Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 208 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 9 Issue 208 www.theolivepress.es

Kicking back

What Paloma Faith owes to Andalucía

Olive Press probe into shady real estate deals with lawyers

Find out on Page 3

AN Olive Press investigation this week exposes a practice of lawyers giving estate agents ‘backhanders’ of up to 20% for working on conveyancing deals. Our ongoing probe hopes to put a stop to the bent practice of agents only giving work to lawyers if they agree to the kickback. We are now appealing to all clean lawyers and estate agents to step forward in a bid to expose the unethical dealings.

One lawyer, Alex Radford, who has worked on the coast for 12 years, said: “It is a conflict of interest and undermines the lawyer’s need to retain independence and act in the client’s best interests.” Fellow lawyer Antonio Flores, of Lawbird, added: “The problem has become way too common, to the point that it is now expected. “With the market finally now changing for the better, it is time for regulators to step in and stamp it out. Congratulations on your campaign.” Meanwhile, agent Adam Neale, from Terra Meridiana, in Estepona, said: “This practice needs to be outlawed. It is morally wrong.” Turn to Page 31 for K.O. the kickbacks

March 5th - March 18th 2015

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Find out on Page 17

EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan

VANISHED: Klavina was last photographed in Puerto Banus (right) where the yacht was moored

INCLUDING IVA

Have aliens landed? OLIVE PRESS – Earpiece

What’s Johnny Depp’s link to Goya?

BURIED AT SEA? POLICE have seized the luxury yacht of a British gangster in connection to the disappearance of expat Agnese Klavina. DNA samples have been taken from the yacht, owned by the Essex crime lord, who is also a key player in Marbella’s drug world. It follows the arrest of his son (neither man can be named for legal reasons) who was pictured leaving Aqwa Mist nightclub with the 30-yearold Latvian on the night she went missing. A second man arrested has now been identified as Craig Porter, from Liverpool, who allegedly works for the father and son. Porter has allegedly admitted to being in the car with Agnese on the night she disappeared. However he claims he fell asleep before his friend - a balding man, who was pictured in the Olive Press in November - dropped her off

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near to where she was staying. A source close to the police investigation revealed that the boat - which is 35 metres long - has been seized in Cartagena, in Murcia. It left Puerto Banus port, in Marbella, two days after Agnese went missing in September. “The police have been looking into the boat from the very beginning,” the source told the Olive Press. “The problem has been obtaining sufficient DNA for Agnese from Latvia. There were a number of problems with Interpol but that seems to have been resolved now.” He added that the arrested

man, in his 30s, is in the process of ‘taking over his father’s legacy’ which includes a property portfolio as well as a yacht business. He added: “This type of premeditated crime would fit in with this guy’s style. “Porter may have just got caught up in things, but the other guy is known for having a darker, more sinister side to him.”

British drug lord’s luxury yacht is impounded for DNA testing after police quiz his son over missing expat Agnese Police are now investigating the possibility that Agnese may have been murdered and thrown overboard. DNA samples taken on Sunday have been sent to a specialist laboratory in Madrid for further examination. Agnese’s boyfriend Michael Millis, 38, now admits that he is losing hope of finding her alive. “The police have not told me or our lawyer anything. Everything is so hushed up that it’s crazy,” said the London nightclub owner. The Mayor of Marbella’s stepson, Joakim Broburg, who was out partying with Agnese the night she disappeared, told the Olive Press: “I have heard about this man but at the moment all we can do is wait.”

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CRIME NEWS

A British expat has fled the Costa del Sol after allegedly leaving a grandmother battered and bruised in a midnight attack

March 5th - March 18th

VICIOUS: Cowell and his girlfriend (left) Allison’s bruises (centre) and CCTV images (right)

VANISHED! A BRITISH expat has been forced to flee the country after a Facebook campaign outed him for allegedly head-butting a granny. Robert Covell, 20, also lost his job in Gibraltar after he was identified attacking Al-

The Olive Press website appealed for witnesses, after the campaign saw over a hundred comments from disgusted exlison Kennair, 53, when she pats, who claimed to know the stepped in to break up a fight attacker. between him and his girlfriend Now, witnesses of the assault in Duquesa port. - which also saw Covell stamp on her face while she was unconscious - have handed over a dossier of information to the Guardia Civil. His boss at Independent Air Conditioning, Stephen Reeder, confirmed that he had sacked A SUSPECTED British drug trafficker who Covell for gross misconduct. fled to Spain has been arrested in Amster“I can’t have people working dam. here who have been accused of Scott Coleman (pictured), from Liverpool, that sort of behaviour,” he told has been seized by police after more than the Olive Press. 12 years on the run, many of which were The attack, outside Kinsale’s spent in Spain. restaurant, left the woman in The 40-year-old was initially arrested in urgent need of treatment, with February 2003 and charged with possesboth a fractured cheek bone and sion with intent to supply heroin. broken ribs. But after failing to appear for trial at Edinburgh Crown Court, he fled to Spain. Community He is the 65th fugitive located out of 76 publicised through Operation Captura, a joint UK-Spain operation between The restaurant released CCTV of the alleged attacker, wearing Crimestoppers, the NCA and the Spanish authorities. His arrest takes the success rate of the campaign – which has a light grey top, which led to the community ‘naming and shambeen tracking him since 2008 – to over 85%. Cole added: “There is no safe haven for fugitives. The NCA with ing’ him. continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners The attack happened when Kenacross the world to pursue these individuals and return them nair saw Covell shouting at his girlfriend, who was sobbing. to the UK to face justice.” The Olive Press has so far been unable to talk to Covell, but Kennair has posted an emotional thank you message for helping to bring her attacker to SPAIN is gearing up to deport 34 key members of violent justice. Latin American gangs operating in Madrid. “You have done your commuThe first two deportations will take place immediately, as nity proud and I am privileged part of the regional government’s new strategy for breaking to be a part of it,” she said in up criminal networks before they take hold. the Facebook post, which has Those deported will also be banned from entering Spain for received more than 300 ‘likes’. between five and 10 years. “You have proved that Duquesa The 34 leaders belong to five different gangs in the capital: 12 looks after its own, and I stand are members of Los Netas, eight belong to Trinitarios, seven shoulder to shoulder with all of are from Dominican Don’t Play (DDP) and five are from the you!” Latin Kings.

EXCLUSIVE By Imogen Calderwood

No safe haven as drug dealer arrested

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Gangland evictions

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Airbrushed into history

Documenting Ashya A DOCUMENTARY about brain tumour patient Ashya King is in production. Brother Naveed King took to Facebook to confirm that Zero Productions is producing a documentary about the five-yearold. Naveed uploaded a series of YouTube appeals when his parents were arrested after they sought more effective treatment for Ashya in Spain. “Sorry I haven’t been keeping you all updated on Ashya,” Nav- STARRING ROLE: Ashya King eed said. “Been busy helping Zero Productions produce a documentary about him. “Will try to get clip if I can. He is doing a lot better though.” Ashya is continuing to have treatment at the HC Marbella hospital in San Pedro following successful proton beam therapy in Prague.

Spanish actress caught ‘faking it to make it’ in Hollywood By Imogen Calderwood HOLLYWOOD is all about faking it to make it, but one Spanish actress has taken the concept to a whole new level. Anna Allen, from Girona, has become the subject of internet ridicule after being busted airbrushing her face onto pictures of other celebrities, to make her career appear better than it is. The unfortunate 32-year-old has now deleted her account after it was discovered she had shared fake snapshots of herself ‘attending’ the Oscars, with her 22,000 Instagram followers. Allen’s attention to detail was impressive, even taking and sharing a photo of actress Lupita Nyong’o’s Academy Award invitation, passing it off as her own. She also claimed she spent a ‘good while’ talking to Oscar host Neil Patrick Harris.

CRAFTSMEN IN PAINT AND PAPER

SCANDAL: Anna Allen (above) and (right) the original photo while (inset) Anna with Big Bang Theory Cast and (top) again at the Oscars But it was her bizarre move to Photoshop her face onto the body of another, as yet unknown, attendant at the ceremony that really took things too far.

Striking all the right poses

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Wearing a black top and a gold skirt she claimed it was her, not the guest, on the famous red carpet. Looking closely, you can see how she has superimposed her face onto the shot. It has now emerged that the Spanish TV actress has been pulling such fake stunts for months. In one post last year she was seen taking the place of British actress Romola Garai

alongside actor Jonny Lee Miller from a shot in 2009. Another photo appeared of her allegedly posing with the cast of the American TV series, The Big Bang Theory. Allen, who has appeared in various Spanish TV shows, has now become the target of internet jokers, with users creating pictures of her aboard the Titanic, and in Ellen DeGeneres’ place in the infamous 2014 Oscars selfie.

Shayk it off

LOOKING GOOD: Raul Rodriguez striking poses SPAIN’S first model with Down syndrome is taking the fashion world by storm. Raul Rodriguez, from Cordoba, has already starred in his first advertising campaign with men’s clothing brand Silbon. In a brave move the Spanish brand aims to highlight that people with Down syndrome are more than capable of leading normal lives and having normal jobs. “Their condition does not mean they have to miss out on ANDALUCIA can take certain things in life,” said a some credit for the big winspokesman for the company. ner at the Brit Awards in The 32-year-old is also a keen London. sportsman, and has won sevThe father of Hackney-girl eral gold medals in competiPaloma Faith (pictured), tive swimming. who won Best Female singAmerican actress Jamie er, is from Andalucia and Brewer became the first modinspired his daughter to el with Down syndrome to write a number of her hit walk the catwalk in New York songs. Fashion Week last month. But that is where the posiLast month, the Olive Press tive link ends… for most of reported how British expat her references to her father, with Down syndrome Ruwho she has not seen for ben Coe is launching his own six years, are about being website to catalogue his life in ‘abandoned’ and ‘separatSpain.

Keeping the Faith

March 5th - March 18th 2015

THE truth has emerged about Cristiano Ronaldo’s split from Irina Shayk (both pictured)… and it looks like she ditched him. According to a friend the Russian model believed the Real Madrid ace was being unfaithful to her. “She couldn’t take it any more. After a lot of thought she felt she could no longer ignore the signs,” the friend told a Spanish magazine.

Eurovision’s on the way! SPAIN’S entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 has premiered online. The song Amanecer, meaning ‘Break of day’, will be performed by popular Spanish singer Edurne. Sung in Spanish, the 29-yearold girlfriend of Manchester United ‘keeper David de Gea, Edurne herself has described it as a ‘high quality pop song’. It will be performed at the highly-anticipated event in Vienna, Austria, on May 23.

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NEWS IN BRIEF Off games MCLAREN driver Fernando Alonso is set to miss the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, following a serious crash during pre-season F1 testing in Catalunya.

Mother dear A ROMANIAN woman has been jailed in Malaga for forcing her 16-year-old twin daughters into prostitution, one of whom reported her to the police.

Madonna gore ANIMAL rights activists have slated Madonna for ‘glamourising gore’ by dressing as a bullfighter, following the announcement of her upcoming tour.

Round the bend Opening of new A7 roundabout delayed ‘due to it being built on land without permission’

ANTS ANGST: Locals are blaming a land dispute for keeping the new A7 roundabout unopened

Butterfly boost THE Lions Club in La Cala de Mijas has donated a generous €2,000 to DEBRA Spain, the charity for Butterfly Children. Butterfly children suffer from a rare and debilitating skin disease - epidermolysis bullosa - that leaves them with skin as fragile as butterfly wings. This donation will help the charity maintain projects such as the Respite Home in Marbella, where those suffering from the condition can stay with their families while receiving treatment.

EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier MYSTERY surrounds the failure to reopen a roundabout on the A7 despite work finishing three months ago. The roundabout between Estepona and Casares was finished before Christmas after two months of work. But while Estepona Town Hall insists it cannot be opened until streetlights are

in place, locals insist it is due to a lack of permission from a local landowner.

Manuel Sanchez, a member of Estepona’s neighbourhood platform, told the Ol-

Spain: Where your divine interpretation of the cosmos can affect your grades

Rich list FIVE Spaniards have been forced off Forbes magazine’s list of world billionaires, but Amancio Ortega - owner of Spanish clothing giant Zara has once again made the grade.

March 5th - March 18th 2015

A NEW national high school religious course will teach students that God - not science - created the cosmos. The course, launched this month, has infuriated Spain’s science professors, who obviously disagree. Spanish high school students will be examined on their ability to ‘recognise the

divine origin of the cosmos with amazement, make effort to understand it and be aware that it does not originate from chaos and chance’. The controversial PP-approved curriculum is part of a raft of changes passed in 2013 that eliminated issues including abortion and euthanasia from school education.

ive Press: “The developers built on a plot of land without permission and now have to remove it and start again. “The man who owns the land doesn’t live here full time so he was shocked when he came back and found the sliproad through his land.” The landowner himself Antonio Ruiz, confirmed that the sliproad to the roundabout had been built without his permission. And he added that it was now going to have to be rebuilt in a different way. “I hope all this will be sorted out really soon,” he said.

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NEWS

DRAG HIM OUT!

Pictures of bloodied dogs being dragged behind their owner’s car triggers animal rights campaign

EXCLUSIVE By Tom Powell MORE than 70,000 people have signed a petition to save two dogs from an owner who dragged them along roads tied to the back of his car. The unidentified male owner, from Sevilla, was pictured driving his Suzuki jeep with two dogs tied to the bumper, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. The wounds and scars on the animals suggest this was not the first time. Now the campaign to have the Olivares man exposed has spread like wildfire. Expat Pat Waterhouse, who looks after around 50 dogs in her Alora home, has called for the man to face the maximum penalty. “I have been told the two dogs are still with him, it’s absolutely disgusting,” she told the Olive Press. “It beggars belief, someone in Olivares must know this man and they need to come for-

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ward and expose him.” Hundreds of comments on the change.org petition and on Facebook have slammed the actions as ‘disgusting’. The petition was launched by local Spaniard Maria Pía Rosa Palacios, who said: “This is just

Expats rally to save dogs KIND-HEARTED expats have rallied together in aid of 30 endangered dogs in Motril. The Olive Press received numerous phone calls from concerned readers who wanted to help and volunteers have reported that all but five dogs were rehomed. The remaining five are to have their injections and will be fostered and walked by volunteers on a short-term basis. The takeover of a dog pound in Motril by pest control company Athisa threatened the sacrifice of over 30 abandoned dogs if they were not rehomed by the beginning of March.

the tip of the iceberg and the animal abuse in Spain, especially Andalucia, is out of control. “Every year we watch helplessly as hundreds of animals suffer and even die at the hands of their owners, who go unpunished.”

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A PETITION to clean up nuclear fall-out on a stretch of Andalucian coastline has reached an incredible 40,000 signatures, many of them expats. The demand comes 49 years after two US Air Force planes collided leaving seven people dead and two nuclear bombs split open around Palomares. Now the Almeria town has denounced the ‘irresponsible’ actions of both the Spanish and American governments, demanding urgent action. Although the disaster zone was partly cleaned and residents assured that the land was decontaminated, only 25% of the radioactive material has been removed. Locals worry that the plutonium may have degraded to even more deadly americium and fear that the damage may be irrevocable. The village’s 1,600 residents – of which 50% are British - are alarmed at America’s failure to clean up the mess they made, only contributing €485,000 since the event.

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FEATURE

the olive press - March March5th 5th--March March18th 18th2015 2015

OPINION Cut out the kickbacks THE ongoing practice of lawyers slipping estate agents backhanders for work epitomises the corruption that has seemingly crept into every facet of Spanish society. The need to stamp out the unethical practice could not be clearer and should be made a priority for those operating within the lawyers’ code of ethics. It is quite simply a conflict of interest and will lead to buyers losing out. Already two lawyers and one agent have added their support to the Olive Press campaign. We hope to have dozens more ethical lawyers and agents standing up to be counted over the next few months. With a failure to regulate by law, somebody must stand up to protect buyers.

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Plague of the killer wasps

Search for answers WITH the latest twist in the Agnese Klavina saga, it appears we might finally be getting closer to some real answers to the questions which have haunted her family and friends for too long. And yet the Guardia Civil’s policy of hushed secrecy continues. We have to hope that behind the smokescreen some real work is being done, and that soon those that love and care for Agnese might finally be told the truth.

Standing strong THE Costa del Sol community was rocked by the vicious assault of a grandmother who was only trying to break up a domestic argument. But it was heart-warming to witness concerned expat residents of Manilva pull together to name the perpetrator, forcing him to flee the country. It is testament to the strength of this healthy Costa del Sol community - now over 40% expat - that quickly helped to solve this heinous crime. On Page 19 you can see why this town is such a great place to live... and why the Olive Press is based here.

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and environmental havoc in the verdant Genal Valley. The Genal’s residents witnessed the hasty cutting-down and incinerating of trees in Juanar, and fear the same will happen closer to home. Francisco Saez, president of Jubrique and the Castanas Valle del Genal cooperatives, says the economic effects of the plague would be ‘very catastrophic.’ “We don’t know how intense the damage will be but we estimate the current income of chestnuts to be around

or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Iona Napier iona@theolivepress.es Admin / Distribution / Accounts: Anna Cockell 951127006 accounts@theolivepress.es Mirian Moreno admin@theolivepress.es SALES TEAM: Stephen Shutes 671 834 479 Classified Sarah Adams 655825683 Axarquia Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 Cadiz Elizabeth Gould 683 337 342

CAMPAIGNER: Mayor Escalona, local farmer Diego and (right) the chestnut cooperative

A load of old bull

HE other night, Richard Quest from the CNN International’s Quest Means Business, was in Madrid for a live broadcast of his popular financial programme. Standing on a street corner in the Spanish capital, the highspirited Liverpudlian journalist who is big in American broadcasting interviewed BBVA Executive Chairman Francisco González, who sounded as if he had suddenly been pulled aside for an on-camera chat. González praised the painful sacrifices Spaniards have endured to get the economy rolling. He said the banking industry was stronger than ever, even though Spain had

to seek a €41.3billion loan from its European partners in June 2012 to bail out its ailing financial institutions. BBVA was one in a group of banks that was solvent at the time and needed no additional capital. Buoyant about the direction of the Spanish economy, the BBVA chief said one of the problems his bank is now facing is that it has a lot of money to lend but no takers. In other words, Spaniards – and especially bankers – are still wary about the economy, and financial institutions are still cautious about handing out cash to budding entrepreneurs. The economy is still on hold despite the fact that consumer spending is on the rise. Why

Spanish banks sound bullish on the economy but they’re still too ‘bear’ to lend money couldn’t Gonzalez just explain this? Less than year before his death, Banco Santander chief Emilio Botin was in New York to formally add his bank’s brand name to a chain of US lenders he acquired some years back. Botín was full of himself at the NY stock exchange, telling everyone that money is now flowing in Spain. His ‘used-carsalesman’ pitch was a great contrast to his usually quiet manner. Spanish banks have not done

€10 million for farmers alone,” he says. The Valgenal cooperative factory processes up to 75,000kg per day and, given that 1kg sells for around €2, it’s a lucrative business. Little plots of land guarded by high, rusty fences litter the valley floor, like a rural extreme of Cape Town’s post-apartheid gated communities. Every Tom, Dick or Javier has chestnut trees. Down the generations, fincas have been divided between offspring, with more and more depending on the nuts. One teenager who works the land shrugs when asked about the importance of the crop and says simply: “Chestnuts are the only real future.” In Igualeja, there is a lot of frowning, head-shaking and gesticulating upon mention of la plaga. Everyone I meet wants to put their two cents in. I am frogmarched to the town hall to meet the mayor, Francisco Escalona. He explains that the valley people await spring to discover if their fincas, too, have attracted the dreaded avispilla, which they suspect may be hibernating in their trees over the winter months. When the new buds sprout on the leaves, it will become clear whether the insect has invad-

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But maybe not this year. Since a chestnut plague was discovered some 50km away in Juanar last May, fear has gripped the valley’s pueblos. Catalunya’s and Galicia’s trees have already been stung by the killer wasps, but with less serious results as they produce a far lower yield of chestnuts. The chestnut gall wasp (‘avispilla’ in Spanish, ‘dryocosmus kuriphilus’ to scientists) has the power to wreak economic

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Spring could arrive with a sting in the tale for chestnut farmers near Ronda. Only then will they know if their €10 million industry is safe from the dreaded gall wasp, writes Iona Napier

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the E RE

PRING is the most beautiful time to visit the picturesque Genal Valley, when the almond trees are dressed in blossom like spring brides and the region’s world-famous chestnut trees are in bud. This lush green corridor in the Serrania de Ronda is the largest producer of chestnuts in Andalucia, a business that brings in €10 million annually. For those lucky enough to own a chestnut finca – and practically everyone who lives here does - money really does grow on trees! The valley’s residents have long been secure in the knowledge that their 4,000 hectares of densely and meticulouslycultivated chestnut trees would be fruitful, year on year.

MADRI MATTE D RS enough to replace what they milked during the boom years, when home loans were handed out in similar amounts to the number of bowls now served in soup kitchens across the country. If there is enough money to lend, as Gonzalez says, then the private sector should take priority. But that won’t occur because there still exists that unspoken lack of confidence.

FEATURE

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the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

PESSIMISTIC: Locals fear the plague is coming

PRICELESS: Plots of chestnuts in the Genal Valley are said to fetch up to €80,000 a year for farmers ed, as chestnuts will simply not grow on the trees it inhabits. Mayor Escalona has been extremely active in campaigns since the threat arose, and is under no illusions as to the destructive power of the plague. “Nobody here believes that the plague is coming - they’re convinced it doesn’t exist. Nothing like this has ever happened before so they are in denial about it. “They feel so far-removed from what has happened. On our own we have no way of combating it. “Environmental experts are on call and set to analyse new growth and it will be down to the Junta to step in financially if action is called for.” The Andalucian parliament has approved a plan proposed by Ronda’s PP party to fight the infestation if it strikes, headed up by coordinator Ricardo Dominguez. The only known solution is

the introduction of another insect - Torymus sinensis - as discovered by Turin University a decade after a chestnut gall wasp plague arrived in Italy. As a parasitoid agent, it lays its eggs in the body of a ‘host’ insect and its larvae feed on it from the inside out. Francisco Saez confirms that the Torymus, the natural predator of avispilla, has a 90% success rate in killing off the pests, while native parasites stand at just 20%. Italy’s chestnut industry took a sizable knock when the insect, originating from China, was discovered there in 2002. Over a decade, it wiped out 70% of chestnut production in transalpine areas. The wonderbug Torymus was introduced there in 2012, having achieved great results in Japan and North America in terms of crop rehabilitation. In Spain, the damage could be catastrophic. Avispilla could

STUNNING: El Nacimiento and restaurant owner Miguel

wipe out 80% of produce in the Genal Valley and lead to mass deforestation from the burning of infected trees, necessary to reduce the chance of transmission. Each insect releases 100 eggs so the population can increase like wildfire. Many fear that a plague could be the final sting for the valley’s dwindling population, which has already lost many residents to jobs on the coast. Igualeja’s mayor estimates his town’s head count has halved in two decades. Only 20 years ago, the primary school had 260 students. Now there are just 60. “Our economy could only be saved by better motorway connections or investment as, currently, we are getting more and more isolated,” says the mayor. In spite of his view that residents are in denial, everyone I speak to here is on tenterhooks: in small communities such as these, everyone will be affected if the crops fail - whether they are chestnut farmers or not. Miguel Castaneda who owns

uncertainty reigns. Ana’s companion tells me that, depending on the size of your finca, you can be making anything from €2,000 to €80,000 per year on your own chestnuts - not a figure to be sniffed at. As I leave the village, a man called Diego bobs up and down on his tractor in the fading light. His verdict is the most damning. “The avispilla will come, I’m 100% certain,” he says with a wry smile of resignation. “It will be like the potato famine in Ireland all over again. It’s just a matter of time.” The next few months will bring the answers, but for now it’s a waiting game.

It will be like the potato famine in Ireland all over again, it’s just a matter of time restaurant El Nacimiento on the outskirts of Igualeja at the entrance to the valley, agrees that his restaurant would be in jeopardy if the crop failed. “I don’t even have chestnuts but I would say 95% of this town benefits from the nuts and we would be totally lost without it. “If money doesn’t come into the town, we will all suffer together,” he said. In the neighbouring village of Pujerra, just a few kilometres away, some are convinced the plague won’t strike but others are sick with worry. Ana, a cosy-looking woman whose children tend to her trees and attend crisis meetings at the town hall, says everyone is afraid. “Everyone is praying the wasps won’t come,” she says. Lack of communication between the Junta and the residents mean they don’t know whether to burn their leaves over winter or leave them, and

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PP files vanish

Eye on N

CORRUPTIO

CRUCIAL evidence in the investigation into how damning computer files were deleted at the PP headquarters has ‘disappeared’. Incredibly, the judge probing the wiping of files from former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas’ computer has misplaced the documents. According to a statement released by the Madrid High Court, ‘the documents have disappeared for reasons that are being investigated’. The court initially rejected a complaint brought by the opposition in 2013, that accused the PP of covering up illegal party financing by destroying evidence on Barcenas’ computer. But following an appeal it was decided the case would go ahead. Now, however, the court is unable to find the original lawsuit files and has asked for more documents to be provided, if it is possible. Barcenas – who is awaiting trial on charges of money-laundering – admits he ran a slush fund for the party made up of illegal donations from businesses. Cash payments were then made to senior figures in the party, allegedly including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The computer in question contained information on these payments. But when the police arrived to confiscate it, it had been mysteriously wiped clean.

POLITICAL NEWS

March 5th - March 18th www.theolivepress.es

NAKED TRUTH: Rodriguez (left) and the offending shot

Podemos’ Junta candidate lashes out after Spanish TV broadcasts false ‘naked’ photograph

Snapped! A CANDIDATE for the Andalucian elections this month has slammed Spain’s national TV station for broadcasting a photograph which supposedly shows her naked. Teresa Rodriguez, who is running for Podemos in the March 22 elections, has lodged an official complaint against Television Española (TVE). The 33-year-old politician is furious that the snap was not only incorrect, but that the programme had failed to contact her before using it. “It’s a stolen photo of someone else who has tragically become collateral damage in this attack,” she said. “This is violating the right to privacy and it is not only a personal attack against me, but part of a phenomenon that must be suppressed in our society, namely, the objectification of the female body.” Rodriguez, from Cadiz, who is currently a Euro MEP for

the anti-corruption party, has taken her appeal to the people of Andalucia, via social media. The party, led by university professor Pablo Iglesias, is angry that they have not been invited to any televised debates, despite expecting to receive around 17% of the vote. Much of the party’s senior figures herald from Andalucia, including deputy Inigo Errejon, from Malaga, and Podemos has hundreds of socalled ‘circles’ of supporters here.

Transparency - this is how it works! THE co-founder of anticorruption political party Podemos has published details of his personal assets. Juan Monedero has released the records in a bid to clear up doubts about the consultancy work he carried out for Venezuela and other Latin American governments. The documents reveal that the party’s number three earned a total of €420,000 in 2013 and 2014, and that he paid €187,739 in income tax for 2013. A total of €48,528 of his earnings were from his work as a political science lecturer at Madrid’s Complutense University, while the remaining €370,969 was attributed to ‘economic activities’. This includes reports and consultancy work’, as well as teaching, publishing books, presenting TV show La Tuerka and appearing in radio and TV debates. The transparency is a bid to deny allegations of illegal party financing, and rumours that the party attempted to disguise its connections to Latin American governments. He is now asking politicians from both the PP and PSOE parties to publish similar in-depth details.

Mayor punished for urban crimes AN ex-mayor has been found guilty of allowing illegal homes to be built in his town. Juan Vera, from Tolox, is now facing two years in prison after being convicted on five

Not one to judge SPAIN’S legal watchdog has launched an investigation into ‘back door’ payments made to judges and magistrates in Madrid. The investigation – by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) – will probe payments made to legal staff by global technology company Indra in return for IT consultancy contracts. The payments were made in relation to a new computer system for the region’s court houses. A total of 32 jurists have received more than €200,000 since 2011. The preliminary investigation has now been launched into whether the head of the Madrid Regional High Court, Francisco Vieira, among others, may have broken regulations by accepting such payments. Vieira has released a statement insisting the payments were legal, declared and above board.

counts of urban-planning crimes. The licences awarded, first exposed by the Olive Press in 2008, effectively gave ‘free rein’ for the construction of homes in rural areas of the municipality. Many of the homes were hastily built in areas not safe for construction. A number of lawyers were also implicated in the case, which saw up to a dozen expats lose their life savings. The judge ruled that the exleader granted the licences, despite ‘knowing that without doubt’ they were not legal. He intended to force urban growth in Tolox, ‘with no respect for the existing planning standards’. Vera has already stepped down as mayor after being handed a 15-month prison sentence for other crimes last year. He has been banned from public office for 10 years and still faces a number of other accusations.

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NEWS

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

You read it here first!

NEWS IN BRIEF Swap block CRITICS have one month to oppose a land swap between Marbella and Benahavis, which will allegedly see 160,000 square metres of Marbella’s land urbanised by Benahavis.

n FEB 20: Whe e Harry Kan in came to Spa es in nt le Va for naDay, the UK d pe tionals jum r on the OP fo n the lowdow

Bright spark AN electrician has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars, for stealing a priceless 12th century manuscript from the Santiago de Compostela cathedral.

EIGHT Spaniards have been arrested for fighting with pro-Russian forces in Ukraine, after taking part in assassinations and in possession of explosives.

Greek knock PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected claims that Spain has tried to undermine the Greek government in negotiations over Greece’s bailout.

awaits JAN 8: The Daily Mail raised a glass in praise of our President Putin bodega exclusive

Ukraine pain FEB 9: Our recent coverage of the ‘one punch’ Sotogrande murder was followed up by a dozen papers globally

FEB 15: Whenever there’s an Ashya King update to be had, we can be counted on for getting it to you first - here followed up in the Mail

BUSY start to the year has seen the Olive Press in high demand, with the UK nationals picking up on our many exclusive stories. From updates on brain tumour patient Ashya King to soon-tobe England international Harry Kane, we continue to shine as the go-to paper in Spain for the UK press. Our coverage of last month’s Sotogrande murder saw our words and pictures used in The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Express, The Mirror and The Telegraph (to name just a few). Other top-scoops read first in the Olive Press include Russian president Vladimir Putin’s bodega plan and the tale of the Costa del Sol’s wedding runner turning up on TV… Not bad for two months’ work.

we exposed JAN 21:And when ing runner’s dd we the Marbella Irish press latest TV role the of it gh ou en t couldn’t ge

Adios amigo - the THE Olive Press is wishing good luck to its latest reporter to be snapped up by a UK national newspaper. Imogen Calderwood (above) is joining the Daily Mail in London, following in the footsteps of previous Olive Press journalists Annabel Grossman and Sarah Gordon. Highlights of her year with the paper were a drink-spiking investigation in Magaluf and Marbella, a feature on migration in Ceuta and a colour piece on the recent Podemos rally in Madrid. The paper has a long history of journalists moving on up, since Laura Balfour - one of our first hacks - moved on to American broadcaster ABC six years ago, before landing a plum job with National Geographic. Not everyone makes such a conventional career step though, with previous news editor Wendy Williams emigrating to Australia for a job at the Bendigo Advertiser.

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the olive press - February 19th - March 4th 2015

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

Gibraltar NEWS

Classic charm

NEWS IN BRIEF Doggy paddles DOG-OWNERS will be now allowed to walk their pets on a section of Eastern Beach north of the groyne, during the winter months.

Dystopian TV film plays on the fragility of Spain’s relationship with Gibraltar

4G orgy GIBTELECOM has signed a €10 million contract to upgrade its network and roll out 4G services by this November.

Masked maniac A BALACLAVA-wearing vigilante has been jailed for three years after he attacked a man in the street who he believed had assaulted his mother and four-year old sister.

Red card THE Gibraltar FA has unexpectedly sacked its national squad Manager and Head Coach Allen Bula, with immediate effect, after an internal investigation.

Study buddies THE government is currently funding 900 Gibraltarian students to undertake university degrees across the UK.

www.theolivepress.es

Rock shock By Rob Horgan

AN apocalyptic BBC film showing Gibraltar cut off from the rest of Europe has rocked the international airwaves. The tongue-in-cheek documentary also shows ISIS ter-

rorists landing in Spain and UKIP leader Nigel Farage at the helm of the British government. The BBC4 ‘mockumentary’, aired on March 1, focused on the important role played by the Gibraltar border in Europe and the fragile relation-

Home and away

A MULTI-MILLION pound property in London’s chic Bayswater is set to home Gibraltarians who need UK hospital treatment. The proposed £8.4 million Calpe House will soon accommodate up to 70 Gibraltarians at a time. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced that plans are already underway for a £2 million refurbishment of three properties near St. Mary’s Hospital to create a ‘home away from home’ for Gibraltarians in need. “This is very good news for the community,” said Picardo. “It’s a great pleasure for us to support the trustees of the Calpe House Trust with a new home away from home for the people of Gibraltar in London.” The home will be staffed by full-time and voluntary Londoners.

ship between the Rock and Spain. Blasted as ‘pro-EU scaremongering’ by Eurosceptics, The Great European Disaster Movie has caused a stir across the continent. “It is clear that some management in the BBC believe the supposedly independent news organisation must act as a propaganda agent for the EU,” said UKIP MEP and Financial Affairs Spokesman, Steven Woolfe. “Given that the BBC has received £22 million from the EU, UKIP asks where is the BBC’s EU logo displayed on the programmes that it makes?” Produced by former Economist editor Bill Emmott, and Italian journalist Annalisa Piras, the film is ‘designed to provoke thought’. “It’s a warning of what could happen if Europe continues on its current path,” Emmott said.

RDMC

THE Rock’s first boutique hotel is taking its cue from the classic Gibraltarian townhouse. The hotel, Ansaldo’s Townhouse, is being renovated to take on the original features and charm of a traditional Gibraltarian home. As well as an inner courtyard, the exclusive hotel will feature seven double rooms, two junior suites and a café on the ground floor which will be open to the public. The hotel is set for completion in August. Search ‘Ansaldo’s Townhouse’ on Facebook for more information.

ON the Rock March 5, from 10am

World Book Day at John Mackintosh Hall. A book fair with local author book signing from 12pm, and story time for four to eight-year-olds from 4pm.

March 7, 5pm

Gibraltar takes on Malta in an international rugby match at Victoria Stadium. Gibraltar Vets are also playing the Costa Barbarians at 1pm, and mini rugby from 3-4pm. Tickets £5, or free for under 16s. Can be bought from Lord Nelson before the event.

March 16

Applications close for the Spring Festival logo competition. Open to all ages, up to three works can be submitted. Must contain the wording ‘Gibraltar Spring Festival 2015’. Application forms available from John Mackintosh Hall.

Ready in the wings THESPIANS on the Rock can look forward to the Gibraltar Drama Festival 2015, which is about to launch. More than 12 plays will be performed between March 23 and March 28, with performances starting at 8pm everyday. Trafalgar Theatre Group, Rock Theatre and Medway Little Theatre Youth Company are all making contributions, with a final Gala night and an award ceremony on March 28. Tickets are on sale weekdays at the John Mackintosh Hall, 9.30am-4.30pm. On performance days, tickets are on sale at the venue 6.30pm8pm. Contact 200 672 36 or culture.info@culture.gov.gi

www.theolivepress.es

AXARQUIA

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

Turf war

NEWS IN BRIEF Bollywood boom FILMING for Bollywood film ‘Son of Sathyamurty’ is underway in Nerja. This is the second Bollywood blockbuster to be shot in the Axarquia in the past year.

Wrong recipe YOUNG chef Sergio Paloma, from Nerja, has lashed out at Andalucian schools for not promoting and teaching children the importance of cooking.

Talking art A MULTI-TALENTED Swedish expat is showcasing her surrealist paintings in Competa’s Luz de la Vida gallery this month. Kitty Harri, who has also had novels published in more than 20 countries, creates mythical, atmospheric paintings which tell a story. Her works will be exhibited alongside sculptures by Dutch artist and gallery director Lieuwke Loth. The exhibition opens at 7pm

on March 6, with both artists present to talk about their works, and continues until March 28. The gallery will be open between 11am-2pm and 5pm8pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 11am-2pm on Saturdays. For more information visit: www.luzdelavida.es www.facebook.com/galerialuzdelavida

SURREAL: A collection of Harri’s paintings

Flushed out

DOZENS of judicial files and official computers have been damaged after leaking sewage caused the courthouse roof to collapse in Torrox. The flood has raised ‘serious questions’ about the structural soundness of the building, which dates back to 1863. A spokesman for the Union of Workers of the Administration of Justice said the collapse was ‘unfortunate’ but that workers were ‘not in constant danger’ from the building. “It seems that the roof caved in because of a run-off from sewage from an adjacent room,” he said. “Unfortunately the waste fell on records and a computer server. “Luckily it did not happen during working hours but that is not to say that workers are in constant danger.” The damage to the roof is said to be two metres long, while the spokesman confirmed that officials are attempting to retrieve documents soiled by the wreckage.

Mass exodus

FALSE PROSPERITY: Expats are damaging rural areas, claim ecologists A ROW is brewing between ecologists and expats over illegal housing across Andalucia. The expats’ association Save Our Home Axarquia (SOHA) has come under attack from a representative of Ecologistas en Accion. Author and ecologist Rafael Yus Ramos insists that expats are ‘colonising the rural land and urbanising non-urbanisable land at great economic, social and ecological cost’. He added that the president of SOHA, Philip Smalley, has threatened the Spanish authorities that if the laws aren’t changed, then they will deliberately ‘catapult’ the municipalities concerned into poverty by returning to their home countries. “Those within this type of association, of which there are several, assert their right to colonise the rural landscape,” he said. But local British journalist Lenox Napier insisted: “In all, it’s just policy-mongering from the IU/Los Verdes, who are happy to go after the foreign homeowners (who supply hard-needed wealth and jobs locally) but are completely at ease with other, larger ecological issues in southern Spain.” According to Ramos, the ar-

Expats under attack from ecologists for illegally ‘colonising’ rural Spain By Imogen Calderwood rival of some 760,000 British immigrants since 1995 has triggered ‘a false climate of prosperity in the municipalities concerned’. He continues: “They are a small bourgeoisie that has colonised the landscape of the rustic land of numerous Spanish Mediterranean provinces, especially Malaga,

ROW: Author Rafael Yus Ramos

Almeria, Alicante and Valencia.” When contacted by the Olive Press, SOHA refused to make a comment, saying it would not dignify the article with a response.

THE rundown condition of San Juan Bautista’s church in VelezMalaga has lead the town’s priest, Francisco Sanchez, to search for a new building to hold Mass.

Weeded out TWO people have been arrested in Motril for smuggling 620 kilos of cannabis from Morocco in a hidden compartment of their van.

www.theolivepress.es

GREEN NEWS

14 March 5th - March 18th 2015

The mine boggles… Activists anxious about reopening of controversial ‘toxic’ mining site

Giving back

By Iona Napier ECOLOGISTS have slammed the planned reopening of a controversial mine. Ecological groups insist that Junta President Susana Diaz was over-hasty in trying to resolve the issue of the Aznalcollar mine as part of her election campaign. They have expressed ‘absolute distrust’ for Grupo Mexico - the company leading the project - and denounced ‘false promises’ of jobs from the PSOE. The mine is mired in political and ecological controversy. Catastrophe struck in 1998 when a dam burst at the mine,

essential marbella magazine

DISASTER: The 1998 contamination at Aznalcollar contaminating the Guadiamar river with five million cubic metres of toxic waste, tragically killing almost 40 tonnes of fish. Grupo Mexico was involved in a similarly disastrous accident last August when it had to pay €134 million to rectify a mining accident in Sonora,

Sickened walkers find decapitated deer corpses littering Castilla y Leon countryside

Mexico. It cost €240 million to clean up the Aznalcollar site and conservationists are anxious, claiming politicians are focusing too much on the 450 new jobs the mine will create. WWF, meanwhile, described the decision to contract the group as ‘a black day for An-

OUT NOW! www.essentialmagazine.com

ANIMALS and plants in Malaga are set to thrive thanks to a generous donation from insuror Liberty Seguros. Following the success of their pet insurance product, Liberty has donated €1,200 to the Malaga Animals and Plants Protection Association. The money will help purchase surgical equipment for the association and expand their resources. dalucia’s environment,’ and has accused the Junta of having a ‘short memory’ for green issues. Green groups continue to fight to ensure the mine does not threaten the Donana national park, which is a Unesco world heritage site and served by the Guadiamar river.

Massacre ANIMAL rights groups are outraged after poachers decapitated more than 100 deer in Spain. Police have now launched a hunt for the poachers, who left the corpses of the deer scattered across the countryside in Castilla y Leon.

HAUNTING: Lang’s aerial snaps

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

IN THE MONEY: President Carmen Rodriguez Manzano receives the cheque from Angel de la Riva, of Liberty

Polytunnel Picasso A GIANT greenhouse complex in Almeria is making waves in the art world, as the subject of an aerial photography series. Known as the Mar de Plastico – or Sea of Plastic – the complex covers around 350 square km, making it the world’s largest plastic greenhouse complex. Now, German photographer Bernhard Lang has snapped the area from above for his Aerial Views series, a project that aims to show the impact of humans on their environments from above. The complex – an area of intensive crop production since the 1960s – features alongside Slovenian beaches with ranks of beach umbrellas and a coal mining pit in Germany.

A group of walkers were horrified to discover the dismembered bodies while walking in woodland. Spaniard Narela Hinojosa, 37, said: “It was like something out of a horror film. “We came to a clearing in the forest and just saw all these heads and bodies littered all over the place. “I nearly vomited, it was so gross and the smell was unbearable. “Most of the heads had antlers missing and some of the carcasses had no legs. “It looked like a massacre had taken place.” Animal rights activists are vowing to bring those responsible to justice. A spokesman for Seprona, the Guardia Civil unit responsible for the environment, said: “Preliminary investigations suggest the animals were trapped in snow and weakened by lack of food. “Hunters took advantage of this and killed them before chopping them up. “We also have reports from locals saying they had seen people driving cars full of deer heads. “It is not the first time in these mountains that poachers have taken advantage of the snow and killed animals that are tired and hungry. “But we have never seen it on this scale before. This type of hunting is illegal and forbidden as the animals have no chance of escape.”

la cultura Priest and prejudice www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

www.theolivepress.es March 5th - March 18th 2015

what’s on

arbella. March 7, 7.30pm A show of flamenco fashion to raise money for the Caritas charity, at the Palacio de Congresos Adolfo Suarez. Tickets €5. Visit www.marbellacongresos. com

Teenage transsexual refused entry to Sevilla church celebration

HAPPY IN FRILLS: Girls in flamenco dresses at the fiesta

Family fortunes A BRITISH man is appealing for help to trace his family’s history in Spain. Mike Webster, 69, from Angus in Scotland, is attempting to discover more about his great uncle Fred Webster. He has already found out that his uncle owned a cork grove in or near Sevilla for the family business Bowman and Webster Cork Manufacturers, but needs help to uncover more. “Fred is of course deceased, as is his brother and my grandfather, and my father, so it is up to me to attempt to find out some information to pass onto my sons,” Mike told the Olive Press. “I discovered a diorama of Windsor Castle made by Fred at an antique dealers in the UK. That discovery was a bittersweet homecoming, but a small part of our family history will remain forever.” Mike has also unearthed a

SOUGHT: Fred Webster (above and below right) and (below left) the diorama number of photos of his great uncle, dated between 1890 and 1910. If you can help Mike discover more, contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

A 14-YEAR-OLD transsexual from Sevilla has been forbidden from attending church in a flamenco dress. Maria Jose – born Alberto – was planning to wear a dress to Mass as part of the annual Fiesta del Mosto y la Aceituna in Umbrete. However, two days before the event, councillor Jose Llorente informed Maria’s mother that she would be refused entry to the church. Llorente told her that the priest, Brother William, ‘feared that the people of Umbrete would object to a boy dressed in a flamenco dress.’ He added that they would be ‘stopped at the door’ if they attempted to enter. Mayor of Umbrete, Joaquin Fernandez Garro, has since criticised the priest’s decision. He said: “I do not agree with the pastor, we should not be discriminating against anyone on grounds of sex. “We have a total respect for this group.” LGBT groups have slammed the actions of the church as a breach of human rights. “What happened in Umbrete is disgusting and repulsive and goes against the rights and freedom of people and against what the church preaches,” said Marisa Roof of Different Action LGBT. “This debate shows the urgent need for a state or community law to protect the rights of LGBT people in Andalucia.”

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SHOW: A collection of Naylor’s work

Photo finish

AN expat photographer is launching his debut solo exhibition in Fuengirola. Briton Mike Naylor – just appointed as the Royal Photographic Society’s organiser for southern Spain – is holding his exhibition at the Casa de la Cultura in Las Lagunas. Three of Mike’s projects will be on show: Feeling cancer – depicting the isolation of the disease; Memories of contemporary Spain – imagining how the Costa del Sol will be remembered; and Deconstructing reality – a study of unfinished buildings. The exhibition – which runs until March 20 – is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am-1.30pm and 5-8pm. For more information, visit www.mikenaylor.es

Riding the waves IF Europa FM and Los 40 weren’t enough to keep you entertained, Malaga province now has a brand new radio station. City FM has now hit the airwaves, covering the whole province from Motril to Calahonda. Tune in on 106.2FM, or visit www.cityfmmalaga.com for more information.

Patrick’s back in town AN expat singer is back on the coast after finding his big break in America. Singer Patrick Knowles left the coast in 1997 to further his career in the States. He claims to have ‘sung in every great jazz venue in the States’, accompanied by his Swing Thing big band. But he’s now back in Spain for a tour, kicking off in Puerto Banus on March 5. From there he will jet off to Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Madrid.

SINGER: Patrick

an Pedro. March 8 Charity hairdressing event on the Boulevard. Have your haircut in return for a donation to the Fibromyalgia Marbella Association. There are also make-up classes, children’s activities and performances from choir Funky Vocals.

orre del Mar. March 13, 11am-1pm Easter Bazaar, at Lux Mundi Ecumenical Centre. Visit www.lux-mundi. org, email luxmundi@luxmundi.org or call 952 543 334.

a Cala. March 29, 11am-3pm PAD Spring Fair, with lots of stalls, a BBQ and a bar. To be held in front of the town hall. For more information, call Lisa on 658 351 642.

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

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la cultura

www.theolivepress.es March 5th - March 18th 2015

Frank vs Franco

Newlydiscovered documents reveal secrets of the Irish International Brigades

By Imogen Calderwood THE leader of the Irish who fought against General Franco in the Spanish Civil War sent dozens of men home to save their lives, according to records released from Russia. Frank Ryan, from County Limerick, sent 25 of his volunteers home to Ireland before they met an untimely end. The documents – released by Moscow-based organisation Communist International, or Comintern – give a snapshot of the 230 Irish who fought with Ryan on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War, almost a third of whom died. Researcher Emmet O’Connor, from the University of Ulster, said: “It is to Ryan’s credit that he managed to get about 25 men sent home, and his motivation was based on the very high losses among volunteers he himself had brought to Spain.”

Ryan played a vital role within the International Brigades after travelling to Spain in 1936, despite his crippling deafness. “He had two important tasks: first, to help rebuild the British battalion decimated after the Battle of Brunete in July 1937, and, second, on his own initiative, to get as many Irishmen as possible repatriated if he felt that they had done enough,” added

HERO: Irish leader Frank Ryan (left) and Franco O’Connor. The Comintern library contains about 60 million pages of documents, the global

scope of which creates a unique opportunity to study previously undiscovered details of the war.

Attention actors! ACTORS are wanted to audition for a fun-filled musical version of Around the world in 80 days. Join the team at the Salon Varieties Theatre in Fuengirola on March 14, from 2-5pm. There is no need to prepare an audition piece – just turn up. The main roles to be filled are: Phileas Fogg, male, 40s; Passepartout, male, 30s, French; Inspector Fix, male, 50s; Auoda, female, 30s. There are also many ensemble roles for the show, set to be staged May 22-31 (not including Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays). For more information call director Henrik Hagensen on 667 540 247.

RECOVERED: Forged Goya painting and fake bills

Artful dodgers scammed TWO Spanish brothers who planned to swindle an Arab sheik became the victims of a scam, when they received 1.7 million Swiss francs in fake bills.

Teen ward award A SPANISH television show has won the ‘Best Series’ prize at the International Emmy Kids Awards. Polseres Vermelles is a Catalan TV show about friendships of seriously ill teenagers in a hospital ward.

Police investigating the brothers’ attempt to sell a forged Goya uncovered a string of swindles that led to their arrest. The brothers, from Girona, tried to sell the painting – the Portrait of Antonio Maria Esquivel – for €4 million. In Turin, a person who said he represented the sheik gave the brothers the 1.7 million Swiss francs. The siblings gave €300,000 – for commission costs – to another person in Girona, who also claimed to be representing the sheik. But at the Geneva bank the brothers planned to stash the money in, it became clear the bills were in fact photocopied fakes.

Telling tales AN expat author with the taste for travel has found success with a new novel based in Spain. American Art Lester, a former journalist, who moved to Cantilla in the Sierra Nevada, has published The Demon Cat of Calle del Rio, to add to his growing collection of travel books. “My life took on a different cast when I found the village the book is written about,” Art told the Olive Press. “It has been more than 20 years since I first (almost literally) stumbled upon it. It’s a tiny place of just 300 people who have inherited over a thousand years of history. It’s a fascinating place.” The book – which has received glowing five-star re-

TOP SELLER: The Demon Cat of Calle del Rio views on Amazon – details Art and his wife Gilly’s adventures during their year in the mountain village…including accidentally urinating on a neighbour’s sheep.

la cultura

17 1717 March 5th - March 18th 2015

Eastern promise

DEPP: In Goya film, and (right) James McAvoy

Francisco goes to Hollywood

RANCISCO Goya is one of the most influential Spanish artists of the 18th and 19th centu-

ries. His works adorn the walls of world-famous museums - including Madrid’s Museo del Prado and London’s National Gallery - while his wide range of mediums and variety of subject matter have made him a Spanish icon for the past 150 years. And now, there is a growing fascination with Goya in pop-culture - not in painting or printmaking, but at the cinema. Hollywood film Mortdecai - starring Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow - is a case in point. Central to the plot is the mysterious whereabouts of Goya’s masterpiece, The Duchess of Wellington - rumoured to conceal the code to a lost Swiss bank account loaded with Nazi gold. British director Danny Boyle the mastermind behind Slum-

The Spanish artist Goya died nearly two centuries ago but he lives on at the movies, writes Jack Gaioni

Jack’s Corner dog Millionaire and Trainspotting - also takes Goya as his inspiration for 2013 psychological thriller Trance. It opens with protagonist James McAvoy explaining how auction houses have historically been targets for thieves, setting up the plot of the theft of Goya’s The Witches in the Air. Upstaging the film was an actual event that occurred just after its release. Sotheby’s London’s auction house - hit headlines for selling not a Goya painting but a receipt for one: none other than The Witches in the Air. Dated Madrid June

27, 1798 and written in Goya’s own hand, it sold for an amazing €41,000, largely due to the publicity from Trance. But these aren’t the only big Hollywood names to exploit Goya’s iconic reputation. Steven Spielberg himself claimed that Goya was a ‘major influence on the visuals’ for the 1997 Oscar-nominated Amistad. Meanwhile director Steve McQueen drew heavily on Goya’s war images as a visual influence for 12 years a slave, which won three Oscars last year. Indeed, thanks to his graphic first-hand depictions

of the horrors of battle, art critics have long claimed Goya was the first true ‘war correspondent’. Just this month, the 29th annual Goya Awards were presented in Madrid. Celebrating the best in Spanish films, they are considered the equivalent of the American Oscars. The organisers chose the name because they believed Goya is the man most representative of Spanish culture. High praise indeed!But the growing fascination with Goya’s legacy is no accident. He is a pop-culture phenomenon because he explored themes that resonate with modernity. A chairwoman at Christie’s London Art Auction said: “Goya has laid bare his powerful themes of blood, war and fear and juxtaposed his ability to simultaneously convey beauty, humor and human kindness. He is entirely revolutionary... an artist of the moment.” Francisco Goya lives on.

Expat Malaysians urged to contribute towards the cost of a Sevilla mosque MALAYSIANS living in Spain have been encouraged to chip in for the construction of a mosque in Sevilla. President Abu Zahar urged Spanish-based Malays to help the Islamic community finally complete a worship place in Sevilla. There have been plans for a Sevillian mosque since 2008, but financial setbacks have prevented the €17 million project starting. “It is important for Malays to support this project,” Zahar said. “As for me, some of my colleagues in parliament and I will try our best to help them. “This is something that comes from our hearts to help Muslims in Sevilla to have their mosque.” Granada Mosque president Malik Abderahman called Zahar for help after a meeting with Sevilla Mosque director Ibrahim Hernandez. During the 40-minute meeting, Abderahman expressed

HELPING HAND: From Zahar his wish for financial assistance from the Malaysian public and government. “For us this project will not be just a mosque but we want it to become a centre for Muslims and non-Muslims in Spain to have links with one another,” Abderahman said. “Even though we (Muslims) are a minority, we like to work together with all societies in Spain.” An estimated two million Muslims currently live in Spain.

18 18

LETTERS

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

Total con DEAR OP, Having unfortunately dealt with Jeremy and his One Way Van Hire company, I can honestly say this man couldn’t tell the truth to save himself. I had a van booked for seven days – which then became five – as he said he had a problem with the van. I later found out that the previous hire had run over by two days. I asked for a refund for the lost days which he refused. As I had a ferry booked to the UK I had no choice but to go with it. He said my deposit would be paid back after a month but after four months sending emails and numerous phone calls, I decided I’d had enough. On a trip back to Spain I paid him a visit. Even then, I got more lies before he eventually paid the money into my account. Ian Smith, Glasgow

Silence hurts THIS is extremely disturbing news for the victims and for innocent children today (‘Sex abuse priests let off’, issue 207). These accused men go free because of a technicality in the archaic predatorfriendly laws. Child predators need to be kept far away from children forever. Let’s hope that anyone who may have knowledge or may have been harmed by

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Mine of info

Loving La Linea MY husband and I are Kiwis visiting Spain, having sailed here on our yacht. We are big fans of the Olive Press and look forward to each edition. What great, interesting reading – even better that it is free – thank you. Returning from a quick trip back to NZ we feel compelled to congratulate the people of La Linea for making the waterfront so attractive and interactive. When we left work was still underway. Now, with the surrounding buildings being painted and spruced up, it is an area for locals to feel proud of. People are also pitching in by picking any of these accused clerics will find the courage to come forward and contact law enforcement, no matter how long ago it happened. Silence only hurts, and by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others. Judy Jones, Mijas

Monkey business I ENJOYED the clever article in which Tom Powell as-

up ‘doggy doos’ and binning their rubbish. The Alcaidesa Marina is world-class and a wonderful place to be based, its staff friendly and helpful as we have found most Spanish people to be. To wake up with the Rock in all its many moods and its taste of the UK

just a stones-throw away is another positive. It will be with some regret that we leave this beautiful place.

sumed the role of a Barbary Ape (‘King of the swingers’, issue 207). It was an entertaining and interesting viewpoint that contains possibilities for further development... seriously. ‘Tales from their forefathers’ could yield an interesting historical perspective. Go for it Tom!

Gibberish, issue 207), but not shocking. There are plenty of people who don’t speak Spanish in Gibraltar, not just the monkeys as Spain’s foreign minister Margallo claimed. But he wouldn’t know that as he’s never bothered to visit. One thing is clear, even our monkeys have no wish to be Spanish. What Margallo doesn’t know is that there are many monkeys in Spain who actually do speak Spanish.

Cedric Watkins, Australia

No surprise IT is awful to read that Spain will close Gibraltar’s Cervantes Institute, (Talking

My holiday is too short ... to spend time on reading all the small print !

At Helle Hollis there are no hidden extras! Clear pricing and fair fuel policy

Kathy and Peter Jamieson, Christchurch, New Zealand

Bill Phillips, Gibraltar

NICE article Jack! (‘Did goldgreedy Romans kick-off climate change in Spain?’ Issue 207). I am an anthropologist and teach an undergraduate course in Human Ecology at the University of Louisiana, and I have been using the case study of Las Medulas for years. It provides an excellent example of how human activity has been impacting the environment over the past millennia. This is precisely why we need to preserve Las Medulas as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – in order to preserve the evidence of human hubris and atrocities. Daniel Cring, USA

Fingers crossed IT is terrible to see how jealous and spiteful Spain is towards Gibraltar (For fags sake! issue 207) but it only mirrors what is a very jealous and spiteful government who, with such enormous problems to overcome, are still worried about a little land mass. Let us hope the current government is ousted and we get someone who will engage in a proper dialogue for the benefit of both Spain and Gibraltar. The EU will be taking note and it will only further undermine Spain. Fred Crane, OP online

POTTED POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 80.00% Same week last year: 81.56% Same week in 2005: 59.62% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.12American dollars 0.73 British pounds 1.40 Canadian dollars 7.45 Danish kroner 8.67 H Kong dollars 8.60 Norwegian kroner 1.53 Singapore dollars

Life sentence THIS British expat had other choices than simply punching the German man to death (British man arrested for murder of alleged German paedophile in Sotogrande). This is not the 11th century we are living in! Now his children will have lovely childhood memories of visiting daddy in prison for the rest of his life as in Spain, there are no grey areas when it comes to murder. Matthew Gordon, Benalmadena

Red mist SANDRO Rottman was apparently given numerous warnings to stop filming his daughter. But he kept persisting, persisting, persisting, and persisting. As you can see the father of the daughter reached the end of his tether when he found the images on this man’s tablet, and his patience snapped. It’s is easy to say he should have controlled himself, but you do not know how you would react until it is your daughter being filmed. Jay Green, OP online

Letters should be emailed to letters@theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

CROSSMOT 52

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www.hellehollis.com Helle Hollis Car Rental . Malaga Airport www.hellehollis.com . Tel.: +34 95 224 55 44

Across 7 Inventors (3, 10) * 8 Fijado (8) * 9 Envidia (4) * 10 Aprendido (7) * 12 Metro (5) * 14 Oferta (5) * 16 Cubos (7) * 19 To Pray (4) * 20 Annoyed (8) * 22 Coating (13). Down 1 Jewel (4) * 2 Amargo (6) * 3 Advances (7) * 4 Joined (5) * 5 Rocket (6) * 6 Más Pesado (8) * 11 Cumplir (8) * 13 Suppresses (7) * 15 Ha ganado (6) * 17 Gatito (6) * 18 Nacimiento (5) * 21 Fecha (4).

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the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Vol. 9 Issue 208 www.theolivepress.es

March 5th - March 18th 2015

End of the line

The Romans did a lot for Manilva, famous for its sweet Moscatel wine and Gentlemen’s Relish. Now tourists are seriously rediscovering the Costa del Sol’s swinging ‘West End’, as Tom Powell reports

Photo by Jon Clarke

HE beach was groin to groin with revellers, lit up by a multitude of brightly-coloured lights and throbbing to the sound of hot dance music. But this wasn’t the epic party island of Ibiza, or even the jet set resort of Marbella, just down the road. It was little Sabinillas, Manilva’s younger sibling, letting her hair down at the Full Moon party last summer. San Luis de Sabinillas, to give this upand-coming coastal resort its full name, was just a small fishing village a decade

OUT OF THIS WORLD: Alien encounter with squids drying on a line at Punta Chullera, while (top right) a more conventional view from Duquesa beach

thebistro steakhouse love food, dine out for less...

the bistro steakhouse To make a reservation

tel: 952 936 344 www.thebistrosteakhouse.com Next to The English Butcher in Duquesa Port

Turn to page 20

bookshop - olive press Mothers Day:Layout 1 02/03/2015 12:35 Page 1

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

The Sabinillas Bookshop

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The Bookshop

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Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Beach life

Sabinillas

Tel: 952 891 545 We have a great selection of Gifts, Cards, Balloons, Wrapping Paper etc.

Mother’s Day Sunday 15th March

Monday to Friday 09:00 - 14:30 / 16:00 - 19:00 Saturday 09:30 - 14:00 Sunday - Closed Email: steve@sabinillasbookshop.com

www.sabinillasbookshop.com

Contact Lenses, Glasses & Hearing Aids

WE SPEAK ENGLISH ASK FOR SPECIAL OFFERS C/ Bolivia, 19 – Local 2 (next to Mercadona) Tel: 952 89 09 10 – SABINILLAS Carrefour Avda. Litoral s/n. local 7 Tel: 952 80 56 74 – ESTEPONA C/ Terraza, 51 Tel: 952 79 39 63 – ESTEPONA

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From Page 19

ago; or what the Spanish call a ‘pedania’ - a tiny nucleus population dependent on a bigger ‘municipality’ - in this case, Manilva, which keeps watch over her little sister from the hills above the coast road. Sabinillas has been around just as long as Manilva (Bronze Age artefacts have been found) but the Costa del Sol tourism boom has turned the tiny enclave into a new best-kept secret. ‘Sabi’ as the locals affectionately call the resort, remains vibrant year-round thanks to its supportive and outgoing expat community. That’s despite being at the quieter, less-developed ‘West End’ of the Costa del Sol. It may be the last resort on this glitzy coast, but Sabi wears its community spirit on its sleeve more proudly than most others. And every June, the full moon provides an excuse for the mother of all-night beach festivals - one to rival all the others along the coast. With the night sky aflame with Chinese lanterns, thousands of people of all nationalities gather on this Blue Flag beach to dance, drink, dip their feet in the sea and dance some more. But what makes Sabinillas special is its year-round appeal - close enough to Marbella to benefit from its boom, but far

enough away to have carved out a positive alternate reputation for itself. The Manilva municipality as a whole, like everywhere else on the coast, has flourished under tourism in the last decade. But it’s a working town as well as a tourist town (it still has a small fishing fleet) where Spanish people go about their daily lives, alongside ‘los extranjeros’. Expats John Love and Heather Williams have lived in the village for a decade. “Manilva is the perfect place to live. It CELEBRATED: The Blue Flag beach in Sabinillas (top) and a has all the benefits of Marbella view from chiringuito Floria without all of the pretentious- name for the strip where all the busy little village centre with ness,” says John. banks and insurance compa- everything you would need. We “It’s the Costa del Sol’s best nies are centred while, down quickly got to know both Spankept secret but it is still near to on the waterfront, there is a ish and English people and everything,” adds Heather. great range of bars and restau- found everyone welcoming and It is certainly a rants. friendly. distinct comBritish ex- “We love that there is a strong munity with a pat Deb- expat community for times We love that there healthy mix of bie Porter when you feel a little home Spanish, Britis a strong expat moved to sick (and struggle with the lanish and Gerthe area guage). community for man, as well as due to her “This is also one of the nicest times when you are Moroccans and h u s b a n d places to bring up a child. Kids South Ameria little home sick Craig’s job are part of everyday life and we cans. in Gibraltar love spending a warm summer It is also a six years evening in the Plaza watching veritable hive ago. “We the world go by,” she adds. of commerce. While it wins no decided to try it out for a year For proof of this village’s rapid beauty awards, there is a great or two... but we are still here growth, look no further than range of supermarkets and four years later!” she explains. its weekly market. It began shops in Sabinillas. “There is a beautiful beach in 1990 as a car boot sale in Wall Street is the local nick- front, lots of tapas bars and a the car park of the Moorhouse

Manilva - the best place to live on the Costa del Sol IS it any wonder that foreigners from 78 countries make up 43% of Manilva’s diverse population... when life is so darn good there. The lowest taxes on the coast, the lowest density of population and some of the best facilities; these are just some of the reasons mayor Diego Urieta believes expats choose to live in the town. “It is easily the best place to live on the Costa del Sol,” he insists. “Aside from the fact that it is 30% cheaper to buy here than Estepona or Marbella, the environment is better. “We have great infrastructure and equipment and plenty of free events and services for the older generation,” he adds. “We are just about to open another big sports centre in Sabinillas and the IBI housing tax rates are the lowest on the coast at 0.7%.” In addition, those who enlist on the official town padron get a further 23% discount. “We really want to try and encourage the British to do this,” explains Urieta, who has been working at the town hall for nearly a decade. “We believe that around 8,000 British people are living here, while only 2,800 are officially registered. If everyone was to register we would be able to get more money for roads and healthcare facilities. “We would even be able to get a national police station.” A friendly chap, who is popular in the town, Urieta insists that

THE GOOD LIFE: Mayor Diego Urieta with Olive Press publisher Jon Clarke ‘work and honour’ are the pillars of his working life and he has been involved in politics since he joined the IU party in 1999 at the age of 22. Since the last mayor of Manilva Antonia Munoz, of the IU party, resigned in disgrace last year, he has insisted that he wants to clear up the pall of corruption that had tainted the town hall for years. “I have zero tolerance for the bad stuff that went on before,” he says. Having now broken away from the IU party he is standing for an independent party in the local elections this year.

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March 5th - March 18th 2015 Advertorial

Firm favourite

RICH TAPESTRY: Mosaics showing agricultural life in Manilva and sea-life in Sabinillas pub. Today the Sunday morning Sabinillas market is known far and wide and is one of the biggest on the coast. It has had to change location three times simply to accommodate its expanding array of market stalls. For further proof that this place means business, take a stroll alongside the main coastal road on the side away from the beach, where the new Olive Press headquarters resides - look out for the bright olive green sign above the muchloved Sabinillas bookshop. Steve Davies, who has run the bookshop for four years so far, says: “Sabinillas is a great place to work and live, there’s a real community atmosphere and it’s great to have the same familiar faces popping in - and of course some new ones!” Back on its incredible Blue Flag beach which stretches all the way from Rio Manilva to Puerto Duquesa, fishermen still launch their boats and are often met by waiting restaurateurs upon their return, eagerly awaiting the day’s catch. A charming walk along the prom leads to the buzzing Puerto de la Duquesa, where a multi-cultural melting pot of bars and restaurants frame a sleek yachting marina. Castillo de la Duquesa was once the site of a thriving fish processing industry, exporting highly-prized garum paste (a kind of Gentleman’s Relish). Remains of the factory, a villa and bathhouse can still be seen today. The port remains the brightest jewel in Manilva’s crown, benefiting from tourism and buzzing with life. Unlike any other port on the Costa del Sol, La Duquesa faces out to sea; you can see across the glittering Mediterranean to the horizon from every one of of its three sides. The port has undergone a growth spurt in the last decade and the expansion doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon. A veritable hub of nationalities descend on the marina to meet friends, eat out or shop during the day. And on a Friday night in the summer, this hip little harbour is as hot a place to be seen in as Puerto Banus - without the cost and hype! Set back from the port in the mountain foothills, the com-

munity of Manilva is hugged by Spanish. vineyards. Not being on most It is one step removed from tourists’ radar, it’s refreshingly the wave of tourism lapping devoid of skyscraper construc- its coast, but the quality - and tion. Visitors who venture off price - of its tapas still draws the main road to investigate the Sabinillas crowd. may well strugAnd then gle to get out there are of the centre’s the postIt offers labyrinth of narcard views vocational row one-way from every streets where direction. courses in wineit’s easy to get The Pedreta making, aimed at lost, even with mirador deinspiring teens GPS navigation. livers a view Buried in the s t r et c h i n g historic heart from the is St Anne’s church and the ad- white cubed village of Casares joining cemetery, dating from to the coastal hubs of Estepoaround 1776. Turn a corner na and Marbella below. A netand there it is, striking yet sim- work of tracks can be glimpsed plistic, bold yet unassuming. in between, inviting you to hike, Sauntering through the maze cycle or horse-ride. of white houses with their ter- It is also quickly clear how imracotta roofs, every hola from portant grapes and wine are passers-by strengthens the to Manilva. The central Plaza feeling that Manilva is still very de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest

MANILVA - HOME OF THE OLIVE PRESS THE Olive Press is proud to call Manilva its home. Relocating to the well located Costa del Sol town three months ago, we have been treated well by the locals and seen business grow as a result. Based in a spacious self-contained office overlooking the busy N-340 motorway, we are just 25 minutes from Marbella and 25 minutes from Gibraltar. “It is a fantastic location, strategically for our growth and due to its friendly, down to earth locals,” explained publisher Jon Clarke (pictured above with some of the team). The official launch last month was attended by mayor Diego Urieta and Driving Over Lemons writer Chris Stewart.

Square) is adorned with a spectacular mural depicting workers in vineyards, and becomes the centre of the action during the September harvest festival. The nearby Interpretation Centre, opened in 2010, highlights and strengthens the village’s long wine-making tradition. It offers vocational courses in winemaking, aimed at inspiring the younger generations and training future professionals. But with the right blend of

WITH 12 years’ experience of working with British expats in Sabinillas, Mateo Lawyers is equipped to handle everything from property conveyancing to Spanish wills. The full spectrum of legal services is covered from business matters to divorce, traffic accidents or inheritance issues. The firm also has offices in Sotogrande and Algeciras. Lawyer Juan Mateo Soler explains: “We specialise in helping British expats with all the proper paperwork for purchasing a property. “Our aim is to establish a personal relationship with our client so that we can provide tailored legal and tax advice to suit their particular needs.” For further information or a no-obligation quote contact info@mateoabogados.com or call 665 548 865

tourist expansion and Spanish tradition, it is easy to see why Manilva is becoming the toast of the coast for more than just its wine.

TIME TEAM: Roman oven

PS... DID YOU KNOW?

IN the heart of Manilva village, an archaeological team recently found the substantial remains of a Roman kiln dating back to 2AD. In excellent condition, it was found alongside a series of fragments of pottery. It is thought that the unique design may be the only existing example in Spain and could serve as further evidence of the town’s key role in exporting ‘garum’, one of the most popular products during Roman times. Then known as ‘saltum’, Manilva became famous for the delicacy, a pungent paste made from fish guts. Exported to the Eternal City of Rome via boat, it needed to be stored in well-made pots, called amphoras. And it now seems likely that the recently discovered kiln may be where these were made on an almost industrial scale.

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

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Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

Port of adventure

F the idea of travelling around the world in 80 restaurants floats your boat, bustling La Duquesa Port is the perfect spot to drop anchor. A walk around this whitewashed marina takes scarcely longer than five minutes but just count the blackboards promoting cuisine from all over the globe: China, India, Japan, and Singapore, and a plethora of European ports of call too! In the maze of alleys behind the port you will also find the excellent Hemingways, its bustling Irish next-door-neighbour Kinsales, as well as Tim’s fish and chips, Italian pizzerias and authentic Spanish eateries, packed together more tightly than wheels in the car-park. It could be argued that La Duquesa lacks Spanish identity, with more English voices than yachts and more burgers than tapas. But step out either side of the port, where Spanish chiringuitos (and boatfuls of grilling sardines in summer) fringe expansive soft sand beaches and you’ll be left in no doubt which country you’re in. This social meeting point sings through its restaurants, cafes and bars, the people who work in them and the visitors who sit in the sunshine enjoying them. This elegant enclave of turrets and towers, pretty plazas and

Serving you Top Quality meat since 1999

La Duquesa is a culinary voyage of discovery, writes Tom Powell steps leading to different levels juts out from the mainland, encircling its attractions like an oyster encloses a pearl. Quirky and eclectic, it’s like a younger sister to Puerto Banus – less glam perhaps, but less snooty too; more affable and, importantly, very much more affordable. This sociable spirit is enhanced by the people who work here, who hail from all over the world and are woven into the ethnically diverse fabric of La Duquesa. It makes sense that one of the men heavily involved in the port’s growth is Moroccan Zac Hauswirth. Last year he opened his fourth restaurant here - Casablanca, specialising in food from his homeland. He also runs the Ocean Café, where bartender Christian LLosa, who has lived in Spain since 2006, raves about her ‘workplace’. “It’s friendly, trendy and always busy, rain or shine. Because of the people the port is alive and rapidly growing.” While Christian admits the av-

SPIRIT: La Duquesa port erage age of customers is over 30, that changes during busy weekend ‘happy hours’ which are popular with young and old alike.

And of course, it’s hip to 21st century requirements, with wifi freely available in all the cafes and every possible amenity a short distance away.

Market leader SAUSAGES • CHICKEN BEEF • LAMB • PORK GRAVY • STUFFING VEGETABLES • SOUPS FROZEN FOODS • SAUCES and much more... DUQUESA PORT

N340 143.5km, Manilva

Monday/Friday 8:30 ~ 19:30 Saturday/Sunday 9:00 ~ 14:00 Don’t forget, for placing orders please email us on info@theenglishbutcher.com or call us on tel: 952 891 313 The English Butcher www.englishbutcher.com

ODDITIES: At the Sabinillas market IT is said to be the best flea market on the coast. And hours can certainly disappear while perusing all the weird and wonderful oddities at the bustling Sabinillas Sunday market. The New Fairground on the Rio Manilva road is the latest home for the famous rastro, a colourful combination of flea market stalls and fresh produce. The market is always extremely busy with visitors coming from afar to bag a bargain. The recent appearance of bullfighter Javier Conde and his wife, flamenco star Estrella Morente, has only strengthened its reputation.

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the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

March 5th - March 18th 2015

SEA OF GRAPES: Hillside near Manilva

Raisin’ the roof

Sweet home Manilva is famed for its wines

VERY September Manilva celebrates its winemaking tradition with a threeday harvest festival. Think fla-

menco dancers, brass bands, music and dancing into the early hours in the Plaza de la Vendimia.

Forgotten fortress STANDING resolute on the coast to the west of Duquesa is the impressive 18th century castle of La Duquesa, in the middle of what was once a Roman fishing village. It is well worth strolling down the beach from Duquesa to visit this Roman fortress, which is one of Andalucia’s biggest excavation projects. The surrounding town of Castillo feels somewhat forgotten; the old industrial area to the north of the castle is now a waste ground car park. But the castle and the array of seafood restaurants suggest it is not completely off the map yet. The castle was built in the 1760s to protect against continual incursions by pirates. It is incredibly solid and earned its builder, Francisco Paulino, a title and the honour of commanding a cavalry company. Today it is used by travelling museums and exhibitions, for workshops and as the town hall offices.

Follow the fairways MANILVA is blessed with some of the best golf courses on the Costa del Sol. With fantastic opportunities to test your skills on championship courses, there are a number of fairways that will even prove a challenge to the lowest handicapped players. But fear not, Manilva is not just for the pros, as there are also a number of ‘friendlier’ courses to whet the appetite of the less experienced golfer. The best place to start is at Gaston Golf Tours, where they offer a number of discounted prices. The company – which has had offices on the Costa del Sol for more than 15 years – offers golfing holidays in Spain, Portugal or the Canaries and Balearics. For more information, search ‘Gaston Golf Tours’ on Facebook, email info@gastongolf. com or call 952 936 803.

The sweet Moscatel grapes have been grown in the vast vineyards surrounding Manilva since the 16th century and are used to make the aptly named Manilva wine, famous throughout Spain. Manilva took up winemaking as its main economic activity after the Spanish Civil War because of its ideally-suited climate and soil. The festival was founded in the

early 1960s and has become a red letter day on the local calendar, drawing visitors from across the region to see the winemaking process. As well as making the sweet dessert wine, the muscatel grapes are also dried on the hillsides to make the famous ‘Malaga raisins’. “We have seen a lot more people interested in buying the sweet wines over the last few years,” explains local shopkeeper Maria Esteban, who sells the wine, plus numerous other local products, from her unmissable shop Frutas Pascal y Hijos, on the way into town. As well as nuts and pulses, there’s a huge range of fruit, including locally-grown avocados and cherimoyas, which originate from the Andes and thrive in the protected coastal valleys here, fed by the rich sulphurous waters. The creamy texture of the flesh gives the fruit its secondary name, custard apple. Mark Twain called the cherimoya ‘the most delicious fruit known to men’.

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS: Grape pickers at festival

2424the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

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Manilva, Sabinillas and www.theolivepress.es March 5th - March 18th 2015 Puerto de la Duquesa

FAMOUS FACE: UK Prime Minister Ted Heath visited Venta Madrona (Pictured below) in the 1970s

Venta t the cro

FOR decades it was the stop off for artists, pol cians and celebrities. So, it was something of a tragedy when Ven Madrona was knocked down due to the co struction of an underpass through Sabinillas decades ago. One of the main stop-offs for travellers betwe Gibraltar and Malaga for centuries, the histo restaurant was always full and served up an e cellent range of dishes. “We had an amazing range of visitors, inclu ing Frank Sinatra, Ted Heath and former Prim Minister Adolfo Suarez,” recalls the son of t former owner. Now running his own wine and lottery sh nearby, Jose Antonio Madrona recalls the f quent visits from famous flamenco stars Vale and Cameron, Spain’s most famous flamen star. “He was often here as he was a friend of m uncle. He stayed the night and frequently san I remember even dancing for him as a child.” The venta, which was built in 1929, also count on the founder of Andalucian nationalism Bl Infante as a regular. “He had plenty of meetin here in the run up to the civil war,” added Jos who studied history at Malaga University, befo studying viticulture. The family now run the wine and lottery sh next to the roundabout, which at least prides self on being a busy hub of the community - li Venta Madrona before it. ON THE STREETS: Local families enjoy the laid-back nature of Manilva in the 1960s

Serving manilva for 10 years

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the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

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PROUD: Jose Antonio Madrona holds a picture of frequent visitor dancer Antonio el Bailarin

MUSICAL TOWN: Girls singing while (right) famous flamenco star Cameron de la Isla rides on a bike in Manilva Advertorial

Brit future for homes market R

EAL estate is back in business on the Costa del Sol, say the property pros at Hamilton Homes. The Sabinillas estate agents forecast that 2015 will be the year of the mortgage and the British property buyer - both scarcer than hens’ teeth since the property bubble burst. Plus, with the Manilva area offering what the company believes is the best price/quality ratio on the coast, it is expecting a busy year. Banks are keen to lend money again and the strong pound is likely to see the British market back in its number one slot, ahead of the French, German and Scandinavians who have been keeping sales ticking over, says director Andrew Bacarese Hamilton. And with property prices 50 to 70% lower than they were at the height of the boom in 2007, now is a great time to buy. However, banks are cracking down on paperwork and purchasers will need expert help to cut through the extra red tape. Working closely with financial institutions, the team at Hamilton Homes is in the perfect position to help buyers negotiate a hassle-free mortgage. “The banks over-lent in the heyday of the market and we all suffered from their over-exuberance,” says Andrew. “Understandably they don’t want to get back into that situation so, as a result, there’s a lot of paperwork, a lot of regulation, and it can be overwhelming for people who haven’t been through the system before.” Seeking the help of an expert has got to be worth it with the amazing local bargains around. Luxurious penthouse apartments at Finca Cortesin that originally sold for €500,000 are now changing hands for just €250,000. Dream properties are flying off the shelves as they come on the market - think a threebedroom townhouse in idyllic Casares for just €99,000, but don’t think about it for too long! Analysing properties along the entire coast from Gibraltar to Malaga, Manilva is the zone which is currently offering the best price/quality ratio, says Andrew. Here is his advice for new buyers:

Where to start

To buy a property the first thing you need is an NIE. This little number costs under €10 and once you have it, it’s for life. Hamilton Homes can help set up your NIE appointment and guide you through the entire purchase process in a friendly, personal way. Ideally, give them at least two to three weeks notice to set the appointment up before meeting them. You’ll find your experience with Spanish bureaucracy can be dramatically easier.

Number crunching

Having worked for Citibank, Royal Bank of Scot-

land, Credit Agricole and Barclays between them, Andrew and his partner Shanalle know a thing or two about property financing. Not only will they help you find the perfect place, they’ll secure the perfect mortgage too. They set up their company in 2003, having identified a serious gap in the market for for agents with strong financial backgrounds. Together with you, they can analyse, plan and budget to make your purchasing experience free of fuss and unwanted costs down the line.

What you need to know

Your age (it affects the length of mortgage you are entitled to) Your income (that’s net income, minus any debts and existing loans) Your funds (how much you are willing to invest in the property).

Figuring it out

If you don’t know the precise state of your finances, don’t panic. It’s far more common than people think. Clients are frequently unsure of what they can really afford.“That’s what we’re here for,” says Andrew. “You don’t have to come up with a magic figure yourself. “Over a coffee or over the phone, we can go through your finances on a case-by-case basis, and work out the perfect place for you.” The financial analysis balances what you have with what you need, so you will only be shown properties you can afford. This avoids disappointment and unrealistic expectations. Although in some cases, people discover they can afford more than they imagined!

Market forces

Despite the supply being there, the backlog means banks are inundated with sales and the process of buying in Spain is taking longer than normal. If the entire process of securing a property with a mortgage used to take two months, Andrew estimates that now it can take as long as four. Prospective purchasers should be delighted, however, as the longer wait is a result of muchimproved checks against money laundering and ensuring the market’s foundations are solid. Andrew believes the market has bottomed out. But, as Hamilton Homes has unprecedented access to properties that the banks are trying to sell, the deals now are better than ever. High-quality homes are going for staggeringlylow prices, and 2015 looks to be a great year for Spain’s property market, he predicts. Hamilton Homes specialises in sales across the region, including Alcaidesa, Sotogrande, La Duquesa, Sabinillas and Estepona. The team is looking forward to hearing from you. To get in touch, contact Hamilton Homes on +34 952 890 444 or email olive@hamiltonhomes.com

It will be a golden year for Spanish property, British buyers and, yes, mortgages too - but now with even more red tape, says Sabinillas estate agent Hamilton Homes

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Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

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STRENGTH TO STRENGTH: Steve and Chris Stewart

Books and banter IT has become a real hub for Manilva society. You can’t set foot in the Sabinillas bookshop without running into a couple of friendly faces, even if one of those is affable owner Steve Davies. But four years in, Steve and the team don’t plan to slow down any time soon, as the recent appearance of best-selling expat author Chris Stewart proved. Dozens descended on the shop for a meet and greet with the immensely popular author, who has just published his fourth book The last days of the bus club. “We are going from strength to strength,” explains Steve. “We are now planning to set up a book club and a creative writing club this year.”

Advertorial

Tax and legal paperwork can be a minefield when residing overseas, so for quality help and advice it is paramount to talk to people you can trust THE Recio & Madrona team is made up of economist Gabriel Recio Madrona and lawyer Juana Maria Madrona, cousins both born and bred in Sabinillas. Juana and Gabriel are keeping it in the family - the latest excitement was Juana’s move this year to their Avenida Manilva headquarters. Between them they combine charisma, legal know-how and tax expertise which makes for an unbeatable team. They have had many British clients and continue to enjoy a thriving trade. The homegrown team provides legal, tax, accounting advice as well as specialist assistance with partnerships, vehicle transfers, non-resident procedures, rentals, sale and purchases, property registry, litigation, wills and inheritance. They are both graduates of the University of Malaga: Gabriel trained in Economics and Business and Juana in Law. Gabriel has 20 years experience in tax and originally started as a tax consultant in 1995

March 5th - March 18th 2015

VERY BEST ADVICE: Cousins in law Gabriel and Juana

We are family!

before expanding into administration management in 2013. He is currently the only person in Manilva who can register a vehicle under a new name after sale and is in high demand for changing foreign number plates into Spanish ones. Juana has been working as a lawyer since 1997 has expe-

rienced practically every possible scenario. She takes care of legal issues and property sales - ensuring sellers are legitimate, dealing with town hall liaison, and guiding you through the whole process of buying a house smoothly. Juana can take care of your

yearly non-resident taxes, IBI which saves a lot of extra work. The team is well known in the area for being trustworthy and professional and they are looking forward to hearing from you. For more info, call 952892097/ 658762304 or email info@ costamanilva.com

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March 5th - March 18th 2015

UIET at the bar!” cried manager Rob, as sage quiz-master Hilary surveyed the room and drew a deep breath. (You could cut the tense atmosphere with a bar tender’s lemon-slicer.) “What is the former name of Belize?” And just like that, our dreams of claiming Sabinillas pub quiz glory disappeared quicker than the free pizza. Three heads sunk into three palms as we fell at the very first hurdle, facing up to the harsh reality of O’Callaghan’s quiz, where the great and good of Sabi’s expat community do battle every Tuesday. It is here where you see just why so many people choose to live in Sabinillas, where there is a real community atmosphere. Like it or not, you can’t head down the paseo or pop into one of the main watering holes without bumping into someone you know. It is a no frills, down to earth place, which only makes it more fun for those in the know, and the pub quiz even more competitive. Luckily for our team, which we cheekily named ‘The Under60s’ – and which the quizmaster tactfully elected not to announce – rounds on literature, wordplay and murders pulled us back into contention. So when our enormous and delicious BBQ burgers arrived, we were already licking our lips over geography questions and making hay while the sun shone during the weather round. But our distinct numerical disadvantage soon took its toll,

Less frills, more fun

What happened when three Olive Press reporters challenged the Sabinillas set at O’Callaghan’s popular pub quiz? Tom Powell has the answer!

and our youth really came back to bite us during the 1980s music round. Despite successfully persuading the quizmaster that Abyssinia could not possibly be the world’s first country in alphabetical order (as it is now called Ethiopia) and that Afghanistan was the right answer, we still struggled to keep up with quiz regulars. A final round on sayings wrapped up the battle, and I won’t bore you with the details of exactly where we finished, but a particular phrase about us being ‘nice guys’ comes to mind!

DOWN TO EARTH: Rob and the team at O’Callaghan’s Advertorial

Leading light

RAFAEL Parra is Manilva-born and bred and an important local employer, thanks to his successful family electrical business. Founded in 1994, Rafalux has trained the vast majority of ‘sparkies’ in the immediate area, with further plans for growth. And having signed a prestigious deal with Endesa Spain’s largest utility company - two years ago, the company has the ultimate stamp of approval. Rafa heads up the business while sons Daniel, 29, and Antonio, 27, take care of administration and engineering respectively. Both boys studied away from home - Daniel in Granada and Holland and Antonio in Algeciras and San Pedro - and have come back to lend their expertise to the company. The company is recuperating well since the crisis and boasts a talented workforce with a great working atmosphere. The English-speaking population of Sabinillas is well-served by Sebastian, their bilingual salesman, a bright spark who is always on hand to solve problems. Visit www.rafalux.es, email rafalux@telefonica.net, or call 951 972 014.

Charity networking FUNDRAISING for others is all in a day’s work for Manilva’s Duquesa Charitable Society of St. George. But this time the organisation which raised over €4,000 at Christmas to buy presents for some 400 underprivileged local children will be on the receiving end. A business networking event on March 18 will donate 100% of its proceeds to the charity. The Shaw Marketing Services’ event at the Manilva Wine Museum is open to all business people on the Costa del Sol. “I’m thrilled that they have chosen our small local charity to be the recipient of the proceeds of this event, and to have been invited along,” said the charity’s President, Dean Shelton. “I personally believe the event to be optimal for the future positioning of Manilva as a place to do business.” The event runs from 6.30-8pm and entry costs €5, including refreshments. To register email info@shawmarketingservices.com or visit www. shawmarketingservices.com

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

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FUSION: A tasty tapa at Hemingways

OU need to get the insider knowledge to find the best places to eat in Manilva. The obvious spots are definitively not the best places to eat. Take that from me... it has taken me two years to sniff out its true gems. Ultimately, you need to get into the heart of Sabinillas, into Duquesa Port or up the coast a little to get the taste buds sated. One true dining secret sits on its own beach between Duquesa and Pueblo Nuevo. Described as a cross between a ‘Spaghetti Western and the Flintstones’, I feel more like Robinson Crusoe, camped out at Floria, an isolated location, with amazing views and the deep blue sea crashing onto the nearby shore. Run by amiable Dutch-South African Peter and his missus Karen, from Antwerp, it has three capable chefs Emilio, Nigel and Juan Carlos. The menu is simple and is all about good fresh fish and barbecued meats, while the pil pil prawns are easily some of the best on the coast. Just up the beach, close to Duquesa port you need to look

An amazing beach spot, on Playa Castillo, it is just about to reopen in a stylish guise out for Chiringuito Andres y Maria. An amazing beach spot, on Playa Castillo, it is just about to reopen in a stylish new modern guise, but with its trademark, straightforward fish-based menu. Nearby on the main road you will find the finest British fish and chip shop on the entire coast. Well established, punters drive for up to an hour to sample the amazing cod and chips at Marlows. A true institution, it has excellent banquette seats and even better prices. Venture into Duquesa Port and, while there are dozens of restaurants vying for your trade, you need to be careful, as quality is not always paramount. This however is anything but the case at Hemingways where hard-working Ashley has created a great ‘fusion’ tapas menu, which is high on quality. Constantly looking to improve the menu, it is a nice spot to dine and to enjoy the port ambience. It also has a highly-rated Sunday lunch. Meanwhile, another good place to eat in the port is Bistro, a steakhouse which only

Dining Secrets of Manilva There is a host of good places to eat if you have the knowledge, writes Jon Clarke

ROBINSON CRUSOE STYLE: And (right) the team at Floria serves the very best meat. Up in Sabinillas, the beach is lined with restaurants, but if you are looking for something special, two of its best joints are Miel and Marengo. Miel, run by friendy Dutch boss Kaat, is an institution, with high

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March 5th - March 18th 2015

CLASSIC AND MODERN: Cruz Blanco and (right) Marengo standards for breakfast, lunch place that he would like to eat. and dinner. Another emblematic place is With excellent coffee and a Café Nenit, where Jose and great snacks and tapas menu, his team serve breakfasts and it is hardly surprising it is usu- pastries from early morning, ally full. tapas for lunch and bar snacks Another fine place to eat is into the evening. And don’t forMarengo, just one year old, get to ask for ‘Ana’s special’, but with a distinctly different which changes by the day. feel to its nearby rivals. In the heart of the town Run by Isabel, from Madrid, with much of her family in cahoots, it has a great range of It would be tapas, pinchos and racions to share. impossible to write The pulpo on a skewer is exabout Manilva cellent, while there is a nice without mentioning range of wines. the Roman Oasis Another great secret to seek out is Cruz Blanca, a typical Madrid-style bar/restaurant, which serves up ice cold beers and some excellent fresh sea- meanwhile, look out for food. O’Callaghan’s pub if that is There are specials by the day more your bag. and always some good value A great range of beers and tapas at the bar. snacks, you would be advised Owner Juan is a local busi- to looks out for Karaoke and nessman, who takes a real quiz nights each week. pride in the place running like Two other popular English clockwork and being the sort of spots are Charley’s Bar and

Toni’s Bar, which has just opened with a nice big terrace and all of the live sports. While not open till July it would be impossible to write about food in Manilva without mentioning the amazing Roman Oasis, just inland on the road to the Roman Oasis, of course. Over three decades old, it was

here that legendary UK chef Keith Floyd came to spend some of the last few weeks of his life. A massive fan of the eclectic, original spot, he and owner Paul were close buddies and this is obvious by the amount of photos of Floyd on the walls.

CRUZ BLANCA CERVECERÍA

Speciality in tapas Homemade dishes

Menú del día GOOD MIX: Team at Miel, Marlows fish and chips and (above) Bistro

10 €!

Open Tuesday - Sunday Visit us in Plaza Ginebra, local 1, Sabinillas, Manilva Tel. 952 892 672

Manilva, Sabinillas and Puerto de la Duquesa

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Property

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The Olive Press launches a campaign to promote the coast’s ethical lawyers and boot out the compromising ‘backhander’ culture

EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan UNETHICAL kickback payments from lawyers to estate agents are all too rife on the Costa del Sol. With lawyers offering commissions or ‘kickbacks’ of up to 20% in return for conveyancing work from estate agents, the industry’s integrity is being broken down at an alarming rate. The Olive Press is now launching a campaign to find the Costa del Sol’s integral lawyers and compile a comprehensive list of those who do things by the book. The increasing malpractice between lawyers and estate agents ultimately diminishes the quality of service on offer to the customer, as estate agents opt for lawyers based on their commision rates rather than their ability to do the job. Consequently, lawyers who abide by the rules are losing out on work opportunities to their unethical competitors who may well be less-

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K.O. the kickbacks

equipped for the task at hand. Expat lawyer Alex Radford from My Lawyer in Spain has been practicing in the country since 2003.

ETHICAL: Estate agent Adam Neale and lawyer Alex Radford

He said that he has regularly the pile because I will not pay been asked for his commis- out commissions. sion rate since setting up his “Clients need to be made aware of the problem. Curbusiness in Marbella. rently it is diffi“I uncult, if not imposderstand sible, to find out that malOne wonders who is breaking practice the rules as it is whether lawyers is rife done under along the will be inclined to all the counter.” Costa del bite the hand that Although ‘kickSol, with feeds them back’ payments Marbella are not deemed being a illegal they do hotspot,” break the nationhe said. “There have been many occa- al lawyer’s code of practice. sions when my business card According to Article 19 of has been put to the bottom of Spain’s official code of eth-

ics, ‘a lawyer may never pay, demand or accept, commissions, or other monies from another lawyer, or any other person for having sent a client or recommending future customers’. And it would appear that the rule-abiding estate agents are just as frustrated by the backhander culture which appears to have crept into every facet of Costa del Sol bureaucracy. Estepona based estate agent Adam Neale from Terra Meridiana agrees that backhanders and off-the-record payments result in a compromised service for the client. “I would imagine there is a good argument to make that there is a conflict of interest for both sides,” he said.

“My definition of a good lawyer is one who is ethical, thorough, problem solving, diligent and who is contactable on a Friday afternoon. “If estate agents are recommending lawyers on the basis that they pay them money and not on the basis that they do a good job, one wonders whether lawyers will be inclined to bite the hand that feeds them by giving advice that would undermine a deal? “Under such a cash-for-questions arrangement can either side be said to acting in the best interests of their client?” To add your name to the Olive Press’ list of ethical lawyers email newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 951 273 575.

British invasion THE time for Brits to buy a holiday home in Spain is now. As markets favour the pound over the euro, the interest in buying abroad has gone through the roof. Now, 48% more Britons are searching for property in Spain than this time a year ago. “British borrowers are increasingly interested in Spain, the Balearics and the Canaries, where interest rates are around 3% and lenders expect a 3040% deposit,” said Spanish property broker Simon Conn. Currently, the average budget for a British buyer in Spain is €517,000, higher in Barcelona (€758,000) but lower in Lanzarote (€148,000). In Andalucia, the average budget stands slightly above the nationwide average at around €550,000.

Property

the olive press - February 19th - March 4th 2015

Live like an Egyptian, Tut Tut! LUXURY is synonymous with the exclusive Costa enclave of Sotogrande but this Egyptian-themed pleasure palace is the ‘mummy’ of them all. The outrageously extravagant Villa Flamingo packs enough gold and precious materials to rival the tomb of King Tut. Described by sellers as ‘wrapped in Hollywood glamour’, the €12,999,999 price tag includes six en suite bedrooms, a 3D cinema, a 50-seater theatre finished in plush red velvet and an entire entertainments floor dedicated to card games and pool. And all 2,000 square metres of it are lavishly decorated with columns, marble flooring, statues, painted walls and ceilings, gold-plated toilets, exotic plants and the overwhelming presence of Cleopatra, who was the Queen of Bling herself. The owner of the property, being sold by Pansuq Real Estate, confessed that his love of Hollywood is behind the eyecatching design. “My passion for movies and theatre, intertwined with my love for all things historical,

A golden opportunity to acquire the pharaoh lifestyle for the fair old price of €13m is up for grabs in Sotogrande – and it’s not pyramid selling

BLING: The Egyptian house in all its glory inspired me to create an atmosphere that would blend in Hollywood and Broadway with ancient times, always with a luxurious finish throughout,” he said. “Generally the opinions of the

house vary. However, this property enhances the value and general presence of the road on which it sits.”

The times they have a’ changed

COLLEAGUE who has been in the real-estate game in Marbella for 30 years remarked the other day that he had never seen, even at the height of the boom, so many estate agents on the Golden Mile. Whether they will all still be there come the end of 2015 remains to be seen, but, for now, business is, excuse the pun, booming. Clients may remain cautious, but for those of us on the front line, there’s good reason to believe things have already turned around. Whole developments of luxury apartments have been sold off-plan, such as Taylor Wimpey’s Horizon

• Litigation and tax specialist (resident and non-resident) • Property conveyancing • Spanish investment and inheritance tax International Lawyers & Investment Professionals Tel: (0034) 951 29 52 60 Fax: (0034) 951 29 51 68 Legal Property Solutions SL Avenida de Cibeles Nº1, Urbanización Arenal Golf, Fase 2, Bloque 2, Portal 3, Bajo B, 29639 Benalmádena, Málaga We speak English / Parle français / Wir sprechen Deutsch

info@legalpropertysolutions.com www.legalpropertysolutions.com

The Property Insider by A

Spain may not have emerged from ‘la crisis’ dam Neale yet, but, in prime areas of the Costa del Sol, property is selling faster than it has for years and buyers simply have a lot less choice than they did just 12 months ago

Beach in Estepona. There, 36 two- and three-bed beachfront units, with prices starting at €429,500, sold out in just 12 months, although building won’t be finished until June. There’s a similar story at La Finca de Marbella, a development of 35 three- and fourbedroom villas on private plots in Rio Real. Construction only started in January, with prices starting just shy of a million euros, yet the first two phases have already sold and the third looks likely to follow suit. Building plots in good locations are also proving harder to find, especially at sensible prices. But don’t just take my word for it. Last year, according to a report by CBRE, investment in property across Spain topped €10.2 billion, the second highest figure ever recorded, after 2007. And things picked up as the year went on. Over a third of the total – €3.4 billion – came flooding in during the last quarter, 50% more than was registered in the same period of 2013. According to the General Coun-

cil of Notaries, the number of residential properties sold in 2014 was 19% higher than the year before. Over 364,600 apartments and houses changed hands, while average prices stabilised for the first time since the crisis began, increasing 0.1%. The other positive news is that credit is flowing again, as the 136,700 properties purchased with a mortgage represented a 42% jump over 2013. On the Costa del Sol, we are rapidly reaching normal market conditions, where a balance exists between supply and demand and buyers and sellers. This marks the end of an era for those looking for a bargain. Beachfront developments, for example, have very few true front-line units (i.e. with uninterrupted sea views). At one time, there were several for sale in the same building, now buyers must pay a premium if they can find one at all. As a result, amateur investors have mostly missed the boat; they should have bought when everyone else was too afraid.

The savvy money continues to buy older stock and either knock it down to rebuild what people want (modern units), or fix up tired but well-located properties, adding value and earning a return in the process. There is also a lack of newbuild property coming to market, because investors and developers are hard pressed to find land with planning permission that makes economic sense to build on (in Marbella, especially). And, as stock is sold, the rental market is becoming tighter. There is a real shortage of apartments and villas for rent at the upper end of the market, forcing prices to rise, especially in the most in-demand areas. Now that Greece has (for now) decided to stay in Europe after all, unless some other disaster befalls us, there’s every reason to believe 2015 will be the year that things change. But, if you don’t believe me – after all, I am an estate agent – just take a look at the market and see for yourself.

Property

33 March 5th - March 18th 2015

PROPERTY FOCUS

A fruitful living An intrepid British expat couple who have lived ‘the good life’ near Ronda for nearly a decade are passing on the baton

ELF-SUFFICIENCY in the Spanish countryside sounds like an impossible dream but one expat couple who have been there, done that and got the compost heap know different. British retiree Richard Page, 67, and his wife Pauline have lived off the land at their finca near Farajan in the Genal Valley for nine years, creating an idyllic home in the process. But the country estate in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda was no overnight discovery. “We wanted to find the perfect home,” the grandfather-of-three told the Olive Press. “It took us three years of househunting but eventually we found this place and we’ve never looked back. “It’s completely unique, set on a cork estate with all ancient trees. But the home it is now has been a real labour of love. “When we first arrived in the Genal Valley and bought the finca, it was a wreck. No one had lived here for what must have been about 40 years but we have completely fixed up all the buildings and brought back the land.” Now Richard, Pauline and their five dogs are reluctantly moving to a smaller home nearby, as they are unable to manage all the work necessary to keep the farm running. They would like to pass the finca on to a younger, more en-

MORTGAGE THINK TANK by Tancrede de Pola

THE prospect of finding the right mortgage for you can be a daunting one… but fear not as help is at hand! Mortgage brokers exist for two simple reasons; to save you time and more importantly to save you money. However tempting it may be to cut out the middleman when searching for a new mortgage, you might want to think twice before going it alone. Brokers deal with bank managers day in, day out and have been doing so for a number of years. As a result, they build up strong relationships with all types of lenders which gives them the edge when it comes to finalising a mortgage agreement. More importantly they know which lenders to go to and which to avoid, which inevitably

GOOD LIFE: The finca in Ronda ergetic family who hanker after ‘the good life’. On the market for €595,000, the estate is right on the river, and one of the few places with flat land for farming. It comprises just over 19 acres and two properties: a main three-bedroom house, and a second, smaller guest house, with two bedrooms and an open-plan living area. An ideal home for a family looking to get back to nature, it also has huge potential as a rural tourist retreat, a centre for glamping or even as a bar and restaurant. Any business venture would require planning permission but Richard says Farajan Town Hall has always been very helpful. “Everyone’s pretty much selfsufficient on the estate, where there are about 40 fincas in all,” says Richard, originally from Berkshire. “There’s a lot of peace, quiet and privacy. “We have chickens and rabbits, and we grow a lot of our own vegetables,” he continues. “In the days gone by, the finca was a fruit farm and we still have a lot of fruit trees. We grow nisperos (loquats) and oranges, mandarins and figs, and also almonds and walnuts.”

It has been an idyllic existence for Richard and Pauline, and the perfect retreat for their two daughters and three grandchildren to enjoy on visits. Richard is full of anecdotes about their rural Spanish dream, and has fond memories of taking his grandchildren for tractor rides and watching them running with the dogs by the river. “We’ve made a real effort to fit in with Spanish life, and we have some extremely good Spanish friends from whom we’ve been able to learn so much. “They’ve been absolutely wonderful. So many times we’ve been out driving and people have been out on their horses, giving us their spare cabbages or peppers. Or Alonso’s been over to the house while we’ve been out and left some vegetables on the step for us. “Then, when we do our harvest and we have too many nisperos, or something, we give them out to our neighbours.” “It’s a very beautiful place

where we live and it has been a real experience. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” To contact call 680490271 or email info@propertyforsaleronda.com

Benefits of the broker

Ibex driving down the cost of car insurance

Don’t underestimate the benefits of a broker, writes mortgage expert Tancrede de Pola cuts out a lot of wasted hours searching the unknown. In fact, by using a broker, the borrower can avoid ever meeting with the bank manager unless he or she wants to. The broker can even represent the borrower on completion at the notary if they are required to do so. But the broker’s job does not end there. It is the broker’s prerogative not just to find a mortgage for the client, but to find the best possible match for the individual client’s needs and their circumstances. Lenders are still looking for the most credit-worthy clients but different banks have different criteria and it is important to match these correctly to ensure the mortgage is approved. In fact The Finance Bureau doesn’t

even charge a broker fee until completion…in other words we are only paid on results. A good broker will be aware of all the products available and where to find the best deal. And the importance of finding the ‘right deal’ is imperative. Without wanting to scaremonger, choosing the wrong mortgage option can have a catastrophic impact on the next 20 or 30 years of your life. The broker is there to make sure that doesn’t happen. So when the time comes it is important to remember that the broker is there to give you unbiased advice which wouldn’t be on offer if you went direct to the banks. And more importantly, don’t forget that the broker is on your side.

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Top Dollar

Loving life on the coast

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

Financial advisor Sandy Buchanan has a passion for the real Spain and helping expats manage their money, writes Imogen Calderwood

E found love, and now he’s launched a business: the Scottish expat who has found true happiness on the Costa del Sol. Sandy Buchanan – celebrating 30 years as a self-employed financial adviser this year – ‘couldn’t be happier’ after making the move to the coast. The 61-year-old is now launching his own financial advisory service on the coast and is looking for both clients and collaborators as well as ‘introducers’. “The main thing is getting my name out there,” he told the Olive Press. “I have all the experience I need with years in the business, now it’s just a case of making sure people know I’m here.” Sandy – who married last year – has been living in Spain for two years, in the campo halfway between Granada and Cordoba, but has moved to Cancelada to set up home with his wife Vanessa. “I came out here mainly for the weather, but it’s definitely a permanent move,” says Sandy. “Spain has everything I could possibly need in a place. I’ve got a lot of experience, but of course that does take quite a

WEDDED BLISS: Expats Sandy and Vanessa few years, so I’m getting on a bit now. “I thought it would be a good idea to find somewhere I could think of as a permanent home, and to retire to when I’m ready. “But I’m certainly still young enough to want to have fun, and Spain is ideal for both of those needs.” And despite the move to the Costa del Golf, Sandy con-

fesses to being one of the few financial advisers that doesn’t play the game. “I’m all about a good walk – which there are plenty of round here – and wining and dining. So I’m always taking advantage of all the great places to eat near my office in Marbella.” But it’s play hard, work hard for Sandy, who is currently spending all his time preparing

for some upcoming exams, to keep up-to-date with the latest advances in the financial world. “I like to keep learning and keep involved, because I always do things properly or not at all. And that goes for both my work and personal lives,” he adds. Sandy is with the renowned MountRock group – an international network of advisors. “This means that I am fullylegal worldwide and trained in all aspects of consultancy work including retirement plans, saving, investments, offshore banking and wills. “Before you do anything like buy a property or make an investment out here – as so many people are wont to do – it’s worth talking to someone like me first,” he adds. “I can either come and visit people, whether they are on the coast or in the campo, or I can send them brochures so they can find out all the information on their own terms. I’m not into the hard sell.” To contact Sandy, email him on sandy.buchanan@mountrockgroup.com or call 620 369 660. To find out more about the MountRock group, visit www.mountrockgroup.com

READY FOR BUSINESS: Sandy

www.theolivepress.es

Top Dollar

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015 Advertorial

Guardian angels - there for you HUSBAND and wife team Lee and Nicola Wakeman arrived in Spain just eight years ago, and they have already transformed the face of nursing on the coast. It has been a fast-paced success for the British couple’s company, Angels Nursing Group and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Lee and Nicola, originally from Peterborough, have alAdvertorial

Donate, prevent, protect

LIBERTY Seguros has more than doubled its annual donation to the Cris Cancer Foundation. For the second year, the insurance expert has donated more than 1% of its premiums from its LibertyVida, GenesisVida and RegalVida products to the cancer research charity. Donations in 2014 reached a grand total of more than €65,500, from more than 18,000 customers. “Liberty Seguros wants to protect its customers, and we believe that the best way is through prevention,” said Isabel Martin de Vidales, product manager for Liberty group life insurance. “This is why we are donating the money to research against breast cancer. We have great researchers in Spain that deserve all our support and appreciation.” The company has seen rapid growth over the years, and expects to attract more than 10,000 new customers in 2015. Visit www.libertyexpatriates. es, or call 902 255 258. For information on the Cris Cancer Foundation, visit www.criscancer.org

Two British expats have made it their mission to give the care industry on the coast a much-needed lease of life ready expanded their thriving business up the Costa Blanca and onto the Costa del Sol. “We are a dedicated and hardworking team, and between us we have a wealth of experience,” said Lee. “We will go the extra mile

for our members, and always strive to be the best. “This enables our members to enjoy a stress-free life here in Spain, content in the knowledge that they are part of a family that cares.” With a head office and call

centre based in Almeria, a sister office on the Costa del Sol and established, highlysubscribed retirement resorts in Benalmadena and Malaga, the company is well and truly taking over southern Spain. And the newest excitement within the company is the latest invention, the AngelsLinQ, a smart device which uses GPS to track the wearer anywhere in Spain.

The ‘most powerful safety device available’, the AngelsLinQ is small and lightweight, transmitting location information. Angels covers both long-term and shortterm stays, with a wide range of plans designed specifically for expats. Aging in Spain has never been so good. Visit www.angelsnursinggroup.com or call 902 026 468.

Bridging a gap

3,000m Cadiz bay bridge nears completion

A LANDMARK bridge in the Cadiz bay is nearing completion. The longest and heaviest sections of the 3,000m long bridge, connecting Cadiz with Puerto Real to the north, have now been installed. The firm behind the bridge, ALE, has just six more deck sections to lift into place. The 30m wide bridge is expected to be completed in May and will improve access and business opportunities for the port. ALE’s Alvaro Saez said: “We are delighted to be involved in this landmark project. “We have now lifted the heaviest section of the bridge, the removable span, which measured 150m long and weighed 4,000 tonnes.” The bridge, designed by Carlos Fernandez Casado and built by a Dragados-Drace joint venture, has a removable span to allow large ves-

35 35 35 35

Mas-ters of the mobile market EXPATS are the focus for Masmovil, a key factor that earned it ‘Best Virtual Mobile Operator 2014’. The company places its clients at the heart of everything it does, which is why the company takes pride in being able to communicate with its customers in six languages. “At Masmovil we centre everything we do around the client,” says Swede Jessica Ohlen, Masmovil’s international marketing manager. “Even something as simple as having just one person solving your problems in a language you’re comfortable in, is greatly appreciated.” But more than that, Masmovil offers the best rates in Spain, with the cheapest calling and internet plan on the market. “I believe that we offer benefits that other phone companies don’t,” continues Jessica. “Amazing multi-lingual customer service, no contract time commitments, and the option to ‘pause’ your line when you go home.” Find out more by calling 1473, or visit www.masmovil.es/en.

NEARLY COMPLETE: The Cadiz bridge

sels to leave the shipyard. ALE has so far installed 50 bridge sections ranging from 10-52m in length and weigh-

ing between 150-1055 tonnes, using a series of axles, mobile gantry structures and strandjack units.

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the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

Top Dollar

BUSINESS IN BRIEF Take a break PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced tax breaks to encourage long-term hiring and to help struggling singleparent families.

Job joy OVER half a million new jobs are predicted to be created in 2015 as Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy raised the year’s growth forecast to 2.4%.

Jager boom SALES of the spirit Jagermeister are up 30% in Spain despite worldwide sales decreasing by 5% over the past 12 months.

Eastern visitors A SURGE in Chinese tourists, as a result of quicker visas, has seen a number of Spain’s fivestar hotels add white rice to their breakfast menu.

www.theolivepress.es the olive press - March 5th - March 18th

Orient express The world’s longest train arrives home after four months on the railroad THE first train to travel the world’s longest railway line has returned home after four months on the tracks. After completing the 26,000 km round trip connecting Spain and China, the Yixin’ou cargo train is back in Asia. Travelling through Kazakhstan, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France, the train arrived in Madrid bearing Asian goods and returned carrying olive oil. A few hiccups along the way saw train staff lug cargo between carriages as the train became stuck on incompatible track gauges on three separate occasions. However, organisers still hailed the first voyage as a success. “The cargo train will boost economic exchange between Yiwu, the world’s largest small commodity market,

and Madrid, Europe’s largest small commodity market,” said Li Huihuan, manager of Yiwu CF International Logistics, the train’s operator. The railway could reduce the cost of Asian-produced goods in Europe, as flying costs are eradicated. Currently, 80% of global trade is currently shipped by boat to avoid bureaucratic hurdles encountered on freight train services. However, rail is less expensive, more environmentally friendly and faster than the maritime alternative, according to DB Shenker Rail.

Uber hungry for success OUTLAWED taxi service Uber is testing the world of online food delivery in Spain. In its first foray into meal deliveries outside the United States, the €35 billion company is set to launch UberEATS in Barcelona. Uber’s taxi service is banned in Spain, South Korea, India and France after claims of alleged violations of terms, the use of unlicensed drivers and accusations of sexual assaults on female passengers in India. But the food delivery service is subject to fewer regulations than the taxi service.

Uber will partner with local restaurants and customers will be able to use the app to order food – which will be delivered in less than 10 minutes. The company has an established network of users in Barcelona for its taxi app, but will face fierce competition from established takeaway apps such as Just Eat. Barcelona is currently hosting the Mobile World Congress – one of the world’s largest mobile conferences – predicted to draw more than 30,000 attendees to the city.

HOME: The Yixin’ou train

Woman’s world A WOMEN’S business networking group is hosting a seminar in Malaga. Dutch-speaking business club ‘Ellas’ is running the entrepreneurial seminar to inspire current and future business owners. It is a rare event, as it is one of the first times the members-only club has opened its doors to the public. The event, titled ‘Malaga: an entrepreneurial smart city open for business’, will be held at the Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga on March 10, from 6-10pm. Marc Sanderson, director of international economic development for the City of Malaga, will appear as a guest speaker. Early booking is advised as places are limited, visit ellas. eventzilla.net to buy tickets. Tickets cost €25, museum entry and tapas included. For more information, visit www.ellas-spanje.com, or contact Wieneke Soeteman at info@ellas-spanje.com

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

Beware the pension predators! Advice for those hatching plans to cash in their ‘nest eggs’ post-Easter WE are now only a month away from the new flexi-drawdown pension rules in the UK, which also extend to overseas pensions in the form of QROPS. Whilst much has already been published about the changes, the predators are only just starting to circle in readiness for the unwary. From holiday companies to porcelain figurine manufacturers, (I kid you not), the adverts have started. Many seem to be going down the ‘you can’t take it with you, so why not spend it’ route. But are people really that naïve? Sadly, I think some will be drawn by the idea that this is money they could not previously gain access to, and will take the ‘why not?’attitude. I don’t have a problem with people with very small pension funds using them to pay off debt that they otherwise could never escape from. But the thought of a wholesale Viv Nicholson ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’ mentality is just too concerning to contemplate. (Showing my age now!) Whatever the offer, remember - once the pension fund has gone, it’s gone forever. Ironically, for a few expats who are Spanish tax-resident and have old enough pension funds of the right type, worth under €400,000, there is the potential to encash fully without any tax being due. We are looking at a minority of people and, arguably for them, this would be worth considering as, with sensible reinvest-

ment, they could secure a much stronger, more tax-efficient basis for themselves going forwards. Even for the majority, the new rules bring greater flexibility which can be applied to provide optimum retirement planning. For those who are still UK tax resident, one of the biggest boosts comes from the new death benefit rules and the potential for pension funds to avoid UK Inheritance Tax to secure future generations and in certain circumstances, to avoid any tax at all. One of the frequently-asked questions from people who have already converted their pension fund into a Lifetime Annuity is whether the new rules will help them in any way. The short answer is no! Having said that, voices in government circles are saying this is unfair and should be reconsidered. Whilst I don’t think we are likely to see annuity providers being compelled to offer surrender terms, there is a real possibility that a ‘second-hand’ annuity market will emerge, very much like the second-hand life assurance market. In other words, there may be potential further down the line but not this April. Whilst I believe the new rules are a very welcome development, expertise is needed to make sure they don’t run out of control. You don’t see L- plates on a Ferrari for very good reason, so if you are tempted by special offers from smooth-talking sales people or glossy adverts, just be careful you don’t crash on the first bend!

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

37 37 The Olive Press’

monthly youth and education section

treme

Madrid under the spell of Quidditch A hit in the USA, is the wizarding sport set to soar in Europe?

Design dreams

DO you dream of being a designer? Marbella Design Academy is opening its doors to the public on March 12, from 12-3.30pm. There will be guided tours of the academy and the opportunity to meet tutors and students from the Interior Architecture, Graphic Design, Fashion Design and Foundation programmes. You can also feel like a design student for the day, joining workshops in the Academy’s silkscreen printing and photography studios. Visit www.designschool.com/open-day-march-2015 for more information and to register.

TAKE-OFF: Quidditch is taking Spain by storm

Who’s got talent?

By Iona Napier QUIDDITCH is the latest fad to sweep Madrid’s Complutense University. The fictional wizarding sport that was dreamt up by JK Rowling in her Harry Potter books seems to be casting its spell over students in Spain’s capital.. Complete with logo-emblazoned scarves, purple brooms, bludgers and a golden snitch, the only element lacking in authenticity is players’ proximity to the ground. The Madrid Lynx team take their sport seriously and admit it can be violent – a haphazard combination of rugby,

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th

BSM headmistress Sian Kirkham on fierce competition and going green

I handball and tackling. The players have even travelled Europe competing against other teams and the mystical sport looks set to take off internationally. The full contact game of

‘muggle quidditch,’ was first played in Vermont in 2005 and is governed by the International Quidditch Association. But the sport is yet to make it to the Olympics...

t’s the event everyone’s been talking about for weeks – and that includes the teachers. Yes that’s right, it’s the annual BSM Talent Show! Tickets sold out within minutes, with some VIP seats rumoured to be changing hands on eBay for several hundred euros. Competition was fierce as youngsters of all ages battled it out for the glory of walking around with a Talent Show winner swagger. Our panel of judges watched more than 30 acts including hip hop, ballet, a puppet show, karate demonstrations, songs and several bands.But the dance ensemble that included Eric, Sidney, Masha, Nikoleta and Taisijamost impressed the judges, with their funky Latin dance. As for the teachers, they donned wigs and costumes for a music medley that included Dolly Parton, the Spice Girls and Madonna – although

Junior sleuths SHERLOCK Holmes and Agatha Christie could be the big names on school reading lists this year, as the ‘whodunnit’ makes a comeback in childrens’ literature. Children’s detective fiction is the ‘big new trend’ for 2015, according to retailer Waterstones. The novels see children ‘left to their own devices to solve mysteries’ in a genre ‘reminiscent of old favourites such as Blyton’s Famous Five and the Hardy Boys series’, according to a spokesperson for the store.

luckily no one was dragged off stage ´Madonnastyle’!And our school’s talent doesn’t stop there! We are also good at being eco-warriors staging an Eco Day on February 25Although there were some slightly disappointed looks on pupils faces when I explained that being an ‘eco warrior’ did not give them a carte blanche to put war paint on and run around the school in warrior-style saving the environment – that privilege is reserved for me! The youngsters thought of initiatives like turning lights off when classrooms are not in use, and decorating the paper bin to ensure it is only used for paper and to recycle the plastic bread packets we use at lunchtime. Which is great news for me as it saves me running around the school switching the lights off in empty rooms!

38 38

Top Salud 38

www.theolivepress.es the olive press - March 5th - March 18th

Shedding the scrubs Spanish nurses join foreign recruits fleeing the NHS after just months on the job

HUNDREDS of foreign nurses recruited from Spain, Portugal and Italy are leaving Britain to return home. Staffing woes in UK hospi-

tals have forced the NHS to recruit thousands of nurses from across Europe, in batches of up to 30 at a time. However, 943 of the 5,680

HEALING: Olive oil coul destroy cancer cells

months. Many said the language barnurses recruited over the rier and trouble adjusting last two years – 17% – have to the different health care left their posts after a few system were the reason for leaving, while others blamed the weather or missing family and friends. Despite huge NHS spending, 13 hospital trusts lost at least half of the foreign nurses for crossover kidney transplants from living hired in the last two years donors. If a success, the service could be exand 20,000 nursing positended to other organ donors. tions remain vacant. Spain is already the world leader in terms of Dr Peter Carter, chief execudonations per capita. tive of the Royal College of Last year 4,360 transplants were carried out Nursing, blames the NHS for in Spain, with the deceased organ donation the staffing problems. rate rising to 36 per million inhabitants. He said: “Some of the sums Spain’s bullet train network is the second spent on recruiting staff largest in the world – topped only by China have been ludicrous and the – spanning across more than 3,000km of fact that Trusts are not able track. to keep hold of them is a natThe first crossover kidney transplant with ural result of years of lackaa living donor in Spain took place in July daisical workforce planning 2009. Since then, more than 100 such transin the NHS.” plants have taken place.

By Imogen Calderwood

A cure for cancer?

Top speed transplants TRANSPORTING donated organs across the country is about to get speedy. Organs will be fast-tracked on Spain’s longdistance bullet train network in a move that could save thousands of lives. Tourism minister, Ana Pastor and health minister, Alfonso Alonso, agreed to the free movement of transplant organs on the highspeed network after a proposal by the National Transplant Organisation. “We saw an opportunity to unite engineering excellence with our branch of organisational engineering,” said Dr Rafael Matesanz, the director of Spain’s National Transplant Organisation (ONT). The service will initially be used exclusively

EXTRA virgin olive oil could provide the cure for cancer, according to ground-breaking research. A team of American scientists has discovered that an ingredient in the oil – called oleocanthal – has the power to kill off human cancer cells. But while destroying the cancer cells, it also leaves healthy cells unharmed. Lead scientist Paul Breslin, of Rutgers University in New Jersey, was surprised by how quickly the oleocanthal destroyed the cancer cells – killing them within 30 to 60 minutes. The team discovered that the oleocanthal was piercing the cancer cell’s vesicles, the containers that store the cell’s waste. By doing this, it caused an outpouring of enzymes that then killed the cell. “Once you open one of those things, all hell breaks loose,” said Breslin. While the oleocanthal treatment does cause a temporary halt in the life cycle of the healthy cells, they return to normal within 24 hours. The team is now investigating the effects of oleocanthal on cancer cells in living animals.

How does my diet affect my eyes? Q. How can my diet help my eyes? A. Research conducted by America’s National Institutes of Health found that a type of antioxidant known as carotenoids found in foods such as carrots, sweet potato and kale may protect against macular degeneration and revealed that people eating the highest amounts of carotenoids have a 43% lower risk of developing macular degeneration. Studies have also shown that people with higher than average intakes of antioxidants – beta-carotene, lutein and vitamins C and E – also appear to have a reduced risk of developing cataracts. CRUNCH: Eating carrots can help your eyes

Q. What are the best foods to eat for my eyes?

HURRY! E

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Amrik Sappal from Specsavers Opticas Fuengirola deals with the saying ‘you are what you eat’ and how our food can affect how we see

A. Carrots – It’s true that these can help you see in the dark as they are high in betacarotene, which the body can convert to vitamin A and lead to better night-vision. Dark green leafy vegetables contain beta-carotene and vitamin C which can help slow cataract progression. Peppers contain lutein that scientists believe protects the sensitive retina from lightinduced oxidation damage and may be responsible for reversing macular degenera-

Sardines and Nuts contain Zinc and vitamin E. Zinc is beneficial for wound healing and maintaining the immune system. Studies suggest that vitamin E can protect against cataracts. Specsavers Opticas are located in Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol and they are currently offering free eye tests. To make an appointment or find your nearest store visit www. specsavers.es.

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OLIVE PRESS – 105mm x 256mm – Colour

tion in very early stages.

4th March / 18th March

Columnists www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - March 5th - March 18th 2015

39 the olive press -

March 5th - March 18th 2015

Get thee to a nunnery! W

HATEVER I expected to find in Medina Sidonia, it wasn’t the Spanish Inquisition; or the ruins of a subterranean Roman town; or the greatest sister act in home baking since Two Fat Ladies. Like most tourists, I’d gone to this hilltop fortress pueblo (just off the Los Barrios-toJerez road) to pay homage to ‘the Duke’. Not John Wayne, if you’re wondering, but the fabulously-named Don Alonso Perez de Guzman el Bueno y de Zuñiga-Sotomayor, seventh Duke of Medina Sidonia, who died four centuries ago this July. He was the Spanish Armada Commander who suffered from seasickness, if you remember your O-level history. Medina Sidonia doesn’t make a big deal of the man who ultimately lost one of Europe’s greatest sea battles. Understandably, it’s not something the authorities like to boast about. They also keep shtum about a more recent ducal descendent, the outrageous 21st ‘Red Duchess’, so-called for her bolshie behaviour. She once wrote a book claiming that the Phoenicians, NOT Columbus, discovered the New World! And that wasn’t her last two-fingered salute to Spain and her relatives before she became another skeleton in her family closet. In a bizarre deathbed ceremony in 2008, she married her secretary and lesbian lover of many years and left the family silver all to her. Her son, the current Duke of Medina Sidonia, is Professor of History

Never mind the Armada! There’s a sweeter side to Medina Sidonia, writes Belinda Beckett, aka Mistress of Sizzle

at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and, probably, bitter. Medina Sidonia has other secrets. · Two benches used in the brutish Spanish Inquisition have unusual pride of place in the Gothic Santa Maria la Coronada church · The town museum showcases a Roman sewer system that could teach Spanish plumbers a thing or two about waste disposal · Hidden in the basement of one of the old houses is an original Roman street, complete with pavements, kerbstones, gutters and Roman graffiti The austere walls of the closed San Cristobal and Santa Rita Convent hide a sweeter secret Medina Sidonia is renowned for its Arabic confectionary, in particular its signature alfajores which have a D.O.-type quality award. Oozing with honey, crunchy with almonds, hazelnuts and sesame seeds, aromatic with exotic spices, all the local bakeries sell them but it’s more fun to buy them from the nuns. The convent shop is just off

HEAVENLY: Sweets from the nun

Plaza España – a photo-opportunity of a square with a Renaissance town hall and two symmetrical rows of bay trees forming an arboreal guard of honour, their leaves sculpted into helmet-shaped bobs. Through the convent doorway, past a sign marked Confiteria, you come to a room divided in two by a heavy metal grille, and a sign saying: ‘To Attention. Please press the bell’. A nun in a black and white wimple appears behind this medieval portcullis and I wonder what we’ll do if she’s taken a vow of silence. Fortunately, not. The transaction is ac-

complished in brief reverential whispers. Whether for reasons of health and safety, or to prevent unnecessary contact with the outside world, you put your money on a little revolving turntable and the sweets appear in its place. Like a miracle. It was a bit like being in a confessional box and sweets are one of my vices but, happily, they didn’t cost me four Hail Marys or even two Our Fathers – just a bargain €10. And they were heavenly, of course!

13th-century man

HAVE been spending a lot of time at the Casita recently, mainly due to the fact that ‘Team GB’ has yet to find a suitable replacement for the long dead Freelander – so I am car-sharing with my long-suffering father. Although I may feel smug, as I gaze down from my environmental high ground, that I have reduced my carbon footprint dramatically, the downside is that there have been more than a few head-slapping moments – a la Homer Simpson – when I discover that I forgot to buy milk on my last shopping trip. The village is five km away and involves scaling my Indiana Jones-style track to get to it. I have been considering purchasing a donkey. The worst thing to forget, how-

No car, heating or electricity… is this the dark ages? ever, is cat food, as it inevitably means that 50 Shades (my cat – in case you are wondering and, no, I haven’t taken her to see the movie) will slope off in search of prey, normally dispatching some poor rodent or bird and bringing it back to her favourite place in the Casita to devour. Which is, of course, under my bed... Some creatures get lucky, and regular readers will know that in the past 12 months I have managed to save a tiny dormouse, a baby rabbit, a morethan-confused bat and, most memorably, a partridge, from an unfortunate fate.

I have no grounds for complaint though. After the recent rains the lake is almost full, and the warmer weather means that I am writing this article on my terrace. But I was struck by a thought this morning. I still haven’t been able to locate the leak in either the water tank or the pipes, which means that I have to fetch water from the lake every day.

As I did this at the break of dawn, having already lit the fire in the living room and candles around the house, I realised that I am basically living in the 13th century. I’m fully expecting angry villagers to turn up any day now with flaming torches to have me burnt as a warlock. I’ll keep you posted...

So long, Jack THE coast lost one of its best-known and best-loved figures in February with the death of Jack Nusbaum. I knew Jack well from various media lunches and events, and he was always great company. Jack was also a frequent caller on my Sunday evening radio show, although one time he did surprise me by asking me to play Justin Bieber. “My grandkids are always going on about him” he explained. So, for the first, and I hope the last time, I played ‘Baby’. As soon as the song ended the phone rang and I put the caller live on air. “Hey Giles, buddy, this is Jack,” came Jack’s distinctive American accent: “That Justin Beiber record you just played? It was CRAP!!!” RIP Jack!

RIP: Jack Nusbaum

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Half-baked promises Cookery schools go hungry in Andalucia due to budget cuts and unpaid wages

COOKERY schools across Andalucia are going hungry as the Junta fails to pay out for their ingredients. Students at La Consula school in Churriana have launched indefinite strike action, after funding cuts left the school unable to purchase food and other cooking supplies.

EXOTIC: Florida feeling heading to Marbella

Miami vibes in Marbs RETRO Marbella hangout South Beach is celebrating spring with an all-American twist, with a Miami Grill event launching this month. The exotic Florida feeling will be almost tangible from March 14 to April 12, with meat and fish served sizzling from the BBQ every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and - among other bands - live Blues Brothers-style music at weekends. There will also be, as always, free children’s entertainment on Saturdays, while pancakes are available for children. South Beach is open every day on Avenida del Limonar 124, Marbella (exit El Rosario). For reservations, call 952 113 005, email info@southbeachmarbella.com, or search South Beach Marbella on Facebook.

It’s the same problem at the nearby La Fonda culinary school in Benalmadena, unpaid wages are crippling the school, which has been left crumbling under pressure. Employees of the school have now been left waiting for more than eight months for their salaries, which have been postponed again after the Junta was allegedly unable to ‘justify the payments’. The desperate staff are at their wits’ end, despite Manuel Jesus Garcia, the director general of the Junta, promising in mid-February that they would be paid ‘as soon as possible’. A sit-in at the school was cancelled following the promise of payment last month, but the staff are now looking at new ways to pressurise the Junta as their needs have still not been met.

A good vintage A BAR in Barcelona is breaking the mould, not because of what it is serving up, but because of who is doing the serving. In a unique move, Entrepanes Diaz, a trendy bar in the heart of the Catalan capital, is now only hiring waiters over 50. And with two million people aged between 45 and 64 out of work across the country, owner Kim Diaz is urging more bosses to follow suit.

RIOT: David Munoz’s new Streetxo restaurant in Madrid boasts unusual chairs (inset) as well as adventurous food

Streetwise

IT is the most exciting restaurant opening of the year so far. Spain’s hottest chef David Munoz has moved his super-hip Streetxo restaurant to Corte Ingles on Calle Serrano, in the heart of Madrid’s upmarket neighbourhood of Salamanca. The young three-Michelin star genius has created the same sort of buzz he has at his other joint Diverxo, also in the capital.

Latest Olive Press columnist A dog’s life, Eddie the dog is ‘em-barking’ on a by Eddie the hotel hound great career – no bones about it

Humouring humans

O the editor – wooing me with promises of becoming Andalucia’s premier pooch – wants me to write a column about my life. Small village dog hits the big time... Not bad for an Adana rescue mutt, eh? As you may know I live at Hotel Molino del Santo in the station of Benaojan. It’s pretty much dog heaven,

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LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Eddie with owner Andy with semi-wild countryside with all the olfactory treats one could desire. (My master had to check the meaning of olfactory when I dictated it. I’d like to bypass him totally thus avoiding censorship of what I discuss but paws were not designed for keyboards). There is a river nearby where I swim in the warmer months and barely any cars – which is just as well as my road sense is somewhere south of zero. Most importantly, there are more sticks than you can shake a stick at! The hotel has been closed for the winter and I’ve been asked if that is better or worse than the busy season. I say you need to be positive, take in the good things around you. Downside: hotel closed equals no bags of meat trim-

mings and bones appearing at the door – so it’s mostly dried dog food for me. Upsides: hotel closed equals Master and Mistress around a lot more to talk to me and take me out and about with them. Hotel closed equals change as they go off on holidays and family visits. I’ve been advised by my mates that it is imperative to perfect a sad and sulky look when I see suitcases, but this is just a front. I go on my own holiday with a friend of theirs who is a walking guide in the area – and we have a ball. Proper long walks every day and a dog-centred home. Perfect. Obviously I pretend it’s great to see them when they return; you have to humour them...

To get in touch with Eddie, contact his owners Andy and Pauline at the Hotel Molino del Santo. Bda Estacion s/n, 29370 Benaojan, Malaga. 952 167 151 - 952 167 927. info@molinodelsanto.com

Order online 24/7 or call +44(0) 1454 22 88 70 Olive Press (Easter) Advert.indd 1

A riot of colour, quirky chairs and an equally adventurous mix of Far Eastern and Spanish cuisine, it is little surprise the queue to get in is normally between one and two hours. That said, the waiting list of his flagship Diverxo restaurant is currently over six months so it isn’t too bad. And his next big project: A plan to open a Streetxo in London in June this year.

16/01/2015 16:10

FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Waste not want not Pig intestines, stomachs and ears have sparked a rapidly-growing trend in China

SPAIN may not want them, but China is more than happy to snap up the ‘waste’ parts

of pigs, in an industry that is growing exponentially. Pigs’ stomachs, intestines and

ears are all considered waste in Spain but are delicacies in China.

Back to basics

IT has slowly become one of San Pedro’s flagship restaurants. Now Rincon de la Sala has gone back to basics with an attractive re-launch and a return to a simpler Spanish menu. Having signed up Jose Fernandez - who has worked for some of Marbella’s most popular hotels, including over 20 years at the celebrated Don Carlos hotel – it is producing a range of classic new dishes. Under the watchful eye of Clare Strutton, Group Executive Head Chef James Adams and Group Commercial Director Wayne Elliott (pictured), the place is making giant

strides. It has a new fresh look, with a restyled terrace and a simple, more open-plan look inside. Best of all, its classic dishes, such as roast suckling pig and prawns pil pil, are about as good as it gets. The restaurant group is now looking at further expansion, having opened a restaurant in Essex last year, and has plans for other locations along the coast. “We are very excited about the year ahead,” explained Wayne, who has worked with the Jamie Oliver Group for a number of years.

El Rincón de

Spanish entrepreneurs are jumping on this latest trend, which saw exportation to Asia grow by 5.5% in 2014. It is a new and growing phenomenon, largely due to the fact that there are now 1.3 billion mouths to feed in China, and all of them have a growing taste for pork. China’s middle class has seen a massive population surge in recent years, and many who would previously have eaten pork once a year are now now serving it up several times a month. “We see tremendous potential in this fast-growing industry,” said Javier Serra, economic and commercial counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing. Spain is now the third largest exporter of pork to China, after the US and Germany, with several food export companies now finding that demand for pork in China exceeds wine and olive oil. China handled more than €235 million worth of pork exports in 2014, which represents an increase of 40% on 2012. Of those exports, an incredible €111 million were ‘waste’ products.

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Don’t sniff at that The ‘world’s best cheese’ is made in Andalucia... we sent AJ Linn out to investigate which goats make the award-winning Payoyo

ON THE SCENE: AJ Linn at the Casares goat farm

NY Spanish cheese connoisseur interested in the development of the dairy industry will know that books written by American journalists about Spanish cheese are pretty rare. But GQ correspondent Michael Paterniti was so inspired by the fantastic story behind the world-famous Paramo de Guzman cheese that he moved his family across the Atlantic, to spend more than a decade immersed in the lives of the family that create it. Now, after spending years intertwined in the lives of the residents of the village of Roa de Duero, in Burgos province – a few hours north of Madrid – Paterniti has published The Telling Room – subtitled ‘A story of love, betrayal, revenge and the world’s greatest piece of cheese’. The narrative, based on a true story, is as gripping as any crime novel, featuring friendships betrayed, innocence lost and gruesome murder plots. But the cheese is no fiction, and is one of the most expensive ever created. A devastating fire destroyed the factory in April 2014, and the last cheese was auctioned for charity in Madrid in January for an astonishing €275 – a rate of €110 per kg. While this is undoubtedly a tragic loss for the cheese world, plans are in the pipeline to get everything back up and running at the factory soon. In the meantime, we Andalucians can console ourselves that we have some of the other best cheeses in the world, according to the prize list at London’s 2014 World Cheese Awards last November. While Paramo de Guzman was nowhere to be seen, cheeses from Sierra de Cadiz villages (El Bosque, Villaluenga, Alcala

de los Gazules and Villamartin) swept the board with a total of 19 top prizes – there were 3,000 entries from 34 countries judged by a panel of 250 experts – and the Super Gold medal went to a Payoyo cheese from Villaluenga del Rosario, a mountain village just a short drive from the coast. But Payoyo – named after the breed of mountain goat – has become far more than a cheese, thanks to Paco Garcia, director of Elviria’s Michelinstarred restaurant, El Lago, a favourite of foodies from all little better to do, he asked his over Andalucia. After its launch in 2000, El chef Diego what it would be like Lago soon earned a Michelin to use meat from the Payoyo star thanks to gifted cook Di- goat in the restaurant. ego del Rio. And Paco, being And dicho y hecho – or, no an expert in all 50 varieties of sooner said than done – and Andalucian cheese (a decade after experimenting and developing the ago there appropriate were no sauces and more than trimmings, Visitors are told 10), proLago now duces one not to wash their El has an amazof the most hands as bacteria ing first on its satisfying helps the cheese- hands: cheese cheeseand meat not making process boards you only from the will ever find same race but in a restaufrom the same rant. Paco sources his Payoyo from producer, Juan Ocana of the a small producer near Casa- Queseria Sierra de Crestellina. res and had the bright idea of The lineage of food from farm developing an ancillary market to table couldn’t be plainer, to the cheese. One day, having with the chivo lechal baby goat nurtured exclusively on mothers’ milk forming a major part of the menu. One of the star dishes, baby goat with smoked cheese and Guadalhorce mandarin orange sauce, served with mint-flavoured salad and baby vegetables, is a sight to behold – and

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HAPPY: Juan with a cabrito eating it is even better. So in an effort to push traceability of the food I had eaten to its limits, I hitched a ride up to the very farm that supplies El Lago with its Payoyo cheese and meat. Juan was giving a class to a group of 12-year-olds from an Estepona school, reminding them not to wash their hands as bacteria is actually helpful for the cheese making process. The goats are milked just once a day so as to keep them unstressed and their diet is kept as natural as possible. It is essentially a low-yield, highquality operation and the three qualities of cheese – fresh (two days old), semi-cured, and cured are all excellent – and all available from the farm shop. Not looking so happy were the little goats destined for the table before they reach a month old, but Juan, while admitting it is the part of his operation that he likes least, assured me that their short lives are spent happily in the hills of Andalucia.

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Hundreds set to celebrate a platesmashing year at Yamas Greek Fusion restaurant

Big fat Greek anniversary YAMAS means ‘cheers’ in Greek and the guys at this eponymous Marbella restaurant have an extra good reason to raise their glasses this month. On March 14, the family-run Yamas Greek fusion restaurant celebrates its first birthday when it will undoubtedly be the toast of the coast. More than 400 guests, many from abroad, celebrated at the launch party last year and the anniversary get-together looks set to attract a similarly international crowd, with revellers travelling from as far afield as Sweden and Norway. The relaxed, welcoming spot on Avenida Miguel Cano has something for everyone, from a chill terrace and secret garden to a full-on dining experience. There’s even a dedicated children’s room. A warm welcome is guaranteed from owner Kulis Miliatis, who hails from Katerini

Make it special Sunday 15th March 3 courses €16.00 Now taking bookings

SMASHING: The authentic Greek experience in Greece but has lived all over the world and speaks five languages. Kulis and his wife Hayley Mallia pride themselves on their delicious, fresh Greek fare - all homemade and proving a popular alternative

to Spanish tapas. For an evening of Greek chic, including bubbly, a buffet, canapes and live music from the Suit & Tie Duo, all for €20 per ticket, head on down to Yamas on March 14 from 8-11pm.

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Covering Andalucia in 2014 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 500,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

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HOLLYWOOD heartthrob Hugh Jackman was beamed from Germany to Madrid in the world’s first holographic press conference while promoting his new film Chappie.

Telephone: 951 273 575

March 5th - March 18th 2015

El Clasico clash

THE 1,500 residents of Benaojan have something to celebrate, with more than €10.5 million of lottery winnings landing there. Davey no mates

Charity prize

d’s Scottish REAL SociedaMoyes has boss David rs in La revealed manage less friendly

Liga are far in the Prethan those miership.

Boar-ding delays

of flights A NUMBER at Madrid’s were delayed when a Barajas airport through a wild boar broke across the fence and tore runway.

FINAL WORDS

Big bucks

CUDECA founder and president Joan Hunt has received a 2015 Andalucia Day award, in recognition of her work for the community.

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campaign A TWITTER London cyhas reunited a prized bike clist with his - after it - worth €6,000 taken all was stolen and the way to Spain.

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LAWNMOWERS, golf buggies and electric scooters may soon need car insurance if a new EU directive is passed.

Overload THE Caminito del Rey website crashed due to high traffic at times during the first day of free tickets going online.

press.es www.theolive can think of whatever you we had it.” 3,000 RAF With more than Morgan is staff at the base,will be lots there that sure now based in of members tion called Spain. An associa which Morgan RAFCA – for officer for Ibeis the liaison up to reunite ria – has set and currently ex-RAF staff, 1,000 memhas well over has a new bers. veteran RAF AN like to redown his If you would old friends, mission, to track buddies in connect with Morgan on former base contact Brian , call 670 Spain. RAF buddies Morgan, who af(inset) and old who was jbm76@me.com Briton Brian or visit www.r Morgan, 78, in Torre- SEARCH: Brian between 1959 259 217, in Sin- said has been living years, is apChangi base of the based at Changi ence and changi.co.uk newsdesk@ intellig blanca for 17 other former the RAF in one was contact and 1962 pealing for nel to ‘come gapore, whichr overseas post- other duties. “It was a won- Please epress.es with your had a yacht theoliv RAF person more’ and most popula derful post. Wefishing clubs, reunion stories. ings for 25 years. together once golf club, one of the most s,” club, “Changi was reunite. station searchservice ally of He is specificfriends from enjoyable ing for old February 19th

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turned FOOTBALLER n VinHollywood hardma launched nie Jones has lessons online Spanish includes for Brits, which as ‘Oi, come phrases such get in this and here over selfie mate’.

Lawn tax

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- March 4th

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Thanks for the roundabouts!

outpouring of AN unusual to her politilove from a wife has gone viral. cian husband 81,000 people An incredible d the Youhave so far watche Michelle Van Tube video of ing her hubby Gaalen serenad PP mayor of the Angel Nozal, Mijas. expat (above) The Dutch husband in two praised her l rally in Mipolitica a at parts jas. of Resistire, Sung to the tuneby the Spana 1987 classic Dinamico, the ish group Duo s moving lyrics song feature you for those such as ‘thank as well as new roundabouts’,g taxes. praise for lowerin explained she Husband Nozalshe ‘wanted to had done it as motivate me’. encourage andhelps with the “Everything being gn election campai the perception tough and of politicians people have added. isn’t good,” he

EL CLASIC-NO: Messi and Ronaldo facing delays

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Bond, James Bond-age

After we reported (above) how a pensioner flew to the UK with his bus pass, we present the British prankster who rode FC Barcelona’s bus Web:

THE world’s most glamorous football match could be postponed next month because of a proposed La Liga strike over television rights. Real Madrid and Barcelona may be forced to push back their March 22 meet as other La Liga clubs are planning to protest over the way television rights are divvied up. Clubs in Spain want rights to be sold in the same way they are in England and Italy, so that clubs share the profits more equally. At the moment Spanish teams have to negotiate their rate individually, with Barcelona and Real Madrid receiving 12 times more from their rights than the lowest La Liga earners. The Spanish government has so far refused to push through a law that would allow clubs to bargain for rights collectively.

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be less inBRITS may their stuff clined to strut oor than on the dancefl an countertheir Europe are no bores parts but they between the sheets. survey sugIn fact, a new saving their gests they areexperimental passion for bedroom antics. are apBritish couplesas likely to parently twice e than have tried bondag ans, includother Europe , the new ing the Spanish . study reveals Brits surWith 70% of ng to tying veyed admitti s, twoup their partner confessed to thirds also blindfoldhaving had sex ed. French top Meanwhile the g and the poll for spankin caning.

By Iona Napier

WE’VE all been tempted to hop on board a bus without the driver noticing… but one football fan has taken it to a whole new level. One prankster managed to jump onto the Barcelona FC coach en route to the team’s recent Champions League crunch match with Manchester City.

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MR BIG: Michael McIndoe

League of his own

A FORMER Scottish international has been forced to swap the swanky sofas of Marbella’s beach bars for his mother’s couch in Edinburgh. Marbella party boy Michael McIndoe is facing allegations that he deliberately conned hundreds of footballers out of €41 million, after announcing that he was bankrupt. The 35-year-old former Wolves star lived a lavish lifestyle on the Costa del Sol before his debts caught up with him.

Girls

CAUGHT OUT: Lionel Messi and (inset) Tomy Dunn Manchester United fan Tommy Dunn, 53, posed as a security guard in a blue suit to blag his way onto the bus bound for Etihad Stadium.

Keep it in the family

SPANISH sports icon Vicario has told a judge that she is ‘in ruins’ during a court hearing in which she is suing her father and brother. The former French Open champion made the comments in the latest development in a court battle that has split her family. “I am in ruins and I want to explain why I have debts,” she told the judge. “The tax office and Luxembourg are claiming amounts that I can’t afford.” In November 2012, Vicario began legal proceedings against her father Emilio, her brother Javier and two other ‘trusted’ people who managed her income. The four are accused of appropriating her €45 million fortune, through fraudulent administration, professional disloyalty and falsity.

He hopped on while stars, including Lionel Messi and Neymar, waited in line outside the five-star Lowry Hotel in central Manchester. Father of four Dunn told the driver he was with the squad and sat at the front. He then secretly recorded himself greeting the players in Spanish as they walked past him. Stars Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique all climbed aboard without raising the alarm. It was only when Luis Enrique, Barcelona’s boss, said he was ready to depart that Dunn upped and fled the coach without getting caught.

“He was the Mr Big in Marbella, buying loads of champagne,” said one footballer, who lost around €100,000 in the scheme, which promised a 20% return on investments. “There were lots of girls and lots of drink, he was spending money like you’ve never seen before.” McIndoe declared himself bankrupt with disclosed debts of €3.3 million last October. Earlier this month, he told the London bankruptcy court that he had no income and was living off the sale of his mother’s home. He added that he had ‘nothing to say’ in response to the allegations made against him. The hearing was adjourned until March 25.

PARTY BOY: In Marbella