The Olive Press issue 141 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 6 Issue 141

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

August 09 - 22, 2012

Anti-terrorist officers swoop to stop Olympics bomb plot on Gibraltar

By James Bryce, Rund Abdelfatah and Mason Jones THREE Al-Qaeda suspects have been accused of planning to blow up a Gibraltar shopping centre during the Olympics. A Turkish national, who worked as a site manager on the Rock, and two Russians were charged this week under anti-terrorism laws. Together they had enough explosives ‘to blow up a bus’. A Madrid court heard that Turk Cengiz Yalcin, a paragliding enthusiast, had repeatedly asked his instructor about taking photographs of Gibraltar shopping centres from the air.

Poison

The trio were also recently spotted flying a motor-powered paraglider over Gibraltar, hinting they were planning an airborne attack. Police reportedly found a video of Yalcin flying a remote-controlled aircraft dropping packages from the sky. It is claimed that he had recently bought classes for his colleagues, Eldar Magomedov and Mohamed Ankari, both of Chechen origin, possibly at Lijar Sur flying school, in Algodonales. When the Olive Press con-

Police foil paraglider terror plot tacted the school, a woman first denied that it was a flying school, then put the phone down. Other possible targets included the US naval base in Rota, near Cadiz. The two Chechens were detained on a bus en route to France, with one using ‘enormous strength and miltary training’ to resist arrest. Both are believed to have received military training at Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, where they learnt about the use of explosives and poisons. Described as ‘one of the biggest international counter-

Al-Qaeda suspects – one a site manager on the Rock - arrested in connection with deadly scheme

STOPPED: Magomedov, Ankari and Yalcin terrorism operations’ of recent years, Spain’s interior minister Jorge Fernandez

said: “These are extremely dangerous people.” Yalcin, described as a ‘fa-

cilitator for Al-Qaeda’, had been working for three years as a site manager at Gibraltar-based construction firm Profield Contractors. A fellow worker, called Tom, told the Olive Press: “We last saw him about two weeks ago, I spoke to others who worked with him and none of us can believe it. “He seemed a very nice chap, he told us he had just split up with his wife and was very likeable. “In fact he was so popular

we recently gave him a computer for ‘his kids’.

Sinister

“Now we wonder if he actually has any and if it was for something far more sinister.” Yalcin was arrested at his home in La Linea, which he shared with his Moroccan wife. Police seized computers and manuals for flying light aircraft at the property. Turn to Page 15

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

CRIME NEWS

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The Olive Press - Number One for crime and investigations

No more bunce for Mr Bunce Benefit fraud abroad scheme snares a new scalp for UK tax authorities A BENEFIT cheat has been sentenced to nine months in prison after renting out his Spanish villa to holidaymakers while claiming income support back home. Ronald Bunce charged up to €500 per week for the property, complete with swimming pool, in the Mazarron area of Murcia. He had bought the villa, as well as a €315,000 property in the UK after selling his late mother’s home in 2007 for €440,000. However he failed to declare the money. Bunce continued to claim income support and housing and council tax benefit until investigators were alerted by an anonymous tip-off.

Indian phone scammers rumbled

A BRITISH couple have become the victims of a ‘Microsoft’ phone scam. Barry and Margo Wood, from Estepona, received a call from a man claiming to be able to solve their PC problems. The man, who is thought to be of Indian origin, referred to himself as a ‘Microsoft technician’. “He seemed pretty genuine, and coincidently I had been having problems with my computer that day,” Wood told the Olive Press.

Errors

The owner was then directed to his computer, and asked to open a program called ‘Windows Event Viewer’, which looks like a long list of errors. Wood realised that something may be wrong when the caller told him that it would cost €90 to fix several problems, requiring his credit card details to do so. Fortunately he hung up and, on the advice of a friend, unplugged his internet router. The Olive Press warned in February that expats in Spain were being targetted by the scam.

By James Bryce “The vast majority of people who claim benefits do so honestly and are sick and tired of putting up with the small minority who do not,” said a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions.

Thieves

Benefit fraud abroad is estimated to cost UK taxpayers €54 million per year, with Spain one of the top destinations for benefit thieves. Email newsdesk@theolivepress. es or call the benefit fraud hotline on 900 554 440 to report benefit cheats.

Maddie: Cig butt clues destroyed

A PILE of discarded cigarette butts could have been the link to finding missing Madeleine McCann. A witness claims the discarded butts were found on a shared balcony that had a bird’s eye view of the apartment (above) in Portugal, from where the five-year-old was snatched in 2007. However the tourist, who contacted the police, insists detectives never took vital DNA evidence from them. She had stayed in the apartment a week after Maddie’s disappearance from Praia de Luz, while on a family holiday. “You could see the front and back of the building from that view point.” she told detectives. “It was as if there had been someone stood there for some time smoking. “I thought that was odd and it could have been someone watching the McCann’s apartment to monitor their comings and goings.”

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

Starlets seeking justice

After a fatal car crash four years ago, former Miss Spain Esther Arroyo and singer Ana Torroja finally get court date

STARS: Singer Ana Torroja and (right) former Miss World Esther Arroyo

ALMOST four years since they suffered a tragic car accident that left them badly wounded and a friend dead, Spanish singer Ana Torroja and former Miss Spain Esther Arroyo will face their perpetrator in court. The accident occurred in 2008 on the N-340 when their van collided into a speeding van, proving fatal for their mutual friend, Ulises Assas, from Tarifa. The 33-year-old van driver, Oscar

Penny in the frame

Jimenez, will be tried on charges of manslaughter in Barbate later this year. The internationally-acclaimed starlets launched their successful careers in London, where Torroja recorded her first solo album, Puntos Cardinales. The Grammy-nominated singer from Madrid lives with her husband Antonio Navajas, who also survived the accident. She previously sang in hit 1990s

band Mecano and has since recorded five solo albums. Arroyo won the title Miss Spain in 1990, before going on to act in various TV programmes and films including The Incredibles and Atun y Chocolate. They have both now fully recovered from the accident and insist they are happy to be alive. “I am more full of life than ever before and I am very grateful,” said Arroyo.

Happy families for Banderas JUST a fortnight ago he was forced to deny rumours of an affair with a Bollywood beauty. But things appear to be back to normal for Antonio Banderas, judging from cheery pictures taken at the Starlite Charity Gala in Marbella this weekend. Banderas, seen here with wife Melanie Griffith and the pair’s 16-year-old daughter Estela del Carmen, got into trouble after being pictured dirty dancing with Indian actress Mallika Sherawat in July.

INTRICATE DETAIL: Plastic Penelope A WAX sculpture of Penelope Cruz is set to be unveiled in the Grevin Wax Museum in Paris. Sculptor Eric de Saint Chaffrey has spent six months working on the work, which he created using internet images of the actress, who he has never met in person. The Madrid actress will be set alongside statues of fellow Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

HAPPY AGAIN: Banderas looks forgiven

Down’s baby makes TEMPAH IN TOWN UK star Tinie Tempah is heading to Puerto Banus. modelling debut The Pass Out and Miami 2 Ibiza singer, who has per-

formed with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Rihanna and Dizzee Rascal is set to perform at Aqwa Mist club on August 26. Tickets for the event are €65 and include one free drink.

UNUSUAL FOR TOM

IT certainly is unusual. But Sir Tom Jones (right) has had to pull out of his only Spanish concert due to health reasons. It is thought the Welsh singer has lost his voice and has rescheduled the Santiago de Compostela gig later this month.

Brocket’s girl loves a good bullfight BIG SMILES: Baby Valentina A BABY girl with Down’s syndrome has been chosen to front an advertising campaign for a Spanish label. Swimwear designer Dolores Cortes placed 10-month-old Valentina Guerrero, from Miami, on the front of her new catalogue. She is the first child model with Down’s to land a campaign with a major fashion designer. Responses to the news have been varied, with some commentators calling it ‘a good start’ and others claiming it is just to ‘gain attention’.

YOU might expect the lover of a matador to develop a penchant for bullfighting. But now Antalya Nall-Cain (left), daughter of British aristocrat Lord Brocket, has taken it one step further by using the controversial spectacle as a subject for her photography. The 25-year-old, who began dating British bullfighter Alexander Fiske-Harrison, 36, last year, has taken a series of black and white pictures of

By Eloise Horsfield fights in Andalucia. And she plans another trip to Sevilla later this year to photograph star matadors Jose Maria Manzanares and Jose Tomas. “I find bullfights visually beautiful,” said Antalya. “Lots of my friends think it should be banned, but it is so much a part of Spanish culture.”

FIGHT: Briton Fiske-Harrison

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

News IN BRIEF Full house for Torre

TORREMOLINOS’ hotels had the highest occupancy rates on the Costa del Sol in June (85%), compared to an average of 68%.

Net gain

Despite the recession, there are twice as many foreigners moving to the Costa del Sol to live than those moving away.

Seaside flick

Fuengirola Town Hall is offering free film screenings during the summer on beaches in Los Boliches.

Pay late

Mijas Town Hall has established a 10-year payment plan for residents faced with fines for having illegal homes.

NEWS

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Curtains for sex ads…at last It will be a huge blow to the vast majority of the Olive Press’ rivals on the Costa del Sol who make thousands of euros each month from sex-related adverts. Indeed, the industry is estimated to net the media in Spain around €40 million a year. In recent issues of both Sur in English and Euro Weekly News there are hundreds of adverts in their ‘Adult relaxation’ and ‘XXX Relaxation’ sections. Many have photos and include overt references to prostitution It is welcome news for those THE Junta has agreed to pay Microsoft €12m after being papers, including the Olive caught using unlicensed software. Press, which refuses to run The computer giant is to receive the record payout after the sex ads. regional authorites were caught using illegal licenses. The Junta has confirmed the piracy issue and accepted the Unacceptable out of court fee as a ‘reasonable amount’. “We are a family newspaThe cost of the software had it been licensed would have per and it is unacceptable been around €27m. to put louche adverts with Now PP boss Juan Ignacio Zoido is demanding to know who graphic pictures in front of is responsible for the fraud. He insisted the case set a very children,” said publisher bad example for the region, which according to Microsoft is Jon Clarke. one of the worst abusers of software licences.

SLEAZY newspaper sex ads are soon to become a thing of the past. The government has agreed to ban the adverts from the new year, after the industry failed to self-regulate itself. Equality Commission spokeswoman Lourdes Ciuro said: “These ads are for prostitution, which incorporates many problems including trafficking and the exploitation of women.”

Pirates of Andalucia

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Buddah bust-up

EXCLUSIVE by Rund Abdelfatah ANGRY residents of a once quiet residential zone are demanding action over a Marbella nightclub, which stays open till 7am. The British homeowners – many who have lived there for decades – are furious that police have not acted over the noise issue created by fashionable club The Funky Buddha. “We have called the police so many times, but nothing gets done,” explained Paula Hymanson, 53, who is now spearheading a petition against the club. “Half the time they turn up with megaphones and spend an hour directing traffic. It actually makes the situation worse. “The problem isn’t the noise alone but what accompanies

Expats launch petition over nightclub keeping locals awake till dawn it: swarms of people running through the streets into the morning, vandalism, and unbelievable traffic,” added Hymanson, a massage therapist, who moved from the UK 20 years ago. “These people are screaming and breaking glass and generally make nuisance of themselves until the early hours.”

Neighbour Michael Brooker added that the situation had become a ‘complete nightmare’. “People are frightened to park their cars along the street or go outside in the evenings,” he said. “It is totally inappropriate for a residential area.” The residents have so far got hundreds of names on the

Wikileaks hires ‘superjudge’

SPANISH ‘superjudge’ Baltasar Garzon has been hired by the beleaguered founder of website Wikileaks. It comes as Julian Assange aims to seek political asylum in Ecuador, having fled to the country’s London embassy over attempts to extradite him to Sweden to face sex charges. Garzon – who has also been mired in controversy – met the political activist in London this week.

ILLEGAL: The residential zone by day, full of cars by night and (left) Hymanson petition against the club in Camino de la Cruz. It is now in the hands of lawyers. The club, which opens at midnight, was only recently granted a licence to operate legally. Neighbours insist this means it was running illegally for two years. “We can’t understand how they were able to get away with it,” added another neighbour Jackie, who asked not to give her surname. The Funky Buddha, which has a sister club in the UK, was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Olive Press.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

OPINION OPINION Back to the future AS Spain’s future becomes ever greyer, analysts are diving into the past to uncover what went wrong. If only they had a time machine to transport them to Valencia to stop the construction of its many white elephants or to town hall meetings to curb corruption schemes before they were hatched. But alas, science still has not caught up with the movies and time machines only exist in the fictional realm of Back to the Future. So while it is vital to understand and learn from the mistakes of the past, the greater emphasis for analysts and policy makers should be on the present and, even more importantly, the future. Otherwise, while our eyes are set on the past, we may collide with the future and make the very mistakes we sought to avoid.

An olympic failure WITH surface-to-air missiles deployed across London, fighter-planes guarding the skies, and a security team of over 23,700, British soil should, in theory, be the safest place on earth during the Olympics. The UK is on heightened alert, which is why the bomb plotters aimed to wreak terror on Gibraltar – a soft target – instead. Realising that an attack on any British soil during the Olympics would have generated tremendous publicity, it seemed a fail-safe plan. The fact that Gibraltar lies 2,000 miles away from the games was irrelevant... these men wanted to hurt Britain in any way they could. Thankfully though the superb Spanish and British security services were wise to the threat and dealt with it fast. But, it serves as a reminder that we should all still keep our eyes peeled.

Spain’s still glorious! AT first glance it seems embarrassing that Great Britain has almost four times as many medals as Spain at the London Olympics. You would hope that by now, Spain would have at least made it to double figures along with other European countries such as France, Italy and Germany. However, we must not be too quick to criticise Spain, who, after all, have won the world’s three most important football tournaments in a row. The first time, it should be pointed out, in history. Spain is entitled to take a summer off... Rafa and co are bound to be back with a bounce in the Autumn.

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The white elephants in the room

N ancient Thai tradition, to be gifted a sacred white elephant from a monarch was seen as both a blessing and a curse. On one hand it meant you were in the ruler’s favour, but it was also a curse as the animal was infamously difficult and expensive to maintain, without having much practical use. Today the term ‘white elephant’ is commonly used to refer to overzealous – often corrupt - spending on projects with costs that far outstrip their worth. Certainly, a stampede of these such white elephants has carved up Spain over the past two decades. The economic boom since the late 1990s ushered in a golden age of ambitious expansion that exhausted the nation’s funds, increased borrowing and made the current recession sadly inevitable. As money flowed into the country’s regional governments, officials invested in flashy projects designed with tourism in mind. “During the boom, you had a competition between cities to see who could capture the most weekend tourists,” says Llatzer Moix, author of Arquitectura Milagrosa, a book that examines Spain’s obsession with massive urban design projects. This competitive spirit among Spain’s 17 regions led to a rat race of epic proportions. First to the finish line was the undeniably delightful Guggenheim art museum in Bilbao, which despite a price tg of €100m, effectively transformed a decaying city into a sprawling metropolis and popular tourist destination. So successful was it, that dozens of cities around Spain tried to cash in on this so called ‘Guggenheim effect’. “It seemed like a simple formula,” continues Moix. “Plan a cultural centre, get a star architect to build it, and voila.” The problem was, other projects cost much more and proved much less successful. Take, for example, Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences. Designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, the colossal structure includes an opera house, IMAX cinema, interactive science exhibit and the largest aquarium in Europe.

Rund Abdelfatah looks at the overzealous spending and ill-chosen investments of the boom years that have left Spain on the brink of collapse

While delightful to look at, the project completed in 2005 cost four times its original budget at €1.1 billion. Put another way, the centre cost more than half the €2 billion Valencia recently requested from Madrid in a bailout plea. “Instead of worrying about education and healthcare, they wanted the glamour,” reflects Ignacio Blanco, spokesperson of the IU party in Valencia. And that wasn’t the end of it with Valencia spending on various other unnecessary projects, including the Formula One racing circuit which cost €150 million and nearby Castellon airport, which cost €150 million and has not seen a flight since it opened this year. Even worse was the city’s so-called ‘Calatrava Towers’ residential project,

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which has been scrapped, but still earnt architect Santiago Calatrava €15.2 million. Around Spain exorbitant projects were being undertaken at an alarming rate. Many of them were never even completed. Take the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, located on the estuary of Aviles, in Asturias. Construction began in 2011 but stopped nine months later after €44 million had already been flushed away. The Galician City of Culture shared a similar fate. Ambitiously designed by American Peter Eisenman, the six-building project wasted €500 million – five times its estimated cost – before the city ran out of money, with two buildings

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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 186,000 copies distributed monthly (120,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Design and page layout: Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: Jackie McAngus B91664029 Admin/advertising sales: Urb Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon Pauline Olivera 13, Arriate 29350 Malaga admin@theolivepress.es Printed by Corporación de

FEATURE

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FEATURE

WASTED MONEY: (clockwise from top left) High–speed railway line, an empty Castellon Airport, half finished Galician City of Culture, and four times over budget Valencia City of Arts and Sciences and (bottom) Oscar Niemeyer centre

yet to be built. “It is a cemetery for money,” complains Pedro Armas, a spokesman for the opposition socialist party in the neighbouring city of La Coruna. Even more alarming, US architect Wilfried Wang estimates that once finished, the total project will cost €1.2 billion. It is currently on hold. In addition to cultural projects, Spain has invested big bucks to dramatically expand its transportation system, from building new high-speed rail lines to opening other regional airports.

Between 1999 and 2009, over 5,000 kms of highways were built across the country in the largest road construction project Europe has ever seen. Some toll roads were introduced that not only failed to make logical sense, but have made almost no money. Even worse, Spain’s highspeed AVE trains cost almost €6 billion to build yet they only transport about 1% as many passengers a year as the nation’s commuter trains. One AVE line between Toledo and Cuenca saw just 16

Spain’s most ridiculous white elephants: 1. High-speed rail system - Cost: €6 billion 2. Valencia Harbour built for the America’s Cup in 2007 - Cost: €2.4 billion 3. Valencia City of Arts and Sciences Centre - Cost: €1.1 billion 4. Ciudad Real Airport (nicknamed ‘Don Quixote’) near Madrid - Cost: €1.1 billion 5. Galician City of Culture - Cost: €500 million 6. Castellon Airport in Valencia - Cost: €150 million 7. The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre in Asturias - Cost: €44 million 8. Formula One racing circuit in Valencia - Cost: €20.5 million annually 9. Architect Santiago Calatrava paid for Calatrava Towers project in Valencia, which will never be built - Cost: €15.2 million 10. Public works minister Francisco Alvarez-Cascos commissioned top artist to paint his official portrait - Cost: €190,000

people a day using it and was target the country’s sacred shut earlier this year. cows first – namely, its 17 But whether or not this new semi-autonomous districts. infrastructure was needed “Regional governments enseemed to be beside the joy spending and inauguratpoint. ing public works but they Many regional airports went don’t run the political risk or up close to cost of raising major city airtaxes. Someports. These one should be The lack of included held responLleida airport, transparency here sible for this just two hours and perhaps from Barcelohas been a key we should rena, and the Citurn to a much udad Real air- factor in Spain’s more centralport, only two system,” economic crisis ised hours south of he explains. Madrid. Whether or not Unsurprisingly, that is the sodespite costing billions to lution, one thing is certain: if build neither yields any profit. Spain hopes to recover from In fact they hardly have any the recession, it needs to adflights. dress the white elephants in The list goes on and on. the room. What is more, only 11 of Spain’s 48 regional airports actually produce a positive return. “The problem is that such projects are generally conceived at a time when everything seems bound to succeed – even sometimes badly conceived projects – and there were no doubt some planning problems,” explains Salvador Alemany, chairman of Abertis, an infrastructure company based in Barcelona. Another key issue is that most Spaniards were completely oblivious to the problem. Indeed, the lack of transparency here has been a key factor in Spain’s economic crisis, as noted by David Cabo, representative of Civio, a foundation that lobbies for freedom of information. “It’s terrible because you have many opaque layers of government and each of those control public money,” he says. But as the recession worsens, these public works projects are becoming exposed for what they really are: fiscal black holes that guzzle money without producing much in return. The unfortunate result is a massive €140 billion debt. According to Juan Jose Toribio, an economist with Spain’s IESE business school, the solution to Spain’s white elephant problem may be to

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

NEWS

News IN BRIEF Heavy spenders

VISITORS to Andalucia spend an average of €224 more than visitors to Cataluna, despite the latter being a more popular destination.

Firework fire

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iTALK trouble DJs allegedly walk out over money dispute

An explosion at a Granada fireworks factory has killed a married couple and left one other person seriously injured.

Santi gone

Santi Cazorla has completed a €20 million move to Arsenal from Malaga after financial troubles at the Spanish club forced it to cash in.

Buried terror

The bodies of two children and two women, one of whom was pregnant, have been found in a mass grave dating back to the Franco era, in Sevilla.

DEPARTED: Boland (centre, standing) with Court and Allen (ringed) at the launch A HUGE row has blown EXCLUSIVE up at DJ Maurice Boland’s by Eloise Horsfield radio station iTALK after three key presenters left the the original team when the station. The presenters Richie Al- station launched in Novemlen, Barry Mitchell and ber – have fallen out with Mathew Court – all part of Irish media mogul Boland. One of them, Mitchell, has now launched an attack on Boland on a Facebook page claiming: “He owes Allen and myself – and most of his staff – a considerable amount in unpaid wages.” Allen, former presenter of The 5 o’clock show, confirmed he is now launching legal action against his former boss. Friends explained he has quit the station over ‘a money dispute’. “He threatened to leave in May and has since received about €1,700 in expenses,” said the source.

Wages

Boland, however, insisted last night the departures had nothing to do with money and that Allen had been sacked ‘over a private matter’. “It is internal business and it was the same reason he was sacked from TRE radio station,” he said. He added that former breakfast presenter Court had left of his own accord and that Mitchell was unable to present a show due to technical reasons. “Whatever money he is owed he has been paid,” he said. Boland - who was sacked from his former job as station manager of TRE - was backed up by current staff. One presenter Pippa Jones posted on Facebook: “Within hours of being sacked Allen came in and picked up his wages which had been left in an envelope. I saw it with my own eyes.”

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

NEWS

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GREEN NEWS

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Blue Flag loss for Nerja NERJA has been ordered to remove blue flags from two of its beaches. In what is thought to be the first time a resort lost its flags in the heart of summer, both El Playazo and Maro beaches have been penalised. The order did not come due to the town continuing to pour its sewage into the sea. El Playazo lost its flag after inspectors found vehicles parked on the sand and bbqs burning on the sand. Meanwhile Maro beach was penalised because of inadequate car parking facilities.

Back on the hunt

WOLF hunting is to be authorised in Asturias again. The controversial decision has been made due to a sharp rise in numbers in the Picos de Europa national park. While this has caused an increased amount of attacks on farmers’ herds, 25,000 environmentalists have signed a petition insisting it is ‘illegal’ due to the park being a protected area.

HUNDREDS of people have protested over plans to build an enormous housing and hotel complex next to Tarifa’s virgin Valdevaqueros beach. The campaigners held giant posters spelling out ‘Save Valdavaqueros’ and placards that read ‘Valdavaqueros is not for sale’. The scheme comprising 350 apartments and 1,400 rooms was approved by Tarifa Town Hall in June. Green groups have labelled the project ‘completely unsustainable’ and have so far collected 90,000 signatures against it. “It is pathetic that it is us, the citizens, who are having to fight this,” said Noelia Jurado, a spokeswoman for pressure group Salvemos Valdevaqueros.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

News IN BRIEF

Keeping up the fight

Donana gets triple protection By Eloise Horsfield UNESCO is tripling the size of the Biosphere Reserve around the Donana National Park. In a move which will give crucial extra protection to Spain’s most important reserve, the protection zone will be extended by one nautical mile out to sea and take in 14,000 more hectares of forest. The move, welcomed by WWF and Ecologistas en Accion, will see the reserve

UN votes to make Spain’s most important reserve three times larger as sewage battle hots up grow to 268,000 hectares, spreading over 14 municipalities across the provinces of Huelva, Sevilla and Cadiz. The good news comes though as ecologists ratched up pressure on the authorities over increasing amounts of sewage still entering the park. A spokesman for Ecologistas en Accion spoke of the

‘shame’ that the biggest protected area in Europe should be used as a dumping ground for sewage. Towns such as Almonte, Rociana and Bollullos still regularly dispose of their waste water in the park. The practice has already led to Spain getting fined by the European courts for failing to respect EU water treat-

ment laws in 38 towns. But the pollution still continues. Green groups have also expressed concern at the low water levels in the park – a situation set to worsen if plans to dredge the Guadalquivir River go ahead.

Resignation

It has led to calls for the resignation of Felipe Gonzalez, Spain’s former prime minister, from Donana’s board after he failed to show up to three key meetings in a row.

City smog THE European Parliament is to take action against pollution levels in Madrid following a petition from Spanish green party EQUO.

Good wind Wind turbines in Andalucia are now producing enough energy to supply 1.3 million homes, with another nine farms set to be built this year.

Free car Renault Spain is giving away a free Twizy electric car for every new purchase of its Espace or Laguna models.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

NEWS

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Stunned Briton finds deadly creature in mother’s suitcase after Almeria holiday

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CREEPY: Unwanted visitor

IT brings a whole new meaning to the question ‘Has this suitcase been left unattended at any point?’ But a British teenager got the fright of her life when she found a deadly scorpion in her mum’s suitcase a month after a holiday in Almeria. The ‘Deathstalker’ is the second most venomous scorpion in the world and its powerful sting that can kill children and the elderly. “I thought it was a spider so I screamed and slammed the case shut,” said Hollie Jayes, 18, from Skegness. “But then me and a friend picked up a coat hanger and opened the case and we realised it was a scorpion. “We both screamed and slammed the case shut and threw it into the bathroom.” The creepy crawly must have crept in the suitcase when Hollie’s mother, Theresa, was taking a holiday near Huercal Overa a month ago.

Going back in time

THE small Alpujarran town of Cadiar is set to celebrate the XXXI Festival of Traditional Music with some 25 musical groups, many coming from the next-door province of Almeria. The festival, sponsored by the Granada and Almeria county councils, will be

By Lenox Napier honouring two of the town’s most famous ‘exports’, AlCadi, a traditional group that plays Alpujarran music and the local winery Bodega Barranco Oscuro. There will also be an artisan and local produce fair at the event held on August 12.

Scary

“It’s quite scary to think I put my hand in that case 20 times while unpacking, I must have been so close to it,” said Theresa, 43. The RSPCA later confirmed it was a yellow scorpion, or ‘Deathstalker’ – usually found in north Africa.

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NEWS

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

NEWS

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Not hear’ say for Kym Marsh hen night SOAP star Kym Marsh has been seeing off single life with a bang in Marbella. In true party style, the former Hear’Say singer donned L-plates and bunny girl ears with 15 friends, including Coronation Street actress Bev Callard, in the Spanish sunshine. “Having an AMAZING time for my hen do!” tweeted the mum-of-three during her stay. She dined at La Sala restaurant to celebrate her forthcoming nuptials with former Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas. L-PLATES: Kym and Bev

ERE account probe

Transactions to be studied after Junta ‘loses’ 175 cases in fraud scandal

THE judge in the so-called ERE fraud scandal has discovered that 175 individual cases have mysteriously been deleted from Junta computers. In order to get to the bottom of the cases, between 2001 and 2004, she has ordered all banks, accountants and lawyers linked to the case to hand over account details. Judge Mercedes Alaya is seeking to unravel the multi-million-euro fraud that started over a decade ago.

Under the ERE umbrella Junta chiefs channelled money from Madrid and the EU into a so-called ‘reptile fund’ which was used to pay off friends and family. The scandal has so far seen three people jailed, including employment chief Javier Guerrero and his chauffeur Juan Francisco Trujillo. Trujillo admitted the pair had spent €25,000 a month from the fund on cocaine and partying.

GIBRALTAR NEWS

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Rock of good hope

HE might be a youngster but he has certainly got a heart of a lion. Ben Donahue, 8, is planning to swim 4.5 miles on September 1 to raise money for six-year old Jamie Inglis, a cancer patient he has never met. The idea came to Ben after he overheard his parents and friend Sargent Robert Records mention that Jamie, the son of a friend from Record’s army training days, is battling neuroblastoma, a severe childhood cancer. Jamie beat the illness when he was just three but has since relapsed, now requiring €317,000 for treatment in Germany. Ben will swim to raise money for Jamie while Sargent Record (both pictured left), unwilling to sit idly by, will run a marathon the same day around the Rock. Potential sponsors can visit www.justgiving.com/roadtopool

Fishermen close to netting deal By Mason Jones

Two hour meeting was ‘constructive’ insists Picardo

SPANISH fishermen could be putting down nets in Gibraltar’s waters as soon as next week, following a high level meeting with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. Picardo was equally positive about the two hour meeting, which ends a long period of sabre-rattling between the two countries. Describing the talks as ‘constructive’ he

insisted ‘considerable progress’ had been made. But he warned the government was still going to await the recommendations of a panel of experts set up to deal with the fishing dispute. If the report due over the next week is positive, then fishermen could be allowed back the next day.

Charity cheer for Pompey FANS of cash-strapped Portsmouth FC have raised over £1,000 for charity after descending on the Rock for a match against Gibraltar’s national team. Nearly 500 supporters travelled from the UK and across Spain to cheer on Pompey, who eventually lost 4-0 in the pre-season friendly. Portsmouth’s Costa del Sol supporter’s club chairman Gary Benham turned his home into an impromptu B&B for around 60 fans, all in aid of the Tom Prince Teenage Cancer Research Trust. The charity is named after a young Portsmouth fan who died in 2004 from an aggressive form of the disease, known as Osteosarcoma.

Delays

However, Picardo added that more data may still be required before a final decision is made. “Only when all data and information is available will the Government make a final decision,” he said. Regardless of the outcome, fishing legislation is likely to be tightened in the waters around the Rock. A licensing system is expected to be introduced for all types of fishing.

Bomb plot foiled From Page 1

A Gibraltar Government spokesman confirmed that border security had been stepped up, with every vehicle entering Gibraltar being stopped for document checks, leading to long delays. Royal Gibraltar Police are urging the public to remain vigilant.

Gib IN BRIEF Tax cravings SPANISH politician Antonio Romero is conducting a 48-hour hunger strike on the Spanish side of the border in protest over ‘tax havens’.

Talk trouble Chief Minister Fabian Picardo insists ‘bilateral talks are dead’, following earlier claims to the contrary by Spanish Ambassador to London Federico Trillo-Figuero.

Amputee joy A quadruple amputee has successfully swum across the straits of Gibraltar to Morocco as part of an effort to swim between all the world’s continents.

Uphill battle Lieutenant George Ridley, 27, has won the infamous 2.7-mile Rock Race that climbs 1,300ft in 20 minutes 16 seconds.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

AXARQUIA NEWS

Axq IN BRIEF Chillar clamp NERJA Town Hall has banned motor access to the Chillar River following overcrowding and increased rubbish and graffiti during the summer.

Bin fine Residents in Rincon de la Victoria will now be fined up to €1,500 if they leave rubbish out at undesignated times, the town hall has announced.

Gas dodge A new warning has been issued to homeowners in Nerja following another spate of bogus gas men targeting residents.

Noise fee Velez Malaga Town Hall’s compensation fee to the 18 residents affected by noise pollution from El Copo nightclub has increased to €5.2 million because of delays.

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Simm family lose hope THE family of a cyclist who went missing near Nerja have returned home to the UK fearing the worst. The wife and children of 63-year-old Gordon Simm (above), who went missing in the Chillar Canyon area, nearly three weeks ago, say they have nearly given up hope of finding him. Keen mountaineer Simm embarked on what should have been a day-long ride from Nerja into the nearby hills. When he still had not returned the following day, his wife Wendy informed local authorities who began in depth searches with helicopters, dogs and volunteers. The Guardia Civil believe Mr Simm may have lost his way in misty conditions.

Cut to shreds Boy ‘critical’ in intensive care after being cut open by propeller

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy is fighting for his life after being seriously injured in a horrific boat accident. The holidaymaker is on a

life support machine after he received deep wounds from the propeller of a boat he had been riding on. The youngster received injuries to his abdomen, arm and both legs, when he fell off the RIB inflatable speedboat on Maro beach, near Nerja. Paramedics were able to stabilise his condition on the beach and the boy was then rushed by helicopter to Malaga. He is now in intensive care unit at Malaga children’s hospital.

Lethal

In July a 14-year-old British boy suffered life-threating injuries after falling off a RIB in the UK. RIBs do not come fitted with

RESCUE: Helicopter propeller guards, which would have prevented the injuries. Such guards are unpopular with some boat owners because they slow the boat down and increase fuel consumption. Calls have however been made to make them compulsory due to the risk of accidents and the fact they damage marine life. “Propeller guards are essential,” said one boat owner. “It doesn’t take much wind or the tiniest ripple to turn a RIB over and they become lethal.”

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AXARQUIA NEWS

Dried out RESIDENTS across the Axarquia are facing water rationing. In La Vinuela – despite having the biggest lake in Malaga – a hosepipe ban has already been introduced for gardens and swimming pools. While described as a ‘precautionary’ measure, it aims to save water to pre-

Town halls take rationing measures to save water

vent cuts later in the summer. It comes as the PSOE mayor came under attack from the PP after various small settlements, such as Los Romanes, had problems with water. A spokesman described the

SILENT NIGHT

SEVERAL pupils have been left without musical instruments following a break-in at a Nerja school. Three saxophones, an accordion and a violin were taken from San Miguel school after thieves forced a window open early in the morning.

ESTLED into the hillside at 303m above sea level is the mountainous village of Iznate. With the mountain ranges of Sierra Tejeda, Sierra Almijara and Sierra de Camarolos marking the horizon, the village boasts spectacular views in almost all directions. This area is famous for its

town hall’s water policy as ‘useless’ and said it is ‘incomprehensible’ that residents should endure cuts each summer despite being on the doorstep of Lake Vinuela.

Affected

Meanwhile Competa has begun turning off the water supply at night to ensure there is enough water until the rains return in the autumn. PP mayor Jose Luis Torres explained: “Most families will not be affected because they have water tanks that will fill up during the day.”

Sally Harrison takes a visit to a village that pours beer on its plants

Incredible Iznate scrumptious muscatel grapes – which make delicious wines and raisins – and every August the village holds a festival to celebrate them.

The village is full of narrow, steep streets with houses that cling together in tight clusters and architecture that was shaped by eight centuries of Islamic occupation. Many houses have beautiful patios with splashes of colourful plants spilling over the assorted terracotta pots. Indeed, the women of the village all seem to have green fingers – or perhaps it is something to do with the fact

PICTURESQUE: The narrow streets of Iznate that they wipe the leaves with beer! Interestingly, for several years around 1570, the village was uninhabited after the expulsion of the moriscos (Muslim converts to Christianity) who left for Tunisia and North Africa. New inhabitants eventually arrived from Antequera and Estepa. Sadly its grape industry was all but ruined following an outbreak of the phylloxera pest in the late 19th Century. Today Iznate is a busy, thriving village full of a good mixture of all nationalities rubbing along nicely together. www.axarquiaproperties.com

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 61.86 per cent full - Same week last year: 83.94 per cent - Same week in 2002: 54.55 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 1.2362 American Dollars 0.7941 British Pounds 1.2373 Canadian Dollars 7.4416 Danish Kroner 9.5872 H Kong Dollars 7.3971 Norwegian Kroner 1.5352 Singapore Dollars

PLE WR ASE ITE

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

Dear Olive Press, We love your reporting and look forward to picking up the Olive Press every couple of weeks. Since you show such concern for us expats here and our relationship with local business I think you should know that the market in La Cala has some fruit and vegetable stands that lack integrity. Having purchased one kilo of cherries, on getting home and weighing them there were only 800 grams. They deliberately keep the face of the changing scales away from the view of the customer. This practice should be brought to the attention of the community and customers should ask to see the front of the scales to see they get what they pay for. I would be grateful if you could make this known through your newspaper. Alan Chapman, La Cala ED: Thanks Alan. That is good advice and something worth looking into. Anyone else who has noticed this swindle should contact newsdesk@theolive press.es

Here we go again at wonderful Worten! I purchased an ink cartridge for my HP printer only to find when I opened it, it was damaged. I immediately returned it to the store and requested a replacement; needless to say I included all the original packaging plus my receipt. But all to no avail. The very rude young man informed me there was nothing he could do and I would have to purchase another cartridge at full price. I requested to see the manager only to be informed he was busy and if I cared to wait about two hours he

LETTERS

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Eyes peeled!

Breakdown in communication

Horse cruelty I have my granddaughter staying for a couple of weeks and took her down to Torre del Mar to the Virgen del Carmen fiesta. She wandered off to the fairground beyond the lighthouse and came back rather distressed. may be able to see me. He then handed me a complaints form and walked away. If this is the standard of service we can expect from Worten I suggest that we all walk away from them. Gerry Aylward, Mijas

Dear Germany… Is your country going to be responsible for throwing the world into an abyss for the third time in the past hundred years? If your policies, forcing austerity upon the rest of the European Union, stay the same that is exactly what will happen! You can either buy bonds with your money and pump prime the system, essential-

She took this photograph of small, Shetland ponies being forced round a carousel type ride with metal brackets attached to their heads. Surely this is illegal? Anonymous, Malaga

ly inflating the money supply temporarily, or you can let the euro collapse. Those are your only two options. What you are currently doing is untenable and will lead to future calamities. You are basically holding the rest of the EU as economic hostages in order to rein in debts which in themselves have no real tangible economic value. The common man is being asked to endure a quality of life decrease through austerity which will only cause conflicts down the road. No amount of self-sacrifice will ever be good enough to balance the budgets of our current financial institution’s books. It is time that you faced this fact, Chancellor Merkel! Your policy advisers are leading you astray.

Joe Hrevnack, New Jersey, USA

Better and better I am writing as I feel your description of the restaurant at Sindhura Hotel near Vejer was a bit unfair. Describing it as ‘much improved’ is to suggest that it was not great before. This is certainly not the case, it was always good and, in fact, just gets better and better. JW Greggs, Chiclana ED: Yes, I agree... it is certainly a great place to eat... and being a Buddhist hotel, it is a karmic place to stay!

In reference to the letter from Graham Sexty (issue 140): It is really irritating that some people want to blame everyone but themselves for their problems. Motor vehicle imports/exports to and from Spain is simple. I am going to have to state the obvious. If you export a vehicle from the UK, let the authorities know both there and in Spain. Export from Spain and reverse the procedure. If you do not tell the Spanish authorities, how will they know the vehicle has been exported? They will quite rightly send the usual tax bill. It is called communication. Tony Fox, Nerja

Free thinking We are a small group of free thinkers with informal get togethers on the Costa del Sol for humanists, rationalists, secularists, atheists, agnostics and sceptics. Our aim is to exchange views and ideas and have social outings with likeminded people. If you are interested in attending meetings and other activities, please email us at costadelsolfreethinkers@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook and have a Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo. com/group/costadelsolfreethinkers/. David Frost, Malaga

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ll about Aug 09, 2012

CHILD’S PLAY: Learning to sail with Gibraltar as a backdrop, while (inset below) a young Prince Charles receives a polo trophy in Sotogrande

otogrande

A 12-page Olive Press supplement

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

19 19

King, not bling! Jon Clarke discovers that Sotogrande is more about activities and sports than hobnobbing with the upper classes

TROLLING around Santa Maria polo club in the heart of summer is to see the captains of industry at play. The line-up of gas-guzzling Bentleys, Cayennes and X5s is the first clue, while the Veuve Cliquot champagne bars and upmarket stalls give an even better hint. This is very much where Europe’s upper classes - and royals - come to unwind during summer and the big surprise is just how studiously dressed down most of them are. Eschewing labels for loafers and suits for polo shirts (appropriately, of course), this is not a place for ostentation. Indeed, think ‘king’ not ‘bling’. Turn to Page 20

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

Sotogrande

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Building paradise

From Page 19

Unlike its near neighbour Puerto Banus, where ostentation knows no bounds, Sotogrande is an international scene, understated and mostly without a need to show off its wealth. You don’t see massive gold Rolexes and Ferraris prowling the port, yet plenty of people have yachts, which slide in

and out of its marinas at dawn and dusk. “It is an incredibly privileged place, full of wealth, but it is not so showy,” says Suzi Langley, who grew up there and attended its celebrated Sotogrande private school. “It is a great place to bring up a family, as it is extremely safe and there are loads of sports on offer, such as polo, tennis, golf and sailing.”

Indeed, watersports are very much part of the scene in Sotogrande, which has its own ‘royal’ sailing club and a school, where dozens of youngsters learn how to handle the tiller every week. “This is one of the best places to learn to sail in Andalucia,” explains Woolf Muller, who has been renting out boats on the resort’s main beach since 1989. Ultimately it is the active lifestyle that makes the area so appealling. “It is certainly not all about the beaches,” continues Muller. Sandwiched between the Rock of Gibraltar and the Sierra de Almenara, it was a real masterstroke to set this millionaire’s playground here at the foot of Europe. Sotogrande’s origins started with the dream of a millionaire businessman Colonel Joseph McMicking, who ‘wanted to build Paradise’. The Philippines-based entrepreneur had already created Makati, an exclusive satellite city for the affluent elite of Filipino society, and in 1962 he decided to try the same in Spain.

The beaches were perfect as was the rolling, but not too steep terrain. It was the ideal spot He sent his Spanish nephew Enrique Zobel to track down the perfect location and eventually managed to secure five adjoining estates fronting the Mediterranean which, rapidly amalgamated, became the basis of Sotogrande. Back then there was practically nothing there apart from the odd cortijo and a few flocks of sheep and goats. Its strongest selling point was its location near to Gibraltar and the views towards the landmass of Morocco in the distance. It was before the advent of

21 09 - 22, 2012, 2012 the olive press - August

Sotogrande special

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mass tourism and land along the Costa del Sol was seen as cheap and unproductive and could generally be acquired for next to nothing. At the mouth of the River Guadiaro that originates in the hills above Ronda, the beaches were perfect as was the rolling, but not too steep terrain. This was the ideal spot to build a golf course, which was to be the main foundation of the resort. They drafted in one of the world’s best-known course designers

GORGEOUS: Torreguardiaro beach, while (left) paddling up Guardiaro river and (far left) view of Gibraltar from the port and designed what is now known as the ‘Sotogrande old course’. It was the first course in Europe to have automatic sprinklers - 472 of them, discreetly serviced by 100 miles of underground cable. Following the Makati model, McMicking began selling

Cocaine on the brain IT is hard to imagine that JG Ballard’s cult novel Cocaine Nights is said to have been set inside the millionaire’s playground. Telling the story of a gruesome murder taking place in a disgruntled upper middle class community living in a gated community hell, known as Estrella del Mar, it couldn’t seem further from the truth.

plots as high class, low-density residential developments. Employing the services of the well connected society lady Carmen Guerrendiain, formerly of Madrid’s Ritz hotel, it had soon become one of Europe’s hippest places to invest in. Alongside Marbella a few miles east, suddenly the world’s movers and shakers, celebrities and sportsmen started to have an alternative to San Tropez, Positano and Deauville. Further golf courses followed fast – there are now five – and by 1985 the resort also counted a tennis club, croquet club, not to mention polo, sailing, wind-surfing

and beach clubs, as well as stables for 200 horses. McMicking’s paradise was coming into effect. The infrastructure certainly seems to have held up well. The almost unique development - known as a EUC (Entidad Urbanistica de Conservacion) and counting nearly 5,000 acres - has quite a few more homes, but it still feels low density and privileged. “The concept of a private urbanisation, with private roads, run by the community is rare,” says Ian Bateman, of Holmes estate agent. “But it has certainly worked well here.” There are those, of course, who argue that Sotogrande is a false paradise. Divorced from real Spain, it’s a makebelieve world for the idle rich and golfing bores. Novelist JG Ballard was anything but flattering about the resort. In his book Cocaine Nights, which is said to be set inside Sotogrande, he describes it as ‘a town without either centre or suburbs... little more than a dispersal ground for golf courses and swimming pools’. Yes, there certainly are plenty of pools and golf courses here. But 16-metre infinity pools and a round at Valderrama golf course sure beats hanging out with tattooed

timeshare touts and pieeating footie fans just half an hour up the coast. The British Royals are certainly in agreement. The Duchess of York takes her holidays here and her daughter Beatrice regularly holds her birthday party in the resort. Prince Charles has also been an occasional visitor, a fact verified by a number of evocative snapshots, one in particular showing the UK’s future monarch accepting a polo prize from a grande dame of Spain’s leading Domecq sherry family. It is a photo that well sums up the millionaires’ enclave, which is one of the few places in Spain known to have had its own fox hunts. To sum up, Sotogrande is

definitely a world of privilege, where Russian oligarchs sip cocktails with British debutantes, Argentinian polo players hang out with German ad men and London traders take lunch with American media moguls. Yes, it is quite a place.

HISTORY: Fox hunting in San Roque and (above right) paddling in a fountain in the port

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

Sotogrande special

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Great Gatsby retreat WHILE it is no longer on the market, Sotogrande held the record for having Spain’s most expensive house for sale a few years ago. The home in question, La Manzana, is owned by the Cartier family, who put it on the market for a whopping €24 million. More of a small palace than a villa, it sits in five acres and boasts ten bedrooms, a gym, walk in safe, not to mention a sauna, staff quarters and a 16m-long infinity pool. The sort of place the Great Gatsby would have holed up in, it looks more like a hotel than a private property. The childrens’ Wendy house in the garden looks more expensive than the average Fuengirola apartment. While things have generally now dropped in price a little (perhaps as much as 40 per cent, according to some local agents), the average home in Sotogrande is still weighing in at 1.5million euros. It is for this reason that you get a lot of high powered businessmen, celebrities and sportsmen buying in Sotogrande. There are certainly plenty of English footballers buying in the area, including Shay Given, Glen Johnson and former England manager Glenn Hoddle. Other celebrities, include Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Duffy, as well as Mike Rutherford of Genesis who all have homes here.

LEAFY ENCLAVE: Mike Rutherford, Duffy and Glenn Hoddle have homes inside Sotogrande

ESCRIBED as one of the jewels of the Andalucian coast, there are few developments in Europe like Sotogrande. A so-called EUC (Entidad Urbanistica de Conservacion), it is a privately-run gated estate – over 4,400 acres in size - that pays for all its own infrastructure and roads. Sotogrande is home to some of the best golf courses in Europe, one of these being Valderrama, which hosted the Ryder Cup in 97. The luxurious estate also boasts a string of prestigious polo and sailing clubs, alongside the many other activities that allow residents to make a hobby part of their daily life.

Still going strong There is little distress selling in Sotogrande, where top homes weigh in at €20m and (top left) numerous celebs buy With high security and some of the highest quality leisure facilities in Spain, it is little surprise that the development has managed to weath-

er the storm of the recession better than most of its neighbours. Landcaster Real Estate describes the area as “exclu-

sive, safe and always a rising market”. Ian Bateman of Holmes agrees that while the market is anything but fast, right now, it is ‘strong and steady’. “Traditionally when a recession comes it always hits Marbella first and Sotogrande second. And Sotogrande, while it takes a bit longer to pull out, it fares better” This is due to the fact that the area has seen less distressed sales, as the generally wealthy vendors don’t need to sell and are happy to sit it out.

Investors

The most expensive homes are around 10m euros. “But there are plenty that say ‘POA’, or price on application, which means quite a bit more,” adds Bateman. One of these homes is on for 20m euros, explains Bradley Falconer of rival firm BM Sotogrande. The architect turned agent, who has worked in Sotogrande for a decade, says: “Certain prices may have come down but wealthy, long-term investors are usually happy to wait it out, good property is good property” He continues: “It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the prices reasonable, but also attract people who can actually afford to live here. “We shouldn’t undermine the value of the property of a place like this, with its own micro-climate and infrastructure. It is always a good investment.”

Sotogrande special

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Second home of golf A

NYONE with half an interest in sport will remember the fantastic last few holes of the Ryder Cup in 1997 when Colin Montgomery played the best round of his life. That was at Valderrama, which is now viewed as one of the must play golf courses in Europe, beautifully maintained, but sometimes thought to be a touch too hard at times. There are five other golf courses around Sotogrande, the first being Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, also known as the Old Course, which was the first course built. Well maintained, it is said to be a dream to play after its trickier sister Valderrama. It was here that the so-called Bermuda grass was first introduced into Spain. The others include La Canada, La Reserve, San Roque, as well as Almenara, which is up in the hills and where celebrities Glenn Hoddle and Glen Johnson have homes. “There are few places with such a high concentration of golf courses,” says Ian Bateman, of Holmes estate agents. “When you add the fabulous tennis facilities and polo club, with its 11 full size courses, the facilities in Sotogrande are second to none.”

PIONEER: Planting Spain´s first Bermuda grass (top) and Sotogrande today

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

Sotogrande special www.theolivepress.es

Have F

EW outings can be as q English as a day out at the And Sotogrande certainly perfect opportunity to enj less than three polo clubs within While the Santa Maria club has a – and the famous Gold Cup tou August – the most exclusive is t Club, which has three pitches – k chas’. A stunning place, hidden up the G the club was set up by Don Enriqu and his granddaughter Paola own Cancha II restaurant within its co Polo games take place here and ria throughout the summer, and both offer the perfect venue to see how the other half live and take a glass of champagne. There are plenty of cafes, bars and shops and while the crowd is undeniably well heeled, those-in-the-know dress down as elegantly as possible. Best of all, make sure to join the traditional ‘treading in’, or ‘divot stomping’, which comes during the five minute half time break.

Hobnobbing with the ‘Firm’

NYONE wanting to hobnob with the British royals has a good to even chance in Sotogrande each August. Once the Olympics are out of the way, it is highly likely that a phallanx of princesses and princes

REGULARS: Fergie and daughters, while (right) Harry and Wills

will troup their way down to grace the perfectly cl green baize surfaces of the enclave’s polo clubs. Most regular visitor is Fergie, the Duchess of York spends up to a month each summer staying with high security confines of the resort. Sometimes residing at the multi-million euro resid of former boyfriend Paddy McNally – a former journ who part-controlled the advertising rights to Fo One – she usually brings out her daughters Eu and Beatrice, who often celebrates her birthday togrande Other frequent royal visitors are future king William his brother Harry, who have occasionally played annual summer polo tournament. They are following in the footsteps of their f Charles (pictured on the front page receiving an a from Lady Domecq), who regularly turned up to p the summer tournament, occasionally winning a p

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

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GOOD GAME: Polo tournaments attract plenty of well-healed, colourful characters, particularly at the Gold Cup at Santa Maria club in August

25 25

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

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Sotogrande special

A SHOPPING ADVENTURE

T is slowly becoming one of the better places to do your shopping in the Sotogrande area. And on top of that the San Roque Golf Resort commercial centre is a great place to have your hair cut or get a bite to eat. As well as a nursery, there is a great

café, golf shop, as well as an Italian restaurant, bank and supermarket where you can buy newspapers and magazines. And, of course, just next door is the famous course (above) where Colin Montgomery (inset) led the charge against the Americans in the 1997 Ryder Cup.

True nerve centre

T is without a doubt the nerve centre of Sotogrande. While winning no prizes for beauty, Pueblo Nuevo is where you get things done in Sotogrande. Home to many of the key businesses, it is also full of reasonably priced places to eat. Here you will find an excellent English butcher, Paul Dennis, as well as a fantastic wine shop, Anglo Wines. Up the main drag you will also find a good newspaper shop Ofi Press, various interior design shops, as well as an English-run tyre fitter Peter at Don , who has repaired the

cars of “just about everyone” over the last nine years. There are a handful of excellent flower shops including Areka and Florium, run by Rossi Luke, who prides herself on her green practices. Another surprise is the private home of Linda Cockerell, on the other side of the river Guadiaro in San Enrique. Called Cortijo las Flores it has the most incredible range of exciting fabrics, alongside an eclectic range of furniture items and accessories from around the world.It is no surprise that her clients come from far and wide and include Russians, English and Germans.

Keep going along this country lane, the A-5300 up the Guadiaro valley and you will soon arrive in the ‘real’ Spain. Almost all the land en route to San Pablo de Buceite was once owned by the famous Larios family, one of Andalucia’s wealthiest dynasty. The trio of distinctly Andalucian towns San Pablo (wheat), San Martin (olive oil and oranges) and San Luis de Sabinillas (sugar) were set up as productive farms and thrived, while usually offering their workers a pittance as wages.

Sotogrande special

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How to spend it!

Elizabeth Gould explores the hidden charms of Sotogrande’s shops

S you would probably expect from a destination that attracts royalty, celebrity golfers and polo players there is a wide variety of exclusive speciality shops and boutiques in Sotogrande. The only problem is you need the inside knowledge on how to find them. Scattered around in a series of different locations – many in nearby Pueblo Nuevo – you have to explore by car. That said, the port itself has a surprising number of trendy boutiques and there are several interesting markets including the popular Sunday market at Blue Sotogrande Marina. One of the most exciting boutiques is Tiger Lily at Mar y Sol

centre which was opened last year by Gabriella Canepa Her aim is to provide quality classic clothing and a mix of vintage and modern designs with labels including Great Plains, Elizabeth Hurley and Anami&Janine, as well as some lovely handbags from German brand Abro You. Also at Mar y Sol is Golfino where you can buy elegant high quality golfing and casual clothes. And for refreshments the lovely Courtyard restaurant is great both in the day or evening. In the port you must visit the beautiful shop Agua which sells clothes and items for the home. Everything in the shop is blue and white and made in pure cotton, linen and silk which is

stitched by hand. The business was started by Cristina Gaggero who buys the materials and designs the clothes which are then made by a foundation for women in India. Some of the items in the shop are also made by mentally and physically disabled children. The prices in the shop are reasonable and the profits are reinvested in the foundation. In Blue Sotogrande shopping centre look out for Benjamin Friman a designer offering stunning clothes and handbags. And if you feel like having a coffee and cake Jan Staels has an amazing selection at his French Patisserie next door. Newly opened in Pueblo Nuevo next to Barclays

STYLE: New shops such as Agua epitomise ‘Soto-style’ (as seen top)

is Soto-Cheval equestrian boutique selling a wide range of equipment for horses and riders. They also offer a range of natural products for horses. A little further away in San Enrique is Cortijo Las Flores run by Linda Cockerell. Linda offers a personal one to one interior design service and can also provide single pieces of furniture and curtains.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive - August 09 - 22, 2012 28 Where topress stay

Sotogrande special

Where to eat

Chill out!

New hotel Milla de Plata is a wonderful place to relax overlooking the sea

NLESS you happen to have a spare million it is hardly likely that you will be buying a home in Sotogrande anytime soon. Luckily though there are a couple of reasonably-priced hostels on the edge of the resort, the best by far being the stylish great-value boutique hotel Milla de Plata (pictured above). Overlooking Torreguadiaro beach, this stunning place is the brainchild of dynamic local businessman Cristobel Rodriguez, who has a keen eye for detail and a great way with the public. After setting up two dozen businesses in the area he has settled on being a hotelier and has very much stamped his style on the place. An exceptional use of light, it feels very St.Tropez with its dozen spacious white bedrooms literally overlooking the sea. Outside is a small pool and a great chill out terrace with a series of comfortable day beds to lounge on. It has a great restaurant to boot, but its friendly staff take the biscuit.

Another great spot to lay down your head is at the San Roque Suites Hotel which has been through a major transformation over the last year with a new reception area, restaurant and room renovations. Set in wonderful grounds of mature cypress, orange and palm trees, its comfortable suites were used by the Ryder Cup team when Europe just beat the Americans in 1997. Quiet and comfortable this is a veritable golfer’s dream and you have everything on your doorstep. There are a few other places to stay, meanwhile, including the stylish Maritimo hotel in the port designed by Madrid style-guru Pascua Ortega, while if it is something rustic you are looking for, you should head to the charming country estate Cortijo el Papudo. Set in a beautiful 21 hectare estate, near San Martin, surrounded by avocado, palm and orange trees, this historic country home dates back to the early 19th century.

NSURPRISING for an exclusive enclave like Sotogrande there are plenty of good places to eat. Starting in the port itself, you should check out the excellent Belgium-run La Terrasse, which straddles one whole corner with enticing frontline views of the boats. Run by Jessy and Anne Hoornaert - who both do their stints in the kitchen - it has a good mix of international and French-style cuisine. Either go for the main menu, which has some great dishes like tagliata of fillet steak, or try the new tapas menu, which can be taken in the new chill out area outside. The couple originally ran a beach restaurant in Duquesa called Babelu, before buying this prestigious spot, after a few years working in the Dominican Republic. Another wonderful place to dine, right by the water, is Spinnakers, owned by friendly couple Monica and Janus (John) from Budapest. An enterprising pair, the menu is very international with a great range of wines, but, best of all, they have a fabulous new cocktail bar, right by the water, which is really making waves. Nearby you must also look out for the well-established stalwart, the Hairy Lemon, which is fast becoming one of the top hangouts in the

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Port of discovery Andalucia’s most exclusive enclave certainly has its fair share of restaurants, writes Jon Clarke

port. Serving fresh food by day, there is a good list of wines and over two dozen tapas created by chef Lorenc, who spent 14 years working in the restaurant trade in London. The best include home-made Scotch eggs with lemon mayonnaise and great mushrooms

stuffed with goats cheese. If it is romance you are after, two places take some beating. The first is La Finca, up in Alcaidesa, which sits in a 200-year-old farmhouse that was once the nerve centre for one of the area’s biggest estates. Today, ancestor Syrie Blanco

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ALFRESCO DREAM: Spinnakers (left), Cancha II (here) and (top) team at La Finca, chef Lorenc at Hairy Lemon and team at La Terrasse Walsh and husband Chris have turned it into an atmospheric escape, full of charm and creativity. The candlelit garden at the front is simply beautiful. The Thai fusion menu comes courtesy of Benny, an amiable Thai/American friend, who truly has the magic touch. His Summer roll, an incredibly fresh offering of shrimp, crab, egg and bean sprouts, as well as his spicy beef salad with classic ‘sticky’ rice really hit the spot. Second is the breathtakingly beautiful

La Cancha II, a stylish terracotta wood eaterie, which sits in one of Europe’s most exclusive private polo grounds, the Ayala club. With a backdrop of oleander and pines and perfectly clipped lawns, it is the ideal escape for Europe’s wealthiest and most famous families. With recent diners including the Duchess of York, Spain’s top bullfighter El Juli and the Cartier family this is the place to star spot. The place prides itself on its qual-

ity meat, much from Argentina and it is cooked to a tee on a ‘parilla’ only using orange wood. For something more down to earth you should definitely look out for the pair of restaurants at San Roque Suites Hotel. The first is Tango’s, which is an informal grill style restaurant, which is popular in summer with its great outdoor terrace and various outdoor events. The second is the more sophisticated La Zingara, which is the brainchild of Biagio Carroccea, 31, one of Andalucia’s most passionate chefs, who also doubles as a magician. With a passion for top ingredients and wine – spending much of his year travelling to find them – the menu is a riot of flavours and originality. Described as Mediterranean ‘fusion food’, this is haute cuisine with a good mix of Italian, Spanish and local Andaluz. However some of his best dishes come from France or Galicia, where he worked as a chef for three years. Last, but not least, why not head up to nearby Casares village where you will find the authentic family-run restaurant Casa Curro (right). Everything is made from scratch and there are plenty of vegetables.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

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July 26, 2012

Colom’s generous gift

SNAPSHOT: Colom

ONE of the great figures of Spain’s New Photography Avant-Garde has donated his life’s work to the national art museum of Cataluna (MNAC). Joan Colom, well-known for his images of prostitution and of Barcelona’s notorious Barrio Chino, handed over his collection of nearly 9,500 photographs, negatives, a 25-minute film and a great many documents. “This is a historical moment; events of this nature are few and far between,” said Miquel Roca, chairman of MNAC’s board of trustees, as he thanked a visibly moved Colom for his generosity, ‘which is completely unselfish and without strings attached.’ In return for his generosity the Catalan culture department is now negotiating a life pension for the 90-year-old and his family.

Roman renovation

€280,000 restoration project could lead to new ‘cultural golden mile’ for Malaga By Wendy Williams A PROJECT to restore Malaga’s Roman Theatre has been given the green light. An initial €283,000 is to be invested to protect the ruin from further deterioration and to repair previous damage, Culture Minister Luciano Alonso has announced. “The axis of the Picasso Museum and the Roman Theatre, along with the future Museum of Malaga and the Alcazaba-Gibralfaro, will become the cultural golden HISTORIC: Malaga’s Roman Theatre It is classed as one of the key Roman Themile of the city,” said Alonso. atres of Andalucia along with the Italica in But the PP party has called on the Junta to Sevilla, and Cadiz’s Baelo Claudia. ‘clarify’ conflicting reports of how the monFrom August, opening hours will be exey will be spent. tended due to public demand, said Alonso. The theatre has received an impressive 2.2 million visitors since the Junta took over its management in 2004.

Zumbathon frenzy A ZUMBATHON is coming to the Costa del Sol and it promises to be a night to remember. Zumba is the latest fitness craze that has taken the dance world by storm, combining unique dance moves with hot international tunes so you can dance, have fun and get fit all at the same time. Now Rachel M, a former UK national dance champion and one of the first Zumba instructors in Spain, is set to host a Zumbathon at the hippodrome in Mijas on August 17. The hour and a half dance party is open to all, regardless of fitness level or age, with all proceeds going to Positively Pink, the Costa del Sol’s breast cancer charity. For more information, visit www. zumbaspain.com

Estrella goes into the ring WHEN flamenco music is combined with bullfighting, the performance is always powerful and emotional. And that is exactly what audiences can expect from Estrella Morente, who is getting ready to sing at Malaga’s bullring ‘La Malagueta’ on August 25. “It is a really big responsibility to sing in a bullring,” said the Granada-born singer, daughter of flamenco great Enrique Morente. “It is a sacred place for me and it will be hard to separate nerves from emotion.” Tickets from €25. Visit www.ticketmaster.es

Flamenco exhibition A BRITISH artist is revealing her first exhibition in Spain. S u z y Westgate, 41, OLE: Dancing the Spanish two-step who recently moved to Andalucia, is showcasing her work, which features typical Spanish flamenco dancers, musicians and matadors at the Hedone restaurant in La Cala. “I have received a very positive response from both the Spanish and English and I feel this exhibition would be of interest to many art lovers,” said Westgate, who has previously exhibited in the UK including on the Bayswater Road in London. The exhibition runs from August 2.

A cafe tragedy

what’s on

l Gastor, August 11, Chiringuito Las Crespas. Live Bands Doktor Robert (cover rock from the 70’s to present day) and hard rock band Ultrapapa. Bar, barbecue and swimming pool.

lcalá de los Gazules, 1518 August, Eighth International Music Festival. Includes concerts by the Soloists of London on 15 & 16, a grand flamenco gala on 17 and a concert by the Bicentenary Youth Orchestra of Cadiz on Saturday the 18th All concerts will be held in and around the Plaza de San Jorge (known as the Plaza Alta), starting at 22:00h, with tickets on sale from 21:00h

erez, August 10-11, Creamfields festival. Includes DJ set from the Chemical Brothers and live show from Orbital, plus DJs including Tiesto and James Holden.

A CAFE once frequented by Federico Garcia Lorca, Ernest Hemingway and Eva Gardner could be forced to close after its iconic terrace was sold to the highest bidder. The longstanding Cafe Gijon which sits on the main boulevard of the Recoletos area in Madrid lost out in a bidding war with larger company Endre Santa Engracia who offered to pay €144,000, doubling that of the café owners at €70,000. The decision was purely money-based, despite many people, including Socialist leader, Jaime Lissavetzky, calling for a debate on the cultural implications of such SOLD: Historic cafe Gijon a change.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

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The sunshine

EMORIES of dodgy sets and bad acting have plagued the name Eldorado for over 20 years. Yet surprise, surprise, it emerges that thousands of nostalgic fans want the Andalucia-set sunshine soap back. As revealed in our last issue, the BBC has been inundated with letters and emails demanding a return for the beleaguered show that was canned after just one year, despite ratings of almost 12 million viewers at the end of its run. As it turns out it would not actually be all that hard to bring back the fictitious village of Los Barcos, as the entire set still stands proud

Mason Jones looks at the British TV shows that have helped to put Spain on the map

on the outskirts of Coin. It is certainly proving a relishing prospect for former cast members, including Julia Fernandez, who told the Olive Press this week: “I would love it, I think it’s a terrific idea.” The actress, who played feisty teenager Nessa Lockhead, continued: “I loved

living in Spain, the food, the people and the general way of life. Especially the sunshine as I function much better in the warm weather than in the rain. I loved that we would all meet up late and go out for dinner at amazing tapas restaurants. It would be great if it came back.” So with talk of the Spanish sitcom re-appearing on British TV, we take a look at some of the other times Espana has graced the UK small screen…

Benidorm: The most famous TV show in Spain is currently Benidorm, the ITV hit that joins a group of typical ‘Brits abroad’ at an all-inclusive resort. With families from hell, middle-aged swingers and sleazy waiters; the comedy has become one of Britain’s most popular shows since its debut in 2007. Filmed mostly at the Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel, in Benidorm, it also uses some of the town’s other tourist hang-outs like Morgan’s Tavern.

Four in a Bed: Expat B&B owners went head to head in February on the Channel 4 show. The competition recently featured Jed and Amanda Filmer who own La Tartana hotel in La Herradura, which was rather spectacularly criticised. In classic Come Dine With Me fashion, the sarcastic but hilarious Dave Lamb narrates as the four couples squabble among themselves.

When it comes to cooking there have been numerous shows set here. These include Jamie Oliver Does Andalucia where Jamie spent three days in and around the Serrania visiting the area’s best butchers, tapas bars and pastelerias before cooking an incredible street paella for 500 people in the village of Benaojan (below). A generally disappointing show lacking substance, the chef was however, blown away by Ronda’s Almocabar restaurant, insisting: “I swear to God, these Spanish really know how to cook.” Sam and Sam Clark of Moro have done shows based on the cooking here, while most recently Rick Stein’s Spain undertook a much more in depth and watchable four-part series on the country, ending up in Andalucia, in a rental house in Casarabanela, in case anyone is interested. But the true doyenne of cookery shows, Keith Floyd did numerous programmes on the country over his illustrious career, including Floyd Around the Med and Floyd on Spain. Floyd celebrated the great traditions of Spanish food and wines that have influenced cooking throughout the world.

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

soaps Marbella Belles: Long before The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) hit the Costa del Sol, a similar gang of bronzed and bleached-haired Brits inhabited the bars of Puerto Banus. These champagne-fuelled ladies of leisure left the UK to spend their days cruising down the golden mile for the hit ITV show in 2007. Always on the look-out for Mr Right, Louise Truelove (above) and co enjoyed nothing more than partying, pampering and plastic surgery. Sadly it didn’t prove to be a hit back home.

Duty Free: The British sitcom written by Eric Chappell and Jean Warr, aired on ITV from 1984 to 1986. Although set on the Costa del Sol, the show was filmed almost entirely in Leeds! The comedy series featured two couples, the Pearces and the Cochrans who met while holidaying in Marbella. A mixture of sun, sea and infidelity gained the programme viewing records at the time.

Come Dine With Me: The Channel 4 show has visited the Costa del Sol several times now, showcasing the culinary efforts of some of the most eccentric expats on the coast. A Frank Butcher impersonator from Estepona and a self proclaimed playboy living in Fuengirola are just a couple of the amateur chefs that have competed for the £1,000 prize. TOWIE’s The Only Way is Marbs: Marbella was overrun with Vajazzles and Vodka last month when the ITV stars arrived to film their annual summer special in Spain. Almost instantly breaking the producer’s rules of not indulging in too much booze, the gang attended a champagne spray party with rapper Tinchy Stryder. Their time on the Costa del Sol had another hiccup when some of the cast complained about being overworked and underpaid. They were obviously feeling the stress of sitting on banana boats in the sun.

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Doctor Who: The cast and crew of the popular sci-fi show arrived in the Tabernas Desert earlier this year to shoot a western themed episode. Time Lord actor Matt Smith blasted bad guys in front of the same mock-up bank, saloons, and Victorian style houses that Clint Eastwood and other stars of the Spaghetti Western did throughout the 60s and 70s.

The Garage: Scottish expat Jock Campbell runs a Marbella garage, and runs it like a true Scotsman. The show, which ran for three series on The Discovery Channel, from 2005, followed the team of British mechanics as they fixed cars, adjusted to life in Spain and tried to cope with Jock. With a passion for automobiles and a sharp tongue, Jock’s love of expletives made Gordon Ramsay sound like a choir boy as he roamed around the garage reminding his staff who is boss.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

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Schools out THOUSANDS of schools in Andalucia could close if central government goes ahead with its bailout proposals. Andalucian officials, who are opposing the move, have warned that lowering the debt ceiling will condemn the region to more cuts.

Government debt ceiling condemns Andalucia to yet more cuts “The decision could mean the closing of 2,000 schools, 19 hospitals or the dismissal of up to 60,000 public servants,” said a spokesman.

OBAMA BACKS SPAIN US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has pledged his country’s support to Spain as it battles to get its economy back on track. Obama discussed the Eurozone crisis with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy by telephone and acknowledged that Spain faced ‘difficult challenges’ in its fight against the debt crisis. It comes as Rajoy moved a step closer to asking for a full bailout from the EU

on Friday, but warned that he needed to know what conditions would be attached before agreeing to any deal. Meanwhile, Spain’s King Juan Carlos is to meet with union leaders to discuss the economic crisis amid claims that the government’s austerity measures are making the situation worse.

Homeowners in the red

As house prices continue to plummet, a quarter of Spanish homeowners face negative equity

A STAGGERING one in four homeowners in Spain could be in negative equity by the end of the year. Spanish house prices are set to plummet even further this year, leaving a quarter of homeowners owing more than their properties are worth. The problem is set to worsen as the government forces banks to sell real-estate holdings. The latest figures reveal house prices will decline by as much as 12 to 14%, marking the biggest fall since the National Statistics Institute started tracking values in 2007. It comes after Economy Minister Luis de Guindos gave lenders two years to make €50 billion of additional provisions for losses linked to real estate, forcing banks to sell assets cheaply. “There will be more serious price drops this year because of the government decree,” said Fernando Rodriguez de Acuna Martinez, a partner at Madridbased firm RR de Acuna. “Banks are now prepared to incur big losses on real estate to shift all they can.” Already Banco Santander, Spain’s largest lender, and Caixa Bank, the fourth-largest, are offering homes at discounts of as much as 50%. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hopes the overhaul will help bolster confidence in the country’s banks without undermining a drive to tackle its budget deficit.

It comes after the Council of Fiscal and Financial Policy (CPFF) agreed to limit town hall debt by inflicting a wave of new cuts. In particular Junta president Jose Antonio Grinan criticised the government for preventing Andalucia from raising its borrowing rate to 15.1%. The disagreement is centred on what Grinan views as a serious limitation to Andalucia’s borrowing capacity. At the beginning of 2012, Andalucia’s rate was 9.8% – one of the lowest in Spain – but while Grinan desires a 15.1% debt ceiling, the CPFF has drawn the maximum at only 13.2%, which means the region would lose €2,735 million of funding.

Unfair

Grinan complained the decision was taken ‘without warning’ and accused central government of applying unfair treatment toward Andalucia. “They discriminate against Andalucia and all the communities which, in the past, reduced our debt while they benefit those who did exactly the opposite.” “It is not a contest between the central administration and the autonomous communities. That’s a smoke screen: an attack on education and health is public,” he added. The argument represents yet another roadblock on the way to a bailout for Andalucia.

Germany far higher in debt than Andalucians ANDALUCIA has one of the lowest debt levels per capita in Europe, it has emerged. While the region is heavily in debt, the average Andalucian only owes €1,699, comparing favourably to the rest of Spain. Incredibly, in Bremen, Germany, this figure rises to €27,282 per person. The total public debt of the Spanish regions was €140,083 million last year, almost five times lower than that of the German states, which amounted to €637,630 million.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

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the olive press - AugustADVERTORIAL 09 - 22, 2012

What crisis? English TEFL teachers are bucking the trend finding plenty of work in the heart of the recession

ENGLISH teachers continue to be in high demand despite the record unemployment that has gripped Spain. According to Miriam Levie, founder of the English teacher training centre TEFL in Spain, the profession is thriving in spite of the crisis. “Today, everyone wants to learn English and nearly every town around the globe has an English school looking for certified teachers,” she explains. “With a TEFL certificate you can teach anywhere around the world, but Spain is the Mecca of English language teaching due to its great weather and fabulous lifestyle. “And best of all there is currently a high demand for English teachers here.” She continues: “We teach students what it is like to work here in order to prepare them for a teaching career here. “Traditionally, Spaniards have had difficulties in mastering the English language,” adds Miriam, who set up the school after years of teaching English and obtaining qualifications, including a BA in Business Administration, a BA in Translation Studies, and an MA in Applied Linguistics. “It is a big problem for Spain, bearing in mind that there is an ever greater need to demonstrate a high level of English if they are to find a good job in Spain or abroad,” she continues. Her company TEFL in Spain, which has offices in Malaga and Granada, offers both four-week fulltime and 10-week part-time courses providing advanced English speakers with all the required skills and knowledge needed to work as confident English teachers. Best of all, the centre collaborates with Acadomia, an important teacher recruitment agency, so most trainees will be offered a job consisting of a minimum of 15 hours per week, paid at the rate of €15 per hour, once they have finished the course.

In addition, TEFL in Spain is about to launch a website for live online language classes in virtual classrooms. And the schools are paired with well-established Spanish language schools - Escuela Montalban in Granada and Futura Idiomas in Malaga - so the students can also get to grips with the language here. “I believe it is extremely useful to have at least a basic knowledge of the Spanish language, since it helps you understand the difficulties Spanish learners of English have,” added Miriam. “Experience of learning and speaking a foreign language will help you understand language and how languages are learned in general, which helps you adapt to your students’ needs.”

Confident And it seems to be paying off as the first group of students to graduate from TEFL in Spain are full of praise for the course. “TEFL in Spain has opened the doors towards the field of English teaching with a very practical and up-to-date methodology that prepares you for countless job opportunities,” explains Isaac. “I’m really happy with the investment I’ve made and am confident I will be able to find a job soon after I’m finished,” he added. Fellow student Sara agrees: “I absolutely loved the course. It really prepares you to enter the world of teaching. You are helped and supported throughout the entire course.” She continues: “The experience that you gain from teaching real classes is second to none. It’s hard work, but if teaching is something that really appeals to you then it’s definitely worth it.”

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SINCE the launch of a new satellite in 2011, internet via satellite has dramatically reduced in price and improved in quality. Electronics Paraiso - part of the Experience Group – can offer high speed internet of up to 18 meg download and six meg upload from as little as €29.50 per month plus IVA. All you need is a small 73cm dish, receiver, modem and Wi-Fi router all provided by the company. There is also a great new range of telephone products with call prices starting from just 1.8 cents a minute and no land line is required. If you have a land line you can also make the most of www.cheeptalk.es to use the latest VOIP Telephone via internet.

BEST SATELLITE INTERNET BY EXPERIENCE This is all brought to you by one of the most ‘experienced’ companies on the coast... and not just by name. Under boss Alan James, the ‘Experience Group’ has now been serving the Costa del Sol for 42 years. The diverse group has successfully built over 5,000 homes in Spain as well as the Benavista Bowls Club and shopping centre, and even boasted the largest flights and tour company to

Malaga from the UK during the 70s and 80s. Today, the group concentrates on construction, property sales, rentals and management, as well as home electronics including TVs, satellite and more recently, internet, via satellite and internet telephones. Contact Alan on 952883168 or Wayne on 952885379 or visit www.toowayspaindirect.com and www.experiencegroupspain.com

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

How low can you go? Will interest rates fall any further and, if so, what does it mean for investors?

OULD interest rates really go lower? The Bank of England monetary policy committee seems to think so. The minutes from the last two months show this has been on the agenda and commentators are now suggesting if the economic situation continues in its current state for much longer, then a further reduction in the base lending rate in the UK could well see it drop to 0.25%. Actually, that is not as far fetched as you think. The minimum lending rate in the US is already at that level and in Japan it currently sits at 0.1%. In contrast in emerging countries like Brazil and Russia current rates are 8%. This can partly be explained when you look at the latest global growth forecast from the IMF, which suggests overall world growth this year of 3.9% but only 2.1% in the western world and 6% for the emerging world. It also helps put into perspective the immense impact on countries like Spain and Greece, which are continuing to face borrowing costs in the region of 7%. With the ongoing concerns about the Eurozone and now worries about a potential collapse in the Chinese Property market, it is little wonder that during the quieter summer holiday months, markets are turning wholesale to gilts as a safe haven to preserve capital, or simply sitting on the sidelines on ever increasing piles of cash! But this stockpile will only last for so long and when institutions judge it is time to invest back into markets, they are likely to

drive markets higher in the process. So where does all this leave the average investor who is trying to get a return on their capital over and above inflation or to generate an income from their investments? In the short term, security of capital has to be the first consideration, even if this means rates of return barely keeping pace with inflation. But in the medium to longer term, many commentators believe a return to sustained growth for a period in stock markets is only a matter of time away and the only place to be when a market starts to rise is in it! Unfortunately, human nature works against most of us because our instinct is to invest in places that have done well and to pull out of those that are doing badly. To a degree, this makes some sense, but the timing is inevitably way off. As a result, people will buy investments at or near the top of a market and sell again at or near the bottom. No wonder then that many end up disillusioned, not to mention, out of pocket. Starting from now, the solution should be a planned return to market linked investments in a controlled way - this has to make sense for the medium term investor. There is no such thing as a quick fix though and there will inevitably be some bumps along the way. But now is an excellent time to review investments, dust off the pension policies and have a thorough reappraisal of how your capital should be invested to make sure of better returns and that you don’t miss the boat when markets move ahead.

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

Top Dollar www.theolivepress.es

New highs for jobless SPAIN’S unemployment figures have hit a record high. The number of people unemployed in the recession-hit country rose to 24.6% in the second quarter, up 0.2% from the previous three months. According to the National Statistics Institute 53,500 more people joined the ranks of the jobless between April and June, making for a total of 5.7 million people out of work.

Eurozone

It marks the highest rate in the eurozone and is worse than Spain’s previous record of 24.5% in 1994. Meanwhile for those under 25 years of age, the unemployment rate now stands at 53%.

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

Mutual respect?

T is widely believed that where a lawyer and the opposing counsel know each other, there is a better chance to sort matters out in a less acrimonious, and less expensive, manner. I fully agree with it. Where you know and respect your counterpart, tension tends to drop imAntonio Flores looks at what mediately. However, this is not alhappens when opposing lawyers ways the case and someknow each other outside of the times the opposite is true; many lawyers feel court room… a lack of respect, trust or loyalty towards their counterpart due to personal differfacts and twists reality’, and of ‘sendences, historical disputes, or a mere ing missives pressurising the other dislike for other humans being. party to accept an agreement, not These scenarios often trigger disshort of blackmail’. ciplinary action by the law society, Instead the society found that the tewhich is in charge of dealing with dious appeal submitted by the opposing such matters. party was incorrect and threw it out. As an example, the Malaga Law SoThe same outcome was reached after ciety recently reprimanded a lawyer a lawyer, on talking about the merits who accused the opposing counsel in of his rival claimed he was a drunkard court of ‘barefaced lying’, ‘instructand was not fit to practice. ing witnesses to deliberately prevariAnd what about lawyers acting with cate’, ‘submitting a fundamentally disrespect towards their clients? malicious, reckless and fraudulent There is certainly plenty of that too… claim that not only omits prejudicial but that is a story for another column. documentation but also exaggerates

ASK ANT Let Antonio answer your queries Q. A.

I live in a flat and I want to have an enclosed terrace but the administrator of the community of owners is challenging its legality, what can I do?

The administrator has a point as according to the law, you cannot alter the external appearance of a building. If you want to do it, a majority vote is required. However, judicial case law has evolved and often abandons stringent legal positions in favour of a more flexible stance based on how the community has dealt with similar or identical situations in the past and the degree of tacit consent to the enclosure.

Q. A.

I wish to give my share of a jointly held property to my ex-partner, but we have a mortgage and the bank says that they cannot discharge me. Is this true? If a bank tells you that something is not possible, other than borrowing money, get a second opinion! In this case, they can discharge you if they wish but you will have to explain in detail what is happening with the ownership. Generally, a lender will want sufficient financial guarantees and if your ex-partner’s salary alone does not match the lending criteria, they will turn down the application. This means that you will still be liable for repayment of a loan even though you are no longer an owner. To increase the chances of them agreeing, I suggest you prepare a credible story and always bear in mind that, if they let you walk away from the loan, they will almost certainly try to seize the opportunity to increase the applicable interest rate.

Top Dollar

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the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

Olympic size debt

Introducing a new monthly currency column, Keith Spitalnick looks at the inconsistencies in financial reporting and whether the Olympics are really worth their weight in gold…

Y first Olive Press column conveniently coincides with the Olympics, giving me a great opportunity to explore the relationship between Olympic medals and the high levels of debt Europe has steadily been accruing. Yes, there is one, although should Europe win all 906 medals up for grabs and sell them for their estimated street value of around €175, they would pocket around €150,000. That is unlikely to even cover an MEP’s expenses claim for the next six months, let alone bail out the fragile European economy.

Contradict

Spain has only won five medals to date, so currently has just about enough money to pay for an hour’s consultation with a debt management consultant! Meanwhile economic news from Europe continues to be inconsistent. For every piece of good news, there is another piece to contradict it. Confident speeches by the European Central Bank (ECB) governor, Ma-

rio Draghi, reassuring the world that he ‘will do anything it takes’ to save the single currency failed to dull market fears. The euro is losing its appeal although, economically speaking, Europe is not that different from the UK or the US - all three have low growth, high levels of debt and struggling job markets. Sterling, however, is at the strongest it has been against the euro for almost four years. If it were not for the extraordinarily low levels of confidence in the Eurozone, sterling would still be wallowing around the same levels near parity where it found itself soon after the financial crisis kicked in at the end of 2008. Those who are holding off transferring funds from the UK in the hope the rate will keep edging higher need to be aware that the elastic band that is the currency market can snap at any moment. Whatever your currency exchange needs, HiFX can provide you with all the help and guidance you need from our latest ‘internet suite’ office in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, ensuring you get the best rates possible when moving your money overseas. Visit www.hifx.co.uk

Keith is the new head of European Sales at HiFX. To contact HiFX and find out how the team can help you with your international transactions, call in at the office in Centro Plaza, call 951 203 986, mentioning the ‘Olive Press’ or email olivepress@hifx.co.uk

Bad for business Recession putting huge strain on small businesses heavily reliant on struggling tourism industry to survive SMALL businesses in Andalucia are buckling under the strain of Spain’s recession. Over 80% of the region’s companies have three employees or less, with many relying on the dwindling tourism industry. It is tiny businesses like these that are most likely to suffer from the economic slump. “Tourism right now is a disaster, said Juan Zabala Franco, who sells horse and cart rides along the Guadalquivir River. “There was an explosion of money as the banks lent to everyone, and now we are paying for that,” added the 44-year-old, who said one

ByMason Jones of the main problems is the fact many tourists now come to Spain on package tours where everything is included. Dire“They don’t have a budget for anything else,” he said. But there is some good news. Despite the dire state of Andalucia’s economy – with over 30% living below the poverty line and one in three jobless – it has the lowest debt-per-person ratio in Spain, mainly because its population is so large (see p.35).

Top Property

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Spain tops France for buying SPAIN has ousted France as Britons’ favourite destination for buying property overseas. According to the Overseas Guides Company (OGC), Spain’s low house prices have meant the country has become even more attractive to foreign buyers in recent months.

The OGC said one in five enquiries for the second quarter of 2012 came for the country of paella and flamenco – with a 37% increase in interest compared to the first quarter. France meanwhile dropped into second place, with the USA, Portugal and Italy following behind.

No way forward

Town hall planning boss fails to appease thousands of Chiclana residents without electricity

THOUSANDS of expats forced to live without electricity for up to five years have been left in the lurch after a ‘disappointing’ meeting with the town hall. Over 10,000 people in Chiclana de la Frontera – of whom around 1,600 are foreign residents – are not con-

nected to the grid, despite most having done everything by the book when they bought their houses. Now members of foreign residents’ association Chifra have complained that town hall planning boss Marisol Ayala hardly listened to their requests at a meeting

last week. “We are so tired of this,” said Chifra president Roger Alan Homes. “It is just not fair.” “Many people do not want to admit to having no electricity because they are worried about the legal consequences of using neighbours’ meters. “These are people who bought their houses through lawyers and notaries, spending their life savings and often coming here to live out their retirements. “Many of them have health issues, and many have been threatened with demolition, and yet they cannot even put the lights on in their homes.”

Illegal

He continued that the planning boss worked for the PVRE party which was formed with the sole aim of addressing the illegal homes issue. “And yet she hardly listened to what we had to say.” The independent PVRE party, or ‘Neighbourhood Regionalist Party’, was created in 2010 with the objective of ‘solving all types of irregular or illegal planning matters’ and won two seats in Chiclana Town Hall in the May 2011 election. But arguments have since arisen over Chiclana’s town plan, which was thrown out last year resorting back to the plan of 1987 – meaning many homes do not even appear on it. “Mrs Ayala’s answer was that the new plan would be written up at the beginning of 2013 at the earliest,” said Homes. “This is very bad news for the thousands of citizens with irregular housing in Chiclana.”

the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012, 2012

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n Buen

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.......................................................... the olive press - August 09 - 22, 2012

ECO TAXIS

MADRID is ushering in a raft of new regulations to make their taxis green. The city hall wants to create an environmentally friendly service with exclusive pickup points for so-called ecotaxis as part of an effort to reduce pollution in the capital. New emissions levels will be restricted and vehicles cannot be more than two years old when they apply for licences and will not be allowed to circulate after 10 years.

Opposition

For the first time, taxis will also be able to post preapproved advertisements in their cabs. Fixed rates will be established between the airport and different points throughout Madrid. But the plans to open the sector have seen strong opposition from taxi drivers. Several thousand marched through Madrid, blocking the street for more than four hours.

Return of the highwayman British motorists in Spain warned to watch out for elaborate scams that have fooled thousands ATTACKS on British tourists by gangs of highway robbers in Spain are becoming increasingly common, according to the British Embassy. The number of complaints received rose by 10% in the first quarter of the year, although it is believed there are ‘hundreds more’ which go unreported. The thieves use distraction techniques to target their victims, including creating loud noises, claiming to have vehicle problems and appealing for help. Hundreds of tourists in British-registered vehicles or hire cars have fallen for the

DANGER: Be on your guard on Spain’s roads ruse, resulting in them having possessions, passports and money stolen. Dave Thomas, consular regional

As a member of Home Owners´ Club you will get lots of advantages

director for Spain, said: “Be on your guard against anyone who attempts to stop you or ask you for help. “They may well be part of a gang operating a scam in which an unseen accomplice will rob you of your things.” Among the worst affected areas is the AP-7 between the French border and Alicante, with more than 140 cases of theft reported to the British Consulate last year.

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PUBLIC motorway tolls throughout Spain have increased by 7.5% and are set to increase even more when IVA (VAT) rises on September 1. In particular, the AP-7, which runs from Cataluna down the Mediterranean coast, the AP-2 and C-33 will all be affected. The move comes six months after a controversial new toll was instated on the A22 road between Portugal and Spain, which features an electronic payment system with two methods of payment – easy toll and toll card. Foreign visitors have the option of paying with a pre-paid card, post-paying at post offices or motorway service stations, or hiring temporary transponders. Rates vary depending on type of vehicle, distance travelled and whether you have prepaid or not. But the toll continues to face ardent criticism with usage of the A22 dropping 50% since it came into effect.

Winners on side!

THE Olive Press is pleased to announce the winners of our competition to win one of five reversible signs being given away courtesy of Get-on-Side. The signs attach to the dashboard and use the reflection in the window to remind motorists which side they should be on when driving abroad. We asked: What proportion of the world’s drivers does Geton-Side creator Stephen Ferrada claim drive on the left? Congratulations to Chris McDermott, Ray Evans, Brian Cornes, Sue Martin and Clive Shaw who all answered correctly with ‘one third’. Get-on-Side signs are winging their way to you as we speak.

Low-carbon trial A TRIO of low-carbon cars have been given to the Spanish government as part of a six month trial to assess performance of the state-of-the-art technology. SEAT handed over a specially adapted Altea XL - which runs entirely on electricity - and two Leon plug-in hybrids to Barcelona City Hall. The Spanish brand seeks to gather information and assess performance before venturing into the mass production of electric vehicles.

The Altea XL, which can reach speeds of 83.8 miles per hour, is SEAT’s first entirely electric car and is fitted with solar panels on the roof to power the air conditioning as well as having the battery positioned under the rear seats and boot. “SEAT’s future is electric and we are opting for diversification of alternative technologies so as to cater to different motoring needs,” said Dr Matthias Rabe, executive vice-president for R&D at SEAT.

Zero tolerance

SPAIN’S DGT traffic authority is considering reducing the alcohol limit on roads to zero, making just one drop of alcohol too much to drive. The DGT reasons that any amount of alcohol has an adverse effect on a driver’s cognitive abilities. Currently, the alcohol limit for experienced drivers is 0.5 grams per litre of blood, or 0.25 grams per litre of breathed air, and 0.3 or 0.15 grams, respectively, for drivers with less than two years experience. According to a study by Nocturns 2011, 38% of young people have admitted drinking and driving, though that number is half what it was in CLAMPING DOWN: the last decade. New law

by Herbert Raven with 44 points off handicap 15. Michele O’Sullivan triumphed for the ladies with 33 points off handicap 22 with Joy Champion coming home second with 32

prepared the hampers and well done to everybody!

WINNERS CUP he Winner’s Cup was held early November. To qualify, you had to have won either a monthly Stableford, a monthly Medal or an Honours Board event in the last 12 months. With nearly 60 players trying their best, Herbert Raven (our current Vice Captain) came home for the men with 38 points off handicap 15 and Ali Easter for the ladies with 33 points off handicap 12. Well done Herbert and Ali!

In the swing of it www.theolivepress.es

THE OLIVE PRESS’ MONTHLY GOLF SECTION

Return of the blind golfer

A LOCAL expat is set to make a comeback in the Italian Blind Golf Open this year. Paul Appleyard, 44, who lives and works at the San Roque Golf Club, has had macular degeneration his entire adult life, leaving him without central vision. But since taking up golf 15 years ago, he has represented England twice and was ranked number one in the country in 2008. Now the golfer, who also came third in the 2008 World Championships, plans to make a comeback to the sport. “I reached my goal of becoming a single figure handicap golfer and I wanted to set some new goals,” he told the Olive Press. “I am now working toward

Atalaya Park win Texas Scramble

GOLF pro Diego Morito (above) has led his team from Atalaya Park to victory in a nine-hole Texas Scramble at El Paraiso golf club. The Golf Two 4 One tournament involved 10 teams, each made up of three juniors and a professional.

he Santa Maria Annual Charity Golf Event was held on the 9th December. The day involved an AM AM golf competition played off the white tees (best 2 scores count per hole), closest to the pin prizes, longest drive prizes, lunch, a raffle, a grand auction and a prize giving ceremony. A full field of 21 four-man teams made an early shotgun start before being wined and dined in the main clubhouse. The overall team winners were “The Caddymasters” with a fantastic score of 101 points (David Mosely, Mark Webber, Fernando Ortega and Pepe Gago). In second place were team “Siesta Time” with 86 points (Chris Day, Mike Smith, Tim Swift and Villen Mehilenin). Just beaten into third place were team “Mixed Bag” with 85 points

points off handicap 23. Thanks to Glenis Harley who