Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 147 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 6 Issue 147

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Don’t let the Don’t thein bankslet cash banks cash in www.hifx.co.uk www.hifx.co.uk see page 13 seepage page 13 19 see

November 01 - 14, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: Lawyer convicted of stealing €22,000 could finally be struck off thanks to the Olive Press

Probe victory

TENOR TROUBLE How Oscar the infamous costa cat got owner, crooner Stephen LloydMorgan into another fine mess

A COUPLE whose lawyer was incredibly NOT struck off despite stealing €22,000 from them has thanked the Olive Press for helping them get the case reopened. We exposed crooked lawyer Samuel Huesca Triano last year, after he stole the money from

See full story on page 11

Rock can be ‘role model’ – Al Gore

FORMER US Vice President Al Gore has urged Gibraltar to become a role model for Europe after praising its green credentials. The climate change campaigner insisted the Rock’s military history could help it overcome the huge international challenge of global Turn to Page 7

Aranza Munoz, 44, and husband Jose Luis in 2007. We revealed how the Axarquia-based lawyer had failed to return the money they had given to him to pay the tax authorities for their house in the Lecrin Valley. It led to them not only having to pay the bill again, but also receiving a hefty fine. Triano was later found guilty of misappropriaAfter years of daubing Granada’s tion of clients’ funds and walls, expats still don’t know in 2009 was jailed for twowho the mystery artist is. Find and-a-half years. out more on page 43 But the couple never got their money back and to their horror, regulatory body Malaga Law Society refused to strike Triano off – at which point they came to the Olive Press. We began investigating and, in part, thanks to an article published in January, the Law Society has agreed to reopen the case. While the body had initially told us it did not believe there were grounds to strike him off, it has now changed its tune.

Has Spain found its very own Banksy?

WALKING TALL: A ‘wiry’ giraffe and (right) Arabic girl

By Eloise Horsfield

BENT: Lawyer Triano and (top) flashback to our January expose In a document seen by the Olive Press, the society will now take disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer, based in Rincon de la Victoria. He is now facing a ban of between three months to two years. Marbella lawyer Antonio Flores of Lawbird described the reopening of the case as a ‘big coup’ although he said he was ‘amazed’ Triano was not facing a life ban. “It is amazing that the society did not do this in the first place and it is great that through the perseverence of the couple and the Olive Press this case has stayed in the public eye.” Victim Munoz added: “I am Turn to Page 4

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

CRIME NEWS

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Please help find my Ellie EXCLUSIVE by Mason Jones A BRITISH girl who has been missing for three months since visiting her father Felipe Silva in Portugal could be in Spain, insists her mother. “The last time I spoke to her she seemed really frightened, like she was being told what to say,” Gannon told the Olive Press. “I have another little girl who wonders where her sister is, it’s really upsetting,” added Gannon, who believes she may be on the Costa del Sol or in the Cadiz area. “I gave him her British passport so they could go travelling in what was meant to be a two week holiday... he has contacts in Spain from sailing in Cadiz,” she said. Failing to return Ellie on July 31, Silva was

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A BRITISH holidaymaker is suing a car hire company after claiming to have had his deposit withheld for damage he didn’t cause. Policeman David Evans, 50, from Manchester, rented a vehicle from Costa del Solbased Brian’s Rent a Car during a week-long holiday in Fuengirola. But despite claiming to have returned the car in the same condition, Evans says he has had his €300 deposit withheld and a further €122 taken from his card since returning to England. “The company claimed the seat had been damaged by the arm rest being wrenched out of the seat and thrown into the footwell of the car, which is nonsense,” Evans told the Olive Press. “It was already broken when I picked up the car. “Then when they finally contacted me at home they were quite abusive. I can’t believe they can behave in this manner.” Evans continued: “If this stops other people getting in the same situation then I’ll be happy.” But Brian’s Rent a Car boss David Ballard denies the accusations, insisting the seat was not damaged when Evans took the car. “We would not rent out a vehicle that was in a bad condition,” Ballard insisted. “We did everything we could to contact the client straight away after the vehicle had been returned and we would never keep a deposit with-

o r dered by a court to return her to her mother’s home in Maderia, which he did not do. A European-wide arrest warrant has since been issued for Silva after police found no trace of the pair at his home. Silva has disconnected his phone and left the address where he lived with his mother Ana Maria Nascimento in Vilmoura. A spokesman for his company he worked for Moura Golf on the Algarve said: “He is not here and I cannot tell you when he will be back or on the police investigation.”

Driven mad Britons claim car rental firm took money for damage they didn’t cause EXCLUSIVE by James Bryce

ANGRY: David Evans out proof of damage. Evans however, is not the only client to complain.

Damage

Several others have accused the company, based in Benalmadena, of withholding money for damage they claim not to have caused. One Gavin Johnson, from Manilva, claims his deposit was withheld despite the firm cancelling the booking at late notice.

Johnson had a deposit of €250 withheld due to a dispute over alleged damage (a scratch on the paintwork), after Ballard insisted Johnson had left it too late to complain. The case went to arbitration through Spanish consumer watchdog OMIC, who ruled the case can only be dealt with through the courts. Johnson is due to meet with Spanish police this week to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, Stefan Hermes had his deposit taken and not returned despite never having taken delivery of a car. It came after the firm cancelled the booking at the last minute. “There are several disputes we have had with clients and they are all liars,” Ballard added. “We would never con a client in a million years.”

Dolorez Vazquez denied €4 million compensation IT was one of the biggest crime cases the Costa del Sol has ever seen. And it is still rambling on after a woman wrongly convicted of the murder of Mijas teenager Rocio Wanninkof in 1999 was denied €4 million in compensation. Spain’s National Court has rejected Dolores Vazquez’s claim for the 519 days she spent in prison between 2000 and 2002. Vazquez was sentenced to 15 years for murdering Rocio, her former lover’s daughter, until new evidence pointed to ‘Costa Killer’ Tony King. The British man later confessed to the killings of Rocio and Sonia Carabantes, but always insisted Vazquez and his former boss timeshare tout Robbie Graham were involved. Vazquez – who now lives in the UK - was found guilty on over 30 different pieces of evidence. She has announced she will appeal to the Supreme Court.

Concert outrage

JULIO Iglesias is facing a backlash from human rights groups after performing in Equatorial Guinea. The 68-year-old Spaniard ignored advice from Human Rights Watch not to appear at the event due to the African nation’s history of human rights abuses. The concert was organised by the country’s vice-president, and son of the nation’s long-time dictator, who is wanted in France on corruption charges. “The entire government was there, and the first ladies of several African nations. “When I greet them, I don’t ask them if their husbands are corrupt,” said the singer. Earlier this month Iglesias admitted receiving a handout of over €5 million from a former Partido Popular (PP) president in 1997.

It’s just incredible!

A SPANISH inventor has created a novel new suitcase that – unbelievably – requires zero carrying. The ‘Hop!’ suitcase, designed by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, 28, follows travellers around the airport using the Bluetooth signal on their mobile phone. A YouTube clip showing the prototype following its owner has already received over 250,000 views and Gonzalez has high hopes for the invention. “It’s not working 100% and it’s not ready for the market yet but it’s something I’d like to develop,” he said. “I think in the future it’s something we could see often.” Gonzalez picked up one of Spain’s James Dyson Awards for the design and has now moved to London to gather a team and funding for the project.

PIERCE Brosnan was a far cry from his suave James Bond character as he splashed around in Mallorca last week. The 59-year-old was spotted filming his latest movie, A Long Way Down, and looked to be having fun as he dunked costar Toni Collette’s head in the water. After frolicking in the Mediterranean, Brosnan spent the rest of his day soaking up the Spanish rays on a sun lounger. The sun cautious actor kept himself covered up however, sporting a flat cap and sunglasses throughout the day.

NEWS

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

SPANISH SUN: Brosnan splashes about in the Med

Licence to chill

It’s lucky Nelson isn’t around Admiralty Arch to become luxury hotel after Spaniard snaps it up for €75 million

Picture by: SOLARPIX.COM

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Revealing job SPANISH sisters Penelope and Monica Cruz (above) have announced they will be launching a lingerie collection. The duo will be working with Agent Provocateur to create a luxury underwear line called L’Agent for the Autumn/Winter season. “It is so exciting for me and Monica to embark on this new adventure,” said 38-year-old Oscar-winning actress Penelope. “We have always been huge fans of Agent Provocateur and both of us are very much looking forward to this long term collaboration. “We feel extremely happy to become part of this great team.”

Bond’s mission in Madrid THE cast of the most anticipated film of the year arrived in Spain this week for the premiere of Skyfall. Daniel Craig and Bond villain Jarvier Bardem (below) looked dapper in their charcoal suits as they posed for photographers in Madrid’s Santa Ana Square.

GLITZY: Spaniard’s plan for the landmark includes ballroom and spa IT would no doubt have Nelson turning in his grave. A building that was once the home of Royal Navy bosses is to be developed into a luxury hotel by a Spaniard. Admiralty Arch, one of London’s most iconic landmarks is to receive a Spanish makeover after it was bought by hotel developer Rafael Serrano. The Grade I-listed building - situated between Trafalgar Square and The Mall - has been bought for €75 million for his company Bulgari. The Spaniard, who already owns the nearby €1,060 per night Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge, has promised

‘subtle illuminations’, a lavish ballroom and a spa. Serrano insisted he would preserve the historic features of the 100-year-old building, with the deal including an agreement that the public will be allowed access for the first time. The five-star hotel is expected to attract 50,000 guests a year, with the same number in its bars and restaurants. The eight-storey building is currently empty, despite racking up €1 million-a-year running costs, with Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude describing it as a ‘tragic waste of an historic building’.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

NEWS

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Mum of teen killed on A-7 slams police as ‘hopeless’ after they fail to find driver of Audi TT

Hit and run outrage EXCLUSIVE by Eloise Horsfield

THE mother of a British teenager killed in a hit-andrun crash on the Costa del Sol has slammed Spanish police for not finding the culprit. Nicola Johnson, from Essex, was knocked down by an Audi TT while crossing the A-7 during a holiday in Marbella in July last year. The 18-year-old, who had just taken her A-levels and hoped to become a journalist, later died at Malaga’s Carlos Haya Hospital. Over a year later the vehicle has still not been traced and nobody has been arrested, despite the police having the car’s front grille in its possession. “It’s hopeless, absolutely hopeless,” said Nicola’s mother Sue Johnson, 54. “The person that hit Nicola knows that they hit Nicola and probably killed her. “Why can’t these police find the car?

Mayday

A MAN accused of launching fireworks at a Guardia Civil helicopter is facing up to four years in prison. The incident happened on the A63 in Asturias as the chopper circled above a picket of striking minors. Over 70 people blocked the road with burning tyres causing €7,000 in damages at the protest. From Page 1

Lawyers in the dock so happy that the Olive Press has been so supportive in our case. “If it wasn’t for your paper Samuel would have been allowed to get away with what he did to us,” added Munoz, who was born in Australia to Spanish parents. “My husband and I were heavily fined by the Inland Revenue because of Samuel and he has not paid back the money he stole from us.

PROMISING FUTURE: Nicola “I feel they should have done more,” added the deputy head teacher. “They only checked one area to see whether a car had been taken for repair.” She continued: “With technology and Interpol, why can’t these police forces trace a car?” Johnson also said she would like to see more speed cameras and stricter limits along the A-7 along with stronger police enforcement.

“We have had no justice until now. “Malaga Law Society has been an appalling regulator, but at least it has now reopened the file against him. “It’s not good enough but at least it is something.”

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NEWS

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

OPINION A greener future IT is all too easy to be cynical about the efforts being made by some to combat climate change, especially when it comes to politicians and corporations. But while questioning the effectiveness of certain schemes is an important part of the process, the crucial thing is to be supportive of the genuine efforts being made to make a difference. Whether it be through transition towns, funding for renewable energy, or simply cycling to work instead of driving, every small step is contributing to a more sustainable way of living. While a carbon neutral Olive Press is perhaps not a realistic short term goal - given the amount of driving done by our journalists and sales staff – we’re already heading in the right direction. The newspaper is printed on 100% recycled paper and all waste paper in the office is duly recycled. We promote sustainable living through our annual green guide and are currently working on ways to reduce our electricity consumption. Perhaps you can help us reduce our carbon footprint further? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es if you think you can offer assistance.

Fighting for justice It beggars belief that a Spanish lawyer has been allowed to continue trading even after being found guilty of stealing €22,000 from a client. We were amazed when in January the Malaga Law Society told us it did not believe there were grounds to strike off solicitor Samuel Huesca Triano, the lawyer in question. How can someone who commits such an obvious crime – and is even jailed for it – be allowed to practice again? That is why we are proud to have played a part in changing the minds of the Malaga Law Society. Whether it was leant on from above or not, this regulatory body must now take disciplinary proceedings against Triano. Hopefully this long-overdue decision will finally mean justice for Aranza Munoz and her husband Jose Luis, five years after the money they had entrusted to Triano was stolen from under their noses.

Over the top The ban on skateboarding in Torremolinos could prove to be a double-edged sword for the town. While many may find it a nuisance, the majority of the ‘offenders’ are teenagers with limited options for other places to go, not to mention limited funds to pay the excessively high fines. If a skater causes an injury to an innocent passerby, they should naturally be held accountable for their actions. But rather than punishing the majority for the actions of a small group of trouble makers, Torremolinos Town hall should focus on providing a dedicated space for the skaters. Perhaps that will go some way towards keeping everybody happy.

theEE

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

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Tel: 951166060 (admin) or 952895230 (editorial) A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 186,000 copies distributed monthly (120,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 Urb Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon 13, Arriate 29350 Malaga Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es News editor: James Bryce james@theolivepress.es Reporters: Eloise Horsfield eloise@theolivepress.es Mason Jones mason@theolivepress.es Distribution: 951 166 060

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FEATURE

N the early hours of a Friday morning in late September the lives of scores of expats and Spaniards alike, were changed forever. Persistent rain had left waterways throughout parts of Andalucia dangerously close to bursting point and as dawn broke, so did the river banks. Cars were washed away and properties consumed by torrents of water up to two metres deep as residents were forced to flee their homes. The devastation left behind by the floods caused thousands of euros of damage which could take years to recover from. But far from being an isolated incident, the floods - the worst in Andalucia for a decade - are just the latest example of extreme weather events to affect Spain. Barely a month before the rain, Malaga suffered what officials described as ‘the worst fires in living memory’. In total, over 12,000 hectares were destroyed by fire in Andalucia this summer, an area over six times bigger than in 2011. It represented the worst blazes to affect the region since 2004 and coincided with extensive fires in other Spanish regions, including Valencia, Cataluna and Tenerife. But is the adverse weather simply part of a natural cycle or is it evidence of a growing trend of extreme weather events triggered by the effects of climate change? While some of the fires have been blamed on arsonists, the almost unanimous belief of the world’s leading scientists is that the latter is responsible. And while global warming is a worldwide concern, it is a widely held belief that Spain is among the countries most affected by the phenomenon. A report published by environmental group Greenpeace in 2009 stated that Spain is more affected by climate

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ON THE FRONTLINE With Spain feeling the effects of climate change more than most, James Bryce looks at the effect global warming is having on people’s lives, and what’s been done to combat it

VULNERABLE: Spain’s forests are susceptible to the effects of climate change and (right) Al Gore change than any other country in the EU. It argued that sea levels around Spain are rising by 3mm each year and that the country will be affected by average temperature increases of 1.5 degrees by the end of the century, more than double the global average. Some regions are even predicted to rise by as much as six degrees by the end of the century. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has also expressed its concern for Spain,

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Contact our team of fully-qualified journalists, Eloise, Jon, Mason or James on

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claiming the country is highly vulnerable to climate change. Among the adverse effects predicted by the EEA include reduced water resources, erosion, and human health issues related to extreme weather. Most notably, it states that it expects Spain’s beaches to shrink by an average of 15 metres by 2050 due to rising sea levels - an event which could have serious consequences for the tourism industry. The threat of global warming has also caused concern

within Spain’s €2 billion wine industry, with rising temperatures forcing producers to move to the cooler climes of the Pyrenees. But even in the mountains there is no escaping the ef-

www.theolivepress.es fects of climate change. Spain has lost 90% of its glaciers in the past century, with the remaining ice expected to disappear completely within a few decades, according to the environment ministry. While the Pyrenees were covered by 3,300 hectares of glacier when records began at the end of the 19th century, now only 390 hectares remain. Overall, Europe’s glaciers are believed to have shrunk by a quarter since 2001, something which could lead directly to increased drought as rivers dependent on seasonal icemelt dry up. The damaging effect of drought is seen as one of the key factors in the spread of a process known as desertification - another process currently afflicting Spain. Desertification is the process of fertile land being transformed into desert, and while a number of factors contribute to this, drought is arguably the most significant. The problem is deemed to be so serious that the United Nations has held a number of conferences to discuss the issue and warns that 6% of Spain’s soil has already eroded

FEATURE

DELUGE: A small girl is rescued from the September floods and (inset) the Olive Press’ coverage irreversibly. Spain’s environment ministry adds that nearly one-third of the country faces a ‘significant risk’ of desertification. But while all of these factors are clearly huge problems which need to be urgently addressed, what are the solutions, and how are they been implemented? One of the ways in which climate change is being tackled in Spain is by adapting to it through the

promotion of a more self-sufficient lifestyle. As part of this process, Spain established the National Plan on Adaption to Climate Change in 2006, to provide a framework for tackling the issue. The cities of Barcelona and Vitoria-Gasteiz have also signed up to an EU-funded adaption strategy aimed at helping cities become better equipped to deal with climate change.

Among the other cities to sign up to the initiative are Birmingham, Stirling and locally, most notably Gibraltar. The Rock’s government is busy promoting its green credentials and recently received ringing endorsements from prominent environmental campaigners as the host of a Thinking Green conference. Former US Vice President Al Gore told the audience during his speech that Gibraltar had an opportunity, through its steps to tackle climate change, to become a role model for the world. Meanwhile Juan Verde, a renewable energy advisor to the Obama administration, went one step further by urging the Rock to become fully sustainable. Verde told the conference: “I think Gibraltar is small enough to become fully sustainable. “You can’t do that in America because it would take decades, but here you could do it in a matter of years.” At a more local level, a growing movement known as transition towns has been set up to help communities find ways of reducing their carbon footprint. Adoption of the idea is on the increase and led to a conference being held in Marbella last weekend. “The Transition Town Movement is a campaign to create more sustainable communities which reduce their carbon footprint and are less reliant

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

From Page 1

Gibraltar’s green credentials warming. Speaking at a green conference, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said: “History has been made on this Rock when it has faced challenges, and now it is doing it again. “Gibraltar has a young and enthusiastic leader who is willing to give climate change the attention it deserves. “It has an opportunity to become a role model and to inspire others.” The Thinking Green conference was also addressed by Juan Verde, an advisor to President Barack Obama, who urged Gibraltar to become completely sustainable. “I think Gibraltar is small enough to become fully sustainable,” said Verde.

on fossil fuels,” conference organiser Alejandro Cesar Orioli told the Olive Press. “The movement intends to equip people with the skills to respond to the changing circumstances which diminishing fossil fuels will cause.” Transition towns may only be one small piece in the jigsaw, with much more significant change required at government level in order to make a serious difference. But they say even the longest journeys begin with a small step, and it’s clear some people in Spain have already taken it. Even if that is little consolation to the expats who experienced first hand the effects of climate change, on that unforgettable Friday morning in September.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es DEADLY: Rescue teams bring fatalities to land

Dozens feared dead in sea drama By Mason Jones AT least 14 immigrants have been found dead while attempting to enter Spain in horrific conditions.

Immigrants drowned in treacherous seas off Motril A further 40 still remain missing after the boat carrying the migrants from Morocco capsized en route

Skeleton mystery

THE skeleton of a Spanish man still wearing his pyjamas in bed is believed to have gone undiscovered for over 15 years. The body was found at an abandoned house in the French city of Lille (right) by health and safety officials, along with unopened post dating back to 1996. The elderly man, who was born in 1921 and appears to have lived alone, is thought to have died of natural causes. Police are trying to track down if the man has any surviving relatives in Spain.

to Motril. Among the confirmed dead, of which seven have already been buried, were at least three teenagers and a 25-year-old woman. Only two, one from Togo, the other from Guinea, were carrying proper documentation. The boat is thought to have been carrying 70 people who had crossed Morocco from sub-Saharan Africa. A Coastguard plane located the boat flailing in high seas following a tip-off that it had left Morocco. A further 17 people were saved from the sinking vessel by a combination of Moroccan and Spanish rescue teams. Those rescued have been taken to an immigrant internment centre in Tarifa.

Not caught on camera PHOTOGRAPHING or filming police carrying out their duties could soon be illegal. In a move criticised by civil liberty groups, the government is to pass a law which would ban recording police if doing so endangers them or their work. The ban would also prevent material being reproduced, for example on the internet. It comes following widespread distribution of images showing ‘police brutality’ during anti-austerity marches over the last few months. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said a balance needed to be struck between citizens’ rights to protest and the need to uphold the integrity of the law. But Angel Casana from Spanish daily El

VIOLENCE: Recent clashes between police and protesters Mundo said: “If this proposal goes ahead, it is going to be impossible to know about events as they occur on the streets.”

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the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

NEWS

10 AN incredible 1,600 Spaniards have applied for one au pair job in London. Journalist Rosie MurrayWest couldn’t believe how many Spanish youngsters (80% of the total) applied when she advertised on website Au Pair World last month. “The pain in Spain meant we were suddenly awash with applicants,” said MurrayWest (pictured right), who works for the Telegraph. “They are sometimes comically overqualified,” added the writer, who eventually settled for Spaniard Maria Del Mar Sainz, 27. Sainz herself, who heralds from Valencia, explained: “We are a well-educated generation but we don’t have a future in Spain.” The news comes as thousands of Andalucians are leaving home in a bid to find work abroad – many in the UK. Around 80,000 people are believed to have left the region since 2011 to seek work abroad.

Alarming

And as the nationwide jobless figures hit an alarming 25 %, it emerged that some 900,000 Spanish residents have left the country in the same period. In Granada alone, 8,000 adults have left home, with at least three times that number reportedly requesting help in finding work

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Thousands of Andalucians are moving to the UK with some towns reporting a ‘Spanish invasion’ as unemployment rate tops 25% back home

UK au pair job gets 1,600 Spanish applicants By Eloise Horsfield abroad. Various UK towns, in particular, report seeing a ‘Spanish invasion’. In Brighton, the number of Spaniards registering for a National Insurance number zoomed up from 370 in 2008 to over 1,000 in 2011.

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“Sometimes we wonder if a plane has just come in. There is one after the other through the door,” said Tina Lloyd, senior consultant from Office Angels employment agency in the town. “They say there are no jobs back home and they are all so friendly and good natured. It is just such a shame when we cannot find them

work.” Carlos Dinapoli, owner of a Spanish restaurant in the town, confirmed the influx. “Sometimes all you hear in the town is Spanish conversations.” He arrived in the town three years ago. “I came here because it is the coast of London and my daughter was born next to the sea in Spain.”

NEWS

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Bad bank to absorb ‘toxic’ assets Huge discounts for property to be offloaded by Spain’s lenders SPANISH lenders will be able to transfer tricky real estate assets into a so-called ‘bad bank’ at staggering discounts of up to 80%, it has been revealed. The fund – known as Sareb - will absorb property loans at an average discount of 46%, while finished projects will be cut by 32.4% and loans to finance urban land by 56%. In total, €45 billion of ‘toxic’ real estate is expected to be shifted into the new fund from four nationalised banks, including Bankia - which has lost €7 billion this year. It comes as Spain’s GDP fell 0.3% in the third quarter of 2012 and retail sales dropped by a massive 10.6% year-on-year in September, according to the National Statistics Institute. Spain’s economy is now 1.6% smaller than at the same time last year, while inflation and unemployment continue to rise. The country’s unemployment rate currently stands at just over 25%, but this figure soars to 35% in Andalucia, with Jaen facing a staggering 39%.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

Cat fight Legal row between coast’s leading tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan and the petsitters,who refused to stay due to the ‘stench’ of his animals EXCLUSIVE by James Bryce IT is a case that could be termed as tragic as some of the things he sings about. But the Costa del Sol’s leading tenor Stephen LloydMorgan and his partner Nick Holland have become embroiled in a bitter row with some petsitters, who walked out half way through a job. Lawyers have now been consulted on both sides after Holland accused British couple James and Edyta Whelton of effectively leaving their pets ‘to die’. It happened after the Wheltons – who took the job while travelling Europe abandoned the assignment after two days due to what they described as the unbearable ‘dirt and stench’ of the property.

Disgusted

Insisting the house in Benahavis was ‘unhygenic’ they claimed they could not stay for the full six days and emailed the showbiz couple to find a replacement. Little could they have expected what was to happen next. So incensed was he by the departure that Holland - who manages LloydMorgan’s career - has now threatened to sue the couple for breach of contract. On a business trip to the UK to promote the singer’s career at the time, he was furious to be given only 24 hours notice to find a replacement.

leaving was the lack of hygiene,” she added. The incident is not the first time Holland, 45, and his partner – who has been included in a list of Marbella’s most important people - have become embroiled in c ont ro v ersy in their village. The Olive Press reDISGUSTED: Morgan is furious ported how after petsitters walked out a neighbour made an offiIn an email seen by the Ol- cial complaint about one of ive Press, Holland accused their cats Oscar last year. In the Wheltons of handling one of the most bizarre cases the situation in a ‘totally un- ever reported, the black and professional manner’. “We are totally disgusted at your behaviour, attitude and actions in relation to pet-sitting for us,” it read. “Your behaviour truly beggars belief and is totally and utterly reprehensible.” But, after taking legal advice, the Wheltons hit back by urging Trusted House Sitters - the website through which the arrangement was made - to launch its own investigation. “We gave Nick 24 hours notice to find cover for us and then informed the replacement of the feeding and walking details,” Edyta told the Olive Press. “We were not looking for any excuses, we just told him the reason we were

Unusual day at the office WORKMEN have uncovered a Neolithic village while working on the AVE fast track railway line between Antequera and Bobadilla. The 4th century site was unearthed under mud at Arroyo Saladillo. While the site was already known about, it

has emerged to be many times bigger than expected. At 1,400 metres in width it could be the biggest of its kind in Malaga. It is not been decided what to do with the find, whether it will be preserved or not.

News IN BRIEF

Bolly good Spain is to collaborate with India in making to make films and documentaries following and an audiovisual agreement signed by the two countries.

ROW: Oscar’s hygiene called into dispute white Persian was summoned to court after being accused of causing criminal damage. The neighbours insisted he had managed to climb through a window of their house and somehow smashed a 1000 euro chandelier. Inevitably, the case was dropped before it reached court. Last night the Olive Press was unable to speak to either Nick Holland or Lloyd Morgan who has recorded a number of albums for charity. Dubbed the ‘Voice of the Valleys’ according to his official website the popular tenor is in big demand throughout Europe. An email from Holland initially insisted he was “not aware of what you are talking about”, but he later insisted the dispute was over and he did not wish to comment further.

Strong reaction A Madrid woman, 30, has killed a man who had just snatched her handbag by running his moped over in her car.

Go Goya A collection of 160 prints by 18th century painter Goya will be on display at Benalmadena Costa’s exhibition centre until December 16.

Poor life 21.1% of Spain’s citizens are living below the poverty line, which is set at an income of €7,355 per annum, according to government statistics.

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NEWS

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AAA fun 58 & 61

IT should certainly be a fun event. The AAA shelter in San Pedro is holding its annual dog show at the Palacio de Congresos this Sunday (Nov 3). Free to enter, dogs will be shown in 12 categories and there will be tombolas, live shows and dancing demonstrations. The AAA shelters more than 500 abandoned animals, including 350 dogs, 250 cats and two Vietnamese pigs. This costs a staggering €19,480 per month to run, so come along and give your support to this wonderful charity.

Smitten kittens

THE Olive Press is pleased to report that three cuddly fellows, kittens Huey, Duey and Luey, have now found a loving new home. In issue 145, we reported that Laura Inglis had found them starving on an urbanisation in Duquesa and feared they were set to be culled. Now a pair of Olive Press readers have come to the rescue and taken them in. “They are a lovely young couple who contacted me after they read the article as they wanted a kitten. “When I took all three of them over they could not make up their minds which one they wanted and took all three! What a brilliant result.”

Death sanctuary prosecution

THE director of an animal sanctuary is being charged with killing 3,000 cats and dogs illegally. Prosecutors believe that Carmen Marin, of the Parque Animal sanctuary, in Torremolinos wrongly euthanised the huge number of cats and dogs. The manager of the shelter is also charged. An investigation has found evidence that

the pair ‘performed massive euthanising in the shelter’ between 2009 and 2010. It claims that they ‘administered lethal medications to the animals in small doses, causing unnecessary and unjustified suffering until death’. The director and manager are not qualified to administer euthanasia drug Dolethal, and are also accused of falsifying monthly reports to the town hall.

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GREEN NEWS

Green indifference

Working ‘whaley’ hard

THE environment has come in bottom of a European poll to determine people’s main concerns. The survey, featuring 50,000 EU citizens from 170 regions across the 27 member states, asked respondents to state what worried them most.

DOLPHIN and whale numbers are to be recorded as part of an extensive wildlife survey in the Gulf of Cadiz. The €350,000 project will study the distribution of cetaceans – marine mammals – and sea birds, and examine the effects of the fishing industry on their population. The survey, taking place in three phases throughout 2012, has so far recorded a number of species including killer whales and bottlenose dolphins.

Concern

Only 6% considered the environment to be their primary concern, with 61% choosing unemployment, followed by the economic situation (32%) then healthcare (20%). Other issues deemed more important than the environment included education, crime and immigration.

Green news IN BRIEF

Murky waters

FIVE Axarquia businesses have joined forces to complain about dirty beaches in Algarrobo, Frigiliana, Nerja, Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga this summer.

Green epicentre

A ‘Green Cities and Sustainability’ conference is to be held at Malaga’s Palacio de Congresos from November 7-9 to discuss green energy solutions for urban areas.

Danger zone

Spain is close to missing its Kyoto targets and will need to buy more international emissions credits in order to meet them, according to figures from the European Environment Agency.

Man-made earthquake Deathly Spanish tremor which killed nine last year was triggered by groundwater extraction, find experts By Mason Jones THE earthquake that killed nine people in Lorca last year was caused by human activity, scientists have said. Researchers studying surface maps now believe the May 2011 disaster, which measured 5.1 in magnitude and injured over a hundred people, was caused by groundwater extraction. A team from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, used satellite radar data to trace ground movements close to a large water basin south of the Murcia city.

Seismic

The aim was to highlight how human activity such as drainage or drilling can end up having a seismic effect. Their findings suggested the Lorca tremor was related to a drop in the level of groundwater in a local aquifer – which can create pressure at the earth’s surface.

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DEVASTATION: A hundred people were injured in the quake “The evidence we have collected in this study could be necessary to expand research in other future events that occur neardams, aquifers and melting glaciers, where you have tectonic faults close to these

sources,” said Pablo Gonzalez, the study’s main author. Interestingly, the new data suggests the human drainage merely sped up a process that would have eventually happened naturally, because of the high seismic

activity in the area. “It does not take much to trigger an earthquake – even strong rainfall can do the job,” said JeanPhilippe Avouac from the California Institute of Technology.

Bag charge for British supermarkets SHOPPERS in Britain could soon be charged for plastic bags, following Spain’s example in the fight against pollution. A colossal eight million bags are thrown away each year in Britain, blighting the countryside and choking animals while taking hundreds of years to decompose.

Action

Now new Farming Minister David Heath is insisting the government take action, supported by Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, who warned that England is ‘unfortunately miles behind’ other countries. “If Columbus had dropped plastic bags over the side of his boat 500 years ago, there’s a pretty good chance they would still be floating around intact today,” said Goldsmith. From January 2011 Spanish supermarkets began charging between two and 10 cents for plastic bags, with the Junta de Andalucia introducing a tax on single-use carrier bags in May of that year.

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NEWS

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We’re wheely mad

SUCCESS: Mad English Team

THIS crazy lot have just cycled 1,200km all the way to the Costa del Sol from the UK. The eight-strong Mad English Cycling Team, who set off on October 16 from St Albans, raised a mammoth €40,000 for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospice and Grove House Hospice. “It was a cold, wet and dangerous last day’s ride, but we send a big thank you to everyone for their support and kindness,” said rider and organiser Dan Rowe, 33, who lives in San Pedro. Here they are at K bar in La Heredia, where they were greeted warmly when they arrived.

SKATEBOARD BAN IN TORRE Roller skaters also face fines of up to €15,000 SKATEBOARDERS and roller skaters are facing fines of up to €15,000 after both sports were banned by killjoys in Torremolinos. The ban was introduced after complaints from locals and holidaymakers who claim the sports were causing a nuisance and were a danger to pedestrians.

Skaters will face a sliding scale of fines says Mayor Pedro Fernandez Montes. “We have been getting lots of complaints that some of those practicing skating are misusing this activity. “It has resulted in unease among people walking or passing through various areas alone or with children.

“They are also causing damage to pavements, stairs and railings,” he added. Skaters will be fined at least €600 if caught using parks but will face much higher fines if they ‘deliberately impede’ pedestrians or vehicles. Skating is only permitted at the purpose-built park at the Villa Deportiva.

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GIB NEWS

Gib IN BRIEF Footie Fury The head of Spain’s Sport ministry has met UEFA President Michel Platini to express his opposition to the organisation allowing Gibraltar provisional membership status.

Poppy power THE annual Poppy Appeal is hoping to raise thousands of euros in Andalucia to help servicemen and women. The Royal British Legion in Spain raised €88,765 last year, with all of the money going towards helping Armed Forces personnel both past and present, as well as their families. During the past year, money raised through the Poppy Appeal has provided €2 million in welfare support for 165,000 people. “This year we hope to raise more than ever and we thank all who donated their time, effort and money here in southern Spain,” said a spokesman for the Royal British Legion.

Record run

Fawlty towers AN historic tower that once guarded the coast against pirates is in urgent need of repair. Residents are urging action after the Torreguadiaro Torre Vigia watchtower, near Sotogrande, continued to degrade in the recent bad weather. Local residents have complained that the 15th century building has been neglected by authorities and fear that it may collapse. It is long overdue as it was last renovated in 1796, according to reports.

Prominent Rock Wikipedia founder condemns promotion of the Rock through online encyclopedia

WIKIPEDIA founder Jimmy Wales has called for a ban on Gibraltar-related posts appearing on the site. It follows the resignation of Wikipedia trustee Roger Bamkin after it emerged he was being paid by Gibraltar Government to

FURIOUS: Jimmy Wales promote the Rock using the online encyclopedia’s Did You Know? section. “I think it is clear that there should be a strong moratorium on any Gibraltar-related ‘Did You Knows?’ on the front page of Wikipedia,” said Wales. “I would recommend a total ban on them for five years, but that might be too extreme. “I support that we get wider community attention on the issue.”

Controversy

The controversy came to light after Gibraltar featured 17 times on the site during August, second only to the Olympics, following the signing of an agreement between Bamkin and officials on the Rock. At the time, Bamkin was a board member with Wikimedia UK - a firm closely linked to Wikipedia - but he has since been forced to resign.

Fundraiser Alan Hardy aims to raise more than £500,000 by running up the Rock with 350 volunteers to mark the Royal Marines 350th anniversary next year.

Rock ramble THE Down Syndrome Support Group have organised a ‘Buddy Walk’ through Gibraltar bringing together friends and supporters of the organisation.

Yacht speed Ocean Village is to launch a new electronic system that will replace paper immigration procedures in a bid to halve check-in times for yachts.

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GIB NEWS

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JUST THE JOB! JOB hunting can be a frustrating and thankless task, which is becoming an increasingly familiar routine for many people as the financial crisis takes its toll. Consequently, competition for new jobs is fiercer than ever as more and more workers vie for the most highlyprized positions. But job seekers are being offered some timely advice by a leading recruitment consultant in a bid to help them stand out to prospective employers. The following 10-point plan, devised by Peter Dunn from Gibraltar-based Rock Consultancy, is designed to help you maximise your chances of landing that dream job. • Make a list of your ideal job requirements • Update your CV • Write a cover letter • Track your applications • Network with friends and former colleagues • Use social networking • Apply to many places • Contact a recruitment agency • Contact HR departments • Cold call companies Contact Peter Dunn on 00350 200 64227.

AN action group set up to draw attention to excessive border queues has been criticised by a Spanish police union. Defenders of Gibraltar, formed in response to motorists being subjected to delays of up to six hours, film and photograph police checks to use as evidence of unnecessary hold-ups. But bosses of the UFP police union, which represents the Guardia Civil officers carrying out the checks, have now accused the group of ‘hounding and insulting’ its members.

Magnitude

It said officers’ faces and ID numbers had been posted on internet forums and that, as a consequence, none of its members wanted the job of carrying out the checks. “The magnitude of what is happening is only understood by those who have to endure the situation,” read a

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Border bickering

Spanish police complain about ‘hounding and insulting’ from campaign group statement. However, campaigners have hit back at the allegations, claiming they only take action when they deem the checks to be excessive. “We always act within the law and are merely placing the Spanish controls under public scrutiny,” said Gareth Gingell, a Defenders of Gibraltar member.

ROW: Police are not addressing queues

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GIB NEWS

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

Axq IN BRIEF Road to ruin THE damage caused by heavy rains and floods at the end of September in Torrox has been estimated at almost €650,000, with most of that relating to rural roads.

Losing track Nerja’s Association of Businesses has called for improved signposting around the Sierra Almijara area following an increased number of lost tourists.

Mast must Over 6,000 residents have signed a petition for the removal of two mobile phone masts from the Vina Malaga urbanisation in Torre del Mar.

Recycle it Nerja Town Hall has announced a plan to install 150 more recycling bins throughout the town.

AXARQUIA NEWS

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New hiking route through eight towns will bring much needed tourist boost for area

Road to success A PLAN is afoot to turn the Axarquia into a hiking hub through a brand new route taking in the very best of the area’s countryside. The SGR 242, an 80km path connecting Periana and

Dirty dumping SEWAGE being dumped into a river in Velez Malaga has led to a formal complaint from the Izquierda Unida (IU). The party has demanded a solution to the waste water and rubbish being slung into Velez River from a bridge in the La Barranca area. “Dumping sewage causes serious damage to the environment because it pollutes the aquifers as well as both sides of the river,” said IU spokesman Salvador Marin.

Nerja, has been developed By Eloise Horsfield by local businesses in an attempt to boost tourism and attract foreign visitors to the area. “We are now ready to start marketing this product, and hope to attract many foreign customers, as well as Spanish ones,” said Almudena Martin from Las Monjas guesthouse in Periana who has helped design a guide for the route. The path, which falls entirely within the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama natural park and ascends to 2,068m at the Pico de La Maroma, can be carried out in four to six phases.

Crosshead

This fully-signposted track, which takes in Canillas de Aceituno, Sedella, Salares, Canillas de Albaida, Competa and Frigiliana, has been approved by Malaga county council and Andalucia’s mountaineering institute (FAM). SGRs (Senderos de Gran Recorrido) are recognised trails covering 50km or more. See gr242.wordpress.com for more information

Jingling with gypsies

A LONDON-BORN flamenco guitarist has received a tribute from Nerja locals for his contribution to the genre over three decades. Mike Jingle, 61, (above) was born in Twickenham – but you would never believe that if you heard him play. At a musical event at Torres de San Juan restaurant in Nerja, he was presented with a collage of his career and a guitar head mounted on a stand, to celebrate his life of flamenco. “It’s incredible,” said the musician, who moved to Andalucia to learn his trade from gypsies. “It’s kind of like winning a mini Oscar. “Close to 40 years ago I walked into the Tied End pub in Middlesex and heard the haunting flamenco guitar sound, which dramatically changed my life.” Jingle believes being foreign helped him because of the ‘novelty factor’. He now specialises in performances at weddings and parties. Keeping with the theme, Japanese flamenco singer Taka will be performing at Torres Macarena in Granada on November 7 in the last of a three-date tour of Andalucia.

A real treasure T

HE weird and wonderful Jurassic-age caves dug into the limestone make Rincon de la Victoria well worth the trip. Once under the ocean, these caves – one of just three like them in the world – once formed underwater galleries complete with gorges and columns. No need to worry though, to visit the Cueva del Tresoro (Treasure Cave) nowadays you don’t have to put on your scuba diving equipment, for it has since emerged above the sea. The only one of its kind in Europe, this incredible site sits between the towns of La Cala del Moral and Rincon de la Victoria high above the shore overlooking the Med. It has 500m of tunnels complete with remains of cave paintings, ceramics and items from the Neolithic stone industry as well as human and animal remains. There are stories of buried treasure, gold and precious stones, as well as tales of gnomes, fairies, mermaids, goblins and elves. This may well sound inviting, but beware the ogres, giants, dragons and cyclops who are also rumoured to roam the caves searching for the fabulous hidden treasure, along with spirits who roam the labyrinthine rock corridor. Back down to the coast there is a seven mile stretch of promenade and beaches with many

beach bars, restaurants and of course beautiful sunsets. Don’t miss out on the church in the high street, and if you are a golf fan, Anoreta Golf.

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POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 54.43% full Same week last year: 74.97% Same week in 2002: 47.61% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.2904 American Dollars 0.8048 British Pounds 1.29150 Canadian Dollars 7.45917 Danish Kroner 10.001 H Kong Dollars 7.4453 Norwegian Kroner 1.5763 Singapore Dollars

Dear Olive Press In reference to the Antequera train testing track (Issue 146) This is yet another poorly thought-out, unneeded and costly project that the government does not have the cash to pay for. That is if, as past government projects prove, the €400m estimate grows to €600m and takes twice as long to complete. This is yet more money spent on a project that has no economic future and many opponents. It would be best if some government official learnt to do cost/benefit analysis. J Molitor, via website

Healthy situation I write with regard to the letter from Ron Bennett (‘Healthcare gripe’, issue 145). From September 1 this year, EU rulings mean everyone can access free healthcare in Spain. My wife and I have just gone through the process and we are not yet at retirement age. One needs to obtain from the Department of Health and Social Security in Newcastle a letter in Spanish

LETTERS

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Testing times

stating that you are no longer covered in the UK, plus a letter from the tax office stating either that no tax (or the amount) has been payable since April 2011 to the present day. These letters one takes to the social security here, together with originals and copies of passport, residencia, padron, EHIC, and they then issue a letter to take to the local health centre. They too want originals and copies of everything.

We now await issue of the health cards. Beverley and Peter Saunders, Alhaurin el Grande

Green gripe I have just read the Olive Press Green Guide 2012 with interest, as I live in Andalucia and have worked as an ecologist and environmental consultant for

Reviving Eldorado

25 years. While most of the articles are useful, it is odd to see articles in the guide on socalled alternative therapies. These have nothing to do with green or environmental issues and are based on demonstrably confused thinking. The article on holistic kinesiology is particularly ridiculous, and makes completely unsubstantiated claims which, if taken seriously, could kill some of your readers. Do you really think that a person with cancer would benefit from a consultation in which a non-medically trained therapist compares the length of their arms, which is one claim made in the article? This is dangerous nonsense. Mark Crane, by email

The original working title for Eldorado was actually Little England. My father-in-law James Todesco was a producer on the show and actually built the whole set, along with his partner John Dark (Casino Royale, Shirley Valentine, etc). The concept was great, but the timing was a little off, along with the location. It was originally going to be Dynasty in Marbella, with the more upmarket locations being used, but Verity Lambert basically wanted EastEnders in the sun; this was the main problem with the show, along with the fact that 80% of the cast were just people and not actors. You could see this when watching it. Having said that, it is a very nostalgic piece of television and is log overdue for a return. My wife and I worked for Living in Spain TV (20072008) and we tried to convince them to broadcast the whole series, as it was VERY cheap to get from the BBC. I truly believe that this would have been the saving of the channel, which is no longer with us. The Olive Press should start a campaign to get it back on TV, even if just repeats. Alan Bond, via website Ed: Over to the readers!

Border bickering Regarding the ongoing border dispute in Gibraltar, I’m in favour of a positive Anglo-Spanish relationship that I think most want. British and European people get on well in Spain and the Spanish are a great nation! It’s the world’s bankers that have screwed it all up at the moment if people want to talk finance, boundaries, unemployment and wellbeing. Jeff, via website

Van hire con I was so happy to see the ‘Lucky to be alive’ article (issue 145) as I have been fighting with Jeremy Griffiths for a year over money he owes me. I hired a van which broke down 40km from my house on the day it was delivered. Jeremy told me it was just a flat battery and asked me to pay and he would reimburse me. It actually needed a new alternator and would take five days to repair, so I hired a van from elsewhere as I couldn’t wait any longer. Jeremy assured me he would give me a full refund the following week. In spite of repeated phone calls and emails, I have never seen back a cent of the money I paid (more than €1,200). I consulted a lawyer and I am now in the process of trying to get my money back. Thanks for exposing this company and I hope your article will help others to

avoid some of the same pitfalls. Barbara Collins, San Pedro

Legionnaires scare In ref to the Legionnaires outbreak in Osuna, we had our water storage tank removed from a direct connection to the town supply. When we took it down, the bottom was about two feet deep with sludge and God knows what else, even though there was a tight lid on the tank – which was there to avoid germs. I hope that the Legionnaires outbreak is soon under control and the people of Osuna are kept safe. Jane, via website

Toasting success Just a quickie to say congratulations! For me, issue 146 of the Olive Press was the best I have seen of a local newspaper down here. Ian Radford, La Sala Group, Marbella

Deer life Walking up to a creature that is tame to humans and then shooting it at point blank range is not ‘hunting’ by any definition (‘Hunting outrage’, issue 146). Disgraceful, but the norm for a country that is obsessed with killing creatures with guns. Fred, via website

Dangerous drive I have just returned from taking my children to school along the A7 from Nueva Andalucia to Elviria. There was torrential rain and the continued lack of lighting along this road, plus the difficulty of seeing the faded white lines, is making the journey exceptionally treacherous. Many families use this road in the morning to take their children to school and it is not a question of if, but when, a fatal accident will occur. Simply not paying the bills and switching the lights off will I believe cost lives! Can we please campaign for the mayors to see sense before a real tragedy occurs, rather than afterwards? Paul Craven, Nueva Andalucia

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TAND to attention, for the UK’s best-known gardening expert Charlie Dimmock will be bringing her Ground Force skills to the Costa del Sol next week. Alongside local experts Dick Handscombe, Lorraine Cavanagh and the Olive Press very own herbs specialist Sue Rodgers, she will be on hand on Saturday to give advice and tips on how to help your garden grow. Creating your very own dream home and garden in the sun has never been easier as the Homes Gardens & Outdoor Living Show will demonstrate. Following massive success in Alicante, the two-day event in Estepona will showcase a huge range of specialist businesses, alongside a show garden, art gallery and

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omes, Gardens &

A four-page official Olive Press pullout brochure

23 23

utdoor Living

IT’S SHOWTIME!

plant stores. On top of this there will be furniture manufacturers, soft furnishings specialists and even a dedicated beauty and holistic area in the upstairs salon. Wine tasting and special gastronomy events will be taking place throughout the day. All in all there will be hundreds of stands with products to try and buy and a variety of celebrities, including BBC TV pundit Steve Claridge who will be on hand to help you enter the free draws to win a luxury weekend away and even a

A right Charlie Come and say hello to the UK’s famous gardening expert Charlie Dimmock

GROWING up in the New Forest, Charlie Dimmock spent most of her time with her best friend Tracey, romping about the woods getting caked in mud and teasing the life out of Tracey’s little brother. Also being an only child, Charlie spent a lot of time with her grandfather helping him in the family vegetable garden. “He was pleased and proud,” she recalls, when she graduated from horticultural college, from where she went on to join staff at the Romsey Garden Centre where she worked to save money to travel. It was on one return from a journey abroad, that she was spotted at the centre by TV producer John Thornicroft, who was searching for water plants. In 1992, when he needed someone to do a water feature for a gardening programme Thornicroft thought of Charlie, but it wasn’t until early 1997 that he came calling about a possible slot on Ground Force, a garden makeover show. The statuesque, bra-less Charlie’s role alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh catapulted her into the limelight, making Charlie a household name and the focus of many a male gardener’s fantasies overnight. It also led to a series of lucrative spin-offs including a book and calender and she even branched out into the US where she presented a gardening slot on a CBS TV’s breakfast show. Her soaring TV career hasn’t changed her though, she insists, and the flame-haired gardener’s aspirations remain firmly grounded. “To grow old, I guess. Become a dotty old dear and potter around the garden… It’s probably easier to achieve than most ambitions.” Charlie will be at the show on Saturday 09 to chat, give gardening advice and sign autographs.

The Homes, Gardens & Outdoor Living Show will bloom into action on November 9 & 10 Mediterranean Cruise! There are competitions and give-aways galore and you could win flowerpots, or

BBQs... and perhaps chance your arm at a bit of crown green bowling. With Christmas just around

the corner this is the perfect place to start your Christmas shopping, with many exhibitors offering ‘Show Specials’. Santa will be visiting Homes, Gardens and Outdoor Living takes place at the Palacio de too! – spreading Congresos in Estepona on Friday 09 and Saturday 10 November, from Christmas cheer. 11am – 8pm. Entry is just € 2.50 for adults, with under 14s free. Visit the Well Christmas is just website for continued updates www.homesandgardens.es or follow us on around the corner Facebook (Homes, Gardens and Outdoor Living). If you would like to and what better way participate in the show contact the sales department at GM Events on the to start finding that phone numbers Spanish/ English 695 399 841 /966 761 050 or email perfect Christmas gift, and sampling some office@solproductions.tv and we will provide you with further information. mulled wine!

ASK THE EXPERTS VISIT the Showcase Garden by Viveros Florena. Here, Lorraine Cavanagh is building a courtyard garden in the classic Andaluz style, with a Moorish arch, water feature, pots full of plants and the centrepiece a magnificent orange tree. Lorraine will be on hand to chat to you over some orange wine! Celebrated author Dick Handscombe (right) meanwhile is on stand 79 with his books and plenty of local gardening tips. He is also holding a competition to get him into your garden for

Also about giving THE event has chosen four charities who will be present with some fun and innovative ways for you to help their causes. They are the Royal British Legion, the George Elliot foundation, Children with Cancer and Positively Pink. There will be a free charity raffle sponsored by Continental Wealth Management and there will be some great prizes including a €100 voucher for Mad About Furniture and a half a case of Rioja Wine.

three hours. Finally Sue Rodgers on stand 21 from Navada Naturales will be giving herbal presentations and herbal tea tasting.

Calling all artists!

At ‘The Art Gallery’ where local artists can demonstrate their skills and show off their work GET out your paint brushes, for the show needs more artists to enter this year’s competition. To add a bit more colour and vibrancy, organiser Gina Marks wants you to bring your easel and brushes, or sculptors to come along and give a demonstration. Contact her at gina@solproductions.tv or call her on 634 399 125

For the taste buds There will be plenty of tasty foods on offer at La Chringuito, including seafood paella, Indian curries and delicious Mexican nachos with homemade guacamole and sour cream, smothered in a cheddar cheese sauce. The upstairs Mind, Body and Spirit bar will also be serving a delicious range of sweet and savoury crepes, mince pies and mulled wine.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

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Olive Press herb expert Sue Rodgers will be on hand to advise you on the best usage of natural herbs.

Medieval odour eaters and more…

HE variety and versatility of herbs is staggering, not only are there some 20,000 recorded varieties across the world, but herbs also touch every part of our lives - be it culinary, cosmetic, medicinal or aromatic. Herbs are not ‘new age’, but have been used for thousands of years and continue to be fundamental to a more natural approach to living. You don’t even need a garden to grow herbs, many can be grown in containers on a patio, in pots on a windowsill, or in a hanging basket. The climate here in Andalucia is particularly conducive to growing them so whatever space you have, you can always count on being able

to pick a few leaves to add to a salad or sauce. The Chinese, Egyptians, Indians, Greeks and Romans have all made use of herbs to treat common ailments and much more. When the Romans were marching across Europe they took many herbs such as sage, rosemary, fennel, and thyme. In the Middle Ages, Medieval travellers used Lovage (Levisticum officinale) for its deodorising properties as the bygone equivalent of Odour Eaters. Come and discover more about herbs and visit us on Stand 21 where you can buy some Medieval odour eaters, try herbal teas and much more! www.selfsufficiency4u.com

HERBAL HELP: Sue Rodgers with her natural herb concoctions

ll about

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onda

At home in the City of Dreams Eloise Horsfield makes an emotional return to Ronda, where she lived for over a year

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C/ Real 25, Ronda, Málaga Tel: 952161274

UR car wound up from the coast, the angular peaks of the Serrania de Ronda dominating for miles around. A somewhat daunting drive, the curves seemed to get tighter and tighter until the cloud line finally gave way to a mountainscape like no other I have ever seen. And suddenly, the ‘City of Dreams’ appeared below us, a flash of white nestling in a secret valley encircled by mountains. The journey up from the Costa del Sol once took four hours and must have felt like the pot at the end of the rainbow. Thankfully the city - raved about by politicans and writers, including Ernest Hemingway and filmmaker Orson Welles – is now just 45 minutes away by car. It is a town to which many return, including chef Jamie Oliver and British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was back again this summer, taking lunch in the old town. It was also an important pilgrimage for Bill Gates, who came last year to try its wines, and America’s First Lady Michelle Obama, who arrived while researching her family’s Arabic roots. It is certainly one of the finest places in Spain to

Picture by: ZAMARILLA

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CONTRAST: Walking past a statue outside the bullring

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appreciate the legacy the Moors left on the peninsula. The old town is full of reminders of their culture, its well preserved buildings, sitting proudly beside cobbled streets. It is also amazing to visit Ronda’s dramatically deep Tajo gorge, its three fascinating old bridges, and enjoy its uncanny ability to provide spectacular vistas whichever way you turn. For me, you might call it a kind of homecoming. Having relocated to the coast with the Olive Press just a month ago, I was now taking some friends around Andalucia, with Ronda set to be the climax of our trip. It certainly did not let us down. Built in 9BC, Ronda was a key military bastion during the Roman Empire. It was later transformed by the Moors – who were responsible for many of the factors that make it so special

A history lesson

was later knocked down to m a k e space for a Christian church. The Puerta de Almoc a b a r , leading into the Barrio de San Francisco which houses many traditional-style bars and restauTOWN WITH A VIEW: Ronda’s Almeda del Tajo gardens offer rants, was fantastic views of the Serrania the main Moorish gate and today. With its ruined Alcazar and can still be admired in its enThe oldest quarter is La crumbling city walls, it is not tirety. Cuidad – preferred hangout hard to imagine what life was One place not to miss is the of Orson like throughout centuries of Casa del Rey Moro, where W e l l e s ’ Moorish rule, which ended in America’s First Lady brought her daughter Sacha in August – which 1485. retains its There are many clues includ- 2010. She surprised onlookM o o r i s h ing the beautifully preserved ers by descending the 300 street plan arches of the 13th century or so uneven steps to the and boasts Banos Arabes (Arabic baths) bottom of the Tajo, wanting a number on the south-east bank of the to discover more about this Ronda got its name from the Roman of fine Re- River Guadelvin, and the min- 14th century house whose word Arunda, which means ‘surrounded naissance aret, the surviving tower of a secret staircases allowed by mountains’ in Roman. mansions. 14th century mosque which Moorish defenders to fetch water from the River Guadel-

vin in times of siege. Czech poet Rilke dubbed the city rightly as the ‘City of Dreams’, while Irish writer James Joyce wrote: “with the old windows of the houses, the eyes which spy out hidden behind the latticework so that their lover might kiss the iron bars, and the taverns with half-closed doors in the night and the castanets and

the night.” No fewer than three bridges span the gorge, with the 14th century San Miguel bridge, the 17th century Puente Viejo and the spectacular main bridge – or Puente Nuevo – which was built in the late 18th century and connects the old town with the new. It is this bridge, which was made so famous by Hemingway in For Whom the Bell Tolls, when describing how prisoners were slung off it during the Spanish Civil War. Heading into the new town brings just as many interesting places to visit, starting

Did you know?

HISTORIC: Ronda is home to some stunning architecture

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Do it the Obama way FAMOUS VISITORS: Orson Welles (top) and Ernest Hemingway with the bullring – Spain’s oldest – which today hosts the biggest single event in the country’s bullfighting calendar, the Goyesca. Weaving round the outside of the ring – where you can pick up a fun horse and carriage tour of the town – brings you to the Almeda del Tajo botanical gardens, whose shady avenues provide much-needed shade on a summer’s day.

The gardens have arguably the best view in Andalucia The gardens are an ideal place to while away a few hours with a newspaper or book, glancing up every so often at the view of the surrounding Serrania – arguably the best view in Andalucia. From here, you can take a stroll along the adjoining Paseo de los Ingleses or ‘English walkway’, which was built to maximise viewing opportuni-

ties for visitors. Also in the new town is the bustling main shopping street, Carrera Espinel (although locals call it ‘La Bola’) which offers local seasonal produce and knick-knacks aplenty and should be included in any visit to Ronda. It is here where the town comes out at dusk en masse to take its so-called ‘paseo’, before nightfall. Because Ronda is set high within a mountain range, and at the mouth of the Genal Valley, the surrounding areas are also waiting to be explored. A good daytrip could combine a visit to the Roman town of Acinipo just 12km away – with its stunning Ro-

MEET THE LOCALS: Plaza del Socorro

YOU can follow in Michelle Obama’s footsteps – literally – in discovering how the Moors guaranteed their water supply in times of siege. For at the Casa del Rey Moro, in Ronda’s old town, the US First Lady was anything but deterred by the 300 steps that lead all the way down to the river at the bottom of the gorge when she visited in 2010. The name, which translates as ‘House of the Moorish King’, is somewhat misleading as it is unlikely a king ever lived there. It is actually an early 18th century mansion built on Moorish foundations. Incredibly the building, although protected, is only just being restored because a German entrepreneur spent 14 years campaigning for the right to save it from ruin and turn it into a hotel. On the way down the Mina – which can be pretty dark and damp underfoot – try out the ‘room of secrets’ where whispered voices can be heard on the opposite side of the room, but not in the middle. man amphitheatre - followed by a short drive to the cavernous Setenil de las Bodegas, where the Romans used to keep their wine. Or you may fancy a stroll to the stunning Cueva del Gato (‘Cat’s Cave’), or wish to discover why the looming dam built in nearby Montejaque was never once used. Whatever you decide to do, there is enough to keep you STUNNING SPOT: Ronda’s spectacular busy for weeks. I later caught up Puente Nuevo bridge lit up at night with my friends cultured somehow.” for a beer in Plaza del Socorro, Ron- Later that evening I sat sipping a glass da’s main square, to see what they of Chinchilla, a Ronda red wine, at my thought of the town. favourite bar La Lechugita – where, “Stunning,” said Caroline Herran, 30, unlike many places on the Costa del a teacher back home in the UK. “Its Sol, tapas are just 80 cents each. location could not be better - com- And I knew that, like Orson Welles pletely surrounded by mountains – – who insisted his ashes were scatand the type of people, and tourists tered in Ronda in 1985 – it will foryou meet here, are different, more ever hold a place deep in my heart.

SHOPPERS DELIGHT: Shop on La Bola

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A wine T

HERE are nearly 30 different vineyards dotted around the Serrania de Ronda. Some even sit in the famous Tajo gorge below the town. They include award-winning organic wines, such as those of Los Frutales and Federico Schatz, and vineyards owned by Austrians, Germans and even Argentinians. There are wines, such as Vetas, Ramos Paul and Morosanto, already for sale in Japan and New York and others that merely serve the tables of the local restaurants in Ronda. Either way, it is not difficult to see that this is a region that is very much on the up. Celebrated wine writer John Radford wrote in the Olive Press that the ‘dream has taken hold’ and the Ronda wine industry has huge potential. At a wine conference a few years ago Jancis Robinson, sat alongside some of the world’s best winemakers, such as American Paul Draper and Spain’s enfant terrible Alvaro Palacios, to spread the message. So well has the industry progressed that in 2000 the area got its own particular subzone as part of the Sierras de Malaga appellation. This was in recognition that there was potential for nonfortified wines in highland

CLASSICAL: Ronda bullring is the oldest in Spain, while (right) its owner Fran Rivera arrives for the Goyesca

Get into the ring

WHATEVER your take on Spain’s most controversial pastime, a visit to Spain’s oldest bullring is a fascinating and entertaining experience. Having opened in 1785, the architecture of the ring is breathtaking and its accompanying museum takes visitors on a chronological journey taking in all the pomp and glory of bullfighting on the way.

Visit the pens where the beasts await their fate and marvel at artefacts, posters, photos and even original costumes – some frankly exquisite – donned by all the greatest matadors. Horse-riding fans will love the spectacular saddles and livery worn by 19th-century French King Louis Philippe, and in the firearms room there are hundreds of pistols and rifles dating from the

16th century. These days Ronda hosts one fight a year, the Goyesca, a fully traditional affair which attracts punters from all over Spain as well as politicians and celebrities. Organised by the bullring’s owner Fran Rivera, a matador who normally also fights, it is one of the big photographic opportunitiwa. The Goyesca was launched in 1954 to commemorate

200 years of the birth of Pedro Romero, a child of one of Ronda’s biggest bullfighting dynasties who despite killing over 5,000 bulls in his lifetime was never injured. Regular visitors to the ring over the years have included American actor Orson Welles – who loved Ronda so much he chose to have his ashes taken there – and writer Ernest Hemingway.

With up to 30 vineyards now planted in Ronda, ‘the dream has really taken hold’ writes Jon Clarke

areas where the daytime temperatures during the ripening season are consistently high, while at night it can be very cold. This is perfect as it gives a ‘rest’ to the vine and allows acidity and complexity to develop within the grape. It has been something of a comeback since the wine industry was wiped out by phylloxera in the 19th century. It began in 1982 when German flower seller Federico Schatz started planting various strains as an experiment. He was soon joined by Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe (the man who discovered Marbella) at Cortijo las Monjas near Arriate. These days the grape variety regulations are generous in scope, but expect to find mostly Shiraz/Syrah, PetitVerdot, Tempranillo and Cabernet-Sauvignon and also the local Romé thriving in vineyards at between 750 and 1,000 metres altitude. While initially the wines were

HARVEST TIME: In Ronda la Vieja

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time! FELINE FRIENDLY: Federico Schatz (left) discusses his grapes expensive at up to € 40 a bottle the prices have now come down a fair bit and it is possible to buy various Ronda wines for less than €10 a bottle. One of the most exciting vineyards to visit is Morosanto which is sited on the site of a former Roman villa, near Arriate, and where archaeologists have discovered proof that wine was made in Roman times. Aside from a treading floor, they have discovered where the vats were held and how

the wine juice flowed to them. A total of 12 hectares are planted, including the grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and even Viognier. The owner Miguel Angel Cespedes has a great art collection and is often on hand to charm visitors and explain the wines. Other vineyards that can be visited include trailblazer Federico Schatz by appointment only. www.bodegasmorosanto.com www.f-schatz.com

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Big Al’s buying

T was certainly a golden opportunity to get their wine known across the pond. But when Jose and Pilar Ramos Paul were asked to provide the tinto for the gala dinner of green activist Al Gore’s recent visit to Gibraltar, they couldn’t have expected it to have gone so well. So enamoured was the former vice president with their 2005 vintage that he insisted they sold him two cases of

the stuff on the spot. “He was really interested in the wine and the logo,” explained Jose, a former banker from Sevilla. “But I was obviously very pleased when he ordered the cases.” The vineyard, which was set up a decade ago in Ronda la Vieja, is doing extremely well both domestically and abroad. Aside from just brokering a deal to sell their wine in various branches of El Corte Ingles, they have just taken a huge order from China. It is one of nearly 30 countries that have now imported the wine, that spends up to three years in cask before being bottled. America’s top wine writer Robert Parker gave the wine a record 92 points, the highest for a red wine in Andalucia. It is made from a blend of grapes with around 55% Tempranillo, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remaining flavours Syrah and Merlot.

PITCH: Jose and Pilar Ramos Paul get to discuss their Ronda wine with Al Gore

www.ramos-paul.com

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To the heart of the The Walk of the Hidden Valley: Montejaque Circuit

HIS spectacularly beautiful full day walk leads you to the heart of a wildly beautiful swathe of the Grazalema Park. Departing from the charming white village of Montejaque, just 20 minutes from Ronda, you first face the most challenging part of the walk, an hour of climbing via a broad track to the top of the rocky Libar valley. Here the terrain changes in nature as you cross a broad, flat-bottomed valley before cutting down through some of the most beautiful limestone formations in the park. These huge, weathered blocks of karst have a sculptural beauty that is the rival of Henry Moore’s most monumental creations. You continue on through two more flat-bottomed valleys, known locally as navas, through stands of ancient oak forest before descending back towards the village. Allow a full day to get the most out of this stunning itinerary.

Walking guru Guy Hunter-Watts describes a favourite walk close to his home and heart near Ronda

The Nitty Gritty Distance: 16.5kms Time Required: 6/6.5 hours Rating: Medium/Difficult Map: IGN 1:50000 Ubrique (1050/14-44) Water: none along the way so take at least 1,5 litres in your pack

STUNNING: Countryside in one of ‘Navas’ valleys (above and below)

The Walk The walk begins in the main square in Montejaque. Cross the square, head along the left side of the church under a row of palms then go right into Calle Nueva. After 20m cut left into Calle Santa Cruz. Follow this street up through the village. Leaving the last houses behind you pass several ramshackle kennels built among the rocks. The road meets with a track by a G.R. marker post (15 mins). Follow this track straight up the valley between the Sierra de Juan Diego and the Sierra de Benaojan. Nearing the top of the pass you cross a cattle

grid. Continue for 300m then cut right, off the track, and go through a green gate in a stone wall (55 mins). Bear left up a narrow cobbled path. Pass right of a stone ruin then an old corral. You come to a wall and a black gate which is often left open. The path, marked by cairns, leads beneath a clump of low oaks then crosses open ground before merging with a track. Bear right along the track. When you reach a rectangular sign on an oak cut left on a stony footpath. After about 60m the path arcs left. Look for cairns which guide you through a stand of low oaks. After angling back

to the right the path leads down to a stone wall. Passing through the gap the path merges with a track which you follow across a vast, walled field. Having passed two bulldozed watering holes the track reaches a gap in a stone wall. Bear right just before the opening and, just beyond a large oak, go through a metal gate (1 hr 25 mins). Bear left on a narrow path, following the right side of the stone wall. The path climbs, bears left then reaches a flat area. Here bear sharp right on a narrow path which threads between the rocks and descends. After dropping down for about 15 min-

utes you pass left of a ruined stone hut then go through a gate whose opening is sometimes closed with brush. Following cairns, and making sure not to climb at any point, you reach a second vast field, similar in size to the one you traversed earlier. It’s the eponymous Hidden Valley of my title (1 hr 55 mins).

Careful! Look for a large stone arrow on the ground at the field’s edge. This indicates your course across the field: you need to angle about 45º right in a NNW direction. Crossing the field you pass a group of three huge oaks whose trunks meet at the base. On the far side a wall drops down to meet with

the field by another stone arrow, beyond which you leave the field via an indistinct path which climbs up across the rocks. It soon becomes better defined: you’ll see a fence up to your left. Soon you reach a hollow with a stone-walled corral built against a cliff face (2 hrs 25 mins).

Keep left, contouring high above the hollow. The path leads over a ridge as the countryside opens out. At this point look for a small farm ahead of you: you’ll later be passing it by. The path descends, goes through a gate, then angles down across the hillside to a low stone wall and a fence. Follow the stone wall along to the left to reach a wire-and-post gate. Beyond the gate cross a (dry) stream. Continue straight ahead (there’s no path) for 125m. Crossing a low ridge you reach a track which you follow to the right, up towards the farm you could see earlier. Pass across the farm’s beautiful cobbled era (threshing circle) then angle left and pass left of the farm and its stone corrals (2 hrs 50 mins) to reach another track which leads to a metal gate in a stone wall. Pass through the gate and after just 10m bear left on the track passing a sign for ‘Montejaque’. You pass a chain which cuts the track then reach an open patch of ground. Bear right along its lower edge then enter a wooded area. The path is indistinct: look for cairns and don’t climb too high. The path twists through the forest, crosses a stream then climbs an eroded bank to another gate. Beyond the gate the path climbs, angles right then crosses a (dry) stream. The landscape again opens out and you reach a low stone wall. Ahead is another vast field. Bearing left, stick to the northern edge side of the field. Continue to its far end to reach its boundary wall where you go through a metal gate (3 hrs 20 mins). Bearing slightly right, cross a (dry) stream then bear left again and cross back to the other side. Continuing up the middle of the enclosure you

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STANDING PROUD: Montejaque Town Hall is the start of the walk

250m past the monument the track bears right and climbs to the top of a rise, passing a cattle grid: brace yourself for the steepest part of the walk. Just beyond it go through a gap in a wall where your track merges with a second one (3 hrs 50 mins). Here bear right and descend steeply. Soon the track loops hard right, then left. Still descending steeply be ready to cut right off the track on another track which angles steeply up to your right: look for cairns. (but see * below). Where this track loops hard right cut left at a cairn and follow an indistinct path down to a black metal gate (4 hrs).

pass a metal drinking trough. Soon the path runs just to the left of a wall and leads to the far end of the field. Here, go through a metal gate. After just 10m the path merges

with a track which you follow downwards. Soon you pass a monument, tucked in to the left of the track, which marks the spot where a landowner was shot during the Civil War.

Beyond the gate the path becomes clearer as it runs between olive groves, then becomes more overgrown. Twice you’re forced to cut right and continue parallel to the path through the olives. You rejoin the path and soon it loops across a (dry) stream. Beyond the stream (careful not to lose height) continue just right of a line of olives. Look for cairns! The line of the path, which has been ploughed into the grove in parts, is soon visible once

Scaling the heights

DRENALIN junkies listen up, Gaucin is boasting a brand new ‘via ferrata’ route boasting spectacular views and even a fifthcentury castle. The new route, which means ‘iron path’ in Italian, is a protected climbing route

equipped with steel cables allowing users to clip on and secure themselves as they go. Sound scary? It is! This new route stretches from one side of the village across to Castillo del Aguila. It is 200m long and includes climbs of 80m, also including a 40m zip-line and Tibetan bridge. Thanks to its limestone rocks, caves and sheer drops, the Serrania de Ronda already boasts a whole range of sports such as hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and caving. The new path brings the via ferrata spots in the Serrania de Ronda to nine, adding to those in Atajate and Benaojan and one in the Tajo gorge itself.

SHEER: Via Ferrata is nor for the fainthearted

again, running up to a brown metal sign which you pass to its right. The path improves then merges with a track. Continuing along this track you reach a wire-and-post gate (4 hrs 25 mins).

Walking in Andalucia, Edition 7 by Guy Hunter-Watts is available at most good bookshops. It has 36 walks.

Go through the gate. The track arcs right, levels, then loops down into the valley that you circle) to the left of the track then come to a junction. Here cut right, then first left, then retrace your footsteps back to the square in Montejaque (4 hrs 55 mins).

Monday walking club

LOCAL restaurant owners Paul and Synnove Darwent are organising a series of Monday hikes around the best of Ronda’s countryside. The couple, who run Bar Allioli, in Jimera de Libar, have spent years plotting the walks, which are all between two and three hours long. Each of the walks will start at a local restaurant, the first on November 5, leaving from Bar Allioli, with the second on November 12 leaving from Bar Cantina in Benaojan Estacion. “A beer is not compulsory at the end but will always be a good way to finish,” explains Paul. Cost is €5 per person. Call 671 50 054 or email kontakt@andaluciawalking. com for more details.

Andalucia Walking Easy to moderate guided walks between 2 and 3 hours - 5 euros per person Booking necessary Tel 671 50 054 e mail kontakt@ andaluciawalking.com or facebook andalucia walking

www.andaluciawalking.com

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TIMES GONE BY WHEREVER you are in Ronda you are surrounded by history and remarkably little has changed over the last few centuries. But just so that you can see what the town was like a 100 years ago, here are a few evocative pictures of Days Gone By. Clockwise from left, the old minaret, Almocobar gate, Plaza Socorro (two pics), ladies take the air beside the old Arabic Baths, a typical courtyard scene with lady sewing and three pictures taken on Calle Real by the fountain of Ocho Canos

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Keeping prehistory alive At Algaba you can find out what Andalucia was like 5000 years ago, discovers Eloise Horsfield

ANT to get an idea what life was like in Andalucia 5,000 years ago? Well, at the Algaba education centre just outside Ronda, you have the perfect opportunity. Through its hauntingly realistic prehistoric village you learn about how our forefathers created fire, ground their bread, as well as decorated their homes. You can even find out what they did with their dead. “We teach people about ancient Mediterranean ecosystems because this land has been occupied from prehistoric times to the present day,” explains director Maria Sanchez Helena. Algaba’s work also includes research and teachings on the geology and ornithology of the area, as well as acting as a rare breeds centre for endangered cows. These include the Spanish Pajuna – of which there are just 500 left (pictured above) – as well as the Andalucian Cardena, which in the early 1990s had been reduced to just seven individuals.

EDUCATIONAL: Learning about the past

Thanks to the work of organisations like Algaba, there are now around 200 Cardenas. Guests and groups can now come and stay at the centre’s

restored 250-year-old finca. “It is certainly a place where people can come and get away from it all.” www.algabaderonda.com

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Where to eat Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke on why the Serrania de Ronda area counts on a dozen of the best restaurants in Andalucia

Dozen best

R HOSTESS WITH THE MOST: At Carmen la de Ronda, with (inset) Omar from Buenos Aires while (right) Porton and its two owners and (far right) Frank at El Muelle in Arriate

ONDA is, without a doubt, one of the food capitals of Andalucia. The town offers an incredible range in both creativity and value and it is no surprise that a dozen of the restaurants listed on the Olive Press’ fast-growing website Dining Secrets of Andalucia are in the Serrania de Ronda. From the creativity of Tragatapas and Casa Santa Pola to the beautiful rural idylls Molino del Santo and Al Lago, there is so much on offer. Add in the soulful, unpretentious Almocabar, historic Pedro Romero and the amazing views from Predicatorio and you will never be short of good places to eat. One of the most atmospheric must be El Picadero, set in a 400-year-old townhouse with an amazing collection of bullfighting memorabilia, including a set of ‘banderillas’ used by bullfighter Pedro Romero some 200 years ago. Practically next door is the equally charming Casa Quino, a family-run joint, where its big boss Joaquin does a great job in the kitchen, producing a range of classic local dish-

es. A keen photographer, he also knows what he is do- beat Pedro Romero, opposite also has the best collection of ing. The Catalan has worked the bullring, where Ignacio’s old photos of Ronda. around the country and is brothers-in-law have carved Next door, Joaquin and his always up for a bit of experi- a solid formula producing a wife have recently opened menting and his gorge-side string of traditional but delia new place Nueva 13 more restaurant is probably the cious dishes, in particular the geared towards tapas and most beautiful in Ronda. Rabo de Toro. wines and with a very differ- For atmosphere it is hard to Then there is charming El ent style. If you are looking for a great value Italian La Vita e Bella in the same street is a good bet, as is the evocative Tragatapas, run by Michelin-starred chef Benito Gomez. Having trained at El Bulli, among other notable places, it is probably the best place to eat something creative, in particular his fantastic sushi of tuna, with soya and wasabi. That said, chef Ignacio at Casa Santa Pola TEAM: The owners of Casa Quino and Nueva 13

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ABCIENT AND MODERN: From traditional at Pedro Romero to experimental tuna tapa with Benito at Tragatapas. (Below) Casa Ortega Porton – run by the same two friends for the last 40 years – steeped in bullfighting history and the best place to tapear, in particular the quails eggs with ham. Also good for tapas is Casa Ortega, on Plaza Socorro,

which is fast becoming THE place for Ronda’s establishment. With a more formal restaurant upstairs, it is well run by the Ortega family and rarely less than half full. Over in the old town is an exciting new place to try Meson

El Sacristan, which counts on Roman ruins in the basement and a friendly owner Antonio. This charming spot has easily some of the best steaks in the town, cooked to a tee in the only wood-oven around. Literally next door, you might want to visit the equally-rated Carmen la de Ronda, where the attractive hostess claims to be the great granddaughter of the original Carmen, who inspired the famous opera by Bizet. Steeped in history, it is a charming restaurant in a great location and staff are friendly and keen to do a good job.

Two to watch over the next year are Meson La Pozuela In Jubrique and El Muelle in Arriate For international food, Ronda has an excellent range of restaurants from the excellent sushi at Osaka, to the Mexican Guadalupe and to the friendly Argentinian Buenos Aires, run by characteristic Omar, an excellent spot for tapas, breakfast or just a pint to watch the footie. If you are looking for something more rural, why not visit the award-winning Molino del Santo, in Benaojan. Not just Andalucia’s second highestrated hotel, according to Trip Advisor, but in Gordon Brown, one of the best chefs in Andalucia. Equally good are creative Stefan Crites of Al Lago, overlooking the lake in Zahara, and Ian Love, at Molino del Puente, who has a large fan base having spent many years cooking on the coast before moving to Ronda. Finally two to watch over the coming year are Meson La Pozuela in Jubrique, where experienced Dutch chef Barry is garnering a good reputation for his adventurous, and organic dishes, and El

Muelle, in Arriate, where another Dutchman Frank has opened an exciting tapasstyle restaurant. Last, but not least, if it is authenticity you are after, you must head for the converted olive mill that is Molienda in Benalauria. One of Malaga’s pretty small villages, this is a true dining secret! www.diningsecretsofandalucia.com

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Where to stay

City of Dreaming A

P P R O P R I AT E LY dubbed the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;City of Dreamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Dutch poet Rilke there are plenty of excellent places to stay in the Ronda area. In the heart of the city few

You are spoilt for choice with romantic and hip places to stay around Ronda can beat trendy En Frente Arte or Hotel San Gabriel, a charming townhouse, with CHARM: Don MIguel (top) Alcantarilla farmhouse (left), Molino del Puente and Hotel San Gabriel

its own cinema and where Bob Hoskins, Robert Plant and Isabella Rossellini have all stayed. Here, you can really feel the weight of history and the family-run hotel has been carefully preserved and counts its own bodega. Then there is Hotel Don Miguel sitting right on the gorge with fantastic views to match and an excellent breakfast. Another good choice in the fascinating quarter near the Arabic Baths is the charming boutique hotel Hotel Aire

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LEAFY: Gardens and pool at Molino del Santo and (inset) a room at Hotel Aire in Calle Real. Meanwhile, in the countryside nearby are some of Andalucia’s most stylish hotels. These include Fuente de

la Higuera and Molino del Arco, which is a joy to visit, even if just for its amazing landscaped gardens. The family home of local

landowner Juan Clavero, who has a splendid eye for detail, it sits in a privileged position in the nearby Llano de la Cruz valley. You might also want to consider Molino del Puente, run by friendly English couple Ian and Elaine Love, whose hotel is a converted mill beside a rushing river. They also have one of the area’s best restaurants. A bit further away in Benaojan you must certainly consider Molino del Santo, a classic rural retreat, and one of the first of its kind in Andalucia.

Alcantarilla is an authentic farmhouse in two hectares of lovely grounds Run by English couple Pauline and Andy, the hotel – number two in Andalucia, according to TripAdvisor - has the knack of keeping guests happy with just the right mix of comfort, good food and character. Another off-beat idea is the Hoopoe Yurt hotel, in nearby Cortes de la Frontera. A classic example of ‘glamping’, it’s beautiful Mongolian yurts are a joy to stay in. Last but not least, why not rent a historic cortijo for a long weekend in winter? Sitting in lovely countryside between Ronda and Arriate, Alcantarilla is an authentic farmhouse split into two parts and surrounded by two hectares of wonderful grounds.

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the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

VISTA: White villages pepper the valley, with Parauta in the foreground and Cartajima to the right. (left) local transport

Journey back in time

T is an area little changed in a century. The charming Genal Valley, which sits between Ronda and the Costa del Sol, is a huge green valley full of chestnut forests and timeless white villages... oh, and one blue one (see box below) too. A paradise for hikers and wildlife lovers, it boasts one of Europe’s cleanest rivers and has a terrific range of charming local ventas.

Taking a ride around the Genal Valley is a wonderful way to see how ancient Andalucia must have looked, writes Eloise Horsfield

Well off the usual tourist trail, the Genal Valley gives visitors a chance to experience what Spain was like in

days gone by. And at the mouth of the valley, at the Algaba centre, you can even discover what

tually a cathedral - in Malaga province. Here visitors can literally follow in the footsteps of a saint, Fray Leopoldo, a capuchin monk who devoted himself to religion from the age of 35, after being born in the village in 1894,. OOKING for something completely different? Steps began in Well Juzcar certainly offers an alternative 1961 to beatify look to the ubiquitous pueblo blanco. him – with believFor this tiny village is painted entirely blue... ers hoping this and in, what is bound to be a hit with anyone unwill lead to him der the age of 10, the village was chosen by Sony eventually bePictures to promote their Smurfs in 3D film in June coming a saint. 2011. His tomb now atJuzcar beat competition from 200 other villages betracts believers cause it looked most like the fictional village where looking for spirithe Smurfs live. tual guidance A year on and it has received over 130,000 visitors and an attractive – that is more than 350 a day. Not bad for a village route devoted to of just 250 residents – and no surprise then that him joins Alpanlocals voted to keep it blue. deire with surGuided tours (Smurf-themed, naturally) are availrounding villages able all year round. Pujerra, Igualeja, Juzcar, Farajan and Cartajima. It is a charming loop, with excellent, well-signposted walks, from each of the villages. Farajan was once named ‘a white swan on a pool of hope’ by Ernest Hemingway, and Cartajima boasts perhaps the best view of the Genal Valley and maybe its finest lodgings in Hotel Los Castanos. Without a doubt, the best time to visit is November and December when the chestnut trees turn the slopes into a glorious display of golden brown and the nearby tracks are strewn with chestnuts to pick up. Another way of discovering the Genal Valley is by tak-

life was like in prehistoric times, with its fascinating replica village. Carry on and after 10 min-

utes you will arrive in Alpandeire, a stunning white village, with one of the most spectacular churches – ac-

FEELING BLUE? JUZCAR WILL CHEER YOU UP

FICTIONAL HOME: Smurf village

Ronda special

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ing a leisurely drive down the A369 between Gaucin and Ronda, a stunning road which weaves its way through the valley, offering breathtaking mountain views along the way.

Gaucin has amazing views down to Gibraltar and Africa There are some lovely villages off it, the best of these being Benalauria, with its fabulous restaurant Molienda, a former mill, which has been perfectly preserved and serves the region’s best local - and mostly organic – fare. An excellent loop back to

the coast takes you off a turning to the left, signposted for Estepona, from the village of Algatocin. From here you can visit the two charming villages of Genalguacil - which is famed for its artists and, in particular, its bi-annual art festival, which is a must visit – as well as Jubrique, a more industrious place, just 45 minutes from Estepona. In particular, make sure to stop at the wonderful recently opened restaurant of Meson Pozuela, run by a Dutch couple and not just authentic in look, but serving up some terrific local fare. Not exactly known as part of the Genal Valley, Gaucin sits at one end of the

What to buy – esparto bags ONE thing to look out for in the Genal Valley are baskets woven out of esparto grass that grows in the area. Once the main source of income for many families in the Sierra de las Nieves, sadly esparto products are now a dying trade. In Igualeja however you can visit a womens’ cooperative that aims to keep the tradition alive as well as forming jobs for locals.

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It’s a great time to buy, with properties standing at a record low in Ronda

BAG A BARGAIN

I SAINTLY: A statue of Fray Leopoldo area. An equally fascinating place, here, you will not only find plenty of decent restaurants, but also good places to stay. Known as the Balcon de la Serrania (the Balcony of the Serrania) it has amazing views down to Gibraltar and Africa and a well-established expatriate community, known for its artistic talents. Every year the town holds an studio open day and art market.

T is little surprise that the Ronda area has become one of Andalucia’s most popular places to visit by those-in-the-know. And equally no surprise that a large number of foreigners have ended up buying in the area, many working in tourism, while others have simply retired to enjoy the good mix of countryside and attractive local towns and villages. “If you enjoy a quieter life away from the rat-race, you like spectacular scenery and unspoilt mountain towns then it could be for you,” says local agent Irene Ortiz, from Serrania Services. “It is cheaper than on the coast and there is a huge variety of activities available, including bird-watching and horse-riding.” She continues: “It also counts most of the modern amenities and it is a real bonus having a proper hospital. “There are currently some amazing bargains to be had, with country houses and fincas having seen some huge reductions in price over the last couple of years.” There are certainly many attractive properties both in the town and in the nearby villages. One of the best bargains, includes the amazing three-bedroom Poet’s Cottage in the buzzing village Arriate, just 10 minutes from Ronda. A superb village, which has a distinct alternative feel to Ronda and an excellent school and medical centre, this stunningly converted home has dropped in price by 40 % to 145,000 euros for an immediate sale. Renovated to the highest standards with sustainability in mind, the stone built property counts its own leafy garden with a splash pool, as well as a massive vinecovered roof terrace with views for miles around. Contact Gabs on 665787191 for more info.

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the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

WIRLING the cape like a whirling dervish, you could tell local hotelier Andy Chapell was having fun. Jumping at the chance to attempt a classic bullfighting move at Ronda’s exciting new bull breeding estate Reservatauro, it didn’t matter that he looked more like a Teletubby attempting a new dance. For it is the participation that makes this new venue such fun. Whether a fan of bullfighting or not, visitors will enjoy seeing how well the fighting bulls live before being

MATADOR IN THE MAKING: Hotelier Andy Chapell tries his hand and (above) the stables with owner Rafael Tejeda (middle)

A bull’s life

A new estate is demonstrating why the world of bullfighting should be preserved at all costs, writes Jon Clarke dispatched at four years of age. Luxuriating in the grounds of this 200 hectare estate, they live off a mix of acorns and meal and have no shortage of space to roam. Set up by Ronda bullfighter Rafael Tejeda and his wife Nuria, this ancient estate, known as a dehesa, is a fascinating place to visit. Set in stunning oak woodland on the edge of the Sierra de las Nieves natural park, visitors have the chance to see first hand how the ancient art functions. As well as breeding bulls, the estate also trains horses, in particular the giant Spanish shirehorses, who can stand the weight of any bull charge. There is a trainee bullring and visitors are taken on a tour of the estate and given an explanation of how it all functions. Most interesting of all is how the grandmother cows, known as Mala Fes, some as old as 22, are kept to socialise the young calves in

sword used to dispatch the bulls in the ring. “I thought the trip was really worthwhile and think a lot of our punters would go - apart from the antibullfight ones of course,” explained Chapell, the boss of TRAINING DAY: Bulls on the Molino del Santo, estate come face to face with the in Benaojan. owners´fearless boxer dog (top), That is more the while a horse receives tuition shame though, as there is no doubt, a early life. visit to Reservatauro is likely And then there is the chance to put the whole art in a very to pick up and handle the different light... and, dare I cape, as well as the sharp say it, convert people.

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NEW GOALS

Football star Steve Claridge is preparing to offer sports advice to expats

ORMER Premiership footballer Steve Claridge is on hand to meet expats at the Homes, Gardens

and Outdoor Living Event. Claridge, who played for a number of clubs including Leicester City and Portsmouth

A golden opportunity

GOLD trader Nigel Goldman is appealing to expats to bring along their old coin and stamp collections to the show on November 9 and 10. The trader - who has been dealing in gold coins for nearly 40 years - promises he will make an immediate offer for any coins or stamps brought to his stand. “Gold has held a mysterious value for centuries – not surprising when you consider the world’s entire reserves would fit into two double decker buses,” Goldman told the Olive Press. “A gold sovereign trades for over €310, and the spread – the difference in price between buying and selling – is likely to be €25 a coin – four times the value of four decades ago,” he added. Contact Nigel Goldman on 951 778 900 or at nigelgoldman1@gmail.com.

during a successful career, will be at the show on November 9 and 10. The League Cup winner, who now works for the BBC as a pundit, is joining the Winning Express team, who are sponsoring the event. The betting firm will be promoting their new sports advisory service, as part of their products aimed at helping customers create tax free profits. The company aims to provide good value betting options for its clients by offering a structured ‘staking plan’ with attractive returns on investments. Claridge, who scored the winning goal in the 1997 League Cup final, is a regular visitor to Spain and expects the business to thrive in the next few years.

List of exhibitors ABC Group AIM Building Supplies/James Brewer Art Gallery Artisan Products Avalon Life Care Services Bodega Cambridge800 Centro SantaFe Children with cancer Clima Heating Comfort + Concept Building SL Continental Wealth Management Costa Del Sol News Costa Muebles Costa Women Crafty Things Currencies Direct Detox Your Home and Body

Dick Handscombe Discreet Hearing Elite Glass Curtains SL Energetix Estomar 91 Feng Shui Food For Thought Fortress Security FX Capital GlamRox GM Events Golden Leaves Helecoptaros Sanatarios Home & Lifestyle Magazine IBEX Insurance Jeremy Russell Landscaping La Chiringuito Catering Mad About Furniture Mark Barjeski Mas Movil SL Mind Body & SOL Feature

Nevada Naturales Organo Gold Petersham Coins & Stamps Planta Planet Royal British Legion Santana Books Talk Radio Europe Thatching Demonstration/ AIM The Body Works Clinic The Shade Sail Company SL Trusted Trades UK TV Products Vida Natural Viveros Del Carmen Viveros Florena White Knight Glass Curtains Worldwide Develeopments Your Journey Today

Tel: Spanish/ English 695 399 841 /966 761 050 - Email: office@solproductions.tv

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

Come and visit us at the HOME & GARDEN SHOW

www.theolivepress.es

on 9th & 10th NOVEMBER

On display we will have some quality coins including royal mint products at substantial discounts to issue price and collectable and investment coins

250 euros paid Any Gold Half Sovereign Minimum 125 euros paid Pre-1947 Silver coins MINIMUM OF 20 TIMES FACE VALUE PAID

Any Gold Sovereign Minimum

We buy modern Royal Mint products, Westminster Collection, John Pinches, Metalimport, Coincraft etc etc

We will make an immediate offer for any coins and stamps brought to our stand number 78

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July 26, 2012

Heirs to lost Goya and Rubens paintings beg Prado Museum to help them out A JEWISH family has asked the Prado Museum for help in tracing a set of paintings it claims were stolen by a ‘Hitler collaborator’. The collection, which is highly valuable and contains works by Goya, Rubens and Tintoreto, was lent by Ambrosius Wolfgang Bauml to UGLINESS, exaggeration, deformity and satire – these are some of the things you can expect from a fascinating new exhibition at Malaga’s Picasso Museum. The Grotesque Factor features works by Francisco de Goya, Leonardo da Vinci, Otto Dix – and naturally Picasso himself. The exhibition brings together 270 works from 74 artists all featuring an element of the grotesque, as well as film screenings and educational activities including children’s theatre to help explore the genre. Until February 10, entry from €4.50

what’s on

Hitler ‘theft’ probe M the Madrid museum – but never seen again. The heirs to the art claim it was stolen by Hans Hoff-

man, who was German consul in Malaga until his death in 1998. El Mundo later published

Grotesque art

UGLY VIEWING: Including work by Boilly, Ensory and Dix

a report which found Hoffman to have been a prominent member of the Gestapo, Germany’s secret police

during Nazi times. “We need the museum to help us find the paintings. We have been looking for 19 years,” said Giselheide Sutor, one of the heirs to the collection and also a descendant of the Wertheims, who founded a famous German department store. The heirs travelled to Madrid to meet Prado bosses, accompanied by a lawyer specialising in cases relating to the Holocaust. Their aim is to find out whether the paintings are stored at the museum or have been transferred to other galleries.

arbella Güey Restaurant & Skybar (Plaza de las Orquideas 4, 29660 Marbella. Costa Women Marbella Fashionistas Soiree. Tuesday 06 November 19:30 - 21:30h. A delicious and daring fashion desfile from A La Folie Lingerie boutique, showcasing their delectable lingerie and corsets! A fun free event for all fabulous Marbella (and beyond) based ladies. www.costawomen. ning.com

rroyo de la Miel The Municipal Public Library, Saturday 01 December, 10:00-14:00h. Sale of books in aid of the Cudeca Hospice. Books available in English as well as other European languages, priced between 50 cents and €3. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

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Urbantastic Josh Taylor documents works by mystery street artist ‘El Nino de las Pinturas’, who has spent years brightening up Granada’s white walls

OR the 10 months or so that I have been lucky enough to call this mesmeric city home, I have been gripped with one unswerving fascination: Graffiti. Granada’s walls are coated in it. Some attempts, admittedly, are either of a shoddy or unremarkable standard, but a handsome percentage is nothing short of awe-inspiring. There are, I’m sure, hundreds of would-be-artists claiming credit for some of the city’s most famed pieces, but most of the stop-andstare stuff can be attributed to just one man: El Nino de las Pinturas. A Spanish version of the UK’s legendary Banksy, this guy is a proper legend in his own right. For years now, he has been smearing Granada’s previously dull-white walls with his signature handiwork. Some pieces have featured in art magazines, documentaries and are now concrete tourist attractions (no pun intended). The best part is, he remains a mystery… Well, perhaps not among locals. But for us ‘guiris’, the legend’s true identity seems to remain infinitely anonymous. A friend of mine was adamant she knew the luminary’s identity, but after one terribly embarrassing conversation in a pub, she discovered the chap in question was actually an ice-cream vendor. I considered it not only a resident’s duty, but a wholly gratifying experience to wander Granada’s streets and capture a selection of the legendary artist’s most stunning efforts for you to enjoy. Read Josh Taylor’s new blog at www.theolivepress.es

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British treasure in Spain SURPRISE: Phallic graffiti has been discovered in Valencia Cathedral

Bunch of knobs IT is a common sight on the walls of school toilets throughout the world. But, following a discovery in Spain from the 17th century graffiti, it seems the childish phenomenon of hastilyscrawled male genitalia is anything but new. It came after 15th century frescoes of winged angels with haloes were found hidden behind a false ceiling in Valencia Cathedral. But it later emerged that the artwork, created by Renaissance master Paolo de San Leocadio, had more recent additions – including a phallic outline etched

into a wing and paint splatters on the angels’ eyes and mouths. The damage was caused by workers charged with covering them up in 1674 after damp had led them to be viewed as worthless.

Centuries

“The truth is that we have barely advanced over the centuries,” said Carmen Perez, head of Valencia’s conservation institute. “They are exactly the same as you would find today in public toilets.” The paintings have now been fully restored.

BRITISH art from the Tudors to the Thatcher era is being celebrated in a wideranging exhibition now showing in Spain. Treasure Island: British Art From Holbein to Hockney showcases five centuries of paintings and sculpture in a bid to help Spaniards become more familiar with British art. The show, which runs until January 20 2013 at Madrid’s

Juan March Foundation, includes works by Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon as well as the landscapes of Constable and Turner. It also features more contemporary art including Peter Blake’s cover for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album. Light-hearted displays highlighting eccentric British habits such as making lists and hoarding can also be viewed.

EXPLOSION OF COLOUR: Art by Liverpudlian Tony Cragg

Making history

Spanish influence

A PRIZE-WINNING British Hispanist has published a new book on the challenges he has faced tracing Spanish history. History in the Making by John H. Elliott describes the difficulties of writing about a country which is not one’s own, the changes in attitudes to history since the 1950s and the impact of technology on researching the past. Elliott, 82, has written several books including Imperial Spain: 1469-1716 – for history students. Available on Amazon.

A SHEFFIELD-BORN criminologist has chosen the Spanish Civil War as the backdrop to his debut novel. The Sentinel, written by Mark Oldfield, 55, flits between the life of a present day forensic scientist and a 1950s secret police officer hunting down enemies of the state. “The book reflects some aspects of the dark years of Franco’s dictatorship,” said the criminologist turned author, a regular visitor to Spain since 1976. The Sentinel is available on Amazon

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the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

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Flood funds

EXPATS affected by the recent floods in Spain are being advised they must apply for compensation through the Insurance Compensation Consortium (CCS). The CCS is a government body responsible for processing claims, assessing the damage and paying compensation to all those affected by natural catastrophes.

Helpline

Insurance firm Linea Directa has set up a dedicated helpline in both English and German to help expat customers process their claims as quickly as possible. “Linea Directa wishes to express its deepest condolences to the families of those people who have lost their lives,” said a spokesman. Call the Linea Directa helpline on 902 326 326 or the CCS on 902 222 665

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

Tax crackdown on shoppers El Corte Ingles customers spending over €30,000 to be investigated by fraud squad A SPANISH department store has been ordered to hand over transaction details of all customers spending more than €30,000, as

part of a crackdown on tax evasion. The ruling applies to all payments made to El Corte Ingles using its branded

credit cards between 2006 and 2007. The firm - which has 11.18

COSTA JOB BOOST A LEADING financial firm is to create 60 jobs over the next year at a new hub on the Costa del Sol. The deVere Group will use the centre in Fuengirola to provide technical backup and support services, as well as administrative and research work. The company is the world’s largest independent financial advisory firm and is already well-established throughout Spain. “The Costa del Sol was a natural choice

as a location as it is home to a thriving expat community,” said deVere Group director Mike Coady. “There are many talented people with customer service skills developed in leading firms during the boom years who are now, due to the recession, out of work. We’re keen to tap into this talent pool.” For applications, contact Kerry Newcombe on 600 218 763

million registered card users - had its appeal against the finance ministry request thrown out by Spain’s national court. While it is unclear how many card holders the ruling will apply to, the move is part of a government clampdown on tax evasion in a bid to raise much needed revenue.

Precedent

“From our point of view this is good news, I think the ruling will set a precedent,” Tim Taplin, senior advisor at Totus Consulting told the Olive Press. “It is important for people to pay their taxes in Spain and I think the days of people declaring an income of €1,000 a month while their kids are at private school are gone. “I think this is a sign of the way ahead.”

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Rating blow

ANDALUCIA is one of several Spanish regions to have had its credit rating cut. The region, along with Extremadura, was reduced to ‘junk’ status by ratings agency Moody’s, while Cataluna, Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia were also downgraded. The agency warned that the regions have suffered deteriorating ‘liquidity positions’ in recent months and that Andalucia faces debt repayments before the end of the year.

Cash cheer

EXPATS looking to treat themselves to a new pair of jeans or a restaurant meal at a nice restaurant are being given an opportunity to claim €50 cash back. The offer is open to customers who take out a fully comprehensive car or home insurance policy with Liberty Seguros, paying by direct debit, before December 31. Call 902 255 258 or visit www.libertyexpatriates.es.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

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Top Dollar

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Euro resurgence

Keith Spitalnick looks at how the recent measures put in place to address the eurozone crisis have helped boost the value of the euro against the pound

HE pound dipped below 1.23 against the euro this month, its lowest level since June, before the Bank of England voted to keep rates and the quantitative easing programme on hold. Leading up to the release, expectations had increased that the bank was likely to announce additional measures to try and re-ignite growth in the economy after three consecutive quarters of contraction. This had been weighing on the pound - as the most likely tool to be deployed would be more quantitative easing - which tends to have a negative impact on a currency’s value. UK employment data was also released at the same time which showed a further improvement despite the weak output growth, with the unemployment rate dropping to 7.9%. The pound gained against both the US dollar and the euro following the announcement. I expect there to be increased discussion among the monetary policy committee (MPC) in the coming weeks as to what the bank can and should do to help the struggling UK economy. As recent economic data for the last three quarters has been at the lower end of

expectations, the pressure for the MPC to do more is growing. With UK inflation figures coming in just above the 2% target set for the Bank of England, there’s room to expand policy. Clearly more needs to be done to stimulate the UK economy. But given the open-ended quantitative easing programme recently announced by the Federal Reserve and the pledge of unlimited intervention from the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England may be able to cope without requiring further action. Meanwhile, the euro has outperformed the pound in recent weeks following the recent efforts to bring an end to the debt crisis and speculation over the break-up of the single currency. Since hitting a high of 1.2875 in July, a level last seen in 2008, the pound has lost more than 4% against the euro and looks vulnerable to continued optimism over new measures in the eurozone to strengthen the bloc. Assuming Spain comes forward and finally requests some form of bailout, that would enable the ECB to buy its bonds and lower borrowing costs further; subsequently, the pound could fall as low as 1.20.

Keith is head of European Sales at HiFX. To contact HiFX and find out how the team can help you with your international transactions, visit the office in Centro Plaza, call 951 203 986 or email olivepress@hifx.co.uk.

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Multi-million-euro train project which saw Spain pip France to the post begins in the Middle East WORK has begun on the biggest overseas contract ever to be won by Spain. Costing €6,736 million, the ‘pilgrim train’ will cover the 450km between Mecca and Medina – Islam’s holiest cities – in Saudi Arabia. The project, combining the efforts of 12 Spanish companies including Renfe and Talgo, will include 35 high-speed trains and carry 160,000 passengers per day – 10 times that of the Madrid-Barcelona service. “For many this is a fundamentally important reference project, set to open many doors for Spanish companies,” said Pablo Vazquez, boss of Spanish-run con-

Desert AVE on track sortium Ineco, which beat a French company this time last year. “It is key for the image of

Debt destroyers

A BRITISH debt management company has launched on the Costa del Sol. The first of its kind in Spain, Chiltern Spain Debt Management Solutions has been set up by expat David Nixon and business partner Jackie Newton. Nixon, who set up Chiltern in the UK in 1995, hopes launching the Spanish branch will provide a solution for the many expats – and Spaniards - who are currently struggling with debt problems. “We’re here to listen, be understanding and solve the problem” said Nixon. The company allows people to repay debts at a level they can afford without any further borrowing or contact with creditors.

Spanish companies abroad,” he added. Vazquez spoke of the project’s complications, for example constructing in holy towns where non-Muslims are not even allowed to set foot. He also said special measures would need to be taken to address the fact that pilgrims usually carry a lot of luggage – including enormous bottles of holy water. “But the main problem from a technical point of view is sand,” he said. “It gets between the wheels and the rails as well as inside all the machinery, which really complicates things.” The line is expected to open by December 2016.

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

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AMAZING AUCTIONS

Property company claims to have sold 65% of the homes it has taken on in just four months A PROPERTY auction company claims to have sold 26 properties in just four months. The group Direct Auctions insists its success rate at getting sales is currently hitting a staggering 65%. “And quite a few more properties are actually under offer,” insists Dylan Sharp, who covers Cadiz province for the company. Sharp, who heralds from Glasgow, says the company has listed 40 properties since July in both Cadiz and Malaga provinces. And so far, 26 of them have been sold via auctions in Marbella and Sotogrande. “With such a stagnant housing market,

many buyers and sellers are looking for alternatives,” he says. “We offer the benefits of an estate agency such as professional qualifications, valuations and viewings, but none of the pitfalls such as unrealistic prices, huge commissions and limited exposure,” continues Sharp. “The key to our success is a simple, honest and reliable approach. We cut the jargon and commissions, making just 2.5%, and keep prices realistic.” The company was set up a couple of years ago by surveyor and former London-based auctioneer Warrick Wincup.

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

Green shoots of recovery?

Richard Alexander examines whether or not talk of an improvement in the economic situation is premature

o the results for the third quarter in the UK show a return to growth, albeit modest. This brings to an end the longest double dip recession since the end of World War Two, with some commentators already making reference to seeing the first green shoots of recovery. But will this really make any material difference to our day-to-day lives? In the short term, the answer is probably ‘no’ and the talk of recovery may well be quickly forgotten as we face the monumental task of repairing the damage caused by these difficult times. But don’t misunderstand me; I am not a pessimist, far from it because I think the stock markets are an area that will respond relatively quickly when the economic data is confirmed. They have been climbing steadily since May and continue to do so. While there will be ‘corrections’ along the way with short term dips in market values, if confidence levels return to markets following better economic data, we are then likely to see some of the cash reserves held in institutional funds starting to hit the market and it has to be said, there is a herd instinct at work here as well. It is, after all, a trait of human nature to jump in when things are looking good! While being over optimistic with investments can undoubtedly lead to taking too high a risk with consequent volatility and even losses, being overly cautious

and waiting too long can have just as much of a detrimental effect. Even though markets are set to continue to rise further, interest rates remain stubbornly low – good news for borrowers, but for those relying on a return on capital for income, the frustrations go on and are likely to continue for many months yet. We know that on the world economic stage, there are no quick fix solutions and the same is true when considering personal finances. It takes planning and patience to get the results you may want to see. Very recently, I have been reminded of the perils of people investing too much of their capital into one investment type, simply because the forecast return is promising the income level they need. Sadly, quite a number of these funds are currently suspended from trading, often with the income payments having ceased, and the individual investors wondering when they will see their capital back, and in some cases whether they will see it at all. In many cases, the fund has been suspended to avoid a run on it, which would be bad for investors, and the hope is that they will return to full trading in due course. The real lesson here is to avoid the ‘eggs and baskets’ scenario and to have a sensible spread of investments across different types and with a phased approach to markets if at all possible.

Richard Alexander Financial Planning Limited is an appointed representative of L J Financial Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Contact him at Richard@ra-fp.com

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the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

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the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

HE principle that requires a claimant to prove the guilt of a defendant in a court of law, is called presumption of innocence and it means that anyone is innocent until proven guilty. In civil cases, a similar concept applies. The claimant must prove his case against the defendant by weight of evidence i.e ‘more likely than not’. In Spain, there is one clear exception. False advertising claims brought against anyone publicising a product or service. This anomaly means that if you advertise a product, you must be able to prove that what you say is accurate, truthful and correct if a consumer decides to sue. The recent 2009 Act amending current legislation on unfair competition and publicity represents a major overhaul of current laws on unfair competition, advertising and consumer protection that deals with misleading acts and omissions, unlawful advertising and other illegal

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT Advertising laws could have implications for expats claiming to have been misled over equity release schemes practices. And very significant are the different actions included in the Act that can prove overwhelming for any company that has been misleading with its advertising. Anyone can make a claim for an advert to be removed from a media outlet or to have misleading information rectified. And any person that has been directly harmed can

also bring actions for damages by reason of negligence and unjust enrichment. If we take the example of the banks offering tax advantages to pensioners on the socalled Equity Release scam, the effects will be dramatic for these companies if they cannot prove the claims they are making. Equity Release was all about Spanish inheritance taxes being so high that if you did

The Spanish government has announced that it is to impose a new rate of IVA/Vat on Funerals which will take the average cost of a funeral in Spain from €4000 up to €4840

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not do something about it, your children would never be able to inherit. But this is wrong. Article 27 of the Act states that it is a misleading practice to ‘make an inaccurate claim concerning the nature and extent of the risk to the personal security of the consumer and/or his family if he does not purchase the product or engage the service.’

Ask Ant Q.

I bought a distressed property at auction, paid my taxes and have just now received a request for more tax. Is this correct?

Yes and no: it is correct from a legal point of view as the regional tax office probably considers the value to be too low. But it is not correct in that it is generally wrong in their assessment of property values, which are way over real market values. You have the right to challenge this assessment by submitting your own independent valuation, which the Tax Office generally takes into account to reduce your final tax bill.

I am British and am thinking about buying a property in my son’s name, to avoid Spanish IHT taxes: Is this legal?

Certainly, there is no problem with doing this as it is entirely legal to give away gifts. However, before the gift is made you have to look into specific tax rules in Spain and the UK because they differ substantially. Whereas in England you can be totally exempt, under certain conditions, in Spain you can be heavily taxed.

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Top Property

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New legislation will favour home owners over tenants

RELIEF: Charmaine Emptage and Hacienda Riquelme golf resort

Briton wins landmark Spanish property ruling A BRITISH woman has won a landmark ruling after failing to receive ‘fair compensation’ for bad investment advice related to a Spanish property. Charmaine Emptage, 53, from Berkshire, was left with huge debts and a worthless property after being advised to invest in Hacienda Riquelme golf resort in Murcia. After failing to recover her money from Berkeley Independent Advisers when it became insolvent, the manufacturing worker took her case to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The body, which is responsible for awarding relief to victims of bad financial advice, awarded her £11,500 in 2010.

But a High Court judge has now ruled that since the payment failed to return Emptage to the financial position she was in prior to the bad advice, it does not represent ‘fair compensation’. The FSCS, which had only paid out for the bad mortgage advice and not the bad investment advice, has now been ordered to pay Emptage’s legal costs of €180,000. The compensation body has appealed against the ruling due to the possible implications the case could have on other similar claims. “We are devastated that we’ve got to wait until the summer until it goes back to court again. We’ve been fighting this for a long time,” Emptage said.

Landlord rights increased EXPATS could benefit from new laws aimed at making properties more attractive to buy and rent out in Spain. With current rental laws considered to be too favourable towards tenants, the Spanish government is now set to unveil a number of

measures which will give more power to landlords. The new legislation will allow property owners to take their home back after two months’ notice, while tenants will be given just 10 days to pay overdue rent before being evicted.

Landlords will also benefit from tax relief on the rental income, ranging from 60% to 100%, on the condition that the property is rented out to working people under 30. Further measures will include cutting the tenant’s right to live in the property to three years with a oneyear agreed extension, instead of the current five years plus a three-year extension.

RENTAL TROUBLE TENANTS and landlords are being warned of the pitfalls of not seeking professional legal advice when dealing with rental contracts. The financial crisis has led to increased disputes between property owners and tenants as people struggle to pay their rent. And according to a Costa del Sol-based legal firm, in many cases the absence of a signed rental agreement or a badly-drafted contract is making the problem worse.

“Oral agreements are legally valid in Spain but we strongly recommend you have a written lease that includes appropriate clauses to protect your interests,” said a spokesman for Manilva Solicitors. “It is always better to prevent misunderstandings before signing a rental or tenancy document, and the right guidance and advice is vital.” Call 952 901 225 or visit www.manilvasolicitors.com

Door closes on loan arrangers THE number of home loans granted in Spain has fallen to a record low as the country’s property market continues to struggle. In August just 21,106 loans were given the green light, a figure 28.5% lower than last August according to the National Statistics Institute. The average value of the mortgages granted (€103,592), also fell by 3.3% from the same time last year. It follows the recent announcement that house prices have fallen 25% since 2008.

Foreigners

According to Spain’s public works ministry, foreigners bought 12% more properties in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2011, with Malaga among the most popular areas.

A far from concrete future CEMENT consumption in Spain is at its lowest level for almost half a century as the industry feels the effect of the financial crisis. Spending on public works has been drastically reduced due to the recession, while the huge backlog of unsold properties has seen the house-building sector come to a standstill. In the first nine months of the year, 11.6 million metric tonnes of cement were sold, down 34% on a year ago. The total for this year is expected to be 13 million metric tonnes, the lowest since 1967 - in stark contrast to 2007 when 56 million tonnes were sold. The sector has been forced to cut 28% of jobs since 2008, while a number of plants have closed.

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In the swing of it

the olive press - November 01 - 14, 2012

GOLF

THE OLIVE PRESS’ MONTHLY GOLF SECTION