Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 148 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

HITTING SIX AND STILL LEARNING NEW TRICKS - BIRTHDAY ISSUE, SEEpress PAGE- November 2 the olive 15 - 28, 2012 www.theolivepress.es

the

olive press EVICTION U-TURN

FREE Banks agree to stop repossessions as hatred towards Spain’s banks intensifies following spate of suicides BANKS have been forced to halt mortgage repossessions after two cash-strapped Spaniards committed suicide. The Spanish Banking Association (AEB) has announced a two-year ban on eviction orders ‘in cases of extreme hardship’. It comes after the two desperate homeowners took their own lives just two weeks apart, leading to widespread protests. There was such public outrage that police unions even agreed to back officers who refuse to evict tenants. Amaya Egana, 53, jumped to her death from a window

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

Vol. 6 Issue 148

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By Eloise Horsfield

of her fourth-floor flat in Bilbao as bailiffs were entering the building. The ex-councillor owed over €200,000 on the flat she shared with her husband and 21-year-old son. Her death came just days after Miguel Angel Domingo, 54, was found hanged in his flat in Granada, an hour before police arrived with an eviction notice. “This cannot be allowed to go on,” said Juan Carlos Mediavilla, a judge at the scene of Egana’s death.

Homeless

This despite two million properties currently lying empty. On Monday Kutxabank announced the bank was to ‘immediately suspend’ evictions. This was followed by an AEB announcement to ban evictions in ‘extreme cases’ for two years. “Given the social alarm, the AEB has reached an agreement on humanitarian grounds,” said a statement. Meanwhile, Spain’s police union (SUP) has announced it will support officers who refuse to evict on ethical grounds. “We’re not robots, we’re human beings,” said boss Jose Manuel Sanchez.

Boyzone star’s biggest hit EXCLUSIVE

IT will not go down as his favourite hit, after Boyzone star Mikey Graham (right) was forced to sell his Andalucia home for well under the asking price. The Irish singer ‘took a hit’ of €100,000 after selling his Axarquia property for just €215,000 last week. To add to injury, the sale INCLUDED the furniture - and even one of his guitars. Ultimately I think he was just happy to get some money back,” said agent Tim Whiteley. Full story on page 33

SOLD: Mikey’s bargain home

Don’t let the Don’t thein bankslet cash banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk see page 13 seepage page13 17 see

November 15 - 28, 2012

“This could have been any of us. The time for talk is over.” Up to 500 people are evicted each day, with some 400,000 ejected since 2007.

‘MURDERERS’: Protesters leave their opinion on a bank window

EXPAT TAX PROBE

DOBBED IN: Blunt and Thatcher SIR Mark Thatcher, the Marbella-based son of former British Prime Minister Margaret, is one of thousands of expats implicated in an offshore banking scandal. British expats are to be investigated after a list of HSBC’s offshore clients also including singer James Blunt who has a home in Ibiza - caught the attention of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The file contains over 4,000 names and is believed to be linked to over €870 million hidden in the tax haven of Jersey.

Benahavis

Blunt, one of Britain’s most successful songwriters, is reported to have deposited more than €2.5 million in Jersey and registered the account at his parents’ address in Britain. Thatcher, who has a multimillion euro villa in the exclusive Madronal development, near Benahavis, has also been fingered. The list is the latest in a Turn to Page 4

6th ANNIVERSARY

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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Olive Press refuses to get complacent as it reaches six successful years

Six and STILL learning new tricks

HERE are six very good reasons to celebrate the Olive Press’s sixth birthday. Editorial, distribution, website, readership, advertisers and staff; the six key pillars that contribute to our success. Since launching in November 2006 we have gone from being a small, inland paper to distributing in every town on the Costa del Sol and in all eight – yes eight – Congratulations! The provinces of quality of the title is not just in the look There is no doubt that the Andalucia. of the paper, but the articles and objective superior support of the Olive Press T h e editorial. It is balanced and original and always helped make our recent Homes, growth a fantastic read. Above all, it has been a useful Gardens and Outdoor Living Show a has been tool for me as an advertiser and it’s great that huge success. The paper is extremely staggerthe paper is owner-managed, so I know and popular up and down the coast and is ing going trust who I am dealing with. an excellent read. from just Sarah Hawes, director, Gina Marks, GM Events, Benahavis 3,000 copCambridge 800, Mijas ies to 33,000 copies printed per issue, not to mention up to 80,000 issues downloaded each issue on- for readers, we continue to dalucia supplements have tal site are the reasons why championing green issues know we cannot become find exclusives from around proven extremely popular our main website, www. and we are the first paper complacent. The market in line. the region, as well as expos- (your third most popular theolivepress.es, is NOW that gets called when the Spain is tougher than ever es on scam after scam. sections, according to our Spain’s top English news British national press or before and the competition Blue-chip Demanding a rough 50/50 research) and are used website. BBC wants a comment on is cutthroat. Indeed we have seen an split between editorial and widely by our readers. On top of this, we are the Andalucia. Advertisers have tighter and advertising.. The boss of the Rolex shop only paper incredible 60% growth anEven better, we don’t tighter budgets and we connually for the last THREE All our journalists are fully- in Gibraltar, for example, charge €2.20 a tinue to strive to give them years... three of the hardest qualified and NCTJ-trained, keeps all the pullouts in his copy like the na- the very best value for their Many expats tell and capable of investigating car, for when he and his wife in Spanish history. tional news- marketing spend. me the Olive Press is their favourite Is it any wonder the paper and exposing wrong-doing go off for weekends travelpapers... To take the words of the newspaper and with the growth in wherever it may lie. ling around the region. is now the first media outlet The Olive UK’s top travel book The content and increased circulation it’s not the leading blue-chip com- It is one of the fundamental All our pullouts are now Press re- Rough Guide, the Olive hard to see why. Congratulations to the panies – such as Morrisons, cornerstones of a free and available to download mains res- Press is ‘southern Spain’s Olive Press on your sixth birthday - keep Ikea and Bupa - turn to vibrant press... and we vow for free on www.allabout olutely free best English newspaper’. up the good work. to continue upholding it! andalucia.com and this, when they plan their annual and will stay Best, yes indeed. But we Richard Alexander, financial But we realise that any suc- along with a property site, campaigns? that way. also know we can get better! advisor, Marbella Without question Andalu- cessful paper needs a bal- dining site and environmenAbove all, we cia’s favourite newspaper ance. It is why we also offer you a range of stories from celebrity trivia to sporting news, as well as bigger, more Congratulations on your sixth in-depth feaEditorial success Paper numbers birthday! I’m happy to have a newspaper tures on Voted by the Rough Guide We have continued to reinvest our money into around that attempts to get beneath the the best as southern Spain’s ‘best printing new papers and currently print 33,000 skin of this multi-faceted corner of Europe paper’, we keep a balthat Aneach issue, with around 65% going on the Costa - and one which has a real interest in del Sol. People used to claim they liked the paper when they ance of around 50 to 55% editorial dalucia environmental issues. I always look forward could find it, but now our market research shows that 75% and a story count always exceeding has to ofto the next issue of the OP! 100. And let’s not forget it was the find it easy to track down. fer. Guy Hunter Watts, author of Olive Press that the new Gibraltar Our coma dozen books on Spain, Ronda leader Fabian Picardo first gave an Internet prehensive It is no surprise that our website is now linked to interview to on getting into power, All About Annearly 100 international media outlets and has an and the ONLY paper in Spain to talk to Michelle Obama (right) on her Alexa visit here two years ago. We have ranking putting us also interviewed Jamie Oliver, Chris at 85,000 in the Stewart and even David Cameron. world, compared, for example, to Readership 363,000 of rival Our readers are an inEuro Weekly News ternational bunch, who (see graph right). claim to speak Spanish and are generally disOn top of this we cerning, better-established expatriate readers who travel have FIVE other regularly and eat out three times a week. Of our 250,000 websites, includregular readers, around 15% are Scandinavian, 10% are ing Green Guide Spanish and on our website we count a large percentage Spain, All About of Irish and American visitors. Many read us these days Andalucia Propvia our Olive Press app, which is of course updated each erty and Dining issue. Secrets of Andalucia, all of which have grown year on year.

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Distribution sites The Olive Press distributes from Huelva all the way to Almeria and it is now available in over 1,000 distribution spots along the Costa del Sol alone, with dozens in Benalmadena and Fuengirola and around 10,000 papers alone going into ‘Greater Marbella’. Look out for our bright red stands, and remember if you live inland, we have not neglected our former inland heartland, and continue to distribute in hundreds of small towns.

Advertisers All the blue-chip companies put the Olive Press at the top of each of their campaigns. These include supermarkets Morrisons, Iceland and Lidl, insurance companies including Linea Directa, Ibex and Liberty, shops including Leroy Merlin and Ikea and banks, including Sabadell and Lloyds. We support the paper by a regular partnership deal with Talk Radio Europe to both promote the paper and our stories.

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Lucky break A SPANISH Olympian has been declared the new face of Martini after winning a global contest. Barbara Gonzalez, 27, from Pamplona, was spotted after the brand launched a Facebook search to find a woman that embodied Martini’s ‘ethos’ that ‘luck is an attitude’. The brunette also won €150,000, 12 pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes and 12 designer outfits. The gymnast will join the ranks of Charlize Theron, Thandie Newton and Monica Bellucci in fronting the stylish ads.

Stellar designs

BRITISH fashion designer Stella McCartney has picked up a prestigious award at a ceremony in Madrid. Wearing an unusual wetsuit-inspired mini dress, the 41-year-old picked up the Best International Designer accolade at the Telva awards. The mother-offour, who said she was dedicating the win to other female designers, took the opportunity to reveal her slim figure is the result of regular running, yoga and crosstraining. “I want to be fit so I don’t get out of breath when I play football with the children,” said the fashionista, whose father is Beatle Paul McPRIZE: McCartney picks Cartney.

up her award

NEWS

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

I knew Savile was dodgy, says Quo’s Parfitt Alhaurinbased guitarist admits he was not surprised by revelations about disgraced DJ

UNSURPRISED: Status Quo’s Parfitt and (inset) shamed Jimmy Savile

BRITISH rock legend Rick Parfitt has admitted he thought there was something ‘not right’ about Jimmy Savile. The 64-year-old Status Quo guitarist, who lives in Alhaurin, appeared 106 times on Top of the Pops, including many times while Savile - now exposed as a dangerous paedophile - presented the show. When asked whether he was surprised by the revelations against Savile, Parfitt said: “No, because a lot of us, like everybody else, we all kind of knew.

DINNER TIME: Actress Paltrow

Something smells good GWYNETH Paltrow showed off her culinary skills on a recent trip to Madrid. The Hollywood actress was in the capital to launch a new Hugo Boss perfume but not before stopping by the set of talk show El Hormiguero to make a traditional Spanish tortilla. Paltrow left hubby Chris Martin at home as she donned a slim-fitting red dress on the show before moving on to the fragrance launch. Slipping into something more suitable for the evening, the 40-year-old Iron Man star wore an equally flattering black leather dress.

Walking on Sunshine

KYLIE Minogue and Bond girl Gemma Arterton are set to battle it out for the affection of the same Spaniard. The pair will star in the upcoming musical in which a mother and daughter fall in love with one man while on holiday in Spain. The film, entitled Walking on Sunshine, is currently in pre-production and said to feature a long list of hits from the 1980s in its soundtrack. The Australian pop-starturned-actress Kylie, recently starred in French film Holy Motors, directed by Leos Carax.

Suspicious

“We were all kind of suspicious of Jimmy Savile. “We all felt, ‘there’s something not right there’. “But we didn’t know what, and it was kind of in the back of our minds. “But you could never quite suss him out.” He adds: “There were loads of little birds about at Top of the Pops, of course there were. “What used to happen

upstairs in the upper echelons where Savile and the other DJs were - well, I never, ever knew where their dressing rooms were.”

Spaniards speak out FILM-maker Pedro Almodovar is among 300 high-profile Spaniards to sign a manifesto opposing Cataluna’s bid for independence. The actors, economists and political leaders from across the country have added their voice to the campaign in an effort to maintain unity within Spain. “Several hundred intellectuals and professionals have signed a call in favour of federalism and the left to respond to the growing secessionism being pushed by the Cataluna government and other nationalist political forces,” read the manifesto.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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Thatcher and Blunt in offshore banking probe From Page 1

string of financial leaks from some of Europe’s most controversial tax jurisdictions as austerity measures continue. Last month Greek journalist Kostas Vaxevanis was arrested for publishing the names of prominent tax dodgers, while this week German tax investigators searched the accounts of hundreds of UBS’ clients. “The sharing of financial data between authorities and institutions is increasing dramatically and is likely to continue as authorities seek to recover as much tax as possible in times of austerity,” explained Olive Press financial columnist Richard Alexander. He added: “Utility companies are even said to be providing usage data to demonstrate which people are permanent residents here. “It is clear the days of trying to stay under the radar in

INVESTIGATION: Blunt and his Ibiza pad By Mason Jones Spain are gone. “People must declare everything they should if they want to sleep at night.” Taxation specialist Peter Howarth says Hacienda – the Spanish tax authority – has started to clamp down on all forms of income from

Police raid premises in search for Ellie

PORTUGUESE police have raided a golf club as the search for a missing British girl intensifies. Seven-year-old Giselle Candice Silva, known to her family as Ellie, has been missing for almost four months after her father Filipe Silva took her in direct breach of a court order. Police yesterday raided his business Moura Golf Village in Vilamoura, on the Algarve, after a child fitting Ellie’s description was reported. Police did not find the child but are investigating claims she has been held there recently. Last month Ellie’s mother, Candice Gannon, told the Olive Press that Silva has connections in Andalucia from sailing in the area.

overseas. “A number of clients have reported receiving letters about their offshore bank accounts. It is the first time we have seen Hacienda using information supplied by a tax haven to pursue tax on undeclared income.

Data

“For countries under pressure to shore up their public finances, tax evasion is a logical area to target.” HMRC warned it would ‘come down hard’ on tax evaders and urged anyone banking in Jersey who has not made necessary disclosures to do so immediately. “We can confirm we have received the data and we are studying it,” HMRC said in a statement. An amnesty was announced earlier this year which allows expats in Spain to declare hidden assets and face a fixed penalty of 10%. The amnesty, which comes to an end on November 30, also offers immunity against criminal and civil penalties.

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Topped-up and robbed EXCLUSIVE by Mason Jones

Expats claim phone shop is linked to pickpocketing gang

TWO British holidaymakers believe a gang of pickpockets are linked to a branch of one of Europe's largest phone shops. The claims come after both were robbed just after using the same Fuengirola store to top up their phones. The British pair - who are friends from Kent - insist a Spanish employee singled them out as targets by appearing to signal to someone outside that they had cash on them. Both were robbed within minutes. Roy Holledge, 76, from Maidstone, had asked the employee of the shop, that cannot be named for legal reasons, to top up his phone for €20. But after giving him a €50 note the worker

Mijas mentalist A BRITISH man has been arrested for setting fire to three waste containers in La Cala de Mijas using a can of petrol. The 28-year-old man is accused of causing over €7,000 in damage to the bins and nearby gardens. Police were quickly on the scene and arrested the man after a chase.

had made a great fuss about it being fake. “I naively said I had just got out of the bank and opened my wallet to show him the rest of the money,” he told the Olive Press. “He then held the note in the air and pointed to a corner of it. “I realise now he was pointing to someone outside that I had money on me,” he added.

Shock

Holledge and his partner left the phone shop before being pickpocketed in a nearby supermarket just minutes later. So it came as a huge shock that a friend Hilary Brown, 74, from Tunbridge Wells suffered the same experience after visiting the shop this summer. On this occasion the employee also held the note up and pointed to the corner before Brown was then robbed of €250 and had her bank cards taken in a nearby store. “It was incredible because my bag was all zipped up and kept close to me at all times,” she said. Both cases have been reported to the police, however as we went to press, we were unable to get a comment. Have you been a victim of the same scam? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

OPINION Desperate measures IT is always sad when it takes a tragedy to change a country’s policy. That said, it is encouraging that the Spanish Banking Association has acted swiftly after two people committed suicide over repossession threats. It is the mark of a civilised society to try and protect those people who would face being homeless if they were evicted from their homes. After all, many of these victims have often lost their jobs and cannot pay their mortgages, let alone sometimes feed their families. As unemployment levels rise and Spain’s situation gets increasingly shaky, if anything, more should be done to help those facing eviction, often through no fault of their own.

Busy taxman With Spain desperately looking for ways to raise much needed cash, it is inevitable that the tax authorities should be on high alert. And for expats with offshore accounts, the recent investigations should be a wake up call. For anyone who might be looking nervously over their shoulder, now could be the time to seek some frank financial advice as innocence, or ignorance perhaps, could leave you with a hefty fine and even a criminal conviction. What were once tax havens may become tax burdens as campaigns seeking more financial transparency in places like Jersey and Malta gather pace. Tax dodgers beware!

In rude health The news that Spanish scientists have developed a pioneering robot to help speed up the recovery time of stroke victims is itself reason to be cheerful. But what is even more encouraging is the fact that this is just the latest in a series of cutting edge scientific developments led by Spanish researchers. Time and time again, breakthroughs in the treatment of diseases, from cancer to Alzheimer’s, are being spearheaded by Spaniards. So while Spain’s economic situation is at best a national embarrassment, and at worst a huge cause for concern, it appears the better-funded research sector seems to be in rude health.

theEE

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

Tel: 951166060 (admin) or 952895230 (editorial) 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. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 Urb Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon 13, Arriate 29350 Malaga Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es News editor: James Bryce james@theolivepress.es Reporters: Eloise Horsfield eloise@theolivepress.es Mason Jones mason@theolivepress.es

Distribution: 951 166 060 Design and page layout: Jackie McAngus Admin/advertising sales: Pauline Olivera admin@theolivepress.es SALES TEAM: West Costa del Sol Jane Jewson 673 958 858 Axarquia Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 Cadiz Elizabeth Gould 620 532 672 Ronda/San Pedro/Marbella Jon Clarke 691 831 399

OLIDAYS can be an expensive business. With costs such as buying new clothes, booking flights and arranging accommodation - many of us have already folked out hundreds of euros before we have even felt the sun on our face. And more often than not, the list of expenses also includes car hire. Queuing up to collect the keys on arrival at a foreign airport is a familiar holiday routine as hiring a car is often the only realistic option for getting around. But while there are genuine bargains to be had, some of the less charitable companies are being accused of cashing in by taking advantage of what is a captive market. Following the Olive Press’ recent stories about Brian’s Rent a Car and One Way Van Hire, we have been inundated with calls and emails from readers complaining about being similarly ripped off when hiring a vehicle. We told how both companies had provided sub-standard vehicles and failed to return deposits, despite customers denying having caused any damage. Among the biggest complaints levelled at car hire firms are the hidden costs, which often leave consumers with a far higher bill than they had anticipated. The true cost of this practice was exposed earlier this year, when it was revealed holidaymakers were being forced to pay up to three times as

FEATURE

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Hidden horrors As a growing number of complaints are made against car hire firms holding customers to ransom, James Bryce investigates the pitfalls that holidaymakers should look out for

the price. The car must then be returned with an empty tank with no refund being given for fuel left in the car. “Consumers are not being given the full facts about these extra charges,” said Which? Travel spokesman Rochelle Turner. Helle Hollis checklist for car hire: To compound the problem, the hire 1. What does the rental rate include? firms who have 2. What insurance is included? adopted the ‘full3. Which fuel policy is applied - and what is the fuel price charged? empty’ policy are 4. Can I only pay with credit card? seemingly charg5. Shall I prepay the rental? ing a hefty pre6. Do the staff speak my language? mium for the 7. Does the rental include 24 hour road assistance? fuel, with cus8. Can I hire baby seats, GPS or other extras? tomers hand9. Is the extra driver for free? ing over up to 10. Is the office open 24 hours 7 days a week? €20 more for 11. Are there minimum age requirements? a full tank than 12. Are there upper age limit requirements? they would at a 13. Where do I pick up my rental car? petrol station. 14. Will I be driving a new car? This policy is be-

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much for a hire car than the original advertised price. According to a survey by consumer group Which? Travel, many are being forced to pay for a full tank of fuel on arrival that would ordinarily be expected to be included in

coming more and more common in Spain, as hire companies come under increasing pressure to make a profit in what remain tough economic times. But not all have adopted it, with some firms keen to distance themselves from the more mercenary suppliers. “We clearly inform our clients that the car will be delivered with a full tank of fuel, which is paid for on arrival, so they don’t have to worry about trying to find the nearest petrol station,” Christine Fleischer, marketing manager at Malaga-based rental firm Helle Hollis, told the Olive Press. “We refund any remaining fuel to the nearest quarter of a tank and we clearly indicate on our website what is included in the rental price so there are no nasty surprises on arrival.” One of the firms which does have a ‘full-empty’ policy, Record Go, are also at the centre of another controversial hidden cost being levied on travellers - a ‘mandatory’ insurance payment. This is said to act as a damage excess waiver, but it has provoked anger among many customers who claim to have separate insurance policies which deem the extra payment unnecessary. But some firms are allegedly refusing to hand over the keys until the payment is made, with customers who refuse to pay having up to €1,200 frozen on their credit cards to cover possible damage. Record Go, a hire company operating out of Malaga airport, is among the worst offenders for using this tactic, which has caused angry scenes at pick up desks due to the insurance demand. Rival company Goldcar has also been accused of ‘ambushing’ customers with the hidden charges. One Record Go customer, who asked to remain anonymous, was forced to queue for nearly two hours behind other disgruntled customers before being told he would not be given the keys until he paid. “I explained that I was here on business and I didn’t want the insurance because I have

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FEATURE

annual cover, but they told “I rented a car from Goldcar for a weekend. On the me I couldn’t take the car internet the price was €30 but after fuel and adding without paying,” he told the an additional driver and insurance it was €190. I Olive Press. could not claim back the half tank of fuel, which was “I eventually paid a deposit also charged at a premium. My advice is to stick with but I have since demanded the big, established firms. They may sound expensive a refund, which I have been at the start but they do not use all the tricks that told I will receive soon.” some of the others I have experienced seem to use.” Phil Walker, from Saddleworth, was also forced to wait Comment left by Mark on the Olive Press website in a long queue at the Record Go desk before being made to pay a fee which nearly douto have been bled the total cost. engaging in this The 54-year-old, who runs practise of sella lifestock supply company, ing customers had booked through car hire additional extras broker Holiday Autos. they do not reBut on picking up the vehicle quire.” from Record Go for a three She added: week holiday in Malaga with “We take these his wife, he was forced to complaints very hand over an additional £174. seriously and “I thought I’d got a good deal are constantly because it was only £175 for looking at ways the whole trip, but I couldn’t to improve our believe it when they made “We are very aware of the business to ensure customme pay the extra charge,” he ongoing industry wide issue ers are treated fairly by our said. whereby low cost suppliers suppliers.” Holiday push their A Goldcar spokesman said: A u t o s insurance “Goldcar takes these claims a c k n ow l p r o d u c t s very seriously and we are con“I always use a reputable edged the locally on tinuously looking for ways to company, they don’t get their ‘ i n dustr y c o l l e c - improve the information prohands on my credit card until I wide issue’ tion,” said vided to the customer.” have the status report and they of compaJo King, Other extras which holidaydon’t get their keys back until nies chargHead of makers are regularly finding I have the return status report. ing hidden Brand and themselves shelling out for And they have never quibbled.” fees and Marketing include child seats and addiComment left by Amparo vowed to C o m m u - tional drivers. on the Olive Press website end its asnications As with all things, the best adsociation at Holiday vice is to shop around and to with any Autos. establish exactly what is and firms found guilty of wrongdo- “We will review our relation- is not included before hiring ing. ship with any supplier found a car.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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Former MP who wrongly sued Olive Press now in court for claiming £60,000 of bogus parliamentary expenses

Payback By James Bryce

A FORMER MP who unsuccessfully sued the Olive Press over claims she used House of Commons paper to block a footpath, made €75,000 of fraudulent expense claims herself. Margaret Moran – who enraged neighbours when she cut off public paths around her estate near Orgiva – faces 21 charges, including 15 of false accounting. The former MP for Luton South submitted six forged invoices relating to work as a politician. These included one for a boiler and central heating

FALL FROM GRACE: Moran as MP (left) and after being exposed, while (top) fated note system that was never installed and others that related to non-existent utility

bills, building work that was never carried out and expenses for her own personal

What a bitch! Animal sanctuary boss ‘spent €1 million of public money on trips, spa treatments and cars’ A WOMAN charged with inflicting a ‘slow and agonising’ death on thousands of pets has also been accused of siphoning off up to €1 million of public money. Carmen Marin, who allegedly put down 2,800 animals in Torremolinos without enough anaesthetic, now stands accused of a string of other offences. In a hard-hitting report by Seprona, the Guardia Civil’s environmental arm, it is claimed Marin spent up to €1 million of her animal sanctuary’s funds on trips abroad, spa treatments, cars and driving lessons between 2008 and 2010. It is also alleged that she also transferred €100,000 of the ‘non profit-making’ company’s money to help her daughter redecorate her cosmetic surgery clinic. Marin (pictured

right with her husband) also allegedly illegally subletted a town hall building donated to the group to a restaurant owner, which made her €38,500 in rent. Marin was arrested in 2010 over claims she had given smaller doses of the anaesthetic Dolethal than was needed for pets to die humanely. She also failed to give the animals proper veterinary supervision. In some cases animals were put into freezers while they were still alive.

Christmas and birthday cards. Moran, 57, is also said to have ‘flipped’ her address in order to claim expenses she was not entitled to. In a case described by the judge as ‘highly unusual’, Moran was not present in court after being deemed not fit to stand trial due to depression. Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said that Moran claimed more than €75,000 in taxpayer-funded expenses ‘which enabled her to receive over €66,000 to which she was not entitled’, during the hearing at Southwark Crown Court. The MP, who stood down at the 2010 election, had previously failed in a bid to sue the Olive Press after we reported how the socialist had used official House of Commons letterheaded notepaper to order neighbours and their vehicles off her estate near Orgiva. It later emerged she had also wrongfully put through the €900 bill paid to the UK’s leading libel lawyers Carter & Ruck to pursue the case against us. Despite coming under substantial pressure to apologise we stood by the story and were able to produce a copy of the note (see above) that had been originally used.

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Expat saves 13 dogs as parts of Andalucia get a tenth of annual rainfall in just half an hour By James Bryce HEAVY rain has affected parts of Andalucia just weeks after flooding caused extensive damage in Malaga. In some parts of the region - where the average annual rainfall is 500 litres per square metre - 50 litres fell in just half an hour. In Alhaurin de la Torre, 14 people were evacuated following flooding which left around 50 homes inaccessible. Flood warnings were issued in Mijas and Arriate, while residents in Alora were left without drinking water after wells were contaminated by the overflowing Guadalhorce River. In Cartama, expat Debbie Norman worked around the clock to save 13 pedigree dogs from their kennel beside their home, when the nearby Guadalhorce river flooded its banks. “It was a real shock to wake up to a foot of water, which over the next hour rose by at least another two feet,” she said. “Had we not been here I am sure a lot of our dogs would have died.” In total, 14 roads were cut off across the region as the adverse weather caused chaos for homeowners and businesses. Other regions across Spain were also badly affected by the rain, with 14,000 chil-

Flood rescue drama

OUT OF HARM’S REACH: Debbie Norman carries one of the 13 dogs to safety dren kept away from school due to road closures in Alicante. Meanwhile, the Spanish Insurance Consortium has confirmed it has processed 367 of the 1,216 compensation claims it has received in relation to the Malaga

floods in September. A total of €1.2 million has so far been paid out to 15 claimants, covering damage caused to their homes and belongings. In more good news, reservoirs around the region are now approaching 75% full.

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HOT TOPIC MALAGA Airport has been forced to deny it has been switching off the air conditioning in order to cut costs. Businessman Jeremy Nicholls, who travels through the airport every week, says temperatures regularly reach 27C when he checks in. “The check-in staff told me they’d turned it off to cut costs,” said Nicholls, managing director of advertising firm Copywrite in Gibraltar. “It can be like a hothouse

NEWS

Airport denies cutting off its air conditioning to save costs

Clarke, from London, insisted the airport felt ‘overly warm’ when flying back to the UK waiting for flights, and back from Malaga last month. in September it was totally “But I couldn’t tell if that was due to a lack of air conunbearable. “Both staff and passengers ditioning or not,” she said. have been up in arms,” in- “It was just warmer than it sisted the 53-year-old, origi- should have been for an international airport.” nally from London. Another passenger Gillian When contacted by the Olive Press, a Malaga airport spokesman flatly denied the claims. “It is completely untrue,” she said. A TRADE union has accused British Airways of committing ‘a bru“The airport, like tal attack’ on Spain, after airline Iberia announced plans to slash all public build4,500 jobs. ings, is kept at a The parent company of Iberia and British Airways, the Internationset temperature al Airlines Group (IAG) took the decision to lay off a quarter of its according to regstaff after revealing the Spanish carrier is losing €1.7 million a day. ulations. It is one of the biggest staff cuts in Spain’s history. “It is not arbiOther measures being taken include reducing network capacity by trary; it’s a fixed 15% to focus on the most profitable routes and cutting 25 aircraft thing,” she addfrom its 156-strong fleet. ed. It is hoped the plan will help reduce Iberia’s cash loses by mid-2013, and raise profits by at least €600m. Have you got hot and bothered at Malaga airport? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

EXCLUSIVE by Eloise Horsfield

Pilots condemn brutal ‘British Airways attack’ on Iberia

News IN BRIEF

Halloween horror

MADRID City Council’s economy chief Pedro Calvo has been called before a judge as part of the investigation into the death of four teenagers at a Halloween party.

Knives out

Chef Ferran Adria has appeared in a Barcelona court accused of swindling an investor in his famous elBulli restaurant out of €66 million.

Punch drunk

Former featherweight champion Scott Harrison has been sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting three men at a brothel in Alhaurin.

Zero earnings

Over 1.7 million families in Spain – 312,700 more than this time last year – do not have any member working, according to new figures by the National Statistics Institute.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

NEWS

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A revealing night FASHIONISTAS have turned out in their droves for a lingerie show marking a special milestone for a popular womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group. Costa Women - set up as a social and business networking community - celebrated

reaching 1,250 members by hosting the event at Skybar in Nueva Andalucia. Money raised on the night will go towards helping a family who lost their home and possessions in the recent Malaga fires.

Whiffy Jerez Save a bro in Spain

THIS is what it looks like when the binmen go on strike. A thousand tonnes of rubbish have collected on the streets of Jerez following 11 days of strikes by refuse firm Urbaser. The company is objecting to the 20% of cuts to be made to the sector in 2013 by the bankrupt town hall. Now the Junta has stepped in to assist with talks, which are ongoing.

OLIVE Press columnist Keith Spitalnick (above) is growing a moustache for charity. Taking part in Movember, a month-long charity event, the boss of currencies company HiFX in Spain hopes to raise awareness and much needed funds for prostate cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer in Spain with 18,870 diagnosed each year. To donate and follow Keithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hairy journey go to: http://mobro.co/keithspitalnick

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the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

GREEN NEWS

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Green news IN BRIEF

Cig benefit

SPAIN is to become the first country in Europe to recycle cigarette butts, thanks to a joint project between British American Tobacco and TerraCycle.

Green shoots

Marbella Town Hall has unveiled its brand new €7 million ‘green zone’ at Tres Jardines in San Pedro, containing 10,000 different plant species.

Fishy tale A HANDFUL of tiny fish on the verge of extinction have been removed from Andalucian waters in an attempt to boost their numbers. The 300 fartets and 40 freshwater blennies were taken from pools in Almeria and Rio Gordo, Malaga, and will be bred at a farm in Cordoba. Their offspring will later be released back into rivers and wetlands throughout Andalucia.

Fartets, which are less than two inches long when fully grown, are only found in Spain and north Africa and are officially in danger of extinction. They need very pure water to survive and are in serious decline due to a loss of habitat. Freshwater blennies live on riverbeds of the Mediterranean and Africa – but there are currently just four colonies known in Andalucia.

Gust power

Spanish wind farms produced the energy equivalent of 200,000 barrels of petrol on November 1 – which if laid out in a row would stretch from Malaga to Granada.

STRUGGLE: Fartets (top) and freshwater blennies (bottom) are finding it hard to survive

Red kites up by 50%

THE number of breeding pairs of an endangered bird of prey has increased by half in the last year. The Junta has recorded sightings of 74 red kite pairs, compared to just 40 in 2011. Most of the birds live in the Donana National Park, where recent efforts to support the species have included installing two artificial nesting platforms to replace those which had collapsed, and putting out food. There is still much work to be done, after no breeding pairs were found in the west of Andalucia despite its habitat being ideal for the red kite to thrive.

Green warriors Britons and Spaniards work together, using donkeys, to improve animal habitats

A GROUP of British volunteers has spent two weeks protecting a natural park in Andalucia. Ten helpers from UK-based NGO Conservation Volunteers spent a fortnight at the limestone-dominated Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, 6km from El Burgo. Working alongside the park’s network of volunteers in a project overseen by the Junta, the team planted trees, installed nesting boxes for birds and bats and strengthened the banks of the river. In the absence of paths, the volunteers used donkeys to transport cement and water. Conservation Volunteers organises working holidays to allow the environmentally-conscious to help preserve green spaces all over the planet.

HARD SLOG: The team transports materials

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the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

Axq IN BRIEF Slime stop THE Junta has been urged to invest in halting the advance of ‘green slime’ fungus in Rincon de la Victoria’s Jurassic-age caves.

Cheaper bill Torrox Town Hall has managed to shave €140,000 off its annual electricity bill after adopting a number of energysaving measures.

Job cuts A new retail park planned for Velez Malaga could result in the loss of 300 local companies and 1,000 jobs in the area, a local business association has estimated.

For more on the Axarquia, including travel, photos, plus advice on where to eat and where to stay, don’t miss this issue’s 16-page supplement starting on page 21.

AXARQUIA NEWS

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Wading through mud AN expat businessman has slammed the authorities for ‘destroying morale’ after being given just a fortnight to cobble together 13 separate documents about his staff. Peter Langdale, who runs a seed nursery in Velez Malaga, was outraged after receiving a letter from the Employment Ministry ordering him to supply information about his 100-strong workforce. The documents relate to staff salaries, promotions and equal opportunities – with the threat of a €6,000 fine if anything was missing. The demands even included a dossier on company maternity and breastfeeding policy. “It’s ridiculous,” said the Yorkshireman, 58, who set up his business nearly three decades ago. “The economy needs companies like mine to provide jobs right now, so we need to be supported. “Spain is the 136th hardest

‘Irrational’ demands for breastfeeding and maternity information not helping small businesses, insists expat company owner

HARD WORKERS: Peter Langdale (far right) and team country in the world to set up a business – even harder than in Zambia and Cameroon. “Why should people bother to try when they’re going to get kicked in the teeth like

this?” As it happens his company has been able to meet the

demands as it has a human resources department which was able to locate everything needed. “But for small and mediumsized companies it’s a very different story. “I know another business owner, also in the horticulture business, who only employs four people. “His business was severely damaged during the floods in September and just as he was starting to recover from that, he got a similar demand on his doormat. It completely destroys morale.”

Cudeca -style hospice for Motril

A BRITISH author has thrown his weight behind a new ‘Cudeca-style’ hospice on the Costa Tropical. Chris Stewart, author of Driving over Lemons, is vice-president of Acompalia, a palliative care project planned for Motril. Stewart is helping founder Tina Emmott raise the €1.5 million needed for the hospice – which has already achieved approval from the town hall. “In Malaga you have Cudeca, but there’s nothing like that for people in Granada,” said Emmott. “Our programme of care will be completely free to patients and their families and will include both outpatient and inpatient facilities,” she added. See www.acompalia.org for more information

Sex and Nerja

A SEX and the City-style sitcom set in Nerja is appealing for public votes in order for filming to go ahead. Cuarentaneras (‘40 Somethings’), based on a novel by Spanish author Regina Roman, recounts four women’s adventures as they juggle issues of professional life, romance and family. But the 12-episode internet series, to be filmed mostly in Nerja, has now launched a campaign for public support and donations after falling into financial difficulty. “I am sure the series will be fantastic, just like the book,” said supporter Mari Manzano, one of 105 fans who have already voted for the programme to be made.

STAR PERFORMERS: Cuarentaneras cast members

Find 40ñeraslaserie on Facebook or go to www.lanzanos.com/caja/ proyecto/3285/ to support the project.

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NEWS

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

GIB NEWS

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Green gripe

Mini Armada CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has slammed Spain for a ‘scandalous act of aggression’ after a Spanish Naval ship entered Gibraltar waters. He urged the British Government to respond to the incident in the same way it would if the incursion had happened off the UK coastline. “Activity of the type seen by the Spanish Navy is a scandalous act of aggression which is illegal, imprudent, unprofessional and irresponsible on the part of whoever authorised it,” said Picardo.

Row breaks out over Thinking Green conference after it emerges government spent £160,000 to bring Al Gore to headline GIBRALTAR Government has accused the opposition of ‘sour grapes’ after a row broke out over the cost of the recent Thinking Green conference held on the Rock. The GSD questioned the value of hosting the event after it emerged the government had paid £160,000 for former US vice-president Al Gore (above) to attend. But government officials hit back, claiming the true cost of the event was likely to be around £97,000 once additional costs, and income from ticket sales and sponsors, had been factored in. “Whether the opposition like it or not, the Thinking Green seminar was an outstanding success,” said a spokesman. “The criticism of the event, from a party that squandered millions and millions of pounds of taxpayers money over 16 years in office, smacks of nothing more than sour grapes.”

The Spanish government has announced that it is to impose a new rate of IVA/Vat on Funerals which will take the average cost of a funeral in Spain from €4000 up to €4840

Would you like to save yourselves a fortune ?

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Makes you think doesn’t it? Iberian Funeral Plans is the only fully legal Spanish registered Funeral Planning Company Legal Offices and staff ensuring contracts are put in place with leading Funeral Directors No interest, admin fees, set up charges or final settlement fees are added to our plans

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Less really does equal More with an Iberian Funeral Plan For further information on our plans please contact our offices on 952 595 691 (Malaga) or 965 993 498 (Alicante) for a chat or a no obligation home visit or go to www.iberianfuneralplans.com or e-mail: info@iberianfuneralplans.com Also at Ayamonte, Castilla, Nerja, Tenneriffe, Mallorca, Portimao Iberian Funeral Plans SL, IFP Iberian LDA & IFP Iberian UK Ltd - Reg no 510037275

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GIB NEWS

Booked up

Gib IN BRIEF Bragging flights

Famous authors, including Madhur Jaffrey (left) and Ken Hom (below), are lined up for Gibraltar Literary Festival

A PROMOTIONAL video about Gibraltar is to be shown on all British Airways long haul flights throughout December in an effort to attract business to the Rock.

A HOST of famous writers could be set for an appearance on the Rock at the first Gibraltar International Literary Festival. Paddy Ashdown, Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch and Ken Hom are just some of the names being linked with the event, which will take place from October 25

Fab mail

to 27 2013. The festival - which aims to appeal to both young and old - will include debates, interviews and talks on a wide range of subjects.

MAKING HISTORY AN historic item has quite literally become part of the furniture after joining one of the coast’s leading insurance firms in its new office. The original Lloyds of London underwriting box, which dates from the 1950s, is being proudly displayed by Ibex Insurance at its new premises in Sotogrande. PROUD: Ibex The fixture was the star attraction at the launch of the com- founder John pany’s spacious new offices in Harrison Sotomarket, which was attended by over 100 guests. Ibex is one of the largest providers of insurance to expats, with offices throughout Spain and Gibraltar. Call 900 707 000 or email sotogrande@ibexinsure. com

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has written to US President Barack Obama to congratulate him on his re-election to the White House.

Dopey Brit Other names being lined up to appear include historian Paul Preston, chef Madhur Jaffrey and Neanderthal expert Sir Paul Mellars, alongside a host of local authors. “I am thrilled that the idea of establishing a literary festival in Gibraltar has come to fruition,” said Tourism Minister Neil Costa. “With its rich cultural heritage, Gibraltar is perfectly well placed to host such a prestigious event.”

A 27-year-old British man from La Linea has been charged with the importation and possession with intent to supply 222.5g of cannabis into Gibraltar.

Police punch

A 43-year-old Gibraltarian, Paul Dalli, has been jailed for 37 weeks after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting a policeman.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 59.73% full Same week last year: 75.85% Same week in 2002: 48.54% 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 1.2712 American Dollars 0.7994 British Pounds 1.2698 Canadian Dollars 7.4578 Danish Kroner 9.8529 H Kong Dollars 7.3063 Norwegian Kroner 1.5544 Singapore Dollars

Dear Olive Press I RECENTLY had the pleasure of going to Portugal, a country in the same comparable economic mess as Spain, possibly even worse. I was astounded to discover in Lisbon, where I expected the prices to be higher, refreshments and snacks cost even less than in Spain. For example, a large coffee averaged 80 cents, while a beer much bigger than a cana was only €1. No wonder these places were a lot busier and resembled the bar/cafe culture of Spain five years ago. It is obvious here that the majority of bar and cafe owners think the solution to the economic crisis is to put the prices up, but it does not work. It is time they learnt that less expensive prices mean more customers and therefore more profit. Anthony Harrison, Ronda

Homeopathy debate Regarding ‘Hurray for homeopathy’ (issue 146), Dr Vigil is absolutely correct. Homeopathy is used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide as their primary form of medical care. In fact, it is the second most

LETTERS

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Simple economics

widely used form of medicine worldwide and growing by over 20% a year. The Cuban government has been using homeopathy to prevent annual leptospirosis outbreaks for the last three years with stunning success. India is now using it to prevent and cure malaria, and Brazil is using it to prevent dengue fever. Homeopathy is a registered health profession in numerous countries. The Swiss government’s latest published health technology assessment concluded that homeopathy was not only effective, but also cost effective. Laurie Willberg, via website Regarding ‘Hurray for homeopathy’ (issue 146), homeopathy is nothing more than a colossal fraud and I find it staggering that people still buy into it even to the extent that the UK’s NHS funds homeopathic ‘treatments’. The only effect homeopathy has is a placebo effect, which may make you ‘feel’ better if you have malaria, but you might end up dead anyway.

To continue fleecing people of their money for sugar pills and tinctures which contain no active ingredient is nothing more a cynical deceit and should be exposed at every opportunity.

that surprising you have to move, however old you are.

J. Roberts, Jerez

Regarding ‘Driving up prices’ (issue 147), relatively speaking, for a resident in Spain, it is significantly more expensive to live here than it was, say, a decade

Cat divide Regarding ‘Forced out’ (issue 146), why an elderly couple just feeding cats and their kittens get treated this way is beyond me, it is just pathetic. They should have taken the cats in as their own. I cannot understand how people can get wound up by a few strays, and yet making this lovely couple’s life so bad they have to leave their beloved home. Shame on those responsible.

Ben, via website

Taxing times

ago. Gas prices have tripled or more in five years. IBI rates have skyrocketed, as have water and electric costs. Personal income taxes have risen, as has IVA (VAT). A bottle of wine for two quid does not mean Spain is cheap and comparing countries is not the way to evaluate how cheap a country is. Compare price rises as a resident, not a tourist, and the picture is vastly different.

Mood for change

Correction

Sara, via website Regarding ‘Forced out’ (issue 146), cats spread the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis. If you ignore the wishes of those who live around you, disregard the terms of your lease, and antagonise your landlord, then it is not

Fred, via website

Thanks to Olive Press reader Catharina for sending in this snap of a Ronda rainbow after the rains

We wish to apologise to our readers for printing the wrong information in ‘Banking staples’ (issue 147). Lidl will be offering 100g of food staples to food bank FESBAL for every own-brand nougat bought throughout the Christmas period, and not only on November 30 and December 1 as printed.

ll about the

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Issue 148 November 15-28 2012

xarquia

Frigiliana-based writer David Baird has witnessed the land of rebellion and resistance turn into a true tourist paradise

How the Axarquia awoke from its slumber W

AKING up on the summit of El Lucero is a little like having a ringside seat at the birth of the world.As the dawn sky shifts from purple to gold, you glimpse the mountains of Africa rising on the horizon above a silver sea. To the north, pine forests swim in the mists of Granada province, while below stark crags thrust up from dark valleys to catch the first rays of dawn. Here and there a column of smoke reaches up from a faraway farmhouse or hamlet. You are high above the Axarquia, the 988-square-kilometre eastern corner of Malaga province. And El Lucero, a limestone buttress soaring 1,700 metres above sea-level, is as good a place as any to appreciate this regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural grandeur. I had spent the night shivering in the ruins of an old Civil Guard post atop the mountain in order to research a book on the region. It is one of a number of relics left from the bitter struggle that during the 1940s and early 1950s saw guerrillas vainly attempt to overthrow the Franco regime. Their leader was a ruthless, charismatic character named El Roberto and legends about him and his band still circulate among the villages of the Axarquia. For quite a while after his rebellion was crushed, not a lot happened in the Axarquia (which comes from the Arabic sharquiyya, meaning the eastern zone). Turn to Page 22

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21 21

PEAK PRACTICE: Hiker arrives at the top of the El Lucero summit

Axarquia special

22 22

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From Page 21

While tourists began flocking to Torremolinos and Marbella in the 1960s and 1970s, it slumbered. Poor communications meant the Eastern Costa del Sol was largely bypassed by travellers. And that’s the good news. For this zone largely avoided the worst aberrations of the development boom. Mass tourism has not swamped it and the jetset has focussed on other parts, thank goodness. The locals of Frigiliana, one of the least-spoilt villages, seem to have heeded the words of King Juan Carlos when he visited in 1998. Highly impressed, he commented: “You have a very pretty pueblo. Do everything to conserve it.” This is also largely the case in villages around the region, including Comares, Riogordo and Sedella (pictured right). When I came here first, stepping off the bus in Nerja one December when fewer than a dozen foreigners were wintering in the town, land was selling at about two pesetas a square metre and wine was 10 pesetas a litre. Great, for the visitor. But not for the locals. A medieval lifestyle prevailed. The nearest hospital was in Malaga well over an hour away up a potholed road and ambulances and dentists were unknown.

Europe’s best climate

No longer. These days the Axarquia is truly part of the 21st century, with all the amenities you could expect... and all the pros and the cons that come with it. Ancient vines and olive groves have been uprooted to make way for urbanisations and villas. Hundreds of old farmhouses and village dwellings have been renovated and thousands of northern Eu-

apartment blocks to the high mountain ranges now line the sea- behind that not only help front. Decent bring cooler breezes in sumamenities were a mer, but keep out the cold long time in com- north winds in winter. EXQUISITE: Scenic Sedella and (right) ing, but the town One thing Torrox can legitiComares’ beautiful Mozarabic church has spruced itself mately claim: it stages one up, with an excel- of the coast’s biggest annual ropeans have either bought medieval Arab travellers, as lent promenade beanos. On a Sunday in midsecond homes or arrived to ‘a beautiful city with a fine and decent eating possibili- December tens of thousands live permanently under the mosque and an abundance ties. And now Spanish visitors scoff vast quantities of migas, sun. of fruit trees’. flock in too. a belly-filling dish served with Along the coast apartment Although now surrounded by Just along the coast, the first torrents of Moscatel wine. blocks have sprouted where modern development, the old language at Sweet, highonce the main crop was town is well worth visiting. bars and resalcohol wine sugar cane. Cane was king Cervantes passed this way as taurants along and raisins are for 1,000 years, but the last a tax collector and even men- the In 1959, five TorroxAxarquia sperefinery on the coast closed tions Velez in his epic novel Costa seafront cialities. locals discovered in 2006. Don Quixote. would appear In autumn you Fortunately, although con- Nearby is Torre del Mar, once to be German. will see grapes vast caverns with crete has scarred parts of the a huddle of poor fishermen’s Torrox insists laid out to dry amazing rock coast, it hasn’t ruined it and dwellings. According to one it has the best on paseros, inland the Axarquia is still an story, things took off when a climate in Euearthen beds formations escapists’ paradise of sleepy local builder built apartments rope, although facing south. villages and dramatic sierras. to house a string of Malaga its neighNo wonder the By far the largest town is businessmen’s mistresses. bours, such as wine is often Velez-Malaga, praised by Soon after, the Germans Nerja, are inclined to argue termed ‘bottled sunshine’, Ibn Battutah, greatest of started buying and scores of the point. This all stems down which you can verify by attending Competa’s celebrated wine festival in August. Be sure too to try the raisins, a luscious, mouth-watering experience. And for an idea of the work involved in producing them visit the Museo de la Pasa in Almachar. On the coast the biggest single reason for the Axarquia becoming an internationallyknown tourism venue lies underground: la Cueva de Nerja. On January 12, 1959, five local boys discovered these vast caverns with amazing rock formations and traces of Paleolithic man. General Franco himself came to view this phenomenon. Today in Andalucia only the Alhambra palace in Granada draws more visitors. The rest of Spain finally woke up to Nerja’s attractions when Verano Azul, a popular TV series, was filmed there. Talk about a reality show, Each of the Axarquia’s 31 towns and villages Riogordo is the place to be on Good Friday and when Chanquete (an old fishhave their own distinct charm and a history more Easter Saturday. You are likely to meet Roman erman in the series) died, eventful than you may imagine. centurions strolling down the main street and Nerja Town Hall flew its flag In El Borge, which is famed for its raisins and as Galician shepherds refreshing themselves in a at half-mast. And today an oil the birthplace of El Bizco, a blood-thirsty, one- bar. Hundreds of villagers take part in the annual painting of Antonio Ferrandiz, eyed bandit, you will find street names reflecting Passion Play. who played the part, hangs the fact that today’s mayor is a little to the left of High up in Comares you will find a fascinating there, while one of the boats Mao Tse-tung. town going back to the Phoenicians, where the from the series takes pride of Tiny Macharaviaya has interesting street names Arabic Moors later created a key settlement, tesplace in the town. too...Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans. They re- tament to which is the Patio de Comares in the Often you will hear more Engcall the days when it was known as Little Madrid, Alhambra. lish than Spanish in Nerja. thanks to the Galvez family who achieved power In Colmenar, meaning bee hive, you will approBack in the Napoleonic Wars and wealth and aided the USA’s fight for inde- priately find the region’s honey museum and a the British bombarded Nerpendence. charming village of cobbled steep streets. ja’s fortifications into rubble, but the locals don’t hold it

A region of variety

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EVOCATIVE: The boat Verano Azul from the celebrated soap opera and (inset) buskers in Nerja street

against them. Brits run many local businesses and are the mainstay of tourism. Without doubt the most spectacular scenery along the Costa del Sol lies beyond Nerja. From the town’s Balcon de Europa you gaze at mountains which tumble sheer into the azure Mediterranean and the area is now protected as a marine sanctuary, great for snorkelling. But, for me, the best part of the Axarquia is to be found inland. Here lies the Spain where my wife and I, after working around the world, finally discovered the ideal place to unpack our bags and take up residence. As we’d dug our way out of dust traps on the tracks of the Outback, as we’d struggled through the crowded streets of Hong Kong, we’d dreamed of an easy-going place in the sun where we could unwind.

There is no sight more attractive than the cubist dwellings of the Axarquia bathed in golden light Like many other expatriates, we found the ideal spot. What matter if the toilet was only a hole in the ground, the roof beams were near to collapse and the house could only be reached up 40 or so cobbled steps. It was autumn and there is no sight more attractive than the cubist dwellings of the Axarquia bathed in that golden light. The one we finally found in Frigiliana looked down on a mosaic of carefully-tended fields, irrigated by channels first built by the Moors. To the rear rose the precipitous slopes of the Sierra Almijara. It is up here in the heady heights of the Tejeda and Almijara sierras, forming part of a 40,000-hectare nature park, that one can really see the best of the Axarquia. Once mule trains, charcoalburners, smugglers and wood-cutters trod the paths through the mountains. Now they are largely deserted, except for hikers, bikers and bird-watchers. The last wolf disappeared a century ago, but you can catch

Like something out of The Hobbit

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

Eloise Horsfield describes how she ended up on a ‘village hop’ tour of the Axarquia after getting lost

glimpses of mountain goats, wild boar, foxes and other wildlife amid these tortuous ranges. Maroma, the highest peak in Malaga province at 2,068 metres, is often wreathed in cloud, in winter sheathed in snow. In the past neveros (snowmen) would pack the snow in esparto baskets in summer and bring it by mule to the coast to use for refrigeration. For Malaguenos, hiking to Maroma’s summit is something of a pilgrimage. Quite a number trek up at the summer solstice to enjoy the dawn (best to be fit and wellequipped). See Summit to get excited about on page??? Just to confirm that you have made the right choice in coming to the Axarquía, a plaque at the top records: “This mountain is the centre of the world./This mountain like any mountain is a sacred place./ That’s why you are here...” David Baird is the author of several books on the Axarquía, including East of Malaga — Essential Guide, Sunny Side Up — The 21st century hits a Spanish village and Between Two Fires — Guerrilla war in the Spanish sierras (Maroma Press). More information at: http://maromapress.wordpress.com/

E arrived after nightfall, having left Granada late in the afternoon and woven through the Andalucia countryside in our hire car. Aiming for Colmenar, we had somehow ended up a little too far south. But none of us were complaining since the roads were pleasantly empty and the views nothing short of delightful. “Um, how about Canillas de Aceituno?” asked Mario as we reached yet another crossroads, dusk by now well upon us. And what a charming choice it turned out to be, this stunning spot, sitting high up in the foothills of the Sierra Tejeda. Within an hour we were supping a welcome cana at Bar Sojahi, whose friendly barman had helped sort us out with our own apartment for the night, for just €45. We later dined at the Asador la Maroma, which offered massive portions, great wine and a chatty waiter. By the time we left we had discussed the local team’s football loss that day and learnt all about his love of snowboarding in the nearby Sierra Nevada. “I go there every weekend in winter but I always love coming back to Canillas, my real home,” he said. It was only the next morning however that we discovered Canillas’ true glory, as we took breakfast in its tiny square while soaking up in the autumn sunshine.

Surrounded by towering peaks such as Rompealbaldas and Maroma – Malaga’s highest mountain at 2,068m – the village boasts fabulous views, stretching all the way to the sea, some 20 clicks south. We then set off towards Colmenar, of course stopping to admire Lake Vinuela, a peaceful oasis in a landscape of gullies and rolling hills, rather like a scene out of The Hobbit. The rather sleepy village of Colmenar is named after the Spanish word for hive, colmena, and – unsurprisingly – has a bee-keeping tradition dating back to the 18th century. There is even a honey museum, which aims to explain the importance of beekeeping and revive its origins. “Families have passed on the knowledge from generation to generation,” explained museum director Fernando

BREATHTAKING: Rural idyll and (inset) a church tower in Colmenar de Miguel Rey, one of just 10 beekeepers left in the village. “And while there is more modern technology today, the process is basically the same and you can still get stung.” He added: “The honey here is more expensive than the cheap stuff you get in the supermarket but it is much better – and you can taste that.” After a picnic lunch – only in Andalucia is this possible in early November – we set off to visit one last Axarquia village, Riogordo. This historic, little-visited town, sitting in a dip in the landscape, is known for its rich mineral water – which was probably what attracted Neolithic settlers to it. After a brief clamber along its river bank, we grabbed a quick coffee before jumping back in the car, full of pleasant memories of the Axarquia.

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Goat jams,

RAFFIC jams around my village of Competa are not usually a problem. But you do need to look out for goats, who cause regular blockages in the lanes around the area. They mostly come first thing in the morning or at dusk when the goatherds are bringing their flocks down from the high pastures above the village. The locals know how to handle them, but the reaction from tourists is often hilarious, with some looking utterly terrified, while others jump out of their cars to take hasty photographs and, in turn, block the traffic flow from behind. My next door neighbour is a goatherd, as it happens, the third in a generation and whose father still does his share of the work at the grand old age of 91. It is an admirable pastime, and the real joy is receiving fresh goats milk in exchange for allowing their goats to graze the olive groves surrounding our home.

UK government advisor Ray Rowden finally moved to Competa to open a restaurant when all of the land to the coast was agricultural and no motorway existed. While things have certainly changed, on arriving as a resident I was struck by the way in which rural Spain still generally ticks along at quite a gentle pace. In one local bar, for example, the farmers roll up on their donkeys or horses, tie them up outside, get plastered, and finally allow their steeds to take them home, often well after nightfall. Competa is a lovely spot,

VILLAGE CHARM: Competaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 16th century church

I moved to Competa from Sussex four years ago, having first visited the white village on holiday 30 years ago,

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politics and all clinging precariously to the mountains of the Almijara range, dominated by Maroma, one of the region’s highest peaks. Once a key battle ground in the final struggle between the Moors and Christians over 600 years ago, it has a very historic feel. The church, built in 1512, dominates the main plaza with an elegant tower added two centuries later. The village centre has changed little over the centuries, with winding narrow streets and beautifully kept old houses, many with distinct Moorish influenced architecture. Roaming through the village streets is a great way to spend a day.

The surrounding countryside is popular with expats, who speak 32 different languages The village and surrounding countryside has a population of around 4000, with the village itself remaining quintessentially Spanish, while the surrounding countryside is extremely popular with expats, who speak a total of 32 different languages. It is a cosmopolitan place and becoming increasingly interesting for arts and music. We have a local recording studio, a number of local flamenco stars living in the town and Competa buzzes with cultural activities of all kinds. The Alberdini hotel boasts regular flamenco nights, using authentic local artists, while my own restaurant El Pilon offers monthly ballet and opera nights on a big screen during winter.

Picture by JON CLARKE

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Dead interesting SAID to have been designed so the dead would not turn their backs on each other, it is the only round cemetery in Spain. Now locals in Sayalonga near Competa, hope that their unusual dead centre, built in 1840, is to be promoted better as a tourist attraction. A visitor centre is now open and a local historian is urging the authorities to designate it a BIC, or site of specific cultural interest.

CONGESTION: Local goat herd blocks the road near Competa The Competa Amateur Performance Organisation put on regular events throughout the year, including ballet and dance gala performances, using local artists and some of the best dancers from London’s West End, variety shows and even an annual adult pantomime at Christ-

mas, which is tinged with blue humour. The village is also home to many painters and sculptors, who open up their studios for Competa Art Walkabout every May. The village knows how to mark saints days and holidays, with magical candlelit

processions, but highlight of the year is The Night of the Wine on August 15. As a political advisor for the Labour Party in the UK, I have been fascinated by the local politics. What is also so different here is that elections really matter as the locally-elected mayors

Where to stay and eat A good bet is El Pilon, a charming and usually buzzing restaurant run by Ray and Tom, with a great varied menu and delicious tapas. The Gaudi-style Alberdini Hotel also has a superb restaurant, with a distinct slant towards local fare. It also offers accommodation in quirky bungalows, with a terrace with amazing views. Meanwhile, if you are looking for one of Andalucia’s finest rural

retreats, head up on a mountain track five kms until you come to Casa de la Mina, which was recently renovated and is a great place to walk from, with an excellent restaurant to boot. A range of bed and breakfast choices are also available, including the wonderful Dutch-run Casa los Dos, sitting in an amazing spot down a country lane between the village and the sea. Simply breathtaking.

have real power in their individual communities. It also has little to do with one’s party allegiances, with many people voting for a candidate from a party very different from their beliefs. Our mayor Jose Luis Torres is in the PP party, but despite being a card-carrying member of the Labour Party I didn’t hesitate to vote for him. He was previously the parish priest, who was persuaded to give up the priesthood in order to help the village that had been wracked with corruption for decades. He has done loads for village, giving it back its pride, by repairing its charming cobbled streets and sprucing up its many charming corners. Even better, the first thing he did on assuming office was to take substantial pay cut. He felt that the economic crisis was hitting ordinary families and that he should share the burden. He has since cleaned up affairs in the town hall and made it among Spain’s three ‘best run’, so no surprise he

was re-elected last year with an increased majority. Competa’s annual ‘blue’ panto is Aladdin this year. It is running from November 29 to December 1 at the Museum

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Jon Clarke discovers that the Axarquia has a long and rich history of winemaking

True vintage

HE Axarquia was producing top quality wines way before Rioja and Ribero del Duero got into the mix. Indeed, in 1933 the region became the first in Spain to have its own DO – or denominacion de origin. But the area can also claim to have one of the longest traditions of winemaking in Spain, with vines first being planted by the Phoenicians up to 3,000 years ago. They were later heralded by the Roman poet Columella, and back in 1502 the Catholic Monarchs were so keen on the fabulous sweet wines that they took the first known measure to protect the regional wine from imported products. A century later Malaga wine producers formed a guild, the forerunner of today’s ‘consejos reguladores’ (control boards). It came about just as the wines started to become fashionable abroad, particularly in the UK from the 17th century. At the time, there were said to be around 14,000 wine presses in Malaga and – along with Jerez - many British merchants

moved to the area. Evidence of their success can still be found, for example, at Venta Galway, high in the Montes de Malaga hills, named after an Irish merchant who settled there then. But, as was the case in many European regions, the industry was destroyed by the phylloxera bug that arrived in the late 19th century. It wiped out the vast majority of vineyards and the amount of land under vine dropped from 100,000 hectares at its peak to just 6,000 hectares today; many for raisins or eating grapes. So the crucial work being undertaken by a number of companies today to make the sweet wines fashionable again is vital as a dynamo for the region.

One vineyard Bodegas Bentomiz is beating the crisis with international success, writes Rose Jones

Inspired by the vine

ARD work, luck and a little Axarquia magic have allowed a young, family-run winery near Sayalonga to overcome the recession and enjoy adventurous international success. The position of Bodegas Bentomiz is breathtakingly beautiful, with the magnificent Sierra Tejeda dominating the skyline to the north and south looking down to the coast. Here, Clara Verheij and Andre Both have rescued the abandoned vineyard above which they built their home. Recognising the enormous potential of the local Moscatel de Alejandria vines, they

have had rave reviews from wine journalists and sommeliers and are now selling their wines in no less than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants around Europe. The Axarquia’s unique terroir such as the vineyards steep slopes and the closeness of the sea - all provide an ideal microclimate for the grapes. The vines – some over 100 years old - are grown in hollows, to collect water, and are cut back to bushes, so that the leaves protect the maturing grapes from that scorching summer sun. They make naturally sweet wines in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.

They also produce a red from a blend of grapes: Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Rome, a little known vine indigenous to the Axarquia. They named their aromatic wines Ariyanas, after a nearby Moorish hamlet, which comes from the Arabic word for aromatic. The pair got their wine known by attending European wine fairs and celebrated restaurants, getting an 85% success rate. “If the sommelier tried our wine, the restaurant purchased it!” says Clara. For a tour call 952115939 or visit www.bodegasbentomiz.com

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In the footsteps of the bandits T

HIS 63-km journey will take your breathe away as you drive higher and higher into the soaring mountains following in the footsteps of the many bandoleros (bandits) who once terrified the region. In Alfarnate, for example, you can see the cell where El Tempranillo (the early one) was once held after threatening diners at the famous Venta de Alfarnate, built at the end of the 17th century. He had previously made diners eat their wooden spoons and watched on as they cracked their teeth! The government had actually set up the Guardia Civil in 1844 to try to stop this bandit activity and some of those arrested actually became Guardia themselves! The villages we visit have all managed to keep their rich and varied legacies and their festivities, when not religious, are based on every day life or celebrating their Moorish past. Finally, we must make a mention of the many olive trees along this route, which go to produce some of the best olive oil in the world. THE ROUTE We start in La Vinuela, overlooking its famous reservoir, which was built in 1981. It is a rather sweet village and the lake itself is popular for nonmotorised water sports, such as fishing and swimming. From La Vinuela to Alcaucin, which has an annual fiesta at Halloween to celebrate the chestnut and the aroma of them roasting is delicious! It is a pretty town, sitting high up in the hills with quite a few sights worth visiting, in particular its lovely water fountain, where kids often play. From here we head to Periana where the views are hard to beat. The name dates from

The Route of Oil and Mountains is a wonderful driving tour around the north west of the Axarquia, writes Sally Harrison of Axarquia Properties

HAUNT: Venta where Tempranillo (top) preyed on diners 1761 but the town was rebuilt ro in his prison cell! after an earthquake in 1884. We start our downward jourVerdial olive oil is made in the ney home via Alfarnatejo, village and sold far and wide. which is small with streets La DĂa del Aceite Verdial in late wide enough to accommodate March is a festival to celebrate herds of goats and little else. its natural, fruity flavour. Visit the 16th century church Moving on, there are sulphur- of Santo Cristo de Cabrilla, its ous Moorish baths at Banos square tower built in the Mudede Vilo, 2kms north of the vil- jar style. Bandits sheltered in lage and then an oil museum the many caves surroundin MondrĂłn, a good place to ing the area and it is easy stop before the climb up to the to imagine them out there. most northerly Shrugging off village in the these ghosts AxarquĂa, Alof the past we Stop for lunch at farnate. drive on to our the Venta de Turning right final two vilonto the MAlages, but first Alfarnate, complete 4102 the a strong dark drive here is with bandolero in cafe solo at spectacular the bar in Pulhis prison cell! with the ruggarin to bring ged mounus back to our tains towering senses! above. By contrast the land The route continues to Riogoris rolling and cultivated, with do situated in a lush valley by farms dotted about and hors- the river Cueva. Here we can es grazing contentedly. visit the Ethnographic MuseAlfarnate is a charming spot, um or the 16th century Virgen divided in two by the river de Gracia church. P a l a n c a r If you visit in May you may be with its three offered a local dish prepared picturesque from land snails cooked in bridges. Make stock and served with olives sure to visit as part of the Day of the Snail. the 16th cen- We finish our tour up towards tury church Colmenar where we can visit of Santa Ana the Honey Museum and sawith its Mude- vour their cured meats and jar minaret. other traditional products, Make sure to particularly during the Fiesta stop for lunch del Mosto y la Chacina in Deat the Venta cember. de Alfarnate, complete with Contact Sally at sally@axarsaid bandole- quiaproperties.com

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Summit to g

Walking guru Guy Hunter-Watts on the Axarqu exhilarating excursion: an ascent of the mighty BUMBER CROP: a bunch of bananas in Benamargosa

Go bananas in the Axarquia Jon Clarke talks to local businessman Peter Langdale about his 27-year-old farming business which employs over 100 staff and provides much of the UK supermarkets’ coriander and parsley

EW things can be as joyous as picking your own bananas, although as Peter Langdale, boss of Garden Centre La Palma explains, it is not going to make you a living. “We get the odd few from our back garden, but not enough to make them commercial,” he says. “Mangoes are a better bet and are doing quite nicely these days, while avocados are also doing well, but they have their ups and downs.” He, of course, should know, having worked for 27 years as a fruit and vegetable producer in the Axarquia. Working with some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets, including Waitrose, Tesco and Morrisons, he is currently one of Spain’s biggest exporters of parsley and coriander, producing over 700 tonnes a year. Thanks to having the ‘best climate in Europe’, tropical fruit grows in abundance in the Axarquia. Keep your eyes peeled, if you’ll excuse the pun, and you will see all sorts of weird and wonderful fruits brimming from trees. “We identified that this was one of the best area’s in Europe to grow vegetables,” explains Langdale, who sold up in England and arrived in Spain with his wife and three-year-old daughter in the mid 1980s. “Spain was signing up to the Common Market and everyone said that the south of Spain was to become the new California. We saw this as a Holy Grail.” Having looked up and down the whole coastline, from north of Alicante to Huelva they settled on the small village of Trapiche, near Velez Malaga. “It was already a big strawberry area and I had a good gut feeling,” explains Peter, who also owns seed and vegetable business Semilleros La Palma, in Velez Malaga. He initially started growing spring onions, raddish and parsley for the UK market, but soon branched out into other herbs and vegetables. He is now the largest producer in the local cooperative Trops that has an incredible 1400 members and a new €17m packing plant just opened, near Velez Malaga.

SAFE GROUND: Axarquia is ideal for growing tropical fruit, as well as coriander picked here

Getting to the beginning of the walk

Arriving in Canillas from the west head towards the village centre. Reaching a playground for children park on the left then continue along Avenida de Andalucia to lower end of the Plaza de la Constitucion.

The walk

The walk begins in Plaza de la Constitucion. Facing the town hall exit at its top, left hand corner then cut right past a statue following a sign for La Maroma. Angling left then right continue up a narrow street, ignoring a sign off right for La Rabita. Head straight on at the next junction passing left of an ornamental olive. Angling left the road descends to a junction then arcs left. Here turn right following a sign for Campo de Futbol. Climbing a steep road, La Cuesta de los Picachos, you pass the village cementery then a football pitch where the track angles right. After 300m cut left at a marker post up a narrow path. Reaching the track once again by a bird hide bear left. After following the track in a northwesterly direction look for a cairn to its right where you should again cut a corner, rejoining the track at a concreted section where you reach the Mirador de Castillejo. Follow the track to the right then as the concrete ends cut left at a cairn up a path which shortly angles back to the track which levels as it runs on to the east. Passing

Ascent of La Marom Canillas de Aceituno

TRUE five star walk, this i routes leading to the summ Departing from the lovely tuno, there are glorious se the magnificent Loma de Capellaní Barco (The Ship’s Prow). From the summit, the vast panora ter and are particulary memorable cloaked in its winter mantle of sno The great thing about the Canilla back down at Los Charcones you to the village, descending paralle chares: a route once used to bring

The Nitty Gritty

Distance: 21 kms Time Required: 7 hrs Rating: Difficult Total Height gain: 1625m Map(s): ING 1:50000 Z Water: spring at 4 hrs

a forestry building after 600m you reach a sign post pointing left for La Maroma. (1 hr) Cut left through the pines down a path which shortly crosses two (dry) stream beds then climbs past an old calera (a lime pit). Continuing up the footpath you pass a second calera. The pines thin out as you climb

NDISPUTABLY the spiritual heart of the Axarquia, Comares straddles a hilly outcrop and has heart-stopping views. Perched on two peaks of a hill, with parts of its old Moorish fortifications still in evidence, Comares has been an important town since being inhabited by both the Phoenicians and Romans. Later it became the home of the 9th century rebel leader Omar ibn Hafsun, when 12,000 ‘souls’ lived in the town. Comares is certainly not short of references, having both a patio and tower named after it in Spain’s most important monument, the Alhambra, as well as a key Middle Ages sketch to be found in Toledo. From here, tourists are spoilt with a series of guided walks, some of them heading off around the town by donkey. The first of these is a clever guided tour by terracotta footsteps, which are tiled into the town’s cobbled streets. This takes you up to the castle, via the claustrophobic Calle del Pardon, where 30 Arabic families were spared their lives after publicly converting to Catholicism.

u d g 2 t a d p c Z a

STEP IN TIM

The event has been r sent day with each of bered by the ringing o town’s lovely church N nacion each Sunday. It is one of Andalucia’s most evocative churches, built over the original mosque, with a 15th century Mozarabic wooden ceiling designed by the old Moorish craftsmen. (See picture on page 2 of the supplement).

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get excited about

uia’s most y Maroma

as you come up to the Los Charcones pass. In front of you is a sign post Sendero SLA-142. (1 hr 30 mins)

ma from o

Here cut left. Running north the path crosses a tributary of the Arroyo de las Tejas where you pass another sign for SLA-142. The path loops steeply up past a rocky promontory as it runs west before angling back to the right. Zigzagging up to the north the path again arcs to the west and traverses a swathe of scree. Passing green arrows on a rock you reach the promontory known as the Proa del Barco and a marker post with a cairn at its base. (2 hrs 10 mins)

is the best of the three main mit of la Maroma (2068m). y village of Canillas de Aceiea views as well as vistas of ía and promontory of Proa del

amic vistas are hard to bete when the Sierra Nevada is ow. as ascent is that once you’re follow a different path back el to the gorge of Los Almanice down from the summit.

Zafarraya 1040 (18-43) s 50 mins

up the right side of the Barranco de las Tejas. Soon the path begins to descend. 25m before reaching the bed of the barranco cut right at a cairn and marker post. After running directly away from the stream the path arcs left, clearer now, as it climbs parallel to the streambed. Zigzagging steeply up you reach a junction with a clearer path

Here angle right. The path becomes less distinct but cairns guide you across a vast field of rock. The Barranco de la Cueva de Don Pedro is now down to your left. Reaching a jagged outcrop the path angles left. 30m before it reaches the tail end of the barranco angle right, away from the path you’ve been following, to pick up another which leads to the summit, initially on a due easterly course. Angling back down to a (dry) streambed continue along its course, passing just right of a fenced enclosure then angle right.Care should be taken: the path now runs close to the steep southern face of the Loma de Capellania. It’s a good idea to occasionally look behind you: it will make coming back down easier! After angling left then crossing a rise you’ll see a nipple-like cairn at the left side of the summit ridge. Head up to the cairn from where, passing well to the left of a high metal pole, continue up to the tower-like trig point at the summit (2068m). (2 hrs 50 mins)

BACK ME

remembered up to the pref the families being rememof the bells 30 times at the Nuestra Senora de la Encar-

STUNNING: Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion church (above) and a view over Comares towards Mt Maroma

GREAT VIEW: A marker at the very top Leaving the summit make your way back down to the point you passed at 1hr 30mins, the Los Charcones pass. (4 hrs 10 mins) Here, instead of angling right down the path you followed earlier, cut left through a breach in the rock. Running south along the ridge the path angles left then zigzags down and passes a (dry) spring. Running more level the path cuts through a stand of young pines before angling right to the top of the Ravita ridge, marked on the I.G.N. map as Collado de la Ravita. Here angling right you pass an SLA-142 marker post. Continuing south for 300m you reach a junction. Take the right branch. The path adopts a south-westerly course, descending towards Canillas across an area more denuded of vegetation, high above the ravine of the Arroyo de Almanchares. Just before the path angles hard right you reach the cave of La Ravita and a signboard. Angling right a few metres before the cave the path passes a calera then reaches a spring, El Fuente de la Ravita. (4 hrs 50 mins) The path now angles slightly left, along a ridge, before adopting a course towards Canillas. Occasionally looping down to a lower level the path eventually drops down past a signboard Sendero Casa de la Nieve to a track. Cut right for 50m then reaching a pylon cut left between two ramshackle farm buildings to reach the first village houses. Just before reaching a sign Calle Sierrecilla cut right down a zigzagging path. Passing a sign for La Rabita (sic) angle left then cut right down Calle Calleja. Pass beneath an arch then at the next junction cut left to return to the start point of the walk. (5 hrs 35 mins)

Coastal Walks in Andalucía is available at most bookshops in Spain as well as from amazon.co.uk or via the author’s own website: www.guyhunterwatts.com

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Life on the lake

T has been a crossing point for travellers crisscrossing the Axarquia for centuries. So, it is entirely appropriate that Puente Don Manuel is now the number one commercial hive for inland Axarquia. Here, at the so called ‘cruz de Periana’ - overlooking beautiful Vinuela lake - you will find a bustling commercial centre with plenty of businesses and restaurants, including curry

A crossing point for travellers for centuries, Puente Don Manuel is now the main inland hub of the Axarquia, writes Jon Clarke houses and The Town Frier fish and chip shop. This fast-growing settlement, which is administered by larger Alcaucin, is where thousands of local expats stock up on all their essentials.

There is the excellent Rumours hairdresser, estate agent Villa Solutions and the famous Arkwrights food shop, run by Linda and Geoff, which has been the glue of the community for years (see below).

Thankfully, there are also a number of good places to get a coffee and lunch, such as Morenos, Meson Sara and Friends, and nearby, over the historic Puente bridge, you should look for popular Atila’s, which is fast getting a reputation for its fabulous food. Make sure to also take a ride up to the village of Alcaucin, which has a rich historical legacy and is full of narrow, winding streets and whitewashed houses.

How Linda and Geoff Rowe turned Arkwrights into more than just a corner shop

Guts, determination and a lot of hard work

HINGS were so tight when they arrived in Spain from the UK in 2000, they had to borrow on their credit cards just to get their business going. Starting out selling everything from antiques to sewing machines at markets up and down the Costa del Sol, Linda and Geoff Rowe never knew if they would make enough money to make ends meet. “We went to some markets where we knew that if we didn’t sell we wouldn’t have had the petrol to get home,” ex-

plains mother-of-two Linda, originally from Kent (pictured left). “We had lost everything we had in the UK so Spain was a fresh start for us. “We arrived here with 600 boxes full of collectables and started to build up quite a following at the markets.” Things clearly went from strength to strength with Arkwrights now one of the Axarquia’s main British businesses; busy from dawn to dusk, and only closing on two days of the year. It took a year of solid marketing though, before the customers started to arrive, but the couple knew instinctively what their clients wanted and were put in the hard work to find the products. “I would sit up until the early hours looking for suppliers, and ultimately by listening to our clients we have always stocked what they wanted,” said the former bank worker who does the buying, while her husband runs the shop floor. The ultimate compliment came when on an aeroplane Linda overheard someone recommending their shop. “I had a little chuckle to myself and Geoff was ecstatic,” she explains, adding that there is no substitute for hard work and a good reliable team. “Our shop has been built on hard work, guts and determination. We get up, work, go home and sleep, seven days a week. It is as simple as that.”

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HISTORIC: Puente bridge and a view from Hotel Vinuela while (inset) Meson Sara and The Town Frier

Alcaucin derives its name from the Arabic ‘Al Cautin’, meaning the ‘arches’ a possible reference to the town’s aqueduct. Way before the Moors - and Romans before them - it is known that prehistoric man lived here, after the remains of a Neanderthal man were found in 1983 in a cave near to El Boquete de Zafarraya. Certainly though, it is scenery that is the biggest draw around here.

The lake of Vinuela, just a stone’s throw away is a great place for a walk and a picnic, or if you are after a bit of luxury a stay at the region’s top hotel Vinuela. As well as boasting wonderful grounds with tennis courts and two huge swimming pools, there is a spa and an excellent restaurant, which is one of the best in the whole region.

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Tim Whiteley of Villa Solutions+ (right) has become quite a TV property star selling at both ends of the spectrum

From snail farms to celebrity villas I

T has been an exciting decade for Tim Whiteley, of VillaSolutions+, in Puente don Manuel. Aside from becoming well known for offering a snail farm to clients on a hit TV programme in 2004, he is now known again for negotiating the sale of a property owned by pop star Mikey Graham of Boyzone this year. It began with TV show A Place in Spain, in 2004, when he tried to find Welsh couple Lee and Cheryl the perfect home to buy in the Axarquia. “But I straight away realised that satisfying their limited budget and ideas was going to be a difficult task,” explains the estate agent, 34, who has recently opened a new office in the heart of the commercial centre. That said, the publicity was fantastically good for the company, which ended up featuring in 10 episodes of the show. “Clients still ask me about the snail farm and how it is doing,” explains the father-ofone, from Gloucestershire. “While we never managed to sell it to Lee and Cheryl the experience put the agency on the map.” So it was perhaps no surprise that in April this year Whiteley was approached again by presenter Jasmine Harman to help find a suitable property for a client in a new show A Place in the Sun - Home or Away. The buyers, a wealthy couple from Cornwall, looked at

CELEB SALE: Whiteley (top) sold Boyzone Mikey Graham’s 4-bed villa three properties for the show, eventually narrowing down their search on the amazing Casa Cantares, near Canillas de Aceituna. Owned by an ‘Irish singer’, the home came with the furniture, the 4x4 car and even a stable and paddock. “It was also at an unbeatable price,” adds Tim. However, despite falling in love with the property and agreeing to buy it on the show, ‘the second the camera turned off’, they changed their minds.

They admitted to Whiteley they were not cash buyers and still had to sell their home back in the UK to finance the purchase. But the blow was to be short lived for just two weeks later Whiteley saved the day by finding another buyer for the house, owned, it can be revealed by the Olive Press, by Boyzone star Mikey Graham.

“It was a bit of a hit for Mikey, but a great deal for the buyers” A young family from Manchester, they picked up the amazing property for the bargain price of just € 215,000, minus the 4x4. “It was a bit of a hit for Mikey, but a great deal for the buyers,” explains Whiteley, who moved to Spain a decade ago. “They managed to swap a three bedroom townhouse in Nerja for an incredible fourbed villa in Canillas. They did very well.” And to complete the picture, the first couple have now also returned to the Axarquia to buy a ‘much more appropriate property’, reveals Whiteley. “And guess what, they even ended up buying Mikey Graham’s 4x4, a Nissan Patrol.” “It is incredible the way it has all ended with everyone happy,” concludes Whiteley. “And I guess we are very happy the way that VillaSolutions+ has progressed.” A Place in the Sun - Home and Away is now being aired on Channel4

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

Axarquia special

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Where to eat

A ROYAL SEAL

ITH some of the best ingredients in Spain there is no excuse to serve up bad food in the Axarquia. And thankfully there is a nice range of restaurants doing just that. One of the most stylish is Fountainhead, high in the hills, near Riogordo. An evocative place, chef Helen is both talented and erudite and well deserving of her success. If you are looking for a grander affair the fabulous dining terrace at Hotel Vinuela, is

On the outskirts you might also try the highly rated Alberdini, where Inez and Enmanuel have created a wonderful retreat, both warm in winter and breathtaking with its views and terrace in summer. A cultured pair, the menu is thoughtWARM WELCOME: At Alberdini´s ful and most of and (below) Insolito the vegetables are locally sourced. reminiscent of the Days of In Puente don Manuel meanthe Raj, and it is no surprise while, you will find the Town that the King is said to have Fryer serving up the best fish eaten here. and chips for miles and Bar Aside from its modern touch- Atila, where Kim Whitworth, is es, the terrace is, without a a real whiz in the kitchen. doubt, one of the nicest plac- You will also find the excellent es to eat in summer. Friends, which is a buzzing As a town, Competa has spot with its popular terrace, come on leaps and bounds and nearby Morenos, which in the culinary stakes over re- is an upmarket spot now with cent years. its own pool table. El Pilon, in particular, is a Longest-running is the excelcharming and buzzing spot lent Meson Sara, where Antorun by talented couple Ray nio Martin and his team have and Tom, with a great varied been serving the local expat menu and delicious tapas. community for nine years. Without a doubt, the village’s There is a menu del dia for main social hive, you will of- just € 10 and an incredible ten find live music and even 30 different tapas. ballet and opera nights. One of the really exciting new

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Where to stay

Sweet dreams

RATED: Team at Atila venues meanwhile, is that of Ivan and Nenno’s Insolito in Benalgabon. Former bosses of Comares’ Molino de la Abuelo, they have switched to this charming little village, often seen as the gateway to the Axarquia. Set on the charming main square, they still have flamenco most weekends and are also planning other dance nights. In Comares keep your eyes peeled for Restaurante el Molino or Restaurante Atalaya, while in Periana Cantueso comes highly-rated. In Torre del Mar many people swear by Safari Bar on the front, but Vintash up by the former tram stop is also a fabulous spot. Stylish and geared towards the more discerning palate, it is a pleasant place to while away a long lunch. In Nerja tapas bar Pata Negra and Carebeo 34 come highly recommended, as do Au Petit Paris, Calabaza and El Olivo. Down on Burriana beach try Belgium-run Bruxelles.

ROM rural, rustic retreats to grand beachside hotels, the Axarquia has got the lot. But few places beat the amazing Hotel Vinuela, a modern, but tasteful, four-star affair, with comfortable rooms, and superb views across a lake and into the mountains. Come and hole up for a few days, using it as the perfect base to explore the nearby area and enjoy the excellent restaurant and facilities. Meanwhile, if you are looking for one of Andalucia’s finest rural retreats, head up to Casa de la Mina, near Competa. Recently renovated, this is the perfect place to walk from, with an excellent restaurant to boot. Run by a friendly architect, you will wake up to the sound of birdsong and see nothing but mountains and views to the sea. Nearer to Competa there is the wonderful Dutch-run B&B Casa los Dos, sitting in an amazing spot down a country lane between the village and the sea. Also near Competa is Hotel Alberdini, where many rooms come in Gaudi-style casitas with spectacular views. There

is the added advantage of its excellent restaurant. In Nerja, you are spoilt for choice, but Toboso Apart Hotel, which couldn’t be in a better location in the heart of town by the Balcon de Europa, takes some beating. The rooms are fantastic in size and you are right next to the excellent Cochrane’s Irish restaurant and bar, which is good for a local meal and has the best terrace in Nerja.

Stylish

A totally different option is Hotel Avalon, which sits in a great location with amazing views up into the nearby mountains. The rooms are comfortable and the restaurant has a good name. Last, but not least, if rural chic is your thing, then Fountainhead really takes some beating. This stylish place near Riogordo, offers beautiful rooms, all with their own splash pools and private terraces. With a great restaurant to boot it is easy to see why you might want to hole up here for a weekend and go nowhere else.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

PROPERTY SPECIALISTS SINCE 2001

Sally Harrison Owner / Agent

IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY FOR SALE CALL US NOW Call Sally on 626 038 851 Call Lorraine on 609 436 537 Call the ofﬁce on 952 436 781

E: sally@axarquiaproperties.com E: lorraine@axarquiaproperties.com Skype: AxarquiaProperties

AS2722 Alcaucín 320,000€ 110m2 3 bed, 2 bath villa with pool, ample parking, air con, wood burner, lake, mountain views

AS2630 Canillas de Aceituno 185,000€ 85m2 2 bedroom villa with garage and garden on 3,700m2 plot

AS2714 Riogordo 63,000€ 80m2 2 bedroom village house with stunning mountain views from its patios and terraces

AS2534 Colmenar 395,000€ 290m2 3 bed, 2 bath detached villa with pool, 42m2 garage, 42m2 gym, mountain views

AS2460 Alfarnatejo 199,000€ 206m2 3 bed, 2 bath country house with lovely gardens and spectacular mountain views

AS1987 Comares 57,000€ 54m2 one bedroom town house with 2 roof terraces on 2 levels with mountain and sea views

AS2162 Salto del Negro 98,000€ 85m2 2 bedroom house with lounge, dining room, patio off the kitchen and roof terrace

AS2733 Cajiz 524,000€ 327m2 7 bedroom, 4 bathroom house with mountain and sea views, garage, 6000m2 plot

AS2723 Vélez-Málaga 234,000€ 160m2 5 beds, 2 baths, front and back garden, garage, roof terrace, communal pool and gardens

AS2737 Arenas 269,950€ 154m2 3 bed, 3 bath villa with Studio apartment on top ﬂoor, pool, sea, mountain and lake views

AS2734 Alhaurín el Grande 120,000€ Large town house newly converted into two 2 bedroom apartments with garden and roof terrace

AS2724 La Dehesa de Triana 295,950€ Beautiful, rustic, 4 bed, 4 bath country house with pool, jacuzzi, gardens, mountain & sea views

www.axarquiaproperties.com

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the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

THIS IS THE END!

July 26, 2012

37 37

BLACK and white photography by a celebrated American artist is currently on display at a gallery in Almeria. The End features snaps by Rodney Smith, who places people in landscapes to create staged yet spontaneous shots which fans have described as ‘urban fairy tales’. Smith shoots only on film – not on digital – and ‘never uses special effects’, bringing an entirely natural and realistic feel to his work. Centro Andaluz de la Fotografia until 20 January 2013. Free entry

‘Anonymous 17th century’ artwork presented to Madrid Prado in 1872 turns out to be 16th century Titian

It’s a Titian! SURPRISE: Titian’s Saint John the Baprist

A PAINTING that spent 120 years gathering dust in an Almeria church has turned out to be by Italian artist Titian. Saint John the Baptist was presented to Madrid’s Prado Museum in a very bad state in 1872, with experts told it had been painted by ‘an anonymous 17th century artist’. Fourteen years later the oil on canvas was loaned to Cantoria’s parish church, Nuestra Senora del Carmen, where it stayed until 2007. But when art expert Miguel Falomir visited the church he got a hunch the painting was in fact an original Titian –

and not just a copy of one as previously thought. Following an extensive restoration project, the painting is now confirmed as having been produced by the hand of the Venetian artist during the 1500s. Main tell-tale signs included the presence of a preparatory layer of lead white paint, as well as the similarity between the landscape and that of other Titian paintings of the same period. “The main surprise came when an Xray revealed this painting’s composition is very similar to other works in the Venice Academy,” said Falomir.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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New CD set traces the growth of rock ‘n’ roll in Spain

WILD: A newspaper article reports on the craze, the CD (inset) and Mike Rios performs at the Circo Price in the 1960s

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‘Juan’ B Good A NEW CD box set tells the story of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in Spain. The three-CD set, entitled La Leyenda del Price (The Legend of the Price) features recordings from the first ‘modern music’ concerts at Madrid’s Circo Price music hall. Only student residencies hosted rock ‘n’ roll concerts in the early 60s, and the Circo Price, situated just behind Gran Via, was the first venue to bring the new craze to the Spanish public in November 1962. Following the lead of groups in Paris and London, bands played their own new-fangled versions of American R&B hits. Although the gigs were a huge success, bringing in The police even tried to ban over 2,000 people each the famous ‘twist’ dance betime, they were banned cause it was ‘indecorous’. within the year by the Fran- Organiser Miguel Nieto co regime because authori- made a last plea to save the ties deemed the ‘collective show by personally inviting hysteria’ they induced inap- the police commissioner to see one of the concerts for propriate.

himself. But the commissioner responded with: “I shall choose to ignore your request for me to attend one of these dreadful events that you so like. Is that understood?”

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An uncivil M spat

what’s on

New Civil War book slammed by leading historian A NEW book about Spain’s International Brigades has been described as ‘totally wrong’ by a leading British Hispanist. I am Spain by David Boyd Haycock presents tales of non-Spaniards such as Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell who travelled to Spain to help fight Fascism. Through their personal let-

ROW: Preston v. Haycock

ters, diaries and memoirs, the Oxford-educated historian hopes to bring the experiences of these ‘passionate men and women’ to life. But in a damning review published in the Daily Mail, Hispanist Paul Preston describes the factual inaccuracies of the work. “Boyd Haycock has little sense of a wider context and

even less respect for factual accuracy,” said Preston, a Franco biographer and Civil War expert. “Time after time, the eye for a good quote overcomes the need for accuracy. “Boyd Haycock proves yet again that where the Spanish Civil War is concerned, the first casualty is truth,” he added.

Novelist snubs prize

NO THANKS: Marias

A LEADING Spanish author has turned down €20,000 in prize money from the government in order to ‘avoid state institutions’. Javier Marias, author of A Heart So White and Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me received the national narrative prize for his new novel, The Infatuations. “All my life I have managed to avoid state institutions, regardless of which party was in government, and I have turned down all income from the public purse,” said Marias, 61, who has been widely tipped as a future Nobel Prize winner. “I don’t want to be seen as an author who is favoured by any particular government.”

alaga Traditional Christmas Fayre. St George’s Anglican Church, in the grounds of the English Cemetery, Avda de Pries 1, Málaga (close to the Bull Ring). December 02, 12.30. Mince pies, homemade jams & preserves, books, vintage fashion and a host of other items. Also, a raffle for a Christmas Hamper.

stepona The ADANA Xmas Fayre Sunday November 25, Palacio de los Congresos 11am4pm. A great chance to find cheap Christmas presents. Also includes live entertainment, and a falconry demonstration. Adults €1, children free. Email xmasfair@adana.es

iguelas, Christmas Fair full of gift options. El Rincon, Alqueria de los Lentos. November 25/25,

uengirola, November 16. The Stolen Gnomes, five-piece Celtic fusion band at Ponderosa Roadhouse. Free entry.

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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No fraud

A FLAMENCO star has been found not guilty of fraud and misappropriation of funds by a Madrid court. Joaquin Cortes, from Cordoba, had been accused by two Argentinian investors of taking €600,000 from a fund which was to be used for a cultural project. But the 43-year-old dancer, a former member of the Spanish National Ballet, was cleared of any wrongdoing, along with his sister and his agent.

THEATRE THRILLER FANS of the sinister are invited to a murder mystery on the Costa del Sol presented in the cafe-theatre style. Prescription for Murder,

written by Norman Robbins, tells the tale of Barbara who was perfectly healthy until she tied the knot with doctor Richard – but now, rather mysteriously, feels ill

Music boost A CLASSICAL concert has raised over €500 for cancer charity Cudeca. Bach & Blues was the first of a number of concerts to be promoted by Marbella-based company MasElenco. Director Michael Scott said that, while saddened that it was unable to raise more money, he considered the evening to be an overall success

CASH: Director Scott with Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke

much of the time. The play, performed by amateur dramatics group the International Theatre Studio, will show over three nights from 23-25 November at the Atalaya Park Hotel between San Pedro and Estepona, at 7pm. Tickets (€12) available at Bookworld Espana in Gualdalmina, Glitterati at the Centro Diana, Longman’s bookshops in Estepona, the English Bookshop in Sabinillas or by calling the box office on 952 880 620 (daytime) or 952 928 196 (evenings and weekends).

The Olive Press’ www.theolivepress.es

the olive 41 press - November 15 - 28, 2012 41 monthly youth and education section

treme

Tech-savvy tots Increasing number of preschoolers becoming competent users of electronic gadgets, including iPads TODDLERS are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about technology, according to a report by media watchdog Ofcom. Nearly half of three- and fouryear-olds are competent users of electronic gadgets, with one in ten using an iPad to visit websites

Competition hots up EXPATS are facing increasing competition from local parents for places at international schools, research has found. Local children now account for 80% of international school places, in stark contrast to 30 years ago when the opposite was true. The higher demand for places

has led to a huge increase in fees, according to a study by ISC Research, part of the International School Consultancy Group (ISCG). The international schools market generates €25.5 billion in fee income, from more than three million students globally.

and play games. The study also found that cyberbullying was a big problem, while many under-13s were befriending strangers on social networks such as Facebook. Researchers interviewed 200 families with children aged three and four and found 37% of children used the internet via a PC or laptop, with 3% surfing the net using a mobile phone. “Children are not just using more media, they are also adopting some forms at a very young age,” said Claudio Pollack of Ofcom. “This highlights the challenge that some parents face in keeping up with their children when it comes to technology and in understanding what they can do to protect children.”

Once upon a time for bedtime stories

IT is one of the fondest memories for many adults looking back on their childhood. But the ritual of the bedtime story is under threat as the shrinking attention span of many youngsters leaves them struggling to concentrate. Other forms of entertainment like computer games and TV have taken over, with one in four parents of young children admitting they never read a bedtime story. The survey of 410 English teachers and 2,000 parents of children aged two to 11 - carried out by publishing company Pearson - found 77% of teachers said their pupil’s attention spans were shorter than ever before.

Mums and monsters AN expat children’s author has published four new books aimed at four to seven-year-olds. Anita Pouroulis, from Sotogrande, has based the rhyming stories on the adventures of youngsters as they pit their wits against mums, dads and monsters. Pancake Pandemonium, Mum’s Cronky Car, Oh What a Tangle! and My Monster Mayhem will also be available as interactive apps.

Coolest book ever OLIVE PRESS OPX writer Maia Cayetana Clarke, 7, gives her opinion on the books. “I really liked reading My Monster Mayhem, it is the coolest book I’ve ever read. I liked the picture of the girl best and I liked the pictures of the monsters because they are really funny. I like it more than the other books, although Pancake Pandemonium is funny. My little brother Alfie liked Mum’s Cronky Car best.”

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Xtreme

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

Scaling new heights WALKING WINNERS As part of the CAS element of the IB diploma, a group of 20 sixth form students from Swans volunteered to help run the recent Marbella Four Days Walking annual event. Between October 11 and 14 over 1,300 walkers from all over Europe participated by completing either a 20km, or 30km route per day. All participants who finished the event received a medal, and were presented with the traditional gladioli flowers.

On Saturday October 27, 16 intrepid hikers climbed to the summit of La Concha mountain on a sunny, crisp autumn morning. The hikers, a group made up of parents, teachers and IB diploma students, made the annual six-hour hike to the peak, where views from Gibraltar to the Sierra Nevada can be enjoyed.

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It’s all happening at Swans

Swans Idol!

To celebrate the end of the first half term, a team of four Year 12 IB diploma students from Swans Secondary organised ‘Swans Idol’ - an event where students, from Year six to Year 13, could showcase an entertainment act of their choice. There was a band, singers, pianists, a dance troupe and even a juggler. At the end of the 90 minute show, the judges retired to consider their verdicts. After great deliberation, Isabel Brogsitter-Finck was chosen in third place, for her fantastic vocal rendition of Emeli Sande’s Read all About It, Part 3. Igor Proskuryakov, was second, for an impressive juggling act, and the winner was Enrique Sevilla, for his beautiful piano medley of Comptine d´autreé Autumn and Recuerdos de la Caleta.

School for spooks Swans’ children from year three to year seven had a fantastic time celebrating Halloween. Both the Primary School and the Secondary School held discos on Thursday evening, with games and refreshments, organised by Swans’ IB students. The halls were decorated with wicked witches and ghostly ghouls and the children’s costumes were very scary indeed. A great time was had by all!

Xtreme

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43the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012 43

CHILDREN coming to school There were a few more monsters than usual on October 31 may have noat the British School of Marbella during ticed something unusually spooky going on. Halloween, writes headmistress Sian Kirkham For all the teachers had disappeared and in their place were a bunch of scary looking vampires, skeletons and witches ready to take the morning register. Of course I am referring to our Halloween celebrations at the ghoul, ahem, I mean school. During the day our children dressed up as a host of fiendish looking characters, giving new meaning to the expression ‘little monsters’. Not to be outdone, all the teaching staff donned capes, wigs and applied vast quantities of make up (well more than usual) to up their scare factor accordingly. It must be MONSTER ANTICS: The children certainly looked the part said that most children cleared een disco in the afternoon. al buffet with parents bring- bidding frenzy with a few their plates with less We also had another dress ing in so much food it took paying more than €100 for their child’s masterpieces. fuss than normal at up day the previous week for us two days to eat it all. These were then displayed lunchtime as Drac- United Nations Day. around the school during a ula can be quite Our parents took charge of Incredible temporary art exhibition. convincing when he the classrooms to teach our Moving on swiftly we also With more wardrobe changasks you to eat all pupils all about Denmark, South Africa, Canada, Brit- managed to raise an incred- es than an X Factor final in your vegetables. Strangely enough ain, Spain, Morocco and ible €833 for a children’s our school this term, our epilepsy charity during our staff and teachers have just though they all had Russia. renowned one more dress up event as enough room for But no special event at BSM internationally we celebrate the Hindu festithe spooky feast is complete without food so Art Week. after our Hallow- we organised an internation- Several parents got into a val of Diwali this week.

Scare Factor

Fancy a movie?

If you want to head to the cinema this weekend, but your Spanish is not up to scratch, check out the VO/VOSE films (Original Version) available in your area 007: Skyfall (12) Cinesur Miramar, Fuengirola - 16:00, 18:45, 21:30 Plaza Mayor, Malaga - 18:00, 21:00, 00:00 King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, Gibraltar - 18:00, 21:00 The Impossible (12) Plaza Mayor, Malaga - 17:00, 19:30, 22:00, 00:30 Brave (U) King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, Gibraltar - Sat & Sun at 15:30 Madagascar3 (PG) King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, Gibraltar - Sat & Sun at 16:00 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 Cinesur Miramar, Fuengirola - 16:00, 18:05, 20:10, 22:20

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

Xtreme

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This month’s recipe:

‘Cornflake’ burgers Build a burger with this easy to follow recipe

Method 1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. First, crush the cornflakes by placing them in a freezer bag, then breaking with the rolling pin. This is fun but mind your fingers and try not to bash them to dust, just to rough flakes. Put in a bowl. 2. Tip the mince into another bowl, add the basil and a little ground pepper. For lean mince you may need to add 1 tbsp beaten egg to help it bind (stick together), then mix it well. Put some flour on a plate and some beaten egg on another plate. 3. Take about a sixth of the mince mix and shape it into a small burger. Do this by squashing it quite firmly in the palm of your hand. (Burger-shaping will Ingredients: transfer a skill your child may have from playing with modelling clay to the kitchen as they create a ball in 2 handfuls cornflakes, about 25g/1oz their palm, then squash it into a flatter patty.) 225g/ 8oz beef mince Small bunch basil leaf, ripped into small 4. Next roll the burger in the flour. Then roll it all over in a little egg. Then roll it quite liberally in the pieces crushed cornflakes. Now place it on the oiled bak1 large egg , beaten ing sheet and start the process again until you have A few handfuls plain flour, about 75g/2½ used up all the mix. Try to keep the sizes even so that the burgers cook in the same time. oz 5. Lightly drip oil onto the top of each burger using 1 tbsp vegetable oil a pastry brush and bake in the centre of the oven for 6 each mini burger buns, lettuce leaves 15-20 mins until cooked through. Serve the burgand tomato slices ers in the split buns with lettuce, tomato slices and Tomato ketchup, to serve some ketchup.

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Bio-energy boost AN expat is hoping to promote bio-energy treatment in Spain after claiming it was instrumental in her recovery from illness. Maureen Simpson, 48, from Scotland, turned to

the alternative therapy after struggling with a number of health problems. She has spent the last 12 years using the technique after training as a therapist. Bio-energy treatment works by improving energy flow to help the body heal itself. It is said to be instrumental in curing all manner of illnesses from arthritis to asthma. “For some years I was quite ill, to the point of not being able to work or lead a normal life,” Simpson, who moved to Spain in May, told the Olive Press. “I could not find an answer to my problems through conventional medicine and it was then that I was introduced to bio-energy TURNING POINT: Scot therapy. It was a turning point in my life.” Maureen Simpson

D-day for diabetes DIABETES Day is being marked this Wednesday (November 14) to raise awareness of a condition that affects 285 million people worldwide. The long-term chronic condition – caused by too much glucose in the blood – is categorised as either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, with specialist consultants Cambridge 800 available to help overweight diabetes sufferers manage their condition more effectively. Call 952 586 324 for more information.

DRASTIC: Jane now and (inset) before her diet

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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Spanish scientists develop prototype aimed to speed up recovery time

Robot help for stroke victims A PIONEERING robot designed to help stroke victims recover more quickly has been developed by Spanish scientists. Robotherapist 3D lets patients start exercising while still lying down, allowing them to practise arm movements more easily. It is hoped the prototype, created by Instead Technologies – one of the only companies in the world developing such robots – will be trialled in Spanish hospitals soon.

Rehabilitation

The company, linked to Miguel Hernandez University of Elche in Alicante, already has a Robotherapist 2D which has sensors to determine the patient’s condition. “The robot allows you to follow all of the steps involved in rehabilitation, firstly with passive movements of the upper limbs,” said an Instead Technologies spokesman. “When you have reached a certain level of mobility, you continue with occupational therapy, performing everyday tasks such as eating and drinking, all by means of virtual reality.” While the company is focusing on developing technology to help stroke victims, it is also working with associations linked to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE A BRITISH expat who shed nearly 48 kilos despite being told her obesity was ‘untreatable’ has recalled how a trip to

Spain was the turning point in her life. Jane Aldred, 52, had been informed aged 18 there was nothing that could be done to treat her condition. But after spending time in Spain with an old friend, who herself had lost a lot of weight, Aldred decided to act. She arranged a meeting with a Cambridge 800 consultant and after losing 47.6 kilos in six years, she has now joined the company as a consultant in Spain. “I feel very passionate about weight loss and the journey I have been on,” said Aldred. “Having been at both ends of the scale, literally, I speak from experience and understand how hard it can be for people who have weight to lose.” For more information, call Jane Aldred on 638 007 964 or email jane. cambridge800@yahoo.com

BREAKTHROUGH: The winning team - Ricardo Morales, Francisco Badesa and Nicolas Garcia Aracil

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

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Complementary

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MUDRA of the month Mudras are hand positions which guide energy flow to the brain.Through mudras, we can effectively engage and influence our body and mind simply by bending, crossing, extending or bringing together our fingers.

Kubera Mudra

(dedicated to the god of wealth, Kubera) • Place the tip of your thumb, index finger, and middle finger together. • Bend the other two fingers so that they rest in the middle of your hand. Do this with both hands. This mudra can be used for a variety of concerns. It does not matter how long it is practised, but you do need to do it with intensity and integrity. Many people will recognise it as the ‘Three Finger Technique’ from Alpha Training, used when looking for something specific – a free parking space, or the right book or information. Others use it to put more force behind plans for the future. It always involves goals that people want to reach, or wishes they would like to have fulfilled. With the three closed fingers, additional strength is given to the matter or thought. It is obvious that something happens when the fingers of Mars (forcefulness, thumb) Jupiter (resplendence, exuberance and joy, middle finger), and Saturn (fixation on the essential and passing through new gateways, index finger) join forces. This mudra also gives us inner repose, confidence and serenity. Putting this mudra to specific use in everyday life is quite fun. It works, so be careful what you wish for!

Sneezing season

With cold and flu viruses leaving many of us feeling under the weather, Dr Raymond Prats looks at some of the best ways to beat the bugs

OUGHING is what you do when something bugs your throat, whether it is dust or postnasal drip. Coughing also helps clear your lungs and windpipe. Many coughs, like those from cold and flu, will go away on their own. However, if your cough is caused by a more serious medical condition, you need to treat the cause. Whatever the reason, if coughing fits are driving you crazy, there are ways to feel better.

Home remedies

Drink plenty of fluids or use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporiser to soothe an irritated throat and loosen mucus. Prop your head up on extra pillows at night and have some honey before bed as studies show it can help ease a cough.

Calming a ‘wet’ cough

If you are coughing up mucus, look for a cough medicine that says ‘expectorant’ or in Spanish ‘mucolitico’, that loosens mucus to help you cough it up. If you are coughing up a lot of mucus, check with your doctor to see what the best cough medicine is for you. Also, talk to your doctor before using cough medicine for serious conditions like emphysema, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, or asthma.

Calming a ‘dry’ cough

You may get a dry cough with a cold or the flu, or if you breathe in something irritating like dust or smoke. A cough suppressant helps stop your urge to cough. Plus, it can help you sleep better. Cough drops, or even sucking on hard sweets, can stop the tickle in the back of your throat.

Cough medicine and children

Never give cough medicine to children younger than four because it can have serious side effects. For children aged four to six years old, ask your paediatrician before giving them any cough and cold medicines.

Will antibiotics stop a cough?

Usually, no. That is because most coughs are caused by viral infections like cold or flu and will get better in a week. Antibiotics only work on infections caused by bacteria. If your cough is not better after a week, see your doctor to make sure it is not caused by a bacterial illness like a sinus infection or pneumonia.

Coughs from allergies and asthma

Allergies can make you sneeze, cough, or both. An antihistamine may help and some of the newer ones won’t make you sleepy. If you are also wheezing - where your breath sounds like whistling - you may have asthma and need to see your doctor.

For more information visit www.simplecarehealthplan.com

Salud!

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Four in ten women now opting for natural methods to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and loss of collagen

GROWING OLD NATURALLY

EFFECTIVE: Singer Soledad Gimenez opts for natural therapies

Yoga

MORE and more Spanish women are shunning conventional drugs in favour of natural therapies to treat

menopause symptoms. According to figures released by the Spanish Association of Menopause Study

with Rachael Hemming

Seated spinal twist (Matsyendrasana) Benefits • Increases flexibility in each vertebrae of the spine, from the base of the spine through the neck • Stretches the back muscles and hips • Massages the abdominal organs, aiding digestion • Breathing becomes more rapid, speeding up circulation and creating an aerobic effect • Brings more blood flow to the spine • Brings peace of mind • Helps to cure nervous disorders How to do it • Be seated on the floor with legs out long, back straight, toes pulled up towards the ceiling. • Bend the right knee and place the sole of the right foot on the outside edge of the left leg. Hug the right knee towards you with a hook of your left arm. • Place your right hand behind your back, as close to the central base of your spine as you can. Sit up straight. • Take your left arm and place it on the outside edge of your right thigh, near the knee. The back of your fore-

(AEEM), 40% of menopausal women are now choosing non-chemical treatments. The menopause, when a woman’s body stops producing the sex hormone oestrogen, can begin as early as the age of 45 and typically causes mood swings, hot flushes and deterioration in skin quality due to collagen loss.

Organic

arm will be near your knee. • Inhale, look forward, sit up straight, exhale, lifting up though up your spine rotating round to the right looking over your right shoulder. • Breathe into the tension the posture creates. As the body yields rotate further. Do not strain or force. • Take 5 - 10 rounds of breath, with the out breath longer than the in breath (remembering the out breath is the releasing breath). • Come out slowly in reverse, to the starting position. • Repeat on the other side. If in any doubt, please consult your doctor. www.theyogicemporium.com

The AEEM is working to promote natural treatments, which are made from organic materials but imitate the effects of oestrogen, following an increase in the number of studies which prove they are safe and effective. “Along with conventional medicine there are safe and effective therapies which are completely natural,” said singer Soledad Gimenez, 49, who works to improve the public’s perception of older women.

Massage away the pain

O you have a stiff neck, muscular aches or pains or back ache which are giving you problems whether you exercise or not? Perhaps you need a sports massage from a man who counts athletes, TV stars and footballers among his clients. Grant Foster offers treatments in the comfort of your own home from Elviria to Sotogrande or at therapy rooms in Cancelada or Puerto Banus.

“With the ever growing number of people taking part in sport, the demand for sports massage is increasing,” said Grant, an experienced therapist and lecturer with almost 15 years’ experience. “Sports massage therapy is useful not only for professional athletes, but also for office workers, housewives who are experiencing aches and pains due to their lifestyles or jobs,” added Grant.

Affirmation of the month: By visualising and defining my goals, the right paths emerge to attain them

the olive press - 47 November 15 - 28, 2012

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

U J

p the

STRIKER: Steve Claridge shows off a shrub

ardin path

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My return as

IT was something of a journey down memory lane for BBC football pundit Steve Claridge at the Homes, Gardens and Outdoor Living show. Working off a stand for sports investment company Milton Express reminded him of selling plants from a roadside stall, near Portsmouth, after leaving school. The former striker, 46, who played for a host of Premiership clubs, often made more money as a market trader than he did in the first five years of his career. “Some weeks actually made me a lot more money than when I first became a professional footballer,” he told the Olive Press. “It took me five years to get to the weekly wage I often made selling plants. “In the run up to Christmas we used to make thousands selling Christmas trees and other shrubs. “It particularly helped when a brand new supermarket opened up just up the road. “In fact, it wasn’t until I was at Birmingham that I finally earned sub-

BBC football pundit Steve Claridge once made more money selling plants than playing as a professional, he tells Jon Clarke

stantially more.” Claridge - who has played for a record 20 league clubs and has a punditry contract with the BBC - was in Spain for show in Estepona at the weekend.

Expert

The successful event, attended by an estimated 4,000 people, also marked a happy return to the Costa del Sol for gardening expert Charlie Dimmock. The popular TV gardener, 45, gave a presentation and did the rounds, having visited the area a couple of

HE KNOWS HIS ONIONS with Peter Langdale

Herbs to boost the loss Brownie point Immune System

OR all you fair weather gardeners I suppose you can sit at home and watch it continue to rain and complain that the weeds are growing. As a commercial grower we have more than just a problem with weeds. Here in Velez Malaga we have had 230mm of rain since the weather broke on September 27 and we are

Spanish image

THE Royal Horticultural Society has announced this image taken in Spain as the winner of its annual RHS Photographic Competition. The picture of an olive tree surrounded by tulips was taken by Josie Elias, who scoops up the €1,200 prize money and title of ‘Photographer of the Year’. “We stumbled on the Iris Garden at Plantas Distintas in Marnes, near Alicante. I was particularly intrigued by the contrast of the gnarled old olive tree and colourful spring flowers,” said Elias. Competition organiser James Arnold said: “We have had a record number of entries this year, doubling figures from last year. The judges have been astounded by the extraordinary quality of the images which people have produced from all over the world, it’s simply breathtaking and it was very difficult to choose a winner.”

now struggling to get new crops planted and the present crops harvested. Our customers in the UK expect a continuous supply of perfect product from early October until the end of June. Failure to supply is a severe loss of brownie points. In the following months articles I will give you an insight into life as a UK supermarket supplier! My advice for you veggie growers is to be patient until the weather improves and then get stuck in. At this time of year nearly all the types of vegetables and some soft fruit can be planted. Look around and learn from the local growers and get a feel for the do’s and don’ts. For instance DO NOT IGNORE FUNGICIDES as the present wet weather will cause severe plant losses with mildew and botrytis. As we move indoors and leave the barbies and al fresco dining behind, protect your terrace furniture with weatherproof covers; a selection of which can be found at Garden La Palma. As this paper goes to print our star plant of the month will begin to show its colours. The poinsetia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) with its strongly coloured leaves adorns many places from roundabouts to hotel receptions and local bars. As producers of poinsetia we make plants available in all their different guises. Christmas is just around the corner so order your tree now. We will be taking delivery of trees at the beginning of December and we should have a selection to suit all tastes. At home we prefer the species that do not drop their needles and tend to be more bushy. Lastly on a more lighter note; if at any time any one would like to look behind the scenes and experience some of our commercial operation ask for me in the garden centre and a visit can be arranged. Until next month, just keep pressing your olives. Contact Garden La Palma on 951 237 013

www.theolivepress.es

at Homes & Gardens Show

a market trader out every night down in Puerto Banus with the team.” Dimmock has long been a regular visitor to the Iberian Peninsular, as her mother Sue – who tragically died in the Tsunami in 2004 - had a holiday home in Portugal. The event comprised hundreds of companies and specialists from numerous different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Generally both the visitors and stallHIT: Fans toast Charlie holders were happy with the event, times with hit show Ground which will now return in April in Torremolinos. Force. “It’s great to be back. The Companies, including buildlast time I was here was up ing firms Aim and Concept, on a finca near Istan, which dubbed it a success. created all sorts of problems Andy from construction firm Roger Bullivent infor the team,” she said. “The best thing was going sisted it was an ‘excellent

FUN: The show was a success, with Nigel Goldman, Concept building and (top) Comfort show’, while financial advisor Richard Alexander said it was a ‘great exhibition’ with many enquiries to follow up. Olive Press gardening expert Sue Rodgers of Nevada Naturales was delighted with the turnout and the upbeat comments from visitors. Children with Cancer raised over €500 on its stand. Organiser Gina Marks, of GM Events, originally from Southampton said: “The feedback has been excel-

lent and we are looking forward to our next event in the spring. Thanks to all the exhibitors who attended the event.”

Craig’s got man flu Back next issue

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FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

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Happy ending for cucumber firm THE Spanish company wrongly blamed for causing an E.coli outbreak last summer has announced its sales are up by 2%. Cucumbers from Frunet, an organic farm in Algarrobo, were named and shamed af-

Business booming again for Spanish producer blamed for E.coli scare ter up to 1,000 people fell ill – mainly in Germany. But authorities in Hamburg confirmed the Andalucian

Pork sales plummet SPANIARDS are chewing their way through more chicken than pork for the first time ever. Spain is Europe’s biggest consumer of pork, but rising prices and the eco-

nomic crisis have forced many families to seek cheaper alternatives. Pork prices have increased by 35% over the last year, partly because of rising feed costs owing to the US summer drought. Exports to China have also doubled. This led to a 6.2% decline in pork sales last year – to 798,000 tons – while poultry sales remained roughly the same at 810,000 tons. Spain’s pork industry is worth €11 billion and accounts for 5.5% of all fresh food sold in the country.

produce was not responsible for the outbreak, instead pinning the blame for the spread of the bacteria on German bean sprouts. Many farmers were forced to destroy their crops after consumers were scared off, leading the Spanish government to demand compensation for producers affected by the false claims.

Damage

“We were accused hastily and completely unfairly with no proof whatsoever,” said Frunet manager Antonio Lavao. “It did an enormous amount of damage to our sales.” But happily, after announcing a full recovery just six months after the incident, the firm has now announced a 2% growth. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” added Lavao.

GROWING: Sales are up by 2%

the olive press - November 15 - 28, 2012

FOOD & DRINK www.theolivepress.es with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Food expert insists the Latin American fruit should be considered part of Mediterranean diet

Avocado claim AVOCADOS should be classed as a ‘Mediterranean’ fruit even though they were originally brought to Spain from the Americas, an expert has argued. Manuel Martinez, from the European Institute of Mediterranean Food, said the fruit should be included because of its high nutritional value and the fact it arrived in Spain around the same time as the tomato.

Fig farmers feel the strain

SPANISH farmers are warning that the fig industry could collapse after environment ministers refused to approve the use of a chemical which aids production. Hydrogen cinnamide is used to protect the crop from adverse weather and is

The first avocados were recorded in Spain in 1616, while the tomato was brought over for cultivation in Spain towards the end of the 1500s.

Cholesterol

“Historically speaking the two are in the same league,” insisted Martinez, speaking at a conference in Velez Malaga. The ‘Mediterranean diet’, which includes tomatoes, wheat, wine and olive oil, is well known throughout the world for its low levels of saturated fat and high levels of antioxidants. Eating the distinctive fruit, which is native to Central Mexico, has been linked to helping HEALTHY: The fruit lower blood cholesterhelps lower cholesterol ol levels.

already widely employed in Portugal. But the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment has blocked its use in Spain, providing only ‘evasive answers’ by way of explanation. “What we need are politicians able to provide solutions to the problems people are facing,” said Alicante farmers’ union leader Eladio Aniorte. “There is no other substitute to hydrogen cinnamide and it is vital to get proper development of the fig tree.”

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Buzzing for Picasso SCIENTISTS have discovered honeybees are able to recognise a painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The study, which aimed to discover how the insect searches for food, found a highly developed capacity

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

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Premiership players step in to help Oviedo stay in business

Footie stars bail out Spanish club PREMIER League footballers have stepped in to help a Spanish club which is in danger of going out of business. Arsenal striker Santi Cazorla and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata are among the stars who have bought shares in their old club Real Oviedo.

Ski easy

The club - which currently plays in the Spanish third division - is in danger of going bust if it doesn’t find €2 million in the next fortnight. Swansea City player Michu has also pledged money to the club, saying: “Myself, Mata and Cazorla have all bought shares, but it would

Sad death A woman has been arrested in Sevilla after her husband found their dead baby wrapped in a plastic bag in a fridge.

Sport city Estepona has been appointed the European City of Sport 2013, with local authorities planning a selection of events for throughout the year.

Economy

for processing visual information. The tests began by teaching bees to associate either an abstract Picasso or impressionistic Monet piece with a sugary reward, which was placed behind one of the paintings for each experiment. The bees could not tell which painting contained the food, meaning they had to choose the right one to get to the sugar. Dr Nigel Raine, an animal behaviour expert at the University of London, said: “This helps us understand how bees learn about differences in the appearance of flowers.”

for Junta boss Jose Antonio Grinan and his predecessor Manuel Chaves to resign over the ERE scandal, while the PSOE have entirely blamed former Employment boss Javier Guerrero.

FINAL WORDS

Gay victory HELPERS: Cazorla, Mata and Michu have all bought shares be wrong of me to say how much. “We just wanted to try and help save the club we all

played for.” He added: “The economy in Spain is very bad and the club needs around €2 mil-

lion to survive. “It’s my local club, a club I love, so I hope it will be enough.”

Homosexual marriage has been declared legal by the Constitutional Court after judges rejected an appeal from 72 PP MPs.

SABRE-TOOTH TAPAS SCIENTISTS in Spain believe they have discovered what sabre-toothed tigers ate nine million years ago. By studying fossil sites in Cerro de los Batallones near Madrid, researchers found the big cats had a liking for prehistoric horses. Scientists studied skeletons of two sabre-toothed tigers – one the size of a modern leopard and the other the size of a modern tiger. To arrive at their findings, research-

ers studied carbon from the animals’ tooth enamel.

Prey Dr Soledad Domingo, of the University of Michigan, said: “Analysis indicated that horses were very feasible prey of these cats. “The smaller cat probably incorporated additional prey species from more dense woodland,” he added.

MASSIVE APPETITES: A skeleton shows the scale of the prehistoric big cat

BRITISH skiers are to benefit from non-stop flights to the Sierra Nevada this winter. Starting on December 7, Hispania Airways will launch two flights per week from Gatwick to Granada, which is just 32km away from Andalucia’s famed resort. British skiers and snowboarders make up over 61% of foreign nationals visiting the Sierra Nevada. All passengers will be permitted up to 20kg of luggage and are welcome to carry their ski equipment free of charge. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the explicit permission of the publisher. While efforts are made to ensure the authenticity of advertisements and articles appearing in the Olive Press, the publisher does not accept any responsibility for claims made, nor do contributors’ opinions necessarily represent his own.