Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 325 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

The

OLIVE PRESS

Mijas Costa FREE

SUFFERER: Of hypertrichosis

Howler!

CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome’ have grown after 16 children were given contaminated medication on the Costa del Sol. Infants developed hypertrichosis - excessive body hair growth - after taking omeprazole which had been contaminated by minoxidil – the active ingredient for alopecia medication. Some 13 babies had initially been diagnosed with the condition before three more cases linked to the tainted drugs were discovered earlier this month. Officials believe the contamination could have affected up to 30 Andalucian pharmacies and more than 50 batches of the drug. Malaga-based pharmaceutical company Farma-Quimica Sur SL has been found to be the source of the batch. The affected batch is from lot 11072/10/42 and most have been recalled while any missing packets are being tracked down. Parents have been advised to seek medical help if their child has been given the formula and check with their pharmacy if they have purchased an affected lot. Hypertrichosis, known as ‘werewolf syndrome’, is a rare condition characterised by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body. Those with the condition have historically been subject to great interest and in somes cases forced to perform in travelling circuses and freak shows. Spanish authorities have said this incident is isolated to children’s formula and that adults taking omeprazole capsules should not worry about developing symptoms. When the children stopped taking the prescription their hair growth subsided. Opinion Page 6

Still a be-leaver! Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 13 Issue 325 www.theolivepress.es August 28th - September 10th 2019

The British expats who are proBrexit and proud SEE PAGE 7

TWIST OF FATE Spain battered by tornadoes and hail in series of weather phenomenons

CHAOTIC: (Top right) tornado in Malaga which killed dozens of goats and (right) lightning strikes across eastern Spain while (above left) cars swept by rapids south east of Madrid and (above right) a huge hailstone which fell in the Castilla La Mancha region TORNADOES, rivers of hail and ferocious storms have struck across Spain this week in a series of frightening weather incidents. Campillos in Malaga saw several huge tornadoes destroy power lines and uproot olive trees, causing blackouts and warnings to residents to stay in their homes. Some 70 goats were killed and at least

six warehouses destroyed. The weather phenomenon was caused by colliding winds, a process known as DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos). This is similar to the famous gota fria - or cold drop - according to local meteorologist Jose Luis Escudero. It came as the streets of Arganda, near Madrid, were turned into ferocious

rapids after 40 litres of hail fell per square metre in just 10 minutes. Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET recorded more than 9,300 lightning strikes in six hours. The hail storm caused serious flooding in several villages south east of the capital, with Arganda, Valdemoro and Pinto among the worst hit. Parts of the M40 and M30 motorways were cut off while lines 5 and 9 of the metro were also affected. According to meteorologist Benito Fuentes, strong storms are common in August. “The rain has been fairly heavy but it is not unusual for this time of the year. At the end of summer, the atmosphere is unstable, which causes air streams to collide. This leads to quite strong rainfall and storms,” he said.

At least 50 vehicles were damaged in Arganda alone while several vineyards were also completely destroyed. Residents, who had been sweltering in temperatures close to 38C the day before, were forced to shovel hail out of their homes and businesses. “The storm started around 6pm and only lasted about 10 minutes but has caused a disaster,” one local said. “I have been living here for 20 years and have never seen anything like it.” One shop owner says his premises looks like it has taken a tonne of hail and said there are scenes of chaos as businesses are totally flooded. Meanwhile, Valencia saw a huge storm light up the skies last night while its whole coast has been placed on orange alert for strong winds and rain. The Balearics too, were struck by August downpours yesterday, causing severe flooding in Mallorca and Ibiza - the latter of which saw sewage pipes burst, sending human waste into the Port of Ibiza.

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CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Justice served A ROBBER on the run from the law since 2015 has been captured by police in Benahavis where the 56-year-old had been working as a labourer.

Fair play POLICE at the Malaga Feria have revealed they stopped 470 people for drugs, 28 for weapons and arrested 45 in total.

August 28th - September 10th 2019

Pool shocker Six-year-old battles suspected blood poisoning after terrifying ordeal trapped in pool filter A BRITISH father whose little girl is in hospital on the Costa del Sol after being sucked into a pool filter pump has called it an ‘accident waiting to happen.’ Doctors fear Zara Clarkson, six, from Manchester, may have blood poisoning after her tiny arm was trapped for more than three hours. Her father, Zack, 46, battled to keep his daughter’s head above water as firefighters raced to the scene with jackhammers and smashed apart the poolside to

Smoked out A PAIR of legal cannabis smoking clubs on the Costa del Sol have been shut down over drug trafficking.

Sexual assault A SPANISH man, 43, has been arrested in Velez-Malaga for allegedly masturbating in front of and groping two women, one of whom is a minor.

EXCLUSIVE By Timothy McNulty

free the youngster. The dad and daughter were enjoying their first family holiday at the luxury villa in Estepona with Zara’s twin sister Lucy and their mum Claire, 42, having only bought the property in the Villas de Santa Maria urbanization at Christmas. Zara underwent treatment at the Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella where doctors con-

SCARY: Zara in hospital and (right) swollen arm ducted blood tests to ensure tor in Manchester told the Olive there was no damage to her Press. kidneys. “Zara was panicking He added: “Something with and screamed out ‘daddy the that kind of suction would have pool is sucking me and it won’t easily pulled a smaller child unstop’,” Zack, a building contrac- der the water and they would have been killed. “It's incredible her little arm has swollen up so much it is now three times the size. “What has the doctors most running a Malaga-based couconcerned is that the force of rier service, which also disthe suction may have forced tributed to Denmark, Poland toxins to be released into Zara’s and Sweden. bloodstream.” Zack stayed According to police the Brit ‘cheek to cheek’ with Zara keepsuspects would frequently ing her calm as emergency serchange their rented cars and vices attempted to saw open the apartments to keep officers pool’s drainage system. off the scent. “I am a tough lad but my first In May 58kg of drugs were thought was to go to the corintercepted at a courier ofner of the pool and have a quiet fice, with another 17kg dissob,” added the distraught facovered in August. ther-of-two. Once identified, police then Zara’s mum Claire added: “It conducted raids on the suswas unbearable, I felt helpless pects’ homes, in which they and just wanted her out.” found a further 28kg of drugs. Opinion Page 6

High five

Slashed in his sleep A WOMAN has been arrested for the attempted murder of her sleeping boyfriend after leading police to the knife she allegedly stabbed him with. The Spanish suspect, 41, is believed to have plunged a kitchen knife into the chest of the 51-year-old, also Spanish. Police arrived on the scene of the bloody attack in Mijas at around 00:40am after a neighbour reported a man and woman screaming.

FIVE British men and women have been arrested after police busted a cannabis ‘delivery service’. The three men and two women, aged 38 to 62, are being held in prison after 100kg of drugs, intended for the UK and other countries, was seized. Policia Nacional officers found a mix of 52kg of hash and weed, along with 51kg of vacuum-packed marijuana buds. Around €23,000 in cash was also recovered by police. The detainees are accused of

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TRASH! TWO bin men are being investigated after footage emerged of them tossing rubbish bags into the river while on the job. The unnamed municipal workers have been suspended without pay after they were filmed picking up several bags left next to a full bin and throwing them into a nearby stream in Marbella. The 90-second clip, which has since gone viral on social media, was filmed on Calle Bronze. Both workers believed no one was watching as they worked in the black of night, tossing at least six bags into the riverbed. A local was perched behind a lampost across the street, filming them the whole time. Marbella town hall has described their act as illegal and a ‘very serious’ offence. Mayor Angeles Munoz said she was ‘tremendously ashamed of the behaviour’ of the workers.

Feria shooting A MAN has been arrested with nine rounds of ammunition stuffed down his pants after shots were fired near the Feria de Malaga. Police in Malaga cuffed the 43-year-old Spaniard who was bleeding from his mouth. Five gunshots were heard after a man reportedly shouted: “Do you want shots? Well, you are going to have shots.” No one was injured.

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NEWS

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ANTON: And Belle

Heart of a king SPAIN’S former king Carlos has undergone a routine heart operation. The 81-year-old needed the surgery after doctors spotted a problem during his annual check-up, but palace officials have remained tight-lipped over the condition. The operation, which took place at a private hospital in the suburbs of Madrid, comes just months after Juan Carlos retired from public life. The monarch, who helped smooth Spain's transition to democracy in the 1970s, is said to be ‘living a normal life,’ according to a palace spokesman. They added: “It does not seem like it is a serious case."

Ship-shape Joshua FORMER Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been snapped on holiday in Spain during a break from training ahead of his Andy Ruiz Jr rematch fight. The British boxer was spotted enjoying a day out in Duquesa Port in Manilva before heading out on a boat trip with his family. It comes as Joshua prepares to face Ruiz Jr in a rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 7. The 29-yearold had been knocked down four times by the Mexican last time they met in what has gone down as one of boxing’s biggest upsets.

PECKISH: Islanders on date

Fairway to behave? Duke of York holed up in exclusive Spanish golf resort as he flees Epstein paedophile scandal

A ‘RELAXED’ Prince Andrew has indulged in a round of golf on Spain’s most expensive course as he dodges the sexual allegations swirling around him and his paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein. The Queen’s son was pictured teeing off at Real Club Valderrama, in Sotogrande, which costs €400 a round, not including a buggy. The Duke of York, 59, drove his black Range Rover to the exclusive golf spot, before stepping out in a light blue polo shirt and slacks to play nine holes, while accompanied by a bodyguard. Surrounded by his nearest and dearest - including ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - Andrew was also known to have been at a friend’s 50th birthday and dined at exclusive restaurants Cancha Dos and Gigi’s Beach. Fergie is believed to have mostly stayed by the pool at the 350-

FLEEING: Andrew golfing acre €41 million mansion the former couple are believed to be holed up in. It comes as the ‘panicking’ prince has sought to escape accusations over his alleged 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts, who claims the royal slept with her three times. Flight records from the pri-

In pursuit of a Prince THE Olive Press has been helping the national news networks to locate the UK’S Prince Andrew in Spain. Via our many contacts in Sotogrande we were able to help Sky News track his movements, while ‘on holiday’ with his ex wife Sarah Ferguson. OP Editor Jon Clarke was interviewed for the Sky News report while chauffeuring

Paddy paddle

Slap up EXCLUSIVE PICS

LOVE Island’s Anton Danyluk did not skimp on the cost as he treated ex-beau Belle to the best ravioli in the Balearics. The 24-year-old gym owner attempted to win back his Love Island co-star Belle Hasson, 21, with a slap-up meal after he was forced to deny cheating. The pair were snapped dining at Verico in Port d’Andraxt, the number one rated restaurant in Mallorca, according to Trip Advisor. It comes after the Scottish hunk had been seen locking lips with a mystery brunette in a nightclub. But after cocktails, sea bass and Sicilian cannoli from Verico’s tasting menu, Belle seemed ready to forgive Anton’s antics.

August 28th - September 10th 2019

STEPPING IN: Olive Press editor Jon Clarke assists Sky

senior reporter Andrew Bowden around the luxury enclave.

vate jet of disgraced financier Epstein, who killed himself in his New York prison cell on August 10, appear to show the pair in the same location three times. But Buckingham Palace has defended Andrew as it said: “Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.” The Prince also defended himself this week with the release of a new statement. It read: “I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him [Epstein] after his release in 2010 and I can only reiterate my regret that I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know.” In a partnership with Sky News, the Olive Press is among the world’s media currently tracing Prince Andrew’s movements in Southern Spain.

CHRISTINE McGuiness has wowed beachgoers by showing off her incredible curves paddleboarding on holiday in Spain. The 31-year-old tried her hand at the water sport while enjoying a sun-soaked getaway to Mallorca. The mum of three looked every inch the beach babe as she took to the waves in a skimpy orange bandeau bikini. The two-day break comes as the former model celebrated her husband Paddy’s 46th birthday. While last month Christine admitted that her and Paddy were proud parents after their autistic children went on a plane for the first time.

CHILLING: McGuinness on paddleboard GREAT British Bake Off contestant Helena Garcia has high hopes of winning over judges with her Spanish style as the hit show returns. Helena, 40, lived in Spain as a child having been born in Ceuta, the autonomous Spanish City that borders Morrocco. The keen baker would watch her Spanish grandmother bake as a child and now CAPTION hopes to

Great Spanish bake-off

impress Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. It comes as Channel 4 reveals the 13 Great British Bake Off 2019 contestants. “I won a baking competition at work and that gave me the confidence to apply,” Helena told Channel 4. “Although when I learned that I had got in I had a bit of a confidence crisis thinking, can I possibly be good enough?”

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Futurist

AN experienced British psychic medium, who has travelled the world, has set up base on the Costa del Sol. Gerry Cannon, 83, from London, has started offering demonstrations in Ouija boards, table tilting and automatic writing. The expat, who worked in the field for more than eight years in the US, does house calls between Sotogrande and San Pedro. Cannon, who lives in Duquesa Village, has also written extensively about his work in Egypt and the country’s ‘second Sphinx’. Find out more in the next issue of the Olive Press, or email Gerry on gcmedium@yahoo.com or ring +34 952891080 or +34 690017237.

MARBELLA may be full of airheads but it has also been revealed to have the best air quality in Andalucia. The annual report from the Air Quality Surveillance and Control Network in Andalucia found that in 2018 Marbs had the region’s cleanest air. Research carried out in cities of more than 100,000 people showed that the home of the rich and famous had the lowest ozone levels. It was also the second best in terms of sulphur dioxide emissions, while its strong performance was in line with previous years’ results. Average readings from 88 of the airflow meters across Spain’s southernmost region were compiled from readings taken eight hours per day.

Air heads

Marbella’s air is Andalucia’s cleanest, says new report, despite being a playground for petrolheads

MEASURED: Andalucia air tested annually

Although Algeciras is notorious for pollution, the city came second for clean

A BRITISH tourist and a dog have become the latest victims of Spain’s biggest ever listeriosis outbreak, according to the Spanish press. So far two people have died from the bacterial infection, while 200 people have been affected across the country, including 31 pregnant women. The Englishman was infected during a holiday to Andalucia, before making his way to France where he was hospitalised for at least two days. The man ate contaminated meatloaf and is now said to have returned to the UK, El Pais reported. It comes as a greyhound in Malaga is ‘highly suspected’ of also having the dis-

SINGLE IMPLANT

REVEALED: Junta set open date for hospital

Coming soon

air after Marbella, while the region capital Sevilla was third.

Brit struck with listeria

OUTBREAK: Listeria

August 28th - September 10th 2019

ease, the Spanish Veterinary Business Confederation (CEVE) said. The 10-year-old animal apparently showed ‘digestive symptoms’, while several of its owners are hospitalised in Malaga. Magrudis is the Sevilla-based company at the centre of this scandal and 15 of the firm’s products have now had warnings issued against them by Spain’s Ministry of Health. Tests at the company’s kitchens revealed positive results for listeria monocytogenes bacteria in its ovens and in needles used to inject meat with fat. Listeriosis is a bacterial infection that can cause sepsis, meningitis and encephalitis and can be fatal.

IMPLANT BRIDGE

“Official studies consider that ozone and sulfur dioxide are two of the most harmful gases and are related to cardiovascular problems, so they must be controlled,” said Baldomero Leon, who lead the study. The good news comes despite Marbella still drawing the gas-guzzling supercars and megayachts of Hollywood stars and the international elite. But the city has made some ‘green’ improvements recently, with the completion of three ‘vertical gardens’. Built this year, the €150,000 project saw ‘living walls’ adorn bridges, car parks and other busy areas.

THE Junta has set an end-ofyear completion date for Estepona’s long-awaited new hospital. Originally the Costa del Sol’s latest medical centre had been set to open its doors last December. However, as the opening date approached it was found there were not enough staff or equipment to run it. In January, the Junta pumped a further €1.2 million into the project to top up its original €15 million of investment. It followed a barrage criticism from locals and expats that Marbella’s Hospital Costa del Sol is the only large medical centre for many on the coast. The urgent need for an alternative was highlighted just this month when six-year-old Zara Clarkson was trapped for three hours when her arm was sucked into a swimming pool filter pump. The family villa in Estepona where the shocking accident took place is 500 yards from the new hospital site where the little girl could have received more immediate treatment for suspected blood poisoning, had it been open (see pg 2).

IMPLANT DENTURE

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OPINION Pool peril THE news that a six-year-old and her parents had to face a three hour long ordeal after she became trapped in pool filter is terrifying. There are simply hundreds of pools on the Costa del Sol and this ‘accident waiting to happen,’ could easily happen again. What is needed is proper checks by trained pool engineers who understand the risks and potential dangers lurking below the water. In many urbanization, they leave this job to a gardener, left in charge of the pool with little understanding of how powerful these pumps can be. Zara was lucky, imagine you’ve got long hair, you could be sucked in and that’s it, you’re dead. Gardeners are not qualified to maintain pools safely and they should be trained. They need to be trained just like lifeguards.

Answers needed! HOW on earth did children’s medication become contaminated with a hair-growth protein meant for alopecia patients? It must have been extremely upsetting for the parents of the affected children who suddenly began growing hair all over their bodies. It is also incredibly worrying how such a contamination could have gone unnoticed for so long. It’s good to hear that the company responsible has ceased trading, let’s hope the parents are awarded some form of compensation. What if a more harmful substance had contaminated the children’s formula? A full investigation is needed to answer what went wrong and how. Publisher / Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

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FEATURE

August 28th - September 10th 2019

Driving force

HILE recent statistics indicate that Spain’s drivers are among the safest drivers in the EU, this wasn’t always the case. A new survey by the Spanish Royal Automobile Club (RACE) shows that Spain has dropped to eighth for fatalities, bringing its deaths for every million people to 39, while the European average is 51. Ten years ago, Spain’s road fatalities per million people were at 59. So what has lead to this marked improvement? According to the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), Spain’s higher safety levels can be traced back to 2000, when the country joined the European road safety strategy with the objective to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2010. Since that date, there has been a reduction of over 53% in the number of deaths, making Spain a benchmark country for the EU regarding drivers’ safety. This significant improvement, however, did not come without detailed, coordinated changes enacted over time. Originally outlined in the Road Safety Strategic Plan 2005-2008, the initiatives centered on enforcing compliance with regulations and coordinating with Health, Education, and Public Works, among other sectors, to holistically target every aspect affecting road safety. The changes were divided into eleven target groups: education and training, raising awareness and communication, compliance with regulations, health and road safety, vehicle safety, improved infrastructure, the STOP: Pulled over Spanish driver urban area, the company and professional transport, victims, research and knowledge management, and coordination and participation. A new document was drawn up to describe the areas of intervention and measures to be implemented in the 2011-2020 period in order to make sure road safety was constantly progressing. The updated goals are based upon five values (green mobility, safety mobility, competitive mobility, and healthy mobility) which encompass the actions to reduce the socio-economic impact of road traffic accidents in the upcoming decade. While the road safety strategy spurred major progress, the fall in fatalities between 2003 and 2009 can also be attributed to other contributing factors. In particular, there was an increased use in safety systems (the use of helmets increased by 25.9% and the use of seatbelts increased by 20.6%) and a decrease in alcoholic drink consumption (the percentage of drivers who died when over the limit fell by 6%). According to surveys conducted by the European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO), Spain’s attitudes toward risk-taking are also a factor. Despite the general belief, Spanish drivers are more supportive of stricter speeding limits and drink-driving legislation relative Even the country’s infamous driver’s license to drivers in other European countries. There points system, where points are demerited is also a higher perceived probability of being for different offences until the license is takchecked for speeding and drunk-driving. In en away, has been revamped. fact, the number of speeding tickets per pop- Pere Navarro, the chief of the traffic authority, announced steeper penalulation and alcohol tests did ties in the points system as significantly increase in the period 2010-2015; the fear of When it comes to one of his main goals in the summer of 2018. In particustricter enforcement may lead road safety, our lar, he wished to target moto more drivers erring on the use while driving side of caution on the road. lower death toll bile-phone -- one of the leading causes The country’s formal inspections of new and existing shows how far we linked to death on Spanish roads. roads, as well as the monthly have come ‘When it comes to road public road safety campaigns safety, our indicator is very and compulsory driving eduvisible: the death toll. The cation in all Spanish primary schools have also helped raise awareness figures set our path for us,’ he told El Pais, on the importance of safe driving as a com- listing all the issues that could use improvebined effort between the government and its ment: ‘We need to do something about secondary roads, we need to do something citizens. about motorcycles, we need to do something about cities, about distractions, about pedestriASK ABOUT OUR LONG ans.’ Clearly, while TERM RETALS the country NO HIDDEN SURPRISES has seen a significant deOR EXTRA COSTS AT crease in drivMALAGA AIRPORT ing fatalities, several issues remain to be addressed in order to reach below the 37 deaths per million inhabitants

Regina Lankenau zooms in on why Spain’s ‘terrible drivers’ are no longer Europe’s worst on the roads DROP: The number of road traffic fatalities in Spain from 2006 to 2017

mark. Nonetheless, Spain’s initiatives continue to serve as a positive model for other EU countries wishing to better their own roads.

INFO: Driver Safety Strategic Plan from the government

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FEATURE

August 28th - September 10th 2019 that’s the

olive press online

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website

LEAVE AND PROUD O UNMOVED: (Left to right) British expats Brent Maher, Rose Moore and Steve Dunne are still firmly in the Leave camp

Group of Brits in Spain say they would vote to leave the EU AGAIN as Brexit date looms ever closer EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

N the day Rose Moore voted to leave the European Union, she never thought it would be the last time she would speak to her son. But more than three years later, the 63-year-old expat, based in Alicante, has yet to hear from him. A graphic designer in London, he could not understand his mother’s point of view and has yet to forgive her for playing a part in the UK’s divorce from the union. While it ‘makes her sad’, the Doncaster mum-of-two does not regret her vote. “I still stand by my decision, no one has the right to tell me how to vote,” she told the Olive Press this week. Moore wants to see the bloc dismantled and said the union is ‘nothing more than a loan shark organisation’. And Brexit has turned her from a lifelong Labour activist to a Conservative support- CONTROVERSIAL: Few Brits in Spain are for Brexit and Boris Johnson er, something she said she ‘never thought that the Euro could be in danger and we removed. If they refuse to remove Irish would happen’. could see a return to the days when Spain backstop, then leave without a deal. Moore added that ‘with age was a very cheap place to “There will inevitably be a short term negcomes wisdom’ and while be.” ative impact but I am sure that would be she dislikes the majority of Brent Maher, meanwhile, counteracted. “Previous negative predic‘I voted for the Tories, she has faith in who lives in Catalunya with tions have not come to anything.” Boris Johnson securing an his partner Tony, also has Moore, Dunne and Maher said the idea of the good of ‘11th hour deal’. no regrets in voting to leave a new referendum was ‘disgusting’ and a our country, I “If we go on no deal, the EU and would do it again. ‘bad idea’ and that they would all fly back will suffer... it may be spread The former RAF engineer, to vote Leave again. am a patriotic over the poorer countries , who is now a registered The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on Englishman’ but they will feel it. nurse, said he detests the October 31. “The EU talk tough, but EU idea of an EU armed forces. countries, particularly club “As ex-armed forces, the Please send your views to newsdesk@ med, will have to make deals with us.” idea and push towards a unified European theolivepress.es Moore said she is proud to be European armed forces is repug- nant,” he told but sees the EU as a ‘political dictator- this paper. ship’. His fear comes despite Her feelings are shared by Steve Dunne, the fact that any such 67, from Yorkshire, who moved perma- move could be vetoed nently to Alicante some eight years ago. by a member of the EU, Dunne, who still owns property in the UK, killing it in its infancy, believes the British economy will fair bet- while the majority of ter on WTO terms and wants a no-deal exit members are strongly - despite the catastrophic forecasts made against the idea. If you suffer from... Or you need... by a host of experts. Maher also added that • Mobility problems • Help with Dunne, who has owned property in Spain he is opposed to the since the 1990s, added that the warnings idea of an ‘ever closer washing / dressing • Pain / Breathlessness were made ‘for political gain’ and that he union’ and that the UK • Falls / Stumbles • Supervision will have no qualms in ditching the Tories will be strong without for the Brexit party if Johnson fails to de- the bloc. You could be entitled to extra income liver. “I am convinced that The retiree added that expats who voted the UK is mature by claiming UK sickness / disability Remain mostly did so for ‘selfish reasons’. enough to be able to “I voted for the good of our nation… I am be a strong nation withbenefits while living in Spain patriotic English not Spanish, though I do out having to check assimilate as much as possible. with Brussels first,” the FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION “I value the prospect of UK indepen- 52-year-old said. call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 dence.” “I would prefer to see www.ukbenefitsinspain.com While he admitted there could be short- a deal but the Irish term economic impact, he added: “I think backstop MUST be

Benefits Consultancy KIM CLARK

Higher heights

THE Olive Press website has yet again ascended to new climes this week after entering the top 85,000 websites in the WORLD, according to Alexa.com rankings. We have officially cemented our position as the number-one English news website in Spain with our closest rival The Local ranked over 35,000 places below us. Meanwhile the Euro Weekly News is well outside the top 200,000 websites. The last two days alone saw around 100,000 hits PER DAY while we are on target to hit two million for the month of August. Our readers are a healthy mix of local expats in Spain, as well as wealthy tourists and tens of thousands of people from the UK, Netherlands, US, Russia and more who have an interest in the country. 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.

ON TOP: Olive Press ranking is miles ahead of closest rival The Local

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

- The 15 foods you must avoid as second person dies in Spain’s largest ever listeria outbreak (83,215 views)

- Panicking Prince Andrew and Fergie escape to Spain’s Costa del Sol after death of disgraces pal Jeffrey Epstein (52,750)

- Single British mum fighting to stay in home on Spain’s Costa del Sol after alleged abuse from administrators (43,638)

- Emergency declared over wildfire on Spain’s Costa del Sol as 50 evacuated while helicopter, planes and 170 firefighters battle blaze (34,821)

- WARNING: 13 children develop ‘werewolf syndrome’ after taking contaminated medication from Spain’s Costa del Sol (22,832)

Visitors: 437,696

Page views: 978,533

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CARPETS TEXTILES & CRAFTS An amazing treasure trove of all things Moroccan and Persian in the heart of charming Gaucin

NEWS

Brexit Doomsday Worries mount over leaked Brexit doc

BRITISH embassies in Spain are likely to be overwhelmed by expats’ demands for help in the event of a no deal Brexit, according to leaked government plans. The secret Yellowhammer documents suggest that British citizens travelling to the EU in the aftermath will be limited to 90day stays and subject to tighter passport checks. The resulting ‘meltdown’ could see ‘an increase in consular inquiries, with more complex and time-consuming consular assistant cases for vulnerable UK nationals’. A main element in the draft

Brexit deal was protecting the rights of 3.5 million European citizens living in Britain, and over one million Brits resident in the EU bloc. But in the worst case scenario, expats will lose their EU citizenship, their ‘associated rights’ and access to services, which may include healthcare. Despite Michael Gove, the minister in charge of no-deal planning, has said the document showed ‘absolutely the worst case’, and was an ‘old document.’ The Yellowhammer papers also claimed Gibraltar was ‘underprepared’ for Britain leaving

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ONE of the Costa del Sol’s best choirs has raised a whopping €1,200 for local charities. The ‘Love to Sing’ (LTS) group presented a cheque for the cash to the Alzheimer’s and dementia support charity ADSI in Sabinillas. The money was raised from a tea party held in Duquesa Golf Club and an ‘International Day’ in Castillo Duquesa. The 75-strong group is ‘desperate’ for male singers and the public are invited to come and take part in an open night on September 4 at 7:00pm, at

Duquesa Golf Club. The same venue hosts LTS on October 6 for a fashion show at 6:30pm, with the choir in action again on November 8 at Estepona’s Centro Cultural Padre Manuel at 7:00pm.

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August 28th - September 10th 2019

without a deal. This includes claims that ‘the imposition of checks at [Gibraltar’s] border with Spain’ will disrupt the supply of goods, including food, medicine and the shipment of waste. The 15,000 frontier workers who cross the border from Spain each day to work in Gibraltar can also expect to face delays of more than four hours for ‘at least a few months’ if the UK crashes out, the document says. “Prolonged border delays over the longer term are likely to adversely impact Gibraltar’s economy,” it adds. The Gibraltar Government has been quick to dismiss the claims as out-ofdate and based on planning for worst case scenarios. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said: “We do not want a no-deal Brexit. We think it is bad for Gibraltar. We are, nonetheless, now ready for it. “The matters raised in the outdated Yellow Hammer leak have already been responsibly addressed in detail. Those are assumptions based on ‘worst case scenarios’ which we have come up with ourselves,” he continued. “As a responsible Government, we plan for the worst case scenarios, even though we are confident they will not occur.”

RIP: Francisco Nunez

Final flight THE body of the military pilot whose jet went down off the coast of southern Spain has been found. Commander Francisco Marin Nunez had managed to eject before the C-101 training aircraft crashed but his body was later recovered from the water. The air plane had been filmed by onlookers as it hit the water at high speed near La Manga. Emergency personnel have since located and rescued the pilot’s remains. The mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo had earlier reported a plane had plummeted into the sea, in the area of La Manga Souk. Authorities have closed three beaches, Entremares, Levante and Galúa in order to recover debris from the stricken plane. It comes just months after Spain’s government approved the replacement of the C-101 fighter, a plane that first entered service in 1980. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.

August 28th - September 10th 2019

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FIRE SPECIAL

August 28th - September 10th 2019

ABLAZE: Hillside beyond Marbella’s AP-7 while (right) a fire breaking out in Estepona’s hills

Spain burns

DESTRUCTION: Marbella fire ripped through land by urbanisation

Blazes have torn across Spain threatening lives and property as this dry summer sees some of the worst wildfires in years

WILDFIRES have raged across Spain in recent days, destroying swathes of forests and driving thousands to flee their homes. The latest blaze saw firefighters race to contain a fire in Marbella that had sparked a tense late night evacuation. The huge flames had taken hold of a dry mountainside near the AP-7 and Bello Horizonte urbanization. Emergency services were forced to evacuate 40 homes as the wind blew the flames dangerously close to the urbanization. Firefighters from Marbella and Mijas, working alongside the INFOCA forest firefighting service, battled throughout the night to extinguish the flames. By midnight INFOCA had considered the fire stabilized and the evicted residents were allowed back into their homes. But no risks were taken with 18 forest

firefighters, two environmental agents and two fire engines remaining on-site as a precaution. This incident came just 24 hours after a fire in Estepona, which torched around 330 acres of land and caused thousands of residents to be evacuated, was stabilised. In dramatic scenes, dozens of hydroplanes circled above the blaze on the edge of the Sierra Bermeja natural park before swooping down on Playa de la Rada to take water from the sea. British holidaymaker Elaine Keogh said she had ‘never seen anything like this before’. “My husband and I have been coming to Estepona for eight years and we have seen fires before, but nothing like this,” the teacher from Seven Sisters in London told the Olive Press. The raging wildfire had broken out in the Penas Blancas area of the protected

natural park, home to the rare ancient pinsapo tree. Some 2,000 esidents of the nearby Forest Hills urbanization had to be evacuated as more than 150 firefighters were deployed to tackle the flames. Forest Hills resident Dawn Powls said: “It was scary all you could see was flames. “A policeman came running down the street knocking on doors telling everyone they had to get out,” the expat of 18 years, from Norfolk, told the Olive Press. The Costa del Sol fires came as the authorities in Spain had to contend with the worst wildfires to hit Gran Canaria in six years. The fierce inferno on the island was finally extinguished after a week but not before the fire razed 10,000 hectares and forced 9000 people from their homes.

ISLAND STRIFE: Police in Gran Canaria keep residents safe from inferno

Do you have a what’s on?

LA CULTURA ‘Spanish Stonehenge’ NEWS

Bull of joy

RONDA’S annual Feria de Pedro Romero WILL feature bullfighting this year, it has been announced. A temporary plaza de toros located at the Angel Harillo feria ground will host only Rondeño toreros. The events from 5:30pm on September 6 are free entry and run on a first come, first served basis until the bullring is full. Miguel Angel Ruiz, Ignacio Candelas and Moli de Ronda make up the trio of local talent. “It makes us very satisfied to be able to do it with Ronda toreros,” said Mayor Maria de la Paz Fernandez. The move comes amid widespread bullfighting protests across the country, the latest being in Palma de Mallorca this month, where a banned fascist anthem was played at a bullfight.

A TINY village has been left shocked after a 4,000-yearold ‘Spanish Stonehenge’ seemed to rise out of the ground like magic. For residents in Peraleda de la Mata, a village of just 1,400 inhabitants, the ‘miraculous’ event confirms a local legend about buried treasure in the area. In reality, this summer’s baking heat caused the water level of the Valdecañas swamp in Extremadura to recede more than usual, thus exposing the historic site of Guadalperal. This ancient sun temple, dating back to the Third Millen-

August 28th - September 10th 2019

Stone circle buried by Franco shocks villagers by appearing to rise from ground

what’s on Live at the Palladium THE Palladium Golf Tournament will take place on August 28 at Torrequebrada Golf Club in Benalmadena.

Oasis POPULAR expat restaurant Roman Oasis is to re-open with two charity fundraisers for Cudeca on Friday August 30 and the Asociacion Gatos de Manilva on Monday September 9.

UNEARTHED: Ancient sun temple emerges from ground nium BC, has only poked its There are now proposals to treasures head above water during pre- shift the archaeological won- h i d d e n vious dry spells and has not der from its current spot on b e n e a t h been seen for six decades. the bed of the River Tagus to the lake and now the banks. President of the we finally SUBMISSIONS have closed local archae- get to view them.” for a newly-launched internaological asso- There are 144 standing tional short film festival run by ciation, Angel stones in total, with some British expats. he had whittled it down to Castaño said: topping two metres tall, Samuel Wiggins, 26, From Es- a total of just 17 shorts for a “It is a mega- while many are decorated sex is set to host the Frog and 180-minute showcase. lithic dolmen with carvings of serpents. Toad Film Festival on Sep- “It was a lot of work, but luckof great value After the Romans unearthed tember 1 in his mum and dad’s ily we're in the final stages that now, for the the site, German geologist pub. of judging and now it's just first time, and Hugo Obermaier began The event, in Alhaurin el choosing prizewinners,” he who knows if it studying the stones in 1925. Grande, has seen 158 submis- said. is last, is com- But they were submerged pletely accessi- when General Franco built a sions, with a total run-time of ble. dam in the area in 1963. 23 hours and 47 minutes. For more information visit “We grew up The Junta de Extremadura Samuel, a barman at the booz- https://filmfreeway.com/ hearing about is currently deciding on the er, revealed to the Olive Press FrogandToadFilmFestival the legend of the site’s future.

Tinsel-toad

FAMILY: Frog and Toad

Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es

Ink NOW in its sixth year the Malaga Tattoo Convention will be held from September 6 to 8 art Marbella Trade Fair and Conference Centre.

Moonlight THE town of Guaro holds the special Luna Mora Festival on September 6 and 7, the town's streets will be lit with over 25,000 candles accompanied by Arabic and Andalusian music.

LA CULTURA Spain’s Forgotten Genius 12

NEWS

August 28th - September 10th 2019

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Almost nobody has heard of him, but his extraordinary creations were well before his time. Regina Lankenau and Maya Eashwaran deconstruct Bartolome ‘Bermejo’ de Cardenas following his landmark London exhibition

HAIRY Jesus. A laughing dragon. A see-thru loincloth. These are just some of the startling details to be discovered in the works of Bartolome de Cardenas, Spain’s greatest master of 15th century Gothic art. Known as ‘El Bermejo’ for his ruddy complexion, his iconographic pieces are distinguishable by an extraordinary command of oil techniques coupled with quixotic imagery that plays with light, colour and texture. While a remarkable exhibi-

Academics and art critics have scoured his works for clues hinting at the man behind the brush, hoping to fill in the gaps in his contested story. DESPLA PIETA: Weeping Virgin Mary in Bermejo’s famous work Thought to be tion is just ending at London’s Born in Cordoba between are thought to have been key National Gallery, very little is 1440-1445, Bermejo is often to teaching Bermejo the techknown of the painter, or of his described as a ‘nomadic paint- niques at the foundation of his life, save for 20 paintings scat- er’ whose Judeo-Christian iden- works. tered throughout Europe and tity may have led him to flee In Valencia, Bermejo produced the Americas. from persecution during the the first of four major masterSpanish Inquisition. pieces, Saint Michael Triumphs His wife, Gracia de Palaciano, Over the Devil (1468). was a wealthy widow captured Widely regarded as his most and condemned for her Jewish famous work, it currently hangs beliefs by the Inon display in quisition. London’s NaThe style and tional Gallery, details found The angel’s face presented next in Bermejo’s to six other Berpaintings sug- is reminiscent of mejo pieces. gest he lived a Humpty Dumpty The lofty in a number of 1.82-metre etching places around painting featurSpain, including ing the archValencia, the angel Saint Mismall village chael serenely of Daroca, near Zaragoza and defeating the devil is a study in Barcelona. astonishing detail. Differentiating him from his The angel’s face is reminiscent Spanish contemporaries, how- of a Humpty Dumpty etching, ever, is the distinctly Flemish its porcelain features in stark influence imbued in Bermejo’s contrast to the billowing burevery brushstroke. gundy of his cloak and realistic The art of maestros such as rendering of his chainmail. Roger Van de Weyden, Rob- On the floor is a cowering Saert Campin, and Jan Van Eyck tan whose glowering Cheshire

TRIUMPH: Of St. Michael over the devil and (right) Decent of Christ

August 28th - September 10th 2019

QUIXOTIC: Triptych of the Virgin of Montserrat Cat smile is as chilling as it is outlandish. In 1486, after a brief interlude in the painter’s life, Bermejo appeared in Barcelona where he produced his other most famous work: Despla Pieta. The painting depicts a weeping Virgin Mary cradling her dead son.

Also on display at the National Gallery exhibition, it is the first time the piece has left Spain. According to art critic Waldemar Januszczak of The Sunday Times, the work is special not for the Flemish influences in the technique but for the uniquely Spanish ‘mayhem’

and ‘unexpected sense of humour’ present around every corner. “This includes a Roman soldier covering his ears at hairy-chested Jesus’ explosive resurrection,” he writes. He adds that anyone interested in art should look out for this forgotten artistic genius, whose

‘Spanish vision’ deserves the attention and praise that was so lacking for centuries. Bermejo’s works can be seen at the National Gallery in London until September 29 or at the Museum of Fine Arts Bilbao

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CRUNCH TIME See page 20

He boasted of the ‘top quality’ fruit and vegetables which have gone up in standard since the closed frontier days of the 1970s. “There are some products like saffron only found in Morocco which are wanted around the world,” he told the Olive Press. While the main thrust of the new office is trade, tourist, cultural and educational links are also going to be strengthened. “In Morocco there has been a tendency to teach English THE Gibraltar Government instead of French,” affirmed has said the public ‘should Reed. “So it could be of benefit inform themselves’ amid to them to learn English at our preparations for a no-deal university here.” Brexit on October 31. The association has existed for In a bid to allay the fears of a long time and the possibility Britain leaving the EU withof greater Moroccan involveout an agreement in just 78 ment has been touted in the days time it also pledged an past during periods of stress updated information camwith Spain. paign. - IRELAND “This time it is different though SPAIN - UK Adverts are set to run across as we have now received Govthe Government’s social ITALY - PORTUGAL ernment support,” he added. “It FRANCE media in the run-up to the is a big step in the right direc‘do or die’ departure from tion. the EU being threatened by “The first step would be to dePrime Minister Boris Johnvelop transport links like ferries son. and airline connections to make A Government statement travel easier.” also read: “Gibraltar is not Deputy Chief Minister Joseph B-DAY: Halloween no-deal Brexit in the EU Customs Union. Garcia said: “It is only logical threatened by Johnson (left) “We have no manufacturing sees Picardo (right) step up RTATION that we should also look topreparations TRANSPO than Meanwhile industry, no agriculture and terms we are better off ED businesses need spokesperson wards the South given our geothe United Kingdom in termsANIMAL said. rely no fishing industry. to check also been held, the GovernAUTHORIS you can that there are ‘no is- Crunch talks with years, graphical location.” 40 of DEFRA the magnitude ofdelthe over with food im- ment said. Sol forsues’ “This means that in general carefully supply Fromchains and porters and the Environchange thaton the Costa move. of your Operating we can expect.” www.gibraltar.gov.gi, aspectvisit a mental Safety Group have Deputy Chief Minister Joyour pet, we care of every seph Garcia said there had on us to take to safely transporting service. belongings been ‘over 50 meetings’ with and friendly packing your professional companies and businesses. a personal, advice will give you He added: “We voted to reand some expert main in the European Union For an estimate ALL AREAS and this is still the preferred position of the Government. COVERED UK BASED “However, we nonetheless Lettings | Sales 560 4G UNLIMITED need to prepare for our pos(+34) 902 109 ls.co.uk sible departure.” Reliable private hire transfer Investments INTERNET jackremova It comes as UK shadow services for any occasion info@union IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV Relocations home secretary Diane Ab.co.uk • Luxury vehicles bott appeared to suggest ionjackremovals ALSO IPTV, Commercial • Door to door service for www.un Spanish that Labour was ready to taSATELLITE TV • Airport collections and Residential ble a no-confidence motion residents • Weddings transport in Johnson. Tel: +350 200 44955 • Sightseeing day trips “We are talking to all of the www.globelink.co.uk enquiries@seekerspropertygibraltar.com • Restaurant shuttles other parties in parliament Find out more at: and if we move for a vote of tel: (0034) 952 763 840 www.simply-shuttles.com no confidence we want to do info@theskydoctor.com 96 626 5000 10 Engineer Lane, tel: 951 279 117 it with confidence that we www.theskydoctor.com info@simply-shuttles.com can win it,” she said. Gibraltar GX11 1AA +44 (0) 1353 699082

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HOLIDAY HORROR British millionaire’s daughter found dead in pool

A BRITISH millionaire’s daugh-a ter has been found dead in swimming pool in Mallorca. Josie Clacher, 18, was found at the bottom of the pool in Alaro at 7am on August 13, shortly after returning home from a ‘night out’ with friends. Mum Rachel, who co-founded call answering and live chat service firm Moneypenny, was also at the family’s holiday villa beneath the Tramuntana mountains. Neighbours reportedly raised the alarm after hearing screaming. Emergency services rushed to the villa, but paramedics were unable to revive Josie by CPR. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Josie, a former pupil at exclusive boarding school Moreton Hall, had reportedly enjoyed a night out with friends the night before she died. A well-placed source reportedly said Josie had ‘got back to the villa shortly before she was found dead in the pool’. A post-mortem is determining the cause of death. A spokeswoman for Moneypenny said: “We are all extremely devastated and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this tragic time.” Mum Rachel co-founded the communications provider in 2000 with brother Ed Reeves.

TRAGIC: Josie Clacher while

(inset) mum Rachel

doing the right thing, treating people well and providing ongoing support.” Rachel once revealed in an interview how she discovered she was pregnant with Josie, the second of her three girls, on her first day in her company’s new office back in 2000. Josie’s father, David, is the practice director at Wrexham’s Schwarz optometrists. Honour A spokesman for the firm said: by the Rachel received a CBE in the "We are all devastated prayers Queen’s Birthday Honours List news and thoughts andthis diffifor are with the family at this year, thanking the Queen the ‘honour’ and ‘acknowledge- cult time." A spokesman for the British Forment’ of her success. “We are She also mentioned her charity eign Office confirmed:of a BritWeMindTheGap, created in 2014 supporting the family her death to give unemployed people new ish woman following in contact 15:36in Majorca, and are 16/06/2017 paths and1 opportunities career Untitled-1.pdf with the Spanish authorities.” through paid trainee schemes. She said: “I strongly believe in

Frustrated at not having anyone competent to answer calls, the pair set the business up with just £10,000 of their own money. Moneypenny is now valued at more than £100,000,000 handling customer service for 13,000 businesses - from small regional firms to the likes of Google, Amazon and Microsoft.

SECRET GETAWAY

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly enjoyed an under-theradar holiday to the Balearics... but the happy couple have received by criticism for allegedly travelling private jet See page 3

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Septic shocker A FAMILY of Brits have had their holiday ‘ruined’ after a young girl fell into a septic tank at a ‘death trap’ villa in Alicante. The group of 14 arrived at the Villa L’Arc in Moraira - after forking out almost €7,000 - only to find ‘loose hanging handrails’ over a six metre drop and a ‘loose manhole’ covering up the fetid tank. It was here Steven Wright, from Surrey, told the Olive Press his 15-year-old niece fell ‘up to her waist’ into the filthy water. “She came out screaming,” Wright, 57, said. “But if she’d been any younger she could have died in a dark concrete tank of dirty water.” He alleged his young relatives were ‘cutting their toes’ on the broken covers of the pool skimmers, and said sinks and drains were blocked for the the first three days. “When you’re paying €6,800 it really is a poor show,” Wright said. “I feel robbed, misled and cheated Alquileres Guzman should not be allowed to offer family holidays in dangerous homes like this.” Wright claimed that workmen from

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Denia court orders ‘gypsies and squatters’ to vacate apartment where British pensioners have block been threatened and assaulted

VICTORY is soon at hand for EXCLUSIVE homeowners living in a ‘hellhole’ By Joshua Parfitt urbanisation occupied by gypsies 5 NEWS Must do and squatters after a court has orbetter! ABANDON SHIP dered their eviction. At least 24 of the 64 apartments at the Mirador after requesting she turn down Monte Pedrera were illegally oc- blaring music during siesta hours. cupied as the squatters accessed She said the owners of the four water and electricity at the ex- remaining legitimate apartments in the urbanisation lived with pense of legitimate homeowners. Diving It comes after a series of Olive ‘death threats’ before, in June, disaster 15-storey fall Press stories shined a light on the a German elderly couple finally shocking takeover which left ex- caved in and left Spain after 12 years. pats living in fear for their lives. A Spanish VICTORY: couple, who asked to For couple Linda and Arnene British apartment owner Linda while (inset) previous Brown, 61, told the Olive Press remain nameless, also told the story how she was punched in the ‘eye Olive Press how they were flee- to stress. Continues on Page 5 byshire, described how the couple and the gut’ by a gypsy woman ing after the eight-month preg- “The squatters will be €60 gone by nant wife was ‘hospitalised’ due September, thank the Lord and were forced to sleep with the ‘burthank you Olive Press for cover- glar alarms on’ as the stairs up to ing the story,” Linda Brown, who their penthouse apartment were lives with partner Arnene, 72, barricaded by an iron gate. “They have no choice now, they said. THIS is the second pig to have trotted “There were 23 defendants in must all now leave,” a spokesperinto a British-run rescue centre on son for Japsa, the urbanisation’s court and 22 lawthe Costa Blanca. promoter, told the yers, it was bedThe Olive Press previously reported Olive Press. lam. how Rupert the pig ran 3km from “Our police force “But the public ‘filthy, dirty shed’ where he was the is excellent, but prosecutor was and wandered into the Easy Care living the courts were very Horse passionate Rescue Centre near Torrevieja last not giving them and firm in sum(inset top right). The clever pig month. warrants to act. trotted in ming it up.” ‘as if he knew where he was going’ “In Spain, squatThe success comes Easy Care owner Susan Weeding in what ters are given ocfollowing a ‘coup describe as ‘a nearly impossible could only cupancy rights if feat’. d’etat’ after a But that feat was repeated when they are not re62-year-old gypsy pe the pot-bellied Vietnamese pig Penelomoved within 24 ‘patriarch’ moved turned up ‘completely out of the blue’. hours of entering. in, bringing his Susan admitted she has ‘no idea’ “But now all of 10 sons and their SHOCKING: Squatter how far this one has travelled in search of freedom. them have been wives and children. damage “Obviously someone has been given an eviction A reign of terror maybe flicking through the pageswatching Babe, or order and a month saw young children, many not atSusan told the Olive Press. Susan of George Orwell’s Animal Farm - the pigs are rising!” tending school, shouting ‘sons of to find a new place to live - if they added Rupert wanted ‘nothing to prefers ‘being around people’. do with Penelope’ however, as Rupert b*tches’ and ‘we will kill you all’ don’t leave, the police will kick them onto the streets.” up at the British pensioners. Linda, an ex-copper from DerOpinion Page www.theolivepress.es

June 6th - June 19th 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF

SPAIN is one of Europe’s worst culprits when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, figures have revealed. The country has seen the biggest increase in emissions on the continent, with a 51.7 million tonne rise between 1990 and 2017. Emissions grew by 17.9% during that time, while the EU collectively REDUCED its emissions by 23.5% during the same period. Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Portugal also failed to reduce emissions effectively. Climate leaders however, are optimistic as Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE government plans to boost renewable energy production. Not only will clean energy become cheaper, but there will also be more electric vehicles on the road.

EXCLUSIVE By Josh Parfitt

ANOTHER two families have fled an urbanisation that descended into ‘hell’ after squatters began a ‘violent coup d’etat’ five years ago. A retired German couple and a Spanish family have had enough of living in the Mirador Monte Pedrera estate, in Denia, which has become a ‘hellhole’ for legal residents. As reported in our last issue, only 11 of 64 apartments were sold in 2007 when Spain sunk into recession. The rest remained empty and just four of the legally-owned apartments are now inhabited all year-round, after the Germans and Spanish also moved out. According to a British couple, who still live there, one of the Germans, from Munich, had to be ‘hospitalised’ after suffering a ‘breakdown’ from stress. “The squatters want us out,

AN investigation has been launched after the body of a British diver was found 170 ft underwater off the coast of Murcia. Phillip Evans, 69, got separated from his diving group in the Islas Hormigas marine reserve.

‘Hellhole’ urbanisation sees two more families leave due to problems with squatters

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Please help us! EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca

Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt

Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

A GROUP of British pensioners are pleading for help after their block of flats descended into ‘hell’ due to squatters. The expats - who have lived in the Denia urbanisation for a decade - are desperate after a mob

May 23rd - June 5th 2019

Expat pensioners assaulted as apartment block is ‘mobbed’ bytheir once luxury squatters

of ‘gypsies and squatters’ began breaking in five years ago. They insist neither the police or local authorities have helped to tackle the illegal occupants, who have taken over 25 of the 64 apartments in the Mirador

Sculpture attack

Monte Pedrera complex. “They have turned what was once a lovely community into a no-go area,” said the 72-yearold, who is too frightened to give her name out of fear of retaliation.

Message from the angels

A FOUNTAIN in Alicante’s most iconic square has been attacked by a man with a hammer. The legs of the horses in the sculpture in Plaza de los Luceros were shattered by the 38-year-old assailant. An arm of an angel was also badly cracked in the attack. The Spanish man has been arrested on a charge of crimes against cultural heritage.

(Personal contacts on page 6)

A SERIES of Whatsapp messages to a girlfriend have spared a teenager from a prison sentence for armed robbery. The 19-year-old Spanish student from La Nucia was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of holding up a casino and robbing €11,500 at gunpoint. But a Benidorm court heard how WhatsApp messages backed his alibi that he was texting his girlfriend when the assault took place. After an expert’s report confirmed they could not have been manipulated and also placing him at home, he was found not guilty.

The grandmother continued that the squatters had punched a number of pensioners and even broke a handyman’s arm with baseball bats. “We came here for a peaceful retirement and what we’ve got is

FIREBUG IN TROUBLE

A PARTYGOER in Benidorm has ter setting off a fire extinguisher inbeen arrested afa karaoke bar. The man, a Brit, yanked the extinguisher from the wall and covered the floor, tables, drinks and sandwiches in thick white dust.

Justice for rapist

A BRITISH man who raped two teenage girls 40 years ago has been jailed following extradition from the Costa Blanca. Jeffrey Waite, 66, carried out the attacks in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the UK. However, he managed Waite was to skip a court hearing ty of rapingfound guilin 2016 and fled to To- gers, one the teenarrevieja, before a Eu- derage, in of them unHartlepool. ropean arrest warrant They likened led to his capture in a ‘madman’ him to and an March last year. ‘animal’.

hell on earth,” she told the Olive Press. “My partner got punched in the gut and the eye by one for simply asking to turn down a karaoke system blaring out during siesta hours,” she continued. They are due to attend court this week over the assault, but are not expecting anything to be done. Other residents, who include Germans and Spaniards, have also come under attack. “A handyman tried to stop three men breaking into an apartment and was thrashed by baseball bats just five weeks ago,” the pensioner said. “They broke his arm in two places.” The problems began when the recession curtailed sales in the block in 2007 and only 11 of the 64 apartments were sold. Many of the vacant homes were later seized by the squatters, a number of them even being sublet for money, it is claimed. Collectively the 11 owners are having to cover all the communal bills for the urbanisation, which includes a ‘€20,000 debt’ incurred by squatters stealing electricity and water In addition, they claim the developer owes €200,000 to the community. Police told the Olive Press they were unable to enter the properties as they are on ‘private land’.

NO NEED TO PAINT!

plain and simple,” British expat Linda, who has owned a penthouse apartment with her partner Arnene since 2007, told the Olive Press. “They want all the owners out so they can completely rule the kingdom.” The latest departures come just days after Linda, 61, was in court after she was punched in the gut and the eye by a female squatter. It came after she had asked the neighbour to turn down a ‘blaring karaoke system’. She and Arnene, 72, sleep with the ‘burglar alarm on’ and have barricaded themselves in on their fourth-floor apartment as they live with daily death threats and abuse. The pressure was too much however, for a young Spaniard, who told the Olive Press they were leaving after his wife, who is eight-months preg-

A BRITISH holidaymaker has died after falling from the 15th floor of his apartment block in Benidorm. Colin McGarry, 48, from Belfast, died at around 1.45 am on Sunday morning after plunging from the balcony of Torre Gerona. A post-mortem is due to take place.

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WORRIED: Legal neighbours and (inset) squatter www.noneedtopaint.com nant, was hospitalised due to steal from us, threaten us stress-related complications. and abuse us, and the law is “I wanted to raise my family not on our side until one of in this beautiful place, but I us gets hurt,” Linda said. can’t risk my wife’s life,” he “But they won’t get us out, explained. because the Brits never The nightmare began five give up. Not when we’ve years ago when a 62-year- sunk every penny into our old ‘gypsy’ patriarch broke €270,000 apartment and in with his 11 children and have nowhere else to go.” grandchildren. A legal representative for His wider family have now Jepsa, who maintain the urtaken over 24 apartments banisation, told the Olive which they sublet out to Press: “The law forbids the ‘drug addicts’. illegal squatting of properThe apartments are illegally ties and use of water and connected to water and elec- electricity, but nothing is betricity, yet police have only ing done. intervened on one occasion “We have a beautiful counwhen a man threatened to try, which is loved by people kill Linda with a hammer in around the world, but the front of an officer last year. law does not function as it “It’s horrendous. They can should.” FREE virtual quotes available!

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KING Juan Carlos has retired from public duty, exactly five years after he abdicated in favour of his son, King Felipe VI. Juan Carlos, 81, will retain his royal title as King, however.

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A SECOND runway at Alicante-Elche airport has been opposed by the Friends of the Wetlands of the South of Alicante (AHSA), who objected that the runway would destroy the wetlands of Agua Amarga.

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GOOGLE Maps has introduced into Spain a new function that warns users of the location speed cameras, both fixed and mobile. The function is available on both Android and iOS, but only Android users can report mobile speed cameras.

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PETS now outnumber children under 15 in Spain, with 13 million registered at the end of last year. Dogs make up 93% of all registered pets.

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CRIME Fergie must be happy. Epsteinagainst paid off her debts so at least she fashion won’t have to pay him back.Crime I would question why he gave her fraudster Mark As prolific money and why Andrew has his hands around a child’s waist in a Acklom is finally jailed police seek mysterious Spanish wife photo with Maxwell, who acted as the handler. 2

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.

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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

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.

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.

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.

A FISH company has upheld legal action against Spain after a failed drugs bust saw it forced to chuck out 24 tonnes of sardines.

Paul Rush, Torrevieja

Epstein didn't commit suicide. He was conveniently murdered because he knew too much. Too many people were involved, beginning with the psycho who lives (but doesn't work) in the White House. Luis Jorge Caminos Malgor, Ibiza

Off with their heads Dodgy Royals...there should only be one king or queen, plus a consort and the next in line. All the others should fester in their own poop and reap what they sow and all that malarkey. John Rose, Milton Keynes

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

How much?!

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 ted four years ago,erecthe 230ft Mirador Princess ring’ with a multi-million is set to be removed wi- euro plan for thin days. office development in The Costa del Sol’s de Heredia the Muelle answer to the London area of the Eye is said to be ‘interfe- provincial capital, which includes a car park.

Feeling

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

MALAGA city’s drooms, sea views most exclusive apartments have and 287 square megone up sale for ters of floor space. The 19th floor €3.5 million. ANDALUCIA has lost The price tag on the apartments are located in the new blue flags for its beachesmore beachfront than pads any region in Spain, gets you four ba- ‘Picasso Towers’ in with tighter restrictions to blame. throoms, four be- the city’s Torre del Rio area. The region now has 18 certified sandy strips, fewer with Malaga and Huelva among the worst affected provinces. The Association of Environmental and Consumer cation has blamed illegal Eduding, including some builbeach bars for the shocking news. A MISSING British tourist Spain’s most southern EXCLUSIVE region By Laurence Dollimore been found in a lake with has now has 98 blue flag beaches, hypothermia. behind Valencia with 150, The 32-year-old solo Catalunya (120) and Galicia trave- A FORMER mechanical engiller, known only as Sandy, (119). group, told the Olive Press was neer is being forced to sleep this Various neighbours mysteriously found in Malaga’s Spain lost 24 blue flag in week. have his car due to a mystery beamade a denuncia to the now La Viñuela reservoir after ches this year, a 4% decrease, noise Guarshe sending vibrations through his “I am becoming very ill with of- dia Civil. disappeared from her but it still has the most ten only an hour of sleep hotel at apartment. worldaround 6:53am. wide, with 566. and some nights none at a night The complaint includes the John Ewin, 73, from all. She was found 24 hours claims he has not sleptSurrey, “I’ve not played golf in months substantial piles of duck faeces around the swimming after a 40-strong police later €280,000 at his or been able to search. pool, mountain bike apartment in She is recovering in hospital. ra del Sol, Mijas, since Rivie- from the exhaustion, the vi- making it inaccessible to resihumming noise began a loud bration from the noise comes dents and holidaymakers. In a letter to maintenance some through my pillows.” six weeks ago. company Cygamest, Ewin, from near The pensioner, who worked ght his home Croydon, bou- looks after the area, onewhich on Hong Kong’s Shanghai in Golf Gardens, resiTHE wealthiest town Bank, once the most expensi- Miraflores, in Mijas, two years dent said she was ‘absolutely NIGHTMARE: INCOMES in Andalucia disgusted’. Mystery ago. Costa del Sol has seen a on the ve building in the world, 26% less than other partsare sound victim John ‘shock’ She claimed that when Ewin Vox triumph. he cannot pinpoint the said Spain, figures have revealed. of brought up the duck poo she Benahavis turned green source of the noise and exact The average wage in the for the administrators, she was with part of it can be used to pay CANCER region far-right ministrators are doing that adis €19,132, some €6,722 nothing “I spent over the pool was not to be told the specialist company to for general party in last month’s to help. a year locating deal used election, a shocker than the national averageless perfect place,” he added, the until June and that ducks are with this problem!” of town which has more expatin a “I believe it’s coming from €25,854. In Madrid the “now a ‘protected species’ Cygamest, the company reaverage so ‘cannot hind cistern pump room, which the it’s just a nightmare.” be- sidents than Spaniards. wage is €34,916. The regional the maintenance been turned on to run has Despite countless complaints be shot’. economy is expected to urbanisation, which of the The town has the highest GDP “It is no excuse to not deal 24/7 and offering to has re- in Malaga and is home instead of just during with advise on sol- the problem by 2.1% this year however,grow to more the day ving the problem and as I am sure there ceived dozens of complaints than 5,000 foreign time, which is when the Ewin, who is unemployment is likely residents from to drop pumps come on,” Ewin, pool being treated for prostate can- are other means,” she wrote in Olive Ewin and others, told the cluding hundreds of Brits, into 21.2% from 23%. a scathing letter. GerPress: “We can who cer, claims his also worked for the comment at this timeoffer no mans and Norwegians. Hilton on deaf ears. calls have fallen “I think we pay more as the The hard then matter enough community is in the hands of our red 364 right-wing party secufees so lawyers.” votes while its vative rival PP won 356. conser-

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

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was stunned to be told by ad- years,” the mum said. ministrators Cymagest that her That, Victoria believes, has led to home had been sold without her a sustained campaign of abuse knowledge and that she was fac- and harassment from the ading eviction. ministrators. “You can’t imagine the anxiety, The mum had to call in police shock and worry,” Victoria told last year and filed a denuncia the Olive Press this week, “I against the president after her immediately called my solicitor water was repeatedly cut off. only to be told that mine and Her and her son have also almy son’s home had been sold legedly been repeatedly ha- HARASSED: Victoria at auction because of a €25,000 rassed while trying to use the (left) and Samuel (right) debt owed in ground tax in Lee's pool, with the most recent enJohn Ewin, 73, from Surrey, name. counter seeing three guards es“Unbeknownst to me, they had corting her and her son from the claimed he was forced to sleep in his car after a loud humming put a force of sale on the proper- amenity. ty and it was sold in September She added: “I only want to be left noise began keeping him awake 2015… I was so shocked, how to bring my son up in peace. I re- all night. could no one have informed me? ally worry about the effect that He claimed his complaints were ignored and that he was intimiThere weren’t even viewings at this is having on him. dated and harassed by the presthe property.” “First being abandoned by his ident. Unfortunately for the new own- father, then having to see men er, they bought the property within the community acting ag- The administrators did not respond to our requests for comwith the original ruling that Vic- gressively towards his mother.” toria can stay there until her son It comes just months after the ment. Have you experienced harassturns 18. Olive Press reported further al“I’m sure he’s furious that he legations of harassment towards ment from Cymagest? Contact can’t rent it out and make mon- another British expat who lives newsdesk@theolivepress.es ey on the place for another seven under the same administrators. Opinion Page 6 *Promotion valid until May 31st 2019, for customers activation the customer who register with Lobster will enjoy their plan through any of its commercial with the first month’s are not included. Promotion channels. On service plan payment for free. limited to the first Any extra chargeable compatible with other 5,000 customers. Promotion items outside the plan offers or discounts. For limited to one plan conditions, visit lobster.es Europe plus you can per customer and use your data there **Unlimited calls & texts is not too. Calls & texts to more information in and between most the US from Spain countries in are also included! Go to lobster.es/countries for

‘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.”

Melissa Lindsay Smith, Mijas

Thick skinned My wife is black but we get no racist remarks in our small ‘You’re not Spanish village (‘You’re not human’ human’, Issue 324, pg 2). The native Spaniards seem to reserve their ire for Gypsies and Romanians. The Romanians in our village are pleasant and hard-working and are liked. The insults are reserved for the Romanians they don’t know. We have a Gypsy friend who takes it in his stride. He regards it as simple ignorance. I’m only picked on for my bad Spanish but I was born with elephant skin!

August 14th - August 27th 2019

Got a tip? Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

Web of lies

NEWS

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Body in sea

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

This is absolutely disgusting behaviour (Leave us alone, Issue 324, pg 4). Many years ago I used to live on this urbanization, I hasten to add before this intimidating behaviour! The administrators should be ashamed of themselves.

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. Rodriguez has been known to gation. 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.

There is no hiding place if your card is marked. I hope for his time no mother's sake he's not in the Long frame, but it’s not looking good. sea

EXCLUSIVE

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 plying was 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.

Kit Kirk, Alpujarras

Great responsibility This is ridiculous (‘Left to die’, Issue 324, pg 1). No matter if a person is legal or illegal, the ambulance service has a duty to respond to an emergency call out. Failing that, they have a duty to explain why they so horribly let this man down. Shame on them!

IT’S OFFICIAL:

is now the number one English news website in spain…. see page 7

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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, A BRITISH war veteran has while the figure for Spain is 2.3%. slammed Spanish paramedics afMeanwhile, 27% of those polled admit- ter claiming he was forced to ‘keep ted they would not stop at all for jour- himself alive’ for 23 hours after neys of four hours or less. they refused to take him to hospiThe study revealed that 43.5% of Euro- tal. peans have driven after drinking, with David Walter West, who served 22% always or almost always doing so. with the SAS in Afghanistan, says Around 14.4% of Spaniards always he was forced to lie in his own filth or almost always drive after drinking, while it is 27.5% in the UK and 32.9% after falling out of bed at his home in Casares Costa. in France.

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

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

Paul Demopoulos, Mijas

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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

Lisa Marie Leake, Marbella

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

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

FIND HER!

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Abuse claims

I’ve been driving here for 15 years now (Spanish among best drivers, Issue 324, pg 1). I have numerous licences and have taken nine tests including motorcycle and commercial vehicles. This is not due to failure. Some of the things you see here defy logic. Somebody on Facebook the other day said it’s ok to go all the way round a roundabout in the outside lane. Ok, take a two-lane approach and a two-lane exit. There are two vehicles approaching. The right-hand vehicle wants to turn left. The left-hand vehicle wants to go straight ahead. This is a recipe for a T-bone and I’ve seen a few of those. I don’t know what it is about the Spanish and roundabouts. I was a commercial driving instructor and to teach roundabouts we used a model roundabout. A roundabout is nothing more than a road junction. Take the roundabout away and you shouldn’t treat a junction any differently. My rant is over.

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LEAVE US ALONE

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Readers react to the news that Prince Andrew and Fergie have escaped to the Costa del Sol amid revelations about his disgraced paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein (Online, August 15)

Gibraltar Issue 103

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

! w no

FErgie time

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.

August 14th - August 27th 2019

ra ste Lob

Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

WHEN Victoria Jenkins’ husband abandoned her and her four-year-old son on the Costa

August 28th - September 10th 2019

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LETTERS

LE T T E R S

MOROCCAN food, spices and unique luxury products could soon be sold and distributed from Gibraltar. It comes after a governmentbacked business association was formed in Tangier amid frontier fluidity concerns. “There’s been a lot of movement recently because people are afraid of what may happen with Brexit,” Gibraltar Moroccan Business Association (GMBA) president Clive Reed revealed. “It is not likely that the border will be shut but we are just looking at making alternative arrangements if there are problems at the frontier. “Even if there aren’t any problems Morocco is modernising very quickly and is a gateway to the whole of Africa, just 20 minutes from Gibraltar.”

Tragic hiker

1 Particular (6) 2 Composition in verse (4) 3 Beaten egg dish (8) 4 Extent of space (4) 5 The world of schools and universities (8) 6 Mind (6) 12 Emotional outburst (8) 13 Tough and pliable (8) 16 Rock guitarist (6) 18 Stableman (6) 20 Hazard (4) 21 Financial institution (4)

All solutions are on page 38

Celebrating

ibraltar National Day

Vol. 13 Issue 325

www.theolivepress.es

August 28th - September 10th 2019

Red, white and proud

As Brexit tensions reach boiling point, John Culatto explores why this Gibraltar National Day could be the Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most significant one yet

ET ready for the biggest party of the year when Gibraltar declares it is red, white and free. There is no better time to see the Rock in all its vibrant character and colour than National Day at Casemates Square. Every year since September 10, 1992 the people of Gibraltar have assembled to show their desire to be British and defy

Spanish aggression. With Brexit tensions running high, this latest National Day is bound to be bigger than ever. Gibraltar has always stood by Britain throughout its 300-year history. National Day is a celebration of what TheContinues overleaf

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ibraltar National Day

NOT A PARTY TO MISS From previous

resa May called being ‘part of the UK family’. This connection leads to a stream of Westminister MPs attending the event from across the political spectrum. A selection of them get to speak at the event along with the chairman of the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group chairman and the Chief Minister. In recent years, even the UK Prime Minister Theresa May has recorded a video message, so expect something from Boris Johnson too. After the politics, the party really starts, with fireworks and confetti being let off to a huge cheer from the crowd all dressed up in red and white. This year there will even be an aerial show by Rich Goodwin Air Shows over Casemates, and two more in the afternoon. This signals the bands, dancers and DJs to take over the stage,

with the music playing until the early hours.

Beginnings

So, you might be wondering how a British Overseas Territory like Gibraltar, that is not even a nation got to have its own National Day. It all started when Joe Bossano, Chief Minister at the time, went to the United Nations to argue the case for Gibraltar’s self-determination in 1992. Under his masterful guidance, the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group (SDGG) was created to spearhead this cause. Denis Matthews, a former member of the Integration With Britain Party (IWBP), was appointed chairman of the SDGG. The SDGG organised the first National Day on September 10, 1992 at John Mackintosh Square.

It was held on the 25th anniversary of Gibraltar’s first referendum in 1967 when the people decided by a massive majority to remain British rather than Spanish. From then on it was moved to Casemates Square and the rest is history with National Day becoming a family favourite ever since. The national anthems of Gibraltar and the UK are sung on National Day, along with evacuation song ‘Llevame Donde Naci’. With the return of Joe Bossano to government, albeit as a minister in the background rather than as a national leader, the event has returned to its former glory.

Eventful day

A whole host of other activities will be held around Gibraltar on National Day. In the morning there will be live music and dancing with the results of the children’s fancy dress competition announced at 10.30am. Old and young throng in their thousands to hear what will be said before going to the beach or staying around for a drink. For those who stay around Casemates, a DJ will keep everyone swaying until 3pm. Children will find a number of rides like a trampoline and bouncy castle at John Mackintosh Square from 1.30pm to 7pm.

Nearby at King’s Bastion Leisure Centre there will more family fun like ice-skating and a Just for Kidz play area from the same time. Rock on the Rock will put on its own mini-festival at the Governor’s Parade reformed cave from 2pm. Experience the power of rock on

this special day in the unique surroundings of this special venue. Airshow fans will get the chance to watch Rich Goodwin at Eastern Beach and Rosia Bay at 2.30pm and 4pm respectively. It will all be capped up with more live music in the rock concert from 9pm at Casemates

Square. Local musicians Gibfloyd will play a set of Pink Floyd covers interrupted briefly by the final fireworks display at 10.30pm from the Detached Mole.

17 August 28th - September 10th 2019

Artistic flare

The younger crowd can flock to the Monkey Rocks festival, this year being held at Europa Point with David Guetta as the star performer. Supported by the Gibraltar Government, the festival will be even bigger and more family-friendly than ever, with children under 12 allowed to enter for free. Other than world-renowned Guet-

ta, Anne Marie, Becky G, Alle Farben and DJs from Mars will all perform throughout the day. Tickets for Monkey Rocks at Europa Sports Complex with its amazing views to the Straits of Gibraltar are available at BuyTickets.gi. It will be the culmination of a week of some of the best music on the planet all packed onto one Rock. First off, classical music fans will

Calling out

Pocket of patriotism Admiral Nelson’s legacy in Gibraltar lies beyond cemetery walls DESPITE its name, Trafalgar Cemetery is home to just two victims of 1805’s almighty battle. Instead, many tombstones commemorate those who died in three devastating yellow fever epidemics around the same time. Nonetheless, this tiny pocket of Gibraltar still radiates patriotism. Its moss-covered graves and low-hanging branches could tempt anyone in for a moment of reflection while en-route to the cable car. The cemetery – originally known as Southport Ditch Cemetery – was abandoned for many years until a huge restoration effort in the 1980s. Each year on the Sunday closest to the battle of Trafalgar (October 21), the Royal Navy holds a ceremony here.

be able to enjoy the European Symphony Orchestra on September 3 in the unique setting of St Michael’s Cave. Rising Russian star Denis Vlasenko will be conducting some of the most well-known Tchaikovsky compositions in the amazing surroundings of this live cave. Art lovers will be able to enjoy the ‘I Love Gib’ exhibition from September 4-30 at the Fine Arts Gallery. The organisers invited the whole community to put forward a drawing, painting, short film, short story, sculpture, installation or digital image that shows their love for Gibraltar. A total of £2,000 in prizes donated by the SDGG will be awarded on the opening night.

While most of those that died at Trafalgar were buried at sea, Admiral Nelson’s body was being transported back to London for a state funeral and burial at St Paul’s cathedral. However, he was initially taken to Gibraltar’s Rosia Bay, in his ship HMS Victory, where his body was put in a vat of rum to conserve it, before being sent to the UK. But the connection goes deeper, before his heroic death Nelson would have been a regular on the Rock, especially at naval haunts like the Victualling Yard and Old Naval Hospital. And it was his close friend Aaron Cardozo – a wealthy Gibraltarian merchant – who inherited Nelson’s medal commemorating his victory in the Battle of the Nile.

On the weekend the main course is served with the Gibraltar Calling Festival pulling around 15,000 people to the Europa Point site. Take That, Enrique Iglesias and Liam Gallagher will be headlining the event along with Mel C, Rick Astley and Pete Doherty. Sigala, Goldierocks, Tom Walker and King Calaway will also perform between Saturday 7 and Sunday 8. There will be a Classic Stage too with golden oldies The Lighthouse Family, Nazareth, Steve Harley, Uriah Heep, 10CC, Slade and David Essex. 10 local bands will also perform including ESC4PE, The Views, Jacver, Crimson Clover, Jetstream and Dead City Radio. Then on Monday, one of the best ever opera singers, Andrea Bocelli will be at Europa Point with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The international star’s first performance in Gibraltar was sold out in a few hours but more tickets were released last week. National Day on September 10 crowns the week of culture with a wild procession in red and white.The festivities are very much in the spirit of the phrase Chief Minister Fabian Picardo coined and has been repeated ever since on National Day. ‘Gibraltar: red, white and blue, red, white and proud, red, white and free’.

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ibraltar National Day

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- The pastel homes, doors with archways, and green shutters of Gibraltar--not particularly Andalucian or Victorian British in nature--might transport you to the north of Italy. For a reason: in 18th century Gibraltar, 34% of its population was from Genoa, and today this lasting influence can be seen in its architecture and the distinctly Italian surnames of its citizens.

Gibraltar is home to the Barbary macaque, a species of monkeys that have been celebrated for years. From 1915 to 1991, the British army and the Gibraltar Regiment named, fed, and controlled the monkey population. Some of these detail-oriented records taken by the so-called Keeper of the Apes were published in the Gibraltar Chronicle. One such announcement reads: “Rock Apes. Births: To Phyllis, wife of Tony, at the Upper Rock, on 30th June 1942— a child. Both doing well.”

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- On March 20th, 1969, John Lennon married Yoko Ono on the Rock of Gibraltar. The iconic couple initially wished to get married in Paris or at sea. However, due to the difference in their nationalities, there would be a delay in having a ceremony in any place but Gibraltar, where Lennon’s British citizenship would allow them to marry immediately.

- There are over 150 caves inside the Rock, the most well known of which is St. Michael’s Cave. A twisting maze of limestone, the cave was created from a steady drip of water that eroded the stone over time. St. Michael’s Cave is the most visited cave of Gibraltar’s Rock.

8 9

- Gibraltar is the setting for two of the James Bond movies, and is the shocking backdrop for Bond’s famous burial at sea scene in You Only Live Twice.

- Despite its five kilometre length and one kilometre width, the Rock boasts 52 kilometres of bombproof underground tunnels. Fearing a German invasion during WWII, Gibraltarians built nearly an entire city below ground, complete with electric generators, telephone lines, bakeries, and hospitals.

- Gibraltar’s low tax rates and government incentives have made the Rock an online gambling paradise. The industry, constituting as much as 25% of the country’s GDP, has been named one of the four major pillars of the local economy by the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce.

- For nearly 300 years, Gibraltar was the sole home to the Jewish community in the Iberian Peninsula. Once numbering in the thousands across the peninsula, after their expulsion from Spain in the 15th century they took refuge in the British territory, and now make up 2% of the Rock’s census.

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ibraltar National Day

Why National Day is so important to the Rock

n the morning of September 10, 1967, over 12.000 Gibraltarians lined up eagerly yet patiently at the polling station in Town Range to cast their vote in a Referendum to decide their future. It was a vote they were actively encouraged to make, a vote that had been desperately fought for and - in the end - one that spoke with overwhelming clarity. Only 44 people voted for Gibraltar’s sovereignty to pass to Spain. The Referendum was a pivotal event in Gibraltar’s narrative, and a key point in the Rock’s history. In many ways it was the making of our common identity; together we had found a way to defend ourselves against Franco’s Spain and have an effective say on what our future would look like. A future that has remained dedicated to keeping the Rock British and us, as British Gibraltarians. Today, five decades later, this spirited sentiment of nationalism and nationhood is still very much alive. The fight for self-determination in the 1960s served to unite and politically mobilise Gibraltar, but it also charged Gibraltarians with a deep sense of pride and patriotism. Yet, even today there still exists a certain self-consciousness about being Gibraltarian, and it involves an acceptance of our turbulent yet progressive history and how this makes us such a unique community. It’s no surprise then that September 10 has become synon-

Reasons to celebrate FINALE: Fireworks are set for 10.30pm

ymous with celebrating what it white as thousands of Gibraltameans to be Gibraltarian. rians waving the Gibraltar and The fact that festivities begin Union Jack flags congregate to weeks beforehand (you cer- take part in the political rally. tainly can’t avoid the fervour One in which recent years has on the Rock) is quite telling: Gi- picked up in pace. braltarians enjoy a good show. Despite the political tone, the A selection of art exhibitions, emphasis is very much on feschoir and clastivity as families sical concerts, join in all the enand quirky tertainment. We all share events such With live music, as a theme dance perforstories of the painting and a mances and past; what Gib scale modelling plenty of food competition was like with a and drink, there are all on offer. is an air of a welclosed frontier coming street Most are free to the public and party. allow for an auYet it is the exthentic insight into the Gibral- change between different tarian way of life. generations that makes this National Day itself centres party so interesting. Despite on Casemates square. It will the youngest not having expebe the heart of the activity, rienced the historical context blanketed by a sea of red and setting the backdrop, there still

exists a very visceral appreciation of our Gibraltarian identity and how far we have come as a people since the first referendum took place. The year that remains most poignant for many was back in 2007. This National Day saw 30,000 red and white balloons released in the air, a symbolic representation of each inhabitant on the Rock to mark the new enhanced Constitution. As I see it, the most striking aspect of the National day celebrations is the conviviality that permeates throughout the Rock. Doors are flung open for families and friends of friends to visit. We all share food and stories of the past; of what Gibraltar was like when the frontier was closed and how resilient the ‘barricade’ years

FAMILY DAY: Kids hold aloft a blow up monkey

have made us. Each different area of the Rock has its unique focus. Take for example the Caleteños, from the Caleta area. I am told many families spend much of their National Day on the beach meeting friends for a breakfast of churros, followed by a day of shared bbqs and drink on this small cove. Here sunshades can go up 48 hours beforehand to secure a good spot as visitors know the locals will look after their belongings.

Wherever the day finds you, the atmosphere is always one of goodwill. Gibraltarians know how to share and how to make guests feel welcome - and any visitors to the Rock that day will be more than looked after. We are 30,000 inhabitants living in three square miles, a fusion of different people, and in many cases cultures, that have learnt to live side by side agreeably. This in itself is enough for a huge celebration.

Timetable of events

What, where and when? Your guide to all the events in the run up to National Day

August

Wednesday 28th to Friday 6th September 8.30am to 9.30pm

Friday 23rd August to Saturday 31st August 8.30pm onwards

‘Our Gibraltar’ Photographic Exhibition Organised by the Gibraltar Photographic Society Lower Exhibition Room John Mackintosh Hall Entrance Free

In the Arms of an Angel A song and dance production organised by M.O. Productions John Mackintosh Hall Theatre Tickets priced at £10 On sale as from Monday 15th July at www.buytickets.gi All proceeds to the Gibraltar Community Association

Friday 30th August 8.30pm

Friday 30th August 4:00pm

Annual Gibraltar Fair Rooke site Queensway For further information please contact email: info@culture.gi

Gibraltar Wine Festival Organised by My Wines Gibraltar Ltd Chatham Counterguard For further information call 20069463

September Tuesday 3rd September 8pm

INTO THE SPIRIT: Everyone is set to dress up

National Celebrations Classical Concert St Michael’s Cave Organised by the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Featuring the European Symphony Orchestra and renowned international performers Tickets priced at £20 on sale from Friday 19th July at Sacarellos Coffee Shop, Irish Town, the Silver Shop at 222 Main Street and online on buytickets.gi Tickets priced at £10 for senior citizens and students are

available at the John Mackintosh Hall reception at 308 Main Street. Tickets include a return shuttle from the Public Market and opposite the Cable Car. For further info contact the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society on telephone: 20072134 Wednesday 4th September & Thursday 5th September 2nd Gibraltar Backgammon Open Tournament Organised by the Backgammon Association of Gibraltar Latinos’ Restaurant For further information please contact telephone: 20047755 or mobile: 58772000 Thursday 5th September to Friday 27th September 10am to 6pm Gibraltar Theme Painting Exhibition Organised by the Fine Arts Association Fine Arts Gallery Entrance Free For further information please contact mobile: 57857000 or Facebook page: Fine Arts Gallery Gibraltar Friday 6th September 6.00pm

Boat Procession From Coaling Island to South Mole For further information contact the Rector at the Shrine of our Lady of Europe on email: rector@ourladyofeurope.net Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September Gibraltar Calling Music Festival Europa Point Sports Complex Featuring Take That, Liam Gallagher, Tom Walker, Melanie C, Goldirocks, King Calaway, David Essex, Slade and many more For further information visit: www.gibraltarcalling.com Monday 9th September 6:30pm National Day Thanksgiving Mass Shrine of Our Lady of Europe For further information contact the Rector at the Shrine of our Lady of Europe on email: rector@ourladyofeurope.net 8pm Andrea Bocelli Concert Europa Point Sports Complex Tuesday 10th September 2019 See the back page of this supplement for a full programme of the Gibraltar National Day

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ibraltar National Day

Remarks of th The OP asks locals what

ITH Gibraltar’s National Day festivities fast approaching, the entire Rock is buzzing with excitement.

Kristin Mahon, 67

“

Gibraltar always pulls together anyway, but Gibraltar Day is like everybody- dogs, people, children- it’s our day, and we celebrate it big-style. Everywhere you’re walking it’s just streams of red and white. Everybody’s out celebrating- all the cafes, the bars, the restaurants- it’s brilliant. Me and my neighbour, we normally go down to Casemates, and they normally have shows on, people talking, so we normally go down to Casemates in the morning and we just walk around talking to everybody because everybody’s in the jubilant ‘it’s a great day’ happy-go-lucky mood… I mean we’re all lucky, everyone living here. Very, very lucky.”

Clive Borg, 64

“

The day is very important because we were given the freedom to vote. We voted that we wanted to remain British so that’s what we celebrate: freedom to vote and to be British. It’s a day for families. There are parties at night for young people. During the day, a jumping carousel for the children. In Casemates, they bring UK MPs and they assure us that Gibraltar will always be British as long as the people of Gibraltar want.”

Joseph Cirdao, 50

“

It’s a great day. I have an excuse to drink more; 10 drinks instead of one. I don’t go to the city centre. I do something different and go to the beaches on the outskirts.”

Jon Ignacio, 66

“

We’re Gibraltarians. Not English, we don’t want to be with Spain. We’re just all Gibraltarians. We just want to be independent. We’re friends with the Spanish, coming in and out, but the government doesn’t want to be Spanish, and we’re clearly not about that. We don’t like that.”

Ryan A, 24

“

It’s celebrating our national identity - our ability to vote, to remain British and to have our own self-determination. Our family tends to go out to a restaurant and drink wine. We also go to the beach together.”

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Megan V, 23

“

National Day is a celebration of being Gibraltarian. It’s also my dad’s birthday so there’s always a family party. Also, there are street parties and other parties in the stadium for teenagers.”

William Vass, 74

“

We celebrate our independence. We are not independent from England, but it reminds us of our roots. We are Gibraltarians. We were born here. Spain used to harass us a lot. It’s a way to make ourselves strong and celebrate Gibraltar Day.”

23 August 28th - September 10th 2019

the Rock

Chopslickin’ good Dogs go barking mad as Gelateria la piccola Italia launch range of pet friendly ice cream

National Day is all about of hedonistic partying thrown in for equal measure. And whether it’s fun at the feria, a day of dancing or a barbecue on the beach, there’s something for everyone at the celebrations.

One thing is certain: If the enthusiasm of these Gibraltarians is any indication, the patriotic tunes and red balloons are sure to soar higher than ever at this year’s celebrations.

“

Patricia Gerada, 63

I was only 13 when they closed the frontier. We had a referendum before that where we decided that we didn’t want to be Spanish. So it brings back nice memories; the whole of Gibraltar was dressed up in blue, red and white, and we painted all the steps and we did everything. It brings back nice memories.”

ou’ve heard of slush puppies but Gibraltar has gone one better with ice cream for canines. Master Italian ice cream makers Gelateria la piccola are capitalising on the dog days of summer by rolling out an ice cream designed especially for your pooch. It’s not such a barking idea as the innovative treat is made without sugar and lactose and

Priscilla Link, 68

Annalise Rodriguez, 50

“

We celebrate being Gibraltarian and British, and this all began about 20 years ago to celebrate that day, and we all dress up in red and white. The whole day is full of celebrations and nobody works that day.”

“

We want to be British. We celebrate all day. Everybody dresses in red and white to say that we’re British, and everybody goes out for lunch in Casemates. We get people from England to come and talk about Gibraltar. And then they party into the night.”

is apparently suitable for mutts of all type and size. This latest scoop was thought up by co-owner Sergio, in collaboration with his sister in law Rafi . The pair’s yummy range of traditional ice cream is sourced directly from OPENING TIMES a family-run business in MONDAY - FRIDAY: 8AM -7PM Italy which has been goSATURDAY & SUNDAY: 11AM - 6PM ing for over 40 years. 140B Main Street, Gibraltar Gelateria la piccola Italia has been a long standing institution on Main Street and now the parlour is destined to become a haunt for hounds on the hunt for the pawfect summer treat. Do we hear a woof of approval?

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ibraltar National Day

Gibraltar will remain a bastion of selfdetermination, says Richard Buttigieg

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HE rise of the hard right in Spain with Brexit looming will not weaken the resolve of Gibraltar to decide its own future. This strength will be celebrated at National Day on September 10, Self Determination for Gibraltar Group (SDGG) chairman Richard Buttigieg told the Olive Press. “I do not consider that the rise of Vox in Spain weakens any of the arguments that Gibraltar has now been making from many STRONG: SDGG boss Buttigieg says the Rock is unmoved

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years in relation to our status and future,” he said. “Vox has come out with loud rhetoric but that does not change the reality of our situation.” Vox is in coalition with the PP party in the Andalucian parliament. It has repeatedly called for the frontier to be closed if Gibraltar isn’t returned to Spain. “Whilst the principle of territorial integrity is important and must be respected,” he continued, “the right to self-determination of a people must, in my view, prevail. “Moreover, the Spanish arguments based on territorial integrity are outdated and misconceived so no matter how loudly Vox shouts, they are still wrong.” He said that because of these challenges ‘the mood during National Day and the days leading up to it, will be one of ‘unity and strength’. “We must face our future with resilience and tenacity,” Buttigieg af-

THREAT: Far right Vox Party claim Gib as part of Spain

firmed. “These are the very traits that our forefathers had to rely on to overcome what were extremely difficult years during the frontier closure of 1969. He admitted that Gibraltar most. ‘should expect some difficul- “Working together, I am sure we can find ways of making ties’ in a no-deal Brexit. a success of “That is not to our future no say, however, matter what it that we must holds. face our future The average “But as far as with doom and Gibraltarian is we are congloom,” he cerned, our said. “The Giresourceful and resolve will braltarian is renot weaken an sourceful and hardworking iota no matter hard working the pressure and the small that we may size of jurisdiction allows us to be nim- face as a result of Brexit,” ble and adapt quicker than he added.

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August 28th - September 10th 2019

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WE all knew La Zagaleta was a posh postcode but now it’s official. The most expensive Spanish street to buy a house in is anywhere in the luxury Benahavis urbanisation, according to a new study. Buying a home there will set you back €6,758,961 on average, according to research by property firm Idealista. Among those to have splurged on a home in the exclusive community are actor Hugh Grant and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Barcelona’s Avenida del Tibidabo was the second-dearest street, priced on average at €5,858,750 and Paseo de la Marquesa Viuda de Aldama in Madrid was third with €5,700,000. Meanwhile the most expensive house in Spain can be found in neighbouring Marbella - a 12-bedroom mansion valued at €55 million.

Landlords relax Whether short-term or long-term insurance firm Liberty Seguros has you covered!

H Brexit brushoff

UNDREDS of thousands of expats own property in Spain and a large percentage of these are rented out either long or short term. Whether you are a seasonal or year long landlord there is great money to be made renting your property out whilst you are away! However there is a potential risk and worry when someone else is living in our home for permanently or for a few months. But now Liberty Seguros has improved its home insurance by developing some new measures to assure you can relax and rest assured that as a landlord here in Spain you are secure and protected. Nobody likes to consider the thought of our property being damaged but unfortunately it does happen. So in the eventuality of any unfortunate event Liberty has introduced the following new benefits to further protect you from any accident liability or damage from a careless tenant.

British buyers bypassed as luxury new Marbella development looks to sweeter markets

HOUSES in a new €130 million property development are giving the British market a swerve due to uncertainty over Brexit, it has emerged. Instead, Dutch and Belgian buyers are the target market of ‘The View Marbella’, which has begun construction near Benahavis. “These nationalities represent our main clients in recent years,” said Simon Boxus, sales director of The View. “Previously, the market was controlled by the British public, but since the announcement of Brexit these two countries have climbed positions to

As the proprietor of a rented property Liberty Expatriates offers the following benefits:

SUCCESS: The View is still selling despite British dip top the majority of listings in the real estate market.” After Belgium and the Netherlands,

Boutique chic AN exciting range of city-break apartments, hostels and hotel rooms has been unveiled right in the heart of Malaga. Swedish expat Charlotte Raboff has just launched Malaga Boutique Hotels, a company which curates some of the most stunning rentals the city has to offer. From 18th century grand dames to trendy lodgings with panoramic rooftop bars, the new travel firm offers weary tourists unique places to bed down for the night. “There are so many nice hotels, cozy neighborhoods, good shop-

TRENDY: New hotel ping, divine food and a nice museum,” said Charlotte who is originally from Gothenburg. For more information visit www. malagaboutiquehotels.com

Scandinavians are next in terms of demand, while the British are further down the pecking order. Foundations are currently being laid for the luxury resort of 49 spacious apartments off the Ronda Road. So far 40% of the plush pads, priced between €600,000 and €2.5 million, have been reserved. And there is much to miss out on for unlucky Brits, as The View sports a concierge service, offering everything from grocery shopping to providing homes with a private chef. It also boasts terraces with Mediterranean views, luscious gardens and a 24-hour security team. The complex, spread across seven two and three-floor buildings, is expected to be completed by 2021, generating 250 jobs. Wilma Sierra Blanca are the real estate firm behind the build, while Wilma Europe Holding will market the properties.

●● Personal Liability of the owner against the tenant, for personal and / or material damages to the tenant, caused by ‘building’ or in case of securing the content, derived from the furniture of the property. ●● Personal liability of the tenant against the owner as a result of a loss of water damage, with limits of €15,000 for the Basic mode and €30,000 for the Plus and Premium mode. ●● Damages arising from acts of vandalism committed by the legal tenants of the insured home are guaranteed, with a compensation limit per accident and year of €1,000, €1,500 and €2,000 respectively for the Basic, Plus and Premium modalities. Fixed-rate fee equal to the rent deposit for the period of stay will be applied (min. €300). ●● Legal defence and claims for damages, Limited exclusively to claims related covered content that are owned by the policyholder. If your house is intended to be permanently rented, over the whole year, even by Airbnb, Liberty Seguros also adds the following new benefits for extra peace of mind: ●● Loss of rentals, compensation of a monthly payment with a maximum limit of €1,000, €3,000 and €4,000 respectively for the Basic, Plus and Premium modalities. ●● Personal liability of the tenant against the Community, with a maximum limit of €50,000 per accident. With Liberty Seguros all documents can be provided to you in different languages so you know exactly where you stand and if not they are able to give you advice face to face through their local agents and you also have at your disposal a 24/7 emergency assistance, through a multilingual freephone number. Liberty Seguros is considered the preferred expat insurer in Spain today and has an extensive network of over 300 brokers and agents, who have many years of experience, and are dedicated to give you in-depth information about the different policies not only for the home, but also car, life, business, commercial, funeral, etc., and advise you on the best cover to suit you and your family, in your own language.

For further details call us on 91 342 25 49, or visit www.libertyexpatriates.es

August 28th - September 10th 2019

BUSINESS

Air strike

Irish Ryanair pilots strike ruled out by judge citing short timescales CHEATS: Spain profits

Love rats Inc. COMPANIES have been profiting from high infidelity in Spain with numerous services a v a i l able to help love cheats find their bit on the side. The sector, including dating apps and ‘love hotels,’ has been making inroads in the Spanish market, home to more than 11 million married couples. Cheating site Ashley Madison has 1.56 million online members from Spain, who are aged between 30 and 40. This makes Spain the company’s second-largest market in Europe, behind only the United Kingdom. Ashley Madison made its entrance in Spain in 2011 with a controversial billboard in Madrid featuring a photo of former king Juan Carlos next to Prince Charles and former US president Bill Clinton. The ad came with the slogan: ‘What do they have in common? They should have used Ashley Madison.’

THE Ryanair strike in Spain has been called off ... for now. Ireland’s High Court granted an injunction preventing its Irish-based pilots from going on strike in the coming weeks. Justice Denis McDonald said that although Ryanair pilots had a valid case, he wanted more time to assess issues from both sides. Also, he was mindful that thousands of people would be disrupted with little notice. The pilots’ parent union (IALPA) has said it will not comment further until a full ruling has been made. They represent the 180 Dublin-based Ryanair pilots who were recently balloted and decided to strike over pay and conditions, despite several pilots and the union’s own pres-

NOT ON: Ryanair strike called off by judge questioning ballot ident voting against action. the IALPA. from the airline that it will The Judge questioned the va- Nonetheless, he praised both continue its action against the lidity of the August 9 ballot sides for their willingness to Union, the Judge adjourned itself and criticised a number return to mediation. the matter until September. of remarks by Ryanair about After receiving assurances Ten days of action were mooted for next month, with flights from 13 Spanish airports being affected. Trade union officials had little hope that any compromise COSTS for business trips by Spain’s Congress of could be reached, given that Deputies have doubled despite less parliamenRyanair was unwilling to meet tary activity. with a ‘negotiating attitude’. Money spent on travel for politicians totalled “Over a year’s worth of meet€504,792.37 between April 1 and June 30, twice ings at official Spanish inwhat it was during the same quarter last year. stitutions at which they rouThe transport expenses included plane, train tinely displayed a mocking and bus tickets, as well as private hire vehicles attitude does not give us the and trip cancellations. slightest hope of reaching any The huge spend comes despite the chambers kind of understanding,” said being dissolved by the elections of April 28 and Jairo Gonzalo, an official at PETROLHEADS: Expenses mystery not being reconvened until May 21. Spanish union USO.

Taking a free ride

Peking interest CHINESE e-retail giant Alibaba has taken a giant step into Spain with the launch of its first walk-in store. The company’s e-commerce service AliExpress opened its first brick-and-mortar premises at the Xanadu Shopping Centre in Arroyomolinos, Madrid. Huawei and Xiaomi mobile phones, electric scooters and drones were raffled off to those who gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the new shop. AliExpress is seen as a direct rival to Amazon and already has 3,000 Spanish companies on its database, which collectively offer 1 million products.

Black Friday 2 SPAIN’s stock market has led a Europe-wide plunge amid fears over a China-US trade war and a no-deal Brexit. The Ibex 35 fell below the 9,000 point level for the first time since February, making the first Friday in August the worst day of trading so far this year. Frankfurt, Paris and London also finished the day’s trading down, while the pound experienced the biggest monthly drop since late 2016. Banco Santander, which does a lot of business in the UK, experienced a bad day with losses of 3.71%.

Time for change Advertorial

ECC’s Court challenge on unfair timeshare contracts could open floodgates for claims

HIGH Court Judge’s ruling due later this year could help thousands of English timeshare resort owners break free from their contracts and be awarded compensation. A High Court judge sitting at Winchester County Court will be handing down a judgment following a recent hearing which could open the floodgates for claims against English timeshare resorts. Two timeshare owners who had been sued by Belton Wood Lodges Ltd for non-payment of maintenance fees, appealed to a High Court Judge on the basis that their contract was unfair. The case revolves around whether the rules and constitution of a holiday club should be considered as part of the timeshare purchase agreement. If the judge finds that it is, then timeshare owners can argue that the purchase agreement is unfair under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulation 1999, the effect of which

could be that the timeshare contract itself is declared void. Furthermore, the judge expressed concern that the membership was for perpetuity making it very difficult for any member to leave the club or dispose of their timeshares. The CEO of ECC Andrew Cooper (pictured below) who attended this hearing said: “This is the first case of its kind and could completely reshape the English timeshare landscape and reduce the difficulty of exiting perpetuity contracts which currently can be inherited by a deceased estate thereby leaving a liability which survives the death of the member.”

You can follow Mr Cooper on his newly opened Twitter account https://twitter.com/andrewcooperecc The case is being handled by UK law firm Messrs. Pinder Reaux. The decision is expected to be announced within the next 12 weeks. Contact ECC on 0034 951 562 209 or email pr@ecc-eu.com for any enquiries.

August 28th - September 10th 2019

Night to remember Don’t miss the launch of the exciting new investment platform at established Dutch bank in Marbella

IT is already one of Europe’s largest banks for investors with two decades of experience. Based in Spain for 12 years, Holland’s BinckBank is now launching an exciting new service for English-speaking clients around the country. Using Saxo Bank’s award-winning * multi-lingual trading platforms, budding and seasoned investors will

DON'T MISS THE MOST EXCITING LAUNCH FOR INVESTORS THIS YEAR : Get in touch for your personal invite at the address below

BUSY: Binck Bank’s Marbella office and (inset) boss Kaspar now have the chance to invest in the stock market with the help of an experienced team (who also invest

themselves). Clients will receive the best of both worlds: an online account from Saxo

Change afoot

The landscape for financial advice to expats in Spain is changing – and it’s about time!

or decades ‘clients’ of financial advisers eration of the family wealth I had working on the costas have suffered from a looked after for decades, and new ‘fire and forget’ mentality. client referrals from existing cliPoor advice from unqualified advisers who ents and other professionals were have little or no experience – and would not be able almost a daily occurrence. to work in the UK; inferior products driven by high However, I wanted to come and initial commissions - which means the adviser of- enjoy the Spanish lifestyle with my ten does much better financially than the customer wife and dogs, not have to keep in the early years; and little or no ongoing service tripping backward and forward to the UK to – resulting in clients feeling unimportant, has left a service my clients. very bad taste in the mouth for thousands retiring And it was this that I was most proud of – that to the sun. It was very common to be sold a ‘Bond’ I had built my business based on first class or a ‘Pension’ by a seemingly very caring and con- ongoing service – all my clients were seen at siderate adviser only to never see least once a year for a review, that person again. some more complex clients Thankfully some proper financial I wanted to come twice or three times a years. planners, who have been working I’m not a charity so obviously and enjoy the diligently on their client’s behalf for they paid me for this service, many decades in the highly regubut were happy to do so in the Spanish lifestyle lated UK market, have also made knowledge that their Portfolios the move to warmer climes in order with my wife and were under constant scrutiny to usher in a new level of advice, and any problems with funds dogs transparency of fees and charges or markets would result in a and ongoing service to clients. subtle change in manager or People who have higher than the asset allocation going forward. highest level of qualification required by the regu- Future events such as retirement, children’s lators to be an adviser in the UK, many years ex- weddings or expected inheritances were also perience of ‘bull and ‘bear’ markets-including a few built into their financial plan, so I was holding stockmarket crashes along the way, and who have their hand at every big stage in their lives. I successfully moved away from ‘hidden’ commis- would often joke that I had actually experisions to more transparent fees, following legislation enced retirement more times through my clito ban the former in the UK in 2012. ent’s eyes than I had my own! People like me, who although had a successful Also by paying an ongoing fee they were able business with several hundred satisfied clients, to contact me any time to discuss the financial were prepared to pass them over to the care of an- implications when their own situation changed other carefully selected adviser, in order to follow unexpectedly e.g. redundancy, illness or death, their dream and reside in Spain for the rest of their without the fear of an unplanned bill dropping days. on their doormat a few days later. Thankfully It was a difficult decision to give this up, particularly recent EU legislation has seen many advice as in many cases I was now advising the next gen- firms moving away from the Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD) regulations to the much more imposing requirements of MIFiD & MiFID II*, but on the other hand, an increase in consumer protection means more cost to advice firms, which means that unfortunately some of this has to be passed onto clients. However when it comes to the investment of their hard earned cash or pension funds to take advantage of their new residency or tax position, I’m certain that most expats would prefer the kind of long term relationship I am offered by a few true financial planners like myself, rather than the short term fling offered by many so called ‘financial advisers’.

TOUGH: Bull and bear markets test advisors

*MiFID = Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 2004, MiFID II 2018

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

Bank, under the supervision of the Danish and Spanish national banks, alongside personal support from the talented BinckBank team. To mark the launch of this new service, a launch party is being held at the bank’s Investment Academy in Marbella on September 12. The evening will incorporate a fusion of cultures reflecting the Dutch bank, based in Spain with European clients who trade on stock exchanges all over the world! There will be stockmarket themed food and the best of stock market listed wines and beers as well as other surprises. The Investment Academy is where clients come to meet with an expert and receive ongoing personal as-

sistance and support. It also holds a variety of seminars and events throughout the year, each aiming to educate Investors and inspire both beginners and experienced day-traders.

Experience

Director Kaspar Huijsman 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,” adds the friendly father-of-two, a keen Ajax fan, who has settled into his new life in Spain, particularly enjoying hiking and skiing at weekends and regular trips to Portugal and Alicante. Anyone interested in investing and attending the launch party should contact 0034 951 56 56 56 or email info@binckbank.com

* www.binckbank.com/why-binckbank/awards ** The value of investments can rise or fall and you could get back less than you invested.

August 28th - September 10th 2019

What a waste! SPAIN threw away 1.3 billion kilos of food waste in 2018, new data has revealed. The figures, released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAP), mark an 8.9% increase on the previous year. The shocking increase is due to higher temperatures during the spring and summer of last year, when wastage rates shot up by 10.5%. These numbers are a contrast to Spain’s promise to cut food waste by half by 2030, when the country adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. To tackle the problem the Government launched the ‘National Strategy for more food, less waste (2017-2020)’, which puts the onus on consumers.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Robo-diner

Cyborgs at your service at Spain’s first bionic eaterie

SPAIN’S first restaurant with robotic waiters is set to open in Valencia at the end of the month. Chinese-Spanish fusion restaurant Crensa will however still employ human waiters too. The android staff will only serve tables and cannot yet take customers’ orders. The ambitious and futuristic set-up is the brainchild of Chinese businessman Zhijie Yan.

Brexit beer blues BRAVE NEW WORLD: Robots join the team at Crensa restaurant

The 29-year-old said he was ‘inspired’ by his native country where robot waiters are becoming in-

Men not allowed

MAN FREE: Som Dona

SPAIN’S first women-only hotel has opened in the Balearics. The four-star Som Dona hotel in Porto Cristo, Mallorca will only be checking in female travellers aged 14 and over. Several wellness, fitness, health and detox retreats are on offer for guests, as well as cultural excursions across the island.

The pioneering ‘she hotel’ features ‘feminine-inspired’ interior design and employs mostly female staff, especially in roles typically viewed as masculine. Group president Joan Enric Capella said his firm had spotted a ‘growing business trend focused on female audiences’. Prices start at around €100 per night.

creasingly common. According to the entrepreneur, the ‘Mulan’ robots, which are also manufactured in China, are designed to ‘save some of the work’ of humans. Meanwhile the kitchen will also contain six robots (smart processors), which will speed up work and assist with cooking. Crensa is located in Benimaclet, a Moorish former village now part of Valencia, where it serves up a range of Asian and European flavours. Dishes like ‘tuna roast’ and ‘curried crab noodles’ at prices of around €25

per dish make up Crensa’s menu, which focuses on high-quality, fresh ingredients. “The mission of our company is to offer a varied, economical and healthy menu,” a company spokesperson said. It comes as another businessman, Marius Robles, said he will open the robot-staffed ‘Impossible Restaurant’ in Madrid in 2020, as part of what he calls the ‘robolution’. Yan added: “We are still many years away from fully autonomous waiters but I have no doubt that day will come.”

SPANISH breweries have warned that ale exports to Britain are under threat from Brexit. The United Kingdom is currently the third-largest importer of Spanish beer with a thirst for brands like San Miguel and Estrella. Beer consumption has recovered in Spain, where it had dropped 20% following the financial crisis, but the industry now fears the impact of a no-deal Brexit. “The UK is a country with a big beer culture which doubles or triples our consumption and also helps us to export,” said Jacabo Olalla, Managing Director of Cerveceros de Espana. “But we have felt the effects of the economic slowdown and the drop in British tourism,” he added. “Brexit is not good news for anyone.”

The Gin & Tonic bar to visit in Benalmadena Pueblo

135

Open Tue to Sun from 18.30h Closed Monday C/ San Miguel, 1 29639 Benalmádena +34 951 91 86 07

different Gins

30 different Tonics www.aicorestaurants.com

FOOD,DRINK

QualityTEXTILES not quantity CARPETS & CRAFTS Hidden in Gaucin is an authentic Moroccan/East Asian design shop that’s an ‘Ali Baba’s cave’ of oriental treasures for the home

An amazing treasure trove of all things Moroccan and Persian in the heart of charming Gaucin

“

MY business was born in a suitcase,” says Ali, owner and founder of design store Ali’s Regalos. When the 23-year-old entrepreneur set up his bazaar in Gaucin back in 2017, he had no idea how popular he would become. After moving to Andalucia from Birmingham modelled on a ‘Perthe same year to be sian-Moroccan mix’ and with his family, Ali was that he goes for ‘quality initially bringing bags not quantity’. full of crafts back from “My goal is to give you the decorations you Morocco. But he now ships his au- want for your house,” thentic items - includ- he adds. ing rugs, saddle bags, Ali’s Regalos has new ceramics and more - all products every week and even offers restoover Europe. Eastern carpets are ration services. one of his specialities, This year the firm has with his store stocking had 10,000 visitors the more fashionable from across the region and further afield. Moroccan variety, Tel: as 722 51 10 57 well as those from Af- So why not come up Gaucin ghanistan, TurContactPersia, WhatsApp only: to (0044) 751 687(29480) 1966 and see what all the fuss is key and Pakistan. m.asummers@outlook.com about. Ali says his shop is www.alisregalosgaucin.com

August 28th - September 10th 2019

Fool’s gold After a fake Polish jamon scandal gripped Andalucia, Maya Eashwaran And Regina Lankenau eat their way into the protected produce that might not be what you think

VER spent a dinner party arguing over the difference between champagne and prosecco? Camembert cheese and its imposter from the corner store? The EU’s designation of “Protected Geographical Indication” stemmed from this exact conundrum: a fear of imitation products that do not use traditional procedures to manufacture the food but still use the name. These imitations lure customers into purchasing inauthentic versions of items such as the Cornish pasty, Galician bread, and other regionally protected products. The regulations placed on protected products include a set of quality standards and specifications that ensure that the product stays true to its origins. Not only are these classifications vital in preserving the rich heritage of the places, artisans, and materials used in making these products, but, more importantly, they help buyers avoid getting bamboozled on their next trip to Mercadona.

Cornish Pasty

All sorts of commissions undertaken… plus regular buying trips to Morocco and Turkey Tel: 722 51 10 57 Contact WhatsApp only: (0044) 751 687 1966 m.asummers@outlook.com www.alisregalosgaucin.com

All sorts of commissions undertaken… plus regular buying trips to Morocco and Turkey

Email m.asummers@outlook.com or call +34 722 511 057 for more Num 20 La Plazoleta, Gaucin, 29480 information Malaga Spain

The Cornish pasty is an English classic with roots stretching back to ancient times. Originally served as a hearty lunch for miners from Cornwall, the Cornish pasty is a baked meat-and-vegetable filled good that has been a household delight since the 13th century. Today, the food is labeled as a protected and specially designated food. According to the BBC, this means that pasties can only be known as “Cornish pasties” if they are made in accordance with traditional recipes and techniques in Cornwall. The food is emblematic of Cornwall itself, and is celebrated in events from festivals to sports competitions. For the English, the Cornish pasty is a true cultural symbol.

Cava Sparkling Wine

Although similar in process to itsMalaga French champagne Num 20 La Plazoleta, Gaucin, 29480 Spain counterpart, Spanish Cava, meaning ‘cellar’ in Catalan, is a sparkling wine protected by Designation of Origin (DO) status encompassing

certain areas of Spain and the metodo tradicional (traditional method) used to make it. Champagne, on the other hand, can only be called champagne if it comes from the French region bearing the same name. Interestingly, Cava is one of the only products

French Camembert Cheese

Hailing from Camembert, Normandy, this world-famous cheese is now also designated as a protected European Union food. Traditional Camembert cheese is made from raw milk, over half produced from Normandy cows, and is moulded by hand. Recently, new camembert laws have sparked anger from chefs and cheese connoisseurs around the world. According to Food&Wine, starting in 2021, the French government will allow Camembert made without raw milk to be labeled as true, authentic Camembert. In response, a widespread Camembert boycott took place just last year, and over 40 French chefs signed an official letter to French President Emmanuel Macron asking him to kill the new law. They signed the letter, “Liberté, égalité, Camembert!” and called the imitation cheeses “pasteurized plaster,” among other colourful insults. In order to tell the difference between a true wheel of Camembert and its fake counterpart, look for the ‘PDO’ label indicating its authenticity.

to enjoy a DO status while allowing its manufacture in several regions, including around 160 municipalities such as Extremadura, Valencia, Aragon, Navarre, and Catalonia. Nonetheless, the wine’s roots can be traced to the famous Barcelona winery Codorniu where Josep Raventos Fatjo created his first bottle in 1872. It’s said that he was inspired by the sparkling wine-making method he observed on a trip to France, where the product undergoes a second fermentation. After a plague devastated his vineyards, he replaced the traditional red grape vines with white grapes native to the area; thus, Cava was born.

& TRAVEL

Queso Manchego

August 28th - September 10th 2019 Produced in the La Mancha region of Spain, Manchego is a sturdy, yet soft cheese that is known internationally as a Spanish specialty. Queso manchego, in order to qualify for protected status, must be produced from the whole milk of Manchega sheep. It must also be aged for at least 60 days and at most, two years. These strict guidelines have recently been at the frontlines of a case brought to the EU’s top court. Earlier this year the EU Court of Justice ruled that a cheese producer, Industrial Quesera Cuquerella, would not be permitted to use imagery associated with Don Quixote de la Mancha on it’s packaging or branding. The justification behind this momentous decision was that these images (like windmills or Quixote himself) may mislead customers into believing that products from factories that do not meet the EU’s protection guidelines are in fact, authentic representations of queso manchego.

Turrón

have been brought to Spain by the Arabs, the turron industry particularly took hold in the regions of Xixona, Alcoi, and Alicante. Xixona has been dedicated to making the treat since 1780, earning the premier Specific Designation in 1940 and sharing the Designation of Origin with Alicante since 1991. Catalonia’s turron, known as Torro d’Agramunt, has also earned its own Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). These protections indicate that all ingredients come exclusively from Alicante, Castellon, and Valencia, making this mythical treat a true gastronomic emblem of Spain—and a worthy souvenir to sink your teeth into.

Made from a concoction of wafers, sugar, pure bee’s honey, and toasted almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, or hazelnuts, turrón has come to be a staple of Christmas celebrations and tourists’ souvenir hauls. Defining and tracing the roots of this treat, however, has stirred up controversy among Spanish regions fighting for a claim to the title of its origin. What is known for certain is that the sweet originated in the Mediterranean; Greek athletes were fans, often eating it before competing in the Olympics for a much-needed spike in energy. Thought to

A protected food sharing the same status as the English Cornish pasty, Galician bread (or pan gallego) originated in a small village in Galicia called Cea. It is identifiable by its characteristic crunchy exterior and spongy interior, created using white wheat flour mixed with local Galician flour (‘trigo gallego’) in the artisan tradition. The bread has been called a ‘symbol of dedication and tradition,’ as it has long been a staple of Galicia, whose bread artisans historically spent hours of patient kneading and baking to fulfill their role as the main carbohydrate source for thousands of families. The flour mixture used is typically dictated by the town in which it is prepared, giving rise to four main kinds of pan gallego: Neda, Carrai, Cea, and Ousa.

Pan Gallego The Galician government has even put together a 22-page document outlining the characteristics, process, and protection of the product, so you can be sure that any of the four breads are sure to represent only the finest in Galician artisan tradition.

STUNNiNg!

aMaZiNg!

DEligHTFUl!

MagiCal! PERFECT! SO PRETTY!

RElaXiNg! CHaRMiNg!

WONDERFUl!

really should discover Molino YOU del Santo for yourself. A small watermill hotel and restaurant tucked in to a fold in the mountains near Ronda, with a rushing stream running by.

v Imaginative, interesting food - some of it edible v Comfortable rooms - some of them finished v Friendly staff - some trained at Fawlty Towers. v Come by train - it’s a great experience. v Open every day - until the 2nd November 2019 v Reservations always advised - Englishspeaking staff available v Last Minute Room Offers sometimes possible. Ask for details.

KID’S PLAY & PARTY CENTRE Cancelada, Estepona Fun for the whole family Café and bar

Kids’ parties

Indoor and outdoor facilities Regular events and workshops

FREE entry for adults

FOAM PARTIES Every Friday in September from 5pm to 6pm Standard entry fees apply.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Olive Press discounts available for mentioning this advert.

www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51 ESTACIÓN DE BENAOJÁN, NEAR RONDA, MÁLAGA

GET SOCIAL: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @MundoManiaSpain Mundo Manía, Urb Taraje, 53-75 Camino de Brijan s/n 29680 Estepona, Málaga.

A WORLD OF FUN FOR EVERYONE

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