Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 203

141017_OLIVE PRESS EAR.pdf 1 17/10/2014 15:12:13

8 days to lose your vote

C

M

See Page 9

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

the

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

FREE

K

Vol. 9 Issue 203 www.theolivepress.es

T’IS the season to be jolly… but apparently not for two Costa del Sol expat choirs locked in a turf war that makes a mockery of the Christmas ‘peace and goodwill’ message.

Now the discord has reached a crescendo after an old photograph in a local newspaper heralded an unheavenly host of non-festive feeling.

The photo – taken over two years ago – shows more than 30 smiling members of the Coraxalia choir, dressed in black with yellow carnations pinned to their chests.

Mischief

But in May 2013, shortly after the photo was taken, a bitter row of sharp retorts and flat denials resulted in the breakup of the choir into two rival groups.

Around a third of members

A

YOUR CHANCE A TO WIN E L D A KIN 3 E G - PA

SOAK IT UP: In the Sierra Nevada you can ski in your bikini

Hark! The angelvoiced heralds of Southern Spain are out of tune as an expat choir war ends in legal wrangling

December 23rd- January 6th 2014 www. eolivep theoliv 17 www.th ll about ress.es e-

OLIVE PRESS – Earpiece 11th & 25th December

Let HiFX help you reach your destination. www.hifx.co.uk

S ierra A Nevada

the olive press

ll about

Vol. 9, Issue 203

Seasonal greetings to all our readers and advertisers.

And don’t miss our 16 - page annual Sierra Nevada ski-ing special pages 17 - 32

AXARQUIA

Sierra Nevada - October 30 -

www.theolivepr

November 12 2014

ess.es

December 23rd-

the olive press

- December 23

- January 6 2014

17 1717

January 6th 2014

No business like snow business

There’s nothing like the Christmas spirit.a day on the pistes for conjuring up Ice queens Imogen and Jacqueline Fanchi Calderwood ‘high life’ - sadly withouni sloped off for a taste of the t the king - in peaks of the sunny Sierra Nevada the snow-capped

P

BIKINI SKIING: A

group of thrill seekers

enjoy the weather

OWDER snow crunching beneath your sun warming your feet, face, kamikaze snowboard ers flying through the air... nowhere on the Iberian peninsula perfect skiing conditions are such a safe bet as in the vada. Christmas Sierra Neadrenaline-pumpingcard views, cloudless skies for thrills and catching an out-of-season suntan - the resort sometimes nicknamed the ‘Costa del Ski’ has Famously, you can it all! the morning and ski here in down for a spot then head of water skiing off the Granada coast (just down the road) in the afternoon.

Turn to Page 18

REGAL RESORT:

King Felipe enjoyed

the high life just

months before his

coronation

Rock-steady First Lady Christmas Christmas with with the the Picardos - Page- Page 10 Picardos 10

Do they know it’s Christmas?

V

EXCLUSIVE

By Imogen Calderwood shredded their song sheets and made their exits, leaving in one corner of the Axarquia region, the base of Coraxalia, which changed its name to Coral Coraxalia; and in the other, Bel Canto.

And that should have been the end of the overture.

However, it was not to be when that old photo resurfaced again recently in the Sur in English, advertising an upcoming event with the ‘new Coral Coraxalia’.

All hell broke loose, dredging up the past discord, reminiscent of a TV soap.

A writ was soon issued, with Margaret Riordan, of Coral Coraxalia claiming threats were made and bemoaning a distinct lack of Christmas spirit.

“The core – the crème de la crème of the choir – remained, while the troublesome members went off to start their own rival choirs,” Riordan told the Olive Press.

“We hoped that was the end of it… but now the troublemakers are now threatening

all sorts if the photo appears again.

“We should have completely changed our name and avoided this confusion.

“It’s just a case of grumpy old women who don’t know how to fill their time except by causing mischief.”

However the alleged ‘trouble-

makers’, some of whom have asked not to be named due to their own fear of legal issues and ‘stress’, deny making threats.

“We wrote a letter to the musical director of the choir, written by our lawyer, which included all the relevant laws,” insisted a British mem-

BATTLE: Bel Canto (right) has launched an attack on Coral Coraxalia (left) while (above) the offending photo ber of Bel Canto.

Describing itself as the Axarquia’s ‘newest and fastestgrowing choir’, the member added: “The photo was a complete misrepresentation, making out they are a massive choir when in Turn to Page 4

Est 1984

ANTHONYS

Antiques, Jewellers & Pawnbrokers UK TV Solutions Installations Troubleshooting •

663 303 932 / 675 033 474 info@alpusat.com www.alpusat.com Fully accreditted BSKYB technician based in Las Alpujarras Find us on facebook.com/alpusat.alpujarra

WANTED

All types of antiques, gold, silver, jewellery, watches, paintings and unusual items.

WE BUY, WE PAY MORE, WE PAY CASH Avda. Ramon y Cajal 40, Fuengirola, Malaga 29640

EASY PARKING 952 588 795 or 609 529 633

Diamonds@anthonys-diamonds.com

2

Fugitive foiled

A BRITISH gangster suspected of murder by the Guardia Civil has been arrested after flying into the UK. Paul John Scott, 32, was detained by British police at East Winch Airfield in Norfolk on Tuesday evening.

Guardia Civil want to question Scott over the murder of 25-year-old Brit Francis Brennan, whose body washed up on a beach in Alicante in a plastic bag.

He is also wanted by UK police for being a suspected member of a Merseysidebased crime group that allegedly plotted to smuggle 40 tons of drugs into the UK. Scott, who was found with €2,000 and a false Belgian identity card, was immediately charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.

Mr Barrie Nathan

THE Olive Press is pleased to withdraw accusations made against Barrie Nathan that brought into question his reputation.

The Olive Press now acknowledge that he has never knowingly or intentionally been involved in any wrongdoing nor any financial impropriety, and his hitherto impeccable reputation was sullied by our articles.

We apologise for any grief, stress or pain our articles may have caused.

CRIME NEWS

Missing Amy’s murder-accused stepdad returns Dave Mahon flies into Spain to attend vigil for Amy Fitzpatrick

By Tom Powell IT has been six years since Amy Fitzpatrick disappeared on the Costa del Sol. And this week her stepdad Dave Mahon - currently on bail, charged with murdering her older brother - has returned to Spain to attend a service for her.

Her mother, and his partner, Audrey Fitzpatrick is expected to fly out separately to join him for the annual event.

In March this year Mahon, 43, was charged with the murder of Audrey’s 23-yearold son, Dean Fitzpatrick, in Dublin in 2013.

Father-of-one, Dean Fitzpatrick died from a stab wound sustained during an altercation with Mahon.

He allegedly confronted

www.theolivepress.es

Salesian sleaze THE former director of a Salesian college in Cadiz is to stand trial for abusing 12 children.

Francisco Javier Lopez, a Roman Catholic priest, was held by police for a month in 2013 following sexual abuse complaints from 30 children at the Salesian San Ignacio College.

Judge Miguel Angel Lopez Marchena charged the priest with sexual abuse of 12 children aged 12 to 14 and 15 counts of assault.

Up to 30 students testified against the former director.

The judge, however, has estimated that only 12 cases amount to abuse.

The abuses allegedly occurred in Lopez’s office when he summoned students from class or made them go to school at evenings and weekends.

IN THE DOCK: Priest Lopez Children who testified against Lopez endured verbal abuse from those defending the priest, who maintain that the trial is solely a ‘witch hunt’.

Terror cell BACK AGAIN: Dave Mahon with partner Audrey Fitzpatrick and (inset) missing Amy

Mahon over the disappearance of his sister Amy on New Year’s Day 2008.

Mahon arrived at Malaga airport on an Aer Lingus flight which left from Dublin at 4:10pm on Thursday.

He reportedly hopes to speak to police regarding the on-going investigation into Amy’s disappearance.

POLICE have busted a terror cell recruiting women for Islamic State in raids across Spain and Morocco.

Seven suspected members were arrested during dawn raids in Barcelona, Ceuta, Melilla and Morocco, including four women – one of whom is a minor – and three men.

The cell was in contact with Moroccan commanders who are fighting with IS. The women – brought from Spain to north Africa and indoctrinated with jihadist theories – were to be used as suicide bombers or married off to jihadi fighters.

European authorities have reported a sharp increase in the number of women from Europe joining IS in the past year.

Accounts from IS-controlled areas in Syria describe large numbers of foreign women performing domestic tasks as cooks, cleaners and in child care.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Santa Brown comes to town HE’S the gift that keeps on giving.

Marbella’s biggest media personality and Olive Press columnist Giles Brown turned up at the newsroom this week to spread the festive cheer.

Appropriately dressed in Santa hat, he generously dished out presents for all staff including a miniature golf set and Katie

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A KINDLE We want to hear your caption ideas for the photo (right) and the best will win a Kindle for christmas! The runners-up will be featured in the next issue.

Price’s bestseller Angel.

The moment marked the opening of the Olive Press’ new office in Sabinillas, overlooking the

The key to Christmas

Expats give homeless men the best present imaginable EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Powell A PAIR of generous expats have given two homeless men the present of their dreams: a home for Christmas.

Secret Santas Barcley Spicer Jenkins and Ed Lloyd, both 21 and English, have handed over the key to their home for two festive weeks.

The Brits, who share a rented flat in Estepona, made the charitable offer after becoming firm friends with the homeless pair from the Czech Republic this winter.

They have now given up their beds, kitchen, bathroom and the remaining contents of their fridge until they return from the UK in the new year.

Petr Spanel, 27, and Roman Sikyta, 38, said the good samaritan Brits ‘have made our Christmas’.

The pair had fallen onto hard times after walking the near3,000km journey from their home town Pilsen to the Costa del Sol.

Selfless After arriving this year with plans to find work they were mugged in Fuengirola, losing most of their possessions and money.

Since then they have been living in a tent on the beach in Estepona, building sand castles to earn money for food.

“We travelled across Spain and had an amazing adventure, but now it is getting very cold at night and we are getting hardly any money from

N340 road.

It will be officially opened by bestselling expat author Chris Stewart on January 22.

3

Fresh hope BRAIN tumour patient Ashya King has taken his first unassisted steps on his road to recovery.

Ashya has also showed signs that his speech is returning following ongoing treatment at Marbella’s HC hospital.

And after a difficult 2014, the new year is already looking up for the Kings.

The five-year-old hit the world’s headlines in August after parents Brett and Naghmeh King, fled to Spain with their son, after disagreeing with the treatment he was getting at Southampton General Hospital, UK. Ashya was eventually taken to Prague where he underwent successful proton beam therapy before the family returned to their Costa del Sol apartment in Casares.

ON THE MEND: Ashya

Feelgood fashion

GOOD FRIENDS: Barcley Spicer Jenkins (centre) has given two homeless sandcastle builders a home for Christmas tourists,” explained Petr, a former builder.

With winter underway and seafront tourists a distant memory, hot food and a good night’s sleep became almost unobtainable.

That is, until their selfless expat pals, first offered them dinner and a sofa to sleep on, one particularly stormy night.

“We did it because it seemed crazy not to, they’re really nice guys,” explained Barcley, an intern at website Andalucia.com.

“When I woke up the next day they were already on the

One star Fernando Fernando FORMULA Alonso appears to have ended two-year relationship with Alone-so amodel Dasha Kapustina.

beach building an even bigger castle so we could see it from our balcony,” he added.

Since then they have been regularly welcomed over for meals, to wash clothes, shower and sleep.

The British pair even allowed them use of their laptops so they could catch up with friends and family back home.

“They are not the alcoholics people assume they are, they are hard-working and great fun,” said Barcley.

To thank them for their kindness, the two Czechs last week cooked their benefactors a slap-up Czechoslovakian feast, with a typical salad, pork escalopes and apple strudel for pudding.

Season’s greetings Last week King Felipe and Queen Letizia took their daughters to see blockbuster ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ at a public cinema in Madrid.

And now, they have released a card (above, l e f t , right??) wishing the Spanish public a merry Christmas.

BEST WISHES: The royal’s card

THE Royal family have been getting in the seasonal spirit, ahead of King Felipe’s first Christmas on the throne.

THE Costa del Sol’s first women’s fashion magazine embraced the season of goodwill, hosting a charity fashion show at The Boardwalk restaurant in Marbella.

Hot on Trend raised more than €1,000 at the sold-out show to benefit Positively Pink, a charity dedicated to providing British women in Malaga province with free breast cancer screenings.

The event united Spanish and British communities with live entertainment by the children’s choir from Swans Junior School. Tea, cakes, mulled wine and a raffle were all on offer as clothes from local shops Amira, Anita’s, Gail Berry, Motek, Terra Luz, Simply Love Designer and Vive La Reine were shown on the catwalk.

The Boardwalk is taking its goodwill further by donating a cent to Positively Pink for every euro spent at the res-

Blunt visit UK singer James Blunt has filmed a video in Mijas for his latest hit When I Find Love Again.

4

NEWS

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

NEWS IN BRIEF

All aboard HEAD of the Junta Susana Diaz has called on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to invest in a €3.9 billion Costa railway from Malaga to Estepona.

Rock fall A WOMAN fell 10 metres to her death in El Chorro after a rock fall collided with her and another woman.

The second climber remains in a stable condition.

Pay-back time First claimants in Estepona’s Ocean View Properties collapse win compensation

www.theolivepress.es

TRAFFIC to Spain’s news websites has plummeted following Google’s decision to disable its news service in Spain.

Spanish newspapers have seen a drop of between 10-15% since the shutdown on December 16, according to Chartbeat, which tracks 50 Spanish news sites.

Google disabled the service in response to a new intellectual property law which requires search engines to pay a fee to Spanish publishers for the right to post snippets of stories.

EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Powell

A VICTIM of the Ocean View Properties (OVP) scandal in Estepona has finally won back €89,000 of the money he feared was lost forever.

A MAN accused of squashThe beachfront development ing a nativity donkey to lured hundreds of optimisdeath in Cordoba also altic Brits, along with England legedly kicked the animal footballer Gareth Barry, into when he broke into its pen. putting down deposits.

But in 2010 the project went bust after it was revealed the land still belonged to its original owner.

BRITS are less likely to buy Blame was bandied about eco-friendly products than between the developers and anywhere else in the world.

OVP as hundreds of people A survey found 15% seek realised their Spanish dream out green goods, compared was ruined. to 28% of Spaniards.

However three victims, including Northern Irishman Ollie Reel, have finally found light at the end of the fouryear tunnel.

THE new boulevard Teacher Reel has had a claim in San Pedro is now approved for €130,000 officially open, with €89,000 after costs - thanks thousands flocking to to the Mortgage Claims Busee the state-of-the-art reau in the UK. Local bridge. issue 48:The Local Issue 5 15/09/14 “It10:29 camePage as a39complete surprise, I was delighted because

Donkey death

Eco unfriendly

Building bridges

DELIGHTED: Reel and planned development I felt like I’d never see any of the money again,” explained Reel, whose three brothers, all in their 40s, also invested in the scheme.

“I’m now €89,000 better off than I was last Christmas, which is brilliant.

“But I will continue to fight for the rest of my money, about €130,000, and I will not stop until I get the criminals involved put in jail.”

Success

Reel’s claim was approved because he received financial advice from a regulated advisor before investing in the development.

The Mortgage Claims Bureau has now achieved three successful pay-outs, two for €130,000 and one for €103,000.

Around 100 families, who

Have a Cocomo Christmas

made payments to OVP totalling €7.6 million, formed an action group in 2010 to try and claw their money back, but with no success as yet.

“Almost a thousand Brits put down their €94,000 deposit for what they thought was their dream,” explained Peter O’Donnell of the Mortgage Claims Bureau in Sussex, England.

“But they all lost badly, and then put all their energy into trying to sue OVP and the developers.

“We want to spread the message that we can help.”

The Claims Bureau operates on a no-win no-fee basis. For more information on making a claim, visit www.themortgageclaimsbureau.co.uk or call 00441903 868251

IN A TANGLE: Sewers at Knit and Natter in Fuengirola

Twisted yarn A GROUP of generous expats was ousted from its knitting circle hours before they were due to hand over 1,300 items of baby clothes to a Malaga orphanage.

Sewers from Knit and Natter were left in the street after Bah Humbug bosses at Carihuela Chica restaurant in Fuengirola booted them out.

Thankfully owners at Gelato y Mare - a nearby ice cream

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan parlour - saw the stranded sewers and came to the rescue with an act of genuine Christmas kindness.

Freya Aldridge, founder of Knit and Natter, said: “We had a horrible morning, we had everything set up and ready to go and then we were booted out on to the street.”

Fellow knitter, Jean Owen, said: “It was absolutely outrageous, they knew we had planned to hand over the clothes and what they did to us was awful.

“We are so grateful to Gelato y Mare for saving the day.”

Staff at Carihuela Chica have so far refused to comment.

Choir wars From Front Page

Now taking bookings

COCOMO

Cocktail Bar & Restaurant Reservations recommended

685 218 054

Next to the Senator Banus Spa Hotel

Please mention The Local when responding to advertisements Page 39

reality most members have gone, leaving 20 at most.”

Nine members of Bel Canto signed the letter, in which the choir’s lawyer states that ‘the utilisation of photos without the permission of the people in it’ is illegal.

“They had been told before to stop using it after splashing it over various publications and on their website,” added another former member, Canadian soprano Louise Soucy.

“I used to enjoy the choir, but when all the fighting kicked off I jumped ship.

“We thought we had moved on from all the bad feelings, but this photo has dragged it up again.”

The letter adds that if the image is used again, Bel Canto will take legal action.

“We left because we couldn’t stand the politics and now we want them to put the matter to rest,” explained the members.

“It wasn’t a threat, it was just stop using it or else...”

Amen.

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

5

g

6

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

OPINION Importance of caring TO Barcley Spicer Jenkins and Ed Lloyd it doesn’t seem like much of a story at all.

It was simply a natural decision to hand over their flat keys to two men who would have otherwise spent Christmas in a tent on the beach.

But to everyone else, it is an act of complete selflessness and trust.

There is a lot of negativity to be said about the expat population of the Costa del Sol. But these two Brits, both just 21, along with everyone working in soup kitchens or charity fund-raising, epitomise the caring attitude expats can bring.

It is a timely reminder of the importance of kindness, and one we should all take on board.

www.theolivepress.es

Homeless at Christmas

Stop the cruelty EACH week the Olive Press team is saddened by a new case of animal cruelty.

Be it a poorly run rescue centre, an abused circus elephant or an abandoned dog stuck down a storm drain, a new tale of animal woe is inevitably waiting around the corner.

And this week, the story of five dogs poisoned to death in Competa (see Poisoned, page 11) adds a fresh layer on to the already mountainous stack of regrettable tales.

With the Guardia Civil treating the case as ‘suspicious’, we can only hope the perpetrator is unearthed and justice is served.

Insult to injury PRIME Minister Rajoy’s claim that the economic crisis is ‘history’ and that Spain is on its road to recovery has ruffled more than a few feathers.

Those who have been hardest hit by the recession are still suffering and with a quarter of the workforce being unemployed it’s no wonder Rajoy’s office had to issue a clarifying statement.

Businesses may be getting back on their feet but the average Joe is still breaking his back to make ends meet.

Rajoy was clearly trying to muster favour in the run-up to the election, but only managed to add insult to injury.

Let’s hope this latest blunder is a sign of him and his party’s demise in 2015.

Olive Press payments

THE following companies are no longer allowed to do business with the Olive Press (Luke Stewart Media SL - CIF B91664029), due to long standing debts: - MWM Investments Ltd - Petersham Coins, Marbella - Investor Spain - Simple Care - Autotunes Manilva - Hotel Embrujo, Arriate

- Jaipur Purple, Estepona - Reservatauro, Ronda - Webuycarsinspain.es - Motor Trader The details are being published in support of other companies that may be unaware of the problems that might be faced by providing credit facilities to the businesses and their present individual owners.

the EE

FR

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

Tel: 951 273 575 / 665 798 618 (admin) Accounts: 658 750 424 Sales: 655 825 683

or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month.

Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 951 273 575 or 951 127 006 Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5 Edificio centro comercial El Duque, planta primera, 29692 San Luis de Sabinillas, Manilva Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Reporters: Newsdesk Newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tom Powell Tom@theolivepress.es Imogen Calderwood Imogen@theolivepress.es

Rob Horgan Rob@theolivepress.es Jacqueline Fanchini Jacqueline@theolivepress.es Admin / Distribution / Accounts: Anna Cockell 951127006 accounts@theolivepress.es Mirian Moreno admin@theolivepress.es SALES TEAM: Stephen Shutes 671 834 479 Classified Sarah Adams 655825683 Axarquia Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 Cadiz Elizabeth Gould 683 337 342

HAPPY HELPERS: Feed the Hungry’s team of volunteers with homeless Russell (centre) in Fuengirola

A

The human fallout from Spain’s crippling financial crisis is out there on the streets for all to see. At no time is homelessness more poignant than on the Costa del Sol at Christmas, as Rob Horgan reports

S we write out our Christmas wish lists and rejoice in Spain’s recovering economy, spare a thought for those who are expecting nothing more from Santa this year than a cup of hot soup.

This Christmas he will be joined For behind the Costa del Sol’s by hundreds of thousands of well-to-do holiday façade lies homeless people like him, who a dark underworld of poverty rely on soup kitchens and food overshadowed by its swanky donations for their survival. high-rise hotels and swept un- The real number of homeless is der the carpet by turn-a-blind- undocumented and most likely eye politicians. unknown, a sad indictment of As Christmas fast approaches the country’s failure to get to and the winter chill sets in, grips with the situation. soup kitchens and homeless During an Olive Press visit to shelters prepare for their busi- Feed the Hungry, Russell said est time of year. his visits are his ‘favourite time This is the flipside of Spain of the week’ and that he owes travel agents don’t advertise his life to the staff. and local town halls don’t want He added: “We are all here for you to know about. different reasons. Some of us The bitter irony is that Spain have drunk too much, some of has more than enough homes us have drug problems or famto go around. ily disputes but they don’t care The country has 3.4 million about that here. empty properties - more than “They treat us like human beany other country on the con- ings and they make us feel tinent; enough to give shelter alive. to all of Europe’s 4.1 million “They don’t just feed us, they homeless. are here for us to have a chat Russell’s story is an example of with. They really are fabulous.” the extent of the Although you A long and severe may not have problem on the Costa del Sol. heard Russell’s recession has Like many Brits, story before, it impoverished a he moved to is not uncompopulation Spain in 2002 mon in Spain. in search of a An estimated better life in the 46% of homesun. Within five years, he was less people in Spain are forliving on the streets and has eigners, 80% are male and the now been homeless for the average age is 42. past seven years.

And over 24% of those living Russell lives in a twilight zone on the streets have been doing of poverty: sleeping in a park so for a period of 10 years or

by Fuengirola castle during more. the day and walking the town’s Russell will be joined by up to streets at night for his own 100 fellow homeless men and preservation, to avoid being women for Feed the Hungry’s mugged.

Christmas party.

Recently, he had his passport They are just one of the chariand social security papers sto- ties who will be helping the len, and is unsure how he will hungry on the Costa this Christfind work again. mas.

Twice a week, he lines up for Founder Lesley Berridge - origiFeed the Hungry’s lunch in Fuen- nally from Zimbabwe and a girola’s Lux Mundi building. former matron in Johannes-

burg - set up Feed the Hungry in 2006 after moving to Spain 14 years ago.

With 20 volunteers working different shifts, Berridge relies on social club La Cala Lions for 85% of funding, and is always grateful for private donations.

Berridge said the problem ‘gets significantly worse year after year’ and that the number of homeless people in Spain ‘can no longer be ignored’.

“These people are all in need.

We don’t ask them about their problems, but if they want to share we are here to listen,” she said.

“The government would prefer

not to acknowledge the problem but it shouldn’t be ignored.

“If they would just accept the problem, and maybe set up a shelter or fund a project them, it would take the pressure off the volunteers.”

Since Spain’s economic crisis in 2008, a long and severe recession and high unemployment - currently standing at 25% - has impoverished a population which is only just starting to get back on its feet.

According to the National Statistics Institute, unemployment is responsible for 63% of homelessness in Spain. Family breakdown and alcohol abuse

MEAL TIME: Volunteer Janice Stanford hands out lunch

the olivewww.theolivepress.es press - November 13 - November 26 2014 7

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014 www.theolivepress.es

Cheque-ing in

MASTER CHEFS: Founder Lesley Berridge (right) with volunteer Liz Tyrrell are other major contributing factors to a problem that is a growing concern.

The number of homeless people assisted in Spain by the Catholic charity Caritas has soared by over 30% since 2012, emphasising the escalating problem throughout the country.

Perhaps more alarming is the fact that 27% of the country’s children – more than 2.3 million girls and boys – live in, or are on the verge of, abject poverty according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF. And this dire situation shows no signs of improving for those most in need.

The Spanish government is set to approve a bill on public security which would hit the coun-

AN expat charity in Duquesa is pulling out all the stops to provide the less fortunate with a Christmas to remember.

The Duquesa Charitable Society of St. George is collecting Christmas gifts for underprivileged children and supporting soup kitchens during the festive season.

Charity President Dean Shelton has called on the Costa’s expat community to get involved and give something back to Spain.

He said: “We just want to give something back to the community. Being expats, it is good to get involved with Spanish charities and good to show our appreciation of the country we live in.”

The charity has budgeted €4,000 to provide over 400 underprivileged children with a Christmas present in Manilva and Casares.

As part of the Christmas campaign, the charity has also extended its goodwill gesture to an Estepona soup kitchen.

try’s homeless hardest. backing down in the face of The bill is designed to control strong opposition. and punish ‘unsavoury’ beThe new bill also removes the haviour on the streets by finpossibility of suspending existing individuals who are seen ing drug fines (up to €30,000) to be ‘degrading’ public propfor consuming or possessing erty. illegal drugs in a public place.

This could relate Currently, the to €600 fines for Spain’s approach fine can be those sleeping if to those who live suspended on park benches the individual and work on the or squatting on enters into a street corners. streets needs to be rehabilitation Several mubased on respect p ro g r a m m e nicipalities in but that leniSpain, including ency will also Malaga, Sevilla and Granada, be scrapped in the New Year. already impose sanctions for Judith Sunderland, from Hubegging. man Rights Watch, described In Sevilla, the local governSpain’s approach to homement recently tried to increase lessness as ‘a punitive apthe €300 fine for scavenging proach which undermines soin rubbish bins to €750, only cial inclusion strategies and a

7

Charity on the Costa 1,500 - kilos of food

donated to La Nueva Corta residents in Malaga

171 - items of clothing donated to homeless charities by sewing group Knit and Natter in Fuengirola SEASON’S GIVINGS: Dean Shelton (centre) with staff at Emaus Soup Kitchen On December 17, the charity handed over a cheque for €1,600 to the Emaus Foundation to put towards a Christmas Eve meal for 200 people.

For more information visit www.dcso-stgeorge. com

range of basic human rights’.

She added: “Spain’s approach to those who live and work on the streets needs to be based on respect and rights, and to emphasise public health and social services over punitive enforcement.”

It is easy to spare a thought for the homeless as we tuck into turkey around the family dinner table this Christmas.

It’s far harder to emulate the true heroes of this tragic Christmas story - those who get up and do something about it.

703,000 - kilos of food collected in Bancosol’s La Gran Recogida food drive in Andalucia 1,300 - baby grows donated to a Malaga orphanage by Fuengirola residents 400 - children receiving Christmas gifts from Duquesa Society of St. George 900 - euros raised by two Brits, who cycled 100 miles in a day, for four Andalucian Children’s charities

Mercadonating OVER 703,000 kilos of food was collected by Bancosol as part of their annual food drive for homeless organisations.

Hundreds of Mercadona supermarkets set up food banks (pictured left) and asked customers to donate one item of their shopping.

8

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

N E P O H T N2O8 W

www.theolivepress.es

www.theolivepress.es

POLITICAL NEWS

9

the olive press - November 13 - November 26 2014 9 www.theolivepress.es

LAST CHANCE FOR CHANGE TIME is running out to ensure you have your say in the 2015 local, regional and national elections.

You must be 18 or over and registered both on

the ‘padron’ - or town hall register - and voting register, before December 30.

Registration can be made via mail, online or in person at your town hall.

Sleaze shocker

CORR UPTIO

Eye on

We’re all to blame for corruption claims PP official

By Jacqueline Fanchini THE PP’s General Secretary has claimed that Spain’s current corruption crisis comes from ‘all of us’ and is a problem all of society shares.

Maria Dolores Cospedal said: “The same corruption that occurs in a political party is also found in society in general.”

She claimed that accusing politicians of being ‘human filth’ was a fashionable trend.

“I think that corruption affects all political parties and especially those that are serious government contenders,” said Cospedal.

“Obviously when there is an issue of this kind, citizens tend to fixate on those responsible in the government at the time.”

Cospedal also accused the PSOE of suffering from ‘Po-

PROBLEM SHARED: Cospedal demititis’, because they are simply focusing on equalling or bettering the Podemos anti-corruption party.

She argued against those claiming Spain is the most corrupt country in the world, pointing out that measures were being taken; politicians and entrepreneurs are being tried while others are already in prison.

N

ROAD RAGE: Berlanga’s crashed Citreon Xantia

Party crasher A BANKRUPT businessman has been arrested without bail after driving a car containing explosives into the PP’s headquarters in Madrid.

The police underwent terrorist attack protocols after Daniel Perez Berlanga, 37, smashed his Citroen Xantia through the building’s glass entrance. However, nobody was injured.

Berlanga - who blames the PP for losing his property empire six months ago - said explosives were set to detonate within half an hour of the incident.

Police uncovered a homemade bomb made up of two gas cylinders tied to 5.8 kilos of ammonium nitrate, mixed with petrol and a detonator.

SATELLITE RECEIVERS always in stock:

Junta put-down JUNTA boss Susana Diaz has come under fire from the head of the PP in Cadiz, Antonio Sanz, for having ‘no interest’ in the region she governs.

He said that these were ‘times of corrupt politicians’ and that Diaz (PSOE) ‘isn’t interested in Andalucia’.

“She doesn’t govern or manage anything; she isn’t a president,” he said.

“There are more cases of

ANGRY: Antonio Sanz

corruption in the Junta now than there were before,” added Sanz, who is also the deputy PP spokesman in the Andalucian Parliament.

Poll position

PODEMOS topped the polls for a second month and leads the field in 14 provinces.

Money matters

PODEMOS has revealed that since its creation in January it has received €865,886 in private donations.

Private donations make up 82.4% of the party’s income, with €87,640 being collected every month.

Podemos currently has 9,335 regular financial supporters who on average donate €9.38 per month.

Nationally, Podemos is ahead with 26.5%, while the PP stands at 24.4% and the PSOE lags behind with 22.5%.

The anti-corruption party is proving to be a force to be reckoned with, prompting reports that the PP and PSOE may be considering holding early elections.

On the whole in Andalucia, the PSOE is still ahead with 30.2%, while the PP comes in second with 23.7%, and Podemos is very close behind with 22.5%.

Podemos would now win with a strong lead in Las Palmas (37.5%), Barcelona, (36.7%), Madrid (35.9%) and ten other places.

See-thru Spain

THE central government has launched a new transparency website to clamp down on corruption.

Transparencia.gob.es reveals over 500,000 details relating to public spending, contracts and subsidies.

The €300,000 project represents the first major effort by the PP to clear up corruption and is part of a new transparency law.

Some data will only be available upon request and a Council of Transparency has been set up to deal with any complaints or petitions.

Anyone can submit a request and a reply must be given within 30 days.

High speed 3G/4G Absolutely unlimited Plug & play installation

1010the olive press - December 23

AXARQUIA

- January 6 2014

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bunking off A PSYCHOLOGIST, a social educator, and a head teacher have devised a strategy to reduce the high level of truancy in Nerja’s schools.

Royal revamp THE Marques Beniel Palace in Velez-Malaga is set for a makeover as part of the town’s €170,000 redevelopment plan.

Food fest MORE than 35,000 people flocked to Torrox during December’s Fiesta de las Migas, to celebrate the region’s 33rd annual food festival.

School flood A PUBLIC school in VelezMalaga has been ordered to carry out emergency repairs after classrooms were left flooded for three weeks.

Since November 27, six of the CEIP Nations’ 10 prefabricated buildings have been closed, forcing teachers to hold lessons in other areas of the school, including the library and cafeteria.

The school’s board have now announced a multi-million euro revamp, to meet regulations set by the Andalucian Public Education Agency.

10 www.theolivepress.es

POISONED! EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan THE agonising death of five dogs in Competa is being treated as ‘suspicious’ by the Guardia Civil.

The dogs - a mix of Huskies, Newfoundlanders and Podencos - died in a matter of minutes from internal bleeding after ingesting what is believed to be strychnine poisoning.

They were discovered on the side of the road, looking in pain, by expat couple Marian and Jacob Madsen who took them to their German owners.

“We passed the bins on the road from Competa to Torrox and noticed the dogs,” said Marian Madsen.

“Suddenly the Huskie began to lose his legs under him, trembled and vomited.“My husband screamed ‘he is poisoned’ and I grabbed the dog in my arms and rushed up the dirt road to where we could hear their owners.”

The dogs’ owners - who wish to remain anonymous - told the Olive Press that they suspect the poisoning was carried out ‘on purpose’.

Expat vet Jens Klausen examined the dogs shortly after they died and said he

Guardia Civil investigate fatal poisoning of German couple’s five dogs

HEART-BREAKING: The dogs died instantly after being poisoned

was ‘90% sure of foul play’.

He said: “The dogs were definitely poisoned, they all died within minutes of eating the poison.

“Strychnine is often left out illegally by Spanish hunters to kill foxes and stray cats so

that could have been what happened. But it may be that someone deliberately gave the dogs the poison.”

So far the Guardia Civil have made no arrests but have been talking to residents in the area.

We listen and we care when helping you plan for the inevitable Take out an Iberian Funeral Plan today!

Call us for a no-obligation chat

A very Happy & Safe Christmas from Iberian Funeral Plans Call us on: (+34) 952 490 690 or (+34) 952 491 788

info@iberianfuneralplans.com www.iberianfuneralplans.com

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF

Shot down A FORMER police officer accused of committing fraud and perverting the course of justice denies shooting himself to cover his tracks.

Crackdown BORDER police have stepped up measures to prevent fireworks being illegally imported from Spain into Gibraltar without a licence.

Rock’s records THE birth, marriage and death records of British military personnel who served on the Rock are now available to the public at the National Archives.

Reel it in

11

UR OR LUX TIAL F

IVING IOUS L

C U LT U R NEWS I

E I

COMPL

EDITION

CEMBER

ESSEN

e

R ALTAARY GIBRIMENT

EMBER/DE

N º11 -NOV

014 MBER 2

New Year celebrations with fireworks and a Soulmates concert in Casemates Square.

R/DECE

December 31, 11pm

VEMBE 11 • NO

Teen Spirit Xmas club night playing 90s songs all night at the Rock on the Rock. Entry £5 at 41 Town Range.

ISSUE

December 25, 10:30pm

FOR Gibraltar’s premier power couple – Fabian and Justine Picardo – this Christmas will be celebrated just like every other…

With an all-out festive feast that would leave even Barack and Michelle Obama green with jealousy.

The Rock’s First Lady told Essential Gibraltar magazine about their classic Christmas with the whole gang at her family’s Italian restaurant, 4 Stagioni.

“We close off the restaurant to the public and all the family come,” said the lawyer and mother.

“Last year 25 of us sat down to suckling pig, roast beef, goat, lamb and all the trimmings.”

The Chief Minister is clearly proud of his wife and when questioned over her place in the world of 21st century First Ladies, has told the Olive Press: “She’s tougher than Michelle Obama, that’s for sure.”

On the Rock, she is also known as the ‘First Lady of Fashion’, but she has a permanent collection of shoes at the menders because high heels don’t stand a chance on Gibraltar’s cobbled streets.

She has also revealed the story of how her husband proposed to her at the top of the Rock in January 2011.

“I was in complete shock.

It was a classic Fabian gesture, very romantic if slightly cheesy,” she said.

“It was eight in the morning, I was wearing my jogging suit and trainers, hair tied back, no make-up on. I think I was even wearing my glasses!

“Fabian hadn’t stopped to consider that I might have altar ine® gibr l magaz essentia

ON the Rock

11

Christmas with the Picardos

ial essent

FISHERMAN have until January 1 to register for a fishing licence after the Rock’s regulatory body issued new guidelines.

the olive press - December Gibraltar NEWS11 - December 24 2014

Boom town ROCK

TION CONSTRUCENZY! FR

ne Justird PicFIRaST LAoDY

OF FASHION

WOWi8!

THE BMW

Eco

es Celebriti

A BRIVUERRCRM UISING

der WonCH ES WAT

E I GOURM EISURE PRO I L I S PA I I ST YLE I TREND PEOPLE

E T & MOR

STUNNER: Justine Picardo is a trendsetter and (inset) Essential magazine cover

wanted to look a bit more glamorous so we could take photos of the momentous occasion,” she added.

And as fate would have it, she

is now expecting their second child.

And just like his/ her brother they will arrive in the middle of an election year.

déjà vu

Police bullying probe Picardo demands investigation into police bullying allegations

CHIEF Minister Fabian Picardo has launched a probe into allegations of ‘institutional racism and sexism’ within the Gibraltar Police Authority.

A former UK police officer has accused the GPA of being ‘built on a hierarchy of bullies’ and claims she was left ‘battered and bruised’ from a three-day police constable assessment.

Picardo has asked the GPA

By Rob Horgan

to provide a factual report in response to the allegations, after meeting with police officials.

The British police officer who for now is remaining anonymous - told Gibraltar’s Panorama newspaper that a Chief Inspector ‘ridiculed and made fun of candidates’ based on their

Grin and bear it RUNNING semi-naked into the icy waves on Boxing Day probably isn’t high on most people’s Christmas wish list… unless you live in Gibraltar.

This year, as usual, the hardiest Gibraltarians will be taking on the Polar Bear swim on the 26th at Catalan Bay, so-called because only a Polar Bear could possibly

BRAVING IT: Hundreds do their best polar bear impression enjoy such a thing.

Hot brandy, mince pies and a Polar Bear certificate are the just rewards for those hu-

mans brave enough to take the plunge.

The tradition also raises money for various charities.

race and sex.

She claims the inspector nicknamed a black candidate ‘Obama’, labelled British people ‘lemons’ and complained female officers were inferior because ‘they’re off every bloody month with their PMS’.

Allegations

Among the officer’s long list of shocking allegations, she claims the 52 candidates were forced to run over ground which contained live ammunition while RGP officers called them ‘f*cking idiots’ and ‘f*cking sheep’ when they would not.

She said: “We were told not to pick anything up or kick anything, because if we did ‘we would at best lose a leg or a hand’.”

The GPA issued a statement in response saying the commissioner believed the allegations will be found to be ‘unsubstantiated’.

déjà vu Quality pre-owned furniture & goods for your home Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00-14.00 Evenings by appointment Plaza de la Constitucion, Jimena de la Frontera 11330 Telephone /Telefono – 636 730 542 Opposite Bar Vecina & next to Taxi Rank Like us on Facebook - dejavuvintageshop-Jimena

12

the olive press - December 23 --January January662014 2014

www.theolivepress.es

GREEN NEWS

Big topple Expat campaigns to extend Malaga’s animal circus ban throughout Costa del Sol EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan AN animal-loving expat has launched a campaign to ban animal circuses in Manilva and Casares after they were outlawed in Malaga city.

The Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, announced on December 14 that animal circuses would no longer be allowed in the city.

Now animal rights activist Angela Ferguson, from Middlesex, UK, believes it is time the law was wheeled out across the Costa del Sol. “The abuse and torture that these animals suffer for ‘entertainment’ is horrendous,” Ferguson said.

ANIMAL CIRCUS: Entertainment or cruelty?

“You only have to see the cramped metal containers that they are shunted around in during the hottest time of the year to picture the suffering they go through.

“As more and more people become aware of how these animals suffer, the less they want to see it, especially in

their own areas.”

Ferguson needs 1,000 signatures to submit her petition to the town hall.

So far she has collected 300 signatures.

Visit www.gopetition.com and search ‘stop the use of animals in circuses in Manilva and Casares’ to support.

13

Sprung greens GREENPEACE activists have dodged lengthy prison sentences after breaking into Spain’s most powerful nuclear plant.

A total of 16 activists and a photojournalist faced up to three years in jail – and fines of up to €357,000 – for damage caused at the Iberdrola-run Cofrentes plant, near Valencia.

The Valencia court instead fined each activist €1,080, and Greenpeace a further €2,232, for damage to a fence at the plant which produces 5% of the country’s electricity.

Activists and Agence France-Press photojournalist Pedro Armestre, 42, were accused of criminal damage, breaching public order and injuring two security guards.

Mario Rodriguez, Director of Greenpeace in Spain, said: “The sentence makes clear that attempts to criminalise peaceful protest have been in vain.

“They will not be able to silence us with threats or big fines, nor with threats of jail.”

Corporate conquistadors SPECIAL REPORT

By Nick Fillmore SPANISH fossil fuel giant Repsol has been slammed in a new report detailing how multinationals are destroying the environment in South America.

A report – released by three public interest groups – describes in detail the destruction caused by three European corporations including Repsol, Swiss-based Glencore Xstrata and Italian Enel-Endesa.

The report – released by the Democracy Centre of San Francisco, the Corporate Europe Observatory of Brussels and the Transnational Institute of Amsterdam – details how the corporations are causing serious climate damage.

“In the case of Repsol, we

SLAMMED: Repsol is accused of environmental destruction

see how the relentless pursuit of new gas and oil reserves in Peru takes direct aim at the region’s indigenous territories and forests, leaving social destruction in

its wake,” reads the report.

It adds that further expansion from Repsol will be ‘at the cost of devastation of indigenous communities and their cultures, as well

as the destruction of forests, biodiversity and water resources’.

Repsol is currently investing in future reserves at one of the highest rates in the world, in locations including the Amazon rainforest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Canary Islands.

The report also accuses Repsol of being ‘at the heart’ of the Camisea project, a highly controversial plan to extract natural gas from the middle of Peru’s delicate rainforest.

At the climate change conference COP20, held in Lima this month, indigenous people from across the world made an appeal to UN leaders and national governments against the damage suffered in their communities.

14

LETTERS

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

www.theolivepress.es

POTTED POINTERS

Sex abuse has got to end

Down to earth airport views

ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS

AS a victim of sex abuse from within the Catholic church, I was touched reading your feature (On their knees, issue 202).

Each and every Pope, Cardinal and Bishop linked to clear and convincing evidence of sex abuse should be arrested on charges of rape, child endangerment and murder.

Why murder? Thousands of us priest rape victims have committed suicide because of the abuse at the hands of this church. Each victim who committed suicide because of it, was murdered in my eyes.

1. They call us liars and gold diggers, looking for a payday from their church.

2. They proclaim we seduced our rapist priests.

3. They claim because we did not punch our rapist priests when they were raping us, that means we not only wanted to be raped, we enjoyed being raped and are homosexuals because of it.

4. We should just forgive but never, ever seek prosecution of the ones who committed these crimes against us. For to do so makes us anti-Catholic bigots and haters.

5. We have had priests state that they want to take us into a room with a baseball bat and beat us to show us what real pain and suffering is.

This has to end RIGHT NOW.

IN the article ‘Dead Air’ (issue 203), Spanish Transport Minister Ana Pastor Julian states, quite correctly, that the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain is ‘illegally occupied by the British’.

In his autobiography ‘Without Prejudice’, Marshall of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder tells of a ‘strategic decision in Washington to extend the runway at RAF Gibraltar’, in preparation for ‘Operation Torch’ – the Allied invasion of NorthWest Africa.

Whoever made that decision had enough clout to completely override The

This week: 77.35% Same week last year: 72.36% Same week in 2004: 50.99% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.22 American dollars 0.78 British pounds 1.42 Canadian dollars 7.44Danish kroner 9.48 H Kong dollars 9.02 Norwegian kroner 1.61 Singapore dollars

Frank LaFerriere, New Hampshire, USA

Lighting fail YOUR last issue stated that the Christmas lights in Malaga ‘never fail to disappoint’.

Surely that should read; never fail to please, delight or captivate. I am certain that you do not mean they disappoint. Because the Christmas lights in Malaga delight me, I am going to see them again. I read and re-read the caption and just could not grasp it as printed so I decided to write.

It shows that your readers are interested in your publication and not just using it for wrapping up fish and chips, but there are too many lovely colour prints for that anyway.

Treaty of Utrecht: “The isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain should be forever free

of military weaponry or habitat of any kind”. In recent years this clause has often

I live in Mollina where the Olive Press is delivered to Lazy Days mobile park. I look forward to it and this week, because the sun shone, I actually sat outside with a cup of tea and relished it page by page.

to sell only perishable foods on Sunday? I can remember a furniture store that would sell potatoes and carrots at £100, and then throw in a ‘free’ sofa.

William Norton, Mollina

Kind reminder SOME years ago my young female dog escaped from a friend’s garden in Calahonda which we all thought was ‘escape-proof’.

We hunted for hours trying to find her and eventually somebody called my mobile using the number on my dog’s collar. They had rescued her from the N340 where traffic was running fast in the drizzling rain.

We managed to meet up and my dog was returned clearly very nervous and frightened, but saved by a good Samaritan. Let this be a reminder of the importance of other’s kindness, especially when we are in distress.

David Kitson, Mijas Costa

Not just Spain WITH regard to the theatre company selling porn instead of tickets as an austerity protest, I must disagree that this would only happen in Spain (TaXXX-rated porn, issue 202). How long ago was it that the UK’s ‘Lord’s Day Observance’ laws allowed shops

Alun Whittaker, Alhaurin el Grande

Cheeky minks I HAVE recently seen two American Mink outside Colorado, Cadiz. I cannot find any reference to escaped mink in the south of Spain, usually they are farmed in the north.

Is this an unusual sighting?

David Attenborough, Cadiz

MINK: Have you seen one?

Slim hope PODEMOS is an unknown quantity. Nobody knows their true intentions yet, or what they will do if elected. National opinion polls presently favour them above all the other parties and that only shows how desperate people are for change. A bloke with a cardboard box on his head would probably garner more votes than those running the show right now.

Academia is as mired in corruption and nepotism as the

been conveniently overlooked.

While the airport itself is immensely popular, it is also listed as the fifth most dangerous in the world.

Its proximity to the Rock, low cloud and frequent turbulence pose a unique challenge to pilots.

In 2005 the (then) Commander of the British Forces stated: “If the airfield itself were not military it would be shut for safety reasons.

“There are buildings that have emerged quite close to the runway that would not normally be allowed.”

Mike Hamence, Sabinillas current crop of politicians.

But maybe, just maybe, there are some sincere, honest folk in Podemos who will implement genuine reform.

There’s only one way to find out…

Stefanjo Slawinski, Sotogrande

New body IF Spain is serious about eradicating corruption, it needs to set up an independent body of non-Spanish, non-politically affiliated professionals from abroad to monitor and track all government funds. These people would provide complete transparency, check bank accounts, keep records, track and report every penny spent and make sure that all monies – like the EU millions sent to Andalucia to help the unemployed – are used for that purpose. All figures should be published regularly.

Yes, it would cost money to set the system up but nothing compared to the savings that would be made.

Jane Garret, Axarquia

Game on IT is commonly held that it is difficult to eat game in a Marbella restaurant, but today I ate zorzales (thrushes) and jabali (wild boar) within 100 metres of my home.

AJ Linn, Marbella

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

CROSSMOT 47

Across 1 Limpió (7) * 5 Nivel (5) * 8 Oscilado (5) * 9 Aduana (7) * 10 Specialised (13) * 11 Consternación (6) * 12 Palos (6) * 15 Terribly (13) * 18 Legend (7) * 19 Seven (5) * 20 They (5) * 21 Operated (7).

Down 1 Swan (5) * 2 Crews (7) * 3 Talks (13) * 4 Showers (6) * 5 Systems (3, 8, 2) * 6 Violates (5) * 7 Lecciones (7) * 11 Detail (7) * 13 Sentence (7) * 14 Ally (6) * 16 Real (5) * 17 January (5).

L = 199

la cultura

15 www.theolivepress.es

15

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

what’s on

E

stepona. December 22, 7pm THE

‘Magic from Hogwarts’ show by the Espectaculos Lorca will captivate Harry Potter fans.

Tickets €10 adults and €8 children, at the Cultural Centre. Call 609 900 462 to book

M

alaga. December 30, 2 January, 9pm THE Ukrainian

National Ballet of Odessa perform the ‘Swan Lake’ winter classic.

Tickets €18-€54, at Teatro Cervantes. Call 952 22 41 09

T

orre del Mar. December 31, 11am13pm ‘FIN de Ano’ New

Year celebrations at noon including a glass of cava and 12 grapes with the Lux Mundi Christian foundation.

Call 952 543 334 or email luxmundi@luxmundi.org for bookings

F

uengirola. January 2, 11am ACTIVI-

TIES, stalls and entertainment, on Avenida Condes de San Isidro.

Migration matters AN award-winning documentary is available to watch online for free to celebrate international migrants’ day.

The Land Between – which has scooped Best Film awards from across Europe in its continent wide tour – is available without charge until the end of December.

The documentary follows the plight of migrants at all stages of their journey to Europe and is available with subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German.

The number of undocumented migrants entering Spain’s North African enclave of Melilla has surged to more than 4,600 so far this year.

For more information, visit www.thelandbetweenfilm. com

ICONIC: Cordoba’s Mosque-Cathedral is at the centre of the dispute

War of words Andalucia battles Church move to strike ‘Mosque’ from Cordoba Cathedral title

SPAIN’S Catholic Church and Andalucia’s Tourist Board are locked in a bitter dispute over the renaming of Cordoba’s most iconic building.

The row centres on the removal of the word ‘mosque’ from the title of the city’s famous Mosque-Cathedral, even though the cathedral is actually built around the mosque, after it was reconverted in the 13th century.

The region’s tourism department has filed a complaint with Church authorities over what it believes are moves

By Rob Horgan to ‘blot out the building’s Islamic past’.

Tourism chief Rafael Rodriguez said that the Church’s decision to simply call it ‘The Cordoba Cathedral’ on its website and pamphlets could prove THE work of legendary French artist and sculptor Louise detrimental to the one milBourgeois will be displayed at Malaga’s Picasso Museum lion annual tourists who next summer.

The museum has revealed its planned 2015 exhibitions, visit the Mezquita, as it is also including Spanish painter Maria Blanchard and Geralso known. man artist Max Beckman.

Cathedral spokesman Bourgeois, who died in 2010 aged 98, is known for her enorJose Juan Gimenez Gueto mous spider sculptures, earning her the nickname ‘spiderdescribed the dispute as woman’.

More than 100 works will be on show, including some dis‘an artificial controversy’, played in public before. pointing out that visitor The exhibition, titled ‘retrospective’, will run from June 15 to numbers increase yearly.

September 27.

He added that the Church was ‘proud of the monument’s past’ and doesn’t try to conceal it.

The Mosque itself was built in the eighth century and was transformed into a cathedral in the 13th century after King Ferdinand III captured the city from the Moors.

The monument - still called the Mosque-Cathedral by Cordoba Town Hall - was crowned a UNESCO World STRIKING: Bourgeois’ Heritage Site in 1984. spider and (right) Ste

Web designs

Sebastienne

15 15

Thinking outside the box AN expat author has been making international headlines with her debut novel.

La Cala-based Julie McSorley and her son Marcus have retold the incredible tale of Australian javelin thrower Reg Spiers in Out of the Box. After failing to qualify for the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, the aptly-named Spiers found himself penniless and desperate to return to his homeland.

Unable to afford a plane ticket, the then 22-year-old concocted a devious scheme with rival British athlete John McSorley – the husband of Julie – to pack himself into a crate and air-freight himself back to Australia.

Featured in The Telegraph, as well as in numerous local media, the book has been receiving rave reviews worldwide.

la cultura

1616the olive press - December 23

www.theolivepress.es

- January 6 2014

Feliz fiestas!

N

EWCOMERS to Spain often wonder why resorts turn into spooky ghost towns on Christmas Eve afternoon but there’s a simple answer.

It’s the one fiesta the Spanish stay in for!

Aside from ferias and fiestas, the two ‘F-words’ that are firmly ingrained in the Spanish psyche over the festive season are ‘food’ and ‘family’.

Nochebuena Unlike Britain, where office workers migrate to the local p u b o n

Christm a s Eve, or to the supermarket for a frantic last-minute trolley dash, come December 24 the Spanish have been there, done that and got the T-shirts wrapped up.

They are headed for home to

kick-start Nochebuena with a massive family feast...

But you won’t witness the gobbling of turkeys around the Spanish family dinner table. Brussels sprouts (hard to swallow, even if you are British) are also conspicuously absent. A crisp suckling pig or lamb is more to Spanish taste, a l o n g w i t h mountains of the most sumptuous seafood the family budget will stretch to.

It’s much later, fuelled with food, that the Spanish hit town: youngsters to discos, older folks to midnight mass, or La Misa Del Gallo (The

WHAT A BELEN: Festive scenes (above) are a common sight in cities and pueblos, while (left) New Year’s lucky grapes

Mass of the Rooster), socalled because a rooster is said to have crowed on the night that Jesus was born.

“A work of art” Radio COPE

“A vision” “Marvellous” THE OLIVE PRESS

CANAL SUR

“tense from the first to the last moment” Brígida Gallego Coín

“a book you cannot “electrifying...Lorca put down” fans will thrill to this” J G Harlond

Available in bookshops and online from October 20, 2014...

Check out www.song-of-granada.com

for events, reviews and local appearances by the author

Turkeys are safe in Spain over the festive season, instead the locals celebrate in their own quirky way... writes Tom Powell

Pan Zador

Parties and socialising until the wee small hours are the big finale to Nochebuena traditions.

Christmas Day is a bit of a non-event for the Spanish who, in traditional mañana fashion, delay the main present-giving until Three Kings on January 6th (who were, themselves, two years late for the Nativity).ww Unlike Britain’s presents-atdawn and all-day banqueting, a lie-in, an Alka-Seltzer and a light salad are the order of the day. Families chill at home or mooch around town to visit the various belenes (nativity scenes). And Boxing Day for us is often back to work for them.

When you wake up on December 28 – the Day of the Innocent Saints – be wary of spoof stories in the morning papers and on the news channels. It’s Spanish April Fools Day – aka Día de los Inocentes! The story behind it is a little more sinister, as it is the day people remember that wicked King Herod had every baby killed in the hope that Jesus would be among them.

Nochevieja New Year’s Eve – Nochevieja – is all about ‘grape’ expectations for the year ahead.

The idea is to eat 12 grapes at midnight, being careful to swallow one in time with each stroke of the clock. If you’ve ever tried it with fresh grapes, and found yourself still chewing away on a mouthful of skin and seeds at 12.01, cheat and buy the seedless, skinless tinned variety from the supermarket.

Explains Madrileña Mirian Moreno, now a Costa del Sol resident: “It is one grape for

DELICIOUS: Roscon de Reyes hides a secret surprise

each month and they bring you luck. But some people say it gives you even more luck to do it a day early, and that way you can beat the crowds in the city centres too!”

After that, the Spanish throw themselves into the mother of all parties, without a care for mañana let alone the next 12 months.

Dia de los Magos Reyes Bigger than Christmas for Spanish children, Three Kings Day on January 6 is when the serious presents are given out.

On January 5, there are float processions through most towns, when the merry monarchs hurl boiled sweets into the crowded streets. Wear

sunglasses, as a fruit drop in the eye can be painful!

Children will have written to Santa on our Boxing Day to ask for this year’s must-have toys. On Three Kings Eve, they often leave shoes under the Christmas tree or on the terrace to be filled with presents.

Satsumas, walnuts and a small glass of cognac (rather than milk) are traditionally left out to help Santa on his merry (hic) way.

Naughty children might receive coal but the Three Kings are push-overs and the lumps of coal are sweets in disguise.

Traditional sweetmeats decorate the family table, such as the Roscon de Reyes, a cake with a hole in it, like a doughnut.

Hidden in the dough, among the figs, cherries and candied peel, is a surprise trinket.

The lucky recipient is blessed for the year ahead, but there’s a catch. It’s their turn to buy the cake next year!

Then comes January 7, the day that for many nationalities is better than Christmas, Nochevieja and Three Kings rolled into one. It’s the start of the January sales...

A

Nevada S ierra A Sierra Nevada

www. theolive17 www.theolivepress.es ll about

AXARQUIA

the olive press - October 30 - November 12 2014

ll about

Vol. 9, Issue 203 www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 201417 1717

December 23rd- January 6th 2014

No business like snow business There’s nothing like a day on the pistes for conjuring up the Christmas spirit. Ice queens Imogen Calderwood and Jacqueline Fanchini sloped off for a taste of the ‘high life’ - sadly without the king - in the snow-capped peaks of the sunny Sierra Nevada

P

OWDER snow crunching beneath your feet, sun warming your face, kamikaze snowboarders flying through the air... nowhere on the Iberian peninsula are perfect skiing conditions such a safe bet as in the Sierra Nevada. Christmas card views, adrenaline-pumping thrills and cloudless skies for catching an out-of-season suntan - the resort sometimes nicknamed the ‘Costa del Ski’ has it all!

Famously, you can ski here in the morning and then head down for a spot of water skiing off the Granada coast (just down the road) in the afternoon.

BIKINI SKIING: A group of thrill seekers enjoy the weather

Turn to Page 18

REGAL RESORT: King Felipe enjoyed the high life just months before his coronation

www.theolivepress.es 18 18 18

A

Sierra Nevada

the olive press - October 30 - November 12 2014

ll about

www.theolivepress.es

Economic peaks THE Sierra Nevada generates a massive €400 million per season for the Granada region, as well as employing more than 8,500 workers.

Tourists spent more than €196 million in the 2013-2014 winter season, with an additional €46 million spent by local residents and workers, according to a study by the University of Granada.

Jobs

Using input and output tables to establish the extra knock-on effect of this spending and the total economic input is €411 million.

A total of 54% of this goes into the resort itself, 20% goes into the city of Granada, and the rest into Andalucia and Spain.

To maintain this, the resort requires 8,592 workers during the season, which corresponds to 1.6% of the jobs in Granada province.

From page 17

And fanatics can even ski - in bikinis and swimming costumes, if you fancy it - at Europe’s sunniest ski resort, usually well into May. The land of ‘sun, ski and sangria’ is incredibly just a two-hour drive from Marbella on the toll road… and an hour and a bit from Malaga.

Despite years of family skiing holidays, neither of us believed that such good quality snow could possibly be found so close to the beaches of the Costa del Sol. And nothing beats the feeling of turning the last corner on a perilously-twisting mountain road and catching your first glimpse of the white stuff.

It’s a childish thrill that never fails to delight and our weekend away in the Sierra Nevada ticked all our ‘winter wonderland’ boxes.

The highest mountain range in southern Europe, the serrated edges of the peaks – Sierra fittingly also means ‘teeth of a saw’ – cast a spectacular skyline against the sunset as we wound our way towards the ski resort.

Motorists tailgate each other like ducklings hurrying to keep up with their mother, almost appearing ner-

PRISTINE: Adrenaline addicts zoom down the stunning white slopes

Slide away... vous of being stranded alone on the steep uphill road or coming to grief on a tight bend with a sheer drop below.

As we crossed spectacular mountain passes panning out into valleys, we were treated to dramatic views down to Granada far below, with its landmark Alhambra Palace and reservoirs glowing in the golden lateafternoon sun.

When driving at dusk, watch out for bovine obstacles; we came dangerously close to taking out a family of cows ambling slowly across the road in search of grass.

The Sierra Nevada has one of the longest ski seasons

in the world, kicking off in late November and welcoming visitors for glacier skiing into May. Although early in the season, just 45 km of pistes are open out of a potential 110 km, it is the first resort in Spain… and one of the first in Europe to be properly open and underway.

As well as a significant snowfall at the end of November (just in time for the December 6 ‘puente’), the snow machines work around the clock and a healthy amount of white powder has already set the bar for the coming months.

Although arriving at the resort woefully unprepared for a day on the slope – leggings are no protection

the olive press - October 30 - November 12 2014

19

19

EXPERIENCED: Jose Antonio and Mayte at Skisol

Customer is king from the icy cold – the good people at Surfin’ snowboard shop kitted us out, even loaning us a pair of one of their instructor’s waterproof trousers.

We would have liked to borrow his ‘professional ski legs’ too… in more ways than one!

As the rising sun set the snowy peaks aflame the next morning, we were on fire too, anxious to fit in as many runs as possible.

We’d heard a rumour that if you don’t park your car at the lift station before 9am, you haven’t got a chance, but there was still ample parking at lunchtime.

The queues for lift passes and chair lifts were short but if you visit later in the season, or during the school holidays, particularly Semana Santa, Christmas week and Semana Blanca in February, it can get snow – ideal for families and a little congested. Outside of those – like us – getting back those three weeks you should onto snowboards after a few have no problems. years’ out.

Thanks to a €3.1 million cash Risk-takers will be happy to injection from the hear that the Andalucian tourist more challengboard – which has ing red and black This year also contributed runs will be open three new lifts this there are some as the snowfall season – the price along exciting new increases, for passes has rewith the imopenings mained the same for pressive Sulayr the last four years Snowpark which (€45 for an adult day boasts 110 different ramps pass). and rails and the largest skiWrestling skis onto lifts while jump in Europe. kitted out like Michelin men At night, you will also not be is an art in itself but finally we disappointed. As well as a made it to the top, two snow fantastic range of amazing queens surveying our kingdom! restaurants, which gets better Then it was downhill all the way every year, there is some fun ... in a really good way! nightlife.

The slopes open at the moment This year, there are some excitare easier blues and greens, ing new openings, including the heavily dusted with powder beautiful tapas bar Tito Tapas,

JOYFULL: Sking with the family, an instructor or friends, it’s always a fun experience Nevada sojourn only slightly battered and bruised and positively glowing with festive cheer.

That’s another special characteristic about this sunny winter sports resort. Your snowman won’t melt. Thanks to the resort’s high altitude, you could build one in November and pay it a return visit in the New Year!

a brand new Japanese Jinsei and the hip El Club de la Montana, run by local dynamos Luis and Mayte.

Then there are no less than two new wine bars and even a fabulous new Portuguese cafe.

Nothing is standing still.

For a cosy, friendly atmosphere combined with a spectacular array of spirits, head to Bar Ski in the main parade, where owner Sebastian Hollanda Lopez has been a cheerful fixture for the past 28 years.

Like most places in the resort, the ‘free tapa with your drink’ deal offers the perfect opportunity to sample some of chef Paco Martin Ortega’s delicious cooking.

And there’s nothing like a comforting cup of hot chocolate for warming the cockles, on tap at Mama Goye’s chocolate shop.

We returned from our Sierra

Know your piste colour codes Learners

Beginners

Experts Intermediates

NO COLOUR: Off-piste… only for pros and James Bond

IT is a classic family business.

Jose Antonio Lopez and his wife Montse are often joined by their two children at weekends when the resort gets busy.

But thankfully it’s not too far, the family living in nearby La Zubia, just at the foot of the slopes.

In an excellent location, their shop Skisol has some of the best quality skis and snowboards to rent and customer service is the key to its success.

“We always put the customer first and have plenty of returning business,” explains Jose Antonio, who has been renting out skis in the Sierra Nevada for 35 years.

Best of all, the prices have not gone up for a decade, with boots and ski rental costing just €23 and the entire kit for just €18.

“And we don’t just rent out any old equipment… we buy at least 50 new pairs of boots alone each season,” he adds.

Visit www.skisol.es or call 958 48 08 57

www.theolivepress.es 20 20 20the olive press - December 23

- January 6 2014

www.theolivepress.es

A

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 201421 21

Sierra Nevada

the olive press - October 30 - November 12 2014

ll about

It’s snow joke Jon Clarke on the terrors of trying to teach your own children how to ski

I

F there’s one golden rule of skiing, it’s DON’T knows no bounds. teach your own children how to do it.

So why on Earth am I so keen for my youngsters It was a lesson I learnt the hard way when to learn to ski?

I recently found myself flailing down a green The unselfish reason is I want them to develop run in the Sierra Nevada with both my youngsters a skill that will keep them fit and that they can in tow. enjoy for years to come.

Enthusiastic and fearless - like their dad - they The selfish reason is that I want an excuse to had somehow persuaded me to take them up for go to the Sierra Nevada as much as possible a couple of runs before their scheduled lesson throughout the season. was set to begin at 11am.

For there is nothing as lovely as taking in the But when we all fell over in the first lift queue I mountain air and breathtaking views of the Sigot the hint that I might have been a touch fool- erra Nevada. Bright sunshine, a gentle breath of hardy. wind and a glass of Veuve Clicquot in the chamPulling them both up again we finally alighted the pagne bar on the way down. chair only for Alfie, my five-year-old, to fall off the Now something of a winter ritual since moving to other side, stopping the lift for him to be scooped Andalucia over a decade ago, a day or weekend up by the lift operator. away in the Granada skiing resort is always great Within 30 seconds of moving again came the fun. first cry of cold and then the announcement that Heading up with friends, there are usually behe was ‘not going to ski down’. tween 50 and 100kms of runs in a good year and And after falling over again as we got off the lift, the choice of places to eat in the resort is surprisI felt pretty certain he was going to have to be ingly good, not to mention good value compared carried down. to the normal skiing resort prices.

However, he suddenly got his ski legs and we Then, of course, you get the health benefits. All took off - well tumbled really – down the slope. that fresh air and movement for hours at a time I had tried to get their skies into the classic snow- has got to be good for you. My search engine plough position and told them to head sideways produces millions of results when the keywords not straight downhill. ‘health benefit’ and ‘skiing’ are entered.

But, of course, it doesn’t work like that and while A random look at one describes it as such: “Pure Alfie went left, Maia, eight, shot off to the right, zingy mountain air contains lower levels of oxyscreaming blue murder. gen than we are generally used to… the body A horrible moment having to decide which of your becomes more efficient in its circulation and oxytwo children to save, I plumped for the youngest, gen delivery… which is great for sluggish deska daredevil, with no fear, but no sooner had I bound types!” Quite. picked him up, I skidded off after Maia, who was It goes on to talk about stress-busting, facing by now on a totally different run 100 metres away fears and overcoming frustrations. and in floods of tears.

Without a doubt few things are as exhilarating We regrouped and I attempted to get them to fol- as heading to the top of the highest ski lift, at low me down in a zig zag with promises of brav- 3,300 metres, just below Mulhacen, where the ery medals and hot chocolate at the bottom. views make the Mediterraneanan below look like After five falls each and a shout from an an- a small pond, with half the coastline of Morocco gry teacher, when clearly in view. we bombed straight It is an amazing through his class sendplace, although it can ing the pupils tumbe a little nippy up bling, they made it to there with the wind the bottom with, guess whistling past, so what, huge smiles on make sure to bring a their faces. coat and jumper.

It was a lesson in damFrom here, compeage control and I just tent skiers are spoilt about passed, but I with the amazing vowed to leave the job runs of the Laguna of training them to the de las Yeguas area, professionals. including the celThe rest of the hour ebrated Olympic run, before their lesson was which is full of twists spent on the very, very and turns. nursery slope (and its Here, you can somebizarre ‘magic carpet’ times find yourself tunnel), luckily with a skiing alone midweek Dutch friend and her and the sheer nature daughter, who was an and landscape are equal novice. spectacular.

Up there on the one dePradollano itself is gree slope practically a pleasant place to nothing can go wrong, simply take in the air and it was a huge relief or a spot of lunch, when I handed them and there is a fair over to the very caamount for children pable teachers at the to do, with enterEOE ski school, whose tainers and Disney patience apparently NO TUNNEL VISION: Maia and Alfie on the way up figures wandering

MOVIN’ ON UP: Maia and Alfie (left with dad) and above at lesson around, particularly at Easter and Christmas.

It has also, rightfully, got a good reputation as being a resort for fun, with the famous apres-ski being some of the best in Europe.

The resort really started to evolve quickly from 1995 when the World Skiing Championship was scheduled to be held there (it actually took place the following year due to poor snow).

“Since then the infrastructure changes were huge and it is now a big resort,” explains Giles Birch, who has run the rapidly-growing British Ski Center for over two decades.

“It has one of the longest seasons in the world, opening at the start of December and often going through to mid May. There have even been

snowfalls in June and when the snow and weather are favourable, the openness of the terrain provides some of the most exhilarating off-piste skiing to be found anywhere.”

And so it ultimately came as a lovely surprise that after one of the most exhilarating mornings skiing I could remember, I picked up my kids with huge smiles on their faces.

I proposed lunch down in the resort with their mother, to which they screwed up their faces and insisted it should be a bocadillo and chips at the top, followed by an afternoon’s skiing with dad.

I can tell you it got better. And by the end of the second day, these two tornadoes were hooked.

It made my year.

www.theolivepress.es 22 22 the olive press - December 23

- January 6 2014

A

ll about

22

22 www.theolivepress.es

Sierra Nevada

OLD TIMES: A rusty old bus used to bring skiiers up, who then stayed at one of the albergues (above) and then trudged to the top by shanks pony

While in Granada why not also visit…

Alhambra and the Albaycin

G

RANADA city is famous for its stunning Arabic monument The Alhambra, but why not spend a day wandering around its largely pedestrianised former Moorish quarter the Albayzin, where you will find some of Andalucia’s most charming

R

hotels and truly step back in time. The city also counts on a special train that takes tourists from the Albayzin to the Alhambra via the city centre, which is also worth a visit. It’s Andalucia’s main university town so there is normally plenty of cultural offerings on the agenda.

Riofrio

IOFRIO is one definite stopover for foodies. It is here that UK celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay found, what he described as, the ‘best caviar in the world’. Conveniently right next to the main motorway enroute to the slopes, you can park up, have a coffee in one of the many bars, then head under the motorway bridge to the fish farm, where a Finnish company is currently breeding no less than 30,000 sturgeons from all around the world.

Aside from the famous Russian caviar, there is caviar from Iran and also - the one Ramsay liked - an organic caviar, which takes up to 20 years to create. While it is not cheap it is the perfect Christmas or Reyes present.

The Alpujarras

T

HE inspirational home of author Chris Stewart nestles on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and in its adjacent

valley.

Built by the Berbers after the Moorish invasion of 711AD, the Alpujarras’ tiny mountainside villages with their flat-roofed houses and maze of narrow streets echo those of the Berber’s homeland in North Africa.

The relative isolation of this beautiful, mountainous region has kept it free from over-building and helped retain its typical Andalucian tranquility.

The celebrated trio of Bubion, Capileira and Pampaneira are stunning, while Trevelez is famous for its ham.

Towns such as Lanjaron and Orgiva are well worth a visit and a sidetrip to this magical region could easily keep you occupied for two or three days.

If you plan to stay over there are some great places to stay but few beat the amazing new b&b Valle de Lunas in Tijola, near Orgiva.

Run by a charming British couple it is oozing style and comfort and sits in the most enviable position with lovely views and attractive grounds.

You might even fancy popping along the road to visit near neighbour Chris Stewart himself.

Artisan times Boss of the Sierra Nevada’s biggest skiing school EOE Juan Luis Hernandez recalls his early days on the slopes

WHEN he first arrived on the slopes at the age of 10 it took well over an hour to get there from Granada and the ski lifts comprised one stretch of wire that dragged you about 200 metres.

“It was pretty artisanal and rudimentary to say the least,” explains Juan Luis Hernandez, who frequently came up to ski with some of his six older brothers.

“You couldn’t rent skis and there was hardly anywhere to eat or stay, but there was something very special about being in the mountains,” he continues.

He had soon bought his own set of wooden skis – which he still has today – and in 1969 came up to start his first job.

Some four decades later and the amiable Granadino is running Spain’s biggest ski school.

With 80 teachers and countless ancillary staff, the Escuela Oficial de Esqui, is even bigger than any of its counterparts in the Pyrenees.

“And we have around a dozen different nationalities and everyone is required to speak English,” he stresses from his plush new office by Borreguiles ski lift and overlooking the re-

LEGEND: EOE boss Juan Luis with his first set of skis sort’s main square.

“In fact if they can’t speak English we don’t hire them.”

This has become increasingly important over the last few decades with British being the second most important group of visitors to the slopes, alongside the Portuguese.

“And on top of this you have all the other northern Europe-

ans who all speak English,” he adds.

“And now we have the Russians arriving, so we have hired a Russian journalist from the coast to work in our reception.”

For more information contact eoe@eoe.es or visit www.eoe. es

BIGGEST SCHOOL: EOE is Spain’s largest school with 80 instructors with 12 nationalities

Sierra Nevada A The largest ski school in Spain since 1986

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - October 30 - November 12 2014

ll about

A name you can trust

The Official Ski School Sierra Nevada was founded in 1986 with Diploma for Teachers RFEDI (Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation), to offer winter sports enthusiasts better service and a personalized and appropriate education on each level.

WE OFFER: • Bilingual teachers English-Spanish • Lessons for kids from 3 upwards • 28 years experience on the slopes • Snowboard and skiing for all levels • Dreamland ski area for children

EOE DIRECTOR Juan Luis Hernández Linares

tel: 958 48 00 11

Ski & snowboard rental 958 480 906 www.monitortecno.es

eoe@eoe.es

23 23

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

HEAD TEACHER Fernando Arias Fanjul

www.sierranevadaescuela.com

El Balcón, Paradollano y Edificio Montebajo, Plaza de Andalucía Sierra Nevada, Granada

24 24the olive press - December 23

A

- January 6 2014

ll about

Sierra Nevada

www.theolivepress.es

Downhill

from here

The Olive Press sent reporter Annabel Grossman (left in green goggles) to try out one of the most bizarre (and hardy) days out that Andalucia can offer... bikini skiing in the morning and a Puerto Banus champagne spray party in the afternoon

E

VER since I first set foot on the slopes a couple of decades ago, I’ve always been keen to bundle myself up in as much cosy ski gear as possible. So when the Olive Press sent me up to the Sierra Nevada with little more than a bikini and a pair of ski socks it’s fair to say I was more than a little apprehensive.

But never one to turn down a ski trip, there I was at 5.30am, skimpy swimsuit in hand heading up to the mountains.

We’ve all heard the old adage of ski in the morning, sunbathe in the afternoon, and the Sierra Nevada is one of the only places in the world where this is do-able.

But last May I was challenged to take the whole concept one step further. I was going to attempt to ski in the morning and then make it down to Marbella in time to live it up at the Ocean Club’s famous champagne spray party. But the catch was, I was to spend the whole day wearing just a bikini.

Fair enough - it was the start of May, the sun was shining in the mountains, and a bikini is the standard attire for the Ocean Club. But swimsuits in the snow? Really?

Standing at the bottom of the ski lift I’m not feeling terribly confident. I’ve been assured that plenty of people will be in their swim gear for the final weekend of the season but all I can see are skiers all snug and warm in their jackets and salopettes giving me rather strange looks.

However, once up on the hill everything changes. The atmosphere is riotous, with

skiers charging around not only in bikinis, but swim shorts, armbands and rubber rings - and there’s even a surf board thrown in for good measure. And - although it’s a little chilly on the chair lift - with no wind and plenty of sunshine I’m almost glad to be rid of cumbersome ski gear for once.

In fact, it takes only seconds for fears of painful wipeouts and potential frostbite to evaporate and I’m off tearing down some of Europe’s highest and most beautiful mountains. I’ve always believed skiing is the best natural high possible, but in a bikini it’s just that little bit better – the feel of sun and mountain air on your skin is incredible, the adrenaline is pumping and there’s great potential for an even tan.

Admittedly, there are a couple of bloodied knees coming off the slopes and I can see that swimwear may not be the most practical attire for a sport where hitting the deck is cold, hard a n d painful (snowboarders take note!). But it doesn’t take long for me to decide springtime skiing is

definitely better minus the skiwear.

I’m pretty shattered after a few hours on the slopes (and more

than a little sunburned) so at 3pm it’s back in the car for the two hour drive to Marbella. I’m not too worried at this point.

After all, the hard part’s over and all I have to do now is sip champagne by the pool at one of Spain’s most fashionable clubs. No problem.

However, as I stride through the door past a couple of 6ft models in heels and full make up and am met by a bunch of ripped lads spraying Veuve Clicquot and pumping their fists, I’m beginning to think this might not be so easy. I’m suddenly very aware of my ragged hair, odd-looking goggle marks and smudged make up – hardly the standard look for Marbella’s hottest opening party.

But this isn’t the time to let the side down, so mojito in hand I head towards the ‘beds’ which surround the pool. As anyone who’s been at a champagne spray party will know, it’s something you won’t forget in a while. If you can handle the eye-watering prices, TOWIE wannabes and the rather staggering waste of champagne, then you’re sure to have a great time.

And despite my achy muscles and stinging sunburn, I find that I’m actually getting into the spirit of it all. However, when the girls start falling off their designer wedges and the stag parties begin to disband, I decide it’s time to call it a day and finally retreat to the comfort of a T-shirt.

So it seems that sun, snow and spray can indeed be done in a day. Is it practical?

Hardly. Will it catch on? Probably not. Affordable? Not at all. But would I recom-

LUNACY: As far as the eye can see skiiers and snowboarders with clothes

A

S ierra Nevada

25 25

www. theolivewww.theolivepress.es ll about

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

the olive press - December 11 - December 24 2014

Michelin Star trained Chefs and Management Japanese Fusion Cuisine Gin Tonic Club Take away Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 14:00h. - 17:00h. / 19:30h. - 01:00h.

Saturdary, Sunday and Holidays: 14:00h. - 02:00 h.

COOLING OFF: Annabel (inset top) cools off at Ocean Club, surrounded by partygoers spraying Veuve Cliquot champagne

Reservation: (+34) 958 48 10 95

My holiday is too short … for waiting a long time to pick up my rental car!

hout

As member of the Home Owners´ Club everything is prepared in advance.

No waiting time with Free Fast Lane Service and not forgetting the Fair Fuel Policy!

Join for FREE the Home Owners Club on www.hellehollis.com

Helle Hollis Car Rental, Málaga Airport, Tel.: +34 95 224 55 44 Email: bookings@hellehollis.com www.hellehollis.com

26

26 23 - January 6 2014 the olive press - December

A

ll about

Sierra Nevada

www.theolivepress.es

Where to eat

On the up!

Sierra Nevada has one of the best mixes of quality restaurants in Andalucia, writes Jon Clarke

A

BRAND new Sushi joint, a Portuguese cafe and two new wine bars, it is fair to say nothing stands still in the Si-

erra Nevada.

The real plaudits however must go to Tito Tapas, one of the most stylish new openings on the slopes for years.

Contemporary and cutting edge, the beautiful wine and tapas bar has been carefully created by the team behind Tito Luigi in the same block.

Hundreds of thousands of euros have been spent on importing German wood, an incredible sound system and a chef from Menorca, who really knows his onions.

It is an excellent place to start the evening with cocktails from 4pm, while it has a decent wine list and new tapas being created by the week.

NEW ADDITIONS: Sushi at Jinsei and Tito Tapas, while (top) Vertical and (left) Jose Carlos at legendary Casablanca

Another fantastic new opening is el Club de la Montana by the guys behind Campo Base. This fun, original spot, just up from Tito Tapas, has its very own eclectic style, focusing on Rock and Blues music and with a series of original album covers on the walls.

The menu is broken into sections, including ‘finger food’, ‘mountain Tex Mex’ and ‘Tortillas’ club’ and the tacos with

oxtail and an allioli of truffle was the sure-fire winner.

In the very same block it gets even more exciting with the opening of a new Sushi joint Jinsei.

Set up with help from a chef trained at Michelin-starred Kabuki in Madrid, this amazing addition is bound to win plaudits and gain a strong following, particularly thanks to its great-value €14 five course lunch, which comes

www.theolivepress.es

27 - November 27 - December 10 20146 201427 the olive -- December 11 the olive press - December 23 - January 27 the press olive press press November 13 --DecemNo-12 2014 the olive www.theolivepress.es the olive - October 30 - November 27 press ber 24 2014 vember 26 2014 the olive press - December 11- December 24 2014

FISH AND FOWL: Antonio at La Lonja and a waiter at La Visera

with sushi, makis and gyozas, not to mention a delicious spinach soup to start.

Another great tapas bar, with a real slant on top quality meats, is La Carreta. It has a superb selection of hams and chorizos and its owner Paco is a real whizz on the grill, and a jolly chap to boot.

Next door, you will find a little slice of Sierra Nevada history.

On the walls of restaurant Tito Luigi lies the evidence that he has provided good food and ambience for the last 26 years.

Alongside photos of the king with owners Javier and Luis are snaps of politicians, flamenco stars and bullfighters who have all come up to enjoy his unique brand of hostelry.

As well as organising parties in his ‘secret’ cave at the back, diners are treated to a great range of pizzas, salads and pasta dishes in his wooden beam restaurant. My pick: most definitely the spaghetti with salmon and caviar.

Another real institution is La Lonja, which is the best

GRILL KING: Carreta’s Paco

INSTITUTION: Tito Luigi, and (below) tacos at Club de la Montana

place, by far, to eat seafood in the mountains.

Buzzing at lunchtimes, the selection of marisco is impressive and there are always fresh lobsters waiting to be cooked.

On the slopes for three decades, boss Antonio began life as a waiter in Granada, but now counts the King as a four-times visitor.

He has another restaurant in Sanlucar de Barrameda and unsurprisingly stocks its famous langoustines, as

well as knocking up a fine tuna tartare and some great shrimp frittatas.

Next door, try not to miss Bodega Casablanca, run by Jose Carlos Villanueva, who grew up on the slopes, with his father opening one of the first hostals in the 1960s.

He, of course, knows a fair bit about catering, and the bar has a great range of photos and memorabilia and is a great place for tapas or simply to hang out.

His chef Mari Fe, from Pais Vasco, knows a bit about food too and you will love the prawns wrapped in potato with a soya mayonnaise, as well as lovely lamb chips with whisker -thin wild asparagus.

Without a doubt, the most consistent place to eat in the Sierra Nevada is the brilliant Italian Ci vediamo, where chef/owner Stevie Silva produces a great Michelin-starred range of food.

Silva, a professional snowboarder, is a massive meat fan, but also has a great range of light bites, a splendid pizza oven and some chestnuts such as a superb duck roll with ginger, guacamole, tuna and soy sauce.

There are fabulous mini ‘gambas pil pil’ hamburgers and a lot of the classics such as raclette and provolone with tomato. That said the pesto pizza takes some beating and the wine list has a superb and good value range.

For a great place to eat overlooking the slopes make your way to Tia Maria, which has a good mix of dishes and is a great for breakfast.

Another sister restaurant of Tito Luigi, it is also very much an institution – open for 17 years – and with a decent selection of Tex Mex dishes including guacamole, quesadillas and ribs.

Last, but definitely not least, if you want to enjoy the best terrace in the Sierra ensure to get a table at La Visera.

This wonderful spot has been in operation for 20 years, run by friendly Jero, and has a great range of home cooked dishes, including a fabulous chicken fajita, with melted cheese, curry sauce and veg. And the cheesecake pudding wasn’t bad either.

Finally, for coffee, Vertical is hard to be beaten and also has a great range of snacks and light bites, including hot dogs for the British clientele.

MEAT FEAST: Stevie Silva (left) and chef at Ci Vediamo

A

28 28the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014 ll about

‘

Sierra Nevada

www.theolivepress.es

Brits on the pistes

Snowboarding is an activity that is very popular with people who do not feel that regular skiing is lethal enough.

British ski teachers Giles Birch and Jonathan Buzzard still love the Sierra Nevada two decades on

Dave Barry

W

Skiing: Who would have thought it could have become so popular since Norwegian Sondre Norheim invented the modern binding in the 19th century and called the resulting downhill traverse sla lom (meaning tricky route)?

I do not participate in any sport with ambulances at the bottom of the hill.

Erna Bombeck, 1927-1996

‘

HEN Jonathan Buzzard walked into Sierra Nevada’s seminal Crescendo bar in the early 1990s, Giles Birch knew he had found his man.

With a long flasher’s mac, ‘big hair’ and a friendly, outgoing persona, he knew he would make the perfect transport rep.

In his first season working as a coordinator for the big travel companies, including First Choice and Thompsons, Birch needed someone with a bit of knowledge and experience to help him out.

“I had no idea what was going on but had been told that Crescendo was the place to find the Brits and the reps-inthe-know,” he recalls.

“Next thing in walks Jonathan with just the right attitude and he was soon helping me deal with the three to four flights we regularly dealt with on a Sunday.”

The pair are still working together some two decades later, collectively running the extremely successful British Ski Center from their base near the resort.

Great mates, they both now teach, as well as sort out holidays with the help of two staff, Kristel and Alastair, for hundreds of clients each year.

GOOD FRIENDS: Giles and Jonathan have worked together for 20 years “Of course things are completely different to what they were back then,” explains Buzzard, who lived in Marbella in the golden years be-

DAREDEVIL: Snowboarders aren’t the only ones who like thrills

fore it was ruined by corrupt leader Jesus Gil. “We used to bring in thousands of foreigners every week, but after a couple of dry years in the 1980s the resort’s reputation suffered badly and things all began to change.

“Luckily the snow came back, but these days it is all independent travelers and the agencies have all but disappeared.”

Of course there have been some bad years such as 1995 when Buzzard recalls cycling up Borreguiles run on a mountain bike in shorts on Christmas Day. “But generally it is as good as

most other international resorts and the range of skiing and schools is hard to beat,” explains Birch, who particularly likes the length of the season.

“We start in late November and stay open until early May while other resorts don’t open until mid December and end their season in March.”

This is partly due to the resort’s altitude and the quality of the snow which is constantly worked on during the night.

“That’s why you’ll never see slush even in the latter part of the season,” he adds.

Visit www.britishskicenter. co.uk for more info

A

www.theolivepress.es www.theolivepress.es

ll about

Sierra Nevada

How a wellconnected Sevilla couple is sprinkling a bit of stardust on the slopes, writes Jon Clarke WITH a glass of champagne in one hand and a foie and boletus burger in the other, the future king of Spain could not have been happier.

After a morning’s skiing in the Sierra Nevada this February he bowled up for a spot of lunch at the trendiest bar in the mountains, half way down emblematic piste el Rio. With a group of friends, including his old skiing teacher, he tucked into three different types of burger and a bowl of lentils at the hip Nevada Terrace, sponsored by champagne house Veuve Clicquot.

Off protocol and in fantastic form, he liked the place so much he came back the next day, with a different group of pals.

“He said he wanted to ensure that the quality was as good as the previous day,” explains

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 201429 29

King of the slopes

SUPERCOOL: A live concert on the slopes at Nevada Terrace

GOOD TIMES: At a party

boss Alejandro Berdejo, who served him on both occasions.

“It was a massive surprise for us on both days,” adds the friendly Sevilla-born businessman, who is slowly sprinkling a bit of stardust on the resort via his marketing company Evento10 which he runs with his wife Silvia Peris, one of Spain’s top PR-gurus.

Through their champagne terrace and a hip new apres-ski bar N’ice on the resort’s main square, the couple are helping to make the Sierra Nevada glamourous again.

“We are hoping to make the place as hip as it was in the 1970s,” explains Silvia Peris, who has plans to bring some

Vol. 9, Issue 203 www.theolivepress.es

ROYAL LUNCH: King Felipe VI (far left) and (right) with Alejandro Berdejo (in white) at Nevada Terrace

exciting international names to the slopes this season.

“We are entering a new golden age for the Sierra Nevada and are promoting its amazing way of life, its weather, food, champagne and style,” she adds.

The couple certainly have pedigree having spent the last two decades organising parties and events around the world, including the birthday parties of George Clooney and Cindy Crawford in Los Angeles… and visits for Prince Charles and Nicole Kidman to Spain.

While both are from Sevilla, Silvia partly grew up in Beverley Hills, where she became friends with Kevin Costner, which opened a lot of doors.

In contrast husband Alejandro has very much a solid catering background, having studied hotel management in Switzerland, before working for the Movenpick chain in Germany and later setting up his own hotel consultancy firm in Spain.

“We are working really hard to try and create a buzz on the slopes but, above all, keep the prices down. You can have a glass of champagne with us for just €7 and the tapas is not expensive.”

BUBBLICIOUS: Party girl and (inset) Silvia Peris with a friend

the olive press - December 23 30 30www.theolivepress.es

A

- Januarythe 6 2014 olive press - October 30 - November 12 2014

ll about

www.theolivepress.es

Sierra Nevada

o t n I

! s d l i w e th

Not certain about skiing? Why not take a mountain adventure with Telemark ski school instead

T

HERE is off-piste... and then there is off the scale!

With Telemark you can have a wilderness trip that literally ends up in another world... the charming cobbled villages of the Genil valley.

Specialists on the slopes for over two decades, the company offers one and two-day crosscountry adventures into the mountains.

Both trips end up taking you through deep off-piste snow onto narrow mountain tracks.

“We try to put an emphasis on ecology and nature and it is impressive to see the typically old farmhouses in the area and how little they have changed,” explains boss Luis Casanova, who spends the other half of the year in Africa.

“It is a real, fun adventure, something you will not forget.

“Best of all, a team of mules ends up helping to bring your stuff back to Pradollano,” adds Casanova.

The day trip costs just €100 per person and includes transport and lunch.

Another popular pastime for those who don’t fancy risking life and limb on the pistes, is to have a day of cross-country ski-

Ibex driving down the cost of car insurance • • • • •

Underwritten at Lloyd’s of London Up to 65% no claims discount Pay in three installments Comprehensive, third party, fire & theft or third party only options Competitive pricing and efficient claims service Ibex guarantees to beat your renewal quote*

Estepona

Call into one of our local offices or call us on:

952 887 125

estepona@ibexinsure.com C.C. Benavista, Local 3 Ctra. de Cádiz Km167 29688 Estepona

Sotogrande

956 695 750

sotogrande@ibexinsure.com Local 1A Sotomarket Sotogrande, San Roque 11310 Cádiz

Fuengirola

Gibraltar

952 465 588

fuengirola@ibexinsure.com Edif. Vega, Local 6 Avda. Jesús Santos Rein 15 29640 Fuengirola

200 44628

gibraltar@ibexinsure.com 68 Irish Town Gibraltar

*subject to T&C

Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 2014. Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Registered no. 77247. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission FSC 006 43B

Motor

Home

Marine

Travel

Medical

Holiday Apartment

Business

Pet

Community

DONKEY POWER: Back to basics off piste ing on two or three well established paths around the resort.

“It is great fitness and you do get to enjoy the fabulous views and nature at the same time,” Casanova adds.

The company also organises

events ranging from hard-core uphill climbing for mountaineers to a half day soft snow walking trip with snow rackets.

For more info visit www.telemark. es

Piste protocol BEFORE you alight from the ski lift and launch yourself at high speed down a steep, powdery slope like the man in the Cadbury’s Milk Tray advert, check out the traffic!

Just as there are rules of the road, there’s a protocol on the piste, as head-on collisions are just as likely on snow as on tarmac.

In winter sports etiquette, the main rule of thumb is to respect your fellow skiers and snowboarders.

It’s important to be aware of your abilities and try to be in control of your speed and trajectory, adapting to the weather, terrain and snow conditions as well as the density and flow of traffic.

When choosing your route, make sure that you don’t endanger those ahead.

When overtaking, leave enough space for those in the slow lane to make any voluntary or unexpected movements.

If you do end up crashing into someone, or vice versa, try to clear the piste quickly.

Bear in mind that, technically, names and addresses between parties and witnesses should be exchanged as they would in a road accident.

SAFETY FIRST: Don’t rock your ski lift Also, if you see an accident, you are ‘duty bound’ to assist those involved.

So keep your eyes open, be considerate and have fun!

31

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 20143131

Slip-sliding... to sleep Where to stay

Everything from modern to traditional and from cheap to luxury can be found in the Sierra Nevada

I

T is hard to describe Pradollano as an authentic mountain village.

But, with a metre of snow on the ground and the sun finally out, it certainly has its charms.

In terms of places to stay there are plenty of modern hotels, such as the stylish Melia Sol in the heart of the town or the five star Vincci at the top of the hill.

But by far the most charming has got to be the stalwart Ho-

tel Kenia Nevada, which is well located near the centre of town and open most of the year.

Run by the friendly Don Pedro – who used to ski for the country as a youngster - it is clean, well run and serves up one of the best breakfasts in Spain.

It also has a gym, with an amazing in-house masseur Belen Gomez, and plenty of communal areas, filled with charming old furniture.

Another true stalwart for those on a tight budget is Hostal Los Puentes, ten minutes outside the resort, which also has an excellent restaurant with superb home-cooked food.

Open now for nearly 40 years, the owners are friendly and make a big effort to make you feel

LEGENDARY: The Kenia Nevada is the Grande Dame of the Sierra Nevada

GOOD TIMES: Supper at Los Puentes, while (left) the Melia at home. You can park for free and get up early to drive into the resort.

Back up in the town, if it is

luxury you are after your best bet is the Melia Sol y Nieve, which has a celebrated spa and all the modern feel of a

top urban hotel.

Comfortable luxury rooms, a number of top restaurants and a superb location right in the centre of the resort you can’t ask for more.

Sadly the hippest hotel the slopes had seen for decades, El Lodge (opened by the Marbella Club group two years ago) is no more, after it was gutted in a fire earlier this year.

Burning down in just a couple of hours, the good news is that it is currently being rebuilt in the same location.

It is due to open by the start of next year’s season.

Meliá, hoteles Ski y Après-Ski SKI & APRÈS-SKI AT MELIÁ HOTELS

MELIÃ SOL Y NIEVE

MELIÃ

MELIÃ

SIERRA NEVADA

SOL Y NIEVE

MELIÃ

SIERRA NEVADA

Information & Booking: (+34) 958 480 400/300

MELIÃ

SOL Y NIEVE melia.com

A

www.theolivepress.es

ll about

Sierra Nevada

32 the olive press - December 11 - December 24 2014

Property

33 33 33

LUXURY: Douglas’ mansion and (left) Douglas with wife Zeta-Jones

Mallorca split

Laws of the landlord TIGHTENING UP: New legislation will help legal rental homes like Alcantarilla, near Ronda

I

N June 2013, the government changed the rules for its booming holiday rentals market and Spain’s 17 regions were tasked with regulating their own private landlords.

Eighteen months on, Andalucia is set to introduce its own regulations.

There has been much speculation about the motive behind the law change.

Was it to ensure owners would declare their income?

Yes. Was it to introduce a minimum standard of quality in tourist accommodation in Spain? Yes. Was it due to pressure from the hotel industry? Probably...

Whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the simple fact that regulating holiday accommodation is a positive step forward in an industry that is predicted massive

Property rental specialist Louise Brace explains how the holiday rental reform will impact Spain’s private landlords

growth in 2015. licence, however you may be Global studies show many subject to a tax from your loholidaymakers now choose cal town hall. rental accommodation over The Junta used the decree traditional hotels. In Spain from Catalunya as a temalone, the demand for holiplate and, in general, the day rentals increased by stipulations are standard 20% in 2014. and achievable.

Regulations Some of the have already important Holiday rental points been introfor owners inregulations duced in clude: C a t a l u n y a should focus on Viviendas de uso and Valenturistico (homes quality, safety for tourist use) cia. Now, one year after may be rented out and security Tourism Dion on a room-byrector Rafael room basis. They Rodriguez announced that would be registered unregulations were in motion, der the category: Vivienda Andalucia is set to unveil its Turística por Habitaciones. own measures.

This type of accommodation It will be free to apply for a would be given the title ‘Bed and Breakfast’ There is a maximum occupancy of 15 guests per property The accommodation must be fitted with air conditioning in the living area and bedrooms If a property is rented out between October and April, LEGENDARY film director Francis Ford it must be fitted with heating Coppola (pictured) is planning to bid that maintains a temperafor Alicante’s massive City of Light film ture of 19 degrees studio complex.

A property must have a free The man behind Apocalypse Now and internet/ wifi service The Godfather has teamed up with a If you own or run (as a mangroup of US investors to take over what was meant to be Euager) two properties or more rope’s answer to Hollywood. within a 1km radius, your However, the studio has been inactive since February 2013, properties must be registered leaving Valencia with €80 million debt. as Apartamentos Turisticos Because it cannot be sold without the permission of the Euro(tourist apartments) and will pean Commission, Coppola and the other investors are pushneed to follow a different set ing for a preliminary agreement that would put them in pole of guidelines and regulations

Bright lights big city

position for when sale conditions are set.

SETTING THE RULES: Rafael Rodriguez

Your property must have the Licence of First Occupation to be applicable for registration Hotel lobby groups are also putting pressure on the Junta to introduce a ‘minimum five-day stay’ rule, similar to the law in Madrid.

Sevilla-based association Apartsur is supporting homeowners in Andalucia and has been negotiating with the Junta de Andalucia to get some of the less favourable conditions taken out.

Until the final decree is published, we won’t know what’s in and what’s out.

The holiday rental market must move with times and embrace change.

Holiday rental regulations should focus on quality, safety and security.

They should focus on giving guests the assurance they need to book their holiday with confidence.

And they should instill trust in genuine owners and managers.

Louise Brace works for website Spain-holiday. com To find out more information on the holiday rental industry, visit www.spainholiday.com/rentalbuzz

HOLLYWOOD big-shot Michael Douglas and ex-wife Diandra Luker are selling their 11-bedroom Mallorca mansion up for sale for €50 million.

The former couple have been sharing the property since their divorce in 2000, with the Basic Instinct star bagging the January-toJune slot with wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Although perhaps it’s not that amicable an arrangement. Drawing parallels to Douglas’ War of the Roses movie, the apartment is completely redecorated each time the keys are exchanged.

Douglas purchased the luxurious 247-acre S’Estaca property in Valldemossa, on the west coast of Mallorca, in 1989 but it is now on sale through Sotheby’s.

Luker denied rumours that Zeta-Jones had tried to buy her halfshare of the estate saying: “Why would someone who doesn’t speak Spanish or the local Mallorcan language and knows nothing about this culture want a house here?

“She doesn’t even come here much.”

Douglas spent more than €6 million buying and refurbishing the Spanish villa and has been paid for promoting the Balearics as a premier tourist destination.

Property

34

Hotel El Tel! Football legend Terry Venables opens luxury hotel in Spain

By Rob Horgan FORMER England manager Terry Venables has traded in his football boots for a pair of walking shoes to kick-start a dramatic lifestyle change at his new Spanish retreat.

More used to managing footballing legends like Alan Shearer, 71-year-old Venables is now turning his hand to running a luxury hotel in Alicante. The doors to ‘La Escondida’ (meaning Spanish hideaway) opened to guests in October after a massive restoration project.

“I’ll never forget the first moment we stood at the house and looked around. No matter which direction you looked in, there was something different to see - a tiny village in the distance, a church tower, or the mountains,” Venables said.

“After Euro ‘96 I had a profound sense of ‘how on earth do I top that?’ That’s when my wife Yvette and I decided

The Sabinillas Bookshop

The Bookshop Sabinillas

Tel: 952 891 545 Last posting date for the UK, 16th December before 1pm We have a LARGE selection of Christmas Cards, Christmas Wrapping, Bags and Tags.

The LATEST novels, Autobiographies, Childrens Books, Cookery Books etc.

Helium Balloons for Christmas & New Year parties.

Calendars and Diaries for 2015.

Party Poppers, Sparklers, Streamers and Christmas Crackers.

MANAGERIAL DELIGHT: Venables’ hideaway and (inset) El Tel himself

we needed to do something other than football.”

Fluent in Spanish from his three-year stint at the helm of Barcelona, Venables had already fallen in love with the Spanish way of life.

And when friends showed

him the 500 acre plot of land with accompanying olive groves and hunting lodge, ‘El Tel’ found that ‘something’ he’d been looking for since the dizzying heights of a Euro ‘96 semi-final.

With 10 bedrooms, the 19th

Zara czar

THE world’s fourth richest man and founder of the Zara fashion chain has topped the London property league as the capital’s wealthiest landlord.

Amancio Ortega, 78, stole the top spot from Britain’s richest aristocrat, the Duke of Wellington, after heavily investing in London property in recent years.

The retailer, who has a net worth of €48 billion, snapped up the headquarters of mining multinational Rio Tinto Zinc in St. James’ Square for around €315 million last month.

REELING IT IN: Amancio Ortega tops London’s property league

Last year he bought the Devonshire House office block opposite the Ritz on Piccadilly Road for €500 million, also splashing out €277 million on Oxford Street’s Jubilee House office block and €176 million on 100 Wood Street in the City.

The Spaniard whose father was a railway worker has come a long way since making lingerie

and gowns in his living room and acting as a gofer in a shirt store.

His property portfolio includes the iconic 43-storey Torre Picasso skyscraper in Madrid.

Although he no longer chairs Zara’s parent company, Inditex, he still holds a 59% stake.

Simply the breast

Monday to Friday 09:00 - 14:30 / 16:00 - 19:00 Saturday 09:30 - 14:00 Sunday 09:30 - 13:00

Email: steve@sabinillasbookshop.com w w w. s a b i n i l l a s b o o k s h o p. c o m

century hideaway is off the beaten track on the edge of Alicante’s Font Roja National Park.

As well as offering a unique hotel stay, Venables’ pad offers up some tasty treats from top chef Darren Bunn.

BARE ALL: If you’ve got it, flaunt it in Vera, Almeria

A NATURIST hotel in Almeria has been named among the world’s top spots for bare-all holiday makers.

Hotel Vera Playa Club has been ranked as the sixth best nudist hotel in the world, according to travel company trivago.com.

A resort within a gated nudist community, with beaches, promenades, bars and restaurants the hotel has everything to offer naturists.

Meanwhile a spa in Birmingham comes in ninth place while a luxury hotel in Tulum, Mexico, tops the list.

35 35

Buying or Selling property in Spain?

Let us help you reach your destination.

Save time and money by sending your international money transfers the easy way and benefit from: Consistent bank beating exchange rates online or over the phone.

Move money, pay people and settle bills within seconds.

Make and track payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Norton security used by 97 of the world’s top 100 banks.

Contact our Costa Del Sol Office: Tel: +34 951 203 986 costadelsol@hifx.co.uk

Don’t let the banks cash in!

www.hifx.co.uk

HiFX Sucursal en España is a branch of HiFX Europe Limited.

HiFX Europe Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2009, registration 462444, for the provision of payment services.

36

Top Dollar

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

Winter wander-lands

As the great Christmas getaway gears up for another year, Malaga airport is braced for a bumper festive influx MALAGA is once again tipped to be among Spanish travellers’ favourite festive hot spots for 2014, along with Madrid and Barcelona.

As Spaniards are looking for a Christmas Staycation domestic flights are predicted to rise by almost 4% to 34% this December, according to travel experts Vuelos Baratos.

Spain’s Top 10 Christmas getaways 1 - London 2 - Madrid 3 - Paris 4 - Barcelona 5 - Rome 6 - Amsterdam 7 - Malaga 8 - Berlin 9 - Brussels 10 - Lisbon

MAGICAL: Malaga’s Christmas lights, which never fail to delight, are a huge tourism draw

Rose-tinted politics PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has labelled the economic crisis ‘history’ and is looking forward to ‘the first Christmas of the recovery’.

His comments come at a time when the country’s unemployment figure remains around 25%, with public debt figures moving towards 150% of Spain’s GDP. Whether ill-timed or a ploy to paint a picture of optimism ahead of next year’s elections, his office was later forced to clarify the Premier’s remarks.

They emphasised that this was the ‘start of the path’ that leads towards recovery.

Advertorial

Rain, wind, hail, snow and fire What to do if your home is damaged by atmospheric phenomenon AS the climate has warmed globally, some types of extreme weather have become more frequent and severe.

Two recent Supreme Court decisions in passengers favour makes claiming simpler

Extreme heat, intense precipitation and drought are on the increase. Heat waves are becoming longer and hotter.

Heavier rainfalls and flooding are more frequent. In a wide swing between extremes, drought is also more intense and more widespread. Small changes in the averages of many key climate variables can correspond to large changes in the weather. These changes are extremely difficult to predict and this weather variability can be extremely costly. Other atmospheric phenomena, such as hail, snow and fire, previously uncommon in regional climates such as the Mediterranean, are now becoming more common occurrences.

That’s why it’s important to take out a quality home insurance policy.

With Linea Directa you are covered for damage by atmospheric phenomena.

As global climate conditions vary, Linea Directa adapts their home insurance policies to ensure that customers are covered for damage resulting from some types of extreme weather. Linea Directa includes cover for these unpredictable events in their insurance policies.

A Linea Directa spokesperson said: “We understand that your peace-of-mind is important, especially in your home.

“As adverse weather conditions become more common, Linea Directa will ensure you are fully

covered from their diverse effects to your property and their contents.

“When you take out a home insurance policy from Linea Directa you can breath more easily.

“We can’t predict when extreme atmospheric conditions occur, but we can be there to ensure that if any damage should result, you won’t have to worry. “Our aim is to provide you with added peace-ofmind.”

If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 282. More information on Linea Directa online at www. lineadirecta.es

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

info@legalpropertysolutions.com www.legalpropertysolutions.com

Top Dollar

www.theolivepress.es 37

olive press - October 23 30-- January November 12 2014 thethe olive press - December 6 2014

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

The Ghosts of Christmas What the Dickens does the new year hold for your money?

LOOKING towards Christmas and all its family traditions, I am always reminded of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This year I thought a look at the financial ‘ghosts of Christmas past, present and future’ might be a bit of fun. Ebenezer Scrooge turned over a new leaf and everyone benefited; so how might this fable relate to our finances for the coming year?

Looking back, we see months of political and economic turmoil that created volatile investment markets and historically low interest rates. All of this is worryingly bad news for the average investor – particularly anyone relying on investment income.

So, in true Dickensian style, if we carry on as we are, what do we see? Well... more of the same! The political issues

still abound, with an escalating standoff between East and West and turmoil in the Middle East. Compounded by global economic downturns the Eurozone may return to recession, Greece might needing another bailout, the US is turning on the money supply tap again and... don’t forget, plunging oil prices!

All of which spells a continuing low interest rate policy for some time to come and continuing volatility in markets.

You might think that a lower oil price is all good news and for some this is true, but it has a knock-on effect and may cause job losses in the oil and gas sector and cutting back on research investment as the lower price makes some production uneconomic and this could include shale gas developments

37

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014 37

in the UK. So how would Ebenezer turn over a new leaf and make positive change?

Well the key, of course, is to recognise that to continue without change is not acceptable. We must think about values and priorities and how resources could be applied in a better way.

Perhaps we should have a look in Santa’s sack to see what he might have to offer?

The first thing we can unwrap is a notepad and pen. With that we can make a list of our regular outgoings and any known capital expenditure that will arise in the next year down the left hand side of the page and add that up.

On the right hand side, we can write down the sources of income that will be coming in and add that up too. Then

we need a list of capital available, including any pension funds and other investments.

If your income is more than your expenses already, then you can look to medium term investments for your capital. If you have an income shortfall, you can see how much you need to make up from your capital and you have taken the first steps towards a financial review.

Now Santa’s sack has a number of other surprises waiting to be opened too ranging from low risk investments producing 4% income to pension fund flexibility in April – the like of which has never been seen before – it’s just waiting to be unwrapped.

As tiny Tim would say, “God bless us everyone”.

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

AGONY ANT

Flawed Cause THE Junta is to demand that central government eliminates the infamous ‘floor clause’ from mortgages with all financial institutions.

Track record SPANISH construction firm ACS, part of consortium Dragados, has won a €960,000 contract to build 150km of high-speed rail in California, USA.

Bank on it FORMER UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s closest financial adviser Baroness Vadera has been named as the new chairman of the UK arm of Spanish bank Santander.

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

No hiding place?

SOME days ago, an interesting legal matter was raised by a customer who had received a demand for unpaid community fees on his Spanish property, sent directly to his home in Liverpool, UK. Delivered by second class post, the letter came from a UK firm of solicitors acting on behalf of the administrators of a Fuengirola urbanization.

It raises an important legal question: can a Spanish community of owners legally pursue such debts through any EU court?

One such law firm specialising in debt recovery seems to have the simple answer to this, stating: “Where defaulting owners

in cross-border cases, whatever the nature of the court or tribunal. It shall not extend to…claim arising from non-contractual obligations, unless… they relate to liquidated debts arising from joint ownership of property.’

A simple answer to a fairly simple question then?

So we thought, until Spanish judges got involved to upset the EU consensus in a recent seminar held on the matter.

Out of the eight participating magistrates, only one accepted that both the Spanish and EU debt recovery procedures can coexist and therefore, be alternatively used by communities of owners.

The dissenting judges argued that, although the EU regulation specifically deals with this, Spanish laws and tribunals

are resident in the UK or Ireland, we avoid the delays and difficulties described above by recovering the debt directly in an owner’s country of residence.

“This we do by relying on the European rules permitting debt to be recovered throughout the European Union, no matter where that debt was generated within the European Union.”

The ‘European rules’ referred to are none other than the REGULATION (EC) 1896/2006: Creating A European Order for Payment Procedure, and the lawyers would have invoked Article 2, which says: ‘This Regulation shall apply to civil and commercial matters

should take precedence inasm uch as: i) The debt is classified as ‘ob rem’, i.e. attached to a property, thus necessarily connecting the matter to the local Court where the dwelling is located. ii) According to Art. 9 of the Horizontal Property Act, all owners are obliged to designate a Spanish address for notifications, thus impeding the application of foreign courts and laws.

The matter is of great interest as, once again, the Spanish judiciary clash with EU pragmatic lawmakers who are always keen to harmonize diverse legal systems.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es

50% OFF ALL DESIGNER FRAMES with single vision lenses from 129€ 64,50€

Christmas is a time for giving and sharing, and we’re giving you the presents this December.

Buy any pair of designer single vision glasses, including brands such as Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld from our 129€ range or above and we’ll take 50% off the price.

Remember, all our glasses come with a scratch-resistant treatment. But hurry – the sale ends on 7 January.

FREE EYE TEST when you buy a complete pair of glasses

FRrkEinEg Pa

Ends ber 2014 31 Decem

OLIVE PRESS – 105mm x 256mm – Colour

*

"

Valid for one test booked on or before 31 December 2014. Present voucher at time of test.

Cannot be exchanged for cash or used with other vouchers. One per person, at named Specsavers stores only.

Request a FREE eye test online at specsavers.es or by calling your local store.

Marbella 952 863 332 Avda. Ricardo Soriano 12 Fuengirola 952 467 837 Avda. Ramón y Cajal 6 1.5 scratch-resistant single vision lenses selected. Other lenses and Extra Options available at an additional charge. Cannot be used with other offers. One pair of complete glasses only. Excludes reglazes, contact lens products, non-prescription sunglasses and safety eyewear.

Offer ends 7 January 2015. ©2014 Specsavers. All rights reserved. *FREE PARKING: With every purchase at Specsavers Opticas in Marbella and Fuengirola we will refund you one hours’ worth of parking, equivalent to 2€. Ends 31 December. See in store for full details.

11th December / 22nd December

38

www.theolivepress.es

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

ADSL Up to 3Mb Up to 10Mb

only

17 € ,49

(21,16€ Inc. IVA)

only

19 € ,95

(24,14€ Inc. IVA)

ADSL price it’s for LIFE, not just for Christmas.

Cheaper than Anyone Else ®

Call 965 796 736 www.europa-network.com

Terms and conditions apply. Prices exclude IVA.

amino E C ................ .................

39

www.theolivepress.es

n Buen

Pimp my Royal ride EVERY driver looks back fondly on their first car… and King Felipe is no exception.

The Spanish monarch was reunited with his teenage ride during a visit to Seat’s Catalunyan factory.

While viewing the company’s future models, the King was overcome with nostalgic joy when he spotted his first-ever car – a 1.5l metallic gold firstgeneration Ibiza.

The car was a gift from his father – King Juan Carlos – for his 18th birthday in 1986.

Head of Classic Cars at Seat, Isidre Lopez, said restoring the old motor was a ‘painstaking process’.

He said: “It wasn’t an easy job, as the car had not been started up for more than 16 years, with the odometer reading 152,000 kilometers.

“The most difficult part was getting the fuel feed and injection system up and run-

King Felipe VI reunited with his first car

GOLDEN OLDIE: King Felipe and his Seat Ibiza ning, since the car had not been on the road for many years.”

The car will now go into Seat’s Historical collection in Martorell, Catalunya.

Coast road crisis Uber and out

ROAD TO RUIN: A7 in desperate need of repair THE Mayor of San Roque has demanded ‘urgent repairs’ to a stretch of the A7 motorway.

There are hundreds of potholes and cracks in the stretch of road between San Roque and Algeciras, making it difficult – and dangerous – to drive on in the rain.

Mayor Juan Ruiz Boix has now demanded that the Ministry of Public Works repairs the section before next summer.

He said that no work has been done on the road for three years and that it is currently a danger to its users.

A MALAGA-based entrepreneur has invented a new type of speed bump to jolt dangerous drivers out of the fast lane.

The brainchild of 34-yearold inventor Jose Antonio Aguilera, the ‘intelligent’

CAR-SHARING app Uber has been banned in Spain.

A high court judge said Uber drivers ‘lack the administrative authorisation to carry out the job’ and are unfair competition to legitimate taxi drivers.

Uber – which connects customers to independant vehicles and drivers through its app – has launched an appeal against the ruling.

The legal action comes after months of protests against the San Francisco-based company by the Madrid Taxi Association.

Uber has faced strong opposition globally from established taxi firms, including London’s ‘black cab’ drivers.

Brainy bumps

bumps give speeders a jolt while leaving non-speeders alone.

The speed bumps are filled with a liquid which hardens

or softens depending on the speed of the passing vehicle.

Marbella’s La Canada shopping centre is the first place to trial the technology.

NEW COURTESY CAR SERVICE Is your car out of action?

Don’t be stuck without one! Contact us now!

All models including

AUTOMATIC classic cars, serviced, repaired and reconditioned.

GEARBOX Also 4x4 transfer boxes SPECIALISTS & power steering.

T: 952 796 166 M: 615 834 322

E: info@transmatic.es www.transmatic.es

C/JUAN DE LA CIERVA, 26. POLIGONO INDUSTRIAL, ESTEPONA.

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014

39

40

GOLF In the swing of it

Like Seve like son

Speed me up Scotty SCOTTISH golfer Stephen Gallacher has called on golf officials to ‘chuck out the slowcoach cheats’.

The Scot spoke-up at a week long course in Andalucia, designed to instruct tour members how to act.

Gallacher’s comments come on the back of world number one Rory McIllroy demanding an ‘end to snail-like play’.

“Certain forms of slow play is

UNHAPPY: Gallacher cheating. Guys who are slow, who know they’re slow and get fined all the time are putting people off the sport,” he said.

Golf Breakfast & Buggy Hire!

Proving that talent runs in the family, Javier Ballesteros was in the swing for his pro debut at La Cala

THE eldest son of five-time majors champion Seve Ballesteros has made his professional debut at La Cala Golf Resort in Mijas Costa.

Three years after his legendary father died from brain cancer at 54, young Javier Ballesteros shows all the signs of following in his famous father’s golf shoes.

He has been competing in the first stage of the Alps Tour Qualifying School against golfers from across Europe.

“This is something I’ve always wanted,” said the 23-year-

DOING IT FOR DAD: Javier Ballesteros at La Cala Golf resort in Mijas old. “Whether I will succeed or not, time will tell.”

After two rounds of 77 and

76 strokes left him with nine over par, he will compete in the final stages this week.

The event has attracted more than 260 players competing from 21 countries.

Ryder’s return? Real Mad-ripped

SPAIN’S top golf course, PGA Catalunya, is bidding to host the 2022 Ryder Cup. The Girona resort was recently awarded the title of European Golf Resort of the Year 2015.

The Real Federacion Espanola de Golf is working with stakeholders to develop a convincing bid for the bi-annual cup, fought between Europe and Spain.

Six other European countries are bidding for the worldfamous tournament but Spain is the only nation among them to have hosted the Ryder Cup before, at Andalucia’s Valderrama course in San Roque in 1997.

President Gonzaga Escauriaza said: “Few countries in the world have contributed as much to the development and promotion of European golf as Spain has over the last 30 years.

“Bringing The Ryder Cup to Spain is a central part of our strategy and will continue our proud PGA European Tour heritage.”

BULGING: Bale’s biceps

REAL Madrid star Gareth Bale has revealed the secret of his bulging biceps.

The Wales international claims that playing golf in Spain has led to his muscular look.

Photographs emerged this summer of Bale flashing his guns in preseason training with his Madrid teammates.

He said: “I don’t usually wear a vest, so no one sees my arms! I did a bit of running in the off-season, but nothing else.

“I’d played a fair bit of golf, so maybe it was from my golf swing. It could also be from the tan I’ve got from living in Spain.”

In recent days Bale has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, with a switch to Manchester United on the cards.

One of the more established courses on the costa del sol, designed by the legendary Gary Player.

Until 31st January

Greenfee 18 holes: 49 € pp Green fee Early Bird (before 8:40): 39 € pp Green fee Twilight (from 14:00): 35 € pp Special offer: 2 players including buggy: 106 €

7 different types of memberships with our without a share purchase.

Active ladies section of almost 200 members.

Up to 8 competitions per week (suitable for all levels of hcp).

Fantastic food in the restaurant with very reasonable prices 15 min. from Marbella & Estepona. 25 min. from Elviria & Manilva.

OLIVE

41

C lassifieds

For all your advertising needs contact

Sarah@theolivepress.es Tel: 951 273 575 Mob: 655 825 683

TRANSPORT and storage

AIRCON

C.L.S SPAIN LTD PRICES FROM:

Motorhomes - Caravans Boats - Cars & Vans Delivery & Collection available Short Term - Long Term Established 15 years Safe & Secure - 24hr CCTV

£90 PER CUBIC METRE £325 MOTORBIKE £525 CARS £350 DOGS £250 CATS

679 786 669 - Alan - 606 101 807 www.eurodog.es - Email - info@eurodog.es

AIR CONDITIONING installations repairs and servicing. Airflow 952443222 airflowspain@live.com

MOBILE HOMES

LEAVING 9th-19th-29th RETURNING

10th-20th-30th Every month

EUROPEAN REMOVALS

952 596 213 665 150 227 spainukspain.com

Local and International Removals, Part loads and courier service, Long term and short term storage, Packing materials supplied.

This Ibiza Mojacar parkhome. 2 bedrooms, fully furnished, plunge pool, carport, shed, several plots available.

35 000 euros cherribar.com.

Tel 629688153.

La Hierbabuena, Los Lobos, 04619 , Almeria.

furniture

Telelphone - David

696810618

Blinds and shades

SUNSHINE TOLDOS

All types of awning and blinds

Installed or fixed Manual/electric Will travel inland No deposit/cash on delivery Call John on 952467783 680323969 ROLLER shutter repairs 7 days a week.

Conversion from manual to motorised.

New installations. Also blinds, awnings, mosquito screens.

All areas covered coast and inland. 655825931

PROPERTY

Rental properties

www.dfeuropeanremovals.co.uk

Avaliable NOW

PET transport

Marbella to Estepona English:615 40 55 87 Spanish: 620 753 865 www. costa1salesandrentals.com

couriers

CHIMNEY SWEEP

Chimney care

OLIVE

Eurodog Boarding Kennels & Cattery

Properties also required to rent Funerals

Professional chimney sweeping service, all areas covered.

Call 654 184 242

Bluebell Cleaning Services is an established cleaning company between Estepona and Sotogrande covering domestic cleaning, offices, windows and ironing for hourly rates and availability please call Nicola on 617576412

Fully Licensed Sanitary Approved Large Secure Runs Purpose Built Secure Play Area Established For Over 20 Years 5 Minutes From Fuengirola

679 786 669 - Alan - 952 464 947 www.eurodog.es - Email - info@eurodog.es

drainage

BLOCKED DRAINS?

TEL: 952 568 414 661 910 772 NO CALL OUT CHARGE

HP Jetting Root Removal CCTV Survey - Insurance Claims 24/7 CALL OUT Drain-tech Solutions

COAST & INLAND

CLEANers

pool and snooker

the olive press

C lassifieds recruitment

Mobility

ACTORS WANTED to take part in a new production at a theatre in Marbella.

Rehearsals start in January. Send your details to

THE MOBILITY WIZARD. The only company in southern Spain that specialises in repairing and maintaining mobility scooters, power chairs and mobility products. Authorised repair agents for most European manufacturers.

Most repairs carried out at your place of residence, batteries analysed and replaced if needed, tyres supplied and fitted. Summer’s coming, has your mobility scooter been serviced lately? Full service and inspection at your home for just €60. Large selection of mobility scooters available for sale and rent, no deposit required and free delivery.

We also offer roadside assistance, we will come to your rescue if you’re unfortunate enough to have a breakdown or puncture, keep this number handy! Tel 633 127 901 / www.mobilityspain.com / info@mobilityspain.com

Swimming poolS

kennels

Alhaurin el grande Tel:952 112 978 630 197 435 (DEFRA/OCA Licensed)

sherrymidas@yahoo. co.uk

Cambs contractors limited

www.cat-and-dog-world.com info@cat-and-dog-world.com Your premier boarding facility on the Costa del Sol, proudly offers everything you expect for the care of your pet while you are away.

Also pet transport to the U.K.

plumber

PLUMBER: Water heaters repaired, replaced same day. Full bathroom and kitchen reforms, previous work can be seen.

References available.

Mark Allan 608 454 778 / 952 937 244

HGV Drivers urgently required CPC Courses available.

UK based 1 week to 52 weeks average earnings Euro 1000 Bricklayers, good contracts UK £450 per 1000 laid accommodation found Email: info@cambscontractors .co.uk +441487822008

Butcher

Please call our new classifieds boss Sarah Adams, who has many years experience in media sales. She will be only too happy to help you through the process.

Call 951127006 or 655825683

PURE POOL Solutions

Get quote via web =10% off before 2015 www.purepoolsolutions.com Aquacal Heatpumps SQ166 Tropical Range T35, T55, T75 Titanium Heat Exchanger core Fully tested and certified by AHRI

Heating your swimming pool Zodiac Z200 & Z300 means being able to use it for Powerforce 25 & 35 more months of the year and upto 80% energy savings! improves bather comfort simply Absorb heat from the air then transfer it to heat pool water by increasing the pool’s water temperature by a few degrees

Call us 951 275 032 Pure-pool-AquaCal.indd 1

20/November/2014 17:21

Satelite TV

C lassifieds

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 201443 43

www.theolivepress.es the olive press

49 cents per word. Minimum charge based on 10 words per issue and a minimum of 2 issues. IVA not included All ads include the first 2 words in bold.

For all text in bold add 25% Display boxes Single column display box 38€ per issue

the olive press - December 23 - January 6 2014 Double column display box 54€ per issue Three column display box 75€ per issue Full name and passport or NIE number must be provided when advertisements are placed. All ads must be paid prior to publication

Construction/garden/landscape

Satelite TV

TV WITHOUT INTERNET IN HD

DIRECT FROM SATELLITE BBC1,2,3,4 ITV1,CH4 & RADIO STATIONS

upholstery AND FURNISHINGS

The Curtain & Bedding Company Curtains Poles & Tracks • Bespoke Blinds Ready Made & Made to Measure Beds & Bedding • Duvets • Throws Mattresses & Pillow Protectors Bath Mats • Towels

IPTV 200 CHANNELS TV CATCH UP 1000s MOVIES ON DEMAND WE CAN PROVIDE INTERNET

617 169 792

astra2sat@hotmail.com

building

articles for sale VENDING MACHINE FOR SALE ROUTE ON THE COSTA. €30K NETT P.A. NO OVERHEAD. ALL CASH

INCOME. €49,900.

FREE consultation and measuring service, Marbella to Gibraltar (including inland areas)

0044 02392 160657

Calle Bolivia 20, Jardines de Sabinillas, Manilva. email: thecurtainandbeddingco@hotmail.com

UK

education and special needs

tel: 952 897 477 www.CurtainandBeddingShop.com

motoring I BUY ANY CAR UK OR Spanish any price cash Mobile vehicle airconditioning, gas recharge, etc

car hire

insurance

602 533 508 mikewallsp@gmail.com

Experience counts … we have plenty!

HARRIS INSURANCE A name you know A name you trust www.hispain.es info@hispain.es 952 887 298

GET COMFORTABLE WITH the dark, cold nights drawing in, it’s the time to get a new duvet or blanket for your bed, or a proper set of thick curtains to keep out the drafts.

The Curtain and Bedding Company in Sabinillas is the perfect place to find everything for your bedroom and your home.

Established in 2003, the easy-to-find shop sells a fabulous range of bedding, curtains, beds, poles and a lot more, from both British and Spanish suppliers.

“All our made-to-measure bespoke blinds come in a vast range of colours and designs from rollers, romans, verticals, metal and wood venetians,” explains friendly manager Mandy Thornton.

Spring and memory foam mattress toppers can be made to your requirements or come in standard sizes as do the bed bases. The polypiel luxury headboards start from just €90.

The shop stocks brands including Catherine Lansfield, Paoletti, Arena and Desycon.

“We are always on hand to offer advice and to answer any queries and we can offer a FREE NO OBLIGATION quote for your curtain, blinds and bedding accessories to enhance your home,” continues Mandy.

For more information, visit www. curtainandbeddingshop. com

Call 952 897 477

Malaga Airport

Secure INDOOR parking Special

YEARLY Parking Offer Pay for one year and get 2 additional months free !

Helle Hollis Parking, Avda. García Morato nº 18, Málaga Airport

Tel.: +34 951 01 40 58

www.hellehollisparking.com

Columnists Desperately seeking Santa...

44

44 44

the olive press - December 11- December 24 2014

The heart-warming tale of Father Christmas and the sexy elf

A

S you may have noticed, Christmas is well and truly upon us. The shops are full of festive decorations and those annoying Spanish carols, or – even worse – Michael bloody Buble, echo through the aisles. If they are particularly unlucky, the staff will be dressed as elves, reindeer or any other of ‘Santa’s little helpers’.

Being a single guy living on on my own, Christmas tends to be a season to be ‘got through’ rather than embraced. It normally involves reluctantly wearing a paper hat at a Christmas party and timing my exit before the carol singing begins.

This year, however, it’s been a little different. For the first time ever, I’ve been in demand as Santa Claus. It started when a rather beautiful friend of mine – a ‘yummy mummy’ – called me from a PTA meeting at her daughter’s school. They were short of a Santa for the school Christmas fayre and she asked if I would mind stepping manfully into the breach?

“Only if you wear the elf outfit and sit on my lap” came my fes-

tive reply.

And so it came to pass that we spent much of the following week looking for Santa outfits.

If you are like me, then the default shopping setting for most items is the nearest Chinese shop. (By the way the best named Chinese shop ever is El Corte Chino in Almunecar, but I digress). I must sadly report that the average Cantonese emporium of most goods under the sun stocks a pretty poor line of Father Christmas outfits.

Stampede

There were loads of sexy Santas and mini Santas, but traditional Santa outfits didn’t pass muster, mainly because they were too well-fitting.

In all fairness the Chinese workers who make the costumes in a sweatshop in Shanghai probably don’t have the faintest idea who the ‘ho ho ho’ Santa is. But we wanted a truly Falstaffian Father Christmas and were overjoyed to find the real deal in a side street in San Pedro.

On the fateful day, resplendent in my red outfit, I boldly took my place in the grotto. The effect of my arrival caused a stampede towards me and I had what past life regressionists would probably call a ‘moment of recognition’.

I have Welsh heritage and for a split second, as the tots thundered towards me shrieking, I knew exactly how the Welsh Guards, also resplendent in scarlet, must have felt as the Zulus charged at Rorke’s Drift...

Thankfully after the exertions, and with the nearby bouncy castle subdueing even the most boisterous child, the

afternoon was judged a huge success. I can report unequivocally that Spider-Man still ranks very highly on the average fiveyear-old’s Christmas wish list.

The failed drama student in me loved the dressing up aspect and I now have the urge to do more.

So if anyone needs a giant talking pancake for Shrove Tuesday, I’m your man.

And, in case you were wondering, the yummy mummy has yet to put on the elf costume...

When I told her she was going on Santa’s naughty list she just batted her lashes and giggled.

Merry Christmas!

Jingle all the way!

A

RE you hanging up your stocking on the wall? Well... I’ve tried it, Noddy. It doesn’t work – even with blue tack! But – even though you wrote that ridiculous lyric – I still love you for it.

There’s nothing that fires up my fairy lights like a musical blast from the past because, God knows, it’s getting harder by the year to conjure up that warm, fuzzy Christmas glow.

I mean, Black Friday! What was that all about? Grown men and women fighting over tellies in Tesco really tarnished the tinsel for me.

And have you seen the current batch of ‘adult’ Christmas cards?

What’s funny about Father Christmas using the F-word or a steaming pile of elf poo?

As for the card depicting a grandpa being frogmarched from the Christmas table, captioned: ‘I don’t care if he’s got Alzheimers, no one sticks their c**k in the turkey’... it’s just another example of the sick turn Christmas has taken.

To rekindle the magic, I recommend a rowdy musical romp down memory lane... the lane where the snow is glistening, not where Santa’s elves just took a dump... so here’s a sample of what I’ll be annoying the neighbours with this year.

Carols from Kings – Christmas Eve TV perennial with angelic choir boys giving Good King Wenceslas some wellie.

Add sherry and mince pies for the perfect curtain-raiser.

Gaudete, Steeleye Span – A hot shower while belting out the chorus to this 1973 carol in your best Latin starts the day on a pitch-perfect note.

I Believe in Father Christmas, Greg Lake – Christmas cynicism that appeals to my inner iconoclast (and I like that track too). I make no apologies for being a huge Emerson Lake and Palmer fan. Brain Salad Surgery? Bring it on!

Merry Xmas Everybody, Slade – The 1973 Christmas number one that’s everyone’s favourite boozy dance track reminds me

A merry retro Christmas from Belinda Beckett, aka Mistress of Sizzle

of my own go-go dancing days, after one Cherry B too many. Get your platform boots out of the attic and have a good stomp on the shag-pile.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Judy Garland – This one’s for mum. Every year we had to watch Meet Me in St Louis while she sobbed her way through a box of tissues, while I remained aloof to the schmaltz. Now I watch it and weep alone.

Driving Home for Christmas, Chris Rea – The 1988 hit by the husky-voiced housewives’ favourite is all about being reunited with loved ones. For me it’s indelibly linked with the time my dad nearly got us ejected from a hotel for starting the Christmas carvery queue before schedule.

The voice of the manager shouting, ‘Mr Beckett, will you please sit down’ in front of the entire restaurant still brings me out in a hot blush. Happy days!

Last Christmas, Wham! – ‘Gorgeous George’ Michael before he came out of the closet. Check out the video for the white Christmas idyll and his horrendous Princess Diana-copycat hairstyle.

All I Want For Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey – Stuff the presents and the turkey. Whether it’s your kids, your cats or your significant other, all any of us really want for Christmas is to cuddle up to someone special. Now where did I put the Kleenex...

Whatever jingles your bells, have a good one!

FOOD & DRINK the olive press - December 23 with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

www.theolivepress.es

Panning for gold Ronda baker creates world’s most expensive bread… with gold, at €117 a loaf

Y

OU’LL need a lot of dough to afford your daily bread in Algatocin, where the local baker is selling loaves of gold.

And despite Spain’s high unemployment rate and struggle to survive the economic crisis the historic Pan Pina bakery near Ronda reckons its onto a winner with its new line in the world’s most expensive bread.

The luxurious 400g loaf contains wheat dough, dehydrated honey, 250mg of gold dust and comes with a hefty €117 price tag.

Opened since 1940, the bakery’s owner Juan Manuel Moreno hopes to tap into the pock-

By Jacqueline Fanchini ets of wealthy Russians, Asians and Arabs visiting or settling on the Costa del Sol with his gold dust creations.

“We incorporate gold both inside and outside the bread; it doesn’t add any flavour but if you give it a touch of exclusivity there’s a lot of glamour,” he said.

The bakery has been fighting the economic crisis with its attention to quality and flavour, and received a sensational response at Malaga’s Gastronomic Fair.

Bottoms up

WITH Christmas around the corner, Andalucia’s catering services have been stocking up on beer in anticipation of a thirsty celebration.

More than 700,000 litres of Cruzcampo’s Christmas lager has been brewed in Jaen, with over 2.1 million bottles dispatched to Andalucia’s drinking holes.

La Especial de Navidad is only brewed for the festive period and production has more than doubled since 2012.

Cruzcampo is the biggest-selling beer in Spain, and one of the top-selling brands in Europe. Based in Sevilla, it has been owned by Heineken since 1991.

Crème de la Crème SPANISH food appears to be the flavour of the moment in London.

GOLDEN BOY: Juan Manuel Moreno in his bakery

Pint-sized revival AFTER five years of cutting back, the Great British public are back doing what they do best… drinking beer.

UK sales of beer are set to rise for the first time since the recession hit in 2009, with an estimated 4.24 billion litres of the golden liquid guzzled away by thirsty Brits in 2014.

While beer and ale sales are finally moving in the right direction, pubs and bars are

CHEERS: Big sales give reason to celebrate

4545

- January 6 2014

hopelessly searching for a way to drive up sales of cider and stout.

Chris Wisson, drinks analyst at research firm Mintel, said: “Pressures on household finances led to a significant decline in the beer market.

“However, 2014 has seen sales finally bounce back, buoyed by a warm summer and not forgetting the football World Cup.”

Causing a real stir THE Sabor a Malaga project has unearthed a rising culinary star in its Young Chef competition.

Esteban Ruiz, a student at the Hotelier School of Benahavis, bagged first place thanks to his ajoblanco soup with red shrimp carpaccio, sour apple tartar, melon pulp and fake caviar made from Malaga wine and Serrano ham powder.

The chef, who is from Estepona and has worked at the Kempinski Hotel, also won the Mediterranean Cuisine Competition in September.

The city’s top food writers and bloggers each selected their favourite five dishes for Time Out magazine, with Spanish classics featuring heavily.

Hip tapas bar Barrafina proved most popular thanks to dishes such as crab croquettes, seafood rice, tuna tartar and milk-fed lamb’s brain and kidneys.

The constant long queues outside Barrafina – in which nibbles and drinks are served while you wait – are proof of its status as one of the capital’s most fashionable eateries.

Rabbit legs in red wine and oranges from Morito were also highly recommended, as was the broad bean, garlic and rosemary with bread at El Parador.

Otherwise the chorizo fresco with manchego at Fernandez & Wells made a good impression, along with Pizarro’s pork presa Iberica.

NEW YEAR'S DAY LUNCH

! s d n e g e l h t i w la sala TM

p

u

e

r

t

o

b

a

n

u

s

Join us on January 1st for a sumptuous lunch and an unforgettable show by The Rat Pack members

Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra La Sala - where every day is the best day of the year!

o u D

BOOK NOW CALL 95 281 4145 ● reservations@LaSalaBanus.com ● www.LaSalaBanus.com

FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

46

SUBLIME: The Ms. Walewska cake tastes like heaven in your mouth, and is perfect at Christmas!

Nutty old time

Walnuts are the perfect Christmas ingredient… and can be used to make a cracking cake too, writes Jacqueline Fanchini

P

LANNING the Christmas holiday menu may seem a tough nut to crack but you can always count on walnuts to add wow factor.

The crinkly little stone fruit

Serrania de Ronda’s freshest new restaurant

Come and see what Gordon did next!

shaped like a barrister’s wig is the perfect winter ingredient to add a seasonal and healthy twist to your festive feasting.

Although walnuts have a high saturated fat content, they make amends by being high in protein, anti-oxidants and omega-3 oils.

In fact, recent studies have shown that walnuts can lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, reduce heart disease, cut cancer risk and even help to increase weightloss in dieters.

Of course, the Christmas season is no time to think of losing weight.

But with New Year round the corner, it’s a good time to resolve to try something new.

So why not try your hand at a Polish cake recipe, made all the more delicious with walnuts.

Afterall, it is nicknamed ‘the tasty’...

Ms. Walewska Cake (‘The Tasty’) Ingredients for the dough: 500g of wheat flour 1.5 teaspoons baking powder half a cup of powdered sugar 200g of butter 6 egg yolks Mix it all up, knead the dough into a ball then divide it in half.

Ingredients ringue:

for

the

1 jar of blackcurrant jam (450g) 120g crushed walnuts Ideally, use a 25 x 33 cm baking tray and line it with baking parchment paper. Place one half of the dough on the bottom, roll it out and straighten it.

Coat the dough with half of the black currant jam. Then spread

me-

6 egg whites 1.5 cups caster sugar or icing sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch Beat the whites into a stiff foam. Then gradually add sugar in small batches. At the end, add the cornstarch and stir gently.

out half of the meringue mass.

Sprinkle half of the crushed flaked walnuts on the meringue spread.

Bake at 175 ° C for about 40 minutes.

Proceed identically with the second half of the cake. You can bake the two layers together in the oven, or one after the other; in which case it is best to prepare the second meringue spread immediately before baking.

Allow the cake layers to cool.

Cream filling:

Views to Gibraltar and Africa

2 cups of milk (500 ml) 3 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 egg yolks 3 tablespoons sugar 16 g sugar almond 200 g butter

Reservations: +34 951 709 075 reservations@lagranadadivino.com

www.lagranadadivino.com

In addition:

LATE BLOOMER: Walnut trees only grow leaves more than halfway through spring

Boil one glass of milk with the sugars. Mix in the second glass of milk with the egg yolks and flour (like pudding), add to the boiling milk and bring to boil.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to cool.

Beat or mix soft butter until it’s light, then gradually add the cooled-down cream filling while continuing to beat.

Thickly spread the cream filling over one of the ready cooled cake layers and place the other on top. Chill for at least 3 hours.

47

Festive feast

If chestnuts roasting on an open fire do it for you, check out our yummy yuletide tips to add a double measure of seasonal cheer to your Christmas chow-down Citrus-cured salmon gravlax with mustard (From Cocomo, Estepona) 1 side fresh salmon fillet 1 lemon, zest only 1 orange, zest only 1 tbsp coarse grain mustard 300g sea salt 100g caster sugar 10g coriander seeds 10g white peppercorns Fresh dill Take one fillet of salmon with all bones are removed – you can ask your fishmonger to do this for you. On the scale side of the fish, cut away pieces of the skin showing the pink flesh.

This allows the cure mix to penetrate evenly.

Using a pestle and mortar, crush the coriander seeds and white peppercorns, this allows the oils to soak into the salt and sugar making it more fragrant.

Mix the sugar, salt, pepper, coriander and all the zest together. Spread evenly over the whole salmon. Then wrap the fish in cling film and place in the fridge for at least 24 hours.

After 24 hours remove from the fridge and scrape off the salt mix, rinse off the marinade, dry with kitchen towel and place on a clean chopping board.

Spread the mustard evenly onto the salmon. Now chop the fresh dill finely and sprinkle on top of the mustard and press this into the salmon.

Leave to set for 20 minutes in your fridge and then thinly slice onto a plate, garnish with lemon and serve.

Leave in the fridge for an hour or until ready to carve.

Prawns with salsa rosa Serves 6 700g raw large prawns

1 litre water to boil 200ml mayonnaise 1 tbsp brandy 3-4 drops of Tabasco sauce 1 tbsp lemon juice Heat the water in a pan with salt until it boils.

Then add the prawns and allow them to cook until they turn pink. Remove immediately and drain.

Chill them in refrigerator for at least two hours.

Meanwhile mix the remaining ingredients for the salsa rosa with a fork or whisk until smooth and creamy.

When ready to serve, arrange prawns on a large platter and dollop the sauce over.

Champinones al Ajillo (Garlic Mushrooms) Serves 4

Almendrados (flourless almond cookies) Serves 24 235ml whole blanched almonds 150ml cup sugar 4 teaspoons grated lemon rind dash of salt 1 large egg Cooking spray 1 teaspoon cinnamon 24 whole blanched almonds Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the almonds in a food processor; blitz until finely ground. Add sugar, lemon rind, salt and egg. Pulse 10 times or until dough forms a ball.

Shape dough into 24 balls.

Place an inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon. Gently press one whole almond into the centre of each dough ball.

Bake at 350 degrees for 16 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool five minutes on pan. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

Winter wines WHY not wash down our delicious recipes with this tasty - and affordable - Spanish wine selection...

Lagarejo Rosado 2012 (Ronda, Sierras de Malaga) €9 This fine rose is fresh and aromatic with a strawberry and raspberry aroma which is very pleasant on the palette. Makes for a fantastic aperitif and goes well with salads and seafood.

Marques de Riscal, Rueda Verdejo 2013 (Elciego, Alava) €6,50

SUMPTUOUS: Christmas is the time to tuck in

A mixture of tropical fruit with hints of fennel and fresh grass, giving it a slightly bitter finish but an all-round syrupy refreshing flavour. Good with seafood, cold meats and chicken.

Pata Negra, Gran Reserva, 2006 (Valdepenas, Ciudad Real) €3 This award-winning perfectly balanced wine costs a fortune abroad but peanuts here. Aged for several years, it has a longlasting aftertaste. Delicious with red meat and blue cheese.

2 tablespoons olive oil 230gr mushrooms 6 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons dry sherry 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon dried red chilli, seeded and crumbled ¼ teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Heat the oil in a skillet and sauté the mushrooms over high heat for about two minutes, stirring constantly.

Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, sherry, lemon juice, dried chile, paprika, and salt and pepper.

Cook for about five minutes or until the garlic and mushrooms have softened.

Remove from the heat, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve with fresh crusty bread.

the

Covering Andalucia in 2014 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 300,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

E RE

olive press F

Telephone: 951 273 575

ACCUSED: Herrera A TOTAL of 41 players have been charged for fixing a La Liga game between Real Zaragoza and Levante in May 2011.

Every player involved stands accused of conspiring to ensure Zaragoza won to avoid relegation.

Manchester United’s €30 million summer signing Ander Herrera is one of those.

Public prosecutor Alejandro Luzon accused Zaragoza officials of paying €965,000 to Levante’s players to throw the game.

Herrera, who allegedly received €90,000 while playing for Zaragoza, has denied involvement.

“I have never had and will never have anything to do with manipulating match results,” he said.

“If I am ever called to testify in any judicial hearing, I’ll be happy to attend, as my conscience is totally clear.”

Messi new year’s party

December 23 - January 6, 2014

Back to life!

Russian millionaires rescue one of Marbella’s top golf courses after three deserted years

FILM-STAR: Messi

The court of fame FORMER Liverpool and Spain footballer Fernando Morientes has given his name to the new football courts at the Parque Ferial in Estepona. The courts also share the name of former Real Madrid midfielder Adolfo Aldana.

Shocking fine AN expat from Almeria racked up €24,000 in fines for driving in London’s Low Emission Zone without registering his Spanish-plated vehicle with Transport for London.

GERMAN star Marco Reus is to join Real Madrid in the summer. The announcement came as Real won the Club World Cup with a 2-0 win over San Lorenzo.

Pucker up

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan and Tom Powell AN abandoned golf course in Marbella is set to be born again thanks to millionaire Russian investors.

The Olive Press can reveal that Monte Mayor golf club, in Benahavis, has new owners who plan to reopen its doors as early as 2016.

Monte Mayor representative, Roger Morback, said that the purchase was completed at an auction for an undisclosed fee.

He said: “The club is now in new hands and work will start immediately on restoring the course.

“The aim is to open it again as soon as possible, but the likelihood is that it will be opened in 2016 at the earliest.”

The resort - which first

MALAGA has been picked as the world’s second hottest city to visit in 2015 by the Rough Guides travel website, with Johannesburg in South Africa in first.

Real winners

MORE than 200 couples kissed at Madrid’s Debod Temple in a public protest over a homophobic attack on two young men by a neonazi.

Bless you!

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Monte Mayor golf club has new owners opened in 1989 - was shut in 2011 due to ‘disappointing operational results’. It has been left uncared for ever since.

A source close to the club’s previous Dutch owners, Phil Bass, told the Olive Press that the grounds are in need

of ‘major work’.

He said: “Owners at the nearby Flamingo Golf Club maintained the course for a while, but it has remained untouched for the past two years.

“The course is currently in a very sorry state, but with the

Ringing up a debt in Ibiza

FOLLOWING a messy new year’s eve, footy fans across Spain will be having a Messi new year’s day too… as Messi the movie hits the country’s cinemas.

The documentary film charts the four-time Ballon d’Or winner’s astonishing career and features a host of current and former Barcelona teammates and managers.

The star-studded cast includes the likes of Argentine legend Diego Maradona, Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff and Spanish international Andres Iniesta.

Spain is the first country to get the film, directed by Spaniard Alex de la Iglesia, on general release. The movie received mixed reviews at the Venice Film Festival in September.

www.theolivepress.es

Hot spot

FINAL WORDS

Foul play

EVERYONE has had a few too many lemonades and misplaced their phone at one time or another.

But spare a thought for 21-year-old Corey Pye, who received a massive €24,000 bill after losing his iPhone while partying in Ibiza.

After five days on the Balearic island, Briton Pye returned to hometown Basingstoke where he was shocked to find the staggering phone bill.

He initially received a bill for €7,500

from Vodafone for which he took out a 36-month loan to pay-off.

However, even after cancelling his number he received a bill for a further €16,500.

“It’s ruined my Christmas. I don’t know what to do. I was so shocked when I got the bill,” he said.

“I’m a young lad and this will be hanging over me for the rest of my life. I’m still paying off that six grand.

“I shouldn’t be punished for the na-

right workforce anything is possible.”

More information regarding the new owners is due to be released in January.

The plummeting rate of the Russian rouble is also believed to be affecting the investors’ plans.

ivety of failing to report my mobile missing, or for the criminal acts of others who are the ones profiting from this.”

A spokesman for Vodafone has finally confirmed that Pye will only be held liable for €650, although he is yet to have this confirmed.

FOR this year’s Christmas miracle, look no further than Nigerian tissue seller Peter Angelina, who found €16,000 in a forgotten suitcase.

Rather than pocketing the lost funds, Angelina – who makes a living selling packets of tissues at a junction in Sevilla – took the briefcase to the police.

“People say I could have kept the money and then thrown the briefcase away but I am not like that, and God wouldn’t have liked that,” he said. “I am not crazy, I am a good man.”

The owner, a 42-year-old businessman, returned to the traffic lights to thank him by giving him €100.

Angelina trained as a doctor in Nigeria, but his qualifications aren’t recognised in Europe.

BRITISH DENTAL CLINIC

Implants & Aesthetics

Taking care of all your Dental needs

By having specialist dentists in each and every field of dentistry working under the same room in a hospital environment, no matter what the dental problem, we have the expertise to take care of you, whether you have dental phobia or you need just a simple cleaning.

Our reputation speaks for itself.

Free Intravenous Sedation for Extensive Dental Treatment Do you want to look and feel 10 years younger?

We’ve got the answer - visit us for more information CENTRO MÉDICO QUIRÓN, AVDA JESÚS SANTOS REIN NO 19. 29640 FUENGIROLA.

For a Free Consultation - Tel: 952 58 48 58 www.ladentalclinic.es