Olive Press Andalucia Issue 443

Estepona is flourishing and the tourists are flocking to the Garden City

Estepona

A fair start

Feria season has kicked off and we delve into the very best of them

See page 12

O P LIVE RESS ANDALUCÍA

TRICKED OUT

A BUSINESSMAN has been accused of duping an expat grandmother with Alzheimer’s into practically giving up her €400,000 home on the Costa del Sol.

Dagmar Neveling, 78, and her husband Rudiger, 81, claim they are homeless after their prized property was ‘taken’ from them by Taha al Amine Benmahjouba.

The family had sold the three-bed-

room penthouse, in Benahavis, to a friendly third party in December 2022, with the right to re-buy it in 12 months.

It’s something Taha entirely denies, insisting the couple have forged the documents that are now being investigated by Estepona Court.

The deal was effectively a short term loan that would free up some cash and allow the couple to buy back their

property after a year.

However their daughter, Isabel Neveling, 50, alleges that Taha ‘tricked’ Dagmar into selling him the right to buy the property for a small fee of just €1,000. He then purchased the home for €250,000, almost half its value.

The family now claim he has since sold it on to new owners, making a hefty profit.

Decline

Dagmar suffers from cognitive decline after being diagnosed with the most severe form of Alzheimer’s, something Taha was well aware of.

The family have known Taha for a while and he has helped them with property deals in the past.

Businessman ‘dupes’ German gran with Alzheimer’s into signing over rights to her Benahavis home

EXCLUSIVE

By Walter Finch

them,” Isabel told the Olive Press.

“She also handed him a key to the apartment, which he said was just for security purposes. That same evening, Taha changed the locks and installed an alarm system.”

For the last four months, Dagmar and Rudiger have been staying with Isabel, unable to access their own home. They cannot even get in to retrieve their belongings, which include not just their clothes and personal items, but also their medication, personal documents and even their passports and identification cards.

“The complete lives of my parents are in that apartment,” Isabel continued.

“My mother has a collection of porcelain which she started to collect when she was just a little girl - she would never leave that stuff behind.

“She signed lots of papers in German and Spanish without reading them, and even if she had read the contracts, she would not have understood when she can play with them again.”

“My own daughter, who’s just five years old, has her toys in that apartment. She keeps asking me

LOCKED OUT: Dagmar and Rudiger came home to find their keys did not fit in the

She slammed Taha for his ‘cruel trick’, adding: “You do these things through lawyers, not a few days before Christmas Eve at a late hour in the living room of a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

Dagmar and Rudiger, retired aluminium magnates

mund, Germany, had made the threebed Benahavis apartment overlooking the Atalaya golf course their home since they moved south in 1994. But they came home from dinner at Isabel’s house just days before Christmas Eve - the most important day in the German festive season - to find their keys no longer fitted in their

“Almost straight away I knew he had changed the locks on us and locked us out of our own house,” Rudiger

“I was so shocked - I couldn’t believe it. It was 10.30pm at night. There was no one we could call, no one who could come and help us get into

“We were tired, we just wanted to get inside and go to bed. But our apartment had been stolen from us.” Just hours earlier, real estate agent Taha had turned up at the door while Dagmar was home alone. With good German manners, she

naively invited the real estate agent into the living room, having little reason to suspect ill intentions. However, Taha was aware of the deadline to repurchase the property, which

TRICKED: Dagmar signed away the right to buy back her home

Balcony horror

A 53-YEAR old expat from Ukraine has been arrested for ‘throwing his partner from a second-floor balcony’ in Fuengirola.

Scrummage

ENGLAND rugby star Billy Vunipola, 31, was arrested in Mallorca over the weekend after a ‘violent’ bar brawl during which he was tasered twice by police.

Always on duty

AN opportunistic thief who tried to rob a restaurant in Barcelona was caught in the act and apprehended by a group of off duty British police, who were enjoying a stag do in the city.

Tycoon cuffed

A RUSSIAN oil tycoon has been arrested at his Costa Blanca home over an alleged €35 million fraud in his native country.

A HUGE police operation to smash the narco-trafficking gangs plaguing the Strait of Gibraltar swept up a €1.4 million haul in cash.

Dubbed Grajuela, the joint operation was launched in response to the killing of two Guardia Civil of-

CASH HAUL

ficers when known narco traffickers in Barbate, Cadiz, rammed their boat two months ago. It nabbed 31 suspected traffickers,

4000 kilos of hashish and 627 kilos of cocaine, as well as 19 high-end cars. The officers raided the house of a car rental businessman in Sancti Petri and found hundreds of bundles of cash, thought to be ‘wages’ for the gang members.

Blood money

ONE of Europe’s most wanted crime bosses has gone on the run after a Spanish court released him on bail, sparking fury in the Netherlands. The feared Karim Bouyakhrichan, leader of Holland’s 'Mocro Mafia', was captured to great fanfare in January after a fiveyear operation to unravel his criminal empire. Dutch authorities immediately requested his extradi-

Netherlands are fuming after dangerous mafia boss escaped Spanish custody upon paying €50,000 bail

tion over death threats he had made towards the Netherland’s Crown Princess, Amalia of Orange, when she was just 18. Ironically, Amalia had been

GROPER WANTED

POLICE are hunting a sexual predator in Estepona after a teenage girl reported being attacked.

The 19-year-old, described as ‘foreign’, told Policia Nacional that she was assaulted at around 9.45pm on La Rada beach.

The victim said the man groped her private parts during the terrifying attack last Sunday. When she resisted he punched her so hard in the face that she lost a tooth.

Despite police scouring the neighbourhood for the assailant, he has yet to be found.

By Walter Finch

living in Madrid until just a few months ago, where she had ‘taken refuge’ a couple of years prior after kidnap plots emerged in her home country. She has since returned to Amsterdam.

Despite his rap sheet, Bouyakhrichan’s extradition was blocked by a Malaga court on the grounds that he had serious charges to face in Andalucia, according to sources consulted by Cadena Sur.

Instead, the brother of notorious crime lord Samir ‘Scarface’ Bouyakhrichan - who

was stabbed to death in Benahavis in 2015 - was granted his freedom in exchange for posting €50,000 bail and a promise that he would show up to court every 15 days.

The decision enraged not just the Policia Nacional but also the Dutch security services.

The Dutch-Moroccan was released on provisional bail on March 19, eight weeks after his arrest on January 25, with orders to regularly sign on at a Marbella court.

Unsurprisingly, the mafia boss made just one trip to the court, on April 1. On his next expected appearance on April 15 he failed to show, leading to a search and arrest order to be issued against him.

Police sources have told the Olive Press Bouyakhrichan is being sought in the Moroccan town of Nador, which they likened to a ‘Moroccan Tijuana.

Gang sunk

A GANG that specialised in manufacturing the notorious ‘narco launches’ that have become ubiquitous in the Strait of Gibraltar has been raided. It is the latest in a string of stunning police operations to tackle the scourge of narco-trafficking in the region, after dozens were arrested earlier in the week.

The Galicia-based criminal organisation supplied high-powered outboard motors and custom-built narco-speedboats to the traffickers.

Dubbed 'Vozka', the operation has resulted in the arrest of six individuals and the investigation of five others.

Killer sausages

RESIDENTS on the Costa del Sol have warned of sausages containing needles being left on a dog-walking route.

The sabotaged treats are intended to injure or fatally wound the dogs who eat them. They have been spotted on the beach front walkway in Rincon de la Victoria and have already caused pets to be rushed to vets. The sausages were swallowed by the dogs on the La Cala del Moral promenade after being left there last week.

Locals on social media claimed they had also removed sausages containing needles from the ground. Police are investigating.

Just electric

LEGENDARY rock band AC/

DC have almost sold out their two-night stint in Spain. The band has not visited the country since 2016, when they played in Sevilla’s Estadio de la Cartuja - the same venue they will use this year.

This concert is expected to be bigger and better than the last, when lead singer Brian Johnson could not perform due to a leg injury, leading Axl Rose to take his place. This year’s events will take place on May 29 and June 1. The European tour has more than twenty stops and is named Power Up, after the band’s latest album.

STAR MAN

Pablo Alvarez says he ‘still can’t believe it’ after achieving his childhood dream to be an astronaut while cancer researcher Sara Garcia selected as a reserve

SPANISH space exploration has a new star:

36-year-old Pablo Alvarez from Alvarez has officially graduated as an astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA) at the Astronaut Centre in Cologne,

Following his graduation ceremony, Alvarez told of his overwhelming joy and excite-

“Receiving the astronaut wings is a

By Walter Finch

symbolic gesture that signifies that the European Space Agency can now assign me to a space mission at any time,” he declared.

This graduation makes Alvarez the second Spanish astronaut to join the ESA after Pedro Duque.

The agency plans to send its first new astronaut to space in 2026, with all five graduates aiming to reach the International Space Station before 2030.

And fellow Spaniard Sara Garcia (pictured left), also from Leon, is being dubbed Spain’s first female astronaut. The 35-year-old molec

Foxy fashion

FASHION designer Michael Costel

lo - behind outfits for pop stars Be yonce, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez - will be kitting out Spain's Eurovision Song Contest representatives, Nebulos sa , this month.

The dance electro pop duo from Ondara, Alicante province will be performing Zor ra in the Eurovision Grand Final in Mal mo, Sweden on May 11.

The husband-wife team of Mark Dasousa and Maria Bas will wear clothes designed by Costello, who recently showed off his creations at the Malaga Festival.

The catchy Spanish entry created some controversy as it tries to reclaim the

MY ICON Happy Posh celebrates Letizia

ular biologist - who has been leading research into cancer - has been selected as an astronaut reserve by the ESA, although she has no trips to space scheduled. While reaching the Moon may seem like a distant dream, Alva-

rez acknowledges it as a universal aspiration for many, himself included. “It’s more than just mine - it is every one’s

dream.”

However, his immediate focus lies on the technically complex first mission to the International Space Station, which will require extensive training in the coming years.

“I have just begun,” he said, “and I hope to be here for many years to come. So, I will continue to dream of that possible mission far beyond.”

Alvarez’s journey began with a spark of wonder as a child gazing at the moon from his village in Leon.

He admits to losing sight of the dream as he grew up, but the ESA job posting three years ago rekindled his passion.

The ESA's latest class of astronauts includes Sophie Adenot, Rosemary Coogan, Raphaël Liégeois, Marco Sieber, and Pablo Álvarez himself.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg of the Australian Space Agency also graduated with her ESA classmates, promising an exciting era of global collaboration in space exploration.

Victoria, aka Posh Spice, was ‘especially excited’ when Letizia chose to rock one of her dresses during last year’s Coronation celebra tions.

“I find her beautiful and el egant. She’s never wrong in terms of fashion,” she insisted to Vogue

“I was very excited when I saw she’d worn our Be-*lla en verde dress.”

Talking about living in Spain be tween 2003 and 2007 when her husband David played for Real Madrid (and had his affair with Rebecca Loos), she added she ‘felt misunderstood’.

“This misunderstanding didn’t come from me, it came from the media.

“I’ve never complained about anything… it’s nice that people are now, finally, see ing the truth.”

headline a Costa del Sol festival this summer.

The half Spanish, half French legend will play at Fuengirola’s Marenostrum event on July 25.

The Me Gustas Tu singer will make a rare appearance singing in his native French and Spanish.

Chao began his career as a busker in Paris, before join-

HELLO TO CHAO

ing bands like Hot Pants and Los Carayos. In 1987, he found success with his band Mano Negra. Their happy, energetic and rhythmic music made hits across the globe.

After the band split in 1998, Chao found fame alone with chart toppers Bongo Bong and Clandestino which has been covered by Lily Allen and Robbie Williams.

LUXURY HAIRSTYLIST, QUALIFIED IN ALL ASPECTS OF HAIR

MANU Chao is to

STAR TURN: Michael Costello will dress the duo

once sexist slang word Zorra , which means 'bitch' or 'slut' in Spanish slang as well as vixen.

DREAM COME TRUE: Pablo Alvarez

Feeling all-right

THE conservative Partido Popular party would comfortably win regional elections in Andalucia if they were held today, a new poll has found.

Huge merger

BBVA and Sabadell, two of the largest banks in Spain, are weighing up merging in what would be one of the biggest ever deals of its kind.

On the up

SPAIN’S economy has once again broken Europe-wide trends after growing by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2024, according to official figures.

Heating up

TEMPERATURES in Andalucia are set to soar by up to 8C over the first weekend of May, following a cold snap brought on by a blast of Arctic air.

PROTESTERS have attended a town hall meeting against a proposed toxic waste disposal dump in Ronda this week.

The group, including various expats, are furious the 66,000 square metre facility will go in on green belt land just outside the town.

As well as hiring lawyers and launching a petition, the group unfurled a banner outside the town hall on Monday.

By Paul Whitelock

They have also logged official objections to the project in the La Indiana area.

“This is virgin countryside which will be ruined by this development,” local resident Manuela León told the Olive Press. She added: “I am also sure much of the toxic material will end up in the Guadiaro river.”

Her neighbour Maria Mena, a livestock farmer, added: “This is total destruction of the local environment.”

Ronda mayor Mari-Paz Fernández told the meeting her hands were tied, as the application appeared to meet its legal requirements.

“As the mayor, I am obliged to sign it off, whether I agree with it or not,” she said, before insisting all official objections needed to be submitted by the end of April.

Get on with it!

THE drumbeat for a Costa del Sol train is growing louder as a gaggle of the region’s most prominent mayors have banded together to demand action from the government. Their voices add to those of the business and economic sector, trade unions, the tourism sector, professional schools, universities, mobility experts and cultural and scientific groups.

The Junta de Andalucia, the Diputacion de Malaga and parties in Congress have already called for the train line, creating a virtual cacophony from every walk of malagueño society.

The mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, said a train

Anger at ‘toxic dump’ plan for Ronda Homeless

Fresh demands for Costa del Sol train after transport minister said it was ‘too costly and complicated’

line that offers a quick, efficient and frequent service which convinces drivers to leave their cars behind is ‘necessary.’

He cited proposals presented last January in the Malaga town hall of a new train service running at 160km/ hr that combines long-distance with short distance (Cercanias) trains from the airport to Marbella, which would operate alongside the C1 line to Fuengirola. Expat Tourism chief in Ben-

By Walter Finch

ahavis Scott Marshall said:

“It’s a vital and key project for the coast”

Angeles Muñoz, the mayor of Marbella, called it ‘incomprehensible’ that Marbella is the only city in Spain with over 150,000 inhabitants that doesn't have a train connection.

“The coastal train is essential for our future, not only in terms of connectivity, but also in stimulating economic growth, favouring our po-

sition as an attractive destination for investment and business growth," she said. "It would be a profitable investment due to the annual passenger forecasts that this transport line expects," she added, while slamming the government’s ‘neglect and lack of commitment’.

Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, mayor of Estepona, commented that it is ‘surprising’ that the government is reluctant to invest in the Costa del Sol, ‘one of the areas with the greatest economic dynamism in our country’.

Spanish transport minister Oscar Puente has previously poured cold water on the prospect of a Costa del Sol train line ever being built, calling it ‘complicated and expensive.’

DESPERATE TO MOVE

DESPERATE Housewives star Eva Longoria is upping sticks and moving to Marbella. Longoria, 49, along with her husband, Mexican businessman Jose Baston, 56, are moving for the sake of their five-year-old son, Santiago, insiders claim (all pictured).

Sources said they see Marbella as an escape from California and the dangers of Santiago getting 'sucked into the Hollywood cycle' if he grows up there.

Texas-born Eva has long had links to Marbella through her connections with the Global Gift Foundation, which has been throwing glamorous galas on the costa since 2012.

Last year, the couple purchased a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom luxury property in Marbella, with the support of architect and interior designer Nicolas Escanez.

The extensive renovations have transformed the villa into a modern oasis complete with an indoor pool, sauna, and gym.

the Nevelings were looking to extend.

He started to cajole and threaten Dagmar with eviction and homelessness if she did not immediately sign the papers, Isabel said in her police statement.

When contacted by the Olive Press, Taha said that Dagmar’s story was ‘one hundred percent false.’

“Think about it, how can she remember what happened if she has Alzheimer’s? It’s totally contradictory,” he said. He denied that he had cheated Dagmar, and accused the Nevelings of cheating him in other property deals.

“They were living for free in that apartment thanks to me.

She owed me so much money and they never paid a thing.

“She thinks she can go through life paying nothing and living off the money of others.

“The bank didn’t trust them enough to finance the property, so they had to go through a third party.

“They have engaged in questionable practices, including document forgery and taking advantage of situations for their own benefit.”

When pressed on why he had not let them enter the apartment to get their vital documents and medication, he said that they had sold it ‘as it iswith everything in it.’ He also claimed that he did not sell the house but it was put up for auction on court orders.

The Nevelings are petitioning an Estepona court to put a halt on Taha’s activities in their apartment while they seek an annulment on the contracts Dagmar signed.

THE Cala de Mijas music festival will not take place this year, it has been announced. Promoter, Last Tour and the Ayuntamiento de Mijas have been in negotiations for months regarding ‘unpaid bills’ for the 2023 edition totalling over €1million.

The talks finished last Friday, April 26, with Last Tour opting to ‘resolve and annul’ their sponsorship contract with the local council. They claim the local authority has ‘unjustly ignored’ their contractual obligations.

Despite the success of the festival’s last two editions, the promoters withdrew their support due to ‘grave failures’ by the Ayuntamiento. The council denied it had ‘refused to pay’, saying their payments had been delayed by objections from the Municipal Intervention watchdog.

From front

A

Voted top expat paper in Spain

OPINION

Wake up!

RESIDENTS on the Costa del Sol are rightly sick and tired of hearing politicians debate whether extending the train line is ‘worth it’ ( Get on with it, p4).

As anyone who lives here knows, of course it bloody is!

The roads are carnage at the best of times and turn into virtual death traps during the summer, while the buses are quite simply, pathetic.

Not only do many of them never arrive, but you can’t even buy tickets online from Avanza for many local services.

Would-be customers are forced to hunt out Avanza booths on the street.

Even then, you’ll be lucky if the shutter isn’t down and the ‘back in five minutes’ sign isn’t posted on the window - as the seller nips out for another fag and coffee.

Denied

Why is Andalucia being denied a truly transformative project while the likes of Catalunya is promised a €6bn cash injection from Madrid for similar infrastructure?

Being able to catch the train between Estepona, Marbella, Malaga and elsewhere would see thousands of people ditch their cars.

Just last month a report by NASA said the rising temperatures will cause potentially catastrophic sea rises by the end of the century - that could even wipe out Marbella and parts of Cadiz.

Surely, a plan such as a new rail line that will reduce the number of car journeys by millions should be one of many priorities to help create a cleaner environment.

It would also totally mobilise the workforce and in turn attract more companies and people to move to the area.

So, when politicians ask ‘is it worth it?’, the answer is pretty bleeding obvious.

PUBLISHER

/ EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

We’ll drink to that!

Former deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias has fallen foul of anarchists who object to his new bar serving a Durruti cocktail, named after the legendary revolutionary. Cole Sinanian digs deeper…

TO understand the anarchist daubings scrawled on the new bar of ex-Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, in Madrid, last month, we need to go back to July 1936. It’s the so-called ‘Summer of Anarchy’ in Barcelona, and the air is thick with the smell of revolution.

The rich had fled, forcing its luxury restaurants to convert to communal dining halls, patronised by working class comrades in boots and overalls. Revolutionary songs blared from speakers in Las Ramblas, red-and-black anarchist flags hung from balconies. Formal ways of speaking had fallen out of use; everyone was ‘comrade’ now.

DRIVEN TO

Trade unions controlled nearly every aspect of industry, with around 70% of companies effectively collectivised by the workers.

But the revolutionary dream was in danger.

Just a few hundred kilometres west in Zaragoza, an army of fascists loyal to Nazi-friendly General Franco were hell-bent on laying siege to the Catalan capital.

Since the Nationalists rebelled against Spain’s Government, rogue army generals had begun their assault on dozens of towns and cities.

But many iconic Spanish figures stood firm against the terrifying Nationalist advance.

One of these was Jose Buenaventura Durruti, who remains a symbol of anarchism today.

And, appropriately, with his legendary Durutti Column of irregular troops helping to fight

DISTRACTION

The little-known reasons you can get a fine while driving in Spain: Avoid doing these five things to swerve a ‘multa’ of up to €3,000

DRIVING on some of Spain’s roads can be a stressful experience at the best of times. Having made it home safely in one piece, the last thing you want is to have your day ruined by a letter from the DGT, Spain’s traffic enforcement agency.

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

Born in 1896 in Leon, Durruti was a railway mechanic, who quickly became involved in local labour movements.

He played a part in a series of violent and disruptive strikes starting in 1910, organised by the increasingly powerful unions, the socialist Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), and the anarchist Confederacion Nacional de Trabajo (CNT).

After participating in the famous General Strike of 1917 - which saw the arrest of anarchist leaders en masse - Durruti was forced to flee to France.

Upon his return in 1920, he encountered a violent society plagued by espionage and

While fines for common transgressions, such as speeding, are known, the Spanish highway code has a long list of other offences that could leave authorities. Here are six lesser-known things to avoid in order to ensure you don’t receive an unwelcome fine.

If running out of fuel hadn’t already ruined your day, being fined under Spain’s rarely-used ‘Improper Parking’ legislation would really tip you over the edge. Make sure to get your fuel from legitimate sources too, as improperly transporting fuel results in a fine of up to €3,000. Ouch!

A new introduction to Spanish law, it is now illegal to drive in some Low Emission Zones (LEZs) without a relevant permit. With LEZs (known as ZBEs in Spanish) becoming more common throughout the country, drivers will have to keep up to date - while each LEZ is run by its own municipal authority, a baseline fine of €200 has been set by the DGT.

If you decorate your car with unauthorised items, it’s not just your mates who will be laughing at your expense - the DGT will too, having pocketed 500 of your hard-earned euros. These decorations include anything that changes the measurements of your car without having notified the DGT beforehand. Decoration could also lead to problems with passing your MOT. Additionally, placing items like ‘dream catchers’ on your rear view mirror, can land you a fine of up to €200 as they can partially block your view.

The different categories are:

● Zero Label: corresponds to electric cars, plug-in hybrids with a battery range of at least 40 km and fuel cell vehicles.

● Eco Label: plug-in hybrid vehicles that cannot travel more than 40 km in electric mode, non-plug-in hybrids and natural gas vehicles.

● Label C: Petrol cars and light vans registered from 2006 onwards, and diesel cars and vans registered from September 2015.

● Label B: Petrol cars and vans registered between January 2001 to 2005 and diesel vans and cars registered between from 2006 to August 2015.

You can get a windscreen label at the Correos post office by taking in your registration documents and ID. In Andalucia LEZs are in place in parts of Almeria, La Linea de la Concepcion, Cordoba, Estepona, Sevilla and Torremolinos . In Valencia it is only the city itself that is affected, with no other towns covered so far. Over in Murcia just Cartagena has an LEZ, while there are none in the Balearics. But an LEZ is sure to come to town near you soon - all municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants are legally obliged to introduce them. Where each category can drive in individual LEZs will depend on local authorities - so keep an eye open for the signs if you want to avoid a fine. Those with no category will find their way barred in many town centres at pain of a fine.

the fascists in Barcelona and Madrid, the two main cities which resolutely refused to cede to Franco.

By Ben Pawlowski

LOW EMISSION ZONES

TOAST: To Durruti (left) and his brave column of male and female soldiers

political assassinations, an era of Spanish history that would come to be known as pistolerismo

Bombs exploded in Barcelona cafes, union leaders were shot dead in the street, and government-sympathetic businessmen hired anti-union thugs to murder CNT and UGT associates.

Durruti and fellow prominent anarchists Francisco Acaso and Joan Garcia Oliver formed the anarchist militia Los Solidarios to defend the unions.

The group became a formidable force, robbing

banks to fund the anarchist cause and carrying out high-profile assassinations, including that of Cardinal Juan Soldevila y Romero.

By the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Durruti was immensely popular among Catalan anarchists and well suited to recruit a local army to defend Barcelona from the Fascists.

On July 18, Durruti and his troops rode through the city brandishing machine guns.

As his former colleague Garcia Oliver wrote in his autobiography, he led ‘trucks full of militants, rifles raised, red-and-

PASSENGER PROBLEMS 4

It’s not just the person in the driver’s seat who should keep a keen eye on traffic lawspassengers should, too. Infractions, whether kissing the driver or not doing up your seatbelt, are a significant cause of accidents and also a way to lose a chunk of cash. Kissing or arguing heavily while driving can bring fines of €80 if police believe they caused a significant enough distraction behind the wheel.

of men and women, as well as foreign fighters such as French philosopher Simone Weil.

The Durutti Column successfully defended the city from the first wave of fascist attackers, but in Zaragoza, Francoist General Emilio Mola was amassing his forces.

On July 24, the unit left Barcelona with 2,000 anarchists to take back Zaragoza.

Traversing the rugged Aragonese countryside, Durruti and his comrades recruited hundreds of local peasants working the land, gathering strength in each town with the fire of revolution.

By the time the column reached Zaragoza’s outskirts, the militia’s numbers had reached 6,000 - among the largest anarchist military units fighting in the war.

But before the seemingly inevitable confrontation, Franco had changed plans and gathered a vast army of troops for an assault on Madrid. The capital had been left defenceless after the government had moved itself and the Republican army bosses to Valencia.

Ritz

With the leftist troops in Madrid in desperate need of reinforcement, Durruti turned 1,800 of his strongest fighters around and told them to march to the capital.

Some 1,000 of them were to die in the mission.

Durruti himself was killed at the age of 40 in Madrid in November 1936, shot in the chest while leading a counterattack in the Casa de Campo area, west of the city.

He died on a makeshift operating table set up in the Ritz Hotel, during the course of the war.

He maintains a legendary status today, having come to symbolise the anarchist struggle towards an egalitarian, classless society.

Even the most benign, everyday actions could lead to a telling off from the cops. Eating whilst driving is not considered to be conducive to safe driving and could result in a hefty fine, so make sure your hunger is satisfied before starting your journey.

In fact if a driver is caught eating or drinking they could be fined €80, which jumps to €200 if traffic police believe other passengers or road users were placed in danger.

Penalties for the most common driving infringements - failure to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone - have recently been strengthened. These offences will now see four points docked off your licence, on top of a fine, so make sure to take care on the roads.

Over a half million people filled the streets during his funeral cortege to Barcelona’s Montjuic Cemetery and popular academic Hugh Thomas wrote that his death ‘marked the end of the classic age of Spanish anarchism’

His ‘nobility’, he wrote, would lead to ‘a legion of Durrutis’ to spring up behind him.

There are still some of them in that legion today, nearly a century on as former professor Pablo Iglesias has just discovered at his new bar in Madrid’s working class district of Lavapies.

Don’t cash in on a legend, they insisted in their graffitti. Now that’s truly revolutionary.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Thousands of readers are signing up to the OP website since its relaunch last month

THE Olive Press website has soared to new heights following its relaunch last month.

It is now receiving up to 65,000 visitors a day from all around the world, including the UK, US, Spain, Australia and Can ada.

We are also seeing more and more people registering, with almost 2,000 new members in the last week alone.

In case you didn’t know, registering an account is extremely easy and allows you to access an extra free article.

It also lets you comment on stories so you can join the conversation on everything happening in Spain.

Plus, you’ll receive weekly newsletters directly to your inbox.

For those who want unlimited access, we are currently offering a fantastic deal of three months for the price of one.

For just €4.99, you will be able to read all our content for 12 weeks, while receiving weekly newsletters on travel, health and property - plus a personalised missive from the digital editor each Saturday. Subscribers also have exclusive access to the digital editions of our five fortnightly print newspapers, covering Gibraltar, Andalucia, Costa Blanca south, Costa Blanca north and Mallorca.

So what are you waiting for? Scan the QR code on this page to join the conversation and stay informed on everything happening in Spain.

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

1- Tourist drops dead at Malaga Airport: 64-year-old suffers heart attack in arrivals

2- Missing expat teens latest: Residents in Benidorm are told 'do not approach' two boys

3- Warning: Town on Spain’s Costa del Sol will cut off water and issue fines of up to €600,000 to people who disobey drought measures

4- A Place In The Sun visits Almeria: Jasmine Harman, 48, celebrates after closing deal in an idyllic expat hotspot

5- Urgent appeal for two missing expat teens who disappeared in Spain 10 days ago: Latest sighting places them in Benidorm

HUNGER WOES

black flags flying in the wind’. It had soon become known as the Durutti Column, with the unit including a mix

ANGER: Anarchists scrawled on Iglesia’s new bar for disrespecting Durruti (in poster, above)

Durruti and family

NOLOTIL PAYOUT

THE family of a British expat who died ‘during the prime of her life’ after taking Nolotil have revealed how they sued Spanish caregivers and won. Yvonne Flowers, 67, had been living in Spain for 23 years when she fell over, suffering two slipped discs and pinched nerves.

She only spent a week in hospital but during that time, Hospital Clinica Benidorm ramped up 20 counts of negligence, including the prescription of Nolotil.

In 2021, the private hospital paid out over €400,000 after two court cases in both the UK and Spain.

“They’ve taken a mother’s life, a

How the family of a British woman ‘killed by the lethal Spanish painkiller’ sued and won

grandmother’s life. Money can’t bring her back but it is justice for her,” Jenna Flowers, Yvonne’s step-daughter, told the Olive Press.

Though officially they admitted no liability, the family allege HCB ‘hid quite a bit about Nolotil’.

Nerves

Yvonne went into hospital on February 2, 2020 after she fell over and suffered two slipped discs as well as trapped nerves. She was told she would have to wait a week for an operation despite being in ‘intense’ pain.

GRANDMOTHER: Yvonne with stepdaughter Jenna and grandchild

Yvonne was put on a painkiller drip, which was moved after a few days.

According to the family, the wound was not cleaned nor bandaged and she caught an infection, eventually developing sepsis.

Yvonne’s pain intensified, leading doctors to prescribe three doses of Nolotil, a drug known to have potentially deadly side effects for Northern Europeans.

“From that point on, she started to deteriorate quite rapidly,” said Yvonne’s husband, Paul Flowers.

“The next day she suffered all day. She was in a lot of pain

EXCLUSIVE

By Yzabelle Bostyn

from the sepsis and on top of that, she had been given Nolotil so her immune system was taken away.”

A popular painkiller in Spain, Nolotil is known to reduce the white blood cell count of some Northern Europeans to dangerous levels, significantly weakening the immune system.

Although Yvonne was becoming more and more ill, the family claim her condition was ‘ignored’ by hospital staff.

By Saturday, she was on oxygen and had ‘blisters’ all over her face, signs of an allergic reaction to Nolotil.

Yvonne was immediately taken to A&E but her organs had ‘already started to shut down’. The beloved mum and grandmother died the following morning on Tuesday, February 12, little over a week after going into hospital for back issues.

“Nobody said anything or did anything about it. They were all in denial,” Paul said. “They just upped the painkillers. If they had done their job maybe she would have stood a chance of surviving.”

Although Yvonne became ‘unable to speak or get out of bed’, she was still taken to surgery on Monday.

When she arrived the surgeon reportedly asked: ‘What is this woman doing on my operating table? She is seriously ill.’

Immediately following their mother’s death, Yvonne’s children based in the UK flew to Spain to understand how their healthy mother could have died in the ‘prime of her life’. According to Peter, hospital officials told the family to ‘get on with their lives’ claiming Yvonne died of sepsis. Despite repeated attempts to uncover the truth, the family was met with silence.

But Peter wanted justice for his wife.

He told the Olive Press: “People said I was wasting my time. But, I had to get some justice.” Peter filed a claim in London, backed by his two children and three grandchildren. The court found 20 counts of negligence including ‘failure to treat infection’, ‘prescription of Nolotil without monitoring’, ‘failure to notice, heed or treat development of potential

agranulocytosis and sepsis, known risks of Nolotil’.

In particular, the case found HCB ‘prescribed Nolotil to the deceased when it was contraindicated’ due to Yvonne’s British heritage.

Court

HCB’s insurance company, Berkley Seguros España settled out of court, admitting no liability and paying out some £200,000. Months later, the case was brought to Benidorm’s Palau de Justicia. They extended the British judgement and the insurance company was ordered to pay out over €200,000.

Despite some justice for Yvonne’s family, Jenna says it is not enough. “How many more people need to die for them to do something about it? Mum died because of Nolotil.”

The Olive Press has contacted Hospital Clinica Benidorm for comment but received no response.

However, the private hospital group responded to the Olive Press campaign urging hospitals to follow AEMPS advice. They said: “At HCB Hospitals, we are very aware of the recommendation not to prescribe Nolotil to foreign patients, even though it is not an absolute contraindication.”

HAPPY FAMILY: Before the horrific tragedy

WATER PLEDGE

THE Generalitat de Catalunya will install a floating desalination plant in the port of Barcelona to help the fight against the region’s drought.

David Mascort, the regional government’s climate action minister, revealed that the plan would come into action if a Level 2 drought emergency is announced - Catalunya is currently under a Level 1 drought emergency.

Desalination

The plant will provide 14hm3 of water per year, equivalent to 6% of the consumption of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

In addition, the government will install 12 small mobile desalination plants on the northern Costa Brava.

These facilities, which will cost €10million, will provide 35% of the water needed for over a dozen municipalities, including tourist towns such as Roses, Cadaques and Llanca.

Wheely green

SEVILLANOS can now hop on hundreds of electric mopeds dotted throughout the city as Cabify launches its new service.

The 200 electric mopeds give locals an emission free mode of transport.

POLLUTION BATTLE BOOST

THE Spanish government will pump in an extra €190 million to fight pollution in the Mar Menor lagoon. It’s a 40% increase in the budget and takes the total to €675 million.

Visiting San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia) , the Ecological Transition Minister, Tere-

Doñana recovers

Satellite images taken a year apart show dramatic tree and plant growth thanks to rainfall

THE Doñana wetlands have regained their splendour after heavy rainfall with satellite images showing a dramatic change.

The photos, released by the EU Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus, show

It is part of a partnership with Cooltra, a motorcycle hire company, which exploded in Spain last year. The bikes are available to hire by the minute, saving locals both time and money. According to Cabify, people prefer motorbikes as they are faster than travelling by car and easier to park.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

By Yzabelle Bostyn

lakes filled alongside blooming plants and trees.

This is in stark contrast to the images taken a year earlier in April 2023.

According to Corpernicus: “If we compare 2023 and 2024 we see how recent rain has softened the damaging effects of drought.

“The situation has improved and vegetation has started to flourish again.”

In the past few years, the park has suffered intense drought, leaving large swathes with no water.

However, thanks to downpours starting in November

sa Ribera, appealed to everybody to continue the current levels of collaboration to recover the Mar Menor because ‘our credibility as a society is at stake’.

2023, the situation has improved, leading many species to return to their natural habitat.

The biggest lakes in the park, like Santa Olalla, el Sopeton and la Dulce, are almost completely full.

“The rain has been coming late for winter, but it is still useful for aquatic birds to breed,” explained experts from the

Teresa Ribera said: “There is a real commitment to recover a precious ecosystem that mirrors on a small scale what is happening in the Mediterranean.”

“We have a floor, not a ceiling: and we cannot go back. You can’t take your foot off the gas,” she added.

A lot of the pollution was caused by farmers and agricultural companies installing illegal drainage systems at the Campo de Cartagena which discharged nitrates into Europe’s largest lagoon that poisoned its flora and fauna.

Doñana Biological Station. The park is known for its birds, including coots, terns, grebes, storks and herons.

According to data from the Doñana Biological Station, March alone saw 145 l/m2.

Since September, some 404.4 l/m2 has fallen in the area.

“This figure is the highest seen in four years, but it is still not the seasonal average, 500l/m2.”

particularly in Spain where it ranks as the most polluting sector.

To mitigate these emissions, utilising public transportation whenever possible is highly recommended.

Public transit is more environmentally friendly than private cars, as it can transport a larger number of individuals while emitting fewer greenhouse gases. A single bus can carry 50 people or more - potentially taking 49 cars off the road.

By encouraging the shift from cars to public transit, we can make a significant impact on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, public transportation helps decrease other pollutants such as gas, emis-

Heat relief

EXPERTS have given their verdict on how hot Spain could be this summer after last year’s record breaking heat across the country.

Despite higher than normal temperatures in January, February and March, this summer is set to be cooler than in 2023. “It’s very probable that June, July and August won’t be hotter than the average European temperatures,” confirmed Copernicus, the EU’s Earth Observation arm.

According to experts, temperatures won’t be as hot this summer thanks to the absence of the weather phenomenon, El Niño which was present in 2023.

It will be replaced by La Niña, known for cold spells.

“We know that large parts of the world are no longer under the effects of El Niño, which reached its peak in December or January. Now El Niño is retiring and forecasts suggest we reach a neutral state or return to what it was like before,” said Copernicus.

However, the EU entity highlighted more data is needed before a thorough prediction can be made.

sions, and microplastics from car wheels, leading to cleaner cities and reduced noise pollution.

The EU’s initiative to transition to electric cars by 2035 aims to address emission concerns. Although electric cars come with their own set of challenges, such as battery production issues, they offer a cleaner alternative when powered by renewable energy sources.

Some people complain that their range is not big enough. But people’s average travel distance per day is 27 kilometres compared to the fact that a full charge gives most electric cars a range of 300 km or more. So, if you have your own house, you could easily charge your car every night. And imagine: you will never have to stop at dirty petrol stations. And if you have your own rooftop solar panel it is almost free to refuel (charge) your car! So, aren’t you convinced? I am!

SPLENDOUR: Satellite images taken a year apart

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

Scan to visit our website

A fair start

TARTING as cattle markets (or occasionally, religious ceremonies), ferias have evolved into the cultural highlights of the year. They tend to be week-long events in the larger cities, and run from midweek to Sunday in the smaller towns.

Expect food, drink, loud music and flamenco dancing until dawn, along with fairground rides, horse parades and, often, a bit of wrangling or a display of horsemanship. If you happen to be living or

By Dilip Kuner

staying near the feria grounds, you can also expect no sleep, at least, not at night.

The build-up starts weeks in advance, the events are spectacular, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Afterwards, everything goes quiet for a bit.

Feria week is the perfect chance to experience Andalucian culture at its most exuberant and colourful best, so here are six of the top events to put in the diary.

Feria de Abril Sevilla

THE season kicked off with the biggest, most famous and, many would argue, the best: Sevilla’s feria always begins two weeks after Easter Sunday. The pressure to create an event that’s at least as iconic as the last is huge, but there’s enough razzle-dazzle to wow even the most jaded visitor.

The feria season has started, with the traditional curtain raiser of Sevilla’s Feria de Abril just ended. These fairs are among the greatest of Andalucian traditions. Celebrated in every town between April and October, make an effort to attend at least one . . . just allow for a couple of days of recovery time afterwards

Feria del Caballo de Jerez (May 4-11) Feria del Corpus

JEREZ horse fair is among the most traditional of the ferias. The city is in the cradle of flamenco, and there is flamenco singing, dancing and guitar-playing year-round. The feria is the chance to notch things up. Fewer people wear traditional dress when attending these events in touristy Malaga and the Costa del Sol, but almost everyone sports a spectacular costume (traje) in Jerez. Aside from having fun and looking fabulous, the focus is on the horses (caballos). The finest of them from far and wide (some with riders, some pulling carriages) make mesmerising circuits of the fairground every day.

(May 25-June 1)

THOUGH less famous than the last two, Granada’s version has everything an Andalucian feria needs. Its unique highlights include a recreation of one of the city’s famous monuments done in lights at the entrance to the fairground. And, unlike in Sevilla, where you need friends in high places to invite you in to enjoy the action in majority of the casetas (or large tents with drinks and entertainment), the casetas here are open to the public, free of charge.

Need a helping hand when you go on holiday, someone to cherish your pets in their own home? Join us, and control pet care costs. Find free checked pet and house sitters through HouseSit Match, the friendly online house and petsitting network For affordable travel, home and pet care.

de Granada

STUNNING: Model

Conchi Santiago Duran gives a preview of the fashion on show at Malaga

EQUINE: Horses take centre stage in Jerez

Estepona has morphed over the last decade into the veritable Garden of the Costa del Sol… and there’s more to come, writes resident Walter Finch

JNot

What had then been a sleepy, relaxed backwater on the western Costa del Sol has now turned into a genuine metropolis, one almost rivalling Marbella.

The facts speak for themselves: Last year, Estepona was the Continues on next page

Photo credit: Walter Finch

An independent 16-page guide NOT sponsored by the Town Hall

GREEN LUNG: The new pedestrianised boulevard is a shady beach paseo

A TOWN IN FLUX

Experience Aircon Costa del Sol

Service your air conditioning before the Summer – FROM 58€ + IVA Licensed installers replace existing air con systems or install new FREE SURVEY AND QUOTATIONS

Spring 10% discount for orders before the Summer 31st May

CONTACT SEAN: +34 952 88 31 68 or sean@exgspain.com www.airconexperience.com www.internetandalucia.com

fastest-growing town in Andalucia for popula tion, and the second fastest in Spain. Its GDP per capita has spiralled and, it’s clear, the quality of its restaurants and hotels has kept up. There is a distinct change about the place, in particular, with its emphasis on pedestrians and the demographic of its residents shows a real shift towards the Scandinavian and other Northern European countries.

Like the Vikings, Estepona has rarely stood still. Indeed, since the days of the seafaring Phoenicians - who sailed in and established a colony nearly 3,000 years ago - it has seen numerous influxes of migrants. Be it the Romans, the Vandals or the Moors - or the Catholic reconquest or pirate raids from Africa in the 18th century - the town has frequently been in a state of flux. This latest incarnation is driven by wealthy international visitors flocking in allyear round.

The formerly carclogged roads have been replaced by idyllic outdoor spaces and the colourful flower-filled streets have allowed the resort to retain its image as one of the last ‘authentically’ Spanish resorts left on the costas.

population spurt it has seen, driven by the constant construction of new homes and expansion of the town’s limits.

One of the last ‘authentically’ Spanish resorts left on the costas

Yet the beauty belies the massive

A modest municipal population of 48,000 in 2003 has exploded to, officially, 75,000 in 2022, a population increase of 56%, and it is likely to be far higher in reality - and it’s definitely still growing. Marbella, in comparison, has grown by just 29% in the same period.

Over a quarter of Estepona’s population (19,000) is foreign, and of the expat cohort it’s the Brits who dominate.

The arrival of the foreigners has gone hand in hand with the PP ayuntamiento’s ambitions to transform the town - often to the grumbles of the locals.

The greatest recent transformation has been the total redesign of the old N340 highway which went along the beach promenade. It is now completely cut off with traffic redirected in a, frequently, 15-minute detour around the centre.

It has made for an almost car-free centre, with the final paving stones and flower beds between Avenida de Andalucía and Calle Terraza laid just last month.

The cutting of the ribbon on the new paseo maritimo (or beachfront

A TRUE EXPERIENCE

Serving the Western Costa del Sol, Malaga to Algeciras since 1970 and winner of the Top International Business Award 2023

AExperience property management services

Tailor made management services to owners between Marbella and Duquesa since the 1970’s.

FULL HOME CARE • MAIDS LAUNDRY • CLEANING

FULL OR HOLIDAY MANAGEMENT

SERVICES INCLUDE: Secure Key Holding, 24/7 Emergency Numbers, Scheduled Property Checks by Supervisor.

CONTACT ALLYSON: +34 952 88 31 68 or allyson@exgspain.com

T The Experience Group we offer a wide range of services which our thousands of clients utilise to allow them to enjoy their homes on The Costa Del Sol.

The Experience Group has built thousands of properties on the coast, including holiday and residential homes, shopping centres, bowls club, tennis club, and also previously owned the El Paraiso Golf Course.

Thousands of loyal and valued clients are testament to our professional services and are part of the EXPERIENCE GROUP family.

OUR FULL & COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE:

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT:

● PROPERTY SALES

● PROPERTY MAINTENACE

● PROPERTY RENTALS

● PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION & REFORM

● PROPERTY CONVEYANCING AND DATA SOLVING PROBLEMS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

● FIBRE OPTIC INTERNET

● FREE TO AIR TV PACKAGES

● TELEVISIONS AND SOUND

● CCTV SECURITY SYSTEMS

● AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLS AND SERVICING

● ALL WHITE GOODS.

Here we will explain just two of our vast range of services. Further information on other services will be explained to OLIVE PRESS readers in future editions.

AIR CONDITIONING:

We are a fully licensed and insured AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLERS and FULL AIR-CON Service providers. Our Experienced Licenced

and FULLY INSURED technician will offer you the best possible service from THE FREE AIRCON SURVEY to INSTALL and AFTER SALES SERVICE. All at competitive prices. Contact Sean on +34 952 88 31 68 or by email on sean@exgspain.com for a FREE SURVEY and 10% discount on all AIR CON INSTALLS on orders taken before May 31.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT:

Since the early 1970s we have been offering our comprehensive & tailormade PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES to clients between Marbella and Duquesa. FULL HOME CARE, MAIDS, LAUNDRY, CLEANING and our FULL OR HOLIDAY MANAGEMENT SERVICES which include SECURE KEY HOLDING, PROPERTY VISITS BY OUR MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR, and your EYES and EARS on the coast for when you are not here. Email allyson@exgspain.com

Along with our management services comes our long time Experience to ensure that your property is legal and up to date with all current laws in Spain.

Just ring Allyson on +34 952 88 31 68

All of our ELECTRONIC and TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, and PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES have a 24/7 help line and service call facility.

www.experiencegroupspain.com www.internetandalucia.com

www.airconexperience.com

Centro Comercial Bena Vista 16/32/33, Urb El Paraiso, Estepona, Malaga, Spain Open 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday till Friday

Award winning group of companies serving the coast for over 50 years

OFFICES: Centro Comercial Bena Vista 16, 32, 33 (between San Pedro & Estepona)

CHARM: Historic old town street while (above right) the orchidarium

promenade) makes it one of the longest in Spain at one and a half kilometres.

The next phase of the transformation is equally ambitious, with the brand new Park Central Boulevard with hundreds of new trees and

thousands more plants.

The popular San Lorenzo car park will go, exacerbating the chronic parking problem in the town. However, the town hall insists this will be remedied by the construction of a new network of underground car

parks across the town costing just one euro a day.

A bold step

ESTEPONA’S ambitious remodel of the Avenida España beachfront has finally been completed. It is now one of the longest promenades in Spain, running for almost two kilometres. The boulevard was officially reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony in April.

The town recently featured on the BBC’s Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens and was shortlisted for European City of the Year in 2023.

None of this has come cheap, of course.

The PP town hall has spent well over €100 million on public works since 2011 and while it is often viewed as controversial it has certainly transformed the town into a green paradise as part of the ongoing ‘Estepona, Garden of the Costa del Sol’ project.

Anyone who hasn’t visited for a decade will be forgiven for rubbing their eyes at the sheer number of plants and trees that line the streets.

There are tens

of thousands, in fact, probably hundreds of thousands, of flowers bedecking almost every available surface, including the central reservations.

Meanwhile, thousands of potted plants have gone in on every street in the old town.

The profusion is hard to ignore and very impressive.

Last year meanwhile, saw two new additions to the city’s skyline with a modern and sustainable town hall, and a new 45 metre-high mirador near the port, with an art gallery below.

While the Mirador claims to boast a restaurant and museum, neither is currently in operation, leaving just the view from the top to show for its construction.

Somewhat suspiciously, the building was built by a company called Bonifacio Solis, whose director of operations is none other than the mayor’s son, Pablo Garcia.

But the allegations of nepotism have never really stuck on his dad Jose Maria Garcia Urbano, who has serenely glided through all the slings and arrows and was comfortably reelected mayor last May.

Eyebrows however, do continue to be raised on the mayor’s selection of racy statues that have gone up all around the resort… the most suspicious being an expensive golden

ESTEPONA has applied for a €5 million loan to turn a key space outside its town hall into a new park.

The 22,000 sqm space on Avenida San Lorenzo is aimed to make the town a ‘reference point for sustainability, quality of life and tourism’.

The Bulevar Parque Central (projected image above) will in- clude commercial buildings and leisure facilities.

one of a couple having sex on a roundabout.

A sculpture park on the outskirts meanwhile, includes a naked woman in the throes of passion.

On a more positive front, the once traffic-heavy Avenida España along the beachfront has been subsumed into the newly sedate promenade, dotted with new restaurants, cafes and shops.

Next to it, is easily one of the nicest city beaches in Spain, Playa de la Rada stretching for over 2

kilometres.

Known for its clean, soft sand, crystal-clear waters and excellent facilities - it has good views towards Gibraltar and Africa on clear days… not to mention numerous beach chiringuitos.

Looking for nightlife, the bright young things flock to the bars and clubs in the port on weekends, where bartenders free-pour drinks

UNSPOILT: The stretch of Estepona coastline from Guadalminato Benamara is still mostly underdeveloped

Photo credit: Jon Clarke

MARGHERì PIZZERIA - TRATTORIA - ITALIANa

May 2024

From previous page

according to the ye old Spanish ‘say when’ system. Louie Louie’s is the perfect spot for a live music set and an enthusiastic crowd getting down.

Or, if you prefer to watch, the Peña Flamenca in the old town puts on fortnightly flamenco shows with renowned performers who come from all over Andalucia. No trip to Estepona would be complete without a visit to the aptly-named, Plaza

Estepona

BLOOMING LOVELY

de las Flores (Flowers Square). In this charming hive of activity you will find the tourism office, with maps for all kinds of excursions, including a murals tour (more of which later) and a host of reasonably-priced restaurants and cafes.

Also nestled among the flowers, and spilling out onto Calle Terraza, are a handful of stylish clothes shops, mixing indepen-

dent and quirky with more famous brands such as Mango. Strolling around, you won’t help but notice that a number of buildings are decorated with incredible street art, bringing the façadeand the surrounding streets - to life. Murals as high as the buildings - some thought to be among the largest in Europe - painted with incredible skill and daring will

take you aback.

Splashing news

ESTEPONA will allow the filling of community and private pools this summer. It comes after recent rains boosted water reserves around the town and region to levels similar to those reached last year. However the town hall will put a new system in place to ensure all pools use water responsibly. This may include protective awnings to prevent evaporation.

To learn more about the benefits of pure oxygen therapy, schedule an appointment by contacting us on: 952 806 796 / 663 418 023 or send a message via WhatsApp

Visit us at: Avenida España, 242, Estepona (Málaga) For further updates, visit our website: https://centrohiperbarico.com/

The largest one, by artist Jose Fernández Ríos, depicts a fish on a line covering six separate building façades and measuring almost 100,000 metres squared. Further into the town, past its historic centre head for the exotic glassdomed orchidarium - the largest in Europe. The futuristic greenhouse is home to more than 8,000 species of orchids, three waterfalls, streams and a butterfly house. Staff care lovingly for these delicate and beautiful plants, watching them bloom and

BREATHE EASY

Over the past decade the Centro Hiperbarico Estepona has seen thousands of patients successfully recover from injuries and ailments

OPTIMIZING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE WITH HYPERBARIC OXYGEN

Our hyperbaric oxygen treatments have shown remarkable efficacy in accelerating the healing process of bone fractures, joint issues, and muscle injuries and serves as a natural aid in training enhancement, for athletes and individuals across all fitness levels.

COMBAT FATIGUE AND ENHANCE WELL-BEING

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is particularly effective in combating chronic fatigue, with patients experiencing heightened vitality post-treatment, leading to reduced stress levels and improved sleep quality.

REVITALISE YOUR HEARING

In cases of sudden deafness, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has demonstrated remarkable success in hearing restoration with patients expressing high satisfaction levels with the outcomes.

EMBRACE ANTI-AGING BENEFITS

Pure oxygen therapy aids in delaying the aging process, offering a holistic approach to maintaining youthful vitality.

Discover the transformative potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy without delay

FLORAL: In Plaza de las Flores while (right) a street painter and impressive Mercado de Abastos gourmet market

flower and then fade away every three months, to start the cycle anew.

Another spot worth seeking out, near the port, is the Plaza de Toros, which isn’t the oldest, biggest or best in Spain but it’s one of a kind – the only asymmetrical bullring in the world.

Its clever shape was designed to offer spectators more seating in the shade than under the hot Spanish sun, and it has hosted numerous sport and cultural events since it opened in 1972.

Just a short hop from the bullring you will find the 20-metre tall Punta Doncella lighthouse, which has been blinking away its light to ships and boats up and down the coast in its present incarnation since 1922.

Oh, and if you are looking for nature and green spaces, there are plenty of other beaches up along the coast, not to men-

tion excellent tennis clubs, like Forest Hills, plus great golf courses, including El Paraiso, now 50 years old.

Estepona was officially founded during the golden age of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the 10th century.

Destroyed by the conquering Christians in the 15th century and rebuilt by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand almost a century later, King Philip V granted the town a charter for 600 families in 1728.

Compare that to the ever-growing number of residents today, plus the visitors that see the population triple in summer months.

And rentals do fill up quickly at this time of year, so book early if you want to discover why Estepona should be number one on your Costa del Sol bucket list.

Double take

A PAIR of new buildings have trans- formed the skyline of the former fish- ing village.

Dramatically changing the coastline, the Mirador del Carmen tower and nearby ‘carbon neutral’ town hall are befitting the modern bustling town, while complementing the traditional town centre.

Taking just 14 months to build, the 12-floor Mirador del Carmen com- prises an arts and cultural centre, with close links to the Carmen Thys- sen Museum, in Malaga.

It also has a library, an auditorium for concerts and a rooftop terrace with viewing platform that gives sweeping vows of the town and coastline to Gi- braltar and Africa.

Its opening last year came just weeks after the town inaugurated its new strikingly modern €13 million town hall (below).

The practice of Pilates offers extensive physical and mental benefits

• Improve body posture

• Flexibility

• Improves breathing

• Stretches without injuries

• Helps fight stress

• Shape the body

+34 602 572 386 @galyabasipilates

Centro Comercial Atenea Autovía del Mediterráneo km 168, Ctra. Nacional 340, Estepona

Eco-friendly adults only boutique hotel, three minutes walk from the beach, set in a restored townhouse in the heart of Estepona historic centre featuring a rooftop bar overlooking the mountains and Estepona skyline.

book@theoldtownestepona.com www.theoldtownestepona.com

673 713 032 94 Calle Caridad, Estepona AN 29680

COSTA DEL STROLL

WHILE the cities of Marbella and Malaga are held up as the cities to visit on the Costa del Sol, Estepona offers sights and sounds to rival its neighbours, and has a much more tranquil ambience.

It’s high time the town had its day in the sun.

With friendly locals and a vast array of tapas and drinking bars along its narrow cobbled streets, Estepona is the ideal town for a stroll.

Begin at the north end, on the Paseo Maritimo de Pedro Manrique, development projects on the paseo finished just at the beginning of April and now it is one of the longest coastal promenades in Spain.

On one side you have the azure mediterranean sea with a view of Gibraltar in the distance, on the other, a jungle of flowers, palm trees and kids’ play parks.

If you carry on to the Mirador del Carmen you can pay a couple of euros to see this lovely view from a height, with panoramic vistas of the town and coast.

After a short walk back to town, turn right into the old town via Plazoleta Ortiz, where many of the residential buildings are adorned by enchanting murals.

As you are wandering the street, stop for coffee at one of the many cafes and bars.

After refuelling, we recommend wandering towards Calle Terraza to explore Estepona’s newly renovated old town, each dotted with hundreds of flowers, statues and plaques with romantic poetry.

If you wander far enough, you’ll eventually find yourself at the Mercado de Abastos, a brand new, and slightly pretentious food hall.

Once you’ve found your way back to Calle Terraza, follow the street past shops and bars, to come upon a glass-domed building with white facade – the Estepona Orchid House, where more than 1300 species of the enchanting plants are on show.

There’s a fish and seafood restaurant with a decent hearty Spanish menu opposite, but further down you’ll arrive at Estepona’s busiest plaza – the Plaza Antonio Guerrero – where both the Freiduria Casa La Clavija and Trampantojo make perfect spots for a beer and a bite to eat.

From there, walk a few hundred

yards down the road and to the right, and you’ll find the charming Plaza de Flores.

The early afternoon, when it is quiet, is the best time to enjoy the peace and appreciate the full spectrum of colourful flowers around the ornate fountain. Later, the plaza is transformed into a hotspot for sangria-drinking Brits – on occasion, I have been one of them.

Veering left after the plaza, onto Avenida España, you are confronted by an endless succession of restaurants and ice cream parlours.

Try El Rincon Toscano, a delicious and unpretentious Italian restaurant, or Mexa, an excellent Mexican with especially good food for vegetarians (make sure to get the

jackfruit tacos).

Hipsters out there can get a flat white to go at Manila Café Bar, before entering into the old town and passing the stunning Parroquia Nuestra Señora De Los Remedios, a beautiful church with a distinctly Andalucian flavour. Ready for refreshment? Drop into the Gran Vino, an excellent wine bar specialising in Italian wine. It’s the kind of place that will tempt you into acting like a connoisseur before being immediately sussed out as an ignoramus by the expert waiters. I can recommend the Valpolicella Verona. Or if cervezas are more your thing, then a few hundred yards further along, you’ll find El Capote on Calle Viento, a secluded bar that is great value for money.

After that, head down to the beach. Despite the number of vehicles on the sand and the considerable maintenance work in preparation for the summer onslaught, the view of the sea remains glorious.

Walking along this beach never gets old, especially hailing as I do from Hampshire where the closest thing we have to the costas is Bournemouth – I’ll say no more. Return to Avenida Andalucia, passing the understated but decent Cafeteria Delta, and finish at Parque el Calvario.

The park makes a fitting end to a five kilometre walk that takes about an hour and a half and allows you to do more than scratch the surface of this traditional yet vibrant town.

MURAL MAGIC: Plaza Antonia Guerrero

HIDDEN CORNERS: Plaza Antonia Ortega Vela

DELIGHTFUL: Plazoleta Ortiz

PEACEFUL: Parque del Calvario

VIBRANT: Plaza de las Flores

Amanda (Spanish) & Anthony (British) welcome you to Las Brisas, a small family run Hostal in the heart of Estepona old town. 50 metres from the beach and surrounded by the best bars and restaurants Estepona has to offer. We provide 6 comfortable ensuite bedrooms for you to relax and unwind during your stay. Probably the best value accomodation in the centre of Estepona old town!

www.hostallasbrisas.com.es

BEACH BLISS: La Rada

NEWLY BUILT: Mirador del Carmen and events space

WHITE-WASHED: The area surrounding the beautiful centre was once grazing ground for cattle

Estepona’s seafaring tradition is the salt adding seasoning to its tourist offer

STILL a working fishing town, much of Estepona’s cash flow surges from the port.

The importance of the maritime trade is obvious at the Ethnographic Museum, which showcases the ancient craft of boat making and the cornucopia of marine life living off this golden coast. Museum guide Mariano Jobreas, who moved to the town from Madrid, shows off a wall displaying dozens of complicated knots. “To become a fisherman you have to learn to tie every single one of these.

“You have to be prepared for all eventualities out at sea,” he says gravely.

The models of fishing boats still in use look so real, he jestingly assures me that the working vessels are much bigger.

On a trip to the port Miguel Ferrer Gonzalez explains his boat trips.

“I came here because Estepona is more of a family town,” he beams, explaining that he spends his days sailing around in search of dolphins.

It sounds like money for old rope as dolphins

HUB: The port is still a hive for fishermen, but also offers a melting-pot of bars and restaurants these days

often spot shoals of them frolicking offshore.

“It’s not an office job, and if you like the sea, this is the job for you,” agrees Miguel.

If you’d like a turn at the helm yourself, the Real Club Nautico houses a sailing and kayak school with a dry dock for sailboats and a nautically-themed restaurant for hungry sailors returning home from the sea. Estepona is still home to hundreds of working

seas

fishing families whose ancestors have been casting their nets here for centuries. Now this great maritime tradition is continued by their offspring who brave the elements to this day to put fresh fish on local dining tables.

VINTAGE: Estepona was once a quaint fishing village

The wheel deal

No job is too big or small for Premier Bodyshops - from small scratches to full car restorations

FROM classic cars and exotic sports models to your daily driver and family runaboutPremier Bodyshops has you covered.

Their team is dedicated to getting your wheels back on the road at high speed.

Probably the largest motor vehicle repair shop in Estepona, they operate from a 700 sq.m. fully-equipped workshop on the town’s industrial estate.

They undertake all types of accident repair work for family vehicles as well as vans and motorhomes - from vandal scratches and family scrapes, to major collision damage. They also have the expertise to replace the roof of your beloved convertible and offer total windscreen and glass replacement.

Premier also has approved repairer status with all major insurance companies operating in Spain and in some cases they can start repairs on your vehicle immediately without prior estimates or inspections, thereby cutting the time you are without your vehicle.

Better still, you get use of one of their fleet of courtesy cars while your repair is being carried out – totally

OPENING HOURS: Mon-Fri 8.30 – 17.00

C/ juan de Herrera 23, polígono industrial estepona. 29680

free – and a free valet service on collection.

All work is guaranteed for one year.

The business also specialises in classic restorations, from bare metal to fully-trimmed and painted running vehicles.

It has also produced some rare classic conversions such as the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II four door convertible and they have also converted a Bentley MK VI from hardtop to two door convertible.

And not only that, they are fully equipped to convert your classic car to electric power.

Aiden and his team are all car enthusiasts who love classic and exotic vehicles. So much so that they organise car events for fellow enthusiasts. Watch out for their next one this September/October.

To have Aiden and his team take care of your car, contact Premier Bodyshops on 951 90 11 55 or by direct email to: aiden@premierbodyshops.es

OLDEN DAYS: Estepona seafront has changed dramatically

Ultimate frisbee makes a landing in Estepona

AGAINST all the odds, the niche sport of Ultimate Frisbee is growing in Estepona.

Created in 1969 by an American student, some 55 years later it’s an up and coming pastime on La Rada beach.

With up to two dozen players from all over the world, it has taken the popular resort by storm.

There are now 40 teams playing the sport around Spain, with the main ones on the Costa del Sol in Malaga and Estepona.

The sport arrived in Spain three decades ago, when the first ever team was created in 1995 in Gran Canaria.

Without a university or large urban centre it is hard to attract new players and can be difficult to maintain a team.

CAN’T SPIN THIS ONE!

But, the Estepona Volaores (Flying fish) team is going from strength to strength. Running for over a decade the team

Estepona projects are cherry on cake of incredible transformation

IHAVE written more than once in the past about the transformation of Estepona into a world class town - and the process continues.

This year already we have seen the tendering of two new projects that are the cherry on the cake of this transformation.

We have also seen the official opening of the Avenida de España pedestrian boulevard, as well as the Junta declaring the mega project by Starlite as a project of strategic interest. And it’s only May.

Let’s begin with the official opening of the new Avenida de España.

This was once a busy highway, a slightly scary thoroughfare that had to be crossed to reach the sea.

As part of the transformation of Estepona’s old town this has been converted into residents only access for traffic purposes and widened to accommodate the increasing number of pedestrians visiting Estepona. It is now officially open and is spectacular.

This new boulevard extends for over a kilometre along the coast, connecting the town with

FRISBEE: A thrilling sport

came seventh at the National Beach Championships, with some players now in the Spanish national team. As well as giving workshops at vari-

Up up and away!

IT bills itself as the biggest climbing wall in Spain. And with 662 square metres to climb it is something of a challenge for budding mountaineers. Designed into three sectionsspeed, difficulty and bouldering. Financed by the EU, local climbing group, GRUME, will give classes for children and adults on Monday to Friday from 4:00pm to 10:00pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 02:00pm. Locals can pay a monthly €30 fee for classes.

ous Estepona schools, they are always looking for new recruits on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm and most Sundays in front of Tolone Bar.

Follow Volaores on Instagram @volaoresultimate or email volaores@gmail.com

EVER UPWARDS

the sea. It includes renovated infrastructure, a bike lane, and prioritises pedestrian access with an open, barrier-free design.

The opening of the Avenida de España joins last year’s opening of the ‘Balcony of the Mediterranean’, which saw the addition of the Mirador del Carmen arts and cultural centre, which put the ‘finishing touch’ on Estepona’s urban remodelling process, according to Andalusian President Juan Manuel Moreno.

Two New Projects Make Their Debut

But far from being the finishing touch, the forward thinking local leadership is not just sitting on past developments and letting the city stagnate in past glories.

It has now been announced that there will be two new important projects for the city - the revitalization of Calle Terraza as a pedestrian and commercial street, as well as a major project to create a promenade on San Lorenzo.

The Calle Terraza remodelling project aims to

completely transform this key commercial artery to make it more accessible, safer and sustainable using €2.4 million from EU Next Generation funds.

On a bigger scale, the San Lorenzo boulevard project was presented by the mayor at FITUR - an international tourism trade fair. This initiative will create a major new 22,000 m2 pedestrian space in the heart

of the city. It will fuse the Avenida de España coastal boulevard with the renovated historic centre.

The San Lorenzo project includes re-urbanising the area to generate another grand pedestrian boulevard with leisure and commercial spaces.

Starlite Music World

Starlite Music Festival’s expansion to Estepona is a little further away, but still exciting.

Starlite Music World aims to be the world’s first major music-themed amusement park, aspiring to do for music what Disney has done for cartoons and children’s characters. The €286 million project will span 170,000 m2 and include attractions, audiovisual spaces, a 200room hotel and more.

The complex is envisioned as a natural extension of Starlite’s highly successful Marbella concert venue. Starlite Marbella’s impact over

12 years is estimated at €1.8 billion, with €350 million generated in the2023 edition. By expanding to a year-round permanent site in Estepona with much larger capacity – from 3,500 to 15,000 capacity – Starlite Music World is expected to have an even greater economic impact. The current estimate is that the construction alone will be close to €300 million and will provide 450 jobs.

There’s no doubt that Estepona is a city with a great future ahead of it. It is just now really beginning to appear on the radar of large numbers of people.

FLYING HIGH: Volaores turns 10 this year

ULTIMATE

The Property Insider by Adam Neale

PLANS: Workmen this week helping to complete Estepona’s transformation (above)

ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: of the planned boulevard park

FULL SPECTRUM

THE dream of owning a prop-

erty in Spain is often more fraught than aspiring buyers realise when they gaze into an estate agent’s window.

The journey from contacting the agent to putting down the deposit, moving in and running off to the beach is literally littered with hurdles and boobytraps.

It is indeed, a veritable minefield that can sour the sangria for the unwary who plunge in blindly.

“Once you've bought a property, you don't necessarily know the costs associated with it,” Alexandra FitzRoy-Stone of Nockolds Lawyers Spain tells the Olive Press.

"You've got various taxes and rates, such as the IBI (council tax), Basura (refuse collection tax), non-resident tax or, if you become a resident, you've got to file your declaration here.

“There is also the need for a Spanish Will for your Spanish assets, that can be drawn up in

Nockolds

Lawyers Spain meet their clients’ needs before they even know they need them...

line with the law of your country of origin.

“There's lots of things people don't know. We are here to help."

New buyers will likely also have to navigate the complex world of inheritance laws, hidden debts and unexpected taxes.

While Nockolds knows Spanish law inside and out thanks to its bilingual Spanish lawyers and legal experts, they also bring the highest ethical standards from the UK.

report on a property in a matter of days.

“People think, wow,” Alexandra continues. “We practise exactly how we would do in the UK.”

With over 90 lawyers qualified in their field, the skilled team can handle both ends of a relocation to Spain, including the sale of the UK property.

They can put together a report on a property in a matter of days

"We provide the best of British legal practices, combined with a thorough command of Spanish law," explains Alexandra, who moved to Estepona from England seven years ago.

“We are fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in England, and although here we are a separate Spanish business, we implement exactly the same policies as if we were regulated in the UK.”

Nockolds does a full search on each potential property purchase so that clients can rest assured there are no red flags or hidden taxes.

Thanks to ‘absolutely brilliant’ contacts in the town hall, the local tax office and the land registry, they can put together a

This includes taking care of all conveyancing worries, estate planning, inheritance and every other concern that crops up with owning property abroad.

Even services like visa applications, which have become increasingly pivotal post-Brexit, can be navigated with Nockolds experts.

Their approach is about being proactive, not reactive, built upon their history and legacy in their UK offices in London and Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, where they’ve been a legal cornerstone for over 200 years.

With their rich tradition of exceptional client care now anchored in Estepona, British expatriates and international clients can rest assured that their Spanish property affairs will be managed with precision and integrity.

BILINGUAL: Nockolds’ multinational team can handle all aspects of relocating to Spain

A CUT ABOVE

quality hairdressing in the heart of Estepona

DLET IN THE LIGHT

EXPAT’S FAVOURITE:

O you find yourself frantically Googling the Spanish for ‘Just a trim’, ‘I want to try balayage’ or ‘Can we top up my highlights?’ before your hair appointments?

Stress no more - with Louise Keily (pictured) you're in great hands.

An Irish hairstylist with 19 years of experience, Louise trained with Toni & Guy and Vidal Sassoon before moving to Estepona last summer.

Originally from Cork, Louise is warm and friendly, sure to boost your confidence and help you feel your best.

After working for the best in the industry, she opened her own hair salon in Ireland while working as a freelance bridal stylist. Now, she has taken her skills to Spain, specialising in colour and styling from her salon in the heart of Estepona.

Louise also loves doing bridal packages including hair and makeup for the entire wedding party.

Her team includes a professional makeup artist, so you’ll be looking picture perfect for your special day.

She’s available for on-location wedding hair styling from Sotogrande to Mijas and beyond (subject to extra costs).

The salon also offers beauty treatments such as semi-permanent makeup, nails, brows and eyelash extensions.

Whatever you need, there’s a specialist for you in the Hair Fairy team.

Louise offers 20% off on Mondays and if you sign up to her WhatsApp channel, she’ll also give 20% off on your birthday, accompanied by a glass of fizz. Top

Book

Olive Press readers voted for their favourite expat businesses in Estepona and the winners are...

IT has only been open for a few months, but over 10% of expats in Estepona have voted for the Sun Inn as their favourite business.

Well over 100 expatriates living in the resort singled out the charming pub/ bar that sits by the river in El Padron. Run by a family from Windermere, in Cumbria, the venue serves up traditional pub grub, daily specials and tapas, all homemade with ‘a lot of heart’.

“Though we’ve been through a huge learning curve, it’s going really well and we get a lot of support from the expat community,” explained co-owner Kady Menary, 24.

“It’s great to be singled out though as

number one.” She continued: “We’re introducing lots of new projects like a play area, live music, themed nights and the highly requested, roast dinners.”

FAVE SPOTS: Fergusson’s and Le

The Sun Inn ticked all the right boxes which has been under the same ownership for over 30 years.

Found on El Camino de Montesol, it is enroute to numerous urbanisations and the Forest Hills Tennis Club. Other businesses praised in our expat poll included Fergusson’s Irish Pub ,

Down in the port, Le Petit Paris was also a favourite, while other popular spots included Ikigai, Tolone, Boab Tree, Theresa’s Cafe, Bar Sam Sam, the 3 Monkeys

Another classic and voted by many is Peggotty’s Fish & Chips

Petit Paris ranked high

Foodie heaven

Estepona is finally developing an international food scene, writes Jon Clarke

IT first opened in 1949 and was the place that every single local household visited at least once a week, possibly every day.

Now Estepona’s indoor market (or Mercado de Abastos ) has finally reopened again in a stunning new guise.

Serving as a gastronomic hub, it is the perfect place for a glass of wine and a chinwag, a few plates of tapas, or a full blown meal.

Comprising six different restaurants, as well as a wine bar, gastronomic gift shop and soon, other shops, this

is one place all you foodies need to check out this Spring. Set up by expats Hazel Gormley-Leahy and Janne

Thorstenson it is clear they have focussed on both style and quality. As Hazel, who has lived in Spain for two decades, explains: “It’s a lovely space and we have three distinct terrace areas outside, perfect for all times of day.”

The businesswoman - who previously worked at Marbella’s Gaucho Group, not to mention Deloitte, Microsoft and Warner Brothers - saw the opportunity to take over the concession to run the Continues on Page 26

WINNER WINNER

Enjoy Estepona’s finest chicken in the port or at home with Pollo de la Mar

THE Olive Press ducked into Pollo de la Mar (no pun intended) to meet general manager Lisanne and sample the local merchandise one sparkling spring lunch time.

Pollo de la Mar immediately catches the eye even among the bars and restaurants of Estepona’s buzzing port.

Before tucking into an enormous half of a golden roast chicken, it was immediately noticeable that the premises were spotlessly clean, which is always a major plus.

The menu specialises in, as you may imagine, roast chicken options, all delivered to the restaurant fresh that day or the day before. Even the chips are fresh, peeled and cut that morning in an establishment that only has one freezer - mostly for ice - as it never uses frozen ingredients.

The half chicken that we ordered came promptly with an enticing buttery glaze - the secret marinade.

There are also a range of side dishes, from French fries and ribs to (cheesy) garlic bread and fresh salads.

Lisanne explained how they are always striving to come up with new ideas and keep the menu fresh.

“Right now it is chicken popcorn. Soon you will be able to wash it down with desserts and ice cream. And in the future the menu may even offer a chicken and rice option.”

Guests are invited to pass by one of the spickest and spannest kitchens a human ever laid sight on as they visit the toilet.

“We are cleaning all day long, every day,” Lisanne beamed.

“Ovens are cleaned every day, oil is changed regularly, floors, windows, inside fridges, etc are all done frequently. We also do the entire shop, completely once a month.”

How refreshing, we thought, to be so entirely sure no rodent or insect has scurried across the food you are eating, in a sector that isn’t universally known for its perfect hygiene standards. And those for whom strolling down to the port is a stretch too far, you can also order Pollo de la Mar through Glovo. It’s the perfect place to enjoy great food in the heart of Estepona’s most happening location.

GOURMET SCENE: The market has a stunning new guise

Eat, Drink, and Socialise

Discover the ultimate dining experience at Mercado de Abastos Estepona. Our bar-restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks with friends and family.

Calle Villa, 9, 29680 Estepona, Malaga Mail: hola@mercadoestepona.com www.mercadoestepona.com

International cuisine

market last year.

Since then she and her partner have totally renovated the space and brought in a great mix of restaurants, including Italian, Mexican and an Argentinian-style grill joint.

I decided to try a two course set lunch at the seafood joint, Ikan , run by a Belgian chef, who has a Michelin star no less back home.

Apparently some locals have complained it’s expensive at €19 but trust me this was an amazingly good value meal, comprising a squid carpaccio and then a wonderfully fresh sea bass. I was in fishy heaven and will be back.

Perhaps my favourite place is literally just ten paces down the road from here.

The Casa del Rey never lets me down, a genuine trailblazer that has easily the best wines by the glass in Estepona.

Sitting on Plaza de los Flores it is the perfect place to take in the evening and its wood-beamed high ceiling interior is charm personified.

Run by the talented halfDutch expat Liliana, she and her team at the Reinaldo Group have half a centuFrom page 25

tails.

ry of experience working in the hospitality sector.

And now a brand new place on Avenida Espana, right on the brand new boulevard.

With two terraces, amazing sea views this is one to check out from breakfast to dinner and finally cock -

From here, stroll up every alleyway and into every flower-laden square in Estepona these days and you’ll find a new place to eat. The town is so full of tourists these days a steady influx of foreign restaurateurs can make a good living here…. Indeed you have to pity the poor lemmings staying at the all-inclusive joints, like Ikos, on the outskirts, the quality in town is so good. Whether you’re after Japanese, Thai or Mexican there is so much out there, while there are also plenty of good tapas joints and wine bars to boot.

Look out for Etcetera , run by expat business dynamo Alex and her mum, who’s

INSPIRING: And the 100-plus wines by the glass make Casa del Ray a real winner

has a big range of international dishes, with excellent burgers and fabulous asparagus croquettes.

In Plaza Ortiz, look out for Sur , a brilliant Argentinian, where owner Juan is a hands-on and hard-working

cook, who usually has much of his family around helping.

Among other delicacies you are guaranteed superb juicy empanadas and lamb tagine.

For fish, take your pick from El Pescador or La Rada, which are long-running rivals, but both have excellent wild fresh fish.

On the outskirts of town or up the coast towards Marbella

there are also plenty of good places to seek out.

One of my favourites is the hidden spot, the Sun Inn (see Let in the light on page 24), right next to the El Padron river, a short five minute drive out of town.

Recently set up by two young English couples who previously ran a pub in the Lake District, this is one really fab-

ulous place to seek out for dinner.

Another rural spot, La Alcaria de Ramos may be out of the way but it’s worth seeking it out, somewhere between the two famous golf courses of El Paraiso and Atalaya.

An ancient coaching inan, it is charm personified with some amazing Spanish tourist posters and has wonderful views of the coasts sitting up in an enviable position. Come visit the Costa del Sol’s hidden foodie hotspot before it gets too popular and you can’t get a seat!

CATCH: Serving at La Rada (left) while El Pescador (above) is great for fish and Ramos is worth seeking out

LA CULTURA

Feria de Agosto de Malaga

(August 17-24)

MALAGA’S feria runs for a marathon 10 days and nights, with events taking place in the historic city centre during the day, and at the fairground (located in the Cortijo de Torres district) at night. The usually international and touristy

capital of the Costa del Sol reverts to fu ll-on Spanish culture for the duration, with horses and carriages trotting around, and the sound of flamenco rhythms in the air.

Feria de San Lucas de Jaen

(October 15-23)

JAEN’S Feria de San Lucas is a chance to see deeper Spain. This is another of the more traditional fairs, with both male and female attendees dressed in fine flamenco wear, and it takes place against a stunning backdrop of hills and olives. As in Malaga, the action takes place in the town during the day, and moves out of the centre to the fairground at night, where flamenco eventually gives way to the roar of fairground and reggaeton, for a real mix of the modern and traditional.

PARTY: Malaga’s fair runs over 10 days and nights

TRADITION: Ronda’s feria embraces bullfighting

PERHAPS a little controversial for many foreign and Spanish tourists, Ronda’s feria is named for the bullfighter Pedro Romero. The local population continues to embrace the theme and continue the Spanish tradition, with a series of bullfights known as the Corrida Goyesca. Away from the bullring, the streets of the historic town come alive during feria week with singing and dancing and all-round family-friendly entertainment.

Feria de Pedro Romero de Ronda (September 2-8)

Gone viral

A BRITISH dark comedy is topping the Spanish Netflix charts as Baby Reindeer, a show about a female stalker, goes viral. The series tells showrunner and actor Richard Gadd’s first-hand experience as the victim of a female stalker.

A dark comedy, the show explores Gadd’s ‘warped’ relationship with his stalker, Martha as she forces him to confront deep seated trauma. It was released on streaming platform, Netflix, on April 11 and has shot to the top of the global charts holding a firm first place on the streaming platform.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

Scan to visit our website

STILL GOT IT!

MICHAEL Caine has been awarded Best Actor at the Barcelona Film Festival at 91-years-old for his film, The Great Escaper.

Based on a true story, the film follows a World War Two veteran, Bernard Jordan, as he escapes his retirement home.

The 89-year-old wanted to go to France to celebrate the

Michael Caine scoops top award at Barcelona film festival

By Yzabelle Bostyn

70th anniversary of the Normandy landing and reunite with his brothers in arms. He was joined by the late

Women only

AFTER the success of its first edition, a women-only ‘queer’ LGTBIQA music festival is returning to Fuengirola. It is the first of its kind in Europe and will feature international names like Amaral, Belen Aguilera, Ladilla Rusa and Samurai. On May 25, the Marenostrum outdoor concert venue will be filled by music, colour and good vibes as the festival kicks off. Tickets start at €32 and are available here.

COSTA DEL OFFSHORE

Dive deep into the choppy waters of high-value international finance at OffshoreAlert’s inaugural Marbella conference

THE Costa del Sol plays host to a number of conferences each year, but none as unique and exclusive as an event that will take place in June.

Put on by OffshoreAlert, a leading provider of investigative intelligence in the world of high-value international finance, it isn't your typical finance congress.

It's a carefully-curated experience for all participants in the industry to learn, network, and do business at a glamorous venue - while having a lot of fun.

Whether you're seeking to elevate your expertise or forge valuable connections, OffshoreAlert Marbella provides the perfect platform.

Covering intelligence, investigations, and recovery, the event offers a gateway to networking, insightful knowledge acquisition, and serene relaxation – all rolled into one.

What

is OffshoreAlert?

Established in 1996, Miami-based OffshoreAlert offers participants in international finance and markets in-depth analyses of what's going on so they can minimise risk and maximise opportunity.

These come through articles, documents, conferences, and virtual events, with a particular focus on jurisdictions known for high-confidentiality.

OffshoreAlert meticulously monitors various sources, including offshore and onshore courts, regulatory actions, and offering ma-

terials, to identify potential issues and red flags in high-value international finance. They then share this knowledge through articles and documents accessible to subscribers.

Their investigative work has played a crucial role in exposing investment scams, tax evasion schemes, and money laundering operations, leading to their early collapse and prosecution of perpetrators.

OffshoreAlert's conferences and virtual events serve as a meeting ground for key stakeholders in the high-value finance sector. These events provide a platform for learning, networking, and conducting business.

Who should attend OffshoreAlert Marbella?

Fraud Investigators, asset recovery specialists, insolvency practitioners, intelligence-gatherers, litigators, claimants, funders, investors, regulators, law enforcement, risk managers, financial and professional services providers, fact-finders, researchers, and investigative journalists. Anyone who wants to know what's going on in an unforgiving industry.

Glenda Jackson, who played his wife Irene.

Michael Caine gives yet another legendary performance

The ‘legendary’ pair have been praised for their performances, which give ‘a huge amount to enjoy,’ according to a Guardian review.

Another foreign picture was also praised as the Finnish title, Maya’s Destiny, won best film.

The historical drama follows 17-year-old Maya as she is forced to marry a fisherman, dealing with long absences and the burden of childcare alone.

Based on a five-book series by Anni Bloqvist, the film was a ‘surprising’ success. For the Spaniards, Birth was awarded Best Directing. About a young girl who unex-

pectedly becomes pregnant in 1980s Spain, the female cast were jointly given the Best Actress award.

Another winner was Phantom Youth, which tells the story of the lost innocence of young people during the independence of Kosovo.

More than 20,000 people attended this year’s festi val, watching 69 films. Almost 50 of the pictures shown were premieres, in cluding 15 from around the world.

Alongside the showings there were 63 talks, events and activities, among them a talk with Oscar nominee and Society of Snow tor, J.A. Bayona.

RAPPING IN

US rapper Macklemore is coming to Spain as the 40-year-old performs on the Costa del Sol. The Can’t Hold Us and Thrift Shop singer will take to the stage in Fuengirola on June 21. He will perform at the outdoor concert venue, Marenostrum.

Promote

The concert is the artist’s only stop in Spain during the tour to promote his new album, BEN Known for hits like Glorious, the singer became popular for its socially conscious lyrics.

His latest release is his third studio album and was inspired by his relapse into alcohol addiction during the

The Agenda: A blend of insight and intrigue

The agenda promises a captivating mix of 'sexy topics' delivered by prominent speakers at the forefront of the industry.

Here's a glimpse of some of the session:

● Global Watergate: How Pegasus & Other Spyware Is Used To Spy On Adversaries;

● International Tax Evasion: Spanish Prosecutors vs. Celebrity HNWIs;

● High-Value International Recovery: Developments & Other Things You Need To Know;

● The Barcelona Football Referee Bribery Scandal: An Analysis;

● Buying Silence: The Rise of Lawfare (Incl. Against Catalan Politicians);

● Offshore Finance: Intelligence Update;

● Hazim Nada v. UAE: 'How Dirty Tricks & Disinformation Destroyed A Business';

● Rui Pinto & William Bourdon Present: The 'Football Leaks' Scandal That Rocked European Soccer;

● Dubai Investigations: Workshop.

The roster of headline speakers includes whistleblower Rui Pinto and his lawyer, Wi-

lliam Bourdon, who will discuss the 'Football Leaks' scandal that led to tax fraud prosecutions against stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and rules breaches charges against Manchester City; lawyers David Hooper, Jorge Angell, and Keith Oliver, and Grant Thornton's Global Head of Restructuring and Asset Recovery, Kevin Hellard

OffshoreAlert Marbella understands the importance of fostering connections beyond the conference room, as such it offers a few extracurricular activities:

● Ryder Cup-Style Golf Tournament: 'Europe vs. USA & Friends' at Finca Cortesin golf course for The OffshoreAlert Cup.

● Euros Watch Parties: Cheer on your national team alongside industry peers.

● Closing Two-Hour Lunch & Pool Party: A final opportunity to unwind and network.

● The event will be held at the w, nestled on the shores of the Costa del Sol. Conference guests can enjoy a luxurious stay with breakfast included at a special rate of €250 per night.

VETERAN:

By invite online

No guarantee

Dear Olive Press,

GUARANTEES for new items in Spain changed on 31/12/2021 from two years to three years.

This is great, except that my wife and I purchased a 75” LG television for €749 from Carrefour in April 2021 that has just failed.

I have contacted both Carrefour and LG who are both trying to get out of honouring any kind of warranty on the basis that we purchased the television before the change in law. I speak some Spanish, but am not fluent enough to deal with the nuances of language in a negotiation with a large multinational firm that is trying to avoid having to replace a product that should have lasted us 10 years. I was wondering if anyone has a greater insight into what consumer rights should be in this situation? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mr Hosking, via email

Editor’s note: Over to you readers - does anyone have an insight to Mr Hosking’s rights in this matter?

RECENTLY your paper reported that nonEU citizens going to stay at a residential address in Spain now need to carry an ‘official invitation letter’.

How many British Nationals who own second homes in Spain are aware that they have to make an appointment to visit in person their local Spanish Police Station, at least a week before their family and friends visit them in Spain.

That they will need to provide the police with a copy of each guests’ passport and pay approximately £70 to obtain the ‘letter of Invitation’ plus another £7 per guest.

My husband and I bought our Spanish home just outside Ronda 16 years ago just before my husband retired.

Until Brexit we spent about five months of the year at our Spanish home spread over several months.

Over the last few years my health has at times not been good and for a year my husband and I were unable to visit our Spanish home but our children did and ensured the property was maintained.

There is no way we want to charge our family and friends to stay in our home or

Good news please

READING the Olive Press I was hoping for some intellectual information on the political situation or anything else.

All I seem to read about is climate disaster, drought, flooding, heat waves. This news has cost Spain revenue as people stayed away.

SHOULD BE WELCOMED

WITH regards to your story about lo- cals demonstrating about the prolifer- ation of short term rentals in Malaga, they have a point.

But without tourists Malaga would return to the sleepy provin- cial capital it was.

to sell Spanish home

Reader worried that EU regulations could force her

pay to visit. On a practical level we would need to ensure that we were staying at our Spanish home at least two weeks ahead of our family or guests each time they wanted to visit so that we could arrange the visit to the local police station to obtain the ‘official invitation letter’. It would seem that after 16 very happy years we may have to sell up our very much loved Spanish home, make our staff redundant and say goodbye to our many Spanish friends all because of EU bureaucracy and impractical rules.

Liz Oliver (UK and Ronda)

Editor’s note: As noted in our article, these EU regulations are theoretically in place but it is up to member states to enforce them. We have heard very few cases of this actually happening and doubt very much the Spanish authorities ever would.

Now in addition you have the report on Brits maybe having to have a minimum amount of funds to visit, which is one sided. Of course, due to Brexit, we Brit’s have fallen into the same category as Moroccans or South Americans. By law these countries might be required to provide proof

There is hardly a city in the world where tourists do not annoy lo- cals or Airbnb distorts the rental mar- ket and pits investors against home dwellers.

The tourists want to come, the digital nomads want to come . Do you really want to turn them away in the pursuit of a rather mythical golden past? What people are complaining about now is what people always complain about, low salaries, high rents and a bad life.

Chasing out tourists will not change any of this for the better and it will impoverish the city.

Malaga should be proud of its success in attracting people to visit and live.

of financial stability due to the origin of their country, but this will certainly not be enforced on the Brits. The Olive Press seems to be

turning into an enemy of Spain rather than a local paper. Some positive news would be appreciated and not news that will destroy Spanish tourism.

Name supplied via The Olive Press website

Editor’s note: Thank you for your input. We are always glad to hear readers’ opinions and will certainly take yours into account in the coming months

Marc Galberg via the Olive Press website

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

CADIZ FIRST

LUXURY brand Melia will open Cadiz city’s first fivestar hotel as it transforms a city centre finca and palatial home into a holiday haven.

Work has begun in the Alameda area, where a palace dating back to 1760 and the 18th century finca are being converted.

The hotel will be located between Calle Zorrilla and General Menacho.

Part of the Melia Collection brand, the boutique hotel will open its doors in 2026.

The hotel will offer its guests an ‘exclusive experience with 40 rooms and a series of luxury services, including a terrace restaurant with views of the Alameda, serving up local food, an exclusive rooftop with a pool and sea views, a fully equipped gym and a dedicated well-being space’.

Hosts with the most

A COUPLE who rake in €1million per year by operating 400 Airbnbs between Madrid and Malaga have sparked a backlash online.

Fran and Marta manage 336 tourist flats in the capital city alone, however only 25 of them

Locals are fuming over businesses raking in millions by renting out hundreds of tourist flats

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?

Scan

By Laurence Dollimore

appear to have a licence number visible, reports El Confidencial. And data from Inside Airbnb shows they are not alone, with

HIDDEN GEM

VILLAJOYOSA in Alicante province has been graced with the title of 'Best Hidden Gem in Europe 2024' by the European Best Destinations website.

Another Valencian region location - Ares del Maestrat in Castillon province - came second in the survey. Villajoyosa is famous for its colourful buildings blending in with the golden sands of its beaches. The different house colours came about because fishermen wanted to find their homes quickly after a long stretch at sea.

other 'super landlords' having hundreds of homes between them, including 'Rodrigo' with 141, 'Raul' with 116 and 'Diego' with 89.

In Sevilla, a certain 'Nacho' manages 161 apartments, while 'Esther' has 92 and 'Juan' 60.

The story is repeated in Malaga, where a 'Remy' has 110 while 'Javier' has 88.

Fran and Marta's profile on Airbnb shows them smiling together while holding their baby, making the user believe they are the owners of the 300-plus homes they manage.

In fact, they merely run a business that prepares the properties, taking a 20% cut of the profits in the process.

In total, their company is in charge of 400 flats across Madrid, Malaga and Murcia, turn-

PROTEST: and a map of Airbnb homes in Madrid

ing over more than €1million per year.

News of their domination has sparked fury online, with one X user writing: "And if we kill Fran and Marta?"

Another wrote: "You have to pay €400 for a shared flat on the outskirts, but don't worry, Fran and Marta have 247 flats so a German can come and drink sangria."

The outrage comes as Madrid City Council is set to bring in tough new rules on holiday lets, although precise details on the changes have yet to emerge.

Meanwhile, Sevilla has put a pause on new holiday rental licences.

Going flat

THE Freixenet Group, which is one of Spain’s biggest wine producers, is going to temporarily lay off more than 600 workers due to the effects of the ongoing drought in Catalunya.

The lack of rain is having a serious effect on the grape harvest, which in turn is causing problems for the production of Freixenet’s star product, cava –Spain’s version of champagne. The company is going to make use of a temporary layoff scheme known in Spain as an Erte, which would see workers sent home on furlough but enjoying state benefits.

‘Daily rule’ backlash

A NUMBER of British tourists have threatened to ‘boycott’ Spain after learning they may be asked to prove they have enough money to last them the duration of their stay.

Under new rules post-Brexit, each holidaymaker must be able to show they have €113.40 per day of their trip – meaning a family of four visiting for a week must have at least €3,175.20.

Advice from the UK Foreign Office confirms: “When travelling to Spain you could be asked to show you have enough money for your stay.”

However the number of tourists being quizzed about their funds is thought to be extremely low.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

SOMMELIER Secrets

sonably priced and wide-ranging’. But where are these pioneering producers hiding?

From the central plain of ‘forgotten Spain’ to the southern reaches of Tenerife, these are the up and coming wine regions to look out for.

RIBEIRA SACRA

In the heart of Galicia lies the Ribeira Sacra wine

Marked roughly by the flows of the Mino and Sil rivers, the name roughly translates to ‘Sacred Shore’. Here winemaking is an art dating back to the Roman era and was continued by monks in the area’s various monasteries.

With gradients of 85% in some vineyards, in Ribeira Sacra wine making is considered ‘heroic’.

MENTRIDA

Found near historic Toledo (Castilla La Mancha) is Mentrida.

This wine region mostly uses the Garnacha grape, providing robust, rannic and ageworthy red wines.

Though known for its reds, the region also produces fresh and fruity rose wines.

Here, winemaking dates back to the 12th century but the area only achieved DO status in 1976.

Although small, the industry in Mentrida is slowly gaining momentum, with producers focussed on quality.

Fusing modern and traditional techniques, the region produces barrel-aged reds alongside fresher, younger wines fermented in stainless steel.

One of the best wineries in the area is Dominio de Valdepusa, the first property to gain single-vineyard Vino de Pago status.

This award is given only to vineyards deemed equal to those in top-level DOCa regions.

The ‘best’ Mentrida wine is a €28 red, using Grenache grapes.

‘La Vina Escondida’ from Bodegas Canopy is a characterful wine with balsamic flavours and fruity hints.

The area was given DO status in 1996 for its speciality dry reds using the Mencia grape.

This variety thrives in the long ripening season and temperature variability.

Other important varieties include the red Brancellao and Merenzao, alongside the white Godello and Treixadura.

The Ribeira Sacra is divided into five sub-regions including Amandi, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeiras do Mino and Ribeiras do Sil.

According to critics, the best Ribeira wine is the Dominio do Bibei Tinto, a cherry red wine, which is full-bodied with a great length.

Arribes in Castilla y Leon only gained its DO title in 2007.

Along the banks of the Duero River, the region is known for its fruity reds using Rufete, Tempranil lo, Garnacha and Mencia grapes. However, they also produce great whites and roses using Malvasia, Verdejo and Albillo varieties.

One of the small est and most iso lated wine regions in Spain, there are just 20 bodegas in the area and count

Many young people have returned to Arribes to start wineries alongside expats, enamoured by the dramatic landscapes. Arribes best wine is El Hato y el Garabato’s ‘Sin Blanca’, produced using Juan Garcia grapes.

A powerful red, it has a powerful palate with hints of ripe fruit, spice and round tannins.

At just €20, this wine is accessible to even those on a strict budget.

Cebrero (also Castilla y Leon) is found in the Sierra de Gredos region, a pioneer in the ‘new wave’ of Spanish wine.

Awarded DO status just five years ago, it is particularly known for its old-vine Garacha reds.

With vineyards lying on mountain slopes, the granite-based soils and well established vines give Cebrero wine a marked mineral content.

Though known for its reds, Albillo Real is the main white grape variety, with a dense, well-structured wine that matures perfectly in the barrel.

Although little-known today, praise for Cebrero wines has been found in written sources as early as the 14th century, beginning their modern renaissance in the 1970s.

Around 18 wineries produce under the Cebreros DO banner but the best is Telmo Rodriguez’s ‘Pegaso Arrebatacapas’, at €50 a bottle.

The ‘unique’ wine is aged in the barrel for 18 months in French oak, giving it a strong and smooth flavour.

Although many only know Tenerife for its winter sun, the island is home to many delicious wines, including the Valle de la Orotava variety.

Despite being one of the oldest grape regions on the island, dating back to the 15th century, the valley only received its DO status in 1995.

Overlooking the vineyards is the Pico del Teide volcano and the volcanic soils give the wine its vibrant acidity, mineral flavour and distinct smoky touch.

Though red wines are produced, the area is predominantly known for its sweet white wines such as Malmsey, which uses the Malvasia grape. The Valle de la Orotava is also known for its unique vine training technique, el cordon trenzado wherein vines are plaited so that they can be easily moved to grow essential crops.

Only 30% of wines from the re gion are bottled and are main ly consumed within Tenerife, however, this will change as the region continues to grow.

According to winesearcher. com, the best Valle de la Oro tava wine is the Suertes del Marques 'Los Pasitos' Baboso Negro.

Just €29 a bottle, this 2015 vintage is described as ‘spicy and herby with fine bitter notes’.

CEBRERO

ARRIBES

VALLE DE LA OROTAVA

2 3

Costa Angels are ‘Assisted Living’ professionals who provide the best client centered care for our Clients while enabling them to maintain their all-important independence in their own home.

We offer a flexible approach to 24hr Live In Care, Hourly Visits, Respite and Palliative Care to Clients living on the Costa del Sol and some inland areas. Our services include help with personal care, dressing, washing & grooming. Medication prompting, light housework, shopping & meal preparation. Accompanying to social & medical appointments.

Whether you are a Client in need of our services or a Carer interested in working with us to provide first class care, please contact us on +34 952 709 933, +34 611 289 381 or email us on info@costaangels.com Visit our website at www.costaangels.com

November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?

SHOW COOKING

Little stars outshine their three dozen Michelin-starred teachers at Malaga’s annual Chefs for Children bash

ASQUADRON of Spain’s top chefs have led their whisks into the annual battle to teach youngsters how to cook healthily on the Costa del Sol.

The 35 culinary geniuses came from all over Spain to support the Chefs for Children event in Benahavis.

The majority of them with Michelin stars,

EYES PEELED: If you can get a hat that fits

By Jon Clarke

they generously imparted their knowledge to the group of 150 children, many of them autistic.

Setting up on a shady terrace at the five star Anantara Villa Padierna hotel, they taught the youngsters how to use knives, grind up a guacamole and make delicious mini fruit tarts, among other dishes.

Now in its sixth year, the chefs included

Madrid’s trio of Michelin legends, Mario Sandoval, Ramon Freixa and Paco Roncero, all with two stars.

Sandoval, of Coque, told the Olive Press:

“Any one of these kids could be inspired to become the next top chef.

“It’s great to bring Spain’s leading chefs together in this way for such a good cause.”

The event also included Nacho Manzano, with three stars, from Asturias and Fina Puigdevall and her two daughters Martina and Carlota Puigvert, whose famous Les Cols joint in Olot, has two stars.

“It’s great to be down here again, particularly with my two daughters,” she said.

“There is so much going on down in Andalucia these days. It’s a genuinely exciting place and the gastronomic scene is developing so fast.”

Leading the charge locally were Malaga’s finest, including Diego Gallegos, from Sollo, David Olivas, from Back, and Dani Carnero, from Kaleja.

The province’s top chef, Benito Gomez, from Ronda’s two Michelin star he was ‘really proud’ to be representing the

“It’s always an amazing event

Scan to visit our website OP Puzzle solutions Quick

Crossword

Across: 6 Monmouth, 8 A ton, 9 Again and again, 10 Dyes, 11 Turkeys, 14 Version, 16 Cede, 19 Psychiatrists, 21 Cots, 22 Irrigate.

Down: 1 Jogged, 2 Sumac, 3 Rhodium, 4 Hang, 5 Notify, 7 Maidens, 12 Keeping, 13 Solicit, 15 Easton, 17 Entity, 18 Story, 20 Cusp.

and especially important to teach youngsters both how to cook well and healthily,” he explained.

Málaga cook José Carlos Garcia added:

“It’s a brilliant way to promote the best of Malaga, a city which is completely on fire these days!”

One visitor, very impressed with his visit

STUCK IN: Kids’ participation is key

READY: Chopping boards and pinafores at the ready

STEADY: An army of chefs arrives

GO: One of the chefs gets stuck in

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

was Rafa Soler, whose restaurant Audrey’s has a star in Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.

“It is really important for us chefs to put something back and it doesn’t get more positive than a day like this.

The 44-year-old continued: “Valencia, like Malaga, is now developing so fast. Both regions are heavily influenced by the flavours of the Mediterranean and both are seeing

WORTH THE WAIT: the end product was Michelin level

huge growth from gourmet tourists.

“In fact I would say that around 70% of my clients are now coming from abroad to enjoy Spain’s amazing food. Events like this accentuate what we do well.”

This year, 55 of the country’s top chefs have

been involved in the Chefs for Children events.

Under the banner ‘Eating healthy is fun’, this year it is supporting the charity Autismo Espana and raising awareness of the condition.

The event was jointly-funded by Malaga Diputacion’s Sabor a Malaga and Benahavis town hall, with its

Tourism chief, Scott Marshall, telling the Olive Press: “We are extremely proud to be involved.”

A menu degustation was prepared by the group of local Malaga chefs at a later gala. Sponsored by Porsche in Marbella, wine was provided by Bodegas Emilio Moro, while the ham came from Joselito.

Candela Marbella, a restaurant right in the heart of the charming old town. Enjoy traditional local and national dishes with unique international touches and flavours thanks to our chefs Andi Zillner and Mathias Theodosis.

tel: 646 88 84 31 candelamarbella.com Pl. Gral. Chinchilla, 2, 29601 Marbella, Málaga

Monday to Saturday: 11am-12am Sunday: 11am-6pm Ctra. de Ronda, A-397, Km. 44, 29679 Benahavís, Málaga A unique dining experience in a inspiring location boasting stunning views of the Andalusian landscape all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea

Trapped in the cycle

“I REALLY think I can’t see the positive even though I know that I have good things in my life. My brain just goes to the negative and I think about problems that may be coming up. It seems that I am in a cycle.”

This was a client that I worked with some six months ago who voiced an issue that many people have. She was not clinically diagnosed with any condition and she was not on any medication. However, she said that at points she had low moods though they lifted the next day and she ‘got on with life’.

Having asked about her medical and past social history of experiences, it was clear that this was an issue that was not impeding her life, but it was affecting her quality of life. Many people sadly experience this type of thought process – a form of mental filtering towards the negative. It is nothing to be ashamed about and it is important to be able to voice

Our brains are always subtly scanning for risk while

By Fijaz Mughal

we remain in the conscious world during the day

such concerns with loved ones, or with counsellors and therapists, since shame, guilt and self-blame simply compound the issue and also add to low moods.

It is important to remember that our minds work in a certain way. They work from experiences that have happened to us, perceptions that we form over time, things that key people have said to us when we were growing up and patterns of behaviours that we exhibited early in our life as a way of ‘surviving’ or ‘fitting in’.

In other words, our brains work on a daily basis through patterns that reflect these past events which have been tried and tested over time.

The problem is that some of these thoughts and behaviours that we have become used and accustomed to, may not be helpful in later points in our lives. Allied to this is the fact that the limbic system which manages

our long term memory, emotional and stress responses, is a key and integral ‘older’ part of our brain and

has developed over millions of years to keep us safe. This also means that in keeping us safe, our brains naturally work in the background, much like an automatic virus checker in a computer, ensuring that we remain safe in a potentially unsafe world, where today there are different types of stressors.

Obstacles

Additionally, if we take on this perspective, our brains are therefore always subtly scanning for risk whilst we remain in the conscious world during the day.

Therefore, if someone has been through life experiences which may

Are you depressed? Suffering from anxiety?

Worried about the year ahead? Are your kids having social issues? PERHAPS YOU NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL TO TALK TO I HOPE I CAN HELP.

Call me, Fijaz Mughal, in confidence. I’m fully-accredited and professionally-trained in London and recently moved to Spain.

I understand the issues many expats feel in Spain. Change through relocation abroad can really add to mental health pressures and these life changes are never easy. Counselling and therapy has changed the lives of many. Getting in touch is the first step. Recognising that there is an issue is the first step on the road to recovery.

Help is available through my confidential counselling

CONTACT: Fijaz Mughal OBE FCMI MBACP on info@counselling4anxiety.com www.counselling4anxiety.com

have been difficult or troubling, their brain may well have become hyper-sensitised to risk and thereby slants the indi vidual towards looking at life through the lens of having to over come obstacles or of another problem poten tially coming round the cor ner. It is therefore understand able that my client had started to view life through that lens.

It

was also understandable that in thinking and feeling that there were obstacles that could come up and with these thoughts recurring in her mind, that her mood was affected. This form of mental filtering towards the negative, sometimes with catastrophising, is called a ‘cognitive distortion’.

There are a number of ways of reducing these cognitive distortions though they need time and a commitment from the individual who is affected.

They need a form of positive mental and emotional self-investment, a realisation that a change in mindset can happen, is possible and achievable; that just because difficult situations happen, they do not need to be viewed as a catalogue of problems, or ‘another thing that goes bad in my life’.

Difficult things happen, but life also throws up many joys in the day, with sometimes the smallest of things that can bring joy to us.

It is about recognising this, embracing it, and really holding those small positive

moments of joy, colour, vibrancy or company that we

are blessed with. By doing so, this is also a form of acceptance, of resetting what is important to individuals and in raising their capacity to see joy and goodness in the world.

So what are the things that can help to reduce cognitive distortions like negative mental filtering? Firstly, stress reduction can really help. Anything that adds significant stress, such as smoking, drinking high quantities of coffee or caffeinated colas need to be reduced or ideally, removed from their lifestyle. Things like meditation and mindfulness can really help, by allowing the individual to have the space to realise that the brain is going through an old pattern that can be changed over time and that the person has ultimate control over this.

Sometimes this basic awareness can help to reduce the strength of the emotions that may be thrown up by the negative thoughts, especially if they are self-deprecating.

mindfulness and

Chip away

Other things that can help include taking up exercise, building a circle of friends and ensuring that there is regular communication with them. This person-to-person connectivity is important for us as a species. Also, listing the pattern of negative thoughts and reasons and facts that challenge the negative thoughts and which resonate well with the individual, are another way of helping to chip away and reframe thinking over time. This also needs to be practised regularly.

Positive visualisation can also help and this involves taking some 10-20 minutes out of the day to find a quiet space in which someone can close their eyes, and visualise a safe, warm and comfortable place that they have been to. It could be anywhere in the world that they have visited. Visualisation is another technique that helps in giving positive meaning and in strengthening positive feelings. Lastly, therapy and counselling can really help and depending on commitment, people can see real benefits in a short period of time. Finally, it is important to remember that we are the drivers of change. This means that we can also change the way that we see the world externally, whilst also changing the way that we experience negative thoughts or feelings. We may not be able to wholly erase the latter, but therapy can certainly reduce the impact of them on daily life.

Fiyaz Mughal is a qualified therapist and is registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy in the U.K. He practises in person and online in Spain and the U.K.

PATTERNS: Our brains can filter for the negative, known as a ‘cognitive distortion’

BREAK OUT: Meditation,

a strong circle of friends can help you break negative thought patterns

FOUR out of 10 adults and three out of 10 children in a sunshine Spanish region suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

Despite some of Spain's highest levels of sunshine hours, a widespread use of high factor blocks to stop skin cancer (but reduce Vi-

Avoiding the sun and sunblock leading to vitamin D deficiencies

GETTING EXPOSED

By Alex Trelinski

tamin D absorption) and a sedentary lifestyle are behind the problem identified in Alicante. A lack of vitamin D can lead to heart attacks and cancer, according to studies.

Hair raising stat

A STUDY of 43 countries put 44.5% of males in Spain as bald, edging out Italy (44.3%) and France (44.2%).

Baldness causes are genetic and hormonal, as well as being caused by a diet lacking essential nutrients, thyroid problems, iron deficiency, infections, stress, and anaemia.

The research by Medihair, indicates that Caucasian men are more genetically predis posed to experience male pattern hair loss.

Dr. Mari Angeles Medina, president of the Valencian Society of Family and Community Medicine, said:

“Having very low values of this nutrient is related to cardiovascular disease and with oncological pathology.

“Adequate sun exposure

foods is recommended as low Vitamin D levels can cause colon, breast, or prostate cancer,” she added.

Dr. Medina says that 'we have to make the population aware of the situation without alarm because it is a disorder of modern life'.

As for recommended levels of sun exposure, Dr. Medina make this recommendation:

“In adults, being in the sun for 10 or 15 minutes between 10am and 5pm is enough.

“Older people should be exposed for at least 30 or 40 minutes, but almost no one does that, because despite the fact that we have a lot of sun, we actually spend many hours inside homes, offices, and factories.

“We have to try to live outside, let the sun shine on us, without overdoing it,” she added.

types of construction from A-Z undertaken. ALL WORKS FULLY GUARANTEED. Pools, Retaining Walls, Stone Walls, Refurbs etc Planning, Building and Registration Services.

We work in and around Alcaidesa, Sotogrande, Manilva, Estepona, Cancelada, San Pedro, Marbella, La Cala, Fuengirola and everywhere in between including inland areas. To see how we work visit us at www.casaresliving.com Jaime +34 630 344 897 or email: info@casaresliving.com

BUSINESS

39 May 1stMay 14th 2024

Stirring it up

Young lads create edible cutlery which is already stocked in six cafes

TWO young entrepreneurs have won praise across Spain for their edible cutlery business.

Malaga-based Ivan Marmolejo, 19, and best friend Jose Robles, now 20, are the founders of Plash, a company which makes 100% edible, vegan and gluten-free coffee stirrers.

The lads have known each other since high school and have spent years trying to bring their product to market.

Ivan said: “At school we started doing our first tests, and

we opened a few online stores that didn’t go very well.”

They both decided to study a degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation at the University of Mondragon – during which they enjoyed a trip to the University of Costa Rica, where they fell in love with coffee.

Ivan added: “In Costa Rica we researched and learned a lot

Economic boost

SPAIN’S economic growth this year will be better than its European neighbours according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF has raised its 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for Spain by 0.4% to 1.9%.

The Eurozone as a whole comes in at 0.8% while 0.7% is projected for France and Italy, and just 0.2% for the traditional economic powerhouse of Germany. The IMF highlights that Spanish growth will remain strong thanks to the boost in domestic demand and the recovery of the purchasing power of wages.

MORTGAGE THINK TANK

HERE TO HELP

PRAISE:

Ivan and Jose with a supplier in Costa Rica

about coffee, we became complete geeks, and we decided that we wanted to start in this sector…

“We already knew about edible cutlery… and we decided to make stirrers edible for coffee, which are like wooden sticks that are thrown away, but that can be eaten.”

Currently, the coffee stirrers by Plash taste like vanilla, but more flavours are in the works.

Samples

They planned their business during their trip to Costa Rica and by the time they returned to Malaga they were receiving samples from suppliers. In March they began selling their stirrers to cafes and bars across Malaga, with at least six now stocking them. The lads next want to expand to hotels, resorts and catering events such as weddings of baptisms.

GOLD OR GOLD BONDS?

GOLD is no different to any other commodity, in that its price fluctuates on a minute by minute basis.

Its price can be determined by many outside events, but even so, like stock markets, it goes down as well as up.

The graph right shows this from 2010 until today (figures correct as of 22.04.24).

So how do Gold Bonds overcome the risk of their gold value going down as well?

The award winning firm, THG Capital Savings, can answer this for you: its Gold Bond uses the process of ‘gold-streaming’.

Gold streaming is buying Gold Dore (unrefined gold) and refining the gold into 24 Karat Bullion. THG’s traders source Gold Dore direct from mines globally and have

a team that travels to these locations to assess the gold content, weight and then agree a fixed purchase price.

Once a purchase price has been agreed, they will then negotiate the sale price di rectly to the refinery.

Once the purchase price and the sale price is agreed, they will calculate the cost of insurance, shipping and all other associated costs to see if the total deal is profitable.

Why you need a mortgage broker when buying in Spain

FINALLY you have found your dream property in Spain.

You can’t wait to relocate or to add to your investment portfolio. After all, the market is hot right now. That was the fun part.

Now you need to find the finance to purchase the property. Taking out a Spanish mortgage is the ideal situation which is where a qualified, experienced mortgage broker such as you will find at The Finance Bureau, can expedite the situation, making the process as painless as possible.

The mortgage process is rarely clear cut so using a mortgage broker who understands the process minutely will save you time and avoid the risk of your dream disappearing.

Useful

It can also be useful to have met with your mortgage broker before property hunting so you have an awareness of how much you can spend.

Spanish banks calculate affordability based on a ratio between monthly com-

regarding types of income, whether it be rental incomes, dividends or salaries and this will often be an important determining factor when choosing a suitable lender.

A mortgage broker will let you know all the costs involved in purchasing in Spain and therefore how much you will need to fund yourself.

The Finance Bureau has been helping buyers achieve their dreams for over 20 years on the Costa del Sol.

They are regulated by the Bank of Spain and have established relationships with all the major banks and financial institutions. They are never affiliated with a particular bank or agency and will always work to find the most suitable and best deal on offer.

The Finance Bureau is a professional, ef-

As long as the trade is profitable, the purchase and sale contracts will be writ ten and the trade will take place provid ing a fixed return on their clients capital.

The risk is therefore mitigated for all parties and a ‘known profit’ for the trade is locked in.

With this happening continually, the Bond is able to offer a yearly fixed rate to its savers.

This firm also holds 100% of the Bond’s assets; this is either the gold and/or cash. Apart from offering 9% p.a. interest

est rates on your savings, in a secure and proven UK-based gold product with the risk mitigated, it’s surely Gold Bonds all the way!

O P LIVE RESS ANDALUCÍA

Incredible bulk

BRAWLING 127kg England rugby star Billy Vunipola was filmed laughing as nine police officers had to taser him twice in order to eject him from a Mallorca nightclub.

Stag cops

A THIEF thought he had gotten away with robbing a Barcelona restaurant, until a group of off-duty British police officers on a stag do took chase and tackled him 50 metres up the road.

Bad parking

A MAN has been fined €5,000 in Palma de Mallorca for using his relative’s disabled parking badge. He had been using it since the relative died in 2011.

A SPANISH nun has become a social media star after racking up 35,800 followers on TikTok alone.

The self-described ‘ YouTuber and nun’, Sor Marta has gained over 270,000 likes on the platform, where she

RACKING UP NUN-BERS!

Nun becomes social media influencer discussing sex, tattoos and piercings

shares her experience and answers questions.

Unafraid of taboos, she broaches topics often unheard of in the Catholic religion, such as the gender pay gap in the church.

In the short video, Marta ex-

Big ham con

POLICE have busted a giant swindle involving ham sales which netted a company over €17 million in five years.

Six people have been arrested by the Policia Nacional in the Madrid region towns of Leganes and Sesena.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

plains that while priests are given a salary, sometimes of thousands of euros, decided by the bishop, nuns receive no money at all.

They all held positions in a meat-cutting firm where they stole the identity of a genuine company by using their seals and labelling on their products. The firm that owned the legal seal was totally unaware of the long-standing fraud, as the bogus-labelled ham - that had not passed stringent health checks - was sold to customers at home and abroad.

Any ‘salary’ they earn comes from working as teachers, managing religious museums and churches or selling cosmetics or sweets. They also have to manage their tax declarations as ‘freelance’ workers. According to

latest figures, some 11,000 people part of religious orders declared tax in 2019.

“We have to do it so we have a retirement fund,” she said.

When not mounting small businesses or doing their tax returns, the nuns focus on prayer, contemplation and community work.

This has pushed religious orders into the 21st century, resorting to the digital realm to earn some cash whether through online shops, AirBnB or, in Sor Marta’s case, social media.

In other videos, Marta explores topics such as sex, tattoos, using phones in the nunnery, piercings, doing exercise as a nun and blasphemy.

A VIDEO has gone viral on Nigerian Facebook claiming to show a ‘real life’ dragon. Filmed in Anambra, Eastern Nigeria, the video shows a ‘dragon’ laying on the ground while a man narrates his ‘find’ in Igbo, the local language. The caption reads: “Real Life Dragon in Anambra State. I have never seen a dragon before. I used to think that dragons stories were just fairy tales. I never knew they existed in real life.”

No fairy tale

But it turns out that dragons really are just fairy tales. Africa Check, an independent fact-checking organisation, has confirmed the ‘dragon’ is actually a model made for a Spanish TV programme. It was made by Juan Villa Herrero who makes props for popular TV and film projects. He produced the dragon for the TV programme, Cuatro Milenio before online pranksters hijacked a clip.