Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 285

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Mijas Costa See page xx 8 2018 27th 2017 15th - February 28th

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Vol. 12 Issue 285 www.theolivepress.es February 14th - February 27th 2018

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Seasoned conwoman Paula Neale ‘flees to France’ with cops in pursuit Estepona

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Born to be wild

Manilva’s laidback vibe is founded on fish and wine and that authentic flavour is still something to savour, writes Jed Neill

I

tiny TS rock pools full of darting fish recall British old seaside holidays of still while fishing boats compete with sunloungers for space on the beach. your Manilva is quite unlike average Costa resort. maEven in swanky Duquesa history the sense rina, you health of a town whose first tourist was Julius Caesar. the into tuck you And when speshellfish - Duquesa’s locals ciality - you realise the fish. know something about was In Roman times, ManilvaGento garum (a paste, like all was that Relish, coves tleman’s of the many rocky Jerez you can practiAugust, (inset) kids play on one July andwhat rage inofRome) theoutside of drying squids, while great Indeed on many weekends include a shopping line sherry.and a good number have is yourself… to to on Manilva’s beaches cally have the beaches The town’s roots in fish saltNATURAL WONDERS: Sights you to explore and flowers owe - and place chiringuitos to eat on. ing still you deep the perfect runfind fringed with wild grasses of of tourists a handful remains TS hidden craggy coves coastline than Spain’s Costa del Sol. On one beach at Punta Chullera, another seeatthe stillwhile can the sea, more to Cornwall’s rugged protected natural beaches of Manilva, a rock pools and dive into of squids drying on a line. which is 16 next to a group on Page of Manilva, But these are the attractive Worlds away from the heavily commernatural draws below the main N340 sunbathe one of the Continues port-side Duquesa true haven for nature lovers. or Fuengirola, four kilometres of golden to the half dozen of unspoilt beaches, that lie But the beaches are just Mijas areas; beach-front Sabinillas, cialised sands of nearby as an ecological shallows coastal road. some broadly split into three reserve. and Manilva Sol page del rocky the Costa in the eel wild of on An Continues on next being kept rare species best beaches OF THE DAY: playas areCATCH “These are some of the plovers, chameleons and owner of local Castles Endangered western snowy flora and fauna in renaissance here since of the least known,” explains Bish Witkowski, dune plants are among thecreated in 2011. agency. estate was zone drawn be the conservation Sabi_ink also beginning to eagle-eyed tourists are BRUNOS Unsurprisingly,

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Travel special Publisher Jon Clarke’s postcard from Brazil

Page 36

EXCLUSIVE

By Jed Neill

POLICE are in pursuit of seasoned expat fraudster Paula Neale who has fled to France following an Olive Press probe.

Detectives contacted us following a tip off that the mother-of-two was staying in a hotel in Catalunya and preparing to cross the border this week.

She had been staying at Hotel Figueres, near Girona, and asked to pay for the room using her ‘husband’s’ credit card.

It comes after four years of investigation by the Olive Press has uncovered more than 30 victims of her rental scams undertaken in various false names.

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BORDER DRAMA

Ransacked

Neale, 43, took rental deposits for properties she didn’t own and allegedly ransacked properties she had rented before selling the stolen goods online.

However, despite four stories and at least eight denuncias ON THE RUN: Paula and (above) Spain-France border and her hotel against her, she has yet to be picked up by police.

They’re singling He refused to leave his hohire car. me out!

This is looking increasingly NEWS tel room or open the door to They claimed she had a long unlikely after a receptionist at Freeze on her, setting off alarm bells for chequered track record of plastic the hotel confirmed that Paula Neale, who packed up and left scams and problems, and had had checked out on Tuesday after repeatedly trying to raise a third son, who was taken morning. him. into care.

She had been planning to Neale’s speedy departure The friend described her as an cross into France with her two came as the Olive Press was ‘unfit mother who long dischildren, Nina, 12, and Oscar, handing over details of variplayed erratic behaviour’.

14 and live in Bordeaux. ous denuncias and victims to On one occasion she even preBalcon wins big Staff at the hotel saidAllthe room aboard! the Guardia Civil in Malaga. tended to be her daughter to PROBE: Previous story in was left in a ‘complete mess’ A detective confirmed they try and strike up a connection after she left in a hurry, with the Olive Press were ‘in a race against time’ with her long-lost son. police arriving within an hour. to get an arrest warrant with Her plan to escape to LIBERTY France HOME Catalan police. ducer’. was rumbled by her own pal, One of her victims, Sara BelBut after meeting her at the RRP 3,000€ actor Anthony Webster, who mont, says Interpol has been hotel and agreeing to drive ratted on Neale when he found notified but because the her to Bordeaux, he said he out her real identity. crimes were committed in felt ‘something wasn’t right’ Webster told the Olive Press you when she claimed her mother have Spain, she must be charged this week that he had recently got that had suddenly died and that she there. befriended Neale online. rty Libe Family and friends back in needed to leave immediately.

He said she had promised to feeLing? He researched her online and the UK meanwhile, confirmed OUR PRICE help his acting career and Seguros makes Liberty that that she had made it across stumbled upon our catalogue insurance a better she knew people in the film € experience. the border on Tuesday in a of stories. industry, claiming to be ‘a pro10

NEWS

the olive press - October 16 - October 29 2014

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ashya thanks

BRITISH ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, has thanked the Hospital Materno Infantil in Malaga for its treatment of Ashya King, on behalf of the British government.

Top stamps

www.theolivepress.es

IN DENIAL: Guerrero

Wasn’t me THE alleged lynchpin in Spain’s biggest ever political fraud claims he made SIX previous confessions up.

Former Junta employment boss Francisco Guerrero insists he did not personally gain from the ERE scandal, that saw up to a billion euros embezzled over a decade.

He claims he only gave details of the so-called ‘reptile fund’ that he allegedly oversaw, after police put considerable pressure on him.

Guerrero is facing eight years in prison for embezzling €65 million of money from the €647 million emergency public fund that he managed between 1999 and 2008.

Struggling

The money had been set aside to support struggling Andalucian businesses.

Instead, Guerrero allegedly awarded fake grants to companies registered in the names of more than 100 of his family members, friends and fellow PSOE politicians.

His driver, Juan Francisco Trujillo - nicknamed the ‘co-

ICELAND is the first supermarket in the world to remove plastic packaging from its own-label products.

Customers of Overseas, which stocks Iceland products in 20 shops across Spain and Portugal, will benefit from the five-year plan to reduce plastics in 1,400 products. Calling plastics a ‘scourge’ on the world, Iceland managing director Richard Walker said: “A truckload is entering our oceans every minute, causing untold damage to our marine environment and ultimately humanity – since we all depend on the oceans for our survival.”

Plastic ready meal trays will be removed first, followed by frozen vegetable bags changing to a paper based material.

ONE in seven youngsters coming to Spain on holiday have admitted that they are drunk on the plane, according to a survey by website Jetcost. com.

Big Willy

MANCHESTER City goalkeeper Willy Caballero has told La Liga officials that he was approached by a match-fixing syndicate when playing for Malaga last year.

only resident facing court action.

"It is completely discriminatory, I cannot help but think that it is not a coincidence that I have been chosen when I am the only foreigner living here," she told the Olive Press.

Balson believed she had received planning permission when she contracted a Spanish architect Mario Jones in 2005.

Now however, she feels that he did not do his job properly despite being paid €2,500 to take over the project and sort out the building licence.

Jones, however, said he feels 'no guilt or responsibility and that Balson is to blame for the situation.

He said: "I told her from the beginning that she wasn't allowed to build. Most people get away with it but she hasn't.

"She is definitely being unfairly treated and I am not sure why. I hope that the town hall is not targeting her because she is foreign.

"Maybe that sort of thing happened in the old days, but

5

DESPERATE: Balson and dogs

with so many foreigners living on the coast I don't think it happens now."

Despite numerous attempts Estepona Town Hall did not answer any of our questions.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Terttu’s ‘illegal’ extension and adjoining neighbour’s (right)

Offer

EXCLUSIVE

By Jed Neill

THE first ever ferry link between Ireland and Spain has been announced by Brittany Ferries.

The company presented its new route from Cork to northern Spain today.

It will begin at the end of April and will link Cork and Santander, with two return trips per week.

It is the first ever link between the two countries.

without the correct planning permission.

Several other properties in the Seghers community have similar extensions without planning licences - including Balson's next door Spanish neighbour - but Balson is the

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

year legal battle with the town hall after they served her with a demolition order and fined her €24,300 in 2008 for building a loft extension

Boozy trips

Seasoned conwoman Paula Neale caught by the Olive Press a fourth time

A SEASONED British fraudster has struck again.

Paula Neale - exposed in the Olive Press four times in two years - has brought her dirty tricks to the Costa del Sol again.

The rentals conwoman has snared a series of unsuspecting foreigners through her well oiled ruse of sub-letting properties.

A number of victims have lost thousands in lost deposits, after she took over a two-bedroom apartment in Mijas.

Using the alias ‘Sharon Tate’ she rented the Riviera apartment for three months, before

Pensioner, 70, complains of discrimination after being ordered to take down extension, despite neighbours all having the same

January 17th - January 30th 2018

A FINNISH grandmother ordered to demolish a nineyear-old extension has accused Estepona Town Hall of being 'racially motivated' and 'singling' her out.

Terttu Balson, 70, has been involved in an ongoing six-

Strike four!

SPECIAL edition stamps of King Felipe and Queen Letizia have been launched by postal service Correos. Showing official photographs of the Royal duo, they can be bought for €1.

Still on-the-run

A WANTED property fraudster has been tracked down to a luxury home in Benahavis, after an exclusive Olive Press investigation this month.

According to neighbours in upmarket La Heredia urbanisation, Rebecca Wells, 37, has fled owing money to several businesses.

Keen horserider Wells - who spent eight years posing as an estate agent - is now being sought by police, as reported in the Olive Press last issue, after four denuncias were posted against her.

“She owes money to the butcher, restaurant and the baker, as well as for repairs to her car,” said one neighbour.

An expat couple living opposite Wells’ house in the urbanisation reported that they saw her packing all the family’s possessions into a rental car on October 1 the day our expose came out.

When the Olive Press visited a few days later, the house had clearly been abandoned and the family car - a black Chrysler - was apparently dumped outside.

Meanwhile another

DISAPPEARED: Wells and La Heredia, where she rented a home

former neighbour Frank Comyn, president of the Palmeras del Golf urbanisation in Benalmadena Costa, has

reported concern for her four children.

Comyn, who lived opposite her for two years said: “The

kids barely went to school and rarely even came out to play.

“She never mixed with the local community here and one day she was gone leaving an unpaid electricity bill.”

The Olive Press has still been unable to contact Wells, over her defrauding of expats who paid rent on properties she did not own.

Wells, aka Prior, allegedly took a series of deposits for homes which she did not own.

If you have any information about Rebecca Wells, please contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

FaNtastiC DEals For

Christmas & NEw YEar the locks she has preto change Paying €1,700 from November vented anyone else moving in. to February, Paula said she was However, in just the short her child and Taken with for moving in a ride amount of time she was over black cat. this month, two disappointed However, after reading our ex- couples arrived to stay. pose on Neale in early Decem- “One couple from Russia had to started quickly Belmont ber, paid a two month deposit of investigate and found her prop- €1,400 for a year’s rental. They erty being advertised to rent were gutted,” Belmont told the and (right) 2016 story ALL CHANGE: Passport names a variety of Facebook the authorities in Gibraltar, through Olive Press. the owner, mother-of-three, where she believes Paula keeps groups.

“Then a few hours later an EngSara Belmont, rumbled the her money.

One had been shared an incred- lish couple turned up, also with 4,000 times. scam.

She told the Olive Press how she ible a year’s lease and having paid The 41-year-old owner, a fire- was contacted by Neale through Fortunately she was able to a deposit.” It is unknown how fighter from London, has now an online rental website. move fast and after coming over many people in total fell for the brought in police and contacted scam, but her property was in a terrible state with a stereo and a toolkit also stolen. It took three days to clean. “It has got to stop,” added Belmont. “When and IT has the best caves in Andalucia is this going to end?” So far she Malaga provsome of the best beaches in has been unable to track down ince.

Neale, but has put up reward it is someKnown as ‘Balcon de Europa’ chosen as notices in various vets around what fitting that Nerja has been this year.

Calahonda. In 2017, the Olive one of the must visit destinations Press twice exposed Neale’s listed the reTravel site Tripadvisor has antics. But it has also emerged worldwide sort among its top 10 emerging that we exposed her using the destinations. name ‘Sharon Tate’ in 2016 in Spain to be It is the only destination in inland Malaga. A new UK numRiga, in tipped, with Gdansk, in Poland, ber Paula had been using did Latvia and Rovinj, in Croatia. not answer our calls.

UP UP AND AWAY

IN WONDERFUL

BENALMADENA. SEE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ON P21-36 The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

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Police probe alleged expat property fraudster who ‘took deposits homes she didn’t for own’

HUNTED: Rebecca Wells on her horse

EXCLUSIVE

Maddie: New sighting claim

VICTIMS are erty fraudster hunting an alleged propCosta del Sol who has vanished from the owing tens of EXCLUSIVE euros. thousands of days as a holiday

By Imogen Calderwood The Guardia rental, but she me around it Civil confirmed showed is investigating an 11-month and convinced me to sign horse-owninglast night it posits to rent contract. becca Wells after expat Re- claim properties that receiving four Page 11 she has no “I want her caught and cias against her. denun- One to. punished,” he clared. victim, British deBriton Wells, expat Raymond Wells, a mother-of-two 37, also known accused of duping Paul, as Prior, is told the Olive Press: “I Iost from Wolverposit on people into paying a €1,000 de- hampton, appears to have repeated same trick at de- “She hadrenting a home she didn’t the different properties own. actually only the region over rented it for around the last eight four A Facebook campaign has years. now been launched by ing to gather the group, aimas possible. as many victims In the case of Yorkshire, he Paul, 60, from put down €500 as a deposit and €500 for the first month’s rent at the property in La Cala de Mijas in August.

But after just three days Wells asked Paul and clear out ‘so an his wife to urgent energy certificate matter could be dealt with’.

AN embattled “We were left animal rescue two days, and in the dark for centre owner has upon returning the place admitted discovered is ‘out of control’. staying there,another couple Kim Halliwell (above) has our possessionswith many of now agreed to allow an initial still inside,” 15 dogs and he said. many cats to leave her Mijas kennels, “We still haven’t following get some things managed to an Olive Press investigation. back, we are It comes after absolutely furious police also infiled a denuncia.” and have spected the site, various denuncias following When Paul set from formeeting with up an urgent mer staff. cuss what had Wells to dis- After we told of the BLAZE: F1 legend failed to show. happened, she conditions’ at Kim’s ‘terrible Gachot (inset) Animal Rescue, friends However another loses yacht and supportin fire couple in ers rallied around their early 20s with the also turned aim of cutting up telling him the similar amountthey had lost a animals by half. number of of money.

The Olive Press “Lots of her attended victims are in worse situation a emergency meeting, spoke an with who knows howthan us, and various other centres are still to come many more found new volunteers. and has out of the We have now woodwork,” he appeal to find launched an Another victim added. homes for the is Stuart Hall, who lost out animals.

44, and his

It’s the pits!

EXCLUSIVE

A LUXURY yacht that burst nus is owned by ex-Formulainto flames in Puerto BaBertrand Gachot, One racing driver The 51-year-old it can be revealed.

Frenchman, dan between 1989 and 1995, who raced for Jor€2 million yacht is the owner of the Gilliana that blew morning. up on Sunday Two crew members were rushed to with serious hospital, one burns to his woman, 34, was hands and another, The 23-metre treated for smoke inhalation. a €42,000-a-weekPrincess yacht Gilliana to rent, via Diamovit costs Rentals.

Exclusive A source said: “Gachot is very The driver was upset.”

Grand Prix team famously thrown out the roundabout for spraying CS gas at of the Jordan a taxi driver on at Hyde Park ceived a two-month Corner, for which prison stint. he reHis race seat acher, makingwas temporarily filled by Michael his Formula One Schumdebut.

‘Animal centre needs rescuing’

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CRIME

Police say La Linea has become like Pablo Escobar’s home in 1980s

By Laurence Dollimore

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Campo de Colombia La Lawless

THE Campo de Gibraltar is becoming the ‘Colombia of Spain’, Spanish police have warned.

According to Spain’s United Police Union (SUP), young people in areas like La Linea are idolising Pablo Escobar and becoming increasingly involved in the drug trade.

The SUP added that the area was in danger of becoming like Galicia in the 1980s, when it was overrun by gangsters and drug lords and was used as an entry point to Europe for Colombian cocaine.

It comes after 20 masked men successfully stormed a hospital in La Linea to rescue their drug boss from police custody last week.

And just a few days ago, a police car was purposefully smashed into by a ‘hitman’ who was hired to intercept a highspeed drug chase in what was described as ‘like a scene from Narcos’ (see top right)- the hit Netflix series chronicling the

OVERRUN: La Linea is ‘becoming a lawless’ city and (top right) Pablo Escobar career of Pablo Escobar. A spokesman for the union said: “We need specialised personnel in citizen security capable of dealing effectively with these dangerous situations.

“There’s clearly a lack of security in La Linea and it’s down to the fact that we don’t have sufficient personnel to tackle drug traffickers.

“The increasingly high profile drug trafficking that we have

in this area lies at the root of the problem. “We are seeing an average of 10 launches come in daily loaded with 1,000 or 2,000 kilos of drugs. “All we are asking is for the government to make available the necessary resources to face up to this scourge which is invading us more and more.”

“This is a city in the hands of delinquents and we can’t allow that.

“It’s becoming like a small Colombian Andalucia.”

Local schoolboy ‘gangraped by classmates’ POLICE in Spain are investigating the alleged gang rape of a nine-year-old boy by a group of older students at a school in Andalucia.

Four students, aged between 12 and 14, are al-

902 123 282

leged to have assaulted the boy during school hours in Jiennese, Jaen. Education ministerr Sonia Gaya has said the four accused have been expelled as a precautionary measure.

TWO Spanish policemen have been injured after their car was purposefully smashed into to intercept a high-speed chase.

The Guardia Civil agents were chasing a car allegedly filled with drugs in La Linea de la Concepcion when a ‘hitman’ rammed into their car.

The police body said it was ‘like a scene from Narcos’, the hit Netflix series chronicling the life of notorious drug baron Pablo Escobar.

“A car driven by a hitman drove head on into the police car,” it added.

The suspected vehicle was

Historic haul A HUGE 3.5 tonne cocaine haul discovered on the Costa del Sol could easily exceed €120 million in value, Spanish cops have said.

The mammoth haul was found hidden in salt in a home and a warehouse in Estepona.

The stash is believed to be linked to the network of huge alleged drug boss Sito Miñanco, who was arrested in Algeciras last week.

The find is the biggest ever in Malaga and one of the biggest ever on Spanish soil.

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www.theolivepress.es

February 14th - February 27th 2018

3

Tennis mum SHAKIRA’S sons could be the next Nadal and Federer.

It comes after the Colombian songstress, who turned 40 this month, showcased her soon-to-be tennis stars in a video posted on social media.

Milan, 5 and Sasha, 3, show off their impressive racket skills under the watchful eye of their foot-

ball star dad Gerard Pique.

“Muy bien, Sasha! Muy bien, Milan!”

Shakira, 41, compliments in the background. It comes after the singer made Grammy history when she became the first female artist to win twice in the Best Latin Pop Album category for her album El Dorado.

Shakira will kick off her anticipated El Dorado world tour this summer.

Wyclef magic WYCLEF Jean, of Fugees fame, is the the latest name to be confirmed for this year’s Weekend Beach music festival.

The festival takes place in Torre del Mar from July 4 to 7.

Mistress Morgan BETH Morgan appeared to be refusing to let her alleged dismissal from Coronation Street get to her as she relaxed by the pool in Spain.

The 22-year-old actress, who played a lapdancer on Corrie, is rumoured to be joining soap Hollyoaks instead.

Liverpool FC’s famous stars set to land in Marbella after Porto clash

Walking this way

FOOTIE fans need to keep their eyes peeled for five-times Champions League winners Liverpool who are jetting into Malaga for some winter sun.

Reds’ players, including Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, will spend four days in Marbella following their last-16 clash against Porto this week.

England star Jordan Henderson and record new signing Virgil van Dijk will also be in tow.

Manager Jurgen Klopp hopes that the warm weather will boost his players fortunes for the remainder of the season.

It is rumoured Klopp could lead several training sessions at Marbella Football Centre while the players are expected to unwind at restaurants including La Sala.

Liverpool currently lie third in a competitive Premier League season, one of their best positions for years.

It comes despite selling their Brazilian midfielder Coutinho to Barcelona for €118 million.

Marbella has long been a footballer’s favourite and the Liverpool players must be hoping they don’t bump into former teammate Raheem Sterling.

The Manchester City winger recently bought a luxurious property by the beach between Puerto Banus and San Pedro de Alcantara for a cool €5 million.

Kylie’s coming KYLIE Minogue will be performing in Spain as part of her European tour, it has been announced.

The pint-size singer is to play the Bikini Club in Barcelona on March 16.

The tour precedes the release of her new album Golden.

"I just can’t wait to bring these new songs to life and throw in a few surprises for my fans,” she said.

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www.theolivepress.es Expat ‘humiliated’ in front of hundreds of passengers EXCLUSIVE

By Jo Chipchase and Laurence Dollimore

You fatties!

ANDALUCIA has been labelled the fattest region in Spain in a new study on obesity.

The study revealed more than 47% of Spaniards aged 18 to 64 are overweight or obese, while one fifth of boys aged 15 to 16 weigh above the average.

The number of girls who are overweight has doubled since 1996.

Andalucia, Asturias and Galicia, have the highest obesity levels, while the Balearic Islands, Catalunya and the Basque Country are among the lowest.

Some 16% of adults in Andaluica are obese and a worrying 23% of children.

“All people have an individual responsibility, but in our society the ability to choose a healthy diet at an affordable price is complicated,” said nutritionist Miguel Angel Royo.

Poor exercise and diets too heavy in meat and lacking in fruit and vegetables were cited as fueling the obesity problem.

A BRITISH grandmother was forced to fork out hundreds of euros on another flight after her hand luggage was deemed ‘too deep’ by Ryanair.

The ruling came despite the SAME bag being allowed onboard for her flight out of Malaga.

Expat Pamela Lipmann, from Lanjaron, was flying from Bournemouth to Malaga after visiting her family in the UK when she was told her hand luggage was too big.

The Granada-based artist was told she would have to pay an additional 50 pounds (60 euros) to carry it onboard.

The 57-year-old, who had no credit cards and was only carrying five pounds in cash, burst into tears fearing she might miss her flight and not make it home to Granada for Christmas.

news

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Baggage bullies STUNG:Pamela Lipmann “I was pulled aside in front of hundreds of other passengers,” the mother-of-two told the Olive Press, “It was very humiliating.”

But that is when her ordeal got considerably worse.

“I was immediately told by a security guard to stop crying.

But I just couldn’t help it, I just couldn’t believe what was hap-

pening.” This came despite a fellow passenger offering to pay for the bag, but Swissport, the company in charge of inspecting baggage, refused.

An airport employee then told her if she didn’t stop crying she ‘would not be flying’ that day.

And true to her word, after the other passengers had boarded, the grandmother was frogmarched back through security and customs.

One female Swissport operative allegedly told security staff to ‘drag’ Lipmann if she didn’t cooperate.

The same woman told her that she would never fly though Bournemouth Airport again as she was a ‘danger to the other passengers’.

“I was treated like a common convicted criminal, not an air-

line passenger.” Fortunately for Lipmann staff at the airport clubbed together to get her enough money to get a train back to a friend’s house nearby.

She was forced to book a £300 flight back to Spain the next day.

A Swissport spokesman told the Olive Press it did not comment on individual passengers, but emphasised that staff operate under strict rules put in place by all airlines over dimensions of cabin baggage.

An airline expert explained that the ground staff were within their rights to stop her boarding and were following standard airline procedures.

“They could not know whether someone in an emotional state could have a tantrum in-flight,” he explained.

Easter strikes en route for Ryanair RYANAIR has warned there may be strikes this Easter thanks to ‘laughable demands’ from its pilots.

Its boss Michael O’Leary said the airline was prepared to fight the unreasonable demands of the European-based pilots who want conditions similar to high-cost rivals.

SINGLE IMPLANT

While the low-cost airline managed to dodge Christmas strikes by recognising unions for the first time ever, it has struggled to formalise relations since.

“We are getting laughable demands,” he said, adding: “Frankly we will never agree to those … if we have to take strikes in those

IMPLANT BRIDGE

jurisdictions, then we will take those.”

But pilots insisted they only wanted the same conditions to those at low-cost rivals such as easyJet and Norwegian Air. Sources claimed pilots were not happy with a toxic working environment and a lack of trust between staff and management.

Voting rights come nearer A NEW law will allow all expats to finally vote in UK elections.

The Overseas Electors Bill, due for a second reading in the House of Commons on February 23, will give expats the right to vote no matter how long they have lived abroad.

If successful it will then go to the committee stage before being voted on and becoming law.

Currently anyone who has lived abroad for more than 15 years is disenfranchised from voting.

Expats in Spain can only vote in local elections at present.

It is not certain however, if expats would be allowed to vote if there was a second referendum on Brexit.

“There is no one rule for who can vote in a referendum,” a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office told the Olive Press: “When a referendum is announced, Parliament will decide who can vote in it as part of the legislation on that referendum.”

Of the estimated 1.2m expats living in Europe, around 800,000 were unable to vote in the last referendum, in which the leave vote won by just over a million votes.

IMPLANT DENTURE

i n f o @ ma r k d e n t a l c l i n i c . c o m

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Fe at u re

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION Corruption chaos IT may come as a shock to many that Spain is considered as corrupt as both Brunei and Costa Rica.

However, for those that have long followed Spanish politics, corruption cases have never been far away from the headlines.

In order to stamp out the corruption which continues to blight Andalucia, it relies on everyday people to resist the temptation of financial gain and be prepared to be bravely blow the whistle when they know about it.

Escaping justice IT was perhaps only a matter of time before Paula Neale fled Spain for pastures new.

After a string of reports into her fraudulent actions, she has apparently set up home in France. The woman however is a ticking timebomb and her lies know no bounds with each new victim telling a similar tale of deceit.

We are mostly just sad for her two young children, who do not deserve to be brought up in such a footloose, unstable lifestyle.

Publisher/ Editor

Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Head of SALES Sarah Adams sales@theolivepress.es Admin Maria Angeles Vázquez (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es

Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618 Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es Jed Neill jed@theolivepress.es Joe Wallen joe@theolivepress.es Aleesha Hansel aleesha@theolivepress.es Designer James Partington design@theolivepress.es

Office manager Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress.es Distribution Graham Warters distribution@theolivepress.es

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Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

Spain’s political landscape has seen scandal upon scandal since it left dictatorship behind more than thirty years ago, and 2018 is packed full of them

W

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Chasing

By Jed Neill

HEN Spain’s first free election took place in 1977 after 41 years of dictatorship, many hoped a new dawn had spread across the

country.

Bringing it up to speed with European values of what democracy entailed, Spanish politics underwent a dramatic rebirth.

But old habits die hard, and political corruption in Spain has since stolen the headlines and unnervingly it is still considered one of the most corrupt countries in Europe.

The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Spain claimed 41st position in the global rankings last year, sharing the place with Brunei and Costa Rica with a total corruption cost of €203 billion. We looked at the nine biggest corruption cases to be aware of this year.

Punica case Being underway since 2014, the Punica trial in Madrid is looking into 12 town halls, all of them run by the PP, and their involvement in a bid-rigging scheme that awarded up to €300 million in public contracts. Last year 12 people were arrested under Operation Lezo which investigated corruption at the Madrid regional water utility company Canal de Isabel II. This led to the resignation of former head of Madrid government Esperanza Aguirre and the arrest of her right-hand man, Ignacio González. Former advisor, Javier Lopez has since been spotted arriving at the Audiencia Nacional Court.

AGUIRRE :

Forced to

step dow

n

UNDER FIRE:

Rajoy’s PP

Gurtel case Mariano Rajoy became the first sitting prime minister to appear as a witness in a Spanish court as key figures in his Partido Popular are charged with fixing public contracts worth €350 million. The case, which began in 2009 is centred on Francisco Correa, a businessman who enjoyed being called Don Vito in reference to the Marlon Brando character in The Godfather. He is accused of paying bribes to party officials between 1999 and 2006 in return for contracts to carry out public works. Involving 37 politicians and business people in kickbacks-for-contracts scheme. This year will focus on the Valencian branch of the PP.

ERE case An acronym for ‘expedientes de regulación de empleo’ the trial will examine alleged corrupt practices and embezzlement of funds under the socialist Junta in Andalucia between 2001 to 2010. Among those accused are two former Junta presidents, Manuel Chaves and Jose Antonio Grinan, as well as 20 former officials including six ex-ministers. The case was brought to public attention after irregularities were found concerning the granting of subsidies to struggling businesses to pay redundancy fees and early retirement packages. It is expected to rumble on for most of 2018 and certainly roll into 2019.

CHA

pects

RUMBLING ON: ERE sus

The Astapa case Former Estepona mayor Antonio Barrientos is accused of financial irregularities during his tenure between 2003 to 2008. Court documents reveal that under his stewardship there were three different accounting systems: one for declared finances, a second for covering donations, sponsorships and other favourable payments, and a third

na mayor Barrientos

IN HOT WATER: Ex-Estepo

for personal gifts to town hall officials, amounting to a fraud of €40 million.

Judge Jesus Torres has been carrying the investigation since 2006 and within that time four suspects have died with 94 people under criminal investigation.

www.theolivepress.es

Fe at u re

February 14th - February

corruption SACKED: Daniel Osacar

Cursach

KINGPIN: Tolo Cursach

ARGED: Enrique Crespo

Mallorca’s nightlife King, Bartolome ‘Tolo’ Cursach spent 33 years allegedly bribing, threatening, coercing and mingling with the islands elite. This all came to an end in February 2017 when he was arrested along with Bartolomé Sbert and charged with 16 counts of corrupt practices with Tolo himself facing 80 years in jail.

It is estimated €300 million went missing in one four-year period as he bought allegiances and paid off officials as his portfolio of 30 nightclubs became go-to temples of fun.

The trial continues to roll on, with two prostitutes recently confirming a madame’s statement that a room in one of his night clubs was used for sex-parties to pay-off politicians.

Noos case rres nd Diego To

stina a

NOOS: Cri

Emarsa case

Brugal case

This year will also see the judgment in the Emarsa case in Valencia, the investigation into the Emarsa company that managed the Pinedo wastewater treatment plant. The PP, which controlled the company until 2010 liquidated it only to find a financial hole of €17 million. An investigation followed and prosecutors found the company had paid €40 million to allied companies, and millions were spent on lavish expenses and huge salary bonuses paid to PP officials. Among the 24 defendants charged the two main defendants are former mayor of Manises, Enrique Crespo and Emarsa president, Esteban Cuesta.

An investigation that started in 2006 into alleged bribes between public officials and Orihuela waste contracts. It centres on millions of euros illegally syphoned by politicians and ringleafer Angel Fenoll. Deliberations will start February 19 with 34 people under the spotlight and counting, including two former mayors of the PP, José Manuel Medina and Monica Lorente, and seven other councilors of the same party. The prosecutor is asking for a jail sentence of 37 years for Angel Fenoll, twelve years for José Manuel Medina and eight for Monica Lorente.

The husband of Infanta of Spain, Cristina de Borbón and leader of nonprofit foundation Noos Institute, Inaki Urdanagrin, then Duke of Palma de Mallorca and business partner Diego Torres have been accused of embezzling €6 million for sporting events, and money laundering. Cristina was cleared of all charges by the Palma court while Urdangarin has been allowed to live in Switzerland so long as he presents himself to Spanish authorities on the first day of every month. The list of those that were paid off continues to grow and at least 18 people including sports stars and company directors benefitted. The case is likely to be appealed to the Supreme court whose final judgement could take months.

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Barcelona concert hall 1

Having dominated most of Catalunya’s democratic era in the noughties, the now-defunct Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya (CDC) has been found guilty of taking millions of euros in bribes in exchange for public work contracts. Building firm Ferrovial paid officials €6.6 million in bribes from 1999 to 2009 through the Palau de la Musica - a concert hall. Former CDC treasurer Daniel Osacar got four years and was fined €3.7 million, former Palau director, Felix Millet got 10 years and a €4.1 million fine and his deputy Jordi Montull got seven years and a €2.9 million fine. In the run-up to the Catalan referendum they changed their name twice and now exist as the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) - the same one that holds a slim majority in the Catalan parliament.

its entirety on www.theolivepress.es And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s 27th most 2018 visited news websites.

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www.theolivepress.es News IN BRIEF

Outdoor adventure MARBELLA councillors are looking for additional uses for the quarry that is used by the annual Starlite Festival.

Parole denied SPAIN’S Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to reduce a long jail term of a convicted unnamed British padeophile.

Physical damage SPAIN has been ordered to pay €50,000 in compensation to two convicted terrorists for their mistreatment at the hands of police.

Doubling up BOTH Malaga and Sevilla have made it into the top 10 best cultural cities in Spain according to a study by Fundacion Contemporanea.

Police make new appeal for snatched youngster, 12, who may be living ‘alternative lifestyle’

February 14th - February 27th 2018 WANTED: (From left) Mum Melanie Batty, Young Brit Alex and Granddad David Batty

By Laurence Dollimore

POLICE believe a British boy snatched by his mum may be living an ‘alternative lifestyle’ in rural Andalucia.

Cops in Manchester have made a new appeal for expats to look out for Alex Batty, 12, last seen on the Costa del Sol four months ago.

They believe the youngster, whose birthday is this week, may be living in a new-age style commune and is being homeschooled.

The Olive Press reported on his abduction after he visited Benahavis for a holiday with his mother Melanie Batty, 37, and his grandfather David Batty, 58, in October.

Gone wild?

His grandmother Susan Caruana, 62 - who is divorced from David - has since told police she believes they have taken him to live an ‘alternative lifestyle’ abroad.

It is possible they may be living somewhere in inland Andalucia, perhaps Granada, although police say they could have also

ERE rumbles on caine chauffeur’ - claims he set up bogus shell companies to receive public money to spend on ‘cocaine, parties and drinks’.

He is also accused of sending ‘retirement money’ to his mother-in-law and the mother of his driver for companies that never existed. On one day alone, Guerrero is accused of handing out €1.3 million to acquaintances.

fled to Morocco.

The three of them previously lived on a commune in Morocco with Alex in 2014.

“They do not agree with my lifestyle and belief systems,” she told the Olive Press. “They didn’t want him to go to school, they don’t believe in mainstream school.”

The former director protested his innocence this week as he made his first appearance in court. He argued that he was only following orders and therefore wasn’t accountable for his actions.

The court must now decide whether Guerrero made the payments alone or whether he acted on the behalf of others.

She added: “I just want to say to my grandson Alex, I love you so much and please, please just get in contact.

“I just hope they do something nice on his birthday.”

Manchester police confirmed arrest warrants for both his mother and grandfather, who do not have parental guardianship. Detective Sergeant Pete Morley told the Olive Press: “I would implore any of Melanie’s or David’s friends, who might have heard from them, to please contact police immediately.

“He has been missing out on school and we don’t know how the family are funding their lifestyle abroad.”

Anyone with information should contact police on +44 161 856 8972.

New gay rights Andalucia is the first region in Europe to introduce a law to guarantee the rights of the LGBTI community.

The new legislation demands equal treatment and non-discrimination of gays, lesbians, transsexuals, bisexuals and intersexuals.

Those breaking it will face fines of between 6,000 and 120,000 euros.

Not child’s play THE UN has called for a ban on children witnessing bullfights or attending bullfighting classes.

A panel of independent experts said it was concerned by the impact bullfighting could have on under-18s as spectators at events.

There are 55 schools for young bullfighters around the country.

www.theolivepress.es

NOT WANTED: Rajoy

OUCH! A WHOPPING 85% of Spanish voters want Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to hand over his leadership to someone else.

A poll by Metroscopia also found 62% of people who voted for him think ‘his time is over’.

The 62-year-old has been in politics for nearly forty years and is the most veteran of Spain’s political leaders.

He is the only one who is still the head of his party after all other groups – including the monarchy – have renewed their leadership.

The drop in support comes after the December 2015 election yielded a hung parliament and before another vote in June 2016 saw the PP narrowly form a minority government.

The economic crisis, several corruption cases and the Catalunya crisis have all played a part in eroding his popularity.

While the next general election is not until 2020, a recent opinion poll showed Ciudadanos would win if an election was held today, with 28.3% support from Spanish voters, compared with only 21.9% for Rajoy’s PP.

news

9

Bring him home!

A BRITISH expat soldier being held in Thailand has raised almost half of his repatriation costs following an Olive Press online appeal.

Adam Williams, who lives in Cadiz, had a nervous breakdown after he was assaulted and robbed over Christmas, while on holiday with friends in Phuket. Incredibly, the 30-year-old, who just finished 10 years in the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, was chained to a hospital bed and then moved to jail under arrest, where he has been for over a month.

Since the Olive Press exclusively reported on the case, more than €8,000 has been donated by expats and Brits to help his cause. In an appeal his parents, also expats in Cadiz, told the paper: “Adam had a great time however, with Christmas approaching, his friends decided to return to the UK. Adam stayed in Thailand on his own.

“It wasn’t long after Adam’s friends left that he was robbed of all his possessions and assaulted by persons unknown to him.

“The assailants were never caught, but our son was taken by the police, hospitalised for

9

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Property of the Week

Olive Press appeal sees thousands donated to bring arrested soldier back from Thailand

Castillo de Locubin - VL826 Cordoba, Rute--Jaen TH3555

WILLIAMS: Left in hospital and in service treatment of injuries and later moved to jail on remand – we don’t know why.

“Having been assaulted, robbed, arrested, and incarcerated in a foreign country, with no understanding of the language, Adam understandably suffered a mental breakdown.

“We are desperate to get our son home. The Thailand Medical services have quoted £20,000 for a medical repatriation where he would be ac-

902 123 282

companied by a doctor.

“We ask for you to contribute anything you can to help us bring Adam home.”

Friend and fellow soldier James Warden told the Olive Press: “Adam is a likeable character and was a popular member of the rifle company.”

The Foreign Office confirmed: “We are assisting a British man and his family following his hospitalisation and arrest in Thailand.”

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Posh Pets Spain

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Renewable socket THE EU is to provide a record amount of funding to build a renewable power link between Spain and France.

The submarine cable, costing €578 million, will run for 230 miles across the Bay of Biscay to help ease one of Europe’s worst network bottlenecks.

Carrying excess renewable energy between the two countries, it hopes to double current power capacity to 5,000 megawatts.

Security

“Only a fully interconnected market will improve Europe’s security of supply, ending the dependence of single suppliers and give consumers more choice,” said Europe’s climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete.

Canete went on to say the project would ‘end the isolation of the Iberian Peninsula’ and boost interconnectivity between the bloc.

The EU hopes the link will starve off dependency on Russian oil, increase renewable energy output and help meet climate goals set by the Paris Agreement in 2015.

towers Manmade beach mounds are threatening the environment

THEY stand tall, getting thinner the higher your eye follows its trajectory.

Thick and heavy bases they are the rocky world’s equivalent to ant hills or just a pile of stones in the form of a tower.

But these harmless constructions are damaging the environment as they uproot plants and displace insects, especially on the Balearic Island - where the issue is rife.

Some say the mounds have mystical qualities, channelling energy from visitors but with tourism figures reaching new heights, the problem shows no sign of

HARMFUL: Rocks undermine biodiversity

abating.

“It is not only something affects our coasts. It is a

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global problem and has been for almost a decade,” warns spokesperson Toni Munoz, from the Grup Balear d’Ornitologia i Defensa de la Naturaleza (GOB).

“It has two kinds of impact: firstly, environmental, since moving stones uncovers the roots of local plants and disturbs habitats.

Unique

Ramp access ESTEPONA town hall has vowed to install more facilities to help disabled beach-goers.

Large canopies, measuring 25 square metres will be put up on Arroyo Vaquero, El Saladillo and Casasola beaches as well as specialised shower units.

Existing canopies on El Cristo, El Padron and La Rada beaches will be replaced and the town hall says it will continue its assisted-bathing service this summer.

Time-bomb SPAIN has been cautioned by the EU to clean up its act over violating EU standards on air pollution.

Spain - along with eight other EU countries, including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the UK - now have to clean up its acts.

If not, it will face sanctions before the European Court of Justice for non-compliance.

“The other impact is the landscape since this habitat prevents other visitors from enjoying a place in its natural state.”

Many of the species are unique to its habitat and removing the rocks ‘impact the biodiversity of the coast’.

It is not known where the custom comes from, and although the urge to Instagram the mounds is great ‘you have to dismantle the pile and place the stones carefully on the ground, without covering existing vegetation’.

Lease on animal life THE European Convention on the Protection of Animals has outlawed cutting the ears and tails off of pets.

The law, which came into force on February 1, means only qualified vets can operate on the pet’s

appearance and only be done for medical purposes.

It is also states that a pet can only be slaughtered by a vet to end its suffering or in an emergency and it has to be carried out as humanely as possible.

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A BOOK chronicling the adDownload our app now and ventures of a Granada orphan begin enjoying the best Spanishduring Spain’s Golden Age has been published for the first news on the go. time.

SECRET: King’s letters Historia del Huerfano, or The Orphan’s Story, was written by a Malaga priest and follows a 14-year-old Andalucian who leaves Granada for the Americas to find his fortune.

Its protagonist travels around BACK FROM THE DEAD: 17th century book on Spanish empire the Spanish empire, seeing everything from the high-society KING Ferdinand’s The Olivesecret Press code used some 500 years parties of Lima to the mythical ago has finally been cracked mines of Potosi.

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1492.

Using more than 200 special “There’s an awful lot of travelcharacters, 88 symbols and ling, but you do get a sense of 237 letters, they have peaked what the viceroyalty of Peru was the interest of historians for like from the inside and of the exchange of people and goods centuries.

Ferdinand wrote to Gonzalo between Europe and America,” career that would see him be- its 328 pages. de Córdoba using the code to said Belinda Palacios, a Perucome an archbishop and presi- “When I started working on it, vian academic who spent two give instructions on strategy dent and captain-general of the a lot of people told me that the during military campaigns years editing the book back to book was cursed and that peoviceroyalty of Sicily. and were written using a se- life.

It would be hundreds of years ple who start working on it die,” cret code in case they fell into The story was written between later that a Spanish academic Palacios said.

1608 and 1615 by Martín de enemy hands. rediscovered the manuscript in “I laughed it off but I was a bit They also included instruc- León y Cárdenas, an Augustinthe archives of the Hispanic So- apprehensive at the same time. tions on troop deployments ian friar born near Malaga in It’s taken a while because the ciety of America in 1965.

1584 and who had travelled to while others lamented CórdoMany attempts to publish The people who have worked on it Lima. ba for not consulting the king the printing presses – probably Orphan’s Story had failed, giv- have died – one from a strange before launching diplomatic It was supposed to be printed because its author was worried ing rise to rumours that some- disease, one in a car accident in 1621 but it never made it to initiatives. it could upset his ecclesiastical thing malevolent lurked among and another of something else.”

The letters, now on display The curse has hopefully been at Spain’s Army Museum in lifted after it was recently Toledo, took intelligence serpublished by the José Antovices almost half a year to denio de Castro Foundation, cipher just four of them, some which is dedicated to protectof which went on for over 20 ISABEL Coixet’s The Bookshop has won tion by Booker Prize-winning novelist Peing Spain’s literary heritage. pages. best film, best director, and best adapt- nelope Fitzgerald.

Palacios said the book’s comFor each letter there were beed script at the 2018 Goya Awards - the The film, grossing €2.47 million so far is bination of fiction, autobiogtween two and six figurative Spanish Oscars. set in 1950s Britain and is the story of a raphy and historical docucharacters such as triangles The Bookshop with 12 nominations going young woman, played by Emily Mortimments offers a ‘richly detailed, or numbers and written withinto the awards ceremony at the Madrid er, who tries to make a success of a bookcontemporary portrait of the out separating words and Marriott Auditorium Hotel, is an adapta- store she opens in Hardborough, Suffolk. author’s world’. phrases.

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400-yearold book by Malaga priest offers insights into Spain’s Golden Age

Cracked codex

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14 February

A 5-kilometre family friendly race, celebrating everything colouful. Participants should wear white and be prepared to get messy.

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A festival dedicated to the sopa de los siete ramales, an iconic dish of the town.

Sweets and pastries from the village and the region are distributed in the afternoon.

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Calle Ollerías, Malaga Feb 19 -23 5pm

A workshop for professional and non-professional actresses and actors to train their own creativity.

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Felipe VI Auditorium, Estepona Feb 23, 7pm

Performing their first album this band of eight to 14-years-old define themselves as little Rockers.

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San Roque Club Feb 21, 11am

Golf

A talk on the subject of Romans, Moors & Christians, Andalucia and it´s Golden Age, given by art historian Tom Duncan.

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Watch out!

A BRITISH expat has warned of a ‘psychotic’ thief who stole his Rolex watch after he had been shopping in Sotogrande.

Paul Graham-Wood, 54, claimed the Spanish thief groped him as he left Iceland supermarket in Pueblo Nuevo.

Graham-Wood, who has lived in the area for eight years, claims the woman initially asked him for work before jumping into the car and kissing his neck.

While doing this she somehow managed to get his €9,000 Oyster Perpetual watch from his wrist.

Police told him there has been a spike in petty theft crime in the area since the New Year.

ROBBED: Paul (right), with partner Gary

Life sentences for choosing to terminate a pregnancy ‘must come to an end’ EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Wallen

THE Government has refused to consider changing a law, which is forcing women to travel abroad for abortions.

It comes after a woman’s group launched an appeal to overturn the ‘draconian’ law, which is the strictest in Europe.

Currently, any Gibraltarian - plus anyone assisting - faces LIFE imprisonment for terminating a pregnancy.

Under Section 16 of the 2011 Crime Act a pregnant woman ‘who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage… is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.’

The Gibraltar Women’s Association believes it is now time to change the law.

The group claims to know of many women who have suffered physical and mental health problems after being forced to travel to Spain for poor quality operations.

The women then return to the Rock, keeping their terminations secret and not seeking further medical care over fears news of their abortion will spread.

gibr alta r

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Abort the law PRO CHOICE: Suarez (left) and Struggles

Coming on the 100th anniversary of British women first being able to vote, its members believe it is forcing many women to have abortions in Spain, or worse, undertake backstreet treatments on the Rock.

“Migrants and refugees are particularly vulnerable as

they are unable to attain visas to go to Spain,” said spokeswoman Anne-Marie Struggles, 51.

She and her colleague Tamsin Suarez are now fighting to reverse the law and raise awareness of the issue with the UN. It comes after they discovered that only three other

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countries in Europe (Poland, Ireland and Malta) ban abortion and all are in talks with the UN to decriminalise the act.

Ireland is also about to hold a referendum on the issue in May. “We however are the only nation in Europe who the UN are not working with,” Suarez said.

“They might think we have the same laws as the UK but in fact we are very different.”

Suarez and Struggles are vehement their group is prochoice, not pro-abortion per se.

They believe it should be up to a woman to decide what to do with her body.

“The criminalisation of abortion leads to discrimination and infringes on women’s dignity,” Struggles told the Olive Press.

“We’ve gone back 100 years on this issue!”

“There is a lack of women’s rights in Gibraltar and it’s a very conservative place.

The pair say they want to separate religion from the state and allow women the final say on their bodies.

“The Catholic church lobby on abortion as they did against gay marriage a couple of years ago. It is wrong.”

The assocation is now set to write to the UN to plead it opens dialogue with the Gibraltarian government over the issue.

It will also present its findings to the government.

When contacted this week the government refused to support any reform of the law.

“Abortion other than in certain, defined, medically certified circumstances, is illegal under Gibraltar law,” a government spokesman told the Olive Press. “The Cabinet has not considered changing this policy.”

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February 14th - February 27th 2018

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Letter

of the

week

British expat left dead in ditch

A BRITISH woman has been found dead in a ditch in southern Spain.

The 39-year-old expat was found in the village of Los Ramos, Murcia, on Saturday morning.

Expat football club claim racism after being excluded from league EXCLUSIVE

By Jed Neill

Dear OP, I have seen your article accusing Kim Halliwell again.

Did you know that it is NOT true that she was closed down in Almeria, the owner decided to sell!

She has NEVER been accused of animal cruelty EVER. The allegations were dropped as they were NOT true.

The police have been sent umpteen times by Jacqui Ross and NEVER found a problem.

So it seems you are printing lies to the benefit of others, my question is why?

Money spent on lawyers is money taken away from the dogs.

I am going to attach a few photos of the dogs that have happily been rehomed by Kim's Animal Rescue.

There are thousands more I could send. Kim has a lot of support from people who actually know her and care about the dogs.

Andrea Haley ED: Thanks for your letter Andrea, many sadly disagree with you and we have found plenty of concern ourselves

5

NEWS

EXPAT children as young as eight have been allegedly kicked out of their football league for being ‘too good’ and ‘too British’.

The organisers of Field of Dreams FC in Calahonda are furious that they have been ejected from their league ‘for no apparent reason and without prior notice’.

The team of keen young footballers had been due to start playing in the Liga Escuelita de Mijas in October, but was told it was no longer allowed to play just one week beforehand.

Head coach Matt Gore, who has a UEFA 3 licence, described the ban as ‘racist’.

“I was told over the phone that all the other coaches got together and decided they didn’t want us in the league’,” Gore, 42, who has been coaching for 20 years, told the Olive Press.

The lifeless body, found in an irrigation canal, is believed to have been a victim of a hitand-run.

Police have arrested the owner of a vehicle, which had been burnt out nearby.

The owner has refused to make a statement and has been released pending an ongoing investigation.

Police have yet to reveal the woman’s name.

CAUGHT OFFSIDE MISSING OUT: Field of Dreams FC “Racism is a very powerful word ent reasons. He claims the isand the reality of being an expat sue only emerged after Field of Dreams, which was officially in Spain is no different.

“We are basically being dis- incorporated in 2013, dominatcriminated against, while all we ed the league for the last three years, winning seven trophies. want to do is play football.”

While Mijas Town Hall claimed Expat lawyer Sean Thacker, 48, the reason was because the whose son has been playing for team was not connected to the club, agreed. a specific ‘municipal school’, He said: “I find it amazing that Gore believes it is for differ- children are basically being

discriminated against for their success.”

A spokesman for the town hall insisted that the decision was not racist, just that the league was now strictly for ‘teams which are part of the Municipal School of Soccer’.

Jesus Moreno added that other teams have also been removed.

He confirmed however, that the team could join the municipal league by registering correctly, ‘so they can play next season’.

“But for now it is impossible for Field of Dreams, or ANY other external team to enter the league of the Escuela Municipal de Fútbol,” he said. He failed to comment on why a new league was created in the first place.

Get over it There’s nothing wrong with a few days of winter.

Besides ‘we'll be fine’ as Donald Trump, the very smart American leader says global warming will keep us from getting too cold!

Art Lietz, Malaga

LE TT E R S

January 31st - February 13th 2018

5

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Our exclusive story that a British football team was kicked out of a kids’ league for being ‘too good’ and ‘too British’, was picked up by the Sun and a local British paper on the Costa del Sol

Cold shoulder Readers react to the cold snap affecting the whole of Spain and the rising costs of heating without fuel allowances

It’s our right

Moaners!

I agree we need our heating allowance. We paid for it and are not free loaders. I suffer with arthritis and I am in constant pain and cold all the time. Ian Duncan Smith needs to come and stay in Spain to see how cold it can get!

Look at all these British pensioners whinging about their lack of winter fuel allowance, you must be well off to be living in Malaga!

Vera Green, Coin

Richard Upton, Leeds

A necessity I have just spent nearly €40 just to keep warm for the week. We need our winter fuel allowance!

Deborah Gray, Estepona

Out of order

Tough it out The cold snap will be over before you know it, you are all living in Malaga not Siberia for God’s sake!

An EU directive told the UK to pay expats’ winter fuel allowance but Ian Duncan Smith calculated the average temperatures here and withdrew it.

Gary Garland, Granada

Tony Caddick, Warrington

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

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www.theolivepress.es www.theolivepress.es ll about

February14th 15th -- February February 28th 2017 February 27th 2018

ll about Manilva, Sabinillas Manilva, Sabinillas and and Puerto de la Duquesa Duquesa

Vol. 11 Issue 259 Vol. 12 Issue 285

www.theolivepress.es www.theolivepress.es

Born to be wild

17 15

O

Puerto de la Duquesa,

February - February 28th 2017 February 14th15th - February 27th 2018

Gone fishin’

®

Manilva’s laidback vibe is founded on fish and wine and that authentic flavour is still something to savour, writes Jed Neill

I

TS rock pools full of tiny darting fish recall British seaside holidays of old while fishing boats still compete with sunloungers for space on the beach.

Manilva is quite unlike your average Costa resort.

Even in swanky Duquesa marina, you sense the history of a town whose first health tourist was Julius Caesar.

And when you tuck into the shellfish - Duquesa’s speciality - you realise the locals know something about fish.

In Roman times, Manilva was to garum (a paste, like GenNATURAL WONDERS: Sights on Manilva’s beaches include a shopping line of drying squids, while (inset) kids play on one of the many rocky coves tleman’s Relish, that was all theoutside rage inofRome) Jerez TS hidden craggy coves fringed with wild grasses and flowers owe Indeed on many weekends July andwhat August, you can practisherry.and a good number have great more to Cornwall’s rugged coastline than Spain’s Costa del Sol. cally have the beaches is to to yourself…

But these are the attractive protected natural beaches of Manilva, a chiringuitos to eat on. The town’s roots in fish saltstill you runfind deep - and place you to explore true haven for nature lovers. Worlds away from the heavily commerOn one beach at Punta ing Chullera, the perfect stillwhile seeatthe remains of of tourists cialised sands of nearby Mijas or Fuengirola, four kilometres of golden rock pools and dive into can the sea, another a handful playas areCATCH being kept wildDAY: as anAn ecological reserve.

OF THE eel in the rocky Manilva shallows to the half dozen of unspoilt beaches, that lie below the main N340 sunbathe next to a group of squids drying on a line.

Continues on Page 16 Endangered western snowy plovers, chameleons and rare species of coastal road.

But the beaches are just one of the natural draws of Manilva, which is dune plants are among the flora and fauna in renaissance here since “These are some of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol and some broadly split into three areas; beach-front Sabinillas, port-side Duquesa of the least known,” explains Bish Witkowski, owner of local Castles the conservation zone was created in 2011.

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I

Chloe Glover discovers the raw natural beauty of the Costa del Sol’s wild west

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Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

February 14th - February 27th 2018

From Page 15

the old salting basins today.

Brits have moved in by the basinfull too, but this extreme westerly end of the Costa del Sol has a charm that’s more laid-back and dressed casual than its big Costa neighbours. And it offers up some of the best views of the Med. In particular, with soaring vistas of the Rock of Gibraltar.

For yachties swish Duquesa, lodged on the coast like a white gull, can become home for as little as €55 a day in high-season.

That’s nearly half the price tag of

Full of friendly Europeans, you’re sure to bump into someone who speaks your lingo dropping anchor in Marbella.

Full of Europeans from all walks of life, you’re sure to bump into someone who speaks your language.

Walking around the port I meet John Jackson, a 73-year-old Scotsman, counting the fish in the shallows, watching them eat breadcrumbs as they flip on the surface.

“I think the port is very nice. It is well maintained and friendly and safe too,” the former business

PARTY TIME: Manilva is full of carnivals and parades all year round

IN DUQUESA consultant told the Olive Press.

Since moving to Duquesa in 2012, he reckons the tourist trade is as strong as its ever been.

“But if you want to be into the Spanish culture you should move inland to get away from the expat areas,” he adds. And with

Manilva’s foothills looking close enough to touch, that’s easily done.

Beyond the hustle and bustle of Duquesa’s waterfront restaurants, San Luis de Sabinillas offers another take on coastal living with its collection of ‘chiringuitos’

where the salt sea air is flavoured with the aroma of ‘pescaitos fritos’.

These informal ‘beach restaurants’ are perfect for soaking up sea views and the local vibe in shorts and flip flops.

On Sundays the famous Rastro de

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February 14th - February 27th 2018

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February 14th - February 27th 2018

WILD WEST: Walking out from Manilva you reach some stunning green countryside

Sabinillas ups the tempo, a local pleasure port, it adds a touch of flea market with an international authenticity he appreciates.

If resting on your well-earned reappeal.

Held weekly at the fairground off tirement laurels sounds too tame, the Camino de los Banos de la head for the rugged hills of MaHedionda, it’s a bargain hunter’s nilva which open like a fan along paradise stretched across 300 several walking and off-road stalls piled with jewel-coloured trails. fruit and veg, antiques, local These capillaries are ever more deeply etched into handicrafts and second the landscape by the hand designer wear. coast’s growing number Running further west of biking and walking the other side of enthusiasts who enjoy Duquesa, the coastline the trip into nature. just gets wilder and Sybarites should less and less dealso make a veloped. pilgrimage to Here, you will Manilva vilfind an exlage which tensive natraces its ture zone d o m i of golden n a n c e beaches back to e d g e d 1 6 t h with wild century grasses vineyards and flowf a m e d ers. throughThe Punta out the Chullera world for area is a their sweet rock pool potmoscatel wines. terer’s paradise The story of its and offers the thriving wine indusoccasional curious try is beautifully told at sight such as squid LOCALS: the Nilva Wine Museum hanging on washing Celebrate with and you can take a lines to dry. vineyard tour.

This is where Belgian the Virgen del While meandering biker Robert Vermeulen Carmen, the through a tangle of winds down ‘to do nothpatron saint of vines I bump into Dave ing’ but enjoy his retirefishermen and and Nicki who only ment. sailors, on an come here now for oldThe 68-year-old makes annual outing time’s sake. the journey to the that attracts Having run their own beach from his Casaproperty business for thousands res pueblo apartment 15 years on the Costa by motorbike to take of locals and de la Luz, they came long walks and soak up expats to to Manilva to open up some rays.

Sabinillas shop and capitalise on “I think the coastline is seafront each the throngs of holidayjust beautiful,” he says, year home buyers eyeing up looking hot in his leaththe area. er biker’s jacket as the The 2007 economic sun comes out. crash changed that and The local fisherman their business suffered. still have a place in the community, he tells me, pointing “People stopped coming, even out the numerous vessels parked the Brits,” recalls Nicki.

Despite a tainted experience, the in front of the promenade.

Next to the gin palaces bobbing couple say that Manilva is back at anchor in Duquesa’s tourist in business and shows no sign of

HISTORIC: By the Roman baths and (top right) treading for wine

slowing down, with ‘more Brits here now then there have been in previous years’.

Nearby, on the border with Casares, you will find one of the true secrets of the Costa del Sol, the Roman baths of Hedionda, which will stop you in your tracks: the cloudy blue pools under arched brickwork allow you to relax Roman-style.

This medicinal sulphur spring flowing out of limestone is said to cure a whole host of ailments, including sunburn.

Julius Caesar is one of many to have taken advantage of its healing properties, and came to Manilva to cure a nasty skin infection.

Apparently, it worked!

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February 14th - February 27th 2018 Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Musical memories The great and the good of flamenco used to hang out at Venta Madrona… now a wine shop

T

HEY came from all over Spain to sing for their lunch or supper.

The world’s best flamenco singers and guitarists beat a trail to historic Venta Madrona that sat equidistance between the flamenco haunts of Cadiz and those of Malaga and Granada.

They included legend Cameron de la Isla, who frequently stayed over, as well as Tomatito and Diego el Gastor.

So famous became the spot that in their wake followed celebrities, bullfighters and even prime ministers.

“We had an amazing range of visitors, including Frank Sinatra and world leaders like Ted Heath and Adolfo Suarez,” recalls the son of the former owner.

Now running his own wine and lottery shop, la Mar de Vinos, at the same spot, Jose Antonio Madrona recalls the frequent visits from stars such as Cameron.

“He was often here as he was a friend of my uncle Jose Manuel Gil. He stayed the night and frequently sang. I remember even dancing for him as a child.”

The venta, which was built in 1929, also counted

VINTAGE: The historic Venta Madrona has always attracted big stars on the founder of Andalucian nationalism Blas Infante as a regular.

“He had plenty of meetings here in the run up to the civil war,” added Jose, who studied history at Malaga University, before studying viticulture.

It was certainly something of a tragedy when Venta Madrona was knocked down due to the construction of an underpass through Sabinillas a decades ago.

Fortunately you can now visit the amazing wine shop which has almost 1000 references of wines

and sits by the roundabout like Venta Madrona before it.

As well as a fantastic selection of Spanish wines, from around the whole country, there is a good mix of champagnes and sherries.

In addition, the shop stocks a great array of delicacies, including pates, cheeses and sauces… and, of course, the coast’s favourite English newspaper, the Olive Press!

La Mar de Vinos at Calle Bolivia, 1, Sabinillas

FAMOUS VISITOR: Flamenco star Cameron de la Isla

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February 14th - February 27th 2018 February 14th - February 27th 2018

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A head for figures

Gabi Recio and his team have an answer for most issues concerning numbers and legal matters

T

HERE is not much economist Gabi Recio Madrona does not know about Manilva.

And when it comes to numbers‌ his family have been taking care of business here for most of the last century.

He and his team at Recio & Madrona have many expat clients and continue to enjoy a thriving trade.

It is no surprise with the homegrown team providing everything from tax and accounting advice to vehicle transfers, property registry, wills and inheritance.

Gabriel trained in Economics at the University of Malaga and became a tax consultant in 1995 and then expanding into administration management in 2013.

He often enlists the services of his cousin, Juana, who has been a lawyer since 1997 and able deputy Carlos, a specialist accountant.

The team is well known in the area for being trustworthy and professional, and they look forward to hearing from IN GOOD HANDS: Carlos and Gabi you.

Est 2002

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February 15th - February 28th 2017

February 15th - February 28th 2017

Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

A FIESTA FEAST

A A fiesta

February 14th - February 27th 2018

PICTURE PERFECT

Take24 our calendar tour of Manilva’s festival musts www.theolivepress.es ll about Manilva, Sabinillas and Take our calendar tour of Manilva’s festival musts

February 15th - February 28th 2017

February 15th - February 28th 2017

Puerto de la Duquesa

Carnival, February 24-25

feast

Fun for all the family, this weekend celebration features impressive costumes, music, dancing and chirigotas, satirical Andalucian folk songs.Sabinillas carefully decorate Carnival, February 24-25

fishing boats with effigies of Easter Week, April this 9-16 their patron saint, the Virgen Fun for all the family, Carmen, andstatue sail set them weekend celebration fea- del EFFIGY: A huge to be of the costumes, most important up and the coast. tures One impressive burntdown on San Juan night in theand Spanish calendar. music,weeks dancing chirigoThis festival celebratesfolk the life, SantaAna, Ana, July 26 tas, satirical Andalucian DayDay of of Santa passion and death of Jesus with songs.processions through the localJuly 26

MY MANILVA

PICTURE PERFECT

Thestreets.

Olive Press tal Saintks Ana is the patron saint of Manilva, and her feast day is celSaint Ana iswith thea patron saint to Manilva mayorof Manilva, ebratedrio parade of floats, Ma her feast day music andand dancing until the early San Juan’s night June 23 One of the most important is celebrated with a parade hours.

Jimin en ez Ro dri gue z weeksThis the Spanish calenof floats, music and dancing evolved out of an old pagan Easter Week

MY MANILVA

dar. This untilDay theof early ritualfestival marking celebrates the summer solSanhours.

Luis de Sabinilthe life, passion Why stice, which hasand beendeath united did you run for with offic e as las, August 25de S of Jesus with saint’s a christian day. Bonfires Day of San Luis may orprocessions of Man ilva? on the the local beach create a magical through streets. abinillas, August 25

Theoffice Olive Press I’ve spent 14 years in public of San Luistalks de Sabinillas is hon, andThe have hadwith thesports priviSan Juan’s night June 23 feast day of the patron oured competitions, lege of holdin g posts such as counc to Manilva mayor Mario illor of sport Day of the Virgen del Car, youth saint of San Luis de dancing.

Sabinilmusic, laughter and and infras tructu re. I previo workelas d inis the This evolved of usly an old honoured with sports technical men, Julyout 16 Jimenez Rodriguez office in pagan the Assoc iation of Munithe cipalities ritual marking competitions, music, of the Weste rn laughThe grape harvest, SepCosta delsummer Sol.The Sosolstice, it was a which has natur ter and dancing. al de move to becom villagers of Castillo la e the head of Mani 2-3 as townwith beenlva united a christian hall.

Why did you runtember for office Duquesa and San Luis de Sabisaint’snillas day. carefully Bonfiresdecorate on the fishThe grape harvest, mayor of Manilva?

A festival to celebrate the grape ing boats a with effigies attheir beachHow create magical September 2-3 grape-treading wou ld youofdefi neharvest, including atmosphere throughout the night.

The feast day of the patron saint

patron saint, theyears Virgenin del Car- office, and have had the privimosphere throughout the I’ve spent 14 public to produce the first wine of the year, your and sail them up and down self poli tica lly? night. men, lege of holding posts such councillor oftosport, A as festival to celebrate thevisiwhich is offered friends youth and the coast. and infrastructure. I previously technical grape torsworked toharvest, taste. in theincluding First and Day forem ost, I’m just another mem ofoffice the in Virgen the Association ofgrape-treading Municipalities oftotheproduce Western ber of the community, and door del isJuly open Costa Sol.16 So was one. athe natural move toofbecome the to itevery del my Carmen, wine the year, Ifirst want a town hall which involv es its head of resid Manilva town hall. ents whichcan is coun offered to friends and which t on all political partie s to work The villagers of Castillo de and visitors to taste. together. la Duquesa and SanHow Luis would de you define

After a few months inyourself office, politically? what do you hop e to ach ? another member of the comFirst and foremost, ieve I’m just

and my door is open to everyone. I want a town My main aim is munity, to return lva its to residents the placeand hall which Mani involves whichves can count on it deser to be. In the past few years ourtotown all political parties workhas together. moved backwards in terms of infrastructure, services and management. We need toAfter go back to the a few months office, what do you progressinand excitement of before, and to make a town with theto best hope achieve? tourist opportunities and quality of life.

Wild and wonderful, chic and chilled out - Manilva is the alterna Costa del Sol destination for those i n t h e k n o w.

Brimming with natural charm and be a u t y, b a g s o f h i s t o r y a n d c u plus a good helping of local wind. Th is lovely destination is just to be discovered.

Pictur

Perfect port

Diamonds are forever

es by Jon Clarke

Wild and wonderful, chic and chilled out - Manilva is the alternative C o s t a d e l S o l d e s t i n a t i o n f o r t h o sJEWELLERY e i n t h e k n o w. has frequently B r i m m i n g w i t h n a t u r a l c h a r m a n d been b e a u tpassed y, b a g s down o f h i s tthrough ory and culture p l u s a g o o d h e l p i n g o f l o c a l w i n d . the T h i generations, s l o v e l y d e s twhile i n a t i osome n is just wait is boughtPictures for that to be discovered.

by Jon special Clarke

D

someone as a token of love.

Chirine Ayoubi knows about this more than anyone, having worked as a jeweller by trade, crafting gemstones in Duquesa port for the last 15 years.

“I tried my luck at a diamond eternity ring, I just became obsessed with it,” said the mother-of-two.

Ayoubi Jewelry covers everything from repairs, starting from scratch and melting old ones down to make new ones.

“People like the personal aspect to design their own things,” said Ayoubi who specialises in the unique trade.

This drive to provide silver service comes from her mother who taught her that ‘if you have a job you love, you never have to work again’ - an approach she also incorporates in her other business, Diamond Nails & Beauty Room.

And if you don’t know what you want, she helps to tailor that special something to any bill of any hand.

UQUESA is a small harbour with a big Duquesa is the true gem personality.

Any lunchtime, even in winter, the pave- of Manilva with dozens ments are filled with tourists taking the sun and enjoying the huge range of restaurants of restaurants and My main aim is to return Manilva to the place it deserves on offer. aninternational clientelle tonee be. In the past fewwas years our town backWhat step The s St George Charity founded at has the moved beginning If the idea of travelling around the world in 80 d to be take n in orde r to wards in terms offundraising infrastructure, services and to managerestaurants floats your boat then this is the to match of 2013 initially as organisation achieve the oftoatown ment.type We need go backyou to thewan progress t? and excitement perfect spot to drop anchor. provide funding, and services worthy of before, and equipment to make a town with the best to tourist opporA walk around this whitewashed marina takes taurants, cafes and bars, the people who work We’re very causes luckytunities that Mani and quality ofcommunity. life. lvalocal within the has a lot of potential in scarcely longer than five minutes but just count in them and the visitors who sit in the sunshine terms of tourism, sport and culture. My plan for the future enjoying them. the blackboards promoting cuiis based on creatWhat ing new steps need tothe beSttaken inCharity infras tructure proje cts, main -order to This elegant enclave of turrets Aswe a registered association George sine from all over the globe: taining what alrea dy have,the andtype achieve youl-want? ensurof ingtown thatindividuals Mani and towers, pretty plazas and China, India, Japan, and Singaalsoisprovides a legal framework for or va’s economy based on offering a magnificent service Quirky and steps leading to different levpore, and a plethora of Europeto our residgroups tovisito raise money its has umbrella ents and We’re veryrs. lucky thatunder Manilva a lot of(subject potentialtoin els jutts out from the mainland, an ports of call too! eclectic, it’s like a terms of tourism, sport and culture.

My plan for the future approval and due diligence). encircling its attractions like an It could be argued that La is based on creating new infrastructure projects, mainAny current or future projects you want to younger sister to oyster encloses a pearl.

Duquesa lacks Spanish identaining what we already have, and ensuring that ManilThe St George with Age tity, with more English voices Puerto Banus, and Quirky and eclectic, it’s like a highCharity ligh va’s economy is based on works offeringclosely a magnificent service t? also younger sister to Puerto Banus than yachts and more burgers to ourBuddy residents visitors.and Citizens Advice Concern, Upand Manilva, We’ve alreaBureau – less glam perhaps, but less than tapas. less snooty dy finishSpain, ed the to Plaza Ginebcommunity ra, in Sabinillas, provide support. a job that needed urgen snooty too; more affable and, But step out either side of the Any current orNow future projects you want to t attention. we’re planning to importantly, very much more afstart the Lidl pathway and the remodellin port, where Spanish chiringuihighlight? g of Calle Mar, in George Charity raises money through a fordable.

Manilva. I’mThe tos (and boatfuls of grilling sarveryStexcite d abou t the new pedestrian footThis sociable spirit is enhanced by the people of rtant channels including its Ginebra, charity in shops in a path – it’s a number dines in summer) fringe sandy beaches and reallyWe’ve already finished thebetwe Plaza Sabinillas, impo conne ction en Manilva and Sabinillas. you’ll be left in no doubt which country you’re who work here, who hail from all over the world that needed urgent Nowtins; we’re planning to Sabinillas and Cancelada; collection markets; Injob short , we’re going to attention. impro ve our infraand are woven into the ethnically diverse fabric start the Lidl pathway and the remodelling of Calle Mar,atin in. structure, which will improvehand the lives online second shop; as well asents. money raised of our resid Manilva. I’m very excited about the new pedestrian FEW foot- peop Thislesocial meeting point sings through its res- of La Duquesa. think of Maa number as the End of Summer Bash, path –of it’sevents a reallysuch important connection between Manilva nilva as a snorkelling Wha t are you hopIn ing for andSabi Sabinillas. short, we’re going to improve our infrainStthe and the Street Party.

The George Charity hotspot but its rocky structure, which will improve the lives of our residents. futu re ofdonations Manilva? also receives from individual or group coas tline FEW think of Maprovpeople ides r In Muebles BernardoforMuñoz you can find a great water fornilva as a clea snorkelling benefactors which S.L. it is always grateful. obse rving the are you hoping for in the Health, security and sanitWhat hotspot but its rocky fundamentfor of furnitureation andare accessories your home:. undersea coastline al for panoramaprovides mak. clear Manilva? ingexhibition a progressive town. We also future need to of That fight again st un- garden, inclu des for octo pus, water observing the urniture ofntall styles –our bedrooms, kitchens, appliances, Help your localpeop community employme and offer young le opportunities for eels, turtlundersea es and even dol- snorkelers not to over - on, panorama.

Health, security and sanitation are fundamental for makthe future .

With these he adds. planslounge, , I’m convi phin nced bathrooms,ing lighting, carpets, fabrics etc... that wetocan Thatswim includes out faroctopus, think their preparation. He also a progressive town.

We also need fight against un- s if you make Manilva the shinin g lightand advises novice Become a volunteer at the George andenou of offer the Costa del people dol- just Sol. Charity snorkelers not to overon, he adds. employment ourStyoung opportunities for gh. eels, turtles and even“You need fins, a diveHe rs not to go out alon phins if you swim out far Loca think their preparation. also advises novice l e. make a difference.

We are looking for volunteers to afici onad o the future.

With these plans, I’m convinced that we can Jame s mask C/Bolivia nº2 Sabinillas – Manilva (Málaga) Tlf. 952 890 204 and ajust snor kel. fins, It “Mak e sure need a divers not to go out alone. you have a has been snor - might “You light of Costa delassist Sol.Part help make in ourManilva shops,the or shining our stores, asthe well as to at ingto nenough. be a bit chill y in Local James mask and a snorkel. budd It “Make sure you back have , a y to watc www.mueblesbernardomunoz.com h your kelling here for aficionado over our events. wint bit norchilly as in the buddycurre to watch nts your a decade. Partington has been snor- might beera but arouback, nd mally winteryou kelling here for over but noraround Manas ilvathe can currents catc h you Now 23, he off a decade. mally you Manilva can catch you off won’ t need a your guard.”

For more information, or to volunteer: has lived Now 23, he won’t need You a your guard.” wetsuit.” can snor kel Tel: 630 316 730 or from in Manilva any has lived You can snorkel from any E q u i wetsuit.” p m e n t of the hes in Man since ilva, movi email secretary@dcso-stgeorge.com in ng Manilva E be q u i p m e n t ofbeac the beaches in Manilva, shou ld tight and there are a num here ber ofof since moving should be tightand there a number from fitting but comfortable, companies are such heres from as as North but comfortable, companies such GoFun GoFu n Wale and youfitting canyou getcan ridget of rid fogof fog Cost Costa a del Sol North and del Sol which orgawhic when he was h orga five. Wales on youroneye-m if youif you nise nise when he was five. your ask eye-mask tours equipment tours andand equi pment first -timefirst-time spit on it www.saintgeorgecharity.comHe advises befo DIVING MAD: James Partington you put He advises spit on re it before you it hire. it puthire.

DIVIN G MAD: James Partington

UNDERWATER WUNDERWATER ONDERLAND

WONDERLAND

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February 15th - February 28th 2017 February 14th - February 27th 2017 2018 February 15th - February 28th

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The Sabinillas February 15th - February 28th 2017Bookshop

The Bookshop

Go Rastro-farian

Sabinillas

Join the fun of Sabinillas’s bustling weekly market

B

February 15th - February 27th 28th 2018 2017 February 14th - February

ARGAIN hunters travel from miles around for a rummage around the celebrated ‘rastro de Sabinillas’, said to be the best flea market on the coast.

Held on a Sunday, it offers the perfect opportunity for bargain hunters, with its hundreds of stalls, laid out in the fairground off the Camino de los Baños de la Hedionda, en route to the Roman Baths.

And as it’s open from 9am to 2pm you don’t have to get up too early.

The market is 26 years old and has become a central part of Manilva life.

Ramp up your haggling skills as you wander through an eclectic mix of antiques, beautiful vintage oddities and brand new goods and you too can become a dab hand ‘rastro-farian’.

PO Boxes Available Ask in the shop for details Cards • Unusual Gifts • Guides • Books Daily Newspapers • Magazines • Maps Postal Service • Day Trips • Passports

Tel: 952 891 545 www.sabinillasbookshop.com Fantastico Celebrations & Events

Celebrations and Events

Balloon décor for Weddings, Birthdays, Parties & Events including Arches, Columns and Balloon Drops.

Table décor and personalized helium balloons with logo.

RUMMAGE: Everything from onions to electricity meters for sale

T: 952 937 692 M: 634 314 934 .com

Email: info@fantastico-es.com www.fantastico-es.com

Roadrunner Leisure

TEL: 600 680 995 Fairy Dust Holiday Management Property Management and Holiday Rentals Expat Financial Advice | Costa del Sol & Gibraltar Tailored Management and Key Holding

BEACH LIFE: Fishermen pull up a boat on Sabinillas beach

Based between Sotogrande andProtection Estepona on the • Investment Advice, Wealth beautiful Costa del Sol in Southern Spain, we are delighted to offer a bespoke solution to your property needs

• Pensions and QROPS

• Regular Savings Plans for yourself, grandchildren, wedding planning or for future education planning.

• Mortgages • LifeContact Cover Julie Laker: (+34) 634 31 21 86

Come Have Some Fun!

Pauline Bowden

BIKES Pauline.bowden@spectrum-ifa.com BABY & TODDLER EQUIPMENT www.spectrum-ifa.com MOBILITY SCOOTERS & WHEELCHAIRS Charles Hutchinson +34SHORT-TERM 605 903 472 WI-FI & TV charles.hutchinson@spectrum-ifa.com www.roadrunnerleisure.com +34 61 674 3108

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i n s t a l a c i o n e s info@instalacionesemasur.com www.instalacionesemasur.com

Air Conditioning Electricity Solar Panels – Plumbing Automatic Doors Swimming Pools Renewable Energy

tel: 952 89 25 15

C/Espinosa – Edif Manisabi, Local 12 Ctra Sabinillas, 29692, Manilva (Málaga)

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ll about

14th - February 27th 2018 Manilva, February Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Manilva’s Castillo de Duquesa is home to one of Andalucia’s top

Sword of honour

T

HEY have fenced with Hollywood star Viggo Mortensen.

It is just one of the many accolades that sits in the trophy case of Club Internacional de Esgrima Andaluzia, Manilva’s very own fencing club.

Established 10 years ago, the swashbuckling group must have one of the most fitting practice rooms in the country, in the belly of the historic 18th century Castillo de Duquesa.

It was built at the height of Europe’s love affair with the sport, whose modern form has its origins in Spain.

Now, thanks to the club it is also home to Spain’s only Museum of Fencing.

“We try to preserve and maintain the heritage of this beautiful and thrilling sport, which is a true part of our culture”, explained Alberto Cerrada Fernandez, the club’s title-winning founder.

A doctor, he set it up when he moved to the area from Madrid to work in a nearby health centre.

“My passion has always been fencing and when I moved here I wanted to continue practising it.

“I had to travel very far because there were no local clubs so it occurred to me: Why not create one of my own?”

The club’s first base was in Estepona, where its continued success helped convince Manilva authorities to allow it to host

both practice sessions and contests in the castle.

Through Cerrada’s expert leadership and dedication the team has racked up an impressive cache of medals and now counts world class members among its ranks.

“We train four times a week at the castillo

and in Estepona and every year we get to be champions or runners-up of Spain in lower categories,” said Cerrada.

“At Andalucian level both individual and team we have more than 100 medals with champions at the level of children and adults.

“Jan Bade, who is Finnish, is one of our latest signings and came fifth in the world championships “Our youngest member is four years old and we have almost as many women as men, because in fencing you can compete in mixed bouts.

“My latest achievement has been becoming the Spanish champion of historic fencing (different to modern in style and technique), a title I won last November.

“But our main aim is not to win medals: It has always been to create a group of friends who enjoy and love this art and to care for the development of each of our members in a personalized way.

“We also want to spread the important values of fencing, such as education, temperance, respect and work in a warm and friendly environment.”

Esgrima Andaluzia has also proved its

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Our home too!

THE Olive Press is proud to call Manilva its home.

Relocating to the town five years ago from Ronda, we have been treated well by the locals and seen business grow as a result.

Based in a spacious self-contained office overlooking the busy N-340 motorway, we have had a variety of interesting visitors including filmaker Donal Macintyre and novelist Chris Stewart, of Driving over Lemons fame.

“It has been a great location, strategically for our growth and due to its friendly, down to earth locals,” explains publisher Jon Clarke.

‘LET’S go’ is the mantra that has put Roadrunner Leisure on the map for their activity business.

With an eclectic mix of bikes, boat trips, horse riding and much more it is difficult to find something Roadrunner doesn’t cover.

“We soon realised that once we provided one service we quickly needed another to compliment it,” said owner Fiona Callander, who also provides Wifi boxes.

Callander and her husband advise that you ‘stow away your essentials’ before you embark on one of their fun adventure trips.

Water sports has taken centre stage over the last few years after they bought a boat - originally part of a retirement plan - but it was such a success that they bought another.

“We take people for cruises to Sotogrande or Marbella,” she explains adding that they are frequently accompanied by dolphins on the trips. This upcoming season Roadrunner is introducing paddle boards for a slow meander across the gentle waves as well as wakeboarding for those thrill seekers.

It’s a kind of magic

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CUTTING through the red tape in Spain can be a long drawn-out process.

Famous for its bureaucracy,the advice of a clearheaded down-to-earth legal expert is essential.

That’s where Katie Rawlin’s Breaking Spain comes in - and without the hefty price tag generally associated with the legal profession.

Expat legal advice is her opening and closing statement and with her finger on the Brexit pulse, she stays on top of the game.

As negotiations for leaving rumble on, she says people should be aware that they need their Residencia to claim all the EU benefits.

“All expats outside the EU need to be a legal resident in their host state before the Brexit date kicks in,” Rawlins told the Olive Press, adding ‘you need your Residencia card’ to get pension and health benefits.

“I’m just breaking through the red tape in Spain,” she states having set up shop in 2014, spending 15 years in the legal arena.

Rawlins also fronts a legal drop-in clinic with Spanish lawyer Elena Yarza and accountant Elisa Poveda who are also fluent in English.

The clinic is held every Monday from 4.30pm to 7.30pm at Kinsales bar and restaruant, in La Duquesa.

PALS: Reporter jokes with writer Chris Stewart

IF you ever wished you had a magic wand to help look after or let your property, Fairy Dust Management is at your service.

The company will take on everything from holiday lets and long-term rentals to key holding, caretaking and cleaning away the cobwebs.

And with summer not too far off the horizon, Julie Laker’s bespoke approach ensures that gardens are best-kept and that electricity and water are in

working order. “Everyone wants perfection,” says Laker whose clients come from all over Europe.

“The best thing for us is if people come back and ask ‘have you got any apartments’.”

Having moved to the coast in 2015, Laker honed her craft in her own immaculate home. Every nook and cranny will be shining because Fairy Dust is not magic, she says.

“It's about real-life results and that personal touch”.

EB manilva supplement 2016:Layout 1 10/02/2016 09:44 Page 1

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www.theolivepress.es February 14th - February 27th 2018

movie star credentials.

“We’ve participated as masters of arms (official teachers) in films, television, theatre and musicals in Spain and beyond our borders,” said Cerrada.

“We have had the honor of working, among others, with Manuel Bandera in the Zorro, with Vigo Mortensen in Alatriste and 2017 Goya winner Carlos Santos in Los Mosqueteros who was our Hamlet in the work that we present in the Castle of La Duquesa some years.”

Cerrada’s love affair with fencing led him to set up Spain’s only museum dedicated to the past-time.

D

meat since 1999

Personal touch

fencing clubs

URING the recent economic recovery we have seen an increase in the number of new estate agencies opening on the Costa del Sol. But with so many new agents, how do you know which ones to trust?

“I think first of all you need to be made aware of the agent’s longevity, how long they have been operating, generally this is a good indicator of commitment,” explains Brian Berney, of longestablished Manilva agent C2C. He warns against using agents who do not work

February 14th - February 27th 2018 Serving you Top Quality

“Because I am a collector of objects related to fencing, Manilva Council offered me the possibility of establishing it.

“We decided to put it in the castle and with thousands of annual visits it has become one of Manilva’s main tourist attractions.”

Cerrada hopes that both the club and museum encourage more people to take up swords.

“I love it because of the strategy, strength, speed, concentration and spirit.

“It is part physical agility combined with art, psychology and intellect.

“Long may it live on.”

INTEGRAL Home Assistance offers elderly expats and locals on the Costa del Sol a personalised live-in care service.

Its staff are nurses and assistants who all have the highest qualifications possible, so you know your family member or friend is in the best of hands, while their services can be made to fit their patient and their schedule.

Nursing assistants can help with the basic activities, including feeding, bathing, dressing, going to the toilet or going for a walk.

They can also help with the shopping, cleaning the house or help with administrative tasks.

And if you hire a nursing assistant, you will get your own personal nurse free of charge, who can perform assessments, administer injections, prepare medications, take blood and nurse you back to health if you fall ill.

They will also be on call 24 hours per day incase of emergencies or urgent health questions.

Hairdressers, podiatrists and physiotherapists are also available for an extra cost.

If you or someone you know needs a personalised and friendly live-in care service, call Integral Home Assistance on 676 14 89 94 or email integralhomeassistance@gmail.com

Bet on experience C2C has been established in Sabinillas since 2002 from commercial premises.

“Too many wannabe agents work either from the back of their car, from home or

from a bar,” he adds.

“Also check they have a land line number and a business email address. NOT yahoo,

hotmail, gmail etc.

“We at C2C Properties are committed professionals and are members of the Association of Property Professionals (AIPP), as a vetted and approved member, we have voluntarily committed ourselves to industry regulation which includes ongoing compliance and training.

“We also offer a full in house legal service (ICAMalaga 9435) and insurance department offering home, motor, life and health insurance.”

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Monday/Friday 8:30~17:30 Saturday/Sunday 9:00~14:00 Don’t forget, for placing orders please email us on info@theenglishbutcher.com or call us on tel: 952 891 313 The English Butcher

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of tapas and roast chicken dishes to and chips share. on the main Another emblematic place N340 drag.

24 14th - February 27th 2018 is Café Nenit, wherell Jose the February most exciting Manilva, Sabinillas and aboutFinally, and his team serve break- launch of the year so far Puerto de laRustico, Duquesa fasts and pastries from has been Floria which is where Peter and Karen are now plying their trade, with fantastic fresh fish and the best ‘pil pil’ prawns on the coast.

PS… it would be impossible to write about Manilva without mentioning the amazing Roman Oasis, just inManilva land on the road to the Roman Oasis, of course. has a great Pizza at P Over three decades old, it TRADITIONAL: mix of was here that legendary UK tic, original spot, he places chef Keith Floyd came to owner Paul were close to and eat this is obvio spend some of the last few dies TOP HOST: Kaat at Miel weeks of his life. the amount of phot WELCOME: At Miel A massive fan of the eclec- Floyd on the walls.

T’S the Wild West of the Costa del

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KEEP CALM AND

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Sol… and so you take your chances when it comes to eating in Manilva.

Certainly when it comes to seafood WHEN a goflood ofdozens biblical proporyou can hardly wrong and of good chiringuitos line the beach in tions destroyed his celebrated Sabinillas.

One of the best knownmany is Miel, run by chiringuito, might have exfriendly Belgian Kaat, who also plays Peter Nette to run to the a pected key role at the emblematic Roman Oasis in nearby Casares in the sumhills. mer.

And is exactly Her beachthat spot though is very muchwhat he did anwhen institution with high standards popular Floria for was ripped in breakfast and lunch and is very often full. half by a raging torrent after heavy Another famous place is Café Nenit, rainJoseinandDecember (see below).But where his team serve breakfasts and pastries from early morning, not to the hills tapas for lunch and bar snacks into LY MAC S hide out and the evening. AndHEA don’t forgetto to ask for Ana’s special, which changes by nurse his sorthe day. rows, but to a And don’t forget Take Five, an amazing cafe for snacks and Pollo Pron- rural venue, new Up to his to, which is a long time institution for neck!

CATCH OF THE DAY: Freshly cooked fish and (below) view on Manilva beach take away roast chicken and chips. with wife Karen, Heading the other way inland, you where he has must hunt out Floria Rustico, which is where Peter and Karen are come now ply- out fighting ing their trade, with fantastic fresh withon a fabulous fish and the best ‘pil pil’ prawns the coast, not to mention new amazing project. jazz on wednesdays …and lots more Called Floria Rus(see side bar).

ANTHON SALE In DuquesaYS you have a warren of tico, great places to eat including Capi-it has been tanos and Parapiros, two of bornthe out of the longest-running Italian restaurants on success of the fathe coast Also in the port, look out for the ex- beach resOUT WITH THE mous cellent Moroccan, Casablanca and taurant,most that has popular places to eat for tourists road, which first plied its trade in GiitsOLD: neighbouring Floria joint, the Mexican and expats alike. braltar in the 1960s.

Grill and Bar, which is authentic to NEW NIGHT: Wednesday Jazz fed and watered For Manilva’s best fish and chips you A true institution, owner Steve Marthe extreme. to head up the restaurant road a little to low, restaurants around the on has therunbeach.

Meanwhile the Ocean- Cafe and Cafe, need thousands including many rich American Bistro are among the track down Marlows, on the main world and is a classically trained chef,

RUNNING THE HILLS

Voted BEST expat paper in Spain

www.century21gibraltar.com

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December 7th - December

ESTEPONA PORT Irish Bar & Restaurant

FLOODY HELL 20th 2016

Awarded by Diageo & The Irish Times Tel: 951 517 015 www.healy macs-estepona.com

Two dead and thousands of homes flooded as storms lash southern Spain

Photo by Jon Clarke

Rustico

National Gastronomic Award

C/ Andalucía, 10º San Pedro de Alcántara

Tel: 952 927 188 labodegadelcantinero@gmail.com

Jazz Night

every Wednesday FREE ENTRY

Chocolat Charley & the Jazz Factory

tel: 600 654 286

Floria Rustico Turn off the coast road at Lidl, Sabinillas, Km145 N340, we’re 3km up on the left

SAVED: Dawson with

son

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

A BRITISH expat was pulled from a flooded lift in a dramatic two-hour rescue effort.

Bet365 worker Dan Dawson told the Olive Press he feels ‘lucky to be alive’ after he himself up to his neck found water while stuck in a in flood ing Sunday’s storms. lift durThe nightmare happened Dawson, 46, attempted when his five-year-old son to save Kaled’s Christmas presents from their basement in Duquesa.

“It was absolutely horrific,” Dawson said. “I honestly thought that was going to be it for me.”

WROUGHT in two and owners in the impostilting on its side, wreckage of one of the sible task of sorting the through the wreckage.

Costa del Sol’s most emblematic beach bars Many towns were deis a chilling reminder clared a ‘disaster zone’ of 48 hours of relent- and left underwater less rain which claimed with roads cut off and two lives and left thou- houses evacuated.

The heaviest rainfall sands more homeless. fell in Estepona, where The worst flooding 25 years saw a new for a 26-year-old woman riv- tragically perished er literally carve its way in through the middle a basement brothel, of Floria, in Manilva, while an electrician also leaving the chiringuito drowned in La Linea. nilva and Politicians a complete write off rallied where land, Casares ting up shop for most sea and of the weekend a matter of minutes. in round, along with the air rescue and With the toilet ripped King of Spain who of- deployed teams were residents resigned to out and the contents fered condolences, as stranded. to help those their homes, it is only now, that the true of its kitchen strewn the cost of the clear up School exon the sand, the own- is estimated at tens of in all was cancelled tent of the storms is five towns millions of euros. ers have joined Monday, while on beginning to be rethe The worst on alised. thousands of desolated affected Tuesday the big clear home and business areas were Mijas, Es- up continued. tepona, Cartama, See When the heavMa- With businesses shut- ens opened - Page 6

Specialist of Sherry Wine Special Flamenco Friday & Saturday

Tucker time

Rescue

He added: “I stupidly didn’t check how bad the weather outside before going downwas in the lift.

“As I got closer to the basement water started flowing from everywhere and I couldn’t “Within a minute it wasstop it. up to my chest and I was panicking.”

Luckily, neighbours came rescue when Dawson’s to his partner Sylina heard his screams.

However they were unable to lift the roof of the lift and only when he managed it was to rise by half a storey to get it tinually hitting the up by conbutton that he had a bit of breathing space.

Police were soon on the and prized open the lift scene crowbar, pulling Dawson,with a from Derby, to safety.

Est 1984

For all your insurance needs!

Estepona 952 887 125 estepona@ibexi

nsure.com

Fuengirola

952 465 588

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7 December

and famous - for over a decade in Manilva.

Reservations: Based in the former homeEstablished of Arm951 276 728 strong's and Taste by Dirk - on1966 the RESTAURANT RESTAURANTE road to the Roman Oasis this TAKE AWAY PARA LLEVAR charming, chilled-out spot counts on a wonderful leafy garden and a similar menu to its former sister Centro Eroski, next to Duquesa Golf (N340) Manilva Great food • Good Value

LUNCHTIME MEAL DEAL Fish & Chips 1 Side Order 1 Drink 1 Dessert ONLY €8.95 Mon-Fri

EARLYBIRD SPECIAL 6pm-7.30pm Fish & Chips 1 Side Order 1 Drink ONLY €8.50 Mon-Thurs

SUNDAY ROAST Beef, Lamb, Chicken 1-4pm ONLY €10.95 Booking advisable

Modern spacious comfortable restaurant with outside terrace We can cater for any party of up to 100 people

Even better its domed wooden ceiling allows for excellent acoustics, perfect for the concerts that continue to be a key element of Floria’s success.

While the Lola Boys will continue El Castillo to be regulars, alongside Stelvis In the quaint village of Castillo de la Duquesa, Plaza Miramar and Tony Watson, the most excit-

La Taberna 2

Menu del Dia – 3 course 12.95€ Early Bird (6.30pm-8pm) 2 Courses– 16.50€ available Mon-Fri (closed Tue)

Sunday Roast 1 course - 12.95€ 2 courses - 15.95€ 3 courses - 19.95€

Reserve your table: telephone 951 97 96 54 OPEN: Wed to Sun (Closed Tuesday) Lunch 1pm-3pm & Dinner 6.30pm-10.30pm

Castillo de la Duquesa, Manilva, Malaga restaurantinmanilva

g kin Boo ly On

ing We Pu ta ma ba lat th sim pla an of da “O jaz ev ins ta Wi go Ih ed Fe loc on

THE HILLS PS… it would be impossible to write about Manilva without mentioning the amazing Roman Oasis, just inland on the road to the Roman Oasis, of course.

Over three decades old, it was here that legendary UK chef Keith Floyd came to spend some of the last few weeks of his life.

A massive fan of the eclec-

www.theolivepress.es

TRADITIONAL: Pizza at Parapiros

tic, original spot, he and owner Paul were close buddies and this is obvious by the amount of photos of Floyd on the walls.

It goes without saying, this is one of the most original and unusual places to eat on the coast, when open in the summer months.

25 25

February 14th - February 27th 2018

ing new addition is the regular SERVING February 14th - February 27th 2018 Wednesday night Jazz session.

PutINtogether by RUNNING Glory for Floria talented Dutch- Host TEL: 951 276 728 THE HILLS man Mitch, the with the YOU IN DUQUESA PORT SINCE 1999 band, Choco- SERVING FLOODY most!

HELL late Charlie and the Jazz Factory simply blow the TO PLACE ORDERS Please email us: info@theenglishbutcher.com place apart with Or call us on tel: 952 891 313 Monday to Friday: 08:30-17:30 an eclectic mix Saturday & Sunday: 08.30-14.00 of jazz stan- Like our page on Facebook to see details of all our offers – The English Butcher dards.

Please em www.englishbutcher.com “One of the best O jazz nights I have NEW NIGHT: Wednesday Jazz Pizza Lovers ever witnessed,” restaurant on the beach. insisted local esM Even better its domed wooden tate agent Bish HOSTS: Karen and ceiling allows for excellent acous- Witkowski. “As Peter S tics, perfect for the concerts that good as anything continue to be a key element of I have been to in London,” he addLi Floria’s success. ed. o While the Lola Boys will continue Featuring TAKE AWAY Tue-Sat: 19:30 until 23:00 an Argentinian and two tel: 952 130 788 Sunday: 13:30 to 16:00 to be regulars, alongside Stelvis local Spanish or 679 554 644musicians this is Monday closed and Tony Watson, the most excit- one night not to be missed.

WELCOME: At Miel

WHEN a flood of biblical proportions destroyed his celebrated chiringuito, many might have expected Peter Nette to run to the hills.

And that is exactly what he did when popular Floria was ripped in half by a raging torrent after FLORIA heavy Rustico is easily the best secret spot in the Manilva area. rain in December (see below).But And where the team from Floria moved after a flood of biblical proportions destroyed not to thetheir hillschiringuito on the nearby coast two years ago. to hide out and ing new that addition is and the watered regular has fed nurse his Born sor-out of the success of the famous beach restaurant, Wednesday night Jazz session.

- including many rich and famous - for over a decade, Karen and Peter rows, but thousands to a Put together by new rural venue, Nette keep the flames burning. talented Dutchwith wife Karen, Based in the former home of Armstrong’s - on the roadMitch, to the Roman the where he man has band, ChocoOasis - this charming, chilled-out spot counts on a wonderful come out fighting laterestaurant Charlie and leafy garden and a similar menu to its former sister on with a fabulous the Jazz Factory new project.the beach. simply blow the excellent acousCalled FloriaEven Rus-better it’s domed wooden ceiling allows forplace SALE apart with tico, it has tics, been perfect for the concerts that continue to bean a key elementmix of eclectic born out ofFloria’s the success. of jazz stansuccess of the fadards. next play on OUT WITH THE mous beachWhile res-the Lola Boys will continue to be regulars (they “One April 22. of the best taurant, that has14), they also have the Jersey Boys on March OLD: Floria jazz nights I have NEW Wednesday Jazz But best of allNIGHT: is the regular Wednesday night Jazzever session. fed and watered witnessed,” restaurant on the beach. Mitch, the band, thousands - including manyPut rich together by talented Dutchman Chocolate Charlie and the Jazz insisted local esHOSTS: Karen and Even blow better its domed wooden and famous - for over a decade in simply Factory the place apart with an eclectic of jazzBish standards. tatemix agent Peter ceiling allows for excellent acousManilva.

Witkowski.

“Asestate “One of the best jazz nights I have ever witnessed,” insists local agent Bish Based in the former home of Arm- tics, perfect for the concerts that good as anything Witkowski.

“As goodtoasbe anything have beenofto in London,” he added. a key I element strong's and Taste by Dirk - on the continue I have been to in London,” an Argentinian musicians this is one nighthe notaddto success.and two local Spanished. road to the Roman Oasis Featuring - this Floria’s While the Lola Boys will continue Featuring an Argentinian and two be missed. charming, chilled-out spot counts to there be regulars, alongside Stelvis on a wonderful leafy garden andFriday Every is Indonesia Ricetable.

Visit Facebook Floria Rustico. local Spanish musicians this is PLACE TO BE: Floria restaurant a similar menu to its former sister and Tony Watson, the most excit- one night not to be missed.

Tele: 00 350 200 51020 Mob: 00 350 565 23000 info@century21gibraltar.com

FREE

Vol. 10 Issue 254 www.theolivepress.es

December 7th - December

ESTEPONA PORT Irish Bar & Restaurant

20th 2016

SAVED: Dawson with

Photo by Jon Clarke

son

Up to his neck!

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

A BRITISH expat was pulled from a flooded lift in a dramatic two-hour rescue effort.

Bet365 worker Dan Dawson told the Olive Press he feels ‘lucky to be alive’ after he himself up to his neck found water while stuck in a in flood ing Sunday’s storms. lift durThe nightmare happened Dawson, 46, attempted when his five-year-old son to save Kaled’s Christmas presents from their basement in Duquesa.

“It was absolutely horrific,” Dawson said. “I honestly thought that was going to be it for me.”

WROUGHT in two and owners in the impostilting on its side, wreckage of one of the sible task of sorting the through the wreckage.

Costa del Sol’s most emblematic beach bars Many towns were deis a chilling reminder clared a ‘disaster zone’ of 48 hours of relent- and left underwater less rain which claimed with roads cut off and two lives and left thou- houses evacuated.

The heaviest rainfall sands more homeless. fell in Estepona, where The worst flooding 25 years saw a new for a 26-year-old woman riv- tragically perished er literally carve its way in through the middle a basement brothel, of Floria, in Manilva, while an electrician also leaving the chiringuito drowned in La Linea. nilva and Politicians a complete write off rallied where land, Casares ting up shop for most sea and of the weekend a matter of minutes. in round, along with the air rescue and With the toilet ripped King of Spain who of- deployed teams were residents resigned to out and the contents fered condolences, as stranded. to help those their homes, it is only the cost of the clear up now, that the true of its kitchen strewn School exon the sand, the own- is estimated at tens of in all was cancelled tent of the storms is five towns millions of euros. ers have joined Monday, while on beginning to be rethe The worst on alised. thousands of desolated affected Tuesday the big clear home and business areas were Mijas, Es- up continued. tepona, Cartama, See When the heavMa- With businesses shut- ens opened - Page 6

Rescue

He added: “I stupidly didn’t check how bad the weather outside before going downwas in the lift.

“As I got closer to the basement water started flowing from everywhere and I couldn’t “Within a minute it wasstop it. up to my chest and I was panicking.”

Luckily, neighbours came rescue when Dawson’s to his partner Sylina heard his screams.

However they were unable to lift the roof of the lift and only when he managed it was to rise by half a storey to get it tinually hitting the up by conbutton that he had a bit of breathing space.

Police were soon on the and prized open the lift scene crowbar, pulling Dawson,with a from Derby, to safety.

ANTHONYS Est 1984

Specialist of Sherry Wine Special Flamenco Friday & Saturday National Gastronomic Award

C/ Andalucía, 10º San Pedro de Alcántara

Tel: 952 927 188 labodegadelcantinero@gmail.com

Estepona 952 887 125 estepona@ibexinsure.com Fuengirola

952 465 588

fuengirola@ibexinsure.com

Antiques, Jewellers &

Pawnbrokers

A huge variety of over 1 carat diamond jewellery.

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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER

7 December

D

TEAM: Zac and Anita

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Two dead and thousands of homes flooded as storms lash southern Spain

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OWN a steep hill in the heart of Manilva lies one the most authentic Italian pizzerias around. , has arrived and having been only open a month it is already making an impression.

Set up Domenico Di Giorgio, otherwise known as Dom, and his business partner Luigi, who has been making pizzas for the last 35 years and is an established name in Germany.

Domenico is a man of many talents - legal advisor, estate agent and now restauranter - to name just a few.

But Domenico wants to take things slow so to make sure everything is right for his mostly English clientele which includes the recent Rugby game between England and Italy.

‘No I didn’t watch it’, he says but it keeps the customers happy.

“The focus of the business is to make the best pizzas we can,” he said, which starts with homemade bases and freshly sourced ingredients.

They also sell lasagna, parmigiana and cannelloni but he laughs off whether he will become the next mayor.

Paving the way

IT is a round trip of around 100kms taking in eight restaurants and dozens of staff.

But Zac Hauswirth still has time to serve, sometimes, hundreds of clients in a day… and always with a smile.

The Bar and Cafe Group boss insists that it is this friendly, open demeanour that has been the key to his success.

“I’m a customer service fanatic and everything must be perfect for the clients,” he explains. “I lead by example.”

Having set up 10 restaurants since launching the company in Spain with his wife Anita in 2005, he knows the staff are key.

“I can tell in five minutes if someone will be a good barman or waitress,” he explains. “It doesn’t matter if they know nothing, I can train them up. Above all, they must be friendly.”

The businessman, 44, currently employs over 50 staff and this number normally rises to over 80 in the summer.

It is one of Manilva’s biggest businesses and he is certainly not standing still, having opened two new restaurants last year, in Puerto Banus and Sabinillas.

“I often do 14 hours a day for six days of the week,” explains the father-of-one. “I have various man-

agers under me, but I still love working.”

He leart his trade in the London restaurant scene, where he became a regional manager of the City Centre Restaurant Group covering over a dozen restaurants.

But he was certainly not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Brought up in a small apartment in Casablanca, Morocco, with six brothers and sisters, he studied hard and eventually made it to university in Cape Town, where he studied economics.

From there he moved to London, where he met his Austrian wife Anita, who is a major influence on the kitchen and undertakes each restaurant’s interior design.

Together for 17 years, they fell in love with Spain on frequent visits to see friends in Marbella.

But their business empire was to begin in Duquesa where they opened their first restaurant, the Mexican Grill and Bar, in 2005.

Then came the Cafe American Bistro format, which is now found in Sabinillas, Marbella and Estepona.

He is now in the process of changing his Moroccan restaurant, Casablanca, into a more international style restaurant. Passion Bistro can be found in Puerto Banus.

www

PIZZA MASTER: In the kitchen at Pizza Lovers

with a good knowledge of the business, Roman Oasis, of course. having learnt everything from Over three decades old, it was his father. here that legendary UK chef Punters drive for often over Keith Floyd came to spend It goes without an hour - from Ronda, for exsome of the last few weeks of ample - to sample the amazhis life. A massive fan of the saying this is ing cod and chips. eclectic, original spot, he and one of the most His sister restaurant La Tabowner Paul were close buderna 2 in Duquesa is also do- original places to dies and this is obvious by the ing well. amount of photos of Floyd on eat PS… it would be impossible to the walls. It goes without saying, write about Manilva without this is one of the most original mentioning the amazing Roand unusual places to eat on man Oasis, just inland on the road to the the coast, when open in summer months.

EVERY TUESDAY IS PIZZA DAY WE CELEBRATE! ALL our pizzas will be €5!* Do not miss this offer Offer valid for normal pizzas, not including white pizzas and special pizzas Offer valid for take away only*

FOOTBALL WEDNESDAY! Synonymous with pizza and soft drinks in front of the TV with family or friends!

For every pizza bought receive a FREE beer or soft drink Offer valid for take away only*

THURSDAY UNTIL SUNDAY – LOYALTY CARDS! Starting 15th February from Thursday until Sunday for the next few weeks, for each pizza ordered to take away, the loyalty card will be stamped on every purchase.* Once the card is completed (10 stamps) you will be entitled to 1 FREE pizza! **

You can not let out this other offer to reward your fidelity and sweetness! * Offer valid only for take away, not restaurant ** Offer not valid with any other offer we propose Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Calle San Vicente, 7, 29691 Manilva

26

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February 14th - February 27th 2018

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business World players

ZARA and six other Spanish

are among the world BE ‘APPY!brands top 500, according to Brand

Can’t be beaten

Finance rankings.

The clothes store, along with Santander, BBVA, Movistar, Repsol, and Iberdrola have retained their place in the world’s 500 most valuable

Download our app now and begin enjoying the best Spanish news on the go.

Shocking

RYANAIR has promised number of selfcustomers who find a lower airfare elsewhere that it employed do will refund the difference.

Customers will receive the not make the difference plus €5 debited minimum wage into their My Ryanair accounts if a cheaper fare is NEARLY one million self-emfound. ployed workers in Spain do The Olive Press The budget airline also an- not earn the minimum wage. nounced it will eliminate The shocking statistic was TOP in forits news in Spain! the use of plastics quoted

by Lorenzo Amor, operations and launch a President of the National Carbon Footprint Compen- Federation of Autonomous sation Programme for cus- Workers’ Associations (ATA), while talking about the new tomers.

Another key part of the autonomo law that came into firm’s five-year ‘Always Im- force on January 1, relaxing proving’ plan is to maintain tax rules for self-employed a flight punctuality rate of workers.

According to ATA statistics, 90%. of the 3.2 million peoKenny Jacobs, Chief Mar- 25% ple who declare themselves keting Officer of Ryanair self-employed have an insaid: “We are delighted to come that does not reach the unveil our plan for the pro- minimum base of €920 per gramme in 2018, which in- month. cludes environmental, ser- There are 500,000 self-emvice and digital initiatives.” ployed who do not even reach

27 27

February 14th - February 27th 2018

olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs

February 14th - February 27th 2018

brands.

Zara reigned supreme in 82 position with a value of $17.5 billion and Santander was close behind in 92 with a value of $16.2 billion.

BBVA ($11.6 billion) rises to 131, Movistar ($11.4 billion) to 132 and Repsol ($4 billion)

dropped to 443 as did Iberdrola ($3.9 billion) to 468.

While department store El Corte Ingles entered the list for the first time at 434 with a value of $4.1 billion.

Commerce giant Amazon was the most valuable company in the world at $150 billion.

Wage warrior CONCERNED: Amor

€707 a month.

Proposals are being drawn up to lessen the impact of a minimum base contribution from 26.75% to 18.75% for those in this bottom bracket.

Something Amor says will be ‘a relief to many self-employed people’.

“Under current forecasts there will be 65,000 more freelancers and the creation of another 70,000 salaried

jobs,” said Amor.

“That is, we expect the selfemployed to generate a total of 135,000 net jobs this year.”

Interestingly, ATA figures also show that the number of self-employed workers is equal to that in 2007 but working in different sectors than before.

For example in 2007 there were 35,000 freelance journalists, now there are 55,000.

Shhh!

MALAGA will not grant any more licences for bars and will crackdown on musicplaying hours.

More than 100 streets will be affected by the new rules after they were given the green light by the city council.

The opening of new hotels or bars in the affected zones will be suspended for one year.

From Monday to Friday, the closing times of bars or establishments with outdoor terraces will be cut by one hour, from 2am to 1am.

The limit will not apply in the summer months or during the Christmas, Easter or carnival periods.

Under the rules, establishments playing music must shut doors and windows from midnight onwards.

At closing time, all music and service must stop, with no new customers allowed inside.

The venue must then be emptied within 20 minutes.

The council estimates that the regulations will come into force by April.

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Drones help uncover +TheolivepressEs thousands of illegal homes in Malaga BE ‘APPY!

Property

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Flying squad

MALAGA province has more than 4,000 undeclared buildings, an investigation has revealed.

RISING: Malaga prices The General Directorate of Cadastre discovered the haul last year after using drones for the first time to locate buildings thatour have been Download appnot now andregistered.

The probe, which has not yet finished,thelocated 4,080 unbegin enjoying best Spanish HOUSING projects in the Cos- declared buildings between ta del Sol have increased by onJanuary news the go. and December 2017. more than 60%, new figures Some 2,713 were homes. have revealed.

The construction boom before Released by the Malaga Col- the 2008 crisis caused Malaga lege of Archtiects, the figures to be filled with new buildings show the association approved and proliferated construc4,895 new builds with a total tion in rural areas, but many investment of €825 million in of these were left in an illegal 2017. situation as they were not reg- to the government on thou- ing with drones so that the It is the highest growth rate istered by their owners. sands of buildings. inspection is as exhaustive as since 2008 and almost three It means tax has not been paid The Cadastre has been work- possible. times that in 2016.

But boss Francisco Sarabia, says although these figures are good and show ‘sustained growth’ they pale in compariTOP for news in Spain!

THE 19th century aqueduct in Es- Angel and Villas Andalucas develson to pre-crisis figures. tepona is set for a major improve- opments as well as modernising “In 2006 we approved plans for 45,000 homes in Malaga,” ment. the aqueduct. he said.

The town hall has drawn up plans Coming in at 52 metres long and The statistics also show that to renovate the El Angel area (east- three metres wide the project has of the 4,895 new builds, 1,145 ern Estepona) and build a pedas- a budget of €273,537 and conwere houses, 3,625 were trian bridge over the Hornacinos tracts will be put out to tender apartments and 125 for subsistream, connecting the Playa del soon. dised housing.

Projecting success

The Olive Press

Bridging the gap

Amazing opportunity

4 double bedrooms including 1 master bedroom with en-suite (full size bath) and walk-in wardrobe. 2 further bathrooms with showers. Large Lounge, Large Dining Room, Large Kitchen fully equipped and a dispensa next to it for storage.

Small covered terrace and a large roof terrace with panoramic views. The village of Yegen has a small supermarket, 4 bars and a Hotel/Restaurant. 20 minutes away is the small towns of Cadiar and Ugijar where all provisions can be obtained.

Public pool 5 minutes drive (open July & August) and two other hostels/bars nearby with a pool for extended summer period.

Price: 150,000 euros ONO Contact details Mark and Anna Cavell Tel 958957074 Mob 646010049

ESTEPONA town hall has approved the use of a plot of land for construction of the Costa del Sol’s first purpose-built Russian Orthodox church.

Decked out in traditional oniondomed architecture, the building will also have a cultural centre next to it in the Arroyo de las Canas area.

The Fundación Iniciativa Orthodox Rusa is funding and coordinating the project which is expected to cost €1.1 million, mainly through donations, and has to be completed within 18 months once the building licence is granted.

Rusa says building plans ‘are urgently being finished’ to meet this strict timetable.

“We are doing all we can to implement the project,” said a statement from Rusa.

It will be only the third Russian Orthodox church in Spain.

by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

T

Sold directly from the owner, it comprises two adjoining townhouses interlinked on the edge of the small village of Yegen, in The Alpujarras, south of Granada.

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Once the new properties are registered their owners have faced fines and have been ordered to pay what they owe in taxes – including the Real Estate Tax – after not paying for years.

Most of the illegal buildings had been built since 2000, that is, in the period prior to the crisis and especially from 2010, which saw more than 3,000 new properties constructed in the different municipalities of Malaga.

At the end of 2017, the province had a total of 1,456,525 buildings in the General Directorate of Cadastre and almost 550,000 were erected from 2000 onwards, meaning more than a third of the province’s buildings have been erected in the last two decades.

A total of 23 municipalities were investigated last year with Benahavís next to be probed

COMING SOON: Church

Lessons to be learned

HERE has been good news for expats and locals battling mortgage floor clause claims this year.

The government has announced it will speed up the trial porcess by opening more courts and increasing the amount of judges working on the cases by 50, lightening and streamlining the workload.

But given that last year alone there were 165,000 suits filed and only 3% dealt with, buyers who got stung are still likely to be waiting a long time before they get any money back.

Some 2.5 million Spanish mortgages contained a hidden clause which unexpectedly capped minimum repayments above the interest rate advertised.

It’s a lesson for anyone thinking about investing into Spanish property to make sure they have every corner covered, meaning a mortgage broker is a necessity.

It’s easy to get lost in the excitement of buying abroad, but you will need someone in your corner who can sniff out any hidden fees or compulsory add-ons tucked away in the small print and to ensure you get the best possible mortgage rate to suit your needs.

You need someone with experience of weeding out ‘trap-related products’, which often get hidden in the small print.

These additional products get attached to your mortgage and usually include insurance policies.

It is important to know exactly what is at-

tached to your mortgage. What may seem like a great rate can be soured by expensive – and sometimes unnecessary – insurance packages.

Using a broker will save both time and money as they will be looking out for these hidden add-ons and will always look for ways to lessen their impact.

The Finance Bureau has its own insurance arm and can therefore guarantee you the best deal not only on mortgage rates but also on insurance policies; be it home, life, health or building cover.

And while the vast majority of banks specify the fees and commissions they charge, not all of these costs are always declared.

Many financial institutions refrain from publishing less known fees such as early redemption charges. These are, however, regulated by law, and may not exceed 0.50% for the first five years and 0.25% from the sixth.

It is advisable to ask the bank to specify all commissions and how many there are before signing the contract. This will spare you unwanted surprises down the road.

But the best way to ensure a good mortgage that does not hide anything in the fine print is to solicit the help of a mortgage broker.

When it comes to picking a mortgage, you may only get one shot as it is virtually impossible to reverse a decision that goes against you.

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

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Price wars IBIZA and the Costa del Sol may have finally met their match.

New research claims it is up to 59% cheaper for British families to have a holiday in Orlando, Abu Dhabi or Dubai than Spain early this summer.

According to TravelSupermarket, a holiday to Menorca during May half-term week is 144% more expensive than Abu Dhabi, 89% more than Dubai and 53% pricier than Florida.

Even equivalent 3* seven-day holidays in the same week to the Costa del Sol are as much as 64% more expensive than a trip to the UAE (from Birmingham) and 11% pricier than a trip to Florida (from

How to drive safely in winter D

Arabian flights

Manchester).

Oman is also offering better prices from the south east than many of the western Med destinations, with seven-night packages available from around £412 each to Muscat, with flights from Heathrow and 3* accommodation included.

Emma Coulthurst, travel expert for TravelSupermarket, says higher holiday prices to Spain and lower demand for the US plus a weakened dollar are creating a perfect price scenario for British families.

“Many Spanish hoteliers have been putting up their prices following a bumper year in 2016,” she said.

QATAR Airways has announced plans to launch a direct route from Malaga to Doha.

Speaking at the International Tourism Fair in Madrid, Qatar’s Jonathan Harding said the company was encouraged by strong growth in the Spanish sector.

The new route is part of 19 new flight plans and will launch in May. No official date has been given and, as yet, it is not possible to book flights.

riving in winter can be harrowing, especially where blizzard and icy conditions crop up. If you decide to drive, there are some recommendations to take into account:

1.Check the weather before you go Warm up the car before you drive it. If the forecast looks unpredictable, wait out the storm if possible. If you must travel, make sure you share your travel plans and route with someone. If you become stranded in an unfamiliar area, do not leave your car. Place reflective triangles in front and behind the car and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow, mud or any other object.

2.Prepare Your Car for Winter It's important to have a mechanic check the condition of the following vehicle systems before heading out on the road: ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts, spark plugs, air, fuel and emissions filters, distributor, battery, tyre wear and air pressure and check the antifreeze level.

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CASITA TRANQUILA

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Green fleet

MADRID’S firefighters have turned to electric to help reduce pollution across the city.

The fire service has added 19 electric vehicles to its fleet which can travel 167 kilometres on a single charge and take just 30 minutes to fully recharge.

It is estimated the move will save €18,000 and reduce emissions by 50 tonnes while the total cost of the fleet came in at €660,000.

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Chokehold THE Balearic Islands have proposed limiting the number of cars on its streets to cope with the surge in tourism.

Formentera town hall says the draft bill will limit the number of cars in circulation and cap the number of rental cars and motorbikes.

Being the smallest island means the 50,000 vehicles stretch its road infrastructure network to its limit and it is instead promoting electric cars as a green alternative.

Regional chief Marc Pons describes the initiative as a ‘pioneering measure for Spain and Europe’ but says it will not be extended to other islands.

If approved it will take effect at the end of this year or the beginning of 2019.

motors

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Walkin

Walk-on girls scrapped from Formula One races

THE growing tide of sexual harassment, initiated from accusations levelled at disgraced Hollywood film mogul, Harvey Weinstein, has now reached the world of sport.

Formula One has said it will scrap using women as grid girls at the start of a race.

Organisers say using the girls ‘does not resonate with our brand values and clearly at odds with modern-day societal norms’.

The changes will kick-in at the start of the F1 season in Melbourne, Australia on March 25.

Grid girls are often seen carrying the driver’s race numbers and starting position on the line as well as appearing alongside the top three drivers as they take to the podium to collect their trophies.

“Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport,”

said F1 boss Sean Bratches.

“We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.”

This comes after the Professional Darts Corporation’s decided to end the long-established practice of women leading male

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ing off

February 14th - February 27th 2018 February 14th - February 27th 2018

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players to the stage.

But not everyone is happy with the news and it has been criticised by some as going too far.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says he cannot see why a ‘good looking’ woman standing next to a driver at the start of a race could be ‘offensive’.

While model Kelly Brook, 38, who used to work as an F1 flag girl, said: “It’s a well-paid job.

It’s one of the best jobs I ever had.

“You dress glamorously and obviously it’s about being presentable but I never felt I was taken advantage of.”

A RECORD number of cars have been sold in January.

Some 102,134 new cars were registered, representing a 20.1% growth over the same period in 2017, according to data from ANFAC. The Volkswagen Golf remains king of the hill with 3,190 sales as figures are inline with what experts predict will be a record year in Spanish car sales.

While SEAT’s León came hot on the heels of the Golf with 3,160 sales and Dacia’s Sandero came third with 2,452 sales.

Stack of trouble A VALENCIAN town mayor has instructed police to track down a van driver who had 20 wooden pallets stacked on top of its roof.

Mayor Juan Antonio Sagredo came across the van after a video of the strange act went viral on social media as the driver cruised along the motorway towards Paterna, east of Valencia.

The stacks went so high the driver narrowly missed hitting a sign as traffic began to build up near an industrial estate.

Sagredo said: “I have just instructed local police to investigate and report the driver for this recklessness.

“He’s endangered other road users and I ask you all to be sensible at the wheel.”

A motorist behind the driver who was filming, said: “You’ve got to be really mad to do this. We could die right here.”

CRAZY: Valencian driver

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Columnists

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Solo act “

There is nothing to choose between any of them they are all in it for their own gains and some more than others,” says a disgruntled Mijas Matters reader about politicians.

I have made no secret of the fact that I am working with the Partido Popular both in Mijas, and the Province of Málaga as well as offering a platform on Facebook for people air their grievances in Mijas Costa.

And yes, I am in it for my own gains; so, guilty as charged! But wait a minute, I don’t actually get paid for what I do, in fact, it costs me money and time.

Nevertheless, I am in it ‘for my own gains’. Don’t jump the gun, let me explain what I mean. I live in Mijas, and what is good for Mijas is my gain.

I’ve spent many years working on the fringes of government in the UK as a consultant.

Didn’t get paid for that either! Once a local politician gruffly introduced a meeting with, ‘There have been certain allegations made against my person, and one of the allegators is present in this room’.

Spain’s political image has been sullied by scandal-after-scandal in recent years to the point where people think that if you’re a politician you must be corrupt - which is completely illogi-

Winter is Coming…

MIJAS MATTERS

M

By Bill Anderson

cal.

You know what, I’ve been overcharged in restaurants, paid for work on my car that I found out was never done, and been short-changed in shops.

So, does that mean all waiters, mechanics, and shopkeepers are chancers? Course it doesn’t.

In local politics, career politicians are in the minority.

By that, I mean people who get into politics at an early age and make their money from the public purse.

Local politicians, most of whom already have careers or businesses, are less likely to be career politicians.

So why do we do it? I am afraid that a ‘one size fits all’ answer is out of the question here. I am sure that there are those who see it as easy money as you need less qualifications to be a politician than you do to be a waiter, but to do the job well is difficult.

I work alongside Angel Nozal and his team because when Mijas gains, so do I. And I start the piece with a quote from a disgruntled reader becuase she hasn’t got what she wanted from local politics - so are we all interested in our own gains?

Home-made Food BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER

34 14th - February 27th 2018 February February 14th - February 27th 2018

ore aptly and with apologies to all you 'Game of Thrones' fans out there - Winter has absolutely come.

It’s been the most biting cold snap that I can remember in a long time, with the boffins at the Spanish Metrological Agency, AEMET, reporting that lows have been between 3ºC and 6ºC - below what’s considered normal for this time of the year.

It even snowed on the beach in Barcelona and I’m surprised that Carles Puigdemont didn’t blame that as some sort of underhand tactic by Madrid, ‘freezing out’ an independent Catalonia.

Living on a lake at the bottom of a valley on the edge of the Sierra de las Nieves – and I found out why it was called so during my first winter at the Casita - I am used to the cold.

My mother was born in Glasgow, my father hails from Rhondda (the Welsh one, not the one with the gorge) and I was born in the bad lands of North Staffordshire – a place whose most famous exports are Wedgewood, Armitage Shanks and, erm, Robbie Williams, so I am no ‘soft southerner’ This fact was witnessed when I decided to take a January birthday plunge in the lake last year, even though La Concha had a light blanket of snow. I set a new world record for fastest unaided exit from a body of water and my screams could be heard from Ceuta.

The shock was such that I had two small bumps on my head, due to certain sections of my undercarriage retracting at great speed. I even learnt a new phrase ‘¡hace un frío que pela’ – to be cold enough to to freeze the balls off a brass monkey – and I went by the name of Brass Monkey Brown for a few days afterwards.

But, as the great Billy Connolly once pointed out, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, there’s just inappropriate clothing’.

So I now venture out of the bedroom wearing most of the scarves, beanies, jumpers, gloves, gillets boots and snoods (2018 is the year of the snood at my place) that I received for my birthday, as well as my Moroccan style muster for one night only before but competitors are also expect- hooded dressing gown and, disappearing in a cloud of carbon ed to help each other out of the if she doesn’t move fast offset exhaust fumes across the sinking sand and the campfire enough, the cat. I have also Gibraltar Strait. So don’t even camaraderie is part of the fun. toyed with the idea of hooking think of catching a ferry to Tangier Journey’s end is rewarded with up the ‘butano’ heater behind this weekend. a hot shower at a four-star hotel, me at a safe distance via a The challenging 10-day, 6,000 a slap-up gala dinner with new- harness. kilometre rally from Biarritz to found friends and the knowledge The overall effect is Scott of Marrakesh with only a compass of having made a difference to the Antarctic meets a Java and road book is a right of pas- the lives of the Sahara’s children. scavenger from ‘Star Wars’, sage in France, open to any stu- Last year, as well as delivering 80 but if it keeps me warm, dry dent aged 18 to 28 with a clean tons of learning equipment, they and alive as I shuffle around driving licence, access to a Re- raised over €75,000 to help the making the first coffee of the nault 4L and between €5,000 Enfants Du Desert charity open day in the impromptu deep and €10,000 to spare – the es- five new schools. Whether you freeze that is my kitchen (I timated cost of taking part per plan to give them a wide swerve don’t need a fridge. I just leave car, hence the sponsorship stick- or turn up to cheer them on, the milk on the terrace overers. Teams travel in pairs along you can track their progress on night), Ice Ice Baby on heavy a check-pointed route through www.4ltrophy.com But if you do repeat in my internal jukebox, Morocco with a support team of find yourself at the wrong end of then I’m happy to semi hibermechanics, marshals and doc- a Renault, make sure that V sign nate until the spring! tors and official bivouacs at night is the right way round!

It’s raining Renaults

D

ON’T be too quick to utter the F-word – as in F for Froggie, excuse my French – if you find yourself being cut up by a convoy of souped-up Renault 4Ls headed for the coast this weekend.

We’re talking a pandemic of dinky French hatchbacks plastered with sponsorship stickers, travelling along the highways and byways of Spain in a contest to find the shortest route to Marrakesh.

It sounds like an accident waiting to happen - 3,000 college kids co-piloting 1,500 versions of a car that went out of production 25 years ago! But with an epic two days of off-roading in the Sahara ahead of them, they’re not about to do anything daft at a Spanish roundabout.

After months of training and tuning up for the world’s largest student road rally, the driving isn’t half bad and it’s all in a good cause. Honk your appreciation for the Raiders of the 4LTrophy. They’re on a mercy mission to deliver vital educational supplies to Morocco’s desert children and yes, that probably was a school desk you saw wedged into the back seat. Every February for the last 20 years they’ve roared into our neighbourhood to stock up for their humanitarian escapade, denuding the shelves of Carrefour faster than a plague of locusts can demolish a Texas cornfield. But they certainly bring a smile to the faces of bar owners in tourist-starved Algeciras, where they

Move over into the slow lane for the world’s largest student road rally

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DECADE: Bar Allioli

Rockin’ high WAY UP in the mountains lies a bar that has been a staple for Olive Press readers since its earliest days in Ronda.

The Olive Press This year Bar Allioli in the pastoral pueblo of Jimera del Libar has a BIG reason to pump it up - the 10 year of being the mountain Mecca TOPlovers. for news in Spain! for beer and music March 4 is the date for your diary. There are seven ales on tap and the hills will be alive to the sound of live rock music tributing everyone from Bowie and the Beatles to Pink Floyd.

There’s even a nod to diversity - a selection of burgers to rival the United Nations, each from a different country.

“We’ve the longest-running bar here with a lot of Spaniards coming through our doors,” said owner Paul Darwent, whose June rock festival, dubbed the ‘mini-Woodstock of the Grazalema Valley’, is an annual fixture.

He’s even had former UK Prime Minister David Cameron popping in for a pint.

The bar’s latest menu addition - the high protein English Burger topped with baked beans - has been a hot hit with hikers and cyclists who walk Mr Henderson’s Railway.

In the next 10 years Paul’s amibition is nice and simple: ‘To sell more beer and more burgers and play more music’. Just the way we like it.

THE first haute cuisine restaurant in the world to employ an all-disabled team has opened in Jerez.

Universo Santi on the El Altillo estate, farmland owned by the founder of the Gonzalez Byass sherry dynasty, has been launched by the Accessible Universe Foundation.

Named after chef Santi Santamaria, the first Catalan chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, the restaurant will build on his gastronomic technique of minimal manipulation of local produce to highlight the flavours in season.

Second chef Alejandro Luque, 21, from Malaga, who has Down’s Syndrome, told the Olive Press: “I have learnt independence from being here. I have learnt how to buy things from the shops, cook, iron and clean.”

The kitchen equipment was transferred piece by piece

More than able CUT ABOVE: Proving the critics wrong

from Santamaria’s Barcelona restaurant, taking a total of 14 trips and covering a distance of 14,000km.

Gloria Bazan, 27, who is a social worker at the restaurant and has cerebral palsy said: “Working for a disabled person

CInema revamp A SHOPPING centre in Andalucia is to remove some cinema screens to make way for more food outlets. The plans for Plaza Mayor, near the airport are

part of a €16 million revamp. Reconstruction will be carried out in tandem with the ongoing building of the designer outlet village next door.

is very important, as it allows us to be and feel like a complete person.”

“It is important to normalise disabilities as we are people the same as others in society.”

Although still in its infancy the project aims to provide a platform for staff training, to then allow workers to be placed in roles throughout the service industry, ensuring lifelong employment and independence.

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T h e owners, Sierra Fund, will also improve the entrance a r e a next to the railway station.

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I

www.theolivepress.es Jon Clarke (left) took his family on a surf safari in north Brazil, a surprisingly short hop from Spain

T’S a Brazilian beach version of the Grand National, except these are fishing boats, not horses.

The teams start at the top of the sands and bit by bit edge their way down to the shoreline using an ancient roll-and-shunt method with two large rolling pins.

It takes about half an hour and the race ebbs and flows, as each wooden ‘jangada’ temporarily nudges ahead by a nose or two.

Finally, the boats are disgorged into the briny and off they go in search of fish.

Very much part of the colour of the perfect beach holiday in northern Brazil, the boats are said to date back to the ancient Greeks, and legend has it that Ulysses sailed in a jangada in The Odyssey.

These fishing communities are the lifeblood of Ceara, Brazil’s poorest region, suffering from aching poverty particularly in its dry interior, not to mention its capital Fortaleza, which is largely a place to avoid, according to most guide books.

But either side of Fortaleza you will find hundreds of miles of amazing beaches, largely virgin and little exploited by modern western tourism.

Apart from a steady stream of surfers and kitesurfers, most visitors to Brazil head further south, taking in trips to Rio de Janeiro and its nearby resorts.

More’s the pity, the region boasting 3000 hours of sun a year, temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees and a constant breeze to keep you cool.

The real joy of Ceara though is how easy it is to get to.

While most parts of South America take half a day to get to, this jutting out north-western corner of the continent is just over seven hours away by air. In other words, perfectly doable with kids.

Going via Lisbon with TAP, we arrived early evening in Fortaleza and were comfortably installed in our first abode - a charming beachside villa in the village of Taiba by 8.30pm local time.

Being a badger’s tail from the equator it was still around 25 degrees, but incredibly mosquitoes and other annoyances were remarkably thin on the ground. This supposedly changes during the rainy season from January to March so be warned.

Our home for the Christmas week, we woke up to the perfect set of gently breaking ‘rights’ and raced downstairs to rent boards from the local surf pro, Toniu, who charged us just 300 reales (about 80 euros) for the week and threw in daily lessons for the kids, Alfie, 9, and Maia, 12.

We were soon out carving up the wonderful beach break, forgetting that 10am in Brazil is practically midday heat and the mercury was already hitting 30.

After a two-hour session we retired to the shade and spent the rest of the day playing cards and reading, rehydrating with the best natural drink on the planet...coconut juice.

Delicious as it is healthy, when served cold a coconut is almost a substitute for a cold sherry or beer (and certainly more acceptable at morning time).

After a week of relaxing, reading and surfing, we were ready for

We stayed in a hut in the heart of the jungle close to the park and woke to a family of monkeys swinging outside the next part of our trip... and headed 30 minutes north for, um, another four days of relaxing, reading and surfing, this time in the better known resort of Paracuru.

Another famous wave (with a legendary kitesurf lagoon just up the coast), the big surprise, yet again, was how few Europeans we saw.

Our Polish hotel owner summed the place up as a ‘sleeping giant’ in tourist terms and explained how it is all set to change over the next few years with a huge planned refurbishment of Fortaleza airport (it was recently bought by German conglomerate Fraport AG) and a string of new direct flights coming in from Europe.

Paracuru was distinctly younger and hipper than Taiba and had a real party vibe about it.

It was truly rocking for New Year, but the days either side saw groups of teenagers partying on the beach, playing volleyball and football until dusk.

A ribbon of beach cafes place their tables literally on the sand and there were some lovely walks in either direction, past dozens of coves in one direction and the other, the largest sand dunes in the world!

The trajectory of our holiday was mostly a gentle 300km meander

Food, drink & travel

February 14th - February 27th 2018

Don’t miss this wave SURF BUMS: In Jeri and (right) dunes in paracuru

Food and drink

Brazil has a great variety of traditional foods and its style is a combination of key ingredients brought by different cultures that landed here. It all started with the colonisation by the Portuguese in the 16th century, while the Italians brought pasta, the Spanish empanadillas, the Arabs spiha and kibbeh and the Chinese and Japanese another range of dishes.

The country has a string of Michelin starred restaurants, but they are all sadly in Rio and Sao Paolo and outside of the big two, it is hard to get a grasp of where exactly one should eat.

Local knowledge and pot luck seem to be the rules of the road.

Drinks-wise, we bought half a dozen bottles of French and Portuguese plonk at the airport. But we hardly needed to bother, as the local supermarket had a surprisingly decent selection of whites and reds from Chile and Argentina (Brazil being generally one to avoid on the wine front).

And then of course there is Cachaça (pronounced Ca-shasa) the amazing local spirit that goes into the famous Brazilian cocktail Caipirinhas, alongside sugar, limes and ice. up the coast to the pot of gold, known as Jericoacoara, one of south America’s hippest resort.

Monkeys But, before our final push north west, we decided to take a trip inland to visit some monkeys.

The three-hour drive to Ubajara, Brazil’s smallest national park,

MAGIC: Making caipirinhas in Jeri

took us through stunning scenery and some of Brazil’s harshest land, due to low rainfall and poor soils.

There is remarkably little written about the Ubajara area, which once featured in the Lonely Planet, but somehow got airbrushed out a few years ago, for inexplicable reasons.

We stayed in a hut in the heart of the jungle close to the park and woke to a family of monkeys swinging outside, looking decidedly envious of the breakfast that had been brought to our door.

The park itself was a letdown. It turned out you could only visit in

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February 14th - February 27th 2018

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February 14th - February 27th 2018

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BOAT RACE: Jangadas head out to sea

Closed until mid February

restaurant||lunch lunchand anddinner dinner restaurant

VISTA: In Ubajara and (inset) monkeys, while (right) fish in Paracuru set groups at three different times of the morning and this, in our case, meant nearly 20 people, the vast majority in flip flops, and almost certainly never having visited a park before. It was excruciating, to say the least.

Our next abode, the stunning Posada Sitio Ipe in the nearby village of Vicoso do Ceara, made up for it. While nobody spoke English, (none of the staff could in fact remember an English visitor) it was both laid back and a touch colonial, rather like the nearby town.

From here we were a short two hour drive north to Jericoacoara, the biggest surprise of our trip by far.

Tum and Jeri Arriving in ‘Jeri’ is all part of the fun.

For this pretty seaside village is entirely surrounded by sand dunes and being a national park, can only be reached by official vehicles.

It is just as well, as without such rules the place would be swamped, given the cult status it has garnered since being ‘officially discovered’ by the Washington Post in 1987… and being dubbed the ‘world’s best beach’ by the Lonely Planet in 2004.

The once sleepy spot, which only got electricity in 1998, is now an enchanting mesh of style and charm, a photographer’s dream full of colourful shops and restaurants and the sort of beautiful people you find in places like Ibiza or Tarifa.

Few places in the world have the wow factor like Jeri. And much of its charm lies in the fact it has maintained its sandy streets (there’s no tarmac), it has a strict rule on street-lighting, and

also charges a pretty steep, five-dollar-a-day tourist tax (under 12s are free), which goes towards maintaining the local environment.

Not being easy to get to also helps, so the recent arrival of a local airport, with short connecting flights from Fortaleza, is of some concern.

Currently, getting there, involves dropping your car around 20kms away in the rather humdrum town of Jijoca and contracting a local 4x4. That is, unless, like many arrivals you come straight up the coast on an off-road adventure from Fortaleza which takes from three to four hours (we did that on the way back to the airport, more of which later).

What is so refreshing about Jeri is the huge mix of nationalities, the variety of places to eat (there’s plenty of sushi, Peruvian, Italian, etc etc) and the stylish places to stay.

It’s popular with the French, which always helps, and there is a real sense of activity here (pic left).

Everybody, it seems, is practicing one sport or another. There is surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, surf canoeing, each discipline given rules on where to practice - not that everyone adheres to it.

Then there are some fabulous walks along the coast, and at the very least up the nearby massive dune to watch the sunset, which is said to be one of the best in Brazil.

We really got a sense of what a hip spot it was by simply visiting the rooftop terrace of our hotel, Hurricane Gardens, at dusk, where DJs, fire-eaters and dancers kept a very urbane Sao Paulo/ Rio-style crowd bumping and grinding until around 10pm.

Continues on Page 38

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Beach adventure From Page 37

It was here that we met the only English tourists of the holiday.

One, a fashion photographer based out of New York, another, an online publisher from London...and the last, a multi-millionaire marketing boss, who planned David Cameron’s first successful election campaign. It says it all.

All that was to remain was the journey back… and that turned out to be perhaps the best adventure of all.

This kicked off at 9am when knowlegeable Canadian expat Jeff Stone rolled up in a very robust-looking VW Amorok. In bundled all the bags, plus the kids and off we went down the beach en route for our 10pm flight home.

A fabulous day spent mostly charging down virgin beaches, crossing creeks and rivers in a variety of original craft, we saw plenty of nature, rare birds and ended up eating supper in an upmarket restaurant in Fortaleza, before Jeff dropped us at the airport in plenty of time.

Contact Jeff at info@cumbuco-car-rental.com.

COWBOYS: Bringing cattle in near Taiba, while (right) preparing a coconut by Taiba beach

Where to stay and how to get there Hurricane Jeri and Hurricane Gardens (www.hotelhurricane-jericoacoara. com) in Jericoacoara offer the same mix of style and comfort as the group’s three hotels in Tarifa.

Wooden built with a riot of tropical planting, there are two excellent restaurants, a hip roof-top bar and beautiful gardens overlooking the sea. A concierge can organise a huge range of trips from the door, while there are yoga classes every morning in the hotel.

FERRY: The 4x4 adventure goes across a river

TAP airline flies to various destinations in northern Brazil, via Lisbon, where under a new promotion you can lay over for up to three nights before taking the second leg.Visit www.flytap. com for the best offers. We took up the excellent option of staying a night in the Portuguese capital and did a bit of shopping and sightseeing en route.

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If you a sports27th story, February 14thhave - February 2018 contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

Green+TheolivepressEs Army BE ‘APPY!

IRELAND’S womens hockey team staged a thrilling comeback to beat Spain 3-2 in Benalmadna.

The win is the conclusion of a four-game series in which Spain was set to win going into the final game withour a 2-0 Download app now and lead. But Ireland’s skipper begin enjoying the best Spanish Katie Mullan levelled the conon theGrace go. test and Irish news keeper BRITISH cyclist and Tour O’Flanagan made sure no de France champ Chris Spanish shots went through.

Froome is set to race in Next on Ireland’s agenda is a two-game series in Scotland Spain, despite a UCI inin March as preparations vestigation. continue for the World Cup The 32-year-old is confirmed in the line-up for in July.

the Ruta del Sol, starting with the folfrom Mijas to Granada, Otura to La in Spain!de Jaén (Alto de Guarda Allanadas), Mancha Real to Herrera, Sevilla to Alcalá de los Gazules, and Barbate to Barbate.

The five-day race comes after Froome returned an ‘adverse’ test during his Vuelta a Espana win and is currently under investigation for the use of his asthma medication, Salbutamol.

Speaking about his season debut at the Ruta del Sol he said: “It’s been good to be out on my bike and

February 14 The Olive Press lowing legs TOP for news

WINNERS: Portugal’s Futsal

Red scare

PORTUGAL beat Spain 3-2 in the UEFA Futsal EURO final in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Portuguese sensation Ricardinho became the all-time tournament leading goal scorer with 22 goals and also picked up Player of the Tournament. Seven-time winners Spain were unable to hold on to a 1-0 lead as the Portuguese team claimed their first ever title win after being denied it in 2010.

“I value the Spanish league, it is the best in the world. I do not owe football a thing, I owe everything to futsal. Portugal deserves this respect,” said Ricardinho.

“It's a hard day for everyone, someone was not going to win and was going to be very sad but I’m glad we won and I am very happy.”

Water wars GOLF clubs on the coast are drawing up plans to beat the summer’ drought.

Andalucian Golf Federation and club representatives met with water supplier Acocosol to discuss the increasing scarcity of water supplies and ways to make it go further to ensure golf greens stay plush.

Froome returns to the spotlight amid doping scandal claims

to get the miles under my belt.”

In September 2017, it emerged that Froome had double the allowed limit of the drug and cycling’s governing body - the UCI opened a case to find out if he was cheating.

He denies any wrongdoing and said: “I’m confident that we will be able to get to the bottom of what has happened and I’m working hard with the team to do that.

“Obviously I understand that this situation has created a lot of uncertainty. I completely get why there has been so much interest and speculation.”

Team Sky cycling coach, Dave Brailsford added:

Red devil

for all sides that this process is conducted fairly before a final conclusion is reached.”

If he fails to explain the result he could face being stripped of his Vuelta title.

MANCHESTER United striker Alexis Sanchez has been found guilty of tax fraud while playing for Barcelona but won’t have to go to prison.

His 16-month suspended sentence means he has to pay the Spanish taxman over a €1 million in back taxes and a fine and if he does not commit a similar offence within two years the 29-year-old won’t see behind bars.

The Chilean is the latest in a long line of football stars to be pursued by the Spanish tax authorities following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

TEAM SPIRIT: English International School

School’s out MARBELLA school beats out stiff competition to be crowned cross country champions.

English International College (EIC) won the Interschool Cross Country Championships - one of the largest ever with 12 schools and 565 competitors.

Hosted by Novaschool Sunland, the EIC topped the tables with a total score of 333 as students competed in eight categories.

Novaschool came second with 404, followed by Aloha College in third with 460.

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Bad frame MARBELLA town hall are taking down 15 offensive billboards as they say they are ‘harming the town’s image’ along the A-7 motorway.

Royal decree SPANISH PM Mariano Rajoy has said he is not keen to see Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar playing for Real Madrid saying he would not look good ‘dressed in white’.

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Keeping it in the family

‘Negro’ dog found A MISSING woman’s dog has sparked a race row on social media.

Rebecca Macias was dubbed ‘racist’ by Twitter users after she asked for help to find her black dog, named ‘Negro’.

Rebecca named the dog after the colour of his fur, black (negro), but most of her replies on Twitter were criticising his ‘racist’ name.

“You definitely aren’t gonna find that dog now with a name like that,” one user wrote.

Another said: “I understand his name is ‘black’, but you REALLY should’ve picked a different name.”

Most people argued that the word is not a slur because it is literally the word for black.

Negro was found within two days.

AN incest map has revealed where in Europe you can still legally have sex with your siblings.

Shockingly, it is still legal in Spain and France, while in the Republic of Ireland it is legal only between same-sex relatives. In the UK, incest is against the law under terms of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Hard cheese Cops get prison for taking bribes including wine and cheese

A PAIR of Spanish cops have been sentenced to two years behind bars after accepting cheese and wine as bribes.

The Guardia Civil officers accepted countless bribes in return for turning a blind eye to traffic offences, including letting a man off for not wearing a seatbelt by accepting two bottles of wine and some mature cheese.

The pair are now also facing a €4,300 fine.

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A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been fined for photoshopping his face onto a statue of Christ in Jaen.

Daniel Serrano put his face complete with a ring through the septum - onto that of Christ and posted it on his Instagram site.

The Hermandad de La Amargura de Jaén filed a criminal complaint after he refused to remove it.

A court in Jaen found Serrano guilty of an ‘offence against religious sentiment’ and ordered him to pay a fine of €480.

Top gear A DRIVER has tested positive for ‘every possible kind of drug’ after being pulled over by police.

The reckless 42-year-old had cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamines and THC from cannabis in his system.

The Galician was stopped due to his ‘suspicious’ driving during a crackdown on illegal street racing.

“These are all the drugs that our machines are equipped to pick up,” said a police spokesman.

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The crooked duo also had an arrangement with haulage firms, where they would stop lorry drivers and hit them with fake sanctions before forcing their company bosses to pay €200 per month to avoid official punishment.

They also tipped off drivers of when and where there would be police patrols in a Whatsapp group.

Five businessmen have also been charged for accepting bribes.

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