Olive Press Newspaper - Issue 191

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Vol. 8 Issue 191 www.theolivepress.es

July 10 - July 23 2014

Full Moon festival comes under fire

AN ‘irresponsible’ beach party is set to see the release of hundreds of ‘illegal’ Chinese lanterns, despite a clear fire risk, claim campaigners.

The Sabinillas Full Moon party will see the launch of the candle-lit lanterns at midnight, watched by an estimated 5,000 revellers.

However opponents have criticised Ma-

nilva Town Hall for not banning the release, with the coast on high fire alert after an extremely dry Spring.

It comes after the coast saw three infernos last week - with Competa, Casares and Torremolinos all experiencing serious fires.

At the weekend, more than 1,200 guests also had to be evacuated from el Club La

Costa, in Mijas.

The Costa del Sol firewatch group has slammed the event, while local bookshop Sabinillas bookshop has withdrawn the lanterns from sale.

Manilva Town Hall however insisted the free event will go ahead on July 12 as planned.

SPIKED!

continues on Page 3

th IN e Oli VE ve ST Pr IG ess AT ES

By Imogen Calderwood, Carey Camel and Jared Garland summer season now well underway.

“It is clearly becoming a bigger issue and particularly in the summer,” said a source at Marbella Town Hall.

“The problem is we just don’t have the statistics to back it up.”

Eye to eye

Queen Letizia gives Spanish businesses a helping hand See Page 49

Shocking failure to police drink-spiking in Spain needs to be addressed

POLICE in Spain have apparently no official records for the crime of drink-spiking.

Hospitals and town halls have also failed to give any indication of the severity of the problem, despite a terrifying 60% increase in sexual attacks in Spanish resorts last year.

The shocking revelation comes as assaults from spiking begin to soar, with the

Style queen’s fashion boost

It is this failure to keep official records of attacks that is making it hard to tackle the issue as millions of young holidaymakers descend on the costas this month.

In an exclusive investigation, the Olive Press has uncovered evidence of numerous attacks at a variety of Spanish resorts including Puerto Banus, Fuengirola and Magaluf.

At one nightclub, bosses sacked an employee for spiking a client’s drink, without even calling police, while at another, a teenage expat revealed how a man had brazenly ‘added a powder’ to her drink.

Magaluf, in Mallorca, hit international headlines this

Stars come out to play

We meet Starlite founder Sandra Garcia Sanjuan See Page 20

Cat-calling

OUCH?: Let the annual carnage begin in Pamplona, with the police on watch for sex assaults. See Page 8

week after a video of a British teenager performing oral sex on 24 men on a dance-floor went viral.

The two minute clip shows the young blonde led on by a cheering, cat-calling crowd.

The 18-year-old from Northern Ireland has since claimed her drinks were spiked and she was later raped.

The incident has led many concerned tourists - and expats - to question the ability of the authorities in Spain to take drink-spiking seriously.

Police stations in Marbella, Malaga, Mijas, Fuengirola and Mallorca were shockingly unable to provide any statistics about drink-spiking.

Malaga National Police came back insisting our request was ‘unauthorised’ – with no explanation why - before directing questions to its headquarters in Madrid.

HARSH REALITY: A night out can end in real danger

Mudbaked and reborn

Olive Press enjoy an annual jaunt to the Costa de la Luz See Page 25

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY - PAGE 6

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

Benefit cheats grab €250,000 haul

SPAIN’S top three convicted benefit cheats have stolen more than €250,000 between them.

Top conartist Janice Purdie, 63, from Hove, pocketed an incredible €163,000 in just nine years.

She pleaded guilty this month and now faces one year in prison after claiming Income Support, Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefits before being caught.

Jimmy Rickner, 72, from Exeter and Thomas Wadham, 73, from Aylesbury both got six months.

'Abroad fraud' is now the fourth-largest type of benefit crime hitting the UK, after a 90% increase in the last three years alone.

To report any suspected fraud taking place in Spain, call the DWP hotline, 900 544 400. All calls are free and confidential.

CRIME NEWS

Sky’s the limit...

A RECORD four aeroplanes have been seized in a joint Morocco/Spain drugs bust.

The Cessna planes - along with 23 cars, seven motorcycles, two boats and a pair of jetskis - were rounded up in both countries.

EXCLUSIVE

By Jared Garland A total of 20 Spanish men have been arrested in the sting that netted 240 kilos of hashish and two guns near Tangier.

Police have been tracing the gang for years after officials spotted the group flying planes at low altitudes to avoid radar during the night.

According to Guardia Civil, two planes departed for Morocco on a trafficking mission on June 14.

The investigation was launched after a plane crashed in Morocco, leading the Guardia to discover that the drugs were picked up

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Four planes, 23 cars, seven motorbikes and two boats seized in record drug gang seizure somewhere between Tangier and Larache, a seaside resort popular with Spanish tourists.

The planes and three suspected members of the smuggling ring were intercepted on the flight back to Cadiz.

The traffickers were flying Cessnas, noted for their ability to land almost anywhere, including on farmland which is commonly used for clandestine aircraft operations.

The planes are often said to land in the hills around Grazalema or the Serrania de Ronda.

Last year, Olive Press readers reported Spanish airforce planes chasing an unidentified object flying into the Serrania de Ronda mountains from Morocco.

WANTED NO MORE TWO more of Britain’s most wanted criminals leading a double life in Spain have been arrested while living it up in Marbella.

Spanish police swooped on Christopher Mealey, 38, during a seafront stroll, while David Hewson, 31, was detained at his luxury villa in the hills above Puerto Banus.

Both men are wanted for drug trafficking offences.

They are the 59th and 60th fugitives on a wanted list of 76 to be caught through Operation Captura – a joint initiative between Crimestoppers UK, the National Crime Agency and the Spanish police.

Madrid’s ‘candyman’ paedophile is foreign, grey-haired and tanned POLICE in Madrid are on the hunt for a dangerous foreign paedophile who is most likely driving a small white or grey car.

The man in his late 30s is believed to have already kidnapped at least two young girls in the last few months and may be guilty of a third child abduction.

The grey haired man, described as being tanned and between 1.80 and 1.85 metres tall, is believed to be living in the capital’s Ciudad Lineal area, where police are searching an estimated 78,000 cars.

Dubbed Operation Candy, police have been ordered to stop any man seen close to children, or anyone who seems ‘suspicious’.

The criminal, about whom little is known,

snatches girls from public areas and leaves them on the street hours later drugged, beaten, and scrubbed clean of any DNA traces.

On April 10 he kidnapped a nine-year-old girl who entered a sweet shop with her friends, claiming to be a friend of her mother’s.

“You need to come with me because I talked to your mother and we have to go so you can try on clothes,” he told the girl.

The second kidnapping of a six-year-old girl took place on June 17 on Ruiz Street, where the girl was abducted at the entrance to her parents’ food store.

Both girls were treated at their local hospital, but although in good health, neither can recall any details of their trauma.

Locked up! Wheelchair paedo jailed for 13 years AN ELDERLY wheelchairbound British paedophile has been jailed for 13 years.

Long-time Estepona expat Donald Cassidy, 79, was extradited to face charges over a string of sex attacks committed in Cheshire throughout the 1970s and 80s.

He was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual assault, including one of rape.

Cassidy was also denounced by two expat families who

claimed he had made inappropriate sexual advances towards their young children, which he denied.

During the trial, Chester Crown Court heard how Cassidy began abusing a sevenyear-old girl at his home in 1974 and continued to do so for the next seven years.

The Briton allegedly invited other children to take off their clothes and play games in his BEHIND BARS: Cassidy garage over many years.

NEWS

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

Kate Moss and Naomi strut their stuff in Ibiza

SUPERMODEL gal pals Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell have taken a break from the runway to live it up on the party island of Ibiza.

The catwalk queens flaunted their attributes in skimpy black micro-bikinis at Cala Bassa beach, sipping Taittinger champagne

TOUGH GUY: Neeson

Roads closed for Neeson

IF you happen to see a car chase on a road in Murcia this week… you could be in a Liam Neeson movie.

The Northern Irish actor has been in the city and local hills to shoot for his film Taken 3, in which he plays the part of Bryan Mills.

At the request of director Olivier Megaton police closed roads, including part of Murcia-San Javier airport, as chase scenes were shot.

The Cartagena fire brigade was put on standby.

Neeson - whose wife Natasha Richardson died in a skiing accident in 2009 - has been spotted in Murcia and at nearby La Manga Club with cast including Stephanie Kleine.

Fire danger from front page

Local magazine The News Monthly Review was the target of furious online abuse after supporting the event and advertising where to buy ‘ecofriendly’ lanterns.

“What is eco-friendly about them when they can wipe out hectares of land, kill and maim untold numbers of animals and birds in a very short space of time?” raged expat Stephanie Parsons.

The lanterns are banned from sale in Spain under the Dangerous Goods Act. It is also illegal to set them off under the Prevention of Forest Fire law.

Hazard A Manilva council spokesperson told the Olive Press: “The use of Chinese lanterns poses no fire hazard.

“We can’t predict at this time what the wind will do that night, but what is clear is that nothing will be done that could be considered a fire hazard.”

Ironically the event – which attracts some 5,000 visitors - is organised by the tourist office whose chief is also in charge of the environment department.

and turning heads, Moss, 40, has combined work and play while in Spain, posing for a Vogue photo shoot on an Ibiza hilltop during her holday.

Campbell, 44, has also been busy, designing

her own fashion line and deciding which store will release it.

But don’t be fooled.

The sexy celebrities gave themselves time to kick back and soak up some of the Spanish sun.

Leo’s gal wows Barça BIKINI BABES: Campbell and Moss living large

Premier-league spending Sunderland striker Connor Wickham arrives in Marbs with more money than sense

Dropping in on the neighbours

FIZZ: Connor splashed out €17,500, while (below) Jay Z enjoys his fizz

Luxurious Wickham celebrated keeping his club in the Premiership last season by sharing the 15-litre mega bottle with friends and waiters, while posing for topless photos.

He is not thought to have sprayed it around the room.

The luxurious Armand de Brignac brand is rated the number one champagne in the world, and is a favourite of American rap star Jay Z. Simply carrying the enormous bottle around will have helped big-spending Wickham get in shape for pre-

PASSION FOR FASHION: Garrn instagrams a photo from the Hospital de Sant Pau

LISBON LUXURY: The royal couple

By Tom Powell WHEN there’s a €17,500 golden bottle of champagne doing the rounds at a Marbella pool party, there’s usually a premiership footballer behind it.

And it was Sunderland striker Connor Wickham’s turn to splash the cash at a glitzy Marbella party this week.

Incredibly in one night at the Ocean Club beach bar, the English footballer rang up a €25,000 bar bill, equivalent to his weekly pay cheque.

season training, which begins this week.

Marbella nightclub mogul Neil Acland told the Olive Press that his Sisu hotel in Puerto Banus sells a whopping 5,000 bottles of champagne a year, many of these to footballers and models.

“Probably around 10% of those bottles get sprayed around,” he admitted.

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IT is possibly the easiest official foreign trip.

A short five hour drive from Madrid, Spain’s new king Felipe VI took Queen Letizia to Lisbon.

The pair had a five course lunch at Queluz Palace with President Anibal Cavaco Silva The couple are believed to have also been to visit the home where his father grew up in Estoril, while in exile from Spain.

It is the second foreign visit for the pair, after their brief trip to the Vatican last week.

Right out of the Blue BOY band sensation Lee Ryan has made a surprise visit to Marbella.

The 31-year-old, best known for boyband Blue, performed at the launch of Heritage Media’s European headquarters at Villa Padierna Hotel.

VICTORIA’S SECRET supermodel Toni Garrn – girlfriend of A-list actor Leonardo DiCaprio – has been wowing the crowds in Barcelona during a modelling stint for Spanish fashion label Mango.

The leggy 21-year-old blonde showed off her assets in cheeky striped shorts at a preview for the 14th 080 Barcelona Fashion Spring/ Summer 2015 show, held at Barcelona’s recently restored Hospital de Sant Pau. Since DiCaprio moved the German-born beauty into his New York City apartment, the actor has been seen flirting with other women, including American TV hostess Katie Cleary.

He is currently in Rio de Janeiro enjoying the World Cup, where he has rented a super-yacht in the harbour for post-footie festivities.

Let’s hope The Wolf of Wall Street star isn’t tempted by any hot Brazilian ladies while his girlfriend is hard at work in Spain...

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

News IN BRIEF

TV death WATCHING three or more hours of TV a day doubles the risk of an early death, according to researchers at Navarra University. The team monitored more than 13,000 adults.

Double take AMERICAN TV show The Simpsons has just won a second award for 71-year-old Ana María Simón Rius’s translation and dubbing work.

Expat dies American expat Barbara Napier, known for her work with disabled people and horses, has died aged 60 at her home in Almeria following a long-running illness.

Messi millions Spanish prosecutors have dropped the charges against Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, who just signed a new contract worth €20 million a year.

NEWS

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Blazes in three Costa del Sol municipalities herald start of the summer fire season

Going to blazes...

Tourists evacuated

HOLIDAYMAKERS were forced from their hotel rooms by a huge wildfire in Mijas over the weekend.

As the inferno blazed just metres away, Hotel Club La Costa evacuated more than 1,200 guests.

One security guard who jumped in to help tackle the blaze was rushed to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and exhaustion.

Eight aircraft and seven fire trucks took six hours to extinguish the flames.

More than 40 of the hotel’s security team and heads of department led guests to safety while other staff members tackled the blaze with hoses.

Spokesperson Andrea MacLean told the Olive Press: “It was quite tense but everything went remarkably smoothly.”

Resort manager Richard Fletcher said: “Fortunately the prompt action of our staff and the skill of the emergency services meant that no damage was caused.

“We pay tribute to all those who took part in managing the fire, as well as thanking our guests for their understanding.”

Black day in Casares

CASARES is counting the cost of a massive blaze at its recycling plant.

Plumes of smoke billowed from the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountain as 20m

flames consumed the plant - Firemen from as far afield as the biggest landfill site in the Velez-Malaga, Marbella and Manilva worked through the western Costa del Sol. night to bring the blaze under control.

Expats on guard for fire EXPAT vigilantes have set up guard over Andalucia as the summer wildfire season gets underway. Founder Jill Leonard set up the Local Fire and Weather Watch Facebook group on the Costa del Sol in 2012, after noticing that up-to-date information was hard to find on the internet.

“I think it’s such a valuable resource,” Jill told the Olive Press. “When there’s a fire threatening your home, you want clear information, not rumour and panic. People come to us as

an organised source of useful information.”

The group has already expanded to include branches for the Balearic and Canary Islands, and now boasts nearly 7,000 members in total who can share their experiences and tips online.

As well as news updates the group publishes emergency telephone numbers, advice on fire prevention and local laws on fire use.

For more information, search Local Fire and Weather Watch on Facebook.

Bulldozer

“I’ve never seen anything like it. The heat coming off the flames was incredible,” said Belgian tourists Kaat Vanhecke. Infoca dispatched three aircrafts and a helicopter was also seen hovering over the Casares del Sol area.

A bulldozer was also called in to push piles of soil and mud onto the fire.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

ERE scalps Magdalena at last I QUIT: Alvarez

IT is the end of the gravy train for Magdalena Alvarez.

The former government minister has finally been forced to step down from her cushy Brussels bank job in the wake of the ERE ‘slush fund’ scandal.

While Alvarez, 62, denies she was involved in the multi mil-

lion-euro Junta grants fraud, she has resigned as vice-president of the European Investment Bank.

The former Junta Public Works Minister was accused last year of being involved in the fraudulent syphoning of public funds to pay millions in severance pay to bogus companies and employees

that never existed.

The slush fund scandal – the biggest public money scam in Spanish history – estimates that at least €140 million of public money was taken from the socalled ‘reptile fund’ between 2001 and 2010 while Alvarez was at its head.

Nine held in €3 billion scam POLICE have arrested nine people as part of an investigation into a fraudulent government training programme scandal, thought to be the biggest in Europe.

Operation Edu is looking into the possible embezzlement of some €3 billion allocated for these bogus schemes.

The recent arrests – five in Malaga and four in Granada – come after a year-long investigation into 17 Malaga companies that received unregulated subsidies in 2010.

“This could be even bigger than the ERE scandal,” claimed a police source.

Notary scandal An incredible trail of debt amounting to millions of euros of clients’ money - led to official’s suicide

By Jared Garland A PUBLIC notary committed suicide after stealing an incredible €50 million from clients, it has been revealed.

Pedro Romero Candau, 52, shot himself in his car under Sevilla’s Centenario Bridge on March 4 this year - the day before he was set to pay back €5.5 million of the debt.

Creditors Sevilla-born Candau amassed the money from a range of clients, including the University of Sevilla, who he owed the €5.5 million to, as well as €10 million in client loans.

He had also accrued €14

WRACKED WITH GUILT: Candau million in mortgages on his house and ranch, €5 million from personal creditors and €22 million that had accumulated on his chain of wineries.

The scandal has called into question the credibility of Spain’s public notaries whose role is to ensure the legality of financial transactions.

It has emerged that he was able to take out a series of

Spy in the sky discovers MALAGA estimates that it 30,000 has almost 90,000 unregistered buildings in over 33 of its towns. unregulated According to numbers released by Malaga Province, these structures occupy ‘nonhomes building’ land, prompting the launch of a province-wide inventory, with aerial photographs.

So far the provincial authorities have identified 30,000 unregulated homes in the first ten towns surveyedAlameda, Almargen, Alcaucin, Ardales, El Burgo, Cartajima, Iznate, Montejaque, Parauta and Sierra de Yeguas.

Regional boss Elias Bendodo explained that, while some of these structures may not be illegal, the inventory is necessary for reporting important data to the Junta.

Data gathered so far demonstrates that the majority of the unreported buildings are storage facilities rather than residential homes.

Kiddie shocker

ANGRY parents have won their battle to have electric shock-inducing artificial grass removed from a children’s playground in Mijas.

Static from the Astroturf surface was giving children shocks when they touched the metal railing around Butibamba Park.

Mijas Town Hall has agreed to remove the surface, which was only recently installed at a cost of €20,000.

Councillor Daniel Gomez, responsible for the installation, had initially tried to downplay angry parents’ complaints insisting, saying such electric shocks were commonplace.

However mayor Angel Nozal finally bowed to public pressure and agreed to replace it with grass.

large bank loans from a variety of banks with no questions being asked.

His apparent credibility also allowed him to act as his own guarantor when signing loans for his winery business.

The university money had been entrusted to him in 2011, in order to pay construction company Ferrovial for building a new science faculty.

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€20 million ERE ‘blank cheque’ SIXTEEN more people have been arrested in Spain’s largest-ever public money fraud case. The former boss of Andalucia’s UGT trade union Francisco Fernandez Sevilla is among those called in for questioning in the ongoing ERE investigation. He is accused of allowing €20.4 million of the Junta’s funds to be given to tobacco company Altadis, aiding the early retirement of hundreds of bogus employees. The Junta also paid €35.9 million to company A Novo Comlink. Judge Alaya claims both payments were made without due legal process and that the payment to Altadis had been a ‘blank check’ for the corporation.

FEATURE

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

OPINION Watch this spike in crime!

THE world watched in horror this week as a sex video of an 18-year-old British tourist in Spain went viral.

Many who witnessed the teenager being abused by 24 men in the middle of a dance floor in Magaluf labeled the Northern Irish holidaymaker a ‘slut’, a ‘slag’ and a ‘disgrace’.

But she was a victim of a shameless holiday counterculture that encourages the idea of young girls as sex objects.

With this objectification has inevitably come the rise of drink-spiking.

In an exclusive investigation (right), the Olive Press team visited Puerto Banus and Magaluf and heard countless reports of drink-spiking and allegations of rape, assault and robbery.

Yet apparently no organisation in Spain can provide any statistics on the issue and as such no one knows the true extent of the problem.

Britain is providing an excellent example to follow.

Home Office initiatives such as Operation Matisse provide statistics, while the NHS and local police websites offer advice on how to stay safe, and how to report it if you’re concerned your drink has been spiked.

Spanish police, hospitals, town halls and club owners need to sit up and acknowledge that these attacks are happening, rather than sweeping them aside.

Acknowledging that the problem exists will be the first step in fixing it.

While we ignore it, rapists and thieves are walking free.

Light at the end of the coast The Olive Press is proud to bring out its healthiest issue ever, 64 pages bursting with thorough, investigative reporting, news and culture… and well over 100 Run of Paper advertisers.

Much of this is thanks to our supplement on the fabulous Costa de la Luz, the charming stretch of coastline the other side of Algeciras.

A growing destination for expats, businesses and tourists is beginning to flourish on the windy coast between Tarifa and Huelva.

What’s more, the 16 page supplement on the stunning region has been the most enjoyable to produce this year, with Olive Press staff all undertaking various adventures, from scuba diving to mud-baking, and from fine dining to kitesurfing.

Olive Press Blacklist THE following companies have been blacklisted from doing business with the Olive Press (Luke Stewart Media SL - CIF B91664029), due to long standing debts: - MWM Investments Ltd - Petersham Coins, Marbella - Investor Spain - Simple Care - Autotunes Manilva

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- Hotel Embrujo, Arriate - Jaipur Purple, Estepona - Reservatauro, Ronda - As seen on TV.com - Webuycarsinspain.es The details are being published in support of other companies that may be unaware of the problems that might be faced by providing credit facilities to the businesses and their present individual owners.

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

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Tel: 951127006 (admin/editorial/sales/advertising) or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month.

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Drink-spiking is creating a very real danger for the booze and drug-fuelled holiday crowd.

The Olive Press went undercover in Puerto Banus and Magaluf, home to some of the most notorious nights-out in Spain, to investigate

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the Olive Press INVESTIGATES

‘

SHE gets in free’ is the war cry on the clubbing front line at Puerto Banus. ‘We’ll even throw in a free shot’.

Pack in the girls and the guys will follow is the thinking of nightclub promoters, both here in Marbella and across the waters at Mallorca’s much maligned hotspot Magaluf.

Club marketing is undeniably predatory, the sole aim to lure the ladies in and ply them with free spirits to get them ‘in the right mood’.

And that’s not all they’re used for after dark in Puerto Banus, the Costa del Sol’s premiere party hotspot, a much seamier version of the once jetset marina set up by its founder Jose Banus.

The sordid truth is it’s easier to commit sexual assault on a victim who can’t fight back. ‘Get ‘em drunk: the goal is all the more easy’.

The problem is, these days it’s not just alcohol being used to make the women more compliant.

Through a glass, darkly

By Imogen Calderwood and Carey Camel

By Jamie Wiseman/Daily Mail

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Cocktails Liquid ecstasy, ketamine (a horse tranquiliser) and the notorious date-rape drug Rohypnol are among the cocktail of chemicals doing the rounds on the clubbing circuit.

Most are quick-acting, taking effect within 10 to 20 minutes.

They can easily be used to spike a drink as they have no smell, taste, texture or colour.

Their effects can be intensified by alcohol and can last from two to 24 hours.

It is even apparently becoming acceptable in some circles, with huge American rapper Rick Ross glorifying the idea of slipping drugs into a girl’s champagne as a good way to ‘take her home’.

However, a more sinister street drug is also becoming more prolific.

Burundanga, a plant extract

TRASHY UNDERBELLY: The party’s over derivitive, doesn’t require alcohol to take effect. Just breathing it in is enough. A light sprinkling on a banknote or a club flyer, shaken in a victim’s face, does the trick. Even a small dose causes complete loss of coordination.

Reports across the world suggest that sexual assaults resulting from drink-spiking is a growing problem. And not just Spain’s problem.

Channel 4’s Dispatches pro-

gramme recently revealed that one in four British women have had their drinks spiked in nightclubs.

And, most alarmingly of all, according to the British Behaviour Abroad Report, last year saw a massive 60% increase in rapes and sexual assaults in popular tourist destinations across Spain, Turkey and Greece.

Spain had the highest number of reported attacks, and in a shocking case in Magaluf last

Spiking ‘a serious a concern’ From front page Marbella Local Police admitted they had no records, while the town hall - which labelled its records ‘confidential’ - refused to comment officially.

However, a source close to the mayor told the Olive Press that spiking is a serious concern.

“The trouble is we haven’t got the statistics so we don’t know how big or small the problem is,” he said.

“I have three children myself so it is something I am worried about. We are taking this seriously.”

Only the Ministry of the Interior offered any

official statistics, but these failed to break reports down beyond ‘sexual aggression’ - with no mention of ‘drink-spiking’.

Even the official www.policia.es website, which does have a page on ‘holiday security measures’, fails to make any reference to the issue.

A spokesperson for Mallorca-based Hospital de la Cruz Roja said: “We can’t say anything about that.”

At Hospital Costa del Sol a spokesman said that patients who claim to have been spiked are simply grouped with all other ‘drug-related’ incidents.

week, a British girl claimed to have been raped after being given a date rape drug.

The 18-year-old girl, from Northern Ireland, had become the victim of a very sinister pub crawl trend, in which the girls are encouraged to commit sex acts on their male counterparts.

In horrific footage, which made front page news in the UK, the girl was seen performing oral sex on a staggering 24 men.

She also claimed she was raped later that night. What is certain, is that the British group that organised the event, Carnage, has a lot to answer for.

Out of control

On a recce to the holiday resort this weekend, I was shocked to see major carnage indeed.

Young teenagers laying and throwing up in the gutter, some passed out and clearly the worse for wear. Many had practically no clothes on.

Reps went around pouring bottles of peach schnapps into open mouths and generally encouraging the behaviour, while the authorities and, in particular, the police were few and far between. The security of these vulnerable young girls very much compromised.

“It is time to act and for criminal proceedings if necessary,” said CEO of Melia Hotel Group Gabriel Escarrer Jaume. “It is time to shout from the rooftops that such degrading tourism is not worth it.”

So how serious is the problem closer to home in Puerto Banus?

Lina Hodgkins, in charge of marketing for the Linekers group of eight clubs and bars, insists that it’s not.

“I’m sure it does happen, but I don’t think it’s a problem,” she told the Olive Press. “I think most of the time, when people say they have been spiked, they have actually just drunk far too much. It’s an immediate excuse they can pull out of the bag but in reality it’s selfinduced.”

Although the symptoms from spiked drinks are similar to drunkenness - vomiting, dizzi-

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FEATURE the Olive Press INVESTIGATES

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

7

Silk Road to the ‘dark’ internet think.

The infamous ‘dark internet’ website known as

Silk Road sells all things illicit – everything from fake IDs to the date rape

By Jamie Wiseman/Daily Mail

DATE rape drug Rohypnol is not nearly as hard to procure as you might

drug itself – and delivers them right to your door.

But you won’t be spending pounds and euros.

Silk Road only accepts Bitcoins, an untraceable internet currency sold online.

The ‘dark internet’ – an occult part of the World Wide Web hidden from regular browsers and search engines – is only accessible through programmes that hide your computer’s IP address from possible police trackers.

Purchase

OUT ON THE TOWN: Having fun or being foolish? ness, tiredness and collapse - Hodgkins insisted that only spiking would result in total loss of coordination.

By Hodgkins’ description, and judging from scenes witnessed by the Olive Press team at Puerto Banus, drink spiking IS a serious problem.

We saw a number of revellers being ‘dragged’ home by their friends, heads lolling, feet struggling to find traction on the ground, demonstrating a ‘total loss of coordination’ in our book.

A TV executive told the Olive Press last year how she had had her drink spiked and was raped while researching a TV programme on the town.

On top of this, as the Olive Press reported in June, a pair of British golfers were robbed and dumped by the roadside after their drinks were laced with Rohypnol.

In another shocking attack, BBC radio presenter Alan Tait was left in a ‘coma-like state’ after being drugged and battered by an organised gang in Puerto Banus.

Tait woke up in an empty street covered in cuts and bruises, stripped of his shirt and with his trousers torn, having been left for dead.

There are many other stories doing the rounds, but most go unreported both to the papers and police.

Police allegedly found the date rape drug Rohypnol in the house of a wealthy British businessman last month, while the friend of another wealthy expat told how the father was looking for the ‘Englishman who put powder in his 16-year-old daughter’s drink in Elviria’.

“He knows going to the police is a waste of time so he is going

to sort it out in his own way,” she revealed.

Most alarmingly, in another incident, the Olive Press heard of a club that had allegedly sacked (not gone to the police) a barman, who had been caught on CCTV putting a drug in a punter’s drink.

No records That said, it’s not only club managers who would rather look the other way. When the Olive Press contacted police in Marbella and then in Madrid to get statistics, we drew a big blank.

Marbella town hall and police initially told us they had no records of reported date-rape attacks and directed us to the police in Madrid.

Madrid’s national police had no records for Marbella or Puerto Banus and redirected us to the local police. When we asked them again for statistics they refused, saying our request was ‘unauthorised’.

The Home Office was also unable to break down sex crimes into a section on date rape drugs, nor give us statistics for the Costa del Sol’s resorts.

The Costa del Sol Hospital was also unable to give us any statistics on those people assaulted after being given drugs.

To be fair, the biggest problem in reporting cases is that traces of the drug can disappear from the body within 12 hours.

There’s slim chance of a rape victim recovering full consciousness within that time, much less being in a condition to report it to the police. And then she has to be taken seriously.

But for a place where spik-

How to stay safe It shouldn’t be up to potential victims to defend themselves, but it helps to know how to stay safe: * Watch out for friends – monitor behaviour, and don’t leave friends behind * Don’t leave your drink lying around * Avoid ready-made drinks – like the free shots on offer in night spots * Don’t accept drinks from strangers

ing ‘almost never happens’ it seems too coincidental that the very first woman we spoke to had been a victim.

British barmaid Simone, who works at the Puerto Banus nightclub Ink and would only give her first name, explained how the incident had only been spotted by a sharp-eyed friend.

“I was at a club called Seven earlier this year when this man sidled up to me and started chatting me up,” she revealed.

“Next thing I knew he had slipped something into my drink, which was luckily spotted by my friend. I confronted him and he freely admitted it, even laughing it off. He had soon slipped away.”

Dirty secret With most club staff and customers reluctant to talk on record, spiking was starting to feel like the dirty little secret of Puerto Banus. Although the disco lyrics blaring out of every club doorway had plenty to say on the subject.

Take the infamous ‘rape anthem’ Blurred Lines which addresses the apparently ‘blurred lines’ between consensual sex and rape. You hear it in almost every club and bar.

Produced by the controversial ‘poster boy of misogyny’ Robin Thicke, the line ‘I know you want it,’ is repeated throughout the song.

His counterpart Rick Ross, who performed at Puerto Banus nightclub Sleek in May, came under fire last year for lyrics advocating drink-spiking and rape in song U.O.E.N.O. Put Molly [party drug MDMA] all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it. I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.’

With misogynistic and violent lyrics like these filling our clubs – and the heads of those in them – are we encouraging a culture that legitimises sexual violence?

The UK foreign office has warned tourists on the Costa del Sol to be vigilant, and keep drinks in sight at all times.

With summer now in full swing, it’s a warning worth heeding.

Tor – the most popular of these programmes – allows users to access Silk Road and freely purchase the goods and services it offers.

In just 30 minutes, the Olive Press was able to purchase burundanga, the street name for scopolamine, for only 0.12567 Bitcoins (€57), which the website promised would induce a ‘relaxed and agreeable’ demeanor.

Rohypnol, a sometimes prescribed sleeping drug, was also available, but we decided that we should ultimately cancel our order so as not to perpetuate the exchange of illegal substances.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

News IN BRIEF

Liberal Pope THE Vatican has promised to reconsider the Church’s stance on gay marriage and divorce in response to discontent among Catholics.

Anti-heroes SPANISH and UK sports have suffered a summer of discontent with dual World Cup eliminations and the defeat of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

Sitting pretty A GROUP of expat experts formed the panel for the coast’s first online seminar on house sitting, organised by Lamia Walker of House Sit Match.

Baby bust FALLING birth rates in Spain for the fifth consecutive year have been blamed on the economic crisis. The average first-time mum is now aged 32.75.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

No groping – no bull

You run, bulls die!

Crackdown on sex assaults at bull-running festival San Fermin

By Imogen Calderwood BULLS’ horns aren’t the only danger for young women to dodge at Pamplona’s famous San Fermin festival.

Groping and other sexual assaults are a serious problem at the annual bull-running event, and this year authorities are cracking down on the perpetrators.

A total of 3,350 police officers will be on the look out for such behaviour at the festival, which started on Sunday and will end at midnight on July 14.

Promised Shocking images of previous festivals show topless young women being carried aloft in the crowd, while men around them take the opportunity to grope and molest them.

The Mayor of Pamplona, Enrique Maya, has promised that for the first time this year there will be a

TOO MUCH MACHO: Shameful goings-on at Pamplona

team of officers on duty focused ‘exclusively’ on stopping these attacks.

Maya added that this will include even those situations that are ‘voluntary’.

Minister of the Interior Javier Morras, also urged members of the public – particularly the younger generation – to ‘reject’ exhibitionist and sexist behaviour.

He added: “No one will be free if someone violates the freedom of others.”

Pamplona heist

POLICE have smashed a huge San Fermin drug smuggling operation timed to coincide with this week’s world-famous bullrunning festival.

Four drug rings were busted bringing hashish, ketamine and other drugs to sell to the more than one million visitors who participate in the annual spectacle.

Raids across northern Spain saw 29 gang members arrested and an arsenal of drugs seized, including nine kilos each of ketamine and hash and smaller amounts of speed, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines.

The highlight of the festival is a daily early morning bull run, when adrenaline junkies run alongside six half-ton fighting bulls through the town to the bullring.

ANIMAL rights activists have protested at the annual bullrunning festival in Pamplona.

Wearing Grim Reaper-style ‘warpaint’, more than 100 PETA protesters took to the streets with bloodied hands and shocking banners in multiple languages spelling out the same slogan: ‘You Run. Bulls Die’.

Decked out in white-and-red costumes, the protesters’ message was clear: the same bulls rampaging through the town’s cobbled streets, to the delight of tourists, will later face a violent death in the name of sport.

"Many tourists have no idea that they are participating in a festival that celebrates the torture of these magnificent animals," says PETA campaign coordinator Kirsty Henderson.

The industry - disliked by 76% of Spaniards, according to a recent poll - is still clinging on, in part supported by government subsidies and the tourists who unwittingly bolster events like the bull run.

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NEWS

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

GREEN NEWS

Hot wired SPAIN could meet all its energy needs from geothermal energy alone, at lower cost, according to a new study.

Research from the University of Valladolid suggests Spain could eliminate the use of fossil fuels and all other forms of renewable energy.

Spain and Portugal could produce a combined 700 gigawatts of geothermal energy – five times more than Spain’s

www.theolivepress.es

Frack off

Geothemal energy could solve all of Spain’s energy problems current energy needs. Using several forms of ‘green energy’ is very expensive, so limiting Spain’s energy sources to just geothermal energy would be a significantly cheaper option.

Geothermal energy uses heat generated deep within the

earth to boil water and produce steam, which is fed through large turbines to generate electrical power. Always on tap, unlike solar or wind power, it would provide an effective, round-the-clock alternative to fossil fuels.

But there’s a downside: one of the techniques used to tap into it is similar to hydraulic fracturing. ‘Fracking’, as it is known, is already a highly controversial form of extraction which can have a serious environmental impact and could expose GETING STEAMY: Geothermal energy could replace fossil fuels humans to harmful toxins.

A FRACKING ban has been thrown out by Spain’s constitutional court.

The proposed law against hydraulic fracking for gas and oil in the small northern region of Cantabria was put forward by the ruling PP. But the government argues that the ban would violate the national law on hydrocarbons.

Spain imports some 76% of its energy needs, as it produces almost no oil or gas independently.

To reduce the amount imported, the government hopes to develop a gas field stretching from Galicia to the Basque Country.

Offshore drilling fury in Fuengirola

WELL ANGRY: Seafront protesters spell it out

ANGRY protesters have gathered in Fuengirola to say ‘no’ to gas drilling plans.

Spanish oil company Repsol is due to start exploration off the coast of Mijas in February 2015, but the plans have been met with outrage.

Members of the NGO Citizens Movement Against the Prospecting of Hydrocarbons met on the paseo maritimo to raise awareness about the plans.

Wells will be drilled 1,600m deep, just 8km off the beach by the Faro de Calaburras lighthouse in Mijas Costa, 12km southwest of Fuengirola.

Librada Moreno, a member of the movement, insisted the potential consequences of the drilling could be disastrous.

Past events organised by the group have included a human chain, a recreation of a tar spill in Mijas and countless petitions.

For more information, visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PLATAFORMAShidrocarburosNO

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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advertorial

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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NEWS

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BUSTED: Contreras

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Cold turkey battle

News IN BRIEF

Lions share MEMBERS of La Cala de Mijas Lions have raised an incredible €72,000 during the past year for a range of important charities.

Sunshine stroll

Expat loses ‘everything’ in legal wrangle to evict couple who took over her rehab business

AN EXPAT has won a fouryear legal battle against a couple who tried to take her home and rehab business.

But despite being awarded nearly half a million euros in damages, it is too late to save Sharon Knight’s home, which is being repossessed by the bank.

Londoner Knight, 55, was forced to take Americans Dorian and Meena Lavender to court after they failed to complete payment on the house or her business Marbella Rehab.

WRANGLE: The property that Knight (right) and the Lavenders (left) are fighting over

Exclusive By Imogen Calderwood A Marbella court ordered the couple’s eviction on July 15.

However, the Lavenders’ lawyer, Alejandro Ponce, claimed shortly before going to press that the eviction order had been overruled by a Malaga court.

The couple are still appealing the Marbella court’s decision to award Knight €368,000 in

Stung into action A NEWLY-IMPROVED jellyfish-warning app has been launched for the Costa del Sol. The free ‘infomedusa’ app provides a jellyfish forecast for the entire coast as well as general data on beach conditions.

In 2012, large numbers of jellyfish gathered in seas around the Malaga coastline, with thousands of tourists being stung.

The app explains how best to deal with a sting, specifically advising users to wash the skin with water, not urine, as popularly believed.

Those stung are also recommended to seek medical treatment at their nearest beach first aid station.

damages, as well as €110,400 in costs.

Knight explained how the couple had first paid a €100,000 deposit to move into the Avenida de las Mimosas home and take over her business Camino Recovery run from the site in 2008.

They agreed to pay €8,000 a month for the first year, with the final balance to be paid at the end of 2009, she claims.

However, when the time came for the lump sum, they

Hotel heave-ho A FAMILY of holidaymakers with a seasick infant were refused aid by staff at a Mallorca hotel.

Dutch tourist Dimitri van Zantvliet, 45, from Amsterdam, has publicly slammed lifeguards at Hotel Marina Corfu, who refused to help their one-year-old child, when he started vomiting.

Both lifeguards and reception staff told the distressed couple they had no responsibility to help since they were not staying at the hotel.

When asked for a comment, bosses seemed unaware of the event.

GOING UNDERGROUND

THE first two lines of the new Malaga metro will open from this Saturday.

Lines 1 and 2 will run from Malaga University campus and Jose Maria Martin Carpena sports stadium in the southwest to the main railway station.

A single journey costs €1.35, although

13

various discounts are available, including a family ticket, and a frequent travel ‘bonometro’ ticket which lowers the price to 82 cents.

It is anticipated that of the three million projected subway users, half will purchase frequent travel passes.

insisted they could not pay it ‘due to the recession’, she claims, and they insisted the case would have to be settled through lawyers.

“I made the mistake of being trusting, now everything has gone because of that one mistake,” Knight, told the Olive Press.

She had been forced to accept the terms of the purchase, having been advised by doctors she needed to give up her stressful rehab business.

The ensuing legal wrangle and an inability to pay her mortgage ended in both Knight’s home and business being repossessed.

To add insult to injury, she claims the stress of the case brought on a heart attack in 2010.

“The money they were refusing to pay was everything I had been working for since I was 18, and everything I had to leave for my children,” she continued.

The appeals continue.

MIJAS has placed the first stone in what will become a coastal pedestrian walkway, linking La Cala to the border of Marbella, in hopes the project will boost its appeal as a tourist destination.

Modern Armada Over 8,200 Spaniards emigrated to England last year, making it their top EU destination. Ironically, the upsurge in immigration will almost certainly drive up UK housing costs.

Deformed babies have ‘right to life’ A DEFORMED foetus should not be ‘automatic’ grounds for an abortion, according to Spain’s Justice Minister.

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon has insisted that only deformities which are ‘incompatible with life’ should be considered a reasonable motive.

“Physical or mental handicap is no reason for a person to enjoy fewer rights, either before or after birth,” he said.

The Minister’s comments came as he was made to define what he meant by ‘malformed’ after the government’s abortion law was watered down last month.

The law - to be voted on this month originally stated that a foetus could only be aborted in cases of rape, or when a pregnancy would endanger the health of the mother. The existing law allows terminations within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, in line with the rest of Europe.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

14

AXARQUIA NEWS

Fire wars ECOLOGISTS have blamed an orchestrated campaign of arson attacks for the devastating wildfires that have blazed a trail of destruction through one of Andalucia’s endangered wetlands.

It has also emerged that a huge wildfire in Competa (see below) may also have been caused by arson.

Since the beginning of the year, emergency services have been called to at least five fires originating along the banks of the Velez River, which have wiped out reed beds and incinerated local wildlife and habitats.

Spanish ecological society The Cabinet of the Study of

Ecologists blame ‘arson campaign’ for spate of protected wetland wildfires

By Joe Chivers Nature in Axarquia (GENA), has filed complaints to various authorities, including Velez-Malaga Town Hall, about what they believe to be an ‘arson campaign’.

The group believes the fires could have been started either by young people in the early hours of the morning, or even by farmers burnng the river groves - a common practice amongs landowners as a way of extending their arable land.

The area affected is part of a protected network of Andalucian wetlands but GENA says it has suffered at the hands of poachers, stray dogs and other factors.

The area is noted for its white poplar trees, eucalyptus and fauna. The wildfires have had a particularly devastating effect on nesting birds this spring.

BATTLE: Specialist fire planes were brought in to tackle the Competa fire

Arson suspected in Competa blaze A MASSIVE wildfire in Competa which forced more than 600 residents to flee their homes is being investigated as arson.

It took 23 aircraft and 400 emergency service personnel to control the blaze which raged for several hours, ravaging 200 hectares of forest land in the Sierra de Tejeda mountain range, one of Andalucia’s well-known beauty spots.

The fire started along a riverside hiking trail beside the Competa-to-Canillas de Albaida motorway, which has led the authorities to suspect arson. The Junta’s councillor for Malaga, Jose Luiz Ruiz Espejo, said: “We are trying to determine whether it was

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intentional or the result of bad farming.”

Although no injuries were reported or homes lost, substantial damage was caused to the exteriors of properties, including gardens and porches. The government’s helpline has dealt with over 100 claims for damaged property, 80% from resident expats who were forced to evacuate.

British resident Steve Bowen, President of the Cruz del Monte urbanization, told reporters: “We lived in paradise... but now it's become a hell.”

The Junta has promised to do everything possible to restore the area once reports on the full effect of the fire have been completed.

Jaws hoax

RUMOURS of a Jawsstyle summer reign of terror in the waters off the Axarquia have been dismissed as a hoax.

Over the last fortnight the social media networks have been aTwitter with reported sightings of shark fins scything through the waters off local beaches. Some claims went as far as saying beaches had been closed. But the Velez-Malaga and Algarrobo Civil Protection service says these reports are absolutely false.

Servimar, the company responsible for running the cleaning boats from Rincon de la Victoria to Nerja, is also unaware of any sharks in the area.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

GIBRALTAR NEWS

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News IN BRIEF

All at sea!

Flying high

GIBRALTAR'S International Airport recorded a 20.5% increase in passenger arrivals and departures for the first quarter of 2014, an additional 14,500 passengers from the first quarter of 2013.

Rock Uni

PLANS for the new Gibraltar University – a first for the Rock – are well on track for a September 2015 opening, according to Education Minister Gilbert Licudi.

THE 14th annual GibraltarMorocco Rally saw a 34-boat flotilla enjoy fair winds and a packed programme of activities.

From a starting line between the RAF runway centreline buoy and one of the Gibraltar Squadron patrol boats, the mix of motor and sailing yachts set out on the 25 mile trip to Port Marina Smir.

The weekend's events included a fancy dress competition and a trip to Tetouan with its

Charity haul

LORETO Convent raised over £2,000 from its open-air charity concert to raise funds for a new multipurpose hall.

ON the Rock July 9

Jazz Nights O'Callaghan Elliot Hotel, 9pm.

Further information, Tel: 200 70500.

July 12

Summer Nights Every Saturday & Thursday Kids activities and live family entertainment, Casemates Square, 7pm.

Further information, Tel: 200 48063.

Email: minculture@gibtelecom.net

July 13

Promenade Market Ocean Village, 11am.

Further information, Tel: 540 23166.

Yarrunga Field

famous ancient medina.

The boats returned to Gibraltar on the Sunday, when the organisers thanked sponsors Ocean Village, Eroski, the Gibraltar Tourist Board, Gib Oil and many others.

Ocean Village's Sandra Lamplough commented: “We were happy to donate the use of Dusk Champagne Bar, as well as a few drinks and nibbles, for the skipper and crew briefing.

Likewise, we were delighted to offer a night’s berthing in the marina for all yachts.”

The Olive Press guide to What’s On in Gibraltar over the next two weeks Email: vivend13@hotmail.com

July 15

The Rock Tai Chi Club Kings Bastion Leisure Centre, 6.30 pm.

Further information, Tel: 200 78714.

Email: rocktaichi@trainingtm.net

July 18

Steel Pulse, M.U.G.A. Victoria Stadium, Doors open 7pm.Tickets from www.steelpulsegibraltar.eventbrite.com

July 19 - 20

Beach Football Tournament Eastern Beach, 10am.

Further information, Tel: 580 09911.

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17

Toughen up, Britain!

Parliament insists the UK should fight harder in Gib disputes

BRITAIN needs to ‘get off the fence and take a tougher line with Spain’, according to a UK parliamentary committee.

The Foreign Affairs committee also urged for greater use of legal action and more diplomatic protests. “The behaviour of Spain

towards Gibraltar is unacceptable. We have a situation where a NATO and EU ally is deliberately impacting the economy of a British Overseas Territory,” said committee chairman Richard Ottaway. “We are giving entirely the wrong impression to Spain

about how seriously the UK takes these issues,” he said.

The Rock is a serious point of contention between the two countries.

An increasing number of incursions into British waters, delays at the border between Spain and

Gibraltar, and the ‘vandalism’ of part of the artificial reef have all caused heightened tension.

The committee insists Britain should threaten legal action against Spain if the situation does not improve within the next six months.

Second chance to shine BUDDING footballers left on the proverbial scrapheap have been given a second chance at making it, by a new football club in Gibraltar.

Europa Point FC offers opportunities to those who have had their professional footballing dreams dashed after devoting their childhood to the game.

The club aims to act as a stepping stone for under-18s who have been released from British clubs.

It aims to provide them with the opportunity to play in competitive adult games.

If they are really successful, there is the prospect of European football awaiting, since Gibraltar became a full UEFA member.

“This is an incredible chance for young players

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Price of £130 per person sharing a double room KICKSTART: Players at the shirt launch who have been cast aside The Sunborn yacht hotel to come to Gibraltar and – Gibraltar’s new 5-star rebuild their careers,” floating accommodation said John Gontier, the - has been unveiled as the official shirt sponsor. club chairman.

Sweeping the board A NEW web platform, founded in Gibraltar, is set to transform the world of chess.

Chess24.com aims to become the home for players of all lev-

els, from beginners to grandmasters. The site hopes to attract some of the 605 million chess enthusiasts worldwide.

The website will be officially

Long cycle for charity

A GROUP of cyclists who biked over 1,100 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain to Gibraltar have raised over £10,000 for local charities. The Breast Cancer Support Group and the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society each received cheques for £5,386. This is the second charity ride the cyclists have completed. Last year they rode from Fatima, Portugal, to Gibraltar, donating more than £5,600 to the same charities.

launched on July 10 when Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, himself a keen chess player, takes on grandmaster Francisco ‘Paco’ Vallejo Pons. Over 200,000 chess games have been played since the site went live four months ago.

The platform, which features interactive video lessons from world-renowned chess players, makes it easy for anyone to learn how to play or improve their game.

Visitors to the platform can play live chess against opponents all around the globe.

Live webcasts of major chess events are streamed directly from a state-ofthe art studio based at the company’s Gibraltar offices.

One recent chess24.com broadcast pulled in nearly 20,000 simultaneous viewers worldwide.

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LETTERS

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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Waste mountain Dear OP, HAVING read your report on the ‘recycling plant’ at Mijas (Total dump, OP 189), I thought your readers might be interested in the new ‘plant’ based in the middle of agricultural land in La Jara, Coin.

Publicised by Coin Town Hall as a €16 million investment, it consists solely of some skips in a field.

‘Recycle Andalucia’ advertises that it recycles metals, wood, electronics, vegetation, vehicles, construction and demolition waste. More detailed publicity specifically mentions fridges which I know need specialist disposal. In the three months it has been operating, lorries containing demolition rubble have arrived daily to create a mountain of contaminated waste on the land. There appears to be no facilities for recycling and nothing ever leaves the site.

Lynda Elliott, Coin ED: Hi Lynda, we have actually reported on this site several times, and even splashed on it two years ago before anyone else.

Other side I was very interested to read

Helium hell I can’t believe that they release 30,000 balloons from Gibraltar every year.

Apart from the obvious danger to birds, fish and animals, they must be filled with helium. Being as helium is light enough to float off into space, there is a very limited amount on Earth and that is needed for scientific experiments.

These include cooling almost to absolute zero for super magnets and launching infrared telescopes into space. Do they celebrate National Idiot Day on Gibraltar or is it just a show of contempt for everyone else?

Michael Hill, Torre del Mar all about the Guadalhorce Valley in your last issue. It is exactly these in-depth articles which make me always want to read the Olive Press.

I have lived in the Valley for 27 years and would like to add a couple of extra points.

In Coin, the biggest event of the year is undoubtedly the Romeria, even bigger than the two ferias. Barranco Blanco is also a place with a fascinating history, built

by Nazis and protected by Franco, although it’s very quiet these days. And one other thing people might not know about is the castle just outside of Coin which now apparently operates as a brothel. Add that to the alleged swingers club in the castle in Monda and there’s a whole new side to the Valley.

Lord Arthur Hutton Watt, Coin

What uproar?

How is it that El Corte Ingles has caused uproar by stocking Joseph Nicolosi’s homosexuality books? (Stop being gay, OP 190). Where can that uproar be seen? In a democratic state, should it really be forbidden to publish anything that can make some individuals angry? If we truly possess constitutional rights and freedom of speech, it’s unconstitutional to attempt to limit those rights by banning such a book. Nicolosi is a highly renowned scientist in his field, and his books are the conclusion of scientific research.

Paco Gomez, San Roque

Nonsense export The author Joseph Nicolosi has a very bad reputation here in the US, and now he’s taking his nonsense overseas. All of the professional

psychological associations, and some state governments, have branded his ideas on ‘conversion’ to be nonsense. I hope that El Corte Ingles will come to its senses on this one.

Christopher Alexander, USA

Writer liar I really enjoyed your recent piece on iconic author Laurie Lee, especially how the writer had met the great man. I, like many, was inspired by the writings of Laurie Lee and have undertaken many a character-forming walk across Europe. But sadly Laurie was either a bit of a rogue or a serious fibber. In fact, his own brother was very disparaging of him. Laurie couldn’t ever turn up to any Spanish Civil War reunions because he wasn’t actually there and would not have known people from either Albacete or the battle of Teruel. Great writer. Great fibber. There is a huge difference between ‘I made my way through France’ and ‘I made my way through France on the first available train’ as anyone who has walked to Spain from England will tell you.

Mark Ashdown, Granada

Safety issue What is the actual law/requirement with regard to gas safety certificates? We have followed your many warning stories of con merchants running scams on these certificates. We have now been cold-called on a newly installed Telefonica

phone, the number of which we have issued to no one!

Are we best advised to contact Repsol, from whom we purchase refilled bottles and discuss this with them?

We do not have any fixed gas installation and simply use bottles with mobile space heaters. Do these certificates exist, and are we obliged to get one?

Malcolm Smith, Marbella ED: Our advice, contact Repsol directly.

Out of my way!

Gaucin Town Hall has been doing some excellent path clearing over the last months. Everywhere in the woods and meadows we have heard the sound of Salvador, Gabriel and others strimming, chopping and cleaning the old veredas and cañadas. With rural tourism a growing industry we must thank the town hall for its hard work and foresight in making our beautiful Gaucin countryside more accessible to walkers.

Karen Considine, Gaucin

Empty walls I can’t believe property companies continue to build

without adequate insulation.

I didn’t realise how non-existent insulation is in Andalucia. Surely this is absolutely unsustainable? I have good neighbours, fortunately, but the transfer of noise is beyond belief. November to April the houses are extremely cold - June to mid September they are hot! All nationalities complain but nothing happens to improve the situation. Communities are abandoned in the winter which affects employment.

Humidity causes mould spores to develop, which in turn cause breathing problems.

Anne Smith, Alhaurin el Grande

Not fine Reading Julian Piper’s letter about his horrible driving experience in issue 189 really incensed me. It is clear a big part of Spain’s solution to the ‘crisis’ is to fine drivers for every possible tiny misdemeanour. Most of the people being fined are ordinary with small or no income, so how do they think they are helping families improve their situation by looking for every single fining opportunity? Guardia Civil are now so desperate that they are going out seeking stretches of road where the limit drops in order to meet revenue targets.

Andrew Robb, Torre del mar

Set specifics I wanted to confirm a few things about the article on my holistic programme Recalibrate (OP issue 190, ‘Recognise, realize, re-align’).

After surviving a six-week coma, I had a true wake up call and spent time educating myself about global self-help techniques. This knowledge helped me to found Recalibrate to follow my passion of helping others.

Our services include fournight retreats worldwide, with one scheduled for July 16-20 in El Chorro, Andalucia.

For more information, please check out our website www. recalibrate-now.com.

Hollie Rolla, El Chorro, Alora

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

CROSSMOT 36 Across 1 Links (7) * 5 Puff (5) * 8 Suppressing (2, 9, 2) * 9 Without (3) * 10 Highway (9) * 12 Pasa (6) * 13 Esfera (6) * 15 Immediate (9) * 16 Goma (3) * 18 Starve (5, 2, 6) * 20 Remainder (5) * 21 Duchas (7).

Down 1 They (5) * 2 Nurses (3, 10) * 3 Ability (9) * 4 Saw (6) * 5 Esquí (3) * 6 Gingerbread (3, 2, 8) * 7 Funcionar (7) * 11 Explored (9) * 12 Nadador (7) * 14 Camellos (6) * 17 Se encuentra (5) * 19 River (3).

L = 199

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July 10 - July 23 2014

Good, bad and dead STAR of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Eli Wallach – has died aged 98.

The award-winning American actor made his mark on the world of film through the Western classic, which was set in Spain.

Wallach, who acted alongside both Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn in a career spanning six decades, died peacefully at his home in the US. He will be remembered fondly for his numerous roles, including in The Magnificent Seven and as recently in 2006 in popular romcom The Holiday.

MAGNET: Like Penelope Cruz, Spain could be a big Hollywood attraction

Tax breaks could woo Hollywood back to Spain HOLLYWOOD moguls are being enticed back to Spain as the government considers attractive new tax breaks for movie makers.

In the last 10 years, the Spanish mainland has lost out on 80% of the potential blockbuster movie action due to the lack of an enticing tax regime. But the government is planning to boost tax incentives from the current 18% to 30% for filmmakers who choose Spain as a location.

“I cannot see any good reason, not even the crisis, for the government not to invest in this,” said Carlos Rosado, President of the Spain Film Commission. “A film shoot is a very significant source of revenue and money is being lost by the bucketful.”

The Canary Islands have become the new favourite set for big-budget films since introducing a 38% tax break in 2009.

Wrath of the Titans (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Ridley Scott’s Exodus (2013) were all shot on the islands. Penelope Cruz is set to hit the Canaries too, along with 13 new film and television projects lined up by the Gran Canaria Film Commission for 2014.

HBO series Game of Thrones originally considered Spain as the location for season one, but ultimately settled on Malta and Ireland. The latest decision to shoot scenes for series five in Sevilla’s Alcazar could be the start of something big. (See story right).

Barcelona bullring to become Europe’s largest mosque ROYAL ROLLCALL: It’s lights, cameras, action at Sevilla’s Alcazar

...and a starring role for the Alcazar

TV fantasy series Game of Thrones is set to shoot scenes in the Alcazar of Sevilla, one home of the Spanish royal family.

The news comes as producers confirmed that Spain will be a set location for the upcoming fifth series of the hit HBO show.

Production is due to begin this summer, with a sixth series also planned. The stunning Moorish castle will become the Water Gardens of Dorne, the home of House Martell.

Various other Andalucian locations will make up the rest of the Kingdom of Dorne, as Spain becomes the seventh country used in the series, based on George R.R. Martin’s novels.

Morocco, Malta and the USA have also provided backdrops.

The capital city of the fictional world of Westeros, King’s Landing, is located in Dubrovnik, South Croatia, while the wintery scenes north of ‘the wall’ are filmed in Iceland.

The Alcazar is the oldest palace in Europe continuing to serve as a royal household.

8pm. Monty Python’s first performance in 30 years, will be broadcast in Malaga at the Yelmo Cinemas in Plaza Mayor and Vialia-Malaga. Visit www. yelmocines.es for tickets.

E

stepona. Until July 11. A photography

exhibition from two local expats. Held at El Campanario country house.

For more information visit www.elcampanarionet.com or call 918 587 152.

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arbella. July 23.

Marbella’s famous Starlite festival is back for its third year, with performances from The Beach Boys, Tom Jones, The Pet Shop Boys, Ricky Martin and many more. Visit www. starlitefestival.com

M

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alaga. July 20,

new exhibition at Museo Picasso Malaga (MPM) called Picasso TV, showing previously unsuspected links between the artist and tv programmes in the 1960s.

Olé Allah! metres away – Gaudi’s celebrated la Sagrada Familia cathedral, glorifying Roman Catholicism.

It’s the latest bid by the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup destination - the richest country in the world - to buy credo in the Catalan capital, whose 50,000 Muslim population equals those of Marbella, Valencia and Fuengirola. Qatar Airways sponsors Barcelona’s premier league football club and the Qatari Armed Forces’ recent purchase of a five-star hotel in Barcelona is expected to bolster the bid.

In spite of Qatar’s financial ties with the city, the leader of the Partido Popular of Cataunya, Alberto Fernandez Diaz, has opposed the plan, expressing wariness at engaging in a project with ‘people and countries’ holding ‘values that collide with our own’.

In its bullfighting heyday, La Plaza Monumental seated 25,000 but the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, wants to expand the capacity of the mosque to 40,000 worshippers to host 80% of the city’s Muslims. The project is awaiting the sale of the stadium and municipal approval.

In addition to nearly a century of bullfighting before the sport was outlawed in the city, La Plaza Monumental has hosted concerts by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen.

Since the final bullfight in September 2011, aside from scattered circus performances and shows, it has been largely disused.

M

alaga. Until November 16. A

SNOW JOKE: Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia to neighbour Europe’s largest mosque

THE emir of Qatar is bankrolling a €2.2 billion project to turn Barcelona’s last bullring into the largest mosque in the non-Arab world.

The mosque’s proposed 300-metre-high minaret would be the world’s largest outside the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, overshadowing Barcelona’s own worldfamous religious icon 750

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www.theolivepress.es INTIMATE: Enrique Iglesias in the crowd at last year’s festival

Star is born

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ORLD domination could be on the cards for Marbella’s favourite philanthropy festival, making a welcome return to the coast this month.

Although only in its third year, Starlite Festival is already famous for its celebrity and socialite appeal. But now, for the first time ever, those in the crowd will include potential sponsors from all over the globe.

“We want the festival to be like Formula 1, and move to different cities across the world,” said Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan, who founded the star-studded festival with her husband, Ignacio Maluquer.

“It’s incredibly exciting this year, because we have delegations coming from as far afield as Russia, Mexico, Uruguay and the Middle East.”

The key to Starlite’s rocketing success is undoubtedly Garcia’s global connections.

After running celebrity promotion company Avory for more than 20 years, her little black book is bulging with some of the best-known names in showbiz.

Tom Jones, The Pet Shop Boys, Ricky Martin and The Beach Boys are all set to take the stage in the month-long festival.

But Garcia was the soul of diplomacy when asked whom

Marbella’s favourite festival is back.

The Olive Press talks to Starlite founder Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan about Marbella, Antonio Banderas and global ambitions

DO-GOODER: Founder Sandra with Banderas she’ll be most excited to see.

“Every one of them will bring their own unique vibe to the festival. Many of them are old friends and I’m delighted to have them all on board.

I chose the line up myself, so all the bands are special favourites of mine.”

But Starlite – which will kick off on July 23 – is considerably more than a conventional music festival with fashion shows, cinema premieres, art exhibitions, speakers and fine dining.

Spanish superstar Antonio Banderas himself is the poster boy for the festival’s main event, the Starlite Gala on August 9.

“Having worked with celebrities

throughout most of my career, I knew we needed Antonio onboard,” said Garcia. “Trying to set up a big event in Spain without a celebrity to back it will never work, so I flew out to meet him in Los Angeles and explained our idea.

“Luckily he loved it. He loves his country so much and he was so enthusiastic about the

The Nagueles quarry backdrop sets Starlite apart from any other festival in the world idea of giving something back.

We’re very happy to have him on the team.”

The Gala – now in its 5th year was the spark that inspired the entire Starlite Festival, which has a very philanthropic focus.

And now the celebrity-fuelled fundraiser is to be televised for the first time ever, through a new partnership with TV-giant Mediaset Espana.

“It’s wonderful to get this sort

of coverage for Marbella. It’s a very special place,” added Garcia.

“Although I live in Madrid, I have a summer house here and I just love it. And we couldn’t have found a more perfect location than the quarry.”

The Nagueles quarry provides a unique backdrop for the whole experience, setting Starlite apart from any other festival in the world.

Originally used by singer Julio Iglesias and Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe – a tireless promoter of Marbella – for a musical event in 1983, the quarry has been given a new lease of life with Starlite.

“It’s the most wonderful, intimate venue. People in the front row are only 2m away from the performers, and it’s incredible how close that feels in an auditorium setting.

It’s like spending a night with the artist. It’s a totally different experience.”

Garcia herself is clearly buzzing with excitement. “There’s so much I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait for it all to get started.”

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Gaudi’s Ice Cathedral GAUDI’S unfinished Sagrada Familia may finally be completed… in ice. But you’ll have to travel to Finland to see it.

Although the original basilica in Barcelona remains only one-quarter completed and has technically been ‘on ice’ since 1882, a group of Dutch university students plan to create their own 40-metre high model out of ‘pykrete’ ice reinforced with wood fibers - in just

three weeks (see model right).

Built on a scale of 1:4, members of the team from Eindhoven University of Technology visited Barcelona earlier this year to study the real Sagrada Familia, and they are in contact with the basilica's project architects. They will start their reconstruction in Juuka, Finland, on December 28 for a grand unveiling on January 17, 2015.

Flamenco legend dies

The course it taking place in the amazing location of El chorro, Alora, Malaga

Gerald Howson picked up Spanish and Flamenco guitar on a two-year stay in Cadiz

ONE of England’s favorite hispanophiles Gerald Howson has died.

Howson, who died in London at the age of 88, is world-famous for a number of achievements, including a racy memoir of his time in Spain called The Flamencos of Cadiz Bay. After taking a job teaching English in Cadiz, Howson in-

dulged in his love of flamenco, perfecting his guitar and language skills, leaving Spain completely fluent after arriving with only a few words.

Back in the UK, Howson later led a simple lifestyle earning money by playing his flamenco guitar in clubs around London until he met his wife and had children. With the burden of supporting a fam-

WIN WIN WIN A real Steel DO you want to see the UK’s best reggae band play in Gibraltar? The Olive Press is offering a pair of tickets for the concert of legends Steel Pulse in Gibraltar this month. Said to be Bob Marley’s favourite band, Steel Pulse - who herald from Birmingham - will perform at the Rock’s Victoria Stadium on July 18. A hugely influential part of the Rock Against Racism movement in England in the 70s, the band is seen as a seminal part of UK pop history.

To win a ticket answer the following question to newsdesk@ theolivepress.es. The first name out of the hat wins the tickets.

Which much-maligned British suburb lent its name to Steel Pulse’s seminal reggae album?

SPAIN-LOVER: Howson and book

ily, the Renaissance man, who also painted, picked up a career in photojournalism and academic writing.

He later wrote a book on the Spanish Civil War called Arms for Spain: The Untold Story of the Spanish Civil War.

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All about

osta de la Luz

IN FINE FORUM: The Roman town of Baelo Claudia, 15km north-west of Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz

Issue 191 www.theolivepress.es

June 26 - July 9 2014

July 9 - July 23 2014

Seeing the light

T

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

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

Picture the scene at Baelo

PICTURE BY TOM POWELL

Roman ruins, pristine beaches, cool kitesurfers ... Tom Powell is blown away (and born again!) by the windy resorts of the Costa de la Luz

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

The ruined Roman city on the beachfront at Bolonia, northwest of Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz, had a booming economy back in 2AD, based on its fishsalting industry.

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

stage of the ancient amphitheatre.

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

Nowadays the Costa de la Luz is home to hippies, kitesurfers and beach-lovers, but the serene wonder of the place hasn’t changed in eons.

It is, without a doubt, still the most stunning, varied and un-

spoilt coastline in southern Spain (with the Cabo de Gata its only near rival). Perfect for family holidays, romantic weekends or just a day out from the Costa del Sol, diversity abounds here.

The light makes this coast a photogrpaher’s dream, while it is as activity-laden as it is picturesque.

‘Breathtaking’’ and ‘windy’ are certainly two adjectives often used to describe trendy Tarifa

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- the wind and kitesurf capital of Europe.

Glimpsing its long crescent beach of pristine white sand from atop the winding uphill road from Algeciras, flanked by battalions of flailing wind turbines, it’s not hard to see why.

Here, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, kitesurfers dominate the skyline. It’s clearly these water sports lovers who create the laid-back vibe that makes Tarifa a favourite

party town. Its pretty, cobbled streets teem with life and the place comes into its own after dark, when twinkling bar signs light up like stars on every corner.

One of the best things about Tarifa is the view of the Gibraltar Straits, hemmed in between Europe and Africa, with the beautiful Mediterranean to the east and the vast, wild AtContinues on Page 26

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 

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osta de la Luz

July 9 - July 23 2014

From page 25

lantic to the west.

Standing on the town’s narrow walkway separating the two waters reminded me of when I used to try and put one foot in the English counties of Berkshire and one in Hampshire, as a youngster. The path connects the mainland with Isla de las Palomas but unfortunately, it’s not currently open to the public, although there is talk of it happening later this year.

It is not just the wind that attracts tourists to this kitesurfing Mecca. There are whale watching and scuba diving

There are whale watching and scuba diving trips, plus oodles of retail therapy options trips and oodles of opportunities for retail therapy. Indeed, Tarifa has an abundance of quirky shops selling handicrafts, leather bags, jewellery and musical instruments, as well as pavement cafes touting freshly-baked treats.

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

But the focal point is Calle Alameda, a lively Spanish walkway lined with good restaurants, including the newlyrefurbished Petit Bistro for classy French cuisine. There’s frequently live music and an ex-

FORTIFICATIONS: Tarifa castle and (inset) its port

Breezy style tourism 200 kilometre coastline THE Costa de la Luz officially stretches for around 200km all the way up into Huelva and to the border with Portugal. Split in two by the stunning Donana national park, the coastline includes the so-called sherry towns of Sanlucar de Barrameda, Rota, Chipiona and El Puerto de Santa Maria. It also includes the cities of Cadiz and Huelva. tensive book market to peruse.

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

This little fishing town was the first point of the Moorish invasion of southern Spain in AD711, when the Berber chief

landed from Ceuta with 400 foot soldiers and 100 horsemen. They built the fort later, in 960AD. It is a lovely ride from here to Bolonia, through stunning undeveloped countryside and pine fronded beaches, with kites bobbing up above on windy days. There is a vast selection of world-class hotels

Deep cover in an octopus’s garden...

Octopus, moray eels, sea cucumbers … Tom Powell went into Deep cover to discover a whole new enclave of cool Tarifa residents FUN: Whalewatching

Whale of a time

SUN-SEARCHING tourists aren’t the only ones who make the trip to Spain every year, as pods of whales can also regularly be seen frolicking in the Straits of Gibraltar.

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

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

They also share the waters with pilot, sperm and fin whales emigrating from the Atlantic, as well as three different types of dolphins – common, striped and bottlenose.

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

For more information visit www.turmares.com

FISHY: Life below Tarifa’s surface

T

HERE’S an underbelly to Tarifa even the surf dudes don’t get to see… that is unless they crash below the waves: one that requires an oxygen tank, mask and flippers to explore.

Below the Atlantic swell lies a mesmerising undersea world teeming with colourful fish that makes terra firma seem a million miles away.

I embarked on my subaquatic adventure with the scuba pros at Yellow Sub, who operate out of Tarifa harbour.

They take people of all experience levels on dives and offer official PADI courses. Clients are struck by two underwater wow factors: the clarity of the water and the infinite variety of fish.

After a thorough land-based briefing on safety, science and equipment with my dive manager, Sabina Agostini, we kitted up and made our way to the boat.

Given that my previous introduction to scuba diving was in a university swimming pool, I too was blown away by the vivid underwater landscape and clear visibility. The sheer number of aquatic species - all sizes and colours of the spectrum - is astounding.

We chugged around Tarifa’s mini

here, the oldest and most established being the Hurricane.

On the way to the fascinating ruins of Baelo, I was first struck by the breezy nonchalance of Bolonia, a seaside town that takes a casual, dressed-down approach to tourism. It doesn’t sneer or look down on the increasing number of visitors, but neither does it pander to their every whim like a certain neighbouring Costa...

The village road is in such bad repair you feel it wants to stay that way, a reminder to visitors that Bolonia is a natural, nofrills resort. But the march of tourism is inevitable when the beaches are as wide and white as Bolonia’s.

CUTIE: A moray eel island, Isla de las Palomas, investigating every nook and cranny, marvelling at the magnificent orange anemones clinging to the rocks.

Sassy sea cucumbers, evillooking moray eels with their malevolent mouths agape, fish that camouflage themselves in the sand … even Sir David Attenborough would wax lyrical!

“The diving here is amazing, there is so much to see and the water is so clear,” enthused Sabina, from Switzerland.

At one point we came upon a pair of octopuses entwined in a passionate embrace and, feeling like a third wheel, I edged away.

But from Sabina’s hand signals I soon realised they were fighting over the best hiding place under the rocks. It was fascinating to watch and, as the victor took up residence, the loser powered off to regroup, leaving no surface ripple to tell the world above what had transpired in this deep sea ocean kingdom.

Yellow Sub, run by Italian Enrico Demelas, offers dives to 10 different sites, including two wrecks for those who take the PADI courses. There are dives every day, accompanied by professional and incredibly friendly,instructors.

Whether you’re a rookie or an expert seeking fresh challenges, Yellow Sub shows you a haunting underwater world you’d never imagine existed.

For more information visit www. divingtarifa.com

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 201427 27

PICTURE BY FOTOROJAS.COM

July 9 - July 23 2014

SPECTACULAR: Los Lances beach and Africa and (inset) Tarifa’s arabic arch while (below) some new murals have appeared in town ships arriving and departing on slow transition into cool, Its iconic, giant sand dune is a daily basis for Italy, loaded up scented pine forest. the texture of icing sugar, its with the magic product.

But the stunning views waters Caribbean blue. It’s After quenching my cultural from here – a reminder hard to believe the glitzy manthirst, I made a beeline for the of how all coastal Andalumade resorts of the Costa del alluring beach, which is front- cia once was – made the Sol are just an hour’s drive ed with a cluster of laid-back climb nonetheless wortharound the headland. chiringuitos serving up fresh while. seafood and jugs of ice-cold sangria.

The super-sized Glorious mud Sun worshippers in the know MUDBAKING: Getting set up camp in the more shel- It was to the southerly stretch therapeutic on the beach sand dune – the tered zones, but Atlantic gusts of gorgeous beach that I venlargest on the are a quintessential part of tured next, past Cala del Pica- pinch of seaweed to give a creto be taken slowly, at a stroll, English to accompany the strik- what makes Europe’s ‘deep cho, for some therapeutic mud- ative twist to my recipe. continent – dares to while breathing in the fresh At- ingly well-preserved ruins.

I slapped it on, scraping the baking. south’ so special. lantic air as the wind wafts you The town had really started And that super-sized sand I had heard that mud treat- ground-up rock into my skin, be climbed gently through the ruins. growing in 2AD, after a Bae- dune – the largest on the con- ments are popular here and, wincing ever-so-slightly while Baelo’s main road – decuma- lo-made product, known as tinent – dares to be climbed, despite being blessed with trying to retain an air of cool Add the spectacular ruins of nus maximus – runs from east garum, took off among the just to see what lies beyond. naturally smooth skin (he in front of the families walking the Iberian Peninsula’s biggest to west, connecting two large chattering classes of Rome.

Without a moment’s hesitation boasted), it seemed the perfect past.

Roman city – complete with town gates.

Made out of fish guts it was a I kicked off my shoes and raced way to top off a spot of Roman My patchwork mud coat dried walls, aqueducts, baths, tem- From here a well-signposted pungent, but allegedly tasty up on all fours. out in no time and I was soon exploration and dune-climbing. ples, forums, villas and more – route leads you around the Ro- addition to any meal and the Admittedly, there was nothing I got to work, smashing up in the Atlantic rinsing off, exfoliand Bolonia becomes a rather man settlement, with plenty whole area became dedicated on the other side – no secret some wet slate stone to cre- ated and born again – or somespecial place. It is designed of information in Spanish and to its production, with Roman cove or crock of gold – just a ate my own mudpack, adding a thing like that.

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Vejer de la Frontera has slowly carved itself into Cadiz province’s main culinary capital, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke

L

IKE a slow-cooked pork belly, the beautiful white town of Vejer de la Frontera has gently fused its ingredients to carve itself into the definitive food capital of Cadiz.

An incredible success story for a once unfashionable out-ofthe-way town, Vejer is now – rightfully - one of the genuine culinary reference points for Andalucia.

Visitors now flock here from around the country, and it is incredible how many good places there are to eat in and around this gem of a white town.

A true gastronomic paradise with a melting pot of chefs from around Europe, at least half a dozen of its eateries would do well in Marbella or Madrid.

“We set the bar high,” explains James Stuart, boss of celebrated hotel and restaurant La Califa, which now has its own diffusion tapas restaurant, as well as its own twist on a kebab joint.

“There is plenty of competition between restaurants and all of us keep taking the level higher in order to get ahead.”

Hotpot of creativity

TALENTED: Damien and wife at Brasa de Sancho and (right) Califa terrace

This is the serious goal that has to be taken by new restaurants like Peperoncino, which sits in a breathtaking location overlooking rolling hills and down to the sea in the hamlet of Patria, five minutes from Vejer.

Since opening earlier this year, its chef Benito – who trained with Jamie Oliver and Antonio Carluccio in the UK – has had to work hard to perfect his trade.

Only importing the best quality Italian ingredients, he has done a fantastic job creating a niche for himself with fresh, original dishes and true panache.

“I knew what we were up against,” explains the Iranian, who spent two years working in Jamie’s Kitchen in Leeds

and York. “The quality of food around here is exceptionally high and if we were going to draw punters out here we knew it had to be something different. I hope I am achieving that.”

Another local entrepreneur Paco Pacheco, at La Tarantella, whose family own a trawling business, knows more than anything else that he has to get the offering right... and above all, deliver quality.

“There is so much competition now I had to work out carefully what would be my niche. I certainly know about fresh fish, but figured that what the centre still didn’t have was a good Italian restaurant,” he explains.

It is this level of thought that has helped to make this small Cadiz

100% Italian and not a pizza in sight THERE is no room for complacency when setting up a new restaurant in Cadiz’s food capital of Vejer de la Frontera.

So it is great to see chef Benito at Peperoncino arriving at 9am each day to prep for each evening’s service, not to mention growing a large amount of his restaurant’s vegetables and insisting on the best Italian ingredients money can buy.

The results are second to none and you will be hard pressed to find a better Italian meal in Andalucia.

Aside from the entirely original Italian menu, there was not a pizza in sight.

This is serious Italian with a capital ‘I’, split into antipasta, pasta, ‘ferri’ (charcoal grill?) and ‘contorno’ sections.

Make sure to take the optional bread basket of olive oil drizzled focaccia and ciabatta freshly baked each day.

The starters include a ‘fegato’ of sautéed chicken liver which was a rich dive-in dish, rustic and tender and served up with the most wonderfully sweet cherry tomatoes, mascarpone and Frascati wine. The deep fried Po r to b e l l o mushrooms were gimmicky but

great as a snack with parsley and allioli.

Best of all was the 24-hour marinated pork chop (see below) served on a wooden slate with a side order of delicious grill-steamed courgettes and aubergines from the garden.

Last but not least, puddings included a mascarpone vanilla cheese cake with lemon which was unbelievably good and thankfully a small portion. I certainly didn’t need the home made truffle that hotel owner Ana stuck on my plate afterwards. It was little surprise to learn that Iranian Benito (left) has spent a couple of years cooking for Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant chain Jamie’s Kitchen in the UK. But, I have eaten at a couple of them and in my opinion this guy is streaks ahead.

Peperoncino, Hotel Sindhura, Patria s/n, La Muela, Vejer - Teléfono: 956448568 -

town into such a foodie Mecca.

Much of Vejer’s success is down to the local surroundings, which produce some of the best quality ingredients in the world.

The obvious examples are sherry, fish and the wonderful pork and beef from the classic brown ‘retinto’ cows, which you often see wandering around the nearby hills.

Of course the amazing ‘almadraba’ blue fin tuna, caught nearby is spectacularly good and the vegetables available are also of a high quality.

Another reason is the type of tourists who visit the town, which has seen a distinctly better heeled crowd than its nearby rivals on the Costa del Sol. “We don’t just rely on beaches,” explains restaurateur Ramon at Vina y Mar, which has its own wine shop with over 200 references. “And many of the people who visit are keen food lovers, who come here specifically to eat.”

This is certainly the case and the huge mix of restaurateurs, who herald from France, Denmark, Britain and the north of Spain have helped to put together a rich and varied offering for them.

Frenchman Damian Giroud at long-running La Brasa de Sancho typifies the mix.

Having cooked since his teens – and even had a stint under the Roux brothers at Gavroche in London – he knows plenty about cooking.

Constantly evolving over the last decade, his restaurant is set in his elegant historic home in the heart of the town, with some fabulous outdoor tables.

“We hope we know what it is that makes people’s holidays great, good service and, above all, good food,” he explains.

His near neighbour Pedro Pardo, at Trafalgar, on charming Plaza de Espana is also doing well, with a fine mix of ingredients and style.

Recently opening a new diffusion tapas restaurant Trafalgar Taperia next door, Pardo has recently retired from his Madrid publishing house to concentrate on delivering quality for his restaurants.

According to his neighbour James Stuart at Califa – an emblematic place that is practically never quiet – everything began with Pedro.

“It all began in the late 1990s when Pedro and his partner Javier opened Trafalgar,” explains Stuart, whose hip hotel Califa conveniently put up the new influx of foodies across the square.

“It was the start of the food culture and we opened our restaurant in 2002 to give them some competition,” he continues, citing Trafalgar, Califa and Castilleria, run by Juan Valdes, as the three cornerstones of the scene.

But it is on the outside of town in the most obscure of locations that the bar is really being pushed higher and higher.

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A cut above the rest!

June 25 - July 9 2014

Tel: 956 447 142 Mov: 638 727 004

CHARM: La Tajea, Juan at Castilleria and (right) Patria Up in Santa Lucia you have one of Andalucia’s best meat restaurants Castilleria that gets better and better each year and next door Venta el Toro, one of the most beautifully authentic restaurants around.

Describing its food as ‘comida de cuchara’, basically homecooked ‘spoon food’, it just serves simple, delicious Andalucian classics.

Just around the corner is La Nueva Tajea and another beautiful spot with amazing views and a charming terrace to match.

From here, take a ten minute drive up to Patria to find out why laid back Dane Tomas and his lovely wife Ase are consistently topping many dining polls.

A stylish spot, overlooking fields down to the sea near Cadiz, the ambiance is second to none.

While the menu is compact, the regularly-changing specials are becoming increasingly experimental and always look delightful.

“A lot of our success is the fact that we use so many vegeta-

bles,” explains Dane Tomas, who lives next door with his family.

A laid back chap, who spends his spare time surfing, he sums it up perfectly: “We know we have to constantly evolve and create new things if we are to keep up with the excellent quality in town.”

Campero is easily one of Spain’s top fish restaurants and a lesson in hard work and discipline Last, but anything but least, take a 10 minute ride towards the sea to Barbate, where you will find the stalwart Campero, easily one of Spain’s top fish restaurants and a lesson in hard work and discipline.

It is here that Jose Mellero and his team have been serving up the finest blue fin tuna for the last two decades. Miss it at your peril.

Dilute

A little note of caution however, in recent months there has been a spate of new openings in Vejer, which, in my opinion, is starting to water down, just a little, the quality the town has worked hard to achieve.

A new food market and at least two or three new places is making it a touch confusing for the punter.

This is not to say that the quality of these new spots is bad, but you wouldn’t want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg, by allowing one too many places to open in the town.

Santa Lucia S/N, Vejer 11150, Cadiz.

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osta de la luz

High time for a kite surf Europe’s top kitesurfing spot is on the Costa de la Luz, writes Jared Garland

WHEN French Legaignoux brothers ventured out into the ocean in 1984 with kites strapped to their bodies and waterskis on their feet, they could have never imagined that 30 years later, by the famous Trafalgar lighthouse in Canos de Meca, kites would line the skies by the hundreds as kitesurfers worldwide took part in this adrenaline-packed sport.

This new craze has also taken the nearby Tarifa shoreline by storm, completely eclipsing windsurfing in popularity among thrill-seekers.

“There is nothing like it,” says kitesurfing instructor Ingo Maes, owner of Dragon Kite School in Tarifa, where he has introduced tourists and locals of all ages and athletic levels to the incredible rush of the sport.

“It opened up a new life for me,” continues Maes, who

worked in Egypt as a diving inbuilds up for a few days before structor before moving to Tarifa peaking at eight or nine on the to teach kitesurfing in 2005.

Beaufort scale.

In addition to diving, he is also “When I saw people jumping an experienced snowboarder, 15, 20 metres high, I knew I skateboarder, and windsurfer. had to do it,” he remarks. “The Calling Tarifa ‘the best kitesurffeeling you get on the waves is ing spot in Europe’, he explains incomparable.” that it has exceptionally mild Though such incredible heights winters as may strike equal well as one of measures of Such incredible amazement and the best wind currents in heights may strike horror, Maes says the world. that the landing By this he equal measures ‘has almost no refers to the impact at all’. of amazement Poniente, an “It’s like jumping extremely from your chair and horror constant eastonto the ground,” erly wind from he laughs.

Portugal. It measures between Because of the calmness of the two and five on the Beaufort sport, kitesurfing companies scale and brings in a cooler such as Dragon, Club Mistral, breeze from the sea.

Hot Stick and Tarifa Air Force The other dominating wind – can teach clients to kitesurf at better for windsurfers – is the any age, from retirees to chilLevante, which comes from dren as young as eight years the southeast over Africa and old. Tarifa Air Force even offers

Biking paradise

TARIFA is a mountain biker’s dream.

Great views, a feeling of adventure, varied trails and great descents. It has it all.

You can go cross country on full days along stony coastal paths beside the Straits of Gibraltar with amazing views of Morocco and the Atlas Mountains, medieval herding tracks over rolling farmland/wetlands, or winding trails through ancient cork oak forests.

All within a lush green landscape with craggy sandstone peaks and mountains that roll into the sea.

Rides take from two to seven hours, and most start from the heart of the town.

“You can expect to hear the screech of an eagle, see thousands of buzzards crossing the straits and fields of wild flowers,” explains keen cyclist Tony Cassidy.

“There are also plenty of Roman ruins and even remains of Prehistoric Man,” he adds.

“It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s wonderland.”

Bikes can be rented for around €20 a day from a number of places.

special ‘children’s courses.’

“You start with a small kite and as you learn you keep trying bigger and bigger kites,” says Patricia. This keeps the level of power always in line with the level of experience of the kitesurfer.

To the skeptic, she assures that despite its appearance, the sport is much safer than skiing or snowboarding, with many less serious accidents.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should just take a board and a kite onto water without lessons. However, the learning curve is astonishingly quick.

In general, beginners need three days to learn the basics, and in only five are out kitesurfing on their own.

Both Hot Stick, Dragon and other businesses like Club Mistral and Tarifa Air Force rent out kites, wetsuits, helmets and lessons from as low as €50 per day.

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July 9 - July 23 2014

A tale of two pueblos BARBATE

T

AKE two whitewashed towns lapped by the Atlantic on the sunny Costa de la Luz: Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes.

They’re slap-bang next to each other on the map but at first glance they seem poles apart.

Barbate dresses down, its nondescript housing and low-key sea-

While very different the quirky towns of Zahara and Barbate are aw breath of fresh air from the manufactured charms of the Costa del Sol, writes Carey

ZAHARA

side restaurants are ostensibly worlds apart from the chic shops , upmarket restaurants and cafes of Zahara.

My first impression of these two maritime pueblos reminded me of the Prince and the Pauper, where a rich boy and a poor boy swap clothes and lifestyles.

But like all good stories there’s a twist in the tale and, although wildly different towns, both share stunning beaches and quirky character in common.

I discovered their individual idiosyncrasies on a weekend getaway that left me a sunburned but satisfied traveller.

Franco’s town

Luxuryville

My adventure began in Barbate, a town with origins as a Roman fishing village known as Barbate de Franco until 1998, as the former dictator spent time there during the 1930s.

He was said to have enjoyed a number of holidays in the town and later encouraged its development as a key fishing port for Andalucia.

While it is statistically one of the most deprived towns in Andalucia (it has the highest unemployment rate of the region), it is authentic to the extreme and oozes kitsch in the classic Spanish style.

Parking in the town centre as the clock struck 6pm, I was surprised at how sleepy it felt for a Saturday evening, until I discovered that all the action was centred on the beach.

It was here that the generally humdrum town came alive as sun worshippers were packed on the sands like Barbate’s famous sardines, many sheltering under umbrellas and beach canopies.

But this is no tourist trap. It is a wholly Spanish affair, with multiple generations of the same family congregating for a weekend at the seaside.

While young parents and their toddlers paddled in the crystal clear water, aunts and uncles watched from a distance, sunbathing or listening to the radio.

Away from the water, along the shaded side streets, abuelos were studiously avoiding the

After one of the most beautiful seaside drives imaginable you arrive in Zahara de los Atunes, which while remarkably similar to Barbate on first glance, could not be more different.

Mostly this boils down to money. To put it into perspective, among the first few cars I saw parked in town were several spanking new Range Rovers and BMWs. Many of these have come down from Madrid and Sevilla and the resort is probably the coast’s most upmarket, with prices to match.

But by no means does Zahara put on airs and graces. The UPMARKET: Quirky Zahara eatery town has humble roots as a fishing village dating from Phoenician times and, as its name suggests, it’s another landmark destination for bluefin tuna. Its residents are as relaxed as the folk in Barbate, even if they do take to the beach in designer sunglasses.

But what really distinguishes Zahara from Barbate is the upscale beach town vibe owed to its gourmet restaurants and wine bars. After a quick stroll around town browsing a few of the novelty home decoration shops, check out one of the numerous restaurants, including Zoko where we had a delicious seaweed salad with, you guessed it, tuna. The flavour was unparallelled!

One of the most intriguing aspects of Zahara is how seamlessly the town frays at the edges onto the beach. Roads terminate in sand, reinforcing the municipal-maritime connection of this seaside pueblo.

After a dip in the perfect blue ocean, I headed to the terrace bar of the Hostal Monte Mar for a glass of vino and stunning views of Zahara’s coastline.

From here you can see the majestic windmills that dot the countryside, providing sustainable energy for the area.

For top tuna, quirkiness and pure Atlantic air I highly recommend an escape to the coast of light.

INDUSTRY: But fishing fleet has been cut in recent years UV rays and their screaming grandchildren with a quiet caña and a game of dominoes.

Rebellious adolescents hung out with their amigos, taking a break from beach flirting only

Teenage boys chatted with grandmothers, evidence of the strong family culture to watch the World Cup match, relayed on screens from the plethora of seaside bars and restaurants.

I even noticed a few teenage boys taking a moment to chat with their grandmothers, evidence that the culture here is very strongly based around families.

As far as eating in Barbate

ABUELOS: Getting away from it all

goes, you can’t go wrong with seafood… and it is here, where Andaulcia’s best fish restaurant Campero can be found.

The Atlantic Ocean is a prime location for tuna, to which identical metal tuna sculptures on the paseos of Barbate and Zahara stand testimony.

After one of the freshest plates of sashimi at Casa Oscar, we headed to El Océano for mojitos at a reasonable €3 a throw, the perfect accompaniment to people-watching.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten my swimwear but I enjoyed the chance to kick back and observe the goings-on in this nofrills pueblo.

In the town centre I chanced upon some intriguing street art. The graffiti here is truly incredible, a symbol of the soul that is Barbate.

My favourite was a charming message that read: ‘Prometo enamorarte como el primer día’ (I promise to love you like the first day).

Turning a corner along one of Barbate’s winding streets, I ran into a well-stocked health food shop/pharmacy, specialising in herbal remedies and offbeat culinary ingredients like tamari paste.

My only serious complaint about Barbate is it’s ‘Forest of Trash’ as I called it: a little enclave of trees on the edge of town where the wind has blown rubbish from nearby dustbins.

The litter seems to have accumulated over years, making it Barbate’s personal landfill. It’s a shame this eyesore detracts from the town’s otherwise warm welcome.

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osta de la

HURRIC

It is three decades since the talented Whaley brothers launched the first windsurf businesses on the Costa de la Luz

I

T was during an unscheduled stop off en route from his home in Ibiza to a holiday in southern Morocco that Peter Whaley first came across Tarifa.

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

It was 1 9 8 4 and he had soon found a partner (an Australian board m a k e r B a r r y

HORSE SHOW

DYNAMOS: Peter and Therese and (right) James run the businesses, while (right) at Valdevaqueros beach club builder, bought an old ruined 12-room hostal on the beach just up the road.

A third brother James, a film director and producer from London, was also soon involved.

A big figure in the film business

IDYLLIC: Pool at the Hurricane and (above left) chefs at Valdevaqueros and (top) a punter there

YEGUADA EL HIERRO – CORTIJO EL INDIVISO – VEJER DE LA FRONTERA

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LOOKING for a great horseback adventure on the Costa de la Luz then look no further than Hurricane Hipica, in Tarifa.

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20h30 July – August every Friday 5 September 26 September 10 October 17 October

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Pussell) to help him open the coast’s first rental business.

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

“It was a low key launch and we had no idea how well it was going to go,” explains Peter today over a beer in his buzzing Ibiza-style beach club Valdevaqueros.

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

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

But, Peter quickly realised that in order to keep the growing number of surfers happy they needed to offer accommodation, so the following year he and his brother Michael, a

27/03/2014 13:13

the nearby mountains. Run by world-class equestrian Klaartje Muijser, from Holland, the horses are incredibly well looked after, living shoe-free and out in open fields at night.

Another option for punters visiting Vejer de la Frontera is the amazing new riding centre at Cortijo El Indiviso, where there are an incredible 65 horses and ponies on standby.

A great place for a private lesson or to organise a hike, Indiviso also holds a series of equestrian events at the finca.

The one hour show on Friday nights features 20 horses as well as flamenco and a great barbecue.

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

– as well as the manager of Adam and the - it was little surprise that the Hurricane was to become one of Andalucia’s hippes most successful places to stay.

“I convinced my brothers that we would n make enough money from 12 rooms, so w tained permission from the town hall to an extra 23,” explains James, who is very m still the life and soul of the Hurricane – nearby Punta Sur hotel – today. “An arch from Ibiza was also drafted in.”

Over lunch at the Hurricane, he contin “Once opened we converted the brickl into our staff, some becoming cooks, o waiters, others receptionists or gardeners “I explained to the builders that making a was as easy as making cement. All you h do was throw the right ingredients into a and stick it in the oven at the right temper for the appropriate amount of time,” he co ues.

As the local restaurants back then were b at best, the brothers installed a herb ga and started to plant and grow their own etables.

As James had lived in Italy he got a frie send rucula, or rocket seeds, and the co best restaurant was also born.

“It just grew and grew organically,” exp Peter, who still spends half the year in where he has a farmhouse. “But now we we have just the right ingredients to contin be successful for years to come.”

Nowadays the group comprises three ho The Hurricane, Punta Sur and Valdevaqu (100% Fun was sold five years ago) - as w a beach club, which is shared with internat wind and surf pany tral.

A b bar/ taur Tu m has ily bec one o most iona places hang in An cia, its dis laid Ibizavibe.

The HIP: Graffiti clothes shop

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July 9 - July 23 2014

Pictures and report by Jon Clarke

CANE FORCE

e Ants Hotel st and

never we obbuild much – and hitect

nues: layers others s. a cake had to mixer rature ontin-

door Graffiti clothes shop is the epitome of cool, stylish light colours and revealing lines.

But that is not where the empire ends, for James has business interests in London and nearby Vejer, while he and Peter have just opened a five star hotel in the north of Brazil.

“Called Hurricane Jeri it is the first stylish five star hotel in Jericoacoara and we believe in winter a lot of the cool northern European crowd will choose to go there,” explains Peter.

Given his previous eye for business, it is probably very likely to be the case.

Making waves

The Whaley story is not over yet with the next generation already making waves.

Peter’s son Liam Whaley (both pictured above) has recently won the Tarifa kitesurf championship and is now ranked fourth in the world, and sponsored by kite company Cabrinha.

Part of the 12 stage world tour, he has been kiting since the age of nine and was the main reason his parents relocated from Ibiza to Tarifa two years ago.

“There is never a shortage of wind here,” he tells the Olive Press. “And it is one of the most fun places to live.”

Travelling the world, often with this family, he likes nothing more than kiting from Mistral, which rents boards and kites at Valdevaqueros (see below).

HIP: The bar staff at Tumbao and (right) beach

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1 day trip incl. yacht, lunch and equipment rental for 150€ p.p.

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osta de la Luz

July 9 - July 23 2014

TRUE DYNAMO

Tarifa is in the top six key property hotspots in Spain, claims agent Tony Cassidy

T

ARIFA sits alongside Marbella and Mallorca as one of the key property hotspots in Spain, claims one of its agents.

Tony Cassidy, 66, of Tarifa Direct, insists that the town is

also up there with Ibiza, Madrid and Barcelona in terms of demand and price.

“It is one of the true dynamos of Spain and demand is incredibly high,” explains Cassidy (pictured right), from Leeds, who has been based in the town for a decade.

“We are just waiting for a big developer like Taylor Wimpey to

A series of charming old properties in town demand surprisingly high prices arrive here and things will really take off,” adds the fatherof-three. He cites the recent sale of a small apartment on the beach at €250,000 as evidence of what a strong market the town has.

“It is a really small place yet still went for a lot of money… and I have a villa for sale with a tennis court and swimming pool near the Punta Sur hotel for €3 million, which in Rosario, near Marbella, would be worth €1.5 million.”

It is the same issue with the se-

ries of charming old properties in town, which demand surprisingly high prices.

“They are selling for too much money – at two, three, four million – and after you have spent the money you need to renovate them so it is not really viable,” estimates Cassidy.

But ultimately buyers are not looking in Tarifa for big places

and luxury. They are coming here for the lifestyle, he continues.

“Yes you get less for your money, but you have the most amazing countryside and beaches.

“On top of this Tarifa is the adventure capital of Europe with kiting, biking, kitesurfing and bird watching available.”

rentals@tarifadirect.com (+34) 693 70 33 78

· Luxury Rental Accommodation · Townhouses & Apartments · Modern Comfortable Furniture

· Stunning Fully-fitted Kitchens · Themed Decoration · Close to the Beach, Shops & Other Amenities

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July 9 - July 23 2014

Perfect Petri

ALLURING: Sancti Petri and (inset) its island from above, while (top right) view to Cadiz from Chiclana

I

James Bryce has a poke around Chiclana and Sancti Petri, where ancient leaders Hannibal and Caesar are said to have taken their time off

HAD popped into a salt of the earth fisherman’s bar after a morning of sightseeing and was given an instant reminder of Chiclana’s links to the high seas.

The walls were adorned with Petri to renovate properties in black and white photographs the settlement.

As I wandered around the dating back to the 1920s.

In one, a crowd of locals nearby modern marina beyond watched on as fishermen the village, I was reassured to hauled the carcass of a huge see that the area still has a whale onto the quayside, while strong maritime theme running other images showed fisher- through it. men chatting as they tended A large number of boats were moored, accompanied by the their nets. occasional Separated from clanking the coast by six Legend has it sound of kilometres of tidmetal clasps al salt flats, Chithat the island knocking clana has always against the was once home had close ties masts in the with the ocean. to the Temple of breeze, while The almadraba a handful of fishing techHercules anglers sat nique used to patiently by catch tuna is famous along this stretch and at their lines. one time fishermen using this A small selection of restaurants method would head out into and sailing clubs attended to the Atlantic from the thriving the lunch crowd, alongside companies operating out of nearby village of Sancti Petri.

Sadly the village is now aban- portacabins offering a variety doned, sitting largely in ruins, of water sports. with long-forgotten fishing The strong winds, which are a boats serving as a poignant regular fixture on this stretch of coast, make it the ideal spot for reminder of its seafaring past.

It is claimed that Franco com- sailing, and a cursory glance mandeered the village as a out to sea indicated there were holiday retreat for his family no shortage of people taking while he was in power, forcing full advantage.

For the slightly less energetic, the villagers out.

It then fell into disrepair fol- boat trips run twice daily to the lowing the dictator’s death, Castle of Sancti Petri, located although there is talk of some on an island just off shore. villagers moving back to Sancti The island is situated at the

IDYLLIC: Chiclana Harbour

mouth of the Sancti Petri channel between San Fernando and Chiclana and is steeped in history.

Legend has it that the island was once home to the Temple of Hercules, widely regarded as one of the most important religious buildings in the Ancient World.

Roman historians claimed that the remains of the mythical God were buried beneath the temple and Hercules’ legacy is acknowledged today in the form of a street name and an imposing statue located at the entrance to the marina.

Classical sources claim the famed Carthaginian military commander, Hannibal, came to the island to offer sacrifices to Hercules before embarking upon his conquest of Roman Italy.

Meanwhile Julius Caesar is said to have had a dream which foretold his domination of the world while staying at the castle.

In the evenings, the emphasis shifts from the centre of Chiclana to the nearby beach front promenade of La Barrosa.

The beach attracts plenty of sun worshippers during the day and was voted by the Sunday Times as one of the top five beaches in Spain last year.

But as day becomes night the bars and restaurants come alive with families and couples alike, drawn in by the promise of fantastic sunsets and seafood.

As I tucked into a variety of dishes, including octopus and tuna, against a backdrop of excitable chatter, it was easy to see why the area is so popular with Spaniards.

And as I sat there listening to the waves despite not being able to see them, I was reminded of the town’s links to the sea.

Chiclana may be a town that is slow to reveal it-

self, but those who take the time to explore it will find a diverse and enjoyable stop off along the Costa de la Luz.

EXPATS AHOY Chiclana counts the largest number of expat businesses on the Costa de la Luz. It has long been popular with the more discerning English, who don’t fancy slumming it up on the Costa del Sol. A number of excellent businesses have set up to work with the expat market, including lawyers Temple Cambria, and Monopoly, a popular English supermarket.

Local tradesmen include Steve Harris, who is a whiz when it comes to all TV and satellite issues, as well as RM gardens and maintainance. Finally Geoff Chiclana can undertake all sorts of paving, guttering and stone cladding projects.

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July 9 - July 23 2014

WHERE TO STAY

Sleep tight There are so many fantastic places to stay on the Costa de la Luz, writes Jon Clarke

T

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

In Vejer you would be hard

pressed to beat the seminal Casa de Califa, in the town’s loveliest square, surrounded by its best restaurants.

The Moorish building sits around a charming central patio, where guests take break-

STUNNING: Sindhura

Cortijo El Indiviso Vejer de la Frontera / Cadiz

Sobran las palabras ... Au delà des mots...

Beyond words... Mehr als nur worte

Cortijo El Indiviso, Yeguada El Hierro S.r.l., Crta Manazanete 9, km 1.1, 11150 Vejer de la Frontera Telefono clientes: 0034 687 33 87 41 (Reservado para los clientes: 8:00 - 20:00) email: info@elindiviso.com

www.elindiviso.com

HIP: La Vista’s view and pool fast and dine under candlelight each evening.

Historic in the extreme, the building oozes history and has been extremely well renovated.

However if you are after something more rustic, then you will love Hotel El Indiviso, where Swiss watchmaker Didier and his wife have just opened a charming boutique hotel.

Set in rolling Vejer bull-rearing territory, the 200 year old farmhouse has metre thick walls and little to suggest much has changed for a couple of centuries.

Beautifully renovated, it counts its old cobbles, doors and window ‘rejas’, and has been stylishly decorated with comfort at a premium.

Children will love the play area and pool, while active adults

In Canos de Meca you will find Madreselva set around a pool for kids to splash in will be thrilled with the attached riding stables, where guests can rent one of the 65 well cared for stallions and head out from the door on some stunning local rides.

Another great country option on the other side of town is Hotel Sindhuru, which is peace personified with some of the most amazing views.

Run by friendly Ana and her husband, it has a lovely pool and, best of all, its own exceptionally good Italian restaurant Pepperoncino.

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

A short drive inland and you will find the charming hotel La Vista in the white town of Medina Sidonia, which is fantastically sited for visits to all the main towns, as well as Jerez, Cadiz and Sanlucar.

Sitting in one of the most amazing top-of-the-town locations it has views to die for and a restaurant to boot. Its leafy garden is one of those classic chill out spots, you never want to leave.

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

On the beach, the best estab-

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WHERE TO STAY

AUTHENTIC: Hotel el Indiviso is a beautifully converted 200 year old farmhouse lished is the Hurricane, which is now 25 years old and run by the coast’s long-serving expats, brothers James and

Peter Whalley, who also own the more luxurious Punta Sur across the road.

Both hotels have their own res-

taurants and serve up a great range of activities on the beach and in the hotel, including pilates and yoga classes every day plus a brand new spa.

Two other excellent options in the heart of Tarifa itself are the Pink House and Casa Amarilla.

The Pink House, where Sir Winston Churchill once stayed, has an amazing roof terrace with views across to Africa and some superb value rooms. It has free wifi and a laundry service.

Casa Amarilla offers great value apartments in the heart of the town right next to all the hotels. The charming 19th century building has central heating for winter and is near all the shops and just 200m from the beach.

Last, but definitely not least, if you are looking for one of the best beachside escapes then Hotel Antonio in Zahara de los Atunes is wonderful.

Sitting right on one of Andalucia’s top beaches, this is a great value and professionally run hotel with an amazing restaurant to match.

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Culinary adventure WHERE TO EAT STAY

There is a fantastic range of places to eat and drink on the Costa de la Luz, writes Jon Clarke

L

IKE Joe 90 from Thunderbirds, Victor grafts away in his kitchen with trademark scientist-style glasses.

A former architect, this tastemeister today designs plates as he would have once laid out floor plans.

But there is nothing about la Pescaderia, in Tarifa, that does not stand up. Over a decade old he is easily running the best fish restaurant in town.

A massive tuna fan, boss Victor goes out of his way to prize the very best specimens out of the clutches of the Japanese... and this year bought an impressive 216 kilo fish straight after it was cut up at an event in Marbella by celebrity chef Dani Garcia.

“It is vital as our clients absolutely love it,” explains the friendly Argentinian.

Enjoy the separate tuna menu including a great carpaccio,

STALWARTS: Pepe at Trattoria and Javi at Ternera Mimosa sashimi and best of all tartare, all washed down by some excellent wines, including Guitian at just €16.

Next door look out for the recently re-opened Trattoria, a fabulous Italian just taken over by local business magnate Luciano from Naples.

While keeping true to the popular menu of previous owner Paolo, there is a little more seafood and some more organic and better quality vegetables,

delivered each day by Alberto, thanks to Luciano’s fondness for his country’s Slow Food Movement.

Also on Calle Alameda you will find a great French restaurant Petit Bistro (see review over), as well as the excellent fatherand-son Daniel and Javier’s restaurants La Ternera Mimosa and Lola Mora.

Open for 11 years, both have a Mediterranean flavour, while La Ternera Mimosa now has

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WHERE TO EAT

ero in the workaday fishing town of Barbate.

Here, Jose ‘Pepe’ Melero has catered for celebrities, politicians and fellow chefs for two CREATIVE: Tuna slices and (right) Victor at Pescaderia with Dani Garcia decades and runs the restaurant with military precision, ofits own charcoal grill and some 50 years of combined catering ten serving well over 300 peoamazing artisan pizzas and experience. ple for lunch alone (see food grilled fish.

Outside of Tarifa en route to and drink feature this issue on Lola Mora is better known for Bolonia you will find one of the page 60). fish and has the prestige of hav- region’s most alluring restauPepe coincidentally also has ing won the first best tuna tapa rants. another restaurant Taberna competition (a tuna tartare Overlooking rows of vines and de Campero in the charming in puff pastry with a beetroot a sea of undulating umbrella village of Zahara. salmorejo) at last year’s event. pines, ‘Tesoro’ – or Treasure – One place that really must be Coincidentally Javier’s brother is one pot of gold that really is visited in Zahara is Antonio’s, Rodrigo (and wife Patricia) also worth seeking out. one of the best established hoown a brilliant Argentinian joint Aside from the fabulous food tels on the coast. Sitting on a Patagonia, with some of the - including fresh langoustines fantastic white sandy beach, town’s best steaks. and a classic ‘retinto’ steak this restaurant is amazing and If it is beach dining you are typical of the region – the views run with completely professionharking for then a true chest- over the Gibraltar straits to Afal aplomb, its fish some of the nut is Bien Estar, right on the rica are impossible to improve. best in Spain. beach. It is open all year and Heading up the coast if it is AtOver in Vejer you have one of claims to be the southernmost lantic blue fin tuna you are afAndalucia’s top culinary towns restaurant in Europe. It was set ter, Andalucia’s best place to (see page 28), with stunning up by three friends with over eat it must surely be El Campplaces to eat, including El Jardin de Califa, which sits in an atmospheric candlelit patio, as well as Brasa de Sancho.

Nearby look for Castilleria, where dynamo Juan Valdes ONE large dollop of serves up some of the best classy French cookmeat dishes in Cadiz province, ing has been added while his neighbour La Tajea to Tarifa’s competiand authentic Venta el Toro, are tive dining scene. also worth looking out for.

Petit Bistro has Nearby, try to visit Restaurant been refurbished and reborn Patria, where Thomas and wife with a new menu combining Ase are fast garnering a reputaowners Veronica Rodriguez and tion as having some of the best Benoit Mangeon’s French influfood in the area, and nearby ences with the best local proPeperoncino, at Hotel Sindduce. hura, where you have easily one The pair, who have been in Tarof the coast’s best Italians. ifa for 15 years, have created one of the must visit restaurants in town.

The pair started out selling crepes in a backstreet of the town before launching their own cheese with crunchy rosti crepe business Santa Fe.But Pe- nests, caramelized onion jelly tit Bistro is a complete departure. and balsamic freshness.

We started with a refreshing ba- Benoit’s addition of cinnamonsil-perfumed gazpacho, followed spiced apple to Greek classic by thin cut foie gras made by moussaka is also a touch of Benoit (right) himself, presented genius. immaculately with quince chut- But it wouldn’t be petit bistro ney and tomato marmalade. without crepes, and an extenThe ‘crujiante’ is a wholly intrigu- sive list is available for those ing dish, combining rich French with a sweet tooth.

Gallic flair

Petit Bistro, Paseo de la Alameda, Tarifa, 956682303

TALENT: Ham-cutting at Antonio’s

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Property Property

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Baby eviction sparks riot POLICE have arrested six people in Madrid who tried to stop the eviction of a family with a newborn baby.

The arrests were made as protesters tried to halt the eviction of parents Jorge and Yolanda and their three young children, aged eight, seven and just 20 days old.

The latest eviction scandal to

hit Spanish headlines, police sources claim one of the protesters tried to seize a gun from an officer.

But Manuel San Pastor, lawyer for the anti-evictions group PAH, criticised the ‘extreme violence’ used by police during the eviction. He added that, ‘for every eviction that takes place, PAH will look for an empty prop-

Every picture tells a story

THE Spanish property market is bouncing back with a boom, according to many pundits.

Want to know the whys and wherefores? The guys at the Investor Academy, in collaboration with Marbella-based Alta Vista property, designed this neat infographic breaking down the reasons behind Spain’s current property boom.

Check it out to put yourself in the picture!

Gold strike SPAIN’S Golden Visa scheme is working its magic, attracting more high-end, non-EU property investors to Andalucia.

For the first time, Chinese, Russians and Americans were among the most active foreign buyers in Spain during the first quarter of 2014, according to data published by the General Council of Notaries. Andalucia saw one of the greatest rises in property sales – an increase of 32.5% – with particular interest in Marbella and Malaga.

The Golden Visa scheme provides

New visa scheme sparks gold rush of wealthy buyers

residency visas to non-EU nationals who are seeking real estate investment opportunities in Spain.

Purchases greater than €500,000 qualify the investor for a visa, offering travel and educational opportunities for their family too.

This is the first data that indicates an increase in sales due to the Golden Visa scheme.

erty’ to house the homeless families.

Kutxabank – the bank involved – said it had pdelayed eviction until after the birth, and claims that the family was squatting illegally in the apartment.

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 201441 41

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Property A new boom or a bottomfeeding frenzy? www.theolivepress.es

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The Property Insider

by Ad am Neale

A

T first glance, southern Spain’s property market seems in much better health, with some agents and clients even using the ‘B’-for-boomword again.

There are signs of a rebound. A reliable barometer of trade is new businesses setting up shop. Travel Marbella’s Golden Mile and you’ll find at least five agents have opened in the last 12 months. Puerto Banus is awash with shiny office suites and salespeople, hoping to reel in a well-heeled client or two.

Elsewhere on the coast, colleagues are taking on more staff to cope with fresh demand. At Terra Meridiana we are also hiring to serve the rising wave of buyers and sellers who walk through our door.

This is good news for the local economy: more jobs, more taxes, and more benefits for all who live and work in the area. But some aspects of this market also remind me of the last boom.

I was in a developer’s offices a few weeks ago, when my client made what I felt was a very solid offer on a new home. The developer’s representative replied that the price was non-negotiable and if my client didn’t put down a deposit immediately, the unit would surely sell the following week. It didn’t, I hasten to add, but, five weeks later, it had.

In one of his first columns for The Olive Press this year, Adam Neale wondered whether the market had bottomed out and a recovery was on us. He’s still not sure

Blowing bubbles?

The doomsayer of the 2008 crisis, Nouriel Roubini, predicts another bubble is forming in Northern European hot spots, in a world driven by cheap debt and what he calls ‘inflation-hedgers’. He doesn’t mention Spain, however, which is not surprising, as we are clearly not in boom territory.

So what is happening? My view is, there is a general feeling among most clients that we have hit bottom and now is as good a time to buy as any. Whether current activity is just a feeding frenzy, or the start of a real, sustainable recovery, is still impossible to tell.

Unlike last time around, when there was always another home to sell, we have a problem finding stock, particularly in premium locations at the higher end of the property ladder. The market is tightening and it’s tougher to source quality properties. Bargains are also harder to find, as you’d expect, especially in desirable areas. This is, undoubtedly, having a positive effect on the market.

The Plot Thickens At the same time, there’s now a market for plots, where once there was none, because buyers cannot find what they want already built and ever more clients are considering fixing up older properties to their tastes. We may not see a skyline of cranes for some time (and, hopefully, never again) but look around and you’ll see construction in many areas.

Prices are still low down here; try to find an equivalent property in the south of France and you’ll have to pay many times more. Price will be the real test of recovery, I reckon. In a boom, people are confident about buying because prices keep going up. In the current market, they are buying with confidence because they think Spain can’t possibly get any cheaper.

Increased activity one day leads to rising prices the next. The leading valuations firm, Tinsa, recently announced average house prices fell by just 4% in May, compared to more than 10% in the same month last year, indicating a plateau, perhaps, has been reached as things bottom out.

We have already begun to see a re-balancing of power from buyers to vendors.

Only when prices really begin to rise will we be able to tell if all this market activity is sustainable. I would like to think it will but, please, let’s see gradual growth, rather than another bubble about to go ‘boom!’

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. http://www.terrameridiana.com

PROPERY SALES • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • PROjEcT MANAGEMENT PLANNiNG • REfuRbiShMENT • TuRNkEY cONSTRucTiON George T Klein, founder of Klein & Partner, has many years of experience and expertise working in the property market of Marbella and its surrounds on Spain's renowned Costa del Sol. The result is that, today, Klein & Partner is recognized as being one of the most established and reputable real-estate agencies in the area - a company that goes far beyond mere property sales and purchase, but provides a whole realm of additional support services.

Tel: (+34) 952765636

E: klein@kleinandpartner.com

www.kleinandpartner.com

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Looking To Sell Your Property?

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The Olive Press fortnightly business section taking a look at the Spanish economy and offering tips on how to save AND make money

Stay-at-home Brits BRITAIN’S passport crisis could leave a huge dent in Spain’s tourism coffers this summer as its number one market gives foreign travel a miss.

While the passport office battles to shift the massive processing backlog, more and more Brits are playing it safe and planning to holiday at home.

Added to the rise in ‘staycations’ in the UK, Spain could miss out big-time on British visitors who

UK passport chaos threatens Costa tourism

are usually the backbone of its tourist economy.

According to the Office of National Statistics’ International Passenger Survey, British foreign travel fell by 17% between 2008 and 2013, and is likely to see a further 3% drop this year.

Dan Yates, founder of UK

Tablet takeover

TABLET computers rule in the UK where 50% of British households own iPads or other tablet devices.

In 2013, just four years after Apple’s release of the iPad, 9.5 million tablets were sold, up from 5.6 million in 2012.

And the touch-screen revolution rolls on. New research from Mintel reveals that one in five Brits are planning to buy or upgrade to a tablet computer in the next three months.

camping website Pitchup. com, has reported a huge surge in demand for his 5,000 properties.

Luxury camping – the phe-

nomenon now widely known as ‘glamping’ – has also seen a meteoric rise as Brits decide to stay closer to home and to hell with the weather forecast.

Uncle Sam saves Andalucia

ANDALUCIA has become Spain’s top exporter of goods to the USA and it’s largely thanks to the Yanks’ love of olive oil.

According to the ExtendaTrade Promotion Agency of Andalucia, the autonomous community has brought in €537.4 million in the first four months of 2014, up 47.2% on the same period last year. Fuels and mineral oils were the top export products, earning some €255.2 million.

In second place were animal and vegetable oils, making CARRY-ON GLAMPING: Brits are enjoying the cusup 14.8% of the total at €84.2 hy side to camping as opposed to foreign travel million, with Spanish olive oil contributing a whopping 97.2% to this figure.

With this latSPAIN has finally earned a place in Wealth-X’s top 20 super-rich index. est coup, AnWith 1,625 Ultra High Net Worth families – households worth more than dalucia has €22 million ($30 million) – it enters the list in 19th place, just ahead of almost douthe American state of Pennsylvania. That translates to 0.84% of Spaniards bled its export driving Lamborghinis and taking the yacht out at the weekends. income since However, many other European nations have more cash to flash than the 2009, despite Spanish. Making the list ahead of Spain are Italy in 17th place, France the economic (11th), Switzerland (8th), the UK (4th), and there are no surprises that the crisis.

Germans top the list.

Spanish among super rich

HAND-HELD: Tablets are just what the doctor ordered

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Halal holidays SPAIN will host the first ever European conference on halal tourism in September.

One of the fastestgrowing travel industry sectors, halal tourism is worth more than €100 billion worldwide.

Gib gyp ANGRY Unicaja customers report 10% charges on money transfers to Gibraltar, including a more than 7.2% commission charge and an almost 8.2% SWIFT charge.

Super sale SUPERMARKET chain Dia bought El Arbol food distribution and supermarket for the nominal price of €1, after the company sank into €99 million-worth of debt.

Wily wi-fi SPANISH wi-fi firm Gowex has filed for bankruptcy, after its boss admitted that the firm’s accounts for the last four years had been falsified.

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Banking on Spain LATIN American firms are investing in Spain and its discredited banking sector as a springboard into the rest of Europe.

Mexican and Venezuelan companies in particular are investing in all sectors, with Spanish banks seen as especially easy prey following the crisis. Banco Popular, Liberbank and Banco Sabadell have all welcomed Mexican investors.

“Numerous companies are using Spain as a bridgehead, the gateway to Europe,” said Juan Carlos Martinez Lazaro, of the IE Business School in Madrid. “It’s a phenomenon that is going to grow as Latin American businesses gain strength, financial capacity and managerial capacity.”

BARGAIN HUNTER: Banco Popular CEO Francisco Gomez Martin

Poundland with interest POPULAR bargain retailer Poundland has opened its first Spanish store in Torremolinos.

However, fans of the shop will be shocked to learn everything costs €1.50, which is actually 19 pence more than a pound at current exchange rates.

The Dealz shop has created 40 new jobs and represents an investment of more than €500,000 in the area.

To celebrate the grand opening, Dealz is hosting a fundraising event for all the family on July 10, starting at 10am, including music and prizes.

“We are extremely excited to be introducing Dealz’s unique single-price offer into the Spanish market at a time when households are trying to survive on a tight budget,” said the store manager.

THE start of summer has brought with it more than 6,000 jobs to Malaga province, in the best June since 2011.

It was also the fourth consecutive month in a row that the unemployment rate has dropped, but experts are not getting over-excited.

Summer jobs and optimistic tourism expectations have meant an average of 220 people found work each day.

After Madrid and Barcelona, Malaga is the province with the greatest decrease in unemployment, in large part due to the 31,000 jobs cre-

Summer jobs hope ated in the last four months.

The vast majority – more than 90% - of contracts signed are for temporary work during the high tourism season.

However, the positive figures have not been celebrated yet by the government.

“It is temporary, low quality employment and contracts are sometimes fraudulent,” warned minister Antonio Herrera.

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AGONY ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

The winding road to Spanish residency S

PANISH residency applications should be straightforward - we’ve handled over 200 successfully but every now and then we’re thrown a curve-ball by Spanish immigration staff, with decisions that take a detour around the simpler and more preferable direct application of the law. In two recent cases we received inexplicable resolutions to residency applications (Investor’s and Non-Lucrative) that we thought were water-tight.

Tel. +34 95 288 22 73 C.C. Guadalmina IV Locales 97-98 29670 San Pedro de Alcántara info@opdebeeck-worth.com www.opdebeeck-worth.com N° Registro DGS: J2503, tiene suscrita póliza RC profesional y capacidad financiera según legislación vigente.

CASE 1: Russian couple purchase €750,000 property to apply for Investors Residency.

The case involved a Russian couple applying under the so-called ‘Golden Visa’ scheme, which grants permits to non-EU citizens who buy property valued at €500,000 or more.

Spanish Consulate staff, upon receiving our application, worked around the law to reject the applicants verbally. Firstly, they argued that because the law said that ‘an investor who wishes to become a resident shall apply…’ it was not possible for a

married couple to apply jointly unless they had invested double the threshold amount, €1,000,000.

The couple had invested €750,000 together. Russian law states that, by default, ‘assets acquired by spouses, during marriage are their community property’ which means that, regardless of whether either spouse buys in his/her name or jointly, the property is shared.

The response of the Spanish Consulate in Moscow was: ‘…we will be guided by future case law on the matter’; i.e. case law that will take five years to be produced.

Either that or the couple could spend thousands of euros transferring one applicant’s share to the other to achieve the same result.

CASE 2: Moroccan single woman.

The lady in question owned 12 properties in Tangier, giving her a monthly income of just under €12,000 (well above the €2,000-amonth minimum required to ap-

ply). She also had €170,000 in a Moroccan bank account, €130,000 in Spain, a jointly-owned property in Estepona and no need to work for the rest of her life. The application included original documentary evidence of the above (duly translated) and so, according to the precepts of the law, should have been be plain sailing.

But it was not: the Spanish Consul, in Morocco, seemingly wanting to stamp his authority on lawmakers as well as his staff, rejected the application for the following incomprehensible reason: ‘applicant did not show enough income’!

Perhaps in a fit of remorse, immediately following the rejection he called our client back in to offer a four-year multiple entry visa, allowing her unlimited travel to Spain.

But it was clear to us that the Consul had decided he would not apply the law to this case, for reasons only he knows.

Fortunately, both these cases are exceptions to the rule.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es

49

www.theolivepress.es

Fashion Queen Style icon Letizia boosts Spain’s crisis-hit clothing industry EVER since her coronation, Queen Letizia has been turning heads – but she’s willing to share the attention with Spain’s fashion industry.

Spanish designers and clothing companies have the new queen to thank for a recent upsurge in attention to the country’s fashions, with the world’s press touting her as the ‘new royal style icon’ less than two weeks into her reign.

Letizia sports Spanish labels whenever she can, choosing both couture designers like Felipe Varela and high street brands like Zara, Mango and Uterqüe.

Her fashion choices are a welcome boost to Spain’s crisishit clothing industry and have also been drawing attention to catwalk events like Madrid

Fashion Week, which has long languished behind London’s.

On the arm of newly-crowned King Felipe Vl for state visits to Rome to meet the Pope last week, and Portugal this week, it’s Queen Letizia the paparazzi have been following as she wows the media with her wardrobe of skyscraper heels, sheath dresses and tailored jackets.

Following in the footsteps of other best-dressed royals like Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge and the late Princess Diana, the 41-year-old mother-of-two has been loving the attention. As has Spain’s crisis-hit fashion industry.

Perhaps they see in the style queen Spain’s new economic growth model.

Just another manic Sunday MARBELLA has been given the green light for Sunday and national holiday trading.

Permission to open businesses on the day of rest and during fiestas has been granted by the Spanish government because of the town’s importance as a tourist destination.

The glitzy resort is one of Spain’s key commercial at-

From Russia with love

SPAIN is the country worst-hit by a Russian cyberbug that has infected over 1,000 US and European energy firms.

The malware, dubbed ‘Energetic Bear’, allows hackers to cripple power plants, granting them real time access to electrical installations, gas pipelines and wind turbines, among other energy systems.

Last year Energetic Bear infiltrated three leading

energy control systems companies, causing firms worldwide to download the malware.

The virus is said to resemble the US-Israeli programme Stuxnet, which succeeded in infiltrating Iran's uranium enrichment plant, the security firm Symantec has revealed.

Of the 84 countries affected, Symantec senses the highest level of activity (27%) in Spain, followed by 24% in the United States.

tractions, bringing many wealthy tourists from Europe and the Middle East.

A law currently in place restricts shops around the country from opening on Sundays and national holidays.

However, cities can apply to have designated zones where trading restrictions can be relaxed to cater to tourist demand.

Permissions

Another 10 cities will join the Sunday trading list including Almeria, La Coruna and Santander.

Andalucian tourist hotspots Sevilla and Malaga were among the 24 cities first granted permissions.

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

Chasing income

F

OR investors and savers, the income dilemma remains one of those elusive challenges created by today’s low interest rate environment.

Even though the Bank of England expects UK interest rates to rise “sooner than the market anticipates”, any progress in this regard will be very slow. Set this against the potential for inflation rates to increase over the same period and there’s precious little comfort for those hoping to see real income from capital.

The other thing to remember is that interest earned will typically be assessable for tax.

If you have used all of your allowances against pension income, perhaps, then the net return will be even lower.

So what are the alternatives?

Traditionally, the Gilt and Sovereign Debt Bond markets have been a safe haven for providing Fixed Income but yields remain historically low. Plus, with US Federal Reserve talk of measures being introduced to stop a run

Richard Alexander suggests ways to make your money work for you

on Bond funds, these probably don’t represent a realistic alternative at the moment.

What about the stock markets? The average yield on the FTSE 100 Share Index, for example, is currently running at around 3.4% which is not unattractive. But then, market values are relatively high at present and there’s always the concern that they may fall in the short term. Ironically, this increases the yield but if fluctuating capital val-

ues worry you, then the stock market may not be the right place either.

The common denominator here, when trying to assess alternative options, is that the view is based on a very shortterm or immediate return situation. If a fund or investment option offering a onestop-shop solution existed, it would be well advertised and you would probably be invested there already!

There is a solution, although

it’s one that requires some lateral thinking and longerterm planning to be successful. It involves reviewing your resources and expenditures and identifying your income needs and when they will arise. It’s also important to consider future influences that may change any of these factors, in order to determine your needs over the mediumto-long term.

You might conclude that you will have to spend some capital in the short term to enable longer-term investments to grow before extracting income from them. You might, for example, plan to spend some capital to help meet your regular income needs; alternatively, you could purchase a temporary annuity to provide set income for a short period. What we’re really talking about here is taking the first tentative steps towards a proper financial planning solution.

Approached carefully, it could be the perfect solution for you.

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

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 201449 49

50 50 the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

OP Columnists

Belinda Beckett, aka the Mistress of Sizzle, celebrates the World Cup in her own way

www.theolivepress.es

Fantasy football T

HREE cheers for Spain

soccer stars in the world, inand England for getting cluding one who bites! kicked out of the World I had to laugh at one TV punCup. dit’s quip when asked what That’s not very sporting, I positives either team could know. But watching grown take back home with them. men in sweaty shirts snog He replied: “I think some each other when they get a rooms are refundable!” ball between This year, two wooden there are no posts does neighbours nothing at all camped out The untimely exit of both for me. on beach teams has made the Not that chairs in the 2014 FIFA World Cup the we’ve seen street watchmuch of that biggest non-event since the ing their TVs Millennium Bug going on of at top vollate… ume.

And The untimeevery Tomas, ly exit of both Ricardo and teams has made the 2014 Harry is not down at the local FIFA World Cup the biggest sports bar tunelessly chantnon-event since the Millen- ing ‘aqui vamos, aqui vamos’ nium Bug, certainly in my own (or whatever the Spanish village. Spanish flags and equivalent is to ‘ere we go, Union Jacks drooping at half- ere we go’). mast from rooftops are the According to a Virgin Money only reminder of this huge survey, men think about ‘the international humiliation: the beautiful game’ once every public trouncing of two teams 12 minutes and World Cup comprising the highest-paid supporting is a full-time pre-

VICTORY: England’s long-distant World Cup win

ZIPPY: Zidane’s famous footwork

occupation. Suddenly, guys who wouldn’t spend five seconds discussing a family crisis become couch football intellectuals overnight, analysing a particular goal, tackle or referee decision in semiarticulate depth for hours on end.

Men who can’t even remember the date of their wedding anniversary can list the names and inside leg measurements of Bobby Moore’s dream team from England’s only World Cup win, way back in 1966. Just watch them go all misty eyed over that amazing pass by Pele/magic goal by Maradonna/zippy

footwork of Zidane and other stories that have passed into soccer legend, to be dredged up during every World Cup. It’s not only the match postmortems that drone on into the early hours of every beer-soaked morning. It’s the cacophony of bellowing during the game, the deafening cheers, agonised groans (and, occasionally, actual

Apart from the peace, the best thing to come out of the abject failure of Spain and England is the jokes on Twitter MISTY-EYED: A stunned England fan

tears) with the addition, here in Spain, of a motorcade of horn hooting when the national squad gets through to the next round.

Apart from the peace and quiet, the best thing to come out of the abject failure of Spain and England in Brazil

is the jokes on Twitter. I can’t tell them in the local or I’d be lynched, but here are a few that tickled my fancy.

In the 16th century, Spain colonized Chile. Now Chile has ‘cojonized’ Spain.

Ah yes, Wimbledon next, where English players will be more successful at getting the ball in the net.

Recipe of the day: Take

Spain, add Chile, beat for 90 minutes.

England couldn’t beat the staff at Costa Coffee, let alone Costa Rica.

Spain are blaming their loss this evening on the weather.

Apparently it was 2 Chile.

England have been eliminated from the tournament before they have finished their course of malaria tablets.

Fever pitch W

ITH the World Cup more than well and truly upon us, I finally decided to get into the spirit of the

All white on the night I didn’t make the annual San Juan festivities this year. Living on the lake there isn’t much incentive to have a midnight paddle and when you’ve lived the kind of lifestyle that I have it will take more than leaping over a bonfire to purge me of my sins.

In fact I’d still be hurdling the flames now.

But what always makes me laugh is the religious aspect to San Juan. So you dress in white, go done to the water and leap over purifying flames. And then try and tell me that it’s not a pagan ceremony...

thing.

Although to be honest I’m more of a fan of the oval shaped ball. I was once described as an ‘impact player’ by my rugby team manager, but what exact ‘impact’ I was apparently having, he wasn’t actually sure.

So to add a little spice to the whole proceedings, once England and Spain had fallen at the first hurdle, I decided to enjoy the football in a Hunter S Thompson, ‘Gonzo’ journalist fashion.

Champagne

I sipped champagne when France played, grabbed a few Heinekens when the Dutch took to the field and enjoyed a ca when the hosts Brazil showed of their silky skills.

And in the same spirit Colombia’s matches proved far too much fun round at mine!

www.theolivepress.es

GOLF In the swing of it

51 July 10 - July 23 2014

Sporting strip-tees A GOLF tee in the shape of a naked woman has sparked a global debate over sexism and abuse of women.

The headless ‘nudie tee’ – produced by golf brand Dunlop – is now the subject of a petition calling for them to be banned,

attracting media coverage in the USA and Britain.

Joanna Sharpen, from the UK government’s ‘This is Abuse’ campaign, has led calls for the ‘awful products’ to be banned.

A packet of six from Ebay or Amazon costs €2.50.

GLOBAL UPSET: Nudietees

From green to screen Film charts rags-to-riches story of Spain’s late golfing hero Seve Ballesteros

LEGENDARY golfer Seve Ballesteros’ journey from humble beginnings to the global stage has been portrayed in a new film, released this week.

Seve, a tribute to the Spanish sporting hero who died in 2011, combines archival footage with dramatised reconstructions of the golfer’s

EPIC EPITAPH: Ballesteros, immortalised in a movie tough childhood on the family farm in northern Spain.

It marks 25 years since Ball-

From tee to green Real McCoy

Bob Gaston on a top local tournament THIS year’s Andalucia Golf Challenge tees off at Rio Real on July 12, one of six tournaments to be played out over the coast’s best golf courses this summer.

Rio Real is one of the finest and longest-established courses on the Costa del Sol and there are glittering prizes to be won at this event, which will be played in two categories: 1st category: 0.0 – 14.4 Handicap 2nd category: 14.5 – 28.4 Handicap Entry Fee: €65/€80 with shared buggy.

Winners in each category will bag flights to Turkey, several top-

brand golf products and a case of Somontano Gran Reserva wines. Those finishing second and third will also be handsomely rewarded with golf products worth hundreds of euros and cases of wine.

Additionally, there will be special prizes for some ‘Nearest the pins’ and ‘Longest drives’, and the ‘Best-qualified lady’.

Plus, everyone taking part will receive prizes from Casino de Marbella and new golf shop, Fairway + Blue.

In all, a tournament not to be missed.

To book your place, call Rio Real Golf Club, 952 765 733, email reserves@ rioreal.com or contact me on 952 936 803, email info@gastongolf.com

Email info@gastongolf.com or call 952 936 803

esteros won his first of five majors at the British Open.

It is directed by Britain’s

Swing it to win it THE Olive Press is sponsoring its first golf tournament.

The event at five star hotel Finca Cortesin, in Casares, is a twist on the normal type of tournament and is also raising money for charity.

The Twitface Open – an amateur Open marketed through Twitter and Facebook, hence the name – will take place in November.

Open to golfers of all abilities, the tournament launched in 2012 and has garnered a reputation as one of the most professional amateur events in golf. Also sponsored by local companies, including Ibex, Golfino, and BF Solicitors, the competition is offering a prize fund of €3,500.

It will take place on November 10 and 11 and entry costs €289, including two rounds of competition golf, buggies, driving range balls, prizes and drinks.

For more information visit www.twitfaceopen.com or call 671 027 229

John-Paul Davidson of Boys from Brazil fame, who has also made TV documentaries with Michael Palin and Stephen Fry. The film charts the golfer’s fight against adversity to become the most spectacular and charismatic competitor in the game’s history.

“Seve had a poor background, he had a good time with his loving parents and was the spoiled little boy in the family but, while there was always food on the table, there was no money,” said producer Steve Evans.

“He was up against it and you can see that in his personality as he developed,” he added.

“He had this aspect that everyone loved because he had charisma, style, intelligence.

“I think everyone would agree he’s one of the game’s greatest ever improvisers.”

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

ON THE ROAD

n Buen

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www.theolivepress.es 35

amino

July 10 - July 23 2014

MORE than 10,000 policeman, 600 civilians and 13,000 public works employees will be deployed on Spain’s roads this summer to help manage the enormous traffic increase.

The government has announced it is expecting holidaymakers to undertake a total of 79 million long distance journeys in July and August.

The special operation to oversee this extra summer traffic will focus on secondary roads, where the majority of fatal accidents occur - including 232 deaths in July and August last year.

Advertising campaigns warning of the dangers of drink and drug driving will accompany the increased road presence.

NEW COURTESY CAR SERVICE Is your car out of action?

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

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Party poopers DRIVERS in the extravagant Gumball rally from Miami to Ibiza will remember the Spanish leg for all the wrong reasons.

Two of the entrants – who each paid €50,000 to take part – were caught for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Four more were caught out with illegal speed-camera detectors, and one petrol-head managed to get clocked driving at 214kph.

In total, more than 100 participants were fined for breaking the speed limit.

The rally is famous for being a playground for the rich and flashy and their ultra-expensive cars, and not forgetting the wild parties along the way.

AUTOMATIC classic cars, serviced, repaired and reconditioned.

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RANGE ROVER SPORT 3.6 TDV8 272 CV. *CREAM-LEATHER *FULL-OPTIONS *2007 *120.000Km. *28.950 EUR.

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BMW 330i Cabrio *BLACK-LEATHER *2002 *10.900 EUR.

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BMW 325I CABRIO *BEIGE-GRAU-LEATHER *AUTOMATIC *2008 *20.900 EUR.

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VW GOLF V TDI *AUTOMATICO-DSG *BEIGE-LEATHER *SPORT-PAKET *2007 *10.900 EUR.

PEUGEOT 206 CABRIO *2008 *7.800 EUR.

FERRARI 360 SPIDER F1 *200572.000 KM. *69.800 EUROS

ASTON MARTIN CABRIO 2005 *4000 KM *68.500 EUR.

BMW 320 D AUTOMATIC *2011 *25.900 EUR.

AUDI A8 3.0 TDI QUATTRO *FULL-OPTIONS *2011 *49.800 EUR.

MERCEDES E 350 CDI CABRIO AUDI A3 CABRIO MOD. 2010 *SPORTT-PAKET AUTOMATIC *NAVI *LEATHER *NAVI-PLUS *AMG-PAKET *BEIGE-LEATHER *FULL-OPTIONS* 2010 *36000 KM *19.800 EUR. *73.000 KM.*43.900 EUR.

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................ .................

NOT ’APPY www.theolivepress.es

July 10 - July 23 2014

FURIOUS: Taxi drivers believe carpooling services should be regulated TAXI drivers across Spain have mounted an angry protest against the influx of online carpooling apps.

Commuters – mainly in Madrid – were left stranded this month after cab drivers turned off their engines in a show of support against new apps they claim are drive business.

Spain’s cabbies up-in-arms over new carpooling apps These apps, such as BlaBlaCar, match drivers who have

New APProach to driving abroad OVERSEAS motoring has just become safer, thanks to a new EU driving app.

The European Commission app – called ‘Going Abroad’ – provides up-to-date information about motoring laws and roads across Europe.

Available in 22 languages, the new app has come at exactly the right time for the summer holiday rush, when the road death toll is 50% higher than in February.

“It is so easy to take your car abroad, but many people don’t realise that rules and road signs differ across the EU,” said EC Vice-President Slim Kallas.

Information about speed limits, cycling laws, signs and mobile phones is all readily available.

The app also provides entertainment on long journeys, with a safety quiz and a memory game.

spare seats in their car with passengers, and they then agree on how to split the petrol costs.

The Catalan regional government attempted to impose a ban on Uber – which only operates in Barcelona – but it was rejected by the European Council in Brussels.

The city has even threatened drivers using Uber with €6,000 fines, as well as the impounding of their vehicles.

Spain’s taxi drivers’ associations are mostly angry about the fact the drivers are unregulated.

A licence for taxi drivers costs between €80,000 and €200,000, and they are arguing the same rules should apply to anybody offering lifts for cash.

However, BlaBlaCar – the biggest carpooling app in Spain – claims there is no need for regulation and that any drivers found to be making the same journeys regularly for profit are expelled from the system.

It maintains that simply sharing travel expenses is not against the law.

the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014 5353

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CONSTRUCTION

55 To place your classified, please 55 call 951 127 006 or email admin@theolivepress.es the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

drainage

MB HORMIGO

We are a leading building and construction company based in Estepona.

We cover all aspects of construction from residential building, extensions on all types of dwellings, swimming pools, patios, under pinning, roofing, retaining walls, interior reformation to public works such as the construction of offices, streets, shops and much more.

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A NEW CHAPTER

LONGMAN’S bookshop was a much-loved part of Estepona for both its English residents and tourists for 33 years, devoted exclusively to books.

But now that the Longman sisters have retired, it is time for a fresh change. New Longman’s brings together all the things people love.

From books, ceramics, foodies and handicraft to workshops, art exhibitions, lectures and much more.

We care about sustainability,

recycling and showcasing the crafts that deserve respect.

New Longman’s searches for new, interesting and independents brands, designers and artists, offering them the chance to showcase their products in their own space within the shop.

We are always on the lookout for unique products that have been created with care and love.

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cars/motoring/transport

THE MOBILITY WIZARD. The only company in southern Spain that specialises in repairing and maintaining mobility scooters, power chairs and mobility products. Authorised repair agents for most European manufacturers. Most repairs carried out at your place of residence, batteries analysed and replaced if needed, tyres supplied and fitted. Summer’s coming, has your mobility scooter been serviced lately?

Full service and inspection at your home for just €60. Large selection of mobility scooters available for sale and rent, no deposit required and free delivery. We also offer roadside assistance, we will come to your rescue if you’re unfortunate enough to have a breakdown or puncture, keep this number handy! Tel 633 127 901 / www.mobility-spain. com / info@mobility-spain.com

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looking for friendship love or more- help is at hand

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50 something, attractive, single female looking for the company of a sincere gentleman to share good times in the Mediterranean sunshine.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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www.theolivepress.es FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

Grape expectations

By Carey Camel POLYPHENOL extracts from grapes are the latest ‘magic ingredient’ exciting the gourmet food world. Madrid Michelin-starred chef Mario Sandoval and celebrated Spanish winemaker Carlos Moro spent four years concocting Vinesenti, an innovative new line of grape extract products that will add oomph to any culinary creation.

GRAPE GUYS: Sandoval and Moro have grape expectations for their new product

Extracts

Targeted at amateur cooks as well as pro chefs, the antioxidant-rich extracts – high in natural polyphenol compounds – add flavour, colour and zest to any dish, sweet or savoury, and can be used for baking bread and cakes as well as cooking fish, meat and game.

Already causing a stir in the fine dining firmament, Vinesenti comes in three varieties – Vineterra, extracted from red grapes, Vinubo from white grapes and Vinius, a soluble red grape extract.

For more information, visit www.vinesenti.com

All ‘happy’ in Benalmadena

Faulty food

A FOOD shop in Jaen selling stock up to 13 years past its sellby date has been shut down by health and safety inspectors.

The unnamed shop’s stock of canned goods, drinks and sweets, some dating back to 2001, was initially discovered by local police.

In a curious twist (only in Spain!) the local animal doctor was called in to ‘vet’ the goods and prepare a report for the health authority. The vet confirmed that the products were unsafe for human consumption and the store was closed.

Health inspectors are making an inventory of the antique merchandise and the shop owners can expect a hefty fine for potentially poisoning the clientele.

BENALMADENA’S Sunset Beach Club is the latest enterprise to jump on the Happy copycat video bandwagon.

The hotel’s entire team demonstrate their mean dance moves in a promotional video filmed to the sounds of Pharrell Williams’ contagious summer hit. Pineapple lobbing, synchronised scubadiving and friendly handcuffing are all on display in the threeminute YouTube video which has received nearly 2,000 hits.

The catchy tune has spawned global copycats from Tunisia to Tokyo. Marbella Mayor Angeles Munoz appeared in another Happy video in March, featuring the resort’s best-known faces and landmarks.

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www.theolivepress.es

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

59

Top-secret tables

By Carey Camel A MADRID restaurant has been named one of the best ‘secret’ restaurants in the world by Condé Nast’s Daily Traveler blog.

Gau & Café is perched atop a local university library, where it serves up gourmet bites, cocktails and stellar views of the city.

The popular local hangout is featured in a list of hidden gems around the world, including back-alley New York steakhouses and pop-up restaurants in London.

To find the restaurant, look out for the Las Escuelas Pias (Pious Schools) and, when you see the library, head to the top floor.

For that exclusive, ‘on top of the world’ feeling, try their inventive couscous dishes or takes on traditional Spanish fare.

TOP-OF-THE-WORLD: Diners on top of a university library

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requirement and a fifth of men’s.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

Fish they call ‘pig of the sea’ The Costa de la Luz is famed worldwide for its succulent almadraba tuna, caught by an ancient art and turned

“

EL atún rojo is a magical product,” says Pepe Melero, owner and maestro at El Campero, the Barbate restaurant that put the Costa de la Luz on the global gastronomic map. “Tuna is in love with the Med and yearns for the sea’s love song,” waxes this lyrical chef. “It is sincere, surprisingly flavoursome, capable of provoking real emotional responses in those who taste it.”

Pepe is talking about the Atlantic bluefin, which arrives in the Mediterranean every late spring to spawn. With mature specimens reaching up to half a ton in weight in as little as 10-15 years, blue fin – or red tuna, as it is known in Spanish because of the meaty colour of its flesh – is one of the priciest del-

into groundbreaking gastronomy by the region’s maritime masterchefs, writes James Southeran

icacies on the planet. In January 2013, a 222-kilo Pacific blue fin sold for more than €1.1 million (155.4 million yen) in Tokyo’s Tsukji market, a new world-record equivalent to more than €5,000 per kilo.

Ever since the Phoenicians sailed from the coasts of the Levant and north Africa some 3,000 years ago to establish a trading post at Gades – now Cadiz – gaditanos and fishermen the world over have prospered from these bountiful waters where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet.

From those early days, the mackerel, sturgeon and tuna that flourished in the Strait of Gibraltar were much in demand in eastern Mediterranean countries. To catch the

biggest fish, the Phoenicians invented an intricate maze of interconnecting trap nets, known as almadrabas - or ‘place for fighting’ in Andalucian Arabic – that trap only the large, mature tuna, allowing smaller fish to escape.

Today, all blue fin legally landed off the Costa de Luz between April and June are still captured in almadrabas. The four fishing towns of Conil, Barbate, Zahara and Tarifa are the only ones in Spain to continue the practice. Trapping the tuna in nets is one thing. Landing a beast that averages 2.5m in length, weighs between 200-400 kilos and can swim at speeds up to 70 km/h is quite another.

Discover the legend that is El Campero PEPE Melero is a major employer in the area, with 51 staff working at his restaurant El Campero in Barbate and more recent addition, the Taberna de El Campero in neighbouring Zahara de los Atunes. Many of his team have been with him from the outset: his partner José Manuel Núñez for over 30 years, his grill chef Juan Manuel Varo for 20 and Julio Vázquez, head of the creative department for 12.

A self-confessed ‘non-conformist’, his job is all about ‘getting – and giving – satisfaction’.

“We strive to evolve and never do the same thing twice,” he

THE BOSS: Pepe Melero has been leading his team for over three decades says. “You have to keep thinking, learning and questioning,” he enthuses. “In Barbate, we breathe salt and light. It inspires our senses and drives our existence. Our cooking is a reflection of that: simple, humble, caring, full of feeling, emotion and memories.”

Pepe grew up behind a bar – a ‘spit-and-sawdust tabanco (tavern) run by his father which

opened its doors at four every morning to serve café and copas to stallholders, traders and shoppers. But he came into the trade by accident. He was studying to be an Air Force radio engineer in Madrid when his father fell ill and he found himself running the business at 19, along with his mother and future wife.

Driven by his spirit of adventure and desire to succeed, he took

Virtuoso vision IN 2003, Pepe and partner José Manuel Núñez were invited to San Sebastian, Spain’s gastronomic Mecca, to host a presentation in front of 1,800 leading culinary luminaries, including some of Spain’s top food critics.

Rather than just talk tuna, they got stuck in literally, carving one up for the salivating crowd into the 24 cuts that this most generous of fish provides.

“We were just ourselves,” Pepe smiles, remembering what was a ‘really important experience’ for both men and a turning point in their business’s fortunes. Critical success ensued, backed by a rising tide of clients coming from all over Spain and beyond.

Today, 80% of El Campero’s output centres on tuna and its creative department is constantly evolving texture and flavour, from bite-sized morsels of lip-smacking goodness like piruletas de huevas de leche (lollipops made from tuna sperm, no less) to meaty main courses like costilla de atún (tuna chops), served with papas a lo pobre (poor-man’s potatoes) and a

distance-learning courses in cooking and catering and began inventing his own signature dishes. He noticed that the Japanese, who buy over three-quarters of the almadraba catch, only wanted the high-priced lomo (loin) and ijar or ventresca (belly) cuts, not the head, tail or innards.

Of every 100 kilos caught, he realised that almost 33% had no commercial value and was either being given away or tossed in the bin.

Nose-to-tail

béarnaise-style sauce.

This January, El Campero celebrated 20 years in business. Typically, however, Pepe humbly understates his role: “As people, we are not important,” he says. “It’s what we do that matters.”

Despite the long hours and huge sacrifices that his family and team have made to make the restaurants a success, Pepe begins every day with the same ‘ilusión’ he embodied at the outset of his incredible culinary journey. To this inspirational chef, El Campero is just another part of the circle of life that connects Atlantic blue fin tuna to all those – fishermen, cooks, patrons – who live and work in the magical, salt- and light-filled world of the Costa de la Luz.

Picking over the leftovers he discovered a cut behind the head called morrillo (little cheek).

Cooked fast over a high flame, the combination of meat and gelatin tasted like nothing else he’d ever tried from the sea or land. Today morrillo is a recognised delicacy that costs over €50 a kilo!

When Barbate’s market moved from the quayside to the town centre, Pepe followed suit, opening El Campero as a tasca (a bar serving food) in 1994. Japanese tuna buyers from the factory ships arrived in his wake, bringing their own chefs and dishes to Pepe’s kitchen.

The El Campero team also taught the Japanese a thing or two about home-style gaditano cooking.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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Almadraba: How the blue fin are caught

A fight of the nets

Not surprisingly, la levanta – the raising – is some spectacle. This is when the central trap net or copo is hauled from the depths by hand and pulley to cries of ‘¡Arriá, arriá!’

(Andaluz for ariba or ‘Up, up’). Dozens of fishermen in boats form a ring around the cone-shaped copo, from which there is no escape. As the net closes ever tighter, rising closer and closer to the surface, the sea boils with captive, thrashing giants.

Simultaneously, a team of brave copeadores – the men who enter the copo – slide into the waist-deep water to slip a rubber loop around the fishes’ flailing tails or hook them in the gills with a gaff. The tuna are then pulled free from the water where they hang sus-

RESTAURANT - MIJAS PUEBLO

pended, their scales glinting in the sunshine for a few fleeting moments. Then their spinal cords are severed, they are packed in ice and taken to shore for the ronqueo (Spanish for the ‘snoring’ sound the knife makes when they are cut up).

Tuna butchery is an art. From its conical head to the twin tips of its half-moon tail, almost every part can be eaten, hence its ‘pig of the sea’ pseudonym.

Atlantic bluefin on their way to the Mediterranean are particularly prized, due to the unrivalled quality of their flesh and fat before they undergo the rigours of spawning.

Despite being caught traditionally for millennia, overfishing – fuelled by growing worldwide demand for sushi and indiscriminate trawling in the Med by French, Italian and Japanese fleets – nearly killed off the Atlantic bluefin population.

Only in the mid-2000s did the Internat ional Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICAAT) begin to introduce global quotas to help the species recover.

El Chaparral, Mijas Costa 952493409

Celebrate your private parties or business lunches with us in our Mozarabic room, whilst enjoying our breathtaking panoramic view.

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For Information & Reservations: Tel. 952 590 253 - 952 486 397 Email. alcazabadamijas@gmail.com www.rest-laalcazabademijas.com

PIG OF THE SEA: Examples of tuna cuts and a diagram showing how the Almadraba works

The fully refurbished bar is now under new ownership of husband & wife team Craig and Nicola. You will know Craig from his Satellite TV work and Nicola is well known on the coast from the good old Chicken Shack days. Having both run pubs in the UK prior to moving to Spain many years ago, theycertainly know the game and have put the new look Hut firmly on the map right from the opening day 6 weeks ago. With regular entertainment, plans for fun quiz nights, party nights & BBQ afternoons, this is one Pub not to miss visiting!! With a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, comfortably furnished & with the renowned ´grumpy´ landlord with his excellent sense of humor and Nicola´s fun personality, you are always sure of a warm welcome. The Hut kitchen is now serving tasty, original,snacks to keep you going while you´re enjoying yourself at ´Hut-tastic´ prices! .

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the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

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63

Bullring banquet RONDA’S top wineries will join forces for a charity night out at the town’s bull ring this month.

Guests will be treated to a gala dinner and a concert by Malaga singer Diana Navar-

No small-fry THREE alleged ‘fish traffickers’ have been arrested by police in Torremolinos.

Officers seized 126 kilos of undersized – or immature – fish, known as whitebait or chanquetes in Spanish.

Police also confiscated €500 which the two men and one woman had allegedly made from selling the fish to local restaurants.

ro, accompanied by wines from 16 different bodegas, for a ticket price of €100.

All proceeds from the July 25 event will go to Mesa Solidaria, a group of nongovernmental organisations that collect and distribute food for those in need.

The dinner for 450 guests will also promote Ronda’s wine tourism route, one of only three in Andalucia certified by the Spanish Association of Wine Cities.

Tourists on the Ruta del Vino can visit the 16 Ronda wineries, learn how they operate and sample the produce.

NEW! A FREE GUIDE TO THE RONDA AREA the olive press - July 10 - July 23 2014

63

“101 Great Ideas to Make the Most of the Ronda Area” _________________________________

By our Benaoján Correspondent

_________________________________

Hotelier and Hoteli-HER

What we do for guests...

I SAT down this week to pen a list of 25 activity ideas for our guests to do in the Ronda area – and I suddenly found there were lots more than I realised. The list now stands at 101, and it’s not finished.

The ‘problem’ is that we actually have to try all of these things out for ourselves, before recommending them to customers. One highlight was a hot air balloon ride over Ronda at dawn followed by a champagne breakfast in the field where the balloon landed. I can still remem-

ber the peace and quiet of the morning, and even the sound of dogs barking up at us from 500m below.

From above ground to below, I’ve also put myself through an eight hour caving expedition for the sake of our guests.

Wet suits, carbide lamps, abseiling and swimming through underground lakes in water at 5ºC, it was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. I’ve recommended it to many of our younger guests but nobody has been brave enough yet.

Canoeing on the lake near Zahara de la Sierra is another stand-out moment and a great family activity. We laughed so much… but I’m not going to tell you why!

Coming up soon is a canyon walk near Gaucin and I’d love to get out with the guy who rents big motor-bikes or maybe the 4x4 Buggies. Never a dull momento…

Art of rural life Some guests and friends are perplexed that I enjoy living in the remote rural outpost of Benaoján.

What on earth do you do in your time off in winter, they often ask. But I love the variety of experiences it offers. I counted six just off the top of my head: Walking in the high mountains, where the silence and beauty stops you in your tracks.

Trying exciting new wines at superb local bodegas.

Enabling young chefs to create delicious new dishes in our kitchens.

Meeting an astonishing range of people from all over the world who stay with us at the Hotel.

Living 10 minutes away from the stunningly beautiful town of Ronda with all it has to offer in the way of shops, bars, architecture...and art exhibitions.

Which brings me to the point of this issue’s column.

I have just returned from one of the most stunning exhibitions I have ever been to in my life! I urge all you Olive Press readers to visit it at the Palacio de Exposiciones, on the far side of Ronda’s famous El Tajo bridge. A couple of artists who recently moved from Tennessee to Olvera – Daud Akhriev and Melissa Hefferlin – are exhibiting thier astonishingly moving collection of paintings.

It runs until July 30 so why not come to us for lunch or supper afterwards? Fine art needs to be reflected upon over good food and a fine wine.

Hotel - Bar - Restaurante. Bda Estacion s/n, 29370 Benaojan, Malaga.

952 16 71 51 - 952 16 79 27 . info@molinodelsanto.com

Relaxing Times at Molino del Santo

Y

ou must have heard of Ronda.

The third most visited city in Andalucia is less than an hour from the Costa del Sol. The surrounding area, as well as Ronda, itself, is full of exciting and interesting things to do for all ages.

Molino del Santo, the award-winning hotel and restaurant in the village of Benaoján, is just ten minutes away from Ronda - but an oasis of peace and tranquillity if you prefer a quiet spot to be.

Molino wants you to enjoy all that the area has to offer. With this in mind a new FREE guide has been produced and you can have your very own copy sent to you.

Walks, flowers, activities, driving routes, cycling trails, specialised companies, horseriding, eating places and much more - there is a host of information for all ages and interests.

Each suggestion is backed up with detailed information about how you can make the most of a visit to this very special area.

If you need an antidote to the coast, why not head for the hills? By all means come to Molino

del Santo just for lunch but staying over is an even better idea. You can explore the area or just slow down and recharge - and Molino is a great place for special occasions. Check out the website to see more.

The July menu is now available and with “101 Great Ideas to Make the Most of the Ronda Area” in your hand, you’re guaranteed a very special time.

Voted best place in Andalucia for its service, Molino del Santo looks forward to welcoming you to its very special atmosphere soon. Go to www.molinodelsanto.com/op and request your free guide now. Prefer a paper copy? Call us on 952 16 71 51 and leave your address. Your guide will be posted to you straightaway - with our compliments.

REQUEST YOUR FREE GUIDE NOW - go to www.molinodelsanto.com/op OR CALL 952 16 71 51.

English speakers will answer your call from 9am to 8pm

▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼

EDDIE TAKES THE PLUNGE – BY EDDIE DOGG I love the summer - Near my home at Molino del Santo is the Cueva del Gato (Cave of the Cat) and it’s a great swimming spot - even for humans.

The water is so cold as it pours out of the mountain - but that’s no problem if there is a stick to be fetched. I’d love to show you how good I am at finding sticks - ask for me next time you’re at Molino.

I’ve been accused of being lazy this week... just because “he who must be obeyed” was watering the garden and I didn’t lift a leg to help... Geddit?... He thinks he is SO funny!!

Follow Eddie’s regular thoughts on our Facebook page – Hotel Molino del Santo

www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51

Mosquito Screens Call

Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 Heads up A BARCELONA art company called Hungry Castle raised over €10,000 on Kickstarter to build a giant inflatable version of Lionel Richie’s head.

the

Covering Andalucia in 2014 with over 200,000 papers EE (130,000 digital) and around 300,000 visits to the R F website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

olive press Free-wheeling Telephone: 951 127 006

Wheelchair pilgrims take on the Way

July 10 - July 23 2014

A PAIR of daring best friends from America will be the first to make the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage from

France to Spain by wheelchair.

The 500-mile journey to the shrine of St. James the

FINAL WORDS

CATALUNYA set a €30,000 fine for U.S. property-sharing website Airbnb for commercialising short-stay apartment rentals that have not been listed on the Catalan Tourism Register.

Illegal babies

Class warfare A KINDERGARTEN teacher in France was allegedly murdered in front of her class by one of her pupils’ mothers, a Spanish woman of Moroccan descent.

Apostle in Galicia – crossing through the mountainous Pyrenees and the Basque region - is tough enough on foot. Patrick Grey will be pushing his disabled pal, Justin Skeesuck, all the way in a non-motorised wheelchair.

Comfort

Fine job

DOZENS of babies born in Spain to surrogate mothers have been caught in legal limbo as the nation refuses to recognise their parents or grant them any rights as citizens.

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WHEEL POWER: The dynamic duo set off from France on their Camino challenge

The two 38-year-olds have been buddies since birth, through their parents’ friendship. So, when Skeesuck mentioned that he wanted to make the journey, Grey instantly agreed. He will be at his mate’s side day and night, helping him at meals and during ‘comfort stops’.

Skeesuck has Multifocal Acquired Motor Axonopathy (MAMA), a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscles to stop functioning and has left him wheelchair-bound since his mid-20s.

The Idaho native has dedicated his life to helping others with disabilities travel the world through his blog, The Disabled Traveler.

PREHISTORIC POO Winging its way THE world’s oldest poo has been found in Spain.

Archaeologists have discovered the 50,000-year-old deposit at a Neanderthal campsite in Alicante.

Analysis of the ancient excrement has revealed surprising secrets about what our ancestors ate –

and they may not be the carnivores we previously believed.

Until now, natural science has only had indirect evidence of the Neanderthal diet, through studies of their teeth and of plants and animals that existed at the time, which all suggested they only ate meat.

But the latest chemical tests show that they also enjoyed a healthy serving of veg.

Even more bizarre, the pile of poop was found on top of an ancient campfire.

AN AUTISTIC boy has sent his paper plane on a world tour.

British eight-year-old Josh Cummings sent the paper aeroplane, made at school, to Spain’s former king Juan Carlos.

The ex-monarch even went so far as to send Josh a thank you note, just two days after he abdicated. The idea to send the plane came when Josh said he wished he could fly it all the way to Spain. So Josh wrote a letter to the king asking him to fly it round the royal residence, the Palacio de La Zarzuela.

It is now set to wing its way to US president Barack Obama.

Silva’s trophy girls MANCHESTER City star and Spanish midfielder David Silva wasn’t exactly licking his wounds in Ibiza, where he was spotted unwinding after Spain’s demoralising World Cup exit.

Surrounded by friends and more than a few beautiful women, the 28-year-old soccer star seemed to have kicked any regrets into touch over his team’s poor show in Brazil, where he’d still be competing if Spain’s game had gone to plan.

Perhaps Silva – a native island boy – was seeking home comforts. He grew up in Gran Canaria so Spain’s party island was a natural choice for his post-defeat R&R. And, who knows, a buxom D-cup babe may yet prove to be a worthy World Cup substitute.

Theme park fall A TEENAGER has died after falling off a roller-coaster in a Benidorm theme park.

The 18-year-old Icelandic tourist was thrown from his seat after his harness failed midway through the Inferno ride at Terra Mitica theme park.

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Blazing “I thought they were cooking in there, so I was looking for lipids from cooking,” said research leader Ainara Sistiaga, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Instead, analysis revealed traces of an activity that doesn’t usually take place atop a blazing fire!

“But I don’t think they were using the site as a toilet when the fire was alight!”

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