OLIVE PRESS
The
Andalucía
Mijas Costa FREE
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 15 Issue 371 www.theolivepress.es June 16th - June 29th 2021
Why Marbella is still an A-list destination See supplement inside
The real community newspaper tackling the local issues that matter to you
ALARM: over 53 mega parks
SOS Save our Sol
Locals demand action after council ‘fails for five years’ to tackle prostitution at busy roundabouts
Round in circles
By Fiona Govan
RESIDENTS are mounting a battle over plans for a series of massive solar farms that threaten the environment, rural tourism and some of the ‘best views in southern Spain’. Dozens of expats have joined locals to oppose the large-scale projects which have been slammed as ‘a speculation frenzy’ threatening to carve up some of Spain’s beauty spots without proper environmental impact studies. In recent weeks protests have taken place around Malaga and Cadiz where plans for a staggering 53 photovoltaic plants have been unveiled. The mayors of Gaucin, Casares and Jimena de la Frontera have expressed concern about at least four ‘massive’ mega-projects in the pipeline. While in Coin last week, a protest, backed by the town hall, was held against proposed solar farms in the beautiful Rio Grande area of the Guadalhorce valley. In Jimena alone, an area of over 2,200 hectares – the equivalent of 3,500 football fields is destined for panels. Protesters claim that energy companies are deliberately dividing applications into smaller projects to bypass environmental regulations. The vast solar parks threaten to carpet an area rich in flora and fauna and destroying archaeological sites and ancient pastures. They allegedly also drain already scarce water supplies. Others fear a plummet in house prices and rural tourism, which is so essential to the economy of the region. Affected residents are being urged to contact their town halls and lodge complaints. See Sunny valley, solar eclipse on pages 6&7
DISGRACE: Rubbish including condoms dumped while (top) one girl plies her trade
LOCALS are demanding action over a series of prostitutes that ply their trade near a children’s playground on the Costa del Sol. Despite complaining for years, residents say nothing has been done to tackle a group of women who solicit clients in broad daylight, frequently taking them into the nearby countryside. They are continuing to work from the Abbeygate roundabout on the A7 in Estepona, as well as two other nearby junctions, an Olive Press investigation has discovered. When not working, residents complain about a deluge of litter, including plastic bottles, and used condoms dumped nearby. For the last five years, locals revealed that at least one woman can be spotted daily on the busy N-340 motorway between Estepona and Casares Costa. Residents believe at least three women are offering sex for sale, with one being nick-
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named ‘Pippa’ by residents because of the trail of sunflower seeds she leaves behind each day. “It depicts a complete lack of respect for people living in this area,” expat Susan Davies told the Olive Press.
Unhygienic
“It’s unhygienic because they do not wear masks, leave their rubbish on the road and used condoms by the park for children to tread on. “They are taking the piss because nobody is doing anything about it.” Recent retiree Bridget Michaels, 60, who also lives in the area, believes the women may be getting forced to work by pimps. The grandmother, originally from Romford, said she was concerned that some of the sex workers may even be underage. “I believe it’s an Eastern Europe-
The day that shamed Spain
an mother and her daughters,” she told the Olive Press. “Sometimes they bring other girls and I question whether they are even 18. “There is definitely a pimp because a few weeks ago we heard that the men were firing shots at each other. “It is a shame because otherwise, this is such a lovely town. But I believe the town hall has prioritised spending the money to make Estepona look gorgeous with all its plants and not enough funding for the police. Safety has been put aside. “The numbers of officers have decreased over the years here and I would hate to imagine us going the same way as La Linea because there are not enough police to ensure the safety of the residents.” Spaniard Ben Luoma, a teacher from Estepona, added: “There are inherent risks associated with engaging in this work at the side of such a busy road and I would like to see the police and town hall do more. “My main concern is that some of the women, some of whom are very young, have been forced into prostitution rather than choosing to engage in sex work.” Estepona lawyer Cristina Molina López confirmed locals had been demanding action for years and that the problem has been raised at countless
VE SI CLU EX
ALL AREAS COVERED
By Kirsty McKenzie & Elena Gocmen Rueda
Continues on Page 2
See page 4
Opinion Page 6
2
CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Asking for trouble A GERMAN man aged 57 was caught in Malaga with over €300,000 stuffed in plastic bags after asking plain clothes police for directions. They searched his car and found the cash when he started to look ‘uncomfortable’.
Snared DUTCH crime boss Noureddine H who fumbled an assassination attempt against a member of the infamous Irish Kinahan cartel and killed innocent DJ Djordy Latumahina by mistake in San Pedro has been arrested after a five year hunt.
Charcoal coke SPANISH police in Castilla y Leon seized 300kg of cocaine smuggled into Europe from Bolivia that was treated to make it black and odorless then hidden amongst 1,364 sacks of real charcoal.
POLICE are investigating the death of a British woman and her aristocratic Spanish husband after the couple were found dead at their home in an upmarket gated community. It is believed the Marques of Cirella, Jorge Diez de Rivera, 66, shot his estranged wife, Katherine Brereton Travers, 59, before shooting himself. The alarm was raised by a security guard patrolling the upmarket Somos-
Expat murder riddle Hookers From front page
aguas urbanisation in Pozuelo de Alarcon, near Madrid. He had heard gunshots coming from the property. When no-one answered the gate, he called police who discovered the bodies of the couple in the garden and a gun nearby.
The hunting enthusiast had three hunting rifles registered in his name. The pair reportedly met working for airlines; he was a former pilot and she was an air stewardess. They married and had three children before separating three years ago.
Slip-ed up
Female duo blamed for crime wave along the Costa del Sol A FEMALE duo who specialised in stealing from empty properties along the Costa del Sol have been caught ‘red handed’ by the police. Officers said the Croatian women were part of one of the most active gangs in Europe that specialises in raiding luxury homes. The women, aged 20 and 26,
June 16th - June 29th 2021
were caught after they tried to swipe belongings from a home in a western area of Malaga city. Police said that the pair travelled through the country, operating four or five days in a location and then moving
Wonga haul AN organized crime gang has had €16.5 million in cash seized - the largest in Spanish history. The massive haul by the Guardia Civil alongside Europol in Algeciras came alongside a seizure of 1.6 tonnes of cocaine. The gang consisted of employees that worked in various port departments, including two from the Border Inspection team. The investigation was launched in August 2020 and has led to the arrest of 29 people. One of the gang was tracked down and arrested in Amsterdam. He had been on the run since 2017 due to his involvement in another drug-smuggling operation.
to a different province. The police have connected the pair with seven break-ins on the Costa del Sol, as well as another in Madrid, by employing the ‘slip’ method. This involves firstly checking that the residents are not
Long paw of the law
THE K9 unit of Marbella Police has issued 222 fines for the consumption or possession of narcotic drugs this year so far. Its trio of dogs Zara, 10, Thais, 5, and Noe, 1, quietly go about their business sniffing people walking or loitering around the town. Most of the interventions involved the possession of hashish and cocaine. The unit has been doing silent work for over nine years.
home and then using screwdrivers or pieces of plastic between the frame and the door to gain entry. Officers said that the women belonged to a criminal organisation dedicated to recruiting young, female Croats, between 18 and 30 years old, that trained them in house break-in techniques.
Loot
They were also taught counter-surveillance measures in their home country before being sent to various European countries along with a male operator. The loot was sent back to Croatia through money transfer companies or, if the item was of particularly high value, the gang smuggled it into Croatia during visits home.
Estepona town hall meetings. But she said the problem was still no closer to a resolution as the town hall insists it is ‘limited to what it can do’ and has no specific rules on street prostitution. Molina believes the legal grey area and low police numbers make it difficult for the situation to be resolved but has faith that a continued police presence will help minimise the issue. “The women are not doing anything wrong legally by standing there,” she claimed. “So I tell our clients they have to call the police. “If the police are at the roundabout the women won’t go near it,” she said.
Policy
Tackling street prostitution is done at a local level in Spain, with no set national policy. In Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga sex workers are criminalised and can be punished with fines of up to €300. In Sevilla, meanwhile sex workers are considered as victims of gender violence and only their clients can get fines of up to €1,500. The Olive Press has contacted Estepona Town Hall and Local Police for comment by phone and email, but received no reply.
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CRISTIANO Ronaldo's luxury brand CR7 has opened its brand new flagship hotel on Madrid’s Gran Via. Boasting 168 rooms, a terrace bar, swimming pool and solarium, the hotel is run via the established hotel chain Pestana, which currently has two other sites in Spain’s capital, Pestana Plaza Mayor and Pestana Collection. The hotel will be split over 10 floors, and be home to a fully loaded sports bar, complete with table football and large TV screens, and also a pizzeria run by renowned chef Mauro Soggiu. The roof of the building will also boast 360 degree views of the city, whilst holiday makers will be able to enjoy the rooftop pool and cocktail bar.
Dark knight rises... in Benidorm BATMAN has been soaring from the rooftops for 82 years, rescuing fair ladies, outsmarting villains and generally saving the world from destruction. It’s a tough and lonely life, so who can blame him for wanting to swap skyscrapers for sandy beaches, a nice paella, and maybe even a cheeky mid-morning pint. Benidorm, fortunately, is only too happy to oblige. The popular Spanish resort is just one of 14 locations that feature in Batman: The World, a new global 184-page anthology, to be published by DC Comics, on September 14 - true Batman fans will know this is just four days before World Batman Day. The award-winning Spanish graphic artist, Paco
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Expat-on-the-back for campaigners who provide vital support to Brits in Spain
RECOGNISED: (from left) Harris, Williams, Wilson, Hernandez were honoured
in 2016. Based in Madrid, Michael Harris is the Vice President of EuroCitizens and a British in Europe committee member. A former teacher and writer of English-language textbooks, Michael founded the grassroots organisation EuroCitizens in September 2016. Anne Hernandez, a retired university lecturer, moved to Spain over 30 years ago.
Rights
Based in Andalucia, Anne spearheaded the formation of Brexpats in Spain, which has worked tirelessly to inform UK nationals of their EU exit rights. A former member of the armed forces, Debbie Williams, based in the Valencia region, set up the
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Roca, admits it took him a while to come around to the idea of taking Batman to Benidorm, but eventually it made sense. “Short stories are always tough – this one is only 11 pages – so you run the risk of trying to fit too much in,” he said. “And these kinds of stories are crammed with action-packed, fist fight-heavy tales because that’s what the public expects. So I thought it would be quite fun to focus on relaxation.” While the Caped Crusader won’t be going full Benidorm, roasting on the beach 12 hours a day (DC Comics said his top had to remain on), he will do his best to engage in typical tourist behaviour. Oh, and he’ll be bringing his cape with him, because you never know when trouble is lurking around the corner… especially in Benidorm.
GONG-HO! FOUR Britons behind leading citizens’ rights campaigns in Spain have been awarded MBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The British Embassy in Madrid, released the names of the four Brits honoured for their ceaseless efforts to campaign for expats rights in the run up to the UK leaving Europe. The four associations continue to provide invaluable help and information to the British community as it navigates its way through life since the referendum
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grass roots organisation Brexpats - Hear Our Voice as a pan-European group a few days after the EU Referendum in June 2016. Moving from Belgium to Spain shortly afterwards, she continued her lobbying, engagement and awareness-raising efforts, con-
LEGENDARY British plumber Charlie Mullins more than turned on the tap when he donated thousands for a charity appeal. The on-off Costa del Sol expat, who owns London’s Pimlico Plumbers, handed €2,500 at the end of a fun evening at Legends bar, in La Cala de Mijas. The venue, reopening for the first time in 15 months, sold out three times over as guests took a trip back to the 60s with performances from Tom Jones and Lionel Richie tribute acts. The night raised a whopping £2,500 to help pay for 10-yearold Chloe Balloqui’s specialised cancer treatment, with Mullins, who has a home nearby, matching the door money.
KIM CLARK
CATHERINE Zeta-Jones has given fans a glimpse of her fabulous Mallorca holiday home through a video posted on Instagram. The Zorro actress has spent the last few weeks enjoying her 10-bedroom mansion, with husband, Michael Douglas, and their two children, Dylan and Carys. The villa, near Valldemossa, boasts a cinema, gym, and even a vineyard. There’s also a large walk-in wardrobe, which doubles as the Chicago star’s catwalk, as shown in the video. Douglas came close to selling the sprawling 250 acres cliffside estate in 2018, but eventually had a change of heart and pulled the plug on the sale. Catherine and Michael have been coming to the island for more than 30 years – with the loved up couple previously revealing that they fell in love there. “We have spent many, many hours here and it’s where I fell in love with Catherine, so for that reason the island means a lot to me and I am already part of its history,” cooed Douglas.
New challenge THE Love Island bosses have been approaching influencers with disabilities in a bid to be more inclusive in the next series. While the final line-up hasn’t been confirmed it would be ‘ideal if they had at least one disabled islander’ revealed a source. One name being thrown into the mix is influencer and para-athlete, Milly Pickles, 26, who had her leg amputated after she was electrocuted. This comes after the Love Island team vowed to make 2021's line-up ‘diverse and inclusive’.
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sidering the impact of the UK’s departure from the EU. As Chair of Bremain in Spain, Sue Wilson is one of the most visible campaigners for the rights of UK nationals in the EU. When moving to Spain to retire over 10 years ago, she had no experience of advocacy, campaigning work or speaking in public.
Legendary night
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June 16th - June 29th 2021
Centro Plaza 56-57, Avda. Manolete s/n, 29660 Nueva Andalucia info@estucointeriors.com, www.estucointeriors.com, +34 952 810 633
4 www.theolivepress.es Staying in
The Basque separatist organisation Eta declared a ceasefire in 2011 after 40 years of armed conflict in which 829 people lost their lives. In 2014, some 30% of Basques said they supported independence, the highest level of support for forming a new state. The latest study shows a seven point rise in the percentage of Basques who say they opposed independence.
GOING; GOING; GONE: Gurney Davey watches as his Tolox home is torn down and reduced to a pile of rubble IT was a day that disgraced Andalucia. A day that an expat was forced to demolish his home of 17 years, despite having paid for planning permission. Brick by brick, tile by tile, British resident Gurney Davey tore down the house he had built for €150,000, after receiving shocking advice from a Spanish legal firm. That it came just two months after his wife, Diana, died from cancer simply magnifies the sheer tragedy. “I was distraught at first, my blood pressure was sky high
Cleaning up OVER 50 volunteers who joined in a beach cleanup collected 70kg of trash in just one day. The Casares Underwater Association collected the rubbish at Chullera beach in Manilva. The organisation, which was created last year, organises seabed and beach cleaning once a month with help from different diving clubs.
Knocked down
British expat finally demolishes his 17-year home to live in a van on the land and then I lost my wife,” Davey, 67, told the Olive Press this week. Speaking half-way through Friday’s demolition that cost him €1,600, he added it had actually come as ‘some sort of relief’. Having been forced to hire a digger, after disconnecting the electricity supply and water, he was on the final leg of a legal battle that began in 2004. That was the year the legal firm, Manzanares, informed him he would be getting a licence for an almacen (or storeroom), which would allow him to build the house near Tolox.
Mijas Costa
OLIVE PRESS ANDALUCÍA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Find out about Spain’s 10 capital cities
NOT AGAIN FREE
Vol. 15 Issue 370 www.theolivepress.es June 2nd - June 15th 2021
See page 14
EXCLUSIVE By Dilip Kuner
British expat faces demolition of his 17 year home - and a spell in prison repeat of controversial Priors - in case
AN expat is facing prison for failing to demolish his home after he fell foul of a town hall’s ‘laissez faire’ planning rules. Gurney Davey, aged 67, only found out about the six-month sentence when a court document was delivered to a neighbour’s house. “I went straight to Tolox town hall with it. They told me I shouldn’t have received it yet,” he told the Olive Press. “They said they were going to be sending the notification to me once they had stamped it.” The news came as a massive bolt from the blue for Davey, whose wife has just died of cancer, which he believes worsened from the stress of the case. He had never been told about the court case that followed on from a Guardia Civil denuncia for an ‘illegal build’. Davey’s two-bed home - built in 2004 - should never have been built according to the Malaga court.
EXCLUSIVE By Katherine Brook
Legalise
In 2016, and then again in 2017, Davey was ordered to knock down his house, but, in common with a neighbour, he waited for more details. While his Spanish neighbour, Irene Millan, 29, did eventually hear from the court again, she was given six months to ‘legalise’ her property - an option Davey was never given. However, his neighbour’s apparent good luck turned into a poisoned chalice. Having spent €20,000 with the town hall to legalise the dwelling, the court finally refused to accept the new paperwork provided by the council. Instead, demolition was ordered which went ahead last week. To add insult to injury Irene’s 54-year-old father, Manuel Mil-
“We thought we had done everything right. We got legal advice and went through a lawyer in order to get permission to build the home,” Gurney explained. 952 147 834 * O f f e r
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But he was later told that his house was one of around 350 that were illegally given planning permission by the former mayor, Juan Vera, who landed up with a prison sentence. He was eventually told it had
DEMOLITION: Expat Gurney
Davey is being forced to knock
lan, whose name was on the deeds, was also sentenced to six months jail and handed a fine of €6 a day for a year. Now Davey is terrified he is set to lose his home at any moment. It comes just two months since his wife Diana died from bowel
THE SKY + DOCTOR +
Tel: 952 147 834 See page 5 & 15
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down his own house and faces
cancer, at the age of 71, in April. “We thought we had done everything right at the time. We got legal advice and went through lawyer in order to get permissiona to build the home. “Diana fought breast cancer for six years before bowel cancer I am sure the stress brought it on.” The couple, originally from Suffolk in the ALL AREAS COVERED UK, spent €150,000 4G UNLIMITED building their property. INTERNET “It came as a IDEAL FOR package - a STREAMING TV plot with a new home on it.” ALSO IPTV, Davey admits SATELLITE TV he and his wife were perhaps tel: (0034) 952 763 840 naive to follow info@theskydoctor.com the advice of their lawyer. www.theskydoctor.com The lawyer,
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Conflict
June 16th - June 29th 2021
The
SUPPORT for breaking away from Spain has fallen to a historic low in the Basque Country. The region went through a 40 year armed conflict over the issue of independence, but now the struggle is over. Only 21% of respondents in a survey for the Basque regional government said they supported secession. Meanwhile, some 41% said they opposed separatism, the highest figure since 1998 when the polls by the regional government began.
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six months jail
from legal firm Manzanares, told them that planning permission would be applied for as an almacen - or ‘warehouse’. This way it would come under the remit of Tolox town hall, which would give permission and later they could ‘legalise’ the property. The language of one legal letter, seen by the Olive Press, suggests this would be a mere formality. But the property never got legalised. In fact, the Tolox mayor of the time, Juan Vera, has since been jailed and fined for his part in scheme to allow up to 350 prop-a erties to be built on land classified as ‘rural’. In most cases he had used the very same ‘lax’ procedure of applying to build an ‘almacen’ to try to keep the prying eyes of the Junta authorities away. “We thought that was the way things worked in Spain,” said Davey, a retired builder. “We went to see a lawyer and got advice. It turns out that was not
the smart thing to do. “Why would we deliberately try to build illegally? It makes no sense that we would sell up everything in the UK and risk it all.” Now Davey’s first thoughts are to avoid serving the jail sentence. He said: “My lawyer is trying to get the sentence suspended.”
Flatten
In the meantime he has been forced to ask the town hall for permission to knock his own property down. “I will do it myself. I will borrow a JCB from someone and flatten my home of the past 17 years. will not let the town hall do it andI charge me more money.” He added: “I’ve no idea where to live afterwards. But the land still mine - maybe I can live in is a tent.” Tolox Ayuntamiento refused to comment, citing data protection laws.
to be demolished to avoid a six-month prison sentence with the news coming just after his wife died from bowel cancer, at the age of 71. “But thankfully it is now over,” he explained. “It has been going on for so long now, I’ve finally come to terms with what needs to be done. Having it demolished
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was actually a relief.” As he still owns the land, he can still live on it - just not in a house. So now the father-of-three is planning a minimalist life staying in a converted van, so that his five dogs still have the space to roam. “This land is my home, it is my life and these dogs are all I have left.”
Prison
Whether or not he still faces a prison sentence, is yet to be confirmed. It is not the first time British expats have had their homes demolished in Andalucia, with the Priors, in Almeria, the most famous victims. They still live in the garage of their house today, over 10 years since the house was knocked down in Vera.
NEWS
June 16th June 29th 2021
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End in sight Over 1,000 tips on Maddie case which could be solved ‘by end of the year’ EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke in Braunschweig
THE prosecutor leading the investigation into Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner said the case ‘could be solved’ this year. “We hope to solve the Maddie case, but it will take months,” said Hans-Christian Wolters. “Perhaps we will be able to say something by the end of the year.” But while the German prosecutor is ‘satisfied’ with the way the probe is going, he is more likely to charge Brueckner sooner over two other crimes.
Probe
In an exclusive interview to mark a year’s anniversary of an appeal for witnesses, he told the Olive Press that the German rapist, who spent a lot of time in Spain and Portugal, was being probed over five separate cases. These include the rape of Irish girl Hazel Behan, then 20, and the abuse of children in a playpark on the Algarve in 2017. He said the probe into the Behan case was likely to take ‘a few months more’, while the case of Maddie and two other child abuse cases in Portugal might take a little longer. “The investigation (into Behan)
GRILLING: Clarke with Wolters and (left) Brueckner will probably not be as long as the Maddie case,” he insisted. “We only have Christian B as the suspect. We are working with the Irish and Portuguese authorities and it takes a bit of time to get all the information we need. It will continue for a few more months, but not three months as it was recently reported.” Regarding the two child abuse cases in Portugal, he said they continued to investigate, albeit slowly. In particular, the case in Messines, where Brueckner exposed himself to four children late at night in a park in 2017. “I think that case was a little bit forgotten because he was extradited back to Germany,” explained Wolters, who works closely with the crack BKA police unit. “We have now picked up the investigation and he is facing several years in prison. I cannot say exactly, but it will be two, four or six years.” A second child abuse case against a young German girl,
10, that took place near Praia da Luz in April 2007, a month before Maddie went missing, is also progressing. The girl was grabbed by a naked man, as she played in rock pools, near Salema beach. “We are investigating Christian B’s possible involvement in this but I can’t say how good the evidence is at this stage,” he added. In terms of the investigation of Madeleine McCann, who vanished from her bed while on holiday in Praia da Luz, in May 2007, he is more cautious. He confirmed that his prosecutors department had been working on the case since the summer of 2018 and had received other key information, ‘maybe video, maybe phone’, but it was not the time to confirm exactly what. In total, they had received ‘more than 1000 tips’ from the public since the appeal last June. “We have been getting at least one tip a day, of varied quality,” he insisted. See full interview online
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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.
OPINION Time for action FOR years residents of Estepona have been complaining about street prostitutes plying their trade on busy roundabouts on the main road to Sabinillas. The women in question solicit clients in broad daylight and cause a nuisance with their littering. Mothers of children are unhappy with the situation, worried that shady men may be attracted to the area. And they have a point. After all, within a few minutes’ drive there are several brothels on the road to Marbella where prostitutes can carry out their trade in relative safety, rather than being at the mercy of the whims of men. Wouldn’t it be better to restrict the women to registered premises where they can enjoy better security and even health checks? Despite the matter being raised at Estepona Town Hall meetings many times, nothing has been done to move the young women off the streets. The answer lies in the hands of the town hall, which could bring in legislation to tackle the issue – if the will was there. It would appear to us that it is a question of out of sight out of mind. If the women were standing outside the home of the mayor day after day, action would be taken immediately. The residents of the outlying Estepona urbanisations deserve the same.
Renewable yes, but not like this WE all support clean energy, don’t we? As a nation with so much abundant sunshine, Spain should be doing its utmost to encourage citizens and town halls to generate their own solar power and strive for energy self-sufficiency. That may mean unsightly panels erected on roof tops but who cares if we carpet over industrial estates or mega malls such as Ikea? But there is a danger now of some of the most beautiful and environmentally important corners of Spain being carved up by energy companies and panelled over without due care and attention. Much of Spain’s coastline was ruined in a building frenzy during a construction boom that went unchecked, let’s not allow the same to happen to Spain’s unspoilt interior with the new cash cow that is renewables.
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Sunny valleys’ solar eclipse
Fight the power!
The celebrated green valleys and whitewashed village route around Andalucia are being lined up for a giant industrial makeover By Fiona Govan in Gaucin
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ESS than an hour’s drive from the built up concrete strip of the Costa del Sol, the picture postcard whitewashed village of Gaucin tumbles down a cleft of the celebrated Serrania de Ronda, topped by a Moorish castle and DEMONSTRATIONS: residents are staging protests against solar panels with unrivalled views across rolling hills to the Rock of Gibraltar and on most days, - an area long-gushed about by travel who has lived in Gaucin since childhood, Africa beyond. writers, including Washington Irving and whose two young girls are at the local Vultures soar overhead while the wooded Laurie Lee - is about to be sacrificed for school and who runs holidays with his hills and countryside bethe barons and bureaucrats of northern wife Clare offering hiking, birding and low is a haven for wildlife. Europe. horse-riding through the local hills. The area has long been a While 19th century Roman- “We just want to make sure that any projfavourite with discerning tic writer Richard Ford wrote ect is properly thought out, that the enviforeigners, including Lord that Gaucin was one of ‘the ronmental impact is properly considered. Our Sainsbury, DJ Fatboy Slim most romantically situated’ Because there is only one chance to do and polo star Jack Kidd, places he had visited, an Ol- this, and we need to do it right.” position who have bought up and ive Press source told us this He is just one among dozens of foreign is very simple: converted old farmhouses week that Spain was being residents who are waking up to plans that we are in and fincas into some of the targeted to ‘energize north- have the potential to ruin this unspoilt cormost desirable property Anern Europe’ whatever the ner of Spain. favour of dalucia has to offer. cost. Caroline Guillick, 58, is a keen birder and renewable But there is trouble in paraNow residents, including horsewoman who lives in nearby village, energy, but dise because the abundance hundreds of expats, are San Pablo de Buceite, and regularly rides of sunshine and unspoilt launching a furious defence backwater trials through the Guadiaro we are totally landscape also makes it atof their tranquil surround- valley which will be wiped out under the against the tractive for an entirely differings in a bid to stop the proposed plans. fact that ent type of investment. project, which they fear will “This is an area rich in biodiversity, with Plans have been unveiled for ruin the delicate biodiversity wild flowers that provide essential habitat there is no a series of mega photovoltaic and put an end to the sus- on the route of migratory birds like Egyplegislative plants that will carpet 2, 200 tainable tourism that has tian vultures, swallows, and eagles,” she framework to hectares – the equivalent of become a lifeblood for the says, stopping to point out a Black Shoulregulate 3,500 football fields - with region. dered Kite soaring above the butterflies in solar panels up to 20 feet tall Their objections range a pasture filled with wildflowers. this in this stunning, evocative from a desire to preserve “There are no proper studies being done macrovalley alone. an ecological system that to discover the impact a massive solar project Similar mega parks are prois home to endangered project will have, and that is what we are posed for neighbouring valspecies and serves as an fighting for,” explains the Brit who has Alberto Saro, leys (around half a dozen) as important corridor for mi- joined SOS Campiña Jimena to rally local president of SOS Spain attempts to meet its grating birds, to protecting residents across the affected villages. commitment to provide 39 rural tourism that relies on The group, of mostly Spaniards, claims Campina Jimena GW of photovoltaic energy by unspoilt countryside and the the projects threaten dozens of archae2030 up from the 9 GW it almost beautiful views Spain ological ruins scattered across the valley ready has installed. has to offer. from ancient, unexcavated Roman villas It seems that one of Spain’s most pictur- “We absolutely aren’t against green en- to priceless paleolithic sites. esque and celebrated mountain regions ergy,” insists Hughie Arbuthnott, a Brit Jean Brown Sassoon, a British resident of Jimena for over 40 years has spent countless days roaming this landscape seeking out archaeological treasures. “There is just so much here that hasn’t been charted,” says the spritely 94-yearold who as a young woman was the first
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HE Olive Press is the only English language newspaper in Spain that invests in and values good journalism so that we can campaign for the issues that are important to our readers. Our team of trained journalists across Spain strive to dig out the local stories to expose corrupOLIVE tion, unveil scandals and PRESS shed light on topics that really affect our readers. In this edition alone you will find the exclusive story of the plight of a British man who has had to demolish the home he has lived in for 17 years after he fell foul of a town hall’s + + ‘laissez faire’ planning 952 147 834 rules. You will also find out the latest in an ongoing scandal uncovered by the Olive Press that affects dozens of Brits trying to get residency on OLIVE the Costa Blanca. PRESS Plus we spent some time in an unspoilt corner of Andalucia finding out why residents are so opposed to solar farms. And it's not just because their views will be ruined. We at the Olive Press believe that this sort of investigative and campaigning journalism is 834 147 952 more needed than ever as we navigate through difficult times complicated by an economic downturn, a global pandemic and an issue that continues to complicate OLIVE life for many of our readPRESS ANON ers: Brexit. Streets of fire That is why, now more than ever we thank those of you who subscribe to our website, DONE DEAL? and follow our news updates daily, because without your contribution it wouldn’t be possible. Plus all those who get 952 147 834 in touch with stories to share and tips to follow. It’s thanks to you that we can continue to do what we do. ANDALUCÍA
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Vol. 15 Issue 370 www.theolivep ress.es
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EXCLUSIVE By Dilip Kuner
AN expat is facing prison ing to demolish his home for failfell foul of a town hall’s after he ‘laissez faire’ planning rules. Gurney Davey, aged found out about the 67, only sentence when a court six-month was delivered to a document neighbour’s house. “I went straight to Tolox with it. They told me town hall have received it yet,” I shouldn’t he told the Olive Press. “They said they were going to be sending the notification to me once they had stamped it.” The news came as a massive bolt from the blue for Davey, whose wife has just died of cancer, which he believes worsened from the stress of the case. He had never been told court case that followedabout the a Guardia Civil denunciaon from for an ‘illegal build’. Davey’s two-bed home 2004 - should never - built in built according to have been the Malaga court.
British expat faces demolitio n of his 17 year home - and a spell repeat of controver in prison - in sial Priors case
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In 2016, and then again in 2017, Davey was ordered down his house, but, to knock with a neighbour, he in common waited for more details. While his Spanish Irene Millan, 29, did neighbour, hear from the court eventually was given six months again, she to ‘legalise’ her property - an option Davey was never given. However, his neighbour’s apparent good luck turned into a poisoned chalice. Having spent €20,000 DEMOLITION: Expat Gurney Davey is being town hall to legalise the with the forced to knock down his own house and the court finally refused dwelling, lan, whose name was on faces six months jail the cancer, at the age to accept deeds, was the new paperwork provided also of 71, in April. from legal firm Manzanares, by months jail and sentenced to six “We thought we had done the council. handed a fine of thing told the smart thing every- them that planning to do. €6 a day for a year. right at the time. We Instead, demolition was permission “Why got would be applied ordered legal advice and went - Now Davey is terrified which went ahead last for as an alma- build would we deliberately try to through he is set to lawyer in week. illegally? It makes lose his home order to get permissiona cen - or ‘warehouse’. To add insult to injury that we would sell up no sense This way it would come Irene’s It comes just at any moment. to build the home. everything 54-year-old father, Manuel remit of Tolox town under the in the UK and risk it all.” Mil- his wife Dianatwo months since “Diana fought breast hall, which died from bowel six cancer years before bowel cancer for would give permission and later Now Davey’s first thoughts are to avoid serving the jail - I they sentence. am sure the The could ‘legalise’ the property. He said: stress brought seen language of one legal letter, get the “My lawyer is trying to sentence suspended.” by the Olive Press, suggests it on.” this would be a mere formality. The couple, But Flatten originally from ised.the property never got legalALL AREAS COVERED In the meantime he Suffolk in the In has been fact, the Tolox mayor UK, of the forced to ask the town spent time, € 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 jailed Juan Vera, has since been permission to knock hall for his own 4G UNLIMITED building their schemeand fined for his part in a property down. to allow up to INTERNET “I will do it myself. I property. will borrow erties to be built on land350 prop- a JCB “It came as a as IDEAL FOR classified from someone and flatten my home of the past package - a In ‘rural’. STREAMING TV 17 plot with a new verymost cases he had used the will not let the town hall years. I do it and same ‘lax’ procedure ALSO IPTV, home on it.” of ap- charge me more money.” plying to build an ‘almacen’ Davey admits try SATELLITE TV to He added: “I’ve no idea where to keep the prying eyes he and his wife Junta See page 5 & 15 of the live afterwards. But the land to is still mine - maybe I can were perhaps “We authorities away. tel: (0034) 952 763 840 live in a naive to follow thingsthought that was the way tent.” info@theskydoctor.com the advice of Davey, worked in Spain,” said Tolox Ayuntamiento refused a retired builder. to www.theskydoctor.com comment, citing data their lawyer. protection “We went The lawyer, advice. It to see a lawyer and got laws. turns out that was not Opinion
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• Destruction of landscape: An area valued for its views and unspoilt countryside serves as a tourist attraction and makes property desirable. A recent study by the University of Granada suggests large energy infrastructures would decrease the value of homes by 34.7% and would have a very negative impact on rural tourism. • Loss of jobs: Traditional farming of the region such as grazing livestock, beekeeping, hunting, rural and residential tourism, catering and accommodation, all of which rely on the current landscape to provide employment. • Loss of habitat: The area is an essential stop of point for migratory birds that rest and feed there after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, recovering strength and energy to continue their journey. • Water: To keep the panels clean and dust free they must be cleaned at least three times a year, with a litre required for every square meter of photovoltaic surface each time. For example 2,700 hectares would require 80 million litres of water a year. If Spain meets its solar power targets by 2030, this means about 2 billion litres of water per year in all of Spain. • Archaeology: Dozens of unexcavated sites still remain scattered across the hills and valleys in the zone and could be concreted over to build the megaparks.
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The female warriors who took on Drake’s army and won!
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I BEG YOUR PADRON See page 6
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n Clinic Award Winning Rehabilitatio
ing’ as British ‘Hellish and humiliat‘fraudulent’ expats arrested over ons residency applicati EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade
Jay work for residencia,” said Costa, Elliott, 66, of Orihuela has lived in Spain for
who over five years. expats HigA GROUP of British police She and her friend Lily for a have been detained by gins, 71, had plannedin the after their padron certificates peaceful retirement Spain with proving they lived in docsun but are now living case or appear to have been the threat of a court tored. even deportation. have trouble At least eight people town “I’ve never been in being been grilled over the which before but here I am, crimhall registration forms, same treated like a common huwere all handled by the Costa inal,” said Higgins. “It’s gestor company on the miliating.” same Blanca. They added that the to National Police confirmed gestor is being investigated detecthe date on at the Olive Press that changing for applitives are working alongside least 22 more British inLily and Jay the Guardia Civil to now cants. appliasked HUMILIATED: rules can differ from vestigate all residencia Another couple, who the Olin “Other gestors are means to region. cations in Alicante made not to be named, told been adding: as part region complialso being brought in 2021. She added that the ive Press how they had went to of an ongoing investigation cated application process is It comes after ‘widespread questioned when they TIE applications.” expats vulnerable to fraud’ was allegedly detected collect their TIE cards.a room, into spokesman told the leaving in over 22 Britons attempting “We were taken into told to A policePress: “All residen- unscrupulous gestors. when to become resident here. read our rights and padron Oliveapplications from every “One would expect that for elderly cia why our 2021 This week a number of be you turn to a professionaland explain show a gestor in the province will pay the money expats described the situation had been doctored to in case of possi- help, you but as ‘humiliating’ and ‘hellish’, get professional adviceabout 2020 date - it was hell.” used investigated quesconnections.” after they were held for we hear lots of stories wrong All those detained hadgestor ble caution. a tioning under people being given the being One Way Services, process how Money They told the Olive Press Islands and Natural Cosmetics information or even into based in Quesada to AlicanAloe from the Canary they were carted to grilled their applications - including All fraudulent submissions exploited and landing qualified so-called appliby te police station and with padron. trouble the insisted will be cancelled about falsifying documents Owner Matt Smith but the cants given the right to ap- gestors,” she warned. card pasubmitted with their TIE “This case of fraudulent that his is anything to be peal. appeal drons being submitted is applications. only gestor business “The outcome of the no means “We were wrongly arrested dragged into the investigation will be either ‘you now have shocking but it’s by for submitting fake padrons, “Nobody has been arrested, residencia’ or ‘you have 15 isolated.” cor(until 30 June) even though we put the that is a fact,” he insisted, days to leave Spain’, they paperour affectwith in been rect ones If you have said. Press ed in a similar way by A source told the Olive Calle Perez Pujol 3, this, or any other gestor, that a court date in Torrevieja as ev- please get in touch with Valencia center has yet to be confirmed, us on newsdesk@theo See page 15 idence is still being gathered. Monday - Saturday livepress.es Anne Hernandez of Brexpats a lack 10.00-20.00 Opinion Page 6 in Spain warned that of clear national guidelines
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POLICE launched an emergency protocol - early hours dubbed ‘Operation Hell’ - after over a dozen cars were set ablaze late on Saturday night. Residents woke up in fear as flames lit up the streets girola when a man set of Fuenfire to 15 cars in his wanton orgy of destruction. The Spaniard, 38, was arrested after targeting vehicles, while also breaking the COVID curfew. Security cameras identified him after following him driving around leaving the blazing wreckage. One block of apartments in Avenida Miramar was scorched by a line of eight burning vehicles. Firefighters were called cident at 3.20am and to the inwere able to stop the flames spreading to the building. On arriving at the scene, police received four more fires nearby, includingreports of in one street and a car four cars ramar shopping centre. at the Mi-
HOME by 10pm and restaurants and bars closed by 6pm. These are just some of the tougher coronavirus restrictions which came into force for most of Andalucia last night. Expats however, were left at where exactly they wereconfused to travel and what they allowed could do during the two week lockdown. In Fuengirola, for example, Press readers questioned Olive were able to go to Iceland if they the N-340, as it sits inside alongside Meanwhile, in Casares Mijas. where there are no shops costa wondered if they could - expats go to the supermarkets in neighbouring Estepona and Manilva.
Tennis
In Granada, a total closure of non-essential businesses, including the hospitality industry, was ordered by the Junta due worse’ coronavirus figures.to ‘much President Juanma Moreno announced the new rules at a press conference on Sunday evening. They will be in force until at least November 23, when a review is BORIS Johnson has assured scheduled. his cabinet that a Brexit withdrawal UK Prime Minister The night time curfew deal optimistic trade 10pm to 7am and everyis now from The is ‘there to be done’. agreement can be reached municipalproposed agreement ity has closed its borders, comes before this amid residents can only leave meaning US signs Joe Biden’s stunning week’s looming deadline election win has or enter if they have a justifiable reason. desire to double down sparked a on negoti- great enthusiast The exceptions include travelling for a trade deal week. for ation with the EU. work, medical or legal with our European friends,” reasons or if The Prime Minister is hoping you are caring for a dependant. said She added: “I to Johnson strike think Boris has supermarkets and hairdressersVets, the a trade deal this week before “I think at the weekend. another uphill struggle it’s there to be done, European are Union’s in beallowed to stay open after reach an agreement ondeadline to broad outlines are pretty clear.”the friending Biden who is vocally anNovember His remarks Outdoor tennis and padel6pm. ti-Brexit but he has to clubs are 16. come as get him on allowed to stay open. it negotiator Michel EU Brex- his side since his partner-in-crime While Olive Press sources Barnier re- is going insist See Olive Press online Biden’s win has injected renewed turned to London on Monday of- House to be leaving the White fering ‘three keys to unlock in January. impetus into the talks, for full list of rules a deal’. “There will be claimed this has always Johnson He is here for a week of ‘intensive’ a deal and Boris will been the talks with his British counter- say they have ‘managed’ to agree it case. with the EU and he will part David forget to “I’ve al- and fishing Frost, with fair trade add the reason being w a y s points up agreements the main led and did another that he buckfor discussion. u-turn.” been a Anne Hernandez But of lobby group by her optimism was tempered a downbeat assessment Brexpats from in Downing Street, with No 10 Spain told the claiming ‘significant differences Olive Press remain’ a deal would Monday.between the two sides on be struck this A spokeswoman added: “ T h e prime
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minister set out that, while some progress had been made discussions, significant in recent es remain in a number differencincluding the so-called of areas, level playing field, and fish.” She said they had agreed negotiating teams wouldthat their ue talks in London this contin‘redouble efforts to reach week to a deal’, adding that they would personal contact about remain ‘in the negotiations.’ Nigel Farage this week blasted the prime minister for failing to secure a withdrawal agreement ahead of the US election results, claiming that Joe Biden ‘hates the UK’.
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In the first official interview on the project, Pedro Godino Martin, who has been the Popular Party mayor in Gaucin since 2011, admitted: “The first thought is, oh yes this could be an interesting project, you think it’s clean energy, alternative, green…” Speaking in his town hall office, he added: “And I’m not against photovoltaics at all, in fact last year we installed panels on the roof save the situation, and that is what we are of the school, atop the medical centre and working on.” on the water plant. The idea of generatSome residents fear that the project hering your own electricity is a good one. We alds the start of a scheme that will see want to encourage sustainability. much of Spain’s brownfield sites - which “But this crazy idea of a macro project, a includes these sort of ancient pastures mega park that covers the countryside in paved over in solar farms as energy companels, which is going to have an impact panies clamour to buy up the best sites. on the whole area. Absolutely not!” “It’s happening by stealth, with a small He is also the first to admit that the town is project here and another in the next heavily reliant on tourism (a key driver for town but before you know it they will all the local economy) and the views it offers be linked up together with power lines are one of its great selling points. Labeled criss-crossing southern Spain,” said one as ‘the Balcony of the Serrania de Ronda’ British resident in Gaucin. the town attracts big-spending tourists. “There is a very real fear “The entire industry is based that Spain is being carved on tourism, the holiday rentup by energy companies als and the visitors of course As many as 53 in a speculation frenzy. It’s but also the residential toursolar projects colonization of the sunny ism that comes with high pursouth to fuel northern Euchasing power. It fuels conare currently rope.” struction, the service industry in the town. It’s all wrapped in the planning In fact four projects are currently planned within the up in the unspoilt location.” pipeline neighbouring municipali“People buy property here, ties of Gaucin, Jimena de they build or refurbish housla Frontera, San Martín del es. But if this sort of project Tesorillo and Casares, which totals over is installed, these people will leave and 2,200 hectares. others will come, take one look and not The Silvema Ecologistas en Acción ascome back.” sociation says it is aware that there are “They are selling us the idea that this type currently 53 projects of this type on the of project provides employment, but it table in the region including Cañete La doesn’t. They’ll use people they need to Real, Almargen, Teba and Cuevas del set it up but when it’s up and running it Becerro, and mega parks planned in the just requires two or three to keep it going Guadalhorce valley affecting Coin as well and that’s it.” as Antequera. The mayor admits though that it is not an "There is no regulation and no restriction easy fight: “We can’t just say no for the from the Junta de Andalucía or the govsake of not wanting it. Under the current ernment in Madrid," the group warns. regulations the land they have earmarked for the project is compatible from an urAdditional reporting by Elena Gocmen ban planning point of view. We have to Rueda. study the environmental impact to try and
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female archaeologist on staff at the British Museum in London. “To think that all this will be carpeted over in solar panels,” she gestures with a sweeping arm across a landscape where the ancient stones of a Roman road are still visible. While some farmers have already said they are happy to lease their land for the project, others are dead against it. Take Cristobal, as an example. His family has grazed cattle on the pastures around Jimena for centuries. He insists it is a false economy. “They promise big bucks and people will take it, but then what will they have? Our livelihood will be ruined and in 20 years when the lease expires, there will be nothing but desert left. What will we leave for future generations?” The mayor of Gaucin told the Olive Press he is preparing to fight the project.
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Oil not be back PETROCHEMICAL giant Repsol will stop extracting oil in Spain this month as it responds to new green laws. This decision puts an end to 60 years of oil production in the country. The company, along with its competitor Cepsa, has decided to end its oil activity on the Casablanca platform, located off the coast of the Ebro delta in Catalonia. According to the Spanish media elEconomista.es, this site could ‘continue to operate until 2038’, but Repsol must meet the requirements of the ecological transition law adopted by Spain in mid-May. In line with the European Union's expectations, the law is aimed at enabling the country to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, in particular by banning the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2040. Oil has been extracted in Spain since a well in Ayoluengo (Burgos) first opened 60 years ago. Annual production from the Casablanca platform is worth about €4 million in cash terms, but is worth far more to the local economy when transport, logistics and supplies for the facility are factored in. From now on, Spain will have to rely totally on oil imports. “The Spanish oil sector considers that oil consumption will never return to the pre-crisis levels of 2008 due to the greater efficiency of the car fleet and the gradual electrification of transport,” concludes Economiste.
June 16th - June 29th 2021
It is time to enforce strict laws on littering, says Martin Tye
T
HE title of Blur’s seminal 1993 album Modern Life is Rubbish is a title that sadly reflects today’s throwaway culture. Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues around the world as the rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. Asian and African nations are among the worst offenders where rubbish collection systems are either non-existent or inefficient. BUT WHAT EXCUSES DO WE HAVE HERE IN SPAIN?
Litter has a negative effect on everything. The main cause of littering is laziness and carelessness, combined with the belief that there is no consequence for littering. Most alarmingly, research shows that the under 30s are 100% Certified Green Energy more likely to litter than older people. But why is it so bad?
Green matters
By Martin Tye
Modern life is rubbish!
Litter causes pollution, it kills wildlife. It facilitates the spread of disease. An amazing 54% of litter comes from motorists, while 44% of plastic litter comes from take away food and drinks. Single use bottles, food containers and plastic bags make up the biggest share. Dr Carmen Morales of the University of Cadiz wrote this week: “We find plastics in rivers, on the deep seabed, on shorelines and floating all around the Spanish coasts.” I believe the root cause of this problem is lack of education and lenient law enforcement. It’s time to impose strict laws and regulations. Both businesses and individuals are more likely to follow laws when there are serious legal or financial consequences. Call me old fashioned, but I would rather live in a clean, healthy environment!
Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch copany Mariposa Energia. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es
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22/01/2021 17:03:05
MORE than 200 companies and organisations took part in a virtual meeting to discuss sustainable food packaging and the ever-growing problem of single-use plastics. The professionals debated the latest innovations in the field and current strategies to combine efficient packaging with sustainability, with the focus on recycling. High on the agenda was the Residue Law, the first draft of which was recently passed by the Spanish government. This piece of legislation is aimed at promoting the circular economy, boosting recycling and drastically reducing waste generation, plus restoring polluted areas and eliminating all traces of asbestos still found in towns and cities throughout the country. A new taxation system on single-use containers and plastics will be set up to make sure ‘who pollutes, pays’, with bonuses for rubbish separation, a drive to cut food wastage, and banning retailers from destroying non-perishable, unsold goods such as toys, clothes and electronic devices. The different requirements of the law, if it is finally passed, will be introduced gradually over the next few years. Speakers at the virtual meeting highlighted the problems faced by producers when it comes to meeting European standards, including a lack of EU and national guidelines for the manufacture of 100% recyclable packaging.
Fire alert SPAIN faces a summer of forest fires with a scorching dry season predicted as climate change starts to take effect. This is the warning from Spain’s National Weather Agency, which has just published its forecast report for the summer of 2021. Last year, Spain broke a heat record with an average of 23.9º C (one degree above the average) and two heat waves. Hottest spot was the municipality of Hondarribia (Basque Country) where temperatures hit a peak of 42.2º C on July 30. Heat waves, lack of rain and dry land are a fatal cocktail for Spanish forests.
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10
GREEN FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es
June 16th - June 29th 2021
The lynx effect
JUST two decades ago, the Iberian lynx was identified as the world’s most endangered cat, teetering on the verge of extinction with less than 100 individuals left roaming in isolated pockets in the wilds of southern Spain. By Fiona Govan Preyed upon by hunters and with their natural habitat depleted by intense farming and busy roads, Lynx alone. Pardinus was looked set to “With a 30% increase from become the first species 2019, this demographic of cat to die curve allows out since the us to be optisabre-toothed mistic and to The Lynx tiger 10,000 draw scenarpopulation has ios that disyears ago. But now contance the big once again ser vationists Iberian feline are celebrat- risen above the from critical ing the happy risk of extinc1,000 mark news that the tion,” Spain’s population has Environment once again risministry said. en above 1,000 thanks to Lynx Pardinus was once the success of a breeding found throughout Spain, programme and release Portugal and parts of southinto the wild scheme. ern France, with a populaThe latest census shows tion at the turn of the 20th that by the end of last year Century estimated at some there were 1,111 Iberian 100,000. lynx living across Spain and But their luxuriant speckled Portugal, including 239 coat was much prized and breeding females and the led to decades of over-huntbirth of 414 cubs in 2020 ing which saw the popu-
How Spain brought Iberian lynx back from the brink of extinction
lation decimated to fewer down to just 94, living in than 10,000 by the end of two isolated pockets of Anthe 1980s. dalucia – one in Doñana Their numbers were further (Huelva) and another in Andevastated by intense farm- dujar (Jaen). ing and construction proj- Recognising the danger ects that eroded their ter- facing Europe’s largest cat ritory, while new highways species, the Spanish govturned them into frequent ernment launched a caproadkill. tive breeding programme The existence was further using joint funds between threatened by a loss of the EU and Spanish admintheir main staistrations estiple; rabbits, mated at more which were all than €100 milSpecimins but wiped out lion. by a myxomaThe release of have even tosis epidemic young cats to been spotted followed by the find new terrabbit haemorritory in the in the Madrid rhage disease wild has seen virus (RHDV) in the population Community the 1990s. spread across By 2002, the Andalucia, number of known individu- Castilla-La Mancha and Exal lynx left in the wild was tremadura and into south-
Getting an education InterHigh: The alternative and effective online schooling solution
E
DUCATION is one of the biggest factors in children’s lives, particularly in terms of the outcomes, decisions and opportunities it can present throughout their lifetime. While relocating to another part of the world brings its own challenges in many areas, it’s vital that children’s learning isn’t disrupted, and that school environments and teaching are high-quality and supportive. While many international schools are equipped with the resource, expertise, and skills to support these children, there is an alternative and effective option that expat families can, and should, consider. InterHigh is a leading independent British international online school. Founded in 2005, it offers primary, secondary and sixth form education for students aged 7 – 19. The online school is centered on personalised and immersive learning as well as fostering 21st century skills
including empathy, resilience, international mindedness, and digital literacy. When we consider what international families look for in a school, we can probably summarise as ‘a British curriculum delivered by British teachers, with the highest quality standards and pass marks in a broad range of subjects.’ This is precisely what InterHigh delivers - from exceptionally engaging virtual experiences for young people, through to accessible and quality live face-to-face and recorded lessons from anywhere in the world. Lessons are designed and optimised for online learning and are taught by fully qualified and experienced UK teachers. Combined with a proven educational model and innovative delivery, InterHigh deploys eye-opening technology that brings lessons to life and increases engagement with new concepts. The school offers iGSCEs, A Levels and follows the UK Independent School standards.
GOOD NEWS: the cats are now off the critical list
ern Portugal. They have even been spotted in the Madrid Community and, most extraordinarily, on the out-
Some students who use InterHigh are full-time, while others only use the service for a few months while travelling abroad. It can also be used by international schools as a way to bolster their offering and provide students with greater opportunities to study specific subjects that may not otherwise be available to them. With over 16 years’ experience, InterHigh fosters a sense of school community and belonging. In addition to academic opportunities by highly experienced staff, students can socialise safely and securely through the school’s own social platforms and have access to 1:1 guidance and wellbeing support. Parents and mentors also have 24-hour access to attendance data, reports, and communications through its virtual platform. Graduates go on to study at UK and international universities and secure fulfilling careers in many industry sectors. Exam results are outstanding for a non-selective online school, showcasing its commitment to learning. Many InterHigh students are active in sports and the arts, with some managing professional acting and athletic careers, demonstrating InterHigh’s ability to provide flexible learning opportunities around these commitments. Enrolling a child into InterHigh will ensure that they have continuity, stability, and flexibility.
To discover more, or to discuss admissions and study options, visit: www.interhigh.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Online School interhigh.co.uk The Olive Press -16, 17 and 18 Jun --- 1/3 Page - 256 mm w x 105 mm h --- (all editions except Gib)
skirts of Barcelona. In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) downgraded the threat level from ‘Critically Endangered’ to Endangered’. Although the penalties for illegally hunting the elusive nocturnal cats, which boast tufted ears and a fluffy beard, are huge, there are still incidences of animals being shot as well as caught in traps laid by farmers intending to catch foxes and pine martens. But by far the biggest danger still facing the animals is that of Spain’s highways. In 2019 alone, 34 lynx were killed on roads across Spain. In order to be classified as non-endangered, the Iberian lynx population would need to be above at least 3,000, including 750 breeding females, according to the WWF, a target that could be achievable by 2040.
LA CULTURA
Strings to her bow
MARIA Dueñas has just won first prize in the prestigious Menuhin Competition. The 18-year-old violinist from Granada played three pieces by Witold Lutoslawski, Mozart, and Edouard Lalo) to take top spot at the contest in Richmond, Virginia (USA). The international competition named after the great violinist Yehudi Menuhin aims to reward young talent. Dueñas has already performed in major European venues, alongside groups such as the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and the Luxembourg Philharmonic. The Spanish musician will receive $20,000 (€16,400) and the loan of a Stradivarius for two years.
June 16th - June 29th 2021
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The Missing Sister
Domingo’s T return
by Lucinda Riley
he Missing Sister is the final instalment of The Seven Sisters series by bestselling author Lucinda Riley who sadly passed away on the 11th June. Following the death of their beloved adoptive father, billionaire Pa Salt, the six D’Aplièse sisters undertook their own incredible quests to unearth their history and heritage armed with the clues their father left them. However, there is one secret left to solve - the identity and location of their missing seventh sister. Their journey will take them around the world from New Zealand to Canada, France to Ireland, and in their search, they will uncover a story of love and sacrifice that is heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly compelling.
Disgraced opera singer gets a mixed reaction to Madrid concert
TENOR Placido Domingo received a standing ovation at the end of his first concert in his native Spain for 18 months. The singing star's career stuttered to a halt in 2019 in the wake of allegations over sexual misbehaviour towards women. Domingo, aged 80, performed at a charity event in aid of the Cruz Roja at Madrid’s National Auditorium. His previous Spanish appearance was at Valencia's Palau de Les Arts in December 2019 as a cast member in the opera, Nabucco. President of the Community
of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, said: “It is a source of pride that Placido Domingo has returned home and pride that he is amongst us.” But Spain’s Equality Minister, Irene Montero, attacked the audience who applauded Domingo. In a social media posting Montero said: “I would like them to ask themselves what kind of a message are they sending to those women (who accused Domingo) and to those who are sexually assaulted every day in our country.” The opera singer was accused
OPERA lovers can enjoy a night of music at the historic English Cemetery in Malaga. Arias from the opera L'Elisir d'Amore by Donizetti will be performed by local group El Ultimo Trovador on June 26 at 9pm, Tickets are available from the Eventbrite website at https://bit. ly/34V9MLA and cost €13.54. All the activities in the English Cemetery have been made COVID-19 safe through measures such as the obligatory use of masks, social distancing - and a limit on the numbers at each event.
Grave occasion
€19.90 The Bookshop San Pedro, www.thebookshop.es
I’M BACK: Scandal hit Domingo of sexual misconduct by eight women nearly two years ago. That grew to over three dozen female performers and backstage staff who were mentioned in a report published by the American Guild of Music artists. Most of the victims preferred to stay anonymous but accused Domingo of ‘unwanted touching’ and attempts to kiss them on the lips. Soprano, Angela Turner Wilson, said that Domingo entered her dressing room before a performance and touched her breasts leaving her ‘stunned and humiliated’. No charges have ever been brought against the singer but he apologised for making his female colleagues ‘uncomfortable’ and he denied any ‘aggressive’ behaviour.
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LETTERS
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Each month, our new astrologer Leticia Parmer will be looking to the stars, planets and the Moon, to predict our future
t i c i a Pa r
In the stars er
S
CEPTIC? Once upon a time, so was Leticia. She was determined to prove that astrology was ‘a load of rubbish’. Trouble was, she couldn’t. “Astrology is fascinating. Since age 13 I have been learning the science of the stars and continued to surprise myself time and time again how accurate they are,” said Leticia, who spends half the year in Spain. She even predicted that Sir John Major was going to be the next Prime Minister, after reading his palms at a party! “Reading star signs merely just brushes the surface, when we look to the Moon and the planets too, that’s when we see the bigger picture. Doing an astrology chart of a person is like looking at a map of their choices.” British born, Leticia lives between the UK and her finca in the Alpujarras of Granada, where she continues to impress clients and celebrities alike with her too-good-to-be-true readings. “The Moon moves water; it controls the tides. So why can’t it affect us too? Our brains are 90% water, and our bodies 60%...” Still not convinced? Find out more in her book: Why on Earth.
Expat or immigrant? Carrie Frais’s thought-provoking article in the last edition of the Olive Press has opened an online debate on the use of the term ‘expats’ Who cares? PEOPLE have been taking this far too seriously. What does it matter if you are termed an expat or an immigrant? In my own case I have in my lifetime been first a refugee (and very grateful to the UK for letting me in as a child) then an immigrant to Spain. I don’t give two hoots if I am called an expat, immigrant or refugee. What matters more is the treatment I get from the people who have welcomed me to their own country. That has been first class in both the UK and Spain. Daljit Singh (by email)
I care
THE fact of the matter is that the term ‘immigrants’ has a derogatory connotation which expats does not. I view myself as an expat as I fully intend to return to the UK after living in Spain for a few years. Maybe I am doing things the wrong way round but I intend to retire to what I still consider my home after raising a family This June Mercury will be retrograde, confusing decision-making, plus we and working in Spain have a solar eclipse. On the 21st Jupiter, planet of luck will go retrograde, for 30 years. but you won't lose out as opportunities are simply being put into the Frankly, being dubbed 'savings account' for collection later in the year when Jupiter comes out of an immigrant is quite retrograde - Gemini and Cancer are this month’s signs insulting.
JUNE HOROSCOPES by Leticia Parmer
ARIES
The old saying “don't give your tongue too much freedom or it might take you prisoner” may well apply to you this June. Double check your words before pressing send, or the auto-correct may create a bit of embarrassment. Also back up files now.
TAURUS
You are naturally shrewd with financial matters, but even you must double-check your change the first three weeks of June. Others will understand your need to postpone a social event till a more convenient time.
June 16th - June 29th 2021
SCORPIO
One of your strengths is the ability to cut out the unnecessary. However, this month in your drive to clear, do check carefully what your are actually throwing, or you might accidentally chuck out 'the baby with the bath water'!
Steven White (by email)
WHAT’S IN A NAME?: Are Spaniards in the UK ‘immigrants’ but Brits in Spain ‘expats’?
Simply immigrants THE term ‘expat’ is a peculiarly British phenomenon, left over from colonial days and to me simply reflects the social class system which, like the caste system in India, stems from the belief that some people have more value than others. British Expats are quite simply immigrants and should think of themselves in that way. Jan Bungay (be email)
Neither nor WE are neither expats or immigrants. After the corona episode we are going to spend more and more time in Spain - the second generation of our family who are doing it this way. As far as we are concerned we are just EU citizens who love Spain and the way of life in this country. With kind regards. Peter Soderlund (be email)
Not me I'm an expat NOT an immigrant. Anne Abbott (be email)
OP QUICK Crossword Across
SAGITTARIUS
The other half of your duo might not have all the answers this month, whether in your weekly quiz or in the puzzle of life in general. Instead, take a deeper look within for the solutions to all that you need to solve.
LEO
CAPRICORN
VIRGO
AQUARIUS
Children are so delightful but can be rather unpredictable and throw you off balance. Whatever they are up to, don't let it get to you. Rather take a step back and gain perspective by remembering your own childhood pranks.
7 Solitary (4) 8 Character prominent in 4 Down, maybe (7) 9 Locked (6,2) 10 Seizures (4) 11 Cuddle while facing the same way (5) 12 Awash (7) 14 Further on (2,5) 16 Advanced slowly (5) 18 Stern-visaged (4) 20 Pencil filler (8) 21 Cheap jewellery (7) 22 Large tear (4)
LIBRA
PISCES
Down
Being such a gregarious soul, your social life is very important to you and you are often the one organising it. However, with Mercury retrograde for the first three weeks of June, do double-check dates and times. Your greatest wish is to be of help and service to others, but before you offer to shoulder yet another responsibility, remember that your first duty is to take care of YOU. The group will support you more than an individual now. Double-check all the details of any travel plans, or you may end up at the airport on the wrong day, at the wrong time, maybe even the wrong airport! A wish to study something new may have to be postponed for now.
The devil is in the detail this month. Take a break from worry or you may get so lost in trying to make things perfect that you start to criticise yourself and then those around you. Tell yourself “my best is good enough”.
Home and mother seem to throw up unsolvable problems. But that is just an illusion created by Mercury, the planet of thinking, in retrograde. So this June remember your Pisces strength is intuition over logic.
GEMINI
CANCER
Have you ever kept a dream diary? That might be a great idea this June. Another thing that would benefit you greatly would be to follow a regular meditation practice, even if it is for only ten minutes a day.
For an in-depth private astrology reading with Leticia, please email her at leticiaparmer@yahoo.com. Also check out Leticia's insightful book WHY ON EARTH which is available from Amazon
OP Sudoku
It’s your birthday month, so its time to think about YOU and take a break from career and family duty. Use your natural Gemini ingenuity to find support, then dance freely and joyfully into the solstice sunset.
1 Shirley’s good ship (8) 2 You won’t like comics if you don’t have one (5,2,6) 3 Bag carrier, of course (5) 4 Unquestionable truth (6) 5 English china (13) 6 Leg ends? (4) 12 Nourished (3) 13 Wielding (8) 15 Financial backers (6) 17 Scapegoat (5) 19 Holds up (4)
All solutions are on page 37
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SELLING QUALITY PROPERTIES IN MARBELLA FOR 51 YEARS Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 www.panorama.es Offices at Puente Romano and opposite the Marbella Club hotel Regulated by RICS
Issue 371
www.theolivepress.es
June 2021
Marbellous Surprise, surprise… there is so much more to the gem of the Costa del Sol than just luxury yachts and bling, as Katherine Brook discovered
T
HE jewel of the Costa del Sol, the playground of the rich and famous, the Miami of Spain, Marbella has been labelled many things over the years... and there’s a good reason for each of them. Sure, you’ll find celebrities sipping champagne in the most exclusive clubs and restaurants, sports cars rumbling through Puerto Banus and superyacht owners comparing the size of their, hmmm, boats, but you’ll also find beaches, history, culture, exciting gastronomy. Oh and breathtaking mountain walks - should you choose to seek them. Just a few minutes walk from the seafront, you’ll find the charming old town of Marbella. This ancient walled centre retains nearly all of its original 16th century layout, even though chichi art gallerContinues on Page 2 ies, fab tapas bars, quirky boutiques and ice cream shops
tel: 951 51 62 19 / 674 079 959 hello@buddieshorticulture.com www.buddieshorticulture.com Calle Diamante 4, Polígono La Ermita 29603 Marbella, Málaga
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A true jewel From Front Page
also a small cafe and restaurant populate its cobbled streets today - on the top floor balcony, serving enough to keep you busy for hours! an ever-changing, small menu of At its heart is Plaza de los Naran- home-cooked delights from Italjos, also known as ‘Orange Square’, ian-born chef and artist, Emilio named for its abunBelvedere. dance of orange trees. Not too far away Enclosed by an 11th from here, you’ll Viewing the century Arabic wall, the find Our Lady of showpiece is the 16th Roman bridge the Incarnation, a century Old Governor’s 17th century church, House. remains a rite which was formerly a A tourist hotspot, the mosque taken over by of passage in square’s bars and the Christians during restaurants charge a litthe Reconquest. Marbella tle more but it’s worth it If the heat gets too for the ambience. much, respite can be Hidden in one of the found within the cool corners is Galeria van Gestel, found- stone walls while you admire the ed by Josephus van Gestel in 1966. beautiful paintings, stain-glass winA young Spanish and Italian couple dows, and enjoy the highly-efficient - both artists - recently took over the air conditioning! gallery, bringing their own unique Tributes paid, you can find Marbelstyle to the space. The art is still la monuments even older than this, as striking as ever: bold, colourful, dating from 1AD. thought-provoking. But there’s now The first Roman bridge beside the
COOLING: The shady Alameda gardens are a great place to relax Puente Romano hotel up on the socalled Golden Mile, between Marbella and Puerto Banus, remains a must see and some original Roman baths still stand in Guadalmina, not to mention a 6AD Romano-Cristo church in San Pedro. When you tire of burning shoe leather, bag a park bench in the green shade of one of the exquisite public gardens. La Constitucion park and the Alameda Gardens in the heart of Marbella are particularly lovely, the latter always brimming with locals and surrounded by great cafes and bars. Or if you’re looking to strictly chill,
there’s a whole lot of beach waiting for you just a few paces away. Time it right, and you might land up in a beach yoga class. Boasting 27 kilometres of coastline, and with San Pedro and Puerto Banus both proudly flying the prestigious Blue Flag, Marbella is blessed with a wonderful coastline. There are some superb sandy beaches with dunes, to the east around Artola and Elviria, while central Marbella is frequently palm tree lined. Grab a couple of sunbeds for the day, maybe a cocktail or cold beer
from a local chiringuito, and enjoy the crystal clear waters. If it’s glitz, glamour and designer shops you’re after, the celebrated resort of Puerto Banus lies ready
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June 2021
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SNAPSHOTS: From Marbella old town to hidden statues, superyachts and supercars, Marbella has it all, and bicycles (left) are a great way to see every nook and cranny and waiting. Just to the west of Mar- For some of the best views in town, bella, this is a place where anything it’s worth making a stop at the fourgoes. From hen-doers trying their star Benabola Hotel, which has the best to pull off ill-fitting fancy dress most amazing rooftop terrace. If costumes after celebrating their last you’re going to pay for expensive night of freedom, to drinks, you may as well members of the ‘1% make it memorable club’ disembarking sunsets don’t come Banus has from mega-yachts and much better than this. Ferraris, or treating Along the elitist strip become an themselves to a new to the east (the Golden bag from the likes of Mile) the likes of Lord unashamed Gucci and Prada, BaAlan Sugar, Simon melting pot for Cowell, Sean Connery nus has become an unashamed melting and the Saudi Arabithe rich pot for the rich, famous an royal family have and wannabe Marbella invested in their own Love Islanders. villas. Dressed in head-to-toe designer, World leaders too, are magnetically they flow thick and fast around the attracted to Marbs, with David Camport, home to exclusive nightclubs eron, Tony Blair and Michelle Obama Le Suite and the extravagant Ro- having taken a visit over the last deberto Cavalli, from mid-afternoon. A cade, while former Spanish Prime round of drinks may blow your weekly Minister Jose Maria Aznar has a villa budget, that’s if you haven’t already in Guadalmina. splurged it all on a swanky outfit - an But Marbella has always been a essential if you want to mingle with grand resort to visit, ever since Gerthe Who’s Who of Marbs. man prince Maximilian de Hohenlo-
he-Langenburg and his son Alfonso ‘discovered’ it when they had to stop while having trouble with their Rolls Royce in 1946. Alfonso liked the area so much he decided to buy some land and build himself a house, before selling plots to his pals, including the Rothschilds and Thyssens. He soon turned his home into the Costa del Sol’s first luxury hotel in 1954 – The Marbella Club – which to this day remains a mainstay on the Golden Mile, welcoming guests like Lady Gaga and Lenny Kravitz over recent years. The original crowd included Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Laurence Olivier were all hanging out there, raising the Costa del Sol’s international profile and attracting a wave of jetsetters and investment. From a pure accident of fate the resort has gone from strength to strength, despite the economic and political woes that plagued Spain since the financial crash of 2008. While it has no doubt suffered some losses due to the coronavirus crisis, tourists and prospective property buyers have already returned in their droves now life is returning to a ‘new normal’. In fact, many estate agents I have spoken to have been busier than ever. According to Ulf, the managing partner at Andalucia Development, the market has ‘outperformed what he expected.’ “Last year, I wouldn’t have been so optimistic, but there’s definitely still a very keen interest to buy in Marbella, if our recent deals are anything to go by,” he adds. And if the culture, beaches and thriving social scene don’t leave you wanting to buy a place in Marbella, maybe the culinary scene will. Marbella now has the most Michelin stars per capita in the country, making it a must-visit for any one who labels themselves a ‘foodie’. From Nobu to Skina and Messina to El Lago, each restaurant sparkles for its own reason. With incredible nightlife, a blossoming arts scene and the best food in the region, Marbella certainly lives up to its (many) names.
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June 2021
Making waves
NOT many foreigners pitch up in Spain and create a brand...particularly a beachwear brand. But that is what John Lodge has done with his exciting flip flop company BeachyFeet. Based out of Marbella, the hip range of cool footwear, bikinis and T-shirts is set to go stratospheric now the COVIDcrisis is beginning to subside. Created by the savvy Brit, 32, who moved to the Costa del Sol, via a 10year stint working in the Eilish, the company was distributed worldwide, genmusic and fashion induserating meaningful revenue, before he decided to sell try in London, he is finally the business in 2020. starting to make waves. He has sunk much of the proceeds of the sale into this Marbella town hall is alnew venture, while also moving to Marbella with his ready helping to promote family to explore pastures new. and support the brand, A key unique selling point of BeachyFeet is that all of while others, including the the products are designed and inspired by all things Junta de Andalucia, are Andalucian and Lodge is working with suppliers in Aliqueuing up to help. cante and Elche to progress manufacturing the product “This started as a 10 year domestically in Spain. project but we have quick“They are the largest producers of footly realised wear in Europe and of excellent quality. I there is huge can get everything I need there and don’t potential for Demand for need to go to China, where I used to go a longer term the brand has to source product,” he explains. growth story” Lodge, from Milton Keynes, “I spent half my life in factories in China, explains. rocketed this even in Wuhan, learning the ins and outs “The global market in flip flops is worth of how things are made and I know it can a staggering €22 billion with the Brazilian year from all be done here in Spain. brands, like Havaianas and Ipanema, takcorners “We work closely with local Marbella ing 70% of that. based artists and graphic designers as “I figured a country so linked to beachlife well as local logistics and retail and manand culture like Spain could seriously eat ufacturing partners.” into that. Demand for the brand has skyrocketed this year with “If I can emulate the Marbella Med culture and make interest and orders from ‘all corners of the world’, so it quintessentially Spanish I’m sure it will grow fast and much so that the brand has had to plan two additional be a big success.” production lines for 2021. He certainly has pedigree, having set up and sold his The former Country Sales Manager of competitors Haown fashion accessories company back in the UK. vaianas has also recently joined the growing business Cleverly tying up deals within the music industry, into help stimulate growth in the brand. cluding with the Rolling Stones, Guns n Roses and Billie
With a Made in Marbella plan close to execution, John Lodge is winning plaudits to ensure his new beachwear brand BeachyFeet will be anything but a flop
WWW. B EA C H YFEE T. ES WWW. B EA C H YFEE T. ES
Spurred on by critics, who insisted it was bound to fail (one dubbed it the ‘flip flop flop’), John has recently extended his distribution network to the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, and the UK. Even the Middle East is showing interest with the brand now stocked in all the major shopping malls in Dubai and he is increasing availability in department stores, beach boutiques, hotels and airports locally. BeachyFeet sells a range of Mens, Women’s and, soon, kids Flip flops as well as Bikinis, Nail Polishes and Anklets – available online at www.beachyfeet.es
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A resort with more
The Olive Press picks out the 8 reasons to love Marbella A Renaissance square
All along the watchtower Declared of Cultural Interest in 1985, the 15-metre Torre Ladrones (Thieves Tower) is the highest watchtower on the Malaga coast. The defensive structure dates from the Muslim period but some speculate the Romans first built it. You can find it close by the Artola dunes nature reserve and Cabopino port.
Arabian delights Visigoth vestiges The Basílica de Vega del Mar was excavated in the 20th century on a former Roman road running from Cádiz to Cartagena. It is one of the few remaining examples of north African Visigothic churches built in Andalucia during the sixth century although all that remains today are its awesome one-metre walls.
Also in the historical centre is the Alcazaba fortress, the most important vestige of Muslim civilisation in Marbella. The Castillo was built in the 10th century during the reign of Abd al-Rahman III, Caliph of Córdoba.
The Plaza de los Naranjos lies at the heart of Marbella´s old town. Built after the Christian Reconquest, it is an outstanding example of Castilian Renaissance architecture. From one of the many sun-soaked terraces, you can admire the Renaissance-style town hall, the Mayor’s house combining elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Mudejar design and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in the city.
Surrealist sculptures Marbella is home to 11 sculptures by surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Ten grace Avenida del Mar, along with pieces by other artists such as Eduardo Soriano. And you can’t miss his massive three-ton cosmic elephant at the entrance to Puerto Banús.
Fairway to heaven
Dunk by Dumbo The elephant sculptures that spray water from their trunks on many of Marbella’s best beaches are an Instagram favourite with tourists.
The Costa del Sol is also known as Costa del Golf, and Marbella’s fairways are key contributors. The Andalucian town boasts the biggest concentration of golf courses in Spain, some voted among the best in the world.
A salty start In Roman times, the city was called Salduba (Salt City) after the local fish salting industry. The Arabs changed it to Marbil-la, the origin of its current name and it’s spot-on. In Spanish, Marbella means beautiful sea.
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HETHER it was Diana Dors or Sean Connery, Ava Gardner or Audrey Hepburn, James Hunt or Rod Stewart, none would have come to Marbella without the influence of Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe. For the German aristocrat was the svengali with the necessary capital to turn the dusty village into a highfalutin millionaires playground to rival the likes of Cannes and Deauville, in France. It was in 1947 that the charismatic playboy had been sent to the coast by his father Prince Maximilian to purchase some land. The family already had business interests in southern Spain, particularly in Malaga. The 23-year-old was told to hook up with his eccentric uncle Ricardo Soriano, who had been eulogising about the merits of the coast for a number of years. A huge fan of watersports, Soriano especially liked powerboat racing and lived an enviable bohemian life. He was soon chaperoning his nephew up and down the coast in his vintage Rolls-Royce looking for land. The bilingual Alfonso – who was a keen painter - was immediately taken by what he saw in Marbella. Sheltered by the dramatic Sierra Blanca and with crystal-clear waters just a stone’s throw away, the savvy prince immediately saw a wealth of opportunities. He ordered his father to sell off his wine cellars in Malaga and began developing his now seminal Marbella Club hotel,
June 2021
Celebrity playground
The Olive Press looks back at the lives of the aristocrats and celebrities that turned a small fishing village into a glitzy, star-studded resort for the ‘jet set’ which opened in 1954. But that was not enough and the well-connected prince soon embarked on a European-wide campaign to convince all his high-flying friends that Marbella, not San Sebastian or Cannes, was the only place to be. And his campaign worked with the grand families of central Europe, including the Bismarcks, Rothschilds and Metternichs, coming to see what the fuss was about. A string of celebrities followed suit, with actresses including Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, photographer Patrick Lichfield, footballer George Best, model Brigitte Bardot, and Rolling Stone Bryan Jones joining the in-crowd. Even British aristocracy got in on the act, with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward and Mrs Simpson) visiting the hotel. “The people I met in Hollywood, in New York, and in Europe, they were the roots, the bridge that brought people to Marbella… who made Marbella,” explained Alfonso. Marbella took pride in being cut off from the hectic, stressful and often scary modern world. Indeed, news of the Cuban Missile Crisis did not reach the resort until it was over. “Everybody had the most gorgeous parties when the rest of the world was trembling that World War III was starting,” explains Count Rudi Schonburg, a former manager of Marbella Club. Coining the nickname the ‘King of Clubs’, Alfonso’s reputation quickly preceded him and he soon opened up a disco which got the club swinging every
WINE TIME: Hugh Grant enjoys dinner in Marbella Old Town GLAMOROUS: Diana Dors sunbathing (left), while George Best plays football on a Marbella beach (below) Tuesday and Friday night. Despite revelling in its exclusive status, the Marbella Club was anything but formal. “At dinner everybody arrived with a dinner jacket, but I said ‘Stop! This is not the Marbella way! You only wear a dinner jacket on New Year’s Eve,” recalled Alfonso. As the inspired prince’s creation boomed, so did Marbella and its surrounding hillsides. New restaurants, bars and sports clubs began sprouting up as the Costa del Sol quickly entered its so-called golden era. Developers included Jose Banus, who built Puerto Banus marina and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who built a white palace (still there today) that is modelled on both the White House and a mosque. The likes of multi-millionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi (who formerly owned La Zagaleta, Spain’s most expensive urbanisation) were able to dock their luxury yachts in the port. “Thanks to my initiative, Marbella’s Golden Mile alone now provides 60,000 jobs,” Alfonso once said. While his friends called him the ‘King of Clubs’ or the ‘Little Prince’, locals came to know him affectionately as Ole-Ole, because of his difficult to pro-
STARS: Sinatra and Ava Gardner enjoyed the charms of Marbella’s old town on their visits to Spain
nounce surname. Yet as the Costa del Sol dream began to spiral into uncontrollable development, Alfonso became aware of the monster he had helped stir. Concrete towers were sprouting up as far as the eye could see, from
Malaga all the way down to Estepona, almost 100 kilometres away. Worse still, wanted British criminals began to take advantage of a lack of an extradition treaty between England and Spain. This influx of crooks and subsequent crime left the idealistic Alfonso disillusioned with the vision of rich grandeur he once envisaged for Marbella. After growing weary of the mass tourism that was lowering the tone of his town, he sold up all his Marbella business interests in 1978 in search of a new vision. Entering his 60s, the prince settled in his last home with his third wife Marilys Haynes, a Gibraltarian divorcee. He plumped for a mountain retreat, in the hills close to Ronda, with a trout lake, partridge wood and an impressive library. And the ever-inventive Alfonso decided on another successful business pursuit – producing the soonto-be award-winning wine Principe Alfonso. And it was nestled in the heartland of Andalucia, close to the sleepy village of Arriate, where Alfonso finally found true happiness before passing away, leaving his estate to his children, in 2003. “I have lived in castles, in Venetian palaces and the world’s finest hotels. I have watched the sun rise over the beaches of five continents and I have looked into the eyes of the most beautiful women of the universe,” he famously remarked. “Everywhere I sought my dreamed-of city and at last I have found it in Ronda.”
FILLING HIS BOOTS: Sean Connery and Jackie Lane, while (left) Michelle Obama takes a tour of the old town
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As seen on
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What’s behind Spain’s new power tariffs? A price rise for most, says Martin Tye
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Royal Decree came into effect on June 1, 2021, that affects everyone. It’s active now and you will see changes when you receive your electricity bill this month. According to the CNMC (National Commission for Markets and Competition) the changes could see consumers save on their bills. Not everyone believes this to be true. Remember when sterling was decimalised? Prices went up. Remember when the peseta changed to the euro? Prices went up. The Government is seeking to encourage more efficient energy use. A correct motive, which is all part of the drive to making Spain carbon neutral by 2050. Many consumer groups however argue that electricity bills could go up by as much as 27%. Ouch! And the new measures will hit more vulnerable households the hardest. SO WHAT’S NEW? The new billing system now has a single access tariff. The bill you will receive will have different charges depending on when you use your power.
Electric shocker
So, if you use your electricity at peak times (P1..Punta) you will pay a higher price. If you get up at midnight to do your ironing it will cost less (P3..Valle). The regulator is hoping that more efficient energy use will reduce the need for new investment in the national grid. Isn’t this something that should happen anyway? We all pay a premium price for electricity in Spain.
CONSUMO This is the charge you pay for the number of kilowatts you actually use. Until now most domestic users have either paid the same charge all day, or had a tariff that has two different charge points for daytime and nighttime use. All users will now have three different charge points.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR BILL?
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Punta P1 higher price (10.00-14.00 & 18.00-22.00)
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Llano P2 medium price (08.00-10.00 & 14.00-18.00 & 22.00-00.00)
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Valle P3 lower price (00.00-08.00)
Probably not! The majority of users do not understand or even read their bill. We just accept it is what it is and pay it. Not everyone knows that it is a free market in Spain and that switching provider is a simple process. Your bill has several elements to it:
TAXES
POTENCIA
As you know IVA is applied at a rate of 21% to all. Plus Spain has a 5.11% energy tax.
This is a charge that most Europeans have not seen before in their native country. Here in Spain you pay for the ability to use a certain amount of power. So, for example, if you have a charge for 4.4Kw of potencia and you use more, your power trips off. Currently most users have a single potencia level. The new regulations allow for two separate levels of charge.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? Nothing! It’s already been done. All these changes come at a time when the wholesale price of electricity is at a high price, and expected to remain so this summer. All you can do is compare the market and
switch provider to save. And of course change the times you consume! According to the CNMC changing one’s habits could save you €200-300 per year. Programming your washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher to come on at midnight makes sense. If you have a swimming pool, setting the timer to heat or filter from midnight to 8am makes sense. Are you going to get up at midnight to iron? I doubt it! The Facua Consumers in Action organisation claims that asking customers to use their appliances at night is degrading for the most vulnerable consumers. These cheaper tariffs coincide with when people should be resting. Not everyone has programmable domestic appliances. And what about the homeworkers? Many have been actually encouraged to work from home, saving fuel costs, transport costs etc.
Now they will pay more as the things they need to use - computer, air conditioning, printer - all now fall under the higher tariff costs. This is the first major change to the way in which you pay for your electricity for 20 years. It will not be without controversy. Electricity is not normally a headline grabber. It will be now!
Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energia. +34 638145664 Email him at martin@
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This guide will probably have a few surprises for you Watts used per hour
TV 300
Kettle 3000
Microwave 600-1500
Fridge Freezer 250-400
Iron 1000-1800
Vacuum Cleaner 500-1200
Washing M. 1200-3000 Energy periods
Energy periods
@mariposaenergia.es
New conditions (graphical format)
Toaster New conditions800-1500 (graphical format)
Oven 2000
Power periods
Power periods
BORN out of Marbella, Mariposa Energía is a team on a mission: to save people money on their electricity bill, while also helping to save the future of our planet. Founded in San Pedro de Alcántara, just two years ago, the green energy broker has gone from slashing the cost of energy bills locally to extending the service around Spain. The company does not just claim to save consumers money, the team actually calculates the cost-savings individuals can make, based on a recent energy bill. And, with savings of up to 35%, it’s easy to see why so many people have decided to switch to Mariposa’s cheaper, greener tariffs. “Switching supplier is a really simple process, it is literally easier than flicking a switch,” explains CEO Martin Tye. “Consumers simply tell us they want to switch and they only notice the change has occurred when they start receiving their cheaper bills.” Consumers who wish to take green energy a stage further can even choose to generate their own electricity, using solar roof panels. The team takes care of the whole process, from the satellite survey and design of the panels, to the installation and registration paperwork. They can even take care of the ongoing maintenance. All solar panel installations come with a 20year fully comprehensive guarantee, giving
From Marbs... to making savings nationwide consumers peace of mind that their investment will stand the test of time. And there are also low-cost financing options available. “If you own your own roof, solar PV panels are a fantastic way to save money. You will instantly see your electricity bill drop and, what’s more, if you produce more than you consume you’ll even get paid for the surplus you supply to the National Grid,” adds Tye. Mariposa’s success in expanding around Spain, is not just down to the substantial cost savings, but also due to the excellent customer service they provide. Clients have their own point of contact (no more speaking with faceless call centres) and their energy bills are designed to be easy to read and understand. To find out more about switching or to enquire about solar PV panels, contact the friendly team today on +34 951 120 830, email info@mariposaenergia. es or visit the website: www.mariposaenergia.es
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On the palAte - Restaurant review
T’S no coincidence that Marbella has nearly half a dozen Michelin stars within its modest boundaries… this is, after all, the playground of the super-rich. The line up of fabulous eateries gets better by the year and includes plenty of great new spots not even found by the Michelin inspectors. And forget Dani Garcia, who choked on reaching the highest accolade you can make in global cuisine, chucking in his three Michelin stars just a month after getting there. The trio of El Lago, Messina and twostar Skina more than make up for it, each with their own stylish take on modern cuisine. But it’s the hidden spots that are al-
Starry nights ways my favourite to track down, the likes of Sabor in the back streets of San Pedro, the super-secret El Cortijo de Ramiro, in Guadalmina, recently-opened Paisana in Nueva Andalucia, and Cascada (see review below)
Marbella is the Michelin star capital of Spain, writes Jon Clarke
in the hills on the way up to Monda. One true talent whose star is well and truly rising is Fernando Alcala, at Kava (see review on Olive Press website). This self-trained cook, and former lawyer, is producing not only wonder-
nus and Nueva Andalucia, is THE place for most tourists to visit at least once on their holiday. Guaranteed fun, its menu changes regularly and the service is never short of amazing. Best of all is the amazing terrace, a place that every footballer and Towie star has made a beeline to be seen at for the last decade. And don’t forget La Sala by the Sea, the hippest beach club on the coast, with excellent food to boot. On the subject of glamour, the stunning views from the rooftop terrace of the Benabola Hotel Sky Bar are almost impossible to beat. Lording it over the famous marina, this celebrated hotel is the dream spot for an early evening tapa and cocktail, or a nightcap following supper. Even better, come for the evening and relax at easily one of the coast’s genuine secret spots, where thosein-the-know and plenty of celebrities come to hide out. For those having two cocktails or more there is free underground parking (look out for the Benabola Hotel signs and get your card franked at reception with your receipt).
Garden of Eden
The young team at Marbella’s Cascada are carving out an exciting, healthy dining secret, writes Jon Clarke
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OU would be hard pressed to find a more alluring location for a restaurant. Sitting beside a bubbling brook in an almost tropical valley above Marbella, Cascada is one special place to eat. A true garden of Eden, Cascada (meaning ‘waterfall’) is hidden up a track surrounded by woodland full of birds and crickets. You arrive at a charming candle-lit terrace in the evenings, bedecked with bougainvillea and geraniums and inside a contemporary space, ideal for colder nights or boiling days. While short, the menu is as exciting for vegetarians as it is for meat-eaters like me, with a heavy focus on good, local ingredients. In fact, some friends reckoned it was the best vegetarian food they had eaten in Marbella ‘for years’. Chosen by a committee made up
ful food, but at prices well below the going rate for the resort. I particularly liked his attention to detail… his carefully skinned cherry tomatoes, tiny shrimps laid on carrots, pickled with cumin and courgette-stuffed wontons in a creamy lobster broth. It not only looks good, but is awash with spicy flavours and is largely healthy, macrobiotic food, with almost all the dairy coming from sheep and goats. Take a proper tour of the town and you will find well over 100 different nationalities cooking in Marbella, from leading Japanese joints like Takumi to famous eateries like La Sala. This institution, between Puerto Ba-
of its young well-travelled owners Max and Ben, who herald from France and Belgium, and their chef Jacques Marie Lagarde, it has a really good mix of dishes. It was clear things were being taken seriously when I heard Jacques giving his team their marching orders, Gordon Ramsey-style, on the pass inside. And you certainly couldn’t fault him for presentation and timing-wise everything
came together like a military operation. I particularly liked the prawn and guacamole tacos, which came in a BBQ sauce and were gluten-free to boot. The local Coin salad had a bit of everything, while the aubergines served on a blue cheese mousse with beetroot and cane honey were legendary. The pluma Iberica main was also delicious although the baked kid on the BBQ won my plaudits.
Max, who grew up in Asia, later told me their philosophy was ‘simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’ and that just about sums it up.
www.cascadamarbella. com
Spoilt Looking for a curry head to nearby Indian restaurant Mumtaz, while its sister restaurant Cibo on the main road into Marbella is also a good bet. Up in San Pedro you will be spoilt for choice with Alfredos which opens for 364 days of the year, as well as La Bodega de Cantinero, which serves up the best sherries by far, hundreds in fact. Marbella’s journey into culinary greatness is typified by the famous A Cuatro Manos events that took place every summer at the Puente Romano hotel until wiped out by the Covid crisis. Highly respected chefs from Ferran Adria to Joan Roca and Joel Robuchon to Juan Mari Arzak zoomed in to present dishes and show cooking events over the last five years. Their appearances helped to make Marbella the true dining capital of Andalucia.
Marbella Arena - ringing the changes Bullring in Puerto Banus to be transformed into entertainment venue
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HE OLD bullring in Puerto Banus is having a makeover and is set to become a top entertainment venue. Because of its coliseum shape, it’s the perfect place for all kinds of cultural events and the owners have big plans to turn it into the Costa del Sol’s premiere all-yearround entertainment venue. They intend to host all kinds of events: from theatre and dance to gastronomic specials and music which will be suitable for all audiences and be family friendly. The most eagerly awaited project is the plan to roof over the top tier of the ring. This will create a luxury hotel with stunning views to the mountains and across Puerto Banus to the sea. And the ambitious plans include creating a massive opening dome which will allow for an open air auditorium in summer and a closed one protected from the elements in winter, making it a true all year round venue. There are also plans to create a nightlife area, which will be subject to the COVID-19 safety measures, as will the entire
arena. This means that what is set to be Marbella’s best entertainment venue complies with the terms of The World Travel Tourism Council, which has granted the city the World Seal Of Tourist Security (Safe Travel Stamp). Not only that, but the Marbella Arena administration guarantees a full refund of the entrance fee for any compelling reason in relation to COVID-19. The establishment will provide people with unique shows and exclusive experiences, ‘offering different cultural and leisure alternatives in the Costa del Sol’. Upcoming events not to be missed will be: Tribute to Elton John - The Elton John Experience - by the Malaga Symphony Orchestra, on June 26. Legends Forever, The Concert, on June 22. Sister Sledge & Mr Maph on June 30. According to Julio Erostarbe, the CEO of GNP Producciones Culturales - the company that manages the Marbella Arena auditorium - currently the maximum capacity is 1,500 people. “If for some reason the safety measures were to be modified,
the maximum capacity would change,” said Erostarbe. With a budget of around €700,000, the establishment has been set up to guarantee that people attending all the events will have a great time. With previous experience in show business, 30-year-old Spaniard Erostarbe and his team are fully prepared to make Marbella Arena one of the key experiences that will set it apart from the rest.
For information and booking details call +34 952 63 22 00 or email info@marbellaarena.com
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Taking the plunge EVERYONE loves a warm bath. But the Romans took bathing to another level, studding the Mediterranean with sublime stone thermae so that they could indulge in this pastime in any part of the Empire. Bathing to a Roman, you see, was more than a siesta to a Spaniard or teatime to a Brit: the public baths were a hive of (male) activity, a chance not only to wash and relax but also to catch up on the local gossip, cut a couple of business deals or even flaunt your social status by marching in with a troop of slaves. Now, the Junta plans to evoke this ancient lifestyle by restoring the Bovedas de Guadalmina Roman baths in Marbella. Located just a short stroll from the Paleo-
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A hidden oasis in Marbella
ATTRACTION: San Pedro’s Roman baths are being restored
christian Basilica del Mar and only a stone’s throw from the beach, these thermae
represent some of the most important archaeological remains in the area and have been a source of fascination for centuries. Locals used to call them the ‘baths of the old Moors’, thinking Arabs had built them after conquering the area in the Middle Ages, but they actually date back to the third century AD, when the Roman settlement Cilniana was enjoying its heyday. The baths are currently closed to the public, but this new municipal project, which will take place in phases over several years, plans to turn them into a tourist magnet by restoring some of their former glory.
www.cascadamarbella.com info@cascadamarbella.com +34 623 001 465 +34 671 349 733 Urbanizacion La Montua, 39, 29602, Marbella 2 minutes f rom La Cañada Shopping Center
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hat is the current situation in Marbella and the Costa del Sol?
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Fairway L AW Y E R S
We have observed exceptional activity and sales in the past year since June 21, 2020 when the lockdown was lifted, which this year has accelerated month after month to a level of activity we have never witnessed at any time in our history. The demand is almost at a frenzy level, and is a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, as our own statistics and that of most real estate agencies in the luxury end also confirm. This is happening in spite of the mobility restrictions between countries and even between municipalities in Spain, which makes us believe that this wave of purchasers is just beginning, and is an outstanding, positive sign of the market to come as the travel restrictions relax. Comparing the first five months of 2021 to 2019 how are we doing? Well enquiries are 2.4 times above those of 2019, before the pandemic, while the number of sales in the same period has increased by 81%. Meanwhile, the average sale price sold by our agency in 2021 is more than double that of 2019, going from €930,000 to €1,960,000. And all this, with a severely reduced number of foreign visitors and restriction of movement. Which areas are registering the greatest demand? There has always been a demand for buying homes on the Costa de Sol, however, the areas that historically lead this demand are Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona, the so called ‘Golden Triangle’. Within there
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Reaching a frenzy The demand for Marbella homes over 800,000 euros is at an all time high, says Christopher Clover, director of Marbella’s oldest real estate agency, Panorama you have the ‘ultra prime’ areas such as Beachside Golden Mile or La Zagaleta. What do these areas offer compared to others on the Costa? Marbella is a unique resort city, with the best climate in Europe and a low volume of construction, compared to the jungles of concrete seen in other tourist destinations, a true ‘garden city’ at the southernmost point of Europe. The main motivating factor is the incredible quality of life. On top of that the purchase of real estate here is now considered as a ‘safe harbour’ investment in these uncertain days, as safe as gold, and certainly much more than the stock market. What segment of the market is more active? (first, second, luxury ... homes) The luxury end of the market, including homes above €800,000 and the super luxury segment (properties priced above €3 million) are the segments with greatest activity, although there is strong movement in all market sectors. What kind of houses and features are currently the most demanded? Larger gardens, proximity to services and
HEN Diego Echevarria moved to Marbella from Madrid two decades ago he was attracted by the international mix of residents, the climate and, certainly, the golf
courses. A lawyer, with a first class training at the capital’s prestigious Complutense University, he landed a good job at a leading local firm, guiding mostly foreign clients through the maze of property buying. But, after going it alone, in 2006, Diego, 45, began to notice a recurring problem affecting dozens of his clients, the majority of whom had simply no idea.
ARE YOU OWED THOUSANDS FROM YOUR BANK? Did you have an illegal floor clause inserted in your Spanish mortgage? Millions of homeowners were wrongly charged thousands of euros due to underhand tactics, now outlawed after being exposed by the courts. Let us take a look at your documents and help you through the complicated process of claiming it back, PLUS damages. Our bilingual team of Marbella-based lawyers understand the situation well and can move quickly and efficiently.
NO WIN, NO FEE. Get in touch and we will check your mortgage deeds for free and let you know if you have a claim against your bank.
Contact Diego at Fairway Lawyers Tel: 952 77 11 50 diego@fairwaylawyers.com
www.fairwaylawyers.com
C/Nuestra Señora de Gracia 28, 1C 29602, Marbella (Malaga)
It mostly involved buyers who took out mortgages in the boom time between 2002 and 2009 and it was costing them thousands. In short, they were unfairly set up with a floor clause (or clausula suelo) inserted in the smallprint, meaning repayments could not drop below a certain level. “It meant so many people being conned out of tens of thousands of euros,” explains the personable fatherof-two from his plush office in central Marbella. “Most of my clients were British, who bought in the boom time and visited for two or three weeks a year. They simply had no idea.” The floor clause - now deemed illegal under Spanish
nature and ‘office spaces’ to be able to work comfortably from home are some of the key demands. Also the demand for newer homes, with state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality construction has been increasing dramatically since the last crisis. What is the buyers profile? The market for the high-end luxury segment is made up, at least 85%, of foreigners, which has given it so much strength for so many years compared to the national market. The buyers are always of the same nationalities: Europeans in general, with the UK as leaders, followed by Belgians, Swedish, the Dutch and others. In total, there are 140 nationalities living in the Marbella area. We have have buyers from the Middle East and the United States, and of course, Spanish buyers. There has been a great demand from successful young millennials with high purchasing power who choose only the best properties with a lot of privacy and the highest possible qualities. Panorama has a team of more than 26 professionals who speak 12 different languages, they specialize in the sale and rental of high quality villas, townhouses and apartments on Marbella’s Golden Mile and surroundings areas. Visit www. panoramamarbella.com
Flooring it Marbella lawyer has become the country’s number one specialist in the scandalous floor clause scandal with over 50 victories to date! law - meant whatever happened to the rates, the bank managed to win and Diego explains that the worst offenders included household names such as Unicaja, Banco Santander, Sabadell and Banco Popular. Diego estimates that as many as 3.5 million variable rate mortgages had this clause inserted over the last 20 years. “And the average loss is about 25,000 euros, with some well over 60,000 euros,” explains bilingual Diego, who studied abroad for three years in Germany and Albany, in America. His company, Fairway Lawyer has taken on numerous cases since 2010 and so far won ‘over 50 payouts’ against the banks. It has a 99% success rate with clients through the courts… and it is NO WIN, NO FEE with the company only taking 10% of the winnings if settled out of court and 20% if it goes to court. And, as Diego points out, even if you’ve long sold your villa and paid off the mortgage you are still entitled for compensation plus interests.
Get in touch with the team at www.fairwaylawyers.com or diego@fairwaylawyers.com or call 0034 952771150 or 0034 606307885
LA MORELIA A beautifully presented duplex penthouse in the brand new development La Morelia. 3 Beds | 3 Baths | 155m2 Built | 144m2 terrace REF: 176-01898P | 1.195.000€ Nestled at the top of the golf valley the property enjoys stunning open views. The open plan kitchen, living and dining room opens up to 2 terraces. The south facing terrace is perfect for al fresco dining and the west terrace is ideal for sunbathing and taking a swim in your private plunge pool. There are 2 bedrooms sharing a bathroom and a guest wc on this floor. The master suite is situated on the whole 2nd floor with a spacious bathroom and a large terrace perfect for lounging. The property is finished to high spec with underfloor heating throughout and airzone ac system. Easily accessed from the underground parking where you also have a storage unit.
LA QUINTA, BENAHAVIS A fully renovated and furnished top floor apartment in La Quinta. 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 137m2 Built | 37m2 terrace REF: 176-01838P | 575.000€ First thing you notice is the light and space as you enter the property. All materials and furniture have been carefully sourced and selected in order to create a Scandinavian boutique feel. The bespoke kitchen is the center piece with state of the art appliances. There are 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms making the property unique. The large terrace which you access from the living room and master has incredible open views over the golfcourse, mountain and towards the sea. A true gem well worth seeing.
LOS NARANJOS DE MARBELLA Two 2 bedroom top floor apartment located in Los Naranjos de Marbella. 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 86m2 Built | 35m2 tercace REF: 176-01917P | 350.000€ Walking distance to all amenities and 20 minutes to Puerto Banus and surrounding beaches. Located on the 2nd floor, this scandinavian styled apartment offers 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open plan kitchen, south facing terrace and a spacious solarium to enjoy all day socialising and relaxing. Great property for all year round living and good rental potential.
CENTRO COMERCIAL PLAZA 63 | 29660 NUEVA ANDALUCÍA | SPAIN +34 952 816 250 | INFO@ANDADEV.COM | WWW.ANDADEV.COM
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ll about
Silver linings
Estuco Interiors has been kept surprisingly busy over the last year, and it’s easy to see why...
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HE last year has been tough on most businesses, and well established 25-year-old Estuco Interiors is no exception. However, among the collections of wallpaper, paint and luxury fabric, this Marbella based company found a silver lining. “During lockdown, people realised just how important their homes were, because if you’re spending a lot of time somewhere, you want it to be nice. So, they came to us,” expained employee Laura. “Many people also decided to stay in their holiday homes when the restrictions came into place, and took the opportunity to show them a little TLC.” Estuco has everything from Farrow & Ball to Designers Guild, not to mention one of the largest fabric collections on the coast and striking selection of decorative items, influenced by co-owner Christel’s Swedish and African background. The team sources the products from all over the world. They have a very specific look, neutral but bold, and do everything from full house to single room projects. As the property market starts to pick up in Marbella, Estuco is once again in high demand as the go-to designers for some of the best properties in the area, bringing their unique style and creativity to each project. In fact, Estuco Interiors is in such demand, the company has recently launched an online shop, which allows them to send goods all over the world. “This is a really exciting time for our company. Going online has always been a big dream of ours,” says co-owner, Chris. Estuco Interiors’ success and excellent service owes to its trusted network of craftsmen, builders, painters, electricians and suppliers who are always on time, on spec and on budget.
For more info visit www.estucointeriors.com or email info@estucointeriors.com
June 2021
Bouncing off the walls How padel tennis arrived in Spain - and Europe - thanks to Marbella’s father figure, Alfonso de Hohenlohe
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NEW tin of balls and a satisfying thwack. The squeak of the trainer’s sole pivoting and a sweaty outstretched arm, pleading and praying to reach the next shot - there’s few racket sports as fast and furious as this. If tennis or squash came to mind, you’d be forgiven but this is padel - a glorious hybrid of the two. It has been described as ‘tennis with walls’ or ‘squash in the sun’ - but the secret love child of two sports has grow up fast and is now widely considered to be the fastest developing sport in the world. European sporting heroes Nadal, Djokovic and Murray all play. But padel — or padel tennis if you’re a yank — was in fact invented thanks to a tiny Mexican millionaire with a too-small villa and one very good idea. Sports fanatic Enrique Corcuera originally set out to build a tennis court inside his home in Estipac, a town near Guadalajara, Mexico in the late 1960s. But the cramped measurements of his house meant the court had to be stuffed inside 3-4 metre high walls and measured just 10 by 20 me-
tres in size. Undeterred, Enrique invited his rich pals around to play a fast-paced game he called Paddle Corcuera and soon all of the Mexican elite were batting away with shorter, stringless OLD DAYS: Padel has grown hugely since it arrived in Spain rackets and smacking tennis balls that ricocheted off the unlike tennis, regularly exceed 50 or 60 walls. shots per point. The court may be small, One of the aforementioned friends was but the players are mighty. bohemian aristocrat Alfonso De Ho- Along with Argentina, Spain remains the henlohe, Marbella’s ‘father figure’ who best place to play official tournaments founded the Marbella club in 1954 as and international competitions with the a private residence and meeting place country boasting more than 2,400 clubs. for the grand families of Europe and the The first World Championships were stars whom he rubbed shoulders with in organised in 1992 in Sevilla with deleHollywood. gations from 11 different countries from Alfonso quickly fell in love with the quirky Europe and America participating. sport and decided to introduce the game Now, the World Championships are orto Spain by building Europe’s first padel ganised every two years. club in 1974, even adding a few mo- Other big tournaments including the Eudifications to the game to make it even ropacup, the Padel Pro Tour (Spain and more competitive. Argentina) and the Tri-Nations Cup in Soon even the Spanish royal Juan Car- Latin America attract tens of thousands los was bouncing off the walls and the of spectators each year. King’s new hobby quickly caught the at- Tennis star and former British number tention of the public. one Andy Murray is even doing his part Once ex-Wimbledon champion Manolo to bring the sport to the UK. Following Santana started playing too, the sport De Hohenlohe’s footwork, Murray has soared in popularity and the next 25 invested in a Scottish company that plans years saw an errruption of courts across and constructs courts, hoping to boost Spain. the number of padel clubs in Britain Today padel is a €500m industry, played Currently there are only 19 clubs in the by a whopping ten million people. UK but as proved by Marbella’s founding It’s no surprise it became a fast-favourite father, when it comes to introducing padel to a new country, it’s always worth of the cardio inclined. The sport is marked for its rallies, which, a shot.
Retro Marbella
BUZZ FOR BOATIES: Picture of the old Puerto Deportivo
Views of the Costa del Sol town before it hit the big time
NO SIN: Nuns having fun in the sun
HEART: The Marbella Club kick-started the town’s glamour
MINING: At Sierra Blanca
BIG CHANGES: The Club Maritimo (above) and carrying the Virgen del Carmen during an Easter parade in the 1960s
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ll about
June 2021
Built by Romans
M
ARBELLA began its life as a town in the seventh century BC, when it was a Roman settlement called ‘Salduba’. This is also the name of a well k n o w n bar at the entrance to Puerto Banus SPECTACULAR: Mosaic at Rio Verde that has been there away is the restored Rofor centuries man villa at Rio Verd too. Meanwhile an its beautiful mosaicse with . original Roman bridge still A sleepy town during the stands surreally in the mi- period of Al-Andalus, ddle of the Puente Romano Marbella was retaken by Hotel and a few kilometres Christians in 1485. The Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square) has been the focal point of the town since then and the town hall is still located there today.
CAPTIVATING: The Pue
nte Romano Hotel’s anc
ient ruins
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Spain’s Number One! Lawyer Jose Ramon Gutierrez updates us on how he has reached Number One ranked lawyer in Spain for the second time, writes Elena Goçmen Rueda
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ARBELLA legal eagle Jose Ramon Gutierrez has been named Spain’s Number One lawyer and with good reason: He has taken on the country’s banks who shirk their responsibilities when clients lost their savings when buying off-plan homes. Yes, shocking but true, but tens of thousands of people who believed they had ‘bank guarantees’ were alarmed when the financial institutions refused to honour them. In a shocking state of affairs many banks simply tried to walk away from the responsibility of protecting their clients, who in many cases lost hundreds of thousands of euros. Fortunately for some of them, Jose, who comes from Malaga, took up their cases.
From his office in central Marbella, he has been representing clients from all over Spain for decades. The Olive Press asked him about his line of work and his prestigious recent award on the website www.emerita.legal Hi Jose, you are a highly reputed lawyer but what is your field of expertise? I am in the business of recovering money paid by buyers of off-plan homes when their homes have either not been built or have had any problem during the construction process. You must have been happy with being voted ‘Number One’ in Spain for the second time in a row in the National
Insurance Law Ranking? I am very proud to have been honoured with the Number One spot again. It has taken a lot of hard work to get there! It is the reward of years of work and it fills me with great satisfaction. It is also the reflection of the hundreds of clients I have helped to recover their life savings. There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than helping my clients. Why do you think you have won for a second time? To reach the Number One position you must have the best statistics in court proceedings. Thanks to the work, study and effort for many years I can proudly say that I am that person again. What difficulties have you had to go through to get there? More than you can imagine! I have had to face the best lawyers in Spain representing
many banks and I have had to convince hundreds of judges that what I was proposing was the fairest thing. You are a senior with 16 years experience as a practicing lawyer, what four bits of valuable advice could you give to younger lawyers, now setting up in business? Study hard, be brave and when you stumble, get up again. Believe in yourself despite all the adversities you encounter. You have taken sides in almost 200 cases so far in your career. Any anecdotes worth mentioning? More than anecdotes, I would emphasise that when I started with these types of cases I was branded as crazy, but thanks to that madness I have opened a path, along with other colleagues, that has led to thousands of families being able to recover their savings.
To contact Jose Ramon visit www.lawfirminspain.com
GOLDEN MILE
Ref: OP12092
Brand-new modern villa in the consolidated area of Nagüeles!
CORTIJO BLANCO
Ref: OP12130
7-bedroom ultra-modern beachside villa in a consolidated community walking distance to the beach and all amenities.
GOLDEN MILE
5-bedroom brand-new villa with excellent qualities and large windows that allow natural light to enter all rooms. A few minutes drive from the center of Marbella and Puerto Banús.
GOLDEN MILE Built incl. terraces: 618 m² Plot: 800 m² Price: €1,995,000
Ref: OP11016
Great opportunity! 3-bedroom villa with sea and mountain views. Offering tranquillity and security - only 5 minutes from Puerto Banús.
Ref: OP12360
3-bedroom beachside penthouse in a lovely complex walking distance to all amenities. Excellent qualities throughout.
MARBELLA Built: 683 m2 Terrace: 79 m2 Price: €775,000
Built incl. terraces: 603 m2 Plot: 1,139 m2 Price: €2,750,000
Built: 142 m² Terrace: 38 m2 Price: €1,240,000
Ref: OP12422
Bright and spacious 3-bedroom home with modern interiors in Lomas Pueblo, a 7-minute walk to the beach and Puente Romano.
Built: 141 m² Terrace: 32 m2 Price: €695,000
Offices at Puente Romano & opposite the Marbella Club Hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es
Regulated by RICS
BUSINESS
THOUSANDS of BBVA employees held a one-day strike to protest against the bank’s plans for layoffs. It was the first such work stoppage involving a bank at a national level in 30 years. BBVA said in April it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs, though it later offered to bring that number down to around 3,300, to adapt to a client shift towards online banking.
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Unhappy bankers Some 35% of BBVA staff in Spain joined the one-day stoppage called by several Spanish unions. Although BBVA is offering financial compensation for employees to leave voluntarily and is encouraging early retirement, staff remain against the move.
Looking up
Spain’s economic comeback gathers pace SPAIN has just experienced its best May in terms of employment for three years. With 19.26 million people in work, it has returned to the level of activity observed before the pandemic. The recovery should accelerate with the arrival of summer, the return of tourism and the progress of vaccination, according to Span-
By Nickacia Forrester
ish PM Pedro Sanchez. He said: “Vaccination is the best economic policy, and we are prooving it.” The hotel industry, which is starting its tourist season, and agriculture, which is beginning its fruit harvest, are the two sectors that are cur-
Pirate jailed
A WOMAN has been jailed for six months for using pirated versions of Windows and Microsoft Office on two of her cybercafe computers. The woman, who owns a computer access centre in Madrid, was caught in November 2017. The police had discovered that two of the eight computers available in this cybercafé held a pirated version of the software. In addition to jail and a fine, the woman will have to compensate Microsoft for the cost of the two licences.
PM: Pedro Sanchez
rently recruiting the most. Unemployment is down this month with 3.78 million Spaniards looking for work. According to the Spanish Social Security, 542,142 people are still on short-time lay offs, waiting to return to their jobs. There were more than 600,000 at the beginning of May and almost a million at the height of the health crisis. Experts estimate that this figure will continue to fall gradually.
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UK Landlords
PROPERTY
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The high life
With HMRC’s new Making Tax Digital rules
MALAGA, Valencia and Alicante beat Madrid and Barcelona for the best quality of life, when it comes to the best cities to live in Spain. In a recent survey by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), 15 of Spain’s largest cities were compared, including everything from cost of living to education and health services, leisure, culture, employment and more. Coming out on top was the Galician city of Vigo, with 70%, scoring highly in safety, cleanliness, education, environment and pollution an all round favourite place to live. Just behind Vigo is Zaragoza and Bilbao at 69%. Sitting in the middle is Malaga, with 66%, followed by Valencia (65%) and Alicante (64%),
What do you need to do if you live abroad? Keep digital records of property income and expenses Submit 4 tax returns a year using a HMRC recognised software
Scan to find out more!
QUALITY: Good times in Malaga with an average score across the board. Slipping into the 50s is Murcia, Palma and Barcelona, with Madrid sitting in last place. Palma, specifically, was called out for its low education offer, while Barcelona and Madrid were seen as the worst cities for pollution, as well as their lack of culture, sports and leisure offerings.
Bouncing back
Property sales higher than prepandemic levels
HOUSE sales in April were higher than in the same month in 2019, according to figures from the College of Registrars. A separate survey shows that May's prices rose by 1.3% over 12 months. It’s significant news that the property market appears to be recovering after last year’s pandemic problems, with some extra pent-up demand as a bonus.
apari-digital.com
Good times are back
Why is market demand so strong? Right now, the top of the market is experiencing higher levels of demand than it has for years. There are good reasons for this: 1.
2.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen property searches worldwide drop in big cities and rise in ‘safe’ areas, like the Costa del Sol. More and more people are working remotely, letting them choose where to live based on quality of life not proximity to an office.
3.
The Property Insider
by Adam Neale
3.
More affluent clients who have savings and liquid assets are looking for a better return on investment than the interest offered by banks.
Why is stock in short supply? There’s simply not enough stock on the market to satisfy demand for highend properties. Again, there are various reasons why: 1.
2.
3.
The volume of recent sales has reduced the total number of existing properties available for sale on the Costa del Sol. New listings are not coming to market at a fast enough rate to replace those already sold, leading to a further squeeze. Planning delays in places like Marbella have exacerbated the
lack of product, as land-to-build lead times can reach over three years. What about new developments? There are two kinds of new-build properties, homes sold by a developer and a home you build and develop yourself. Both are in short supply for different reasons: 1.
2.
Spain is still recovering from the slump in new development that took place during and in the aftermath of the financial global crisis. New developments are under construction, but many are still at the planning stage. And, because financing remains tight, some may never get off the ground The Marbella area, in particular, can have lengthy delays to obtain
The Registrar figures, which reflect real estate transactions, show April's property sales as being unsurprisingly 91% higher than a year earlier, when the State of Alarm lockdown largely put paid to any business. The surprise though was that April sales clocked
High-end Costa del Sol property is booming
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HE top of the real-estate market in the Golden Triangle of Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís is booming, driven by high demand, limited supply and long lead times for building permits and developments We’ve already written about the buying frenzy underway in La Zagaleta, where sales worth well over €100 million have been reported in the last six months alone. But La Zagaleta is far from the only place on the Costa del Sol where high-end homes are selling fast. Here at Terra Meridiana, we’ve already sold a number of multi-million-euro properties in some of the most exclusive areas of Marbella in 2021, inclduing Cáscada de Camoján, La Zagaleta, Sierra Blanca and the beach front. And interest among affluent clients for the very best properties in the Golden Triangle of Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís shows no sign of abating.
By Alex Trelinski
a building permit. Town-planning issues affect both commercial developers and private individuals who apply for building licences. This can add up to long lead times to get a project off the ground. The scarcity of stock on the Costa del Sol also applies to building plots. Finding land to buy can be a competitive and expensive endeavour in the current market.
Why now’s a good time to buy The current level of demand for high-quality homes on sale for more than a million euros looks set to continue and possibly grow. If you’re considering buying a home or investing in the property market on the Costa del Sol, our advice is the sooner you buy the better. Prices are already rising for the most expensive real estate, as potential buyers are willing to pay a premium to secure the property they want. If you are in a position to purchase a property with your own funds, the rate of return on your investment will almost certainly beat the banks. And a good time to sell If you own a premium property on the Costa del Sol and are thinking about selling, now is also a great time. We are receiving lots of enquiries every day for the very best properties in prime locations such as Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís.
Terra Meridiana, 77 Calle Caridad, Estepona • 29680 • Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. Website: www.terrameridiana.com
in 3.1% higher than two years earlier, and new home mortgages were up by 8.8% over the same two year period. Overall real estate transactions, including commercial premises, grew by 9.3% compared to April 2019.
Boom
As for prices, the latest Tinsa survey showed that May's average property price rose by 1.3% compared to a year earlier. The increase from between April and May was 0.5%. The biggest annual rises were on the Balearic and Canary Islands at 4.6%, followed by the Mediterranean coast with 3.2%. The pandemic effects of people wanting to look away from large cities appears to be continuing. The Tinsa report says that the annual price hike for major urban centres was just 0.4%.
House win A THIEF claimed a €125,000 lottery prize from a ticket in a stolen handbag and bought a house with his surprise windfall. The 52-year-old man went into a restaurant in the Alicante Province town of Novelda on December 19. He pinched a female customer's handbag that was hanging over her chair.
Busted
The contents included €950 in cash but also a ticket for the annual El Gordo lottery. Much to the thief’s joy, it proved to be a winner in the annual draw three days later. The prize was €125,000 and he fraudulently claimed it for himself. He then used the proceeds to buy a house in Alzira. Painstaking work by the Guardia Civil to identify the culprit took over five months, but he was arrested at his new property on May 31. Despite having a criminal record for theft, a court granted him bail.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Amber for go
ONE in five people and a third of 18 to 24s in the UK are considering a holiday to amber list countries including Spain. This is despite strict quarantine and testing rules for their return home, according to a report by Survation. PCR tests cost up to £120 (€149) but it seems many people feel it is a price worth paying, although the 10-day quarantine remains a bigger hurdle for some. Travel agents are calling for ministers to allow people who have had both doses of vaccine to travel to amber countries without testing or quarantine, although the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock remains against the matter. He told MPs: “Restoring international travel in the medium term is incredibly important. “It is going to be challenging and hard because of the risk of new variants.” The traffic light list will be reassesed on June 24.
Requena set to become a prime producer of the highest category of sparkling wines in the country
A NEW set of regulations is set to help a Spanish region corner the market in ecological cava. The Utiel-Requena inland area of Valencia has long been a world-class denomination for wines rivalling even La Rioja – and for the area cava is the name of the game. Requena is said to be the heart of Valencian cava and the leading producer in Spain of ecological varieties of the famous fizzy wines. There are currently 4,000 hectares of vineyards in the area dedicated to producing the white grapes for cava – 10% of
PAELLA could become a UNESCO heritage asset if the Valencian government gets its way. An official application process has begun via a declaration in the region's State Bulletin to apply for Valencian paella to be classified as a 'World Intangible Heritage Asset'. The proclamation states: “Paella is the epicentre of the Valencian culinary tradition and the backbone of it; this, together with its preparation process and its cultural relevance in Spain, has turned it into one of the most prestigious global brands.” Valencian paella has its own ingredients and
Lovely bubbly By Glenn Wickman
the total surface in Spain. One third of all bottles of DO Cava produced in the Valencian town boast the Eco label, and over 20% of Spain’s total ecological cava production comes from there. Only grapes grown within the town’s limits can be used to create the DO Cava fizzy wines, and a new series of criteria set to be introduced by the Spanish regulating authorities are expected to further boost the reputation and sales of the Va-
Paella heritage
characteristics. It is normally cooked with seafood (prawns and mussels) or meat (chicken, rabbit, pork ribs, snails). The supporting ingredients, besides the rice, are tomatoes (peeled and grated), paprika, rosemary, saffron, garlic and various types of bean or sometimes artichoke. It became popular when rice was a staple dish of many poor people and all kinds of ingredients were lumped into a pot to produce a hearty meal.
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Being optimistic AN optimistic 3.5 million passengers have booked a flight to Malaga between June and September. This is an increase of over 100% compared to last year, which is a promising sign for tourism in the Costa del Sol. Francisco Salado, the president of Costa del Sol tourism, says this could be the ‘beginning of a tourism reactivation’. Salado said: “It is extraordinary news that points to hope because despite what has been experienced, it seems that the work done to regain connectivity is also bearing fruit.” Hotel occupancy in the region is also creeping up, with last month seeing close to 50% occupancy. In fact, Malaga now has six more flight connections with different countries than it did before COVID-19, suggesting that as long as they allow foreign travel, tourism really could start to ramp up at last.
+34 951 566 192 Duquesa Port, Manilva QUALITY: Juicy grapes lencian variety. Once approved, champagne-style fizzy wine will be classified into four different categories depending on the aging period – namely guarda and three types of guarda superior. In order to qualify for guarda superior, the product must be made with ecological grapes, which has been the focus of Requena’s cava production over recent years. The area’s low humidity, good altitude and thermic differences between day and night – which prevent the spread of most pests and infections – will make it very easy for Requena to adapt to the new regulations when they come into force by 2025.
Mix it up at Jimmys. Whatever you want - Meat, Fish or Vegan. Delicious breakfasts and International tapas including the tastiest vegan selection on the Sol.
All welcome and pet friendly too. So plant your feet at Jimmys. See you soon.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Hidden beauties
PAIN counts amongst its architectural gems some of the most beautiful villages in Europe - if not the world. There are so many memorable hamlets and quaint villages in the country that it is almost impossible to rank them. But one organisation has at least recognised them and added 10 more to its list of
June 16th - June 29th 2021
‘must see’ pueblos. The Association Los Pueblos Mas Bonitos de España (The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain) announced the names of these charming and offthe-beaten-track Spanish villages that are perfect places to visit in 2021. Since 2011 the list has grown to include over 100 of the country’s most picture-perfect villages and in less than a decade has be-
come a reference point of distinction and quality both nationally and internationally. To make the cut, towns must have a population of under 15,000 with notable architectural or cultural
heritage, programmed cultural activities, attention to traditions and green areas, among other criteria. From white-washed hilltop villages in Andalucia to medieval walled towns where
10 of the dreamiest villages in Spain to visit in 2021 the streets are lined with millions of mosaic tiles, the Olive Press takes a look
at the pretty pueblos that have been added to the list this year.
Agulo (La Gomera) Agulo is one of the smallest and oldest towns of La Gomera, nestled in a natural depression, the old village is one of the best preserved and most beautiful of the Canary Islands. Historically, it was one of the most prosperous municipalities of the island, being the first to have drinking water and electricity. The picturesque town faces the ocean, lined with beautiful streets and surrounded by charming trails, it also boasts stunning views to the neighbouring island of Tenerife.
Cudillero (Asturias)
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n enchanting fishing village on the coast of Asturias, Spain. The entire village is cosily nestled within a small bay. Its picturesque and colourful houses make it one of the most famous, admired and photographed fishing towns in northern Spain, Spread out along the coast are sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs, this picture-perfect fishing village also boasts some of the best Asturian seafood.
Baños de la Encina (Jaen)
Located at the foot of the Sierra Morena mountains, the town’s main monument is the Caliphate Fortress, built in 968, which witnessed the battles between
Muslims and Christians. The village centre was declared a Historic Artistic Site in 1969 and the area, surrounded by Holm Oak trees, umbrella pines
and bushes together with a number of species of wild animals which inhabit the area, has earned Baños de la Encina popularity with nature lovers.
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
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Nuevo Baztan (Madrid)
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his interesting town, 50 kilometers from Madrid, was founded in the beginning of the 18th century by Juan of Goyeneche as a dwelling for the workers of a glass factory. It consists of a small historic centre and modern housing estates. The city was declared a Historic and Artistic Monument in 1941 and in 2000, it was declared a Cultural Heritage Monument.
Genalguacil (Malaga) Genalguacil is located in the Genal Valley, in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda, hidden a few kilometers from the Costa del Sol. With little more than 500 inhabitants, its Arab heritage, intermingled with the predominant white of the houses in the village, together with the green of holm oaks and cork oaks, makes this small paradise one of the most beautiful and unique towns of Andalucia.
T
his picture-postcard village is located at the beginning of the river Llierca. A village with no more than 20 inhabitants, the medieval stone buildings remain frozen in time and the ex-
Beget (Girona) treme care of its buildings and surroundings has allowed its heritage to survive over the centuries, becoming the most beautiful village in Spain.
Roncal (Navarra)
Bulnes (Asturias)
T
he lovely, remote village of Bulnes in Spain’s green Asturias, is not only one of the smallest villages in Spain, but it is also one of the most beautiful. With just under 30 inhabitants, this remote village is unusually challenging to get to, at 650 metres (2,133 feet) up in the rugged Picos de Europa mountains, it is only accessible via a tramway that was tunnelled in from the nearby village of Poncebos, footpaths and donkey trails.
S
urrounded by rounded mountain ranges, the town is best known for being part of the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St James). Located below Monte Irago, this town, declared an Artistic and Historic Site in 1975,
Molinaseca (Leon) boasts a rich, medieval past. One of its main attractions is the Roman Bridge, also known as the Pilgrims’ Bridge, which reaches the Santo Cristo Cross.
N
avarra’s most spectacular mountain area is around Roncal, a town located in the middle of the Navarrese Pyrenees. It is completely paved and has several beautiful points, such as the church of San Esteban or the mausoleum to the tenor Julián Gayarre, made by the sculptor Benlliure.
Valverde de la Vera (Caceres) A beautiful place to enjoy and relax surrounded by nature, with water being the main element. In fact, watering holes and small channels still flow to the doors of the houses and are used for irrigation and even for cleaning. Crystal-clear natural swimming pools formed from water falls from the Tormantos and Gredos mountain ranges abound in the area, as do nature trails making it a hikers paradise.
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THIS IS A PIECE OF PARADISE
Our 2021 season has only just started but already we hear how happy our guests are
Why NOT vISIT MOLINO DEL SANTO SOON?
Call or e-mail us - we will make you our very best deals possible on rooms so that you can enjoy paradise. For the moment, the hotel and restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday - but please book ahead to ensure your place. ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
MOLINO DEL SANTO
www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51 ESTACIÓN DE BENAOJÁN, NEAR RONDA, MÁLAGA
We are open – See you soon!
The Costa de la Luz’s most emblematic restaurant and hotel. In the stunning white town of Vejer de la Frontera.
CalifaVejer.com tel: +34 956 44 77 30 Plaza de España, Vejer de la Frontera,Costa de la Luz, Cádiz
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FOOD,DRINK
June 16th June 29th 2021
The ‘wheel A dmittedly, aspiring to cy- the few places in Europe where cle over the Sierra Neva- you can ski in sight of the sea, da on a bike with heavy which shimmered tantalisingly pannier bags and only in the early morning sun. seven gears had seemed ambi- From the peak, the 400m detious from the outset. scent towards Abla was worthy But my book, (Just As Well) It’s of a car advert and should be Not About The Bike, is as much on the wishlist of all adrenaline about Spain’s history and cul- junkie cyclists. ture as it is the 1,300km route Upon reaching the valley floor, I headed north-east towards from Valencia to Gibraltar. Several readers have comment- Guadix. ed that I must be ‘bonkers’ to If the grind of the hard yards have embarked on the journey. ever began to wear me down, I However, it was the best thing I reminded myself that there alhave ever done. The bike, which ways seemed to be something I bought for less than €200 at unusual just around the corner. the start of the For example, trip, enabled me shortly after deto travel to parts parting CartageThings didn’t of Spain the vast na, I stumbled the early 16th century fort was majority of tourupon the En- one of the first Italian Renaisalways go ists have never chanted City of sance castles to be built outto plan, even heard of. Bolnuevo. side of Italy. I hugged the My willpower Before I planned my trip, I’d sometimes coast for much to resist stop- never heard of Guadix and I redisastrously of the adventure, ping for a break garded the city as merely a conbut I was unable at one of the venient pit-stop. But a visit to to resist the lure pristine empty its two most famous landmarks of the Alhambra and took a de- beaches next to the road had quickly highlighted the fallacy tour inland to visit the tourist been diminishing with each of this perception. Mecca of Granada. While the passing kilometre. And it dis- The city’s baroque cathedral city is undeniably impressive, it appeared entirely when I saw dominates the skyline, yet it’s was the ride to get there that will the collection of 30-metre high the underground cave dwelllinger longest in the memory. giant fungi-like shapes of sand- ings that are its calling card. Turning my back on the Med- stone rock. Visiting the location early in iterranean Sea, I ascended Their bizarre appearance is the the morning, it seemed I had away from the holiday mak- consequence of thousands of walked onto a Hollywood film ers settling in for a day at the years of wind and water erosion set that had been abandoned beach. I’d spent the previous and I had the landmark all to before it could be dismantled. day alongside them and I felt myself. Nonetheless, this is no quaint a pang of jealousy as I strained On another occasion, I was regional quirk and consists every sinew climbing to nearly rewarded with an unexpected of the largest number of cave 1km in altitude. I stopped for view of the village of Benaoján. dwellings in Europe. lunch at Almócita, a beautiful, I had been lamenting the need In total, 6,000 21st century unassuming village in the foot- to depart Ronda when I began troglodytes live here in cave hills of the Sierra Nevada. a gruelling - and frankly unwel- homes fitted with all mod cons. The only sounds came from the come - ascent. Some even have swimming crickets in the bushes and the At the top of the hill I glanced pools. I always attempted to gentle trickle of the water foun- over my shoulder start cycling early tain in the square. to see that the in the morning to The few residents I saw were by towering, jagged avoid the heat of I had walked the village’s solitary restaurant, peaks surroundthe day. In spite seated in the shade in content- ing the village’s of my good inonto an ed silence. Andalucian buildtentions, I rarely abandoned Away from the beach bars, ings gave it the made it very far sound systems and T-shirt sell- appearance of a as I invariably beHollywood film ers on the coast, the pace of life modern-day Macame distracted set here was palpably different. chu Picchu. by my surroundI stayed the night nearby and ate While travelings. breakfast in Ohanes, where the ling from Abla This was the village’s attractive white build- to Granada my surprise was a case on my journey from Guaings and historic stone church sighting of Calahorra Castle. dix to Granada. I blame the cling to the mountainside. It looked incongruous, like friendly manager of the cave As I approached the summit, I something from the dunes of museum in nearby Purullena. looked back towards Almeria. Tatooine in Star Wars. Entering the cave revealed how The Sierra Nevada is one of Although it is now rarely visited, deceptive appearances can be. Inside, it was enormous and I quickly lost my bearings as to where I was, relative to the outside world. This trip had been years in the planning and I’d long been excited by the opportunity to cycle along one of the world’s most famous coastlines. The beaches certainly didn’t disappoint. But there were also many aspects that were completely unexpected. I knew nothing about Altea for example, which I BLEAK: The desert of Almeria but the Alhambra was alluring now consider to
FOOD & DRINK
l’ Spain be the most beautiful old town in Spain. Equally, I didn’t expect to find my cycling nirvana in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. Things didn’t always go to plan (sometimes disastrously so) while I was in Spain, yet I relished learning about the country. For instance, I was astonished to discover that four hydrogen bombs fell over Spain in 1966. Travel restrictions will hopefully be lifted soon. For those lucky enough to live in Spain, though, my book will hopefully encourage them to visit some of the incredible places on their doorstep.
June 16th June 29th 2021
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American author Chris Atkins shares highlights from his ‘bonkers’ 1,300km cycle trip across southern Spain
Spanish staycation A hidden gem that will make you feel at home in the lap of luxury, writes Katherine Brook
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RAVELLING to other countries (restriction free) still feels pretty ambitious which means most of us will probably spend our holidays in Spain this year. But with so much beauty around every corner is it really such a bad thing? If your travels take you to Manilva I highly recommend you check out Three Palms Boutique B&B, and if you live there the same applies. Why not treat yourself to a long weekend break where you can relax and recharge in fabulous surroundings. Situated just up from Sabinillas town in La Duquesa, located midway between Gibraltar and Marbella, this beautiful Boutique B&B is a real hidden gem with striking views across the sea to the mountains, it provides a great base for exploring this
POOLSIDE DRINKS: At the honesty bar beautiful area. Inside it’s like an art gallery with many of the pieces painted by owner Julie herself. The rooms are large, each with an en-suite bathroom, multi-channel flat screen TV, and fridge, not to mention beds so comfortable you’ll not want to leave - but you might just be tempted to for breakfast on the sundrenched terrace overlooking the gardens and views beyond. Spend your days relaxing by the pool, check out the infrared sauna, or book in for a treatment: manicure, pedicure, massage. Feeling thirsty? Help yourself to a drink from the honesty bar and make yourself at home.
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HEALTH Visitor’s vaccines
June 16th - June 29th 2021
Immunity hope
EVEN suffering a mild case of COVID-19 can give long term protection against the virus. One study has shown for the first time that people with a mild infection produce a type of immune cell capable of making antibodies against the coronavirus for the rest of their lives. An observation in people infected with SAR-CoV-2 showed that their antibody levels begin to decline after four months. The key is whether the patient has developed a full immune response, creating memory white blood cells capable of eliminating and remembering the virus months or even years after the first infection. The new paper published in Nature looks at 77 patients who had mild to moderate disease. In most cases, they found that antibodies decline sharply after four months, but then the decline is more gradual and the molecules are still present up to 11 months after infection.
COVID passport launched ANDALUCIA and Valencian Community residents can now download the new EU Digital COVID certificate. The document has been approved between all 27 European Union countries to allow the free movement of people across all member nations. All EU states can issue the certificate which will be fully operational from July 1. The certificate is seen as crucial in restoring normal travel, including tourism, between the EU member states. Residents can get the certificate by inputting their SIP card number into the regional health authority website. The certificates are in Spanish, English, and also Valenciano in the Valencian region. There are three options. Firstly, there is a certificate that confirms the number of vaccinations. The second has details of recent PCR or antigen tests. The third choice covers people that have had COVID-19 within 180 days.
Spanish region showing the way in COVID jabs for longstay tourists
TOURISM bosses around Spain are looking at Valencia's scheme to vaccinate tourists. Even though they are not covered by the Spanish National Health system, the region has decided to offer COVID jabs to long-stay visitors. Now Catalunya and other Spanish regions are studying the plan to see if it should fol-
www.laterlife.es low suit. The Valencian health service will vaccinate Europeans staying more than a month in the Iberian Peninsula . But those eligible will still have
OP Puzzle solutions
Down: 1 Lollipop, 2 Sense of humour, 3 Caddy, 4 Gospel, 5 Staffordshire, 6 Feet, 12 Fed, 13 Exerting, 15 Angels, 17 Patsy, 19 Robs.
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37
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
to wait their turn until priority groups established by the government have been given their injections. Cantabria has also shown support for the vaccination of Spanish tourists from other regions, provided that the number of doses delivered is increased. In Catalunya, the regional Ministry of Health is now considering vaccinating Spanish and foreign tourists. But the Spanish Ministry of Health has said that such arrangements “do not fall within the framework of its vaccination strategy” and will depend on the number of doses of vaccines being sufficient.
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COLUMNISTS Lisa Burgess
Jabbing away
I
I
Vaccine opens the doors to travel once again
RECENTLY completed my second dose of the Moderna vaccine. The very last place I wanted to be was in a hospital, so when the nurse said you must stay here for 15 minutes I skedaddled. I have had a tour of Andalucia's hospitals in the past few years and certainly don't need anymore. I did not have any side effects just a sore arm but having been through chemotherapy this was a walk in the park. I have talked to friends here and in the UK. I have had varying reports on their reactions and they have had different vaccines. Most of my friends who took the Astra Zeneca vaccine were not too happy when there were some problems reported in the press. A big fear of blood clotting ensued but they were all fine and apparently red wine counteracts that, but I am not a medical specialist. My friends here in Spain have all been alright. Most complain of a sore arm or extreme fatigue. One friend has had terrible headaches and high blood pressure but this could be unrelated to the vaccine. Another acquaintance has re-
fused the vaccine entirely. Well, they won't be able to travel in the near future and they have lost their slot in the Spanish system. One thing I have learned about the Spanish medical system is you better show up or you will be waiting forever to get another appointment. They are like gold dust.
Travel
I wanted both my vaccines so I can travel soon. Oh just to hear those precious words ‘this is your captain speaking’. Yet that will not be too soon either as I have to wait for my certificate. I have tried getting it online without success but according to the Junta de Andalusia you can pick it up from your doctor. Let’s see how I get on with that. I am happy to have received my vaccines and grateful too. Though Spain seems to be well behind the UK and other countries, it is getting there, so one day we will all be able to travel. I look forward to standing in endless queues before security just for a change.
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HAVE an identity crisis. It seems I am both saint and sinner. In a previous missive to the letters page, a reader praised me for raising a laugh in these troubled times. In the last issue I was accused of 'insulting' the Spanish health Service and told to leave the country. This criticism was based on my article, 'V-Day Virgins' which was first published in February this year, prior to a vaccination programme, and inadvertently recently resurrected. I have to say that after serving my writing rubbish apprenticeship of around 60 years in this business, it was a huge compliment to be taken seriously and elevated to the dizzy heights of a professional and controversial, news-gatherer. So muchas gracias Christina! Encouraged by this revelation, this week I will continue with my newly-found talent and touch on the delicate subject of race relations. Just read that Spain’s postal service has introduced skin-tone stamps to fight racism — and make the whitest one the most valuable. BLM critics were quick to react by accusing the post office of tone-deafness, and a lack of diversity. I also understand that the game of chess is under critical review. Traditionally, the first mover in chess has always been re-
Saint or sinner?
OLD HA CK IN TH E SU N Benny Davi s
Ramblings of an 80-someth ing expat
Benny finds himself in the midst of an identity crisis ferred to as 'White', and the second, 'Black'. Again, equality organisations have stated their opinions at this rule. Obviously, these are important issues that need to be resolved to the satisfaction of all involved. But I would like to draw your attention to the victim of a colour conundrum that has been around for over four million years, but never made the headlines, and has no one fighting for its right of identity – the African Zebra. The timeless question has always been, are the animals black with white stripes, or white with black stripes? As a direct result of this life-long identity crisis, the zebra has become mentally unstable and both humans and other animals are liable to vicious attacks if they wander too close. To complicate matters further, baby zebras are born brown and white. No wonder they have been described as the most schizophrenic wild animal on the planet – apart from myself, of course!
Back on the paper round Many are called, but few deliver – as Giles Brown climbs into his trusty 4x4 for Olive Press D-day
W
turning to normal, the clearest indication that the worst days of the pandemic were behind us was when I got the call from Olive Press HQ that they needed my services to once again help deliver the newspaper. Always one to rise to a challenge, I girded my loins – and after over a year they needed some girding, I can tell you – and trundled off in my (relatively trusty) Landcruiser to the distribution point. A few things struck on my day delivering. The first one was that you can forget CrossFit. Stacking, walking around various locations with bundles of newsprint and then leaping back up into the 4x4 is excellent cardio. Especially when you are doing it in a mask. Another was seeing some old and familEBike Experience Store iar faces, either servImperial Ocean Plaza, Ocean Village ing coffees behind the bar, doing up t. +350 56004948 e. info@ebike-gibraltar.com w. ebike-gibraltar.com the premises or, in the case of one, old HILE the boffins in the economic think tanks point to various trends, graphs and assorted factors that life in Spain is re-
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GILES: Stand and deliver school Spanish hotel receptionist, seemingly not to have moved at all from his seat behind the desk since the pandemic began.
Impression
Although a few of the businesses have changed hands, I finished my day with the distinct impression that most of them were still standing and in relatively good health. They may have the thousand year stare of those that have gone through ‘interesting times’ – but to be honest that was my default facial expression before lockdown. Finally, even at 50-something I also realised that I was actually having fun with my paper round, although my knees didn’t thank me the next day….
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TWO speed cameras on the A-7 in Malaga have been named as the ‘best’ in Spain after they caught a combined 83,098 motorists in just one year raking in fines of around €5 million.
Hard lesson A GIRL who wanted a good excuse for missing an exam is in trouble after she falsely told police that two men had tried to kidnap her in Fuente de Alamos (Murcia).
Hound found A MIRACLE dog has been rescued alive by firefighters after being run over and becoming trapped in a car bumper in Fuengirola for two days before its howls finally alerted the car owner to its plight.
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June 16th - June 29th 2021
There’s wally!
Walrus spotted in Spain, 2,000 miles from his Arctic homeland A WALRUS called Wally has been spotted swimming off the Spanish shore 2,000 miles from his home in the chillier climes of Greenland. He is touring Europe after first being spotted in County Derry, Ireland in March, with experts believing he may have been stranded on a mini iceberg that floated south from his Arctic
By Dilip Kuner
homeland. Six days after first being seen he resurfaced in Wales where RSPCA officers were called out to check on him. He was laying at the bottom of a cliff in Pembrokeshire (Wales) then took up residence on an
POLICE have issued dozens of fines to a group of naked hippies who had gathered from across Europe to set up camp in northern Spain. The group came together for a Rainbow Gathering, an annual festival where people shed their clothes, show each other unconditional love and promote a life free of consumerism. This year the community chose a remote corner of the Portilla valley in the Sierra de la Demanda, La Rioja, - but not remote enough for police, it would seem.
SPOTTED: Wally popped up in the river Nervion RNLI lifeboat slipway in Tenby. After being disturbed by sightseers on jet skis and in kayaks – and being shooed off the slipway by RNLI volunteers
Bummer!
with airhorns and brooms – he moved on to Cornwall for a few days. Since then, Wally has steadily moved south and was spotted in Les Sables d'Olonne in western France. And now he has made himself through the Bay of Biscay and emerged in the mouth of the River Nervion in Bilbao. Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme in March, RSPCA animal rescue officer Ellie West described Wally's case as 'sad'. She said: “It is a very unusual sight. It is quite a sad occurrence because we have to remember that this walrus is a very, very long way from where he should be.
Skirting around the issue MALE teachers in Spain have taken a stand against bullies by wearing skirts to class. Manuel Ortega, 37, and Borja Velaquez, 36, who teach at Virgen de Sacedon school, in Valladolid, swapped their suits for skirts. They took action after after overhearing homophobic slurs directed at a pupil who was wearing a t-shirt featuring an anime character. The pair joined The Clothes Have No Gender (#LaRopaNoTieneGenero) movement and to prove to the students that clothes don’t dictate how they should be treated. The campaign began late last year when Maths teacher Jose Piñas took a stand against the treatment of one of his pupils, who was expelled by his school in Bilbao, and forced to visit a psychologist after wearing a skirt to school.
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