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ISSUE 02 • MAY / JUNE 2013
ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING
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N º02 - MAY / JUNE 2013
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Issue 02 • May/June 2013
S T A F F
THE PRO
PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR
Have you organised a corporate or cultural event recently? Launched a new product or opened a new office and you want Gibraltar to know? Send us information and we will consider it for placement in the Pro section.
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For new openings, dining events and new products, our popular Food News page is the place to be seen. Our restaurant listing section will become a reference when you consider dining out, so if your favourite place is not included, please let us know!
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The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot accept Marbella Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the effects of errors or omissions. responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers. Marbella Magazine. © Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. for No part of this magazine, including texts, photographs, illustrations, maps or any other graphics may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. Printed on recyclable paper, produced without wood and bleached without chlorine.
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contents g The Trend Cinema 16 Home Viewing: Box Set Series 18 Home Viewing: Nature Series by Sir David Attenborough 20 Music 22 The New Porsche Boxter 24 Gadgets 26
The Focus
(
28 British TV 36 US TV Series 40 Top TV Celebs 46 Famous TV Ads 47 Cookery Shows 48 Main Street Experience 54 The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park 58 The Gibraltar World Music Festival 60 Gerard Teuma, CEO of GBC 62 Jorge Caballero, Artistic Talent
The Style
Style and Functionality on Gardiner’s Road 66 Matilde Cano: Homage to the Flapper Era 72
The Spa
Beauty News 78 Health Profile: The Hospital Group 80 Health Feature: Raspberry Ketone 82
The Pro
Enterpise 84 Finance: Hyperion Wealth 88
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The Leisure 90 International Travel: Bali 96 Hotel: The Barceló Estepona Thalasso Hotel
The Gourmet 99 The Waterfront 100 Premium Reds of Cádiz 102 Scotch Whisky 104 Quiz Kickers
The Guide 105 Listings 106 What’s On
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publisher’s letter
WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL
a
fter a tremendous reception to our first Gibraltar edition covering March & April, we return fully motivated with our 2nd issue which coincides with the 14th anniversary of it’s parent Marbella, on the Costa del Sol. publication, This time around, we have a theme which everyone is sure to savour: Television, which has so fundamentally shaped our lives. So please join us on a trip down memory lane through six decades of British TV and some of the best US TV Series and Box Sets. We include Top TV Celebrities, Memorable Adverts on our screens, Cookery Shows to inspire creativity in the kitchen and What’s On Next, a look at how television is moving to a much more personalised experience for the viewer. From a Gibraltarian perspective, don’t miss our lively Main Street Experience and visit to the little known Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park, almost secretly
ensconced within the Botanical Gardens. Fittingly, we talk with GBC’s new CEO, Gerard Teuma, and interview local artist Jorge Caballero, born in La Linea and now based on The Rock. We also take you inside a completely transformed apartment in Gardiner’s Road, where form and functionality synthesise in stylish harmony. For financial finesse, we turn to Hyperion Wealth for their considerable expertise and we hear about their patronage of the Arts with their involvement in next month’s Gibraltar World Music Festival. And for fine dining, par excellence, check out our review of popular restaurant, the Waterfront, and focus on some of the new breed of premium reds emanating from Cádiz. Finally, we take an exhilarating ride in the new Porsche Boxter and find out why the Indonesian Island of Bali is so revered for a tranquil sojourn. We hope you enjoy reading all this as much as we have in compiling it!
lost in transmission...
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trend READING / MUSIC / FILMS / GADGETS / MOTORING / TRENDS
TV is the buzzword this month and we bring you the cream of one of the top pastimes for young and old alike. Enjoy the very best home viewing with suggested series box sets, read up on memorable documentaries by Sir David Attenborough and whizz your way to the future in a speedy new Porsche.
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16
Cinema
18
Home Viewing: Box Set Series
20
Home Viewing: Nature Series by Sir David Attenborough
22
Music
24
The New Porsche Boxter
26
Gadgets
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trend
WORDS MARISA CUTILL
CINEMA
AS
e BLOCKBUSTER
OF THE MONTH
Trance » GENRE Thriller Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) » DIRECTOR Danny Avoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel » ACTORS James Mc eer in cahoots a corrupt art auction James McAvoy plays worth millions art of ce pie a steal with a criminal gang to blow to the a es robbery he receiv of dollars. During the ber where em rem ’t can he , kes up head and when he wa ture him tor d an gang threaten he hid the art work. The they hire ul, ssf ce suc are s ir effort but when none of the truth out the pry sario Dawson) to a hypnotherapist (Ro between s line the e, ch psy into his of him. As she delves blur. to gin be n notic sug gestio desire, reality and hyp
» GENRE Comedy » DIRECTOR Justin
Zackham (Going Greek)
» ACTORS Diane Keaton,
Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon
The Big Wedding » GENRE Comedy/Drama » DIRECTOR Paul Andrew Williams » ACTORS Terence Stamp, Gemma
Arterton, Christopher Eccleston, Vanessa Redgrave
» GENRE Action/Thriller » DIRECTOR Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) » ACTORS Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart,
Angela Bassett
Olympus has Fallen
Gerard Butler plays a former Presidential bodyguard who happens to be inside the White House in the wake of the most personal terrorist attack lived by a US President. He bravely decides to join forces with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.
Unfinished Song/ Song for Marion
Arthur (Terence Stamp) is a grumpy old man who loses his will to live when his wife Marion (Vanessa Redgrave) becomes terminally ill. Determined to make her last days as joyful as possible, he agrees to join her choir group, reluctantly mouthing the words to hits like Let’s Talk About Sex and unwittingly finding a strong support group that will stand him in good stead when the day he most fears, arises.
The Hangover Part 3
This time there’s no wedding to ruin, no bachelor party and no excuse to lose a tooth or get a tattoo. Still, boys will be boys and when this gang gets together, you can never underestimate the mess they are capable of getting themselves into.
» GENRE Drama/Thriller » DIRECTOR Chan-wook Park (I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK)
» ACTORS Nicole Kidman,
Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode
Stoker
When India’s father passes away in a tragic car accident, an uncle she never even knew she had comes to live with her and her mentally unstable mother. She grows infatuated by him but begins to suspect that he has ulterior motives. Still, she cannot wrest herself away from his arms.
Ellie (Diane Keaton) and Don (Robert De Niro) play a divorced couple who are forced to see each other again after 10 years when their adopted son, Alejandro (Ben Barnes) invites them to his wedding. When Alejandro announces that his biological mother, a strict Catholic, is attending the wedding, he asks Ellie and Don to act like they are still married, so as not to ruffle her religious feathers. The only problem is that Don is now living with Bebe, Ellie’s former best friend, who broke up their marriage and who is not about to allow Ellie to ‘rule the roost’ once again.
» GENRE Comedy » DIRECTOR Todd Phillips (Starsky & Hutch) » ACTORS Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
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A picture paints a thousand words...
e
eritag H d n y a Histor
Dining al fresco
The G ibra Litera ltar Internat ry Fes tival 2 ional 013
lphins d the do We love
First stop - Rock Tour
Monke
y busin ess
Last s top in Europe
Visit Gibraltar a vibrant destination that combines the spirit of the Mediterranean with British tradition.
To order a brochure or for further information contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board:
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trend HOME VIEWING
In line with our theme of the month, television, we forego traditional DVDs and suggest top box sets which will keep you entertained for hours and days on end. One piece of advice: please don’t attempt to watch a whole collection in one go… try to hold yourself back, though in the case of these gems that may be an impossible feat!
Lost
WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
The Complete Collection
The numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42. Black smoke that rises like a hurricane. A hand that reads: ‘Not Penny’s Boat’. If any of these words strike at your heart like a dagger, then you are probably one of the millions of viewers around the world who think there will never be anything quite like Lost, the hit series created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. The first episode starts quite ‘normally’, when a passenger plane crashes on an unidentifiable island and we are introduced to the main characters: Kate, a beautiful yet untrusting excon; Sawyer, a male version of Kate – yet a little sneakier and perhaps even more appealing; Jack, a perturbed doctor with major issues with his deceased father; Hurley, a young lottery winner who can’t seem to shake off the bad luck that has accompanied his win; and many more. And who can forget Charlie: wonderful, innocent, Christ-like Charlie, whose demise in arguably the most spectacular episode of all? The writers may not have found the missing link that would enable them to bring this magical mystery to a close, but the journey of some of the most appealing protagonists television has seen still leaves us in awe.
LEASE OF THE MONTH
e FEATURED DVD RE
Dexter
Prison Break Seasons 1 to 4 Complete
Seasons 1 to 5
e em all? Who has th s serial killer of th ou pe rge ho go uld st co mo rt e pe Who’s th and blood ex any criminologist t mouth les fou e th s ha r funniest colleague e siste r, Masuka)? Whos noble heart? for (the characte tched only by her ma n, isio lev te on en successful se hly er hig ev e ve th ha on we is Dexter. Based er sw an e levision th te it, d for You guesse was adopted ff Lindsay, Dexter Je topping by t-s ls ar ve he no st of s mo e serie tedly one of th ub do un is are It 4 s. d no an by James Ma Seasons 1, 2 see in our lifetime. to ly od like blo e are th we to s ks show ter, than , especially the lat Lithgow. hn Jo le tab mi particularly brilliant ini e th r, Trinity, played by lly) curdling characte rchased individua can be pu (Further seasons
Weeds
Seasons 1 to 4
Breaking Bad Seasons 1 to 4
This harsh, often violent series, created and produced by Vince Gilligan, is the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime after discovering that he is suffering from an incurable disease. Determined to leave his family with enough money to withstand his absence, he hooks up with his former student, Jesse, to produce and sell drugs. If you enjoyed 1990s series, Malcolm in the Middle, then you undoubtedly appreciate the immense talent of Bryan Cranston, an actor awarded three consecutive Emmys in a row for Best Actor. What makes this series so special is its morally reprehensible yet somehow appealing main characters. Equally interesting is Walter’s progression from good to evil, a process that makes the audience feel increasingly uncomfortable about rooting for him to succeed anyway. Let’s face it – without Walter, there would be no Breaking Bad. (Further seasons can be purchased individually)
Prison Break, a series created by Paul Scheuring, is a fine example of perfection in plot and pace, at least as far as the first season is concerned. The protagonist is Michael, an intellectual who gets himself arrested to become imprisoned and help his brother, Lincoln, also an inmate, break free. Lincoln has been arrested for a crime he did not commit; additionally, he is about to be subjected to the death penalty, so time is of the essence. Tattooed along Michael’s body is an intricate map of the jail, which will ensure they find their way out, but Michael soon finds that prison is a highly political structure wrought with adversaries who are more capable than he ever expected.
If you like your comedy strong and black, you will effortlessly fall in love with Weeds, a Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning series created by Jenji Kohan. Weeds tells the story of Nancy, a mother of two who is widowed suddenly when her husband dies of a heart attack. In order to get by, Nancy starts selling marijuana on a small scale but by the time the first season closes, she and her family are fully embroiled in a string of illegal activities. Seeing Nancy struggle through life and survive a series of unlucky love affairs reminds us that flawed characters often make the best heroes. (Further seasons can be purchased individually)
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To be honest For us it is important to be able to look you in the eye today as well as tomorrow. Therefore, your adviser does not get any bonus when you do business with us - and never did. Unique? Maybe. But to be honest – to us, it’s just common sense.
Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd. • Tel. +350 200 59205 • www.jyskebank.gi Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd. is licensed by the Financial Services Commission, Licence No. FSC 001 00B. Services and products are not available to everybody, for instance not to residents of the US.
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trend HOME VIEWING
WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
Planet Earth
This 2006 television series took an amazing five years to complete and was the first nature documentary to be filmed in high definition. Shown in 130 countries worldwide, it comprises 11 (55-minute) episodes, each of which covers a different habitat. These include the intriguing Jungles (jungles and rainforest comprise only three per cent of the Planet’s land, yet house over half the world’s species!), through which we can enjoy an exciting race by saplings to occupy the space vacated by the death of a tree; delight in the playful sounds of siamangs, orangutans and tree frogs; and join a clever bunch of chimps as they forage through the forest floor and swing through the vines in search of food. Other biomes covered include: Z FROM POLE TO POLE: Discover how emperor penguins in the Antarctica withstand four months of darkness with no food, in gelid temperatures of –70ºC!). Z MOUNTAINS: Explore Planet Earth’s main mountain ranges through expansive aerial photography and watch cute little grizzly bear cubs emerging from their den for the first time in their lives. Z FRESH WATER: Watch the journey of the World’s greatest fresh water rivers, discovering their origin as mountain streams and following them as they fragment into rapids then descend to the Earth in dramatic waterfalls. Learn all about the erosive power of rivers, as demonstrated by the Grand Canyon. A number of interesting animal species are featured, including mugger crocodiles, spectacled caimans and piranhas. Z CAVES: Did you know that Mexico’s Cave of Swallows is so deep that it could house New York’s Empire State Building? Caves are home to a number of exotic species, including the blind salamander, the shortfin molly fish and wrinkle-lipped bats! Z DESERTS: Feel the heat in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert (where the
temperature ranges from –40ºC to 50ºC), fly above dramatic dust dunes and join a pack of African elephants for an 80km walk in search of food! Z ICE WORLDS: This episode focuses on the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as beautiful animals like Arctic foxes and wolves and polar bears. Z GREAT PLAINS: The savanna, steppe, tundra, prairie and other treeless ecosystems are the main subject of this episode, which takes us to lands as far-off and appealing as the Tibetan Plateau. Z SHALLOW SEAS: Seas comprise eight per cent of the World’s oceans but they contain most of its marine life! Z SEASONAL FORESTS: Make your way through lush green coniferous and deciduous forests, such as the Valdivian forests of Chile or what is left of the Bialowieza forest in Poland. Z OCEAN DEEP: Known as the least explored part of the Planet, the world’s oceans house around 30,000 underwater volcanoes, some of which are taller than Mount Everest. They are also home to a myriad of sea creatures, large and small.
gh’s Nature Specials
e David Attenborou
our vulnerable inspired and intrigued by When it comes to being and naturalists s ker ma ary ent um few doc yet awe-inspiring Planet, with the sion pas their knowledge and have shared so much of deepest the g urin Sco . ugh oro id Attenb viewing audience, as Dav core the to ing t mountains, migrat oceans, climbing the highes g brin to ds zar bliz and c eruptions homes, of intense storms, volcani our to ure s and mysteries of Nat ir lives hitherto unknown specie the e icat ded to ple peo countless se Attenborough has inspired the ting sen cies. In addition to pre Life to Nature and its varied spe e nin the te wro also Attenborough amazing documentaries, of the 100 of his appellation as one ect asp ry eve g nin ear series, age to this hom due pay e. This month, we Greatest Britons of all tim e of his som g usin per list, ura nat and enigmatic presenter, writer build a box set We hope to inspire you to most highly viewed work. your children by ed rish che be that will collection of your own, one years to come. and grandchildren in the
The Blue Planet
Presented in 2001, this set, comprising eight 50-minute episodes, has been described as “the first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world’s oceans”. Stunning underwater photography allows us to discover strange new species and their curious behavior and to marvel at the magnificence and mystery of the ocean’s profound depths.
The Living Planet
Aired in the UK in 1984, this documentary consists of 12 episodes, which study the way animals and plants in vastly different habitats, adapt to their surroundings and fight for survival. Episodes include The Building of the Earth, The Frozen World, Seas of Grass, The Baking Deserts, The Open Ocean and New Worlds. The filming of this documentary was a major challenge for Attenborough and his team, who had to wait for over two years to film an erupting volcano. They also reared a flock of red-breasted geese by hand, to photograph them as they flew past their moving convertible car.
Life on Earth
Presented in 1979, Life on Earth consists of 13 episodes covering a number of areas including South American rainforests, Moroccan limestones and the Kimberley ranges in Western Australia. Discover the complex relationship between flowers and insects, the evolution of fish and the evolution of amphibians and reptiles. Birds, mammals, herbivores and humans are also studied in-depth.
20 / MAY/JUNE 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM
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3/4/13 1:27 PM
trend MUSIC
¿QUÉ PASA?
WORDS RIK FOXX
ONE DIRECTION mania is on its way to the Iberian Peninsula with three sell-out concerts and Spain becomes the only European country with two 1D World stores when Madrid follows Barcelona opening its doors this month. The lads are known to enjoy the pleasures of alcohol but they are not allowed any on their rider (artists pre/after concert demands list) thanks to a seven-figure sponsorship with Pepsi that only allows their drinks backstage.
UK has DAVID BOWIE. While Spain has 1D mania, the rman is the fashion Sta ted Interest in the resurrec museum, which V&A s ’ don Lon at on ibiti and an exh ame the bec 11), ust Aug opened in March (until Bowie’s legacy r. eve w sho ing sell est fast museum’s artefact s, including is revisited with 300 related , handwritten lyrics and igns des set lm, fi hs, photograp m, The Next Day, hit albu new 60 sta ge costumes. His including the UK (number number one in 20 countries BBC2 has a featureth mon two in Spain) and this his life and career: David length documentary about ) is named after the TBA te Bowie – Five Years (da and Fall of Zigg y Stardust Rise The from k opening trac The film looks back to LP. s and the Spiders from Mar 3, his recent comeback 1971, 1975, 1977, 1980 and 198 and interviews. e tag plus unseen archival foo
KISS legend GENE SIMMONS was given $200 million by a promoter to try and persuade his LED ZEPPELIN buddies to reform for a tour. Once again ROBERT PLANT said no; instead he has recorded vocals with UK indie rockers PRIMAL SCREAM for their album More Light, which is out on May 13. More on the SCREAM – they have been added to Spain’s biggest festival, Benicàssim (July 18-21) along with UK indie newcomers BASTILLE. Festival headliners include THE KILLERS, ARCTIC MONKEYS and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE.
IT’S AN EARACHE – NOTHING BUT AN EARACHE On May 18, the annual audio atrocity commonly known as the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Malmö, Sweden – a competition that many no longer want to win as the victorious nation has to play host the following year and with the global recession, not everyone can afford the show! Already several countries have returned their invites including former winners Turkey. Is this the real reason Britain always selects some ancient has-been with little chance of winning? This year’s sacrificial lamb is BONNIE TYLER – a 62-year-old who has not had a UK hit since 1984’s Holding Out For A Hero. She originally burst on the scene in 1975 with Lost In France, and ironically had a number one in that country with Si Demain (Turn Around) in 2003 but she is best known for It’s a Heartache (1977) and Total Eclipse of the Heart, which topped the UK charts in 1981. A Eurovision expert said “She should be one of our strongest contestants in many years.” Wasn’t the same said about the second but last finisher HUMPERDINCK 12 months ago? This competition is so 20th century and more interest is shown in most countries versions of such shows as the Y Factor, The Voice and Britain’s Got (No) Talent. But as always the English press will no doubt over-hype their entry just as they do with the football team in any major competition – then there will be cries of “sacrebleu” when the null points start rolling in. But many still take the competition seriously, especially in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe where Armenia drafted in BLACK SABBATH legend TONY IOMMI to pen their entry, a rock ballad, Lonely Planet – to be performed by DORIANS. BBC3 has coverage of the semi-finals on May 14 & 16 with BBC1 showing the final on May 18 at 21.00 (CET). Spanish coverage will be on TVE1.
GA GA has been quiet of late due to a severe case of synovitis which experts say was probably caused by her wearing those ridiculously high platform shoes. She recently turned 27 and conspiracy theories suggest she will join the notorious 27 Club – a group of famous names who all died at that age. Members include JIMI HENDRIX, JANIS JOPLIN, BRIAN JONES, JIM MORRISON, KURT COBAIN and AMY WINEHOUSE.
The BIEBER Barcelona gig passed with no major happenings apart from his minders threatening photographers when leaving the hotel before the concert and him going on stage 50 minutes late blaming an argument with support artist CARLY RAE JEPSEN as the reason. He now reckons he only has four friends: “Literally my phone never rings”. But one number that did ring was website TMZ’s office phone on April Fools’ Day when the dick posted their number on Twitter as his own costing them a fortune as it’s a toll-free number. Then there was that monkey business in Germany when his entourage kicked up a fuss at customs when told about the country’s quarantine laws to which the primate said “but he’s supposed to be playing a gig tonight”.
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E H C S R O R P E T S X BO new es of buying a that g ta n a v d a y n a Among the m car of any kind is the fact cts. Porsche sports ate’ like so many rival produ esh it will never ‘d , the design will look as fr ay Years from nowtook delivery and that’s the wrm as the day you ings done. It’s a fastidious foally Porsche gets that goes on at Porsche and it re of evolution th se who invest in one. pays off for tho SY OF PORSCHE WORDS TONY WHITN
COURTE EY PHOTOGRAPHY
T
ake the 2013 Boxster, for example. It dates all the way back to 1996 and has gone through three generations, but it takes almost an expert eye to tell the difference between the first one that rolled out of the factory and the very latest model. And yet, changes have been so numerous over the years that a 1996 and a 2013 have almost nothing in common but their basic configurations. The first Boxsters were quite ‘low rent’ compared to the more recent generations. There was bare painted metal in the cockpit and some of the trim looked as though it was cut from kitchen countertop material. There were some rough edges, but the way the car drove and handled was always beyond reproach. I’ve done countless road trips in Boxsters over the years, both in Europe and North America and the one sentiment that always grabs me is that motoring simply can’t get any better than this. On one drive, I covered over 1,000 km in heavy rain and at high speeds and the Boxster was so stable and predictable, it just never put a wheel wrong. Part of this stability comes from the car’s mid-engine layout which provides optimum weight distribution. As with Porsche’s iconic 911 cars, the Boxster has always used a horizontally-opposed or ‘boxer’ engine. In fact, the name ‘Boxster’ is said to be derived from the words boxer and roadster. The only other carmaker that perseveres with boxer engines is Subaru, but the configuration was once widely used – in the original VW Beetle, for example.
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3 1 0 2 R O F R E T S ROAD Over the years, the Boxster has become a more sophisticated and certainly a more powerful sports car. Many variants have spun off – including a rather wonderful Spyder in 2011 – and there’s always been a more potent ‘S’ variant. The Porsche Cayman coupé is a derivative of the Boxster, but it has a character of its own and is in many ways a different car. Boxsters have always been roadsters with fabric hoods, Porsche never having experimented with folding hardtops. This would probably be an impossible task with the mid-mounted engine and at any rate, the hood is so well made it looks just fine. It also folds down electrically until it’s completely flush with the rear bodywork. At one time, the rear window was of plastic and this misted over all too easily, but Boxsters now have a glass panel with heating elements. The 2013 Boxster is a total redesign that was first revealed last year. It looks a lot like a 911 convertible at first glance and that’s all part of Porsche’s new ‘design language’. Other revisions were made to the power unit, suspension and interior. You’d have to put one alongside the older model to confirm, but in effect, it’s an all-new car. The basic Boxster uses a 2.7-litre, 265 -horsepower, engine and the S is equipped with a more powerful 3.4-litre, 315-horsepower unit. I’ve tried both and each is a delight to drive and for those who don’t necessarily yearn for the power and torque of the S, the basic model is certainly no slouch. Buyers can opt for 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK automatic/manual transmissions. The latter shifts so fast, no driver will ever match it with a manual box and that’s why it would be my choice. Both variants have the same predictable handling and excellent road manners. I’ve always said that a Porsche Boxster can make a good driver out of almost anybody. The cars are very forgiving and difficult to get into serious trouble with. Unlike some
sports cars, the Boxster is very easy to drive in heavy traffic or through congested villages and towns. Out on the open road – and especially on a winding mountain pass – the real fun begins with this car. And if danger threatens, the brakes are outstanding and about as good as you’re going to find on anything short of a competition car. One element of the Boxster that often surprises people is the fact that there are two ‘boots’, one at each end. As the engine is mounted amidships, there’s room for these handy cargo areas, each of which is accessed by a hinged panel in the usual way. Both are deep and commodious if your luggage isn’t an odd size. Stowing enough gear for two people is easy, even for a fairly long trip. The downside is the cockpit is a little on the snug side with not too many places to stow things like cameras, map books and other stuff you may take on a trip. As for the engine, it’s so cleverly tucked away, there’s not much to see – its not one of those engine compartments you can show off to car-minded friends. Neither is it easy to work on, but who works on their own engines these days? The 2013 Boxster is fitted out in much the same way as the 911 Carrera and seems just as luxurious. As is common these days, the cockpit is a mass of convenience technology with all the usual toys such as SatNav there for the asking. On the road, the car just seems part of you and it goes exactly where its pointed – and at an impressive speed, if needed. In fact, the Boxster S will run pretty well neck-and-neck with a 911 on a track. You can pay a lot more money and not get a sports car that’s any better than the Boxster. Its certainly not cheap, but at least you’ll know that it won’t look out of date even if you keep it for a decade or more. And best of all, it has the most respected sports car badge in the business on the bonnet. For many buyers, that alone is worth the money. e
Z ENGINE 2.7-litre and 3.4-litre horizontallyopposed sixes available Z TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK automatic Z ACCELERATION Zero to 100 km/h in approx. 5.1-seconds (3.4-litre) Z TOP SPEED Approx. 279 km/h (3.4-litre) Z I LIKED Timeless styling that hasn’t changed over many years in any radical way. Unmatched drivability and handling. Prestigious nameplate imagery that almost no maker can equal. Z I DIDN’T LIKE Cockpit is a little cramped with not much space for oddments and travel gear. A long trip needs a little thought and careful packing. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES Mercedes-Benz SLK, Audi TT Roadster, BMW Z4, Jaguar F-Type. Z WHO DRIVES ONE? People who have always wanted a Porsche but dont want to pay high 911 prices. Drivers who really know how to get the best out of finely-honed sports cars and simply love the Boxster experience. Novice drivers who want a name sports car thats very safe and stable. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY Available now, starting from €55.000. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY/JUNE 2013 / 25
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guide
ELECTRONICS
WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS LG 55LM960V NANO FULL LED, FULL HD, CINEMA 3D, SMART TV, Cinema Screen Design, Multi- Award Winning 1920 x 1080p 1000Hz
TO BUYING A NEW
television All this talk about top television shows has surely inspired many of our readers to buy the TV of their dreams; one that is bigger than the Beatles and jam packed with the latest technological treats. This month, we provide you with a handy guide to terminology and suggestions for five top buys. What is LCD HDTV? LCD and plasma TVs are two of
the oldest types of HDTV in existence. LCD images comprise pixels, each of which is broken down into tinier pixels made up of green, red and blue light. Fluorescent lamps force a white light through these pixels. The latest technology has improved colour, black tones and viewing angles, and many LCD TVs now boast ‘smart TV’ features and 3D viewing modes.
What is LED TV?
LED TVs are quite simply LCD TVs boasting LED backlighting. There is little difference in quality between LCD and LED TVs, though LED TVs consume less power and have a faster response time. In some cases, LED TVs don’t display even brightness across a screen as well as LCD TV does.
What is Plasma TV? Plasma TV consists of tiny
cells comprising two glass panels separated by a narrow space injected with charged ionised gas (plasma). In the past, viewers would complain of screen images getting stuck and trails following image onscreen, but the newer plasmas have a higher refresh rate than any other type of TV, affording superior fluidity to the viewing experience. Plasma TVs are less energy efficient than LCDs or LEDs, though.
What is Projection HDTV? The latter normally comprises a gigantic screen and Digital Light Processing technology, which uses a rear projector to magnify images onto the screen. The lamp needs to be replaced frequently and images aren’t as crisp, but this TV is still a top choice for gamers, as screens can reach up to 82 inches (208.28 cm) in size!
What does ‘1080p’ or ‘1280p’ mean? ‘P’ in
this case refers to the number of vertical pixels per line afforded by different television sets. The higher the pixel number, the higher the resolution (detail). Bear in mind that larger sized televisions can have lower resolutions and relatively small sized TVs, higher resolution; size and resolution are two separate matters. Opt for a minimum resolution of 1080p. If you are after a TV sized less than 40 inches (101.6cm), 720p is fine.
What is a Refresh Rate? The latter basically measures the smoothness with which fast scenes can be viewed. The higher the refresh rate (and the resolution, for that matter), the better. When buying a TV, opt for a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz.
LEADING BRANDS’ LATEST MODELS Samsung UE55F8500SL SMART TV, 3D HyperReal Engine, Micro Dimming Ultimate 1920 x 1080p 1000Hz
What glasses will I need to watch 3D TV? Glasses are either ‘active’, battery-powered or ‘passive’
which are much lighter and easier to manage. All 3D TVs can also be viewed in 2D mode, so you will only need the glasses for dedicated 3D films and programmes.
What is Smart TV? So-called ‘Smart TV’ normally includes a plethora of computer-like features; for instance some TVs allow you to directly download apps, surf on the Internet, stream content digitally and use social networking sites like Facebook directly (think of them as a huge iPad you can also watch TV on). What is an HDMI Cable? A High Definition Multimedia Interface Cable. It allows you to experience ‘full HD’ video in your home. If you want to enjoy the full video potential of external sources like HD set-top boxes, ‘upconverting’ DVD players and Blu-Ray players, you need to connect them to your TV with an HDMI Cable.
Panasonic SMART VIERA® VT50 FULL HD PLASMA, 3D THX, SMART TV, Infinite Black Ultra Panel 1920 x 1080p
INNOVATION PANASONIC TC-P55VT50 PLASMA HDTV This TV
boasts a cool 2D-3D image feature, fantastic black levels and crisp picture quality. The richness of colour is an added bonus.
LG EA9800 OLED TV The curved screen on this ultra-high-tech TV eliminates visual distortion and loss of detail on the sides. Colours are incredibly accurate and imagery is crystal clear.
SONY W9 LED TRILUMINOS 3D (active glasses) FULL HD, X-Reality PRO, One-Touch screen with NFC 1920 x 1080p
SONY XBR-46HX929 LED HDTV Beautiful colours, deep blacks and a super thin screen make this TV a firm favourite around the world. SAMSUNG LN46D630 LCD TV We love the amazing colour accuracy, deep black tones and excellent refresh rate. PANASONIC OLED UHD TV This stylish TV has a high-definition panel boasting four times the resolution of the LG EA9800 OLED TV, though it doesn’t have its nifty curved screen. e 26 / MAY/JUNE 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM
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CULTURE / HISTORY / FEATURES
focus FAMOUS PEOPLE / INTERVIEWS / HUMOUR
Relive some of the best moments from British and American TV, delight at the advertising tactics of old and become creative in the kitchen with our feature on cookery shows. Also, read all about the who’s who of TV famedom. Locally, immerse yourself in the Alameda Conservation Wildlife Park, catch up on some cool music at the Gibraltar World Music Festival and get to know Gerard Teuma, new CEO of the GBC.
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British TV
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US TV Series
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Top TV Celebs
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Famous TV Ads
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Cookery Shows
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Main Street Experience
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The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park
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The Gibraltar World Music Festival
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Gerard Teuma, CEO of GBC
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Jorge Caballero, Artistic Talent
5/2/13 11:53 AM
THE FOCUS television
British television used to be the envy of the world but is it still the best on the box? Ex-professional couch potato Belinda Beckett (a former Daily Express TV critic) reviews the highs and lows over six decades.
d
oes Spotty Dog from The Wooden Tops fill you with nostalgia? Do you instantly bond with anyone who loved The Clangers? The TV shows from our childhood can have a formative effect on our lives, and not always in a good way. Captain Pugwash? Let’s not go there! My earliest memory is of Watch with Mother (in monochrome) every weekday afternoon. Was I warped for life by Andy Pandy sharing his basket with Teddy? The jury’s still out. But from the moment I saw those little furry animals (real ones) sailing in toy boats in Tales from the Riverbank, I was captivated by ‘the box’. Not everyone was lucky enough to own one. In the early 1950s, only nine per cent of us did. Ten years later, 75 per cent of British households had a TV set. Blue Peter, the longest-running children’s show, is only three years younger than me. Petra the dog was cool but Valerie Singleton wound me right up with her tips for making models out of detergent bottles. Mine were always dismal failures. Viewing was rationed in our house and, for a very long time, the theme from Z Cars was my lullaby. But TV, and my viewing habits, were about to undergo a radical change…
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POP GO THE 60s The reason I dance the way I do today is entirely down to Pan’s People. Pop music took TV by storm in The Swinging Sixties, creating the great family viewing divide. My parents, Sunday Night at the London Palladium stalwarts, were appalled by ‘that dreadful racket’. Juke Box Jury, where celebrity panellists pronounced records a Hit or a Miss, with relevant sound effects, became my essential viewing. I first saw ‘the Fab Four’ on Thank Your Lucky Stars, which gave teenage judge Janice Nicholls her 15 minutes of fame with her heavy Midlands-accented catchphrase, ‘Oi’ll give it foive’. She went on to become a chiropodist. In 1964, the Rolling Stones christened Top of the Pops, lip-syncing to I Wanna Be Your Man, and 15 million viewers a week were hooked. Jimmy Savile co-hosted the first show. He looked dodgy then… The older generation was entertained by naff game shows like Take Your Pick and Double Your Money but, in 1960, along came a new programme to fuel their square-eyed addiction: Coronation Street, Britain’s longest-running soap. And to think they only planned it as a 13-week series! Ken Barlow, played by Ken Roache, was a 21-year-old student in the first episode. Now he’s 81 and still in it! Crossroads (1964) never had the same impact as the cast had all learned their acting from trees. Z 1963 W Emergency Ward 10 and Dixon of Dock Green were compulsive adult here were yo u when Joh Z viewing but the blockbuster I yearned to see was The Forsyte Saga. Sadly, 1966 Over 3 n F. Kenned 2 million fa y was assass to ns watched a 4it was deemed too racy for my tender years. But ‘now for something inated? 2 victory ag Bobby Moo ai n st re lead Engl West Germ Wembley – completely different’. In 1969, Monty Python’s Flying Circus changed my and any in the the most vi World Cup ewe Z 1967 Fi final at nally, we co d programme in British view on life forever. The Cheese Shop sketch, the Dead Parrot sketch, uld see th TV history. programme e balls at to showcase The Lumberjack Song… oh joy! Fortunately, the parents couldn’t Wimbledon colour broad ITV stayed , the first black and w casting on understand a word of it or I’d never have been allowed to see it! Also, hite until 19 BBC2. BBC1 Z 1969 W 6 9 and . e we The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan, was another momentous late and Neil Arm re awestruck as Apo llo st ro 11 n la g n st d 60s TV series. ed on the epped on immo
REAL LIFE
TV
Vision rtal words, to the lunar moon “One small surface to mankind.” step for (a utter the ) man, one giant leap for
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THE CEREBRAL 70S From 1970 to 1984, the BBC’s groundbreaking Play for Today series of some 300 new and adapted dramas set the benchmark for quality television and showcased a new stable of talent (Dennis Potter, Stephen Poliakoff, Ken Loach, Kenneth Brannagh). Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party and Jack Ronsethal’s Bar Mitzvah Boy were my favourites. We were also introduced to the lives, loves and staff problems of the Bellamy family in Upstairs Downstairs, while riding the high seas on The Onedin Line for its 10-year, eight-series run. And we began our love affair with actor John Thaw as D.I. Jack Regan, who starred with Dennis Waterman in a hard-hitting new police drama called The Sweeney. Humour topped the bill, with debut sitcoms Last of the Summer Wine, Rising Damp and Are You Being Served? Best Newcomer award went to Fawlty Towers (Farty Towels/Fatty Owls – loved those signpost jokes). Voted Best British TV series of all time by the British Film Institute,
RE AL L IFE TV
John Cleese’s hotel landlord from hell, his dragon wife Sybil and their endearing Spanish waiter, Manuel, became national treasures. Which is your favourite episode? The Germans? Basil the Rat? If only they’d made more than 12! Two big comedy double acts dominated the decade: Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies. Both sketch shows ran for over 15 years. Eric and Ernie got off by ribbing their guest stars (Elton John, introduced as Elephant John; newsreader Angela Rippon, made to reveal her legs in a high-kicking dance routine). Their catchphrase, “‘What do you think of it so far?” (Answer, “Rubbish”) entered the English language. Ronnies Barker and Corbett specialised in word-play, fondly remembered in the clever Four Candles (Fork Handles) sketch. With a career nearly as long as television itself (didn’t he do well?), Bruce Forsyth headed the BBC’s Saturday night line-up with The Generation Game, famous for its conveyor belt of prizes, not forgetting the cuddly toy!
Z 1973 Princes s million BBC1 vie Anne married Ca wers – channe the mo ptain Mark Ph l. st watc il Z 1977 hed pro lips in front of T 27.6 gramm worldwid he Queen’s e on a Silv e, was single also m er Jubilee, w Return arked lan atched by b Z 1979 dlady, Annie W alker, d Coronation St y 500 million “I’m ver ressed reet w y excite told ca a ith Rov s d”, me the ers The Iron ra crews as s new Prime Min first Queen E lizabeth h is e Lady ha t e e r, n t M e . argaret red Num db Theatre Thatche ber 10 after T een receiving r, fo V v r dialect oice co the firs critic to ‘a ca aching t time t sliding Clive James compar from the Natio . down a ed her n blackbo Lincolns al ard’. hire
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TV
The emotional 80s
REAL LIFE
The visually stunning Brideshead Revisited, which won four BAFTAs, got the decade off to a great start, with Anthony Andrews as the beautiful Sebastian and Jeremy Irons playing the languid Charles Ryder. Set amidst the dreaming spires of Oxford and the stately grandeur of Castle Howard, this was costume drama at its finest. We were also enraptured by another Oxford-based drama: Inspector Morse. It ran for 13 years and 33 episodes, the screen death of John Thaw’s educated detective occurring just two years before the actor’s own death. I’ve got the box set and never tire of playing it. There were other reasons to laugh and cry. Yes Minister showed us the comic side to corruption in high places; five unemployed lads from Liverpool ran the gamut of human emotions in Boys from the Blackstuff; The Young Ones became a cult, though I didn’t ‘get’ their anarchic humour; Blackadder served up satire through four periods of history, going ‘over the top’ of the trenches with his men in the moving final episode; and we shed tears of laughter over our favourite Only Fools and Horses episode, Yuppy Love, in which Dell Boy falls through the bar flap, clutching his cocktail and Filofax! The Battle of Breakfast TV gave our viewing habits a rude awakening. But, with delays to the launch of the new TV-am franchise’s Daybreak and Good Morning Britain, Auntie Beeb snuck in first with Breakfast Time and got better reviews for the relaxed new look, featuring presenters in jumpers sitting around on sofas! These early morning shows paved the way for daytime television. Enter husband and wife team, Richard Madely and Judy Finnigan of This Morning fame. From 1988 until 2009, it seemed they were never off the box! It’s hard to imagine life before the Queen Vic but, in 1985, we met the residents of Albert Square in East Enders The episode where Dirty Den Enders. hands over divorce papers to Angie remains the most viewed in British television soap history. ‘Corrie’ nearly beat that record the following Christmas when Hilda Ogden left ‘The Street’ forever. Her curlers and headscarf live on as a fashion statement.
Z 1981 Th e fa Spencer to iry tale wedding of La dy Pri viewers glo nce Charles attracte Diana bally. Most d 750 millio heart-stop n when she ping mom stepped o ent: ut of the c dress and a rriage wea we all thou ring that ght they ’d Z 1982 C forgotten hannel 4 fi to iron it! red up, intr game sho od w and Bro okside the ucing Countdown th Z 1985 “I e soap. t’s twelve noon in Lo the world ndon, seve it ’s time fo n AM in Ph r Live Aid” famine in iladelphia, The dual-v Ethiopia w and aroun e nu e c o n c as the mo venture e d ert to rais st ambitio ver yet att e funds for u s in e te m rnational s pted. Z 1989 T atellite tele he long-aw aited WBA vision Bruno and Heavyweig America’s ht fight be Mike Tyson made this tween Brita (who won) a vintage in’s Frank and the fa year for T V. ll of the Be rlin Wall
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SHOWS THAT AGED WELL
THE GAY 90S That’s gay in the ‘jolly’ sense. Humour, in its many guises, had us laughing our socks off. There was biting satire from Have I Got News for You, buffoonery from Mr Bean, irreverent humour from Father Ted, intelligent wit from A Bit of Fry & Laurie and brilliant parody from Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders who were Absolutely Fabulous as two middleaged career women going-on teenagers. We also met Dawn French, disguised as The Vicar of Dibley, the dysfunctional Royle Family and a professional moaner called Victor Meldrew who had One Foot in the Grave.
There was high drama too. Helen Mirren gave us the ballsy D.S. Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, John Nettles showed us picture postcard crime in Midsomer Murders and Colin Firth played the sexiest Mr Darcy ever in Pride and Prejudice. And it was raining money. The new no-limit rule on the value of TV cash prizes paved the way for the National Lottery Draw and big money game shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Ian Woodley, a Sainsbury’s employee, was the first £1million winner on Channel 4’s TFI Friday. He used it to stake a successful career as a poker player.
REAL LIFenEt TovV ers: ershadowed all oth
Z 1997 One ev C1 Princess of Wales. BB the death of Diana, ented, ed rec np (u ht nig aired throughout the ular ral Election) and reg except during a Gene following ys da the in andoned programming was ab na’s t in a Paris tunnel. Dia the fatal car acciden rldwide, wo rs by 2.5 billion viewe funeral was watched st. ca ad bro cord for a live a Guinness World Re
Z 1953 Panorama is the longest-running current affairs programme on British TV. Presenters of the BBC’s flagship documentary series have included Richard and David Dimbleby and Robin Day. One landmark programme was Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Princess Diana, after her separation from Prince Charles, when she openly admitted: “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” referring to Camilla Parker-Bowles. That same year, Panorama announced the ‘discovery’ of the spaghetti tree. Aired on April 1st, not everyone realised it was a prank! Z 1957 The Sky at Night is the longest-running programme with the same presenter in television history. That honour goes to astronomer Patrick Moore who waxed lyrical on the calibrations of the cosmos until his death in 2012. And the show still goes on. Z 1958 The Black and White Minstrel Show would be regarded as very un-PC today, with its blacked-up singers and dancers, but it ran for 20 years. Before colour TV, the minstrels’ makeup was actually red, as black didn’t film very well! Z 1958 David Coleman, Frank Bough, Des Lynam and Steve Rider were the four main presenters of Grandstand during its 49-year history. Famous firsts include the streaker captured on camera at Twickenham during the 1974 England v France Rugby Union match, The Hillsborough football ground disaster in 1989 and Ayrton Senna’s fatal accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Z 1963 DR WHO HAS BEEN PART OF BRITISH CULTURE FOR GOING-ON 50 YEARS AND ELEVEN ACTORS HAVE PLAYED HIM. Z 1967 News at Ten has had a chequered history. It was originally planned as a 13-week project, because ITV bosses didn’t think the masses would be entertained by a permanent evening news programme! Axed twice, reprieved twice, there was also talk of dropping the famous Bib Ben ‘bongs’ at the start of the programme. Celebrity newscasters over the years included Alastair Burnet, Reginald Bosanquet, Anna Ford and Trevor McDonald. Z 1970s Current programmes Newsround, Mastermind, Antiques Road Show, Question Time and Top Gear all began this decade. Z 1979 Sir David Attenborough’s magnum opus, Life, a nine-series inventory of our natural world, took 20 years to film and set the benchmark for documentary wildlife film-making. He amazed us, as his irreplaceable photographic archive will undoubtedly amaze future generations.
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THE HARSH REALITY OF THE NOUGHTIES Reality TV has been around since Candid Camera but, almost overnight (how did George Orwell get it so wrong in 1984?), we were all watching Big Brother. Well, some of us were. Cue an avalanche of ‘talent’ shows, home and body makeovers and B-list celebrity contestants skating on thin ice and consuming creepycrawlies in the jungle. It’s nothing to be proud of but Britain dominates the global trade in unscripted TV programmes. Worldwide, there are 22 clones of Wife Swap, and 44 foreign versions of Britain’s Got Talent. Among the few people to be pleased about this was Simon Cowell, whom no one had heard of until The X Factor. During these dark days for British TV, The Office was a beacon of light. Starring and directed by Ricky Gervais, and nearly cancelled due to initially-low ratings, we soon warmed to its ‘mockumentary’ style and the Slough paper company boss who was a social faux pas on steroids.
‘Wossy’ must have liked it too, as Gervais make eight guest appearances on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, which debuted the same year. Ross was famous for his irreverent style of questioning, £6 million salary and inability to ‘pwonounce’ his ‘r’s. The final curtain rang down on his ‘theatre of cruelty’ (as some people called the show) when Ross overstepped the mark with ‘Sachsgate’ (Google it). He ate humble pie and came back in 2009 to an even larger audience. Other highlights saw Kevin Whately return in Lewis and the first series of the multi-awardwinning Downton Abbey. This gripping period drama marked a turning point for ITV which earns brownie points for a delicious package of plays that included Mrs Biggs, The Bletchley Circle and the compelling Mr Selfridge. For the rest of the best, turn to our feature on American TV imports because they’re the programmes we’re all watching right now!
REAL LIFE TVGRAMMES WEREN’T ALWAYS UP TO SCRATCH,
10
MY MEMORABLE TV MOMENTS Z Alf Garnett saying “randy Scouse git” in Till Death Us Do Part. (1965) Z Lulu the baby elephant running amok in the Blue Peter studio. (1969) Z Chat show host Michael Parkinson being wrestled to the floor by Rod Hull’s puppet, Emu. Fellow guest Billy Connolly warned, “If that bird comes anywhere near me, I’ll break its neck and your bloody arm!” (1976) Z Pamela Stephenson singing The Ayatollah Song in Not the Nine O’ Clock News. (1980) Z EVERY EPISODE OF SPITTING IMAGE. (1984-1996) Z Michael Fish failing to forecast the worst storm in Britain in 284 years. In the meteorologist’s own words: “Earlier on today, a woman rang the BBC and said she’d heard there was a hurricane on the way; well, if you’re watching, don’t worry, there isn’t.” (1987) Z A drunken Oliver Reed rolling on top of feminist author Kate Millett and slurring, “Give us a kiss, big tits” in the late-night discussion programme, After Dark. (1991) Z Eldorado. A bad joke at the time, I’ve since come to think it had some aspects of expat life in Spain down to a tee. (1992-1993) Z Clive Anderson’s infamous interview with the Bee Gees, who stormed out of the studio after he joked about their work and referred to them as “tossers”. (1997) Z Jonathan Ross asking Conservative leader David Cameron whether, as a teenager, he’d ever had sexual fantasies about Margaret Thatcher. Cameron would not be drawn. (2006)
IF MANUFACTURED PRO MADE RIVETING VIEWING. EVENTS IN THE REAL WORLD t attack on New York’s Twin
watched the terroris Z 2001 On 9/11, the world station, where pened. I was in San Pedro bus Towers, virtually as they hap d so unbelievable, me cafeteria’s big screen see were you? What I saw on the footage was supplied the of h Muc watching a movie. en journalists who have for a moment I thought I was eras – the new breed of citiz cam ne pho bile mo ir the by onlookers via on news reporting forever. the rest of the changed the shape of televisi on the edge of our seats for and subsequent war kept us sion and Libya’s inva sein Iraq Hus The 3 dam 200 Sad Z uding the deaths of incl , nts eve the of ny ma of was merely a tool of, or decade. Private videos rnet. Whether social media inte the on wn sho e wer , Colonel Gaddafi ing, is still up for debate. gs we now call the Arab Spr the catalyst for, the uprisin beth II’s Diamond en for current affairs, Que Eliza ade dec vy hea a r Afte 2 201 Z Paralympics, was a don Summer Olympics and Jubilee, followed by the Lon blessed relief. e i belindabeckett.com
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w w w. b m i g r o u p . g i 29/4/13 08:26:10
THE FOCUS series
american WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
i
t had to be the über cool decade of the 1970s that first gave rise to the Simpsons sofa phenomenon – you know the scenario: mum, dad and the 2.1 glued to the tele, eager to catch the latest episode of Starsky and Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, Kojak or The Streets of San Francisco. The 1950s and 1960s had offered their fare share of hit series, including I Love Lucy, The Beverly Hillbillies, Hawaii Five-O and Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek, but the 1970s marked a real boom for the television industry, with men and women taking their fashion cues and street lingo from the coolest dudes and gals on American TV. In previous decades, American television had been a reflection of what American society hailed as ideal: the white, middle class nuclear family whose most cryptic conundrum lay in how to stop Cindy and Bobby from arguing over their toys. Things really took a turn in the late 1970s, with shows such as Eight is Enough tackling reallife issues like how to balance family and work, infidelity and marriage break-downs. Risque
SERIES
comedies like Three’s Company proved that two hot singletons and their over-sexed flatmate make for far fresher fodder than the nuclear family. The 1970s also saw the boom of the detective/ special agent genre, with futuristic series like Wonder Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man proving that men and women don’t mind their stars genetically enhanced, whenever they’ve got a face and body like Lynda Carter and Lee Majors. And who could forget our favourite cranky Editor Lou Grant, whose newspaper was as much a source of office humour as it was a vessel for the discussion of serious issues like nuclear proliferation, prostitution, gay rights, abuse and mental illness? This series took home a total of 13 Emmy awards in six years, proving that an audience likes to laugh, but also wishes to see the real world reflected on the small screen. The ‘cop-buddy’ genre was another big hit in this decade; the coolest scene in every Starsky and Hutch episode may have been the finale, when the duo raced at break-neck speed along the streets of Southern California in their red and white-striped Gran Torino in pursuit of the week’s demonic drug lord. The show was also a marvellous testimony to male friendship, with the main characters somehow reconciling their vastly different personalities and views.
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COOLER THAN COOL, BADDER THAN BAD The 1980s were far less groundbreaking in terms of content and definitely a lot less glam. This decade saw a boom in the family sit-com genre, the kind that elicits a barely audible groan from unfortunate audiences. Some of the most viewed series of the time include Family Ties, Full House, Cagney and Lacey… are you yawning yet? Complementing cutesy comedies populated by picture perfect children (played by annoying tykes the likes of Kirk Cameron and Michael J. Fox (way too good for Family Ties, incidentally), were cheesy comedies such as Fantasy Island. The show’s extreme kitsch value almost prompts us to forgive sexist fantasy resort Manager, Ricardo Montalban’s macho ways. And who could forget his incredibly annoying sparring partner, Tatoo, whose most memorable (and oft repeated) line in the show has got to be, “The plane, boss! The plane!” The show that really takes the raspberry for cheesiness has got to be The Love Boat, officially born in the late 1970s and reaching its apotheosis in
the 1980s. It didn’t matter if a couple were on the brink of divorce and throwing the kitchen sink at one another; the important thing was that the cruise was booked and they were taking it. With a little help from cute little dimpled stewardess, Julie, mustachioed mojito maker, Isaac, or Captain Stubing’s cunning little daughter, Vicki, it was easy for the couple to fall in love all over again… even before they reached Puerto Vallarta! The 1980s also revealed a marked penchant for high-octane action scenes, with audiences delighting in detective, cop and military themed series like Knight Rider, Airwolf, Magnun P.I. and Remington Steele (which saw the magnificent Pierce Brosnan in his least challenging role). New genres arose as well, like Baywatch with David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson and Michael Landon’s Highway to Heaven: a show aimed at believers but extolling the virtues of kindness and social awareness as a whole. American Producers did their best in the 1980s, but the best they could come up with was Bosom Buddies (starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari), a short-lived yet fresh series about two young men who disguise
themselves as women to live in the apartment of their dreams. These dudes would have saved a fortune if they had decided to rent another apartment instead of spending their entire life savings on fake boobs, Farrah Fawcett/Dianna Ross wigs (respectively), lycra dresses and jewellery, but then again, Tom Hanks did look awfully sexy in a skirt. Another quite nouvelle show at the time was Golden Girls, a series about four elderly women sharing a home in Miami and having more sex than university students at a toga party. Except, that is, for the oldest of the lot, Italian mamma Sophia Petrillo (played by Estelle Getty), who was far more interested in sabotaging her daughter’s romantic interlude by bitching and passing wind at inopportune moments, rather than fanning the long-deceased embers of her desire. A super-silly but fun series the whole family used to get together to watch was The Greatest American Hero, which centered on a clumsy school teacher (played by William Katt) who dons an alien’s superhero suit and finds he has amazing (and uncontrollable) powers. Then there was V, the one-of-a-kind series about an alien, rateating population determined to take over Planet Earth.
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FAIR F A Y L I M 80’s: A FA
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90’s Wow! is all we can say when surveying a long list of absolutely knock-out shows born in the 1990s. The decade may have continued with soap- and familystyled series (Melrose Place and Beverly Hills, 90210 spring to mind), but it really stepped up the quality of television, offering us concepts and scripts we had only before enjoyed in the movies. The X-Files, delving into unknown worlds of science and spirituality and the relationship between an open-minded agent and
his far more skeptic colleague, broke new ground, its nine-season run proving that when it comes to the supernatural, audiences will always crave for more. Then there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by the incredibly talented, ironic Joss Whedon, who plays with youth stereotypes and crushes them to the core. The 1990s also gave rise to Friends (a series many of us personally did not enjoy), but which delighted millions of fans around the world with its undoubtedly clever, fast-paced script and soap opera-style relationship between its main characters. Last but definitely not least there was Seinfeld, so good words will always fail to
do it due justice. Remember when Jerry broke up with his girlfriend because she couldn’t stand his Britishaccented “Helooo…” and he couldn’t stop himself from saying it? What about when George quit his job solely because he was prohibited from using his boss’s private bathroom? The show, which audiences often described as “being about nothing”, packed quite a punch in terms of quality scriptwriting and the comedic talent of greats like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jerry Seinfeld himself, who sadly has hidden in the safety of anonymity of late, probably because he continues to make millions every year from re-runs of his amazing show.
PARK S E V I T A CRE E H T F O RN 90’’s: RETU
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s 2000’s: A P ROMISE F ULFILLED ? 24, Lost. Dexter. We eds. Breaking Bad. American Horror Story, My Name Is Earl. Need we say more? The decade has thus far brou ght us shows that delve into far more serious matters th an we have faced in the past. Drugs, death, existentialis m: these are all th emes an audienc living through hard e times is probably more psychologica equipped to diges lly t than in the past. Luckily, new, Emmy award winning sh ows like Big Bang Theory (about a gr of extremely acad oup emic yet socially aw kward geniuses) keep us smiling an d marvelling at th e creativity of the creators of a media we hope to enjoy for many years to come: television! e
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THE FOCUS television
Barbara Windsor Though almost universally identified with two iconic characters, Barbara Windsor has graced British television screens for over five decades. Born Barbara Ann Deeks, the spicy pint-sized pin-up of yesteryear became a national treasure when starring in the Carry On… series of the 1960s and 1970s. She came to be so closely associated with the role that her very name was like a byword for Carry On…, a fact that put a damper on her career for many years thereafter. Faced with this she returned to her original calling on the stage, picking up film rolls on the way. By now her star had faded somewhat and even her fascinating love life – which included trysts with Sid James and George Best, not to mention marriage to one of the Kray Brothers’ associates – couldn’t rouse the tabloids. Barbara Windsor burst back onto the screen as the tough-talking Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders’ thinly veiled take on Violet Kray. There were few actresses with as much first-hand experience of this world, yet Windsor would go on to recapture her audience just as she had before, earning her place in the British hall of fame as the classic little East End lass.
TV RO 40 / MAY/JUNE 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM
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The concept of the TV celebrity is a relatively new one, but one that has become ingrained in our culture and everyday lives the way few other things have. In fact, looking at the mass adulation today’s celebrities enjoy it is hard to credit the fact that this is a phenomenon not much more than a century old – and in the case of TV celebs far less than that. Some even say celebrity culture has replaced religion as a form of idolatry, but like it or loathe it we all have our favourites. Those who moan about the ‘mindless’ hysteria surrounding the likes of One Direction or Justin Bieber were perhaps themselves overcome when confronted with their own idols. From the Beatles and the Rolling Stones through Michael Jackson and Madonna to the present day, the need to adore is a constant phenomenon that has come to chart the evolution of pop culture among the young in particular. An even greater constant on the firmament of showbiz stars are the TV personalities – some of whom are of a fleeting acquaintance while many accompany us through the decades like distant members of our own family.
Simon Cowell Where Barbara Windsor is thought of with loving nostalgia, this mogul of the music and television world is very much a modern phenomenon. His main gift has been not so much any particular talent as a burning ambition to become big in showbiz – and that he has. Ok, his dad got him his first job at EMI Music, but it was in the mailroom, so while many vilify the blunt-spoken critic of his own talent shows there can be no denying Cowell’s drive and determination. His breakthrough seems to have come about almost by sheer force of will, and now the man known to the public as television critic extraordinaire and music industry svengali is one of the most influential people in both TV and pop music. His shows gross hundreds of millions, and his creations, er bands, almost make it to number one by predetermination. Big on both sides of the Atlantic, his entertainment empire spans the globe thanks to a stable that contains the likes of male singing quartet Il Divo and TV shows like Britain’s Got Talent and, of course, the X Factor. If the vainglorious, creaseless Cowell is less than universally liked he is nonetheless one of the icons of our era. Thanks to him, we now know that practically anyone can be a star.
WORDS MICHEL CRUZ
O YALTY
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Golden oldies In some ways Britain’s very own mix of Oprah Winfrey and Ralph Nader, Esther Rantzen has been a part of the British TV family since the 1960s, when she first broke through as a television presenter. Her penchant for politics and social issues showed through in her television work, with programmes like That’s Life! increasingly focusing the public’s attention on the issues of the day. In the end Esther’s contribution has stretched beyond the realms of television and entertainment to encompass such major innovations as the children’s charity Childline. If longevity is the stuff legends are made of then Bruce Forsyth is certainly a living treasure. After all, there are few TV personalities today who can claim to have made their debut before the Second World War. Already no spring chicken when he presented The Generation Game in the 1970s and 90s, his energetic performances on Strictly Come Dancing are living proof that age needn’t be a barrier to a legend of his calibre. Though originally from Limerick, Terry Wogan has shown the same ability over the past four decades or so to become a darling of the British public. A mainstay of the BBC both on the radio and on the small screen, his calming voice and cheeky manner have helped many a British public live through an increasingly incredulous Eurovision Song Contest experience. Thanks in part to skills such as these he too maintained a presence on television long beyond the age when most people have been pensioned off.
Oprah Winfrey A mogul he may be, but even Simon Cowell fades in comparison with the grand lady of television. Where he is white, male and middle class she is the exact opposite. Once again we’re not talking about someone with an angelic voice, acting presence or the ability to create lyrical sounds, but Oprah Winfrey has earned respect for the way she has overcome adversity to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful people in television. With an estimated net worth of almost $3 billion, the superlatives are never-ending, including one of the wealthiest women in the US, most influential woman in show business, etcetera, etcetera. She emerged from a childhood of poverty and sexual
abuse to become first a radio presenter, then a television presenter and eventually the producer of some of the highest-grossing programmes in television history. Her personal and emotional style, devoid of years of journalistic training at an Ivy League institution, has had a magnetic effect on the ratings wherever she went, and this is primarily down to her ability to connect with her audience. One way or another it is the mysterious formula behind the success of the globally famous Oprah Winfrey Show, itself the pillar of her impressive entertainment empire. More than the show itself, though, Oprah’s main legacy is the example she has set for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Stephen Fry Ant & Dec Dermot O’Leary Another Irishman you might think, but no, though of clear Irish extraction, Dermot’s vocal tones are more greater London than Wexford, where his family roots lie. Where his almost-compatriot Terry Wogan reminds us of a different era, Dermot is very much of the moment. He rose to fame above all as a presenter of Big Brother and – what else – the X Factor, but is also a popular radio presenter and sex icon in his own right. His cool, modernsuave persona notwithstanding, Dermot has also followed in the footsteps of Sir Terry as the presenter of Children in Need, something that will do his reputation with the ladies no harm at all.
Another pair of ‘Irish Englishmen’, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are the nice guys of modern TV. They have the ability to be popular funny men and still fall on the right side of the 9 o’clock watershed, yet seem to appeal to everyone from grannies and young girls to cool adolescents and grumpy middle aged men. Perhaps this is because they have never tried to fool the public into believing they are anything but two funny blokes from Newcastle whose chirpy banter makes for welcome light-hearted entertainment in an age when everything has to be so ‘hard-hitting’. Ant & Dec add a light note to programmes such as I’m a Celebrity… and Britain’s Got Talent, proving that the secret to enduring television celebrity is the simple ability to connect with your viewing public.
Just to prove that even a modern television personality can have a certain ‘old-world’ appeal, Stephen Fry has made a successful career in spite of his posh voice and on the back of his intellectual and creative intelligence. Fry is nothing if not diverse, and even somewhat contradictory, but this seems to add to his popularity rather than diminish it. Modern and traditional at the same time, the eloquent East Anglian to the manor born is also a gay rights activist and avid supporter of Norwich City FC. While he dresses in the handmade suits of a traditional gentleman his sense of humour has always revealed a hint of radical rebellion. Belonging to the rich crop that also brought forth Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton and Rowan Atkinson, his brand of contradictory posh-revolutionary comedy will live on in the likes of A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Blackadder and QI – proving that there is still a place for celebrities that are not entirely vacuous. e
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THE FOCUS commercials
SLOGANS FOR LIFE Top 10 advertising slogans now in everyday use
commercial
GREATS
W
hether you use it to flip channels, surf the internet, brew up a cuppa or visit the bathroom, you can never completely escape the commercial break. Some 85 per cent of us see 73 minutes of TV advertising daily. And though the brainwashing doesn’t always work (in tests, viewers confused Samsung’s Galaxy with Apple’s iPad), when a lyric or jingle lodges in on our brain, hey presto, Beanz Meanz Heinz! I don’t remember the date of the Battle of Waterloo but I can quote the annoying Fairy Liquid ad verbatim: ‘Now hands that do dishes can feel soft as your face, with mild green Fairy Liquid’. It wasn’t true. (I
know. I did the dishwashing in our house.) Webuyanycar.com takes the honours for being the most irritating ad on the box today. Television commercials first hit British screens in 1955, generating £2.4 million in the first three months. Today, in America, that’s roughly what you’ll pay for a 30-second slot during Superbowl. Then, as now, celebrities were sought out to endorse products. For nearly as many years as Gary Lineker has promoted Walker’s Crisps, the peerless Tony Hancock was telling us to ‘Go to work on an egg’. The black-and-white Egg Marketing Board commercials are still funny today. In those days, advertising was squeamish about sanitary towels and undertakers yet, until 1991, tobacco advertising was not only welcomed but aided and abetted by a ban on commercials for smoking cures! But, then, we might never have known that ‘Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet’, a favourite from the 1960s and ‘70s. Whether it was Michelangelo accidently lopping off the arm of the Venus de Milo, or a man with a comb-over having trouble in a photo booth, the protagonist was always consoled by lighting up a Hamlet to Bach’s Air on the G String. One iconic campaign of the early years starred the unlikely double-act of comedian Leonard Rossiter and actress Joan Collins. In all 10 commercials, Rossiter’s pretentious oaf (borrowed from his Rigsby character in Rising Damp) manages to chuck his Cinzano Bianco
WORDS BELINDA BECKETT © belindabeckett.com
over an immaculately-dressed Collins. She recalls, “When ITV went on strike, viewers wrote in complaining not about the lack of programmes but about not being able to see Joan and Leonard!” Ironically, consumers were so focused on the stars, they confused the product with the ‘Any time, any place, anywhere’ drink, Martini. Clearly, glam works better than ham. Sex works even better – although the Cadbury’s Flake Girl made peeling back a chocolate wrapper and biting into its contents so sensual that one ad was taken off air during the Mary Whitehouse era. We females fulfilled our sweet fantasies with a James Bond type who used crocodiles as stepping stones and went through hell and high water, ‘All because the lady loves Milk Tray’. Life can only be a box of chocolates for so long and the Nimble girl gave us a reality check, advertising the low-cal loaf while flying ‘like a bird in the sky’ in a hot air balloon. More down-to-earth types preferred Hovis, sold by a flat-capped ‘Yorkshire lad’ pushing a bike up a steep cobbled street (in Dorset) to Dvorák’s New World Symphony. Serial commercials had us hooked like soap addicts during the ’80s and ’90s. The slow-percolating romance between ‘Tony and Sharon’ over a cup of Gold Blend boosted UK sales by 50%. And many of us will never see actress Lynda Bellingham as anyone other than the Oxo Mum. I wonder if she ever used Smash? Instant mash was sold to us by little tin Martians
Z It does exactly what it says on the tin Ronseal Z I’m lovin’ it McDonalds Z Wassssuuuuppp Budweiser Z Just do it Nike Z It’s good to talk BT Z Good things come to those who wait Guinness Z You’ve been tangoed Tango orange drink Z They’re grrrrreat Kelloggs Frosties Z The future’s bright, the future’s orange Orange Telecommunications Z Should’ve gone to Specsavers Specsavers Opticians laughing their Kermit-shaped heads off at our primitive method of peeling and boiling potatoes before smashing them to bits. Campaign magazine voted it the TV Ad of the Century. Cute animals have always sold products. Chimps in clothes guzzling tea like humans promoted PG Tips for 45 years, until pressure from animal rights organisations ended their tea-break for good. The Dulux dog, advertising paint since 1961, has become a nickname for the Old English Sheepdog breed. The Andrex Puppy has its own website. Generations of young Labradors featured in 130 commercials for the toilet paper company before their replacement by a digital dog, for PC reasons. But a quirkier species is responsible for turning a spoof online marketing company into a worldwide phenomenon. If you ever doubted the power of TV advertising, Aleksandr Orlov’s 806,000 Facebook fans and 60,000 Twitter followers are pretty convincing. He is, of course, the founder of comparethemeerkat.com. As to the shape of advertising to come, it’s really a no-brainer, given that women influence 85 per cent of all purchasing decisions. Ripped torsos are always going to do it for us in ways that a housewife dancing the Shake ‘n’ Vac never could. And from the moment I copped that hunky construction worker baring his six-pack to I Just Wanna Make Love to You, I’ve been a Diet Coke gal. Well, I can always dream… e
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tv cooks THE FOCUS
When Kate Middleton’s kid sister, Pippa, took over from Delia Smith as ‘the face of Waitrose’ this year, it made bigger headlines than the resignation of Pope Benedict. Celebrity chefs are hotter than Hollywood (and I don’t mean Paul Hollywood from Great British Bake Off ). And they’re monopolising the airwaves in many guises: Two Fat Ladies, Hairy Bikers, homely bakers ( Mary Berry), globetrotting gourmets ( Rick Stein) and mad molecular scientists (Heston Blumenthal) cooking up a chemical storm with liquid nitrogen and dry ice. And, if it’s not pro chefs, it’s wannabees competing to immortalise their grandma’s apple pie recipe. WORDS BELINDA BECKETT
COOKS? too many
L
ast autumn, 10,000 amateur cooks applied to take part in the 7th season of MasterChef UK. With only 20 places up for grabs, the heat was on and the knives were out. The show that began in 1990 as a slow simmer with Lloyd Grossman, bubbled over into a global phenomenon when Gregg Wallace and John Torode spiced up the format with their boyish banter. Now we also have Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, fronted by Wallace with Michel Roux, Jr. and scary food dominatrix Monica Galetti. And there are foreign versions in 35 countries. Cookery shows are as old as television itself. But, until 1955, there had been nothing to compare with the waspish cookery columnist who burst onto the small screen in her ball gown to show housewifess a more refined cuisine than bangers and mash. With her white pan-stick makeup and pencilled-in eyebrows, Fanny Craddock was the wicked witch of western cuisine, advising viewers to “think of a neighbour you don’t like when you’re pricking the turkey breast”. But it wasn’t for the recipes that most viewers tuned in. It was to see how she was going to butcher Johnnie the kitchen boy (who was actually her partner). She berated him with a relentlessness that was actually quite frightening! Whatever Galloping Gourmet Graham Kerr was cooking, generally in large quantities of clarified butter, there was always wine – on the menu, in the menu and in his bottomless glass. He cultivated a light-hearted approach to cooking, with lines like, “Madam, you could go outside and get run over by a bus and just think what you would have missed!” Keith Floyd also enjoyed a close relationship with his wine glass but his eccentric manner and chaotic
style endeared him to viewers as he took cookery away from the studio and out on location. Rustling up a fourcourse dinner while afloat on a boat in the choppy North Sea was no problem for this cheery chappy, so long as it had a wine cellar. Too much good living hastened his death at 65 but Anthony Worral Thompson gave him a nice epitaph: “I think all of us modern TV chefs owe a living to Floyd. He kind of spawned us all.” Delia Smith was already well into her reign as the nation’s Culinary Queen. Undeposed for 40 years, she hung up her TV apron for good this year but remains Britain’s best-selling cookery author, with 21 million book sales. Renowned for her classic, no-nonsense approach to cookery, by the turn of the millennia the ‘Delia effect’ had entered the English language to describe the buying stampede for ingredients featured on her programmes. From cranberries to vegetable bouillon powder, she had the power to influence a nation’s eating habits. By now there were more chefs and shows than you could shake a rolling pin at: Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery, Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery, Farmhouse Kitchen, Food and Drink (remember zany wine reviewer, Jilly Goolden? She once detected notes in a wine that reminded her of “diving into a Gooseberry bush”.) In 1999, a new star rose in the culinary cosmos: Jamie Oliver, in The Naked Chef. The show’s title (which Oliver hated) was a reference to the simplicity of his recipes and this chirpy Essex barrow boy soon won the nation’s hearts with his campaigns to promote fresh, organic produce and ban processed food in school dinners. Although slated for slaughtering a
fully-conscious lamb on his show, he was awarded the MBE in 2003 and has achieved iconic status as a restaurateur, TV personality, author and all-round family man. The voluptuous Nigella Lawson employed different tactics on her trajectory to immortality as a Domestic Goddess. With her sexy curves and sinfully calorific recipes, prepared with much revealing of cleavage and licking of sticky fingers, the ex-Chancellor’s daughter had soon been dubbed The Queen of Food Porn. The Guardian got it spot on with the comment: ‘Men love her because they want to be with her. Women love her because they want to be her’. The last word is reserved for a chef who never minced his own words on any show. Long before The F-Word was a television programme, Gordon Ramsay had used it 84 times in a single episode of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, in which he helped to get failing restaurants back on track. But this stickler for culinary perfection, who at one time held 15 Michelin stars, was something of a nightmare himself. As the food critic A.A. Gill wrote after Ramsay ejected him from his restaurant: ‘Ramsay is a wonderful chef, just a really second-rate human being’. With more shows on the way, and EU research telling us that 36 per cent of our diet consists of ready meals, I’ll leave you with this final thought. Why? e
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THE FOCUS main street
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The
Main Street Experience WORDS AMY Williams Photography Jon Segui
Wall Street, the Champs Elysées, the Yellow Brick Road... from high flyers in sharp suits, to an avenue famed for its cafes, couture and cultural significance, and further on to a land of magic and make-believe. These are some of the most iconic walkways in our collective consciousness and each evokes its own distinct association. Now, take a closer look at Main Street, Gibraltar, and you’ll see that on an admittedly smaller scale it contains all of the elements of its world-famous counterparts, and more.
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ain Street is, for example, where many of the most successful firms in the fields of finance and law are located; it is the centre of Gibraltar’s retail district offering a range of boutiques, brands and bargains to tourists and locals alike; it has a cosmopolitan café culture; and it is a street with history sealed into its centuries-old stones and structures. And as for magic, well just look at the seated street performer held aloft on the end of a pole by his co-artist for, quite often, entire afternoons at a time – it can sometimes be challenging just to make your way through the
mesmerised camera-phone wielding crowds that this curious double act draws. And it’s from this same spot, just at the start of Gibraltar’s principal parade, that we’ll begin our southward-stroll, exploring what makes Main Street the essential Gibraltar experience it is. Looking towards town then, the chances are you’re now faced with people as far as the eye can see. Either that, or it’s the middle of the night. For when Main Street is open for business, it’s busy alright. For a start, Main Street really is Gibraltar’s main street. This means that if you’re a local heading into town to pick up a prescription, or pop to the Post Office, or cast your eye around a couple of clothes shops, and you want to do it all in one hit, then really, that’s where you need to go. However, you’re probably going to be doing it against a tide of tourists with an entirely different agenda. Theirs is to wander at a leisurely pace, to soak up the ambience, to stop without warning at any one of the shop windows whose contents have caught their eye, to have their pictures taken next to the red post box you’re trying to deposit your mail into... But, in my opinion (which changes every time I’m on a limited lunch break with a long list of things to get done), the tourists have it right. Main Street really is worth a second, more considered look. Look up, for starters. There can be few other
places where you’ll see a combination of Georgian and Victorian architecture amid Moorish, Portuguese and Genoese influences, but you find it here, hinting at Gibraltar’s colourful history, and the mix of nationalities that have settled here. And history is also evident in the names you see above the shops. Family businesses such as that of Stagnetto (wine merchant), Seruya (cosmetics), and Cohen & Massias (jewellers) have been around for over 200 years, since Gibraltar established itself as a trading port in the early 1800s, and the first traders – Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Jewish, African and Indian – set up shop. Many of their descendants are the shopkeepers with whom you trade today. One very obvious, and sometimes very surprising, attraction for the unsuspecting tourist, is the absence in Gibraltar of VAT. It’s particularly noticeable on the price tags of cosmetics, perfumes, electronics, jewellery, tobacco and spirits – of which there are consequently numerous outlets on Main Street. Many’s the time I’ve wanted to take a picture of a wide-eyed tourist taking a picture of the shopfront of a duty-free alcohol store in order to ping home the incredible prices of bottles of booze to his friends (who’ve probably just paid a similar price for a single glass of the same stuff). Tobacco is equally cheap. I remember passing a couple once who had just reunited after he’d gone to buy cigarettes and she’d come back with perfume.
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“Guess how much?” he said, pointing to a pack of his new purchases. So she guessed. “Lower” he said. She guessed again. “Lower” he said. It went on. I was out of earshot long before she got anywhere near the actual cost. They might even still be there. Souvenir shops also line the length of Main Street. Novelty red phone box money banks, toy double decker buses and plastic police helmets all serve to remind any and every passerby just how proud Gibraltar is to be British. At the same time, these trinkets are surrounded by armies of apes, hanging uniformly from rails in all shapes and sizes. Alongside the more traditional shops, the bargain booze outlets and the souvenir emporiums, Main Street offers all the UK high street staples, such as M&S, BHS and Mothercare, and clothing stores including Next, Top Shop and Monsoon, among many others. With the majority of these clothes shops (and many more local ones aside) aimed at the female market, it’s great news for the girls as it’s perfectly easy to walk the short length of Main Street, trying something on in every single store. But fear not long-suffering spouses, there are plenty of places to hide. Gadgets and boys’ toys are to be found in abundance on Main Street; just spend a couple of minutes in any one of the electronic stores dotted the length of the place and you’ll find kit you never knew you needed. When your iPhone-controlled, helicopter camera is cleared for take off, you’ll be pretty pleased you popped in! Or, if you really want to go up against the missus in the spending stakes (and some) in one single swipe, the doors of designer stores
such as Tommy Hilfiger, and the shops which specialise in stocking several designer labels under one roof, as well as those of the Rolex retailers and Tag Heuer traders, are wide open... For those who don’t exactly get a thrill from shopping however, Main Street can be enjoyed over a coffee, or something stronger, at a choice of cool cafes or British-style pubs, pretty much anywhere along its route, all with outdoor tables, where you can sit and watch the world go by. And the metaphor is not far from the truth. Gibraltar itself is a fascinating fusion of races and religions, where all creeds and colours live and work harmoniously together. And this plays out on a daily basis. Add to this the entire passenger quota of a passing cruise liner, or three, (and make it a lunch break for good measure so that suited business execs pour out into the sun too), and suddenly Main Street is awash with different faces, styles of dress, nationalities, languages and accents. I recall a lady passing me while I was whiling away time over a coffee in the Piazza. She was speaking into her mobile, in a strong American accent, “I’m in Gibraltar”, I heard her say (and then she had to repeat the word ‘Gibraltar’, which implied that her statement had been met with a reply along the lines of ‘Where?’), “It’s a place where they speak English, and use the British pound.” Clearly neither she, nor her interlocutor, had ever heard of Gibraltar prior to her arrival that day. Her description of the place was succinct, but she was smiling and seemed quite taken with it all the same. Pageantry plays a big part in Gibraltar, and nowhere is it played out more frequently than Main Street. The official changing of the guard takes place daily outside the home of the
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Governor, located at the top of Main Street; and at noon every Saturday, the History Alive re-enactment society dress in 18th century period uniform to march from Bomb House Lane to Casemates Square and back, beating their drums as they go. It might not please any shift workers who live in apartments above Main Street, nor those who’ve had a particularly late Friday night, but it is a great tribute to Gibraltar’s history as a garrison town, and a tradition that both locals and tourists lap up. When Miss Gibraltar became Miss World in 2009, and the government invited companies across the country to close for the afternoon so that every employee could welcome her home (such is the strength of both the economy and the patriotism), she was driven along Main Street to rapturous applause from the local population, to the Piazza from where she delivered her address. And when Prince Edward and Sophie arrived in Gibraltar in 2012 as representatives of the Queen in her Jubilee year, they held a short walkabout, also in the Piazza, before continuing down Main Street to the Convent, allowing the crowds to catch a glimpse and say hello, as they did so. There is an obvious pride on display in Main Street, from the Gibraltarian and Union Jacks boldly hanging
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from residents’ balconies above the shops, to the turnouts generated by ceremonies and visits such as those mentioned above. It represents a pride in both Gibraltar’s past and its present. Making our own way down Main Street, past the Piazza and the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned (where you’ve really hit the people-watching jackpot if a ceremony has taken place, and the sartorial spectacular spills out on to the street), things start to quieten down. You’ve passed the hustle and bustle, the majority of shops, bars and restaurants, the main part of town where you’re most likely to run into just about everyone you know, and the frenzy begins to fade away. Almost at the far end of Main Street, you find The Convent. Originally a Franciscan friary, it has been the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar since 1728. It is the venue for wonderful, classical concerts in its grounds during the summer, and its ballroom in the cooler months, and houses the most extensive display of heraldry in the Commonwealth. Not just the official residence of the Governor however, the Convent is also believed by some to be home to the ‘Grey Lady’ – the ghost of a former nun who was caught trying to elope with her lover, and executed in the Convent grounds. Moving sceptically on... From ghosts to graveyards, the Main Street experience comes to its conclusion at the tiny Trafalgar Cemetery, the modest final resting place of a small number of sailors in Nelson’s navy who died of wounds inflicted at the 1805 battle. The headstones of these men, and many others besides, make for sombre reading. This sacred ground is a world away from the bargain hunting of the busier bits of Main Street, and visited (fortunately perhaps for the resting souls) by a fraction of the numbers who only get as far as M&S, but making it your last stop is a poignant way to finish any walk down Main Street, and a reminder that without the sacrifices made by these men and many before them, there would be no Main Street – as we know it. e
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THE FOCUS botanic garden
the secret
GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY JON SEGUI AND COURTESY OF GIBRALTAR BOTANICAL GARDENS
Belinda Beckett discovers a park within a garden on a rock, surrounded by sea, that’s home to the maddest menagerie of animals in the world.
a
more disparate collection of creatures you would never expect to find sharing a peaceful green corner of Gibraltar. Patagonian parrots, chunky Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs and miniature tamarin monkeys, more at home in the tropical forests of Colombia, enjoy contented coexistence under a sweet-scented canopy of pine trees in Gibraltar Botanical Gardens… unbeknownst to a great many visitors (and more than a few local residents) who think monkeys are the only animal act in town. But Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park is no zoo. And, while The Rock’s rich biodiversity famously stocked Neanderthal man’s larder during the last Ice Age, none of these creatures were ever on the menu. So what are they all doing here, this motley crew of 160 mammals, birds and reptiles, each with a name and personality, making up a most ‘unnatural selection’ of species?
“Many of the animals are here because they have to be, there’s nowhere else for them to go,” explained Park Manager Jessica Leaper. But it was one of her team of helpers – Marcus, the bird keeper – who told me their sad story when I stumbled upon this secret garden quite by chance, last year, following discreet wooden signposts to the Wildlife Park. In 1994, Gibraltar customs officers boarded a ship from Indonesia and confiscated a contraband consignment of parrots and primates. Wrenched from their native habitats, they had been transported in the most inhumane conditions to be illegally traded as exotic pets: among them, dozens of rare African grey parrots, crammed 10 at a time into buckets, and monkeys that had lost tails and toes in hunters’ traps. Return to the wild was impossible, cross-border laws prevented them from being sent on to zoos and the only
recourse – other than putting them down – was to keep them in Gibraltar. The Alameda Botanical Gardens was the ideal sanctuary. Enclosures were rigged up and, over time, the collection grew with the addition of other confiscated animals and unwanted exotic pets. But this story has a happy ending. Animal lovers, the local ornithological society and a handful of dedicated volunteers saw that the park could fulfil important educational and wildlife conservation roles and, in 2003, it opened to the public. Since then, although the illegal animal trade has thankfully declined, a captive breeding programme has added one or two endangered species to the collection, along with native species that may eventually be reintroduced to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Every little helps. The local vet waives visiting fees, Morrisons
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supermarket provides left-over fruit and veg, and zoo poo is composted for the park’s own kitchen garden. Entry fees, a small government grant and generous private donations gradually raised sufficient funds for a complete makeover. Thus, what began as a make-shift rehab centre for some very sick animals officially reopens this month as Gibraltar’s first bio park. It provides five-star accommodation for every healthy guest, complete with room service and interior décor themed on their homelands. Specialist rock art workers have created immersion exhibits that transport the visitor to Asia, Africa and the South American rainforest. Clever terracing, soft netting and natural barriers give the illusion of space in this compact little park. Waste ground has been transformed into a walk-through aviary modelled on a Madagascan paradise for some distinguished new guests – an established group of ring-tailed lemurs, flying in from a zoo in The Netherlands any day now. Other popular crowd-pleasers include Itchy and Scratchy, a pair of cotton-top tamarins. Originally from Newquay Zoo, they have raised three sets of twins – a huge coup for the park as they’re among the world’s top 10 endangered primates. Less than 1,000 remain in the wild. There are future plans for a live ‘tam cam’ in their enclosure to record the family’s daily activities. Also delighting all who see them are Asian short-clawed otters, Trixie and Dixie, infamous for effecting 23 escapes in two years from Newquay Zoo; Babe, a randy pot-bellied pig, his missus, Peggy, and son, Rodney, whose birth at the park surprised everyone as his father was thought to be ‘past it’; and Wally, a tragic little porker who spent the first months of his life squashed into a hamster cage. By the time he was rescued by Gibraltar Police, the cage wire had grown into his skin.
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Jessica is keen to raise awareness about the cruelty of keeping exotic pets on Gibraltar. “We’ve had many iguanas brought to us over the years, usually because they grow too big, too fast and require specialist care,” she says. “Many had been fed animal proteins which cause irreversible organ damage.” Throughout the year the park holds workshops, Fun Days and school visits, giving youngsters a chance to help with enrichment programmes, such as hiding food in the enclosures for foraging. However, Jessica operates a strict ‘hands-off’ approach for all but the domestic rabbits kept for cuddling in the petting zoo. Lessons are also given on the insects and bugs that live naturally in the surrounding gardens. Halloween night is a favourite event, when the stars of the show are the pipistrelle bats that sleep by day in designer boxes hanging from the trees.
One sadness for Jessica was the death of her last remaining prairie dog, Choco, in January, just as a couple of sexy young gals were due to join this expert North American burrower. But Choco lived long enough to enjoy his finest hour on the AWCP’s official 2012 Christmas card, wearing a ‘Photoshopped’ Santa hat, where he received ‘Likes’ from scores of fans on the park’s Facebook page. The good news is, a new family of prairie dogs are on their way to this enchanting little park where, just as in all good fairytales, they’re sure to live happily ever after.
The AWCP is open Monday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Adults £5, children under 16, £2.50. Further information: www.awcp.gi
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The AWCP logo, starring escapologist otters, Trixie and Dixie © Gerard Kelleher
Visitors will also meet one or two of the original animals rescued from the ‘death ship’, including two pigtail macaques and the aptly-named Plucky, an African grey parrot. Scores of her companions died from post-traumatic stress but 10 survivors recovered enough to pair up at the park. Sadly, they were stolen just before the breeding season. However, Plucky is no longer alone! She’s all loved up with Blackie, a black lory. Would you like to sponsor one of these animals? For just £30 a year you can! You get a colour photo of your ‘adopted’ animal, a fact sheet, sponsorship certificate, annual newsletter and free entry to the park for a year (valid for a family of two adults and two children). It would make a great birthday present! “Every one of our animals has a different personality, especially the monkeys with their amazing facial expressions,” says Jessica, who first came here to study The Rock’s famous Barbary macaques for her Masters Thesis in Evolutionary Psychology, returning to Gibraltar as a park volunteer and taking over as manager in 2008. A mine of information on animal behaviour, her enthusiasm shines through as she shares anecdotes about her scaled, furred and feathered friends. “We have three female Barbary macaques that were born on the Upper Rock but, while male macaques swap family groups, alien females would never be accepted,” she says. “We’ve managed to re-home some of our larger monkeys but illegally trafficked animals are not permitted across the border, even in transit. However the airlines have now agreed to transport some animals for us, which opens up possibilities for future breeding programmes.”
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Garden theatre
The Iberian lizard loves to lounge in Gibraltar Botanical Gardens
The heart of Gibraltar Botanical Gardens hides another ‘wow factor’ – the Alameda Open Air Theatre which has been ‘entertaining the troops’, off and on, for nearly 50 years. The waterfall and Koi carp-filled lake – the largest area of open fresh water on the Rock – provides a magical setting for concerts, dinner dances, conferences and variety shows and has also hosted the Miss Gibraltar Beauty Pageant. With dressing rooms, a bar and a professional technician to ensure seamless backstage organisation, most shows at this 435-seater amphitheatre play to a full house. From June 21-23 this delightful al fresco playhouse will stage a new ‘first’ – a Fringe Theatre Festival to rival Edinburgh’s, with international acts showcasing drama, dance and music that will spill out into the streets of Gibraltar. i To book, visit www.gibfringe.com
‘THE ROCK’ GARDENS It’s not everyone whose name is immortalised by a weevil but Dr Keith Bensusan, Director of the Alameda Botanical Gardens, has that unusual honour. His discovery of a new species of weevil in both Gibraltar and Ceuta in 2010 was especially remarkable, as Torneuma bensusani is flightless, blind, subterranean and not very good at swimming! This is not the notorious red palm weevil that’s public enemy number one to palm trees, by the way. “The weevil that attacks palms is a single species out of some 60,000 known globally,” says Dr. Bensusan:. “Weevils are the largest group of organisms on Earth.” It’s one of the wonders of science that makes a visit to the Gardens fascinating for both visitors and the scientists and staff who work there, with new finds constantly adding to an incredible tally of over 2,000 plant species and a rich variety of fauna. Blackcaps and greenfinches, hoopoes, kingfishers, kestrels, booted eagles, tawny owls and a variety of reptiles (bats, geckos, lizards, the harmless horseshoe whip snake) are among the visitors attracted to the fresh produce growing in this free ‘supermarket’ for animals! And this is healthy cuisine, thanks to a close-to-zero tolerance of chemicals. Among a rainbow palette of scented climbers, creepers, scramblers, shrubs, succulents and almost every plant the green-fingered gardener could dream of, there are some rarer finds to set horticultural hearts racing. The Gibraltar campion was rediscovered in 1994 and nurtured back from the brink of extinction. Other notable plants growing in the Gardens include the Gibraltar chickweed and Gibraltar restharrow, unique to The Rock, and the Gibraltar candytuft which can only be found here, in Ceuta and northernmost Morocco. The Gardens first opened in 1816 to provide a recreational green zone for the families of garrison troops. Funded by the temporary legalisation of gambling (public lottery funding is nothing new), a sub-tropical jungle took root in sandy soil next to the old Parade Ground which had been partially used as a cemetery – hence headstones can still be seen here to this day. Mediterranean species quickly mingled with specimens
transported on ship’s from the other side of the world – testimony to Gibraltar’s long naval history as well as a symbolic mirror of its colourful multicultural society. These have been augmented by the Botanic Gardens’ more recent acquisitions. Visitors can meander pathways bordered by Chinese wisteria, Australian jasmine and agapanthus from South Africa. The Italian flair of an 18th century Genoese gardener can still be seen in the charming sunken garden known as The Dell. A favourite location for Gibraltar weddings, its lily pond of terrapins, goldfish and frogs provides the perfect ‘photo opportunity’. The Alameda also boasts a South African coral tree planted by the Earl and Countess of Wessex during their controversial visit last year as part of Gibraltar’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Alameda hasn’t always been green and pleasant. Neglected for nearly three decades when the border with Spain was shut, cutting Gibraltar off from the outside world, it became a seamy nocturnal hangout for unsavoury characters. Litter blew through its whispering pines and most of the valuable botanic collections were lost forever. However, if plants could talk, the spectacular 220-year-old Canary Islands dragon tree would have an interesting tale to tell. One of the few specimens that pre-dates the park, this spiky tree is an unusual relative of the lily whose red resin, nicknamed dragon’s blood, is used to stain the wood of Stradivarius violins. Since its renaissance in 1991, the Alameda receives year-round TLC from a team of home-trained gardeners, qualified horticulturists, science graduates and postgraduates, craftsmen and one of the world’s leading tree surgeons. As well as an educational role as an open-air classroom for schoolchildren, it maintains important plant collections augmented via its contact with other, important botanic gardens such as Kew and Edinburgh. The Alameda Gardens are a therapeutic walk in the park all year round. Even in winter, the candelabra aloe ensures that the floral show goes on. And, unusually for such a wonderful attraction, entry is free!
The Gibraltar campion has been nurtured back from the brink of extinction The Canary Islands dragon tree, bordered by flame-red candelabra aloes in winter months
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A
2013 Gibraltar
nd, for two impassioned nights in St Michael’s Cave this summer, the beauty and the history of ancient and modern Asia will be brought once again across the continents, and consequently to life by the greatest artists and performers from Greece, Turkey, Israel, Palestine and Iran, in the Gibraltar Productions extravaganza, Passage to Asia. It is the second in the Gibraltar World Music Festival series, arranged by Gibraltar Productions, following the sell-out success of their Sephardic Divas spectacular last year which secured Gibraltar a place on the map for world music events. This year, the selection of regions represented in the Festival serves as testament to the organisers’ belief that there is no place for politics in culture. “Our aim is to unite cultures and religions together on stage; to bring harmony from troubled histories”, says Fatosh Samuray, manager of Gibraltar Productions, who herself descends from a beautiful blend of backgrounds, including Kurdish, Turkish, Greek, Cypriot and Jewish, and who now lives here in Gibraltar. There could be no better ambassador for simply forgetting any differences between races and religions, and embracing the wonder of the world when it comes together culturally, as one. (In fact, Fatosh is forced to admit, it was the story of her family and mixed blood which inspired the investors of the Festival to choose this year’s unifying theme.) “Not only are we bringing together nations which, historically and currently, have seen great conflict,” she tells me, “but closer to home everyone is coming together, united in their love of music, with the Festival receiving backing from both the Gibraltar government, and the Spanish
Photos © Christian Hook
Passage has been made between Europe and Asia for thousands of years. Trading routes, such as the Silk Road, and seafarers such as Marco Polo and Magellan, who were enchanted by the spices, silk, porcelain and riches of the east, all opened the door for a diffusion of ancient religions and philosophies, and for the introduction of exotic arts and culture to the western world.
Fatosh Samuray, Manager of Gibraltar
THE FOCUS people
The performance, Fatosh assures me, will be a powerful one. On night two, festival-goers will meet Mark Eliyahu, a Dagestanborn, Israel-raised musician who spent his youth learning to play the Kamencheh (Persian violin) and who perfected it in such a short time that WORDS AMY WILLIAMS he is now considered an international master of his instrument. His compositions, according to Fatosh, government via the Instituto Cervantes.” Whatever are ‘magical and desert-like’ and he has an adoring is being played out politically on the global stage, following around the globe. On the night he plays it seems, will be a world away from St Michael’s in Gibraltar, he has also invited the Iranian master Cave in June. of the Ney flute and clarinet, Amir Shahzad, to join The opening act of the Festival will be the Greek him. ensemble En Chordais, hailing from Thessaloniki, To finish the Festival, Yasmin Levy (considered where they were selected by the Festival judges last the most important Sephardic Diva of her day) will October. Their music is a blend of Mediterranean perform with a 28-strong orchestra of Israeli and Byzantine, with Greek regional idioms and Palestinian musicians from the Mediterranean contemporary music, and will showcase seven Andalusian Orchestra Ashkelon, regarded as the centuries of Greece’s musical heritage in what leading cultural institution in Israel within the Fatosh describes as a ‘multimedia mosaic’. field of world music. It is a powerful partnership, The formidable following act, and the main show presenting rich oriental and Mediterranean of the night, features three dynamic divas, each of arrangements for Ladino, Turkish and Liturgical different origins – Turkish, Israeli and Greek – and Jewish Music, combined with classics from the 12 accompanying musicians. Together forming the Arab world and the Maghreb. polylingual Sweet Canary Ensemble, their act pays By the time the last of the applause has faded tribute to Roza Eskenazi, a Turkish/Greek singer at this year’s Festival, we will truly have taken a who performed between the 1920s and the 1970s. cultural and historical tour around Asia and the She is considered to be the queen of the rebetiko Middle East. revival, a genre of Greek music which combines But it’ll be back to business as usual for Gibraltar the music of the Greek mainland with that of the Productions, which includes artist management, islands, also introducing elements of European album production and the progression of music, the traditions of Ottoman art music, and Sephardic Stories, exploring and perpetuating the Greek Orthodox chants, to create a folk blend. Sephardic culture worldwide. They’ll also be busy, Roza is considered almost solely responsible I imagine, making plans for the Gibraltar World for the genre’s resurgence in the 1970s, and its Music Festival, number three… consequent breakthrough into popular culture. i www.gibraltarproductions.com
World Music Festival
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THE FOCUS people
Gerard Teuma:
ofCEO
GBC words Amy Williams Photography Jon Segui
In the 14 months that he acted as CEO designate of GBC, Gerard Teuma hit the ground running. Almost literally by the sounds of it, as he tells me he’s been so busy that he even takes his work with him to the gym, nearly flying off the treadmill in Ocean Village on one occasion while replying, at speed, to emails! In fact, when he was given the news of his forthcoming role last February, he put in a call to his wife telling her that he was going to be busy for a good few years...
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ven before his official appointment to CEO in April 2013, Gerard had already focussed on improving programming, continuity issues and idents (short for ‘identifications’); he has methodically addressed internal problems, department by department, and tackled first the radio, then the newsroom, and then the station’s online presence; he has increased the workforce by 14 people, taking the staff total to 69. In terms of television, he has trebled the number of producers from one to three, and also now has three production assistants. In addition, he has addressed the actual GBC building, which he says is far from conducive to good operations, as well as settling longstanding grievances, increasing HR support and working on rebranding. An avid fan of radio ever since the days when he used to listen to Gibraltar Radio until it went off at midnight (and then strain to hear Radio Luxembourg on the sub-carrier afterwards). Gerard Teuma began his own career in radio in the 1980s. It’s a medium he loves, and it’s with regret that he tells me that, on the day we meet, he’s due later to present his final show in the My Country series – a broadcast about country music. “There may be a tear or two” he stoically says. Having hosted various radio shows in his early career, including The Chart Show on Sundays, the weekday Afternoon Show, and then Breakfast, Gerard took to television in the late 1980s, presenting Music Street on GBC, and then becoming News Anchor. In 1996, he was promoted to Senior Presenter in the GBC Newsroom where he stayed for nine years. Radio however, lured him back, and he took the position of Programme Controller at Radio Gibraltar before moving into management of the radio operations, until 2012. A full and lengthy career in both radio and television later then, I ask Gerard about the highs and lows, pre the pinnacle of his CEO appointment. The high, he says, has to have been building the station up, in just seven years, to become the most listened-to station in Gibraltar, and bringing it up to date with a modern and contemporary feel. The low, he laments, was at the sovereignty talks in London in 2002, during a situation so sensitive that he had to be assigned an armed guard. The hostility towards him, he says, was palpable. He wanted to know why Blair was not defending Gibraltar,
why Gibraltar was being sold down the river. “My Gibraltarian resolve gave me the courage and determination to persist with the questions, but still I was ignored. I felt indignant, and more upsettingly, that Gibraltar was being ill-treated.” Politics takes centre stage in Gibraltar, and Gerard tells me political debate, along with news, make for the most popular programmes on television. “However,” he says, “what makes Gibraltar special is its localness. And until recently we’d been low on local content. Fillers between the bigger broadcasts were imported films and series.” Programming has therefore been at the forefront of Gerard’s agenda, and many more programmes have been commissioned during his designate appointment, including Living on the Edge, Rock Chef, and the live Friday night show Stuff About Us. And there are plenty more planned – a street game show called Guess This, the spooky series Ghost Trackers, and a flyon-the-wall documentary about the emergency services. But we won’t give the entire game away... just stay tuned. And all this has been managed on a limited budget. By way of comparison, Gerard tells me that in the UK, the cheapest production would cost around £50k per episode. At GBC, £50k is the entire annual budget. The international, multi-sport Island Games, for example, will be covered by a team of four people – the largest GBC has ever commissioned. Looking to the future, Gerard is excited about the implementation of the Gibraltar Entertainment Network (GEN), and the introduction of a new film/ music industry to Gibraltar. Here, movies can be made, and singers and bands can be recorded. The plans are for a state-of-the-art studio complex at Europa Point with CGI suites and recording studios, which Gerard estimates will take two years to take off from breaking ground. “The industry presents an exciting future for Gibraltar, just like e-gaming did, when it first arrived.” Does Gerard ever switch off, I wonder? Quite literally, no. Even in his spare time, he watches GBC (in his own words) like a hawk. He confesses to a passion for country music, and US radio stations too, despite it clashing with his wife’s love of jazz. I imagine her husband’s enforced absence must have some benefits then, as Mrs. Teuma adjusts the CD selection... g www.gbc.gi
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“What makes Gibraltar special is its localness.”
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THE FOCUS people
lust for life...
JORGE WORDS AMY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JD CABALLERO
CABALLERO
Despite hundreds of his paintings hanging in the homes of art lovers both locally and across the Atlantic, and a continually-growing list of commissions awaiting the attention of his paintbrush, Jorge D. Caballero insists that art is still just a ‘hobby’. Like playing the guitar, or taking off with friends for long hikes in southern Spain on sunny Sundays, it’s simply something he enjoys doing in his spare time.
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aving such an incredible talent and not turning it into a full-time job is just one of the things that sets Jorge apart from his contemporaries in the creative world. A multitude of aspiring artists would sell their grandmothers to be able to earn a living from the passion that is their art, but Jorge wants his hobby to remain recreational. He has resisted cultivating any kind of ‘quirk’ so often associated with the greats. Van Gogh had the depression, Dalí the deviance, and Damien Hirst? Well, he had sheep in formaldehyde. It’s not exactly normal, is it? But these are eccentricities that some enthusiasts feel they need to emulate.
“I could take it more seriously, and create an ‘image’ for myself,” Jorge says, “but I wouldn’t be comfortable playing the brooding artist or any other such stereotype. I’m happy when I’m painting, and my art reflects that. Even the darker paintings are essentially happy.” “Ever since I started painting, I wanted to do art that was bright and happy, I loved the work of Van Gogh and Monet, their art brings out a positive feeling, so I spent many years doing impressionism. At the same time, I’ve always worshipped Salvador Dalí, and over time, the magic of his paintings became more attractive to me. For over ten years I have been trying to find my own style, the right mix between Van Gogh and Dalí, happy paintings with a bit of magic.” And who wouldn’t be happy? Jorge recalls a blissful childhood, whiling away his hours on the beaches of La Linea, swimming for entire afternoons, fishing for razorfish and octopus, building camps and playing football with the other
kids. Nicknamed ‘little fish’ by his mother, Jorge’s affinity for the sea is evident in many of the local scenes he depicts today; the curls of the waves in the waters that he draws are as inviting on canvas as they would have been on a hot afternoon with the sun beating down on the beach. But when he wasn’t outside playing, Jorge was beginning to draw, encouraged in particular by his father. He started to learn the disciplines of classical painting and drawing portraits; and he learned the science behind art. At the age of 17, Jorge left La Linea to study for a Computer Science degree in South Carolina. I query the subject, given the artistic talent he
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was developing. “For me, it’s all about balance”, he explains, “I’m both mathematical and artistic, and I need each in equal measure. I combine sense and logic with creativity and chaos, and there must be a harmony which makes sense in my head.” Jorge spent a total of 16 years in the States, mainly in the Carolinas, but also in Texas, Mississippi and New Orleans. He continued his painting there, but he also found the ‘other side’ of his art, the digital side, which he says is another way for him to be creative and artistic. “I get the same feeling finishing a project that’s been production work as I do when I finish a painting.” He also reflects on America as the place where, in a sense, he grew up as an adult and consequently, he feels quite American in some ways. He says it is a land full of extremes, both good and bad, where he made many friends. But family ties, familiarity and a fondness for Spain and Gibraltar eventually lured Jorge home, “It’s where I belong,” he says, “There are so many great things here, it’s multicultural, I have friends from all over the world, and you get the best of
The Thieve of Irons at NY’s Flood
everything by combining Gibraltar and Spain. I just wish people would see it the same way and make an effort to create a better and closer community, putting politics to one side.” Gibraltar is where he now works, as an integral part of the Copywrite Advertising team, responsible for programming, design and production. His professional expertise is in 3D, visual effects (CGI) and post-production, and at the time we meet he’s heavily involved in the Beatles Exhibition in the Casemates gallery, the GBC rebrand and TV animations. He envisions himself and Copywrite getting much more involved in production, both within Gibraltar and for the export market. “There is real potential in Gibraltar, just look at what’s been achieved with online gaming for a start. And in the
future, everything online will be more video, more 3D. Websites will be more interactive, with people greeting you and assisting you in person. There’s no reason Gibraltar couldn’t play a big part in this.” With Jorge so busy at work, and a list of commissions now in double figures, I ask whether he has any paintings for sale to interested parties? Unfortunately not. So popular is the product of his pastime, that he himself only has a small selection of his own paintings left. His ‘gallery’ is now his living room, and he’s therefore had to draw the (proverbial) line at selling any of those paintings because each sale leaves a white space on his wall... He encourages people however to view the paintings on his website and Facebook page, and simply, to talk to him. He welcomes feedback on his art, ever striving to improve, and will accept orders for commissioned work. He can also be found, quite often, enjoying a coffee in Cafe Modelo. i www.facebook.com/Art.JDC or search for ‘iordel’ in Facebook
Traditional Hole
Play Your Golf in a Box
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style
INTERIORS / ARCHITECTURE / ART / FASHION
Discover a stylish and functional home on Gardiner’s Road, enjoy our ode to fantastic flapper era fashion, and find out why The Hospital Group has become an internationally recognised authority in aesthetic procedures.
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BEAUTY / HEALTH
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Style and Functionality on Gardiner’s Road
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Matilde Cano: Homage to the Flapper Era
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Beauty News
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Health Profile: The Hospital Group
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Health Feature: Raspberry Ketone
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THE STYLE decor
i
n early 2012, Frankwin and Lorraine van Kleef viewed a three-bedroom apartment in Gardiner’s Road. It was, by the sounds of it, relatively unimaginative inside. A long, narrow corridor ran through its centre, with doors leading off it to each of the separated lounge, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom areas, meaning the entire place felt quite enclosed. It was perfectly functional, and in a fantastic location overlooking the Straits, but it was far from their original brief of a spacious property where they, as a busy, working couple, could come home to relax and breathe. The one feature that did really appeal to them however was the amount of light flooding into the front room from the wide, open outside, but unfortunately the lounge was the only room in the house to really benefit from it. Most couples would have regrettably crossed the property off the list… Fortunately however, Frankwin can see through walls. Not in the superhero sense (or at least, not as far as I’m aware) but rather thanks to his experience of over 25 years in interior design, or as he prefers to call it, interior architecture. He could see that with some of the walls removed, and a more open plan layout in place, the light had the potential to permeate the entire living, dining and kitchen area. It was the observation that saved the day, and not least, the sale. Four months, a thorough gutting, and the sacrifice of one bedroom later, the property was transformed. Greeted at the door by a beagle named Harry, and then Frankwin himself, I walk into the apartment and am struck by how spacious and open the area is. A beautiful oak floor stretches out both ahead of me and round to the dining area and lounge to my left, giving the place the appearance of a large, cohesive space instead of several separate rooms. Continuing the free-flowing effect to my right, an urban-style kitchen is separated only from the hallway by a broad work surface practically positioned above a unit of neat kitchen cupboards. Lorraine is kitchen-side preparing some green tea, and as we are introduced and begin talking about the apartment, Frank points out that according to the previous layout, I would have been in the hall and Lorraine in the kitchen with a wall between us and no chance of such a casual chat in passing. The hall, he says, would only ever have been a thoroughfare, whereas now the entire space is very usable. Guests can sit at the dining table and whoever has to attend to something in the kitchen remains very much a part of the moment. For that reason, the place lends itself very well to parties he mentions.
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A Home with
Style
on Gardiner’s WORDS AMY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY JON SEGUI
Road
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Not that he’d needed to point it out. The long, solid oak, 12-seater table in the dining area suggests this is quite a sociable space. Plus, perfectly calculated and crafted by Frank, it is a real feature of the room. Above the table, casting their light down on it, are a quirky cluster of jam jar lanterns, also created by the couple. And it turns out that the cabinet facing the table, the back of which complements the ceiling by using the same, slatted, white wood, was too. Every piece of furniture tells a story, Lorraine says, whether it is inspired by the couple’s extensive travels, or simply created by them specifically to suit a certain requirement, or match another element. The apartment showcases some unique, handcrafted and personal pieces of furniture and decoration. But mass manufacture has its place too it seems, as Frank picks up a candle holder from the table. “This is IKEA,” he says, and then points to a couple of other objects without hesitation, “And that, and that. You can get great things there, but it’s about combining them with your own personal touches.” The work surface I’d been admiring previously is IKEA, although Frank customised it and doubled it up, preferring the thicker effect of two pieces in place of one. With a stylish colour scheme of mainly beige, creams, whites and woods (plus a burst of colour from a fabulous red wall in the kitchen),
the apartment has a very fresh feel to it. It is a clean, uncluttered space, with an air of calm and wellness. And the cleanliness is no illusion, the place is spotless. Frank shows me one of the secrets to this – essentially a built-in hoover at ground level. A small socket is concealed at the base of the bench behind the table and here, a lightweight hoover hose fits in. You whizz round the apartment with it, and it carries whatever you’ve sucked up out of the living space into a receptacle in the utility cupboard. No heavy hoovers to carry, no recirculated Harry hairs or dust flying about, and no bags to empty. It improves the indoor air quality, Frank tells me, and makes the living environment healthier. The apartment is gadgets-galore, and where the built-in hoover keeps things clean, the Sonos music system simply makes life more harmonious, giving Frank and Lorraine a choice of their own music, or any radio station or TV talk show in the world, to be broadcast via subtle ceiling speakers throughout their apartment, at varying volumes depending on who wants to listen. For Lorraine, who is a Personal Trainer and Advanced Fitness Instructor in her ‘spare’ time, it’s a great way of keeping up with all the fitness channels while she goes about whatever she’s doing at home. Classifying the Sonos system as a bit of a toy, Frank produces his iPhone to show me the
lighting network throughout the apartment. This, apparently, is not a toy. It means that wherever you are in the apartment, the light switch is within reach. If you’ve sat down in the lounge having forgotten to turn the light off in the hall, you can just do it from your phone. Likewise, if you need to get up in the middle of the night, rather than fumble your way to the switch, you just turn the light on wherever it is you need to go. It’s simply another way of making life that little bit easier. And you’re no more likely to have a midnight stubbed toe in this apartment than you are a steamed-up mirror, as technology turns to the bathroom where a heated mirror means that staring into your steamed-up reflection is a thing of the post-shower past. Neither will you ever have to reach for a cold towel, nor stand on a freezing floor on a chilly day – the heated towel rail and underfloor heating have safeguarded against that. And if you’re concerned that making life this comfortable is going to cost you, there’s a panel on the wall outside the bathroom which you can set to view the energy use and cost estimate over whatever time frame you have indicated. The energy is either extremely efficient in the Gardiner’s Road apartment, or the meter is broken, with the reading for that particular week showing at just over £1. I suspect the former. In fact, there’s energy-saving happening all over the apartment. Although they cost several
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times more than halogen bulbs, the professional LED light fittings shining down on the kitchen surfaces will last longer, and are far more energy efficient. And it’s not just energy saving happening up there too, but space saving also, with the extractor fan set right into the ceiling to avoid it taking up any unnecessary air space. The creation of space is a priority for Frank. He points upwards again to show me the height of the original ceiling, evident from the level of the beams. The new ceiling that he installed is 10cm higher. He explains that this simple increase of 10cm across a 90m2 apartment is enormous, creating 9 cubic metres in additional space, or 9,000 litres more air. The humble centimetre, it seems, is too often neglected in interior design. Frank gives me an example of its importance, explaining that just that day, he’d been having a discussion with a client over the height of the washbasin she wanted installed. She had the choice between a height of 85 or 90cm. She originally chose 85cm, but given a slight spinal problem she’d complained about, Frank suggested that the 5cm rise would mean bending less when using the basin, and consequently ease the pressure on her lower spine. Even the table we’re sitting at, he says, was
designed to be the shorter depth of 80cm so that should one of the 12-strong party sitting at it wish to walk behind it at any time, it involves no pulling in of chairs from those who remain seated. This is obviously more about convenience than preventing injury, but like everything else, it has been planned to perfection. The greatest sacrifice made to space however, was the removal of the third bedroom – a bold move in a market where the number of rooms is a key factor in pricing properties. Quite simply however, to Frank and Lorraine, the space was considered more important. In its place, now forming an extension to the master bedroom, an enviable back-lit, walk-in wardrobe serves a much greater purpose. In turn, the space from the once fitted wardrobe of the master bedroom has moved over into the second bedroom and makes an alcove for a desk and chair. The decoration of the apartment is minimal, yet the couple believe in the organic evolution of the home. When they see the right picture or piece, they’ll pick it up. And over time, maybe it will in turn get replaced by something else. You have to live somewhere, says Frankwin, before you can really decide what’s needed. On one wall in the lounge, a frame of three black and white photographs hangs in a display of urban décor,
but the others are as yet unadorned. Their time will come. The brickwork feature in the kitchen also gives the place an urban, loft-like feel. In fact, it’s so eye-catching that when Lorraine mentions that ideally, they’d like to paint the wall which you can see through the kitchen window white, I have to look again as I hadn’t even noticed it. While stylish and every inch the show home, the essence of this apartment is a comfortable, functional family home. No-one stands on ceremony: the couple’s son Kieron comes in from an afternoon of sport and stops for a casual catch-up with everyone before hitting the shower, then the fridge and then heading out again; Harry sits happily on the bench at the table (despite having three of his own beds in strategic positions around the place); and to be honest, I’m so at ease that I could easily outstay my welcome… the apartment is cosy, comfortable and full of light, and it is conducive to conversation. Quite simply, this previously prosaic property has, through Frank’s vision, been adapted to today’s living. g IN VISION DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LTD Facebook: In Vision Design & Construction Ltd G1, 92 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 63308.
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Reception design / Home cinema & home automation / Furniture design & fabrication
Specialising in Corporate Interior Architecture
ultra design
In Vision is a full service design and construction company based in Gibraltar. We listen carefully to our clients' needs and blend experience and innovation to consistently produce a wide variety of high quality residential and commercial projects.
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G1, 92 Irish Town, GIbraltar / Tel: +350 200 63308 / invision@gibtelecom.net facebook: In Vision Design & Construction Ltd
4/30/13 1:43 PM
THE STYLE fashion
k n i P f o s s e n t f o S The
r e p p a Fl WORDS MARISA CUTIL
LAS
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c i h C a r t a p y s Cleo n a p Blue
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My Love is Blue i www.matildecano.com
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THE STYLE beauty 1 – JUICY COUTURE LA LA PERFUME Juicy Couture’s youthful new fragrance is a blend of fruity, citrus, sweet and fresh accords. i www.theperfumeshop.com 2 – THE BODY SHOP WHITE MUSK LIBERTINE EAU DE PARFUM, AND LIP GLOSS, BY LEONA LEWIS Stunning singer Leona Lewis has attached her name to this musky yet floral scent, and this shiny new lip gloss. i www.thebodyshop.es 3 – VERA WANG LOVESTRUCK FLORAL RUSH This exquisite new fragrance by legendary wedding wear designer, Vera Wang, features accords of Champagne, pink passion flower and cashmere woods. i www.theperfumeshop.com 4 – CLARINS FIX’ MAKE-UP This ultra-fine, refreshing mist is meant to be sprayed onto a fully made-up face, for a longlasting hold. i www.clarins.com
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5 – NARS COLOR COLLECTION DRESSED TO KILL LIPSTICK This long-lasting matte shade is a perfect complement to the bare-complexion look that will be popular in both Spring and Summer. i www.narscosmetics.eu 6 – BOBBI BROWN SPARKLY LIP GLOSS An ideal shimmery gloss for lovers of the night. i www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com 7 – DIOR VERNIS We love Dior’s cool new mango shade, which lasts for days and shines like a brand new car. i www.dior.com 8 – NARS DISCO INFERNO NAIL POLISH This shimmery polish varies in shade from grey/green to pearly pink. Wear it under the brightest of disco lights. i www.nars.com
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PRODUCTS
5
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WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
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PINK
is the New Black This season, the penchant for pink can be appreciated in everything from make-up hues to the prettiest of packaging. We bring you an irresistible line-up of rosecoloured items that every self-respecting girly girl will be rushing to stock in their make-up bag.
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Advancing the Art and Science of Hair Restoration Worldwide Jason Gardiner chose Ziering Medical for his hair transplant surgery.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with the procedure!”
952 86 05 18 www.zieringmedicalspain.com
Jason Gardiner
THE STYLE health
The Hospital Group
WHERE SERVICE MAKES
THE DIFFERENCE
PRODUCTS ADVICE
S
urgery is always a brave option. Human beings have two choices when it comes to the aspects of our appearance that slowly erode our self-confidence: we can stoically ‘live with it’ or change what we don’t like. Thankfully, advances in surgical techniques, equipment and materials have made it easier to opt for action, yet there is no doubt that a number of insecurities can plague our minds as the days lead up to our long-awaited op: will the results measure up to our expectations? Will we be safe? Will we be cared for afterwards? Will our post-op concerns be appeased? When The Hospital Group, previously known as Mills & Mills, opened in Marbella around eight years ago, it slowly but surely build up a reputation as a family company. Its founders, Deborah and David Mills, are now based in the UK and the company is now part of the prestigious Hospital Group (which boasts 26 clinics and two hospitals in the UK), but the values this forward-thinking couple founded their clinic on – integrity, honesty, personalised care and service – continue to be the pillars on which The Hospital Group stands. Patients at this clinic will tell you it is run by a quartet of highly skilled professionals; its Director, Patrick Shaw, is hardly your typical boss: approachable, available, down-to-earth and quick to break into a smile or better yet, a hearty laugh. The first point of contact for a prospective patient is Sian Tiley, the Patient Coordinator. Sian arranges the first (free of charge) consultation between patient and surgeon, eliciting vital information as to the patient’s expectations, past medical history and additional relevant medical issues. Once a patient has opted for a procedure, she will liaise with Peter Harcourt, Senior Nurse (and a registered British nurse). Everything about Peter is soothing and gentle, from his voice to his passion for what he does, his choice of profession clearly stemming from true vocation. “I always make sure to let a patient know exactly what to expect post-op… this reduces their anxiety,” he says, elaborating, “Sometimes I ask patients – ‘Are you sure you are ready for this?’ I want to make sure they are mentally prepared for their
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chosen procedure.” Peter accompanies the patient through every step of the way; Patrick tells me that a recent patient, in her 70s, who had undergone a Facelift relied on Peter heavily, after suffering from anxiety post-op. She is now full of confidence and glowing. Patients also receive solid support from Stephanie Evans, Patient Liaison, who, like Peter, is there for patients at every stage of the process (at The Hospital Group, aftercare is offered on a lifetime basis, with no expiry date!). Moreover, as Patrick points out, “We don’t shy away from our responsibilities. If at any point a patient needs to consult us post-operatively, then we are there for them.”
WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © KHPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK The range of treatments offered at The Hospital Group is ample and includes everything from filler injections to Abdominoplasty and Blepharoplasty. Breast augmentations are arguably the clinic’s greatest claim to fame, perhaps because, as Patrick points out, “the range of women seeking breast surgery ranges from around the age of 20 to over 60.” There are two unique techniques carried out by The Hospital Group: the world-renowned MACS Facial Lift, much less invasive than a traditional facial; and platelet rich plasma therapy injections. The latter involves collecting a patient’s own platelets (obtained from a blood sample), and injecting them into sunken or wrinkled areas to stimulate collagen production; as the filler used is elicited from the patient, there is no chance of rejection. The MACS facial lift, meanwhile, uses ‘anchor points’ in the face to lift up sagging cheeks, jowls and excess skin in the neck, with a small incision close to the ear and much less ‘undermining’ of tissue. All operations are carried out in the Xanit Hospital, an ideal place to feel safe and cared for (an overnight stay at the Xanit is included for all major operations). I am fortunate to meet a patient from the UK
on the day of my visit to The Hospital Group; a handsome builder who has just had a ‘Ziering’ hair transplant, the result of a complex technique which involves separating follicles into one, two, three or four-hair groups and implanting the follicles at specific angles and in specific areas so the ‘fall’ of the hair is identical to that of natural hair. The patient was beaming… he told me he could not believe how good his new head of hair looked… and he was visiting the clinic that day, unannounced, iPad in hand, to ask Patrick a couple of questions… that about sums up The Hospital Group experience: it is no less than a fine marriage of expertise, care, safety and excellence.
g C/ Arturo Rubinstein 3, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 366/663 942 060. www.thehospitalgroup.es 5/2/13 12:07 PM
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Raspberry
THE STYLE health
Ketone
A Berry Good Way to Lose Weight words Verónica Guerra. Holland & Barrett’s Qualified Product Advisor.
R
aspberry ketone is a major aromatic compound of red raspberry. Raspberry (European red raspberry, Rubus idaeus) is one of the oldest fruits known to people and has been used throughout the centuries for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Like its popular relatives the strawberry and blueberry, raspberry contains an abundance of sugars, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. The structure of Raspberry Ketone is similar to the structures of capsaicin and synephrine, compounds known to exert anti-obese actions and alter the lipid metabolism. (Capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, has undergone study for weight loss in humans). It is most commonly used for weight loss and obesity. It is also used to increase lean body mass. Research has shown that raspberry ketone can help in your weight-loss efforts, especially when paired with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet of healthy and whole
foods. Raspberry ketone is the primary aroma compound of red raspberries. This compound regulates adiponectin, a protein used by the body to regulate metabolism. Raspberry ketone causes the fat within your cells to be broken up more effectively, helping your body burn fat faster. The recommended dose is 100mg per day. To get the same benefit from the whole fruit, you’d have to consume 90 pounds of raspberries. Scientist concluded that raspberry ketone prevents and improves obesity and fatty liver in certain animal models. These effects appear to stem from the action of raspberry ketone in altering the lipid metabolism, or more specifically, in increasing norepinephrineinduced lipolysis in white adipocytes (fat cells). In another study, the effect of raspberry ketone results reportedly indicated that raspberry ketone activates the brown fat thermogenesis and enhances energy metabolism.
g References: Kyoung Sik Park, “Raspberry Ketone Increases Both Lipolysis and Fatty Acid Oxidation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes”, (2010). Chie Morimotoa, T, Yurie Satohb, Mariko Harab, Shintaro Inoueb, Takahiro Tsujitae, Hiromichi Okudad, “Anti-obese action of raspberry ketone”, (2004) www.webmd.com www.doctoroz.com
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Words Amy Williams
thepro NEWS /ENTERPRISE / LOCAL BUSINESS /
PROFILES / FINANCE / LAW
Runway Gibraltar Fashion flew into Gibraltar on Saturday 4 May as Runway, a brand of fashion shows, staged shows and exhibitions on the walls of Kings Bastion and across its lounge terrace area. The evening featured international designers, bands, photographers, models, make-up artists and stylists, as well as showcasing Gibraltar's own talent in the field of fashion. In the finals of the New Designer Competition, competing for the chance to stage a show at the prestigious Fashionclash in Maastricht (plus portfolio prints from Colorworks and a dedicated show at the next Runway Gibraltar) were local designers Lauriane L'Eplattenier, Charlene Figueras, Christel Mifsud, Olga Farafanova and Signe Roedbro. Plenty for everyone in the form of music, entertainment, interaction, top international designers and their collections, prizes, and goody bags. For more information, contact Colorworks, 104/106 Irish Town.
Patricia Darch at the Milan Furniture Fair 2013
The annual Milan Furniture Fair is the biggest event on the international design industry's calendar – a week when all the designers, buyers and journalists descend on the Feria Milano trade hall to see new products and discover fresh talent. Patricia Darch Interior Design were there to experience the show in its full glory. “Our prestigious suppliers entertained us, their stands packed to the brim with beautiful furniture designs,” says Gill Welland, Manager for Gibraltar operations. “Iconic names such as Fendi, Ipe Cavalli, Malerba, Dedon and many others graced the floor with their best ever collections. Lighting pavilions focussed on the latest contemporary designs. Flos came out a clear winner with its reissue of several classic designs by Gino Sarfatti. We were also invited to visit the renowned B&B Italia’s showroom just inside Milan. They showcased their 2013 new collection of furnishings, including the Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby Maison marble version of the TobiIshi table which is among their most important pieces, together with the specially made red lacquered version. This was a truly wonderful experience.” g www.patriciadarchinteriors.gi
g www.facebook.com/runway.gibraltar
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Julian Lennon to visit Gibraltar
©Julian Lennon Memorabilia Collection
John Lennon famously did it in 1969, and now, over forty years later, Julian Lennon will be following in his father’s footsteps with a visit to Gibraltar. Specifically, to Casemates Square and the Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery, where the exhibition ‘Beatles Memorabilia – the Julian Lennon Collection’ is currently on display. Expected in Gibraltar on May 23, Julian Lennon (creator of the White Feather Foundation which brought together the items which comprise the exhibition) has said he’s delighted that the pieces have come to Gibraltar. Travelling over from France, where he now lives, for the occasion, he reminds us of the exhibition’s purpose: "John Lennon is an idol to millions of people who grew up loving his music and ideals, but to me he is the father I loved and lost. I hope this exhibition lets people see another aspect of his life and our time together as a family.”
g www.lennongibraltar.com
Big Name Hunter If you’re looking for a party dress, seeking something more sedate, or after the perfect accessory, there’s a new store in town. Big Name Hunter has recently opened in Casemates Square, stocking high-end contemporary designer wear as well as pre-owned retro vintage, with handbags, luggage and accessories to boot. Sourced in London and New York, collections include Bellville Sassoon, Chanel, Cartier and Louis Vuitton and the shop also has a fine collection of furs. g Big Name Hunter
can be found at Unit 6F, Casemates Arcade. Tel: +350 5401 4033.
Gold for Gibraltar’s U17 Girls Gibraltar’s Under 17 Netball Team recently won the Gold Medal at the European Championships in Malta this March. By beating Malta 34-11, followed with a 34-14 win over Switzerland in the first round, and then beating both teams again in the second, they got what they went for, being undefeated throughout the tournament! Applause rang around the Rock in support of the girls, with Minister for Sport, Steven Linares commenting that they had each excelled themselves, and made Gibraltar proud.
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Sunborn Yacht Hotel Development As if super yachts and five-star hotels weren’t luxurious enough, the Finland-based property development and investment company, Sunborn, has merged the two concepts to create the exclusive Super Yacht Hotel. And it has plans to make Ocean Village the home port for one of these magnificent vessels from the end of this year. Facilities include high-specification guest rooms and suites, private balconies and terrace areas, a panoramic restaurant with sun terraces, and a glamorous outdoor bar with lounge and entertainment spaces – all enjoying either the enviable views of the Bay of Gibraltar, or a privileged vantage point over Ocean Village itself. For those who want an exclusive venue to do business, there are also comprehensive banqueting, meeting and conference areas. The hotel will be fully secured to the dockside by mooring arms which have been specifically designed to hold it in a fixed and solid position, and an enclosed glass bridge will connect the hotel’s entrance to terra firma for simple boarding. Furthermore, it’s an environmentally friendly way to spend the night. The hotel uses innovative eco-friendly technology on board, and runs no engines or generators while moored. As and when the hotel eventually sails away, it will do so leaving no environmental footprint at all. Just make sure you’ve checked out on time...
g www.sunborn.com/yacht-hotels/
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THE PRO finance
WORDS MIC
HEL CRUZ
making finance a personal matter Think of financial specialists and you automatically picture suited automatons buzzing around glass tower blocks reeling off figures and sounding cold, detached and self-important. I know it’s not a very flattering impression, but it is a perception of the financial world that is shared by a large portion of the population. Imagine my surprise, then, when the address I was given for an interview was not in a glass office block but in a traditional building in the heart of Irish Town.
“
We didn’t want to be locked away in an ivory tower somewhere, so we renovated a historic building on behalf of one of our investors, got him tenants – ourselves included – and provide him with an attractive yield,” says the young and energetic company director Yan Delgado. “Finance is finance, it has its mechanics and its procedures, but at the end of the day it is about people and we have chosen to be in the midst of Gibraltar because we want to be connected to the community and play our role in it.” As he speaks we are surrounded by art – local pieces collected and commissioned from Spanish and Gibraltarian artists such as Christian Hook. Youthful and passionate not only about his work and company but also about its broader role in society, he quickly erodes my earlier preconceptions about professionals in the financial sector. “I admit we are a little different from most others. Having worked for major financial institutions in different parts of Europe we’ve been there and done that for many years, but when we founded this company and sat down to establish the philosophy according to which we operate it soon became evident that ours would be a more personal, handson approach to the work we do.”
A great many wealth management firms provide a highly personalised service to their affluent clients, but while they exude professional dynamism the team at Hyperion have taken out the starchy corporate element. It is an approach that matches professionalism and know-how to an attitude that will see them take an active role in charity and cultural events rather than simply donating and sponsoring. “Our involvement goes a step further, whether it is about a community project, a very wealthy person’s asset management, or consulting rather more modest investors about their options.” The Hyperion Group offers financial products and invests on its clients’ behalf through its Hyperion Wealth Management division, yet it is not a typical financial firm whose primary role is to sell investment packages. “We offer people the very best and most suitable investment solutions available at any given point in time, and base them on a thorough ongoing analysis of each client’s exact risk/return profile,” says Head of Legal and Regulation, Patricia Risso. “However, our wealth management arm is primarily aimed at finding fully legal and transparent investment options that secure a family’s resources through the creation of income-generating assets that safeguard it now and for their children,” adds Vicente Mancheno, CIO of Hyperion Wealth Management and Manager of the Margaux Fund PCC Ltd through which the company’s funds are managed. Some clients will instruct Yan, Managing Partner Raymond Kirsche and their team to invest aggressively in the shorter term, and while they enjoy a challenge that takes them back to their earlier years in the business it is more the exception than the rule. “Our main remit is to look at the longer term and secure income that is safe and dependable,” indicating a clear preference
for income generation above speculation. Fully regulated, the company also gets very directly involved through its Family Office, which offers highly personalised services that can range from sourcing investments, artwork and properties to assisting in the establishment of businesses and even recruiting specialist banking teams for corporate clients. “This kind of ‘special missions’ service is usually restricted to real top-end clients, but we are also catering to more mid-range ones and it is working very well,” says Senior Relationship Manager, Frederic Ohana. Integrated, like all other divisions, into the company’s overall structures by COO Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, Hyperion Solution Partners is the vehicle through which the firm provides a consulting service involving art, real estate, due diligence exercises for large firms, analysing private equity deals for clients and initiating philanthropic projects and organisations. “We love to get involved, help to make things happen and then see if what was a charity yesterday can become a self-sufficient enterprise today,” says Yan. “Through Margaux Philanthropy we have been able to do just that with Gibraltar Productions, which is fast becoming an event organiser on an international scale, and we hope to do the same with other charities and cultural organisations too.” Hyperion’s contribution to the community has not gone unnoticed, but Yan would like to see Gibraltar become a European centre for charity organisations such as there are in the USA. “Don’t get me wrong, amid all of this we ultimately come from a financial background; we love what we do and we want to be the best at it, but our philosophy revolves around the principle that finance is the tool we use to achieve the goals our clients set, it is not the goal itself. If you’re a politician you may perhaps enjoy the world you’re in and its processes and traditions, but ultimately your ambition should be to use that system to work for your constituents. That’s the way we approach finance as well.”
g www.hyperion.gi, www.gibraltarproductions.com, www.christianhook.com
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THE LEISURE travel
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y nvelops m ndon e y l e t ia d heat immegrey and gloomy Loport, e s e in l a B m air tr y rt, the sul 23-hour journey fros linger outside the have a o p ir a r a s t of Denpa hange following a razzled. Taxi driver rice!” Thankfully, I s in the u o g in p p e St elcome c eyed and a little f miss, taxi? Good p re than 20 minute w a ’s t I . body me blurry , and call out: “Yespe the chaos. No motional streets. t f e l s a h t nd en ca th a ettes in hae and manage to es from Britain’s conv r a ig c h nd it w nk into a away for m s g d l in r unge to si it o lo a al a w n r o w l fo ti a e r g yin intern drive ady fe e tourists v r l Eclectic a , e t. n e re I li s fa a d n n ly n re su n d eave h the For a Far East a mix of h al fs watc veryone.
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s e a s on oral ree serve a g for e dishe s to d-clas s c eaterie s somethin rl n o a w si d ’s ly. e n a n re la si o a e e Is ere l Ind Indon e and Ita from loca junkie s th named th om Franc explored ; fr a e te e d th e b va ; rt ri e o ptly nick to p to ik p ks to h its own uce im koning ods than n boasts g prod volcano ed bec ve in tt e ll t o t s ro d of the G n e h s h ra it u le ig p e re sta cover w cond-h s of tem g lad On tors se ine to dis thousand eld. e s offerin , jungle -c us coastl vated visi o ty ti e p is a e paddy fi rg m c c o ri g s ’s s boutiqu a d u h u o b il li e d a U ta n rg B o d re -a , g n ks ; a e isle a born orth of There are surf brea across th know: as st in. hours w y s lo re ld lt y’ o t u rs il ia e o e m c m g p e sh p a fa to o I sp . us sh ring ntains seeking been my for years as featu is serio 3. mou se r those Bali has e 1 th sp , fo n s n li a a y n e a w a li il (i B I d h ra e w sinc rapy; M e an itional erience bred Aust stination ing trad Far the day exp long dation oliday de s includ ty to do. istic holi e ns have n n a ic o le a c c o mm o li d p rv a e e tr o s h beloved h s sh ls u a vi A g la ’s re n y it’s e re ti n h e a d n w a n m th , ; a villas. If is ench of Kuta , me !), In fact, ma s s a ge five -star d bustle y cas e y, ir with th n a s a the a d rg a ff li e e ly a o n h tl h e in s c a u g s ve li is cert tions, su pulsatin y Briton om the h a p a a o fr held a lo B w h , g it e w d in m to k n g a yak a thron the s ho o s e u’re see e streets of Semin Aus sie s c luxury yo island. In Tenerife, years th il regions e bars r u d o q ve si n fi a a h t rc c s tr o a a e ll e . p nd y b place lie th to Ma over the , ultra -tre ts and the top Bali, and g gu. Here b e come ing expa n p a s C venture to ip a h -s il le . ta cock stralians ne sian is em with ot for Au the Indo has te oliday sp li h a l a B n o – ti interna er why n o w o nd And it’s
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CHEN WS © Shutterstock.com
Dine like a king (or queen!) There’s no better reward following a hard day’s shopping (sigh) than dinner reservations at one of Bali’s hottest restaurants. After watching another stunning sunset at our local Robinson Crusoe beach, we don our newest threads and call a taxi to Sardine. Located next door to Seminyak in Petitenget, Sardine is the aforementioned restaurant that overlooks a pristine rice paddy field. With a gorgeous bamboo thatched roof, outdoor lanterns, lily ponds and lovely, welcoming staff, this is Bali at its best. We start with frozen raspberry and passion fruit daiquiris at the outdoor lounge area so we can admire the lush rice paddy field to its fullest. We’re then seated inside to delve into the menu and the mouthwatering dishes on offer. As its name suggests, fresh seafood is the star of the show at Sardine. For my starter, I opt for chilled lobster, asparagus and leeks topped with a lemony vinaigrette and for my main I can’t go past the steamed barramundi served in a banana leaf – how very Balinese! The ginger crème brûlée is the perfect end to a divine meal. If you prefer to dine by the beach, the options are endless in Bali. A host of fine dining restaurants line the edge of Seminyak beach and serve culinary delights from all over the world. For some of the best Italian food you’ll find outside of Italy with sweeping beach views to match, classy La Lucciola – just a short walk from Potato Head Beach Club – is a winner. Chez Gado Gado offers pan Mediterranean cuisine in a romantic setting and serves dishes, including grilled pork neck with corn fritters and pan-seared grouper with mango salsa. Breeze restaurant at The Samaya is another firm favourite among Seminyak’s food-savvy clientele and brings new meaning to ‘dining under the stars’. Although not boasting beach views, other fabulous local eateries include The Living Room and Sarong. But no holiday to Bali is complete without a trip to Jimbaran Bay, about a 30-minute taxi ride from Seminyak. A former fishing village set around a charming bay, Jimbaran is Bali’s seafood hotspot serving up the freshest produce on the island. For a pre-dinner tipple head to the Sunset Beach bar & Grill at the lavish InterContinental. If you fancy something really intimate, the resort also offers private beachfront dining in candle-lit tented canopies where guests can gorge on succulent seafood beside loved ones. It’s the ultimate Balinese experience.
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Say ‘Om’ During each of my 10 visits to Bali I’ve had two goals: to get a tan and relax. This trip is no different. Following Elizabeth Gilbert’s (Julia Roberts’) soul-searching journey to the region in the hit chick flick Eat Pray Love, Bali has become known the world over for its plentiful Zen-like offerings. The hippy heart of the island is found in the mystical mountains of Ubud, but you can find any number of soulful experiences all over.
To kick-start my morning, I drop into the eco village resort Desa Seni for a yoga class. Overlooking an abundant garden, the open-air structure of the studio is deeply relaxing and, within minutes of being in the Downward Dog pose, I’ve forgotten all about the worries of the world. It doesn’t get much better than this! Limber and relaxed postworkout, I head to Bodyworks in Petitenget to treat myself to a full body massage followed by a lovely soak in a flower-filled bath. By the time my 90 minutes are up, any lingering signs of stress have vanished. Bodyworks is the place to go for a great spa that’s cheap and efficient. If you want a more luxe experience, try the Ayur Spa at The Kayana or the SPA at The Samaya. Featuring a selection of elegant private villas, both The Kayana and The Samaya are superb places to stay during a sojourn to Bali. If you’ve come here on a romantic getaway, the Kayana is particularly fabulous. Book in for a romantic retreat package at the Ayur Spa with your
loved one and get pampered by a Balinese massage, floral footbath, citrus body wash and Jacuzzi. It’s important not to underestimate the power of a good beachside massage from one of the many Balinese women who roam the beach. At just $5-10, you can get a decent half-hour massage while you lay on a sun-bed shaded by an umbrella. Although they love to barter and have a tendency to hassle, the Balinese are some of the most gentle and friendly people you’ll ever meet, so give them a chance. A holiday to Bali can indeed be solely hedonistic if that’s what you want, but ultimately it’s the harmonious way of life on the island that makes it such a charismatic destination. The best way to experience this harmony is to interact with the locals and watch their daily routines, such as their simple yet devout act of making offerings to the Hindu Gods. That way you’ll get under the skin of the real Bali before returning home refreshed, rejuvenated and eager to return to this gorgeous island paradise.
Borobudur Temple
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Amazing view of the rice terrace field, Ubud
Mopeds and taxis whiz past as Made, my driver, transports me to my five-star villa, neatly tucked away in Canggu amid verdant green rice paddy fields and flowering frangipanis. You can live like a superstar in Bali and it’s not all that expensive. Stunning villas complete with in-house chefs, plunge pools, tropical outdoor showers and manicured gardens are commonplace in southern Bali and, these days, they’re the preferred style of accommodation among discerning travellers. I’m staying at Puro Blanco with a group of seven friends. The fourbedroom villa is an architectural delight with its elegant design and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. An open kitchen and living area create a relaxed and inviting space where guests can loll around the gorgeous lap pool that sits in the centre of the villa. The interior is all white: white cane sun-loungers, white curtains, white linen. It brings a touch of classic Mediterranean living to Bali. A five-minute walk from the villa and my friends and I stumble upon a Robinson Crusoe-style beach where we need to cross a centuries-old, rickety bridge to reach the ocean. The dark blue signpost reads: “max three people – don’t shake it”. I tiptoe across, holding on for dear life. It’s sunset: my favourite time in Bali. Barefoot, we walk along the beach towards Seminyak where more of the action takes place and find
our way to Ku De Ta, a chic bar and restaurant. Ku De Ta is the place to see and be seen in Bali. At this time of the evening tourists scramble for a seat, lounge or a patch of grass to sit and soak up the vibe at the beachfront bar, watching in awe as the sun slowly sinks behind the Indian Ocean. With its lush coconut trees and designer sun-beds, Ku De Ta brings sun-kissed holidaymakers together to sip delicious cocktails and tuck into exotic dishes with a strong Mediterranean influence. My friends and I join in. I order a lychee and rose martini from the extensive cocktail menu followed by a vanilla passion foam highball infused with fresh vanilla bean. After that, I begin to lose count. A visit to Ku De Ta is a must-do experience when you’re in Bali. In 2000 when the bar opened, it set the standard high for several other trendy drinking venues that began to pop up on the island, including the super glam Rock Bar in Jimbaran Bay and Potato Head Beach Club, which features three restaurants, a boutique hotel and another fabulous cocktail list. For a more laid-back sunset experience, La Plancha is a great option thanks to its oversized beanbags and ice-cold Bintangs (local Indonesian beer). When the sunset is as good as it is in Bali, it almost doesn’t matter where you are – as long as you have a drink in hand.
Sweet dreams are made of this
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Seminyak is a shopaholic’s dream. Many well-known international fashion designers spend several months a year on the island seeking inspiration and embracing the local craftsmanship. The Balinese specialise in embroidery, beading and printing, leading them to produce fabulous wares that sell for a fraction of the price you’d find outside of Asia. This has lead to an influx of highend boutiques setting up shop in Seminyak. Leaving our villa for a day of shopping, my girlfriends and I head straight for Jalan Oberoi, one of the main shopping strips in Seminyak. First stop is Shakuhachi, a popular Sydney-based label, where beautifully tailored garments with pretty details and bold prints don the racks. I pick up a bargain party dress for just $45. Next is French designer Magali Pascal’s boutique to sift through chic, edgy pieces inspired by the Parisian spirit. Having come to Bali from chilly London, I’ve brought no swimwear, so I pop into C Boutique to browse the beautiful bikini brands on offer, including the likes of Camilla and Marc, Zimmerman and Anna & Boy. SKS (Simple Konsep Store) stocks fashion and lifestyle items from designers across the globe and although prices are more expensive, it’s worth a visit. We stop to refuel at Café Bali and grab some lunch. A casual restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, the menu here is a mix of Western and Indonesian food with Dutch and French flavours. The décor has a lovely French feel, too. I order prawn dumplings, some freshly made sushi and a coffee – the perfect pick-me-up for more afternoon shopping. Next, we make our way to Jalan Kunti, another popular shopping drag. Allegra is one of my favourite boutiques here due to its elegant silk items, accessories, bags, shoes and fabulous holiday dresses. We also stop by Word of Mouth, a seriously cool concept store selling pop-up books, custom-designed furniture and original fashion pieces by designers such as Alice McCall. Shop 5, Toko and Hussy are also on our shopping hot-list. Bali is renowned for its fabulous leather goods, which you can get tailor-made on the island at a bargain price. Since I’m only here for a fleeting one-week holiday, I’m determined to put my order in for a leather jacket immediately. We hail a cab to Merry’s Collection on Jalan Padma Utara in Kuta – it’s my go-to shop for all things leather. I give the owner Aristo a cutout picture from a fashion magazine with the type of jacket I want. He tells me it’ll be $100 and ready to pick-up in five days. Despite running in and out of air-conditioned boutiques, it doesn’t take long before the sweltering Bali heat zaps our energy. We catch a cab back to our villa exhausted yet laden with bagloads of wonderful goodies. Success! e
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THE LEISURE hotel WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
The Barceló Estepona Thalasso Hotel
T
he Selenza Hotel and Spa was always known as one of the premiere spa destinations in the South of Spain and since it was taken over by the Barceló Group in June, it has been whizzed into the 21st century with important changes – it now boasts a youthful new decorative style and is officially an adults-only hotel. This makes sense; the sizeable spa (measuring over 2,000m2) is a health and wellness dream, with costly, cuttingedge machines ready to turn back the hands of time and a sophisticated circuit pool that is one of the few venues in Andalucía to bear sea water, sourced through the use of underground pipes that reach some 500 metres into the water. Adults deserve to enjoy this fully – that means spending two or three hours a day enjoying sensation showers and jet massages and receiving long, leisurely treatments comprising massages, scrubs, firming treatments and aromatic baths, without having to worry about rushing back for the little ones. The Hotel is, indeed, an ideal
choice for both tired businesspeople and coupes seeking to reconnect; it is also conveniently close to Marbella’s Centre (which is a short drive away) and equally near to luxury shopping and dining haven, Puerto Banús.
LET THERE BE LIGHT One of the most appealing features of the Barceló is the abundance of light in its interiors. A scarcity of concrete in its construction and a serious amount of glass, mean that everywhere you go, the sun goes along with you.
LIVING IN THE LAP OF LUXURY The rooms belie the Hotel’s four-star status; even Double Rooms have King-sized beds, with characteristic Barceló touches like Egyptian cotton sheets, snug bathrobes and a pillow menu that makes your stay a bit more personal. There are 92 rooms (83 Superior and six Deluxe rooms, as well as three Junior Suites), which
bear modernistic décor dominated by beige, cream and brown hues. All rooms boast beautiful views of the mountains and sea, though for a particularly precious al fresco experience, we recommend the Junior Suite, with its sizeable terrace and inviting sun beds (there is also an inviting private Jacuzzi on the terrace of one of the Junior Suites and two of the Deluxe rooms).
POSH NOSH As befits a hotel for adults, the Barceló offers guests a sophisticated dining experience at Restaurante Aguamar. The gourmet experience comprises an express tasting or more sizeable degustation menu, but guests can also opt for the ‘healthy menu’. In the warmer months, diners tuck into a hearty buffet, or select à la carte creations. The magnificent al fresco Aguamar terrace, filled with the flickering of candles by night, is peppered with peaceful statues of Buddha and refreshed by the surrounding greenery.
PEACE. QUIET. ZEN. WORLD OF SPA The path from the Hotel to the Spa is marked by art, music and the spirit of Zen. A lengthy wall bears stunning installation art made of various recycled materials and to the left, the outdoor relaxation area is very much Balinese in inspiration; long bamboo stems, Asian lounge beds and a tropical aquarium bearing exotic species take the mind to far-off lands. The walk towards the reception reminds you that you are entering another word, the aroma of raspberry, strawberry and vanilla awakening the sense of smell. The Spa has to be seen to 96 / MAY/JUNE 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM
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be believed; few others boast 35 treatment rooms or technology that is quite this cutting-edge. Machines like the Ultratone Future Pro or the Electroporator keep complexions youthful and bodies firm. Clients can also opt for traditional beauty treatments like hair styling, manicures and pedicure. A particularly popular room is the Sala Duo; specifically catered to couples, who delight in sharing a scrumptious cherry treatment. The bath is curiously futuristic, which is not surprising considering it has been designed by Ferrari. As I make my way through the different treatment rooms, I see that the spa offers absolutely everything the most sophisticated spa-goer could request; water jet treatment areas, two saunas, a Turkish bath, ice fountain, cold shower, pressotherapy room, and a host of high tech baths (like the renowned Niagara II and Jamaica), as
well as physiotherapy and even anticellulite treatment machines. Hedonists will also find their match here, at the stunningly designed ‘Zen Ritual’ rooms, reserved for treatments like the Cleopatra (where chocolate therapy is served) or Ocumare (home to luxurious treatments by Thalgo, featuring ingredients like vanilla). At the entrance to the Spa and around the Hotel, guests are informed of special offers, though treatments are refreshingly affordable. There is also a well-equipped gym bearing machines by Technogym. Flotation and chromotherapy baths really take the Spa into a league of its own. The Hotel is further a hot spot for business meetings and events, with three different conference rooms catering for 25 to 100 people. It is also an ideal venue for wedding receptions, parties and romantic evenings for two. Barceló’s newest ‘baby’ is certainly bridging the gap between wellness, health and pure, sweet leisure.
g CN 340 (Cancelada Exit), Estepona. Tel: 952 899 499. www.estepona.es 4/26/13 1:53 PM
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RESTAURANTS / REVIEWS / NEWS / WINE / CHEFS / GUIDE
Tempt your tastebuds at one of Gibraltar’s finest: The Waterfront. Give in to the full-bodied premium reds of Cádiz, enjoy the finest Scotch and have a fun night out at Quiz Kickers.
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The Waterfront
100 Premium Reds of Cádiz 102 Scotch Whisky 104 Quiz Kickers
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restaurant THE GOURMET
T
here can be few occasions to which the Waterfront at Queensway Quay doesn´t easily lend itself. If you want a smooth coffee on the quayside to start your day, pull up a seat. A hearty breakfast or brunch to follow? Fancy an ‘It’s just gone 12, why not?’ white with friends? It’s already chilled and waiting for you to say the word. And this is before we’ve even opened the different daily, snack, à la carte and summer grill menus available, or touched upon the parties, weddings or special occasions the venue can cater for and the entertainment evenings it hosts. Established over 18 years ago in this much sought-after marina, it’s no surprise that Gibraltar’s iconic bar-restaurant knows how to cater for its customers. And, with its corner setting it is able to do so over four areas: a terrace, lounge, restaurant and conservatory. And there is an upstairs too. The venue’s universal appeal is obvious on the early evening we go there to dine. At one table, a family sit down to eat in a comfortably childfriendly environment; at another, the students and skipper of a local sailing school gather round the course books to prepare for the following day at sea; and at the bar, a couple are sharing a wellearned bottle of wine after a day at work. We choose to eat in the conservatory, which is a spacious and airy contrast to the more intimate
interior of the lounge or restaurant, and a nice way to bring the outside in on an evening which is pleasant, but possibly a little too bracing for the terrace. Both the bar and restaurant have a an extensive and varied menu. Essentially, without being overwhelming, there is pretty much something for everyone with a good range of globally inspired starters, British classics alongside oriental flavours, homemade burgers and even a curry menu; there’s just the right level of variety to keep you coming back to try the one you ‘nearly got’ last time. Inspired perhaps by our proximity to the sea, all but one of the starters we ordered were seafood, comprising a rich smoked salmon with a herb and lemon mayonnaise, delicate green lipped mussels in garlic butter with a parmesan gratin, and one of the daily specials, delicious sautéed prawns with chorizo. The exception to our seafood selection was a wonderfully aromatic Chinese-style crispy duck, with the prerequisite pancakes and hoi sin sauce. Duck made it to our main course selection too, this time moving from Asia to a more European style of tender breast with wild berry jus, crispy sautéed potatoes and vegetable garnish. We also enjoyed a slow-braised, New Zealand lamb shank with creamed potatoes, the waiter’s excellent recommendation of sea bass with roasted cherry and tomato salsa, and a rare tuna steak served with the unusual, but inspired, accompaniment of noodles and a Thai-style sauce. Quite a combination of dishes and flavours, and all
testament to the variety and versatility of the menu. Neither did the desserts disappoint. Just one mouthful into the banoffee pie and we were in pudding paradise. The apricot sorbet was refreshing, tangy and incredibly full of flavour, the almond tart the perfect patisserie, and the ‘All Aboard’ banana boat a very indulgent way to travel... As for the wine list, the Waterfront is one of the first places on the Rock to engage with the soonto-be very popular Le Verre de Vin which allows guests to order fine wines by the glass. This rather excellent initiative, through some vacuum and resealing jiggery-pokery, allows the sommelier to cork and serve you from bottles that would usually be a (very) occasional drop. This ensures that the finest vintages and champagnes are kept well preserved in their bottles, and neither money, nor wine, is wasted by having to order more than is required. By way of example, only one of our party was drinking red wine. The excellent Emilio Moro he chose would normally cost £35 for a full bottle. By the glass, it’s (a still indulgent but much more manageable) £7.95. Vibrant and inviting, the Waterfront will always be a great choice. Whether you’re getting comfy in the sympathetically acoustic lounge, making a meal of it in the conservatory, or just sitting on the terrace appreciating the ambience change as the sun passes overhead and the sparkling daytime destination turns into a cooler evening scene complete with a serene, sail-silhouetting sunset, it’s a genuinely good space to eat, drink and be merry. e
Waterfront onderful
WORDS AMY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY JON SEGUI
g 4/5 Ragged Staff Wharf, Queensway Quay, Gibraltar. Tel: (+350) 200 45666, Fax: (+350) 200 45665 www.gibwaterfront.com G02 ReR Waterfront.indd 99
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THE GOURMET wine
Premium Reds in Bodegas Huerta de Albalá is located near Arcos de la Frontera in the Province of Cádiz, barely one and half hours away by car from Gibraltar and 40 km from Jerez.
Cádiz
WORDS ROCIO CORRALES, ANGLO HISPANO PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WINERY HUERTA DE ALBALÁ
FROM BARBAZUL TO TABERNER Nº1
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he bodega produces premium red wines which are classified as Vinos de la Tierra de Cádiz. We may be more accustomed to wines from the Rioja or Ribera del Duero regions, but Tierra de Cádiz red wines are really growing in stature… to think they are produced just around the corner from Gibraltar! The region is well known for its white and sherry wines, but its reds have placed Tierra de Cádiz firmly on the map of internationally recognised high quality red wines. In the year 2000, Vicente Taberner (a passionate wine lover and a man of great vision) bought some land with the aim and desire of producing high quality red wines in Andalucía. In 2002, the first vines were planted and in 2005, the bodega produced its first wines. This relatively young bodega has a winemaking philosophy that delivers wines which express purity of varietal flavour, show elegance of structure with soft tannins and are rich, powerful and complex. The estate consists of 91 hectares, 75 of which are planted with 60 per cent Syrah, 20 per cent Merlot, 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 per cent Tintilla de Rota (a local variant of Graciano) grapes. The wide variety of soils and privileged location within a special microclimate, generated by the proximity of the reservoir of Bornos and the mountain range of Grazalema (1600 metres), offer ideal conditions for growing high quality grapes. The grapes benefit from long, warm days and relatively cool nights during the ripening period. This dramatic change in temperature facilitates excellent phenolic ripeness and acidity levels. In addition,
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there is an unusually high average rainfall for southern Spain of around 900 l/m2 due to the Atlantic and mountain influence. “For an idea of the amount of rain this is, bear in mind that in Cambridge, the average rainfall is between 650 and 700 l/m2,” says Teresa Aumesquet, Export Manager of the bodega we visited with the Anglo Hispano sales team in March. The winery exports over 50 per cent of its produce to countries across the globe in Europe, the USA, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and Australia. From Barbazul, to Barbazul Rosado (just launched in January), Taberner and Taberner Nº1, the winery has taken home many awards. An impressive 88 points were awarded to Barbazul 2008 by The Wine Advocate; 88 points to Barbazul 2009 by Stephen Tanzer; 92 points to Taberner 2005 by The Wine Advocate; 90 points to Taberner 2005 by The Wine Enthusiast; 90 points to Taberner 2007 by Stephen Tanzer. The last-mentioned wine also took home the Gold medal at the Sommelier Wines Awards 2012, UK. The bodega’s winemaker, who has been involved from the beginning, is Dr. Milagros Viñegra, who comes from a wine-making family in Laguardia, Rioja, and whom I first met during my visit to the bodega a few years ago. The bodega’s logo, which appears on each label, shows the unique bond shared by Andalucía and the horse, a traditional and noble animal of elegant appearance. Associated particularly with this region, the Huerta de Albalá horse is taken from the equine figures of the Neolithic period. The agency behind its creation is Design Bridge.
BARBAZUL Z Year 2011 Z Grape Varieties 69 per cent Syrah, 14 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 per cent Merlot and 5 per cent Tintilla de Rota Z Alcohol content 14.5 per cent Z Retail price £5.95 Z Tasting notes Intriguing and with a complex nose – with aromas of red berries, fig and aromatic herbs. In the mouth, Barbazul is rich and powerful with leather, sweet spice and ripe red fruit. It has a balanced acidity, an impressive structure and a long finish. Z Production 350,000 bottles
BARBAZUL ROSADO Z Year 2012 Z Grape Varieties 100 per cent Syrah Z Alcohol content 14 per cent Z Tasting notes Bright deep pink colour with hints of violet. In the nose it offers floral aromas with notes of tropical fruits, roses and aromatic herbs. It is very lively on the palate, opulent, rich with intense fruit and a juicy finish. Z Production 30,000 bottles Z Retail price:£6.50
TABERNER Z Year 2007 Z Grape Varieties 60 per cent Syrah, 26 per cent Merlot and 14 per cent, Cabernet Sauvignon. Z Alcohol content 14.5 per cent Z Retail price £15.25 Z Tasting notes Very deep, inky, mulberry colour. It has a
full, rich, heady nose with plum, chocolate, spice, mocha and oak. A heady wine is one in which your nose can identify the high alcohol content. It has hints of roasted meat, leather and tar. Heavy with juicy black cherry and plum fruit, subtly brightened by perfumed redcurrants. Voluptuous and big but well balanced with rich fruit, acidity and oak. Z Production 90,000 bottles
TABERNER Nº 1 Z Year 2007 Z Grape Varieties 60 per cent Syrah, 37 per cent Merlot and 3 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. Z Alcohol content 15 per cent. Z Retail price £47.50 Z Tasting notes Dark purple in colour. Complex on the nose, this opulent wine expresses aromas of forest fruit compote, figs, plums, orange peel and herbs. In the mouth it is full and rich with plenty of red fruit, mocha, lively acidity and fine tannins leading to a persistent finish. Z Production 5,000 bottles
g Available at Anglo Hispano, 5/7 Main Street, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 77210, www.anglo.gi, www.huertadealbala.com 4/29/13 1:45 PM
Fine dining, Business lunch, Take-away We cater to your needs, be it a business lunch, a romantic dinner or just a quick bite on the way into work. Please call to book your table today.
Cafe Solo Casemates Square Tel: +350 200 44449
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Solo Express Casemates Square & Europort Tel: +350 200 62828
Solo Bar & Grill Europort Road Tel: +350 200 44449
#cafe-solo @sologibraltar
4/25/13 10:45 AM
THE GOURMET
History shows that alcoholic drinks follow more or less the same trajectory during their development. They start out as something made at home for private consumption, later being sold to neighbours and friends, and ultimately develop into commercial operations with bottling lines and delivery vehicles.
I
n the good old days before the Scottish distilleries and their customers were held to ransom by the excise men, whisky was usually drunk straight from the still. As demand increased, bulk storage became necessary and back then the only materials available were wooden barrels and stone jars. It became apparent that oak barrels had qualities not shared with other materials, and since English oak was not suitable as it cannot be sawn easily, most of the timber was imported from central Europe: France’s Limousin, and Spain’s Galician region. It is not recorded what caused the quantum leap which resulted in someone discovering that whisky matured in used sherry barrels was better than whisky matured in new barrels, but suddenly every distillery wanted old sherry casks. When I used to import sherry into England it always came in wooden butts. Empty barrels were cheap to buy, but when sherry started being shipped already bottled, the supply of casks dried up. A substitute had to be found. Bourbon must by law be matured in new barrels, so there was something of a glut in parts of the Deep South. The canny Scots distillers commissioned coopers in the US to manufacture barrels which they rented out to bourbon makers. This paid the cost of eventually shipping the barrels to Scotland – broken down into staves for reassembly in the distillery. While sherry barrels give the matured whisky a fruitier, rounder taste, old bourbon barrels impart a drier touch and lighter colouring. Like sherry, maturing whisky needs to oxidise, and oak casks’ ability to ‘breathe’ aids this process. Whether the maturing barrels are Spanish or American, the biggest one in use is known as the ‘gorda’. A whisky cannot be too old, but extended cask exposure can make it ‘woody’. Too little time and it will be aggressively alcoholic. Malt whiskies have the age quoted on the label, and this is the time they have spent in the cask. Like sherry, once bottled they will not improve. A 1960 whisky bottled in 1970 is 10-years old, no matter how long you keep the bottle before opening. The year of distillation should appear somewhere on the label, as should the year of bottling.
The Whisky-Sherry
CONNECTION Personally I am a malt man, preferring the subtle flavours of malted barley to the more familiar blends using grain whiskies. Malt whisky is made only from malted barley, water and yeast, and has been described as distilled beer. It is made in a pot still, while grain whisky is made in a patent or coffey still, with malted barley, unmalted barley, rye, wheat and corn. Both types must be matured in oak for a minimum of three years. Blended whiskies employ a variety of different malts and grains to achieve the final product and 95% of all scotch is sold as blended whisky, the price only varying according to the cost of the whisky used in the blend. The famous Chivas Regal is not, as many people believe, a malt whisky, rather a blend using expensive ingredients. So next time you see someone (who will never be Scottish!) ordering a Chivas and Coke, you don’t have to feel bad about it. What you can get steamed up about is the wrong way to drink a single malt. First, the glass. The perfect receptacle is the sherry copita, with its narrow opening. If you don’t have one to hand,
WORDS AJ LINN
a brandy snifter will suffice, or in emergencies the classical straight tumbler provided it is squat. Inhale the aroma and then add a little water – only a thimble-full. Good malts need some water, and to drink them neat or, even worse, drowned, is frowned on by true aficionados. Ice? Are you serious? Hopefully, having persuaded you to try a fullstrength single malt whisky, you should be aware that out of the 80-odd distilleries in Scotland producing this precious liquid, about half are in Speyside, south of Inverness. Every distillery’s product is unique, and while whiskies from this area tend to be sweet and fruity, the island malts, such as Islay, usually have a smoky taste. The variation is due to the different varieties of peat used to fuel the distillation, and since the taste is more pronounced in the islands, a highland whisky made using the same type of peat can taste like an Islay. Rather like when a manzanilla sherry is taken to Jerez becomes a fino… Never underestimate the Spanish connection.
g 18th May is World Whisky Day – see www.worldwhiskyday.com
26th May is World Sherry Day – see www.worldsherryday.com
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THE GOURMET featured
QUIZ KICKERS WORDS AMY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY JON SEGUI
at the Golf Box
“Where on the body,” the question begins, “would you find the olfactory organ?” And suddenly the hushed debate across the 12 tables of quiz teams commences.
F
or everyone who’s ever been to a pub, there’s someone who’s been to a pub quiz. A stereotypically British institution, it’s perhaps a lesser known fact that the pub quiz format, or ‘trivia night’ as the Americans would call it, is currently thriving across the globe. The enduring image however, is somewhat of a spit and sawdust set-up with scruffy answer sheets, ‘Chas and Dave’ throwback comperes and the inevitable confusion and ambiguity of the all important marking systems that vary from venue to venue. Who’d have thought then, that Gibraltar would be serving up something of a 21st century, multimedia pub quiz format that delivers everything you could want from a quick fire quiz, while removing all of the logistical nightmares such as the dreaded ‘stop-start’ music round, the impossible-to-decipher photocopied picture round and the obligatory, overtly complicated ‘bonus round’, to name but a few of the trappings and delays known only too well to the pub quiz regular. With a broader audience in mind, Gibraltar is willingly absorbing this testing ground for ‘Quiz Kickers’ (QK), a young company with two things on the agenda: enhancing the customer experience and increasing the business appeal of the old-fashioned pub quiz. The quiz is managed and compered in much the same way so as not to take patrons miles from their comfort zone, but the new, multimedia format of TV screens which display the questions as they are read out (and remain there until everyone is ready to move on) means that ambient noise, the age-old adversary of the quiz master, is no longer the problem it once was. The screens also enable
crystal-clear picture rounds, greater interaction, and the beauty of simply flicking back and forth if any teams need reminding of a question at the end of a round. It can be of benefit to the quizmaster too, as borne out when the question, “The port of Aqaba is located in which Middle Eastern country?” turns up in the Geography round. Following disagreement and heckles regarding his pronunciation, QK quizmaster Seth simply tells the teams, “That’s why we have the screens folks, so I don’t have to learn how to say it.” QK director Lawrence Ward explains how the concept came to life. “I was travelling in Australia when I noticed that Down Under they managed incredibly popular quiz nights – fully organised events but with no sign of any logistical hassle. They essentially brought a real sense of occasion to the event by hosting a fully supported quiz evening but leaving the bar tenders to their own affairs. This made me think that where perhaps Europe wasn’t ready for such a transition from the warm patter of their local barman, there was perhaps a gap in that a well delivered, simple, yet effective piece of technology could be introduced to the quiz evenings without detracting from the personal formula that has worked so well.” In another diversion from traditional quiz nights, Quiz Kickers charges no entry fees to the teams, taking instead a percentage of the additional custom earned by the bar where the quiz takes place. On this particular occasion (and where the quiz is due to take place every week for the foreseeable future) it was the Golf Box on Glacis Road, and for a Monday
night, it was absolutely heaving. The number of people taking part, according to the QK team, rises week by week in what Lawrence describes as a “snowball effect”. And in typically tongue-in-cheek fashion, he adds that, “It started as a cult following, but it’s too big for that now.” Drawing crowds of quiz-goers to venues which could otherwise be fairly quiet for a Monday night means it’s a popular format for the publicans too. And it couldn’t be easier to install. A 30 second download gives the venue access to the twice daily, multimedia quizzes which are plugged into the PA system (or any in-venue television hub), ready to be piped around the bar as soon as everyone’s sitting comfortably. It’s a slick operation, professional down to the smallest detail (the branded QK t-shirt worn by the quizmaster being no exception), but at the same time it has all the fun, banter, and competition of older-style quiz counterparts the world over. And, talking of the world, Aqaba (however you pronounce it) is located in Jordan. And that olfactory organ? Well, olfactory refers to the sense of smell, so a point for anyone who said ‘face’. Quiz Kickers nights are currently being held at the Golf Box, starting at 8pm every Monday evening, with free entry. i www.quizkickers.com
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theguide RESTAURANT LISTING / WHAT’S ON
RESTAURANTS/BARS ALL’S WELL BAR & RESTAURANT
EL PULPERO
LE BATEAU
SOLO BAR & GRILL
Unit 4, Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 72987
Unit 12A Watergardens, Waterport, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 44786
14 Ragged Staff Wharf, Queensway Quay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 66420
Unit 15, 4 Eurotowers, Europort Avenue, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 62828
AMAR’S BAKERY AND COFFEE SHOP
4 STAGIONI
LEK BANGKOK
TAPS BAR
1 Convent Place, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 73516
16/18 Saluting Battery, Rosia Road, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 79153
Unit 50 1/3, Block 5, Eurotowers, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 48881
5 Ocean Village Promenade, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 67575
BIANCA’S
GALLO NERO
LITTLE ROCK RESTAURANT & BAR
THEATRE ROYAL BAR & RESTAURANT
6/7 Admiral’s Walk, Marina Bay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 73379
56/58 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 77832
Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel +350 200 51977
60 Governor’s Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 51614
BISTRO MADELEINE
GATSBY’S
MAHARAJA INDIAN RESTAURANT
256 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 65696
1 /3 Watergardens 1, Waterport Ave, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 76291
5 Tuckey’s Lane, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 50733
THE CHARGRILL RESTAURANT AT GALA CASINO
BRIDGE BAR & GRILL
GIBRALTAR ARMS
MAMMA MIA
Leisure Island, Ocean Village, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 66446
184 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 72133
Unit C, Boyd Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 64444
BRUNO’S
IPANEMA
O’REILLY’S
Unit 3, Trade Winds, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 68444
Unit 11, Ocean Village Promenade, Gibraltar Tel: +350 216 48888
Leisure Island, Ocean Village, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 67888
CAFE ROJO
JUMPERS WHEEL RESTAURANT
PICCADILLY GARDEN BAR
54 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 51738
20 Rosia Road, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 40052
3B Rosia Rd, Gibraltar Tel. +350 200 75758
CAFE SOLO
JURY’S CAFE & WINE BAR
PIZZA EXPRESS
Grand Casemates Square 3, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 44449
275 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 67898
Unit 17, Ocean Village, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 500 50
CANNON BAR
KHAN’S
PIZZAGHETTI
27 Cannon Lane, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 77288
7/8 Watergardens, Waterport , Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 50015
1008 Eurotowers, Europort Avenue, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 63868
CASA BRACHETTE
KOWLOON RESTAURANT
RESTAURANTE NUNOS ITALIANO
9 Chatham Counterguard, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 48200
20 Watergardens III, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 42771
THE TRAFALGAR BAR
CASA PEPE
LA MAMELA
Caleta Hotel, Sir Herbert Miles Road, Catalan Bay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 76501
Unit 18, Queensway Quay Marina, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 46967
Sir Herbert Miles Road, Catalan Bay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 72373
ROOFTOP BISTRO, O’CALLAGHAN ELIOTT HOTEL
THE WATERFRONT
CHAMPION’S PLANET BAR & GRILL
LATINO’S DINER
Unit 2B, The Tower, Marina Bay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 46668
194/196 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 46660
Governor’s Parade, Gibraltar +350 200 70500
CHARLIE’S STEAKHOUSE & GRILL
LATINOS MUSIC BAR AND RESTAURANT
4/5 Britannia House, Marina Bay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 69993
9 Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 47755
CORKS WINE BAR
LA PARRILLA
79 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 75566
17/18 Watergardens, Block 6, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 66555
EL PATIO
LAZIZ
Unit 11, Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 75566
Sail 2.2, Ocean Village Marina, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 40971
ROY’S COD PLACE 2/2 Watergate House, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 76662
SACARELLO’S CAFE-RESTAURANT
Gala Casino, Ocean Village, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 76666
THE CLIPPER 78 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 79791
THE CUBAN 21B The Promenade, Ocean Village, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 67889
THE LANDINGS RESTAURANT 15 Ragged Staff Wharf, Queensway Quay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 66100
THE ROCK HOTEL RESTAURANT Europa Road, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 73000x THE ROYAL CALPE, 176 Main Street Tel: +350 200 75890 1a Rosia Road, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 45370 4/5 Ragged Staff Wharf, Queensway Quay, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 45666
TUNNEL BAR RESTAURANT Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 44878
VERDI VERDI
57 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 70625
Unit G10, International Commercial Centre, 2A Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 60733
SEAWAVE BAR
YELLOW HOUSE
60 Catalan Bay Village, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 78739
Parliament Lane, Gibraltar +350 200 48148/48248
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What’s On...
THE GUIDE what’s on Monday 6th to Friday 10th May Henry VIII Puppet Show
Organised by Rock Theatre, taking place at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre. Further information, angela.jenkins@ gmail.com
Saturday 11th May Awareness Day and Cycling for Charity
Raising funds for the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group, and Breast Cancer, five cyclists will be arriving at Casemates Square, having cycled from Fatima in Portugal, 10am to 4pm.
Monday 13th May Operation Tracer
Official launch of a DVD documentary directed and produced by Martin Nuza, the sequel to Operation Felix at 6.30pm, Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall. www.goldps.com
Monday 13th to Saturday 18th May Gibunga
A Llanito Musical Comedy by LOL Productions at Ince’s Hall Theatre. Tickets £12 on sale at the Nature Shop, Casemates Square from Tuesday 2nd April 2013.
Tuesday 14th May Bible as Literature
Thursday 23rd May Mind to Mind
Saturday 8th June Miss Gibraltar 2013
Organised by the Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society. 7.30pm, O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. Further information, Claus Olesen, Tel: 200 02024.
Saturday 25th May Arts & Crafts Market
Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th June Zarzuela – Doña Francisquita
Friday 17th May Spring Fiesta
Over 800 items for sale from pianos, PCs, projectors, office furniture to sports equipment, starting with a minimum bid of £1. Bids can be submitted on the auction day or online. www.auctionprovider.com
A talk by Charles Durante. 7pm, Garrison Library.
Wednesday 15th May Art lecture on Picasso, Man Ray and Max Ernst
Dance performance organised by Urban Dance, featuring special guests Academia Baile Eva, Metro Motel, Jujitsu Academy and the MMA Team. Tickets £12 on sale at the John Mackintosh Hall Ticket Office from Monday 6th May 7.30pm, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre.
Saturday 18th May Classic Car Rally
9.30am, Casemates Square. 2.30pm, Ocean Village.
Saturday 18th May Stand Firm CD Launch.
Band Corps of Drums of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, organised by Joe Brugada. All proceeds for RGRA Benevolent Fund and GHITA. 10am to 1pm, Lobby of Parliament.
Saturday 18th May Museum Open Day.
Free entrance at the Gibraltar Museum, Bomb House Lane, 10am to 6pm.
Saturday 18th May Camino de Gibraltar
A pilgrimage walk in Gibraltar through all Roman Catholic churches in aid of GibMission Africa. Teams of 20 to walk from Lady of Sorrows, Catalan Bay, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. To register a team, contact Richard Bear, Tel: 5400 8765.
Tuesday 21st May The History of Gibraltar in Five Parts
The second in a series of lectures on the history of Gibraltar and how it shaped the Rock today, by the Gibraltar Museum. Dr. Darren Fa will be speaking on The History of a Fortress. Free entrance. 7pm, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre.
Thursday 22nd to Friday 7th June Spring Art Exhibition
10am to 10pm, John Mackintosh Hall Exhibition Rooms. Free entrance. Official Opening and Prize Giving, Wednesday 22nd May at 6.30pm.
Organised by Levi Attias, with all proceeds to RICC, AKIN and Childline. Tickets £10 on sale from 8th April by emailing 501@gibnet.gi, 8pm, The O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel.
10am to 3pm, Casemates Square.
Monday 27th May MoD Auction
Thursday 30th May Celebration of Opera
Organised by the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society, featuring soprano Elena Gorshunova. Tickets £20 on sale from Sacarello’s Coffee Shop (£10 for senior citizens and students). St Michael’s Cave, with a shuttle bus available at 8pm from Eliotts Way and Public Market.
Friday 31st May Spring Festival Acoustic Night
Featuring Stephen Mclaren and Adrian Pozo of Area 52, and Nolan Frendo and Christian Hook of Mr. Darcy. Tickets £5 at the venue. 8pm to midnight, Bayside Sports Complex. Further information, Tel: 5400 5729.
Saturday 1st June Buddy Walk
£5 per family, £10 per team, £1 per individual (and £1 per student in school teams). 9am to 3pm, Casemates Square. Further information, Tel: 5789 6000/ 5800 8801.
Saturday 1st June craft & collectors fair
At St Andrews Church, from 10am to 2pm. Serious collectors, gift buyers and bargain hunters welcome. Stalls available for £10, including table and cloth. Tel: 5402 3166.
Friday 7th June Pink Floyd Tribute.
Rock Concert by J2 Productions. Tickets £10 on sale at Music Corner & Euphoria, or £15 on the door at 8.30pm, Ince’s Hall Theatre. Further information, Tel: 5402 5517.
Saturday 8th June Parade of the Pipers
Sea Scouts, Corvera Band, Brisas De Asturias, 11am to 11.55am, John Mackintosh Square. At 12 noon, march from the Lobby of Parliament House to Casemates Square with the Re-enactment Society. 12.30pm, Casemates Square.
Miss Gibraltar 2013 pageant, organised by Stage One Productions at 9pm, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre. Further information, info@stageone.gi
Organised by Santos Productions. Tickets £5 from the John Mackintosh Hall Ticket Office from Tuesday 28th May, 10am to 2pm. Sale of tickets limited to 10 per person. At 8pm, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre.
Tuesday 18th June The History of Gibraltar in Five Parts
The third in a series of lectures on the history of Gibraltar and how it shaped the Rock today, by the Gibraltar Museum. Geraldine Finlayson will be speaking on The History of a Port. Free entrance. At 7pm, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre.
Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd June The Gib Fringe
Gibraltar’s first ever Fringe Festival being held at the Alameda Botanic Gardens and the Open Air Theatre. Fourday event, featuring bands, buskers, musicians, comedians and artists. www.gibfringe.com
Saturday 22nd June Pramathon
BabySTEPPs are hosting Gibraltar’s first ever Pramathon event. Participants of all fitness levels are welcome, plus older children who want to walk. Begins at 10am. www.babystepps.com
Friday 21st June Czech Out Our Dances
Prague Dance Festival Presentation, organised by Transitions Dance Academy. Tickets £7. Further information Academy, 8.30pm, Ince’s Hall Theatre. Tel: 200 77758/ 5401 4395.
Saturday 22nd June Gibraltar Spring Festival: Festival Finale
Calentita – Tastes from the Melting Pot A celebration of Gibraltar’s multicultural community, organised by Word of Mouth for the Ministry of Culture, including a spectacular acrobatic and dance musical, 8pm to 1am, Casemates Square.
28 June to 30 June Gibraltar Darts Trophy
See the world’s top darts players. Tickets available from Tercentenary Hall, King’s Bastion, Ministry of Culture or www.seetickets.com/go/ gibraltardartstrophy. Sessions from 12 noon to 12 midnight, Victoria Stadium.
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