Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 323

The

OLIVE PRESS

Mijas Costa

Your expat

voice in Spain

FREE Vol. 13 Issue 323 www.theolivepress.es July 31st - August 13th 2019

Brexitgate HUNDREDS of thousands of Brits living in Spain could sue the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a leading Conservative MP has claimed.

Alberto Costa, Tory MP for South Leicestershire, said the next prime minister faces ‘an enormous, unprecedented amount’ of legal action if the rights of EU citizens residing in Britain are not protected within legislation before October 31.

But Costa also warned that British expats living in Europe could be unfairly penalised if the next leader fails to secure their rights too.

Brits living abroad would have a strong case to sue, Costa warned, if they unfairly lose their rights to pensions, healthcare and long-term residency.

In a missive to Britain’s next PM, sent before the deciding vote, Costa wrote: “No peacetime British government has ever abrogated the rights enjoyed by over a million of its own citizens overnight.

“As a former UK government lawyer I can reasonably foresee an enormous, unprecedented amount of litigation raised by British citizens.”

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E

area (below) is full of upscale restaurants and sailing yachts TCHED carefully into the Rutherford crown of Spain’s south- Knowles, or the BBC’s Nick in the port of Sotogrande. who all have homes “It’s so cosmopolitan ern coast, Sotogrande is in the and with resort. a low crime rate - if any at all. a gem that shows no sign And then there are the footbalof losing its glimmer.

Continues on page 22 The country’s largest pri- lers, including Glenn Hoddle vately-owned residential ‘su- and Glen Johnson, who have per-state’ has long been the bought homes in Sotogrande. first port of call for the cream of Internationally renowned for its polo, golf and sailing, as well European high society. as a burgeoning gastronomic The radiance of this millionaire’s playground lies in its scene, this ‘mini Monaco’ of low-density living, stunning high net worth residents has all the hallmarks of what is often beaches and mountain backdrops, plus its amazing marina considered the top private resort in Europe. and golf courses.

Its privileged views of the Rock Different from other ‘celebrity’ TYRE CENTER of Gibraltar and the Rif moun- resorts where talk of wealth tains of Africa have been en- and fame is de rigueur, in SoCan you afford to joyed by the likes of ex-UK PM togrande they like to keep such wait 7 to 10 days?

Tony Blair, the British royal talk, appropriately, ‘sotto voce.’ family and countless European Mention the palpable sense of tel: 956 794 657 celebrities, who don’t want to community, however, and you’ll C/Sierra Bermeja s/n, be spotted, unlike those who discover how that is the privileged enclave’s true treasure.

Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro venture to nearby Marbella.

But keep your eyes peeled and “Sotogrande is a very friendly Opposite place.

You get all the different you might spot Irish motor racIceland ing guru Eddie Jordan, former nationalities here and they all Genesis keyboard player Mike just blend in,” estate agent BriA7 132 KM an Nelson tells us at his office

DISCOUNT

Photo by Great Golf Magazine

SHINE ON

How an innocent British MoD worker was locked up for a YEAR with killers...

FULL STORY P6

Bikini bust

Costa del Sol ‘power couple’ linked to Conor McGregor cuffed in one of Europe’s ‘biggest ever’ drugs probe

HIGH LIFE: (Left) Lambo and jeep, (middle) Guadalmina mansion and (right) Sofia at Bikini-fitness championships

A MARBELLA-based expat who partied with Conor McGregor has been arrested as part of Finland’s biggest EVER drugs probe.

Bikini-fitness model Sofia Belorfia, 29, was seized in Helsinki alongside her well-connected boyfriend Niko Ranta-aho this month.

The former Bikini-Fitness World Champion (2015) stands accused of money laundering, while Ranta-aho, owner of upmarket Teatro restaurant in Puerto Banus, has been charged with ‘serious drug offences’ relating to cocaine and steroids.

Ranta-aho, who also owns ER Properties, remains locked up in the Finnish capital and has had €4 million worth of assets frozen while Belorfia has been released on bail.

Lead investigator Kaarlo Lehmus has described the drug probe as the ‘most extensive’ in the country’s history.

The leader of the

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

Finnish Hells Angels and a police officer have also been arrested as part of the investigation.

Belorfia has frequently been in the limelight and the Olive Press can reveal she was one of 10 women pictured returning to UFC fighter Conor McGregor’s hotel room in London after a night of partying in 2017.

The high profile Instagrammer - who has been served a gag order by the Finnish courts this week had spent all night partying with the Dubliner at the legendary Cirque le Soir nightclub.

A well placed source told this paper last night: “After Belorf won the bikini fitness title she attempted to establish herself as a personal trainer of some kind.

“However, it seems that she was keen to get money as quick-

VROOM: Niko in Ferrari while (inset centre) Conor McGregor

ly as possible by other means.”

The source added that Ranta-aho first lived in Banus’s exclusive Gray D’Albion building and drove a Lamborghini and Mercedes jeep, both of which are now sold.

Bentley

“After that he's had numerous cars such as a Bentley, Rolls, Ferrari and the latest he used to drive before his arrest was an AMG Mercedes with British plates,” the source said.

Belorfia, who ran a blog on the costa, met Ranta-aho in London before the pair ‘fell in love in Ibiza’.

The so-called ‘power couple’ are now facing 10 years behind bars while most details of the case are being kept extremely secret by Finnish authorities.

One well placed estate agent in Marbella described Ranta-aho as ‘always appearing so calm and professional and always super friendly.’

He added: “He seemed so successful so young, but everyone said it was down to having a very wealthy father.”

The pair were well connected in Marbella and were often seen at luxury clubs like Olivia Valere and Nikki Beach.

Guardia Civil told the Olive Press this week that the investigation into Ranta-aho has been closed in Spain and there are ‘no warrants for his arrest’.

The investigation continues in Finland.

Got a tip? Email newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

Tel: 952 147 834

952 147 834

See page 9

TM

2

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Machismo killing A FORMER soldier, 67, has shot dead his wife, 47, with a rifle before killing himself in the street outside his ex-wife’s home in Gaucin.

Shoedunit A MAN attempting to smuggle €2,000 worth of hash in his trainers has been arrested in the port of Algeciras.

Traffick shame ANDALUCIA identified 41 victims of sex trafficking last year, its highest record ever, new figures revealed.

Smoked out SOME 34 traffickers have been arrested in the Campo de Gibraltar following a yearlong investigation into tobacco smuggling.

Twisted

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Hiding from the law

Handyman accused of killing British pensioner in Spain was ‘selling her belongings’

THE killer of a British expat pensioner was allegedly flogging off her belongings before he beat her to death.

Confessed murderer Francisco Javier Becerra, 45, buried the body of 74-year-old Lesley Anne Pearson in a shallow grave on her estate in Algar in the Sierra de Cadiz.

The farm hand, who worked for Becerra for years, reportedly confessed to killing her in a fit of rage following a row

Weed-ed out TWO British men have been arrested for alleged drug trafficking on the Costa del Sol. The 27 and 20-year-old were busted with 12.36 kilogrammes of marijuana in the boot of their car.

The pair were stopped during a routing police traffic stop on Avenida Selwo in Estepona.

The drugs were found in two white plastic bags.

The pair are awaiting trial.

over money after he learned she was selling her land.

It has since emerged that, in the run up to the murder, Becerra told villagers Pearson had sold her home to a Romanian family and claimed he had her permission to sell her things.

The betrayal came after Lesley had lost her husband two years ago and was planning a move to the Costa del Sol. Specifically, Pearson was mov-

TRAGIC: Lesley and (right) Killer Becerr ing permanently to a property she owned in Estepona where she wanted to integrate more with the British community

Holiday horror A BRITISH teenager has been raped in an apartment in Marbella.

The 19-year-old was allegedly attacked by a fellow Brit during a night of partying last week.

The rapist took advantage of the victim who was in a ‘heavily intoxicated’ state, according to Policia Nacional.

The tourist reported the alleged rape at the Costa del Sol Hospital.

The pair had met a

group of lads, also British, who invited them to an apartment they were renting.

It was there the girl was attacked as she entered the bathroom.

In a lucky break, police investigating the case managed to ID the suspect by chance after seeing a man on the street who matched the victim’s description.

The young man has been processed and released on charges.

after her husband’s passing.

But Pearson, who had lived for decades in Casa Lele, the rustic estate in Tajo de Aguila, was brutally murdered before she had the chance.

The pilates teacher from North West England had been missing for nearly a fortnight when her body was found in woodland behind her home.

Guardia Civil arrested Becerra the same day and brought him before a judge in Arcos de la Frontera.

A judicial spokesman said: “The court has, at the request of state prosecutors, ordered the remand in prison of the man arrested over the death of the woman whose body was found on Sunday in Algar.

“The court is investigating the man on suspicion of a crime of homicide and he has acknowledged the facts.”

THIS is the luxury Spanish hideaway where Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt hid from British drugs cops for two years.

Acourt – one of five men arrested for the racially-motivated stabbing of Lawrence in 1993 – fled the UK in 2016 after cops nailed a gang that moved cannabis from London to the north.

He ran to Marbella, and then to Barcelona’s swanky Diagonal Mar district, before his arrest in May last year.

The 43-year-old was renting a €3,000-a-month pad that he left ‘trashed’ thanks to a carefree lifestyle of parties and pretty women.

“Pretty girls would often turn up in taxis and leave after a few hours. I’d see the men ­coming back from shopping trips with bags of expensive clothes,” a neighbour told press.

Acourt received seven years at Birmingham crown court in November after admitting trying to import cocaine into the UK.

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NEWS

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COMING SOON: Pete Doherty

CONTROVERSIAL Libertines co-frontman Pete Doherty has been added to the Gibraltar calling lineup, joining Take That and Enrique Iglesias.

The former boyfriend of tragic Amy Winehouse founded his band with fellow songwriter Carl Barat in 1997.

Doherty, 40, then went on to form his next indie group, Babyshambles, in 2003, before also dabbling in modeling, acting and art.

He will take to the stage on the Rock with his new band, Peter Doherty and the Puta Madres, who released their self-titled debut album

Ronaldo snaps up Marbella mansion next door to Irish cage fighter Conor Megregor CROWDS: In Barcelona

Messi night BARCELONA talisman Lionel Messi has been escorted from a club after a fellow reveller ‘tried to fight’ him.

Shocking footage shows a burly bouncer usher the 32-year-old and his stunning wife Antonela Roccuzzo, 31, through crowds at Ibiza’s Ushuaia.

The footie ace had been partying at the exclusive spot with fellow Barca stars Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Monaco’s Cesc Fabregas.

A video posted to social media was captioned: “A guy in the Ibiza party tried to fight with Messi.

“Messi is unharmed and was safely escorted out of the area by the security guards.”

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has expanded his property empire with a €1.4 million mansion in Marbella next door to the ‘notorious’ UFC fighter Conor McGregor.

The four-bedroom property in the La Resina urbanisation has taken the Juventus star’s housing portfolio to €29 million.

While not directly neighbours, the athletes are said to be a few doors down from each other in the luxurious development nicknamed the 'The Superstars Cul De Sac'.

Ronaldo’s new high tech villa boasts a LED driveaway, private gym, cinema room and infinity pool.

Views of the mediterranean are provided by ceiling-tofloor windows alongside high ceilings and floating staircases.

McGregor is a known fan of the new kid on the block and

Courting favour

RAFAEL Nadal has been spotted having a pick-me-up lunch with Spain’s former monarchs just a few weeks after being knocked out of Wimbledon by rival Roger Federer.

The tennis ace, 33, was joined by fiance Xisca Pellero, 31, as he enjoyed a slap up meal with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

The Mallorquin hosted the royals at his tennis centre on his home island, where his wife-to-be even joined the

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Party crasher this year.

Also joining them at the festival, from September 7-8, at Europa Point, will be Rick Astley, Mel C, Liam Gallagher, Goldierocks, Tom Walker, King Calaway, Lighthouse Family, David Essex, Nazareth, Slade, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.

Tickets start at £85 and are available from www.gibraltarcalling.com

Got any sugar, Conor?

Making a splash

Raft of American and British superstars spotted dodging heat on luxury Spanish yachts ROBBIE Williams, Shaquille ‘Shaq’ O'Neal and Katy Perry have been snapped enjoying sun-soaked getaways in Spain.

Popstar Perry, 34, was seen jumping off a boat during a romantic escape with fiance Orlando Bloom, 42, in Mallorca.

The Roar singer and Pirates of the Caribbean actor are expected to tie the knot later this year after getting engaged on Valentine’s day.

PALS: Ronaldo and McGregor Perry rocked her new peroxide-blonde hair while enjoying a spot of snorkelling in the Balearic hotspot.

Meanwhile, NBA legend Shaq, 47, was pictured living it up on a yacht near the neighbouring island of Formentera with his new squeeze and Texas model Dani Nicole.

The southern stunner sported a skimpy black bikini while

sung praises after Ronaldo netted a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid earlier this year.

The 31- year-old Dubliner said: "Cristiano is a phenomenal athlete, person, and entrepreneur, "His all-around discipline, perfectionist attitude, and dedication to his craft is inspiring and has inspired so many young children to play

football.

"Just look what he did recently in the Champions League, at 34 years young, a hat-trick under the lights when the pressure was on for all the marbles.

"And against Atletico Madrid, one of the best defensive sides in Europe.

"That is inspiring! We are both disciplined athletes at the top of our game."

CHEESE: Nadal all smiles with royals ex-Spanish king for a game of table football.

The 12-time French Open champion stepped out in a crisp white shirt and blue chinos for the lunch, which featured local fish and wine.

3

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Shaq posed for pictures in huge blue trunks before diving into the sea.

Ex-Take That frontman Williams was also seen on a relaxing family boat trip with wife Ayda Field off Formentera.

The 45-year-old Brit pop legend showed off his famous tattoos in bright blue shorts while Field showed of her abs in a miniscule green bikini.

4

www.theolivepress.es

Facebook fanfare

W

ELL it’s another week and another online milestone for the Olive

Press.

We officially surpassed 20,000 followers on our Facebook page this week and are about to break through the 20k ‘likes’ barrier too.

And yes, our likes are real, as you can tell from the hundreds of shares, likes and comments our articles receive on the social media page.

It’s no surprise as our online figures continue to decimate our rivals (see more on page 7), while our original, exclusive and entertaining content continues to be the most shared on social networks.

From fun listicles on life in sunny Spain, to world crime exclusives and travel and culture long-reads, our team of NCTJ trained journalists - who all hail from the number one journalism school in the UK - know how to create great content which keeps readers engaged.

Thank you for showing your support and for sharing our articles with y o u r friends.

The only way is up!

AN Irish expat has called in police after an Indian restaurant in Benalmadena refused to provide a complaint form.

Kenneth Young, 59, from Waterford, called the cops to the eatery after his daughterin-law was served raw chicken.

The property gestor, based in Cordoba, said he had no

NEWS Makes you sick choice given that there was no complaint form provided, as is required by Spanish law.

“Every restaurant in Spain MUST put up a sign to let their customers know they can fill out a complaint form...it’s not good

enough.”

Young’s Daughter-inlaw, who was flying back to Ireland early the next morning, allegedly began vomiting and

July 31st - August 13th 2019 suffering from diarrhea at around 2.30am the morning after the meal.

“She had to have a full week off work, it was awful.

“Imagine if it was an elderly or pregnant person, it could have ended a lot worse.

“Make sure you know your rights when eating along the coasts!”

There's a rat in my chicken...

OLIVE Press readers have been called upon to identify mystery meat found by a British expat in his take away.

Dominic Puellen, 41, ‘threw up everywhere’ after biting down on a ‘rat in his rotisserie chicken’.

“I bit into it and there was a crunch, and I thought, ‘what the f**k is that’,” the Marbella

Take away horror as British expat convinced his chicken dinner was rodent ready meal real estate company boss told the Olive Press.

The Brit, who is originally from Surrey, took snaps of his grue-

Scrubby doo FUENGIROLA has installed two high-tech doggy showers, following in the pawprints of Marbella.

The two circular cleaning devices are on the allocated dog beach El Castillo.

The town hall splashed out just over €4,000 on the showers, which can wash any size dog.

Marbella installed the same shower earlier this year.

some find, which appeared to show the ribcage of a small animal.

“It’s a carcass with two eyes, two back legs and a dangly front right leg,” added Dominic, who has a house in Nueva Andalucia and has been in Spain for 18 years.

“It was the first time I’d been to that chicken shop, it’s not often I throw food away.

“The worst part is that my ex-girlfriend takes her fiveyear-old son there every weekend.” Dominic shelled out €20 for the offending pollo and accompanying side dishes, which included creamed spinach and a pasta salad.

Triple A warning MARBELLA’s only shelter for abandoned cats and dogs has appealed to the expat community to help them stay open.

Triple A opened in 1992 but is now on the verge of closing in the face mounting debts of €50,000.

The association currently spends €35,000 to meet the needs of over 850 cats and dogs.

Of this 40% is spent on wages meaning the centre has become increasingly reliant on expats who make up most adopters and volunteers.

Visit its Facebook page to help.

DODGY?: Bone in meal However a chicken shop worker told the Olive Press the bones are most likely from the throat of a chicken.

“It’s very unusual to serve this part of the body but a rat’s set of bones would be much smaller.”

However Dominic hit back: “I’m 42-years-old and eat roast chicken every Sunday, that was not chicken.

“How can a rat be inside a roast chicken?

“They need to get health inspectors in, as they’ve got rats inside their chicken storage.

“It’s a huge health hazard man.”

The restaurant is rated four stars on Google, and says its menu features ‘homemade specialities’.The Olive Press has contacted experts to confirm what animal the bones came from.

Fished opportunity A HUGE 200-kilo tuna worth thousands of euros was found washed up on the beach in Malaga yesterday.

The fish, of the bluefin variety, was found by a dog walker on the shores of La Cala del Moral, in Totalan.

It measured around two metres long and would have been worth around €2,000 at market.

It was taken to a nearby landfill where it was incinerated.

NEWS

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July 31st - August 13th 2019

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FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

After being locked up alongside murderers and ETA terrorists for seven months without char

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

OPINION The need for belonging THE savage killing of Lesley Anne Pearson is an appalling crime with nothing to find comfort in.

Apart from perhaps the fact the confessed culprit is at this very moment locked away and not reaping the ill gotten gains of his savagery.

The news Franisco Javier Beccera had been selling Lesley’s belongings offers us some idea as to the motive but does little to explain the reason for this callus crime.

Lesley was a widow living in the rural campo of Algar in Cadiz, after her husband died two year ago she opted to move out of her home in Sierra de Cadiz.

This move would have brought her to the coast and found her amongst fellow expats.

Tragically Lesley did not get the chance to complete her plans which were seemly ended at the hands of her handyman Francisco.

A brutal case that stands to remind us of the importance of community and the need to make elderly, potentially isolated people apart of our own.

That is not to say that the ‘much loved’ Lesley was lonely or that her isolation played a factor in her killing but her desire to be amongst her compatriots is a commonly held one.

Hopefully her heinous murderer, who betrayed her trust, will face the full force of the law.

Let his fate prove a warning to others who would seek to profit on the vulnerabilities of others.

Publisher / Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Charlie Smith charlie@theolivepress.es

Joshua Parfitt joshua@theolivepress.es

Timothy McNulty tim@theolivepress.es

Admin Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

Distribution Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 273 575 distribution@ theolivepress.es Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75 Newsdesk Head office

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July 31st - August 13th 2019

FREE MAN: Robert with his Olive Press front pages EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

‘It could happen to anyone’

Robert was on a business trip to Gibraltar and working for the Ministry of Defence when his life changed forever

R

OBERT Mansfield-Hewitt shook with terror in his bed after being woken by a huge crash and the sound of military-style boots crashing on the marble floor.

A squad of armed Spanish police burst into his rented apartment shouting orders, telling him to get out of bed with his hands up.

The 51-year-old MOD worker, who walks with a cane due to a chronic liver condition and atrophy, was dragged down the stairs and thrown onto his face on the ground outside.

While being cuffed, his cheek etched into the gravel, he saw a Moroccan- looking man staring right at him, also being arrested.

“I couldn’t even speak, I was in such a state of shock,” Robert, an electrical engineer who has worked with the British government for decades, recalled this week, “they were saying something about drugs and they were just screaming at me, it was terrifying.”

The well-connected Brit, who knew Ted Heath and is pals with the likes of the Earl of Cardigan, had been renting the room for a few days in San Roque, southern Spain, while working on a contract for the Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar.

What he didn’t know, was that the adjoining garage was being used to store 1.5 tonnes of hashish - worth more than €2 million - and that he was now the main suspect.

This was despite the fact that the owner of the property, a Gibraltarian, was previously convicted on drug-related charges on the Rock and that Chichester-born Robert, who

CELLMATES: ETA terrorists and (inset top right) Kinahan member James Quinn

has a PhD in Physics from Keele University, Following the terrifying arrest on June 27 last had no criminal record. year, Robert was taken to the local cells in He also has a long 20-year career working for La Linea, the town bordering Gibraltar, where the British government.

3,000 people - or 5% of the population - work In contrast, Abdel Nasser, the directly for drug traffickers.

French citizen of Moroccan “I phoned my assistant Pildescent cuffed alongside He spent a night lie in an absolute panic, all I Robert, had been caught in could get out was ‘they found in the cells a sting operation trying to drugs’ and ‘help me help break into the garage, while me’.” before being a getaway driver waited in a The avid church goer, who Volkswagen Phaeton outside. dragged before a suffers from chronic liver The driver somehow mancondition Ascites, spent a judge aged to evade police on foot. night in the cells before being Robert, who had never set dragged in front of a judge the foot in the garage and didn't next day. even know of its existence, was simply ar- “The whole thing was a farce,” said Robert, rested during a sweep of the attached house. “I was appointed a 19-year-old lawyer who And this is where the story gets terrifying, seemed fresh out of college and she just particularly with Spain supposedly being a seemed to agree with everything the judge close ally of the UK. said.

“They deemed me a flight risk, denied me bail and took my passport and sent me to Botafuegos prison in Algeciras.”

That night his body began to shut down and he was rushed to hospital.

Suffering from delirium and an internal infection, he remained there for eight weeks before being returned to Botafuegos - home to ETA terrorists and murderers.

Since our reports Incredibly, Robert would be held there for on his freedom, a further five months before being formally Robert’s story has charged in January. been reported in Despite no concrete evidence connecting the the Sun, the him to the drugs, prosecutors were seeking Daily Star, Daily more than four years in jail and an €8 million Mirror, the Indefine. pendent and The i “It’s an absolute disgrace,” his assistant in the UK. Pillie Ford, 37, told the Olive Press from La Linea, “Why hasn’t there been a warrant for the arrest of the owner of the property? How did the getaway driver manage to get away?

It just doesn’t make sense.”

Robert did not get his day in court until May 27 of this year and was finally released on July 3 after a judge decided to drop the charges, more than a year after being locked up.

During that time, Robert’s story appeared three times on the front of the local English newspaper the Olive Press, based near Marbella, which spoke to his MP in the UK and even the police and courts, who refuse to comment on the case.

Abdel Nasser, meanwhile, was convicted

Hitting headlines

FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

rge for drugs found at a property that he did not own, Robert Mansfield-Hewitt warns...

The garage where the drugs were found sat almost behind the property

July 31st - August 13th 2019 that’s the

7

olive press online

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website

ONLY WAY IS UP

T

HE Olive Press website continues to ascend to higher heights and this week has overtaken Think Spain - the online expat self-help site which has been running for 20 years.

We are now ranked at 125,405th place in the world, having soared by another 12,000 places in just two weeks, according to Amazon’s Alexa. com.

Tens of thousands of readers from Finland to the US and Russia have been reading our coverage of the latest news from across Spain, sending us even further to the top of the pack.

With an average 50,000 visitors a day from Spain, the UK, Gibraltar, Scandinavia, Germany and beyond, we can promise local businesses comprehensive exposure to tens of thousands of potential clients every week.

This is a healthy mix of local expats, as well as thousands of wealthy tourists every day.

Complimented by our 20,000 loyal Facebook followers and 7,000 Twitter fans, there are few people interested in Spain, who are not being reached.

Why is YOUR BUSINESS still spending far too much on Google adwords and other inferior websites, magazines and newspapers, when the Olive Press GUARANTEES results?

Send us an email today at sales@theolivepress. es or call us at 00 34 951273575 so we can find you a better, more effective way to market your business.

Photos by Regina Lankenau

Robert was relaxing in his rented room here when armed police stormed in

SCENE: The property where Robert was renting a room for just over a week

of endangering public health and was sentenced to three years and 10 months plus 30 days to pay for the €8 million fine.

For 10 months, along with Nasser, Robert was forced to survive in one of Spain’s most notorious lockups.

“The first two nights I was absolutely trembling with terror,” he recalls, “Never in my wildest nightmares had I ever imagined being in such a place.

“I have never been in trouble with the law, my job with the government doesn’t allow it.

“I’m a very gentle soul and recovering alcoholic, I would never get involved with drugs.”

Robert, an avid piano player and composer of classical music, was offered freedom if he admitted guilt, but refused, knowing his career could be over with a criminal record.

Luckily, he was spared the violence and fights that were often a daily occurence.

“I’m older and not 100% mobile so I wasn’t really a target.”

He started a poker club and a language school and became well liked among the inmates - which included infamous Irish mafia member James Quinn, who was convicted of aiding an assassination last year and received a 22-year sentence.

“I treated everyone in there equally. They’re not all monsters, a lot of them have been forced into crime by circumstance. And I’m a great believer in making the best out of a bad situation.

“When I told them I was getting out they were all cheering and clapping and tried to lift me up in the air.”

Robert claims a majority of the prisoners were foreign, mostly Moroccan and South American, and many were locked up following a first time offence.

Robert also suspects foul play in the handling of his case.

It comes after separate documents seen by the Olive Press detailing the drug seizure appear to show two different recorded weights.

The initial court judgement reads that there were 1.5 tonnes seized while the final judgement given to Robert on his release declares 1.3 tonnes.

“Someone lost a lot of money that day but someone also made some,” said Robert.

Corruption is not unheard of in the Campo de Gibraltar region, a grouping of towns on the border of the British Overseas Territory.

It’s an area swamped by gangs taking advan-

TOP DOG: (Above) Olive Press’ positon in the world, higher than (below) Think Spain COMMON SENSE: The property was close to the border which Robert crossed daily for work tage of Spain’s southernmost coast being the first port of call for hashish from Morocco and cocaine from South America.

Corruption among police - among the lowest paid in the EU - is rife, with officers regularly arrested as part of anti-drug operations.

Robert is weighing up taking legal action against the state but for now is focusing on getting home.

He will fly from Malaga to London Gatwick on Thursday where he plans to take a few months break.

“Mummy is very pleased and she will be my first point of call.

“My first call when I got out was to my sister who had gathered all the family together for a celebratory breakfast so I was able to speak to everyone which was fantastic.

“We are just so relieved this nightmare is over, it’s going to take me some time to recover mentally and physically.

“I’ve had work offers but I’ve had to turn

them down because I just can’t get in the headspace to work at the moment.”

Robert, who helps his church cook for the homeless on Saturday mornings and plays the organ for mass on Sundays, is also now being forced to battle to hold onto his home back in Emsworth in Hampshire as he is months behind in the rent.

His good standing with the housing association has meant they have held back on an eviction notice despite not having received rent for more than six months.

Locals there have now started a GoFundMe page to help Robert ‘get back on his feet’.

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Sparks fly

UNDER FIRE: Sanchez

Ped-woe SPAIN is on course for the fourth election in as many years after its parliament rejected Pedro Sanchez’s bid to become prime minister.

Known as the ‘comeback kid,’ the 47-year-old has so far only managed to secure the backing of his own 123 PSOE lawmakers.

“I want to be Spain’s prime minister, but not at any price,” said Sanchez “If in order to become prime minister I need to give up on my principles, if I need to form a government knowing it won’t be useful for the country, then it won’t be done now,” he continued.

Sanchez now has until mid-September to win the backing for his premiership to avoid fresh elections.

If this fails a new election will be held on November 10 2019.

However a repeat of the last round is ever likely, with a poll conducted this week showing PSOE would win just under 42% of the vote if an election was held tomorrow.

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Fight the power!

Electrical giant ploughs on with megaproject in Spain’s Driving Over Lemons country despite town hall bans SPAIN’S national electricity firm has defied Andalucia town halls by sending heavy machinery into protected areas.

It comes as the stunning Alpujarras - popularised by Chris Stewart’s Driving Over Lemons - is the target of a huge project by Red Electrica (REE).

EXCLUSIVE

By Charlie Smith

Mijas Costa

February 27th - March 12th 2019

ELECTRIC SHOCKER

POWERLESS: The Holdups

Black out

A BRITISH expat couple are facing a ‘disaster’ after they learnt one of the ‘monstrous’ electricity masts (left) is to be built in their back garden.

Steve Holdup, 62, and wife Karen, 61, who live on a self sufficient farm near Orgiva, could ironically even lose their sole source of power from solar panels, which are in the way.

The retired teachers, who moved from Cumbria a decade ago, claim they have been kept in the dark by energy company REE, and only found out about the pylon from a friend.

Steve told the Olive Press: “From having a fantastic house we rebuilt from scratch ten years ago, we’ve ended up with a disaster.

“We put all of our life saving into it and now we face having to live with a 220 volt tower directly behind our home.”

If built, the tower and adjoining service road will cut right through their field of 13 solar panels.

“So somebody in Germany gets a load of electricity from Morocco as a result of putting a tower at the back of our house and we end up losing the little electricity we have for ourselves.” He added: “It has been done in the most chevalier fashion you could imagine.

Celebrities join furious expats and locals to stop ‘abomination’ of pylons set to ruin series of celebrated tourist valleys

MOVING IN: Diggers

But in the latest twist, REE has E reportedly ignored the prohibition orders slapped down by 902 123 282 town halls in 902 123 282 Orgiva and Lanjaron which were designed to prevent work starting.

Councillors had issued the bans over ‘environmental fears’, but REE sent in contracted diggers and dump trucks regardless, to begin PHEW: Bombs were dormant preliminary dia Civil. groundwork.

This has led the police force to issue “I’m angry simple instructions to the public... if that REE you find an explosive device - don't appears to touch it. be working without peragainst pylon project above) join long, snaking protest Stewart and Dr Robert (inset Howard, who has lived in the Lecrin POWER STRUGGLE: Christ While supposedly necessary to take Valley for two decades, told the OliEXCLUSIVE electricity from Morocco to Europe, ve Press: “The project to take these Lemons novel made the reBy Tim McNulty X-GENESIS drummer Chris Over famous - added his name to a it is set to ruin the untouched beauty massive pylons across our valley is Stewart has joined the fi- gion enjoyed by tens of thoucollective of campaigning are of the area, an abomination. It will have devasght against a ‘motorway’ of growingbattling the proposal. again private financial interests sands of nature lovers each year. environmentapower lines planned for An- expats include former 80s star Doc- riding roughshod over the will and The Di No A Las Torres (Say No To tating consequences These of the people, leaving, as The Towers) group argues high vol- lly and economically. dalucia’s iconic Alpujarras region. tor Robert, from the Blow Monkeys, the rights magical place, a ‘Vale Of Hali- ever, a wake of heedless destruc- tage towers would have a ‘devasta- “It’s a The British author - whose Driving a who TM Press, ppiness’, as the Moors called it, ves in the tion,” Stewart told the Olive ting effect’ on tourism and agricul- place of natural beauty and conserwell as health. n e a r b y this week. more ture, as vation.

L e c r i n “One day the tide will turn and will A petition has been launched, while “These giant pylons will scar the V a l l e y , reasonable, sustainable ways so... a protest saw over a thousand peo- landscape, could destroy the local which is prevail; but seemingly not yet; ple march near the village of Con- tourist businesses and ravage the also set to it’s back to the barricades again.” char on Sunday.

TM reenvironment. was it many after which included be badly The outrage comes “There are no benefits at all for local Electri- The protest, a f f e c t e d vealed energy company Red install expats and children, is the start of people - we must fight to stop them.” the ca de España (REE) plans to by many to stop the scheme. is vital to the region, a network of some 211 giant pylons Blow Monkeys singer Robert Ecotourism project. which was nominated as a See pages 40 “ O n c e across the two valleys.

Heritage site World UNESCO in 2017, mainly for having some of the world’s oldest oli-

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A BRITISH expat has discovered a pair of mortar bombs in the basement of his villa in southern Spain.

The unnamed man in Fortuna, Murcia, reported the explosives to Guardia Civil before bomb disposal officers were immediately sent to the scene.

However neither bombs were found to contain explosives or detonators, suggesting they had once been collectors items.

People in similar cases have been known to panic and drop the potentially fatal device into their nearest police station, according to the Guar-

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The Olive Press has campaigned against the state-funded company’s plans to erect over 100 electricity pylons of up to 80m high throughout the Granada region.

Brick and mortars

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On the eve of Andalucia day, we look at the history of one its most famous group of residents, gypsies

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ve groves.

Some 245 businesses work in rural tourism and the valley which is set to have 109 of the pylons - receives an estimated 8,000 visitors every weekend.

The figures for the Alpujarras, which will see pylons stretching all the way to the Almeria border, are certainly much higher.

Scottish expat Teresa McKeon, 49, who has been at the forefront of the campaign, told the Olive Press: “The whole place is going to be destroyed it is just awful... it really is awful.”

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mission,” British expat Steve Holdup, living in Orgiva, told the Olive Press.

“I spoke to the digger operator to ask what on earth he was doing and he said he was ‘checking the foundations for the pylons’.”

It comes after the Defensor del Pueblo Andaluz - the official that deals with public complaints - this month called on the Junta to express its position on the REE megaproject.

The official sent a letter penned by the Di No a las Torres platforms, which has protested against the ‘socio-economic and environmental impacts’ of the plans.

Steve and the Di No a las Torres groups helped encourage over 4,000 locals to submit alegaciones forms to the Junta in March.

If you have spotted the unlicensed red diggers write to us at newsdesk@theolivepress.es.

Getting tough SECURITY services in Marbella have stepped up their operations to cope with the huge influx of tourists this summer.

It comes as the 140,000-strong population is set to triple between July and September.

Policia Nacional have added 13 additional agents while Policia Local have added an extra 30 bobbies on the beat every day.

The two forces will intensify their surveillance in Puerto Banus and Marbella port, the most popular spots for rowdy tourists.They will be aided by two new drones, which will be flown by 12 Policia Local pilots.

One of the drones has a thermal camera which will carry out surveillance operations in urbanisations to catch wouldbe robbers.

Helicopters will also be patrolling the skies of the coast.

Off the rails RENFE has announced it will cancel 1,152 trains across four days of strikes on July 31, August 14, 30 and September 1.

Some 707 of these will be passenger trains and 445 commercial.

Workers are walking out over the increasingly recurring change in management.

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Expat banned from driving his luxury cars for five years thanks to dodgy British import firm

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EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

AN American expat has been banned from driving his cars for more than five years thanks to a dodgy British company and a backlog in the Spanish courts.

Dennis Fitzsimmons, 76, has been unable to drive his red Corvette and Grand Cherokee Jeep since 2014 after the British-owned company that imported them from New York came under investigation.

When police uncovered potential criminal dealings at the

ABSURD! FUMING: Dennis and (left) his cars

now defunct company Import Spain – owned by Brit Chris Dann and exposed by the Olive Press in 2016 – they decided to impound the vehicles of 97 customers.

THE British pound has sunk well below €1 “They told me at the UK’s biggest airports just as hordes of they were inBrits are set to travel to Spain. vestigating At the ICE desk at Heathrow airport last Dann for not night, an Olive Press reader was quoted £117 paying the for buying €100 – making each pound worth proper taxes just 85 cents. on cars before According to reports, at Gatwick airport on selling them, Monday night the rate was £1 = €0.90. and that every With commission added to a €100 transaccustomer was tion, the cost in sterling was £116. having their car The currency market has marked down sterembargoed,” ling as the prospect of a no-deal Brexit apFitzsimmons, pears increasingly likely. based in ZaraIt means the exchange rate costs are at a twogoza, told the year high.

Olive Press.

“But now we

Taking a pound-ing

are five years down the line and no one can tell me anything, it’s absolutely absurd.

“I have called again and again but no one can tell me anything other than the trial is still awaiting its start date.

Bizarre

“We have now come to the point that we are willing to pay whatever, although unjust, just to free up the cars. Until now we have hit a dead end there as well. The Catalan authorities call it a macrocaso… it’s unbelievable but true.”

In a bizarre twist, Fitzsimmons has been allowed to house the cars in his garage but is not allowed to touch or drive them as they have effectively been branded illegal by the courts.

The former doctor, who has

paid out more than €10,000 on legal and car rental costs, added: “I just want to see something done and some sort of justice served.

“But most of all, I just want my damn cars back.”

Dann previously told the Olive Press that it had nothing to do with him.

The Brit, who set up the company in Barcelona in 1990, said: “It was a very bad time that I would not like to revisit or go over.

“I don’t know what to say, It has nothing to do with me, I did nothing wrong, the charges were dropped over two years ago.” His lawyer confirmed back in 2017 that Dann remained under investigation and that a trial would begin in 18 months time, however that has yet to take place.

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Prosit Estepona!

A BOUTIQUE hotel brewing its own craft beer has opened on the Costa del Sol. The four-star Maravilla Palace in Estepona is open for business and its on-site microbrewery is set for January.

German brand Ellerbrau will be brewing the Germanic way in the hotel basement, using methods dating back to 1516.

The microbrewery, which cost €1 million, will employ 25 staff, pump out 300,000 litres of beer a year and even has a deal with the German University of Deomens to support its master brewers.

Guests staying in one of the 49 single, double, or combination rooms get a taste of the artisan beverages at one of two bars.

THE first ‘smoke free’ Costa del Sol beach has been declared in a bid to promote healthy lifestyles.

Playa La Rada in Estepona now has a 1km zone where smoking is forbidden.

The area contains a playground and is frequented

Butt out

AN expat has found two sets of human remains while taking a morning stroll on the Costa del Sol. The foreign resident happened upon the pair of skeletal remains halfway through her usual walking route in Mijas.

The woman, believed to be

Expat stumbles upon sets of human remains during morning walk

Smoking causes over 1.2 million annual deaths in Europe, according to the World Health Organization.

“More and more people are interested in having these types of smoke-free places,” Mayor of Estepona, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, said.

by families with young children and sports lovers.

The crackdown also aims to tackle pollution, as just one cigarette butt can poison 50 litres of ocean, and take 10 years to break down.

Skull shocked British, found the collection of bones dumped in bin bags at around 9am on the road to Entrerrios, in La Cala de Mijas.

A judge and forensic doctor

will open for a string of The arena will hold 5,300 No more bull Arena shows in early August before people and has created 300 PUERTO Banus’s bullring has almost completed its €30 million makeover.

The newly-dubbed Marbella

July 31st - August 13th 2019

closing again in October to finish the final touches, which will include a roof for winter performances.

construction jobs.

Some 675 people will be directly or indirectly employed by the site after it opens.

were called to the area to remove the bodies and transfer them to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Malaga.

Experts reconstructed both skeletons and determined they are of a man and a woman who died more than 20 years ago.

The difference in colour may mean one was buried lower than the other.

Investigators have not seen any signs of violence and have not been able to determine their ages yet.

Guardia Civil investigators believe they were placed out in the open with the purpose of being found.

One working theory is that the bones had been found on the site of a building project or development.

The developers, not wanting to delay their project, may have dug up the remains and ditched them somewhere

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‘Julen family must NOT be charged!’

EXCLUSIVE

THE uncle of little Julen Jimenez, whose body was pulled out of a well on Saturday, has blasted state prosecutors who are seeking a reckless homicide charge against him.

David Serrano Alcaise is facing prosecution alongside Antonio Sanchez, owner of company Triben Perforaciones, which originally dug the well.

Both are facing between 18 months and four years behind bars and could be ordered to pay up to €1.5 million in costs borne by the state in the biggest rescue mission in Spanish history.

Marbella lawyer Antonio Flores, who is representing Alcaise, told the Olive Press he is devastated and is still reeling from losing Julen.

“It is a very sad situation and totally unfair,” he insisted. “This family are really poor and are in no way responsible.

“If anyone it is responsible it is the professional who dug the well.

“By law he should have plugged hole with concrete and he didn’t.” the Speaking from the family home in El Palo, Malaga, he added: “They only bought the land two months ago and wanted to use it for horses.

“We will fight as hard as we can to prevent him having to face these charges."

Little Julen fell down the opening on January 13, sparking a 13-day rescue operation involving 300 specialists and costing the state at least €1.5 million.

His lifeless body was recovered from the wreckage at around 1.30am last Saturday.

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COULD SET OF HUMAN BONES DUG

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Death probe

UP IN GARDEN BE BEHIND HAUNTING?

Olive Press helps police after expat uncovers body of a ‘teenager’ in his back garden

SHOCK FIND: Expat Nicholas with bones found in garden

AN investigation has been launched after an Olive Press tip off led police to a mysterious set of human remains.

It came after British expat Ni-

EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith

& Laurence Dollimore

After meeting the former bricgarden. The dad-of-four from klayer and authenticating the Leicester was left stunned when find, the Olive Press tipped off he happened upon the discovery the Guardia Civil immediately.

Cops were on while burying his home within the scene at his dog at his home of taped off the the hour and had 12 years on the Costa ying out a full area before carrexcavation. del Sol. They told the He believes the bo- week: “We canOlive Press this confirm that a nes are those of set of human a teenager, who located on a remains have been property in the La THE COAST’S PREMIER, ENGLISH SPEAKING appears to have been Cala area.

HEARING CARE PROFESSIONALS AND AUDIOLOGISTS murdered and bu- “We cannot comment any furried at his home in ther as this is See pages 39 & 40 now an ongoing La Cala de Mijas. investigation.”

Smith believes that the bones could be up to 100 years old, a fact, confirmed to him by the police.

The East Midlands exUK BASED *Offer ends 30/11/18. Not pat also believes the bovalid for renewals. Subjec t to conditions. nes could be the cause of a series of supernatural See The World Wept page 7

cholas Smith, 63, got in touch after discovering parts of a skull, jaw and leg bone in his back

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someone could find them.

The bones are the latest in a series of remains found in Mi*Offer ends 30/11/18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions. jas within the last year.

The Olive Press exclusively revealed how the remains of a ‘young person’ were found in the garden of a British expat back in February.

After we called in police, an investigation was launched and the bones taken to forensic experts.

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Rescuer spared jail A ‘HERO’ who was facing jail time for protecting a cleaner during a violent mugging has been spared jail.

Known only as Borja, the 26-year-old has had his four-year prison sentence suspended and will remain on probation.

Borja chased down a mugge in Fuengirola back in 2016 after he saw him rob a female cleaner of his purse.

When he caught up with him, a struggle ensued for the bag.

Criminal

He only hit him twice but the mugger - a known criminal and drug addict fell to the floor and hit his head before dying from his injuries days later.

News that Borja would be jailed caused outrage across Spain and was pounced upon by far-right party Vox, who managed to raise €120,000 to pay for the boy’s €180,000 fine - which he declined.

Borja said this week that he wanted to get on with his life which was in limbo for the past four years.

He said: “I am not a hero, but much less a criminal.”

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July 31st - August 13th 2019

what’s on Colourful gathering ARTIST based in Competa are being included in a contemporary art collection displayed at the Galeria Luz de La Vida on August 4 at 7 pm.

Can do PART music festival, part costume party Canela Party runs from July 31 to August 3 in Malaga featuring a mixture of punk and electronica.

Come together BEATLES tribute band Samper Beat will be performing the legendary group’s classic hits from 1962 to 1970 on August 3 in Istan.

Body of art PAINTINGS by artist Coby Bloemsma form the new ‘Body language’ exhibition being hosted in the Sala Real in Frigiliana August 1 - 15.

Marbella-born Stranger things star settles for second place as series is knocked off Netflix most watched ranking by Spanish show

THE Netflix series Stranger Things, starring Costa-born actress Mille Bobby Brown, has been overtaken as the most bingewatched series on Netflix.

Brown, who plays Eleven in the cult Netflix series, has had to settle for second place despite remaining at the top of the viewing

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Spoiler

Guetta in

DAVID GUETTA will headline a new ‘family friendly’ festival in Gibraltar as part of a rebranded National Day 2019.

The DJ and music producer will be the star of the Monkey Rocks festival, which will be held on Rock on Tuesday 10 September.

Adult

SCREEN WARS: (Left) Money Heist and (right) Stranger Thing’s Brown

charts for eight consecutive weeks.

The top spot has been taken by Money Heist, a Spanish show which fol-

Woody fest MALAGA is hosting a monthlong Woody Allen-athon.

The Albeniz Cinema will be showing a classic film by the US director every Thursday in August, starting on the 1st, as part of its annual Film Library festival.

The aim of the month-long event is to raise awareness about ‘classic cinema’.

August 1 will see Annie Hall, followed by Manhattan a week later, then Hannah and Her Sisters,

lows an attempted robbery at the Royal Mint of Spain.

The third season of Money Heist aired on July 19 and picks up two years after the red jumpsuit Dali-masked thieves have successfully robbed escaped with a loot of billions of euros.

The crime drama has captured viewers attention accounting Crimes and Offenses and finally 13.4% of all Bullets on Broadway. binge sessions All films will be screened at 10 pm on the streamand tickets are €4.50.

Tickets available at the box office ing platform. or on www.unientradas.es.

Critics also cannot get

enough and the series has so far won Best Drama at the International Emmy Awards and the Premios Fénix.

Fifteen year old Millie is the daughter of a former expat couple, Robert and Kelly Brown, once based in Marbella.

Millie moved to London when she was four, before moving to Orlando in Miami, in 2011, where her parents started a tooth-whitening business.

She shot to fame in 2016 as the lead character in the Netflix fantasy drama.

The shows third season which aired at the beginning of July has racked up more than 40 million views.

For the first time, this year’s event will feature dedicated ‘family-friendly’ seating areas and free tickets for children under 12 will be available with the purchase of an adult ticket With a total of over 50 million record sales worldwide, Guetta is one of the biggest names in music production.

See Page 48

LEGEND: David Guetta

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Discovering duende Regina Lankenau and Maya Eashwaran immerse themselves in flamenco at Sevilla’s iconic Casa de la Guitarra to find a deeper connection with this pure Andalucian art form

W

ATCHING flamenco is stressful.

We are first lulled into the performance by the lone tocaor, or guitarist. He sits on a red bulrush chair, one leg nonchalantly crossed, arms cocked at the ready. Against the background of his all-black ensemble, the unadorned spruce wood guitar is the centerpiece.

And then he plays. It begins as a slowly escalating picado, a measured yanking of metallic chords that builds and builds until it releases a tirade of machine-gun strumming. His tapping foot and percussive fingers on the wood anchor the melody.

Soon he is joined by the cantaor, or singer. The balance shifts, the guitar becoming the foundation instead of the focus.

Floppy hair parted to frame his face in two quotation marks, a pearl earring dangling from his left ear, and a hirsute shadow covering his neck, the vocalist saunters in with poised confidence.

He finds an opening in the rhythm and begins to sing, cupped hands clapping along.

With undulant wails reminiscent of Islamic prayer calls, he sings of amor y desamor, love and heartbreak.

It is excruciatingly intimate.

Like reading a diary you weren’t supposed to find.

As the music builds to a precipice, the balance shifts again and both performers cede the spotlight to the bailaora. The dancer sweeps up her skirts, punctuating the music with the staccato of rapid-fire heels and slapping of thighs. Sweat paints her face with streaks of blue eyeshadow.

She ends the act explosively; chest heaving, her breathing the only sound left. A woman yells “Olé!” from the crowd.

“

To ‘have duende’ is to have soul. It is the emotions of the artist converted into pure art.

Their talent borders on perfection, it is something magical and authentic.

“

July 31st - August 13th 2019

PASSION: Flamenco dancer stomps the ground at Sevilla’s iconic Plaza de España It feels intrusive, almost voy- years of professional playing David de los Santos, 34. At the euristic, to watch her pained is evident from the first strum; duet’s close, dancer Yasaray expressions on the stage. But the opening act is filled with Rodriguez, 44, enters for the nail-scraping picking, furious first dance. She winks before we can’t tear our eyes away.

The trio on stage at La Casa glissando and heavy-handed taking a seat, her shiny lipstick de la Guitarra perform six acts, rasgueado. mirroring the stage-lights. each varied in mood, tempo, Act two features the bulerías Rodriguez dances for two acts, and technical style. The eve- style, a rhythmic form un- a tarantas and an alegrias. ning begins with the guitar- earthed from the shores of Ca- The performers rely on each ist, Manuel Leon, 39. His 27 diz. Leon is joined by vocalist other, improvising and react-

Do you have a what’s on?

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TRADITION: The bailaora awaits her time to shine as the guitar maestro and cantaor warm up the spectators ing off of each other’s stylis- ferred to as the ‘Golden age of tic interpretations with raised Spain’, it was a time in which eyebrows and head nods. knowledge and scholarship in “She creates a drawing with architecture, writing and the her dance; I respond, and the arts was widely celebrated. singer responds as well,” ex- Theresa Goldbach, a dance plains León. expert from the University of At La Casa de la Guitarra, New Mexico discusses the pure flamenco rather than clear link between the dance folklore andaand Francoist luz is practiced. fascism during Although remthe early 20th The taranta is iniscent of the century. With real thing, the dark and reflects the success latter has oriof the 1917 the pain and gins in ancient Russian RevoAndalucian tralution looming fatigue of the dition while the over Spain, the miners former encomworking class passes a fusion — many of them of Arabic, Spangitanos (gypish and Gypsy culture. The sies) — was increasingly driven area known as the ‘flamenco to protest. triangle’ is made up of Sevilla, During the heydey of Francoist Cadiz and Jerez as its vertices. Spain, flamenco was often Flamenco was borne out of used to call attention to imthe convivencia, a period of portant social issues plagutime in Islamic Spain when ing Andalucian workers. The Muslims, Christians, and Jews struggles of regional miners lived peacefully. Often re- were captured in the music

HISTORY: The songs of flamenco are passed down the generations

and dance, an element still present today in certain styles.

According to Leon this is a key part of some pieces showcased at La Casa de la Guitarra.

“The taranta is dark because it reflects the pain and fatigue of the miners’ work with the coal,” he says.

Under Franco, flamenco was commercialized to promote Spanish identity and culture around the world. Called nacionalflamenquismo, this technique was unfaithful to the true motivations of the dance, twisting it into propaganda. Goldbach explains that the original lyrics praising the gitano culture were temporarily modified by performers to avoid persecution.

According to her research, songs could never be officially censored by the regime because they are traditionally passed down, slightly changing with each interpretation.

Flamenco is also highly impro-

visational, making it difficult to find an accurate record of what was sung in the past.

While the lyrics paint the narContinues on page 16

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Telling a story

LA CULTURA

From page 15

rative, a flamenco dancer’s dress is an equally integral part of the storytelling in a performance.

“These dresses are made for dancing,” León said. “They are cut so that when she raises her arms, the dress doesn’t rise with her.”

“Every dance style also has its own distinct dress,” he added. “For example, la solea is about love and heartache so the colours are a darker, passionate red. For alegrias, which are more joyful, we use brighter colours: pink, green, white.”

Within the narrow streets of Sevilla is Bordados Foronda, one of several artisan workshops that are dedicated to hand-crafting flamenco dressONE STOP SHOP: Huge collection of fabrics and dresses at Paco’s workshop es.

Inside the workshop are reams hair clips. of fabric: satin, cotton, crepe, The owner of the shop, Franplumeti. Rich shawls in bur- cisco, is a mild-mannered gundy, black, man affectionand deep blue ately known hang on the Getting to Spain as Paco (‘o walls, embroiPaquito, o Fran, was key in dered with silky lo que tu quiflowers or poleras’). Standunderstanding ka dots. Maning among the nequins are this inexorable rolls of fabric proudly draped stacked around passion in the dresshis workshop, es, and display he speaks cases are berapidly, flying decked with handmade fans hands expertly differentiating showcasing the art of Joaquín between types of fabric. The Sorolla, chunky earrings, and workshop has dressmakers with up to 40 years of experience, making it a favourite with Sevillanos purchasing dresses for ferias, festivals and weddings.

“First and foremost, one must respect the woman’s form,” Paco said, explaining how the GENIUS: Paco checking the final touches to his creations workshop customises dresses said. to suit each client. “After that, success during the audition to Getting to Spain was key in you can either make it simple ‘circumstances and attitude’. understanding this inexorable or more colourful, depending Her face and hands are wildpassion. on the customer’s preferencly animated when telling the She left Cuba for Sevilla, es.” story of her audition, how she where she was granted a full But during the perimprovised and used her scholarship by the Cristina formance, it is not cheeky charisma to perHeeren Foundation to study the dress that form where her technical flamenco. The cultural permit makes the womknowledge faltered, capprovided by the Cuban Minisan but the woman turing the attention of the try of Culture was originally who makes the Spanish director. Despite for three months. Rodriguez dress. having just finished quickly contacted them in an On stage, an hour-long perattempt to lengthen it. But Yasaray formance, she when the request was passed R o d r i cannot help but on to the Ministry of the Inguez fills stand up to terior she was told to ‘return the space act out the immediately to Cuba or be with her mesmemor y, marked a deserter’. sianic zeal and throwing Had she returned to the ismalleable expresher head up land, Cuba’s communist resions, seemingly out in a laughing EVERY MONDAY & FRIDAY - Foam Party gime would have punished her of reach. Off stage, pantomime.

From 18.00hrs to 19.00hrs for two years — an eternity in a standing at 150 cenRodriguez dancer’s career. Now 44 years timetres tall, she is danced and old, Rodriguez has stayed in about a head shorter toured with the EVERY WEDNESDAY - Around the World with Milo Sevilla since, making a name than us. ballet company for herself as a bailaora with What she lacks in verfor a decade.

From 17.00hrs worldwide renown. She has ticality, however, she By the age of trained under a dozen dance makes up for in per25, she had acJourney into different countries around the globe with themed veterans - Milagros Mengibar sonality. Hailing from quired a reperfood menus, craft workshops, games, entertainment and more! and Carmen Ledesma to Havana, Cuba, Rotoire spanning name but two - and performed driguez was only 11 classical ballet, at festivals throughout Spain, when she stumbled flamenco, sal7th August – Brazilian Night France, Germany, Brussels, upon the hobby that sa, and vari14th August – Italian Night Morocco and Moscow, winning would come to deous other Cuawards at national competifine her life. ban dances.

21st August – Spanish Night tions.

Five years later, “It was time 28th August – Oriental Night For Rodriguez, however, flashe auditioned for me to menco is much more than for the Cuban find out See our website & Facebook page for details. simply a performance or even National Ballet what it was a career. under the helm about flaStandard entry fees apply - no extra costs!

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GREEN

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Toxic shame

Expat among campaigners fighting to clean up polluted world heritage site in southern Spain FILFTHY: Air pollution

Choker!

THE European Commission has referred Spain to the EU’s Court of Justice for its failure to protect citizens from air pollution.

It comes after Madrid’s new right-wing government revealed plans to get rid of its low-emission zones, saying that a traffic-laden city centre was ‘part of the capital’s identity’.

Spain has also failed to keep the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air below the EU limits which have been legally binding since 2010.

"We are taking these steps because air pollution is still the biggest environmental health problem in the European Union, responsible for some 400,000 premature deaths each and every year," said EU environment commissioner Karmenu Vella.

A WORLD Heritage Site in southern Spain is in danger of dying, taking marine wildlife, seabirds and tourism along with it.

The discharge of poisons and nitrates from agriculture, sewage and industrial effluent has flowed into the Mar Menor – unchecked – for many years, campaigners say.

Additionally, the failure of man-made canals around the Los Alcazares area in Murcia is adding to the pollution, and subsequent flooding is threatening people’s homes.

By Simon Wade

A group of campaigners, including Englishman Bill Hulse, claim the main reason is the failure of authorities in clearing the waterways that were constructed to prevent flooding.

Blocked waterways move slower, meaning more pollutants are picked up from the land, and more toxins enter the sea.

At the northern end around

PROTESTORS: In Mar Menor San Javier, the Mar Menor are salt-flats including wetlands considered to be of international importance.

This area is preserved as a

Sad end

TRAGIC: Whale in port

A WHALE has been found dead in the waters of Marbella.

The body of the huge mammal was discovered near Puerto Banus but was taken to Bajadilla port to avoid it washing up on a beach.

The animal has been taken to experts at CREMA Aula del Mar de Malaga, where scientists will analyse the carcass.

The whale weighed around eight tonnes and was approximately eight metres long.

natural park and administered by the regional government.

The Mar Menor is also part of a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance and is a Special Protection Area (ZEPA in Spanish) for bird life.

In July 2016 pollution was reportedly so bad that the area had to be closed due to ecological collapse, after nearly two decades of warnings to local authorities.

In May 2017 all beaches of the Mar Menor were stripped of their Blue Flag Status as a result of the pollution.

Only last month, the ADAPT Metal Detecting Club recovered 43Kg of lead from discarded fishing weights that was responsible for the poisoning of sea horses and other wildlife in the lagoon.

Bugs at work GROWERS in southern Spain’s greenhouses have ditched pesticides and employed insects to combat pests.

Many growers in Almeria’s ‘Sea of Plastic’ have rejected chemical pesticides in favour of ‘biological controls.’

This followed pressure from consumer groups, as well as the fact crops, are growing increasingly resistant to insecticides.

“We have had to change course.

The use of pesticides became excessive,” explained Jan van der Blom of the producers association Coexphal.

The decision has been welcomed by environmental group Ecologists in Action who described the change as a ‘very positive step.’

Almeria’s ‘sea of plastic’ can be seen from space and contains some 30,000 hectares of greenhouses.

Last year 2.5 million tonnes of produce was exported from the area, half of Spain’s total vegetable exports.

TOUGH: Van der Blom

NOTICE TO FORMER EMPLOYEES OF LLOYDS BANK (GIBRALTAR)

This is a notice to members of The Lloyds Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd Retirement Savings Pension Scheme. Sovereign Pension Services (Gibraltar) Ltd, the scheme administrator, is conducting a review of this pension scheme. If you were previously employed by Lloyds Bank (Gibraltar) and have retained pension benefits in its pension scheme, please contact the administrator for further information.

You can contact Sovereign regarding this matter at localpensions@sovereigngroup.com or by post to Sovereign Pension Services (Gibraltar) Limited, Suite 2B, 143 Main Street, Gibraltar GX11 1AA.

Telonero

08/08 CLUB DE TENIS PUENTE ROMANO

Telonero PAUL MAXWELL

10/08

LETTERS

LE T T E R S

20

July 31st - August 13th 2019 Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

Final hurdle See Simply the rest,

page VI

Giant €750m multi-sports and property development enters final furlong EXCLUSIVE By Laurence

Dollimore

A RAFT of international sporting stars are lining up to back an exciting “This will be massive for Mijas and will €750 million sports be the largest sports project on the Costa and residential sports events venuetourism and multidel Sol. Maria Sharapova, Rio businessman behind in Europe,” the Ferdinand and the project, AnIan Woosnam have all expressed a keen thony Arnold, from the West Midlands, interest in the huge British-funded told the Olive proj- Russian tennisPress this week. ect to revolutionise Mijas’ ace ed hippodrome racecourselong-neglect- involved in the Sharapova has been interior site.

The trio are just some project, called ‘Mijas design of the looking to back the of the big names while former EnglandCity of Sport,’ captain Ferdiment, which includes Mirage develop- nand is set to add multi-sports venue, a golf course, a Escapes company.the site to his Football a trio of hotels and over 1,000 luxury apartments, TRIO OF BACKERS: The firm style Sharapova, Woosnam the Olive coaching provides premier football and resort for the professional sports Press can exclusively and Ferdinand (below sports business community’. courses at some of reveal. left) the most It will include exclusive resorts around a five-star hotel, spa, casino Welsh golfing legend the world.

Woosnam, mean- and luxury apartments. while, has helped design An entertainment venue the signature campus and university 18-hole golf course are also being considered for the up the gold academy.and will be heading site, according to the The proposed project overview of the project, detailed 17-page seen by the Olive 250 hectares - will be - which sits over Press. different areas under divided into three Construction is planned to begin by the brand name Mirage. the middle of next year Mirage Sport will feature which has still not if Mijas town hall ing events venue, elite a large sport- ernment followingformed a working govand a 400-room hotel training facility - gives it the green recent local elections mercial, conference andalongside a com- of Malaga will be light. HCP Arquitects officially unveiling the business centre. masterplan Meanwhile Mirage in the a hotel and 1,200 Golf will also have “I’ve been workingnext few weeks. alongside its course.luxury apartments, now and we are on this for eight years so close to getting Finally Mirage Club the backing we need,” continued Arnold. “It sive sporting club will be an exclu- will be hugely important ‘designed as a lifejas but the whole Costa for not only Midel Sol.” MIRAGE: Development’s designs

include five-star hotel,

casino and apartments

As the summer hordes descend, the Olive Press looks at the entourages and bloated budgets of the rich and famous who regularly holiday in Spain

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Fight back

are A SERIES of heated protests expected after Mallorca announced its first bullfight for years.

Animal rights groups are furious after it was announced that Palma’s bullring will host its first corrida since July 2017.

The fight next month is to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the construction of the Balearic Coliseum. be A total of eight bulls are set to slain by four of the world’s biggest El toreros; Juan Pedro Domecq, Juli, Jose Maria Manzanares and 9.

Roca Rey on August “They will kill eight bulls to vindicate this spectacle of violence, blood and death,” blasted a spokesman for animal rights group PACMA, which is likely to organise a demonstration against it taking place.

“What a monstrosity,” he added.

The fight has been made possible deafter Spain’s Supreme Court clared parts of a 2017 Balearic ban on the bloodsport as ‘unconstitutional’ last December.

Opinion Page 6

30? Really?

Are you takin’ the Michael?

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As the summer hordes descend, the Olive Press looks at the entourages and bloated budgets of the rich and famous who regularly holiday in Spain

(far BIG FANS: Obama, Cameron and it right) Saudi royalty know how to spend

See page 6

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

constitutional.

By Timothy McNulty Other parts of the law will remain the in place, however, including banning of minors and alcohol conGOOD times Ahoy!

ALMOST 200 terraces have been sumption at the event.

Voted food the BEST Far right party Vox applauded it scythed from Palma’s vibrant few expat paper and drink scene over the last return of the bullfight, claiming in Spain was ‘just the beginning of recover- weeks.

It comes after a draconian dictat ing’ lost freedoms. an ini“The ban was only introduced came into force removing from to please radical animal rights tial 179 outdoor seating areas resgroups,” insisted regional leader some of Palma’s most popular taurants.

Jorge Campos. of me the Coming into effect in the middle Wasn’t “This event is the first step in the busiest time of year, the new recovery of our freedoms:” Palma Posters advertising the fight have regulations have already seen been plastered all over the capital lose an estimated 17% of its terraces, STANDING with many more expected to close. and the event is expected to be offiUP FOR the The new law to create more space SANTA cially registered with the city in last CATALINA for pedestrians was approved coming days.

July despite a hard fought campaign launched by the Olive Press to protect the livelihoods and businesses.

“It’s a really awful law and it’s scary because this season has been very quiet as a result,” Alex Giannandrea a of highly-rated A Casa Mia, in Santa hree Lionsrules, pavements have to be pub Under the Tnew Catalina, told the Olive Press this minimum of 2.5 metres free of any obstructions, week. leaving little space for tables.

“Naturally customers have been As the Olive Press reported in February 2018 outsit to want up for Santa complaining, they but when we launched our Standing was only being side and enjoy the good weather Catalina campaign - the new rule locals comthey can’t.

15:36 16/06/2017 now 1 introduced after a few disgruntled Untitled-1.pdf “It’s a ridiculous law and it’s driving plained about noise. away business.”

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nearly 1000 signatures, while the island’s PP party has come out in support of the restaurants. Restaurant owners in Santa Catalina meanwhile, insist that a ‘one rule fits all’ new law will be very damaging to them. Italian Luca Veronesi, at Prosecco, said: “We all rely on these terraces to make a living.

Shut mine, I will have to lay off staff for sure and may even be forced to close.”

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Vol. 1 Issue 9

A BRITISH lad on his first holiday abroad has been left red-faced after his mum sent out a social media post appealing fellow holidaymakers to ‘smile at him’.

The appeal to ‘cheer him up’ came after he was robbed of his entire €400 spending money by a group of female ‘hugger muggers’ in Benidorm.

Alex Ayland, 20, from Gloucestershire, lost the cash on the first day of his hols, with his mother appealing to a Benidorm Facebook group to ‘give him a smile’ if any members saw him.

She wrote that he was miserable having been ‘robbed by two girls touching him up’.

“It was his first holiday without us and he rang us in tears,” she added. “He wanted the first flight home… so if you see him give him a smile and say hello.”

www.theolivepress.es

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As the summer hordes descend, the Olive Press looks at the entourages and bloated budgets of the rich and famous who regularly holiday in Spain See page 6

He’s the dad

After a court ruled that a 43-year-old Valencian was Julio Iglesias’ son, his mother (right) tells the Olive Press about her famous ex-lover’s decades of denial EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Parfitt

RED-FACED: Alex and pal

On the anniversary of Amy Winehouse’ death we reveal her links to the Costa Blanca See page 10

WHITE-gloved waiters doted a young Enrique Iglesias as on he er Maria Edite scrubbed grew up among palm trees and two floors to swimming pools in a multi-mil- make ends meet.

CONTRASTS: Father Julio lives lion euro mansion just off Miami The former ballerina revealed to in luxury homes the Olive Press how an unexpected around the globe, including Beach, Florida. this Miami villa, while pregnancy forced her to shelve son Javier grew up in this humble Julio Iglesias’ second-born a local apartment son career as a ballerina and enjoyed a life of celebrity drop-ins raise her eldest child. and round-the-clock nannying fol- And while Spain’s most-successful lowing a speedy divorce from Ensinger went on to sell more than rique’s mother Isabel Preysler.

250 million records worldwide, But not a cent meanwhile was he of- has not stooped to sing fered to a secret lovechild, Javier even one Sanchez, who was scandalously note of ‘Happy Birthday’ to his conceived just two months after 43-year-old son.

“When Julio and I met we were Enrique’s birth in 1975.

A Valencia court ruled Javier was both stars,” she said from her Iglesias’ third-born son last week, home in the El Cabanyal district. but the lifestyles of his doppel- "We were equal performers on ganger children could not be fur- stage when we met in July 1975 in Maria may be about to reclaim the Las Vegas music hall, in Sant ther apart. those pieces, however, after Valen- suffers illness or is in poverty,” Javier’s lawyer Fernando Osuna, While Enrique was being pam- Feliu de Guixols, near Girona. cia’s court 13 ruled pered in ultra-elite circles, Javier “But Julio destroyed my dreams. I be entered into the that Javier will told the Olive Press. hung out in a dingy restaurant near should’ve known what I was doing, try as Julio Iglesias’ Spanish regis- "It also means that Javier will have a claim to inheritance.”

Valencia’s port where his moth- but it's always the woman who has “This means that official son.

Julio is obliged to pick up the pieces." to take responsibility if Javier Continues on Page 4

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HE clinking of wine glasses, clicking of designer heels and the cacophony of foreign languages… welcome to a typical lunchtime in Santa Catalina.

Palma's trendiest neighbourhood is often described by locals as 'the village in the city', and there is no doubt it has a very distinct look and feel about it.

With the city’s best food market, some of its most exciting restaurants and, bit by bit, some of the coolest shops, it is little surprise that Santa Catalina has become - by the

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A ROMANIAN has been sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a protected witness in the Tolo Cursach

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Costa Blanca Issue 9

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March 1st - March 14th 2018

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VILLAGE IN THE CITY

tel: 971 09 38 00 tel: 699 704 502 Carrer de la Fàbrica, 2, 07013 Palma

BANGED TO RIGHTS!

case.

SEE MORE IN Florian Bogdan Puscasiu, from Sibiu, attacked the man to warn him against givTHE RESTAURANT ing evidence in the ongoing case, which began a year ago with the arrest of the SECTION INSIDE1 16/06/2017 Untitled-1.pdf 15:36

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LA CULTURA

The Olive Press spends a week in fashionable Santa Catalina

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March 1st - March 14th 2018

Is this Mallorca’s hippest barrio?

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STANDING UP FOR SANTA CATALINA

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Onto the streets

a few elderly lo“This is only being done to keep of Prosecco rescals happy,” said Luca Veronesi, taurant, also in Santa Catalina. area to be“The authorities have allowed thisnow they are come a hip and vibrant place and

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PROTESTERS have taken to the streets as the fight for Palma’s terraces continues.

Dozens of angry restaurateurs gathered on Calle Blanquerna to voice their disapproval of new terrace rules, which could see around 500 terraces affected.

Under new rules, pavements will have to be a minimum of 2.5 metres free of any obstructions, leaving little space for tables.

It could mean dozens of expat owners - the majority in Santa Catalina will no longer being able to serve clients outside their premises.

Protesters argue that the street has 'more than reasonable space for both pedestrians and the terraces’.

“The current dimensions have not caused any problems before," said a spokesman for a new group opposed to the plans We All Fit in Palma.

A petition has so far garnered

Olive Press ‘Standing up for Santa Catalina’ campaign fought last year

a done to keep luf’.

“This is only being happy,” in- This week (Thursday) take meeting is set to the a few elderly locals Luca planned hall so all place at the town sisted fellow restaurateur get their Veronesi, of Prosecco.“The au- relevent parties could The Italian added: this area views across. resis certain is that the thorities have allowed Mallorca visitors and vibrant What scene in Santa Cataare a staple for taurant to become a hip AT RISK: Terraces is place and now they are going lina is unlike anywhere else what they are proposing it with this has a very timated 42% of terraces nightmare,” but in Mallorca and to completely alter It’s so scary.” vibe.

Palma district shut.fear a dra- “It’s a complete Bindi’s extreme.

“We work with law. a unique international gentrified Bin Shah, owner of Many businesses “I She continued:Germany, Swe- “This could potentially ruin a loss of said While the area has in Santa Catalina. from it has matic impact - and they all lot of businesses.” if the plan restaurant rely on my terrace tourists and changed rapidly,business and England and from La Lolcompletely dozens of jobs I don’t know den to sit outside as they don’t Manager Marie are just wait- brought substantial the want comes into effect. create more in summer and has mostly benefited survive without it. get that chance at home. This is lija agreed. “We point, and that The new law to would how I would have to area. ing to hear at this space for pedestrians having “I would certainly of staff,” very scary.” changes to our new rules, pave- hoping. Any for lead to 37% of terracesarea and get rid of a member from Under the have to be a mini- terrace would be terrible Minority ments will added the 50-year-old, to shut in Pere Garau of business.” in Es Jonquet. of 2.5 metres free associa- “It’s a very small minority that Loughborough. why they mumobstructions, leaving little The local restaurant change, everybody defence asso“I don't understand peo- any tion, the citizens Palma neigh- want this for the vibrant life for tables. are doing it. I understand else is here the road, space ciation, and the have all come with the resple need to get down bourhood association owners that has said El Aqua Nauta taurants,” united with business stay on the owner Pitxi Vellver, from to get a temporary Catalunya. plans. have come “It's thanks to the terraces that They say the plans about we have all this business and in after a few complaints and other jobs… there were no jobs here noise from terraces, rubbish. years ago,” she added. irritations like more is a fewlocal British expat Vicky One One group complaining claims there Edmondson, from Brighton Barri Civic, which and not added: “Most of my neighare too many terraces internationlocals. bours are a young this mini enough space for Mayol who love Its president Marilen are un- al crowd, area. the says that pedestriansthe pave- metropolitan a 'village inside able to walk downold people, “It’s like call it. It would be a as we ments, ‘especially and city'shame to destroy that.” big people in wheelchairs mothers with prams.’

Opinion Page 6 area is beShe adds that the like Magaginning to ‘become

around 40% 1,650 SEE MORE IN Of the capital’s existing terraces, it is estiTHE RESTAURANT restaurant 500 would be mated around 15:36 INSIDE1 16/06/2017 affected.

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Tel: +34 971 794 132 Mobile: +34 639 702 411

PAVEMENT BATTLE: Angry expat restauranteurs are hitting back against the new terrace law which the

in THE alleged lynchpin political Spain’s biggest ever made SIX fraud claims he up. previous confessions Andalucia Former Junta de Francisco employment bosshe did not Guerrero insists the ERE personally gain from up to a bilscandal, that saw over a lion euros embezzled decade. gave details He claims he only fund’ of the so-called ‘reptile oversaw, that he allegedly after police put considerable pressure on him. eight years Guerrero is facing €65 Dozens of jobs in prison for embezzling from the million of money puband a big loss €647 million emergency belic fund that he managed of trade in tween 1999 and 2008.set aside Catalina The money had been Anda- Santa to support strugglingInstead, if ‘nightmare’ lucian businesses. awarded new pavement Guerrero allegedly regfake grants to companies law comes in of more istered in the names memEXCLUSIVE than 100 of his family PSOE

By Gillian Keller bers, friends and fellow Juan politicians. His driver, - nickis backing a THE Olive Press Francisco Trujillo chauffeur’ the livelicampaign to protect named the ‘cocainebogus shell expat busihoods of dozens of - claims he set up public nesses in Santa Catalina. companies to receive a draconian on ‘cocaine, It comes after money to spend see an esproposed law could in the parties and drinks’.

CHASING CORRUPTION

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Crackdown sees nearly 20% of Palma’s terraces closed, leaving expat owners struggling to make ends meet

Freedoms

to The so-called ban made it illegal mistreat, injure or kill cattle and declared a maximum of three bulls per show. not It also declared that bulls could be in the ring for more than 10 minutes each. unAll three tenets were declared

PUBLISHER / EDITOR Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

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The attack, which took place in the victim’s garage, is believed to have been ordered by Cursach, who is on trial for murder, money-laundering, extortion, bribery and corruption.

During the sickening assault the victim was dragged to the ground and kicked while being told he would be killed if he continued to speak out.

Puscasiu, who lists his profession as a builder on websites, has also been ordered to pay a fine of €7,200, plus €8,000 in damages to the witness for the injuries received.

The court heard how the witness, who worked as a waiter in the VIP zone of Cursach’s club Titos, was 96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082 Continues on Page 2 VICIOUS: Puscasiu worked for Cursach

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Timothy McNulty tim@theolivepress.es

How the other half live when on holiday in southern Spain, from Saudi Royalty to British prime ministers and American billionaires

July 17th - July 30th 2019

Pope Benedict XVI

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HIS ultra-conservative El Papa whose papacy was tarnished by several scandals and a controversial past was a frequent visitor to Spain.

Among his most memorable trips was his visit to Valencia in 2006 for the fifth World Meeting for Families, a ‘public affirmation of the invaluable worth he places on the family’. According to an audit, the Valencian government spent €3.1 million on public loos, €1.7 million on hotels for the papal entourage and his guests, more than €500,000 on 284 planters of varying sizes, €7.5 million on megaphones and screens and €1.5 million on the papal altar.

The official centre where the Pope celebrated mass cost 39% over the original budget, with €451,000 spent on the metal work, €124,000 on zoning costs, and the rest squandered on electricity, plumbing and special curtains to offset the heat from the television lights.

The audit was part of an investigation opened in 2016 into the Valencian government’s contracts under President Francisco Camps who, alongside the Archbishop of Valencia, was suspected of committing crimes of administrative prevarication, embezzlement and fraud.

The Pope’s 2010 pastoral trip around Spain was equally draining on the taxman, requiring a scandalous €4.8 million from public coffers to cover the costs. The visit prompted Europa Laica-Observatoria de la Laicidad, an organisation advocating the separation of church and state, to marshal a ‘symbolic bill’ making both Pope and public aware of

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WO HUNDRED brand-new, imported Mercedes. ONE THOUSAND POUNDS for fresh flowers. HALF A MILLION EUROS on an altar and circa €200,000 on a flight. These are just a few of the luxuries the world’s super-rich have indulged in during their visits to Spanish shores.

As celebs, royals and the super-rich descend on the Spanish coasts for the summer, Maya Eashwaran and Regina Lankenau see how their entourages and expenses stack up.

The Swazis

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AWARDS

HE Swazi king, Mswatti III, has long been criticised for his over-the-top spending habits, as his country is one of the poorest countries in the world. He’s certainly got form.

So it should have come as no surprise when, this summer, Mswatti III flew into Marbella for an extravagant stay at a villa in the resort’s most expensive hotels - the Marbella Club, where rooms can cost a whopping €900 a night. He arrived for his Spanish stay with all 14 wives and 35 children in tow, bookended by a massive security entourage.

For his 40th birthday celebration in 2008, by his own royal command, ‘a 15,000seat stadium was built and a fleet of topof-the-line BMW sedans was ordered for the comfort of visiting dignitaries’, according to the New York Times.

HE former First Lady of the United States’ 2010 vacation to Marbella and Mallorca attracted worldwide attention.

The ‘FLOTUS’ landed in Malaga in early August to a crowd of over 200 Spanish journalists and an assembly of uniformed Spanish Civil Guard, all of whom had been waiting

SWAZI: King Mswatti III

for several hours for her arrival in the unforgiving Costa del Sol heat. What was initially supposed to be a relaxing, private mother-and-daughter vacation quickly turned into the event of the year for the Spanish media.

According to reports, Michelle was accompanied by

The Kuwaitis

K

uwaiti royals and businessmen have been padding Marbella with petrodollars for over four decades, mainly investing in luxury property in Mijas, Marbella and Sotogrande.

Bit of both

Unlike the Saudis, the Kuwaitis are known metal for their more reserved spending habits.

Heavy

2016 - 2019

Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the Your world. The Expat Survey expat Consumer Awards.

in voice 2012 - 2019 Spain

Named the best English language 2019

July 17th to July 30th FREE Vol. 13 Issue 322 www.theolivepress.es publication in Andalucia by the

HAIL MARY Rough Guides group.

As reported by El Pais, one Kuwaiti entourage member stated that ‘the Kuwaitis have no need to show off their wealth’. Indeed, despite being world famous for Saudi opulence in the area, the Kuwaitis own more property in Marbella than their Arabian neighbours.

A TEEN with cerebral palsy who crowd surfed in his wheelchair at a heavy metal gig has described his ‘incredible’ moment.

“I felt like God,” said Alex Dominguez, 19, who went viral after he was filmed being held aloft by crowds at the Resurrection Fest, in Galicia.

The second year law student was watching Swedish band Arch Enemy, who later thanked their fans for ‘being awesome.’

50+

The who e festiva is a disgrace in this day and age (Hail Mary Issue 322 pg 50) There is never a reason for anima crue ty Sounding off

THE new Audiovisual Council of Andalucia has said it wants to ‘reduce the number of English words’ used by the Spanish media.

Stalker Style

HARRY Styles has brought his alleged stalkSpanish er Pablo Taeazago-Orego to court after claiming he has been putting notes in his mailbox and ‘making his life a misery.’

Oa-dis

NOEL Gallagher has angered music fans after replying ‘what’s that?’ when asked his opinion of Spanish flamenco-pop sensation Rosalia.

American football star leaps bulls with ease at ‘too safe’ San Fermin festival A CELEBRATED American sportsman has been caught on camera performing a series of death-defying leaps over bulls.

High-octane footage shows Washington Redskins player, Josh Norman, 31, hurdle not one, but two toros at the annual Pamplona festival.

“It was really worth it,” he said after his acrobatics at the San

A BALD attempt to smuggle drugs into Spain has been stopped after a man was found with half a kilo of cocaine hidden under his toupee.

Arriving at Barcelona airport from Bogota, the Colombian man attracted suspicion with a disproportionately large hairpiece under his hat.

Officers detained the man and found a package stuck to his head with about €30,000 of cocaine.

Fermin festival, in which eight people were gored by bulls.

While he was certainly dicing with death or injury, this year’s festival was criticised for ‘not being dangerous enough.’

Veteran bull-runners have slammed the daily runs - known as encierros - claiming they have been ‘adulterated’ with the bulls running the course in

Wiggin’ it

much quicker times than before. Over the decade last the 875-metre runs have generally decreased to two nearly minutes which is half the length that they were in the 1990s. leaps over bull Critics insist FEARLESS: Norman stage a sit-down protest on the the bulls are no longer able to break free course before one of the eight from the castrated steers, who runs. It came despite numerous accompany them and are too injuries this year, one involving a man’s arm being split open fast and trained.

This makes the entire run far ‘like a fillet’ and another suffering serious head injuries. safer for the runners.

“This is the end of the encierro “Society has said for 20 years inas we know it,” said Joe Distler, that the run was too risky,”fesan American, who has complet- sisted a spokesman for the ed 50 bull runs. He was among tival. “Now they complain that several runners - or mozos - to there is no tragedy.”

Ladies first

SPAIN’S Armed Forces have their first female general.

Patricia Ortega Garcia, 56, is the first elected female leader in the army’s 500year history.

She takes up her role some 31 years after women were first allowed into the army. The servicewoman, from Madrid, signed up in 1988 as a student lieutenant. Mum-of-three Ortega is no stranger to making history, after becoming Spain’s first female lieutenant colonel in 2009 and colonel in 2015.

4 Carol Montgomery Malaga

www.theolivepress.es

Dear Olive Press,

Dignity

Shame

I think as British people who have made the conscious decision to move to Spain, we should make the effort to learn Spanish (WATCH: Wellknown British expat commended online for saying ‘Bri s n Spa n SHOULD speak Span sh on ne Ju y 5 Tha be ng sa d have ound p ck ng up he ngo s no as easy as some o my e ow expa s seem o h nk n ac have spen a subs an a amoun on essons bu s nce ve n he campo do no have he oppo un y o p ac ce wha have been augh My c oses ne ghbou s speak oca d a ec s no a he same one and sound as hough hey a e speak ng unde wa e ag ee w h hose who say ha Span sh can be ve y he p u he h ng s un ess you can use you soon ose Ed Naughton Coin

Why e peop e suffer? There shou d be he p or a pa n ess and d gn fied end Edith Farminer Mijas

322 pg 3) Shame on h m

4

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Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

AN expat has sounded the alarm after being attacked by a colony of bats.

US-born Kira Nash had to tially fatal disease. be treated for rabies after The first case took place in she was bitten by one while Valladolid, while the second walking near her home, in happened just two days latAlhaurin de la Torre. er in nearby Huelva.

Writer Nash, who moved “I have to go back today for to Malaga from France this another vaccine,” Nash addMarch, went straight to her ed this week, “Mercifully I local health centre after think all is well and I think I feeling a sharp pain on her am going to be okay.” shoulder after two bats had Nash is expected to be given flown into her during the post-exposure vaccinations evening stroll. for the next week or so.

“The doctor there said it Expert Elias Rodriguez-Ferwould be wise to have the ri warned after the two casvaccine given the danger of es last summer: “If anyone rabies,” she told the Olive comes into contact with a Press this week. bat, they risk contracting SHAKEN: Kira Nash Last summer, two people in the virus.

Spain had to seek medical “That’s why it’s important If you do touch a bat treatment after being bitten not to touch them, dead or lieve you have been or bebitten by bats carrying the poten- alive.” by one, it is essential to seek medical treatment before symptoms start to develop.

The symptoms in humans include fever, changes in mood, nausea and vomiting, photophobia, drooling EXCLUSIVE and convulsions.

By Charlie Smith

Shelter

DEATH KNOCK

Sad y peop e ooked a er he r an ma s be er (Dea h knock Issue 322 pg 4) here wou d be no need or a re uge Ins ead o us dumpng e r gh and cen er Erika Stanbury San Roque

A HEARTLESS landowner has dealt a vicious blow to animal rights activists after he sold the land their refuge was on.

Despite telling the Animal in Need Foundation that it would have until August 31 to raise the money needed to buy the land, the Spanish owner sold it last week.

It comes after the Olive Press revealed last issue that over 800 animals could face being put down if the La Linea shelter was forced to shut.

This however, appears to be of no concern to the ‘ruthless and greedy’ landowner, who notified the centre via a short Facebook message.

“I'm sorry folks, I just sold the land,” he wrote to the centre’s hardworking volunteers.

His move comes despite the centre being given until August 31 to raise the €165,000 needed to buy the plot, claimed a spokesman.

The problems began after the recent death of the shelter’s general manager Peter Koekebakker, who only had verbal agreements with landowners.

An Olive Press campaign was launched last issue (For the chop, Issue 321, pg 4), to save hundreds of cats and dogs, which could be culled

‘Absolute filth’

SAD: Dogs at risk and (below) previous story 4

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A WOMAN has been arrested after her dog died from gulation and heatstroke.stranThe 27-year-old is charged with animal abuse after ‘dying’ pet was spotted her balcony in Valladolid. on a

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AN animal shelter has appeaAfter police officers saw the led for help as hundreds animal ‘panting intensely’ dogs and cats face deathof its and could not break due in, fireto a land dispute. men were called to rescue the The Animal In Need animal.

Foun- made ‘verbal But the dog could dation faces eviction after agreements’ saved, and it died of not be manager died, having its with the land owner. ‘suffoonly In a shock move, cation due to strangulation’, a ‘for sign was stuck to the sale’ according to a vet. doors of the La Linea-based shelter just a day after 58-year-old general manager Peter Koekebakker’s funeral.

THREATENED: Dogs A number of developers are arrive at centre said to be interested in the mals to face the site, which has sea views chop if the is just a stone’s throw and cash is not found. from The public can help Puerto Atunara. the AniThe non-profit organisation mal In Need Foundation by donating just €15 a said it now needs to time, raise which pays for 1m² END: Binmen stop €165,000 to buy the plot strike in In a statement, the of land.

Camino Torrenueva. centre caPigs, birds, donkeys, horses lled the situation a ‘worst-case scenario’ and said ‘time and even a pair of bulls is also among the 750-800 are of the essence’, but did not ani- confirm how soon the site could be bought.

“With this burden on shoulders and the fear our A REFUSE strike on the Costa sing everything that of lo- del Sol is set to end after a proworked for his entirePeter visional agreement was signed we nevertheless are tryinglife, giving workers more money. to It comes after piles of rotting uphold the spirit and conti- rubbish remained uncollected nue,” it added.

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Bin it to win it

for nearly a week in Mijas and REUNITED: Martin Alhaurin el Grande. with lost rattle Workers from Urbaser Feared in Mijas have agreed to hold off more It comes as a volunteer at the strikes until a new town council centre told the Olive Press he is sworn in later this week. feared the classification A BABY’s rattle found alongof the That is the deal negotiated beland could also be changed tween PP winner side the remains of a mother it cannot be bought soon. if who is expected Angel Nozal, executed during Spain's to become the Gonzalo Martin, 47, who new mayor, and some War has been reunited Civil with land administrator and is a striking over working127 staff her 83-year-old son. condiestate agent, said this real tions and pay.

Catalina Munoz Arranz, give the ‘green light’ forwould An extra €1,000 a year in wages mother of four, took the a with her when she facedtoy lopment and potentiallydeve- and a fairer working week are Nationalist firing squad a the price per square raise among the features of the deal. in metre The workers 1936 near Palencia. tenfold. downed tools last The colorful rattle belonged “The land is currently classed week leaving 270 tonnes of rubbish building up on the to her youngest son, Martin as ‘rustic’ but could be streets de la Torre Munoz, who upon if it is changed built of Mijas and nearby Alhaurin. just eight months old at was ban’,” he told the Olive to ‘ur- British councillor Bill Anderson the Press. described the situation as time.

This newspaper contacted ‘pretty bad’.

Almudena García-Rubio, La Linea Ayuntamiento, an He told the Olive Press anthropologist who helps nobody was available to but problem the uncover civil war graves, ment on the situation. com- euros wascame after a million said: “This rattle is a cut from the annual Donations can be made symbolic object, the livelyvery at contract with Urbaser and cothis link: http://paypal.me/ Mijas. “Angel has got lors next to the earth-colored them to redhetasiel agree to suspending industrial bones is a reminder of a moaction until the new council therhood that was cut short.” is For more information sworn in on Friday,” he visit animalinneed.com Alhaurin mayor Toni said.

See Roses of Zufre, P6 ma is also expected to Ledes+661 71 50 60 sign an agreement.

Death rattle

| www.mundo-mania.com

Gillian Barclay Benissoda

13 16

Desperate race against time to save hundreds of animals from being condemned to death

IN JUNE

08 // Foam Party 15 // Water Nerf Gun Party 22 // End of School Party 29 // Slip & Slide Party

I saw this ast week and fe t quite sorry for her as I thought she c ear y had menta hea th issues but it seems not!

(Race Rant Issue 322 pg 2)

12

15

FOR THE CHOP Collared

SUPER SATURDAYS

Bad teacher

8

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Something in the water

A BEACH in Andalucia has been shut after a dangerous bacteria was detected in the water.

Stunning Playa de Fuentebravia, in el Puerto de Santa Maria, was closed after E. coli was found at dangerous levels in the water.

An E.coli infection can cause diarrhoea, blood in poo, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever, according to RIP: Boss Peter health experts.

Koekebakker

if not rehomed.

“The ruthless owner has already shown his true colours,” said a foundation spokesperson.

“He unexpectedly increased the price in a few days, obviously driven by greed!”

But despite this major upset those in charge remain hopeful for a ‘new beginning’.

“While we have not yet reached the figure of €165,000, we will need all possible donations to build a new shelter,” added the spokesman.

OP QUICK Crossword

Taken from the 36 hours trave fea ture from the New York T mes th s beaut fu book features deas and t ps on where to go and what to ex p ore f you had a weekend to spend n a g ven ocat on Featur ng 150 c t es around the wor d from cap ta s to coasts and everyth ng n between we have beaut fu photography pa red w th deas from for e gn correspondents trave wr ters and food wr ters It sug gests p aces of nter est to see where to eat where to stay and t g ves suggest ons on how to make the most of a c ty break nc ud ng c ty maps to he p you find your way A great gu de to he p you p an a tr p or he p you dec de where n the wor d to go

Donkeys ‘zebra-d up’

On y a dev ous ev man avo ds recogn s ngBat-s**t h s own nnocen son (He s he daddy Issuescary Calle Abad Moya 4b, 23680 Alcala la Real, Jaen

David Rowe Ardales

9

V a

Paul Demopoulos Mijas

There are hose who are dy ng who w sh o ve and hose who ve ha w sh o d e s a ough one bu each person has a r gh o dec de hey are unab e o con nue

Great read for travellers who don’t have time

July 17th

What asses!

AN investigation has been launched after two donkeys were painted to look like zebras ‘for an African themed wedding’ in Andalucia.

Police have stepped in after a concerned local showed them footage of the asses having been abandoned in a chiringuito in El Palmar, near Vejer de la Frontera.

Witnesses said they were not kept in the shade and were poorly looked after.

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her daughter, Sasha, two friends and four of their own daughters, several White House aides and a few select staff members. They arrived in an Air Force One jet that cost over $11,000 an hour in operation costs, bringing the total cost of the round trip across the Pond to just under €177,408.

While the Obamas were in flight, a fleet of 14 vehicles awaited in Malaga. From there, they were whisked away to Marbella for a few days of luxury at the five-star Hotel Villa Padierna. Michelle had booked around 30 extra rooms for her entourage, both security and staff. The particular villa she stayed in, boasting three floors, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and three terraces. It has since been renamed the Obama Villa. This opulent pad, hemmed on all sides by pristine golf courses, can cost up to €3,600 a night.

Judicial Watch, a US-based conservative organisation, requested and obtained official travel expenses from the US Air Force and Secret Service, as well as documents from the Department of Homeland Security. They reveal a total cost of €414,765 for the Obamas’ Spanish getaway. Secret Service protection alone came to €225,716 — a sum that included the Obamas’ private car costs, payments to a travel company and secure hotel accommodation.

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the exorbitant costs associated with his Spanish travels. According to them, the papal visit to Santiago de Compostela cost taxpayers €3 million while his stop in Barcelona racked up another €1.8 million.

However, it was his visit to Madrid in 2011 that met with the biggest backlash. Arriving in the capital for World Youth Day, this orthodox Pope brought together a group (or should that be hoard) of two million young people whose stay ran up an eye-watering €50 million bill. However 70% was paid by the kids themselves and 30% was covered by company donations. The possible profits of the event were projected to be at more than €100 million.

Michelle Obama

Gillian Keller gillian@theolivepress.es

ADMIN Beatriz Sanllehí (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

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You wou dn e a dog suffer ke many o he ong- erm s ck do Yes o course here shou d be checks and ba ances o avo d peop e he p ng he r o d o k a ong so hey can nher he money The esab shmen e us ha pa n can be managed w h med ca on bu wha sor o e s or hose un or una es drugged n o a v r ua coma us wa ng o d e?

The Filthy Rich and their entourage

T I m no a re g ous man Bu a man who e s me o dona e o he poor wh s h mse dr nkng rom a go d cha ce and fly ng bus ness c ass (The F hy R ch and he r en ourage Issue 322 pg 6 and 7) s no a man I ake ser ous y

Signed up

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haul finally released from year in violent

It comes after Donald Trump tweeted his support for the move, while Spain said it wanted to mount a full investigation.

It was later confirmed the tanker was carrying 2.1 million barrels of crude oil which the US feared was being taken to support the war effort in Syria, defying EU sanctions.

Picardo also revealed he had written to both the president of the European Commission and European Council, Jean-Claude Junker and Donald Tusk.

“We acted because we had reasonable grounds to believe that this vessel was in breach of EU sanctions against Syria,” said Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in Parliament on July 12.

“These actions were contrary to the A BRITISH engineer erty where he was renting law of Gibraltar as the sanctions were wrongly imprisoned for a a room EXCLUSIVE contained in an EU regulation which in San Roque. year for drug smuggling The

By Laurence Dollimore is directly applicable to Gibraltar since innocent Brit - who has finally been released.

2012.” has Robert Mansfield-Hewitt, for worked for the MOD ous drug conviction in GiHe said that the consequences of these 51, was let go without in 20 years, much of it braltar. actions could ‘now be challenged in charge after being locked to Gibraltar - was taken Despite, a lack of evidence court by any party’. infamous Botafuegos - and THRILLED: Hewitt with two up for more than a year prison three The storming of the ship was a unaniof our front pages in Algeciras on ries by this front page stoalongside terrorists and June paper - he was rant in La Linea mous decision of the Gibraltar cabinet. this week. local media group keeping murderers in a Spanish ing 27 last year follow- held at the notorious jail, “I’m still Four crew members of the Grace a dramatic night raid. home jail. to ETA terrorists ing out, itgetting used to be- this in the public eye. Withwere interviewed by the RGP whileI He quickly became the and has been a crazy out your help, The Ministry of Defence Guardia Irish mafia I’m sure it equipment was also seized.

Civil’s main sus- until last week. members, ride.” would have taken longer,” (MOD) worker had been pect despite having A senior Iranian cleric has said no “It is amazing to be finally He also thanked the paper he said. wrongly accused of stor- previous UK will be ‘slapped in the face’ for the for all the support and legal convictions and out,” the In draconian ing 1.5 tonnes of hashish the Hampshire-based pressure we move. actual owner of the Mansfield-Hewitt have put on the es, it took circumstancin the garage of a prop- property Spanish autold the authorities since having a previ- Olive Press thorities a shocking from a restau- “It is great to his arrest. have had a months to formally seven charge him - after denying him bail three times.

Despite a serious long-term liver condition, which saw him moved in and out of ALL AREAS hospital, he did not get his COVERED day in court until May 27.

Lettings | Sales UK BASED Incredibly, he has still been 4G UNLIMITED ordered to pay a €1,500 Reliable private hire transfer Investments | Relocations INTERNET fine for ‘renting unlicensed services for any occasion IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV tourist accommodation’.

Commercial and Residential • Luxury vehicles He revealed he is now set to ALSO IPTV, • Door to door service take legal action against the Tel: +350 200 44955 SATELLITE TV • Airport collections state but for now is focusfor Spanish enquiries@seekerspropertygibraltar.com • Weddings transport ing on getting home. residents • Sightseeing day trips He is flying back from Mal• Restaurant shuttles aga to London this week, www.globelink.co.uk where he plans to take a few Find out more at: 10 Engineer Lane, tel: (0034) 952 763 840 www.simply-shuttles.com info@theskydoctor.com Gibraltar GX11 1AA tel: 951 279 www.theskydoctor.com

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RICK Astley has been announced for MTV’s Gibraltar Calling Festival. The 1980s British pop star will be the warm up act to Take That on Sunday September 8.

The Never Gonna Give You Up singer will be performing a medley of his greatest hits.

THE Gibraltar government has denied it was following orders from the US when it detained the Iranian supertanker Grace I last week.

It comes after the Royal Marines and local law enforcement stormed the oil tanker and sparked an international row between the US, Iran and the UK. The Chief Minister denied Spanish reports that the detention was a vour to the US but said he would fatry to make sure there would be no ‘transboundary effects’.

“There has been no political requests at any time from any government act,” he said. “The decisions of to the government were taken totally independently.”

FREE INSIDE

July 2019

THANK god British engineer Robert Mansfield-Hewitt has been released from prison this month.

It is unfathomable that a UK citizen could have been locked up for SEVEN months without even being charged.

Incredibly, he was forced to wait a further four months for his day in court before being released more than a month later.

And all in an EU country and very close ally to Britain no less!

How many other cases like Robert’s have there been?

There was no evidence connecting him to the drugs and least of all no workable motive, given his decades-long career with the British government.

All the while, there seems to have been no investigation launched into the owner of the property where the drugs were found.

The case seems mired in corruption with local police apparently deciding to try and pin it on Robert from day one.

Either way, we are delighted that the pressure we have maintained on the authorities throughout this year, appears to have had some effect.

NO OTHER expat paper was willing to do that. And we are happy Robert appreciates it.

There is nothing like being forgotten to rust in prison.

FINAL WORDS

voice in Spain

Vol. 4 Issue 101 www.theolivepress.es July 17th to July 30th 2019

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

Readers react to the news over 1 million people in Spain have signed petitions supporting euthanasia (online, July 18)

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‘Dignity and respect’

Gibraltar Issue 101 Never gonna Gib you up

6

to he bre “M and of c “M out had ly t bre spe fant “We nigh to t cove ly.”

Ro th m chu Sun forc his in H behi

His hous mea an e havi than Loca ed a Robe His told so m news ert’s press shine “We

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THE who v del So peal t Gary

told t not happe ANIMAL loving comic Ricky Owen Gervais has slammed a Span- in Ma “I’m ish ‘horse-wrestling’ festival. speak The Office he ha star, 58, weeks branded Footie participants peared of the ‘Rapa Hills U das Bestas’ withou festival ‘abpasspo solute filth’ Micha in a Tweet, tured liked by 16,000 people.

Briton Gervais is opposed to ball sh the festival where local Gali- glasse cian men jump on the wild have r en off horses and wrestle them to ication the ground.

The 400-year-old Galician tradition which roughly Anyo translates as ‘Shearing of the shoul Beasts’ sees hundreds of wild desk@ horses in various villages herded into small arenas.

Locals then attempt to trim the terrified animals’ manes and delouse them before freeing them back to the wild.

It’s not the first time the outspoken Gervais has called Spain to account on social media.

Two months ago he criticised a Spanish matador for wiping away the tears of a dying bull, calling him a ‘sequinned c**t’.

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GREEN ENCLAVE: Sotogrande is surrounded by verdant hills, a string of golf courses and quiet beaches, while the port area (below) is full of upscale restaurants and sailing yachts TCHED carefully into the Rutherford or the BBC’s Nick in the port of Sotogrande. crown of Spain’s south- Knowles, who all have homes “It’s so cosmopolitan and with ern coast, Sotogrande is in the resort. a low crime rate - if any at all. a gem that shows no sign And then there are the footbalContinues on page 22 of losing its glimmer. lers, including Glenn Hoddle The country’s largest pri- and Glen Johnson, who have vately-owned residential ‘su- bought homes in Sotogrande. per-state’ has long been the Internationally renowned for its first port of call for the cream of polo, golf and sailing, as well European high society. as a burgeoning gastronomic The radiance of this million- scene, this ‘mini Monaco’ of aire’s playground lies in its high net worth residents has all low-density living, stunning the hallmarks of what is often beaches and mountain back- considered the top private redrops, plus its amazing marina sort in Europe. and golf courses.

Different from other ‘celebrity’ TYRE CENTER Its privileged views of the Rock resorts where talk of wealth of Gibraltar and the Rif moun- and fame is de rigueur, in SoCan you afford to tains of Africa have been en- togrande they like to keep such wait 7 to 10 days? joyed by the likes of ex-UK PM talk, appropriately, ‘sotto voce.’

Tony Blair, the British royal Mention the palpable sense of tel: 956 794 657 family and countless European community, however, and you’ll C/Sierra Bermeja s/n, celebrities, who don’t want to discover how that is the priviPueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro be spotted, unlike those who leged enclave’s true treasure. venture to nearby Marbella.

“Sotogrande is a very friendly Opposite But keep your eyes peeled and place. You get all the different Iceland you might spot Irish motor rac- nationalities here and they all ing guru Eddie Jordan, former just blend in,” estate agent BriA7 132 KM Genesis keyboard player Mike an Nelson tells us at his office

E

DISCOUNT

Photo by Great Golf Magazine

Shine on

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From page 21

UNSPOILT: Much of the nearby coastline is largely undeveloped, while the port (above) is buzzing and fun

“Of course everyone wants Sotogrande to stay the way it is, development, however, is inevitable.

“Everything from here is just a bonus.”

Outside Sotogrande Raquet’s club we bumped into Wendy who has traded north London for a family holiday in Sotogrande every summer for the last decade.

“This place is family-friendly and less hectic than further down the coast,” she explains still out of breath from her on court exploits.

“It’s very open and we love it because you can cycle around

Safe and sound and everywhere feels very safe.”

And there is truly an abundant offering of outdoor pursuits.

The profusion of yachts and kayaks spotted as we walk the immaculately tree lined streets down to the marina reminds us again of Sotogrande’s huge sporting offer, not to forget the golf.

A championship round at Royal Sotogrande Golf Club is an unforgettable afternoon for any Shane Lowry - one of seven courses available.

Elsewhere, those who take life

more at a gallop have Santa Maria Polo Club, one of the most important clubs of its kind in Europe, where the equestrian sport can be enjoyed most of the year.

It is also the only polo club in the world to hold two ranking events on the international circuit every year: the Silver Cup and the Gold Cup. Every july and August top polo players from around the world descend on Santa Maria for the International Tournament, now in its 47th year. During the off-season, many football

teams rent the polo pitches to train.

Much of Sotogrande’s fame stems from its sporting firsts.

Valderrama golf course was the first to host The Ryder Cup on the continent of Europe in 1997. And it’s still a fairway to golfing heaven, according to golfer and former professional footballer Andy Gemmell, who has played some 40 courses in the area.

If year-round residents have a complaint, it’s that the winter months can be very quiet, so they welcome the recent new investment in the area.

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After General Franco closed the border with Gibraltar in 1926, Sotogrande experienced a quiet period. By 1997 Sotogrande S.A was losing a whopping €2 million a year!

23 Summer 2019

How we see it

The Olive Press talks to a handful of locals to see what they think about life in Sotogrande Andy Gemmell, 72, Glasgow It’s a great place for families and is very safe, so it’s perfect for children. Sotogrande isn’t commercialised compared to other areas, which is a big draw.

Valeria Alfie, Sotogrande It used to be a more seasonal place, whereas recently people are opting to be here all year round. This is very good for small business people such as myself.

Wytze Abels Velema, 75, Holland

I

TIP TOP: The beach is as well kept as the marina (below)

Gerry Fagan, 61, Liverpool I live in Gibraltar but come here because I like the ambience, it’s an escape or, as the Spanish would say, muy tranquilo. It’s a different pace from Gibraltar, and compared to the hustle and bustle of the UK it’s a completely different lifestyle.

Paul Martin, 74, Bristol It’s a wonderful place for golfers, polo players, and people with boats and I have seen plenty of royals such as the Duchess of York, who has holidayed here several years in a row.

1978 the International School of Sotogrande was founded to accommodate the growing international population.

In 1985, the polo fields of Rio Sotogrande I and II were built as well as adding new fields in 1992, 1995, 2003 and 2008.

In 1997, just before the Ryder Cup, Guadiaro to Algeciras coastal highway dual-carriageway upgrade was completed and in 2002 the construction of AP-7 motorway helped visitors reduce their drive time to the resort.

McMicking continued to live out his later years in Sotogrande until his death in 1990.

One of longest-established residents Lucrecia Aldao, 61, from the Philippines, has seen nearly five decades of its trans-

From small time polo to international golf

n the early days new courses at San Roque, after polo left the Almanara and La Reserva, beach for the green rapidly climbing up the Top grassy fields, it was Ten chart in Spain. a common sight to Every year the quality of the see families with regattas from Puerto Sototheir picnics spread grande are becoming more o u t next to the ‘cancha’, and more important. the local gardeners sitting On top of this, Sotogrande with their families next to could soon become the members of the British Ro- Equestrian Show Jumping Centre for Europe as plans yal Family.

Now it is an extremely well are going ahead to introduorganised 5-star event, and ce top class competitions amazingly still free to the throughout the winter, public apart from The Gold when it is too cold cup Final on the very last and wet to celebrate events in day of the summer season.

And Golf. After the huge Northern Europe. success of the Ryder Cup, And most amazing Volvo Masters and Amex of all, is the increWorld Championship at dible new inland Valderrama we now have beach and mini Spain's first Municipal cour- ocean complex at se at La Cañada, as well La Reserva. Spain’s as the amazing Real Club most exclusive inland de Sotogrande course and beach resort.

M & l aarria e M & u l e iapp iiggu M M

ii

There has been a serious amount of spending in the extended port area, Ribera del Marlin, as well as in the hills up towards La Reserva golf.

There is a very real sense that the place has upped a gear in the last three or four years and all of Sotogrande’s 2,500 hectares are being carefully planned and used.

This is best showcased by La Reserva’s man-made lagoon, which saw sand brought over from Morocco.

“It’s three or four times bigger than the blue lagoon in Estepona,” adds Brian Nelson with a distinct tinge of pride.

Sotogrande’s story goes back to the 1960s, when in 1962 an American Filipino family invested millions into Sotogrande to make it what it is today.

Stanford University graduate Joseph McMicking and his family were looking to find a suitable place on the Mediterranean, when his cousin found Sotogrande.

Joseph McMicking purchased the company Financiera Sotogrande del Guadiaro and submitted a plan to buy the 1,800 hectare estate, which was later approved by the Spanish authorities.

From there he commissioned Robert Trent Jones, a famous golf architect, to design the Royal Golf Club of Sotogrande.

Building on the success, in

Sotogrande is a small community which has what everybody wants.

To live here is unbelievable. It’s extremely safe, there is no crime here.

Equestrian Equestrian Team Team HIPICA at SAN ROQUE CLUB DINING CENTRAL: The port comes alive at night formation.

Gatecrashing El Molino del “I arrived here in 1968 and Conde’s waterfront restaurant grew up in Sotogrande. Since for a drink we meet 49-yearthen it’s changed in so much old Theresa Cohen, 50, who as its grown. Sotogrande is a moved to Sotogrande from Oxphilosophy…it’s a philosophy ford a year ago. of family, of friends. It’s a low “Among friends we jokingly call key society, and everybody it the ‘new Marbella’. Not in a here is low key. flashy way but Sotogrande is “You can run into some exhow Marbella used to be betremely rich, extremely famous fore it got too commercialised,” people and nobody will bat an she tells us. “Here it is differeyelid. The place itself may ent, being a gated community I have changed, and is modthink helps that exclusivity. ernising, but the philosophy “The restaurants in the area, remains the same.

I believe, are world-class: fine “Sotogrande isn’t commercialwines and the best seafood ised compared to other areas, dishes around.” which is a big draw but it’s getThe marina is yet another highting there. Every year there is a light of Sotogrande where the new twist and turn.” welcome is warm, the hospitaliAt the marina we stopped at ty outstanding and the sporting the long established Hairy offer unequalled by anywhere Lemon, where owner Lorenc else in the world that’s not a has allowed the ‘Soto’ school town or a village but merely a of thinking to heavily influence gated community.” his international menu.

Sotogrande has undoubtedly You only need to sit down at become the benchmark resort a quayside restaurant to overfor residential luxury living and hear how multicultural this quality sport tourism. place has become. ConversaIt is easy to agree with Lucrecia tions are conducted in SpanAldao when she said ‘I don’t ish, German, French, Italian, think Sotogrande will ever lose Scandinavian - it’s a veritable its sparkle.’ tower of Babel.

Pony club | Birthday parties Professional riders and trainers of riders and jumping and dressage horses Livery in boxes and paddocks Field & beach horseback routes Summer, Christmas & Easter camps Exams & galloping courses Sports technician courses | Farm school Sale of jumping horses and dressage Jumping and dressage clinics with professional riders

Miguel Torres: 651 929 231 Mariapi Rico: 607 618 081 Urb San Roque Club, N-340, km 127, salida 127

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Sotogrande International School SOTO educates more than 900 children SNAP... from over 44 different countries

Up Soto creek with a paddle Arriving in Sotogrande style, Jon Clarke takes a trip down the Rio Guadiaro

ROW YOUR BOAT: Life afloat Jon Clarke taking a trip down the Rio Guardio (above)

I

T is by far the most exciting way to arrive in Sotogrande.

But you are likely to get wet so don’t bring your gladrags.

One of the best family adventures on the Costa del Sol, you can rent a kayak and paddle the whole way down the Guadiaro river from El Secadero, which is actually in

Casares, to the mouth of the river at Sotogrande port.

Taking a couple of hours, you will see a huge range of birds and feel like you are in total wilderness for much of it.

There are even a few rapids to get the heart racing.

Organised by Andalucia Activities, kayaks come in three sizes and can comfortably take three people in the larger ones.

I joined a group descent, with around 100 people in dozens of canoes, arriving early and getting kitted out properly, with a full safety drill before heading off.

But you can also get a special day out for groups or individuals organised by Andalucia Activities.

And as well as kayaking, the company also offers walking expeditions as well as paddle board lessons and OARS OF FUN: Kayaking, paddle boarding and wakeboarding on offer wakeboarding.

Dressing down A playground for royals, footballers and politicians, Diana Tang gives her roundup of the high-class resort

Tech this out!

How a computer geek created the coolest restaurant in Sotogrande

W

HAT does an American tech developer do once he has sold his successful company?

Ask Laurence Forcione, who is celebrating his restaurant’s first anniversary in swanky Sotogrande this month.

Switching coding for cooking, Laurence has managed to make Foodisiac the most exciting dining spot in this exclusive enclave.

The extremely chic restaurant in the marina which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner has an interior design to turn competitors green with envy - but that’s not strictly why this eatery has ‘made it’. Laurence and his wife-cum-business partner know a thing or two about food, having trained at the famous Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris.

“We have such a passion for cooking and love Sotogrande so it was a no brainer to open a restaurant

here,” Laurence explains.

And having grown up in the French capital with an Italian mother, he is no stranger to haute cuisine.

“We have a built-in bakery so all our bread is homemade and we have a very professional kitchen with six cooks rotating,” he adds.

“We source almost everything locally and our ingredients are organic, we pride ourselves on our quality.”

The menu - Mediterranean with an Asian twist (including brand new sushi options) - is also reasonably priced. FRESH CUISINE It is perfectly tailored for the entire family as well as more demanding OPEN EVERY DAY 9AM TO MIDNIGHT foodies and wine lovers and comes BREAKFAST – LUNCH – DINNER garnished with stunning marina views.

Visit www.foodisiac.es for more information or call 856 399 163

S

OTOGRANDE is about understated elegance and quiet, unshowy glamour.

The polar opposite of Puerto Banus, it is the perfect destination for captains of industry, royals and refined celebrities in the know, of all nationalities.

Inside its exclusive gates and hedges, everyone from golf pros to royal princes and A-list models to footballers can come and go without being pursued by cameras and autograph hunters.

This is a family-friendly resort for the sporty set, with sailing, fishing and horse riding trumping bar crawling and clubbing.

If Porches and handbag pooches are status symbols in Marbella, Landrovers and labradors are more to the taste of the unshowy Sotogrande set.

If it rained a bit more it would be green wellie country.

But while the community oozes influence and affluence, it is anything but snobby. People come here to leave their high powered life behind and live

PRIVATE: Fergie’s Sotogrande pad

like ordinary folk, even though many of them are quite the opposite.

You don’t hear too much about the resort’s celebrity scene and that’s the way they like it so you may be surprised at some of the names on our list of well-known public figures who either holiday or have a des res in Sotogrande.

They include former British prime minister Tony Blair (right), who is said to own property in the enclave and has been spotted on various holidays there, as well as current Gibraltar leader Fabian Picardo and former leader Peter Caruana, who reportedly invested in Sotogrande to indulge his passion for golf.

The Botin family, who own Santander bank, are said to own property in Sotogrande, as well as the wealthy Ayala family, who own their own private polo field.

It is here that you might well spot the Duchess of York (below) or one of the young British royals, enjoying dinner at super exclusive Cancha Dos restaurant, while British princes Harry and William have played polo in the annual summer tournaments at Santa Maria polo club. Their father Charles did too.

On the subject of royals, keep your eyes peeled for French aristocrat Louis Alphonse de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou, who brings his wife María Margarita Vargas Santaella and three children to Sotogrande to enjoy the opulent paradise.

MANSION: Hoddle’s five-bed home They are big fans of polo and spend a lot of time at Santa Maria Polo Club, especially in August when you could find them clapping from the VIP sidelines during the International Tournament.

Spanish TV celebrities, such as Ana Rosa Quintana, are regularly seen at the polo events in the resort as well as the many restaurants.

British actors, meanwhile, such as Mike Gwilym, formerly of the Royal Shakespeare Company, is often seen in the resort, while DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles bought a property in the marina a few years ago.

Footballers have long been well represented in Sotogrande, and have included Glenn Hoddle (above), the former England manager and former Liverpool star Glen Johnson (left), while Irish motorsport legend Eddie Jordan has a villa there.

A long time visitor, he fittingly described the place as the ‘nicest urbanisation in Europe’ with some of the ‘best weather’.

Golfer Tony Jacklin owned the land on the river estuary where Jordan now lives, having bought here in 1983.

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Bucking the trend SOME 80,000 people are descending upon Sotogrande for the annual World Polo Tour circuit event at Santa Maria Polo Club.

For a month, the ‘Wimbledon of polo pitches’ is hosting ten teams of 50 horses and 200 staff, along with spectators, who include the Brunei and British royals.

Four of the tournament’s championship cups are classified as World Tour cups, signifying the event’s prestige.

And equally prestigious is the host club.

The club’s PR manager Pilar de la Puente told the Olive Press: “Sotogrande is the known as ‘the cathedral of European polo.’ It’s the best club in Europe and the ranked third in the world.”

Though the tournament is unsurprisingly posh, with such high-end sponsors as Maserati and Cartier, it does have one bit of democratic flare.

For every match except the final, attendance is open and free to the public, with crowds usually growing above 50,000, and this year is promising to be the biggest yet.

Ready for takeoff Sports buff James Stewart has golfed with US presidents and cricket for the MCC as well as being the local Savills kingpin for decades, writes Jon Clarke

M

UCH of James Stewart’s life has hinged around sports.

After batting for the MCC, the Costa del Sol and East Malaysia, he turned his hand to organizing golf tournaments.

And not just any competition, mind… the Ryder Cup being

EX-PRESIDENT: Bush Senior

Jump start

one of his scalps, don’t you know.

Indeed, it was Stewart - the boss of Savills in Sotogrande - who helped to ensure that everything went to plan when the globe’s top golfers played at the world’s leading tournament at Valderrama in 1997.

A member of Spain’s most prestigious club for 30 years, he was asked by the then-owner Jaime Ortiz-Patiño to help him bring the Ryder Cup to Spain.

Being a long-time member of London’s MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club, for anyone who doesn’t know) certainly helped, as did his international sporting contacts.

"It was a great honour for me and I got to meet some top players," he says. "Seve was by far my favourite, a true gentleman and ambassador to the sport."

Luckily for him it all went to plan and he has since teed up with numerous famous sportsmen, including US President George Bush Snr, Prince Andrew, as well

They’ve played alongside Mel B, Jools Holland and even performed for the Spanish King

S

OTOGRANDE is the home of one of Andalucia’s best jazz bands the New Orleans Jumpband.

The group of expats have played for the King of Spain, the opening of Real Madrid’s training facility and played festivals in France, Spain and the UK. On top of this Seve Ballesteros and Darren Clark have sung with them and they have played with Lonnie Donegan and Jools Holland, as well as backed Kenny Ball on a Spanish Tour.

Its story began in 1987 when music teacher Dave Gorodi, a graduate from the

Royal Academy of Music, decided to set up a group.

Sadly the only two people he knew who had an inkling about music were Nick Lee, a very talented flute player who played a bit of guitar, and Mike Izatt, a singer and harmonica player who had just left his well known Heavy Rock band in Barcelona. Mike also played a bit of guitar.

Nick agreed to play bass and Mike agreed to play guitar. David played piano with his left hand, trumpet with his right as well as operating the Yamaha drum machine which sat on top of the piano. They all sang !

The audience however, seemed to prefer the Jazz and they had soon become The New Orleans Jumpband, and found a drummer, and a pianist, and a saxophonist.

As a five piece, (Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Sousaphone and Banjo), their fame spread and they have had countless musicians and celebrities sing with the band over the last few decades.

Their most recent gig was at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival this year, where they were doing a very special farewell performances after 30 years at the sharp end.

as three former England cricket captains.

And when not on the course he occasionally dabbles in selling the odd property here and there.

Joking aside, there is actua- TEE TIME: Prince Andrew lly nothing that Stewart doesn’t Spanish market is growing know about property in the area. stronger as the economy grows “I’ve been in this same office for and people have more money 20 years,” he jokes. “And while to spend." there is no easy transaction and He believes the renovation of so many issues always popping the Almenara hotel this Autumn up, not to mention too many (and that it will be taken over by agencies, I still enjoy it.” a big international brand) will be While this year is proving to be a great boon for the resort. a year of ups and downs, he He also believes that Sotogranremains incredible optimistic for de is slowly moving upmarket towards the glamour and glitz the next decade.

"I am very optimistic about So- of Marbella with restaurants like togrande. The last few years Trocodero and the Beach. have been difficult with the shock “The Ribera del Marlin port area Brexit result and the continuing has also really changed things in uncertainty, but things have re- the port and is buzzing most nicovered relatively quickly. ghts in summer,” he adds.

"The British will definitely be “There is definitely a change in coming back, additionally, the the air.”

For more information, please visit www.js-sotogrande.com or call 956 795 300

Golf glorious golf Sotogrande is home to more top-notch golf courses than you can shake a nine-iron at

I

T would not be unfair to call Sotogrande the home of Spanish golf.

After all, it has some of the oldest courses in the country and has even hosted the Ryder Cup. Indeed, anyone with half an interest in sport will remember the fantastic last few holes of the 1997 Ryder Cup, when Colin Montgomery played the best round of his life.

That was at Valderrama, now viewed as one of the must-play golf courses in Europe, beautifully maintained, pricey and, some say, a touch too challenging.

Golfers up for a change should try Alcaidesa, claimed to be the only Links golf course in southern Europe.

Seaside courses require a different style of play from your standard 18 and if the ball lands in the water, forget it!

As an added touch, Alcaidesa may be the most scenic of all the Sotogrande courses, with breathtaking coastal views to Gibraltar and North Africa.

It might explain why the course entices a serious number of high-quality events to its doors each year, from parties to society weddings.

There are, of course, half a dozen more courses on the Sotogrande circuit.

Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, a.k.a. the ‘Old Course’, was the first to be built in the area and said to be a dream to play after tricky sister course, Valderrama. It was here that so-called Bermuda grass was first introduced into Spain.

Almenara Golf, designed by Ryder Cup champion turned respected course architect David Thomas, is up in the hills where celebrities Glenn Hoddle and Glen Johnson have homes.

La Canada, La Reserve and San Roque complete the ‘famous five’.

“There are few places with such a high concentration of great golf courses,” says Ian Bateman, of Holmes estate agents.

“When you add the fabulous tennis facilities and polo club, with its 11 full size courses, the facilities in Sotogrande are second to none.”

Apartment, Marina de Sotogrande

Villa, La Reserva Sotogrande

5 bedrooms / 5 bathrooms • 272m2 built, 90m2 terrace Underfloor heating • Storage room • Marina views • Gated community Covered terrace • 24hr service • Excellent conditon • Sea view

5 bedrooms / 5 bathrooms • 1139m2 built, 5694m2 plot Front line golf • Panoramic view • 24hr security service • Fully furnished Cinema room • Gym • Excellent condition • Gym • Video entrance

Price: €1,400,000

Price: €2,000,000

ref: L171-01335P

ref: L171-01359P

House, Sotogrande Bajo, Sotogrande

Apartment, Marina de Sotogrande,

Villa, Los Altos de Valderrama

4 bedrooms / 4 bathrooms • South facing 360m2 built, 1350m2 plot

4 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms 198m2 built, 93m2 terrace • Marina view • Fireplace • Storage room • Amenities near Air conditioning •Unfurnished • Close to sea

5 bedrooms / 5 bathrooms 763m2 built, 2000m2 plot • Storage room 24hr security service • Air conditioning Brand new • Central heating

Price: €1,200,000

Price: €875,000

Price: €2,495,000

ref: L171-01358P

Apartment, P.N. de Guadiaro 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms • Close to shops 115m2 built, 109m2 terrace • Storage room Transport near • Gated community Air conditioning • Excellent condition

Price: €275,000

ref: L171-01354P

ref: L171-01342P

Pueblo Nuevo De Guadiaro Calle Sierra Bermeja Tel. 956 795 300 / 628 574 953 WWW.JS-SOTOGRANDE.COM

ref: R171-01193

Villa, Sotogrande Alto, Sotogrande 7 bedrooms / 7 bathrooms • Front line golf 960m2, 4386m2 plot, 171m2 terraces Cinema room • Gym • Excellent condition Central heating • Home automation service

Price: €3,450,000

ref: R171-02045

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FEW people know Sotogrande better.

Consuelo Silva has been helping people find the right properties in Sotogrande for 20 years.

And she still thinks it is one of the best value places to buy in southern Spain.

“You can buy an amazing apartment right on the beach here, with gardens and pool, for €1.25 to 1.3m, which at the Puente Romano in Marbella will cost you over €3m.

“I know which I would prefer,” she adds.

Meanwhile a four-bed villa a little bit inland costing around €700,000 would set you back over €1m in San Pedro.

“Yet Sotogrande is more exclusive, has more space and less people,” she adds.

SOTO SNAP...

The Valderrama Club is regarded as the best golf club in Spain and was host to the 1997 Ryder Cup

Steady hands Who wouldn’t want to buy in Sotogrande when it’s half the price of Marbella, estimates Consuelo Silva And she should know, having first moved to the Costa del Sol in 1986 from her native Peru.

After living in various places on the coast she ended up in Sotogrande, where she started working for the resort’s administrator in the 1990s.

“Sotogrande is not a cheap resort and you rarely find anything under €300,000 for sale,” explains the mother-of-two, whose son and daughter both work in the resort.

Much of this is due to the distinct lack of new developments in Sotogrande, with the exception of Taylor Wimpey, Senda Chica and La Reserva.

“We have almost nothing for sale in the really established Kings & Queens area, although a few may come on the market soon at the €3.5m mark,” she says.

“It’s so well sought after anyone interested would have to move fast.”

She is also a big fan of the La

Contact Consuelo at www.sotograndeonline.com or 956 785 035

Reserva development, where her daughter has been working in a landscaping capacity.

“It’s one of the last bits of available land so it is lucky it is being developed really well, of a really high quality,” she says, adding that the Beach has added a new dimension to the enclave.

PEAKS AND W TROUGHS...

FAMILY AFFAIR: Consuelo and son

...But the turbulent last nine months has been as much about the weather as Brexit, explains Ben Bateman of Holmes Sotogrande, now in its 40th year in Sotogrande HO would have thought the weather would have been one of the main reasons the property market has been a bit up and down over the last nine months.

But that is exactly how boss of Holmes Sotogrande, Ben Bateman, explains the peaks and troughs he has seen in the upmarket enclave of Sotogrande since last summer.

While 2018 was the company’s best year since the beginning of the recession in 2008 it was very much a year of two halves, with half the year being very strong and half being very weak.

“It’s been a fairly tough nine months,” he explains. “April to June last year was quiet largely due to the excellent weather in northern Europe and relatively poor weather here.

“It meant few people came over for those long bank holiday weekends to double as golf and property-hunting trips.”

This then led into a summer of plenty of leads and buyers, as is often the case, which thankfully led into a record autumn, but

again the same weather scenario in Autumn meant that the last quarter of 2018 was also disappointing.

It meant, once again, fair weather visitors had no reason to take a short trip south for a spot of sunshine and house hunting.

“As a result we had very little overflow from the end of 2018 into 2019, which led to a very slow start to 2019,” continues Ben, whose father Ian set up the agency in 1979.

“Luckily a record Spring with loads of people over house hunting has improved our outlook for the year and we feel confident of a strong showing through the summer and later half of the year.”

His take is that people were holding back and waiting to

PROPERTY EXPERT: Ben Bateman

see what happened with Brexit, which was set for March 29.

“But when it became clear there was not going to be a deal and there was another extension and the press stopped going on about Brexit, the mood completely changed,” he says.

“Potential buyers were finally of the thinking, ‘sod Brexit we need to get on with our lives, whether it is Soft Brexit, hard Brexit or no Brexit’.

“Since then it has been fantastic and there are loads of good healthy buyers… and the decision making is shall we buy a €500,000 apartment or buy a €1m villa.”

The average sale so far this year has been €750,000, up from €695,000 in 2018 and Ben thinks it may end up being an excellent year.

He continues: “If we get good autumn weather it could be a record year.”

He is also keen to stress that Sotogrande continues to go upmarket in terms of its high end quality lifestyle and is increasingly competing with the top resorts, such as Zagaleta, near Marbella.

“It’s much nicer here and there are plenty of €3m homes now being sold.

“Basically it is a completely different scene to Marbella. Sotogrande is a family orientated destination it is not a place where people come ‘Trophy’ hunting (ED: unless they are polo ones, surely Ben?).”

He continues: “This is a fabulous place for families and there are now over 1000 pupils at the excellent private school, our rugby Club is growing with over 300 kids signed up and the under 16s winning the Andalucian championships this year.

“Our star is rising and I expect it to continue doing so for the next few decades,” he adds.

To contact Ben and the team, visit www.holmesotogrande. com or call 956 795 340

CS74_advert_essential.pdf

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When looking for a suitable site to build an exclusive Mediterranean resort, founder McMicking asked cousin Freddy to travel along the whole Spanish coast…on a motorcycle!

Puerto of Plenty

We specialise in Valencian style rice dishes fused with Meditearranean cuisine and tapas Let yourself be surprised by the charm of Sotogrande in the heart of our beautiful port

Rice rice baby Located in the heart of the new commercial promenade in Sotogrande, is El Molino del Conde, a resROYAL APPROVAL: Prince Louis taurant with more than 20 years of history in the area, Sotogrande is a and this year with a new DRINKS, COCKTAILS, TAPAS, SNACKS, address in front bringing magnet for big SWEETS AND MORE freshness and bringing it to spenders and a the level that its customers Open everydayof 13.00 - 23.30 and sotogrande deserves, seasonal fleet tel: 956 61 55 69 molinocondesotogrande@gmail.com always true to his identity as pleasure boats a Valencian style Arroceria del Marlin (Sotogrande Blue), Local 34, San Roque, Spain and now with a new menu Rivera though its popularity www.molinodelcondesotogrande.com of snacks, tapas and more does nothing to dent novelties. its sophisticated Be sure to visit and rediscover our beautiful restaurant aire, discovers Tim with the best views of SotoMcNulty grande!

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Call +34 956 61 55 69 or visit www.molinodelcondesotogrande.com

NOWN as the ‘little Venice of the Mediterranean,’ Sotogrande’s famous marina is home to an armada of mega yachts.

Bluer than blue and complete with tree-lined canals and bridges, it is a port of call for many members of

BIG SPENDER: Santander boss Emilio Botin among seagoers

European high society.

“Around two years ago, residents started to see more

Striking gold again Brian Nelson once ran Golden Coast, one of Marbella’s ‘top four’ big agencies. Now he’s running a more sophisticated operation, writes Tim McNulty

H

E once ran one of Marbella’s top four property companies.

With 150 staff, the agency Golden Coast sold at its peak up to 100 properties a month.

Based on the Golden Mile, it rivalled giants such as Interrealty and Viva, with customers snapping up properties on the Costa del Sol, like most people buy cars.

Now two decades later Brian Nelson has returned to the Costa del Sol, this time to the very different resort of Sotogrande.

“I always had a vision for Sotogrande, at one time in 2006 I personally invested in the area until the unforeseen happened in mid 2007 and eventually the market came crashing to a halt in 2008,” he explains from his office in Sotogrande port.

“I believe that Sotogrande now is the jewel of the Costa del Sol. “The exclusivity of the area attracts a more discerning and selective clientele,” he adds.

The Northern Irishman has fond memories

and more superyachts getting parked by the port,” explains estate agent Brian Nelson “The beauty is you can sail in and berth the yacht outside right outside your house, the port is becoming full there and are people coming from everywhere now,” he continued.

Despite not forming part of the resort’s original development the marina now boasts a total of 1,382 berths and some of the steepest mooring costs in Europe.

Elegant apartments and

BILLIONAIRE: Inditex boss Amancio Ortega and his big boat

multicoloured townhouses cluster around the marina while the quayside promenade features high end gastronomic dining and fashionable boutique shopping.

The floating palaces parked up here have included ones owned by Top Gear co-host Eddie Jordan, the late former Santander Bank president Emilio Botin and Bourbon prince Louis Alphonse.

Come summer time, and everyone from princes William and Harry to Mariah

PROPERTY GURU: Brian Nelson

of watching his four children growing up in Marbella’s Los Monteros area.

Though Marbella’s ‘beauty will never fade,’ the resort can no longer draw the PRINCELY PAIR: Sotogrande polo players, William and Harry cosmopolitan jet setters who are now moving to Sotogrande in increasing numbers, he believes.

“Over the last few years there has been a shift in the market seeing a lot of the older clients moving away from Marbella and taking up residence in Sotogrande due to the peaceful surroundings and tranquility,” said Brian. enquiries@nelsonestatessotogrande.com Building on his experience Brian has built a strong local network of agents, and puts Puerto de Sotogrande, Plaza del Canal, Bloque C Locales 6 y 7, 11310 Sotogrande value in trust, having had the same law firm for the past 20 years. www.nelsonestatessotogrande.com “I believe having a shop front presence and a fixed phone line is just as important as the ability to value a property at the correct market price,” he concludes.

Carey can be spotted as A-listers seek to avoid the crowds further down the coast.

As much as the locations it is seclusion and lack of gawkers that sees celebrities have their skippers set a course for Sotogrande.

Located at the eastern entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, this ‘millionaire’s playground’ has become a mandatory stop for any vessel starting its stay in the Mediterranean.

Included in this number is know soto fan Rod Stewart, the singer was recently snapped in St Tropez on the luxury yacht Emotion 2 which costs a sweet €139,000 to charter.

But those without the wallet to match, there are other ways to enjoy the tranquil paradise with water taxis available for a quick trip around the puerto.

Just don’t going embarking on any a european city cruise in one’.

tel: 956 92 28 55

Only the sun covers the coast better than us!

For more information and sales visit www.

VILLA SOTOGRANDE ALTA nelsonestatessotogrande.com, email enquiries@ 5 bedrooms • 5 bathrooms • 1,649m2 built • ref: 341935 nelsonestatessotogrande.com or call 956 92 28 55 Luxury Villa for sale and rent in Sotogrande Alto, Andalusia.

An impressive and unique villa located in a very quiet cul-desac, offering quality interiors and remarkable outdoor spaces. to the highest of standards. Ground floor: grand reception hall with two staircases leading to the upper floor. The ground floor

SPEEDING THROUGH: Top Gear co-host Eddie Jordan has docked his superyacht in Sotogrande

tel: 956 92 28 55 enquiries@nelsonestatessotogrande.com Puerto de Sotogrande, Plaza del Canal, Bloque C Locales 6 y 7, 11310 Sotogrande

www.nelsonestatessotogrande.com

Only the sun covers the coast better than us!

VILLA SOTOGRANDE ALTA 5 bedrooms • 5 bathrooms • 1,649m2 built • ref: 315475

Luxury Villa for sale and rent in Sotogrande Alto, Andalusia.

An impressive and unique villa located in a very quiet cul-desac, offering quality interiors and remarkable outdoor spaces. to the highest of standards. Ground floor: grand reception hall with two staircases leading to the upper floor. The ground floor comprises of a large drawing room and open plan dining area, large kitchen and utility room, three en-suite bedrooms, office, guest toilet, and a large covered terrace in front of the living, dining and kitchen area. Right of the kitchen is a great barbecue area, all tiled. The swimming pool is surrounded by unique designed gardens. First floor gallery from where to access the two bedroom suites including the master suite, both with their private terraces, and dressing rooms.

€4,500,000

€995,000

€640,000

VILLA SOTOGRANDE COSTA

APARTMENT SOTOGRANDE MARINA

4 bedrooms • 4 bathrooms • 540m2 built • ref: 335894

3 bedrooms • 4 bathrooms • 162m2 built • ref: 341740

Immaculate Villa built over three floors centrally located in Sotogrande Costa, near shopping facilities, the Church, Sotogrande International School, the marina and the golf courses. The property comprises of an entrance hall, living / dining room, kitchen, and three bedrooms and a family bathroom on the ground floor. In addition there is a bathroom used as a guest toilet. Master suite with it’s large bedroom, bathroom, dressing area, and an open terrace is located on the second floor.

This spectacular south facing apartment consists of 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, large living room, fully fitted kitchen, air conditioning hot/cold, utility room, telephone entry, large terrace plus garden, communal swimming pool.

Fully furnished to a very high standard by a well known designer, and SOLD fully furnished. This property is located in the prestigious development of Ribera del Marlin overlooking Sotogrande Marina, 5 minute walk to Sotogrande Port and local restaurants. and beyond.

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The beach club El Cucurucho (The Cone) gained its name due to the strange architectural shape on its roof

WHERE TO EAT

Don’t pass the port!

Number one NO visit to Sotogrande is complete with a pit stop at the emblematic Polo One. Its inspiration came from the beautiful and opulent surroundings of the celebrated enclave.

“We are blessed with a rich and varied tradition of polo along with other sporting activities such as golf, yachting, and tennis, among other sports,” explains owner Nicu Muntean.

“We hope you enjoy the experience we provide, which includes the careful selection of fresh fine quality foods prepared to your liking by our very talented team of chefs and kitchen staff.”

Whether dining, socialising, or just relaxing on the terrace, you will enjoy the specially chosen wines and ambience.

Sotogrande has developed a distinct food scene over the last few years, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

A

DECADE ago you wouldn’t have dreamed of heading to Sotogrande to eat, unless you had a house there or had just embarked from a yacht.

Today, there are dozens of trendy places to dine with a vibrant and competitive scene to rival anything the top tables in nearby Estepona or Tarifa can serve up.

But considering the wealthy clientele who frequent this privileged enclave,

perhaps that’s no surprise.

While the resort definitively comes alive in the summer months, these days most of the best restaurants keep going through the winter.

As well as great tapas restaurants and some exciting new eateries, the more established joints are going from strength to strength.

One of the most exciting changes over the last two years has been the development of the port area, in particular in Ribera del Marlin.

It’s a buzzing hive of activity on summer evenings with hundreds of punters fighting for the best waterside tables.

However, in the winter months many of the restaurants there stay open and continue to put on events and provide diners with decent menus.

Don Diego is one of those - an intriguing mix of Mediterranean dishes fused CHARMING: Don Diego with Asian and

TOP TUCKER: Molino del Conde South American cuisine.

Run by friendly restaurateur Juan Moncayo, who also owns the family joint Moncayo in Pueblo Nuevo, there’s an eclectic choice - for example three ceviches, five soups and half a dozen salads.

Much of the quality is due to his raft of international cooks working in the kitchen under the watchful eye of Filipino head chef Nards Jet Ebilane.

Take his spring rolls or fish cakes as a starter, but leave room for his splendid fish curry or amazing Thai burger, made of succulent local retinto beef.

The wine list offers a fabulous international range from countries like Mo-

We specialise in Valencian style rice dishes fused with Meditearranean cuisine and tapas Let yourself be surprised by the charm of Sotogrande in the heart of our beautiful port

DRINKS, COCKTAILS, TAPAS, SNACKS, SWEETS AND MORE Open everyday 13.00 - 23.30 tel: 956 61 55 69 molinocondesotogrande@gmail.com Rivera del Marlin (Sotogrande Blue), Local 34, San Roque, Spain www.molinodelcondesotogrande.com

rocco and South Africa.

I liked the price of the Chateau la Gard, from Pessac-Leognan, a reasonable €50 a bottle, or the great value Pitacum at €26.

Another excellent place to eat is Molino del Conde, also in Ribera del Marlin.

Run by the well established local restaurateur Victor Hornillos, who managed the place so well, he ended up buying it, it has consistently got better and better.

It has the nicest terrace and 30 different types of rice overseen by Jaime, a Continues on page 34

FUSIÓN NIKKEI NIKKEI FUSSION COCINA THAI THAI CUISINE PLANCHA TEPPANYAKI TEPPANYAKI GRILL SUSHI SUSHI DESAYUNOS BREAKFAST CÓCTELES COCKTAILS

Ribera del Marlin, 26 La Marina, Sotogrande 682 631 323 666 551 989

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STYLISH: Foodisiac oozes charm

Soto style From page 32

local Brazilian talent.

It also has a range of meat, pasta, good fish and, above all, a big wine list with dozens of references.

Also in the same run of restaurants is the superb Foodisiac, run by a talented American couple, who opened it last summer.

It has been a successful first year and the place has a distinct swagger about it.

Open from 9am and busy for much of the day, it manages to be both stylish and cool in equal measures.

It has its own bakery and a large number of different coffees on offer, not to mention some delicious looking cakes and desserts.

I was particularly impressed with the original mix of starters, perfect for a hot summer’s day.

Paseo del Puerto s/n, 11310 Sotogrande (Cádiz) T: +34 956 790 121

This included a delicious cold cucumber soup, which is not exactly typical of southern Spain, and it was as creamy and cooling, as it was original.

I then tried a delicious wakame salad (above) with caviar and smoked salmon, which was light and spicy and looked delightful, with its flower petal garnish.

There is a lot here, and everything has a ‘twist’ on traditional Andalucian cuisine.

Finally, the true godfather of the port Midas is still going strong after over 30 years.

Well established in the extreme, this is THE place for a business lunch or a dinner to impress, sitting right by the main port area.

Staff are smart and formal and the institution is bossed by the talented businessman Luis, who keeps a close watch at most times.

In particular, you should head here for a great value menu del dia, while at night the ambience is charming in the extreme.

Interested in Asiatic food, you might also want to try the emblematic La Finca, which sits next to La Casita campsite in San Roque and is another great find.

In summer you sit around a leafy courtyard, a riot of colours and candles, while in winter you dine inside the authentic farmhouse with stone floors and fireplaces.

In the opposite direction, restaurant Mar Sana at the Milla de Plata hotel is a charming spot for an evening meal, heavy on fresh fish with its own speciality tuna menu. Just outside Torreguadiaro, it sits on a headland overlooking a rocky cove with views to die for.

Also try il Sono on Cala Sardina, which has been voted Spain’s greenest restaurant and has a genuine focus on the environment.

For more casual chiringuito fare a little closer to the resort, head for wonderful Gigi’s Beach, ensconced on the edge of the marina by the sailing club.

The creation of Georgina ‘Gigi’ Taylor, her youthful, hard-working approach to style and taste makes this a surefire winner for local foodies and the international jetset alike.

www.restaurantemidas.com GRANDE DAME: Midas is well positioned and well established

FRESH CUISINE

OPEN EVERY DAY 9AM TO MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST – LUNCH – DINNER

FOODISIAC RESTAURANT – RIBERA DEL MARLIN 25, LA MARINA DEL PUERTO DE SOTORANDE, 11310 SAN ROQUE www.foodisiac.es – Instagram: foodisiac_life – Facebook: foodisiac – reservations@foodisiac.es +34 856 399 163

BUSINESS

A stitch in time

A CLOTHING brand in Barcelona is helping sex workers to stitch together a new life with work as seamstresses.

Dona Kolors has hired 20 women who have escaped years of forced prostution to produce simple linen and cotton garments.

The social enterprise was set up by a local Catholic organization, El Lloc de la Dona, catalan for ‘Women’s Place.’

“Working here I feel empowered, relaxed and happy,” said a 42-year-old former prostitute, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

An estimated 400,000 sex workers operate in Spain, according to Spanish government figures.

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July 31st - August 13th 2019

Not so fast, climate change!

Zara reveals plans to become completely green within six years after ‘fast-fashion’ criticisms ZARA has vowed to become 100% sustainable by 2025.

The Spanish fashion giant announced last week that within six years, all of its linen, polyester and cotton will be either organic, sustainable or recycled.

It will also use only sustainable viscose - a semi-synthetic fibre - by 2023.

Its parent company Inditex, owned by Spain’s richest man Amancio Ortega, plans to extend the green plan to its other brands which include Zara Home, Pull & Bear, Bershka

and Massimo Dutti.

"We need to be a force for change, not only in the company but in the whole sector," Inditex chairman and CEO Pablo Isla said at the annual meeting.

"Sustainability is a never-ending task in which everyone here at Inditex is involved and in which we are successfully engaging all of our suppliers."

It comes as Zara’s stores are to be made ‘eco-efficient’ by the end of this year, reducing the company’s carbon emis-

BBVA corruption probe SPAIN’S anti-corruption prosecutor has called for BBVA to be placed under formal investigation as part of a probe into an alleged spying case.

It comes after revelations that the country’s second-biggest bank had hired ex-police chief Jose Manuel Villarejo’s firm, Grupo Cenyt, to investigate officials of construction company Sacyr to help stop a takeover bid by the company in

2004.

The lender has admitted to hiring the firm but says there is no evidence of spying.

The prosecutor wants the bank probed for ‘for acts that would constitute offences of bribery, disclosure of secrets and corruption in business.’

It was stated that documents seized during the investigation would prove that the hiring and allegedly illegal payments

WALK THE WALK: Zara reveals environmental plans sions while saving energy and ergy from its stores, distribuminimising waste. tion centres and offices to be It also wants 80% of the en- ‘clean’ in 2025.

Zara has made other attempts to counteract the impact of so-called ‘fast fashion’, which sees new styles and ranges shipped in every week across thousands of stores.

Customers can drop off used clothing, footwear and accessories in more than 1,300 to grupo Cenyt, a security firm owned by stores to tackle fashion's Villarejo, affected several sensitive areas waste problem. of the bank and various executives of the Inditex sells products in more institution. than 200 markets online and If the investigation is approved by investimore than 7,000 stores in gative judge Manuel Garcia-Castellon, the 96 markets, including over most the bank will face is a heavy fine.

2,000 Zara stores.

The BoJo effect

S

O Boris Johnson is the new Prime Minister and he has decided that change is needed NOW. He has transformed the cabinet, from being biased towards Remain to being Brexit driven.

One of his first changes was to bring in Sajid Javid as Chancellor, confirming a radical change in thinking in the upper offices of Government.

This means we could see the purse strings a little looser than ex-Chancellor Philip Hammond preferred.

Boris has also said that the UK will leave the EU by or on October 31 ‘deal or no deal’.

All change in the UK - but what does it mean for your investments?

Given the need for ‘no-deal’ Brexit planning (and spending), markets could be in for a rough ride in the short term.

It may be that Remainers will still do all they can to scupper Brexit, but on the face of it Brexit is now on track to be delivered.

For those already holding investments, my advice is to hold your nerve, but review your investments to make sure you have a diversified portfolio.

If you have too much exposure to the UK or EU, consider reducing this until a Brexit plan and timeframe has been agreed and factored in by the markets.

The worst scenario for investors and savers alike would be the Remainers

Venezuela oil death A FORMER executive at Venezuela’s stat- run oil company PDVSA has been found dead in Madrid.

Police in Spain’s capital have launched an investigation after Carlos Marquez, 48, was found hanged in a flat on the outskirts of the city.

Marquez had appeared in court over his alleged involvement in a money-laundering scheme.

While he denied the allegations, he had reportedly agreed to collaborate with authorities investigation corruption at PDVSA.

Hot-spitality ANDALUCIA has started the summer with the best June in history for hotel business.

The Costa del Sol has contributed significantly to the bumper season, with hotels in Malaga contributing almost 40% of the region’s take.

The average daily price of a hotel stay has also increased by 5.5% and now stands at €91.93.

The total growth recorded in Malaga hotels has been estimated at more than 618,794 tourists. Overnight stays are also up, by 1.5%, as Spanish holiday makers made up for a 1.6% drop in foreign bookings.

www.theblacktowergroup.com

forcing a general election and Corbyn years and has worked with its clients getting into power, he has threatened through the good and the bad times, to raise taxes and punish those who offering sound financial advice. have wealth, save or invest.

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If you are a seasoned investor and Website: unsure if your current investments www.theblacktowergroup.com are diversified enough, or worried about the impact the curThis article is based rent uncertainty in the UK on the opinion of the could have on your investfinancial adviser and On the face of ments/savings, or if you author, and does not are new to investing then it Brexit is now reflect the views of getting advice from a fiBlacktower. The above on track to be nancial advice company information was corthat has weathered more rect at the time of delivered than one or two financial preparation and does downturns is essential for not constitute investyour well-being and peace ment advice and you of mind. should seek advice from a profesBlacktower Financial Management sional adviser before embarking has been established for over 32 on any financial planning activity.

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38

July 31st - August 13th 2019

BUSINESS

Put on ice

L

OOKS like my first swim in the pool of our Chartered financial planner and dream villa will have to wait a little while…

OP columnist Jonathan Holdaway My wife and I have just celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary and had a delicious won’t be diving into his new pool dinner at the fabulously located El Jardin restauin southern Spain just yet rant, high up above beautiful Frigiliana –the village fast becoming one of our favourite places in the world, and where we were looking to set- will not take into account the stunning sea and/ Antonio Banderas’ tle permanently. or mountain vistas, or even the amount of land, mansion along with However, since my last piece the purchase but solely the ‘bricks and mortar’ value of the 50 others around it of our dream property off the Acebuchal road property in question. were raised to the north of the village has stalled and we have had Added to that there could be a problem if the ground! to look at plan B – whatever that is! house has been built ‘illegally’ – without per- Admittedly it doesn’t The problem has been agreeing the price, and mission from the town hall, and this was quite happen too often, the fact that Frigiliana seems to be bucking the a common practice until recently as some of but as this case trend compared to the nearby town of Nerja these places were tucked well away from main showed it can - even and the rest of Spain - as we are roads and prying eyes! to Zorro!

DREAM: Properties in Frigliana see demand outstrip supply told by local estate agents that Make sure your lawyer gets the Although you could Buying a house correct paperwork from the rele- try to register the house now this will prove very application process. demand outstrips supply in the village, does not help us at all. vant authorities. difficult, and of course you could do nothing – As the schools have now broken up in the UK, in ‘country’ is It’s not as if we made a ‘silly’ ofA ‘nota simple’ is a report from only if a cash buyer and then if you decide to sell estate agents are now bracing themselves for a inherently more the Property Registry and con- it in future hope you can find a buyer to pay at large influx of Brits – and other nationalities parfer - as others do.

It was just €35k – about 7% details of the land and least what you did for it. ticularly our Scandinavian cousins - visiting the difficult than on firms below her asking price, and truly property being sold including In the case of a new build property – extreme- area perhaps looking for that holiday apartment the maximum we could afford an urbanization whether there are any debts, ly unlikely in Frigiliana, where the town hall re- or second home in the country. with the proceeds of the sale of mortgages or unpaid taxes, stricts any dwelling to a maximum 40 square This will obviously increase demand for propour UK mortgage and the maxiwhich the unwary can ‘inherit’ in metres - it is also important to obtain a ‘licence erty, but it tends to be at the lower end of the mum mortgage we could get from the bank. the purchase if not aware. of first occupation’ (LFO) to demonstrate the price scale so should not affect the price of the Buying a house in ‘country’ - particularly with Also if the ‘nota simple’ says there is no house builder has complied with the original building sort of property we are looking at for our ‘forever a mortgage - is inherently more difficult than on the land then alarm bells should be ringing licence. It is also necessary to have this in or- home’. if buying on an urbanization or an apartment as its more than likely an illegal build. der to connect all utilities to the property, and Fingers crossed the pool will still be warm block.

In a worse case scenario the town hall could again if applying for a mortgage then the bank from the long summer sun when I do We are reliably informed that the bank’s valuers tear down the house – such as in 2000 when will normally demand to see the LFO during the eventually dive in.

Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864

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PROPERTY

39

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Cool down

i n s t a l a c i o n e s info@instalacionesemasur.com www.instalacionesemasur.com

Foreign demand for Spanish homes is cooling off for the first time since the market’s 2010 recovery FOREIGN demand is showing a marked slowdown for the first time since 2010.

After some nine years of growth it was bound to happen but it doesn’t bode well for the swathe of new developments on the Spanish coast targeting European holiday-home buyers.

Property sales deeds entered in the Spanish land register by foreign buyers in the first quarter of this year numbered 16,331, compared to 16,833 in the same period last year - a 3% decline.

Most buyers came from the UK (2,249), followed by France (1,232) and Germany (1,124), according to the latest report by Spain’s Association of Land Registrars.

Mark Stucklin of Spanish Property Insight explained: “By country all the big European markets declined together in Q1, the first time that has happened since the crisis.

“Sweden led the way down with a slump of 35% compared to last year, followed

by Belgium, Germany, the UK

and France all on the skids.

“These are the main markets for holiday-homes on the Spanish coast.”

He added that there has been an increase in demand from Morocco, China, Algeria, and

On the hunt A PLACE in the Sun is landing on the Costa del Sol this week.

The hit property show is helping a British family look for a home in the Sotogrande, Manilva and Sabinillas area.

It comes after producers appealed for expats to appear on the episode to help advise their potential future neighbours on life in the sun.

“Our House Hunters are a young family with children who will be moving to the area and whose daughter will be attending the International School at Sotogrande,” the appeal read.

“They are looking to move permanently and be a part of the community in Manilva/ Sabi-

nillas/ Casares.

“They also want to learn Spanish in order to start working as soon as possible and they are considering setting up their own business as well.”

The episode will air later in the year.

Romania, driven by economic migrants and Spanish Golden Visa investors.

He added: “Local demand grew by 4.8% in the same period to 117,529 homes sales inscribed in the register. As a result the market share of foreign buyers dipped slightly to 12%.

“It looks like foreign demand for second homes in Spain is going soft...the factors driving the change in demand will vary from market to market. I “If there are any factors in common they might include high property prices in Spain now that prices have recovered from crisis lows, high transaction costs, bureaucratic hurdles and lack of market transparency.

“The trend in foreign demand is clearly downwards and looks set to continue so in the next few quarters at least.”

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20 years of experience

Diamonds are not forever

Well it’s been a busy year for us here at M1 Legal.

So many new clients have been in touch with claims against timeshare resorts.

As the Spanish courts get ready to close in August for the summer holidays, we thought it would be a great time to round up our total successes to date.

Victories to date:

Jurisdiction victories:

112 victories totalling £1.9 million, average case value £16,964.

In all instances, the resorts argued that their cases should not be heard in Spain however the Judge ruled they can be. All these cases are now awaiting hearing dates:

Our team of lawyers will be hard at work preparing more cases to be submitted once the courts re-open in September.

CLC Continental Resorts x 4 CLC Paradise Trading x 4

CLC Club La Costa Sucursal en España x 1 Diamond Resorts x 1 RCI Europe Sucursal en España x 1 Current Cases: 714 cases in the courts 372 cases being prepared

Judgement of the month

Advertorial

Diamond Resorts Europe Ltd

M1 Legal lawyer primarily pursuing this case Adriana Stoyanova reported : “I think that this case is important.

“First we won on the jurisdiction issue against the branch of the British company Diamond Resorts Europe Ltd. “Second, the judge declared all four contracts null and void. This also included the first two contracts (2004 and 2011) that were substituted due to the last upgrade . The first two contracts were signed with two companies, which were absorbed by the British company Diamond Resorts Europe Ltd and the claim was against the branch - Diamond Resorts Europe Ltd Sucursal en España.

“This meant that it was quite a difficult scenario and the victory was a team effort.”

The main grounds on which the case was pursued was that the contracts did not comply with Spanish timeshare legislation.

The court awarded £49,729 plus interest and legal costs.

Other court victories in the month of July: CLC Continental Resorts £41,590

Silverpoint £11,253 Anfi Resorts £8,411 Anfi Resorts £8,620 Anfi Resorts £37,876 Leisure Dimensions £4,906

Maxima 1 Legal is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated claims management activities under FRN 836561

For any enquiries, email pr@m1legal.com or call 0034 951 562209

40

July 31st - August 13th 2019

PROPERTY

Megalopolis

PARADOR: In Malaga

Parador upgrades

MALAGA’S iconic paradors will soon feature new built-in cafes.

The government-run hotel chain will incorporate 12 coffee shops across its national branches, offering local products and dishes.

The new eateries will be introduced at the Gibralfaro Parador in Nerja and the Ronda parador.

Expanding

CEO of the chain Oscar Lopez said: “Paradores are expanding their gastronomic offerings and adapting to new forms of consumption.”

Paradors in Cadiz, Granada, Cordoba, Mazagon, Mojacar will also get new cafes.

Madrid to get biggest regeneration project in Europe...in 24 years’ time

AFTER 25 years of political deadlock, a masterplan hailed as ‘the biggest urban regeneration project in Europe’ is green for go in Madrid.

But don’t hold your breath as the transformational makeover of Spain’s capital will take another quarter century to complete.

Madrid Nuevo Norte, formerly known as Operation Chamartín, is a €7.3 billion megaproject in the north of the capital involving 3.3 million square metres of land and nearly 10,500 new housing units plus office space, business premises and green areas.

The plan also seeks to take Chamartín train station railyards underground, eliminating the physical barrier they create be-

FIND: Malaga ruins

British blast for the past

FUTURE: Projection of new Madrid space

tween Plaza de Castilla and Avenida de Burgos.

A large park covering 120,000 square meters will take their place.

The city is talking about an economic impact of nearly €18.3 billion in the region, and says that 241,700 new

jobs will be created. Supporters have called Madrid Nuevo Norte the biggest urban regeneration project in Europe.

But it has also been a headache for successive administrations, most recently that of Manue-

Royal household

WELL CONNECTED: Love island villa THE Love Island villa is owned by a multi-millionaire German whose wife is related to the Queen of England.

Nikolaus Broschek owns the sprawling pad on Mallorca, where the ITV reality dating series is shot. A Mail Online probe this week revealed the 77-year-old is married to Princess Ingeborg Schleswig-Holstein, a fourth-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and a member of German nobility. Broschek acquired the Love Island villa near the small town of Sant Llorenc des Cardassae in 2000. He reportedly met Princes William and Harry as they would be distant relatives and enjoy playing polo.

la Carmena whose team reshaped the old project into what it is today. Following municipal elections on May 26, control over the city has reverted to the Popular Party (PP) sharing power with Ciudadanos.

Construction is scheduled to start in late 2020, and the entire project will take 24 years to complete.

Housing

It will be built in several phases: Centro de Negocios (Business Center), Las Tablas Oeste, slated for completion in 2033, and Malmea-San Roque-Tres Olivos, due to be finished in 2037.

Over 60% of the space is reserved for service-based activities such as offices, stores, hotels and restaurants, compared with 35.46% for housing. A further 1.3 million square meters will be used to develop public transportation, green areas and street furniture.

A UK-based historical group has blasted Malaga city’s decision to only preserve ‘some’ of the elements of a recently discovered medieval metropolis.

The International History Students & Historians Group, a London-based collective of around 500 students, graduates and doctorates, wrote a letter to Mayor Francisco de la Torre saying it was ‘perplexed’ by the decision.

It comes after the Junta ruled it would only keep some of the medieval Moorish ruins found

by El Corte Ingles before destroying the rest to make way for metro upgrades.

President of the grouping Joao Viegas said he condemned the ruling.

He wrote: “The economic side should not overcome the historical side and its identity...any historical discovery brings not only an important testimony about our past, but above all it is part of the identity of a nation."

Fruity!

ESTEPONA has begun infusing its street-cleaning water with perfume to make its streets 'smell fruity'.

The expat and tourist favourite will be splashing its streets with citrus and fruit-laced water so walkers 'can experience the true garden of the Costa del Sol.' Two extra trucks carrying the special water were added to the cleaning regiment on July 1 and have been doing their magic once in the morning and afternoon ever since.

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42

July 31st August 13th 2019

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL MALAGA University has brought nutrition experts together for a pioneering new course aimed at dismantling food myths.

And one fact that’s definitely no myth is that between 15 and 20 percent of the Spanish population has some type of food intolerance, according to the course organisers.

The three-day course addressed the real impact of diet on health as well as realities around dietary

Mythbusters supplements and food intolerances.

Among the speakers was chef Xavier Pellicer considered by many to be the best vegetarian chef in the world.

The course was complemented with showcookings and tastings of dishes prepared by some of the best Malaga chefs at the Hotel Molina Lario.

Soup-er food!

Typical Spanish dish helps fight killer cancer cells, new study finds

GAZPACHO helps prevent cancer.

That’s the findings of a new Spanish study which found the typically Andalucian dish helps disrupt the growth of colon cancer

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cells.

Researchers in Almeria and Granada put the cold soup through an artificial digestive system before introducing the resulting substance to cultured tumours.

Researchers kept to the traditional recipe, made up of tomato (385 grams), cucumber (58 grams), pepper (3 grams), garlic (2 grams), extra virgin olive oil (3.3%, v / v), water ( 3.3%) and vinegar (0.16%).

All ingredients were fresh.

The results showed that gazpacho not only stopped cell growth, but that it could induce so-called programmed cell death.

“Upon contact with this type of food, a series of genes are activated that cause inhibition in development of tumours and cause them to actively

‘commit suicide’ - known as apoptosis,” explained lead researcher Pablo Campra, from the University of Almeria.

“Why and how they do it is something we are working on now.”

The data also showed that ingredients like garlic or olive oil have an antitumor effect on their own, although they would require very high doses to reach gazpacho’s cancer-busting levels. "We have seen how the union as a gazpacho enhances all these properties, making its consumption more effective at significantly lower amounts," concluded Campra.

The study was published by the Food Research International magazine.

See Tapas treatments, page 46

Spanish ginspiration TANQUERAY’S latest gin offers a taste of Spain.

Made with Seville oranges, Flor De Sevilla is the latest addition to the famous gin brand The use of Seville oranges goes back to the distillers’ roots when founder Charles Tanqueray used these world-famous fruits in his original 1830s recipe.

Innovation Project Manager Refilwe Moswane said, "The

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla reflects our love for innovating with flavour and constantly matching the quality of 200 years of Tanqueray’s rich heritage.

“This new flavour encapsulates the spirit of Seville in a perfectly balanced variant, which results in a sumptuous blend that’ll bring a little bit of Spain to your occasions."

ICONIC: Gin ‘bath’

Making a splash FANCY a bath of gin?

That’s what’s on offer at Gibraltar’s newest bar The Yard, whose quirky new offering has been making quite the splash.

The foot-and-a-half long miniature tub is shareable between mates and contains a juicy strawberry gin cocktail - with rubber duckies to boot.

It’s the brainchild of British restaurateur Richard Easter, who opened to spot in Ocean Village in April this year.

“You could say I’m a bit gin obsessed,” said Easter.

“But we’ve been really welcomed on the Rock and seemed to have filled a gap in the market.”

Make that 140 gaps - the number of gins on offer, with everything from classic dry to chocolate, rhubarb, strawberry and Turkish Delight.

The bar is open from 9am seven days a week and also serves snacks and bar food.

¿Costa del donde?

INTEREST in Spanish holiday destinations has fallen this year in favour of other popular sites on the Med. The Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, Ibiza and Menorca have seen fewer internet searches up to July this year, compared to the same period in 2018, according to TravelSupermarket.

The fall contrasts with a surge in popularity for destinations such as Turkey and Tunisia.

Resorts in the Antalya region of Turkey have jumped from 7th to 4th place on the list.

Meanwhile Tunisia has shot up to 23rd position, compared with 75th last year.

According to Thomas Cook, bookings are surging in these two destinations largely due to low costs – beers in Tunisia can cost as little as €1.

Boosted

It’s also boosted by the fact that the FCO have lifted travel bans against both countries after terror attacks – in Sousse for Tunisia and in Istanbul for Turkey.

Emma Coulthurst, travel commentator for TravelSupermarket, explained that Brits are predominantly looking for value this year.

One example is the Algarve in Portugal, which has moved up in rankings from 4th to 3rd this year.

Emma said: “It is not surprising to see more British interest in Portugal this year.

“Prices are, on the whole, slightly cheaper than in nearby Spain; a beer is likely to cost you £2.70 in Alicante but only around £1.60 in Faro, and a glass of wine around £2.”

FOOD,DRINK

44

Witch this space July 31st - August 13th 2019

Local superstition cleared out a Spanish village in the 14th century before turning it into a must-visit festival, discovers Jack Gaioni

W

E called her ‘The Witch.’

We were classmates in secondary school.

After all, her name was Hazel so it wasn’t a quantum leap

to be nicknamed ‘The Witch’ (read: Witch Hazel).

She was good-natured about her nickname and didn’t seem to take offence.

In fact, she ‘leaned into’ her moniker as ‘The Witch’ to

HISTORIC: Trasmoz is drenched in history and stories

some extent.

Hazel had long dark hair and wore ‘goth-like’ clothing.

But more than anything else, her laugh resembled more of a cackle than a giggle. I was reminded of Hazel, aka ‘The Witch’, while visiting a pueblo in northern Spain recently.

Let me explain…

Trasmoz is a small pueblo nestled in the northern foothills of Aragon within sight of the snow capped Moncayo Mountains. There is a 13th century castle that dominates above the town.

It was once was a thriving pueblo home to 10,000 inhabitants with silver, iron and lumber bringing prosperity to the village.

Today, however, Trasmoz has a mere 62 people with no schools, many dilapidated homes and only one bar/ restaurant.

Why the decline? It seems that in the 1500s, some local citizens began counterfeiting coins with silver and lead from the nearby mines.

They used the castle to house their forge and as a base of illegal operations.

Local authorities became

GHOSTLY: The village of Trasmoz in Aragon has just 62 residents...as well as a dark criminal past

from the castle. suspicious.

As subterfuge, the coun- So strong were the suspicions of witchterfeiters becraft in Trasgan rumours moz that exasabout witches brewing po- The rumours were perated local tions at night meant to scare church authorities, and the while dragging inspectors and Archbishop of chains around the castle and locals away from Tarazona, officially cursed, lighting fires in the castle then excomthe towers at municated the midnight. entire village.

The rumours were meant to scare away The excommunication orinspectors and local citizens der remains in effect today.

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SPOOKY: Demonic engravings adorn the front door of a Trasmoz home

Trasmozis the only pueblo in Spain ever to hold this dubious honour.

Today Trasmoz embraces their witch-craft heritage and status as a one-of-kind ‘cursed and excommunicated’ pueblo.

Every summer thousands flock to Trasmoz to witness reenactments that depict witches being hunted and tortured. Known as the Feria de Brujeria, (Festival of Witches), the streets become medieval markets selling their wares of lotions, magical potions of native plants and herbs said to have healing (and hallucinogenic!) properties.

There is live music, falconry demonstrations, sword fights, hypnosis and magical shows.

The highlight of the festival is a parade that features the naming of the ‘Witch of the Year’ concluding with a fireworks demonstration.

Trasmoz also celebrates All Saints day and the Winter solstice where pagan customs of fire are said to keep Trasmoz warm in the winter while scaring away evil spirits. The castle above town has been restored and is now a witchcraft museum replete with examples of cauldrons, brooms and sculptures of past ‘local’ witches.

The experience of Trasmoz with witchcraft is the exception rather than the rule in Spanish history.

Contrary to the reputation of the Inqui-

& TRAVEL

45

July 31st - August 13th 2019

UNLIKELY ATTRACTION: Trasmoz draws thousands of tourists to its annual ‘Festival of Witches’

sition, Spanish authorities were sceptical of supernatural phenomenon of any sort—witches, fortune tellers, oracles or sorcerers.

They considered witchcraft to be a northern European or Protestant superstition.

The incidents of large-scale witch trials in England, France, Germany and Colonial America far surpassed anything that occurred in Trasmoz or for the rest of Spain for that matter.

By coincidence, I met up

with Hazel recently. I hadn’t seen her in 30 years. Her hair is short and greying and she was dressed more conventionally. When we recalled her days as ‘The Witch’ she laughed … errr… she cackled.

●● The father of singer Julio Iglesias, Mr. Julio Iglesias Puga, was kidnapped in 1982 by the terrorist band ETA. He was held captive in a home in Trasmoz. He was ultimately freed by an operation involving 100 special operations policemen. ●● The inventor of the mop and a bucket, a Spaniard named Manuel Jalon Corominas, was a resident of Trasmoz. There is a monument sculpture in town to honor his handy inventions. ●● Spanish Romanticist poet and writer Gustavo Adolfo Becquer (18361870) - an artist considered by many to be the most read writer after Cervantes - often used Trasmoz and its legacy of witchcraft as a setting for many of his novels and poems. ●● The Moncayo Mastiff just outside Trasmoz, offers some of the most popular and spectacular hiking routes in all of Spain. Lower elevation oak forests give way to a series of snow-capped peaks with incredible views. On a clear day, one can see the Pyrenees to the North and Zaragoza and the Ebro Valley to the south.

DID YOU KNOW?

Situated on an idyllic square, next to the church, in the heart of Benalmadena Pueblo lies Restaurant El Muro.

With stunning views and a traditional rustic interior, it’s a must visit.

DAYTIME TAPAS MENU just €9.95 – 3 tapas, glass of wine, beer or soft drink with bread EVENINGS – Serving traditional Spanish dishes, various paellas and specialitites such as whole salt baked sea bream Monday: 18.00-22.30 Wednesday to Saturday: 12.00-22.30 Sunday: 13.00-22.30 Tuesday closed Calle Santo Domingo, Benalmadena Pueblo tel: 951 773 103

FOOD,DRINK

46

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Tapas treatments Regina Lankenau and Maya Eashwaran create the OP’s guide to the most cancer-busting tapas dinner

Crash course What you should do if you have a car accident

S

UMMER is coming and with temperatures soaring it’s a great feeling, although a tad hot at times for all expats that live and work in this tranquilo environment.

Tranquilo that is until the influx of tourists from many countries around the world, especially the UK and the rest of Europe.

Now, more than any other time of year, one needs to be careful on the roads.

With all the extra cars and drivers, who are perhaps more used to driving on the left, there is an inevitable increase in the risk of traffic accidents.

That’s why you must always make sure your tyre pressures are correct by checking them at least once a month.

Also check your car’s radiator level is topped up; the last thing you want is to overheat and have to wait for a breakdown truck on the edge of a busy motorway!

It’s also illegal to run out of screen wash, so make sure this is topped up too. And driving with flip-flops or shoes with no back is not permitted either.

Needless to say, seat belts must be worn and young children need safety harnesses.

Using mobile phones is, obviously, a definite no.

Should an accident happen, here are some tips everyone should remember: • • • • • •

Stay calm and wear the reflective vest which should be in your vehicle Get to a safe area near the accident scene, turn on your emergency flashers and use the two triangles Make sure everyone is okay and call 112, if necessary When it is safe, take pictures of the vehicles involved, damage, road signs, etc.

Get statements and contact information from any witnesses Complete the accident report: write down the other driver’s licence number, insurance details, vehicle information and phone number. Remember it has to be signed by both drivers and reported within seven days; If you need road assistance, call immediately to 900 101 369, Liberty Freephone Number, where you will be attended in your own language.

Liberty Seguros Car Insurance is tailor-made with you in mind and is perfect for expats in Spain. It offers total coverage to both the driver and passengers in case of an accident, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance by calling a freephone number. It also includes a courtesy car for up to 35 days, personal liability for you as a pedestrian or amateur cyclist and you will get a 30% compensation on top of book value in case of total loss or theft. You can also select a vehicle repair garage of your choice to trust and give you peace of mind.

Liberty Seguros is considered the preferred expat insurer in Spain today and has an extensive network of over 300 brokers and agents, who have many years of experience, and are dedicated to give you in-depth information about the different policies not only for car, but also life, home, business, commercial, funeral, etc., and advise you on the best cover to suit you and your family, in your own language.ç To find out more visit www.libertyexpatriates.es or call 91 342 25 49.

Happy holidays!

For more information, please contact: Julia Chacón on Julia@plcspain.com or phone 956 794 112

RESEARCH has long shown that a Mediterranean diet filled with fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish and vegetable oils provides superior health benefits to the typical Western diet.

Recent studies by a team of researchers at Almeria University have even linked gazpacho and salmorejo, Andalucian tapa staples, to helping prevent the development of colorectal cancer.

The refreshing summer soup is just one of several tapas whose ingredients are thought to help combat certain kinds of the disease. Here are some more ideas to round out the perfect tapas order for your next Friday night dinner.

Red Wine

Olives

A common pre-tapas snack to whet the appetite, olives provide an excellent source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that help to prevent cancer, especially breast cancer. The perfect accompaniment to bread and tapas, olive oil is also easily found in most Spanish foods, making this healthy food a no-brainer addition to your diet.

It turns out that the key component of Spain’s popular tinto de verano, aside from providing a refreshing reprieve from the summer sun, is also an effective way to deter disease. Studies indicate that resveratrol, the chemical compound naturally occurring in grapes and red wine, may help strengthen our body’s ability to stave off cancer. Though best enjoyed in moderation, it doesn’t hurt to loosen up every once in a while as decreased stress also betters the chances of prevention.

Orange jam with cheese

Oranges have long been regarded as one of the best fruits for health. Used as a spread for cheese, in Sevillan orange marmalade, and in fresh fruit drinks, oranges and orange products can help to reduce the risk of childhood leukemia and other forms of cancer while helping you cool off after a long day.

& TRAVEL

47

July 31st - August 13th 2019 Anchovies not only bring a little bit of the Spanish coastline to any tapas dish, but this fatty fish has also been linked with a lower risk of certain strains of cancer. Packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, iron, and protein, they’re a source of lean protein that come with countless health benefits.

Anchovies

Restaurante La Pampa is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Octopus Tender and crispy all at once, the grilled octopus is a can’t-miss in any tapas bar. This octopod delicacy is drenched in good omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, which are key in promoting a healthy heart. This low-calorie, high-protein cephalopod also boasts an incredible amount of B-vitamins--all pluses in the fight to prevent cancer.

Tomato Salad

Tomatoes contain an important antioxidant, known as lycopene, that is well-known as a cancer prevention agent.

Lycopene is said to be vital in fighting off prostate and lung cancer, and, luckily for us, happens to be a part of one of the most classic tapa dishes.

Chickpeas The backbone to the famous Mediterranan diet, chickpeas contain an important mineral that helps the liver eject cancerous properties from the body. Chickpeas are also high in fiber, making them useful in preventing colorectal cancers. In addition, their high content of Vitamin C serves as an antioxidant, again assisting the body in warding off certain cancers.

A Spanish restaurant with a twist, located on the edge of historic old Estepona Town in a converted farmhouse dating back to the 1890 with many features retained.

Calle Sevilla 70, 29680, Estepona Phone: 952 795 545 email: reservas@lapampaestepona.es www.lapampaestepona.es

48

July 31st - August 13th 2019

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

What’s on Gibraltar

W

e’re jammin

A POPULAR jam session will take place at the Lord Nelson bar on August 1 at 8pm just after the happy hour.

W

aiting in vain

ENJOY great music, DJs and spicy food at the Jamaica Independence Day in the Cabana Beach Bar in Camp Bay on August 3.

C

ancer buster

SUPPORT breast cancer victims at Coffee & Co, West One, Europort, on August 7 where unlimited tea and coffee will be provided.

F

ear no beer

Top DJ revealed

D

avid Guetta is the latest in a long line of stars that will light up the Rock this summer.

The pop-DJ will be leading the lineup at the Monkey Rocks festival to

THE annual Gibraltar Beer Festival will hold its annual party at the new location of Grand Battery at 8.30pm on August 9.

be held on National Day. He has released 50 million records around the world, making him one of the top musicians of the moment.

The event is getting rebranded and with the support of a Gibraltar government grant will be much more family friendly than ever before.

Extra security will be put on the doors to

Gibraltar

A lineup as bedazzling as the backdrop.

ensure drugs are not brought to Europa Point where Monkey Rocks will be held.

Children under 12 will be granted free access to the festival with an adult and there will be free buses to the most southern point of Europe.

For his part, the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said it would be ‘the biggest and best’ Monkey Rocks yet.

“Monkey Rocks is a local festival that is earmarked by young people who want to simply want to celebrate National Day with their friends,” added Picardo.

“The decision to provide extra funds will help increase security to prevent the public to be concerned about their well-being.”

With more performers still to be announced, tickets are already available online at www.buytickets.gi.

The Self-Determination for Gibraltar Group, that is involved in the organisation, emphasised National Month would be a ‘celebration’.

Star-studded

Make this your year to celebrate the rich, diverse and fascinating world of Gibraltar

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Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist.

PROUD

BRITISH

Heritage STREET PARTIES MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE HISTORY MUSIC

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A year of Culture

Bring hearts, minds and souls

The festival will start immediately after top UK politicians deliver their message of self-determination at Casemates Square.

During the day Gibraltarians and visitors turn up in the colours of red and white to celebrate the day the territory decided to be British in 1967.

The action-packed day will take place the week after Gibraltar Calling, when Take That, Liam Gallagher, Rick Astley and Mel C take centre stage.

All that will be preceded by a fun family fair at the site of the former Forces HQ HMS Rooke which promises to be a big hit too.

If art is more your thing there is already the Alwani Summer Exhibition on until mid-August.

It will be followed by the National Celebration Exhibition immediately after.

Two more festivals will be held on the Rock before that occurs.

First up will be the Jamaican Independence Day when musicians will mix it up with the island’s hot and tasty food.

Held at Cabana Beach Bar in Camp Bay, the event on the evening of August 3.

Lion Rock Crew, Don Spider and One Drop Trio will provide the entertainment.

Then, the Beer Festival at Grand Battery above Casemates will showcase a large selection of beers and ciders on August 9.

Whatever you like best, make the distinctly British surroundings of the Rock of Gibraltar your location of choice this summer.

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89

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Golf stream A SPAIN-based company which lets golf clubs sell tee times directly to players worldwide is expanding into the UK. Greenfee365 is set to arrive at Old Thorns Golf Club in Hampshire after taking Spain, Portugal and much of the rest of the continent by storm.

The company said: “Through joining Greenfee365 you will gain complete control over your product, prices and availability.

We will never interfere, maybe encourage you in one direction or another but you are in charge.

“Also, the player is a customer to the golf club, not to us, the players are users for us.

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50

tel: 685 280 713 andrewfergusson21@gmail.com Avda. Espana, 168, Estepona

July 31st - August 13th 2019 red by Fergusson’s Estepona Sponso

Jon Rahm not impressed after being dragged for outfit at Wimbledon JON Rahm has been taunted for his ‘questionable’ sense of style after rocking an out of this world look during Wimbledon this

RIVAL: Thomas Pieters

year.

Rival Thomas Pieters has been poking fun at the top Spanish golfer after he donned a suit with a black shirt emblazoned with silver stars and paired with a blue tie.

P i e t e r s mocked the putter on Twitter by asking several fashion designers to step in and offer him some advice.

QUESTIONABLE: Jon Ramm at Wimbledon

However Rahm didn’t appear to see the funny side when asked about it last week. ““No, I haven’t seen him this week,” he said when asked if he had seen Pieters in the build-up to action at Portrush.

“I saw the Tweet. I haven’t seen him, no. And I’m not necessarily going to look for him after something like that.”

Pushing

Reporters kept pushing Rahm to answer for his Wimbledon attire and asked if it was the sort of thing he would wear on an average day.

“I mean, I like to stay up with modern fashions,” he replied.

“I can always say that wasn’t my first choice of shirt to wear.

“The tie was; the shirt wasn’t. Still, you’ve got to wear it with confidence, that’s all I can say.”

The questions about his fashion sense kept coming.

Asked if it was perhaps the only shirt he had available - despite being worth almost €3 million - Rahm said other options were still with his dry cleaners.

“Yeah, for reasons — for just it didn’t come, the shirt I wanted to wear didn’t come from the dry cleaners in time,” he added.

“But still, it’s one of the shirts I have that I’ve worn before.

“It’s not meant to be worn with a suit. I’d rather not go to a Royal box with a starred shirt.

“But it’s what I had. I got compliments in the Royal box. As far as I’m concerned it was a good day.”

Open heart SERGIO Garcia’s continued love affair with the Open Championship has not ended despite a disappointing finish for the Spaniard at Royal Portrush.

Former Masters champion Garcia (pictured) made four birdies, and dropped just one shot, as he moved towards the top of the leaderboard on day one.

However the thirty-nine-year old was unable to maintain his form and finished the last day on T67, nevertheless taking home a €22,355 cash prize.

Reflecting on his long relationship with the tournament, Garcia said: I just love it. Not only because of the courses.

I’m European, so you can always relate to The Open the most.

‘And I love the crowds. The crowds are so amazing here, so respectful and so excited to watch us play.

SPANIARD: Garcia

Good thai-dings

THAILAND’s Minor Hotels, one of the largest hospitality companies in Asia, has opened its first property in Spain.

Located in the hills above Marbella, the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace has 132 guestrooms, suites and pool villas, designed

by British architect Ed Gilbert.

Public space includes several restaurants, a bar, a beach club and a kids’ club.

19

89

FERGUSSON’S ESTEPONA

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The 21,000-square-foot Anantara Spa—inspired by the Roman Baths—has 10 treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy circuit with three dedicated rooms, a hammam, aromatherapy steam rooms and relaxation areas.

The hotel features more than 1,200 original artworks, including paintings, sculptures and artifacts.

A Minor Hotel’s subsidiary, Anantara de-

tel: 685 280 713 andrewfergusson21@gmail.com Avda. Espana, 168, Estepona

Sponsored by Fergusson’s Estepona

buted in Europe in 2017 with the launch of Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in southern Portugal.

MOTORS

51

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Car delivery!

AMAZON has launched a car leasing service in Spain.

Thanks to a collaboration with ALD, customers will be able to lease a car from a number of brands from as low as €215 per month.

The vehicles come with no initial deposit, free doorstep delivery and a 50km/30day return policy.

The rental agreements are available for either 36 or 48 months and include service and maintenance, insurance, tyre replacement, breakdown assistance, vehicle registration, and excess mileage buffer.

Platform

The cars can be browsed under the ‘coches’ section on www.amazon.es.

After choosing your car and rental terms, you will be emailed a link to ALD’s online leasing platform, where you will complete a credit assessment and sign a contract.

The car will then be delivered to your doorstep.

SAY WATT? Electric car sales soar

A SPANISH fighter jet has taken part in a colourful air show to mark 70 years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The Royal International Air Tattoo saw a flypast of eight nations over RAF Fairford in the UK. Fighter jets and aerial refuelling planes created a jaw-dropping spectacle to honour NATO, a collective defense organisation consisting of 29 countries.

The flock of planes were led

by RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and featured Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. There was also Eurofighter aircraft from Germany. A French Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft took to the sky with Boeing F-15 Eagles of the United States Air Force, based at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.

A Spanish Navy EAV-8B Harrier II also took to the

THE number of new cars registered in spain fell by 8% in January.

According to statistics from dealer association GANVAM, it was the fifth consecutive monthly decline and the first January year-on-year decline since 2014.

Sales of diesel cars fell 36% to 27,035 units and a 28.9% market share, according to industry association ANFAC. It comes as the Spanish gov-

ernment’s 2019 budget is set to include an increase of 3.8 cents per liter in the tax on diesel fuel.

Meanwhile, sales of petrol cars were up 8.7% in January to 56,154, representing a 60% share. Sales of all electrified vehicles — battery electric and hybrids — jumped 30% to 8,994 and took a 9.6%, up from 6.8 percent in January 2018.

Spain, UK and France join forces to celebrate 70 years of NATO

Jetting in skies to help create a colourful show. Although many of the aircraft operated from RAF Fairford, others flew directly from their bases in the UK and in France. Six of the nations represented in the flypast were among the 12 founder members of Nato. An Air Tattoo spokesman said: “What a sight to see so many nations

Trading places

MALLORCA tennis legend Rafa Nadal has traded his yacht Beethoven for a €4m catamaran after a sailing holiday in the Bahamas.

The Mallorcan tennis ace is putting his 23-metre ship up for sale following a family trip around the Carribean on a luxury Sunreef 74 Chrissy.

The French Open champion, who is set to marry his longtime sweetheart Xisca later this year, is believed to have ordered a similar 30-metre catamaran.

Sunreef catamarans come with seven cabins, large spaces to store jet skis, kayaks and also have deck terraces that can be accessed directly from the main lounge.

The price of Nadal’s new boat could reach up to €4.8 million.

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coming together to mark the anniversary of such an integral alliance. “Not only is it an opportunity for us to pay trib-

ute, it also creates opportunities to further strengthen and create relationships through airpower.”

MUST: Stay hydrated

Drink and drive Driving dehydrated has been found to be as dangerous has getting behind the wheel drunk, according to research by a British University.

The study by the University of Loughborough found a driver with insufficient hydration made mistakes similar to someone who had consumed the quilanet of four glasses of wine.

The most common mistakes are too late braking, involuntary lane departures, either towards the center of the track or beyond the shoulder line.

Dr. Mari Carmen López, a doctor at Seat Cars, said: “dehydration can lead to dizziness, vomiting and in the most extreme cases until loss of consciousness.”

The expert added that the best option is water, accompanied by juice or soft drinks, and caffeinated drinks should be the least because they cause nervousness.

52

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54

July 31st - August 13th 2019

Wild ways to stay cool

H

AVE you any idea how much summer adds to your carbon footprint? That question crossed my mind as I whacked up the AC and prepared to sweat out another August in Spain.

Aircon – as essential as breathing on the Costa del Sol during the hottest month of the year – accounts

TRANSFERRING HEAT: Koala bear

If you can’t stand the heat you can always take inspiration from the animal kingdom … or not, writes Belinda Beckett

Humans can get the same effect at the Roman Baths of Hedionda in Manilva (just up the road from the Olive Press offices) with its refreshing sulphur spring and mineral-rich mud.

Sleep through it. It’s not just the Spanish who take a siesta during the heat of the day. Some animals ‘estivate’ in hot weather, switching their metabolism to go-slow, avoiding the need to look for food and water. The African bullfrog finesses the technique underground, making its own moisture-trapping cocoon where it can survive without sustenance for up to seven years. When the rains arrive, the cocoon softens and the frog springs back to life.

Spit on your arms like the ‘Big Red’ kangaroo. Gross as it sounds, roos have a network of blood vessels in their forearms capable of cooling down their whole body when there’s no handy billabong nearby.

MIJAS Soak your MATTERS breasts in water

By Bill Anderson like the desert sandgrouse.

The bird’s mois-

for almost 10% of the planet’s energy use. But Mother Nature has a greener alternative.

Animals don’t sweat so they have some pretty wild ways of staying chilled without contributing to global warming. Wouldn’t it be cool if we humans could adopt some of nature’s grand designs? Well, maybe …

Be more koala - hug a tree. That’s how these cute marsupials compensate for being stuck in a thick fur coat during the Oz summer. Trees can be several degrees cooler than the air temperature and when the koala clings to the trunk, its heat transfers into it, also reducing its need for water.

Wallow in mud like a pig. It’s cool, moisturising and an anti-parasitic.

Mijas is not for sale: at any price Bill Anderson ‘proud and honoured’ to be first British councillor in Mijas

I

n my last article I wrote that I didn’t know exactly what would happen in Mijas at the investiture and election of the new Mayor. Nor did I know what was going to happen immediately prior to, or after the meeting.

Nozal’s Partido Popular won the elections but with only a simple majority, not enough to form a government. This is when the big guns stepped up to the plate in the persons of the Party General Secretary and Provincial President.

In a long telephone conference on the eve of the investiture with the 9 PP councilors, Bendodo ordered the councilors to vote for Maldonado to continue as Mayor for the next two years. He was prepared to sell Mijas for the presidency of the Provincial government and the Association of Local Authorities (Mancomunidad).

He did not expect what he was to encounter. One by one the Councillors elect stated that Mijas was their priority and that they had made a commitment to the people of Mijas that they would not allow Maldonado to continue as Mayor on the strength of their votes.

The meeting continued late into the night with Nozal making sure that each councilor knew the potential consequences of defying the Pro-

vincial, Regional, and National party. There was no hesitation: Mijas is not for sale!

Two hours before the investiture the phone rang, and the order was reissued, “Vote for Maldonado or else”. The answer didn’t change.

By 19:00h that same day we were informed that disciplinary action had been initiated against all 9 Councillors for an “Act of Rebellion” and that this may result in our expulsion.

The nine of us sat impassively, but with a warm inner glow knowing that we had held up our part of the bargain with the people of Mijas who did not wish Maldonado to be Mayor again with PP votes.

I spent many years on the fringes of government in the UK and I know that this sort of thing happens, not only in politics, but also in big business.

But I ask, “Does this make it correct? It is legal, but is it moral?” Rhetorical question really.

When parties see local Councils as trading tokens for their greater ambitions, regardless of the effect on the Councils, the Municipality, and the people who voted for them, it is, in my opinion, unacceptable.

We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but our position as Councillors is a personal appointment, so regardless, we remain as Councillors and

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

10 Throaty, 12 Stack, 14 Ogles, 16 Charred, 19 Concentration, 21 Mess hall, 22 Nigh.

Down: 1 Stench, 2 Thee, 3 Rosette, 4 Deity, 5 Diameter, 6 Septic, 11 Overcast, 13 Shortly, 15 Grocer, 17 Enough, 18 Inlay, 20 Tune.

SUDOKU

Across: 7 Etch, 8 One-sided, 9 Underestimate,

KEEPING COOL: Kangaroos spit on their arms to stay cooler ture-trapping chest feathers act like a portable drinks pack, allowing it to transport water back to the nest for its thirsty chicks.

Stand on your head like the Namibian fog beetle. When the desert mist rolls in, it climbs to the peak of the dunes to collect condensation in grooves on its back, performing a ‘handstand’ so the water drains into its mouth.

The mist forest of Los Alcornocales Natural Park in Cadiz province is a good place to try this for yourself.

Make your own waterproof sunscreen like a hippo. Hippos factor out sunburn by secreting a mucus-like substance that blocks UV rays and repels water, allowing them to stay submerged for longer. In sunlight it turns red, convincing early European explorers that hippos sweated blood.

Wet yourself like a bird. Luckily we humans can cool off at the turn of a shower tap but storks and vultures have a yuckier way to stave off the August heat. They pee on their legs!

Dog-day afternoons Why Giles Brown won’t be getting a dog anytime soon...

A KILTED UP: Bill Anderson even in opposition we will support the new Mayor in any way we can for the benefit of Mijas and its residents.

I am very proud and honoured to be the first British Councillor in Mijas and to do this alongside Angel Nozal and his highly committed team and to recognize that Nozal was the only party leader to have presented a foreigner on his team, I couldn’t resist wearing the kilt, even though 8 yards of heavyweight wool (designed for the Scottish winter) was something of a challenge in the July heat of the Costa del Sol.

8 2 1 9 5 3 6 7 4

5 9 3 4 7 6 8 2 1

7 4 6 2 8 1 5 3 9

1 5 4 7 9 8 3 6 2

2 6 9 1 3 5 4 8 7

3 7 8 6 2 4 1 9 5

4 3 2 5 6 9 7 1 8

6 1 7 8 4 2 9 5 3

9 8 5 3 1 7 2 4 6

Puzzle by websudoku.com

s you may be aware by now, I live in relatively splendid rural isolation in a renovated cottage overlooking a lake. The Casita del Lago has a fair bit of land with it as well, and includes olive and fig trees.

One of the questions that I am frequently asked is why I don’t have a dog at the Casi- metres away) decided to say hello and leap ta. I suppose the main one is that, with my through the terrace doors on my first night manic schedule, I am rarely at home that at the Casita. I was chopping garlic at the much so it wouldn’t be fair to keep a dog time. I screamed, he howled and I almost inside, and I would never have one chained. lost a finger.

Friends also drop by to use the terrace on Luckily Fifty Shades, my feline compana regular basis when ion, can more than I’m working, so a look after herself. guard dog would be She once memorably out of the question as leapt like a pint sized well.

Puma on a friend’s Plus there’s the surterrier that came too prise factor. Years close to her kittens, ago my friends had causing the poor a lovely old black hound to flee.

Labrador, Jason, who Although I can’t have they left in the gara dog full time at the den. Coming back Casita, I’ve been quite on holiday one time happy to dog sit. One I decided to surprise of the finest was Baithem at night by leapley, christened ‘The Ining over the wall into ternational Jet Set Shi their garden. A black Tzu’. Totally unphased shape came boundby the constant chaing around the corner os that makes up a and I knelt down to freelancer’s life, I was say hello to Jason. able to take Bailey POSE: Giles with pooch Except Jason had to the radio with me, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, and they where he crashed on the studio sofa, on Olnow had a Rottweiler called Tyson. Who ive Press deliveries, where he rode shotgun didn’t know who the intruder was… in the 4x4 and even to interviews, where he 70 kilos of teeth and muscle tore towards was often better behaved than the people me and I set a new world record for the I was interviewing. ‘Mr. B’ recently crossed kneeling high jump, clearing the garden wall over the Rainbow Bridge himself, and I will with a high-pitched scream. miss the occasional small, snoring presThen there was the time, Lolo, the neigh- ence by my side on the sofa. bour’s dog (the neighbour lives two kilo- Bye Bye Bailey. You were such a good boy xx

If you have a sports story, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

SPORT

July 31st - August 13th 2019

You’ve been Froomed BRITISH cyclist Chris Froome has been retrospectively awarded the Vuelta a Espana 2011 title after its original winner, Spaniard, Juan Jose Cobo, was found guilty of doping.

He is now Britain's first Grand Tour winner, as the 34-year-old’s victory comes before Sir Bradley Wiggins’ 2012 Tour de France win.

GOLD: For Chris Froome

Kicking off SPAIN’s top league has gone to court with the country’s football association over a ruling that fixtures cannot be played on Fridays or Mondays.

La Liga had objected to the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s ruling that fixtures cannot be played either side of the weekend without their approval.

The RFEF’s competition judge has already rescheduled fixtures from the competition’s first three rounds.

Funeral

It comes after Alaves fans held a mock funeral during their match against Levante in protest at their game being switched to a monday night.

“Spanish football fans do not want game on these days.

“Especially Mondays, it is very difficult for fans to enjoy the game,” a RFEF spokesman said.

La Liga fear their broadcast deals may be threatened by the ruling.

President javier Tebas said, “With this illegal conduct RFEF officials are generating confusion in the national and international broadcast space, which accounts for €2 billion in annual rights income.”

The court hearing has been set for August 7.

55

Cobo, 38, was stripped of his title by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) after abnormalities in his biological passport were found, dating to 2009-2011.

Celebrating his new victory, Froome said: “Better late than never! The 2011 Vuelta holds some very special memories for me.”

Chinese breakaway

Real Madrid block Gareth Bale transfer to China, despite Zidane saying it is ‘best for everyone’

GARETH Bale has been dealt a huge blow after Real Madrid blocked his big-money move to China.

The Welsh winger would have earnt €1.1million a week had he joined Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning on a three-year deal.

But Madrid president Florentino Perez stopped the transfer in its tracks after the Los Blancos board has asked for a transfer fee.

The Wales international, 30, will now continue at Real Madrid, where he joined in

NO: To China move

STAYING IN SPAIN: Gareth Bale 2013 from Tottenham for a then-record fee of €100million.

It is highly unlikely that another European club will be able to foot Bale’s €660,000-a-week wage.

It comes after Galacticos boss, Zinedine Zidane, admitted it would be ‘best for everyone’ if Bale left Real Madrid.

His comments follow a relationship breakdown between the pair, who won have won three Champions League titles together.

After the French manager left Bale out of a pre-season game with Bayern Munich, which Madrid lost, he said, ‘we hope he leaves soon’.

He added: “We are working on his transfer to a new team.

“I have nothing personal against him but there comes a time where things are done because they must be done.”

Bale still has three years left on his contract with the Bernabeu club, where he has made

Sheikh, rattle and goal PREMIER League title-winner Shinji Okazaki has begun training with Malaga CF ahead of his move to the club.

The Japan forward, 33, is awaiting the results of his medical, but has already been pictured donning the kit of the Segunda side for training sessions.

Okazaki said he was ‘really happy’ to be joining the Blues and Whites, and now needs Malaga president Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani to officially sign off the deal.

The pacey striker has represented his country 119 times and is also Japan’s third highest all-time goalscorer with 50.

He will leave Leicester City, the club he helped win the 2015-2016 Premier League.

just 79 La Liga starts in the previous three seasons, after numerous injuries.

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Jumping for Goya

FINAL WORDS

MALAGA will host the 34th edition of the prestigious Goya Awards, which celebrate Spanish cinema, in 2020.

Whopping result BURGER King staff can now sport beards after a lawsuit in Barcelona was upheld against the fast food chain’s uniform policy.

Unexpected item POLICE have rescued a ‘dehydrated’ Moroccan woman trapped in a suitcase in the boot of a car in Almeria.

Angry bird Your expat

voice in Spain

FREE Vol. 13 Issue 323 www.theolivepress.es July 31st - August 13th 2019

Shocker as nurse refused on flight for swollen face RYANAIR has refused to board a British nurse after her face swelled up and no longer matched her passport picture.

Shannon Wotherspoon, 24, was stranded for 10 hours at Alicante airport before forking out €230 for a British Airways flight to Edinburgh.

The saga began when Shannon suffered a skin irritation that

Blown out of proportion

caused her face to swell up.

“My skin was all puffy and when I arrived at check-in I flagged that up...The woman at the counter gave my passport a close examination and immediately started shaking her head,” Shannon said.

“She also noticed a bit of water damage on the edges.

In the nick of time AN Irishman has been arrested at Malaga airport on suspicion of staging the theft of his Rolex watch in Marbella.

The 56-year-old was reportedly ‘stunned’ when Policia Nacional officers cuffed him as he was checking into his flight.

The tourist was brazenly

donning the €28,000 watch he had told investigators in Marbella the day before had been snatched from him by a stranger in Puerto Banus.

Police believe he wanted to collect the insurance for the ‘stolen’ watch. He will now face fraud charges.

A BRITISH mum has revealed how she was left with ‘Angry Bird eyebrows’ following a botched waxing session in Spain.

Colline Rees, 37, from south Wales, was left speechless after a beauty therapist in Tenerife waxed off both her brows before attempting to draw them back on, leaving ‘two slugs’ which made her look like ‘one of the birds from the game Angry Birds.’

A former alopecia sufferer, it took her NINE months for her brows to grow back.

Rees said her €3,000 holiday was ruined as she couldn’t pose in any photos.

UNIMPRESSED: Shannon and (right) passport pic

Parking hell

“She eventually asked a supervisor, and I could see her shaking her head and saying I couldn’t fly.

“The issue wasn’t up for debate.

The only positive advice I was given was that another airline might not be as fussy as Ryanair – and that turned out to be the case.”

Shannon had other forms of ID, including a driving licence, which had exactly the ‘same’ picture as on Shannon’s passport. Shannon’s stepdad Stephen Cross said: “I don’t under-

BENIDORM residents are in uproar over a car park that fines drivers based on whether the final number of the licence plate is even or odd.

Rules on a sign at the at the Las Terrazas parking space read: “Even registration numbers only on even days of the month.”

The bizarre rules led to three foreign cars being fined within ‘20 minutes’ last week, according to a social media post

by Benidorm resident Anton Bodnarec.

stand how she was refused by Ryanair but allowed by British Airways.

“Shannon was very scared and upset.” A spokesman for Ryanair said: “It is each passenger’s individual responsibility to ensure that he/she is travelling on a valid passport (not expired and not damaged), in compliance with Ryanair’s terms and conditions.” The low-cost airline were contacted for an explanation on why Shannon was refused boarding, but have yet to reply.