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contents
issue
41 costa culture
6
Drinking, Eating, Reproducing and Retreating... by Eric the Cockroach
costa getaways
12 18 24
Cover story Hollywood Icons Mamma Mia - Meryl Streep by Harvey Mann Elviria History and Culture
Local Business Spotlight
costa lifestyle
42 44 45 46 48 50
Mens Stuff Plan your day... What Men Want
What Women Want
66
Cover story Summer Survival Pool or Beach? by Simon Hill
24
The House Doctor Spanish property crisis or opportunity
costa stuff
68 70 72 74 76 78
Beauty Tips Steps to great skin... Health article Alcohol and weight loss - Can you have both? Health news Drink, eat and be cancer free...
costa homes
56 60 62
64
Cover story Lusty A ‘‘Military Cruise’’
costa companies
28
12
Interiors The fascinating world of colours Handy Home Tips
Step by step guide to buying a property in Spain
68
Cover story The Iberian Lynx by Peter Harrison Costa Cuisine
Spiritual Thought
Bytes & Pieces
Showbiz Whispers / Movie Review Strange But True & Challenge
64
Hello and welcome... to issue 41 of Costa Life Magazine and already we are coming to the end of the summer. For the tourists it has been wonderful weather and I have to say that this year was exceptionally warm though July and August with some areas of the coast reaching over 42 degrees. I usually deal with the heat quite well but found it quite difficult this year, particularly through August. I always seem to say this, but the year has flown on the coast and we are now looking forward to Christmas time! I know. It’s crazy isn’t it? The fact the year has flown is probably not a bad thing bearing in mind the economic problems of the last twelve months so at least nearly one year of recession is behind us. Who knows what the autumn and winter will bring but we will all just have to keep our heads down and keep working away. Having the double issue over July and August worked well for us and our clients and we will be doing the same as last year and having a double issue for November/December. It´s been a great year for Spanish Sport with a hat trick of victories in Euro 2008, Wimbledon and the Tour de France and as I am writing this the British team are doing well in the Olympics. For us, we have a brand new website which is receiving more and more hits as more people go online to read the magazine from abroad and also local readers who get a sneak preview before it hits the streets. We are working hard on www.guidetothecosta.com which we are going to be pushing forward over the next twelve months. The site has been online for 5 years now and we have to make use of its potential now that so many people use the internet now for all kinds of things. Harvey Mann was back last month with a great piece on Gloria Estefan and you will be pleased to see he is back writing for us again. This time,however we have talked him into writing about his life as a photo journalist. Harvey has been in the business for 40 years and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Hollywood. This month we start with Mamma Mia star Meryl Streep and you can look forward to some great pieces in the next few months including, Gregory Peck, Marilyn Monroe and Steve Mcqueen to name just a few. Our annual get together is just around the corner and if you are reading this before the 13th September and fancy a great night out then book yourself tickets for the ‘change a life ball’ at the Tamisa Golf Hotel. All are welcome and it will give you ladies a chance to get dressed up to the nines and for the guys to get the Tuxedos out of the wardrobe. It’s not often we get a chance to roll out the carpet and get dressed up here on the coast and our two previous events have been great fun. Money raised will go to Cudeca and Age Care Association. For more information see our ad on page 6. That’s it from me, I hope you have had as good a summer as we have seeing family and enjoying the weather and now for us it’s a big push towards 2009!!! See you in October.
Editor Sharon Holdsworth Consulting Editor Harvey Mann Design and Production David Philliskirk Advertising Sales Ronan Holdsworth IT Advisor Dave Howard of Alphashare Web Master Mike Wilkinson Contributors Linda Christie Peter Harrison Annika Jonsson Harvey Mann Jan Morley Numero Uno Estates Cruella Parsons Annette Riggall Russell Vaughn Mike Wilkinson Company Director Ronan Holdsworth Partner Barrie Shearman Images courtesy of Costa del Sol Tourist Board PR Shots Cover photo by kind permission of Sara Gómez Dubois http://black--pearl.deviantart.com/
Deposito Legal MA-0054-2004
For Information on distribution points, sales or any other enquiries call 952 492 250*, 600 713 028 or email: info@costalifemagazine.com or visit our website www.costalifemagazine.com *new contact number
Reproduction of this magazine in whole or part without the written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited. The views expressed by contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publishers. Although every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and the advertisements contained within this magazine, the publishers can accept no liability.
Produced by and part of the HOLDSWORTH SHEARMAN MEDIA GROUP
952 492 250 info@costalifemagazine.com
MACP-477
Coin
489,000 Euros
MACP-487
495,000 Euros
Build: 147m2, Plot 600m2, Beds: 4, Baths 2, plus and shower room. A beautiful property on a sought after urbanization in a great location. This lovely villa, really is one to be viewed every room in the house had been designed with immense thought. The villa is extremely bright and airy with plenty of patio doors leading out to the many terrace areas and master bedroom veranda. There is central heating and air-condition through out and a superb open fire in the lounge. The garden is completely landscaped and the pool is nicely situated within the grounds. There is the option of using the garage as extra guest accommodation / study, as there is ample parking on the plot and out side on the road.
Build: 140m2, Plot: 6,000m2, Beds: 3, Baths: 2 A gorgeous country property, on a flat private plot with stunning views. The property is spotless throughout and has superb high beamed coaling, airconditioning hot and cold and plenty of storage in the attic. The property is totally fenced, no over looked and an ideal place for horses.
MACP-479
MACP-482
Alhaurin de la Torre
380,000 Euros
Build: 141m2 Plot: 1439m2 Beds: 4 Baths 3 A beautiful property which has lots of old features. The house is on a good size flat plot, with a lovely garden; there are security lights fitted, irrigation system and automatic gates. The views are stunning facing the mountains and valley, easy access to airport and beach.
A really delightful property in a great part of the country, close to both Alhaurin, coin towns and the Marbella road.
Alhaurin el Grande
699,000 Euros
Build: 255m2 Plot: 7,000m2 Bedrooms: 5, plus a study Baths: 3 bathrooms (1 is en-suite) and one WC A Large spacious property perfect for a family home or individuals who like space. The property has double glazing throughout, mosquito nets on all the windows, high beamed ceiling and two log burners and a open fire place. Other features: stain glass window, security grills on all windows, alarm, fish pond and many fruit. An immense property with lots more potential.
MAAP-420
ALHAURIN EL GRANDE
65,000 Euros
New Luxury studios apartments and offices for sale located in the best part of Alhaurin town next to all amenities. The studios/offices have all been finished to a very high standard, with marble floors, solid oak doors, beautiful tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms. Some have small charming court yards with water features. Varied opportunities to use as small business centre, individual offices, or separate studio apartments.
MAPC-475
ALHAURIN EL GRANDE
699,000 Euros
Build: 350, Plot: 800m2, Beds: 4, 3 in the main and 1 in the casita, could be 6, Baths: 5 A great opportunity to purchase the only villa which is for sale on this new exciting urbanisation, which is in the country but walking distance to Alhaurin el Grande town. The villa is 3 years old very light and spacious with and although there is 4 bedrooms and present there is the possibility of using the lovely converted attics or the full-size games room for more accommodation if desired. Separate self contained little house on one level with 40m2 beautiful studio.The location of this property is fantastic; being next to the town and close to all amenities is a great bonus. Also being a new urbanization and having no others like this around the area, we feel that this is a sought after property. The town hall has great plans for this urbanization leaving plenty of areas for gardens with pretty landscaping, so the urbanization already today is already delightful which will only improves as the months go on.
Written By:
I
’ve been called some things in my time, let me tell you. ‘‘You dirty, ugly, smelly, slimy, creepy, disease-ridden little bleeder’’ people would shout at me as they chased me across the kitchen floor with something hard and heavy held aloft with intent. (They never caught me, mind, ’cause I’m pretty nifty in the Nikes, if you know what I mean.) Fair do’s… I might be ugly (it’s only a personal perception thing anyway) and smaller than some, but I can assure you that I am most certainly not any of those other derogatory adjectives you choose to use, and I’m here now to explain to you why not, and to set the record straight on behalf of all the cockroaches in the world… and there’s a bleedin’ lot of us!
First of all, let me explain, I’ve not always been a cockroach. No, I used to be of the human variety, once upon a time. Now, I don’t mean that one moment I was a human being and then I suddenly ceased being human and began being a cockroach for no apparent reason at all, like I was that Samsa geezer in Kafka’s Metamorphosis or something. Whilst I admit that I have metamorphosised a couple of times in my life, that was strictly as a cockroach. No, before that I was reincarnated. And before you start thinking that I must have done something really, really bad in my last life to be sent back down as a cockroach, you’re wrong. I chose to be a cockroach, and a jolly good choice it’s turned out to be. C’mon, who wouldn’t want to spend all their lives doing nothing but eating, drinking and procreating? Let me tell you, I was first in the queue. Admittedly, it’s only for a couple of years but then, as a cockroach, I have no concept of 6 costa life
Eric the Cockroach time anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. But what I’m trying to say is that, as I was once one of you, I know how you lot think and all about your prejudices and hatred towards us, but you don’t have a clue about us, really. And that’s why I’ve come along today to educate you all. Let the class begin. Right then, we’ll begin with the insults mentioned in the first paragraph, the ones that are most commonly barked at us most every day. I’ve already semi-admitted the ‘ugly’ bit and I can’t deny that we’re not little… but dirty? You’re well off base there, my friends. Cockroaches are fastidiously clean creatures. We clean ourselves scrupulously, as do most insects, in order that our sensory bristles on our body walls and limbs are ready to sense any hint of water, food, a mate or an enemy. Thirst, hunger, sex and saving your ass are the only rules of cockroach life. A cockroach with a dirty exterior is not a ‘lean mean machine’. Besides, we don’t want to be catching something nasty from all that rotting kitchen debris under your oven and your fridge that we have to crawl though every night, do we? Admittedly, we do defecate all over the place, but they’re only tiny stools that are perfectly harmless unless you ingest them (and what would you be licking that dirty floor for, anyway?) and any bad bugs that may be in them are bugs that we’ve picked up at your gaff. Personally, I am a paragon of cleanliness and spend hours at the end of my nightly rummage with my sticky feet in my legpits and all my other joints, cleaning out the grot. No, we’re not the dirty ones… it’s your dirt
we’re cleaning up. If there were no food around for us we wouldn’t be there in the first place, would we? Next one… ‘‘smelly’’. Wrong again (although the girls do secrete a pheromone that drives us crazy when we smell it ’cause we know she wants some action). We don’t smell, but the places we choose to eat in often do. That’s because we are omnivores; we’ll eat anything organic animal or vegetable - so long as it doesn’t fight back… and that often equates to ‘dead’. And dead, decaying organic matter smells. And yet again it is a result of your dealings. We haven’t been around for 320 million years (compared to the mere 200,000 years that you’ve been on the planet, by the way) without learning how to adapt to our surroundings. Ice ages, acid rains and mega meteorites that wiped out the dinosaurs, but not us, were all taken in their stride. There are 350,000 different species of cockroach alone (compared to just 450,000 species of all known mammals) and the reason for that is because, as we’ve made our way around the globe, we have been able to adapt quickly to our new environments due to the fact that we do a lot of procreating, and hence we don’t so much have a ‘gene pool’ as a ‘gene whirl-pool’. (I did tell you it was a good life.) But out of all those different species of us, there’s only ten that are considered household pests by you humans. The other 349,990 are having a blinder of a wild life as part of the wildlife in tropical forests and suchlike, recycling decaying forest vegetation into fertilizer for a new generation of vegetation on a massive scale - a life of eating, drinking, doing it and running away occasionally. We ’roaches are a major part of a worldwide eco-system. You, on the other hand, just keep on upsetting it. And, whilst we are on the subject of species, my particular strain is commonly known as the ‘German Cockroach’ by the English, although I live in Spain and I actually originate from South East Asia (from whence most of us came). In Germany we are referred to as ‘Russische Schabe’ or the ‘Russian Cockroach’. The Russians call us the ‘Polish Cockroach’ and
the Americans the ‘Croton Bug’. Can you not see a pattern here? Why is it that certain communities choose to name us after something they inherently despise? I find this practice a sad reflection of how far prejudice has driven your common language. Onto the next one... ‘‘slimy’’. C’mon… I have an exoskeleton, for goodness’ sake. It’s like being a crab or a lobster (which is sometimes known as the ‘cockroach of the sea’, coincidentally). I’ve got a solid cuticle; a shell (which is why we *crunch* under a smooth, patent leather sole, incidentally, an ideal way of dealing with us) that’s maybe shiny (from lots of cleaning) but never slimy. Okay… ‘‘creepy’’. Creatures that creep are predators, slowly stalking down their prey (although I may be guilty of a little ‘selective walking’ in a previous life, but that’s not the same thing). We are not predators we’re scavengers. Creeping is too slow for us. We have only three speeds - stopped, walking and running away fast. As a ’roach, I am a coward. I have millions of tiny, ultra-sensitive hairs all over that can sense the change in air pressure when something’s coming towards me. I don’t even need to think about it - I’m genetically wired to just run away with all haste. That’s how you survive for 320 million years, you know, by keeping your head down and staying out of trouble. Disease-ridden? ¡Mal de nuevo! As I said earlier, any bad bugs that may be in us are bugs that we’ve picked up at your gaff. True, our droppings can irritate childhood asthma, but only irritate it, not cause it. Your children have already been overly disinfected and protected from the germs that could only have made their immune system all the stronger. Instead, they are more susceptible than ever to natures’ tiniest of turns. ‘‘Let 'em eat worms!’’ I say… I do! (If they’re not moving.) And the final slight was ‘bleeding’, as I recall. Bleeding requires blood, and under pressure no less. Although we do have blood of sorts, it is nothing like you humans inasmuch as we don’t use it to carry oxygen around our body because we have our own little system of tube-openings all over ourselves that channel gaseous O2 directly to where it’s needed through a kind of tree-like structure. In fact you could cut off our heads and we still wouldn’t bleed to death. We could carry on for maybe another month. We can go without water for a month and food for three and, because everything we do is genetically instinctive - it’s basically all hard wired and there’s no need for a brain to think about running away we just do it. A decapitated ’roach will die of thirst before anything else (unless you stomp on him after decapitating him, that is). We certainly wouldn’t bleed to death. Us ’roaches have been here a while. When your human race is finally ran and you go and blast this earth to total nuclear destruction, we’ll be sitting up on the hill afterwards, looking down at what you’ve done to this beautiful planet… listening to the Rolling Stones… playing LIVE! Some of you humans have longevity after all. Blinding!
costa life 7
>> WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
8 costa life
WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO >>
costa life 9
>> WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
La Cortijera, La Cala de Mijas Food Daily 10am – 1pm and 7pm – 10pm 3 Course Sunday Lunch 11.50 euro served 1pm – 7pm Sky T.V. - Families Welcome – Large Terrace Wednesday night – Quiz Night Friday night –Darts Saturday night – Karaoke Sussex Golf Society Call 627 041 335 for more info
J B Burkes Irish Bar - Fuengirola Warm friendly welcome All sky sports shown Live music Thur, Fri, Sat Bar snacks - draught beers Guinness - Heineken - Murphys Open 10 am till late 7 days Calle Antonio Sodeno near Dunnes Stores, Las Rampas
952 479 804
s ’ r e p p e P
Pueblo Lucia, opp Cudeca, Avda Jesus Santos Rein, Fuengirola
Nicola invites you to come and enjoy Peppers tranquil setting Scones,Toasts and Jams, selection of Cakes, fresh Sandwiches and Paninis
Coffees and Teas Beers,Wines and Spirits Warm Welcome Open Tues - Sun 10am till late
952 473 572 10 costa life
Written by:
Harvey Mann
F
Film director Anthony Minghella, who died recently, once smilingly told me, ‘‘The best actress in the world unfortunately has a deviated septum (crooked nose).’’ ‘‘The nose you are talking about,’’ I replied, ‘‘is the nose that was once pressed against my cheek as she kissed me.’’
The proboscis in question belongs to actress Meryl Streep, a director’s dream, charismatic and a supremely professional Hollywood icon. I was fortunate enough to first meet Meryl while she was working on the film A French Lieutenant’s Woman in 1981. I was asked by the film director Karel Reisz to go down to Lyme Regis in Dorset to photograph Streep for the Daily Mail; now retired I was, as well as being a professional photographer, the Assistant Entertainments Editor of the newspaper. The film is from the novel written by John Fowles, set in 19th century England; a slightly complicated story but told very cleverly by the screen writer Harold Pinter, about Sarah Woodruff, a social outcast after her affair with a French officer, who sees Charles Henry Smithson, a scientist out walking in Lyme Regis with his fiancé Ernestina. They fall in love and, suffering from melancholy, Sarah leaves Charles after a short passionate affair. Meryl played actress Anna who plays Sarah, who falls in love during the making of the film with actor Mike, played by Jeremy Irons who is playing Charles: it is a duel role for both actors and switches backwards and forwards between the actors playing their modern and 19th century roles.
Meryl Steep’s latest film Mamma Mia has opened to mixed reviews: whilst critics say it is a naïvely written story filmed on a Greek Island to the backing of the songs and music of Abba, the public's comments have been very favourable. What has surprised the critics and people that have seen the film is Meryl’s singing ability that proves to be the best feature of the film. Meryl Louise Streep was born on the 22nd of June 1949 in Summit New Jersey and, at the age of 12, took serious singing lessons with the intention of becoming an opera singer. Recently turned 59, she has been nominated during her career for the Academy Award (the Oscar) an astonishing 14 times, winning twice, and is the most nominated actress in Academy Awards history. Meryl is a graduate with a BA in Drama from Vassar College and was educated at Yale University alongside Sigourney Weaver, where she studied Drama and received a Masters, having been a cheerleader and homecoming queen at Bernards High School. Meryl’s family background is as diverse as her acting ability: her Mother has a Swiss, Irish and English ancestry, her Father’s family descent is Dutch with distant Sephardic Jewish ancestors from Spain, although she was raised as a Presbyterian. Meryl’s first feature film part was in Julia in 1977 with Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Fonda, and this role launched her into Hollywood stardom. Her next part was as Linda in The Deer Hunter that got her a Best Supporting Actress award, followed quickly by her role as Joanna Kramer in Kramer vs Kramer in 1979 alongside Dustin Hoffman. Meryl recently revealed, ‘‘Dustin Hoffman slapped me very hard off screen just before we filmed the husband and wife splitting up scene. This made me very angry with him and, thinking back, I suppose it got the right result for the scene: as well as being angry with him as an actor for the scene, I was also angry with him as a person.’’ Other great films followed such as Sophie’s Choice in 1982 that was to bring her further awards. In the film Meryl uses her wonderful ability to use accents, and maintained a difficult Polish accent during the film. This was followed quickly by Silkwood and a host of other great films, since when producers and directors have bombarded her with scripts and offers of large fees. For her role as Miranda Priestly, the very tough and aggressive magazine editor in The Devil Wears Prada made in 2006, she is reported to have received $5 million. Recently
Meryl Streep as Sarah Woodruff and Jeremy Irons as Charles
she said, ‘‘I based the character of Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada on some men that I know, ie Clint Eastwood with whom I worked with in The Bridges of Madison County in 1995, and director Mike Nicholls in Heartburn in 1986 and Postcards from the Edge in 1990.’’ One of my favourite films is Out of Africa, 1985, using a faultless Danish accent as Karen Blixen, for which she was paid $3 million. ‘‘The bonus for me was working with the very handsome Robert Redford,’’ she says. And what of working with the notorious womaniser Jack Nicholson in Heartbeat in 1986? Did he make a pass at her? ‘‘Yes, but he didn’t have a prayer. All we did was laugh a lot - he really is wickedly funny.’’ Meryl’s own private life is sacrosanct to her. She married Don Gummer, a sculptor, in 1978 and they have four children. Over the years Meryl has been quite outspoken on several issues, like her marriage and being a mother, ‘‘I think I was wired for family. Some people are wired for religion, or wired for this or that: I always knew what I would like to do, if I could find the right person; have a family. I can’t imagine being single. I don’t know what I would do without my husband; I’d be dead, emotionally at least, if I hadn’t met him: he’s the greatest. As for my children, there’s no road map on how to raise a family; it’s always an enormous negotiation. But I have a holistic need to work and to have huge ties of love in my life. I can’t imagine eschewing one for the other.’’ On smoking she says, ‘‘I had it, it stinks.’’ Then, on film nudity, ‘‘I’m looking forward to big parts, but I’m not doing soft-core scripts, where the character emerges in half light, half dressed.’’ Then her down to earth attitude, ‘‘You can’t get spoiled if you do your own ironing.’’ Her view on Madonna who beat her to the role of Eva Peron for the film, ‘‘I can sing better than she can. If Madonna gets it, I’ll rip her throat out.’’ And her view on her acting ability, ‘‘There are some days when even I think I’m overrated. Early on in my career one of the nicest letters I ever got was from Bette Davis, who wrote that she felt that I was her successor as the premiere American movie actress ever.’’ However, another great actress, Katherine Hepburn, said that Streep was her least favourite actress, saying that ‘‘You could hear the click, click, click,’’ referring to the wheels turning in Streep’s head as she delivers her lines. In 1981 she arrived, along with the rest of the film crew, in the quaint and atmospheric seaside town of Lyme Regis in Dorset known for the picturesque Cobb Harbour. The French Lieutenant’s Women story is about two people who fall in love, the outcast Sarah Woodruff and the scientist Charles Henry Smithson, who is engaged to another woman. The film’s main image is of Meryl Streep, who plays actress Anna, dressed in a black cape and hood, playing the 19th century woman Sarah Woodruff, walking on the sea wall of Cobb Harbour with a stormy sea sending up a spray behind Meryl. The mood that day was electric. Meryl was her normal upbeat self, smiling and being kind to all the film crew. However, as she prepared for the close-up where she looks back over her shoulder at Jeremy Irons in his character as Charles the scientist, Meryl/Anna/Sarah's eyes become deep pools of emotion. The film’s publicity suggested, ‘‘She was lost the moment she saw him,’’ and her expression is momentarily frozen in her past anxiety and remorse. Meryl’s ability to put her stamp on a particular scene is a sign of a truly great actress who is able to relay, even talk to a cinema audience, just with an expression.
Me with Meryl Streep
Later off duty, as we sipped champagne, Meryl continued to be engaging, ‘‘I’ve always enjoyed comedy; it’s a great chance for me to be funny.’’ As more bubbly was poured she showed how funny she can be, along with her very infectious laugh, telling anecdotes from her other films and talking about how she misses her family. Working very long hours, having to do take after take until the director is satisfied with what the camera has delivered, can drive any normal person to the edge of weakness and disbelief. Many actors have crumpled under the strain and stress, or even boredom of filming. However, it is Meryl’s cool, calm demeanour and sense of humour that carries her through those difficult times.
Starting out at 16
For me, after my close encounter with Meryl, she is a truly wonderful person and actress… and Streep’s ahead of any other actors.
‘‘I took my kids to the stage show, and I was up in the aisle, dancing screaming and yelling, it was an infusion of joy, I just fell in love with it’’ Meryl Streep ‘‘My agent called and said, Meryl Streep, Mama Mia!,Greece, and I said quickly I’m in, If Meryl Streep said yes to it, it must be good’’ - Pierce Brosnan
Showbusiness photographer
Meryl in hood on the sea wall in Cobb Harbour
Meryl Streep as Sarah Woodruff and Jeremy Irons as Charles the 19th century lovers
>> WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
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BUSINESSES IN ELVIRIA >>
SALES Villa 126: Beautiful 3 bed 3 bath villa with excellent sea views. This villa was built in 2001 and has large living area, 100m2 basement, garage for 2 cars and a roof solarium with great views of the coast. Newly fitted kitchen equipped with all appliances. The property has its own 630m2 plot with private swimming pool. Price: 799,000 euros Villa 025: This absolutely stunning beachside villa in Las Chapas Playa comes with 5 bedrooms 5 bathrooms and has the most amazing panoramic sea views. The villa is on a plot of 1,000m2 and is 518m2 built. The private garage is large enough for 4 cars. Price: 1,850,000 euros
Apartment, Penthouse and villa sales Apartment and villa rentals
EMA10016: Superb apartments for sale in Hacienda Playa. 2/3 bed apartments available from 500,000 euros. Excellent beachside location and close to all amenities. Excellent qualities including marble floors, air conditioning and under floor heating in bathrooms.
RENTALS P1010483 rental in Los Monteros Beachside apartments for short and long term let. 2 and 3 beds. Price from 630 euros per week. We also provide an excellent Management and Maintenance service. For more information contact Esther at Exclusive Marbella.
Specializing in
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The Complete Property Service Package Tel:952 832 656 Fax:952 832 717 www.casacare.com info@casacare.com Edificio Framire, Calle Alcornoque, Elviria, Marbella 29604 costa life 15
>> BUSINESSES IN ELVIRIA
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Luxury Villas
REF. 1234
ELVIRIA
2.995.000 €
REF. 1235
ELVIRIA
2.700.000 €
PLOT : 2.000 M2 BUILT : 750 M2 TERRACES : 150 M2 BEDROOMS : 6 BATHROOMS : 6
PLOT : 2.000 m2 BUILT : 900 m2 TERRACES : 150 m2 BEDROOMS : 5 BATHROOMS : 6
Fantastic Luxury villa, modern design, internal glazed patio, sea views from most of the rooms, south west orientation, marble floors throughout.
Fantastic Elegant Villa, close to commercial centre and 10 minutes walk to the beach. Large rooms throughout. White marble. South east orientation. Mountains and sea views.
REF. 1265
ELVIRIA
1.995.000 €
PLOT : 3.442 M2 BUILT 588 M2 BEDROOMS : 5 BATHROOMS : 5 Luxury villa located in a residential area of Elviria. Beautiful sea and mountains views from all rooms. Large lounge and dining room areas. South west orientation. A.A. Large parking & garage area. Fully equipped kitchen. Alarm system.
Special Offers
REF. 0629
ELVIRIA
925.000 €
PLOT : 1.075 m2 BUILT : 279 m2 TERRACES : 98 m2 BEDROOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3 Very nice Andalusian villa with panoramic sea views. South orientation. Downstairs modern apartment and double carport parking and garage. Heated pool. A.A. Barbacue area. WILL PART EXCHANGE FOR APARTMENT
REF. 1238
ELVIRIA
890.000 €
PRICE DROPPED FROM 1.250.000 € TO 890.000 € PLOT : 1.000 m2 BUILT : 250 m2 TERRACES : 50 m2 BEDOOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3 Elegant Andalusian villa with internal open patio. Very nice sea views. South orientation. Marble floors throughout. Located in a quiet residential area.
REF. 1203
ELVIRIA
650.000 €
PRICE DROPPED FROM 850.000 € TO 650.000 € PLOT : 680 m2 BUILT : 200 m2 TERRACES : 40 m2 BEDROOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3 Nice Andalusian villa located close to commercial centre and 10 minutes to the beach. Communal pool and private garden. Large living area and separate dining room. East orientation.
Townhouses / Apartments
REF. 1262
ELVIRIA
435.000 €
PLOT : 179 M2 BUILT : 136 M2 BEDROOMS : 3 BATHROOMS : 3 TERRACES : 130 m2 Delightful 2 storey townhouse, with roof patio, quiet area, large communal pool & barbacue area. White marble floors throughout. Fantastic sea and mountains views. South orientation.
REF : 1349
ELVIRIA
395.000 €
REF. 1343
ELVIRIA
325.000 €
BUILT : 145 M2 TERRACES : 55 m2 BATHROOMS : 2
BUILT : 79 M2 TERRACES : 25 M2 BEDROOMS : 2 BATHROOMS : 2
Very nice Penthouse located at the Urbanisation FRAMIRE RESIDENCIAL, Elviria, mature gardens, communal pool. Close to shops and restaurants, 10 minutes walk to the beach. White marble floors throughtout. South orientation. Sea wiews.
Nice groundfloor apartment located in the lovely community of GOLDEN BEACH, beachside of Elviria. Spacious mature gardens, 2 swimming pools, gated complex. White marble floors throughtout. West orientation.
Urbanizacion Elviria, Avda. Las Cumbres, Marbella Business Centre office 309 Tel 952 835 695 mob 651 857 147 & 649 295 654 www.cselviria.com e-mail info@ladehesaproperties.com
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his month’s location review is Elviria. Elviria sits within the area of Las Chapas and falls within the Marbella district. Living here means you have a Marbella postcode! Less than 10 km from Marbella and 40 km from the Airport, Elviria is ideally located on the coast, and as many coastal places, you can get pretty much anywhere in good time. When you come off the N340 into Elviria you would be forgiven for thinking that it is quite a small urbanisation but, once you start to take a drive around, you begin to realise just how big it is and that it is not an urbanisation but a community.
There are dozens of developments on both sides of the Carretera and, if you take a ride up to La Mareina past Santa Maria golf, you will find more developments up in the mountains, overlooking the coast and offering spectacular views. (Julio Iglesias has a house here.) Wooded with attractive cork oak and pine trees, La Mareina is a peaceful residential estate set in mountainous Andalucian countryside just above Elviria. Established in 1996, the owners have committed to develop only 5% of the surface area of the land, ensuring wide open green zones and protection of the natural environment. Due to its hillside location, the plots at La Mareina each command impressive views down to the coastline and across the Mediterranean to Gibraltar and North Africa. La Mareina itself has its own selection of on-site facilities. It boasts a clubhouse with a gymnasium and tennis courts with the Hofsäss tennis academy run by the former German Davis Cup coach. Two international schools: Colegio Aleman Juan Hoffman, a German school; and Colegio Ecos known for its sporting excellence; both have chosen La Mareina as their home.
Looking toward coast shows only greenery 1990
Santa Maria Club House once the Coto del los Dolores Similar to La Cala last month. finding information about the history of Elviria proved a challenge and, like many places on the Costa del Sol. recent history is more readily available. Elviria is more or less completely self contained and offers a choice of four major supermarkets, a choice of banks, various types of accommodation including hotels, rental properties and resort hotels like the Marriot resort; and two main commercial centres: CC Elviria and CC Pino Golf, which offer a number and variety of shops, bars and restaurants. Any other needs can be met by Marbella which is 10 minutes away or head towards Fuengirola and visit the Myramar shopping centre. The Costa del Sol Hospital is five minutes away, and one of the best known international schools on the coast is the English International College (EIC), situated in the Ricmar urbanisation in Elviria. Those who are interested in high quality Spanish schooling for their children can enrol girls and boys respectively in Ecos and Las Chapas, a private Catholic schools run by the Grupo Atendis, both located in El Rosario, and they offer a high quality Spanish education. State-funded schooling is available in Elviria. Santa Maria Golf is situated in Elviria, and is regarded as one of the best and most attractive golf courses and golf developments on the coast. It was originally a nine hole course designed by Antonio García Garrido and, when these holes opened, the club became very popular with members. The second nine, designed by the club’s technical staff, opened in 1996 and the course has now matured into one of the finest along the coast. Amenities include the 19th century clubhouse and restaurant with terrace, bars, lounges and snooker room. There are also tennis courts, a swimming pool and a lawn bowls club on the club's grounds. There are many other courses close to hand including Santa Clara and Rio Real to name just two. By all accounts Elviria is and always has been extremely green; there are trees and flora everywhere. It’s not until you take a drive around that you realise just how beautiful it is. Thanks to its versatility, it’s becoming an increasingly popular destination with holidaymakers and foreign residents from all over Europe, including the UK. The area is perfect for
Monumento a la Paz before development
Santa Maria Golf families and has become increasingly popular for second homes and for those relocating to the Coast. Part of the area’s attraction is its careful development, thanks to an ongoing cork tree protection programme and similar programmes for the pine trees of nearby Las Chapas and the sand dunes at Cabopino beach. Reputedly once nicknamed and known as Broccoli because of its appearance as a sea of Broccoli from the hills above, Elviria abuts and is surrounded by a UNESCO biosphere reserve, called La Sierra de Las Nieves. The Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park is located behind Elviria, Marbella and to the east of the road to Ronda. The park centres on La Torrecilla (1,919 metres) and covers an area of 202 km². This mountainous area has seen little human influence or activity, even historically, and has a rich variety of flora and fauna. As the name suggests, it can be snow covered in the winter. The area was studied in the 19th century by Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier and in 1933 by Luis Ceballos. In 1970, the park was declared a National Hunting Reserve and in 1995 a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. There are a considerable number of large caves in the park, several taking the traditional form of horizontal caverns. Three are of particular interest: Hoyos del Pilar, Hoyos de Lifa, Cuevas del Moro. The area is perhaps more famous for its potholes, or ‘simas’ in Spanish. One of these, GESM, is one of the deepest in Europe. GESM stands for Grupo de Exploraciones Subterráneas de Málaga and was clearly named after the group that mounted an exploration in September 1978. It has still not been fully explored. The entrance to the pothole is located at 1.670 metres and it descends 1.098 metres with a few large drops. The Gran Pozo drops 115 metres and the Pozo Paco de la Torre has a vertical fall of 194 metres. At a depth of 900 metres there are some interesting rock formations in the Sala de Maravillas, and Lake Ere is located almost at the bottom. Elviria is close to the beach, so getting down to the shore is not a problem and, when you do, you can enjoy some of the best beaches on the coast with plenty of chiringuitos, beach bars and restaurants to keep you happy. For those who need a bit more action than crashing by the Med and enjoying a sangria or two,
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country life 21 Monumento de La Paz today surrounded by developments
>> BUSINESSES IN ELVIRIA
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Don Carlos today
C.C. PinoGolf there is plenty to do activity wise, and you can enjoy jet skiing, wind and kite surfing, kayaking, volleyball and snorkelling, as well as scuba diving. Historically, we have discovered the following: the main property owner and developer of Elviria was Salvador Guerrero, whose family owned most of the area. The clubhouse at Santa Maria was the family home and the land that became the golf course also belonged to the family. It is clear from the development of Elviria that Don Salvador was as much concerned about the quality and care of the development as the development itself, and his work has clearly left a positive mark on the area. Its lush green heritage has been retained and the developments themselves are some of the most attractive on the coast. In 2006, a dinner was held at the Don Carlos Hotel in Don Salvador’s honour, to mark the contribution he made to the area. The name Elviria is believed to have come from his wife’s name Elvira. In 1960, tenders were invited from architects for their ideas on how the new urbanisation should look. A French guy won it but, interestingly, one of the other architects who tendered a design was John Utson, the famous architect responsible for none other than the Sydney Opera House. It’s true, I jest not. He was turned down, although some of his ideas were used in the eventual plans. Although the Palacio de Las Chapas Hotel is the oldest hotel in the area, the Don Carlos is the most prominent landmark. Opened in the sixties, this five star hotel has overlooked the growth of the area for nearly forty years. As you can see from some of the pictures here, it stood all alone for quite some time. It has not always been called the Don Carlos either; in its first days it was called the Marbella Hilton. Yes indeed, a Hilton hotel in Elviria! We have also been told that the bullring of the area was sited in the grounds of the Palacio de Las Chapas Hotel. Historical buildings of interest in the area are few and far between but we found a couple. The Ladrones tower is one of the first Almenara towers to be found within the Municipality of Marbella. Coming from the Malaga direction it is situated close to the port of Cabopino and the projections or machicolations are known in Spanish as ‘ladroneras’ and therefore the name is the same. The tower was most probably built in the Muslim period, due to the shape, the materials used and the way in which the
Sixties postcard of the then Marbella Hilton, now the Don CarlosAERIAL VIEWS OF LAHotel Don 1962-1964 Carlos after name change CALA
Developers Brochure from 70s shows a Carlos from the iron monument on the
a clear sight of the Don shoreside roundabout
beams have been laid. The building is a cone shape, some 3.65 metres in width and 14.60 metres high, distributed inside in three rooms and a terrace. The Lance de Las Cañas Turret is situated in the area of Las Chapas (Marbesa Urbanisation) and has a warlike aspect. It is a considerable size for a turret, standing 10.85 metres high and 53.53 metres wide, and in the shape of a ((hive?)) due to the central floor in the shape of an elongated circle, with two slanted buttresses at the back. The turret dates back to the second half of the Santa Maria completed in 1991 with virtually no development around 16th century and the materials used are rubble masonry with adornments and brick corners. The interior It continues to develop, with the is divided into two storeys and an attic where the artillery new Estrella del Mar Hotel on the was stored; the entrance is situated on the right hand shore side opposite Mercadona opening in September. It’s no buttress at some six metres from the ground. wonder the area is referred to as With large parts of Elviria still free from building works the ‘‘Jewel of the Costa del Sol’’ there is plenty of scope for the area to continue to grow or the ‘‘Malibu of the coast’’ and, and that isn’t a bad thing as long as its continued growth like most jewels, Elviria needs a is nurtured and cared for as it has been so far. It really is bit of digging out to discover it a beautiful area and although it is a hive of activity both properly but, when you do have a day and night, there is a remarkable peace about Elviria good look around this area, it is which you will find hard to match anywhere else on the quite simply delicious and well worth the search. coast. Similar photo to developers brochure but as the Hilton
with nothing around photo late 70s
lviria Elviria
LUSTY, F
or those of you who know us and read Costa Life regularly, you will know that our son David joined the Navy early last year as a marine engineer. So far he has been to the Middle East, India, Malta, through the Suez Canal and to a number of other places. He is based on HMS Illustrious which is one of our Aircraft Carriers, the same as the Ark Royal. If you watched the TV programme Warship on Channel Five, the ship featured was HMS Illustrious or ‘Lusty’ as she is known within the Navy. Our son David Smith was one of the crew featured in the programme with his girlfriend, Steward, Rachel. Their story was the ‘love angle’ of the series!
A ‘‘MILITARY CRUISE’’
In March, we were offered the opportunity to partake in a new initiative by the Navy called PACAS (Parents and Children at Sea). The idea is to give family and relatives the chance to see what it is like to live and work on one of Her Majesty’s vessels. The invitation was to join the ship at Gibraltar and sail back to Portsmouth over five days (at full speed the ship can actually get back to the UK from Gib in about one and a half days). We would live, eat and sleep just like the Navy crew and ‘enjoy’ the experience of life at sea. Call it, if you like, a military cruise! We were to get to Gib on 25th May, meet our son and then get on board ready to sail early on Monday morning. Clothes-wise we were told to bring hard wearing items, jeans, trainers etc, as we would be more comfortable and would be going on tours of the ship. Sharon packed her best dress in the hope of sitting at the captain’s table at the evening gala but I had to tell her that it wasn’t that kind of cruise! Joking apart, we were in for a shock. I have to be honest and say that we were not sure what to expect but we certainly treated the forthcoming five days with less respect than we should have. but more about that after some information on HMS Illustrious. HMS Illustrious, being an aircraft carrier, is one of our biggest ships and, when you stand next to her, you realise just how big she is. She is the second of three Invincible Class Aircraft carriers (Invincible and Ark Royal 24 costa life
the other two) and the fifth ship to bear her proud name. Illustrious was built at Swan Hunter’s shipbuilding yard on the Tyne and subsequently commissioned in her base port of Portsmouth in 1982. In terms of her ‘vital statistics’ Illustrious is an impressive 209 metres long, with a beam of 36 metres and a displacement of 22,000 tonnes. She has 1,400 compartments and 15 lifts and is powered by four gas turbine Olympus engines (a marinised version of Concorde’s) giving her a top speed in excess of 30 knots. With a Tailored Air Group embarked she has a full complement of over 1,000 people and can operate with a range of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft from the Harrier GR9 to troopcarrying Chinooks. Her roles can vary widely and include everything from Maritime Strike to Evacuation Operations; all of which she has ably demonstrated herself to be very much capable of fulfilling. The Ship’s motto ‘‘Vox Non Incerta’’ comes from a quote in the bible, specifically Corinthians I, Ch14 v8, which reads: ‘‘For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?’’ The motto then, means ‘‘No Uncertain Sound’’ and suits Illustrious extremely well. The present HMS Illustrious is the fifth ship to bear that name. The first HMS Illustrious, a 74-gun Third Rate ship of the line, was launched at Buckler’s Hard in 1789 and saw action against the French off Toulon in 1793 and at Genoa in 1795. She was severely damaged in later action
costaSTUFF >> space, was how tired I became and how quickly it hit me, and within a few hours on board we were exhausted. Whether it was something to do with the rocking of the boat or the air conditioning droning away day and night, I don’t know, but suffice it to say when Sharon and I met up for the first time we said in perfect unison, ‘‘What the heck have we done?!!’’
DAVE AND SOME OF HIS SHIP MATES AT GIBRALTAR and driven ashore by a violent storm while being towed home for repair. She was set ablaze and abandoned. Launched in Rotherhithe in 1803, the second HMS Illustrious was also a 74-gun Third Rate ship of the line. She had a long career, winning battle honours at Basque Roads and Java before becoming a training ship in 1854. She was broken up in Portsmouth in 1868. The third HMS Illustrious was launched in 1896. A battleship with 12 and 6 inch guns, she was already obsolete by 1914 and spent most of the Great War as an ammunition store ship. She was scrapped in 1920. The fourth Illustrious was one of the most distinguished ships of the Second World War. She was the first of a new class of Aircraft Carrier and was commissioned in 1940. Her first theatre of action was the Mediterranean in defence of the Malta convoys and where, on 11th November 1940, 20 Swordfish aircraft attacked the Italian Naval Base at Taranto. They inflicted severe damage on the Italian Fleet and helped to tip the balance of Mediterranean Sea power in favour of the Allies. Early in 1941 she suffered extensive damage and many casualties in a relentless attack by Stuka dive-bombers. After emergency repairs, she managed to escape to the United States where she was refitted and returned to active service in late 1941. After playing a major role in operations off Diego Suarez, Salerno and Sumatra, she supported the US landings at Okinawa. This was to be her final action of the war. After hostilities had ended, she returned to home waters as a ‘training and trials’ ship before being laid up in 1954 and finally scrapped in 1957. The current HMS Illustrious was laid down in Swan Hunter’s shipbuilding yard on the Tyne on 7th October 1976. On 20th June 1982, after steering gear trouble, she was finally commissioned at sea and headed directly to the Falkland Islands to relieve HMS Invincible. HMS Illustrious has participated in most major UK and NATO campaigns over the last 15 years; the list includes the First Gulf War, the Sierra Leone Evacuations and the war in Afghanistan in 2001. After this period of hectic activity, in October 2002 HMS Illustrious undertook a 104 week refit in Rosyth Royal Dockyard, Scotland, at a total cost of £118 million. The refit now allows Illustrious to stay in service until 2012, when she is expected to be replaced by the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. These new carriers will be three times the width and one and a half times the length of our current carriers. So, now you have some history and facts about Lusty, let’s get back to our five-day mini cruise. When we got on board this huge ship we were separated into our respective messes. Sharon went to Rachel’s mess (Dave’s girlfriend) and I joined the lads in his mess. Marine engineers, or ‘Stokers’ as they have been called for centuries, are generally accepted to be the hardest working and most put upon members of the crew. If anything goes wrong, breaks down, blows up or whatever, these guys, and now also girls, are the ones who have to be there to fix whatever needs fixing, whenever it needs to be fixed. Whether it be a broken fridge in one of the galleys (kitchens), a busted lock on a loo door or maintaining the massive engines, these are the people who keep the ship functioning. As highly sought-after employees if they ever leave the Navy, stokers become highly trained engineers who can literally turn their hand to anything.
After dinner we all had to be in our messes by 8pm, ie no girls in the lads’ messes and vice versa. The only saving grace was that the lads had a few beers (they are allocated two beers per day) so we were able to have a chat and get to know each other. Apart from the multitude of bunk beds they have a small locker each, a couple of fridges for beers, drinks and chocolate and a small recreation room with a TV and DVD player. I promise you though, the whole mess was no bigger than a large lounge and there were at least 14 lads sharing. The truth is these guys do nothing but eat, sleep and work, with emphasis on the work, and the space they have is all they use, because if they are not working they are sleeping and if they are not sleeping or working they are eating three square meals a day, 4,000 calories to keep them going, and they need it. Morale was low amongst the guys because of the hours and the conditions but also I think because they were at the end of a five month tour and they all just wanted to get home and get off the ship to see family or whatever. Anyway, I persevered through the first evening and went to bed thinking, ‘‘Get me off this ship!’’ Talk about being brought down to earth with a bump. Throughout the night I was continually being awoken by the lads coming and going. The thing is, those who aren’t working are sleeping and those who are working wake you up when they come back off shift so it’s like Piccadilly Station. They work crazy hours, 8 hours on, 8 hours off, or 20 on and four off, continually! Dave says that some days your breakfast is curry and your tea will be eggs and bacon, depending on where your shift ends. Plus the air-con drones away and you get a slight rocking as the ship makes its way through the sea. P&O eat your heart out!! On the Monday morning, I was awoken (again) at 6:30 am, YES 6:30 am, and summoned for breakfast. As soon as I woke I knew straight away that something was wrong and realized that I had caught the dreaded lurgy: my throat was extremely sore and my head was banging. I am not a person who gets ill but, when I do stop work for a break, I have in the past picked something up, defences being down and all that. Anyway, I felt rotten; in addition to not sleeping and being exhausted I was now ill. It turned out that the same thing had put half the crew in bed over the previous few weeks. So there I was, less than 24 hours on board, traipsing off to the galley to get my breakfast, feeling extremely sorry for myself. When I got there I was in a queue of about 60 people, all of whom were in front of me waiting for their brekkie. This was not in the brochure! Sharon’s face was not showing any signs of happiness and joy when we met up either. The only thing that was keeping me going was that in four more days I could get off.
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After breakfast we began our tours of the ship and this did alleviate some of the gloom as we were escorted around the ship to learn about life on board. Over the next three days we were shown the hanger which was huge, the top deck which was the size of three football
The only problem with this job is the demands placed upon them and the crazy hours they work. Once I had settled in and been allocated my bunk, which was the bottom of three bunks, one yard away from another stack of three, in amongst another 21 bunks in a mess the size of my bathroom, the full measure of what we had ‘signed up’ for was becoming apparent and I began to worry! The first thing I noticed, apart from the lack of
SOME OF THE LADS IN THE MESS
814 SQUADRON MERLIN HELICOPTER DISEMBARKING ON THE 29TH MAY pitches, the captain’s quarters where the Queen had been a few weeks before in Istanbul, and we even sat in the main dining room and enjoyed some cocktails. We also went on board the Merlin helicopters and were given an aerial display as they took off and landed at sea. We toured the engine rooms which were amazing: the size of the engines is remarkable and the noise is unbearable and there REFUELING AT SEA are just thousands and thousands of metres of piping everywhere! How they keep track of it all is beyond me but they must do. We were given a fire safety display and even got to shoot a few rounds off the starboard bow from the mounted guns. We visited the control tower where the captain works from and we had tours of the galleys. 100,000 meals a month are served up throughout the ship and the food wasn’t that bad - in fact it was rather good. Towards the end of the five days they were rehashing what was left as they were obviously running out but it still wasn’t bad. The best bit for me overall was sitting in the mess watching the programme Warship and actually being there with them as they cheered every time one of them was seen on TV. It was great fun. The second best thing for me was going on top deck to watch an RAS which means ‘‘replenishment at sea’’. This is where a cargo ship will come alongside another ship and, by means of a massive chain and pulley apparatus, transfer goods from one ship to another whilst still moving. It’s a very dangerous operation as the boats come within maybe 50 metres of each other. The waves caused between the two ships were huge and it was an excellent spectacle. Despite all our whinging it was a great experience, if for no other reason than to get an understanding of what these people go through. We didn’t
CAPTAINS CHAIR
SAILING INTO POMPEY get into any kind of rhythm and, as the days went past, if we weren’t touring we went to bed. I have never become so exhausted so quickly and been unable to sleep at the same time. I laugh now when I look back on it but at the time it was horrendous. I have to say ‘hats off’ to the Navy for instigating PACAS because it is a no-holds-barred no-flannel experience. We saw how these people live, warts and all. I can remember all the times Dave called home and was having a moan and his mum and I said, ‘‘Ah get on with it, it’s called hard work,’’ etc, but now we can’t say a word except encourage him to keep going or just tell him we know what he means. The average age on HMS Illustrious is 22 and you can understand why. It’s a young man’s game. I have never been negative about our forces as some are and can only say that these young people who have joined the services demand our respect. They are not the politicians and we need to remember that fact. They are there to serve and protect our country and also other countries. They don’t make the decisions on where to invade and who to support, so we should save that criticism for the politicians and civil servants who do make those decisions. But these servicemen and women know the risks in today’s volatile environment and they join up anyway. And I can now assure you, from personal experience, that conditions are poor in the lower ranks: you have to have a desire to serve to do this kind of work, and there are not many who can stick it out. With talk in the media about bringing back National Service I would have to agree that this would be a good thing. Both Sharon and I noticed immediately the manners and courtesy shown by all on board: the discipline and respect are there and it was wonderful to see. Don’t get me wrong, we all know that these guys know how to party and have a reputation for letting themselves go, but the discipline was there, natural and instilled. It was a fantastic experience but never again. We are both glad we did it and we couldn’t have possibly refused the opportunity but, I repeat, never again. We now have a first hand understanding of what our son does and we are immensely proud. When we arrived at Portsmouth we were greeted by 2,000 people and a Royal Navy brass band. It was great to see all the Union Jacks and the families cheering on the quayside as they waited for their fathers, sons, daughters, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends to come home from a gruelling five month tour. With all the crew on top deck in full uniform it made Sharon and I think everybody there proud to be British and it was a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget for many different reasons.
GET THAT WOMAN AWAY FROM THAT GUN!
TOP GUN OR WHAT, WELL, MAYBE NOT!
Local Business Spotlight
At Costa Life we dedicate more space to business editorial than any other publication on the coast. It is important to us to introduce to you information about our new clients and remind you on a regular basis about existing ones. We are a free magazine and we only exist because of our clients and we therefore feel it right to dedicate a section of the magazine to promoting to you, our readers, the people, both new and old, who make Costa Life possible.
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Thank You.
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Nature’s Philosophy Health & Beauty Salon
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costa COMPANIES >>
Welcome to Dr. Stefan Demling and his clinic Clinica Dental Idea. As a patient with Clinica Dental Idea you will meet commitment, enthusiasm and expertise, which go hand in hand with wide-ranging experience covering everything from simple dental check-ups to advanced specialist care. At Clinica Dental Idea they diagnose and treat most tooth and soft tissue problems from minor cases of caries, enamel damage or superficial gum inflammation to serious cases of tooth decay, gum disease or lost teeth. Their aim is to retain as much as possible, using reconstruction and replacement work only where absolutely necessary for various reasons. When treatment is necessary, it must involve the least possible intervention on the actual tooth, bone or soft tissue. Where there is no damage, they use preventive dental care to keep things that way.
there are so many ways it can be improved. Visit or call Clinica Dental Idea today to see how they can help you, consultations for this kind of treatment are free. The clinic itself is spacious with a relaxing and well presented reception and waiting area helping to ease the worries of any nervous patients. They are open Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 10am - 5pm and open late Wednesdays 10am - 8pm or call 952 19 76 41 or 660 103 694 to make an appointment or visit the Clinic at Centro Idea on the Carretera de Mijas just before the toll road.
Looking after your teeth is vital and the old saying ‘‘ignore your teeth and they will go away’’ is all too common with many people who neglect their dental care through laziness or fear. Treatments these days can be relative quick and pain free so not getting a check up twice a year is asking for trouble and is only delaying the inevitable, remember, prevention is always better than a cure. Regular check ups will highlight any problems you might have and with the right treatment at the right time can limit or halt any further problems. At Clinica Dental Idea they also provide cosmetic dentistry, as a natural part of all their treatment. Tooth whitening, discolouration and crooked teeth, which can have a negative effect on the appearance, are all handled with the latest technique and expert care. Have you ever noticed how a happy, smiling face makes you want to smile, too? The person smiling doesn’t have to be beautiful or in the full bloom of youth ...just an attractive smile in itself can be appealing. Some people who would like to smile broadly when the occasion calls for it, are reluctant to do so. Their smile is guarded, most of their teeth are covered up because they don’t want them to show. Maybe there are gaps caused by missing teeth, perhaps their teeth are badly discolored or protrude too much. However, no one has to feel inhibited. With today’s dental techniques, anyone's smile can be improved. Primarily, you used to visit a dentist to find out if your teeth were in trouble. If there was any decay, or if you had infected gums, you wanted the problem taken care of so you could save your teeth. But there are other reasons for seeing your dentist, and one of them is to help keep your smile attractive. There’s no need to hide your smile today when
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The Elefante in Benalmadena has long been known as one of the top cabaret venues on the coast and has been providing both visitors and residents alike with top class entertainment for over 10 years. In the last few months new Irish owners Garreth and Michelle have completely refurbished the premises to an exceptionally high standard. The bar has been moved and the interior has been gutted and looks like a new building from top to bottom. Even the outside has been re built with an extension which has enlarged the venue. You can relax and enjoy drinks on the new terrace before going in to watch the shows. Inside they now have a seating capacity of nearly 300 plus standing room which makes The Elefante one of the biggest live music venues on the coast. The Elefante offers a great night out for all the family and the best acts in Spain perform here. The entertainment is wide and varied which means there is something for everyone, from some of the top Uk, Irish and international acts like The American Drifters, The Grumbleweeds, Chas and Dave and Marmalade to tribute acts like Neil Diamond, Freddie Mercury, Boy George, to great comedians like the very popular Dave Young. Resident band Revival are on every night from around 9.30pm playing great rock and roll classics to get the crowd in the mood and they have a new dance floor so you can get up and have a boogie if you want to. They have recently opened a new kitchen and can now offer fantastic pub grub including a selection of basket meals such as burger and chips, chicken and chips, scampi and chips and chicken burger and chips plus kebabs, toasties and panini sandwiches. On Sundays they have an all you can eat carvery and at only 9.95 euros it’s great value. The carvery is served every Sunday from
The all new Elefante
Main bar area
5pm till 9.30pm, every other night the kitchen is open from 8pm till 12.30am. We went on a Sunday evening and enjoyed the carvery outside on the terrace before going in to watch the resident band Revival and the Freddie Mercury tribute which was really good fun. It’s a great atmosphere inside with everybody there getting right into the mood. Music Freddie Mercury tribute lovers from 8 to 80 enjoyed a great night out and you can be assured that whatever night you go you are always guaranteed a night to remember. The Elefante can now offer you a full night’s entertainment including great food and drinks, pool tables, waitress service and of course the best live shows on the coast. The Elefante is open 7 days a week till late. For more details on acts and booking tables call 650 705 345.
We will rock you!
New cabaret lounge now seats up to 300 people
>> costa COMPANIES
Reflecting success of Manchester’s ‘‘David Glen’’ salons, owner Calvin and his growing enthusiastic team are celebrating their 1st successful year here on the Costa, situated in the delightful ambience of Puebla Lucia (central Fuengirola). Their stylish and breezy salon is the place to be for finally solving all your hair problems.
Calvin, Julie and Jacqui are highly experienced and qualified to the highest standards in training, assessing and delivering a quality service. Their standards are only excellence and together they provide everything you need to make your hair easier and manageable from cut to cut. Their aim is not just to provide you with an image that looks great when you walk out of the salon, but to design and create a great hairstyle that you can manage to enjoy until your next visit, along with the confidence and uplift that we all need from time to time! Listening!! Delivering!! The team guarantees satisfaction for all your hair requirements including an increasing clientele for hair relaxing. They offer a wide range of services difficult to be found with the skill and expertise they are passionate about. Due to success and demand they will be offering manicures, pedicures, artificial nail design, lash tinting, brow shaping and that all important and ever increasing demand for Male Grooming. Wedding services are also available specializing in hair-up and Bridal make-up. Using a quality range of products from Wella, L’Oreal and Hempz exclusively supplied from the U.S. Hempz products contain exactly what your hair needs living under the sun! Containing nature’s natural Hempseed oil and extract, essential fatty acids (EFA’s), vital nutrients and proteins, vitamins and antioxidants which are vital for nourishing healthy hair. Suitable for all scalp and hair types. See and feel the difference by sampling HEMPZ, prior to purchasing from the salon. Whilst enjoying your experience at David Glen, you can enjoy a complimentary head massage, receive free refreshments and order light snacks as you chill out in the peaceful atmosphere of the beautiful gardens that surround you. They look forward to meeting you as much as you’ll be glad to do!!!!
Recent clients’ comments: ‘‘I felt fantastic when I left the salon. I’ll definitely be back!’’ Jenny Staffs, UK / Fuengirola ‘‘Finally, I’ve found someone who understands what I want.’’ Mette, Denmark / La Cala ‘‘I used to coincide my UK visits with a much needed trip to my old salon, now I can enjoy having a hairdresser on my doorstep’’ Susie Hudds, Mijas ‘‘Brilliant, the best I’ve found in Spain, and I’ve been to a few!’’ Lucy, Benalmadena ‘‘Great, everything! Really enjoyed the experience. Thanks, guys! See you next trip.’’ Steve & Family, Essex, UK ‘‘Love my colour, the cut is great and so easy. See you soon.’’ Teresa, Brighton, UK
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costa COMPANIES >>
The MBT shoe - your natural painkiller! Do you walk a lot? Do you have pain in your back, feet, joint or knee? Do you want a more upright posture? Then try a pair of MBT shoes and explore a new way of walking with less pain and a much more active body! The human body is not designed for constant walking on even ground. In doing so, the steps become unnaturally long and a passive posture is created. With conventional shoes the steps fall almost uncontrollably onto the ground and the whole body receives shocks, leading to poor
my legs is amazing, and the pain has disappeared from my foot, which is why I bought them in the first place, … I can now feel my stomach working as well as my thighs, great stuff.’’ Here on the Western side of Málaga, people who are curios about the MBTs have a selection of not just 1 but 2 Specialist MBT shops which both caries the full range of models and sizes. In MBT SHOP CRISTINA in Fuengirola and MBT SHOP MARBELLA we look forward to help you experience the MBTs and explore what MBT can offer you! For enquiries and directions please phone us on 697 265 199 or check out our website www.mbtmarbella.com
posture, blockages, tension and weak muscles. To counteract this effect the body must be stimulated to balance itself and trough that active the body’s supporting muscle system, and this is what MBT does. Due to a unique curved sole, MBT transforms flat, hard surface into natural, uneven surface, simulating the walking action of our barefoot ancestors. The curved sole creates a natural instability underfoot, which stimulates and exercises the body’s supporting muscles system to balance and keep an upright posture. Balancing means that the muscles are working instead of overloading joints plus encourages active musculature. Through the action of a tension interchange of the muscles, MBT become shock absorbers for the joints and through this the body experiences release of tension, relaxation and improved circulation. Wearing MBT physiological footwear is like walking barefoot on springy moss or a sandy beach - very comfortable on the one hand, but also a challenge for the whole body. Because every step is a small workout for the whole body. An active muscles system holds and helps the skelet meaning the bones which helps reducing pain in the body. All in all both when standing and walking, there are several benefits in using MBT: Activates neglected muscles Reduces stress on knee and hip joints Help with back, hip, leg and foot problems Improves posture and gait Tones and shapes the body Help with joint, muscle ligament & tendon injuries The first MBT shoe was produced in 1998 and launced in Swizerland continuing to Germany and Austria during 1999. Since then the MBT has help lots and lots of people to reduce or take away pain in especially back, knees and feet. A very satisfies MBT Client is so happy about her shoes that she wrote an email to MBT SHOP CRISTINA saying: ‘‘… that I love my MBT sandals. The difference in the tone of
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Nordic Muebles Innovation and style Nordic Muebles is a Danish owned company that specializes in offering its clients the latest tendencies within garden furniture and kitchens. Launched 3 years ago Nordic Muebles have established themselves as one of the leading providers of all aspects of home improvements including, quality outdoor furniture, kitchens, bathrooms and wardrobes plus a wide selection of accessories. A good deal with Nordic Muebles does not only mean a good price, but also serious and correct guidance before and after the sale. Through well-trained sales staff and leading manufacturers they offer you a personal concept that gives you the best experience when dealing with Nordic Muebles. Nordic Muebles offers you: Scandinavian design Leading manufacturers Extensive selection Competitive prices First class service Highest quality installations Their goal is to be the biggest supplier of Scandinavian garden furniture, kitchens and accessories on the Costa del Sol. Today they are selling more Danish quality kitchens than ever. And with the new shop just opened in Algarrobo costa, near Velez Malaga they can now cover the whole of the Coast. As a client at Nordic Muebles they can assure you that price and quality go hand in hand. They never compromise with the quality of their products and never consider a job done until you are 100% satisfied. They are always trying to make their selection bigger and wider so all
customers can get their dream kitchen at the price they want to pay. For example, this month they are introducing veneer wooden fronts in a selection of wood types. If you are in a hurry then they also have a selection of kitchens which can be delivered within 10 days. They consider fast service of great importance as well and therefore have stocks of most garden furniture from the showroom available immediately. Whatever your requirements in home improvements Nordic Muebles can offer you the highest quality Danish and Swedish products at the best prices and installed to the highest standard. All of their work is guaranteed and financing is available. Give them a call today. For more information call Nordic Muebles on 951 260 360 (Fuengirola) or 952 511 648 (Algarroba) or visit either of their two showrooms. They are situated at the Feria ground in Fuengirola, Calle Jose Cubero Yiyo 3 and at Avda. de AndalucĂa, Torre Atalaya 2, Local 8 - 29750 Algarrobo Costa. They open Monday to Saturday 10am - 7pm and Saturday 10am - 2pm.
>> costa COMPANIES
Nature’s Philosophy
& hard skin & thickening of the nails. The treatment follows with a massage and your choice of nail finish. For a more luxurious treatment you can include exfoliating and re-hydrating mask treatments, which are also available with the regular pedicure treatment.
Health & Beauty Salon
The newly opened Health & Beauty Salon ‘Nature’s Philosophy’ is situated in Mijas Pueblo in an idyllic white-washed Andalucian cobbled street and offers a range of treatments tailored to the needs of the individual. Why come to ‘Nature’s Philosophy’? If you are looking for balance through mind, body and spirit, physical, mental & emotional health or simply to pamper & ease tension in your body, then this salon will provide you a place to relax & receive a personal client - therapist treatment. When an individual seeks complementary treatment for a particular illness or condition, other health problems improve without direct treatment, due to improvement in the performance of the immune system, which is one of the goals of complementary medicine. When you treat the body physically through massage techniques you aid in the body’s energy flow as well. Complementary Therapies don’t only aid in healing, but also act as preventative care, suitable for old & young alike, male & female. What Therapies are available & what do they do? Clinical Aromatherapy - working all the body’s systems, which can help with a variety of conditions, from alleviating stress, to improving muscle tone & circulation & aiding the body’s reaction to disease using 100% essential oils. This technique includes the use of Therapeutic massage, Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage, Acupressure & Shiatsu techniques, Inhalations, Compresses & Reflex Zone Therapy. Reflexology - A non- invasive treatment carried out on the feet or the hands. The body is ‘‘reflected’’ in the feet & using hand & visual observations you can evaluate the condition of a person, from the state of energy channels in the feet and by balancing this flow balances the internal organs & the whole mind & body. Reiki - An ancient Japanese form of touch therapy. Reiki comes from two Japanese words Rei - ‘‘universal’’ and Ki - ‘‘life force or life energy’’, meaning Universal Life Energy. Everyone needs a certain amount of energy in order to be healthy. When the body is low you feel weak & are more likely to get sick. Reiki works the body’s main Chakras to regain harmony & wholeness to address the whole person physical, emotional, mental & spiritual. Indian Head Massage - This treatment is derived from Ayurvedic principles, which encourages balance in order to achieve & maintain health. Relaxing & calming, it can be tailored to ease tension& induce a wonderful feeling of well-being or as an energetic stress busting therapy it can leave you stimulated & energized. Working on the central nervous system a variety of massage movements are used to relieve tension, stimulate circulation & improve joint mobility. It works on the body’s energy pathways, chakras and marma points to free blockages & restore balance. The massage includes scalp, neck ,shoulders & upper arm. Foot Care Treatments - This treatment is a combination of Podology & Beauty, using a variety of tools for a more intense pedicure, suitable for people with diabetes and a number of foot conditions. The treatment works to help alleviate or remove corns, calluses, in-grown toe nails, dry 36 costa life
The salon also offers an Aroma Facial using Natural Aloe Vera Products and quality essential oils, with a relaxing neck, shoulder, face & scalp massage, Spa Manicures, & Pedicures, Nail Extensions, Nail decoration and Waxing (warm and hot). Available to buy are Forever Aloe Products, natural body products, books and more. Mijas Pueblo is easily accessed and offers street parking and a multistorey car park in the centre of the village; they have an excellent bus service from inland areas and the coast. For more information or advice contact us on 952485172 or jennifer@naturesphilospy.net. www.nature’sphilosophy.net Our opening hours for the summer are: 9am - 2pm - 6pm - 9pm Mon-F Fri & Sat 9am - 2pm
Nature’s Philosophy Health & Beauty Salon Retail of Natural Products
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri 12pm - 8pm Sat 10am - 2pm Appointments can be arranged out of hours
Clinical Aromatherapy - Reflexology - ReikiNail & Beauty Treatments
Calle Málaga, 39, Mijas Pueblo Tel: 952485172 www.naturesphilosophy.net
costa COMPANIES >>
Right Way Insurance & Finance SL has been especially set up by expatriates living in Spain, for the benefit of other expatriates, or people buying property in Spain. We are qualified to UK Chartered Insurance Institute standards, with many years' experience in the insurance industry within the UK before setting up here in Spain over 9 years ago. We have thousands of satisfied customers. We provide a full service and will help you in the event of the unthinkable happening, resulting in a claim on your policy. We will also notify you of changes in legislation which may alter the terms of your policy at renewal. Amongst our many services we offer: Motor insurance We are able to insure most motorcars, light vans, & motorcycles providing that the vehicle is registered either in Spain, United Kingdom, Holland or Denmark. We are also able to insure vehicles registered in other countries providing that an application has been made to import the vehicle into Spain. Certain other vehicles such as motor homes & commercial vehicles can be insured but not necessarily on a comprehensive basis. No claims discount can be given if you can provide proof from your previous insurance company even if it was from another country. Legal assistance is also available for claiming off a third party. For a small additional premium a courtesy car can be provided if your vehicle is immobilised following an accident. Home and contents insurance Whether your property is your main residence or a holiday home, it is a major investment and it is worth protecting. If your property is a villa, a townhouse, a finca or any other building in its own right we would recommend that you insure for the full rebuilding value. If your property is an apartment or a property that is within a private community, the shell of the building and all of the communal areas such as lifts and staircases are normally insured by the community. The community insurance does not cover the interior of your property which is individual and private to you. It is important to make sure that you put some form of insurance in place to cover such perils as fire damage, water damage, damage caused by intruders, accidental damage to sanitary fittings etc and other losses that have nothing to do with the community. At Rightway we can help you identify and cover for right amount so you will not have any shortfall if you do have to make a claim. Health Insurance Your health insurance should be the first priority as soon as you arrive in Spain. There are many types of health schemes available and it is important to know exactly what type of health care you require. Some less expensive schemes only provide cover if you use one of their doctors. Other more expensive schemes offer treatment anywhere in the world and cover is available from day one. Some schemes provide you with an income if you are hospitalized and unable to work. Health insurance is probably one policy you hope never to claim on, but if you do, it is important to know that you have the correct policy. At Right Way we have a number of schemes available, some offer basic cover, some comprehensive cover and some a fair compromise with quality cover with a small excess.
As well as the above services we are qualified financial advisers and can also guide you through the pitfalls of Spanish tax laws when it comes to living or just owning property in Spain. In an ever changing world we will keep you up to date with new financial products both onshore and offshore to help make your money work for you. We also offer Commercial, life, travel, pet and golf insurance. Pension plans, marine insurance and legal assistance. Visit us today at Rightway Insurance & Finance SL, Centro Comercial Las Postas, Local 9, Sitio de Calahonda, 29649 Mijas Costa, Mรกlaga. Or call (+34) 952 934 963 Fax: (+34) 952 939 097 or Email: info@rightwaysl.com
For all your insurance needs, do it the right way. Motor insurance for UK and Spanish plates, home and contents, health insurance, pet, travel and commercial insurance. Established on the coast for over 7 years thousands of satisfied customers Situated Centro Comercial Las Postas, Local 9, Sitio de Calahonda or arrange cover by calling
952
934 963 or go on line at www.rightwaysl.com.
Right Way Insurance ... insuring you, your family and your belongings the right way costa life 37
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Plan your day… Commit time to planning
Knowing how to plan your day requires time, the first step and the most effective approach is to plan to plan. Committing 30 minutes to establishing a daily plan might seem like a waste of time, but spending the time now saves time later. The time of day you choose for this should be based on what works best for you, whether it be the morning of or the night before. Either way, write it out as you plan your day.
Set goals for your day Set goals for what you want to accomplish that day.
Group ‘‘to dos’’ together By grouping tasks that naturally go together you can prevent as much time as possible from disappearing. This might mean scheduling some things a few days or a week in advance. After all, heading out in your car every day for small tasks is a waste of time and petrol. You’ll be surprised at how much time and money you’ll save.
Carry over uncompleted tasks to the next day If you fail to accomplish one of the tasks you’ve penciled into your plan don’t cross it off and assume you’ll take care of it tomorrow pencil it in for the next day.
Pain you don’t ignore…
Learning the difference, to muscle soreness, this is pain that is tolerable and that you can work through and knowing which more common pains you need to be on guard for.
Sudden head or neck pain If you experience a sudden painful feeling in your head, especially when squatting with heavy weight, stop and have a look at your form. This could be a result of a blood vessel being overloaded due to pressure, or a seizing muscle that is having difficulty dealing with the stress of the weight you’re lifting. Remember when performing your squats, be sure to
Sienna Miller silly quote…‘‘I don’t read. I don’t go on blogs - I don’t even know what a blog is. I’m blissfully unaware, and try to keep that way.’’ 42 costa life
look forward and concentrate on keeping your shoulders and neck muscles loose.
Sharp back pain You should always be paying attention to any type of back pain but if you experience a sharp direct pain you should stop immediately. Pain is usually a very good sign that something is wrong, and this could range from a slipped disc to a pinched nerve. If you’ve been performing a great deal of lifts that require you to bring the weight overhead, then you are constantly loading the vertebra with a lot of excess weight. Get yourself to a medical professional as soon as possible so you can asses just how much damage you did, and get the issue corrected before lifting once again.
Feeling light-headed This most frequently occurs after you’ve done an exercise where you are partially bent over and then rise back up into the standing position again. Have your blood pressure checked out as this is indicative of low blood pressure. One thing you may want to consider doing is making sure you are consuming enough salt in your diet. So long as you are healthy and don’t have pre-existing health concerns, a slightly higher salt intake for very active individuals can be beneficial, since they will lose salt while they are sweating.
Mr Alf Neuhaus
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Col. No: 9.220
Sandra Vincenti
UK Chartered Physiotherapist Col. No: 682 Treatment of Arthritis & Rheumatism Joint Replacements - hip,knee,ankle,shoulder Hip Resurfacing Advanced Cartilage Repair Keyhole Surgery Hand and Foot Surgery Accidents & Fractures Bone density measuring available X-ray Facilities - Diagnostic Ultrasound Back and Neck Problems - sciatica,whiplash,etc. Rehabilitation - post op,post injury Emergency Accidents dealt with (ambulance service available 24hr per day)
Travel insurance & International insurance claims welcome 24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE - TEL:656 313 293 Tel: 952 577 766 - E-mail: clinica.sandalf@terra.es www.clinica-sandalf.com C./ Pepa Guerra Valdenebros, 29631 Benalmadena behind Tivoli World Arroyo
Gymnasium fully equipped gym with both fixed and free weights crosstrainers + bikes treadmills + rowing machines professional instructor available only gym open at 8 am
Classes
over 56 fitness classes every week step aerobics, aerobics, yoga, bums & tums, latest reebok decks new from Finland “gym stick� suitable all ages pilates room with pilates reformer beds individual spin bike room with 40 bikes individual aerobics and exercise room with sprung floor Goshin Ju Jitsu plus Capoeira
Facilities
fully air conditioned - lockers high powered showers - hair dryers mens & womens saunas - jacuzzi sun beds
>> costa LIFESTYLE Burton
Stand out …
80’s vintage plate belt Topman Blue tie knitted form luxury silk Topman
Bright woven scarf Topman
Light grey summer trilby Topman
men want Look cool…
Striped short sleeved shirt Burton
Be different … Dark blue slim fit jeans H&M
Fun print T-shirt H&M
Dark felt hat H&M
Brown triple velcro shoe Burton
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Denim cutoffs Burton
Store Locator A to Z
Burton www.burton.co.uk Gibraltar. Dorothy Perkins www.dorothyperkins.co.uk Miramar, La Cañada. H&M www.hm.com La Cañada. Topman www.topman.co.uk La Cañada. Topshop www.topshop.co.uk La Cañada.
costa LIFESTYLE >> Wallis
Dress to impress… Black/grey rose dress Dorothy Perkins Bubblegum print dress with underskirt and deep V back Topshop
women want
Top it off… Jade clown neck tunic Dorothy Perkins
Wrap it up…
Magenta ruffle jersey scarf. Dorothy Perkins Fairtrade cotton long fringe scarf with pom pom trim Topshop
Multi shaped and coloured bangles H&M
Accessorize with st yle…
Cream lace detail blouse H&M
Cap sleeve V front frill neck with button detail and back ties. Topshop
Black patent large bag H&M
Peep toe wedge shoe H&M
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>> costa LIFESTYLE
Steps to great skin… Cleanse Cleansing should be done twice daily, using a gentle, fragrance-ffree cleanser. Always use your hands instead of a washcloth . Washcloths can harbor bacteria and they’re too rough for sensitive skin, Skin shouldn’t be squeaky clean but should have some natural oils left behind. Tone A good toner will remove any excess dirt or makeup left behind by your cleanser-tthe proof is in the cotton pad. It’s also a step too many women skip in their skincare routine. Regular use will refine and minimize pores and make skin feel fresh Moisturise Next to staying out of the sun, moisturising is the best step towards keeping skin looking young. If you don’t have problem skin use a lightweight moisturizer. In winter, you might want to switch over to something a little more substantial, but for the summer something light is best. Moisturiser should be applied twice a day. Scrub / exfoliate Exfoliating is a step that can be done about once a week. Sloughing off dead skin cells will reveal younger, smoother skin beneath the surface. Anti ageing If you want to keep young skin stay out of the sun. . Wear a minimum of SPF 30 every day, and use SPF 50 or higher if you’re spending an extended period of time outdoors. Mariah Carey She applies a dab of peppermint extract to her lips before a public appearance. Peppermint increases blood flow to her lips and gives Mariah a sultry pout.
Wacky beauty tips that work… Sun block best for Heat up your curler If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara. The formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively. Press a tea bag on splotches If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation. Shave with conditioner Ran out of shaving cream? Do double duty by coating your stems with a thick hair conditioner. It softens the hair so it’s easier to shave off and makes legs feel amazingly silky. Soften your body with avocado Take a ripe avocado, remove the pit and skin, and mash it up in a bowl. Slather it all over your body, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be sooo soft - avocado is a natural moisturizer. Buff with baking soda If you find yourself streaking (not glowing) after applying self-tanner, put some baking soda on a loofah, and scrub away the stripes. 46 costa life
skin not expensive sun creams… Women should spend their cash on sunscreen instead of expensive face creams to protect their skin from ageing, scientists said yesterday. Even though there are hundreds of products that claim to slow down the ravages of time, there is a lack of clinical data to show they work, they say. Instead women should buy a simple sun block as a moisturiser - and stop smoking. Too much sun is the biggest cause of premature ageing.
A LC O H O L & W E I G H T LO S S - C A N Y O U H AV E B O T H ? Has a daily drink replaced the apple a day as a way to keep the doctor away?
S
uccessful weight loss is all about oxidizing (or burning) more calories than you eat. When people go on a diet, many choose low-ccalorie alcoholic drinks, mainly because they contain fewer alcohol calories than their regular counterparts. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram and offers NO nutritional value. It only adds empty calories to your diet. Why not spend your calorie budget on something healthier?
Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and actually stimulates your appetite. Research shows that, if you drink before or during a meal, both your inhibitions and willpower are reduced. In this state, you are more likely to overeat - especially greasy or fried foods - which can add to your waistline. To avoid this, wait to order that drink until you’re done with your meal. Skipping a meal to save your calories for drinks later is a bad idea. Many drinkers know they’ll be having some alcohol later. Knowing that drinking entails extra calories, it may be tempting to ‘bank’ some calories by skipping a meal or two. This is a bad move as drinking on an empty stomach enhances the negative effects of alcohol. If you’re planning on drinking later, eat a healthy meal first.
You’ll feel fuller, which will stop you from overdrinking. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it causes water loss and dehydration. Along with this water loss, you lose important minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc. These minerals are vital to the maintenance of fluid balance, chemical reactions, and muscle contraction and relaxation. Alcohol affects your body in other negative ways. Drinking might help induce sleep, but the sleep you get isn’t very deep. Ultimately, as a result, you get less rest. Alcohol can also increase the amount of acid that your stomach produces, causing your stomach lining to become inflamed. Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to serious health problems, including stomach ulcers, liver disease and heart troubles. Many foods that accompany drinking (peanuts and crisps) are salty, which make you thirsty, encouraging you to
drink even more. To avoid overdrinking, sip on a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage. The list below breaks down the number of calories in typical alcoholic drinks Drink Serving Size Calories Red wine 5 oz (148 ml) 100 White wine 5 oz (148 ml) 100 Champagne 5 oz (148 ml) 130 Light beer 12 oz (355 ml) 105 Regular beer 12 oz (355 ml) 140 Dark beer 12 oz (355 ml) 170 Cosmopolitan 3 oz (89 ml) 165 Martini 3 oz (89 ml) 205 Long Island iced tea 8 oz (237 ml) 400 Gin & Tonic 8 oz (237 ml) 175 Rum & Soda 8 oz (237 ml) 180 Margarita 8 oz (237 ml) 200 Whiskey Sour 8 oz (118 ml) 200 Examples of carbohydrate content in Alcoholic Drinks: Alcohol Item (serving size) Beer, regular - 12 oz (355 ml) Beer, light - 12 oz (355 ml) Wine, red - 3.5 fl oz 104 ml) Wine, rose - 3.5 fl oz 104 ml) Wine, white - 3.5 fl oz 104 ml) Cider, dry - 1 pint (569 ml) Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whisky - 1 fl oz (29.6 ml) Sherry - 2 fl oz (59 ml) Port - 2 fl oz (59 ml) Guinness - 1/2 pint (285 ml)
Carbs (g) 13g 4.5g 1.75g 1.5g 1g 15g 0g 3g 6g 4g
What the Scientists say… Scientists have not been able to tie alcohol consumption to weight gain. Some studies have found that drinking beer or spirits, for instance, increases waist-to-hip ratio, while some have found no relationship at all. Other researchers have also found that heavy drinking reduces body fat, but still others point to evidence that it raises the risk of becoming overweight or obese. There may never be a simple answer. Genes affect how the body processes alcohol. What you eat is important - if you consume a lot of cheese or other high calorie snacks while drinking, you’ll most likely gain weight.
People who drink a lot may gain weight whether they drink beer, wine, or spirits. But if you drink a lot and the alcohol replaces food and other beverages, you may lose weight, as some alcoholics do.
Testosterone levels: Alcoholic beverages all contain calories, and most of the calories come from the alcohol. Your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs. So not only does too much alcohol put the brakes on fat loss, it’s also one of the most effective ways to slash your testosterone levels. Just a single bout of heavy drinking raises levels of the muscle-wasting hormone cortisol, and increases the breakdown of testosterone for up to 24 hours. The damaging effects of alcohol on testosterone are made even worse if you exercise before drinking. The effect of alcohol on testosterone could be one reason that people who drink a lot carry less muscle. In fact, a study shows that alcoholic men have bigger waists and smaller muscles than teetotalers. Although an alcohol-rich meal does increase your metabolic rate, it also suppresses the number of fat calories your body burns for energy - far more so than meals rich in protein, carbohydrate, or fat. While the odd drink now and again isn’t going to hurt, the bottom line is that alcohol and a leaner stronger body just doesn’t mix.
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Drink, eat and be cancer free…
It’s a great excuse to enjoy a glass of red wine with your Sunday roast. Scientists have shown that the drink cancels out some harmful substances produced by the meat in the stomach.
Mothers and junk food…
The chemicals - released during the digestion of fat - are linked to cancer, hardening of the arteries, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. The benefits are thought to come from polyphenols - powerful antioxidants which prevent damage to the body’s cells. Red wine is a particularly rich source of the compounds, which are also found in chocolate, olive oil and many fruits and vegetables. Previous studies have shown that just half a glass of red wine a day can greatly reduce the risk of death from heart disease.
Eat your stress away… Prevent low blood sugar as it stresses you out. Eat regular and small healthy meals and keep fruit and veggies handy. Herbal teas will also soothe your frazzled nerves. Eating unrefined carbohydrates, nuts and bananas boosts the formation of serotonin, another feel-ggood drug. Small amounts of protein containing the amino acid tryptamine can give you a boost when stress tires you out. 50 costa life
Unborn children could be condemned to a lifetime of ill health by their mothers gorging on junk food during pregnancy. Such mothers put their child at greater risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes in the years to come. Researcher Dr Stephanie Bayol said: ‘ ‘‘You are what you eat’’. In fact, it may also be true that, ‘‘You are what your mother ate’’.’ However, there were interesting differences between the sexes, with the male offspring of unhealthy mothers having higher levels of insulin and normal blood sugar, while the reverse was true of females, who also tended to be fatter.
Linked- blood pressure and dementia… Having high blood pressure can increase the risk of dementia by up to 600 per cent, new research warns today. The study from the Alzheimer’s Society also found that high blood pressure doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and increases risk of stroke, which damages the brain and can trigger dementia. Everyone should get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly and receive effective treatment if they are at risk. Having a low salt diet, maintaining a healthy weight and regulating your alcohol intake can also help tackle high blood pressure.
Top tip… Eat wholegrain foods: Make sure you have wholegrain bread, rice or pasta at least four times a week and you will reduce the chance of having cancer by 40 per cent.
For July and August anyone booking a training course for Acrylic and Gel Extensions will receive a Nail Art course completely free take advantage of training wth the main academy for International Nails in Spain. Call 952 560 051 or 607 586 894 for more information www.solnailsupplies.com
Arroyo’s Premier English Salon
No 1 in Nail & Beauty Treatments
The Nail and Beauty Salon & Hair Styling For all aspects of Hair, Nail and Beauty treatments inc: Manicures, Facials, Real Thai Massage & Waxing. We use all the latest quality products. English, Spanish & Finnish spoken.
Tel 952 442 270 or 670 695 860
C/ San Antonio, Centro Comercial San Juan, Arroyo de la Miel Near Farmacia opposite train station
Are you the right person for a career in hairdressing! Are you Outgoing - Fashion conscious - Motivated? Now’s your chance Come and train with us for the new City & Guilds Diploma & Advanced Diploma in hairdressing
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AP363: Recently built apartment situated in the centre of Alora within walking distance to all shops and amenities. It has 50m2 of living space with an open plan lounge / newly installed kitchen/bedroom and good size bathroom. It is being sold fully furnished. Water and electricity are connected. This property offers fantastic value for money and has great rental potential due to its very central location. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
specializing in
Fincas Country Villas Townhouses Cortijos Ruins Plots
952 498 454 mobile: 609 454 409
PRICE ONLY: 58,850€ €
tel:
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AP530: A recently renovated townhouse located in a quiet street of Alora and within walking distance to the centre of town. The property offers a bright airy living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a well appointed family bathroom. 102m2 built. There is also a roof terrace. Mains water and electricity are connected. This property would be ideal either as a holiday home or a rental property.
PRICE: 96,000€ €
AP394: A villa of approx 120m2 situated in the countryside of Alora set on approx.15,000m2 of land with a variety of fruit trees and vines. Accommodation is on 2 levels. On the ground floor there is a large kitchen and large utility room, a lounge with French doors leading to swimming pool area, one bedroom and a bathroom. The upper level offers 3 further bedrooms with a large terrace off the master bedroom which overlooks the swimming pool. There is also a patio and storeroom at the rear of the property together with an 8x4m. swimming pool and many sunny and shady outside areas. Mains and well water and electricity are connected. This property offers good value for money.
PRICE: 270,000€ €
AP438: An immaculate detached property set in a small hamlet just 5 minutes by car from Alora pueblo which has all amenities such as supermarkets, pharmacy, bakers, butchers, bars/restaurants and school. Approx. 120 m2 built on a plot of 300m2. Accommodation is on one level and offers a lounge, dining room/kitchen, 3 bedrooms, utility room, and 2 bathrooms together with a nice porch for eating out. There is a beautiful and easily maintained garden and a quality built 6x3.5m pool with Roman steps. Mains electricity, water, broad band, satellite TV and air-conditioning hot/cold. Due to the easy access to this property it could be a family home, holiday home or small B&B as it is located on the tourist route to El Chorro.
PRICE: 288,000€ €
Rentals in Alhaurin el Grande 4 bedroom country house furnished for only 800 Euros. 2 bedroom country house garden & pool for 600 Euros. 3 bedroom town house with community pool for 900 Euros. 5 bedroom town house, with two lounges, kitchen and terrace, perfect for sharing or family home, only 600 Euros. 2 bedroom new, semi detached house, with a small garden, a great urbanization walking distance into town, only 500 Euros including bills.
We have a large selection of rental properties available, please call us today with your property requirements.
est. 1990
Nuevo Pueblo Mijas, 4, 29650 Mijas TEL: (+34) 95 248 62 96 FAX: (+34) 95 248 61 17 MOB: 670 607 247 & 670 607 246 mijas@palominoproperties.com
RESTORED CORTIJO WITH GUEST COTTAGE & SWIMMING POOL - MONTEFRIO, GRANADA Beautifully restored, tradtional cortijo with 5 double bedrooms plus seperate 3 bedroom cottage and swimming pool. - Well presented throughout with lots of character and many original features. MAIN HOUSE: 5 Double bedrooms (some with beamed ceilings), Fitted & tiled bathrooms, Lounge has fireplace with log burner installed, & Andalucian style kitchen / diner.
Superb one-bedroom apartment situated on the edge of Mjias Pueblo. Walking distance to town centre and all amenities. Breathtaking views of mountains and sea! Apartment is 33 m2 built with 5.4 m2 porch, 9.5 m2 terrace, 43.3 m2 solarium and 10.12 m2 designated parking space. Total: 100,92 m2. Marble floors, double glazing, pre-installed A/C h+c, communal tv aerial, security entrance door, kitchen sold fitted. Communal gardens and swimming pool. Only has one neighbour... FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!!
Ref: MLSA502120
PRICE: 129.500 €
COTTAGE: 3 Double bedrooms (2 with patio doors to gardens & pool area), Lounge has fireplace with log burner installed, Fitted & tiled bathroom. Stone floors throughout. OUTBUILDINGS: Second fitted & tiled kitchen / diner with fireplace, Pool side fitted & tiled bathroom, Plus 3 outbuildings which could convert for further accommodation / workshop / garage etc.
Gorgeous townhouse in popular residential community near Mijas Pueblo. Completely & tastefully renovated. Quality residence with original features & lots of charm. Lounge-dining room w/fireplace. Superb kitchen. Large terrace w/BBQ, exterior lounge & dining area. Magnificent sea and coastal views! 3 Beds, 2 baths + wc. Sat dish, alarm, telephone ADSL, A/C h+c. Basement area possibility to extend. Easy to maintain property. Easy street parking. Magnificent communal swimming pool with cascade feature, surrounding rockeries and mature lawned gardens. Built: 142 m2.
Ref: MLSTH503573
PRICE: 439.000 €
OUTSIDE: Swimming pool with terrace area, flat fenced gardens with numerous fruit trees (including fig, olive & nispero), shaded courtyard area, private entrance with double gates, road access. POSITION: Peaceful, coutryside location with country & mountain views
189,950 € P h o n e : 6 27 8 3 4 8 3 9 w w w. a c e f m . i n f o
Offers around:
Bright, centrally situated townhouse consisting of 2 beds, 1 bath, lounge, f/f kitchen, downstairs patio + external storeroom. A/C hot + cold. Open fireplace in lounge. French windows with a Juliet balcony. Views to sea. The bathroom has been tastefully renovated. Satellite TV. Parking nearby. Communal swimming pool has ample terracing with stunning views. Built: 73 m2 + terrace: 15 m2.
Ref: MLSTH503571
PRICE: 220.000 €
www.palominoproperties.com
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Mon to Sat 9:30-13:30
Mon,Wed to Fri 16:00-19:00
Ctra. de Mijas km. 4 Mijas Costa, Spain
We are situated at the entrance to Urb. Dona Pilar, next to the Octagon Bar & just off the Careterra de Mijas
Tel. 952 473 328
A .C.E. C ORTIN AS S.C. CURTAINS, BEDSPREADS, CUSHIONS, LOOSE COVERS, HEADBOARDS, PELMETS, SWAGS AND TAILS ALL MADE TO MEASURE.
We stock a wide range of poles and rails at reasonable prices Due to circumstances beyond our control we have moved back to Centro Comercial Las Terrazas De Miraflores, Calle Aquario, Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa
N340
Opencor
rio ua Aq lle Ca
BUSINESS AS USUAL E AC
Open 8am to 4pm Tel 952 591 053 www.splashmijas.moonfruit.com splashpools@electronbox.net
We accept payment in english sterling
“We Do It So You Don't Have To” Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday and evenings by appointment Centro Comercial Las Terrazas De Miraflores, Calle Aquario, Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa Tel 951 273 242 Mob 645 082 560 info@acecortinas.com
Written by
Annika Jonsson BLOND of Scandinavia
olour is fascinating. We are surrounded by different colours all the time. This is something that we take for granted and we don’t really give it a second thought, but take a look around you now and you will see how many different colours surround you. It is quite remarkable: everything from the beautiful delicate colours of nature to the colour of your car. There are basically millions and millions of different shades. On top of this I read somewhere that every person see their ‘own’ shade of green, for example. This means that I see a different shade than you do. How they (the scientists) came to this conclusion I have no idea!!! But just the thought, I think, is intriguing.
C
The choice of colour might seem endless when you walk into a shop and try to buy paint for your dining room. And, yes, there are hundreds of them, and it is not always easy to decide which one is the best. Colour can totally transform your room, and I mean from absolutely fantastic to a total disaster. There are some ground rules when it comes to choosing the right colour, though. The easiest and usually the most harmonious choice is to stick to only one colour. You can then use different shades of that particular colour. For example, if you choose yellow, paint the walls in a light shade, dress
your sofa in a deeper shade and throw some cushions in, for example, brown or orange. If you use this technique you can’t go wrong. In Spain the colours are often terracotta, yellow/mustard, sky blue and of course brilliant white. Usually these are very ‘earthy’ and go very well together with the white. White, by the way, reflects the sunshine, whilst black or dark colours absorb them. That’s why most of the houses are painted white. Often the houses are also white on the inside. That looks nice and very fresh in this warm climate. Funnily enough in Scandinavia (I’m from Sweden) most people also paint their walls in white. This seems to me a bit odd. We already have a very cold climate, so in my opinion the walls should have a warm colour like light yellow or soft beige for example.
YELLOW
w llo Ye nge a Or
n ee Gr
O
BL UE
So here we go. As I said before, there are so many colours to choose between, and therefore there are so many good (or b a d ) combinations. But on the other hand this might just be because I don’t see the same colour as you do!!
Colour Wheel
D RE
You might wonder why I have not talked about the ‘colour wheel’. These complementary colours, we are told, always work together. The reason being that I don’t think they complement each other better than others. As you can see here on the colour wheel for example, red and green should match well. But I am not that sure. Green and blue on the other hand goes really well together, I think. Again look around you, blue sky
Red Orange
Now this is not an exact art. We all have different tastes, thank God. If you get the colour of the walls right then you can always try different colour with accessories, ie curtains, cushions, carpets, vases, even candles. If you get a couple of those in the same colour it will hold it all together. Why don’t you ask your child or grandchild to do a drawing for you? Kids are the best artists, I think. And give them only the crayons in the colours you have chosen for the rest of the room. Then you can enlarge their picture and frame it. You could even paint the frame in a matching colour. You hang it on the wall and you will not only have a coordinated designed room but also, most importantly, a very personal one. On top of that you will probably have a very proud grandchild!
Blue Green
e
ran g
Never paint the door and window frames the same colour as the wall. It just doesn’t work. Leave them white. If you want a more rustic style and you have a lot of wood you can glaze them brown. But never paint them brown: the grain of the wood should still be visible.
and green trees. A tip is to buy a tile you like (they have so many wonderful tiles here) and look carefully at the colours. It is a good way of getting inspiration for your choice of colours.
Yel Gre low en
Now, when you have decided what colour you want on the walls of your dining room, for instance, always apply a test first which should be at least one metre square. And remember that the colour also comes out very differently on a wall in shade or sunlight. As the sunlight here in Spain is very bright this will definitely affect the colours of your walls. When you test both you will see what I mean.
Pu rpl e
Violet
e Blu let o Vi
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La Cala Hills / 2001 fre Fantastic, ready to move in, set in a newer well maintained complex with views of the mountains and golf course. Comprising of a large lounge/diner, terrace, fully fitted kitchen with all appliances inc. an American fridge/freezer, large master bedroom with en suite bathroom, guest bedroom and bathroom. The apartment is recently decorated and sold with all furniture inc. flat screen TV and piano. Parking space and storage room.
PASEO MARITIMO / 1904fre A sunny, west facing top floor 1 bedroom apartment in need of a little upgrading, situated on the seafront of Fuengirola. This property also comprises of a lounge diner with balcony, 1 bathroom and kitchen. An ideal holiday home or rental investment.
CARVAJAL / 1924fre A delightful 1 bedroom apartment situated only 100 metres away from the beach and all local amenities. The property also comprises of a lounge diner, fitted kitchen, a bathroom and a spacious terrace enclosed in glass and aluminium enjoying views to the sea and overlooking the communal pool.
€ € 220,000
€ € 155,000
€€135,000
NT GE LE UR SA
E US HO NT PE
Mijas Costa / 1974fre A top floor (2nd) 2 bedroom apartment of 80m² with lovely sea views. This property which is in need of renovation also comprises of a lounge diner with south facing terrace, fitted kitchen with breakfast bar and a bathroom. Outside is a communal pool with well kept gardens & picnic area. Underground parking. Only 2 minutes walk to the beach. No lift.
EL FARO / 2010fre A superb penthouse apartment with large terraces to the front and back showing spectacular views of the sea and surrounding countryside and all day sun. This atico comprises of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with underfloor heating , fully fitted kitchen, lounge/dining area. The apartment is 89m² with terraces of 60m². There is a communal pool and tropical gardens. Car parking space and it sold fully furnished.
CERROS DEL AGUILLA / 2000fre A well maintained independent villa, 110m ² in beautiful condition, situated in the community of Cerros de Aguilla. This 3 bedroom reformed villa comprises of lounge with fireplace, separate dining room, fitted kitchen, en suite bathroom. Built on a 890m² lot size with fruit trees, a number of terraces, BBQ area, covered patios and private pool.
€ € € 165,000 € 180,000 €€395,000 29 C/ ESPANA, 29640 FUENGIROLA, MÁLAGA (same street as the main post office)
TEL: (+34) 952 479 749 · FAX: 952 478 662 Website: www.fuengirolarealestate.com E-mail: carol@fuengirolarealestate.com
>> costa HOMES
Stubborn Stains… What is the best way to clean grout between my floor tiles without using chemicals? Sprinkle with bi-carb soda and spray with white vinegar, then rub while it’s fizzing.
How do you get mould stains out of linen and clothes? Use one kilo of salt per bucket of water and soak overnight. Hang the clothing or linen on a clothesline without rinsing it. Once it dries, a salt crust forms on the fabric. Brush it off.
How can I remove candle wax from my wall? For a painted wall: Put an ice cube in a plastic bag- hold it on the wall and leave it until the wall gets really cold. Then take off the excess wax with a plastic knife. You will be left with a greasy mark - so you just need to put a few drops of tea-tree oil on a piece of clean tights and wipe the tights over the wall to remove the rest of the mark off.
How can I get highlighter and felt tipped pen stains out of my clothing? Highlighter: Soak garment in salt water and then freeze it. Pen: Soak pen
Food tips… Perfect hard-boiled eggs To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
Is your egg fresh? To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
Left-over wine Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
ink stains in rotten milk. First rot some milk in sun, then once rotten strain the lumps out and put the lumps over the pen ink stain. Then you need to wash the clothing in the washing machine.
How can I remove hair dye from my pillow case? Put more of the same hair dye on pillow then rub it - you will see the stain move - then once this happens add some shampoo and rub it with your hands until the hair dye comes out
How can I remove white correcting fluid (tipex) on wool or cotton clothes? Repeated soaking in shallow bowl of nail polish remover. Soak the section of clothing well and massage stained area. Replace remover in bowl frequently. Repeat until remover stays clean.
Ants and cock roaches… To prevent ants from venturing onto your kitchen work area, wipe it thoroughly with a solution made of one part of vinegar mixed with three parts of water. To prevent roach infestation, keep dried orange peels in the areas. Soon, they will vanish!
Smelly trainers or shoes… Put a few teaspoons of baking soda into the centre of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth with a rubber band making sure the edges are secure creating a baking soda sachet, which you put in the shoes or trainers overnight. These sachets are reusable and can be applied to any kind of shoe. 60 costa life
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Phone 952 931 128 or 952 933 234 Email fortress@telefonica.net www.fortresssecurityspain.com
>> costa HOMES
STEP BY STEP GUIDE to buying a property in Spain
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hen you have finished your long hard search and settled on the right Spanish Property for you, please don’t trip up at the final hurdle. Make sure you are never pushed into making a rash decision on a property until you are perfectly happy with your choice, and that you are sure you want to complete on the sale. There are, sadly, still horror stories of people being ripped off and conned out of small and large amounts of money, but if you go through an established estate agent and arrange suitable legal advice, your buying process should be smooth and trouble free from start to finish. One thing you will have to accept when buying a property in Spain is that the world of officialdom and paperwork is not quite what it is back home, and some things are done quite differently from the UK. You must try to accept this early on, to avoid more worry than necessary. Hopefully this short guide will give you some useful pointers to guide you through the process as smoothly as possible.
THE PROPERTY SEARCH >> Always do your research! The increasing use of the internet has proved a significant to both buyers and sellers of property, and is more and more becoming the first place people look for Spanish property. Some websites provide even more useful information such as area guides, property news, and even newsletters. Try and go through as many magazines as possible to get a feel for prices. You can pick some up in the UK in places like WH Smith´s but there are many more to choose from once you have arrived in Spain. Once you have narrowed down your search, it is time to contact an agent.
62 costa life
Don’t be scared, many of them don’t bite! There are many more estate agents in Spain than there are in the UK, mostly because of the recent property boom, so you should try to use a little care when selecting an agent. Ask them if they are part of any recognised professional body, and maybe how many property listings they have on their books, or how long they been established in Spain, for example. The fact is that your feeling is usually the best judge. Other than that, a recommendation from someone who bought from the same company is probably the best way to choose.
DECISION TIME >> SO, you have seen 100’s of properties, your agent’s going grey, you can’t quite decide between property a and property b, it’s all getting a bit much… and then you find it: The property you always imagined! Now the fun begins, as it’s time to make an offer. At this stage the Spanish system is no different to the UK. The buyer makes an offer and the vendor either accepts or rejects that offer. If agreement is reached verbally you should instruct a lawyer immediately to act on your behalf.
INSTRUCTING A LAWYER >> Choosing the right lawyer is a very important part of the buying process, and bear in mind that you could well be dealing with the same lawyer for some time to come, and they will probably end up acting on your behalf if you should sell the property. As in so many things, the best way to find someone good is a recommendation.
PAYING A HOLDING DEPOSIT >> Once you have made your decision and your lawyer is happy with the terms and conditions of anything you are asked to sign, it is time to pay a holding deposit. This deposit is usually 3000 Euros on smaller properties, and 6000 on larger properties, and is usually held by the estate agent, in order to take the property off the market until the private contract is signed. These deposits are often paid ‘‘subject to mortgage’’ until a certain date. This means that buyers are given a certain amount of time to arrange the finance, and will not lose their deposit if the finance is not granted.
PRIVATE CONTRACT – The point of no return. This is the most important stage in the whole process, as if either party pull out afterwards, they must compensate the other party with (typically) 10% of the purchase price. On signing the private contract, the buyer will deposit 10% with the seller’s lawyer, and the other reason why this stage of the process is so important is that it defines a date by which time the parties must complete. PUBLIC CONTRACT – The notary public. This is the final stage in buying a Spanish property. Both parties must attend the notary on or before the date stipulated by the private contract, at which time the balance of the purchase price is paid, and a new title deed is prepared and signed by the notary. Mortgages will also require a separate deed, and outstanding mortgages must also be cancelled at this point. Once the deeds are signed they will be then be submitted to the land registry for registration.
THE BUYER’S COSTS >> As a general rule, the costs of buying a property in Spain should be no more than 10% of the purchase price. These costs are as follows: Transfer tax: the Spanish equivalent of stamp duty, currently 7%. Lawyer’s fees: most lawyers in Spain charge 1% of the purchase price, depending on what services you ask them to proved. They will probably charge more if you ask them to act as ‘‘Power of Attorney’’, for example. Notary and Registration Fees: These should be no more than around 1000 Euros, depending on the price of the property. The fees may rise if you are taking a large mortgage, for example, as banks and mortgage brokers in Spain charge higher opening fees that UK equivalents. They will be repaid as part of the mortgage total, however, so it is difficult to give an average figure. All other costs should be paid by the seller, including all estate agents fees, capital gains tax, and an incremental land tax called ‘‘plus valia’’. As a final piece of advice, the oldest one in the book probably holds more true today than ever before:
Buyers beware, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
e can now look back on those lazy days of August when the valley around us was swept by hot dusty winds and only the greens of occasional carob and oak trees on the hill slopes, and of citrus groves on the valley bottom, alleviated the browns of the sun-scorched desert-like landscape. Without the luxury of abundant water for irrigation, August was a month when very little was growing in the garden. For those of us living inland, this was a time to relax and not to take life too seriously. When the sun was at its hottest, we remembered the true purpose of the three hour siesta and would take our main meal after sunset! Hopefully the temperature had dropped below 30ยบC by then, allowing us to sit out on the terrace and enjoy a cool night breeze.
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Unfortunately this idyll is often marred by an unpleasant reality, the filthy state of many of the beaches. Most are regularly swept, but this effort barely stems the flood of litter left on the beaches and in the sea by the holidaying masses. Frequently along many reaches of the coast, sewer outfalls discharge their loads, swollen by the summer hordes staying in the hotels and apartments. Even though these discharges are mostly well out from the shoreline, the sea breeze often blows back various floating horrors to bother the bathers. On a recent visit to the beach at Guadalmar, on the outskirts of Mรกlaga, the water was so filthy that I was
Article & images by
Simon Hill
Myrtus Communis
Ruscus aculeatus
Clematis Flammula
Pancratium maritimum
cabopino beach
Those of us who needed to do something more than laze around in the house or by the pool could escape the heat of the day by taking trips to beaches along the coast, competing for space with the flood of visitors from all over Spain and Europe. The air temperatures near the coast are always much lower than inland because of the relatively cool sea. It is always a pleasure to find a spot on a shaded sun bed near a good chiringuito, to listen to the lapping of the waves and sounds of humanity having a good time and to feel that wonderful, refreshing sea breeze.
costa HOMES >> reluctant to go in at all. Never mind, just nearby is the new, airconditioned IKEA where I was able to cool off and lunch on marinated salmon and Swedish meatballs before buying lovely cheap tea towels, and glasses to replace those broken at the last barbecue. A notable beach lies just to the west of Cabopino, where Mijas Costa and Marbella meet. It may not be the best beach for bathing because much of the sea bottom is rocky but the water is generally very clean and the surroundings are superb. The beach is backed by the Dunes of Artola, now declared a Natural Monument, which are the best example of a Mediterranean coastal dune habitat remaining along the Costa del Sol. They are home to an association of plants unique to this habitat. These plants are key elements in a beautiful natural landscape. Near the sea, the dunes are dominated by a community of low-growing shrubs, and in the spaces between them are grasses, herbs and a few bulbs. Most of these plants flower in spring, when the dunes are at their best. Even as late as August there are flowers to be seen, for example a small blue larkspur (Delphinium gracile) with dark blue flowers and a stock with whitecentred pink flowers (Malcomia littorea). The sea lily (Pancratium maritimum) with its heads of white trumpet-shaped flowers, is the crowning glory of the summer beach front. It is becoming increasingly rare as more and more of the coast is developed. This fascinating plant has a large bulb buried deep in the sand, producing leaves in winter and spring which then die back before flowering. At the rear edge of the dunes is a belt of pine trees edged by various larger shrubs such as myrtle (Myrtus communis) interspersed with more open areas dominated by sun roses (Cistus salvifolius) and with many other interesting plants such as asphodels, clematis and butchers broom (Ruscus sp.). You have a good chance of spotting a snake or a lizard if you walk quietly.
Spain - if one can buy the bulbs. Hymenocallis spp. are tropical bulbs growing at altitude in Peru/Ecuador/Bolivia that have rather similar flowers. There is a Hymenocallis hybrid which grows fairly well here, provided that it is well watered in summer and sheltered from the midday sun. It is one of those bulbs that are sometimes seen for sale in the garden centres in plastic bags with gaudy labels. Your enthusiasm for botanical curiosities is probably not as great as mine, so I will close on a different note. Dogs, without the choice of pool or beach, generally spend the lazy August days asleep in the coolest available spot! They then seem to have a lot more energy at night and in the morning, joining in the nocturnal barking chorus and rampaging over the garden, smashing and scattering all those precious perennials and shrubs that are already stressed by the weather. Things recently got much worse at ours after the arrival at the gate of a beautiful puppy pleading for a new home. Yes, protection of the dune flora of Artola from people and protection of the garden flora from dogs have a lot in common. The answer is restricted access to the vegetation and regulation of travel and parking! Lay out your garden with dog friendly paths in the directions the dogs want to go. Provide comfortable shady spots for them to sleep during the midday heat. And keep them off the plants, with prickly sticks where they want to walk, and with uncomfortable stones and thorny twigs where they want to use your favourite plant as a mattress. I cut stems from my thicket of black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), burn off the leaves when they are dry, cut them into short twiggy lengths, and push them into the ground between the plants. They can hardly be seen and the dogs hate them. If all else fails, a well aimed jet from a hosepipe can have a most beneficial double effect!
When the area was declared a Natural Monument, there was a sigh of relief from those concerned about the environment. As such, the area would receive a measure of protection, particularly from private development. Unfortunately, public pressure for access has increased inexorably, as more and more people come to visit the beach. In spite of a ban on vehicular access, the foot traffic is damaging the vegetation, while the slack area behind the dunes, where people drive and park their cars and quad bike idiots race, is now badly degraded. There seems little solution to this, short of a complete ban on foot access to the dune area except via boardwalks and regulation of vehicle access and parking at the rear of the dunes. To get some idea of the scale of the problem, have a look at the satellite picture on www.tagzania.com/item/20006. We’ve tried in the past to grow the sea lily in the garden but with absolutely no success. In the wild, it clearly occupies a very special habitat with conditions that are impossible to duplicate in an inland garden, so our lack of success is no surprise. Another species, Pancratium canariense, native to Tenerife and Lanzarote where it grows on stony slopes, may be a better bet for inland gardens in Southern
Cistus salvifolius Dunas de Artola
Dunes, view from air
Hymenocallis sp.
Malcolmia littorea
The House Doctor The House Doctor Alex, from Numero Uno "The Original Real Estate Café" Looks at Spain Property Crisis or Opportunity
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pains construction sector was hit hard in the last quarter of 2007 with the big companies posting combined losses of nearly €400m and recent events have hit them even harder. This month we saw Spain’s biggest business failure to date with Martinsa Fadesa going into administration with €5.2b worth of debt after failing to restructure their lending.
coinciding with a 40% decline in property sales. As a result, it is estimated that around 100,000 estate agency staff lost their jobs during 2007. The
With annual sales falling 21%, Sacyr-Vallehermoso’s profits slumped 25% over the last quarter alone, according to a report in El País. For their part, Afirma - which resulted from the merger of Astroc, Landscape and Rayet Promoción - lost €261 million while Martins-Fadesa lost €103 million and Ibesós, nearly €12 million. The latest two-year forecast by the Caja de Ahorros Economic Foundation (Funcas) indicates that while the economic situation is likely to be even less favourable than at first believed, demand is expected to pick up again in the medium term, although a report in ABC warns the sector that when it does, customers will be ‘‘more mature and more demanding.’’ There are presently close to ¾ of a million empty properties for sale in Spain. From a buyers point of view this is great news. Buyers have more choice and with so much choice comes cheaper properties as vendors pull prices down to compete. Not since 1994 have we seen such bargains. Prices have been falling on the Costas since late 2003 and since March this year we have seen the bottoming out of the market. I anticipate in the last quarter of this year we will see a period of consolidation before prices start to creep back up again. Of course as ever this will be very much ‘‘area dependent’’, some areas such as La Cala de Mijas, and El Chapparel are already seeing the benefit of prices rising, whereas areas like Riviera and Calahonda will obviously take longer due entirely to the volumes available. According to figures released in March by the Spanish Estate Agents’ Commission, around 40,000 Spanish estate agencies - nearly half the total - were forced to close last year,
majority of this decline was in the North of Spain and the Northern Costas as well as the Urban areas around the Major cities. The economic doom and gloom merchants were predicting property price falls of up to 30%. This of course has already taken place over the course of the last four years. Prices are now 20% to 30% lower than they were at the peak in 2003, since then prices have slowly been pegging back. The Minister of housing (Ministerio de vivienda) Carmen Chacon has been quick to point out that in fact house prices rose last year by just under 5% which is slightly less that the inflation rate which was 4.2% at year end. So what really is in store for the construction industry in Spain? Given that many of the large S.A.s are still very much family controlled, we feel that there will be a significant shift of emphasis with more affordable government assisted family homes being built. GPOU’s will be reviewed and less planning permission being granted for pure speculative development. More green areas and less concrete will be the order of the day. As developers strive to find cheaper construction methods as they develop more eco-friendly housing estates. This will be the blueprint for the future coupled with a much improving infrastructure making all areas more easily accessible. One thing is certain demand is still there albeit from a much more discerning purchaser and yet there is no new land, so slowly but surely availability will gradually fall back and prices will continue to rise but at a more sustainable rate than in the past. As for Real Estate Agents they will have to become much more professional and offer a clearly transparent service with many value added advisory services thrown in.
66 costa life
Written by
Peter Harrison
T
here are days one always remembers. The Kennedy assassination, the World Trade Centre Attack, the death of Princess Diana. It is a pity that tragedies stand out over the more enjoyable incidents in life.
In observing wildlife you often move through a series of events which are tragic often because animal life is generally so much shorter than our own mortal span. Thankfully such events are compensated by wonderful experiences with animals. One event stands out like a powerful beam in my life and I shall never forget it. We had just bought a house near El Chorro and I was walking around the 30,000 square metres of land which went with the deal. We have a knack of putting ourselves in a situation of challenge and this was no exception. It is enjoyable to possess land but the uppermost thought in my mind was how to maintain it, possibly cultivate some and then keep the remainder for wildlife which we enjoy so much. My eyes stopped in the survey. Something had moved in the scrubland and it was big. It bounded over the scrub and then into an open patch. It was a sight which I thought I would never experience. I was looking at an Iberian Lynx, one of the rarest animals on earth and found only in a few places in the Iberian peninsular. Sadly it is one of the animals most threatened with extinction. What a privilege had come my way and without any effort. My regret was that I did not have a camera with me. Our Labrador Jake was by my side and I managed to hold him still. The nearest one is likely to get to an Iberian Lynx is in a statue form in the Doñana National Park or you may see the coat of one draped around the back of a much less beautiful woman, although the sale of such coats is now illegal in most countries as the Lynx is a protected animal, and so it should be. The number of these beautiful creatures is fast dwindling and estimates of how many exist, predominantly in Spain, varies from three 68 costa life
hundred to a thousand. Whichever is correct, it is a small fraction of the number which lived in the first half of the last century and, unless action is taken, we will witness the disappearance of a lovely animal within the next decade or two. If current trends continue this will occur, and it would be a huge embarrassment for Europe as it would represent the first well documented extinction of a wild feline in our continent. The Iberian Lynxes are heavily spotted and half the size of their Eurasian cousins, about one metre from nose to tip of tail and weighing around twenty kilos. They feed mainly on rabbits, rodents and even young deer. They range over a comparatively small hunting ground, less than twenty square kilometres in area, and I have lived in the hope that we shall have the pleasure of a return visit. It has not happened and this may be due to the construction of the high speed rail track to take the AVE which passes only two kilometres away. The authorities have done a fantastic job in restoring the environment following the completion of the line last December but, despite their fine efforts, wildlife must be disturbed in the interest of so called progress and the lynx is by nature an extremely shy animal and a high speed train rushing through his domain may not be to his or her liking. The decline in the number of lynxes is due to several factors. You will be familiar with the term ‘‘curiosity killed the cat’’. Well the lynx is of the same family and has the same instinct. If in its travels it discovers something new it investigates, and this means it may be caught in a trap or a snare. These practices are illegal in most countries including Spain, but they still go on and much devastation is done to wildlife and pets. The loss of natural habitat by road building and the creation of urbanisations, plus the fires which ravage the hunting grounds of wild animals cause great distress. We were in Greece last month and, near Olympia, we drove through nearly three million square metres of burned scrub
and forest. The death toll of wildlife must be unimaginable. Every one of us must be alert it does not happen here. Remember the Sierra Mijas! Roads are a hazard to the Lynx and, only recently, some cubs were killed around the Doñana National Park by a car when the driver was not alert to animals. In wildlife areas motorists must be aware that most animals are not street wise. Following the myxomatosis epidemic some 50 years back, the rabbit population is only 10-15% of what it was then, although we spotted some near Valle de Abdalajís only this morning. When rabbits are scarce the Lynx goes further afield for his food and, with less hedges for cover, he is a target for farmers who regard a lynx as a threat to their live stock, although theirs is an exaggerated fear. Most animals facing extinction can, if left in peace, restore their population by reproduction. This is not the case with the lynx which has poor fecundity. Usually only two cubs are born and if there are more than three the mortality is very high. The Doñana National Park has been extremely successful in its breeding programme. Early last year the station was elated when Lynx Aura gave birth to three cubs followed by another Lynx producing twins the next day. Five new additions in two days! More cubs followed later in the year, bringing the Lynx population to two hundred. What an achievement! The World Wildlife Fund for Nature is conducting a vigorous campaign to raise public awareness of carnivores facing extinction, is focussing on the Iberian Lynx and will act on reports of crimes against such animals. They are interested to hear of the sale of pelts or traps. They want to know about rare animals in captivity without licence or any act of cruelty by people who must be deranged. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature can be contacted at Panda House, Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 IXR, telephone 0044 1483 426444, email supporterrelations@wwf.org.uk, and they will put their local organisation in Spain in action. It is good to see mankind in action in such situations but it needs eyes and ears ‘on the ground’. To conclude on a positive note, scientists at the Doñana Biology Station say there has been an increase in the sighting of lynxes over the past few years, and one reason for this has been the donation of four wheel drive vehicles to allow access to tricky ground. Any distressed animal can get professional help. Meanwhile, armed with my binoculars and camera, I keep watch. Given a great deal of luck, I may see the lynx again and I hope that I spot him or her before he is aware of me, for one small sound or rapid movement and off goes the Lynx, a master in the art of camouflage… and I will never be aware of what I missed. All the same I am grateful of having had one sighting and I hope you have this privilege. One of the many wonderful things with wildlife is that things appear when you least expect them.
>> costaSTUFF
Costa
Cuisine
by Jan Morley of FreezerMor
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN How many times have we heard ‘‘Mum, we’re bored’’, so why not drag the little gems into the kitchen and make some fun dishes. Tasty home-cooked food where they have chosen all the ingredients they like, is a positive way of getting kids to enjoy cooking. When they are praised by those sharing the food, it gives them a ‘‘feel good factor’’, and in turn planting seeds that that cooking can be fun!
WATERMELON AND LIME ICE-LOLLIES This amount makes about 1 litre, enough for 10- 12 lollies 100g caster sugar 1 level tablespoon glucose syrup Zest and juice of 1 lime 1kg of watermelon chunks (seeds and skin removed ) Lolly moulds and sticks
CHEESY FEET These are great fun, a type of pizza with an individual touch!
1. Dissolve the caster sugar in 100ml water, over a low heat, simmer for 2 minutes, 2. Remove from heat, add lime juice and zest. Place in fridge to cool. 3. Whizz the watermelon in a foodprocessor until pureed. Sieve to remove the pulp. 4. Stir in the cooled syrup, pour into moulds then simply freeze.
Make CHOCOLATE, NUT AND APRICOT BARS s These no-bake chocolate and fruit bars are amazingly good
Get each child to make a cardboard template of a foot, by carefully drawing round , then cutting them out.
4
25g butter 100g ready made puff pastry 1 egg 100g grated cheese 4 tablespoons tomato frito Choose some extras, e.g. sweetcorn, mushroom, tuna, pepperami, onion or ham.
Heat the oven 200C or 400F or gas mark 6. 1. Sprinkle flour on the table, roll out the pastry to ½ cm thick, cut out the feet shapes, place on a buttered baking sheet 2. Prick with a fork, brush with beaten egg, spread with tomato frito 3. Add any extras, then top with grated cheese 4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until cooked. 70 costa life
METHOD
fun to make and divine to eat, everybody will love them !
Not suitable for freezing
MAKES APPROX. 12 BARS 200g good quality plain chocolate 75g unsalted butter 1 small can 397g condensed milk 275g crushed digestives 100g dried apricots 100g raisons or sultanas 100g chopped nuts unsalted, (almonds, pecans or brazil nuts)
1. Place the butter in a pan over a low heat, melt and then stir in the chocolate pieces, until melted 2. Stir in the condensed milk, raisons, apricots and nuts. 3. Line a tin approx. 18cm x 28cm (swiss roll tin size) with vegetable parchment 4. Gently press the mixture into the tray, place in fridge until set. Cut into bars, keep in fridge to prevent melting.
g.t. mckenna THE IRISH FAMILY BUTCHER
finest irish Beef & Bacon
tasty irish cheeses & gammons
cooked hams
BBQ meats
meat for all occasions
Tel./Fax.: 952 930 351 C.C. Los Jarales 3, Calahonda km 197
D
o you believe in the supernatural? Is it all simply a product of an over active imagination? Isn’t it interesting though how so many people seem to be fascinated by movies portraying the supernatural world. Some love to watch sci-fi or horror movies enjoying the thrill of terrifying fear. Strange how people love the thrill of experiencing fear! Strange when one considers how real life produces enough opportunities to experience fear without deliberately choosing to indulge horror fantasies. Fascination with the supernatural! What about the current craze for Harry Potter books? JK Rowling has found a market for her writing in both children and adults who are caught up in the fantasy world of Harry and the other characters. People are looking for something beyond this natural life even while they say they don’t believe in it. Spiritualist mediums are consulted on a regular basis by large numbers of people otherwise they would have gone out of business long ago. Look at most magazines today and you will find listed several psychics or fortune tellers all offering their services for a fee. Some publications have a regular psychic medium column for the faithful. It is a fact that most people have a secret desire to know more about the unknown world outside of the natural realm that we live in. Several try hallucinating drugs to provide a way to experience that realm sometimes encountering a terrifying world of demons.
beings - made of flesh and blood - Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Many religions are in the world and everyone has the freedom to decide what they believe but every religion, except one, causes the follower to try to reach up towards the god or gods of their faith in an attempt to be accepted. This is done by good works, obedience to the god's demands, human effort, sacrifices, regular prayers, faithful attendance at the place of worship. Everything is done in an effort to reach up and please the particular god or gods. The Christian faith is the only faith where the God of the believers came down to earth to reach man and He simply asks us to believe in Him and what He has done in order for us to be accepted. No effort on our part, simply a child-like faith in Him and we are saved. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. Scriptures (New Living) John 3:16,17 & Hebrews 2:14,15 Annette Riggall The Evangelical Christian Fellowship ‘‘an oasis where the Word of God is preached and the love of God is shared.’’
So what is the supernatural? The prefix ‘super’ simply means ‘above or beyond’ and the word ‘supernatural’ according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary is ‘manifesting some agency above the forces of nature, outside the ordinary operation of cause and effect’, There is most definitely a supernatural world which is above and beyond the world we know here on earth. A true drama unfolded between the Creator of all things and an anointed angel who lifted himself up in pride and tried to usurp the throne of the King of the universe. When that angel known as Lucifer was thrown out of heaven and cast down to the earth, all mankind would be affected forever. The truth is far more exciting than any fictitious tale made into a movie! The One who created the heavens and the earth is All Powerful and All Knowing and yet because of His great love for His creation He entered the natural world to become just like us. Because God’s children are human
11 costa life
Sundays 4.30pm Iglesia San Miguel, Calahonda Tel/Fax (0034) 952 930 275 Email: tecfellowship@gmail.com Website: www.ecfmijas.com Pastors Peter and Annette Riggall
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>> costaSTUFF
By Russell Vaughan Mintmicro S.L 951160411
Your Mac or PC may already be infected The latest web nuisance affecting your computer is an attack that hijacks your clipboard and the attack has been reported by Firefox users running both MAC OS and Windows, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other browsers and operating systems are also vulnerable. Users visiting websites with animated adverts for Cleanator risk getting the infection even with virus and spyware protection malware-laced banner ads have led to download sites for the Cleanator scare package.
Cleanator is a rogue security program that shows false warning messages and misleading scan results in a ruse designed to scare punters into purchasing a ‘‘full’’ version of the package. Aggressive advertising tactics - including the use of Trojan downloader’s - are used to distribute the software. This should be blocked by setting Internet Options, Security, Internet Zone, Scripting, ‘‘Allow programmatic Clipboard access’’ to Disable.
Get your free Asus EeePC from orange Customers of UK phone giant Orange will be able to get a FREE Eee PC 900 16G when they buy a mobile HSDPA modem and sign up for a twoyear, £25-a-month airtime contract. The 900 16G comes with Windows XP and have 16GB of solid-state storage. These neat little computers are now available here in Spain from all good computer shops.
So you can’t open that word document!! I sent a Microsoft word document to a friend recently and she emailed back saying she could not open it on her computer. The problem is that I am using MS Office 2007 and it uses a funky new XML format that saves your document as a .docx file, the .docx format is NOT compatible with older versions of MS office. To get round this you have to save your office 2007 document as a .doc. This also causes problems for other programs.
Some users of ‘‘Open office’’ the free alternative to MS Office have been having similar problems and the solution is very simple when saving save as and choose MS Word document format. Office 2007 will be able to read open office documents automatically when Microsoft brings in the next update.
HACKED 2GB USB FL ASH DRIVE or USB Fridge Somebody just went and TORE MY USB CABLE IN HALF! It was still attached to my laptop! No... wait... sorry, my bad. Never mind. That’s just my cool new Hacked USB flash drive. What about a USB powered can cooler or USB HEATED GLOVES or slippers even USB MISSILE LAUNCHER. Executive toys have come a long way since the early days. My favourite is the USB desk cooler fridge. The USB Mini Fridge is the coolest way to keep your drinks cold while you’re at your computer. And it looks cool on the desk! The next must-have computer toy is now available. With the USB Mini Fridge at your side, you can keep your beverages chilled and stay at your computer longer. Just seconds after plugging the USB Mini Fridge into your computer’s USB port (no additional power needed), the cold plate chills to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the perfect temperature for keeping your beverage chilled. More next month. 74 costa life
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>> costa STUFF
Katie Holmes…slow ticket sales Tom Cruise gets matchy with wife; they sported the same exact pair of jeans at the same exact time. And though the paparazzi have been clamoring around the ‘‘Mad Money’’ starlet as she prepares for her Broadway debut, unfortunately the tickets haven’t been selling with the same enthusiasm.
Kate Moss…on her skinny days ‘‘I was never anorexic, so I was never that skinny. I was never bony-bony. But I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want to be this skinny,’’’ Kate tells. ‘‘I didn’t eat for a long time. Not on purpose,’’ she adds. ‘‘You’d be on shoots with bad food or get on a plane, and the food would be so disgusting you couldn’t eat it. You go to a show, and there’s no food at all, I remember standing up in the bath one day, and there was a mirror in front of me, and I was so thin! I hated it. I never liked being that skinny.’’
Madge and Guy renew their vows… Madonna and Guy Ritchie renewed their wedding vows at a private Kabbalah ceremony in London. Madge supposedly flew her Kabbalah teacher over from Los Angeles to conduct the proceedings. It was very intimate and both Guy and Madonna made vows to each other and pledged to try to make their marriage strong again. The ceremony lasted about an hour. They turned up at the kabbalah centre in their gym clothes and changed into white robes.
Uma Thurman on stalker case… Actor Uma Thurman went face-to-face with her stalker telling a New York court that the man who had followed her for two years had sickened and terrified her. She has no regrets about pressing charges against her stalker because she was determined to do whatever it took to protect her family.
>> The tin man
>> Transformers Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, John Turturro Transformers find two warring bands of shapeshifting alien robots renewing their intergalactic conflict on Earth. While the Decepticons, strive to take over the planet, the Autobots, are intent on protecting humanity. When young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) discovers that his new car is really the Autobot Bumblebee it sets the stage for a massive giant-robot showdown. Transformers combines stunning CGI effects and thrilling action sequences with drama, humor, and a touch of romance, the movie balances its spectacle with an admirable amount of substance, giving it an appeal far beyond pre-teen boys and their nostalgic Autobot-loving elders.
>> Forgetting Sarah Marshall Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jason Segel, Mila Kunis Forgetting Sarah Marshall provides a rare treat:, a romantic comedy about breakups, that is romantic and funny. The laughs, especially from writer-star Jason Segel, are heartfelt and raunchy, and the film is just unexpected enough that it keeps the viewer’s attention till the end. Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) may be just another struggling musician, but for the past six years he’s been dating Sarah Marshall. In desperate need of a vacation after being unceremoniously dumped by his sitcom-star girlfriend, a man travels to a lavish Hawaiian resort to nurse his wounds and forget his heartache, only to discover that his ex and handsome new boyfriend are currently staying at the same island hotspot.
Raoul Trujillo, Kathleen Robertson, Alan Cumming, Richard Dreyfuss, Neal McDonough A miniseries release from RHI Entertainment and SCI FI Channel Tin Man is a modern science fiction update of L. Frank Baum’s timeless ‘‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’’ A sorceress scorches the once-beautiful land of OZ into a desolate wasteland the only hope lies in an ‘‘outsider’’, DG, a young Midwestern woman whose dreams have summoned her to the doomed paradise. DG embarks on a journey to find the great mystic man to save the OZ, on her way she befriends a scarecrow, Glitch, a tin cop, Cain, and gentle manimal Raw. Journey beyond the yellow brick road withTin Man.
>> Fools Gold Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Ray Winstone, Donald Sutherland The comedy adventure Fool’s Gold follows Ben ‘‘Finn’’ Finnegan (Matthew McConaughey) a modern-day treasure hunter, obsessed with finding the 18th century Queen’s Dowry - 40 chests of treasure, lost at sea in 1715. In his quest, Finn has sunk everything, including his marriage to Tess (Kate Hudson). Tess has begun to rebuild her life, working aboard a yacht owned by billionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Donald Sutherland), Finn discovers a clue to the treasure’s whereabouts, maneuvers himself aboard the yacht and convinces the tycoon to join him. But Finn’s one-time mentor, Moe Fitch (Ray Winstone), and ruthless gangster, Bigg Bunny, are intent on beating Finn to the trove.
>> costa STUFF
Female hormones in beer… Last month, National University of Lesotho scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer.
It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects: 1) Argued over nothing.
Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption.
3) Gained weight.
The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women. To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period.
2) Refused to apologize when obviously wrong. 4) Talked excessively without making sense. 5) Became overly emotional. 6) Couldn’t drive. 7) Failed to think rationally. 8) Had to sit down while urinating. No further testing was considered necessary.
Up in smoke… Quotes… A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire. Within a month he had smoked all of the cigars and had not even made his first payment on his policy. The lawyer then made his claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost ‘‘in a series of small fires.’’ The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued...and won! Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the ‘‘fires’’.
Now for the best part... After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice we give to others. I was always taught to respect my elders and I’ve now reached the age when I don’t have anybody to respect. No one is perfect, that’s why pencils have erasers.
Celebs say the strangest things… Some people say that I must be a terrible person, but it’s not true. I have the heart of a young boy in a jar on my desk -Stephen King I feel safe in white because, deep down inside, I’m an angel. - P-Diddy If I die before my cat, I want a little of my ashes put in his food so I can live inside him. - Drew Barrymore I do my best work when I’m in pain and turmoil. - Sting 78 costa life
costa STUFF >> Sudoku answers for Issue 40
1 4 9
8 4
5
2 3 8
9 2
1 7
1
6 9
5
3 7
8 2 1
5
3
The rules of Sudoku: place a digit from 1-9 in each empty cell, so every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9.
Across 1. Tune (6) 4. Shriek (6) 9. Elaborate ceremony (7) 10. Youngster (5) 11. Plaudit (5) 12. Dried grapes (7) 13. Comfort (6) 15. Slapstick (6) 18. Lamp (7) 20. Legally acceptable (5) 23. Happening (5) 24. Coach (7) 25. Tallies (6) 26. Tiers (6)
Down 1. Tree (5) 2. Licit (5) 3. Extreme (7) 5. Desert plants (5) 6. Building (7) 7. Freedom from vanity or conceit (7) 8. Rear part of a ship (5) 13. Prominent (7) 14. Soft or indulgent (7) 16. Avert (7) 17. Combine (5) 19. Laud (5) 21. Spear (5) 22. Sews (5)
Crossword answers for Issue 40 costa life 79
>> costa GUIDE
>>
Useful numbers & information TRANSPORT >> AIRPORTS
EMERGENCIES >> LOCAL POLICE Local Police Alhaurin el Grande Alora Antequera Arroyo de la Miel Benalmádena, Málaga, Marbella & Ronda Cartama Coin Estepona Fuengirola Local Fuengirola Municipal Nerja Torremolinos
092 952 491 074 952 496 468 952 708 104 952 562 142 092 952 422 211 952 453 267 952 800 243 952 580 900 952 197 090 952 521 545 952 376 000
>> NATIONAL POLICE National Police Guardia Civil Alhaurin el Grande Alhaurin del la Torre Alora Cartama Coin
>> MEDICAL SERVICES Emergencies
>> AMBULANCE Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Málaga & Marbella
902 505 061
>> STATE HOSPITALS
062 952 595 830 952 960 067 952 496 020 952 422 639 952 450 138
Calle Mauricio Moro, Pareta, 22nd Floor, MÁLAGA. Open 08:30 - 13:30 Enquiries 952 352 300
MARKET PLACES MONDAYS >> Alora, Marbella near the football stadium
TUESDAYS >> Benamagosa, Fuengirola (Feria Ground), Nerja weekly market (Calle Chaparil)
THURSDAY >> Alhaurin el Grande, Pizara, Frigiliana, Torremolinos, Velez Malaga, San Pedro, Torre del Mar
FRIDAY >> Benalmadena Tivoli Gardens, Casares, Cartama, Aguamania, ctra Cartama, Las Chapas
SATURDAY >> Fuengirola, La Cala, Ojen Pueblo, Coin, Competa, Puerta Banus near bullring
SUNDAY >> Estation de Cartama, Fuengirola near the mosque, Malaga near the football stadium, Sabinillas, Estepona, Sotogrande, Nerja car boot sale
TOURIST INFORMATION 952 410 005 952 491 275 952 495 577 952 702 505 952 422 126 952 453 211 952 442 494 952 802 002
Portillo Customer Service Direct Line Algeciras Alhaurin Benalmádena Coin Estepona Fuengirola La Linea Málaga Marbella San Pedro Torremolinos
902 143 144 956 654 304 952 490 709 952 443 563 952 450 366 952 802 954 952 475 066 952 172 396 953 350 061 952 764 400 952 781 396 952 380 965
TRAIN STATIONS
1619516500 2890330099 2072229633 1383738866 1604230230 1252513500 1132345678 1514721110
Halifax Lloyds TSB Mastercard Nat & Provincial Nationwide Natwest Yorkshire Bank
8457203099 1702364274 1383621166 1274331522 1793543888 1132778899 1132424800
SIZE COMPARISONS >> Don’t let being unsure about sizes impare your shopping sprees...
Shoes
WEDNESDAY >> Benalmadena Parque de la Paloma, La Cala, Estepona, La Linea, Rincon de la Victoria
952 441 545 952 802 900 952 471 000 00350 70027 952 327 950 952 774 488 952 476 593
The Coastal Service stops at every major town between Fuengirola and Málaga from 06:45 and 22:30 from Málaga 902 240 202 Call
LOST/STOLEN CREDIT CARDS >> Abbey National Allied Irish American Express Bank of Scotland Barclays Bank Diners Club First Direct Girobank
TAXIS Benalmádena Estepona Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Costa
BUS STATIONS
061
Benalmádena & Fuengirola Emergencies only 902 505 061 Málaga 951 290 000 Marbella 951 976 669 Torremolinos 952 386 484 Torremolinos (Centro de Salud) Health Centre 951 924 100
>> BRITISH CONSULATE
Alhaurin de la Torre Alhaurin el Grande Alora Antequera Cartamar Coin Benalmádena Estepona
080 952 455 020 952 804 483 952 461 046 952 774 349 952 381 414
091
>> GUARDIA CIVIL
952 048 844 00350 73026
Malaga Gibraltar
>> FIRE BRIGADE Benalmádena, Málaga & Mijas Coin Estepona Fuengirola Marbella Torremolinos
SP 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
Men’s Wear UK 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SP 44 46 48 50/52 54 56 58
UK 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
Men’s Shirts SP 35 36/37 38 39/40 41 42/43 44
UK 14 14.5 15 15.5 16 16.5 17
Women’s Wear SP 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
UK 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
>>Spanish Facts >> Telephone: to make an international call from Spain, dial 00 and then add the country code (UK 44; USA 1; Australia 61; Canada 1; Irish Republic 353; New Zealand 64) and the rest of the telephone number minus the first zero if there is one. To call Spain from abroad, the country code is 00 34. >> Business hours: the normal opening hours for shops are Monday to Saturday from around 10am until about 1.30 / 2pm. After siesta they reopen from around 5.30pm until 8pm or 9pm. Large stores usually stay open all day. Most places are Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Nerja Torremolinos
952 467 457 0350 774 982 952 213 445 952 771 442 952 485 900 952 521 531 952 374 231
TOWN HALLS Coin
952 453 020
closed on Sundays. >> Banks: generally open from 9am to 2pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am to midday or 1pm on Saturday. Hours may vary in summer. >>Customs allowance- importation from Gibraltar into Spain 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% or 2 litres of wine 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gms tobacco Goods brought in Gibraltar may only be imported into spain between 0900 hours and 2100 hours Estepona Foreigners Dept Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Nerja Torremolinos
952 801 100 952 589 440 952 589 300 0350 774 902 952 135 000 952 761 100 952 485 900 952 548 449 952 379 400
Amazing Villa. Amazing Price
ALA532 Country Home in Álora
€265,000
New built wonderful 3 bed, 2 bath country home with private swimming pool, automatic gated access, mains electricity, own well and great views. Access is fabulous just off a new tarmac road. All you need to do is a fit a kitchen and move in! Recently reduced. Like this? The checkout ref CAR415 on www.casaymara.com
CNN634 Coín
€750,000
An absolute must see luxury Villa with self contained guest accommodation built & fitted to the highest specification possible! Here's just a taste - 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 quality fully fitted kitchens, dining room, enormous lounge, huge 17.5m x 7.5m pool, mature landscaped gardens with fountain, outside kitchen/BBQ, airzone aircon/centralised heating, marble floors, high ceilings, full security systems...
Like this? The checkout ref AEG516 on www.casaymara.com
CAR622 Stunning Cortijo Cártama/Coín
€850,000
Private yet not isolated, immaculate and beautifully reformed 2 storey cortijo with rustic features & modern fittings, striking main kitchen, 4 large beds and 4 baths, 11,000m2 grounds with 260m2 built, magnificent terraces & views plus pool. Great access to Coin & Cartama & all amenities. Like this? The checkout ref ALA338 on www.casaymara.com
Great Property
MIJ629 Sea Views from Mijas Costa
€850,000
Large villa with guest accommodation on a superb plot of 3,000m2 land & benefiting from sea views. Terraces galore plus pool and landscaped gardens. Great access to the coast, Fuengirola and Mijas plus all amenities. 4 beds, 3 baths and 3 kitchens - ideal for family, guests or even renting out. Like this? The checkout ref ALA320 on www.casaymara.com
CNN599 Coín ALA508 - Álora
€395,000
An amazingly restored country villa with separate guest accommodation. 235m2 built set in 6,000m2 of land. Incredible attention to detail, beautiful pool & terraces plus spectacular views. 5 beds, 3 baths, inside & outside kitchens plus full services connected incl: town water, landline telephone & mains electricity. Like this? The checkout ALA478 on our website
€650,000
Luxury, stylish 4 bed villa with pool and separate 2 bedroom guest accommodation. Modern and large rooms with underfloor heating plus rustic features. Lovely internal patio, various terraces and garden plus good views. 250m2 build with 800m2 land. Great access & walking distance to amenities. Garage plus private parking. A fabulous family home that is cosy and practical.
Like this? The checkout ref AEG476 on www.casaymara.com