Olive Press Andalucia issue 459

FESTIVE TRIP TO THE SLOPES:

Don’t miss our 16-page Xmas present on the Sierra Nevada inside

GET ROBYN HOME FOR XMAS! APPEAL

British daughter tragically paralysed by a stroke urgently needs your festive help

A BRITISH expat couple has launched a desperate €15,000 appeal to get their daughter back to the UK after she suffered a life-changing stroke. Robyn, 34, was visiting her parents Anthony and Karen Sumnar in Murcia on September 4 when tragedy struck. She suffered a stroke the day before she was due to fly back to Britain, followed by two brain haemorrhages, one of which has left her with permanent brain damage. After spending two weeks in a coma, Robyn urgently needs to return to the UK by ambulance to receive life-changing neuro-rehabilitation - care that she is not covered for under her GHIC card in Spain –and which also does not cover repatriation costs.

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

raise enough funds to get her home via a road ambulance.

SCAN QR CODE TO MAKE A DONATION

A Just Giving page has been set up to

Robyn’s father Anthony, who has lived with his wife in Roldan for 15 years, told the Olive Press: “The day before Robyn was due to travel back to the UK on the 11th, was when the tragedy happened, we went into her bedroom to wake her and found her on the floor not responding, we called the ambulance who took her to Los Arcos Hospital in San Javier.

“It was there they confirmed after a scan that she had suffered a severe stroke measuring 21 on the INHSS (stroke scale) and immediately transferred her to hours later she suffered another one that was deeper into her brain than the first and we had to sign a consent form before they would operate as this one was touch and go if she would survive it. Thankfully, she did, however we were informed it would result in permanent brain damage due to the location of the bleed (basal ganglia).”

Arrixaca hospital in Murcia city that has the specialist neurosurgery facility.

“Within six hours Robyn then suffered a brain haemorrhage and was operated on, four

Anthony explained: “Three weeks later she was moved onto a neurosurgical high dependency ward awaiting the replacement of a part of her skull that was removed during the second operation, to allow her brain to swell outside from the inflammation.

“The operation was a success and on November 20 she was transferred back to Los Arcos where she is currently. “She desperately needs rehabilitation that she is not covered for on her GHIC card hence the fundraiser.”

Opinion Page 6

Football friends

FIFA has confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be jointly held in Spain, Morocco and Portugal, with Malaga slated to host games.

Not sociable

DRUG traffickers in the Strait of Gibraltar have become so brazen that they have filmed themselves relaxing at sea as an enormous US warship sails past, and then posted the clip to social media.

Fashion death

THE founder of fashion chain Mango, Isak Andic, 71, fell to his death while hiking with his eldest son in Barcelona's Montserrat mountain range when he tripped and plummeted 150 metres.

Slope relief

SKI slopes on the Sierra Nevada are now open. It came as a relief to businesses, which had missed out on the expected bumper holiday crowds of the previous ‘puente’ holiday weekend.

MARKET stalls in Marbella were selling counterfeit items of such high quality that only experts could tell them apart from the real thing.

From clothing and accessories to electronics, the counterfeit goods

Knock-offs raid

spanned a dazzling range of product categories. But it came to an end in a dramatic

market raid which saw police seize over 14,000 fake branded items and make over 40 arrests. Experts from each targeted brand were brought in to verify the illegality of the goods.

THE PLOT THICKENS

ESTEPONA’S em battled mayor, Jose Maria Urbano, is facing a new scandal after fresh allegations emerged in court linking him to misuse of public funds.

The high-flying may or, once tipped for a top political job, has already been accused of sexually harassing a local

By Walter Finch

policeman for 15 months.

The 61-year-old is now facing a second investigation for allegedly handing the officer’s wife, CPB, a €3,600-a-month council role despite her being unqualified.

CPB, a nursing assistant, was reportedly appointed to a top municipal

Arrests made

BRITISH Police investigating the disappearance of father and son Daniel and Liam Poole from the Costa del Sol have made two arrests. They believe the pair were murdered as they have not been since they travelled to Malaga in 2019.

Now, Sussex police have arrested two men

position overseeing contractors and public works - a move critics say was Urbano’s attempt to exert further control over the couple.

The police officer claims Urbano subjected him to threats, harassment, and coercion, pressuring him into sexual acts by dangling job security and financial inducements. The mayor allegedly offered €2,000 a month and a flat in Estepona to maintain the abusive relationship.

When the officer, who was on

on suspicion of the crimes, a man aged in his 30s from West Sussex and another man aged in his 40s from the Merseyside area. They have been questioned and released under investigation pending further enquiries. Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the case and the force is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and charge of any person responsible for Danny and Liam’s disappearance.

High-flying leader ‘handed €60k job to unqualified wife of the policeman he was sexually abusing’

three-month probation at the town hall, started to resist, Urbano allegedly threatened to ruin his career.

He has since taken mental health leave and testified about his ordeal, which reportedly pushed him to the brink of suicide. Meanwhile, Urbano has dismissed the accusations as a ‘political smear campaign’, insisting he will not step down despite mounting pressure from opposition councillors.

Local PSOE spokesperson Emma Molina has called the situation ‘damaging to the town hall’s credibility’ and demanded the mayor provide answers to concerned residents.

With further court dates coming up in January, the heat is on Urbano, who continues to deny the allegations.

This explosive case could lead to charges of sexual harassment and embezzlement, potentially ending the mayor’s politician career.

Act now over rail line and A-7!

THE government has been slammed for dragging its feet on vital infrastructure improvements for the Costa del Sol. President of Malaga’s Partido Popular (PP) Patricia Navarro is demanding urgent fixes for the A-7 motorway chaos and for the long-awaited coastal railway extension to be finally approved. She wants Pedro Sanchez’s government to prioritise projects that have left locals fuming for years.

Top of her list of demands is to extend the Costa del Sol train line to Algeciras and to tackle the notorious bottlenecks on the A-7 by 2025.

“Everyone knows the A-7 is a traffic nightmare,” Navarro blasted.

She zeroed in on hotspots between Puerto Banus and San Pedro in Marbella, and Malaga to Velez-Malaga, insisting upgrades were ‘urgent and unavoidable’.

She also laid into the government’s ‘pathetic’ €1 million budget for toll discounts on the

SUPERCOOL:

A Moss-t have

ICONIC British supermodel Kate Moss has teamed up with Spanish fashion giant Zara for a bold new ‘capsule collection’. And judging by the first campaign images for the ‘ Kate Moss x Zara’ collection ’, it’s going to be a musthave for party season.

The collection, which Moss has de signed herself alongside stylist Katy England, promises to bring a touch of the supermodel’s signature style to the high street.

Zara describes the line as a ‘disco meets rock'n'roll’ fusion, with heavy doses of 70s glamour – think Charlotte Rampling, Lauren Hutton, Studio 54 and Led Zeppelin vibes.

HARDLY SEEN OR HEARD

THIS is the exclusive Madrid neighbourhood where Amber Heard has sought to rebuild her life following her ‘career-ending’ courtroom defeat to ex-husband Johnny Depp.

The 38-year-old actress has become ‘well and truly integrated’ into the capital’s elite after snapping up a €1.5m home in El Viso, in trendy Chamartin.

The five-bed property counts millionaires, footballers and politicians as neighbourswho all enjoy being just a 15-minute drive from the city

Ex-wife of Johnny Depp ‘fully EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore in Madrid

centre.

The home was first built in the 1960s but underwent renovations shortly before being sold.

Heard’s move to Spain came after she settled a €50m defamation lawsuit with Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp, 61, in 2022.

The Texas native, who is expecting her second child, has not worked as an actress

integrates’ into upmarket Madrid ‘

barrio’ as she keeps

low profile after Hollywood

since, with some Hollywood insiders claiming she was ‘blacklisted’ following the trial.

In the immediate fallout, Heard sought refuge in a tiny village in Mallorca,

ROYAL VISIT

PINT-SIZED Queen of Pop Kylie Minogue will be bringing her larger than life personality to Spain next summer.

tographer girlfriend Bianca Butti, 43. But last year the pair moved to Madrid.

A neighbour in El Viso told the Olive Press this week:

“I often see her walking her daughter to school in the

“She wears a cap and sunglasses and normal clothes and keeps a low profile.

“This is a neighbourhood filled with famous people,

including footballers, and no one bothers each other, I think that’s why she likes it - she has completely integrated into the community.”

Heard’s daughter Oonagh attends a private primary catholic school that teaches in both English and Spanish. A local newspaper report from 2017 said the fees were around €600 per month, or €7,200 per year, although they are likely to have increased since then.

The Australian singer and actress has been confirmed in the lineup for the Bilbao BBK Live 2025 festival, where she will perform along with Pulp, Michael Kiwanuka, Bad Gyal, Nathy Peluso, and Raye.

The 18th edition of the festival will again transform the city’s Kobetamendi hill into the epicentre of music, offering an unmissable experience blending the natural beauty of the Basque Country with an electrifying line-up spanning genres and generations. Kylie will bring music from her Tension II album to the stage, as well as promising chart-topping hits like Padam Padam and a selection of fan favourites from her legendary career.

HOLLYWOOD legend Richard Gere and his wife, Alejandra Sil va, have traded the hustle of New York City for a more tranquil life in Spain.

Just a few weeks after making the move, Alejandra has posted on Instagram a picture of their new less hectic life - with their children getting ready for Christmas.

The 74-year-old actor, best known for Pretty Woman, and his 41-year-old activist wife have settled into their new home in Madrid.

As the holiday season kicks in, the couple have been spotted

Shifting down a Gere

decorating their new home, and it’s clear they’re getting into the festive spirit.

“As Jamie says, ‘Mom, mom, today is the first day of Christmas’!” she wrote in Spanish alongside the candid photo.

“How I like their energy, their innocence. This year finally, Christmas in Spain!” The image itself shows Jamie, 4, hanging an ornament on their tree, while his older brother Alexander, 5, searches through boxes of decorations.

Cats’ and dogs’ favourite store in Fuengirola

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 10:00 - 20:00 Saturday 10:00 - 18:00

Avenida de Los Boliches 80, 29640 Fuengirola +34 613 56 70 61 www okidogi.store

LEAFY: Amber’s home in the trendy Chamartin district of Madrid, which she shares with her daughter Oonagh

Moss in the Zara campaign

KNEE STORM

A TIKTOK clip has sparked a fiery debate after two women were turned away from Sevilla’s iconic cathedral because their skirts were ‘too short’!

The drama unfolded when @ arantxgomezb, a TikTokker, claimed she and her friend were refused entry to the famed religious site for flashing a hint of knee. “It’s 2024,” she fumed in the video.

“They’re telling me I can’t go in because you can see a tiny bit of skin? It’s disrespectful to us!”

Desperate to gain entry, the pair tugged their skirts down and tied jackets around their

Our dunes are doomed!

GREEN groups are fuming over plans to build a giant luxury hotel complex on one of Marbella’s last remaining stretches of virgin coast.

The €350 million ‘Las Dunas Club’ project will see 170 homes going up alongside a 150-bedroom hotel beside the Playa Real de Zaragoza dunes.

The five-star scheme, near Las Mimosas beach, will take over a staggering 154,170 m2 site.

Comments exploded online, with most siding with the church. “Show some respect!” one user snapped. Others backed the women, saying churches should provide coverings.

While developers Platinum Estates claim the project will protect the dunes, ecologists insist the construction will ‘severely damage the environment’.

Ecologistas Malaka insists the area is an ‘important ecosystem that must be protected.’

EXCLUSIVE

By Yzabelle Bostyn

“You can’t pick and choose which bits you build on or take away, the dunes are a living ecosystem,” spokesman Javier de Luis told the Olive Press.

“This is one of the few plots of coastal land in Marbella that hasn’t been built on, it’s a miracle it has survived this long.”

De Luis added that 90% of the coastline is already developed between Cabopino and central Marbella.

“They say they will protect the dunes, but this will damage them forever,” he added.

“What they should do is clean them up so locals can go there.”

HEATING UP

NOVEMBER broke an all-time heat record for Malaga province, with an average of 16.1 degrees.

According to Malaga's state meteorological centre (Aemet), this is 3.1 degrees above the average temperatures taken since 1961. The former record was 15.5 degrees in 2022, followed by 15.0 in 2023.

“It’s as clear as water, each year the temperatures are rising,” said Malaga Aemet (Met Office) director. Jesus Riesco. “In the last three years, we have had three historic highs.”

Activists slam €350m hotel that will ‘severely damage’ stretch of virgin Costa del sol coast

However, developers point out the land has been classified as ‘public and buildable’ for many years. They add the dunes have not been preserved or protected by the authorities and have become something of a ‘dumping ground’.

It has taken over eight years for the project to be approved after various changes at the request of the Junta.

To add insult to injury the Junta has approved changes to Marbella’s 1986 PGOU planning law, allowing developers to ignore a rule meaning 30% of construction must be public

housing.

The hotel was originally envisaged to be for the Marriott Group and later part of the upmarket W chain, but now it is unclear which group will eventually run it.

Spokesperson for Platinum Estates, Luis Segalerva said: “We will respect the dunes, that has been on our minds since we bought the land. We don’t just want to respect it but regenerate and clean it.

“It’s the best beachfront in Marbella precisely because it’s a dune. We’re going to clean it and have a Cadiz style beach but without the wind.”

FIRE TRAGEDY

FIREFIGHTERS have found the burned body of a ‘foreign woman’ in a car in Mijas. Guardia Civil investigators suspect the body is female, though this is yet to be confirmed by an autopsy.

A witness stated they saw the car fall from a height before bursting into flames. Firefighters and Guardia Civil agents were soon on the scene but it was too late to save the person inside the ‘completely calcified’ car.

Death fall

BRITISH hiker has died after falling during an outing near El Chorro, Alora when tragedy struck. El Chorro is home to the Caminito del Rey – which was once the ‘deadliest walkway in Spain’ before it was repaired and made safe and turned into a tourist attraction.

Helicopters

The Brit was said to be climbing a so-called ‘ Via Ferrata ’ in an area near the Caminito del Rey known as the ‘ Puente del Mono’ (Monkey Bridge). Two helicopters were dispatched to the scene but paramedics could not revive the Brit and he was pronounced dead at the heliport.

A

PREVIEW: Impression of the complex proposed near the dunes in Las Chapas

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

Eye opener

THE tragic story of Robyn should serve as a lesson to any Brit visiting Spain on their GHIC health card (Get Robyn home, p4).

While the 34-year-old could never have imagined suffering a stroke during her trip to Murcia, she is now essentially stuck in a Spanish hospital.

That is because the GHIC card does not cover repatriation costs should you need to be flown home for urgent or specialist treatment.

We sincerely hope Robyn’s family is able to raise the necessary funds to get her home via a road ambulance. Since leaving the EU, it has become increasingly essential for Brits to travel with adequate health insurance. Even more so if you suffer from a pre-existing condition or are classed as vulnerable.

While it can seem like yet another expense, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.

Our thoughts are with Robyn’s loved ones, and if you do have any money spare, we ask that you consider helping her cause.

Is nowhere sacred?

THE news that a developer wants to turn an untouched stretch of Marbella coast into a luxury hotel comes as no surprise (Don’t doom our dunes!, p1).

For years now it seems the Costa del Sol city has been yearning to become the Dubai of Spain, catering more and more to the uber wealthy market - but where will it end?

Every new beach bar, restaurant and even residential development is now ‘luxury’.

And we all know why; owners are able to charge maximum prices and rake in the profits.

But it would be a shame if Marbella lost its Spanish charm, which has attracted tourists and expats alike for decades.

And let’s not forget how locals are being increasingly priced out of the city.

Many of them need their traditional Spanish tapas bars and chiringuitos that don’t charge exorbitant prices.

We can only hope that the drive to make Marbella an uber-luxury destination doesn’t erode away its soul.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

ADMIN Victoria Humenyuk

Makarova (+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SNAILS AND THISTLES

Join the Olive Press on a Christmas culinary tour of Spain

CHRISTMAS would not look a lot like Christmas without traditional dishes and desserts. In countries like the United Kingdom, Christmas without roast potatoes and gravy would be utter madness with 71% of the nation choosing a roast dinner of turkey, chicken or beef as the star attraction. Spain, on the other hand, a country of strong regional pride, has no one national Christmas meal.

Coastal regions tend to eat fish, central regions eat pork or lamb, but often the most typical dish can be a soup, snails or even thistles cooked in bechamel.

Each autonomous community will also have a number of typical Christmas foods, making it hard to define a region by what’s on its plates.

Until you get an invite to a real Spanish Christmas celebration here’s a look at the most iconic dish in 12 regions across the country.

ANDALUCIA

An Andalucian Christmas is typically a lengthy affair with a series of starters before the main course – if there is indeed a main course.

One of the most typical Andalucian starters is the caldo de Jerez named after Jerez de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz. Also called consome de Jerez, the dish is a clear soup made by boiling down beef bones with sherry, chicken, jamon, vegetables and seasonings to whet the appetite.

Other typically southern starters include cured Spanish ham – jamon – from the nationally famous town of Jabugo in Huelva, as well as marinated olives and cream of seafood soup in coastal regions.

ASTURIAS

Fabada Asturiana is the most famous dish from Asturias. This hearty bean stew is typically made with chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage).

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

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

(+34) 951 154 841 distribution@ theolivepress.es

While fabada is a popular Christmas choice, tortos de maiz (corn cakes) are also a festive favourite. These fried corn cakes are often served with picadillo de chorizo, a mixture of minced pork, garlic, and smoked paprika.

BALEARIC ISLANDS

Just as in the UK, stuffed turkey is common for Christmas in Mallorca, but the tradition dates back far earlier to the 16th century, when the Spanish first encountered turkeys in the Americas. The stuffing in the Balearics is unique, with raisins, plums, apricots, sweet chestnuts, and pine nuts, often soaked in wine the night before to enhance the flavours.

Cardo (thistle) is a traditional Christmas vegetable in the heart of wine country. Often cooked in bechamel sauce with almonds, this unique dish is also sometimes enhanced with black truffles. Cardo is a quintessential regional ingredient that plays an important role in holiday meals.

BASQUE COUNTRY

Given its

proximity to the Bay of Biscay, the region is known for its seafood at Christmas.

Besugo (black spot sea bream) is a traditional holiday dish, often roasted in the oven and stuffed with lemon slices.

The fish is usually served on a bed of potatoes, drenched in a rich fish stock made with wine and garlic.

CASTILLA LA MANCHA

Famous for its roasted cochinillo al horno (suckling pig), Castilla La Mancha celebrates Christmas with this rich and decadent dish.

Typically served after a warming garlic soup, the roasted suckling pig is cooked until golden and crispy, making it the star of many Christmas feasts.

CASTILLA Y LEÓN

Here, lechazo (young lamb) takes centre stage at Christmas. The lamb, no older than 35 days, is roasted whole, often in a wood-fired oven. The dish is a regional delicacy, particularly in the city of Valladolid, where cordero lechal is a highly prized festive dish.

CATALUNYA

Christmas meals often consist of multiple courses, with the highlight being sopa de

galets.

This soup is made with large pasta tubes (galets), often filled with mincemeat, and served in a rich broth.

The dish is a staple of Christmas celebrations in the region.

COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA

Pilotes de Navidad (Christmas meatballs) are a Christmas favourite for Valencianos. These large meatballs, made from minced pork, pine nuts, and breadcrumbs, are served in a rich broth called puchero

The soup is a labour of love, simmering for hours with beef bones, pork ribs, and vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and chickpeas.

MADRID

The capital of Spain draws inspiration from all the regional cuisines of the country.

Roast meats, such as lamb or suckling pig, are common on Christmas tables. Asado castellano (Castilian roast) is a typical dish, with the meat often roasted in wood-fired ovens and flavored with garlic, parsley, and thyme. Many families in Madrid also dine out during the holidays, as numerous asadores (roast houses) offer festive Christmas menus.

The tapas dish zarangollo is available in many bars year-round but is also a popular choice for Christmas. This dish, made from scrambled eggs, courgette and onions, often includes potatoes. It is typically served as an appetizer and pairs well with wine or other side dishes.

CANTABRIA

Fancy a tipple to go with your Christmas food? See page 34 for a selection of great festive wines

Caracoles a la montañesa (snails in mountain style) is a beloved Christmas dish in this northern region. Snails are cooked in their shells with sofrito, a base of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil, creating a rich and flavorful soup served with bread for dipping.

MURCIA

LA RIOJA

LAUNCH PAD

WMeet the expat-run charities spreading Christmas cheer in Spain

HILE most expats move to Spain’s sunny climes for a relaxing retirement in the sun, some barely take a siesta.

That’s certainly the case for those who set up charities to help their local community.

The festive period is especially tough for these expat elves, who strive to provide the same aid despite donations being diverted to gifts, decorations and the all important Christmas dinner.

That’s why we wanted to highlight three charities who deserve a generous donation this Christmas for their work supporting the less fortunate.

DOING HIS BIT FOR UKRAINE

BRITISH expat Kitt Hogg has ‘rediscovered his life’s purpose’ by aiding Ukraine’s fight against Russia from his costa home.

He has driven two vehicles to the war-town country as part of the ‘Car4Ukraine’, a charity which refurbishes vehicles for the front line.

In November, the 70-year-old drove a Ford Ranger that had been parked up forgotten in fellow expat Sue Adam’s garage in Orihuela. After getting her permission, he set off on the long drive through the aftermath of extreme flooding to reach Lviv, a city not far from Ukraine’s Polish border.

“It was a difficult journey,” he said.

“I am appalled and outraged by the dangerous lack of response to this conflict from the West so I wanted to help.”

This trip followed the expat’s first journey from Wales to Ukraine in September 2023.

He raised over £5,000 in donations to purchase an old Mitsubishi L 200 and take on a two week road trip to Lviv.

“There’s a spirit of resilience there. I don’t want them to think we’ve forgotten about them because it’s only getting

worse. That’s why I knew I had to come back,” he said.

The charity has now received over 500 4x4s, which have a ‘huge impact’ after being converted into medical, transport or weapons vehicles.

“If you have a suitable vehicle and you believe in the cause of a people upholding their right to self-determination in the face of a ruthless aggressor, you could make a difference,” he urged.

Adintre provides breakfast, lunch and dinner for over 80 homeless and needy people everyday on the Costa del Sol.

It was founded by Ghanian expat Joyce Gyimah Amponsah, who moved to Madrid in 1994 to escape a forced marriage.

Amponsah had a ‘very difficult’ childhood selling scraps to bring money home for her mother and siblings, so in 2001 she decided to help those in need by taking homeless people out for dinner.

She did this every Sunday until she moved to Fuengirola in 2007, where she started a successful real estate business.

Amponsah continued giving food to the homeless on the Costa del Sol when a well-dressed man in a suit and tie asked for some supplies.

“At first I was confused but then I realised it wasn’t just the homeless who needed help,” she told the Olive Press. She expanded her reach, eventually growing so much that Fuengirola town hall sent the needy directly to her.

“The average salary is low here so there’s many families who can’t even afford a cup of milk or a piece of bread for their children,” she said.

FEEDING 80 NEEDY PEOPLE A DAY

“People come from all the coast, including Malaga, Torremolinos, Mijas, Marbella and Estepona.”

In 2012, Adintre was officially established as a charity and Amponsah dedicated herself fully to the project.

Now, she has sold 44 of the 47 properties she used to own as part of her business to fund the charity.

Adintre not only supplies food but accommodation and support to help get people out of difficult situations.

Amponsah says this often includes Brits who lose their documents or get stuck in Spain, ending up on the streets.

“For me, the most important thing is seeing a person I’ve helped later on and knowing that they’re off the streets. That is my joy,” she said.

She has now been honoured with a MBE by the British Royal Family.

DEDICATED TO CHILDREN IN NEED

CHILDREN in need are the focus of 82-year-old expat Ronald Mark Hawes who founded the JoyRon Foundation with his wife Josephine in 2015.

Inspired by his own unhappy childhood, Hawes has always done charity work and knew that as soon as he retired he would dedicate himself to helping those less fortunate.

“The man I thought was my father never treated me like a son. My mum tried the best she could but I never felt that kind of warmth from my parents,” he told the Olive Press.

“It was a rough life, I had no friends or family life, so now I want to bring

joy, comfort and support to children in the Balearics.”

The charity’s first project was an aquatics centre for children with cerebral palsy at Aspace Mallorca.

Since then, the team of five officers and 18 volunteers has financed and built a cinema at Son Espases Hospital as well as a psychomotricity room at a first response centre for victims of abuse.

“The more I looked the more I found children in need,” he said.

“We identify the need, finance it, build it and donate it.”

The foundation also has a ‘Grant

a Wish’ programme designed to fulfil the dreams of sick children.

In 2016, JoyRon sent Carlos Franco, a little boy with a brain tumour to Disneyland Paris and later, they treated a partially blind and deaf boy, Andre, to

“I never expected thanks because I don’t do it for appreciation,” she admitted.

“But I feel really honoured. I believe that we are all the same and we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so if you see somebody in need, you should help if you can.”

a summer camp in Barcelona. Every year, the charity gives Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children and this year, they are giving away 450 pairs of headphones. Though they are mainly based in Mallorca, the team is hoping to expand to Menorca and Ibiza, as well as looking for reps in Al cudia, Pollenca and Santanyi.

Ex Olive Press reporter secures front page in yet another success story for former staff

FORMER Olive Press reporter Anatoly Kurmanaev celebrated a milestone this month after securing a front page story in the New York Times. His intriguing report shed a light on the rising tensions among Russia’s elite as the Ukraine war begins to severely impact the country’s economy.

It is just another example of Olive Press staff going on to do great things in the world of journalism.

We train our journalists to leave no stone unturned and teach them how to write stories to the standard of national newspapers back home.

They also get to work for them directly, as papers like the Mail on Sunday MailOnline, the Sun and the Telegraph, regularly contact us to cover stories for them in Spain.

Last year, Madrileño Jorge Hinojosa landed a job with the UK’s top-selling newspaper, the Sun The UK-trained hack scooped the plum role after a sixmonth stint with the Olive Press in Malaga.

Forced to go back to London or lose his working visa due to Brexit, he joined the online news desk as a general reporter.

“Thanks for everything. It was all due to my experience at the Olive Press,” he later wrote. He follows in the footsteps of Joe Duggan, who himself became a Sun reporter after a three-year traineeship at the Olive Press in 2018. He now works at the i.

Our current digital editor Laurence Dollimore became a senior reporter at MailOnline when he briefly returned to the UK post-Covid.

Meanwhile, former news editor Charlie Smith moved to the Express and now works as a BBC local democracy reporter. Elsewhere, former reporter Amie Keeley became a senior reporter at the Financial Times, Imogen Calderwood the Managing Editor at Global Citizen, and Annabel Grossman the Associate Editor at the Independent.

Finally two former female stars, Iona Napier and Elisa Menendez, are both cutting the mustard with ITN News in London, while Laura Balfour makes documentaries for National Geograph- ic and Netflix among others.

Meanwhile, our latest potential star is reporter Yzabelle Bostyn whose hard hitting reports have earned her a place on the shortlist for the prestigious NCTJ Awards for Excellence. She is one of just three shortlisted as trainee of the year in the news category.

BEST OF LUCK YZABELLE!

Take advantage of our special Christmas deal on our annual subscription package.

For a one-off payment of €30 (instead of €49.99), you can enjoy 12 months of advert-free scrolling, plus full access to all of our articles. Subscribers are also sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property, as well as a personal message from our digital editor each Saturday.

To take advantage of our Christmas deal, scan the QR code here to be taken to the checkout page with the discount already applied. Subscriptions will automatically renew in a year’s time at full price.

CHARITY

CHARLIE ANATOLY

ANNABEL

IMOGEN AMIE

Our gift for Andalucia

Brand

new TV show will see celebrated British pair show off best spots around the region

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE By

Jon Clarke

MY HIGHS AND LOWS OF MOVING TO SPAIN

SHE has now become a fully-fledged expat resident.

So it makes sense that British TV star Jasmine Harman would make a programme about her new life in Spain.

The presenter has announced she is filming a new Channel 4 series documenting her home renovation dramas on the Costa del Sol.

She may have finally found her place in the sun in Estepona, but as Jasmine’s Renovation in the Sun will show, her journey is anything but over.

“Many of you know that my husband and I bought a house in Spain, but the place is a bit of a wreck, it’s a complete renovation project but we just fell in love with it and saw its potential and now you can come with us!” she ex plained.

whilst raising our family – let’s just say there’s never a dull moment!

“We feel like this move and this project, transforming a dilapidat ed house into a dream home, is an amazing opportunity for our family and we’re so excited to get started and share this incredible journey with you all.”

“You’ll see all the highs and lows, all the ins and outs of doing this renovation project here in Spain. I’m really, really excited and can’t wait to share it with you.”

She continued: “Moving house can be stressful at the best of times. But, changing country, renovating a home,

The Harmans moved to Spain late last year, hoping to spend more time together as a family.

“Our children mean the world to us. Everything we do is for them. It's about grasping opportunities when you have them. Family is the most important thing and this will give us a much better balance,” she said.

"Estepona has a lovely community feel. We have lots of Spanish families nearby and I've been hovering outside to say hello to all our new neighbours."

lights in Malaga, the British TV presenters have also been spotted filming in various Granada watering holes and on the famous Sierra Nevada slopes.

Our exclusive photos show them having fun during a visit to the Hannigan and Sons Irish pub in Granada city (right).

They were in town on various occasions this year revealed barman Paddy, who served their drinks while filming for their new show Alan & Amanda’s Spanish Job.

“They were great fun when they came in for the England Spain Euros final in the summer,” he told the Olive Press. “Alan is a born joker and she is simply lovely.”

Another trip saw them heading up to the Sierra Nevada ski resort in late Spring, organised by Olive Press clients the British Ski Centre.

“We sorted everything out for them and they were really grateful,” explained boss Giles Birch. “They actually sent us a lovely thank-you video for our kids (see top left).”

The most recent trip saw them wrap up the show with a big party at a se-

cret inland location, while they were also seen jumping up and down and dancing while enjoying the iconic Christmas lights show on Calle Larios, in Malaga.

Comedian Carr, 48, and Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda, 53, won over viewers earlier this year with their hit show Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. It was so successful the BBC recommissioned a new season of the show in Spain.

The concept of the show, out in January, sees them buying a cheap but charming wreck of a home in inland Andalucia and then spending the year doing it up before finally selling it giving the proceeds to childrens’ charities.

ALAN Carr and Amanda Holden have been spotted by eagle eyed Olive Press readers filming for an upcoming television series around Andalucia. As well as filming the Christmas

FESTIVE TRIP: To the Malaga lights and (below) with barman Paddy in Granada

NEW LIFE: Jasmine in Estepona

MOUNTAINS OF FUN: Waving hello in the Sierra Nevada

UN Climate Conference pledge is important first step but still falls short, explains Christin Hagemeier

A CURIOUS AFFAIR

AT the end of November, the UN Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, came to a close.

It’s curious that Azerbaijan, a country still heavily reliant on oil sales for income, hosted the event.

The country’s leader even called oil ‘a gift from God’. How can a meaningful compromise be reached here that genuinely helps the climate and ensures our collective survival?

One of the key focuses of this year’s conference was financial aid for poorer countries, particularly in the global south, funded by industrialised nations. But why is this necessary?

Firstly, it is in our own interest for economically weaker nations to transition their economies toward climate neutrality. Since carbon emissions are a global issue, it should concern Europe that other countries are not reducing emissions. We may succeed in cutting our own emissions, but if others don’t follow suit, the battle against climate change will be lost. That’s why conferences like this are essential - to unite all nations toward a common goal.

If we do nothing, natural disasters, droughts, and extreme weather events will only become more frequent and severe.

Secondly, we bear a certain historical responsibility to help these nations. Many countries in the global south did not reach their current financial state through their own fault.

Nearly all European nations once held colonies worldwide. These colonies were looted, exploited, and stripped of their cultures. By depleting their resources, we made it harder for them to enter global trade, and in some cases, took away their means of survival.

European colonial powers, through slavery, exploitation, and cultural suppression, bear partial responsibility for the current state of

development in the global south.

Some might argue that many of these nations achieved independence in the late 19th or 20th century.

However, neo-colonialist tendencies still persist today. Large multinational corporations often wield significant influence in these countries, creating low-wage, precarious jobs.

While these companies may provide employment, their profits are typically sent back to industrialized countries, where they are taxed - leaving little benefit for the local economy.

Moreover, the influence of industrialised nations harms local markets. For example, cheap, mass-produced German pork or Dutch milk is processed into goods like powdered milk and sold in the global south.

Local farmers and producers can’t compete with these prices, forcing them out of business.

Many of the international financial systems, including interest rate policies, were created by industrialised nations.

While higher interest rates on risky loans might seem logical to protect the lender, they create significant injustices in global finance.

Countries in the Global South, especially former colonies, are often classified as high-risk borrowers, saddled with exorbitant interest rates. This keeps their economies in a perpetual state of debt and underdevelopment.

This financial structure perpetuates the hardships once inflicted by colonial powers, now reinforced by financial policies that trap these nations in cycles of poverty.

Financial aid and affordable loans are crucial for achieving international equity. At the UN Climate Conference, industrialised nations agreed to provide at least $300 billion annually by 2035 to help the global south transi-

tion to climate neutrality. While this commitment falls short of what developing nations had hoped for, it is an important first step toward addressing the inequities created by centuries of exploitation.

Please send your questions or comments on how to be greener to christin@theolivepress.es

THE European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend Spanish utility giant Naturgy a whopping €1 billion to ramp up renewable power generation by 2.3GW –enough to electrify over a million homes.

The cash injection will help Naturgy build new onshore solar and wind farms, upgrade existing sites, and install energy storage batteries.

The project promises to create 4,200 jobs in rural, depopulated areas of Spain, often referred to as ‘empty Spain’.

Naturgy’s executive chairman, Francisco Reynes, said the initiative would help rejuvenate struggling regions.

Naturgy’s green push is a key part of Spain’s

Green loan

effort to meet ambitious renewable energy goals, all while providing much-needed jobs to areas hit hard by economic decline.

Tied up

Fishing boats must stay in harbour to protect mating dolphins

THE European Union has ordered a month-long fishing ban along Spain's northern coast and the Bay of Biscay to protect local dolphin populations during their crucial breeding season.

Some 511 MEPs gave the green light to beach nearly 300 fishing vessels between January 22 and February 20, 2025.

By Walter Finch

Backed by Belgium, Spain, France, and Portugal, the measure is part of a broader strategy to reduce harm to dolphins and other small cetaceans.

The measure comes after years of concern about accidental

What a howler

SPAIN’S wolf population could face a serious setback after a controversial decision by the Bern Convention downgraded their protection status.

In the Europe-wide vote, 25 countries backed the European Commission’s proposal to shift wolves from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’ status, allowing for controlled culling in some circumstances.

Spain, one of just two EU nations to oppose the change, had its vote rendered meaningless as the EU cast its decision as a bloc.

The UK, alongside a handful of nonEU countries, also voted against the downgrade.

Since 2021 hunting or killing wolves in Spain has been banned.

This remains the case, but with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 wolves now living mostly in Castilla y Leon, it paves the way for future governments to repeal the hunting ban.

INCLUDE WWF SPAIN IN YOUR WILL

Please cut out and send this filled out form to WWF Spain at Gran Vía de

dolphin catches in fishing nets, with scientists flagging the period as particularly high-risk for the marine mammals. Fishing boats over eight metres in length will be completely prohibited from operating and forced to remain in harbour while dolphins go about their breeding rituals.

During the rest of the year boats will be fitted with mandatory acoustic deterrent devices, adhere to year-round monitoring programmes, and onboard cameras to ensure compliance.

The European Commission is taking action after recurring winter deaths of dolphins in the region over previous years. Earlier this year, French authorities implemented similar restrictions, and now Spain is following suit.

For local fishing communities, it's going to be a tough month. Boats typically fishing for hake, monkfish, and other species will be forced to take a hit..

The Commission plans to closely monitor the effectiveness of these measures throughout 2025, leaving the door open for potentially even stricter regulations if dolphin populations continue to be at risk.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

Speak the lingo

FOR the first time in history the number of Spanish speakers in the world has exceeded 600 million.

This milestone, detailed in the latest report Spanish in the World 2024 by the Instituto Cervantes, underscores the growing influence of the Spanish language.

The Instituto Cervantes is a global institution dedicated to promoting the teaching, study, and use of Spanish. The report revealed that there are 600,607,806 Spanish speakers globally, representing 7.5% of the world’s population.

This figure maintains Spanish’s status as the world’s fourth most widely spoken language after English, Mandarin and Hindi.

COME TO LIGHT

Sorolla

masterpiece Paris Boulevard dazzles

art lovers after being ‘rediscovered’

A LONG-LOST painting by Spain’s ‘master of light’ Joaquin Sorolla has gone on public display for the first time since the 19th century. Paris Boulevard, painted between 1889 and 1890 during a visit to the French capital,

has been hidden from public view after it was sold to a private collector.

It captures the lively atmosphere of a Parisian boulevard cafe at dusk in the belle epoque period, and even includes Sorolla himself in the

I am a cider drinker…

CIDER may not be to everyone’s taste - but UNESCO has taken a shine to the apple-based tipple.

After nearly a decade of effort, the ‘culture of Asturian cider’ has officially been recognised as part of its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Adrian Barbon, President of the Principality of Asturias, expressed his pride and joy, calling the recognition ‘a justice to our memory and a boost to our self-esteem’.

By Walter Finch

scene, seated with a soldier and smoking a cigar.

Unlike the sunlit Mediterranean beach scenes that define much of his oeuvre, this urban composition showcases a different dimension of Sorolla’s talent.

The artwork was believed to have been lost until ‘a feat of investigation’ tracked it down to the original buyer’s descendents, according to Ana de la Cueva, who is president of Patrimonio Nacional, Spain's national heritage institution.

It is now part of a landmark exhibition at Madrid’s Royal Collections gallery.

Included in the exhibition Sorolla, One Hundred Years

of Modernity, the painting showcases the artist's early technical brilliance.

Blanca Pons-Sorolla, the artist's great-granddaughter and exhibition curator, notes the work's ‘photographic’ composition and ‘virtuosic’ detail, highlighting how it prefigures Sorolla's later innovative styles.

First presented at the 1890 National Exhibition, the painting immediately distinguished itself from contemporary Spanish art.

Its panoramic view, with figures casually cut off at the edges, demonstrates a radical departure from traditional artistic conventions of the period.

The exhibition features 77 artworks by the master until February 25.

Pumped up

A NEW video reveals the incredible hydraulic engineering that pumped water up 200 metres to the world-famous Alhambra Palace during the Moorish era in Spain. Built from the 13th century onwards, its water system brought life to its gardens, pools, and iconic fountains, turning an arid hilltop into an oasis 800 years ago.

The Acequia del Sultan pulls water from the Darro River, using gravity to move liquid across kilometres. This system kept the palace and its gardens alive during hot summers. The channel diverted water with mathematical precision, creating reservoirs that collected and cleaned the flow before distributing it through the complex.

Prado record

MADRID'S Prado Museum has set an annual visitor record with 3.5 million attendees - beating last year's previous best of 3.2 million.

Almost 45% of visitors got free entry during 2024 with 60% of attendees coming from abroad. The daily average worked out at 9,580 visitors and the busiest month was May, which saw 327,000 people visit.

The Prado has the world’s most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings and sculptures totalling 9,300 works.

CHRISTMAS is celebrated in many parts of the world and each country adds its own festive twists.

Spain, for example, likes to display figures of famous people taking a poo and everyone eats 12 grapes at midnight on New Years Eve… oh, and there will rarely be a turkey or sprout in sight. Well not many.

Check out these cool local traditions - and a few tips - that make Navidad unique.

12 lucky grapes

Grape guzzling is probably the best known Spanish festive tradition. During the last 12 seconds of the year before the stroke of midnight we attempt to chew or swallow a dozen grapes timed with the dongs of the church clock. It’s not as easy as you think but there’s an imperative to eat the lot in order to guarantee 12 months of good luck in the coming year.

Scarlet fever

You might not have realised it before but many Spaniards make sure to wear a scarlet pair of pants or knickers on New Year’s Eve as an extra guarantee of joy and good luck. It can also be a bra or socks - but it can never be on show.

You can stock up at a Chinese store where the rails turn red at this time of year as Asians too believe it’s a lucky New Year colour.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES? Scan

Feliz navidad

Spending Christmas in Spain? These are the things to look out for this Christmas

Deserted streets

Visitors often complain there’s no one around on Christmas Eve in Spain and that’s true enough.

On this night of the year Spanish families get together for a feast at home although teenagers may head out to discos in the wee small hours.

It is the same on New Year’s Eve until around an hour before midnight when a human earthquake hits the streets, with some revellers partying on until dawn.

Sweet Jesus

These days Spanish kids get two rounds of Christmas presents - some from Santa on the morning of December 25, the rest on January 6, the socalled Day of the Three Wise Men.. They are the same three kings who brought gifts for the baby Jesus but while the good kids receive presents, the naughty ones are supposed to receive coal.

The previous evening, every town in Spain holds a Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos as the kings and their pajes reales (royal pages) parade through the streets on floats throwing sweets for the little ones.

The fat one

Whether you like a flutter or not, if you live in Spain you’ll probably be pressurised by workmates, family and friends into investing in a decimo - one tenth of a ticket in the biggest lottery

President Trump as a ‘caganer’

prize in the world. The Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad is known as El Gordo - the fat one - and last year it paid out €2.5 billion, turning entire towns into millionaires villes overnight. Drawn on December 22, it dominates Christmas TV advertising and the winners are splashed by every me dia. And don’t forget the first big

lottery of the New Year - El Niño, is drawn on January 6.

Don’t poo poo big day

In Spain a Christmas tree in the plaza is not enough. Most towns also have at least one Belen de Navidad.

These scale model nativity scenes are perfect

in every detail, from the stable in Bethlehem to the baby Jesus, his parents’ animals, the three kings and shepherds.

Despite the religious theme some visitors are shocked by the touches of irreverent humour which may come in the form of a ‘ caganer ’ - usually one of the shepherds caught with his pants down in the act of defecating. And, on that subject, carganars are huge in Catalunya and every year there is a prize for the best one. Everyone from the King to Muhammad Ali has one.

CHRISTMAS SHOCKER:

CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Most Spaniards wear red underwear

WHITE OUT

IT is hard to believe that just below me are the glistening white beaches of the Costa Tropical and its nearby sister, the Costa del Sol. Way over to my east are Tunis, Sicily and Athens, while to the west are Sevilla and the Algarve.

Yet somehow, just somehow, I am wrapped up in a parka with a warm hat and gloves and completely surrounded by fluffy white snow as far as the eye can see.

Yes, this is the Sierra Nevada, Europe’s most southerly skiing resort and mainland Spain’s highest mountain. The geography of the area is simply staggering given its proximity to the beach and getting so much snow here is all to do with its altitude, which goes up to a staggering 3,482 metres (11,423 feet) above sea level. Its highest peak, Mul-

Tel:625 25 65 15

C/DE SAN BERNARDO SIERRA NEVADA 18196 MONACHIL (GRANADA)

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SKIS THE LIMIT: Sierra Nevada highpoint with views across the Med

Photo by Jon Clarke

slopes offer snowboarding thrills and spills

WITH snow like fine powder, the Sierra Nevada is a Mecca for thrill-seeking snowboarders.

For beginners and experts alike, Spain’s highest resort is a glorious setting and gets more and more popular by the year.

Stunning scenery is matched by the top-class facilities, which saw the resort host the Snowboard World Championships in 2017. Novices should head to the central station Borreguiles, where lifts deposit snowboarders on a smooth and groomed area where they can hone their skills.

Once ready, or for those of a higher standard, they then need to head up to the SuperPark Sulayr, Europe’s largest freestyle snowboard park.

Now relocated to an altitude of 2,700 metres on Borreguiles, Spain’s most famous snowboarding park also houses the country’s biggest half-pipe.

Measuring an astonishing 165 metres in length with a height of six metres, the special design flattens the snow on the side of the half-pipe so boarders can jump on both sides.

For the best deals in snowboarding equipment and rentals visit South Star, which has three shops in the resort.

All a-board

hacen, is named after Moorish king Muley Hacen (Abdul Hassan Ali), who is said to have been buried at the top.

The views from the top of the highest ski lift, at 3,300 metres, are among the best in Europe, with the views across the Mediterranean to the Rif mountains of Morocco making it look like a small pond.

From here, I have frequently skied into the Laguna de las Yeguas valley, including its celebrated Olympic run, with almost nobody around, assuming you are up here midweek.

Discovery

It was two decades ago that I first spotted the faraway snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada from the terrace of a roof-top restaurant in Torremolinos some 150 kilometres away.

It was intriguing, like a giant white magnet, and I was soon racing up there to be seduced by the thrills of winter sports, right here on our doorstep.

None of the hassle of flying to Lyon or Turin and schlepping it up on a long coach trip into the Alps, as most of us on the costas can get there in a couple of hours.

While it’s a fabulous day trip from the Costa del Sol, you are missing half the fun if you don’t stay at least one night.

Not only has the main resort of Pradollano got some of the best places to eat in Granada province but there is some excellent apres-ski entertainment on offer.

It has become a rite of passage to hit the slopes for at least a few days since a school trip to the French Alps as a teenager.

I can’t wait to strap on skis as Christmas nears and the first snows of the year finally arrive. From front page

OLYMPIC RUN

Annoyingly the season seems to start later and later these days in the Sierra Nevada. While the Pyrenees already has a ton of snow, we often have to wait until just before Xmas to get the white stuff.

The beauty of skiing in the Sierra Nevada is that the slopes are usually warm during the day and you will see many regulars actually skiing in t-shirts. It’s a total contrast to the skiers who will be shivering in the Alps at this time or year though, where the price of a beer or a coffee will certainly be double.

“While I love heading up to Val d’Isere or somewhere nearby in winter, nothing beats a couple of days in the Sierra Nevada,” says hotelier James Stuart, from Vejer de la Frontera.

“It’s a charming place and it’s so very convenient for all of us in southern Spain.”

Local ski school owner Simone of Las Gondolas agrees: “This is the nicest place in the world to ski. We offer the best weather and the prices have hardly gone up in years,” says the veteran, who has been working here for nearly four decades.

And if you plan the trip properly you

could combine it with a night in the em blematic city of Granada, which is just 40 minutes down the hill.

The Alhambra and its amazing Generalife gardens are open every day of the year and a walk around the Arabic parts of the city, in particular, the Albayzin or Realejo, are wonderful with the snowy backdrop above.

You might also add in a night or two in the fascinating nearby region of the Alpujarras, or the Lecrin valley, just on the other side of the mountain.

Whatever your plans, one of the true joys of a weekend in the Sierra Nevada, is seeing the snowy peaks appear on the skyline from an hour away and then the wonderful windy drive on the final leg.

sharp curves and very steep drops.

The resort is run by Cetursa, an offshoot of the Junta, and has got incredibly organised and digitalised over recent years. The buying of ski passes (forfeits) is easier than ever and most do it in advance online, or using an easy-to-use app.

It’s easy to park right under the two main ski-lifts to the top and it costs around 20 euros a day.

This is one of Spain’s most amazing drives, with scenery to die for

Most places to rent skis and boots, or snowboards, can be found within 200m of the car park.

While this year the snow has arrived late, some 40,000 skiers often land on the bank holiday puente weekend at the beginning of December.

Now the temperatures have finally dropped there will be plenty of snow machines pumping throughout the day and night and at its peak there will be 110 kms of pistes open.

lar area, Europe’s largest freestyle park, with its giant 165 metre ‘half pipe’.

And then there is the famous ‘Rio’ run that leads right down to the resort of Pradollano, which sits at 2,100 metres.

spot to take in the air or a spot of lunch, and there are things for the kids to do, with entertainers and Disney figures wandering around, particularly around Christmas.

“Since then the infrastructure changes were huge and it is now a big resort,” explains resort marketing boss Santiago Sevilla, who has worked there for nearly two decades.

This is one of Spain’s most amazing drives, with scenery to die for, as the snowy mountains loom ever closer. Indeed, at least half of those who drive up don’t even ski, but come to enjoy the views and exhilarating road with its that Netflix made its amazing series Society of the Snow about the infamous 1972 plane crash in the Andes. For snowboarders or jump-lovers make your way to Superpark Sulayr, in the Loma de Di-

Planning

A fun fact, it was in the Laguna valley, designed for expert skiers,

It definitely pays to pick your days with Easter and Christmas frequently saturated with queues for the lifts, although Christmas Day can often be relatively quiet, while on the day of

the Reyes (January 6), almost all of the Spanish will be at home opening presents.

Don’t forget to try and avoid Semana Blanca (literally ‘white week’) – or half term at the end of February – when school children learn to ski, and, of course, bank holidays can also be very busy. The main tip is to go up early at 8am to 9am before the Spanish get going or waiting till midday. While a modern resort, the main base at Pradollano is a nice

SLICING UP: The pizza slice shapes need improving

The Sierra Nevada has also got a reputation as being a resort for fun, with the apres ski being some of the best in Europe, once you know where to find it (tip: it’s mostly uphill).

The skiing resort started to develop rapidly from 1995 when the World Skiing Championship was scheduled to be held there (due to poor snow it actually took place the following year).

The ticket office in Plaza Andalucia is fully digital and now has dozens of machines installed for credit cars and phone payments so you shouldn’t have to queue for long.

A day’s skiing costs €37 to €63 at peak time, but normally about €45, while those in their 70s get free passes.

AUTHORITIES: The local police and Guardia Civil mountain patrol

HIGH LIFE: Jon relaxing on the terrace at El Lodge

It used to be a two hour bus ride from Granada and then a donkey up the slope

THE only way to get to the top of the slope was to walk... or take a friendly donkey! Indeed, until the first two ski lifts (Borreguiles and Parador) were built in 1969, this was the preferred route.

The resort actually dates back to 1912 when Spain’s oldest ski club, the Sierra Nevada Society was founded. However, it was not until the 1920s –with the modernisation of Granada’s roads - that the Sierra Nevada started to become known.

By the last 1950s a bus used to chug its way up to the slopes, while cars would turn up in their dozens at weekends. Visitor numbers slowly grew from then and, in 1964, Cetursa, a business dedicated to reserving ski tickets, was founded. It was around then that the resort was at its most glamourous with the likes of Principe Alfons Hohenlohe, the owner the Marbella Club hotel, regularly bringing up friends, including Sean Connery to ski.

The best selection of old pictures, not just some of the vintage visitors to the resort, can be found in the charming Tito Luigi restaurant, which has been open for nearly 30 years and counts the King as an occasional visitor.

“We have had them all in here,” explains owner Javier, who heralds from Menorca.

“Spain’s best footballers, bullfighters and its leading politicians... everyone loves to ski in the Sierra Nevada.”

The route to the top

Timeline of a ski station

● Angel Ganivet, Spanish Consul to Helsinki, gave birth to the idea of turning Sierra Nevada into a ski re sort at the end of the 19th century. He likened his Granada homeland to the ‘Finland of Andalucia’ in a local newspaper.

● 1898 marked the creation of Diez Amigos Limited, a group that led skiing excursions around the area.

● Thanks to their continued success, the organisation was able to create the first youth hostel in the area not long after rebranding itself Sociedad Sierra Nevada in 1912.

● The main road from Granada to Sierra Nevada and a cable car were both put in place at the beginning of the 1920s, which allowed more people to discover the joys of snow-oriented fun.

● The boom years of the resort began in 1964, when Centros Turísticos S.A. (CETURSA), was created, allowing its rapid development.

● Sierra Nevada is the southernmost ski station in Europe and sits at the highest point in Spain.

● The station hosted the World Alpine Ski Championships in 1996. It has also welcomed several Alpine Ski World Cup events, with the first in 1977. In addition, it has been the main venue for the Winter Olympics.

● In 2017, Sierra Nevada hosted the FIS Snowboard and Freestyle World Championships, a major international contest put together by the board of the International Ski Federation.

OLD DAYS: It wasn’t quite as easy to reach the slopes...

In the family!

A new generation is slip-sliding into position to take over the famous expat-run British Ski Centre in the Sierra Nevada

WITH over 60 years’ experience between them on the famous Granada slopes, it is perhaps understandable that ski dynamos Giles Birch and Jonathan Buzzard are looking at some succession planning.

While Jonathan's daughter Tasha, has been a teacher at their well-established British Ski Center business, his 22 yr old son Harry has now also joined the team.

Giles' 16-year-old daughter Carlota has recently begun competing for the UK’s “GB Snowsports” federation specialis-

ing in the Moghuls freestyle discipline and occasionally lends a hand, while his Portuguese wife is a fellow teacher too.

Jonathan's oldest son Sylvester, 35, is currently a resort manager in the top French resort Meribel.

"They were all sliding down black runs by the age of five, so it's no surprise most of them have gone into winter sports as a career," explains Jonathan - better known as 'Buzz' - who spends half the year working for a yacht delivery business.

The pair had first met trying to look cool at the seminal Crescendo bar at the foot of the slopes back in the mid-1990s.

Giles as resort manager for Neilson Ski tour operator and Jonathan as an already established instructor working with the International Ski School.

Giles then qualified as a ski instructor in 1998 working for the Spanish Ski School where he began putting his previous tour operations experience and web building to good use to source clients for lessons and offer travel packages to the Sierra Nevada.

Buzz, who had already been running a summer paragliding business along the beaches of Marbella, was looking to expand upon his already well-developed winter client base and between them they developed the British Ski Center ski school and it’s complementary holiday booking agency, Sierra Essence.

Their collision over Glühwein under the Seventies-style glitter balls at Crescen-

do, quickly led to an alliance to cater for a rapidly growing invasion of British skiers.

Helping them from the airport to the slopes, sorting out accommodation, lift passes and all, ended up being a successful business.

"I was looking for the ideal transport rep to support me whilst working for Neilson Ski" recalls Giles, over coffee, in nearby Güejar Sierra, where he's lived for almost two decades.

He continues: "I was told that Crescendo was the place to find the Brits-in-the know... and next thing in walks Buzz with just the right attitude, wearing a long flashers mac, 'big hair' and a friendly, outgoing persona."

Buzz was soon helping to divide and rule the arrival of four full flights from the UK on a Sunday.

"We pooled resources, and we were certainly not treading on anybody's toes, because we were focusing specifically on the English-speaking market.

"Unsurprisingly back then there were hardly any instructors who spoke English, so we found ourselves expanding rapidly with the demand."

Still great mates some three decades on, they now have a fully staffed office next to the popular Tia Maria restaurant right by the main ski lift up from Pradollano, and another office as a meeting point for all lessons up in the Borreguiles ski area.

They cater for hundreds of customers a month, as well as sorting out numerous trips, each year.

And best of all, Buzz has returned the favour for Giles by getting him plenty of exciting jobs delivering luxury yachts around the Med each summer.

"I am a delivery skipper for Riva yachts in Italy and there is so much demand it is great to have someone like Giles to help teach the new owners the ropes," explains Buzz, who has taken boats to Marbella, Jersey and Montenegro this year among other places.

"It's good fun, as is attending the yacht shows in Monaco and Cannes, but I can't wait to get back to the slopes each winter," he insists.

So, what is it that draws them back to the Sierra Nevada each winter?

"It is as good as most other international resorts and the range of skiing and schools for families and kids is hard to beat," explains Giles.

"I love being up here in this environment; the great outdoors, the mountains and the people you're with. There's quite a special vibe in a ski resort environment."

As Buzz adds: "We've just become part of the mountain life up in the Sierra Nevada and that's where our hearts are at the end of the day."

For a full range of classes for snowboarding and skiing, and any other holiday requirements,visit www.skisierranevada.co.uk for more info.

EXPERIENCED: Owners Jonathan and Giles

A GRAND OLD CITY

Add an extra dimension to your winter sports experience with these other (great value and often free) Granada sites

NO trip to the Sierra Nevada is complete without paying homage to Granada’s most iconic landmark, the

stunning Alhambra Palace. This magical 13th century Ar abic building dominates the city from its hill top eyrie.

After a morn ing tour of the sumptuous monument and its gar dens, wander the streets of the Albaicin, the pedestrianised for mer Moorish quarter.

The streets are lined with teterias serving au thentic mint tea and the Ara bic pastries while the shops are akin to a Moroccan souk, with exotic clothing and beautifully-crafted knickknacks.

For art lovers, the Museum of Fine Arts sits in the heart of the Charles V palace with over 2,000 incredible pieces of classic work.

Elsewhere the Sacromonte neighbourhood is where the original gypsies first settled and lived in caves and you can visit the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte.

Another of Granada’s

The Museum of Fine Arts sits in the heart of the Charles V palace

FESTIVE FUN

THE resort is one of the most festive places to be in Spain, and the Spaniards know it, as they descend in their droves for Christmas and New Year. ‘Nochebuena’ or Christmas eve, when the Spaniards celebrate the festive season with a huge family meal and lashings of

turron, is usually a sell out. Meanwhile ‘nochevieja’, or New Year’s Eve, where massive screens show the countdown in Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol, with grapes galore, is a riot.

For the eve of the Reyes on Jan 5 the three kings duly arrive on skis. Kids will love it.

ICONIC: From the Alhambra to the ancient streets of the Albaicin (right), there is a wealth of history in Granada

ATMOSPHERIC: The bars, cafes and restaurants of the city give a taste of the Granadiños way of life

ICONIC: Alhambra from the Albaicin, while (below) one of its internal patios and the cathedral

most important historic attractions is the Cathedral, an imposing structure of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture that took over 180 years to con -

It remains unfinished as two towers

were originally planned for the facade, only one of which has been half-built.

As Granada is Andalucia’s main university town, cultural events are high on the agenda. And, above all, it won’t bust your bank balance either. Travel website Omio has branded the city, the cheapest holiday destination in Europe for its range of free activities and cheap sightseeing tours.

The Alhambra is free to enter, although you do have to pay to see its most famous Nasrid palaces and Generalife. The city has dozens of free activities –112 to be exact. That includes 10 free museums.

An evening out in the city must include a tapas crawl taking in a few of the cool restaurants including Gastrobar La Botilleria and its next door hip joint Rosario Varela.

LODGING IN LUXURY

Jon Clarke gets a taste of the high life at the Sierra Nevada’s leading exclusive hotel El Lodge and its sister, El Maribel

I’M luxuriating in a jacuzzi on my own private terrace as a dozen snow cannons go full tilt preparing the Sierra Nevada’s famous Rio run.

While the sun is high in the sky, it’s a crisp two degrees outside and there’s more steam coming from my bath than from my breath.

Welcome to one of Andalucia’s most luxurious hotels, El Lodge, where the country’s captains of industry, celebrities and wealthiest expats come to relax (and maybe ski, if the mood takes them).

The truth is why would you want to head out into the cold once you’ve checked into this uber-stylish retreat.

With just 21 rooms, you can almost guarantee peace and quiet within its wooden walls that have put up the current and former kings of Spain, no less.

Being both hip and sumptuous in equal measures, its seductive lighting cleverly picks out key features, be they vintage furniture or animal print throws.

All put together by designer Andrew Martin, the rooms exude comfort with their warm, neutral tones and high-end amenities (smart entertainment systems, coffee machines etc) and products.

Each has wonderful views past pines up to the snowy peaks and main ski lift of the resort, while the tech even stretches to heated loo seats and a push button bidet.

While the breakfast for kings (appropriately with amazing Eggs Royale), spa and outdoor heated pool is the sort of thing you’d expect from a leading hotel of the world, for me, the Lodge is at its best on a sunny afternoon eating lunch on its terrace.

This really is truly a front row seat to the cream of the Sierra Nevada. And not just the creamy, white powdery stuff that usually arrives in a deluge just before Christmas. This is very much where the beautiful people can be found clinking champagne glasses around the festive season or Semana Santa.

The scenic slope-side terrace is impossible to beat with the steep Aguila run sloping in from the left and the celebrated Rio run down to the right.

With the funky sounds provided by a DJ, you’ll hear a dozen or more languages from guests enjoying lunch, while many will inevitably be up singing and dancing as the sun starts to set.

Above all, though, the food is really good, and even better inside the hotel come dinner time.

For lunch the menu is simple and attractive to peruse with its black and white pics and a good mix of light bites, healthy options and classics. All put together by Executive Chef Juan Martin, there is a new 'tempting' section that includes such delights as the 'crunchy king prawn brioche' or the Wagyu 'Pepito' sandwich with raclette cheese, padron peppers and Chipotle mayonnaise.

Gruyere cheese. There’s bread and tomatoes, among a sea of ham, bresaola and new potatoes, while some thinly sliced mushrooms and red peppers also make the cut.

Its not really my bag, and I’m much happier with the leek soup, although how can they call this amazing mixture a ‘soup’, coming as it does with olive oil, caviar and leeks cooked in three different ways.

The staff are knowledgeable, polite and personable at the same time

I’m guided though to try the Swiss fondue, which isn’t really on my radar, but turns out to be an interesting dish, a two-man operation and involving a bunsen burner being lit at the table and two plates loaded up with a huge mix of things to dip into a pot of creamy

It’s creamy and delicious, but somehow trumped by the amazing oven-baked turbot, that was one of the specials of the day. Cooked by young chef Samuel - who I met when he cooked a similar dish at the group’s sister restaurant El Mirlo, near Tarifa, this summer - here it comes diced up and more elaborated with braised artichokes, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and parsley. And, best of all, with extra sauce, creamy and full of sliced prawns.

Samuel, from Jerez, along with restaurant manager Pedro Garcia, have been seconded up to the mountains for the season, while my other waitress Naty has been recruited from Ibiza. They make a friendly, capable trio, but like all the staff at the Lodge have the uncanny ability to be knowledgeable, polite and personable at the same time.

Unsurprisingly Pedro, who grew up in nearby Granada, guides me to a local pudding, the ‘piononos’ (left), which herald from Santa Fe where the Moors finally capitulated in 1492. They look like toadstools but are delicious coming with hazelnut cream and mixed fruits.

Marvellous Maribel

For dinner I’m heading to El Lodge’s next door sister hotel El Maribel Ski & Apres Ski.

And what a joyous space the team from Marbella Club/Puente Romano hotel have created here.

Aside from the charming hotel itself, with its 29 well appointed Alpine rooms, the dining room is simply breathtaking.

Billing itself as a ‘gastronomic club’, it is a wonderful wide open space with acres of glass offering the most amazing views and a true sense of escape. Its focus (apart from the views) are the elegant bar at one end and the giant scene setting circular lights, which are tempered depending on the time of day. The mature pines outside are beautifully lit at night and everything is dressed up for the festive season, with pillars entirely swathed in fir, holly and pine cones.

HEAVENLY: A terrace Jacuzzi is the perfect way to relax

GOURMET STARS: Chef Samuel and his delicious baked turbot, while (right) the leek ‘soup’

This is much more of a stand alone restaurant, encouraging diners in from the outside, and the dinner menu is impressive for its long mix of a dozen starters, including oysters and nearby Motril shrimp croquettes.

Argentine waiter/sommelier Ricardo takes me through my paces... and he knows the ropes having worked with Ramon Freixa in Madrid and Martin Beresategui in San Sebastian.

He's just done a season in Formentera and is loving his sojourn on the slopes, he tells me, in particular as the quality expected at his new hotel is ‘second to none’.

He quickly proves this with a wonderful chardonnay by the glass from Pago de Circus Finca Bolandin 2022, while we debate the pink tomato salad with smoked sardines or the carabinero prawn linguine, as a starter.

The decision is quickly taken out of our hands when all of a sudden head chef Juan Martin lands at the table. I’ve met him various times and with his three decades working for the group (11 years up here in the mountains) will clearly know what is best to eat.

“The world has really changed for chefs nowadays with so many vegetarians, vegans and allergies,” he explains. “We have to know almost each dish off by heart and where all the ingredients herald from."

I could talk to him til the cows come home but then I’d never get my truffled steak tartare on brioche, which Hallelujah, is a true bite of heaven!

Next up are the magisterial pink tomatoes from Almeria with a kind of mincemeat of sardines in the middle and a Pippara-spice gazpacho poured on top. Both beautiful to look at and healthy!

A new dish is the ‘Josper-roasted leeks’ which are first lightly boiled and then finished in the Josper oven. Some foie and Brie goats cheese is added on top adding a melt-in-the-mouth element, while at the base is a bravas sauce with cana honey from nearby Frigiliana. Possibly even better is a lightly fried artichoke flower which came with pine nuts and some foie cooked in fino from Jerez... oh and with ‘some burrata and edible leaves from Japan’, to boot.

I feared it might knock me off my perch, but it turned out to be surprisingly light and flavoursome with a flyaway crispiness. Bring on the main course of wild seabass cooked in a Bilbaino sauce of garlic, parsley and tiny shrimps. Juan was clearly on fire. Somehow I managed to pack away a Mille-feuille pudding with chestnut cream and chocolate, washed down with a wonderful Pedro Ximenez from award-winning Montilla Moriles vineyard Toro Albala, near Cordoba. I didn’t just need to go off skiing to burn it off. I needed to do some cross-country skiing, with my wife on my back.

For more information please visit www.ellodge.com or www.maribels.com

COMFORT AND CREATIVITY:

Ricardo serving up a pink tomato salad, while inset, the steak tartare brioche at El Maribel

There is a lot more than the bog standard mountain fare in the Sierra Nevada these days, writes Jon Clarke

HIGH STAKES

Ci Vediamo

The Sierra Nevada’s most elegant restaurant

Michelin trained chef Esteban Silva produces classic Italian style dishes with a modern twist

Open 7 days a week

Monday to Sunday 12.00-16.00 & 20.00-24.00

Plaza Andalucía, Edf. Salvia s/n, Pradollano tel: 958 480 856 civediamosn@gmail.com

FInd us on Google Maps with 360° degree view

DYNAMOS: Stevie and partner Luna

numero uno’ waiter Manu tells me as he squeezes out all the juices (see left) from the head of this wonderful sea creature.

The colours wouldn’t be out of place on a canvas by Cezanne and the taste is up there with the dishes served by the king of fish Angel León, at his three Michelin star restaurant Aponiente, where I ate only last month. Surf and turf at its best - and true theatre, rare for the Granada slopes.

And if you think that is good, try the ‘Tempura special’ (below), if it’s on the specials listprawns, squid, courgettes and aubergine with a Tentsuyu soup (soya, vinegar and dashi). This is a true dish and a half, with the soup really adding an Oriental touch.

Meanwhile, his nigiri of red snapper with

truffle is nothing compared to his scallop served in a bloody mary sauce. Even better is a ‘false’ Thai langoustine risotto using wheat semolina instead of rice, a total melt in the mouth winner.

A classic meeting point for snowboarders (and their professors), there is always a buzz about the place and lots of banter, giving it the feel of a taverna in nearby Granada.

TOP TITO: Chef Tomeu and (above) his gyozas at Tito Tapas

Looking for glamour, you must definitely head for Tito Tapas, which is a riot of bamboo wooden walls, hip sackcloth chairs and olive wood tables. Pals Xavi and Luis, who also own nearby Tito Luigi, brought in an excellent Menorca chef Tomeu Carbonell to get all creative in the kitchen, having done a decent stint with wonderful Bilbao chef Eneko Atxa at Azurmendi.

His steak tartare tacos are legendary, while his gyozas which come with a small sliver of panceta on top (above) are absolutely delicious.

I also loved the local wild Boletus mushrooms with a free range egg and pork jowl, while the ‘crujiente’ of brie looked amazing and the arti-

Continues overleaf

PURE ELEGANCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA, WINES BY THE GLASS, CREATIVE NEW TAPAS BY THE WEEK

Edificio Montblanc – in front of Hotel Melia Sol y Nieve, Sierra Nevada

Huelva…’

From page 23

Best burgers and more

chokes with foie worked well.

If you are still full you might dip into a plate of blue Stilton cheese soaked in port. There are plenty of good wines with at least half a dozen by the glass. The sister restaurant Tito

Luigi, is a place for royalty and at least two kings of Spain have eaten here.

The walls pay tribute to the pair, while you’ll also spot photos of many other international film stars, sportsmen, bullfighters and politicians. There is a cave at the back and

it can serve up to 250 people in one sitting, so expect to be blown away on busy nights and make sure you book in high season. Expect some of the best pizzas in the resort, generally splendid Italian fare, while a stand out dish is easily the squidink spaghetti with prawns. If meat is your thing make sure to try out La Muralla, run by Argentinian Gonzalo Funes,

whose steaks are the best in the resort.

Recently moved to a brand new spot opposite the new Melia hotel it is style personified and will impress all the stylemeisters this year.

No expense has been spared on the design, and thankfully the kitchen is still up to scratch serving up a great range of dishes with the milhoja of foie gras and the melt-in-the-mouth bulls cheek among my favorites

Gonzalo and brother Luciano also run the nearby Muralla

HITTING THE JACKPOT

HE’S only been working on the slopes for four decades, but Nichi is still very much the life and soul of the party.

His popular joint, Bar Ski, is always the first place anyone in the know should head for for lunch, supper, big or small beers.

With a classic soul kitchen and the best ambience in the Sierra Nevada, it is one place that is never empty.

Under the watchful eye of Granada local Nichi, you’ll dine on the heartiest of mountain soups, a fabulous meat stew or something delicious with rice.

The charismatic owner first worked as a waiter in nearby La Llonja in his teens, even serving the king of Spain a number of times

So successful was he as a waiter he

inevitably ended up opening his own bar nearly 30 years ago.

On the walls you will find photos of him with numerous Spanish celebrities, including Antonio Canales, Lola León and Antonio Lechin.

His chef Jose and he come up with a range of decent dishes each week and this is where all the local business owners come to unwind, particularly if Barcelona or Real Madrid are on the telly.

Burger, which specialises in the best quality burgers on the slopes.

It’s hard to disagree trying his ‘gourmet’ burger, which is actually made from oxtail ‘rabo de toro’ with a thin slice of cheese and mayonnaise and cooked in its own juice.

The pair also run popular Las Gondolas just off the slopes and excellent for some apres ski light bites, a hot drink or a beer.

This is one of my favourite spots to take in the sunshine

QUALITY: Best steaks at Muralla and Muralla Burger

GODFATHERS: Xavi and Luis at Tito Luigi, while (right) the amazing Gondolas terrace

FAMOUS CLIENTS: Nichi (ringed), with the King and other celebs

SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Nichi with staff and clients

after a long day of black runs.

Another great simple joint, but with great home cooked food, is Telesilla Burger

It is one of the most popular joints with workers in the resort and the menu del dia is excellent value and changes by the day.

By far the most fun tapas joint is Bar Ski, set up by the funniest man in the Sierra Nevada, Nichi, two decades ago.

His place is always buzzing at lunch and in the evenings and comprises a classic soul kitchen concentrating on hardy, simple dishes.

There is nothing not to like about La Visera

This wonderful well established restaurant sits right on the edge of the slopes with the most amazing views.

Edif Mont Blanc, Sierra Nevada (in front of Melia hotel)

PICTURE PERFECT: La Visera with chef Pepe (right)

From page 23

WHERE TO EAT

Take a journey to Mexico

Food is typical mountain food and chef Pepe is one of the true steady hands in the sierra.

Even better, on cold days you sit inside with a giant glass window with views to die for.

If Mexican is your thing then Calambrito is a lovely space with a good mix of Mexican favourites.

A welcoming interior and seductive lighting plus appropriate Mexican music, this is the brainchild of Alexa, who heralds from nearby Malaga. It’s a fantastic one for kids who love nachos and tacos - and they even have veggie options.

Nuggets de Cheddar, some eight chunks with jalapeno peppers

The Azteca is a chicken soup with cheese, avocado, tomato and Chipotle. It comes out piping hot and smelling great!

Alexa has worked hard to make this the most exciting joint on the slopes and there are hats to don and games to play (one with electric shocks that the kids will love).

“We have been to Mexico many times looking for new dishes,” she explains.

“We actually went with all the key staff and investors this year and loved it.” Chema, one of the partners, actually lived and worked in Mexico as a chef and this really shows. Another place focusing just on burgers, La Calle, sits right next door.

One of a small chain, also in Sevilla and Tarifa, this is a must visit for its amazing 100% demand on pure free range quality beef burgers.

Another excellent place overlooking the slopes is Tia Maria, which has a good mix of dishes and is a great place for breakfast.

A total institution run by Carlos (part of the Tito Luigi family) this is the spot to chill out and enjoy the sun for the afternoon and early evening. For coffee, breakfast, and in fact just about everything, Vertical is hard to beat and also has a great range of snacks and light bites, including hot dogs for the British clientele.

WHERE TO STAY

BLACK OUT

The variety of places to stay in the Sierra Nevada gets better and better, writes Jon Clarke

THERE are dozens of amazing places to stay in Pradollano, but beware on the location, as you might end up with a long walk to the main ski lift.

One of the most charming and best connected is the authentic Hotel Kenia Nevada, which is run by pals Luis and Pedro – who used to ski for the country as youngsters. It also has a gym, spa and small indoor pool as well as an in-house masseur, and plenty of communal areas, filled with charming old furniture.

Going upmarket you should check out the wonderful Melia hotels, right in the heart of the resort.

The rooms at the Melia Sierra Nevada have been recently renovated and the New Premium rooms have been built on floors 7 and 8. Meanwhile the nearby Meliá Sol y Nieve hotel offers The Level experience, which is the hotel group’s most exclusive commitment to luxury and personal service. And if you really want to push the boat out at the top end

are two incredible luxury hotels, Maribel Ski & Après Ski and the El Lodge Ski

& Spa (see review on centre spread).

Both owned by the group behind Marbella’s five star Puente Romano, they have the ultimate in location, right by the slopes, and with views to match.

The rooms are among the best appointed in Spain and you have a choice of spas, outdoor heated pools and hot tubs to luxuriate in.

But, best of all, they each have incredible restaurants to unwind in after a long day on the slopes or not.

Visit www.ellodge.com

LA CULTURA

TURKEY TWISTER: Not a common dish at Xmas in Spain December fools

December 28 commemorates the biblical King Herod’s plan to slaughter all babies under two years old, hoping the infant Jesus would be among them.

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Despite its gruesome religious origin, Día de los Inocentes , is the equivalent of April Fools Day. If you hear of any strange news stories on this day, you’d best take them with a very large pinch of salt.

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Sing to win

es van a beber al rio’ and ‘Pastores venid’ have been sung in the same way for centuries. They may be performed by a children’s choir or adults sitting around a brazier playing traditional instruments like the zambomba (earthenware friction drum), pandereta (tambourine) or improvised with a bottle of anis and a spoon.

It’s a tradition on the verge of extinction but it still survives in small towns.

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Yule handout

AWAY-DAY TO A MANGER: Belens are the highlight of many towns, while (right) pile of turrons

Festive food

Personalized User Experience

Forget Christmas carols and those schmaltzy Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin numbers.

In Spain we have our own festive songs known as ‘ villancicos ’ which are the true soundtrack of Christmas. Some, like ‘Alepun’, ‘Los pec -

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It’s a tradition on the verge of extinction but it still survives in small towns. In the build-up to Christmas, children roam the streets, stopping at every door to sing a villancico in return for some yuletide pocket money known as an aguinaldo

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Forget turkey, the Spanish prefer seafood, particularly prawns and lobster, as well as good jamon , and occasionally lamb or roast suckling pig. We also like the more traditional yuletide treats that you won’t find anywhere else. There’s turron , a honey and almond nougat in brittle or chewy versions

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- either way, tough on teeth; mazapanes , also made with an almond dough moulded into different shapes; polvorones , a crumbly cake that melts in the mouth; and Roscon de reyes , a big circular cake with a hole in it filled with sugared fruit and cream, and the highlight of the family table on Three Kings Day.

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AN IT CHRISTMAS TALE

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THE holiday season may be merry and bright, but for IT teams, it’s a whirlwind of challenges wrapped in festive chaos.

While others enjoy mulled wine and holiday movies, IT pros are busy keeping the tech world spinning.

This year, Santa finally upgraded to the cloud for his ‘naughty and nice’ list. But between the elves’ outdated systems and Rudolph’s forgotten passwords, it wasn’t a smooth sleigh ride.

Fortunately, companies like AnyTech365 are here to save your day, providing 24/7 support to tackle such tech hiccups faster than you can say ‘Christmas mir-

acle’.

Late nights are a hallmark of the season for IT, especially when a critical security update lands on Christmas Eve.

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Debugging through the snow: The IT holiday hustle

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While everyone else hums Silent Night, AnyTech365 teams are rushing to deploy patches and ensure all systems stay secure.

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The true heroes of the holidays? The people who keep everything running behind the scenes. Not even Christmas can stop phishing scams. That suspicious ‘Holiday Gift Exchange’ email?

From the classic ‘printer jammed’ crisis to the infamous ‘my computer won’t turn on’ (spoiler: it’s not plugged in), AnyTech365 has seen it all.

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One click, and your system could end up locked by ransomware. This is where AnyTech365 shines—ready to step in, secure your devices, and keep your holidays safe and worry-free. Office decorations take on a unique twist in IT. Forget basic string lights; RGB strips synced to server performance are the ultimate holiday décor. Each system spike turns the lights red, creating a festive (if slightly stressful) display. Who says monitoring can’t be merry? Holiday help tickets are another Christmas tradition.

dinner! Secret Santa in IT

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British services for every need on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca

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Just the job!

Food delivery app Glovo abandons its ‘self-employment’ model for drivers

GLOVO has been forced to abandon its ‘false self-employment’ model and will hand its drivers legal employment contracts.

The company will transition away from its old way, which claimed that its drivers were ‘entrepreneurs’, following years of intense legal pressure from Spanish authorities.

Around 60,000 delivery workers who have worked for Glovo since 2021 will now become regularly employed with all the benefits it brings, according to Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz.

By Walter Finch

The move follows repeated warnings and substantial fines from labour inspectors, who have long argued that Glovo was systematically exploiting workers by classifying them as independent contractors instead of employees. The ‘false self-employment’

THUMBS UP!

SPANISH business continues to bet big on the British economy.

The latest ‘business climate barometer’ from the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom paints a picture of optimism among industry chiefs from Spain. Nearly half of the Spanish companies surveyed reported that they are banking on increasing investments, employment, and revenue in the UK in the coming year. Since records began in 1993, Spain has directed nearly €170 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) towards the UK, accounting for 18% of its total global FDI.

MORTGAGE THINK TANK

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

UNDERSTANDING how to get a Spanish mortgage is crucial for anyone looking to buy property in Spain. Whether you’re purchasing a holiday home, relocating, or investing, obtaining financing is often a key step in the process. Let’s take a closer look at how to navigate this journey.

Securing a mortgage in Spain is an attractive option for many foreign buyers. Spanish mortgages often come with competitive interest rates, for both fixed-rate and variable-rate loans.

Terms are flexible, with repayment periods ranging from short-term to 25–30 years, accommodating various needs, whether you’re relocating for work or retiring in Spain. Furthermore, Spanish banks are generally open to foreign buyers, although the requirements may differ slightly for non-residents.

Spanish banks assess mortgage applications based on factors like income, existing commitments, residency status, and financial history.

Non-residents may face stricter conditions than residents, especially regarding down payments and loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. Residents can typically borrow up to 80% (90% in some exceptional cases) of the property’s purchase price, while for non-residents maximum LTV is 70%.

Proof of income is essential. For expats, this

The Finance Bureau can help you understand the Spanish mortgage market

could include payslips, tax returns, bank statements, proof of rental income and employment contracts. Lenders typically ensure that your total monthly mortgage/ loan payments do not exceed one-third of your net income.

A good credit score - whether from your home country or Spain - is important. Some non-residents may need to provide additional documents to demonstrate their creditworthiness.

Besides the mortgage itself, there are set-up costs to consider, such as property valuation fees (typically 0.1% of valuation amount), bank fees and, if you are using a broker, fees will apply there as well. The good news is that, since implementation of the new European mortgage directive, 2019, the banks are now responsible for paying for the notary fees and corresponding mortgage tax.

We at the Finance Bureau can help you understand the requirements, compare lenders, and help you budget for additional costs. We will set you on the path to owning a property in one of Europe’s most sought-after locations.

To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 952 801 401 or email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina II, Office No.7 Guadalmina, 29670

model allowed Glovo to get away with not paying €267 million in Social Security contributions, a burden that instead fell on its own drivers.

Competitor Just Eat has already filed a lawsuit against Glovo, claiming the company gained an unfair competitive advantage by avoiding proper employment costs - estimated at over €645 million in savings.

Local riders’ rights group Riders X Derechos has responded with caution, high lighting Glovo’s ‘history of lawbreaking’ and calling for transparency in their em ployment practices.

The Spanish government has already modified the Penal Code to enforce stricter penalties on companies misclassifying workers, with potential prison sentences of six months to six years.

Xmas cracker

IT looks like Christmas is going to be a cracker for Spain’s retailers, with a staggering three-quarters of consumers planning to either maintain or increase their festive spending this year.

Despite the ongoing cost-ofliving pressures, a recent survey by AECOC Shopperview reveals that more than 75% of Spaniards will be opening their wallets wide for Christmas, with many planning to spend even more than last year. Research also shows that 87% of Spanish retailers and 72% of consumer goods manufacturers expect to close the year with an increase in sales.

Pricy Xmas

THE festive season in Spain is set to be the most expensive on record, with prices soaring by 10% this year. The president of the consumer association Consubal, Alfonso Rodríguez said: “It’s clear this year will cost us more.

“People are getting into more debt just to make ends meet.” In fact consumer debt has surged by 25%, according to the Bank of Spain.

24/7 EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

If your car breaks down it can be an upsetting expe rience, especially if you don’t have roadside as sistance cover. But they are also the most common type of problem on the road.

If you break down, stay calm and safe until rescue sup port arrives. Remember that while you wait for help, your priority is to safeguard yourself and any fellow passengers. Línea Directa policyholders simply call 919 171 171 and inform the emergency hotline where you are. Línea Directa provides emergency roadside assistance anywhere in Spain 24/7 and 365 days a year, with a national network of operators and recovery vehicles.

GEOLOCATION SERVICE

This service is exclusive to Línea Directa and allows breakdown recovery and roadside assistance services to pinpoint your location and send help directly to you. This service is available throughout mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. The technology is simple to use and really useful when you need it most.

BREAKDOWN KIT

To help you stay safe here is a checklist of some important safety items in the event of a breakdown. This emergency breakdown kit should be kept in your vehicle at all times. The kit includes: a torch and spare batteries, warm clothes and blankets, high-visibility jacket, first aid kit, jump start cables, empty fuel can, food and drink, two reflective warning signs, a road atlas, and a mobile phone charger.

OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERTISE

As Spain’s most experienced provider of insurance for British expatriates, Línea Directa has been keeping motorists on the move for over 20 years.

We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call +34 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

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Rules confusion

Just who is Big Brother watching?

WITH regard to the new ‘Big Brother’ rules on visitors having to provide more than 30 pieces of personal information when they check in. Is this crazy list of questions only for people staying in hotels?

Will folk who rent flats be obliged to answer the questions? If so... who is responsible for providing and managing the questionnaire? AIRBnB or the owner of the property?

What happens to folk like us? My husband and I have residency and live in Granada. We regularly rent holiday flats on the coast.

Friends and family members fly out to join us, but don’t necessarily pay rent. Do they have to provide all this information too?

Carolyn Brooke, Granada

Editor’s note: Over to you readers - can you help?

Hoppy mad!

THE article on the best Spanish beers was absolute rubbish! Nobody in Spain thinks Cruz campo could possibly be their best beer. And Madri is absolute rubbish!

Brendan Smith, via email

Editor’s note: I would like to point out the ar ticle was not rubbish, even if the beer is!

Dear Olive Press,

I WAS thoroughly enjoy- ing your tour of Ronda (Ronda supplement is-

sue 458) until you described the enduring bullfighting as a ‘pastime’.

My idea of a pastime is something that all participants can enjoy. I no longer refer to bullfighting but rather ‘bull slaughter’ - fight- ing implies that the parties involved have an equal chance of survival whereas slaughter recognises that one party has no chance of escape.

I was brought up on a farm and have to say that abusing animals for ‘entertainment’ in 2024 and beyond is wholly abhorrent to me.

Hopefully education will gradually bring the Spanish population to its ‘senses’.

Claire Colton, Torrevieja

Watching you

SPANISH travel agents have threatened to stop taking bookings after a new law obliges them to collect up to 31 pieces of guest data.

Dubbed the ‘Big Brother Law’, the legislation forces hotels, AirBnB owners, travel agents, car hire companies and more to gather personal information including their identity document number, place of residence, mobile phone number and email. This will then be sent to the government.

The law has been widely criticised and many have suggested it violates the European Data Protection regulations.

Now, the president of the Balearic Association of Travel Agents, has claimed agents will be forced to stop offering package holidays for pensioners.

Medieval town named as the ultimate place to visit this festive season

Xmas magic

IT’S been named as the ultimate Christmas destination in Spain – a medieval wonderland that most foreigners have never heard of. Pedraza in Segovia is being hailed as the ultimate festive escape - a town where ‘time stands still’, according to travel magazine National Geographic.

Expensive tastes

TV icon Oprah Winfrey has revealed she loves Spanish crisps and olive oil in her annual favourites list.

The American talk show host selected Bonilla a la Vista crisps, made in A Coruña, Galicia. She described them as ‘worth the splurge’. They cost around €15 a 275g tin in Spain, but around $50 in the US.

In 2019, the family businesses’ sales shot up 150% after their crisps appeared in Oscar winning film, Parasite Winfrey also selected Flor de La Jara, an extra virgin olive oil made in Castilla-La Mancha.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

The charming village is crowned by an imposing castle and is only accessible through a 16th-century gate, which once stood guard against intruders.

Visitors will feel like they've stepped back in time as they

stroll past grand homes, the old textile market, and the haunting remnants of a medieval jail.

And history buffs will love the 17th-century Iglesia de Santo Domingo, built on the site of the town’s Jewish quarter, while those seeking a more unusual sight can marvel at the Plaza Mayor, which was once a bull ring for the town's elite.

The premium oil - which sells for €34 for a half litre in the US - uses picual olives from the Montes de Toledo and according to Winfrey ‘tastes like Spain.’ Winfrey’s list is elaborated over a year-long selection process during which the host personally tests each item.

Pedraza’s wild beauty, which goes back to Roman times, continues outside town, where the Parque Natural de las Hoces del Rio Duraton boasts dramatic cliffs and soaring griffon vultures.

Crowning the crags are the ruins of the convent of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, founded in the 13th century, and the hermitage of San Frutos, a long time home to Benedictine monks.

At the end of some 25km of gorges, the river arrives at the Burgomillodo reservoir, where you can swim or kayak between the canyons.

A festive treat

Welcome the New Year in elegance at Coto Restaurant

COTO Restaurant, situated in the stunning Andalucian countryside, offers a dining experience like no other. With panoramic views that sweep from lush rolling hills to the shimmering Mediter ranean Sea, it provides the perfect setting for a truly memorable celebration.

END OF SUMMER PARTY SEPTEMBER 21st

This New Year’s Eve, Coto in vites clients to indulge in an extraordinary nine-course Gala Dinner. Each dish is crafted to perfection, accompanied by a selection of exquisite drinks to add bubbles to the evening.

The night promises more than culinary delights. Entertain ment takes centre stage with live singers, dazzling dancers, and enthralling burlesque and cabaret performances, en suring a night filled with excitement, glamour, and joy. For just €350 per person, guests can immerse themselves

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

Ctra. de Ronda, A-397, Km. 44, 29679 Benahavís, Málaga

aga, Coto Restaurant is a desti nation where fine dining meets spectacular entertainment. For those seeking a unique way to welcome the New Year, reservations are essential. Guests are encouraged to secure their place early to avoid disappointment.

The ultimate

drinks guide

for Christmas and the New Year, writes Ben Odgers

T’S the time of year where thoughts turn to corks popping, celebrating Christmas with friends and family and finding that perfect bottle for a gift. Running out of inspiration or not sure what to have with the turkey? Fear not I have you covered!

+34 951 74 47 77 clive@cotorestaurante.com @cotorestaurante

Celebrate new beginnings at Coto Restaurant – where every moment is designed to be extraordinary.

For more information contact us at +34 951 74 47 77 email clive@cotorestaurante.com or visit www.cotorestaurante.com

STOCKING FILLERS

Just €2.69 will secure you Beso de Luna (Moonlight Kiss) available at Aldi. A standard blend of the grapes Tempranillo and Garnacha has re sulted in a delicious strawberry scented wine that punches well above its price point. Perfect for Christmas parties and a great accompaniment to tapas.

Luis Gurpegui 2021 Rioja also graces the shelves at Aldi at an unbelievable €3.49. The

fact that this wine received 94/100 by respected magazine, Wine Enthusiast, should be taken seriously. Classic cherry and plums on the nose with jammy red fruits and warm spice on the palate. This is best with simple lamb dishes, but the acidity means it can cope with fattier meats and is great with cheese. An absolute steal!

UNDER THE TREE

Ok, let us move up a price bracket now and get to se rious wines that would work well for your Christmas dinner or New Year’s lunch.

ICING ON THE CAKE

If you want to find the best France has to offer plus plus some great Spanish wines there is only one place to go…NICOLAS. Now based out of Marbella with three shops, it offers an amazing range, local delivery or shipping across Spain. Check www.nicolasmarbella.com more details.

Taking a trip to Eroski will help you unearth more gems, starting with Enate Chardonnay 234 (Vintage 2023/24). With notes of fresh green apple mixed with a bit of tropical fruit; it is not heavy as it has not had any contact with oak barrels. It is the perfect pairing for a fish course and great with simple roast chicken, €10 in Eroski.

Boss Georgina Ras cón de Galván was kind enough to share with me her picks for Christmas and New Year.

If you are going for simple roast beef or something a bit more adventurous like suckling pig, then Condado de Haza Crianza 2020 from Ribera del Duero is perfect. Currently in Carrefour at €12.89 this 100% Tempranillo based wine offers blackberries and currants blended with roasted spice to give a long vanilla finish. Put it in the fridge for 10 minutes before you open it.

Cava quality has massive ly improved over the last decade and is no longer Champagne’s little sibling. A case in point is U Mes U Larus Cava Reserva Brut Nature at €20.90. This blend of Pinot Noir and Xarello, from Penedes, exhibits fine bubbles with citrus, brioche, and almond on the nose. This wine makes the perfect aperitive or would pair well with a simple grilled prawn starter. It needs to be properly chilled so at least a few hours in the fridge prior to opening. White Burgundies (Chardonnay) tend to lend themselves well to richer poultry. Pouilly-Fuissé Les Préludes, Terres Secrètes 2022 offers up green apples, pears, and a nice buttery note

from its contact with oak. The wine’s bright acidity helps cut through any fattiness. Great with quail, pheasant, or partridge, available at €29.70. Place in the fridge an hour in the fridge before opening. Red Burgundy can be very versatile in food pairing. If duck or venison is on the menu, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise Buissonnier Vignerons de Buxy 2022 could be a good bet. At €14.70 this wine over-delivers. It has plenty of red currant and cherry fruit with earthy spice and a bit of white pepper. Lower levels of tannins (the dryness you find in tea) mean it is quenching and refreshing. Again, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes before opening. Red Bordeaux can make for the ultimate Christmas dinner compan ion. Georgina recommends Château Cormeil-Fig eac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018. Predominantly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, this is one for beef tenderloin or roast lamb. Dark berry fruits mix with tobacco and vanilla on the nose and follow on the palate with a little bit of dark chocolate on the finish. To open or gift, €27.90 seems very fair for something so classy. Remember red Bordeaux likes to be served at cellar temperature (15-18C).

PERFECT NIGHT-

CAP

Now, on to my own Spirits Sourcery guide to the best spirits for this festive season.

Dictador 20-Year-Old Colombian rum is like Christmas distilled into a bottle. The aroma reveals intense dried fruit notes, accompanied by rich molasses and caramel, with subtle hints of

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

December 18thJanuary 14th 2025

oak and tobacco. Yum! Available for €63.90 from El Corte Inglés.

The Glenturret Triple Wood won ‘best single malt’ at the International Wine and Spirits Challenge last year. Incredibly it costs just €73 from Amazon.es. This Highland whisky is liquid gold with vibrant spices, peaches with a dash of cinnamon and vanilla leading to a sweet oaky finish.

The most underrated of all the dark spirits is Armagnac. The

quality to price ratio cannot be beaten. Armagnac XO Monluc is available at €99 from NICOLAS and is perfect with chocolate. Fifth generation producers Monluc have created a delicious elixir packed with rich dried fruits, candied orange peel and roasted nuts.

Ben Odgers, is the founder of Spirits Sourcery, which sources rare wines and spirits. For more info visit

at Kempinski Hotel Bahía

BARBECUE MEAT FROM ARGENTINA: RIB EYE ENTRECOTE

SPECIAL CUTS ON REQUEST GRILLED FISH OF THE DAY SALADS AND MUCH MORE

Don’t miss the most famous Christmas occasions on the Costa del Sol this festive season, a time full of sparkle and joy...

24 December - Christmas Eve six course Gala dinner at Baltazár Bar and Grill, with live music and that perfect Christmas atmosphere.

25 December - The famous Christmas Day buffet brunch, with live music, kids entertainment and the visit from Santa!

31 December - You can choose between:

New Year’s Eve: a stunning gala dinner with a pre-dinner cocktail, live music, midnight celebrations and an open bar to dance the night away.

New Year’s Eve buffet: ideal for all the family, with a pre-dinner cocktail, live music, midnight celebrations, and kids club available till 01 00

Discover more by scanning the QR code for more details about each special occasion!

+34 95 280 9500 reservations estepona@kempinski com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

IT comes as no surprise that Casa Marcial in Asturias has become Spain’s latest joint to win the maximum number of Michelin stars.

It has been a quarter century journey from chef Nacho Manzano snaring his first star to becoming Spain’s SIXTEENTH to hold the honour.

The wonderful rural idyll (where Nacho and his sister Esther and her son Jesus also now hold court) is the very definition of charm and has continually pushed the boundaries, particularly in championing his region’s very best ingredients.

I’ve been fortunate to have eaten there three times, twice before he won a star in 1997 and the latest, two decades later, when he had already garnered two. While we had discovered it entirely by accident, it was definitely ‘a place worth a special journey’, as the Michelin guide defines its top honour, and we even persuaded friends to join us once from London. For me, the family-run restaurant simply sums up the very best of Spanish cuisine and perfectly demonstrates why this country is nowadays the best in the world for dining.

It is no coincidence that the famously snobby and conservative French food bible Michelin has handed out stars to 32 new restaurants this year, ‘a deserving record’ I am told by former Michelin PR boss Angel Pardo, now based in Marbella.

“It is a completely different country from the 1990s to now,” he explains. “In fact

Starry eyed

As Casa Marcial becomes a three Michelin star marvel, Jon Clarke recalls his three visits (full review right) and serenades Spain’s record haul of 32 new starred restaurants this year there’s been a total revolution and it has spread around the entire country.”

He adds: “When I organised my first annual awards gala in 2010 I struggled to get 15 journalists to cover it; this year there were 100-plus. The impact dining culture has had on the country is huge” The new stars this year have been sprinkled everywhere from Malaga (the amazing Blossom, which I reviewed in January) to Cuenca and from the tiny towns of Tomelloso to Carcaixent on the Costa Blanca.

Godfathers

Spanish chefs have, quite simply, worked out how to finally use their amazing local ingredients, wherever they are around the country, while the training they mostly received at the hands of the godfathers from the north has definitely had an impact. That is the careful patient mentoring from the likes of Juan Mari Arzak, Ferran Adria, Martin Berasategui and Pedro Subijana, at Akelarre, who once generously gave me a whole hour of his time for an interview during service.

DRIVEN: It took Nacho 25 years to get his third star

But personally though, it is the rapid expansion around the country that has been most exciting for me, given the amount of travelling I do in my job. You used to have to drive for hours to find a decent place to eat in Andalucia, while today there are no less than four separate Michelin starred restaurants across just four blocks in Jaen city alone… a city which was a total culinary desert only a decade ago. And take Madrid, where there are now 29 joints with at least one star, in a city that two decades ago had LESS THAN

Make this Christmas unforgettable at Candela Marbella

Tuck into our best known dishes this Christmas with our incredible menus. From our super-tender fillet of beef, prawns pil pil, our well known special teriyaki salmon fillet or our super creamy risotto with green asparagus - our celebratory dishes and ambience are sure to add a special and unique touch to your Christmas.

Reservations for our Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus can now be booked. INFO: www.candaelamarbella.com

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

December 18th - January 14th

FIVE.

Even better, take Cadiz, where two out of three of Spain’s new two star restaurants are found; Lu, in Jerez and Alevante, in Chiclana.

Obscure

And best of all, take my favourite tiny joint of all, Sabor Andaluz, in the obscure inland town of Alcala del Valle, near Ronda, that just grabbed its first star. As I wrote in a review for the Olive Press in 2021 it was ‘authenticity at its best’ and a real ‘joy’. I can’t wait to go back and still dream of the way it cooks its asparagus.

IDYLL: Jon and wife Gabriella loved their return to Casa Marcial

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

MARVELLOUS MARCIAL

FROM THE ARCHIVES: In 2017 editor Jon Clarke was delighted to find Asturias’ leading three-star restaurant still had oodles of rustic charm, despite a 20-year gap

THE first time we ate at Casa Marcial we literally stumbled across it on a muddy hike around inland Asturias.

It was on an intrepid four-hour hike around the amazing Arriondas countryside that my wife and I - before the advent of children - discovered the place.

It appeared at the top of a steep hill like a ray of sunshine after a storm … a magical spot in a tiny hamlet with marvelous views of the soaring Picos de Europa mountains in the distance.

It needed a double-take to notice that the small stone cottage had a menu on the door. On closer inspection, it jumped out as both original and good value. While we’d missed the midday service (we’d already wolfed down a packed lunch, in any case) we were suitably inspired to pop in and book for that evening.

And what a joy it turned out to be, with its young chef Nacho Manzano not long in the kitchen and two years before winning his first Michelin star.

The food was fresh, the service charming and Nacho himself

was personable and engaging.

We returned to our simple rustic hostel that night noting that it had been the highlight of the holiday.

Fast-forward two decades and we are being chauffeured fromironically - the very same hostel, now an incredible five star spa hotel called PuebloAstur.

This time we’re clad in our glad rags and have a reservation, made three months earlier via the website.

Casa Marcial is an entirely different prospect today. Manzano has been dubbed the region’s top chef with two Michelin stars here (the only one in Asturias) and another in nearby Gijon. The small stone cottage has been spruced up with a Guggenheim-style extension jutting out back.

menu, which is creative without losing its local soul.

Part traditional, part modern, neither from the sea, nor the mountain best sums it up.

What you eat at Casa Marcial is in every way up there with the celebrated dining temples of San Sebastian and Girona. It is just not so fussy, nor so grand, and it’s kinder to your pocket!

Grilled grouper, served with edible flowers, was cooked to perfection

The lighting is fabulous and the decor more contemporary, yet it has managed to hang onto its original rural charms, and the main changes have been to the

Our culinary journey started with the most remarkable seafood spread, hidden in a rockpool-style presentation in which a clam, a mussel and a whelk were lurking.

Broadly, you have a choice of two set menus: a traditional one, called the ‘roots menu’, and a more modern seasonal version, known as the ‘horizontal menu’.

And, best of all, you can divide both in half - advisable at night - and end up with nine courses instead of around 15, all for €98 including IVA.

It continued with a ceviche of avocado with the peel of sardine, which was tasty, followed by an enoki mushroom with squid and ‘soil ink’, which sounded odd but hit the spot perfectly, rich in both flavour and originality.

An eel served with ‘scanda’ wheat was delicious while the grilled grouper, served with edible flowers and mixed leaves, was cooked to perfection. Easily the strangest dish of the night was the cow’s tongue served with lentils and a mole sauce (that’s the chocolate ver-

sion, not the furry animal), but it was also one of the finest. It was beaten though, by an amazing chocolate, mint and passion fruit pudding, washed down with a fabulous 10-yearold Madeira.

On the subject of wines, I am not normally a big fan of ‘maridaje’ wine pairing but on this occasion we succumbed to the charms of the sommelier, who even included a few sherries.

All in all, it is great to see that the changes at Marcial haven’t affected the food. Who knows, if the quality keeps up, Nacho could be heading up Asturias’ first three-star restaurant anytime soon.

(ED: Is a seven-year wait soon?).

December 18thJanuary 14th 2025

types of construction from A-Z undertaken.

Pools, Retaining Walls, Stone Walls, Refurbs etc Planning, Building and Registration Services.

We work in and around Alcaidesa, Sotogrande, Manilva, Estepona, Cancelada, San Pedro, Marbella, La Cala, Fuengirola and everywhere in between including inland areas.

To see how we work visit us at www.casaresliving.com Jaime +34 630 344 897 or email: info@casaresliving.com

Phone ban call

SPANISH government experts have called for an almost total ban on digital devices for young children - with no screens at all for under-threes and extremely limited use until age six.

The 250-page study also advises parents to stick to non-smart phones for children aged 12 to 16, and demands mandatory health warning labels on all digital devices sold in Spain.

Parents are urged to prioritise physical activities for children aged six to 12 and implement parental controls on any smart devices.

The report warns of serious risks, including impacts on sleep, concentration, and mental health.

Schools are also under scrutiny, with recommendations to overhaul educational apps and reduce digital tools in early education.

HAIR DRUG WARNING

A POPULAR hair-loss drug is linked to a shocking condition known as ‘werewolf syndrome’ in babies, Spanish health officials have warned.

The bizarre side effect has left infants covered in excessive body hair after being exposed to the overthe-counter scalp treatment, minoxidil .

Commonly sold under the brand name Regaine, it is widely used by adults to treat hair thinning, but now it’s feared that babies could be suffering from hypertrichosis – an abnor-

Spanish health chiefs warn hair-loss drug could trigger ‘werewolf syndrome’ in babies

By Dilip Kuner

mal growth of fine, dark hair on their faces, limbs, and backs.

The troubling issue came to light after Spanish authorities reported a case where a baby boy developed a thick patch of hair on his back and legs after his father, who had been

DIRTY SHOWER GEL

A POPULAR shower gel has been removed from shelves after a ‘dangerous bacteria’ was identified in it.

The Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) has ordered that ‘Cosmia-Gel de ducha exfoliante hueso de albaricoque’ stop production, be removed from shelves and all existing bottles collected.

It is believed the apricot shower gel contains an infectious bacteria

called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can provoke dangerous infections for older people and those who have a compromised immune system.

It was sold in Alcampo and supplied by the French business, SAS OIA.

If you have the shower gel, you can return it to any Alcampo store and get your money back.

using minoxidil to treat his own hair loss, cared for him at home.

Health experts believe the drug may have transferred from the father to the baby through skin contact or accidental ingestion.

Spanish officials have since confirmed that at least 10 cases of this rare condition have been reported across Europe, with all symptoms fading once parents stopped using the drug.

Experts warn that young infants exposed to the drug could also face serious risks to their heart and kidneys.

The warning comes after a scandal in Spain in 2019, where 17 children, including babies, developed similar symptoms after unknowingly consuming minoxidil , which had been mislabeled as reflux medication.

THE BEST CARE

Hospiten Estepona completes expansion project, doubling its healthcare capacity

HOSPITEN Estepona has recently completed an important expansion project, significantly increasing the hospital’s capacity and preparing it for future growth. This expansion will enhance surgical capabilities and improve the quality of care provided to patients, as well as broaden the range of services and medical specialties offered at the hospital. Key improvements include the expansion of the Emergency Department, which will now feature two separate areas with distinct circuits: Adult Emergency and Pediatric Emergency. Additionally, Outpatient Consultations and Hospitalisation areas will be expanded, doubling their current capacity.

In the Hospitalisation area, the number of rooms will increase in both the existing and future building, reaching a total of 53 rooms (in addition to the six ICU beds). In total, there will be 59 rooms across Hospitalization and ICU. For Outpatient Consultations, the number of consultation rooms

will increase from 18 to 30, with 12 new rooms added.

These new spaces will strengthen specialised units, including Gynaecology (with the creation of a Women’s Unit), Traumatology (with the addition of a Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Room), Cardiology, and Ophthalmology (with plans for a new ophthalmology centre set to open in 2025, coinciding with the start of construction).

The proposed solutions aim to minimise the environmental impact of the construction, incorporating energy-efficient and eco-friendly practices both in the building process and in the daily use of the facilities. With the opening of this new centre, Hospiten reaffirms its commitment to excellence in healthcare, innovation in the hospital sector, and pioneering solutions in architecture.

The team at Hospiten Estepona consists of highly skilled professionals, dedicated to the health and well-being of our patients and committed to providing more human and inclusive healthcare.

NATIVE CONTENT

O P LIVE RESS ANDALUCÍA

Blame Peppa

You’re knick(er)d

A ROBBER who used his underpants as a mask and socks as gloves at 19 restaurants in Madrid has been arrested when he was caught wearing his disguise in the early hours of the morning.

Q outrage

ACTIVISTS in Spain are outraged after the governing socialist party announced plans to drop Q from the LGBTQ+ acronym and ban trans women from female sports competitions.

Second life

A 92-year-old woman who had been declared dead at Bunyola’s Joan March Hospital and transferred to the Son Valenti funeral home in Palma was sent straight back to hospital when she started moving.

A NEW Zealander has won the World Spanish Scrabble Championship despite not speaking the language.

Nigel Richards achieved the feat thanks to his impressive memory and strategy skills. And he has form for similar feats - in 2015, he clinched the world title for French scrabble, which he also doesn’t speak. He repeated the feat in 2018.

The 57-year-old is widely considered the best player in the

Bey nd ords

How a Kiwi who only speaks English won the World Spanish Scrabble Championship

By Yzabelle Bostyn

world after starting to compete in New Zealand at age 28. He took to the world stage in 1999 at the Melbourne World Championships. Since then he has won the

English world championship five times.

In preparation, he had memorised the whole of the English dictionary, a challenge he overcame in just five sittings. He repeated the feat with first the French and then Spanish Scrabble dictionaries.

SAYS IT ON THE TIN

A SPANISH man was left shocked after receiving a tin of cat food instead of the €659 Google Pixel 8 Pro phone he ordered during Black Friday. Alvaro, from Valencia, thought it was a prank when he opened the package to find the wrong item. Despite contacting customer

service immediately, he’s still waiting for a resolution, with the company promising to process the return in 14 days. Over two weeks later, Alvaro has made dozens of calls with no success. His story, which went viral on X, has led to reports of similar mix-ups.

It is said he has a photographic memory and sees words as a ‘chains of letters’, each with its own mathematical possibilities.

He is known as a calm, emotionless and gentlemanly player within the Scrabble community.

Talking of his latest title he said: “It's more of a challenge here, which is really what I’m looking for. I just enjoy trying to develop the possibilities and see what I can do, see what I can present. I can enjoy it if I win. I can enjoy it if I lose... I'm just here for a bit of fun.”

SPAIN’S top road boss is blaming Peppa Pig for the fact that just 11% of road construction workers are women.

Marta Serrano, head of Land Transport, says cartoons like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol send a ‘stereotypical’ message that roadwork is a man’s job.

“These cartoons show all the workers as giant, muscle-bound dudes,” Serrano quipped at a conference about the role of women within road building before adding, “It’s a cultural challenge!”

With fewer women working in haulage, Serrano insists the gender gap in the sector is causing problems – and not just on the pavement. “We’re lagging behind,” she said, pointing out that even within her own ministry, only 40% of staff are women.

Wishing all our readers a very merry Christmas and New Year. We will be back on 15 January 2025