Olive Press Gibraltar - Issue 178 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Horses to courses, we check out one of Spain’s most exclusive enclaves, see our Sotogrande supplement inside

owned residento T’S the largest privately in Andalucia, home tial development and famous, and a the discreetly rich on the coast of Cadiz. beacon of luxury farmland. was Sixty years ago it Joseph McMickBut, an American-Filipino ing had a vision. Zobel de Ayala and Ayala Married to Mercedes family empire, the Mcpresident of the (the Philipines), luxury Corporation in Manila responsible for a Micking had been Forbes Park. property development,about creating a simNow he was dreaming

then richest man, owned by Spain’s How a seaside farm, country’s most privileged resort, transformed into the the Guaat the mouth of aircluster of farms writes Sorrel Downer the community in ilarly exclusive residential Mediterranean. his cousin Alfredo ‘Fredy’ tickIn 1962, when Air frequent flyer Melian used his SwissMcMicking told him to et for a trip to Spain, for a suitable location. keep his eyes peeledon a motorbike, Melian a Travelling dirt roads estate comprising found a 1,800-hectare

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international diaro, close to Gibraltar’s sucport, El Peñon. been owned by a The farmland had famous – the Duke of cession of rich andfamily and then finanArcos, the Larios Continues overleaf

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Scorched Spain

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BLACKENED earth, smouldering trees, the charred corpses of wild animals barbecued to a crisp. The pungent tang of smoked pine and eucalyptus lingers in the air. Such apocalyptic scenes have been repeated over and over across Spain, from Mijas on the Costa del Sol to the wild forests of Zamora in the northwest of the peninsula, to the hills just outside Madrid. Dozens of wildfires have devoured tens of thousands of hectares and forced thousands to be evacuated from their homes in what promises to make the summer of 2022 the worst wave of fires since records began. An estimated 200,000 hectares of Spanish countryside has already been ravaged accord-

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ing to the latest figures released by the European Forest Fire System, overtaking the carnage of 2012 when some 189,000 hectares were destroyed in what was until now the worst summer on record.

Alert

Even as temperatures drop as the latest heatwave subsides, much of Spain remains on high alert for wildfires, its countryside converted into a dangerous tinderbox. Firefighters on the Canary island of Tener-

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ife are currently battling a blaze with a 27km perimeter, flames are encroaching on protected biosphere in Donaña, while in Valencia, smoke stacks are visible from the Costa Blanca as woodland burns in Calles. Two wildfires have scorched the hills above the Costa del Sol in the Mijas area over the last month, with yet another new blaze reported on Tuesday. The tragedy was greatest in Losacio in Zamora where two people died in a blaze that deContinues on Page 5

ESCAPE: Farmer’s dance with death

Spoils of war Millions expected as court orders sale of oligarch’s yacht By George Mathias

The funds from the sale are expected to rake in millions of euros and will be held by the Admiralty Court. Investment bank, JP Morgan Chase was behind the seizure of the Axioma. The banking giant won a court order allowing the Gibraltar port authority to seize the yacht then owned by Russian oligarch Dmitry Pumpyansky. The billionaire steel magnante is one of many Russian oligarchs whose assets have been frozen

by the British government. The six-deck yacht, which boasts an infinity pool, a jacuzzi and a cinema, had been on a three week voyage across the Atlantic when THE SKY sanctions were imposed. DOCTOR It requested ALL AREAS permission to dock in GibralCOVERED tar which was granted with 4G UNLIMITED the ship being

A 73-metre superyacht seized from a blacklisted Russian billionaire is to be sold at auction. The yacht, named Axioma, will go up for sale without a reserve price on August 23, after being impounded at the end of March following sanctions on Russia. It is thought to be the first confiscated Russian-owned superyacht to be put up for sale since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ship will be sold by the Admiralty Court in Gibraltar under an ‘as is, where is’ private auction held by shipping group Howe Robinson.

AUCTION: Impounded yacht Axioma

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seized shortly after. A Gibraltar government spokesman said: “JPMorgan won the court order allowing port authorities in Gibraltar to seize the yacht and it is acting pursuant to its mortgage rights.”

Extraordinary

The Gibraltar government said that the extraordinary measures were taken in the interests of creditors with claims against the vessel. JP Morgan is understood to have asked the court to auction the boat despite its reservations that Malta and Luxembourg authorities may want to make a claim. Having heard nothing from Malta for several weeks, the bank deSee page 5 & 9 cided to ask

Tel: 952 147 834

YACHTLESS: Pumpyansky

for the vessel to be auctioned. The mega yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and a crew of 20 and underwent a million-euro makeover in 2020 with a 3D cinema room and second jacuzzi added.

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Comeback queen AMERICAN pop superstar Cristina Aguilera this week performed at Marbella’s Starlite club, her first gig in Spain for 18 years.

Mini-quake SPAIN’s National Geographic Institute recorded an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter in Casares and Fuengriola on Tuesday.

Time’s up POLICE have arrested three people for stealing high-end watches in Marbella’s Puerto Banus by approaching victims and simulating a football dribble as a method of distraction.

Bad parking A BRITISH driver aged 65 overshot his parking place and crashed down onto the beach narrowly missing sunbathers near Torrox, with police helping the shaken but unhurt man escape his Toyota Yaris.

A FORMER Mexican beauty queen has been arrested for an audacious vintage wine robbery that netted a bottle worth €300,000. Priscilla Guevara, 26 and her accomplice Dutch-Romanian dual national, Constantin Dumitru, 46 were held as they crossed into into Croatia from Montenegro after a tip-off from Interpol. It is claimed they are behind the raid at the Atrio hotel in Caceres (Extremadura).

July 27th - August 9th 2022

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Corking arrest

Their 45-bottle haul included the ‘star of the cellar’ 1806 bottle of Chateau d'Yquem, with the total value of the stolen wine put at €1.6 million. The thieves had made several visits to the Atrio hotel and restaurant before striking on October 27 last year. A hotel receptionist was distracted by a

SOUR GRAPES: Beauty queen nicked request made by Guevara for room service as Dumitru used a stolen master key taken during a previous visit to access the wine cellar.

Opium war AN Irishman allegedly involved in a Marbella nightclub shooting has had his bail set at €10,000, and remains in custody with two other men. Police have also confirmed that the gunman who began firing after he was stabbed in the eye is a 40-year-old Dutchman who is in custody at Costa del Sol Hospital. The violent row took place at

Bail set for Irishman after shootout leaves 5 in intensive care By Jorge Hinojosa

Opium nightclub in Marbella in the early hours of June 18, leaving five people in intensive care with stab and gunshot wounds. Hospital authorities con-

GANG BUSTED SOME 200 police arrested 28 people and seized 6.6 tons of drugs in nine raids in La Linea de la Concepcion and San Roque. The Guardia Civil say that they have shut down the entire El Chaqueta drugs gang. Police had considered it the most powerful drugs cartel involved in trafficking between Morocco and Spain. Despite its importance, police had previously been unable to link it to other criminal organisations busted in the Campo de Gibraltar so put together a special operation to bring it down. Police also seized nine high end vehicles in the operation.

firmed to the Olive Press that an 18-year-old man who was shot in the left hip is ‘recovering well’ and so too is a 40-year-old man who was shot in the back. “These injuries in principle are not serious but we await further tests,” a hospital spokesman told the Olive Press. A 32-year-old woman who was shot in the stomach remains in a critical condition. Two of them - the alleged gunman who had suffered stab wounds and an Irishman who was treated in intensive care for a gunshot - are in police custody as well as a third man, facing charges as an accessory to the crime of attemped murder, injuries and illegal possesion of weapons. The Irishman was visited by a judge at Marbella’s Costa del

A HORSE-drawn carriage driver has been arrested after punching a dissatisfied tourist three times. The foreign visitor went to hospital and was treated for a broken nose and bruises on his face and left elbow. The assault happened close to Malaga’s Plaza de la Marina. The male tourist had agreed on a rate for a specified route, but he was unhappy with what he got for his money and complained. The 32-year-old driver responded by punching him three times.

LOADED: Dutchman prepares to fire

Fake arrests

Sol Hospital on July 23 for questioning. A shocking photo posted on Instagram appears to show the moment the man pulls out a revolver during the fight, thought to be between two rival groups in the VIP section of the club with one table Dutch and the other ‘mainly British’. The identity of the gunman and the Irishman has not been released. A source told the Olive Press that ‘security were not checking bags’ on the night of the shooting at the entrance.

SOME 90 people have been arrested in Spain for selling and buying fake passports and IDs to help immigrants stay in the country. Spanish and Turkish police worked together to bust the gang that attracted customers through social media. They charged €1,000 for passports, €750 for residence permits, €500 for Schengen visas and €350 for driving licences, with police saying the gang netted €1,000,000.

We transport: Yachts, Cars, Motobikes, Power Boats, Work boats, Barges, Motorhomes Car transport and Removals, Tourers and all types of general haulage

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July 27th - August 9th 2022

YET ANOTHER OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE

EXCLUSIVE: British couple claim foul play against ‘Urban Turban’ celeb A BRITISH couple have accused a popular Marbella celebrity of attempting to steal their business. Ross and Laura Turner claim Bally Singh - dubbed ‘the Urban Turban’ - fleeced their homemade candle company during the lockdown. They have called in the UK’s Action Fraud over claims the Life on Marbs star failed to hand them tens of thousands of profit from the business set up in September 2020. The couple, based in Bedford, have brought in lawyers claiming Gem Scents Candles is owed ‘at least’ £20,000 (€23,200). Laura, 42, had started making the candles during the first pandemic lockdown in early 2020. It went well and quickly became well known, leading Bally to offer her a big investment in her business. Until he got in touch she had never heard of the Marbella-based entrepreneur, who has nearly half a million followers on Instagram. She read up to discover he claims to wash his watches with £20,000 champagne and counts pop stars Pharell and Sting as his friends. “We were delighted when Bally got in touch about investing,” Ross, a former

A Singh in the tale By George Mathias

mortgage advisor, told the Olive Press. Bally suggested they enter into a business partnership splitting the profits 50/50 with the Marbella mogul investing £15,000 into the company in February 2021. But things didn’t go to plan and just four months in, the Turners claim Bally’s IT team suddenly changed the password to the company domain name, locking them out of the business. Meanwhile, despite previously making over £10,000 a month, they had stopped receiving any takings. In total, they claim they are owed ‘at least £20,000’, with Ross submitting a complaint to the UK’s police fraud office, which is currently pending. The Olive Press has seen legal documents accusing Bally and his wife of trying to register an official trademark for Gem Scents candles without the owners’ permission. It had been registered under Bally’s company Be Immune Ltd, which should have made Ross and Laura equal shareholders with him and his wife Anna. However, documents show the Turners were not registered as shareholders, while inexplicably local Marbella celebrity Maria Bravo, who runs the Global Gift FounCLAIM: Laura and Ross Turner dation and is

Trooping the colours FRIENDS?: Singh and wife Ana with Fernando Alonso a friend of Ballys, was made a major shareholder, as evidenced on Companies House. After continual threats of legal action, the Turners have finally managed to wrestle their company back.

Money “It has become a profitable family business again, as it was before Bally got involved,” explained Ross, this week. “But he still owes us all that money.” Bally meanwhile completely

denied he had swindled the couple, insisting it was merely ‘a smear campaign’ against him. “I close multi million deals with big names in business, why would I want to steal from a small candle company? “The Turners are the ones who swindled me, we provided the funding and didn’t get any money back.” He also shared evidence showing payments totalling £4,000 and a settlement agreement between the two parties.

SPAIN’S Queen Letizia and her two daughters looked a picture of glamour as they attended festivities to celebrate the St James in Santiago de Compostela on Monday. The saint’s day was a public holiday in parts of Spain including Madrid and Galicia. It celebrates St James, (or Santiago), the patron saint of Spain and one of Jesus’s apostles, whose remains are said to be held in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The 49-year-old Queen and her daughters Princess Leonor of Spain, 16, and Princess Sofia of Spain, 15 wore colourful dresses as they walked around the city in northwestern Spain with King Felipe VI.

Matching

Leonor, the heir to the throne who is studying at Atlantic College in Wales, wore a £75 Cayro Vestido yasmin pink and red dress while her younger sister wore a powder blue dress. Letizia was decked out in a Vogana £220 ‘Mer’ dress in orange, with matching soft brown Carolina Herrera Mini Doma Insignia satchel and slingback camel suede pumps.

ROYAL RIPOSTE A LONDON court has given King Juan Carlos permission to appeal harassment charges brought against him by his former lover. The disgraced monarch, who abdicated in 2014 and now lives in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates, is facing a personal injury claim for damages brought by Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, 58. She alleges he sent the Spanish secret service to place her under illegal surveillance and harass her after their break-up while she was living in the UK. In March, a High Court judge rejected the royal’s claim that he was personally immune from the jurisdiction of the English courts under the State Immunity Act 1978 as a result of him being a ‘sovereign’. However, two judges at the Court of Appeal have now allowed him to challenge the ruling over whether he had immunity before his abdication in 2014. Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein alleges that Juan Carlos harassed her after their ‘intimate relationship’ ended in 2012 using threats, surveillance, and break ins. No court date has yet been set.

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ONE of the National Crime Agency’s most wanted criminals, is thought to be working in Marbella’s Puerto Banus as a hardman enforcer. Kevin Parle has been working as a cash-collector for Puerto Banus’ criminal underbelly, we can reveal. His whereabouts have been exposed by a retired Met officer who has vowed to find Parle at all costs. Peter Bleksley has been spending July on the trail for his hit BBC podcast Manhunt: Finding Kevin Parle. Bleksley arrived in Malaga following two tip offs in late March as to Parle’s whereabouts, which he describes as ‘credible, independent sources.’ According to one of the sources, Parle ‘collected a £50,000 debt’ in late March accompanied by his Irish girlfriend in Marbella. Parle, wanted over two murders in the UK, is also suspected of being behind the disappearance of father and son, Danny and Liam Poole,

July 27th - August 9th 2022

CLOSING IN

UK’s most wanted criminal ‘collecting cash for criminals’ in Marbella, claims ex-cop EXCLUSIVE By George Mathias

who vanished from Estepona in 2019. The Olive Press joined Bleksley as he handed out flyers and chatted with people in the popular marina. He claims he is ‘closer than ever’ to catching the on-therun criminal. And within hours of Bleksley’s arrival in Banus, one expat claimed he had seen Parle strolling down Calle Ribera, home to a swish row of clubs and restaurants.

CLOCK UP TWO delayed flights leaving Gibraltar after being held up by bad weather stayed grounded last Friday after air traffic controllers took a 45 minute break just when they were due to leave. Controllers are compelled by law to take regular breaks so as not to get fatigued while on the job. In this case it was bad luck that their break coincided with the flights’ rearranged take-off times. NATS, the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom, said: “It is always the highest priority to ensure the safety of every passenger who gets a flight in Gibraltar.” Gibraltar airport apologised for the inconvenience caused.

Bleksley tried to get access to CCTV footage of the spot, but was angrily reprimanded by a security guard. Then, only 12 hours later, he awoke to an email from someone in Puerto Banus who also claimed to have seen Parle. “These may well have been empathy sightings, but in any case I have again shrunk the world a little bit for Parle. “I will continue to squeeze the globe so tightly this 6ft 6incher pops up somewhere and cops slap the handcuffs on him.” Parle’s whereabouts have long been the source of speculation ever since he fled Merseyside 18 years ago after the killings of Lucy Hargreaves in 2005 and Liam Kelly in 2004. Liam was killed with a shotgun while climbing out of a friend's Vauxhall Astra in Liverpool while, 22-year-old Lucy Hargreaves, was shot three times by masked gunmen on her sofa, also in Merseyside. Bleksley, who joined the Met Police as a ca-

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

CLOSE: Bleksley says Parles’ days are numbered det at 17, was accompanied by out. Since the day I started, no another retired veteran police two independent sources have officer, who wishes to remain verified his location. This is a anonymous. gamechanger,” said 62-yearThe two have spent over a week old Bleksley. on the Costa del Sol in a push The pair, aged 42 and 22, travto finally snare the ginger gi- eled to Estepona on Mother’s ant who has eluded capture Day in 2019 with a suitcase for almost two decades containing £20,000 in cash. and who Merseyside police are offering a Suitcase £20,000 reward for. “I have hundreds They have not been seen since of flyers and hun- April 1 of that year and the cash dreds of posters, was never recovered although and I have stuck their passports and luggage his face all around were found abandoned in a that place like you hotel room in Estepona’s Valle wouldn’t believe,” Romano golf resort. “I’ve had the bronze, silver but he added. “I am poking the tiger, not golden nugget yet,” Bleksrattling the cage, ley insisted. shaking the tree But he vowed: “I'll be coming to see what falls back until I find him.”

Tunnel Blaze FIREFIGHTERS had to beat a retreat as rocks rained down on them as they yesterday fought a blaze in a tunnel behind the old incinerator on Dobinson Way. After attempts to gain access to the tunnel, the fire crew was forced to retreat due to overwhelming heat and ‘instability of internal tunnel structures,’ a spokesman said. Some 20 firefighters attending to the incident had close to zero visibility in what was described as ‘extremely challenging conditions.’ The spokesman said: “There were a few near misses in the process whereby rocks dropped around officers.” The cause of the fire is currently unknown but at the time of going to press large smoke plumes have hampered attempts to get it under control.

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FAUX-BILITY

YOUNG Brits too lazy to walk and too mean to pay for a taxi are inventing fake disabled relatives in order to hire mobility scooters. Now police in Benidorm have launched a crackdown on tourists renting mobility scooters and slapping them with fines of up to €500 if they have bent the truth on application forms. The vehicles have become a popular means to get around the resort and are no longer the reserve of those who find it difficult to walk. In fact, holidaymakers are lying to scooter rental companies in order to bypass rules, an Olive Press investigation has found. “The Brits often lie to our company as they do not meet the requirements to get a scooter,” admitted a whistleblower from a

EXCLUSIVE: How British tourists are bypassing disability rules to rent mobility scooters EXCLUSIVE By Jorge Hinojosa

rental scooter company in Benidorm. She said that young people often claim they are hiring a mobility scooter for a disabled parent, but when the company staff follow it up, they find there is no such person. “Most of them are young Brits that want to use it to go clubbing to save the money of a taxi,” revealed Tania Costa, who works at Amigo 24 Mobility Scooter Hire in Benidorm. She said ‘80% of the people who rent our scooters are from the UK’ and estimated

Wonder water GIBS’ beaches have been given a clean bill of health for water quality. It is assessed by regular testing of samples and using laboratory analysis established by the EU. The latest assessment carried out for a full year in 2021 revealed that the water in all Gibraltar's beaches is excellent, except for Western Beach which is categorised as good. It marks a big improvement from 2018 when the same analysis found it to be of poor quality, largely due to high levels of sewage contamination.

SCOOTING ALONG: Benidorm on alert over scooters that around half of them do not meet the requirements for a mobility scooter. According to Benidorm bylaws, only those aged over 55 or with a disability problem are entitled to drive a mobility scooter. “We have a lot of cases of people who cannot prove that they have a disability but they insist that they cannot walk,” claimed Tania. “Others rent the scooter then give it to other members in their group to drive, which is also against the local law,” said David, the owner of the company. Benidorm council has

launched a crackdown following complaints about scooter users driving irresponsibly on the pavements and in bike lines.

Dangerous “The majority of the drivers do not respect the maximum speed and it is really dangerous because it can cause accidents,” a spokesperson from Benidorm council told the Olive Press. Benidorm’s council confirmed that so far this summer two people have been fined for not meeting the requirements to use a mobility scooter.

July 27th - August 9th 2022 From front

Too hot to handle stroyed more than 13,000 hectares of land in just two days. Firefighter Daniel Gullon Vara, 62, died tackling the flames, while Victoriano Anton Raton, a 69-year-old farmer was caught in the blaze as he attempted to get his flocks to safety after it suddenly changed direction. While the blame has been laid on unusually high temperatures, forests neglected with years of mismanagement and the usual array of arsonists, negligent workers and downright idiots responsible for sparking the blazes, few deny the role of global warming. Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, was emphatic about the consequences of the climate emergency during as he surveyed the aftermath of a blaze in Extremadura last week. “I want to make something very clear,” he said. “Climate change kills: it kills people, as we’ve seen; it also kills our ecosystem, our biodiversity, and it also destroys the things we as a society hold dear – our houses, our businesses, our livestock.”

Devastation

Ironically, even those dedicated to fighting climate change played their part in the lastest devastation after it emerged that a Dutch company tasked with planting trees to offset carbon emissions had been responsible for starting a wildfire. Land Life, a reforestation company with plantations in Aragon admitted one of its workers was to blame for starting a blaze that destroyed 14,000 hectares outside Ateca when a spark escaped from a mechanical digger. One of the starkest images of this month’s fires was the miraculous escape of a farmer who was attempting to dig a fire-breaking trench to protect his local town, Tabara in Castilla y Leon, when his tractor became engulfed by flames. Angel Martin Arjona was caught on camera running from the inferno with his clothes alight. He survived with burns on 80% of his body. Astonishingly, authorities believe that 85% of the wildfires come about as a direct result of human actions, either set deliberately by arsonists or because of human error or negligent action.

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13th - July ess.es July

on Fight them the beaches

C O ST

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are being drawn Battle lines ct as massive mega-proje football pitches could see 600 hotels ‘swamp’ of homes and virgin Tarifa’s famous beaches

Plans DISFIGURE: how the (below) showLances unspoilt Los ruined beach will be

protection

current are area’s their plans have understand there in status and to Cadiz for an He added: “I behind it, but been sent Impact Resome large banksis in danger. DevelEnvironmental Spain everythingbig business, like cars port (EAE). is far opment here is in Germany.” alarmingly, this are scheme But all. Another project In the most recent the from Valdevaqueto be announced,plans above nearby add to the town hall is backing and a ros beach will on the to build 730 homes (com- constant pressure area. number of hotels which the bedrooms) that the prising 1,360 square me- The scheme, understands The body arguedunsuitable Press in a 623,000 60 luxury villas, was totally opposite Olive is al- area development (back comprises around tre area right of euros each, for homes Los Lances beach. area costing millions board. the for around 360 on the drawing will see thenvarious hotels) as it bordered The mostly wooded sat protected ready scheme at Las Pinas, and del Estrecho and - inside the zone. de Los Another constructed. Parque Natural Paraje Natural has al- 50 luxury villas first reported plans to in the EU’s Red Natura 2000Francisco when a se- This week, Tarifa mayor advanced Lances - currently apart The Olive Press the area in 2012, by the confirm how most no buildings, were organised Codorniz develop Ruiz refused to ries of protests Salvemos Valdeva- plans were for any of the schemes. from the La group hotel and restaurant. how- pressure Developers hope the queros. ever, to overcome

develon the Lances When pressed the Olive Press: “The opment, he told in 2006, but project was approved crisis building due to the economic Continues on

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Page 5

to are digging in GREEN campaigners last remaining save one of Andalucia’s coastal zones. a national camThey are launching a series of projects paign to prevent the fragile ecology of from ‘destroying’ coastline. to the stunning Tarifa expats are expected Hundreds of en Accion to fight the join Ecologistas around 6.2 million pitchplans that mean - or 600 football square metres land are being made es - of protected the drawavailable to developers. have been on town In plans that 2004, Tarifa specific ing board since to develop sixfootprint hall is hoping its urban areas, increasing one by 450%. destruction of Eu“This is the blatant coastline in of bits of the loveliestGil, of Ecologistas, told rope,” Javier the Olive Press. to get involved to specula“Everyone needs invasive and condemn thistourism that will make tive form of like the Costa del Sol.” area Las the Tarifa at Valdevaqueros, The projects La Peña, Los Lances, Piñas, Torre de and Cabo Plata (in of Pedro Valiente total thousands nearby Atlanterra) dozens of hotels. on strain new homes and an obvious Apart from resources, there will be well as scarce water of sewage, as countless issues infrastructure. be developing such a “It’s absurd to area,” said British from the large unspoiled Peter Whaley, businessman group. Hurricane Hoteltrying our best to pro“We should be of the coast, not build tect this jewel all over it.”

The

Jorge Hinojosa By Jon Clarke, Mathias & George

ÍA

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

ANDALUC

LIVE RESS

398 www.theolivepr Vol. 16 Issue

George Mathias george@theolivepress.es

With the Olive Press breaking the news that Tarifa is earmarked for one of the biggest developments in a generation O P on its untouched virgin beaches, the Olive Press takes a look at some of the other beaches under threat… FREE

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

SHORE WARNING

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

GUA Amarga is a pretty fishing village in Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park. With a population of just 400 it is still largely undiscovered by large-scale R COS tourism and remains one of Andalucia's hidden seaside treasures. While its name translates as ‘bitter water’, the beach is largely sheltered with smooth, calm waters perfect for swimming and great for family visits. Fortunately, Agua Amarga was spared from intensive coastal development during the early 2000s which saw vast swathes of neighbouring coastline built on. There were many plans mooted and lots of projects fortunately turned down, much of them thanks to exposure by local protest groups and media. But whether that will continue remains to be seen. Just up the coast at San Jose, also in Cabo de Gata, the Junta authorised the transformation of an old farmhouse into a 30 room hotel in front of the totally virgin beach, Los Genoveses, earlier this year. It came despite a petition signed by 250,000 people and six protest groups. They say the Las Chiqueras project is a trojan horse for much more development. Developers will now have five years to develop the handful of old buildings built for agriculture, as well as add some more, plus swimming pools. Ecologists insist other nearby ruins will be next in line for development causing devastation to the beach and the area’s distinct fauna and flora.

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.

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Voted top expat paper in Spain

THE Olive Press has reported on them all. Heatwaves, hot dry winds blowing in from the Sahara, poor forest management, negligent workers and worst of all the arsonists who, for unfathomable reasons, see fit to spark blazes that destroy wildlife and threaten the lives of those brave firefighters sent in to battle the flames. We have witnessed devastating blazes from the window of our office on the Costa del Sol. We have sent out our reporters to speak to residents who have been evacuated from their homes. We have stood alongside firefighter teams reporting on the progress of their efforts to extinguish the infernos. Unfortunately covering the wildfires that blight Spain each summer has become as much a part of our job as writing about shenanigans of holidaymakers, new hotel openings or travel mayhem caused by striking airport workers. For years the Olive Press has highlighted campaigns calling for better conservation of Spain’s countryside and has reported on environmental concerns that are adding to the fire risk, be it the widespread draining of precious wetlands to the failure to offer proper legal protection to some of the nation’s most vulnerable biospheres. It seems like almost every day in recent weeks we have had to report on the outbreak of a new fire, often more dramatic than the last. But we mustn’t become complacent. The threat from climate change is real and it’s about time governments wake up and smell the smouldering embers.

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THE CLIFFS OF MARO, NERJA NERJA town hall approved the construction of 1,000 houses, a golf course and a massive hotel next to the cliffs of Maro, a well known protected area in 2021. It will stretch from the Barranco de Burriana to the Miel river. Thousands of locals were joined by green groups to protest the decision, despite the complications of the pandemic. They insist it will do untold damage to one of the most beautiful and last undeveloped enclaves of the east Costa del Sol. The developer Larios, which owns much of the land, insists it will be making a particular effort to protect the area, which has become unkempt and scruffy over recent decades.

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HE great diversity of ecosystems and wild species native to Spain make it the most biodiverse in Europe, but also put it on the frontline over the pressing issue of nature conservation. Spain has the highest number of endangered plants in Europe, and a quarter of its vertebrates are included in the ‘endangered’, ‘vulnerable’ or ‘rare’ categories, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While Spain has 1,600 protected areas, representing 12% of the country’s land (around 14 million hectares), it only has a few dozen virgin beaches left, very few in the south. Continual pressure to develop rare undeveloped zones, such as the Cabo de Gata in Almería or the Cope area of Murcia, gets ever more acute, with a necessity for more jobs and commerce. With Tarifa’s famous virgin beaches facing SIX new developments, the Olive Press has relaunched its Hands Off Our Costas campaign. Working alongside Spain’s largest environmental group, Ecologistas en Accion, we aim to highlight the politicians and developers, who have historically shown little regard for the rich heritage of Spain’s fragile coastline. “While a lot of effort is being employed to protect what is left of the environment, the development of economic activities is consuming and degrading natural resources at a dizzying rate,” a spokesman told the Olive Press this week. Here, the Olive Press identifies five other coastal zones at risk of mass development.

COPE MARINA, MERCIA

CABOPINO AND ARTOLA DUNES, MÁLAGA GUSTY northwesterly winds and coastal currents brought a continuous flow of sand with them to form a bank of dunes reaching some 20 kilometres in length along this delicate enclave between Mijas and Marbella. The dunes are home to unique vegetation, adapted to withstand the strong sunlight, scarcity of water and continuous buffeting of the wind. Los Ladrones Tower is also an ancient military structure with the cultural property designation dating back to the Roman period and subsequently reconstructed by Moors and Christians.

THIS fragile stretch of coast was worryingly not included in recent proposals to list it as a ‘site of community interest’ despite it bordering land that is. The area encompasses a wide array of animal habitats and unique flora and fauna which is internationally recognised. In particular the strip is home to the Greek tortoise, which is an endangered and protected species with more than half of the population of Europe found in Murcia. It is also one of the last undeveloped areas of Murcia, a rare exception to the overexploited costas nearby, with the Mar Menor already in critical danger of collapse. This stretch of the Med has great ecological and geomorphological value and has been put in danger before. In 1974 there was considerable opposition to a nuclear power plant, and protests took on the Ministry of Industry, achieving their objective a decade later when the project was withdrawn. But locals remain fearful that new development plans could be announced at any time, with rumours being regularly bandied around.

CALA MOSCA, ORIHUELA COSTA THE last virgin beach in Orihuela is under threat from the construction of 1,500 new homes for tourism and second residences. The town hall approved the development in September 2021, which ecologists insist will wipe out protected plant species. Still worse, Estefanía Blanes, councilor of Izquierda Unida, claims that some of the politicians who have opposed the plans have received threatening messages from developers.

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LAND OF PLENTY

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How a seaside farm, owned by Spain’s then richest man, transformed into the country’s most privileged resort, writes Sorrel Downer similarly exclusive residential community in the Mediterranean. In 1962, when his cousin Alfredo ‘Fredy’ Melian used his Swiss Air frequent flyer ticket for a trip to Spain, McMicking told him to keep his eyes peeled for a suitable location. Travelling dirt roads on a motorbike, Me-

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lian found a 1,800-hectare estate comprising a cluster of farms at the mouth of the Guadiaro, close to Gibraltar’s international airport, El Peñon. The farmland had been owned by a succession of rich and famous – the Duke Continues overleaf

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T’S the largest privately owned residential development in Andalucia, home to the discreetly rich and famous, and a beacon of luxury on the coast of Cadiz. Sixty years ago it was farmland. But, an American-Filipino Joseph McMicking had a vision. Married to Mercedes Zobel de Ayala and president of the family empire, the Ayala Corporation in Manila (the Philipines), McMicking had been responsible for a luxury property development, Forbes Park. Now he was dreaming about creating a

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DREAM: McMickling and wife Mercedes (inset) turned their dream into reality

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From front

FROM FARMS TO FABULOUS

PAST OWNERS: McMickling (top right), the Larios family (above) and Juan March

of Arcos, the Larios family and then financier Juan March, arms and tobacco dealer, founder of the eponymous science and arts institution, once the richest man in Spain. It seemed fated for grander use – and it ticked the boxes. “We bought the land at Sotogrande without having seen it, like a pig in a poke,” said McMickling, speaking in 1967. “Paid $750,000 down and had to pay another third in six months and the rest in a year.” McMicking arrived with his nephews, Jaime and Enrique Zobel (Enrique had overseen work on his friend the Sultan of Brunei’s 1788room palace) and Melian stayed on as director of works. As the only bar for miles, the Antigua Venta Toledo served as an early HQ. The team had experience, connections but, best of all, patience and plans. Inspired by golfing communities like Palm Beach and Pebble Beach in the US, McMicking was determined to build the community around a golf club and, in 1963, the world’s top golf course designer, Robert Trent Jones, was flown in to design the course. The Real Club Sotogrande was Trent Jones’ first European venture and the first course in Europe with a new-fangled automated irrigation system. None other than Spain’s top modernist architect, Luis Gutierrez Soto (Callao Theatre and fnac building, Madrid), designed the low-slung clubhouse – still avantgarde today, as well as the ultra des-res course-side bungalows. McMicking poached the director of

PASSION: Sotogrande is a world class polo destination

The Ritz in Madrid to run the club. Trent Jones would return a decade later to design Valderrama, the setting for Volvo Masters events, the Spanish Open and the Ryder Cup. With another three courses in Sotogrande, and almost 70 within driving distance (no pun intended), McMicking helped the Costa del Sol become one of Europe’s top golfing destinations.) A keen polo player, Enrique Zobel

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built a polo ground by the beach. La Playa, inaugurated in 1965, wasn’t Spain’s first (the Jerez Polo Club dates back to 1872), but it revived polo passion and set the social tone. Although la Playa has gone, Sotogrande’s Santa Maria Polo Club is considered one of the best in the world. Soon after the first beach club appeared below the golf course. Cucurucho (meaning cornet) and

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PIC CREDIT: Ayuntamiento de San Roque

named after its conical shape, still exists today, though it’s bigger and grander, and officially called Trocadero. And also in 1965, the first hotel arrived, the modernist, luxury motel style Tennis Hotel, now the Hotel jal fresh from designing the Spanish Pavilion at the New York 1963 Encinar. Word spread and the rich, power- World’s Fair, cost $160,000. Sadly, prices have gone up: When ful and discreet began moving in. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño of the Bolivi- Joseph Kanoui, head of the syndian tin mining dynasty, diamond cate that bought Cartier, put his magnate Philip Oppenheimer, and Soto property on the market for banker and advisor to Onassis, the €26m in 2006, it was allegedly flambuoyant George Moore were the most expensive house for sale in Spain. among the first. Javier Benjumea, the Marquis of McMicking’s plans for Sotogrande Puebla de Cazalla, was one of the extended to the kind of person who came and what they built. few Spanish residents. “A Sotogrande based But French dukes, on money would be Belgian barons, Span“A Sotogrande the most horrible soish counts, scions of ciety imaginable,” he business followed, based on said. and, later politicians money would However, it was only (including Tony Blair when Sotogrande was be the most and Fabian Picardo), out of cash and a smattering of horrible society running and needed to open celebrities from forimaginable” up to a new market of mer England managbuyers that more afer Glenn Hoddle and fordable housing was golfer Tony Jacklin followed. Most houses are architectural developed. gems. The Domecq family mansion Dictator Franco had helped the Sois now the clubhouse of the San togrande shareholders by waiving Roque golf course, but unless you the rule that prevented foreigners are a houseguest you are unlikely purchasing land in Spain. to see the best of the rest, some But he stuffed them by closing of which, like the Zobel house and Spain’s border with Gibraltar in Biddle House, have preservation 1969. With the N-340 under construcorders on them. American diplomat Nicholas Bid- tion, the trek to Malaga airport dle’s house, built by Javier Carva- was arduous.

STILL GOING: Cucurucho is now the famous Trocadero club

The jet set couldn’t jet in, and Sotogrande fell into debt. In the late 70s, the decision was taken to build apartments on the left bank of the Guardiaro. In 1978, to appeal to all-year residents, the International School at Sotogrande (ISS) was set up – initially in the old cattle sheds of one of the farms, Cortijo de Paniagua. By the time the border reopened in 1985, So-

togrande was a different kind of place, still off the beaten track – it would be another 17 years until the AP-7 motorway hooked it up, but more connected to the real world. Some of the residents even had day jobs! McMicking’s vision had always included a marina with canals and islands of apartments with yacht views, and the 1980s developments included just that, in the

shape of the Puerto Deportivo Sotogrande, completed in 1987, three years before his death. The construction of this mini-Venice was as good as saying times might change, but the dream of Sotogrande as a beautiful playground, a gorgeous sanctuary, remains intact. As he predicted: “Sooner or later the Costa del Sol is going to be mobbed but Sotogrande will be an island of order in the chaos.”

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GIBRALTAR Becoming a World City

UCH has been said recently about the supply of property in Gibraltar being at its lowest for the last 10 years. The main reason for this being the fast take-up of new build properties during construction phases. Demand continues to rise causing prices to rise accordingly. The outlook for the property market in Gibraltar is good, especially once a border deal can be struck with the EU. The question then becomes how we create more supply with the limited space we have in Gibraltar. Gibraltar has unique advantages, benefiting from a unique geographical location, cultural background and world renowned legal and educational institutions. This together with Gibraltar’s favorable low company tax regime and high net worth residency will continue to be the driving forces for property demand. The Gibraltar government has this year committed to progressing the Victoria Keys project, a major land reclamation master plan for a 100,000 square metre mixed use development located on the west side of the Rock which will promote both national and international investment. The appetite from investment and development companies to do business in this thriving city is significant. There is no capital gains or inheritance tax in Gibraltar, making buying and selling new developments a money-spinning pastime for anyone who has a little cash to spare.

UP SOTO CREEK WITH A PADDLE Arriving in Sotogrande style, Jon Clarke takes a trip down the Rio Guadiaro

T is by far the most exciting way to arrive in Sotogrande. But you are likely to get wet so don’t bring your gladrags. One of the best family adventures on the Costa del Sol, you can rent a kayak and paddle the whole way down the Guadiaro river from El Secadero, which is actually in Casares, to the mouth of the river at Sotogrande port. For more information on Gibraltar property call Josie Taking a couple of hours, you will see a huge ranRichardson +350 200 79210 or email info@richardsons.gi ge of birds and feel like you are in total wilderness for much of it. There are even a few rapids to get the heart racing. Organised by ROW YOUR BOAT: Life afloat Jon Clarke taking a trip down the Rio Guardio Andalucia Activities, kayaks come in three sizes and can comfortably take three people in the larger ones. I joined a group descent, with around 100 people in dozens of Sotogrande is home to more top-notch golf canoes, arriving early and getting courses than you can shake a nine-iron at kitted out properly, with a proper safety drill before OLFERS are spoilt for choice on the oaks and olive trees. heading off. Costa del Sol, with lush greens to be The course overlooks the Med and the sufound in Marbella, Estepona, and Mi- rrounding hills, representing a real challenge But you can also jas. for even the most skilled golfers thanks to its get a special day But those in the know maintain that the best deep bunkers, water hazards and rolling hills. out for groups or OARS OF FUN: Kayaking, paddle boarding and wakeboarding on offer rounds are teed off in Sotogrande, having as La Reserva Club is another gem carved into individuals organised by Andalucia Activities. For more information and bookings visit it does some of the oldest courses on the Ibe- the hillside, with natural vistas in every direcAnd as well as offering kayaking, the company www.andaluciaactivities.com or get in rian Peninsula. tion. also offers walking expeditions as well as pa- touch at info@andaluciaactivities.com It has even hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997 at The 18-hole course was designed in 2003 ddle board lessons and wakeboarding. or +34 633 538 930

A good walk not spoiled

Valderrama, possibly the most difficult course in Spain. What’s more, you get sweeping views of Gibraltar and the North African coast. Is it any wonder then, that Sotogrande’s golf clubs are also the favoured location for a range of social events, such as weddings and parties. The first club to spring up here was the Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1964. It was given an expensive face lift by Rulewich & Fleury in 2016. Designer Trent Jones imbued the course with his design philosophy, with the most important requirement that the course should ‘perfectly integrate with the natural surroundings.’ Meanwhile Almenara Golf Club has a 27-hole course, created by famous British designer and Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas, which overlooks Los Alcornocales natural park. Thomas designed the course around the two lakes on the site, which are encircled by cork

by American architect and course designer Cabell B. Robinson with wide, sweeping fairways, gentle but challenging undulations and unique water features. It is probably the most accessible course for those with a higher handicap. San Roque golf club is one of the most exclusive in Europe, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja, the course is elegantly integrated into Andalucia’s natural wonders with two championship golf courses and a distinctly peaceful atmosphere. La Cañada Golf Club rounds off Sotogrande’s ‘famous five’ clubs. Established in 1982, it is a non-profit sportive association, whose main objective is to promote golf to everyone through a concession-operated business model and was the first public golf course in Spain. The golf course length spans 5,841 meteres with 18 holes, nine of which were also designed by David Thomas. With clubs like these, surely even Mark Twain would have to reevaluate his famous adage.

Alcaidesa

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THE SECRET’S OUT! Alcaidesa is opening up to the world after decades of gated-community slumber, writes George Mathias

UNCOVERED: Alcaidesa is finally rearing its not-so-ugly head

T is one of the least known resorts on the Costa del Sol. And no-one’s complaining. While sitting in the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar, Alcaidesa retains an Andalucian charm that is exceptionally resilient to the corrosive tendencies of tourism. Comprising a decent collection of low-rise developments and villas, tumbling down to a sleepy village centre and beach, its feather in the cap is a testing championship links golf course. Thanks to its powerful ‘Architectural Control Committee’, development is strictly controlled in Alcaidesa rendering beady-eyed developers toothless on this glorious stretch of coastline be-

tween Sotogrande and La Linea. Just a small beachside hamlet prior to its growth in the 1990s, there are still remnants of history scattered about. In particular it has one of the oldest lighthouses in southern Spain. Built in 1588, and later restored in the 18th century, the Torre de Punta Mala has been guiding ships since the final embers of the Muslim reconquest faded out. Next door is the Casa de Carbonera (Charcoal-maker’s house), even older, and with equal amounts of charm. A century older than the lighthouse it sits just above the wonderful Playa Balñario, in part nudist if that’s your cup of tea. One of the coast’s loveliest beaches, you are just a bucket’s throw to the Alcaidesa Links Golf Course, with its stunning views to Gibraltar and Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. Inspired by traditional Scottish courses but with an Andalucian twist, the course has played host to three PGA championships since it

opened in 1992. Alcaidesa is the perfect makeweight to its bigger sister Sotogrande and has also become a popular retreat for high-flying Europeans, thanks in part to the popular Aldiana hotel, which feels like a relaxed colonial-style country club. While it feels completely rural with amazing views, you are only a short drive to nearby Marbella or Algeciras, with its range of good places to eat. For those visiting for the day, the pomp and splendour is quickly apparent, but you don’t have to break the bank, eating at the beachside chiringuito One Eden. This wonderful restaurant offers an excellent mixed menu and ice cold beers, my pick being its fresh pomegranate and feta salad, the perfect bite in the scorching heat of an Andalucian summer. Next door is the also-rated DBlanco Alcaidesa, focussing on Spanish staples like croquetas and gambones. From here you are a short stroll to the Guadalquitón Nature Reserve, a protected stretch of beach, dunes, wetlands and a cork oak forest. Part of the Alcornocales Natural Park, it is the final stretch of undeveloped coastline from La Linea to Malaga and its unspoiled natural scenery forms a protective green buffer for the resort’s prime real estate. Open to hikers and bird-

watchers, Guadalquitón and the estuary of the nearby Guadiaro River is literally teaming with wildlife. A major migration spot for birds flying to Africa, a short amble into the reserve grants a front row seat to marvel at Swifts, Honey Buzzards and Egyptian Vultures. Formerly known as a hidden gem among thosein-the-know, the Alcaidesa secret is slowly beginning to get out. “The place has changed a lot in the past few years,” explains Sandra Lamplugh at One Eden, the area’s main development firm. “The Links course has just been redesigned and there are lots more facilities here.” As the place has changed, so too has the clientele.

Tranquil

Formerly the reserve of Brits and Spaniards, Sandra explains her clients are today a European melting pot of Belgians, Poles, Dutch, Germans, and Scandanavians. “Though we are now very much on the map, Alcadeisa is still a very tranquil, unspoilt area,” she explains. As I wander back to my car three Swedes walking past say hello. Looking round to the wonderful green hills one gestures an arm towards the backdrop. “It’s not bad, eh?” he says. Indeed, not bad at all.

ALCAIDESA A HIDDEN GEM WITH BEACHES, RESTAURANTS AND GOLF FOR EVERYONE THIS SUMMER Alcaidesa – A stunning natural environment that appeals to an increasingly international clientele. Alcaidesa is changing and if you have not been there recently you will be pleasantly surprised by the new choice of shops, restaurants and bars. Still a beautiful location with kilometres of unspoilt beaches and the Costa del Sol’s only

Links golf course overlooking the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Africa. Acqua Alcaidesa the commercial centre at the heart of Alcaidesa has been refurbished and now has a Ruiz Galan supermarket, Pizza Express, Yard Gin Bar, Café Fresco and a gym. Now with more outside seating and lush landscaping dining under the stars is a great choice here.

Down on the beautiful beach there is also a great variety of food, sun loungers and live music with One Eden Chiringuito, Sal Verde Arena Bar and DBlancos catering for every taste. Alcaidesa is ideally located only 20 minutes from Gibraltar, an hour to Malaga airport, 15 minutes to the international ambience of Sotogrande and less than one hour to Tarifa

with it’s world famous wind surfing beaches. One Eden, the developer behind the latest off plan residential resort, Serenity Alcaidesa has always believed in investing in an area to create facilities and a sense of community and this ethos is very clear in Alcaidesa. Serenity Alcaidesa has just launched and with its front line golf apartments and penthouses centred around a spectacular resort area this off plan project is sure to be popular with the increasingly international Alcaidesa buyers as well as locals, whether they are families, investors, visitors or golf tourists. The central resort area will include an expansive beach entry pool, a lap pool, children’s play area, crazy golf, an indoor gym, a yoga and meditation platform and a co-working zone all surrounded by beautiful gardens yet only 5 minutes walk away from the La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort Clubhouse. Serenity Show Apartment is now open so why not pop in next time you are in Alcaidesa. We are open Monday – Saturday and Sundays by appointment.

Call +34 663 49 36 30 for information or visit www.oneeden.com

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ALCAIDESA THROUGH THE BROWN’S EYES Do you have a property to rent Contact us now, we have clients waiting

or sell Alcaidesa? LCAIDESA is aninamazing up-and-coming community surrounded by beautiful beaches and Contact us now, weLinks haveGolf clients waiting the much hallowed Courses. It is an idyllic and tranquil place that it is a pleasure to live within. The Brown family have been lucky enough to be based here with Alcaidesa Direct for the past 15 years and is a well established family Estate Agent that prides itself on finding your dream home within Alcaidesa. We are confident that we will find the perfect match for you - whether you are looking to buy or rent. Alcaidesa Alcaidesa’s Premier Service The Brown Direct familyishave also run the Real hubEstate of Alcaidesa sterling for over The providing Ivy WineaBar - forservice the past 10 fifteen years.years for our newthe andbar established clients focusing on In that time, has become just as synonymous and Long Term Rentals with this place Sales as the beach or the golf club, forging a much welcomed community atmosphere in this gloriLoma del is Rey, Local 36, Premier 11316, La Alcaidesa Alcaidesa’s Real Estate Service ousAlcaidesa part of Direct the world. providing a sterling service for over fifteen years for our After years of hard work, it is now time for the Brown’s established focusing on 44 10 95 CONTACT US:and +34 956 79 clients 72 28 / +34 606 to embarknew on their well-earned retirement, thus leavSales and Long Term Rentals ing a vacancyinfo@alcaidesadirect.com for the right people to take the reins. With theLoma areadel becoming and La more popular, it is Rey, Localmore 36, 11316, Alcaidesa www.alcaidesadirect.com the perfect time to purchase the much loved Ivy Bar and help it begin a new CONTACT US: +34 956chapter. 79 72 28 / +34 606 44 10 95 Under the stewardship of the Brown’s, it has been a info@alcaidesadirect.com fantastic decade of business and leaves a fantastic opportunity for the right people to carry on their good www.alcaidesadirect.com work. For more information and sales, please call: +34 956 79 72 28 / +34 606 44 10 95, email: info@alcaidesadirect.com or visit: www.alcaidesadirect.com

Ambling through Alcaidesa A bird watcher’s paradise awaits nature lovers on a short stroll around Alcaidesa’s eastern fringes, writes George Mathias

NE of the nicest walks on the Costa del Sol starts at the Carbonera lighthouse, in Alcaidesa. After taking in the panoramic views across the Straits of Gibraltar, you’ll be amazed at the abundant wildlife along its nearby shoreline heading up to the Guadalquiton nature reserve. The pathway heads down towards the beach giving an unimpeded view of Sotogrande port and Punta la Chullera. After a few hundred metres you come to a 19th century war shelter, the perfect place to shield from the gusts of wind on the seafront. Shielded from the elements

and the piercing light, the bunker offers an almost meditative quality. Veering up the shore and hanging left you approach the Punta Mala, an austere enclave jutting out from the shore with the white villas of Alcaidesa as the backdrop. Surrounded by the pristine greens of the links course you can then loop back around past the Old Police House and up the Torrecarbonera road. The river Guadalquiton, at the end of the path, is a treasure trove of feathered friends with Rails, Herons and freshwater Passerines all lingering - a rarity along the costas.

BIRDWATCH: Many surprises in store

PIC CREDIT: Carlos García Sanz

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RETREAT: Abandoned bunker is perfect watchtower

With westerly winds, it is even possible to see other migratory birds. What better way to absorb the proverbial fruits of Alcadaisa than this gentle twenty minute walk in splendid isolation. In just a half an hour stroll I spotted large numbers of warblers and thrushes, while on the seafront, waders were plentiful, including the Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling and Whimbrel. In winter you need to keep your eyes peeled for Skylarks and European Golden Plovers, as well as Whiterumped Swifts and Redrumped Swallows.

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IVY IVYWINE WINEBAR BARFOR FORSALE SALE Due Duetotounforeseen unforeseencircumstances, circumstances,this thishighly highlyacclaimed acclaimed bar/restaurant bar/restaurantisisback backononthe themarket. market. The TheIvy IvyWine WineBar Barisislocated locatedwithin withinthe theheart heartofofLaLaAlcaidesa Alcaidesa ininthe theLoma Lomadel delRey ReySquare, Square,surrounded surroundedbybygreen greenareas areas and andonly onlya afew fewminutes minuteswalk walktotothe thebeach. beach. Good Goodsize, size,fully fullyequipped, equipped,modern modernkitchen kitchen compliant compliantwith withallallcurrent currentregulations regulations Unique Uniqueinterior interiordesign designwith witha acosy, cosy,homely homelyatmosphere atmosphere suitable suitablefor forfamilies familieswith withseating seatingupuptoto7878people people Large Largeexternal externalterrace terrace Very Verygood goodlocal localclientele clienteleand andpopular popularthroughout throughoutthe the year. year. Sold SoldFreehold, Freehold,Completely CompletelyFurnished Furnishedand andFully FullyLicenced Licenced

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TIPPING POINT: Price records continue being broken

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lives, did it – said let’s go live our dream, and Soto, with its super-family-orientated, loving community is somewhere they can do that.” And partly the result of a big investment by Sotogrande’s owner, European investment fund Orion Capital Managers. As well as upgrading La Reserva Club and creating The Beach, says James Stewart of James Stewart in association with Savills, “they built four big houses on spec in a private gated area called The Mirador. All sold between €8m and €14m and that sent the top end of the market going. Since then other developers have started building houses in that price bracket, and two have gone a step further and got their houses on the market at €20m and €21m. Soto took a leap forward: “Prices here were very competitive compared to Marbella and Quinta do Lago. A record sale in 2008 of €7.25m remained the highest property price for 10 years,” says James. “These new prices going up to SPOILT FOR CHOICE: Sporting facilities add to Soto’s appeal €14.5m have all been reached in the last three years. It’s right across the board from big houses to apartments. Villas which maybe could have gone for €600,000, now go for a million or more – and we’re running short of them.” “It’s crazy times,” agrees Kaye. “I had a client with a €3m budget looking for a New build propPURE LUXURY: Open Frontiers’ listed ISHKA villa erty in Kings and

The Seven/The 15 developed by Sotogrande S.A.

IKE one big seaside country club with its golf courses, tennis, polo, sailing and riding, and restaurants and beach clubs, Sotogrande has been a desirable place to live since it was founded in the 1960s. Demand for fairway or sea view villas and for apartments overlooking yachts in the canals has always been high, but this year, says Kaye Falconer of BM Sotogrande, “the demand is phenomenal and there’s a shortage of quality built product ready to go. Limited stock and high demand is pushing the market price.” It’s partly the Pandemic Effect: “People who wanted to change their

Queens Soto Costa,” – the prime real estate around the Real Club de Golf, the first developed in the 60s. “I had to say there was just nothing. The properties we have now in that area are €8m, €10m, €20m. “Land value in Costa is €600/ m2,” (and can exceed €1000/m2 for frontline golf properties) “but outside it drops to €350 /m2 or thereabouts.” For people willing to explore the new prime areas of real estate, she recommends considering Zone G in Sotogrande Alto where “the views are spectacular”. The current taste for modern designer houses is driving a new demand for plots. “Because of Covid, nothing’s been happening, so there’s not a massive supply of newly built villas. A lot of people have bought – has been slow off the blocks. old houses and made them super- “It was going to cost €5m to buy a duper modern while keeping the old piece of land basically,” says James. charm. Others, when they’re looking “I think the market was a bit ahead for something specific and can’t find of its time but now the first one’s it, decide the best course of action been sold and, once it’s built, which is to build exactly what they want.” we expect to happen in the next Now available plots are running out. year, others will follow. It’s always “Up in La Reserva there were a lot, hard to be first.” because people had Four plots in a second bought plots on spec,” development, The 15, Seven plots, says Kaye. “I prepared have sold at record a list for a client, and prices for La Reserva, each with a when I used it for anso there’s clearly an concept and other client a month appetite for buying a later, 50% of the plots concept. top architect were sold.” That’s just as well, Many are in the hands because not available attached of developers. At first yet but eagerly anticiglance, property listpated, there is Lagoon ings seem to be full of villas, brand Villas, a gated community of 41 new or under construction, a closer plots for contemporary villas around inspection reveals they’re only con- a lake in a natural landscape decepts: plots plus building projects. signed by landscape architect, Jean Apparently, there are only about Mus (again, in La Reserva). Plots will ten villas being built for sale in So- be starting at €750,000, and plot togrande. and villa concept at around €2.5m. The widely publicised project The New developments include apartSeven– seven plots, each with a ments, though, interested buyers concept and top architect attached should move fast. The first phase of Village Verde, stylish and modern in a community beside La Reserva Club, is already 90% sold – and it’s not due to be completed for at least six months. Open Frontiers is listing a 3-bedroom apartment for €860,000. Elsewhere, Holmes Sotogrande is listing a stunning penthouse apartment in the prestigious development of Ribera del Rio. The accommodation comprises an entrance hall, a big living/dining room with fireplace that leads directly to the terrace, yours for €895,000. “Sotogradne is, for probably a limited time only, significantly undervalued, especially when compared to Marbella. We are biased, but it genuinely offers so much more,” AT THE TOP END: The 15 development offers some incredible views over the golf course, Sotogrande and the sea explains Ben Bateman, of Holmes

Sotogrande. If you miss out and can’t wait for Village Verde’s second and third phases, Senda Chica, a development of 102 airy apartments, distributed between 15 contemporary buildings, is an option that’s virtually affordable with penthouses at €550,000, and 4-bedroom apartments at €471,000, also available on the Open Frontiers website. Older canal-view apartments on the Marina have lost none of their charm and occasionally come onto the market at surprisingly reasonable prices. Sotogrande Online by Consuelo Silva is currently listing a cosy penthouse at €320,000, though you’ll find it hard not to linger on her selection of vast architect-designed villas and farms for just a few million more.

Showcasing

So is there anything in Sotogrande for €250,000? “Maybe if you are super lucky, a 1 or 2-bedroomed apartment, but I think the range is realistically €300,000, and above depending on the block and location,” says Kaye. Richardson’s is another big hitter round these parts, currently showcasing an off plan modern and contemporary styled 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with a large private terrace available for sale at a new development - The PIER 1 in the Sotogrande Marina. The building has a modern, nautical style and provides a large sunny terrace overlooking the marina. Alcaidesa Direct’s listings prove that you can still get a dream home here without breaking the bank, with a beautiful apartment located on front line golf with panoramic views of the African coast and Atlas mountains setting you back a very reasonable €235,000.

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NEW AGE FOR THE OLDEST PROFESSION? Will the sex industry be forced underground following new legislation? Asks Heather Galloway

ORTY kilometres outside of Madrid, figures of dancing girls adorning the front of the seedy dark brick Olimpo are designed to lure punters off the motorway for a wild night of booze and sex. In 1999, the same establishment was used to lock up 40 girls trafficked from Romania who were being farmed out to clients in Madrid’s Casa de Campo. The Spanish owner was arrested along with his cronies, his activities curtailed. But, 23 years on, the Olimpo is still going strong. One of 1,200 highway brothels in Spain, the Olimpo is registered as a nightclub. Others are registered as hotels. Prostitution is a legal grey area on the Peninsula. Some regions boast more of these clubs than others, such as the so-called Love Route on the N·301 between Cuenca and Cartagena, where a 14-kilometre stretch has eight such establishments. Then there is the Mediterranean Corridor of Prostitution, a term coined by Valencia University sociologist Antonio Ariño, which goes from Cadiz to Girona, where every postcode has a brothel, either in the shape of a highway club or hotel, massage parlour or clandestine apartment. A large number of Spanish men have paid for sex, at least once in their lives. In 2008, Spain’s Centre for Sociological investigation (CIS) put the figure at 32.1% compared to 11% of British men and 14% of Americans. In 2011, the UN hiked Spain’s figure to 39%, earning the country its reputation as the brothel of Europe. Data emerging from Ariño’s 2017-2021 study of the Valencian region found between 4% and 6% of Spanish men had had sexwith a prostitute in the past year compared to 1% of Americans and, in the last five years, 3.6% of Brits. Ariño believes his data probably applies to Spain as a whole. There’s no doubt that brothels do roaring trade in Spain, said to be worth an annual €3.7 billion, but if the government has its way, the Peninsula’s days as a hotbed of commercial sex could be numbered. The abolition draft law, which is forecast to be approved as early as October, will slap fines on clients and close the likes of the Olimpo down, punishing anyone profiting from prostitution, apart from the prostitutes themselves, including landlords knowingly renting premises for prostitution. It sounds desirable. One might even think, ‘about time.’ But the proposal is not without its detractors, not least among the prostitutes themselves. Vera, a sex worker from Eastern Europe, has worked in 12 different countries including

Sweden and Norway, both of which have opted for criminalising brothels. She believes the new law will simply push more women in her profession into the hands of the mafias. “If you want to get rid of abuse in the sector, you have to decriminalise it totally so that the police become our friends and protect us,” she tells The Olive Press. “If they pass the law, we’re more likely to go to the clients’ homes and you never know what could be waiting for you there. There could be five men instead of one. And on the street, there won’t be time to filter out undesirable clients.” Vera adds that she won’t be able to report any violence in her own apartment for fear of being evicted. “That’s what’s happening in Sweden and BUST: Draft laws would see Olimpo closed Norway,” she says. “The crimes aren’t being impossible,” she says. “Here, in Spain, men investigated.” Vera has worked in both clubs and apart- are more likely to admit it.” Gual agrees that there could be a link bements. Some, she admits, force the sex workers to tween this openness and the explosion of perform oral sex without a condom and de- eroticism, known as the destapé, that followed the sexual repression of the Franco mand 12-hour shifts. But now she’s independent and content dictatorship when bus tours shipped Spaniards across the border into France to watch with her situation. “The working conditions are fine in Spain Bertolucci’s 1972 Last Tango in Paris. and the police don’t bother us. Nowhere Destapé translates as both “nudity” and could be worse than my own country,” she “opening up,” and sex was high on the says, refusing to reveal its name, but ex- agenda during the 1980s Movida – to the plaining that as prostitution is illegal there, extent that even the former king, Juan Carthe police tend to ask for free sex or a bribe los I, is alleged to have enjoyed the company of high-class hookers, “indicative perin exchange for turning a blind eye. haps of the kind of society he Fuensanta Gual from CATS, lived in,” observes Gual. an association in Murcia that But Rocio Mora is incensed lobbies for sex worker rights, Around 5% of that prostitution should in argues that, given that the Spanish men any way be equated with libsector operates more or less eral attitudes. above the radar in Spain, the had sex with A spokeswoman from the authorities are at least able to offer a modicum of proteca prostitute in pro-abolitionist association APRAMP that attends to sex tion. the past year workers suffering abuse, she “The police carry out inspecsays, “It’s not liberal or protions in Spain’s clubs from gressive to pay for sex. Some time to time, looking for victims who have been forced into prostitution of the women I tend to are so psychologiand also checking on abuse or abusive cally damaged, they can’t even talk about conditions,” she tells the Olive Press. “If what the industry has done to their bodies the clubs are closed down, the women will and lives.” be even more at the mercy of abusive ele- Moreover, Mora does not believe that Vera’s ments as they won’t have any other option. case is representative of women selling sex Ironically, they won’t have the protection of in Spain. But Vera points out, “There are no the law. They’ll not only be out of reach of current statistics on trafficking in Spain. The the police but also out of reach of the asso- government says it has based the law on a recent study but there is no recent study. It ciations who support them.” Gual is not convinced that Spain is the doesn’t exist.” The proportion of sex workers trafficked or brothel of Europe. She cites a survey in which 400 Germans exploited is far from clear. were asked if they had ever paid for sex. Valencian sociologist Ariño believes that The findings were zero. “That’s statistically when the national police’s organised crime unit claimed there were 45,000 prostitutes in Spain, the figure most likely referred to those trafficked or exploited in some way. He reckons there are between 100,000 and 120,000 sex workers in total, as does Gual. Medicos del Mundo puts the total figure of sex workers much higher at 350,000, and spokeswoman Celia López says around 93% of these are foreign. “Thirty years ago, it was Spanish women with a drug or alcohol problem. Now its immigrants. But what they all have in common is a precarious social and economic situation,” she tells the Olive Press. In López’s view, the proliferation of pornography in Spain is driving the demand for commercial sex and normalizing it. Abolition can only work, she believes, if accompanied by massive awareness campaign, flagging up the fact that those paying for sex are boosting demand and inevitably buying into the exploitation and trafficking. “If we don’t address the situation,” Esther Torrado, sociologist at Tenerife’s La Laguna CANDID: Sex worker Vera says now she’s indepenUniversity and an expert in sexual violence, dent working conditions have improved and the tells the Olive Press, “we’ll end up a nation police don’t interfere with her of waiters and whores.”

HELP US GIVE YOU THE NEWS

LOOK at our top-ranking web stories over the past two weeks is revealing. Page hits statistics are a crude but reasonably accurate way of seeing what our readers are interested in. Then why don’t we simply slavishly follow the online stats when laying out the newspaper? The answer is that we do use them as a guide, but they do not give the complete picture. For an interesting read – and a newspaper that people look forward to picking up as soon as it’s out – there has to be a little of something for everyone. And this is where good old-fashioned journalism comes in. It is a judgment call and our team of experienced reporters and writers is well placed to make that call. We all work hard and strive to put together the complete package. Of course, news comes top of the agenda and we certainly print more than our fair share of hard-nosed news reports. This is where website stats can help - for example, the cancellations and delays caused by RyanAir strikes and the latest on our U-turn campaign over driving licences proved a big hit. But when it comes down to it, it would be an extremely dull paper if that’s all we put in. This is why we always leave plenty of space for interesting in-depth features and articles. These not only allow our reporters and writers to stretch their wings but more importantly, they provide you with a fascinating and informative read. But it comes at a price. While the paper is free, the Olive Press still has to pay for the staff to keep producing a quality newspaper and popular website. While the paper can survive thanks to our advertising clients who recognise a good read when they see one, the website needs to be funded too. This is why we ask readers to pay a modest subscription for full access. For less than a fiver a month they can get access to the best investigative news site in English to be found in Spain. Help us to provide the best news service targeted at expats in Spain and sign up now!

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Three new crab species discovered in Spain’s Andalucia RESEARCHERS from the Spanish National Research Council have discovered two new species of hermit crab and one new species of spider crab in Andalucian waters. It follows a study on the crab populations of the Andalucian coast carried out by researcher Enrique González who compared samples to a collection of spider crabs found in Wales. Crab species often cannot be identified purely by eyesight and molecular analysis is required to determine a species. In this case, the crabs found in Andalucian waters were thought to be the same as a type of Spider crab native to the UK. However, further investigation in fact revealed that they were an entirely new species.

González said: "In both studies, the role of molecular techniques has been fundamental in confirming that these were new species, since morphology alone does not always allow us to reach these conclusions with certainty." The new species has been named Inachus gaditanus. Meanwhile the discovery of two new hermit crabs, Diogenes erythromanus and Diogenes arguinensis was made by Bruno Almon, from the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo, José Antonio Cuesta, from the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia, and Enrique García-Raso, professor at the University of Malaga. "Everything suggests that they are African species that have their northern distribution limit in the waters of the Iberian Peninsula," González-Ortegón said. In the case of the spider crab, many have now been found on the La Caleta beach in Cadiz. Not content with three new

By George Mathias

species, researchers are continuing their search. "There are still several more new species to be described, also from Andalusian waters and from other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.”

PIC CREDIT: BRUNO ALMÓN / CSIC

Shock and claw PINCH: Searches for more species continue

July 27th - August 9th 2022

Big green deal

SPAIN has signed a major agreement with Chinese green energy company Envision Group to set up four new green projects. They include an electric car battery plant, with €3.8 billion in total investment in a venture partly funded by the EU. Jose Dominguez, head of Envision Spain, was quoted saying the projects would be developed jointly with Spain’s renewable power company Acciona Energia, though he stopped short of specifying what its role would be. The battery factory in Navalmoral de la Mata in the central-western region of Extremadura will require €2.5 billion in investment and could create up to 3,000 jobs, the statement said. It would be the second electric car battery project in Spain following an announcement earlier this year t h a t Volkswagen will start building a plant in Sagunto near Valencia in 2023.

Don’t be insane, make changes now

Green

Matters

By Martin Tye

NET ZERO BY 2050 - FACT OR FANTASY? R EAD on. You decide. But first of all let me explain the difference between two terms frequently bandied about - Net Zero and Carbon Capture.

NET ZERO This is the target of completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity, to be achieved by reducing emissions and implementing methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

CARBON CAPTURE Carbon capture and storage of carbon capture is the process of capturing CO2 before it enters the atmosphere, transporting it, and storing it for centuries to come. The cost of this technology is extremely expensive - the cost of the equipment and materials required to separate CO2, build infrastructure to transport it, and store it are prohibitively high. So Net Zero is the most sensible game in town. Politicians around the world bang on about achieving

OSTRICHES: Politicians have their head in the sand

Net Zero by 2050. Easily said and politically correct. Politicians are masters of promising things for the future that they won’t be around to be judged on. The threats of climate change are the direct result of there being too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. FACT. Put simply, it is not enough to slow down emissions, we must reverse carbon emissions wholesale.This concept is central to the world’s current plan to avoid catastrophe. There are many suggestions as to how to do this - from mass tree planting, to high tech direct air capture devices that suck the CO2 from the air. All countries agree that if we deploy these and other socalled ‘CO2 removal techniques’ at the same time as reducing our burning of fossil fuels, we can more rapidly halt global warming. By 2050 we could achieve Net Zero. GREAT IDEA IN PRINCIPLE In reality this theory helps perpetuate a belief in technological salvation and diminishes the sense of urgency surrounding the need to CURB EMISSIONS NOW. The human race is gambling its civilisation on the promise of future solutions. “How did we get this so wrong? What are our children supposed to think about how we have acted?” (James Dyke , Senior Lecturer in Global Systems , Exeter University)

CHECK OUT SOME FACTS ● President Biden has had his financial wings well and truly clipped. Net result - America has no chance of achieving net zero by 2050. ● China, India, Germany, and many more countries

are scaling up fossil fuel power plants thanks to the actions of the lunatic Putin. ● Planting billions of trees only partially helps. (No county is anywhere near achieving its commitments. And deforestation continues to increase in the Amazon). Trees need water to grow - in some places where people are thirsty, how does this work? Plus, increasing forest cover in higher altitudes can have an overall warming effect because the land surface becomes darker. This darker land absorbs more energy from the sun and so temperatures rise. 2050 IS TOO LATE. It’s about time we are honest. Policies that are being employed are motivated by the need to keep business as usual. Forget the climate. Einstein was right when he said… “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Time for action, Net Zero 2050 is FANTASY.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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LA CULTURA

Romans revealed Big unknown Roman city found in north-east Spain

SUSPICIOUS: Rare Picasso sketch on plane

FLY ART

A PICASSO sketch worth half a million euros has been seized at a Spanish airport. Ibiza customs agents suspect the picture may have been stolen. Police were called in when airport workers discovered the art work in a passenger’s suitcase in early July. The 1966 sketch with the title Trois personnages is valued at around €450,000. Suspicions were aroused because the passenger, who flew in from Zurich, had not declared the piece. The culprit, whose identity has not been disclosed, was immediately taken in for questioning. He told officials the sketch was a copy and provided a receipt of 1,500 Swiss francs (€1,513) for the work. However, officials then discovered a second receipt from a Zurich art gallery totaling 450,000 Swiss francs (€457,000), exactly in line with professional valuations of the original artwork. Switzerland is not a member of EU’s non-customs territory, meaning works of art with a value of over €150,000 must be declared. The passenger now stands accused of smuggling.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS from the University of Zaragoza have found a previously unknown Roman city. The urban complex, which existed between the first and second centuries, had buildings of immense sizes, as well as public facilities including baths, water supply, streets, and sewers. Researchers thought the 10acre site, located at Artieda, in the northeastern region of Aragon, was home to several separate archaeological sites, including San Pedro and the Rein Hermitage. In 2018, Artieda City Council asked the University of Zaragoza for help in examining some of the remains found around

By Alex Trelinski

the San Pedro hermitage, known variously as El Forau de la Tuta, Campo de la Virgen, or Campo del Royo. And after three years of research, experts have confirmed that these sites form one large single archaeological complex. El Forau de la Tuta is the name for everything now, since the team realised they’re all one interconnected city. The team detected two phases of occupation on the surface of the site: one during the Imperial Roman period (the 1st to 5th centuries) and another during the early-medieval Christian

UNEARTHED: Lost city discovered er life as a rural habitat during era (the 9th to 13th centuries). The researchers discovered the Visigoth and early Andalutwo streets, the whispers of cian periods. pavements, four rudimenta- A medieval peasant village sat ry cement sewer outlets, one atop the Roman ruins from the life-sized marble hand of a pre- ninth to 13th centuries. sumed public monument, and even the reception room of a thermal bath - complete with mosaics preserved by the collapsed sandstone ceiling. They did this by combining remote sensing techniques like georadar and aerial images with conventional methods.

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Imperial

Their report states that the settlement was 'of urban character' - the city’s name is currently unknown - and it developed during the Roman imperial period”. The researchers also learned that the settlement had anoth-

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1 6

16 17

OP SUDOKU

6 St. Paul’s first name (4) 7 The majority when one third vote one way and the rest the other (3-2-3) 9 Quivers (8) 10 Leaf of a book (4) 11 Yellow quartz (5) 12 Credos (7) 14 Selling (7) 16 Untamed (5) 18 Disputed Middle East strip (4) 20 A “Family first” policy, perhaps (8) 21 One on her own rips tens to pieces (8) 22 Cups’ edges (4)

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FAMOUS faces were among the 15,000 people to attend Spanish superstar Rosalia’s concert in Madrid. The singers ‘Motomami World Tour’ kicked off in Almeria with her album ‘Motomami’ hailed as one of the best albums of the year. The singer was in a buoyant mood, saying: “I have the best fans in the world, you are always supporting me,” and giving front row fans the mic to sing along to her hits. And the crowd was not short of stardust too, with famous film director Pedro Almodovar and Cristiano’s Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez in attendance. Rosalia has already played in Almeria, Sevilla, Granada, Fuengirola and Valencia.

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July 27th - August 9th 2022

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

July 27th - August 9th 2022

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

Equipped with binoculars and brimming with high expectations, an intrepid family group head high into the mountains in search of one of Spain’s most elusive tourist attractions, writes Fiona Govan

HE mountain road winds up bears. through verdant hills, past pictur- The town is the hub at the centre of the esque villages, and across broad natural park, its wooden buildings nesburbling salmon rivers. We curve tled in a valley surrounded by dramatic through tunnels carved into great rocky cliffs with vultures wheeling overhead. crags as we climb up from the Asturias As we visit the Casa del Oso, a quaint coast into the heart of Somiedo Nation- information centre about bears run by al Park. the Oso Foundation, Alicia warns us We have come in the hope of spotting that summer sightings are rare and that one of Spain’s most endangered spe- spring and autumn are in fact the best cies, the Cantabrian brown bear, an an- times to see bears. imal that has defied all odds to bounce Although there are at least 80 bears resback from the brink of extinction. ident within the park itself – of the 400 A mere forty years ago, plus population across there were fewer than the Cantabrian moun60 Urso Arctos left in the tains as a whole - they More than 400 wilds of Spain. can be elusive especially Much maligned and at this time of year when bears now hunted virtually to extincthey are rarely active roam across tion, firstly by Spain’s noduring the day and are blemen who came from hidden within the the Cantabrian easily the cities to shoot them trees. as a trophy to adorn mountain range “But maybe we’ll be their hunting lodges and lucky,” she says. “They then by dedicated bounare terribly fond of cherty hunters who paraded ries which are abundant the corpses of bears through villages to right now”. collect their dues. In fact, she spent the previous day harBut now, thanks to combined efforts by vesting wild cherries to create new planconservationists, legislation to protect tations in the far reaches of the mounthe bear, and a change in attitudes, they tains away from villages. have made a surprising comeback and “It is one of our projects to boost the natbecome a beacon of rewilding that has ural food source for the bears and therebeen noticed across the globe. fore encourage them away from cultivatIn the charming hilltop town of Polo de ed orchards where they can come into Somiedo, we meet Alicia Madrid Gar- conflict with human population,” cia, a wildlife ranger with the Fundacion the 33- year-old environmental scientist Oso Pardo (Brown Bear Foundation), an explains. NGO founded in 1992 to promote the Other projects aimed at promoting the peaceful co-existence of humans and peaceful coexistence between humans

Put your health first Dear Jennifer: Make sure you understand exactly what cover you have

APPRECIATE everything has changed due to Brexit, but it is now far more important to have health insurance than ever. This is not as easy as it sounds as the choices are limited. Be very careful when deciding. Banks, for example, should usually be avoided as they offer relatively poor cover. You need to make sure there is an English speaker who can help you understand exactly what you are purchasing and how to use it. It is vital you follow the guidelines for using the policy, especially in regards to emergencies and hospitalisation or you could find yourself with a hefty bill to pay if you do not follow the correct procedures. If you decide to use the Spanish National Health, you will be required to provide a SIP card, EHIC or payment before treatment. The Spanish health system is very stretched, and of course this means long waiting lists. ASSSA provides hospitals, clinics, specialists and doctors, many of whom speak several languages to make your health decisions easier and faster. If you are suffering with immnse pain, you do need to discover what is causing it and this can take many months to resolve if you go through the public system. Private health care offers the opportunity to speed up the process. ASSSA also provides emergency cover and their own ambulances, where you will be taken to a hospital related to ASSSA which you find in your ASSSA book. My company has an ASSSA administrator to help answer your questions, process your authorisation requests and liaise with ASSSA on your behalf. Yes, there are many cheaper options available, but be wary of low prices as you will usually find you will not get what you need or expect. All private health insurance in Spain is limited in certain areas, so be sure to understand these limitations before purchasing. Of course, ASSSA health policies are accepted for your residencia and visa applications and they provide all legal certification required. Unlike health insurance in the UK, you will be presently surprised at the prices here in Spain. The difference is the Spanish government does not discourage the use of private health care and therefore the prices and taxes are far lower than you may think.

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and bears include providing electric fences to cordon off orchards and protect beehives from raids by sweet-toothed marauders. Bears are omnivores and in summer some 85% of their diet is vegetarian. When they emerge ravenous from hibernation in late winter, the females often with young cubs in tow, they will eat carcasses of animals defrosting in the snowmelt. They move onto fruit and berries, overturn rocks to graze on insects, and this diet is supplemented by small mammals including the occasional goat or sheep pilfered from a wandering flock and of course, honey when they can get it. Under an EU scheme back by the Spanish government, compensation is paid out to farmers that suffer loss of livestock, hives or crops and in Asturias this has gone someway to lessen the conflict between man and beast, at least more so than in the Pyrenees where brown bear reintroduction has been vociferously opposed by farmers. For in this region, bears have become a tourism magnate, reinvigorating a rural zone that was emptying out as generation after generation moved to the city. “Bears are becoming big business,” admits Alicia, 33. “But so far it is proving sustainable. The sort of tourists that want to come and look at nature also tend to be those who want to do travel responsibly.” During the last two summers when global travel was curbed as a result of the pandemic, the region saw a boost in domestic tourists visiting from other parts of Spain. “Suddenly people seemed to discover Asturias, they couldn’t explore foreign destinations so they looked closer to home and found adventure here.” And yet no one would call it crowded. While the rest of the peninsula is sweltering in a July heatwave, up in Somiedo a mist swirls across jagged peaks and on the edge of the tiny hamlet of La Peral, a group numbering little more than a dozen gather on a plateau to scrutinise the hillside across rolling pasture full of wild flowers. As dusk approaches, we join them to peer through binoculars to scan the landscape on the far side of the valley. It is my keen-eyed nephew Ralph, who gives the first shout. “There! There!,” he shrieks, pointing to small clearing in the forested hillside, just a few hundred yards above a farmhouse. “I think I see

Long lens: Bear spotting proves fun for all the family

a bear!” He describes seeing a lolloping beast running into the foliage but the rest of us are sceptical. After several hours hike with Alicia as our guide pointing out traces of bears, which includes a pile of cherry-pip filled poo, deep lines etched in tree trucks made by the claws of a territorial bear, and hairs collected from a favourite scratching post, we want nothing more than to see one in the flesh. Suddenly my brother catches sight of

TELLTALE SIGN: Traces of bear are everywhere…if you know where to look

something moving between the trees on an adjacent hillside, but it turns out to be two red deer and we all take it in turns to admire their antlers and count ourselves lucky that we have seen any wildlife at all. Then, just as we prepare to give up and make our way back to the coast in the last of the fading light, we hear an intake of breath from Alicia, as she spots movement in the trees just where Ralph had directed. She hones in with her scope and we take it turns to peer through the viewfinder. It is indeed a bear. And not just one, for in the wake of a beautiful big brown bear, her fur glistening golden across powerful shoulders, are two small balls of deep brown cubs gamboling down a rocky scree as their mother scoops up boulders and rolls them over to look for grubs. We stand enthralled by the scene taking place a good half a mile away on the opposite hillside, but one that feels as if it could be a display for us alone. Hairs stand up on my neck and the view blurs as I blink away unbidden tears. “It never stops being exciting,” admits Alicia. “It doesn’t matter how many times you see a bear in the wild, it is always a thrill.”

BUSINESS

Inflation nation

THE Spanish economy will continue to be battered by a high inflation rate for the rest of summer, according to economy minister, Nadia Calvino. June's inflation rate stood at above 10% - the first time double figures had been reached in almost 40 years. The government has now backtracked on earlier forecasts that the rate would fall in the next few months. Speaking to Radio Nacional, Nadia Calvino said: “Forecasts are that high inflation, very high, will continue. “Our goal is to get inflation down to near the EU average.” She added that the government will take more measures to cushion the negative impact on consumers. Inflation has accelerated in the last few months, driven by rising energy and food prices.

July 27th - August 9th 2022

CITIES across Malaga are debating whether to introduce a tourism tax. Both the council of Malaga and Seville recently held debates on the issue. In the last plenary session, the government team in Malaga City Council rejected a proposal by Podemos to charge a tourist tax of one euro for every visitor staying in the city. The councillor for Tourism, Jacobo

Tourist Tax

Florido, opposed the tax saying: "Some 170,000 families make a living from tourism, which employs some 13,000 companies. The taxes paid by these businesses already go into the municipal coffers." The PP and Ciudadanos both opposed

the measures with the PSOE sitting on the fence, saying: "There should be a debate with those involved in the tourism sector and studies should be carried out to apply this tax of one or one and a half euros for the city". Malaga council has now asked the junta de Andalucía to work on a study and draft proposal to establish whether such as tax is workable.

BRITS SPLASH THE CASH Bonanza as Uk investment in Spain soars

BRITAIN has beaten the US to be crowned the top investor in Spain in the first quarter of 2022. UK companies and individuals spent an incredible €3.3 billion, an increase of 17% from the first quarter of 2020. It means the UK is now the largest foriegn investor in

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 6 Saul, 7 Two-to-one, 9 Vibrates, 10 Page, 11 Topaz, 12 Beliefs, 14 Vending, 16 Feral, 18 Gaza, 20 Nepotism, 21 Spinster, 22 Rims. Down: 1 Camisole, 2 Flora and fauna, 3 State, 4 Mousse, 5 Complimentary, 8 Nag, 12 Big, 13 Fearsome, 15 Ninety, 17 Sport, 19 Amp.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

By George Mathias

Spain. The British Chamber of Commerce in Andalucia broke the news at a special event to shine a light on the importance of British investment. At the event, attended by

Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre, it was explained that the exceptional performance was boosted by massive investments in the sporting and entertainment sector. These included a record deal with British based CVC Capital funds to broadcast the top tier of Spanish football league LaLiga. In Andalucia, 2021 saw a bumper year of spending from the UK, with some €150 million invested in the area. The bulk of the money (90%) came from the food and hospitality sector driven by tourism with construction (2%), real estate (2%) and science and technology (2%) also significant sources of investment. The news paints a much more healthy picture of UK foreign

INTERESTING HIKE T

GBP/EUR exchange rate retreats as ECB shocks with 50bps rate hike

HE past couple of weeks has seen the pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate trend broadly lower in response to a surprisingly aggressive interest rate hike from the European Central Bank (ECB). During this period we saw GBP/EUR fall from a high of €1.1875 to strike a low of €1.1657.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? After soaring higher in the first week of July, the pound euro exchange rate initially sought to carry this momentum forward into the middle of the month, which led to the pound striking a new two-month high. This initial upside in the pairing was primarily attributed to EUR weakness, with the euro’s drop to parity with the US dollar reflecting negatively on the single currency’s other pairings. Also dragging on the euro were persistent concerns over European energy security. However, a subsequent pullback in the US dollar allowed the euro to quickly bounce back from its lowest levels. At the same time, barring a brief spike on the back of a stronger-than-expected GDP release, the pound struggled to attract support as the start of the Conservative leadership race stoked UK political uncertainty. The start to the second half of July then saw the euro rally ahead of the ECB’s latest interest rate decision, amid reports the bank might discuss a 50bps rate hike this month. The euro extended these gains as the ECB ultimately opted for a half percent increase. Meanwhile a slew of high-impact UK data releases infused volatility into the pound last week. A hotter-than-expected inflation print coupled with a lacklustre wage growth reading raised fresh concerns over the UK’s cost of living crisis. This offset some of the support Sterling saw as GBP investors began to price in a 50bps rate hike from the Bank of England (BoE) next month.

Cough up BANKINTER says plans for a windfall tax on banks in Spain to help fight the cost of living will hurt economic growth and dent investor confidence in the sector. The government expects to net €3 billion from banks over the next two years, along with €4 billion from energy companies thanks to the tax. The windfall tax proposal is causing investors to turn their backs on the sector and the country, Bankinter Chief Executive Maria Dolores Dancausa told reporters. “Uncertainty generates a lot of damage and is a very slow phenomenon to reverse,” she said, adding that this would also hurt economic growth in Spain. Her comments came as Bankinter reported a net profit of €271 million in the first half of 2022, up by 11 % on the same period last year. Economy minister Nadia Calvino said the rationale for taxing banks was to prevent windfall profits on higher interest rates.

Banked: New La Liga deal investment in spite of concerns over additional red tape in the post-Brexit era. Indeed, over three quarters of UK firms in Spain surveyed said they would be increasing their investment in the country for the rest of 2022. The mayor said: “The UK is an important country for Spain, Andalucia and Malaga.”

CRISIS?: Dancausa

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WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? Looking ahead, a key catalyst of movement in the GBP/EUR exchange rate over the next couple of weeks is likely to be the BoE’s latest interest rate decision. If the bankter delivers a 50bps interest rate hike and signals it will continue to raise rates into the Autumn then the pound is likely to strengthen. On the other hand, Sterling’s upside potential is likely to remain capped as the Tory leadership race continues to cause market uncertainty. On the other side of the Channel the focus may be on Europe’s energy security. While gas flows through the Nord Stream pipeline have resumed, the reduced capacity means the threat of shortages remains. In terms of data, the Eurozone’s latest GDP and inflation releases will be in the spotlight. The former could act as a headwind for the euro if it reports Eurozone growth stalled or even contracted in the second quarter. While another acceleration of inflation may be supportive of EUR as it bolsters ECB rate hike expectations.

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PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £200,000 transfer, just a one-cent gap translates to a €2,000 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer different tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager there to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

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Cyber revenge

FINAL WORDS

A SACKED worker has been arrested in San Pedro del Pinatar for launching a cyber attack on his former employers which wiped key parts of the company server.

Paw-pulation SPAIN has more pets than young children, with 15 million furry and feathered companions compared to 6.6 million children under 15 as pet ownership soared under pandemic restrictions.

Buzzed off TWO beekeepers made a fake €96,000 insurance claim by saying an incredible 1,200 hives had been stolen from their Ontinyent farm. A father and son have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Xativa.

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Terrace tax Gastrobar hits headlines for charging customers every time a waiter served them on terrace A BAR in Spain is getting online flak after it started charging customers 20 cents every time a waiter served them on the terrace. The Imperial Bar at Benavente (Castilla and Leon) is also accused of making diners pay for cutlery, with complaints doing the rounds on social media. Customer Blas Galey Her-

By Alex Trelinski

moso from Bailen was shocked by the surcharges when he went on holiday to north-west Spain and his comments have gone viral. “Every time the waiter came to the terrace table to bring something: beer, the tapa … he charged us 20 cents,” he said.

THE Supreme Court has ordered the Policia Nacional to stop discriminating against ‘shorter’ women wanting to join it. A prospective female candidate filed a complaint to the court after she was rejected in 2017 for being six centimetres too short. The woman’s legal team argued that the rules favoured men because just 3% of Spain's male population do not meet the height requirement, compared to around 25% of Spanish women. Current Policia

STEEP: Unorthodox charging panned “The last straw was the euro The Imperial Bar claimed that he charged us to [bring] the additional charge was for cutlery”, Galey commented. every drink that was served rather than every time the waiter went to the table. It added that it’s ‘common practice’ for venues to charge an extra fee for service on the terrace. Online Nacional rules say women must meet a reviews have been scathing minimum height requirement of 1.60 meof what has been going on at tres, while men must be at least 1.65 metres the business. tall. One customer said: “They Judges ruled that height requirements charged me for cutlery service. must take into account the average height We ordered several beers and for each sex - 1.74 metres for men and 1.63 they charged us 20 cents for metres for women. each trip the waiter made to the terrace.”

Get shorty

AFTER years of campaigning by pet owners, there is finally good news for travellers in Spain who like to take their pooches with them. Renfe has announced it will allow dogs weighing up to 40kg to travel on certain high-speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona. Spain’s train operator announced it will carry out a three-month long pilot trial of the policy, beginning September 13 and running until a week before Christmas. “This pilot is one more step in the company’s commitment to its customers, as we think it is really important for our passengers to be able to travel with their pets,” said a spokesperson from Renfe. Current rules only allow animals weighing up to 10 kg to travel on trains as long as they are carried in pet carriers, with the exception of support dogs. During the trial, one large dog per passenger will be allowed, with a maximum of two large dogs per carriage. Other EU countries like Germany, Italy and the Netherlands allow large dogs to travel with their owners on the train.