Olive Press issue 140 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 6 Issue 140

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Biggest battle since Franco

New row after Gib arrests By James Bryce in Gibraltar

By Wendy Williams and Jon Clarke

‘emergency mission’ to Germany, reportedly asking for further bailout money. It came as stock markets crashed to their lowest level in 11 years on what was described as ‘Black Monday’, with shares plummetting and Analysis by James Bryce the risk premium for PAIN may have received a €100 billion Spain at the bailout last week in an effort to shore highest level up its banks. since the euro But it is difficult to see the figure as was formed. useful for anything other than papering over the According cracks of the country’s fragile economy. to analyst The seriousness of the situation has been exacCarsten Brzerbated by two regions Murcia and Valencia askeski of ING ing for urgent bailouts from Madrid. bank, events And some commentators have even suggested since Friday the crisis is the biggest challenge to its demohave been a cratic system since the death of Franco. ‘wake-up call Spain’s finance minister has responded by apto anyone parently begging Germany for a more substanwho thought tial bailout, which could be as much as €320 the Spanish billion. And the figure looks like an increasingly bank rescue urgent requirement, despite Spain taking meapackage had sures to prevent the situation getting worse, inbought a calm cluding a temporary ban on ‘short-selling’. summer for But that is only likely to offer a temporary rethe euro’. prieve, with yields on 10-year government bonds It comes as at a hugely unsustainable 7.5 per cent. Spain introThere is a rescue fund of 700 billion euros availduced urgent able, but the figure needs to be more like two measures to trillion euros to hold the eurozone together. stop so-called Murcia and Valencia are in trouble because of ‘short selltheir exposure to the failed property market. ing’ or betting Cataluna is next and with Andalucia arguably against the just as exposed, the question remains, could it markets to be another domino to fall?

see page 11

July 26 - August 08, 2012

MELTDOWN

THE Spanish economy has finally come to the brink of collapse threatening to take the euro down with it. Despite the economy minister Luis de Guindos insisting on Monday that Spain did not need a full bailout, last night he was on an

Don’t let the banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk

Summer of discontent deepens as ‘la crisis’ comes to a head with urgent bailout plea

POLICE in Gibraltar are deploying extra boats after Spanish officers arrested two British nationals for fishing in waters around the Rock. The two men were detained for two hours on Friday night and had their Gibraltar-registered boat impounded and fishing equipment seized. While they were eventually released without charge, Gibraltar has described the arrests as being ‘criminal acts of unlawful detention,

FURY: Millions have protested against Rajoy’s cuts around Spain. Here, a badly injured demonstrator gets arrested in Madrid make a quick profit. The measures came in, after the regions Valencia and Murcia asked for urgent bailouts to keep their economies going.

As the Olive Press went to press Cataluna asked for a bailout, with Andalucia also in danger of needing an urgent cash injection. The country meanwhile has

vowed that it would clamp down on recent protests that have seen dozens injured when police fired rub-

...but it’s not all doom and gloom YES, there are reasons to be smiling....Despite Spain’s economic problems, our exclusive research has found that, at the very least, fruit and veg is a third cheaper to buy than in the UK. Read more in our annual Green Guide 2012, out FREE with this issue. What’s more, the sun keeps shining – and, as this issue’s 12BARKING MAD: page activity pullout shows - there are plenKneeboarding ty of great places to go out and enjoy it.

Turn to Page 2

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green gu ide

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The hap of a low- py, smiling faces impact life

Why Arse really are nal of old rubba load ish! Want to offset? carbon the cowBeware of boys Hurrah! UK fruit costs tripl price of e the Spain

ACTION: New boat trespass and false imprisonment’. The incident has speeded up the construction of a new base close to the border to help protect its waters. It also comes just days after a Gibraltarian told local paper Panorama that Spanish police had fired over a dozen rubber bullets at his pleasure boat, accusations denied by the Guardia Civil. Both incidents have sparked Turn to Page 4

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

CRISIS SPECIAL

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Spaniards plummet to ever lower depths to make ends meet

240 billion lost in tax evasion A QUARTER of all financial transactions in Spain are being done ‘under the table’ according to tax workers. These tax evasion schemes are costing Spain approximately €240 billion a year. The report by tax workers union Gestha found the construction and property sectors are the worst offenders. An estimated €8.6 billion is lost in fraud involving the sale of property, while another €2.1 billion is lost to illegal rentals. Nearly six out of 10 rental agreements - estimated to be over a million - are made without contracts. And most tax evasion occurs within the small business sector - in large part because accounts do not have to be audited, making fraud easier. The union is calling for stricter government regulation to crack down on tax evasion, estimating that it would bring in at least €25 billion for the Treasury.

Please help sell my kidney EXCLUSIVE by Rund Abdelfatah

A DESPERATE motherof-five has approached the Olive Press for advice on how to sell her kidney to save her starving family. At just 37 years old, Lidia Garcia Perez is prepared to undergo a life-threatening operation to remove her kidney and part of her liver and auction them off to the highest bidder. “‘I’ve tried everything to support my family but nothing works,” she told the Olive Press. “I can’t go on like this unable to find something to

Mother in desperate plea to Olive Press readers to help raise money from organ sale

eat every night,” added Perez who has tried her hand at numerous jobs, including waitressing, cooking and housecleaning. “I just hope there might be someone out there prepared to pay for my organs. And I am prepared to go to another country to have the operation, if needs be.” Perez, who lives in Madrid with her boyfriend who is also unemployed, approached the paper after spotting our website online. Her whole family are cur-

Meltdown ‘worse than’ Greece From Page 1

ber bullets and charged protestors who had set fires on the streets of Madrid. Millions of Spaniards came out in protest in over 80 cities just hours after Mariano Rajoy’s PP government ratified the largest cuts in Spanish history. Workers protesting against the cuts marched with shouts of ‘Hands up, this is a robbery!’ and placards that read: “There isn’t a shortage of money - there are too

many thieves.” less than €400 a month (see It marks the culmination below) and from September of an almost daily series of VAT rises to 21 per cent. protests that erupted with PP politician Andrea Fabra the miners arriving in Ma- made the situation worse drid on July when she 10. Rajoy has insulted the confirmed unemployed measures by clapping • €100bn bailout approved and saying to save €65 with first €30bn this month ‘que se jobillion by cutting un(f*** • Rumours suggest Spain will dan’ employment them) as ask for a full blown bailout benefit, getan• 10-year borrowing costs Rajoy ting rid of nounced the soar to 7.57 per cent Christmas cuts. • Cataluna joins Valencia and bonuses and Meanwhile Murcia in needing a bailout increasing a poll in El VAT (IVA). Pais over “There is no money in the the weekend showed 82 per coffers to pay for public ser- cent of Spaniards believe vices,” said Budget Minister public workers have good reaCristobal Montoro. “It is son to protest with the same time to call a spade a spade. number believing the unrest Financing services with could now spread to other more deficit and more debt groups. will doom us.” Markets are worried that the But critics say the govern- latest turmoil is pushing the ment’s new austerity mea- euro to the brink of collapse. sures will worsen conditions According to one commenfor Spaniards already strug- tator, its financial problems gling to make ends meet. make the Greek meltdown Many families are living on look like a ‘tea party’.

Crisis at a glance

FOR SALE: Kidney rently living on just €450 a month and Perez feels that only drastic measures will rescue her family from intense poverty.

Struggling “I don’t have any other choice. It’s clearer than water for me that this is what I should do.” Sadly, Perez is just one of the many people throughout Spain struggling to subsist amid the increasingly grave economic crisis. While kidneys sell on the black market for around €100,000 it is currently illegal to sell your organs in any part of Europe, and most of the world. Until recently, Turkey was the main European hub for organ trafficking - now it is believed to be Russia. Iran is the only country in the world where organ sales are legal and where a kidney can cost as little as €6,000.

Families ‘living off €400 a month’

THE recession is weighing down heavily on families around the region. But few places are struggling as much as in the Serrania de Ronda, where it is reported that over 50 per cent of families

are living off less than €400 a month. According to Maria Aranda, who is coordinating a project between the Junta and the EU to help revive the region of seven municipalities, they need urgent help.

NEWS

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Banderas break up?

AFTER 15 years together they have been through a lot. But footage of Antonio Banderas getting frisky with a Bollywood beauty (above) is said to be driving actress Melanie Griffith to consider divorce. It comes after the Malaga-born star was seen dancing with Mallika Sherawat aboard Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen’s yacht. “Antonio grabbed her from behind, and he was really into the dance,” insisted Mallika’s stylish Ivan Bitton. “I could also hear Antonio telling Mallika how beautiful she was,” he added. Banderas also invited Mallika to visit Spain for a holiday, an Indian website reported. But the actor, who was in Marbella last week to open the Starlite festival, has denied rumours of a breakup. It is anything but the first time that the couple have had to deny a break-up.

Spain wins ‘Infidelity Olympics’ SPAIN has received top marks in the first ever ‘Infidelity Olympics’, winning a gold medal in the Tantric Sex category. The country also took home a silver medal for having sex alfresco. The competition was set up by the controversial dating website AshleyMadison. com which helps married men and women experience ‘a discrete adventure’. Other participant countries included Australia, the United States, the UK and nations across South America.

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

No comprendo Nelly

The Body in Ibiza AT 48 years old, Elle Macpherson has never looked better, as these photos taken on a short break in Ibiza show. Nicknamed ‘The Body’, the model and host of Britain’s Next Top Model showed off her figure in a white bikini aboard a luxury yacht. She was accompanied by her two sons and financier boyfriend Roger Jenkins.

Hola

NELLY Furtado (above) is likely to confuse the majority of her fans when she releases her new album Mi Plan entirely in Spanish. But as the Canadian singer explains: “I love Latin pop music. So it was a natural thing for me to do.”

Golden comeback rumours for BBC’s biggest flop

By Mason Jones IT was labelled the biggest flop in BBC history. Yet, 20 years later and soap opera Eldorado is rumoured to be making a comeback. The defunct soap – which has more than recouped its outlay of €12 million through re-runs and sales abroad – could be re-shot in Spain. The ‘sunshine soap’, which was based on the lives of a group of expats living on

SUNNY DELIGHT: The Eldorado set is largely intact while (top left and top right) some of the main characters the Costa del Sol, has been subject of a massive comeback campaign. It has led to BBC Director General George Entwis-

tle, 50, being flooded with emails asking for the show to be re-made. A string of BBC staff have added their support to

BBC was ‘caught with its pants down’

T was destined to go wrong right from the start. The first time the BBC had ever contracted an independent company to produce a series outside of the UK, it is incredible that they chose the Costa del Crime as the testing ground. Based out of Coin, producers John Dark and James Todesco were given the job of pulling together the biggest soap opera launch for a decade. A former producer of James Bond films, Dark hoped that Eldorado would soon take on EastEnders. Yet, after a few episodes it was hamstrung with an enormous amount of problems and ratings were sinking fast. “The BBC was caught with its pants down,” contends Alhaurin-based Robert Zdrill, who worked as a video editor on the series. “There was lots of mischief going on

and it turned out to be a huge disaster.” The problems were enormous. Poorly-built sets, actors who couldn’t act and poor production left the drama with three million less than its target 10m viewers. It was eventually axed after one year in March 1993. “To be fair it was rushed through onto the schedules too early,” says Zdrill, who has since produced music videos for the likes of Simple Minds. “The top brass wanted it ready for Expo 92 and there was no way it was going to be ready in time.” In particular, he cites the poor lighting, the set made of breezeblocks which ruined the sound and the ‘abysmal acting’. “On the first night at the launch party, you could practically hear a pin drop it had gone so badly,” he recalls. “It spelt the end of my career and a lot of others too.”

the campaign which was launched by former soap cameraman Paul Davis. Incredibly the €2.2m set is still largely intact in the hills above Coin. Part holiday village, part set, the Ciudad del Cine is hidden in pine trees above the Guadalhorce town. It still counts its own petrol station, town hall, village square, post boxes and phone boxes. One BBC member told the Daily Telegraph: “There are a lot of us who want Eldorado back.

“It was given the chop too quickly and the ratings weren’t that bad and were stabilising just when it was axed, so a lot of people are emailing the new director general to let them know we want it back. “If he is brave enough to bring it back I think he will see record audiences.”

Pressure

He continued: “A lot of BBC staff who were around in the 90s have a soft spot for Eldorado and there is mounting pressure for it to return. “We also get quite a lot of letters and emails from viewers. Give it a few years and I can see it returning.” A spokesman for the BBC said, however, that there were no plans for the soap to return at present.

HOPE: It’s unknown if stars (above) from the ‘Sunshine soap’ could return

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

NEWS

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Can’t swindle the Windles! EXCLUSIVE by Wendy Williams

A BRITISH couple have won a six-year legal battle to force a property developer to give them a home they won in a raffle. A Malaga court ruled that Arenal 2000 must give Suzan and Malcolm Windle, 68, a free home. The case dates back to 2006 when the couple were ‘over the moon’ to be told they had won a ‘buy-one-getone-free’ competition for a new apartment worth €250,000 in Benalmadena. The couple from Yorkshire entered the competition with agent Andalucia Dream Homes when they bought their current home in Isla Redonda, near Sevilla. But the dream soon turned into a nightmare. “It is like being told you have won the lottery and then you haven’t,” explained Suzan, 54, whose picture was even used by the company for marketing their win on billboards along the N340. “We were over the moon when we won; and planned to rent it and use it as a holi-

Courts order developer to give British couple home won in raffle

WINNERS: The Windles (far left and right) finally have something to smile about day home,” she told the Olive Press. “But it has dragged on for six years and we never got a house.” During this time the two companies involved, Andalucia Dream Homes, which is now in liquidation, and Arenal 2000, owned by disgraced businessman Rafael Gomez Sandokan, both blamed each other. “It has been six years of hell

and stress as we have been passed from pillar to post,” added Suzan, who praised the work of her lawyer Roberto Leiro from Lawbird. “It is finally excellent news. As Arenal no longer owns the apartment we are either going to get another apartment or financial compensation. “We are just keeping our fingers crossed it is coming to an end.”

Boards for Blanco

A TARIFA tourism group has used 150 surfboards to promote an event in the town on July 20. The event, Noche en Blanco celebrated the town’s architecture with projection artists, bands and DJ’s.

The Royal Navy must help From Page 1

outrage among politicians, with Gibraltar vowing to defend itself by ramping up security in the waters around the Rock. “I am shocked by the disgraceful behaviour of the Spanish Guardia Civil,” said Foreign Office Minister for Europe David Lidington. “Such action is intolerable and unlawful.” The Gibraltar government meanwhile condemned the Spanish authorities for confiscating fishing equipment, insisting that the boat’s owners were not fishing illegally.

It also accused Spanish police of turning off navigational lights on both the fishing boat and their own craft in a deliberate attempt to avoid detection. “Gibraltar condemns the actions of the Spanish Guardia Civil,” insisted a spokesman. “This latest incident is out of the bounds of acceptable behaviour.” He added: “Guardia Civil actions such as these are invasions of our territorial sea which must be repelled by the Royal Navy.”

NEWS

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BLAZING: Firefighters struggle to put out the flames

Arson attack on new fast track freight line AN arson attack has wiped out 20 lorries at an AVE construction site on the line between Antequera and Granada. The attackers are reported to have cost subcontractors €2m by drilling through the fuel tanks of the vehicles before setting them alight.

An investigation has been launched but so far no arrests have been made in relation to the attack. The vehicles had been working on the new line that will predominantly carry freight on the so-called Mediterranean Corridor.

Driving a train through the truth By Wendy Williams

A CONTROVERSIAL train line that threatens to carve up Ronda’s main tourist valley has been included in the new town plan shining a light on the mayor’s empty promises. The new PGOU plan, which is open to the public, shows the line running west of Arriate through Llano de la Cruz to a new station at La Indiana. Despite protestations of hundreds of locals and businesses, the line will come within yards of Hotel La Fuente de la Higuera, voted by Trip Advisor among the Top 10 in Andalucia. This comes despite the current PP mayor Maripaz Fernandez promising residents

Ronda town hall does U-turn on freight line through tourist valley at various meetings in December that the train would stay on the existing line through Ronda town centre. She insisted central government had agreed with this plan, although she was unable to explain how they would get the freight trains up the famously windy, narrow stretch of line going past Arriate. “That is up to the technicians to work out,” she said, adding: “We want it to cause minimal environmental damage and it is vital to protect the valley.” Now, it seems the town hall has done a complete U-turn putting one of Spain’s top

Rabbits on the rampage HUNTERS are being asked to help out after a plague of rabbits went on the rampage, ravaging farmers crops around the region. The furry creatures have been devastating sunflower and cereal crops as well as attacking young olive trees. It has led the Junta to loosen laws on hunting for Malaga province and promise to give out more licences. “We hope this action is taken fast as if not the rabbits are going to destroy everything,” explained a farmer in Antequera.

hotels – and dozens of other tourist businesses – under threat. But not everyone is surprised by this seeming change of heart. “An initial draft of the PGOU was created two years ago which though never published always included the line through Llano de la Cruz,” said a town hall source.

Conniving

“The smartest people, or those with inside knowledge, have already sold,” he added. “This is a clever, conniving con trick and has caught many people out.” Meanwhile the mayor insists her position has not changed. “We received different information verbally but, as yet, this has not been included in the official reports. “In the town plan there is an AVE station in Indiana, but the information we have been given is that it will stay in Ronda.” The public now has three months to contest the plan.

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

OPINION OPINION

Hard times, desperate measures DESPERATE times call for desperate measures, or so the saying goes. But what happens when these words are taken literally – when things get so desperate that a mother must sell her kidney to feed her family. Do we just sit idly by and accept this adage as an unfortunate reality or do we try to make the desperate times a little less desperate? As more and more people across Spain face eviction, poverty and hunger, there is a desperate need for a communal initiative to assist these struggling families. After all, it seems the situation will only get worse before it gets better. It is in this moment – when times are truly desperate – that we must offer a helping hand and curtail the need for desperate measures.

King Carlos’ Secret Trip THE story story came to light when he was flown home from Africa with a broken hip. A sheepish King Carlos apologised as he left the hospital: “I am very sorry. I made a mistake. It won’t happen again” he claimed. Sorry for spending thousands to hunt while the rest of Spain struggles financially, for killing one the worlds most endangered species, or simply for being caught? A greater question however, should be why people who kill animals for pleasure rather than for food, hold prestigious positions within WWF in the first place. Spain is not alone... In the UK, the Duke of Edinburgh has been involved in the WWF for over 40 years, he even served as the groups International president for 16 years, yet he has spent a lifetime killing both British and exotic animals in the name of sport. He should be the next to go.

Green hope THE environment has been forced to second place over the last few years as the recession deepened. And more is the tragedy, given our understanding of the seriousness of global warming and carbon emissions. It is clear though that people realise the task facing us and some of the changes we need to make are relatively simple. Have a read of our free annual Green Guide out with this issue and hopefully get some inspiration to make a few of those basic changes that will help to make a difference.

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The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

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Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es News Editor: Wendy Williams 689646049 wendy@theolivepress.es Reporters: James Bryce james@theolivepress.es and Eloise Horsfield eloise@theolivepress.es Distribution: 951 166 060

SALES TEAM: West Costa del Sol Jane Jewson 673958858 Axarquia Charlie Bamber 661452180 Cadiz Elizabeth Gould 620 532 672 Ronda/San Pedro/Marbella Jon Clarke 691 831 399

ALK of psychopaths usually conjures up images of the Norman Bates character in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho. It is less likely to create an image of a smarmy salesman trying to sell you a timeshare or dodgy investment scheme. But many of these scoundrels operating in Spain display the character traits associated with psychopaths. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) recently sent an email to 77,000 people, many in Spain, warning them that they appeared on a so-called ‘suckers list’ used by boiler room bosses to target unsuspecting investors. The people who use the list were described by the FSA as ‘ruthless, calculating and will stop at nothing to steal your money’. This description bears remarkable similarities to the features of a psychopath. Here, the Olive Press explores the ways in which the behaviour of unscrupulous conmen in Spain closely reflects those considered to be psychopaths.

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The real sharks of the Costa del Sol After the FSA sent warnings that thousands of expats in Spain are on the so-called ‘suckers list’, Helen Pierpoint investigates what makes a psychopath or conman people out of millions of euros a year. And the shares they are pushing are either worthless or non-existent. The boiler room scam costs British investors €220 million a year.

€26,000. That doesn’t stop the criminal masterminds behind the network of deceit squeezing every last drop they can out The Boiler Room of prospective customers. Scammer They may assure you you’ll have massive gains within It is an all-too common scene: 60 days - a you’re relaxing promise broken in the bath, afthousands of ter a long day times over with How to spot a psychopath: and the teleso many British phone goes. • CHARMING: They tend to come across as highly charming and funny customers. A charming • CANNY: They are extremely manipulative and will attempt to con you whenever These fraudsters man asks you possible are not even whether you • PRIVILEGED: They feel entitled to your money adverse to kickare interested • LIARS: They are compulsive liars and will lie without hesitation to get you to part ing their victims in investing in with your money. when they are shares and the • RUTHLESS: They show no remorse or guilt when they hurt or trick others down with many offer may sound • CROCODILE TEARS: They understand and are able to mimic human emotions companies set enticing – leadsuch as love if it happens to serve their purpose-none of these feelings are genuup to offer boiler ing to you being ine room casualties offered a dis• EDGY: They need constant stimulation and are unable to settle down for long a way to recover counted price or • EMPATHY: They have no empathy for their victims their money for a even a free gift. • BLAMELESS: They are reluctant to take the blame for their crimes and will try ‘small’ fee of up But these coldand avoid punishment whenever possible to €600. calls are part • CONTEMPT: They feel that human emotions like compassion are signs of weakThe money is of an elaborate ness pocketed and and ruthless victims are scheme to con

Got a news story?

This type of fraud targets wealthy, middle-aged or elderly Britons from call centres largely based in Spain. Victims of this fraud have in the past lost their life savings and even their homes with the average loss at a colossal

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COMMENT

sometimes left penniless.

The timeshare crook Many victims of timeshare fraud will tell you their nightmare began with a call asking whether they would be interested in timeshare. An equal number will have been enticed by the infamous ‘scratch card’ schemes, so popular in the big costa reso rts. But one thing in common, the salesmen sound convincing and will name-drop credible and highly official sounding companies, lawyers or estate agents that they are ‘affiliated’ with. The bottom line is anyone making unsolicited calls, or approaching you in the street, should be treated with extreme caution. In the nineties these predators took advantage of the property ‘boom’, conning 600,000 people into signing up to timeshares. Victims only realised they had been scammed when they discovered these properties didn’t even exist or that the annual maintenance fee totalled sums in the region of a mind-bending €2000. These conmen are highly skilled in the art of persuasion - they deftly convince their ‘prey’ to part with their money, inventing a number of reasons to hand over your bank details. They will offer legal, security or financial services and may even assure you they will transfer money into your account when in fact the reverse is happening. In the past 12 months the Timeshares Owners and Committees Organisation saw a mammoth 180 per cent surge in complaints against these master manipulators. (See news story right)

The equity release fraudster Thousands of Brits have also been defrauded by equity release scams . These predators “are thieves…instead of climbing in through your window they

7 the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

COMMENT

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Timeshare trouble ahead Warning as unscrupulous salesmen are on the increase again HUNDREDS of timeshare salesmen are back on the streets, putting both sellers and buyers at risk. Holidaymakers are being warned to watch out for unscrupulous timeshare touts, both on the phone and in person. In the past 12 months the Timeshare Owners and Committees organisation has seen a 180 per cent surge in complaints about law firms and a 67 per cent increase in complaints about resale companies. Dubious law firms and resale companies are targeting sellers trying to get rid of thousands of timeshares they can no longer afford. They claim they can recoup the initial

gain your trust and simply walk through your door,” explains David Klein of the Costa del Sol Action Group, which receives up to ten calls a day from victims of equity release schemes. “They become your best frie nd.’’ At the turn of the century, approximately 100,000 pensioners hoping to live out their lives in warmer climes moved to Spain, attracted by the low cost of living. Yet as the fever of the boom waned and the cost of living increased, many expats signed equity release schemes allowing them to borrow money at the value of

investment or sell the property, in exchange for a large fee. They are also giving the hard-sell to unsuspecting first-time buyers, often trying to offload unwanted timeshares onto them.

Burdened

Timeshare became popular in the Nineties when around 600,000 people paid an upfront fee plus annual charges to use a room or apartment for set weeks each year. Many found themselves burdened with contracts they couldn’t get out of and spiralling maintenance costs which in some cases were as much as €2,000 a year.

their homes to get cash. The ‘advisors’ hoodwinked their customers into believing they would get a great return on investments of their loan but when the money ran out they would demand the money back. “These rapacious financial advisers would use your loan to make high-risk investments…the higher the risk the more money they would receive as commission,’’ adds Klein. The vultures would get a monthly pay-check of up to a whopping €65,000 while their customers were left up to their necks in a debt they could not repay.

What you can do to protect yourself: • If you’re buying or letting a property, trying to clear debt or securing a job, do NOT trust the negotiator’s charming smile and gift of the gab - their charisma may simply be a weapon deployed to trick you. • The ability to speak English does not exempt business people from having a heart of stone - do NOT go for the easy option - criminals use expats’ relief at finding an English-speaker on the Costa to gain their trust. • NEVER give personal details to companies that cold call you - the best thing you can do is put down the phone before they have a chance to manipulate you. • Do NOT believe yourself immune from being scammed - master manipulators

By James Bryce

are skilled in the art of rhetoric and often use your weakness against you. • NEVER respond to scam messages - if you do, you make yourself liable to receive a barrage of further messages. • Make sure you understand ALL the details of any deal you’re negotiating- it may sound great on the surface but will often have traps hidden in the small print. • If you suspect you are being scammed, use websites such as the Olive Press, the Costa del Sol Action Group, www. actionfraud.police.uk or the FSA, where you can find plenty of helpful information and advice about these sharks. • Always seek the advice of an INDEPENDENT lawyer or financial adviser before making any decisions you may regret.

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

NEWS

A LION has been found living on a residential urbanisation in Spain. A Sevilla man allegedly sold the animal to a man who kept the lioness as a pet in a make-shift enclosure in Badajoz. Police found the dangerous animal after receiving a tipoff about the animal’s existence. Action is now being taken against the current owner. Meanwhile the previous owner, 69, who initially purchased the nine-month old cub for €2,500, has now been charged with the traf-

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Not the purrfect home ficking of a threatened species. The lioness has been trans-

ferred to a zoo in Madrid until a decision is reached about her future.

Donations for Sergio Expats set up flower fund for tragic Spanish student murdered in the UK By Wendy Williams GENEROUS expats are organising a collection for anyone wishing to pay tribute to Coin student Sergio Retamar Marquez, who was murdered in the UK last week. Shelley Exley, from North Yorkshire, has set up an account with local florist Flores Paola where people can leave their donations towards a wreath. The student, 23, was allegedly decapitated by his flatmate in a horrifying attack in Bournemouth. “The expat community desperately wanted to do something for the family of this boy,” explained Exley, who has lived in the town for 30 years. “The Brits felt very affected that he was murdered in Britain. “It’s all extremely shocking,” added Exley, who knows the boy’s mother. “He was the only son. His mum is just in shock.” Retamar had moved to Britain less than a year ago to learn English and work as a waiter. His 29-year-old flatmate Karl Addo has since been arrested on suspicion of

RIP: Sergio Retamar Marquez murder and detained at a secure mental health unit. Anyone wishing to contribute should leave their donations with Sonia at Flores Paola in Coin quoting ‘Sergio Retamar. Comunidad Britanica’.

Darragh faces a new kind of critic PETERBOROUGH United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony is facing criticism once again, this time for his literary efforts. The disgraced property mogul - who appeared in court in Marbella in April on charges of taking tens of thousands of euros off nearly 50 British and Irish victims - has released an autobiography. From Hobby to Obsession (pictured left) details MacAnthony’s time as chairman of the Championship club, but has received mixed reviews online. One reviewer, Lee Philpott, wrote on Amazon: “Wow, this book is incredibly badly written. I wonder whether he commissioned a million monkeys with typewriters. “Or else he’s drunkenly mumbled into voice recognition software and accidentally pressed publish.” Another reviewer, Gary Jones, added: “The blurb on the cover pretty much sums this ‘businessman’ up, and I don’t suppose he mentions the ongoing investigations into his financial ‘dealings’ either.”

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012 10 As a member of Home OwnersÂ´ Club

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RYANAIR is set to drop 15 routes from the UK to Madrid and Barcelona this winter in response to a doubling of airport departure taxes from July 1.

Rubbish news Workers at a waste company in Cadiz are refusing to collect any more rubbish from the streets until they receive a wage increase of 4.4 per cent.

Baby snatch

An Irish baby boy who was sat in a car when it was stolen from a supermarket in Benalmadena has been reunited with his mother.

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The International Sand Art Contest, held over seven days in Marbella, has been won by Indian artist Sudarsan Pattnaik for his sculpture of Hindu elephant god Ganesha.

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Fire jump deaths

British tourists were forced to leap over 165ft cliffs to escape blaze

A BRITISH father and his daughter have died after jumping into the sea to escape raging fires in Cataluna. The 60-year-old man died landing on rocks, while his daughter, 15, drowned. The pair had jumped 165ft from a cliff with three other family members as the blaze spread, near Portbou, on the Costa Brava. A group of about 150 tour-

ists were forced out of their vehicles by flames and down a hillside.

Critical

The mother of a French family is in a critical condition but the son and other daughter are not thought to have suffered serious injury. The fire, which has now claimed four lives, has burned across 35 square miles.

British burglar arrested for forest fire A BRITISH man has been arrested for starting a fire in Tarragona that destroyed 3,000 hectares of forest. Paul William, 33, who lives in Gandesa, was charged with six counts of burglary that occurred at the same time as the blaze which swept through the Rasquera area in May. Investigations revealed that William, who was spotted robbing a house, was also responsible for starting the fire. William, however, claimed that he had called the fire brigade after seeing an arsonist start the blaze. He later fled the town and was traced by police to Salou where he was arrested.

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NEWS

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

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NEWS

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Muzzling leishmaniasis By Rund Abdelfatah VETS on the Costa del Sol are hopeful that a new vaccine will protect against a disease that affects around a third of dogs in Spain. Leishmaniasis, also known as black fever, is an infectious disease transmitted by sand flies that can cause dogs to suffer hair loss, skin sores

Vets hope to have found a new vaccine for killer dog virus and even kidney failure. The ailment - which is particularly bad in southern Spain - also affects humans, with an outbreak in Madrid affecting over 200 people in March. Last year British expat Susan Hughes, 67, died after

Spain’s royals take a pay cut

HARD UP: The Royals will get seven per cent less KING Juan Carlos and son Prince Felipe will have their annual salaries reduced by

Fall from grace IT led to the worst scandal the Spanish Royal Family has ever faced. Now the repercussions of King Juan Carlos’ elephant hunting in Africa have come back to haunt him. After various threats, conservation group WWF has removed King Juan Carlos as its honorary president. The Spanish section of the charity voted to oust the king from his position, held since 1968.

seven per cent as the latest slew of austerity measures hit Spain. The queen consort Sofia and Princess Letizia, Felipe’s wife will also have their expenses cut. In total, the royal budget of €8.3 million per year will decrease by €100,000 in 2012. According to sources, the Royal family accepted the cuts voluntarily to show solidarity with the public sector whose wages will be reduced in an attempt to control Spain’s massive deficit. The gesture has had a mixed reception on social media, with some even joking the royal family may struggle to make ends meet.

she contracted the disease through a sand fly bite, as reported in the Olive Press. The most common method of treatment for canine leishmaniasis is a collar containing an insecticide that has proven to be 86 per cent effective. But now vets believe a new vaccine could pave the way for more effective management of the disease, though some admit the treatment is still relatively unpredictable.

Optimistic

“It is too early to tell how effective the vaccine will be,” veterinary nurse Melinda Dunzel from the Pointer Clinic in Estepona told the Olive Press. “But we are optimistic that it will help with prevention and anything that will help stop Leishmaniasis is welcomed.” The vaccine, which is administered in a course of three injections followed by an annual booster shot, costs between €50 and €65 per shot.

Egg attack

THE former Valencia leader Francisco Camps (above) has been pelted with eggs by a group of over 30 people. It comes as the region was forced to ask for an official financial bailout from Madrid.

New dinosaur might have had wings SCIENTISTS have discovered a new breed of dinosaur in the north of Spain. The claims emerged after two Spanish paleontologists found a new type of dinosaur egg in Lleida. The remarkable egg from the upper Cretaceous period, around 75 million years ago, is said to suggest the existence of an animal that linked dinosaurs and birds. The eggs have a peculiar asymmetrical shape which look more like chicken eggs than dinosaur eggs. The so called ‘missing-link’ between the two species has been named Sankofa pyrenaica. EGGCITING: Dino egg

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NEWS

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

1 2012

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guideve e oli thgreen

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GREEN NEWS

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Bearded vultures flying again across Spain

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OUR GREEN YEAR THE Olive Press is thrilled to bring you the fifth edition of our annual Green Guide. There is no getting away from it – Spain’s economic situation is increasingly worrying. But we MUST NOT allow our planet to become the first casualty. A quick read of the Green Guide 2012 will help you take those steps towards making those small but essential changes to your life – whether it is avoiding chemicals, recycling or even going the full hog with a completely sustainable lifestyle.

‘Bone-breakers’ are back ONCE on the verge of extinction, now Spain’s bearded vulture – or quebrantahuesos – is flying back to good health. The majestic birds of prey once thrived in Andalucia, but by 1986 they had all but disappeared due to shooting, and poison designed to kill vermin. Thanks to a successful breeding programme birds have been released as far away as Sierra de Gredos, in Castilla y Leon, and La Rioja’s Picos de Urbion. Some vultures have been

found to regularly travel between Jaen and the Pyrenees. Breeding centres helped an impressive 18 chicks to be born in captivity last year. “The aim is to get the vultures to reproduce naturally, although this will not be possible for four or five years,” said Rafael Arenas, regional coordinator for vulture conservation. Sadly, of the 23 individuals released since 2006, eight have died – mostly because of lead poisoning.

COMEBACK: Vulture The birds are named ‘bonebreakers’ in Spanish because they crack bones too large to swallow by dropping their prey onto rocks from high above – a trick which young birds can take seven years to master.

Water wise on the Costas A NEW project will save precious drinking water by using treated sewage water to irrigate golf courses and parks. The €4.3 million scheme, funded by the Environment Ministry, will incorporate five new pipes plus a pumping station and a tank of 3,000 metres cubed. Treated water from the Cerros de Aguila

sewage plant in Mijas will be channelled towards Mijas Los Lagos golf course, with a view to using it to water parks and golf courses. Existing pipes will also be maintained as part of the project. The aim is to reduce the demand for water from La Concepcion reservoir.

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Bricking it!

THE illegal Algarrobico hotel has come closer to being demolished after the environment bosses of both the Junta and Madrid signed a statement of intent. The pair – whose departments will share the cost - have commissioned environment company Tragsa to knock down the 411-room eyesore. The company will also be tasked with clearing up the debris and restoring the area to its original state, a job estimated at €300 million back in November 2011. The move, which Junta environment boss Luis Planas has called ‘good for the image of Andalucia and Spain’, has brought renewed hope to environmentalists who have battled for years to see it knocked down. But, Planas admitted that he could not give a date when the hotel, build just yards from a beach inside Almeria’s Cabo de Gata Natural Park, would come down. Some local groups however insist knocking down the hotel will only heighten poverty in Almeria. Some 16 town halls have already rallied together to

Junta and central government finally sign document ordering Algarrobico demolition

ILLEGAL EYESORE: The Algarrobico support keeping it, insisting it would create 300 jobs. “Destroying it is seen by many of the poor and unemployed here as rich foreigners forcing their views and beliefs onto this little community,” said expat Bridget Cosgrove. “There are people still washing their clothes in springs here with home-made soap. Many of the protesters have

15 the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 15

GREEN NEWS

no idea of the poverty here.” However the hotel, which never had a licence, was ruled illegal by the Spanish Supreme Court in March. Environmentalists insist that knocking it down will actually create as many jobs. They add that the area does not in fact need any more hotels as the region’s existing ones are rarely over 50 per cent full.

More work ahead EQUO founder looks back over party’s first year

HE founder of Spain’s green party EQUO has labelled Spain’s brick economy as ‘outrageous’, saying his work has only just begun. “It’s been a very busy year,” said Juantxo Lopez de Uralde a year after EQUO was founded. The ex-Greenpeace Spain boss added: “We have worked extremely hard to lay the groundwork for a different kind of party, one which is democratic and very different from the conventional parties. “We have spread throughout Spain, gaining thousands of supporters and over 300,000 votes in Spain’s election.” When asked what were the most important environmental issues Spain faces, Uralde said: “The economy of brick is still presented as the only option for economic growth, which is outrageous. “And of course, then there is Spain’s energy model.”

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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AXARQUIA/COSTA TROPICAL NEWS

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

Tender offer Holidaymakers can pay for their camping trip with their old dog-eared peseta notes By Eloise Horsfield

A TRIO of campsites on the Costa Tropical are helping recession-hit families by accepting old peseta notes. Around a dozen families have already taken up the ingenious offer HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Families can save a fortune using peseta notes paying for their camping trips using €30 if exchanged at Spain’s Banco ways to help people escape from the Spain’s old currency. Even better, the offer doubles the de Espana, is worth €60 when used economic situation for a few days and face value of the peseta, making it to pay for campsite accommoda- breathe fresh air,” explained Carmen Lopez from Camping Playa de Ponieven better value for holidaymakers. tion. A 5,000 peseta banknote, worth “In the crisis we needed to find ente in Motril. The idea came about following reports that there MEET performance were €1.7 billion worth artist Mary Garlic, of pesetas tucked away whose work can be in Spaniards’ drawers. seen at an exhibi“I guess lots of people tion kicking off on BOLLYWOOD is comhave old notes tucked July 28. ing to the Axarquia… away, which they often Covering herself in again. keep to remember the paint the student at Tourist councillor peseta by,” said AntoMalaga university is beBernardo Pozuelo has nio Martinez, director at ing joined by 12 other confirmed a brand new campsite Castillo de Bayoung artists - all in Indian film will be shot their mid-20s – for nos, in Polopos.

Jolly good Bollywood

in Nerja’s Balcon de Europa in August. The cast will include 15 dancers as well as the protagonist couple, and filming will also take place in Marbella and Sevilla.

Cadillac

It is not the first time the Indian film industry has chosen Andalucia. In 2011, Bollywood film You Only Live Once – which followed three friends as they toured Spain in a blue Cadillac – took in various sites in Sevilla and Huelva, including the tiny village of Alajar.

The lady in red

the exhibition in Cutar. All living in Malaga the artists’ works tackle observations of everyday life as well as hardhitting political comment. It takes place at Galeria Cutarte, in Cutar, every Saturday CAPTION: from July 28 until August 25 and throughout the local feria from August 17 to 19.

Extend

Martinez revealed that 15 individuals had already paid in pesetas since the launch of the offer two weeks ago. It runs until the end of August. “It has meant many campers have been able to extend their stays to four or five days when they had originally planned to stay just three,” he said. The peseta was replaced by the euro in January 2002, becoming illegal tender in March of that year. Notes and coins can still be exchanged at any branch of Banco de Espana.

HASH HAUL A THOUSAND kilos of hash have been found stashed in the bottom of a boat being transported in a trailer. The drugs, wrapped up in small packets, were discovered after the vehicle was intercepted by the Guardia Civil on the E-15 near Rincon de la Victoria. Two Spaniards, aged 20 and 30, have been arrested.

NEWS IN BRIEF

No ash

DISPOSABLE ashtray dispensers have been installed on Nerja’s beaches in an attempt to stop bathers using the sand to stub out their cigarettes.

No pay

Councillors in Rincon de la Victoria have agreed to give up their Christmas bonus in order to save the town hall €50,000.

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

Gib IN BRIEF Flight boost

BRITISH Airways is to increase flights between Heathrow and Gibraltar from seven to nine per week as part of their winter 2012/13 schedule.

Art aristocrat

Gibraltarian artist Chris-Anne Alcantara has been commissioned by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo to produce a portrait of the Queen to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Pompey rocked Portsmouth FC have handed a trial to Gibraltar midfielder Liam Walker after the 24-year-old impressed against them during the Rock’s 4-0 win on Friday.

Young flames

Gibraltarian youngsters Amanda Carreras and Nicola Bosio have become Olympic torch bearers in London, just three days before Friday’s opening ceremony.

GIBRALTAR NEWS

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Carbon con By James Bryce

GIBRALTAR has dismissed ‘misleading’ claims that it has the highest per capita carbon emissions in the world.

Anger after Rock is shown to have highest per capita carbon emissions in the world The Rock topped a survey by the US Energy Information Administration, which

PRESIDENTIAL PRESENCE FORMER US Presidential candidate Al Gore (right) is to visit Gibraltar as part of the Rock’s efforts to become ‘a major environmental hub’. Gore - who also served as Vice President under Bill Clinton - will deliver a speech on economic strategy at a major environmental forum to be held on October 21. Joining him will be Juan Verde, the international co-director of Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth shocked

measured petroleum consumption by each country relative to its population. But Gibraltar’s health minister Dr John Cortes claimed the figures were ‘a misrepresentation of the reality’. He said the survey failed to consider the Rock’s role as a major bunkering location for fuel used by the shipping industry.

Shipping

audiences worldwide into taking the issue of global warming seriously.

“The majority of (bunker) fuel sales in Gibraltar are not consumed nationally but form part of the international shipping industry,” he said. “When this figure is divided by the small population (approximately 28,000), we naturally appear to be the worst in the world.” He added: “The world carbon emissions league table is misleading, reducing its value as a tool for climate change mitigation.”

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19 the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 19

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

GIBRALTAR NEWS

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Spain’s phoney war

Over half of Spaniards claim the dispute with Gibraltar is not important SIX out of ten Spaniards do not think the dispute over Gibraltar is important enough to be part of the

country’s foreign policy, according to a survey. The findings come at a time of heightened tension be-

My time working for Yogi Bear airlines A PILOT who flew the so-called ‘Yogi Bear flights’ between Gibraltar and Morocco in the 1960s has written a book about his exploits. Brian Meadley, 82, worked as a captain for Gib Air having previously flown for East African Airways and the RAF during an illustrious career. Meadley, based in Florida, still spends his summers on the Costa del Sol and will host an event to mark the launch of his book (right) There I Was…Memories of an Old Aviator, at Urb Buenas Noches community centre, in Estepona, on July 29. Meadley told the Olive Press the airline got the name after a joker daubed the letters YO on the front of the Gib Air name. “And from then on they were known as the Yogi Bear flights!”

tween the UK and Spain over the issue of the Rock’s sovereignty and ongoing legal wrangling over fishing rights (see front page). Half of right-wing voters rated the dispute with Gibraltar as ‘quite’ or ‘very’ important in Spain’s foreign policy, although this figure dropped below 30 per cent for voters on the left.

Hostilities

The poll, by the Real Instituto Elcano, also suggests a split in public opinion over the handling of the fishing dispute, with 44 per cent preferring to see an end to the hostilities. However, 60 per cent of voters on the right want diplomatic pressure to be increased, while 51 per cent of liberal voters want tensions to be reduced.

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 63.34 per cent full - Same week last year: 86.15 per cent - Same week in 2002: 56.80 per cent AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.2200 American Dollars 0.7783 British Pounds 1.2323 Canadian Dollars 7.4394 Danish Kroner 9.4634 H Kong Dollars 7.4230 Norwegian Kroner 1.5332 Singapore Dollars

Dear Olive Press The news the Spanish courts are to investigate fraud charges against Danske bank (issue 139) is indeed a breakthrough after years of concern for many expats caught up in what is now becoming a national scandal. Euan Armstrong, we are all with you and hope you are successful in your case, which will send out a warning to other banks that sold similar schemes to expats in southern Spain. Let’s hope that the other banks using the Luxembourg tax haven and those involved in selling equity release schemes (Nordea, Rothschild and Landsbanki to name a few) see the writing on the wall. Perhaps it is time to come to the table and get this business out of the courts before more damage is done to their reputations. Carian, via the Olive Press website

Living like you’re on holiday

I read with interest the letter about expats living out here, working without papers and not contributing to the Spanish system (issue 138). I too know many people living here and doing the same, driving English cars, sending their children to Spanish schools. PLE The country is in a WR ASE bad state and SpanITE ish people can not get Letters jobs, while these expats should be take the jobs, pay nothposted to Urb. ing, some even claim the Cayetano Arroyo, equivalent of job seekers alBuzon 13, Arriate lowance, and get free transport and school dinners. 29350, Malaga or Most frequent the bars emailed to letters@ regularly and live as though theolivepress.es The they are on holiday, sitting writer’s name and by their pools. address should be I also get angry and wonder provided. Published why no Spanish officials are opinions are not going around checking on necessarily those of these people. the Editor. Most do not have residencia

LETTERS

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BREAKTHROUGH and get medical treatment with their E111. In England you can inform on these people, in Spain there does not appear to be the same system. A concerned expat, Almeria

Thanks from Tarifa Thank you so much for the beautiful, nicely and warm written article about our town Tarifa (issue 139). There are a lot of things going on, good ones – and some bad ones. But the citizens are starting slowly to realise that tourism is the future of Tarifa. On behalf of all the members of tarifaturismo.com, thank you very much. Henk, Tarifa

An absolute farce I read the story ‘A fine mess’ (issue 139) with interest, as what happened to Richard Oswald also happened to me. Back in 2007 my then partner and I bought a motor home on Spanish plates for which I received the tax bill from the local town hall each year up to 2009. When she left me I took it back to the UK and sold it. I was told that it was reregistered onto English plates. Two months ago I had an embargo put on my Spanish bank account for an amount of €240 plus an extra €60 for this year, and found out it’s related to the motor home. As far as the Spanish authorities are concerned I still own it and it’s in Spain. At present I have registered it as off-road as this is all I can do, and I do not know the new English registration to notify Trafico with. It’s an absolute farce. Graham Sexty, El Borge

Looky looky out I am writing in response to the story about the ‘looky looky men’ (issue 139). In the real world crime is never ‘stamped out’. People from the UK, which has a much higher incidence of violent crime than Spain (including almost double the homicide rate) despite

a more authoritarian legal system and culture, should realise this. Any attempt to stamp out economically-driven crime, such as selling counterfeit items on the street, will only result in more aggressive and more violent groups taking control of the trade. The illegal drug trade is a perfect example of how attempting to stamp out economically-driven crime only favours the most aggressive groups. Unless you have a solution that provides an alternative to illegal street vending for these individuals they are going to continue doing what they do. The article pointed out that they make very little now and would jump to have a real job (e.g. taxi driver) if the opportunity were available. If you try to take away what little they have, then only you are to blame when the next wave of African immigrants don’t sell purses, but wait for night-time to rob and steal. Reality, via the Olive Press website

Intrusive and annoying I refer to the article ‘Who you looky looky at?’ (issue 139). I have never read an article that is so one sided. One would conclude from this article that these street traders were forced into coming to this country and we should feel sorry for them. No mention is made of the items they sell.

Have you seen Lucky? On June 29, our podenco Lucky did not come home from his daily morning walk in the campo of Alcaucin. We have done everything possible to find him and bring him back without result. Therefore I ask you to publish the photo of our lost hijo Lucky, who is also chipped. Many thanks. Gabriel Huberty, Alcaucin

The watches fall apart within days of purchase, the DVDs were filmed from within a cinema and identical sunglasses and bags can be purchased from local markets at a fraction of the cost. To seriously suggest that these people earn as little as €10 in a day just shows how gullible your correspondents are. Do you really think they would admit precisely how much they make in a day? The traders contribute nothing to this country’s economy. They are intrusive and annoying. We residents are subjected to these people many times each day for 365 days of the year. Your correspondents clearly adore them and no doubt

will be happy to open their homes up to them. I was always under the impression that a good journalist gives a well balanced, impartial and objective view point. Jack Taylor, Marbella ED: Thank you for your comments. The report was as objective as possible and as editor, while they also annoy me at times, they are generally acceptable and in a tough world have a right to exist. We do express the illegality of some of their wares and I have discovered the poor quality too. My advice to you, don’t buy from them!

A tale of one ‘very corrupt’ city from the bard of Chiclana Near Cadiz there’s a place called Chiclana That’s a sort of republic (banana!), It’s in such a mess no-one wants to invest, Unless they are ‘greasing la palma’!

The IBI seems open to offers, It’s a tax that’s ridiculed by scoffers, A few offer to pay, but most shy away So there’s no dosh in the official coffers!

Now how could the council not see? 15K plus new homes in their city, Unless blinded by ‘favours’, should’ve gone to Specsavers Or to Boots to buy one, get one free!

And then there’s the fool such as I, Who’d been warned ‘check it out ‘fore you buy’, Since then, naturally, every bill’s paid by me, Whilst my neighbours pay nothing! But WHY?

These invisible homes were then bought By people who genuinely thought They’d been told only truth, ‘you will get la luz’ But – too late – realised they’d been caught! Some buyers were wise, without doubt, They knew what Chiclana’s about, Dig a hole here or there and – hey presto – they share The electric supply and pay nowt! And as for Sevillana Endesa, Seems this company couldn’t care lessa About those who don’t pay at the end of the day Add the cost on the bills of the resta!

Now the Junta has issued decrees To regularise houses like these, But the council stays deaf, and blind to the theft, And continues to turn from the pleas. Are the reasons they give somewhat fake? Were some people in power on the make? Not tarring all with one brush, does the council not rush Because some, their friends/family, like to take? There are many who live in el centro Who, for weekends, have homes in the campo, I’m sure all agree, let’s have everything free, But the time has now come to say NO, NO! Wat the Dickens, Chiclana

www.theolivepress.es The Olive Press’

thesection olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 23 monthly youth and education

treme

Andalucian universities on point of collapse UNIVERSITY rectors in Andalucia are warning that the ‘piggy banks are ringing empty’ and the system is on the brink of collapse. According to Jose Manuel Roldan, President of the Association of the Rectors, while larger universities are still drawing on savings, smaller institutions are suffering more. “For the last two years we have been

speaking clearly but faithfully to the Ministry of Economics about the serious cash flow problems we face,” said Roldan. Part of the problem is they have still not received funds promised up to six months ago. But the Junta has insisted it hopes to have a plan in place by the end of the month to resolve the problems.

Watching their waistlines

COUCH POTATO: Inactive youth WATCHING too much TV might not make your eyes go square. But every extra hour of television children watch a week could be increasing the size of their waistline and hampering their athletic ability. A new study has shown 10-year-olds who watched 18 hours a week at the age of four had waistlines 7.6mm bigger than those of children who watched an average of just 14.8 hours.

Obesity Moreover the distance children could jump was reduced by a third of a centimetre for each extra hour they had watched per week at the age of two. “The bottom line is that watching too much television is not good,” said Researcher Dr Linda Pagani, who hopes the study will encourage authorities to target the factors behind

childhood obesity. “These findings support clinical suspicions that more screen time contributes to the rise in excess weight thus providing essential clues for effective approaches to its eradication.”

BRITISH teenager Lloyd Thornton has claimed first prize at a regional kid’s bike-riding contest. The 14-yearold cycling enthusiast from Las Vinas high school beat six other competitors smashing his way into first place by an impressive 10 seconds. He’ll be going for gold again at his next race in the Sierra Nevada.

LEARNED SCHOLARS: Youngsters graduated from reception class at British School of Marbella with flying colours (see p33)

Spain hires Germany as ‘Sherpa’

SPAIN’S ‘lost generation’ of unemployed youth are set to get a helping hand from Germany. The European neighbour has agreed to help Spain launch German-style apprenticeships for its jobless youth to give more Spaniards on-the-job training with German firms. Education Minister Jose Ignacio Wert has signed an agreement with his German counterpart Annette Schavan and insists Spain

Spaniards to receive Germanstyle on-the-job training to help them land well-paid positions must learn from Germany. “We want Germany to be our Sherpa on this job training adventure,” he said. “We have 1.5 million university students and only 270,000 trade school students.” He added that students were getting far more the-

Lloyd’s on a roll

ory than practical experience, and that many lacked foreign language skills. In contrast Germany’s ‘dual’ education system, combining practical apprenticeships with classroom studies, is widely admired in Europe. Now Schavan has said Germany will expand educational exchanges with Spain - where youth unemployment is at 52 per cent - and help Madrid develop its own dual system.

Apprenticeship

German firms doing business in Spain will be encouraged to hire and train more young Spaniards. “There are great jobs and apprenticeships here,” said Schaven. “But there must also be another approach: in Spain and in countries where so far there is no vocational training, it must be introduced and companies must be convinced to introduce it,” she added.

Belarus children have healthy holiday HUNDREDS of children from Belarus have been hosted by Andalucian families this summer. In July 350 children visited the area, as part of a programme that started 12 years ago in reaction to the long term suffering faced by children after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. The nuclear accident released a radioactive wave that travelled north to Belarus causing increased incidences of thyroid cancer and leukaemia.

Pay back time UNIVERSITY students who receive a scholarship in Spain will be required to pay their grant back in full if they fail more than half of their subjects, according to a new royal decree. The rules will come into force for the academic year 20132014, with students having to pass a third of their subjects under the current guidelines. The new legislation will also include changes to the academic and income requirements of those applying for scholarships.

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Xtreme

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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Xtreme

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Summer job for mums and dads

As young minds fail during the long summer, parents must take on the role of teacher if little brains are to be kept active. Here OPX editor Wendy Andersen offers some crafty tips on ‘stealth teaching’…

UMMER breaks are traditionally long in Spain because children in agricultural areas were needed during the harvesting of crops. Although much has changed since then, current school calendars are still based on those developed in the turn of the last century prior to cus on adjusting the school calendar – slightair conditioning and at a time when 85 per ly beyond the powers here at OPX. So we’ll cent of the population’s livelihoods were tied stick to the obvious – parents have to take on to the land. that much beloved role of the ‘home teacher’. Today both parents and child psychologists Why, every time I suggest to my kids ‘how worry that such long breaks may be detrimenabout we do a bit of maths today?’, it’s just tal to learning. like Christmas morning with squeals of deThe argument goes: children learn best when light. Okay, maybe not. instruction is continuous. Parents have to perfect the art of what I call Summer vacations break the rhythm of class‘stealth-teaching’. es, lessons are forgotten, and a great deal of It happens a lot when we’re in the car. I find time is wasted in the autumn reviewing last teaching works best with a trapped audience. year’s work. My top game for primary school kids is to Special needs kids are said to suffer the hand over the Sat-Nav and have them naviworst. gate. And for those of you speaking It requires a bunch of skills, only English at home, there is from entering the address, to a worry that children will suffer In summer my distinguishing left and right, aswhen they return to a Spanish speaking classroom after 10 local supermarket sessing distances and so on. My son has to note the speed weeks without practising. Of course general intelligence becomes a virtual limit and tell me how much over levels are not going to alter, but maths laboratory the limit I’m going. I mean under the limit of course. Taking children may suffer from what it up a level, my older daughter for my kids experts call ‘learning loss’. has to work out the percentage This affects boys and girls over the limit and so on. equally, but notably, children Summer time means quite offrom poor families tend to suften I have to drag the kids around the superfer more than their wealthier peers. market – a virtual maths laboratory. According to research carried out in the US Challenges can be calculating best prices (where children have similar holiday lengths when different weights are involved – two-forto Spain) children lost the equivalent of one one deals are great adding another level. month’s learning after the summer. Set up a reward scheme – each time you But in maths, there was no difference in the put something in the trolley, if they can find loss from rich/poor families. a cheaper option that money is theirs to put It seems mums and dads might be reading to towards an item of their choice (ice creams, their children, but are not working on maths biscuits, etc that you were going to have to problems while at the beach. buy anyway). Reports on how to address the problem all foHand the cash over to the kids to work out the bills and coins, and count the change for you. On a final note, long lazy summers are an important part of a child’s development, in terms of imagination, relaxing and forming happy life-long memories. But they are also important for the teachers who spend every day with these shouting, snotty, self-centred, squabbling little angels we love so much. Teachers not only deserve it, they need it! And a month as a stealth-teacher will prove it. As one school director says about long summer breaks: “It’s crucial for teachers to do other things as well as teach; whether it’s painting, trekking or, as in my case, writing books – it adds such a lot to what teachers have to give .... We all know that some of the most valuable learning experiences take place away from the classroom.”

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ll about

July 26, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

ummer activities

A 12-page Olive Press special supplement

A sobering ride

WILD RIDE: Trek high above Vinuela reservoir

So much to do right on your doorstep THE summer is a great time to relax and unwind on the beach but for those who have had their fill of sandcastles and are looking for something a bit different, Andalucia has plenty to offer. From hiking to biking, horse riding to wakeboarding, diving to roller coasters, the region really does have it all. Choose from the unspoilt windswept coastline of the Costa de la Luz, the mountains above the Costa del Sol or the iconic Rock of Gibraltar to discover what wonders lie in store. Whether you are after a relaxing break, a thrilling adventure, something to do with the kids or just an escape from the masses, you are sure to find something to fit the bill. And to point you in the right direction, the Olive Press has put together a guide of what’s on offer around the region this summer.

Eloise Horsfield is advised to go easy on the hip flask as she rides a trusty mare through the wilds of the Axarquia

S I trot along an unused railway track deep in the Axarquia countryside, I wonder whether there is anything in the world I would rather be doing. And as our gorse-lined route leads us through the Guaro Valley – providing a fantastic opportunity for vulture and eagle spotting – I realise I have not seen a single vehicle since setting off from Periana hours before. It is pretty incredible for the Axarquia, where sadly an estimated 22,000 illegal homes have been built since the 1990s – of which up to 8,000 are on protected land according to green group Ecologistas en Accion. “This is probably the only road in the Axarquia with no illegal property on

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it at all,” jokes one of my hosts, Alain Grootaers, of Finca Don Carmelo, as we mosey along in the warm, afternoon sun. Our route will cover around 15 to 18km throughout the day and take us from 350m to 950km – although thankfully the horses will do most of the work. Alain, 48, from Belgium, and his Dutch wife Jakobien Huisman, 42, left behind city jobs in Antwerp three years ago to discover the idyll of rural Spain, and the horse lovers now offer an attractive range of equine treks. Shortly after arriving I am introduced to my mare, Deliciosa – or Dee for short, who like most of Finca Don Carmelo’s Turn to Page 26

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From Page 25

horses is mixed breed English/Arab. “We find pure Spanish-blooded horses a bit unpredictable, which is the last thing we want for taking out punters,” explains Jakobien, who began riding at the age of eight. I am pleased to find Dee poised and steady, and as Jakobien informs me, can even be relied on for her steady appetite. “She’ll stop to eat whenever she gets a chance,” she laughs. And sure enough, just as we’re saddled up and about to set off, Dee saunters over to the nearest pile of hay and starts tucking in. As well as Dee, the couple’s 14-strong herd also includes foals Alfarnate, Baila and Colorado, plus Jakobien’s 30-year-old mare which she brought from Belgium. “It’s really old for a horse and it cost a fortune, but I just couldn’t bear to part with her,” she says. Soon we are off, heading around the pretty village of Periana and through a shady olive grove. Meanwhile I learn more about this energetic couple, who didn’t think twice about taking daughter Julia, then 11, off for a year-long trip around Asia before settling in Periana. “People said, ‘Why are you burying yourselves in a small Andaluz village?’” says Jakobien, originally

Horsing around

STUNNING: The terrain is truly breathtaking and (below right) Jakobien and Alain from Holland. “But we didn’t see it like that. It was simply time to do something else.” Jakobien is a travel journalist con-

tributing regularly to Belgium’s biggest newspaper, daily Het Laatste Nieuws, and Alain is also a prolific writer whose achievements include setting up Belgian men’s mag PMagazine back in 1998. As if running horse treks wasn’t enough, the pair also produce organic olive oil which is shipped back to upmarket restaurants in Belgium.

The steeds take turns to enjoy a slurp - apart from Dee who goes for some wild mint “I made a lot of contacts when I presented a cookery programme for a while,” explains Alain, originally from Belgium. Soon we turn onto the stunning country road, which in the early 1900s housed a railway line ferrying industrial materials to and from the coast. Today it’s an incredibly picturesque track boasting views over Lake Vinuela. “You’d almost expect to see some Indians appear from

over that ridge, wouldn’t you?” jokes Alain. Once we are used to the rhythm of our carriers, Alain suggests we try a trot – and the next thing we know the horses have upped their pace, taking his animal as their lead. Although a little unsettling at first for someone who – despite my surname – has never spent much time on a horse, I soon feel comfortable with the quicker rhythm. Back down at walking pace, Alain and Jakobien lead us to a trough where the steeds take turns to enjoy a well-earned slurp – apart from Dee who goes straight for some wild mint. After a downhill section, where all our stomach muscles are given a mini work-out, we grind to a halt at the village of El Canuelo for lunch. El Canuelo is a tourism complex owned by former London art dealer

Edward Crawshaw, where we are spoilt with a leisurely three-course meal as we absorb breath-taking views over the lake. “It’s wonderful that Jackie and Alain are offering these horse treks because no-one else seems to be doing it,” says Crawshaw. And despite a jovial ambiance, we are instructed to go easy on the booze in view of the ‘drive’ back. “We don’t want to be over the limit – the same laws apply to driving a vehicle as they do for horses, sadly!” says Alain. Finca Don Carmelo offers a range of treks from half-day to eight-day. Prices start at €60 per person. Over 12s only. See www.fincadoncarmelo.com

Be bowled over! FOR those looking to get away from the high-adrenaline sports of the coast, why not try bowling. La Posada Bowls Club may really bowl you over. The Antequera club is looking to pass on the skill of the bowls – a sport requiring precision and concentration but which allows you to socialise and relax - to new or occasional members. It is open seven days a week and offers bowl and shoe hire. For more information call 680 482 424 or email jjrowe44@yahoo.co.uk.

Summer activities

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A champion day out

James Bryce takes a ride around the region’s best wakeboarding and waterskiing centres

OR lovers of water and former Spanish chamsports, Andalucia rep- pion Andreas Alijo, it offers resents something of a a relaxed, inclusive environmecca for both profes- ment for water sports enthusionals and beginners alike. siasts of all abilities. The fantastic weather and Professional waterskier Matt excellent purpose-built facili- has represented England, ties make for an ideal envi- while Debbie spent years ronment in which to learn the working in marketing for Minropes, or perfect your skills. istry of Sound nightclub in Arguably the London. jewel in the Several of the crown for fans instructors of waterskiThose trying the divide their ing and waketime between boarding is sport for the first teaching and Xtreme Gene, mpeting time are taught cato the an unassumkey ining facility by the best in the t e r n a t i o n a l tucked away at championbusiness the end of a ships. dirt track, 15 “We often get minutes away total beginfrom Cordoba. ners, as well Perched on the edge of Em- as stag weekends, so they balse de la Brena reservoir, have to be patient,” says near Almodovar del Rio, Matt, who was once ranked the majority of instructors fourth in the world. at Xtreme Gene are current The high-calibre of instructors champions for their respec- means that those trying the tive countries and the little- sport for the first time are in known spot is one of Eu- the unusual, but hugely benerope’s top destinations for ficial, position of being taught watersports teams. by the best in the business. But although it is ideal for But Xtreme Gene is by no the pros, it is also a fantastic means the only option for place to bring the kids, who those looking to try their hand can learn how to ski, as well at waterskiing and wakeas canoe, fish and swim. boarding. Set up in 2002 by owners Cableski Marbella, based in Debbie and Matt Southom San Pedro de Alcantara, of-

WATER WORKERS: A wakeboarder in action and (right) Melanie and Gaston at Surfin’

SMOOTH RIDE: Brother and sister go cableskiing fers the whole family a great day out in the heart of the Costa del Sol. The sport differs from the traditional method of using a boat to pull skiers around the lake, instead using an ingenious cable system similar to the button lifts used by snow skiers. The facility is proving popular with tourists and expats alike, with tuition available for children on kneeboards, waterskis and wakeboards. It is regularly used by five time Spanish champion and former world number 10, Jamie Oliver (not that one!), with the 27-year-old lending a hand with the tuition. All equipment is available for hire next door from the Surfin’ shop, while there is also a restaurant and pool available for those looking to pass the time in a more relaxed manner. “We have people of all ages and abilities coming down here to use the facility, from 10-year-old kids trying it for the first time, right through to professionals who have been doing it for 20 years,” says Gaston Marinoni, at Surfin’. “Cable ski is growing as a sport, especially in the last five years because it is cheaper than using a boat. “We will be introducing ramps onto the lake in a couple of weeks to attract more pros and we’re looking to start putting on BBQs and parties in the evenings to create more of a social environment,” adds the 39-year-old Argentinean, who also runs the famous same name snowboard shop in the Sierra Nevada. All-in-all, there really is no excuse not to get wet in Andalucia. Visit www. sur fin.es and www. xtremegene.com.

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

Summer activities special www.theolivepress.es

PAIR of unblinking eyes stare at me down a long snout that looks like it is permanently puckering up for a kiss. While elsewhere, a snail-like creature no bigger than my thumb displays fearsomelooking horns and a striking colour scheme, giving it the appearance of a drag queen. But despite their unusual appearance, pipe fish and nudibranchs are just two examples of the bizarre residents inhabiting the underwater world surrounding Gibraltar. Octopuses, seahorses and moray eels are regularly spotted, along with huge shoals of fish including mackerel, bream and mullet. Much rarer visitors to these shores include eagle rays and turtles. But the marine life is far from the only attraction. The waters around the Rock are littered with ship wrecks of all shapes and sizes, offering a fascinating insight into the area’s sea-faring history. Among those accessible to divers are Batty’s Barge and the 482, an ex-admiralty cable-laying barge that was deliberately sunk in 1990 as part of a conservation project to help attract sea life to the area. Sarah Hunt from Dive Charters Gibraltar is explaining the wreck’s history to me in between helping me get into my gear and providing safety briefings. The amicable 31-year-old - who is

Diving int

James Bryce (left) comes face-to-face with Gibraltar’s sea-faring past - and some cros dressing snails - while diving in the waters around the Rock a PADI-qualified Divemaster - has an infectious enthusiasm for scuba diving and quickly eases my anxiety over the fact that I haven’t dived for three years. “It is really rewarding when people who are nervous have a good time,” she says. “A divemaster’s job is to make it enjoyable and easy and there are lots of sites here which are suitable for beginners. “In fact, one of the dives we often take novices on is one of the best places for spotting seahorses,” adds the trained lawyer, originally from York, who has lived in Gibraltar for two years. “I have been a scuba diving junkie ever since I saw a hammerhead shark in the Galapagos Islands eight years ago. “I have dived all over the world but I love what Gibraltar has to offer, it is really varied and every wreck has its different challenges.”

Based in Marina Bay, Dive Charters tar offers around 30 different dives in wrecks, reefs and drift dives. It caters abilities from complete novices keen to experience a ‘try dive’, right up to 40 metre deep technical dives for professional scuba divers looking for a new challenge. c As we wade into Camp Bay from the beach, we soon find ourselves hovering over the ghostly outline of Batty’s Barge. But it is the impressive bulk of the 30-metre long 482 that really catches the eye, lying in 15 metres of water and still in relatively good condition. The wreck is alive with marine life and

A region full of excitemen Rund Abdelfatah offers 10 suggestions of what to do with the kids this summer…

NDALUCIA is a treasure trove for family fun. With no shortage of things to do, make the most of this summer season by taking the kids out to some of the area’s top attractions, with fun guaranteed for all ages. Here we’ll get you started with a list of some of Andalucia’s most thrilling parks:

Tivoli World in Malaga, the Costa del Sol’s largest amusement park, which has been established for 40 years, offers over two dozen exciting rides along with a ‘tiny tots’ section for younger children. Enjoy the thrill of the many rides, using the park’s own currency ‘tivolino’ or take advantage of the ‘supertivolino’ which gives you unlimited use of 37 rides. If you are looking for a park with a more rustic vibe, check out Isla Magica in Sevilla. Designed in a 16th century Spanish colonial style, its top attractions include the Anaconda and El Jaguar rollercoasters, the latter reaching high speeds on 360 degree turns, a raft ride set in an Amazon jungle waterfall, and a cinema with tilting seats and a massive screen that takes you on a virtual tour of an explorer’s adventures. For those with small children, take a trip to Parkilandia near Algeciras, a funfair designed with kids in mind. From trampolines and a mini race track, to an electric train and a bouncy castle, there is no shortage of things to do. On a hot sweltering summer’s day you might prefer a more water-filled outing and the Mijas Water Park should fit the bill. It features a wide range of activities, from a wave pool and kamikaze slide, to water chutes, winding raft slides and a mini water park for smaller kids.

3. 4.

For a different type of aquatic entertainment, visit the Selwo Marina phinarium in Benalmadena. A highly interactive experience, explain both English and Spanish, the whole family will enjoy the dolphin and sea shows, the penguin feeding session, and the animal exhibits containing s sea lions and exotic birds.

You can also have fun with animals at the award-winning Bioparc F girola, a zoo that introduces you to creatures from around the world the animals are kept in either open-air or glass-walled enclosures, so you wi like you have been transported into the tropical forests of South America. It features a play area for children and two restaurants with African dance pe mances every evening during July and August. Plus, you can easily walk thr the entire zoo in under three hours, so it will not tire the kids out.

7. 8. 9. 10.

Another fun wildlife attraction is the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos, w you can view over 200 crocodiles of all shapes and sizes and even g hold a baby croc.

At the Butterfly Park in Benalmadena, you will have a feast for the with more than 1,500 butterflies flying around its stunning conserva built in the style of a traditional Thailand temple.

For a more out of the ordinary trip, visit the Science Park in Gra where education meets enjoyment. It features countless hands-o hibits and a children’s room where they can explore basic scientific principl

Alternatively, travel to Mini Hollywood or Fort Bravo in the Tabe desert near Almeria for an exciting day of mock bar fights, gun s ing contests, a faux bank hold-up and a full on shoot-out. In its prime, ove Westerns were shot here including classics like A Fistful of Dollars.

Up, up and away

29 the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 29

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nto the past

h sss

nook and cranny we peer into seems to be occupied by one fish or another seeking refuge from predators. The ship’s hold is still in one piece and descending into it offers a surreal and slightly eerie sensation. The peaceful, rhythmic breathing makes it difficult to imagine the hustle and bustle created by deck hands going about their business in the same part Gibralof the boat so many years ago. Back on dry land ncluding after the half-hour dive, everybody is keen to share s for all their experiences of what they had seen. One of the divers in our group even produces a gin bottle thought to be around 100 years old, an apparently Tarifa is a common find on Gibraltar’s wrecks. Away from the Rock, one of the most fantastic highly-rated dive sites in Andalucia is challenge for Tarifa, a half-hour drive from Gibraltar. Here you can join experienced instrucexperienced tors from the Yellow Sub Tarifa dive scuba divers company on more than 10 dive sites, which offer a fantastic challenge for experienced divers. Scuba divers must be qualified to PADI Open Water Diver standard before doing the dives, nd every although ‘try dives’ are available for novices. Among the dives on offer are the Pecio del San Andres, a paddle steamship made of steel, which sank during a storm in 1856. Wildlife including octopus, moray eels, conger eels and scorpion fish are among the residents in the natural park of the Isla de las Palomas, where most of the dives take place.

a Dolned in a lion seals,

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Visit www.divegib.gi and www.divingtarifa.com.

NOW AND THEN: Divers explore the wreck of the 482, while (inset below) the boat in its heyday

IF you are looking for an activity that will blow you away why not try windsurfing or kite surfing. Tarifa is without doubt Europe’s wind capital, and the town, situated on the southernmost tip of Europe, is famous for the sports. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, Tarifa is the place to be and there are numerous companies, including Hot Stick, to show you the ropes.

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Summer activities special

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

HE Via Verde de la Sierra is one of 20 socalled ‘green routes’ which chart a trail of disused railway lines across Andalucia. Forming part of a proposed rail route across the Cadiz Sierra between Almargen and Jerez de la Frontera, it would have connected the cities of Malaga and Granada. Although much of the groundwork, including tunnels, viaducts and railway stations were completed in the early 1930s, the project was never finished and lay in neglect until 1993 when the line was renovated for use as a walking and cycling route. We started our day in the town of Olvera where we were staying in the charming Casa Andalus. Like many of the other white towns in the vicinity, Olvera’s roots are Roman and the town went on to flourish during the Muslim occupation of Spain. It has a Moorish Castle constructed on a rocky crag high above the town which, like parts of our own Moorish castle, was built during the 13th Century Nasrid Dynasty. Another noteworthy building is the twin-towered neoclassical church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, which was built on the site of a former

Wheely good fun! Tristan Cano has a fun day out on Andalucia’s best known Via Verde cycle and walking route near Olvera mosque. We followed the steep path from the town centre down to the Antigua Estacion Ferrocarril which marks the starting point of the Via Verde. This hotel offers bicycle rentals and is the last opportunity to pick up refreshments before you reach the Estacion de Zaframagon, 15 km along the route. The reasonably flat terrain makes the route perfect for cyclists and we opted to hire bikes, although plenty also chose to follow the route on foot. We were immediately impressed with the scenery, a

from the Coripe Viaduct takes you to the Chaparro de la Vega. This supposedly 700-year old holm oak of enormous dimensions is an Andalucian National Monument and plays its part in local traditions by providing a meeting point for the villagers of Coripe on their annual pilgrimage during the Fiesta del Virgen de Fatima, their patron saint.

This supposedly 700-year-old holm oak is a National Monument distinct patchwork of brown and green fields with endless olive tree groves looking like blobs of green paint on a watercolour just asking to be painted. The route’s 30 tunnels are a feature of the journey and as we got closer to the Estacion de Zaframagon, the landscape began to transform from arable land into rolling hills of fir trees. We were soon transported through mountains and river valleys with the help of immense viaducts and increasingly lengthy tunnels. The viaduct at Zaframagon offered inspiring views of the

Penon de Zaframagon, an impressive 584m-high limestone outcrop with sheer cliffs. Overhead 200 breeding pairs of Griffon Vultures live and there is a centre dedicated to them at the nearby station, which includes a video feed showing live footage of the vultures on the opposing

rock face. Soon we had arrived at Estacion de Coripe, which has also been transformed into a hotel and excellent restaurant, perfect for a lunch stop. There is not much happening in the town itself which is about 2 km from the track however a small diversion

Southern horsepitality

THE oldest horse race in Spain is to burst onto the beach of Sanlucar de Barrameda on the Costa de la Luz this summer. The series of races which sees horses thundering along the sand just inches away from the waves of the Med dates back to 1845. The experience comes complete with spectator stands, bookies and paddocks - with the crowd just a hair’s breadth away from the action. This year’s event will take place over two three-day periods, beginning August 12 and August 27.

Following Estacion de Coripe, the route continues to the final hotel at the Estacion de Puerto Serrano which adjoins the town of the same name. However having already cycled 22 km we were acutely aware of the 200 metre height climb on the return route and set off on the arduous journey back to the start. About two hours later and with tired legs and saddle sore beginning to rear its painful head, we arrived at the hotel at Olvera, dropped off our bikes happy to place our feet firmly back on terra firma. Our walk back to town was slow but pleasant, not only for the sense of achievement for having completed our long cycle, but also the beautiful purple and pink Sierra sunset that accompanied us. We were aware that our legs would soon be stiffening up, so grabbing a quick shower at Casa Andalus, we headed out for an early dinner at the lively Restaurante Lirios before retiring to what was always going to be an excellent night’s sleep. Casa Andalus is a self-catering house, visit www.holidayhomeolvera.com or call 609 665 342. Bicycles can be rented at the Antigua Estación at the start of the Via Verde at approx €15 per day.

Summer activities special

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

A walk on the wild side

HE Alpujarras is ideal walking country. High up on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, within easy reach of Granada and the Mediterranean, the landlocked mountainous region offers something for everyone. It is made up of a cluster of pretty white villages surrounded by forest and open moorland, with some of the best walking in Andalucia. So it is little wonder it has become a regular stopping off point for tourists and hikers from around the world. Lots of the local shops now have guided walk leaflets available, graded by length of time and difficulty. For those who prefer not to go it alone and to ben- Wendy Williams spends a few days walking from the fabulous efit from someone with experience and knowledge mountain hotel Alcazaba in the heart of the Alpujarras of the area, there are several companies that offer guided walks and walking holidays. Sierra Nevada also boasts the highest peak of It lies four kilometres outside of Trevelez, inciWhy not try something with a twist, enjoying a mainland Spain, Mulhacen, which stands at a dentally the highest town in Spain, at a height of painting or herbal walk. towering 3,482m. 1,700m with stunning views of the surrounding British expat Sue Rodgers, 57, who lives in Lanja- According to legend it is the final resting place of countryside, particular from the vantage point of ron, has been running herb walks for three years. a Muslim king and while it is a steep climb, when the summer veranda. And English walking guide Martin you reach the top the view It boasts traditional Andalucia decor and a wide Riley, - one of Spain’s only official makes it all worthwhile. range of luxury amenities and facilities including British guides - lives just around It offers a spectacular 360 a spa and fitness centre with two swimming pools According to the corner. degree vista taking in half of to unwind after a day’s hiking. And with its rich and varied flora legend, Mulhacen Andalucia and on a clear day, Former pilot Tomas Cano, who took over the run– over 2,000 plant species – Anright across to Morocco. ning of the hotel a year ago, explains: “We get all dalucia is the ideal place to enjoy is the final resting These days, of course, as more types of people coming to the hotel, the majority of a stroll and take a look at the plant more people flock to find who have been recommended by word of mouth, place of a Muslim and life. the setting of Driving Over but by far the main activity around here is hiking. The Alpujarras is situated on the Lemons, the western end of “There are several different paths to choose from king GR7, one of the top long distance the Alpujarras has become inright from the door and whether you go on horse paths running right across Europe, creasingly touristy. back, on bike or walking it is a lot of fun. through Spain and on to Greece. So for those who really want to “I have fallen in love with the area,” added Cano, The walk offers an unrivalled landscape of wild get away from it all it is worth driving further east who founded Air Europa. flowers, ibex, golden orioles and bee-eaters from towards Trevelez where you can enjoy secluded “We are right in the mountains; the nearest town is a height of between 700 and 1400 metres, while walks over the high sierra to Berchules. four kilometres away so you are completely alone. the lesser known GR142 navigates the Alpujarras A superb base for a walking holiday is the stun“It is an amazing spot, I am really happy here.” at a lower level. ning Hotel Alcazaba de Buquistar, the only fourMeanwhile for the more ambitious among you, the star hotel in the region. www.hotelalcazaba.com

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Summer activities special

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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Sweet squeals of delight T

here are few things children prefer to chocolate. Now, they have the perfect place to learn how it is made...and even make their own. Run by chocolatier Eli McCarthy and her IT guru partner, Jason Godwin, Mayan Monkey Mijas has established itself as Malaga’s reference point for premium chocolate. A trip to the chocolate-making workshop includes an introduction to the chocolatier craft – which dates back to 1900BC – before you design and make three

On the crest of a wave

of your own bars. And the kids love it. “Our boys loved making chocolate,” explains one father. “Their laughter could be heard on the other side of Mijas.” All chocolate is made fresh on the premises using top-quality, locally sourced ingredients such as Mijas honey. And of course you can buy chocolate too, with ‘Around the Globe in Chocolate’ taking you on a tasting voyage to the heart of cacao – with examples from Peru, Cuba, Tanzania and Java.

STICKY FUN: Learning to make chocolate bars at the Mayan Monkey Mijas

WHILE Tarifa is known for its kitesurfing, El Palmar, near Vejer, is known for its surfing. This stunning (as-yet) undeveloped beach is a great place to learn how to surf. One of the best surf breaks in southern Europe, Surf El Palmar offers classes from beginners to advanced. In summer there are up to a dozen surf schools lining the beach, with a handful operating all year around. Lessons start from around €25 per person, although bespoke classes can be had for just over €30. Children from as young as four can have lessons. Here, seven-year-old Maia, from Ronda, has her first lesson. Standing ovation please!

Xtreme

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A whole lot of fun WHAT a busy holiday for the children at Swans International Summer School at Sierra Blanca. Every day they have the opportunity to swim in the ozone pool, play lots of different sports, have ICT fun, and take part in a wide range of creative activities including theatre groups, and art and plasticine modelling competitions. The activities have not just taken place in school; the children have enjoyed trips to Bioparc Fuengirola, and the Crocodile Park. Making new friends, learning to communicate in different languages and having an amazing time is what Swans Summer School is all about. There are a few places left for August – hurry if you want to join in the fun!

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 201233 33

School’s ‘not’ out for summer BSM head Sian Andrews (pictured left) on a tearful graduation ceremony IT’S fair to say there were not many dry eyes among us soppy teachers during our annual Speech Day. For standing on stage dressed in traditional university style mortar boards and navy blue gowns, pupils from Reception Class officially graduated into Year One (see pic on p23). Nicknamed ‘Receptacons’ in homage to the popular 1980s cartoon Transformers, the class of ten girls and three hen-pecked boys received their graduation diplomas

Animal interaction day ON June 6 year 3 at Swans went on their summer trip to Castellar Zoo. What a marvellous experience; it was unlike any zoo any of us had been to before. The animals have been rescued from some terrible situations and are now being cared for in this wonderful zoo. Not only did the children get to see the animals but they also got to interact with many of them. They all had the opportunity to stroke a snake, tiger cub and a kinkajou (related to the racoon), as well as hand feed Nandus (a South American ostrich) and lemurs. The children also enjoyed pets corner where they could handle tortoises and rabbits. But more than that, the children learnt the importance of treating wild animals with respect and not as pets.

during the special ceremony. Of course no school graduation is complete without a token bouncy castle and the youngsters quickly disregarded their smart outfits and bundled on to the inflatable castle for some jumping-related shenanigans. But it was a sad day for more than one reason as we also had to say adios to the Reception Class teacher Miss Bruce who is relocating to Venezuela to be closer to her family. The adventurous 30-year-old and her partner are currently making their way across the Bay of Biscay in their trusty (I said trusty not rusty!) boat. Back on terra firma the school corridors have been unusually quiet and peaceful during the first week of July. Some staff have been unable to stay away and have been using the first week of their holiday as an opportunity to tidy their classrooms, safe in the knowledge that there were no children on hand to reverse this process. That peace and quiet was shattered when the school gates promptly reopened the following week to welcome dozens of children to our summer school. So for our little angels, to not quite so accurately quote Alice Cooper, school is most definitely not out for the rest of the summer.

On the catwalk

STUDENTS at the Marbella Design Academy have been showing off their work on the catwalk to raise money for charity. The Summer 2012 Graduation & Fashion Show Ceremony, held at Puerto Banus’ H10 Andalucia Plaza Hotel, displayed students work and included a Catwalk show appropriately featuring Miss Malaga (above). All proceeds went to CUDECA.

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

This month’s recipe:

Popselicious IS the hot weather putting you off cooking treats this summer? Why not try these fun home-made popsicles? It’s a great way to cool down – and no cooking. Kids will have fun making them, and love eating them. Ingredients: 225g sugar 1 packet gelatine, lime (or lemon) 500ml boiling water Ice cubes 220ml cold water 1 packet gelatine, strawberry 3tbs. chocolate chips 200g cream cheese 230g heavy cream, (to be whipped) Directions 1. Mix 75g of the sugar with the lime gelatine mix. Add 225ml of boiling water. Stir for two minutes, until dissolved. Put five or six ice cubes into 110ml of cold water, stir, and then add to the lime gelatine mix. Stir until the ice is completely melted. Place in the fridge for half an hour. 2. Repeat step one, but with the strawberry (or whichever red gelatine mix you can find). But do not put in the fridge. Instead pour the mix into small plastic cups. Freeze for 20 minutes. Stir ½ tsp of chocolate chips into the gelatine in each cup. 3. Beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar until light and soft. Stir in the whipped cream. Spread mix over the red gelatine in the cups. 4. Pour the lime gelatine over the cream cheese. Insert wooden pop sticks. Place in freezer until firm (about three hours). When you’re ready to eat your popsicles, place them in a bowl of warm water for 15 seconds, then they’ll come out easily. Twisting or pulling the sticks can break them.

Fancy a movie?

If you want to head to the cinema this weekend, but your Spanish is not up to scratch, check out the VO/ VOSE films (Original Version) available in your area Dark Night Rises Cinesur Fuengirola 16.00 19.00 22.00 Cines Gran Marbella 16:15 19:15 Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 17:30 19:15 19:30 20:40 22:30 22:45 23:55 The Amazing Spiderman Cinesur Fuengirola 16:00 18:30 21:15 23:45 Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 3D 16:30 19:30 22:15 2D 18:15 21:15 00:15 The Dictator Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 18:00 20:00 22:00 0:20

Ice Age 4 Cinesur Fuengirola 16:15 18:15 Cines Gran Marbella 16:00 18:00 Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 17:40

The Avengers Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 23:50 Gibraltar: King Bastion, Leisure Ctr. Cinema

Snow White and the Huntsman Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 22:25

Ice Age 4 daily 18:00 weekends 16:00

Moonrise Kingdom Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 18:10 20:10 22:10 00:10 Men in Black 3 Yelmo, Plaza Mayor 3D 00:55

Storage 24 daily 18:30 Spider-man weekends 15:30 daily 21:00 What to Expect daily 20:30

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35 31the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 35

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July 26, 2012

They’re killing our culture Bardem (left) joins hundreds in protest against the massive hike in VAT that will hit cinemas

SPANISH heartthrob Javier Bardem has lent his support to a mass street protest against austerity measures, including a massive hike in VAT, which he said is killing Spain’s cultural sector.

The Hollywood actor joined hundreds of fellow artists in a demonstration outside the culture ministry, as part of a wider workers’ protest on the streets of Madrid last week.

Staying Alive in San Roque

THE UK’s top Bee Gees tribute band, Stayin Alive, is set to perform at the San Roque Club Suites Hotel. The band, who have paid tribute to the Gibb brothers for the last 14 years, will perform by the hotel swimming pool on July 26. Tickets, which can be purchased from Tango’s Restaurant at the San Roque Club Suites Hotel, include entrance to the international food village with a Hog Roast and Mojito Bar.

The No Country for Old Men star echoed nationwide complaints that a VAT (IVA) rise and other austerity measures will punish ordinary Spaniards unfairly and cut off their access to the arts. “This raising of VAT means that they are generally killing cultural activity in this country,” he said. “This is a very unjust situation because the government, rather than making the financial sector pay for the consequences of what they’ve done, they put all the weight on unemployed people, sick people, pensioners. “They’re going to empty this country, killing the future for a lot of generations,” added the actor, who said

l Gastor, July 28, Chiringuito Las Crespas. Chillout music and jam session - everyone welcome to come and listen and participate. Bar, barbecue and swimming pool. Watch this space for August concert dates.

stepona Until August 14. Estepona Port Business and Internet Centre presents The Works of Mike Emeney and His Class. Mike will be displaying his popular works interspersed with those of his pupils.

R ANGRY: Bardem joins in the fight above he was ‘privileged’ to make a living from acting in films outside Spain, at a time when many Spaniards are leaving the country to look for work.

ARTY ALMERIA AN exciting new exhibition bringing together the talents of eight international artists has been unveiled at the Cortijo El Saltador in Almeria. Among the artists on display is the late American artist Fritz Mooney who spent the later part of his life living in Mojacar and Bedar. Painter and filmmaker Angel Mejias from Bedar will also be showcasing his work alongside David Briggs, who creates sculptures from marble and bronze, Vidal Hurtado, who works with ceramics, the painter and poet Emilio Maldomado, photographer Steve Brockett, Rafael Ebrero and Jaume Prohens. The exhibition - close to the village of Lucainena de las Torres - runs until September 15.

Dekorum Pacha coming to Gibraltar

By Emily Batty

what’s on

GIBRALTAR’S biggest ever dance festival is set to attract some of the best DJs to the Rock this summer. Dekorum Ultra Beach Festival will see house music acts including David Cherish, Russ Yallop and Eats Everything performing at Eastern Beach on August 5. The event - hosted by one of London’s biggest clubs, Pacha - will also feature Saytek, described as ‘one of the UK’s freshest and most exciting acts’. Lucy Stone (left), resident DJ at Hed Kandi since September 2010, and G. W. Harrison, who has been on the scene since he was just 13 years old, are also set to make an appearance. The night runs from 6pm-6am, with tickets priced from £20. For more information, visit www.dekorum-musica.com.

It comes as the Spanish cinema federation (FECE), that represents around 80 per cent of the country’s movie theatres, ruled not to strike over the 13 per cent hike in VAT as it would ‘further aggravate the situation and do more harm to the customer.’

Rocket

Theatre and cinema tickets were previously charged VAT at a reduced rate but this has now been cancelled. The rate is set to rocket from eight per cent to 21 per cent from September 1, making it higher than in other countries including Britain (which applies 20 per cent), Italy (10 per cent), France and Germany (seven per cent).

onda Until July 31. Sala Fundacion Unicaja. An exhibition of artists Alfonso Ibanez, Antonia Gonzalez and Maria Gonzalez.

arbella Until September 15. The Plaza Antonio Banderas, Puerto Banus. 12th International Poetry and Craft Exhibition. A display of wares, poetry, music and dancing depicting up to 50 different cultures.

alaga Until September 16. The Picasso Museum presents The European Poster 1888-1938. 175 works showcasing the most important period in the history of the poster.

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36 the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012 36

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Bash the banks, say Radiohead

Chemicals are Creaming up RADIOHEAD singer Thom York has criticised Spanish banks during a headlining set at BBK Festival in Bilbao, calling on Spaniards to take to the streets. “We know in Spain you’re having a lot of trouble,” he said. “Cuts, cuts, no money. Well we think you should be taking to the streets. “Someone stole that money off you - The banks.” The controversial comments were made at the event which is sponsored ironically by the bank BBK.

THEY are long-serving bastions of the British electro scene, producing a steady stream of huge commercial hits while maintaining their underground credibility. Now big beat pioneers the Chemical Brothers are set to bring their armoury of sounds to Spain at Creamfields Andalucia. The duo will perform one of their fabled dj sets at the two-day festival, which runs from August 10-11 at the Circuito de Velocidad in Jerez. Joining them on the bill will be fellow British dance innovators Orbital - considered by Q magazine as one of their ‘50 Bands to See Before you Die’. Other acts include Tiesto, James Holden and Yuksek. Tickets from €40. Visit www.creamfields-andalucia. com for more information.

Back with the Andalucians he TV trouble ‘couldn’t stand’: Sorolla SPANISH TV channel Antena 3 has been ordered to at the Alhambra pay a €215,000 fine for repeatedly showing false photos about Morocco to support a ‘political cause’. A Belgian court ruled in favour of the Rachidi family arguing the channel had used ‘in bad faith, false and incorrect information to support a political cause’. It comes after the channel showed graphic pictures of four dead bodies in November 2010 presenting them as victims of police brutality in Gdim Yzik (Laayoune) when they were in fact four members of a family murdered in Casablanca.

HE once wrote to his wife to say he was going to go to bed early because he couldn’t stand the Andalucians. But now Joaquin Sorolla is returning to Granada. An exhibition of the Valencia painter’s work inspired by Andalucia’s Arabic palaces is going on display in the Alhambra’s Palacio de Carlos V. Sorolla initially travelled to Sevilla in 1908 with a commission to paint Alfonso XIII, ‘and had a terrible

EXPAT EASELS A GROUP of expat artists have come together to put on an exciting new exhibition for the summer. Perfectly Seasoned combines the talents of British artists Ian Hunter, Richard Wood, Sally Huntington and Don Widdall, and well-known Finnish artist Genevieve Wendelin. The joint venture can be seen at Jinete, Carretera La Cala Golf Km 4.5, Mijas Costa until September 10.

time,’ explained the exhibition’s curator, Tomas Llorens. He hated the bullfights, and the flamenco made him dizzy. “He wrote to his wife that he was going to go to bed early because he couldn’t stand the Andalucians.” But when he ‘discovered’ the Alcazar and later the Alhambra, he became captivated with Andalucia beginning to paint patios, marble, ceramics, ponds and columns.

Earthquake

Now, the Jardines de Luz (Gardens of Light) reveals a collection of 50 oil paintings, more than two-thirds on loan from the Sorolla Museum, arranged in seven sections. The exhibition, which was originally meant to be displayed in Ferrara in Italy but had to be closed after an earthquake struck the region, runs until October 14.

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A classical blend at Tio’s

Top tipple and tuneful sounds can be enjoyed at a special classical music event at Gonzalez Byass

READY TO IMPRESS: The Soloists of London pictured in Trujillo last year AN exciting event blending world-class wine and music will take place on August 14 in Jerez. Guests will be invited to stroll around the famous sherry bodega Gonzalez Byass while musicians from the Soloists of London, accompanied by world renowned pianist Martin Cousin, beguile them with the

likes of Vivaldi, Schubert and Beethoven. Meanwhile punters can sip carefully-selected wines, chosen to complement the music - with each ‘mini’ concert accompanied by a different wine. The evening will culminate in a spectacular finale of a Mozart piano concerto in the Royal bodega ‘La Concha’.

Tickets: €20 in advance (or €25 if paid on the door), €16 extra for tapas. For more information phone 617 276 161 or mattcoman@hotmail.com

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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How do you use yours? In our last issue the Olive Press called on our readers to tell us what they do with their old copies of the paper. Here we share a few ideas…

HE Olive Press is now officially a work of art. Belgian artist Marleen Pauwels, 52, is using old copies of the newspaper in her latest work. “It was funny, I asked my friend for some copies of the Olive Press and she thought I wanted to use it to put on the floor as rubbish but I had to explain that no, I actually use it as part of my work,” explained the expat, who lives in El Gastor with her husband Kris Heyse, who is also an artist. “I read through the whole thing and if I see a

headline I like, I use that. “It is not always visible. In my work I build up different layers and textures using paper and sand. “You cannot see the text from a distance; you have to look closely to find the text inside the layers. But if people are interested in it, they look closely, they explore the work and they find the text, which always has something to do with my subject. “My work is very abstract but the titles reflect the story I want to tell.” For more information visit: www.marleenpauwels.com

BED FOR THE NIGHT: Lenox Napier from Mojacar uses the OP to line the hutch of his rabbit, Bungus. “We have lots of animals so we have to be resourceful!”

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

The Olive Press NOW has 33,000 papers delivered across EIGHT provinces of Andalucia www.theolivepress.es and Gibraltar every fortnight by our hard-working team of distributors

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

ALAMEDA Mobile Home Park • Posada Tempranillo • Petrol Station • Casa Benito ALCALA Conexions • Hotel Torrepalma • Library • Tourist Office • Optico Real • Hotel Zacatin • Estate Agent Andaluz • BP ALGATOCIN BP Service Station ALHAURIN el Grande Alhaurin Golf • La Boma Rest. • 1st and 2nd Tabacconist • Annas Butchers • Christinas Paper Shop • Arte Hair • Martins Paper Shop • British Supermarket • Posh Pets • Cudeca • ALHAURIN de la Torre BP • Las Brisas Restaurante • Montemar Restaurante • Lauro Golf ALMUNECAR Spar Supermercado • Tourist Office • El Faro Bar • Olivares Shop • Danny s Bar ALORA Harveys • Tropicana • Repsol Petrol Cudeca • Zalea Bar ALOZAINA Petrol Station ANTAS Frandi • The Full Swing • El Poligono • Costa Cars ANTEQUERA Lidl • La Veronica • Antequera Golf • Tourist Office • Hotel Plaza San Sebastian • BP • Hotel Las Villas de Antikaria ARCHIDONA Cepsa Garage • 3R Café /Bar • Mercadona Garage • Sunset Estates ARDALES Paco’s Bar ARRIATE Petrol Station ATAJATE Andalazar BEDAR Town Hall • Empalme • Cajamar Olive BENADALID Los Labros BENAHAVIS Canela Cafe /Bar • Amanhavis BENALAURIA La Molienda BENALMADENA COSTA Super Save • Hapenny Bridge Pub • Kiosko Puerto (Marina) • Tourist Office • Paloma Library • Irish Time Bar • Xanit Hospital • UK Foods BENAMARGOSA La Vaqueria BENAOJAN Meroil • Papeleria Ruiz • Hotel Molino del Santo• Cuatro Paradas BENAVISTA Bowls Club • Card Shop • Ibex Insurance • Grumbles • English Butcher • Costa Less Supermarket • Plaza Hotel • Dog House • Brubecks • El Paraiso Golf •Petrol Station • Kids Kingdom • Agro Jardin • Calpe School • Pegotty’s Fish & Chips • Experience Group BENAMACARRA Hotel Cortijo Bravo BUBION Supermercado Coviran CABOPINO Pina Pinaka • Cabo Pizza • Sportsmans Bar • Cabopino Camping • Garage • Shebeens Pub • Paper ShopSupermarket • Plaza Bar • Alberts Restaurant CABRA Tourist Office CADIAR Pagamenos CALAHONDA Age Care • Party Party • The Pit Shop • Sol Finders • GT Mc Kenna Butchers • Internet Café • Mercadona • Spikes Hairdressers • RBL • Club Naranja • Plaza next to Paper Shop CALYPSO MPA Estates (Bryce) • Inspirations Haidressers CAMPILLOS Kiosk • BP Petrol Station CAPILEIRE Supermercado Coviran • Bar CARTAMA ESTACION Aguamania • Topres CASABERMEJA Petrol Station CASARES Arroyo Honda • Venta Victoria • Venta Garcia • Villas and Fincas • La Tienda •Mi Cortijo • Muebles Gavira CHICLANA LHD • Monopoly • Oasis Bar • Tourist Office • Posthouse COIN Tourist Office • Cudeca • Guerreros • Insurance Office • Bohem Rest. • Internacional • La Trocha • Chain • Leslies • BP • Buyrite • Robertos COLMENAR CO2 • Bar Campesino COMPETA Todo Papel • Pavo Real and Restaurant • Sugar and spice • Alicats CORTES Camping el Salitre • El Gecko • Mary Becker • La Fuente CORTIJO CABRERA Restaurant

A WIDER REACH

Covering the costas and inland to eight provinces And here’s how our rivals fare:

CORDOBA Bodegas Campos • Hotel Casas de la Juderia • La Fragua CUEVAS DEL BECERRO Petrol Station DIANA Royal Nordic Club • Man Friday Supermarket • Super Market • Aud Dublin • Big BlueBox DUQUESA PORT Paparazzi Neswagents • Supermarket • Las Gallerias • English Butcher • Duquesa Golf Club • Marlows Restaurant • Souvenir Shop • Gaston Golf • Manilva Properties • Monte Duquesa Sq • La Bella Vista Camping • Clubhouse Bar • Duquesa Estates • Castillo Foreign Resident Centre • Macues Restaurant • Penguin Bar El CHORRO Olive Branch BB • El Kiosko • Hotel Posada el Conde • Rest. Boca Bella EL FARO El Faro Supermarket • Carlton Bar EL ROSARIO Bar • Bar • Town Hall ELVIRIA Martys Hairdressers • Bio Nature Shop • Town Hall • EIC School •Beach House Restaurant •Aventura Amazonia •El Lago Restaurant ESTEPA BP Garage ESTEPONA Hospiten • Best Coches • Arte Escuela Ecuestre Restaurant • Pointer Vets • Eden Bar • Laguna Village Entrance • Terra Sana Digi Print • Optica Machin • Carrefour • Longmans Bookshop • Fergussons Bar • Cudeca Bar • Dune Bar • Furniture World • Padel and Sports • Techo Aluminio • Lidls • Amapola • Tourist Centre • Estepona Golf • International Club of Estepona • Costa Nature • Albayat Resort • Muebles Gavira ESTEPONA MARINA Sailors Cafe • Business Centre EportBic Universal Estate Agents • The Irish Fiddler Marlow Chip Chop FRIGILIANA Hotel Almazara FUENGIROLA Iceland • Camping Fuengirola • Scotties

Butchers • Salon Varieties • BP • Specsavers • Cudeca • Dunnes Stores • Yorkshire Linen • Speedy s Garage • RMDC Glass • Euro Market • St. Anthony s College • Tamisa Golf Hotel FUENTE DE PIEDRA Bar Rebujito • Corner Bar • Diane’s • Donkey Sanctuary GARRUCHA Clinica Veterinaria GAUCIN Repsol Petrol Station • Hotel Caballo Andaluz • Pura Vida Health Shop • Benassim Deli • Fructosa • El Convento • Casa Antonia • La Fuente • El Puente GIBRALTAR Bray Properties • Café Fresco • Kristina Szekely • Laziz Rest. • Ipanema Rest. • O’Reileys • Ocean Village Express • Ibex Insurance • Morrisons • Savills • Rock Hotel • Elliot Hotel • Sacarellos • Icc Shoping Centre • Chamber of Commerce • Cafe Solo • Copywrite • Café Rojo • Colourworks • MH Bland • Sovereign • Rolex • Caleta Hotel • Ibex Insurance GRANADA Airport • Hotel Macia Plaza • La Romanilla • Hotel Fontecruz Granada • Metro Bookshop • Hannigans 1 • Hannigans 2 • Tourist Office • El Catrachod • Jardines de Zoraya • La Alacena de Andalucia • Hotel Palacio de Santa GUADALMINA Tricky Rickys • Bookworld GUARO Petrol Station IZNAJAR BP • The Yoga School • Sueños • Los Cuatro Vientos Bar JEREZ Los Jandalos • Tourist Office JIMENA DE LA FRONTERA Cepsa• Papeleria Los Garabatos • Bar Cuenca • La Tasca • Hostal Anon • Bar Oba • Estate Agents • Casa Henrietta JIMERA DE LIBAR ESTACION Bar Allioli LA CALA DE MIJAS Corner Café • Lions Charity Shop • Pensioners Bar • Internet Café • Papeleria

Quetzal • Captains Bar • Zurich Office • BP Garage LA CALETA Papeleria las Colonias LA HERRADURA The Hideaway Bar • Libreria Coral • La Tartana Hotel LA VINUELA Hotel Vinuela LANJARON Ambienza • Cafe Bar Health • Tourist Information • Los Llanos LAS BUGANVILLAS Victor’s • Cactus LECRIN VALLEY E.S Leman Gasolina LOJA Cafe Continental • Repsol garage LOS GALLARDOS Unicaja • Subministros Ridao • Gas station • Camping los Gallardos LOS ROMANES Camping Bar LUCENA Carrefour Pet Shop • Hotel Bronces • B.P near the fire stn. MALAGA CITY British Consulate • Café Andino • Dunkin Coffee • Hotel Tribuna • Pizzeria el Laboratorio • Restaurante Vino Mio • Hotel EL Pintor • Calle Brusseles • Celtic Irish Bar • Café con Libro • Picasso • Robert Boyd • Hotel Don Curro • Hotel Molino Larios • Tourist Office • Hotel Vinci MALAGA AIRPORT Helle Hollis • Car Parking Malaga • Easy Park • Aena Information Desk • Monarch MANILVA Kwasi Cafe • Curtain & Bedding • English bookshop.Manilva Solicitors • Dr Santos Centro de Balud • Fathom’s Bar • Natura Garden Centre • Vets • Eden Gift Shop • Visage Hair Salon • Coast to Coast Properties. MARBELLA La Cuisine • Casa del Te • Hotel Fuerte • Hotel Morada la Hermosa • Town House Hotel• Villa Marbella Hotel • Swans International School • Vergola • Puente Romano Hotel• Polo House • Absolute Café

• Deli next Door • Casa Mono • Casanis• Lawbird MIJAS PUEBLO Tourist Office • Town Hall • BP Garage MIJAS ROAD World of Furniture • Centro Idea Danish Centre MOJACAR Gas station • Masko • Habana Koi • Marina de la Torre Club • Costa Coches • Kasbah Romantic • Sal’s Diego Ortega • Pippas • La Collera Paco • El Olivo • Comptoir de la Crepe • Jolly Lemon • Total entertainment • Tomas • Mojacar Estates • Beachcomber • H Puntazo • Trufibar • Clinica Dental (Parque comercial) • Kimrick • Parador MOJACAR PUEBLO Centro de Arte Municipal • Thao • English Library • Bar Pavana MOLLINA Bar Margarita • And Estates • Brit Shop • Lazy Days Mobile Home Park •Saydo park MONDA Paper Shop • Petrol St. MONTEFRIO Alan Russell MONTE HALCONES One stop café (Ronda road) • Irish café MONTEJAQUE Hotel Montejaque • Las Casitas MOTRIL Aki • Café AL Campo • Tourist Office Los Moriscos Golf • Bar/ Rest Moriscos • Ideal Papeleria • Gran Elba Hotel NERJA Hotel Carabeo • English Book Shop • Supermercado Iranzo • Dancers Bar • Smiths Bookshop • Tourist Office • John the Barber • H2O Bar • Keyhomes Estates Agents • Team Estate Agents Mojito Bar NUEVA ANDALUCIA Aloha News • Garden Bar • Yanks • Wilsons • Alberts • La Sala • Mad Hatters • Terra Sana • N10 Hotel • RWK furniture OLVERA Petrol Station • Dynos • Olvera Properties • Via Verde • Rest. El Puerto ORGIVA

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My baby miracle Vanesa Pastor has finally realised her dream of becoming a mother despite losing both ovaries

MATERNAL BLISS: Pastor with newborn son Mario

A WOMAN whose ovaries had been removed due to cancer has successfully given birth in the first operation of its kind in Spain. Vanesa Pastor, 28, gave birth to son Mario on June 11 after a healthy pregnancy, despite having been diagnosed with ovarian

cancer in 2009. When the woman from Aragon, who had always dreamed of becoming a mother, was told by doctors both ovaries would have to be removed, she nearly abandoned hope of having a baby. “My world came crashing down,’’ explained the proud new mum.

BED HEAD

THAT extra hour in bed in the morning could be bad for your brain. New research has shown that those who restrict themselves to sleeping seven hours a night can prevent their brain from ageing by an extra two years, compared with those who snooze too long. Scientists in America looked at 15,000 women in their seventies over five years and found that those who managed seven hours a night had far better concentration

and memories than those who slept for nine hours. Meanwhile, those who got less than five hours were also found to suffer. There is already evidence that having more than seven hours of sleep a night can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of heart problems and diabetes, but the new study is one of the first to link it to concentration problems. “The public health implications of

But determined, Pastor contacted the Dexeus Foundation for Women’s Health who told her her only hope of pregnancy lay with her uterus. Luckily, the uterus was found to be free of cancer and, after being given the all-clear, in vitro fertilisation was started. A total of 14 eggs were extracted from her right ovary (before being removed) and cryogenically frozen until these findings could be Pastor recovered from the substantial,” said lead recancer. searcher Elizabeth Devore.

“They might lead to the eventual identification of sleep-based strategies for reducing risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s.”

A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society added: “A good night’s sleep is one of life’s pleasures but, once again, this robust research suggests that the quality and duration of sleep are also linked to our cognitive health.”

Cancer-free

Two of the eggs were then fertilised with sperm from Pastor’s partner and implanted into the cancer-free uterus. Pastor is said to be ‘very happy’ with new-born Mario and has the option of becoming a mum again as two other eggs are still viable.

Heroic feet A 10-YEAR-OLD boy who lost both his feet in a road accident could be walking again within six months after undergoing pioneering surgery in Granada. The only thing youngster David has been left with is reduced ankle movement, despite suffering what surgeons described as ‘catastrophic’ injuries. The six-and-a-halfhour procedure to reattach the limbs was carried out by Dr Pedro Cavadas, known as the ‘miracle’ doctor, with the boy declaring that he ‘wants to be like Cavadas’.

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A SCOTTISH expat who suffered a heart attack seven months ago is still waiting for the bypass surgery he should have received within days of the attack. Wynne Donnelly, 66, was rushed to Ronda Hospital in December 2011 after suffering a heart attack. He was later transferred to Malaga’s Virgen de la Victoria Hospital after doctors realised he needed a bypass operation. Initially, doctors classified the surgery as urgent and planned it for the next two to three days, but Donnelly’s allergy to aspirin postponed the process. When his condition did not worsen, doctors sent Donnelly home without clarifying when he would receive the operation. Soon after, he received a letter from the hospital indicating he would have the surgery within six months. It has now been seven months.

Waiting

“The hospital still has us on the waiting list,” Donnelly’s wife, Linda, told the Olive Press. “Aside from a check-up which we requested, the hospital has not been in touch with us.” Concerned about her husband’s deteriorating situation – characterised by severe fatigue and bouts of intense dizziness– she took him to a general practitioner in Ronda for a professional opinion. “He told us the hospital is playing Russian roulette with his life,” added Don-

Playing Russian roulette with life Scottish expat kept waiting over seven months for ‘urgent’ surgery

WAITING GAME: Donnelly with wife Linda nelly. “He needs an operation soon.” When the Olive Press contacted the hospital, a spokes-

man said: “For most patients awaiting surgery we cannot realistically predict the date of the operation.”

New pill for Alzheimer’s By Rund Abdelfatah

S-whooping down

WHOOPING cough is on the rise following a tenfold increase in the number of cases so far this year compared with the same period in 2010, according to the Health Protection Agency. The disease has already affected nearly 1,800 adults and children this year, almost double the number in the whole of 2008. Explanations for the rise include greater detection by doctors - who have been warned to look out for the disease - and waning immunity because the effects of the vaccine reduce in time. “Cases do increase every three to four years and this is the case the world over - it seems to be a characteristic of the disease,” said Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam from the Health Protection Agency. “Our last major outbreak was in 2008 so we were due another one.”

A PILL to treat Alzheimer’s could now help nearly 800,000 people in Spain currently suffering from the disease. Betrinac, developed by Welsh physician Andrew McCaddon, has been shown to successfully treat those with memory problems in the United States. And it has now become available for purchase in Spain and throughout Europe. Touted as a vitamin supplement, the new pill is believed to more effectively combat memory loss than previous treatments, which contain B vitamins alone. The key ingredient is an antioxidant called NAC – found in a range of foods including peppers and asparagus – that acts by increasing the amount of glutathione in the brain, a compound involved in making a major neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which Alzheimer’s patients are lacking. More acetylcholine means greater memory function and reduced symptoms. NAC is already used to treat paracetamol poisoning – also known as Tylenol overdose – and to break up the mucus in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Doctors are optimistic that it will produce positive results in Alzheimer’s patients.

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45the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 45

We’ll fight them on the beaches Beaches across Malaga have been invaded by jellyfish, come for the summer season but hopefully not here to stay

DOZENS of beaches in Malaga province have played host to swarms or ‘blooms’ of jellyfish this summer, closing several beaches in Marbella and Estepona and administering more than 1,000 stings within a three-day period. Many bathers have been on the wrong end of the gelatinous varmint, whose sting causes a painful rash that can last for up to three days. According to Spain’s tourist office, the

marine stingers are the venomous purple striped jellyfish. Their stings, although almost never fatal, have been known to cause severe allergic reactions. Here, the Olive Press looks at the different types of stingers in the Mediterranean, why they are becoming such a problem for bathers on the Costa del Sol and what can be done to protect yourself from eye-watering stings.

Sunglasses horror A BRITISH schoolgirl has been left with a badly swollen face after a terrifying allergic reaction to cheap sunglasses while on holiday in Spain. Laura Musson (right) has said she thought she would die after her head, eyes and nose swelled to twice their normal size. Doctors told her she had suffered severe allergic reactions and confirmed plastic in the sunglasses, she had bought for just €1.20 from

a High Street shop, was the most likely cause. Now she wants to warn other holidaymakers about the dangers of wearing cheap sunglasses. “It was terrifying. I honestly thought I would die,” explained Musson, who was celebrating finishing her A Levels on holiday in Mallorca. “I looked like a different person, like I had been badly beaten up. “It was the first time we’d ever been

EYESORE: Laura’s face abroad without our parents but it was totally ruined by a pair of £1 sunglasses. “Don’t buy them it’s not worth it.”

A shade above the rest The Olive Press offers some top tips on what to look for when buying sunglasses…

WITH the summer in full swing, it is time to put on your shades and enjoy the sunshine. But while you may know your Ray Bans from your Oakleys, there are plenty of other things to consider when picking your ideal pair of sunglasses. Unprotected exposure to sunlight can cause significant damage to the eyes and over time can contribute to cataracts, cancer of the eyelids and the skin around the eyes, and macular degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness in the UK. This is why sunglasses are so important, but while it is now possible to buy the latest trends for just a few euros, not all sunglasses are good for you. In fact some cheap sunglasses could actually be causing more harm than good. So here we offer you some top tips for buying sunglasses so you can look good and stay safe at the same time. • Look for the UV rating. The main causes of damage to your eyes are the UV rays and whether it is on a small sticker on the lenses or on a small tag attached to the frame, you should always look for 100 per cent UV protection. • Consider the frames. In this case bigger is better. Always look for ones that cover more of the face around the eyes as smaller glasses allow light to flood in at the top and sides. The best designs for protection are the wraparound ones. • Don’t go by the colour. The colour of the lens, even if really dark, has no bearing on the UV protection. The outer coating (which is clear) filters out the UV rays and darker colours can actually fool your eye into opening up more and letting in more harmful rays. • Price is not important. Sometimes the higher price just means you are getting more expensive frames not more protection. The most important thing is the UV rating.

SLIMEY: Don’t let these sea critters slip past your radar • Purple-striped jellyfish- aka mauve stingers: These increasingly common creatures have wreaked havoc on the Costa del Sol, causing the closure of a number of beaches. They are usually small but pack a powerful punch. • Portuguese man o’ war - aka blue bottle: Although not technically jellyfish, these critters can deliver an agonising sting causing vomiting and fainting in some cases. They are usually found floating at the surface of the water with long, thin tendrils extending 10 metres. • Fried egg jellyfish: A small but beautiful jellyfish which gets its name from its fried-egg shaped body. Its sting has little effect on humans. • Moon jellyfish: One of the most common jellyfish in the world, these translucent creatures are often sold commercially as pets. The sting is harmless to humans. • Compass jellyfish: With brown spots and a saucer-shaped bell, this jellyfish can often be found drifting on the sea surface. It can deliver a nasty sting. Jellyfish sting symptoms: • Painful and itchy rash around the affected area • Raised welts sometimes accompany the rash • Nausea and vomiting • Muscles spasms and abdominal pain • The lymph nodes may swell and turn red in the case of an allergic reaction to the sting • Severe reactions can cause breathing difficulties and (rarely) death What to do if you’ve been stung: • Bathe the area with a generous helping of vinegar for 15 minutes • If vinegar is not at hand use salt water, not fresh water, to clean out the area • Remove the stinging tentacles with tweezers –do not attempt to remove them with fingers as this can lead to further stings • Shave the area with a razor or scrape it with a credit card to ensure all the debris from the jellyfish is removed • Eye stings should be rinsed out with saline solution. The area around the eye can then be bathed in vinegar. Do not put vinegar directly onto your eyes • If you suspect you’re having an allergic reaction to the sting, go straight to a doctor

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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Health tax EXPATS and residents in Spain will be required to contribute to the cost of medical prescriptions, as of this month. Anyone making less than €18,000 per year will pay up to 40 per cent of the prescription cost with a cap at €8, while those earning more than €18,000 will pay

Prescription drugs now come at a cost in Spain

half the cost with a cap at €18. While the UK will continue to pay Spain an annual cost to provide healthcare for its pensioners, British expats are not exempt from this

Mother knows breast A MASS breastfeeding event is to take place in Gibraltar to raise awareness of the benefits of suckling infants. As part of the Big Latch On, Gibraltar, along with other communities across the world, will welcome thousands of women to take part in the event on August 3 and 4. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of future health problems for both mother and baby including breast cancer. Registration will start at Cafe Solo, Casemates at 10am.

tax. The long term goal is to integrate this rate of pay information into the SIP card - which enters expats into the healthcare system in Spain. However, for those who have not declared an annual resident tax, blanket charges will apply. Non-pensioners with low incomes pay 40 per cent and pensioners pay 10 per cent. No income information means no cap on your monthly contribution.

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Raymond Prats explores why Body Mass Index is an unreliable tool for determining if a person is overweight and why we should use Resting Metabolic Rate instead…

MI, which stands for Body Mass Index, has proved to be one of the most unreliable tools to determine whether a person is overweight or obese. Sports figures, extremely tall people, extremely short people, bodybuilders, gymnasts, are very likely to have high BMI’s as it fails to take into account things like body fat, muscle, bone structure, and who knows what else. A better option for weight loss is RMR or Resting Metabolic Rate. This is an indirect measure of the number of calories your body needs to maintain normal physiological function i.e. the amount of calories your body would need at rest to keep your heart, lungs, brain and other organs working properly. Even people with a similar age, gender, and body composition can have very different RMRs so it is important to get data that relates specifically to you. An RMR test will give you the information you need to set and reach realistic goals related to weight management, proper nutrition, and health. Fast and slow metabolisms are phrases that are common in everyday life, but may be difficult to comprehend. A good way to understand the body’s metabolism is to think about it as fuel efficiency, as one would a car. A person with a fast metabolism would have low fuel efficiency, in car terms a Hummer. In contrast, a person with a slow metabolism would have high fuel efficiency, in car terms a Toyota Prius (51mpg).

The main determiner in the speed of a person’s metabolism is genetics; however lifestyle and body composition can play a role as well.

How is RMR performed? RMR is done with gas analysis through indirect calorimetry which calculates the heat we produce from production of carbon dioxide and nitrogen waste or from oxygen consumption. This process is easy and not invasive; it only takes about 30 minutes. The specialist puts the patient’s information into the RMR machine while the patient relaxes in a chair and breaths into a tube that is connected to the RMR machine for 30 minutes. After the test, results are discussed with the patient to ensure understanding and to answer any questions. To know your RMR is to know how many calories you can eat in a day to maintain, lose or gain weight. Knowing these numbers would mean people would be less likely to give up on their weight-loss effort.

Tips to increase your metabolism: • Get plenty of sleep • Decrease stress • Stay hydrated • Eat small frequent meals • Exercise regularly (particularly resistance training)

For more information visit www.simplecarehealthplan.com

U J p the

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ardin path

47the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012 47

Foreign invasion

A DESTRUCTIVE breed of Spanish slugs has invaded UK gardens. The recent heavy rains and warm spells across Britain have attracted the Arion Flagellus which poses a severe threat to native wildlife. The massive invaders can reach a size of more than 10 centimetres long and produce hundreds more eggs than a typical British slug. With such a substantial disparity in fertility rates, British slugs stand little chance against their Spanish competitors. And indeed, the olive green Spanish invaders have been mating with British slugs to create a highly powerful hy-

Spanish slugs threaten to wipe out native British slugs brid that is threatening to overrun the UK. But slug expert Les Noble from Aberdeen University believes authorities are not taking the problem seriously enough. “The invasive species is carrying diseases and parasites that are going to wipe out our native slugs, driving them to extinction,” he warned.

SLUGGERS: Spanish garden thugs are claiming foreign territory

Sue Rodgers looks at how to deal with pests the natural way

ESTS - whether in the house, the garden or just buzzing around the patio - can be a nuisance, an irritant and can cause serious damage to property, plants and persons alike. But there are a number of natural herbal remedies for all kinds of pests, many growing wild here in Andalucia. A pest we all get in our houses from time to time is ants. And while there are any number of chemical products you can buy, ants hate mint! It interferes with their smelling capabilities. I have effectively used fresh leaves around the base of my coriander plants, to stop the ants stealing my coriander seed! I also put a line of mint essential oil across my front

Pest control ANTSY: How to deal with these creepy crawlies door, to stop them entering the house. Cinnamon sticks are also a useful deterrent. As with all natural remedies, re- application is necessary. Nothing spoils a summer evening on the terrace more than the annoying whine, followed by the inevitable bite, of mosquitoes. But several of the commercial

products contain chemicals that can cause unpleasant side effects, some such as DEET are believed to cause neurological damage. Meanwhile some of the most effective herbal remedies are citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), lavender (Lavandula spp) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora).

HE KNOWS HIS ONIONS!

Midsummer garden Peter Langdale from Garden La Palma offers his top tips for the month of August

AS the summer continues we must take care not to neglect our watering. Making sure the irrigation system is in perfect condition is the most important thing in midsummer - especially the lawn irrigation system as you have to water it daily. And always remember the evening or at dawn are the best times. We must also continue to monitor the occurrence of pests and diseases almost every day in summer as now is the time they are most likely to appear. And if you have a pond now is also the best time to enjoy the many aquatic plants that thrive in the summer. When it comes to planting, August is when you should sow turnips, radishes, carrots, borage, canons and move the chard and cauliflower seedlings sown in July, and the leeks and sprouts sown in the nursery in June.

A body spray can be made mixing together 100ml of lavender water with 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 15 drops of citronella oil. Always spray a test patch first to ensure you don’t react to the spray. Shake first to mix the lavender water and oils, then re-apply every couple of hours. The spray will keep for up to six months and the same combination of oils can be used in an oil burner to keep mosquitoes away from your evening terrace enjoyment. Living in the campo, flies are also a nuisance and while there are natural remedies to keep flies away such as basil, lavender and rosemary - I have found few to be truly effective. But another solution is to attract the flies away from the house or terrace, with a sweet irresistible concoction. Heat 400ml of milk, add 110g of raw sugar (this is not brown sugar, and will have to be bought from a health food shop or online) and 60g of white pepper and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour into bowls and place around the house or patio, flies will flock to the sticky mixture and drown! Check out www.selfsufficiency4u.com for more natural remedies

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Olympic dreams A D ETAILS of the opening ceremony for the London Olympic Games have been revealed to an astonished

nation. The main arena will be converted into a green and pleasant landscape that will illustrate the many and varied aspects of life in the modern DisUnited Kingdom. Never mind the scenes of bucolic serenity, I will be looking for: illegal traveller sites complete with wrecked cars and snot-nosed children; the ubiquitous fly-tipped piles of rubbish; a march by striking bus and tube drivers in support of an Olympic-sized bonus; a parade of members from both Houses of Parliament, each carrying a placard listing their personal expenses scams; thousands of garbage bins in an array of sizes and colours, none of which will be removed until the second week of the Games; and busloads of illegal immigrants all smiling and waving their benefit cheques. There should also be a white-coated

GLORIOUS: Olympic arena represents the Dis-United Kingdom contingent of NHS doctors each of whom has a number printed in large type on their backs. Groups of doctors should be choreographed to join together revealing individual pension funds that exceed anything in the private sector.

While all this is going on, a team of metal thieves should be stripping out the wiring from the stadium itself. Let’s hope they don’t forget to take Anish Kapoor’s obscene steel sculpture while they are at it.

Carts and horses

NYONE who has read even the early chapters of Empire Building for Dummies will be acutely aware that the first thing to achieve is the creation of a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy. Common regulation across each of the unequal and unrelated states is essential so that everyone knows what they are and what they not allowed to do. The Romans knew this; the Ottomans knew this; the Russians knew this; and so did every other empire builder since the year dot. History suggests that empire building is not a perfect science and longevity is not guaranteed but, whatever example one chooses, controlling one’s empire is impossible unless the vital step of collective regulation has been accepted (or imposed). Once you’ve got all your dominions obeying the rules you can start fid-

AN ODE FOR MAD DOG FANS: Quit your grieving – cos the Mad Dog ain’t leaving. He just got afraid, when his workload got raised. But a week of deep thought, and moral support – means its business as usual, so cancel that funeral!

OW did it come to this? Bruised, battered and face down in a filthy Spanish alley. Above, a blazing sun dries a million bras and boxershorts all hanging loosely from tenement balconies. Had I been mugged, bummed or robbed of a kidney? No, it was much worse! I’d taken fashion advice from a female, and now my dignity lay in tatters. Face it; there are certain things that you have to be a woman to appreciate: 50 Shades of Grey, Lambrini, Michael Buble, kittens, and the appeal of goddam flip-flops! So, when the missus suggested we go to the city as ‘flip-flop buddies’, I had to put my foot down. “Indie-kids don’t wear flipflops,” I uttered defiantly. “But you’re 32,” she replied. “Hardly a KID.” “Age is just a number,” I barked back. “Look at Iggy Pop,

Wicked whisper Which filthy-rich footballer, who returned to EPL in 2010 after a spell in La Liga, left his Porsche at a Spanish train station for five MONTHS? When asked why, he said he’d forgotten he owned one? And the galling thing is he only plays for Stoke!

The Mad Dog (finally…) flips-out he’s 105, but STILL rock ‘n’ roll.” She wasn’t listening. As far as she was concerned we were visiting the city as matching khaki, shades, and flip-flop wearers; a couple of consumerist cretins plucked straight from a GAP commercial. As I slipped on a pair of Quicksilver foot-thongs, I felt like a sell-out. ‘You’re rock ‘n’ roll’ I told myself, into bars not foot spas, Alice in Chains not ankle chains! Plus, the only straight men I knew to wear flip-flops were beach bums and Geography teachers. In the car, I sulked and muttered things like “I bet Hemingway never wore flipflops.” It was futile; she just cranked up the volume on R.E.M’s Shiny Happy People. We parked up and I instinctively scanned the pavements for potential hazards. All it would take is one broken bottle and it’s bye, bye Sunday football! Fortunately, the first hour passed without major incident. In fact, like a new verruca, this footloose malarkey was growing on me.

Springheeled and liberated, I bounced my way across hidden plazas and medieval courtyards. With air rushing up my ankles, the shackles were off and I felt free-as-a-bird. It’s rumoured that sex-mad citizens of ancient Rome found flip-flops especially useful. They are said to have had nails imbedded on the soles that spelt out the words ‘Follow Me’. But be warned, if you try this today you’re more likely to earn a denuncia than a grope in a Botanical garden! Anyway, as I toyed with the idea of toe-rings and yoga, I was brought crashing back down to earth. Lost in the moment, I somehow failed to notice a 12ft wooden plank in the road right outside a soup kitchen. Smackkkk! Technically, I’d stubbed my toe; but screw technically, it felt like my foot was giving birth. And yet, as I lay there whimpering, not one fingerless glove came to my aid. Half-a-dozen itinerant eyewitnesses and nobody moved a muscle! I was spitting feath-

ers. “What are you gawping at?” I bawled: “Haven’t you got homes to go

to?” I wouldn’t mind, but I’m always getting guilt-tripped by homeless charities. You know those TV ads that show Tess’s house getting repossessed, or little Steve, getting thrashed with a doglead? One even had CGI and music by Radiohead, how many beef-stews could that have bought? Still, at least they weren’t laughing. In Britain, beggars have SmartPhones these days and you can bet a bottle of Buckfast they’d be recording this. Yep, while you’re off to casualty, they’re hot-footing it down to the nearest internet café to share your misery with millions. Imagine that, returning home to find you’re a YouTube sensation - that bare-footed, berk from the ‘Trip-Flops’ video. As for the moral of this tale? How about tramps are selfcentred, toenails are pointless, chicks are pushy, and 32 is NEVER too old for ‘Indiekid’ clothing.

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Thoughts of the fortnight • Give breakfast a cinematic feel by playing ‘Boiled Egg Zulu.’ Make a mixture of brown and white bread soldiers and pretend your egg cup is Fort KwaMondi. Add pepper for gunpowder and ketchup for realistic blood spatter! And, when you get bored of this game add an even bigger dollop of ketchup and pretend the brown soldiers have hacked Zimbabwean farmers to pieces. Bon appetite! • When Michael J Fox’s time-machine took him to 2015 in Back to the Future 2 how come his older-self didn’t have Parkinson’s? • Why can’t the strays near my wheelie bins be more like Top Cat? I mean, it’s no wonder they’re homeless. How hard is it to pick up a second hand waistcoat and a few Brooklyn keywords? Nope, if you ask me, they CHOOSE to live that lifestyle.

dling with the tricky bits like national identity, temperament and characteristics and you can attempt to subjugate any that you don’t especially like. Not easy, I know, but essential if harmonisation across the empire is the objective. Get this right and you can do anything: change languages, change traditions, you can even change the currency. Given this truism, it is a pity that the dummies who are attempting to build the European Empire didn’t get past the early chapters – maybe their lips got tired. The fact that Europe’s masters imposed a new currency before a system of common regulation had been accepted underpins the current and enduring weakness of the Euro. Each of the nation states in the Community carried on doing what it had always done without regard for the consequences and now our oligarchy (we don’t have an emperor, yet) is desperately trying to sort out the mess.

With hindsight, Europe’s oligarchs are trying to create an empire by stealth With the wonderful clarity of hindsight, Europe’s oligarchs are trying to create an empire by stealth. Foreign policy, defence, civil law, are all moving towards central control with the aim of creating a new federation of interdependent states. It follows that sorting out the current dog’s dinner that is Europe, will require each member of the Community to surrender its law-making powers to an unelected oligarchy. Never mind the disparate natures of the member states, the unique characteristics that define each of them. The fact that all of these democracies will be subjected to social and fiscal regulation imposed by an external and unelected oligarchy makes complete federation unpalatable. Domination of the oligarchy by the only member that has any financial credibility makes it doubly so.

Disgruntled of Andalucia (formerly of Royal Tunbridge Wells)

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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51- August 08, 2012, 2012 51 the olive press - July 26 SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Ca-tapas-trophe!

Turning tomatoes into blueberries A SPANISH fruit and vegetable exporter has formed an alliance with a food development company in a bid to cultivate blueberries as an alternative to tomatoes. The joint project between Gruventa and IDEARGO hopes to make the sector more profitable. “It’s born from both companies’ concern to enhance innovation and agricultural development, to allow farmers to receive the higher added value in their rents,” said Fermin Sanchez Navarro, Gruventa director.

EXPERTS are warning tourists hoping to enjoy traditional Spanish food this summer they may have to watch their waistlines. Indulging excessively in tapas and Spanish draught beer (canas) can be harmful to health as they are often lacking nutrition, have a high calorie content and place a heavy burden on digestion. Just one traditional cana of less than half a pint of beer can contain up to 80 calories. And UK holidaymakers may not have much luck weightwise elsewhere in Europe either. According to research carried out by Thomas Cook, a 10-day break in Cyprus or Portugal is also likely to leave you piling on the pounds. A holiday in Ireland or Germany, on the other hand, is more likely to leave you trimmer.

With 80 calories per glass of beer and tapas soaked in oil, health experts warn tourists to think before they tuck in

GOOD GARDEN ETIQUETTE

FATTY: Spanish holidays could cost your health To combat potential holiday weight, health experts recommend that holidaymakers move more, drink more water and eat more protein-

rich foods such as seafood. According to nutritionist Ruben Bravo ‘in the summer we eat less but unhealthily’.

THE chance for alfresco dining may be greater here than in Britain but that is all the more reason certain precautions should be taken when it comes to good garden etiquette. According to the Middle Class Handbook, your garden furniture reflects your social status and the classic white plastic chairs are a definite no-no. “Alfresco dining is about beauty, nature, lightness of touch. These are the opposite,” the guide explains. Oiled hardwood, powdered aluminium, and ornate castiron dining sets are on the other hand perfectly acceptable. “Doily-like, they conjure up cream teas and scented herb gardens, chilled wine and English roses.” The guide, which also writes off chairs with cup holders as complete mood killers, can be viewed at www.middleclasshandbook.co.uk

Ferran goes down under AN exhibition showcasing the tools that chef Ferran Adria and his colleagues used to create the ‘new Spanish cuisine’ movement is opening in Australia.

The cutlery, crockery and other utensils used by his Spanish restaurant elBulli, as well as those used by Andoni Luis Aduriz will be displayed.

DECORUM: Keeping outdoor dining classy

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

FOOD & DRINK www.theolivepress.es

Pukka tucker I

SPENT half of my meal trying to work out which footballer was sitting at the table behind me. And the other half being surprised at actually how good the food was. Yes, Polo House, in Marbella has become rather like London’s iconic restaurant The Ivy. The place to be seen on the Costa del Sol, where most nights of the week in summer you are likely to see a footballer, pop star or TV celebrity. The last month alone has seen Glenn Hoddle, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole popping in to dine.... and Peter Crouch has apparently made it ‘almost his second home’. Then there is the TOWIE crew, who popped champagne corks and paraded off their fake tans with plunging necklines and Estuary accents. But, you are just as likely to see Alan Sugar or Mark Thatcher, who both have homes nearby, and Marbella’s mayor Angeles Munoz has become a regular. Oh and then there is Status Quo’s Francis Rossi... who was a regular, at least until he had a blazing row with his girlfriend there last year. It is perhaps no surprise the place is so celebrity friendly, it being run by the dashing, and somewhat mischeivous, former cavalry officer James Hewitt, he of Lady Diana fame. A splendid raconteur, he is the life and soul of the place and very much in existence late at nights at weekends or over Sunday lunch. “I really felt Marbella had the potential for this sort of place when I moved here,”

Polo House is not just about celebrity spotting... Jon Clarke discovers that the food is surprisingly good too

THE PLACE TO BE SEEN: Marbella’s Polo House he explains. “I have eaten in His sea bass cooked in a salt so many places around the crust was absolutely specworld and know a bit about tacular as were his starter of wine and food. scallops with artichoke puree “Quite frankly, there was f*** and Iberian ham and pan all else I could do. I don’t real- fried foie gras with brioche ly work here either,” he quips. with Sevilla orange marma“I just hang lade and haabout, swan in zlenuts. and out. To be The steamed I enjoyed the fair I have not asparragus really worked in with Hollanassured and my life before.” daise and The really confident cooking p o a c h e d big surprise egg was also of head chef though, is the lovely. quality of the Other mains Danny Lewis food. that looked Dining in the good were recently rennothe Chuleton, vated restaurant - which now a Spanish-style of rib-eye, has a new, glamourous dining which comes with stuffed terrace and a lighter, more ac- bone marrow, or Osso Buco, cessible feel – was actually a as well as fresh crab and wild pleasure. herb linguine and black cod There is entertainment every in miso. night, but I was most enjoy- Our pudding Polo House ing the assured and mess, a take on Eton mess, confident cooking of was amazingly good. Danny Lewis, a true As joint owner Ram Nandkcockney, who trained ishore explains: ‘A successful under Marco Pierre restaurant in Marbella must White for five years, have a sense of fun,’ and he before honing his should know, having opened skills at the Jumeirah no less than 10 establishHotel in Dubai. ments in the town, including He doubles as the Mumtaz and Polo House. main buyer for the “People don’t want to go to a Metro Group, which boring place that takes itself also owns restau- too seriously... people come rants, including Jacks, down here to have fun and to Alberts and Mum- be amused. They want places taz, and he certainly with a sense of humour.” knows how to source Nobody can accuse Polo good ingredients. House of not having that.

SCHMOOZING: Hewitt with TOWIE babe Lauren Goodger

Polo House Marbella Bulevard Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 952 900 360 - www.polohousemarbella.com

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the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

IVING in Andalucia certainly opens up a tasty range of seafood options, and the good news is that the health benefits of eating it are well proven. Studies show that including one portion of seafood in your weekly diet can reduce the chances of having a heart attack by half. And while oily fish like salmon and cod is known for its high content of omega-3, seafood options such as prawns, crabs, squid and octopus also contain high levels of this essential fatty acid which is key to a healthy heart. When consumed in seafood, omega-3 has also been shown to help reduce the risk of dementia and memory problems late in life. Moreover omega-3 is not the only benefit – seafood also contains many other important vitamins and minerals. And while seafood does contain cholesterol, it is unlikely to affect your blood cholesterol level because it is low in saturated fats. Discover more about shellfish here with the Olive Press’ easy reference guide, which includes the Spanish words to help you choose what to go for…

FOOD & DRINK

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Keeping the heart healthy with seafood Shrimps (camarones), crayfish (langostos) and prawns (gambas)

Healthy because…they are high in B12 and selenium. Many Britons are lacking in B12, which can only be found naturally in animal-based foods. Selenium is important for the immune system and thyroid. Avoid if…you start itching. You might be having an allergic reaction to the tropomyosin protein, which can lead to full throat swelling and even death.

Mussels (mejillones)

Healthy because… they have high levels of iodine which is good for a healthy thyroid, along with folic acid and B12. Mussels are also the shellfish with the highest levels of omega-3. Avoid if…you are pregnant. Although they are officially safe, there is always a risk toxins will remain.

Squid (calamares) Healthy because…it contains high levels of B2, which can help fight migraines, bone-strengthening phosphorus and also minerals zinc and copper. Copper is vital for absorbing iron. Avoid if…you are sensitive to other seafood, or if you suspect it is not completely fresh. Fried and battered squid is also very high in fat.

Oysters (ostras)

Healthy because…they are high in zinc, which is important for sexual function, and vitamins A, C and B12 which promote energy. Their high content of tyrosine, an amino acid, also helps improve the mood and regulate stress. Avoid if…you have had an allergic reaction before. Also, be wary of unfarmed oysters as they can contain high levels of poisonous mercury.

FOOD & DRINK www.theolivepress.es

55 Lobster (langosta)

Healthy because…it is lean, and contains lots of vitamin E – which is good for the skin – plus vitamin B. Avoid if…you are trying to lose weight. Traditional lobster dishes such as Thermidor contain cognac, cream and cheese and therefore have extremely high calorie contents.

Scallops (vieiras)

Healthy because…they are low in calories and contain practically no saturated fat. They are a great source of vitamin B plus minerals magnesium and potassium. Avoid if…you are sensitive to shellfish. Gout and kidney stones sufferers should also avoid them because of their high purines levels.

Octopus (pulpo)

Healthy because…it contains iron, potassium, selenium and lots of B vitamins. It can also have a calming effect on the nervous system, and is high in taurine, an amino acid which can help prevent heart disease. Avoid if…you are a child. Seafood should be avoided by the under-ones, and after that children should only eat it cooked.

Crab (cangrejo)

Healthy because…it is high in protein but very low in calories and contains high levels of and omega-3. It also contains the trace mineral selenium which is a powerful antioxidant. Avoid if…you suffer from gout or kidney stones. Crab contains a high amount of purines which make symptoms worse.

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012, 2012

Don’t let the banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk see page 11

Strike now

WORKERS at Marbella’s Costa del Sol hospital have begun strikes over pay cuts announced by the Junta.

FINAL WORDS

the FREE

the olive press - July 26 - August 08, 2012

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New tails

The Alhambra’s Court of Lions is to be officially reopened to the public after a decade-long restoration costing €2.2 million.

July 26 - August 08 , 2012

‘Folklore’ kit an embarrassment for Spain

Baby boon

Eating avocados with olive oil can increase fertility by three times, according to Harvard University research presented to Malaga’s agricultural group Asaja this week.

Onwards and upwards in 2012 with 186,000 papers www.theolivepress.es (120,000 digital) and around 150,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

TACKY: Bad fashion SPANISH sports fans have expressed their horror at the Olympic kit for the London Games. Cyclist Angel Rodriguez posted pictures of the kit – featuring a polo shirt, tie, shoes and a backpack on Twitter - sparking disgust from fans. Russian company Bosco, which designed it, claimed it was created after ‘studying Spanish folklore’. But one unhappy fan said: “What kind of Spanish folklore have they studied? I feel ashamed.”

Don’t let the banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk

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see page 11

Vodka shots for Alex ENGLAND striker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been spotted dining in Puerto Banus. The talented 18-year-old (left, middle) ate at La Sala before heading for sister nightclub Aqwa Mist next door. The star, who impressed during the recent Euros tournament, ordered bottles of vodka at a private VIP table.

Olympics exodus By Rund Abdelfatah

UP to 400,000 British expats worldwide are flocking back to London this week for the 2012 Olympics. Nearly 385,000 of the estimated 5.5 million British expats living abroad will return home in the coming

Mass departure of British expats heading home for the London Olympics weeks, 275,000 of whom have tickets to the London Games. The highest number of returning expats – around 200,000 people – are said

SUNSHINE TRAINING THE Team GB football squad has spent a week in Spain to prepare themselves in their kick-off quest for Olympic gold. Captain Ryan Giggs was joined by stars including Micah Richards, Tom Cleberley and Kyle Walker, at the popular golfing resort, La Cala, near Malaga. The hot training conditions did not pay off however as Stuart Pearce saw his team lose 2-0 to Brazil in a friendly match last Friday back in the UK.

White flag for Rafa

to be coming from Spain. A recent survey reported 21 per cent of British expats in Spain are returning home for the Olympics, compared to just six per cent of those living in the US and three per cent in Canada. The explanation for this mass homecoming is a combination of patriotic zeal and general excitement.

Home

“Britain is at the centre of the world stage. While there are many things that expats prefer about living overseas, many identify strongly with their home country,” explains Richard Musty, director of Lloyds bank’s expatriate section. The bank undertook a survey of over 1000 British expats in ten popular locations.

Big spending Balotelli MAN City star Mario Balotelli has set a record bar bill at Linekar’s Bar. Italy striker Ballotelli, 21, ‘spent thousands’ on a night out for 20 guests at the club’s new Ibiza venue. Bar owner, and brother of Gary Lineker tweeted:“Wicked night. His bill was the biggest anyone has ever had in 25 years in any Linekers.” The only hiccup, he allegedly told the owner he had never heard of his famous brother, former England striker and captain Gary. Other visitors to the new venue included Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck, Joe Hart and Michael Carrick.

SAD: Rafa will not make Olympics RAFAL Nadal has pulled out of the London Olympics due to injury. The world number three also pulled out of a charity match in Madrid on July 4 due to a tendon issue in his left knee. “I am not in condition to compete. It was not meant to be,” he said, adding that it was one of the saddest moments of his career. Nadal, 26, won the men’s singles at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and had been set to bear the flag for Team Spain at this week’s opening ceremony. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the explicit permission of the publisher. While efforts are made to ensure the authenticity of advertisements and articles appearing in The Olive Press, the publisher does not accept any responsibility for claims made, nor do contributors’ opinions necessarily represent his own. Copyright Luke Stewart Media S.L 2012