Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 324 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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The

OLIVE PRESS

Mijas Costa FREE

expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 13 Issue 324 www.theolivepress.es August 14th - August 27th 2019

Spanish among best drivers DESPITE their poor reputation, Spanish drivers are not the worst on the road. That is according to the annual survey by the Spanish Royal Automobile Club (RACE). The study of 15 EU countries focuses on driving under the influence and falling asleep at the wheel. A total of 3,368 18 to 75-year-olds were quizzed from Spain, Norway, Finland, Germany, Poland, Portugal, France, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the UK. Spain has dropped to eighth for fatalities and now has 39 deaths for every million people - the European average is 51. After Sweden (25) the UK has the second lowest road death rate of 27 per million people, while the worst is Romania (99). Once on the road, two hours and seven minutes is the average time it takes a Spanish driver to take a break. That puts Spain fourth, while the Portuguese are the most frequent stoppers at just an hour and 45 minutes. Shockingly, 5.2% of Europeans admit almost falling asleep on long journeys, while the figure for Spain is 2.3%. Meanwhile, 27% of those polled admitted they would not stop at all for journeys of four hours or less. The study revealed that 43.5% of Europeans have driven after drinking, with 22% always or almost always doing so. Around 14.4% of Spaniards always or almost always drive after drinking, while it is 27.5% in the UK and 32.9% in France.

Your

Is 5G really killing us? We ask the experts, see page 6

It’s Andalucia vs Alicante... Which area has the best grub on offer this summer?

See page 40

‘Left to die’

British expat war veteran shocked after pleas for ambulance denied THREE times on Costa del Sol A BRITISH war veteran has slammed Spanish paramedics after claiming he was forced to ‘keep himself alive’ for 23 hours after they refused to take him to hospital. David Walter West, who served with the SAS in Afghanistan, says he was forced to lie in his own filth after falling out of bed at his home in Casares Costa. The former lieutenant colonel from Hull, 73, was recovering from a knee operation and having two pins put in his femur when he smashed his head on the bed frame and passed out. But when he woke up 12 hours later firemen and police turned up, while paramedics simply put the father-of-one back to bed. “I was worried I would die and I nearly did,” David told the Olive

EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith

Press, “I was taking deep breaths, but my lung capacity was only about 10%, it was just about staying alive.” Once paramedics arrived, they refused to take David to hospital, despite him telling them, ‘I can’t breathe’.

Begging

His health then rapidly deteriorated in the following week and the emergency services were called twice more. After the third time, his friend Luisa began ‘begging’ officials at Sabinillas Health Centre to take him to hospital, but they still refused. It was only when Luisa approached Casares Councillor Antonia Pine-

BEDRIDDEN: Expat war hero David in his hospital bed

da that David was transferred to the Hospital Costa del Sol, where he remains to this day, some four months later. “I personally called 061, introduced myself as a Councillor from the town hall of Casares, and requested that they send an ambulance with a medical unit so that they could attend David, who was in very bad condition,” the politician told the Olive Press. David added: “I’ve done 300 parachute

jumps, been blown up twice and shot once. “I’ve had medical treatment in several countries, but there’s only Libya and Afghanistan that are worse than here.” Despite repeated attempts, no one from the Casares or Manilva town halls was available to comment. Residents between Manilva and Casares Costa have long complained of a lack of ambulances to deal with emergencies, with emergency vehicles often having to be borrowed from private companies or neighbouring Estepona. Opinion Page 6

Tel: 952 147 834

952 147 834

See page 16 & 47

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Crime against fashion OFFICERS in El Portil, Huelva discovered over 250 bumbags, Calvin Klein underpants and football shirts as a huge haul of counterfeit goods police was seized in Andalucia.

Abuse claims SPANISH opera legend Placido Domingo has denied sexually harassing fellow performers after at least four women came forward with abuse claims.

Peter picked A MAN has been arrested with 200 kilos of stolen red peppers in his car boot, with the Dos Hermanas resident accused of taking the produce from a farm in Sevilla.

Long time no sea A FISH company has upheld legal action against Spain after a failed drugs bust saw it forced to chuck out 24 tonnes of sardines.

August 14th - August 27th 2019

FIND HER! As prolific fraudster Mark Acklom is finally jailed police seek mysterious Spanish wife

POLICE want to speak to the Spanish wife of serial British fraudster Mark Acklom. The conman has been jailed after pretending to be a wealthy banker and spy to swindle a single mother out of her life savings. The 46-year-old was arrested at his lakeside Zurich mansion hideaway after more than two years on the run with his Spanish wife Maria Yolanda Ros Rodriguez. It comes after Acklom conned

Brit and run

TWO British pensioners have reportedly been hospitalised on Spain’s Costa del Sol after they were struck by a car in La Duquesa. A woman, 70, is believed to be in hospital with two broken legs as authorities are asking for witnesses to come forward. The other injured, also 70, has reportedly been hospitalised, according to local sources. A police source told the Olive Press the car and driver have been identified but that witnesses are needed for prosecution.

Carolyn Woods, 62, out of more than €320,000 after posing as an MI6 agent and promising to marry her. The Olive Press previously tracked Acklom and Rodriguez down to Murcia, where they had set up a dodgy property company. This paper also uncovered Rogriguez’s links to Cartagena, where she and her parents owned a home. Now the retired detective inspector who brought Acklom to

HUNT: For Maria (right), wife of jailed Acklom (left) justice, has confirmed the wife “There is enough information of the UK’s former most wanted to speak to her,” Adam Bunting fraudster is still under investi- said. gation. Rodriguez has been known to use the aliases Yoliando Ross, Maria Long and Mary Ross. She is also a yoga enthusiast having reportedly taken regular €100-an-hour yoga sessions and always paid in cash. When asked where the money came from, Rodriguez would reportedly say her husband was ‘the right-hand man’ of tech billionaire Elon Musk. Acklom left the UK in 2013 and fled to Spain with his family where he lived under the name Marc Long. Rodriguez is understood to have returned to Spain with her children while her husband serves his sentence in the UK.

Sands of crime

THIS image (right) shows the horrific moment a street seller repeatedly stabbed a police officer on a beach in Andalucia, narrowly missing his vital organs. Tourists were heard screaming as Policia Local chief Antonio Garrido was pinned to the ground after an argument erupted. He was among four officers confiscating ‘illegal’ goods, which the seller and his pals hawked on the beach of Punta Umbria, Huelva. The seller has been arrested for attempted murder.

Got a tip? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

EXCLUSIVE

‘You’re not human’ A SWEET seller has appealed an 18-month prison sentence handed to her following an alleged ‘racist attack’ by police. Meylan Martinez, 25, from Honduras was plying her trade on a Benalmadena beach without a permit. But instead of a fine, cops allegedly dragged her by the arm some 100 metres from Playa las Gaviotas, up a flight of steps and onto the paseo. After three beach security agents apprehended five-feet tall Meylan, they radioed in for two Policia Local units. One officer allegedly grabbed her neck and yelled ‘she’s not human’ and ‘I’m going to kill this one’. The former cleaner was put on Diazepam after sustaining severe neck pain and bruises on her arms. “I couldn’t stop crying after being dragged,” Meylan, who studied electrical engineering and plays bass, told the Olive Press. “People were screaming, telling the police to stop:” Karina said her sibling now ‘can’t sleep’ and ‘wakes up screaming in the night’. The town hall and police failed to comment in time for press.

NEWS

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DO-GOODER: Gere meets migrants

ANTONIO Banderas has hit the red carpet at the 2019 Starlight Gala in Madrid with girlfriend Nicole Kimpel. The 56-year-old actor looked dapper in a black tux while his 39-year-old partner donned a sparkling, blush coloured ball gown. The Malagueño co-hosted the charity event which helps raise money to improve the education, health and living conditions of low income families and children in Spain. It comes after the couple stepped out for the premiere of Banderas’ new film Pain & Glory in London.

Top Gere on board, saying ‘there are 121 stories.’ “These are extraordinary people, they are so strong, they lived such horrors, they were living in hell… torture, rapes, imprisonment,” he said. The Pretty Woman star said he did not care about politics and that the point was to help people in distress. “I am coming from a place with a very bizarre political situation, with a president who is putting an enormous amount of energy into dehumanizing people.”

Loco for Lopez

Knockout performance

TYSON Fury has taken a break from his gruelling training schedule by indulging in a bit of karaoke in Mijas. The 30-year-old heavyweight boxer took to the stage for a rendition of American Pie - one of his favourite songs - at Olivia’s La Cala. Joining the ‘Gypsy King’ for the impromptu gig was TOWIE star James ‘Arg’ Argent, who himself is a frequent reveller in Marbella with his on-off lover Gemma Collins. Mancunian Fury was then seen zipping around the luxury Costa del Sol city in his new bright red €180,000 Ferrari Portofino. The athlete loves Marbs too, and was spotted there earlier this year training with his coach and mentor Ben Davison.

J-Lo at 50 impresses fans with beach body as she flies in for Costa del Sol concert AN age defying snap of Jennifer Lopez in Spain has taken the internet by storm. The 50-year-old wowed her fans with her youthful looks as she posed in a plunging swimsuit in Malaga. Posting the picture ahead of her gig at Sohail Castle in Fuengirola J-Lo added the caption: ‘Soaking in every moment.’ The image sent the singer’s followers into a frenzy with many refusing to believe her

All Wright on the night MICHELLE Keegan has shown her wild side in Spain on a rare date night with husband Mark Wright. The 32-year-old actress, of Coronation Street fame, showed off her tan in a leopard print mini-dress while her partner and former TOWIE star played it safe in black jeans and a shirt. The couple were at STK in Ibiza to spend some quality time together.

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age. “You out here lying, telling people you 50, sis,” one person wrote, “You ain’t a day over 30.” The diva performed for more than 14,000 fans in Fuengirola with the mayors of Sevilla and ETERNAL YOUTH: Lopez Malaga said to be among the said to be favoured by Spancrowd. ish socialite Isabel Preysler. The Bronx-born singer and The singer also enjoyed a actress arrived on the Cos- meal out at the only sustainta del Sol accompanied by a able Michelin-starred restaularge entourage in two private rant in Malaga, Sollo. planes. Sollo by Diego Gallegos (inShe stayed at the Higueron set right) serves innovative Hotel and chose one of the 24 dishes of fish and caviar, all panoramic suites overlooking sourced at an on-site hydrothe Mediterranean, the same ponic farm. Performing for a little over an hour and a half, J-Lo sang her classics as well as more recent hit, Medicine. As soon as the show was over the jet setting ‘diva from the Bronx’ left for Malaga Airport to continue her tour, which will see her perform next in ICON: J-Lo wows Fuengirola crowd Egypt.

Photo by: Karen Rhodes

Shining bright

RICHARD Gere has highlighted the plight of migrants stranded in the Mediterranean after the Hollywood star boarded a Spanish rescue ship. The actor met some of the 160 migrants trapped aboard the NGO boat, Proactiva Open Arms. The vessel has been stuck for two weeks off the Italian island of Lampedusa. The 69-year-old, who became a father with his Spanish wife earlier this year, appeared in a video message urging people to support the charity and the people onboard. Gere said he spoke to almost everyone

August 14th - August 27th 2019

DOUBLE ACT: Fury (left) and Arg (right) perform

Barbs in Marbs FERNE McCann has been celebrating her 29th birthday in style with a fun-filled girls’ trip to Marbella. The former TOWIE star had been joined by her friend Billie Faiers on the getaway, with the pair donning chic swimwear for a glamorous beach outing. Channeling her inner Baywatch, Faiers rocked a classic red swimsuit while McCann stunned in a floral two-piece. The Marbella holiday comes after a ‘lonely’ McCann admitted she is ‘looking for love.’ The mother of one said: “Being a single parent can get really lonely sometimes. I'm still unattached, but I am looking for love, I just want to find someone who can make me laugh and call me beautiful at the same time.”

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Tragic hiker

through. Susan was not stopped at Spanish border control as officials failed to notice any discrepancy. Ryanair has launched a full investigation.

Body in sea

THE body of a woman has washed up in a port in southern Spain. Police said she was aged between 50 and 60 and her corpse had not been in the water for long as it was not in a state of decomposition. A passerby found her at the breakwater of the port of Atunara in La Linea on Monday afternoon. An autopsy is underway.

Lakey escape

A MISSING British tourist has been found in a lake with hypothermia. The 32-year-old solo traveller, known only as Sandy, was mysteriously found in Malaga’s La Viñuela reservoir after she disappeared from her hotel at around 6:53am. She was found 24 hours later after a 40-strong police search. She is recovering in hospital.

Paupers

Abandoned British mum and son fighting to stay in Costa home after alleged campaign of abuse from community administrators was stunned to be told by administrators Cymagest that her home had been sold without her knowledge and that she was facing eviction. “You can’t imagine the anxiety, shock and worry,” Victoria told the Olive Press this week, “I immediately called my solicitor only to be told that mine and my son’s home had been sold at auction because of a €25,000 debt owed in ground tax in Lee's name. “Unbeknownst to me, they had put a force of sale on the property and it was sold in September 2015… I was so shocked, how could no one have informed me? There weren’t even viewings at the property.” Unfortunately for the new owner, they bought the property with the original ruling that Victoria can stay there until her son turns 18. “I’m sure he’s furious that he can’t rent it out and make money on the place for another seven

years,” the mum said. That, Victoria believes, has led to a sustained campaign of abuse and harassment from the administrators. The mum had to call in police last year and filed a denuncia against the president after her water was repeatedly cut off. Her and her son have also allegedly been repeatedly harassed while trying to use the pool, with the most recent encounter seeing three guards escorting her and her son from the amenity. She added: “I only want to be left to bring my son up in peace. I really worry about the effect that this is having on him. “First being abandoned by his father, then having to see men within the community acting aggressively towards his mother.” It comes just months after the Olive Press reported further allegations of harassment towards another British expat who lives under the same administrators.

INCOMES in Andalucia are 26% less than other parts of Spain, figures have revealed. The average wage in the region is €19,132, some €6,722 less than the national average of €25,854. In Madrid the average wage is €34,916. The regional economy is expected to grow by 2.1% this year however, and unemployment is likely to drop to 21.2% from 23%.

How much?!

MALAGA city’s most exclusive apartments have gone up sale for €3.5 million. The price tag on the beachfront pads gets you four bathrooms, four be-

drooms, sea views and 287 square meters of floor space. The 19th floor apartments are located in the new ‘Picasso Towers’ in the city’s Torre del Rio area.

May 8th - May 21st 2019

MALAGA’S iconic ‘ferris wheel’ landmark is set to be demolished to make way for a car park. Despite only being erected four years ago, the 230ft Mirador Princess is set to be removed within days. The Costa del Sol’s answer to the London Eye is said to be ‘interfe-

Feeling

blue Circle of life ANDALUCIA

ring’ with a multi-million euro plan for office development in the Muelle de Heredia area of the provincial capital, which includes a car park.

Bad vibrations EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

A FORMER mechanical engineer is being forced to sleep in his car due to a mystery noise sending vibrations through his apartment. John Ewin, 73, from Surrey, claims he has not slept at his €280,000 apartment in Riviera del Sol, Mijas, since a loud humming noise began some six weeks ago. The pensioner, who worked on Hong Kong’s Shanghai Bank, once the most expensive building in the world, said he cannot pinpoint the exact source of the noise and that administrators are doing nothing to help. “I believe it’s coming from the cistern pump room, which has been turned on to run 24/7 instead of just during the day time, which is when the pool pumps come on,” Ewin, who also worked for the Hilton

Expats furious as ‘mystery noises’ keep them up at night

group, told the Olive Press this Various neighbours have now week. “I am becoming very ill with of- made a denuncia to the Guarten only an hour of sleep a night dia Civil. The complaint includes the and some nights none at all. “I’ve not played golf in months substantial piles of duck faeces or been able to mountain bike around the swimming pool, from the exhaustion, the vi- making it inaccessible to resibration from the noise comes dents and holidaymakers. In a letter to maintenance through my pillows.” Ewin, from near Croydon, bou- company Cygamest, which ght his home in Golf Gardens, looks after the area, one resiMiraflores, in Mijas, two years dent said she was ‘absolutely disgusted’. ago. She claimed that when she brought up the duck poo with administrators, she was told CANCER “I spent over a year locating the the pool was not to be used perfect place,” he added, “now until June and that ducks are a ‘protected species’ so ‘cannot it’s just a nightmare.” Despite countless complaints be shot’. and offering to advise on sol- “It is no excuse to not deal with ving the problem Ewin, who is the problem as I am sure there being treated for prostate can- are other means,” she wrote in cer, claims his calls have fallen a scathing letter. “I think we pay more then on deaf ears. enough community fees so

Mobile service, tailor-made

for Brits…

has lost more blue flags for its beaches than any region in Spain, with tighter restrictions to blame. The region now has 18 fewer certified sandy strips, with Malaga and Huelva among the worst affected provinces. The Association of Environmental and Consumer Education has blamed illegal building, including some beach bars for the shocking news. Spain’s most southern region now has 98 blue flag beaches, behind Valencia with 150, Catalunya (120) and Galicia (119). Spain lost 24 blue flag beaches this year, a 4% decrease, but it still has the most worldwide, with 566.

Jack in the Vox

NIGHTMARE: Mystery sound victim John Ewin

part of it can be used to pay for the specialist company to deal with this problem!” Cygamest, the company behind the maintenance of the urbanisation, which has received dozens of complaints

from Ewin and others, told the Olive Press: “We can offer no comment at this time as the matter is in the hands of our lawyers.”

THE wealthiest town on the Costa del Sol has seen a ‘shock’ Vox triumph. Benahavis turned green for the far-right party in last month’s general election, a shocker in a town which has more expat residents than Spaniards. The town has the highest GDP in Malaga and is home to more than 5,000 foreign residents including hundreds of Brits, Germans and Norwegians. The hard right-wing party secured 364 votes while its conservative rival PP won 356.

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A BRITISH mum has managed to fly from Bristol to Sevilla on her daughter’s passport after a series of airport security blunders. Susan Rumsby, 55, had picked up the passport of her daughter Isobella, 22, before catching the Ryanair flight. She passed through security at Bristol airport, where she only needed to show her valid boarding pass. Ground handlers at the gate were supposed to match the name on the boarding pass to the travellers’ passports but Susan was allowed

NEWS

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ra te bs Lo

Daughterganger

LEAVE US ALONE go

WHEN Victoria Jenkins’ husband abandoned her and her four-year-old son on the Costa del Sol in 2012, she didn’t think things could get much worse. The Essex mum, from Chelmsford, had moved to Mijas to live the dream with hubby Lee some four years earlier. But Lee went on a business trip to Indonesia and never came back, leaving her on her own in an apartment she didn’t own in Paraiso Riviera. It took Victoria three years of lawyers and court appearances to win full custody of Samuel, while the court also ruled the now-single mum, 35, would be allowed to use the apartment until her son turns 18, in 2026. So when Victoria came home one day last year to find the locks had been changed, she

August 14th - August 27th 2019

e iv G

A BRITISH hiker has been found dead after going missing while walking to the top of a mountain peak near Marbella. The man, who has not been named, reportedly got stuck and choked on the strap of his rucksack while ascending the summit of La Concha. The search started around 4pm on Saturday after the man sent a WhatsApp message to loved ones back in Britain asking for help. His family contacted UK police who alerted Spanish police via consular officials in Malaga. His body was found just after 9am by a police helicopter the next morning.

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

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HARASSED: Victoria (left) and Samuel (right) John Ewin, 73, from Surrey, claimed he was forced to sleep in his car after a loud humming noise began keeping him awake all night. He claimed his complaints were ignored and that he was intimidated and harassed by the president. The administrators did not respond to our requests for comment. Have you experienced harassment from Cymagest? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es Opinion Page 6

‘We’re not slaves’

A SPANISH expat in the UK has blasted Spain’s tourism industry for treating workers ‘like slaves’. Jesus Herencias, 55 from Marbella (pictured), said he was forced to return to the UK after being treated so badly on the Costa del Sol. It comes after the Asador restaurant in Guadalmina courted controversy when it put up a sign which blamed unemployment benefits on the fact that it could not find a rice chef. “I worked on the coast’s restaurant scene for decades, in 2000 I was on €2200 a month after tax and NI, but by 2004 the sector was going downhill,” Herencias told the Olive Press, before adding that the sign on display was ‘an insult’. “If the owner can’t find employees it’s because of low pay, no days off in the summer and slave-like conditions.” Herencias, who moved to Bedford in 2004, said he tried to return to Marbella in 2016 but that every job had ‘serious management and staff issues.’ The HGV driver added: “Many employers get what they deserve, a bunch of unprofessional, untrained staff. “This is not good for the business or the tourism industry in general.” The father-of-two said he was so ‘disgusted’ he returned to the UK. “I can make a decent living for my family there,” he said. “I am not a slave.”

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August 14th - August 27th 2019

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

OPINION We need answers TOWN halls need to break their silence on why a British war veteran was denied a trip to the hospital on three separate occasions. The Olive Press revealed this week that David Walter West, 73, fought to ‘keep himself alive’ when paramedics ‘failed him’. Ignoring the cries for help of an elderly man with a head injury is a disgrace and someone must be held accountable. Treating a person this way has a dehumanising effect and makes life in Spain that bit more difficult and lonely than it already can be for many. In David’s case doctors only took notice of him when Casares Councillor Antonia Pineda used her position to throw some weight behind David’s pleas. But most Costa del Sol residents probably do not have the ear of a local politician and therefore may not be as lucky. We cannot allow this to happen again, things must change.

IT is absolutely shocking the power that some presidents of communities have over residents in Spain. The tale of Victoria Jenkins is unfortunately not a new one, with dozens of expats over the years reporting abuse and harassment by the hands of community leaders. But cutting off a single mum’s water and effectively banning her from the pool during the summer is nothing short of cruel. We hope the administrators read our story and let Victoria and Samuel live in peace, god knows they have been through enough. If not, we will not stop applying pressure and will back her corner until they do. That’s an OP promise!

Publisher / Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es

Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es

Timothy McNulty tim@theolivepress.es

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AWARDS

2016 - 2019 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2019 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

Hard cell? As Spain’s first 5G network is unveiled, Charlie Smith taps into the controversial technology

What is it? As the name suggests, 5G stands for ‘fifth generation’ (see pullout). It is the most up-to-date form of mobile internet connectivity. Unlike 4G, its predecessor, 5G networks use ‘super high-frequency radio airwaves’ transmitted via more localised means. Small 5G transmitters are often located on lamposts, in public areas and closer to homes. While 4G systems provide speeds of around 45Mbps (megabits per second), it is widely claimed that 5G could up that 20-fold.

Vodafone’s souped-up networks are located in 15 cities across the country, including Sevilla and Malaga (also Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastian, La RADIATION: From phones falls within non-ionizing range of electromagnetic spectrum Coruña, Vigo, Gijon, Pamplona, Logroño and Santander). nology, the World Health Organisation (WHO) This improved service is purely commercial, Should we be worried about our health? published a report in 2011, listing mobile with a basic €49.99 plan available, and an advanced €109.99 package for gamers and Not according to Professor Malcolm Sperrin, phone radiation as a ‘carcinogenic hazard’. Director of the Department of Medical Physics However, radiation from any mobile phone - 5G more intensive users. Huawei technology supports the new service, and Clinical Engineering at Oxford University or otherwise - is not within the ‘ionizing range’ of the electromagnetic spectrum. while its phones too, are set to join Vodafone’s Hospitals NHS Trust. current crop of authorised 5G handsets by LG, “There has been no evidence to suggest that In other words, 5G frequencies are nowhere electromagnetic waves from mobile phones near those of X-rays or other radioactive sources Xiaomi and Samsung. Vodafone currently has Spain’s only 5G net- and networks are bad for your health,” he says. which can break down DNA and cause cancer. But that hasn’t stopped the In fact, thousands of studies have found no link work, with its rivals Telefonica, proliferation of pseudoscien- between mobile phones and the development Orange and MasMovil not set tific Facebook communities of tumours, although more in-depth research to unveil theirs until 2021 or Gavin Williamson where worried users air their could clear up the picture a whole lot more. 2022. apocalyptic concerns. If you are on the beach or by the pool with your South Korea launched the world’s first 5G network this was even sacked “The radiation from 5G is ille- 5G phone and are worried about cancer, bear year, followed by the USA, but by Theresa May gal and is not insured against,” in mind that the sun’s UV rays pose a far greatthe founder of 17,000-strong er threat. only in Chicago and Minneapover a Huawei 5G group Stop 5G UK, Cathy ‘Getting sunburn just once every two years can olis. Dowd, told the Olive Press. triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer’ says Ericsson then gave 54 cities in security leak But perhaps the most promi- Cancer Research UK. Switzerland 5G and the UK was nent activist is self-styled 5G Slap on the sun cream before you make that next, with EE launching new martyr Mark Steele - dubbed call. networks in London, Cardiff, Eda ‘Weapons Systems Head of Display Expert’ inburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester. Huawei is behind much of the world’s new 5G - who is UK-based, but well-connected with capabilities and has been accused of aiding Spain. spying, due to its strong ties to the Chinese He was in a court battle with Gateshead Council after claiming its new ‘5G’ street lighting ‘miGovernment. Australia, New Zealand and Japan have al- crowaved babies in their beds’, and was even 1G - The first generation of mobile ready rejected 5G from the firm, while US Pres- convicted of threatening two councillors. networks landed in Tokyo in 1979, Taking time out from his protests, he told the ident Donald Trump blacklisted Huawei. and used analogue signals. Former UK Defence Secretary Gavin William- Olive Press: “It’s obvious 5G is a weapon sysson was even sacked by Theresa May over a tem as I have always stated. 2G - SMS - or texting - then becaHuawei 5G security leak to the Daily Telegraph. “We are seeing a mass awakening to the 5G However, there is little evidence to suggest spy- crime that is being deployed across the counme possible with ‘second gen’ motry.” ing took place. bile phones, with the launch of the Meanwhile, Russia, China, Japan, Brazil, South The Olive Press also spoke about the health Nokia 1011 in 1992 (below). Africa, India and eastern Europe are still in the effects of 5G with building biologist Juan Antonio of Cemprotecta, a bioconstruction firm in trial and test phases of 5G. 3G - Around 2001, video caGirona. lling and higher data capaci“When you increase ties, were then the gripping the frequencies of new features of the third radio waves they can generation. react with human biology,” he said. “Higher frequencies allow 4G - The beginning of more data to be trans2010 then saw the first mitted.” 4G phones, which offered Meanwhile in 2017, HD data streaming for vi180 scientists from deos, gamers and more. 36 countries wrote to the EU warning of the 5G - Featuring never-be‘increased exposure’ to radiofrequency fore-seen ultra fast inelectromagnetic fields ternet speeds of up to (RF-EMF) from 5G. 10Gbps, 2019 is just seeAlthough the FCC in ing the beginning of 5G. America has given the ACTIVIST: Mark Steele has taken anti-5G struggle into court green light to the tech-

The evolution of 5G

Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

HAT connects Spain to cancer fears, Chinese spies and a Gateshead Council court case? Answer - the rollout of 5G. You may have heard of this new cellular technology, and the lightning fast speeds it promises for our smartphones. Watching Love Island from the heart of the Campo also supposedly just got a whole lot easier. However anti-5G activists may have scared you with their warnings of ‘5G genocide’ and tales of governments frying our brains with radiation, one anntenna at a time. On top of that, Chinese tech giant Huawei has been accused of state-sponsored espionage, prompting international calls to reject its 5G technology (see Spy Phone, Issue 319, pg 45). Here in Spain, Vodafone has made waves in this shadowy area of tech as it unveiled the country’s first 5G network, spanning 15 cities and supported by Huawei (see 5-G that’s fast!, Issue 320, pg 33). But what actually is 5G? Where is it being used? And should we be worried about our health? This Olive Press guide tells you all you need to know.

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Where is 5G?

Let it go!

Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

FEATURE

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FEATURE

A fruity story It could have been a lemon … but the Olive Press bore fruit of a different nature and now you can read the hilarious new book about how ‘Spain’s most popular expat newspaper’ first began

that’s the

olive press online

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website

TOP DOGS

‘

GET us a copy of the Lemon Tree, love!’ Hmm…doesn’t quite have the same ring to it does it? But that’s what the Olive Press would have been named were it not for a chatty Spanish olive farmer. Jason Heppenstall, who originally founded the paper in the Granada village of Orgiva, reveals in his new book how the night before printing its first edition he was inspired to change the name. “None of us were happy with it,” the 48-year-old, from Solihull, recalls today, “then the night before I was chatting to my olive farmer neighbour and he kept saying ‘olive press’ this and ‘olive press’ that and it just clicked.” It’s just one of dozens of quirky, hilarious and somewhat unbelievable episodes behind the founding of ‘Spain’s GOING STRONG: The first and latest issues and (below) the story of how it all started now most popular expat newspaper’. continues Jason, who returned to the The Olive Press: News From the Land of UK, via Denmark, with his Danish wife Misfits – available to order on Amazon and two children. – chronicles the trials and tribulations And those juicy bits are? Well, you’ll of launching a newspaper have to read the book to in Spain and the funny find out, but Jason teases: mishaps – and characters “After we printed our first Chris Stewart – that pop up along the edition, we saw famous way. walking along the expat Driving Over Lem“It’s hilarious in parts but ons author Chris Stewart also has a bit of an edge street with a copy walking along the street to it,” explains Jason, a to hold his greasy with a copy of it – except former energy trader, now he was using it to hold his churros! based in Cornwall, who greasy churros!” wrote the majority of it 10 Who would have thought years ago, two years after that almost 15 years later selling his majority share to current the paper would be working on a camowner Jon Clarke. paign with Stewart in his hometown of “It was all set to be published but the Orgiva in a bid to stop a string of elecpublisher wanted to cut out all the juicy trical pylons from destroying the picturbits so I said no, put it away in a drawer esque region? and only discovered it again recently,” “I’m so proud of the paper and what it has become,” added Jason. “We originally launched it to give peo- son and co-founder Mark, a Yorkshireple and the expat com- man. munity in the Alpujar- Clarke, who initially launched a Western ras region a voice and Andalucia edition having worked for 10 obviously it has grown years in Fleet Street, said: “I have never a lot since then. had anything less than the ultimate re“But it’s great how spect for what Jason and Mark did – as things seem to have I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone come full circle at the – and the foundations they laid were same time as me pub- invaluable, particularly the ethos of the lishing a book about it Olive Press being environmental in slant all.” and highly geared to highlighting local The current owner Jon corruption in what was, then, one of bought into the pa- Europe’s most corrupt countries.” per within its first few Look out for a serialisation of the months alongside Ja- book in the Olive Press, coming soon!

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OLIVE PRESS FOUNDER: Heppenstall reveals his tell-all book

August 14th - August 27th 2019

THE Olive Press website has ascended into new heights this week as it entered the top 100,000 IN THE WORLD. It comes after months of repeatedly smashing our 1.5 million monthly hits record as readers from across Europe and the world continue to flock to the best English news site in Spain. From alleged Finnish drug traffickers to in depth cultural features on the history of flamenco, only the Olive Press offers truly original and entertaining content. And the figures show it, as we are now officially in the top 100,000 in the world, according to Alexa. com rankings. This week it places our site above all of our rivals, including thelocal.es and thinkspain.com - the latter of which has been running for almost 20 years. With an average 50,000 visitors a day from Spain, the UK, Gibraltar, Scandinavia, Germany and beyond, we can promise local businesses comprehensive exposure to tens of thousands of potential clients every week. This is a healthy mix of local expats, as well as thousands of wealthy tourists every day. Complemented by our 20,000 loyal Facebook followers and 7,000 Twitter fans, there are few people interested in Spain, who are not being reached. Why is YOUR BUSINESS still spending far too much on Google adwords and other inferior websites, magazines and newspapers, when the Olive Press GUARANTEES results? Send us an email today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 so we can find you a better, more effective way to market your business.

LEADING THE WAY: Latest Alexa rankings from the Olive Press (above) and Think Spain (below)

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August 14th - August 27th 2019

Flight risk

British expert fearful of Fight controversial Andalucian the pylon project as power lines kill power! thousands of birds each year REGIONAL authorities in Spain are being pushed to do more to help the thousands of animals who die every year from being electrocuted in electric cables. Birds of prey, including many protected species, have been killed on an industrial scale, something conservation groups have described as ‘truly a massacre.’ In total more than 33,000 birds of prey die each year because of electricity wires, according to a report by Spain’s Environment Ministry.

EXCLUSIVE By Timothy McNulty

It comes as lifelong British conservationists urged the company behind a massive electrification project in Andalucia to take responsibility and avoid ‘horrific’ damage to wildlife. Red Electrica’s (REE) network of 362 mega pylons across the Alpujarras could see protection measures cut to save money, according to expat conservation expert Nick Chambers. It comes after the Olive Press

Wheel bad news

A HUGE network of cycle lanes planned for the Costa del Sol has been scrapped by the Junta. It comes four and a half years after the agreement was signed for 50km of bike highways in Malaga. The project has been abandoned based on evidence from the General Intervention and Legal Counsel, which advised against the cycle lanes. The plans, now scrapped under the PP and Ciudadanos Government coalition, may still be able to progress in the future. Malaga City could fund the long-awaited cycle lanes, matching those which are already present in other Andalucian cities. Almeria, for example, has a projected 50.6km of new cycling routes after an investment of €6.7 million. Meanwhile the regional budgets for this year have also earmarked a further €8.7 million for cycling lanes in Cadiz.

IMPLANT BRIDGE

AT RISK: Bird species launched its Fight the Power campaign to highlight how more than 200 species could be threatened by the project, over half of which are birds. “There is a whole list of regulations that need to be followed to safeguard these protective birds. “It is highly likely they will do the absolute minimum to save themselves money on the whole thing,” Chambers, who has helped protect some of the UK’s most vibrant wetlands, told the Olive Press last night. “Of course environmental rules are the first to be cut as they are the hardest to monitor.” He has joined other conservationist and environmental groups in Spain in calling on authorities to do more to discipline the energy companies. Nick told the Olive Press he was tired of businesses ‘abusing the system he spent his entire working life enforcing.’ Red Electrica claim they worked to minimise the towers impact on birds. An REE spokesperson said: “In order to increase the visibility of these electric cables we use bird-flight diverters.”

MONKEY ROCKS!

ATIONAL Day 2019 will feature a rebranded, family-friendly Monkey Rocks event, headlined by David Guetta and featuring Becky G, Anne Maria and the Disciples. With a total of over 50 million record sales worldwide, David Guetta is one of the biggest names in music production. In 2013, Billboard crowned When Love Takes Over as the number one dance- pop collaboration of all time. Guetta was named ‘EDM Power Player’ by Billboard and won two Grammy Awards out of his six nominations. The free tickets for under 12s will be available at John Mackintosh hall and are available from now up to the day of the festival. Monkey Rocks 2019 will be held at the Europa Point Stadium and those attending can expect the style of production, administration and security to be very similar to that of the Gibraltar Calling festival that will take place the weekend before. Tickets cost £65 for the seating area and £45 for General Entry are available on www.buytickets.gi. Doors will open at 3pm and the first acts are expected to begin at 4pm. www.monkeyrocks.com

IMPLANT DENTURE

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COME MEET US!

BinckBank Spain celebrates the launch of its new service for Englishspeaking investors

INCKBANK, one of Eu- support provided by the Binckrope’s largest banks for Bank team in Spain. investors with 12 years To mark the launch of this new experience in Spain, is service, BinckBank Spain will be launching a new service us- hosting a Launch Party at their ing Saxo Bank’s Investment Acadeaward-winning* my in Marbella on trading platforms. the September 12 Aimed at English Fusion of cultures 2019 at 19:00. speaking expatriThe evening will inthat reflects ates in Spain, the corporate a fusion new investor platBinckBank as a of cultures that reform and trader flects BinckBank Dutch Bank in platforms will proas a Dutch Bank vide an ideal soluin Spain with EuroSpain tion for both beginpean clients who ner investors and trade on stock exseasoned traders changes all over alike. the world! Clients will receive the best of There will be gourmet food, both worlds: an online account cocktails, fantastic music and from Saxo Bank, under the su- other surprises. pervision of the Danish Nation- BinckBank’s Investment Acadeal Bank and Spanish National my in Marbella is where clients Bank, together with personal come to meet with an expert and -offer-300euros

receive ongoing personal assistance and support. The BinckBank Investment Academy also holds a variety of seminars and events throughout the year. The aim of these events is to educate Investors and inspire both beginner investors and experienced day-traders. Kaspar Huijsman, Director of BinckBank Spain explains that ‘every investor needs help, whether they are new to investing or have years of experience.’ “At BinckBank, we offer our clients a free service where they can learn to understand their investments and develop a solid strategy,” he says. English speaking customers will receive the same benefits as Dutch clients, including the flexibility to walk into the Investment Academy for a consultation at

any time, with or without an appointment. The launch party will officially mark BinckBank’s expansion to cater for the international market in Spain and specifically for English speaking expatriates and partime residents. Saxo Bank’s cutting edge multilingual trading platforms will be pivotal in offering the same level of excellent service that BinckBank is already renowned for. The BinckBank Spain team consists of experts with extensive

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August 14th - August 27th 2019

what’s on Breath of fresh air A SUMMER art exhibition at Sala Real 98 in Frigliana, from August 1631, features exciting new pieces by Alberto Tarsicio and Dutch Lieuwke.

Fair play ORIGINALLY set up to commemorate Catholic monarchs, the Malaga Feria from August 15-24 now features 200 stalls, rides and partying until the early hours.

Summer nights NOCHES Que Despiertan Tus Sentidos - or Evenings Arousing Your Senses - is a nightly dinner, hiking and stargazing event in Antequera, on until August 31.

Park life MARBELLA’S free-entry Irish International Music Festival comes to Constitution Park from September 20-22, featuring acts like Finbar Furey and the Thrifty Malones.

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your information to August 14th -new August 27th sdesk@the olivepr2019 ess.es

Dino-mite!

Dinosaurs set to roam the Costa del Sol as plans for Jurassic-sized theme park are revealed

A HUGE ‘Jurassic’ theme park with zip wires and dinosaurs has been announced for the Costa del Sol. The huge development, designed for families, features 19 lifesize dinos and a further 16 animatronic prehistoric beasts. It will also have hiking trails,

WALK WITH DINOSAURS: At Jurassic-sized theme park coming to Costa del Sol excavation zones, a children’s best known family park in the been invested into the project play area, a mini water park, province of Malaga’. by Paalwin Park SL, which is restaurants and tapas kiosks. On top of its many attractions, planned for land in the Parque Located in Rincon de la Victo- the theme park will also host Victoria urbanization, north of ria, the new site aims to be ‘the seasonal events at Easter, Hal- the A-7 motorway. loween, Christ- A 25-year deal for the plot, mas and in the signed yesterday, gives develschool holidays. opers four months to put for“This theme ward their plans. park will be a A first phase of the project is tourist attrac- expected to be completed by tion with educa- 2021 and a second by 2024. tional elements A total of 42 jobs are expected POLICE have seized a collection based on the to be created from the park, of 31 ancient coins, which a pair of world of dino- which will decrease to 21 in the thieves made off with in a car. saurs, where low season, under reduced opBoth men were caught red-handed, both large and erating hours. with metal detectors in their boot, in small can ac- The 68,397 square metre site Moron de la Frontera, Sevilla. STOLEN: Ancient coins seized tively enjoy their will also have 183 parking They are accused by Policia Nacional time,” said the spaces. officers of raiding an archaeological The unlicensed dig sees the duo in Mayor of Rin- Tickets will start at €17.50, site in the rural town. breach of Andalucian Historical Herconero, Francis- with 20% off for people with Also recovered by police were exca- itage Law and their finds will now be co Salado. disabilities and school groups vation tools, numerous coins and sent to the Archaeological Museum So far, of over 20, while under-threes other objects. of Sevilla for classification. €3,611,850 has go free.

Making a million THE Junta de Andalucia has raked in over €1 million from non-EU visitors at attractions like Ronda’s Arab Baths. Malaga’s Roman Theatre brought in the most money in 2018 at €542,787, while the Archaeological Dolmens of Antequera raised €320,415. Meanwhile the Malaga Museum saw €217,277 in box office fees, Ronda’s Arab Baths, €92,379 and the city’s Ruins of Acinipo, €2,288. These cultural sites charge an entry fee of €1.50 for non-EU citizens who make up 9% of all visitors. The total raised by the Junta last year came to €1,195,744.50.

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Crafting a Living: From the Workshop to the Waterfront Regina Lankenau and Maya Eashwaran meet an artisan leather designer from Cadiz with bags of charm

UPE’S smile is wide and down in a kitchen pot, fashioning toothy. rudimentary necklaces out of Her copper hair floats the unpredictable shapes they around her face in frizzy cooled into. curls, escaping from the clips at- Today, she has found a new cretempting to pin it back. ative outlet in the form of disShe stands at the entrance to her covering, collecting, and transworkshop, a small nook in her forming recycled materials into home in San Fernando, a resi- the bags her brand has become dential area on the outskirts of known for. the city of Cádiz. Using a variety of leather - ostrich, Inside is organised chaos. Tools cow, bull, veal, toadskin - Lupe hang out of kitchen catchalls; a crafts bags, belts, bracelets, and Nesquik tin holds scissors, pliers, necklaces. Although she enjoys and other metal instruments. seeking out unique market trinBeads are stored in an old plastic kets and remaking discarded tub marked ‘Ensaladilla’ in bright finds, her leather is primarily block letters. A honey-coloured sourced from Ubrique, a small binding substance oozes out of pueblo blanco hidden in the Siera jam jar whose gingham red top- ra de Cádiz. per is stubbly with dried wax. The town’s high-quality goods, It is here, at this long wooden however, are not quite a secret. desk, that Lupe clocks up to 70 According to the BBC, Ubrique hours of work a week designing also serves as a supplier to some and carefully constructing artisan of the world’s biggest luxury leather goods. brands, including Louis Vuitton, A native gaditana who stud- Carolina Herrera, Gucci, Hermes, ied fashion design at Cadiz Art and Chanel, to name a few. NewSchool, Lupe partnered with er brands such as Everlane and Fran, a former cook with a knack Belcori, whose self-described for belt design, to found Mittica. mode of production is ‘eco-luxuThe brand, offering one-of-a- ry’, also partner with factories in kind designs through innovative Ubrique for their products. techniques and a commitment Back in Lupe’s studio, each piece to Spanish leathis assembled er artisanship, with practised, is her second calloused fingers. venture and just Supplier to some Littered around under five years her are bags of the world’s old. While Mittica ranging from trais sold in limited ditional mahogbiggest luxury quantities online any and black to through Ama- brands, including those patterned zon Handmade, with psychedelLouis Vuitton Fran and Manuel ic pinks, blues, (Lolo), also sell and purples. One Lupe’s products of Lupe’s most in the open-air market bordering stunning pieces is a structured the Port of Cadiz. handbag that unfolds and flatLupe has been working with tens easily, made to be conveleather for 10 years, but her en- niently stored in any suitcase. trepreneurial spirit and search for Lupe employs a variety of techunique design has been innate niques with each piece and is since childhood. constantly experimenting with She recounts scouring the train new ones. Entirely self-taught, tracks near her house for pieces she has refined her craft over the of lead seal that she would melt years by consulting the Internet

LUPE: Artisan gives for guidance and inspiration. Her printing and dyeing techniques range from Turkish ebru to transfer and sublimation. “I’ve always wanted to make things that are different and that go above and beyond just the straightforward design,” she says. “I’ve always had an itch to make things.” However, perfecting her creative passion and turning it into a viable business present very different challenges. The Mercado de Cruceros on Plaza San Juan de Dios, bookended by palm trees and the city’s emblematic town hall, is the first glimpse of Cadiz cruise-goers get after stepping off the ship. Dozens of white-topped stalls present a selection of local artisan goods, the appetiser to the main gaditano meal. This welcome to the city, perfectly curated to seize the opportunity presented by the transient tourist traffic, makes earning a coveted spot in the market key to many vendors. As of January 2018, 23 stalls were granted a license to sell here — 18 along the main promenade and five to the right of the plaza. According to Ana Fernandez, Councilor for Presidency and Social Affairs at the time, the rapid growth of the market since its establishment two years prior pushed the government to extend vendorship licenses, making them bi-annual rather than annual. The intention SUBSTANCE: Lupe’s designs, like this fold-up bag, are beautiful and practical was to encour-

everything to her craft age vendors to return by providing them with stable placement for their business while allowing the government enough time to ensure vendors fulfilled the demands necessary to sell their products. But there’s reams of red tape. The bureaucratic application process includes a one-page form asking for information regarding the business and its owner, as well as 10 supporting documents ranging from verification of the artisan to identification of the articles offered and the production process. Once approved, the owner and each employee must complete an Occupational Risk Prevention course that costs over €100 each time it is taken. The course, Lupe explains, seems to be targeted towards larger firms that work with factories, as the questions often test biochemical knowledge that Lupe and her employees never needed to learn for their line of work. “I think the government should adapt those courses to meet the necessities and capabilities of the self-employed. Or at least not make them so difficult, because we have enough work to worry about as it is,” Lupe says. Other changes enacted by the town hall regarding vendor requisites have also not been well-received. Once requiring at least six months of experience as a self-employed artisan in order to even be considered for the market, the policy is now ‘first come, first serve’. “They tend to choose the first people to come knocking at their door — which is something that I find very unjust,” Lupe says. She believes there is a difference between artisan goods and what she calls ‘arts and crafts’. For her, the town hall’s new approach has resulted in a decline in standards. While she acknowledges that

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August 14th - August 27th 2019

MAKING WAVES: Lupe’s organised chaos (above) produces stunning products for market (right), while (below) an artisanal history everyone must find their own way to describe those who created According to master woodworker Lupe’s now-familiar workshop, of putting bread on the table, she products or provided services. and Japanese shokunin, Toshio she calls out to her two real chilsays she has always moulded her The necessary skills were passed Odate, the term for ‘artisan’ in- dren, telling them to get their business behind the ideal of per- down from ‘master’ to ‘appren- cludes not just technical exper- swimsuits as they’re leaving for fecting her craft. tice’ over generations, with the tise ‘but also implies an attitude the nearby beach in a few min“What makes artisanship special goal of maintaining the tools and and social consciousness...a so- utes. The kids scramble downis that it represents the added techniques that made the busi- cial obligation to work his best for stairs, expertly dodging a decovalue of the craft, not the value ness unique. the general welfare of the people, rative tree branch and coming of the product itself being sold,” Given this definition, modern-day [an] obligation both material and to rest in front of a half-painted Lupe says. artisans like Lupe, who are self- spiritual’. living room mural. Their shaggy Despite her sentiments, the line taught through the Internet, “Sometimes I cry when I have black dog, Silver, joins them. between artisanship and arts would effectively be excluded. to sell my bags,” Lupe laments, As a parting gift, Lupe ties a thin and crafts cannot always be so Perhaps it is the Japanese word motioning towards her rare toad leather band with star-shaped easily drawn. shokunin which best captures leather purse. “They’re like my embellishments to our wrists — Associated with the Middle Ages, what vendors such as Lupe dedi- children.” the most memorable creation the term ‘artisanship’ was used cate their lives to. When it comes time to leave she has shown us today.

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Big Mack with flies

‘BECOMING SPANISH WOULD BE SUICIDE’

THE Government has revealed an ambitious plan to double the theatre capacity of John Mackintosh Hall. The iconic venue will see its current 408-seat space replaced with a new theatre big enough for an audience of over 900. A 13-metre stage, improved lighting, and new rigging - aka flies - are among the other features of the project.

How an innocent British MoD worker on Gib was locked up for a YEAR with killers... FULL STORY P6 opportunity for Spain, Morocco and Portugal as an economic engine.” He blamed former Spanish dictator Franco for the anti-Gibraltar sentiment that shaped Spanish right-wing policy. He suggested that just as street changed in recent years so should names were getting the attitude towards Gibraltar. The GSLP party leader went on to tax talks with the Rock’s closest describe the recent neighbour as ‘very positive’. “The way we do our taxation is totally asymmetric to the way Hacienda does it,” said Picardo. “Spain looks to have come out better out of the only because it needs much more tax agreement but information for tax purposes. “The deal has shown that we have absolutely nothing to hide. We can now show that we have no Spanish money hiding from taxation in Gibraltar.”

BECOMING Spanish ‘doesn’t even enter into the Gibraltarian conscience’. That’s the verdict of Chief Minister Fabian Picrdo, who explained just how alien to locals that it would ‘go against everything that would be and why “To get out of the Commonwealth we are.’ ish civil code and Europe with theand get into the Spanfor us,” Picardo said in Parliament. UK is almost suicidal “Gibraltar within the Commonwealth represents an enormous

GOING OVERBOARD?

Spacious

The current theatre will be dismantled, while the Hebrew High School Institute, adjoining the building will remain unchanged. A more spacious library and changes to the usage of Queen’s cinema room complete the upgrades. Minister of Culture, Steven Linares, said: “We are developing excellent facilities for the sports community and we maintain the same commitment to raise the great Performing Arts family in Gibraltar to an even higher level than THE captain of the tanker seized in Gibraltar while today.” carrying Iranian oil has accused the Royal Marines who detained his ship of usDON’T ing excessive force. MISS OUR The elite commandos had helped authorities seize the SOTOGRANDE Grace 1 on suspicion it was SUPPLEMENT ... carrying Syria bound oil in breach of EU sanctions. FREE INSIDE The Ministry of Defence has defended the raid arguing it A S otogrande ‘complied with international rules and norms.’ The statement last night came as the captain claimed marines made his unarmed crew kneel on the deck at gunpoint. The incident took place on July 4 and saw 30 marines DRAMATIC: Grace 1 and (right) Royal Marines from 42 Commando flown and E he lowered the ship’s move, in at the request of the Gi- ladder. according to the Indian national. braltar government. Before The unnamed captain said chance the authorities had a The man identified himto board, a military self as the police radioed him with a helicopter captain but was landed on the ignored request to board his ship ship in a ‘very dangerous’ instead by marines who trained their guns

Captain of tanker detained in Gibraltar accuses British soldiers of using excessive force

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Summer 2019

and quiet beaches,

while the port area (below) is full of upscale restaurants and sailing TCHED carefully yachts crown of Spain’sinto the Rutherford or the BBC’s south- Knowles, Nick in the port ern coast, Sotogrande who of Sotogrande. is in the resort. all have homes “It’s so cosmopolitan a gem that shows and with no sign And then of losing its glimmer. there are the footbal- a low crime rate - if any at all. The country’s lers, largest pri- and including Glenn Hoddle Continues on page vately-owned residential Glen Johnson, who 22 have ‘su- bought homes per-state’ has long in Sotogrande. been the Internationally first port of call for renowned the cream of polo, European high society. golf and sailing, for its as well The radiance of as a burgeoning aire’s playground this million- scene, this ‘mini gastronomic Monaco’ of low-density living, lies in its high net worth residents stunning the hallmarks has all beaches and mountain of what is often drops, plus its amazing back- considered the top private remarina sort in and golf courses. Europe. Its privileged views Different from other of Gibraltar and theof the Rock resorts where talk ‘celebrity’ TYRE CENTER Rif moun- and of tains of Africa have fame is de rigueur, wealth been en- togrande in Sojoyed by the likes Can you afford they like to Tony Blair, the of ex-UK PM talk, appropriately,to keep such British royal Mention ‘sotto voce.’ wait 7 to 10 days? family and countless the palpable sense European of celebrities, who tel: 956 794 657 don’t want to community, however, and you’ll be spotted, unlike discover how that C/Sierra Bermeja venture to nearby those who leged enclave’s trueis the privis/n, Pueblo Nuevo de But keep your eyesMarbella. “Sotogrande is a treasure. Guadiaro you might spot Irishpeeled and place. You get all very friendly Opposite the different motor rac- nationalities ing guru Eddie Jordan, here and they all Iceland former just Genesis keyboard player Mike an blend in,” estate agent BriNelson tells us at A7 132 KM his office

Magazine

Carrying its spectacular beauty and exclusive with a carefree air, seclusion of global A-listers this haunt holds much to be valued, discovers Tim McNulty and Maya Eashwaran

FAMOUS FACES: Hoddle, Rutherford, Fergie, Jordan and Knowles

string of golf courses

Photo by Great Golf

by verdant hills, a

It’s the least you could do

on the crewmembers and shouted ‘look forward, look forward,’ he continued “They didn’t care whether I was master… there was no regulations… we had 28

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Brexitgate HUNDREDS of thousands of Brits in living in Spain could sue the UK the event of a no-deal Brexit, a leading Conservative MP has claimed. Costa, Alberto Tory MP for South Leicestershire, said the next prime minister faces ‘an enormous, unprecedented amount’ of legal action if the rights of EU not citizens residing in Britain are protected within legislation before October 31. But Costa also warned that British be expats living in Europe could unfairly penalised if the next leader fails to secure their rights too. a Brits living abroad would have strong case to sue, Costa warned, to if they unfairly lose their rights pensions, healthcare and long-term residency. In a missive to Britain’s next PM, sent before the deciding vote, Costa wrote: “No peacetime British government enhas ever abrogated the rights joyed by over a million of its own citizens overnight. lawyer “As a former UK government I can reasonably foresee an enorof mous, unprecedented amount litigation raised by British citizens.”

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unarmed crew. “I was in a state of shock, everybody was in a state of shock. “How do you come on a ship like this with armed forces and such brute force. For what reason?” Asked whether his ship’s cargo contained anything

illegitimate, the captain replied he ‘followed company procedures’ and knew nothing of the sanctions. Meanwhile the MoD has described the operation as a ‘standard boarding’ and added that British armed forces were ‘held to the highest standards of professional.’ The seizure of the tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and Iran, with the British flagged Stena impera tanker by seized by Iranian forces in retaliation.

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Vol. 3 Issue 60

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TARGETED: Lesley and Melanie

Expat couple behind muchloved bar branded ‘dirty lesbians’ in harassment campaign by ‘homophobic neighbours’

She’s heeere! Oprah among haul of A-listers flocking to Mallorca for a Spanish getaway See page 3

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

AN iconic British music venue in Malsixlorca is fighting for its life after a year battle with ‘homophobic’ neighbours. The Lesbian couple who own Betty’s International Music Bar, in Cala Egos, fear their venue will be forced to close after the town hall warned them about the number of calls it has been receiving. That is despie the venue being 100% legal and holding the correct licences put fingers up and and after having invested more than VILE: Neighbours €30,000 in sound-proofed ceilings, spat on terrace constant doors and windows. it’s neighbour’s harassment and stop our “Our neighbours just want us out, calls they do have the power to Lebeen a non-stop campaign of harass37, music, it’s unbelievable,” added ment,” co-owner Leanne Green, anne, who has had to go on anti-anxfrom near Leeds, told the Olive Press iety medication due to ongoing ordeal. last night. “We are a very hard working and “The owner of the apartment upstairs successful English gay couple who told us he doesn’t want ‘dirty lesbians’ have built a wonderful trade for the around here and his kids who live there area, to lose Betty’s would lose hunD’or and have spat on our terraces and someour dreds of tourists in Cala times we see them just staring into us.” more importantly revenue would CCTV cameras trying to intimidate be affected for everyone - including taxis, restaurants, hotels, apartAction ments and other bars!” to Leanne and her partner Melanie Leanne reported the verbal abuse launched a petition onGuardia Civil but a lack of evidence Bland have support for the venue line to show meant no action could be taken. 1,000 garnered already Images seen by the Olive Press show and have signatures. the neighbours spitting on the terrace the “Please sign to show your support and putting middle fingers up at to for us,” the pair added, “we need cameras. hall know how loved The venue has reportedly been there let the town our bar is.” since 1985 and all previous owners and important have played their music loudly withFacebook page to out soundproofing and without com- Visit their sign the petition. 15:36 plaints. 16/06/2017 1 Untitled-1.pdf this “We found out from the mayor the Opinion Page 6 week that unless we can stop

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Family’s message to British carers who ‘laughed to relatives’ as they stole €270,000 from an infirm couple on the Costa Blanca EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ris Minor for coastal escapades at home. But the €270,000 that the aptly named Jane and Bill Scammell stole from an eldery couple they were caring for in Javea saw them jailed for four years in July. An Alicante court ruled the pair, aged 51 and 57, had ‘taken advantage’ of their infirm employers who SCAMMERS: Brits Jane (left) and Bill took became ‘totally dependent’ as their advantage of elderly Parkinson’s and cerebral arteriorespective illnesses worsened. But the British fraudsters kept The crimes began at the end of 2011, sclerosis that rendered him increas- €102,890 of pilfered cash as the ingly ‘incapacitated and with lapses when the Scammells started credit card transfers were ‘unverphoning cash into their personal si- in memory’. ifiable’ accounts through small cash deposits, The judge ruled the pair could keep amountshaving been made in small of ‘between €100 and €116,680 from a total of €385,902 cheques and credit card transfers. as salaries, while from the unjusti- €600’. They did not stop even when the Sources el- fied €270,000 MORRIS MINOR: Brought derly wife passed away in 2013, and they were ordered to how the have told the Olive Press couple, who have not been with robbed cash while the husband suffered from pay €166,332 to the Dutch family of named until now, ‘laughed off’ the the deceased. scam to family and friends. “It appears that Jane had absolutely no compassion or sense of right and wrong,” a relative close to the family, who asked to remain nameless, 2 THE Olive Press has been ‘pivotCRIME told the Olive Press. al’ in the release of six podenco friend’ of former Teulada-MorairaCrackHector “The disgusting thing is that they hawk downthe English press was seem to have gotten away with some dogs trapped in an abandoned mayor Carlos Lin- ares. naming and shaming her, but he “It’s wonderful, of it. house on the Costa Blanca. said ‘the times “Jane used to use the words ‘cash Grace Boas, 63, last month because you refor keeping dogs cow’ to refer to the couple. claimed the hounds had been ally wrote the Blackin cab this condition “She was accumulating money rapist’s locked up for ‘eight years’ truth,” Boas told costa are plans now over’.” sometimes by charging a ridiculous among their own ‘excrement the Olive Press. The dogs’ owner, “In our fight we €50 to take the dogs around and worms’. the Fernando Serrat, block for this old couple. Following four denuncias and really need that has now agreed “She wanted to fleece them for two instancias, the dogs are courage.” all to hand them they have.” now being sought a suitable Boas said Teulaover for adoption. When the elderly woman passed shelter and will be rehomed da’s new councilHave you been to away, Jane and Bill allegedly began lor for public serSpit and run COLLARED ‘very soon’. FLASHBACK: scheming to ‘get what they could’ Dog appeal the police about Nothing was being done to save vices, Hector Mobefore it was too late. animals in terrible them as the 77-year-old own- rales, is ‘now completely on the conditions near to your homes? “It was around 2013 that the Scamer’s daughter was allegedly ‘a side’ of animal rights activists. mell’s lifestyle began to change,” “The daughter complained to Call the Olive Press on +34 951 the

VICTORY: Dogs saved from ‘hellhole’

Page 24

No control

Dear Olive Press,

The Spanish Government has no say in whether our pensions are to be frozen at the current level, as they are in all other third countries (Brexitgate, Issue 323, pg 1). That would be up to our own Government. They also have no control over whether we would be landlocked, losing our freedom of movement as third country nationals, only being able to stay in another EU country for 90 days under the Schengen rules, because the UK is not part of Schengen. They also have no say in whether the UK will choose to honour the current reciprocal agreement to pay for pensioners’ or disabled health care, again up to our own Government. Those are the reasons we could sue if there is a no-deal Brexit and our current rights and benefits are taken away from us, by our own Government. That is because I don’t for one minute think they care or will put those securities in place for us. They are Tories, after all! Lynda Prae, Alicante

Delay

The great outdoors, just draped in luxury

PEDRO Sanchez layed a vote until has deJuly 23 in order to convince blo Iglesias’ Unidos PaPodemos to for a coalition with the socialist party. PSOE won 123 seats during the April elections, but need 176 to a majority in thebecome Spanish congress.

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Amor Towles’ novel journeys through 20th century Russia in unlikely circumstances

USSIA 1922. Count Alexander Rostov stands before a Bolshevik tribunal in Moscow charged with being an unrepentant aristocrat. He avoids the firing squad but is declared a ‘Former Person’ and sentenced to a life of house arrest at his current abode, The Metropol, a grand hotel opposite the Kremlin in Moscow. Upon his return to the hotel he is unceremoniously removed from his grand suite and sent to live in a small room in the attic with whatever possessions he can fit in. Despite his change in fortune, Count Rostov remains a true gentleman and adapts to his new life with poise and dignity, drawing on two pieces of advice from his late father. The first was that, ‘if one did not master one’s circumstances, one was bound to be mastered by them’ and the second was Montaigne’s maxim that, ‘the surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness’. Taking us from his incarceration in 1922 and following his life in the hotel through to 1956, the characters we meet as Rostov fashions a new life for himself are delightful and the story is charming and heart-warming. Factually (mostly) accurate and fictionally beautiful, A Gentleman in Moscow is an exquisitely well-written novel that looks set to become a modern classic.

€11.90, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro www.thebookshop.es

Timothy McNulty tim@theolivepress.es

ADMIN Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

OFFICE MANAGER Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

13 15 18

HE former First Lady of the United States’ 2010 vacation to Marbella and Mallorca attracted worldwide attention. The ‘FLOTUS’ landed in Malaga in early August to a crowd of over 200 Spanish journalists and an assembly of uniformed Spanish Civil Guard, all of whom had been waiting

50+

SWAZI: King Mswatti III

for several hours for her arrival in the unforgiving Costa del Sol heat. What was initially supposed to be a relaxing, private mother-and-daughter vacation quickly turned into the event of the year for the Spanish media. According to reports, Michelle was accompanied by

her daughter, Sasha, two friends and four of their own daughters, several White House aides and a few select staff members. They arrived in an Air Force One jet that cost over $11,000 an hour in operation costs, bringing the total cost of the round trip across the Pond to just under €177,408. While the Obamas were in flight, a fleet of 14 vehicles awaited in Malaga. From there, they were whisked away to Marbella for a few days of luxury at the five-star Hotel Villa Padierna. Michelle had booked around 30 extra rooms for her entourage, both security and staff. The particular villa she stayed in, boasting three floors, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and three terraces. It has since been renamed the Obama Villa. This opulent pad, hemmed on all sides by pristine golf courses, can cost up to €3,600 a night. Judicial Watch, a US-based conservative organisation, requested and obtained official travel expenses from the US Air Force and Secret Service, as well as documents from the Department of Homeland Security. They reveal a total cost of €414,765 for the Obamas’ Spanish getaway. Secret Service protection alone came to €225,716 — a sum that included the Obamas’ private car costs, payments to a travel company and secure hotel accommodation.

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2016 - 2019

Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

The Kuwaitis

uwaiti royals and businessmen have been padding Marbella with petrodollars for over four decades, mainly investing in luxury property in Mijas, Marbella and Sotogrande. Unlike the Saudis, the Kuwaitis are known for their more reserved spending habits. As reported by El Pais, one Kuwaiti entourage member stated that ‘the Kuwaitis have no need to show off their wealth’. Indeed, despite being world famous for Saudi opulence in the area, the Kuwaitis own more property in Marbella than their Arabian neighbours.

50+

www.theolivepress.es There is probably less crime here than anywhere in NEWS Europe and that’s also IN BRIEF probably due to no tolerance policing (‘Maniac’ ties hostage to balcony railMachismo ing after ‘slitting his throat’ in front of killing horrified British expats and locals on A FORMER soldier, Spain’s Costa67,del Sol, online, August has shot dead his Handymhere an accused of k wife, 47, 1). Immigration is with not a problem a rifle British pensioner in Spa before killing himself either, most inwork and lest we forget the street outside ‘selling belongings’ his ex-wife’s home in we Brits AREGaucin. immigrants too. Weher just THE killer of ausuBritish expat over mone choose to call ourselves expats as pensioner was allegedly flog- she was sel ging off her al and think we are better than most. belongingsI Shoedun before It has sin it he beat her to death. in the run have lived here 20attempting years safely and feel Confessed murderer Francis- Becerra tol A MAN co Javier Becerra, 45, buried had sold h to smuggle €2,000 no less safe. worth the body of 74-year-old Les- manian fa of hash in trainers has

Twi

ley Anne Pearson in a shallow grave on her estate in Algar in

been arrested in the Sierra Theresa Black, Manilva de Cadiz. the portJane of Algeciras.

No mercy

Traffick shame

Put them in the ANDALUCIA dirtiest smellidentified 41 one victimstoilet iest jail with only of sex trafficking last year, between 30 people, its highest make record ever, new figures rethem sleep on the floor with vealed. one filthy blanket each and only feed them aSmoked cheese sandout wich every second for 20 SOMEday 34 traffickers have out, been arrested in years (Weed-ed Issue the Campo de Gibral323, pg 2). That’s similar to tar following a yearlong investigation into the conditions tobacco theirsmuggling. customers live in when they are on the stuff (cannabis).

Weed-ed out TWO British men have been arrested for alleged drug trafficking on the Costa del Sol. The 27 and 20-year-old were busted with 12.36 kilogrammes of marijuana in the boot of their car. The pair were stopped during a routing police traffic stop on Avenida Selwo in Estepona. The drugs were found in two white plastic bags. The pair are awaiting trial.

treasure 1 Brandy distilled fromtrove of all thin cherries (6) 5 Reveal unintentionally (6) 8 Large self-service store (11) 9 Like many Sherpas (8) 10 Pained expression (4) 11 On a lower storey (5) 13 Investigate closely (5) 17 Harvest (4) 19 Bed (8) 21 Audio system output device (11) 22 Concurs (6) 23 An unspecified All sorts of commi person (6)

Down

Num 20 La Plazoleta, Gaucin, 29480 M 2 Point in question (5) 3 Highest singing voice in women (7) 4 Set (6) 5 Defeated (6) 6 Capital of Japan (5) 7 Indigestion remedy (7) 12 Stopper to keep out noise (7) 14 Jailer (7) 15 Entertains (6) 16 Greek goddess of wisdom (6) 18 Dried plum (5) 20 Seductively beautiful woman (5)

2 3

2 7

6 1 9 8

8 4

8 4 2 3

1 4

A BRIT has bee apartme The 19 allegedl a fellow night o week. The rap tage of was in a icated’ s to Polici The tou the alleg Costa de The pai

CAR PET S T An amazing

he had her her things. The betray ley had los years ago a move to the Specifically,

Across

The farm hand, who worked for Becerra for years, reportedly confessed to killing her in a fit of rage following a row

Doreen Jarvie, Estepona

100s

the exorbitant costs associated with his Spanish travels. According to them, the papal visit to Santiago de Compostela cost taxpayers €3 million while his stop in Barcelona racked up another €1.8 million. However, it was his visit to Madrid in 2011 that met with the biggest backlash. Arriving in the capital for World Youth Day, this orthodox Pope brought together a group (or should that be hoard) of two million young people whose stay ran up an eye-watering €50 million bill. However 70% was paid by the kids themselves and 30% was covered by company donations. The possible profits of the event were projected to be at more than €100 million.

Michelle Obama

Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva

The Swazis

HE Swazi king, Mswatti III, has long been criticised for his over-the-top spending habits, as his country is one of the poorest countries in the world. He’s certainly got form. So it should have come as no surprise when, this summer, Mswatti III flew into Marbella for an extravagant stay at a villa in the resort’s most expensive hotels - the Marbella Club, where rooms can cost a whopping €900 a night. He arrived for his Spanish stay with all 14 wives and 35 children in tow, bookended by a massive security entourage. For his 40th birthday celebration in 2008, by his own royal command, ‘a 15,000seat stadium was built and a fleet of topof-the-line BMW sedans was ordered for the comfort of visiting dignitaries’, according to the New York Times.

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WO HUNDRED brand-new, imported Mercedes. ONE THOUSAND POUNDS for fresh flowers. HALF A MILLION EUROS on an altar and circa €200,000 on a flight. These are just a few of the luxuries the world’s super-rich have indulged in during their visits to Spanish shores. As celebs, royals and the super-rich descend on the Spanish coasts for the summer, Maya Eashwaran and Regina Lankenau see how their entourages and expenses stack up.

Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es

OP QUICK Crossword 1

HIS ultra-conservative El Papa whose papacy was tarnished by several scandals and a controversial past was a frequent visitor to Spain. Among his most memorable trips was his visit to Valencia in 2006 for the fifth World Meeting for Families, a ‘public affirmation of the invaluable worth he places on the family’. According to an audit, the Valencian government spent €3.1 million on public loos, €1.7 million on hotels for the papal entourage and his guests, more than €500,000 on 284 planters of varying sizes, €7.5 million on megaphones and screens and €1.5 million on the papal altar. The official centre where the Pope celebrated mass cost 39% over the original budget, with €451,000 spent on the metal work, €124,000 on zoning costs, and the rest squandered on electricity, plumbing and special curtains to offset the heat from the television lights. The audit was part of an investigation opened in 2016 into the Valencian government’s contracts under President Francisco Camps who, alongside the Archbishop of Valencia, was suspected of committing crimes of administrative prevarication, embezzlement and fraud. The Pope’s 2010 pastoral trip around Spain was equally draining on the taxman, requiring a scandalous €4.8 million from public coffers to cover the costs. The visit prompted Europa Laica-Observatoria de la Laicidad, an organisation advocating the separation of church and state, to marshal a ‘symbolic bill’ making both Pope and public aware of

his

Regional variations in Spanish don’t help. Andalucians have one of the most difficult-to-understand, even for Spanish people. It’s a bit like the English not being able to understand the Scots!

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A SURVEILLANCE helicopter The has caught a man Spanish km/h on the AP-7 travelling at 223 in surveillancegovernment brought Costa Blanca whilemotorway on the speeders back helicopters to catch drugs’. The Pegasus ‘high on several A total of eightin 2007. now patrol the Spahelicopter from Spain’s Directorate-General nish skies. The Pegasus for Trachoppers ffic (DGT) caught the driver at 13.42 uses two cameras which monitor in Gandia on Saturday, the speed of a car before noti- number and record fying the Guardia plate. The cameras its Civil’s traffic unit. The man was detained can also determine if a driver is using and tested a mobile positive to ‘various phone or riding without narcotics’. a seatbelt.

Trapped in hell

Pope Benedict XVI

Safe as houses

Harder than you think

Devil in the detail

July 17th - July 30th 2019

You have enabled Tme to answer a question that I have put to friends in the UK and which no one seemed able to answer (The Filthy Rich and their entourages, Issue 322, pg 6-7). “What happened to David Cameron when he 'walked away' from the impending problems of Brexit?” He came to 100+ T Spain!

AWARDS

British expat says ‘ignoring’ attemptscouncil are to rescue mistreated dogs

A BRITISH expat who has fought for eight EXCLUSIVE ONE of the UK’s cue dogs trappedyears to resBy Joshua Parfitt gerous men has most danhole’ says town in a ‘hellning Spanish as been learllors do nothing hall councidue to their plan to relocate part of his friendship with the Fernando Serrat, to Spain on but nothing his release. Grace Boas, 63, owner. ever changes,” Infamous 62-year-old are six podenco said there Grace believesshe explained. hunting dogs rapist John Worboys taxi stuck in an abandoned been done is nothing has that Serrat’s - who house daughter now goes by the ‘without windows’ is the director of the Derek Radford name John Sant Miquel, near on Cami Auditori Teulada Benimeit, friends’ and ‘good in Teulada. to start a new- is hoping with former health life here, She said the dogs councillor Rosa when released. Ana Caselles live su- and rrounded by ‘excrement But the sex offender, former mayor Carlos and Liworms’ and they was set to be released who ‘never leave’ nares. the property. this A series of letters year, may spend “I walk my dogs to both politiciansaddressed time behind barsa lot more pleading day and they barkthere every for ‘a solution’ field prison after at Wakenon-stop,” have gone a massive Grace, who is public uproar. secretary of unanswered. PLUTO Protectora “We want to give “He had all the these dogs told the Olive Press.Animales, a life of liberty, without fleas, DVDs and was books and “Four denuncias, two instan- worms, poor nutrition and pretty fluent,” a becoming cias and a complaint horrific MISTREATED: Dogs trapped the prison told a source at to the letter conditions,” read one EU Commission in abandoned UK newshave been She to Linares. house paper. made against their to ‘understand Spanish owner, rrat’swas recently told by Se- re’. cultu- certainly “He daughter that she not European beha- live wanted to eventually failed “But is this in Spain where, really culture? It’s viour, or shouldn’t be,” added yingly, worrGrace, who retired to Spain 15 ymous he’d be totally anonyears for health reasons. and God what he’d get uponly knows She believes that hunter Serrat, aged the keen re mixing with to out thetourists. 77, is now “He ‘incapable’ of caring TWO men have for his namehad also changed his six dogs. so he could slip under Barcelona after been arrested in A WOMAN has However there the radar.” been arrested after rists by using robbing 23 toudog died from strangulation the horizon withis hope on Worboys her the ‘spitting’ method. and heatstroke. res and Caselles both Lina- for a spatewas jailed in 2009 The men were The 27-year-old power after May’sno longer in 12 women of sex assaults on seen on CCTV is charged with elections. tting on tourists, spiin London. She hopes new councillor abuse after her ‘dying’ animal offered to clean and while one for He could have Animal Welfare a balcony in Valladolid.pet was spotted on the victim’s jacAdrian Ruiz permission to travelobtained ket the other made will be more ‘animal After police officers abroad off with their suitcase. “The maltreatment friendly’. from probation officers afting intensely’ and saw the animal ‘panThe thieves, of of ani- ter a Parole Board mals really upsets deemed firemen were called could not break in, me,” added him to be no lity, reportedlyPeruvian nationaBoas, who narrowly longer a danmade €73,000 But the dog could to rescue the animal. missed a ger. But the the scam. in seat on Teulada decision is exdied of ‘suffocation not be saved, and it the PSOE in the council with pected to be reversed according to a vet. due to strangulation’, when recent elec- he goes tions. in front of be sentenced in a judge to “I’m really praying September can finally be done.”something after he admitted attacks on

How the other half live when on holiday in southern Spain, from Saudi Royalty to British prime ministers and American billionaires

Dave in his cave

Deposito Legal MA: 835-2017

Just bloody learn. It’s not that hard. I know people that have lived here for 20-odd years and all they can say is ‘hola’ and ‘dos cervezas por favor’. It is embarrassing as a British person. At least learn the basics. It’s really not that difficult. These are the same people that complain about ‘foreigners’ in the UK not speaking English. Seriously. Zoe Valentine, La Linea

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Held to account

SPAIN has been rred to the EU refeCourt of Justice for imposing disproportionate on taxpayers who fines to report assets failed held in other EU countries.

Little ears

A BOY aged 10 has rescued a 64-yearold Dutchman fell into a fissurewho in the mountains cos de Europa,of Pithern Spain. The norboy split from his family to take photographs when he heard the injured man scream for help.

Once a wolf

FIVE members ‘Wolf Pack’ gangof the been found guiltyhave of rape after the Supreme Court overturned a regional court’s lesser conviction of assault. The fivesexual will each be jailedmen 15 years, instead for years, for raping of 9 an 18-year-old and it in Pamplona. filming

Page 26

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THANK god British engineer Robert Mansfield-Hewitt has been released from prison this month. It is unfathomable that a UK citizen could have been locked up for SEVEN months without even being charged. Incredibly, he was forced to wait a further four months for his day in court before being released more than a month later. And all in an EU country and very close ally to Britain no less! How many other cases like Robert’s have there been? There was no evidence connecting him to the drugs and least of all no workable motive, given his decades-long career with the British government. All the while, there seems to have been no investigation launched into the owner of the property where the drugs were found. The case seems mired in corruption with local police apparently deciding to try and pin it on Robert from day one. Either way, we are delighted that the pressure we have maintained on the authorities throughout this year, appears to have had some effect. NO OTHER expat paper was willing to do that. And we are happy Robert appreciates it. There is nothing like being forgotten to rust in prison.

2012 - 2019

SHINE ON

Sotogrande is surrounded

OPINION Justice at last!

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GREEN ENCLAVE:

BAIL FAIL: Athlete criticised

The Filthy Rich and their entourage

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

Readers react to news that Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has AGAIN been blasted for his lack of Spanish, this time by his ex-boss (online, July 30)

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Issue 32

August 2019

JAW-DROPPING: Spanish firm wows judges in battle for award SEE PAGE VI

New fans Why this medieval town - among others - is being praised by Spain’s top architects, see page XIV

Sheikh it up Man City owner snaps up €16 million mansion down the road from Julio Iglesias near Marbella

LUCKY: Sheikh Mansour

MANCHESTER City FC owner Sheikh Mansour will soon be neighbours with Julio Iglesias, it has emerged. The football mogul, 48, has splashed out on a stunning €16 million, 25-acre farm near Monda. Set on the edge of the idyllic Sierra de las Nieves, Finca Moratan y Bornoque comes complete with four farmhouses, a 72-metre-square pool and a guest cottage. The Emirati royal can even get his hands dirty with his new home’s walnut plantations, cork farm and cattle fields, which can generate over

€150,000 a year in extra income. His new pad even sports a 60 x 12 metre private dam, used for irrigation, watering animals and fire prevention. Mansour, who is deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, will also count embattled Spanish pop star Julio Iglesias among his neighbours. The lothario singer, 75 - whose love child was recently proved to be 100% his son - owns the €145 million Las Cuatro Lunas in nearby Ojen. Even the Sheikh cannot rival the musician’s mansion, which boasts four pools, a recording studio and a guest

SPRAWLING: Sheikh’s new estate in Monda

house across 450 acres. The estate - which Iglesias put on sale last year - was also the site of the

artist’s secret wedding to Miranda Rijnsburger in 2010, in front of just 15 guests.

PROPERTY

August 2019

Mark Stucklin

Choppy waters

I SEE signs that the Spanish Taking out a mortgage is getting more mortgage market is heading complex, which is sure to turn off some for choppy waters as a result of Government interference, foreign buyers at a time when demand is and it’s not great news for the already going soft, writes Mark Stucklin housing market in general, and foreign buyers in particular. The other day Banco Santan- gulations kicked in on the 17th I asked Kevin Monger, a founder announced their Q1 results June 2019. Overall foreign de- ding partner of Mortgage Diand tactfully pointed out that, mand declined in Q1for the first rect, a company specialising in thanks to new mortgage re- time in almost a decade, with sourcing mortgages for foreign gulations, it’s getting harder to pronounced falls amongst nor- borrowers, for his thoughts on sign a mortgage in Spain due thern European nationalities like the subject. to “longer and more complica- the British and Swedes, whom “We have not noticed any chanted processes” in the words of Spanish banks prefer to lend ge in foreign demand for SpaManaging Director to when it comes nish mortgages yet, but I feel José Luis Álvarez. to foreign clients, it’s too early to see any marked He was too diploas the paperwork change,” he told me. Some potential and credit scoring “Banks are still getting to grips matic to criticise the Government in is easier. It’s not with the new laws, not least the foreign buyers Madrid for its new hard to imagine situation where clients are not could now mortgage law but that a percentage earning in Euros, as the general you don’t need a abandon the idea of potential foreign interpretation is that they can PhD to work out of buying in Spain buyers will now switch the mortgage currency what he was saabandon the idea to the currency of the earnings if ying. The new reof buying a home the exchange rate goes against gulations are going in Spain because them by a certain margin. This to make it harder and more ex- getting a mortgage is simply is a huge risk and we will popensive to take out a mortgage too much trouble. Maybe len- tentially see more conservative in Spain, especially if you are a ders were already adjusting to lending to those earning in GBP, the draft regulations in Q1, with USD, CHF, NOK, etc etc.” foreigner. Foreign demand for property in might help explain the decline Even if reports from the coal Spain was already going soft in foreign demand that period. I face of the mortgage market are not yet bad, Kevin added, before the new mortgage re- don’t know.

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

“Things are changing by the day with banks formulating new policies – It promises to be an interesting time.” Personally, I can’t see how forcing borrowers using mortgages to visit a notary ten days before completion will not have a significant negative impact on foreign demand. Mortgage Stamp Duty Increases in Catalonia Meanwhile, in Catalonia, the Regional Government has announced plans to increase mortgage stamp duty from 1.5% to 2% on all mortgages taken out in the region. This will distort the Spanish mortgage market, with higher borrowing costs in Catalonia than anywhere else in Spain. The move will increase

952 147 834 * O f f e r

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setup costs by close to €800 on a typical loan of €125,000, calculate the CECA banking association. As most loans in Catalonia are €140,000 or more, the cost to borrowers will be even higher, as it all gets passed onto borrowers one way or another. The rising cost and complexity of taking out a mortgage in Spain, especially in Catalonia, is likely to discourage a certain amount of foreign buyers at a time when foreign demand is already going soft. Bear in mind that foreign demand is key to to some market segments on the coast and islands, and in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca.

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

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III

August 2019

Magnifique

Bargain in the sun A PLACE in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman was stunned when a couple on the show snapped up an ‘amazing’ property for just £48,000 (€52,000) in southern Spain. Tracey and Dean from Bristol were ‘amazed’ after their offer was accepted for the 2-bedroom penthouse next to the beach in Murcia’s Mar Menor.

Rocketing rents THE average cost of renting in Spain has shot up by 50% in just five years. According to Idealista, the places worst-hit by the rent hike were Palma and Barcelona (more than 50%), followed by Malaga, Madrid, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Valencia (all around 45%). The report found that rental charges have increased at a ‘significantly’ faster rate than housing costs. It comes as anti-tourism groups have staged protests in hotspots like Palma, blaming holidaymakers for the spike in rents. Inland areas, meanwhile, saw the lowest bumps in rent.

BARGAIN: Home on hit property show

The home, which overlooks the coast, was on the market for £55,000 (€60,000) and the pair had a budget of £70,000 (€75,000). “That’s some deal! Wow,” Harman exclaimed after sealing the deal on the phone, “I am really amazed.”

ARCHITECTS behind a new luxury residential tower under construction in Barcelona have revealed the full design. The project entitled ‘Antares’ has been led by French architect Odile Decq and will comprise of a 30 story tower with 89 flats offering sweeping views of the city. Located on avinguda di-

agonal, one of Barcelona’s broadest and most important avenues, the development will offer a selection of one to four bedroom apartments. "Antares is my first residential development and its design speaks to the heart of my philosophy to bring originality and innovation to everything I do," explained Odile Decq. COMING SOON: New tower

Painting history Picasso Towers to have cinema, gym and celebrity residents as more details of luxury development emerge AN Antonio Banderas-backed development on the Costa del Sol has claimed it will be the ‘most desirable in Spain’ and ‘possibly the world’. Picasso Towers will bring a ‘new level of luxury’ to Malaga’s seafront with 71 luxury five-star homes ranging from two to five bedrooms and two penthouse apartments in each block (both with their own private pool). Other new details to emerge include a cinema, several

swimming p o o l s, gyms, office space, a child daycare centre and 24-hour concierge service. Banderas has already purchased a home in one of the three blocks, where prices start at €650,000. The average price per square

Raising the roof

ALL CHANGE: For Bilbao museum

FOSTER + Partners has revealed plans to add this incredible overhanging rooftop extension to the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. Created with local studio LMU Arkitektura, it was the winning bid in a competition that invited studios from around the world to ‘write a new chapter in the life of the institution’. The addition will contain a mix of gallery spaces and public viewing platforms. It will form part of a wider overhaul of the museum which will also see the restoration of several original elements.

Beauty "I hope antares sets a new standard for what a luxury building can be. from the building’s architecture, which embraces the beauty of the surrounding barcelona area, all the way to the finishes in the interiors, I have taken the utmost care and consideration into every aspect of its design."

Office blocked

GAME CHANGERS: Picasso Towers will arrive to Malaga in 2021

metre is currently between €5,000 and €6,000. The project has been described as ‘Hyde Park One meets Malaga, without the ridiculous prices’. Lead architect Maria Chocarro recently told reporters the ‘three towers will change the skyline of Malaga forever’. Isaaq Majid Gomez, operations director for PrimeHouse,

the agency which will be marketing the development, has reported that 30% of residences in the first tower have already been sold off-plan. The apartments are being built and developed by Metrovacesa and luxury property firm Sierra Blanca Estates Developments. Meanwhile, famous Spanish architect firm Estudio Lamela is taking care of the design while award-winning designer Jaime Beriestain is looking after the interiors. The first block will be ready in 2021.

THE Mayor of Malaga has said he would like to see the city’s old landmark Post Office HQ be turned into offices. It comes after some councillors suggested the the iconic but derelict block of 4,097 square meters, near Puente de Tetuan, be converted into a hotel or a halls of residence. “While I have always said that Malaga needs hotels, I have also reiterated how much it needs office buildings for rent and warehouses for logistics,” said Mayor Francisco de la Torre. Andalucia Minister of Finance, Juan Bravo, said there were ‘many companies’ interested in the site, but that the first priority would be to ‘clean the building’.

NEW FUTURE: Post office HQ

IV 18

August 2019

PROPERTY

www.theolivepress.es

Barking up the right tree

August 14th - August 27th 2019

S the ever increasingly hot summers - and extreme weather around the world - remind us, global warming

is real. And its inspiring industries around the world to find solutions within their fields - not least architects and designers. One Barcelona-based studio has created two energy efficient homes in the forest in the Basque country made completely from cork and wood. Emiliano Lopez Monica Rivera Arquitectos explains: “The structural base is in concrete and supports the cross-laminated timber structure above (produced in the Basque Country). “All is clad on the outside by two layers of insulating cork. “Inside the houses, the structural wood is left exposed, resulting in an atmosphere that is closer to the surrounding woodland than to the sea five hundred meters away.” Both houses obtained a Class A energy rating (highest achievable by Spa-

nish standards) with an annual energy consumption of 41.44 and 46.22 kWh/m2 and emissions of 7.04 and 7.88 kg of CO2/m2 a year.

PROPERTIES SELLING FAST AT THE SPANISH ESTATE AGENT! Thinking of Selling? Get in touch with The Spanish Estate Agent – the fastest growing agency on the Costa del Sol

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August 2019

PROPERTY

Out of the shadows Young Spanish firm up for ‘emerging architect’ of the year award

HE competition is heating up for this year’s Dezeen awards. From thousands of architects and interior designers from around the world, the internationally renowned architecture publication will announce the winners on September 1. Vying for the Emerging Architect of the Year is Barcelona-based studio Nomo. The young firm has made an impression in the building biz with its white-washed homes comprising unusual shapes. Below we have rounded up its most memorable works. (See page VIII for the Spaniard vying for Best Interior Designer)

WOW: Frame House in Menorca, built for a private family, offers stunning views

GORGEOUS: (Top right) Stone House in Menorca while (below and right) its chic interior and views to the sea

EYE-CATCHING: Nomo’s latest project, Bridge House, comprises stacked pentagon pods in Menorca

GREAT AVAILABILITY OF 2 AND 3 BED APTS

CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED!

VIII

August 2019

PROPERTY

QUIRKY: Zig-zag feature in bathroom by Zooco

i n s t a l a c i o n e s info@instalacionesemasur.com www.instalacionesemasur.com

Air Conditioning Electricity Solar Panels – Plumbing Automatic Doors Swimming Pools Renewable Energy

Superior Interiors A SPANISH studio is battling to be crowned the Best Interior Designer of the Year at the upcoming Dezeen awards. Madrid-based Zooco Estudio has made it onto the longlist of finalists from around the world thanks to its quirky and detailed projects. Clients range from residents with city centre apartments to wine bodegas and start up offices. Here we have rounded up some of the studio’s best works in Spain.

IMPRESSIVE: Wine cellar designed by Zooco has become an Instagram must in Valladolid, near Madrid

tel: 952 89 25 15 C/Espinosa – Edif Manisabi, Local 12 Ctra Sabinillas, 29692, Manilva (Málaga)

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TH3069

127.000€

Antequera, Malaga 4 bed, 2 bath Build: 124m2

CJ502

89.000€

Alcala la Real, Jaen 3 bed, 2 bath Build: 128m2

The inside of this property is a typical Andalucian townhouse with beautiful tiling. Offering 4 spacious bedrooms, 2 bathrooms a good size lounge diner and nicely fitted kitchen. To the rear of the property there are 3 separate terraces and a pretty courtyard, this is a lovely property in a fantastic location.

The cortijo is located on a wide level road with off street parking, your own private garage, large patio areas and private terraces all with uninterrupted views. The main entrance is from the large front shaded patio into a good size kitchen, lounge diner with a wood burner and access onto your private sun terrace.

TH4117

TH4101

69.000€

Iznajar, Cordoba 4 bed, 2 bath Build: 142m2

115.000€

Alcaudete, Jaen 4 bed, 3 bath Build: 257m2

Situated in the beautiful town of Iznajar and just a short drive to the wonderful lakes where you can enjoy sailing, swimming and fishing. This townhouse is ready to move into with a tiled internal patio and private terrace. Located on a quiet, level street you enter the double fronted property in to a tiled hallway with a sitting room.

This well presented townhouse boasts a good size private swimming pool and sun terrace area with countryside views, it is ready to move into. Enter the property into a tiled reception hall leading to a separate dining room and a good size lounge with a wood burner, there is also a ground floor double bedroom.

VL750

VL921

189.950€

Puente Genil, Cordoba 6 bed, 3 bath Build: 250m2

189.000€

Puente Don Manuel, Malaga 3 bed, 3 bath Build: 140m2

Not even ten minutes from the main town of Puente Genil you will find this incredible property with 6 bedrooms and a massive swimming pool. The property benefits from two entrances from two different tracks, so it could be completely divided into two separate dwellings.

This bargain property consists of a patio area (with option to build a plunge pool) that surrounds the 3 floor build. On the ground floor you will find the lounge dinner, fitted kitchen, bedroom with fitted wardrobes and the guest floor. On the first level, there are two double bedrooms, both with en suites and fitted wardrobes.

TH4119

75.000€

TH4145 125.000€

This beautifully presented townhouse boasts a quality bright and modern interior with a private roof terrace giving commanding and spectacular views over the countryside and mountains. You enter across a small front patio into the bright and welcoming ground floor where you have feature stonework.

Traditional Spanish style townhouse in Cutar. The property looks out over the vast Axarquian hills and countryside. Upon entering the property, you will find a patio. This property has permission to build a plunge pool on the main patio. On the ground level, you will find the lounge diner, kitchen and bathroom.

Castillo de Locubin, Jaen 3 bed, 2 bath Build 113m2

Malaga Office +34 952 74 15 25 info@inlandandalucia.com

Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Molina, Malaga

Cutar, Malaga 3 bed, 1 bath Build: 145m2

Jaen Office +34 953 58 70 40

Axarquia Office

Calle Abad Moya 4b, 23680 Alcala la Real, Jaen

Cruce Puente D. Manuel 4, Edif. Al Zabel, 29713 Alcaucin

contact@inlandandalucia.com

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51 97 18

info@inlandandalucia.com

August 2019

PROPERTY

Cool for the summer These Spanish homes know how to keep you cool in the hot season

€2 .5

m illi on

OY it’s hot out there. Summer is in full swing and Europe is seeing record temperatures, and Spain is obviously no exception. So when it comes to buying your dream property, it’s important to make sure it is adapted to summer climes, which are only set to become more extreme. From infinity pools to white exteriors to open spaces and marble floors, there are dozens of ways properties can stave off the stifling heat. Below we have rounded up some the hottest - and intrinsically cooler - luxury homes across Spain. (All properties available on Sotheby’s International Realty).

Cap de Barbarie, Formentera

Santa Cruz, Sevilla

€6 .8 5

m illi on

This oasis was designed by Philippe Starck and saw the birth of some of the great British designer’s best work. The home features a huge infinity pool running along the edge of the house and is sure to keep you cool in the summer months. Its open spaces and minimalist layout makes the spaces breezy and a perfect spot to spend your August. Large windows look out into the sea, the light and the beautiful landscape, all the while kept under a thatch-style roof.

€9 .5

m illi on

Esporles, Mallorca This sweeping estate dates back to the 17th century and still preserves authentic elements alongside updated modern comforts. It is located upon a huge plot in Esporles, with Mediterranean gardens for a cool shaded walk, featuring ponds and almond, orange and ancient olive trees. There is also a huge swimming pool for a splash when the heat gets too intense. The home includes 22 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, two offices, four living rooms, several dining rooms, three kitchens, play rooms, independent guest house and wine cellar.

This traditional Sevillian house has an impressive windowed cylinder running through the centre of its top two floors. It allows for natural ventilation across the three storeys - a must in one of the country’s hottest cities. The ground floor features an apartment with a bathroom, office and garage. The first floor offers a contemporary kitchen, a small dining room, a dining room open to the gallery and two living rooms. On the second floor there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. On the third floor there is a separate apartment with a bedroom and a bathroom, as well as access to the impressive roof terrace with views of the city. The two patios help give light and natural ventilation to the entire house.

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XII

August 2019

PROPERTY . .A O P.

Portinatx, Ibiza This unique property is composed of two houses on the fronline of Portinatx, San Juan, Ibiza. The white exterior helps keep temperatures down while its residents will benefit from the sea breeze, given that it has direct access to the Mediterranean. The main house also has a garage, two fisherman houses, six double bedrooms, two bathrooms, one with bathtub and one with shower. In the garden a guest house offers you one bedroom with bathroom and a living room. The property has a tourist license.

T can be astonishing how lightly some house hunters take purchasing a property in Spain. Whether you’re looking to retire, invest in a rental home or simply want a holiday hideaway, one mistake is all it takes to ruin everything. Here are some basic steps that every prospective homebuyer must take before parting with their hardearned cash. Do your research Don’t rush into anything. Visit the area where you’re thinking of buying and explore. Check out the local amenities, shops, bars and restaurants and gauge whether or not you think you could fit into the local community. And, obviously, never buy without viewing. If the home is off-plan, look into the developer and make sure they have a good reputation. Research if their previous projects were built well and on time. Hire local experts Without tooting our own horn, mortgage broker’s like the Finance Bureau are essential to ensuring you get the best loan possible. We have good relationships with the lenders and can highlight all the hidden fees and clauses that may trip you up later on. Have in mind the type of mortgage you want and your broker will advise as to the most suitable, given your circumstances. You will also want an independent lawyer to carry out all relevant checks and searches, even if the property is a new build. In Spain, you should expect 12-16% of costs to go on completion fees.

by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

As Brits fly out to house hunt in the summer months, here are Tancrede de Pola’s hottest tips for avoiding the most common pitfalls Be Brexit ready Make sure you are fully aware of the requirements for owning a property and/or moving to Spain permanently will be post-Brexit. Be aware that the fluctuating exchange rate may mean your pensions will go less further at some times and monthly mortgage payments will go up if being transferred in pounds from the UK. While Spain has guaranteed the rights of British expats already in Spain - who are officially registered - it is still unclear how easy it will be for new expats arriving or looking to retire. Have your finances in order When applying for a mortgage it is imperative that you can clearly demonstrate that you have the funds (typically 30% + closing costs) available for completion. Start running your bank account as if you already have a mortgage at least three months before you apply - Avoid excessive spending, cut out subscriptions and memberships that aren’t essential and don’t splash the cash on betting or gambling. And don’t apply for new credit around the time you are trying to get a mortgage, you may be considered a greater credit risk if you do. Finally, try to improve your credit score before applying, one tip: put all expenditures on a credit card and pay it off in full each month, ensure you are on the electoral roll.

To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 Email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670

m illi on

Hot tips

Golden Mile, Marbella

€1 6. 75

MORTGAGE THINK TANK

This huge property along Marbella’s Golden Mile couldn’t be closer to mediterannean (and the forgiving coastal winds) if it tried. Its two pools and extremely large in-pool fountain give you ample opportunity to cool off in the summer months. Constructed to the finest quality standards using the best technology throughout, it is built on two levels plus a large basement with cinema room, fitness room, sauna, wine cellar and industrial kitchen.

Andalusian charm E X T E N S I V E P R I V AT E E S TAT E I N T R A N Q U I L S E T T I N G

Price: 1.490.000 €

Beds 8

Built 719 m2

Bath 6

Plot 95.151 m

Ref: DM 4337

Desgined for laid-back leisure time, this gracious Andalusian finca is a peaceful and verdant retreat close to the villages of Coin and Alhaurín el Grande near Málaga, approximately 30 minutes’ drive from Marbella, Puerto Banús and Málaga’s airport. The estate includes a main home, guest house and staff accommodation in the midst of an extensive plot of land that guarantees privacy and tranquility with far reaching views over open countryside including the Alhaurin castle and the Sierra Nevada ski resort in the distance on a clear day. The main house offers four bedrooms, kitchen with eat-in area and adjoining formal dining room. A spacious living room is attractively arranged in two separate areas, each of them with its own fireplace and access to the beautiful porch and mature garden which spreads towards the western wing of the house, providing the perfect scenario for al fresco dining and entertaining. The garden area extends down to the swimming pool with pergola.

XIV

August 2019

PROPERTY

Not just a pretty face Architects think these are the most beautiful villages in Spain

E’VE all read about the purported beauty of Spain’s pueblos blancos. Andalucia in particular is awash with these glistening, white villages, often extolled in publications like Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet.

Perched on top of hills and nestled in mountain valleys, they are one of the hallmarks of property and travel writing, along with Moorish ruins, winding cobbled streets and Game of Thrones castles. But there is so much more to Spanish architecture than picture-post-

card villages. From rooftop hieroglyphs to 500-year-old air conditioning, we round up Spain’s most beautiful villages, from the perspectives of top architects. And yes, there is a whitewashed pueblo or two on the list...

Guadix, Granada

The ‘cave houses’ of this town which number about 2,000 - are its most remarkable feature. These underground living spaces have been chosen by Andalucians since the 15th century, although these days, many are fitted out with full kitchens and even WiFi. Architect Roberto Benito described them as: “A natural insulator that causes the temperature inside to range between 18ºC and 20ºC all year. “The silence and tranquility on the insides, which are also whitewashed to replace the lack of natural light in the deepest rooms, mean these types of homes are still being built today.”

Albarracin, Teruel

Often dubbed the ‘most beautiful village in Spain’, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the red sandstone facades of Albarracin are purely aesthetic. In fact, the stunning building material was sourced from nearby quarries for its waterproof and insulating qualities. “The organic material also changes colour over time due to the impact of light,” according to Ignacio Vleming, author of urban architecture book, Fisura. He also described the Medieval and Moorish icon as the ‘summary of much of the popular constructive forms of Spain’.

Fornalutx, Mallorca

Alcantarilla, Murcia

This tiny village in the north of the Balearic island may have the most unusual roof tiles in Spain. Set in the Serra de Tramuntana, stone-clad houses in winding streets are adorned with intricately crafted ceramic tiles, some of which date back to the 16th century. Professor of Art History at Madrid’s UNED, Antonio Perla, said the the objects are ‘painted with scenes, images, symbols, prayers and dates’. The mostly red tiles reflect the history of Fornalutx, including its loves, fears and even the weather.

Garganta la Olla, Extremadura This historical village boasts traditional architecture of stone, adobe and wood and is packed with winding paths. Architect Javier Pena Ibanez recently described how the timber-supported walls of houses in Garganta la Olla

were originally designed to sleep animals on the floor with humans above, so they could harness their heat. The architect and head of architecture festival Concentrico said the town is the ‘locality of the Extremadura region that best reflects the traditional constructive characteristics of the area’. The stunning masonry however is not entirely practical, as some buildings in the town are fragile and lean on one another for support.

“These set of homes come complete with towers, ditch systems and water mills, and reflect a traditional lifestyle from the garden of Murcia,” Architect Sanchez Llorens recently said of Medieval town of Alcantarilla. Original Moorish settlers channeled the Segura River, using the

water for gardening and thus growing the mulberry in the 16th century so they were able to feed silkworms, adding Murcia to the silk road. “That new source of wealth is reflected in its wooden structures,” added Sanchez Llorens, “which would have been expensive at the time.”

THE

MEWS THE DEVELOPMENT

The Mews, Town Range – a rare opportunity Within metres of the Governor’s Residence, The Mews is an enclave of 7 boutique houses and apartments each meticulously designed and built to a flawless standard, drawing on its unique gated location in the heart of the old town. Four contemporary mews-style houses will be built on the foundations of the 19th-century stables, at the rear of the original, grand Victorian house, which will itself be refurbished to provide 2 thoughtfully designed apartments and a stunning duplex penthouse, commanding spectacular views. Mews houses are, by their nature, located in the very best parts of town. Providing a safe, traffic free environment that is both practical, and hugely charming.

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PROPERTY Not just a pretty face continued... XVI

August 2019

Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz

Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz

“Vejer is another white town where the mixture of lime, water and sand applied annually to the walls of its houses is a perfect measure against heat,” explained urban architect Almudena de Benito. “The walls of this colour reflect solar radiation meaning lower thermal absorption and, consequently, cooler interiors.” Bougainvillea bushes creeping up walls and around doorways also help fend off the searing temperatures to hit this walled hilltop village. Outside the battlements sit swathes of orchards and orange groves, while inside, is a myriad of quaint cobbled streets, packed closely together.

What you may not know about this town is that its whitewashed houses are ‘organised around courtyards to regulate temperature’. “It has a clear Arab influence but

Campo de Criptana, Castilla-La Mancha It wouldn’t be travel writing without invoking a bit of Don Quixote. The windmills of Campo de Criptana are those which allegedly inspired Miguel de Cervantes to pen his seminal work back in 1605. Quixote famously loses his mind and fights the cereal mills, the 16th century architecture of which, is still preserved today. “The route of the windmills can help us to visit landscapes in which, as in the desert, on the coast or other homogeneous environments, certain architectures allow us to have geolocation references and at the same time participate in a collective imagination,” said Sanchez Llorens.

Viniegra de Arriba, La Rioja

Streets don’t get more cobbled than these. Architect Pena Ibanez said this minute village of just 50 people is among Spain’s most beautiful because of the ‘conservation and maintenance of its popular architecture’. “One of the most unique features is that its streets retain the old cobblestone. This urban event emanates from the whole town, which has stone houses from the 17th century.”

at the same time is a reflection of the rich mixing of cultures that made us who we are,” said architect and teacher at Superior Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, Mara Sanchez

Llorens. She also claims that the organisation of gardens and buildings in Arcos de la Frontera even inspired Mexican architect Luis Barragan.

El Gasco, Extremadura The stonepile homes of Las Hurdes are almost the antithesis to the heat-stopping measures of Andalucia’s pueblos blancos. These stacked slate structures are purpose-built to conserve heat, rather than reflect it, as in southern Spain. For Sanchez Llorens, the village of El Gasgo, which was the site of a meteorite impact a million years ago, is the most emblematic of this cool architectural style. “It is interesting to assess how these popular architectures also need a certain technique to be habitable,” she added.

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XVIII

August 2019

PROPERTY

Going round in circles

ARKETS are all about cycles and it seems that Expect property prices to plateau and the current growth cy- ‘sustainable’ to become the buzzword for cle, which started as a recovery from the financial crisis buyers, writes Adam Neale back in 2012-2013, is now reaching maturity. ply is beginning to catch up with Boom or bust for the Spanish Given this, what can we expect for demand. Property Market? this year and the near future? For the Spanish property market The property market in Spain recov- in general, this is the best year in If there is a market and price corered more quickly in foreign-market over a decade. But for areas like rection to come it is likely to be a locations such as the Costa del Sol, Marbella, which are further into moderate one, as the growth cycle Mallorca and Ibiza, but now seems the cycle, there is a sense that has not seen a ‘mad boom’ but a to be levelling off here. perhaps last year was the peak moderate up-cycle, with steady Problem factors are prices, which one. growth in sales and property values. are perhaps rising Nationally and lo- The initial explosion of demand for too swiftly, supply cally, construction is modern properties has been large– which has caught In general, this is once again a prime ly satisfied, and this will cause a up with and is bedriver in the econo- drop in the rapid increase in modginning to surpass the best year for my – growing 10% ern house prices and a relative demand – and a Spain’s property in relation to the shift of power back to existing repossible tapering previous year and sale properties. market in a off of demand which leading to almost The market’s appetite for sleek is not unusual and, 600,000 sales. white villas and apartments apdecade again, cyclical. However experts pears to be slowly cooling but On the Costa del are warning that the homebuyers continue to look for Sol, enquiries bebest thing would be innovations in style, comfort, econgan to drop in the second half of a drop in new projects that would omy and, in particular, sustainabil2018 and generally speaking this bring supply and demand in line. ity. has continued in the first half of This would maintain sturdy price The latter will be one of the conthis year, confirming that 2019 is levels for now but it is expected struction buzzwords of the coming a year of consolidation in which that they too will begin to ease off years but for now everything points growth has levelled off and sup- before long. to more moderate levels of activity.

The Property Insider

by Adam Neale

According to figures compiled by one online portal, Spanish property prices grew by 7.8% last year in 2018, which beats even the 2006 level of 7.7%. For this year, the increase is expected to be 4%-6%, and the total number of properties sold will also increase, by around 4%-5%. The market for land remains a little overheated, especially in locations such as the Costa del Sol. But that should begin to alleviate a little as

investors and property developers react and reduce production, and with it a lower appetite for land. On the whole, we can expect a levelling off of growth and an easing of some of the activity that has been driving house prices up quite steadily in the past few years. It will be interesting to see if the market can maintain such moderated but still highly-acceptable levels of activity for the foreseeable future.

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BUSINESS

Pay on the go

CAIXABANK has reached one million mobile payment customers, an indication of the growing popularity of digital payments in Spain. The number of Caixabank app users had grown by 87% over the last year and now stands at more than 1.4 million. Customers are increasingly opting to use their phones to make payments, with this mobile users 10.8% of all Caixabank card customers. In total, during the last year, cards paired with Caixabank’s mobile app have carried out more than 49.2 million transactions. Caixabank CEO Juan Antonio Alcaraz said: “2019 has been the year mobile payment took off throughout Spain, a trend accelerated by the growing importance of the user experience as a success factor in any digital product.”

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Dealt a blow

Half a million jobs to go in the UK in the event of a no deal Brexit, newlyreleased study finds A NO-deal Brexit would cause the loss of 1.2 million jobs across Europe, including 70,410 in Spain, according to a newly-released study by Belgium’s Leuven University. The impact study, commissioned by the Belgian government, showed that the UK leaving the EU without an agreement would cause major job losses in every country in Europe. France would lose 141,320 jobs, while Germany would suffer a massive 291,930 redundancies, the study said. Of course, the country expected to suffer the most is the UK, where more than 500,000 jobs would be lost.

The study looked at both the total number and the percentage of jobs that would be lost in each country. Ireland would be one of the worst-hit countries percentage wise, as it stands to lose 50,330 jobs. Belgium too would lose a higher percentage of jobs, with 42,390 redundancies expected there in a no-deal scenario.

Impact

The study also looked at the potential impact if the UK left with an agreement. In that case, the number of jobs lost across Europe would be smaller – but still significant.

Gran turismo MERCEDES-Benz has chosen Marbella for the worldwide launch of a new high-end model. The grand reveal will take place at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos and will involve visitors from more than 20 countries. A total of 2,800 room bookings have been made around the presentation which will run from November 5 to 25. The german car manufacturer has reportedly paid €60,000 for use of the Palacio. It comes after Audi launched the E-tron, the

company’s first 100% electric car, in the city earlier this year. Mayor Ángeles Muñoz said: “Marbella will once again be a benchmark in the motoring world.”

MAPPED: Expected job losses from no-deal Brexit Spain was one of the EU nations nario, researchers assumed least affected by Brexit, but it the UK would leave the single was still expected to face 15,840 market and fall back on the job losses if Britain leaves the rules of the World Trade OrEU with an agreement. ganisation. The study took into account Meanwhile, a separate data how supply chains across the set published in the FinanEU and globally would be dis- cial Times this week showed rupted, as well as the coun- how personal finances would tries’ direct trade links with be hit across Europe under a the UK. no-deal scenario, with the UK To calculate the impact, re- again worst hit. searchers defined ‘leaving It showed that southern with an agreement’ as a situ- Spain is expected to escape ation where the UK leaves the the effects, but those in the EU but remains part of the north and centre of the couninternal market or the Euro- try can expect to be around pean Customs Union. 50 euros worse off annually For the projected no-deal sce- on average.

A to Zed STRUGGLING supermarket chain Dia has been hit with yet another crisis as its new owner faces an ant-corruption probe in Spain. Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman’s owns 70% of the failing chain but now faces an investigation by Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor. The probe centres around Fridman’s involvement in the bankruptcy of Spanish tech company Zed Worldwide. The prosecution believes as a shareholder and creditor of Zed, Fridman achieved the company’s ‘financial strangulation.’ Fridman later acquired Zed for €20 million, well below the company's market value.

Heat strike

UNIONS have denounced 75 construction companies for exposing their workers to soaring summer temperatures in Andalucia. This year has seen the largest number of complaints submitted to the Labour Inspectorate. Andalucia is the only one of Spain’s provinces to protect workers during the hot summer, with work limited to between 7.30 am and 2.30 pm. It comes after a 57-year-old worker Domingo Ocana fell from scaffolding at a school near Jaen and died. The construction sector in Andalucia represents 7% of its total economic output.

Almost there! Chartered financial planner and OP columnist Jonathan Holdaway is one step away from the home of his dreams in southern Spain - but he won’t be adopting ALL the local traditions

O as I sit here by the pool enjoying the last few hours of sunshine, sipping my G&T watching the sun setting over the mountains I settle down to write what is hopefully the final instalment of our house buying experience here in the beautiful Costa Tropical. With us being unable to agree a price on the gorgeous villa we had fallen in love with, just off the Acebuchal road on the outskirts of Frigiliana, we had already found an equally attractive alternative closer to the neighbouring village of Torrox. Although with comparable accommodation and in a similar position to the previous property, it’s amazing how just moving a few kilometres into a different postcode, can make a massive difference in price. We have had an offer accepted which is over €100k less than the asking price of the previous place, yet still only a 15 minute drive from either the meandering lanes of Frigiliana and the beaches of Torrox or Nerja. With a small deposit now transferred to the agent’s bank account and an initial ‘offer to purchase’ contract signed, the property has now been removed from their website and can no longer be mar-

keted for sale. This is so much better than NEW HOME: Holdaway has snapped up a property in Torrox the system in the UK where there is still We have been living in Spain for almost culture, but I personally couldn’t do it – a danger of being ‘gazumped’ several six months now, so it will be very inter- unless it was for a networking event and months into the process. esting to see how we feel about ‘home’ in food or wine was involved! Subject to a satisfactory mortgage of- comparison. So it looks like we will be staying in Spain fer, and with no ‘chain’ the move to our Naturally I will always be British, but I am for the rest of our lives. When we return new home is Spain is achingly close now. growing to love the outdoor living afforded from the UK at the end of August our next We’ve now handed everyby the glorious weather – of step is to obtain residency, which will thing over to the solicitors course it’s raining back in the hopefully not be too difficult as we are and await a satisfactory valu- Much better than UK as they have just had Au- both working and will be paying taxes and ation form the bank. Fingers the system in the gust Bank Holiday weekend! social security very soon. crossed its not down valued The days seem longer and We have been strongly advised to comtoo much but fortunately we UK where there is although we haven’t quite plete the process well before Brexit when, are nowhere near the maxaccustomed to ‘si- from what I have read,BoJo intends to still a danger of become imum borrowing figure so esta’ time I have been rising crash out of the EU on October 31 -deal there is some ‘wriggle room’. being ‘gazumped’ around 5am, to take advan- or no deal! With the heat turning up antage of the cooler hours be- It does sound like Halloween this year will other notch this week, due fore sunrise, often finishing be particularly scary for a lot of people! to a weather system crossing the Medi- work in the early afternoon. If concerned about how your investments terranean from Africa, we are almost re- I admire the many people who return to or pensions are currently positioned get lieved to be preparing for our imminent work at 5 pm after siesta, and continue in touch with me for a ‘Discovery’ meettwo week trip back to the UK to see family well into the evening. I guess that it’s ing at my expense – I’ll even pay for the and friends. easier for them as it is ingrained in their coffee!

Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Pay delay FREELANCERS in Andalucia have to wait more than 100 days on average to get paid, more than three times the legal limit. Of the seven municipalities in Spain that have an average payment period of more than 100 days, six of them are in Andalucia.

Spectacular

The most spectacular case is that of Jaen, which has an average period of 532 days according to a report by the National Federation of Associations of Autonomous Workers. In addition, other Andalucian towns such as Mijas, Huelva, Fuengirola, Cordoba Chiclana de la Frontera have also been found to exceed the maximum period of 30 days. BRITISH design firm Victoria PLC has acquired the Spanish ceramic manufacturer Ibero. Iberoalcorense, stylised as Ibero, was founded in 1958 and supplied specialised stores throughout Europe, North America and the Middle East. The Valencia based company stopped trading in 2018 with a turnover of €30.9 million.

BUSINESS Role reversal

Number of British visitors to Spain drops amid pound drop and no deal brexit threat but European neighbours pick up the slack

GERMAN and French tourists are filling the void left by the drop in British tourists to Spain. The latest numbers show its closest neighbours are visiting – and spending – more than their British counterparts. According to the National Institute of Statistics, June saw a 5.3% drop in British tourists year-on-year, compared to a surge in German and French holidaymakers, of 8.4% and 8% respectively. Other markets also saw a

notable boost, with visitors from Switzerland soaring 20.1%, Portugal by 17.9% and the United States 9.4%. It comes as the ongoing Brexit saga has seen the British pound drop considerably against the euro amid increasing uncertainty and threats of a no-deal exit. Overall, the number of international tourist arrivals in Spain rose 3.2% in June year-on-year, with a total of 8.8 million visitors. Tourists spent €9.69 billion and continued elev-

Victorian “With a solid management team in Spain, we hope to develop the Iberian business as part of Victoria,” said Victoria group president Geoff Wilding. “Ibera are very high quality manufacturer that fits in an excellent way,” he continued. “According to our criteria, it

is an excellent investment , in terms of manufacturing facilities, and will generate benefits immediately.”

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en months of expenditure growth, thanks a lot to the French and Germans. The British still spent the most in June, splashing out €1.945 billion, however this was a 4.3% drop on the year before. The Germans, meanwhile, propped up the drop, spending €1.3 billion, a 7.5% increase while the French spent €664 million, an 8.8% increase. From January to June, British tourists spent €7.747 billion, representing a 1% increase on the same period last year. The Germans, meanwhile, spent €5.313 billion in the same period, a 2.1% yearon-year increase. The French spent €2.962 billion, a 0.8% increase. Spain is set to record another record year after welcoming 38.2 million international tourists in the first half of 2019, before the heights of July -September. The first six months of this year show the UK still

brought in the highest number of tourists with 8.3 million, but it was a 1.4% decrease on last year. While Germany sent 5.3 million holidaymakers, however, it was a 3.4% year-on-year increase. In June, Catalunya reigned supreme among Spain’s holiday destinations.

Million

The home of Barcelona and Sitges welcomed 2.15 million tourists, enjoying a 2.2% year-on-year increase. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca) followed closely behind with 2.06 million international visitors, a 2.6% decrease. Andalucia was third with 1.24 million visitors however it enjoyed a 6.4% increase on the year before. Tourists spent the most in Catalunya, followed by the Canary Islands and Andalucia.

Water cycle A PAIR of entrepreneuring scientists in southern Spain have worked out a way to reuse waste water, solving a key issue in the circular economy. Ricardo Martinez, 26 and his partner Cristina Varona, 25 have developed a new technology to transform industrial wastewater into drinkable water. For every 100 litres of water used in the industrial salt-purification processes, 70 is filtered but the remaining 30 are thrown away, according to Martinez. Through their company, Useful Wastes, the pair reuse this discarded ‘brine’ to produce clean water as well as bleach. ‘Water is an essential resource’ continued Martinez. “Society is not conscious, because it misuses this resource, with disastrous environmental consequences.” Martinez has predicted Spain will become ‘a pioneer’ in the sector and expand into possible markets such as the United States or Saudi Arabia.

FAKE NEWS AND DEFAMATION

In recent weeks M1 Legal has secured several victories in the Spanish courts against CLC and Diamond Resorts. This is in addition to the numerous victories secured over the past two years.

On the 12th July 2019 M1 Legal repor ted notification of another CLC victory heard in the

Court of First Instance Arona, Tenerife whereby CLC were ordered to pay the client £41,590. On the 26th July 2019 M1 Legal notified us of yet another CLC victory heard in the Court of First Instance Fuengirola whereby CLC were ordered to pay the client £25, 068.

Diamond Resorts On the 27th June M1 Legal secured a substantial victory against Diamond Resorts whereby they were ordered to pay the client £49,729. On the 29th July 2019 M1 Legal secured another victory whereby Diamond were ordered to pay the client £6,854. On the 30th July 2019 M1 Legal confirmed that Diamond Resorts were ordered to pay the client £34,077. M1 legal only report to us FACTS not FAKE and have all court judgements in their possession.

S CT

Ask yourself this, why are these companies going to such extreme lengths to try and discredit us together with M1 Legal? The answer is obvious. With so many cases in court submitted by M1 Legal, CLC and Diamond Resorts are worried about their financial future.

On the 1st July 2019 M1 Legal reported a victory against CLC that was heard in the Court of First Instance Fuengirola and CLC were ordered to pay the client £30,480.

We would like to report that because of their actions we have been left no choice but to request M1 Legal to initiate legal action for defamation, which in Spain is a criminal offense. M1 Legal has confirmed that they have taken the first step against California Beach S.A.U. a CLC company. Once the courts reopen in September M1 Legal will be submitting a similar case against Diamond Resorts.

Club la Costa

S CT

Club la Costa and Diamond Resorts continue to try and pull the wool over the eyes of their members.

In recent weeks, both Diamond Resorts and Club la Costa have distributed to their member database an email with statements that are malicious and false about ECC and our associate firm of lawyers M1 Legal and this is not the first time.

Furthermore, with every case initially submitted to the courts, Club la Costa and Diamond Resorts appeal the decision on the basis that the cases should not be heard in Spain. Since January 2019 we have had 90 cases overruled which continue until their forthcoming hearing date. Cases in the Spanish courts: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Club la Costa - 307 with a total value of £7.2 million Diamond Resorts - 64 with a total claim value of £1.0 million

Kwikchex.com Kwikchex.com, Timeshare Business Check and Timeshare Task Force are all managed by the same one man, Mr Chris Emmins who has 17 dissolved companies where he was company secretary or director as confirmed by Companies House. Mr Emmins is paid by the timeshare industry to manage these websites making them look like the “one to trust” with the Trading Standards seal of approval. Why is it that Kwikchex never publish the mountain of victories against the timeshare resorts? Kwikchex is paid

by the timeshare industr y's self-appointed regulatory body Resort Development Organisation (RDO). We would also like to report that in recent weeks, under the guidance of Kwikchex, 2 clients were encouraged to build cases against ECC in the UK courts and both were thrown out by the judge. The clients were ordered to pay ECC legal costs of several thousand pounds.

This is because Kwikchex and their associated entities are NOT lawyers. We encourage anyone seeking advice from these entities to be extremely careful. If in doubt of your legal status regarding your timeshare ownership, you should seek advice from a professional lawyer and not from an entity representing the timeshare industry whose function is to protect the RDO members.

REMEMBER THESE ARE THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT MIS-SOLD TO MEMBERS IN THE FIRST PLACE? Our existence is their creation. For any enquiries email pr@ecc-eu.com or call 0034 951 562209 www.ecc-eu.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Selling porkies

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Cottoning on SUPERMARKET chain Carrefour has started offering reusable cotton bags as an alternative to plastic. Customers can purchase the 100% cotton mesh bags from the greengrocer section in stores, the company has announced. Carrefour has become the first supermarket chain in Spain to adopt this approach. The retail giant has also removed plastic packaging from fruit and vegetables. According to the chain, these measures have helped the outlet to reduce plastic by more than 80% and were a direct result of consultation with customers.

Fake jamon iberico on Spanish supermarket shelves is ‘Poles’ apart from the real thing CARREFOUR supplier and Spain’s biggest distributor of jamon iberico, Comapa, has been accused of labelling Polish pork as from ‘La Alpujarra’ in Granada. The alarm was raised by the Association of Producers of Granada, who transferred its complaint to consumer rights organisation Facua, claiming the labelling was ‘misleading’. The association has demanded the products – a third of the price of genuine

Alpujarras jamon iberico – be removed from the market. Comapa admitted the pigs were Polish, but claimed the production of its jamon is carried out in Granada. In 2016, the Association of Producers of Granada registered the ‘Jamones La Alpujarra’ guarantee mark with the Junta de Andalucia. The rules state the jamon must be made in the region, must come from a female or a castrated male and must

Big balls

SPECIAL: Tomatoes take centre stage

THE huevo de toro tomato has taken centre stage in Marbella as cooks paid tribute to the giant vegetable known as ‘bull's balls’. In total fifteen chefs from across Andalucia contributed a tasty variety of dishes for the third edition of the annual Tomate Huevo Toro Gourmet festival. Amongst the chefs at the El lago restaurant this year were Irene Garrido of the KGB restaurant in Malaga city and Javi Sevilla, from the Arai restaurant in San Pedro. Huevo de toro tomatoes are a famed product of the Guadalhorce Valley and usually weigh in at between 300 grammes and a kilo.

Making a Mochi-ry

PIG’S EAR OF IT: Polish hams NOT from Granada not contain additives or pre- label, ‘Jamones Sierra Alpuservatives – only ham and jarra’, also in 2016. salt. They maintain Poland ‘is The curing process must an EU country’ and so food take at least between 16 and standards are the same as in 20 months – whereas Coma- Spain. pa jamons are only cured for Francisco José Fernández is eight months. one of seven businesses in Sales prices in large super- the Association of Producmarkets such as Carrefour ers of Granada. He has been are around €25 per piece managing the family busifor a Comapa jamon – com- ness Jamones de Juviles, pared with an average of inherited from his grandfa€80 euros for the jamons ther, for 30 years. from companies registered “I feel helpless to see how under the Jamones La Alpu- my father and my grandfajarra label. ther have been fighting to “The hams they bring from make a name in the market Poland are of poor quality,” for hams in the region and Pilar Álvarez, representative now a company uses that of the Association of Pro- brand without producing in ducers of Granada, told El the area,” he said. Pais. “They denigrate the quality Comapa registered its own of the ham of La Alpujarra.”

MERCADONA has shocked Spain by discontinuing some of its most popular ice creams, but a new petition aims to bring them back. The Mochi range was only launched last year, under the Hacendado brand, but has been absent from supermarket freezers this summer. The Japanese-inspired desserts consist of mango and coconut-flavoured ice cream encased in a rice cake shell. After a Twitter user quizzed the Valencian chain over why the treats were not being stocked, Mercadona explained itself online. It said: “We do not have Mochi ice cream because sometimes they had a hard texture and we are working to solve it and restore the service as soon as possible.” But now, a Change.org petition has been launched by sweettoothed shoppers keen to bring back their favourite helados. One campaigner said: “My life has never been the same. I am sad when I wander the frozen aisle every week in a hopeless search.”

Situated on an idyllic square, next to the church, in the heart of Benalmadena Pueblo lies Restaurant El Muro. With stunning views and a traditional rustic interior, it’s a must visit. DAYTIME TAPAS MENU just €9.95 – 3 tapas, glass of wine, beer or soft drink with bread EVENINGS – Serving traditional Spanish dishes, various paellas and specialitites such as whole salt baked sea bream Monday: 18.00-22.30 Wednesday to Saturday: 12.00-22.30 Sunday: 13.00-22.30 Tuesday closed Calle Santo Domingo, Benalmadena Pueblo tel: 951 773 103

FOOD,DRINK Battle gastro

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Andalucia Aponiente

The Chef of the Sea, as this celebrity chef is known, is famous amongst other things for being the first to introduce plankton as an edible ingredient in dishes. He was also on the jury for the first edition of Top Chef in 2013. Hailing from Jerez, he studied in Sevilla and worked in France before starting his own restaurant. Aponiente quickly earned a reputation for its avant garde dishes featuring fish and seafood never previously seen in cuisine. With three Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns, in 2011 the Wall Street Journal named it one of the 10 best restaurants in Europe while the New York Times considered it one of the ‘10 restaurants in the world worth taking a plane for’. Set in an former windmill, it boasts a team of 70 professionals for just 30 diners. The marine-themed tasting menus astonish with their elaborate presentation. Choose from the menu Mar en calma at €195 or the menu Mar de fondo, €225.

Andalucia and Alicante are running neck and neck in the race to tempt travellers with stellar gastronomy.

PAIN has once again beaten its own record with more than 82.6 million international visitors in 2018. But these days it’s Michelin stars, not beaches, that are pulling in the punters. The last 20 years has seen a revolution in Spanish gastronomy with an emerging generation of chefs at the forefront of culinary innovation that goes way beyond patatas brava, tortilla and paella. Young chefs are jumping on the locally-sourced bandwagon, rediscovering forgotten recipes and voicing their modernity through

Francisco Cossi Ochoa, s/n. El Puerto de Sta María, Cádiz Tel.: +34 956 851 870 www.aponiente.com

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Chef Paco Morales met his wife Mariana in her native Cordoba, Argentina, and in 2016 they realised their life project: opening Noor in Spanish Cordoba. One year later they earned a Michelin star and a Repsol Sun. Noor’s interior is influenced by Andalucia’s Moorish heritage, while dishes combine modern culinary techniques with flavours and aromas from the past. They are now working on new menus for next season themed on the Spanish discovery of America. Three menus will mix Arab, Jewish and Christian gastronomy and will star the Iberian pig. The power

LU, Cocina y Alma

partners are also expanding their activities with a part recipe/part history book entitled Noor Restaurant, coming out in November. Also in the works is a Noor restaurant in Dubai, due to open in 2021. Only & Only One Za’abeelen will keep an Andalusian-based menu in a more informal setting with dishes to share.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 8.Córdoba Tel.: +34 957 96 40 55 - www.noorrestaurante.es

Messina Mauricio Giovanni is another Argentinian from Cordoba who started his Spanish career making pasta ‘like many Argentinian cooks do’. In 2003 he opened Messina in Marbella, along with his wife Pia Ninci whose name is an homage to his grandparents who were natives of the eponymous Sicilian town. The restaurant has long been a favourite among Marbella’s dining cognoscenti although it didn’t earn its first Michelin star until 2016. Giovanni’s a la carte and tasting menus are based on local products, particularly fish and shellfish. He combines avant-garde culinary techniques with a simple and elegant presentation. Thanks to Pia’s sommelier skills, Messina also has an impressive cellar numbering some 200 top wines. Av. Severo Ochoa, 12. Marbella, Málaga Tel.: +34 952 864 895 - restaurantemessina.com

Juan Luis Fernandez, also known as Juan Lu, was once the right-hand of Angel Leon at Aponiente, but left to follow his dream and opened his own place in Jerez. Last year LU became the first in town to be awarded a Michelin star. The distinctive interior was created by famous interior designer Gaspar Sobrino. It is a modern interpretation of Alice in Wonderland, with a white and blue colour scheme, ladders coming out of everywhere and tables made of marble. A maximum of 30 diners sit around a theatrical open kitchen at the centre of the dining room, where they can admire the artistry. The restaurant´s main concept is a French and Andalusian fusion, where Fernández adapts French cuisine to local Andalucian products - such as replacing the butter in a French dish with typical Andalusian manteca colora (red lard coloured with paprika and other spices). The tasting menus change daily, depending on the chef’s inspiration, and the result is always unique and very modern. It may have been a risk to open such an experimental restaurant in this traditional town a distance from the costas but it has paid off. Earlier in May, Fernández opened a restaurant in Marbella, Maison Lú. It is a more informal version of the Jerez restaurant and will offer a la carte instead of tasting menus. Zaragoza, 2. Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz Tel.: +34 695 408 481 www.lucocinayalma.es

& TRAVEL of the giants Claire Leibovich dishes up her A v A list of the best restaurants on both costas to help you pick a winner

theatrical reinterpretation. Tradition, culture and region are now celebrated in haute cuisine menus and although technique keeps improving, ingredients are the new protagonists. In southern Spain, Andalucia and Alicante are the foodie hotspots at the heart of this culinary renaissance. Almeria, in eastern Andalucia, is 2019’s Spanish Capital of Gastronomy; Denia in Alicante was Unesco’s Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015. But it’s really no contest. If fine dining is your thing, you can’t go wrong either way.

August 14th - August 27th 2019

ALICANTE Quique Dacosta Dacosta is one of the most notable leaders of Spain’s culinary Nouvelle Vague. His Denia restaurant was awarded three stars in the 2012/13 Michelin guide and came fourth in the 100 best restaurants in Europe rankings by OAD (Opinionated About Dining). In his 2018 menu, entitled La evolución y el origen (Evolution and Origin), the 47 year-old chef explored the oldest techniques of conserving food in the Mediterranean, when salt was a fundamental ingredient: ¨It is a simple and universal product, but that does not make it any less relevant,” he said. “After all, humanity has survived thanks to salt.” For this year’s menu, Autorretratos (Self Portraits), Dacosta shows how imagination can help us overcome everyday monotony. Carrer Rascassa, 1 Urb. El Poblet, 03700 Dénia, Alicante - Tel.: +34 965 784 179

Mobile: 0034 682 489 949 Home: 0034 952 557 842 Calle Alamos 6, 29753 Archez www.mesonmudejar.com

Mesón Mudéjar Vegan restaurant and hotel

BonAmb

Beat Valencia-born Jose Manuel Miguel worked in the Ritz in Madrid and Le Bristol in Paris before returning to his native soil. He is now the chef of Beat, located in the Cook Book Hotel in Calpe, and was recently awarded one Michelin star. He also scooped the Sapiña Prize for Innovation in April. The 41-year old chef has developed a very personal style, adapting highly refined and technical French cuisine to fresh, local products. His favourite bywords? “Tradition, technique, elegance and innovation.”

Born in 1984, Alberto Ferruz already holds an impressive record for such a young chef, and he shows much more promise. Originally from the Zaragoza region, Ferruz has trained and worked in France and Spain where he collaborated with Quique Dacosta. The BonAmb has been awarded two Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns (only five other restaurants in Spain have that many). His style follows the up-and-coming trend of tradition, anthropology and innovation. “I am for an avant-garde cuisine that is 80% Mediterranean product, but I also recuperate old, forgotten recipes,” he said in a 2019 interview with Heraldo. Carretera Benitaxell, 100. Jávea, Alicante Tel.: +34 965 084 440 www.bonamb.com

Partida Marisol Park, 1. Calpe, Alicante Tel.: +34628277858 - www.thecookbookhotel.com

L´Escaleta

A family restaurant when it opened in 1980 in Cocentaina, it was called after the ladder you had to climb to get to it. Then it moved places and the second generation, chef Kiko Mayo and his cousin Alberto Redrado, took over. Since then, L’Escaleta has accumulated two Michelin stars

Manero Tapas Bar Delicatessen Sergio Serra and his business partner Carlos Bosch, already heading up Alicante’s El Portal restaurant, opened a tapas bar in the same city at the end of 2018. The place was decorated by fashionable interior designer Lazaro Rosa Violán with a Belle Epoque vibe. The bar offers a wide selection of seafood, ibérico hams, charcuterie, cheeses, vegetables, salads, classic and more innovative tapas and montadi-

tos. Sarra’s favourite ingredient is onion, which he loves using in different ways: ‘Raw, sauté, roasted, cooked at low heat...Onion is the starting point-basis of any cuisine. Everything starts with onion.’They get a brownie point for the affordable prices: you can get a complete three-course meal for €20.

Médico Manero Mollá, 7., Alicante. Tel.: +34 965 144 444 - www.barmanero.es

and three Repsol Suns. Mayo works with local products to produce tasting menus that change according to the season. He emphasises memory and a cuisine that goes back to forgotten recipes such as chicken crest. When asked to define his cuisine in an interview with Información, Mayo answered: “It is as difficult as defining yourself. I aim to create a cuisine that is simple, honest and humble in every sense.” In another interview with alicanteplaza, the chef declares that ‘a dish has to tell a story’. If you want to learn more about Mayo’s very philosophical view of gastronomy, watch the featur-length documentary on L´Escaleta, presented at the Berlin Film Festival this year - Y en cada lenteja un dios. Subida a la Estación del Norte, 205. Cocentaina, Alicante - Tel.: +34 965 592 100 www.lescaleta.com

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August 14th - August 27th 2019

What’s on Gibraltar

peaking out

LEARN how to project your voice and tell a story at the Public Speaking Bootcamp held by Girls in Tech on August 17-18 in the Atlas Suites at the Sunborn Hotel.

i n k i n g spree

BUDDING boat builders will put their cardboard creations into a race for charity at Ocean Village on August 17 at midday.

w e e sounds

DANCE to cracking electronic music from 4pm at the ‘Que Pasa’ festival at Victoria Stadium on August 17 starting.

reathe deep

GET a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you on August 20 at the Sunset Yoga Flow in Camp Bay at 8.30pm.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Rock steady The UK’s departure from the EU might not all be doom and gloom

REXIT could work well for Gibraltar tourism as Spain becomes too expensive and inaccessible. The amount of direct flights to the UK and new accommodation options are expected to increase the volume of British tourists. As Brexit becomes ever more likely, lucky travel agents could now get a crash course in what makes Gibraltar special. “The uniqueness of the warm British Gibraltarian welcome in the heart of the Mediterranean and a good value pound sterling destination continues to be an important message in times of currency volatility,” said Minister for Tourism Gilbert Licudi. The pound has already dipped to one of its lowest ever points against the euro ever and things are expected to worsen if there is a no-deal Brexit. They will be brought over to the Rock and taken to

HAPPY DAYS: Gib National Day programme

see the monkeys, dolphins and many other attractions. The get-to-know-you plans are part of the Gibraltar 2020 trade marketing campaign. “The travel trade is a vital

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

route to market for us, which is why we have formulated this strategy to further develop our bonds with UK agents,” said Licudi. “We have recently experienced extensive investments in our accommodation sector and it is increasingly becoming appealing to a broader demographic.” The opening of the Holiday Inn Express and a number of short-term rental options are helping Gibraltar open for business in new directions.

The marketing plan will include an advertising campaign and an e-learning course about what the Rock offers. The website that travel agents need to go to is www.gibraltartraining.com. This effort is sure to encourage Costa del Sol migrants from the UK too, who will feel more at home than ever in Gibraltar. With both Morrisons and Waitrose products sold on the Rock, it has long been frequented by many Brits wanting a taste of home. The National Month celebrations throughout the

second half of August reinforce that link. It is all the more significant as the Gibraltarians voted to remain British by an overwhelming majority on two occasions. Whether you want to experience the sights, sample the food or just take a dip into Britishness, Gibraltar is the place to be.

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD

BRITISH

For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

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HEALTH No deal Growing old gracefully damage G 43

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Major impact of no deal brexit on acess to healthcare revealed with cost of insurance set to soar MILLIONS of families could see holiday bills skyrocket if Britain leaves the EU without a deal due to the loss of European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC). It comes as holidaymakers are already seeing their holiday spending money shrink, with the pound plunging to record low value against other currencies. More than 4.5 million un-

RANDPARENTS are taking a more and more active role in caring for their grandchildren and offer so much love, support and help for their families, which is why they were recognised on National Grandparents Day on July 26.

der-16s carry the cards, which give travellers the right to access state-provided healthcare while travelling in Europe, either free or at a reduced charge. But the cards would become redundant in a no-deal scenario, leaving families on the hook for their own health insurance as they go on holiday. Labour ’s Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson said:

Second skin HOSPITALS in Spain could soon stock artificial skin for immediate use on burn victims. Scientists at the University of Granada (UGR) have developed four new models of artificial skin using stem cells taken from adipose tissue, dental pulp, bone marrow and umbilical cords. Currently skin grafts can be grown using a burn victim’s own skin cells, but the process takes weeks.

Researchers said ‘compatibility studies’ would need to be carried out to determine which of the four models of artificial skin is most suitable for the patient. But they said the technology was ‘promising’ as it could greatly benefit serious burn victims in need of urgent treatment.

“The Brexit chaos caused by the Tory Party could mean that millions of families face extra charges to go on holiday. “Over the school summer holidays, families across the country will have saved and planned for a holiday to spend special, quality time together, but this Prime Minister’s mishandling of Brexit could make holiday prices rocket. “Boris Johnson ’s reckless, senseless approach to Brexit will leave working families worse off. He must urgently rethink and take no deal off the table.” Research carried out by Labour suggests travel insurance for a couple in their 70s to go to Spain would cost an extra £108. NHS guidance says access to healthcare in the EU is “likely to change” if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. The guidance urges people planning to travel on or after October 31 2019 to buy travel insurance “as you would if visiting a non-EU country.” Spain has publicly committed to healthcare access for resident and visiting UK nationals.

How to protect older eyes Good vision is essential for living a full life and keeping up with the grandchildren. Specsavers Opticas advises everyone over the age of 80 to have an eye test at least once a year as older eyes are susceptible to certain changes which can be detected during an eye test. Some of the most common issues to affect the eyes after the age of 65 include cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. So be aware of any changes in your vision and visit your optician as soon as you notice any changes. Glaucoma is caused by a build-up of fluid within the eye, which increases pressure and damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. If not caught and treated early, this causes permanent vision loss, yet as vision damage occurs gradually, it can be hard to spot without an eye test. Make sure you are getting your eyes tested regularly. Check that it includes an eye pressure test (tonometry) which can identify glaucoma in the early stages and that your optician uses the latest technology to ensure that the eyes are healthy. Looking after your Grandchildren’s Eyes If you are looking after your grandchildren on a regular basis, you need to think about how to keep their eyes healthy and protect against injuries.

Specsavers has everything you need to know about caring for the eyes of the old and young

Sport-related injuries are the biggest single cause of accidental eye injury in children. High-risk sports and activities are the main culprits such as anything using small fast projectiles, contact sports and cycling.We recommend that children or adults who are taking part in any activities, considered high risk, should wear protective eyewear. Choose toys carefully – Many toys can cause eye injuries including scratches to the cornea, ulcers, traumatic cataracts, bleeding and retinal detachment.Specsavers Opticas advise against buying toys which shoot dangerous projectiles such as bullets, darts or balls, toy wands, swords and laser pointers. Limit Screen Time – Across the nine Specsavers Opticas stores in Spain we have noticed an increase in eye problems, particularly short-sightedness, in children and believe it could be related to the excessive use of digital devices.

We advise you to limit screen time, make sure that kids get plenty of time outside and that they have regular eye tests from the age of six to maintain good vision.

Comprehensive eye tests including health checks are free at Specsavers Opticas in Here are a few important tips to follow: 1. Protect their eyes when playing sports – Fuengirola, call 952 467 837 to book your test.

For more eye health information for you or your grandchildren, pop into the store the Fuengirola store on Avenida Ramon Y Cajal 6, or see the eye health section of the website www.specsavers.es

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Fuengirola Avda. Ramón y Cajal, 6 Tel. 952 467 837

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August 14th August 27th 2019

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August 14th August 27th 2019

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August 14th - August 27th 2019

COLUMNISTS

Summer shutdown

I DON’T mean to point out the bleeding obvious, but summer is most definitely here. It’s not just the fact that every time I step out onto the terrace at the Casita I feel like I’m standing in a giant hair-dryer – and it’s been a while since one of those was any-

It’s the essentials you really miss when Spain closes for August, writes Giles Brown

where near my bald bonce, I can assure you. Or the fact that 50 Shades has so little energy that she has been lying

EVERYTHING: Shuts in summer as Spain heads to the beach

OP Puzzle solutions

Across: 1 Kirsch, 5 Betray, 8 Supermarket, 9 Nepalese, 10 Ouch, 11 Below, 13 Study, 17 Crop, 19 Mattress, 21 Loudspeaker, 22 Agrees, 23 Anyone. Down: 2 Issue, 3 Soprano, 4 Harden, 5 Beaten, 6

Tokyo, 7 Antacid, 12 Earplug, 14 Turnkey, 15 Amuses, 16 Athena, 18 Prune, 20 Siren.

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flat out on the table and looks like she’s been ironed. And last but not least, you know that summer has arrived due to specific smells. Most distinctively, when you throw the rubbish in the back of the 4x4 and then forget to drop it off in the bins, letting it to stew in the heat all day. The only smell worse than that was when I discovered a Tupperware container containing a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich that had been under the driver’s seat for three months. And I stupidly decided to open it. As I lay on the floor convulsing, I realised that I might have just invented the world’s first tuna taser. Obviously the onset of summer means the annual arrival of the madding and maddening crowds. Along with the sheer amount of people in town, traffic chaos and usual summer gripes, the other factor that makes summer such a challenge is the fact that everything shuts. I don’t mean

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MECHANICS: Become hard to locate come August

the beach bars and restaurants, summer, as the road manners of but the everyday shops and ser- other drivers can be a little, ahem, vices that you need ‘challenging’, but if you live here full I’ve even caught mytime. self giving cyclists – It’s easier to It’s easier to get a and you all know my cerveza than have a thoughts about the get a cerveza carburettor changed legions of MAMILs than have a in summer, trust me, (Middle Aged Men In as Spain takes AuLycra) - a cheery wave carburettor gust off and heads to as I amble along the changed the beach. Istan road. When you have the The sun must be getsort of luck with cars ting to me. that I have, that makes this month I’d go out and buy a bigger hat, more than a little nervy. but the shop is probably shut for I always drive defensively during summer.

SPORT CRACK SHOT: Rogers

Bullseye BRITISH archery ace Thea Rogers has set her sights on Spanish gold at next week’s World Youth Championships in Madrid. The 17-year-old from Cwmbran in Wales is part of the 24-strong British team travelling to Spain for the competition, which runs from August 19-25. Looking ahead to Madrid, Rogers said: “Pretty much everyone in the world is going to be in Madrid. “The Korean archers are very good, but if we do what we do then I think we’ll have a chance. “When we came back from Romania we looked at what the weather was like in Madrid and it was around 38°C – and they haven’t reached the peak of their summer yet. “But we’ve all been shooting well and things are good, so we’re going for gold this time!”

If you have a sports story, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

Bale in

Bale brought back into the fold as Zidane recalls Welsh wizard for preseason clash against in Rome

WELCOME HOME: Bale back into first-team squad

GARETH BALE has impressed upon his return to the Real Madrid squad, having been frozen out during much of pre-season by boss Zinedine Zidane. The Wales international came on as a substitute in the friendly against Roma, scoring in a penalty shoot-out which Madrid eventually lost 5-4. Bale’s future at the Bernabeu had looked uncertain with the

forward having been left out of the club’s pre-season friendly against German side RB Salzburg. But speaking after the match in Rome, Zidane seem to have have made a u-turn on Bale along with fellow outcast, James Rodriguez. “James and Bale are players in the squad. “They are both registered,

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Home insurance with Linea Directa has you covered if your fridge or freezer breaks

Pretty in pink SHINJI Okazaki has dazzled in pink as he sported the new Malaga CF kit for his first assist at his new club. The Japanese forward ditched the blue of Leicester City to don the new completely fuchsia pink alternative kit made by Nike. A quick turn of Pace

August 14th - August 27th 2019

from the striker saw him set up teammate Hicham Boussefiane to score the only goal of the game against Melilla. The win is the first of the preseason for the Costa del Sol club, whose first home game is against Las Palmas on August 24.

but anything can happen and I, as a coach of Real Madrid, must count on them,” said the Frenchman. The 30-year-old had seemed set to leave the Spanish club this summer but a potential move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning fell through. Zidane had previously said that Bale being sold would be ‘best for everyone’, sparking uproar from the player’s representative. “It’s simple, Zidane doesn’t like Gareth. “There’s no relationship between them. There never has been,” said Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett. “Zidane is a disgrace - he shows no respect for a player who has done so much for Real Madrid,” Barnett fumed. Bale, 30, signed from Tottenham in 2013 for the then world record fee of €92 million and still has three years remaining on his contract.

ANY insurance companies offer home insurance, but what about the contents of your fridge? A big part of our monthly expenditure goes on shopping for food and a fridge packed full of food is a significant cost. Imagine your fridge or freezer stops working in these hot summer months and all the food is quickly ruined. Will it be covered as part of your contents insurance? Fridge and freezer cover as standard Our home insurance policy covers the contents of your fridge and freezer up to a maximum of €300 per claim for food stored in a domestic refrigerator or freezer that has been spoiled due to the fridge or freezer unit breaking down or a power cut that lasts longer than six consecutive

hours. Putting in a claim If you need to claim, simply provide a copy of the repair invoice for the fridge or freezer, and in the event of a power cut spoiling your food contents, then a justification from the electricity company confirming the power outage. Tips for power cuts and surges Power cuts and surges are a nuisance and often occur during thunderstorms during the hotter summer months. And it’s not only the contents of your fridge or freezer that can be spoiled, expensive electronics, home alarm systems and other appliances may be affected. We recommend you install surge protectors and remember to unplug your most prized electronics during thunderstorms.

If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834 More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

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2/8/18 17:01

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Having a butcher’s

FINAL WORDS

A BULL has sought revenge on its captors by charging into a butcher’s, trashing furnishings and attacking staff in the northern town of Estella.

100 not out A EURASIAN lynx has been born in the Pyrenees for the first time in almost a century, with the mammal not spotted there since the 1930s.

Dirty Sanchez THE owner of a Madrid restaurant has renamed its pizza ‘Cojonuda’, the phrase used by Pedro Sanchez - roughly meaning dog’s bollocks - to describe the dish in a 2010 tweet.

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Vol. 13 Issue 324 www.theolivepress.es August 14th - August 27th 2019

‘Slide of death’ dismantled on Costa del Sol following injuries THE notorious ‘longest slide in Spain’ has been removed from the Costa del Sol after it caused a string of minor injuries. The 38-metre chute, which closed after its riders were left bruised and burned, has been dismantled. Pictures show the stainless

steel attraction cut up into pieces and the site where it was once housed, bare and fenced off. Estepona’s PP Government has been slammed by the PSOE over the move, with the left wing party saying it expects ‘explanations’ of the slide’s expenses.

...Slide with pride

MEANWHILE, residents in Colmenar in Malaga had all the fun with a huge inflatable slide running through one of its main streets. Adults and kids alike tabogonned through the town on lilos resembling everything from unicorns to a packet of french fries. The sliding attraction comes to town every year as part of the annual feria.

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Ah chute Photo by: Jess Lewis

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But Estepona Ayuntamiento claims it awarded a free contract to the company that built and dismantled the slide, therefore no public money was used. “Since no amount was ever paid for the slide this has not led to the payment of economic amounts for the said withdrawn infrastructure,” a spokesperson said. It comes after the slide was proudly unveiled by Estepona Mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano in the run-up to the May 26 municipal elections. The privately-funded slide in Los Niños Park was quoted as costing €28,000, while the budget for the green space as a whole was €298,839. But the ambitious politcian’s PR stunt backfired, as the world’s media began reporting incidents of injuries. One female rider said she ‘hurt everywhere’ after rid-

GONE FOR GOOD: Slide ing it, while others received friction burns and blisters. The slide was closed on May 11 just 24 hours after opening. It was then reopened with updated safety advice that users must not ride lying down and that children must be accompanied by adults.

Southern comforts ANDALUCIANS have the best sex, a new study has found. For the fifth consecutive year residents in the southernmost Spanish region were declared unbeatable in the bedroom. The autonomous community was voted the most sexually accomplished by 18% of voters in a survey by Condom brand Control. Second best was the Canary Islands with 9.6%, while Navarra was rated the worst region between the sheets with 1.7%, according to the poll. The study of 18-35-year-olds, conducted through online questionnaires, revealed that six out of 10 Spaniards have sex once a week or less frequently.