Olive Press Spain Issue 397 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

The

OLIVE PRESS

Mijas Costa FREE

ANDALUCÍA

Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 16 Issue 397 www.theolivepress.es June 29th - July 12th 2022

Half way there!

World’s biggest water fight...

By George Mathias

U RN

N O W!

Continues on Page 6

See page 5

CHIPS ARE DOWN

A POPULAR Spanish seaside resort has been designated as being at a particularly ‘high risk’ of a tsunami within the next 30 years. Chipiona, on Cadiz’s Costa de la Luz, has been warned by UNESCO to get itself ‘tsunami-ready’. A new study has added it to a specific list of five global danger spots at risk to a giant wave, similar to one that

Cadiz resort Chipiona facing ‘high risk’ of tsunami while whole Med coastline also in extreme danger swamped nearby Cadiz in the 18th century. Best known for its lobsters and lighthouse, Chipiona joins Marseille, Cannes, Istanbul and Alexandria as being an ‘at-risk community’. Last year, the entire Costa del Sol was put on a similar warn-

WAVE WARNING: Med residents urged to beware

By Livia Cockerell

ing by Spain’s Institut de Ciencies del Mar (CSIC). It warned of thousands of homes being destroyed and many lives lost within 20 minutes of a potential earthquake on the Averroes fault. “In the Mediterranean, there is no question about it: it is not if, it’s when,” said UNESCO tsunami expert Bernardo Aliaga, this week. The new UNESCO study claims the probability of a tsunami over one metre on the Mediterranean coastline is 100% over the next 30 years. It is most likely to be caused by an offshore earthquake or an underground volcano such as one offshore from the Sicilian island of Panarea.

The claims were backed up by the research of underwater explorer Alexis Resenfeld, who described the constantly erupting volcano as the ‘gates of hell’. In a study for the One Ocean expedition with UNESCO, it was discovered that more than a million litres of gas can be released from the area every day. Scientists were last night discussing it in more detail at a UN Oceans conference in Lisbon. In particular, they want to stress how vital it is for all coastal communities to be fully prepared for the worst by 2030. The experts are worried that towns and cities on the MedContinues on Page 5

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WE LOVE MARBS

June 2022

It’s been the destination of choice for Visigoths and Romans, Grace Kelly and Presidents. Kimberley Mannion Marbella’s eternalcharts allure

GOLDENSANDS: and Tyson Fury inVista from Guadalmina, Hugh Grant a Ferrari, while (right) and Michelle Obama Grace Kelly

ARBELLA has owned the reputation of being a playground the rich and famous for for over half a century. Photos of the glamorous beach destination travel magazines fill glossy most aspirationalaround the world and it’s easily the alongside perhaps place to live and visit in Europe, San Tropez or Ibiza. An exclusive enclave, it has long attracted celebrity visitors such as Sean Connery, Hugh Grant and Audrey Hepburn iconic nightclubs to its restaurants, while and tains of industry, capAlan Sugar and Theolike Paphitis, and footballers, like Eden Hazard Gareth Bale stalk and its Continues on next

page

Pictures by Jon Clarke

U -T

See page 16

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A PETITION demanding an answer from the British government over the right for expats to drive in Spain is nearly halfway there. Nearly 4,500 people have signed the demand for action, supported by the Olive Press’ U-Turn campaign. The petition needs 10,000 signatures to force the government to give an official response, with its creator, Stuart Hudd, urging a final push this month. The Murcia-based expat is furious that he is not able to drive in Spain under new Brexit rules, despite registering correctly as a resident in September 2020. Both he and wife got T I E residency certificates, b u t w e r e wrongly told by a gestor in Mazarron they didn’t need to register to swap their driving licences. “I was told don’t worry, there will be an agreement,” he said. “Now we are isolated in the campo and relying on friends and neighbours to take us shopping and to medical appointments.” The poor advice mirrors hundreds of testimonies the Olive Press has heard throughout this debacle, leading to our front page U-Turn campaign launched on June 1.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

A BRITISH fugitive has been arrested in Huelva Province over the fatal stabbing of a man in the UK in August 2021. The 22-year-old, with the initials OBP and possessing dual British-Spanish nationality, was detained in Hinojos during local fiesta celebrations.. He was living in a home belonging to family members. Police said he managed to integrate himself ‘perfectly’ into the Hino-

Horror drop A MIDDLE-AGED Spanish woman suffered serious injuries after falling three metres from a seafront path in Nerja by the Playa del Salon.

You plank! A YOUNG man has gone viral after riding his electric scooter while balancing on a long wooden plank in the streets of Marbella at night time which police are now investigating.

Creep caught POLICE have detained a man in Malaga after he installed a remotely controlled app in a female colleague’s phone in order to spy on her without her knowledge.

Tracked down

jos community where he went completely unnoticed by authorities. An International Arrest Warrant was issued by Interpol Manchester after he fled the UK last summer. The man was allegedly involved in a deliberate killing on August 21, 2021. No lo-

June 29th - July 12th 2022 cation of the incident has been disclosed. In the company of three others, the man allegedly fatally stabbed his victim in the chest. Once the Policia Nacional heard that he was in Hinojos, they launched an operation on June 20 during a big fiesta that allowed them to go unnoticed and surprise the fugitive. The man was taken to the National Court in Madrid to process his extradition.

Beyond the grave ONE of Brazil's biggest drug traffickers who faked his own death in Marbella has been arrested in Budapest. Known as the ‘Brazilian Escobar’, Sergio Roberto Carvalho was arrested in 2018 for trafficking 1,700kg of cocaine into Spain. The 64-year-old evaded justice after faking his own death from Covid during the pandemic lockdown, when a Marbella court was tricked into accepting a fake death certificate. The death certificate was dated August 29, 2020 and

Corrupt cadre A MASSIVE police operation in Malaga province has resulted in 31 people including business owners, administrators and civil servants being arrested on charges of bribery and falsifying documents.

‘Brazilian Escobar’ who faked Covid death in Marbella busted in Budapest By Kimberley Mannion

signed by a doctor, which also claimed he had been cremated, but suspicions were raised when fingerprint samples did not match. It is believed he has spent the last few years travelling around Europe using fake identities.

AN illegal Madrid slaughterhouse supplying meat to Asian restaurants in eight provinces has been closed down by the Guardia Civil. Six people who ran the slaughterhouse have been arrested and charges include animal mistreatment. An additional 12 people are being investigated for defrauding customers and committing public health crimes. Slaughterhouses require strict veterinary

A former military man, Carvalho was considered one of the most wanted criminals in the world, and was finally busted in Hungary two years after faking his death. An investigation headed by Interpol’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit finally caught the fugitive, facilitated by cooperation with police departments spanning three

DODGY MEAT controls prior to and after slaughter, in addition to following rules to ensure the healthy status of animals and products at all stages of production, processing and distribution. The Madrid premises used illegal killing methods that led to the unnecessary suffering of animals.

GAME OVER: Carvalho continents. Interpol’s Secretary General Jürgen Stock said: “This is another example of successful international policing. The National Central Bureaus in Brasilia and Budapest are to be commended for their close collaboration which has put a dangerous suspect in police custody.” Carvahlo faked his own death by asking his lawyer to send a certificate to Spanish authorities, informing them that he had died of Covid.

Extradition for Maddie suspect EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke

EXTRADITION proceedings are being launched to bring five new charges against Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner. A German prosecutor confirmed he is sending paperwork to officially extradite Brueckner from Italy, where he was last a free man, despite him actually being in a German jail. Describing it as ‘a formality’, he told the Olive Press that it would mean the German paedophile being charged with five new offences ‘within weeks’. The crimes - three rapes and two child sex assaults - are expected to come to court in the early Autumn.

Formality

“It’s only a formality and I hope it’s not a problem,” said Hans Christian Wolters, the chief prosecutor, in Braunschweig, where the Madeleine McCann case is being handled. “I hope it will only be some weeks or a month,” he added. “I hope this year we will charge and prosecute him for these crimes.” A prosecution against Brueckner, 45, in the case of abducted Madeleine, who vanished in Portugal, in May, 2007, will follow immediately after.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es HE was the archetypal heartthrob in An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman, with Julia Roberts. And Richard Gere has been looking as dashing as ever on a summer break to the Balearics. The Hollywood star has been spending a few weeks with his Spanish wife Alejandra Silva and their two sons touring around the islands. The 72-year-old, whose breakout role was as a male escort in American Gigolo, has stood up well to the ravages of time, as this photo from his wife’s Instagram account proves. The couple, who married in 2018

Still got it!

By Kimberley Mannion

and live in New York, have taken to the waves aboard a yacht cruising around Ibiza and Formentera with their children. Gere became a father for the third time in 2020 when Silva, 39, gave birth to their second son just a year after their first. He also has a 22-year-old son from his previous marriage to model Carey Lowell. His first wife was supermodel Cindy Crawford. Silva, who comes from Galicia, has a nineyear-old son from her first marriage.

EXPATS were surprised to discover a famous punter in their midst as they enjoyed an afternoon pint when Harry Redknapp showed up. The former Premier League manager, who won ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, thrilled drinkers at Ryder’s Bar in Duquesa, on the Costa del Sol, as he swapped banter.

Drink

He had been planning a quiet drink with agent Eamon Collins and ex-West Brom star Derek Stratham, both of whom are regulars. Bar owners Sharon Anne O’Callaghan, 60, from London and husband Andrew Moore, 62, from the Midlands, said it was a pleasure to have Rednapp at Ryder’s. Sharon told the Olive Press: “It was great to meet Harry, he is a lovely man, a true gent and was only too happy to chat with customers.”

Urgent consignment of British Red Kites sent to Spain to save threatened species

IT was three decades ago that Spain sent a consignment of 13 Red Kites to the UK to urgently boost a population that was on the verge of extinction. Now the UK has returned the favour packing 30 of the glorious birds of prey in the other direction. The reintroduction programme will see the 15 pairs of Milanos Reales, as they are called in Spanish, scattered around Extremadura and Andalucia. They are likely to be the descendants of wild Red Kites sent from Spain to the Chiltern Hills in the 1990s, after Britain’s population was re-

duced to a mere handful of pairs in one isolated spot in Wales. The conservation programme has been so successful in the UK that the birds are now a common sight soaring over gardens across half of the country with their reddish tones, forked tails and distinctive mewing cries.

AFTER years on the brink of extinction, the Spanish imperial eagle has reached a new all-time record with 166 chicks hatched in Andalucia alone this Spring. It comes after a 2021 census found 129 breeding pairs in the region, some 5% up on 2020. The highest previous record came in 2019 when 144 chicks hatched.

It is estimated that there are now between 4,000 and 6,000 breeding pairs in the UK. Meanwhile, in Spain they have fared far less well and there are only 11 breeding pairs in Caceres province and just four within Badajoz. It is hoped that the new arrivals will boost the wild population in Extremadura and Andalucia with the same success as the British programme. This month the first batch of 15 fledgling birds arrived at the Amus rescue centre in Villafranca de los Barros, in Badajoz. From here they will spend a short time in aviaries to acclimatise before being released after about three weeks. Another 15 will arrive at the end of June and 30 more will be sent over each June for the next two years. .

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SHE was appropriately sparkling as Rita Ora wowed crowds at a fashion show for high end jeweller Cartier in Madrid. The Let You Love Me singer Rita Ora showed true aura in her performance wearing a stunning fuschia pink silk dress set off with diamonds from Cartier. The star has been the face of the jewellers of late, attending several of their events. Ora, 31, who also holds Kosovon nationality, grew up in London. She was not the only star at the show with Bohemian Rhapsody actor Rami Malek also on hand.

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RAISING THE WOOF A WIREHAIRED Fox Terrier called Funfair Foxhouse has been crowned as the World’s Best Dog. Think Crufts on steroids as 16,500 dogs and 12,000 professional breeders travelled to Madrid from 50 countries to take part in the World Dog Show. Queen Sofia inaugurated the event in which dogs face agility tests and obstacle courses. Silver went to an English Bulldog and bronze to an

TOP DOG: Funfair Old English Shepherd. The best placed Spanish dog was a Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund who came fourth.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es From front

Threat

iterranean underestimate the risk of tsunamis because they are not as frequent as, for example, in the Indian Ocean. They claim this increases the danger as fewer measures are enforced and warnings are not properly given. Chipiona lies on that same stretch of coastline, where one of the deadliest earthquakes took place in 1755 off Lisbon. The resultant 6m waves killed up to 50,000 people (over 1,200 in Cadiz and Huelva) and badly damaged the Portuguese capital. The threat caused by a tsunami is made significantly greater due to rising sea levels. Studies in China show the higher the sea levels, the further inland tsunami waves travel.

THE American president and his wife have been gracing the palaces and matching up with Spanish royalty as world leaders unite in Madrid for the NATO summit. But it didn’t all go to plan when America’s First Lady, Jill Biden, kept Queen Letizia waiting outside a Ukrainian refugee centre. Not used to waiting, the Queen touched her hair and looked at the sky, opening

June 29th - July 12th 2022

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her arms as though to say ‘finally’ when her new friend arrived at last. Despite the American’s faux pas of making the Queen wait, the pair have had a busy and successful two days, which included a trip to the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

GREETINGS: Biden and Letizia

UNDUE FORCE!

McGrail Inquiry: Ex-Police chief claims ‘improper pressure’ from Gib government forced early retirement A FORMER police boss has claimed he was forced from his job amid ‘improper pressure at the highest level of govern-

RUNAWAY VICTORY IT was a clear indication that the south of Spain has not forgotten two decades of corruption. Not only did the PP party once again win the Andalucian Junta elections, leader Juanma Moreno won it by a landslide. In a historic victory for the PP, his party took 58 seats and 43% of the votes. It means he doesn’t need to make a coalition with far-right Vox or Ciudadanos, which was in any case wiped out at this month’s elections winning no seats. Before the PP got into power in 2018, three decades of PSOE rule had turned the region into a basket case, with continual corruption scandals. The Olive Press was the first English newspaper to expose the shocking ERE scandal that shamed Andalucia a decade ago. It led to the jailing of dozens of politicians, and exposed previous Junta leaders Monolo Chavez and Antonio Grinon as being linked to the theft of millions of euros of grants.

ment’. The former Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) is hitting out at a much anticipated public inquiry on the Rock. It comes exactly two years since Ian McGrail announced he was retiring frome the role after serving just two years of a fouryear term. So huge were the claims which we are not revealing for legal reasons - that questions in parliament led to demands that the matter be properly investigated. At a preliminary hearing under retired High Court judge Sir Peter Openshaw, McGrail’s lawyer laid out his central argument. “His core allegations are that he was put under inappropriate pressure in respect of the conduct of a criminal investigation,” insisted Caoilfhionn Gallagher, the QC representing

CARE4AIR

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him. In the opening session at the Garrison Library, last Wednesday (June 22), she insisted ‘the probity of Gibraltar's institutions is at issue in this inquiry’. Sir Peter Caruana, QC, representing the government, countered the claims, denying he was put under ‘any improper pressure’.

Untenable

He argued he ‘chose to retire because he knew that, having lost the confidence of the Governor and the Chief Minister, his position had become untenable’. Judge Openshaw insisted that the inquiry would be conducted ‘quite independently’ from the Government.

RETIRED: McGrail He added: “My findings will be made public. They are not subject to approval by the Government.” Evidence will be heard from all parties, including Fabian Picardo, while a general appeal has also been issued to the public for anyone who feels they can help. Openshaw must now decide what steps he can give to offer protective measures to potential witnesses, including the possibility of providing evidence anonymously.

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Kamikaze driver A CONFUSED ‘Kamikaze’ driver caused mayhem when he drove the wrong way down an Andalucian motorway. The confused driver caused three crashes when he entered the opposing carriageway on the A-49 between Huelva and Sevilla. Over 50 drivers called the 112 emergency center to report the driver, whose madness led to three people being hospitalised near Castilleja, Bollullos and Umbrete.

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Peak performance IT is the jewel in the crown of the Malaga tourist industry. So it’s appropriate that the city’s Mount Gibralfaro is to receive a €11.4m facelift, at last. A special plan, hatched in 2008, will finally be put into motion to improve the hilly area. While it was approved in 2015, the project will go ahead next year aiming to upgrade and better protect and link the mountain area with the city. The aim is to ‘enhance its natural heritage’ and its connection with the surrounding mountains. As well as improving recreational use, it will also better promote its historical and cultural importance for the city. The Moorish Alcazaba that lords over the city is set to be visited by a million visitors this year. The works will be undertaken in four stages and tenders will go out shortly with works to begin next year. They include a ‘Gibralfaro bypass’ and the ‘E-Conecta Gibralfaro project’.

POLICE have refused to explain why they are grilling four workmen over a fire that razed 5000 hectares of protected woodland on the Costa del Sol. A Guardia Civil spokesman six times deflected questions on why the men were ‘cleaning the estate’ owned by Libya’s Gaddafi family. He also refused to confirm if they had permission to do the work - using heavy machinery - at the 6,800-hectare La Resinera finca that borders Benahavis, Pujerra and Juzcar. The Olive Press understands that the workmen were cut-

Pyro party

Fire battle success FIREFIGHTERS have battled through the night to control a wildfire near Mijas. Over 50 firemen rushed to the Atalaya area at 1.30am yesterday, finally extinguishing the blaze by the early

June 29th - July 12th 2022

morning. Thick smoke forced the closure of a 2km stretch of the A-7053 near Entrerrios for two hours according to INFOCA, declaring the blaze stabilised by 7.30am.

This fireeater entertained passersby in San Pedro on the night of San Juan

FIRE MYSTERY Police refuse to explain why four workers at controversial Gaddafi finca were building roads at midday on hottest week of year By Jon Clarke

ting a track (‘carril’) through the hunting estate - which was subject to a controversial application for a golf course

Disaster zone

THE government has declared the Sierra Bermeja mountains an official ‘disaster area’ following the devastating forest fire extinguished this week. The fire, which burnt for three weeks, stretched over 5,000 hectares over the seven towns of Benahavis, Estepona, Farajan, Igualeja, Jubrique, Juzcar and Pujerra. Over 3,500 professionals were required to put out the fire, which comes after abigger one burned 10,000 hectares last year.

and 2,000 homes in 2012. The works took place despite a clear order preventing any heavy machinery from working in the protected Sierra Bermeja mountain area from May 15 to October 15.

All three town halls told the Olive Press that they had no permission for the work on June 8, which led to the evacuation of 3,000 people that week. It was also confirmed by a local pressure group that it is ‘illegal’ to be creating any new tracks in the area without clear permission from the Junta. “I suspect that they were cleaning the area to open a track on the orders of the Libyan bank which owns it officially,” said a spokesman for the Sierra Bermeja Parque Nacional group. “It is really strange what they were up to and why the area needs much better protection and should be a national park.”

Indeed, his pressure group has been demanding the area become a National Park and is joined up with the new Sierra de la Nieves park for five years. Their demands took on much more weight last year after a Sierra Bermeja fire razed 10,000 hectares in neighbouring Estepona, killing a fireman.

Machinery

The recent fire was only officially extinguished after 20 days last Sunday. While some reports claimed the fire was caused by a spark from heavy machinery, Olive Press sources suggested it had up to four seats where it began.

NEWS FEATURE

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OPINION What’s in a name? IN just two years 15,000 hectares of the Sierra Bermeja mountains have been turned to ash. This rugged forest of ancient oak and pine is home to rare flora and fauna, some unique to the area, and stretches inland from Benahavis and Estepona towards Ronda. Last year 10,000 hectares were burned and it took an incredible 46 days before the blaze was finally extinguished. One firefighter lost his life. This year another 5,000 hectares have been scorched. In both cases thousands of people had their lives disrupted as they were evacuated as the flames approached. The causes of the fires are shrouded in mystery, even though four men have been arrested for the recent blaze allegedly for using heavy machinery that sparked the fire. Contradictory reports suggest the fire started in four places simultaneously. But what is certain is that more can be done to protect this environmentally valuable stretch of Spain. The group Sierra Bermeja Parque Nacional association is calling for heads to roll over the long standing refusal of politicians to upgrade the area’s status from nature reserve to National Park. It may seem a subtle change in terminology, but the effect of such a change would be massive - and maybe critical in preserving the Sierra Bermeja. As a Natural Park, the sierra is controlled by the Junta, which does not have the same level of funding as the central government. But a National Park comes under central government control. The rules surrounding development in such a park are more stringent and more resources are poured in for anti-fire initiatives. Some 75,000 people have already signed a petition on change.org to have the park’s status upgraded. For the sake of the forest, the wildlife and the local people, the powers that be need to sit up and listen. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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Wheely easy Got a spare ten weeks and €600? Exactly how easy is it for a Brit to take a driving test in Spain. Mike Sedgwick got behind the wheel to find out

AVING found himself among the thousands of British expats left unable to drive in Spain, Mike Sedgwick undertook a bit of overtaking action. Not content to sit back and wait at the back of the grid, he set out to get himself a Spanish licence the hard way; by doing the test! Well two to be exact as you need both a theory and practical test before getting the coveted pink EU licence. “I couldn’t wait for the bureaucracy to be agreed or not, so I took the plunge and did my theory test leading to the practical,” explained the 63-year-old, who moved to Cadiz from the Midlands a few years ago. Here he gives Olive Press readers a simple step by step guide on how to go about doing it.



First up Mike registered with a local driving school and for €150 he was given an online manual (conveniently in English) and access to the test system.

Dear Pedro

AN expat has written to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asking him to take action to resolve the driving licence debacle. es in MurSally Ashwin, who liv ter: “This let the in d sai , cia astrophic issue has had a catvulnerable st mo the on impact munity within the British com in Spain. ple living “This includes peo ut public in rural areas witho access to transport, taxis, or mothers supermarkets, single l day and who need to work a ful and drop need the car to pick up ool.” off their children at sch Press the Speaking to the Olive e he will teacher said: “I believ d we have do the right thing an loud and made our voices heard clear. From Aunt Sally

then spent €40 for a medical test, which is required along  He with proof of legal residency to

then took four weeks to study (‘and study hard’) to  He pass the practical theory exam,

which cost a further €100. “And I also had to pay to get to the test centre to do it,” he adds. The centre was ‘filled From front

Smudge here We are supporting the right of expats to swap their licences for Spanish ones, as has been the case in almost all other EU countries. Hudd, from Burton on Trent, has been campaigning continually since losing his right to drive. As well as contacting House of Lords peer Baroness Vere, he has been in touch with his MP Kate Griffiths, who said the government was ‘continuing to negotiate as a matter of priority’. But he remains unmoved and is demanding more direct action such as revoking all Spanish driving licences in the UK and making them take a full practical test in English. “We need to play hardball. All us expats want is a reciprocal deal. At the moment our lives are on hold,” he said. “Thanks for taking up the gauntlet on behalf of us expats who are really struggling here.” To sign the petition, so far signed by 4,364, visit petition.parliament.uk

BACK ON THE ROAD ...NEXT MONTH BRITS could be back on the road by the end of next month, claims UK Ambassador Hugh Elliott. But he is still unable to give a precise date, he admitted. While insisting licence recognition for British drivers is ‘very close to being finalised’ he added: “I still cannot give you a precise date I’m afraid.” But he said the two nations are in agreement over the core issues that have been problematic. “We’re now very close

NOW

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.

Voted top expat paper in Spain

U T R U

to finalising the actual text of the agreement,” added Elliott, who has been ambassador in Madrid since 2019. “Our best estimate is that we are looking at a date of having you back on the road around the end of July.” He also recognised the hardships suffered by those who can no longer drive legally, especially during a heatwave when the heat makes it a less viable option to walk. "Although this is only weeks away I know it will feel like a very long time

EASY DRIVER: Mike Sedgwick took the plunge

to the gills’ and apparently it is sometimes hard to get a slot, which is why you need a driving school as they block book slots. passing the test, Mike signed up for a lesson with the driving  On school so they could ‘assess’ his driving abilities. “They were happy and decided to put me in for the first available slot at the DGT, which was around three weeks later. In the run up to the test he de-

to book five lessons to  cided help with gears (he normally

drives an automatic car) and to understand the key driving terms in Spanish. In the end you can get by with ‘around 20 words and phrases’, he estimates. The lessons cost €30 an hour and were done with two others in the car so the sessions were about three hours long. On a plus side it helped him learn the certain phrases needed to understand the examiner during the test. “But at the end of each session I was drained and tired.”

driving test itself cost €82 including use of the driving  The school car and Mike’s regular instructor explained to the examiner that he was a foreigner but was able to ‘respond to commands’ in Spanish. “We are talking about basic driving terms such as ‘derecha, izquierda, al Frente, marcha atras, primera salida, segunda salida,’ etc, and the examiner was clear in his commands!” However, Mike failed his first

and was put in for a second  test attempt two weeks later, shelling out a further €82. and slipping in two more lessons (which cost a further €150). “And I passed, whoopee!”

PASS NOTES

to many of you," he said. “I know that some of you are experiencing real difficulties.”

rk found it hard wo All in all, Mike t enjoyable and calbu and anything ordeal cost around culates the entire ok about ten weeks. €650-700 and tonerve wracking and “It was definitely ing a foreigner,” more difficult be s Mike amits. ce he passed hi He adds that sins got much busier driving school hadents and waiting with summer stuve lengthened conlists for tests ha siderably.

June 29th - July 12th 2022

www.theolivepress.es

PUT YOUR SHIRT ON

lthough in the UK it is pretty common to see topless blokes out and about in the city centre on a hot day, in Palma (Mallorca) you can be fined up to €800. Walking around in swimwear when you are not on the beach in cities such as Marbella and Malaga will also land you a €200 fine.

MEET THE OP TEAM

BEWARE OF THE FUN POLICE I

F you are holidaying in Sevilla this summer, hanging your undies on the line could result in a hefty fine. Local council regulations mean that you could be charged up to €3,000 for hanging ‘indecent’ items on an outdoor washing line.

SMOKEFREE ZONE

ON’T pee in the sea! If you are in a desperate situation in Galicia, the sea is not the place to go. Urinating in the sea or on the beaches will result in a charge of €750 in Vigo.

EEING in the sea, wandering around topless… even building a sandcastle! These are just a few of the strange offences that you could be fined for on your holiday to Spain. To save you from some steep fines, we have compiled a list of some of the oddest things you are at risk of being charged for this summer.

NO KINGS OF THE CASTLE

HECK before sparking up on the beach in Spain. Recent regulation changes mean that many beaches have prohibited smoking. The regulation has already been enforced in many tourist hotspots, including Mallorca and Barcelona. Smoking on a smoke-free beach could cost you €30 (an expensive ciggy by all standards).

NO SIESTAS ON THE BEACH

F you are in Valencia this summer, an afternoon snooze on the beach is off the cards. Dozing off under the sun here can cost you up to €1,500 following health concerns from the local government.

UILDING sandcastles is normally an imperative activity for a day trip to the beach. However, in some parts of Spain, this pastime is not fun but finable. On certain beaches in Tenerife and Mallorca, building a sandcastle can land you with a fine of €100. Definitely worth keeping an extra close eye on your kids!

FLIP FLOP BAN

HE cocktail is the only sex on the beach permitted in Spain. Getting frisky on the sands is illegal and in Benidorm will cost you a whopping €750.

F you plan to hire a car on your summer holiday, make sure you have got your trainers with you! Getting caught driving wearing flip flops or stilettos, or sandals without an ankle support (or being barefoot) can attract a fine of €200.

ENGINE ROOM

E’S very much the unsung hero of the Olive Press. Through recessions, pandemics and the dreaded winter slump, Charlie Bamber is never far from the front lines. With a head for numbers and an excellent grasp of business, the Olive Press’ commercial director has skillfully guided the group’s expansion over the last decade. Whether in Mallorca, Moraira or Mijas, he’s always got an unshakeable understanding for each local economy and how best to serve our clients there. No request is ignored and he is more than happy to tweak his advertisers’ copy just hours before we go to print, not to mention help them with an advertorial. A boots-on-the-ground kind of fellow, he was the man we tasked with launching in the Costa Blanca north and south regions, as well as Valencia city, over the last five years. And on top of that, he’s been the guiding light of our online paywall - that grows by the hundreds every month - and already counts on 30,000 registered users. So what makes Charlie tick? Inheriting a solid work ethic from his ad man father, he left university to work for 15 years at News International in London. Climbing up the commercial ladder he had become the Assistant Ad Manager of the Sun by his 35th birthday, before switching to run the newspaper’s operation in Spain in 2004. As well as representing Golf Monthly, Country Life and the Telegraph in Spain, he agreed to help take the Olive Press to new levels way back in 2010. And what a journey it has been from the first Axarquia supplement treading the streets of Nerja, near his home in Torre del Mar, to securing a nationwide deal with the country’s leading English insurance broker Jennifer Cunningham at her head office in Javea. Make sure to get in touch with him for any advice on integrated print and online ad campaigns, wherever you are in Spain. And look out for him at a pub near you for any Liverpool games (in fact any big football games) next season. Charles@theolivepress.es

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

SEX ON THE BEACH

Watch out: 9 Things you could be fined for this summer in Spain, writes Livia Cockerell

DON’T HANG YOUR KNICKERS ON THE LINE

AVOID SPENDING A PENNY

VALUE: Charlie’s wild ride in the news industry

PUT THE SHAMPOO AWAY

POST swim shower is always much needed but you will have to make do without shower gel or shampoo. Using these products in a beach shower could cost you €750 due to the risks the chemicals pose to marine life.

cabin crew cannot strike on 1- Why Ryanairmany flights in Spain never buy pre-cut fruit and 2- Why youvegshould at supermarkets in Spain crews in Spain joining rya3- Easy jetnaircabin colleagues in strike action Ryanair claims cabin crew strikes will be 4-relatively insignificant in disrupting summer holiday flights EXCLUSIVE: Madeleine Mccann suspects 5-update: Extradition request begins in Italy for Christian Brueckner over five new cases

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for more info

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

Zoned out

Polluting cars to be banned from city centres HIGH polluting older cars will be banned from city centres in Spain next year with the creation of low emission zones. The deadline for the new regulations to come into force is the end of the year and covers cities with over 50,000 residents. Barcelona introduced low emission zones in 2020 during peak times. Essentially petrol cars with a pre-2000 registration fall under restrictions in the city, with pre-2006 registered diesel cars also covered with drivers facing a fine of between €100 and €500 each time they enter the zone. The low-emissions zone was designed to complement the city’s so-called ‘superblocks scheme’, in which areas made up of nine blocks are closed to through traffic and partly pedestrianised.

Mossy Menor A €7 million emergency plan has swung into action after the Mar Menor became choked with six times more algae then it normally gets in a year. On average, between 1,600 and 1,700 tonnes of biomass are removed from the lagoon in Murcia annually. But so far in 2022, over 10,509 tonnes of biomass have been removed. Experts state that this is due to an increase in nitrogen and phosphate levels which promote the growth of algae. The excessive growth puts wildlife at threat due to it reducing oxygen levels. Local councils have spent between €5 million and €7 million to urgently remove the algae before environmental disaster strikes.

By Alex Trelinski

The World Health Organisation says there are only seven Spanish cities that meet established air quality parameters. The DGT move is seen as a major inducement for motorists to switch to less-pol-

luting vehicles, including electric cars. Electric car prices are higher than conventional fuel-driven vehicles and there are still comparatively few electric charging points. The government is banking on the new emission zone restrictions to boost the electric car market.

June 29th - July 12th 2022

COOL PLAN Madrid has unveiled plans for a ‘wind garden’ capable of lowering temperatures. The 14.5 hectare park is part of redesign for the Charmartin station area in the north of the city, with a wind garden that captures the breeze and recycles, dramatically reducing the air temperature by up to 4C. The idea is inspired by air cooling methods popular in parks across the Middle East. Wildlife in the garden will include fern and moss rising above the treetops to capture air from above and disperse it below. It will also have the knock on effect of helping to cool down temperatures in surrounding streets.

PREVIEW: How the park will look Dutch architecture studio West 8 will be constructing the project, the same company which redesigned London’s Jubilee Gardens in 2012.

The need to transition to renewable energy Green

ARE THE LIGHTS GOING OUT?

OVERNMENTS have a habit of disguising the truth and leaking out snippets of bad news early on. It’s in their DNA. It has been medically proven that politicians can’t even lie straight in bed. This Spring the Spanish Minister for Energy, Teresa Ribera, posted an article about the need for us all to conserve power and change our consumption habits. At the end of her message was the implication that this winter WE COULD FACE POWER OUTAGES. ENERGY SECURITY You will have seen across all media references to this topic. What does it actually mean? The IEA (International Energy Agency) defines energy security as: “The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.” Picking this apart, the affordable price already lies

in tatters. Just look at a recent electricity bill to reconfirm this. Uninterrupted availability also looks doubtful. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the world’s energy supply chain is in complete disarray. It is not rocket science. It is simply supply and demand. The National Grid has the capability to produce a certain amount of electricity. If demand exceeds availability, then the lights go out. Spain is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels (notably gas) to produce electricity. The lunatic Putin’s ability to turn off the tap and the less than cohesive relationship Spain has with Algeria are grounds for concern. (As an aside I think we should turn off the tap with Russia….but that’s a different story.) POWER CUTS Some 4% of the world’s population (350 million people) faced major power outages last year. My money is on that figure getting smashed this year and next. Increased extreme weather events have contributed to this (yes…..climate change) and the all too slow transition to renewable energy. Look at just a few of the recent world events. A winter storm that hit Texas hard knocked out infrastructure and caused energy markets to be affected. Low rainfall in Brazil and south China (the manufacturing hub of the world) reduced the hydro-power output. China had to resort to power rationing. Across Europe, wind speeds were exceptionally low resulting in lower than normal electricity production.

AUSTRIA Long before the Russian invasion in Ukraine, last November, the Austrian Defence Minister announced that Austria was preparing for major electrical blackouts. That put the cat amongst the pigeons! In Spain it prompted shoppers to buy gas stoves, butane canisters and flashlights. Hardware stores sold out. UK Ministers (as reported on Sky news) have drawn up plans to potentially ration electricity supply for up to 6 million homes at the start of next year. As always, cuts will come at the times of peak demand - when you need it most. Yet, last month, a Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Stategy spokesperson claimed the UK had no issues with electricity or gas supply. Confused?? It’s simple really. Do you believe a politician, or your own common sense? WE CANNOT USE IT IF WE LOSE IT. As humans, we see what we want. Maybe the lights going out may just help us focus on the need to transition to a renewable world.

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

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LETTERS

June 29th - July 12th 2022

You never stop learning Dear Olive Press,

wart’s early novels Having read Chris Ste early life here in about his arrival andinterest your article Spain, I noticed with with Chris Stewart, Walking over lemons t in the third parapublished last issue. Bua giggle when I read graph I could not help were garrotted for the sentence ‘where we ion ran wild as my the night.’ My imaginat fortunate reporter mind pictured your un neatly strung from and companions all n ceiling awaiting che kit rt’s wa Ste Chris ot he, Chris, might their fate in a rich stewp ulish late night gho a for ing be prepar read the remainder feast. Nevertheless I st as I have been a ere int h of the article wit early novels and am fan of Chris Stewart’s are follow ups. So re delighted to know the spaper for alerting my thanks to your news which I am sure I me to these new novel much as I enjoyed shall enjoy equally as the earlier ones. Gillian Watson, Mijas Costa le-eyed spot. You Editor’s note: An eag out this slightly int po to are quite right . To garrot means novel use of Englishstrangulation, esby to kill someone of wire or cord, pecially with a lengththe author of this by t me e fat e sam the piece.

DESPERATE: Migrants scale Melilla’s fence

When will it end? Why does Spain continue to hold onto Mellila, despite it being in a different continent? It seems to me this is asking for trouble, especially with regards to migrants who recently stormed an immigration facility. James Lewis, Marbella

Speaking frankly With the recent deaths of 23 migrants crossing the Morrocan border to Mellila, the death of 50 migrants on the Mexico border to Texas and the continuing peril of those crossing the English channel, there surely has to be a better and more humane way of treating those seeking a better life while still retaining some degree of border controls. Where can I find out more about this? Sylvia Pianto, Alicante

Drawing the line The media has been quick to condemn Boris Johnson’s Rwanda plan for refugees, but would so many migrants have tried to climb into Spanish territory had Spain had a similar hard-line approach in place? Ruth Bride, Casares

Editor's note: The horrible deaths we have seen of migrants this week will unfortunately not be the last and it is certainly time for a full transnational approach to what is an international issue. The International Rescue Committee specialises in providing long-term support for refugees who enter a new country using legal routes and has useful information on their website rescue. org. A path to avoid future deaths will not be solved by reactionary domestic policies but by global outreach.

No smoke I have been reading with great interest the informative yet highly alarming reporting you have been doing on forest fires. We all know that climate change is happening and causing untold damage to our planet, but I wonder to what extent climate change is to blame for forest fires, which, after all, are a naturally occurring phenomena. In addition, I have heard that forest fires are actually a forest’s way of resetting its ecosystem for the better? I’m sure your research elves would be able to enlighten me. Daniel Thompson, Valencia

Editor’s note: You are correct that naturally occuring forest fires are essential for many ecosystems as they help to control insect and disease damage. However, frequent and large-scale fires have negative impacts on air and water quality, biodiversity, soil and landscape aesthetics, especially when caused by human error or arson. Forest fires also threaten climate change mitigation, as they release large amounts of greenhouse gases. The European Environment Agency says climate change is undeniably having a strong impact on forest fire risk in Europe.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1

4 7

Across 6 Sedentary kind of General (8) 8 Something of little value (4) 9 Dogma (5) 10 Look up to (6) 11 Activity necessary for scaling Everest (4,8) 13 Disturbed men only met up for inactivity (12) 16 The --- Flyer, first heavier-than-air powered aircraft (6) 18 “If It --- Been For Love” (Adele song) (5) 19 It’s rolled towards a jack (4) 20 In a manner free from danger (8) Down

OP SUDOKU

Strung out

We breakdown some key issues of the past week and a grammarian teaches us the meaning of an obscure word…

1 Members of a flock (8) 2 Beautiful (6) 3 Car exhaust pollutants (12) 4 Organized group of criminals (3,3) 5 “The Sign of ---” (Conan Doyle) (4) 7 It brings one back to Earth (7,5) 12 Don’t mention it (3,2,3) 14 Business big shots (6) 15 Venerated townspeople (6) 17 Chamber (4)

All solutions are on page 23

LA CULTURA

June 29th July 12th 2022

NO SWEAT

THE Plaza de España in Sevilla became the dramatic setting for a spectacular fashion show by Dior inspired by flamenco. The live event took place as the city was in the grip of an early heatwave and temperatures soared above 40ºC. But the models looked as cool as cucumbers as they displayed the ‘Cruise 2023’ collection by the luxury fashion house and it clearly drew on the historical and cultural traditions of Andalucia. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri unveiled a collection that took inspiration from costumes associated with flamenco, bullfighting and equestrian arts. The work of local craftsmen and artisans were apparent in the rich embroidery and lace work adorning some of the most spectacular outfits. The fashion show began with a procession from the city’s cathedral and incorporated a flamenco performance in the colonnaded Plaza de España.

DIOR MIO: Iconic location

Unexpected finds Search for Civil War victim unearths Visigothic remains THE search for the remains of a teenage woman executed by Franco’s fascist forces for her temerity in embroidering a Republican flag has found a body. But it is not that of Lourdes Malon Pueyo, who was just 18 when she was shot dead as

By Dilip Kuner

she attempted to flee across a mountain. The body found is in fact that of a young man aged between 20 and 30 – and dates back to between 475 and 620 AD during the Visigothic occupation of the region. The find is just one of many archaeological remains searchers have found in a 3700m2 plot which they have been scouring in TRAGIC: Rosario, Mariano and Lourdes their bid to find

Lourdes. Her sister, Rosario, 23 died the same day in 1936, executed inside a cave where she had taken shelter with Lourdes. Their mother had been shot dead several days earlier, while brother Mariano escaped to Huelva, where he died in 1999. Starting in 2013, five archaeological expeditions were held to find the young women. Rosario was found in 2017, but the search went on for Lourdes. Sponsored by the Charata Association for the Recovery of

Cloppity clop THE ancestral Andalucian tradition of releasing hundreds of semi-wild horses back into their natural habitat, the Doñana Natural Area, took place again on Sunday after a two year absence due to Covid. The Saca de las Yeguas (Taking of the Mares) has remained unchanged for over 500 years. Each year, local horsemen known as yegüerizos, trek into the swamps and marshes of Doñana National Park in the province of Huelva. There they round up hundreds of semi-wild horses, and take them to aution, releasing the unsold ones ROUND UP: Semi-wild horses back into the wild.

LIBERTYCASHBACK

Until JULY 26th 2022

the Historical Memory of Uncastillo – a village of 800 people in Zaragoza – the search has uncovered a series of unexpected finds. The remains of the young man turn out to be associated with a previously unknown Hispano-Visigothic settlement.

Lost

What’s more, walls from the ‘lost’ Medieval monastery of San Esteban de Oraste have been found, as well as the Visigothic tomb, ceramics from the same period, a bell fragment and a set of coins from the 11th century. In the search for Lourdes and Rosario, archaeologists had used ground-penetrating radar – which revealed the unexpected archaeological remains, as detailed in the report El yacimiento arqueológico de las Peñas de Santo Domingo: las fases de ocupación hispanovisigoda y plenomedieval. But despite the wealth of finds, Lourdes – the reason the search was launched – remains missing to this day.

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OLIVE PRESS ALL EDITIONS - PROMO 2 - 90 X 256 - JUNE 29, 2022

LA CULTURA

GETTING June 29th - July 12th 2022

Talent, respect for tradition, and a great sense of humour is proving to be the recipe for success for Sevilla’s most in-demand artists

POPULAR: Container heads are big sellers

EVILLA is famous for its ceBy Sorrel Downer ramic art. It’s impossible not to marvel at the antique tiles lining the city’s churches, pal- giver in the act of sorting out a probaces – and bars. You can learn about lem; a painting or statue of the helpful the history of ceramics at the Centro saint; or an object relating to the miraCeramica Triana, but for traditional cle itself. Over the centuries, mariners ceramics with a playful modern twist, and fisherman have left models of seek out The Exvotos. ships and boats in churches all along Two artists from Sevilla, Luciano the Spanish coast in thanks for returnGalan and Daniel Maldonado, work ing alive; farmers have left figures of together (and speak together) as The animals; and arms, legs and torsos Exvotos, and are taking the art world cut out of tin or zinc have been left by by storm. Their ceramic sculptures those cured of disease. have been snapped up by galleries Some objects are grand, but most are and private collectors as far afield as folk art, humble and a little homeAustralia, North America and Taiwan, spun. These days, ex-votos are more and sit in many private homes, public likely to be plaster casts, baby shoes institutions, convents and churches and football shirts. There is a big colacross their home city. lection outside the Capilla del Señor The cabeza recipientes, container de la Puerta Real in Jerez. heads, (beautiful with a kicker of Popular religious art is a central influkitsch), are the most in-demand piec- ence, but the idea of ex-votos exists es of a collection of work that uses all over the world and predates ChristiSpain’s heritage of art anity. The famous cabeand religion as a springzas, for example, were board, but then goes its inspired by terracotta Some of the own way. heads the Romans Galan and Maldonado made for their ancient container have a workshop in Segods. heads have the villa, hidden in one of Further inspiration those narrow streets comes from theatre, look of women north of Las Setas and opera, and from films: at a feria south of Mercado de “Classic movies like Feria. The giant ceramic Cleopatra, Samson and heart at the entrance, Delilah, and Bitter Rice and the strains of music coming from as well as good recent ones, like Porinside – usually classical, sometimes trait of a Lady on Fire and Joker. We a bit of Cuban, depending on wheth- watch cycles of Italian, French, Japaer or not they need to concentrate – nese, and, of course, Spanish cinegive it away. ma”. The bright and joyous ambiance Everything inside it is fascinating, of sunny southern Spain also feeds from the salvaged wooden fur- into the creative mix. niture to the terracotta heads in Some of the container heads have various stages of gestation star- the look of women at a feria with their ing blankly from the shelves. rouged cheeks and coronas of flowers Sculptures, from the secular to . . . or fruit. The heads are hollow, and saints and flamenco clowns, are can be used for flowers, and come posed under the kind of glass in different sizes, the biggest standbell jars the Victorians used ing around 32 cm, and costing €700 for displaying stuffed birds. €800. There are also toreros and ad“Here we call the jars fana- mirals, and others inspired by Greek les. We love them!” mythology, including an unsettling MeWhen people step into this dusa and a Neptune, the back of his world, “they are delighthead encrusted with clams, and ed and we are proud. with coral as a crown. To create beautiful They make the popuobjects you have lar ex-voto body parts to surround yourself (‘we have feet, hands, eyes . with beauty. We are . . it's funny when people ask still working on the how much an ear costs!’), decoration, but I and there are statues of think we can call saints, ranging from 32-65 the look, a ‘cabinet cm, and starting around of curiosities’.” €600. Their saints are The two artists are, much like traditional, respectful their art, part serious, part funand exquisite – but also ny, and deeply rooted in the clasendearing and funny. Studysical tradition. Both went to Seing them closely, it’s hard to villa’s Escuela de Arte, then won work out why. They are simgrants to study abroad. Galan, ilar to the antique figurines who studied wood carving, sculpyou might see in a church or ture, and clay modelling, travmuseum, but there is someelled to Venice to learn Venetian thing in the exaggerated gesmask-making techniques. Maldotures of their hands, the hint nado, who studied ceramic paintof a double chin, and the attiing, went to Lisbon to work in 18th tude in their glossy faces, that century ceramic art restoration. sets them apart. Returning to Sevilla in 2001, they They are reverent . . . but with a combined their complementary guiñon, a wink. skills. “On the one hand, we have “It sounds very romantic to say it, traditional training – we but we are really now in a situaknow the methods, the 17th tion where our life is art and our century techniques, and work is our life.” the pieces we make have The name ‘Exvotos’ comes from a gravitas,” say the artists. the tradition of offering some“On the other hand, we thing in thanks for divine interhave a great sense of vention. An ex-voto might be a humour, and while we painting showing the miracle have enormous respect

for tradition and we don’t want to offend, we do like to have fun.” The collection also includes paintings, wall hangings, candelabra, lamp stands, and candlesticks on which faces and torsos emerge out of the ceramic like figureheads on a ship, and collections of hand-painted plates – though surely no-one dares to put food on them? “We have clients who keep them only for decoration, but others who give lunches using our pieces,” they say, “and we eat off them too!” Everything is hand-crafted, start to finish. For ceramic sculptures, that process can take up to 90 days to complete, from pencil sketch to miniature 3D model, through to modelling, drying, glazing, firing, decorating and painting. Unsurprisingly, the waiting list for private commissions is long. Some assignments can be challenging: “Our strangest so far was a painted ex-voto dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe by a wonderful lady who lost her partner through the fault of his children,” they say. “We had to synthesise that story into a wooden panel.” Galan and Maldonado work internationally, with interior designers who give them ‘the freedom to let our inspiration take us wherever it wants’. Closer to home, their patrons include the Marbella Club, where ‘we continue to collaborate in bringing dreams to life – for example, we had an idea for a fireplace and we were able to do it there. This year, we’ll be working in the hotel’s beach club’. You’ll

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WE LOVE MARBS

June 2022

It’s been the destination of choice for Visigoths and Romans, Grace Kelly and Presidents. Kimberley Mannion charts Marbella’s eternal allure

Continues on next page

Pictures by Jon Clarke

GOLDENSANDS: Vista from Guadalmina, Hugh Grant and Tyson Fury in a Ferrari, while (right) Grace Kelly and Michelle Obama

ARBELLA has owned the reputation of being a playground for the rich and famous for over half a century. Photos of the glamorous beach destination fill glossy travel magazines around the world and it’s easily the most aspirational place to live and visit in Europe, alongside perhaps San Tropez or Ibiza. An exclusive enclave, it has long attracted celebrity visitors such as Sean Connery, Hugh Grant and Audrey Hepburn to its iconic nightclubs and restaurants, while captains of industry, like Alan Sugar and Theo Paphitis, and footballers, like Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale stalk its

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Marbella

From front

A SUGARCANE TOWN WITH ELEVEN TOWERS

CHARMING: A stroll around the ‘casco historico’

fairways and marinas. While British reality TV show The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) has helped immortalise ‘Marbs’ as the ultimate party destination, bringing it crashing down to earth in some ways, the genuine super-rich still come to visit. It is no coincidence that during the two year pandemic, its five-star hotels were almost full, while property prices soared to unbelievable heights. As one estate agent told the Olive Press, Marbella is ‘almost bulletproof from a property crash’. “It is almost unique in Europe,” he added. There are simply not enough villas for sale and listings are becoming incredibly scarce to come by. Demand far outstrips supply. And buyers are heading to Marbella for a lot more than just sunshine and beaches. While it’s fair to say that the majority of tourists come to rub shoulders with the super rich and party, a good few end up marvelling at its suprising history, while inspecting its Moorish walls in the centre, or stumbling over a Roman villa or Visigothic church on its outskirts. The Costa del Sol resort has certainly gone through an interesting trajectory to become the place it is today. Take away the top of the range cars, foreign visitors in designer clothes, and rowdy revellers, then rewind the clock a millennia or two, and you’ll

find it’s always been a popular spot. Marbella’s earliest origins are as a palaeolithic settlement. Humans hunted and gathered over the very same land that now boasts Michelin-starred restaurants (four of them, by the way). Its next incarnation was as a Roman city. You can see the evidence at the Termas de Las Bovedas Roman baths, near San Pedro de Alcantara, and at the Roman villa in Rio Verde. The northern European Visigoths were frequent visitors to the coast and left their mark in the form of the Vega del Mar Basilica, a necropolis, also to be found in San Pedro. Today’s Marbella would be totally alien to the Visigoths, but the early Arabs spotted the town’s potential, calling it bien habitada, or ‘place of good living’. They built a walled town in the in the tenth and 11th century and even a large Alcazaba castle. The walls, some of which survive today, were dotted with around a dozen towers, including the Torre del Puente Levadizo (meaning the ‘Drawbridge Tower’) and the Torre de la Puerta de Hierro (or ‘the Iron Door Tower’). While nothing of the size of Sevilla or Granada, it came a close second to Ronda in terms of size and fell to the Christian Crusaders in the same year, 1485, just seven years before the Catholic Reconquest was complete. Before tourism arrived properly in

the 1950s and 60s, Marbella was surprisingly industrial: During the 19th century, it was the most important centre for steel and iron production in the whole of Spain. At one point 75% of the country’s supply came from one single production plant in Marbella. The industry eventually shifted to

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June 2022

ANCIENT AND MODERN: From the Alcazaba to Puerto Banus and a spot of beach yoga in between

the north of Spain turning the local mises the glamorous Marbella lifeeconomy to farming, in particular, style: Puerto Banus. growing sugar cane, before finally Jose Banus was close to the Spanseeing the rewards it could reap as ish dictator, General Franco. He had a holiday destination. worked as a spy on the Nationalist Marbella’s glitz and glamour has side during the country’s bloody civil its roots in the period war, and Franco visited after the Spanish Civhim on the Costa del il War, during which it King Fahd and Sol a few years before had been a haven for his death. terrorist Bin Nazis and Franco’s FaThe architect had no langists. shortage of powerful Laden have When Spanish noblefriends to help him proman Ricardo Soriano mote his new resort. been regular founded the Albergues The grand opening celvisitors del Rodeo residential ebrations for Puerto complex in 1943, he Banus in 1970 lasted established Marbella’s a week, and included a tourism model for the future. dinner and dance for 1000 guests. It was clear that the combination of Prince Rainier of rival luxury destinaleafy, upmarket villas with the warm tion Monaco attended along with his climate, expansive views and beauti- wife, Princess Grace, who danced ful beaches was a winning formula. with Banus under the watchful gaze Over the following decades, more of guests including Playboy founder picturesque estates were devel- Hugh Hefner. oped, and the price of land went Marbella’s glittering reputation through the roof. grew, attracting hugely wealthy visiSavvy people, who would become tors from the Middle East. responsible for shaping the modern King Fahd of Saudi Arabia became Marbella, started moving in. a frequent guest – as did Osama One of them was Don Jose Banus, Bin Laden, no less (later named as who developed the area that epito- the mastermind behind the 9/11

BIGWIGS: Prince, Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, Sean Connery and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia all loved Marbella

attacks on New York’s Twin Towers). He enjoyed several holidays in Marbella between 1977 and 1988. More positive endorsements came from favoured celebrities, including former James Bond stars Sean Connery and Roger Moore who acted as international ambassadors for Marbella in the 80s and 90s. So many world leaders came and went, with Tony Blair, David Cameron and Michelle Obama coming for holidays, while former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, bought himself a house in Guadalmina.

President Putin acquired a palace in the Zagaleta urbanisation in the hills above the resort ( revealed to the world by the Olive Press) while crooner Julio Iglesias also swooped in for a mega-estate on the borders of Istan. Sportsmen came in their droves, with boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua even visiting to train in the very same month, during the pandemic. Simon Cowell, Eva Longoria and Prince, the list goes on. The new millennium saw the nightlife volume turned up to max.

The late Olivia Valere arrived from Paris to open her eponymous nightclub in 2000, and Prince came to party . . . like it was 1999. More club openings and legendary nights out have followed. Just wait until Ibiza superclub Pacha opens up the road, in nearby Estepona, watch out Ibiza!!. Marbella is a destination that has been a lot of different things to different people over the years, but the world-class restaurants, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and perfect climate look set to entice the world’s elite for decades – if not millennia – to come.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

VERYONE 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 amazing Bovedas de Guadalmina Roman baths. Located just a short stroll from the Paleochristian Basilica del Mar in San Pedro and only a stone’s throw from the beach, these thermae

ATTRACTION: Roman baths are finally to be restored

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 settle-

ment Cilniana was enjoying its heyday. The baths are currently closed to the public, with the sizable restora tion project, taking place in phases over several years. Eventually the plan is to turn them into a tourist magnet by restoring some of their former glory.

Marbella Summer Lovin’ A

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A RESORT

All his family holidays were spent in Marbella. Jorge Hinojosa takes us on a trip down memory lane – with plenty of stops for food and drink along the way

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.

ARBELLA has always been like a second home to me. My family visits every August to escape the heat of Madrid and have done so since the 1980s, when my dad fell in love with its amazing gastronomy, landscapes and legendary nights out. I first visited as a baby (that’s me below) and by four years old I remember having lunch in a chiringuito called Pepe el Piloto after spending the morning at the beach. Then there were the early mornings in Churreria Ramon, in Plaza de Los Naranjos, with all my family, and my mum always saying, “there is nothing as good as having churros in this lovely square,” as we crunched down on the deep-fried fritters and their fatter counterparts, porras. What I enjoyed most as a kid was going to Puerto Banus to have ice cream and to see all the mega yachts. However, before the boats my mum would make us traipse for at least two hours around El Corte Ingles looking for new outfits. My dad and my brother Angel would soon go on strike and head to a nearby bar to wait for mum to finish. As a teenager, I spent the first half of August with my dad’s family and my uncle who used to love Taberna Gaspar. He would eat there

Visigoth vestiges

HAPPY TIMES: Jorge as a baby with his mum and dad (inset) and partying with friends in Marbella (left in both pictures)

almost every day and raved about its tortillas and paella. One of my best friends, Ana, came to Marbella with her family one summer. I remember how exciting it was to act as host and show them around. She was amazed by how beautiful Marbella was, and also fell in love with the city. So it is so great to be living back here again full time, all thanks to my new job at the Olive Press, having worked at EFE in London and studying for my Masters degree at City University there.

Last summer I spent the summer here with friends, going to Starlite Festival most days for the great atmosphere and DJs. We ate at Bar Altamirano (a restaurant I have been going to since I was a child), and drank at my mum’s favourite place: Trocadero Playa. It was the first time some of them had visited the city, but not the last. They all enjoyed it so much, they’re coming back this summer. While I loved studying and working in London for two years, I love living back in Marbella, surrounded by mountains and the sea. In fact it is a dream come true to come back to a place I’ve been lucky enough to know all my life.

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ORGET the Coronavirus… there is something almost as bad for many homeowners in Spain. Let’s call it the BANKING PANDEMIA, or the Floor Clause illness, also known as ‘Clausula Suelo’ or ‘Suelo Hipotecario’ here. This was simply a clause that was inserted into variable rate mortgage agreements in Spain during the last 20 years that affects the interest rate payable on the mortgage. And it means that mortgage holders are being conned and do not fully benefit from the fall in EURIBOR as there will be a minimum rate of interest payable on the mortgage (this floor, also known as a ‘suelo’ is often 3- 4% depending on the bank). While this clause has been deemed illegal by both the Spanish and European courts, it is estimated that there are more than 3.5 million mortgages in Spain affected. NOTE: If you had a Worse, there is no vaccinamortgage in Spain tion forecast for the owners and it has been paid and the only way to eradicate off, you are still enthe clause is to claim and titled to claim if the sue the banks and lenders. last mortgage payGiven most of you are largely ment was carried out stuck at home with little to do as long ago as 2016. in these days of the COVID There is a 5 year term crisis, I want to challenge all for claiming since the Olive Press readers to underlast payment of the take this simple test which mortgage was paid. only takes two minutes.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultancy, please bear in mind we work on the basis of NO WIN NO FEE, please take a minute to check your mortgage statement and send it to us me by whatsapp 606307885 or by email diego@fairwaylawyers.com

The Basílica de Vega del Mar in San Pedro was excavated in the 20th century on a former Roman road running from Cadiz 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.

Did you buy a property and arrange a mort- YES NO gage with a Spanish bank between during the ‘happy years’ of 2002 to 2012?

Did you take over the mortgage offered by the YES NO developer if your property was bought off plan?

Did you notice your interest rate and your mortgage rate have not come down alongside global drops in interest rates?

YES NO

Are you still paying the same interest rate (3 4%) over the last few years without any change?

YES NO

Have you asked your bank manager about your mortgage payment and have not got any answer yet?

YES NO

Did you had a fixed mortgage rate during some years and then it changed to a lower amount?

YES NO

Have you checked your latest mortgage statement and seen an interest rate above 2%?

YES NO

Is your mortgage referred to EURIBOR rate?

YES NO

RESULTS : 1-3 YES answers: you may have been affected in the past by the FLOOR CLAUSE, and maybe the bank has taken off the floor clause and you were not aware of it, it is worth a closer check of your mortgage. 4-5 YES answers: You have a floor clause inserted in your mortgage and you have been overpaying interest over the last 10 years and your bank is squeezing you as a LEMON. Claim for your refund. 5-7 YES answers: The bank owes you money and it can be a huge amount of money, this is not a JOKE.

READY TO HELP: Owner Diego Echavarria

Fairway L AW Y E R S

June 2022

WITH MORE Arabian delights

The Alcazaba fortress is 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 Olive Press picks out 6 reasons to love Marbella

A Renaissance square

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.

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 HUMAN TOUCH Eu Insurance Direct are the friendly faces that assist you when you need help

HE electronic age has made things possible to everyone in fields that were once the preserve of professionals, such as photographers, graphic designers and printers. The internet has amplified this process further, enabling us to bank remotely, book flights and hotels ... and buy insurance directly online. But that is not necessarily the best idea – especially when it comes to buying insurance as an Ex-Pat living in another country. This is one area where sensible people enlist the help of a knowledgeable professional rather than simply go for what may appear – often wrongly – the best deal on the web. At EU Insurance Direct owner Wendy Codd and her team have the experience and knowledge to ensure you get the right policy that offers the cover you need on the most

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.’

acceptable terms and at the best price. They really come into their own when you need a little more than mass-produced, onesize-fits-all solutions. Individuals or businesses with specific insurance requirements do much better to consult a trained professional about their cover to find an option tailored to their personal and practical needs. These solutions need not be expensive and Wendy and her team will take the time to explain which are the best options open to you so you can make an informed decision for your particular needs. By working only with reputable companies Wendy is confident that her team can find the best value for money, whether for standard household, medical or car insurance as well as a host of other policies including life insurance. Assistance is always available should you need to make a claim, either through their Elviria office or through the insurers 24 hour helpline, via English-speaking staff At a time when you most need help and advice, EU Insurance Direct, who have been on the coast for 17 years, will be there to assist you. Call centres and comparison sites can’t compete with this sort of service!

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YOUR FIRST AND ONLY STOP Protec: The diversified construction business with a family touch

HE Protec Group, established in 1996, started out a humble family business selling windows and doors. Under the stewardship of founder Andre Jensen, and partner Silvia Jensen-Lindemann, Protec has flourished into a nationwide construction and distribution company. While business has boomed, the family values on which the company was founded remain as strong today as they were 25 years ago. Protec has since become renowned for its distribution of cutting edge construction products which can’t be found anywhere else in Spain. The company has three large warehouses to its name, offering clients premium options such as thermal insulation, anti-theft protection, and energy saving. The importance of good window insulation is an often overlooked part of the house, but with Protec, insulation and environmental concerns are front and centre and with their help you could cut 60% of energy lost through windows. Other areas where Protec excels is in new builds and the refurbishment of houses. Taking care of every detail from start to finish, Protec gives you peace of mind and guides you through the often intimidating bureaucracy. A truly international company, Protec prides itself on being able to speak to its clients in their mother tongue, whether that be Spanish, English, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Arabic or Russian. With their meticulous planning and extensive knowledge of the industry, there is no pulling the wool over their eyes by rogue traders or unlicensed builders. That is why they are the gold-standard of suppliers on the Costas, and their roster of happy clients expands by the day. However small or large your needs are, from a simple door replacement to a full scale conversion of your home into a green abode, Protec are the people you want.

ll about

Marbella

DALI AND MORE! W

E start our art tour at Marbella’s best known museum. Home to one of Europe’s most important Latin American collections, the Museo Ralli focuses on modern movements, particularly surrealism, with works from a wide range of contemporary artists. Its current temporary show is on show until April 2024.

Ralli Museum

WHERE? Urb. Coral Beach, Rio Verde, N-340, km. 176, 29602 Marbella, Málaga WHEN? Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 15:00 h

Get in touch with them by phone, email or via their website www.grupo-protec.com Tel. (+34) 952 587 573 info@grupo-protec.com

It’s not just hen parties creating an exhibition in Marbella, as Livia Cockerell discovers

EACHES, restaurants and parties are just a part of what Marbella has to offer – the city also has a surprisingly good

range of arts and culture. Don’t wait for a rainy day: join us on a tour of the decent number of galleries scattered around the resort.

Excellence Art Gallery

ext up is this stylish a n d quirky gallery with its broad range of paintings and sculptures, as well as regular launches and events. Not only is this a great stop to admire the beautiful paintings, it’s also a great lunch spot, with its Art Caffe offering delicious Italian cuisine. Very Civilised.

WHERE? Urb. Coral Beach, Rio Verde, N-340, km. 176, 29602 Marbella, Málaga

WHEN? Monday to Friday 9:00 to 19:00 h

EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY

Olive Press talks to Marbella mayor Maria Angeles Muñoz

ORDOBA-born Maria Angeles Muñoz was first elected Mayor of Marbella in 2011. She served until 2015 and then again from 2017. Jorge Hinojosa caught up with her to find out more about the city.

Q A

What can Marbella offer as a tourist destination?

Q A

The city’s latest campaign emphasises security. Why is Marbella a safe place?

Tourists who arrive in Marbella feel safe as soon as they arrive. We were awarded the Safe Travel Stamp, a certificate granted by the World Travel Council, and we are also the first Spanish city to have been awarded the Safe Tourism Certificate, which is granted by the Instituto para la Calidad Turística Española (ICTE). It is really important to make the tourist feel comfortable so that he/she can enjoy Marbella with absolute peace of mind.

Marbella is a well-known city around the world. The tourists who visit us have an incomparable leisure, sport, gastronomic and cultural offering. We have an exceptional climate, unique enclaves and a thriving natural environment. We have recently received the Intelligent Tourist Destination stamp. Marbella is the first Andalucian city and the third in the world to obtain such an honour. This certificate reflects our commitment to innovations, sustainability and new technologies at a time of transformation for the tourism sector.

Q A

What makes Marbella different from other touristic destinations?

The commitment to excellence and quality tourism is one of our great hallmarks. Marbella is an extraordinary city that is always in constant evolution to respond to new demands. In testing times, Marbella continues to be a highly desirable place to live in a very competitive market.

What is your favourite part of Marbella and why?

It is very difficult to choose one specific place as Marbella is full of amazing places. Our old town is unique, The Paseo Maritimo is wonderful, and we have magnificent natural landscapes. It is a city that does not disappoint anyone. How has Marbella changed in the past few years?

The tourism industry is constantly changing, so our work strategy has always been to anticipate these changes, adapt to new trends and respond to tourists’ needs. We carry out an in-depth analysis, improvement and promotion work by the city council and workers in the sector to ensure our offer continues to be attractive for tourists.

PROUD OF HER CITY: Marbella Mayor Maria Angeles Muñoz

Q A

Why do you think that Marbella has a lot of international tourism?

Being close to Malaga’s airport favours the reception of international tourism as well as the quality of our services and our amazing hotels that guarantee the best experience to the visitor.

Q A

What are the future plans for Marbella regarding tourism?

We want to continue strengthening our brand image and for Marbella to be perceived as a very attractive city to visit, live, and invest in. We continue to launch promotions to try to attract visitors who are less likely to visit Marbella. We are trying to increase sports tourism by hosting major sporting events and we are also promoting Marbella’s nature hotspots. We continue to ensure Marbella continues to hold the position of tourism leadership that it deserves.

Since the pandemic, many people who work remotely have decided to base themselves in Marbella? Why do you think this is?

It is an ideal city to live in because it is welcoming, it has an exceptionally lovely climate,

and has a rich amount to offer in many fields. In addition, modernisation and new technologies allow professionals to work remotely while enjoying a high quality of life in exceptional surroundings.

Q A

Do you think Marbella will surpass the 2019 levels of tourism this year?

The data that we have seen in recent months make us very optimistic in view of the high season. We have made an effort to come out of these two difficult years stronger than ever and I think our position as a leader in tourism has been reinforced, demonstrated by us being recognised in 2022 as the second-best European destination to travel to and the most exclusive city in the continent on the prestigious website EuropeanBestDestination’s.

Q A

What type of demographic come to Marbella on holiday?

Marbella attracts tourists searching for excellence. The pandemic has accelerated the transformation of industry and the tourists now are looking for an experience connected to natural surroundings without compromising on high-quality, which our town can absolutely guarantee.

June 2022

CAPTIVATING: The Puente Romano

Avenida del Mar

“

To fall in love with an artwork is to recognise your soul through the artist’s mirror” – or so said Marife Nuñez who founded the gallery, and probably knows about these things. Es.Arte is a contemporary gallery with a busy calendar of exhibitions and fairs. As well as exhibiting works by contemporary artists, the gallery also offers consultancy services, helping you find something to hang on your wall.

WHERE? Av de Manolete, 1, Centro Plaza, Local 11, 29660 Marbella

WHEN? Tuesday to Thursday 10:30 to 16:00 h Saturday 10:00 to 14:30 h

Es.Arte Gallery

or an outdoor gallery, head to Avenida del Mar to see some of Salvador Dali’s famous bronze statues. Located on this beautiful marble promenade near the waterfront, these statues include a depiction of Perseus beheading Medusa; the Roman emperor Trajan on horseback; and, changing the mood slightly, a statue of Dali’s wife looking through a window. Also look for nearby sculpture by Eduardo Soriano, a tribute to freedom of speech and expression.

WHERE? Avenida del Mar

WHEN? 24 hours a day!

Hotel’s ancient ruins

BUILT BY ROMANS

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 known bar at the entrance to Puerto Banus that has been there for cen- SPECTACULAR: Mosaic at turies too. Rio Verde Meanwhile an A slee original Roman bridge period py town during the still stands surreally in bella of Al-Andalus, Marthe middle of the Puente tians was retaken by ChrisRomano Hotel and a few de losin 1485. The Plaza kilometres away is the Square) Naranjos (Orange restored Roman villa at cal poin has been the foRio Verde with its beauti- then t of the town since and the town hall is ful mosaics. still located there today.

Not getting Estuco Marbella’s high end Estuco Interiors reinvented itself during the pandemic and came out with flying colours

T may be already a quarter of a century in business, but the all-female team at Estuco Interiors had to work hard to reinvent themselves during the pandemic. 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,” explained co-owner Chris, from the UK. “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.” Even better, as the lockdown came to an end they found themselves being flown to the UK and Sweden and even across the border in Portugal to undertake jobs. “They were mostly other homes of our clients here, who really trust us to do a good job, even back home, or elsewhere,” Chris adds. Estuco has everything from Farrow & Ball to Designers Guild, not to mention one of the largest fabric collections on the coast and a striking selection of decorative items, influenced by fellow 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. Estuco has been one of the main go-to designers for some of the best properties in Marbella for decades, 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

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The Olive Press looks back at the lives of the aristocrats and celebrities that turned a small fishing village into a glitzy, starstudded resort for the ‘jet set’

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

YOUR TICKET TO BOATING Smart Yachting and Smart Charter Marbella are set to make your boating dreams come true this summer

AVING opened the doors to their new office in Puerto Banús earlier this year, the Smart Yachting and Smart Charter Marbella team are ready for a busy first season on the Costa del Sol. Part of the renowned Smart Group and in partnership with U.S. charter booking platform Boatsetter, the boating enthusiasts offer everything from yacht brokerage and boat maintenance services for private owners to a selection of fabulous charter experiences. The Smart Yachting Marbella team focuses on the acquisition and sales of yachts, as well as management services including full annual maintenance by qualified in-house mechanics, customisation services including upholstery, painting, wrapping, electrical and demotic systems, short- and long-term mooring options, winter storage and expert advice on charter options. Meanwhile, the Smart Charter Marbella team, together with support from Boatsetter, will take care of the day charters operating out of Puerto Banús. A selection of amazing experiences is available to choose from, including half-day charters, sunset boat trips, romantic couple’s cruises and family boat trips to name just a few! Director of Sales, Tim Hope, comments, “We are thrilled to be expanding in such an exciting new destination. Our business model has proven a success in Ibiza, and glamorous Marbella

Marbella

was the obvious next location.” Smart Yachting and Smart Charter Marbella are part of the renowned Smart Group, which was founded in Ibiza in 2014 and also includes the Balearic Islands’ largest private boat rental company, Smart Charter Ibiza. With over 50 privately owned boats in the company’s fleet, the company gives private owners and charter guests access to an impressive and varied portfolio. Established in 2018, the partnership with U.S. company Boatsetter has helped the fast-growing business expand its reach beyond Europe and into the American market. For further information visit www. smartyachting.com, www.smartchartermarbella.com and Boatsetter.com

STARS: Sinatr a and Ava Gardner enjoye of Marbella’s d the charms old town

STARRY HIVE GLAMOROUS: Diana Dors sunbathing, while George Best plays football on a Marbella beach (below)

in his vintage Rolls-Royce looking the world was trembling that for land. World War III was starting,” exThe bilingual Alfonso – who was plains Count Rudi Schonburg, a keen painter - was immediately a former manager of Marbella taken by what he saw in Marbel- Club. la. Coining the nickname the ‘King Sheltered by the dramatic Sier- of Clubs’, Alfonso’s reputation ra Blanca and with crystal-clear quickly preceded him and he waters just a stone’s throw away, soon opened up a disco which the savvy prince immediately got the club swinging every Tuessaw a wealth of opportunities. day and Friday night. He ordered his father to sell off Despite revelling in its exclusive his wine cellars in Malaga and status, the Marbella Club was began developing his now sem- anything but formal. inal Marbella Club hotel, which “At dinner everybody arrived with opened in 1954. a dinner jacket, but I said ‘Stop! But that was not enough and This is not the Marbella way! You the well-connected prince soon only wear a dinner jacket on New embarked on a European-wide Year’s Eve,” recalled Alfonso. campaign to convince all his As the inspired prince’s creation high-flying friends that Marbella, boomed, so did Marbella and not San Sebastian or Cannes, its surrounding hillsides. New was the only place to be. restaurants, bars and sports And his campaign worked with clubs began sprouting up as the the grand families of central Costa del Sol quickly entered its Europe, including so-called golden the Bismarcks, era. Rothschilds and Developers inWe had the Metternichs, cluded Jose Bacoming to see most gorgeous nus, who built what the fuss was Puerto Banus parties when about. marina and King A string of celebriof Saudi the rest of the Fahd ties followed suit, Arabia, who built world trembled a white palace with actresses including Elizabeth (still there today) Taylor and Sophia that is modelled Loren, photographer Patrick Li- on both the White House and a chfield, footballer George Best, mosque. model Brigitte Bardot, and Roll- The likes of multi-millionaire ing Stone Bryan Jones joining arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi the in-crowd. (who formerly owned La ZaEven British aristocracy got in on galeta, Spain’s most expensive the act, with the Duke and Duch- urbanisation) were able to dock ess of Windsor (Edward and Mrs their luxury yachts in the port. Simpson) visiting the hotel. “Thanks to my initiative, Mar“The people I met in Hollywood, bella’s Golden Mile alone now in New York, and in Europe, they provides 60,000 jobs,” Alfonso were the roots, the bridge that once said. brought people to Marbella… While his friends called him who made Marbella,” explained the ‘King of Clubs’ or the ‘Little Alfonso. Prince’, locals came to know Marbella took pride in being cut him affectionately as Ole-Ole, off from the hectic, stressful and because of the difficulty he had often scary modern world. pronoucing his surname. Indeed, news of the Cuban Mis- Yet as the Costa del Sol dream sile Crisis did not reach the re- began to spiral into uncontrolsort until it was over. lable development, Alfonso be“Everybody had the most gor- came aware of the monster he geous parties when the rest of had helped stir. Concrete towers

FILLING HIS BOOTS: Sean Connery and Jackie Lane

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 soon-to-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.”

June 2022

Retro Marbella

BUZZ FOR BOATIES: Picture of the old Puerto Deportivo

Views of the Costa del Sol town before it hit the big time

MINING: At Sierra Blanca

HEART: The Marbella Club kick-started the town’s glamour NO SIN: Nuns having fun in the sun

BIG CHANGES: The Club Maritimo (above) and carrying the Virgen del Carmen during an Easter parade in the 1960s

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Marbella

WHERE TO EAT SECRET SPOT: Macaao

952 636 290 valeria@valeriagourmet.com Centro Comercial Guadalmina 4, local 28 GUADALMINA ALTA, SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA 29670 Marbella, Málaga

Brasilian Rodizio, different cuts of quality meat cut directly at the table and typical side dishes

tel: 641 400 647

Elviria, Marbella Mondays closed

SHINING BRIGHT A S the years travel went

pandemic hit two ago most of the industry in Spain into full disaster

mode. Meanwhile, in Marbella, the hotels and restaurants braced themselves for an influx of captains of industry, celebrities and royalty. The perfect haunt to ride out the crisis, it seemed like half the world’s super rich headed to its crystal shores, as hotel occupancy soared and restaurant reservations hit the roof. It’s therefore no coincidence that Marbella counts on the highest number of Michelin starred eateries in Spain, per capita. The resort of 147,000 yearround residents enjoy no less than five Michelin stars spread

For its size, Marbella has more Michelinstarred restaurants than anywhere else in Spain, writes Olive Press editor Jon Clarke across four restaurants between its golden arches. And there used to be a lot more, before wunderkind Dani Garcia chucked in his trio when he closed his eponymous joint at the Puente Romano hotel two years ago. But that’s only half the story, for there are at least a dozen more that are jostling for the honour, while seven also count on prestigious ‘soles’ (suns) from Repsol’s Spanish food bible. My personal favourites include Ta-kumi and el Lago, which despite its iffy golf course location, has never let me down for food. And then there is K a v a , which is the most unusual, creative spot right in the heart of

DELICATE: Dish at Ta-kumi and (right) Jon interviews New York chef Daniel Humm

town, run by a self-taught chef with a Masters degree in law. Originally from Marbella, Fernando Alcala spent years working as a solicitor in Switzerland, before deciding to give it a go back home in the kitchen two years ago. And what a joy! Meanwhile, on the Golden Mile, the Boho Club is glamorous and up the road in San Pedro de Alcantara, you have the excellent Savor, while the secret spot El Cortijo de Ramiro, in Guadalmina, is where the power-brokers-in-know go to eat. Right up in the hills, worth a drive, is the charming restaurant at Alcuzcuz, which technically is in Benahavis. For beach restaurants you are spoilt for choice, although the amazing Macaao, in San Pedro takes some beating. It has a real touch of class and is run with an iron fist by Belgian Michel Dhondt, who heralds from a long line of Continues on Page 12

June 2022

NIC OF TIME Marbella now counts on two of France’s finest Nicolas wine shops

I STAR: Jon meets Joan Roca and Ferran Adria, while (below right) Joel Robuchon

Global glamour and world’s best chefs

HEN you’ve got so many people, who can easily drop €500 for a table for two on a Wednesday lunch, you understandably attract the stars. And it is not just the likes of Robert de Niro. Michelle Obama and Hugh Grant who I have spotted dining in the old town. Thanks to a fabulous annual event, A Cuatro Manos, organized by Dani Garcia for years at the Puente Romano, I have got to meet the great and the good of Spain’s globally-famous food scene. Interviewing el Bulli legend Ferran Adria was a real standout, while getting to grill Joan Roca and Valencia star Quique Dacosta twice, comes a close second. More exciting even, was meeting French legend Joel Robuchon, who gushed about the Andalucian food scene, while New York’s Eleven Madison Park maestro Daniel Humm (below left), would hardly stop talking.

WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR WINE WINE - CHAMPAGNE - SPIRITS HOME DELIVERY - HAMPERS - WRAPPING CHILLED WINE AND CHAMPAGNE

Centro Comercial Contur, Carretera de Cádiz km 192, Local 8-22 29604 Marbella

Centro Comercial Guadalmina, Calle 19A, Edif. La Caixa, Locales 7 y 8 29670 Marbella

www.nicolas-espana.com Tel: +34.951.272.216 vinosnicolasmarbella@gmail.com

T has been two centuries since Maison Nicolas became one of the most fashionable wine shops in Paris. And now, finally, Marbella residents have two of their own exclusive franchises right on their doorstep. Strategically located in Guadalmina and Elviria, the Nicolas shops are the project of husband and wife team Pierre-Carlos and Georgina Galvan. Serving hundreds of different bottles of Champagne, fine Burgundy and Bordeaux, they also offer their clients the best of Spanish and Italian wines. And that’s not all. You will also find gourmet products such as olive oil, French patés and sweets. But best of all, is the advice you will find from the team, who are well up on the nearly 1,500 references of bottles that the company now stocks. Since launching in 1822, the French company has opened 500 shops around the world, in dozens of countries, including the UK, Morocco and Switzerland. “We try to find a bottle to match everyone’s taste and budget,” explains Pierre, who is looking to open more shops in Ibiza and Madrid, among other locations in Spain. “Whether for a wedding, a dinner with friends or a romantic meal, we promise to help you. We will hopefully also introduce you to new wine-growing regions and a few pleasant surprises to expand your horizons,” he adds.

www.nicolas-espana.com Tel: +34 951 272 216 vinosnicolasmarbella@gmail.com

WE TA

WINE - C HOME DE CHILLED W

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Marbella

WHERE TO EAT

Waltz round to Viennas Great spots to Perfect for bagels, a beer and just From Page 10

AT VIENNAS AT VIENNAS CAFE, CAFE, WE PRIDE WE OURSELVES PRIDE ON USING OURSELVES THE ON USING THE FRESHEST FRESHEST INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS SOURCING PRODUCTS SOURCING LOCALLY PRODUCTS LOCALLY AND ANDSERVING SERVING ARTISAN ARTISAN ITALIAN ROASTED ITALIAN COFFEE, ROASTED COFFEE, BREAKFAST BREAKFAST AND LUNCH DAILY. AND LUNCH DAILY.

about everything else, Viennas Cafe is a top Marbella pick

dine in

restaurant owners and trained with Alain Ducasse on the Cote d’Azur. OR the best breakfast, brunch and bagels in Marbella, In the heart of the old town look no further than Viennas Cafe. Taberna La Nina del Pisto is The extensive menu is beautifully presented and pera great spot, while Altamirano fectly instagrammable, to be enjoyed in the daintily OPEN: 9.00-16.30 9.00-16.30 MONDAY - SATURDAY - SATURDAY highly recommended by decorated teal blue venue or outOPEN: on its terrace outside. MONDAYcomes most. There is a distinct vintage feel to it and it is a timeless spot I must also mention Skina, whether you are looking for a quick cake and coffee, sit which now has two stars in the down to a lovely lunch or kick back with a beer or wine. heart of the old town, and its The menu accommodates all tastes and dietary requireowner, a sommelier by train- SEDUCTIVE: And La Sala has been succcessful for a decade, while (below) Quique Dacosta at ments, with everything from nostalgic home comfort dishes ing, Marcos Granda’s new Asi- Marbella event. like banana bread or scrambled eggs to zucchini fritter or atic restaurant Nintao, which chicken and udon noodle bowls. already has a star around the Saying that, I have eaten well cessful restaurant and one Like its surroundings, the menu is www.viennascafe.com trulywww.viennascafe.com international and at the likes of Jacks and Mum- of the most enduring. corner. dishes are inspired by cuisines from around the world from But Marbella has something taz and was recently delighted Run by Brits Ian Radford TEL: +34 637 15 TEL: 14 16 +34 637 15 14 16 pulled pork breakfast tacos to Korean fried chicken, and, AVENIDA AVENIDA BULEVAR BULEVAR PRÍNCIPE PRÍNCIPE ALFONSO DE ALFONSO HOHENLOHE, 23 MARBELLA DE HOHENLOHE, SPAIN 29602 23 MARBELLA SPAIN 29602 for everyone. There are well to come across the stylish Le- and wife Claire, with a bit of essentially, Italian roasted coffee. over 100 different nationalities one, run by the same group but help from a celebrity elevThe star product though is arguably the bagels, all of which cooking here, from Japanese to with much more focus on the en of former Premiership are 100% vegan. food quality (see footballers, including Steve Dutch and ChilThe key to the amazing taste of the food is that everything is review on next Carr, David Bentley and ean to Korean. healthy too - all products are sourced locally, so you can feel page). Shay Given, it is a must-visit Take a walk good about what you’re eating. Well over for any holiday to Marbs. around the old The team, led by experienced chef Michael, stays away from Just about everyone has town and follow processed foods - everything is freshly prepared in house. 100 different been for lunch from Jamie your nose to see In addition, the company is passionate about using local Oliver to Harry Kane and what is open. suppliers and all the meals are sourced from fresh local nationalities this emporium of glass and I’ve always liked produce. One of the most are cooking seductive lighting, is at its Belgian-run e x t r a o r d i n a r y best on a weekend lunch Casanis, an here eateries has to or early Friday evening on elegant spot be La Sala. To find out more about Viennas Cafe, call its wonderful deck terrace. with a great loWritten off by Surprisingly good is the 637151416 or email info@viennascafe.com cal menu, while Italian restaurant Cibo on the just about everyone when it food, while you are bound main road into Marbella is al- opened a decade ago on a to have fun after the meal Visit us at Avenida Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso busy roundabout just inland as the music kicks off. If ways reliable. de Hohenlohe, 23 Urb. Marbella réal, local Up in Banus it is harder to find from the N-340 motorway, it you are looking for meat or 22, 29602 Marbella, Málaga genuinely good food and it can has turned out to be - almost fish, there is usually a concertainly - Marbella’s most suc- temporary twist. be very hit or miss.

Super Sala

AT VIENNAS CAFE, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON USING THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS SOURCING PRODUCTS LOCALLY AND SERVING ARTISAN ITALIAN ROASTED COFFEE, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH DAILY.

OPEN: 9.00-16.30 MONDAY - SATURDAY

www.viennascafe.com TEL: +34 637 15 14 16 AVENIDA BULEVAR PRÍNCIPE ALFONSO DE HOHENLOHE, 23 MARBELLA SPAIN 29602

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Marbella

WHERE TO EAT

BUZZING

Jon Clarke loves the summer vibe at La Sala by the Sea

Photos by Jon Clarke

LADIES LUNCHING: With spicy wings and cocktails for later

OME summer there is definitely nowhere more fun to be than La Sala by the Sea. Ask international footballers

Eden Hazard, Dele Alli or Des Walker, who flock in regularly come the silly season. With some of the hottest girls to eye

up around the pool and some swanky sounds coming from the DJ up on high, it ticks all the boxes for a celebrity packed day out.

The wine list says it all: Aside from the nearly 30 different champagnes on offer - Dom Perignon sliding in at 450 euros a pop and Kristal no cheaper there is a good mix of international roses, not to mention cocktails. But La Sala by the Sea is a lot more than a buzzing beach club, with great drinks and music… it counts on a spacious beach area and, best of all, an excellent menu. It has a great sushi plate, in three sizes, as well as an excellent mixed Thai starter, of no less than six dishes, the chicken satay a total winner. The very Asiatic influenced menu care of owner Claire Strutton’s love of Thailand, you can definitely trust the Pad Thai, while the Crispy Duck Pancakes were as good as any I’ve tried on the coast. Staffing is one of the highlights with the Maitre D Luke, a South African livewire, giving us a brilliant overview of its history, from when it first

ON THE PALATE - RESTAURANT REVIEW

ROARING FROM THE FRONT Leone is a scarily good addition to frontline Puerto Banus, writes Jon Clarke

Above the hordes

T somehow remains cool and calm, while sited in one of the Costa del Sol’s most emblematic - and bustling - locations to dine. That’s Leone, that has roared to life this summer in Puerto Banus with a strikingly good menu and equally good vibes. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sinatras, Picasso and Jacks, it is never easy to get noticed in this high-end busy Marbella marina. But Leone counts on hip design and a great use of light, as well as pale/neutral colours to make its debut. After a few key menu changes over its first couple of months, it is starting to brim with confidence. A part-Asiatic menu broadens out into a wide enough palate, with enough original and off-beat dishes to stand out above the nearby hordes. The duck terrine starter with foie gras marinated in cognac is a good example, while the ‘fresh’ Spring rolls, with a Nuoc sauce, were excellent and original, as were the superb Rock

opened as Buddha Beach. “I love the mix of people who visit, from footballers to families, some of whom come for literally every day of a twoweek holiday,” he told me. “This afternoon alone, I’ve served Dutch, Germans, Swedish, South Africans and Brits, there is always a big mix.” His enthusiasm spoke volumes and fortunately, unlike other nearby beach clubs, the volume isn’t turned up to the max so you can actually talk. Best of all, you can park free of charge just outside in a gated area, which is easy to reach.

Shrimps in tempura. The best starter, by far, however was the beef tartare (above), served as a sort of triple decker sandwich, but with wafer thin bread and spicy capers. A small serving of French fries made up the melange. There was a nice looking salad menu, in particular a creative nectarine and feta number, with olives and cucumbers. For mains I loved the mussels (below), which came lightly grilled and served with parsley and garlic, while the salmon in an Asiatic sauce and served on a banana leaf was super. The wine list was not expansive, but varied enough, and our waiter, Naf, who I’ve known from other restaurants in the area, steered us towards an excellent verdejo, Meraldis, oaked for

SPECTACULAR: Sky Bar offers the best seats in Banus

WINNER: Salmon in Asiatic sauce 13 months in cask and with a lovely body. He talked us into trying the Paris-Brest choux pastry pudding, which was a praline buttercream twist on profiteroles, that I’m still thinking about today, two weeks later. Leone, Front line, Puerto Banus. www.leonebanus.com 952 811 621

ONE of the true secret spots in Marbella is the Benabola Hotel Sky Bar. The only rooftop dining spot above Puerto Banus offers views as far as the eye can see… and then some. Lording it over the famous marina, this is the best place for an early evening tapa and cocktail, or a nightcap following supper. Even better, come for the evening and join those-in-theknow alongside various celebrities. And anyone ordering two cocktails or more gets free underground parking (follow the Benabola Hotel signs and get your card franked at reception). And, if you want to really experience the high life then book a room at the hotel. Visit www.benabola.com

JOIN US FOR LUNCH BY THE SEA AT OUR

Thai Inspired Beachfront Restaurant

POOL BEDS • BEACH BEDS • RESTAURANT • BAR FOR THE LATEST EVENTS & PROMOTIONS VISIT WWW.LASALABYTHESEA.COM

La Sala by the Sea | Urb. Villa Marina, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella (+34) 952 813 882 | reservations@LaSalaByTheSea.com | www.LaSalaByTheSea.com

LA CULTURA

AHEAD

June 29th - July 12th 2022

TRUE ART: Galan (right) and Maldonado with some of their creations

also find their pieces in the Marbella Club Hotel store, and on the exvotos. com website, and Instagram (@theexvotos).

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PROPERTY

Smart City

DETAILS of new affordable homes to be built in Malaga have been announced by the developers. Lagoon Living, an alliance between the companies Otero Group and Iberian Yield Investment, have signed a deal to build 1,000 new affordable places. Some 100 of the homes will be based in the Sanchez Blanca neighbourhood in the eastern outskirts of the city, particularly in the future residential area of Distrito Zeta, to be built by the end of the year. It will be built under the model of a Smart City - meaning with sustainability and community in mind. There will also be lots for children to do, with gardens, games rooms and parks. The developers are aiming to have acquired land for 400 of their units by the end of 2022.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

THE cost of renting a seafront home for your holiday has risen by an average 9.7% this summer and will set you back more than €1,000 a week. According to TECNITASA, a valuation, consultancy and sustainability company, the average price has gone up from €926 last year to €1,016 on average for a flat in July and August. In 2020 the cost was €826 a week. Jose Maria Basañez, president of TECNITASA said: “The increases in recent years mean that families with more limited resources have to reduce the number of days they spend on holiday or look for smaller flats further away from the beach. He added: “However, the most privileged locations, such as Illa a Toxa in Pontevedra, Puerto Banus in Marbella, Cadaques in Girona and Ibiza in the Balearic Islands, which have very high prices, continue to be in demand, and are practically fully booked.”

CASHING IN

Beachside rental prices up nearly 10% in just a year By Dilip Kuner

The biggest rises have been seen in Catalunya. Tarragona has seen a 15.2% rise. A 60m2 first-line flat in Salou will set you back €1,370 a week. Barcelona province saw an average increase of 9.5% compared to 2021, with an 80 m2 rental costing €1,600. However, at the other end of the scale is Murcia, where

there have been falls in the asking price for holiday rentals. The most expensive flats are in Paseo de las Delicias in Aguilas, which cost €1,100 for 90m2 metres, and in Puerto de Mazarron, where the price is €875 for around 80 m2. For those with fatter wallets, the Port of Ibiza has prices reaching €2,500 a week for 100 m2. Puerto Banus in Marbella (pictured) is another hotspot

INVESTMENT in real estate leases in Spain has grown by 6.5% in the first five months of 2022 compared to the same period last year. New leasing investments on real estate reached €2722 million on private property. In Madrid, €532 million was spent on property leasing contracts, and €525 million in Caltalunya..

for high prices. Renting 90 metres will set you back €2,700 a week.

Market booms

President of the Spanish Leasing and Renting Association (AELR) Jose Coronel de Palma concluded that ‘the leasing market shows growth during 2022, despite the uncertainties of the global circumstances’.

MORTGAGE THINK TANK

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UYING property overseas can seem like a daunting prospect, but it is not putting off international buyers. Sales of Spanish properties have surged an incredible 72% from this time last year, according to the Spanish land registrars’ association. And many of these sales were to extranjeros. Brits splashed out an average of €1,890 per square metre on property in Spain. Whilst retirees or those nearing retirement age represent the majority demographic of those moving here, analysts have also noted a big increase in interest from younger people looking to move to Spain as part of the ‘digital nomad’ cohort. Whichever category you may be in, The Finance Bureau can help you with the first step, owning your dream property. Searching for a home abroad is an exciting prospect but it is just one piece of the puzzle. The larger - more complex - part of that puzzle is financing a move. While a small number opt for cash transactions, most buyers will need to take out a mortgage. Getting financial advice is the most important thing to do before taking the property plunge abroad. In most cases you’ll have to arrange a loan

MAKE THE MOVE Tancrede de Pola explains how a broker can help turn the dream of a move to Spain into reality with a financial institution based in the country in which you’re looking to move to - which can obviously have its obstacles if you don’t speak the language or aren’t familiar with the country’s processes. There are a few banks in places like Luxembourg and Switzerland who offer mortgages on Spanish properties, but these tend to be for the higher end of the market – think properties worth millions of euros. It means that for most British people needing a loan in Spain, Spanish banks and financial institutions are the way forward. This is where The Finance Bureau can help Brits looking to move to Spain. With established links to all the major Spanish lenders TheFinance Bureau acts as a go-between for the client and the bank - but it is important to remember that the broker is not connected to the bank and works independently to find the buyer the best deal available. When buying abroad, it is imperative to

know how much you have to play with when scouring the foreign property market. This will be dictated by various factors, including the amount of deposit available, as well as the level and type of income of the applicant. The good news is that banks will take into account all incomes, i.e. salaries, dividends and to a lesser extent property rental income, when calculating ‘affordability’, but these must always be clearly defined and declared in the tax return from your country of residence. When lenders are calculating your affordability, mortgage amounts are measured against your personal income and, existing loan commitments, which must be between 30 to 35% of your net income in order to qualify. But the best - and easiest - way to make sure your dream move abroad comes through with no hiccups is to talk to a broker… that is what we are here for after all.

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

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Ready to go THE hugely popular British high street sandwich and coffee chain Pret A Manger is to open 70 outlets across Spain and Portugal. The announcement is part of grand expansion plans to double the size of the restaurant group. Despite its French sounding name, Pret is a very British invention founded by Sinclair Beecham who opened the first Pret in London’s Victoria in 1986. Pret has entered into a franchise partnership deal with Ibersol Group, which already operates over 600 restaurants on the Iberian Peninsula including brands such as Pans & Company and FrescCo, as well as licenses for Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell.

June 29th - July 12th 2022

A taste of the past

Fruity prices

Andalucia’s ancient Arabic cookbook given new lease of life RECIPES dating back to 13th Century Cordoba have been given a try out by a London-based celebrity chef husband and wife team. Owners of Moro restaurant, Sam and Samantha Clark, have been experimenting with dishes from a unique 800-year-old Moorish-Andalucian cook-

By Livia Cockerell

book. The manuscript of Ibn Razin al-Tujibi’s recipe book was discovered in the British Library back in 2018. Originally, it was thought to be an ancient Moorish medical journal. However, following fur-

Silent flight SPAIN’s first electric plane has made its inaugural flight after taking off from Sabadell Airport, near Barcelona. The eco-friendly plane, weighing just 500kg has space for just the pilot and one passenger, is 100% electric and makes virtually no noise. Once fully charged the Velis Electro biplaza can fly for around one hour, plus the propeller action can recharge the battery as it flies and add to the flight time. It has joined the fleet of the Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell and will be used to ‘revolutionise’ pilot training.

ELECTRIC!: The two-seater plane The Mayor of Sabadell, Marta Farrés, joined the pilot on a ten minute flight over the town in what she described as an ‘extraordinary experience’.

SKILLED CHEFS: Sam and Samanth Clark

ther translation and research, experts found that the manuscript contains around 475 recipes from the Moors. Best of Delectable Foods and Dishes from al-Andalus and al-Magh-rib is one of the two surviving cookbooks from the Muslim-Andalucian world, a period in which the Moors had their most significant impact on Spanish cuisine. The writer was born in the city of Murcia back in 1227 and wrote this cookbook 32 years later, following the exile of the Moors. In the introduction he described that Andalucians are ‘advanced in creating the most delectable dishes’.

Since the manuscript was translated into English last year, the Clarks’ have worked to tackle some of its fascinating recipes from this book. Currently, they are working towards a public event with the British Library for which they will reproduce four of Razin al-Tujibi’s’ ancient recipes.

Create

When attempting to create the halwa recipe (a sweet nougat-like confectionary), Sam Clark expressed his admiration for the Moors saying: “How they managed by eye without thermometres is incredible.”

THE price of fresh fruit and vegetables is soaring thanks not only to nationwide inflation and a rise in transport costs, but also as a result of a poor harvest. Last winter was noticeably wetter than usual, with episodes of torrential rain that wiped out crops. Farmers report producing 40% fewer fruit than last year after the difficult winter. Added to that is an early start to summer-like temperatures with the hottest May since records began, followed by a June which saw the earliest heatwave seen in 40 years.

Tuna-p for the books A GIANT 7ft tuna tipping the scales at a whopping 150kg will be cut in front of a 400 strong crowd in the old bullring of Puerto Banus in Marbella at the start of next month. The artisan butchering by celebrity Ronda chef David Canca may even become a Guinness World Record, with the organisation sending over representatives to witness the show, according to event organiser, Pepe Ximenez.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

June 29th - July 12th 2022

Pictures and words by Jo Chipchase

TAKE AIM: Thousands flock to the streets for San Juan

SPLASH HAPPY

The fiesta of San Juan returns to the spa town of Lanjaron

PAIN is known for some oddball fiestas that go way beyond enjoying drinks and music with friends in the village plaza. While the town of Buñol in Valencia celebrates its annual ‘La Tomatina’ tomato fight, and Pamploma hosts the Running of the Bulls - where 16 participants have been gored since 1910 - the spa town of Lanjaron, in the Alpujarra of Granada, is famed for its crazy water race that

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takes place on June 23, to coincide with San Juan. One of Andalucia’s most popular fiestas, revellers run a 1.5km route through the centre of town, while being blasted with cold water from municipal fire hoses.

By Jo Chipchase It is said that a million litres of water can be deposited during the hour-long race, which has been known to attract 15,000 people when it falls on a Friday or Saturday night. This year, it attracted 8,000 and due to its popularity, guests must buy a wristband for €5 to participate – a measure introduced in 2017 for crowd control. The race begins at the stroke of midnight and ends at 1am, while a calmer children’s run occurs in the daytime, attracting many local families. Always a colourful spectacle,

originating in 1979, locals were finally back again after the two year pandemic, celebrating their fiesta in style. While groups of 20-somet h i n g s w h e e l e d buckets of tinto de verano and sanSOAKED: The Lanjaron fiesta is a unique gria around, spectacle older people danced in the street sharing the map for tourism. plates of arroz. “These events bring in thouLocal businesses told the sands of people and show off Olive Press they were partic- the town’s benefits.” ularly busy, with a big influx At the stroke of midnight, of tourists from abroad and while some people hid from around Spain. the craziness - behind careThe receptionist at Hotel fully sealed doors in the Andalucia said she had not town’s various hotels - othstopped checking guests in ers donned swimsuits or rain all day, while Bernard Cam- macs to run down the main pos of Mundo de Vinylo had street. Some had dressed as his hands full printing fies- nuns and priests. ta-related t-shirts. Chants of ‘Seven Nation “It’s great to see such a com- Army’ and ‘Mucho Agua’ were munity spirit, now that the heard resonating through the pandemic has ended, and we town, as the revellers headed can have our fiestas again,” towards the plaza, to enjoy said Verna Coggins, a resi- DJs at a ‘Water Party’ that dent of Cadiar. continued with banging techLanjaron expat Alistair Cam- no music into the early hours. berlin added: “June is my fa- As well as the famous water vourite time of year because fight, other attractions of everyone comes together to Lanjaron’s San Juan fiesta celebrate one of the best fi- include the ‘Publica’ (fancy estas in Spain.” dress parade), that always Estate agent Matthew Wood takes place on the Saturday, said: “It’s great to see the real a water-throwing contest in spirit of Lanajron back in full the main street, and a chalswing. The event is well or- lenge to climb a greasy pole ganised and puts Lanajron on to dislodge a jamon serrano.

June 29th - July 12th 2022

Just Terr-a-iffic!

Benidorm Palace puts Mother Nature up front

EGENDARY theatre Benidorm Palace is ready for the summer season with its spectacular show ‘Terra’. Billed as ‘a tribute to Mother Nature’ and planet Earth, it has assembled a cast of 50 for a truly remarkable show. Its international performers bring a large helping of glamour with its musical spectaculars. But there is much more to the programme than song and dance. Award-winning magician David Climent, aerial contortionist Sharyn Monni and circus artists Sandy & Samantha Monteiro Vassallo and Jastin Monteiro Vassallo are just some of the acts that will entertain. The show uses cutting-edge technology, including 250 sqm of custom-made HD LED screens with 8K resolution, to brilliant effect.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

June 29th - July 12th 2022

THE WALLS OF HISTORY ANCIENT: Baños de la Encina

PAIN is littered with castles. It has such a glut - 10,257 to be exact - that I’d believe it if there were more castles per capita in Spain than in any other country. You’ll see castellated walls in various states of upkeep perched atop craggy outcrops the length and breadth of Spain, whether they were b u i l t by the Moors across t h e south-

The mud fortifications of Baños de la Encina have endured for over a millenia, writes Fiona Govan ern half of the peninsula or by the Crusaders who battled to prevent the Islamic invasion stretching further north. Most visitors to inland Spain have ticked off the hugely famous fortress palaces like Sevilla’s Alcazar or Granada’s Alhambra or the fairy tale castle in Segovia with its turrets and buttresses that wouldn’t look out of place in a Disney movie. Plenty of others are familiar the world over having served as locations for scenes of Game of Thrones. With so many castles to choose from,

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

you’d be forgiven for not pulling off the motorway every time you saw one. However, on a hillside outside Jaen, rising out of a sea of olive groves, there is a stop worth making, This is Baños de la Encina, just a 20 minutes diversion off the A-4 about halfway between Madrid and the coast, in the province of Jaen, Andalucia. This town of fewer than 3,000 people boasts the oldest castle in Spain (that is still standing), an impressive sight with its perfectly preserved walls that date back to the 10th century.

It was the Celtiberians who are believed to have first settled on this outlook above a river followed by the Romans, but it was under the Caliphate of Cordoba and Al-Hakam II that in 967 the castle was constructed as part of a network of fortresses across the Sierra Morena. Originally known as Bury al-Hammam and then Castillo de Burgalimar, the majestic castle walls connect 14 towers with a fifteenth larger tower in one corner. Although its high walls may look like sandstone, they are built of com-

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A year of Culture

Bring hearts, minds and souls

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

June 29th - July 12th 2022

ISLAMIC: The castle was built by the Moors

pressed earth, a sophisticated adobe that has survived more than a millennia. They surround a vast oval space within. Stroll around the outside of the walls and take in vast vistas of olive trees stretching as far as the eye can see, as well as the beauty of the

reservoir below. These rolling hills that stretch away to the horizon are home to the Iberian lynx, although the elusive creatures are hard to spot. Nestled behind the castle is the town itself, its pretty white-washed buildings clinging to the

hillside. Once you’ve explored the castle and taken in the splendid views, wander through the network of narrow cobbled streets and patios where you’ll catch glimpses of the castle walls

around every corner. It’s off the beaten track and you won’t find coach loads of tourists but Baños de la Encina is most definitely a pit-stop worth making.

Get snapping! Specsavers Opticas Summer Photography Competition offers prizes of a €100 Amazon voucher and a pair of designer sunglasses worth up to €159 for the best photo

ON’T forget to take plenty of photos this summer - it could win you a prize. Specsavers Opticas has launched a summer photography competition to shine the spotlight on the beautiful places where the company has stores. They are asking local residents to send in beautiful photographs of the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca, to be in with a chance of winning a €100 Amazon voucher and a pair of designer sunglasses. Chantelle Hayward from Specsavers Ópticas in Calpe said: “We are passionate about protecting our customers’ vision, ensuring they can all enjoy the beauty around them and love the stunning locations in Spain where we have stores. “Entries will be judged by professional travel and lifestyle photographer Oliver Vegas. He travels the world capturing the beautiful places he sees, so is a perfect person to choose the winner of this competition.” Vegas said: “To be able to judge this competition is a privilege, as images are such an important part of our lives. We are all constantly capturing moments on our phones and cameras that we want to remember and want to be able to revisit. I’d advise participants to take pictures that

really mean something to them and that they express their own personality through the image. “Pictures should all be original and represent a memory or a moment in the way they want to remember it for the future.” The competition is open until September 1 and photographs can be submitted on social media by tagging @SpecsaversOpticas on Facebook and @specsaversspain on Instagram, sending photos via Messenger or via email to spain.marketing@specsavers.com The competition is open to residents of the provinces of Alicante and Malaga and the island of Mallorca and you must be aged 18 and above. Terms and conditions apply, which can be found on Facebook @SpecsaversOpticas or at https://bit.ly/3QDVjdW You can be inspired by OIiver’s work on Instagram @ovunno

IMPOSING: The castle dominates the area

EU FORMAL REGULATED DEBT SOLUTIONS

Ireland’s leading Personal Insolvency Practice “IRS Ireland” is now available to facilitate personal insolvency applications in Ireland for people currently residing in Spain. If you have legacy debts, unsustainable debts secured on property, or simply unsustainable unsecured debts, did you know you may be eligible to make an application for a Personal Insolvency Arrangement in Ireland that can resolve debts incurred in any of the 27 EU member states? If you are in debt and living in Spain, whether your debts are owed to Irish creditors, or creditors in an EU member state, contact us on +353 58 23511 or email admin@irs-ireland.com IRS Ireland facilitates Bankruptcy applications, and applications for Personal Insolvency Arrangements (“PIA”) or Debt Settlement Arrangements (“DSA”) short of bankruptcy. Uniquely Ireland’s PIA mechanism allows for the restructuring of debt secured on a property asset without the requirement for the property to be sold or surrendered by you. Mitchell O’Brien, senior personal insolvency practitioner with IRS is Ireland’s most successful facilitator of PIA applications. A personal insolvency practitioner (“PIP”) is a regulated professional authorized by the Irish Government’s Insolvency Service of Ireland. Mitchell O’Brien was Ireland’s first licensed PIP. Formal Irish insolvency arrangements are recognized and enforceable in all EU Member States. Face-to-face consultations can be arranged with Mitchell O’Brien in the Malaga region, or using Zoom video conferencing.

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BUSINESS Race to host F1 Madrid plans to snatch Grand Prix from Barcelona

PM: Pedro Sanchez

Power cut ELECTRICITY IVA (VAT) tax rates have been slashed in half. The government reduced IVA from 21% to 10% last October as wholesale electricity prices shot up to what were then record levels. Now they are being lowered to just 5% as prices continue to rise. Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said: “We are going to protect the families of our country.” Just two months ago, the leader of the opposition Partido Popular, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo proposed a 5% reduction but the government rejected it, with Ecological Transition Minister, Teresa Ribera, describing it as a ‘cosmetic measure’. With a general election looming in December and a disastrous performance by Sanchez's PSOE in this month’s Andalucia regional elections, the new tax cut might be seen as some ‘red meat’ for voters.

MADRID wants to host the Spanish Grand Prix after the current Formula One contract with the Circuit de Barcelona expires. The regional government has sent a letter of intent to Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One, to confirm an interest in joining the sport’s expanding calendar. Regional minister Enrique Lopez said in the letter: “I believe that holding in Madrid a motor racing event, which is one of the most exciting sporting phenom-

By Kimberley Mannion

ena of our time, would be a success for all the professionals, institutions and companies involved in the development of Formula 1. It comes after F1 authorities warned the promoters of the Spanish Grand Prix to fix its ‘unacceptable’ traffic and organisational issues after a number of problems emerged at the Barcelona race this year. The move has been antici-

GREEN LIGHT: Hosting a F1 race is a status symbol

pated since regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso sponsored the revamp of

MALAGA WANTS TO CHIP IN

Malaga TechPark is currently awaiting approval to become the home of a new microchip design centre. The plan is part of an EU scheme to construct more microchips on European turf, following limitations on global trade as a result of the pandemic. The Spanish government has already made the decision to invest €27,500 million into microchips. The funding for this project will be divided between Malaga, Catalonia and Galicia. According to Felipe Romera (Director of Malaga TechPark), Malaga

Interest

hopes to receive €100 million as part of this scheme. Half of this would be required to design the microchip centre, and the other half would be used to work with Spanish companies in the development of products.

BOUNCING BACK T

GBP/EUR exchange rate rebounds from one-year low following BoE rate decision, writes Peter Loveday

HE pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate continued to trade with notable volatility through the second half of June in response to a Bank of England (BoE) rate decision and European energy concerns. Over the last two weeks, GBP/EUR fell to a one-year low of €1.14 before swiftly rebounding to around €1.16.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? The past couple of weeks have seen the GBP/EUR exchange rate trade in a wide range, with the pairing briefly striking a one-year low. This slump came in response to some lacklustre UK economic data, coupled with Brexit jitters amidst the renewed threat of a UK-EU trade war. However, the pound was then able to rebound sharply in response to the Bank of England’s latest rate decision. While the BoE opted for another modest 25 basis point hike this month, GBP investors seized on the bank’s hints that future hikes could be more aggressive. Since then the pound has continued to fluctuate as a modest rise in UK inflation caused GBP Investors to further revise their BoE rate hike bets. The second half of June initially saw the euro firm as it benefited from risk-off flows. This uptick in the single currency was underpinned by some hawkish comments from European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers, who bolstered expectations for an aggressive rate hike from the bank in September. EUR exchange rates faced some headwinds as a result of renewed concerns over European energy security, amidst a sharp drop in Russian gas exports to the continent. The euro was also dented by the publication of the Eurozone’s latest PMI figures after they reported growth in the bloc’s private sector slowed sharply in June.

Madrid’s Jarama race circuit which reopened in February. Rather than the existing Jarama circuit, a new track could be built at Morata de Tajuña, south east of Madrid, where land has already been earmarked for the project.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? As June comes to a close its likely we will see similar catalysts of movement continue to influence the GBP/EUR exchange rate, with recession fears and the war in Ukraine also likely to continue to infuse volatility in the pairing. The pound could struggle to attract support amidst political uncertainty in the UK. With Brexit and ongoing questions over the future of Boris Johnson’s premiership likely to limit Sterling’s upside potential. For EUR investors a key focus at the end of this month will be the Eurozone’s latest CPI print. Another jump in inflation could buoy the euro as it places more pressure on the ECB to take action. The start of July will then see the focus turn to the ECB’s latest interest rate decision, in which the bank is set to raise interest rates by 25bps points. While the increase is largely priced in by EUR investors, the focus will be on how the bank plans to handle fragmentation in the Eurozone as well as its forward guidance for an expected hike in September. Any further hints that a 50bps hike may be on the cards could boost EUR exchange rates. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £200,000 transfer, just a onecent gap translates to a €2,000 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager there to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

Other regions in Spain have also expressed an interest in hosting the race. Alcañiz in the region of Aragon and Jerez de la Frontera in Andalucia have both thrown their hats in the ring, while authorities in Barcelona said they want to renew the contract.

Warmth warming SOME 75% of vulnerable families are unable to keep their houses warm in winter. Soaring energy bills mean that energy poverty has increased by 22% since last year, according to the Spanish Red Cross. Regions most impacted by this issue include Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country, where an estimated 82% of those families considered vulnerable are unable to keep warm during the cold winters. The Red Cross have already expressed concerns for the coming winter when they believe the issue will worsen. They want to support families by introducing energy training to help people understand their bills and advise them with energy saving tips.

Fruitful year EXPORTS from Malaga have achieved an ‘all-time record’ with a growth of +8% compared to the same period in 2021. For the first four months of the year, exports in the province have increased by 8%, and were worth €888 million according to recent data. Malaga’s chief exports are fresh fruit, olive oil and meat, sectors which have seen the most growth in the fivemonth period.

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June 29th - July 12th 2022

Vueling’s crypto embrace SPAIN'S Vueling Airways will offer passengers the chance to pay for tickets via cryptocurrency from next year - the first such move for a budget airline in Europe. The carrier has partnered with one of the largest crypto payment infrastructure providers, BitPay, to accept bitcoin as payment. Ticket prices will be displayed in euros and customers will be able to pay using many of the wallets and payment methods accessible through the BitPay ecosystem.

NOT YOU ETO’O! FORMER Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has been handed a 22-month suspended prison sentence after admitting tax fraud of €3.8 million while playing for Barcelona. Four-time African footballer of the year, Eto’o, 41, agreed to pay a fine of €1.8 million on top of the €3.8 million in tax owed from image rights between 2006 and 2009. Eto’ transferred his image rights to a company based in Hungary which declared his earnings in that country, where the tax rate was one of the lowest in Europe. Eto-o was the ‘real holder of the image rights’, prosecutors maintained, according to whom the transfer was fraudulent and only designed to pay less tax. The footballer is one of a number of stars to have a run-in with Spanish tax authorities, following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

COLUMNISTS

Giles channels his inner penguin

June 29th July 12th 2022

KEEP ON MOVIN’

HE busy start to the summer, as tourists arrive in significant numbers, has already shown some worrying signs. The first of these has been online videos of idiots sitting on the sunroofs of their cars as they speed along the main road, most notoriously a biki- backs at the busiest times of ni clad bimbo who seems to day, plus the added factors think she is in a rap video. of cyclists on the road - yes I No doubt after a sunset know it is legal, but it must be session at a nearby beach somewhat disconcerting to be club, and perhaps fuelled by on two wheels when a massugary drinks sive container or some other truck or Porsche substance, the with a bimbo Porsche with young lady is on top comes perched atop thundering up a bimbo on the Porsche and behind you at top comes captured on two speed. Espeseparate videos cially when you thundering up as it speeds have only just behind you towards Gualearnt to ride dalmina, at one with the stabipoint negotiatlisers off. ing a roundabout. This is not just a gripe about A young Russian mother lost traffic, by the way. One of the her life a few years ago when main reasons that people she tried the same trick in the move to Marbella is the reCaribbean, leaning out of the laxed pace of life and the fact passenger window while gy- that it is easy to get around. If rating seductively for the cam- you are stuck in traffic every era. Her head hit a lamppost day, then the town may start and she died of her injuries. to lose some of its appeal, esPorsche bimbo can count her- pecially for those wanting to self lucky that she did not slip. ‘get away from it all’. That is when traffic is moving, One Real Estate broker menhowever. The main coast road tioned that several clients had seems to be cracking under told her that Marbella was the sheer volume of traffic. ‘busier than they had expectThere are frequent long tail- ed’ - and not in a good way.

SUMMER MADNESS: in Marbella

Marbella might think of itself as Europe's answer to Miami, but unless the City Council and Central Government have a serious conversation about the traffic situation, the only resemblance to Miami will be the gridlocked traffic! I narrowly avoided being involved in an accident last weekend. Running through Malaga centre in full black tie in the blazing sun, I was almost knocked over by a hipster on a scooter. I was reach-

ing, Bondlike, for the concealed PPK when he shouted ‘Cuidao, pinguino!’ (Careful penguin). At least he had a sense of humour.

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June 29th July 12th 2022

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HEALTH

June 29th - July 12th 2022

Dementia hope DOCTORS at a Madrid hospital have discovered a new way to slow down the progression of dementia. The team from Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre have detected a protein, which could play a vital role in the slowing down of Alzheimer’s. It is hoped this new knowledge could be the foundation upon which to develop new therapies for the disease. The successful study followed 155 volunteers with the genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer’s and 93 healthy relatives over periods of between two and 15 years, since dementia starts to develop in the body years before symptoms become apparent. The healthy group possessed a much higher amount of the protein.

Fresh jabbing A NEW round of Covid booster jabs will be available to everybody in Spain from this autumn. The fourth shots will feature improvements to the vaccine to take account of variants like Omicron. Covid case numbers are low due to the country's successful vaccination programme. The highest number of cases are in those aged over 60, with the cumulative incidence standing at 590, compared to 3,400 last Christmas. Health Minister, Carolina Darias, described hospital occupancy caused by the coronavirus as ‘tremendously stable’ accounting for 5% of beds. Figures show that the risk of hospitalisation in those aged over 60 was cut by 63% in the first two months of 2022, and deaths were down by 57% in that same period - all down to vaccinations.

Cholera denial

WHAT’S IN A NAME

SPAIN’S national health ministry has rejected claims by regional authorities that a case of cholera has been detected for the first time in more than 40 years. A farm in Toledo province was sealed off while Castilla-La Mancha authorities investigated the source after reports that a child had contracted cholera after drinking from a well. But, Spain’s central Health Ministry insisted that in fact, the girl was suffering vibrio gastroenteritis and not cholera as first thought. “After the corresponding analyses, it has been determined that the pathogenic agent in this case is non-toxigenic vibrio cholerae 01 and, therefore, it is not considered a case of cholera, but of vibrio gastroenteritis,” said a health ministry spokesman. The last cholera outbreak in Spain originated in the North African enclave of Melilla in 1979.

TROPICAL storms and hurricanes have been named for years, but now Sevilla will become the first city in the world to classify and christen heatwaves. The year-long pilot project will put spells of hot weather into three categories based on severity. All category three heatwaves will be named in the descending order of the alphabet, starting with Zoe, Yago and Xania. City authorities will classify them based on their impact on public health, including mortality rates. The classification will enable emergency measures to automatically bring in certain measures including the opening of municipal pools and requiring health workers to check on vulnerable patients.

High time Spain moves step closer to allowing medical marijuana

SPAIN’S lawmakers have moved a step closer to allowing chemists to dispense medical marijuana. Congress has approved recommendations by Spain’s Medicines Agency, which will now need to be rubber-stamped by Spain’s Health Commission. The majority of political parties (excluding PP and Vox) voted in favour of the report. The proposal outlines conditions that will allow doctors to prescribe cannabis with THC - the psychoactive component that makes you

LIVE-IN CARERS By Livia Cockerell

feel ‘high’ - for therapeutic purposes. It calls for the establishment of a centralised registry of the patients entitled

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Down: 1 Brethren, 2 Scenic, 3 Particulates, 4 The Mob, 5 Four, 7 Reality check, 12 Not at all, 14 Moguls, 15 Elders, 17 Room.

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Quick Crossword Across: 6 Armchair, 8 Hoot, 9 Tenet, 10 Admire, 11 Rock climbing, 13 Unemployment, 16 Wright, 18 Hadn’t, 19 Bowl, 20 Securely.

EARN UP TO

JOINT EFFORT: Ruling parties push measure through

to use it. The text emphasises the need to ensure that this policy does not result in an overall increase in cannabis consumption outside of a medical context. Moreover, it states that, for now, the policy will focus on people suffering from epilepsy, nausea as a result of chemotherapy, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, ontological and non-ontological pain.

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FINAL WORDS

Tipple trophy CARTAMA Town Hall hosted the tapas and cocktail awards in Malaga city this week attended by the Mayor of Cartama, the Councillor for Commerce and Local Development, and 40 food and drink establishments.

Check that ESTEPONA Town Hall has announced it has so far funded 10,000 students to learn how play chess as part of the Municipal Chess Promotion plan launched in 2011.

Go fish! THE 24th Virgen del Carmen fishing contest will take place in Malaga city on Saturday July 2, organised by the Puerto Sport Fishing Society in honour of the patron saint of fishermen.

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voice in Spain

Vol. 16 Issue 397 www.theolivepress.es June 29th - July 12th 2022

International open-air festival goes decidedly local this year IT has become Spain’s most famous open-air art festival, renowned for putting up foreign artists and sculptors as they create a specific work for the event. But after organisers of Genalgaucil’s famous Art Encounters sifted through 174

applications from 14 countries from artists wanting to take part, they went decidedly local. All seven allotted artists this year are from Spain. The jury for the festival, in which the village streets are turned into an open-air gallery

HE is known to be a fan of the UK Home Counties and a close mate of hellraiser Johnny Depp. But it’s not exactly clear why film director Tim Burton has become an ‘Ambassador of Madrid’ , an award given for ‘services to the city’. The ex-husband of Helena Bonham Carter has no obvious connections to the city, aside from a planned exhibition of his visual work.

ATTRACTIONS: Art is dotted through the streets from August 1 to 15, examined bids from as far and wide as Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Peru and Guatemala.

Gone for a Burton While famous for movies, including Batman, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare before Christmas, none were filmed in Madrid. He is not known to own property in the city or have done anything to promote its culture, parks or history.

A jury spokesman from the village, between Estepona and Ronda, explained that the selection process was ‘very difficult and hard-fought due to the large number of projects with more than enough quality to be among those selected.’ But when it came down to the nitty-gritty the jury dismissed the international entrants and chose an all-Spanish ensemble - Julio Falagan, Marta Galindo, Mar Guerrero, Gala Knörr, Jesus Madriñán, Jose Manuel Martinez and Javier Palacios. All of them will live in the town for a few weeks, with all expenses paid.

AIR Nostrum has ordered 10 blimp-like airships to fly passengers around Spain. The UK-made Airlander 10s which cut emissions by 90% are set to run from 2026. The airline operates as a franchise of Iberia with 91 domestic and international routes. The ships, which can carry up to 100 passengers, are powered by helium and described as environmentally friendly.

SACKED IN THE MORNING AN employee of Cristiano Ronaldo has crashed the star’s €2.1m Bugatti Veyron sports car in Mallorca. The two-seater hit the wall of a property in Bunyola, where it ended up in a storage area for butano gas bottles. The front of the luxury car was badly damaged but no one was hurt. The footballer has been on holiday in Mallorca with his wife and five children.