OLIVE PRESS
The
Is 5G really killing us? We ask the experts, see page 6
FREE
GIBRALTAR
Possibility
+THE SKY DOCTOR+ ALL AREAS COVERED
4G UNLIMITED INTERNET
IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV ALSO IPTV, SATELLITE TV
tel: (0034) 952 763 840 info@theskydoctor.com www.theskydoctor.com
The Rock’s only free local paper
Cookshop, Household Goods, General Hardware, Beach Accessories & more Email: biagibraltar@gmail.com Facebook: GibraltarBIA 46 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 75188
It’s Andalucia vs Alicante... Which area has the best grub on offer this summer? See page 20
Crunch time ust r t n a c u o A name y
Gibraltar seeks to calm residents as no-deal Brexit looms ever closer as it holds dozens of meetings with business leaders
THE Gibraltar Government has said the public ‘should inform themselves’ amid preparations for a no-deal Brexit on October 31. In a bid to allay the fears of Britain leaving the EU without an agreement in just 78 days time it also pledged an LAND UK - IRE updated information camSPAIN paign. L ORTUGA Adverts are set to run across ITALY - P E C N A the Government’s social FR media in the run-up to the ‘do or die’ departure from the EU being threatened by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A Government statement also read: “Gibraltar is not B-DAY: Halloween no-deal Brexit threatened by Johnson TATION (left) sees Picardo (right) step up preparations in the EU Customs Union. NSPOR A R T L “We have no manufacturing terms we are better off thanANMeanwhile businessesrely need spokesperson said. also been held, the GovernIMA an ‘no isED you care industry, no agriculture and the United A Kingdom Crunch talks with food im- ment said. ears,there THORinISterms toovcheck ythat U 0 4 lly r e fu A re R a r F magnitude ofdelthe c no fishing industry. ofDEthe supply and porters and the Environ- Deputy Chief Minister JoSol fo sues’ with Fromchains sta ur move. e Coexpect.” n thcan t of yowww.gibraltar.gov.gi, “This means that in general change that a mental Safety Group have seph Garcia said there had g owe r pet, we specvisit u a o y ry e g v Operatin in e f ort been ‘over 50 meetings’ with e. ke care o ly transp ic ta fe rv a e to s s s ly to u d on companies and businesses. longings and frien e l b a r n u io o s y s packing He added: “We voted to renal, profe o rs e e p ic v a d you xpert a e main in the European Union e will give m o s d and this is still the preferred timate an For an es position of the Government. “However, we nonetheless need to prepare for our posLettings | Sales UK BASED 0 9 56 sible departure.” 0 1 2 0 9 ) Investments (+34 It comes as UK shadow o.uk .c ls a v o ckrem home secretary Diane Abja Reliable private hire transfer n io Relocations n u k .u info@ o c . bott appeared to suggest services for any occasion ls a v o Commercial that Labour was ready to tajackrem n • Luxury vehicles io n u . ble a no-confidence motion ww and Residential for w Spanish • Door to door service in Johnson. • Airport collections residents Tel: +350 200 44955 “We are talking to all of the • Weddings transport enquiries@seekerspropertygibraltar.com other parties in parliament • Sightseeing day trips www.globelink.co.uk and if we move for a vote of • Restaurant shuttles no confidence we want to do Find out more at: it with confidence that we 10 Engineer Lane, www.simply-shuttles.com can win it,” she said. 96 626 5000 Gibraltar GX11 1AA
X
He boasted of the ‘top quality’ fruit and vegetables which have gone up in standard since the closed frontier days of the 1970s. “There are some products like saffron only found in Morocco which are wanted around the world,” he told the Olive Press. While the main thrust of the new office is trade, tourist, cultural and educational links are also going to be strengthened. “In Morocco there has been a tendency to teach English instead of French,” affirmed Reed. “So it could be of benefit to them to learn English at our university here.” The association has existed for a long time and the possibility of greater Moroccan involvement has been touted in the past during periods of stress with Spain. “This time it is different though as we have now received Government support,” he added. “It is a big step in the right direction. “The first step would be to develop transport links like ferries and airline connections to make travel easier.” Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia said: “It is only logical that we should also look towards the South given our geographical location.”
LT D
Vol. 4 Issue 103 www.theolivepress.es August 14th - August 27th 2019
Going south MOROCCAN food, spices and unique luxury products could soon be sold and distributed from Gibraltar. It comes after a governmentbacked business association was formed in Tangier amid frontier fluidity concerns. “There’s been a lot of movement recently because people are afraid of what may happen with Brexit,” Gibraltar Moroccan Business Association (GMBA) president Clive Reed revealed. “It is not likely that the border will be shut but we are just looking at making alternative arrangements if there are problems at the frontier. “Even if there aren’t any problems Morocco is modernising very quickly and is a gateway to the whole of Africa, just 20 minutes from Gibraltar.”
Est. 1946
tel: 951 279 117 info@simply-shuttles.com
... k c a J ll a C Just
TRAVEL INSURANCE
+44 (0) 1353 699082
www.seekerspropertygibraltar.com
Opinion Page 6
2
www.theolivepress.es
NEWS IN BRIEF Bordering greatness THE Borders and Coastguard agency has promoted John Paul Duarte and William Recagno to the posts of Deputy Head of Immigration and Compliance Officer respectively.
Miserly moves TEN flats at the Old Married Quarters on 4 Castle Road are being sold off by the Government which finds them ‘no longer cost effective to maintain’.
High on Gib AN eight-page article on Gibraltar has been published in the August edition of the British Airways magazine Highlife showcases top writers’ visions of the Rock.
Hacking alert USERS of the messaging app Whatsapp are being warned about hackers that ask you to reply to a message which puts personal details at risk.
CRIME
August 14th - August 27th 2019
Caught on film Gibraltar fisherman has line cut by bullish Spanish water police A LOCAL fisherman who thought he had caught a tasty tuna for lunch was shocked to get his line cut by Spanish police in Gibraltar waters. A Spanish Guardia Civil sea crew took what the Gibraltar Government called ‘executive action’ when it moved in on the fisherman. With the tuna season reopened recently, the man was within the law to catch the fish. But as the Spanish state be-
Brit and run
TWO British pensioners have reportedly been hospitalised on Spain’s Costa del Sol after they were struck by a car in La Duquesa. A woman, 70, is believed to be in hospital with two broken legs as authorities are asking for witnesses to come forward. The other injured, also 70, has reportedly been hospitalised, according to local sources. A police source told the Olive Press the car and driver have been identified but that witnesses are needed for prosecution.
lieves that Gibraltar has no waters, the police enforced Spanish law instead. The incident, which was caught on video, shows the Guardia Civil leaving the scene after cutting the fishing line.
Unacceptable
“The Government considers this behaviour by law enforcement agents as totally unacceptable,” said the Gibraltar Government.
RAGING: Fisherman (right) gives finger to sea police
“It runs contrary to the professions of dialogue and cooperation that we hear
Dangerous driver caged A SPANISH driver has been arrested after his car smashed into a Gibraltarian on a moped. Driver Cayetano Martin Hernandez, 49, is charged with dangerous driving while his alleged victim is in critical condition in Spain, where he was rushed to receive specialist treatment. The collision occurred at the site of the old casino on Europa Road.
so much about from other quarters and it does nothing to encourage mutual trust and respect. “British citizens are entitled to go about their lawful business in British waters without being subject to any interference from the agents of another state.”
Territorial
CARNAGE: Accident
It was not far from the tragic death of a Gibraltarian woman who died in April last year after being knocked off her motorcycle.
Although the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says that there is a right to 12 nautical miles of territorial waters, Spain denies this applies to Gibraltar. The incident has been taken up with the UK that applies UNCLOS to Gibraltar.
On their un-merry way A BOOZED-UP British mum, whose kids were taken into care before a flight from Gibraltar has been fined £450. Kim Morley, 53, and her husband Dean had been charged with being intoxicated while in charge of children, after they were found drunk in Gibraltar International Airport last week. Police arrived at the transport hub after bank worker Morley fell over in the departures lounge. The East Sussex mum blamed being drunk on her fear of flying, saying she had had a couple of drinks to ease her anxiety and that she had tripped on a broken strap on her shoe. Charges against husband Dean, 54, were dropped after the pair appeared at Gibraltar Magistrates Court. But the wife was handed a £250 fine after she pleaded to her intoxication charge and another fine of £200 for damage to property. Police officers initially removed the children from the couple and transferred them to social services. However, the parents and their children have subsequently been allowed to return to the UK.
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
DO-GOODER: Gere meets migrants
ANTONIO Banderas has hit the red carpet at the 2019 Starlight Gala in Madrid with girlfriend Nicole Kimpel. The 56-year-old actor looked dapper in a black tux while his 39-year-old partner donned a sparkling, blush coloured ball gown. The Malagueño co-hosted the charity event which helps raise money to improve the education, health and living conditions of low income families and children in Spain. It comes after the couple stepped out for the premiere of Banderas’ new film Pain & Glory in London.
3
Top Gere on board, saying ‘there are 121 stories.’ “These are extraordinary people, they are so strong, they lived such horrors, they were living in hell… torture, rapes, imprisonment,” he said. The Pretty Woman star said he did not care about politics and that the point was to help people in distress. “I am coming from a place with a very bizarre political situation, with a president who is putting an enormous amount of energy into dehumanizing people.”
Loco for Lopez
Knockout performance
TYSON Fury has taken a break from his gruelling training schedule by indulging in a bit of karaoke in Mijas. The 30-year-old heavyweight boxer took to the stage for a rendition of American Pie - one of his favourite songs - at Olivia’s La Cala. Joining the ‘Gypsy King’ for the impromptu gig was TOWIE star James ‘Arg’ Argent, who himself is a frequent reveller in Marbella with his on-off lover Gemma Collins. Mancunian Fury was then seen zipping around the luxury Costa del Sol city in his new bright red €180,000 Ferrari Portofino. The athlete loves Marbs too, and was spotted there earlier this year training with his coach and mentor Ben Davison.
J-Lo at 50 impresses fans with beach body as she flies in for Costa del Sol concert AN age defying snap of Jennifer Lopez in Spain has taken the internet by storm. The 50-year-old wowed her fans with her youthful looks as she posed in a plunging swimsuit in Malaga. Posting the picture ahead of her gig at Sohail Castle in Fuengirola J-Lo added the caption: ‘Soaking in every moment.’ The image sent the singer’s followers into a frenzy with many refusing to believe her
All Wright on the night MICHELLE Keegan has shown her wild side in Spain on a rare date night with husband Mark Wright. The 32-year-old actress, of Coronation Street fame, showed off her tan in a leopard print mini-dress while her partner and former TOWIE star played it safe in black jeans and a shirt. The couple were at STK in Ibiza to spend some quality time together.
Do you need a safe place for your prized possessions?
Storage units from 2 m2 to keep your collection!!
age. “You out here lying, telling people you 50, sis,” one person wrote, “You ain’t a day over 30.” The diva performed for more than 14,000 fans in Fuengirola with the mayors of Sevilla and ETERNAL YOUTH: Lopez Malaga said to be among the said to be favoured by Spancrowd. ish socialite Isabel Preysler. The Bronx-born singer and The singer also enjoyed a actress arrived on the Costa meal out at the only sustaindel Sol accompanied by a able Michelin-starred restaularge entourage in two private rant in Malaga, Sollo. planes. Sollo by Diego Gallegos (inShe stayed at the Higueron set right) serves innovative Hotel and chose one of the 24 dishes of fish and caviar, all panoramic suites overlooking sourced at an on-site hydrothe Mediterranean, the same ponic farm. Performing for a little over an hour and a half, J-Lo sang her classics as well as more recent hit, Medicine. As soon as the show was over the jet setting ‘diva from the Bronx’ left for Malaga Airport to continue her tour, which will see her perform next in ICON: J-Lo wows Fuengirola crowd Egypt.
Photo by: Karen Rhodes
Shining bright
RICHARD Gere has highlighted the plight of migrants stranded in the Mediterranean after the Hollywood star boarded a Spanish rescue ship. The actor met some of the 160 migrants trapped aboard the NGO boat, Proactiva Open Arms. The vessel has been stuck for two weeks off the Italian island of Lampedusa. The 69-year-old, who became a father with his Spanish wife earlier this year, appeared in a video message urging people to support the charity and the people onboard. Gere said he spoke to almost everyone
August 14th - August 27th 2019
DOUBLE ACT: Fury (left) and Arg (right) perform
Barbs in Marbs FERNE McCann has been celebrating her 29th birthday in style with a fun-filled girls’ trip to Marbella. The former TOWIE star had been joined by her friend Billie Faiers on the getaway, with the pair donning chic swimwear for a glamorous beach outing. Channeling her inner Baywatch, Faiers rocked a classic red swimsuit while McCann stunned in a floral two-piece. The Marbella holiday comes after a ‘lonely’ McCann admitted she is ‘looking for love.’ The mother of one said: “Being a single parent can get really lonely sometimes. I'm still unattached, but I am looking for love, I just want to find someone who can make me laugh and call me beautiful at the same time.”
COFFEE SHOP & RESTAURANT
FULLY AIR CONDITIONED FREE WIFI AVAILABLE
Try Our “Just Roasted” Family Coffee from the Oldest Coffee Shop in Town Varied Lunch & Snack Menu · Salad & Quiche Bar Regional Specials & Pasta · Home-made Cakes · Afternoon Teas Busy Local Atmosphere & Arts Venue. All in a converted 19th Century Merchant’s House on the “Old Commercial Street”
57 Irish Town · Gibraltar
T. +350 200 70625 /Sacarellos-Coffee-shop
www.sacarellosgibraltar.com
4
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
Dementia warning DOZENS of people could have dementia in Gibraltar and not be aware of it, a local support group has warned. Over 400 people suffer from the condition on the Rock, according to figures released last year. But Dafne Alcantara from the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society revealed the disease is often undetected. “Every three seconds someone develops dementia all over the world,” Alcantara told the Olive Press. “The numbers are rising too, as every year more people will be affected because unfortunately there is no cure.” Dementia symptoms vary from memory and cognitive skills loss to the vegetative state some will eventually reach. “People living with dementia in Gibraltar have better facilities than ever before,” Alcantara said. “There is now a day centre and residential home all purposely built for dementia patients which is a big step forward.” The group offers support to people who have been diagnosed with dementia and their families. Alzheimer’s Disease is the main form of dementia that is diagnosed in Gibraltar.
Load of rubbish!
August 14th - August 27th 2019
Wood be good
Bigger parliament will not be waste of money, says deputy chief minister
NO WAY: Garcia disagrees with money claims
THE Gibraltar government has rubbished claims that the expansion of Parliament would take a big hit on the public coffers. Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia told the Olive Press how backbenchers could receive ‘an allowance’ as opposed to a full wage. It comes after Together Gi-
wage.” He revealed it was a natural increase of MPs based on the Westminster model. The Parliament Reform Bill has caused a social media furore with plans for a protest to be organised shortly. “This is at an early stage,” said Garcia. “The best way to see whether
EXCLUSIVE By John Culatto
braltar suggested that the extra politicians would make the wage bill go up to £1.5m. “This would not cost anything like that,” Garcia hit back. “The new backbench MPs could receive an allowance based on the minimum
Royal rubble
THE ageing Queen’s Cinema building will be demolished and turned into parking spaces. It comes after it was announced at a recent planning meeting that the iconic site will finally be given a purpose following its closing in 2014.
The Government had debated about what to do with the 1960s structure after it had bought it from the Bentata
family. It had wanted to create a theatre but a curtain call on such plans meant that the John Mackintosh Hall is set to receive a new 900 seat playhouse of its own. The parking spaces are believed to be temporary. Numerous calls for open spaces have led to six possible construction sites being temporarily put on ice. Opinion Page 6
the proposal works or not might be to actually try it out and then take a decision after that has happened.” On Together Gibraltar’s reaction, he said: “I think that issues which relate to the cost, the timing and the consultation have sadly been misunderstood.” Contrary to Together Gibraltar’s campaigning, he said this matter was proposed six years ago. “This has been under discussion since at least 2013 and was raised even earlier during the talks which led to the 2006 Constitution,” said the DCM. “One of the reasons the work of the Select Committee was held up was because of Brexit. “When the deadline for departure was extended from April 12 until October 31, this provided a window for the Committee to meet on May 9 and conclude its deliberations.”
THE removal of duty from all wooden cutlery has been welcomed by one of Gibraltar’s top environmentalists. Lewis Stagnetto has campaigned tirelessly against single-use plastics that pollute the sea with his Nautilus Project. “The banning of single-use plastic is going to help a lot,” Stagnetto told the Olive Press. “It is not that I have a problem with plastic as a material. “It is only in its single use capacity where the real issue lies. Inevitably with a straw or a spoon you are using it the once and after that you are done with it. “Dealing with the waste it generates is preposterous.” Through the Nautilus Project Stagnetto has given talks at schools and on television. “There are other materials that can do the job and at least biodegrade,” he revealed. “If you start using wooden or bamboo spoons they will not have such a negative effect on the environment.” While some might argue that using wood products only adds to the problems, Stagnetto disagrees. “Before we were chopping down rainforests for wood or paper,” he disclosed. “Today there is sustainable forestry which produces fast-growing softwood. It provides habitats for birds and using crop-rotation which doesn’t massively affect the ecosystem that has been built up.”
www.theolivepress.es
NEWS
August 14th - August 27th 2019
5
6
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.
OPINION RIP the Queen’s Cinema FOR more than 50 years film fans on the Rock have flocked to the Queen’s Cinema. But the iconic building was not just a place to catch the latest Hollywood flick or British classic. It became a meeting point for Gibraltarians, a cultural hub, a place where families could spend time together. That is why the news this week that the cinema is to be demolished carries extra sadness. Although closed since 2014, the building has only now had its fate sealed, with the Government finally deciding to convert the plot into MORE car parking spaces. This latest attempt to encourage car use on Gibraltar’s already congested roads will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many. After losing the cinema, the Rock’s residents could have been granted a new cultural hub had the cinema been turned into a theatre, as was proposed. But the John Mackintosh Hall has been chosen for the site of a new theatre, confirming the Queen’s Cinema’s ultimate demise. With one less cultural venue in Gibraltar, going forward let us pause and consider how lucky we really are.
Cliff edge?
Publisher / Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es
Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es
Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es
Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es
Timothy McNulty tim@theolivepress.es
Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es
Distribution ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 273 575 distribution@ theolivepress.es
Newsdesk Head office
Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva Deposito Legal MA: 835-2017
2016 - 2019 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.
2012 - 2019 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.
Hard cell? As Spain’s first 5G network is unveiled, Charlie Smith taps into the controversial technology
What is it? As the name suggests, 5G stands for ‘fifth generation’ (see pullout). It is the most up-to-date form of mobile internet connectivity. Unlike 4G, its predecessor, 5G networks use ‘super high-frequency radio airwaves’ transmitted via more localised means. Small 5G transmitters are often located on lamposts, in public areas and closer to homes. While 4G systems provide speeds of around 45Mbps (megabits per second), it is widely claimed that 5G could up that 20-fold.
Vodafone’s souped-up networks are located in 15 cities across the country, including Sevilla and Malaga (also Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastian, La RADIATION: From phones falls within non-ionizing range of electromagnetic spectrum Coruña, Vigo, Gijon, Pamplona, Logroño and Santander). nology, the World Health Organisation (WHO) This improved service is purely commercial, Should we be worried about our health? published a report in 2011, listing mobile with a basic €49.99 plan available, and an advanced €109.99 package for gamers and Not according to Professor Malcolm Sperrin, phone radiation as a ‘carcinogenic hazard’. Director of the Department of Medical Physics However, radiation from any mobile phone - 5G more intensive users. Huawei technology supports the new service, and Clinical Engineering at Oxford University or otherwise - is not within the ‘ionizing range’ of the electromagnetic spectrum. while its phones too, are set to join Vodafone’s Hospitals NHS Trust. current crop of authorised 5G handsets by LG, “There has been no evidence to suggest that In other words, 5G frequencies are nowhere electromagnetic waves from mobile phones near those of X-rays or other radioactive sources Xiaomi and Samsung. Vodafone currently has Spain’s only 5G net- and networks are bad for your health,” he says. which can break down DNA and cause cancer. But that hasn’t stopped the In fact, thousands of studies have found no link work, with its rivals Telefonica, proliferation of pseudoscien- between mobile phones and the development Orange and MasMovil not set tific Facebook communities of tumours, although more in-depth research to unveil theirs until 2021 or Gavin Williamson where worried users air their could clear up the picture a whole lot more. 2022. apocalyptic concerns. If you are on the beach or by the pool with South Korea launched the world’s first 5G network this was even sacked “The radiation from 5G is ille- your 5G phone and are worried about cancer, year, followed by the USA, but by Theresa May gal and is not insured against,” bear in mind that the sun’s UV rays pose a far the founder of 17,000-strong greater threat. only in Chicago and Minneapoover a Huawei 5G group Stop 5G UK, Cathy ‘Getting sunburn just once every two years can lis. Dowd, told the Olive Press. triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer’ says Ericsson then gave 54 cities in security leak But perhaps the most promi- Cancer Research UK. Switzerland 5G and the UK was nent activist is self-styled 5G Slap on the sun cream before you make that next, with EE launching new martyr Mark Steele - dubbed call. networks in London, Cardiff, Eda ‘Weapons Systems Head of Display Expert’ inburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester. Huawei is behind much of the world’s new 5G - who is UK-based, but well-connected with capabilities and has been accused of aiding Spain. spying, due to its strong ties to the Chinese He was in a court battle with Gateshead Council after claiming its new ‘5G’ street lighting ‘miGovernment. 1G - The first generation of moAustralia, New Zealand and Japan have al- crowaved babies in their beds’, and was even bile networks landed in Tokyo in ready rejected 5G from the firm, while US Presi- convicted of threatening two councillors. 1979, and used analogue signals. Taking time out from his protests, he told the dent Donald Trump blacklisted Huawei. Former UK Defence Secretary Gavin William- Olive Press: “It’s obvious 5G is a weapon sysson was even sacked by Theresa May over a tem as I have always stated. 2G - SMS - or texting - then beHuawei 5G security leak to the Daily Telegraph. “We are seeing a mass awakening to the 5G came possible with ‘second gen ’ However, there is little evidence to suggest spy- crime that is being deployed across the counmobile phones, with the launch of try.” ing took place. the Nokia 1011 in 1992 (below). Meanwhile, Russia, China, Japan, Brazil, South The Olive Press also spoke about the health Africa, India and eastern Europe are still in the effects of 5G with building biologist Juan An3G - Around 2001, video calltonio of Cemprotecta, a bioconstruction firm in trial and test phases of 5G. ing and higher data capaciGirona. ties, were then the grip“When you increase ping new features of the the frequencies of radio waves they can third generation. react with human biology,” he said. “Higher 4G - The beginning of frequencies allow 2010 then saw the first more data to be trans4G phones, which offered mitted.” HD data streaming for Meanwhile in 2017, videos, gamers and more. 180 scientists from 36 countries wrote to 5G - Featuring neverthe EU warning of the ‘increased exposure’ before-seen ultra fast to radiofrequency internet speeds of up to electromagnetic fields 10Gbps, 2019 is just see(RF-EMF) from 5G. ing the beginning of 5G. Although the FCC in America has given the ACTIVIST: Mark Steele has taken anti-5G struggle into court green light to the tech-
The evolution of 5G
For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75
AWARDS
HAT connects Spain to cancer fears, Chinese spies and a Gateshead Council court case? Answer - the rollout of 5G. You may have heard of this new cellular technology, and the lightning fast speeds it promises for our smartphones. Watching Love Island from the heart of the Campo also supposedly just got a whole lot easier. However anti-5G activists may have scared you with their warnings of ‘5G genocide’ and tales of governments frying our brains with radiation, one anntenna at a time. On top of that, Chinese tech giant Huawei has been accused of state-sponsored espionage, prompting international calls to reject its 5G technology (see Spy Phone, Issue 319, pg 45). Here in Spain, Vodafone has made waves in this shadowy area of tech as it unveiled the country’s first 5G network, spanning 15 cities and supported by Huawei (see 5-G that’s fast!, Issue 320, pg 33). But what actually is 5G? Where is it being used? And should we be worried about our health? This Olive Press guide tells you all you need to know.
August 14th - August 27th 2019
Where is 5G?
THE news that the Government is stepping up its lastminute no-deal Brexit preparations will come as no surprise to Gibraltarians. Under Fabian Picardo’s tenure the Rock has seen a strong approach to Britain’s departure from the EU. Whilst acknowledging the Rock’s overwhelming cry of Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, the Chief Minister has also recognized the need for Gibraltar to make the best of a bad situation. That is why the renewed activity from the Gibraltar Moroccan Business Association should be strongly encouraged. A push to strengthen trading relationships with the nearby African country not only makes sense, but will be essential if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal, as has been threatened by Boris Johnson. So as the October 31 Brexit deadline looms, let us welcome our neighbours with open arms.
Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es
W
FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es
FEATURE
A fruity story It could have been a lemon … but the Olive Press bore fruit of a different nature and now you can read the hilarious new book about how ‘Spain’s most popular expat newspaper’ first began
that’s the
7
olive press online
Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website
TOP DOGS
‘
GET us a copy of the Lemon Tree, love!’ Hmm…doesn’t quite have the same ring to it does it? But that’s what the Olive Press would have been named were it not for a chatty Spanish olive farmer. Jason Heppenstall, who originally founded the paper in the Granada village of Orgiva, reveals in his new book how the night before printing its first edition he was inspired to change the name. “None of us were happy with it,” the 48-year-old, from Solihull, recalls today, “then the night before I was chatting to my olive farmer neighbour and he kept saying ‘olive press’ this and ‘olive press’ that and it just clicked.” It’s just one of dozens of quirky, hilarious and somewhat unbelievable episodes behind the founding of ‘Spain’s GOING STRONG: The first and latest issues and (below) the story of how it all started now most popular expat newspaper’. continues Jason, who returned to the The Olive Press: News From the Land of UK, via Denmark, with his Danish wife Misfits – available to order on Amazon and two children. – chronicles the trials and tribulations And those juicy bits are? Well, you’ll of launching a newspaper have to read the book to in Spain and the funny find out, but Jason teases: mishaps – and characters “After we printed our first Chris Stewart – that pop up along the edition, we saw famous way. walking along the expat Driving Over Lem“It’s hilarious in parts but ons author Chris Stewart also has a bit of an edge street with a copy walking along the street to it,” explains Jason, a to hold his greasy with a copy of it – except former energy trader, now he was using it to hold his churros! based in Cornwall, who greasy churros!” wrote the majority of it 10 Who would have thought years ago, two years after that almost 15 years later selling his majority share to current the paper would be working on a camowner Jon Clarke. paign with Stewart in his hometown of “It was all set to be published but the Orgiva in a bid to stop a string of elecpublisher wanted to cut out all the juicy trical pylons from destroying the picturbits so I said no, put it away in a drawer esque region? and only discovered it again recently,” “I’m so proud of the paper and what it has become,” added Jason. “We originally launched it to give peo- son and co-founder Mark, a Yorkshireple and the expat com- man. munity in the Alpujar- Clarke, who initially launched a Western ras region a voice and Andalucia edition having worked for 10 obviously it has grown years in Fleet Street, said: “I have never a lot since then. had anything less than the ultimate re“But it’s great how spect for what Jason and Mark did – as things seem to have I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone come full circle at the – and the foundations they laid were same time as me pub- invaluable, particularly the ethos of the lishing a book about it Olive Press being environmental in slant all.” and highly geared to highlighting local The current owner Jon corruption in what was, then, one of bought into the pa- Europe’s most corrupt countries.” per within its first few Look out for a serialisation of the months alongside Ja- book in the Olive Press, coming soon!
ASK ABOUT OUR LONG TERM RETALS NO HIDDEN SURPRISES OR EXTRA COSTS AT MALAGA AIRPORT
OLIVE PRESS FOUNDER: Heppenstall reveals his tell-all book
August 14th - August 27th 2019
THE Olive Press website has ascended into new heights this week as it entered the top 100,000 IN THE WORLD. It comes after months of repeatedly smashing our 1.5 million monthly hits record as readers from across Europe and the world continue to flock to the best English news site in Spain. From alleged Finnish drug traffickers to in depth cultural features on the history of flamenco, only the Olive Press offers truly original and entertaining content. And the figures show it, as we are now officially in the top 100,000 in the world, according to Alexa. com rankings. This week it places our site above all of our rivals, including thelocal.es and thinkspain.com - the latter of which has been running for almost 20 years. With an average 50,000 visitors a day from Spain, the UK, Gibraltar, Scandinavia, Germany and beyond, we can promise local businesses comprehensive exposure to tens of thousands of potential clients every week. This is a healthy mix of local expats, as well as thousands of wealthy tourists every day. Complemented by our 20,000 loyal Facebook followers and 7,000 Twitter fans, there are few people interested in Spain, who are not being reached. Why is YOUR BUSINESS still spending far too much on Google adwords and other inferior websites, magazines and newspapers, when the Olive Press GUARANTEES results? Send us an email today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 so we can find you a better, more effective way to market your business.
LEADING THE WAY: Latest Alexa rankings from the Olive Press (above) and Think Spain (below)
Benefits Consultancy KIM CLARK If you suffer from... • Mobility problems • Pain / Breathlessness • Falls / Stumbles
Or you need... • Help with washing / dressing • Supervision
You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness / disability benefits while living in Spain FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com
8
What’s on
S
peaking out
LEARN how to project your voice and tell a story at the Public Speaking Bootcamp held by Girls in Tech on August 17-18 in the Atlas Suites at the Sunborn Hotel.
S
inking spree
BUDDING boat builders will put their cardboard creations into a race for charity at Ocean Village on August 17 at midday.
S
weet sounds
DANCE to cracking electronic music from 4pm at the ‘Que Pasa’ festival at Victoria Stadium on August 17 starting.
B
LA CULTURA
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
August 14th - August 27th 2019
reathe deep
GET a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you on August 20 at the Sunset Yoga Flow in Camp Bay at 8.30pm.
Do you have a what’s on?
Send your informa tion to August 14th - August 27th 2019 newsde sk@theolivepr
ess.es
Boat loads of fun
Kids and adults to race in hilarious annual cardboard boat regatta
CHILDREN are being encouraged to build the pirate ship of their dreams for the annual Cardboard Boat Race in Ocean Village. Organiser Darren Olivero hopes to raise more money for charity than ever at
FAMILY FUN: Annual DIY regatta returns to Rock
this year’s annual event. “The race is always quite hectic as the competitors
bash each other with the oars and bump their rivals,” Olivero told the Ol-
Party on! NOROC will celebrate four years as a local group by hosting a stage at one of the summer’s biggest music events. The ‘Que Pasa?’ Festival will be held in the Victoria Stadium sports complex on August 17. “We host the second stage which will be extra special as it lands on the same day as our fourth birthday,” Jared Lavagna, one of the four DJs that make up Noroc told the Olive Press. “We try and deliver an eclectic selection of electronic music and try not to confine ourselves to any sub genre. “We strongly believe that if the music is good, people will dance and have an enjoyable time regardless of their musical preference.” Noroc started up in 2015 after its members, Jared, Jestin, Kieran and Tony had travelled to
a number of parties abroad. Since then they have seen a big jump in the number of DJs on the Rock. German house music DJs, Nick Curly and Martin Buttrich top the bill at the festival, with tickets on sale at the door for £35.
ive Press. “They even take water pistols and shoot one another, but all in good fun!” The cardboard boat race was first held at Catalan Bay before being revived at Ocean Village. “Half of the money raised goes to GBC Open Day with the other half going to a charity,” said Darren Olivero. “This year we will be fundraising for Clubhouse Gibraltar and we are running a raffle in conjunction with it.”
Attracting
The current course is 50m long, from the pontoon near the Casino to a buoy in front of the rocks below Watergardens. Paramedics and lifeguards are always at the ready, with all children who participate being given a safety vest. The event, which is sponsored by U-Mee, starts at 9.30am on August 17 when the boats are judged by the mayor and Miss Gibraltar in Casemates Square. The kids and adult races are then held later on at midday in Ocean Village attracting big crowds.
Dino-mite! A HUGE ‘Jurassic’ theme park with zip wires and dinosaurs has been announced for the Andalucia. The huge development, designed for families, features 19 lifesize dinos and a further 16 animatronic prehistoric beasts. It will also have hiking trails, excavation zones, a children’s play area, a mini water park, restaurants and tapas kiosks. Located in Rincon de la Victoria, the new site aims to be ‘the best known family park in the province of Malaga’.
Invested
On top of its many attractions, the theme park will also host seasonal events at Easter, Halbeen invested into the project by Paalwin Park SL, which is planned for land in the Parque Victoria urbanization, north of the A-7 motorway. A 25-year deal for the plot, signed yesterday, gives developers four months to put forward their plans. A first phase of the project is expected to be completed by 2021 and a second by 2024. Tickets will start at €17.50, with 20% off for people with disabilities, while underthrees go free.
CARPETS TEXTILES & CRAFTS
An amazing treasure trove of all things Moroccan and Persian in the heart of charming Gaucin
All sorts of commissions undertaken… plus regular buying trips to Morocco and Turkey Num 20 La Plazoleta, Gaucin, 29480 Malaga Spain
Tel: 722 51 10 57 Contact WhatsApp only: (0044) 751 687 1966 m.asummers@outlook.com www.alisregalosgaucin.com
Property
go S - p m to p ain ag ro ’s az pe in rty e
www.theolivepress.es
www.theolivepress.com
Issue 32
August 2019
August 14th - August 27th 2019
9
JAW-DROPPING: Spanish firm wows judges in battle for award SEE PAGE 12
New fans Why this medieval town - among others - is being praised by Spain’s top architects, see page 14
Sheikh it up Man City owner snaps up €16 million mansion down the road from Julio Iglesias near Marbella
LUCKY: Sheikh Mansour
MANCHESTER City FC owner Sheikh Mansour will soon be neighbours with Julio Iglesias, it has emerged. The football mogul, 48, has splashed out on a stunning €16 million, 25-acre farm near Monda. Set on the edge of the idyllic Sierra de las Nieves, Finca Moratan y Bornoque comes complete with four farmhouses, a 72-metre-square pool and a guest cottage. The Emirati royal can even get his hands dirty with his new home’s walnut plantations, cork farm and cattle fields, which can generate over
€150,000 a year in extra income. His new pad even sports a 60 x 12 metre private dam, used for irrigation, watering animals and fire prevention. Mansour, who is deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, will also count embattled Spanish pop star Julio Iglesias among his neighbours. The lothario singer, 75 - whose love child was recently proved to be 100% his son - owns the €145 million Las Cuatro Lunas in nearby Ojen. Even the Sheikh cannot rival the musician’s mansion, which boasts four pools, a recording studio and a guest
SPRAWLING: Sheikh’s new estate in Monda
house across 450 acres. The estate - which Iglesias put on sale last year - was also the site of the art-
ist’s secret wedding to Miranda Rijnsburger in 2010, in front of just 15 guests.
10
August 2019
PROPERTY
Mark Stucklin
Choppy waters
www.spanishpropertyinsight.com
I
SEE signs that the Spanish Taking out a mortgage is getting more mortgage market is heading complex, which is sure to turn off some for choppy waters as a result of Government interference, foreign buyers at a time when demand is and it’s not great news for the already going soft, writes Mark Stucklin housing market in general, and foreign buyers in particular. The other day Banco Santan- gulations kicked in on the 17th I asked Kevin Monger, a founder announced their Q1 results June 2019. Overall foreign de- ding partner of Mortgage Diand tactfully pointed out that, mand declined in Q1for the first rect, a company specialising in thanks to new mortgage re- time in almost a decade, with sourcing mortgages for foreign gulations, it’s getting harder to pronounced falls amongst nor- borrowers, for his thoughts on sign a mortgage in Spain due thern European nationalities like the subject. to “longer and more complica- the British and Swedes, whom “We have not noticed any chanted processes” in the words of Spanish banks prefer to lend to ge in foreign demand for SpaManaging Director when it comes to nish mortgages yet, but I feel José Luis Álvarez. foreign clients, as it’s too early to see any marked He was too diplothe paperwork and change,” he told me. Some potential credit scoring is ea- “Banks are still getting to grips matic to criticise sier. It’s not hard to with the new laws, not least the the Government in foreign buyers imagine that a per- situation where clients are not Madrid for its new could now centage of poten- earning in Euros, as the general mortgage law but you don’t need a abandon the idea tial foreign buyers interpretation is that they can PhD to work out of buying in Spain will now abandon switch the mortgage currency the idea of buying to the currency of the earnings what he was saying. The new rea home in Spain if the exchange rate goes agagulations are going because getting a inst them by a certain margin. to make it harder and more ex- mortgage is simply too much This is a huge risk and we will pensive to take out a mortgage trouble. Maybe lenders were potentially see more conservain Spain, especially if you are a already adjusting to the draft tive lending to those earning in foreigner. regulations in Q1, with might GBP, USD, CHF, NOK, etc etc.” Foreign demand for property in help explain the decline in fore- Even if reports from the coal Spain was already going soft ign demand that period. I don’t face of the mortgage market are not yet bad, Kevin added, before the new mortgage re- know.
“Things are changing by the day with banks formulating new policies – It promises to be an interesting time.” Personally, I can’t see how forcing borrowers using mortgages to visit a notary ten days before completion will not have a significant negative impact on foreign demand. Mortgage Stamp Duty Increases in Catalonia Meanwhile, in Catalonia, the Regional Government has announced plans to increase mortgage stamp duty from 1.5% to 2% on all mortgages taken out in the region. This will distort the Spanish mortgage market, with higher borrowing costs in Catalonia than anywhere else in Spain. The move will increase
setup costs by close to €800 on a typical loan of €125,000, calculate the CECA banking association. As most loans in Catalonia are €140,000 or more, the cost to borrowers will be even higher, as it all gets passed onto borrowers one way or another. The rising cost and complexity of taking out a mortgage in Spain, especially in Catalonia, is likely to discourage a certain amount of foreign buyers at a time when foreign demand is already going soft. Bear in mind that foreign demand is key to to some market segments on the coast and islands, and in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca.
www.spanishpropertyinsight.com
A name you can trust FRANCE - ITALY - PORTUGAL
SPAIN - UK - IRELAND
Buying or selling your property may be the most important transaction you will ever make... Attention to detail is crucial. That is why when you choose Charles Gomez & Co for your conveyancing, our dedicated team of experts scrutinise everything and keep you informed at every step of the process.
DEFRA AUTHORISED ANIMAL TRANSPORTATION Operating on the Costa del Sol for over 40 years, you can rely on us to take care of every aspect of your move. From carefully packing your belongings to safely transporting your pet, we will give you a personal, professional and friendly service.
For an estimate and some expert advice
35 Years of Excellence in Conveyancing
Just Call Jack.. (+34) 902 109 560
info@unionjackremovals.co.uk
www.unionjackremovals.co.uk
11 August 2019
Magnifique
Bargain in the sun A PLACE in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman was stunned when a couple on the show snapped up an ‘amazing’ property for just £48,000 (€52,000) in southern Spain. Tracey and Dean from Bristol were ‘amazed’ after their offer was accepted for the 2-bedroom penthouse next to the beach in Murcia’s Mar Menor.
Rocketing rents THE average cost of renting in Spain has shot up by 50% in just five years. According to Idealista, the places worst-hit by the rent hike were Palma and Barcelona (more than 50%), followed by Malaga, Madrid, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Valencia (all around 45%). The report found that rental charges have increased at a ‘significantly’ faster rate than housing costs. It comes as anti-tourism groups have staged protests in hotspots like Palma, blaming holidaymakers for the spike in rents. Inland areas, meanwhile, saw the lowest bumps in rent.
BARGAIN: Home on hit property show
The home, which overlooks the coast, was on the market for £55,000 (€60,000) and the pair had a budget of £70,000 (€75,000). “That’s some deal! Wow,” Harman exclaimed after sealing the deal on the phone, “I am really amazed.”
COMING SOON: New tower
Painting history Picasso Towers to have cinema, gym and celebrity residents as more details of luxury development emerge AN Antonio Banderas-backed development on the Costa del Sol has claimed it will be the ‘most desirable in Spain’ and ‘possibly the world’. Picasso Towers will bring a ‘new level of luxury’ to Malaga’s seafront with 71 luxury five-star homes ranging from two to five bedrooms and two penthouse apartments in each block (both with their own private pool). Other new details to emerge include a cinema, several
swimming pools, gyms, office space, a child daycare centre and 24-hour concierge service. Banderas has already purchased a home in one of the three blocks, where prices start at €650,000. The average price per square
Raising the roof
ALL CHANGE: For Bilbao museum
FOSTER + Partners has revealed plans to add this incredible overhanging rooftop extension to the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. Created with local studio LMU Arkitektura, it was the winning bid in a competition that invited studios from around the world to ‘write a new chapter in the life of the institution’. The addition will contain a mix of gallery spaces and public viewing platforms. It will form part of a wider overhaul of the museum which will also see the restoration of several original elements.
Seek no further
S
ARCHITECTS behind a new luxury residential tower under construction in Barcelona have revealed the full design. The project entitled ‘Antares’ has been led by French architect Odile Decq and will comprise of a 30 story tower with 89 flats offering sweeping views of the city. Located on avinguda di-
agonal, one of Barcelona’s broadest and most important avenues, the development will offer a selection of one to four bedroom apartments. "Antares is my first residential development and its design speaks to the heart of my philosophy to bring originality and innovation to everything I do," explained Odile Decq.
EARCHING for a new home to buy or rent in and around Gibraltar can be a daunting process. That is where the personalised and friendly service provided by Seekers comes in very handy. With decades of experience at their fingertips and great contacts in the area, this family company has a proven track record in finding the right property for you. Whether it is a new build or a historic flat in Gibraltar’s old town, the Seeker’s team will put all their years of expertise at your disposal. “In many cases this is the single most important and expensive item you will ever buy,” said Maggie Traverso, who founded Seekers in 2004. “In order to offer you the best service possible, it is important that we get to know you. “We frequently arrange short term accom-
Beauty "I hope antares sets a new standard for what a luxury building can be. from the building’s architecture, which embraces the beauty of the surrounding barcelona area, all the way to the finishes in the interiors, I have taken the utmost care and consideration into every aspect of its design."
Office blocked
GAME CHANGERS: Picasso Towers will arrive to Malaga in 2021
metre is currently between €5,000 and €6,000. The project has been described as ‘Hyde Park One meets Malaga, without the ridiculous prices’. Lead architect Maria Chocarro recently told reporters the ‘three towers will change the skyline of Malaga forever’. Isaaq Majid Gomez, operations director for PrimeHouse,
the agency which will be marketing the development, has reported that 30% of residences in the first tower have already been sold off-plan. The apartments are being built and developed by Metrovacesa and luxury property firm Sierra Blanca Estates Developments. Meanwhile, famous Spanish architect firm Estudio Lamela is taking care of the design while awardwinning designer Jaime Beriestain is looking after the interiors. The first block will be ready in 2021.
THE Mayor of Malaga has said he would like to see the city’s old landmark Post Office HQ be turned into offices. It comes after some councillors suggested the the iconic but derelict block of 4,097 square meters, near Puente de Tetuan, be converted into a hotel or a halls of residence. “While I have always said that Malaga needs hotels, I have also reiterated how much it needs office buildings for rent and warehouses for logistics,” said Mayor Francisco de la Torre. Andalucia Minister of Finance, Juan Bravo, said there were ‘many companies’ interested in the site, but that the first priority would be to ‘clean the building’.
NEW FUTURE: Post office HQ
Nus ipidit ium doluptasped molum quaeQuiam, iusam voluptam alignim assediaes exerspe ped modation for overseas buyers so that you can avoid the pitfalls of buying a property that does not suit you because you do not know the market. “We will liaise with other agents to choose the right properties, rather than just a list from our own portfolio. In this way, we can present every property to you that best satisfies your every whim.” Getting to know her clients is what Maggie does best. Relocating to Gibraltar from the UK herself when she was 18-years-old gave her first-hand experience and connectivity to the local community. This has been the foundation of a business background that has included the relocation of literally hundreds of people over the last 30 years. She believes that an in-depth of a client’s objectives and motivations for relocating are key to achieving a successful re-settlement. “Along the way, it is not unusual to make
life long friends. I love seeing the grandchildren of families I helped to relocate when their kids were still at school!” said Maggie. Better service Knowing the market inside out is also an advantage when it comes to selling a property. Seekers are believers in the personal touch other larger companies cannot rival, helping you feel in control at all times. “We feel that the best way to discuss your property matters and individual requirements with you, is either by phone, or in person,” said Maggie Traverso. “We are ready to discuss your detailed requirements and as soon as you instruct us can get your property listed to potential purchasers or tenants within minutes.” This bespoke service is not just available for Gibraltar either, as many people prefer living in nearby Spain too. Whether it is a short or long-term rent, Seeker’s has the
gs | Sal es of the solution toLet anytin quandary, regardless limitations. estme CommercialInv premises arents another speciality, while investment opportunities are cateRe loc ons to detail and red for with the sameati attention personal service. Co small erc ialcompany punAltogether, this mm family ches wellan above its weight andl in a small d Residentia place like Gibraltar where contacts are Tel: +3 everything, that50 is what works 200 44best. 955 Check out Seeker’s for more inforenquiries@ seekerspwebsite ropertygibraltar.com mation or get down to the Engineer Lane office to talk to an agent in person. See page 15 for detailed information on 10 Eng er Lan e, Range dethe fantastic ‘Theine Mews’ Town Gibralt velopment in Gibraltar. ar GX11 1AA www.se
ekerspropertygibraltar.com For more information: Call (+350) 200 44955, email enquiries@seekerspropertygibraltar.com or visit www.seekerspropertygibraltar.com
12
August 2019
PROPERTY
Out of the shadows Young Spanish firm up for ‘emerging architect’ of the year award
T
HE competition is heating up for this year’s Dezeen awards. From thousands of architects and interior designers from around the world, the internationally renowned architecture publication will announce the winners on September 1. Vying for the Emerging Architect of the Year is Barcelona-based studio Nomo. The young firm has made an impression in the building biz with its whitewashed homes comprising unusual shapes. Below we have rounded up its most memorable works.
WOW: Frame House in Menorca, built for a private family, offers stunning views
GORGEOUS: (Top right) Stone House in Menorca while (below and right) its chic interior and views to the sea
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
VL915
119.000€ Marchena, Sevilla
3 bed, 2 bath Build: 200m2
This property has a gated entrance leading into a gravel drive with off road parking for at least 4 vehicles and continues to the garden which is made up of flower beds and a vegetable garden. The main feature of the garden is a private swimming pool.
Malaga Office +34 952 74 15 25 info@inlandandalucia.com
Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Molina, Malaga
www.inlandandalucia.com
EYE-CATCHING: Nomo’s latest project, Bridge House, comprises stacked pentagon pods in Menorca
LIBERTYHOME
With Liberty Seguros Home Insurance feel really at home, enjoying the simplest of things. We’ll even take care of the cost of an unexpected water loss for up to 1,000€ in the case of a claim.
And you can also get the following benefits: • • • •
Fully comprehensive accidental damage, including subsidence cover. Optional extended cover for jewellery and valuables, both inside and outside the home. Garden reconstruction and outdoor furniture. 24/7 emergency home assistance, through a multi-lingual freephone number.
#1
Visit your nearest agent or go to www.libertyexpatriates.es
CAR
•
HOME
preferred expat insurer
•
The Olive Press (all editions) property section – 342mm x 256mm
LIFE
•
14 August
FUNERAL
14
August 2019
PROPERTY
Not just a pretty face Architects think these are the most beautiful villages in Spain
W
E’VE all read about the purported beauty of Spain’s pueblos blancos. Andalucia in particular is awash with these glistening, white villages, often extolled in publications like Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet.
Perched on top of hills and nestled in mountain valleys, they are one of the hallmarks of property and travel writing, along with Moorish ruins, winding cobbled streets and Game of Thrones castles. But there is so much more to Spanish architecture than picture-
postcard villages. From rooftop hieroglyphs to 500-year-old air conditioning, we round up Spain’s most beautiful villages, from the perspectives of top architects. And yes, there is a whitewashed pueblo or two on the list...
Guadix, Granada The ‘cave houses’ of this town which number about 2,000 - are its most remarkable feature. These underground living spaces have been chosen by Andalucians since the 15th century, although these days, many are fitted out with full kitchens and even WiFi. Architect Roberto Benito described them as: “A natural insulator that causes the temperature inside to range between 18ºC and 20ºC all year. “The silence and tranquility on the insides, which are also whitewashed to replace the lack of natural light in the deepest rooms, mean these types of homes are still being built today.”
Albarracin, Teruel Often dubbed the ‘most beautiful village in Spain’, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the red sandstone facades of Albarracin are purely aesthetic. In fact, the stunning building material was sourced from nearby quarries for its waterproof and insulating qualities. “The organic material also changes colour over time due to the impact of light,” according to Ignacio Vleming, author of urban architecture book, Fisura. He also described the Medieval and Moorish icon as the ‘summary of much of the popular constructive forms of Spain’.
Fornalutx, Mallorca
Alcantarilla, Murcia
This tiny village in the north of the Balearic island may have the most unusual roof tiles in Spain. Set in the Serra de Tramuntana, stone-clad houses in winding streets are adorned with intricately crafted ceramic tiles, some of which date back to the 16th century. Professor of Art History at Madrid’s UNED, Antonio Perla, said the the objects are ‘painted with scenes, images, symbols, prayers and dates’. The mostly red tiles reflect the history of Fornalutx, including its loves, fears and even the weather.
Garganta la Olla, Extremadura This historical village boasts traditional architecture of stone, adobe and wood and is packed with winding paths. Architect Javier Pena Ibanez recently described how the timber-supported walls of
houses in Garganta la Olla were originally designed to sleep animals on the floor with humans above, so they could harness their heat. The architect and head of architecture festival Concentrico said the town is the ‘locality of the Extremadura region that best reflects the traditional constructive characteristics of the area’. The stunning masonry however is not entirely practical, as some buildings in the town are fragile and lean on one another for support.
“These set of homes come complete with towers, ditch systems and water mills, and reflect a traditional lifestyle from the garden of Murcia,” Architect Sanchez Llorens recently said of Medieval town of Alcantarilla. Original Moorish settlers channeled the Segura River, using the water
for gardening and thus growing the mulberry in the 16th century so they were able to feed silkworms, adding Murcia to the silk road. “That new source of wealth is reflected in its wooden structures,” added Sanchez Llorens, “which would have been expensive at the time.”
THE
MEWS THE DEVELOPMENT
The Mews, Town Range – a rare opportunity Within metres of the Governor’s Residence, The Mews is an enclave of 7 boutique houses and apartments each meticulously designed and built to a flawless standard, drawing on its unique gated location in the heart of the old town. Four contemporary mews-style houses will be built on the foundations of the 19th-century stables, at the rear of the original, grand Victorian house, which will itself be refurbished to provide 2 thoughtfully designed apartments and a stunning duplex penthouse, commanding spectacular views. Mews houses are, by their nature, located in the very best parts of town. Providing a safe, traffic free environment that is both practical, and hugely charming.
PROPERTY DETAILS MEWS HOUSES Prices start from £750,000 Roof terrace with stunning views & optional jacuzzi hot tub. Master suite comprising Juliet balcony, fully fitted walk-in wardrobe & a luxury en-suite. 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms 1 guest toilet Apartments & Duplex Penthouse details & POA
These carefully crafted prestigious homes have been designed to capture and celebrate the unique aesthetic of Gibraltar’s Old Town, melding light, space and structure to provide a traditional, yet contemporary interior design scheme that compliments its unique heritage.
EXCLUSIVE ESTATE AGENT Seekers Property Solutions tel: 200 449 55 email: info@themews.gi www.themews.gi
PROPERTY Not just a pretty face continued... 16
August 2019
Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz
Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz
“Vejer is another white town where the mixture of lime, water and sand applied annually to the walls of its houses is a perfect measure against heat,” explained urban architect Almudena de Benito. “The walls of this colour reflect solar radiation meaning lower thermal absorption and, consequently, cooler interiors.” Bougainvillea bushes creeping up walls and around doorways also help fend off the searing temperatures to hit this walled hilltop village. Outside the battlements sit swathes of orchards and orange groves, while inside, is a myriad of quaint cobbled streets, packed closely together.
What you may not know about this town is that its whitewashed houses are ‘organised around courtyards to regulate temperature’. “It has a clear Arab influence but
at the same time is a reflection of the rich mixing of cultures that made us who we are,” said architect and teacher at Superior Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, Mara Sanchez
Llorens. She also claims that the organisation of gardens and buildings in Arcos de la Frontera even inspired Mexican architect Luis Barragan.
Campo de Criptana, Castilla-La Mancha It wouldn’t be travel writing without invoking a bit of Don Quixote. The windmills of Campo de Criptana are those which allegedly inspired Miguel de Cervantes to pen his seminal work back in 1605. Quixote famously loses his mind and fights the cereal mills, the 16th century architecture of which, is still preserved today. “The route of the windmills can help us to visit landscapes in which, as in the desert, on the coast or other homogeneous environments, certain architectures allow us to have geolocation references and at the same time participate in a collective imagination,” said Sanchez Llorens.
Viniegra de Arriba, La Rioja
Streets don’t get more cobbled than these. Architect Pena Ibanez said this minute village of just 50 people is among Spain’s most beautiful because of the ‘conservation and maintenance of its popular architecture’. “One of the most unique features is that its streets retain the old cobblestone. This urban event emanates from the whole town, which has stone houses from the 17th century.”
El Gasco, Extremadura The stonepile homes of Las Hurdes are almost the antithesis to the heat-stopping measures of Andalucia’s pueblos blancos. These stacked slate structures are purpose-built to conserve heat, rather than reflect it, as in southern Spain.
For Sanchez Llorens, the village of El Gasgo, which was the site of a meteorite impact a million years ago, is the most emblematic of this cool architectural style. “It is interesting to assess how these popular architectures also need a certain technique to be habitable,” she added.
BUSINESS
Pay on the go
CAIXABANK has reached one million mobile payment customers, an indication of the growing popularity of digital payments in Spain. The number of Caixabank app users had grown by 87% over the last year and now stands at more than 1.4 million. Customers are increasingly opting to use their phones to make payments, with this mobile users 10.8% of all Caixabank card customers. In total, during the last year, cards paired with Caixabank’s mobile app have carried out more than 49.2 million transactions. Caixabank CEO Juan Antonio Alcaraz said: “2019 has been the year mobile payment took off throughout Spain, a trend accelerated by the growing importance of the user experience as a success factor in any digital product.”
17
August 14th - August 27th 2019
A NO-deal Brexit would cause the loss of 1.2 million jobs across Europe, including 70,410 in Spain, according to a newly-released study by Belgium’s Leuven University. The impact study, commissioned by the Belgian government, showed that the UK leaving the EU without an agreement would cause major job losses in every country in Europe. France would lose 141,320 jobs, while Germany would suffer a massive 291,930 redundancies, the study said.
Dealt a blow
Of course, the country expected to suffer the most is the UK, where more than 500,000 jobs would be lost. The study looked at both the total number and the percentage of jobs that would be lost in each country. Ireland would be one of the worst-hit countries percentage wise, as it stands to lose 50,330 jobs. Belgium too would lose a higher percentage of jobs, with 42,390
redundancies expected there in a no-deal scenario. The study also looked at the potential impact if the UK left with an agreement. In that case, the number of jobs lost across Europe would be smaller – but still significant. Spain was one of the EU nations least affected by Brexit, but it was still expected to face 15,840 job losses if Britain leaves the EU with an agreement. The study took into account how supply chains across the EU and globally would be disrupted, as well as the countries’ direct trade links with the UK.
No fear
A GLOBAL financial crisis like the one which rocked the world in 2008 is unlikely to happen again according to Gibraltar’s banking regulator. Financial Services Commission CEO Samantha Barrass said it has learnt to ‘understand the risks’ of banking innovation.
Finance bosses on the Rock confident Gibraltar will steer clear of another recession
“You can never say never as things do go wrong,” Barrass revealed in an exclusive interview with the Olive Press.
Gran turismo MERCEDES-Benz has chosen Marbella for the worldwide launch of a new high-end model. The grand reveal will take place at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos and will involve visitors from more than 20 countries. A total of 2,800 room bookings have been made around the presentation which will run from November 5 to 25. The german car manufacturer has reportedly paid €60,000 for use of the Palacio. It comes after Audi launched the E-tron, the
company’s first 100% electric car, in the city earlier this year. Mayor Ángeles Muñoz said: “Marbella will once again be a benchmark in the motoring world.”
“But I think the regulators have learnt from the last financial crisis. “Like I referred to in Barcelona recently, regulators are taking an active interest in new innovation. “They are working to understand them and anticipate their direction. “What you are not seeing is an attempt to make them go away.” She compared the stopping or ignoring of innovation as ‘concreting over grass’. “At some point the grass works its way through and often in unpredictable areas,” she suggested.
BOSS: Samantha Barrass Not only has the attitude to change been more embracing but the exchange between regulators has been made a lot easier than ever before. “Regulators have learnt about the changes that are needed and how we should be working together,” Barrass pointed out. “A lot of the initiatives we have seen, started off at international level as there is much greater awareness to collaborate.” She believes there are ‘much stronger mechanisms’ to allow this co-operation across borders.
A to Zed STRUGGLING supermarket chain Dia has been hit with yet another crisis as its new owner faces an ant-corruption probe in Spain. Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman’s owns 70% of the failing chain but now faces an investigation by Spain’s anticorruption prosecutor. The probe centres around Fridman’s involvement in the bankruptcy of Spanish tech company Zed Worldwide. The prosecution believes as a shareholder and creditor of Zed, Fridman achieved the company’s ‘financial strangulation.’ Fridman later acquired Zed for €20 million, well below the company's market value.
Heat strike
UNIONS have denounced 75 construction companies for exposing their workers to soaring summer temperatures in Andalucia. This year has seen the largest number of complaints submitted to the Labour Inspectorate. Andalucia is the only one of Spain’s provinces to protect workers during the hot summer, with work limited to between 7.30 am and 2.30 pm. It comes after a 57-year-old worker Domingo Ocana fell from scaffolding at a school near Jaen and died. The construction sector in Andalucia represents 7% of its total economic output.
Almost there! Chartered financial planner and OP columnist Jonathan Holdaway is one step away from the home of his dreams in southern Spain - but he won’t be adopting ALL the local traditions
S
O as I sit here by the pool enjoying the last few hours of sunshine, sipping my G&T watching the sun setting over the mountains I settle down to write what is hopefully the final instalment of our house buying experience here in the beautiful Costa Tropical. With us being unable to agree a price on the gorgeous villa we had fallen in love with, just off the Acebuchal road on the outskirts of Frigiliana, we had already found an equally attractive alternative closer to the neighbouring village of Torrox. Although with comparable accommodation and in a similar position to the previous property, it’s amazing how just moving a few kilometres into a different postcode, can make a massive difference in price. We have had an offer accepted which is over €100k less than the asking price of the previous place, yet still only a 15 minute drive from either the meandering lanes of Frigiliana and the beaches of Torrox or Nerja. With a small deposit now transferred to the agent’s bank account and an initial ‘offer to purchase’ contract signed, the property has now been removed from their website and can no longer be mar-
keted for sale. This is so much better than NEW HOME: Holdaway has snapped up a property in Torrox the system in the UK where there is still We have been living in Spain for almost culture, but I personally couldn’t do it – a danger of being ‘gazumped’ several six months now, so it will be very inter- unless it was for a networking event and months into the process. esting to see how we feel about ‘home’ in food or wine was involved! Subject to a satisfactory mortgage of- comparison. So it looks like we will be staying in Spain fer, and with no ‘chain’ the move to our Naturally I will always be British, but I am for the rest of our lives. When we return new home is Spain is achingly close now. growing to love the outdoor living afforded from the UK at the end of August our next We’ve now handed everyby the glorious weather – of step is to obtain residency, which will thing over to the solicitors course it’s raining back in the hopefully not be too difficult as we are and await a satisfactory valu- Much better than UK as they have just had Au- both working and will be paying taxes and ation form the bank. Fingers the system in the gust Bank Holiday weekend! social security very soon. crossed its not down valued The days seem longer and We have been strongly advised to comtoo much but fortunately we UK where there is although we haven’t quite plete the process well before Brexit when, are nowhere near the maxiaccustomed to ‘si- from what I have read,BoJo intends to still a danger of become mum borrowing figure so esta’ time I have been rising crash out of the EU on October 31 -deal there is some ‘wriggle room’. being ‘gazumped’ around 5am, to take advan- or no deal! With the heat turning up antage of the cooler hours be- It does sound like Halloween this year will other notch this week, due fore sunrise, often finishing be particularly scary for a lot of people! to a weather system crossing the Medi- work in the early afternoon. If concerned about how your investments terranean from Africa, we are almost re- I admire the many people who return to or pensions are currently positioned get lieved to be preparing for our imminent work at 5 pm after siesta, and continue in touch with me for a ‘Discovery’ meettwo week trip back to the UK to see family well into the evening. I guess that it’s ing at my expense – I’ll even pay for the and friends. easier for them as it is ingrained in their coffee!
Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864
18
August 14th - August 27th 2019
What’s on Gibraltar
S
peaking out
LEARN how to project your voice and tell a story at the Public Speaking Bootcamp held by Girls in Tech on August 17-18 in the Atlas Suites at the Sunborn Hotel.
S
i n k i n g spree
BUDDING boat builders will put their cardboard creations into a race for charity at Ocean Village on August 17 at midday.
S
w e e sounds
t
DANCE to cracking electronic music from 4pm at the ‘Que Pasa’ festival at Victoria Stadium on August 17 starting.
B
reathe deep
GET a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you on August 20 at the Sunset Yoga Flow in Camp Bay at 8.30pm.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Rock steady The UK’s departure from the EU might not all be doom and gloom
B
REXIT could work well for Gibraltar tourism as Spain becomes too expensive and inaccessible. The amount of direct flights to the UK and new accommodation options are expected to increase the volume of British tourists. As Brexit becomes ever more likely, lucky travel agents could now get a crash course in what makes Gibraltar special. “The uniqueness of the warm British Gibraltarian welcome in the heart of the Mediterranean and a good value pound sterling destination continues to be an important message in times of currency volatility,” said Minister for Tourism Gilbert Licudi. The pound has already dipped to one of its lowest ever points against the euro ever and things are expected to worsen if there is a no-deal Brexit. They will be brought over to the Rock and taken to
HAPPY DAYS: Gib National Day programme
see the monkeys, dolphins and many other attractions. The get-to-know-you plans are part of the Gibraltar 2020 trade marketing campaign. “The travel trade is a vital
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
route to market for us, which is why we have formulated this strategy to further develop our bonds with UK agents,” said Licudi. “We have recently experienced extensive investments in our accommodation sector and it is increasingly becoming appealing to a broader demographic.” The opening of the Holiday Inn Express and a number of short-term rental options are helping Gibraltar open for business in new directions.
The marketing plan will include an advertising campaign and an e-learning course about what the Rock offers. The website that travel agents need to go to is www.gibraltartraining.com. This effort is sure to encourage Costa del Sol migrants from the UK too, who will feel more at home than ever in Gibraltar. With both Morrisons and Waitrose products sold on the Rock, it has long been frequented by many Brits wanting a taste of home. The National Month celebrations throughout the
second half of August reinforce that link. It is all the more significant as the Gibraltarians voted to remain British by an overwhelming majority on two occasions. Whether you want to experience the sights, sample the food or just take a dip into Britishness, Gibraltar is the place to be.
Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.
With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD
BRITISH
For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi
www.visitgibraltar.gi
Heritage STREET PARTIES MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE HISTORY MUSIC
Phoenician Empire Calentita
Jazz
INTERNATIONAL
THE ROCK The MoorishMusicCastle Festivals Food Festival Pillars of Hercules National Week, Chess, Snooker, Backgammon Championships 100000 YEARS Darts, LITERARY FESTIVAL
Neanderthal Settlements
ibraltar
#VISITGIBRALTAR
A year of Culture
Bring hearts, minds and souls
19
August 14th - August 27th 2019
Cottoning on SUPERMARKET chain Carrefour has started offering reusable cotton bags as an alternative to plastic. Customers can purchase the 100% cotton mesh bags from the greengrocer section in stores, the company has announced. Carrefour has become the first supermarket chain in Spain to adopt this approach. The retail giant has also removed plastic packaging from fruit and vegetables. According to the chain, these measures have helped the outlet to reduce plastic by more than 80% and were a direct result of consultation with customers.
Selling porkies Fake jamon iberico on Spanish supermarket shelves is ‘Poles’ apart from the real thing CARREFOUR supplier and Spain’s biggest distributor of jamon iberico, Comapa, has been accused of labelling Polish pork as from ‘La Alpujarra’ in Granada. The alarm was raised by the Association of Producers of Granada, who transferred its complaint to consumer rights organisation Facua, claiming the labelling was ‘misleading’. The association has demanded the products – a third of the price of genuine
Alpujarras jamon iberico – be removed from the market. Comapa admitted the pigs were Polish, but claimed the production of its jamon is carried out in Granada. In 2016, the Association of Producers of Granada registered the ‘Jamones La Alpujarra’ guarantee mark with the Junta de Andalucia. The rules state the jamon must be made in the region, must come from a female or a castrated male and must
Big balls
SPECIAL: Tomatoes take centre stage
THE huevo de toro tomato has taken centre stage in Marbella as cooks paid tribute to the giant vegetable known as ‘bull's balls’. In total fifteen chefs from across Andalucia contributed a tasty variety of dishes for the third edition of the annual Tomate Huevo Toro Gourmet festival. Amongst the chefs at the El lago restaurant this year were Irene Garrido of the KGB restaurant in Malaga city and Javi Sevilla, from the Arai restaurant in San Pedro. Huevo de toro tomatoes are a famed product of the Guadalhorce Valley and usually weigh in at between 300 grammes and a kilo.
www.bistropoint.gi UNIVERSITY OF GIBRALTAR, EUROPA POINT
Reservations on 200 76588 or bistropoint@huntergroup.gi
Making a Mochi-ry
PIG’S EAR OF IT: Polish hams NOT from Granada not contain additives or label, ‘Jamones Sierra Alpupreservatives – only ham jarra’, also in 2016. and salt. They maintain Poland ‘is The curing process must an EU country’ and so food take at least between 16 and standards are the same as in 20 months – whereas CoSpain. mapa jamons are only cured Francisco José Fernández is for eight months. one of seven businesses in Sales prices in large super- the Association of Producmarkets such as Carrefour ers of Granada. He has been are around €25 per piece managing the family busifor a Comapa jamon – com- ness Jamones de Juviles, pared with an average of inherited from his grandfa€80 euros for the jamons ther, for 30 years. from companies registered “I feel helpless to see how under the Jamones La Alpu- my father and my grandfajarra label. ther have been fighting to “The hams they bring from make a name in the market Poland are of poor quality,” for hams in the region and Pilar Álvarez, representative now a company uses that of the Association of Pro- brand without producing in ducers of Granada, told El the area,” he said. Pais. “They denigrate the quality Comapa registered its own of the ham of La Alpujarra.”
MERCADONA has shocked Spain by discontinuing some of its most popular ice creams, but a new petition aims to bring them back. The Mochi range was only launched last year, under the Hacendado brand, but has been absent from supermarket freezers this summer. The Japanese-inspired desserts consist of mango and coconutflavoured ice cream encased in a rice cake shell. After a Twitter user quizzed the Valencian chain over why the treats were not being stocked, Mercadona explained itself online. It said: “We do not have Mochi ice cream because sometimes they had a hard texture and we are working to solve it and restore the service as soon as possible.” But now, a Change.org petition has been launched by sweettoothed shoppers keen to bring back their favourite helados. One campaigner said: “My life has never been the same. I am sad when I wander the frozen aisle every week in a hopeless search.”
FOOD,DRINK Battle gastro
20
August 14th - August 27th 2019
Andalucia Aponiente
The Chef of the Sea, as this celebrity chef is known, is famous amongst other things for being the first to introduce plankton as an edible ingredient in dishes. He was also on the jury for the first edition of Top Chef in 2013. Hailing from Jerez, he studied in Sevilla and worked in France before starting his own restaurant. Aponiente quickly earned a reputation for its avant garde dishes featuring fish and seafood never previously seen in cuisine. With three Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns, in 2011 the Wall Street Journal named it one of the 10 best restaurants in Europe while the New York Times considered it one of the ‘10 restaurants in the world worth taking a plane for’. Set in an former windmill, it boasts a team of 70 professionals for just 30 diners. The marine-themed tasting menus astonish with their elaborate presentation. Choose from the menu Mar en calma at €195 or the menu Mar de fondo, €225.
Andalucia and Alicante are running neck and neck in the race to tempt travellers with stellar gastronomy.
S
PAIN has once again beaten its own record with more than 82.6 million international visitors in 2018. But these days it’s Michelin stars, not beaches, that are pulling in the punters. The last 20 years has seen a revolution in Spanish gastronomy with an emerging generation of chefs at the forefront of culinary innovation that goes way beyond patatas brava, tortilla and paella. Young chefs are jumping on the locally-sourced bandwagon, rediscovering forgotten recipes and voicing their modernity through
Francisco Cossi Ochoa, s/n. El Puerto de Sta María, Cádiz Tel.: +34 956 851 870 www.aponiente.com
YOU
Noor Chef Paco Morales met his wife Mariana in her native Cordoba, Argentina, and in 2016 they realised their life project: opening Noor in Spanish Cordoba. One year later they earned a Michelin star and a Repsol Sun. Noor’s interior is influenced by Andalucia’s Moorish heritage, while dishes combine modern culinary techniques with flavours and aromas from the past. They are now working on new menus for next season themed on the Spanish discovery of America. Three menus will mix Arab, Jewish and Christian gastronomy and will star the Iberian pig. The power
NEED TO KNOW...
near ronda, just an hour from san Pedro, is a very special place loved by thousands of people. An old watermill converted over the last 33 years into an award-winning hotel and restaurant. experienced staff who will make you feel very welcome. Great food and local wines in our highly acclaimed restaurant. stunning gardens. Comfortable rooms for overnight stays if you want to make the experience unforgettable.
LU, Cocina y Alma
partners are also expanding their activities with a part recipe/part history book entitled Noor Restaurant, coming out in November. Also in the works is a Noor restaurant in Dubai, due to open in 2021. Only & Only One Za’abeelen will keep an Andalusian-based menu in a more informal setting with dishes to share.
Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 8.Córdoba Tel.: +34 957 96 40 55 - www.noorrestaurante.es
Messina In Three Words:
mOlinO del santO
Check out the website: www.molinodelsanto.com Treat yourself - treat someone who deserves an exceptional experience.
ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Olive Press discOunts available fOr mentiOning this advert
www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51 estaciÓn de benaOJÁn, near rOnda, mÁlaga
Mauricio Giovanni is another Argentinian from Cordoba who started his Spanish career making pasta ‘like many Argentinian cooks do’. In 2003 he opened Messina in Marbella, along with his wife Pia Ninci whose name is an homage to his grandparents who were natives of the eponymous Sicilian town. The restaurant has long been a favourite among Marbella’s dining cognoscenti although it didn’t earn its first Michelin star until 2016. Giovanni’s a la carte and tasting menus are based on local products, particularly fish and shellfish. He combines avant-garde culinary techniques with a simple and elegant presentation. Thanks to Pia’s sommelier skills, Messina also has an impressive cellar numbering some 200 top wines. Av. Severo Ochoa, 12. Marbella, Málaga Tel.: +34 952 864 895 - restaurantemessina.com
Juan Luis Fernandez, also known as Juan Lu, was once the right-hand of Angel Leon at Aponiente, but left to follow his dream and opened his own place in Jerez. Last year LU became the first in town to be awarded a Michelin star. The distinctive interior was created by famous interior designer Gaspar Sobrino. It is a modern interpretation of Alice in Wonderland, with a white and blue colour scheme, ladders coming out of everywhere and tables made of marble. A maximum of 30 diners sit around a theatrical open kitchen at the centre of the dining room, where they can admire the artistry. The restaurant´s main concept is a French and Andalusian fusion, where Fernández adapts French cuisine to local Andalucian products - such as replacing the butter in a French dish with typical Andalusian manteca colora (red lard coloured with paprika and other spices). The tasting menus change daily, depending on the chef’s inspiration, and the result is always unique and very modern. It may have been a risk to open such an experimental restaurant in this traditional town a distance from the costas but it has paid off. Earlier in May, Fernández opened a restaurant in Marbella, Maison Lú. It is a more informal version of the Jerez restaurant and will offer a la carte instead of tasting menus. Zaragoza, 2. Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz Tel.: +34 695 408 481 www.lucocinayalma.es
& TRAVEL of the giants Claire Leibovich dishes up her A v A list of the best restaurants on both costas to help you pick a winner
theatrical reinterpretation. Tradition, culture and region are now celebrated in haute cuisine menus and although technique keeps improving, ingredients are the new protagonists. In southern Spain, Andalucia and Alicante are the foodie hotspots at the heart of this culinary renaissance. Almeria, in eastern Andalucia, is 2019’s Spanish Capital of Gastronomy; Denia in Alicante was Unesco’s Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015. But it’s really no contest. If fine dining is your thing, you can’t go wrong either way.
21
August 14th - August 27th 2019
ALICANTE Quique Dacosta Dacosta is one of the most notable leaders of Spain’s culinary Nouvelle Vague. His Denia restaurant was awarded three stars in the 2012/13 Michelin guide and came fourth in the 100 best restaurants in Europe rankings by OAD (Opinionated About Dining). In his 2018 menu, entitled La evolución y el origen (Evolution and Origin), the 47 year-old chef explored the oldest techniques of conserving food in the Mediterranean, when salt was a fundamental ingredient: ¨It is a simple and universal product, but that does not make it any less relevant,” he said. “After all, humanity has survived thanks to salt.” For this year’s menu, Autorretratos (Self Portraits), Dacosta shows how imagination can help us overcome everyday monotony. Carrer Rascassa, 1 Urb. El Poblet, 03700 Dénia, Alicante - Tel.: +34 965 784 179
Mobile: 0034 682 489 949 Home: 0034 952 557 842 Calle Alamos 6, 29753 Archez www.mesonmudejar.com
Mesón Mudéjar Vegan restaurant and hotel
BonAmb
Beat Valencia-born Jose Manuel Miguel worked in the Ritz in Madrid and Le Bristol in Paris before returning to his native soil. He is now the chef of Beat, located in the Cook Book Hotel in Calpe, and was recently awarded one Michelin star. He also scooped the Sapiña Prize for Innovation in April. The 41year old chef has developed a very personal style, adapting highly refined and technical French cuisine to fresh, local products. His favourite bywords? “Tradition, technique, elegance and innovation.”
Born in 1984, Alberto Ferruz already holds an impressive record for such a young chef, and he shows much more promise. Originally from the Zaragoza region, Ferruz has trained and worked in France and Spain where he collaborated with Quique Dacosta. The BonAmb has been awarded two Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns (only five other restaurants in Spain have that many). His style follows the up-and-coming trend of tradition, anthropology and innovation. “I am for an avantgarde cuisine that is 80% Mediterranean product, but I also recuperate old, forgotten recipes,” he said in a 2019 interview with Heraldo. Carretera Benitaxell, 100. Jávea, Alicante Tel.: +34 965 084 440 www.bonamb.com
MUNDO MANÍA
Partida Marisol Park, 1. Calpe, Alicante Tel.: +34628277858 - www.thecookbookhotel.com
L´Escaleta
A family restaurant when it opened in 1980 in Cocentaina, it was called after the ladder you had to climb to get to it. Then it moved places and the second generation, chef Kiko Mayo and his cousin Alberto Redrado, took over. Since then, L’Escaleta has accumulated two Michelin stars
Manero Tapas Bar Delicatessen Sergio Serra and his business partner Carlos Bosch, already heading up Alicante’s El Portal restaurant, opened a tapas bar in the same city at the end of 2018. The place was decorated by fashionable interior designer Lazaro Rosa Violán with a Belle Epoque vibe. The bar offers a wide selection of seafood, ibérico hams, charcuterie, cheeses, vegetables, salads, classic and more innovative tapas and montadi-
tos. Sarra’s favourite ingredient is onion, which he loves using in different ways: ‘Raw, sauté, roasted, cooked at low heat...Onion is the starting point-basis of any cuisine. Everything starts with onion.’They get a brownie point for the affordable prices: you can get a complete three-course meal for €20.
Médico Manero Mollá, 7., Alicante. Tel.: +34 965 144 444 - www.barmanero.es
and three Repsol Suns. Mayo works with local products to produce tasting menus that change according to the season. He emphasises memory and a cuisine that goes back to forgotten recipes such as chicken crest. When asked to define his cuisine in an interview with Información, Mayo answered: “It is as difficult as defining yourself. I aim to create a cuisine that is simple, honest and humble in every sense.” In another interview with alicanteplaza, the chef declares that ‘a dish has to tell a story’. If you want to learn more about Mayo’s very philosophical view of gastronomy, watch the featurlength documentary on L´Escaleta, presented at the Berlin Film Festival this year - Y en cada lenteja un dios. Subida a la Estación del Norte, 205. Cocentaina, Alicante - Tel.: +34 965 592 100 www.lescaleta.com
AUGUST EVENTS EVERY MONDAY & FRIDAY - Foam Party From 18.00hrs to 19.00hrs
EVERY WEDNESDAY - Around the World with Milo From 17.00hrs
Journey into different countries around the globe with themed food menus, craft workshops, games, entertainment and more! 7th August – Brazilian Night 14th August – Italian Night 21st August – Spanish Night 28th August – Oriental Night See our website & Facebook page for details. Standard entry fees apply - no extra costs!
Mundo Manía, Urb Taraje, 53-75 Camino de Brijan s/n 29680 Estepona, Málaga.
A WORLD OF FUN FOR EVERYONE
T: (+34) 952 938 173 | info@mundo-mania.com | www.mundo-mania.com
OlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1
22
July 31st - August 13th 2019
COLUMNISTS Summer shutdown
Food comes first! TM
902 123 282
* Fu l l y co m p re h e n s i ve o f fe r va l i d fo r n e w c u s to m e r s o n l y. G u a ra nte e s u b j e c t to cove r, re p a i r at a p p rove d g a ra g e, a n d co u r te s y ve h i c l e ava i l a b i l i t y. S u b j e c t to co n d i t i o n s. O f fe r e n d s 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 8 .
Home insurance with Linea Directa has you covered if your fridge or freezer breaks
M
ANY insurance companies offer home insurance, but what about the contents of your fridge? A big part of our monthly expenditure goes on shopping for food and a fridge packed full of food is a significant cost. Imagine your fridge or freezer stops working in these hot summer months and all the food is quickly ruined. Will it be covered as part of your contents insurance? Fridge and freezer cover as standard Our home insurance policy covers the contents of your fridge and freezer up to a maximum of €300 per claim for food stored in a domestic refrigerator or freezer that has been spoiled due to the fridge or freezer unit breaking down or a power cut that lasts longer than six consecutive hours.
2/8/18 17:01
Putting in a claim If you need to claim, simply provide a copy of the repair invoice for the fridge or freezer, and in the event of a power cut spoiling your food contents, then a justification from the electricity company confirming the power outage. Tips for power cuts and surges Power cuts and surges are a nuisance and often occur during thunderstorms during the hotter summer months. And it’s not only the contents of your fridge or freezer that can be spoiled, expensive electronics, home alarm systems and other appliances may be affected. We recommend you install surge protectors and remember to unplug your most prized electronics during thunderstorms.
It’s the essentials you really miss when Spain closes for August, writes Giles Brown
I
DON’T mean to point out the bleeding obvious, but summer is most definitely here. It’s not just the fact that every time I step out onto the terrace at the Casita I feel like I’m standing in a giant hair-dryer – and it’s been a while since one of those was anywhere near my bald bonce, I can assure you. Or the fact that 50 Shades has so little energy that she has been lying flat out on the table and looks like she’s been ironed. And last but not least, you know that summer has arrived due to specific smells. Most distinctively, when you throw the rubbish in the back of the 4x4 and then
If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834 More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com
forget to drop it off in the bins, letting it to stew in the heat all day. The only smell worse than that was when I discovered a Tupperware container containing a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich that had been under the driver’s seat for three months. And I stupidly decided to open it. As I lay on the floor convulsing, I realised that I might have just invented the world’s first tuna taser. Obviously the onset of summer means the annual arrival of the madding and maddening crowds. Along with the sheer amount of people in town, traffic chaos and usual summer gripes, the other factor that makes summer such a challenge is the fact that everything shuts. I don’t mean the beach bars and restaurants, but
MECHANICS: Become hard to locate come August
the everyday shops and road manners of other drivservices that you need if ers can be a little, ahem, you live here full time. ‘challenging’, but I’ve even It’s easier to get a cerveza caught myself giving cythan have a clists – and carburettor you all know changed in my thoughts It’s easier to summer, trust about the leme, as Spain gions of MAMget a cerveza takes August ILs (Middle than have a off and heads Aged Men to the beach. In Lycra) - a carburettor When you cheery wave changed have the sort as I amble of luck with along the cars that Istan road. I have, that makes this The sun must be getting to month more than a little me. nervy. I’d go out and buy a bigger I always drive defensively hat, but the shop is probduring summer, as the ably shut for summer.
A NEW SPECIES HAS ARRIVED IN SPAIN Invest smarter with BinckBank Start today and pay € 0 on transaction costs! Our trading platform supports 28 languages.
The value of your investments can rise or fall and you could get back less than you invested. Terms and conditions apply: www.binckbank.com/landing-pages/opening-offer-300euros
Spain: (+34) 951 56 56 56 | UK: (+44) 203 901 2756 Email: info@binckbank.com www.binckbank.com
SPORT CRACK SHOT: Rogers
Bullseye BRITISH archery ace Thea Rogers has set her sights on Spanish gold at next week’s World Youth Championships in Madrid. The 17-year-old from Cwmbran in Wales is part of the 24-strong British team travelling to Spain for the competition, which runs from August 19-25. Looking ahead to Madrid, Rogers said: “Pretty much everyone in the world is going to be in Madrid. “The Korean archers are very good, but if we do what we do then I think we’ll have a chance. “When we came back from Romania we looked at what the weather was like in Madrid and it was around 38°C – and they haven’t reached the peak of their summer yet. “But we’ve all been shooting well and things are good, so we’re going for gold this time!”
23
July 31st - August 13th 2019 SPAIN’S basketball hero Marc Gasol has played down injury fears ahead of the Basketball World Cup at the end of August. “I am very well and very happy,” the 34-year-old said, despite being left out of a friendly against Lithuania. The NBA champion, who plays for Toronto Raptors,
added that ‘taking risks is not the smartest thing’. It comes as Gasol is expected to start in a warm up game in Malaga before heading off with the Spain squad to China for the World Cup, kicking off on August 31.
Bale in
Bale brought back into the fold as Zidane recalls Welsh wizard for preseason clash
GARETH BALE has impressed upon his return to the Real Madrid squad, having been frozen out during much of pre-season by boss Zinedine Zidane. The Wales international came on as a substitute in the friendly against Roma, scoring in a penalty shoot-out which Madrid eventually lost 5-4. Bale’s future at the Bernabeu had looked uncertain with the forward having been left out of the club’s pre-season friendly against German side RB Salzburg. But speaking after the match in Rome, Zidane seem to have have made a u-turn on Bale along with fellow outcast, James Rodriguez.
Pretty in pink SHINJI Okazaki has dazzled in pink as he sported the new Malaga CF kit for his first assist at his new club. The Japanese forward ditched the blue of Leicester City to don the new completely fuchsia pink alternative kit made by Nike. A quick turn of Pace
Marc my words
from the striker saw him set up teammate Hicham Boussefiane to score the only goal of the game against Melilla. The win is the first of the preseason for the Costa del Sol club, whose first home game is against Las Palmas on August 24.
“James and Bale are players in the squad. “They are both registered, but anything can happen and I, as a coach of Real Madrid, must count on them,” said the Frenchman. The 30-year-old had seemed set to leave the Spanish club this summer but a potential move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning fell through. Zidane had previously said that Bale being sold would be ‘best for everyone’, sparking uproar from the player’s representative. “It’s simple, Zidane doesn’t like Gareth. “There’s no relationship between them. There never has been,” said Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett. “Zidane is a disgrace - he shows no respect for a player who has done so much for Real Madrid,” Barnett fumed. Bale, 30, signed from Tottenham in 2013 for the then world record fee of €92 million and still has three years remaining on his contract.
New player appeal
A FOOTBALL club has harnessed the buzz around transfers to revive interest in the almost two decades-long search for a missing Andalucian teenager. Italian side AS Roma have highlighted the case of Maria Teresa Ferandez, who disappeared in Motril in 2000 when she was 15. Roma included the appeal in an announcement that Real Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez had signed for the club. It comes as part of a profile-raising campaign in partnership with missing people organisations from Spain, UK, Italy and the US. The post on AS Roma’s Twitter account will reach 88,500 followers while the same message on Facebook will be seen by more than nine million.
OLIVE PRESS
The
GIBRALTAR
Local hero Gibraltar fireman Matthew Coulthard said he was ‘extremely proud’ won of winning the 2019 Firefighters Combat Challenge for the fastest rescue.
FINAL WORDS
No deal chaos INSPECTIONS on food, flowers, chemicals and medicines produced in the UK could slow down frontier flow in a no deal scenario, the government has warned.
FREE
‘Slide of death’ dismantled on Costa del Sol following injuries THE notorious ‘longest slide in Spain’ has been removed from the Costa del Sol after it caused a string of minor injuries. The 38-metre chute, which closed after its riders were left bruised and burned, has been dismantled. Pictures show the stainless
Radiating pain A CAMPAIGN to stop the installation of 5G towers because of radiation risks is gathering speed on the Rock after trials were announced for 2020 by Gibtelecom.
Ah chute
steel attraction cut up into pieces and the site where it was once housed, bare and fenced off. Estepona’s PP Government has been slammed by the PSOE over the move, with the left wing party saying it expects ‘explanations’ of the slide’s expenses.
...Slide with pride
MEANWHILE, residents in Colmenar in Malaga had all the fun with a huge inflatable slide running through one of its main streets. Adults and kids alike tabogonned through the town on lilos resembling everything from unicorns to a packet of french fries. The sliding attraction comes to town every year as part of the annual feria.
But Estepona Ayuntamiento claims it awarded a free contract to the company that built and dismantled the slide, therefore no public money was used. “Since no amount was ever paid for the slide this has not led to the payment of economic amounts for the said withdrawn infrastructure,” a spokesperson said. It comes after the slide was proudly unveiled by Estepona Mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano in the run-up to the May 26 municipal elections. The privately-funded slide in Los Niños Park was quoted as costing €28,000, while the budget for the green space as a whole was €298,839. But the ambitious politcian’s PR stunt backfired, as the world’s media began reporting incidents of injuries. One female rider said she ‘hurt everywhere’ after rid-
952 147 834 * O f f e r
v a l i d
TheOlivePress-256x170-HOME02.indd 1
f o r
Peter piper...
Vol. 4 Issue 103 www.theolivepress.es August 14th - August 27th 2019
Photo by: Jess Lewis
Advertise here for as little as as £75 per issue
The Rock’s only free local paper
n e w
c u s t o m e r s
A MAN arrested with 200 kilos of stolen red peppers in his car boot has been identified as the same person who stole three tonnes of grapes weeks earlier. Police probing the missing veg identified the Spanish suspect, known as JNF, as the man behind a grape theft in July. The Dos Hermanas resident is accused of taking the fresh produce from a farm in Sevilla on August 5. Cops later cuffed him in the nearby town of Los Palacios y Villafranca following a traffic stop.
Southern comforts GONE FOR GOOD: Slide ing it, while others received friction burns and blisters. The slide was closed on May 11 just 24 hours after opening. It was then reopened with updated safety advice that users must not ride lying down and that children must be accompanied by adults.
ANDALUCIANS have the best sex, a new study of 18-35-yearolds has found. For the fifth consecutive year residents in the southernmost Spanish region were declared unbeatable in the bedroom. The autonomous community was voted the most sexually accomplished by 18% of voters in a survey by Condom brand Control. Second best was the Canary Islands with 9.6%, while Navarra was rated the worst region between the sheets with 1.7%, according to the poll.
TM
o n l y .
S u b j e c t
t o
c o n d i t i o n s .
E n d s
3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .
21/6/19 13:30