Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 287

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March 2018

Issue 19

March 14th - March Is this designer hotel in Madrid really the coolest place to stay in the world?

Don’t miss our regular 24-page Property magazine SEE INSIDE

SEE PAGE XIV >>

BEST

expat paper in Spain

STIFF UPPER LIP 2017 were led by the British with 2,384 sales, followed by French and German nationals with 1,242 and 1,198 purchases respectively.

This rise in British engagement was also a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0.9%.

UK nationals now account for 16% of the overseas property market share in Spain, which is an 8% lead on French nationals who account for the second highest number of foreign homeowners.

Experts at A Place in the Sun said:

See page xx 5

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

Outpouring of grief for millions as body of Gabriel Ruiz, 8, is found strangled, allegedly by his expat stepmother

ruption” post-Brexit, amongst other positive comments surrounding pensions and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) benefits at the time.”

It added that it saw 55% and 28% increases in Spanish property searches and property enquiries by Brits respectively.

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4

Hot

Costa del Sol hotel has three

EVIL: Ana Quezada briel Cruz - nicknamed Pescaito, or ‘Little fish’ after his love of the film Finding Nemo.

They braved howling winds and rain in Almeria to join Junta boss Susana Diaz and Home Secretary Juan Ignacio Zoido in offering condolences to his devastated parents Angel Cruz and Patricia Ramirez.

The vast majority filed out in tears after seeing the heartbreaking images of his small white coffin be-

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SOME 14 fire bosses have been arrested for allegedly embezzling €7 million in public funds.

The Policia Nacional found that the Consortium of A HOTEL is to be knocked Bomberos Cadiz took out down for not having enough mass early retirement insurclass! ance policies.

Benalmadena’s Hotel Vista But when their employees de Rey must be demolished retired early, chiefs siphoned within three months, a court off the money from the payouts. has ruled, Authorities also found disAndalucia’s Superior Court crepancies in the consorof Justice ruled that the hotium’s training courses. tel falls short of its four-star Large sums were paid to a requirement. company to provide training courses, but no evidence has Probing courses these been found that took place.

It began probing the three irregularities Meanwhile, star hotel and apartment were also found in grants and block in 2011 after it was desubsidies, which cops believe nounced over planning rules were used to pay for private which set aside the plot for a trips. four star hotel only.

The irregularities date back According to the PGOU town to 2008 and cops believe at plan an apartment block was least €7 million has been stonot permitted and it also len by those at the top.

before it is demolished

Pipe ban

breached rules by being over 700 square meters bigger

FRUIT growers in the Axarquia are facing a 60% reduction in water use from the La Vinuela reservoir with no solution in sight.

The Junta has decided to limit its use as the reservoir is already at 22.7% capacity and could drop even lower if the dry weather keeps up.

‘He deserves it’ Not enough stars From Page 1

DOOMED: Costa hotel

than permitted.

Although the town hall and developer maintain this excess was later corrected, the judge ruled that the rectification would have taken place after the granting of the licence, so does not count.

The building has 61 apartments and 46 parking spaces.

The original building was granted planning permission by then mayor Enrique Bolin in 2001.

SMUGGLERS’ WALL POLICE officers have formed a human wall along a beach in La Linea to ensure that the construction of a beach wall went ahead.

The wall, between the church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen and the perimeter wall of the fishing port of La Atunara, hopes to

deter drug smugglers from using the beach as a drop off zone.

A combined police presence of Guardia Civil, local and national officers were present as fears grew that drug smugglers would try and disrupt the work.

on a well He even got himself a financial advice slot unsuspectknown radio station, through which he snared ing victims. exHowever, a comprehensive Olive Press investigation and gold. posed his scams that involved stamps, coinsBarry Nathan We also revealed how he and his close pal anonymously, wined and dined up to a dozen criminals, through the food column. our expose, He eventually fled the country followingwhere he had but we soon tracked him down to the UK, coins and changed his name by deed poll and was selling antiques on eBay from a small Berkshire cottage. of conning He was quickly found guilty under English law people and given a suspended prison sentence only due to health reasons.

“And because he promised to never go back to his online cons,” one of the British victim explained.

But this is apparently not the case with two victims claiming he is still using eBay to sell ‘dodgy’ coins and stamps from his unpaid flat in Brighton, using the names ‘gqtrading’ and ‘gqtrading2’.

“We are pretty sure he has broken his bail conditions and will have to finally go back to prison,” said one victim.

“The nerve of this man is unbelievable.” have known His landlord last night insisted he should something was up from the start. he was a bit “When we met to sign the contracts I thoughtthe barista to slippery, I went to pay for my coffee only for tell me he had left without paying his bill.” months but He continued: “He paid for the first couple of been frozen then just stopped. He told us his account had is probdue to a money laundering investigation, which him and accontacting stop to us told then “He true. ably cused us of harrassment. can’t work to “Now he is claiming he is seriously ill and make payments.

“We’ll see him in court.”

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27

Magic of the Orient March 14th - March 27th 2018

‘The sugar-canes rattled like bones on the wind, and the dark-blue mountains stood close around, sharp and jagged, like a cordon of police’

O wrote Laurie Lee of his first visit to the Costa Tropical, just before Spain was engulfed in its murderous civil war. Drive along the coast today and you can still appreciate his dramatic imagery.

Once upon a time this stretch of the Mediterranean was dubbed the Costa del Sol Oriental.

Then, believing that they were being sidelined by the rival resorts up the road in Malaga province, the folk in Granada province woke up.

They decided to call their coast the Costa Tropical.

And with good reason… not only does it play host to one of the best climates in Europe, it is also one of the most scenic stretches of coastline on the Med. To be exact, the Costa Tropical extends from the eastern edge of Malaga province close to Nerja, to the frontier with Almería and La Rabita; some 80 kilometres of stunningly varied scenery.

Development has yet to make heavy inroads because of the rugged terrain, so forget the miles of ribbon developments you see around Benalmadena and Fuengirola. It’s unspoilt here.

Soaring headlands and cliffs are interspersed with small coves, except where the Guadalfeo river flows across a flat, fertile delta near Motril.

Here and there, on prominent headlands, ancient watchtowers guard the coast. These torres vigía or atalayas are a reminder of the time when the cry “¡Hay moros en la costa!” warned of invaders from Africa and sent whole communities rushing for the hills.

David Baird takes a drive through the fabulous, little explored region of

These days they are great to have a poke around and get a photo with the stunning backdrop of the mountains dropping into the sea.

The first village encountered heading east out of Nerja is La Herradura, on a beautiful horseshoe bay. Until tourism arrived it was one of the poorest villages on the coast.

These days it’s a charming spot, sitting on a pretty stretch of coastline and with an attractive low rise feel to it. Plenty of expensive homes dot the Punta de la Mona area, and include that of Spain’s celebrated guitarist Andrés Segovia, who had a house

here.

Make sure to head into town to see the seafront monument that recalls Spain’s biggest naval disaster. It occurred in 1562 when 28 ships carrying provisions and the families of soldiers from Málaga to Orán on the African coast took refuge here from a storm.

The wind turned, with extreme violence, trapping the fleet between two headlands, Cerro Gordo and Punta de la Mona.

Altogether, an incredible 25 vessels sank leading to 5,000 people losing their lives.

the Costa Tropical

Moving along, we come to the other key resort of the Costa Tropical, Almuñecar.

When Laurie Lee trekked across Spain in 1935 — vividly recorded in his book As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning — he came to a halt in ‘Castillo’, a village, ‘backed by a bandsaw of mountains and fronted by a strip of grey sand which some hoped would be an attraction for tourists’.

Castillo was in fact Almuñecar.

Lee changed the name to protect his friends. To-

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Goodbye little fish

decked with his favourite toys.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy summed it up when he said he shared ‘with all Spaniards the pain for the loss of Gabriel’.

It was February 27, when Gabriel had last been seen leaving his grandmother’s home in the tiny hamlet of

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water12 Issue months to Vol. 287 www.theolivepress.es March 14th - March 27th 2018 fight decision

By Laurence Dollimore

IT’S the murder that has shocked a nation.

An eight-year-old boy strangled to death and thrown down a well - with his evil expat stepmother now admitting to his murder.

This week thousands of mourners queued up for hours to pay tribute to the coffin of the small boy Ga-

NEWS

See Mark Stucklin analysis overleaf

Vol. 12 Issue 287

March 14th - March 27th 2018

Photo by: El Periódico

B Mijas Costa

“Although Brexit has understandably stalled decisions for some, many British nationals continue to proceed with their property purchases in their number one overseas destination.

“It could be suggested that British nationals during this period were encouraged

by Alfonso Dastis’ (Spain’s Foreign Minister) pledge in October that British expats living in the country would face “no dis-

We check out the glorious Costa Tropical SEE INSIDE

Voted

SEE PAGE VIII

Brits refuse to stop investing in Spanish homes despite Brexit fallout and uncertainty

Costa Tropical

www.theolivepress.es ll about

With spring rapidly approaching, we roundup the properties in Andalucia with the most enviable gardens

RITISH demand for properties in Spain has remained strong despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

The last quarter of 2017 showed a 7.6% increase in prices and a huge 19.8% increase in sales.

Meanwhile foreign year on year sales rose by 20.4% to 15,266 purchases.

Foreign sales in last three months of

A

17

27th 2018

in sleepy Cabo de Gata, to play with his cousins just 100m away.

His grandmother and Dominican stepmother Ana Julia Quezada were the last to see him alive, leading to a two-week search involving over 700 local volunteers.

Extending over a 70km radius, the story had soon

gone viral on social media and made the front pages of most national newspapers.

But few could have imagined the drama when this Sunday police suddenly ambushed the car of Ana Julia, to find his body in the boot.

It emerged they had been watching her actions over Continues on Page 2

RIP: Gabriel and (above) his parents

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www.theolivepress.es News IN BRIEF

Amazon walk-out MORE than one thousand Amazon workers in Madrid are set to stage a twoday strike on March 21 and 22, in protest of alleged plans to block salary increases and reduce wages for working weekends.

Message in bottle A MESSAGE in a bottle has been discovered in Mundaka, near Bilbao eight years after it was written by a boy in New Zealand.

Shame on you EUROPEAN Court of Human Rights has condemned Spain for violating the free speech of Catalans who burned pictures of the monarchy by wrongfully imprisoning them.

Over it ALMOST 60% of workers in Spain do not receive any financial remuneration for working extra hours, a study by recruitment agency Adecco has found.

March 14th - March 27th 2018

Goodbye to Gabriel

home this Sunday and pick a bundle of blankets out of a well. the last week, since she suspiciously They then followed her car 74 kilomefound his T-shirt, while out searching tres to the small town of Vicar, near for him last week.

Almeria city, where she had been planShe is expected to be charged this week ning to hide his body. with the evidence overwhelmingly boyfriend in Burgos, who fell from a After 48 hours of questioning she fistacked against her. seventh floor apartment in 1996. nally admitted to killing the lad afAnd, even more intriguingly, she is Her involvement in Gabriel’s death be- ter an argument, but denied she had now being probed over the death of came clear, when police saw her drive strangled him, as the autopsy ruled. another small child, 4, that of a former to a finca eight kilometres from her In three routine interviews at the beginning of the search, police said the Dominican native demonstrated an 'extreme

By Laurence Dollimore coldness' not indicative of someone who was missing a THREE men have been jailed loved one. for the bizarre killing of a BritPolice became more suspiish man found dead at Malaga cious when she failed to give airport. them her mobile phone, beThe group of homeless expats fore claiming she had lost it. each got two-and-a-half-years Not wanting to let her know in prison after admitting to the she was under suspicion, manslaughter of Steven Allpolice told the parents to ford, 51, after a fight over food. act normal around her while In a plea bargain, James they zeroed in on their taring an incriminating video of get.

O’Byrne, 59, from Ireland, and the death had been posted on Jussi Petteri, 41 and Mika TapGabriel’s mother insisted his Facebook by Petteri. io, 48, from Finland, admitted father Angel certainly had It emerged the trio had tied they had left Allford naked nothing to do with it.

Allford to the bench and put a with ham on his backside and "He is a wonderful person, lit cigarette in his mouth.

They his testicles in a tuna can.

Let no one doubt him. I will later introduced his naked tes- be by his side because we The Londoner was found on an ticles into an empty tuna can.

Airport. airport bench having choked to he was homeless. have to overcome this todeath on his own vomit after a However, they eventually es- Most of the time this was over They acted as if they were nar- gether," she said. rating a news report and posttablished that Allford, who had the sharing of food. heavy drinking session, in Oc"It is very difficult to digest lived rough in Malaga for only Police finally tracked O’Byrne ed the video onto the Face- the loss of a child knowing tober. book page. a week, had argued with other down to a homeless hostel Police initially treated the that the person you loved death as a hate crime because homeless people at Malaga in Algeciras after discover- “Once they had had a good killed them." laugh, they left Mr Allford to And in a remarkable plea his fate,” insisted judge Santi- for calm she pleaded that ago Calvo in his summing up. the torrents of rage directed “Because of his drunkenness, against Ana Julia needed to and because of the fact it was stop. almost impossible for him to “I do not want everything to POLICE in Spain have seized more counterfeit goods in Barcelona. move because of the ties, he end with the rage that this than €300,000 worth of fake Harry Among many items seized were banended up dying after choking woman has sown, Gabriel Potter merchandise in toy shop raids. ners, scarves and cloaks worn by the on his own vomit, something does not deserve it,” she Almost 10,000 items worth pupils of Hogwarts, the school crethe accused could have easily pleaded. “Although there €305,000, purporting to be from Dis- ated by British author JK Rowling. avoided with a call to make was no happy ending, the ney or Warner Bros were uncovered All of the items, including wands sure Mr Allford received med- fish is swimming towards the during a major operation against selling for €35.99, came from China. ical attention.” sky,” she added.

From Page 1

Canned!

Expat trio jailed for death of homeless British man found with ham on his naked body at Malaga airport

Harry Potted in toy shop raid

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www.theolivepress.es CAST OUT: The TOWIE posse have cancelled Marbella trip

March 14th - March 27th 2018

There is a God!

Flab jab EXCLUSIVE

By Aleesha Hansel

THE Real Housewives of Cheshire star Ampika Pickston has launched a weight loss product in Marbella.

The Skinny Revolution is an injection, used on the stomach, said to help with weight loss.

A self confessed binge eater Ampika readily admits that food acts as her coping mechanism. “It’s psychological. If I feel unhappy or stressed or a just in a moment of self doubt I binge and it will last 48 hours,” she told the Olive Press.

“Food has been very emotional for me. I have been a size 20 and a size 8. I’ve gone from glamour modeling to shopping for clothes loathing myself.”

Slimline

She is now making it her mission to help others feel better about themselves and has acquired the distribution rights to the new weight loss drug.

She will also expand into slimline wines and calorie control shakes.

“No one’s going to look like a Victoria secrets model, we have to make do with what we’ve got. “I gained eight stone when I had my son, so I am covered in stretch marks. We are all over critical of ourselves, but I am what I am.” She added: “People think I married a rich guy and so must have got a big pay out, but I’ve got a mortgage like everyone else. And like other bosses I have staff and if I don’t work they don’t get paid.”

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IT is safe to go back to Marbella.

The dead-beat coterie of clowns from TOWIE have cancelled their annual trip to the resort.

The group of pampered reality TV stars from The Only Way is Essex are heading to Barcelona instead for their annual Spring jaunt.

The catchphrase ‘no more carbs before Marbs’ will be obsolete, as they head to the Catalan capital to kick off the 22nd series of the show this month.

It is the end of an era as their annual special, the The Only Way is Marbs, has taken place over the last six years.

The decision is likely to upset local restaurateur Elliot Wright, from Olivias La Cala, who previously starred in the show and normally hosted the cast for at least one bash when over.

His trials and tribulations of opening a restaurant in Malaga, spun off into his own show Playa in Marbella and later Elliot Wright, the Wedding.

Gemma Collins and the rest of the team will be getting ‘reem’ for Barcelona, filming there on March 12, 13 and 14.

Not going for a song!

By Elisa Menendez

IT spreads over 45 hectares and counts 12 bedrooms, eight bathrooms, six garages and a wine cellar with, currently, 2,000 bottles of the finest Rioja.

And that’s just one of the homes.

The clue to its owner though is the state-of-the-art recording studio… for this is the incredible palatial retreat of the world’s most famous crooner, Julio Iglesias.

The enormous finca, called Cuatro Lunas, has gone on the market for a whopping €145m.

The size of 55 football pitches and spanning the border of two towns, Marbella and Ojen, it even counts on its own guest house of five bedrooms with a separate wine cellar.

Iglesias, 74, is understood to be selling the home after a row with the Junta over access issues.

The Grammy-winning star, who has sold more than 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages, had been hoping to legalize a new track to the property.

“After his application was denied he decided to put the property on the market,” revealed an Olive Press insider.

The property, which is actu-

Julio Iglesias sticks his palatial pad on the market for a staggering €145m

I AIN’T YOUR MAMA

ally in the name of his dutch wife Miranda Rijnsburger (above), doesn’t just hold happy memories for the star.

In 2012 he was left devastated after a large fire destroyed part of the grounds and killed

his beloved dog. Rijnsburger, who has five children with Iglesias, manages the company Androsemo SL - which owns Las Cuatro Lunas alongside controversial businessman Antonio Fortuny.

 

 



  

PENELOPE Cruz has been on strike from domestic duties, leaving the dishes, laundry and ironing to hubby Javier Bardem.

The Oscar-winning actress announced she took a break from all chores last week to mark International Women’s Day. It came as thousands of women went on strike across the country to demand equal treatment.

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Mass arrests over human trafficking restaurant||lunch lunchand anddinner dinner restaurant

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A RECORD 155 people have been arrested for their part in a huge international human trafficking gang which smuggled people into the UK and Ireland through Malaga airport.

Chinese immigrants paid €20,000 each to the gang and were given fake passports and other documents made in China.

The three-year investigation was rumbled after five migrants gave evidence against leaders and went into witness protection.

The migrants stayed in apartments where they were supplied with new forged documents before boarding at Malaga airport and also Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Bilbao and other Spanish airports.

They were also taught key phrases in English to help them get through customs and immigration.

Most of the 155 people who were arrested were detained at airports.

Now, we’ll torch your boats!

SPANISH police have again expressed their concerns over a creeping lawlessness in the Campo de Gibraltar area.

It comes after a pair of masked men attempted to torch two new patrol boats in Algeciras.

In the brazen 6.45am attack, the pair managed to pour petrol into one of the vessels, while anchored in port.

Fortunately a security guard was able to stop them setting the boat alight, but the pair were able to flee, shouting: “Sooner or later we will burn them”.

The latest drug-related incident comes just days after an off-duty Guardia Civil officer was attacked in broad daylight by a group of drug smugglers in La Linea.

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THREE men have been arrested in Estepona on suspicion of selling cocaine by home delivery.

The detained have reportedly been delivering drugs, through a system known as ‘tele-coca’. Police seized 110 grams of cocaine and €4,505 in cash, along with a car and items used for the handling and packaging of drugs.

Missing teen POLICE have launched a search for teenager Javier Martinez who disappeared from his home in Almeria. The 13-year-old has not been seen since Monday. His mother Isabel Martínez failed to locate him after contacting all the friends and family she could think of. The family’s phones have been handed over to the police for investigation.

The officer had spotted a group of smugglers unloading bales of drugs while he was driving home after his shift.

When the group realised they had been spotted they set upon the officer and his car, demonstrating a ‘growing fearlessness of the Spanish authorities’.

Fortunately the officer escaped unharmed but the gang smashed his rear windscreen before he could drive off.

Alarming

A spokesman from the Spanish Association for the Guardia Civil has once more demanded that more police are sent to the region.

“We are living in the same situation that occurred years ago in the Basque Country: officers do not want to be sent there because of the alarming insecurity,” the spokesman said.

“We still do not understand why the Ministry of the Interior continues without giving a solution to the serious security problem throughout the area.”

No more drought THE Junta has announced it will not declare a drought following the significant rainfall over the past two weeks.

The region’s river basins have collected at least 584 cubic hectometers of water since the rains began.

“There is no emergency situation for now,” environment minister Jose Fiscal said, before adding that any drought decree has now been put off until the autumn.

Reservoirs in Cadiz are now full enough to supply large numbers of people and meet all demands as normal, accumulating more than 300 cubic hectometres in the last two weeks alone.

In Malaga, Granada and Almeria, the reserves have

returned to ‘normal or moderate’.

The Costa del Sol has gone into a normal situation also, with the Concepción reservoir currently at 89.02% capacity.

In the Guadalhorce-Limonero reserves, which service Malaga, there is enough for two years at 50.29% capacity.

However the situation of severe shortage remains in the case of La Viñuela -Axarquía, in Malaga, although the supply of water is guaranteed for at least two years after its reserves increased to 33.07%.

The Béznar-Rules in Granada is still at normal levels with guarantees for three years (53.6%).

In Almeria, where rainfall has been lower, the reservoirs of Benínar and Cuevas del Almanzora are below 20%, but luckily most of the resources come from unregulated sources like groundwater.

ISIS threat SICK death cult ISIS has called on its followers to carry out attacks in Spain.

Propaganda group Muharir al-Ansar shared a poster online calling for followers to carry out jihad.

The image shows the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and said those without weapons should use a vehicle or knife.

It reads: “If you don’t have a weapon, you have a truck or knife.”

It comes seven months after the shocking attacks in Barcelona saw 16 killed and more than 150 injured.

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Rioja-grad

Painful reality A NAUTICAL, sexed-up version of Coach Trip is set to hit our TV screens.

Channel 4 bosses have traded dry land and buses for the Mediterranean sea and luxury, party cruises.

In the new show, Shipmates, two teams of friends jet off to the Med to join over 2,500 other boozed-up 20-somethings for the ultimate party extravaganza.

The thrill-seekers will hit the Spanish seas for pool parties, famous DJs and world exclusive lavish events.

Across the five-part series, the glam groups will compete in a series of rigorous challenges.

But a shock twist at the end of the show will see the real winners voted for by other passengers on board, who will choose their favourite team.

The official airing date has yet to be confirmed.

Russian spy poisoned in London was Spanish wine merchant in the 1990s

JAILED: Valtonyc rapper

Let us speak

By Laurence Dollimore

A RUSSIAN spy controversially poisoned in London was once a Spanish wine merchant, it has been revealed.

Sergei Skripal, 66, is still in critical condition alongside his daughter Yulia, 33, after they collapsed when they were attacked by a nerve agent in Salisbury in the UK last week.

The Russian agent, who ‘had a nose for money’, lived in Spain for a number of years as a Rus-

POISONED: Skripal with daughter in London

sian military attache in the 1990s.

He excelled at ‘recruiting agents and extracting information’, and was so good at his job, the Spanish secret service, the CNI,

approached him to work for them.

Via a Spanish agent, known as ‘Luis’, he was approached to help set up a Spanish wine business geared towards the Russian market.

He was offered a ‘handsome payment’ to identify Russian business partners.

anything but fine SPANISH police have tested a series of new speed radars that cannot be seen by drivers.

The tiny devices, which are placed behind metal barriers, have been tested around Andalucia, in recent weeks.

Called the Velolaser, it can detect maximum speeds of up to 250 km/hr in both directions.

Once it snaps a speeding driver, it can send an image of the license plate to nearby officers.

However, after a number of years, when he was believed to be based in Madrid, Skripal was shipped off to the UK to work for MI6.

He would go on to provide detailed intelligence on the Russian military, details about active agents and military intelligence officers working in Russia. The former spy, who graduated from Kaliningrad military engineering school in 1972, always drank a lot at meetings at restaurants around Spain and held his money in a Spanish bank account. British Prime Minister Theresa May said the facts point to Russia being behind the apparent ‘hit’ on the double-agent on March 4.

FREEDOM of expression is ‘under attack in Spain’, according to leading human rights organisation Amnesty.

It comes after a string of court cases involving so called ‘praise of terrorism’ crimes on social media.

In one instance Spanish rapper, Valtonyc, from Mallorca, received a three year prison term for so-called abusive lyrics.

“The government is responding to lyrics of politically controversial songs to simple jokes – using the general categories included in counterterrorist laws,” said an Amnesty spokesman.

“States are restricting diverse forms of expression, including expression on the internet, using a pretext of national security.”

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www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Tragedy strikes THE murder of Gabriel Cruz, an innocent eightyear-old boy, is as shocking as it is harrowing.

It is unfathomable that a loved one could even hit such a sweet-looking child, never mind strangle them to death before hiding them in a well.

If hell does exist, surely his stepmother Ana Julia Quezada - the prime suspect who has now confessed to killing the boy - will end up there.

And while it will not bring innocent Gabriel back, or do much to mend the broken hearts of his parents Angel and Patricia, the Spanish legal system must ensure it punishes her to the full extent of the law.

We hope police uncover the whole story, and can provide more answers to the now broken family.

It’s difficult to see how the family and friends of Gabriel will ever get over such a devastating affair, but we hope that they can somehow find the strength to go on and find some happiness in life.

Publisher/ Editor

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

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

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

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Disenfranchised expats might finally be able to vote, writes Ray Jones

I

March 14th - March 27th 2018

A vote for life wherever you live … except if you’re British

F you’re French, Spanish, Japanese or almost any nationality other than British, you have the right to vote in your native country wherever you live now, and for however long you have lived there.

Expats from all over the world retain their full voting rights back home and can register to vote in the general elections of their country for the remainder of their lives.

Not so us Brits who are resident anywhere outside the UK for more than 15 years and do not retain a UK registered address (and if so need to be in the UK for a minimum of 183 days each year).

They can’t vote in their own country’s general elections and they can’t vote in Spain’s unless they adopt Spanish citizenship and renounce their UK passport.

In fact they can only vote in local Spanish elections, and that may be withdrawn after Brexit.

We expat Brits are the great disenfranchised.

During past years the Tory Party has expressed intentions to rectify this anomaly and last month in the House of Commons, Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith spoke in support of the ‘Overseas Electors Bill 2017-19’, presented as a private member’s bill put forward

by Conservative MP Glyn Davies.

Mike Gapes, president of Labour International and Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran also spoke in favour of the bill while another mentioned the efforts of the French government to make its expats feel valued by providHundreds of ing for them with dedicated MPs and thousands of British senators. people living across But Labour MP Sandy Martin, who the EU will have no contested it on behalf of the opposivote in UK elections tion, expressed doubt that British expats retained any close family links back in Blighty. Anyone living abroad for 15 years or more would have brought their family with them, he added.

Another anti-Bill spokesman maintained that re-establishing the vote for expats would be too complicated and costly for local councils.

NO VOICE, NO VOTE

Anti-bill

As Sir Roger Gale, who spoke in support of the Bill, explained after the 2nd Reading: “Labour are quite clearly opposed to it; they mounted an operation to talk it out – Mr Martin spoke for 45 minutes which is outrageous. However they seemed to decide that discretion is the better part of valour and they are probably going to try to kill it in committee, or at the report stage, or at the third reading, or in the House of Lords.

The trouble with private members’ bills is that, even with government support, they are very vulnerable. Even if it gets through, it’s one step forward and only one step. It doesn’t mean expats are getting the vote.”

It seems outside the sphere of common sense that the votes-for-life issue could fall victim to political bias. But perhaps opposition MPs and OPPOSING VIEWS: From left to right, Chloe Smith, Layla Moran, Mike Gapes and Sandy Martin the Labour Party think most British expats are well-heeled would-be Tory voters living the high ed pensions are required to pay income tax to He fought for his country and for democracy life? If so it is an antiquated impression. the UK government in accordance with double in Europe against fascism, and he has been a Perhaps it is believed that Brits moving abroad taxation treaties between the UK, Spain and life-long supporter of the Labour Party. He took with the intention to remain there deserve to France. That is taxation without representation. his case to the UK Supreme Court and to the forfeit their right to vote in UK elections. But What do MPs opposing the Overseas Electors European Court of Human Rights but did not such people paid taxes during their working Bill have to say about that? succeed on points of complex detail. lives in the UK, many have siblings, children and In 2008 the Europe in Movement Meeting British expats in Spain live amongst Spanish grandchildren still living there and retain great accepted the principle that ´No citizens of nationals who experienced a dictatorship and interest in the political, social and educational the EU shall be deprived of their right to vote isolation from European democratic ideals. The issues of their homeland, which they can keep in national elections by reason of their place Spanish who fled Franco’s regime and remain up to date with through the internet and TV. of residence´. There is something not only ilabroad have been re-enfranchised. British exTens of thousands of British expats living in Spain logical but callous about the circumstances pats deserve as much in the country where and France who once worked in UK government of 94-year-old British army veteran Harry they paid a great proportion of their taxes in, for employment - military personnel, health workers, Schindler, resident in Italy, who is denied the which they retain affection towards and where policemen, teachers – and are in receipt of relat- right to vote in UK general elections. many of their relatives still live.

VS

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ALL SMILES: Pancho with UN leader Kofi Anaan

It’s 13 years since Marbella expat Pancho Campo became a wanted man. Now in the clear after an Interpol ‘Red Notice’ was finally lifted, the former tennis pro and Master of Wine tells the Olive Press about his plans for vindication

T

Seeing Fe at u r e

Red

HERE was a time when life was as sweet as a good glass of Rioja for Pancho Campo, founder of Spain’s Academy of Wine.

The former tennis pro who coached the Chilean women’s tennis team at the 1992 Olympics and ran a successful events management business in Dubai during the Nineties, staging concerts for a string of massive stars including Sting, Pink Floyd and UB40.

However, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks the business understandably struggled and he closed the company and left the UAE for Marbella.

Here, the Chilean expat, 56, founded the Wine Academy of Spain in 2003 and - being a staunch environmentalist - he worked with US Presidential hope Al Gore on climate change issues in the wine industry. He also launched a wine business in America.

All went well and in 2008 he even became one of just 300 or so people in the world to achieve the distinction of becoming a Master of Wine, a massive distinction.

He and his American wife Melissa settled well on the Costa del Sol, with their two children and helped to open an American school, which has gone on to thrive.

Indeed, everything was fine, until in 2009 on a routine business trip to America to meet legendary wine guru Robert Parker things took an incredible turn.

When he landed in Chicago, Homeland Security refused to let him into the country.

The reason? An Interpol Red Notice had been “It was a true nightmare and very stressful.” slapped on him by the UAE, which ultimately orFor nine long years he was unable to return to ders authorities anywhere in the world to arrest the US, which meant he had to close down his and extradite him. successful wine business there.

“It was like in the cowboy movies when you see “It was worrying because I thought my kids your picture on a wanted poster, although this would go to university in the US and if they ever time it was the Interpol website saying simply needed their father or anything happened to ‘Wanted’. I couldn’t believe it,” he recalls. them and they needed me there, I wouldn’t be Campo, who had never even heard of a red noable to travel,” he said. tice, was forced to fly directly back to Paris where His children, Andreah, 17, and Christian, 12, are police told him they couldn’t find anything about American by virtue of his Amerithe case and let him go. can/British wife.

Fortunately for him, the extraBut he never gave up the fight dition request in his full name The Dubai and after years of legal atFrancisco Armando Campo authorities have tempts to quash the convicCarrasco was denied by Spain tion, he got the good news last on the grounds the accusation used Interpol month. against him was an economic The cancellation of the Red and civil issue, not a criminal as their debt Notice came after his lawyers one.

But things got worse when the collection agency demonstrated incorrect procedures had been followed by following year, he received a the UAE, as well as a breach of letter saying he had been senInterpol regulations and intertenced ‘in absentia’ during a trial which took national laws. place months after he and his wife had left The UAE claimed Campo had fled the country, Dubai. No lawyer was appointed to defend him. following a complaint filed in Dubai by a former The international media inevitably caught wind partner in 1999. However, his lawyers could of the conviction, leading to Campo’s reputation prove that the authorities there knew he was being ripped to tatters. in fact returning to Spain, and had even given “It affected my children and family a lot,” he said.

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

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them his address.

“It is as if my life has been on hold all these years and the relief that I can fly into a country with my family without fear of arrest is wonderful.”

And Campo is not alone in his ‘ridiculous’ situation.

One Englishman recently called him for advice after being issued a Red Notice by the UAE for not paying his rental car fees for three months.

“How ridiculous is that?” he laughs.

“The dispute I had was a civil matter and not criminal. But money disputes in Dubai can be treated as criminal. If you don’t pay a credit card for a few months this can go to court and becomes a criminal offence.

“The Dubai authorities have used Interpol as their private debt collection agency. My name should never have been on their list.”

Campo’s legal team are now considering action to restore his name and reputation, starting with an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. He is expecting damages. And deservedly so. Meanwhile, life goes on in Southern Spain. He is hosting the Andalucia premiere of Al Gore’s second movie An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power in a fortnight in Marbella, and his American College in Spain business goes from strength to strength. “You’ve just got to get on with it in the end,” he explains. “I’ve never stopped doing that.”

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

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MISSING: Corner arrested and (inset) Lisa

Done a runner!

SPANISH police have issued an arrest warrant for expat murder suspect Simon Corner, following an infringement in his bail terms.

Corner, 36, who is suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend Lisa Brown, then 32, has failed to present himself at a police station for the last two months.

Corner is suspected of killing the expat after she disappeared near her home in Guadiaro, San Roque in November, 2015.

Brown, who worked in Gibraltar, failed to pick up her son Marco, then 8, from school.

Investigators believe a ‘violent episode’ took place prior to her disappearance, however a body has never been found and Corner maintains his innocence.

March 14th - March 27th 2018

We WON’T be pawns!

By Joe Wallen

THE leader of the Liberal Democrat party fears Gibraltar could be ‘sacrificed’ to get a better Brexit deal.

Vince Cable insists Gibraltarians must not become ‘sacrificial pawns’ in the knife-edge negotiations with the EU. In a damning analysis of Prime Minister Theresa May’s muddled Brussels position, Sir Vince insists the EU will end up dictating terms.

He said the UK’s ‘very weak’ negotiating position was leading to considerable anxiety in Gi-

Lib Dem leader demands that Gibraltar must not be sacrificed for better Brexit deal braltar about the issue of joint sovereignty.

“If the government is going to take a tough line on Brexit in these negotiations, this is one of the things they should be tough about,” he said.

“Currently they have been very, very weak and created an enormous sense of anxiety and in-

security.

“It is an issue of fundamental principle, Gibraltar has been attached to the UK for two centuries.

“We have seen off repeated demands by Spain to have control over the Rock.

“We should not allow Brexit to be used as a cloak for giving away what is a substantial British commit-

Race attack on black actor A BLACK actor has been injured in a vicious racist attack in Madrid.

Marius Makon, 34, who was born in Cameroon, was set upon by a drunk woman with a beer bottle.

The actorwas rushed to hospital for an operation on his right eye.

SINGLE IMPLANT

In the sickening attack, the woman, 34, from Mostoles - ironically from El Salvador - shouted at him: “I don’t want blacks here.

“I’m white. I can kill you and nothing will happen to me.”

IMPLANT BRIDGE

ment.”

He added: “The Gibraltarian Government is afraid that their people – our people, British citizens – will be sacrificial pawns in this needless rush for the EU exit door.”

His concerns were backed up by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, when he insisted sovereignty should not be ‘bartered’ with.

He told BBC Radio 4: “You don’t barter with sovereignty today… what you do is look at the interests of people, you talk to people and ask them what matters for the future.”

Politicians in the UK have also demanded the government reject any Spanish veto over aspects of the deal signed between the EU and UK. Currently Spain can veto any future UK/EU trade agreement relating to Gibraltar, according to Clause 24 of the EU’s negotiating guidelines.

Historic agreement THE Junta and town hall of Ronda have signed an agreement to preserve the ancient city of Acinipo.

They have promised to collaborate to protect, investigate, conserve and promote the historic Roman city, which sits 20kms from the town.

This will include better signposting and parking at the site, of which only 2% has been excavated.

Poor show DOMESTIC violence against women soared by 17.7% in Spain last year.

A total of 158,217 women were attacked in 2017, while Spanish courts received more complaints about gender violence with 166,620 cases, a 16.4% increase on 2016.

“These figures are unacceptable and not what you’d expect from a civilized society,” said Ángeles Carmona, Head of Spain’s Gender Violence Observatory.

IMPLANT DENTURE

info@markdentalclinic.com

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PLASTIC: Filling oceans

Deep sea danger

ALMOST three quarters of deep ocean fish have ingested microplastics - posing a threat to the seafood we consume.

A new study reveals 73% of more than 200 fish caught in the Northwest Atlantic - many for sale in Spain and Gibraltar - had plastic particles in their stomachs.

It was described as ‘one of the highest reported frequencies of microplastic occurrence in fish worldwide’.

The ‘worrying’ findings mean humans could be eating seafood that has been indirectly contaminated through eating these smaller fish.

Researchers from the National University of Ireland examined dead deep sea fish from midwater trawls from a depth of up to 600 metres.

One lanternfish was found to have 13 plastic particles in its stomach. Microplastics are small plastic fragments, commonly broken down from larger plastic items which have been dumped into the ocean.

Spain’s sunniest region is truly embracing renewable energy ANDALUCIA accounted for 16% of Spain’s renewable energy last year - and that figure is set to rise.

New solar panels and wind farms capable of generating at least 465 megawatts per year are popping across the country’s sunniest region.

green

Green giant

c u s t o m e r

ONE of the smallest bird fossils in the world which was discovered in Spain has finally been analysed.

Dating back 127 million years, the primitive baby creature would have lived among dinosaurs.

Found in Las Hoyas, in CastileLa Mancha, it has only recently been studied properly thanks to the development of new techniques. Belonging to the ‘enantiornithine’ family, the bird would have had teeth and clawed fingers on each wing.

“It’s amazing to realise that many of the features we see among living birds had already been developed more than 100 million years ago,” said Luis Chiappe, from the LA Museum of Natural History. Believed to have died not long after hatching, the bird weighed just 10 grams. “Truth be told, the techniques we used to analyse it in the paper (such as synchrotron microtomography and elemental mapping) had not yet been developed when the specimen was discovered,” said Dr Knoll.

Top renewable energy sources Wind - 3,338 megawatts Biomass - 1,995.3 megawatts Thermosolar - 997.4 megawatts Solar panels - 889.5 megawatts Hydraulics - 620 megawatts in Cadiz, 1,700 in Malaga and 1,500 in Almeria.

Wind energy covers the

electricity needs of more than 1,445,000 Andalucian homes and prevents

o f f e r

TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-Cepsa.indd 1

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3 1 / 0 3 / 1 8 .

ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS

the emission of more than 3.6 million tons of CO2 per year.

902 123 282 N e w

Flying with dinosaurs

Turbines

Most of Andalucia’s renewable energy came from wind turbines last year, with more than 3,000 megawatts produced.

The region produces the most solar thermal energy in Spain but is third in the wind ranking, behind Galicia and Castilla-Leon.

Experts say the green energy industry is growing here, with around 45,000 people now employed in the sector.

With 153 wind farms, wind energy from Andalucia accounts for 14.61% of the national total and generates direct employment for 9,122 people - 3,297

9

March 14th - March 27th 2018

This week: 50.74% Same week last year: 57.69% Same week in 2008: 68.61%

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R e d e e m

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p a r t i c i p a t i n g

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27/2/18 17:37

www.theolivepress.es www.theolivepress.es

Justice coming Fantastic news! (British expats on Costa del Sol to face trial over missing Agnese Klavina ‘within weeks’, issue 286). I sincerely hope this happens and you get justice for your girl!

Wendy Graham, UK

Long way to go I can't bring myself to look at the images, its way beyond sad, its evil and sadly I have seen my share of it since living here (Manhunt after 20 dogs tied to train tracks and run over by trains in Andalucia, issue 286).

Things have improved so much since 2002 when I moved here where animal cruelty is concerned, but obviously still a long way to go, very upsetting and distressing seeing this. I hope they don't give up until they find who is responsible for such an evil act.

Chrisy Rolf, Malaga

Not there yet What happens to the vast estates of empty properties that have never been occupied laying there as if in some kind of apocalyptic abandonment? (Spain property market ‘officially recovers’ from 2008 as sales reach pre-crisis levels, issue 286) That tells a very different story. Recovery? I think not.

Jamie Grant, Marbella

Open up!

Start by opening shops on a Sunday, that would help tremendously (Robots set to take a third of Spanish jobs within a generation, issue 286) . I get that they want to have a day of rest and all the Jesus stuff, but it really annoys me off when I can't go to Mercadona on a Sunday.

Thomas Melia, Marbella

22

ERS ALE T TFighting fit 2018 ll about

March 14th - March 27th30th 20182018 January 17th - January

L etter World

of the

week

Cause for leaders S concern

PAIN is officially the pmp in 2016 and 39.7 pmp in world leader in organ 2015. transplants.

The figure is ‘much higher’ than There were 5,259 trans- the EU average (19.6) and the in organ donation and in trans- the ONT, discussing Spain’s plants,” she said. success, said ‘good organisaplants carried out in the country US average (26.6). last year, breaking the 2016 The American Journal of Trans- “In the last three years the do- tion in the process of deceased record of 4,818, according to plantation cited Spain as a nation rate per million popula- donation and continuous adfigures from the National Trans- model from which other coun- tion has increased by 30 per- aptations of the system to cent, something extraordinary changes are always the basis plant Organisation (ONT). tries ‘have a lot to learn’.

I read your headline Childline hairdresser. develop when a training contacted advice. results I contacted starting had frombeen a situation of for successful in organ Some news 3,269about were kidney, 1,247 a Spain’s healthI offered ministertoDolors Andalucia with were greatliver, interest.

About help of develop a Childline and they said they were excellence and if youGibraltar take donation’.

363 were lungs, 18 304 programme Montserrat for saidvolunteers, it was the 26th months ago I contacted Childsafeguarding and volunteers pol- how not happy set-upoperates so didn't an want to into account difficultwith it is theSpain ‘opt-out’ were hearts, 70 were pancreas consecutive year that Spain had line Andalucia and (CA)offering icy and so on.for It took several workdonor with in them. getwhich very worried. to be a successful the I began systemto in all citizens eight were intestines. been top of global rankings to volunteer. I Spain had recently Bennett This wascircumeither aare financial scam or registered even current epidemiological automatically saw 46.9 individual do- transplants. attempts to get Ms retired to Spain nors having reply my phone calls worse a risky venture involving childunless abuse.they stances.” for organ donation perspent million people (pmp) “These are theto very best to results 40 years workinginwith abused did have telephone I even contacted Exploitation Matesanz, founder of CEOP choose(Child to state otherwise.

2017, an increase from 43.9 in the history and of theI ONT, both a Rafael young people and for the last call with her where she Online Protection) a branch of the UK Naseven of those years as a propromised to get back to me tional Crime Agency to report my concerns END OF gramme manager for a child but heard nothing more de- but because it was outside their jurisdiction THE LINE sexual exploitation project. I spite several attempts to get they couldn't intervene. In the end I gave up received an MBE for my work hold of her. She did say that but from time to time checked the CA webwith young people. Thus I Childline Gibraltar had been site for signs of life and eventually decided was an ideal person to ofapproached for support but that this set up was not right. I believe CA is fer my services. ONE Theyyear should that they weren't interested. a financial mess.

ANTHONY’Ssions, and pedicures and if you need a on and New Styles Hair and have bitten my hand but When I didn't get they’ve a response Beautyoffcontinues to dominate, offering deep-tissue massage got thatLots of people and organisations have dowhen I began to fromto.Ms Bennett after sev- nated money. Where has it gone? Is it not theask bestabout beauty treatments on the coast. covered police checking The thesalon voluneral set months of trying began is the brainchild of Lynn Mont- “Having up shop a yearI ago the re-possible for the police to investigate for teers I receivedgomery, no replies to smell a rat fantastic,” so I contacted who, having learnt the tricks-of- sponse has been Lynn toldfraud? Clearly some sort of crime has been to my emails. Ithe-trade discovered in Ireland, hopes to turn it into the Childline Olive Press.UK who told me committed. founder Tracey Bennett herself has no trainthat they had nothing a recognised brand.

Dubliner Montgomery says to thedo Costa ing or experience‘Five in child she is prices’ with CA Jennifer Semahimbo MBE, Torrox star protection service at -normal is despite del SolMs hasBennett it all. telling me that their motto and with over 11 different “Everything from the weather, the peotreatments really something for Press? ple and Have lifestyle is asay dream.

Has anything piqued your there interest inis this week’s Olive your on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or everyone.

“I absolutely love it and alternatively message us you on couldn’t pay Located inFacebook Benalmadena, the salon me to go back to Ireland,” admits @olivepress at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspapershe or Twitter specialises in eyebrow shaping, exten- proudly.

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TS hidden craggy coves fringed with wild grasses and flowers owe more to Cornwall’s rugged coastline than Spain’s Costa del Sol. But these are the attractive protected natural beaches of Manilva, a true haven for nature lovers. Worlds away from the heavily commercialised sands of nearby Mijas or Fuengirola, four kilometres of golden playas areCATCH being kept wildDAY: as anAn ecological reserve.

OF THE eel in the rocky Manilva shallows Endangered western snowy plovers, chameleons and rare species of dune plants are among the flora and fauna in renaissance here since the conservation zone was created in 2011.

BRUNOS Unsurprisingly, eagle-eyed tourists are also beginning to be drawn

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Calle Duquesa de Arcos, 47, Sabinillas Tel: 952 897 207 Email: joyeriacleto@hotmail.com

Page 15

Travel special

Publisher Jon Clarke’s postcard from Brazil

Page 36

EXCLUSIVE: We track down - anything but typical - conwoman Paula Neale to France, P4

Puerto de la Duquesa,

Banús

Continues on next page

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Puerto Duquesa

Manilva’s laidback vibe is founded on fish and wine and that authentic flavour

I

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

Manilva is quite unlike your average Costa resort.

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

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

In Roman times, Manilva was to garum (a paste, like Gentleman’s Relish, that was all theoutside rage inofRome) Indeed on many weekends Jerez July andwhat August, you can practically have the beaches is sherry.and a good number have great to to yourself… chiringuitos to eat on. The town’s roots in fish saltOn one beach at Punta ing still you runfind deep Chullera, - and place you to explore the perfect rock pools and dive into can stillwhile seeatthe the sea, remains another of of tourists a handful sunbathe next to a group of squids drying on a line.

But the beaches are just one of the natural Continues on Page 16 draws of Manilva, which is broadly split into three areas; beach-front Sabinillas, port-side Duquesa

of drying squids, while (inset) kids play on one of the many rocky coves

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

to the half dozen of unspoilt beaches, that lie below the main N340 coastal road.

“These are some of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol and some of the least known,” explains Bish Witkowski, owner of local Castles estate agency.

Manilva magic

Our annual Manilva supplement www.brunosparking.com info@brunosparking.com

Seasoned conwoman Paula Neale ‘flees to France’ with cops in pursuit B I S T R O

Puerto de la Duquesa,

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

Gone fishin’

Born to be wild

NATURAL WONDERS: Sights on Manilva’s beaches include a shopping line

I

DESIGN & QUALITY • GREAT VALUE

22 10 22

EXCLUSIVE

By Jed Neill

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

Detectives contacted lowing a tip off that us folthe mother-of-two was staying tel in Catalunya and in a hoto cross the border preparing this week.

She had been staying at Hotel Figueres, near asked to pay for Girona, and the room using her ‘husband’s’ It comes after four credit card. vestigation by the years of inOlive Press has uncovered more victims of her rentalthan 30 undertaken in various scams false names.

info@simply-shuttles.com

27th 2018

Tel: 951 279 117

www.simply-shuttles.com

Ransacked

Neale, 43, took rental deposits for properties she didn’t own and allegedly ransacked erties she had rented propbefore selling the stolen However, despitegoods online. and at least eightfour stories denuncias against her, she has yet to be picked up by police.

This is looking increasingly unlikely after a receptionist Freeze on at the hotel confirmed plastic had checked out that Paula on Tuesday morning.

She had been cross into France planning to children, Nina, 12,with her two and Oscar, 14 and live in Bordeaux.

ON THE RUN:

www.theolivepress.es

IN DENIAL: Guerrero

Wasn’t me

February 14th - February

BORDER DRAMA

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

10

the olive press

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ashya thanks

NEWS

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

Top stamps

Paula and (above)

- October 16 October 29 2014

They’re singling me out!

January 17th - January 30th 2018 NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

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

Strike four!

SPECIAL edition of King Felipestamps Queen Letizia have and launched by postal been vice Correos. Showingserofficial photographs Royal duo, they of the can be bought for €1.

Boozy trips

A FINNISH grandmother ordered to demolish EXCLUSIVE year-old extension a nineBy Rob Horgan has accused Estepona Town Hall of being 'racially motivated' year legal and hall afterbattle with the town 'singling' her out. they Terttu Balson, with a demolitionserved her involved in an 70, has been fined her €24,300order and ongoing sixfor building a loft in 2008 extension

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

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

Customers of Overseas, EXCLUSIVE which stocks Iceland prodBy Jed Neill ucts in 20 shops across Spain and Portugal, will A SEASONED British fraudster benefit from the five-year has struck again. plan to reduce plastics in Paula Neale - exposed in the 1,400 products. Calling Olive Press four times in two plastics a ‘scourge’ on the years - has brought her dirty world, Iceland managing tricks to the Costa del Sol again. director Richard Walker The rentals conwoman has said: “A truckload is entersnared a series of unsuspecting our oceans every mining foreigners through her well ute, causing untold damage oiled ruse of sub-letting properto our marine environment ties. and ultimately humanity – A number of victims have lost ALL CHANGE: Passport names since we all depend on the and (right) 2016 story thousands in lost deposits, after oceans for our survival.” she took over a two-bedroom the owner, mother-of-three, the authorities in Gibraltar, Plastic ready meal trays Sara Belmont, rumbled the apartment in Mijas. where she believes Paula keeps will be removed first, folUsing the alias ‘Sharon Tate’ scam. her money. lowed by frozen vegetable she rented the Riviera apart- The 41-year-old owner, a fire- She told the Olive Press how bags changing to a paper she ment for three months, before fighter from London, has now was contacted by Neale through based material. brought in police and contacted an online rental website.

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

without the correct planning only permission. resident facing court acSeveral other properties in tion. the Seghers community "It is have tory, completely discriminasimilar extensions without that I cannot help but think planning licences - including that it is not a coincidence Balson's next door I have been chosen Spanish I when neighbour - but Balson is the ingam the only foreigner livhere," she told the Olive Press.

Balson believed ceived planning she had repermission when she contracted ish architect Mario a SpanJones in 2005.

Now however, he did not do hisshe feels that job properly despite being paid take over the project€2,500 to and sort out the building Jones, however, licence. said he feels 'no guilt or responsibility that Balson is to blame and for the situation.

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

DESPERATE: Balson "She is definitely and dogs fairly treated and being unsure why. I hope I am not with so many foreigners livthat the town hall is not targeting her ing on the coast I don't think because she is foreign. it happens now."

"Maybe that sort Despite numerous Terttu’s ‘illegal’ extension and of thing attempts happened in the adjoining neighbour’s old days, but Estepona Town Hall did not (right) answer any of our questions.

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

According to neighbours in upmarket La Heredia urbanisation, Rebecca kids barely went Wells, 37, has fled owing money to school and rarely even to sevcame out to eral businesses. play.

Keen horserider “She never mixed spent eight yearsWells - who cal community with the lohere and one an estate agent - posing as day she was gone sought by police,is now being unpaid electricity leaving an in the Olive Pressas reported The Olive Press bill.” last issue, after four denuncias unable to contacthas still been were posted against her. her defrauding of Wells, over “She owes money expats who paid rent on properties DISAPPEARED: butcher, restaurant to the she did not own.

Wells and La Heredia, and the home baker, as well as where she rented Wells, aka Prior, a her car,” said onefor repairs to allegedly took a series of An expat couple neighbour. former neighbour Frank Codeposits for homes reported concern site Wells’ houseliving oppo- myn, president of the Palmfor her four If you which she did not own. children. have any banisation reportedin the ur- eras del Golf urbanisation about Rebecca information Comyn, who lived that they in Benalmadena Wells, please saw her packing Costa, has her for two years opposite contact newsdesk@theoliveily’s possessions all the famsaid: “The press.es car on October into a rental expose came out.1 the day our When the Olive Press visited a few days later, had clearly been the house and the family abandoned Chrysler - wascar - a black Fabulous food and entertainment dumped outside. apparently including a 5* Christmas or New Years Eve Meanwhile another Gala Dinner

5

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:

Still on-the-run

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Paying €1,700 fromChristmas November& NEw YEar to change to February, Paula said she was vented the locks she has preanyone moving in Taken with her child and However, in else moving in. a ride for just the short black cat. amount of time she was over However, after reading our ex- this month, two disappointed pose on Neale in early Decem- couples ber, Belmont quickly started to “One arrived to stay. investigate and found her prop- paid couple from Russia had a two month deposit of erty being advertised to rent €1,400 through a variety of Facebook were for a year’s rental. They gutted,” Belmont told the groups.

Olive One had been shared an incred- “ThenPress. a few hours later an Engible 4,000 times. lish couple turned up, also with Fortunately she was able to a year’s lease and having paid move fast and after coming over a deposit.”

It is unknown how many people in total fell for the scam, but her property was in a terrible state with a stereo and a toolkit also stolen. It took three days to clean. “It has got to stop,” added Belmont. “When is this going to end?” So far she has been unable to track down Neale, but has put up reward notices in various vets around Calahonda. In 2017, the Olive Press twice exposed Neale’s antics. But it has also emerged that we exposed her using the name ‘Sharon Tate’ in 2016 in inland Malaga. A new UK number Paula had been using did not answer our calls. with fine wine

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Spain-France border and her hotel He refused to leave his hohire car. tel room or open the door to They claimed she her, setting off alarm chequered track had a long Neale, who packed bells for up and left record of scams and problems, after repeatedly trying and had to raise a third son, who him. was taken into care.

Neale’s speedy departure The friend described came ‘unfit mother who her as an long displayed erratic behaviour’.

On one occasion she even pretended to be her try and strike up daughter to with her long-losta connection CHANGING son.

FACES: Neale fled to France Paula

as the Olive Press Staff at the hotel said THE alleged lynchpin was handing over details Allthe aboard! room Balcon wins big in was left in Spain’s biggest ever ous denuncias and of varipolitical after she lefta ‘complete mess’ PROBE: Previous fraud claims he in a hurry, with story in the Guardia Civil victims to made SIX police arriving in Malaga. the Olive Press previous confessions within A detective confirmed up.

Her plan to escape an hour.

Former Junta employment were ‘in a race against they toLIBERTYHOME France was rumbled by boss Francisco Guerrero to get an arrest warrant time’ her own ducer’. in- actor Anthony Webster, pal, But after with sists he did not Catalan police. who meeting ratted on Neale when One of her victims, gain from the EREpersonally out hotel and agreeingher at the her real identity. he found scandal, to drive mont, says Interpol Sara Belher to Bordeaux, that saw up to a billion he said he has been euros Webster told the Olive Press notified but because felt ‘something embezzled over a have you this week that he crimes were committed the when she claimedwasn’t right’ had recently He claims he onlydecade. got that gave details befriended Neale online. in Spain, she must had suddenly died her mother of the so-called ‘reptile Liberty be charged and that she fund’ He said she had promised there. needed to leave immediately. that he allegedly to feeLing? oversaw, help his acting career and Family and friends He researched her after police put considerable Liberty that Seguros makes she knew people insurance a better the UK meanwhile, back in stumbled upon ouronline and film pressure on him. industry, claiming in the experience. catalogue that she had madeconfirmed of stories. to be ‘a proGuerrero is facing it across the border on Tuesday eight years in prison for embezzling in a €65 million of money from the €647 million emergency lic fund that he managedpubbetween 1999 and 2008.

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

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

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

It is the first ever link between the two countries.

IT has the best caves in some of the best beaches inAndalucia and Malaga province.

Known as ‘Balcon de Europa’ it is somewhat fitting that Nerja has been chosen as one of the must visit destinations this year.

Travel site Tripadvisor has listed the resort among its top 10 emerging worldwide destinations.

It is the only destination in Spain to be tipped, with Gdansk, in Poland, Riga, in Latvia and Rovinj, in Croatia.

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

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February

Expat charity Childline set up to help kids in Andalucia closes shop

MYSTERY surrounds a child helpline charity which shut its doors last week without ever allegedly setting up a phone line - despite taking donations for four years.

The Childline Andalucia shop, in Sabinillas, which sold second hand items, closed after its British founder Tracey Leigh Bennett resigned from her post.

It comes after several expats told the Olive Press that, despite opening the shop two years ago, no helpline for children has ever been set up.

This was despite several specific fundraising events, including concerts by expat band the Jersey Boys, being held to raise money for the childline.

The Olive Press and other local media gave free publicity and adverts to promote the charity.

Costs

However, in a social media post last week, Bennett - who also goes by Tracey-Leigh Kent - claimed she was no longer able to ‘maintain the overhead costs’.

“As you know we were greatly affected by the roadworks from November to February which left volunteers paying out of their own pockets to keep the shop afloat,” she wrote on her Facebook page last week.

Oddly, she went on to claim that the ‘free 121 helpline’ would ‘continue to operate confidentially with our professional counsellors four hours per day, seven days a week.’

EXCLUSIVE

However, a number of people who have worked with her, insisted that there was no such number, or anyone trained to accept calls.

Indeed, on the charity’s official website www.childlineandalucia.org, there is no telephone number given for children in need.

A section, called ‘Ziggy’s Helpline’ states: ‘Once our team of qualified counsellors has been established we are going to launch our telephone helpline for children and teenagers across southern Spain to call in and speak to a dedicated support professional about any problem they may be dealing with.’

Despite many attempts we were unable to contact Bennett to clear up the matter.

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EX-BOSS: Bennett

A local source, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “The fact is there is no helpline set up, while she definitely received a salary for some length of time. So what is going on?”

The Charity Commission in the UK confirmed that the not-for-profit had been officially dissolved by Companies House in December of

2016 after it failed to file its accounts.

This is despite the charity’s website claiming until recently that it was still registered in the UK. “The not-for-profit did not file or declare its accounts on June 4 2016, leading Companies House to move to dissolve Childline Andalucia on October 1 that year,” a spokesperson told the Olive Press.

While the charity is still registered in Spain, the Junta told the Olive Press it only de-registers charities upon request, and that they are not required to declare earnings.

Meanwhile, British councillor for Manilva Dean Tyler Shelton, a local charity president himself, said he had concerns about the charity from its outset.

“She requested that we help with infrastructure for events and fundraising, but she always made requests through third parties and when we asked to see forecasts, projections and other charity-related documents, they just went quiet.”

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-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

SOCIALMEDIA

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la cultura

OlivePressNewspaper olivepress

March 14th - March 27th 2018

olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs

BE ‘APPY!

gree n

Do you have a what’s on?

Send your informati on to newsdesk@theolivep ress.es

what’s on

Host of British acts to descend on one of Spain’s biggest music festivals

O

th -

asis: Super sonic, M al aga, M arc h

15 A on e-of f docu men ta ry a b ou t rock ’n ’rol l , dru gs a n d the ri se to f a me of on e of th e b i ggest b a n ds i n h i story, Oa si s, wi l l b e screen i n g a t Cá rta ma , Au di tori o de l a E sta ci ón .

Don’t miss the point!

ONE of the most successful duos in the history of pop, Pet Shop Boys, have announced their reDownload our app now and turn to Festival Internacional begin enjoying the best SpanishBenicàssim (FIB) this July.

The synthpop London lads, Neil news on the go.

Tennant and Chris Lowe, will headline the festival in Benicàssim, Valencia.

The Brit duo, who last performed IT dates back to the 16th centu- at FIB 14 years ago, have sold ry and is the culmination of the more than 50 million records year for up to 70% of the coun- worldwide. try, who identify themselves as The festival features multiple UK acts including Bastille, The VacCatholic. cines, The Kooks, Madness, Two That is Semana Santa, which The Olive Press begins next Sunday March Door Cinema Club, Jessie Ware, Belle and Sebastian, Catfish and 25 - Domingo de Ramos and TOP for news -in Spain! culminates on Monday April 2 the Bottlemen and J Hus. Fellow headliner Liam Gallagher (Lunes de Pascua).

During the holy week, practi- heralds from Manchester, while cally every town and village in the The Killers and Travis Scott Spain will have a series of Eas- comes from America.

FIB, which started in 1995, is fater processions.

Semana Santa dates back to the mous worldwide for welcoming 16th century when the Catholic big names in pop, rock and elecChurch decided to present the tronic music, as well as showcasstory of the Passion of Christ in ing short films, fashion shows and a way that the layperson could art installations.

Last year the festival attracted understand.

That does not mean though, around 177,000 festival goers over that many tourists will be left the four days. puzzled on stumbling on the penance processions that pay tribute to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, MARBELLA AGAINST with many attendants in pointy CLIMATE CHANGE hats covering their faces.

An Inconvenient Sequel TRUTH TO POWER While the exact details of the procession vary from place to place, the basic components remain the same.

Each brotherhood within a town will usually carry two floats, one depicting Christ and Premiere in Marbella of Vice President the other Mary, in a circuit from Al Gore’s latest movie their church to the central cathedral or church and back.

Those carrying the floats known as ‘costaleros’ consider it a great honour despite the pain inwww.marbellaclimatechange.com curred due to their heaviness of Tuesday, March 20 Teatro Goya - 6.30pm Free tickets available at El Corte Inglés and the floats. It is meant to remind The American College in Spain them of Christ’s suffering. The most dramatic and passionate parades are held on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

11

11

March 14th - March 27th 2018

STARS: Pet Shop Boys, Liam Gallagher and Two Door Cinema Club

Brit invasion Marbella hosts Al Gore premiere

MARBELLA is set to host the Andalucían premiere of former US Vice President Al Gore’s greatly anticipated documentary about climate change.

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is a followup to the critically acclaimed 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, which won the politician the Nobel Peace Prize along with two Oscars.

The documentary focuses on the progress made to persuade global leaders to invest in renewable energy.

Gore is the founder and current chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection – a not for profit organisation encouraging action against the climate crisis.

The film will be screened in English with Spanish subtitles, with a 30-minute talk about the effects of climate change on the Costa del Sol beforehand.

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ine t as t ing, M ar b e l l a , M arc h 19 A SPE CIAL wi n eta sti n g work shop f or f a th er’s da y a t th e Ca sa Pa b l o Vi n os i n M a rb el l a . €2 2 f or 1.5 h ou rs.

WIN exclusive tickets The Olive Press is offering three pairs of VIP tickets to the premiere.

To be in with a chance of winning, can you tell us who Al Gore lost his presidential race to in 2000?

Email newsdesk@ theolivepress.es with your answer.

Marbella Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 12. Tel. 952 863 332 Fuengirola Avda. Ramón y Cajal, 6. Tel. 952 467 837

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OLIVE PRESS – 105mm x 256mm – Colour

14 March

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www.theolivepress.es Next Generation Radio...

Mix 106 playing all the best music ever made on one frequency from Gibraltar to Nerja Listen to Mix 106 on 106 fm; via the Radio Mix 106 App from Google Play; online at www.radiomix106.com; on the TuneIn App; Best TV Channel 195; Kodi; and most other popular radio platforms.

• • • • •

Culture

March 14th - March 27th 2018

Sophie Cranston This top London-based fashion designer set up her Libélula label while living near Tarifa and has since designed a dress for Kate Middleton.

After graduating from the University of Northumbria, Sophie won the prestigious Designer of the Year Award at Graduate Fashion Week in 1999.

After two years she moved to the Costa La Luz to learn Flamenco and Spanish and set up Libélula, which employs local women.

Elizabeth Wilkinson

Great Music Local News What’s On on the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar International News Business and Showbiz News

Visit and like our Facebook Page and join our Facebook Group for news on the local and international music scene, great competitions and features including an opportunity to win 2 tickets to see Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium on 15th June 2018!

Tel: (+34) 856 830 003 | studio@radiomix106.com www.radiomix106.com

British journalist Elizabeth Wilkinson reported on the bombing of Guernica in 1937.

The writer was in Bilbao, País Vasco, cabling information to The London Daily Worker as the terror unfolded.

On the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Elizabeth helped establish the British Women’s Committee Against War and Fascism and was secretary of the Spanish Women’s Committee for Help to Spain.

Charmaine Arbouin British consul of Andalucía and Canary Islands since 2013, Charmaine Arbouin oversees the busiest British consulate in the world, handling around 500 enquiries a month.

The mother of three studied Spanish at Hull University and went on to work in government before relocating to Andalucía.

MALAGA REMOVALS

Mary Page Chairman of ADANA animal rescue in Estepona, Mary Page runs a team of volunteers who provide shelter and care for abandoned animals.

After moving to Spain from the UK several years ago, Mary and her partner discovered a dying dog which they were unable to save.

The experience compelled her to join ADANA - an organisation set up by English expats and local Spanish people – which now saves and rehomes hundreds of dogs every year.

Relax, your move is in safe hands REMOVALS

• Weekly full or part load removal service to & from UK, Costa del Sol and the Algarve • Full or part packing service • One box to full load removals • Villa to villa moves within Costa del Sol

SHOP ONLINE

• Shop at any main high street store or online and have items delivered the following week in Spain

Felicia Browne

STORAGE

This Surrey-born artist was the only known British woman to fight in the Spanish Civil War and became the first British volunteer to die in it.

She joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1933 and was a member of the Londonbased Artists’ International Association, which later raised funds for the Spanish Republican forces.

Her final pieces of art were recently exhibited in London in aid of Spanish relief campaigns.

• Secure warehouses in both the UK and Malaga

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Email: sales@malagaremovals.com

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Jessica Simpson At the age of 31, Jessica Simpson became the first expat politician to lead a party and win a seat on the local council in Mojacar.

In 2011 she became leader of the Mojacar Positiva Se Mueve party and gives a voice to an expat community that makes up 70 per cent of the Mojacar population.

www.theolivepress.es

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Spain’s most

g n i r i p ns iexpat

women

The Olive Press celebrates nine inspirational expats in homage to International Women’s Day

By Elisa Menendez

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OMEN have dominated the media of late with the Times Up and #Me Too movements and International Women’s Day this month (March 8), a global celebration of women’s achievements. Continuing the momentum, we cast the spotlight on nine inspirational expat women who have made their mark in Spain, working in everything from politics and fashion to the frontline of civil war.

Posh Pets

March 14th - March 27th 2018

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Spain

Dog & Cat Grooming Salon Boutique Dog Hotel & Cattery Pet Grooming Courses Pet Transportation Shop

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

Betty Eleanor Gosset Molesworth Allen OBE The New Zealand botanist discovered the fern Psilotum nudum growing near Algeciras and as a result the area was later protected and became Los Alcornocales Natural Park.

Now, an ‘Honorary daughter’ of Los Barrios, her adopted hometown where a garden is planted in her memory, she wrote a string of books on the botany of Andalucía. She died in Marbella in 2002.

Liz Parry The former editor of SUR in English received a British Empire Medal awarded

by Her Majesty The Queen last year in recognition of her services helping British citizens in Andalucía.

After moving from Salisbury to Spain in the 70s, Liz started working at SUR in English as a translator and commentator.

She is Vice President of the Costa Press Club and a board member of the Fundación Cementerio Inglés de Málaga.

Rosalinda Powell Fox A spy during World War II, Rosalinda Powell Fox was from an English family born in India.

Rosalinda fell in love with Colonel Juan Luis Beigbeder, minister for the exterior in the Government of General Franco. The relationship gave her access to the names of those working for the Gestapo.

It is believed Churchill stated ‘the war might have taken a very different course were it not for Rosalinda’.

The spy eventually resided in Guadarranque and ordered the building of brick houses with British bulldogs above the entrances.

The locality’s Parque de Mayores was named after her last year.

To relax, laugh and have a good time. To eat, drink and enjoy in good company. An oasis away from the bustle of the coast, but only a minute from the La Cañada shopping mall.

Come over to try our all day kitchen and be amazed by the stylish interior and lush terraces.

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Ne i n g st en O p ch 1 r Ma

www.cascadamarbella.com | +34 951567849 Urb Montua, 39, 29602 Marbella

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www.theolivepress.es

March 14th - March 27th 2018

MARBELLA AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE An Inconvenient Sequel TRUTH TO POWER

Premiere in Marbella of Vice President Al Gore’s latest movie

www.marbellaclimatechange.com Tuesday, March 20th - Teatro Goya - 6.30pm Free tickets available at El Corte Inglés and The American College in Spain

www.theolivepress.es

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K Commercial are proud to announce that after three years of persevering the La Cala Hills commercial centre has been completed.

Headed by local entrepreneurs Chug and Karen, and after three years of ‘blood, sweat and tears’, all commercial units have now been filled.

It comes almost two years after the couple launched their landlord-friendly development programme, which saw them inject €500,000 into barren and rundown warehouses before renting them out to local businesses.

Their scheme included rent free periods, business and legal advice and marketing support.

Adv ertorial

March 14th - March 27th 2018

Job done!

Rundown warehouses in La Cala Hills completely transformed thanks to local entrepreneurs Aladin - a one of a kind second-hand shop which was the first unit to open - is now expanding to open up a main showroom on the Costa Blanca.

It will still hold stock in its warehouse in unit 7 at La Cala and will still buy and sell furniture

there.

Following the success of the La Cala project, Chug and Karen have now launched new company CK Spanish Removals and Logistics Group SL, based in Ondora on the Costa Blanca.

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The company will focus on the distribution of goods for major European manufacturers.

Also new will be 8 Till Late, a supermarket full of British goods at reasonable prices.

“There is a real demand for a British supermarket right now, so we are really excited for the new shop.”

8 Till Late should be ready within a month.

Duvier Enterprise, a real estate company, has also arrived to the La Cala project, offering services in several different languages.

Meanwhile, Oasis Bar and Restaurant will be offering a new Uzbekistan range of food and drink while extending its seating area thanks to popular demand.

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www.theolivepress.es

Adv ertorial

March 14th - March 27th 2018

Symphony of the Seas, boasts 23 pools, 20 restaurants and cabins for 8,000 people

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T is the biggest cruise liner in the world.

And it is about to make its inaugural voyage to Malaga!

Dubbed as ‘the ultimate playground for guests of all ages’, Symphony of the Seas is set to be shown off to the world’s press in the city on March 27.

Boasting 18 decks, cabins to sleep 8,000 travellers and a staggering 20 different restaurants, it has cost over a €1 billion to build.

The main body of the 1,188-foot-long ship, owned by Royal Caribbean, was completed last year and its interiors have now been almost completely kitted out.

Weighing in at 228-tons, it is set to set sail from Saint Nazaire shipyard in France in two weeks.

As well as the record number of restaurants, it counts on six bars, including one where you get served by robots.

There is also an ice rink, dancefloor, zip wire, mini golf course, climbing walls and a surf simulator.

For kids there are 23 pools and a series of waterslides, one the biggest on any ship at sea.

From November, the ship will make Florida, her yearround home, taking holidaymakers on seven-night Caribbean voyages.

Royal Caribbean's boss Michael Bayley said: “Symphony of the Seas will offer some new surprises for our guests to create a holiday that adventurers of all ages can enjoy together.

“Symphony will introduce the most cutting-edge, customisable, and digitally-enhanced experiences in the Royal Caribbean fleet.”

An ocean monster HUGE: The ship is five times bigger than the iconic Titanic

MAMMOTH: Ship deck on the Symphony of the Seas

JOIN MARBELLA CRUISERS… …ON THE ‘SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS’

On the very first day Royal Caribbean announced its cruise dates and itinerary for the ‘SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS’ Marbella Cruisers, through our ABTA registered cruise agent in London, paid a deposit on 20 inside cabins, 15 ocean view, 20 balcony cabins and 5 mini suites (in total 120 passengers) to sail the Mediterranean on 7th October 2018.

WE HAVE SECURED THE LOWEST

CABIN PRICES FROM ANY COMPANY IN THE WORLD

Currently we are, on average, 480 Euros less expensive than any other cruise company, on all the above cabin types. (Check it out) Last year 160 of us, from our coast, sailed together on the Norwegian Epic, we negotiated HALF the ships price on every excursion and…. we have ALREADY done this again. They have also given us our own Ballroom, some onboard spending money for each cabin and as a bonus two of your favorite singers from Marbella will be singing for us!

It’s amazing what you can negotiate as a large group and, something that proved so helpful last year, four Marbella Cruiser personnel will travel with you almost ‘Door to Door’ and are available every day to help ensure you make the most of everything the SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS has to offer.

We run private coaches along the A7 from Gibraltar to Malaga and, unless you wish to make your own way to the ship, we travel together to Barcelona where we all stay in a four star hotel the night before where we have a Dinner and Dance. (Cruise ships don’t wait for anyone) These are OPTIONS and you will find all our prices, the ‘options’, the ports we will be stopping at, a short video and information about us at: www.marbellacruisers.com

At today’s date (14th March) the following cabins are available at these prices: • 8 Inside cabins at 770 pounds PP. • 9 Ocean view cabins at 920 pounds PP. • 6 Balcony cabins at 1,100 pounds per person and • 3 Mini suites at 1,850 pounds per person.

All cabins are for 2 people sharing. When these are taken the prices will rocket to those of other travel agents.

You can email colin@marbellacruisers.com or call Colin on 635 717 211 Royal Caribbean recently announced that it has chosen MALAGA for ‘ONE STOP’ on its maiden voyage from France (where it is being built) to America where it sails the Caribbean until returning to Barcelona in September. This ‘rather special’ stop will be on 27th March and whilst we can’t get onboard, it’s PRESS ONLY; I am running a PRIVATE COACH along the A7 from Duquesa to Malaga, stopping along the way, to take a look at the ship, take some photographs and have a social lunch with cruisers that have already booked and potential cruisers. If this is of interest, please let me know……Colin

Property www.theolivepress.es

olive press

www.theolivepress.es

March 2018

Issue 19

March 14th - March 27th 2018 Is this designer hotel in Madrid really the coolest place to stay in the world?

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SEE PAGE xiv >>

With spring rapidly approaching, we roundup the properties in Andalucia with the most enviable gardens SEE PAGE VIII

Stiff upper lip

B

RITISH demand for properties in Spain has remained strong despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

The last quarter of 2017 showed a 7.6% increase in prices and a huge 19.8% increase in sales.

Meanwhile foreign year on year sales rose by 20.4% to 15,266 purchases.

Foreign sales in last three months of

Brits refuse to stop investing in Spanish homes despite Brexit fallout and uncertainty 2017 were led by the British with 2,384 sales, followed by French and German nationals with 1,242 and 1,198 purchases respectively.

This rise in British engagement was also a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0.9%.

UK nationals now account for 16% of the overseas property market share in Spain, which is an 8% lead on French nationals who account for the second highest number of foreign homeowners.

Experts at A Place in the Sun said:

“Although Brexit has understandably stalled decisions for some, many British nationals continue to proceed with their property purchases in their number one overseas destination.

“It could be suggested that British nationals during this period were encouraged

by Alfonso Dastis’ (Spain’s Foreign Minister) pledge in October that British expats living in the country would face “no dis-

ruption” post-Brexit, amongst other positive comments surrounding pensions and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) benefits at the time.”

It added that it saw 55% and 28% increases in Spanish property searches and property enquiries by Brits respectively.

See Mark Stucklin analysis overleaf

4

Hot water

www.theo

SOME 14 fire bosses have been arrested for allegedly embezzling €7 million in public funds.

The Policia Nacional found that the Consortium of Bomberos Cadiz took out mass early retirement insurance policies.

But when their employees retired early, chiefs siphoned off the money from the payouts.

Authorities also found discrepancies in the consortium’s training courses.

Large sums were paid to a company to provide training courses, but no evidence has been found that these courses took place.

Meanwhile, irregularities were also found in grants and subsidies, which cops believe were used to pay for private trips.

The irregularities date back to 2008 and cops believe at least €7 million has been stolen by those at the top.

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Property

www.theolivepress.es

MarchMarch 14th -2018 March 27th 2018

Brits are on the up following a slight drop postreferendum, writes Mark Stucklin

HE British voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June 2016. What impact has the referendum result had on British demand for Spanish property so far?

Surprisingly little. The number of British buyers dropped significantly in the second half of 2016 after the referendum, but has been recovering since then (see chart).

In annualised terms, British demand declined for five quarters between Q3 2014 and Q3 2017, but then started growing again in Q4 20017.

Double

The British are still by far the biggest group of foreign buyers of Spanish property, almost double the next biggest group – the French.

Agents and developers tell me they have seen an increase in British buyers with budgets above €400,000, and a fall in numbers in the middle market between €200,000 and €400,000. Some buyers in the middle market are trading down, bolstering the lower end. I’ve heard one theory that Brits with financial resources are getting money out of the UK and into European assets like Spanish property before Brexit really bites.

Brexit no exit BACK ON THE UP: British demand by quarter since 2013 shows steady recovery after Brexit bump in the road

There is a correlation between British demand for Spanish property and the strength of the pound, as

you can see from the chart below.

But whilst the pound has fallen below its level in 2013, British demand

has been far more resilient. A weaker pound means that some British buyers will be trading down, but in

volume terms British demand has been surprisingly unaffected by the referendum result.

Property

www.theolivepress.es

March 14th - March March 2018 27th 2018

III19

FLOWER POWER IF Estepona didn’t have the most flower pots on the Costa del Sol before, it certainly will now.

The town hall has announced it will be introducing another 6,000 of the emblematic features this year.

It means the sunny hotspot will have a total of 20,000 flowerpots.

New Mijas development selling ‘extremely well’ A NEW €125 million project in La Cala de Mijas has been announced by Taylor Wimpey España.

The Grandview urbanisation will comprise 40 apartments and 20 luxury penthouses on the front line of golf.

It will be completely enclosed with communal gardens and swimming pools, with the first phase of the project expected to be completed by November 2019.

It comes a few months after Taylor Wimpey and La Cala Resort presented the second and third phases of the Horizon Golf project in the area, which is the first part of a macro project involving ‘at least’ €125 million over the next ten years.

The off-plan properties are already selling well, according to the developers.

Planned costa museum still empty THE planned museum for Torremolinos’ Plaza Picasso has been delayed yet again.

The 4,000 square metre property has already received a cash injection of €6 million from the town hall, but a change in the local government and a lack of a budget for the arts has stopped the museum becoming a reality.

The site will remain closed after the PSOE have yet to find a buyer.

Lost deposits on ghost developments may be a thing of the past in Spain thanks to a feisty family from Ireland, writes Dan Buckley

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WO Irish brothers who sunk their life savings into a bankrupt Estepona resort are spearheading a campaign to help others who have been ripped off in Spain.

Ollie and John Reel are battling the banks to claw back sums of up to €500,000 in lost deposits for projects that were never built as the Noughties property crisis kicked in.

Working with a top lawyer in Benidorm, they have set up Reclaim in Spain, an agency dedicated to liaising with victims and pursuing the banks through the courts in cases where the developer has gone bust.

They have already won eight cases and two settlements and have hundreds more on their books.

Pluck of the Irish

Triumphant

“We have over 300 cases in court already for Irish/UK investors since we started working in June 2016,” says Ollie Reel, a former PE teacher from Armagh in Northern Ireland who gave up his job of 24 years to help others like him.

“The first Irish cases were submitted in November 2016 and a couple in Galway became the first investors to get their money back last December,” he said triumphantly.

“They were awarded 100% of their €54,000 deposit plus interest and court costs.”

Like thousands of Irish people with an eye for a good investment, Ollie decided to invest in Spanish property to cash in on the postmillennium boom. Encouraged by a financial adviser to remortgage his home and use the equity to buy an off-plan property in Spain, he and his brother John were among 395 people who put money into the Estepona Beach and Country Club.

They couldn’t have picked a worse time to make such a substantial investment.

“There was nothing ever built and all 395 people lost their deposits,” says Ollie.

“Like an idiot, I bought two and put down deposits totalling €145,000.”

As a UK resident, Ollie was able to reclaim €70,000 through Britain’s financial services compensation scheme on the basis of receiving poor financial advice. His brother, from Louth in the Republic of Ireland, was unable to claim as there is no such scheme there.

For years, the brothers struggled to recoup all of their money through the courts in Spain, to no avail.

“We took a law case in Spain which cost us nearly €200,000 between 80 of us involved and we were still no further on after seven years.”

It was then that they heard of the work of Martin de la Herran from

PROPERTY HEROES: Brothers Ollie and John Reel the Spanish law firm Abolex. He is one of a small group of lawyers who took test cases against banks that held deposits for holiday homes never built. It was pointless pursuing the developers involved as they had all gone bankrupt.

All seven test cases taken by Martin

and the other lawyers between 2012 and 2015 went all the way to the Spanish Supreme Court and each resulted in rulings in favour of the victims.

By March 2016, after the result of the final test case, a precedent was then set for everyone in a similar situation to claim.

Got to be in it to win it YOU can now get a home in Spain for just €5… well, if you’re lucky that is.

It’s all thanks to a pioneering business dedicated to raffling off properties.

LotoHome will sell 70,000 raffle tickets at €5 each, and when they are all bought, a winner is chosen.

It means the homeowner walks away with €350,000 guaranteed.

The latest home is a completely refurbished, two-bedroom, onebathroom property just five minutes from the beach in the middle

of Alcalà de Xivert in Castellón. (top) It comes with a storage room, basement, living room, dining room, kitchen and two terraces.

The winner will be announced next February 14, with hundreds of tickets already sold.

Anyone from around the world can buy a ticket since the company paired with PayPal. Founder Pepe Bolumar got the idea of LotoHome after raffling off his grandmother’s home in Castellon in 2014, when the property market was still recovering.

“We thought that raffling it off would be a good formula, as well as being a way to launch this novel business and showing that it can work, that it can be a profitable business,” he told El Pais.

They managed to sell 32,000 of the 40,000 raffle tickets at €10 each, with punters from as far away as Africa, Latin America, Russia and Canada.

BRAND NEW: Apartment and view ( above)

2 x Internal Doors – Opening to the right To fit a 12cm surround Surrounds – Handles

230€ each

Open to offers – Tel: 691 900 484

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Property

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MarchMarch 14th -2018 March 27th 2018

ICONIC: Alcazar Catedral and (right) bridge in Navarra

How time stood still

A sepia-toned sojourn into the way Spain’s architecture looked… 200 years ago

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NEW photo exhibition has revealed snapshots of Sevilla and Spain from the 1800s.

The shots come from the enigmatic French photographer Luis León Masson, and are on display in Almeria until March 18.

The collection is described as ‘one of the most important in Spain in the nineteenth century.’

Masson is believed to have taken around 800 images since arriving in Sevilla in May in 1858.

“It is unknown why he came to Andalucia, most likely for some commission in stereoscopic photography for a Parisian firm,” explained Malaga expert Fernández Rivero.

“Stereoscopy was a big business at the dawn of photography and Masson was a teacher.”

It was a format in which two joined images, taken from different angles, became a single, three-dimensional image when viewed with a viewfinder.

Masson opened a studio in Seville and changed his name to Luis.

The images include the Palacio de San Telmo in Sevilla, the famous Alcazar cathedral and Cordoba’s Mezquita tower.

Masson can also be seen in one of the world’s first ever selfies, standing in front of the Catedral de Sevilla.

HISTORIC: Cordoba’s Mezquita tower and (left) selfie by Masson

TRANQUIL: A rare snapshot of Andalucia over 100 years before the tourism boom

Property

www.theolivepress.es

March 14th - March March 2018 27th 2018

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Property

www.theolivepress.es

MarchMarch 14th -2018 March 27th 2018

Like a million euros What can you get in one of Spain’s hottest property islands for €1 million or less?

Finest Real Estate Mallorca

cious villa is located in second sea line and has a Large living room with fireplace, 6 bed., 6 bath., vered terrace, saltwater pool and much more.

68 sqm E&V ID: W-00AD7Q · Price: 2,200,000

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Pollensa, which sold for an average price of €400,000 euros in 2017.”

Below we have rounded up the best properties money can buy on the island for under €1 million.

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As Engel & Voelkers explain in their annual report: “There is a trend towards increased interest in rural properties with a pool, located some 15 minutes’ drive from the coast. Additionally, the north

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Alaro cottage €575,000

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Charming cottage set in the lively village of Alaró, with a popular market every Saturday in it’s square with cafeterias and restaurants andsqm set just Son Espanyol: Lovely finca with guest house on a 8,000 plot,20 15minutes minutesfrom the capital of the island, Palma. drive from Palma´s old town. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, pool, underfloor The house, dating back a couple of hundred heating, fireplace, high beamed ceiling, wooden and marble floor, double years, is teeming with character. It was renoAlcudia: quality houseID: in W-0297ZZ top condition sea views, located in a bevated inwith the €past keeping the traditional feaglazed window, carportHigh for two cars. E&V · Price: 1,350,000 and converted a wonderful, cosy autiful residential area of Bon Aire, tures, charming traditionalintoelements on exfamily home. terior combined with bright, modernIt’sinteriors, holiday rental permission. set on two levels, and provides a lounge with W-02AAUJ a wood burning stove, €fully equipped Constr. area approx. 310 sqm. E&V ID: · Price: 1,475,000 kitchen with dining area, and access to an indoor patio.

Upstairs offers four bedrooms with two bathrooms, and one single room, used as an office.

Outdoors the property enjoys a very private and lovely terrace, garden and pool.

An absolute gem in one of the most soughtafter villages on the island.

REF: E&V ID W-00AE59

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ouse in top condition with sea views, located in a beof Bon Aire, charming traditional elements on exbright, modern interiors, holiday rental permission.

0 sqm. E&V ID: W-02AAUJ · Price: € 1,475,000

Finest Real Estatefeatures Mallorca found for under €1 million. premium apartments in Puerto

house in Palma costing €3.8 million in 2017, while an average villa in Port de Andratx cost €4.5 million, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a market for the super wealthy.

However there are still bargains to be

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T’S no secret that property prices in Mallorca will rise again this year.

According to Engel & Voelkers, the number of sales on the Balearic rose by around 20% last year.

But with the average price of a town-

El Terreno: Refurbished quality apartment in walking distance to Santa Catalina and Palma old town with 2 bed., 2 bath., patio and terrace, air conditioning, underfloor heating, guest toilet, built-in kitchen, cellar.

Constr. area approx. 137 sqm. E&V ID: W-026G5S · Price: € 598,000

Puig de Ros: This spacious villa is located in second sea line and has a holiday rental license. Large living room with fireplace, 6 bed., 6 bath., equipped kitchen, covered terrace, saltwater pool and much more.

Constr. area approx. 468 sqm E&V ID: W-00AD7Q · Price: 2,200,000

Son Espanyol: Lovely finca with guest house on a 8,000 sqm plot, 1 drive from Palma´s old town. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, pool, u heating, fireplace, high beamed ceiling, wooden and marble floo glazed window, carport for two cars. E&V ID: W-0297ZZ · Price: €

Palma piso €850,000

This amazing property is located on a high floor just next to the well know Porto Pi commercial centre and offers an exclusive view on the harbour of Palma. It features 3 bedrooms and 3 baths - one of which is en suite as well as a dining living room with direct access to the large terrace from where you will enjoy the magnificent view over the harbour and the bay of Palma. The community features also a pool as well as a parking space. The property comes with wooden floor, central heating as well as air conditioning. It’s the perfect apartment either for an investment as well as for a holiday residence to enjoy the nearby beach of Cala Mayor or the shopping area of Porto Pi and the vicinity of the centre of Palma.

REF: E&V ID W-02B0AQ

El Terreno: Refurbished quality apartment in walking distance ta Catalina and Palma old town with 2 bed., 2 bath., patio an air conditioning, underfloor heating, guest toilet, built-in kitche Constr. area approx. 137 sqm. E&V ID: W-026G5S · Price: €

Bendinat beauty - €1, 250, 000

While just slightly over €1 million, this spacious penthouse offers luxury living in the exclusive residential area of Bendinat. Take modern duplex penthouse with private roof terrace, Puerto de Sóller: Luminous apartment with athe beautiful the bay time to view enjoy of Mediterranean outdoor lifestyle kitchen, from onedining of threeroom, terraces, barbequing novation project consisting of seven fabulous luxury and surrounding mountains. It has an open-plan with friends basking sive design, light flooded and spacious rooms, as living room, 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Furthermore it has and a terrace, cosyin the year round sunshine. evator. E&V ID: W-02B4W6 · Price: € 1,200,000 garden, a/c hot cold, parking space. E&V ID: W-02A5P2 · Price: € with 535,000 It comes complete air conditioning h/c, under-floor heating in the bathrooms, marble flooring, fireplace, garage parking, storage Engel & Völkers Mallorca · Tel.: +34 971 23 85 84 room, 3 community pools and excellent gardens.

Shoppingwith and private beachesroof are terrace, within Palma: Exclusive and modern duplex penthouse Mallorca@engelvoelkers.com · www.engelvoelkers.com/mallorca a shortconsisting walk and the city of fabulous Palma is just 8 part of a spectacular renovation project of seven luxury minutes by car. apartments with exclusive design, light and spacious rooms, as REF: E&Vflooded ID W-0250MJ

well as parking and elevator. E&V ID: W-02B4W6 · Price: € 1,200,000

Puerto de Sóller: Luminous apartment with a beautiful view o and surrounding mountains. It has an open-plan kitchen, dini living room, 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Furthermore it has a terr garden, a/c hot cold, parking space. E&V ID: W-02A5P2 · Price: €

Engel & Völkers Mallorca · Tel.: +34 971 23 85 84 Mallorca@engelvoelkers.com · www.engelvoelkers.com/mallorca

Property

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30 % SO L

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Visit o u SHOW r FLAT on sit e 5000 EURO FURNITURE VOUCHER IF YOU RESERVE IN MARCH OR APRIL

35 recently finished townhouses with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms all with big terraces, sea views, garage, storage and community pool within a short walk to the beach and amenities from 265,000â‚Ź

Call our on site sales office on 652 736 253 or email us at costadelsol@maklarringen.se Bought to you exclusively by

Maklarringen is a Swedish real estate agency with 70 offices in Sweden and a long presence in Spain and on the whole Costa del Sol.

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Property

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As winter gets packing, Laurence Dollimore cherry-picks the For Sale properties that deliver views to put a spring in your step

S

PRING is just around the corner.

After a wet and windy winter, it’s time to watch flowers blossom and feel temperatures warm up.

In the spirit of the season, we have scoured the top property portfolios on the Costa del Sol and Mallorca to select those sprouting the most gorgeous gardens and ravishing vistas perfected

by Mother Nature.

Marbella project €2,900,000

Spring in your step

This south-facing villa has enviable views over extensive tropical gardens towards the Mediterranean. It sits in a prime location in the heart of Nagueles where the grounds offer complete privacy. Built on two levels, this property is in need of renovation and comprises an entrance hall with guest toilet; formal living/dining room with bar, fireplace and access to a porch enjoying sea views; independent study, accessed from terrace; kitchen and pantry with access to garden; TV room; further lounge/dining room with fireplace opening onto the pool area and covered terrace; master en suite bedroom and ensuite guest bedroom, both with dressing area, sharing a terrace. The lower garden level includes a cloakroom, guest suite, 2 further bedrooms with a shared bathroom, a large ensuite bedroom and a store room. All bedrooms have access to a porch and the garden. www.thespanishestateagent.com Ref: TSEA2637266 Bedrooms: 8 Bathrooms: 6

Mijas moneymaker €1,050,000 This successful holiday rental business in Mijas pueblo could be the perfect career opportunity.

The offer includes the SL company, customer base, active homepages in German, English and Italian, well established internet listings as well as all operational equipment.

It sits on a private road and a slope with truly fantastic views of the sea, and the green valley of a nearby nature preserve.

What’s more, Mijas centre is just a few minutes walk away. www.propertyoverseasgroup.com

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Mountain gem - €1,250,000 This is an ideal country house in walking distance of one of Mallorca’s most attractive mountain villages.

The finca sits on 22,000 m2 of fertile land planted with almond and olive trees with the ‘twin sisters’ sierras providing the perfect backdrop. The subtle and rustic interior includes traditional wooden beams. The property also has a large pool and pool house with bathroom and terrace.

There are plenty of hiking and cycling routes to discover, while the airport of Palma can be reached easily via the Ma-13 motorway in 30 minutes by car. www.maklarringen.se REF: 208180140

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IX25

Stunning palace - € NA This awesome chateau-style mansion flaunts an enviable address on the heart of Marbella’s Golden Mile.

Offering privacy and built to the highest specifications on a large plot of over 1.1 ha, the park-sized garden and beautiful heated pool will stop you in your tracks.

The main villa is distributed over two levels plus a lower floor. At ground level is the entrance hall leading to a main hall with a modern lift and guest toilet; a living room plus 3 lounges; 2 dining rooms; kitchen and office; en-suite bedroom and dressing room; and covered and uncovered terraces. Upstairs includes a hall; two master suites, both with dressing areas; a lounge; 2 further bedroom suites with dressing rooms; further en-suite bedroom; covered terraces with views to the immaculate garden and the sea beyond.

If that’s not enough, the lower level showcases that stunning heated pool with Jacuzzi, sauna, shower area, massage room, gym; and relax room; a home cinema; 2 en-suite bedrooms and dressing rooms; and a service area including machine rooms, wine cellar, laundry room, toilets, storage rooms, kitchen for pool terrace and service stairway and a 4-car garage. Other standout features include underfloor heating and cooling, 2 lifts, top quality marble flooring and bespoke marble walls in all bathrooms, fitted dressing rooms, solar heating and an imposing Louis XIV marble fireplace. www.panorama.es REF: R112-07981

Mallorca Castle €38,000,000 Castillo Mallorca lords it on its own private peninsula at the entrance to Port Andratx with spectacular views from every angle. This legendary property linked to ryalty is one of the most spectacular private residences in the Mediterranean and comprises an impressive main house with swimming pool and a guest house with beautiful gardens and terraces. From the sea there are three private accesses to the property which include a private docking area for a yacht of up to 30 metres. To the west of the peninsula there is a private cave providing a magical atmosphere for watching stunning sunsets and the locals say that there is treasure buried in these waters. Among the three suites in the main house is the Lady Diana suite where the late Princess of Wales stayed during a holiday on the island. In addition, there is a spacious living room in classic style, a large kitchen and dining room, a billiard room in the west wing, a fitness room, sauna and piano lounge. www.engelvoelkers.com

Sotogrande wonder €2.495.000 A spectacular three-storey ‘smart’ villa set in the prestigious golf resort of La Reserva de Sotogrande.

The ground floor consists of a big entrance hall, ample living room, drawing room, dining room, fully-fitted kitchen, walk-in cupboard, downstairs bathroom, staff bedroom and bathroom, staff entrance and hall. On first floor, we find four bedrooms ensuite with walk-in wardrobes and terraces with panoramic views. There is also a wine cellar, gym and indoor pool and one bedroom with independent entrance. Other wow factors include ivory marble and natural Irocco wood flooring, indoor and outdoor pools, green spaces, a home domotic system, satellite TV, telephone connection and security glass. www.holmesotogrande.com REF: HSN0-1231

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Vol. 12 Issue 287

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Magic of the Orient

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

‘The sugar-canes rattled like bones on the wind, and the dark-blue mountains stood close around, sharp and jagged, like a cordon of police’

S

O wrote Laurie Lee of his first visit to the Costa Tropical, just before Spain was engulfed in its murderous civil war. Drive along the coast today and you can still appreciate his dramatic imagery.

Once upon a time this stretch of the Mediterranean was dubbed the Costa del Sol Oriental.

Then, believing that they were being sidelined by the rival resorts up the road in Malaga province, the folk in Granada province woke up.

They decided to call their coast the ­­ Costa Tropical.

And with good reason… not only does it play host to one of the best climates in Europe, it is also one of the most scenic stretches of coastline on the Med. To be exact, the Costa Tropical extends from the eastern edge of Malaga province close to Nerja, to the frontier with Almería and La Rabita; some 80 kilometres of stunningly varied scenery.

Development has yet to make heavy inroads because of the rugged terrain, so forget the miles of ribbon developments you see around Benalmadena and Fuengirola. It’s unspoilt here.

Soaring headlands and cliffs are interspersed with small coves, except where the Guadalfeo river flows across a flat, fertile delta near Motril.

Here and there, on prominent headlands, ancient watchtowers guard the coast. These torres vigía or atalayas are a reminder of the time when the cry “¡Hay moros en la costa!” warned of invaders from Africa and sent whole communities rushing for the hills.

27

David Baird takes a drive through the fabulous, little explored region of the Costa Tropical These days they are great to have a poke around and get a photo with the stunning backdrop of the mountains dropping into the sea.

The first village encountered heading east out of Nerja is La Herradura, on a beautiful horseshoe bay. Until tourism arrived it was one of the poorest villages on the coast.

These days it’s a charming spot, sitting on a pretty stretch of coastline and with an attractive low rise feel to it. Plenty of expensive homes dot the Punta de la Mona area, and include that of Spain’s celebrated guitarist Andrés Segovia, who had a house

here.

Make sure to head into town to see the seafront monument that recalls Spain’s biggest naval disaster. It occurred in 1562 when 28 ships carrying provisions and the families of soldiers from Málaga to Orán on the African coast took refuge here from a storm.

The wind turned, with extreme violence, trapping the fleet between two headlands, Cerro Gordo and Punta de la Mona.

Altogether, an incredible 25 vessels sank leading to 5,000 people losing their lives.

Moving along, we come to the other key resort of the Costa Tropical, Almuñecar.

When Laurie Lee trekked across Spain in 1935 — vividly recorded in his book As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning — he came to a halt in ‘Castillo’, a village, ‘backed by a bandsaw of mountains and fronted by a strip of grey sand which some hoped would be an attraction for tourists’.

Castillo was in fact Almuñecar.

Lee changed the name to protect his friends. ToContinues on Page 28

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Costa Tropical

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From Page 28

day modern apartment blocks line the coast here, but fortunately the old town, crowned by castle ramparts, has been preserved. It is an attractive labyrinth of narrow streets. While large numbers of north Europeans visit in winter, it attracts mainly Spanish visitors and retains its Spanish character.

Behind the town thousands of tropical fruit trees flourish in the sheltered Río Verde and Río Seco valleys. The unique micro-climate allows the growth of mangos, custard apples and avocados.

Sadly though, 1000 years of sugar production on the southern coast of Spain came to an end in 2006 when the last azucarera (cane refinery) closed at nearby Salobreña.

Few towns are as impressive on first sight as Rum is produced in Salobreña. Its dazzling white the area on a small houses, topped by ancient ramscale. You can parts, clothe a buy Ron Pálido in huge rock rising steeply from flat local shops farmland. A long sandy beach, split by a large rock (reminiscent of a basking whale), juts into the sea.

Nearby is Motril, the bustling administrative centre of the Costa Tropical. It was known in the 18th and 19th centuries as ‘Little Cuba’ because of the importance of its sugar production. Rum is still being produced in the area on a small scale. You can buy Ron Pálido in local shops. It comes from the surviving distillery, run by Paco Montero.

Since the decline of that industry last century, Motril has opted for tourism. It’s worth paying a visit to the Parque de los Pueblos de América, which claims to be the most important tropical botanic garden in Europe, with 36 botanic species imported from the Americas, including coconut palms, jacarandas, magnolias.

Meanwhile, learn all about sugar cane production at the Centro de Interpretación at this park. And you can gain a fascinating insight into the rise and fall of Motril’s sugar industry at the Museo Pre Industrial

March 14th - March 27th 2018

SOARING: Salobreña castle and Velez de Benaudalla (below)

EXPLORE: The caves by Costa

del Azúcar, in the El Ingenio de la Palma.

Inland from here you will find the motorway to Granada city and a short drive inland you will come to some spectacular mountain scenery, dotted with sleepy villages including charming Velez de Benaudalla (right) You must visit Lecrín valley, or the Valley of Happiness as it was known to the Moors. This is a pleas-

Monday to Sunday: 10am - 11:30pm tel: 958 82 83 95 s/n Calle Playa del Peñón, 18680 Salobreña, Granada

ant, slow-paced corner of Granada province where comedian Alexei Sayle has a home. Seismic movements and erosion have gouged deep ravines and soaring cliffs out of these foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Towering over the valley is the Cerro del Caballo, 3,013 metres high. In winter it is often capped with snow while in the sheltered valley below oranges

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Instead of continuing east into Almería province, turn left and head up into the mountains.

Soon you reach La Contraviesa, a bleak, largely uninhabited range of beautiful mountains.

From its upper reaches, rising as high as 1,800 metres, you look across the deep Guadalfeo valley to the villages dotting the Alpujarras, as the area on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada is known.

The panorama is particularly spectacular in Spring when the almond blossom contrasts with the distant snow-capped mountains.

A traditional part of meals along the coast and in the Alpujarras is the Vino de la Contraviesa, a hearty rosado. Until recently the region’s wines never rated much attention from connoisseurs.

Today, however, half a dozen bodegas are making serious attempts to produce quality vintages by introducing new grape varieties and modernising their methods and making some fine reds and whites.

Conditions are unique, as the Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon and native vines are wafted by breezes from both the Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean. Definitely worth a little exploration.

Tropical and the olive oil museums

and lemons flourish.

If you head east of Motril on the Almería road the coast loses some of its charm. The beaches, backed by steep rocky slopes, tend to be grey and gritty. New farming methods have enhanced local incomes but not the scenery.

Terraces have been hacked out of the hillsides and shrouded in plastic to allow intensive crop produc-

tion. Guaranteed sunshine and sophisticated irrigation methods produce crops from once-barren terrain.

Hemmed in by greenhouses, Castell de Ferro has grown into a minor tourist resort, with mainly Spanish visitors.

Breakwaters protect the beaches here and at tiny La Mamola, which has acquired a promenade. It

attracts summer vacationers and apartment blocks have sprung up. If you are seeking a tranquil hideaway, this could be the ideal spot.

Backed by arid, bleak mountains, La Rábita (population around 1,500) has spruced up its seafront and boasts a handsome promenade bordered by palm trees. The name comes from rábitas, fortifications built by the Moors as military-religious sanctuaries.

David Baird is the author of the best-selling East of Malaga - Your guide to the Axarquia and Costa Tropical. He has lived in the area for decades and also written about the infamous rebels who fought on against Franco after the civil war in his book Between Two Fires Guerrilla war in the Spanish sierras, much of it based in the Costa Tropical.

His comprehensive guide to Granada province, The Glories of Yesterday, is due out soon.

RESTAURANT

d e s i r p r u s e b Come and Call 634 09 02 07 or email us on numero20laherradura@gmail.com Paseo Andrés Segovia, 20, 18697 Almuñécar, Granada

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Costa Tropical

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Welcome

THE Costa Tropical of Granada is a real paradise.

It’s a place to enjoy beaches, mountains and fertile valleys, cut through with rivers and with woodland areas above, perfect for outdoor sports.

We also have a great range of quality places to stay and a rich cultural heritage, which frequently comes alive in the streets, squares and theatres.

On top of that we have an extensive and varied gastronomy, numerous museums and historic monuments, which range from the Prehistoric to the present day.

We invite you to come and get to know better our region, an area of privilege, full of life and much to discover.

Welcome to the Costa Tropical!

Sergio García President Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa Tropical de Granada

Drama unravels T

he dramatic curves and peaks of the Costa Tropical are all thanks to the African continental plate, which is pushing its way under the Eurasian plate, causing a climate and geology unlike any other in Spain.

Winter rains and melting snow has cut deep ravines into the once-forested hillsides, which having lost their fertile topsoil, are mostly now home to almond, olive and carob

trees.

Above towers the imposing Sierra Nevada mountain range, which protects the coastline from the worst of the central plateau winter, while Africa shields it from the harsh effects of the Mediterranean and Atlantic weather.

The result is a sub-tropical climate which explains the variety of exotic local produce, including mangoes and avocados.

Salobreña

tel: 625 284 146 info@salobrenavacaciones.com www.salobrenavacaciones.com

Vacaciones

FOR RENT from €1,850 per week

FOR RENT from €2,400 per week

FOR SALE €205,000

Villa El Último Gavilán - Monte De Los Almendros 5 bedroom 5 bathroom

Villa El Oasis - Monte De Los Almendros 4 bedroom 4 bathroom

House - Costa Aguilera REF: 0393 3 bedroom 2 bathroom

This is a luxury holiday home. It faces due south with a panoramic, uninterrupted view of the sea. Situated on high ground, the open countryside is only a few minutes away.

This south facing villa has stunning views across the Mediterranean sea and the village of Salobreña. Centrally located within an hours reach of Malaga, Almeria and Granada airports.

Beautiful property located on an urbanization with 22 houses creating a small Andalucían white village. South facing with stunning views to the sea, and distributed over three floors.

FOR SALE €270,000

FOR SALE €285,000

FOR SALE €550,000

Country Property - Alfamar REF: 0365 2 bedroom 1 bathroom

Attic - Salobreña REF: 0385 3 bedroom 2 bathroom

Chalet - Monte De Los Almendros REF: 0405 2 bedroom 2 bathroom

South facing property with beautiful views, lounge/dining room with open plan kitchen and a beautiful terrace with pool, barbeque area and fruit trees. Plenty of parking.

Beautiful attic with stunning views and an amazing terrace.

This amazing property comprises of a lounge / dining room, fully equipped kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

This property is move in ready. Distributed on two levels, with a garden in the lower area of the plot. This property has its own private infinity pool and has stunning views.

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Gillian Richardson is known locally as ‘Lady Di’... and increasingly for selling houses

Queen of sales

S

HE is one of the true expat godmothers of the Costa Tropical.

Having lived in Salobrena since 1992 there are not many corners of the Granada coastline that Gillian Richardson, of Salobrena Vacaciones, has not explored.

Well integrated in the area, the motherof-two, from Henley, near London, is the oracle on just about every apartment and farmhouse for sale or rent, particularly in the Salobrena area.

She explains that the huge range of nationalities that own in the area bought here, precisely because it is not the Costa del Sol. “People come to the Costa Tropical because they like the real Spain. They don’t want to live in the Nerja area with its fish and chips and every other voice being a foreigner.

“Here in Salobrena it really feels like a Spanish village and we haven’t been swamped with foreigners.”

She fell in love with the coastline having first visited on holiday in 1978, with her late husband, a dental surgeon.

“It was just fields of sugarcane and stunning views,” she says. “We decided to move here 25 years ago and put our young kids, then four and nine, into a lo-

cal school.

“It didn’t take long to get integrated and we were quickly adopted by the village, who nicknamed me ‘Lady Di’ and helped me learn Spanish.”

Both her children have found professional careers (James, 36, is a photographer, in Granada, while Marie Claire, 30, is a lawyer working with her mother) and are now set to marry local Spaniards this year.

The company, which initially just dealt with holiday rentals but is now also an estate agency, has seen an increase of almost 50% in sales over the last two years.

“There’s been a lot of growth and we are getting lots of requests,” she explains.

“The biggest sales are down in the village of Salobrena, particularly with Spanish, while I have lots of foreign buyers looking in the Monte area or for fincas inland,” she adds.

The company has a great range of properties from a small one-bedroom flat for €35,000 to a €2m villa.

“We also have a great range of beautiful old fincas in the nearby countryside, for less than €100,000, perfect to do up,” she continues.

“All in all this place is a sleeping giant and in many ways I hope it stays that way.”

Visit www.salobrenavacaciones.com or call 858123401

DREAM TEAM: Some of the office girls with Mathilde (second right)

Dream break

WHEN Mathilde Haalstra saw the opportunity to swap her life running a busy town hall in Holland for a permanent life in Spain, she jumped at the opportunity.

And in two short years she has worked extremely hard to turn her company Villas Colores Spain into one of the leading rental companies on the Costa Tropical.

From their base in Salobreña, they currently rent and manage nearly two dozen luxury attractive villas.

All guaranteed to have stunning views, they range from villas, sleeping 15, to three-bed properties, all carefully managed by the office and cleaning team of 20.

“We don’t just rent them, we make sure they are carefully managed and run to perfection,” explains the mother-of-three from Utrecht.

“In summer they get fully booked but in the winter and spring they are perfect for holidaymakers looking to be near the beach, golf courses as well as the ski slopes. Granada and Malaga are both less than an hour away.

“From here you can be strapping on your skis in the Sierra Nevada just one and a half hours away.”

The company’s clients include Europeans as well as Canadians, Americans and even Russians.

“We have a big team of cleaners, gardeners, poolmen and even three people specialising in laundry to make it all tick over well.

“Our goal is to increase the number of our luxury rental villas gradually, maintaining the high service for both guests and owners.”

To rent a villa or enquire about their property management services contact the team at +34 958612027 or rentals@villascoloresspain.com or visit www.villascoloresspain.com

VILLAS COLORES SPAIN R E N TA L S , S A L E S A N D D E V E L O P M E N T

”Dozens of beautiful properties for your perfect break on the Costa Tropical ALL with stunning views!”

email: rentals@villascoloresspain.com www.villascoloresspain.com tel: +34 958 612 027 Carretera de Malaga 2A 18680 Salobreña (Granada), Spain

Contact us at any time for inquiries regarding our beautiful villas. We are ready to answer any question you might have.

Carla van Asten, Carmen Sanchez, Mathilde Haalstra, Maribel Navarro

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HARDY: Laurence was impressed with the area - and its prices

No tropical downpour can dampen the delights of Motril and Almuñecar, towns with different pasts whose Costa Tropical location makes them siblings under the skin, writes Laurence Dollimore

Sister March 14th - March 27th 2018

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OSTA ‘Tropical’ it certainly was.

The monsoon-like March rains lashing southern Spain showed no mercy as I arrived in Almuñecar, one of the most important tourist towns in the province of Granada.

But no time for complaining, I headed to lively seafront eatery Mar de Plata, where four glasses of wine, two soft drinks and an oversized tapas of hearty Irish stew came in at just €12.

It’s one of many food bargains you’ll find in this ancient town, where tapas is often provided free of charge with every drink - not something you would see in the likes of Marbella, where one drink alone can cost the equivalent of my entire lunch bill.

After a short sprint back to the hotel, it wasn’t long before tums were rumbling again.

It was off to Da Nicola’s pizzeria, owned by friendly British expat Nigel, who moved to the seaside village 12 years ago after more than 20 years in Lanzarote.

“Life is just so much more tranquil here,” he told me, “there’s a great international community too, mostly British, Swedish and German.”

The businessman set up his restaurant just over two years ago.

“People move here for a relaxed way of STRONG FOUNlife and they definitely get that, it’s not as DATIONS: Roman chaotic as the Costa del Sol but there’s water system in still a nice buzz about the place, espeAlmuñecar still cially in summer.” stands today An hour’s drive from Benalmadena, Almunecar is more famously known as an important setting in British author Laurie Lee’s account of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. His book - As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning - referred to the town as ‘Castillo’, in an attempt to disguise people’s identities.

But Almunecar’s history goes much deeper than the Civil War. It was originally called Sexi when it was founded as a colony by the Phoenicians around 800 BC - a fact not lost on some residents today, who still refer to themselves as Sexitanos.

Over the next 600 years it would become an important port and town with a large fish salting and curing industry that was a major supplier to Greece The Roman and Rome. aqueducts are The Romans took over the town during war with the Phoenistill standing cians in 218 BC. Almunecar thrived and was rec- and in use - after ognised for its loyalty to Rome 2000 years in 49 BC thanks to its fishy forte.

Evidence of this was uncovered during excavations in the Majuelo Botanical Gardens in the 1980s, a large section of which is still on display.

As they needed huge amounts of fish and sea salt and a constant supply of fresh running water, the Romans built more than 8 km of water conduits in the valleys of the Rio Seco and the Rio Verde in 1 AD, including five significant aqueducts.

They are all still standing and amazingly, after 2,000 years, four of them are still in use. The Roman water supply also served the town and recent excavations in the centre uncovered the fifth aqueduct and a Roman baths.

You can see the most impressive aqueduct (top) just a three-

PICTURESQUE: One of the many beautiful historic buildings in Motril

minute drive from the centre of town.

The Romans are believed to have been the first to fortify the Castle of Saint Miguel, although frequent rebuilding has destroyed most of its very extensive fortifications.

Just below the castle on the landward side is the Cueva de Siete Palacios, although it is less a cave and more the largest

remnant of a Roman palace yet found in Almunecar.

It survived for hundreds of years as ‘social housing’ until the ‘cave dwellers’ were re-housed in the 1970s. Only then did its true origins become apparent and it now houses the town museum.

It means there is lots to do and see if you need to pass the

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A SLICE OF HISTORY: The historic roman aqueduct (left) and the leftover Roman ruins from as far back as 1AD in Almuñecar (right)

WHAT A VIEW: You can see from the coastline to the snowy mountains from the Castillo de San Miguel and (right) Motril cruise ship

time on the very few rainy days here.

In summer, you can head to one of over a dozen beaches that play host to thousands of tourists every year.

And if you’re looking for more of a city vibe, drive 20 minutes east to Motril, Granada’s second biggest town and the capital

of its coast.

Here you’ll find great food at great prices, and of course, the legendary free tapa per drink.

Once the sugar refinery capital of Andalucia and, arguably, Spain there are still eight old sugar refineries standing tall

today.

They were once seen as the future of the city, now they are legacies.

The Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza is another vestige of the town’s commercial heritage. Both a refinery and a distillery, it sits next to the public swimming pool and the Parque de las Américas.

It was founded by the Larios gin family in 1885 but due to the low salaries paid, the workers tried to burn it down.

The town hall also wanted rid of it but the Junta disagreed and has declared it a property of historical heritage to protect its distillery, chimney, store and terrain.

Study the history of gin or drink it and get your free tapa, a trip to the Costa Tropical can offer both ... whatever the weather.

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Costa Tropical

www.theolivepress.es A ll about

On your hike!

T There is so much beauty to see by foot along the Costa Tropical

HE Costa Tropical offers great hiking opportunities for all ages all year around.

There is a complete network of trails along the coastline while the inland villages offer a perfect way to enjoy the stunning nature and subtropical climate while getting in some exercise too!

There really is a route for everyone, from beginners to experts.

They include gentle walks between coastal beaches along the Costa Tropical coast path, easy circular

March 14th - March 27th 2018

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trails through the valleys among tropical fruit farms, rural tracks that connect the small villages of the Rio Verde and the trails of the Junta de los Rios.

For tree lovers, be sure to check out the Camino del Nacimiento and the ancient olive trees of Velez de Benaudalla.

There are also beautiful trails running through vineyards and almond trees in blossom in Polopos, Sorvilan, Rubite, Albondon, Murtas and the charming village of Turon.

COME AND LET THE HISTORY WASH OVER YOU Historic 19th century hotel with award-winning 18th & 19th century gardens, Arabic roots and luxurious service

Restaurant open by appointment Email.: info@casadelosbates.com Telephone restaurant.: 672 35 73 36 Carretera Nacional 340 – km. 329,5 (Motril – Salobreña) 18600 – Motril Tel.: (+34) 95 834 94 95

www.casadelosbates.com

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

LIVING ON THE EDGE Iconic Spanish architects complete stylish cliffside pad on the Andalucia coast

Restaurante El Peñon Open since the 1950s – How times HAVEN’T changed!

Horario de apertura: 12:00 h a 00:00 h.

Paseo Marítimo S/N, 18680 SALOBREÑA (Granada) Teléfono/Reservas: 958 610 538 / 958 611 198 E-mail:gomezvillaescusacb1@gmail.com www.restauranteelpenon.es

Photo by: Jesus Granada

I

T brings a whole new meaning to the concept of living life on the edge.

Perched above the Med, Casa del Acantilado (The Cliff House) is the creation of weird and wacky Madrid architects GilBartolome.

Something of a challenge, it was created by Pablo Gil and Jaime Bartolome on a 42-degree slope on the Costa Tropical coastline.

Commissioned by a young couple from Madrid, every window of the home, near Salobrena, boasts stunning views of the sea.

The state-of-the-art design split over two floors features a ‘dragon-scale’ curved roof, floor-to-ceiling windows and an infinity pool.

Its position dug into the hillside helps the inside stay cool in the summer months and warmer in winter.

“The project combined joyful living, innovative construction techniques, the return of craftsmanship and the cave as an environmental strategy,” explains Bartolome.

hotelmiba

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restaurant & skybar C/N340, Km 325, 18680 Salobreña, Granada, España Tlf: +34 958 617 228 www.hotelmiba.es

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WHERE TO EAT

Costa Tropical March 14th - March 27th 2018

Coast with the most

The food scene on the Costa Tropical is really starting to grow, writes Jon Clarke

F Méson Nacimiento R E S TAU R A N T & TA PA S B A R

An incomparable setting where you enjoy homemade food, and delicious pizzas and meats in our wood-fired oven

Open 12.00-17.00 & 19.30-23.00 Closed Tuesday paconacimiento@hotmail.com tel: 958 622 196 Paseo de Nacimiento, 14, 18670, Velez de Benaudalla

OR foodies and hotel snobs there is an exciting adventure to be had away from the famous Granada ski slopes.

The food scene on the Costa Tropical just gets better and better with new restaurants opening every month.

One of the most exciting is No.20, which combines the very rare, and usually volatile cocktail of a Frenchman and an Englishman.

Combining the food skills of English chef Mark Parris, 43, with the business nous of French manager Laurent Hue, 40, this La Herradura eaterie is one place not to be missed.

Mark, from Kent, has considerable pedigree in the kitchen, having trained under Albert Roux at Le Gavroche in London, before doing stints at the Oxo Tower, Harvey Nichols and Souffle.

He made a name for himself locally at Los Laureles, in Almunecar, before setting up No20 with Laurent, who trained at Switzerland’s top cook- BEACH FARE: Squid at El Peñon ery school.

I was very impressed with the attention to detail below the town. and the lovely mix of flavours in Mark’s original I’ve eaten here on various occasions over the starters, which came (sort of) in combos. last two decades and rarely been disappointed, Take the duck number, it truly quacked with duck not just with the excellent ambience and views, foie, duck ham and duck breast, flavoured with but also by the service. feta cheese, raspberries and apple sauce.

Professionally run, by two local friends, it focuses Meanwhile a series of blinis, with vodka and dill on top quality fish and seafood, including lobcured salmon, with salmon pate was a true win- sters, and has an excellent wine list to boot. ner, while a superb vegetarian starter of grilled And in Salobrena there is now even more with halloumi cheese, with courgettes, asparagus, the exciting addition of Arais restaurant in the pine nuts and baba ganoush was a treat. heart of the town.

I even ate my first souffle for years in Andalucia, a This stunning spot is the creation passion fruit number, which rose of Francisco ‘Paco’ Izquierdo, like the messiah! an ambitious chap, who has not Up the coast in Salobrena, I This is one place only cooked since his teens, but found another equally alluring also makes his own rum, from a that, if he gets local dish, which combined the factory in the town. superb mangoes and avocados Dubbing his food as ‘an advenit right, could be from the area with a splendidly ture’ his place is certainly well cooked red snapper. tilting for a Michelin out of the ordinary.

Whipped up by Motril chef Jose Beautifully decorated, it is split star one day Miguel, at Restaurante La Bainto two parts, a bustling bar hia, it was as surprising as it area, full of creative furniture was delicious, served in a pesto and lighting, and a stylish dining sauce, with shavings of mozzarella on top. room next door.

The chiringuito-style restaurant is certainly any- With a kitchen to die for and a team of chefs from thing but your usual fried fish affair, and apart around Spain, this is one place that, if he gets it from the cool jazz music, there were a number of right, could be tilting for a Michelin star one day. interesting dishes.

A big fan of local and seasonal produce, his menu These included the so-called ‘queda bien’, a changes regularly and there are two choices of clam and langoustine stew, which was delicious, Menu Degustacion, one starting at just €36. The as well as an excellent value rich and creamy fish food presentation is second to none. soup at just €6.

I ate with him in the bar, where he explained why Literally next door, you must also look out for the the celebrated Motril shrimps are partly blue and legendary Restaurante el Penon, which sits how to make rum from the local sugar cane. in pole position literally built on the famous rock We tasted the shrimps in a passion fruit soup, as well as a delicious braised octopus, all washed down with some excellent local Granada wines and a couple of chestnuts from Bierzo.

This is a man to watch.

My next port of call was up in the hills, towards Granada at the atmospheric spot, el Nacimiento, in Velez de Benaudalla.

This is one trip well worth the journey, particularly to take in the Museum of Olive Oil, en route.

Hidden up a tiny track on the edge of the village, you will find this charming spot beside a roaring stream and waterfall.

Once an olive mill, it is a great place for lunch or dinner and the menu is a good range of dishes typical from the Granada region.

TRIP TO THE SOURCE: El Nacimiento

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

WHERE TO STAY

Bedding down Y TEAMWORK: At No.20, chef Jose at La Bahia and (below) Arais and its chef Paco

OU are spoilt for choice with excellent places to stay on the Costa Tropical.

There is something for every budget, from cheap hostels to incredible inland estates.

These include the stunning Palacete de Cazulas, which costs from €4,600 a week in low season.

An ancient Arabic redoubt, it still has its deeds from when it was sold by its Moorish owners to a Christian in the 16th century.

Almost as old and also with Arabic roots, Casa de los Bates is an amazing 19th century Italianate mansion, with sumptuous bedrooms and well appointed dining and sitting rooms.

The place oozes history and the family home, now owned by two charming brothers Borja and Inaki, is full of antiques and photos of its illustrious guests, which have included Nelson Mandela and the King of Spain.

It sits in amazing grounds, divided into two distinct sections, one from the 18th and one from the 19th century.

In total contrast, you must consider the ultra-hip hotel Hotel Miba, which perches on an escarpment overlooking Salobrena town.

Every inch of this modern hotel maximises on the incredible views, be it across to the breathtaking

Aráis Restaurante

ANCIENT AND MODERN: Casa de los Bates and Hotel Miba

nearby town, which soars up like a wedding cake from stage left, or stage right to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.

The creation of South African Martin and Swedish Eva it is a true cornucopia of style, and its bedrooms are spacious and comfortable to the max, each with their own terrace.

Best of all, you can also eat in the hotel, which has a restaurant highly-rated locally and rapidly garnering a reputation further afield.

It’s a regular hang out for local business folk and the food has plenty of contemporary twists and a hip dining room.

Reservas: 958 61 17 38 | Calle Granada, 11, Salobreña, Granada

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Costa Tropical

ll about www.theolivepress.es

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Top ranking

A SPANISH hotel has been ranked in the top 10 best all-inclusives in Europe.

The Iberostar Anthelia in Tenerife came seventh in the TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2018 in the all-inclusive hotel category.

The luxury five-star hotel sits right on the beach on the Costa Adeje, nestled between Playa del Duque and Playa de Fanabe.

It’s described as being ideal for families as it offers a ‘romantic atmosphere for parents and entertaining activities for children, accompanied by a wide range of outstanding facilities and services.’

Its decorated rooms are spread across six individual buildings, while the hotel features a main buffet restaurant, three a la carte restaurants and a variety of bars, offering a range of cuisines.

In the extensive garden area, guests will find heated freshwater pools (one located in the VIP exclusive complex), a seawater pool, two children’s pools, spacious sun terraces, sun loungers with cushions and parasols, and a towel service.

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Set in stone

OLIVEinto PRESS OK.pdf STUNNING: ANUNCIO Home carved rockENERO in the18 Balearics

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22/1/18

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Looking for Design Inspiration?

The house was designed to blend in with its surroundings

A

STUNNING environmentally-friendly home has been carved into rock in Formentera.

The brainchild of architecture firm Marià Castelló Martínez, the home is made up of mainly wooden panels.

The firm explains: “The scenic location has very few high buildings, so we were told to avoid creating a site that was overly tall.

“To pay respect to the nearby surroundings, the building uses a white exterior with cross-laminated wood panels.

“On the interior the ground floor uses brick walls on two sides of building, while using the aforementioned wood panels elsewhere throughout the house. The resulting space is a home that blends seamlessly into the landscape.

“It’s a house for a family sensitive to the environment.”

C

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The leading home decoration magazine for homeowners with style…

Tel. (+34) 951 38 38 97 | info@homeandlifestyle.es | www.homeandlifestyle.es

SLEEK: The house has been praised for its design, and it even has a view of the nearby sea

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March 14th - March March 2018 27th 2018

ROCKY: The home is at one with nature

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Property

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MarchMarch 14th -2018 March 27th 2018

Capital of cool T

HIS Madrid hotel is probably one of the coolest in the world right now.

It has received dozens of glowing reviews and media testimonials for its conceptual art and design.

The Barcelo Torre de Madrid has featured in the Daily Telegraph’s ‘The Coolest Design Hotel in Madrid’ list and dozens of ‘most Instagrammable hotels in the world’ roundups.

Its unique design is the brainchild

of top Spanish designer Jaime Hayon, who used the concept of ‘New Spain’ as his inspiration, while incorporating the latest trends from London, New York and Paris.

The hotel overlooks the Gran Via and Plaza de España and has 256 designer rooms, including luxury suites with private terraces. www.hotelbarcelotorredemadrid.com

Property

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www.inlandandalucia.com March 14th - March March 2018 27th 2018

by our 2017 customer database survey of 13,500. SEE for yourself

VOTED BEST and MOST INFORMATIVE WEBSITE

*includes videos *google street maps *full descriptions *chat box

84.950 €

Villanueva de Algaidas – Málaga TH3658

Bright and spacious 3 bed, 2 bath property is close to all the local amenities. Shops, bars, restaurants, municipal pool and summer gardens. A gated entrance leads to a pretty patio with established plants.

159.950 €

Montoro - Córdoba

VL745

This stunning property sits within amazing plot of 11,000m2 of land with partially landscaped gardens, patio areas, private swimming pool and independent garagesurrounded by panoramic views of the countryside.

Laid out over one floor, 2 spacious bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a spacious lounge with fire and separate dining room and well fitted kitchen.

114.950 €

Fuente Piedra – Málaga

TH3665

This property 3 beds, 2 baths is just a short walk to all the local amenities. At the rear of the property there is a private courtyard garden with a tiled swimming pool for those hot summer afternoons. This property has been beautifully presented and rewired throughout well worth viewing priced to sell!

285.000 €

Loja - Granada – Málaga

CJ414

This stunning rural property sits in the most idyllic location with 360% views of the surrounding countryside, within a fully fenced plot of over 25,000 m2 of land which includes established olive, almond and various fruit trees throughout the land. The property has been finished throughout to a very high standard and is beautifully presented.

Malaga Office

34.950 €

Fuente Tojar – Córdoba

TH3633

The property offers 2 double bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, one of them being an ensuite. You also have the bonus of a large roof terrace of roughly 50m2. The house is raised from the main road giving it a nice entrance. It has patio and utility room.

120.000 €

Colomera - Granada

TH3662

This beautifully kept victorian townhouse. The property is in walking distance to all local amenities with easy access to the main motorways. It comes part furnished with street parking. The property has 4 bedrooms. 408m2 built.

18.000 €

Martos - Jaén

TH3660

This lovely 2 bed townhouse has lots of original features and could make a beautiful home, perfect for a couple or small family. It comes part furnished, close to amenities and has on road parking. Both electric and water are connected and you can also get internet.

24.995 €

Baena – Córdoba

TH3564

The two beds, one bath property has been renovated recently.

It would be great for both a holiday home or used permanently as you also have all amenities close by including major supermarkets. The property is spread over 3 levels. Bargain!

Jaen Office

Calle de la Villa 14, 29532 Molina, Malaga

Calle Abad Moya 4b, 23680 Alcala la Real, Jaen

info@inlandandalucia.com

contact@inlandandalucia.com

952 74 15 25

953 58 70 40

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MarchMarch 14th -2018 March 27th 2018

Bedder than the rest Huge expat furniture company opens new 13,000 square metre showroom between Velez Malaga and Torre del Mar

OPEN SPACE: Show room has a huge range of furniture

Mobile: +34 618 963 609 Email: info@detropen.es Web: www.detropen.es Autovia del Mediterráneo, exit 272, Vélez-Málaga Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm

13.000m2 SHOWROOM

Specialists in outdoor furniture

I

T might just be the biggest outdoor furniture emporium in Spain.

Sitting at the motorway junction by El Ingenio shopping centre between Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga, it is literally crammed full of incredible products.

Spread out over 13,000 square metres, you could easily spend an hour trying out the range of sofas, chairs and tables.

Recently relocating from its Motril home, where it has been for a decade, its Dutch expat owner Marcel Kluijtmans is an ambitious chap, whose done well despite the recession.

“We’ve grown and grown despite the tough times economically in Spain,” he explained.

“It’s by offering good quality products at great prices.”

Hundreds of guests raised a toast at the inauguration last month.

Just an hour from Marbella, all products can be found online at www.detropen.es and delivered free around the region.

EVENT: At Detropen furniture store

All Models In Stock - www.detropen.es

BBQ: At launch event in Velez Malaga

DINING SETS · LOUNGE SETS · LOUNGERS & BEDS · SHADE SAILS & PARASOLS · ACCESSORIES

Now at our new location in Vélez-Málaga

WE ARE HERE

Repsol Gas station

(Formerly Jardín del Ingenio)

El Ingenio Shopping Centre

Property

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CA N

9 SA 0 VE % M

ON EY *

March 14th - March March 2018 27th 2018

PROPERTY IN SPAIN?

Save money on your electricity and get your bill and customer service in English Call +34 916 358 626 Energy Nordic is your English-speaking electricity supplier in Spain. Everything we say and write to you will be in clear, direct English. Should you have any questions, you will always have an English-speaking customer service team ready to assist you. Quite simple! We have an office in Fuengirola and you are always very welcome to drop by.

Find out more at energynordic.com

*At the moment 9 out of 10 can save money on their energy bill if they switch to Energy Nordic (based on our current customer profile)

Energy Nordic S.L. C/San Pancracio 18 29640 Fuengirola +34 916 358 626 energynordic.com

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Property

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March March14th 2018 - March 27th 2018 Advertorial

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www.theolivepress.es Property

March 2018

XIX

No sense

Swedish invasion

SWEDISH nationals made up 6.4% of foreign purchases in Spain last year.

It is one of the fastest growing markets after increasing from only 4.6% in 2012.

Swedes now account for 10% of all purchases made with Spain’s top builder, Taylor Wimpey España.

The estate agent said: “Spain’s economy is the fastest growing in the Eurozone, bringing greater confidence back to the property market and thus attracting demand from North European countries. Over the last few years, we have seen a real boost from Swedish buyers especially.”

Norwegians and Danes are also increasing their Spanish property purchases. Norwegians made up 2.2% of foreign sales in 2017, while Danes accounted for 1% of sales, according to the annual data from the Spanish registrars.

Balearic resort halted for not having planning permission

A

HUGE resort in Ibiza has been put on hold after it emerged the developers did not have permission to start construction.

The Six Senses resort and spa project in Cala Xarrca, the north of the White Island, is already significantly advanced, with ground broken and concrete structures in place.

But while local developer Beach Box Ibiza had approval of the basic project and environmental impact study, its execution project had not been approved.

Authorities in Sant Joan had promised environmental activists they would watch over the execution of this development ‘with a magnifying glass’ but appear to have taken their eye off the ball.

Local environmentalists, who called the develop-

ment a ‘brutal aggression’ against the area, forced the town hall to concede that work had started without proper planning permission, and order a temporary halt to building work.

Jonathan Leitersdorf of Beach Box Ibiza said:“Our vision is to capture the authentic Ibiza experience of community, spirituality and celebration to be delivered with top service, organic food and beverage, and luxurious accommodations for our guests. It is the first full-service hospitality experience with rich amenities not yet offered on the island.”

Mayor Antoni Marí said the town hall ‘will take some time, approximately a week, to study the situation with planning officials.’

It will check the basic project, the execution project (yet to be presented), and the environmental integration all comply with the licence, in which case the building work can be authorised.

“But if that’s not the case, if there’s more construction, the halt could be definitive,” he said.

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

Villas & Fincas is urgently looking for Quality Properties for clients Country Villas – Beach Villas – Equestrian Vineyards – Olive Farms – Cortijos In the area of: Casares, Estepona, Inland Sotogrande, Gaucin, Ronda, Jimena, El Cuarton, Tarifa, Vejer de la Frontera, Caños de Meca, Atlanterra, Zahara de los Atunes or large cortijos inland Andalucia Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 m² Built: 573m² Plot m²: 25,000 Garden: Private Garage: Private Pool: Private

RONDA – 1.295.000 €

Ref. Nr. 186-00259P

LUXURY MODERN COUNTRY HOUSE, CORTIJO

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

www.villasfincas.com

MORTGAGE THINK TANK by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

Don’t let favourable mortgage rates tempt you into forgoing a broker, writes the Finance Bureau’s Tancrede de Pola

Property of the Week

T

HE latest figures released last week show home mortgages in Spain grew by 9.7% last year.

According to the National Statistics Institute, of the total capital borrowed in Spain in December 2017, 61.6% was to finance homes.

It’s an encouraging sign of the times and shows Spain’s property market is in full recovery mode.

The favourable financing conditions currently being offered by banks has probably been a main driving force behind the strong statistics.

But while there are favourable conditions being offered, hiring a mortgage broker is still a must when buying your holiday home.

It can be easy to get carried away, but it’s important to have someone in your corner to highlight any hidden fees or compulsory addons tucked away in the small print and to ensure you get the best possible mortgage product to suit your needs.

One of the biggest pitfalls can be ‘trap-related products’ that often get hidden in the small print.

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

It is important to know exactly what is attached to your mortgage.

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

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

Also, different banks have different under-writing criteria so, whereas your circumstances may not suit one lender, they may be appropriate for another…your broker will be aware of this and match you to the correct funding source.

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

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

When it comes to picking a mortgage, you must get it right first time as the relatively high set-up costs preclude jumping in and out of products as happens in other countries so it is virtually impossible to reverse the process.

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

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

Baena - Córdoba 24.995 € Cordoba, Rute- TH3564 - TH3555 42.500€ Beautiful townhouse in large The two beds, one bath property hasopen been area where parking is easy.

Ground floor renovated recently. It would be great for both a has living room, dining room, bedroom, holiday home or used permanently as you also kitchen, large bathroom, patio, have all amenities close by including major fireplace and private terrace with supermarkets. The property is spread over 3 great views. On the first floor there levels. Bargain! are three bedrooms. A must see!

tel: +34 +34 952 953 587 tel: 741 040 525

Calle Abad Moya 4, Bajo Calle deAlcalá la Villa 23680, la 14, Real,29532, Jaén Mollina, Malaga info@inlandandalucia.com info@inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com www.inlandandalucia.com

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

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

Call us now to list your property, we have clients waiting for Luxury Country Properties, Vineyards, Quality Equestrians and Hunting Estates.

RONDA – 1.295.000 € LUXURY MODERN COUNTRY HOUSE, CORTIJO NEAR THE VILLAGE OF ARRIATE, ANDALUSIA Bedrooms: m² Built: Garden: Garage:

5 573m² Private Private

Ref. Nr. 186-00259P

Bathrooms: 5 m² Plot: 25.000 Pool: Private

Ref. Nr. 186-00669P RONDA – 7.500.000 € LUXURY HACIENDA, COMPLETELY RESTORED CONVERTED INTO AN EXCLUSIVE COUNTRY HOUSE Bedrooms: m² Built: Garden: Garage:

9 2.300m² Yes Yes

Bathrooms: 12 m² Plot: 121.100 Pool: Yes

Ref. Nr. 186-00259P

BANALUP – 1.150.000 € CASAS VIEJAS, ELEGANT COUNTRY VILLA Bedrooms: 5 m² Built: 329m² Garden: Private

Bathrooms: 5 Plot m²: 1.719 Pool: Private

www.villasfincas.com

Ref. Nr. 186-00739P

RONDA – 1.250.000 € LUXURY MODERN COUNTRY HOUSE, CORTIJO FOR SALE, RONDA RONDA €Bathrooms: 5 Bedrooms:– 1.495.000 5 SPECTACULAR CORTIJO IN ANDALUSIA m² Built: 573m² m² Plot: 25.000 Garden: Bedrooms: Garage: m² Built:

Private 7 Carport 561m²

Garden:

Yes

Pool: Bathrooms: m² Plot: Pool:

FOLLOW US ON:

Private 7 13.700 Private

Ref. Nr. 186-00588P

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

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FINTECH firm Lendo is the talk of the Rock after playing an integral role at the recent Gibraltar International Finwww.lendo.io tech Forum 2018.

Lendo’s CEO, David Honey- THEIR city may not be as big as Barcelona or as famous as man, joined a panel of exDownload our app now and perts including the managing Madrid but the people of A begin enjoying best Spanish have cash to flash. director of the Gibraltar Stock theCoruna news on Exchange Nick Cowan to the dis-go. The Galician port city exported goods worth €10.1 billion cuss the crypto industry.

Honeyman praised the recent in the first 10 months of 2017, implementation of DLT regu- largely thanks to clothes giant lation arguing that it firmly Zara. establishes Gibraltar at the Being the HQ of Inditex forefront of the fintech world. which owns Zara, Massimo He also revealed that Lendo, Dutti and Pull & Bear, among a key sponsor at the event, other brands - has meant its would apply to be fully li- 4,600 high-earning employThereguOlive ees Press have transformed the once censed under the DLT lation and to be listed on sleepy region into a fashion powerhub.

TOP forExnews in Spain! the Gibraltar Blockchain A Coruna’s exports were the change (GBX). highest in Spain in the first ten “Gibraltar is leading Europe in blockchain technol- months of last year after Maogy regulation and the newly drid, Barcelona and Valencia, formed Gibraltar Blockchain Spain’s three biggest cities.

Exchange aims to be a world- It also had the highest trade leading institutional-grade surplus (€3.8 billion) of any token sale platform and cryp- Spanish region. tocurrency exchange and we “Inditex staff have high salawant Lendo to be part of this ries,” said Felix Blazquez, head robust regulatory environ- of the University of A Coruña’s business studies department. ment,” said Honeyman.

“Being licensed in Gibraltar “They look for high-standard and listed on the GBX will leisure and services and the further consolidate Lendo’s city has changed to offer what core values of transparency they demand.”

Inditex workers with money to and trust.” spend allowed Cesar Perez and

49 49

Fashion funds MAKE OVER: For northern Spanish city

Luis Jarque to open trendy La Urbana in 2012 at the height of the financial crisis.

“It soon became known as the Inditex bar — many of their employees came to have a drink here,” Perez told the Fashion of Business.

Blazquez added: “The crisis in A Coruña didn’t hit as hard as elsewhere, and that’s because

of Inditex.”

“The problem now is that many of them rely exclusively on Inditex, and they would be in trouble if that collaboration were to end,” he said.

Inditex owner Amancio Ortega’s has no plans to move away according to Xulio Ferreiro, the city’s mayor.

In the last 15 years, the Indi-

tex Foundation has donated about €80 million for charitable projects in Galicia, including the construction of the headquarters of a charity caring for homeless people and the elderly.

Inditex is one of the most successful clothing businesses in the world, turning over around €20 billion each year.

INSURANCE company Aviva has sold most of its Spanish holdings after deciding to cut down on fringe markets.

All of its shareholdings in Cajamurcia Vida and Caja Granada Vida, which specialise in life insurance and pensions, have been sold to state-owned lender Bankia for €202m (£178m).

The FTSE 100 company stated that the move would boost its capital surplus by around £150m.

In selling its two largest ventures it will now only hold a small life insurance business, Palayo Vida, and a small operation centre in Spain.

This comes after a restructuring of its banking system in 2010, prompting consolidation among the insurer’s banking partners.

The company, which is the UK’s largest general insurer, had already sold its stake in three Spanish joint ventures between 2012 and 2017.

It follows sales in Italy, France, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore in a bid to concentrate on its core markets of Canada and UK.

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Axed Andalucians SOME 17,025 employees have been ‘let go’ from the Junta over the last seven years.

Official figures released by the Central Personnel Registry show a

SCARE: For Airbus workers

Air-bust THOUSANDS of jobs across Europe are at risk after Airbus confirmed it is cutting production of two aircraft.

Some 860 jobs in Spain, most of them at a factory in Sevilla, are likely to be most at risk after it was announced production of the A380 superjumbo and the A400M military plane would be scaled back.

Some 1,925 jobs in Germany, 465 in the UK and 470 in France are alsounder threat.

Owner of budget airline Ryanair wants to ground flights to ‘show what Brexit will be like’ RYANAIR has threatened to ground ALL flights temporarily in a bid to stall Brexit.

The budget airline’s chief, Michael O’Leary, said he wanted to emphasise that people would ‘no longer have cheap holidays’ if the UK’s divorce from the EU goes ahead.

Talking to an audience in Brussels, the staunch Remainer said that the public had been ‘lied to’.

He said: “I think it’s in our interests – not for a long period of time – that the aircraft are grounded.

“It’s only when you get to that stage where you’re going to persuade the average British voter that you were lied to in the entire Brexit debate.

“When you begin to realise

drop from 254,496 in January 2010 to 237,471 in January 2017.

Teachers not working at a university were worst hit, with a loss of 6,000 vacancies, followed by 5,000 losses among regional government departments.

Apart from Andalucia only Madrid, Valencia and Murcia displayed similarly significant downsizing, with other regions such as Navarra, Catalunya, the Balearic Islands actually increasing in staff.

Ghost of Brexit future that you’re no longer going to have cheap holidays in Portugal or Spain or Italy, you’ve got to drive to Scotland or get a ferry to Ireland as your only holiday options, maybe we’ll begin to rethink the whole Brexit debate.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr

said: “In theory, if we could use this industry to prove to the British how wrong the decision was, that might be a good thing.”

Currently, there are no restrictions on planes flying within the bloc for member states.

In an effort to quell fears,

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘It’s in the interests of everyone’ to keep the market open.

This follows reports that any new US-UK flight deal could be worse than the current one – which could ultimately lead to fewer flights between the two countries.

ON TOP: Telepizza

Slice of the action THE world’s biggest pizza company outside America is expanding its base.

Telepizza, has bought a majority share of Apache Pizza for €10.7 million.

Irish Apache has more than 140 stores in the Republic and Northern Ireland in comparison to Telepizza’s 1600 worldwide.

The buyout forms part of Telepizza’s expansion plans which have already seen it enter into 17 countries, including Iran.

Telepizza was started in Madrid’s El Pilar neighborhood

by Cuban immigrant Leopoldo Fernández Pujals, who still remains the majority shareholder with 38%.

Property AGONY ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Got your LFO? Should you buy a Spanish resale property without a license of occupation

A

S part of the documents any willing ven- not legally live in the property (some Catalunya dor needs to have ready for a potential cities). In Andalucia, you are not allowed to buyer, we find the licence of first occu- rent it and utilities’ supplies could be cut off pancy or occupation (LFO), an official (and there is no substitute for this document certification that the property has been built in according to regional LOUA law). In Aragon, accordance to the planning permission is re- not having one is a ‘fineable’ offence -up to ceived and is fit for living: it is the duty of any €6,000-. property developer or self-builder to obtain one It is any buyer’s right to be shown one but if it is as soon as the construction has been finalized. missing, the searches should uncover the reaSometimes however, for difson behind it. It may be that the ferent reasons, the LFO is not owner never got round to apply available but the owner still for it, innocently or deliberately Property owners (i.e. an extension was built wants to sell. Unlike the unique Valencian community system, in Spain do have without permission), or that it where a person can obtain a had it and subsequent legal significant issue action saw it revoked, as hapsecond license of occupation by merely filling out a ‘responin Marbella with circa with the lack of pened sible declaration form’ (a type 30 thousand properties. this document of sworn declaration by the Whatever the reason, a propapplicant that the property erty without an LFO: complies with applicable regu- Lacks a relevant doculations, regarding its use and building parame- ment that exists for a reason. ters), the rest of property owners in the country - May hide serious planning irregularido have a significant issue with the lack of this ties (conversely, having the license is no guardocument. antee of the contrary).

But is it legal to sell under these conditions? - May potentially -albeit unlikely- be The ‘qualified’ answer is yes: it is legally pos- cut off from supplies. sible to officially -and legally- transfer title to a - May potentially -albeit unlikely- atbuyer, with Notaries and Land Registrars hap- tract fines to its owners. pily witnessing and registering title deeds, re- - May be more difficult to sell. spectively. And banks will lend without it.

Still, if a buyer is forewarned of all implications But this may come at a cost: in some places in and the price is right, a property deal without a Spain, if you don’t have this license you can- LFO can be concluded.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

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Footing the bill SPAIN’S oldest football club based in Andalucia has been snapped up for just €1.

Recreativo de Huelva, which celebrated its 128-year anniversary in December, was battling debts of €7.6million, forcing them to consider closing for good.

But Huelva Town Hall has cleared its debt and company Eurosamop has agreed a deal to buy all of the club’s shares for €1.

Recreativo, who play their home games at the 21,600-capacity Estadio Nuevo Colombino, currently compete in Spain’s re-

SOLD: Huelva club

Oldest football club in Spain bought for €1

gionalised third tier.

The club had three consecutive seasons in La Liga between 2006 and 2009, finishing eighth, 16th and then 20th.

But they have been in the third tier of Spanish football since 2015 when they came 20th in the 22-team Segunda Division.

Recreativo recorded their first away win since November last month as they beat El Ejido 1-0.

Appy banking SPANISH lender BBVA has increased its share in Britain’s Atom Bank.

The deal has lead to Spain’s second largest bank increasing its stake in the app-based bank to almost 40%.

The latest £85.4m investment now brings the total it has put into the Durham-based bank to £167m.

Atom, which provides savings accounts and mortgages through a smartphone app, said it would make ‘further investment in technology and business capabilities’.

As part of the deal, BBVA has a agreed a waiver which states that it will not be required to make an offer to buy the whole of the company.

It follows BBVA’s increased focus on digital services, as more than half of its customers in Spain use online banking.

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Under new management SPAIN’S economy is under new direction.

Roman Escolano, currently Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has taken over the hot seat from former Economy Minister Luis De Guindos, who will become vice-president of the European Central Bank (ECB).

Under Escolano’s leadership Spain is set to try and cut the public deficit to within EU guidelines of less than 3% of gross domestic product.

Escolano will also play a big role in dealing with the fallout from Catalunya and Britain’s planned exit from the EU. The 53-year-old has previously served as chief economic adviser to the then-PrimeMinister Jose Maria Aznar from 2000 to 2004.

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Win a rucksack T

HE Olive Press is giving away a free foldable rucksack that is perfect for those on the go.

The Fold Away Rucksack, from Dry Patch, transforms from the size of a wallet to a normal sized rucksack and is strong, waterproof and super reflective.

The 18 litre bag will provide you with the storage, style and safety you need to hold up to 5kg of groceries, shoes,

Diamonds are forever JEWELLERY has frequently been passed down through the generations, while some is bought for that special someone as a token of love.

Chirine Ayoubi knows about this more than anyone, having worked as a jeweller by trade, crafting jewellery in Los Hidalgos, Manilva, for the last five years, and 10 years in Duquesa Port before that.

“I tried my luck at a diamond eternity ring and I just became obsessed with diamonds and wanting to make jewellery,” said the mother-of-two, whose design work has won awards and featured in the likes of Glamour magazine.

Ayoubi Jewellery covers everything from bespoke jewellery, repairs, stone replacement and melting down old pieces down to make new ones.

“People like the personal aspect of helping to design their own pieces,” said Chirine, who specialises in the unique trade.

This drive to provide silver service comes from her mother who taught her that ‘If you have a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ - an approach she also incorporates in her other business, Diamond Nails & Beauty Room, where her patience and perfectionism are an asset.

“I provide a wide variety of treatments including Shellac manicures, pedicures, acrylic & gel extensions, eyebrows, waxing, facials, ear piercing and more,” Chirine explains.

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It is ultra lightweight and folds into itself, so there are no little bags to lose.

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It is usually £30 but you could get it for FREE. Simply email newsdesk@theolivepress.es with your name and address to be in with a chance of winning.

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High bid THE world’s largest cannabis producer by market value is believed to be one of the bidders for Spanish firm Alcaliber SA. Canopy Growth Corp, based in Smiths Falls, Ontario, is said to be competing against UK health-care investor GHO Capital and Spanish investment firm Alantra Partners SA. Alcaliber SA, which produces morphine and thebaine, has an estimated value of between 200 and 275 million euros.

The pharmaceutical company is majority owned by Spanish billionaire Juan Abello’s investment fund Torreal SA, with French drugmaker Sanofi holding a 40% stake.

Founded in 1973, Alcaliber supplies narcotic raw materials formed from the cultivation of the opium poppy.

Constellation Brands Inc, whose portfolio includes Corona, became Canopy’s biggest shareholder after buying almost 10% last year.

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Car of the year SPAIN’S Seat Ibiza has been pipped to the post in Car of the Year in Europe for 2018.

Six other new cars vied for the prestigious title - the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Audi A8, BMW 5-Series, Citroen C3 Aircross, Kia Stinger and Volvo XC40.

But it was Volvo’s XC40 crossover that claimed the prize.

A jury of 60 journalists CAR sales in Spain soared by 13% in February, from 23 countries across new figures have revealed, but the UK market will ‘act as a drag’ on European sales figures.

Europe casted their votes, According to LMC Automotive, Germany and with each having 25 points France sales rose by 4.3% and 7.4% respectively, to allocate among the final while British sales slumped by 2.8%. seven.

"The UK will act as a drag on the region, although They judged on design, the fact that the year has started so strongly comfort, safety, economy, means that Western Europe should remain firmhandling, performance, ly in positive growth territory in 2018," LMC said. functionality, environLMC said it continues to forecast a slightly slower mental requirements, growth across Western Europe this year comdriver satisfaction, and pared to the 2.5% increase recorded in 2017. price.

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As seen on screen THE UK’s Channel 4 heard about Roadrunner Leisure and contacted them to take part in the hugely successful program A New Life in the Sun. They filmed during the summer mainly looking at the growth of the business and the pitfalls in launching into the boat trip market in Duquesa.

After the huge success of purchasing a new speedboat for six people the year before, they bought another new one at the end of the season accommodating up to 12 people.

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“The reviews have been amazing, my husband and I have been humbled by some of the kind words, the fact that we have made memories for our guests on their holidays is hugely satisfying. We look forward to another successful season,” said business owner Fiona Callander.

Roadrunner appears in A New Life in the Sun Monday to Friday, week commencing March 26 at 5pm.

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In the driver’s SEAT GLOBAL sales for Spanish car manufacturer SEAT continue to be in the double figures.

The company sold 39,900 units last month, 25.9% higher than February last year.

So far this year its sales have risen by 23.1% compared to last year, with a total of 78,800 cars.

SEAT Vice-President for Sales and Marketing Wayne Griffiths said: “There has been an outstanding increase in sales in the first two months of the year. We are one the fastest growing car brands in the industry and are gaining market share in strategic markets.”

www.theolivepress.es motors

Star power

Hundreds of trains cancelled in Spain in international women’s day strike

Celeb cars sell for much more than their worth, study finds

CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s Bentley Continental had an 80% markup thanks to its previous celebrity owner.

The Real Madrid footballer’s pricey designer motor sold at €72,800 more than its non-celebrity owned counterpart.

It comes as UK car magazine Auto Trader revealed buyers are spending thousands of euros more if the car has been previously owned by a celeb.

On its own listings website, it found famous owners can put their used motors on sale for up to 241% more than their identical second-hand model.

A Bentley Mulsanne belonging to Queen Elizabeth II was listed on the website for €224,000

CASHING IN: Katie Price and (top) Cristiano Ronaldo

(Dh1.02m) in comparison with an equivalent model which was valued

at €97,500.

Meanwhile a Lamborghini Diablo owned by Jamiro-

quai singer Jay Kay, which also featured in the British band’s 1996 video, Cos-

mic Girl, went on sale for €616,000.

The model that succeeded the Diablo (there were only 16 originals made), was listed at almost half the value at €313,000.

Footballers who sell their cars are also likely to see a markup in price.

David Beckham listed his BMW 6 Series for more than double the price of €36,500 of an equivalent model. A car owned by former glamour model Katie Price saw the biggest markup. Her pink 2011 Range Rover SE Vogue, which features a Swarovski-embellished clock went on sale for €78,000 in comparison with an equivalent model valued at just €22,500.

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MORE than 300 trains were cancelled last week as part of International Women’s Day strikes.

According to the transport ministry, 200 intercity and 105 long-distance trains were cancelled.

Strike

The underground in Madrid was also be affected.

The 24-hour strike was called by 10 unions while feminist groups asked women not to spend money and to stop doing domestic chores.

All were campaigning against inequalities between men and women.

Penelope Cruz even cancelled events she had planned and also went on ‘domestic’ strike, leaving her partner Javier Bardem to care for their two children.

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I’m expensive… but worth it!

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BE ‘APPY!

A LEADING Spanish chef has defended the high price of his food.

Albert Adria, 48, whose restaurant is believed to be the most expensive with a Michelin Star in Spain at €220 a head, insisted it was no more expensive that a concert ticket.

“People don’t think twice to pay the same price to see Bruce Springsteen,” he said of the cost at his Barcelona eaterie Enigma.

The brother of Spain’s famous Ferran Adria, insisted: “At €220 it is not cheap, but for what we do it is a fair

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ocal Spain issue 69.qxp_The Local Issue 5 13/03/18 09:50 Page 19

K KOKOMO RESTAURANT, GARDEN & GRILL

price. It is a place to eat once a year.”

Recognized as among the world’s most influential people in the world of gastronomy by TIME magazine, he prides himself on sourcing local ingredients.

He said: “First I buy from my street, then my neighbourhood and we create 300 to 400 new recipes a year.”

He worked at his brother’s famous El Bulli restaurant for two years, and also had a stint at the famous three Michelin star restaurant Fat Duck in the UK.

A starry night LEGEND: Arzak tribute

A WHO’S who of Spain’s top chefs will be cooking up a storm to pay tribute to legend Juan Mari Arzak in Marbella next week.

A total of 20 Michelin starred chefs will be whisking in to the A Cuatro Manos event at the Puente Romano hotel from March 18 to 20.

Hosted by Marbella’s very own superchef Dani Garcia, the group of chefs - who hold 40 stars between them - comprise the very best of New Basque cuisine.

Incredible 20 Michelin starred chefs - with 40 stars between them - to descend on Marbella

Crazy

STARS: Some of Spain’s hottest chefs are coming to the Costa del Sol

Acurio, who has won the Best Chef in South America award.

And such an event wouldn’t be the same without Ferran Adria, whose El Bulli res-

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Bullipedia comes to the boil HE is easily Spain’s most famous chef of all time.

So it’s appropriate that Ferran Adria - whose El Bulli restaurant was named Best in the World on five separate occasions - is helping to create the definitive culinary encyclopedia.

The 35-volume collection - called Bullipedia - has already begun with the first book published in November.

Now he is looking at the second part of the Bebidas section, looking at the history, composition and culture of beverages.

Peruvian

As well as Arzak’s very own daughter Elena - who has maintained the three stars at his same name restaurant - triple-starred Juan Roca and Martin Berasategui - who has a total of eight stars - will also be on hand.

They are set to be joined

by Ramon Freixa, Paco Roncero and Andoni Luis Aduriz, who is ranked as the third best chef in the world.

Also set to grace the stage are Asturias’ top chef Nacho Manzano (who the Olive Press reviewed last year), as well as legendary Peruvian chef Gaston

NO BULL: Ferran talks to OP editor Jon Clarke

ANDALUCIA’S legion of goatherds are demanding financial aid to help boost international sales - for goat’s milk ice cream!

Spain-based food co-op Dcoop has teamed up with the Andalucia Farmers’ cooperative and local research centre CICAP to also secure funding for goat’s milk, cheese and butter abroad.

The group insists goat milk is far healthier than other dairy products and is easier to digest than cow’s milk.

Dcoop has developed a yogurt made from goat milk, which the company expects to launch this Spring.

taurant won the Best Restaurant in the World award for five years in a row.

Two years ago, at the same event, he told the Olive Press that it was ‘one of the best collections of chefs he had ever come across in the world’.

Now in its fifth year, the A Cuatro Manos event, is billed as ‘where the creativity and talent of the participants is the driving force of unique, exclusive and unrepeatable nights’.

Marbella mayor Angeles Munoz described the event as a ‘key international event’ which helps to put Marbella on the food map.

“Marbella can now boast of top haute cuisine and has an unparalleled offer of quality and excellence,” she said.

“This is the project of crazy people, and it will take years and years to create,” explained Adria.

In total, there will be nine separate books - each 500 pages long - just on drinks alone, before the food section starts.

"There are only two liquids in the world that are not elaborate beverages, mountain water and freshly milked milk. All others are classified as processed beverages,” he explains.

A pioneer in molecular gastronomy, Adria shocked the gastronomic world when he closed down El Bulli in 2011.

Starting his career as a dishwasher at 18, he became head chef of El Bulli by 24.

He now runs a cookery school at the same El Bulli venue, in Catalunya, and travels the world as a food diplomat.

His encyclopedia will be released bit by bit over the next five years. Each book will cost around €75.

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March 14th - March 27th 2018

A teahouse tribute TOUR: Some of James’ shots in the Middle East

Vejer’s elegant Teteria del Califa has reopened with a series of moving personal touches and photographs from the owner’s own collection

A

WONDERFUL collection of old photos are an appropriate addition to the relaunch of one of the Costa de la Luz’s most striking buildings.

The pictures from the family collection of owner James Stuart take pride of place in the stunningly renovated Teteria del Califa, in Vejer.

Serving as a poignant tribute to his father, the photos show the young entrepreneur travelling around a series of Middle Eastern countries with his father and his own two children.

Dating back to the 1970s, they include such exotic locations as Aleppo, Palmyra, Wadi Rum, Yemen and Lebanon.

“It’s a tour of the Middle East that includes us camping in the stunning cave palaces in Petra,” he tells the Olive Press.

Stuart, who owns the next door Califa hotel and restaurant, as well as various other local businesses, spent the last year commissioning original furniture and ornaments for the relaunch of the teahouse (teteria).

Exotic

Panoramic Terrace – Open every day from 12 to 12 Plaza de España 16, Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz tel: 956 44 77 30 CalifaVejer.com

This included a one metre brass lamp from Morocco, which took two months to make, as well as a ‘marquetry’ inlaid ceiling that was built by craftsman Manolo Revuelta in Vejer.

“It was my girlfriend Ellie’s idea to redevelop the Teteria with a new sumptuous and exotic look,” he continues. “She also wanted to use my family collection of photographs for a personal touch.”

Scottish Ellie Cormie, who runs the top-rated Corredera 55 restaurant in the town, won Designer of the Year award for her work at Gleneagles golf course and the Malmaison Hotel.

She is currently undertaking a series of commissions in Gibraltar.

The Teteria, which opened over a decade ago, was always designed to be able to hold exhibitions so this is a fitting launch for the reopening.

As well as Stuart’s personal collection, there are a number of photos by celebrated photographer Wilfred Thesiger, whose portraits of a vanishing world can be found at The Pitt Rivers museum in Oxford.

To complete the personal touch Stuart’s mother Sasha donated some Amzigh jewellery bought in the Atlas mountains of Morocco as well as an old family kilim from Syria.

STYLISH: The renovated teteria

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In the start of a new column Olive Press wine expert Aleesha Hansel rounds up the delicious whites you should be sipping this spring

T

HANKS to the ´Beast from the East´ the weather in Spain over the last week or so has been far from ideal.

Thankfully however, the worst will soon be over and come March 20 Spring will officially have sprung.

So to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the welcome return of the sun, here are three wines you need to try while sitting by the pool (or just on your sofa).

Godello- Galicia

The history of Godello is somewhat unclear. The first official reference to the grape was in 1531 under the names Agudelho and Trincadente in the Douro, Portugal.

Grown in both Spain and Portugal, it originated on the banks of the Río Sil in Galicia, and faced near extinction in the 20th century with only a few hundred vines remaining by the 1970s - possibly something to do with the small-sized grapes and tightly packed bunches, which in the damp and cooler conditions of Galicia are sensitive to rot and mildew.

It was brought back from the cliff edge by a team led by Horacio Fernandez and Luis Hidalgos, and now boasts over 1200 hectares in Spain. A variety of aromas and flavours come through, from apples and pears to blossom and honeysuckle and even limes and grapefruit. Full bodied, medium acidity with a distinct minerally back bone, it is best paired with shellfish such as scallops, mussels, clams, crab and oysters.

Moll - Mallorca

Also known as Prensal blanc, this variety grows on Mallorca.

Relatively unheard of on mainland Spain, it represents about 70% of the white grapes planted on the island.

Viniculture was introduced there by the ancient Romans in 121 BC when Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius claimed the island for Rome.

The wines grew to enough noto-

riety that Pliny the Elder wrote about them.

Production continued even throughout the Moorish dominion and when King Jaume conquered the island in 1230 he was famously offered wine as a peace offering.

Before the arrival of phylloxera, a louse that kills the vines, around 27,000 hectares were under vines producing exports of 300,000 hectolitres a year.

Most vineyards were replaced by almond trees, reducing the area of vineyards to 5,000 hectares, however a revival is now well and truly underway. Moll produces crisp, light and refreshing wines with balanced acidity. While not particularly aromatic, quality bottles give aromas of green apples and almond. Look for BinissalemMallorca DO on the label, which over the last decade has consistently produced wines rates as very good or excellent.

Perfect matched with a mild-flavoured fish drizzled with lemon.

Verdejo - Rueda Despite evidence dating production back to the 11th century,little was heard about the region till the 1970s.

The wine´s fate was almost sealed during the early 1900s when oxidative Sherry-like white wines became fashionable, distinctly different from Rueda´s citrus acidity. Step in Marques de Riscal, one of the oldest wineries in Rioja. The company saw that Verdejo would be a great Spanish alternative to the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Major investment was ploughed into the area by Riscal and as a result official DO status was acquired in 1980. Wines labelled Rueda Verdejo must have at least 85% Verdejo while just Rueda will usually contain 50% Sauvignon Blanc and another variety. Slight tropical fruit and fragrant citrus notes can be picked up on the nose, while the palate offers a full bodied wine. Its high acidity means it is the perfect accompaniment to other match well will other acidic and punchy foods. Think tomatoes, vinaigrettes, onions, fresh cheeses and grilled or fried fish such as sardines, chipirones or calamari.

March 14th - March 27th 2018 March 14th - March 27th 2018

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Spring collection Wine time With Aleesha Hansel

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Columnists

Wake up!

The town hall needs a change, and fast!

MIJAS MATTERS

By Bill Anderson

M

IJAS, whitewashed walls bordering narrow, cobbled streets just wide enough for two donkeys and carts to pass. A short step back to a time when life was simple, uncomplicated; to where the cares of the world belong to another place, far away.

Okay, that’s enough. Now it is time to wake up, pull back the veil and uncover the nefarious goings on in the back rooms of Mijas politics, to uncover a government which can’t govern, but hangs onto the illusion of power, and paints the canvas of …. well actually, they can’t paint either.

You know that it is a slow news day when all you read is that ‘Donald Trump’s socks don’t match’, ‘man runs naked into a cactus’, or ‘movie star clogs the toilet on set’. No such problems in Mijas this month with rich pickings for those of us who would like to see a team with, shall we say, a bit more neural activity.

There’s the Paddle Tournament. Last August, the main square in Mijas Pueblo underwent a threestage metamorphosis: building site, empty stadium, bomb site; costing €250,000,000 euros; more than five times what it cost in Valladolid. According to businesses in the village, the mess 35 vehicles off the and chaos cost them rather than road because they business the contrary. The announcement that it have no ITV will return this August has been met with rabid belligerence on the part of the business community as well as residents.

Then there is the Field of Dreams Football Club in Calahonda. The councilor for Sport has decided that as they are not municipal, i.e. receiving Council funds to run it, they cannot play in the local League.

According to the Team Coach, Matt Gore, Ms Rodriguez turned up to one meeting to tell them they were being kicked out and went missing in action at the time of the second meeting. Another problem sorted, but not for the kids of the football team.

Shall we move on to selling off the family silver? Apparently, the Council doesn’t want responsibility for its services. They were defeated on the outsourcing of tax collection which was estimated to cost Mijas €6.6 million. They are trying to bash ahead with selling of sports services, even though they have been warned that the procedure they are following is illegal and will cost the taxpayers in excess of €1.5 million euros more.

Just think what that extra money could do in extending services. Unions and staff are flooding the Council chambers, organising strikes and demonstrations. Oh, and did I mention that they seem to be preparing to sell off Parks and Gardens services to a private company, too?

I am running out of space here, but it would be rude not to mention services operating without contracts, 35 vehicles off the road because they have no ITV, or the illegal budget which only scraped by with the aid of the Mayor’s casting vote. Not a slow news month by any stretch of the imagination. My mind goes to the Chinese curse, ‘May you live in interesting times.’

62 14th - March 27th 2018 March March 14th - March 27th 2018

The Water Margin

A RAIN: Reservoir in Marbella

Beer ‘n’ vittles?

The cheeky made-in-Manilva ales making an entree onto fine dining tables

s the saying goes ‘be careful what you wish for’.

Regular readers of this column will know that I have been bleating on for months about the lack of rainfall in Andalucía over winter with dire warnings about impending water shortages and widespread drought.

My wooden fishing boats had become landlocked, the normally submerged houses, abandoned when the reservoir that I live on was created in 1970, had started to appear and Marbella’s 4x4 aficionados were using the lake bed as a test track.

While most of the population of Marbella took social media selfies boasting about the weather, I stalked my terrace, scanning the lakebed and muttering in darkly dystopian tones about the approaching arid apocalypse.

Then the rains came.

One of the many things that I have always loved about Spain is it doesn’t to anything – food, drink, sport, life – in halves. It’s either all or nothing and this even applies to the weather. Coming from north Staffordshire I am used to rain, but UK rain is an insidious drizzle that seeps under your jacket and seems to last for nine months.

The rain in Spain doesn’t muck about.

Dramatic

I

T’s styled on brown ale, a bevvy that reminds me of Newcastle and working mens’ clubs ‘up north’. But Gran de Select’s Vintage dark ale has greater ambitions than to be supped from a mug at a bar.

This is a craft beer to be opened with a champagne pop and sipped from long-stemmed glasses in fine dining restaurants to complement dessert or the cheese course.

Every artisan ale hailing from this boutique brewery is produced by the champagne method. Each undergoes a second fermentation in an elegant Italian glass bottle fitted with a cork made from the trees in neighbouring Los Alcornocales Natural Park.

There’s golden Pilsner – a match for white meat, sushi and seafood; amber Reserva, a pale ale partner for red meat and spicy foods; and limited editions with drink-me names like Passion, Spice and Wild to make it a party. Brewed by Danes, probably the best beer makers in the world, cofounder Mads Sorenson’s grandfather had a lifetime job with Carlsberg and pioneered one of the world’s first microbreweries.

You can try some on the house at an Open Day (see their Facebook page). Their microbrewery in the hills is within spitting distance – only, with beer you don’t spit – of the sulphur springs where Julius Caesar took a bath circa 60BC. Added to Manilva’s award-winning wines, the town is becoming quite the watering hole!

The mineral-rich water also makes great ale, one of the reasons this family of master brewers came here to create a worthy competitor for the new gastro sport of beer pairing.

Not so long ago, if you sat down in a posh restaurant and ordered a pint of ale, you would have been shown the wine list or even the door. Now it’s

We prayed for rain and boy did it come, writes Giles Brown

quite the thing Stateside, where ‘beer sommeliers’ are suddenly in big demand. Gran de Select is endorsed by Martin Berasategui, Spain’s most Michelin-starred chef and beer corks are starting to pop in swanky restaurants along the Costa.

We sampled Spice, a wicked little winter warmer with orange notes and a hint of fizz. It came with an artisan beer-infused burger slathered in artisan onion jam, which you can also buy on the premises – a warehouse on an industrial estate accessed by a road Caesar himself might have travelled on, judging from the profusion of weeds and potholes. But you get to see the shiny brew kettles, smell the barley and hops, visit the cellars and sample the finished product. Commercial sessions in a bijou tasting room can also be arranged for companies and groups. And after a fair bit of extra sampling ourselves, at discounted prices, we clanked out with enough bubbly-shaped bottles to launch a fleet of ships. I’m not sure how Newcastle Brown bros will take to champagne ales at cava prices, or purists who like their craft beers on tap from oak casks. But with restaurants under pressure to roll out ever more avant garde gastronomic offerings, who knows - brown ale and tiramisu could be a maridaje made in heaven!

One minute we we’re all posting pictures of lunches on the playa and sunny strolls on the paseo and the next. – BOOM, CRASH, DRAMATIC CLAP OF THUNDER – we were scurrying for cover as the heavens opened cien por cien el maximo as they say in these parts.

We had obviously upset the ancient Andalus agua deity ‘Congas’.

The now traditional chaos reigned.

Homes lost power, beaches were washed away, the traditional lagoon formed outside the Puente Romano Hotel (and how dare anyone suggest that while they were giving that particular stretch of road a facelift before the Davis Cup, perhaps fitting a decent drainage system might have been a good idea) and drivers blithely ignored the conditions and charged headlong into the spray. Once again, some Herbert ignored the warning signs and got his car stuck on the flooded bridge between La Campana and San Pedro and the rescue efforts made the local news.

Standing on my terrace in full Ahab mode, resplendent in my Drizzabone, Wellies and Beanie hat, I watched the lake level rise dramatically in little under a week, posted daily social media videos, and contemplated on battening down the hatches, upgrading the tyres on the 4x4 or, alternatively, investing in an ark…

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

SOCIALMEDIA

sport

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Yellow peril!

olivepressnews

+TheolivepressEs

BE ‘APPY!

PEP Guardiola has been fined £20,000 by the UK’s FA for wearing a yellow ribbon in of Catalunya.

Download our app nowsupport and The Manchester City boss wore begin enjoying the bestthe Spanish accessory to press confernews on the go. ences and on the touchline, as a show of support for four Catalan politicians who have been imprisoned since the ‘illegal’ WELSHMAN Ryan Day referendum last year. made short work of China's The issue has been a source of Cao Yupeng in the final of contention, with the Catalothe snooker Gibraltar Open, nian arguing the symbol is not claiming a 4-0 victory with political but ‘humanitarian.’ a superb individual perforThe Spaniard has now acceptmance.

The Olive Press ed that the ribbon breaches FA Cao hadn't potted a single regulations and vowed to stop ball at the start of the fourth it during games.

TOP Spain! frame, but Day did for givenews him inwearing However Guardiola will cona chance with a few sloppy tinue to wear the ribbon for shots. pre and post-match media commitments, as is permitted, with the FA's kit and advertising regulations referring specifically to the technical area during games.

ON FORM: Day

Winning Day

Spanish football boss fined tens of thousands for supporting Catalunya He can also wear it during Champions League matches because it is not a breach of UEFA codes.

He was charged after last month's FA Cup loss at Wigan and since then he has either not worn the ribbon or covered it up while on the touchline.

Guardiola said: "I accept the decision because I have to do but that doesn't mean I agree or not, or they are right or not.

"I am here, I am working here, and there are rules and I accept them.

"I said from the beginning if the FA considers I shouldn't wear the yellow ribbon I would accept it but the fact that I wear

Spit it out FORMER England defender Jamie Carragher has been suspended from his punditry duties at Sky Sports after he was caught spitting at a 14-year-old girl on camera.

Carragher was driving home after commentating on Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United when the incident occured.

He alleges that he was ‘goaded’ by the girl’s father and other motorists following Liverpool’s loss and he lost his temper.

“We’ve met up today and it was about finding out the facts,” Carragher said with regards to his future at Sky Sports.

“They’re disappointed that I’ve dragged their name through the mud - that’s not what they’re about and I’ve let them down big time.

“I love my job and would love the opportunity to stay.

“Hopefully I’ll be judged not right now but over a longer period of time and this incident won’t cloud all of it but it’s a big incident and it won’t go away.”

In his illustrious career Carragher played 737 times for Liverpool, winning the Champions League and the UEFA Cup.

If you have a27th sports story, March 14th - March 2018 contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

Win bonus FORMER England striker Michael Owen has paid his first visit to the Rock.

Owen, 38, met the employees of gaming firm BetVictor at the World Trade Centre.

Owen is a brand ambassador for the Gibraltarheadquartered firm.

The keen horse trainer, who is known to like a punt, later said how much he enjoyed the trip and the hospitality.

“I really enjoyed meeting you all and understanding more about who does what and how it all works behind the scenes,” he said.

During his glittering career Owen played for giants Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2001.

it or not doesn't mean anything, because the yellow ribbon is always going to be there, whether you see it or not, even if I wear it in the press conference, post-match, it doesn't matter, the situation doesn't change, there are still people in prison in an unfair way."

6363

Back of the net CRISTIANO Ronaldo is on his way to being crowned as the top scorer of La Liga this season despite a terrible start.

The Real Madrid striker had only scored four goals by the halfway stage but ramped it up in the second half, scoring 14.

It means he is only three behind Luis Suarez and six behind Lionel Messi, both at Barca, in the race to be crowned ‘Pichichi’, the league’s top scorer.

While Messi didn't play last weekend due to the birth of his third child, Ronaldo scored twice in Eibar to keep the pressure on.

64

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Full steam ahead

FINAL WORDS

THE world’s largest cruise ship will be unveiled in Malaga ahead of its maiden voyage on March 27.

Owned by Royal Caribbean, the ‘Symphony of the Seas’ is five times the size of the Titanic.

Tech hub TECH giant Apple has chosen three Spanish schools to trial an ‘everyone can code’ project which will enable pupils to develop mobile apps.

On set ANDALUCIA film director Santi Amodeo has been shooting his latest film in Sotogrande. He was nominated for best new director at the 2014 Goya awards.

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Vol. 12 Issue 287

Group of celebs, including late Paul Daniels’ wife Debbie McGee, undertake the Camino de Santiago

By Laurence Dollimore

A HOST of seasoned celebrities have taken part in Spain’s most famous pilgrimage as part of a new TV show.

Strictly Come Dancing star Debbie McGee was joined by comedian Ed Byrne, M People singer Heather Small and Neil Morrissey along the legendary Camino de Santiago route.

Bonding

In total, the group of seven celebrities walked the 500mile religious trek from the French border to Santiago de Compostela.

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March 14th- March 27th 2018

March 14th - March 27th 2018 No ban on water!

A FOOTBALL manager has banned alcohol and parties during his club’s mid-season break to Spain.

The Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez wants to avoid a repeat of West Brom’s outrageous antics in Barcelona last month, after four senior players allegedly stole a taxi.

Taking the players on a four-day break to Alicante, the Spaniard insists this will be a sober getaway.

When asked if the lads will be able to have a drink, the manager said: ‘Yes, they can drink water, no problem.’

It’s magic

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: The group walked all the way from France to Galicia

Joining a group of regular walkers, the seven trekked from Saint-Jean-Pied-dePort in the French Pyrenees to the famous city in Galicia.

The group was made up of atheists as well as a priest

and believers - making it an interesting watch as they retrace the steps of medieval pilgrims.

There were discussions about personal beliefs and values with some of the celebs fear-

ing they might 'catch religion'.

Journalist Raphael Rowe described the trip as 'eyeopening', saying: “It made me think differently about myself, about other people, about religion and faith.

Barca nosing ahead LA DONAIRA PRESENTS

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BARCELONA is one of the key cocaine capitals of Europe, according to analysis of wastewater in 56 European cities.

On average Barcelonians get through 965.2mg each day for every 1,000 residents.

This is the highest amount recorded since the project started and is represents a 34% increase on the inaugural result found in Antwerp, Belgium in 2011.

Just one British city made it into the top 10 with Bristol coming in at sixth.

London, which was previously deemed as the capital in 2014 and 2015, did not feature this year.

Zurich in Switzerland, came second with 934.4mg daily per 1,000 and following the trend became the second highest figure ever recorded.

“I learnt more about religion [on the camino] than I ever have in my life.”

The celebs stayed in pilgrims' hostels and had to walk in extreme heat and driving rain.

They said that the experience created a bond between them and that they have stayed in touch after completing the Camino.

Gogglebox star and vicar Kate Bottley admitted she struggled with the physical demands of the journey adding that it was ‘more painful than childbirth.’

The vicar confessed that she found debates about religion ‘very tough’ and felt under pressure to explain her faith.

Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago will air on BBC Two on Friday at 10pm Spanish time.

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