Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 269

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TWO former PP bigwigs and two leading union bosses have been added to Spain’s biggest-ever corruption case.

The PP politicians Carmen de Miguel and Soledad Córdova and ex-union bosses Francisco Carbonero and Manuel Pastrana are set to join a list of 25 leading ex-politicians to be tried in the ERE case set to begin in December.

The pair, who were in the PP government of Jose Maria

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Issue 269

July 5th - July

press.es

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All about

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Clarke

SEEING THE LIGHT la Luz of Cadiz,

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Motor mouths Our website reaches comments milestone

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beach the Costa de coastline gate and El Palma takes a trip along MOORISH: Tarifa de los Jon Clarke if sometimes breezy, of from Zahara of the most unspoilt, and the smell HE journey is one umbrella pines and a Andalucia’s Atunes to Barbate rates dunes, mimosa.

Coast of in Andalucia… unemployment rosemary and most scenic de la Luz - the from its two worlds. one of the highest This is the Costa miles away home of tardis between quintessentialfor wealthy in Europe. share though, is privilege. of Light - and a millionCosta del Sol, indeed Zahara is the cousin the What they them is a canvas golden magnet Af- nearby affluence; a a flotilla of Cayannes and For what surrounds a backdrop of costas in general. unique the tourists and and peak holiday colours and contours, next Page by an almost Continues on Q7s come weekends rica, all illuminated sand newtown cre- changing light. season.

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43 great things

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to do in Tarifa

FIND OUT WHY IN OUR SUPPLEMENT INSIDE

How Franco’s cousins helped British spies

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Earnt his stripes How a restaurateur survived 35 years on the coast

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KIDNAP DRAMA Continues on Page 9

Two teens tortured and Moroccan man charged over 1.7m euro robbery EXCLUSIVE

By Laura Duckett

Whoops!

TWO teenagers have been kidnapped and tortured over a €1.7m robbery in Gibraltar.

The two lads, 18 and 16, were snatched from the street in the space of days following the armed heist in an industrial estate.

It comes after police arrested a third youth, a 29-yearold father-of-one, who has now been released on bail.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims to have been wrongly arrested and has since received grave threats to his family, leading to the kidnap of his friends in connection to the robbery at New Harbours estate.

“One of the kids turned up at my house on Sunday with a broken hand and foot and p***ing blood,” he told the Olive Press this week.

“Two guys kidnapped him,

stepped on his legs and feet and hands and asked him if he knew where the millions were.”

He claims the men then threw the 16-year-old out of the window of his flat.

“Thank god he lives on the first floor,” he said, adding: “He hobbled to the hospital saying he'd fallen off a bike because he was terrified to tell the truth, but when he came to my house and told me I called the po-

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lice.”

It was the second alleged kidnapping following his arrest for the alleged involvement in the audacious raid on June 21.

The other teenager, 18, was picked up and held captive for a number of hours a few days earlier, he claims.

He himself had been arrested at 1am by armed police, the day after the robbery.

“They arrived out of nowhere with assault rifles,” he said.

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“At first I didn’t realise who it was so I called the police and I told them there were men outside my house with rifles.

“I was s**t scared. Apparently I have taken £1.5 million.”

Although he admitted he has been in trouble in the past for minor offences, the suspect, who remains on bail, insisted he has changed his ways and has not been in trouble with the police for the past six years.

“I got in trouble as a kid smuggling tobacco but I have changed my life, and

now they whack this on me I have suddenly gone up the ranks in the criminal underground,” said the father-ofone.

“I just want a normal life, and justice for my friends.”

Police confirmed to the Olive Press this week that they were still probing the case and that ‘all lines of investigation are still open’.

A ‘substantial’ sum of money has been recovered and another man, Rachid Behdraoui, a 51-year-old Moroccan national, was charged on Monday accused of the robbery and possession of a firearm.

They did not confirm if they were looking for anyone else, at this stage.

Behdraoui’s application for bail was turned down, citing the seriousness of the offences and the fact he has no local ties and poses a flightrisk.

He will appear at the Supreme Court on July 28.

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CRIME

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Killer cop: It wasn’t me!

KING FELIPE’S BROTHER-INLAW MAY SEE JAIL TIME RISE

Buy buy baby A SPANISH couple in their 70s have been arrested for allegedly buying a baby from a Russian woman.

The pensioners are accused of paying the mother around €100,000 for the eight-monthold child.

The pair, from the Axarquia, as well as a lawyer and a Russian interpreter have been arrested after a police probe.

An investigation into the case began in mid-May after the pair took the baby for a medical check up.

Doctors rumbled that the baby was not related to the couple after they detected a congenital disease and asked to see the biological mother.

After various excuses, suspicion was raised and the social services, child protection services, and police got involved.

They found that that the child's mother was, in fact, a Russian woman in her 30s, who had traveled to Spain to give birth in a private Malaga clinic.

She left the country a day after registering the baby’s birth.

The couple had no links to Russia whatsoever, nor had visited the country. Police believe the case may be part of a number of others.

A COURT has called for the husband of Spain’s Princess Infanta Cristina to have his sentence for swindling increased to ten years Inaki Urdangarin was sentenced to six years and three months in jail after being convicted of embezzling some six million euros in public funds in the Noos scandal.

But prosecutors have now called for Urdangarin to have four years added to his sentence.

Expat demands justice after his cars impounded due to a British company probed over fraud

By Laurence Dollimore

AN American expat is demanding justice after having his cars taken off him for more than three years.

Dennis Fitzsimmons, 79, has been unable to drive his red Corvette and Grand Cherokee Jeep since 2014 after the British-owned company that imported them from New York came under investigation.

When police uncovered potential criminal dealings at the now defunct company Import Spain - owned by Briton Chris Dann and exposed by the Olive Press last year they decided to impound the vehicles of 97 customers.

“Ignacio Urdangarín should be sentenced as the perpetrator of a crime of misdemeanor with a crime of falsehood, as well as of embezzlement,” a spokesperson for Spain’s public ministry said.

Urdangarín, a former handball player, is appealing the sentence.

Anti-corruption cops had originally recommended Urdangarin be jailed for 19 years.

Give my cars back “They told me they were investigating Dann for not paying the proper taxes on cars before selling them, and

that every customer was having their car embargoed,” Fitzsimmons, based in Zaragoza, told the Olive Press.

“And now his lawyer tells me that the case has been extended by 18 months, which means it will have been five years before a trial even begins, it’s crazy!”

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

“But most of all, I just want

my damn cars back.”

Dann insisted this week that it had nothing to do with him.

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

“I don’t know what to say, It has nothing to do with me, I did nothing wrong, the charges were dropped over two years ago.”

His lawyer, David Pique, however confirmed that Dann remains under investigation and that a trial will begin in 18 months time.

A COP who caused a fatal pileup while high on drugs and alcohol tried to flee the scene before blaming the crash on another officer.

The policeman, who has been named as Miguel Polilla, has been charged with manslaughter over the deaths of three holidaymakers on the AP-7 near Torremolinos.

Arrested Two fellow officers eventually arrested the off-duty Guardia Civil sergeant after he jumped the central reservation and fled across five oncoming lines of busy traffic - almost causing a second accident - and into a field.

After being arrested, he claimed the car was being driven by another agent, but that he had fled the scene.

The crash killed three people from Saudi Arabia en route to Marbella and severely injured four others.

Visibly drunk, Polilla had allegedly walked away from the accident and the victims who laid still on the road until someone shouted “Stop, police!”

It has since emerged it was the second time he had been connected to drink driving and in 2015 he was found guilty of making threats to residents.

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On the decks with Paris

DOLLED UP: Kara Caradas and Sera Jane

Ladies’ night

AN Ascot Ladies day has helped raised thousands of euros for a Costa del Sol domestic violence charity.

The event at Marbella’s Boardwalk restaurant saw around 100 expats and locals don their best dresses, while they sipped on champagne and enjoyed a three-course meal.

All sales from tickets went to the Amusuvig charity, which helps families affected by domestic abuse.

In total €4,650 was raised thanks to raffles and a fashion show, arranged by owner Kara Jane Caradas and friend Sera Jane. “I want these women to feel they have support when their families turn against them for speaking out, which happens so often,” said Caradas.

“I want the children to grow up in a healthy environment”.

The money raised will help pay for a 24-hr helpline and for the children to have access to a psychologist.

COUPLE: On holiday

ANOTHER summer, another visit from Paris Hilton.

The American model and socialite is set to take to the decks at a Spanish nightclub later this month.

The multi-millionaire, 35, will be at Mallorca’s Tito nightclub on July 27, followed by a session for the fifth anniversary of Ibiza club night Foam & Diamonds at Amnesia.

Hollywood starlet spotted relaxing along the Spanish costas SHE is as regular a visitor to Spain as former British Prime Minister David Cameron or the cast of TOWIE. Another summer, another sojourn for Gwyneth Paltrow, this time heading deep south, as well.

Handsome

The 44-year-old Sliding Doors actress has been spotted on both the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz over the last week, with kids Apple, 13, and Moses, 11.

After a few days in Conil de la Frontera, she took a drive to Marbella, where

TRUMP TRIP

Costa Gwyn she stayed for a couple of nights.

The former wife of Coldplay singer Chris Martin was spotted walking hand in hand through the streets of Marbella with Moses and a handsome unknown chaperone.

Gywneth looked typically

PR PLUG: Padierna Hotel owner with Gwyneth

BOUCHARD SERVES UP SUMMER STUNNER EUGENIE Bouchard looked ace in this cheeky swimsuit following her Mallorca Open appearance.

The 23-year-old Canadian tennis star flaunted her figure as she relaxed following her defeat to Italy’s Francesca Schiavone.

Bouchard was seen talking to boyfriend Jordan Caron, a Canadian ice hockey player, and cousin Mimi, who has been in Ibiza filming a new series of Made In Chelsea.

3

STAR QUALITY: Bouchard

OUT AND ABOUT: With Moses

chic for their relaxed outing, showing off her newly acquired tan lines in a black bandeau maxi dress.

The health guru, who runs wellbeing website GOOP, stayed at the Villa Padierna Spa, where exPresident’s wife Michelle Obama stayed in 2010.

Hotel staff described the actress as ‘kind and affectionate with her children’ who both clearly shared her interest in Spain and its culture.’

She was pictured topping up her tan on the beaches of Marbella and took a snap of Apple playing on the beach in Conil.

The actress has been a regular visitor to Spain since she worked as a nanny in Extremadura as a teenager.

She speaks Spanish and frequently visits the family she worked for.

HER dad may not be the most popular person in Europe these days But this did not stop Tiffany Trump from enjoying a trip to the Costa del Sol. The daughter of US president Donald Trump shared a picture from the beach in Marbella with her partner Ross Mechanic on Instagram.

The pair were staying at the Puente Romano Hotel, which was carefully checked out by the president’s security team.

They were later seen being escorted by nine bodyguards as they dined at the exclusive Trocadero Beach Club.

According to sources, one of her entourage telephoned the restaurant and asked for a table for ‘two on the beach’.

The pair walked from their hotel and dined on sichuan chicken with Chinese noodles and vegetables and rice pudding and drank a piña colada, a mojito, a jug of sangria and soda.

Lap it up IT was rumoured she was opening a bar on the Costa del Sol. But, it turns out the bar is more of a pole, as Danniella Westbrook in fact opens a strip club in Benalmadena.

The former Eastenders actress has been pictured visiting the 69 Lap Dance Lounge, which she is reportedly taking over this month. The 43-year-old recovering alcoholic and cocaine addict revealed that the club will be a joint venture with her son. Speaking on UK TV chat show Loose Women, she said she was ‘better on the other side of the bar’ so she can use her people skills.

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www.theolivepress.es News IN BRIEF

Under arrest SPANISH police have arrested a Danish man in Malaga for allegedly fighting with ISIS jihadists in Syria.

Let off A SWISS couple have been let off for growing marijuana after a judge said there was ‘no real proof’ that the plants weren’t used for their personal use.

Bad teacher A MADRID teacher has beeen arrested for hate crimes after it was alleged she insulted a 16-year-old disabled Colombian boy and other students in her class.

Taken A DUTCH expat was kidnapped for 11 days near Madrid by an Eastern European gang that demanded €1.5 million in ransom from his wife.

Protests after seven teachers are sacked at international school

By Laurence Dollimore

HUNDREDS of parents and students have protested after one of the coast’s top international schools laid off seven popular teachers.

More than 250 people mobbed the entrance of St George’s International School in Malaga, insisting that the reasons given for the sackings were ‘unjustified and unreasonable’.

They have also launched a petition insisting a ‘misuse of authority’ and demanding the school change its stance on the teachers, four of them British, and some who have been working almost since the school opened in 2000.

One, Head of Science Alex Mitchell, has worked at the school for 16 years, while history teacher Jim Riley has worked there for over a decade.

"These teachers have either taught or supported us over the

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July 5th - July 18th 2017

website reaches comments milestone as June sees nearly quarter of a million visitors and Facebook doubles nearest rival

Schools YOU’VE HAD out... for YOUR SAY! good T

years of attending the school it's time to do our bit and support these teachers back!,” insisted a parent.

"This does not only affect the children who attend the school, but work colleagues, past students, parents as well as the teachers' own children such as Mr Riley's son, and Maria's two children who will now have to leave the school."

The group have set up a Facebook page Support for St George’s Teachers and are calling on ex-students and parents for support.

HE Olive Press website has received a staggering 50,000 comments on its stories.

It comes after a bumper June for the site, which received nearly quarter of a million visitors and more than 340,000 pageviews.

Meanwhile, posts on our Facebook site reached more than double the amount of people compared to our closest rival.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all our readers who continue to engage with our articles.

While the backs and forths can get pretty heated, it has been great to see the expat community engage passionately over the issues of the day.

Publisher Jon Clarke says: “It’s great to have created a platform for so much interaction.

They ask that former pupils write a summary of how the teachers have helped them and to give their ‘feelings towards this poor misuse of authority’.

"Any statements shared can be used to help support these teachers to create a strong defence to fight against this in court." The school put it down to ‘restructuring’ and this ‘required several dismissals. "In addition to being a difficult decision, we believe it is necessary," the management wrote in an email. The school said they were unable to comment further when contacted yesterday.

MIGRANT INCREASE MORE than 400 migrants have been rescued off the coast of southern Spain in the past fortnight.

According to rescue services, coast guards rescued 414 migrants from 16 boats as the Mediterranean route from north Africa to Spain becomes increasingly popular.

The number of migrants travelling the route has increased threefold in the first four months of this year compared to last year.

Almost 3,300 people reached Spain by sea between January and April, with at least 69 dying while attempting to cross.

In one case a teenage migrant, 15, survived a 140km journey from Morocco to Spain while clinging to the underside of a tourist bus.

Last year saw 6,726 migrants attempt to enter Spain by sea, according to the Spanish Coastguard. Nearby Italy has seen 69,000 migrants arrive by sea so far this year.

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“The readers and commentators ARE what the Olive Press is about – sparking debate, dealing with issues, and airing views and grievances.

“Sure, the debate can sometimes get a bit too lively – and I’ve had the odd run in with a few readers – but freedom of speech is important, even when we ourselves get targeted (well, within reason that is).”

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FE AT U R E

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 No surprise It will come as no surprise to long-time Olive Press readers that the PP party has also been dragged into Andalucia’s shameful ERE scandal.

Already up to its neck in a raft of fraud investigations around Spain, the party must have been praying that it would not get hauled into the BIG ONE down south.

But now it emerges that the case that saw a billion euros illegally syphoned off by corrupt politicians at the Junta also - oddly - tempted PP bigwigs.

They apparently joined the gravy train of PSOE fatcats, including two ex-Presidents, who shamelessly stole money that had been destined to stimulate employment and help the unemployed.

Now they face trial later this year alongside, wait for it, two of the country’s leading union bosses, who it turns out were in on it too.

This pair should, most certainly, hold their heads in shame… for they were the very men that were meant to be protecting the working classes from the disgraceful plundering of EU and central government funds.

A national newspaper columnist wrote that Spain was not a country of corrupt politicians, but a corrupt country full stop last weekend.

It is hard to disagree.

Fair cop It’s unbelievable that a Guardia Civil officer with such a checkered track record was allowed back in uniform.

There is surely blood on someone’s hands now, after three were killed on the AP-7 pileup he is said to have caused.

The officer had allegedly already been caught drink driving and had a history of threatening people, who he is paid to protect!

Let’s hope a serious inquiry into how he was allowed to remain on the force is launched.

In the meantime, the full force of the law must be meted out to him.

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

NEWSDESK newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618

SALES: sales@theolivepress.es ADMIN (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es

Joe Duggan joe@theolivepress.es Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es Laura Duckett Laura@theolivepress.es DESIGNER James Partington design@theolivepress.es

ACCOUNTS Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress.es Maria Angeles Vázquez mangeles@theolivepress.es Admin and account assistant DISTRIBUTION Graham Warters distribution@theolivepress.es

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2012 - 2017

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

On the anniversary of the Brexit referendum, Joe Duggan takes a look back at a roller-coaster political ride

I

T was a 20-minute bike ride that changed everything.

Cycling back from the University of Gibraltar referendum count in the wee small hours of June 24, I assumed Britain had voted to Remain in the EU. YouGov called it 52% for Remain. Ipsos MORI had it higher at 54%. Nigel Farage had conceded defeat, sending a ripple of confidence among the assembled politicians of Gibraltar, bastion of Remain.

“It’s been an extraordinary referendum campaign, turnout looks to be exceptionally high and looks like Remain will edge it,” Farage said.

“UKIP and I are going nowhere and the party will only continue to grow.”

Well, he was right about one thing. After this month’s general election, it’s clear UKIP are going nowhere.

But by the time I got home and turned on Radio 4 that night, it was clear Leave had the whip hand.

Sunderland, with its huge Nissan factory threatened by an EU exit, had voted to Leave 61% to 39, a far bigger margin than pollsters predicted.

That was the moment everything changed.

Eight, sleepless hours later, David Cameron resigned and I took a phone call from my tearful editor. “We’re newspaper men,” he said. “It’s our job now to represent our community.”

I was back on the streets of Gibraltar that morning gauging the mood. In what was to become a familiar move, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo had waded straight in, claiming a Spanish flag was now close to being planted on the Rock.

Until his departure in October 2016, Margallo made it his own personal mission to torment Gibraltar, seizing every opportunity to issue threats about Spain gaining sovereignty over the Rock.

His supporters even threatened me.

One morning, I received an anonymous phone call from a supporter of Margallo, a man claiming to be a member of the Spanish security forces. He warned me I would be arrested if I

He warned me that I would be arrested if I carried on writing critical articles carried on writing critical articles about Margallo and that everything I wrote about him was being checked by Spanish police.

Thankfully, Margallo was soon gone. But the PP’s grasping claim over Gibraltar has persisted, culminating in the EU negotiating guidelines, published in April, which give Spain an effective veto over Gibraltar being part of any deal the UK strikes.Tiny Gibraltar could yet become the biggest hurdle in the forthcoming negotiations.

Back in the UK, the weeks after the referendum saw Theresa May sweep into No 10. Her infamous phrase ‘Brexit means Brexit’ found its way into the public lexicon, but nobody really knew what Brexit meant.

However, as the year went on, the much-feared Brexit recession failed to materialise. By November, unemployment had sunk to 4.8%, the lowest level since 2005.

Both camps battled over what the jobless total showed. Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of people working in the UK had risen by 454,000 in the last year. Less than half those jobs were taken by people with British nationality. Brexit supporters claimed it showed British jobs are being taken by foreign workers; anti-Brexit campaigners pointed to it as proof that the growth of Britain's economy depends on employers hiring workers from the EU. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson had formed Change Britain, pushing May to opt for a hard Brexit. But it wasn’t just her Foreign Secretary heaping pressure on the Prime Minister. In November, three High Court judges ruled May couldn’t trigger Article 50 without parliament’s consent. The PM had vowed she would do this by March, 2017. Suddenly, those plans were in grave doubt.

A landmark speech in January laid out May’s vision for what Brexit should mean. The UK must leave the single market and the customs union, she said. May also conceded that parliament would have to vote on any final Brexit deal. The following day, British bank HSBC announced it would pull 1,000 staff out of London and move them to Paris once Brexit took effect.

In Spain, expats had got organised. Groups like Bremain In Spain and Brexpats in Spain were

July 5th - July 18th 2017

ONE

year on LOSER: David Cameron resigns following Leave victory

GUTTED: May loses Tories’ overall majority We asked readers what they thought of Brexit one year on. Of the hundreds who replied, this is what they thought:

Should the UK opt for hard or soft Brexit?

Hard: 19.9% Soft: 60.9% Neither: 13.2%

Should the UK hold another referendum on Brexit?

Yes: 73% No: 24.5% Unsure: 2.5%

Do you have confidence in Theresa May to deliver the right Brexit deal for the UK? Yes: 15.4% No: 81.4% Unsure: 3.2%

Are you considering returning to the UK following the Brexit vote?

Yes: 7.7% No: 81.9% Not an expat: 10.3%

Has your opinion on Brexit changed?

Yes: From leave to remain 0.6 % Yes: From remain to leave 3.2 % No: Still a remainer 79 % No: Still a leaver 15.9 % Not sure 1.3 %

BUZZING: Nigel Farage after referendum result

BEDFELLOWS: May forced to make deal with DUP doing a sterling job of advising the 300,000 Brits living here what their rights were - and what was at stake. Access to health care, pensions even the right to remain were up in the air.

Campaigners like Anne Hernandez mounted a lobbying offensive, concentrating efforts on Spanish local and national politicians.

When the Olive Press spoke to leading campaigner and Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett, he relayed the worrying news that chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier had told campaigners that a deal on the rights of EU citizens in the UK would not be ringfenced if no overall deal was reached. ‘No deal is better than a bad deal’, was May’s mantra. She is wrong about that.

On March 29, May triggered Article 50. The following day, the EU’s draft negotiating guidelines sparked outrage, with Spain handed an effective veto over Gibraltar. A few days later The Sun published its famous Up Yours Senors front page and beamed images onto the Rock, as Gibraltar became the number-one news story across Europe. Emboldened by her poll ratings,

May called a snap general election in May. But a disastrous campaign, and a spirited showing from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, saw the Tories lose their majority. Only a deal with the hard-right DUP will allow May to pass her bills. But for the politically enfeebled Tory leader, it may already be too late. With the knives sharpening behind her, it is questionable how much longer she can limp on.

This month, her ‘fair and serious’ proposals on EU citizens were slammed as ‘pathetic’ by campaign group the 3MillionMovement. European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker labelled them ‘not sufficient’ - another poke in the eye for May in this ongoing saga. Over the past year, British politics

has surpassed House Of Cards in its sheer drama. As well as Brexit, the appalling murder of Jo Cox, the terrorist outrages in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park and the carnage of Grenfell Tower have buffeted the country. Britain appears in a state of chaos.

And one year on from that momentous vote, our futures are still uncertain.

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Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es July 5th - July 18th 2017 And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.

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7

olive press online

ECO-WARRIORS: Ceglinski and Turton

October 2015

P

ETE Ceglinski is battling vicious jet-lag.

The Seabin co-founder has just returned to Palma from San Diego, where his revolutionary sea-cleaning receptacle is being trialled. And although bleary-eyed with fatigue, Ceglinski, along with fellow Seabin creator Andrew Turton, is following a very clear vision: to battle ocean pollution.

“Plastic in the sea is no good for anyone,” he says, over a much-needed coffee. “We end up eating it. Even if you went to some beautiful tropical island, which looks like pristine and amazing, when you get up close there’s plastic all over it.

“It’s a pretty insane situation we have got ourselves into and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Plastic is such an amazing thing, but we’re not recycling or reusing it anymore.

Basically, we’ve been trashing the place for 60 years.”

Surfers

Taking a stand in the global clean-up operation are Seabin’s Australian crew. This small band of surfers - the team is ‘Three and a half’ strong - are making big waves in the eco-fight with their floating rubbish bin, which sucks in rubbish from waters around marinas.

So far, Seabin is being trialled in six locations, including Palma’s Port Adriano, Helsinki, France and now California. An agreement has been struck to trial more Seabins in the Balearic Islands.

Commercial sales of the bin are due to start in three months. But already global interest has been phenomenal.

“We’ve had interest from every single country in the world that has a marina,” says Ceglinski.

“We’ve had 50,000 emails in the last few weeks. Our videos have been viewed around 500 million times online.”

Among their supporters are Safe Harbor Marinas, the world’s largest marine operator with 64 locations, who have now partnered with Seabin.

It’s a success story born out of the Seabin crew’s lifelong love of the ocean. Growing up in eastern Australia, Turton, Ceglinski and Seabin project manager Sascha Chapman were natural water babies.

An industrial designer by trade, Ceglinski married his technical nous with his respect for the ocean, spending four years creating the Seabin prototype with Turton.

“At first, nobody paid attention,” say Ceglinski.

“All the environmental groups and people we thought would support us just blocked us because we were a conflict of interest.”

With Australian company SMS backing the project, the friends launched a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo in 2015, which raised €150,000 in a few weeks.

“It was insane,” says Ceglinski. “People started donating and it all just took off. We raised €135,000 in one week alone.”

Based in Palma, the bold young entrepreneurs lived and breathed their project - literally. With money tight, they lived and slept for up to a year in the factory that produced the Seabins.

But with the likes of Finnish technology giants Wärtsilä backing Seabin’s global pilot programme, the only way is up. The days of kipping on factory floors are long gone.

Like all of the world’s best ideas, Seabin ap-

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BE ‘APPY! IN ACTION: A team lowers a seabin into place

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pears deceptively simple. The half-metre-round, half-metre-high bin sits in the water 24/7, 365 days a year. A pump on the bottom provides a constant flow of water which sucks in floating rubbish.

‘Ballpark’ cost for the Seabin is going to be around €2,675. And with a running cost of less than a euro a day the bins make economic as well as environmental sense.

“At the minute, people go round with nets to collect the rubbish in marinas and that is quite expensive,” says Chapman.

“The Seabins are built to last a lifetime but we will offer a three-year warranty and we hope to have a buy-back scheme to ensure the plastic can perhaps be reused and avoid landfill or being incinerated.”

Storm

Three days after installing their first Seabin in San Diego it had collected 20 kilos of plastic.

Five more are due to be installed in Port Adriano as part of the pilot project.

“Port Adriano is actually a very clean marina compared to others,” says Ceglinski.

“But when a storm comes through it rains all the rubbish off the streets, into the drains and into the sea. That’s when you start having issues. “ Once launched, they expect 400 of their V5 Hybrid models to go on the market in the first year. And with word of the project continuing to spread, Sergio Halpern Ruiz, Seabin’s marine scientist, is due to speak at a UN conference next month. But the team are resting on their laurels.

New Seabins, designed to be used further out to sea, are also being planned.

“It’s been pretty amazing putting my life skills to use for something that helps the environment,” says Ceglinski.

“But for us the main goal is to get off the dock and into the water. We don’t want to be restricted.”

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Expat kidnapped by gang ‘led by medical student’ AN expat was kidnapped and held captive for 11 days by a Romanian gang led by a medical student that demanded €1.5 million, police have revealed.

The unnamed Dutchman was snatched by a group disguised as Spanish police near his home in Lloret de Mar. He was released 11 days later after

Law firm withdraws 1,800 fake sickness claims by Brit tourists in victory against fraudsters

By Joe Duggan

tel: 0034 952 597 035 www.poshpetsspain.com Follow us on Facebook ‘Posh Pets Spain’

July 5th - July 18th 2017

THOUSANDS of bogus holiday sickness claims have been withdrawn in a huge victory against fraud.

The controversial demands were mostly issued by British tourists pretending to have had stomach bugs while in Spain.

According to tourist giants TUI, one law firm alone, believed to be in Manchester, has dropped 1,800 claims, which are believed

a police operation in Casarrubios del Monte, a small town close to Madrid where he was being held.

One of the kidnappers then used the man’s mobile phone to call his wife and demand a ransom of €1.5 million in exchange for his freedom.

The hostage was constantly fed tranquilisers and sedatives by the

alleged head of the gang, a Romanian, who studied medicine in Madrid.

Police tracked down the gang after the hostage’s family alerted the authorities.

They managed to rescue the hostage just before a scheduled meeting to hand over the ransom money at a hotel car park.

BACK TO HEALTH

to cost Mallorca hoteliers €50 million a year.

It comes after it was revealed a Spanish judge is launching an investigation into the claims, following an undercover investigation by hotel chain Mac Hotels.

Police in Mallorca received the report, including photos of suspects, by undercover detectives hired by

the hotel group.

According to sources, the investigation centres on three hotels on the island, Saturno, Jupiter and Mars, where tourists were encouraged to lodge false claims.

Touts allegedly told the guests that a receipt from a pharmacy for imodium would be sufficient to file

Extra vigilence EXCEPTIONAL measures need to be taken to protect the fragile ecosystem of Andalucia from fire this summer.

The PP leader of Andalucia Juanma Moreno fears the extremely dry and hot conditions this Spring warrant ‘extra vigilance’ in this ‘very complicated summer’.

It comes after 500 people were SPAIN’S waters reached evacuated after their highest temperatures another big forest ever in June. fire broke out in Deep-sea buoys with therHuelva this week. mometers show coastal The fire ravaged a sea temperatures have inbig area of forest creased by 2.5C in the last between Minas decade alone. de Riotinto and The warmest waters were Almonaster and recorded off Tarragona, led to the main where they reached 27C, N-435 road being the highest ever in the cut off for hours. month of June.

The residents This is an alarming inwere moved to a crease of 2.5% in just one sports hall, beyear, giving further evifore mostly being dence of global warming. moved home on The temperature also rose Tuesday. in the Atlantic Ocean off It comes after a Galicia, and the Bay of Bishuge fire damcay off Spain’s northern aged a massive coast. area of valuable Cabo Silleiro in the northforest on the edge western region of Galicia of Spain’s preregistered its warmest temcious Donana Naperature ever at 19.9C. tional Park.

Marine environmentalists A shocking 8,500 have repeatedly warned of hectares were dethe impact of warmer seas stroyed due to a on marine life due to its coal plant fire. ability to sustain new inSigns on the A7 vader species. motorway around This could be predators Benalmadena or microorganisms, which meanwhile are can imbalance local ecosyswarning locals tems. and tourists of It comes after June recordthe ‘extreme fire ed the hottest temperatures risk’ conditions at for 50 years. present.

Tropical seas!

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a claim on their return to the UK. It is believed the investigation will look at hundreds of claims going back to last December.

And while authorities initially focused on ‘claim farmers’ encouraging holidaymakers to file bogus claims, anyone who did so could now face jail.

Palma lawyer Carolina Ruiz called the judicial investigation ‘an important step in the fight against fraudulent claims that hotels suffer’.

Last month, two Brits were arrested after allegedly urging holidaymakers to file bogus sickness claims.

TUI boss Nick Longman, said: “We fully support the steps the (Spanish police) are taking to expose this kind of fraud and to investigate false or exaggerated cases.

“Through the work we are doing and the awareness we are raising of this type of activity, we’ve already seen one law firm drop more than 1800 cases against us.

“We remain committed to doing all that we can to put a stop to this activity and protect honest holidaymakers.”

Life’s a beach TORRE del Mar beach has won back its prestigious blue flag.

It comes after it was stripped of the title four years ago.

It joins fellow Axarquia beaches Benajarafe, Caleta de Velez and El Morche, which also have the prestigious title.

The area boasts five in total that carry the flag.

The stamp of honour is reserved for beaches with exceptional water quality, safety, hygiene, accessibility, services, information and lifeguards.

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Expat campaigners fear Brits in Spain will have rights ‘severely reduced’ EXPAT campaigners have slammed Theresa May’s offer on retaining current citizens’ rights, saying it will damage Brits living in Spain.

Coalition campaign groups British in Europe and the3million told the European Commission that May’s 15-page proposal would represent a ‘severe reduction of the current rights’ enjoyed by Britons in Europe.

May’s plan, which she unveiled in the House Of Commons last week, would make EU citizens who have lived in the UK for five years exchange rights they have under EU law for new rights under UK immigration law.

“This offers a significantly reduced level of protection than their current status as EU citi-

May’s Brexit plans slammed zens in the UK under EU law,” insisted a spokesman for the campaign groups.

Under May’s plans, EU nationals with five years residence in the UK would need to apply for ‘settled status’, although it

Probe widens

Aznar, are being probed over their involvement in a series of bogus illegal payments to a group of 51 Huelva miners.

It came when the current Minister of the Interior Juan Ignacio Zoido was the government’s delegate in Andalucia.

The former leaders of the CCOO and the UGT unions meanwhile are also accused of being part of the siphoning of at least €40million via the false payouts to the minors in the Faja Pirítica de Huelva case.

The decade-long scandal saw mostly politicians from the PSOE-run Junta embezzle public money meant for unemployed and retired workers.

Junta boss Susana Diaz mocked the PP party’s ‘silence’ this week over the case and demanded answers.

In total, at least €855 million in public funds were fraudulently taken, via the Junta over a decade.

Sevilla judge María Núñez Bolaños hopes that the trial will begin in December and could take more than a year to conclude.

King’s blast over Catalunya KING Felipe VI has blasted Catalunya’s planned independence referendum.

While addressing parliament on the 40th anniversary of Spain’s first elections, the Spanish monarch said the vote will only ‘negate freedom’.

Felipe said: “No path taken in our democracy should lead to the breakdown of our coexistence… or to a path that divides Spaniards and breaks the fraternal spirit which unites us all.

“Disagreements and differences can be resolved through dialogue and debate.”

He added that the vote, scheduled for October 1, would only bring insecurity and lead to the ‘negation of freedom’.

The speech comes after Catalonia’s leader Carles Puigdemont claimed Guardia Civil officers were interrogating his party members over the scheduled referendum.

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is unclear what would happen if, for example, someone had returned home to nurse a sick relative for a period of time during those five years.

With both the EU and the UK determined to strike a reciprocal deal on rights for both EU citizens and expats in the EU, this would have implications for Brits living in Spain and elsewhere in the EU. “EU citizens will be required to apply for UK-settled status, whereas they are in fact resident in the UK on the basis of existing, acquired rights under EU law,” the spokesman continued.

Negotiating

“The UK should in fact be simply confirming rights that have already been acquired, which is the approach taken in the EU negotiating directives.”

Meanwhile, Sue Wilson of Bremain In Spain urged May to accept the EU’s proposals rather than her 15-page plan.

Wilson said: “If May wants to be ‘fair and serious’, she should just agree quickly to everything the EU has already proposed.

“We are merely asking to maintain the status quo, with no degradation of our rights it’s not a matter of generosity but of justice.”

She added: “If she is proposing to limit rights and freedoms in any way, then we deserve to know which of those rights she is prepared to sacrifice.”

May’s document also indicated the cutoff date to accept EU migrants could be as early as March 29 2017, with EU nationals arriving after that date not included in any deal The EU insists the cutoff date should not come before the date of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

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Tanning gets a roasting A SUNTAN is a sign of skin damage, not glowing health, NHS England and the Met Office have warned parents ahead of the summer holidays.

It comes after a recent survey suggested a third of parents mistakenly believe going brown is good for children.

A quarter have even encouraged their children to tan, while a few said they had allowed their children to use sun beds.

The findings come from interviews with 1,000 parents with children aged 11 and younger.

One in 10 said they had told their child to take their top off in the sun to avoid getting tan lines.

Meanwhile, a shocking 21% of parents said they would only apply sunscreen on their kids if they started to go red and burn.

A tan does not stop the sun’s harmful rays from causing harm and is actually a sign that the skin has been damaged and is trying to protect itself.

After our skin has been exposed to sunlight, cells called melanocytes produce more dark pigment, called melanin, in an attempt to absorb further UV radiation, and so tarjeton.pdf 1 30/03/2017 9:57:08 the skin becomes darker.

GREEN

July 5th - July 18th 2017

Heat death

Investigation finds coal company responsible for devastating Huelva fire A COAL company’s negligence has been blamed for the devastating Huelva fires.

Head of the fire department Infoca in Huelva, Jose Antonio Martínez, has confirmed that the source was a coal company in the municipality of Moguer.

“We had to wait a little to make public this kind of information because that technical report is still to be completed,” he said.

Spread

According to sources, the working theory of Seprona cops is that flames became out of control in the process of creating charcoal at the coal plant, which has not been named.

From there, the climatic conditions caused the flames to spread with speed, giving rise to several different starting points.

It was at 9:20 pm on Saturday that the Andalucian Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Facility

A 25-YEAR-OLD gardener has died from heat stroke in Estepona.

The young worker died as temperatures across Malaga reached 40C. His neighbours alerted authorities after he collapsed on the ground following a long morning of tending to the gardens in the local urbanisations.

Paramedics attempted to revive him, but he died on the way to Hospital Costa del Sol. DEVASTATING: The fires reached Doñana National Park

COAL TO BLAME

(Infoca) was notified of a fire in La Peñuela, Moguer.

It had been declared in an area that crosses a forest track and is surround-

ed by many strawberry farms.

The fire ended up racing through 8,500 hectares and nearly spread into Doñana National Park’s

reserve.Burning hills is punishable by up to five years in prison (20 years if people’s lives are put at risk).

Let it breathe MALAGA province has some of the cleanest air in Spain.

In a recent study conducted

by Malaga council and Urban Cloud, a team of 40 voluntary cyclists collected air samples from 2,355 areas in the province.

More than half (1,405) tested for low pollution, while 820 tested for moderate pollution.

Only 130 were flagged as having dangerous amounts of pollution.

The results show Co2 levels are well below those in Madrid, Sevilla and Barcelona.

The 130 zones showing evidence of high levels of pollution will be subject to a second round of testing.

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DALI: Father?

THE atmosphere was electric at Palomo Spain’s first Paris fashion show as the heels of flamenco prodigy Rafael, a young dancer from a tiny village near Seville, tapped up a storm.

From the ovation his genderbending designs received from the audience - among them, 13 The Olive PressReasons Why star Tommy DorSALVADOR Dali’s body is to fman in an oversize pinstripe be dugTOP up from its museum jacket and pumps - it’s clear for news in Spain! crypt in Figueres to verify a that Alejandro Gomez Palomo Spanish woman’s claims that is putting the ‘cult’ into ‘cultural’ he was her father. with his phenomenal following.

The 56-year-old woman Born in Posada, a small town from Girona, named only as in the province of Córdoba, Pilar Abel, filed a claim in a the outrageous young designer Madrid court to be recog- has impressed fashion experts nised as the artist’s daughter. around the world with his flamShe alleges her mother, a boyant use of typically feminine maid, had an affair with Dali, elements in clothing designed resulting in her conception. for men.

The court ruled Dali’s body Described by transgender Amerishould be disinterred ‘to get can model Hari Nef as ‘the most amazing, beautiful, decadent, evil samples of his remains’.

Digging up the past

Eccentric

“The DNA study of the painter’s corpse is necessary due to the lack of other biological or personal remains with which to perform the comparative study,” a court judgment said.

The court said the decision could be appealed.

Pilar Abel insists her mother lived in Cadaques, near to the artist’s home, before embarking on an affair with the married genius. She filed the paternity claim in 2015.

“All I’m missing is a moustache,” she quipped previously.

The eccentric Dali is buried in his hometown of Figueres in a crypt below the stage of his theatre museum, one of Spain’s most-visited tourist attractions.

thing I’ve ever seen’, his sassy collections are full of flowers and feathers, tactile textiles and vivid colours you’ve never seen a gent’s suit made in before. Think purple satins and pink velvets, sequins and ruffles, jackets that bare shoulders and cinch in ‘wasp waists’, skirts instead of trousers and shoes with heels.

asares - Medieval market, July 10 The streets of this sleepy white pueblo will come alive with flags and banners. There will be a craft market, tearoom and medieval tavern.

Boys will be girls GENDERLESS: Palomo’s designs

“It felt time to do a show, as I have started to know people after coming to Paris for two seasons for our sales campaign,” the designer said, describing his latest offering - themed on a flamenco boy playing with fashion - as a ‘capsule collection’.

FAIR ENOUGH THE first ever Malaga Art Fair saw 15,000 locals and tourists descend on the city’s Palacios de Congressos.

The 7,000 square-meter space held 500 artists and 40 galleries from a massive 31 countries.

The fair’s director Martín Gallego said: “Our concept is to generate a space of visibility, since we understand that there are many and very good artists who have not yet managed to enter the art market.”

The fair is the second-largest of its kind in Spain.

Following the success of the fair, it will return for a second year in 2018.

“This is my way of translating the Palomo aesthetic in a way that people will understand,” the designer said, pointing out the exuberant suiting and craftsmanship.

‘If the shoe fits’ is his overarching message, with designs that abstract the gender-labelling of certain garment shapes.

It is clear that to him, beautiful clothes are beautiful clothes. “I don’t want to sound pretentious by saying I am doing couture, but [I want to] give men the chance to dress up again and enjoy fashion,” he said.

But the Palomo approach is not entirely gender-neutral: the cut of his ‘dresses’ (for lack of a better word) are not suited to feminine body shapes, while his suits are definitely tailored for masculine body types.

In his design view, a Palomo ‘dress’ is no more and no less than the Scottish kilt.

Male models donned flamenco-inspired outfits with graphic ruffling, cropped fitted jackets and kicky flared trousers in a palette of brights, white and black.

“It’s about the sexual self,” he explained after his triumphant New York show earlier this year.

“There are boys looking for other boys—seducing and being seduced.

Some are virgins and you can only look at them.”

In the world according to Palomo, clothes are clothes and can be worn by anyone.

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alaga - Dirty Dancing, July 12 - August 6 A passionate stage production of the timeless classic at the Cervantes Theatre.

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orremolinos - Los Alamos Beach Festival, July 13 - 16 The electronic festival will feature new stages and new guests this year. The line-up brings together some of the best DJs in the world.

New centre FAMED Italian architect Renzo Piano’s new art centre has opened in Santander.

The Centro Botin, which will house contemporary art, is covered with 280,000 rounded, pearly coloured ceramic tiles that reflect the changing colours of the sea and the sky.

The centre also houses shops, a cinema and concert hall.

It will be a permanent home for the art, cultural and educational programmes.

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The son of a British Embassy diplomat in Spain reveals a secret plot to stop the dictator from siding with Germany during WW2

By William Stirling James

A ONE-LINE entry in the 1942 New Year’s Honours List, ‘MBE to Bernard Malley, Assistant Press Attaché at the British Embassy in Madrid’ is the only trace of a remarkably successful British spying operation that helped Britain to WW2 victory.

While the supporting documents are cited at the Public Record Office, they have vanished from the files. Nothing more would have been known about the incident, since most of the principal players predeceased Francisco Franco, had not my father, Wg Cdr (later Sir Archibald) James, outlived him.

The operation ran parallel to the Embassy’s main success, brought to light by Peter Day in his book Franco’s Friends - a US$13 million bribe to Franco’s generals organised by British Naval Attaché Alan Hillgarth. Day also unearthed the existence of a spy ring of Catholic priests and revealed Malley as its orchestrator but does not mention its major achievement: identifying and meeting Franco’s Jewish cousins and using them to influence Franco.

The plot was conceived after the fall of France to the Nazis which catapulted the status of Spain and its government from ‘important’ to ‘vital’ from the British perspective.

Britain had no remaining allies in Europe while Hitler, having given significant help to the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War, was expecting payback. Had Franco obliged by joining the Axis side, it is likely that the UK would have lost the war.

Gibraltar, key to the Western Mediterranean and adjacent to Spain, was indefensible against 20th-century artillery while German aircraft and submarines based in northern Spain would have been even better placed to attack the Atlantic shipping on which the UK’s survival depended.

In response, the British reinforced their Embassy in Madrid to deal with this emergency. Sir Samuel Hoare, a former Foreign Secretary, was appointed Ambassador.

Among the other staff drafted in, my father, a Conservative MP who had come to know some of Franco’s generals during the Spanish Civil War, was transferred from his Air Force duties and appointed a First Secretary.

In addressing the challenge, the Embassy saw the Duke of Wellington as a role model. During the Peninsular War he had

FRANCO’S EMBARRASSING COUSINS

successfully exploited the Spanish talent parliamentary delegation. He also met for guerrilla warfare. So the bribery of key members of the Communist InternaFranco’s generals had two facets. tional in Barcelona, since his attractive Plan A was for the generlady guide believed him als to encourage Franco to be sympathetic to her to stay neutral. Plan B, if politics (as were his later He had Franco decided to side flatmate, Kim Philby, successfully with Hitler, was for the and other apparent Congenerals to take to the servatives). exploited the hills and start a guerrilla He concluded that war – hence the huge Spanish talent of there was a real risk of sum the British were prea Communist takeover Guerrilla warfare in Spain and that British pared to pay them.

My father’s qualification interests would be best for his Embassy post served if the Nationalists derived from his visits to Madrid, Valen- won. He announced his change of views cia and Barcelona during the civil war as in the House of Commons as a prelude to a Conservative member of an all-party coming to know some of Franco’s gener-

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clerical circles.

My father told us that through the network he and Malley were introduced to two ladies who said they were Franco’s first cousins and Jewish by religion.

I decided to do some further digging and finally it was Professor Emilio Grandio of the University of Santiago de Compostela who identified the key suspects: Maria del Pilar and Paulina de la Puente y Bahamonde.

Their mother and Franco’s mother were sisters, and they had reason to hold a grievance against their cousin since their brother, Ricardo de la Puente y Bahamonde, had been shot by Franco’s forces in Morocco at the start of the civil war.

Both ladies had been baptised into Judaism. Their conversion would have been a way of avenging their brother by embarrassing their cousin. They would have been aware of the widespread rumours that the Generalissimo was of Jewish origin. In 15th-century Spain, when people could openly be Jewish without fear, both Franco and Bahamonde had been common Jewish surnames.

But had the ladies’ religion become publicly known, on top of Franco’s surnames, the Nazis’ paranoia would have persuaded them that Franco was Jewish. From the British viewpoint it was the perfect ‘ammunition’.

Soon after reporting this ‘secret’, my father returned to London in 1941 and resumed his parliamentary duties. Winston Churchill would also have been privy to ALLIES: (left) Hitler and Franco and the news (as well as the parliamentary connection, Churchill was a relative of my (above) Sir Samuel Hoare als well. Having signed the Official Secrets father’s first wife and both were members Act, my father said very little about his of Pratt’s club). specific activities in Spain or his role in Equally, Franco would almost certainly bribing the generals. We were totally un- have known through his intelligence aware that he was the contact with Gen- system that his cousins had met British erals Aranda and Vigón and also acted embassy personnel. In summary, during as liaison with the Spanish Royal Family. 1941/42 when the war was going badly However, he did comment on the Embas- for the British, Churchill had an additional sy’s strategy, almost certainly encouraged reason for expecting that Franco would not ally with Hitler. And

by Whitehall, which if he did, the British was that retention of could not only play Gibraltar was vital to the guerrilla war Britain and the Gercard, they could also mans had to be prebring his uncomfortvented from reaching able family skeleton it. out of the closet.

In running a spy Both Sir Samuel network of Catholic Hoare and Bernard priests (helped, acMalley predeceased cording to my father, Franco, at a time by the Irish Minister) when Spain was an the British Embassy important business was again following FATHER: Sir Archibald James partner and NATO the Duke of Wellingally.

Revelations ton’s example. And in Malley the British had an ideal spymas- about the bribery of the generals and ter. He knew Spain very well, had joined Franco’s embarrassing cousins would the Embassy staff in 1939, was person- not have gone down well and nothing was ally inconspicuous and a devout Catholic published. My father outlived Franco by greatly respected in conservative and more than four years, when mention of them mattered much less.

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Neither will the over 25,000 people at home and abroad on the Find Lisa page ever give up until Lisa has been found and justice has been served (.WE WILL NEVER STOP: Sister of missing British expat Lisa Brown vows to find truth as Spanish TV airs new Simon Corner documentary, online). The investigation is very much still ongoing but we need someone to speak up and do the right thing. We have no doubt those involved are reading this and think they are above the law.Your day will come believe me, we know that snakes can turn on each other to save their own skin so remember that whilst you get on with your sad lives,bnsomething that Lisa has been denied of because evil took it away.

2 matadors have died during bullfights in the past year, sparking controversy.

€7 - Fee for the AP-7 toll between Fuengirola and Marbella for the summer months

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during the first half of this year - a record amount.

THE Queen of England's outfit looked a little familiar to some as she opened parliament yesterday.

As she spoke of making Brexit ‘successful’, social media became abuzz with how her blue and yellow ensemble ‘blatantly’ imitated the EU flag.

“Is it me or is her Maj sporting a Euro flag on her head?” one viewer said.

While the Queen remains officially neutral on political topics there has been debate since the referendum about her view.

One person remained convinced on the issue, saying: “I always knew she was a remainer.”

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Vol. 1 Issue 5

Fake news Space-tastic to sur-

LGBT heroes greatest LGBT icons

Geldof weds at Pixie

Did it all begin in Spain?

A look at Spain’s during International Pride Month

Our exclusive look Geldof’s Mallorca nuptials

Important observatory vive thanks to Olive Press

Page 15

Page 10

Page 6

CATCH THE SCAMMERS! Page 2

Expats’ rights closer

discovers WARNING: Olive Press investigation conning string of fake holiday rental sites customers this summer

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

THE rights of 1.2 million Brits living in the EU and three million EU citizens in the UK appears to be inching closer.

The initial focus for Brexit will be on expat rights, a financial settlement and ‘other separation issues’, it was confirmed after the first day of negotiations in Brussels.

At the joint press conference on Monday, David Davis and Michel Barnier also said the issue of common travel in Ireland was important.

villa rental company Bonder and Co. THE Olive Press is demandBoth fake websites Spainviing action against a string of pholidays.com and Balearfake holiday rental sites falseicVillaEscapes.com are listly advertising luxury villas ing the same properties, use across the Balearic Islands. the same website template, It comes after we reported with both website domains last issue that scam site Renthaving the same Google veriholidaysvillas.com was confication key. ning British tourists out of An IT expert told the Olive thousands of euros each year.

Press that this was a classic In total, British victims lost case of ‘domain farming’ and €8.16 million in holiday criticised Google for not takscams last year, a year-oning the sites down immediyear rise of 20%, claims the ately.

Association of British Travel All three scam websites are Agents (ABTA). hosted by US-based firm GoIn one of the worst examples, Future Daddy, which also hosts Renreported last issue, rugby star genuine site was scammed by holidaysvillas.com.

Dean Schofield and friends COPIED: How "We've laid solid foundaAction Fraud conshelled out nearly €50,000 Spain VIP Holidays you have never heard The UK’s is now investigattions for future discuspanies to prices in break reduced it massively for a fraudulent villa sions and an ambitious but about. Don't let scammers firmedrentholidaysvillas.com, NEWS lure victims in. ing Mallorca. achievable timetable," said ruin your holidays.”

Helle Heredia, from Mallor- The fraudsters, who are very although at the time of going We have now discovered Davis, Britain's Brexit minca-based rental firm Nova- difficult to track down, are to press had not responded to many other websites running ister. sol, said she had heard of ‘25 very good at creating fake our enquiries. similar fraudulent schemes, Davis insisted that talks people of cases was made aware recent balearicvillaes30’ to including about trade would occur ‘in profiles and, as revealed last GoDaddy being scammed but believed issue, the photo for the agent of Rentholidaysvillas.com’s capes.com, Luxurydreamsparallel’, but Barnier said activity in April, there were ‘many more’. villas.com and www.digthey would start only in a ‘Flavio’ for rentholidaysvil- fraudulent “It’s so scary with these scam las.com was actually an Aus- but the site, and the three italdreamsholidays.com. second phase. sites - they pop up with just tralian estate agent. others, are still live.

Photos of an eight-bedroomed First, ‘significant progress’ peorobbing of advertised purpose, property, one on A GoDaddy spokesperson that made Mallorca would need to be We have now discovered ple of their money in the most a photo of Balearicvillaes- told the Olive Press: “Our from €800 per night on a the EU's priority issues, noimportant time of everyone’s capes ‘property agent’ Alba Digital Crimes Unit still have fourth site spainvipholidays. tably the rights of expatriate year - their holidays,” she Portillo Olivares is actually a not received any inquiries or com, have been lifted from a citizens and a settling finanAsylum drama enforcegenuine US website luxuryre- Top-end properties around said.

Paloma Bond- requests from law cial accounts. not to be tempt- stolen photo oftop Ibiza luxury ment on these websites.” ensure “Just insisted treats.com. have being are EU negotiators er, director of the whole of Spain ed by fantastic offers by com15:36 site the actual On the genuine citizens’ rights 16/06/2017 1 that current Untitled-1.pdf marketed by the scammers at price is from €2,930 a night. should remain unchanged.

22nd 2017 June 9th - June say he had givanother email to bank account en me the wrong www.theolivepress.es number. very uncom“I immediately felthe was going fortable. I believe I phoned my to hit me twice. ‘I think this is brother and said. a scam.’” hers and the Anne phoned both and her money recipient’s bank days later. was returned four the thought of “I can’t stand to a villa with families heading find they have their children to EXCLUSIVE nowhere to stay.” money back,

By Joe Duggan While she got herto apply for a she was forced after sending new passport passport to the a copy of her fraudsters.

Olive Press reThis week, an as a holidayday shakedown.

Dean porter, posing about renting Wasps international Gemma, both maker, enquired (right) and wife take a dream with rentan exclusive property 38, were set to with friends to holidaysvillas.com. break to Spain internaus a price of ‘Flavio’ offered plus a 10% discelebrate the England £3,850 a week, tional’s retirement.turned into a up front, are decount for full payment copy and But the vacation the group of del Sol and in Mallorca requesting a passport nightmare after after their unwittingly manding legal action full address.

16 from Cheshire were taken and holiday he needed own properties much cheaper When asked why booked via a fraudulent “When website. offered to rent at this, ‘Flavio’ replied: we need property rental took payprices. we make the contract, that the In total, scammers of €5,700 passport deWe have discovered to be sure of your ment and deposit (left) is actually €11,400 and photo of Davila an Australian tails.” (£5,000) beproperty rental a photograph of One genuine to remain anon(£10,000) respectively we are not €29,800 agent estate agent, whom site, who asked her ‘regret at fore swiping another reasons. stolen from Oz stunning villa naming, for legal victim of the ymous, expressed this could site with profile (£26,000) for the is owned by and (right) fake Another British Anne Landon, in us’ and that the negative impact in Mallorca, whichowner. who Holiday group put your trust site, pensioner suspicious afin honesty’ the we did think have on holidaymakers a wealthy foreign rumbled the SCAMMED: deposits.’

“I must confess for where it they ‘believe said she became through the have paid their shocked and The group only have stolen photos over. But what cheap still get the flight a normal fam- it was a bitin fact rents for a lot scammers ter booking a break of properties £4,600 “We are deeplysaid. “This is exscam, via rentholidaysvillas. they flew. and it from hundreds Portugal and if we were from site and transferring to come? was, saddened,” she com, the day before UK bank acactivity across Spain, a series of fake angry when we ily and couldn’t affordto salvage more,” admits Gemma. into one of their tremely clever criminal group of eight has “We were very able told the do our best Thankfully, the children - who Greece and from ‘happy’ cliWe were at least counts. on and we will always found out,” Gemma eight week. “It was the holiday.” who have been the is- testimonials “I take my grandchildren the adults and and was to help people Olive Press this on holiday on at the bottom. and we The group had come across holiday every summer trying villa are still now trying to reclaim ents are 18 properties for rent treated in this way.” a horrible moment There to do. from Malagapretty desperate land - are 38 in stunning eight-bedroom Helle Heredia property rental weren’t sure what as the booking was on the Costa del Sol and Ibiza getting somewhere,” said Anne, it and with a huge pool and grounds web- their money card. based holiday said: “We hear “We started Googling as well as 38 in Por- to find in touch with the up. When we made via a credit in is still Mallorca, 74. firm Novasol, other stories came we’d been and gotemail. very reasonable 21 on the Algarve, of scams all The website meanwhile site via “The price was reported to and But imabout these typesname ‘Flavio’ emailed the person looked extremely tugal. the site called live, despite being and I was so excited. the time and the dealing with at abusive email The website company by the Various genuine rental firms had a photo several booking he sent credible and even Flavio Her- its web hosting mediately after on the Costa police. has been mentioned ‘Flavio’ he sent an have spoken to Press and to UK that have been of its alleged owner, the ne- Olive boasting that ‘you can we times by guests reaching to us back.

Davila, who did in a fortunate Despite scammed before “Luckily we were we could ar- nandes gotiating. for help. position where villa and holiday makers, on alleged “My advice for well-known and range an alternative enforcement processes is to book with and have rental comRentholidaysvillas.com If anyUS-based fraud established holiday is a valid taking action. is hosted by which for believes they have panies, check there one always use a server GoDaddy, they as long ago phone number, you make a was warned the scam by been defraudedlaw encontact credit-card when the websites as April of rental should booking, Googlethey have been forcement.” a leading holiday When asked Contact your local pofirst to check if before and site in Spain. live this Action Fraud reported for scamsif it sounds why it was still Digital lice and newsdesk@ always remember and email week, GoDaddy true – it probBen Butler, theolivepress.es if you’ve too good to be Crimes boss commuably is!” explained: “We with law been scammed. nicate regularly

2

England rugby international and friends fury at €50,000 holiday scam

Schofield RUGBY star Deanafter being is urging action holimauled in a sophisticated

Rent rage

STOP THE SCAMMERS

From front page

MORE THAN AT 17,000 MOVIES THE VIDEOCLUB

ALL YOUR

just once since. ken to his daughter seeking asylum to avoid “It’s morally wrong, Norway with the law. if everyone in “My lawyer saidran to a church to escape the a legal problemstart building more churches,” law we better is he continued. is not attending school and He claims Maia to play the organ and sing an approprionly able to learn which is ‘hardly with the choir, however, ate syllabus’.

Bjune denied this coming to the Local vicar Knut teachers were insisting local her lessons ‘almost all the church to give their living time’. not isolated and this week “Socially she isgood,” he told the Olive Press.

Maia’s birthday we have WISHES: On conditions are will probe information and Supreme Court term.”

“We are not hiding cannot be longcall to Maia - A Norwegian month. made it clear this asylum claim this claimed phone youngster Bjørnsen’s lawyer, Vidar Helgheim, the In the one, heartrending taped - the tearful wants to Bjørnsen’sinformation’ had now ‘changed’ which Shepherd her brothers she that ‘new to disclose it. little can be heard telling con- case, but refusedcase was based on very ask return to Spain. and lawyer Sol Elden, (original) a place to “The have to go deeperhe said.

Shepherd’s Norwegian “A church is not information. You firmed this week: from legal responsibilities. why she ended up in this situation,” told the Olpolice spokesperson withdraw yourself church asylum. to A Norwegian would not intervene while Maia It is an abuse ofto now bring the girl back ive Press they church.

“It is her duty final court ruling.” arrest in the gov- remained will not enter a church and said Spain after the written to Norwegian protection,” “The police Shepherd has now Solveig Horne demand- someone who has requested District Møre og dismissed Chief of Police ernment minister local child services would Ingar Boen, ing help after no further action Romsdal.

Maia’s case, saying be taken.

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1 COSTA.indd EXCLUSIVE 23/02/2017 11:31 679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_MIJAS_ By Laurence Dollimore

Geldof weds Geldof’s Exclusive look at Pixie star-studded wedding

Page 3

A THIRD British man arrested over missing expat Lisa Brown has fled to Portugal on his grandson’s boat, it can be revealed.

The Olive Press has spoken to the Welsh pensioner, who confirmed that he was currently ‘living in a Portuguese port’, but refused to give further details.

Ron Beasley, 71, confirmed he had broken his bail conditions, which required him to report to San Roque police every day, but had been forced to leave Spain to escape the clutches of the ‘Costa del Sol drug mafia’.

Dragged

LGBT heroesgay A look at Spain’s greatest icons during Pride month

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June 8th - June 21st 2017

Spycatcher Spy Garbo’s links to Malaga

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

RUGBY star Dean Schofield is urging action after being mauled in a sophisticated holiday shakedown.

Wasps international Dean (above) and wife Gemma, both 38, were set to take a dream break to Spain with friends to celebrate the England international’s retirement.

But the vacation turned into a nightmare after the group of 16 from Cheshire unwittingly booked via a fraudulent holiday website that has dozens of homes on the Costa del Sol. In total, scammers took payment and deposit of €5,700 €11,400 and (£5,000) (£10,000) respectively before swiping another €29,800 (£26,000) for their stunning villa in Mallorca, which is owned by a wealthy British owner.

Onslaught

In a second incident, a heroic Spanish waiter put his life on the line during the onslaught.

CCTV footage shows Sergio Farina, from Galicia, throw himself against the door of his bar to prevent one of the knife-brandishing terrorists from entering.

He managed to keep the man at bay, before opening the door to help another person find safety.

“You do not even think about it,” he said. “I could have simply left, as everyone did, but I would have left 28 people behind.”

He added that ‘all he could see was a guy with dynamite’ as he tried to lower the bar shutters.

He added: “We did not know how many terrorists there were and whether they would return.”

Call Nick 647 072 861 www.mosquitonick.ws nick@mosquitonick.ws

stolen from Oz agent SCAMMED: Holiday group and (right) fake site with profile when we a horrible moment and we The group only rumbled the “We were very angry told the weren’t sure what to do. scam, via rentholidaysvillas. found out,” Gemma “It was “We started Googling it and Olive Press this week. com, the day before they flew.

STOP THE SCAMMERS

Rentholidaysvillas.com is hosted by US-based server GoDaddy, which was warned as long ago as April of the scam by a leading holiday rental site in Spain.

When asked why it was still live this week, GoDaddy Digital Crimes boss Ben Butler, explained: “We communicate regularly

with law enforcement on alleged fraud and have processes for taking action. If anyone believes they have been defrauded they should contact law enforcement.”

Contact your local police and Action Fraud and email newsdesk@theolivepress.es if you’ve been scammed.

THREE DECADES IN BUSINESS

42

Food, drink & travel

www.theolivepress.es

19872017

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

43

www.theolivepress.es

ago 30

years

TODAY

Patience of a Santo!

A year in the life of Andalucia’s favourite molino hotel, as it reaches its 30th birthday

43

other stories came up. When we emailed the person we’d been dealing with called ‘Flavio’ he sent an abusive email back.

“Luckily we were in a fortunate position where we could arrange an alternative villa and still get the flight over. But what if we were from a normal family and couldn’t afford to come?

We were at least able to salvage the holiday.”

The group had come across the stunning six-bedroom villa with a huge pool and grounds and got in touch via email.

The website looked extremely credible and even had a photo of its alleged owner, ‘Flavio Hernandes Davila’, who did the negotiating.

“I must confess we did think it was a bit cheap for where it was, and it in fact rents for a lot more,” admitted Gemma.

Thankfully, the group of eight adults and eight children who are still on holiday are now trying to reclaim their money as the booking was made via a credit card.

The website however is still live, despite being reported to its web hosting company by the Olive Press and to UK police.

The website boasted that ‘you

SCAM: In last issue

Opinion Page 6

Mosquito Screens

Page 18

Mauled

A PAIR of Spanish heroes came to the aid of Londoners attacked by three crazed terrorists. Ignacio Echeverria and Sergio Farina stepped in to save the lives of innocent bystanders caught up in the carnage that killed seven and injured 48.

Fears however are now growing for Ignacio Echeverria (pictured top left), from Madrid, who defended a woman from one of the terrorists.

Echeverria, 39, is said to have been on his way home from a skate park on the Saturday night when he attempted to defend a woman with his skateboard in Borough Market.

He was last seen lying on the pavement and his family have been unable to locate him despite calling the Spanish consulate, and hospitals.

The Red Cross has also made an appeal to locate him.

The Olive Press toasts the 30th anniversary of two of Andalucia’s yet leading hotels, Molino del Santo and Sunset Beach Club

www.oaklandfurniturespain.com

I

2000 WEDDING MADNESS

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Molino del Santo - the best-loved hotel and restaurant near Ronda - is celebrating 30 years in business with 30 special offers in the hotel and another 30 in the restaurant

2001 POLITICAL SHENANIGANS

1993 DOCTOR’S KNICKERS

2002 BARKING SPECTFUL

1987 MISSED DEADLINES

1994 BEST RURAL HOTEL

24 24

A B

1988 COLLAPSING PARTll about www.theolivepress.es NERSHIP enalmadena

1995 HEIRESS NUMERO DOS

1992 HEIRESS NUMERO UNO

fl

SEA FOOD DIFFERENTLY

• Early Bird 20€ - 6.00 - 8.00pm • Á La Carte Menu

HOTEL OFFERS

2008 SURPRISING GUESTS PART THREE

DISRE-

2013W RETURNING GUESTS

www.theolivepress.es

2003 SEMI ROYAL WEDDING

1991 NAKED ACTRESS

JOINING THE three decade

1990 POLICE VISIT

1989 DESIGNER CLOTHING ROW

P

2009 CHANGE OF TACK

NOW!

30% DISCOUNT - yes book a stay with us within the above 25 25 dates and you will get a FULL 30% discount on our normal rates - BUT it only applies to a total of 30 room nights - once they’re gone, they’re gone. Maximum of two nights per booking at this special rate. Subject to availability.

30 MEALS - we are offering JUST 30 meals at very special rates between the 15th June and the the 26th July 2017.

2004 FLOODING

2010 OH MATRON

2015 LOCAL ECONOMY

30% DISCOUNT - yes book a meal with us within the above dates and you will get a FULL 30% discount on your final bill - BUT it only applies to a total of 30 meals - once they’re gone, they’re gone.

TALENT: Ricky helps raise

2005 EDUCATIONAL ISSUES

Giving back

2011 CHEEKIEST GUESTS

Sunset Beach Club, the emblematic hotel, has reached its 30th birthday Duckett

Laura Duckett writes 1998 GUIDING GUESTS 2006 FOOD THIEF

30 ROOM NIGHTS - we are offering JUST 30 room nights at very special rates between the 15th June and the 26th July 2017.

RESTAURANT OFFERS

2014 HONOURS AT FITUR

1996 FAMILY ILLNESS

1997 VIPS DINING

CLUB!

the ERCHED on a headland below SERIOUSLY GOOD FOOD pretty white village of Benalmadena lies Sunset Beach Club.

Surrounded by lovely beaches and Open Tuesday - Saturday from 6pm it is with stunning views across the Med,Costa the no surprise it has become one of del Sol’s best known hotels.

1999 A DIFFICULT NIGHT reBut while it is already a major landmark around ceiving thousands of visitors fromreached Avenida de Rota, Urb. Torrenueva, Local 1, La Cala de Mijas the world each month, it has now legendary status. its For Sunset Beach has just celebratedstal30th birthday making it a true Malaga EIGHTIES STYLE: But with computers wart.

Celebrating in style with a big anniversary the years. nationbash, which raised €12,200 for charity, An incredible range of guests and hotel has never been in ruder health. it alities come throughout the year, including from most Aside from the hundred-plus weddings returning Canadians in the winter, people from furhosts every year, it has countless European countries and plenty guests and a capacity rate of an incredible ther afield. guests who 93% between February and November. on the “We regularly have returning “That’s a rate almost unheard ofwho has used to stay with their families as children coast,” explains Mark Wardell, last 13 in the 80s,” continues Wardell, a cultured, been managing the hotel for the softly-spoken Irishman, who POSTCARDS THROUGH is incredibly approachable and hands on with both staff THE AGES: and guests. “And it is great How things have chanto have them back.” ged from the 1980s to So what is the key to the hotoday in terms of qualitel’s success? ty and comfort and in Sunset Beach is a complete terms of the amount resort as opposed to a hotel. of entertainment and The guests needs are entirehuge range of guests, ly taken care of and waited who come from over on hand and foot by up to 220 staff at peak times.

100 countries around Its Irish owners - who also the world own upmarket La Cala Resort in Mijas - have spent over €22m upgrading its faOasis excellent Oasis the excellent including the bars, including and bars, rants and cilities since the Millennium. rants the and the bar and Panorama bar Beach, Panorama Luna Beach, restaurant, Luna Without a doubt the price/ its extensive facilities. ca-has aa ca which has a supermarket, gym, beautician restaurant, venue, which Bar venue, Moonlight Bar popular Moonlight quality level is one of the On site, there’s as well as a variety of restau- popular best on the coast across all and hairdresser, in Benalmadena PERFECT LOCATION: By a headland

Tel: 952 49 35 04

HOW ANTO GRAB OFFER

2016 GRATEFUL OWNERS

NOW!

We will only accept bookings for these special offers via e-mail. Mention this advertisement when you enquire. info@molinodesanto.com.

Don’t leave it too late - once 30 people have booked we’re closing the offer.

Measuring up

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More information of any kind e-mail

| Mob: 661 84 33 83

www.thebluemarlin.eu

Luna Beach Club review

very generous green salad, YOU dine to the sound of a the brochette of chicken waves, which almost lap at whilesalmon was delicious. and your feet. of vegetarian spring Romantic in the extreme, you A starter were excellent in sweet could not ask for a nicer ‘chir- rolls relish, while a rack of inguito’, which sits a short chili is available for the more stroll up the beach from the lamb eaters. hearty Sunset Beach hotel. was a catch of the day Subtly-lit, this natural spot - all Therea nice range of puddings thatched roofs, simple deck- andwell. ings and rope fences - also as wine list includes the excounts on an excellent menu, A cellent Payoya Negra from at extremely good value. as well as the good I particularly liked the grilled Ronda,Habla de Silencio from langoustines, which came value at 22 euros. with a choice of sauces and Extremadura,

2007 DOMESTIC ARGUMENTS

info@molinodelsanto.com

2017 NEW TRICKS

www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51 ESTACIÓN DE BENAOJÁN, NEAR RONDA, MÁLAGA

2012 CHEEKIEST GUESTS 2

NOW!

throughpacity for 350 and hosts various events out the year. of activities In addition, there is a huge range

So much on offer

FUN TIMES: Entertainment team today

a quality evolve throughout the years - from luxuthree-star establishment, to the more rious four-star property it is now. UK and hail from the and While most visitors has recently been aton offer, including aerobics, cookery to men- Ireland, the resort from Spanish classes all year round, not diving. tracting more and more customers tion billiards, live music and scuba around the world, with up to 100 nationalithroughout the year.

The rooms are all one or two-bedroom kitchens, ties staying here Lopez enjoys the apartments with fully-equipped in- This is one of the things free Wi-Fi and satellite TVs with several most about working there. of people here - Canaditernational channels. since “You get all kinds Blas Lopez, who has been at the hotelhas al- ans, South Africans and Germans - it really its opening in 1987, says the resortterms of depends on the year. So no two days are ways been ahead of the game in the same working here. “ the satisfaction he feels technology. were sur- That along with “When I arrived, even the guests recep- by helping his guests with their requests prised that we had computers at the large or small. to tion,” he recalls.

It’s staff like this and their commitment give the reLopez, along with several other long-term hotel hospitality that, undoubtedly, loyal staff members, has seen the sort its gleaming reputation.

with BIG CHEQUE: For one of three charities Ricky and Steve Day, of Oak Land Furniture

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RANGE: From Salitos (far left) to Panorama and Oasis (right)

CELEBRATIONS: Inside

No catch 2for1

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THE Olive Press is demanding action against a string of fake holiday rental sites falsely advertising luxury villas across Spain.

It comes after we reported last issue that scam site Rentholidaysvillas.com was conning British tourists out of thousands of euros each year.

One of its victims Rugby star Dean Schofield shelled out nearly 50,000 euros for a fraudulent villa break.

In total, British victims lost €8.16 million in holiday scams last year, a year-on-year rise of 20%, claims the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 7 June

Worst

We have now discovered many other websites running similar fraudulent schemes, Spainvipholiincluding Luxurydreamsdays.com, villas.com and www.digitaldreamsholidays.com.

Top-end properties in Marbella and Sotogrande are being marketed by the scammers at massively reduced prices to lure victims in.

Helle Heredia, from Costa del Sol-based rental firm Novasol, said she had heard of ‘25 to 30’ recent cases of people being scammed but believes there are ‘many more’.

“It’s so scary with these scam sites - they pop up with just robbing peoof one purpose; ple of their money in the most important time of everyone’s year - their holidays,” she said.

“It is too easy to make a website today - just ensure not to be tempted by fantastic offers by companies you have never heard about. Don’t let scam-

Tricia, Fuengirola

Continues on Page 2

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Vol. 11 Issue 267

Remembered

England rugby international demands action over sophisticated holiday scam website that netted nearly €50,000 from him

TRUE HEROES

I read the article on the holiday villa rentals scam (Fradulent holiday rental websites conning Brit holidaymakers out of thousands, issue 268/5).

I am flabbergasted to read that people actually try to charge €1,310 A NIGHT or €2,930 A NIGHT for their properties! How can people possibly justify prices like that...even if they do have 8 bedrooms?

It’s a shocking amount of greed which does the tourist trade here NO FAVOURS. They should be stopped from ripping people off.

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L NDON

BRAVE: Ignacio and Sergio (right)

However, he insisted he is entirely innocent and was wrongly dragged into the investigation over missing Brown, who mysteriously vanished November 4, 2015.

Beasley was pals with Lisa’s boyfriend at the time, Simon Corner, who he sold a boat engine to.

He was pulled in for ‘withinformation’, holding alongside Stephen Jackson and Corner, both of whom gave me 24 hours to leave or in Alcaidesa port. are still under investigation. del Sol drug mafia’. they said they would slit my “I was held for three days He says they believe he could “I’m just a guy on a boat try-I throat.” and grilled constantly,” he be a police informant after ing to enjoy the easy life, He added: “They think I’m a told the Olive Press. “If they being docked close to people mind my own business. grass, if I go back to Spain had anything they would who work in the drugs trade “But they came to me and I’m a dead man.” have charged me by now, He claims he has been it’s ridiculous, I told them pleaded with the British everything I know,” Embassy for help, but noSpeaking on a mobile from body had not returned his his boat in Portugal, he addcalls.

50, has insisted her Lisa’s sister, Helen Jordan, ed: “The last time I saw Lisa responsible are Lisa’s sister claimed she family will never quit until those was on November 1, (three could not comment directly months after Simon behind bars. It comes two days before she vanished), payabout his involvement.

Corner was released on bail, when I asked her if she had Helen Jordan, 50, said: ing €10,000. got some antiques I had dewill “We just want him to tell “We are Lisa’s voice now and livered to her home. the truth and maybe the pushing for answers,” stop I was, never Lisa where knew I “If authorities will then help Jordan told the Olive Press. she would have told the police.” him.”

“The people who know where He is now involved in a legal is are living normal lives among tussle with Spanish police to If you have informayou. They are walking your streets have his passport returned. tion contact the Olive and are dangerous.”

The Swansea-born expat, at Press on 951 273 575 or Police fear she was murdered who has a wooden leg and at newsdesk@theolivehome before her body was thrown needs heart medication, press.es out to sea. claims he was forced to leave La Linea by the ‘Costa

flees Spain Missing expat Lisa Brown suspectmafia’ to escape Costa del Sol ‘drug

Marbs magic travel

Voted BEST expat paper in Spain

Mijas Costa 1 23/02/2017 11:31 679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_MIJAS_COSTA.indd

ago

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many as a decade ago.

Flabbergasted

New quality homes since 1958

Voted BEST expat paper in Spain

Suits EU, ma’am

1987

6.4 - Estimated number of dogs in Spain - twice as

Readers’ explosive reaction to the death of Spanish bullfighter Ivan Fandino, who was gored to death in France

That's what it should be like, countries working in harmony, getting the best out of life, not bickering and squabbling all the time (Spanish multinationals to continue investing in UK despite Brexit, issue 268). Maybe the politicians should take note.

69 refugees have drowned off the coast of Spain

after an employment surge in June. The number of unemployed people in the province is now at 146,309.

Charging comments

Take note

June - an increase of 2.5% from last year.

6,139 less people are unemployed in Malaga

July 5th - July 18th 2017

OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 21 June

Good news

Ban it now

Fantastic. I Only wish he’d died a slower more painful death, like the bulls do in this pathetic ‘sport’. May this scene be repeated many times until Spaniards finally make it into the 21st century along with everyone else.

Bull 1: Spanish T**t: 0

It’s about time this cruel sport was banned.

I am sorry for the guy who died, but the poor animals are tortured before they are killed, and they don't have a choice but to get into the ring.

Dave, Malaga

Wrong

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You have every right to feel as you do (as do I to support the spectacle in a country where it is legal and popular). I think, however, that celebrating the death of a fellow human being, in print, is an abomination. This is all over the Spanish facebook, but it is only here, with the English, that there are stupid and ugly comments.

Lenox Napier, Malaga

Idiots Laughing and insulting the man or his family is wrong and I would condemn this.

I think most people living in Spain have an idea and an opinion about bullfighting, some approve, many do not. Some of the views try to point out the irony of a man dying when he tries to kill a 1 ton wounded animal for entertainment. I guess bullfighters view it as an occupational hazard. Personally I don't rejoice when someone dies prematurely but there are idiots around. Just please don't put us all in one pot!

Doreen Chaffe, Estepona

Offensive Some of these comments are disgusting and offensive! I hate bullfighting but I do not celebrate the guy’s death. Just ban the sport.

Stephanie Thompson, London

No sympathy I have no sympathy for the man. Live by the sword, die by the sword. This is justice for the poor bull who was probably still killed anyway. The ‘sport’ is savagery in any language.

Lorna Button, Mijas

Stain

Long live the bull! This barbaric so-called sport has no place in the 21st century. When it is finally banned, people will look back in shame and see it as nothing but a stain on the history of Spain.

Chris P, Valencia

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Harsh words

Let him going he is a con artist, takes the glory but don't pay is taxes shame on you (Cristiano Ronaldo ‘wants to leave Spain’ as tax fraud charges leave him feeling ‘persecuted’, issue 268). It's the loyal fans that paid to see you, greedy!

You lot are a bit harsh aren't you! (I’M MORTIFIED: Woman in viral ‘Ryanair romp’ video speaks out, online). Alright it was a bloody daft thing to do and I'm totally cringing for them, but "drop dead" and "waste of air" is going a bit far! Are you sure all of you are perfect and have never done anything stupid in your lives, EVER! Of course you have, you were just lucky enough not to have it plastered all over the media! Chill out for goodness sake!

Beverley Robinson, Madrid

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

Issue 48

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SEEING THE LIGHT

MOORISH: Tarifa gate and El Palma beach

Jon Clarke takes a trip along the Costa de la Luz of Cadiz, Andalucia’s most unspoilt, if sometimes breezy, coastline

dunes, umbrella pines and the smell of rosemary and mimosa.

This is the Costa de la Luz - the Coast of Light - and a million miles away from its nearby cousin the Costa del Sol, indeed the costas in general.

JOURNEY: A creek between Zahara and Barbate and (below) sunflowers and turbines near Zahora

et

on book p l u

-10€

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one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.

What they share though, is privilege.

For what surrounds them is a canvas of colours and contours, a backdrop of Africa, all illuminated by an almost unique changing light.

Long, unspoilt beaches, windswept sand

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HE journey from Zahara de los Atunes to Barbate is one of the most scenic in Andalucia… and a tardis between two worlds.

Zahara is the quintessential home of affluence; a golden magnet for wealthy tourists and a flotilla of Cayannes and Q7s come weekends and peak holiday season.

In contrast, Barbate is a newtown created by dictator Franco, pockmarked with ugly 1960s tower blocks and afflicted by

43 great things to do in Tarifa

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Especialidad en arroces Paellas, caldosos, risoto Atún de Tarifa Lomos de Bacalao Rabo de Toro Speciality in rices Paellas, caldosos, rissotto Tuna fish from Tarifa Cod loin Oxtail

c/Santísima Trinidad No27 (Alameda) tel: +34 956 68 04 17

La Ternera MIMOSA

LAS MEJORES CARNES A LA BRASA THE BEST BARBEQUED MEATS Pescados a la Brasa / Grilled Fish Pizzas Artesanales / Artisan Pizzas Tartas Caseras / Homemade Cakes Barbacoa / Steakhouse

tel: 656 68 21 15

laterneramimosa

www.laterneramimosa.wix.com/tarifa

This is a coastline of castles and carpaccios, coves and corvina (one of its best local fish)... the perfect blend of nature and its best ingredients.

This is a coastline of gems; historic Tarifa, the bridgehead for the Moors in Spain and a crossing point for centuries and beautiful Vejer de la Frontera, with its cobbled streets and restaurant scene.

This is a coastline of laid back, low rise resorts; Roman Bolonia and the biggest sand dune in the world, entertaining El Palmar, with its party crowd and surf, and quirky Canos de Meca, with its alternative feel.

But what best sums up this long stretch of coastline for me are the views you get while taking lunch at places like Tesoro above Tarifa or, sitting, for example, on the terrace of your hotel suite at Califa in Vejer.

For spreading out in front of you are uninterrupted tenmile vistas of rolling fields all the way down to white sandy beaches, with very little built on them.

An incredible sight, this patchwork quilt of greenery and long, unspoilt beaches is sadly practically unique to Spain these days, but what much of Andal u c i a ' s coastline would have looked like 50 years ago.

The Costa de la Luz is only matched in beauty by Cabo de Gata in Almeria but there is something intrinsically different about the Costa de la Luz: Laid back and unshowy, its friendly, un-

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BREATHTAKING: View from Torre del Tajo and fish in Barbate

COAST WITH THE MOST

THE Costa de la Luz officially stretches for aroun d 200kms all the way up into Huelva and to the border Split in two by the stunning Donana Natiowith Portugal. coastline also includes the so-called ‘sherrnal Park, the y triangle’ or ‘Cadiz coast’ towns of Sanlucar de Barrameda , Rota, Chipiona and El Puerto de Santa Maria.

It also includes the cities of Cadiz and Huelv a. fussy locals complement the breathtaking scenery and distinctive vibe.

The coastline is, without a doubt, for the more discerning tourist and, in particular, for lovers of fine food.

Vejer, in particular, has an incredible mix of stylish boutique hotels and probably the highest concentration of top restaurants per capita of anywhere else in Andalucia.

This is a true food capital and over the last few years, I have found at least a dozen

Coupon kings

A NEW coupon booklet is offering dozens of discounts across tens of businesses in Tarifa.

Called Tarifun, the coupon collection gives away special offers in water sports, land activities, retreats, accommodation, food and drink, shopping or even co-working in an office.

“It’s for active people who want to make the best out of their stay in Tarifa,” explains creator Timi Trimmel, “and those who are keen to discover how many exciting adventures this windy capital offers for everyone.”

The booklet is valid till the end of 2017 and can be used at any time.

“Most of the coupons are valid for a group of friends or family, which makes it more valuable,” adds Trimmel, “Tarifun could be a perfect gift for everyone who lives in Andalucia and comes to Tarifa from time to time. So if you don’t know what to buy for your friend’s or relative’s birthday, go for the booklet!”

There is also a €10 discount for Olive Press readers if they send an email to hello@tarifun.com to request their booklet.

Visit www.tarifun.com for more info.

great places to eat within a ten mile radius of the town.

Tarifa has an altogether different feel. This is a party town, particularly in summer, when the back streets are heaving with lively bars well into the early hours.

But its stylish mix of shops and restaurants added to its melting pot of worldly Spaniards and interesting expats make for a distinct Tarifa scene, not dissimilar to the one you find in Ibiza and it is one of the few places – thanks in the main to its breezes – that still has enough going on through the winter.

The Moors would never have had it so good on arriving in Tarifa in 710AD. While later dubbing Andalucia ‘paradise’, it was certainly anything but peaceful when they used the town as their bridgehead into southern Spain.

This is quickly obvious wondering around Tarifa, its historic ramparts littered with statues and references to stirring catholic heroes such as Sancho El Bravo and Guzmán el Bueno.

If you have never taken a ride to these shores, the other side of the Rock of Gibraltar and around Cadiz you are in for a surprise.

This is Europe's true deep south, and aside from the austere 'cubist' towns, which were built by the Moors who ruled this land for nearly 800 years, you will be spoilt by the numerous sites from the famous Trafalgar lighthouse – off which the key naval battle once took place - to the historic fishing village of Sancti Petri, near Chiclana.

Then there are the excellent Roman ruins at Bolonia and hidden gems, like Zahora

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ENERGETIC: Tarifa is the kite capital of Europe and exclusive Roche, where There is literally everything Madrid's captains of industry here from the historic contake their holidays. verted townhouses, like Silos My favourite spots though 19 and Califa, to the evocainclude the secret beach, a tive dining terraces at Patria half an hour walk from Bolo- and Castilleria. nia, where you will find just And above all there are the cows, the celebrated brown ingredients‌ the amazing retinto cows of tuna, local the region. vegetables I also love the and the amazI also love the amazing walk ing beef from through umthe aforemenamazing walk brella pines cows. through umbrella tioned to the Torre And then up del Tajo, high pines to the Torre the road you above Barhave Jerez, its bate, which del Tajo history and its finally gives sherries, not out one of the to mention best views in the incredible Christendom. historic gem of Cadiz and And then there is the ancient its nearby towns of Sanlucar dovecote at El Palomar de la and Puerto de Santa Maria Brena, plus the historic in- and the true lungs of Andaland gem of Medina Sidonia. lucia, the celebrated Donana But best of all it is the restau- National Park. rants and food that make this Oh the incredible lightness of region so very special. being!

HISTORIC: Cobbled streets of Vejer

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A shore thing

Manuel Caminero was a high-flying art director in Australia before he quit his day job to become a fine art photographer of the seas.

Now he spends his mornings chasing sunrises on Tarifa’s famed coast.

“One day I went to Tarifa and I fell in love. Since then, I have shot Tarifa from every angle - by helicopter, while swimming in rough waves and battling the strongest wind storms.,” he said.

His galler y, Atlas Beach, is the only one in Europe which concentrates 100% on photography, of the sea and beaches, and not just in Tarifa but of far reaching coastlines in remote coasts across the globe with photos taken during his intrepid travels every year. , Having visited hundreds of galleries in Berlin Paris, London, and other cities, he is convinced the quality of his photos matches the best seen in some of the top London galleries.

And after starting the business from humble beginnings in the form of a blog, he is certainly riding on the waves success.

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Romans and moor!

PRESERVED: A Roman statue stands proud by dozens of pillars at Bolonia, while (right) Tarifa statue

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HE pungent scent of tuna is wafting down the street from the salting factory, while toga-clad townsfolk make their way to the forum to shop and socialise.

It’s mid morning, and maybe later - in the heat of the day - they will duck for cover and chill out at the town’s spa, punish a few slaves and then treat the wife to a show at the theatre.

Picture the scene at Baelo Claudia 1,800 years ago, at that time one of Spain’s most important Roman settlements.

The ruined Roman city on the beachfront at Bolonia, a ten minute drive west of

el placer de día

Roman ruins, pristine beaches, cool kitesurfers ... Tom Powell is blown away by Tarifa and nearby Bolonia Tarifa, had a booming economy back in 2AD, based on its fish salting industry.

Today, at this reconstructed living museum, you can walk the cobbled streets, explore old Roman villas or declaim a few stanzas by Seneca from the stage of the ancient amphitheatre.

Shut your eyes and you can almost believe you’ve been beamed back a couple of centuries.

Stepping through the town gate and exploring this once magnificent Roman city is more than enough to set the imagination racing.

The Iberian Peninsula’s biggest Roman city – complete with walls, aqueducts, baths, temples, forums, villas and more – is a rather special place. It is designed to be taken slowly, at a stroll, while breathing in the fresh Atlantic air as the wind wafts you gently through the ruins.

Baelo’s main road – decumanus maximus – runs from east to west, connect-

BIGGEST DUNE IN EUROPE Bolonia’s iconic, giant sand dune is the texture of icing sugar, its waters Caribbean blue.

The largest on the Continent it dares to be climbed, just to see what lies beyond.

While there is no secret cove or crock of gold at the end it is a lovely slow transition into a cool, scented pine forest.

And the stunning views from the top are a reminder of how all coastal Andalucia once was.

Nearby look for Cala del Picacho, for some therapeutic mud-baking.

The mud treatments are popular and you smash up some wet slate stone to create your own mudpack, before letting it dry off (See inset pic below).

Bon appetit!

A gastronomic journey from Tarifa to France in which you will savour the history of Brittany with each of our dishes

Paseo de la Alameda s/n, Tarifa 11380 tel: 956 682 303 info@petitbistrotarifa.com www.petitbistrotarifa.com CREATIVE: A mural being created on the beachfront

ing two large town gates.

From here a well-signposted route leads you around the Roman settlement, with plenty of information in English to accompany the strikingly well-preserved ruins.

The town had really started growing in 2AD, after a product, known as garum, made in Baelo, took off among the chattering classes of Rome.

Made out of fish guts it was a pungent, but allegedly tasty addition to any meal and the whole area became dedicated to its production, with Roman ships arriving and departing on a daily basis for Italy, loaded up with the magic product.

Nowadays its big sister Tarifa makes its money from a different sort of natural produce: the wind!

‘Breathtaking’’ and ‘windy’ are certainly two adjectives often used to describe trendy Tarifa - the wind and kitesurf capital of Europe.

Glimpsing its long crescent beach of pristine white sand atop the winding uphill road from Algeciras,

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Andalusia Cuisine & Flavours of the world

ACTIVE CROWD: A kitesurfer off Los Cances beach

flanked by battalions of teem with life and the place flailing wind turbines, it’s comes into its own after not hard to see why. dark, when twinkling bar Here, where signs light up the Atlanlike stars on tic meets every corner.

This little fishing One of the the Mediterranean, best things town was the kitesur fers about Tarifa first point of the is the view dominate the skyline. It’s Moorish invasion of the Gibralclearly these tar Strait, water sports hemmed in in AD 711 lovers who between Eucreate the rope and Aflaid-back vibe rica, with the that makes Tarifa a favou- beautiful Mediterranean to rite party town. the east and the vast, wild Its pretty, cobbled streets Atlantic to the west.

STUNNING: Roof terrace views across the old town

Take a walk along the narrow walkway separating the two waters out to Isla de las Palomas and then stroll up Los Lances beach to enjoy a drink or supper at one of its hip chiringuitos.

It is not just the wind that attracts tourists to this kitesurfing Mecca. There are whale watching and scuba diving trips and oodles of opportunities for retail therapy.

Indeed, Tarifa has an abundance of quirky shops selling handicrafts, leather bags, jewellery and musical instruments, as well as pavement cafes touting freshly-baked treats.

There’s a small town beach, Playa Chica, lapped by the Med (and great if the Poniente is blowing a hooley).

COMING TO A SHORE NEAR YOU: Whales in Straits of Gibraltar, and (below) tuna half-eaten by orcas

Whale ahoy!

SUN-SEEKERS and surfers aren’t the only ones who head to the Costa de la Luz every year.

Sharing the shores are pods of whales which can regularly be seen frolicking in the Straits of Gibraltar.

A number of local companies – such as the best established Turmares Tarifa - take guests on boat trips to see these mammals, with a slant on marine conservation.

The orcas are attracted to the sparkling Mediterranean by the large amount of tasty blue fin tuna, which occasionally brings them into conflict with local fisherman.

“Luckily for us, orcas come here each year to feed,” Andre at Turmares explains.

“On the other hand, that’s not so good for the presence of the Bluefin tuna.”

Andre adds that despite the ‘killer’ name attributed to the most famous whale they are actually ‘harmless to humans’ al-

though they do feed on 32 different mammal species.

Along with the killers, pilot, sperm and fin whales migrate from the Atlantic, as well as three different types of dolphins – common, striped and bottlenose.

All of which can be seen during boat trips, depending on your luck!

For more information visit www.turmares.com

But the focal point is Calle Alameda, a lively Spanish walkway lined with good restaurants, including the newly-refurbished Petit Bistro for classy French cuisine. There’s frequently live music here, and an extensive book market to peruse.

Across the road the refurbished grand fort, overlooking the bustling harbour, has recently reopened to the public, providing wonderful views of the Strait.

This little fishing town was the first point of the Moorish invasion of southern Spain in AD711, when the Berber chief landed from Ceuta with 400 foot soldiers and 100 horsemen.

They built the fort later, in 960AD. It is a lovely ride from here to Bolonia, through stunning undeveloped countryside and pine fronded beaches, with kites bobbing up above on windy days. There is a great selection of fantastic hotels here, the oldest and most established being the Hurricane.

PARTY SCENE: In centre

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Between the sea and the sierra, Vejer is the genuine outpost of Spain’s wild frontier, with a remarkable restaurant scene as part of the mix, writes Jon Clarke

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T is in a sleepy backwater, up a dead end road close to Vejer de la Frontera that I found one of the last redoubts of quintessential Andalucia.

Tricky to find and easy to miss even when right outside, there are few places left in the region that are quite so unpretentious.

Authentic in the extreme and little changed for decades, Venta el Toro is where those locals-in-the-know go for a dose of nostalgia and a darn good tapas lunch.

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FORTRESS OF FOOD

AUTHENTIC: Boss Nono at Venta el Toro and tourist enjoys lunch at La Torre It is here that you will find lo- stantly evolving for a decade. a venta lunch if you couldn't cal hoteliers escaping their All part of greater Vejer, which make it to Tarifa or nearby clients and is arguably An- Conil in time. lovers heading dalucia's food The name Vejer de la Fronfor a secret capital, within tera, however, says it all... rendezvous.

A hilltop fortress, ten minutes of a hilltop fortress, seen for Slowly becomhere you can miles around, was once a last seen for miles ing something find easily a frontier of Christian Spain. of a magnet around, was once dozen good The scene of invasions and for foodies, places to eat. bloodthirsty battles for huna last frontier of It has been a dreds of years, this much the hamlet of Santa Lucia r e m a r k a b l e sought after strategic outChristian Spain now boasts turnaround for post changed hands numerthree good a place that ous times, finally becoming restaurants, two decades part of King Ferdinand’s including the amazing Cas- ago you would probably only Spain in 1248. tilleria, which has been con- stop at for a coffee or maybe Later, in 1805, the sound of heavy gunfire could be heard again as Admiral Nelson destroyed the unified French and Spanish armada at nearby Cape Trafalgar.

The Civil War years were violent too, with calls for land reform from residents met

by General Franco by sending 24 soldiers to occupy the town, killing anyone who stepped out of line.

Fresh, vibrant, healthy home cooking from the mediterranean Corredera 55, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz Open every day tel: 956 451 848 www.CalifaVejer.com

ART: On the streets of Vejer Nowadays, however, the only thing likely to knock you over in Vejer is the wind.

That and the stunning views from this delightful white village, exposed to the gusting Atlantic from its hilltop perch between the sea and the sierra.

An unmissable component of any visit to the Costa de la Luz, the medieval quarter oozes history, its castle walls intertwined with whitewashed homes discovered along twisty-turny, cobbled streets.

The Moorish castle – or Alcazaba – hides down a sidestreet lined with eucalyptus trees.

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CHANGING LIGHT: Sunset approaches in centre of the town The jasmine-scented courtyard houses the den of the local scout group, who will happily show tourists around the ramparts of what is otherwise mostly residential now.

The streets all tend towards the town’s central square, the highly picturesque Plaza Espana - known locally as ‘Plaza de los Pescaitos’ - with its exquisite, bright fountain decorated with 19th-century Triana tiles from Sevilla.

The plaza takes its name from the little goldfish – pescaitos – which used to swim in the fountain when it was built in the 1920s.

The surrounding streets and alleyways are a hive of activity, belying their sleepy appearance. There are handicraft shops, art galleries and flamenco haunts, as well as cafes, bars and restaurants serving up the best produce from the turbulent Atlantic and encircling farmland and forests.

In particular look out for Pa- DETAIL: Stunning doorway at Califa hotel jarra, a shop that for over a decade has providing visitors ish, original, hand-printed t- Above all, make sure to head to the Costa de la Luz with shirts… right in front of your up to the turreted walls, from where views spread out an amazing range of styl- nose. across cultivated fields to the mountains and the 5,000 hectare Las Brenas Natural Park.

It’s easy to see why this immaculate village was voted second Most Beautiful in Spain on Trip Advisor.

There is certainly something special about Vejer, which appears to lord it over its neighbouring fishing villages from its exalted hilltop eyrie, its white cubist houses tumbling down the hillside like tossed dice.

And it’s a safe bet, if you’re new to the Costa de la Luz, that you’ll be leaving nothing to chance if you take a trip to the former final frontier.

Juice on the loose

Celebrated restaurant Patria in Vejer has launched a new business, Patria Pura, which is a wonderful mix of delicious fresh juices.

They come in a mix of flavours, including fresh mango, lemon and ginger, strawberry lemonade, and are for sale in up to a dozen places around the nearby region.

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Moroccan and middle eastern fine dining Plaza de España 16, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz Open every day tel: 956 45 17 06 www.CalifaVejer.com

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Garden of

PRIVILEGE: The El Jardin restaurant comes with peacocks

The Hurricane group has a brand new restaurant and some important new additions to the team, discovers Jon Clarke

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ITTING on the shady verandah looking across rows of palms and up to a peak covered in umbrella pines, feels like something reminiscent of the days of the Raj. Peacocks scream in the distance while in front of me are a dozen beautifully laid tables, each with candles and starched white tablecloths.

This is El Jardin, the newest, most exciting garden restaurant on the Costa de la Luz. With talented chef Alfonso Burgos at the reign and some of the most demanding hoteliers on the coast behind him, it was always going to succeed.

Set in the stunning, almost tropical grounds of Tarifa’s Punta Sur hotel, diners are well sheltered from the famous winds of the nearby coast.

A long time in coming, the new menu while largely Mediterranean in flavour, also reflects

the various places that chef Alfonso has worked, including Indonesia and the Galapagos islands.

In his new post he not only has a command of the very best ingredients the Costa de la Luz has to offer, but he also has an amazing new kitchen.

I would particularly recommend the Thai salad as a light lunch treat, coming with Vermicelli noodles, prawns, mango, peanuts and zucchini strips, in a chili sauce, while the locally grown tomatoes ‘alinados’ were crisp and fresh and served with pearls of Mozzarella.

For dinner you might plump for the wonderful steamed clams with Iberian ham, while the bluefin tuna tartare was splendid. A fabulous fillet steak from the local Retinto cattle was perfect as were the baby back pork ribs in barbecue sauce.

This is all part of a masterplan struck between the Hurricane group’s owners the Whaley brothers and two Whaley youngsters, George, 23, and Sophie, 24, who are, in their words, ‘working on the aesthetic’ of the hotel, redesigning the bedrooms and, best of all, revolutionising the menu.

It certainly seems to be working with the amazing hotel more comfortable and stylish than ever before, not to mention its pool, by far the best on the coast.

TRANSFORMATION: Of the rooms, but not the swimming pool at Punta Sur The Whaley story is not over yet with the next generation making plenty of waves of their own, not just in the hotel and restaurant stakes.

Peter’s son Liam Whaley is looking set to win the world kitesurf champion again and currently sits in the It is a similar, yet contrasting story, at the family’s second hotel the Hurricane, which has served the world’s cognoscenti for over three decades now.

Slap bang next to the beach, but again in exotic gardens, it is still the flagship of the group, who now have a new

CHILLING: Hurricane sofa in front row seat

DREAM RIDE: With Hurricane Hipica

Flying high

lead.

Kiting since the age of nine, he lives and breathes the sport and first won the world championship in 2015.

hotel in Brazil to boot, as well as their incredibly hip, Valdevaqueros beach club, just up the road.

The story behind the Hurricane group began over three decades ago when British adventurer Peter Whaley made an unscheduled stop off en route from his home in Ibiza to a holiday in Morocco.

A keen windsurfer he unwittingly found himself on the windiest beach in Europe and had the vision to launch a business there.

It was 1984 and he had soon found a partner (an Australian board maker Barry Pussell) to help him open the coast’s first rental business.

Named 100% Fun (now a successful nearby hotel) – the shack rented out windsurfs and sold clothes from his wife Terese’s successful fashion label Graffiti Ibiza.

“It was a low key launch and we had no idea how well it was going to go,” explains Peter today.

Amazing mounts

HORSERIDING along the bright, windswept Costa de la Luz is a wonderful adventure.

Hurricane Hipica, in Tarifa, has established itself as an equine epicentre, offering rides that take you over breathtaking beaches and forested mountains. Run by world-class Dutch equestrian Klaartje Muijser, the horses are incredibly well looked after, living shoe-free in open fields.

For more information, check out www. tarifahip.com and www.elindiviso.com

“There is never a shortage here,” he tells the Olive Pre it is one of the most fun p live.”

Travelling the world, he has sponsorship with Cabrinha closely linked to ion, whic boards and kites at Valdeva

HIP CLOBBER: At graffiti “What we did have was a great board maker and fantastic, totally Spanish-made clothes.”

It was the spark to launch the wind revolution on the Costa de la Luz, an industry that now brings in tens of millions of euros every year.

But, Peter quickly realised that in order to keep the growing number of surfers happy they needed to offer accommodation, so the following year he and his brother Michael, a builder, bought an old ruined 12-room hostal just up the road.

A third brother James, a film director and producer from London - who also speaks an incredible seven languages also got involved.

A big figure in the film business – as well as the manager of Adam and the Ants it was little surprise that the Hurricane Hotel was soon to become one of Andalucia’s hippest places to stay.

“I convinced my brothers that we would never make enough money from 12 rooms, so we

TEAM: So and Geor ter and w James W

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e of wind ess. “And places to

s his own a and is ch rents aqueros.

obtained permission from the town hall to build an extra 23 and brought in an architect,” explains James, who is very much still the life and soul of the Hurricane – and its nearby sister hotel Punta Sur. He continues: “Once opened we converted the bricklayers into our staff, some becoming cooks, others waiters, others receptionists or gardeners.

“I explained to the builders that making a cake was as ophie easy as making cement. All rge, Pe- you had to do was throw the wife and right ingredients into a mixer and stick it in the oven at the Whaley right temperature for the appropriate amount of time,” he continues.

As the local restaurants back then were basic, at best, the brothers installed a herb garden and started to plant and grow their own vegetables.

As James had lived in Italy he got a friend to send rucula, or rocket seeds, and the coast’s best restaurant was also born.

“It just grew and grew organically,” explains Peter, who still spends half the year in Ibiza, where he has a farmhouse.

“But now we think we have just the right ingredients to continue to be successful for years to come.”

Nowadays the group comprises four hotels - The Hurricane, Punta Sur, Valdevaqueros (100% Fun was sold six years ago) and a new hotel recently opened in Jericoacoara, Brazil, appropriately also a kitesurfing hotspot. “It is coming along really well,” explains James. “We are just about to open the second phase and it has become a very popular place to stay.” Visit www.hotelhurricane.com

CHILLING: At Jumbao and (top) walkway onto the beach

HURRICANE HANGOUT

THE walkway down onto the white sandy beach below offers a runway to paradise.

Down here the view goes on for miles, as far in fact to Africa and the nearby rocky peaks of Punta Paloma to the west.

And if the beach is windy, well no worries, take a few paces back and unwind at Valdevaqueros, the hippest hangout on the Costa de la Luz. Take apew, most likely a bean bag, and watch the beautiful people glide about to the ambient sounds of reggae or house, depending on the time of day.

From here you will most likely see a profusion of colourful kites, as they bob up and down, and can chill out all day enjoying the classic Tarifa vibe.

Kick back and graze on the fabulous food and superb smoothies, maybe head for a massage or if you are feeling energetic have a chat with the guys from the ion watersports centre next door.

“While it used to be just for sporty types, the majority of

PICTURE PERFECT: At Valdevaqueros

people come here now because it is super-hip,” explains Chris Ziaja, the boss of ion, formerly the Mistral centre.

“It’s Mojitos from 3pm but it creates a great atmosphere and it is surprising how many people end up renting out paddle surfs or taking a kitesurf lesson.”

It is certainly the spot to take up this fun, high-adrenaline sport, with current world champion Liam Whaley learning and basing himself here when not touring the world competing.

But equally, it is a great place to just take the waters, have lunch or an afternoon drink at the achingly hip Tumbao beach bar.

Here, boss David Alvarez Trevino, a butcher by trade, works hard to run a happy ship, by bringing in a mix of good DJs and flamenco groups, and serving up the best burgers from his burger truck, which he takes to events around the country.

The main restaurant is also good, while the iZumo smoothy bar has some great drinks such as ‘magic maca’, which is delicious.

Opened by Daniela Di Placido, she has been serving up juices around the world for nearly a decade.

“They are mostly dairy free and I have a big range of minerals and vitamins I add to the drinks, which are great on the stomach.”

Next door is the funky clothes shop Graffiti, the very epitome of cool, with some great new lines added every season.

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Enriching the sole!

DREAMY: A prawn dish with wine AM sucking the brains from half a dozen crimson red ‘carabinero’ king prawns, while sipping on a splendid Rosso di Montalcino.

In front of me 100 kites bob up and down, almost in time to the strains of cool Brazilian music, while all around hipsters and hotties chow down and sip on cocktails.

Backed by umbrella pines and overlooking miles of stunning sand dunes - not to mention a backdrop to one half of the legendary Pillars of Hercules in Morocco - could anywhere beat Osteria del Sole for lunch?

With a splendid list of fresh pasta made every morning, an amazing selection of fish dishes and an Italian wine list to put three quarters of Tuscany’s eateries in the shade, I was in foodie heaven.

I would happily have eaten lunch and dinner here, after a tour of the kitchens, where a team of female chefs were beavering away in preparation for lunch service.

Everything is made from fresh and the team of trendy waiters, all bearded up in jet black uniforms, were enthusiastic as me.

I had been tipped off from my pal James Whaley, owner of the nearby Hurricane hotel, that this was the best new spot to eat and he rarely gets it wrong.

Nor did manager Stefano, from Bologna (the Italian one, not the nearby village of Bolonia), who is extremely knowledgeable on the local food scene, and more or less chose my lunch.

He guided me first to the wonderful ‘ahumados de Barbate’ starter, which at first didn’t appeal, but on arrival sent shivers of joy up my spine.

Beautifully served with crusty bread and three delicious home-made butters of lemon, black garlic and onion, this blackboard-and-slate combo included smoked tuna, cod and sardines.

Another starter Crescentine, a fried flat bread, was tasty, while the tartare

I

Photos by: Jon Clarke and Thomas Williams (@thomaspwill / @lupproducciones)

AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE: Fresh pasta is hand-made each morning at Osteria del Sole, ready for the plate come lunchtime

Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke reviews the stunning new Tarifa restaurant Osteria del Sole

TEAMWORK: The staff at Osteria are knowlegeable about the dishes, including a king prawn tartare (far left) of carabineros from Galicia, served with capers and a small salad can only be described as ‘de puta madre’, or ‘the bollox’ in English, to coin an appropriate term given the owners (see Hey Papa! below).

Each dish is carefully explained and the pasta menu was broken down into sections of spaghetti, passatelli,

HEY PAPA!

HOT STONE TREATMENT: Cook your own at Papagayo

WHEN the owners of three trendy bars in Barcelona decided to expand, it was obvious that Tarifa was right at the top of the list.

With a similar vibe to back home and an equally demanding crowd of bon viveurs and style-meisters, it had just the right feel.

Add to that a love of kitesurfing and it was obvious that Francesco, Seba, Max and Sergio had the perfect spot.

Now in its third year, Papagayo has gone from strength to strength and be-

ravioli and mezze maniche.

Again I was led to the Tagliatella del Corsaro which came with Italian speck, cream and a tabasco sauce, all flambeed with vodka. And again plaudits to Stefano, who got it spot on.

There was a decent mix of fresh fish and meat dishes, but I was mostly

come one of the key hangouts for those-in-the-know on the Costa de la Luz. The trio of Italians and one Chilean (Seba) have worked hard to get just the right mix of quality fast food and cool atmosphere.

Papagayo focuses on decent fresh food, hot stone cooked steaks and fresh salads, and there are loads of great cocktails, it being a fun place to head for at night to boot. The group have three bars in central Barcelona, The Bollocks and two Neverminds, a clever play on the Sex Pistols eponymous album.

blown away, being the operative word here in Tarifa, by the amazing wine list, easily one of the most complete in the Tarifa area.

In total, there were over 100 wines from Italy alone, including a number from the legendary Antinori stable, coming in at a small fortune, but equally there are some good value chestnuts among the list, as well as a fair few Spanish bottles.

I had a splendid Rosso di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne and a Pazo Senorans Albarino, from Galicia, for under 20 euros. Recently set up by the capable Italian/Chilean partners behind Papagayo in central Tarifa, it’s a stylish spot, all wood and clean lines, with plenty of glass to keep the invasive wind out.

With the right music, wine and food, it is bound to succeed.

In fact, it’s a no brainer really.

DREAM LOCATION: Right on the beach

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B R E A K FA S T & B R U N C H R E S TA U R A N T ¡ L O U N G E Telephones: 856 093 941 - 627 440 737 - 693 420 343 Ctra. de la Playa s/n, El Palmar, Vejer de la Frontera, Spain 11159 WWW.LATORREDELPALMAR.COM latorre.elpalmar

Plaza Cine Corredera s/n, Vejer de la Frontera, Spain 11150

latorre.elpalmar

Telephone: 956 776 692 latorre2.0.vejer

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Coast with The Costa de la Luz has one of the most exciting mix of restaurants in Spain, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

(SMELL + TASTE + EMOTION)

LEADERS: Melero and team and (right) Castilleria’s Juan with Jon Clarke

WHERE TO EAT

(LOCAL + NATURAL + SEASONAL) Calle Alcalde Juan Nuñez 8 · Tarifa, Spain 11380 Tel: 956 68 31 79 · Opens at 12:30pm

Open every day from 11 to 11 Corredera 33, Vejer de la Frontera tel: 637 423 506 www.CalifaVejer.com

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TANDING at the pass with half a dozen chefs on one side and a dozen waiters on the other, it is somewhat amazing that Jose Melero looks so relaxed.

Directing his team with Zen-like calm, it is perhaps not surprising that this seasoned chef turned down a career in the air force to run his famous fish restaurant El Campero (www.restauranteelcampero. es) in Barbate.

And military precision is what he needs with his team serving up to 400 people in a busy summer sitting… and over the three months of summer up to 20,000 meals.

Without a doubt this is THE place to eat tuna, in about 30 different guises, even including tuna lasagna and various types of tuna salad, and you will be hard pressed to find a better fish restaurant in Spain.

Saying that, just up the road, in Zahara de los Atunes, you will find Antonio (www.restauranteantoniozahara.com), a restaurant certainly as good and in an even more enviable position, on one of the most amazing beaches in Spain.

Having just undertaken a remarkable transformation, it is the very epitome of style, while also maximising on the incredible light and views.

Antonio also has a fabulous self-contained tuna menu, which is a stunning trawl of the very best of this wonderful local fish. And there are some good value tapas dishes, such as the amazing tuna tartare on toast at just five euros, or the ‘mollete’ bun of squid with mayonnaise.

Tarifa is the town with the fastest growing number of decent places to eat and the quality of cooking gets better by the year.

Slowly catching up on Vejer, you have half a dozen excellent places to eat.

One of the most exciting spots is the recently opened Mic Moc (www.facebook.com/micmoctarifa), where friendly Hernan and his Belgian wife have created a wonderful space, with an exciting and creative menu.

All cooked from fresh they pride themselves on their homemade sauces, many of them spicy, and the sheer mix of ingredients in most dishes.

I tried it when it first opened a year ago and it is still going strong, no surprises with dishes like its samosas served with amazing mango chutney and its Russian salad, that came with crab, wakame, broc-

ALL CHANGE: Incredible renovation at Antonio and tuna tapa

Perfect mix

There are few delicacies in Spain that can’t be sourced on the Costa de la Luz. Be it bluefin tuna, retinto steak or incredible seafood, foodies are spoilt for choice in the key towns of Vejer, Tarifa and Conil.

But, there is something about the province of Cadiz that brings out the best in restaurateurs. A combination of style, creativity and, above all, positive vibes has created some of my favourite restaurants in Andalucia.

The one thing you have to try is the bluefin tuna, which is caught twice a year along the coast at half a dozen specific spots, with very strict quotas and, of which, 90% is exported.

It is like no other tuna you will every have eaten and what is left can be eaten at a handful of fabulous joints, including Antonio, in Zahara and El Campero, in Barbate.

coli, prawns and sesame oil, with cumin and cloves.

I dipped into the ‘Qi of the wok’ section for a main and had a pad Thai, which was so full of goodness, I felt enlivened for the rest of the day, while the ‘matcha’ Japanese cheesecake was one of the most beautiful creations imaginable, with well over a dozen ingredients, even including popcorn.

Another splendid place foodwise is Silos 19 (www. silos19.com) in the heart of the old town, in what must be one of the most beautiful buildings on the Costa de la Luz. This 18th century space has been stylishly converted, in a huge open-plan space with historic vaulted ceilings and an original clock that seeing is believing.

Owners Valentina and Chilean chef Pablo Martínez Piumarta have conjured up a stunning spot to hideout from the wind.

They have a varied international menu with such stunning dishes as the marinated tuna ‘cervichado’, with ginger, red onion, cilantro, quinoa and even caviar and turnips.

I also loved the scallops with ‘trompos de la muerte’ mushrooms and stips of panceta, while the Thai beef cheeks with coconut foam were excellent and the duck in ginger, succulent and spicy.

Another excellent place to eat is Petit Bistro (www.petitbistrotarifa. com), an idyllic shady spot, which has just been through a big renovation.

Run by Benoit and Veronica, who have lived in the town for nearly 20 years, you get a fantastically creative menu by night and a good value, but tasty, set menu at lunch.

I particularly like Benoit’s foie gras with quince chutney, as well as his excellent tuna salad with mango and beetroot.

Next door, look out for Trattoria (www.latrattoriatarifa.com), run by ambitious Italian magnate Luciano Fabricio, 45, from Naples.

With a fondness for his country’s top ingredients - not to mention the

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the most!

TALENTS: Valentina and Pablo with tuna dish at Silos 19, while (above) Maria Jose at Oficina del Sabor

NEW BROOMS: Herman at Mic Moc and (right) Pacha Mama excellent Slow Food Movement - his restaurant just gets better and better.

After undertaking a course with Spanish masterchef Joan Roca, he has just introduced a ‘bano thermostat’ oven at his main restaurant Trattoria, where he is able to slow cook a leg of lamb or duck breast for up to 24 hours at a low temperature.

He has another excellent, simpler spot Pizzeria con Cucina, nearby, while the fabulous fish restaurant of former architect and taste meister extraordinaire Victor at La Pescaderia is also well worth checking out if you are looking for fish.

Also nearby are Lola Mora and la Ternera Mimosa, run by father and son team of Xavier and Daniel Lasagabaster (see inset Like Father, like sun).

Another recently opened spot is Oficina del Sabor in a side street, opposite Tarifa’s castle. Set up by Maria Jose and Paolo, who used to work at Trattoria, it is a wonderfully nice spot to chill out and relax.

If it is a good beach spot near to the town, take a wonder to Papagaya, where you can eat some amazing fresh food on a hot stone as well as great cocktails (see Page 26) Heading along the coast towards Bolonia, you will find one of the region’s most alluring restaurants.

Overlooking rows of vines and a sea of undulating umbrella pines, Tesoro – or Treasure – is one pot of gold that really is worth seeking out.

Aside from the fabulous food - including fresh langoustines and a classic ‘retinto’ steak typical of the region – the views over the Gibraltar straits to Africa are impossible to improve.

Nearby on an incredible peak of the road to Bolonia look out for El Tropezon, which is run by a friendly

Italian and counts on a nice garden and a typically authentic feel.

Also along this stretch of coast look out for the famous Hurricane Hotel and its superb lunch buffet, as well as the recently opened El Jardin restaurant at the Punta Sur hotel (Garden of Eden, p24), which is an amazing place to chill out and eat incredibly well.

You must also consider dropping in to Pacha Mama (www.pachamamatarifa.com), which has recently changed hands, and is better than ever.

In a wonderful sheltered garden, with plenty of shade and an excellent pool for the kids to play in, you will be spoilt for choice, with excellent wood-fired bbq treats and pizzas, not to mention the amazing homemade Italian ice creams.

A recently opened place is the excellent Osteria del Sole, which has incredible fresh pasta and an amazing Italian wine list right on the beach (see review on page 26).

Vibrant Vejer But the highlight of any culinary journey to the Costa de la Luz, must be Vejer, which is a true foodie Mecca and one of the best in Andalucia.

So it is no surprise to find someone of the calibre of Ellie Cormie, the former owner of five restaurants in Scotland - some with Michelin stars.

At the helm of fabulous Corredera 55 (www.califavejer.com), she has brought her own unique sprinkling of magic, much of it taken in via four years in Asturias, to the bustling, competitive local restaurant scene.

Alongside owner James Stuart, the fabulous, good value menu, heavy on vegetables and fish, keeps getting better and better.

The menu changes regularly and is always fresh and healthy with wonderful dishes such as the the cauliflower fritters, with turmeric and coriander, as well as an amazing mint and pea gazpacho, with wild basil.

A tuna sashimi with wakame salad and prawns was superb, while for theatre go for a ‘salad jar’ shaken on the spot. The fruits of the forest summer crumble with whisky mascarpone, cream and toasted oats, says it all. Amazing.

Also consistently good - and essential to book - is El Jardin del Califa (www.califavejer.com) reached Continues on next page

AUTHENTIC: Tesoro

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SUN WHEN he finally retired from a 12-year career as a professional snowboarder Xavier Lasagabaster, 40, perhaps predictably put down roots in Tarifa.

While he had travelled the world with his job (‘everywhere apart from Japan’), Tarifa ticked numerous boxes for someone as active and fun-loving as him.

And, best of all, his father Daniel had already made the move from his rainy hometown of Mondragon, in the Basque Region, to a new life

in the sun.

Indeed, it was in 2003 that his restaurateur father Daniel opened his restaurant Lola Mora, which had previously been the oldest fisherman’s bar in the town.

Closed for 16 years it needed a lot of work, but is now one of the best places to eat in Tarifa, as is his son’s spot, La Ternera Mimosa, literally right next door.

Opened in 2010, it is big on steaks, has a lovely dining terrace and incredibly friendly service.

FAMILY: Xavier with parents

CAPTION: Acernati autem aut volorio reperor as aspe net

TALENT: Benoit at Petit Bistro

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HOST WITH MOST: James Stuart at Corredera 55 and (below) Califa

Whether it’s day or night time, the surroundings are magical and the atmosphere is friendly, but best of all is its flavour!!!

From previous page

www.restaurantecastilleria.com Location Pago de Sta Lucía s/n, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz. Spain Phone +34 956 45 14 97 Opening Hours Open every day of the week for lunch, except from October to March when we are closed due to end of season

Reservation Every day in the morning from 11.30h to 13.30h

+34 956 45 14 97

through the labyrinthine corridors of the 16th century Califa hotel.

Its exquisite palm courtyard is enclosed by ancient walls and is lit with Moroccan lamps after dark.

If you aren’t hypnotised by the scent of frangipani, jasmine and incense, wait until you try the menu, a heavenly harem of authentic flavours from north Africa and the Middle East: delights such as baba ganoush, shish taouk, pastela filled with chicken, almonds and cinnamon and tempting tagines.

Meanwhile, their new spot Califa Tapas, just up the road on Calle Corredera, is getting more and more popular, with its special mix of dishes and amazing views to match.

Talking of views, La Torre 2.0, also on Calle Corredera, is impossible to beat, sitting as it does over-

Magic of Vejer

looking one of the best views in Christendom, overlooking the beautiful Janda landscape.

The recently opened sister restaurant of the La Torre, in El Palmar, is the most exciting opening in Vejer this year.

It has a great menu created by head chef Paco Rodriguez, from nearby Puerto de Santa Maria, who has worked around Spain and most recently with two Michelin starred Dani Garcia in Marbella.

I particularly liked his fresh plate of thinly sliced courgette carpaccio with salted sardines and with shavings of payoya goats cheese on a bed of local sliced tomatoes and onions.

Meanwhile his cerviche of corvina with fresh avocado and creamy seafood sauce was a fresh and a delicious squid tail cooked in three cycles with mash was a surefire winner.

Around the corner, with easily the best wines on of-

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WHERE TO STAY

NEW STAR: Paco at La Torre 2.0 and (right) La Torre, in El Palma fer, is Vina y Mar, run by Ramon for the last decade.

It’s a great spot to hang out at and the tapas get better by the year, while there are loads of wines by the glass, including dozens of sherries.

Outside of the town you are also spoilt for choice with some genuine dining secrets, including Castilleria (www.restaurantecastilleria.com), sitting in the idyllic hamlet of Santa Lucia.

A charming spot in the extreme, you sit in a leafy garden and eat the best steaks available in Spain.

Broken down into the different types of meat, the steak menu is broken into 8 to 12 months, 4 to 6 years and even 9 to 11 years.

The place just gets better and better and is definitively where the wealthy and privileged go for lunch and dinner. You will need to book. It is very popular.

If you cannot get a table then you may just be in luck by visiting Venta el Toro, just down the street, which has been picked by the Guardian newspaper as one of the most charming restaurants in Spain.

And if it is charm you are looking for, few places beat Restaurant Patria (www.restaurantepatria.com), in the hills near Vejer, where Danes Thomas and

STUNNING: Terrace at Patria

wife Ase consistently serve up some of the tastiest dishes on the coast.

This incredibly creative couple, who have recently launched their own juice business Patria Pura, run this stunning dining secret, surrounded by vines, oleander and olive trees.

The stone terrace is always beautifully candlelit at night and your hosts do not disappoint when it comes to the food, which is almost all locally sourced.

As Thomas explains: “The joy of cooking is about what's in peak season. There is no need to import anything from far away.”

He raves, quite rightfully about the quality of the local produce, and adds: “We work around what our suppliers can provide us locally be it wild asparagus, rabbit or bulls’ heart tomatoes.

“It is all about being able to adjust, change and create.”

Last, but not least, in El Palmar, look out for the amazing La Torre restaurant, which is the only one that sits right on the beach, with amazing views in both directions.

Set up by a local vegetable growing family, that sells its produce around Spain, it is based in the old Guardia Civil barracks.

Son Rafa is in charge of the restaurant and has done a good job with the menu, making it increasingly fresh and vibrant.

Try the plate of local tomatoes in salsa Mery, made from their own parsley, garlic and olive oil, or the fresh tuna tataki salad with mesclun and alfalfa.

For more detailed reviews, background and other Cadiz food articles visit www.diningsecretsofandalucia.com

THE Costa de la Luz is literally creaking with hip places to stay from beachside gems to inland cortijos and from grand townhouses to campsites.

In Vejer you would be hard pressed to beat the seminal Casa de Califa (www.califavejer.com), in the town's loveliest square, surrounded by its best restaurants.

The Moorish building sits around a charming central patio, where guests take breakfast and dine under candlelight each evening.

Historic in the extreme, the building, and its sister Las Palmeras de Califa, oozes history and has been extremely well renovated.

Nearby, right on the beach, in Canos de Meca, is Madreselva, set around a central courtyard and with a decent pool for the kids to splash in.

Also in Canos, just a short walk to the Trafalgar lighthouse is evocative Casas Karen (www. casaskaren.com), a super chilled retreat, sitting in a wild spot with the natural park behind as a backdrop.

Between pinewoods and beach, the collection of chozas (straw huts) and traditional Andalucían farmhouses, blends perfectly into the landscape.

It is also one of the greenest hotels around, with all waste being recycled and water is drawn from a well. Massages and yoga can be arranged, or guests can simply relax in a

WHERE SLEEPING IS A BREEZE! Mexican hammock.

In Tarifa you have an equally good group of stylish hotels.

On the beach, the best established is the Hurricane Hotel (www.hotelhurricane.com), which is now nearly 30 years old and run by the coast's long-serving expats, brothers James and Peter Whalley, who also own the more luxurious Punta Sur across the road.

Both hotels have their own restaurants and both serve up a great range of activities on the beach and in the hotel, including pilates and yoga classes every day, plus a brand new spa.

Another great new option in

the centre of the town itself is Riad Lolita (see pic above) (www.riadlolitatarifa.com) a stunning spot, with one of the most beautiful apartments on the top floor.

Stylishly renovated, the views are amazing and it is comfortable in the extreme. Last, but definitely not least, if you are looking for one of the best beachside escapes then Hotel Antonio (www.antoniohoteles.com) in Zahara de los Atunes is wonderful. Sitting right on one of Andalucia’s top beaches, this is a professionally and great value run simple hotel with an amazing restaurant to match.

Eco-Friendly Homes

Things to do: Beautiful walks, horse riding, biking, paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, scuba diving, sailing, canoeing, tennis, golf, trekking, rock climbing, canyoning adventures and only 5 minutes walk to the beach.

You will also enjoy stunning sunsets and immense starry nights.

The perfect escape.

Telephone: +34 956 437 067 Mobile: +34 649 780 834 Email: info@casaskaren.com Skype: casaskaren.com

Camino del Monte, 6, 11159 Los Caños de Meca, (Cádiz ) España www.casaskaren.com

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www.pachamamatarifa.com

Ctra Nacional N-340, km 81 · 11380 Tarifa (Cádiz) Spain Tlf. +34 956 68 22 03 · Email: info@pachamamatarifa.com

July 5th - July 18th 2017

bar

swimming pool

live music

WIFI

kite school

diving

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Costa del Sol hotspot most expensive to rent AND buy Download our app now and begin enjoying the best Spanishin Spain news on the go.

MARBELLA will be one of the most expensive towns to rent property in Spain this summer.

Prices are exceeding €1,100 per week, according to a report by TecniBORIS Becker has been de- Tasa. clared bankrupt at a UK Press High Holiday rentals in the The Olive Court hearing after a series of main beach areas of Spain net losses. for this summer have risTOP for news in Spain!

The three-times Wimbledon en almost 10% since a year champion had hoped to pay back his ‘substantial’ debt by ago. remortgaging his luxury Span- On average across Spain,

Broke point

ish pad for €6million.

Becker’s Mallorca villa, set in 62 acres near Arte, was confiscated

by Palma authorities in 2014 over a £312,300 bill he allegedly owed a local builder.

The property was previously embargoed after a court case over £246,000 he allegedly owed his gardener.

The bankruptcy application was made in connection with a judgment debt owed by Becker from 2015.

“It is not often the case that a professional person has a judgment outstanding against them since October 2015. This is a historic debt,” said judge Christine Derrett “One has the impression of a man with his head in the sand.”

Becker became the youngest male to win Wimbledon in 1986, aged just 17.

PLACE TO BUY: Marbella

Marbella was also named one of the top three hardest areas to buy in Spain.

A report by Idealista found that it would cost an average family earnings of 35.1 years to be able to purchase a property in Marbella.

Behind it are San Sebastian de los Reyes in Madrid (18.8 years), Barcelona (18.6 years), Pozuelo BRITISH buyers still want a second home in the EU de Alarcón (18.5 despite Brexit, according to new research. years), Sant Cugat Nearly two thirds of people with property projects undel Vallès in Barderway have not been deterred by Brexit while 23% celona (17.7 years) plan to accelerate purchases due to Brexit, says the and Madrid (17.1 latest report from BNP Paribas International. years).

It also reveals that Spain and Italy are still favourites The top 15 is comwith British buyers, thanks to their lifestyle and clipleted by Palma mate.

(15.9 years), BeSome 28% of British people abandoned their Euronalmádena (14.8 zone property plans following the Brexit vote a year years), Fuengirola ago but the 2017 figures show a dramatic turnaround.

(13.4 years), MalOf the people still planning a property purchase, some aga capital (12.8 65% claim Brexit has not incited them to abandon or years) and El Puerdelay their plans while for 27% it is an intention to to de Santa María postpone rather than give up altogether. in Cádiz (11.7 Many buyers were also keen to complete sooner, to years). avoid the full impact of Brexit. enjoying a week on the coast will cost €729, €65 more than last year and 30% more than in 2014.

Ibiza, Sotogrande, Sitges, Salou and San Sebastián are also in the top tier and will exceed €1,100 per week.

KEEN BEANS

Is the future any clearer?

W

ITH Brexit, we are all in the same boat.

Writers based in Spain have the same concerns as readers, with the slight advantage that we focus on its effect upon our specialities. Mine are pre-acquisition building surveys and valuations, the latter being principally as an expert witness for UK and other countries’ courts regarding divorce, tax, inheritance, and other disputes relating to the value of properties in Spain.

When the Brexit result was announced everyone was in shock, including many Leave supporters, wondering ‘What have we done?’ and ‘How will it affect me?’

For a year, we haven’t had an answer to either of those questions. Now, the UK government has put forward how they will treat EU nationals within the UK, assuming that similar arrangements will be made for UK nationals in Europe.

As hoped, there may be relatively little change to the current situation. Those who have been here for five years or more should be permitted to stay for as long as they wish. If you haven’t been here for five years, then there will be some interim arrangements until the five-year stay is completed.

So, make sure that you’re registered

Theresa May has begun Brexit talks but what does that mean for us? on the padron!

The UK is stressing its willingness to carry on the reciprocal arrangements for health care, pensions, rights to work, study and the like, so those big worries should be removed. Additionally, family members of those permanently resident will be able to benefit from that status too. No doubt all this will involve jumping through many administrative ‘hoops’. Oh dear, more queues!

However … and this is where it begins to affect the property market … although those arriving after the unspecified ‘specified date’ will be able to stay on a temporary basis ‘they should have no expectation of guaranteed settled status’. If the reciprocal of that is applied to Brits wishing to be expats in Spain, they will have to comply with whatever the undefined arrangements are for benefits, health service, etc. So, Brits considering settling here, assuming the ‘specified date’ is when the UK leaves the EU in 2019, must be established in Spain

13 11+

Property of the Week

years experience in

ALL PROPERTY MATTERS BUILDING SURVEYORS & VALUERS BYRICS CAMPBELL FERGUSON

For peace of mind follow

before then. Expectthese a rush of buying UK buyproperty rules ers over the next year or so, as after that date their situationFind will much Yourbe Property less certain.

As Brits based here, we must open our eyes wider too, building up relationInstruct Instruct ships for working with EU nationals, Building Surveyor Lawyer rather than concentrating on UK buyers. After 2019, we are likely to see a reduction in Brits intending permaBuy with Knowledge nent emigration to Spain.

However, & Confidence the tourist market should continue as before, though the number of second +34 952 923 520 home buyers may reduce. admin@surveyspain.com Regarding values, the reduction in UK surveyspain.com buyers is currently being balanced by increases from other northern European countries and a gradual resurgence of Spanish wealth. However, there are many new properties being built and remodelled, speculatively, and there is concern that there may be an over-supply accruing, evidenced by agents’ commission rising to 10% and more on some new builds, and new cars being offered to new home buyers as part of the ‘package’. These were tell-tale signs of selling difficulties just before the last ‘bubble’ burst.

When interest rates rise, as they must surely do to control inflation, there will be many more owners finding their costs are more than their income.

As always, interesting times ahead!

Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com

Connect with us!

Castillo de Locubin / Jaen - TH3172 was 60.000€ NOW 47.000€ A beautifully finished townhouse set in the quiet village of Castillo de Locubin. Set over 4 floors the property has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, all rooms have high ceilings and give you a great spacious feeling.

tel: +34 953 587 040 Calle Abad Moya 4 bajo, 23680 Alcalá la Real, Jaén info@inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com

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July 5th - July 18th 2017 July 5th - July 18th 2017

MORTGAGE THINK TANK by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

Steady wins the race Andalucia leads the pack in mortgage sales as Spain’s recovery takes firm and steady hold

A

NDALUCIA is leading the way in the Spanish mortgage stakes.

It comes after the number of home mortgages granted to prospective buyers in Spain dropped by 11.4% in April when compared with the same month in 2016, according to Spain's Statistical Office (INE).

A total of 21,163 home mortgages were granted in the fourth month of this year.

Andalucia registered the most with a total of 4,467, followed by Madrid and Catalonia with 3,732 and 3,345 respectively.

And while the number of mortgages dropped, their values increased.

The average value stood at €112,834, rising by 5.4% when compared to April of last year.

It comes as new data suggests the Spanish property market is avoiding a bubble and continuing to grow healthily, unlike pre-crisis where it was not unusual for (overseas) clients to buy multiple properties over the phone, sight unseen… clearly a recipe for disaster!

According to a recent Moody's report, the ratios of home sales are healthier now than those observed before the 2008 crisis.

Caution is demonstrated by the banks when it comes to granting mortgage loans - now monthly cost must be covered three times by your net monthly salary and only 14% of loans granted reach 80% of the appraisal value (those only being for residents) - and this added to the strong adjustment in prices and the relative low level of transactions.

Meanwhile, mortgage lending as part of GDP has fallen dramatically, suggesting the mortgage bubble is deflating.

The Spanish economy has gone from having outstanding mortgage loans equivalent to 100% of total GDP in 2009, the height of the economic crisis, to just to 59.29% last December.

It makes Spain a safe and steady investment, and means if there was ever a time to invest in property in the country, it’s probably now.

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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BUSINESS ROUND-UP

July 5th - July 18th 2017

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Time to shop ‘til you drop

THE summer sales in Spain 2012 allows stores to be have started earlier than ahead of the traditional ever this year.

July 1 start date.

With the ‘season’ barely El Corte Inglés officially underway, some brands began its sales season one have posted huge discounts day earlier than usual, on of up to 50% almost a week June 30. earlier than usual.

It was the first time in its THOUSANDS of zero-euro The liberalisation of the history that the departDownload our app now and notes have been sold in Gerenjoying the best Spanish sales law signed in July ment store giant advanced many atbegin €2.50 a pop.

The tourist sector news on the go.of the city of Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, came up with the idea to attract visitors.

The idea has paid off after more than 5,000 printed copies were sold out in less than 24 hours.

The European Central Bank authorised the note’s entry The Olive Press into circulation, and although it has no buying value, it has ALMOST one half of the highly becomeTOP a much-wanted item for news in Spain! skilled EU workers are considfor tourists and collectors.

The note has all the secu- ering leaving the UK, accordrity features available on any ing to new research. other legal tender, including A study into the effects of Brexreliefs, security threads, wa- it by Deloitte found 47% of termarks and a holographic highly skilled workers from the June.

EU were considering leaving The reasons for leaving the UK stamp. centre on the country’s uncerOn one side there is the Ger- the UK in the next five years. man ship Gorch Fock II, and In a report, the financial con- tain economic outlook. on the other some of the most sulting giant warns of serious The fall in the pound – still down 13% against the euro famous European monu- implications for employers. ments, including the Sagrada It says there will now be pres- compared with its value on EU Familia in Barcelona, ​​the Col- sure on ministers to come up referendum day – means the osseum in Rome, the Eiffel with sensible immigration money foreign workers send Tower in Paris or the Bran- plans and to find ways to im- home is worth less. prove the skills of UK workers Deloitte surveyed 2,242 EU denburg Gate in Berlin. while making better use of ro- and non-EU workers. bots in the workplace.

Half were living in the UK and In total, some 36% of non-Brit- half were living outside it. ish workers in the UK said they They assessed their views on were thinking of leaving within what makes Britain attractive the same period, representing and how likely they would be to 1.2m jobs out of 3.4 million mi- come or go. grant workers in the UK. THE EU has fined Google Some 26% said they were con- The survey, conducted before a blistering €2.4 billion for sidering leaving within three the recent general election, found the UK was still an at‘breaking competition rules’. years.

Union officials said the search It comes after EU applications tractive place to work for forengine’s results drive consum- to be a nurse in the UK fell by eign residents, but the refereners towards the company’s own 96% since the referendum last dum had shifted perceptions of the many already living there. comparison shopping service over other options. It said this denies ‘European consumers a genuine choice of services and the full benefits of innovation’.

The EU ordered the company to FOREIGN tourists contributed a staggering €3 billion to change the way its engine hanthe Andalusian economy in the first quarter of 2017. dles shopping requests within According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the asthe next 90 days, or increasing tonishing figure is a 15.1% increase on last year. fines will be levied. Google has It places Andalucia third in terms of money made from said that there’s nothing antiinternational visitors, behind Catalonia and the Canary Isconsumer about its policies, lands, which are first and second respectively. and that it intends to appeal the And despite Brexit, the spending by Brits increased by 7.7% ruling. “When you shop online, in April compared to last year. Andalucia came second in you want to find the products terms of the length of stay, with tourists spending an averyou’re looking for quickly and age of 8.5 days in the region. At national level, the data up easily,” the company said in a to April shows a year-on-year increase in foreign tourism statement. “And advertisers of almost 20%, with a gross amount exceeding €20 billion. want to promote those same products.

Zero to hero

Nap time

its summer sales start date.

The Inditex group, containing the likes of Zara and Massimo Dutti, made the same decision and began the summer 2017 sales on the same day.

The sales period lasts until the end of August.

AN entrepreneur has opened Madrid’s first ‘nap bar’ where, for €14 per hour, tired workers can take a power nap in a private bedroom before heading back to work.

Making waves

BREXODUS Highly skilled EU workers ready to leave UK in droves thanks to Brexit

Google fined

Holiday hotspot

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The country was ranked as the most desirable place to work for those living outside it, with 57% of respondents placing it in their top three destinations, ahead of the US, Australia and Canada.

But 48% of workers already in Britain said they saw the country as being a little or significantly less attractive as a result of Brexit.

Only 21% of workers outside the UK shared that view.

“The UK’s cultural diversity, employment opportunities and quality of life are assets that continue to attract the world’s best and brightest people,” said David Sproul, chief executive of Deloitte northwest Europe.

“But overseas workers, especially those from the EU, tell us they are more likely to leave the UK than before.

That points to a short- to medium-term skills deficit that can be met in part by upskilling our domestic workforce but which would also benefit from an immigration system that is attuned to the needs of the economy.”

SPAIN’S manufacturing activity continued to expand in June, although the rate of growth eased slightly since May, according to survey data from financial services company IHS Markit.

Buy out BANCO Popular will start looking for partners to buy some €30 billion in repossessed assets and non-performing real estate loans following last month's Santander takeover.

Crop crisis OLIVE and wine suppliers are under threat from a drought in some Spanish regions. This year’s grain harvests have been slashed by half nationwide.

AGONY Property ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Photocopied document costs a lawyer 500,000 Euros

Genuine article

T

he ruling of this topic goes to show how an otherwise strong case can go horribly wrong for a client and subsequently his lawyer.

After a Madrid Appeal Court ruling, the said lawyer has been ordered to indemnify his client with €524,000 for not submitting an original document, but a photocopy of it, in a court of law.

The case dealt with a dispute over property rights, and the title deeds were deemed ‘essential and fundamental evidence to prove the facts upon which the claimants petition relied.’ The claimant's lawyer’s oversight was submitting a photocopy of said document on filing and the original at the latter stages of the proceedings, resulting in the defendant's lawyers challenging the validity of the copy and questioning the tardy submission of the main evidence -original title deeds.

The tribunal, upon hearing the parties, upheld both defence allegations and ruled against the claimant, precluding him from bringing an action on the same

grounds subject to the principle of res iudicata, or claim preclusion.

The losing party sought redress from his former lawyer, for professional negligence, through the courts on grounds that a submission of a photocopy in legal proceedings, when an original was easily available, was a clear instance of professional negligence that resulted in financial harm quantifiable by reference to the loss of opportunity. The court of first instance and subsequently the appeal court ruled that the solicitors’ errors were unacceptable and fell short of the appropriate standards, adding that it was expected of him to know the perils of filing proceedings where the main evidence consists of a photocopy, quite apart from the lamentable tardy submission of the original key document.

The outcome of this case reveals the real risk of filing civil proceedings based exclusively on emails, photocopied documents and similar evidence, all of which is admissible in court but likely to be challenged by the opposing party.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

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BUSINESS

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July 5th - July 18th 2017 July 5th - July 18th 2017

No way, Jose!

British MP calls for further investigation into Mourinho following Spanish fraud case JOSE Mourinho should face a tax investigation in the UK after Spanish prosecutors filed a fraud claim against the Manchester United manager, a British MP has urged.

Mourinho has denied the allegations of tax evasion but a judge in Madrid will decide if the case should go to court.

The offence could carry a prison sentence of two to six years and a fine up to €20 million.

It is alleged that Mourinho defrauded the Spanish tax authorities of €3.2 million while serving as the Real Madrid manager between 2010 and 2013.

He stands accused of failing to pay more than €3 million in tax on the sale of his image rights.

Meg Hillier MP, the recent chairwoman of the public accounts select committee, believes the 54-year-old should be THE Ritz-Carlton hotel company investigated in the UK has chosen Spain to test the wa- too. ters for its new brand of luxury Hillier said: “Given the cruise liners.

Christened The clear progress from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Spanish authorities, the first of a trio of ships will be it’s vital that HMRC is constructed at the Astillero Hijos taking the same level of de J.Barreras shipyard in Vigo for interest.” launch in 2019.

The Sunday Times in The new 623-foot-long vessels the UK alleges that have been dubbed anti-cruise Mourinho has avoided ships as they will be able to call at paying tax on £10m ports that larger ships can’t. in image rights earnThe first vessel will carry 298 pas- ings, built up during sengers and be capable of seven his first spell in charge to 10 day voyages. As well as 149 of Chelsea from 2004suites, each with a private balco- 07 and then at Madrid, ny, and two penthouses, there will through a series of offalso be a restaurant, bar, pool, spa shore companies. and marina to launch water toys.

Money from the UK The first ship, depending on the and Spain was transseason, is expected to cruise the ferred to Ireland and Mediterranean, northern Europe, then to a shell company the Caribbean and Latin America. in the British Virgin Reservations are expected to open Islands called Koper in May 2018.

Services which is actually owned by a New Zealand trust set up by Mourinho, it claims.

Prosecutors for Madrid’s economic crime unit alleged last week that Mourinho used Koper to fabricate more than £1m in tax deductible business expenses to reduce his tax LUXURY: Ship bill in Spain.

CHAIR: Meg Hillier

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5 July

Dr Michael Peters offers comprehensive treatment in his private Marbella clinic It might be hard to stomach, but sometimes our digestive system lets us down. Gastroenterologist Michael Peters has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to treating patients in Germany and New Zealand with these types of ailments.

Now based in Marbella, he sees people from up and down the coast. “I’ve enjoyed working here more than anywhere else,” He says.

“I feel I have more time for individual patients and can offer them comfortable and thorough examinations.”

The first consultation lasts an hour, and includes an ultrasound. It’s the primary step in solving the case. “It’s like detective work where there are multiple possibilities and you work on each individual situation until you find the root of the problem. It’s very rewarding and interesting.”

He shares the clinic with Urologist Dr Wolfgang Kleimeier and frequently sees patients together with him to find the root of the issue.

What’s more, being fluent English speakers makes the experience a lot easier for the patient.

Since this year his private practice based on Avenida Ricardo Soriano 36 offers a new type of parasite test which is only available in Australia and the US, placing it in high demand. It also offers High Definition endoscopy (gastroscopy and colonoscopy) at selected private hospitals with experienced aestheticians trained to put the patients at ease.

For more information, visit www.drmpeters.com

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GOLF

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July 5th - July 18th 2017 July 5th - July 18th 2017

Par-fection GREEN GREENS FINCA Cortesin has unveiled plans to become the first golf course in Spain to introduce a new, environment-friendly type of Bermuda grass to its greens.

Renovation work to relay all 18 greens on its championship course, as well as the practice putting green, with a new Ultra Dwarf MiniVerde Bermuda grass is scheduled to start at the Casares resort this summer.

The project is being supervised by Ignacio Soto, head greenkeeper at Finca Cortesin, who has spent the last two years testing different varieties of grass to find the most suitable.

Disruption for golfers will be kept to a minimum, with the course set to fully reopen barely a month after work commences.

Famous La Manga golf club racks up awards LA Manga Golf Club has received two new accolades and looks set to scoop three more.

The sprawling Murcia resort has been named as one of the world’s best family-friendly golf resorts in Great Golf magazine’s inaugural list of the ‘Top 100 Greatest Golf Resorts’.

It comes after the luxury sporting venue became

WINNER: McAleer

Transplant bronze

TOP COURSE: La Manga

the only resort in continental Europe to receive acclaim in the ‘Best Golf Resort in the World’ category at the 2017 Ultras Awards for the fourth year in a row.

The resort is also a leading contender for three gongs at the 2017 World Golf Awards – which it will host for the first time from November 23-26.

It is nominated for ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ while its South Course is in the running to be named as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’.

Its five-star Hotel Principe Felipe is also nominated for ‘Spain’s Best Golf Hotel’.

“La Manga Club is one of

the most famous names in world golf and to receive these new plaudits makes everyone at the resort very proud,” said General Manager Jose Asenjo.

“Accolades like these are reward for all the hard work that has taken place over the last four decades to establish the resort as one of the world’s top golfing destinations,” he added.

“La Manga Club will celebrate a new first later this year, when we will have the pleasure of hosting some of the most respected figures in golf for the World Golf Awards, and it would be fantastic if we can mark the occasion by winning another top honour.”

A 79-YEAR-OLD Irish golfer has taken home bronze at the World Transplant Games in Malaga.

Kidney transplant recipient John McAleer, from Jordanstown, won the gong in the Golf Singles event, which took place last weekend.

McAleer was playing golf three years ago when he received a call for a life-changing kidney transplant, some 15 years after he was diagnosed with failing kidneys.

“It was my who GP picked up on it and told me that at some stage my kidney would fail. In 2008, the beginning of that year, I had to start dialysis,” he told The Irish News.

“I’m amazed at the whole thing; the idea of transplanting organs is an amazing achievement. “People think of big things like going to the moon – I think transplanting organs between humans is beyond that and when you think of the knowledge, care and social commitment to do such things, it’s mind boggling.”

The World Transplant Games is a biennial event in which only transplant recipients can take part. More than 2,000 participants took part in this year’s games.

Putt it away

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RORY McIlroy has put his flashy new putter on notice after failing to impress in Scotland.

“I came off the golf course a little disappointed with a 67, because I gave myself so many chances,” the Northern Irishman said following a three-under round to open the Travelers Championship.

“Tee to green game is where it needs to be,” McIlroy added moments later.

“It’s just a matter of converting the chances I’m giving myself.”

McIlroy missed five birdie putts from 10 feet or less, and on one of those attempts on No 18, he missed the ensuing tap-in. The four-time major champ did make several 13-15 footers, though, including one for par on No. 8, his second-to-last hole of the day.

But now his red TaylorMade Spider is on borrowed time. “I made a decision this week, I’d give it one more week and see how it performed,” McIlroy said.

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MOTORS

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Vroomboom NEW car sales in Spain rose 11% in May to the highest level for the month since 2008.

Registrations increased to 126,411, according to industry association ANFAC. May’s sales increase is the second-largest monthly rise this year since March when registrations rose 13% on two more selling days compared with the same month a year before.

Sales to rental car companies in May increased 18% and sales to business customers were 12% higher, while private customer registrations lagged the market with a 6% increase.

Self-registrations remained high, with 14% of the registrations occurring on the last day of May, according to industry association ANIACAM.

July 5th - July 18th 2017 July 5th - July 18th 2017

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RAMPAGE

CRAZED: Bull attacks bike SPAIN’S best-performing investment over the last 30 years may be the black-and-yellow cab you hailed the last time you were in Barcelona.

The value of a second-hand license to operate a taxi in the Catalan capital rose 503% from 1987 to 2016, according to a June report by Spain’s markets and competition regulator CNMC. Restrictions on the awarding of new taxi licenses in Barcelona means a Catalan cabby may be sitting on an asset now worth more than €134,000 euros.

The surge in the value of taxi permits highlights the challenge facing Spain in trying to strike a balance between competitively priced services for consumers and demands for protection from workers.

“Taxi licenses have a price that has been increasing and de facto has turned into a way to pay for a taxi driver’s retirement -that’s undeniable,” said Sandra Sieber, a professor of informa-

Follow that cab!

NAME CHANGER VOLKSWAGEN’S Spanish brand SEAT is asking the public for help in choosing a name for its new seven-seat SUV. “SEAT has decided to call upon every fan of the brand to propose and later vote the name of the new SUV, which is set to make history,” said SEAT president Luca de Meo. “In our efforts to launch #SEATseekingName, we have redefined the typical process in order to

engage the public and followers of the brand all over the world in the project from start to finish.”

The contest has a few restrictions.

The name of the SUV must be easy to pronounce in multiple languages because SEATs are sold in most of Europe, and it must named after an area in Spain.

This sounds easy enough -- plenty of Spanish cities still don’t have a SEAT model named after them.

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One eyewitness caught part of the animal’s rampage from the safety of their home by filming it out of a window with their smartphone.

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Value of secondhand taxi licenses revs up by 500% in Barcelona

tion systems at Barcelonabased IESE Business School.

The regulator says that for the customer, this often means a less-than-optimal service, which is good news for firms like Uber and Cabify.

But because of the rules limiting vehicle numbers, prices and activities of such ride-hailing services, taxi license holders in Barcelona operate a near-monopoly that costs consumers at least €61 million last year.

Ready to win

SPANISH Formula One race ace Fernando Alonso says he won’t ‘gamble’ on where he drives next year and predicts some unexpected seats may become available.

The two-times world champion’s McLaren future remains uncertain with his contract up at the end of the season.

And the 35-year-old, who has not won a race since 2013, has made it clear he wants to be winning again next year.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, he said he wants to be reasonably assured of success wherever he drives in 2018.

“As I said many times, I want to win next year and I don’t want to gamble too much in any decision, I want to be more or less safe in wherever I go for,” he told SSN HQ’s Craig Slater.

He added that he was “very open for anything so let’s see what the next months bring for McLaren, because it’s a team that I’m running now, a team that I like and in the last two or three years we’ve put a lot of effort in all together to grow up in this project. We’ll see what happens.”

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