set off to explo- leimán, this whitewashed Moorish re them. village also draws visitors to exWe went to see the Sierra de las plore the healing properties of its Nieves, Spain’s newly-declared Fuente Amarga Spa. National Park to the west of the Stress and muscle fatigue are Guadalhorce Valley. washed away with Largely untouched a variety of theraby tourists yet ridiTake water for pies ranging from culously close to the natural gas inhalacoast, it’s a weekend the steep climb tion to mud spray getaway begging to and a camera treatments. Former be booked. Pinsapo Spanish Prime Minisfir trees, Spanish ibex for the awesome ter Miguel Primo de and thriving otter poRivera is among the scenery pulations are some more famous faces of the gems that won to have indulged. it National Park protection. Conveniently close to the spa on Tolox is the back door to this in- the fringes of the Sierra de las credible mountain wilderness. Nieves sits one of the GuadalhorAs someone once described it, ‘If ce Valley’s finest hotels. Coin sits at the foot of the Sierra Offering eagle-eye views as far as
Charming Tolox
Malag a , the Cerro de Hijar hotel is one of Andalucia’s more remote places to rest your head. If rigorous adventure is more your backpack, you should try the winding walk from Marbella, which takes in the towns of Ojen, Monda, Guaro, Coin and - if you have the energy - eventually Alhaurin. Take water for the steep climb and a camera for the awesome scenery and views. Every hairpin bend round the steep cliffs offers up a fresh angle on the Guadalhorce Valley. Looking up at the imposing ceiling of white cloud, and down to waterfalls trickling below, it’s
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Don’t get left behind
More and more buyers are looking inland, says agent Richard Woodland, from Property Overseas
HEADY HEIGHTS: The Caminito del Rey and (right) the Barranco Blanco waterfall
easy to forget that the Costa del Sol metropolis is just over the mountain. Arriving in Alhaurin is like deja vu as a ‘castle’ looms into view. It’s the famous brick water tower that starred in the opening credits of the Eldorado series, built to look old. More striking is how Alhaurin has grown. Where Coin may have a few amazing tapas places or cake shop, Alhaurin has more. The route south west out of Alhaurin brings you to the serene Barranco Blanco
HOTEL: In hills near Alhaurin
(White Ravine). A photographer’s favourite, buried in the countryside where wild boar feel safe to roam, its aquamarine waters end in a magical waterfall. Everyone mentions the Nazis, who allegedly used the area as training camp during WW2, due to the alliance between Franco and Hitler. You can still see a white building that was used as a sentry point as you arrive. And on the other side of the valley let’s not forget the Caminito del Rey, a huge hit with thrill seekers. Once dubbed ‘the world’s deadliest walkway, and with 1,000 visitors a day, this highadrenalin hike above the El Chorro gorge, is in high demand. It was recently praised as a ‘shining example’ of a sustainable tourist attraction. Director of tourism for the Costa, Arturo Bernal, said thousands have visited the site this year, while ‘last winter saw visitors of 84 different nationalities flock from five different continents’. Emerging at the other end of the Caminito in Ardales, you’ll be hard-pressed to get in your car and leave. Often called Andalucia’s Lake District, with turquoise waters surrounding tree-lined islands, it’s easy to see why. The scenery is more akin to the cantons of Switzerland than anything found on the Costa del Sol. So many white villages, so much still to discover about the Guadalhorce Valley. In the towns our catchphrase of the day became ‘We’re not lost’ when people saw us consulting our tourist office maps and offered help. But really that is the only way to experience the Guadalhorce Valley. Just lose yourself.
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ndeed, the majority of homes his agency Property Overseas Group have on their books are less than 30 minutes from the coast… and no more to Malaga airport. The demand for inland property, especially country fincas, has continued to grow this year, as buyers are looking for affordable properties with a different, more Spanish lifestyle away from the coast. There is also growing rural tourism industry in the area which is stimulating the market. Although there is some indecision from Brit buyers over the uncertainty of Brexit and the fluctuating exchange rate, there is still a rush from buyers in the Netherlands, Bel-
gium and Scandinavia as well as Spanish buyers also coming back into the market. “We haven’t seen a noticeable rise in prices but the difference in the asking and selling price has shown a decrease,” explains Woodland. Selling property on rustic land can prove more complicated when fincas are not registered correctly or have difficulty in achieving the AFO. The AFO was introduced in 2012 to help regularise the legal status of buildings in rural areas but this has only hindered the buying process. Every town hall has different regulations, fees and timescales for obtaining the certificate and the administrative bureaucracy can delay purchases and potential sales can suffer. “Scenically, the area is very attractive and, due to the lower prices than the coast, the demand still continues,” he adds. “I expect the market to continue a steady and gradual growth in 2019, and more competitive with less properties becoming available for sale. “Buyers need to make sure they don’t get left behind as many properties are getting picked off the shelf.”
Richard’s office in Coin is opposite La Trocha of visit the website www.propertyoverseasgroup.com
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Andalucia’s own ‘bread basket’ THE Guadalhorce Valley is 804km2 in size, and home to around 150,000 permanent residents, while many more own second homes there. It has always been known for its citrus production, with orange and lemon plantations stretching out in every direction from the valley’s towns. Of the eight municipalities, Coin is the biggest. But towns such as Alhaurin El Grande, Alora and Cartama are also immensely popular with expats. While first colonised by the Romans, it was the Moors who have had the largest influence on the area. Everywhere there is evidence of their work, which tamed the tumbling streams into irrigation systems and brought fertility to the whole of the valley.
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Alora A Travel back in time in a classic whitewashed pueblo
HISTORIC: Alora castle
WAY from the hustle and bustle of vibrant Coin and Alhaurin, a sleepy, white-washed Andalucian pueblo sits waiting to be explored. Despite keeping its fascinating history to itself with unwarranted modesty, Alora has blossomed into a hive of cultural activity. Marked out by its stunning Arabic castle atop Cerro de las Torres hill, the sprawling streets are brought to life through Moroccan and Roman influences before them. However, the castle is even older and was originally built by
Phoenicians, before being expanded under Roman rule. And later destroyed by Visigoths in the fifth century before the Moors finally came and rebuilt it. The Muslim minaret is still clearly visible today, protruding defiantly from the elegant and immaculately preserved castle.
Castle in the sky
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ARTAMA castle at night is a magical juxtaposition of ancient and modern. The crumbling hilltop remains are bathed in floodlights at night, recently installed by the Town Hall. Even in daylight, no other vantage point in the vicinity offers such far-reaching views of the Guadalhorce Valley. Cartama spreads out below,
at the head of the Guadalhorce river, where a restored iron bridge connects the town with its train station. A rocky path zig-zags up from the main square to the castle, meandering beneath shady pine trees, with benches placed at intervals for much-needed breathers. At the top stands a pretty shrine to the town’s patron saint - the Ermita de Nuestra Senora de los
CASTLE: Cartama
Built in 1462, from local history expert and museum worker, Maria Jose says. “You can see evidence of all the different ages of the castle, it is so interesting and such a shame that so few people come and see it.” It is a wonderful place to visit, but Remedios. Built in the 17th century on top of the original 15th century building, the sanctuary was restored as recently as 2007. Inside you can still see the ornate ceiling with its crystal chandelier, the elaborate decoration contrasting with the spartan wooden benches that seat the congregation. Above the shrine are the remains of the 10th century Moorish castle. The crumbling walls are all that’s left of the impenetrable fortress that originally boasted ten watchtowers, but the views are still to die for.
unfortunately the castle is not often open to the public. A short walk down narrow traditional streets leads to the town’s lowest-lying square. Here stands the impressive 17th century Catholic church of La Encarnacion, which somehow appears to be even larger on the inside. Adjoining the church is the municipal museum, complete with ancient pottery, historical displays and intense mustiness. It is a Mudejar construction dating from the 16th century and supported by stone pillars and columns. “Alora is such a wonderful town, there is so much culture to see in the artists, history and of course, the best food in the region is here,” explains local tour operator Kora Buggel. Hidden right in the heart of the town is an old molino, where olive oil was traditionally produced but it is now used for the occasional concert. Various small museums and bars
have sprung up in the centre since the turn of the century, as this town continues its legacy as one of the most important settlements in the Guadalhorce Valley. It is certainly a fairly bustling place, much busier than most of the valley’s pueblos. One of the highlights is the small bodega belonging to José Miguel Pérez Hidalgo, which produces a range of wines from the Guadalhorce Valley’s vineyards, and offers tasting sessions to organised groups.
Killing
At the foot of the hill on which Alora rests is a railway station, and it was here, just five years ago, where the houses were struck by a terrible flood, killing livestock and destroying homes. From the castle it is easy to see where the river ripped apart a bridge, separating Barriada Estacion from neighbouring Barriada del Puente.
Established in Álora since 1998 – We pride ourselves in providing a friendly but professional service Offering a diverse range of properties – Fincas, townhouses, cortijos, villas and country houses
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2 bedroom country villa set within 2323m2 of garden hosting a variety of fruit trees. Property includes a separate 43m2 outbuilding.Private swimming pool. Rural location but close to all of the amenities of Álora pueblo.
This established 23 bedroom hostal is fully licensed by the Junta de Andalucia Tourism Department and is located in the pretty Andalucian pueblo of Tolox. The building extends to 840 m2 within an urban site of 350 m2. All bedrooms have ensuite bathroom facilities.
Dramatic, spacious character property. 360m2, 5 bedroom house set within 36,000m2 of productive olive grove. Lots of entertaining areas including a fabulous pool area. Equestrian facilities. Mains water & electricity. Stunning rural location and yet with easy access.
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Price: 690,000€ – JUST REDUCED!
Price: 439,000€
Margaret Mitchell Alora Properties S.L. | Plaza Fuente Arriba, Alora (Malaga) +34 952 49 84 54 / +34 609 45 44 09 | info@alora.properties www.alora.properties
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The Garden of Allah Alhaurin blossomed under Moorish rule and has since been a key market town
WALK: Just outside Alhaurin
The more you take out, the higher your refund.
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T was in Phoenician times turies of Arabic rule can still that Alhaurin el Grande first be found, particularly at the developed its role as an im- Arco del Cobertizo, which was portant market town, as the a gateway to the medina, that already established Iberian had a souk specialising in silk. tribes bartered their goods with One of the last towns to be connew arrivals from Lebanon. quered by the Catholic kings in Later the town thrived under 1485, it was eventually merged Roman occupation when a with Alora, Cartama and Coin number of wealthy merchants in 1666 to form a single entity from nearby Malaga made known as the Four Towns. money from the rich mineral Though it was anything but deposits in the nearby hills. plain sailing for the united They built sizeable villas, such municipality and there were as Villa de la Mata, and la- epidemics of plague and even belled the town Lauro Nova. an earthquake in 1680. Evidence has been found in Later, Alhaurin was occupied the numbers of coins, statues for four years by the French and pillars, a trio of which during the Peninsular War in stand pride of the early 19th place opposite century, which the town hall led to the ineviThe type of expat today. table destrucBut it wasn’t tion and upnow coming to until Moorheaval. live here is more Since ish rule that then, the town really apart from the interested in blossomed, as turbulent pethe Arabs plantriod during the integration ed new crops in civil war, the the wide fertile biggest threat to valley that is civil peace has crossed by two rivers, the Fa- been an influx of English hoohala and Blas Gonzales. ligans, who thankfully have They introduced acequias (or now all but gone. water courses) to irrigate the There is no doubt that Alentire valley and built a num- haurin el Grande has been ber of important mills, such through a dramatic transforas the Molino Morisco de los mation over recent years but Corchos. there is a now a real swagger An area of particular beauty – about the place. not to mention an extremely Businesses are opening and clement climate – it had soon the type of expat now comtaken on an appropriate new ing to live here is more intername, that of ‘Garden of Al- ested in integration, learning lah’, or Alhaurin. the language and enjoying the Remnants of the eight cen- town’s varied culture.
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A
ll about
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
uadalhorce Valley
WHERE TO EAT
Valley tucker A longtime agricultural hub, it is no surprise you can eat well in the Guadalhorce Valley, writes Jon Clarke
A
LL around the Guadalhorce Valley you will find vegetable gardens, orchards and fields of crops. And with such a fabulous range of local produce it is no surprise you can eat well here. Few places are more authentic than the charming Bohemia restaurant in Coin. Run by creative owner Pedro Trillo, it is full of antique furniture and a range of Pedro’s amazing knitted tapestries on the wall, worth a visit alone. But you are here for the food, which is classic soul food with a heavy emphasis on vegetables and, in particular, I loved the aubergines layered with salmon, parmesan, chives, caviar and cherry tomatoes. The courgettes stuffed with goat’s cheese were amazing
TALENT: Pedro at Bohemia also knits his own tapestries too and the portions are of an excellent size. Also in Coin check out Casa Paco which has an amazing range of fresh fish and seafood and has been running since 1985 with current owner Juan starting to work there at the ripe old age of 16. A livewire, he works extremely hard and this is one of the genuine ‘dining secrets’ of Andalucia. The hot conchas finas are incredible, while the razor shells are as fresh as could be. Also in Coin you might want to check
Ye Ole’ Butchery A Traditional Butchers supplying all the best cuts of meat. Homemade sausages, burgers, cooked meats and savouries.
Cut above the rest Refrigerated deliveries available
Call Martin 667 431 366
yeolbutchery@gmail.com IF you’re still thinking about what meat to cook for that all-important Christmas roast, a GuadalTues: 9.30am-2pm Wed-Fri: horce-based butcher may 9.30am-4pm have just the thing. Sat: 9.30am-2pm Closed Now taking orders forMonday the festive season, Ye Ole Butchery in Alhaurin El Grande, offers a piece of home with Irish legs of lamb, Lancashire and Cumberland sausages and a selection of cheddar cheeses. The traditional English butcher, headed up by Brit Martin Randall, is a family-run business, which uses old recipes passed down through generations. Running for almost eight years, the butchers make all their sausages, burgers, pies and savouries on site and even cure their own bacon. For those run off their feet cooking the roasties or brewing the mulled wine, a home delivery service is available ahead of Christmas.
out Mumtaz Mahal, a popular, well established Indian restaurant. The food is always good and you can sit on the terrace or in the charming interior. Another great dining spot is Finca La Mota on the outskirts of Alhaurin, which sits in its own secret valley. Also Dutch-owned, you dine on a candle-lit terrace at night surrounded by mature pine, orange and avocado trees. A classic rural idyll, the diners are spoilt with a great mix of international dishes, with a slant on the oriental, Moroccan and Thai. Meanwhile you must try herring on brown bread, the the chicken satay and a splendid ‘zarzuela’, which has a top mix of shellfish, rosada and langoustines. The Thai prawn and chicken curry came in red, green or yellow depending on your preference for spice and was delicious. The apple strudel was a sure fire winner to end the meal. Another true star of the valley is Jaap Schaafsma, 31, who I first singled out a decade ago, for my book Dining Secrets of Andalucia, while working at the then-amazing Santa Fe restaurant in Coin. After it shut in the recession he headed back to his native Holland for a few years, but is now back at the helm at the excellent Castillo de Monda. It has an inventive menu and there are always specials of the day, plus a great wine list. If you are looking for Gallic flair then look out for stalwart El Postillon, where you eat on a fantastic terrace overlooking a leafy garden and with views into the nearby Sierra de Mijas. You will be spoilt by the cooking from Xavier Sierra, who after working in his parents’ restaurant in France and studying at the best cooking school in Bordeaux, Ecole Hoteliere de Talence, packed up his kitchen utensils and headed to Spain 20 years ago.
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December 5th - December 18th 2018 15 JOANNE MARIE’S FURNITURE
WHERE TO STAY
Guadalhorce valley has some great rural retreats, writes Jon Clarke
T
HERE are some amazing places to stay in the Guadalhorce Valley, where peace and mountain landscapes merge. One of the most reliable is Finca la Mota (www.fincalamota.com), in Alhaurin el Grande, that was once one of the biggest estates in the entire valley. The 350-year-old farmhouse sits in its own secret valley, surrounded by stunning countryside and with views to match. Run by Dutchman Kees and his two sons Reuben and Danny, you enter into a classic patio Andaluz with a huge pool and its own terrace restaurant. Inside it is charming with comfortable rooms and various dining areas, one with two roaring fireplaces. A lovely shady pool and views to match make up the scene. The rooms are all different and most have a nice atmosphere with good views. You might also consider staying in the soaring Castillo de Monda, which lords over the Guadalhorce valley with mountain views in all directions. Taken over by three talented Dutchmen, the place has spacious bedrooms, replete with four poster beds, jacuzzi baths and private ter-
Sweet dreams ATMOSPHERIC: One of the rooms at Finca la Mota
races, but it also has a spa. Best of all, one of the trio, Jaap Schaafsma, 32, who is in charge
of the kitchen, has worked among Holland’s best restaurants, a few of them with Michelin star status.
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Turbulent times SPANISH airlines are officially the most complained-about in Europe, a new government report has revealed. Iberia, Vueling and Air Europa, along with Ryan Air, Norwegian, Wizz Air and the now defunct Air Berlin were the airlines that came up most often in passenger complaints filed with Spain’s State Air Security Agency (AESA). In 2017 the governmentrun body saw a staggering 50% rise in complaints from 2015, with 15,604 travellers voicing their concerns. National flag carrier Iberia came out top for providing a poor service for flyers, with 2,400 filed complaints and Vueling was a close second with 2,300, followed by Ryanair with 1,789. AESA partially blamed the ‘increase in air traffic Spain’ for the rise in customer gripes. However, Spanish airport authority AENA argued that the number of travellers grew by only 19% during the two year period.
CHINA has secured a lucrative jamon deal with Spain to protect itself from the $250 billion (€220 billion) of trade tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. President Xi Jinping flew to Spain for a three-day state visit last week, where he signed around 20 government and business agreements, including one to export on-the-bone legs of Iberian ham to China. In a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at Madrid’s City Hall, the Chinese premier said he wanted to import $10 trillion (€8 trillion) worth of goods over the next five years. The Chinese president described his country as being THE Bank of Spain has revealed it has written off €42 billion of debt since the financial crisis of 2007-2008. Only €4.5 billion has been recovered so far said the bank, which committed €54 billion of public money to rescue 14 financial institutions since 2009. On top of the €4.5 billion however, the bank, which is
NE of Gibraltar’s leading insurance brokers has come up with an exciting new way to insure your sports car or vintage car collection. Sovereign Insurance Services has developed a policy designed for cars valued in excess of £50,000 or for a collection of vehicles. In a bid to continually expand and improve their range of products, clients with Gibraltar registered vehicles will also now be able to insure their vehicles under the one policy through Sovereign. The company, has partnered with Chubb European Group Limited to provide the policy, the first of its kind on the Rock. “This policy has unrivalled benefits, complemented by an outstanding claims service,” explained Managing Director Neil Entwistle. “This product has radically changed the insurance landscape in Gibraltar for owners of high value cars.” “We know there are a lot of potential clients out there with classic and expensive cars,” he added. The vast majority of these cars are currently insured on standard motor policies that do not provide the specialist cover that they require. These differences become most obvious in the unfortunate event of a claim. Some of the benefits that distinguish this Chubb ‘Masterpiece’ policy from other policies available in Gibraltar include;
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
Family affair
Dried ham deal helps China alleviate Trump trade war in $10 trillion foreign imports move
Sovereign Insurance Services is offering an exciting new insurance policy for expensive cars
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
VALUABLE: Jamon is a luxury in China
Hamming it up
at a ‘crossroads’ in their economy, as he vowed to increase imports of jamon, something considered a luxury product in China. Spanish jamon producers
will now look to cash in off the back of the deal, by expanding exports to China, the world’s top pork consumer. Xi said: “In economic terms, we need to decide if we are
Complete write off headed by Pablo Hernández de Cos, said that a further €10 billion could be recouped. Speaking about the loss of public funds, Klaus Regling, executive director of the European Stability Mechanism, said: “I’m not surprised. Resolving
the crisis was very expensive.” The largest cash injection for any bank after the financial crash in Spain was to Bankia in 2012, which was given a staggering €24 billion by the Bank of Spain.
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going to follow the economic globalisation and free market or if we are going to choose unilateralism and protectionism.” It comes as Spanish exports to China increased by 28% last year to reach €5.7 billion. A Spanish government source did however reveal that Madrid would not sign up to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, a development that links several of China’s global infrastructure projects. Xi, who is the first Chinese president to visit Spain on a state visit for 13 years, will now travel to a G-20 leaders’ summit in Argentina, and then on to Panama and Portugal.
FAMILY-OWNED businesses keep the Spanish economy afloat generating the vast majority of jobs nationwide, new figures have revealed. Across Spain, small to medium sized enterprises owned and operated by families create 67% of jobs and account for 57% of the total value of goods and services produced each year. Daniel Ron, who represents families at the Confederation of Andalucian Businesses, said families are the ‘backbone of the national economy’ and even more important in Andalucia where family-owned businesses create 83% of jobs and 78% of the region's wealth.
Growth
The trend is most pronounced in the agricultural, construction, commerce and hospitality sectors. Even with the growth of new technologies and industries, Ron said Andalucian families will remain the main driver of the regional economy and he called on the Junta to improve its tax policies and put in place incentives for family-owned businesses.
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‘Any Driver Cover’ Comprehensive cover is included for friends or colleagues driving your car with your permission. This covers any untoward, embarrassing moments.
‘Unrestricted EU Coverage’ Comprehensive cover applies across the EU without any restriction on the duration of a trip as is common on other policies.
‘Preferred Repairer choice’ In the unfortunate event of a claim, you can select the repairer or specialist garage to carry out the restoration work required, as opposed to insurers dictating which repairer to use.
Contact Sovereign Insurance at: 00350 200 529078 or enquiries@sis.gi
At Sovereign Insurance Services we appreciate your insurance requirements are unique. We understand that a typical insurance policy may not be suitable so by listening and discussing your requirements
Chubb, a world-renowned, ‘A’ rated, specialist in personal insurance, has provided market-leading packages to high net worth individuals and their families for over 20 years. The company is able to protect all family possessions, not just homes or cars but also art collections and jewellery, and additional properties can be included on a single policy for true convenience and peace of mind. “We are always looking for new innovative ways to help our Private Clients protect their assets. Our clients are based not only in Gibraltar, but across Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” explained Entwistle. “We have a huge variety of insurance policies available from insurance for jackpot payouts to a cameraman who spends his life travelling to dangerous places. Private healthcare also represents a significant segment of our business. We arrange bespoke plans to our Corporate and Private Clients and their
PROPERTY
18 18 www.gibraltarolivepress.com December 5th - December 18th 2018
Competitive streak SPANISH mortgages are no longer the cheapest in Europe, new data has revealed. The average interest rate in September was 1.94%, only slightly above the euro zone average of 1.79%. Spanish rates are now higher than Germany (1.86%), France (1.51%) and Italy (1.79%), according to European Central
Bank figures. It comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez introduced a law forcing lenders to pay a mortgage tax that had been previously levied on borrowers until now. He claimed that a competitive market would avoid banks passing on the added costs to clients through higher interest rates or extra fees.
Spain proves its still an expat favourite with more than 50,000 buying properties this year By Charlie Smith
DESPITE Brexit, Spain has proven it is still an expat favourite with over
A gran via MADRID’s famous Gran Via has seen a multi million makeover in time for the festive season. After almost a year of construction work, the grand road running through the city’s center has been transformed to compete with other European capitals. After a 9 million facelift, pedestrians now have more walking space on the busy pavements with an extra 6,800 square metres. Whereas drivers now have one less lane to get through the center, inciting traffic fears in many residents. Some 140 new benches have also been installed with more recycling bins.
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AGONY Property ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
Home sweet home Spanish Supreme Court rules on former matrimonial homes, writes Lawbird’s Antonio Flores
R
ECENT Supreme Court (SC) divorce case law has placed regular disputes over the ‘family home’ in a prominent position. Not only is this a very emotional subject at the core of some of the most acrimonious covered elsewhere’. In these cases, the ocdivorces, it is in fact believed that therein cupying spouse would lose the right of use. lies the root of many domestic abuse cases In 2017, the same court ruled that the exis- some fatal - when a new partner starts li- tence of a new partner in the marital home ving in the former matrimonial home with - given to an ex-wife and children - should necessarily reduce the mainthe one given the right to tenance payments by reason stay. of the rule of proportionality. Article 96 of the Civil Code The occupying And as of November 24 paragraph 1 states that ‘in the absence of an agree- spouse would lose 2018, a plenary meeting of the First Chamber of the SC ment between the spouse the right of use ruled that where a father or approved by the Judge, use in these types of a mother who, having been of the family home and the given the right to live in the objects of ordinary use thecases former jointly owned matrirein shall correspond to the monial home with the chilchildren and to the spouse dren, enter into a new relain whose company they retionship and live together in the said home, main’. In 2013, the SC stated that the use of a by application of new doctrine the spouse family home but the spouse in charge of with right of use will automatically lose the children was not temporarily limited such right of the former matrimonial home. but adding that such relief was available The immediate effect is that this property so long as the home did not ‘lose its family can now be subjected to a forced sale, in home nature’, or it was proven that the case the former partners do not agree on ‘children had their accommodation needs voluntarily selling up.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com
December 5th - December 18th 2018
Still got it 50,000 foreigners moving to the country this year, new figures have revealed. Compared with the first half of 2017, the country has seen a 5.6% increase in expats ditching their home country for sun, sea and sangria in 2018. According to new data published by the General Council of Notaries, some 53,359 property sales were carried out in the first half of the year. The data, which compiles property sales from all autonomous communities, found 44% were through foreign buyers.
Dominate
Brits still dominate house sales in the country, with 14% moving over this year, followed by nonEU foreigners at 11% and French buyers in third place at 8%. The figures reveal that Brits’ favourite location
was the region of Valencia, with a whopping 15,600 buying properties, followed by Andalucia with 9,740. Asturias saw some 214 Brits setting up shop in the colder northern region.
Surprisingly
Whereas French expats overwhelmingly chose Catalunya more than any other region, with 7,560, compared with Aragon in second place with some 864 moving to the province. The most significant annual increases were in Aragon increasing by 30%, Extremadura by 27%, and Murcia and Castilla La Mancha by 20%. Surprisingly, the Balearic and Canary Islands suffered the biggest drop in expat buyers, with a decrease of around 11% respectively.
Top cities TWO Spanish cities have made it into the top 40 best cities to live in the world. Barcelona has beaten its old rival Madrid to be crowned Spain’s ‘most liveable’ city, as a list of the world’s top 50 is released. Madrid trails in at number 39, scoring 90.9%, Barcelona is placed 30th with 92.5% in the annual global habitability index compiled by the The Economist Intelligence Unit. The five criteria used to calculate each city’s score were stability, education, culture and environment, health and infrastructure.
Identical
Both Spanish cities had identical scores for the first three categories but Barcelona edged ahead with better health and infrastructure rankings than Madrid. London only made it to number 48 (89.1%) on the list while Ireland’s best-performing city, Dublin, finished 41 (90.7%). Manchester is the most liveable British city at number 35, ahead of Madrid, with a habitability score of 91.3%. Australia, Canada and Japan dominate the top 10, but the number one spot goes to Vienna, Austria, which received a near-perfect score of 99.1%.
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
Written in the stars
Culinary maestro Albert Adria introduces London to ‘cakes and bubbles’ in first foodie venture outside of Spain
LEGEND: Jose Andres
Peace of the pie BIG-hearted Spanish superchef Jose Andres has been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize after helping disaster victims. His World Central Kitchen organisation, set up by Andres in 2010, helped feed three million people in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Most recently, the humanitarian and author, who has a series of restaurants in America, helped feed 15,000 survivors of the California wildfires, mobilising local and celebrity chefs.
O
NE of Spain’s most iconic chefs is set to cook up a storm in the UK. Albert Adria, former co-owner of the five-time winning World’s Best Restaurant El Bulli, has opened his first permanent restaurant outside Spain. The legendary pastry chef joins fellow Spanish chefs David Munoz, Eneko Atxa and Martin Berasategui in London, with his new neoclassical eatery. Called Cakes & Bubbles, it will only be serving up champagne and pastries. Housed in the luxury five-star hotel Cafe Royal on Regent A BRITISH supermarket has sparked outrage among Spaniards after announcing it will sell cheesy churros this Christmas. Foodies have taken to Twitter to slam Morrisons for 'blasphemy,' claiming that this new twist on their beloved breakfast treat does not deserve to be called churros. One Spanish foodie insisted: ‘Keep Gibraltar but don't
Innovative
Democrat Congressman John Delaney, who nominated Andres, said: “With an incredible spirit and an innovative mind, Andres is solving one of the world’s ancient problems.” Andres wrote about his Puerto Rico efforts in his book: We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time.
Sweet success
Street, Cakes & Bubbles is a spin-off from La Dolca - the fantasy desert space at his restaurant Tickets, in Barcelona. The choice of London for his first non-Spanish venture was an obvious one for gastronomic revolutionary Adria, who de-
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Grape expectations SPANISH wine production will grow by over a quarter next year. According to new statistics, the country is expecting to see a 26% increase in volume in 2019. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (IOV) predicts that Spain will produce 4.1 billion litres of wine next year. A report by the IOV also shows that Spain still tops the global list for having the largest ‘area under vines’ with 967,000 hectares, some 13% of the world’s total.
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scribes the city as ‘the great capital of the world’. “You’re not going to find anywhere in the world like this, London was the perfect venue - a gift,” said 49-year-old Adria. “I have been working 33 years towards such a project.”
Cheesy idea do this please,’ while another joked, ‘cooking fish and chips with vanilla ice cream in three, two, one.’ Morrisons describe their controversial Christmas creation as a ‘blend of mashed potato, cheese sauce and Gouda cheese with a red pepper dip and a medium-fat hard cheese sprinkle.’ It comes in the wake of Jamie
Plenty of rain and a cool summer are thought to be the main reasons for the increase in production.Sales of Spanish wine worldwide have also increased by 11.2% to over €3 billion. The UK and US are the two biggest importers of Spanish wine, followed by China and Germany.
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Oliver’s foodie faux pas, when he insisted that chorizo was an integral part of paella. Nevertheless, cheesy churros will go on sale from December 16.
Undoubtedly, the star of the menu is the chef’s world famous Tickets’ cheesecake - a trompe l’oeil hazelnut and white chocolate coulommiers cheese wheel. Creating a guilt-free haven, Cakes & Bubbles’ treats have less added sugar than usual, no colourants, icing or glitter and are based on seasonal produce to emulate Japan ‘where their desserts reflect the different seasons of the year’. Each dessert takes the team of seven three hours to create batches of 150 treats. Other patisserie winners include the ‘air-pancake’ finished with caramelised banana, Thai grapefruit and papaya salad, frozen coconut and chocolate flower and a strawberry and chocolate marshmallow After Eight.
ANDALUCIA is quickly becoming a hotbed for Michelin excellence. The region now has two three-Michelin starred restaurants and a total of 22 stars, more than double than a decade ago. Andalucia has moved into fifth place in Spain for the most stars, with two new restaurants joining the glittering list. While, Marbella’s Dani Garcia stole the show, gaining an incredible third star, Pedro Sanchez’s Baga in Jaen and Juanlu Fernandez’s Lu Cocina Y Alma won their first stars, in the new 2019 listings of the famous French food guide. “The region is certainly very fashionable at the moment,” added the region’s other three Michelin-star chef, Angel Leon. The ‘Chef of the Sea’ is currently wowing diners at Aponiente in El Puerto de Santa Maria and Alevante in Sancti Petri, both in Cadiz province. Spain’s legendary chef Ferran Adria, told the Olive Press earlier this year that he had seen a massive growth in Andalucia over recent years. “The chefs are very talented and the quality of ingredients is second to none in Europe,” he told editor Jon Clarke.
*** Dani Garcia (+1*) Marbella, Dani Garcia
* LU Cocina y Alma (+1*) Jerez, Juanlu Fernandez
* Baga (+1*)
Jaen, Pedro Sanchez
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Sherry versatile There’s a sherry to go with everything, writes La Bodega del Cantinero’s sommelier, Juan M. Padron
S
HERRY is often called ‘the most civilised aperitif in the world’. Few wines can match a chilled fino or manzanilla when it comes to preparing our palate for the culinary delights to come. What few know, however, is that
the possibilities of sherry wines go much further at the table than the pre-prandial nibbles. If sherry could be summed up in one word, it would be ‘versatile’. There is a type to suit every taste, occasion and moment of the day, and every course
on the menu. Sherry enhances the flavours of our favourite dishes and offers marriages of sensations that other wines simply cannot. Sherry and manzanilla are produced in Jerez, Spain’s oldest winegrowing region. Sherish was the arab name for
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MASTER CLASS: Left, owner Alberto and (above) Olive Press journalist Elisa the city founded by the Phoenicians 3,000 years ago and the words sherry and Jerez trace their roots back to it. Throughout history, sherry has occupied a privileged position. It was the favourite wine of adventurers such as Columbus, its praises were sung by William Shakespeare and Alexander Fleming who invented penicillin declared it to be the best remedy against disease. This exceptional drink is produced by one of the oldest and most unusual wine-producing techniques in the world. The secret of sherry’s unique character lies in the ‘flor’, a layer of yeast that insulates the wine and protects it from contact with air. The flor appears spontaneously on the surface of the wine once the fermentation process has finished. Each year when this is complete, the Jerez ‘caparaces’ - ‘cellarmen’ - are faced with one of their most important decisions - how each wine is going to be aged and what style it is destined to become. The palest, lightest wines will be aged biologically to become fino or manzanilla. Wines with more body will undergo oxidative ageing in direct contact with the air to become olorosos.
December 5th - December 18th 2018
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December 5th - December 18th 2018
Perfect sherry pairings Sherry is a singular wine and as such, it is worth bearing in mind a few simple tips in order to enjoy it at its best - maximum enjoyment being the objective
The ageing process begins in butts of American oak. In the case of fino and manzanilla the wine is protected from oxidation by its ‘flor’. As the flor is a living organism (yeast), it interacts with the wine, giving it aromas and flavours. Oloroso’s higher content of alcohol prevents the appearance of ‘flor’. The wine is aged according to the ‘soleras and crianzas’ system. The butts are stacked in rows according to their age. Those with the oldest wines rest on the floor (suelo in Spanish, hence the name solera). When the wine is extracted for bottling from the solera butts, it is immediately replaced with wine from the next level up, known as the primera criadura - literally the first nursery. This in turn is topped up with wine from the row above it and
1. The traditional sherry glass is not essential. Try serving it in a wider white wine glass and you’ll enjoy it just as much. 2. Try mixing it with ice or using it as a base for a refreshing summer cocktail. 3. Fino is a pale golden wine with a sharp, delicate bouquet of almonds. Light and dry on the palate, it is perfect with all types of tapas, jamon iberico, fish, shellfish and all vinegar dishes. 4. Manzanilla has a very pale straw colour, a dry sharp bouquet, light on the palate and is also ideal for tapas, fish and shellfish, vinegar dishes and smooth cheeses. 5. Amontillado is an elegant amber coloured wine with a subtle bouquet of hazelnuts, complex and evocative. It’s the perfect pairing for soups, white meat, oily fish, wild mushrooms and semi-cured cheeses and the only one that goes with artichokes and asparagus.
so on, up to the top row containing the youngest wine. Within the wide range of different sherry wines there are three great families. Generoso wines comprise manzanilla, fino, amontillado, oloroso and palo cortado; generoso liqueur wines, which include medium, pale cream and cream sherries; and Natural Sweet wines, including Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel. On the other side, the Consejo Regulador certifies three special categories according to the peculiarities of their ageing: Sherries with an indication of age of 12 and 15 years Sherries with a certified age of 20 and 30 years. VOS - Vium Optimum Signatum in Latin, or Very Old Sherry, are vintage sherries with a certified age of more than 30 years VORS - Vium Optimum Rare
6. Oloroso has an elegant amber-to-mahogany colour. Full bodied with a pronounced nutty bouquet, it is the perfect partner for red meat, game, stews and casseroles. 7. Medium sherry is a light mahogany coloured wine, slightly sweet on the palate. Besides being a pleasant aperitif, served chilled it is the most suitable wine to accompany pate, quiche and any spicy dishes such as curry. 8. Cream is a sweet wine, full bodied and velvety, with an intense aroma and a mahogany colour. The perfect wine to accompany fruits, pastries and ice cream. It can also be paired very well with foie gras and blue cheese. 9. PX is a full vigorous dessert wine in its own right. Exceptional with bitter chocolate, ice cream and strong blue cheese, such as Cabrales, Roquefort or the Andalucian Payoyo blue cheese.
Signatum, or Very Old Rare Sherry. One of the most important processes involved in making sherry is extracting samples. From the first classification of ‘must’ and through the lengthy process of ageing in the criaderas, the bodeguero constantly needs to taste the content of each butt. This is done through the historic Jerezano art called venenciar. It is the venenciador - the taster - who slides the venencia - a long flexible stick with a cup on
TRADITIONAL: The bodega’s interior is all things flamenco and typically Andalucian
the end of it - into the bung-hole of the cask and through the flor to extract a wine sample. The central part of the butt is deep below the ‘flor’ layer where the sediment collects and can only be reached with a venencia. Then the sample has to be skilfully poured at height - to aerate the wine and open up its flavours - into a tiny tasting glass - an art practiced in bodegas that is not only vital but a long-standing irreplaceable tradition as well as - these days - a tourist attraction.
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La Bodega del Cantinero in San Pedro de Alcantara, is a little corner of Jerez on the coast boasting the only restaurant in the world to practice this ancient tradition every single day. This little corner of Jerez on the coast is also the only place for miles around where you can enjoy not only sherries but a whole range of authentic Andalucian flavours. From the cuisine to the service, the ambience to the flamenco shows, it’s the perfect place to get better acquainted with Vinos de Jerez.
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he reality of our purchase is finally starting to sink in and I can feel my palms getting clammy as we all sit in silence signing the Spanish legal documents. I could be selling the family kidneys for all I can understand but we sign our joint names on the dotted line and then everyone in the office shakes hands in universal agreement. Luckily enough we have already enlisted the help of the wonderful GLOBAL REACH and the monetary transaction proceeds seamlessly from one account to another so that’s one thing less we have to worry about. Before you can say ‘I’ve changed my mind, I’ll spend that £10k in Puerto Banus on a pair
pneumatic breasts instead’ the money is already in the grasping hands of the solicitors and the deeds are being drawn up. Sitting afterwards on the wall outside the lawyer’s lair, the mid afternoon sun beating upon our weary heads, I suddenly realise that within a month we could be in our own home. We will be mortgage free for the first time in our lives. Granted, we will only have 53p left in our bank account to live on but you can’t expect to be a homeowner AND afford to eat. “So what happens now?” asks a bewildered husband. “Do we buy furniture? We sold all ours in the UK. This must be the only unfurnished property for
Don’t deck the halls
L
ET’S face it, Spain is a noisy country. I might live in serene solitude next to my lake, but once I clamber into my 4x4 - latest car karma update is that I now have a huge blue Landcruiser, purchased from a French friend and christened Chabal after the famed and fearsome Neanderthal French rugby player – I am bombarded with noise. Not just the revving of engines, the honking of car horns and the over enthusiastic and indiscriminate use of leaf blowers – yes it’s that time of year again – but also background music, or ‘muzak’. I started noticing it when the powers that control the sound system in the car park next to the studio decided to replace the previous eclectic selection with ‘easy listening’. I was more than a little miffed about this, as it often gave me a few ideas for songs to play on my show. Now, however, the sounds of what I presume to be a 21st century reincarnation of the James Last Orchestra playing show tunes drift across the car park in an endless, infernal loop. Presumably the management thinks that an instrumental version of ‘Fly me to the Moon’ or some such adds a certain je
ne sais quoi to the retail experience. Not that you are safe when you actually get into your intended store. Most Spanish supermarkets now pipe ‘muzak’ at you while you shop, and one of the best-known British ones has what seems to be a dedicated DJ playing chart hits and informing you of special offers in the frozen food section. I only hope that the inane chatter and sound is pre-recorded, as there would have to be a special level of hell reserved for DJs that had to broadcast live from a back storeroom. As we are now heading into the festive season, we are of course, subjected to Christmas Carols. Once again Spanish supermarkets and shopping centres are huge fans of what sound like a particularly raucous and over-refreshed bunch belting out songs about ‘navidad’. Count yourself lucky though. When I worked in a Cockney Theme Restaurant in London’s West End in the 80s, we started the Christmas lunch menu and accompanying ‘muzak’ on a continuous loop from the end of October. Even now I can’t hear anything seasonal by Wizard or Slade without breaking into a cold sweat. Deck the halls with boughs of holly and pass me the ear defenders please!
sale in the whole of the Costa Del Sol!” I scratch my head. I hadn’t actually thought this far ahead. I’d spent the last 36 months watching relocation programmes and planning our escape from Brexit, not looking in IKEA catalogues. “And, now you know where we are going to be living, you can get a job” breathes my spouse into my ear “No excuses now!” He smiles (rather maliciously may I add) and saunters off to purchase a coffee. Little does he know that I have already got an interview lined up for the following day. Granted, it’s a commission only position but really, how difficult can selling sun cream around various hotel pools actually be? This time next year I’ll be the same colour as David Dickenson and I’ll be paid for the privilege. Picking up my handbag I make my way over to the jeep and we all head back over the rugged roads in good spirits to our temporary house in the campo.
Luxury
Brian the brave is the first to vault out of the car and I suddenly realise that we won’t have the luxury of a garden anymore. No more letting him out to wee at 8am. I’ll have to get dressed and walk him, come rain or shine. He’d grown quite accustomed to the local goats and headless kittens surrounding the grounds and just last night he had appeared at the front door slightly delirious after his evenings ablutions, eyes rotating with some strange and pungent foliage attached to the side of his mouth, a canine version of ‘Bez’ from the Happy Mondays. It took almost an hour to coach him off the shed roof after attempting, rather unsuccessfully to fly alongside the fruit bats. Entering the house, I go to put the kettle on and lean up against the cooker and stare vacantly at all our worldly possessions lying in a discarded mound in the corner of the dining room. All our pots and pans and furniture had been given away to family and friends and what stood before me was just a jumble of memories of our former life awaiting its final resting place in a small apartment in Fuengirola. Tears pricked the back of my eyes as the weight of my decision rested heavily on my shoulders. “Erm,.. Mum, there’s a woman walking up the gravel drive dragging a very large backpack and shouting your name and waving a bottle of wine at me..?” Turning on my heel I squint out the window to see a very real ghost of my nomadic and hedonistic past walking confidently into our present, and no doubt about to change our imminent future. To be continued... A New Wife in the Sun is available for proofreading, wedding speeches, radio presenting and anything that involves not having to smile at people for any amount of time
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Twell done STEPH Twell has run the fastest marathon by a Scottish woman in six years on her marathon debut in Valencia. It took the 29-year-old just 2 hours, 30 minutes to complete the feat, which also marked the second quickest time by a British woman this year. The Scottish Olympian had previously won bronze for Team GB in the European 5,000m and Commonwealth 1,500m. Twell’s time equalled that of her countrywoman Freya Ross, who ran the same time in April 2012.
Raf and ready MALLORCA’S tennis legend Rafael Nadal has confirmed his first tournament since injuries will be in 2019. Rafa admitted he is ‘relishing’ the prospect of kicking off next year’s campaign at the Mubadala World Championships. The Abu Dhabi tournament, which also features tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams in the women’s, is an exhibition event with a six-man lineup. “The tournament brings together players at the top of the game, we all relish playing in these extremely competitive matches,” said Nadal.
December 5th - December 18th 2018
December 5th - December 18th 2018
Rocky road ahead
Gibraltar face Ireland in EURO crunch tie with thousands of expats set to scramble for tickets UEFA has set up a football crunch match, as Gibraltar will take on Ireland in the EURO 2020 qualifiers at the tiny Victoria stadium. Initial worries that the Rock’s 2300-capacity ground could not host the match were quashed as the location was confirmed on Tuesday. Just 300 away tickets are an offer for the thousands of Irish expats in Spain and Gibraltar, with a scramble expected ahead of the clash. The Gibraltar FA’s Steven Gonzalez said: “It’s only been two days and we have not really thought about tickets at this stage but we have formally confirmed that the game
Luka me REAL Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has become the first player, other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to win the Ballon d’Or, since Kaka in 2007. Modric, 33, won three successive Champions League titles with the Spanish side, before he lead his national team to their first ever World Cup final this year. “Maybe in the past there are some players who could have won the Ballon d'Or like Xavi, Andres Iniesta or [Wesley] Sneijder but people finally now are looking at someone else,” Modric said. Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was the highest-placed Premier League star, finishing 6th, followed by Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Harry Kane.
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will be here.” The draw in Dublin placed Gibraltar in a qualifying group with Ireland, Denmark, Georgia and Switzerland. Meanwhile England avoided old rivals Germany, instead securing a much easier group of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Kosovo and Montenegro. Gibraltar will bid to make it to a first ever international competition, taking on Ireland on 23 march 2019. The Rock’s national side capped off a historic 2018, as they rose to a record 190th in the world rankings following back-to-back Nations League wins. After winning their first ever match 1-0 against Armenia they beat Liechtenstein 2-1 just three days later. Gibraltar were playing their home games in the Portuguese coastal town of Faro, which was where they last faced the Irish in 2016. Ahead of his side’s clash with Ireland in spring, Gibraltar coach Julio Cesar Ribas praised Mick McCarthy’s team as ‘very good.’ “We played our Nations Leagues games [at Victoria] but logically for us, like every other country, it's important for us to play at home,” he added.
Full list of the Top Ten: 1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid and Croatia) 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal) 3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid and France) 4. Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain and France) 5. Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt) 7. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid and France) 8. Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium) 9. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium) 10. Harry Kane (Tottenham and England)
HOME: Victoria stadium to see Ireland VS Gibraltar
Skid marks LEWIS Hamilton has walked away with his life after crashing a superbike at a test race in Andalucia. The British racing star came flying off his Yamaha YZF-R1 bike at a race track in Jerez, just a week after being crowned Formula One world champion for a fifth time in Mexico. Crescent Racing, who run the Yamaha team praised the 33-year-old driver for his skills on two wheels. Team boss Paul Denning said: “This bloke can really ride. Talent for days and a proper good lad.” Hamilton is a big fan of MotoGP and did manage to complete his lap, despite the small accident.
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Round the world
FINAL WORDS
ONE of the world’s most famous ships, the replica of the Nao Victoria, is set to dock in La Linea today (wednesday) and can be visited until Sunday.
Tweet of death MALAGA has called in snipers to eradicate parakeets, with the birds now at uncontrollable levels after they were introduced in the 1970s.
Footie fans NEW York-based media firm Over The Top have launched their FuboTV streaming service in Spain, which will offer 13 Spanish channels for €3.99 a month.
Choriz-no
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Vol. 4 Issue 85 www.gibraltarolivepress.com December 5th - December 18th 2018
Baby got silverback
WOMEN in Andalucia have protested against political corruption in a very unusual way. Instead of voting with an ‘X’, numerous women placed slices of chorizo inside ballots at a Ronda polling station during Andalucia's regional election. Chorizo is used in Spanish slang to mean thief, with the poll booth stunt referring to the male politicians who have plundered public funds on strip clubs and prostitutes over the past three decades.
UK gorilla looking for love on Costa del Sol
THIS is Buu (right), the UKbased gorilla set to travel 2,300km in a bid to start a new family in Spain. The female, 20, will leave her home at Chessington zoo in London, before travelling to meet her new potential partner Echo at the Bioparc in Fuengirola. Buu, already a mother in London, will share the habitat with the younger 'Echo', who arrived a year and a half ago from a zoo in Kolmarden (Sweden) with Kim, an elderly female. Before Buu embarks on her expat journey, Bioparc caregiver Javier Vicent must travel to London to meet her. It is essential he bonds with
her and learns everything about her, including her character, diet, behaviours and how she interacts with caregivers. The silverback gorillas are much more social than other types of primates like chimpanzees. Vicent will observe Buu's daily life before sharing what he learns with the technical and veterinary team at the park in Fuengirola. A keeper from the Chessington zoo will also accompany Buu and Javier on the journey to make sure she is as least distressed as possible. They will also stay for around a month to make sure Buu settles in well to her new
Shake and not stirred
SOON TO BE EXPAT: Buu headed to Fuengirola home. The meeting of Buu and Echo is hugely important for the silverback species, which
is in serious danger of extinction and is among the 10 most threatened primates in the world.
AN earthquake has shaken Andalucia this evening in the small town of Atajate. The website of the National Geographic Institute registered a quake of magnitude 3 at 17km below the municipality at 15.57. The Emergencias 112 Andalucía system has not received any calls over the tremor, which is not believed to be serious.
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