1. Free Copy
The newspaper
for southern
Spain
January 14th to 20th 2011
in English
www.surinenglish.com
Inside News2 Opinion24 LifeStyle26
What to do37 Heath&Beauty41
Restaurant Scene44 Sport46
Classified48 Pastimes62
News 2
ETA’s latest
ceasefire is not
enough says
Government
The Basque terrorist organisation
ETA released a statement on Mon-
day declaring a “permanent, gen-
eral and verifiable” ceasefire. The
Government is sceptical and
claims that the move is insuffi-
cient and would certainly not
mean that the banned Nationalist
parties associated with ETA would
be allowed to take part in May’s
municipal elections. The Interior
Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba,
stressed that the only step forward
is for ETA to disband and give up
its activity altogether or for par-
ties such as Batasuna to break all
their ties with the organisation.
Just 18 hours after the statement
was released two alleged ETA
members were arrested in a joint
operation between the Spanish
and French police.
SPECTACULAR. SMOKE FROM THE BREWERY COULD BE SEEN FROM MILES AROUND. / ALVARO GARIJO DUERTO
Costa del Sol 14
Pipe goes up A column of smoke rose over the San Mi-
guel plant near the airport yesterday lea-
ding to fears of extensive damage. However
a fire for them to put out as the smoke came
from the fibreglass lining of a pipe in an old
refrigeration tower which was being dis-
Tourism sector
in smoke according to firemen, who arrived within
ten minutes, there was little in the way of
mantled and caught fire. Nobody was hurt
and beer production was not halted.
wants sewage
plants not
methane gas
It won’t happen, says Chaves Amidst the uproar this week over
plans to prospect for methane gas
under the Mediterranean off the
Costa del Sol, one question was
asked repeatedly by representa-
Governmental versions of gas prospecting on the Costa del Sol differ tives of the tourism sector and lo-
cal politicians on the coast. How
is it that such a major project has
Manuel Chaves, Third Deputy prospecting project. He answered for Spain as a whole. “No decision is authorized, is investigations to got the go-ahead, almost without
Prime Minister and former Anda- that “Nobody should be alarmed has been taken,” he said. “We are see if the resources are there, but anybody hearing about it, while
lusian President, back in the re- about something that isn’t going awaiting some reports, among oth- nobody is going to extract gas, and the integrated sewage system for
gion this week to devolve compe- to happen”. The tourism industry , ers regarding the impact on the far less oil, on the coast”. Earlier which they have been clamouring
tence over Andalucía’s beaches to he said, takes priority as a source environment, to see whether to in the week the Ministry of Indus- for years is still pending? SUR in
the regional government, caused of revenue not only for the Costa take the decision or not.” He went try said the exploration project English takes a look at the current
a furore when asked about a gas del Sol and for Andalucía, but also on: “What will be authorized, if it was going ahead. News 20 state of sewage affairs.
News 3
Keeping
smokers warm
and happy
Comment 25
A problem
more serious
than politicians

2. 2 SUR IN ENGLISH JANUARY 7TH TO 13TH 2011
News Complaints
Malaga, the
province with
the most reports
of smoking
S. VEGA MALAGA
Malaga was the Spanish prov-
ince to generate the most
complaints about smokers
failing to comply with the
new no smoking law during
its first 24 hours in force. The
consumers association Facua
reports that their website re-
ceived a total of 311 reports
from Spain as a whole, and of
these 61 came from the prov-
ince of Malaga. Second in the
ranking came Madrid, with
32 complaints. Meanwhile the
number of reports received
by Facua continues to in-
crease. By Tuesday evening
the total figure had gone up
to 1,014, of which more than
142 referred to establishments
in the province of Malaga.
Consumers can report bars
that continue to allow custom-
ers to smoke at
‘www.facua.org/leydelta-
baco’. As the information re-
ceived has not been con-
firmed Facua points out that
it is unable to release the
BAN. CUSTOMERS SMOKE OUTSIDE A MALAGA BAR ON SUNDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW LAW. CARLOS MORET names of the bars that have
been reported, however the
association claims that it will
Smokers fill the terraces as report cases to the relevant
health authorities where nec-
essary and has urged the
Junta de Andalucía to step up
inspections.
new ban comes into force
Meanwhile the Junta de
Andalucía’s Health Depart-
ment has pointed out that in-
spectors who normally carry
out health inspections in bars
and restaurants are now in-
mainly one of satisfaction on the VIEWS a separate area for smokers. The cluding compliance with the
Since Sunday part of non-smokers and resigna-
Shanna, bar’s owner, Rafael Prado, com- no smoking law in their rou-
Spain’s new no tion on the part of smokers. The
majority of customers have been customer:
plained of the cost of creating the
smoking sections as required by
tine of checks.
smoking law has tolerant of the change and the fine “I smoke but I the previous regulations for estab-
weather has meant that smokers think that it is lishments larger than 100 square
Sales
been the subject have simply made use of pave- a good thing metres. In his opinion the law
of debate in bars ment terraces.
Meanwhile however the bar and
that it is should have been left as it was.
“We have lost a lot of customers,
Service stations
and restaurants restaurant owners fear losing cus- banned in bars” especially the morning coffee expect to
tomers as a result of the ban. Rob- trade”, he explained.
around the region erto Pérez, who manages the 100 Roberto Pérez, The Café Central is a typical profit from
Montaditos bar in Malaga’s Plaza manager: stopping point on the Malaga tour-
de la Constitución, said on Sun- “I think that at ist route and on Sunday morning cigarette sales
day that he expected losses at first. several foreign visitors were en-
However he added that in general
first we will joying a drink on the terrace in
SELENE VEGA MALAGA he approved of the ban, especially lose some the sunshine. Most were unaware S. VEGA MALAGA
from the point of view of his staff business” that the new law had come into Another change included in
“I was about to light a cigarette in who no longer have to work in a force that very day in Spain, but the new no smoking law al-
a bar, but the waiter wouldn’t let smoky atmosphere. Miguel Fanci, none was surprised. “I think it’s lows petrol stations to sell
me”. These were the words of one One of the bar’s customers, Ra- customer: good. In Slovakia you can’t smoke cigarettes after five years of
of the few smokers who were un- fael Muñoz, expressed an opinion in places that serve food”, pointed prohibition. Business own-
aware, or had forgotten, that from that is shared by many smokers
“I don’t agree out Libor Kociab, who was on holi- ers are hopeful that the
January 2nd smoking is prohib- and non-smokers: “I smoke, but I with the law; day in the province. change will help increase
ited in all indoor public areas. The think the law is fantastic, because we’re going to Shanna from Holland was at a their takings, not just from
ban also applies to some outdoor it is annoying if someone on the end up buying drinks and table on the same terrace, enjoy- the sale of cigarettes, but
places such as children’s play ar- next table starts smoking when meeting up at home so ing a cigarette. She agreed, how- also because it will attract
eas, school playgrounds or on hos- I’m having lunch with my young ever, that although she is a smoker, more customers to their
pital premises. daughter”. He added that very few
we can smoke” the ban on smoking indoors is a shops. Nevertheless the sec-
The new law has caused a vari- establishments had created sepa- good thing. Curiously her home tor claims it is unlikely to re-
ety of opinions. Since Sunday the rate smoking areas according to as required. country sets the unusual example cuperate the 30 per cent loss
atmosphere in bars and cafeterias, the previous regulations, using no On the other side of the same of banning normal cigarettes but in income suffered over the
where now even separate smok- more than a folding screen rather square is the well known Café Cen- allowing the smoke from marihu- last five years.
ing areas are prohibited, has been than installing smoke extractors tral which did, until Sunday have
, ana joints.

3. JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011 SUR IN ENGLISH 3
News
Bars resort to awnings,
heaters and blankets to keep
their smoking customers
Pavement terraces came into force they have lost be-
tween 30 and 50 per cent of their
issue. All we can do is inform as-
sociations that from now on they
are being made customers, while their takings have cannot smoke on their premises,
more comfortable gone down by around 12 per cent.
Meanwhile business is booming
unless they have a patio or an out-
door area”, says Jesús González,
as they become the for catering supply firms who are the federation’s president.
being inundated with orders for The ban also applies to fair-
only place where outdoor heaters. The drawback is ground ‘casetas’, but only those
customers can the high cost of the propane gas that have roofs. The law establishes
cylinders they require and so many that ‘open air’ refers to all areas
smoke bars are resorting to the cheaper with no roof or areas that are
option: blankets. “They use them roofed but have a maximum of two
a lot in Central Europe”, says walls, however it does not specify
ALMUDENA NOGUÉS MALAGA Prado. whether areas enclosed by awnings
While attention has been focused or marquees are included.
Bar and restaurant owners feared on bars and restaurants, they are The president of the federation
that the new smoking ban in en- not the only places that have been of associations pointed out that
closed public places would mean affected by the new no smoking law . most fairground ‘casetas’ in WARM. CUSTOMERS SNUGGLE UP UNDER THE BLANKET PROVIDED BY THE BAR. A. S.
a loss in custom. Now their ter- The ban also applies to private or Malaga would have no problem al-
races are the only places where member-only establishments such lowing customers to smoke as they
their customers can smoke and as clubs and associations or prem- have no roofs, although they would
many business owners have de- ises for community use. need to seek legal advice to estab-
cided to make their open air facili- lish whether those sheltered by
ties more comfortable and attrac- Clubs and associations overhead awnings are affected or
tive. Over the last couple of weeks “In the case of associations where not. He added that in the case of
outdoor heaters have multiplied, access is restricted to members, fairgrounds such as Seville’s,
awnings are being fitted to keep they are still not exempt from the where most premises have roofs,
out the wind and some establish- law”, explains Rubén Sánchez, smoking would be banned, even
ments are even offering their cus- spokesman for the Facua consum- in those that are not open to the
tomers blankets for those chilly ers association on whose website general public.
January evenings. (www.facua.org) members of the There is only one remaining op-
“The idea is to do as much as we general public can report cases of tion for establishments that want
can so that smokers find bar and the smoking ban being ignored. to allow smoking; to set themselves
restaurant terraces pleasant places The federation of associations up as a private smoking club. How-
to be in”, sums up Rafael Prado, (Federación de Peñas) in Malaga ever these clubs have to abide by
the president of the Malaga bar is currently receiving numerous certain regulations. Children and
and restaurant owners association, enquiries from clubs about non-members are not allowed and
Aehma. Something has to be done whether or not their members are as they are not classed as busi-
in the light of the statistics. They allowed to smoke. “ our next gen-
At nesses, then they must be non-
calculate that since the new law eral meeting we plan to discuss the profit-making. COMFORT. MORE AND MORE BARS ARE ACQUIRING TERRACE HEATERS. C. MORET

4. 4 SUR IN ENGLISH JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011
News Here&There
Marbella
More and more residents
call 010 to log complaints
By simply dialling 010 residents
have a direct line to the Mar-
bella Town Hall and any of its
municipal offices if the call
passes the first screening. Since
being launched in early 2008,
the service has become a pow-
erful outreach tool between the
public and the local administra-
tion, and it is continuing to gain
momentum.
The Councillor of Public
Works, Javier García, said this
week that his department had
received a 100 percent increase
in calls in 2010, compared to the
previous year. The vast major-
ity of calls concerned com-
plaints about ill-maintained or
damaged streets or neighbour-
hoods. The 010 hotline “allows
us to make the work done by
the citizens’ service team more
effective,” explained García. 010. THE NUMBER TO RING.
RULES. THE SEASONS FOR BIG AND SMALL GAME HUNTING END THIS MONTH. SUR
Financial crisis brings Marbella
Property handed
over to reduce
Antequera
Nearly 600
children enjoyed
back poaching to put municipal debt
The Marbella Town Hall is giv-
indoor festive
activities
food on the table
ing the Junta de Andalucía the
building which houses its Christmas and Three Kings
town planning offices on Av- celebrations in Antequera saw
enida Ricardo Soriano, in the nearly 600 children taking part
heart of the town centre, as in festive activities in the Mer-
the season for shooting big game Seprona points out, indicates that part repayment for a loan. cado De Abastos indoor mar-
The threat of fines such as deer, mouflon, wild boar the prospect of stiffer penalties In 2006, the management ket in the town, from making
or mountain goats, as well as has not put people off. committee which took control Christmas cards and tree deco-
and going to court smaller animals and birds such as Sources point out that there of the Town Hall in 2006, be- rations to storytelling and
does not put off partridges, hare, quail, foxes and
rabbits. The official hunting and
are two types of illegal hunting.
On one hand there are the profes-
fore the elections took place a
year later, accepted a 106 mil-
book reading. Games and art
activities were arranged for
hunters who take fishing seasons for each species sionals who go out to capture pro- lion euro loan from the Junta. children with themes around
are laid down by the Junta de An- tected species to sell to unscru- The building, valued at 5.2 mil- equality collaboration, respect
,
out their rifles in dalucía along with rules and regu- pulous collectors or to add to lion euros, goes some way to and tolerance, giving parents
the close season to lation to ensure that the sport is
compatible with the protection of
their own collection of trophies.
“These are specialists in hunting
paying back that debt.
Juan Antonio Roca, Mar-
time to do their Christmas
shopping. Around 1,200 bal-
feed their families local flora and fauna. out of season or tracking down bella’s former Town Planning loons were given out over dur-
However where there are rules, protected species for financial chief who is currently at the ing the Christmas activities
there are those who break them. gain and go out into the country- centre of Spain’s largest ever while Antequera saw three
Last year Seprona, the Guardia side equipped with a silencer and municipal corruption trial, and a half tonnes of sweets
AMANDA SALAZAR MALAGA Civil’s nature protection service, night binoculars”, says Miguel had his office in the lavish were given out during the
reported 23 cases of illegal big Ángel Gallego, member of the building. It is often seen as a Three Kings parade last week.
The months of November and De- game hunting and 170 cases in- Andalusian association of hunt- symbol of the Jesús Gil y Gil In the last year the Informa-
cember are favourites of hunters volving small game. The figure is ing wardens. era which became defined by tion Centre at the indoor mar-
in Malaga as they coincide with very similar to that of 2009 which, Then on the other hand there its excess. ket provided details of local
are the amateurs who hunt ille- activities, maps of the area
Damage gally because they can’t afford a and general tourist informa-
licence or who resort to poach- tion to visitors from Spain,
The battle against poisoned bait ing in order to help fill the larder
with a wild boar or a few par-
Finland, Germany, Italy, The
U.K., Canada, China, U.S.A.
tridges. Hunting associations and France.
A. SALAZAR MALAGA not just the hunters who cause agree that hunters who have the
The most serious consequence the damage. Seprona continue intention of eating their game,
of illegal hunting is the envi- their battle against the poisoned rather than selling it, have in- Fuengirola
ronmental damage caused, es- bait that is often put down by creased most in number since the
pecially when protected species farmers and livestock breeders. start of the recession. Sports centre put
are affected. Last year the
Guardia Civil reported 55 cases
“This worries us much more
than illegal hunting, because
“Even if they do it out of ne-
cessity hunters must abide by the
,
out to tender
of hunters shooting endangered the consequences are more se- rules; those acting illegally are Councillor for Sports Pedro
species in the province of rious”, they point out. If poach- criminals and damage the repu- Cuevas this week invited ten-
Malaga. Nevertheless Seprona ing is detected the officers con- tation of legal hunters”, explains ders for a six year concession
points out that fortunately to- fiscate the arms used and, in se- the president of the Andalusian of the ‘Centro Municipal de
day the general public are more rious cases, arrest the hunter. Federation of Hunters, which has Tenis de Los Pacos’ with a
aware of the consequences and But when it comes to poisoned 17,000 members in the province minimum of 16,000 euros a
are more likely to report cases bait, finding the culprit is much of Malaga. “The illegal hunters year and the obligation on the
to the authorities. However it’s more complicated. only represent one per cent of the winner to open a municipal
total”, he adds. THE MAYOR WITH THE SIGNED DEAL. tennis school.

5. JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011 SUR IN ENGLISH 5
News 112Reports
mother’s house. He was hit by the Shootings
taxi and a wheel went over his right
leg. A witness tells how the boy was Second
on the ground calling for help and
the taxi driver said that there was
unexplained
no need to call an ambulance be-
cause he would take him straight
shooting
to hospital. A 29 year old man was injured
The report goes on to say that the after he was shot from a mov-
driver, with the boy in the car, ing car in Vélez-Málaga last THE SCENE OF THE ATTACK. J-L
turned onto Calle Manrique to- weekend. The victim was hit
wards the city centre. “On the way in the abdomen and taken to Marbella
the taxi driver said that he didn’t
want any problems and the boy an-
the Axarquía hospital where
he required surgery to remove
Robbers beat
swered ‘OK’,” explains his grand-
mother, Carmen Agudo. Seconds
the bullet. The man was of
Moroccan nationality and was
attendant and
RECOVERY. THE INJURED BOY WITH HIS MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER. GALINDO later the driver apparently turned
around again and “he said - ‘Look
shot in the loading bay out-
side the municipal market in
steal cash
kid, the car’s broken down, get Calle Carretera de Loja. The An employee at the Cristamar
Police seek driver out’,”. The boy asked him to take
him to hospital or to his grand-
mother’s house. His mother contin-
market is usually closed, but
one stallholder was waiting
for a delivery when, at around
,
parking garage in Marbella re-
ceived a beating from attack-
ers who stole money from the
who ran over boy ues the account: “He opened the car
door, and as my son couldn’t stand
up he fell to the ground. The driver
6 p.m., the man appeared. The
trader called the emergency
services. National Police are
ticket booth and automatic
ticket machines. The 30 year
old victim received injuries to
and left him further did nothing. He waited for him to
drag himself out of the way so he
could shut the door and drive off ”.
The boy stayed on the pavement
investigating and trying to
identify two men seen in the
car.
This was the second shoot-
his head and neck and a frac-
tured finger. The violent assault
happened at around 5 a.m. on
Saturday morning when the
down the road for more than ten minutes until a
woman stopped to help him. She
flagged down a passing ambulance
ing incident in the province
of Malaga in a week. The
Guardia Civil are still looking
three men approached the em-
ployee from behind and threat-
ened him with a sharp object.
which informed the police and sent for the man who shot a Brit- A struggle ensued and the rob-
JUAN CANO MALAGA in his taxi, although, according to for another emergency vehicle. The ish resident in his garage last bers produced a gun and held
the report, around 200 metres fur- boy was eventually rushed to the week on the Mijas Golf estate. it to the attendant’s head. They
An 11 year old boy is recovering in ther down the road he apparently children’s hospital when he under- The man was shot in the then took his keys and, after
his Malaga home from a broken leg changed his mind and ordered the went emergency surgery . mouth and treated at Carlos failing to break open the safe,
after being knocked down in an un- boy to get out the car. “He left him Since then the police have been Haya hospital. In this case the they emptied the car park ma-
usual case of hit and run. Accord- lying in the street, like a dog” says trying to identify the driver who police are considering the the- chines. Before leaving they beat
ing to the report filed by the boy’s the boy’s mother, Estefanía Gra- knocked the boy down. The family ory that it was a settling of the attendant again, leaving
family he was hit by a taxi last De-
, nado. The incident occurred at has called for the collaboration of scores, although other possi- him semi-unconscious. It is not
cember 16th. The driver offered to around 4 p.m. when the boy crossed members of the public who may be bilities have not been ruled known how much money was
take the boy to hospital and put him the road on his way to his grand- able to provide any information. out. stolen.
LOCAL HEROES. YOLANDA AND DAVID.
Couple rescue
elderly man
from fire
AGUSTÍN PELÁEZ VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA
When Yolanda Mesa and David Mu-
ñoz saw that their nextdoor neigh-
bour’s house was on fire they knew
there was no time to wait for the
fire brigade to arrive. At around 2
a.m. they heard shouting and saw
their neighbour at the window of
his house. Seeing that his face was
black and blistered and that he was
feeling faint Yolanda held him up
through the railings while David
and later more neighbours tried to
break the door down. Eventually
they managed to pull the 70 year
old man out onto the pavement. He
is now recovering in Malaga’s Car-
los Haya hospital. Yolanda required
treatment at the local health cen-
tre for burns to her hand.

6. 6 SUR IN ENGLISH JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011
News Axarquía Here&There
El Borge
Parish church to undergo
major restoration project
A 400,000 euro project to restore most important rehabilitation
the 16th century Nuestra work to have taken place on the
Señora del Rosario church, lo- church in the last three centu-
cated next to the Town Hall in ries,” said a Town Hall spokes-
the Plaza de la Constitución, is person. The church has Gothic,
to begin within the next few Renaissance and Moorish-style
days. architecture and was, accord-
The works will include the ing to historical studies, built
complete restoration of the roof on the site of an ancient Arab
and external walls, removing mosque. It has three towers, one
the 'white wash' and exposing of which has an octagonal lay-
the building’s original brick- out, making it unique in the
work and stone. “This is the province of Malaga.
Rincón de la Victoria Alfarnate
Visitor numbers Damaged road
increase at pre- must be fixed,
POISONOUS. A PLAGUE OF THE CATERPILLARS IN MALAGA LAST JANUARY. SUR historic caves says Town Hall
More than 30,000 people vis- The Town Hall has passed a
‘Dangerous’ caterpillars ited the Cueva del Tesoro in
2010, a slight increase on the
previous year’s figures. The
Town Hall has recently an-
motion urging the provincial
government of Granada to re-
pair the storm-damaged road
that runs from Los Alazores
begin to emerge nounced it is to invest 8.9 mil-
lion euros to develop a cave
museum and visitors’ centre
on the site.
to the border of Malaga prov-
ince. The Mayor said the road
was “vitally important” to Al-
farnate’s residents.
The next two months are when the build a white nest, often described
as ‘candyfloss-like’, on the tip of
Pine Processionary Caterpillars are at pine branches in the autumn. By
January they start to emerge and
their most active form lengthy processions, and this
is when they can be hazardous.
Each caterpillar has around 60,000
GEORGE PRIOR FRIGILIANA IN BRIEF white hairs containing a toxin,
Details which can cause severe rashes,
“Between now and the middle of temporary blindness and even res-
April, I’d recommend everyone F Species: Pine Processionary Cat- piratory problems. Experts say
to be extremely careful of the poi- erpillars, or Thaumetopoea pityo- those who come into contact with
sonous Pine Processionary Cat- campa, are known as ‘procesion- them should seek advice from a
erpillars,” warns Frigiliana resi- arias del pino’ in Spanish. It is an doctor immediately .
dent, Jane Tadler. “At this time abundant species of pine forests “The problems are worse for IMPROVEMENTS. CALLE JÁBEGA IN RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA E.C.
of year the ‘innocent-looking’ cat- in central and southern Europe. dogs who can suffer extreme aller-
erpillars are coming out of trees F Procession: Normally around 60 gic reactions or anaphylactic Rincón de la Victoria Vélez-Malaga
and, as their name suggests, form caterpillars, each about 4cm long, shock which can result in death,”
long processions looking for soft form a nose to tail procession while says Jane. First symptoms that 10 million euros Tram has longest
looking for a pupation site. They
ground to burrow into before
they become moths later in the have been known to travel up to
your dog or cat may have been af-
fected include breathing problems, for road waiting times in
year.”
However, appearances can be
30 metres to find soft ground. drooling, and white spots in the
mouth. improvements Spain
deceptive and at this stage of their “People worry about spiders
lives, Pine Processionary Cater- sonous hairs on these creatures. and snakes but I think, at this time During 2010, 10.8 million euros Users of the Vélez-Malaga
pillars pose a potential danger to By the time I got him to a vet it of year especially, we should be was invested across 51 projects tram often have to wait up to
humans and domestic animals, as was too late,” she says. “I had more wary of these caterpillars. to improve public highways in 40 minutes at a stop before one
Jane found out. “In mid-January heard about these caterpillars in And it's not just those walking in Rincón de la Victoria, accord- arrives, making it one of the
last year I was walking my dog the past but as I wasn’t in a pine woods that need to be aware. ing to Town Hall figures. The worst-rated railway systems
just outside the village and, unfor- forest as such, I foolishly didn’t Wherever there are pine trees, funding came from the State, in the country, according to a
tunately my inquisitive puppy got
, give it a thought.” there could be Processionary Cat- the Junta, and Malaga’s pro- study in the magazine, Con-
too close and fell victim to the poi- Pine Processionary Caterpillars erpillars,” advises Jane. vincial government. sumer Eroski.

7. JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011 SUR IN ENGLISH 7

8. 8 SUR IN ENGLISH JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011
News Costa del Sol Here&There
Mijas aims to attract
thousands of cruise
passengers in 2011
The Tourism an agreement with the agency
Raytur to take coach-loads of
the news. “Mijas is known all over
the world as a quaint, traditional
TOWN. WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. SUR
Department plans cruisers from Malaga Port to Mi- Andalusian village and for many Benalmádena
to bring in jas Pueblo. Within three months
nearly 600 people, mainly North
years we have had visitors from
as far a field as Japan, Korea, Town Hall seeks solution for
thousands of Americans, signed up for the ex- America and Australia. But de-
cruisers who
cursion, representing a 25 per cent
increase in cruise passengers vis-
spite this we must never just take
it as a given that people will come.
storm damaged beaches
iting the village. “I think it’s extremely positive
arrive in the port Now with the amount of cruise that the Town Hall is being so pro- Works are underway on several flow of water washes away the
of Malaga ships coming to Malaga set to soar
this year, and with research sug-
active in bringing holidaymakers
here, and not just hoping for the
beaches in Benalmádena to find
a permanent solution to reduce
sand on the beaches, meaning
it has to be frequently replaced.
gesting six out of 10 people disem- best that they'll find us,” he says. the damage caused by winter On a recent visit, Rafael Obrero,
GEORGE PRIOR MIJAS barking a cruise want to be offered “The more visitors we have the storms every year. the Councillor for Beaches, said
excursions, the local Mijas admini- better in terms of trade.” Much of the initiative is fo- the team are working on ways
Some 600,000 people are forecast stration has allocated a greater He adds: “People coming off cused around the areas near to to channel the water to run di-
to arrive this year in Malaga on proportion of the 7.3 million euro cruise ships are increasingly the mouths of rivers and rectly into the sea, so it doesn’t
cruise ships and the Mijas Tour- tourism budget to this initiative aware of their options when they streams where water flows “break across the sand.” Works
ism Department is on a mission in 2011. are in-port and they’re market- from the land into the sea. Dur- have already been completed
to have as many of them as possi- Thomas Weller, a Canadian- savvy We need to actively pitch to
. ing heavy rainfall the increased on Playa Malapesquera.
ble visit the famously well-pre- born local businessman and the them about why they should come
served white ‘pueblo’ on day trips. Secretary for the Mijas Pueblo and explore the delights of Mijas
In 2010, the Town Hall signed Traders’ Association, welcomes as competition is fierce.” Mijas Costa Mijas
Indigenous Forest fires
species return to down by a third
Mijas Costa in 2010
A project has been completed There was a 36 percent drop
to return several beaches of Mi- in the number of forest fires
jas to their “natural state” with in the municipality of Mijas
the planting of many indige- in 2010, compared to the pre-
nous species of fauna found in vious year, according to fig-
Mediterranean forests and the ures released by the Town
removal of non-native plants. Hall.
Working in an area of El In total, the fire service at-
Chapparal covering 5,600 tended more than 700 emer-
square metres, the Town Hall’s gency situations last year, in-
Environmental workers and a cluding 52 house fires.
team from the eco-research
group, Aula del Mar, removed
35 tonnes of foreign plants and Fuengirola
sent them for composting
nearby Over the course of 18
. 10 per cent more
months, more than 500 volun-
teers have planted more than Tourist Office
COACHES IN MIJAS. THE TOWN HALL HOPES TO 'COACH-IN' CRUISE PASSENEGRS. /G.P 2,000 native trees and shrubs
with the aim of “improving
consultations
and conserving biodiversity in The recently refurbished main
Mijas.” Tourist Office in Fuengirola
Works start on at the mouth of the river.
The Mayor added: “Fuengirola
will soon have a beautiful land-
attended to an average of 301
people each day last year, with
a total of 72,360 users through-
Fuengirola's new scape park surrounding the iconic
Sohail Castle and the Armada
bridge. Not only will residents and
out 2010. This is an overall in-
crease of more than 10 percent
on the year before.
Riverside Park visitors be able to take part in rec-
reational activities and sports in
the park, but they’ll also be able Torremolinos
The first industrial diggers started
to use small boats on the river it-
self.” In this regard, there are 4,637 enquiries
moving earth on Monday
plans to launch a municipal row-
ing school in the park.
at Consumer
Anne Small, who lives near the
future park, and who happened
Office
GEORGE PRIOR FUENGIROLA During her visit to the site with across the dignitaries during this The municipal Consumer In-
the Junta de Andalucía’s Head of week’s visit said residents are ex- formation Office (OMIC) dealt
As work began on Fuengirola’s Tourism, Trade and Sport, Luci- cited by the 1.2 million euro pro- with more than 4,600 enquir-
much-anticipated Riverside Park ano Alonso, Oña told reporters ject. “I think it will be a big boost ies last year. One in four cases
(‘Parque Fluvial’) this week, the that the 70,000 square metre park for this end of town. I hope it's as were regarding the telecom-
Mayor, Esperanza Oña, confirmed on the banks of the Fuengirola well executed as the plans and pro- munications industry Advice
.
to SUR in English that it would be River would be completed in two jections indicate. And hopefully about the electricity board
“finished before the start of the phases, with phase one covering it'll have a positive impact on the was the second most common
summer.” an area of some 520 square metres area's house prices!” VOLUNTEER. HELPING WITH PLANTS. consumer query .

9. JANUARY 14TH TO 20TH 2011 SUR IN ENGLISH 9
News Marbella
A hundred people were given two free items of clothing for going to a fashion trouble finding what I wanted be-
cause they didn’t have the jacket
store in their underwear on the first day of the sales in my size”, said David as he
emerged, now dressed up in his
new gear, a jacket and a pair of
jeans, that would have cost him 89
Cool sales shopping and 69 euros at their sale prices.
He was by no means the only
one who thought that taking his
clothes off was a small price to pay
for some new clothes. Lidia Salado,
a 23 year old from Seville knew ex-
actly what she was doing. Last
CRISTINA GONZÁLEZ MARBELLA June she had taken part in a simi-
lar promotion in Madrid, arriving
It was a quarter to nine in the among the first 100 on two con-
morning on January 7th and 200 secutive days and coming away
people were waiting patiently out- with four new items of clothing.
side La Cañada shopping centre “Now I’ve come for a coat”, she ex-
eager for the chance to take their plained just before the doors
clothes off. Tired faces showed opened. She was joined by three
that they had been there for some friends who had come especially
time, in some cases for more than from Seville, joining David at the
12 hours. “I arrived at half past shopping centre at ten o’clock the
eight last night and I haven’t slept previous evening. Kathrin Dando,
a wink”, said 34 year old David a 37 year old German customer,
Asenjo, proudly showing off the had also made the effort as “hav-
number one card he was wearing ing a Desigual coat has been my
around his neck. He was first in dream”. She came away with a
the and the first to strip off; and jacket and some trousers worth
all this to obtain two free garments more than 200 euros without even
from the Desigual store on the first opening her purse.
day of the January sales. The firm knows that the cam-
The fashion firm had chosen its paign is worth its cost as publicity
stores in Barcelona, San Sebastián is guaranteed. “There are a lot of
and Marbella as the venues for the fans. It’s what we call brand expe-
campaign they called ‘Come in al- rience” said Pedro Moscoso the
most nude and go out fully Desigual Communication Manager.
dressed’. The first 100 customers In fact this same marketing stunt
would win themselves a new out- has been successful in New York,
fit, worth an average of 200 euros, Lisbon and even in Amsterdam,
for stripping down to their undies with the added inconvenience of
before doing their shopping. “I had EXPOSED SALES. A HUNDRED DESIGUAL FANS GOT FREE CLOTHES FOR SHOPPING IN THEIR UNDERWEAR. JOSELE-LANZA temperatures below zero.