Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 278

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Mijas Costa See page xx 9

Govt in exile

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Vol. 11 Issue 278 www.theolivepress.es Noember 8th - November 21st 2017

MORE DEATHS Pet poisoning scandal now hits Estepona

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

Exile Given the whole extradition process can take up to 60 days, it means he may have to run his entire election campaign for the Catalan European Democratic Party from Belgium.

His party wants him to fight for continued leadership of the regional parliament in the December 21 elections.

Puigdemont denied he had fled to Brussels to avoid justice but that he left because the Spanish government was preparing a ‘wave of oppression and violence’ against separatists.

“I’m absolutely convinced that the state was preparing a harsh wave of repression for which we would have all been held responsible,” he said yesterday.

“The Spanish state is committing a brutal repression…if we don’t battle repression together, the Spanish state may win this fight.”

In a show of support to the deposed president, around 200 Catalan pro-independence mayors travelled to Brussels on Tuesday to stage a rally.

SEE MORE P 6

SEE MORE P 17

Supergran EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

A SUPERGRAN has been labelled a ‘true heroine’ after she jumped in to save a pub owner from being bottled.

The 77-year-old expat Elizabeth Trueman didn’t hesitate when she saw the attacker smash his beer glass and lunge at publican Paolo Mortoni.

The Glaswegian pensioner stepped in when a drunken builder got into a heated argument with Mortoni over the payment of a round of drinks.

The regular of Bar Mortoni, in Fuengirola, tried to stop the attack, getting battered to the ground and knocked unconscious in the chaos.

“She was so brave wading in

British grandmother, 77, knocked out trying to defend publican attacked by thug with broken glass

RELIEVED: The Mortonis

like that,” wife and co-owner Hayley Mortoni told the Olive Press. “She didn’t hesitate and

LOCK: Thief

A BRAVE expat chased down and grabbed a robber after she stole her grandmother’s purse.

Mary Turner, 52, ran after the female thief who had nabbed the purse by slicing a hole through it.

“My great-granddaughter saw what happened and told my granddaughter, who ran after the thief, grabbed her and put her in a headlock,” said June Turner, 69, based in Torrox.

“I then got my phone out and took

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a snap of the thief to give to police.

It was a real team effort.”

But when the family called the Policia Local, they were told to report the crime to the Guardia Civil, which they did later that day.

“We ended up having to let her go, which is annoying even though I have got my stuff back,” continued June, from London.

“I now just want to make others aware of this woman and let them know they should be careful.”

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made a lunge to hold him back.

“But as she grabbed him he turned round and smacked her in the face.

“It was a big punch and it knocked her straight to the ground.

“It was terrifying...She was out cold for three minutes, she could have easily died!”

Luckily Trueman, a regular visitor to the coast, where her daughter lives, came round

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CLOSE CALL Expat anarchist who tried to kill Franco

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CATALUNYA’S beleaguered leader has vowed to fight on from abroad.

It came after Carles Puigdemont handed himself in to Belgian police when a European arrest warrant was issued.

He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust.

A judge in Belgium now has up to two weeks to decide if they will extradite the group to Spain.

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HERO: Nana Trueman helped save a life

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www.theolivepress.es News IN BRIEF

By Jed Neill

No bridge RONDA Town Council will be blocking traffic across the historic Puente Nuevo bridge from November 6 for a month and half to repair some structural damage that has accumulated over the years.

Top quality THE Prado Museum in Madrid was chosen by TripAdvisor users as the ninth best museum in the world and the best in Spain. In total 10 Spanish museums have received awards, with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum taking second place.

Power play PRESIDENT of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, is visiting Spain as part of a four-day trip to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties. Rivlin will make an address at the Spanish parliament and sit down with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Grand designs A TOTAL of €25 million is set to be spent in Malaga on improvements to hotels this winter. One of the largest projects will occur at the NH Malaga which will add a further 115 rooms to its existing 133.

A BRITISH fugitive who used 20 different aliases has been finally picked up on the Costa del Sol. Paul Kemp, 53, denied all knowledge of the name, when police arrested him near his house in Marbella.

Kemp, from Canterbury, is now facing extradition for his role in a 2010 VAT and money-laundering fraud case centered around Kent-based removals firm Transmove.

The company was accused of taking in €4.2 million (£3.7million), between 2003 and 2008, through ‘various companies’ and mostly via fuel offences.

After a three year investigation, said to be the largest in

CRIME

November 8th - November 21st 2017

Nabbed Expat fraudster finally picked up at his Marbella home after seven years on the run

three years, while his uncle Paul went on the run using aliases including Jean Paul Dalton and Marcus Laine.

He was later picked up in Marseille, but managed to esKent Police history, company cape a second time, moving to boss Stephen Court, 64, was Spain some years later. jailed for five years for the While Spanish National poplot that was described by lice have not officially named Judge McDonald as ‘fraudu- him, a spokesman confirmed lent from the outset and pro- the arrest.

“We have arrested a Britfessionally planned’.

Maidstone crown court also ish suspect who was tracked jailed David Kemp, 42, for down and arrested near his home in Marbella,” he said.

“At the moment of arrest he pretended to be someone else and EXCLUSIVE gave us false ID,” he

By Laurence Dollimore added. “The arrest was made possible them awake at night knowing what they know. thanks to interna“Their silence won’t stop us in seeking justice for tional co-operation.”

Lisa.”

Kemp had been on Lisa was due to start a new job in GibralInterpol’s ENFAST tar when she vanished from her home. list which includes Detectives found blood and evidence of the most wanted fugi‘violent scenes’ at the home, but have tives in Europe. never found a body or enough evidence Judge McDonald to put away lead suspect and boyfriend described the case Simon Corner. as ‘corrosive’. He The family continue to investigate the said: "Activities of case while Spanish authorities have inthis kind have a corsisted it is very much open and ongoing. rosive effect on the “Work is still very much ongoing and economic state of this we are thankful for the team that are country. working so hard on Lisa’s case and our "A tax fraudster behalf,” sister Helen said. steals from his fellow “We will crack this case.” citizens."

End our nightmare!

THE family of Lisa Brown have vowed to bring those responsible to justice on the second anniversary of her disappearance.

They held a special day of remembrance on November 4 exactly two years after she vanished from her home in Guadiaro, near Sotogrande.

Lisa’s sister Helen Jordan, 50, warned local expats in the campo that those behind her disappearance are still walking free, and urged those with information to come forward.

“The people that could end our nightmare are still living and working in this community and if this happened to them I’m very sure they would also want everyone’s help,” she told the Olive Press.

“They have had TWO years to come forward with this information and haven’t, we hope this keeps

KnocK out From Front

having suffered nothing more than a few cuts and bruises.

Incredibly, after being interviewed by police, she decided not to go to hospital and instead head home.

An ambulance was called but never actually turned up.

“One female officer asked if I was okay and they just left,” the pensioner told the Olive Press.

“They didn’t seem interested in pressing charges.”

She continued: “The whole incident was pretty terrifying and guess it’s lucky that I am so strong.”

The trouble had started when a group of builders, who work on a local construction site, took offence to being made to pay for each round of drinks.

“They began acting aggressively, then suddenly they were throwing chairs around and that’s when Liz stepped in,” said Hayley.

Police were quickly called but when the officers arrived, they greeted the builders ‘like old friends’.

“They laughed and joked and shook hands,” claimed Hayley.

“But when we asked to give statements they said ‘sorry, we don’t speak English’.

“The incident has clearly been brushed under the carpet.”

Policia Nacional in Fuengirola said they could not comment on the case as there was no official denuncia to reference.

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Lady in waiting THE first official solo portrait of the future Queen of Spain has been released to mark her 12th birthday.

When she eventually takes the throne, Princess Leonor will be Spain’s first queen since 1833.

LEGENDARY pop star Madonna shocked holidaymakers as she chose to fly to Portugal in economy class.

Madge - who is worth an estimated £438 million - was spotted on the TAP Air Portugal flight from London to Lisbon.

The superstar was wearing jogging bottoms and trainers, a far cry from her usual glamorous image.

THEY could be playing the parts of many an expat here in Spain.

Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson have been filming a new movie about con artists in Mallorca.

Based on a remake of the popular classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, they compete to defraud a naive new tech billionaire.

One working class, one high class, the film Nasty Women has just finished filming, with Australian actress Wilson taking to Twitter to express her love of Mallorca with a series of videos.

“Hola amigos! It’s the last day in Mallorca and I’m going to miss this place. It’s so awesome to film here,” said Wilson.

“It’s been such a blast doing this remake!”

In one tweet, the two co-stars jump into a hotel swimming pool fully clothed.

Wilson also posted a photo alongside Mallorca tennis legend Rafa Nadal.

Madonna was flying out of London after visiting her son Rocco, who lives in the capital with her ex-husband, film director Guy Ritchie.

The American star splits her time between the United States and London, as well as Portugal after her son David recently signed to the Benfica football team’s youth academy in Lisbon.

NO ENTRY: Nadal grilling

Close call Millie Bobby Brown almost quit acting before breakout role

Dirty Rotten Ladies

SLUMMING IT: Madonna on Portugal flight

MARBELLA-born starlet Millie Bobby Brown has revealed she almost quit acting before landing her critically acclaimed role in Stranger Things.

The 13-year-old Brit, who frequently returns to the Costa del Sol, shot to stardom when the sci-fi Netflix series became an instant hit last summer.

But it could have all been so different.

She said: “I felt at one point I couldn’t do it [acting] anymore, but then I got this role and everything changed.

Back of the net BENALMADENA-born midfielder Isco appears to have scored yet another goal this year after being spotted out with Spanish actress Sara Salamo.

The Real Madrid player is believed to be dating Salamo after they were seen enjoying a play at the Canal Theatre in Madrid.

Isco has had a stellar season so far, scoring five goals in Spain’s successful World Cup qualification campaign and becoming the first Malagueño in history to be shortlisted for football’s prestigious Ballon d’Or. He also signed a new contact with Real Madrid this August, which sees him pocketing £105,000-aweek.

The contact also includes a phenomenal £634 million release clause.

Loyal “I realised acting is like breathing to me.”

Millie has since filmed two series of the show, the second of which launched last week.

Talking of mastering her new role as socially awkward Eleven, she added: “It was like a bug. I know this sounds crazy, but once I find something I want to do, nobody’s stopping me.

“If I don’t know how to sew, and I really had that passion to sew, that’s it, I’m going to sew. That’s also with acting.

So here I am.”

The Olive Press revealed earlier this year that the rising star hangs out in Estepona’s Havana beach club whenever she returns to the Costa, near to the parents holiday home.

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Material girl no more

Rafa who?

RAFAEL Nadal was refused entry to the Paris Masters courts because a guard didn’t recognise him.

The tournament employee had no idea who the World No.1 was, and the awkward moment was captured by French TV. "Hello sir, have you got your pass?" the security guard asked the world's most famous tennis player, and a surprised Nadal responded: "I don't have it with me."

The guard asked Nadal who he was and got the world-renowned name in response.

The Spaniard was then immediately allowed through to the training courts.

Nadal later pulled out from the tournament with a knee injury.

November 8th - November 21st 2017

SULTRY: In flesh and (inset) in costume

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www.theolivepress.es

Another dog dog dies as town halls refuse to comment on pesticide use

By Laurence Dollimore

Centre forward CIUDADANOS have gained ground in voter intentions in the wake of the Catalunya crisis.

According to the latest quarterly poll from CIS, the political party, now has the backing of 17.5% of voters, three percentage points more than in the last survey.

Far-left Podemos slipped from 20.3% to 18.5%.

Meanwhile, the country's two main parties both lost some backers, with support for the centre-left PSoE dipping from 24.9% to 24.2% while the centre-right PP fell back from 28.8% to 28.0%.

The poll was conducted among 2,487 people between October 2 and 11.

Only 50.2% of Spaniards described the current economic situation as either ‘normal’ or ‘better’, while 33.8% described it as ‘bad’ and 15.1% as ‘very bad’.

ANOTHER dog has been killed by poison on the Costa del Sol. The pet podenco Yellow dropped dead within minutes of allegedly ingesting the toxic substance in the area Camino Penas Blancas, in Estepona.

Distraught Spanish owner Ada Rubio Perez, 42, told the Olive Press her pet began vomiting violently

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Poison returns and convulsing during its daily walk.

The five-year-old canine was rushed to a local vet but was dead within minutes of arriving.

Luckily her second dog, Meca, who was also vomiting, somehow managed to pull through.

THE PP and Ciudadanos will hold a vote of no confidence to unseat current PSOE mayor Rosa Arrabal.

According to sources, the two parties believe they have enough MPs on their side and will begin the process of holding the vote this week.

The conservative PP’s current spokesperson Gema Garcia is expected to take over as mayor.

If all goes according to plan, it will be the second Costa del Sol town hall to have been lost by the PSOE this year after the PP’s Angeles Munoz returned to power in Marbella in September.

Senior cuddles

THE ADANA dog rescue centre has welcomed a group of senior citizens to cuddle puppies.

Estepona councillor Manuela Benitez helped organise the event last week and the visitors were given a private tour of the CRIME Top kennel, learning about drawerits extensive work with Flight chaos raid rescuing abandoned “It was horrible, so scary and unwanted dogs. and I am demanding Food and snacks were Traffic something is done urgenttragedy provided along with ly,” she said. some of the kennel’s The death comes after cutest and cuddliest 15 dogs died in a similar Best doc puppies that needed a fashion in Nueva Andahome.

‘Most wanted’ in mafia raid lucia and Marbella last ADANA will hold its month in suspicious cirannual Christmas Fair cumstances. on November 19 at the Many of the owners were Palacio de Congresos, expats, with a number FLASHBACK: Our story Estepona. joining an angry dog walkers’ protest at the weekAll a spokesman would say end in Marbella.

While police are still prob- is that they source their ing the case, rumours have street cleaning to a comswirled that one of the pany called SESPA. substances, a weed killer A SESPA spokesperson banned by the EU for 20 told the Olive Press meanyears, may still be used by while: “We only use pesticides in the drains to local town halls.

Marbella town hall was kill cockroaches and rats, forced to deny it used the we never put them on the product, however Este- street or in the plants and pona town hall this week trees.” refused to comment on They refused to comment on the recent death. which pesticide it used.

exclusive

PSOE to lose Nerja

SINGLE IMPLANT

November 8th - November 21st 2017

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News IN BRIEF

MORE than 100,000 passengers have had their flights grounded following the latest strike by French air-traffic controllers. Union members walked out on Monday and will continue until Wednesday.

FIVE people have been killed and ten injured in a major pile up involving nine cars, two trucks and two lorries on the A7 near Murcia.

IRANIAN director Mohsen Eslamzadeh’s Alone among the Taliban won best documentary at the 11th Marbella Film Festival. The film portrays the directors experience living with the Taliban in Afghanistan for 15 days.

October 11th - October 24th 2017

Pet killers EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

POLICE are probing at least two parks linked to the deaths of over a dozen dogs on the Costa del Sol by poisoning.

According to Olive Press sources, detectives have found ‘toxic substances’ at San Pedro’s Eucalyptus Park, as well as Parque la Futura, in Marbella’s La Campana area.

Police closed off both parks after poison was discovered by children’s swings and climbing frames.

Some dogs have perished within minutes of coming into contact with the substance and even sniffing it can cause death within an hour.

A vet last night told the Olive Press that he had seen ‘quite a

At least 12 dogs poisoned by ‘toxic’ substance planted on kids playgrounds on Costa del Sol number of poisoning cases in just a few days’.

The spokesman for Urvet pet hospital, in Marbella, said: “It is very serious as the pets are being poisoned in play parks.

“It seems to be the same toxin and is sometimes hidden inside sausages, or something similar but in 10 or 15 minutes they are dead.

ONE of the men arrested over the Marbella FC money-laundering case was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

Russian Arnold Tamm is said to be a leading figure behind the scheme which saw €30 million illegally invested through the football club

“Imagine if a child ate that. We would be looking at murder.”

The incidents, which could number up to 20 so far, are mostly taking place around the La Campana area of Marbella.

However, one victim, a British expat, who asked not to be named, said his Yorkshire Terrier had died just 15 minutes after eating some-

and two other companies.

In total 11 people were arrested, with four refused bail.

These include Marbella FC owner Alexander Grinberg, who is said to have purchased Marbella FC for €1 in a deal that saw him pay off the club’s €250,000 debt.

thing around the Bello Horizonte area, the other side of Marbella, on Sunday.

The owner, a businessman, said: “I’m devastated. I rushed him to the hospital after he began having convulsions. It was only a few minutes after we got home.

“He was trying to be sick to get it out and was acting aggressively. We knew something was wrong.

“This is a very sick stunt. I hope the police catch them fast.

“My vet told me he had seen five or six similar cases in the last week alone.”

Parents are being warned to be extra vigilant of their children playing in parks, while the Guardia Civil’s Seprona arm is probing the case.

The dogs become disorientated and symptoms include foaming at the mouth, diarrhea and vomiting.

“It appears to be two types of poison and both are like rat poison, so once the dog tastes it or even sniffs it they have convulsions,” another source told the Olive Press.

“If you know anyone whose dog has died because of the poison, it’s very important that they report it to the police because the police need denuncias otherwise nothing will be done.”

SPANISH cops have busted a second-hand furniture drug smuggling ring between the Costa del Sol and London.

It comes after 59 packets of cocaine and 258 kilos of hashish - worth €4 million were found hidden inside a chest of drawers in a delivery van leaving Marbella for the UK this week.

A 39 -year-old Spaniard and a Canadian, 46, based in Estepona have been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and being part of a criminal organisation.

The home of one of the suspects unearthed 100 grams of hashish, three high-end vehicles, seven mobile phones, a gun, taser and a submachine gun.

DRAW: Hiding drugs

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November 8th - November 21st 2017

Expats who lost millions rage at ‘unauthorised’ deals involving ‘worrying’ signing of blank sheets

Pension peril

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million in a failed pension advisory firm believe their signatures may have been photocopied onto investment documents.

Around 300 Brits, most living in Spain, are battling to retrieve their funds after Alicante-based firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM) folded in September, as first reported in the Olive Press a month ago.

Boss Darren Kirby left for Australia following the closure of the company’s main Javea offices.

Victims, who are spread across Spain, as well as in Ibiza, Portugal, France and Turkey, fear illegal practices after being asked to sign blank dealing instructions.

Their pension pots were then invested in high-risk assets which promised to pay out large commissions.

One 69-year-old pensioner told the Olive Press he lost €210,000 after transferring €470,000 despite stating he had a ‘low to medium aversion to risk’ attitude to investment.

“I was asked, ‘Can you sign this blank form. We will fill in the details.’ I did that trusting they would act in my best interests,” he said.

“They should have been looking out for me but they were just feathering their own

nests. To me they knew what they were doing.”

He added: “I believe some of the investments were made without my knowledge. I think that is the case because I do not recall signing sheets for all the investments I had.”

An email, seen by the Olive Press, shows CWM asking a client to sign and return a blank dealing instruction.

Another British expat, 55, who is trying to recover around €200,000, said some pensioners ‘have lost everything’.

“My paper work that I sent has been altered, my risk level was changed from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ and my dealing instructions have been photocopied repeatedly for buying and selling assets I didn’t au-

thorise,” he said.

“I still have some money left and I am still young enough to get compensation, but my fund has gone down by half and I need compensation to get it back on track.

“But some people have lost everything and don’t have enough to live on. One retired victim only has €50,000 left from €480,000.”

Andaluciabased lawyer Antonio Flores, whose firm Lawbird are representing some CWM victims, said signing blank investment sheets was ‘very worrying’.

“This negates the very essence of the service they are meant to offer,” said Flores.

“It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever.

“If standard practice, this is

very worrying.

“Signing blank documents would be seen as irregular in a court of law. The problem with these firms is that they were all investing in highly risky investments without the clients knowing.”

He claimed that losses sustained by investors would hopefully be recoverable as the investments that failed to perform, or went bust, were linked to life insurance policies. Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar are now attempting to recoup CMW clients’ losses.

The Olive Press has so far been unable to discover if CWM was registered to provide investment advice with Spain’s official financial regulator CNMV. “They apparently had permission to sell insurance via a company regulated in Germany, but I don’t think they were registered to give advice,” continued Flores.

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The Olive Press (Costa del Sol edition) – 170 x 256mm

8 November

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November - November 21st 2017 November 8th8th - November 21st 2017

As the anniversary of General Franco’s death in November 1975 approaches this month, Alastair Stewart remembers the Scottish anarchist who tried to take out the dictator ... inspired by his granny

Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Justice needed ELIZABETH Trueman is a true hero.

Not many of us can say we would have intervened if we saw a huge builder about to stab someone with a glass shard.

We commend this brave grandmother and wish her a speedy recovery.

What is more shocking is that the ambulance did not arrive and that the police allegedly showed no desire to want to help.

Elizabeth could have died yet police did not even take official statements from the group.

Bar owners Hayley and Paolo Mortoni and most importantly Elizabeth Trueman deserve answers and justice for what was clearly a horrible experience.

Shame on the builder for hitting a 77-year-old woman, or any person for that matter.

If karma is indeed real, we hope it finds you swiftly and justly.

Come forward!

IF anyone is holding information that could help crack the Lisa Brown case then they must come forward.

It is a crying shame that those who we know are responsible have been able to skirt justice for two years.

If Lisa was your daughter you would expect more to be done.

Think about the family who have no idea what has happened to their daughter and who are living with the agony of not knowing every single day.

We hope those who know or are concealing evidence get a conscience fast! Those responsible must be brought to justice.

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S

COTTISH history is awash with legendary figures but Stuart Christie - a young Glaswegian involved in a plot to assassinate General Franco - is not the first name that springs to mind.

Nevertheless, on August 11 1964, this 18-year-old idealist was arrested in Madrid for attempting to do just that.

And in a further bizarre twist, the young suicide bomber was found to be carrying a kilo of explosives under a woolly jumper knitted by his grandmother.

By way of swashbuckling plots and tales of derring-do, the coup was straight out of a Hemingway or le Carré novel. Indeed, Christie reveals all its intricacies in his intriguingly-titled autobiography, 'Granny Made Me An Anarchist’.

Born and raised in Glasgow, Christie became involved in left-wing politics at a young age. Disillusioned with the Labour Party, his involvement with the city’s Anarchist Federation brought him into contact with operatives from Defensa Interior, an organisation dedicated to fighting Francisco Franco.

It was the 1960s and Franco was in his third decade of power.

The presence of a dictatorship in Western Europe, even at the height of the Cold War, was always an embarrassment. Spain was a social and economic pariah on the continent, strategically tolerated by Western powers only because of the Generalissimo’s hatred of communism.

Nevertheless, the scale of his repression, torture and murder made him a natural target for political campaigns and the morally aware.

When Christie moved south to London to work as a sheet-metal apprentice, he came into contact with Spanish anar-

KNITTED: Christie carried a kilo of explosives in his granny’s sweater

INSPIRATION: Many female Republican volunteers fought Franco

who fought with the International Brigade against fascism in the Spanish Civil War, he acted.

Christie left London for Paris where he met members of the Defensa Interior organisation. His assignment was to deliver explosives to Madrid for an attempt on Franco's life, without actually knowing the details of the plot to blow up the dictator at a football match. Although Franco died ten years later, the plot had particular significance as the last of at least 30 attempts on the fascist leader’s life.

Spanish anarchists lit the path but his grandmother influenced him chists in exile. They convinced him he had to do more than pay lip service or partake in marches to defeat Franco.

‘Much as I liked girls and dancing, I felt it was impossible to remain silent and inactive in the face of a fascist dictator’s repression of his country’s people,’ he wrote in his memoir. ‘It was time for action.’

The young man’s motivation, while revolutionary and in line with general sentiment against the dictator, was also inherently idealistic. It might have been Spanish anarchists who lit the path but, as the title of his autobiography suggests,he was also strongly influenced by, his formidable grandmother Agnes.

Agnes, a strict Presbyterian, helped Christie’s mother to raise him after his father walked out. It was she who encouraged a passion for social justice

The only way to disguise myself was with the baggy woollen jumper

ICON: George Orwell inspired Christie

and who provided ‘a moral barometer which married almost exactly with that of libertarian socialism and anarchism, and she provided the star which I followed.’

So taking heed from his grandmother and inspired by the likes George Orwell

By Christie’s admission, his hitchhiking effort to Madrid and general appearance were not proper spycraft: ‘With the plastic explosive strapped to me, my body was improbably misshapen,’ he wrote.

‘The only way to disguise myself was with the baggy woollen jumper my granny had knitted to protect me from the biting Clydeside winds. At the risk of understatement, I looked out of place on the Mediterranean coast in August.’

The circumstances were against him too: Defensa Interior was already heavily infiltrated by the Spanish security

Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es And our site is updated daily 2017 with the latest news, November 8th - November 21st making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.

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EVIL: Franco was a vicious dictator, who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of his own people

October 2015

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services. In Madrid, en route to meet his contact, an empty taxi pulled up to the pavement beside him. When the driver appeared to invite him to get in, he realised it was an unmarked police car.

‘As I steeled myself to make a dash through the crowds I was suddenly grabbed by both arms from behind, my

SUICIDE BELT: Explosives

face pushed to the wall and a gun barrel thrust into the small of my back. I tried to turn my head but I was handcuffed before I fully realised what had happened. It was all over in a matter of moments.’

Christie was arrested along with his Spanish contact Fernando Carballo Blanco. In a humorous sidebar to the story, it was falsely reported that he had been wearing a kilt at the time which confused the Argentine press into describing him as ‘a Scottish transvestite’.

Charged with ‘banditry and terrorism’, he faced a military trial and a possible death sentence by garrotte, a particularly nasty form of strangulation.

Christie wasn't tortured, as was common in Franco’s Spain. He signed a confession four days later and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Blanco got 30 years and held the awkward distinction of being the last political prisoner of the Franco regime.

Because of his youth and nationality, Christie’s involvement received significant international attention from the likes of Bertrand Russell and Jean-

SPANISH dictator Francisco Franco told his propagandists to describe him as an ‘indomitable soldier’.

However, Spain’s infamous dictator really was one of the luckiest men in Europe after he survived a rumoured 20 failed assassination attempts.

The first is believed to have taken place in the Canary Islands in 1936.

Several anarchists attempted to storm Franco’s bedroom as

Franco in firing line

he slept, but after the alarm was raised, the future dictator survived the night.

Stuart Christie may also not have been the only Brit out to get Franco, according to MI5 files that have been made public.

It is believed that Harold ‘Kim’ Philby, a fanatical anti-Nazi

Paul Sartre, among many other social activists. In prison, he studied for his A-Levels in history, English and Spanish and met other anarchists.

His incarceration prompted global protest. He wrote, ‘I was told by the British consul that there were demonstrations all over the world. The most beneficial thing was that my arrest provided a focus for what Franco was doing.

Here he was trying to pass himself off as an old avuncular gentleman on a white charger while in fact, he had all these political prisoners, thousands of them who were tortured and some of them killed. The monster was growing again.’

He served three years before international pressure and public protests in the UK forced Spain to release him. The official reason cited by the Spanish regime was a plea from Christie's mother.

Later in life, Christie was glad that the assassination attempt was unsuccessful.

‘The arrest turned out for the better. I probably did more for the cause of anti-Francoism by not killing him.

There is that law of

and British journalist, attempted to kill Franco in 1939 under the orders of Josef Stalin, but was unsuccessful.

Other failed attempts included shooting Franco, blowing him up with ‘100 kilos of explosives’ and bombing his yacht from a fighter jet.

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BRAVE: Christie today believes the arrest worked out for the better

unintended consequences.’

It's impossible to deny that Christie was brave and that his sense of justice led him into great danger. Did his idealism overtake an appreciation for the perils of a fascist state? Perhaps. But then again, that was the case for the 2,400 British volunteers, 549 of them Scottish, who travelled to serve in International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War. Quite rightly, they're honoured with a statue in Glasgow (left).

History knows how fascism in Spain died with Franco, but it's remarkable to muse what might have happened if it had stopped sooner, thanks to a young Scot.

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8 Fishermen demand action after continual incursions into Gib water by Spanish fishing vessels

NET-MARE! FURIOUS Gibraltarians are demanding stronger action as Spanish fishing boats continue to abuse the Rock’s territorial waters.

An investigation by the Olive Press has discovered that one boat, the Virgen Carmen I, entered Gibraltarian waters at least seven times last month alone.

According to the 1958 Geneva Convention on territorial waters this activity is forbidden, with a three mile coastal zone around Gibraltar clearly under British sovereignty.

Gib fishermen argue that Spain has a more than ample 4,964km coastline and boats are clearly flaunting the rules to antagonise Gibraltarian fishermen.

Dozens of Spanish vessels have been spotted operating illegally in Gibraltarian waters in October, including the Nuevo Leon.

Former RGP policeman Michael Sanchez fears that a ‘dangerous standoff’ is imminent and could lead to a serious in-

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Wallen

cident.

“Things could get heated quickly and people could get injured,” said Sanchez, who monitors the movements of ships.

He claims the slightest confrontation could lead to unwanted heightened political tension.

Another maritime source confirmed to the Olive Press there was currently a ‘very dangerous’ climate over fishing rights.

“Spain refuses to take her claim over our territorial waters to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,” he said.

“The country prefers to use the Law of Force instead of the Force of Law. This has led to very dangerous situations.”

Illegal floating nets used by Virgen Carmen I and other Spanish boats can damage Gibraltar fishing vessels and local habitats.

Spanish boats do not follow Gibraltar fishing quotas that ensure sustainability.

“Illegal Spanish fishing in Gibraltar is directly contributing to the continued depletion of endangered species, such as the white grouper and the European eel,” said a yachting source.

Much of the fury from fishermen stems from them being fined or prosecuted for fishing illegally while Spanish fishermen seem to get away with a slap on the wrist.

“The most I have seen is our police going up to a boat and telling them to leave,” said Michael Sanchez. “But that has no effect as they will just come back later.

“Gibraltarian waters need to be protected. And it needs to be done now.” The government told the Olive Press it was doing all it could to stop the incursions, but added it could not keep an eye on every single boat that enters the territorial waters.

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www.theolivepress.es green

Safe for now THE Junta has claimed that mining will NOT go ahead in the protected Sierra de la Utrera, between Casares and Manilva.

In a bizarre claim, its culture department announced that publishing mining plans, reported in the Olive Press last issue, were a necessary part of the area’s petition for gaining protected status.

A spokesman added that the department was not expecting any company to come forward with a proposal, and that if any did the proposals would promptly be rejected.

Despite these assurances Casares mayor, Jose Carrasco said the town hall would need to remain ‘vigilant.’

The area is home to numerous protected sites including the celebrated Roman baths and the Villavieja settlement.

Watermark THE government has spent €51 million on two new wastewater treatment plant in Almeria.

The small towns of Bajo Andarax and El Bobar will have the new plants to help cater for the growing population of Almeria and help solve water shortages.

Although they will only provide water for 50,000 residents they will also act as a network hub.

Spain is one of the least committed to fighting global warming as globe reaches ‘point of no return’ THE UN has warned ‘not nearly enough’ is being done to cut greenhouse gas emissions across the world.

Spain, in particular, is well behind in its actions to help stave off a critical two degree safety limit rise put in place by the 2015 Paris agreement.

Once this rise has been reached scientists claim the globe reaches a ‘point of no return’ and damage is irreversible.

But while the EU has committed to a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, Spain is not doing enough.

It currently ranks at 21st out of the 28 countries of Europe in its policies to combat climate change. However, the UN has collectively criticised all gov-

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“A year after the Paris agreement came into force, we still find ourselves in a situation where we are not doing nearly enough to save hundreds of millions of people from a miserable future,” said Erik Solheim,

Twisted firestarters ONE in seven forest fires have been started intentionally, new figures show.

Of the 387 fires investigated around Andalucia this year, some 53 were caused by negligence or arson.

The fires led to 1,359 people being evacuated from their homes, with six people so far arrested.

The Junta has appealed for more communication between official bodies to combat fires more efficiently.

head of UN Environment.

The annual review, which started in 2010, said pledges cover only one-third of the cuts needed by 2030 to keep levels below those in 2005.

However it is not all bad as the report found that carbon dioxide emissions had remained steady since 2014.

The UN says that solar, wind, efficient appliances, planting more trees, and preventing deforestation would plug the gap.

The emissions gap does not cover the consequences of a US withdrawal from the accord and should that happen the picture will become bleaker.

In terms of ranking Sweden is the current European leader in cutting emissions, while the UK comes in fifth.

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THE stage is set at Sevilla Film Festival for the world premiere of Agustín Díaz Yanes’ epic new film.

Oro, which translates as gold, is eagerly anticipated because it is the first time that Yanes has teamed up with Arturo Pérez-

BE ‘APPY!

Reverte since they collaborated on blockbuster Alatriste in 2006.

The Festival, held from November 3 to 11, is featuring more than 200 Spanish and European films.

Sixteen films, including A Ciambra which has Martin Scorsese as executive producer, and A Violet

Life which analyses the Corsican independence movement, are competing for this year’s Golden Giraldillo, awarded to the best film at the festival.

Almost 100 directors from 21 different countries are attending the festival.

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A NEW Pedro Almodovar book examines the films of Spain’s most famous director.

Universo Almodovar by cinema historian Jose Luis Sánchez Noriega uses 100 Famous bikers’ words or phrases from the new book and Oscar-winning filmmakThe Olive Press er’s work to explain some cooking show of the TOP central themesin in for news Spain! movies like All About My will focus on Mother, Volver and Ju- Spanish cooking lieta.

John Waters, desire, aes- THE Hairy Bikers have thetics, mothers, melo- published their new Medidrama, sex and society terranean Adventure book are among the topics ad- featuring recipes from dressed in the book.

Spain.

The Hairy Bikers’ Mediterranean Adventure includes ‘hearty and healthy’ recipes from their forthcoming prime time BBC Two cookery show celebrating the culinary delights of Spain, France, and Italy.

The recipes will be ‘fresh,

BIKERS: Back with a new book

classic, easy and seasonal’, with publisher Amanda Harris promising the collection would be the duo’s ‘most delicious and irresistible’ yet.

“We are so thrilled to be publishing this landmark recipe collection,” she said.

“The Hairy Bikers continue to top the book charts because they celebrate food

in the most enthusiastic and inclusive way. They combine expertise with passion and huge amounts of fun and friendship. This is their most delicious and irresistible collection yet.”

Bikers Si King and Dave Myers said: “We’re so excited about our new book and introducing you to lots of fresh, Med-inspired recipes. We have been on a journey to find the undiscovered, hidden Mediterranean. And who doesn’t want a taste of the sun in the middle of winter? We can’t wait to share our new recipes with you. We hope you love cooking and eating them as much as we do.”

what’s on

F

tura

uengirola November 16 - Casa de Cul-

A TOUCH of Class presents ‘A Touch of Cabaret.’ An evening of song and dance with all proceeds in aid of Lux Mundi.

Tickets cost €10 and doors open at 7pm.

R

onda - November 11 - Rabbit Fes-

C

ampillos - November 12 Ham Festival

tival

PARAUTA just outside of Ronda is one of the only places in Spain where you are given rice and a rabbit. Once a vital animal, the town now pays tribute with over 300 variations of rabbit.

ONE of Spain’s greatest celebrations will be back to showcase it’s meaty delights.

Although a festival of meat other handmade cheeses and oil are available as well as children activities.

Greenback A HALLOWEEN themed fundraiser for Manilva Pride 2018 has been held at Estepona Golf.

Over €275 was raised on November 4.

Despite bad weather hundreds of competitors took part in the Texas Scramble golf competition.

Texas Scramble is a team contest in golf, popular with charity events.

All members of a team will tee off with the best drive chosen as the point from which all the players will then take their second shot. This continues until the ball is holed.

A prizegiving and reception dinner was held afterwards at Mirror Mirror.

NEW BOOK: Final installment in Fallon’s trilogy

Ring of Flames

Excitement, romance and adventure.

Rich with historical detail the al-Andalus series is set in 10th century Córdoba.

All books are on sale at amazon.co.uk in paperback and ebook, and other English bookshops in paperback.

Find out more about Joan Fallon’s books on www.joanfallon.co.uk

A NEW book by expat writer Joan Fallon (above) will make the perfect present this festive season.

Ring of Flames is the exciting conclusion to Fallon’s alAndalus trilogy which delves into Spain’s Moorish roots in Cordoba when the Omayyad dynasty was on the cusp of losing control.

It follows the emotional exploits of the same family from the first two books, The Shining City, and The Eye of the Falcon. However, this time the rightful caliph al-Hisham is under threat from pretenders who are seeking the throne for themselves so Ahmad and Rafiq must plan an escape in order to survive.

Fallon said: “I visited the archeological site of Madinat al-Zahra, just outside Córdoba and was fascinated by it. The more I read about the 10th century, the more I wanted to write about it.”

Her other works include Daughters of Spain, Santiago Tales, Spanish Lavender, Loving Harry, The Only Blue Door, Palette of Secrets, The Thread That Binds Us and The House on the Beach.

The book is available as a Kindle ebook and paperback.

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HUGE: Lithium mine in Chile

DATELINE: November 20th, 2067

N

o one saw this coming… In looking back 50 years to the year 2017, all the clues were there but like a complex jigsaw puzzle, few could see the entire picture. Who would have predicted in 2017, that over the next 50 years, we would see the geopolitical rise of Spain as a world leader? Who would have anticipated a golden age for Spain in energy-related technology? Who would have forecasted Spain as a global model as it pertains to international trade? How did this happen? Let’s try and make sense of it….

In 2017 Spain was still mired in the effects of La Crisis. Unemployment, especially for the young, remained among the highest in Europe. For three election cycles in a row, Spain could not form a consensus government as the country teetered between austerity and unacceptable debt limits. Inefficiency and corruption were found at all levels of governance. Furthermore, the voices calling for Catalonian independence AND those who opposed it, were loud and persistent. Lost in all this pessimism however was an already in-place, albeit inefficient and non-profitable, solar and wind infrastructure.

More about this later…

The situation in Europe was not much better. The full impact of Brexit in 2017 had not yet played out.

Over the next few decades, the European Union weakened to the point that by 2067, it existed in name only. It wasn’t just Brexit that was the beginning of the end for the EU----rather it was a ‘death by a thousand cuts’. The debt/austerity situation in Greece, the cultural divide between the northern and southern countries, immigration/assimilation issues, currency controls, historical grievances --- all

Like the Romans, Napoleon and Hitler, the EU had failed to create a unified Europe were part of the reason for the EU’s fragmentation.

Alas, like the Romans, Charlemagne, Napoleon and Hitler, the European Union had failed to create a unified Europe.

All was not lost however. Britain, post Brexit, gradually entered a trading bloc of the English -speaking nations of Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand. The union known as Anglosphere, collectively engaged in international trade through a series of free-trade agreements whereby tariff restrictions were reduced and/or eliminated. Interestingly, the historical enemies of France and Germany attempted a similar trading union to prop up what was left of the EU. Meanwhile, Spain formed an economic association with its former South American colonies.

This trading bloc, known as Hispanidad, became the economic and technological center-of-gravity in international leadership. Spain’s return as a world leader leader in geopolitical realities was primarily due to (5) reasons; Technological innovation in energy, the success of Hispanidad, well-placed economic institutions, profitable natural resource allocation, and extremely good luck.

In 2017, fossil fuels still dominated energy consumption worldwide. Over the next few decades this dynamic began to change. The use of hydrocarbons became less attractive as fears of global warming and climate change intensified. The internal combustion engine for example, was slowly replaced by battery power. Volvo announced (in 2017) that by 2019 their product line would be exclusively electric cars. The United Kingdom, Norway and France

<

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November 8th - November 21st 2017 November 8th - November 21st 2017

Back & Future

The year is 2067 and Spain has returned to superpower status

GOLDEN AGE: Spain’s Hasburgs ruled the country in the 1500s, its most powerful period

FUTURE: A solar farm in the Indian state of Tamil

Into the Crystal Ball It has been said that ‘those who live by the crystal ball soon learn to eat shattered glass’. That may be true as making intuitions into the future is never a certainty. It has also been said that the only way to predict the future is to have the power to shape the future. If this is true Spain could indeed inherit a bright future. Admittedly, much of the preceding is pure conjecture but some of the preceding is also factual. The demise of the internal combustion engine seems imminent as Volvo, the U.K., Norway and France have indeed made provisions for the exclusive use of electric vehicles.

Tesla Inc., an American energy-storage investment firm, has begun spending billions on giga-

factories dedicated to the research, development and mass production of lithium -ion battery production. Tesla has proposed the building of gigafactories in Europe with Paterna (Valencia) Spain as a strong candidate. The concept of an Englishspeaking trading union is not new. Anglosphere, where the Englishspeaking countries share a common heritage in language, history, law, democratic institutions and now trade, was the very expression of Winston Churchill’s project; History of the English- Speaking Peoples. Likewise, the concept of Hispanidad traces its roots back to the 16th century when his-

all pledged to ban all internal combustion engines by 2040. But in 2017 battery power had severe limitations; driving range was limited, the shelf-life of batteries was short-lived and the cost to produce

torians viewed the Spanish American territories not as colonies but rather extensions of Spain.

Lithium- ion batteries are viewed by investors as the logical alternative to the internal combustion engine and high-quality reserves are found in South America where Spain

does indeed have inplace financial influence.

Does Spain, in 2017 have the pragmatism to shape the future?

As Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The future depends on what you do today and the best way to predict the future is to create it.”

them en- masse was prohibitive. Furthermore, the production and disposal of storage batteries required huge amounts of electricity and had negative environmental impacts. In the decades follow-

ing 2017, this dynamic began to change due to a wave of innovation in battery technology. Lithium-ion batteries--- those that store the energy that powers mobile phones, electric cars and electricity grids--improved exponentially. Lithium became a coveted commodity and, as fate would have it, most of the world’s proven reserves were found in the ‘lithium triangle”’of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia---all active trading members of Hispanidad. By 2067, lithium technology had improved to the point where ‘gigafactories’ or large battery production facilities simultaneously reduced the cost of battery production tenfold and greatly improved the capacity and design of battery power packs. In the decades post 2017, the next generation of battery technology doubled and tripled battery capacity, reduced costs by 40-50% and extended the life of batteries tenfold. By 2067 battery technology not only changed the auto industry but batteries could now be paired with existing solar and wind technologies…industries already well positioned in Spain circa 2017.

The foray into lithium extraction however required huge amounts of cash-infusions, both through bank loans and private investment. Spain was well positioned here as well. In banking, Banco Santander (founded in 1857) and La Caixa (founded 1844), had long established ties in the Americas.

They used their scale and influence to make big (and profitable) investments in lithium mining. Linguistic and cultural affinities attracted Spanish and Latin American investors as businesses broadened their horizons on both sides of the Atlantic. But when the Bank of Spain--- the country’s national reserve bank— and Bancomext, Mexico’s largest export credit agency both made huge investments in lithium extraction, it signaled to the world that Hispanidad had arrived as the world’s model in trade and international commerce.

Indeed, Spain and Hispanidad was the recipient of some very good fortune. In a perfect storm of technological innovation and an already in-place infrastructure (albeit somewhat primitive in 2017), Spain could pair large scale energy storage with their existing solar and wind industries. Even on windless days wind turbines could now produce electricity via large scale battery storage. The same applied to cloudy conditions and the ability of solar farms to generate electricity. The world watched as Spain led the way in lithium/battery technology becoming an integral part of a low emissions future.

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Letter

of the

week

Dear Editor

Regarding the sad case of Mrs Barnet who was sold a fake driving licence by David Klein.

Only authorised government or approved motoring organisations can issue driving licences, for example, in Spain, Trafico and in the U K, the DVLA or VOSA. Klein insists he must be speaking the truth (or is he, if he will not supply the OP with a copy of the Court judgement?) that he was charged with the criminal offence of selling driving licences but the Malaga Court found him not guilty.

The licence is not acceptable on its Fakin’ it own as it must ALWAYS be accompanied by the LEGAL original driving licence.

50% It is an EU Law SALE the Spanish law that when spawns that an EU citizen moves to another EU State to live there, they must within two years change their original driving licence to their new country of residence.

I wish Mrs Barnet the best but I am of the opinion that she will not get the €500 fine written off but she does have a good case to reclaim the lost funds from David Klein.

Voted BEST

expat paper in Spain

Mijas Costa

8 See page xx

Expats can stay!

FREE

October 25th - November 7th 2017 Vol. 11 Issue 277 www.theolivepress.es

MAFIA Russians are the new costa crime kings

1 11:31 MIJAS_COSTA.indd 23/02/2017 679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_

SEE MORE P 7

SPAIN’s foreign minister Alfonso Dastis has said that expats will be allowed to stay in Spain if no deal is reached between Britain and the EU. He said he would ensure that the lives of ordinary Britons in Spain are ‘not disrupted’ in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

Rejects

Dastis told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “I do hope that there will be a deal. If there is no deal we will make sure that the lives of ordinary people who are in Spain, the UK people, is not disrupted.

“Over 17 million Brits come to Spain every year and many of them live here or retire here and we want to keep it that way as much as possible.”

According to the Office of National Statistics Spain hosts the largest number of British citizens living inside the EU. Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has suggested holding a second Brexit referendum if Parliament rejects Theresa May’s deal with the EU. Khan said: “If Parliament decides to accept the deal that our Government makes then we are leaving the European Union.

“If Parliament rejects the deal made by our Government then that opens up a whole host of questions.”

Brexit negotiations have so far stymied progress to trade talks, despite Angela Merkel setting out a potential December start date.

THUMBS UP But do you know what it means in Spain?

SEE MORE P 14

Book with the coast’s most trusted transfer company

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NO YELLOW Gifting yellow is a no-go in Spain SEE MORE P 22

LE TT E R S

Our readers react to flights being scrapped from Norweigian Airlines airport following the collapse of Monarch and post-Brexit fears.

Triple threat Norwegian Airlines have in fact confirmed it is not only Birmingham but also Manchester and Edinburgh. No flights to Spain from any of these airports after the end of October.

Lindsay Quigley, Olvera

Opinion Page 6

buying ‘fake Women threatened with jail after expat driving licence’ from notorious column in a

cences are made in Taiwan, the writes a pet advice Olive Press has discovered.

But expat Barnett, who by her local newspaper and has a ra“It is a fantasy document,” statown admittance was a little na- dio show. ed a police spokesman, adding ive, has decided that enough is “It never occurred to me that the man had bought it off the enough and has now called in anyone here would sell me a internet for just €100. two lawyers to investigate the fake driving license,” she said.

The Olive Press investigated case.

“I contacted Klein after seeing the same issue three years ago “I want the police to change an advert in a local paper and after Spanish motoring writer their attitude and to investigate met him at a petrol station, Brian Deller had his website those that sell these licences. I near Benahavis and handed mysteriously hacked. don’t want it to happen to any- over €300 in cash after showThe site, www.spainvia.com one else,” she said. ing him my American passport which warned of the dangers of “If I had been told clearly that and license.

‘DOGMAN’: Klein fake licences - was remarkably I could not just use this licence “He looked successful and I would never have redirected to Klein’s then webto pay the fine or I would go to on its own wealthy. You tend to trust peosite for the Costa del Sol Action paid so much.” jail. the legality of ple like that.”

Group. later Bar“They weren’t interested who As well as probe all she hopes to get Two weeks Conveniently, had sold it to me. They just the licences, from Klein, who nett, who has two mentions of the lia full refund wanted my money.” daughters, received the cence issue were licence (right), which erased from the weblooks unprofessional site. and badly printed.

We reported that It has validated by the Klein had sold numer‘O&E Auto Club Assoous permits – via clasciation’, an organisasified adverts with his The Olive Press tion that apparently mobile phone number does NOT exist. judges Malaga’s – for many years.

The language is strange and at most exclusive When contacted by a prospecthe bottom it states: “We are a tive client as part of the invesplace to stay SEE private organization not affilitigation, Klein did indeed offer or Nations United the with ated PAGE 32 a ‘10-year licence’ for €300, but any other quasi government oradmitted it was ‘risky’. ganization.”

“I can get you an international The licence is fake, as police in licence that will last for 10 Alicante confirmed after conyears, but it is a risk (to use it in victing a driver with a license Spain),” he told our journalist. from the SAME organisation Continues on Page 4 in 2013.

The vast majority of these li-

The court that’s now a hotel

Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

FLIGHT FIASCO

ANGRY: With ID

EXCLUSIVE

By Jed Neill

A PENSIONER is taking legal advice after being fined for using a ‘bogus’ international driving licence bought from a wellknown expat businessman.

American Andrea Barnett, 60, is demanding a refund from David ‘the Dogman’ Klein, after he sold her the ‘suspiciouslooking’ document for €300.

The Marbella-based motherof-two, from Illinois, is furious after police told her the licence wasn’t legal, and fined her €500.

“They were completely certain that it was not real,” she told the Olive Press. “They told me it was dodgy, fake and I needed

November 8th - November 21st 2017

Volatile market

Powerful position The airlines seem to be able to cancel flights when they want to, and then we hear about whispers of others airlines about to go bust or that after Brexit you’ll be lucky to get a flight to any part of Europe. It’s utterly ridiculous!

The airlines must do more to convince the public that their flights will actually take off.

Robert B Johnston, Benidorm

routes! Too many of their Gatwick flights to Spain are not direct, after hours of searching we only found one.

Chris Jopp, Dartford

Domino effect It's only Norwegian Airlines from Birmingham! But this could be the start of the domino chain and others could soon follow which means the prices will eventually go up!!

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‘Coup d’etat’ outrage

Protest

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy invoked Article 155 on Saturday, vowing to remove Puigdemont and call for new regional elections.

Puigdemont in turn accused Rajoy’s government of attempting to ‘destroy our autonomous government, our democracy’.

Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis meanwhile denied a claim by Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell that the measures were ‘a de facto coup d’etat’.

“If anyone has attempted a coup, it is the Catalan government," he said.

The case continues to hot up, with Catalans beginning to withdraw money from leading banks Sabadell and Caixa in protest of them moving their headquarters out of the region.

Some people withdrew €155 in protest at Madrid’s triggering of Article 155.

Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence on October 10, but offered to suspend the call for two months to allow dialogue with Madrid. This was rejected

See Smokescreen, page 6

Wife beater shame

HAUNTED Spots in Spain SEE MORE P 11

SEE MORE P 4

SEE MORE P 3

By Joe Duggan

NO YELLOW Why gifting yellow is a no-go in Spain SEE MORE P 14

GIVE US OUR RIGHTS!

British expats still fearful of being allowed to stay in Spain despite offer from government

By Joe Duggan

ANXIOUS expats are urging legal action to ensure they can stay in Spain post-Brexit.

It comes after Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis said British citizens would be welcome to stay in the event of a ‘no-deal’ with Europe.

Dastis pointed out that 17 million Brits visit the country each year, saying ‘many of them live here or retire here and we want to keep it that way’.

But in the event of a no-deal, the loss of existing rights such as healthcare could make living in Spain impractical, claim campaigners.

“Dastis' comments are welcome but don't resolve the main issues concerning British citizens.

“Our concerns relate to whether circumstances will allow us to stay, even if we have permission from the Spanish government."

She added: “If our rights and freedoms as EU citizens are not protected, then the Spanish authorities allowing us to stay will not be enough on its own."

It comes after fears mounted that Britain will crash out of the EU without a final Brexit deal, with Theresa May admitting the Brussels negotiations have hit ‘difficulty’.

Already some long-term expats have started the process of applying for Spanish citizenship with many more

Threat

"The threat to our rights and freedoms that Brexit represents causes us great anxiety - especially if no deal can be reached,” insisted Sue Wil15:36 16/06/2017 1 Untitled-1.pdf of expat group son, Chair DEMANDING ASSURANCE: Expats want new laws Bremain in Spain this week. protecting them

e Lions Threpub

C

M

Y

THE Balearic Islands witCM ness the highest levels of violence against women MY across the country.

Almost 27 out of every CY 10,000 women reported a violent act against them CMY during the second quarter of 2017 compared to K the national average of 17.

Balearic courts received 1,390 allegations of gendurder-based violence ing the period.

Dave Marshall, Cómpeta

MUTANT Palma’s biggest ever turtle is saved

HOLLYWOOD Anne Hathaway films & dines on the island

CATALUNYA could make a unilateral declaration of independence this week as Spain denies carrying out a ‘coup d’etat’ on the region.

A campaign of civil disobedience is now being threatened by two radical parties, after Madrid imposed direct rule.

Catalunya’s parliament will meet today to discuss the next step, with Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont describing it as the ‘worst attack on Catalunya’ since Franco’s dictatorship.

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unwilling to give up their UK passports.

Renouncing British citizenship and getting a Spanish passport creates concerns over their future status when returning to the UK. “If a British person becomes a Spanish citizen, what happens if they later return to care for an elderly parent?

Would they be just another unwelcome European citizen?" Wilson asked.

Change

Dual nationality for Spanish-based Brits is currently not allowed by Madrid, with Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett leading a campaign to change the current law.

Bremain in Spain member Margaret Hales MBE, 70, called on the Spanish government to alter its current stance.

"I would ask Rajoy to pledge a change in law so that British people who wish to apply for Spanish nationality could continue to hold their she nationality,” British said.

Opinion Page 6

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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER 25 October

Brian Deller, Motoring in Spain.

Fewer people are flying abroad because of the falling pound, so it isn’t surprising that airlines are trimming the fat. Looks like our seaside resorts will be having a revival!

Malcolm Franke, Madrid

www.gibraltarolivepress.com

International E x p e r i e n c e appeal counts Shame on them for not realising people in the rest of the UK want to fly from local airports and not have to travel elsewhere! I'm not sure their flights to America are sustainable either and think they are taking a chance on cutting UK

I worked at Gatwick Airport for 25 years servicing airlines from all over the world, they will have it all sorted well before Brexit.

Brian Barnard, Coín

The Rock’s original community newspaper

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Stand off THE Belgian authorities have up to two weeks to decide if they are to extradite Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to Spain.

A judge released the acting president on bail after he handed himself in to police when a European arrest warrant had been issued.

He and four other politicians are accused over charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust.

Following a long 10-hour Sunday court ruling he was not deemed a flight risk and will continue to live in Brussels for now.

Fears

Given the whole extradition process can take up to 60 days, it means he may have to run his entire election campaign for the Catalan European Democratic Party from Belgium.

HIs party wants him to fight for continued leadership of the regional parliament in the December 21 elections.

Puigdemont has consistently said he refuses to return to Spain because he fears he will not get a fair trial and under the current charges he could face up to 30 years in jail.

Plans for a general strike in Catalunya are being drawn up for this week, while a mass protest is being planned for next Monday.

Fishermen demand urgent action after continual incursions into Gib water by Spanish fishing vessels

NET-MARE! STAND-OFF: Police intercept a Spanish boat, while (right) a map

FURIOUS Gibraltarians are demanding stronger action as Spanish fishing boats continue to abuse the Rock’s territorial waters on ‘a daily’ basis’.

An investigation by the Gibraltar Olive Press has discovered that one boat, the Virgen Carmen I, entered Gibraltarian waters at least seven times last month alone.

According to the 1958 Geneva Convention on territorial waters this activity is firmly forbid-

den, with a three mile coastal zone around Gibraltar clearly under British sovereignty.

EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Wallen

Local fishermen argue that Spain has a more than ample 4,964km coastline and boats like the Virgen Carmen are clearly flaunting the rules to antagonise Gibraltarian fishermen The boat was spotted fishing on October 4, 5, 9, 11, 17, 19 and 24 off Eastside, but also at Western

Mole.

Many other Spanish vessels have also been spotted operating illegally in Gibraltarian wa-

ters in October, including the Nuevo Leon.

A former RGP policeman Michael Sanchez fears that a ‘dangerous standoff’ is imminent and could lead to a serious incident.

“Things could get heated quickly and people could get injured,” said Sanchez, who now monitors the movements of ships in Gibraltarian waters.

He claims the slightest confrontation could lead to unwanted heightened political tension between the two territories.

Another maritime source con-

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shows one such incursion

firmed to the Olive Press there away with a slap on the wrist. was currently a ‘very danger“The most I have seen is our poous’ climate over fishing rights. lice going up to a boat and tell“Spain refuses to take her claim ing them to leave,” said Michael over our territorial waters to Sanchez. “But that has no effect the International Tribunal for as they just come back later. the Law of the Sea,” he said.

“Gibraltarian waters need to be “The country prefers to use protected. And it needs to be the Law of Force instead of the done now!”

Force of Law. This has led to very dangerous situaWhen contacted tions at sea.” the government The illegal floatclaimed it was doing nets used ing all it could to by the Virgen stop the incurCarmen I and sions. other Span“The Enviish boats ronmental can damage Protection Gibraltarian Unit regularly fishing vessels challenges perand local habisons regardless tats. of nationality,” a Spanish boats do spokesman said. not follow Gibraltarian “Spanish fishing vesfishing quotas that ensure sels are regularly challenged sustainability. when in our waters, with a “Gibraltar has strict environnumber of cases currently bemental rules,” said the source ing processed. in the yachting industry, who “We cannot catch everyone asked to remain anonymous. who breaks our laws every time “Illegal Spanish fishing in Githey break them regardless of braltar is directly contributing their nationality and some, reto the continued depletion of grettably get away with it.” endangered species, such as In July last year, Spain arrested the white grouper and the Euthree Gibraltarian fishermen ropean eel.” accused of fishing in their local Much of the fury from local waters, leading to mass profishermen stems from being tests on the Rock. fined for fishing illegally while Spanish fishermen seem to get Opinion Page 6

In Gibraltar

VALLI SEASONS ards w A r o j 57 Ma f o R E “ W I N N Wo r l d w i d e ! ”

1

Pageant Power, see Page 6 PUIGDEMONT: On bail

MAYFAIR ONMAIN

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

November Miss Teen 8th - November 21st 2017 Gibraltar, Mrs Wedding Dress and Mrs Europe.

Whatever next in the long-running saga of Gibraltar’s pageant obsession?

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After researching numerous potential venues we have decided to mount our next event at the magnificent Hotel IPV Palace fronting the 340 just outside Fuengirola next to Fuengirola Castle. This upmarket hotel and spa has all the comforts, facilities and services demanded by discerning visitors, as well as first-class restaurants, bars and numerous areas for formal and informal business discussions away from the hurly-burly of the expo hall.

The majority of the stand space has been reserved by a mix of concerns from numerous sectors, including specialists in insurance, finance, health and well-being , currency exchange, eye health, hearing, building services, interiors, hospitality, tourism, arts and much more. These companies will be there to offer advise and support to all the Ex Pat communities living up and down the coast.

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A Vol. 11

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ll about

Issue 278

November 8th - November 21st 2017

errania de Ronda

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November 8th - November 21st 2017

17 17

www.unicasaronda.com info@unicasaronda.com 952 877 744

History comes knocking

TIMELESS: Horse takes a drink at Almocobar gate and (right) Moorish tower

Picture by Jed Neill

Ronda is a cobbled gem where visitors are quickly transported back in time, writes Jed Neill

I DETAIL: Ronda’s historic doorways and arches are centuries old

www.facebook.com/frikingronda

F you were planning for a tour guide but forgot to book in advance... don’t worry, just follow your feet and Ronda will do the rest.

Perched on an inland plateau driven out of the earth like an offering to God, it isn’t hard to see why the historic gem is the gift that keeps on giving.

Crammed full of historic buildings, churches and museums, despite what Ernest Heming-

way once claimed (that it was a town to merely spend a romantic weekend in bed), there is so much to see and do in Ronda.

However, at 800 metres high, and totally encircled by mountains, it’s not for the faint-hearted so get prepared to do some serious walking.

My tip is to start at the bottom, where you will Continues on Page 18

S

Awww.theolivepress.es

November 8th - November 21st 2017

errania de Ronda

Picture by Geoff Scott Simpson

ll about

Picture by Jon Clarke

18 18

timeless gem BEAUTY: Old mosque, new of the old town, a typical restaurant and famous bridge From Page 17

find few tourists and where, best of all, you can easily park your car.

Down near the Arabic Baths in the Ocho Canos district you will find an old, atmospheric part of town where the ancient weary travellers usually first arrived in Ronda.

Built in the 13th and 14th centuries they’re the best preserved baths in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula.

The steam baths were an obligatory firstport-of-call for all ‘outsiders’ to freshen up before finding a place to stay.

Sadly, the taps have been turned off but the horseshoe arches are a great reminder of the influence and cultural importance the Moors had here.

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This was, after all, the most westerly outpost of the Kingdom of Granada the last bastion of the Moorish empire in Spain, holding out against the ever-probing Christian armies until just six years before the final fall of Granada in 1492.

“The baths mark the beginning of so much in Ronda,” explains Juan Francisco, 31, who has worked at the baths for 14 years.

He is currently training to be a tour guide in the town and claims it is ‘not dissimilar’ to doing the ‘knowledge’ for cab drivers in London, taking two years to complete with an enormous amount to learn.

From here, Moorish visitors would have walked up alongside the ancient city walls to the thenheavily guarded Archway of Philip V, known as The Moors Armchair.

It is the main entrance into the old city and was rebuilt in 1742.

It is a must to see before trudging up the renaissance steps to the charming Casa del Rey Moro - and its impressive mine - which was visited by Michelle Obama and her entourage three years ago.

From here, you can easily get lost in the old town of Ronda, which is a maze of cobbled streets and passageways largely cut off to traffic.

Generally keep heading uphill and you will be well as recalling the horrific (most insist inventon track for the main attraction.

The Puente Nuevo is Ronda’s most recogni- ed) incident in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls where Franco’s sable and spectacular sight, nationalists are thrown into the separating both the old and new ravine to their death during the towns. This is certainly the most famous bridge in Spain and The bridge adopts Civil War. The best place to see the probably among the best known human features bridge in all its glory is from around the world. the Arco del Cristo, a short, but Taking 34 years and a shockwith drooping steep walk down the hillside toing 50 deaths (more than the eyes and a long wards some more ancient hisEmpire State Building and the toric ramparts of the old town.

Eiffel Tower) to build, this 390face From here the bridge adopts foot feat of engineering really is human characteristics with remarkable. And all the more so drooping eyes and a long face, with its surrounding countryside almost as if it is despairing at the lines of tourand adjacent buildings.

Looking down you certainly feel the full force of ists barging against each other along the top. what an incredible engineering feat this was as Back on the main thoroughfare and the town’s neo-classical architecture unfurls from Plaza Espana up towards its marvellous bullring.

Sauntering along Virgen de la Paz the buildings sag onto the road with a big bellyful of windows and latticed shutters while neighbouring shops lean into one another as if they were commenting on what ever stray traveller happens to be walking past.

Families, friends and tourists form huddles in the alleys and streets nearby browsing the shops or filling up in a huge range of largely average restaurants - see our best professional picks later in this supplement.

The town’s main hub is Calle La Bola (or Espinel depending on its mood) a long pedestrianised street full of shops and with its bustling Plaza del Socorro square a little way up.

Here you will find a stunning church and the ancient ‘casino’ where the father of Andalucian independence Blas Infante demanded the region be self autonomous in 1918. There is a statue of Blas outside.

At the tourist information centre, multi-lingual Alicia Lopez says tourists simply do not spend enough time in Ronda. Although that is changing as more and more tourists do stay for at least one night.

“Give Ronda more time,” she pleads, “at least VISTA: Across the amazing tajo landscape two or three days because if you’re here for

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November 8th - November 21st 2017

19 19

Picture by Jed Neill

Picture by Geoff Scott Simpson

November 8th - November 21st 2017

SITES: Bullring during the annual Goyesca fight, Palacio Mondragon, Almocobar gate and local witches

Irish novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941) “Ronda with the old windows of the houses, the eyes which spy out hidden behind the latticework so that their lover might kiss the iron bars.”

Trailblazers

The word on the street from some of Ronda’s famous visitors…

German poet Rainer

Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) “It is here, in Ronda, in the delicate penumbra of blindness, a concave silence of patios, leisure of the jasmine and the light sound of water, which summoned up memories of deserts.” one day you’ll struggle to see everything.”

At the tourist office you can buy a special €8 ticket giving you access to the Palacio de Mondragon, the Museo del Bandolero, the Arab Baths and the Puento Nuevo museum, which is excellent value.

The first three though are an absolute must and will keep you occupied for hours.

Let’s also not forget the largest and oldest bullring in Spain - the beating heart of Ronda.

A stunning structure, beautifully maintained with some fabulous Goya etchings in a side building, it is yet another must-visit spot.

Legend has it that when a nobleman fell from his horse and risked being gored to death,

Maria Rilke (18751926) “The spectacle of this city, sitting on the bulk of two rocks rent asunder by a pickaxe and separated by the narrow, deep gorge of the river, corresponds very well to the image of that city revealed in

Picture by Jon Clarke

Syrian prince Abu’l-Fida (1273-1331) “Elegant and lofty city in which the clouds serve as a turban and its towers as a sword belt”

American author Orson Welles (1915-1985) “A man is not from where he is born, but where he chooses to die.”

without hesitation local hero Francisco Rome- over. ro (b 1698) leapt into the ring and distracted The bullring is encircled by roads named after the bull by waving his hat, and two of the 20th century’s most then killing it. famous icons - Ernest HemingHalf a century later, Romero’s way and Orson Welles, who Orson grandson Pedro (who has a both spent considerable time Welles spent statue outside the bullring) in the town, with the latter beinvented the modern bullfight considerable time ing buried here, his ashes scatusing the muleta - a red cape tered in a well at a bullfighter’s used to attract the bull’s attenestate near the town. in town and is tion.

Further up Virgen de la Paz you buried here September’s annual Goyesca reach the Alameda del Tajo, bullfight in 18th century cosa beautiful tree-lined promtume pays tribute to Ronda’s enade, which is the perfect rich matador history and is famous the world place to see out west over the Tajo gorge to-

wards the Sierra de Grazalema in the distance.

If time is no issue I would recommend the Museum of Ronda in the old town, which is a firm reminder of the clash between the towns Moorish roots and it’s Catholic architects. And there is, quite simply, so much more to see if you have the time.

And nearby are a dozen amazing towns and villages to keep you occupied for easily a week.

‘The whole city and its surroundings are a romantic set,’ Hemingway once wrote and it is true that Ronda is a place in which nature and culture unite to exhibit the best of both worlds.

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Battle stations It’s the moment Napoleon’s unpopular army is finally sent into retreat by a legion of local townsfolk. Pitchforks, muskets and all... And Ronda Romantica in spring is a must-visit event

Picture by Jon Clarke

SNAPPER: Geoff Simpson

An eye for the arts HE has the quintessential photographers eye, whether it is capturing Ronda’s tajo at dawn or getting up close and personal with Spain’s rarest wild animal the lynx.

Now visual artist Geoff Scott-Simpson has opened an eponymous gallery in Ronda showing off all his fabulous works.

Simpson, who worked as a gem valuer for the likes of Cartier, De Beers and Sotheby’s, has very much returned to his first love - nature.

His skill behind the camera has led to some phenomenal encounters from stag fights to thunderstorms.

The career change led Simpson to collaborate with wild life hero Sir David Attenborough to find some of Britain’s most beauti-

ful landscapes.

His photos truly make you believe you were there yourself, maximising the effect of light to reveal the landscape’s ethereal qualities.

The artwork is available in glass acrylic or metallic mediums as well as museumquality paper.

For those who would like to improve their photography, Simpson also offers individual and group workshops including a private tour to capture the Iberian lynx in Andújar.

The workshops cater for all sorts of levels from beginners looking for tips to international photographers looking for an edge.

Visit www.geoffscottsimpson.com

Plucking amazing!

TALENT: Ronda guitarist gives fascinating nightly shows explaining the different Spanish instruments

YOU can certainly hear the influence of Spanish guitar just wondering the streets of atmospheric Ronda.

The air is frequently thick with the pleading sound of authentic Spanish guitar and it is no surprise to learn that a few famous flamenco rhythms come from the city, while one local musician Vicente Espinel apparently invented the first five-string guitar.

“There’s no institution that validates the quality of music played on the street. It’s just a feeling of freedom,”explains guitarist Paco Seco, who moved to the town with his English wife Lucy a few years ago.

Originally from Sevilla, the internationally-acclaimed musician has toured the world with his unique fusion of classical and flamenco guitar.

The father-of-three has his own band and with his wife launched the successful Ronda Guitar Festival in 2016, bringing in musicians from as far and wide as Italy and now Costa Rica.

The pair are doing a great job for the town, showing off an amazing collection of instruments, mostly guitars of course, plus a nice mix of CDs and other excellent wares at their centre on Calle Padre Mariano Soubiron.

They also have a nightly live session from 7pm, which is anything but your cliche touristic flamenco event. During the hour-long show Paco cleverly explains the history of Spanish guitar, playing up to

half a dozen different instruments and in numerous styles.

His own compositions - a kind of flamenco fusion - are inspired and he could easily sit alongside the likes of Andres Segovia or Paco de Lucia when it comes to fast-moving fret work. www.rondaguitarhouse.com

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Left turn to success

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Pictures by Jon Clarke

HE People's Republic of Arriate is an ‘island’ in the Ronda Mountains.

Not an island in the classical sense of the word, but an eight-and-a-half square kilometers island entirely surrounded by Ronda, from whom it wrestled control some 400 years ago.

Fiercely independent of its pico, or snobbish, neighbours, the district – the smallest in Malaga province - has been staunchly left wing since the death of dictator Franco in 1975.

Ruled by either the PSOE or the IU (formerly the Communist party) for nearly four decades, fortunately this is what one might call ‘Communist Light’, and has more to do with a shared sense of fun than of the teachings of Chairman Mao. This might perhaps explain, why – despite its apparent hard left leanings - the town has some of the best known Easter parades in the whole of Andalucia.

Highly competitive and reaching fever pitch around Good Friday, practically every family has a member in one parade or another.

Indeed, such is the clamour to be involved, the brotherhoods even hold lotteries for the right to carry the floats (or tronos) of Jesus and Mary.

“It has always seemed a real contradiction to me,” says Jose Antonio Coca, a fitness instructor, who grew up in the town. “The processions are taken very seriously and

OUTDOOR VIBES: Visitors to the Fiesta en el Aire festival

Earthy, forward-thinking and fiercely left wing, Arriate is the perfect foil to the grandeur of Ronda, writes Jon Clarke

they are very moving, but it is a simple fact that most of those involved hardly ever go to church and so it is really just down to the tradition.”

Either way, Arriate has a distinctly warm and friendly feel to it and, on the whole, its people look after each other in a sort of anarchic, commune-type way.

In 1936, the town’s defence committee was run by anarchists It is no surprise to learn then, that in the run up to the civil war in 1936, the town's defence committee was run by anarchists, who with the CNT had the strongest trade union in the area.

Arriate also has the curious distinction of

being, aside from Ronda, the only town of the Serrania de Ronda to have grown substantially over the last decade.

While most of the dozens of towns and villages have generally shrunk in size, hemorrhaging people to the larger cities, Arriate has actually increased to its current figure of nearly 5,000.

Much to do with its near proximity to Ronda - coupled with more reasonable prices – the town has grown well.

“It is no surprise with the town being easily one of the most friendly in Malaga province,” explains Carmeli Gamarro, whose family firm Melgar have been curing and salting meat for over three generations.

Her son currently runs the show.

“The Arriatenos are worldly people, who have travelled all around the world to work,” she continues. “It makes them open and friendly.”

This was certainly the case as many of them had to emigrate to Switzerland, France and Germany to work in the tough impoverished years of the 1960s and 1970s.

These days, while a new tranche of young-

On top of the World!

Arriadh Hotel is situated in the beautiful ‘Serranía de Ronda’, just a 10 minute drive from Ronda’s city centre. The village Arriate, undiscovered by mass tourism, is within walking distance and offers a wide variety of restaurants and tapas bars.

Arriadh Hotel is the perfect ‘home away from home’ to rediscover Ronda and the area.

Or just to relax and take in the breath taking views and sunsets from one of the terraces, the garden, the swimming pool or your own balcony. If you want to stay in, don’t worry. Your hosts John and Wilbert always have a variety of tapas available and on request they will prepare a lovely dinner.

Tel.: +34 952 11 43 70

Arriadh Hotel, Los Cañalillos, Ronda, Andalucia.

www.arriadhhotel.com

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Greengrocer Pedro is typical of the Arriate stock. A staunch supporter of old fashioned village life, he spends most weekends enjoying the local countryside.

A keen hiker, he is forever in training for this or that, the highlight of his year being the annual 101km walk organised by nearby Ronda’s famous Foreign Legion.

“It is the best thing about living in a country village like this,” he explains.

Indeed, the countryside surrounding Arriate – meaning ‘vegetable garden’ from the Arabic word Arriadh – is full of lovely walks.

The best goes up what is known as the valley of the Molino Canto to the source of Arriate's river GuadalGRAFTER: Pedro Montesino cobacin. sters is being forced to go abroad to hunt again for A shady well-signposted circular stroll through a priswork, many of the original emigrants are back and tine valley, full of ancient cave houses, ruined mills you can’t help but notice the number of happy-look- and an abundance of nature, you can even swim in ing pensioners hanging around watching the day go the cooling river in summer.

And yet there is more. For Arriate can also call itself by.

One place, Bar La Albarra is so famous for these something of a musical town, one of the best in old boys that a Dutch photographer put together an Andalucia, with two town bands and plenty of local exhibition based entirely around its clientele. Sitting groups. down to play cards over an 80-centime brandy, the It is a tradition that can be traced back even before the origins of the town, when a mythical group of old boys certainly look contented with the world.

Another perfect snapshot of the town is at Pedro country musicians roamed the area playing music Montesino’s greengrocer, which is the heart of lo- in the dead of night.

Known as La Aurora de Arriate, the group still keeps cal life and where a queue frequently snakes up the tradition playing every Sunday morning around the shop. between the hours of 4am and 6am.

It is here that his faithful cusWith origins from Arabic times in the tomers patiently wait their 13th century, the coplas, or loturn, catching up on goscal songs, have been passed sip and barracking down from generation to Pedro, who is never generation and became short of a bit of famous when in 1973 banter himself. the British National A hard-working Geographic Society man, he is up recorded them for an with the lark album on Spanish to source cultural music. his great A capacity for music selection is all too obvious of produce with a visit to the and spends incredible Los Cairemuch of his les bar on the high af ternoon street. delivering it There are few suraround the prises in the Serrania nearby area. as pleasant as walking “And as long as through the anonymous the locals keep frosted glass doors on a consupporting our local cert night in winter, when it will shops and demanding be full of hundreds of music fans good quality goods then I of all ages, colours and styles. will continue finding them,” Much to do with the brothers Roberto he says. and Monolo Rivera, the surprise is more Luckily the town has managed to keep SECRET WALK: the better, if you can persuade them to its local shops. There are only two small One of the best take you out back. If so, you will realise supermarkets and attempts to open a Dia in the town were thankfully shelved. walks is along Mo- that the bar you are standing in is just one small corner of what was once – since the For now. lino Canto valley 1940s - Arriate's Cine Ideal. And what a Almost every house on the main street gem it is. has a shop on its ground floor. Many of them have no signs, but just a main door. Some are Still standing today, with its main screen and stage like caves, stretching back almost 50 metres, and not to mention 350 original wood and leather seats shopping around, you can find some of the best bought from Cine Paris in Malaga in the 1950s best of all are the stunning brightly-coloured hydrauquality meat and vegetables in Malaga province.

Tucked away in the town's fabric are a number of lic tiles that line the entrance. other interesting sites. Best are some of the ‘secret’ “Our father was a real film fanatic,” says Monolo. meat factories that are dotted around. One of these “This was one of the most popular cinemas in the in the charming pedestrianised Calle Callejuela has Serrania. been open as a shop since 1900, a fact proven by “People came for miles around despite the movthe number carved into its pretty wrought iron door- ies being heavily censored by the local priest, who way. The factory is at the back for anyone interested would demand cuts all over the place.”

Running until 1988, when due to dwindling audiin visiting. ences part of it had to be converted into a flamenco venue, the brothers have kept it intact.

“This is our legacy and part of our town's key history,” says Roberto. “I grew up watching Cinema Paradiso and always dreamt of one day opening the cinema up again. One day we hope to be able to find the funding.”

With a new tranche of talented, hard-working expats moving in, opening hotels and restaurants, it could well be Arriate’s decade.

The emphasis is on sustainability, organic agriculture and homegrown produce.

Its annual Fiesta en el Aire every October epitomizes this mix.

A three day festival which launched nearly a decade ago, it promotes the best of Andalucia’s natural produce and music and already gets nearly 20,000 visitors over the weekend.

Thinking small, planning local, growing your own…It could be a microcosm of what Andalucia should really be aiming for in years to come.

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Secret Serrania

From bandit hideouts to Roman wine cellars, there is so much to see and do close to Ronda, writes Jon Clarke

R

ONDA is surrounded by two natural parks, the Sierra de las Nieves and the Sierra de Grazalema, not to mention its very own breathtaking Serrania.

These surrounding hills are creaking with won-

derful walks and pretty towns and villages to visit, all easy to reach in the car and most with their own excellent places to stay and eat.

Here are a few top picks for a trip out of Ronda.

Roman Ronda

A 15-minute drive from Ronda takes you to the ancient city of Acinipo, where the Romans built their ancient town. The highest hill for miles around, it still has much evidence of their skills with a large part of its amphitheatre intact and a lot more to look at, not to mention the views. The visitor centre is only open for the morning, but one can always climb up to the amphitheatre out of hours.

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Cavemen colony

Ban

The historic Roman town of Setenil de las Bodegas is a real eye opener and amazing for photography. Nestled in the rolling landscape, 20 minutes out of Ronda, it was built around a series of caves, which served to keep the wines of the Romans cool in summer, hence its name. It is best to leave your car outside the town, wander up to the old fortress before heading down to the famous overhanging cave for a fine tapas lunch.

The S for ba of Ben ly whe

Prehistory kept alive For anyone wanting an idea of what life was like in Ronda 5,000 years ago, head to Algaba, a short drive out of Ronda. This wonderful estate has recreated a prehistoric village showing clearly how the area’s forefathers lived, how they ground their bread, decorated their homes and what they did with their dead. There are also lots of rare breeds of cows and goats and you can even stay in the nearby finca if you fancy it. Visit www.algabaronda.com

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The ride of your life

The Serrania de Ronda is the definitive place to head off on a cycling tour, writes Jon Clarke

Preaching the blues

THRILLING: River cycle and (right) the Experience team

While it’s about as stunning as any of the pretty villages around Ronda, there is one big difference with Juzcar… it’s blue. This is thanks to the Smurf movie that in 2011 decided to use the tiny village as the mythical base of the tiny creatures. It has been used a handful of times since and voted to stay blue some years back. But apart from the many attractions for kids, based around the movie, it is also the perfect place for a walk and to see Griffon vultures and crag martins.

Time. 2 hrs 30 mins The walk starts from the car park just past KM12 on the Zahara to Grazalema road.

Leaving the car park, the path is largely flat and gentle and remains that way until you reach the griffon vulture colony. From here choughs, blue rock thrush, Sardinian warblers, crag martins and the occasional shorttoed eagle can be spotted.

Winding down a steep but welldefined path, steps have been put in place with hand-railings in a few particularly steep areas.

Once you reach the bottom, the floor is made up of huge boulders gradually diminishing in size as you walk northwards towards the impressive cave system.

After taking in the cave it is back the way you came. This can be particularly gruelling on weary legs and it is advisable not to do so in midday summer heat.

Serrania was once a major stronghold andoleros (bandits) and the tiny towns naojan and Montejaque were famousere many holed up. But there is much more, such as the Cueva de la Pileta, near Montejaque (right), which has the oldest cave paintings in Spain, while Benaojan is the centre of the ham and sausage industry. There is also a fabulous walk from Benaojan Estacion down the river to Jimera de Libar, from where you can get the train back. At each end is a great lunch spot, with hotel Molino del Santo, when open in season, the obvious pick.

Fanning its fortune An hour walk out of Ronda will take you to one of the most stunning natural sites, the Cueva de Abanico (or the Fan Cave).

Near here celebrated flamenco star Estrella Morente, and husband bullfighter Javier Conde were planning to build a hotel and it is no surprise why. This is one of the most beautiful walks imaginable, with bits of Roman road to discover, ruined towers and then the amazing cave and river at the end.

Picture by Jon Clarke

ndit territory

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THE Serrania de Ronda is the definitive cyclists paradise.

With hundreds of miles of winding roads and dirt tracks, the area is perfect for both road and mountain bikers.

There are numerous circular routes to be taken, from short one-hour bimbles to whole-day, ten hour marathons.

Get off road and you could find yourself on an ancient Roman road to Grazalema or a sharp descent towards a ruined Moorish bath.

Various cyclists do the off road track all the way down to Marbella, while there is a spectacular all-day ride over the Sierra de las Nieves mountains to Tolox, where you can stay overnight in

a stunning mountain retreat Cerro de Hijar and come back the next day.

One of my favourite mountain bike rides heads up out of Ronda through the gently sloping Arriate valley towards the Puerto del Monte pass near La Cimada.

Here you enter Cadiz province heading down off-road at a rate of knots for two or three kilometres into historic Setenil de las Bodegas, where after lunch or morning coffee, you head along an ancient bandits’ track, called Contrabandistas, into the charming Ronda la Vieja valley and then round back to Ronda.

You could try doing tracks like this on your own, but better use one of the various professional cycling companies that organize trips around the Serrania and further afield.

One of the best established companies, Andalucian Cycling Experience have been guiding riders through Ronda’s stunning scenery for 12 years.

Husband and wife team Ashley and Claire Higgins cater for all ranges of ability from their base in the picturesque village of Montecorto. And they sort everything out from the bikes to accommodation to food.

Kids

Deep throating

EWARE - you are about to enter Andalucia’s ‘Green throat’ and it’s not a walk for beginners.

If the name doesn’t put you off, the sign at the start of the Garganta Verde trek is ominous warning enough.

It tells me only 10 people are allowed to walk the path daily and you need a permit from the park office in El Bosque, in advance.

I already have my permit. Now I’m going to find out what lies beyond the mouth of this spectacular limestone canyon, concealed in the rock face 2.3km beyond the mountain village of Zahara de la Sierra.

And within just minutes of setting off it is hard to believe that you are anywhere near civilisation.

Not another soul is in sight, the silence broken only by the buzz of bees and insects.

The views across the cliff face, where clusters of gravity-defying

If you thought Malaga’s Caminito del Rey was exciting, try the Garganta Verde! trees cling on to either side of the plunging gorge, must rate among the wonders of the world.

And the deeper you go into the canyon the better it gets.

The scent of rosemary and other wild herbs intensifies in the shade as the rocky walls close in and an earthy dampness fills the air.

Griffon vultures with a wingspan of up to three metres circle above while a series of steps lead the 400-metre way down to the depths of the ravine.

It is here on the canyon floor, filled knee-high with ice-cold running water in the winter that the true spectacle awaits.

A brief scramble over the boulder-laden floor leads to La Ermita, a collapsed system of caves tinted pink and orange, ornamented with eroded stalactites and stalagmites. For a moment, it feels like I’ve stumbled onto the set of a Hollywood blockbuster themed on the planet Mars.

The roof of the cave plays host to rock doves, and bats disturbed from their daytime snooze can be seen making short tentative flights throughout the day.

It is possible to continue on through the gorge and exit via Zahara but that’s for experts and requires climbing gear.

Most people are content to head back the way they came - but not before soaking up the beauty of the Garganta Verde.

From novices and families to budding Chris Froomes, the British expats’ expert tours will take cyclists into the heart of one of Spain’s most stunning settings.

“We have a range of road bikes for hire and we even have children’s chariots and kids’ seats so the whole family can come along,” says Ashley.

“If there are people on the coast, they can come up and join us for a day’s riding, or they can come up and spend three days to a week.”

Ashley and Claire set up the business after swapping the UK ‘rat race’ for the hills of Andalucia.

They fell in love with Montecorto after two years scouring Malaga and Ronda for the perfect base.

Mountain biking along trails or road cycling with will take riders through hidden gems like Zahara, Setenil and the Roman ruins of Acinipo.

Accommodation ranges from fully-furnished villas with swimming pools that sleep 4 to 6 people to comfy townhouses perfect to relax in after a day’s riding.

A fully qualified mechanic is on hand - with a van to scoop up anyone finding the going tough and 40% of bookings are from recommendations or satisfied customers returning for another holiday.

Visit www.andaluciancyclingexperience.com or call 952 184 042

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errania de Ronda

November 8th - November 21st 2017 FORTIFIED: Jimena

Take the back route into the Serrania de Ronda and visit the many castles of its western edge

A

GORGEOUS vista unfolded as we drove past Casares and looped around the valley towards Gaucin, known as the ‘balcony of the Serrania de Ronda’ because of its wonderful views.

This is the back way into the Serrania and one of Europe’s loveliest drives, particularly now they have finally finished the A-377 inland.

This is the perfect alternative route to Ronda, taking in the celebrated town of Gaucin, the stunning Genal Valley and - with a small detour - the charming market town of Jimena de la Frontera, which sits at the extreme western edge of the Serrania alongside the amazing Alcornocales natural park.

Gaucin can be seen for miles around, like a white ribbon on the peak of a hill.

It’s a charming spot, popular with upmarket tourists and walkers and has a fabulous castle, the Castillo del Águila, which sits at 688 metres above sea level and offers a classic eagle’s perch of the surrounding area.

Another half an hour on and you come to Jimena de la Frontera, a whitewashed town officially declared of Historical and Artistic Importance in 1983.

A wonderful weekend getaway, it has been inhabited by Iberians and Phoenicians, as well as the Romans, while its 13th century Moorish castle has looked out over many a bloody battle.

Today things are rather more tranquil and you will see plenty of children running around, as well as men on horseback and remarkably few tourists.

It may be a mostly quiet town but that doesn’t mean that the locals don’t know how to party and on many saturday nights it comes alive,

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Castle-hopping even at the historic 38-year open Hostal Anon, with live music and a decent young crowd.

In the daytime though it’s all about putting your walking shoes on and heading around the steep cobbled streets… and, in particular to the castle that rises above it.

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The eighth century castle became a National Monument in 1931 and has recently been renovated, but it was once part of a Moorish defence system that stretched from Olvera to Tarifa and protected the western edge of the Kingdom of Granada.

It remains as a constant reminder of Jime-

Looking for a ‘jobby’?

“RONDA is for people who value country life. They love the authenticity of the town and don’t mind that it is a little colder in winter,” explains Villas & Fincas boss Anita Ernstsen.

She is one of a number of key agents who specialise in selling stunning country properties and amazing historic townhouses to wealthier, more refined expats.

She and husband Oscar have a number of amazing properties around the area, including vineyards, mills and olive estates to sell.

Co-founder Anita says these types of businesses are perfect for buyers looking for - what she calls - a ‘jobby’, something a little more serious and something with a challenge.

She explains that the local market is certainly on the up as more and more people are seeking out Andalucia’s relaxed lifestyle.

Another local agent Zoe Males, boss of Olvera Properties says that there is an increasing number of young professionals who are looking to buy stunning homes in the area.

With new technologies they only need a good internet connection to stay on top of work and it is this portability that has allowed Ronda’s property market to keep flourishing.

“We get a lot of young people that can literally work from anywhere and just want a base,” explains Males, who herself commutes between the area and Wales.

Her agency has a huge range of properties from grand Ronda townhouses to fabulous cheap properties in towns such as Olvera from as little as 40,000 euros.

Another experienced local agent who knows the area well is Thorwald Bodensiek, from Serrania Services.

The agent, who also runs Ronda Properties with his wife Irene, knows the town like the back of his hand having lived in the historic Barrio de San Francisco for a decade.

He has sold many properties this year so far to expats and has dozens of buyers actively looking for properties on his books.

“We have a huge mix from the multimillionaire buyers looking for huge estates to the retired couple looking for a simple holiday home,” he says.

na’s intriguing past as a ‘frontera’ - or frontier - when it guarded the western flanks of the Arabic Al Andalus with Christian Spain.

The castle witnessed many battles as Christian armies laid frequent siege to the fortifications protecting the important Moorish stronghold of Algeciras.

The view of the surrounding countryside below is amazing, in particular the sprawling forests and undulating hills of Los Alcornocales natural park behind.

One of Europe’s largest protected spaces, it is the ideal spot for putting on your walking boots and exploring.

When the Hozgarganta River swells there are dreamy waterfalls and pools to be found but, as ever, ask the locals to point you to the best spots.

The park is also home to the prehistoric paintings at Laja Alta which incredibly date back as far as the Bronze Age. After a day spent exploring the wild and stunning terrain, Jimena offers a range of enticing dining options with a mix of Spanish and Moorish cuisine.

The area is known for mushroom picking and game hunting, but the one thing you can’t leave without trying is the sweet ‘piñonate’ cake.

For history lovers another great castle worth visiting is at nearby Castellar de la Frontera.

The drive up to the village passes through forests of cork trees and past the beautiful turquoise reservoir formed by the Guadarranque River. When you get there, the small village within the old castle walls has a traditional Hispanic feel but is sprinkled with quirky shops selling a mix of Moroccan jewellery and trinkets. When you finally head home after a weekend of castle-hopping, rejoice in the knowledge that hidden just behind the Costa del Sol’s shining bright lights lie some of Spain’s most precious mountain gems.

www.olveraproperties.com www.rondaproperties.com www.villasfincas.com SOARING: Castle-topped Gaucin

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errania de Ronda WHERE TO EAT

MOUNTAIN OF CHOICE Ronda has it all from great ingredients to talented chefs, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

LA POSADA: Authentic Spanish cuisine

La Posada

Historic Village Posada Tlf: 635 442 655 Calle fuente 49, El Gastor

restaurant | lunch and dinner

WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM ESTACIÓON DE ARRIATE | ARRIATE (MA 7400, KM 4) 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 CLOSED ON MONDAYS

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FTER a mountain hike or a full day’s sight-seeing around Andalucia’s most charming town there is nothing better than a top eaterie or tapas tour.

The Serrania de Ronda has the lot, from tasty tapas joints to creative restaurants, using the best ingredients Andalucia can muster, from local goats cheeses to wild mushrooms and nuts.

My favourite places to eat are in the villages stretched out around the Serrania.

TEAM: At Siempre Igual

Exciting

For years, Molino del Santo, in charming Benaojan, has been leading the charge, while El Muelle, in Arriate, finds its punters driving up from the coast and even Sevilla an hour and a half away for lunch.

Set up by charming Dutchman Frank Rottgering, this old railway storeroom is atmospheric to the n’th degree and well worth tracking down.

He and his talented local chef Isa spend hours planning new and exciting dishes every month… and his menu is full of their colourful creations.

The wine list is simple but inspired and the food is always amazingly fresh and beautifully served… Even better are the prices.

At Molino del Santo owners Pauline and Andy are constantly improving its offering and never scrimp on quality menu.

Their quiet but capable chef Alberto keeps getting better, the menu changes by the week and there are always plenty of twists and flourishes.

For rural fare, you must also

which sits in a rural spot with amazing views.

This stunning old cortijo, still has many of its original features, pre-restoration, but charm personified. What it does brilliantly is meat… and you will rarely eat such good succulent pork.

Piste

ATMOSPHERE: El Muelle and (inset) its dishes hunt down chef Ian Love at La Cascada, at hotel Molino del Puente.

This unsung hero of the Serrania has been pleasing the punters with his tasty creations for well over a decade now.

It’s amazing riverside terrace cannot be beaten in good weather, while it is atmospheric inside for cold winter nights.

Also in the countryside near Ronda you will find Venta Pelistre, which has been serving

the countryside around Arriate for decades.

A true family run restaurant they breed their own Iberian pigs and grow many of their own vegetables, plus the wine list is getting better by the year.

The least touristy restaurant around, if you are lucky you might bump into famous local bullfighter Cayetano, who is a regular.

Another incredibly authentic place to eat is Venta Molino,

One of the Serranía’s most authentic restaurants. Specialising in BBQ meats tel: 645 481 431 Partido Morena y Vicente, Ronda

Slightly further away in the village of El Gastor, on the edge of the Cadiz province looking out across an amazing lake look out for La Posada.

This is another charming, authentic place that has been serving the region for decades and has been beautifully restored.

It has a great menu del dia, simple and good value, while you can go off piste on the menu if you fancy it.

Up in Ronda centre, there are a few really authentic places, including Porton – an institution - run by two friends Javier and Pepe for the last 40 years. Here, you will find my favourite Ronda tapa, the wonderful quails egg with ham on toast.

Around the corner up the hill is one of the best tapas bars Siempre Igual, a friendly, family-run place and always busy.

Across the bridge in the most emblematic town hall square look out for Meson El Sacristan run by friendly Antonio. It has Roman ruins in the basement and easily the best steaks in the town, cooked on a woodoven.

It also has a fantastic dining terrace where in good weather you can truly watch the world go by in one of Ronda’s loveliest squares.

For wine lovers check out Entre Vinos, which always has a dozen wines available by the glass and dozens of local wines to open by the bottle.

Even better there are some excellent tapas and it is a charming place to while away a few hours.

Across the street Cervezas Rondena is a good spot to drink the local beers of this superb artisan brewery.

Recently renovated to include

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Come and try Ronda’s amazing wines with a tapa tel: 658 58 29 76 Calle Pozo 2, 29400 Ronda ronda360.com/empresas/entrevinos

SERVICE WITH A SMILE: At El Pino, Porton and Antonio (right) at Meson el Sacristan

Live like a king Review of Azahar restaurant

SWEET END: The chocolate pudding tables where you can also take a basic tapa, owner Celedonio is happy to explain the process of beer making.

For history and tradition head to Pedro Romero, opposite the bullring, which is wall to wall in bullfighting photos and posters.

Another long-term stalwart is the three decades old Almocobar, which ticks just about every box for atmosphere, service, food and wines.

Meanwhile, ex-Almocobar stalwart Antonio has moved to the charming, authentic spot El Pino in a nearby side street.

A classic hole in the wall local, Antonio is charm personified and his tapas, including an amazing spinach and chicken burger, were fabulous. This is also one of the best value places to eat in Andalucia, and service always comes with a smile. www.diningsecretsofandalucia.com

Great wine selection

FEW places have the splendour of Restaurante Azahar in the historic hotel Reina Victoria.

Its dining terrace offers up views across the celebrated Ronda tajo and miles beyond.

And luckily the food matches up to it, being both creative and with well sourced ingredients.

Inspired by its location, it doffs its hat to local dishes, such as roasted kid and roast suckling pig.

But the plaudits should go to the creative starters, such as secreto iberico carpaccio with foie, redcurrants and parmesan ice cream, as well as the scallops on yolks of pickled asparagus with sea urchin caviar.

I was also taken with the ‘prensa de foie’ with layers of goats cheese and a range of sauces, including apple compote and fig jam.

The degustacion of chocolate pudding, with a fantastic mix of goodies makes up the canvas perfectly.

VENTA PELISTRE

Traditional & Mediterranian food We specialise in Andalusian Wines

Tlf: 687 153 867 / 609 925 554 C/ San José n° 2 Esquina Calle Jerez. Ronda ( Málaga)

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errania de Ronda

WHERE TO STAY

Sleep well in the City of Dreams

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HERE is an incredible choice of places to lay down your head in the 'City of Dreams', as Dutch poet Rilke once described Ronda.

In the heart of the city though few places are as emblematic as the Reina Victoria (www. hoteles-catalonia.com), which was built over 100 years ago by British builders when the train line first arrived here from the coast.

Standing in an enviable spot overlooking the gorge this upmarket hotel is a place to lie back and luxuriate, relax and enjoy the best views in Christendom.

Completely upgraded into a modern four-star hotel by the Catalonia group five years ago, its rooms

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VARIETY: Hotel Arriadh (above), Hostal A

are stylish and comfortable and its gardens impressive, counting on a fabulous pool and no less than 70 palm trees.

Those looking for a more budget offering should try the central Hotel Morales (www.hotelmorales. es), which sits in the heart of the town, perfect for the shops, and the main transport links.

However, it is out in the Serrania countryside itself that you will be really spoilt for choice.

Close by, check Hotel Arriadh (www.arriadhhotel. com), which counts on some of the best views anywhere in Spain.

Often described as ‘zen-like’ the clean lines and maximising of light and views is all thanks to the

2/11/17 18:16

Professional ham cutter for ALL events

Hamming it up They are the father-and-son team that offer a one-stop shop of delicious Serrania goodies, including cheeses and hams and a massive range of wines from the area and from across Spain.

The son at Jammeria Granadino is a famous ham-cutter who has won many competitions and can be hired for weddings and events around Andalucia.

Free parking at Martinez Astein for purchases over 20€

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Ronda has so many romantic and hip places to stay

Anon (below) and (right) Molino del Puente and Hotel Reina Victoria

Come and try our varied ‘small plates’, mojitos and Moroccan tea!

Plus a wide range of international dishes served outside on our terraces or in the romantic, firelit dining rooms.

Calle Consuelo 34-40, Jimena de la Frontera 956 640 113 reservas@elanon.net www.hostalanon.com

talents of Dutch couple John and Wilfred.

Excellent value, it has an amazingly peaceful garden and a splendid infinity pool.

In the same village, and equally stunning is www.alcantarilla.co.uk, a beautifully conserved 18th century farmhouse, with its own tower and Arabic watercourse.

The three-bed home can be rented for a minimum of three nights and comes with its own amazing swimming pool and two hectares of grounds.

Also close to Ronda by a meandering river is the charming converted mill Molino del Puente (www. hotelmolinodelpuente.com), basically a restaurant with rooms, thanks to chef Ian Love, who has been producing tip top tucker for decades.

Alongside his wife Elaine Love, this historic spot is very popular with visitors from the coast and, best of all, is well connected, while being very peaceful.

Spreading out into the Serrania there are loads of amazing places to stay.

One of the finest places is Hostal Anon (www.hostalanon. com) over in Jimena, which is a great place for a romantic break.

It’s been a classic stopover for travelers for nearly four decades and the rooms have a Spanish rustic feel, while the outside intertwining terraces have a Moorish décor.

Owner Suzanne has lived in AnCOMFORT: From Alcantarilla to Mo- dalucia for over 40 years and the place often comes alive on lino del Santo and Banu Rabbah weekend nights with a very liberal fun feel.

Another amazing spot is Hotel Banu Rabbah (www.hbenarraba.com) in Benarraba, one of the most charming, sleepy authentic villages of Andalucia.

In the heart of the stunning Genal Valley, this is an ancient Arabic village, built by the Son of Rabbah, whose family must have been prominent in the village’s early days.

A large castle stood in the area and can be found nearby at Monte Poron.

The hotel itself is comfortable and very good value.

Over in Benaojan you should check out Molino del Santo (www.molinodelsanto.com), a classic rural retreat, which has been serving the area for three decades.

Run by Pauline and Andy, the hotel has the knack of keeping guests happy with just the right mix of comfort, good food and character.

Hotel Molino del Puente Ronda Restaurante la Cascada

Treat yourself to a wonderful festive break at

Molino del Puente

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER and traditional

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH with 2 nights accommodation €370 per couple

NEW YEARS EVE GALA DINNER

with live music and FREE bar until 3am plus an overnight stay €270 per couple Call Elaine on 667433887 or email info@hotelmolinodelpuente.com

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Hostal El Anón, a charming oasis 7th - November 21th 2017 inNovember the centre of historic Jimena

November 8th - November 21st 2017

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errania de Ronda

ALCALA – 7.500.000 €

November 8th - November 21st 2017

November 7th - November 21th 2017

Villas & Fincas | Casares Property Agent Ctra. de Casares s/n, 29690 Casares Malaga SPAIN Phone: + 34 952 895 139 Mobile: +34 636 546 796 E-mail: info@villasfincas.com

Ref. Nr. 186-00669P

LUXURY HISTORICAL HACIENDA, FOR SALE NEAR RONDA Bedrooms: 9 m² Built: 2.300m²

Bathrooms: 12 m² Plot: 12 Ha

A luxury and Historical Hacienda near Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia. A completely restored 16th century hacienda, owned by the local Marqués, converted into an exclusive country house, keeping many of the original details of this historical property. A 9 bedroom, 9 bathroom main house, a 1 bedroom staff house, a gym, spa, cinema, large painting studio with reception area. Build around 3 different traditional courtyards. Beautifully gardened inside the courtyards as well as outside.

A chapel is located in the outer garden. The over 120.000 m2 plot sits in rolling agricultural landscape of Alcalá del Valle, at an altitude of about 800 metres, looking out toward the peaks of the Grazalema mountains, half an hour north of the city of Ronda. There is an olive grove, a large ecological vegetable garden and grazing land.

VILLAS & FINCAS IS LOOKING FOR CLIENTS’ LARGE COUNTRY VILLAS, HUNTING ESTATES, VINEYARDS, AND OLIVE GROVES.

RECENTLY SOLD BY VILLAS & FINCAS VINEYARD IN RONDA WITH HOUSE AND OUTDOOR BUILDINGS, 3,5 ha

Please contact us on: +34 - 636 546 796 or info@villasfincas.com www.villasfincas.com

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A NEW report reveals Barcelona and Madrid are among the safest cities in Europe.

The Economist Intelligence Unit analyses 60 cities across the world and ranks them in order of personal safety, healthcare, security infrastructure and digital security.

Tokyo is the safest city in the world but Barcelona and Madrid lead the table in terms of security infrastructure in buildings, bridges, and emergency services.

www.winkworth.es

Centro Comercial Guadalmina (close to Sabadell Bank). Urb Guadalmina Alta, C.C. Guadalmina 4, Local 12, San Pedro de Alcantara, 29678 Málaga

Telephone: 952 880 941 Email: info@winkworth.es

Property of the Week

Once in a lifetime

ONE of Marbella’s most exclusive mansions is going on auction.

Finca Sagitario, a grand country estate set within a hilltop plot of 57,200 square metres, is located just 15 minutes from Marbella centre.

The sprawling home comes complete with multiple terraces, a home theatre and bar, gym, French designer kitchen, a formal dining room seating 22, and two large sitting areas in the centre of the property

which are linked by an internal lift.

The property, built between 2002 and 2005, also contains two guest houses, both with four en-suite bedrooms and their own reception rooms and terraces.

For good measure the grounds include an infinity swimming pool, jacuzzi, pool house, putting green, ponds, eight-car garage and mountain, lake and ocean views over Gibraltar and Africa.

The estate is in close proximity to the Sierra de las Nieves National Park and a short drive from Marbella’s strip.

“Finca Sagitario is the first property of its kind to be auctioned in this iconic area,” said a spokesperson. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I expect the auction will attract the attention of a variety of prospective buyers.”

Concierge Auctions will sell the estate to the highest bidder on November 28.

Estepona is becoming a top destination for homebuyers and is even starting to rival its Costa del Sol sister Marbella when it comes to property values

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FIND YOUR DREAM SPAIN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWNPROPERTY FOR LOCALIN KNOWLEDGE

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Exclusive Marbella mansion going up for auction

MORE residential properties are being completed now than any other time since the crash in 2008, latest figures reveal.

Between January and July, 33,085 homes, mostly apartments, were finished according Download our app now and to the Ministry of Public Works.

This represents a 39% the increase begin enjoying best Spanish from the same period last year. news on the go.

In 2007, there were 641,419 properties completed. The following year that figure plummeted by 94%.

Properties across Spain became waiting rooms for investors.

However, this year private developments have gone up 37.4%, whereas local authority properties haveOlive actually deThe Press creased.

The totalTOP amount of money for news in Spain! spent on finishing these buildings rose as well to just under €4.4 billion.

Safe cities

November 8th - November 21st 2017

RECENT article on the Costa del Sol's property market, on Mark Stücklin's Spanish Property Insight website, caught my attention because it stated that the current cost of front-line properties in Marbella and Estepona is €6,000-8,000 per square metre (m2).

At first glance, those numbers looked a little optimistic (read stratospheric) to me, as they are higher than the average price/m2 in Madrid's Barrio de Salamanca (€5.597/m2, according to idealista. com) and Barcelona's Sarrià-Sant Gervasi area (€5,534/m2, idem), the most expensive areas in their respective cities.

That prices remain strong in Marbella came as no surprise. It has always been the Costa del Sol's champion, standing head and shoulders above challengers when it comes to attracting a better, or at least a wealthier, class of people to seeand-be-seen spots like Puerto Banús that are (in)famous for glitz and glamour.

Marbella's one-two combination of high demand and limited supply means asking prices, especially in high-end areas like Cascada de Camoján and Sierra Blanca, start in the millions and rise faster than hillside plots, while the cost of beachfront villas, which are few and far between, are frequently in the neighbourhood of ‘If you have to ask…’

On the other hand, Estepona has traditionally been a low-key, middleweight sort of town, more popular with sangriasipping Spanish families who have been coming back on holiday for generations, than with the type of exotic foreigner who

Sibling rivalry

ships in champagne by the boatload to sip on the back of his (it's always his...) yacht.

Subtle appeal

I should know, as we've been living here for over a decade and that was very much the place we moved to. But, since 2000, the headcount of expat residents in Estepona has been expanding fast, by 59% according to Kyero.com, while Marbella has grown by 32% in the same period.

While Marbella continues to appeal to the jet-setting crowd and gets most of the international press, Estepona, particularly in the last five years, has become far more cosmopolitan and now offers overseas visitors much more than a choice of fried fish.

As a result, house prices in Estepona are now rising as rapidly as new buildings are going up. Just last week, we listed a development of luxury apartments on the beachfront, where a 200 m2 penthouse (with 39m2 of terrace) is going for €1.3 million. To save you doing the sums, that works out to well over €6,000/m2, so Es-

tepona does already appear to be punching well above its weight, muscling up to its neighbour, and could even beat it at its own game.

Let's put both towns on the scales to weigh them up: In the far corner, Marbella. Population, 140,000. Municipal area, 117 square kilometres. Coastline, 27.9 km. Beaches, 24. Golf courses, 15. Average year-round temperature, 18.5ºC. Days of sunshine every year, 320. Average property price per m2, €2,919. Its hook: Five-Star Destination.

In the near corner, Estepona. Population, 70,000. Area, 137 sq. km. Coastline, 21.9 km. Beaches, 15. Golf courses, 8.

Average temperature, 18.7ºC. Days of sunshine, 330 (take that, Marbella!) Average price/m2, €2,287. AKA: Garden of the Costa del Sol. Clearly, the mean price/m2 for a home in each town is still a long way off the asking prices for the best properties on the market. Remember, however, we're not talking about average price/m2 for the municipality, but rather the cost of relatively scarce, and comparatively more expensive, front-line property, which is in just as short supply in Estepona as in Marbella. Or maybe even shorter, considering the length of their respective coastlines.

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona.

Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. http://www.terrameridiana.com

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SPANISH workers in the UK are a huge net gain for the country, according to govDownload our on appEU nowmiand ernment statistics grants.begin enjoying the best Spanish The latest HMRC news on the go. statistics, from 2013/14 give a breakdown of the contributions of each nationality, paired with how much they receive in benefits.

Spain is the sixth largest taxpaying nation in Britain, contributing some £802 million in income tax and national insurance each Olive year.

The Press That figure equates to more than TOP ten times what Spanfor news in Spain! iards claim in benefits, which is just £62 million. migrants handed over nearly After France, the second- £2.2bn to the UK economy. biggest taxpaying nation is But Greece had the biggest Poland – whose 790,000 gulf between what’s paid in

Spanish migrants in UK pay more than TEN TIMES in taxes what they claim in benefits, new figures show

THE UK should have followed Spain’s lead in prosecuting rogue bankers, according to former British premier Gordon Brown. In his new autobiography, My Life, Our Times, the memoirs of Gordon Brown, published yesterday, Brown delivers a scathing attack on the bankers who precipitated the 2008 financial crisis, arguing that the sector has failed to learn key lessons.

“If bankers’ conduct was dishonest by the ordinary standards of what is reasonable and honest, should there not have been prosecutions in the

tax and claimed back from HM Revenue and Customs.

Greeks in Britain pay a staggering 31 times more in tax (£439m) then they claim in HMRC benefits (£14m).

The figures do not include Department for Work and Pensions benefits, like jobseeker’s allowance or disability payments. As well as a wide range of ‘indirect taxes’ migrants pay, from VAT to duty on petrol, beer or cigarettes, corporation tax or business rates.

Beware!

What expats need to know about investment funds in Spain

♦♦ Most of the IFAs currently operating with the expat market in Spain are not regulated. ♦♦ Equally, some of the insurance or pension providers have never been regulated to operate in Spain (Old Mutual Isle of Man, Premier Group Isle of Man, Generali Worldwide Insurance Guernsey, RL 360º etc.), thus falling foul of Spanish laws that declare all such policies in violation of national laws and consequently, null and void. ♦♦ Very often, investments are carried out via ‘life-insurance/assurance compa-

1. France £2.3bn 2. Poland £2.2bn 3. Ireland £1.9bn 4. Italy £1.3bn 5. Germany £1.2bn 6. Spain £802m How much do they claim in HMRC benefits?

1. Poland £911m 2. Lithuania £207m 3. Portugal £203m 4. Romania £129m 5. Netherlands £128m (13. Spain £62m)

UK as we have seen in Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal?”

Brown, who was Prime Minister from 20072010, says: “If bankers who act fraudulently are not put in jail with their bonuses returned, assets confiscated and banned from future practice, we will only give a green light to similar risk-laden behaviour in new forms.”

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

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How much tax gets paid by people from each country?

Follow suit

AGONY Property ANT

HE collapse of Continental Wealth Management, an Alicante-based advisory firm, has left tens - possibly hundreds - of investors worried sick. CWM was not regulated to provide investment advice in Spain and was loosely regulated to provide insurance advice, through German-based Trafalgar international (who also do not appear to be registered in Spain).

In the world of the investment ‘smoke and mirrors’ expat business, where few things are what they appear to be and what’s real is often portrayed to be something else, clarifying concepts becomes a necessity.

So, let’s get under the bonnet of these clandestine firms (this article does not allude to properly regulated advisory companies) to know what are the real chances of victims caught by the lack of scruples of runaway bogus consultants:

Breakdown

nies’ that provided wrappers, whole-oflife or unit-linked policies. These policies are linked to an investment portfolio. ♦♦ Whether offered validly in Spain or not, life insurance policies linked to an investment are being declared void by the Spanish Supreme Court because they do not consider them life insurance policies.

The reasons? Well, the calculation of the premium and payout lack ‘actuarial’ methodology, there is no transfer of risk from insured to insurer and it is irrelevant for the insurer if the insured party lives over a certain date, or dies. ♦♦ Courts ruling on the nullity and voidness of a life insurance policy will order the company to reimburse the premium in full (minus any surrenders made), plus annual legal interest and without detraction of fees or commissions charged. ♦♦ Financial or insurance mis-selling can be said to be automatic where the agents are not regulated (nobody can provide valid advice if not regulated). This violation of mandatory laws implies the responsibility of the principal (i.e. insurance or pension providers). ♦♦ Claimants should aim for Insurers, Investment Funds and Pension Providers. ♦♦ Lawyers should be able to identify the best way forward, always aiming for compensation (and not retribution).

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

Six years strong A BRITISH family are celebrating their Hostel’s sixth year of business in San Pedro de Alcantara.

Run by Gary, Karen, Richard and Michael Wynn, the Hostal Plaza is a hostel with a twist.

Most of the rooms have been individually painted by international artists.

“We love art and this is reflected throughout the hostel with many large murals,” the family told the Olive Press.

“We are an English family who started our Spanish adventure in 2011 when we opened Hostal Plaza San Pedro.

Transformed

“We have Spanish speaking staff who help us welcome guests from around the world. We love art and are transforming the hostel one room and one wall at a time into a living art gallery.

“Artists come from all over the world to paint for us giving the hostel a unique and quirky feel. All our rooms are en suite, with air conditioning and free WiFi available in the communal areas.”

There is also a roof terrace where guests can sun bathe, watch the sunset and meet other visitors.

Hostal Plaza is in the center of San Pedro just three minutes walk from Plaza de la Iglesia and is surrounded by winding streets full of very good restaurants, tapa bars and little shops.

“Contact us for your visit to San Pedro de Alcantara, we would love to host your stay,” the family added.

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des@slp.ie

An exciting one-stop-shop for all the Coast has to offer Costa del Sol

Hotel IPV Palace & Spa, Fuengirola

Costa del Sol er, 2017 Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd Decemb day

Opening times: 11am to 5pm each

venues After researching numerous potential event at we have decided to mount our next the the magnificent Hotel IPV Palace fronting Fuengirola 340 just outside Fuengirola next to has all the Castle. This upmarket hotel and spa comforts, facilities and services demanded by discerning visitors, as well as first-class for restaurants, bars and numerous areas away formal and informal business discussions from the hurly-burly of the expo hall.

Mike Kelly - World leading Coin and Stamp Expert

reserved The majority of the stand space has been sectors, by a mix of concerns from numerous health including specialists in insurance, finance, eye health, and well-being , currency exchange, Both days we will have Soul Music performed hearing, building services, interiors, hospitality, (aka Mr Maph & Simone-Lisa will by 2True tourism, arts and much more. These companies to all the Ex be there to offer advise and support the coast.

Pat communities living up and down

Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Level Checking

business

www.theolivepress.es If you wish to receive a free ticket BY EMAIL

Antique Evaluations with Eric Knowles from the BBC Antiques Roadshow

Have your small antique coins, stamps and collectibles valued

Wealth Management and Insurance advice from leading experts

our Email us at des@slp.ie or john@slp.ie or visit page at www.facebook.com/50PlusExpoSpain

Roll up for the roadshow!

HE is famous for looking at your bits.

Now vintage TV presenter Eric Knowles is making a welcome return to the Costa del Sol. The Antiques Roadshow star will be on hand to give free valuations from small items and collectibles to larger pieces, paintings and photographs at the 50 Plus Expo at Fuengirola’s Hotel IPV Palace next month. The event, previously called the Over 50s show, is making a welcome comeback after a two-year break.

It is bound to be one of the most exciting conventions for expats this year, with many other experts including coin specialist Mike Kelly attending.

Hundreds of other professionals will be on hand to assist with expat concerns in insurance, health, currency exchange, property, tourism and much more. , Doors open from 11:30am to 5pm each day on December 2 and 3.

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Budget breakdown HEALTHCARE, education and job creation will receive the lion’s share of funds from Andalucia’s purse next year in what has been hailed as a ‘strong social budget’.

The Junta has approved a total of €34.7 billion for 2018, 4.5% more than this year.

Some €30 billion will go towards implementing new policy, with the remaining figure going towards paying off debt.

Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero stressed that the

New Andalucia budget focuses on health, education and jobs

budget was of a ‘strong social character’, with 83% of total funding going towards these three sectors.

“The budget seeks to revitalise public services and ensure the creation of employment,” Montero said.

Almost a third of the entire budget will go towards health, with €9 billion alone going to-

Flightmare FLIGHT sales to Catalunya have dropped drastically following the referendum fallout.

According to ForwardKeys, international flights to the region fell by 22% since the beginning of October compared to the same period last year. Chief Executive Olivier Jager, said: “Domestic political unrest almost always deters visitors and that is what we are seeing now – a 22% collapse in international flight bookings for Catalunya.

“This will also have a knock-on to other parts of Spain because many visitors arriving in Catalunya will travel around the country.

“If the political crisis worsens, I fear we will see a further decline in bookings.

5

wards the maintaining of the Andalucian Health Service, the biggest allocation in its history.

The Junta has identified unemployment as a key issue and funding for education and training schemes have also been given a priority.

The education system alone will receive €7.5 billion, of which €1.5 billion will go towards supporting universities.

A further €2.1 billion has been allocated for schemes including vocational training for employment and an innovative industrial employment program.

They are expected to benefit up to 35,000 people.

Funding on public services has also increased by 1.2% with improvements to be made to the Malaga metro and the completion of the new Hospital de La Línea.

The figures will now be forwarded to the Andalucian Parliament for debate and final approval.

LANDMARK: For manager Mark

Sunset celebration SUNSET Beach Club celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special meal for friends and family.

The popular four-star resort on the Benalmadena coast has been the industry gold standard for those looking for a quick break.

Director general Mark Wardell said: “It’s great we’ve had a lot of industry figures here in terms of tour operators and travel agents.

We’ve had some old friends who have worked for the company for many years. It’s been a good representation.

“It’s been well recognised. We’re a pretty dynamic company and we’ve invested heavily in people and in the property itself and we’ve reaped the rewards while retaining a good reputation.”

The three course meal included lamb with a variety of drinks.

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Malaga olive oil crowned best in Spain for fourth year in a row

Green gold

NEW BROOM: Team at Fuel Brasserie

Reach for the stars A BRITISH expat couple are relaunching their popular Marbella restaurant with a new Michelin Star manager.

Barry Akalley and wife Louise have given their Fuel Brasserie eatery in Nueva Andalucia a whole new menu as the restaurant enters its third year in business.

The changes are being orchestrated with the help of Alex Sapic, the former manager at Michelin Starred restaurant Adam’s in Birmingham.

Artichoke

“We will have around five different specials each day, from top notch fish and chips to Chinese and Nordic specials, all appealing to the different nationalities that you find here,” said Akalley, at an exclusive tasting event.

Guests were treated to nine courses, including Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with parmesan and truffle oil, Nordic Seafood Cocktail with red onion and dill and a Lebanese-inspired Kataifi with pistachio and clotted cream.

“We really want to give that five-star service and Alec has been training all of our team to a Michelin standard.”

The Fuel Brasserie will re-open in December.

Olive grower Víctor Pérez, 35, who trained as an agronomist at the University of Córdoba, applied to work at the farm after seeing an advert in a local newspaper.

He said the success of the farm is due to its diverse workforce.

“I think that having a team of workers from different countries favours us, because each of them enriches the project by contributing their own particular perspective,” he said.

“We started picking the olives early in OcA SPANISH chef has managed to feed Puerto Ricans more warm tober, and the meals than any NGO or government body since the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria. early harvest Double-Michelin starred Jose Andres, 48, has provided more than 2.2 allows us to obmillion warm meals and sandwiches to disparate parts of the Ameritain more fruity, can territory using a network of kitchens, supply chains and delivery green and fresh services, in one month alone. juices.”

It has so far cost around €400,000 and amassed hundreds of volunThe farmers use teers. sheep to natuAndres, from Asturias, ‘admonished volunteers to add more mayonrally fertilise naise to sandwiches, keep the temperature up on the pans of rice and their 34,000 serve bigger portions’. olive trees and He was shocked when other organizations, he assumed had things unmake cheeses as der control, were asking him for help. well as vinegars.

“In my life I never expected the Salvation Army to be asking me for Spain is the food,” he said. largest olive “If one of the biggest NGOs comes oil exporter in to us for food, who is actually going the world, with to be feeding Puerto Rico? We are. the majority of We are it.”

The Spaniard previously formed farms in Anthe nonprofit World Central Kitchdalucia. There, en after he went to Haiti following 35% of farm the devastating 2011 earthquake, workers work and was in Houston in the afterwith olives. math of Hurricane Harvey helping Exports of the to organize volunteer efforts. ‘liquid gold’ are He has now left Puerto Rico and expected to soar has left a working team in his place, by at least 45% saying that as groceries and stores over the next are beginning to open, he didn’t nine years. want to ‘take away their business’.

Christmas giveaway SALA Group is giving away €250,000 to their customers as a special Christmas treat.

Members will recieve a free €20 top-up when they trade in their old Rewards loyalty cards for a new one.

The money can be spent across any of the Sala Group venues as well as La Sala Chigwell in Essex and the cards can be picked up at La Sala Puerto Banus from November 1.

A MALAGA olive oil has been crowned the best in Spain for the fourth year in a row.

Finca La Torre received the award for the Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an accolade unmatched by any other Spanish company.

Based in Bobadilla, the estate has been producing olive oil since 1260 using herbs, earth and other organic materials for flavour, its owner’s claim.

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November 8th - November 21st 2017

When it comes to the world’s most opulent hotels, Spain’s star is in the ascendent

S

PAIN continues to be the most visited European country by Brits and fellow Europeans.

Last year it raked in €77 billion from tourism and it is already on track to smash that record this year.

And with the opening of stunning new hotels and the renovation of historic classics, in Andalucia and nationwide, we can expect the country’s luxury bed night count to continue rising.

Last issue, we reported on Finca Cortesin’s inclusion in Conde Nast Traveller’s World Top 50 rankings.

Check out some of the other Spanish establishments named in that prestigious roll of honour, and others that we think should also have made the hotlist.

Taste of luxury

Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa, Mallorca, from €400/ night

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 12.00 til 22.30 Kitchen closed 15.30 til 19.00 Sunday 12.00 til 16.00 Closed on Monday Reservations: elgarden2016@gmail.com

Perched on a dramatic hilltop adjacent to the sea, the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa includes nine separate buildings comprising 120 beautifully-adorned guest rooms, four distinctive restaurants, a Talise spa, two swimming pools, three meeting rooms and a naturally lit ballroom.

Barcelo La Bobadilla, Granada, from €186/night Barcelo La Bobadilla sits on a magnificent 1000-acre private estate.

Reminiscent of a romantic Moorish village with its own Mediterranean chapel, the hotel’s rambling sections are interconnected by a labyrinth of overhangs, courtyards, vaulted passageways and a soaring marble colonnade.

This private, 350 hectares estate of varied and unspoilt countryside has rolling hills and valleys covered with wild flowers and fragrant culinary herbs, forests of holm-oaks, olive groves and almond tree orchards: it is a paradise for animals, birds and game.

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Take a gastronomic journey you won’t forget....

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November 8th - November 21st 2017

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Your Christmas Party All Wrapped Up Click on the festive banner here!

Hotel Alfonso XIII, Sevilla, from €280/night Named after the king who commissioned it in 1928, this classic was designed to be Europe’s most luxurious hotel. Situated among the arches and arabesques of Sevilla’s historic city, the Hotel Alfonso XIII is only minutes from the monumental Reales Alcazares and Plaza de Espana. It’s easy to see why it has often made Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold Lists.

Belmond La Residencia, Deia, Mallorca, from €400/night The Belmond is one of the world’s most renowned hotels. Consisting of two manor houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, it provides real style, charm and character.

Situated in the mountain village of Deia, Mallorca, the bedrooms are individually furnished and decorated in traditional Majorcan style. The wooden shuttered windows overlook the lush landscaped gardens, which provide fresh herbs and olive oil for the kitchen, fruits for the homemade morning marmalades and fresh flowers for the rooms.

The Westin Palace Madrid, from €230/night Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine, Valladolid, Spain, from €390/night This massive converted Baroque-Romanesque abbey surrounded by vineyards is two hours north of Madrid. Its medieval aesthetic features vaulted ceilings, thick stone walls and a silent cloister.

Bright modern furnishings are accented with warm wood and soaring windows, and there’s a one Michelin Star restaurant, Refectorio. Examine the peeling frescoes while you make your way through a fixed price menu that might include smoked cauliflower soup and roasted squab with an artichoke and olive confit.

Another hotel commissioned by Alfonso XIII in 1912, this mammoth building was built in just 18 months, born out of a desire to give Madrid a hotel worthy of a capital. Since then, The Westin has been a meeting point for important events connected with Spain’s history. It’s a member of the Starwood Luxury Collection and is known as one of the most luxurious hotels in Madrid, combining turn of the century grandeur with new amenities and high tech touches of the modern world. Work out at the 24 hour fitness centre, relax In the sauna or solarium, then enjoy elegant dining at La Roto.

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Gran Melia Colon, Sevilla, from €160/night In the historic old quarter of the Andalucian capital, the neoBaroque façade and grand public spaces of Gran Melia Colon are steeped in legend in what is known as the hotel of the matadors. With nods to Roman antiquity, regal red-and-gold tones fuse with award-winning contemporary furnishings by the most influential designers of our time, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders and Edra, to name a few. Throughout, you will encounter an aesthetic that finds meaning in contrast, playing historical reverence against a wry, modern wit.

Finca Cortesin, Casares, from €460/night This 67-room hotel in Casares is the elegant centerpiece of an ambitious real estate project that includes private villas and a top-rated golf course. Finca Cortesin takes its cues from traditional Spanish farmhouses - low-rise, whitewashed, terracotta-tiled and built around interior courtyards that often have Moorish decor. It’s a favourite for golfers and celebs, including Gareth Bale.

Earn up to £580 per week + free training + direct employment + flexible working + full support Helping Hands has been successfully recruiting Live-in Carers to work in the UK from across Spain for nearly a decade. We are currently looking for caring and compassionate people to join our growing team of Live-in carers in the UK.

Live-in carer training & selection event 4th - 8th Decemeber 2017 To register for any of these events or to find out more contact: jayne.vale@helpinghands.co.uk (0034) 658 521 907 www.helpinghands.co.uk

44 44

health &

www.theolivepress.es

Brace yourself

November 8th - November 21st 2017

Leading dentist Nina King advises on all things teeth

Cosmetic dental work is not as scary or complicated as you might think

O

UR appearance matters. Studies have shown that a great smile can affect our own self-confidence, how others perceive us and even our career possibilities and success in relationships!

Most agree that not having toothache and being able to chew our food are key elements of a good quality of life. However, in our modern society the reasons for investing in cosmetic dentistry are also valid and compelling.

But what exactly is cosmetic dentistry? Some cynics may say it’s a way of ‘ruining teeth’ for the sake of the dentist making big bucks! But cosmetic dentistry does not automatically mean lots of complicated treatment; for example, having your teeth professionally cleaned can instantly brighten your smile and replacing stained, cracked fillings can also be a great ‘smile upgrade’. Both of these simple examples show that often we can meet both aesthetic goals and improve our dental health and function with elective dental work.

Another great example of this is straightening the teeth or orthodontics primarily for aesthetic reasons. There has been a steady increase in the demand for orthodontics (braces) in adult patients as approximately, one in five orthodontic patients in the US is now an adult. Some may not have had access to such treatment when they were young, or their teeth may have started to shift later on in life depending on

things such as a missing tooth. Repositioning teeth can also reduce many other problems such as difficulty cleaning the teeth properly, which leads to plaque and food accumulation between teeth and subsequent gum disease.

The good news is it is never too late to consider braces. If the thought of having traditional metal ‘train-track’ braces is completely unthinkable for you, modern technology now offers other options for adults including Ceramic brackets - made in a white or tooth coloured material; Lingual braces - placed out of sight on the back of the teeth and Aligners - removable clear plastic appliances which fit over the teeth and progressively move them to the desired position.

Orthodontic treatment is not exactly a ‘quick fix’. Treatment times tend to vary and mild problems can sometimes take just a few months to treat, while more complex problems can take closer to two years.

As a restorative specialist I tend to use orthodontics as an adjunct to my final treatment plan with minor movements such as uprighting teeth and levelling the gum margins allowing us to not compromise the final result.

However, it is essential that the mouth is healthy before starting any elective dental treatment so active disease must first be diagnosed and treated so as not to jeopardize the outcome. Always consult your dentist to get advice on what treatment option is most appropriate for you.

Contact the Oasis Dental Clinic on 952 83 74 42

Peeled off AN Indian teen who received a miracle cure in Marbella has shared snaps of her recovery one month after starting the treatment.

Shalini Yadav, 16, known as ‘snake girl,’ shed her skin every six weeks since being born and had to bathe every hour to stop her skin from hardening while constantly applying moisturiser.

People avoided her on the streets and Indian doctors refused to treat her let alone touch her.

That’s when a team of skin specialists from the International Medical Academy in Malaga saw her story in the press and welcomed her to the Hos-

‘Snake girl’ shares progress photo after receiving miracle treatment in Marbella pital Banus in Marbella.

She said: “Before I was in my room normally, lying in bed watching TV. Now, in the mornings, I go to the terrace to soak up the sun.

“Then I usually do yoga and afterwards I enjoy breakfast. I am very happy now because I have a new life and a new skin thanks to Spanish doctors.”

After receiving the €50,000 treatment for free she has since returned home to India to continue

her recovery.

Yadav has gone from wanting to die to living a happy life.

Dr Enrique Herrera, the dermatologist responsible for her recovery said: “It is nothing fancy just 10 millilitres of acetyltrin - a drug that regulates keratin production in skin cells.”

Yadav now wants to study medicine having been thrown out of school aged 12 for scaring the other pupils.

Lifting the lid

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HE eyelid is crucial to protect our eyes, block dust and debris and keep them moist by spreading tears around the eyes.

This month’s column is dedicated to this vital part of our eyes.

My eyelid keeps on twitching, should I be concerned?

This is called myokymia. It's usually temporary and often occurs as a result of stress or tiredness but is not a sign of disease.

The treatment is to simply wait until it goes away - usually when you're less tired and exhaustion and crying, allergies such as more relaxed. You could try to drink less coffee as well as excessive caf- hayfever or reaction to makeup and skin products, infections which cause styes, feine intake can also cause twitching.

I have a lump on one eyelid, what orbital cellulitis or ocular herpes. It can also be a sign of a blocked tear duct or might it be? pink eye. It’s probably nothThe eyelids can develop ing serious, but visit your different sorts of lumps optician or GP to take a look and bumps; if you notice You should seek at your eyelid, to make sure any unusual changes in it’s not something which reyour eyelids, you should professional quires treatment. always visit your optician advice if you are You should seek profesor GP. advice if you are Common conditions inconcerned about sional concerned about your eye clude styes, chalazia, fatty health and have regular eye deposits in the skin below your eye health tests. Specsavers Opticas the eye and inflammation are raising money for the of the lid edge due to an ONCE Foundation for the allergy.

I have a swollen eyelid, what could be Deaf and Blind until the end of the year and are asking for a donation of just €1 causing it?

Swollen eyelids can be caused from a for a comprehensive eye test. Visit www. variety of issues. Common things which specsavers.es to find your nearest store can cause your eyelids to swell include; and book your eye test.

www.theolivepress.es education

Mealy good

Life-saving treatment for diabetes sufferers coming to Spain CAMBRIDGE Weight Plan is bringing its life saving treatment to Spain to help those at risk from developing diabetes.

Its ‘buddy’ program pairs people up with a consultant who creates a tailormade program of weight loss to suit the individual needs of that person.

It has become so successful in the UK that the NHS uses it as the firstport-of-call for diabetes treatment.

This intimate consultation means that people get hands-on advice on a weekly basis so tracking your progress has never been easier.

It is frightening to see diabetes on the rise across the globe and if current figures are right then by 2035 the number of people living with diabetes would make up the worlds third most populous country.

Excess body fat accounts for 80% of the risk for type 2 diabetes, however, genes, age and exercise are also other contributing factors.

If left untreated it can have life threatening consequences, including kidney failure, vascular problems and eye disease.

The results of Cambridge Weight Plan’s 800 kcal Meal Replacement Diet have been fantastic as a recent study showed that body weight had reduced by over 10% in 8 weeks.

This significantly reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Dolphin Dementia DOLPHINS found dead off the Spanish coast had Alzheimer’s, in new groundbreaking discovery.

Scientists from the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Florida and Oxford, concluded that the dolphins shared the same proteins found in human patients with dementia in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

This is the first study to show the disease in a wild animal as it was previously thought that Alzheimer’s only existed in humans.

Professor Lovestone said: “It is very rare to find signs of full-blown Alzheimer’s Disease in non-human brains.

“This is the first time anyone has found such clear evidence of the protein plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in the brain of a wild animal.”

The discovery adds to another feature humans share with dolphins after it was revealed that both species can survive long after their prime age for reproduction.

November 8th - November 21st 2017 November 8th - November 21st 2017

A DRASTIC shortage of teachers has forced lessons in key secondary school subjects to be cancelled across Andalucia.

The Junta has taken unprecedented action by issuing an emergency call via text and email for teachers - or anyone with a teaching qualification to provide cover.

Unions are blaming the crisis on a lack of foresight over the summer by the Andalucian Ministry of Education in replacing upcoming vacant roles.

Maths, Chemistry, Physics and IT are the subjects worst affected by the scarcity but there are reports of vacancies across all departments.

In Sevilla, the IES Politecnico secondary school went public with a plea to the Junta to fill a range of teaching and administrative positions.

The school board demanded that the Junta ‘guaran-

Staff Crisis

Junta in desperate plea for emergency teachers tees the needs of our students and our education community’ by filling vacancies ‘immediately and definitely’.

Problems

Sonia Gaya, the Minister of Education denied that the problems had arisen due to a lack of planning.

An exhaustive and lengthy recruitment process for teachers was instead to blame, she argued.

Priced out of university THE Junta has slammed a reduction in university scholarships and national spending on education.

Andalucia’s Minister of Education, Antonio Ramírez de Arellano highlighted the importance in providing education for all, following the cuts.

The central government intends to reduce GDP expenditure on education from 4.1% to 3.6%, which Ramírez de

Arellano fears will price thousands of students out of university.

Providing subsidised higher education for students who cannot afford the fees has been made a priority in Andalucia.

With the exception of Malaga, the region’s provinces all exceed a 40% chronic poverty level.

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Regardless, Gaya assured schools that the authorities were doing all they could to fill empty roles and that education budgets for the region would be adjusted accordingly.

It comes after the Olive Press reported that a severe shortage in canteen staff across the Campo de Gibraltar meant that some schools were unable to provide lunches for their pupils.

45 45

ACADEMY: Branch out

Mayfair on the move ONE of the Costa del Sol’s leading international schools could launch a second site in Estepona.

The Mayfair International Academy has lodged a proposal with Estepona Town Hall after a plot of land was put out to tender for a new educational development.

The new school, located in El Campanario, would be a ‘boutique school’ for children aged three to 18, which would follow the Cambridge curriculum in primary and secondary school.

The pupils would then sit English A-Levels.

Estepona Town Hall expressed its excitement at putting the land to use, although a final decision has not yet been made.

“It will generate income, create jobs and invigorate the area,” a spokesman said.

Mayfair currently runs one school in Atalaya Park, Guadalmina.

46 46

www.theolivepress.es

go vote!

In a new monthly column, author and academic Bill Anderson gives us a rundown on life and other musings from his hometown of Mijas

“

IF voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.”

So said Mark Twain,

By Bill Anderson reflecting his rather cynical view of the world.

Even now, when we look around the world and the political turmoil in many countries, we could be forgiven for agreeing with Twain.

Last week, I had a visit from some friends who had recently returned to the UK after 30 years of living in Spain. They told us how easy it had been to get registered with the local authority, and to get onto the voters electoral roll.

I couldn’t resist asking them if they had been on the electoral census in Spain. “No,” they replied, because they didn’t think it made any difference. So, Mr Twain seems to be winning the battle, so far.

I live in Mijas, a municipality made up of around 40% foreigners. The vast majority of voting age. Now tell me that their votes couldn’t make a difference?!

In a country like Spain, which operates on democratic principles, voting or not is in direct relationship to the people who are given the power to decide how our lives will be for the following four years: in terms of taxation, work opportunities, our health service, education for our children, care of the elderly and so on.

If you don’t vote you end up with what those who DO vote want, and this is not necessarily in your best interests.

Yes, voting is a selfish activity where we vote for those whom we think will bring us most benefit.

I have never been a party political sort of person, but have usually tried to exercise my democratic obligation to cast my vote.

Here, living in Spain, European citizens can only vote in local and European elections.

With Brexit on the horizon, it looks like the latter may be off the cards before very long!

That leaves us with the local elections, and to be honest, the political structure which most affects my day to day life is who runs my local authority.

In the last local elections in Mijas, figures show that less than one in 10 Brits actually bothered to vote and yet we dare to complain about the choices made by those who did!

What is it? Apathy or a sense of inferiority? Or is it simply that voting does not make any difference?

Rubbish...and it is now time that we stepped out of our little colonial bubble, and got involved in the political life of our municipality, wherever that may be in Andalucia, and made a difference.

First thing to know is that being on the ‘padrón’ (or local town hall register) does not give you the right to vote. Yes, you don’t automatically get registed.

You need to go to the town hall and fill in a census form, then turn up on the day: May 26 2019 to cast your vote.

Now remember this date: you only have until November of 2018 to do this. Put it in your diary.

A copy of the form can also be obtained by sending an email to me at mijasmatters@gmail.com

MIJAS MATTERS

Bill Anderson is a university lecturer, author, and General Secretary for the International Community for Malaga Province with the Partido Popular.

Columnists

November 8th - November 21st 2017 November 8th - November 21st 2017

Me too I HAD decided not to write about the #MeToo movement that spread virally this October, as it seemed that every female columnist around the world had already covered the topic, so figured there was little to say that hasn't already been written. But this week, as more women came forward with allegations against Harvey Weinstein, and I read account after account of ordeal after ordeal, it struck me that it wasn't even an option to write it.

As a columnist -- and as a woman -- it was my duty to.

In the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein, actress Alyssa Milano encouraged women to tweet #MeToo and to share their stories of sexual harassment to demonstrate the widespread nature of misogynistic behaviour. It was like striking a match - world wide web wildfire!

On Facebook alone, the hashtag was posted 12 million times during the first 24 hours, and since then, millions of people, including a vast number of celebrities, have used the hashtag to come forward with

We must speak out on sexual assault, writes Natalie Rose Kern

their experiences and to offer solidarity to the women who were brave enough to speak out against the most powerful man in Hollywood.

Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Cara Delevingne, Kate Beckinsale... the list goes on... and on... and on. At last count he

stands accused of sexually assaulting 57 women, but I'd bet this number will rise, as more women gain confidence in speaking out.

What troubles me more than the sheer volume of women who have been subject to his abuse, is the fact that appar-

Doing absolutely nothing has never been easier

Pottering I

have been guilty of a fair amount of pottering around recently. And no, that doesn't mean that I grab a wand and charge off around the campo imitating the boy wizard.

Maybe it is the change of season, or perhaps my impending mid life crisis, but on my rare days off I find myself doing absolutely nothing and unable to remember when I started doing it.

As these mainly tend to happen on a Sunday, I have nicknamed the concept 'domingoing' and I have even hashtagged that expression on social media. If you’re considering a day of blissful time wasting by the way, I can't recommend social media enough for sending you off on tangents via links and videos, as well as catching up on your fellow loafers taking selfies of themselves also doing not very much.

Of course living in a casita in the countryside gives you endless opportunities to potter. There are outside buildings to be checked on, generators to be giving the cursory once over. (Yes. It's still there) and wood stocks to be admired. Living on the lake, as I do,

also means that I have a variety of boats to be pottered around, and if I'm feeling particularly adventurous I might even take one out on the water, although that then changes the classification from 'pottering around' to 'messing about in boats'. The main classification for pottering around is that it should serve no constructive purpose. Hence cleaning the house is not classified as pottering around, but moving a few magazines from your overcrowded writing desk is, especially if you then get distracted for the next hour by reading a copy of GQ from 1997. (One of the traits of magazine journalists and designers is that they can never bring themselves to throw old issues out). It's only the fact that I have a radio show on Sunday evenings that means that I can't spend my entire day in the blissful state of pottering, and if it were ever to become an Olympic sport. I reckon that I would be in with a shout of a silver medal, I say silver, because I would undoubtedly finish second behind Morocco. Now there is a nation that REALLY knows how to potter!

Marb diarieelsla By Natalie R ose Kern

ently ‘everybody knew’. Cast, crew, directors and assistants were all aware of his reputation and behaviour, and yet his conduct was tolerated - if not celebrated - for decades.

Young girls were told to stay hushed, stories swept under the carpet, "Don't mention it. It will end your career, ruin your life."

On my own Facebook timeline, my friends began disclosing their own painful experiences, sharing secrets, exposing their bosses, teachers or work colleagues. From elderly neighbours to my little sisters' school friends, every woman had her story to tell. This wasn't just about Weinstein and his victims, this was about all of us.

As women, we know that this kind of stuff has been going on for years, everywhere, all around us, but it is time that the men closest to us understood the extent of it, so that this collective anger can be used to force a shift in the gender paradigm.

When the president of America is recorded bragging about sexual assault, and dismisses crude comments like ‘grab 'em by the pussy’ as simply ‘locker room banter’ there is something deeply wrong with our culture.

I think back to instances in my childhood when my father would be chatting up the waitress as we all sat down to enjoy a family meal, and remembered the shame I felt for my mother who sat there and bore the humiliation, the laughter of

From sleazy bosses to perverted publishers (ED: I hope I’m excluded Nat?!) my teenage brothers witnessing the spectacle and the banter exchanged between all the males at the table. This is the kind of stuff that has to change and it involves all of us: speaking out, being brave, defending women, refusing to glorify or tolerate misogynistic jokes and behaviour, setting new boundaries and teaching our boys to treat women with respect.

From sleazy bosses to perverted publishers, I've encountered my fair share of ordeals over the years, (well, if I will insist on wearing skirts and heels to work!) and the one thing that they all have in common is this: "Don't tell anyone."

So DO! Tell someone. Tell anyone. It is our silence that has allowed this culture to continue for so long - so shame it, call it, expose it!

Our job as parents is to teach our little boys how to treat women...

But let's finally teach our girls not to accept anything else.

sport

www.theolivepress.es

November 8th - November 21st 2017

If you have sports story, November 8th a - November 21st 2017 contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

Friday 17th - St. Patricks Day

Tennis bid 2.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 4.00 pm 7.00pm 9.00pm 10.00pm

Cheltenham Races All Ireland GAA Club Finals 4€ Biddy Mulligan´s Golf Society Party Live Music with John Maddocks Ireland U20´s vs England U20´s Ireland Women vs England Women Live Music with Alan Shiels

the charity messi-ah

BARCELONA superstar Lionel Messi has donated the €72,000 he won in damages to charity Doctors St. PATRICKS DAY menu MARBELLA has served officially all day Without Borders (MSF). bidded to host the next DaGuinness, Kilkenny, Magners €4Messi was awarded the money after vis Cup tie between Spain St Patricks Day Shots €2 and Great Britain. t r a d i t i o n a l

Mayor Angeles FACE Munoz and PAINTING England Sports saturday Councillor Javier Final 18th - 6 Nations Day Scotlandto vs Italy Merida1.30pm travelled Madrid thrashed 3.45pm France vs Wales 6.00pm Ireland vs England the on Thursday to present Live Music with Layla town’s 9.30pm candidacy to the Spain to 19th - Premier League SpanishSunday Tennis Federation. land 1.00pm Middlesbrough vs Man Utd The tie3.15pm will take from Spurs vsplace Southampton 5.30pm Man City vs Liverpool February 2 toLive 4.Music with Sean Murray spectacular 9.30pm If the bid is successful, the Under-17 World out our tie will Check take place at Facebook the Pu- page for our Virtual Tour, Coming Up in Cup win ente Romana Special hotel, Offers, which Whats Biddy Mulligans BiddysLaCala Tel: 952 494 877 has agreed to build addi- Kolkata, India tional stands to accommodate the crowds.

The proposal argued that ENGLAND’S Under 17s are Marbella will have opti- the new world champions mum temperatures and is thanks to an inspired secondsurrounded by thousands of half performance in which hotel beds while being just they overturned a two-goal deficit to win 5-2.

40 minutes from Malaga half-time Barcelona forward Sergio Góairport. mez scored both of Spain’s Spain and the UK are con- goals to give them the lead as sidered to be among the the half-time whistle blew. biggest competitors in the Unperturbed, England came Davis Cup. out and set about dismantling If their star players commit Spain’s lead with Chelsea’s to next year’s tournament, Callum Hudson-Odoi causing it would see two teams lead havoc down the wings.

by Rafael Nadal and Andy Morgan Gibbs-White drew Murray, meaning the world England level before Manno.1 and no.2 would battle chester City’s Phil Foden it out in one of the singles turned the game on its head by putting England one goal matches.

winning a libel case against Spanish newspaper La Razón.

Spain's Supreme Court agreed with a Barcelona court's ruling that the criticism against the forward,

claiming he doped, had been ‘unnecessary and impertinent’ in an article published after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Germany in 2014.

Lion’s roar TOP-OF-THE-WORLD: England Under 17s

ahead.

Two more goals came in the

space of four minutes as Marc Guehi scored from close

range in the 84th minute before Foden soon followed with his second of the game.

England coach Steve Cooper said: “I’m so proud of the performance. Two-nil down, we played our way, we didn’t stop, we stuck to our game plan, we stuck to our style.

We’re building for the future and that’s the way to do it.”

Congratulations

The win is more good news in light of the under-20s being crowned world champions while the under-19s won the Euros.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola added: “Big congratulations to the manager, all the staff and the players because for English football they need that. It is the step England need.”

The players were seen celebrating, in what is now a rare scene for English football, by drinking the bar dry.

England’s senior team will have their work cut out with these rising stars in tow.

47 47

League lift off

THE SPANISH Rugby League has launched its new championship season and it is set to be their largest yet. Last years champions Custodians Madrid will be joining the six-team Serie A, with each team playing 10 games and a playoff from November to May 2018.

“This year we will have an exciting and much more competitive league than in the past,” commented Aitor Dàvila, director of the national league.

Xativa, Ontinyent and Sedaví have become very strong.”

It is an exciting time for Spanish rugby with competition discussions in Malaga and Córdoba.

48

www.theolivepress.es

Quality not quantity, and at least half a million readers a month November 8th - November 21st

2017

Voted BEST

expat paper in Spain FREE

Landlocked aid

FINAL WORDS

NEPAL’S Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is firmly against any secession of Cataluyna from mainland Spain highlighting their bond ‘based on friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding’.

Dutch courage

A DUTCH woman who had been reported missing for a week in Granada has been found in a week-long rave in the province after posting her whereabouts on Facebook.

Manic mother

A MOTHER has been arrested after allegedly leaving her children at school to go on a crime spree. After carrying out surveillance she would then use hydraulic jacks to break into properties.

Vol. 11 Issue 278 www.theolivepress.es November 8th - November 21st 2017

bit harsh

A SPANISH supermarket has fired one of its employees for working too hard.

The Lidl in Barcelona sacked the worker, named only as Jean P, because he turned up to shifts an hour early to prepare the store for visitors.

The man has worked at the branch for 12 years but the store received complaints from other employees who were starting to get annoyed by his early bird antics.

His termination notice read ‘for very serious labour

Banged up massive!

Employee who turned up early for work is sacked

breaches’ saying he had ‘made orders, changed prices or replenished entire pallets of items.’

CCTV footage showed Mr P turning up at store at 5am spending ‘between 49 and 87 minutes’ prepping the store without signing in for his shift.

According to company policy this broke their strict rules about paying every employee for the exact amount of time they worked.

Lidl is one of the largest and fastest growing supermarket chains in Europe, and has more than 530 stores across Spain.

A DOZEN members of a Spanish rap group are each facing two years in jail for ‘glorifying terrorism’ in their song lyrics.

Spain’s Public Prosecutor claims Colectivo La Insurgencia ‘systematically extols’ the terrorist organisation GRAPO and ‘maintains a subversive tone against the constitutional order’.

They are now facing a fine of €4,800 each as well as two-year prison sentences.

One of the group, Saul Zaitsev has called the charges ‘an absurdity of immense disproportion’, saying his music is not a crime.

“I don’t think anyone has been encouraged to commit crimes after listening to me,” he said. It is not the first time rappers in Spain have been convicted over You live in continuous subversive song theft by the employer or lyrics. by the State that tries to Valtonyc was senexploit you. tenced to a three‘Revolution, the only salva- and-a-half-year tion. prison term for We’re sick of them trying to insults against the sell us solutions and ilcrown earlier this lusions, we have fallen year, while Pablo again.

Hasel received two years in 2014 for Andar, by Saul Zaitsev celebrating terrorism.

SPANISH winemaker Miguel Torres has said wineries must aim to be carbon neutral.

“In 10 to 15 years, I think it is perfectly possible we will see wineries which are carbon neutral with zero carbon emissions,” he said.

Climate change poses stark risks for vineyards, which may be exposed to more extreme weather that will see traditional grape varieties struggle.

Torres has committed to reducing carbon emissions to 30% below 2008 levels by 2020.

His family business has consistently set aside 11% of its annual profits for environmental

Pinot greenio projects - €12 million this year.

It now has a biomass boiler in Penedes, cutting 1,300 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Solar and photovoltaic installations have also enabled the Penedes winery to generate 25% of its own electricity needs.

Other eco efficiency measures include optimising water resources and reducing average bottle weight, insulating vats and transportation.

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