Issue 181 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

5000 UNIQUE VISITORS TO OUR WEBSITE EVERY DAY IN FEBRUARY! Earpiece Don’t let the Don’t let thein banks cash new size banks cash in 39mm www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk xsee 50mm page 13 see page 13

Tel. 951 203 986

olive press The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

the

FREE

Vol. 8 Issue 181

www.theolivepress.es

February 19 - March 5 2014

What happened when Carla embarked on a duck chase at this local beauty spot? Turn to page 4 to be amazed

EU probes rubber bullets fired at migrants EU officials are to investigate why Spanish police fired rubber bullets at migrants trying to swim to Ceuta. Spain admitted that rubber bullets were fired, as at least 14 people drowned as hundreds of migrants attempted to reach the North African enclave from Morocco on February 6. Together with a second Spanish enclave, Melilla, Ceuta represents the EU’s only land border with Africa.

Dignity

The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, said she was ‘very concerned’ about Spanish police firing rubber bullets to deter migrants. She added that the actions of any EU state protecting its borders should be ‘proportionate’, and should respect fundamental rights and human dignity. “I expect clarifications from the authorities,” Ms Malmstrom said. Spain’s interior minister insisted police did not shoot directly at people, and that the bullets had not caused the deaths of any of those who drowned.

EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell BRITISH tourists have slammed an Andalucian car hire company for failing to repay thousands of euros in deposits despite returning vehicles in perfect condition. Many are still fighting for their money months after they returned their vehicles to Niza Cars, which has offices around the region. In an extraordinary exchange, filmed by one angry client, an employee admitted that 130 deposits of between €300 and €900 had not been returned due to a ‘big economic problem’. The company, which has 2,500 vehicles and opened in the 1960s, also blamed a change of chip and pin Visa machines, blaming the bank. Briton Steve Moore was told, on camera, this week that while 100 clients had now been paid, 30 were expected to be paid ‘within a few days or two weeks’. He had confronted staff at Niza’s La Linea office over why he and his friend Luke

STOP FOBBING US OFF

ON CAMERA: One encounter was filmed

WE WANT YOU! WATER TREATMENT COMPANY Looking for a sales representative to work in Costa del Sol. Native English, German or Russian speaker and well integrated in their community. Good communication skills. Self-employed with high commissions

Please send CV to: springwatercosta@gmail.com

Briton arrested over child snatch A BRITISH man has sparked outrage after he was released on bail following the attempted kidnap of a Spanish toddler. Locals in Lanzarote were amazed after the British man was merely ordered to appear in court twice a month following the incident. Stephen Raphael Manning, 25, allegedly tried to snatch the four-yearold boy from outside his grandmother’s house in Tias on Sunday. Neighbours spotted the man trying to walk off with the child and alerted his relatives.

Mental

Over 100 car hire clients demand their deposits back months after returning vehicles

The boy’s family, aided by neighbours, managed to locate Manning and the lad in the grounds of a nearby complex. Manning, believed to be holidaying alone, appeared in a closed court session after refusing to answer police questions about the incident. He was charged with illegal detention, but released on bail. He has been ordered to report to the court on the first and 15th of each month. The police are awaiting forensic reports, believing Manning may have a mental illness.

Senior’s deposit had not been returned after two months of continual ‘fob off emails’. Luke, who is dual BritishNew Zealand nationality, had hired the car for 23 days to go kitesurfing in Tarifa and returned it on December 13, before leaving the country. Moore said: “They immediately tried to fob me off by saying it was all to do with the Malaga head office, absolutely nothing they could do, best to email Malaga.” Determined for a result, he

KIDNAPPED: Four year old was snatched in Tias

produced all the documents and email correspondence and placed a camera on the counter to begin filming. Staff eventually agreed to call the head office and were told by a ‘Jose Ma’ in the bookings department that they were going through a ‘big economic problem with the company in general’. The male employee then blamed the problem on the bank, and said they have now switched banks but could not explain why this was never

communicated in emails. Another customer Christine Carter, from Essex, told the Olive Press she had flown back to Malaga specifically to demand her deposit back in person. While she eventually got the deposit back, Niza has so far not reimbursed her for the flights or accommodation, despite promises. Several other exasperated customers told the Olive Continues on Page 2

We want our deposits back Continues for front page

Press they only received their deposit back by going into the Malaga office in person. Welsh pensioners Karen and Tony Wright, who own an apartment in Torrenueva, have struggled to get any answers since returning their hire car on December 16. “We have all but given up on

ever seeing the €500 again and it is a lot of money to lose,” she said. The company’s commercial spokesman Francisco Lucena explained that the initial problem occurred after they had moved from one bank to another to get better terms for their Visa machines.

Happy

“And then the old bank blocked the machines so we couldn’t give deposits back.” He added that there had been some ‘other problems’ as well but that they were going to be returning all deposits ‘as soon as possible’. “We have had thousands of happy clients over 40 years and we will get this sorted out,” he added.

CRIME NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

New appeal for missing British hiker

ANNIVERSARY: Robert Golden THE brother of a missing man has launched a fresh appeal for information a year after his disappearance. Robert Golden, 58, went missing during a solo trekking trip in southern Spain in November 2012. But despite a number of reported sighting on the Costa del Sol between December and January, he hasn’t been seen since

ROBERT: STILL MISSING

turn flight two weeks later. He told friends he was going hiking around Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz and Jerez for about 10 days. Brother Barry Golden said: “I CAN SALMA HAYEK SAVE ALMORAIMA ESTATE?... TURN TO PAGE 3 am really keen to hear from the any other trekkers who have information about the disapFREE pearance of my brother. “I believe that this is one of Spain says ‘no’ to ban on abortion my only hopes of him being found and may trigger or remind someone of something that could be significant in my ongoing search. “There have been numerous sightings but none of them have been confirmed as being Robert. I would be grateful if anyone does see him to go up to him and tell him that his brother Barry is desperately trying to find him to know CLUE: But police remain tight that he is ok.” Our boat lipped over recent claims comes in Anyone with information the eve of Amy’s 22nd birthday last week and should contact Barry on fled her bed at the Costa del Sol hospital in golden894@btinternet.com nightclothes and with needles still in her arms. Mahon, who killed Amy’s brother Dean in May last year in ‘self-defence’, said she had got a taxi home in the middle of the night. The pair have now returned to Ireland with Audrey pictured arriving in a wheelchair. Spanish police also refused to comment on their investigation.

January 28, outside Lidl in Sabinillas. The hiker flew into Sevilla airport on November 5 but failed to board his re-

No news on Amy tip off POLICE in Ireland have refused to confirm whether they are investigating a tip-off on where missing Amy Fitzpatrick is buried. Amy’s aunt in Ireland, Christine Kenny, received an anonymous phone call from someone claiming to know where her niece ‘had been buried’ following her disappearance on New Year’s Day 2008, as revealed exclusively in the Olive Press last issue (see right). The caller, a woman in Ireland, described a specific spot inland from Mijas Costa near where Amy was last seen, and where she lived. The Olive Press can reveal the location is unnervingly close to where 19-year-old Rocio Wanninkhof was abducted and murdered in 1999. It is also not far from her house in Riviera, where her mother Audrey and stepdad Dave Mahon have been staying over recent months. Her mother meanwhile, has recently been told she will die if she does not undergo a liver transplant. It is reported she suffered a ‘panic attack’ on

Earpiece Don’t let the Don’t thein banks cash newlet size banks cash in 39mm www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk xsee 50mm page 13 see page 13

Tel. 951 203 986

olive press The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

Vol. 8 Issue 180

Police to scour remote hillside near missing teen’s home after tip off to her aunt

DETECTIVES are set to scour a remote hillside for the body of missing Amy Fitzpatrick, the Olive Press can reveal. The area of wasteland, not far from the home of the teenager on the Costa del Sol, is likely to be searched in the next few days. It comes after Amy’s aunt in Ireland Christine Kenny received an anonymous tip off about where her niece ‘had been buried’, following her disappearance on New Year’s Day 2008. “It was very very precise and came from a lady in Ireland,” she told the Olive Press. “She refused to give her name and withheld her number, but she was quite certain. “She said you are the person I need to give this message to and she told me the spot that Amy is buried. She said she had known about it for some time. “She was roaring and crying on the phone. In fact, she was blabbing.” Kenny, who is close to Amy’s father Christopher, added: “The Gardai and Guardia Civil are both now involved and I have been told not to give away the exact spot. “But I can tell you it is not far from where she lived.” Amy had gone missing from

www.theolivepress.es

February 5 - February 19 2014

BURIAL GROUND: Christine Kenny claims caller told her Amy was ‘buried in a remote area’ near her Riviera del Sol home

New hunt for Amy

Exclusive By Giles Brown

her home in Riviera del Sol, near Calahonda, after a night out with friends nearby. As the Olive Press revealed at the time, the 15-year-old had been unhappy and was not getting on with her mother or stepfather Dave Mahon, a lo-

cal estate agent. She had not been attending school and sources revealed she had even sometimes slept rough in a nearby park. Despite nationwide and global appeals from both sides of the family, she has not been found. Added her aunt: “I really hope they start searching now and that they get there in time be-

A Gibraltar More than Marmite at Morrisons www.theolivepress.es

ll about

Vol. 8 Issue

180

the olive press

- February

5 - February

1919

19 2014

www.theolivepress.es

February 5

- February

19 2014

Britain in the Sun? You’re off your If your view of Rock-er... coincides with Gibraltar 5’s TV show Channel have gone to you should Specsavers, writes Belinda Beckett

N 1987, Agent ing sequence 007 parachuted onto the to The Living a would-be assassin, Daylights and,Rock in the openafter sailed off in climes. his yacht for dispatching In those days, more exotic Bond shaken Gibraltar was not the kind of place to leave Fast-forward or stirred. James a quarter of Bond could have a century and berthed his giga-yacht it’s a different and strolled over to the casino in swanky Ocean story: After decades for one Village complete with as ‘Little Britain in theof his trademark Martinis. and Bobbies old-school Tardis police Sun’, on the beat, forging a shiny Gibraltar has boxes tinental – no new ID that is decidedly been contitled Tuesdaythanks to Channel 5’s similarlynight show, now on its second Turn to page

by David Cussen

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

It’s a good week for Gibraltar as its new floating five star hotel finally comes in to anchor. See page 14... and then our 28-page special supplement on the Rock starting on page 19

fore anything is moved.” The news comes as it emerges that the mother of Amy and her partner Mahon have been living on the Costa del Sol for the last month.

Criminal

Killing

This is despite Mahon being expected to be charged over the death of Amy’s brother Dean last year. An inquest into the killing outside Mahon’s Dublin flat has been postponed until March 14. He has admitted to stabbing Dean, but claims it was in self-defence. He has not yet been charged. Olive Press sources reveal that the pair have been drinking regularly at a string of bars near the Los Jarales camp site, in Calahonda. They have been seen a number of times at Los Ktetos and have a new puppy. Mahon recently told the Irish Press the reason for the break was to help nurse Audrey back to full health. “She is

SPAIN has definitely said ‘no’. Tens of thousands of outraged protesters have taken to the streets in Madrid to express disgust at the planned overhaul of the country’s abortion law. In the most draconian laws in Europe, women will only be able to abort in cases of rape, severe foetal deformity and when the pregnancy will compromise the health of the mother. The message from the Spanish populus though seems definitive: they will not accept the banning of abortion and they demand Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon - the minister of justice who proposed the draft paper - to resign. Solidarity protests were also held in Rome, Lisbon, Paris and Hannover, after more than 2000 people had gathered outside the Spanish embassy in Brussels on January 29.

TRANSPLANT: Mum

physically and mentally exhausted” he said. As we went to press, it was reported that Audrey needs an urgent liver transplant and had been rushed to the Costa del Sol hospital for tests. Doctors reported that her enzyme count was 2,750 – more than 100 times the normal level.

Many protesters were dressed in purple – a colour symbolising feminism – and carried banners with slogans such as ‘We give birth, we decide’ and ‘Abortion has no place in criminal law’. However Ruiz-Gallardon remained defiant, saying: “You have my word that neither insult nor cry shall make this minister rescind his commitment to fulfilling the policy of regulating the rights of women and of pregnancy.” Under the new rules passed on December 20 women would not be punished for illegal abortions, though doctors could go to jail for up to three years.

Photography

UK TV Solutions Installations Troubleshooting •

663 303 932 / 675 033 474 info@alpusat.com www.alpusat.com

Fully accreditted BSKYB technician based in Las Alpujarras Find us on facebook.com/alpusat.alpujarra

Dirty dozen guilty of taking bribes

OVER a dozen police officers have been found guilty of requesting and accepting bribes from passengers carrying banned items through security at Malaga airport. The jury heard the 14 officers of the Guardia Civil would stop passengers at the departure gates after spotting an item to be confiscated, often foodstuffs, through the x-ray. CCTV shows they then took

travellers into private rooms where they received cash or other items in return for not confiscating the prohibited item. They also often told travellers that certain items were banned when they were not and demanded

Man shot in front of his children A MAN has been shot dead in his car as he took his children to school in Marbella. National Police are currently investigating the death after another driver spotted the man, of Algerian origin, in his car in the Las Lomas urbanisation. It appears the only witnesses were his three children, aged ten, nine and three and they have now been referred for psychological assistance.

bribes to let them through. In Malaga’s longest ever jury trial, lasting a month and a day, 17 officers went on trial with three acquitted.

Bird flu

In one case they allegedly accepted money from an Asian man to allow him to bring prohibited foodstuffs through customs that broke laws on foot and mouth disease and bird flu. One witness told the court that it was common knowledge among his friends and family in China that you could bribe the airport police with a €50 note.

Pink Panther picked up A SUSPECTED member of the notorious Pink Panther jewel thief network has been arrested in Spain. Borko Ilincic, 33, is accused of being involved in the spectacular 11m euros robbery of a jewellery store in Dubai in 2007. Spanish police said he was arrested as he tried to leave a hotel in a Madrid suburb in a rental car. He was carrying a false Bosnian passport, though police said his real nationality is Serbian. The Pink Panthers are an international band of jewel thieves, many of whom hail from the Balkans, who are known for their daring robberies and burglaries. Interpol says the gang has stolen over 330m euros of jewellery since 1999, and is linked to 340 robberies in 35 countries.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

SEE UNSEEN BOWIE

UNSEEN pictures of David Bowie have gone on display in La Termica, Malaga. The photos, dating back to 1972, were taken by photographer Brian Duffy before the singer hit the big time. The product of five promotional shoots, the Bowie Series includes 30 photos with a combined value of € 3.6 million. Photos include outtakes from a shoot in which Bowie appeared as alter ego Ziggy

We will rap you!

Stardust, and subsequent promotional shoots for albums AladdinSane, Scary Monsters, and Lodger. Duffy, who died in 2010, gave up photography in 1980, and burned all his negatives. The exhibition was put together by his son Chris Duffy, who trawled through various archives to retrieve the work. It will be on display until March 23 when it will move to London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

Pet Shop Boys to star at Starlite

LEGENDARY electro pop duo The Pet Shop Boys are to headline at the Starlite FestiHUNTERS: Wills and Harry

Queen star slams Prince Wills and Harry’s hunting trip to Andalucia

ROCK legend Brian May has slammed Princes William and Harry for a hunting trip in Cordoba, where they shot wild boar and stags. The trip to the Duke of Westminster’s exclusive estate La Garganta, near Conquista, came just days before William launched a campaign to highlight poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. The 66-year-old former Queen guitarist described the trip as inhumane and illogical and said it showed that the royals were out of touch. “This is right at the heart of the problem we are looking at in this govern-

ment,” he said. “It’s the whole attitude of the privileged classes, you can rescue rhinos and elephants in Africa but kill anything at will if you’re rich.

No Logic “It’s not logical, justifiable or humane and is the same as people in the 19th century trying to justify slavery.” William and Harry flew separately into Sevilla before leaving for the estate with friends and some ScotlandYard protection officers.

The brothers have been shooting at least once a year at the enormous estate on the border of Castilla La Mancha. Contained within the 40 mile perimeter – patrolled by armed guards in 4x4s – the finca has its own private train station, petrol station and accommodation for 100 staff. It became controversial some years ago when the Duke cut off 13 public tracks into the estate and managed to divert a toll motorway away from the estate and onto neighbouring land.

Floating Fashion

SICKENED: Brian May

Connery: I didn’t bribe Marbella town hall GRILLED: Connery pictured at Malibu home

BOND star Sean Connery and his wife have been forced to finally deny officially any involvement with corruption and money-laundering offences in Marbella. It comes after it emerged that the film star and his wife have answered questions relating to the buying and selling of their former villa Malibu in Marbella. The authorities threatened to issue an international arrest warrant if they did not come to Spain to answer questions about their involvement in the so-called Goldfinger case. In a sworn testimony from his home in the Ba-

Celebs join anti drilling campaign KATE MOSS, Sienna Miller and Pete Tong are among the celebrities backing a campaign to stop oil exploration off the coast of Ibiza. They have joined more than 33,000 people who signed a petition opposing the plans to drill for oil just 15 miles off the coast of the island. The petition has now been submitted to Spain’s government urging them to rethink the decision. The stars have also taken to Twitter and Instagram, posting selfies of them holding the social media protest tag #ibizasaysno. As well as the concerns over the effect the project will have on tourism, it could breach the island’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means the United Nations regards it is a place of special cultural or physical significance. There are fears if this goes ahead then there could be oil spills and locals are worried about the effect on sea life. JUST SAY NO: Ibiza protestors include Moss (right)

val in Marbella this summer. Singer Neil Tennant and Chris Tennant have a topped the charts for nearly 30 years since the release of their first hit single West End Girls in 1985. Other hits include What have I done to deserve this, Rent and Only on my Mind. The multi-award winning duo have picked up several Brit awards and sold more than 50 million records worldwide. The Pet Shop Boys will play Marbella on July 30 as part of their Electric tour. Other acts already confirmed include Kool and the Gang, Gloria Gaynor and Julio Iglesias. The Starlite Festival is set to run from July 23 to August 23.

hamas, he insisted he had ‘no connection with’ former mayor Jesús Gil, and ‘did not know him personally’. This is despite appearing in a re-election campaign by Gil in the 1990s. He also said he didn’t know another mayor Julián Muñoz or councillor Juan Antonio Roca, both of whom are charged with tax evasion and corruption offences concerning the sale of the home to be turned into luxury flats. Connery was also asked about the two development companies he is linked to, Malibu SA, through which he owned his Costa del Sol villa, and By the Sea, a developer behind 72 luxury residential homes.

Not Connected

He explained that he had broken ties with Malibu SA in the 1980s, when he transferred his Marbella villa to his wife, and that he had never had any connections with By the Sea. He said he had never been involved in any developments in Marbella nor had he been inside the Property Registry in the town. He denied giving ‘gifts’ to its employees as ‘bribes’, and had never obtained any capital gains or profits from the operations being investigated in the case. He added he had no tax obligations in Spain and did not have commercial holdings on the Isle of Man, in Uruguay, Panamá or Holland, where he has been accused of laundering money. The actor stressed that he was testifying ‘voluntarily’ at the request of legal authorities in Spain and the Bahamas to ‘help with inquiries’. The case, dubbed ‘Goldfinger’, has so far seen 17 people charged, including former mayors Gil, who died in 2004, Muñoz and Roca, together with five other ex-councillors, two solicitors, at least one business-owner and several accountants and financial advisors.

MARBELLA Luxury Weekend (MLW) returns for its fourth edition from June 5 to 8 in Puerto Banus. Showcasing some of the biggest luxury brands in the world, this year the MLW fashion shows will literally have models walking on water. For the first time the MLW organisers will construct a floating catwalk in the world famous marina. The 21 metre walkway will also have seating for 200 VIP spectators, and even more serious fashionistas will be able to watch the shows from a private yacht.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

News IN BRIEF

Good innings ANDALUCIA’s oldest woman has died, just hours after turning 109. Adelaida Vargas was born in Adra on February 2, 1905, and was the oldest of seven children.

Just the job THE Malaga Metro has hired 83 new staff. The recruits will work as station managers and technical operators ahead of the opening of the first phase of the network.

ITV drop THE cost of an ITV inspection is to drop, with owners getting an average 10 to 45% discount. The move, designed to help recession-weary motorists, will make Andalucia the cheapest region in which to pass the ITV.

Lovely Granada GRANADA has been named most romantic city in Andalucia by Amazon. Sevilla and Marbella took the second and third places respectively.

Sing with us THE CoralXalia choir is recruiting singers for its new season. Male and female vocalists should email eucorax@hotmail. es or call 669 682 139. The group meets on Thursdays at 5.30.

UK TV Solutions Installations Troubleshooting •

663 303 932 / 675 033 474 info@alpusat.com www.alpusat.com Fully accreditted BSKYB technician based in Las Alpujarras Find us on facebook.com/alpusat.alpujarra

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Carla becomes a real ‘rescue dog’ after surviving a four kilometre underground journey from one reservoir to another

Doggy paddle CARLA the rescue dog got more than she bargained for when she embarked on a duck chase while out for a morning stroll. The five-year-old labrador/ mastiff cross launched herself into Presa Guadaiza, in Nueva Andalucia, ignoring the ‘no swimming’ signs and screams

Spain crumbles to China pressure SPAIN’S parliament has approved a law that will limit the ability of its judges to go after alleged human rights abusers around the world. Until now the country has pioneered the use of ‘universal jurisdiction’ to pursue international crimes of genocide and torture. Now they will only be able to prosecute wrongdoers who reside in Spain. The law change comes just as the country’s national court issued arrest warrants for former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and four others as part of a probe into alleged genocide in Tibet. An angry China which denies committing cri,mes when it took control of Tibet in 1950, demanded the Spanish government deal with the issue or risk souring relations between Beijing and Madrid. Tibet activists in Spain who began campaigning decades ago now face having the case thrown out under the new law. “The Chinese government is putting lots of pressure on the Spanish government,” said Thubten Wangchen, Director of the House of Tibet Foundation.

EXCLUSIVE By Giles Brown

from her owners Yiannie Lamb and Kirsten Fleig. The next minute she was gone. “She just disappeared and we had no idea what had happened,” Yiannie, head of a local film production company San-

WHAT A RIDE!: Carla reunited with owner Kirsten (left) and her route

ta Monica told the Olive Press. The couple then spent the next four days fruitlessly searching the nearby countryside, but they could never have imagined what had actually happened to Carla. It turned out she had been on the log flume of her life. For the reservoir provides

water to ANOTHER reservoir, that of La Concepcion some four kilometres away, via an underground pipe. And when the levels in the second reservoir get low, a hatch automatically opens in La Quinta, sending water rushing along the tube to its destination.

Wettest year since 1969 for some parts of Spain In nearby La Coruña there was 39 days of rain in the first 41 days of 2014. San Sebastián, also in northern Spain, had it a little better with only 23 days of rain, but had hectic tidal waves and strong winds battering its coastline. In Andalucia, it has been the rainiest start of the year for five years, which has left the reservoirs at 81.29% full, compared to 79.78% last year. Many areas around Andalucia, in particular Almería and Granada have been placed on ‘yellow alert’ for extremely high waves, and last weekend the Olive Press reported how one driver in Cadiz has a lucky escape after a bridge collapsed. Elsewhere numerous roads have been closed due to THE UK Government is scrapping the winter fuel allowance floods and snow while and for expats from 2015 in a move to cut costs. high winds have grounded Some £21m was given to 49,500 expats in the winter of 2012sea traffic in the Strait of Gi13, up from £12.8m the previous year. braltar and ports along the This was due to a European Court ruling that anyone with a ‘sufsouth-west coast. ficient link’ to Britain could claim the £200 to £300 allowance. The storms have led to at The new rules, which should save the Government £8.85m, least 20 homes being flooded, will apply to places where the average winter temperature while Motril was subject to a is higher than the warmest part of the UK which is 5.6C in freak hailstorm, resulting in South-West England. serious damage to vehicles This means expats in Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and buildings. and Gibraltar will lose the allowance. The unsettled weather seems Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said in Noset to pass later this week as vember that the decision by the European Court of Justice March approaches, although had been ‘ridiculous’. thunderstorms are predicted “The huge increase in winter fuel payments equates to a near doufor the middle of the month. bling in costs to the taxpayer and that is wholly unacceptable,’”he said.

A NUMBER of Spanish cities have experienced the wettest start to the year since 1969. Towns in northern Spain, including the coast, have had rainfall almost every day since January 1. Until last Sunday, the Galician city of Santiago had had rain every single day. The 41 days of rain dropped 641 litres per square metre in the city and put a dampener on pilgrims undertaking the celebrated Way of St James to Santiago.

Winter fuel allowance slashed

As Carla was determinedly swimming after the ducks, the hatch opened, sending water, logs, mud, rocks and (you would imagine) a rather startled 40 kilo dog shooting down the tube! “Judging by the state of her paws she must have clung onto a log for dear life,” continued Yianne. “She lost all her claws on her front paws.” Carla was finally spotted, looking more than a little disorientated and disheveled by security guards on the La Concepcion dam, four days later. “We were delighted to get her back, but it’s a reminder that all dog owners and people with children too, should look out for ‘no swimming’ signs.” As for Carla, she is genuinely fine. “Apart from the fact that she did a four kilometre bobsleigh ride on her paws she is fine,” grinned Yiannie. “On her first night back she slept flat on her back in the lounge, snoring like a viking!”

School open day SOTOGRANDE International School is holding an open evening for parents of preschool children on March 5. The event, held a few days before the state school application process begins on March 10, will inform parents about the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. The school caters for both day students and boarders from three to 18, and is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools. It offers a British-style international education, and is approved annually as a convalidated school through the Spanish authorities.

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Everything you need! The Market

Delicatessen

Carrefour is the very essence of a traditional market Our concept of ‘always fresh’ means a tasty range of products prepared freshly every day by our staff in the shop. Quality, freshness and variety are the key ingredients thanks to our local suppliers

Fruit & Vegetables

Top for cold meats and cheeses We supply the best cold cuts from Guijuelo, Huelva, Extremadura and Teruel as well as the best national and international cheeses. Look out for our meat and cheese products from the Montes de Malaga area

International Products Very best from abroad Discover the most irresistible products - more than 1000 in our international section, including sauces, marmalades, biscuits, jams and cereals. Products from countries including Finland, Japan and the UK

From the land straight to your table Every day we select the best seasonal fruit and vegetables with quality, freshness and flavour top of our list. Much of our produce is local and comes from producers in nearby Almayate, Cartama and Pizarra

Fish

Bakery The best from the fish market We always use the best local fish from markets including the Fuengirola ‘lonja’ or fish market. Choose between a large variety of fish and shellfish, including locally-caught whitebait, sardines and red mullet

Fresh as humanly possible We prepare fresh bread hourly using traditional recipes to achieve the highest standards. From the typical sliced bread to hunky ‘cateto Malagueño’ perfect for a Ploughman’s Lunch

Meat Top quality choice of meat We have a wide selection of top quality and good value meat. Look out for our local cuts, such as kid and lamb

Prepared Meals Take away meals From traditional dishes to sushi, everything is prepared daily. Take away meals include roast chicken, pasta and healthy salads

Technology Technology at the very best prices We have a huge range of electrical goods on offer from telephones to washing machines and from televisions to computers

CARREFOUR MIJAS Avda. de los Lirios Mijas, Las Lagunas 29651

FEATURE

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

OPINION TV viewers turn to Olive Press website to keep up with the news LET the facts and figures speak for themselves... When the plug was pulled on British satellite TV in southern Spain a fortnight ago expats - in their thousands - turned to the Olive Press website to keep abreast with the latest developments. This followed on from massive online interest in our special and ongoing investigation into fraudster Nigel Goldman, developments in the missing Amy Fitzpatrick case and exclusive revelation that actress Salma Hayek has shown interest in buying the €300m Almoraima estate. The surge in online visits following the satellite switch off led to more than 5,000 unique visitors EVERY day for a week, with an amazing peak of more than 8,000 during one 24-hour spell. The figures clearly confirm a trend over the last 14 months that proves the diet of original news content daily uploaded onto the website is increasingly sought and read by people,not only throughout Spain (visits up by 39%) but also from Gibraltar (up 73%), UK (up 25.7%) and Ireland (up 17.2%). Even visitors from France are up by a whopping 58.9% and our friends in Germany up by 48.4%. The year may be hardly 50 days old, but statistics show the Olive Press’s website - compared with the same period last year - has enjoyed l18.56% MORE visits l 21.22% MORE unique visitors l11.08% MORE page views And in even better news, our online visitors are spending almost 8% more time when logged on to www.theolivepress.es this year. With lifestyle changes, compared to a year ago , there has been a 129% rise in the number of tablet users seeing the Olive Press online, along with 111% more mobile hits, plus 7% more visits from desktop PC users. If you are not yet among the increasing army of daily Olive Press online followers, then take a visit to www.theolivepress.es to stay switched on to the news…whether or not you still have a satellite TV service!

Got a news story?

Contact our team of journalists in our Costa del Sol office on 951127006 or 691831399 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

the

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

Tel: 951127006 (admin/editorial/sales/advertising) or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 Urb Casares del Sol, bloque 21, portal 70, bajo b, Casares 29690, Malaga Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Reporters: Newsdesk Newsdesk@theolivepress.es Claire Wilson Claire@theolivepress.es Giles Brown Giles@theolivepress.es

Tom Powell Tom@theolivepress.es Distribution/Admin: Sally Anne Doyle/ 951127006 Accounts: Anna Cockell 951127006 accounts@theolivepress.es SALES TEAM: Stephen Shutes 655825683 Axarquia Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 Cadiz Elizabeth Gould 683 337 342

The belt tightens A

N overwhelming two out of three Spaniards believe political corruption affects their daily lives, the highest such figure in Europe, according to a recent survey by the EU commission. Some 95% believe corruption in Spain is institutionalised and 77% believe it has got worse over the last three years. It is little wonder considering both leading political parties have been mired in allegations of corruption over the past decade. And since the notebooks of the former Popular Party (PP) treasurer Luis Barcenas went public exactly a year ago, it has become international news. Domestically, the so-called Gurtel corruption case has been making headlines since 2009. However, as yet only two people have been convicted in relation to it and one of them, incredibly, is the Judge who launched the investigation and summoned the arrests of 25 suspects in the first place. The Gurtel case begins with the former PP Government treasurer, Luis Barcenas. For as long as Barcenas managed finances for his party, ministers would receive an envelope each month containing between €5,000 and €10,000. This money came from a secret slush fund, subsidised by a ring of businessmen in return for lucrative contracts. But come 2009, in strode judge Baltasar Garzon, the people’s favourite judge.

Following our in-depth explanation of the ERE corruption scandal in Andalucia (right), the Olive Press runs a rule over the nationwide Gurtel investigation which has just reached its fifth anniversary

Superjudge

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

Hell bent on tackling corruption, the socalled ‘superjudge’ became internationally famous when he ordered the arrest of Chilean dictator Pinochet in London and dared to tackle the issue of war crimes against human rights during the Spanish Civil War. He had soon summoned a host of suspects before his court, including businessman Francisco Correa Sanchez, the man whom the entire case is named after. ‘Gurtel’ is the German word for ‘Correa’, belt in English, and it appears this belt was holding up the biggest political corruption scandal Europe has ever seen. Garzon’s investigation revealed Correa to be the leader of a gang of corrupt businessman who were found to have paid about €7m in kickbacks in exchange for contracts with PP-led governments in Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and Valencia. Correa, himself a businessman, was also accused of bribing officials and politicians with cash, luxury cars, designer clothing, expensive watches and Caribbean holidays. The case implicated a number of leading PP politicians, not least Barcenas, who was at first defended by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who even hired him an attorney. But the pressure got too much and with Spain’s main newspapers El Mundo and El Pais giving the case considerable column inches, and it wasn’t long before Barcenas was forced to resign. A year later the investigation took a shocking turn. The crusading Baltasar Garzon - famous for digging his judicial knife into Spain’s most gaping wound, the acts of repression committed by the Franco regime - found himself in the dock. Garzon was accused of the cardinal sin of legal etiquette ordering the wire-tapping of conversations between Gurtel case defendants in custody and their lawyers and was brought before the Supreme Court. In February 2012, Spain’s champion of justice was banned from the legal profession for 11 years. Protesters took to the streets in Madrid

www.theolivepress.es

BARCENAS: Villain at centre of scandal

By Tom Powell

One of those alleged to have received underhand payments from Barcenas while a Minister, the current leader denies any involvement and has sought to crush accusations of corruption within his party

It emerged he had been using a number of fake companies with English names such as ‘Special Events SL’, ‘Easy Concept SL’ and ‘Orange Market SL’ to carry out his corrupt activities. When the judge set Correa’s bail at €15m it was the second highest in Spanish history, signalling intentions to stamp down hard on the quickly escalating scandal. However, his legal team appealed the bail price and in 2012 Correa’s mother miraculously found the €200,000 required to get him of jail. How the government hoped that the investigation would go no further than Correa, but in January last year, the controversy flared up again, and this time much much worse for the already beleaguered PP government. The investigation revealed the party’s former treasurer Barcenas held a Swiss bank account containing €22m, which worked definitively as a ‘slush fund’ to provide party officials with kick-backs. It was at this point that newspaper El Mundo unearthed the shady story of the envelopes changing hands and two weeks later, perhaps not to be outdone, El Pais published its famous copies of the alleged ‘ledgers’ of Luis Barcenas, which showed a string of illegal payments dating from 1990 to 2009. These handwritten notebooks - firmly denied as ‘fakes’ by the government - implicated none other than Prime Minister Rajoy himself. According to the ledgers he had been on the receiving end of the slush fund cash, specifically an annual sum of €25,200 given to him in cash between 1997 and 2008. Understandably the government was worried.

Stay strong

Francisco Alvarez Cascos Former Public works minister currently being questioned over allegedly receiving €41,000 in kickbacks

to argue that the cases against him were politically motivated. It was an upsurge of public support, which perhaps prevented him from being further investigated for his involvement in highlighting crimes during the Franco era. But his banning did not stop the investigation from continuing and the case was handed over to Judge Pablo Ruz... and the jamon had soon hit the floor when Swiss investigators uncovered some €24million in bank accounts linked to Correa.

It was also revealed that Barcenas had used a controversial tax amnesty declared by Rajoy’s Government in 2012 to transfer €10m from Swiss accounts back to Spain, while an HSBC bank account in New York was found to have received €2.5m in 2009 from Barcenas. Initially, all the implicated PP officials vehemently denied any wrong-doing but as the press turned the heat up on Barcenas he began to lose PP support and eventually admitted to the press that there had been ‘irregular’ funding of the party. It must have sent a shiver down the spines of the government and within days, PM Rajoy allegedly sent his former treasurer a text message on January 18 which said: “Luis, I understand. Stay strong. I’ll call you tomorrow. A hug.” But more and more claims kept filtering out and when Barcenas finally came to court to give his initial evidence in June, angry crowds turned up to heckle him and his wife. It came as Rajoy and his party continued to deny any knowledge of illegal party donations and distanced itself from Barce-

FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

SPOTLIGHT TURNS ON KEY DAMNING FACTS OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS... 1990-2008:

A secret accounting system is employed by the Popular Party (PP) to record donations from companies for campaigns. Judge Baltasar Garzon opens up an investigation into Correa’s corrupt relationship

2009:

with Government ministers. PP treasurer Barcenas resigns after being implicated in the scandal. Garzon is brought before the Supreme Court charged with ordering the wiretapping of conversations between defendants in

2010:

Francisco Correa Sánchez

Spanish businessman and leader of the corruption scheme, arrested in 2009. He was held in custody on charges of bribery, influence peddling, tax fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and document forgery until his mother forked out €200,000 for his bail nas’ offshore accounts. Going into full denial mode, the party leader even publicly apologised to the nation in August for having ‘trusted someone who did not deserve to be trusted’, adding that Barcenas was a ‘fantasist’ and a ‘pathological liar’. It was a dangerous ploy, for in an attempt to play the ‘rogue agent’ card, they were leaving themselves open to be stabbed in the back. And so it came to pass when Barcenas decided to sing during a five-hour closed doors meeting at Madrid’s High Court. It was like dynamite with the former treasurer

custody and their lawyers. The investigation is handed over to Judge Pablo Ruz who finds €24million in Swiss bank accounts linked to Correa. Garzon is convicted and his legal career finished.

Maria Dolores de Cospedal

2013:

Judge Baltasar Garzon

The party’s current secretary general was the most senior member to be summoned before the investigating judge last August. She also allegedly took bungs

spewing out names, dates and details which incriminated many of his former allies. In a bizarre twist, it made him one of the country’s more popular political characters while Rajoy and the other dramatis personae remain in an embarrassing state of denial. Fast forward to 2014 and the Gurtel case is still in full swing as former public works minister Francisco Alvarez Cascos is the latest to be outed as corrupt. A new report reveals he received at least €41,000 in slush fund payments between 2003 and 2004, with his initials conveniently

LIBERTYCAR

2012:

Correa’s mother pays his €200,000 bail and he walks away from prison. Barcenas uses the Government’s tax amnesty to transfer €10m from Swiss accounts to Spain. January: Investigation discovers Barcenas’ Swiss bank account containing €22million and that he used the account to provide party officials with kickbacks, including current Prime MinisGarzon blew ter Rajoy. the scanEl Mundo publishes the story of dal open in the envelope payments. 2009 but El Pais publishes copies of was later Barcenas’ secret accounting suspended ledgers, detailing ‘donations’ for 11 years from businesses and payments for ordering to Ministers. conversaJuly: Barcenas finally confirms tions betthe existence of the slush fund ween defensystem in court. dants and their lawyers Opposition party members call for Rajoy’s immediate resignain prison to be recorded. tion. August: Rajoy publicly apologisQuestions es for scandal but denies any remain over involvement and calls for Minwhether he wilfully brea- isters to be resolute against allegations. ched laws Francisco Cascos is of justice or also reported to have received just wrongly €41,000 in kickbacks while interpreted Public Works Minister for the the law PP Government.

appearing on the accounting ledgers. With 71 defendants currently being investigated over the Gurtel affair it is difficult to trust anyone in power in Spain, especially considering the ERE scandal that has been consuming the PSOE socialist party in Andalucia. The investigation is ongoing after five years and will continue for at least another year, it is believed. It is also easy to understand why 95% of Spanish people think corruption is institutionalised. And one has to wonder about the kind of padded envelopes the other 5% might be receiving.

2014:

❚ Car ❚ Home ❚ Pet ❚ Life ❚ Accidents ❚ Leisure ❚ Commercial

Your Liberty for driving.

Wherever you are or whatever you need, feel at ease because you’re always covered by a wide range of products, tailor-made with you in mind. That is why we’re the market leader. Click now for an instant quote and the name of your nearest broker

www.libertyexpatriates.es

February 20th

AS K

E N

The Expats’ No.1 Choice

URA

The Olive Press – 170 x 256mm

INS

◗ Pick up and delivery of your spare keys

NEW

◗ Tracker Device Discount

HOM

◗ 10% Named Driver Discount

OUT OU AB

◗ Up to 65% No-Claims Discount

NEW

AS K

◗ Extensive Breakdown Cover

OUT OU AB

◗ 24 hour Roadside Assistance

Benefits include:

SURAN

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

GREEN NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Now Canaries set for drilling

WIDE OPEN: El Espinar

HANDS OFF: Anti-drilling protests THE government of the Canary Islands is to debate proposals to drill for oil off Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. President Paulino Rivero will address both the regional parliament and the Congress of Deputies whether or not they believe Repsol should be allowed to undertake the project. The company already has pending environmental permits, and has stated it will be able to start the work in the second half of the year. Canary Islands authorities estimate that the research would endanger the environment of the islands, which is the base of its tourism industry and the backbone of its economy. Repsol says it has enough technology to avoid any catastrophe. The news comes as the prospect of oil drilling off the coast of Ibiza becomes increasingly likely, despite mounting backlash from the Balaeric Island’s residents, government, and army of holidaymakers. Insiders say the only real hope of stopping exploration for oil off Ibiza will be on environmental grounds. In its new energy plan, the EU has decreed that there should be a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases and a 27% increase in renewable energy use by 2030.

SCENIC: Marismas Corunesas

SPECTACULAR: Rio Ebro

Protection record Spain now has highest number of UNESCO protected nature reserves in Europe and is second in the world

FIVE new UNESCO-protected biosphere reserves have been added to Spain.

Renewable energy cuts

THE Spanish government is cutting renewable energy subsidies as part of a drive to reduce a €30 billion power tariff deficit. It has built up during years of keeping prices below regulated costs. The draft sets the rate of return for existing renewable energy facilities at 7.4% and at 7.5% , well below the 10% previously. But the new rules, which hopes to save € 1.5billion a year, include variations according to the many types of technology - including wind, thermosolar, photovoltaic and biomass - and the year the assets were installed. For example, assets installed before 2004 will receive no subsidy, while newer installations will receive better returns.

New nature reserves have been added in La Granja and El Espinar, in Segovia, As Marinas and Terras de Mandeo in Galicia and the Ebro delta of Catalunya. It means the country now has more UNESCO protected nature reserves than anywhere else in Europe and the second-highest number on the planet.

Magnificent

LEAFY: La Granja

The world heritage charity says Spain is the ‘most active’ in its biodiversity programmes, with 45 protected nature reserves. The USA has 47, making it the country with the largest number, and Mexico comes third with 40. In total, there are 621 UNESCO natural heritage sites come to in 117 countries. The charity has praised Spain for what it calls a ‘magnificent’ environmental conscience, and its ‘strong awareness of the immense value of its GREEN: Terras de Mandeo natural heritage.

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

AXARQUIA NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

News IN BRIEF

Wet Jan ALMUNECAR has recorded its wettest January in four years. Official figures recorded that 101.2 litres per square metre fell during the month.

Sweet refit A FORMER sugar factory in Velez Malaga has been successfully restored. The Virgen del Carmen building will house a museum as well as training college for entrepreneurs.

Drive carefully RINCON de la Victoria police recorded 246 traffic accidents in 2013, of which 102 resulted in injury to drivers or passengers. The most dangerous road to drive was Avenida del Mediterráneo, which had 48 accidents last year.

Remembering the Retreat ONE of the darkest chapters of the Spanish Civil War marked its 77th anniversary this month. In February 1937 up to 150,000 people fled Malaga in terror when the city fell to Franco’s troops. Men, women and children were slaughtered by Nationalist troops after they took to the roads heading to the safety of

Almeria. In what is called the Desbanda (retreat or fleeing) the unarmed civilians came under frequent bombardment from both the Spanish navy and the Italian air force. Hundreds died in what is known as the ‘caravan of death’. The event has now been marked with a ceremony

Beach bonanza

2000 new homes and a hotel scheduled for west Nerja

REVAMP: Playazo Playa

A BRAND new beach zone with houses and hotels has been given the thumbs up in Nerja. The 2,200 home development will be constructed some 250 metres from Playazo beach, after the land was reclassified as be-

By Giles Brown

ing available for development. In total 120 hectares will be developed, while a further 200,000 sqm has been earmarked for further leisure and business development. The scheme, now passed by the Junta, will see the paseo maritimo being extended as well as the creation of beach NERJA Town Hall has ap- us , dramatically improvbars and restaurants. In adproved a site for the con- ing the performance of dition three large car parks struction of a helipad for health services and saving will be created. the Emergency Services, lives.” located close to the town’s The town hall has also apLow Rise health centre. proved the basic design of The development also alMayor Jose Alberto the helipad. Currently the lows for the construction of Armijo said that the he- emergency services have a hotel ‘under strict guidelipad would “Benefit all been using the town’s footlines specified by the Junta’ the residents of the town ball pitch for emergency and also single story villas, and the people who visit helicopter landing as well as low rise social housing. The N340 will be turned into a ‘grand boulevard’ as part of the project. “This plan will have important consequences from both a tourism and especially economic point of view for Nerja” said mayor CHOPPER: Nerja to build helipad Jose Alberto Armijo.

We have take off

HARROWING : Innocent families were slaughtered as they fled from Malaga towards Almeria and march in Velez Malaga. It was organised by Luis Naranjo, who described it as ‘the most horrendous crime of the whole Civil War’.

Keep the cash ANDALUCIA´S Supreme Court has ruled that Nerja will not have to return the € 15m that developers the MedGroup paid for land to develop a golf course scheme near the town. The group had already lost in its bid to get back what it had invested to buy the million square metres of land, near Nerja. The group, owned by billionaire financier George Soros, was appealing against a ruling that sided with the town hall in 2011. The group had obtained basic planning permission to build 1000 luxury homes and an 18hole golf course at La Coladilla, but the agreement was overturned by the Junta. The group still wants to go ahead with the project, which has been subject to a new public petition, as reported last month. Soros and his team are set to meet with officials from the Junta next month to try and pursuade the body to change its ruling. Nerja mayor Armijo described the ruling as ‘very good news’, while still hoping the scheme can go ahead.

Don’t miss any of your favourite channels in 2014

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

T ES S N’ G AI BIG ER SP T & VID ES RO RG V P LA IPT

R E F F O E V I S EXCLU x o b p o t t e S .95€ Mag 250 n a h t i w € 5 .9 9 7 r e d i v o r p e v i t alterna 100

a for all if you join Europ your services.

Quote ref: OLV

Y A D 30 ck Ba y e n Mo tee n a r a Gu

Uk TV - 40 + channels + Internet browsing + 14 day catch up TV P Easy installation, plug and play P No Satellite dish or computer needed P Never miss a programme again P Works with any Internet provider from 1mb LAND LINE

ADSL

WIMAX

Don’t miss out, call

902 050 999 www.europa-network.com europa-network.com

Ref: OLV100. Terms and conditions apply. Prices exclude IVA.

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Gibraltar based company Roger Bullivant (Gibraltar) Ltd has been shortlisted for an award for its work on the retaining structure for the Sunborn Floating Hotel in Gibraltar

t takes a lot of work to build a home for the world’s first five star floating hotel and much of that tends to go unnoticed.

Roger Bullivant (Gibraltar) Ltd was tasked with preparing the Ocean Village Marina’s retaining structure for the arrival of the Sunborn Gibraltar. They overcame many challenges to deliver the project on time and on budget, with the 142m five star hotel now open for use. In fact, the project was so successful they have been shortlisted for the Special European Project of the year award.

TEAMWORK: The specialist Bullivant team at work

Project scope Crucially, they needed to increase the marina’s water depth to accommodate the super-yacht’s required 5m clearance. RB (Gib) Ltd devised a solution to effectively retain the silts, sand and clay which lay above the rock on the seabed on the eastern side of the casino island and then increase the water depth through dredging. They had to bear in mind the environmental impact on the very busy marina complex alongside them as well as ensuring the structural strength of the adjacent White’s Marina pier and the Casino Island complex. As the project developed, it became clear that a new suspended roadway linking the new wharf to Ocean Village’s road access was needed. RB (Gib) Ltd’s Andrew McGowan provided the first design for a solution incorporating the piles already being installed for the retaining structure.

IN SITU: Sunborn finally in place after 10 months work

ADVERTORIAL

Helping the boat come in

Geotechnical challenges

The Rock itself posed a fundamental problem, in order to provide the necessary restraint they had to penetrate the incredibly stiff underlying lime-

stone. This in itself was no mean feat as it would have to be done with restricted access machinery either from floating or temporary platforms suspended above the sea. The lack of road access created yet another problem to take into consideration. The varying strength of the rock has historically been a great problem in design projects involving rock penetration. Previous marine construction projects in the area have employed various different methods but it was clear that for this project an innovative piling solution was required.

SUSPENSE: Months work constructed ‘suspended’ roadway to the yacht.

Technical challenges

The Government of Gibraltar chose to form a work force including a small number of local companies. RB (Gib) Ltd was asked to provide an idea for delivering the demanding scope of works for the project. They initially discarded any driving solution as impossible because of the underlying limestone. The best method was a drilled solution, which involved constructing a 12-14m pile, including a 2m rock socket. It is vital the formed pile is protected from the sea as well as the sands, silts and soft clays. RB (Gib) Ltd resolved the problem by using a resonance free actuator to vibrate thick casings to refusal in the stiff clays. They removed sea water and soft layers from the casings and then drilled down through the hard clays into the rock. Structural grout was then inserted through a central tube to form the pile. Finally, the gap between the

http://www.rogerbullivant.eu

BOOMING: Floating pontoon used to undertake the work casings was sealed off to super yacht. sands and silts by vibrating RB (Gib) Ltdhad to de10mm thick sheet piles into velop new ground/marine the hard clays. engineering techniques RB (Gib) Ltd accurately capable of operating in devised and fabricated a this environment, which template capable of install- could be delivered quicking five casings exactly on ly, effectively and in line position. with the programme. Despite the geographiMain cal and logistical conachievements straints these innovative solutions ensured that the Achieving crucial stages in civil/ marine engineering the programme was vital elements of the project in ensuring the piled wharf were successfully delivand jetty were ready for the ered, allowing the yacht arrival of the 142m Sunborn to be where it is today.

www.theolivepress.es

Reckless gamble

Court set to hear how betting firm employee stole £75,000 from William Hill AN employee of betting firm William Hill has been accused of stealing nearly £75,000 from the company. Kevin Ball, 32, of City Mill Lane, is charged with three counts of theft totalling £74,476.67

following an investigation by the Royal Gibraltar Police’s Serious Crimes Unit. Mr Ball, (pictured), allegedly stole bank credits owed to WHG Gibraltar, which trades as William Hill. He worked at the firm as a human resources advisor, having previously worked in human resources at Dunelm Mill furniture store, in Liverpool until November 2011.

Get ready to ruck!

GIBRALTAR’S national rugby team will play their toughest international yet against Israel this weekend. In only their third ever international they will play the world’s 49th ranked side on February 22. The young side previously faced Belgium U23s, losing 20-8 in Brussels, and beating Cyprus Select 36-12 in Gibraltar. It comes as the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) pushes to join the European Rugby Association (FIRA-AER). They hope to emulate the success of the national football team, which became the latest member of UEFA last year. However the rugby federation was frustrated last year when Spain successfully blocked

GIBRALTAR NEWS

Deceive

the Rock’s bid to be included. “This match is part of our new drive for FIRA-AER membership,” Chairman Maurice Stagnetto told the Olive Press. “There is a huge interest in rugby in Gibraltar and we are hoping for a large turnout at the Victoria Stadium to watch our biggest game to date”. Kick off is at 8pm at the Victoria Stadium and admission is free.

Mr Ball’s case will be heard today (Wednesday) at Gibraltar’s Supreme Court where he will be represented by Jeevan Daswani. He is currently on bail having forked out the necessary £10,000 from his own savings. A 29-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the investigation but has since been released without charge. It is not known how Ball, who has worked at the firm since 2011, was able to deceive his company.

News IN BRIEF

Risk on the Rock A HOST of international speakers, including Ken Rijock, Misha Glenny and Michael Harris, are keynote speakers at a conference entitled Risk on the Rock on March 20. The GACO event will focus on the current threats and future challenges to the Financial Services industry.

GIB Boss LAWRENCE Podesta has been appointed as the Gibraltar International Bank’s (GIB) first Chief Executive Officer. Mr Podesta joins from Swiss private bank Lombard Odier Gibraltar.

The Apprentice FIRST Choice Recruitment has a new apprentice scheme providing a first step into employment for young people. It is offering a free advertising platform where any company on the Rock can post a vacancy so long as it is for a genuine first time job seeker.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

GIBRALTAR NEWS

ON the Rock

Impossible act to follow?

The Olive Press guide to What’s On in Gibraltar over the next two weeks

Feb 20 - 22

12th Gibraltar Stage Dance Festival 2014 John Mackintosh Hall, 7pm 126 dancers from England, Gibraltar, Italy and Spain will be taking part in three sessions of dance

February 21

Young Art Competition John Mackintosh Hall For further information contact Ministry of Culture Events Team Tel:200 67241 or email: culture.info@culture.gov.gi

February 22

Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society Monthly Outing Wintering Birds on the Rock

www.theolivepress.es

Princess Caroline’s Battery, 9.30 am For further info Tel. Jill Yeoman Tel: 54015060

Feb 22

JAMES Arthur is the first artist to be announced for the Gibraltar Music Festival 2014. The Impossible singer and 2012 X Factor winner will perform at the event, which takes place on September 6. Impossible sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide and was number one for 3 weeks in the UK as well as many other countries. His debut album reached an impressive second spot in the UK album charts. The 26-year-old has had his fair share of controversy recently having a used the phrase ‘f****** queer’ in a rap, retweeted intimate photos of an ex girlfriend and cancelled part of his tour last year due to ‘exhaustion’. Further artists, including the headline act, for this year’s festival are due to be announced on February 28 with tickets on sale from March 1. Last year’s festival saw performances from Emeli Sande, Olly Murs and Texas among others.

International Rugby. Gibraltar v Israel. Victoria Stadium, 6pm

February 23, March 2

Promenade Market Ocean Village, 11am – 4pm For further info, Tel: 540023166

February 24

Gibraltar Scrabble Club The Rock Hotel, 3pm For further info, contact Vin Tel: 20073660 or Roy Tel: 20075995

Official computers attacked by a spy programme developed ‘by a government’

We’ve been hacked

A LEADING computer security firm has warned that Gibraltar government computers may have been hacked. Kaspersky Lab revealed that the com-

By Giles Brown

has named the program ‘Careto’ because of various Spanish words in the coding. The company added that it appeared to have been developed by native Spanish speakers. The virus could have potentially ‘disastrous’ implications for victims whose computers had been infected. BOOKWORMS take It is believed two governnote! John Mackintosh ment computers were tarHall will be the place to geted by the virus. be on March 6 as Gibral-

plexity of the spying ‘malware’ used in the attack meant it had most likely been developed by a government. The developer of anti-virus software

Feeling Bookish? Megaship to visit in 2015 GIBRALTAR will get a big boost to its cruise figures next year, in every sense of the word. Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has announced that its newest ship Anthem of the Seas will call on the Rock seven times in 2015 during its inaugural season She will become the largest cruise ship ever to visit the Rock and while the smaller Queen Mary 2 has to anchor in the Bay because of her deep draft, Anthem of the Seas will be able to dock alongside the Western Arm. Currently under construction in Germany Anthem of the Seas will be the third largest in the world. The megaship has a length of 348m and can carry 4,905 passengers. This means that the megaship will alone bring 34,000 passengers to Gibraltar over 2015. “This news sends out a very strong signal to the cruise industry, if indeed one was needed, that Gibraltar is a serious player, able to efficiently handle big ships,” said Tourism Minister Neil Costa.

tar celebrates World Book Day. Among the activities will be the popular Book Fair, where you can pick up a book free of charge or take part in the Book Crossing where the motto is ‘bring a book – take a book’. New this year, local authors will have a stand where they will be promoting and signing their books. And children won’t be left out at the special Story Time as well as fun games for children aged between four and eight, who are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite book character, be it Harry Potter or Postman Pat.

Infected

Careto was designed to intercept all communication channels on a computer and collects the most vital information from the infected system. Careto is believed to have been operating undetected since 2007 and was uncovered when Kaspersky’s own computers were targeted. The attack targeted government agencies and diplomatic offices and embassies, as well as oil and gas and energy companies, before it was dismantled last month. There were at least 380 victims in more than two dozen countries, with the majority of the targets in Morocco and Brazil.

la cultura

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201415 15

www.theolivepress.es

DONATION: Leigh with museum staff

This old harp of mine!

A 19TH century harp crafted in London has been donated to a Malaga museum. Expat author Marion Leigh, from Guadalmina, donated the valuable instrument - once created for a French king - to the Museo Interactivo de la Musica (MIMMA). Made by legendary piano and harp craftsman Sebastian Erard in 1819,

Expat book says we should eat more chocolate and drink more coffee to live for longer AN EXPAT scientist has released a book explaining how simple changes to our lifestyles can help us live past a century, including drinking more coffee. William Cortvriendt, from Holland, has researched the right choices we can make in terms of diet and exercise

the instrument is the latest addition to the recently relocated museum. One of the many details that make the harp an important piece is the inscription: ‘TO THE ROYAL FAMILY. His Most Christian Majesty the King of France and H.I.M. the Emperor of all the Russias’. It is believed to have been given to King Louis XVIII.

100 not out By Tom Powell

that will dramatically increase our lifespan. Living a Century or More blasts fasting diets and the ‘multi-vitamins myth’ while recommending we eat more dark chocolate because it decreases blood

pressure. He also explains why coffee and tea are just about the best thing we could be drinking and that regular daily consumption will increase life expectancy. Dr Cortvriendt, who lives in Marbella, is currently writing a second book

titled ‘Goodbye Sugar High’, which aims to tackle obesity by tackling its root causes and will be published this August. The doctor decided to rent a house on the Costa del Sol in 2005 and then built his own in Marbella in 2007 to enjoy the weather and the international community. He practises what he preaches, living his life by the lessons in his book, having been inspired by his parents who are farmers in Holland.

HOT STUFF: A fresh cup of coffee every single day

AN expat photographer has undertaken a year-long project to snap a different coffee cup every day. Inspired by the Spanish love of coffee, Malaga-based

On a caffeine rush

Moade Khan decided to launch the project in a public gallery on Facebook.

The French photographer, who trained at London’s Kingston College of Art,

Priceless Raphael found in Cordoba RENAISSANCE painter Raphael has emerged as the genius behind a painting in Cordoba. The discovery comes after years of research by university professor Luis Rodrigo Rodriguez-Simon. The work, depicts a scene identical to Raphael’s ‘Madonna of Foligno’ in the Vatican gallery. It must have been the preliminary work and has hence been titled ‘Small Madonna of Foligno’. Rodríguez-Simón, a Fine Arts lecturer at the University of Granada, carried out a detailed study on the work lasting years using x-rays, infrared photography and ultraviolet fluorescent lighting. Raphael’s initials ‘RU’ appear on the cuff of the Virgin Mary’s tunic.

Back to the 80s!

IT was a time of big hair and even bigger shoulderpads, and on March 21 - 22, the students of Sotogrande International School will go Back to the 80s. Described as a ‘totally awesome’ musical Back to the 80s features the music, fashion, films and TV of the time including high-energy dance routines and some of the most popular songs ever written. To add to the fun, on March IT may be winter outside but the 22 the audience are invited Andalucian sunshine can still be to get involved by coming in found in a new art exhibition at their best 80s outfits. Tickets are available for €5 La Luna restaurant in Mijas. Elaine Carlton, a founding for normal entry and €10 for member of the group Artistas VIP, which includes pre VIP Eclecticos, is showcasing works drinks as well as a free bus of sea, beaches, flora and fauna service from Marbella. 50% of ticket sales will be to brighten up February. Her art employs a variety of me- donated to The Kindred Projdiums but always involves ma- ect, the school’s student-led Non-Governmental Organichinery and hand embroidery. The exhibition can be seen zation (NGO), to support its until March 30 at La Luna mission of promoting educarestaurant, Urb El Coto, Mi- tion as a force for good. To find out more about theatre jas, For more information visit and performing arts at SIS please visit www.sis.ac www.artistaseclecticos.com.

Let in the sunshine

has posted 330 photos to date. Most pictures have been taken here in Spain, although he has snapped a few while on his travels. They feature different people, places, and objects, but all have one thing in common: a steaming cup of coffee. The full gallery can be found at www.facebook.com/ moade

what’s on T

urre, Almeria. International Women’s Day meal, Hostel Rural Turre – March 8. Three course lunch and entertainment. For more information speak to Pam Smith 950 475 418.

arbella. Ray and Jose karaoke show, La Higuera Elvira - February 20 from 9pm. Karaoke night.

arbella. STAGE TENNIS Semana blanca, Manolo Santana Racquets Club- February 24 - 28, 10 am - 1pm. Half term summer camp with Manolo Santana. For more information call 952778580

la cultura

www.theolivepress.es

Flamenco

A Summer in Flamenco

A Summer in

‘How does he write history into the nothing to work with but the meagr empty air having small human e resources of body?’ one

When Jackie Cornwall meets young flamenco the picturesque dancer Adrián Andalucían town Brenes in of Vejer de la by the mystery Frontera, she of his art. Spain is fascinated is in economi they embark c meltdown, on the world’s but together first Shakespe And as their are/flamenco shared journey fusion show. takes them from finally to New Spain to Florence York, Adrián shows her exactly , and what it is to be ‘flamenco’. This entertain ing and heartwar ming book, lavishly Lawlor’s photogra illustrated with phs, will delight Kelly everyone who or who cares loves Spain or about the fate flamenco, of the young in a challenging world.

amumme en r in co

Giddy with joy, but show me the pasta A

‘Reading this book was like having someone lead you through take your hand the world of flamenco and gently .’ ‘Easy to read and understa nd but beware! these characte You could fall rs.’ in love with

Jackie Cornwall

Kelly Lawlor

Adrián Brenes

Ureba

Jackie Cornw all Kelly Lawlor Adrián Brenes Ureba

In the second part of a new book A Summer in Flamenco, dancer Adrian returns from an Italian trip to a rapturous performance back home, but still cannot give up the day job Adrián Brenes CLOUDS were certainly gathering as I left for Florence. Aside from the first rain in months, the government announced another rise in unemployment. A quarter of the workforce was now idle. ‘Spain is in a crisis of huge proportions,’ our foreign minister announced, as if we didn’t know. In May and June, €96 billion were withdrawn from Spanish banks and invested abroad. Florence meanwhile was a dream, maybe the best dream of my life, but nothing turned out as I expected. My ‘dance mother’, La Truco, planned a course there but it didn’t happen. In the end, I left my boots at home and concentrated on enjoying the culture and my internship with a software company. La Truco is, without doubt, the greatest influence of my work as a dancer. I started studying with her when I was eight and within a few weeks, I danced in public. Under her tutorship I won dozens of cups and prizes, which my parents proudly display in a glass case. As a teenager I was teased and sometimes bullied about my love of dance. Fortunately both my parents approved, and as I grew older and more skilled, the community began to appreciate my efforts. La Truco left the area when I was 12, and I gave up for a while, but I had to dance! Later, we were reunited and I began to study regularly with her in Madrid. Though I didn’t dance in Florence, I had time to think about my future. I’d been advised many times that dance was a good hobby but a bad career.

PHOTOS BY KELLY LAWLOR

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

DEMON: Dancing into a dream

In Spain however, it seems there is no good career full stop. Even for a graduate. I was fortunate in having any source of income, even part-time. The best thing I could do was go home, put on my boots and start dancing. And when Jackie visited me in June, I told her of my decision It wasn’t easy to leave Florence. I’d travelled with my heart, but it was time to move on, and being who I was, I really had no choice.

were whiplash-smart, his fingers snapped behind his back, his feet crunched down as though he would shatter glass. He leaped into the air and landed square on both feet, glaring into the audience, the gipsy rebel once again. After the performance, he said that turning so fast had made him giddy. My head was whirling too, just from watching him.

Jackie Cornwall

My first rehearsals had been tough, but after a week, I was back in the swing. I usually practise three or four times a week, and if I don’t dance, I run. Physical fitness is important to a dancer and I keep my weight at around 60 kilos. I eat sensibly, and I love all kinds of food, the more exotic the better, but I don’t eat junk food and I only drink the occasional glass of wine. I love clothes and I’ve been described as a dandy, so it would be strange if I turned into a scarecrow when I dance, and I’ve built a reputation for elegance on stage. I have five suits for dancing, black, white, blue, green and gold, and I rotate these with different waistcoats and scarves. Even so, I sometimes get bored with my limited wardrobe. The dancer’s main work tool is his boots. As soon as I put them on, I feel ready to dance. Finding boots to fit can be a long and difficult quest and they are expensive, around €200. At the moment, I have four pairs. Our summer show, Vivencias, would have two runs, one in July and one in August. We were rehearsing until the small hours, furiously trying to co-ordinate eight dancers, five musicians and two cantaores, and though we were all experienced and used to working together, if the show was to have pace, energy and glamour, we needed split-second timing. Vivencias represented the different stages of life, from birth to maturity. It began with Diego Gómez, our wonderful cantaor, singing a canción de cuna, a cradle song, followed by an eruption of girls in a joyful rondeña. Then it was my turn. Eva and I danced a guajiras. This palo isn’t usually danced in couples but Milagros chose it to represent young love, and it became a very special part of the show. We finished with alegrías, and filled the stage with life and movement, a real high with loads of energy. Shows like Vivencias are enjoyable and excellent training for a dancer, but they are time-consuming and badly paid. If I was going to make my living as a dancer, I would have to find regular bookings all over Spain with a company which paid for rehearsals as well as performances. I hadn’t given up on computers yet.

The day after his homecoming party in Vejer, Adrián danced in a tablao in the Peña Flamenca in Conil. These are choreographed productions, and like the peñas flamencas themselves, they began with the first public flamenco venues, the cafes cantantes. The first of these opened in 1842 and provided a welcome income for performers, but they acquired a bad reputation through association with the criminal underclass and in the 20th century they were replaced by the Opera Flamenca, performed in theatres. Tablaos still give employment to performers, but they are aimed at tourists and are often expensive. Peñas flamencas are very good value. Admission is usually free and you can normally get a cheap meal beforehand. Adrián danced with the Compañia Ventura and his performance, a soleá, was electrifiying. Adrián danced like a demon. His turns

ONSTAGE: Adrian dances in the summer show

Adrián Brenes

‘A Summer in Flamenco is available from Amazon and selected bookshops’

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014 17 17

www.theolivepress.es ots

psh Sna time in

SURPRISE STOP: Writer AJ Linn (far right) bumped into Spain’s most famous bullfighter Antonio Ordoñez, near Algodonales. (from left) Breeder Manuel Domecq; Ordoñez, Peter Pearce, Mion Pearce and Linn

Our dangerous summer trip!

In the first of an occasional section Snapshots in Time, looking back at the Golden Days of Andalucia, AJ Linn describes a bone-shaking three hour journey to Ronda in 1962, meeting Spain’s most famous bullfighter along the way

HE journey north from the Costa del Sol The group in question were mostly from Stratto Ronda on the original road was never ford-upon-Avon, of friends that used to spend six something to be taken lightly. weeks every summer travelling around Spain in A gruelling journey for only the hardiest of the 1960s and 1970s. It was always an expeditravellers, it was best to allow three to four hours tion. , until 1980, that is, when the reconstruction One of them Peter Pearce, , had been responsithat had taken four years and resulted in the ble for introducing me to Andalucia, where I have road’s complete closure for all that time was fi- lived for the last five decades. nally concluded. Without a reliable phone service it was possible Arriving from the west from Sevilla or Jerez was to arrive in Ronda on the day of the fight and little better and the roads were atrocious. But find no tickets available, so an early start was there was so little wheeled traffic it hardly mat- vital. tered. We had left Jerez at nine in the morning, foolFour-footed transport was the most common way ishly without provisions having overlooked the of arriving in Ronda and the only motor transport absence of any stopping places along the road you saw en route was the odd tractor or motor- to enjoy a beer. In those days there was just not bike. sufficient traffic to justify the existence of roadThe principal consideration was that journeys side ventas. had to be planned carefully at a slow Happy was the moment therefore average speed as a puncture could when we spotted a stationery veadd hours to what was already a long hicle with people standing around drive. it. And we were happier still when Not that there were many reasons for we stopped, introduced ourselves, visiting Ronda back then. Of course and discovered the occupants were there was the stunning old town, but no less than the breeder of the bulls there were no wineries, no artisan to be fought that afternoon, from the cheese-makers, no Michelin-starred Marqués de Domecq ranch, and one restaurants, no signposted walks. of the matadors, Antonio Ordoñez, And the weather wasn’t exactly clemone of Spain’s most famous bullfightent: bone-numbingly cold in winter ers. and an energy-sapping heat in sumWe were in absolute sheer bloody ‘The time mer. ecstasy to be offered a copita of cold taken to get The nearest thing to what could fino sherry from the portable refrigto Ronda is be called tourism was the annual erator in the boot of their car. no longer Goyesca bullfight during the town’s Ordoñez had just been the subject of measured September feria, unique in that the Ernest Hemingway’s book, The Danparticipants dressed (they still do) gerous Summer, during which the in half in the style of the painter Goya’s writer had followed Ordoñez and his days’ day. brother-in-law (and rival), Luis DominAs with many such events, the peoguín, around Spain as they competed ple who attended this spectacle were in a series of ‘mano a manos’, or less interested in the art of bullfighting than in head-to-head fights, that made bullfighting hisbeing seen at one of Andalucía’s obligatory so- tory. cial events and one of Spain’s most important Ordoñez had emerged as the victor, and it was single bullfights. actually his father, El Niño de la Palma, who had What has changed today is that the time taken to established the annual Ronda Goyesca bullfight get up to Ronda from either Jerez or Marbella is that continues to this day. no longer measured in half-days, rather in hours It was a pleasant stop and there was a fair and minutes. bit of banter...as I recall Ordoñez had admired Our journey to Ronda in 1962 was from Jerez, Peter’s camera (a Leica), which was a distinct where I lived back then, with a group of friends luxury item hardly available in Spain back to see the famous Goyesca bullfight. then. Have you got a seminal old photo with a story on Andalucia’s past that we can run in the Olive Press... please send it to newsdesk@theolivepress.es

PALS: Hemingway and Antonio Ordonez (also right), while above snapshots of Ronda

Worried about losing BBC, ITV and Channel 4? Relax...there are several solutions and there will be one that is just right for you!

Drop into our showroom for a chat and we´ll give you a demonstration of the different options available to ensure you continue watching all your favourite programmes.

satellite TV audio video Tel: 951 310 437 CC Puerta de Banús, Local 3, Marbella 29660 www.tvonespain.com / info@tvonespain.com

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 83.21% full Same week last year: 79.90% Same week in 2003: 59.61% 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 1.36 American Dollars 0.81 British Pounds 1.49 Canadian Dollars 7.46 Danish Kroner 10.62 H Kong Dollars 8.35 Norwegian Kroner 1.72 Singapore Dollars

No TV but blessings Dear OP, The British satellite television turn off with the loss of BBC and ITV is, it seems, just another nail in the ‘expat’ coffin! We have lost healthcare, widows pensions, mobility allowance, virtually all rights to anything that the rest-of the world can have for free if they turn up in good old Blighty and sign up for without having made a penny of contributions! Last week it cost me close to 200 pounds (Eur 240) for a passport renewal, and a whole load of hassle with courier delivery drivers. I believe the UK government is annoyed because it can’t force us expats to pay the licence fee, nor threaten with their intimidating licence fee adverts! It’s a pity they don’t pay more attention to the crime and other pressing problems that led to a lot of us wanting to leave the UK in the first place. How nice is it to walk through a village here at 12 o’clock at night, under the stars, minus the fear of yobbos or being mugged or knifed. I would rather lose UK satellite TV than my improved life here with our wonderful Spanish neighbours. Viva España !! Peter Lennon, Fuengirola

LETTERS

www.theolivepress.es

A charitable coffee break

I WORK on an event for Macmillan called the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning which takes place every September, and which in 2013 raised £20 million (Euro 24m). All you have to do is sign up, bake and be happy. It’s that easy to hold a Macmillan Coffee Morning and help raise money for people living with cancer in the UK. So on September 26, get your friends together for a cuppa, a chat, and a good cause. You can get your free Macmillan Coffee Morning Kit by emailing coffeemorning@macmil-

lan.org.uk Last year we had 165 overseas coffee morning hosts who raised more than £28,000. As The Olive Press is the most popular newspaper catering to the very large British expat community in Spain, many of whom have most likely had cancer experiences themselves, or may even have a Macmillan connection in the UK, we are appealing to your readers for help! Loren Taylor, London National and Regional Events Assistant

the role of UK embassies is to promote interests abroad, not actively seek to undermine Scotland. This is exactly the kind of behaviour that demonstrates why Scotland must be able to represent its own interests as an independent nation on the world stage. Expats don’t appreciate being manipulated this way by the UK government. Peter Swain Mijas

Ladies only Regarding the proposed changes to Spain’s abortion laws, I have to say that speaking as one, there is not a MAN on the planet entitled to legislate on what women should do with their bodies. This subject should only be voted on by women, and is a decision to be made by them alone. This move is a pathetic attempt by men to continue their lopsided control of the fair sex. Fight on ladies! Stefanjo Lewinski, Via www.theolivepress.es

Dodgy black The black economy is Spain’s biggest problem (Olive Press investigates Issue 180) It’s no wonder Spain has little money for government services. The biggest tax dodgers are small businesses, and the black economy colours every transaction over Eur 500. Most studies suggest 20-30% of all transactions are made in cash. In Ronda, my experience suggests most small businesses pay their workers in cash, and in particular, restaurants, bar, hotel and trade workers There is also a black and a white price for almost every real estate transaction. On the flip side, many small business owners complain they are forced to pay under the table because Spanish employment laws are too cumbersome. Harry Wright, Ronda

Sad situation I recently thought about making a sentimental journey back to the Costa Del Sol where from the mid 80s until the late 90s my father’s firm had an apartment at Benamara next door to the Santa Marta Hotel in Estepona Many happy hours were spent at the poolside bar of the Santa Marta, and if other guests were booked into the apartment I usually extended my stay by moving to the hotel for a few days. When I checked on the web, I saw your report, ((Issue 166) and was shocked and saddened to see recent developments about the hotel being demolished. I wonder if anyone has any reports about the demise they can supply or advise on; are all the little chalet/bungalows destroyed?/ is the place closed entirely? The old world charm and re-

laxed atmosphere of the original building are irreplaceable.

Driving worry

Richard A Marriott, Sutton Coldfield

When I went to the ITV vehicle test centre today they said as my log book is full I a new one. Where do I go for this and what paperwork do I need ? I am referring to the green paper book which they stamp once the ITV is completed.

Market fear While visiting the Sunday market near Fuengirola mosque with friends, I was amazed - and in part disappointed - to see more than 20 officers (Guardia and Police) closing stalls and seizing goods on offer from several traders. Clearly the traders affected did not possess papers or authority to be in business, but taking such a hard handed approach en masse surely quickly creates the added problem of such people who are merely trying to eek out a living in these difficult times then being unable to live without assistance, or through turning to a life of crime! A difficult situation, but a balanced approach is essential. M. Muller El Faro

Carol Moody, via email OP: It is probably best to get a gestor involved, speak to the one in your nearest town.

Not diplomatic I want to draw attention to the fact the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office has again been accused of meddling in the Scottish independence referendum, after it emerged that the British Embassy in Madrid urged newspapers in Spain to publish criticisms of Scottish independence. A spokesman for the proindependence Yes Scotland campaign has pointed out

So unethical The Spanish banking system truly amazes me in the way firms and the authorities can dip into people’s accounts. I recently cancelled a bank direct debit upon changing my car insurance, only to discover the money was still taken from my account. The bank later advised that despite the old direct debit being cancelled, the insurance firm used a different code to access the money. This has now been repaid to my account, but I find the episode totally unethical. James Kelly, Sotogrande

Thanks, OP! I want to say a big thank you to the Olive Press. After losing UK satellite television, I read your blog about the ‘change over’ (Are you ready for the big switch off? OP online) then went on to the Filmon app, downloaded it and can now watch all channels. Thanks I’m 100% happy now! Chris Cerola, Manilva

Letters should be emailed to letters@theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

CROSSMOT 26 Across

1 Brújula (7) * 5 Olor (5) * 8 Consideración (13) * 9 De (3) * 10 Lays (9) * 12 Cassette (6) * 13 Estado (6) * 15 Escalera (9) * 16 Esterilla (3) * 18 Intend (2, 9, 2) * 20 Holy (5) * 21 Respecto (7).

Down

1 Cocoa (5) * 2 Protest (13) * 3 Feed (9) * 4 Fortune (6) * 5 Mar (3) * 6 Evidently (13) * 7 Túneles (7) * 11 Baterías (9) * 12 Castillos (7) * 14 Manera (6) * 17 Tratar (5) * 19 También (3).

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

ll about

Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Vol. 8 Issue 181

www.theolivepress.es

February 19

March 5 2014

Sweet Home Manilva Once best known for its Moscatel wine, today Manilva is establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing tourist towns on the Costa del Sol, writes Tom Powell

NLIKE any other port on the Costa del Sol, Puerto de la Duquesa faces out to sea. From each of the three edges you can gaze out into the Mediterranean. Duquesa is, without a doubt, the thriving coastal jewel in the Manilva crown, benefiting from tourism and buzzing with life. For most of its history Manilva has been dependant on fishing and agriculture, especially its vineyards and celebrated sweet wines. But over the last couple of decades this little township has welcomed an influx of tourists and development, while still maintaining a peaceful air. Manilva is home to the eponymous white village, clinging to the mountain top, as well as two other key areas, the emergent Puerto Duquesa and the popular, down-toearth seaside town of Sabinillas. The unpretentious Puerto Duquesa has undergone a growth spurt in the last decade and the expansion doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon. New cafes, bars and restaurants are springing up as a result of its growing tourism. “Tourism is the main thrust of our economy nowadays,” mayoress Antonia Munoz explains to the Olive Press. Nearly 50% of those officially registered with Manilva town hall (7000 people) are foreigners, with the majority of these owning homes there. “Since 2000 there has been rapid growth in the tourism sector and we now have eight or nine big, strong urbanisations,” adds Munoz, who grew up in the town. “And on top of that we now have one of the best rated campsites in Europe.” While some coastal towns have seen a dwindling of buyers, Manilva has seen substantial growth with no less than 320 houses bought last year by foreigners. It is not difficult to see why. Turn to page 20

TRADITION: But while wine-making is Manilva’s history, tourism (inset in Duquesa and Sabinillas) is the future

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

ll about

From Page 19

Aside from the fantastic prices of homes in the area, the environment is distinctly low rise, largely green and everything is close to the sea. Set back from the port, high up on a hill surrounded by vineyards is the village of Manilva. This community is not on most tourists’ radar and thus there is a refreshing absence of skyscraper construction. Those that do veer off the main road up towards Manilva may well struggle to get out of the centre’s mazy narrow one-way streets once lost in them. Buried in Manilva’s historical heart is St Anne’s church and the adjoining cemetery, dating from around 1776. Turn a corner and there it is, striking yet simplistic, bold yet unassuming. Sauntering through the maze of white houses with their terracotta roofs, every ‘hola’ from passers-by strengthens the feeling that Manilva is still very much Spanish. Up on the mountain it is removed from the wave of tourism lapping at the coast. And then there are the postcard views from every direction, white houses spill down into vast vineyards with mountains out behind and the Costa del Sol to the front.

www.theolivepress.es Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Markets, port and beaches

The Pedreta viewpoint delivers a view stretching from the white cluster that is the mountain-clinging Casares village to the coastal hubs of Estepona and Marbella below. A rich network of tracks is visible in between, inviting you out to hike, cycle or horse-ride. It is also quickly clear how important grapes and wine are to Manilva, the central Plaza de la Vendimia (Wine harvest square) is adorned with a spectacular mural depicting workers in vineyards. (See picture page 19) The nearby Interpretation Centre, opened in 2010, both highlights and strengthens the village’s long wine-making tradition. It offers vocational courses in wine-making, aimed at inspiring the younger generations and training future professionals. Sabinillas, like everywhere else on the coast, has flourished un-

PASEO: Taking a stroll in Sabanillas

HISTORY: St Anne’s church in Manilva old town

der tourism in the last decade. thing. Banks, restaurants, bars But there remains a tangible and loads of shops,” she adds. working atmosphere (it still has Bar owners Sharon and Paul a small fishing fleet) and this is Smyth agree. “It is a great still a town where Spanish peo- place to live and I never feel ple enjoy their Spanish lives. A concerned for our children,” short coastal explains Paul, walk from the who runs the charming PuerCuchulainns It is great for to Duquesa, bar, in the Sabinillas has children with loads heart of ‘Sabalso become by’ as the place a popular des- of play areas and is sometimes tination for exit is distinctly safe called. pats. “In fact every“The beaches one looks out are some of for them and the best on the coast,” explains the Spanish here are pretty one, Anna Cockell, who moved open and friendly,” adds the to Sabanillas from London nine marine engineer, who has lived years ago. in Sabinillas for 11 years. “Best “It is great for children with of all, most of the expats here loads of play areas and it is a seem to want to integrate.” distinctly safe environment,” It is certainly a distinct commushe continues. nity with a healthy mix of Span“In Sabanillas you have every- ish, expat English, German, as

Raisons for celebration

EVERY September Manilva celebrates its winemaking tradition in a three day harvest festival, with flamenco dancers, brass bands, music and dancing into the early hours in the Plaza de la Vendimia. The sweet Moscatel grapes have been grown in the vast vineyards that surround Manilva since the 16th century and are used to make the aptly named Manilva wine, famous throughout Andalucia. Manilva took up winemaking as its main economic activity after the Spanish Civil War because of its ideally suited climate and soil. The festival was founded in the early 1960s and has become an important part of the local calendar, drawing visitors from across the region to see the winemaking process. As well as making the sweet dessert wine, the moscatel grapes are also dried on the hillsides to make the famous ‘Malaga raisins’. “We have seen a lot more people interested in buying the sweet wines over the last few years,” explains local shopkeeper Maria Esteban, who sells the wine, plus numerous other local produce from her unmissable shop Frutas Pascal y Hijos on a bend on the way into town. As well as nuts and pulses, there is a huge range of almost tropical fruits such as avocadoes and cherimoyas, which come from the Andes and grow well here in the protected coastal valleys that are

ENCIRCLED: Manilva is surrounded by a sea of vines and in September the Vendimia festival (inset) is key event

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201421 21

www.theolivepress.es

well as Moroccans and south Americans. It is also a veritable hive of commerce. While it wins no beauty awards, there is a great range of supermarkets and shops in Sabinillas. ‘Wall Street’ is where traditionally all the banks and insurance companies centred and down on the beach there is a great range of bars and restaurants. One of the best is Miel, run by former Belgium pilot Kaat Buelens, with help from her parrot

Ruby. started to catch the attention “We have great pancakes,” of more and more people. the feathered helper tells me, The Sunday morning rastro is before adding: now one of the “Would you like biggest on the It’s easy to see why coast and has a coffee?” If you need had to change proof of this vil- Manilva is making location three lage’s growth a name for more times simply look no further to accommothan its mar- than just its wine date its rapid ket. It began growth. in 1990 as no Back on the more than a car boot sale in blue flag beach, that stretches the car park of the Moorhouse all the way from Rio Manilva pub but several years later to Puerto Duquesa, fishermen

still launch their boats and are often met by waiting restaurateurs upon their return, eagerly awaiting the days catch. Sabinillas effectively bridges the gap between the multicultural, tourism-driven hub of Puerto Duquesa and the withdrawn, tranquil, traditional village of Manilva. With the right blend of coastal expansion and Spanish tradition, it is easy to see why Manilva is making a name for more than just its wine.

Photos by Jon Clarke

WORKING TOWN: Fishermen at work in Sabinillas, while (right) Manilva centre, expats Sharon and Paul and bottom Duquesa port

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

ll about

Manilva, Sabinillas www.theolivepress.es and Puerto de la Duquesa

Take a drive Local golf lynchpin Bob Gaston chips in on the fantastic collection of golf courses around Manilva

TIP TOP: Most courses, such as Duquesa Golf (above) are in a great condition after recent rains

E are extremely fortunate in the Manilva area to be surrounded by the very best golf courses to be found on the Costa del Sol, and, indeed, in the whole of Spain. There are fantastic courses nearby that cater for all budgets and abilities. You better choose carefully, though as some of our local Championship courses are a real test for even the lowest

handicapped players. And although it might appear glamorous to talk about them in the post-match bar, the higher handicap players would certainly struggle, and be much happier, with a ‘friendlier’ course of which there are many in the immediate area. Duquesa golf and Dona Julia are the two nearest, while Casares Golf and Finca Cortesin, as well as La Reserve and others in Sotogrande, are literally next door.

The recent heavy rain has also tested the abilities of most courses maintenance staff, but I’m pleased to say that the majority of courses are in tip top condition. If you fancy a game, but not sure where to play, we will be very happy to advise you and book your preferences at a very discounted price. Contact Gaston at info@gastongolf.com or 952936803

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201423 23

www.theolivepress.es

Duquesa is quirky, eclectic and affordable, writes Tom Powell

Port of Adventure

USTLING Duquesa marina is cut off from the mainland by a whitewashed shell of intricate buildings, balconies, plazas and steps, like an oyster enclosing its pearl. The back end of the port is lined with imposing Chinese restaurants, immaculate in appearance; they are the back-bone of this multi-cultural hub. A walk around the port, which scarcely takes longer than five minutes, reveals cuisine from all over the world. As well as restaurants serving cuisine from across AsiaChina, India, Japan and Singapore, there is a plethora of European options. It could be argued that Duquesa lacks Spanish identity as there are more English voices than yachts and more burgers than tapas. But by taking a step out either side of the port, the expansive soft sandy beaches will firmly remind you where you are.

A NEW CHAPTER: Bookshop expands by parrot learning

Reading the market

T is a rare and cheering success story in the heart of the recession. But since July 2011 Steve and the team at the Sabinillas Bookshop have continually gone from strength to strength. Aside from improving their range of products, especially greeting cards and books, a further extension to the shop will begin in April. “It means we will be able to increase the range of new and secondhand books, especially educational books for children, more greeting cards, helium balloons and unusual gifts,” explains Steve, who often serves customers with Eva his parrot Eva on his shoulder. The shop will also be stocking a big range of international newspapers and magazines as well as setting up a new private mail room, where customers will be able to collect mail or parcels. “And as we have many local book enthusiasts, who enjoy meeting with local authors, we will be arranging regular events in the bookshop as well as starting a creative writing group, book club and story time for the little ones!”

Trendy

This meeting point of friends and cultures sings through its restaurants, cafes, bars, the people who work in them and the people who sit in the sun and enjoy them. And Duquesa is, more than anything, likeable, as if it were Puerto Banus’ younger, more relatable and friendly sibling. This sociable spirit emanates not only from tourists and expats but the staff, who hail from all over the world including Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. The staff are woven into the ethnically diverse fabric of Duquesa and it makes sense that one of the men heavily involved in the port’s growth is Morrocan Zac Hauswirth. He recently opened up a Moroccan restaurant, Casablanca, his fourth in the port. He also runs the Ocean Café,

AFFABLE: But Duquesa is, importantly, more affordable than Puerto Banus where bartender Christian LLosa has worked for seven months, having lived in Spain since 2006. “I love working here, it is a friendly, trendy place,” he told the Olive Press. “It is always busy rain or shine. “Because of the people the port is alive and rapidly growing.” While Christian admits the average age of customers is over 30, he is quick to talk about the busy weekend happy hours,

popular with young and old alike. Puerto Banus may win in terms of glamour but Duquesa is more affable and, importantly, much more affordable. It is still very much a 21st century place too, with wifi freely available in all the cafes and every possible amenity a short distance away. In the mazy streets behind the port you will find the excellent Hemingways, its bustling Irish

next door neighbour Kinsales, as well as Tim’s fish and chips, Italian pizzerias, and authentic Spanish eateries packed together more tightly than the cars in the car-park. Duquesa doesn’t feel like it has been ruined by tourism or deSpained by its growth. The wonderful variety on offer in such a small enclosed place shows this port is precisely designed to be quirky, eclectic and affordable.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

ll about

www.theolivepress.es

Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

HAUNTING: Giant statue in Sabanillas

SCARY: Spooky rock formations are perfect for climbing, while below stunning Chullera beach, and in summer entertainment in Sabinillas (right) includes dance performances

Weird wonde world o Manilv

WATERING HOLE: Baths at La Hediond Roman baths and (inset) a parade of the local virgin

Flamenco flea market

T is said to be the best flea market on the coast. And hours can certainly disappear while perusing all the weird and wonderful oddities at the bustling Sabinillas Sunday market The new fairground on the Rio Manilva road is the latest home for the famous rastro, an endless cacophony of flea market stalls and fresh produce. The market is always extremely busy with visitors coming from afar to bag a bargain and bullfighter Javier Conde and his wife flamenco star Estrella Morenteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appearance has only strengthened its reputation.

FOR SALE: Everything fro carriages to jewellery

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

ALIEN ENCOUNTER: Squids hung out to dry at the chiringuito at Punta de la Chullera

and erful of va

Castillo de la Duquesa

TANDING resolute on the coast to the west of Duquesa is the impressive 18th century castle of La Duquesa, in the middle of what was once a Roman fishing village. It is well worth strolling down the beach from Duquesa to visit this Roman fortress, which is one of Andaluciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest excavation projects. The surrounding town of Castillo feels somewhat forgotten; the old industrial area to the north of the castle is now a waste ground car park. But the castle and the array of seafood restaurants suggest it is not completely off the map yet. The castle was built in the 1760s to protect

against continual incursions by pirates. It is incredibly solid and earnt its builder Francisco Paulino a title and the honour of commanding a cavalry company. Today it is used by travelling museums and exhibitions, for workshops and as the town hall offices.

talk radio europe

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Professional Property Services since 1999

Is it time to change your agent? Duquesa Estates are actively seeking new properties for rental and sales due to continued demand

Sales Despite the recession we are still selling and are in need of properties to increase our portfolio, if yours is stuck with no viewings give us a call. No Sale, No Fee.

Long Term Rentals We have strong demand all year for long term rental properties and currently have a shortage to offer waiting clients, if your property is empty give us a call to change that.

Holiday Rentals Duquesa Estates continue to be the largest provider of holiday accommodation in the Manilva area, each year we cater for over 10.000 holiday makers and this number is increasing, call us today if you want to be part of our success.

Duquesa Estates | 952 892 813 | info@duquesa.net Avenida de Europa nยบ 3, Puerto de la Duquesa, Manilva.

duquesa.net

Rentals | Management | Sales

www.theolivepress.es

ll about

Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201427 27

Desperate for new properties

UCH better value for money than glamorous Marbella or nearby Sotogrande, Manilva is undergoing healthy growth in its property market. In fact, there simply aren’t enough properties available for the constant stream of buyers who mostly hail from Scandinavia, Britain, Ireland and elsewhere in Spain, with the occasional Russian even sniffing around these days. With Sabinillas and Duquesa now established holiday destinations there is also a great number of tourists looking to rent apartments along the coast.

Unspoiled

Front line beach properties can range from €150,000 to around the €400,000 mark, while an inland two bedroom property can be as low as €55,000. “There is a good international community here and a lot of people are coming down from Marbella for the better value,” Tim Watts, Duquesa Estates director, told the Olive Press. “We are desperate for new properties

Manilva is seeing a strong influx of new buyers thanks to its excellent value, writes Tom Powell

with the amount of people looking to move to Manilva.” The market has seen a steady increase over the past year and looks set to continue that way with companies such as Coast2Coast, Manilva Properties and Hamilton Homes all playing a part. The increasing number of flights to Gibraltar from the UK (up to half a dozen a day) are helping the market too, as previously Malaga airport was slightly too far away for many. The market is increasing at a good rate, it doesn’t look like booming but it’s definitely not going to go back to how it was in 2003-04, insist the local agents. Buyers seem happy with its location halfway between Marbella and Gibraltar and that its landscape and beach views are unspoiled by high rise blocks.

THERE are some incredible deals to be had in Manilva including a two bed apartment in Los Hidalgos for €89,000. Just a five-minute walk from Duquesa it overlooks a vineyard and is situated just a few hundred metres from the beach and golf course. Meanwhile a three-bed, three-bathroom, bank repossession in Duquesa Golf urbanisation is available for €112,900. Finally Terrazas de Guadalupe is a beautifully presented penthouse in a quiet urbanisation for €129,000. This two bed property also has two terraces including panoramic views of the sea.

DEALS: Hidalgos apartment (top), penthouse (middle), and golf repossesion (bottom)

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

ll about

www.theolivepress.es Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa WHERE TO EAT

Munchies in Manilva From authenticity to fish and chips, the area has it all, writes Jon Clarke

T FINE FOOD: Creation at Hemingways and Kinsale (below)

HERE is an incredible range of places to eat in Manilva, whether you are in the village, port or Sabanillas. Heading up to the village, one of the most authentic places is La Raspita Sierra, where you sit surrounded by vines and with one of the best views of the coast. Run by a friendly Venezualan Gabi, the chef, and her husband Antonio from Cordoba, the menu is decidedly healthy with plenty of vegetable dishes, including the local fare, such as Manilva artichokes. You are also well spoilt for decent Cordoba classics such as tip top Rabo de Toro (oxtail), as well as salmorejo. Head down into Sabinillas and look out for the beachfront café Miel, now well established and run by capable Belgium businesswoman

A cannon, a skeleton and a fantastic summer’s night out

NO supplement on Manilva would be complete without a mention of the Roman Oasis. Near the celebrated Roman baths, La Hedionda, this legendary spot has been open for nearly 30 years. You get in across a small stream, with thankfully a bridge, and you enter the weird and wonderful world of owner/comedian Paul Hickling (pictured) and his parrots, of course. A full size cannon, a skeleton that lights up when you walk by and a King Arthur’s sword stuck in one of the tables. Yes, the Roman Oasis is a little different. Once the stomping ground of TV chef Keith Floyd when he was in Spain, sadly it is only open for a few months in the summer.

The real ‘pura cepa’

HE is very much what they call ‘pura cepa’ of Manilva. Meaning pure bred - and appropriately a phrase often given to grapes - mayoress Antonia Munoz was born and bred and has Manilva very much in her veins. “My family are all from the local land,” she tells the Olive Press. “My father, grandfather and even husband grew vegetables – and of course – grapes in the fields around Manilva.” But these days she admits the town, once known for its agriculture, is more geared towards tourism and residential tourism for expatriates. “Since 2000 we have really focused on tourism for our development,” she explains at her office at the town hall. “We have some excellent, good value urbanizations and a fantas-

tic new campsite and have introduced a lot of activities for foreigners.” The foreigners, who officially number 7000 in the town, have a series of cultural events to attend, subsidized excursions around Andalucia, and regular coffee mornings twice a week to practice their Spanish and to debate the town and its issues. “We are doing as much as we can to help people to integrate and include the local foreigners in all our events and fiestas,” continues the grandmother, who got into politics in 1987. “I think we offer better quality and more services than people get in Sotogrande,” she insists, adding: “And our sports facilities are also excellent, with padel courts, new swimming pool and spa and soon a new sports centre in Sabinillas.”

Kaat, with occasional help from her hubby Paul of Roman Oasis fame (see below) It does an amazing breakfast with superb croissants and pancakes and lunch is always popular, particularly washed down with good Belgium beers.

Riot

In the heart of Manilva you must also look out for Cuchulainns, a popular Irish bar, where you can find a huge range of dishes and, of course, a superb pint of Guinness. There is fish and chips on Friday night, a Sunday roast and a quiz night on Sunday night. And, of course, there will be a veritable riot on St. Patrick’s Day. Itzabar across the main road is another haunt popular with expats and serving one of the best value (and good quality) breakfasts on the coast.

www.theolivepress.es

AUTHENTIC: Antonio at La Raspita and (above) Marlows fish and chips restaurant It is a friendly place where you can get a great pint as well as a good range of dishes. There is also regular Karaoke and other events. Heading over to Duquesa Port look out for Kinsale

Get your goodies WONDERING where to pick up all your English favourites in Manilva? Well thankfully a new shop, The English Shop, has just opened in the heart of Sabinillas where you will find a great range of new produce, including fresh bread and eggs every day. There are even hot cross buns in the run up to Easter.

Irish Bar & Bistro, which is well established and usually busy. Glenn and Mandy are great hosts and it has live music five nights a week, and seven big screens for live Sport.

If it is fine food you are after you should head next door to Hemingways, which serves up a great range of tapas dishes in a decent ambience.

Fish and chips

Owner Ashley is constantly looking at ways to improve his offering and the menu is constantly being upgraded. Finally, if you want to track down the best fish and chips on the Costa del Sol, well head a little further towards Gibraltar and look on the right by Helicopteros Sanitarios. Here you will find Steve and his excellent Marlows, which really is one of the institutions on the coast. Take away or eat in you will not be disappointed.

TIME TEAM: Roman oven

PS... DID YOU KNOW?

IN the heart of Manilva village, an archaeological team recently found the substantial remains of a Roman kiln dating back to 2AD. In excellent condition it was found alongside a series of fragments of pottery. It is thought that the unique design may be the only existing example in Spain and could serve as further evidence of the town’s key role in exporting ‘garum’, one of the most popular products during Roman times. Then known as ‘saltum’, Manilva became famous for the delicacy, a pungent paste made from fish guts. Exported to the Eternal City of Rome via boat, it needed to be stored in well-made pots, called amphoras. And it now seems likely that the recently discovered kiln may be where these were made on an almost industrial scale.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

www.theolivepress.es

Property

31 31

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Big sell off to cut debt

Investors look to Spanish potential FOREIGN INVESTORS have done a dramatic U-turn on Spanish property investment, with two thirds now believing Spain has attractive buying opportunities. A total 67% of commercial investors said they were feeling ‘more confident’ about investing in the country. “It is very encouraging to see the experts such as the Urban Land Institute and PwC highlighting the turnaround which Spain has undergone,” said Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for Taylor Wimpey Espana. “Vast potential remains and we have been saying for some months that the situation, especially within the second homes market, is steadily improving.” Last year Taylor Wimpey Espana recorded its best year since 2006 in terms of sales volume. “You only have to look at the vast sums being invested into real estate by both private individuals such as Bill Gates and large investment funds, to see that ‘good opportunities’ still do exist in Spain.” he added.

SPAIN’S most indebted region is to sell off prime office buildings in a bid to reduce its debt. Catalonia will offload around 15 office buildings in the centre of Barcelona, valued at more than €300 million. Salvador Estape, director of assets for Catalonia, said: “Investors from all over the world are approaching us.”

POOR REGION: Catalonia sell off

Investors spent €4.93 billion on commercial property assets in Spain last year, more than double the 2.32 billion euros invested in 2012, as the economy came out of recession. Catalonia, which contributes 18.7% of Spain’s GDP, accounted for 29% of the country’s regional deficits through November.

Bargain hunters SPANISH bargain hunters made offers at an average 23% below asking price last year. Bids were around 22% under the price in Madrid and 23% in Barcelona, according to property website Idealista. com. It comes despite house prices rising for the first time since 2010 in the third quarter of 2013.

Offers last year were on average 23% below asking price

By Claire Wilson “There is still a mismatch between asking prices and selling prices, for which there is no official data in

Spain,” said Fernando Encinar, Idealista’s co-founder. An increase in foreign investment in Spanish real estate coupled with a recovering economy are prompting sellers to refrain from lowering prices any more as they hold out for better offers. Experts predict prices will fall a further 5% or 6% in the first half of this year as high unemployment and a drought in mortgage financing prevent Spaniards from buying homes. Fewer than 13,900 mortgages were granted in November, compared with about 129,000 at the September 2005 peak, according to INE data. Prices have fallen by an average of 45.6% since their high point in 2007, according to the Society of Valuers.

Squatter gangs target hard up tenants HARD UP tenants are saving money by renting properties off squatter gangs. The monthly rentals, which include utilities, are considerably lower than on the open market, it has been claimed. Dubbed ‘mafia gangs’ by some, the squatter groups go around looking for abandoned properties… or ones never moved into. Some gangs are charging tenants as little as €1000, a one-off fee for their breaking in to the property and cleaning up. Many tenants aren’t aware they’re signing an illegal contract, and the quality of the housing is often appalling. The gangs get away with it because the scale of Spain’s real estate problems is so big. In the first half of 2013 alone, over 35,000 Spanish homes were seized by banks for

non-payment and it is estimated that around 14% of the country’s housing stock remains empty. The police are arresting squat landlords, but their long-term strategy may be to hit property owners harder. The Junta is planning to charge owners fines of €9000 per empty property later this year.

News IN BRIEF

REIT good time TWO Spanish firms are approaching investors to raise up to 900 million euros for listed property funds, an investment type which is gaining traction as more foreign investors pile into the country in search of real estate bargains.

Glut ends THE Spanish housing glut should disappear by 2017, and new homes will have to be built by 2015 to prevent price pressures, says appraisal company Tinsa. It sees signs of small improvements in mortgage lending that could signal a recovery.

Malaga rocks MALAGA accounted for 13.9% of Spanish property sales to foreigners in the first three quarters of 2013. This makes it the top province for last year. It registered 70.9% of sales in Andalucia, which has a total of eight provinces.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Property

www.theolivepress.es

Private Viewing

Language is the key

Team behind Exclusive Marbella has no less than 10 languages covered from their busy office in Elviria, writes Tom Powell

PEAKING languages is the key to Exclusive Marbella Estate’s success. “Between us we speak 10 different languages in the office which is a huge benefit in this industry,” said Tracey McLeod, who set up the company with Danny Hull a decade ago. Recently there have been a lot of Swedish and Norwegian clients in particular looking to relocate in the sunnier climes of the Costa del Sol. “So it’s so important for us that we speak a variety of different languages, as we are then able to offer the very highest quality service to our clients wherever they may be from,” she added. She and Hull are the driving force behind the success of Exclusive Marbella Estates, which has 12 staff working from its busy office in Elviria. The dynamic duo met in 2006 and combined their real estate backgrounds to form their successful agency. Tracey had originally developed her passion for real estate while working for a Dutch company in Marbella, having moved to the area in 2000. “People move here for the climate and the way of life, but they are still well connected through Malaga airport,” said McLeod, who grew up in Essex. Likewise Danny describes falling in love with the Spanish lifestyle when he came first came to the area on holiday. “After that everything happened very quickly, four weeks later we’d sold up our house in England and were living here,” said Danny,

CAPABLE: Bosses Tracey and Danny who previously owned a real estate company in Cabopino. “We went through hard times between 2006 and 2010 because of the economic climate but things have really picked up now,” he explains. The source of the growth has been their investment in websites, which they recognized early on as a crucial channel for success. Currently they are working with more than 100 sites on the coast and the majority of clients now contact them online. They have recently launched another website focusing exclusively on upmarket development El Madronal, which addresses a niche at the top end of the property market. With the property market looking like the bright spot in the current economic cloud, the future is looking exciting for the pair.

The Property InsiderNeale by Adam

Vendor beware: A brief guide to selling your home, part 1

F you’re planning on selling a property in Spain some time soon, here’s a list of things you’ll need to make sure there are no surprises waiting for the buyer, or the seller. The first step to selling anything is proving you own it. In Spain, property ownership is reflected in an escritura (the equivalent of property deeds or title), a public document that is signed and authorised by a notary. As a few unlucky buyers have found, not every property in Spain has all the paperwork required to be legal, so this is very important. The escritura must also be registered with the Land Registry, to show you are the sole registered owner of the property. The escritura includes the terms and conditions under which you purchased the property: identification details of buyer and seller, real-estate number for the Land Registry, a physical description, any outstanding liens, encumbrances, and fees at the time of completion (such as outstanding mortgages and community charges), and the sale price and form of payment. You’ll also need to show community costs (if they apply to your property) are paid up to date and the Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles (IBI, equivalent to annual property rates or taxes) has been paid to the Town Hall in whose municipality your property is located. You should provide the following documents to the notary at the time of completion:

•Since 2013, a Certificado de Eficiencia Energética (CEE, or energy certificate), if you use the property more than four months a year. Otherwise, you only need to sign a declaration stating this is the case. •Your NIE number. •Copy of your latest IBI receipt. •Proof of transfer of any monies received from the buyer in advance. The buyer will also want to see copies of recent utility bills, to confirm utilities are installed and in service. It is vital your property’s total built area (in square metres) is correctly reflected in the escritura, and that the same information appears in the Land Registry. If your buyer needs a mortgage, the bank will only lend against the value of registered square metres, as reflected in the Land Registry. Licences for any extension work are also essential, as are invoices for improvements made to your property, as these can be used to mitigate capital gains levies. When you’ve got all the above and, of course, a buyer, you need to draw up (or have a lawyer do it) contracts, negotiate terms, and, after as little as 15 days, visit a notary to sign the contract and collect payment. At this point, a new escritura is created, reflecting all the details of the latest change in ownership.

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. http://www.terrameridiana.com

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Buying or selling property in Spain? Develop a healthy habit that saves you money!

Save time and money by sending your international money transfers Consistent bank beating exchange rates online or over the phone. Move money, pay people and settle bills within seconds. Make and track payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Norton security used by 97 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top 100 banks.

Contact our Costa Del Sol Office: Tel: +34 951 203 986 costdelsol@hifx.co.uk

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the banks cash in!

www.hifx.co.uk

HiFX Plc is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2009, registration 462444, for the provision of payment services.

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

The strongest Pool Safety Fence in The World !

“Our aim is yOur Child’s safety ” Climb resistant mesh Unbreakable Poles Patented self- Closing, self-latChing gate removable in minUtes lifetime gUarantee

ho ut

rised dealer

fo r

Pool fence systems, inc.

Call

952 810 443

www.lifeguardfence.com info@lifeguardfence.com s h ow r o o m : C C a l o h a , avd a . d e l P r a d o, N u eva a n d a l u c i a , M a r b e l l a 2 9 6 6 0

G E T A Q U O T E N O W - I T C O U L D S AV E Y O U R C H I L D ’ S L I F E ! !

Glass CurtaiNs HiGH seCurity doors & WiNdoWs Bifold doors Glass Balustrades info@andaluciaglass.com

952 810 443

www.andaluciaglass.com

s h ow r o o m : C C. a l o h a , ave n i d a d e l P r a d o, N u e va a n d a l u c i a , M a r b e l l a , M a l a g a 2 9 6 6 0

DO NOTHING WITHOUT A QUOTE FROM ANDALUCIA GLASS AND STEEL !!

Top Dollar www.theolivepress.es

Oiling the palms of commerce

A PAIR of former Malaga University students have set up a trade consultancy business to promote the best of Andalucia in the UK. Economics graduates Juan Montero and Jesus Arcas launched Tradex Consultancy in London to promote olive oils, wines and other products in the UK. Montero, 28, said: “I love the English culture and to be doing something we’re all genuinely passionate about is great. I’m really excited about the future. “The plan is to expand the company in the UK, creating more local jobs, and then open another branch in Spain.” The company will welcome a group of leading olive oil companies to a three-day international meeting at the Barking Enterprise Centre from March 17.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201435 35

The Olive Press fortnightly business section taking a look at the Spanish economy and offering tips on how to save AND make money

Losing the abbey habit

Nuns also suffering in the recession as traditional bank jobs dwindle, writes Claire Wilson

A GROUP of nuns has become the latest victim of Spain’s economic turmoil. The 10 Order of St Clare nuns have had their hours cut working fo Banco Popular Espana in Toledo. The order has had the convent-based clerical jobs since the 1970s, input-

ting data and processing credit card refunds. The bank - Spain’s fifth biggest - does more business with the Catholic Church than any other Spanish lender, but has recently needed to find ways to cut back on expenditure. The workload also has declined for the

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Borrowing down

CUTS: Nuns have hours chopped

nuns at the Monasterio de San Benito who stuff envelopes for Ibercaja for about €1,200 a month.

White collar

The bank increasingly is sending fewer envelopes because it contacts clients by email. Except for the framed portraits of St. Clare and St. Pancras on the walls, the office at the Order of St Clare resembles any venture capitalists have been white-collar backing fledgling businesses. workplace—with The new businesses have been set computer moniup despite the notoriously bureautors, wide desks, cratic start up process in Spain. photocopiers and The country is in the bottom half fax machines. of the World Bank ranking on the Bank employease of starting a business, comees who perform ing 142nd out of 189 countries. similar tasks are Typically, it takes 10 procedures, paid at a rate of 23 working days and costs about just over €7 an €1,100 to start a business in Spain. hour.

Gender revolution despite the red tape A RECORD 800,000 businesses have been set up by women in the past five years. Women now account for 40% of all new business owners in Spain, double the proportion seen before the onset of the economic crisis. In what has been described as a silver lining to the years of economic turmoil, female-led start ups have sprung up across the country, and more and more

SPANISH banks borrowed €193.4 billion ($264 billion) from the European Central Bank in January, down from €206.8 billion in December, according to Bank of Spain data. It marked the 17th consecutive month of reductions.

Take to streets PROSTITUTES in Spain have hit out against a planned crackdown on streetwalking, vowing to demonstrate in central Madrid to defend their livelihoods. The prostitutes’ rights group Hetaira is against plans to fine prostitutes and those who pick them up on the street.

Profits up TOP Spanish banks have reported a 2013 profit surge. Santander, BBVA and CaixaBank said they had emerged stronger from banking troubles that led to a €41-billion rescue of their weaker rivals in Spain.

Top Dollar

36 36 the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

www.theolivepress.es

Advertorial

THE NEW GLOBAL MODEL FOR AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION “FATCA” KICKS IN JUNE 2014 – DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN!

he British Government has set its The UK is not alone, all governments have stall out to be at the vanguard of recognized that financial secrecy and tackling tax evasion and aggressive tax evasion are jeopardising their ability tax avoidance by persuading all of to exit from recession into recovery and the Crown Dependencies and Overseas that following in the wake of the US FATCA Territories to work in partnership with agreement there is a general consensus the British Government in two key areas for change moving forward. In particular the agreement between namely the exchange of UK, Spain, Germany, Italy information and beneficial The agreement will do and France on automatic ownership. David Cameron much to make the exchange of information will has asked all to sign up to EU a place where do much to make the EU a the Multilateral Convention financial privacy is place where financial privacy on Mutual Assistance and extinguished is extinguished. produce an action plan The EU Savings Directive on how to improve their was at the heart of previous transparency with respect to attempts to introduce tax transparency but ownership of assets and companies. Cameron actually said there is “no point because it was limited firstly to individuals in dealing with tax evasion in one country and second to predominantly to bank and if the problem is simply displaced to deposit interest it was relatively easy to another” and “we need to know who circumvent by establishing an offshore really owns and controls each and every company or other arrangement. This new initiative together with a revised Directive company”.

that will include not only companies, trusts to simply hold money without advising and foundations as well as extending its the tax authorities then you are probably remit to many types of investment and wasting your time and asking for trouble. financial products will clearly have a We cannot undo the past but what we can profound effect on the way people set up do is put your affairs in order and make their financial planning arrangements. sure that moving forward your tax liability You may be thinking that is legitimately minimised. the scope for planning will You certainly do not want be removed by all of these to find yourself exposed by You do not want a government measures a disaffected employee at disaffected bank but not so there are many a bank giving tax officials employee giving legitimate tools available lists of account holders nor tax officials lists of that will enable someone’s do you want to be exposed account holders financial affairs to be by journalists investigating restructured using tried and lists of individuals which tested methods that will have come into their stand the test of time. possession. The key is to take action now rather We think you should talk to us about the than burying your head in the sand and best way forward. Make an appointment thinking that this will not affect you. If you to speak to one of our advisers by calling have a company or trust arrangement you Tel: 956796911 or by emailing enquiries@ need to be certain of the benefits that this fiduciarywealth.eu. might provide for you, if you are looking YOU NEED TO TALK TO US URGENTLY!

HURT THAT “FATCA” MIGHT EXPOSE A MASSIVE POTENTIAL TAX LIABILITY? Can you afford not to go first class? Leading provider of tax led wealth management advice to UK Expatriates. Part of the Fiduciary Group and affiliated to Gibraltar’s oldest legal practice Isolas 1892.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE AT OUR TAX & WEALTH CLINICS Tel: 956 796 911 - enquiries@fiduciarywealth.eu or click on the “EVENTS” tab at www.fiduciarywealth.eu

24th February

25th February

26th February

27th February

28th February

Chiclana

Benahavís

Antequera

Mijas

Mojácar

For an appointment in your local area please contact: Gibraltar

Portland House, Glacis Road

00350 200 50982

Sotogrande

C.C. Mar y Sol, local 643-644, Sotogrande

0034 956 796 911

Marbella

Edf. Golden B 1ª planta, Ricardo Soriano 72

0034 663 028 392

Malaga

5th floor, Plaza de la Solidaridad 12

0034 664 662 817

Frightened the Spanish tax authorities are closing in on undeclared offshore assets? Failed to complete Form 720 and you have a serious problem? Call our hotline to relieve the pain Tel: 674 632 219

www.financialplanningspain.com

www.gibraltarresidency.co.uk

www.allyourinsurances.com

Regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission - Licence No. FSC00962b

Top Dollar

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201437 37

www.theolivepress.es

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

PAYBACK: Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri

Bankia’s back After declaring the biggest annual loss in Spanish corporate history, Bankia is back in profit BAILED OUT Bankia has returned to profit at last. The embattled Spanish bank’s share price has more than doubled from its low last year, sparking rumours it could be privatised sooner than expected. The lender is now ready to shake off state ownership, with the government said to be considering a partial float of its 68% stake this year. It is an impressive turnaround for the bank, which just 12 months ago an-

By Claire Wilson nounced a €19.2bn annual loss, the biggest ever recorded by a Spanish company.

Magnets

Dubbed the bank that broke Spain, Bankia and the managers who presided over its demise became magnets for public anger across the country. The bank was bailed out in May 2012, and the ensuing restructure saw it shed

Terrible lies and a waste of time

T was not that long ago that UK writer and politician Jeffrey Archer was convicted of perjury, and perverting the course of justice after lying in a libel case when disputing allegations that he had paid for sex. Archer made two mistakes: 1. To think that lying in court was preferable to admitting he had performed - in the words of Justice Caulfield - ‘cold, unloving, rubber-insulated sex in a seedy hotel’. 2. Lying in a UK Court, as a plaintiff. If only Mr. Archer was tried in a Spanish court; perjury is not a criminal offence in Spain. On the contrary: claimants and defendants are entitled, or even EXPECTED, to lie in court. Article 24.2 of the Spanish Constitution states: “All persons have the right to…not make selfincriminating statements…to not declare themselves guilty.” But it is only the defendant that is able to lie in

thousands of staff, and close a third of its branches, in an EU-approved plan. It received €47bn in cheap ECB loans. Last year, Bankia repaid €19bn and it plans to pay down another €10bn this year. But chairman José Ignacio Goirigolzarri insisted: “We have no ambition to become the first bank that pays back everything. “These are loans with an interest rate of 0.25 % so I don’t see why you want to pay those back,” he said.

Are you being advised or just sold to? W HILE this may seem a strange question to ask, it is actually at the heart of how people end up with investment products, and reflects the relevance of those products to their circumstances. What prompts me to write on this subject is the increasing number of incidents I am coming across where people have their money invested in totally unsuitable investment products. Sometimes the problem is one of tax efficiency, which could have been so much better dealt with, but on too many occasions the product is just simply wrong! Having spent the past 30 years as an independent financial adviser, with access to the whole market place for providers and products, the basis that I and other professional advisers like me work on, is that of an adviceled practice, where you get to understand what an individual client is trying to achieve; what their hopes and sensitivities are and what resources they have available to enable them to achieve their goals. The financial planning solution will take all of those factors and more into account when structuring the right advice. Sometimes this will result in a solution, which involves the use of investment products, but occasionally there will be no need for products at all. That’s what I mean by advice-led. The alternative scenario is where you are faced

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

LIAR: Archer paid for sex

court. Witnesses will be prosecuted if they do so for ‘false testimony’ (falso testimonio), a charge that carries prison terms. You can also be charged with falsely reporting a crime if you employ deceit (denuncia falsa). Claimants and defendants are not required to give their statements under oath whereas witnesses will have been previously sworn. In my opinion, allowing some people to lie and some not causes court cases to become protract-

ed. Because defendants are less prone to admit liability, even if wrongdoing is obvious, just because there are no legal consequences to prevaricating. A recent example of the right to lie relates to two Luxembourg-based bankers who were tried in court: both lied shamelessly on oath about their involvement in an equity release case, as did the representative for the bank. In fact the latter almost went so far as to deny the production of marketing material, given to clients, which although no longer available is still traceable via the fantastic website www.waybackmachine.com. I doubt these bankers would have chosen to mislead if they were tried in English courts. In fact the case would probably be cut and dried and over in a week! Email me at aflores@lawbird.com

Advertorial

Línea Directa, the best company for expatriates at the best price

ince 1998 Línea Directa, the market leader in the sale of direct car, motorbike and home insurance in Spain, has offered an exclusive telephone service entirely in English and German. This service, the first of its kind in Spain, forms part of the company’s commitment to quality and excellence, which has also made it the market leader in this business sector, due to the fact that it currently has over 63,000 foreign customers residing in Spain. As a result, services such as purchasing a policy, making enquiries, processing claims, sending documents and 24-hour assistance can all be carried out in English or German at a time which is convenient for the customer by making just

Call now for more information on 902 123 104 one phone call. And not only does Línea Directa offer the best, it also offers its services at the most competitive price on the market. It does this in two ways:

Price personalisation Behind each quote there is a sales professional who, via a quick questionnaire, will search for the best product and conditions to suit the customer’s personal

requirements and will assess him or her according to their individual circumstances.

Maximum competitiveness Still at the best price, this month Línea Directa is making Expats an exclusive 12x11 offer, which allows them to enjoy one year of insurance for the price of 11 months. And what is more, if the person requesting this offer already has another car insurance policy with Línea Directa, then the offer will be 12x10, which is to say two months’ free cover. This is the result of a strategy which is permanently geared towards offering customers the very best quality at the very best price.

with a product salesperson who is product led. They may work for a bank or insurance company or they may be promoting themselves as independent advisers but in fact, there main driver is to sell product, whether it fits or not, and to sell as much of it as they can.

Convinced

Their training will teach them some basic sales techniques which will be based on the following principle – Need, Greed or Fear = A Sale! By that I mean they will be trained to identify whether a potential customer can be persuaded that they need the product if they are enticed to buy it with over zealous promises of high returns. In the third case they will try to identify fear – often this is in the form of fear of the taxman taking a big slice from them. We saw that with the Equity Release debacle, when hundreds of people were convinced they had a Spanish Inheritance Tax problem and were sold an expensive mortgage-linked to a poor investment contract that was supposed to repay the loan and a means to avoid the tax. The reason that Equity Release was sold to so many people is that it appealed to Need, Greed and Fear. People may have needed extra income, were greedy for the promised returns, and were frightened of the tax that might be due when one of them died – it all ended in tears, except of course for the product salesmen who banked a hefty commission and they are probably now selling timeshare or some other commission focused enterprise! So beware and just ask the question – am I being advised or being sold to? Richard Alexander Financial Planning Limited is an appointed representative of L J Financial Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Contact him at Richard@ra-fp.com

Top Dollar

38 38 the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

www.theolivepress.es

mumbles FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE TAX Market CONSEQUENCES OF Temperatures drop to zero! Things can only get better AUTOMATIC DISCLOSURE UNDER “FATCA”? Advertorial

with Mark Rickard

ACan you afford not to go first class? A Leading provider of tax led big freeze is underway with MÁSMÓVIL clients noticing a substantial drop in temperatures with the all-new PLAN ZERO. PLAN ZERO allows MÁSMÓVIL clients to talk for 0 cts. per minute for the first 5 minutes of EVERY phone call. All you need to pay is a call set-up charge of just 18,15 cents, IVA included! From minute 6 onwards you can phone for just 3,63 cents/min (IVA incl.) PLAN ZERO allows you to use the Internet as much as you want and now comes with an extra 512 MB for many of the Internet bundles for the same price as before! MÁSMÓVIL has also decided to upgrade the 500 MB option to 1 GB, the 1 GB to 1,5 GB and the 2 GB to 2,5 GB without extra charge, which means that you can get 1 GB for just €5 plus IVA, so you only ever pay for what

STAGNATING European economy is the talk of the markets, but Mario Draghi seems quietly confident ‘that things can only get better’. In fact, Spain is one of the European countries with improving economic data, unfortunately because it only makes up around 7% of the total European GDP it rarely impacts the Eurozone statistics. The UK is busy coping with a natural disaster, the south east and west are under water, which is slowing down the economy temporarily. Despite this, the Bank of England upgraded its growth forecast to 3.4% in 2014, and again ‘Cool’ Carney is continuing with the positivity and the markets approve, Sterling rose above 1.22 again last week.

Thursday 8.28am German Manufacturing PMI Feb previous 54.3 Thursday 8.28am German Services PMI previous Feb previous 53.1 Thursday 8.58am EU Manufacturing PMI Feb previous 54.0 Thursday 8.58am EU Services PMI Feb previous 51.6

wealth management advice to UK Expatriates. Part of the Fiduciary Group and affiliated to Gibraltar’s oldest legal practice Isolas 1892. US you actually need! Should you ever exceed the limit then all you pay is 3,63 cents/MB including IVA, and you will even continue to enjoy the same speed as before! For those who only ever talk on the phone there’s an option without Internet as well. MÁSMÓVIL is all about transparency, without small print, fines or permanence clauses, so you may leave whenever you want! You may even ‘park’ your SIM card for up to 9 months at sport, José Ignacio a time so you avoid those exWert highlighted last pensive roaming charges when December “The Proyou go back home and can confessional Football tinue to keep the same SpanLeague’s unconditionish number when you come al collaboration” in enback! This, together with a posuring that clubs startlite customer service team who ed cutting both their speak no less than 6 languagtax and social security es (English, German, Spanish, debt. Scandinavian, Russian and Spain’s football clubs Finnish), make MÁSMÓVIL a and sports limited firm favourite with the expats. Over 150.000 satisfied cuscompanies (SADs) also tomers can’t be wrong. Find reduced their accuout more about the terms and mulated debt with the conditions for PLAN ZERO by country’s social securiphoning toll-free number 1473 ty authorities by €6.4m today, or visit www.masmovil. between January 2012 es for the name of your nearest and June 2013. MÁSMÓVIL agent.

This Week

Monday Markets Closed for Presidents Day Tuesday 1.30pm NAHB Housing Market Index Feb previous 56 Wednesday 1.30pm Building Permits Jan previous 0.986m Wednesday 1.30pm Housing Starts Jan previous 0.999m UK Thursday 1.30pm Consumer Price Inflation This Week Jan previous 1.5% y/y Tuesday 9.30am Consumer price inflation Thursday 3pm Philadelphia Fed ManufacturJan previous 2.0% y/y ing Survey Jan previous 9.4 Wednesday 9.30am Bank of England Meet- Thursday 7pm FOMC Minutes Jan ing Minutes Jan Friday 3pm Existing Home Sales Change Jan Wenesday 9.30am Unemployment Rate Dec previous 1% m/m previous 7.1% Thursday 9.30am Retail Sales Jan previous 5.3% y/y Friday 9.30am Public Sector Net Borrowing Jan previous £10.38bn

RESERVE YOUR PLACE AT OUR TAX Taxman nets a fortune from football clubs CLINICS & WEALTH

SPAIN’S professional football clubs slashed their debt to the country’s tax authorities by €157million last year. During an 18 month period from January 2012 to May 2013, they paid back a staggering 21% of their debt. Spain’s first and second division football clubs owed €752.2m in January 2012, an amount they had cut to €595.4m last year. The minster for education, culture and

Tel: 956 796 911 - enquiries@fiduciarywealth.eu or click on the “EVENTS” tab at www.fiduciarywealth.eu

2nd December

3rd December

Chiclana

Benahavís

Europe

This Week

Tuesday 10am ZEW Survey Economic Senti4th December 5th DecemberQUIETLY6th December ment Feb previous 61.7 CONFIDENT: Mario Draghi

Contact HiFX to help you with your international transactions, call in at Antequera Mijas Mojácar Centro Plaza, call 951 203 986 or email olivepress@hifx.co.uk Advertorial

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT YOUR ADVISERS For an appointment in your local area please contact: MANAGE YOUR PENSION ASSETS PROPERLY!

ould you like a slice of life viaticals in your pension followed by a portion of student accommodation with a bit of overseas land and a slither of solicitors’ legal expenses on the side? Or perhaps the “nouvelle cuisine” of the funds can be released then it is hardly latest pension funds is not to your taste surprising that you cannot switch funds and you prefer the traditional hot pot of quickly or access your capital when income well respected funds with a great track is required. Whilst there may be a place for record, good liquidity and even a dash of some of the more esoteric funds as part of a portfolio far too often we see clients with Morningstar rating? massive exposure to these Unfortunately a lot of clients types of investment and in we come across have been some cases almost all of choking on the fact that their We have had clients their hard earned retirement advisers have recommended in tears realising that funds are invested in this one of these new fangled part or all of their way. The UK regulator is types of investment which pension fund might already taking a dim view of have run into trouble and be at risk these types of arrangement been suspended by the but it is of course easier regulator because the to get away with this in the provider has run into liquidity problems or sometimes even faced more offshore market particularly as far as serious issues. Of course if your pension QROPS is concerned. investment is tied up in bricks and mortar Perhaps it would be adding too much or dependent on someone dying before spice to the argument if I suggested

that the main reason for this type of We don’t just leave it there though, we FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF investment approach using unregulated study and follow the market and carry funds is that nasty phrase “extraUNDER out regular portfolio reviews unlike many AUTOMATIC DISCLOSURE “FATCA”? commission.” advisers who feed you initial information By Can now you probably then provider have you ofwanting you have afford not to checked go first your class?and Leading tax ledfor more wealth management advice UK Expatriates. Part have of the Fiduciary statement to see whether youto have because they moved onto the next and funds affiliated to Gibraltar’s legal practice Isolas 1892. oneGroup of these in your portfolio oroldest client. perhaps you have already been faced Unlike many of our competitors we won’t with similar problems to the ones make a meal out of advising you and then highlighted above. We have literally had have you suffering the pain of realising how clients in tears realising that part or all much of your initial investment has gone of their pension fund might be at risk in fees and commissions. We will explain and Tel: that956their retirement and charges 796 911 - enquiries@fiduciarywealth.eu or click our on thecosts “EVENTS” income and future throughout the process and tab at www.fiduciarywealth.eu prospects could well be our aim is to advise you so Advisers risk adversely affected. well that you come back for profile clients and You will be pleased to know more. a portfolio 2nd December 3rd December construct 4th December 5th December 6th December that Fiduciary Wealth adopts Food for thought anyone? that matches their Chiclana Benahavís Antequera Mijas Mojácar a traditional approach when risk appetite building a portfolio for any Ring Tel: 34 956796911 client who has pension or email enquiries@ monies to invest. We make fiduciarywealth.eu to join us Foradvisers an appointment in your areaofplease contact: sure that our carefully risk profilelocal at one our weekly tax and wealth clinics our prospective clients and construct a or to meet with an adviser in your local Gibraltar Portland Glacisrisk Road area. 00350 200 50982 portfolio that matches theirHouse, individual appetite. Sotogrande C.C. Mar y Sol, local 643-644, YOU Sotogrande 0034 911 NEED TO TALK TO956 US796 URGENTLY!

Gibraltar

Portland House, Glacis Road

00350 200 50982

Sotogrande

C.C. Mar y Sol, local 643-644, Sotogrande

0034 956 796 911

Marbella

Edf. Golden B 1ª planta, Ricardo Soriano 72 PLACE0034 663 028 392 RESERVE YOUR AT OUR TAX

Malaga

& WEALTH CLINICS 5th floor, Plaza de la Solidaridad 12

0034 664 662 817

Frightened the Spanish tax authorities are closing in on undeclared offshore assets? Failed to complete Form 720 and you have a serious problem? Call our hotline to relieve the pain Tel: 674 632 219 Marbella

Edf. Golden B 1ª planta, Ricardo Soriano 72

0034 663 028 392

Malaga

5th floor, Plaza de la Solidaridad 12

0034 664 662 817

Frightened the Spanish tax authorities are closing in on undeclared offshore assets? Failed to complete Form 720 and you have a serious problem? Call our hotline to relieve the pain Tel: 674 632 219

www.financialplanningspain.com

www.gibraltarresidency.co.uk

www.allyourinsurances.com

Regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission - www.gibraltarresidency.co.uk Licence No. FSC00962b www.financialplanningspain.com www.allyourinsurances.com R e g u l a t e d b y t h e G i b r a ltar F in an c ial Se rv ic e s C om m ission - L ic e n c e N o. F SC 0 0 9 6 2 b

OP Columnists …If Almoraima was ‘Hayeked’ S www.theolivepress.es

O will it be Next Stop Hollywood for Castellar de la Frontera? If actress Salma Hayek is buying a large chunk of it, as reported in the Olive Press last issue, that’s a

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

Belinda Beckett, aka Mistress of Sizzle, muses on what might happen …

definite maybe. When the sultry Mexican movie star (pictured right) and her billionaire husband chartered a €10,000 helicopter ride to view the threatened country estate of Almoraima, up for grabs for €300million, it added an unexpected twist to a saga that’s dominated local headlines for weeks. (Perhaps Salma reads the Olive Press, or how else would she know about a place most people couldn’t find on a Spanish map?) But will all the locals be queuing up for

her autograph if their finca is ‘Hayek’d’? In a battle as fierce as any witnessed by Castellar’s 13th century castle, they have campaigned to save Almoraima from becoming a 5-star playground for the hunting, shooting and partying elite. Who’s to say the Hollywood set will be a safer bet? Environmentalist Salma may be into saving dolphins and anti global warming. But her business-minded hubby, Francois-Henri Pinault, might have other plans for a finca that lost €1.2 million last year, harvesting cork and grow-

ing crops. He’s CEO of a group which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, and heir to a family who buy Picassos and Mondrians like other people buy eggs - by the dozen! Sexy Salma has brains as well as beauty so it’s fun imagining what she might do for the place if she ever becomes Queen of the castle. Filming at the Finca: At 14,000 hectares, Almoraima’s the ideal backlot for Ventanarosa, Salma’s film production company which made the Oscarwinning Frida and specialises in Latino

Wet and wild! Back in Blighty Giles Brown gets both a drenching and a culture shock

DECIDED to take a quick trip back to the UK this month, visiting the West Country, or as it is now known ‘Atlantis’. To say that it was a trifle damp in Gloucester would be something of an understatement. Driving back from the excellent Bulls Head pub in Ewen, which is all low Tudor ceilings and great food, the sat nav system tried to send us on a shortcut under a bridge. This would have been fine if I was driving a ve-

hicle suitable for the conditions. A Trident nuclear submarine for example, such was the level of flooding we encountered. We were forced to beat a hasty retreat in the Nissan Figaro and take the long way back to Cheltenham. Having not been back to the Old Country in five years, I was amazed by some of the changes. I know that living by the lake means that I’m not up to speed with the cutting edge of technology, but I found there was wifi

AIRPORT POLICE: Waiting for Giles?

DRIVE A WHITE SWAN: The UK last week

more importantly, people who knew how to use them. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen customers in Spanish supermarkets vainly trying to work out how the things work. I was regaling my friends about my dissomething suspicious and hauled me coveries in a now upmarket over. ‘What’s this?’ they asked sus- area of London, which used piciously as I was ordered to unwrap to be called Queen’s Park a tupperware container containing a but is now known as ‘North whitish powdery substance. Out of the Kensington’, and instantly corner of my eye I noticed or two of earned myself the nickname the guards were fingering their batons of Austin Powers... rather nervously. “Ah this?” I explain Oh and a final word on the “My girl in England is missing Spain so flooding. Given the monuI brought her a present” mental balls up that the “Yes, but what is it?” she demanded “It’s a box of sand from Tarifa,” I replied Environmental Agency has “Ahhh. Tarifa sand. How romantic!” the made this time, what’s the guards said, all smiles, and waved me betting that they get it all wrong again in summer and through. Just a great job they didn’t rake through the UK enforces a hosepipe ban? the sand for the crystal meth...

everywhere – including trains and buses – as well as self service checkout counters in supermarkets and,

Flying to the UK of course meant going through customs. Regular readers of this column will know that I have the kind of face that always gets stopped by the Guardia Civil, as well as both National and Local police. Even the security guys in supermarkets reach for the walkie talkies when I walk in. So it shouldn’t be a huge surprise to discover that I got the full pat down at Malaga airport on the way out. The fact that I was dressed for the British weather in a Russian style fake fur hat, Australian Drizabone stockman’s coat and Timberland boots made me more than stand out in the queue for the Birmingham flight. It was when I ran my bag through the scanner that the fun and games really began. The security guard spotted

Crystal Meth

flicks. For authenticity, she could plant giant cacti, and turn them into a cash crop with a tequila bodega. Casting would be no problem. Antonio Banderas, her co-star in the Mexico Trilogy movies and Puss in Boots, lives just up the road in Marbella. Cleaning up the Convent. Salma’s a convent school gal herself, so she’ll feel right at home. And, heaven knows, the hotel occupying Almoraima’s stunning 17th century convent could do with some stage direction and a sprinkling of Hollywood stardust to attract the punters; anti-palm weevil powder, too, to save the dying trees. Firing Up the Feria The local wolves would be howling for more of smouldering Salma at Castellar’s Full Moon Flamenco Festival in August – and not only for her singing and dancing skills. Being all ‘frontera’ herself, those voluptuous curves would look fab in a flamenco dress. Queening it at the Castle This best-kept Moorish fortress is a tailor-made location for historic movies, with trained eagles for stunt work courtesy of the resident Bird Man of Castellar, who puts on shows for tourists. Supporting the Local Wildlife Salma’s California ranch is filled with rescue animals so she and daughter Valentina would adore Castellar Zoo. The zoo’s pretty pushed for space and funds – a great cause celèbre for Salma, and Almoraima could take the overspill. Promoting the Local Cuisine Who better than Salma? Pork and red wine are her favourite food and drink and her name sounds just like another Andalusian speciality - salmorejo!

40the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014 40

www.theolivepress.es

GOLF In the swing of it A new female Tiger is on the range

GREAT SCOT: Gallacher

Scot pips Garcia

SCOTSMAN Stephen Gallacher has pipped Spaniard Sergio Garcia to January’s European Tour Golfer of the month title. Gallacher successfully defended his Desert Classic title in Dubai, equalling a nine-hole scoring record of nineunder-par 28 on his way to victory. Sergio Garcia can take comfort in the fact he will bounce back into the World top ten after winning the Qatar Masters title on January 25. Gallacher, 39, said: “To be picked ahead of the likes of Louis (Oosthuizen), Pablo (Larrazábal) and Sergio (Garcia), who were all winners last month, means a lot to me and I am very grateful to be recognised in this way.” Pablo Larrazabal, born in Barcelona, won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January by one stroke over Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.

GOLF appears to run in the Woods family genes as Tiger’s 23-year-old niece has bagged her first major professional tour victory. Cheyenne Woods held off Minjee Lee by two strokes to win the Australian Ladies Masters at Pine Valley on February 9. Cheyenne, the daughter of Tiger’s half brother Earl Woods Junior, turned professional in 2012 after an All-America career at Wake Forest. “This is a huge accomplishment for me,”

she said. “To be able to come out here and compete with all of these great players and come out on top was huge for me.” She missed out on a spot on the LPGA circuit at December’s qualifying tournament but has now won $51,000 and a two-year exemption on the Ladies European Tour. Meanwhile, her sporting superstar uncle Tiger has begun the year off his game, failing to finish in the top 20 in either of his first two tournaments.

Clear course leader

Costa del Sol has 34 courses in Spain’s top 100

caption

By Tom Powell THE Costa del Sol has once again been crowned the golf capital of Spain with 34 of its courses in the nation’s top 100. The fourth edition of the much revered ranking, on www.top100golfcourses. co.uk, places three Costa del Sol courses in the top five. Valderrama, in Sotogrande, is second behind Barcelona’s PGA Catalyuna, which is the product of more than a decade of planning and design by the European tour. The 1997 Ryder Cup was hosted in Valderrama as well as many other championships with TV coverage. Sotogrande, constructed

more than 40 years ago, and Finca Cortesin, one of Europe’s longest layouts,

complete the coast’s top five presence at third and fifth respectively.

PGA Catalyuna and Valderrama also just edge into the top 100 courses in the

world, topped by the Pine Valley course in New Jersey, USA.

Sotogrande earns itself a date on European tour SOTOGRANDE is to be the venue for a brand new open on the European Tour this year. The NH Collection Open at La Reserve de Sotogrande Club will take place on April 3 to 6. The lack of events in Spain, traditionally a popular European Tour destination, has been due to the country’s particularly severe financial crisis. The new open will be a dual ranking event consisting of European Tour and Challenge Tour members with a prize fund of €600,000. “We are delighted to an-

SWING TIME: New Sotogrande Open

nounce this new tournament in southern Europe, and hope this is a sign of recovery after a difficult time

economically in this region,” said Keith Waters, director of international policy of the European Tour.

C E ................ ................ ................. ................. 51

www.theolivepress.es

n Buen

35 the olive press - February 19 - March 5 201441 41

amino

Giving a truck! TRUCKS, vans and other commercial vehicles are being targeted in a new police initiative to cut down on road deaths.

Crash drop THERE has been a 4% drop in car accidents on Spanish roads. However, there is still a car crash every 18 seconds according to Unespa, the Spanish association of insurance companies. Last year there were 1.7 million crashes on the roads, a drop of 3.95% from the previous year. Madrid sees the most crashes, with an average of one every two seconds, while Soria in Castile y Leon sees the least number of accidents, with the time between accidents being around three hours. The statistics also revealed Friday is the worst day to be on the road. Each incident costs an insurance company an average €2000.

A new Guardia Civil campaign aims to ensure all such commercial vehicles comply with road safety rules and regulations.

Freight transport accounts for around 33% of Spain’s road traffic, while a massive 15% of trucks on the road were involved in an accident

TAKING ITS TOLL

DRIVERS using toll roads have dropped by 33.6% in the last seven years. Numbers have declined year-on-year from a record daily average of 23,909 vehicles in 2006. It comes as the toll road network increased from 1,723 to 2,568km. The decline between 2012 and 2013 was 4.9%, with the average number of vehicles using the toll roads slipping to 15,864 per day, according to the Ministry of Development. HELLE Hollis Parking, situated next to Malaga airport, is offering 25% discount on all parking for reservations made before April 10. The indoor carpark, open 24 hours each day of the week, guarantees safety, security and constant video surveillance. Upon checking their car in, customers are taken by a free courtesy bus to the departure terminal and collected again upon return. A free car wash is also included when parking for a week or longer. “It is a very easy and smooth procedure and you can rest assured that your private car is parked safely while you are

Police clampdown in bid to cut back on road deaths

last year, according to a statement from the Transport Ministry ( DGT). These accidents resulted in 463 deaths in 2013. Distracted drivers are the main cause of such accidents, followed by contravention of the speed limit.

Security

Advertorial

Secure Indoor Parking at Malaga Airport

Now with 25% discount on all parking! away,” says managing director Hans Hugo. The special discount also applies for long term and yearly parking. Details can be found online at www.hellehollisparking.com or by calling Helle Hollis. Helle Hollis is well-known as a car hire service and their Home Owners Club membership comes with 15% discount on car hire and a 10% bonus discount for the following year.

This bonus discount can now be used for the Helle Hollis indoor parking too. “We continue to improve our services and we know that our unique fair fuel policy is especially valued by our clients as they only pay for the fuel they use,” said Hans Hugo. “Car hire or car parking at Helle Hollis will always stand for quality with personalised service.”

A significant 41 of the 147 truck drivers who lost their lives in accidents were not wearing a seatbelt. The Guardia Civil will be monitoring driving hours, truck weight, technical defects, load security, driver and vehicle documentation, the use of seatbelts and the use of drugs and alcohol. The campaign coincides with a European-wide initiative, which will see European road safety body Tipsol operate similar checks across 25 countries. The next campaign, in March, will focus on seatbelts and child restraints, while April’s focus will be on speed. Motorcyclists will be targeted in May, prior to a major push on drugs and alcohol checks in June and July.

Got a new motor...

CAR sales have risen for the fifth straight month in January, suggesting the recovery in Spain’s auto market is strengthening after a six-year slump. January’s sales of new cars in Spain, Europe’s fifth biggest car market, increased by 7.6% to 53,436 vehicles, helped by government subsidies.

...but few new jobs

SPANISH car production grew by 9% last year due in large part to new, more flexible labour laws. Thanks to growth in demand from the US, Turkey and North Africa - and a government-backed scheme - a total of 2.16 million cars were made in 2013. Some 87% of the cars produced in Spain were sold abroad, resulting in an automobile trade surplus of €15 billion in the January-to-November period. Spain has 17 car plants producing 39 different models. However, while car manufacturing and tourism are the main drivers of a tentative recovery in Spain, the car industry’s impact on job creation has remained limited.

Heading off to the slopes? Make sure you have the cover you need • • • • • •

European or worldwide cover Two levels of cover to suit your needs and your pocket Annual and single trip options Winter sports, business cover and golf cover available Individual, couple and family policies available 24 hour emergency medical assistance Estepona

Call into one of our local offices or call us on:

952 887 125

estepona@ibexinsure.com C.C. Benavista, Local 3 Ctra. de Cádiz Km167 29688 Estepona

Sotogrande

956 695 750

sotogrande@ibexinsure.com Local 1A Sotomarket Sotogrande, San Roque 11310 Cádiz

Fuengirola

Gibraltar

952 581 561

fuengirola@ibexinsure.com Edif. Vega, Local 6 Avda. Jesús Santos Rein 15 29640 Fuengirola

200 44628

gibraltar@ibexinsure.com 68 Irish Town Gibraltar

Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 2014. Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Registered no. 77247. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission FSC 006 43B

Motor

Home

Marine

Travel

Medical

Holiday Apartment

Business

Pet

Community

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

24 42

C lassifieds

FOOD & DRINK

the olive press

www.theolivepress.es

To place your classified, please call 951 127 006 or email admin@theolivepress.es SERVICES Malaga Airport

SUNSHINE TOLDOS

All types of awning and blinds

Installed or fixed Manual/electric Will travel inland No deposit/cash on delivery Call John on 952467783 680323969

Secure INDOOR parking

FOR SALE

Special Offer! discount

25%

on all parking when reserved between 01.02 - 10.04.14

Helle Hollis Parking, Avda. García Morato nº 18, Málaga Airport

Tel.: +34 951 01 40 58

www.hellehollisparking.com

2006 Renault Kangoo estate. Diesel 1900cc. 4x4. Current ITV. 190. 442 km.Good condition. 4.300€. To view phone 951 127 006 (office hours)

www.theolivepress.es

C lassifieds

4343

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

the olive press 83 cents per word. Minimum charge based on 10 words per issue and a minimum of 2 issues. IVA not included All ads include the first 2 words in bold. For all text in bold add 25%

Display boxes Single column display box 38 euros per issue Double column display box 54 euros per issue Three column display box 75 euros per issue

Full name and passport or NIE number must be provided when advertisements are placed. All ads must be paid prior to publication

SERVICES

CHIMNEY SWEEP, professional and clean... good references... All areas covered... Call 607441959 APEX CHIMNEY SERVICES Professional chimney sweep, NACS qualified, clean & reliable Tel. 696320202 FOR SALE FULL PEDIGREE CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES born 21/09/2013, fully vaccinated, 4 male and 1 female. For more information please contact : Vincenzo Ostuni - 657 073 476 or 685 845 524

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

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

caption

Wine capital of the world SPAIN’S wine output increased by a whopping 41% in 2013, earning the country the title of world’s leading producer. The surge in production has been attributed to good weather conditions and an

improvement of winery infrastructure. A total 50.5 million hectolitres were produced last year with the country out-producing Italy and France, which bottled 47.4 million and 42.3 million litres respec-

tively. Regionally, Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura registered the largest increase in production, while Galicia reported a drop of 0.7%.

Robots get a taste for beer

By Claire Wilson

SPANISH researchers have created an electronic ‘tongue’ capable of distinguishing between beer varieties and alcohol content. The artificial organ was accurate nearly 82% of the time and could be the first step towards developing robots with a sense of taste. The taster was made using 21 electrodes, each responsive to different chemical compounds such as ammonium, sodium,

New robotic ‘tongue’ can differentiate between a double malt and a lager and a Pilsen and Alsatian brew

nitrate or chloride, according to researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Exposed to beer, the electrode bundle yielded chemical data that could be analysed for patterns which would identify the different brews. The tongue was able to tell the difference between lager, double malt, Pilsen, Alsatian and low-alcohol beer, all the types it was ‘trained’ to recognise. The ‘tongue’ however, did not recognise drinks for which it had not been programmed. “These tools could one day give robots a sense of taste,” said a statement on the study

published in the journal Food Chemistry. They could also ‘supplant panels of tasters in the food industry to improve the quality and reliability of products for consumption’. Last year, scientists at Valencia University announced they had developed an electronic tongue to measure the maturity of eight different types of grapes. The device could be used to evaluate the most appropriate time to harvest the grapes.

HEALTHY: The market at Adra

Sherry nice brandy sale

SHERRY maker Gonzalez Byass has sold half of its brandy company Bodega Las Copas to a Filipino company. Emperador, the Philippines’ largest liquor-maker, has paid € 60 million euros for the company, further cementing its push into Spain. Emperador is already one of the world’s biggest brandy producers, but most of its output is sold in its home market. It said last year it was going to spend 100 million euros on vineyards and brandy stocks in Spain in order to build an international brand.

More fish in the sea

AFTER five years of decline, fish stocks off Almeria have improved. It comes after five fish markets in the province - Almeria, Adra, Garrucha, Carboneras and Roquetas - improved in both quailty and number. The 263 fishing boats in Almeria province

landed 10,908 tonnes of fish and seafood compared to 7,689 tonnes in the previous year, an increase of 40%. Almeria registered the highest income per boat, at €88,000 followed by Garrucha, €52,000, Adra €51,000, Carboneras €17,000, and Roquetas € 9,000.

la sala

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - February 19 - TM March 5 2014

WEDNESDAY 5TH MARCH

(10€ cover charge)

FRANK SINATRA

●

TRIBUTE

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

TEL: 95 281 4145

SUNDAY 9TH MARCH

(10€ cover charge)

GINA TAYLOR

●

DRAG SHOW

El Rincón de

EMAIL: RESERVATIONS@LASALABANUS.COM - WEB: WWW.LASALABANUS.COM

san

pedro

alcántara

Pintxos Come and try our new

Pintxo ...from 1.50€ Pintxo + Beer ...from 2.95€ Pintxos served between 12.00 and 19.00 Monday to Saturday

Reservations 95 150 6249 ● info@LaSalaSanPedro.com ● www.LaSalaSanPedro.com

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

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

News IN BRIEF

Courgettes up SPAIN’S courgettes enjoyed a profitability surge last year, netting growers in Almeria a whopping EUR 21,500 per hectare. The average price per kilo was 0.60c, an 8% increase on the 2012 level.

Rioja rules SALES of Rioja wine increased 3.9% between 2012 and 2013. A total 2771 litres were sold last year.

City of wine JEREZ has been voted European City of Wine for 2014 at the 17th Assembly General of Recevin.

Best restaurant A NEW website ranking Spanish restaurants has been launched. www. restaurantes.com orders eateries by the number of bookings they receive.

El Rincon de la Sala has had a spring clean with a difference

‘Haute cuisine in miniature’

IT has had a spring clean of a miniature kind. El Rincon de la Sala restaurant has reopened its doors not just with a new look, but with a whole new tapas menu. The popular San Pedro eaterie - sister of La Sala in Puerto Banus - has introduced its ‘pintxos’ concept, which means a big range of mini bites will be on offer for diners, who don’t fancy a full sit down. Pintxos literally translated means ‘spike’ as pintxos are generally held together with a toothpick. “These bite-size morsels are a great way of sampling a va-

and jamon serrano with fresh tomato, or you prefer to order off the blackboard, our pintxos offer miniature mouthfuls to suit all palates,” he added.

Stylish

riety of different flavours and can be enjoyed at the bar with a casual glass of wine or while seated in the restaurant or on the al fresco terrace,” said manager Howard Holland. “Whether you wish to sample the cold delights including guacamole and prawns

Snails pace

R.T.A.:AL-4-04-0017. 2ª cat

SPANISH police confiscated 4.5 tonnes of snails illegally poached from forests. The sting resulted in the arrests of 24 people in relation to migration and work infringements.

TASTY: Some of the new creations

Spain’s largest Campsite & mobile home park

Camping Los Gallardos

Now in our 23rd year - here since 1991!

A relaxing community site near Mojácar, Almería, ideal for short or long term living.

The specialities include traditional Spanish tortilla and four cheese and caramelized onions, as well as serrano ham topped with a quails egg.. The stylish eaterie meanwhile has a new look, which has seen the bar move and the restaurant layout adjusted.. While it hasn’t created more dining space, the new set up will enable musicians to interact with the diners, something Holland hopes will create an even better ambiance. “We decided to level out the restaurant to create a more united experience for our diners and to ensure that the live music and atmosphere could be enjoyed by every customer, whether they’re eating in the restaurant or drinking at the bar,” he said. Alongside the pintxos, El Rincon’s daytime menu offers delicious salads, sandwiches and its popular mini burgers. For reservations or further information please call 951 506 249.

Nearest place to buy British goods: Alicante, according to new ‘comprehensive’ map

EXPATS in the south of Spain will have to travel all the way to Alicante to stock up on their British favourites, according to a supposedly ‘comprehensive’ online map. The company behind the interactive map, Which Offshore, claims to have produced a comprehensive and global list of British food stores, to help expats track down British food stockists wherever they are in the world. However, in the area with by far the largest number of British expats in the world there isn’t a single listing.

Neglected

This means that in the area with the world’s largest diaspora - the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar - there isn’t one place that sells Marmite or Baked Beans. The nearest mapped stores are in Alicante, or in the capital Madrid. “It is incredible that they have neglected to add Iceland, Morrisons and all the other fantastic local supermarkets, well known and well estab-

lished to the list,” said Olive Press reader Peter Jones, from Marbella. “I think we will all continue to stick to all the good local newspapers and magazines to find out good local information,” he added. Despite only listing six British food stores on the Spanish mainland, creator of the map Michael Brinksman said: “Spain and France seem to have the greatest number of British food shops.” SPANISH meat producers reaped a healthy profit in Incredibly both The Daily Tele2013, with the majority of their products going up by graph and website The Local, around 10%. based in Madrid, felt the story A combination of reduced rearing costs and improved was worthy of leading their execonomic conditions are said to be behind the rises. pat sections this week. Lamb and chicken were the only meats to go down in The team is asking for people to price, with profitability on lamb products falling 3.9% on contribute new places to the map 2012 levels. through its website, however. The price of lamb went down from €8.16 per kg to 6.86 Brinksman said: “We want usper kg. Poultry also fell from €1.83 per kg to € 1.79 per ers in other parts of the world kg. like Scandinavia and Eastern Pork rose to €1.96 per kg from € 1.76 per kg, while beef Europe to let us know of any other stores as the aim is to rose from € 3.70 euros per kg to € 3.81 per kg. continue updating it.”

Fit as a butcher

Call us on 950528324 or 609506869

www.CampingLosGallardos.com facebook.com/MirafloresCLG

FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

www.theolivepress.es

Half the diners at elBulli, part II, will eat for FREE!

HALF the diners at a new restaurant of Spanish superchef Ferran Adria will eat for free. The lucky 50% will win their places via an online raffle, while the rest will pay high prices to help fund the cook-

ery centre. “Fifty per cent of places will be free and allocated through an online raffle,” confirmed Adria. “While the other 50% will be used to raise funds for the centre.” It comes as Spain’s su-

A dish called ‘Thaw 2005’ includes frozen green pine cone powder, wild pine nut milk sorbet and toasted wild pine nut savory praline that has been frozen with liquid nitrogen perchef announced that he is to reopen elBulli again, in a new guise at the beginning of 2016.

Re-opening

The restaurant ‘elBulli1846’ is named after all the dishes created at the restaurant over the four-and-a-half decades it was open until 2010. Rebuilt on the same site as the former restaurant in Cala Montjoi, in Roses, near Barcelona, the project will cost around nine million euros, and will be funded entirely by the elBulli Foundation, the private institution led by Adria. Construction work will start

CREATIVE: Adria

in September and should be completed by 2016. The Catalan chef said: ““When, on November 20, 2010, we closed El Bulli to reflect on the future, nobody thought it was necessary so as not to cling on to the same things. We made avant-garde happen. And avant-garde has an expiry date. We needed to create a new concept of future. And I hope elBulli1846 will last the next century.” It is understood that the centre will only be operated as a restaurant one month a year initially. The restaurant opened in 1964 with Adria joining in 1984. He became head chef in 1987.

No more stinkers

Leading restaurant introduces ‘smell-o-vision’ concept so diners can smell what’s on the menu before ordering

ADVANCE: Appetising Scentee App

By Tom Powell DINERS at a Basque restaurant will be able to smell the menu before ordering with a new smartphone app and a plugin diffuser. The triple Michelin starred restaurant, Mugaritz, has teamed up with a Japanese technology company to add the ‘smell-o-vision’ concept to its fine dining experience.

Fragrant

After calling up a dish on your mobile screen, the diffuser, plugged into the phone’s headphone jack, releases a

This technology could also pave the way for future scentagram-style social media apps that allow friends to send one another scented messages, recreate virtual meals, and allow people to smell their groceries first when online shopping. Mugaritz was last year voted the world’s fourth best eaterie in Restaurant magazine. According to the magazine, diners are treated to a multiple-course tasting menu of ‘intricate yet small dishes developed through a creative process and an attention to detail that borders on the obsessive’. Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz aims to ‘play with guests and reflect on the different ways a CHEF ADURIZ: restaurant can have And his recipe an impact, rather the smell of than just filling people up and sending them success on their way’.

burst of fragrance related to that meal. The concept was unveiled at Madrid’s gastronomy festival Madrid Fusion last month. The diffuser app, named ‘Scentee’, is available worldwide and ships to 120 countries with set smells of strawberry, lavender, coffee and rosemary.

the olive press - February 19 - March 5 2014

the Sell your property THIS WEEK with an online ad reaching thousands for just

49,99 euros www.allabout andaluciaproperty.com

(brought to you by the OlivePress)

Potty students

FINAL WORDS

A UNIVERSITY student in Madrid fell into a coma after he ate a birthday cake baked with marijuana. Nine others were also hospitalized, officials said. The man recovered, after a few hours.

Covering Andalucia in 2014 with over 200,000 papers EE (130,000 digital) and around 250,000 visits to the R F website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

olive press

Telephone: 951127006

Flight time SPANISH infrastructure group Ferrovial has made an offer to Heathrow Airport Holdings for Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports. The group already owns a 25% stake in the transport hubs.

Manilva advice A Citizen’s Advice Bureau meeting is taking place on February 21 in Manilva. Guest speakers will be on hand to discuss a range of legal and social issues from 7.30pm at Duquesa Golf and Country Club.

March 5 2014

www.theolivepress.es

Was it something I ate?

Rough day BAHIA 89 were defeated 15-31 by Sevilla’s Bucaneros. The Rama league rugby teams met on Saturday in Algeciras.

February 19

Golden trio

AN EXPLODING toilet has seriously burnt a woman who will now undergo skin grafting on her legs. The freak incident was caused by a build-up of methane gas in the toilet of a bar in Barcelona, which was then ignited by a spark when the woman flicked on the light switch. The build-up is thought to have been caused by a lack of ventilation and the unclean septic tank.

A woman is suing a bar in Barcelona after its toilet exploded while she sat on it

As the woman was sitting down when she flicked the light, the gas was compressed and therefore caused a stronger blast. She suffered second and third degree burns to both legs. She is now seeking legal action against the bar, in Calle Ample in Barcelona’s gothic quarter.

A SPANISH man with plans to travel 50,000km across 40 countries on foot has just reached Thailand. Inspired by his ‘love of humanity and nature’, Ignacio Dekan Mouliaa left Madrid last March, and has just arrived in the southern city of Langkawi. He will stay on the island for three days before hopping on ferry to Kuala Perlis and on to Singapore. “Walking around the world is the culmination of a life-long dream. I plan to cover 50,000km in five years.” He has so far crossed France, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.

100 million join the club caption

It’s really Hot for Stacey!

WINNER: Stacey (centre) and Linda

A BRITISH magician has helped Spain’s most famous footballer celebrate his birthday. Bradford illusionist Dynamo came to Madrid to help celebrate the Ballon d’Or winners 29th birthday. However, Dynamo was unable to make Ronaldo’s three match suspension disappear as he sat out last week’s Villareal game.

Around the world in five years… on foot

THREE expat judo stars from Estepona took their UK rivals to task in a recent contest. Ryan Whitehead, Ben Barkby and Tom Whybrow travelled to the Southfields Judo Kan Open Championships last weekend, scooping two medals between them. Ryan took a gold medal in the under 10s event, while 10-year-old Ben beat all but two over 12s to scoop the bronze medal in his category. The event was attended by over 240 competitors from all over the UK.

FC BARCELONA has become the first sports club to be able to boast 100 million followers on social networks. The club is organising a series of special events to celebrate the achievement, kicking off at the Barca v Rayo game.Fans elsewhere will be able to take part on the different social networks.

Real magic for Cristiano

THE boss of an animal charity has won a fantastic 30-day cruise as part of a Corte Ingles lottery. Stacey Lloyd, who runs 4 Paws adoption shelter, in Fuengirola, was overjoyed at winning the prize as part of the competition for members of the What’s Hot! El Corte Ingles magazine for foreign customers. She won the top prize out of 30,000 entries and will take her mother Linda for the holiday on the Royal Caribbean Cruise later this year. “I haven’t won anything like this before” she told the Olive Press. “The last thing

mum won was a Ford Prefect in a raffle in the early 60s!”. Another cruise winner was out of the country when the draw was made, although many other winners were present for the presentation in the new Taste of Malaga wine cellar in El Corte Ingles Mijas store. The prizes included a week’s holiday in Turkey with flights courtesy of CLC World Hotels & Resorts, a Samsung 46” TV, two Lladró lamps, car rental with Prima Rent a Car, a Villeroy & Bosh breakfast set and 10 tasting menus at Dimsun Club.