Essential Marbella Magazine June 2012 by Essential Magazine

FREE MAGAZINE - COSTA DEL SOL N º156 - JUNE 2012

essential essential marbella® magazine ISSUE 156 • JUNE 2012

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

Gibraltar

SPECIAL

benchmark

Bentley

CONTINENTAL GT V8

HANNIBAL

LAGUNA

HAUTE COUTURE

MONTSERRAT

CABALLÉ

EXCLUSIVE

MISS

Gibraltar 2012

BEACH

gibraltar rock solid

dining

N E W S I C U LT U R E I P E O P L E I T R E N D I S T Y L E I S P A I P R O I L E I S U R E I G O U R M E T & M O R E

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1983 by the Fá bric aN ac i on

Issue 156 • June 2012

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PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

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At the end of 2011, the largest national association of publishers, the Asociación Española de Editoriales de Publicaciones Periódicas (AEEPP), selected Marbella Magazine as the Best Free Publication in Spain. Over 100 titles were considered nationwide in only a handful of categories for these prestigious annual awards and was proud to accept the limited edition medal as its prize at the awards ceremony in Madrid. This is a wonderful recognition for all the hard work put in by the team over the past 13 years and the perfect inspiration for them to continue to bring you a high quality publication every month that is always entertaining and informative.

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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 The People

Montserrat Caballé Exclusive 20

The Trend Films 24 DVDs 26 Music 28 Books 30 Gadgets 34 The Bentley Continental GT V8 36

The Focus Gibraltar: A Curious Contradiction 40 The History of Gibraltar 46 The Governor of Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns 52 Miss Gibraltar, Jessica Louise Baldachino 54 Head of Business Development at Jyske Bank, Nicholas Wright 56 Gibraltar: Hitting the Headlines 58 Gibraltar: The Best of Both Worlds 60

The Style 64 Décor: Patricia Darch Interiors 72 Fashion Feature: Hannibal Laguna Summer 2012 Collection 82 Gibraltar Fashion Week 84 Fashion News 86 All About Kids

The Spa 90 Beauty: Bronze Perfection 92 Beauty News 94 Health: Organ Donation and Facebook 96 IVF-assisted Pregnancies by Dr. Georgina Bagella of Hospiten 98 Advice from Dr. Mark Lane, Chiropractor 100 Advice from Shivani Mair, Life Coach

The Pro 102 Enterprise 110 The Residential Property Market in Gibraltar 114 Gibraltar: A New Horizon for Stable and Tax Efficient Property Investment 116 Finance: Gibraltar – An Onshore International Finance Centre 118 Will the Euro Survive in Spain?

The Vibe 120 Who’s Who and What’s Up in the Marbella Social Scene

The Leisure 130 Gibraltar Tourism 138 The Caleta Hotel, Gibraltar

The Gourmet 145 Puro Beach 147 Max Beach 148 Food News 150 Restaurateurs on the Move: Michel and Paul from Girasol 152 Wines Served at Royal Occasions

The Guide 154 Listings

The Blog 166 Kids Zone 167 Pet News 168 What’s On in June

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publisher’s letter WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL

hile Spain languishes in the doldrums, a small British overseas territory which is an isthmus of the Iberian peninsula is booming! We’re talking about the famous Rock of Gibraltar, which, in economic terms, is as solid as a rock! It has managed to attain global recognition as a centre for tourism, finance, legal and insurance services and, in recent years, international gaming. In this issue, to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, we follow up last month’s focus on Málaga with an in-depth look at Gibraltar. Find out how it is bucking the trend by prospering during a pan-European recession and enticing high net worth individuals with a new residency status and accompanying tax advantages. It is also attracting over 10 million visitors annually, including tourists, business travellers and those who wish to marry on The Rock. If you are visiting Spain and have never been to Gibraltar, you will see what a curious contradiction it is, being like a little part of Britain a long way from home. It might be modest but it has been of immense historical significance, standing proudly over the entrance to the Mediterranean, as one of

the Twin pillars of Hercules. We feature interviews with the Governor of Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, Nicholas Wright of Jyske Bank and with the new Miss Gibraltar, Jessica Louise Baldachino, who also graces this month’s Front Cover. Read about Property and Finance on The Rock, Gibraltar Hitting the Headlines and the recent first Gibraltar Fashion Week. June will also see a landmark on the coast, with Montserrat Caballé performing at the Children for Peace Gala at the Hotel Puente Romano – don’t miss our exclusive interview with the iconic superstar. These are just some of the highlights you will find in this action-packed edition of monthly reading. Enjoy!

ientras España vive uno de sus peores momentos económicos, un pequeño territorio británico, istmo de la Península Ibérica, está experimentando un verdadero boom. Hablamos del famoso Peñón de Gibraltar, cuya economía está fuerte como una roca. Gibraltar es reconocido por su gran oferta turística, financiera y legal, por sus empresas de seguros y, desde hace poco, su industria de apuestas. Este mes, coincidiendo con las celebraciones Diamond Jubilee (60º aniversario de la Reina de Inglaterra), nos centramos (como hicimos el mes pasado en Málaga) en un sitio: Gibraltar. Descubrimos cómo se ha mantenido alejado de la crisis, atrayendo a inversores de alto nivel con un nuevo estatus de residente y con ventajas fiscales. Gibraltar recibe unos 10 millones de visitantes anualmente, incluyendo turistas, empresarios y parejas que desean casarse allí. Si estás de visita España y nunca has estado en Gibraltar, descubrirás que es un sitio de muchos contrastes; es como estar dentro de un pequeño trozo de Gran Bretaña, aunque estemos muy lejos de casa. Puede

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que sea pequeño, pero tiene mucha importancia histórica, por su posición a la entrada del Mediterráneo. Gibraltar es uno de los pilares gemelos de Hércules. Hablamos con muchos personajes del gremio social, financiero y social: con el Gobernador de Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns; con Nicholas Wright de Jyske Bank y con la nueva Miss Gibraltar y portada de nuestra revista este mes, Jessica Louise Baldachino. También econtrarás muchos artículos sobre el mercado inmobiliario y financiero, las noticias más importantes que han tenido lugar en Gibraltar y la Semana de Moda de Gibraltar, que tuvo lugar recientemente. El mes de junio también será importante para la Costa del Sol, ya que Montserrat Caballé nos deleitará con un concierto en la gala benéfica Children for Peace, en el Hotel Puente Romano. No te pierdas nuestra entrevista exclusiva con la soprano. este mes, Esperamos que disfrutes leyendo y que encuentres muchas horas de entretenimiento entre sus hojas.

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THE FOCUS people

On June 23, Marbella will have the chance to witness a live performance by Spain’s best-known soprano: Montserrat Caballé. The diva will be singing at a fundraising concert in aid of The Children for Peace at the Hotel Puente Romano, alongside her daughter, Montserrat Martí and Russian tenor, Nikolay Baskov. This month, Marisa Cutillas brings you an exclusive interview with the diva with a heart as mighty as her legendary voice.

Sings for The Children for Peace at the Hotel Puente Romano

or many, she is the grand diva of classical music; the best pianissimo voice in history, the strong, decided artist famed for possessing equal measures of character and joviality. One of the most delightful anecdotes about Montserrat Caballé was told by Dame Joan Sutherland, who recalled the day when the former brought her a bouquet of flowers. When Sutherland uttered, “Oh, flowers for the diva”, Caballé responded: “No, flowers FROM the diva”. Sutherland describes Caballé as being delightfully funny and full of life though, without a doubt, the anecdote belies Caballé’s great love for music, the art form she has dedicated her whole life to. “People talk about Callas’ Norma, Caballé’s Mimi, but what is important is Bellini’s Norma and Puccini’s Mimi… I am not now, nor have I ever been, a diva… I am only Montserrat!” she says. Montserrat talks about music as only one who lives and breathes it, can. In the documentary Caballé: Más Allá de la Música, she says, “Music is the only form of expression which does not arise from thought, if not from feeling. When you sit before a piano and you start to play it, the music seems to be vitamins which enter into your

Cabal l é

bloodstream and explode, moving through your entire body”. Montserrat recalls being enraptured by music since the age of six, when she would listen to old records. As a young girl she once sang an aria from Madame Butterfly at a Christmas concert in Barcelona, “singing without the words because I didn’t know them”. That moment made her

her great success to her parents’ sacrifice and determination. Montserrat began her studies at the Conservatory of Music in Barcelona under the great Eugenia Kenny, but was forced to leave owing to a lack of finances. It was then that a light shone from the horizon, in the form of the wellto-do Bertrand family of Barcelona, avid followers

parents sit up and take notice: their little girl had a great talent which merited formal training. Montserrat grew up in a loving home, but her family knew what it was like to struggle financially. She recalls walking along the breakwater on the Barcelona port with her father as they dreamed of sailing to the Americas and she always credits

of the arts who financed the rest of Montserrat’s studies. When Montserrat was 16, she recalls that the Bertrands invited her to a concert by soprano Kirsten Flagstad. It was a defining moment: “I’ll never forget that day,” she says, “When (Flagstad) began singing, I was impressed and filled with terror at once. The power of her

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Tell us about your involvement with Children for Peace I’ve performed for them many times; Children for Peace fulfills an important task, helping children in poor countries where hunger, misery and illness are rife. I’m delighted to be taking part in an event that doesn’t just entertain people, but also supports such important work.

Your daughter, Montserrat Martí and Russian tenor Nikolay Baskov will also be singing. Can we look forward to any duets? We will be certainly be performing duets; in a recent concert in Los Angeles I performed together with Michael Bolton and it worked beautifully. voice, the excellent intonation, the surprising style… I told my teacher that I would never be that good. She told me I shouldn’t compare myself to her, that Kirsten Flagstad’s was one of the most extraordinary voices in the world of opera, but that I should wait until I was around 25 for my voice to reach its full capacity.” Her teacher was visionary indeed, since by the time Montserrat was 23, she had already made her debut in Switzerland, singing with the Basel Opera for two years and subsequently with the Bremen Opera, in Germany. Her international breakthrough arose in 1965, when she substituted an indisposed Marilyn Horne in Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia at New York’s Carnegie Hall, receiving a 25-minute standing ovation from the public. Another defining moment was her July 20, 1974, performance of Puccini’s Norma at the Thèatre Antique d’Orange (the performance can be viewed on YouTube and is simply compelling). Since then Caballé, now aged 79, has gone from strength to strength, playing over 80 operatic characters, ranging from the Barroque period right through to Verdi, Wagner, Puccini and Richard Strauss, and even dabbling in rock music with Freddie Mercury during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games. Montserrat is also a loving wife (her husband is tenor, Bernabé Martí, whom she met while both were performing in Madame Butterfly) and mother and she fervently supports the youth, lending her name to an important singing competition that takes place in Barcelona every year. She has also served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and created her own foundation for underprivileged children in Barcelona and continues to perform both professionally and for charitable causes around the world. This month, she shares her precious time with us and speaks about her life, plans for this year and involvement with Children for Peace.

Are children’s causes a weakness for you? More than a weakness, I see it as a duty. Those of us who have been able to live, not necessarily in luxury, but without experiencing hunger and suffering, have an obligation to help those who aren’t so lucky.

Is it easier or harder to break into the world of opera for young singers today? I would say it is much easier. Back then there were very few theatres and institutions dedicated to teaching the youth. Today there are many directors who choose upcoming singers as well as more established ones, to give young people a chance.

Tell us about the International Montserrat Caballé Singing Competition It is a competition for young singers who come from all over the world. A jury decides the winner, while I teach Master Classes to the participants.

You speak five languages; do you use them with your young students? I do, but we understand each other anyway because music has no frontiers. Music penetrates you because you love it and you feel it. Languages dominate people but not where music is concerned. Whether it is Arabian, European or African music, it moves people and this union opens fountains of communication.

When you were young you dreamed of one day singing the operas Kirsten Flagstad did. At what point did you feel that you had finally achieved your greatest dreams? Kirsten Flagstad was unique. I would never compare myself to her, but I did follow a similar road to hers (though she was very ‘Wagnerian’). Like her, I managed to enter this difficult world and to be respected, all the while dedicating myself to serving music to the best of my artistic and vocal abilities. I never dreamed of becoming ‘somebody’; I think I can look back and say that I’ve done the right thing by music; that I have been faithful to it. I’ve always respected composers more than anything; I always kept in mind that I was only a servant of their work and that my aim was to bring their original message to the public. I stayed true to my values and in doing so, I realised that I had reached my ultimate goal.

Has music been the love of your life? Music has been my ideal, my devotion, my surrender but my family is sacred and what I feel for them can’t be compared with music or with anything. The devotion involved in creating a family, loving your husband, being faithful to him and living for your children, is unique.

What music do you listen to in your free time? Haydn (his music gives me peace) and Bach (his music makes me feel the birth of rhythm, of a seduction that develops into a state of ecstasy).

What are your plans for this year? I have performances lined up in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Many are benefic, because there are people around the world being mutilated, going hungry and undergoing conflict and they need all the help we can give. e

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM JUNE 2012 / 21

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e t i s b e W New r u o t i s vi

m o c . e n i z a g a m l

a i t n e s s www.e ultra design 速

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thetrend READING / MUSIC / FILMS / GADGETS / MOTORING / TRENDS

Summer is just around the corner and that’s as

Films

good an excuse as any to take a few days off

Home Viewing

to lose and once again find ourselves in

Music

the riveting world of film, music and books.

Books

Now more than even it’s hip to be square once

Gadgets

more, so raise your ‘chic geek’ factor by stocking

Cars: The Bentley Continental GT V8

up on the hippest gadgets around.

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trend CINEMA

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

E MONTH e BLOCKBUSTER OF TH

Rock of Ages » GENRE Musical/Comedynkman (Splitsville) » DIRECTOR Adam ShaRussell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones » ACTORS Tom Cruise, been s, then you’ve probably already s and you grew up in the 1980 now can If you’re an avid fan of musical atre the didn’t make it to the ay or the West End. Those who adw Bro on s Age of the k Roc ned see to the film’s script was pen by screen, with an added bonus: big the on ical mus ular pop pt scri catch the Arienzo (who wrote the original ic Thunder fame) and Chris D’ uates grad ege talented Justin Theroux (of Trop coll nt rece eles in 1987, where action takes place in Los Ang the by ed and book, Rock of Ages). The eris ir love story, charact ing it big in show business. The Drew and Sherrie dream of mak , Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted ugh the music of bands like Styx thro told is , love ng you of st typical ang foray into the musical genre film marks Tom Cruise’s first The . few a e nam to , Asia Sister, Poison and sure. and shows his talent to full mea

» GENRE Comedy/Drama » DIRECTOR Lawrence Kasdan (The

» GENRE Thriller » DIRECTORS James Mather,

» GENRE Romantic Comedy » DIRECTOR Tanya Wexler (Finding

» ACTORS Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline,

» ACTORS Guy Pearce,

» ACTORS Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh

Accidental Tourist)

Stephen St. Leger (Prey Alone)

Dianne Wiest

Darling Companion

Lawrence Kasdan is known for being a great Director of the emotions, capturing the complexity and irony of human relationships in classics like The Accidental Tourist. A lesser known fact is that in addition to directing, he also wrote the scripts for these films and other big hits such as Wyatt Earp, The Bodyguard, The Return of the Jedi, and now, Darling Companion, the story of an ageing couple. Beth and Joseph (played by Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline) are forced to question their relationship when their daughter gets married and leaves the family nest. Their problems are intensified by the loss of Freeway, a dog adopted by Beth, who has come to be ‘the most important person’ in her life. Worst of all, it’s all Joseph’s fault, since he was taking the pooch for a walk when it ran away. As Beth recruits friends and family to help her find Freeway, her sense of loss awakens her to deeper sources of unhappiness.

Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare

Lockout

Those who love great acting always approach a new Guy Pearce film with a sense of expectation (I know I do). The talented actor, who made his start in Aussie soap Neighbours and showed off his acting chops in alternative films like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Memento, is good at comedy but spectacular at drama, particularly in roles that call for maximum intensity. A heavy dose of the latter is to be found in his latest film, Lockout. Pearce plays Snow, an innocent man accused of treason. Snow is promised impunity if he successfully rescues Emilie, the daughter of the President of the USA, who has been taken captive by rebellious prisoners in a maximum-security prison.

North)

Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones

Hysteria

In this day and age It might be hard to believe, but in ancient times as well as more recent ones, the female reproductive cycle and sexuality were linked to everything from physical illness to mental disease and it was only with the advent of feminism that the lopsided logic of many so-called ‘scientific premises’ was exposed. Hysteria takes us back to the 19th century, when Dr. Joseph Mortimer Granville invented the first electric vibrating machine to treat what was then referred to as ‘feminine hysteria’. The symptoms of this ‘disease’ included insomnia, liquid retention, muscular spasms, irritability and loss of appetite… sounds more like the symptoms of putting up with a hugely patriarchal society!

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Page 1 C

CY CMY

Committed to values 3

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3 // Menara Playa Estepona, modern duplex penthouse,

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a German architect, fantastic views to the Mediterranean Sea, south-west orientated, unique interior designs, outside lounge area, under floor heating, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, plot 1.305 m², 315 m² built, EUR 2.700.000,-

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DAHLER & COMPANY Marbella Bulevar del Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n CN-340 km 178,4 La Pôveda, Local 1 // ES-29600 Marbella, Málaga Tel. +34.952 777 664 // Fax +34.952 777 827 marbella@dahlercompany.com // www.dahlercompany.com/marbella

Composite

trend HOME VIEWING

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Puss in Boots

» GENRE Animation

» DIRECTOR Chris I don’t know about you but I’ve been Miller (Shrek) feeling all Shreked-out lately. I loved » VOICES Antonio the first film, relishing in the mockery Banderas, Salma Hayek, made of much-beloved fairytale Zach Galifianakis characters like Prince Charming, the » IMDB 6.8/10 Gingerbread Man and Pinocchio. Shrek 2 was a little less original, featuring the jolly green giant trying to come to terms with being a new Dad while dodging twisted versions of characters like the Fairy Godmother or the Three Little Pigs. But Shrek 3 just seemed a little too familiar and I vowed not to give in and see the fourth installment (whenever it appears, which it undoubtedly will). So when I heard that Puss In Boots (based on a character from Shrek) was doing a roaring trade at the box office, it was with a bit of trepidation that I made my way to the cinema to see it. Much to my surprise, it turned out to be a thrilling and incredibly funny experience, with charismatic new characters like Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek) and Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) making for an extremely tense, action-packed experience which merits a permanent place in your home viewing library.

LEASE OF e FEATURED DVD RE

THE MONTH

» GENRE:

Comedy/Drama

» DIRECTORS:

Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano (Those Happy Days)

» ACTORS:

François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny » IMDB 8.4/10

One Day

Intouchables

ding an inventory of As I get older, I find myself buil d three, to see when DVDs I’d like my son, now age rything from golden eve he is older; the list contains dramas and films like s, edie com t oldies to independen because it embraces Intouchables, hard to classify is quite unlike anything many genres and because it ject matter, but sub I’ve seen, not because of its feel. Intouchables was me e mad it because of the way e on a shoestring budget a surprise box office hit, mad 5th highest grossing film but managing to become the film is based on the The of all time in French history. een a middle-aged betw ip dsh true story of the frien and a poor young man tetraplegic with money to burn for 1970s disco music. from the suburbs with a passion tiny gives way to des r, hte Despair is turned into laug spirit of music the by d ace repl is free will and inertia any adult who values and movement. I don’t think not to see Intouchables; good film-making can afford . iece it is no less than a masterp

» GENRE Romance » DIRECTOR Lone Scherfig

(Italian for Beginners) » ACTORS Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess » IMDB 6.7/10

One Day is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by David Nicholls. It tells the tale of Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess), who meet the evening they graduate from University on July 15, 1988. Emma is a working-class girl with dreams of making it big, while Dexter is an upper-class Lothario whose plans don’t go much further than enjoying his privileged life. The film follows Emma and Dexter on the same day, July 15, over the next 20 years and we share their highs and lows and marvel at a love story as complex as it is beautiful.

» GENRE Action » DIRECTOR Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum)

» ACTORS Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo » IMDB 7.2/10

Real Steel

Based on the 1956 short story Steel by Richard Matheson, Real Steel is set in the future, at a time when boxing matches between high tech, larger-than-life-sized robots, are all the rage. Charlie Kenton (played by Hugh Jackman) is a former fighter trying to make a living by competing in illegal matches with his own robot boxers, without meeting much success. His luck changes when he finds out that a past love has died, leaving him with a son who is as mad about robots as his father. Father and son rummage for scraps of an old robot which they painstakingly restore, building a machine and a bond that are difficult to shatter. 26 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Outstanding Villa for sale situated first line on the golf course in Gualdamina Baja. Just 200 meters from the beach and 150 meters to the Hotel Guadalmina. This Villa has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The master bedroom enjoys two dressing rooms and two separate bathrooms. The plot is 3.022m2 and the total built area is 1.018m2 plus a 168m2 terrace and a 90m2 overflow saltwater

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trend MUSIC

¿QUÉ PASA?

WORDS RIK FOXX

R&B artist NE-YO, who recently had a UK number one single, Let’s Go, with CALVIN HARRIS, has been drafted in as Vice-President of Motown with the purpose of trying to get it back to “its initial prominence”. The iconic soul label, which was founded by BERRY GORDY in Detroit back in 1959, was the ‘pulse of young America’ during the 60s and spawned the likes of the FOUR TOPS, the TEMPTATIONS, the SUPREMES, STEVIE WONDER and SMOKEY ROBINSON.

The new Baby BIEBER album, Believe, is released on June 19 and features a track about the girl who last year claimed he was the father of her baby. Back then she wanted him to take a paternity test. He was said to have been scared about taking the test as he hadn’t revised for it. On a recent trip to London to promote the album he had a hissy fit and was criticised by the UK press for apparently being “charmless”. Expect more tales of tantrums as he is going on tour in the near future.

RISING MERCUtRY t FREDDIE BRIAN MAY has announced tha

TULISA, who had a UK number one with her debut single Young last month, has been voted by an established UK lad mag as the ‘sexiest woman in the world’– yeah PC World – due to the amount of computers that logged on to her ‘sex clip’. The 23-year-old says she wants to pursue an acting career – well she’s had six of her 15 minutes of fame with the aforementioned video. The former N–DUBZ singer will be performing a Balearics double on June 26 when she plays at Mallorca’s BCM Square in the afternoon before flying over to Ibiza in the evening to perform to 4,000 at Eden.

QUEEN guitaris of appearance at the 10th MERCURY will make some form We Will Rock You. The ical mus the anniversary show of ear as ‘an optical illusion singer, who died in 1991, will app gram similar to the one of holo a be of sorts’ but it will not lla Festival in April. Have you TUPAC SHAKUR at the Coache out on YouTube – it’s spooky it ck che seen that clip? If not who was gunned down in seeing the resurrected rapper living SNOOP DOG. still the by e 1996 joined on stag

For the past three years, BBC 4 has been turning the time dial back 35 years every Thursday, showing original editions of Top of the Pops – and some of the music back then was audio assault to the eardrums. But in June 1977, a wind of change blew in a breath of fresh air when the punk / new wave explosion sparked some much needed energy into the charts. The likes of the STRANGLERS and THE JAM appear on this month’s shows, and in the first week of July a video of the SEX PISTOLS with Pretty Vacant should be aired. Also BBC 4 and Radio 6 Music mark that musical revolution with the Punk Britannia series, which starts at 22.00 on June 1.

Regular Costa concert player GEORGE BENSON is returning to Marbella as part of the four and a half week long 14-concert Starlite Festival charity event, which takes place between July 13 and August 14. The jazz funk legend will perform at La Cantera de Nagüeles, the quarry located in the heart of Sierra Blanca, on July 14. Other acts include SUPERTRAMP founding member ROGER HODGSON (16th); US singer CHRISTOPHER CROSS of She’s Like The Wind fame (27th) and actor HUGH LAURIE with a blues/jazz set on the 29th. The Spanish take over in August with MIGUEL BOSE (August 11); the one and only JULIO IGLESIAS (August 10); RAPHAEL (August 11) and the established girl popsters ESTOPA will close the festival on August 14. At the time of going to press there were still seats available for the MONTSERRAT CABALLE Children For Peace charity gala at the Puente Romano Hotel, Marbella on June 23. She will be joined by her daughter / fellow soprano MONTSERRAT MARTI and the Russian tenor NIKOLAY BASKOV. And on June 26, US rapper PITBULL is scheduled to perform at the Auditorio Municipal de Málaga.

i To find you nearest ticket outlet go to www.ticketmaster.es and punch in the artist you require.

It’s seems like it’s a case of one step forward and two steps back for STEPS as things are not going according to plan (except for a much needed boost to bank balances). They originally split in 2001 because they didn’t get on – well lightning seems to have struck twice. The fly-on-the-wall TV series Steps: On The Road Again has followed them around and someone who was daft enough to watch it told me it has not been all wine n’ roses. Maybe Sky Living could make another series, Steps: On The Dole Again!

28 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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25% discount until 15th of June 2012 in Santos-leather in all sofas

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trend BOOKS

In line with our theme of the month, we bring you a list of magnificent reads inspired by The Rock and its people.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

1 IMPRESSIONS OF GIBRALTAR BY PETER BOND (TEXT) AND GRY IVERSLIEN (PHOTOGRAPHY)

Words are capable of describing a land’s magic but photography slices right to the heart, transporting us to places we had only imagined. Impressions of Gibraltar is a beautiful book offering engaging written information and impressive photography, focusing on Gibraltar’s vast history, exotic landscapes and visual majesty, as well as offering a special glimpse into the little details that make it such a unique place. Discover beautiful old museums you may not have known existed; bathe in ancient tradition at the 14th-century Moorish baths; visit one of the most luxurious villas in Gibraltar; walk along the Old Town or have a coffee in Irish town…

5 THE HUMANS WHO WENT EXTINCT: WHY NEANDERTHALS DIED OUT AND WE SURVIVED BY CLIVE FINLAYSON

2 GALLIANO

BY COLIN MCDOWELL How could an edition on Gibraltar not contain some entertaining reading on one of its most talented sons: John Galliano? The fashion designer, who was born on The Rock in 1960 and whose family moved to England when he was six, was head designer of French haute couture house Givenchy (1995 to 1996) before moving to Christian Dior (1996 to 2011) and eventually heading his own fashion house. For many, Galliano is fashion’s enfant terrible, a true visionary whose personality and passion for history is always present in his groundbreaking creations. In Galliano, Colin McDowell opens a window to the designer’s meteoric rise to success, with interesting anecdotes provided by colleagues and friends. The book also features Galliano’s own sketches and plans for his one-of-a-kind fashion shows.

3 HISTORIC WALKING GUIDES GIBRALTAR BY TRISTAN

CANO

Gibraltar is compact in size so there are few better ways to discover it than on foot. Author Tristan Cano suggests eight themed walks to choose from. The book covers Gibraltar’s most interesting sites, both natural and historical, covering the Upper Rock Nature reserve, the history of the Royal Navy, Gibraltar’s defence fortifications, its Moorish past and much more. Maps, estimated times of routes and distances are clearly indicated, and there is a host of interesting information on museums and historically significant buildings, as well as top restaurants and hotels.

4 THE SAILOR FROM GIBRALTAR BY MARGUERITE DURAS

This haunting story of love and obsession was only recently translated from its native French into English by Barbara Bray. It begins with the book’s narrator, who works at the birth and death registry with his fiancée, where he is resigned to a fate of boredom and dissatisfaction. His life changes when he meets a beautiful young widow who spends the majority of the book searching for her lover, known as The Sailor from Gibraltar. The couple travels together, fighting their growing attraction because they do not wish to fall in love again, despite the fact that all they really need is each other.

Did you know that Gibraltar was once home to groups of Neanderthals, the last of which died out in caves nearby, some 28,000 years ago? Clive Finlayson has written an exciting account of how the Neanderthals lived and died, revealing that far from being ignorant and dim-witted, their culture was probably similar to that of our own ancestors. Additionally, he rebuts the assertion that the Neanderthals were driven to extinction by the arrival of the slimmer, more quick-witted humans from Africa, posing a number of possible alternative causes for the demise of the former, including migrations and above all, climate change.

30 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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trend BOOKS

WORDS ROD YOUNGER

Books4Spain 1 RAFA: MY STORY BY RAFAEL NADAL & JOHN CARLIN

Price: £4.99 with FREE UK shipping No tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He is a rarity in today’s sporting arena – a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. This autobiography, written by Nadal with award-winning journalist John Carlin, includes memorable highlights such as winning Wimbledon 2008 and completing a career Grand Slam after winning the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010. This book gives Nadal’s millions of fans what they’ve been waiting for – a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes Nadal – an intensely private person who until now has never talked about his personal and family life.

BIO

GR A

PH Y

All books featured are available from www.Books4Spain.com SP OR T S

N OV E L SPAN CULTUISH RE

2 LA ROJA BY JIMMY BURNS

Price: £9.99 with FREE UK shipping The author of a best-selling biography of Diego Maradona, looks at how football played in Spain became the most admired in the world. The book takes us on a journey from the early days when a few enthusiasts developed their talents kicking a ball around on a piece of industrial waste-ground, to the emergence of rival giants, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, and a national team that became the World Champions. Discussing some of the extraordinary characters, games and moments that have come to define Spanish football, the author shows how the engagement of foreigners with home-grown Spanish talent overcame political adversity and produced football of sublime skill, passion, and unparalleled entertainment value.

5 WAITING FOR ROBERT CAPA BY SUSANA

3 FLAMENCO, AN ENGLISHMAN’S PASSION

FORTES

BY TONY BRYANT

Price £12.99 (with promo code FAEPJUNE) and FREE shipping to UK and Spain This book studies the roots of flamenco, its evolution and forms, and explains the difference between the traditional flamenco performed by non-professionals and tablaostyle flamenco. It also identifies and discusses the principal performers of traditional flamenco and provides a fascinating insight into this much misunderstood art form. You need to encounter the spontaneous, raw emotion of pure flamenco instead of the commercial flamenco that dominates today’s scene. It is wonderful to see the emotion on the face of someone performing with intense enthusiasm, especially if they touch your soul while the song rises from your feet and your emotions are churned from the depths of sorrow to the heights of ecstasy.

N OV

4 THE SPANISH GAME

BY CHARLES CUMMING

Price: £4.99 with FREE shipping to UK and Spain A vivid and gripping novel from “the master of the modern spy thriller” (Mail on Sunday), which sees Alec Milius coaxed back into the secret world to face the uncontainable danger of 21st century terrorism. Even after years spent escaping the past and rebuilding his life in Madrid, Alec still possesses a fatal attraction to secrets, and when a prominent politician mysteriously disappears, he is lured back into the spying game. Only this time he operates without the protection of any official agency – isolated and expendable, with nobody to turn to if things go wrong. And they soon do. But when Alec is confronted with the nightmare of modern terrorism, he is given one last chance for redemption.

Price: £4.99 with FREE UK shipping A gorgeously written English Patientstyle novel about the real-life romance between war photographers Robert Capa and Gerda Taro. After meeting in Paris in 1935 they begin a life marked by love and war. Both Communists, Jewish, exiled, and photographers, they change their names in order to sell their work more easily, and travel to Spain and begin to document the Spanish Civil War. Until tragedy ultimately befalls them, theirs is a romance for the ages. Set to be the next film by award-winning director Michael Mann (Public Enemies, The Insider, Collateral), Waiting for Robert Capa is a moving tribute to all journalists and photographers who lose their lives showing us the world’s daily transformations.

32 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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trend ELECTRONICS

LOEWE CONNECT ID TV Personalise your TV with Loewe, selecting from various inlay colours, screen formats, external colours and materials, to suit the look of your home. i www.loewe.tv

Past

BEEWI BBH100 HEADPHONES For a cable-free musical and phoning experience, few headphones are quite as trendy as the new BeeWis. They work with Bluetooth technology and hook up instantly This month, we’ve delved into the fascinating your mobile history and culture of Málaga and it hasto put us or music offering a 25-hour in a rather nostalgic mood, inspiring usplayer, to go shopping for gadgets that remind us oflistening timesexperience. i www.bee-wi.com

DREAMING OF THE WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

CUBE™ HOME 3D PRINTER This 3D printer was all the rage at the Consumer Eletronic Show 2012 and the good news is you can already reserve one for yourself for approximately €1.000. There are many designs to choose from, including jewellery, shoes, toys, phone covers and decorations. i www.cubify.com

gone by. Bring the magic of your childhood back to your home with some of these cool items.

CHERRY ZF 5000 HIGH PRECISION LASER MOUSE Cherry’s newest wireless mouse boasts a 10-meter reach (2.4GHz), an optional precision of between 800 and 1600 dpi and a fourdirection wheel. i www.cherry.de

Marisa Cutillas brings us a selection of the latest musthaves for the chic geek.

SAMSUNG SERIES 7 GAMER Samsung’s third-generation, Intel Core processor laptop for gamers now boasts the new i7 chip (2.3GHz), a 16GB RAM memory and GeForce GTX 675M graphics. i www.samsung.com

SONY VAIO T13 This is Sony’s first Ultrabook, weighing only 1.6 kilos. It boasts a 1366x768 pixel resolution, 33.8cm screen and hybrid (hard disk and SSD) storage system totaling 352GB. i www.sony.com

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trend MOTORING

Just a few years ago, if you’d asked about fuel economy in a Bentley showroom you would be politely ushered towards the door. Because if sir needs to ask such things, he simply could not afford the car. Now, economy and emissions are all the rage, even in this rarified world of luxury sports cars… and Bentley’s new V8 might just go on to be the future of the British legend.

TO AU

BIOGR APH

PRICE: €136.000 ENGINE: 4.0 V8 TWIN TURBO POWER: 500BHP 0-100KPH: 4.8S TOP SPEED: 302KPH

entley brought a select crowd to the North of Spain to share the good news over a glass or seven at the Rioja vineyard with the new Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marques de Riscal in Elciego. This impressive building cuts a metallic swathe through the near-Mediaeval skyline and ably represents the Bentley ideals of modern day engineering married to 90 years of motoring heritage. The factory is a very different place to the one founded by Walter Owen Bentley in 1919. For a start, the marque is now owned by the VW Audi Group, which turned round an ailing manufacturer and made Bentley cool again. Suddenly, footballers and rappers, not just golf club members, were beating a path to the door. The Continental GT was the main reason, appealing to a younger audience that wanted a luxury car that behaved like a fullblown sports car when required. The car was launched with a six-litre, 12-cylinder engine in 2003, but even that was a different time. Offering most of the performance of the bigger W12 with a 40 per cent reduction in

emissions, the V8 could well represent the leaner, cleaner future for the legendary firm from Crewe, England. It’s a development of the engine that serves in Audi’s S8 and features direct injection and the ability to shut off valves to effectively become a fourcylinder, two-litre on a gentle cruise. It’s almost comical that an iconic sports car can effectively become a 250bhp snail when required and emit just 257g/km overall. But a hefty shove of the throttle brings those sleeping cylinders back to life in a heartbeat and, driven hard, it becomes the equal of its bigger sibling, and perhaps a touch more.

36 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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At full bore, the four-litre V8, ably assisted by a pair of turbos, pumps out 500bhp and that is more than respectably close to the 567bhp W12. This means it can propel the Continental GT to 100kph in 4.8s and on to a top speed of 302kph, which is more than fast enough. The smaller engine means the overall kerb weight falls by 25kg, too, which doesn’t sound so much, but the extra weight is shorn from the front of the engine and weight distribution is much-improved. The new car comes with a newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission that helps exploit the new power plant. This is no simple downsize, it’s a complete rethink of Bentley’s biggest seller and the start of our test drive is a trip to the Navarra Circuit to reveal at least two pleasant side effects of this blitz on emissions. The bigger 12-cylinder might be slightly better on the straights, but this supposedly lesser machine is simply brilliant in the corners – so much so that the engineers opted for a more sporting set-up for this car. Somehow, in the quest for reduced emissions, Bentley has unleashed a whole new sporting dimension with reduced weight and much improved balance. OK so it does still weigh in at 2,300kg, making it far from a flyweight, but Bentley has always

down well in advance of the bend and then power through it, allowing the car to lean all over its fourwheel-drive, take the strain of its own weight and then fire through the bend. It’s way more fun than a luxury coupé has any right to be, that’s for sure, and myself and another rogue journo loiter round the pits as the programme comes to an end and dive back into the car for a stolen few extra laps to really throw the big Bentley at the scenery. Then there’s the noise, which is simply fantastic. The engine might be Audi-sourced, but Bentley has spent a long time tuning it to ‘burble, howl and growl.’ It’s a brilliant soundtrack, menacing and old school with barely a hint of turbo whine intruding past the plush leather. But let’s be honest, anyone with the money for a Continental GT has the cash for a more suitable track car. Having ably demonstrated the cornering skills of the big GT, Bentley sent us out on to the public roads for a varied route into the mountains and on to the high speed, sweeping highways that led back to Lograno Airport for the journey home. As I snake up the mountain winds, the snow on the road makes for those treacherous, slippery conditions we all dread. There is simply no way to prepare for the road ahead and it is here, perhaps surprisingly, that the Bentley comes into

the car just cuts through the ice underfoot while I enjoy the warmth coming from the heated seats. The convertible GTC also comes with an air scarf. That means you can drive hood down in Arctic conditions if you so choose. I did. And on that cabin, it’s one of those wondrous places that simply never gets old. There are signs of Bentley’s assimilation into the VW-Audi way of thinking and lots of vaguely recognisable switchgear. There is even perhaps a touch too much visible plastic on show in some of the cars, but Bentley has so many interior options that you could still turn the cockpit into a palace. There are other cute touches that more than make up for that too, like that pure ostentatious gear selector standing proud and the embroidered seats, which tell anyone who couldn’t quite get it from the exterior that this is a car of distinction. The leather, stitching and attention to detail are all simply perfect, too. Those Bentley virtues have remained undiminished in 90 years. As for the external design, the only differences between the W12 and the V8 are a black front grille, subtly reshaped exhaust tips and red Bentley badging. Only a fellow owner will smoke you out, in other words. Even if they do, there is little room for goading as the V8 costs just a fraction less than the W12. On a basic design front, the Continental GT was the car to bring the company into the 21st century and when it came to the recent redesign the makers opted for a subtle evolution. It doesn’t matter. The big, bluff nose, muscular flanks and haunches are still a masterpiece in car design and the Continental GT is one of the few cars that looks fast at a standstill. And there is simply nothing that looks like a Bentley in its price range. Look for natural rivals and there’s the Aston Martin DB9, Maseratis and perhaps the more expensive Ferrari FF, but the Bentley is still inimitable, still unique and with the Asian market especially embracing the heritage, culture and style of the brash Continental GT, it is going to sell in spades. The times they have changed at Bentley and now the only real question is why, how long and if the W12 will stay on the market at all now that this brilliant, supremely accomplished and much more efficient car has arrived. Fuel economy just got cool. e

BentleyContinental

WO RDS AND PHO TOG R

its own. Despite entering tightening bends with too much speed on the clock, the big GT never feels wrong-footed or challenged. It also never feels underpowered, as the eight-speed gearbox means it’s always in the power band and there’s so much torque that a gentle tickle on the throttle inevitably means lifting a few seconds later as I glance at the speedo with a mild sense of disbelief. With the traction control in its firmest setting,

APH YN ICK HAL L

V8 CONTINENTAL DRIFT been brilliant at hiding weight and with its fourwheel drive system it holds the line through the faster bends like a genuine sports car. It’s simply unbelievable how good this car is through the sweeping 150kph left-hander that forms the circuit’s biggest test of nerve. In the slower bends, that weight makes itself felt in a big way, with the car fighting even with the optional €7.600 ceramic carbon discs and nosing wide. It’s better to slow

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thefocus CULTURE / HISTORY / FEATURES

FAMOUS PEOPLE / INTERVIEWS / HUMOuR

How is it possible that while the whole world is

Gibraltar: A Curious Contradiction

in the throes of recession, Gibraltar is boasting

The History of Gibraltar

a thriving economy, zero unemployment and

The Governor of Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns

countless good reasons for a visit? Find out

Miss Gibraltar, Jessica Louise Baldachino

more about the history, culture and

Head of Business Development at Jyske Bank, Nicholas Wright

Gibraltar: Hitting the Headlines

Gibraltar: The Best of Both Worlds

appeal of Gibraltar, from the financial, entrepreneurial and tourism perspectives.

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THE FOCUS gibraltar

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Gibraltar WORDS AMY WILLIAMS

A Curious Contradiction

If we were to speak of a place totally isolated from the trappings of today’s daily global meltdowns, yet still liberated from the shackles of the 20th century by all of today’s technological conveniences; a place where the ‘credit crunch’ was nothing more than a source of cereal-based humour, you would consider it unique at least. A place so rich in culture, flora, fauna; steeped in such a history, it has seen its shores both defend and concede countless invasions across the annals of time. A place that stood as the last bastion for Neanderthal Man before Homo Sapiens (you and I) ruled our earthly roost. A place so demographically diverse that even genealogists struggle with the melting pot of this small society’s varied and numerous cultural sundry. What if we were to say that this place was a land of only 6.5 square kilometres and housed only 30,000 inhabitants? And that this has-it-all location is in fact a British overseas territory?

lthough, to describe Gibraltar as ‘British’, doesn’t really paint the picture. Where it does tout fish and chip shops, red telephone boxes, double decker buses (which used to drive on the left until this was quickly abandoned after mass confusion at the border) and bobbies on the beat as part of a finely tuned tourist package, this small Iberian isthmus also boasts picturesque fishing village beaches, amazing natural and man-made caves and tunnels, wildlife as diverse as funnel-web spiders, Griffon vultures and even wild, Barbary Apes (the only place in Europe which can claim them as an indigenous species). This all takes place on an imposing chunk

of Jurassic limestone formed around 200 million years ago overlooking both Europe and Africa, that stands over 400 metres tall. We have affectionately come to know this megalith as ‘The Rock’, but it also harks back to names such as Mons Calpe, Jebel Tariq and of course, it is one of the Pillars of Hercules that looms large over the Straits of Gibraltar. One cannot help but notice that this is a land filled with both subtle and obvious contradictions across a range of all geographical, sociological and cultural divides. Shrewd, global investment bankers walk shoulder to shoulder with Moroccans, Spaniards and Jews, all soaking up this vibrant and involving atmosphere, while cruise ship passengers and day-visitors are

enticed by the duty free concessions available on a large range of produce, alcohol, tobacco and electronic goods. Even on the approach to The Rock from the Andalucian sunshine, it remains (ironically) the only part of the Iberian peninsula to wear a near permanent cap of cloud, cynically reminding people of its ties with Britain. As the warm eastern (or levanter) wind sweeps across the Mediterranean, the moisture it collects then crashes into the broadside of the Rock, which is subsequently pushed over the summit and cools to form a sometimes insignificant, sometimes utterly soul-destroying, individual microclimate of the levanter cloud, lonely in a sea of Spanish blue skies…

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: The Europort Building: Home to the capital of online gaming

Euros or pounds? Take your pick in Gibraltar

The monkeys are one of Gibraltar’s greatest treasures

Does this then sound like the sort of place where you would find one of the most important fiscal hubs in Europe? In fact, Gibraltar was the first European jurisdiction to be recognised as an offshore banking paradise, and it has since attracted many wealthy investors looking to speculate in a beneficial location. It has singlehandedly developed an unrivalled location for offshore gaming businesses, targeting regions on a global scale that maintain a tactical advantage owing to favourable trading conditions set out by the Gibraltarian government. The once flourishing merchant businesses centred along Main Street now make up a small part of the economy, as banking, gaming and tourism have taken over as the major players, employers, and inland revenue for the peninsula. When it became clear that Gibraltar had a considerable size issue that could perhaps hamper its overwhelming growth, the answer was simple – build more land. Since then, The Rock has grown outwards as more and more land is reclaimed from the sea, resulting in acres more office space and leisure facilities including shopping centres, car parks, sparkling marinas, bars, restaurants and a large casino, all typically overlooking the shimmering waters of the Bay or Med. These more recent developments have caught the eye of the rich and beautiful as investors move their money onto The Rock to claim their slice of this financial safe haven. Buying property in a stable economy with an opulent lifestyle both plugged in and switched on is proving pretty tough to ignore in the current economic climate, and the local climate here is very inviting. It is small wonder then, that Gibraltar is a place full of these curious contradictions when permanent residents include people from Britain, Andalucía, Genoa, Malta, Morocco, India and beyond. Side by side one will find cathedrals,

catholic, Church of England and Anglican churches, mosques, synagogues, Jehovah’s witnesses, a Hindu temple and even a Church of the Latter Day Saints all squeezed together in this small hub of southern Europe. The locals have even developed a unique and curious dialect (known as Llanito) which is an impressively high speed blend of Andalucian Castellano and colloquial English that is almost ‘sung’ to the listener. While it is enough to confound even the most experienced linguist, it is testament to the undeniable levels of hospitality and acceptance shown by the Gibraltarian people towards their long-stay guests that the language is integrated in such a way. Equally, both euros and sterling are accepted unequivocally along with other broadly recognised currencies, such is the familiarity with outsiders to the land. The place even has two national anthems. The Rock is an attractive proposition whatever your preference. There are nightlife options that, quite literally, span the territory, while also spanning the spectrum of personal taste. Many of the bars and restaurants stay open late and feature regular live entertainment through the week: bands, DJs, live sport, karaoke, you name it. But alongside these trendy hotspots one will still find peace and quiet in discreet, understated watering holes, restaurants and dedicated social clubs for those that prefer a little less pace. There is a choice of two marinas which are in stark contrast. One is decidedly loud and lively including a staple Irish bar, a chic nightclub and a 24-hour casino and sports bar, while the other is a peaceful and refined affair with beautiful, resting yachts that kiss the bar-lined boardwalks. All depending on your mood, the two sides of the coin are available to all and yep, you’ve guessed it, you can walk from one to the other. Of course, let us not forget the cuisine. Taking inspiration globally, you are not left for wanting

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A picture paints a thousand words...

ls e tunne g ie s t a e The gr

Dining al fresco

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...

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Tour! k c o R op First st

Monke

olp he d t d love

Last s top in Europe

Visit Gibraltar y busin es

a vibrant destination that combines the spirit of the Mediterranean with British tradition.

For further information contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board: GIBRALTAR OFFICE Gibraltar Tourist Board Duke of Kent House Cathedral Square Gibraltar

UK OFFICE

T:+ 350 200 74950 F:+ 350 200 74943 E: information@tourism.gov.gi

T: +44 (0) 207 836 0777 E: info@gibraltar.gov.uk

You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. facebook.com/visitgibraltar

@visit_gibraltar

Gibraltar is a bustling city, tourist attraction and home to thousands

Touches of British tradition abound in Gibraltar

when considering your dining options in Gibraltar, which boasts everything from fine dining, pub grub, tapas, Indian, Chinese and Thai, open air meat and fish grills, steakhouses, to of course, all the staple franchises such as McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and Pizza(s) Hut and Express. You are also constantly reminded of Gibraltar’s naval history with significant masonry that has simply changed purpose over the years, and Casemates Square probably stands as the most famous example of this switch in utility. The armoured ramparts, which are now restaurants, pubs, bars and shops, were once part of a large scale munitions and supplies storage facility, and the square itself played host to regular military ceremonies (some of which are lovingly recreated to this day) and even, gruesomely, the odd public execution. More recent developments to this unique and once very necessary infrastructure include the King’s Bastion development. This a large and impressively fortified structure that originally served as a significant gun mount supporting the westerly defences. Today, it houses a two screen cinema showing the latest blockbusters, a multi-lane, state-of-the-art bowling alley, an arcadia, pool hall, restaurant, nightclub, and even Gibraltar’s very own ice rink! This is seriously not what you expect when you enter the foreboding arches, with their memories engrained into the stonework; if walls could talk... This is just another demonstration of one clear consistency in all of these quirks and contradictions: where Gibraltar does not stand idly by dwelling on the past at the expense of the future, it is keen to weave respectful memories into all that it develops. With all of this in mind, the most significant

contradiction of them all is the fact that Gibraltar has virtually no natural resources other than the sea itself, no real source of fresh water and no agricultural land. Although, this has not been enough to dissuade dozens of ancient civilisations including the Egyptians, Phoenicians, Romans and Moors, from wanting to keep Gibraltar under their respective control. Its position on the Straits at the mouth of the Atlantic has given it a strategic advantage to all that have dominated its shores. Indeed, despite the irrefutably lavish options for all who live, work and visit The Rock today, until very recently, one would have known it as more of a military outpost; a ‘garrison town’ if you will, under the watch of the wary British army, protecting their shared claim with the Gibraltarians themselves from the envious eyes of the Spanish (many of whom still believe Gibraltar to be rightfully theirs). The Gibraltarian people are a proud and passionate race, and while they have a clear and distinct identity of their own, they are also proud to be known as British Gibraltarian, voting almost unanimously to remain a part of Britain in two referendums. Gibraltar and its social infrastructure set an example to the rest of the world as to how a simple and successful format of tolerance and acceptance can, despite our potentially contradicting views and opinions, enable us all to live, work and relax in harmony. Its burgeoning financial and social success, against all odds one could argue given its relatively diminutive size and lack of natural resources, clearly demonstrates the fruits to be borne from this stance. Gibraltar, filled with curious contradictions, has embraced a practical balance that really can please all of the people, all of the time. e

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THE FOCUS gibraltar

The Rivetting

Hi sto ry of Gibraltar WORDS AMY WILLIAMS

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For such a small place, Gibraltar packs a hefty historical punch. Over an area barely half the size of Heathrow Airport, civilisations have settled, battles have been fought, sieges have been laid, deals have been done and debates have raged. History abounds on and around The Rock. But to understand this history is to understand the rich cultural cocktail which is Gibraltar today, and the pride with which its population of 30,000, whose ancestry includes among others, Spanish, British, North African, Genoese and Maltese, all unite to declare their nationality as ‘Gibraltarian’.

ake the Rock as a starting point – it being, after all, quite hard to miss. Remains found here suggest that this 426m-high, limestone mountain was once a shelter for the Neanderthals, who existed in Gibraltar for what the Gibraltar Museum estimates to be around 100,000 years. In fact, had the importance of the female skull discovered in Gibraltar’s Gorham Cave in 1848 been recognised and announced to the scientific community of the time, it would have preceded that of the discovery of the male skull in Germany’s Neander Valley and the species could instead have been classified with a reference to Gibraltar. Further up the Rock stands a monument to the mythical Pillars of Hercules, which the Greeks believed to be Gibraltar at the north, and the Ceuta mountain, Jebel Musa at the south. When the Phoenicians arrived in the area 3,000 years ago, they perpetuated the myth of the Pillars and furthermore, that beyond them lay unimaginable horrors. While this deterred competing traders, the seafaring Phoenicians sheltered from the eastern levanter wind in the Bay of Gibraltar (or, Bay of Algeciras, depending on your stance) before setting off on journeys around the coast of Spain and on to Britain; not into the jaws of certain death, but rather to valuable resources of tin. When the Phoenician influence declined, Carthage took the area, but this presence was not to last. In a struggle with Rome for supremacy, with both superpowers realising the strategic importance of Gibraltar as the gateway to the Mediterranean, Carthage was destroyed in 146 BC, and the Romans went on to occupy Algeciras and the surrounding area. There they remained for almost six centuries. They named the Rock ‘Mons Calpe’, a term familiar throughout Gibraltar today. The reason we now know it as Gibraltar, is a result of the Moorish conquest in 711 AD. With designs on the Iberian peninsula, the Moors, led by Commander Tarik Ibn Ziyad,

invaded Mons Calpe and renamed it Jebel Tarik (Tarik’s Mountain). Over time, this evolved into ‘Gibraltar’. Despite the Moors occupying Gibraltar for almost eight centuries, relatively little remains as evidence of their stay. The tower of a Moorish castle still stands on The Rock, visible on the approach to Gibraltar from Spain, and dating back to the fourteenth century; and the elegant, well-preserved bathhouses, over which the Gibraltar Museum is strategically positioned, are a fine example of Moorish construction. It took Spain six centuries to win Gibraltar back and when eventually they did, in 1309, they only held it for a precarious 24 years. After a bloody, four month siege in 1333, the Moors recaptured it and saw the Spaniards off for a second time. Spanish forces waited another century to reattempt the capture, but this time they succeeded, with the Duke of Medina Sidonia claiming Gibraltar for Spain in 1462. Queen Isabella eventually annexed Gibraltar to Spain in 1501. With this, she granted Gibraltar its present-day coat of arms – the Castle and the Key, seen flying proudly throughout Gibraltar on its flags today, and bearing the inscription ‘Seal of the noble city of Gibraltar, the key of Spain’. Gibraltar remained Spanish until the War of the Spanish Succession. In July 1704 English troops, aided by the Dutch, invaded. Admiral Sir George Rooke called upon the Spanish to surrender, which they predictably refused to do. His warships then fired 15,000 rounds of shot and shell upon the Rock, and sent British marines ashore. The capture, on behalf of Archduke Carlos, a claimant to the Spanish throne, was complete and the Union flag was flown. Gibraltar became officially British in 1713, when the Treaty of Utrecht formally ceded it to the Crown of Britain. But this was to set the scene for one of the hardest periods in Gibraltar’s entire history, the Great Siege of 1779-83.

The Great Siege Tunnels

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An illustration of the Great Siege

A map of Europe

Never more poignant is the story of Gibraltar’s survival than during the Great Siege. Having learned their lessons from previously failed, land-based attempts, this time the Spanish (combining forces with the French) attacked Gibraltar from both land and sea, launching a full-scale bombardment from gunboats and specially-constructed floating batteries to support the land assault. Massive destruction was inflicted on Gibraltar and its fortifications. The Spanish also cut Gibraltar’s supply lines from Morocco, causing starvation and scurvy outbreaks among the troops. In one civilian shelter, smallpox also broke out, but a quick quarantine prevented the potentially catastrophic spread of the disease. In the face of enormous adversity however, the garrison, commanded by George Augustus Eliott, held on, defending Gibraltar against the major attacks. British convoys came to their aid, making it through the Spanish blockades with reinforcements and supplies. The British forces used the northern aspect of the Rock as a launch pad to keep the land assault at bay and, maximising military might, installed guns in a series of tunnels hewn out of the Rock. These feats of construction, the holes cut into the rock face, are still clearly visible from land today. They

are the famous Great Siege Tunnels, and it was from them that Gibraltar was defended. The Spanish accepted defeat in 1783, thus ending the last ever attempt to take Gibraltar by force. Gibraltar has remained at the heart of British history ever since. It served as a naval base during the Napoleonic Wars, and it was at Rosia Bay in 1805 that the body of Admiral Lord Nelson was brought ashore, famously preserved in a cask of brandy, following the Battle of Trafalgar. Commerce flourished in the nineteenth century, and Gibraltar proved itself to be of strategic importance as a trading port en route to India. The period was prosperous for Gibraltar, and saw developments in population and administration. Many family businesses, which still operate on Main Street today, date back to this period. In 1830, Gibraltar was declared a British colony and granted an independent judiciary,

a Supreme Court of Justice, and a police force – the latter being the first established in any British Overseas Territory, and whence Gibraltar’s muchloved (and photographed) bobbies commenced the patrol of their beat today. With Germany’s power increasing at the beginning of the twentieth century, the British Government began the expansion of its own navy, again turning to Gibraltar as a base, bringing in job-seeking Genoese and Maltese, and employing their skills as ship repairers. Gibraltar changed dramatically during the Second World War. Its civilian population was evacuated to Britain, Madeira and Jamaica for reasons of security, and the once beautiful North Front of the colony, which had comprised gardens, football and cricket pitches and a racecourse, was turned instead into the airfield to which tourists fly in their thousands today. Many more tunnels were excavated into the Rock and an underground city including a power station, water supply and hospital was created. There was even capacity for Spitfire assembly. What began as 82ft of tunnels at the time of the Great Siege went on to extend to over 30 miles by the end of the Second World War.

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Neanderthal man once called Gibraltar home

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The Rock played a key role in British victories in the Mediterranean in the Second World War. One of Hitler’s lasting regrets, it is claimed, was never taking the Rock. Having masterminded ‘Operation Felix’, which involved capturing Gibraltar, forcing the British out, and closing the Straits to the Allied forces, Hitler requested the cooperation of General Franco to launch the operation. Yet Franco was unwilling, with Spain still crippled after its own Civil War, and while Franco hesitated, Hitler’s plans were postponed. He went on instead to launch the doomed invasion on the Soviet Union, which was the beginning of Germany’s downfall. He allegedly expressed his regrets shortly before his death, declaring, ‘Gibraltar, dear friends, Gibraltar. We should have taken Gibraltar.’ With the war over, the British Government responded to the call of many of Gibraltar’s politicians to bring the Rock to a position of full self-government. In 1945, the City Council was reconstituted, with an elected majority for the first time, and five years later the Legislative Council was formed. In 1963, when the United Nations declared their plans for world decolonisation, Franco believed this to be Spain’s opportunity to request the return of Gibraltar. Gibraltar however, wanted to retain the association with Britain. In 1967, this was resolutely confirmed in a referendum which saw Gibraltarians vote overwhelmingly to remain under British rule. Franco’s retaliation resembled

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The mosque is testimony to the role played by the Moors in Gibraltar’s history

a modern ‘siege’ as he ordered increased border restrictions to make life harder for an otherwise isolated Gibraltar. In 1969, Gibraltar received a new Constitution from Great Britain, and the House of Assembly was established, granting Gibraltar selfgovernment in domestic matters. That same year, with Gibraltar now presenting an even more united front than previously in face of his protest, Franco went one step further and closed the border, and all means of communication, entirely. After 16 years of simmering hostility, the border was reopened in 1985, and normal relations with Spain

resumed. The most recent referendum, in 2002, reported that almost all of Gibraltar’s residents remain in opposition to joint sovereignty. There can be few museums in the world whose contents compare with the display of the past during a simple walk through Gibraltar. To walk its streets is to walk through history, from Casemates Square, one-time munitions storage area, overlooked by the remains of the siegescarred Moorish castle, along Main Street where the family-owned shops bear the names of traders who have remained in Gibraltar since their arrival in the trading heyday of the nineteenth century, passing colonial reminders such as the Garrison Library and the Law Courts. Genoese balconies adorn Georgian buildings, and the Union Jack Steps take you on a colourful ascent; painted red, white and blue by the Gibraltarians in 1967 as an expression of their wishes in the 1967 referendum. The names adorning the city walls remind us that these structures once defended Gibraltar: Montagu Bastion, Devil’s Tongue Battery and Chatham Counterguard among them. At the far end of Main Street, the Trafalgar Cemetery is the final resting place of two of the British sailors who died as a result of the 1805 battle; the inscriptions, along with those on other tombstones which remind us just how hard colonial life could be, are poignant. Gibraltar contains a proud history, a significance, and a renown which far exceed its 6.5 square kilometres. e

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THE FOCUS people

To meet His Excellency the Governor, I left the hustle and bustle of Main Street, Gibraltar, and from a narrow lane entered through massive sliding gates, into a different world. I was guided by a charming young man into a building, The Convent, which in part dates back to the 16th Century. We walked along wide carpeted corridors lined with beautiful pictures, and through double doors into a large sunny drawing room. French windows open onto a small balcony which overlooks a beautiful garden, with a distant view of the sea. In the centre of the town in Gibraltar!

THE JUBILANT

GOVERNOR

His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar

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WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY June RendlE

ice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, KCB, CBE, is the current Governor of Gibraltar. Joining the Royal Navy in 1973, he trained as a helicopter pilot, his first sea command being HMS Yarnton in Hong Kong in 1981. Steadily promoted, he saw active service in the Iraq War in Spring 2003 commanding HMS Ocean and for this received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service. He served as Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm for five years, and retired from the Navy following his most senior naval posting as Second Sea Lord from 2005-2008. “This beautiful, historic, house belongs to Gibraltar,” declared His Excellency when he joined me, “and when Suzie, my wife, and I, arrived here in October 2009, we decided that we would accept as many invitations as possible to enter in with the life here, and, in return, invite as many people as possible into what is their home.” Last year more than 7,000 people visited The Convent to join them. “We have hosted all sorts of events: lunches and dinners; receptions and fundraising events for local Clubs and

Charities, Philharmonic concerts, plus many more. The Annual Christmas Fair was held here, with the Ballroom full of stalls and general merriment, and among many other engagements we hosted a dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Gibraltar Chess Festival. I was invited to join an exhibition match where one of the top players was blindfolded, and played against 10 opponents simultaneously. Astonishing!” “I have been married for 36 years,” he said proudly, “we have four children, three girls and a boy, and although my naval career meant that we were mostly on the move, I was lucky that my family nearly always accompanied me when I was based ashore. Our longest single stretch anywhere was when we lived in Plymouth for 11 happy years. As a native Cornishman, that suited me pretty well.” His enthusiasm for Gibraltar is intoxicating. “Despite the hardships it caused, the closure of the border with Spain was very significant for Gibraltar. Obliged as they were to live isolated in a relatively small area, Gibraltarians had to be self-supporting in every way. It crystallised their endeavours, and I have never know a small population with so many clubs and interests; the place is incredibly vibrant and lively. Most weeks I attend an exhibition or performance of some kind, and I spend many weekends attending a sporting or cultural event of one sort or another.” We walked out onto the balcony, and he enthused about the wonderful view of the Rock which never ceases to amaze and impress, however often it has been seen. With the lovely garden spread out below, and the sea glistening in the distance, his delight was easy to share. As the Governor of Gibraltar, he is the representative of the Queen. “I pop over to Spain regularly, incognito, to take my two Boxers to walk in the gorgeous countryside. I am a very law abiding driver – imagine the headlines if the Guardia Civil should have cause to apprehend me!” he laughed. 2012, the Diamond Jubilee Year, is an important year for Gibraltar. “We are thrilled that the Earl and Countess of Wessex are to visit us,” he declared proudly, “a great honour for us all as they will be the members of the Royal Family representing the Queen here in her incredible year.” The year has Diamond links for him personally. “My wife Suzie” he tells me, “launched the Destroyer, HMS Diamond, in May 2011, and this year Suzie celebrates her Diamond birthday, isn’t that lovely?” A very human man, he was clearly moved when I showed him the ring I was wearing. Serpentine, a Cornish stone, set in silver, purchased in Cornwall. “Suzie’s younger sister was a jeweller in Cornwall, and could easily have made that ring,” he told me. “Sadly, she is no longer with us.” We talked about locations in the world he has visited during his career. I asked if he had a

favourite place among his wanderings in the Navy, and he named several. He is so enthusiastic about everything he does I believe that there are not many places where he would not enjoy himself. “I saw only the coastal towns everywhere of course” he said ruefully, “never travelling far inland, but I plan to return, especially to India and Australia. I never got to New Zealand, so to go there is in my plan for the future too.” We walked together through the house as I left, with him astounding me by pointing out yet more architectural and historical displays. There is an impressive Banqueting Hall, reminiscent of the Chapel in Windsor Castle, with a high wooden ceiling, the walls lined with the shields of the Coats of Arms of every Governor of Gibraltar – his own shield includes a black bird, a Cornish chough, in the design. The windows are lined with the medallions and names of earlier Moorish and Spanish Governors. Then we walked onto a Minstrel’s Gallery, overlooking the King’s Chapel. The Chapel ceiling has squares enclosing large rose-like emblems, machine made, mimicking the original handmade decorations over the adjoining hallway and sweeping staircase. The ceiling had to be replaced because, in 1951, the original Chapel ceiling was destroyed when an armaments ship caught fire and blew up in the harbour only 300 metres from the Convent, also wrecking every window in Gibraltar, and even some in Algeciras. “History is constantly being made and remade here in Gibraltar,” said the man who is making history here himself, in this Jubilee Year with so many events planned, and Royalty visiting.

He and his team are working with the Government and many local organisations helping to develop an exciting programme of events for the Jubilee celebrations during the summer. He looks forward to welcoming many visitors from Spain to join in with them.

‘Jubilant’ is an appropriate additional name for His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar. Sir Adrian Johns is charming, enthusiastic, and most of all has that quality which we are encouraged to deride in this age of casual behaviour. He is a true Gentleman, proud of his roots, his nationality and position, determined to serve Gibraltar and the Gibraltarians as he believes they deserve, and to preserve and enrich all of its history and traditions. e

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JessicaBaldachino L ouise We all know that Gibraltar is an area of outstanding natural beauty but it is also home to some of the most gorgeous women in the world. In 2009, Miss Gibraltar (Kaiane Aldorino) was crowned Miss World, garnering the Miss Gibraltar pageant unprecedented interest from the international media, yet the event’s history stems back to 1959. You may be surprised to learn that the first Miss Gibraltar, Viola Abudarham, was married! This was because the rules stipulating that candidates actually needed to be single were not applied until 1964, when the show was revived after a mysterious five-year hiatus. Since then, the pageant has taken place every year, laced with glamour and featuring performances by some of the world’s top artists, including Paco del Lucía, Rolf Harris, Michael Bentine and Gibraltarians Albert Hammond and Melon Diesel. Currently, the Miss Gibraltar show is one of the highlights of the Gibraltarian social calendar. This month, we offer our readers an exclusive interview with Miss Gibraltar 2012, Jessica Louise Baldachino, the 50th winner of the pageant, who also happens to be a teacher at a secondary school, where she teaches students aged 12 to 18.

What are the biggest challenges that lie ahead for the children you are teaching? Sometimes I wonder if they’ll find it hard to obtain employment in the future, given the current state of global economics. I also hope that they will make the right decisions in their lives when challenging situations arise.

How did your students react to your win?

Miss Gibraltar 2012

THE FOCUS miss gibraltar

My students have always been extremely supportive so they were so excited when I won. I was greeted with applause at school and even signed a few autographs.

What do you most enjoy about being a teacher? The fact that each day is different and you never know what might happen before the day is over. It’s also really satisfying to know that you are helping people obtain valuable qualifications.

Young people have very genuine opinions and it’s refreshing to hear their thoughts.

Why did you decide to sign up for Miss Gibraltar? I had always been a fan of beauty pageants and beauty in general but I was very shy and thought I wasn’t the right type of person for it, until my family convinced me that I would regret it if I didn’t give it a go. I signed up last year and finished as first runner up. Never in a million years did I think I could have achieved that. So

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Have you set your mind on winning the Miss World pageant this year? I will be attending the Miss World pageant in Inner Mongolia this year and I have set my mind on making my country proud and performing to the best of my ability, whatever that may bring.

How have your friends and family reacted to your win? They are all extremely proud of me; I think some of my friends still can’t believe it.

Are you a fashion buff? I absolutely adore fashion; it’s such a fantastic way of expressing who you are. My favourite designer has to be Chanel; I love the timeless French elegance – I am a French teacher, after all! One day I will be able to afford something from their collections and possibly a Louis Vuitton bag. I also admire the lady who designs and makes all of my pageant dresses: Priscilla Sacramento. She is a close friend and possibly the most talented person I know. © Jayden Fa

How do you stay poised in tense moments?

this year, I was much more determined and confident.

Can you describe the moment when your name was announced as Miss Gibraltar? It was a strange feeling. I was feeling quite relaxed during the whole show, but that moment was an absolute daze; I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming. About five minutes after they crowned me, I realised the eyes of Gibraltar were on me and I felt a surge of pride.

Do you see your future in Gibraltar? I lived in the UK for four years when I was at University and I loved it but there was no doubt in my mind that I would return to Gibraltar. I want to travel, experience different cultures and learn more about the world but I will always base myself in Gibraltar. It is a haven of peace and tranquillity where people of different walks of life live in harmony. And we know how to have a pretty good time too!

How did you train for Miss Gibraltar, both physically and mentally? I put in maximum effort and determination. It took a lot

of training, many hours at the gym and a healthy diet to make sure I had enough energy to be at my best. Obviously, there were lots of rehearsals to attend and I practised the catwalk countless times. Mentally and spiritually, I convinced myself to think positively and reminded myself that it was about doing the best you can do and not regretting a single moment.

I always get a bit nervous when doing routines, as I’m worried I’ll forget the steps, but with practice they always turn out alright. I take deep breaths, close my eyes and focus on the energy I want to release before going out on stage.

What qualities do you think it takes to make a great Miss World? I think Miss World has to be a woman who accepts and understands different cultures and beliefs, someone who is elegant and poised, a positive person who has found joy in her life and is comfortable with her looks.

What do you do in your free time? I don’t have that much free time because my job is quite demanding. I enjoy going out for coffee with my friends or my mother. I also enjoy cooking. It helps me wind down. Sport has become a very big part of my life and I’m very interesting in hiking.

Which ambitions are you yet to achieve? In the future I would love to purchase a house and have a family, but I need to achieve some things before then. I want to make the most of my year as Miss Gibraltar, attend as many events as possible and help as many people as possible. At Miss World, I want to network and take every opportunity on offer. I’m interested in photographic modelling and would like to pursue that further. I’m lucky to already have a career at a young age so I can also concentrate on other things.

What musicians or artists do you admire and why? I admire my brother Nathan, who is studying music performance in the UK. He is a brilliant composer and vocalist and one day he will be number one in the charts. My favourite singers are George Michael and Dusty Springfield but I listen to anything that makes me want to start dancing.

Who has been your greatest influence? However cliché it may sound, my greatest influence are my parents. They share my day-to-day life, they have seen me at my best and at my worst and they are by my side. I cannot begin to thank them for everything they have done in my life and I love them more than words could describe. e

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THE FOCUS people

A BANKER,

Nicholas in uniform

AN OFFICER Nicholas Wright, Head of Business Development, Jyske Bank Gibraltar WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHEN HERMIDA AND COURTESY OF NICHOLAS WRIGHT

Jyske Bank Gibraltar’s Nicholas Wright recalls the high felt the first time he jumped out of a plane alone, from15,000 feet up in the air. “It was exhilarating!” he says, as he swipes his iPhone and shows me the video of that special day. As I view him performing acrobatics in mid-air and moving to and from fellow-jumpers, I find my pre-conceptions of what a banker is, delightfully shattered.

icholas, or Nicky to colleagues and clients, has worked at Jyske Bank Gibraltar for over 20 years, where he currently heads the Business Development department, a post which involves overseeing the smooth transition to Gibraltar of assets belonging to overseas clients. “Clients used to keep their assets further afield, in countries like Switzerland or the Channel Islands, but as our client base is largely composed of British nationals living on the Costa del Sol, they prefer to be closer to their assets,” he says, noting that Jyske Bank offers not only the typical services you would expect from a bank but also, wealth management. He explains: “We work alongside clients, helping them move forward in terms of what they want for themselves, their children and their grandchildren.” Working as a team is crucial, as is flexibility in a client’s degree of involvement. “One client might be used to dealing in finance and might wish to be involved in every step, while another might have inherited wealth and not know where to start.” One of the most defining features of Jyske Bank is the fact that none of its staff works on a commission basis. Says Nicholas, “Many times, when I first meet clients and I explain that we don’t make any commission at all, I can physically see their shoulders drop; they instantly feel that

they don’t have to be on the defensive. From the cashier right through to the CEO, nobody receives commissions.” The Jyske Bank team is renowned for being the cream of the crop; indeed, it includes people who have worked at highly prestigious institutions such as the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland. How do they attract this level of excellence? Nicholas explains: “Jyske Bank isn’t a rules-based organisation; it is a value-based organisation. In some companies, shareholders or clients are given more importance than employees but at Jyske, we realise that each of these pillars is vital. In many companies, all decisions have to go through one person, which impedes movement and job satisfaction. At Jyske, the staff has great responsibility, but also the confidence that comes from being able to make decisions in order to move ahead.” If you have a VISA card, you should read up on Jyske Bank’s VISA programme; Nicholas challenges you to find a better one. He says: “I headed the VISA deparment for many years and came up with a system that clients love. What we really wanted to avoid was clients encountering a negative situation, where, say, they would try to pay at a restaurant with their VISA card and for some reason their card

would be rejected. We manage a pre-emptive client list programme, actively reviewing clients’ available limits daily to ensure that they always have sufficient spending limits. Our programme advises us when a problem has occurred and within around five minutes we ring the client and solve it. We even increase their credit by phone if required.” All VISA cards are made and monitored in-house, allowing clients to avoid long waits and impersonal service. “Larger banks cannot do this because they deal with millions of clients.” At Jyske Bank, clients with a wealth portfolio ranging from €150.000 to millions of euros, are ensured exclusivity, personalisation and care ‘beyond the call of duty’. Jyske additionally offers a multicurrency service, with many accounts comprising dollars, sterling or even yen! Nicholas was born in Yorkshire to a Gibraltarian father and English mother, though his family moved to Gibraltar when he was eight. He describes his relationship with The Rock as “a complex thing”, saying, “Some people can feel a bit closed-in but on the other hand, Gibraltar is such a great place to live. A key factor is safety; the crime rate is

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At the Jyske Bank offices

practically non-existent here. Then there’s the proximity of everything; it is easy to get around on foot. Gibraltar also boasts a very cosmopolitan society and we are thriving despite the global economic downturn. This is in part owing to the financial sector but also to smaller industries (like the local crystal industry) and tourism.” Nicholas may have adapted to the environment, but one thing he has always missed is the cold: “I miss the snow and the beautiful, green Nature of England,” he says, which is why he often gets away for skiing or mountain climbing trips. He recently climbed to the top of Mount Toubkal, in the Moroccan High Atlas, which is 4,167 metres high. His family is another passion; Nicholas’ wife, Alison, works in Gibraltar’s Tax Department, while his daughter, Alexandra (aged 17) is already driving a red mini and contemplating her future at a UK University. Nicholas tells me that the Gibraltarian government pays the University tuition of all its citizens (even if the University is overseas), an unheard-of privilege in any other nation. Nicholas is a proud family man, avid sportsman, dedicated banker… how else could he surprise me? By telling me he was an Officer for the Royal Gibraltarian Regiment for 12 years until he retired three years ago! He began military life as a Royal Navy Reserve diver in his late teens in the midst of the Gulf War crisis, rising at 5am to hit the Gibraltar port and dive, searching military vessels and commercial ships for possible bombs. “After a two-hour dive, my day began at Jyske Bank,” he says, laughing, “I started as a junior clerk and moved into internal settlements and SWIFT payments, before heading the VISA Department and eventually holding my current post.” Far from taking its toll on the young banker, the marriage of these disparate careers provided the variety he had always craved. Nicholas proudly recalls having paraded at Buckingham Palace during the Changing of the Guard when he was a lieutenant in 2001, and shows me pictures of his recent visit to London for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. “The Royal Gibraltar Regiment took part in the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and in the 62-gun salute from the Tower of London, a highly significant event which few other British Regiments are lucky enough to be chosen to participate in,” he says, adding, “The Royal Gibraltar Regiment has both ceremonial and operational duties, and has served as part of the British Army in Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq, to name a few places. A dozen men are currently serving on the frontline of Afghanistan.” The Regiment has played an important role in some of the most historically significant events in Gibraltar. “Many people don’t know it but despite the fact Gibraltar is only three miles long,

g 76 Main Street, P.O. Box 143, Gibraltar.

Tel: +350 200 72782. www.jyskebank.gi

Royal Gibraltar Regiment Recruiting Office: Tel: +350 580 09727 Ser ving the Gibralt ar

Regiment

Nicholas on the slopes

Sky diving: one of Nicholas’ favourite pastimes

it houses 35 miles of military tunnels.” Nicholas also reminds us of secret nooks in Gibraltar which played an important role in the unfolding of history. “In the 1800’s, the US President Grant dined in St George’s Hall and to this day, special events are held there.” Many military traditions of old are still celebrated to this day, such as the Ceremony of the Keys. The latter commemorates the important role played by the Port Sergeant until the 20th century, in which he would lock all the entrances to Gibraltar every evening, in a formal ceremony taken part in by a drummer and platoon soldiers. As Nicholas heads back to work, he encourages

me to learn to skydive and commends a company in Seville, SkyDive Spain, for their professionalism and precision. “When you are taking an important jump like that, you want to make sure it will turn out well,” he says. “The staff there are amazing; even if you do a tandem jump with them, they make you feel like the experience was as new and special for them as it was for you.” Of course, Nicholas could easily say the same about wealth management; making an important financial decision also takes a huge leap of faith. With people like Nicholas on its team, you know that with Jyske Bank, you will always land on solid ground. e

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THE FOCUS gibraltar

HITTING All the world, according to Shakespeare, is a stage, and certainly Gibraltar, whose size would suggest a small role in the global cast, has seen more than its fair share of drama.

THE HEADLINES The Battle of Trafalgar, 1805

The first story to hit the headlines, and ‘scooped’ understandably by the Gibraltar press a week before its appearance in the eagerly-awaited British papers, was that of the Battle of Trafalgar. A decisive battle in the Napoleonic Wars, it saw two-thirds of the Franco-Spanish fleet defeated by the British Navy, yet without the loss of a single British ship. The British however, paid a high price for this victory, and it was with deep regret that the newspapers also reported the death of Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain’s greatest naval hero.

WORDS AMY WILLIAMS

The Mary Celeste Case, 1872

Found floating, crewless, in the Atlantic Ocean in December 1872, a beautiful two-mast brigantine named Mary Celeste was towed into Gibraltar where an enquiry was launched into her mysterious circumstances. There was no sign of distress, nor piracy, nor any evidence to suggest what had happened to the Captain and a

The Wedding of John and Yoko, 1969 Gibraltar hit the headlines of the popular press when it provided the location for the wedding of John Lennon to Yoko Ono on 20 March, 1969. Describing the three-minute ceremony as ‘quick, quiet and British’, the Beatle explained that the couple had chosen Gibraltar after spending a week trying to arrange their marriage. Gibraltar’s special licence cost £4, 14s, and was organised by solicitors in London. British newspapers described it as a predictably, ‘unconventional affair’.

Miss Gibraltar wins Miss World, 2009 Describing it as a ‘Red Letter Day for Gibraltar’, it was with enormous pride that Gibraltar’s daily newspaper, The Chronicle, broke the news that its very own Kaiane Aldorino, Miss Gibraltar, had won the title of Miss World. Broadcast to an estimated one billion global viewers, the contest brought Gibraltar to a standstill according to the paper, with mobile phone networks crashing as Gibraltarians rushed to spread the news. The Chief Minister promised a ‘royal’ homecoming for Kaiane, which she duly received with the majority of the tiny territory’s 30,000-strong population turning out to welcome her home.

crew of first-class sailors. All the crew’s personal belongings were found on board, including valuables. The weather was fine, and provisions on the ship would have seen them through at least six more months at sea. With no explanation ever concluded, the Gibraltar Law Courts reported the case as a mystery – still believed to be the greatest ever in maritime history.

The IRA Shooting, 1988 Provoking one of the biggest controversies in Gibraltar’s history, three members of an active IRA service unit were shot dead by security forces in Gibraltar as they walked towards the Spanish border in March 1988. Newspaper reports claimed they had positioned a car bomb close to the Governor’s Residence, with the intention of detonating it during the popular ceremony of the Changing of the Guard the following day. Despite an inquest concluding that the IRA members had been lawfully killed, it was ruled by the European Court of Justice in 1995 that the security forces had violated their fundamental right to life.

HMS Tireless leaves Gibraltar, 2001

Causing uproar among environmentalists, and straining relations between Gibraltar and Spain, a British nuclear submarine which had been docked in Gibraltar for repairs for almost a year, finally left in 2001. Reportedly undergoing repairs to a crack in a cooling pipe close to its nuclear reactor, the submarine allegedly posed no risk to either the environment or humans, yet this did not allay the fears of the local people or the environmentalists. Twenty protesters arriving from across Europe were involved in a demonstration demanding the removal of nuclear arms and reactors from the oceans, and ten Greenpeace volunteers were arrested.

David Walliams and James Cracknell swim the Straits, 2008 In order to raise money for the BBC’s Sport Relief, James Cracknell and David Walliams swam across the Straits of Gibraltar in March 2008, a feat achieved by only 10% of all those who attempt it. The pair completed the 14-mile swim in four and a half hours, with Walliams, who suffered from violent sea-sickness, describing it as ‘really tough’. They raised over £340,000 for charity. e

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THE FOCUS gibraltar

The Best of Both Worlds

Take Britain. Turn the temperature up, the clocks forward (or fifty years backwards, as some might affectionately quip) and the 6am alarm off. Keep the high-street staples, the sterling to spend in them, and the camaraderie of the post-work pint – sipped instead on the sunny decking of a waterfront wine bar. For anyone who wants to enjoy the work/life balance in the best of both worlds, Gibraltar seems to provide a pretty perfect solution.

WORDS AMY WILLIAMS

nce amounting to 80 per cent of Gibraltar’s economy, defencerelated services are in relative retirement compared to the booming industries of financial services, online gaming, tourism and shipping, around which The Rock’s economy now revolves. And as if the simple lure of sun, sea and sand wasn’t enough of a relocation package to attract overseas skills, for the British jobseeker, the comparable salaries and the fact that they’re actually leaving very little of Britain behind, will seal the deal. Gibraltar is a lifestyle choice. Albeit more seaside resort than City of London in size, it nonetheless provides a serious, professional place of work blended perfectly with a Mediterranean lifestyle. Business hours are British, but the morning alarms which precede them go off at a much later hour. If you live in Gibraltar, you simply don’t have the headache of a commute. If you were to take an (unnecessary) trip the entire way around the Rock before work, you’d still only be adding 10km to your travels. If you live over the border in Spain, as many do, the commute is still a walk in the park. Or rather, across a runway. And even if you’re further along the coast than the border town of La Linea, there can be few nicer companions to a drive to work than the morning Mediterranean glistening in the sun. For expat workers who do reside on the Rock, it really is a home away from home. The national language is English, the national currency is the pound, and even the electric sockets are for three-pin plugs. In every sense, very little adaptation is necessary. All British channels are available on TV, and a branch of Morrisons (the busiest of all its stores, apparently) stocks all the home comforts you could want to enjoy in front of them. Gibraltar even shares British bank holidays, throwing in a few extra of its own too – a bonus for any worker. And far from getting up at 6am, you’re more likely to be getting in at 6am, with the Gibraltarians and the Spanish sharing a late-night lifestyle which would see them apologising for ‘leaving early’ the wrong side of 2am at the weekend. While Gibraltar lacks the variety and vibrancy of the nightlife over the border, there are pubs and bars a-plenty in which to

wind down after a hard day’s work or to watch the football on a Saturday afternoon. The weather, on which most stereotypical British conversations are based, seldom brings the complaints that abound in Britain: Gibraltar basks in an approximate 300 days of sunshine per year. That leaves just enough grey days not to prevent homesickness, but not enough that rain is likely to stop play. However, for a place so small that no part of it needs a postcode (suddenly not so cute when ordering something online and such an entry is frustratingly obligatory), claustrophobia can become a problem, especially for anyone used to serious city living. But if and when cabin fever does take hold, a flight from Gibraltar’s own airport back to the UK takes under 3 hours. Britain is really not that far away. There are other frustrations for someone familiar with living in Britain too. With the exception of the famous Morrisons, very few other shops open on Sunday which can come as a surprise to those used to Sunday trading. Even the mighty Marks & Spencer shuts up shop. It doesn’t take long to get used to, and it probably makes Sundays in Gibraltar more ‘traditionally’ British than they are in Britain, with the day instead revolving around a Sunday roast, and spending time with friends and family – as it used to be. But it appears this harmonious blending of culture and climate does have a shelf-life. While serious, successful careers are carved out in Gibraltar, and many people do stay for a large part of their working lives, the expat population is transient. But whether you stay, go, or even (as quite often happens) leave and come back, the experience of living in Gibraltar, little Britain on the Med, is an unforgettable and truly valuable one. e

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THE STYLE decor

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

PATRICIA D A The personal touch

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Patricia Darch is a prominent name in interior design in the Sotogrande area, and now, after many successful years there, she is expanding into Gibraltar with the opening of a grand new showroom at the prestigious Ocean Village marina development.

INTERIORS

D ARCH

hough she has been in the business for many years now, Patricia Darch continues to love the world of design and decoration. ‘Don’t get me wrong,” says the woman who founded Patricia Darch Interior Design & Projects over a decade ago, “it isn’t just about selecting beautiful things and putting them together in an attractive and harmonious way. Interior design is a highly competitive field, and a large part of the work involves paperwork, managing teams and troubleshooting.” For all that, she wouldn’t trade it for the world, because to Patricia her work is about more than just aesthetics and creating beautiful living spaces – it is the ultimate expression of one’s style, personality and preferred living environment. “Of course there is your own appearance, but at the end of the day that is a style statement mostly seen by others, whereas your house is the place you come home to and relax in.” For this reason she believes that a home should be all it can be, and fill you with pleasure every time you walk into it. With such a philosophy to measure up to, it is not surprising that Patricia takes the sourcing of furniture very seriously. “Every year, we travel to the main furniture and decoration fairs in the world, above all the Paris and Milan fairs, not just to buy but also for inspiration.” Given her upmarket niche built on bespoke design services and sumptuous decorative pieces, she has naturally gravitated to the combination of quality and stylistic creativity that characterises the top Italian brands. “It has taken many years, but now we are a licensed outlet for the likes of Fendi Casa, B&B Italia, Ipe Cavalli, Missoni Home and Baccarat Lighting, while we stock gorgeous fabrics by Hermès, Armani Casa, Casamance and Romo, among others.” Patricia also works with highly rated domestic brands such as CasaDesús and Andreu World, while leading manufacturers of luxury outdoor furniture are also well represented. “In our designs the outdoor areas feature very prominently, not only because of the outdoor lifestyle of this area but also because it is important to extend the living areas outwards from both a visual and a practical point of view.”

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While Patricia Darch Interior Design & Projects prides itself on the ability to create décors in a wide variety of styles, locations, configurations and even budgets, the natural preference is towards sophisticated contemporary styles or those that blend various elements to create an eclectic ensemble. “The latter is especially easy to get wrong, but since we don’t work to a templated design pattern and avoid standardised modern décor in favour of individualised pieces full of style and character, most of our work is made up of highly personalised collections of furniture, materials and textures.” The fact that this requires a very careful understanding of what the client desires from a home is a given, and therefore the cornerstone of the service Patricia offers. “We have a recognisable touch, but the style is shaped around the client’s needs, likes and personality. They tell us what they like, discuss ideas with us and then we come back with designs and samples that form the basis for a decorative transformation.”

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Leaving your mark In helping so many people put their stamp on their own homes, Patricia has also left her unique mark on interiors from Marbella to Sotogrande and Gibraltar, and indeed beyond. More than twenty years in the business means she has built up an enviable reputation not just as a skilled decorator with an eye for detail and composition, but also as someone who gets things done. As a result, she has been involved in the decoration, renovation and restyling of villas, apartments, hotels, offices, shops and restaurants along this coast. “Although we cover the greater part of the coast, our home base and main focus has always been the Sotogrande area. This is where we live and work on a daily basis, and where the majority of our projects have been located over the years.” Hers is a business that has carved out a niche for itself in a surprisingly small core area, building on both high-end furnishing and a highly bespoke and flexible service. “What we offer is very modular, from individual decorative pieces and interior design advice to outfitting entire villas.”

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The market segment they cater to is therefore naturally a sophisticated one, with the added ability to project-manage everything from a small renovation and restyling brief to a large-scaled construction and decoration project. “The scope of our work can be pretty varied,” says Patricia, “but it always has a decoration element at its core.” This flexibility, design flair and the capacity to deliver top-notch work to brief, budget and deadline has cemented the reputation of Patricia Darch Interior Design & Projects as a serious firm in the field of luxury decoration projects. Much of this success is built on a long-established team of designers, project managers, technicians and carpenters. “We are in an enviable position because we have created a team out of a group of great professionals and artisans who know our systems inside out and have a fluidity, efficiency and quality about their work that takes years to build up.” Emphasising the fact that this is a family business, Patricia cites her husband, Raymond, who runs the business side of things, while their son Nicholas leads a team of seasoned technicians and carpenters who put the bespoke philosophy of the company into practice in villas, penthouses and commercial premises both in Sotogrande and in Gibraltar. “He and his teams are fantastic,” says Patricia. “They have installed Jacuzzis, built made-to-measure cabinetry and created high-tech home cinema systems.” When outside expertise is needed, the teams work closely with architects, builders and landscapers to ensure projects are completed to the standards that clients now associate with them.

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Patricia Darch Interior Design & Projects Avda. Mar del Sur, Torreguadiaro. Tel: +34 956 615 350. Ocean Village Promenade, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 216 77776. www.patriciadarch.com

Expanding horizons “It’s tough to always maintain such exacting standards of service, but it has also won us a very loyal clientele, with many of our clients asking us to redecorate or restyle their properties to stay up to date with the latest design trends. For others, we have decorated homes not just in Sotogrande but also in England and in places such as the Bahamas, where we recently completed a large project in a beautiful beachside villa.” Indeed, Patricia’s design work has taken her not only to homes and commercial venues around the world, but even includes the decorating of luxury yachts in Sotogrande and a catamaran in Sicily. Her approach is a pure one, in which she likes to start by preparing a room or space before

dressing it with decorative pieces. “As with so many things it is this preparation of the home that is very important, because how you present the basic structure of floors, walls and windows will have a very big effect on how successful and pleasing the decoration itself is.” She loves solid wooden floors and likes to single out a wall to stand out with stylish modern wallpaper or even special textural finishes. “Next comes the furnishing itself, and then we also use artwork as a finishing, and distinguishing touch.” A very important part of this process is her stepdaughter Jessica Darch, an accomplished artist who studied art and architecture in London and, in addition to producing her own catalogue work, also creates artwork for Patricia’s clients. “Jessica works in a very wide range of mediums, from canvas, perspex and board to murals, frescoes and trompe l’oeils, as well as having the ability to work to brief, which is quite rare in an artist.” While the latter is a feature of her architectural training, her infusion of colour and rich textures harks back to her youth in the sunshine of the Costa Blanca. Jessica and her mother Peta, also an established artist, will be exhibiting for a month at the Fine Arts Gallery in Casemates, Gibraltar, and the opening of the exhibition will also mark the official launch of the Patricia Darch Interior Design & Projects showroom at Ocean Village in Gibraltar. “It might sound strange to expand in a recession, but believe it or not this is a growing business and our style and method of work has found a warm welcome in Gibraltar.” While the showroom is under the management of Gill Welland, Patricia’s longstanding head of design Bianca Medina and office manager, Judith Medina, have already been training up teams to work on landmark developments such as Buena Vista Park Villas, a private community of villas high up on the Rock that is surely the most luxurious real estate project in Gibraltar to date. “With projects like that to work on, how could I not love the field I am in?” e

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THE STYLE fashion

Hannibal Laguna takes his inspiration from the world of Nature, emulating the Golden Rule to perfection with a collection of gowns designed to make women feel as beautiful and colourful as a flower. Marisa Cutillas brings us the best of his evening wear.

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Summer Rose

Lilac Inspirations

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Petal Perfect

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Vivacious in Violet

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Red Rose

Lovely as a Lily

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i www.hannibal-laguna.com

Soft as a Petal

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THE STYLE fashion The Tercentary Hall Courtyard was aglow with vibrant fashion, glamorous celebs and fervent fashionistas during Gibraltar Fashion Week 2012. Local designers including Jane Langdon (women’s prêt-aporter) and Angie Risso (jewellery) were joined by one of the world’s most photographed models, Caprice Bourret, who showcased her lingerie and swimwear designs from the By Caprice fashion line. The event was officially opened by Emmanuel Ray (Britain’s Fashion Icon of The Year 2011 at the Fashions Finest Awards), who attended the shows, visited the exhibition stands and partied away with the Gibraltarian jetset. Trendy urbanites were kept busy with a plethora of fashion shows and exhibition stands, featuring everything from clothing to jewellery and even beauty products. The event was a resounding success, highlighting the wealth of talent and artistry that can be found in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar

Fashion PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GOLD PRODUCTION STUDIOS www.gps.com

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Week i www.fashionweekgibraltar.com

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SURF’S UP!

THE STYLE fashion

Marisa Cutillas brings us the coolest casual and beach wear for Summer 2012.

Beachwear by Benetton

Men’s cardigan by Billabong Men’s shirt by Billabong Headphones by Billabong

Wetsuit by Billabong for men

Board by Billabong

MEN’S

Men’s loafer by Office

Men’s shorts by Billabong

Bathing shorts by MYO

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Bracelet by Trois Petits Points Bikini by Benetton

Top by Missguided Dress by Billabong

i www.accessorize.com www.benetton.com www.billabong.com www.dior.com www.missguided.co.uk

www.monsoon.co.uk www.myoswimwear.com www.office.co.uk www.primark.es www.troispetitspointsparis.com

Rainbow bracelet by Accessorize

WOMEN’S Sandal by Monsoon

Bag by Billabong

Bikini by Billabong

Wetsuit by Billabong for women Top by Billabong Shorts by Primark España Bag by Dior

Sandal by Dior

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THE STYLE kids

Rose

La 2

1 – Shirt and shorts by Mothercare 2 – Bootie by Monsoon 3 – Bathing suit for baby by Monsoon 4 – Newborn baby suit by Primark España 5 – Baby dress by Monsoon 6 – Ladybird Victorian House 7 – Girl’s bag by Monsoon 8 – Folding Hello Kitty scooter by D'Arpéje 9 – Baby bottle by Dior 10 – High chair by Mothercare

Vie en

One of the hottest colours of the season is undoubtedly pink - for men, women and even kids; gone are the days when boys were limited to blue and red fashion; nowadays, it is acceptable, and altogether fashionable, to be pretty and handsome in pink. We bring you our favourite items for the little ones. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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k ercare.co.u w w w.moth on.co.uk so n w w w.mo rk.es w w w.prima m o c r. io .d www ods.co.uk o w le tt .li w ww ailable at D'Arpéje: av n.es w w w.ama zo

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PRODUCTS / BEAUTY / SPA / SCIENCE

TREATMENTS / HEALTH

Stay gold but protect your skin in the summer, find

Beauty: Bronze Perfection

out about how Facebook is doing its share to

Beauty News

promote organ donation in the UK, take Dr.

Health: Organ Donation and Facebook

Mark Laneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice on how to stay healthy and find out

IVF-assisted Pregnancies by Dr. Georgina Bugella of Hospiten

Advice from Dr. Mark Lane, Chiropractor

how to make the most of your existing resources and contacts from Shivani Mair. Additionally, read up on the latest advances in IVF pregnancies, in

100 Advice from Shivani Mair, Life Coach

an article by Dr. Georgina Bugella of Hospiten.

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...beach perfect... Cirumed pairs high academic credentials with the latest technologies in modern minimally invasive Plastic Surgery, to bring the best cosmetic surgery to Marbella.

M O D E R N

S O L U T I O N S

F O R

M O D E R N

Advanced Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery for Face, Body and Bust All our surgeons are specialist consultants at the Department of Plastic surgery of Spain’s elite hospital, Hospital Quiron. To have been elected amongst Spain’s best surgeons to represent Quiron’s specialist department is not only our best reference, but also our obligation.

PAT I E N T S DR.ALEXANDER ASLANI Chairman of the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Hospital Quiron Málaga Director of Cirumed Clinic Marbella

www.cirumed.es

Avenida Ramón y Cajal 7 – 4, 29601 Marbella Tel: +34 952 775 346

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tan

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1. Instant Smooth Self Tanning: a bronzer and self-tanner in one, for the face and décolleté, by Clarins. i www.clarins.com 2. Bronze Goddess Self-Tan for an even-looking tan for the body by Estée Lauder. i www.esteelauder.com 3. Soleil de Tan: an intense bronzing powder by Chanel. i www.chanel.com 4. Brilliant Bronze Self-Tanning Gel: a quick tan for the face and body, by Shiseido. i www.shiseido.es 5. Bronzing powder for a light natural glow, by Bobbi Brown. i www.bobbibrown.es 6. Prepare your skin for tanning with this soothing olive body scrub, by The Body Shop. i www.thebodyshop.es 7. Bronzing pearls, for the face and body, by Giordani. i www.ori-beauty. co.uk 8. Toffee flavoured lip balm: keeps lips smooth and moist, by The Body Shop. i www.thebodyshop.es

Marisa Cutillas brings us essential items for a smooth, glowing, sun-kissed look.

PRODUCTS

THE PERFECT

1 7

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Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine in Marbella

WINNER of ESSENTIAL MARBELLA

AWARDS

2010 & 2011

Dr. Kai O. Kaye - Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgeon • Full Member of the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery SEGPRE • Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery EBOPRAS • Full Member of the German Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery DGPRÄC • Member of the Colegio de Medicos de Malaga (No.29/2909452)

29600 Marbella Av. Ramon y Cajal, 7 - oceanclinic.net info@oceanclinic.net b: 670 770 455 0034 951 775 518 - mo

spa

BEAUTY

Must-Have Beauty Products for

SUMMER 2012 WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

PRODUCTS

In the rest of the world, summer may be just around the corner… on the Costa del Sol, however, most of us are already sporting a lovely golden glow and hitting the beach clubs for a taste of the party season ahead. Stay ahead of the game with these top items. 1. PRIMERS: Known as ‘the new first step’ to take when making up, primers are crucial when it comes to keeping foundation smudge-free in warm weather. Try The Body Shop’s Skin Primer Matte It, which guarantees a freshly made-up look all day and night. i www.thebodyshop.es 2. BODY AND FACE SHIMMER: Whether you prefer oil- or brush-based bronzers, make sure your body shimmers and shines at the next hot party. The Body Shop has a wide range of bronzers for the face and body. We love Bronze Lip Nectar Honey Bunch, which shines on your lips like the sun. i www.thebodyshop.es 3. GLITTERY NAIL POLISH: Forego natural looks on nails this season; bright colours will be key. Try toxin-free brands like Zoya, an award-winning,

long-wearing, vegan-friendly nail polish completely free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor. i www.zoya.com 4. WATERPROOF EYELINER: If you’re in and out of the water all summer but still want a smoothly made-up look, try Stila’s waterproof, smudge-free eyeliner. i www.stilacosmetics.com 5. HAIR SHINE SPRAY: A fine mist of shine spray makes hair look healthy and smooth. Try Tigi Bed Head’s Headrush for natural looking shine. i www.tigihaircare.com 6. BRIGHTLY COLOURED LIP GLOSS: The pinker the better this season! We love these shades by Estée Lauder. i www.esteelauder.com

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7. BB CREAM: This tinted moisturiser, which hides blemishes and has a high SPF factor, has been all the rage in Asia for the last decade though it is only starting to make it big in Europe. Korean brands are best but Garnier’s Perfeccionador Prodigioso is also good. i www.garnier.com

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SAVING LIVES WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Around the World

Organ Donation and Facebook

UPDATE

id you know that 96 per cent of the population in the UK would accept an organ transplant if they needed one, but that only 30 per cent are actually on the Organ Donor Register? Or that almost half of families refuse to give consent to the donation of a relative’s organs? There are people dying every day all around the world in urgent need of transplants; currently, there are 10,000 people in the UK waiting for one. It is sad to think that so many lives are being lost, not owing to a lack of goodwill, but because of a failure to express it. Why put our families through the pain and torture of having to decide whether or not to give their consent, when all we need to do is invest a few minutes in registering as donors? Facebook plans on helping us do just that, through its support of the NHS Organ Donation programme. It might be helpful to provide a few interesting statistics regarding organ donation in the UK, as

published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. The reasons why a person might not register as an organ donor include the following: Z A disgust response to organ procurement Z A belief that a person may jinx themself, hastening their own death once they have registered Z A distrust of doctors (a belief they will not work as hard to keep the patient alive) Z Fears of afterlife consequences if physical integrity is affected Z These, meanwhile, are the most common reasons the family of a potential donor, might refuse consent: Z Feelings that the patient has suffered enough Z Concern regarding physical integrity Z Disagreements among family members Z Religious or cultural reasons Z Dissatisfaction with healthcare staff and process Z Concerns over delay to funeral process Z Unable to accept death or lack of understanding of brain death Z Concerns regarding integrity of process (e.g. organ selling) Z Family members decide organs are not suitable

Z Negativity regarding organ donation Z Emotional exhaustion There are many steps being taken to counteract the refusal to consent. These include reviewing the way in which families are approached for consent, the personnel that approaches them and the type of language used in the request process, but what is clear is that we should start taking steps of our own to declare our intentions. This is where Facebook comes in. If you already have a Facebook account, just ‘Like’ the NHS Organ Donation Campaign’ page. Within the page, click on the ‘Register Here’ window and in a few minutes, you will have officially registered as an organ donor. The online form is easy to fill, and allows you to specify the extent to which you would like to donate. After registration, Facebook asks you to add a life event to your Timeline, in the hope that you can inspire your friends, family and contacts to do the same. You can also read lots of interesting facts and stories, to see how donation has affected both recipients and the families of donors, in a positive way. They describe the pain and joy involved, in the way only someone who has lived through the process, can. Here are a few stories:

AMY RUPPEL: “I wrote and published my book. It’s a true story of hope. My daughter wished to have her organs donated if something happened to her. Tragically, four years later she was killed in a motorcycle accident. I donated her organs just as she wished and now I am writing about it. It was a wonderful thing she did. I met the recipients and love them very much. Order Lillies of Hope from authorhouse.com or amazon.com” EMILY THACKRAY: “Five years ago, my life was saved by a stranger. In their darkest hour, they found the strength to say yes to organ donation. I wouldn’t have lasted another month without my new lungs. They are the reason I’m here today and I am eternally grateful.” LINDA DOYLE: “This is my only child who (passed away) four years ago, aged 25. There is not a day goes by that I don’t shed a tear for him, as I was so proud of him then and am still so proud today as he gave a better life to three more people and one of them had a baby boy 10 weeks ago.” DENISE CLARE BRYAN: “My husband received a double transplant of a kidney and pancreas in 2008. Not only is he now off dialysis, he is no longer a diabetic. He can carry on being a great husband, father, brother, son. I thank his donor and family from the bottom of my heart; words can never explain the gift of life! Lets spread the word.” e

Gavin Henson, Wales international rugby player, supporting organ donation

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g You can also register in Spain if you reside here. For further information, UK: www.organdonation.nhs.uk Spain: www.eresperfectoparaotros.com 5/22/12 10:26 AM

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HEALTH

For many women, prolonging fertility means being able to choose motherhood when the time is right. In most cases, a woman’s career, and occasionally, certain diseases or cancer treatments, influence the delay in motherhood. Therefore, ensuring one’s reproductive life is the best way to postpone the time for pregnancy.

UPDATE

MEDICAL REASONS FOR CHOOSING VITRIFICATION

PLANNING A PREGNANCY by means of vitrification ADVANCES IN ASSISTED REPRODUCTION

WORDS DR. GEORGINA BUGELLA, HOSPITEN ESTEPONA, EMBRIOLOGY

s a woman gets older, so do her eggs and, consequently, their chromosomal quality, reducing the chances of successful pregnancy. But, how long can you postpone conception? Egg freezing treatment or vitrification is a feasible and reasonable option for the many women who postpone becoming mothers until after 35. Freezing eggs through vitrification is the best way to preserve them for long periods of time. The technique maintains intact the functions and reproductive capacity of the sex cell and provides the best results in the development of any future pregnancy. The procedure consists of extracting female gametes from the ovaries for reproduction purposes, which are then cryopreserved. In addition, a good embryo cryopreservation program is fundamental to increasing the chances of pregnancy in couples undergoing

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assisted reproduction techniques. This is what is known as cumulative pregnancy rate, which corresponds to the sum of the probabilities of conception in an IVF cycle and the transfer of extra embryos from the cycle to be preserved by means of vitrification. Embryo vitrification is usually carried out when they are two or three days old, but good results are also obtained from prolonged culture, when the embryos are five days old and are called blastocytes. In this way, the embryos suffer less damage and have greater implantation capacity. At present, this procedure gives the best results in embryo cryopreservation and should be the first choice in oocyte slow freezing. Therefore, through embryo vitrification, IVF treatments achieve cumulative pregnancy rates of 70 per cent. How does vitrification differ from other, earlier techniques? The process is as follows: “The

Vitrification is a great advance in the fight against infertility and the loss of genetic material. The most common indications are: 1 Women diagnosed with malignant diseases requiring the application of treatments that may be harmful to their capacity to reproduce (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery). 2 Women diagnosed with non-malignant diseases requiring the application of the same treatments or that may cause lesions to the ovarian germ cells (where genetic material is stored). 3 Disorders or conditions associated with a reduction of germ cell reserves: the risk of ovarian failure, ageing, etc. Ovarian failure is one of the most common causes of infertility. Women suffering from the condition present a loss of follicles and ovulate irregularly, in addition to other symptoms. 4 Preservation of fertility in women in other circumstances. oocyte or embryo is subjected to an ultra-rapid cooling process whose main characteristic, and improvement over other procedures, is the prevention of the formation of ice crystals. These crystals, at certain moments, may damage cell structures and reduce their posterior viability, as occurred with previous techniques, like slow freezing, however, a high survival rate, up to 97 per cent, is obtained with ultra-rapid cooling. The perfecting of vitrification and its results are now an encouraging reality for many women and couples who suffer infertility, opening the door for them to a future, longed-for pregnancy.

HOW IS THE TECHNIQUE CARRIED OUT? First, the temperature the oocyte is exposed to is reduced rapidly from 22ºC to minus 196ºC. The temperature is reduced at a rate of 20,000 degrees per minute, whereas with more traditional methods the rate was 0.3ºC per minute. To prevent freeze damage to the eggs, cryoprotectants are used and they are then frozen in liquid nitrogen.

g CN 340, km 162, Estepona. Tel: 952 760 600. www.hospiten.es 5/22/12 10:28 AM

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The Diverging Roads

WORDS DR. MARK LANE

ADVICE

TO HEALTH

Western society is becoming increasingly unhealthy with more and more chronic diseases than ever before, despite more money being spent on ‘healthcare’. At the same time, there is a growing trend in society to move away from mainstream medicine and spend our own money on so-called alternative medicine.

he reasons for the growth in popularity of alternative or complementary medicine are multiple, however what is pleasing to me is a large part of this is due to the growing tendency for individuals to take control of their health. How alternative medicine can offer solutions that mainstream medicine cannot, I believe, goes back to the foundations of both forms of medicine.

Solid Foundations Influence Structural Integrity The foundation of conventional medicine is built around The Germ Theory of Disease, which was popularised by Louis Pasteur. His experiments supposedly ‘proved’ this theory and it established him as a cornerstone of Modern Medical History. The germ theory of disease says that there are fixed, external germs which invade the body and cause a variety of separate, definable diseases. In order to get well, you need to identify and then kill whatever germ made you sick. Hence medicine employs drugs, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to eradicate the unwanted agent. Prevention includes the use of vaccines as well as drugs, which theoretically work by keeping germs at bay. Pasteur had an intelligent opponent named 98 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Antoine Beauchamp who completely rejected Pasteur’s ideas and postulated that the biological terrain of the being is the cause of disease, not the germ itself. Beauchamp believed that germs and parasites could only survive in the body when the conditions were favourable for them to survive. The mere exposure to germs is not enough to get sick. Research by Beauchamp seemed to prove that most diseases are the result of unhealthy tissues, and that bacterium and viruses are largely aftereffects instead of causes of disease. History tells us that mainstream medicine sidelined with Pasteur’s germ theory, perhaps owing in large part to the fact that the theory propagated its survival through the use of drugs and treatments for fighting germs. After all, had Beauchamp’s discoveries been incorporated into the medical curriculum in eliminating the cause of disease, what would have happened to the now multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry?

The Old or the New It is interesting that the germ theory of medicine stands in stark contrast to thousands of years of man looking to nature to nourish and heal, dating back to ancient Chinese medicine which treated the whole body instead of the symptoms of illness.

As Hippocrates, the ‘Father of Medicine’ observed 2,400 years ago, “Nature is the physician of man.” Hippocrates also advised: “Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pots if you can cure your patient with food.” Do we then need modern medicine? We still do. Medical doctors play an amazing role in acute life-saving events. Their ability to save the life of someone close to death, as the result of a trauma is extraordinary. However their ability to improve an individual’s health is not so extraordinary. The not-so-shining example is the USA. They use 50 per cent of the world’s pharmaceuticals and spend more per person on medicine than any other nation, yet have one of the poorest health records in the developed world.

The Need for Individual Responsibility The over-emphasis of modern medicine on the pharmaceutical model and the ‘silver bullet’ approach has led to a disempowerment of individuals over their own health during the past few decades, during which we have seen a huge rise in chronic illness. The reason? Drugs cannot heal a sick terrain. The problem is that, after having our life saved, we continue on our way as if we are totally healed when all we’ve been given is a short reprieve. We are still sick. The journey towards healing and health must start. Optimal neurological function, proper nutrition, as well as detoxification, and a balanced lifestyle, help to heal our terrain and return our body to health. More importantly, they help us maintain good health. Thomas Edison must have had some insight into health when he said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

g Marbella Chiropractic. Urb. Guadalmina Alta, C.C. 4, Local 8, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 880 398. www.marbellachiropractic.com 5/22/12 10:22 AM

Discover the Shanti-Som Experience HOTEL - DETOX - YOGA - SPA - RESTAURANT

Relax, Restore, Rejuvanate ...only 10 minutes from Marbella Open daily for lunch to the public

Ctra. de Ojen km 22 - A355 Monda - Marbella Tel: 952 86 44 55 or 628 79 30 13

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SHANTI-SOM We l l b e i n g R e t r e a t 2/24/12 2:02 PM

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LIFE-COACH

Shivani Mair is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and Professional Communicator, Creative by Nature Ltd. Tel +44 20 3286 7764. Em contact@shivanimair.com Follow online www.shivanimair.com Youtube Channels ShivaniMair1 and CreativebyNature1 Twitter @shivanipresents and @cr8ivebynature

on’t get mad if you lose money, because you can always get it back. Be more precious with your time, because you can’t get time back once it’s gone. Z Allocate 20 minutes (max) at the start of each week to plan and prioritise your actions into two categories: ‘what I need to do’ and ‘what I’d love to do’. This focused power planning time, will help you avoid hours of time wasting. Also, when unexpected issues crop up, you can make an instant decision on where to focus your energy and limited time. Z Become aware of what distracts you. For one week, at the end of the day, spend five minutes logging what the main distractions were. What takes you off target? Where do you get lost in time? What tasks are you avoiding. Don’t judge what you find – just notice it. Z Allocate strict start and end times for each task. Put an alarm for tasks that you know you’re likely to get carried away with. Z Allocate two scheduled slots in a day for dealing with emails (the exception being urgent emails). Letting your colleagues know these times will also manage their expectations and encourage them to speak to you directly for small queries. It is vital to notice when you’re spending all your time just replying to mounting emails. Ask yourself: Is this the best use of your time? Z If you’re constantly finding that others distract you with their needs, try politely asking “Is it urgent?” If it isn’t, give them another time to come back to you. You can reassure them that you’ll be able to give your full attention if they give you more notice. Remember, most people are not mind readers so you need to be clear about when is and is not a good time for you. Z Allocate one 20 minute ‘fun / me time’ break each day – this is your unrestricted time to do whatever you class as fun – from Facebook chatting, to shopping on ebay, meeting a friend for coffee, going for a walk or reading a book. Scientists have proven that having fun reduces stress and recharges our energy levels which allow us to stay focused for longer.

We’ve all wished at some point, that there were more hours in a day or more euros in the bank. The bad news is even if that wish came true it’s likely that you would ‘need’ more soon after. The great news is that you’re not alone, and are about to receive some easy tips that will help you use your money and time more effectively. So whether you’re a business owner or a full time parent, I challenge you to try at least one of these tips and take what works best for you.

Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish to go but it cannot replace the driver. Z A price tag is an invitation to practice your negotiation/haggling skills. Contrary to popular belief, haggling doesn’t need to be aggressive; it can be fun and you can try it in most places. So I challenge you to get creative with haggling on your next shopping trip. Try flirting with the sales assistant, ask for a discount when buying more than one item or try the straight-up approach and say: “I love this product/service but it’s out of my price range. What’s the best price you can do?” The worst outcome is you’ll get is a “No”. Z The purpose of money is to gain things you want and need, right? So try eliminating money from the equation altogether and swap your skills, time and resources with other people. Otherwise known as bartering, it’s a fantastic way to build relationships, refine your skills and achieve what you need, without spending a penny. Z Find people from your networks to borrow or hire from, especially if you need the item for a short time. Z Try to repair what’s broken before dumping it for a new shiny one. Z If your heart’s set on something that costs a substantial amount, curb the desire to impulse buy by opening a separate bank account and save small amounts each week. One of two things will happen: A. You’ll cherish the item or service more because you’ve saved for it or B. You will realise you don’t want it as much as you thought. Plus you’ll have some cash saved.

BEING RESOURCEFUL with your time and money I’d love to hear your feedback after trying these tips, especially what did and didn’t work for you. Send your emails to contact@shivanimair.com

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spa HEALTH

THE NEW

ENDYMED

PRO 3DEEP, THE LATEST FDA approved treatment for body contouring and facial skin

ge, sun exposure, and genetics can result in unsightly wrinkles and loose skin, both on the face and other parts of the body. Improving its global approach to beauty enhancement, the Marbella Vein and Beauty Clinic has added the EndyMed PRO 3DEEP machine to the range of services on offer. (www.endymed.com). It employs a new generation of Radio Frequency (RF) energy which has multiple medical and aesthetic applications including body contouring and skin tightening for the face and body. It is one of the first centres in Spain to offer this cutting-edge skintightening technology that can provide excellent results without the stress and recovery period involved in cosmetic surgery.

How does it work?

PUBLIREPORTAJE

What are the differences between the 3DEEP and the other RF devices available on the market? Firstly, this is one of the few FDA approved devices which means that studies have been conducted to prove its efficiency and safety. Secondly, unlike unipolar energy which is very painful for the patient, and bipolar energy which is harder to control, this newest radio frequency uses an advanced, multi-source, phase-controlled technology treatment which delivers energy safely and precisely for maximum effectiveness with no patient discomfort. Thirdly, the unique benefit of this treatment is that it can be used on all skin types without the risk of hyperpigmentation. EndyMed™ is appropriate for both women and men and for all skin types from fair to dark, including tanned skins and can be used any time of the year. Because of its ability to target specific areas,

g The Marbella Vein Clinic

Tel. Marbella: 952 867 003. Tel. Gibraltar: (+350) 200 77777. info@marbellavein.com www.marbellavein.com EndyMed: www.endymed.com you can choose a facial tightening procedure, body tightening treatment, or body contouring treatments. The 3DEEP treats the face, neck, décolletage (upper torso just above the breasts), upper arms, thigh, abdomen, hips and buttocks. EndyMed 3DEEP™ can also shape, smooth and tighten skin in smaller, harder-to-treat areas, such as the neck, upper arms, chest and knees.

The newest treatment that will lift and tighten skin without surgery, treat wrinkles and cellulite with no pain or downtime During the procedure, the device is placed on the skin’s surface and gently massaged over the treatment area in a circular motion. The area slowly warms as energy is delivered into the skin. Many patients have described it as a warm massage and say it is an extremely relaxing treatment. The session

BEFORE

lasts between 30 to 45 minutes. Usually patients receive 4 treatments performed at 1 week intervals, and then have 2 additional treatments at 2 week intervals. Physicians encourage a follow-up about 3 months after the last session. Results start showing after the first session and improve with time.

Advantages: Z Provides targeted, controlled, painless deep heat delivery for treatment of wrinkles and face and body skin tightening and contouring. Z ‘Lunch time’ procedure. Z Enables superior efficacy with no discomfort and ultimate safety with little or no downtime. Z Enables personalised treatments tailored to each patient’s unique skin characteristics through sophisticated real time tissue sensors and feedback mechanisms. Z All parts of the body and any colour of skin can be treated in any season. Z Progressive results show at the end of each session and continue over the months to follow.

TREATMENTS

The treatment works by delivering radio frequency energy to heat the subsurface layers of skin in order to cause collagen contraction and remodelling, resulting in tighter, younger looking skin. The device uses sophisticated technology that controls the divergence of energy, directing the radio frequency waves through the epidermis and forcing them deeper, resulting in collagen remodelling and volumetric tightening. Basically, by delivering energy to the deepest layers of skin, the 3DEEP stimulates new collagen production and improves skin surface texture. As new healthier collagen is formed, tighter, more natural looking and firmer skin will be produced. The gradual improvement in your skin will continue even after completion of the treatment series.

TIGHTENING

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

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thepro NEWS /ENTERPRISE / LOCAL BUSINESS /

PROFILES / FINANCE / LAW

THE HUMAN BODY EXHIBITION COMES TO MARBELLA The Human Body Exhibition, one of the most famous scientific exhibitions in the world, will be coming to the Palacio de Congresos in Marbella on June 15. Featuring over 200 pieces including complete human bodies, parts of organs, etc., the items on display have been meticulously dissected, allowing visitors to observe the inner workings of the human body. All items are real and have been preserved thanks to a technique known as plastination. The exhibition will run until September 14. g Tel: 950 828 244.

www.thehumanbodymarbella.com

IT’S ALL HAPPENING AT OCEAN VILLAGE IN GIBRALTAR Ocean Village has been a hub of activity recently. Firstly, after seven years and significant financial investment, Gibraltar’s Allabroad Sailing Academy earned MCA (UK Maritime Coastguard Agency) approval for the STCW-95 (Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping) Basic Safety Training Courses. The STCW-95 Training Centre will give yacht crews and captains a great reason to stop off in Gibraltar for the purposes of crew changes and training. Ocean Village was also elated to receive a 21-metre cargo ship called Phoenicia, which last visited Gibraltar two years ago. The ship is a replica of a traditional Phoenician cargo ship from 600BC, whose beauty and historical value is noteable.

g www.oceanvillage.gi

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BUSY DAYS AT ALOHA COLLEGE The students at Aloha College were busy as bees recently, taking part in a host of activities. Year two and three students participated in the ‘Pequemaratón’ Sports Day, competing in a variety of circuits with children from other local schools. Students also took part in the second InterSchool Chess Tournament, held at the Marbella Palacio de Congresos. Four of the school’s eight participants were ranked in the Top 8, receiving trophies for their excellent results. Pupils also shone in the arts, with IB students exhibiting the results of their two-year Visual Arts course at the Palacio de Congresos. Finally, Aloha has announced that Summer School will take place this year from July 2 to 27, from 9:30am to 2pm, featuring a wide range of academic, sporting and creative activities, plus trips and adventure days. g www.aloha-college.com

Nicole Gallo's Cheerios Model

Silvia Rameken and her work

GLAMOUR AND SOLIDARITY AT DA BRUNO Da Bruno restaurants are always popular with international celebrities and the team was delighted to receive a visit from Danish actor, Peter Reichhardt. The thespian dined with jewellery designer Peter Christian-Rex Nielsen, designer of the gorgeous bracelets which can be found on www.frontfashion. com. Da Bruno also showed its support for Help to Help Run, a fundraising charity run organised by the Club de Leones de Marbella Lengua Alemana. All monies raised went to the Costa del Sol Food Bank (Bancosol), which feeds the impoverished in Málaga and Marbella. g www.dabruno.com

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©KH Photography

Clínica Premium presents the Premium Card Clínica Premium recently presented the new Premium Card, which offers access to private medical services and preferential, exclusive care at an affordable price with significant advantages. For just €16 a month, you can receive private medical attention, personalised care and follow-up service from renowned specialists, emergency attention and much more. Best of all, there is no age limit and no need for a prior medical examination. g For further information, please contact Tel: 902 300 031. www.clinicapremium.com

The Joy of Giving at Arboretum Marbella Arboretum Marbella recently held a unique fair attended by over 500 people, who took home everything from books right through to televisions, kitchen appliances, magazine collections, paintings, toys and more, in an effort to promote solidarity and sustainability. The motto of the event was ‘Giving is Free’, since the idea was not to exchange goods but to give them away, with nothing expected in return.

g www.arboretummarbella.org

An Adrenalin Rush with Ascari Qualities such as motivation, optimism, excitement and efficiency recently took pole position at Adrenaline, a networking event for entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to survive and thrive in a tough economic climate Dr. Stephen Covey presented the talk The Seven Habits of Highly Efficient People, using metaphors from the car world to reveal how we can improve future results. The event was organised by Gregorio del Pino of XPANSIONA and sponsored by the Ascari Circuit in Ronda. Visitors had a great time afterwards taking a spin on the Ascari circuit.

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Dave Roy: Skydiving for the Royal British Legion Dave Roy is a daring 74-year-old who will be taking part in his very first sky dive on June 5, leaping from a plane at approximately 10,000 feet over Seville to raise funds for the Royal British Legion’s Southern Spain district. Dave has served for over 38 years in H.M. Forces with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Royal Signals, in Borneo, Aden, Malaya and Northern Ireland. g Donations can be made

on www.justgiving.com/dave-roy-skydive

Irish Whiskey Tasting event at Villa El Campanario The Irish Club of Marbella recently held a fun-filled Irish whiskey tasting event, featuring the attendance of whiskey sommelier, Patrick Scanlan. Deluxe whiskeys tasted included a Blackbush, Jameson 12-year reserve, 10-year Bushmills, Connemara malt and Greenore single grain. The audience enjoyed two hours of tutored tasting in a structured but convivial format, as well as talks on the history and folklore of Irish Whiskey and the Spanish connection.

g www.irishclubmarbella.com

How Internet Has Changed Literature, Journalism and Marketing There is no doubt that the Internet has changed the way we live and breath. The Asociación Sociocultural e Histórica de San Pedro de Alcantára recently held a conference on how the Web has affected literature, journalism and marketing practices in particular, with speakers including writer Ignacio García Valiño, journalist Héctor Barbotta and Public Relations and Marketing expert, Charo Moreno. g www.facebook.com/SanPedro1860

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DOM PATTINSON AT ART WANSON The Art Wanson Gallery at the Marbella Club Hotel recently invited a select group of art buffs to a private preview of works by Dom Pattinson, an urban artist with sell-out collections in London, Paris and New York. Experimenting with printmaking and painting, Dom Pattinson captures the essence of daily life and adds hints of satire and idealistic visuals. His work will be on show until June 6. g Tel: 650

463 130. www.artwansongallery.com

MARBELLA BUSINESS GROUP: NETWORKING WITH A DIFFERENCE Marbella Business Group is a new networking organisation formed to increase business for its members. The group holds weekly breakfast meetings on Thursdays at 8am at the Senator Hotel in Marbella, to discuss relevant matters, promote their respective businesses, introduce new members to the group and see how they can be of help to each other.

g For further information, www. marbellabusinessgroup.com

LOCAL HAIRDRESSER CYCLES AROUND IBIZA FOR CHARITY Shaun Clark, a stylist at The English Cut in Calahonda, recently joined John Frieda and friends in a unique cycle challenge to raise funds for HAIRraising, an appeal to build two new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Shaun, a keen cyclist, is choosing the off-road challenge, which involves a gruelling 150kms with inclines and a rugged terrain. Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children's hospitals, where hope is given to children who are suffering from rare, complex and often life-threatening conditions. g Anyone wishing to donate can pop into

the salon, call Tel: 952 931 510, or donate directly online on www.justgiving.com/shaun-clark3. 106 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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EIC Wins in Soccer Competition in Milan The English International College (EIC) was again victorious in the under-14 Mediterranean Cup for International Schools. The team competed against a total of 18 schools from all over Europe in the largest international tournament of its kind. The team remained unbeaten in the group stages after beating teams from Prague, Geneva, Rome and Milan. In the quarter finals, they triumphed 6-1 against Tasis Lugano (Switzerland), then, in a thrilling final against New School Rome, goals from captain Sam Hall and Buster Hoy helped them claim the trophy for the second time in three years. g www.eicmarbella.org

Ophthalmological Emergencies Course and Implant Unit Launch at Xanit Hospital The Xanit International Hospital in Benalmádena recently held a course on ophthalmological emergencies for its staff. Ophtalmological emergencies represent an important percentage of the total number of emergency cases attended to at the Xanit, with patients suffering from problems such as red eyes, corneal-conjunctival problems, pain and loss of vision. The Xanit was also the first private hospital in Málaga to open a Cochlear Implant Unit, aimed at helping patients recover their hearing, and offering rehabilitation for deafness with neuro-sensorial origins. g Tel: 952 367 190. www.xanit.net

Swans School: Pupil Pride Swans School is particularly proud of its students for two reasons: first, Year 11 student Bader AlDugheithir attained the joint Highest International Subject Mark for his IGSCE Spanish paper in the Summer 2011 examination session. Additionally, students from the Primary and Secondary schools obtained excellent results in an inter-school chess competition at the Palacio de Congresos, with Year four student, Lance Henderson, taking home victory in his category.

g www.swansschoolinternational.es

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Concordia Commemorates World AIDS Orphans Day AIDS charity Concordia recently commemorated World AIDS Orphans Day, with Association President, Princess María Luisa of Prussia, highlighting the plight of millions of children who have become orphaned by the dreaded illness. Additionally, a series of talks were held for the children at the Simón Fernández public school in Estepona and afterwards, children gave speeches and released red balloons into the sky. Concordia is also proud to announce that Princess María Luisa of Prussia was recently given the Golden Heart of Europe prize by the Agrupación Española de Fomento Europeo.

g wwww.concordiamarbella.com

Photography Workshops with Paul Yaffé: ‘Looking For The Light’ If you’ve always wanted to take professional looking phototraphs, why not sign up for Looking for the Light, a new workshop offered by Paul Yaffé? Paul is a leading portrait photographer with over 50 years’ experience behind the lens. You will discover many important techniques, including how to use daylight to create interesting and flattering effects, camera positioning, body positioning and weight distribution. You’ll also see lots of examples from this master of photography and learn how to obtain convincing and emotive expressions from your subjects. g For

further information, Tel: 951 406 809/ 620 368 954. www.yaffefusionart.com

Forum on Cardiovascular Disease in Women by Hospiten The Hospiten Estepona Cardiology unit recently held a forum to analyse factors which help identify women who are at a greater risk of suffering from heart disease. The event brought together renowned experts in the field, including Dr. Antonio Ramírez (Head of the Hospiten Estepona Cardiology Department), Dr. Suárez de Lezo (a pioneer in interventional cardiology in Spain) and Dr. Rafael Llorens (a prestigious cardiovascular surgeon). g www.hospiten.com

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©Simon Bayne Photography

PALM ISLE LAUNCHES ON THE GOLDEN MILE Palm Isle Gourmet Bistro recently held a well-attended launch, delighting guests with its opulent Provencalstyle décor and a mouth-watering international menu, which includes 50 different dishes clients can enjoy at the restaurant, or take away. Star dishes include everything from a fresh tabouleh, to hearty Marisco Pancakes with Champagne sauce to classic salads such as smoked salmon and Caesar. Main courses include beef, lamb, chicken, salmon, meatballs, pastas and a medley of vegetarian side orders and to finish a vast selection of heavenly puddings, all accompanied by an excellent range of wines. Palm Isle Gourmet Bistro opens Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays) from 8.30am (serving breakfast), to 9pm and throughout the summer months until 10pm. A catering service for events and parties is also available.

g The Oasis Centre, CN 340, Km. 183, Local 11, Golden Mile, Marbella. Tel: 952 864 699.

GULLIVER: SIZE DOES MATTER! Tip Top Spain SL offers lovers of the great outdoors a whole new reason to style up their garden or poolside area: Gulliver, a larger-than-life parasol made of waterproof fabrics which is ideal for use during sunny or rainy days. It also makes an ideal smoking point outside homes, bars and cafés.

g For further information , contact Tip Top Spain SL on Tel: 661 030 816. www.tiptopspain.com

FUNDRAISING AND SPORT AT THE BRITISH SCHOOL MARBELLA Students at the British School of Marbella learned the importance of giving and receiving, taking part in two memorable events. First, they learned all about fundraising, helping to raise €600 for Butterfly Children charity, DEBRA. Additionally, they enjoyed a visit from Spanish national player, Santi Cazorla, who hosted a football skills workshop. The Málaga winger spent the afternoon teaching them crucial skills, before showing off some of his best moves. Santi, 27, whose son goes to the school, then organised an impromptu game between the children, before jetting off to Barcelona for an important game against the Catalan Giants. g www.bsm.org.es

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THE PRO property

STEADY

Gibraltar’s Residential Property Market

AS THE ROCK! WORDS MIKE NICHOLLS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CHESTERTON

The view from Buena Vista Mews

ibraltar’s property market is predominantly taxdriven. That’s why, as a chartered accountant, I spend as much of my time on property as I do on tax. It’s because they are intrinsically linked. Companies and high net worth individuals continue to relocate to Gibraltar slowly but surely. And with companies, come employees, across the entire wage spectrum.

Why buy in Gibraltar?

Gibraltar’s residential property market remains in good health, so says chartered accountant Mike Nicholls, Managing Director of Chesterton in Gibraltar. Here he explains the key dynamics of a small but thriving property market.

Gibraltar is an onshore EU economy, compliant with the Organisation for Co-operation and Economic Development (OECD) regulations and International Monetary Fund (IMF) standards. It is this credibility, and low tax rates, that attract new entrants: both individuals and companies. To become tax resident, one needs to rent or buy a property. But it isn’t just tax. The schools are good, the health system functions well, the history is fascinating and the natural environment, whether the nature reserve at the top of the Rock, or the surrounding marine life, provides a huge choice of activities and pastimes. Furthermore, the climate, English language, familiar shops, trusted legal system and ease with which one can access the major European destinations all add to its attraction. Perhaps most striking though is the friendliness of its inhabitants. People of all religions and of all levels of wealth live quite harmoniously together, side by side, with very few cracks in the community infrastructure. From that point of view, it is an example to the rest of the world.

The development years There are some 12,000 residential properties in total in Gibraltar. In the early 2000s, demand for quality property easily outstripped supply. This attracted new developers into the Gibraltar market building properties aimed at incoming ex-pats, including high net worth individuals or company employees. The popular Ocean Village, a mixed-use marina offering residential and commercial property, launched its offplan sales in 2003 and sold out its 133 apartments within a month. This in itself attracted further development from other builders as, clearly, the demand was there. Tradewinds, by Taylor Woodrow, soon followed with 81 apartments overlooking the Ocean Village marina, closely followed by the Anchorage (120 apartments), Ocean Village phase II (180) and the most recently completed developments around Gibraltar’s other marina, Queensway Quay, known as King’s Wharf (120) and the Sails (48). That equates to some 680 apartments released between 2006 and 2010. And all, bar a handful of apartments, have been sold, the vast majority of which, off-plan. The market has easily absorbed this new supply without any drop in prices. Certain properties at the lower price levels were built by the government strictly for its own citizens satisfying certain criteria which excludes new entrants. The purchase of these properties is tightly regulated.

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Who is buying and renting? Locals moving up and down the property ladder, new entrants and buy-to-let landlords are all buying properties currently. Property investors are taking advantage of the strong levels of employment by buying apartments to rent out. Gross yields of five per cent in the best locations to seven per cent in the more affordable locations are being achieved. Coupled with continued expectations of capital growth in the mid to long term, such returns remain attractive. And few voids are encountered, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum, as companies moving employees to Gibraltar rent before they buy while others seeking to buy may be struggling with the higher deposit levels required in this new era, so choose to rent. In my own agency, Chesterton, lettings are 18 per cent up year on year, which reflects the strength of this particular market sector.

Demand and supply Typically, what drives any property market is the balance between demand and supply. The most obvious example of this is the Spanish property market today, where demand is low due to a general lack of confidence, whereas the supply of unsold properties probably exceeds one million. This imbalance is driving prices lower. In Gibraltar, property buyers remain confident and demand is robust. The supply increased in those years and virtually all of the properties have been sold. Hence the continuing steady inflow of new entrants ensures that property prices

are at least maintained and, if there is no new significant supply in the short term, this will lead to further price increases in the mid to long term.

Lower prices in Spain The decreasing prices in Spain do have some attraction to would-be buyers of Gibraltar property. You get much more for your money in Spain than Gibraltar in terms of property size. And on this measure alone, Spain will attract buyers away from Gibraltar. However, tax residency of Gibraltar requires a property purchase or rental in Gibraltar, so for tax reasons, many buyers cannot consider Spain. The border issues also dissuade some employees of Gibraltar companies from living in Spain, who prefer to commute out of Gibraltar for day trips at weekends for example, than commute into Gibraltar for their working week. There is also a significant difference in the tax position of purchasing a property (max. 10 per cent stamp duty in Spain, 3.5 per cent in Gibraltar) and on property ownership (max. 2.5 per cent annual wealth tax in Spain, zero in Gibraltar).

their liking in one jurisdiction, they can opt to go somewhere else in the world. Hong Kong, Singapore, Monaco, and Switzerland, amongst others, are all competitors (in one way or another) of Gibraltar. In their selection process, higher net worth individuals and companies seek lower tax and improved lifestyle for themselves and their employees. Companies also need to ensure that there is a sufficient labour market, political stability, trusted legal basis and nearly always, a reliable IT infrastructure for their requirements. But in addition to this, the property choice needs to be right. Monaco fetches £40,000 - £70,000

per square metre of residential property whilst Hong Kong and Switzerland are averaging around £20,000 per m2 in the smarter parts. More in the prime exclusive locations. Ocean Village in Gibraltar trades at an average of £5,000 per m2, higher for the marina facing penthouses, less for the road facing lower floors, whereas King’s Wharf averages £4,400 per m2. The Island in Queensway Quay exceeds £6,000 per m2 and achieves the highest per square metre rate of any of the existing developments. On an international comparable basis, it makes Gibraltar properties seem very cheap indeed.

A four-bedroom, three-bathroom house for £1,950,000 in the South District

International competition So although Gibraltar’s property market competes, to a limited extent, with Spain due to its geographical location, it perhaps competes more so, with other international low tax jurisdictions. Unlike most of the population of any particular country, many companies and most high net worth individuals are able to choose where they reside. And if political issues, bureaucracy, lifestyle or tax is not to

The terrace of a Tradewinds penthouse

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New developments What Gibraltar does not have much of however, are high-end quality homes. So the decision by some high net worth individuals to choose, say, Switzerland over Gibraltar, may not be so much about the tax or the lifestyle but about the availability of a suitable property. The property market in Gibraltar is responding to this. So just as developers recognised the lack of quality apartments and addressed this issue over the last few years, developers have now turned their attention to providing a new supply of high-end housing. Three such developments are an example of this. Firstly, Buena Vista Mews, a well built development of five townhouses with four bedrooms and two bathrooms in the south district of Gibraltar, has just completed and are all ready for occupation. Two properties have sold and a further one is under offer. The remaining ones start at £725,000. The properties share a communal pool and all have parking and terracing. Already under construction, Buena Vista Park, also in the south district, has stunning uninterrupted south and west facing views across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. Formally the headquarters of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, the

site has a long and established military history dating back to the late 1700s. Many of the remaining structures including the perimeter walls, regimental headquarters, barracks and two gun emplacements date back to the 1800’s and will be sensitively restored and preserved for the future. The development, over three phases, will be a gated community comprising villas and townhouses merging modern materials and technology with a unique heritage structure. Phase One, a collection of six spacious villas with their own pool and garden, and nine townhouses, is already under construction with completion set for late 2013. Such is the demand that deposits have already been taken on some of the properties. Prices start at £955,000 for the townhouses and £2,375,000 for the villas. Phases Two and Three, to be built on the same sought after site, will allow for the creation of bespoke homes personalised for the higher level client, subject always though, to planning consent. This proposition is unique in Gibraltar and is attracting much interest already. The third development, to be called The Sanctuary, has achieved outline planning permission and is currently being prepared for full planning consent. The Sanctuary

will be on a site, which is currently being cleared for the build, set higher up the Rock and within a naturally beautiful setting adjacent to Gibraltar’s Nature Reserve. The views are breathtaking. The Sanctuary will be a private enclave of luxury and elegance. Just five very special villas, with private and secure gated access, and internal space of some 1,000m2. Each villa will have its own private pool, spacious indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, waterfalls, open air en-suite bathrooms, a gymnasium with sauna and Jacuzzi and the ultimate haven of expansive rooftop gardens.

The fact that developers built apartments a few years ago to satisfy demand then, and are now looking at the higher quality end of the Gibraltar property market, building houses, demonstrates how Gibraltar itself is becoming more attractive to a high end buyer.

Who can buy? Anyone can buy a non-regulated property in Gibraltar. Any EU national has the right to work in Gibraltar and as a result become a resident if they have employment or other means of supporting themselves. Otherwise, residency will be considered subject to application.

g Mike Nicholls is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association and a board member of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. Mike operates the Chesterton estate agency in Gibraltar and has his own real estate investment solutions consultancy.

The Island - Queensway Quay – five bedrooms plus guest accommodation, plus berth – £4,200,000

Buena Vista Park

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g CHESTERTON, Suite 41/42 Victoria House, 26 Main Street, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 40041. www.chesterton.gi 5/22/12 10:40 AM

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THE PRO business perspectives

WORDSSAMMY CRUZ ARMSTRONG

NEW HORIZON

Gibraltar has not suffered from the Eurozone/Spanish property decline. Why? The property market in Gibraltar has demonstrated remarkable stability over the past five years, even though its size grew significantly through the large number of new property developments delivered since 2006. The Spanish market, in contrast, has fallen between 30 and 50 per cent over the same period.

he main reason for the continued resilience of the property market is based on the solidity and growth of the economy of Gibraltar which, for 2012, expects a government budget surplus of £50m and continues to enjoy virtually zero unemployment, a unique scenario in the European Union. In fact, it is estimated that Gibraltar employs around 10,000 workers from Spain (5,000 formally employed, the rest in services). A British Overseas Territory with a population of aroun d 30,000 people, Gibraltar is fully integrated in the EU, although not part of the Customs Union and therefore exempt from VAT. Gibraltar’s currency is pegged to the UK Pound Sterling. The main drivers of The Rock’s economy are tourism – it receives over 10 million visitors per year – perhaps more per capita than anywhere else in the world; financial; legal and insurance services; one of the largest bunkering operations (ships’ fuel and supplies) in the Mediterranean: and, in recent years, The Rock has attracted the cream of the European gaming industry.

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A booming and expanding global economy within the EU

The past six years have seen a dramatic increase in property developments which have brought a total of 1,000 new residential units to the market. This growth has been largely fuelled by the boost to Gibraltar’s economy, created by new legal developments. The first was the move to Gibraltar of several UK gaming companies to take advantage of Gibraltar’s European low tax jurisdiction and exemplary gaming legislation. Today, The Rock can rightly be called Europe’s gaming capital and the industry has brought with it a considerable influx of mid- and high-income employees as residents. The second was the change to Gibraltar taxation law, which standardised the corporate income tax rate at 10 per cent for revenues worldwide. These changes, added to the continued growth of Gibraltar’s financial services industry, have attracted almost 800 new employees and their families to Gibraltar in recent years and created a corresponding surge in development, catering for a broad price spectrum ranging between £180,000 for a studio up to £2 million for a large penthouse. The majority of these developments were sold offplan at the beginning of 2006 and 2007 as buy-tolet investments and have subsequently resold many times at what one would consider a reasonable profit. It is worth noting that this positive development took place against the background of recession in most established European markets.

An attractive tax efficient residency status opens up high-end residential market Another legal and economic development in Gibraltar has also begun to strongly influence the property sales and development market. The creation of the Category 2 resident status for high net worth individuals, with over £2m in liquid assets,

means that such new residents can now enjoy a fixed, flat income tax rate in Gibraltar starting at £22,000 per annum. Added to this is the fact that Gibraltar has no capital gains tax, inheritance tax or wealth tax. Whereas previously many of those interested in Gibraltar’s tax efficient residency schemes might have considered a property investment in nearby Spain, such as in Sotogrande, the reeling Spanish market has now convinced them that high-end investment in Gibraltar is safer, as it is made in sterling rather than in the Euros. The inherent nature of The Rock’s property market, which has limited geographical resources, provides additional assurance that a high-end property investment will continue to hold its value.

Safe, good-value real estate investment at reasonable prices coupled with tax efficiency The top of Gibraltar’s residential market was previously dominated by old historical properties and new penthouse style apartments in the waterfront developments. With the advent of Cat 2 residency, there are now some exclusive developments underway which take advantage of spectacular space released by the Ministry of Defence. One such development is Buena Vista Park Villas (www.buenavistaparkvillas.com). These locations permit designs which herald a new era in luxurious living in Gibraltar with all amenities and spectacular unobstructed sea views over the legendary Straits. New developments in the upper bracket range from villas and town houses around the £1 million mark to exclusive private homes over £10 million. These prices are very much top-end for Gibraltar, yet offer far better value than in any comparable tax jurisdiction in Europe. The designs and locations will attract HNWIs to not only look at Gibraltar as a favourable tax jurisdiction, but also as a place for safe home investment in one of the most beautiful corners of Europe.

g Sammy Cruz Armstrong is the Director of Savills Gibraltar. Icom House, Suite 1B, Irish Town, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 66633. www.savills.gi 5/25/12 2:09 PM

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THE PRO finance

GIBRALTAR WORDS JOEY IMOSSI

AN ONSHORE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CENTRE

The Round Table’s motto of ‘adopt, adapt and improve’ is certainly one that describes The Rock’s ability to move with the times and has lead to continued growth over the last few years. A surplus is also expected to be announced again this year and is currently rumoured to be around the £50 million mark, which, when considering our size and the current worldwide economic situation, is something to be extremely pleased about.

So what is it that has made Gibraltar successful? I believe there are a number of reasons; one being the various pillars of our economy: Finance, Tourism, Gaming and the Port. Another must be the fact that we are small and in this climate, this is quite beneficial as it allows for the government and industry itself to detect potential issues early and then take swift action to change direction. It is far easier to skipper a speedboat into port for safety than a super tanker! An example of this was back in 2009, when the OECD’s requirement to have a minimum number of tax exchange agreements in place, by a given deadline, was dealt with promptly and achieved within time. This not only lead to Gibraltar being white listed on the OECD’s list of cooperative jurisdictions but also demonstrated, on an international level, that Gibraltar was serious and committed to meeting international requirements. Another change in direction, and by far the most important one as it moved The Rock’s position from offshore to onshore, is the territory’s new corporate tax regime. The new corporate tax rate of 10 per cent across the board, together with residency benefits, attracts many companies and individuals to Gibraltar. So what are these benefits and why set up in Gibraltar? I think this may be best explained by way of an example.

Meet Joe Noman Joe is a successful entrepreneur and has set up various successful businesses around the world. Joe travels often but is soon to be married. He and his wife, Linda, are hoping to start a family and are looking for somewhere to settle. In addition to this, Joe is also considering the establishment of a fund for his latest venture and begins his research to find the most suitable jurisdiction. Taking the above into consideration Joe and Linda’s main concerns could be: Z Language barriers Z Education and health services Z Equal, or improved lifestyle Z A desire to remain close to family and friends who are mostly in Europe Z Reasonable corporate and personal tax regime Z Highly qualified professionals within an efficient financial sector Z Efficient banking services and recognised institutions Z Easy access to and from the jurisdiction Z Good communication services. Learning that Gibraltar’s laws and education system are based on those of the UK, its language is English with Spanish widely spoken, its climate is dry with some 300 days of sunshine a year and that it is not an island, but an isthmus connected to mainland Spain and therefore Europe at large, arouses their interest. They soon discover that while being a physically small territory, there is in fact a lot to enjoy within close proximity. Skiing in winter is a three-hour drive away, beautiful beaches on both the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are on their doorstep, golf courses to suit anyone’s ability abound and another continent is only a 45-minute ferry trip away. Feeling quite content that the first four points are covered, Joe now considers his position and the setting up of his new fund. He soon learns about Gibraltar’s Category 2 (or ‘Cat 2’) Status, a residency status that upon meeting certain requirements, will limit his personal worldwide income to a maximum local taxation of £29,880 per annum. In order to successfully apply

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for Cat 2, Joe will need to demonstrate that his financial status exceeds the level of £2,000,000. He will also have to provide a CV detailing his qualifications, source of wealth, work experience and two references to vouch for his good financial standing. In addition to this, Joe will need to purchase, or enter into a long-term rental agreement for a property which is registered as one that is available to Cat 2s. Finally, he will be required to hold private medical insurance. Regarding the fund he wishes to establish, he soon learns that while Gibraltar is neither part of the VAT system nor a member of the Frontiers Convention, it is a full member of the EU and therefore is able to ‘Passport’ financial products throughout the EU. This being of great interest to him, he starts to consider the process for setting up his fund. His intention is to establish the fund as an Experienced Investor Fund (EIF), since he alone will be the investor. He may, at a later stage, wish to convert the Fund, which is permissible under local legislation, but for now opts for an EIF. A Gibraltar EIF can be established quickly as the Financial Services Commission (FSC) requirements are such that an EIF is reviewed by a local lawyer who is able to confirm that it meets all legal requirements to trade. Upon doing so, the EIF may begin to trade, but it must submit its documents to the FSC within 10 working days for their review. As the Fund’s income is generated outside of Gibraltar and Gibraltar’s tax regime is a territorial based system, the fund’s income will not be subject to local taxation. As Joe’s fund is rather specialised, he is keen to bring his fund manager along with him and therefore wants to research whether or not this might be possible. Due to the specialised role his fund manager plays, Joe investigates the Higher Executive Possessing Specialised Skills, or HEPSS, status. Here, an individual who is able to prove they possess specialised skills, which are crucial to the success of a business, can apply for this status and in doing so, cap their annual worldwide income at £120,000 per annum and therefore limit their personal income tax to £32,500. All very attractive to Joe and Linda and while looking at flights to Gibraltar Airport and via Málaga, Jerez and Sevilla Airports for an initial visit, Joe and Linda are very pleased to learn, that as with all Gibraltar residents, their personal savings and investments in stocks and shares and with financial institutions fall outside taxation in Gibraltar, whether this be capital gains or income. Note: The above is provided as an indication of the benefits available in Gibraltar and must not in any way be considered tax advice. Tax implications vary and depend upon individuals’ circumstances and individual tax advice should be sought.

g Joey Imossi is Director of Business Development at Fiduciary. Suite 23, Portland House, Glacis Road, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 76651. www.fiduciarygroup.com 156Fi2.indd 117

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THE PRO finance

SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED

The debt crisis has been raging on for two years now, and shows no signs of abating as it now swallows Spain. So should you be worried about the euro?

ABOUT THE EURO?

or expats, it’s a worst-case scenario. You’ve settled down in Marbella (or somewhere else in the Eurozone) and bought a house, changing a substantial part of your assets into euros. But one day, the debt crisis that has enveloped Europe since 2010 reaches boiling point, and a government (perhaps in Brussels, perhaps in Madrid) announces the dream is over: they’ll be abandoning the euro and re-adopting the national currency inside weeks. The big question for you is: what happens to your savings in euros?

Could This Happen? Of course, before I seriously look at this question, I want to re-assure you. We’re not yet at the point where you need to seriously be thinking about moving some of your savings to the UK. (If you do decide to do this, the UK government guarantees up to £50,000.) Leaders in the Eurozone have stated again and again their commitment to the common currency, and the fact that Greece and Spain are willing to undergo their current budget

cuts is in part about commitment to the euro. (It would in fact be much simpler for Spain to readopt the peseta. The fact that it has not should be taken as a display of confidence in the euro.) In the short term in fact, it is possible the UK pound could strengthen up against the euro. At the time of writing (11th April 2012) the pound is more than 1.21 on the interbank market: its highest point since August 2010, and before that November 2008. If you still earn an income in the UK, you’ll hence get a higher euro total now than at any point in the last 18 months. In this sense, the Eurozone debt crisis has an upside. So long as it doesn’t reach extremes, it means the euro is likely to weaken, which is welcome news for expats. So in short, it’s probably best not to worry about the euro. If you decide to take precautions, then (as I mention) the first £50,000 you move to a British bank account is protected by the UK government. This means that, in the event your UK bank defaults, perhaps because of fallout from the Eurozone, your assets are protected up to that amount. In addition, in the event the euro does break up, the Foreign Office has already announced it has contingency plans in place to help UK citizens still abroad. But (once again) the chances of this happening remain miniscule.

But What If? If the worst comes to pass and a Eurozone member announces it is leaving the euro, there are two possibilities for your funds.

WORDS PETER LAVELLE

The first is that they’ll be re-denominated in whatever currency the country adopts (so if you’re in Marbella, you’d not be looking at euros but pesetas.) Of course, because these pesetas would reflect the value not of the Eurozone economy but Spain, their value would immediately decline. This could mean your savings would be worth a lot less. In addition, because the Spanish government would likely establish capital controls to prevent money leaving the country, you might be prevented converting your pesetas into something else. The second possibility for your funds is that they’d be wiped out. This would only happen if a country’s banking sector had defaulted, and neither the national government nor the Eurozone as a whole had contributed aid. Of course, the implications for this are obviously cataclysmic: it would effectively mean the end of the financial system. It is therefore all but guaranteed not to happen, as our governments know this, and will go to practically any lengths to prevent it happening. In other words, really – don’t worry! The euro might be making a lot of headlines at the moment, but this is tantamount to growing pains. In my opinion, Europe’s leaders will reach a point where their economies can co-exist inside a stable currency union. In the meantime, your funds are secure. g Peter Lavelle is

Foreign Exchange Specialist at Pure FX. 11 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP11 2JJ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1494 671800, peter.lavelle@purefx.co.uk, www.purefx.co.uk

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THE VIBE

Infuschia Launch New restaurant Infuschia gave members of the jetset a taster of the lovely fare they can expect to enjoy: mouth-watering sushi, irresistible dim sum, gourmet Chinese, fragrant Thai temptations and Teppanyaki table dining. Locals are already touting this as a new haven for even the fussiest foodies.

“One must eat to live, not live to eat” – Molière

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PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñ

THE VIBE

17th Anniversary Celebrations for Ristorante Regina It is hard to believe that popular Italian cuisine haven, Ristorante Regina, opened its doors 17 years ago! Offering al fresco dining in the summer and a cosy cocktail at the ‘R’ bar in Winter, Regina’s is famed for succulent cuisine sourced by the owners while touring the Italian countryside every year. Fresh cheese, a robust glass of wine and flavourful pasta dishes are only some of the highlights of a meal at Ristorante Regina.

“One can say everything best over a meal” – George Eliot

PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñ

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THE VIBE

Dahler & Company Marbella Launch New real estate firm Dahler & Company held a swish al fresco cocktail party to celebrate the launch of their offices on the Golden Mile. The pursuit of excellence, a commitment to hard work and outstanding service are some of the values clients can look forward to at Dahler, which specialises in upmarket real estate.

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are” – Roy Disney

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PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñ

THE VIBE

Ocean Club Silver and White Party Ocean Club heralded the Marbella Summer with one of the hottest parties of the season, with everyone dressed in silver and white. Revellers got into the groove, dancing the night away to DJ-spun music, sipping on colourful cocktails and marvelling at the live acts, beautiful surrounds and hot fireworks.

“The summer night is like a perfection of thought” – Wallace Stevens

PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñ

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THE VIBE

Premios One2One at Puro Beach The glamorous Puro Beach club in Estepona formed a perfect backdrop for the One2One Awards Ceremony, organised by One2One Mk& Events and aimed at recognising individuals, companies, and institutions for their work in increasing tourism to the Costa del Sol. Winners included the Hotel Villa Padierna, Hotel Elba and the Marbella Luxury Weekend.

“My prize is my work” – Kathryn Hepburn

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PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of Puro beachñ

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THE VIBE

Burlesque Party at Trocadero Arena Trocadero Arena restaurant held a happening party with a burlesque theme, with dancers, competitions, presents and a wildly colourful fashion show modelled by the gorgeous Miss Málaga 2012, Lidia Santos and other beauties. Trocadero, already famed for its cuisine and service, is the perfect place to enjoy drinks beneath the light of the moon.

“I advocate glamour. Every day. Every minute” – Dita Von Teese

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THE VIBE

Mugge Fischer and Ose del Sol at the Kasser Rassu Gallery Colourful abstract paintings by Mugge Fischer and mysterious, dramatic works by Ose del Sol had guests marvelling at a recent joint exhibition at the Kasser Rassu Gallery. Invitees sipped on Champagne at the Gallery’s new bar area as they mingled and discovered the secrets behind the artists’ visions.

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures” – Henry Ward Beecher

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THE VIBE

Black & White Launch Grupo Bluebay Gourmet celebrated the launch of their new restaurant, Black & White Puerto Banús, delighting guests with tempting cuisine, live music and plenty of entertainment, including body painting and mime. With its stylish design, delectable international cuisine and cool vibe, it will surely be one of the most happening places on the Port!

“There’s something strange and powerful about black and white” – Stefan Kanfer

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PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Gates ñ 5/23/12 7:11 PM

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THE LEISURE travel

Be it by road, sea, sky or a gentle stroll over the border from Spain, visitors flock to Gibraltar in their millions. Approximately eight million every year, in fact. It is a travel destination with an international appeal, and has something to offer tourists of all ages, and all agendas. Whether that agenda is a simple break in a blissful climate, bargain-hunting in a VAT vacuum, or spending time in leisure pursuits, Gibraltar hits the spot. WORDS AMY WILLIAMS

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A TRAVEL DwEithSTa IDNA if feT OcNe reIn

ut what makes Gibraltar extra special is that in addition to all the trappings of traditional holidays, including fine dining, scenic hotspots and action-packed distractions, it also caters for visitors with much more specific programmes. Business men and women fly in and out of this thriving business hub on a daily basis, and their needs are met as proficiently as those of the couples who arrive on the Rock to exchange wedding vows. A busy port welcomes, and waves off, some 150 cruise liners a year, accounting for approximately a third of a million of Gibraltarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourists and, despite Main Street swelling a little on the days the boats are in, all passengers have the opportunity to sightsee, shop and sup at ease. Gibraltar is set up, simply, to welcome one and all, and offers attractions, distractions and bespoke services to suit each and every visitor.

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TOURISTS Be they day-trippers on holiday in neighbouring Spain, or cruise-ship passengers stopping at one of the Mediterranean’s leading ports of call, many visitors to Gibraltar find themselves with fewer than 24 hours on the Rock. But it is time enough to tick all the boxes. An absolute must-do for any tourist in Gibraltar is a trip up the Rock itself, although being such a popular pastime, the queue for the cable car to get you there can, at peak summer times, entail a two-hour wait. For the fit, the summit can be reached on foot, or there is also the offer of being driven up in a private minibus – quite often the quickest option, and with a dedicated tour guide in the guise of your driver to give you the lowdown at every turn. Roaming the Rock, and very used to tourists, are Gibraltar’s most famous residents, the Barbary Apes. These apes have legendary status, literally. The story goes that the day they leave the Rock, Gibraltar will cease to be British. The anxiety they therefore caused Churchill when they unpatriotically refused to reproduce during his tenure saw a host of instructions issued to the Commonwealth Office insisting their numbers never drop below 24. Indeed, Her Majesty’s Government even agreed to pay the upkeep for each individual ape, a total of nine pence per day. The apes thrived and today are numbered in the hundreds. The tour guides even know most of them by name. Lending itself again to legend, the Rock is also home to St Michael’s Cave, so eerie and imposing that it was believed by the Romans to be the entrance to the Underworld. Those who have since braved the descent

into the cave, walk into a beautiful scene of stalactites and stalagmites, now used among other things as a venue for classical music concerts and performances, and recently, host to the 50th Miss Gibraltar pageant. The other tunnels which feature heavily in Gibraltar’s tourist programme, not to mention history, are those of the Great Siege, and WWII, which were hewn into the Rock and secured the defence of the territory on both occasions. A visit into these tunnels discovers an epic feat of engineering, and tells a fascinating story of survival. Almost as famous as the apes, is the fact that Gibraltar is a duty-free zone. And, called Main Street for a reason, there is only one place bargain-hunters head when on holiday in Gibraltar. The very best buys, obvious if nothing else from the number of shops selling each of them, are perfumes and cosmetics, tobacco and spirits, and electronics, and there is serious money to be saved (or spent, depending how you look at it) on all of them. With the sights seen and the bargains bought, a welcome rest for the weary tourist is Grand Casemates Square, once used for munitions storage, but now a chic sun-trap offering quality restaurants and cafes with a backdrop of some of the most interesting architecture in the Mediterranean. Timed correctly, your coffee might even be accompanied by a march past of one of the processions performed by Gibraltar’s re-enactment society, History Alive, who dress in period uniforms from the 1700s in recognition of Gibraltar’s military past – a great first snap for the new camera you picked up for such a good price only moments before.

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Twenty-Somethings

The steady transformation of Gibraltar from military outpost to modern Mediterranean city has not only rejuvenated the country itself but also, it seems, its tourists. Once almost exclusively the stomping ground of sailors and squaddies, the now-vibrant and youthful scene on the Rock draws discerning twenty-somethings to its shores, looking for lively nightlife, easily-accessible activities, and that all-essential souvenir, the suntan... Depending on whether the preference is for sand or stones, sun-seekers can either head to the eastern side of the Rock where Catalan Bay, Sandy Bay and Eastern Beach offer soft sand and a sweeping view of the Straits, or to the west (just beside the runway) to the rocky beaches of Little Bay and Camp Bay which look out across the Bay of Gibraltar, and over to neighbouring Spain. But far from only offering the opportunity for splashing about at the beach, the sea surrounding Gibraltar provides a plethora of watersports for the twenty-something tourist. Scuba divers are spoiled for choice with around 30 local shipwrecks to explore, and dive companies based in Marina Bay are ready to take trips. Casting off from neighbouring berths are dolphin discovery boats which take you into Gibraltar Bay to see up to three different species of dolphin (common, bottlenose and striped), lapping up the attention they’re afforded as one of Gibraltar’s most popular offshore attractions. And if you’d rather be at the helm than a passenger, there are a number of experienced sailing schools based in Gibraltar that can show you the ropes, literally, on a range of (pre-booked) courses which could see you RYA-qualified as anything from competent crew through to Day Skipper, and beyond. For those who prefer terra firma, the ‘Mediterranean Steps’ make for an amazing

and unique couple-of-hours’ hike literally ‘over’ the South side of the Rock itself, starting at Jew’s Gate and ending at the highest gun emplacement, O’Hara’s Battery. Not a climb for anyone who doesn’t want a raised heart rate though, it’s tough going, but the views across the Straits to Morocco’s Atlas Mountains make the muscle-ache worth it, and the resulting photos the envy of many a Facebook friend. If it’s a more conventional workout you’re after, a run all the way around the Rock clocks up 10km, or there are gym facilities at the Ocean Village Health Club or at Europort in the Atlantic Suites Health Club & Spa. Kings Bastion gym offers a workout within the walls of one of Gibraltar’s once prime military sites, which is also the location (for the treadmill dodgers) of Gibraltar’s cinema complex, ice rink, and bowling alley. If you prefer spectating to participating, live British sports are shown in all of the pubs, which marries nicely with lazy afternoon drinking – a pre-requisite on many a twenty-something’s holiday wish list. As day turns to night, Gibraltar is awash with a choice of restaurants and bars, and you won’t need a car for any of it. There’s a great atmosphere in pretty much all of the bars, but the most popular places to find a party are in either of the marinas, Ocean Village and Queensway Quay, which offer wine bars and lots of live entertainment (although the latter being the more limited of the two), or Casemates Square, where the pubs are less ‘bistro’ but equally busy, converting from pub into club around the 2am mark. There is a casino in Ocean Village, and also a nightclub, Savannah’s, where invited DJs often play. In all, Gibraltar caters for the younger, holiday-going crowd from sunrise to sunset and, quite often without the interruption of sleep, sunrise of the following day…

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Sean Connery did it twice, John and Yoko most famously did it in 1969, and today, hundreds of couples every year come to Gibraltar to say “I do”. The warm climate, the beauty of the setting for both services and receptions, and the ease with which marriage licences and ceremonies can be arranged, has put Gibraltar on the pages of more than a few wedding magazines as a dream destination. According to figures from the Civil Status and Registration Office, 914 couples were married in Gibraltar last year, with 799 of these being non-local, and the largest majority of those being either British expats living in Spain, or British couples visiting from the UK. A further 76 were married in approved locations outside of the Registry Office. Michael Cumming, Deputy Marriage Registrar for Gibraltar, believes that the principle attraction for getting married in Gibraltar is the territory’s status as a reputable wedding jurisdiction. That, and the fact that there is no residential requirement in order to obtain the licence. This, he says, is not the case in most other jurisdictions. “If your paperwork is in order, it is possible to arrive in Gibraltar early on one day and be married the next. Of course, we strongly advise couples to contact our offices well ahead of any proposed wedding day to clear their documentation and make an appointment for the wedding. There is no point in turning up and being turned away.” Gibraltar, it seems, offers the convenience of Gretna Green, yet against the beautiful backdrop of the Mediterranean. Ceremonies may be conducted at any of the approved locations throughout the jurisdiction, including idyllic situations

such as the Dell, a beautiful Italianate garden, dating back to the 19th century and nestled within the lush scenery of Gibraltar’s Alameda Gardens. Or, if you switch the traditional horse and carriage for a cable car, you can even take to the top of the Rock to say you do in the Mons Calpe Suite at the cable car’s top station, a great place for both vows and views. And added to these are a selection of fine hotels, or religious venues such as churches and cathedrals, synagogues, temples and mosques. Marrying in one of Gibraltar’s old, colonial-style hotels also makes for a special day, and dedicated wedding planners are experienced in making sure that, from car hire to hairdressers, everything is prepared perfectly in advance of your trip. And there is no short supply of places to celebrate either, with a number of fantastic candidates for a wonderful wedding breakfast. Gibraltar’s marinas offer a great atmosphere and facilities, and a number of high-quality restaurants would welcome a wedding party with the finest dining and celebration expectations. Some weddings, it seems, do buck the traditional trend however, with Cumming recalling some of the slightly more unusual ceremonies he has conducted: “I have married people on roller skates, in Spanish flamenco dresses, and in full black wedding dresses.” Other cultural customs can be accommodated too, such as the removal of the engagement ring in a Turkish wedding, to be replaced instead as the wedding ring. The standard minimum cost for a wedding in the Registry Office, during working hours, is £114.50, which also makes Gibraltar an attractive proposition for any bridal budget.

Sean Connery and Micheline Boglino Roquebrune © Christina Radish / Famous

WEDDINGS

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Located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, Gibraltar marks the meeting point of two continents, Europe and Africa. But while this particular meeting is conducted in centuries-old silence across the Straits, the Rock itself buzzes with an animated, daily discourse which takes place between businessmen and women in board rooms and conference venues, or while winding down across the tables of an array of fine restaurants, throughout Gibraltar. Should the intended visit involve more than a single day in Gibraltar (and, due to the well-managed schedules of major airlines flying in from the UK which arrive mid-morning and leave after lunch, it is possible to come and go same-day) then many of Gibraltar’s hotels provide not only a comfortable place to rest, but also all the business facilities you might require for your visit. Among the key business hotels are the Rock Hotel, a colonial-style Gibraltar landmark located just outside the main town; the modern and centrally-located O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel, in the heart of town; and the Caleta Hotel, a tranquil retreat overlooking the Mediterranean on the eastern side of the Rock. All are four star, and in addition to the comfort and charm of the accommodation, all offer sophisticated, air-conditioned meeting and conference rooms, with state-of-the-art technology, ranging in size from small, private boardrooms, to maximum capacity (at the Caleta, which can comfortably host up to 300 delegates). Outside of the hotels, the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1882, offers services and guidance to member businesses. Support comes in the form of simple business

requirements such as poste restante or the use of wireless broadband, to dedicated rooms for interviews or meetings, including presentations to audiences of up to 25 people, using the latest audio visual technology. Should your conference call for a twist however, or you simply want to blend business with the beautiful surroundings which are unique to Gibraltar, a number of unusual venues can be booked to complement the occasion. These include the dramatic St Michael’s Cave, where stalagmites and stalactites would outnumber suits no matter how large the event; the beautiful, al fresco Alameda Gardens; and The Mount, once the official residence of the senior officer of Gibraltar’s Royal Navy, built in 1797, and now a listed building. If all that is required of the meeting is a simple signature however, such an exchange could take place in a number of relaxing eateries. Fifty-Five is a stylish private members’ club which offers a daily business lunch menu, and a private dining room which seats up to 10 people; Solo Bar and Grill in the business hub of Europort is modern and elegant; and Café Rojo in Irish Town comprises an intimate setting for either brunch, lunch or dinner. Of an evening, Queensway Quay marina provides a peaceful atmosphere for reflecting on the day’s discussions, with The Landings offering fusion food in a chic setting; or on the other side of the Rock, La Mamela at Catalan Bay has a Spanish flavour and an excellent fish menu. And for an upbeat end to the evening, head to the bars of Casemates Square or Ocean Village for drinks and dancing, or to the casino, which is open until the early hours. e

Business PEOPLE

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THE LEISURE hotel

A Weekend at

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

The Caleta Hotel

or some people it symbolises solitude, for others it is one of the necessary evils of travel; still for others, a good hotel can come to mean freedom, the exhilaration of discovering unchartered territory and ultimately, new people. The Caleta Hotel has been all these things to many people since it first opened its doors in 1964. It was founded by George Bassadone, a local investor who saw beyond Gibraltar’s immediate value as a military base and decided to capitalise on the impressive sea view afforded by the Rock’s east side. Gibraltar, he decided, had plenty to

offer tourists from far and wide, those who sought a unique experience in a territory that embraces the best of British tradition and Spanish simpatía and who wished to make it an extended holiday. Bassadone pulled out all the stops, embarking on an ambitious project which involved building the hotel on the 45º slope of an impressive rock formation overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, whose skies embrace graceful flocks of seagulls. The visual effect is of sheer romance and fantasy, conjuring up images of seafarers of old or dramatic scenes from literary works such as Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.

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The architect had to be Italian, since despite its maturity the hotel is beautifully designed, making the most of the sea through the use of glass curtains and circular ‘submarine’ windows in the stairwells. On my recent visit to The Caleta Hotel, I was greeted by General Manager Franco Ostuni, who has been at the helm of the establishment for some 12 years. “Gibraltar was originally a threeto five-year plan for me,” says the Milan-born hotelier, “but I stayed because although I feel I’ve accomplished many goals, the Hotel constantly poses exciting challenges.” Franco has seen the face of Gibraltar change dramatically over the past decade: “The booming financial and online gaming sectors, as well as attractive new commercial areas like Ocean Village and the new casino, have bolstered the Gibraltarian economy. Many companies have decided to set up businesses here, attracting workers from overseas who represent a growing demand for long-term accommodation.” But what do these new residents do in the interim period, between when they arrive and when they finally find an apartment that suits? What about those who are in Gibraltar for brief work-related periods of one or two months? Franco answers: “Some years ago, we converted an entire floor of rooms into 10 self-catering, fully-serviced apartments with ample storage space, a kitchen and a living room, in addition to a comfortable bedroom. They are very popular with clients who are in

Gibraltar for business, as well as families perhaps staying for a long weekend.” The four-star Hotel, which incidentally is the largest in Gibraltar, is also the preferred choice for business conferences, with six suites equipped with top-of-the-range technology and the capacity to host everything from a small business meeting in a boardroom-type setting to a conference attended by 300 people. Weddings are another star attraction: you’d be hard pressed to find a more romantic location to tie the knot, and if you’ve seen the banqueting hall then you’ll probably agree – an elegant, swirling staircase connects two floors bearing tables which are beautifully adorned with flowers and fine crystal, as they should be on a couple’s big day. The hall once again overlooks the sea, making for a Great Gatsby-type ambience where champagne and elegance flow in equal measures. Of course Gibraltar is much more than a financial and gaming nucleus; it is also a choice setting for a honeymoon, since it is surrounded by beaches, the Costa del Sol’s top golf courses and areas of great natural beauty. The rooms at the Caleta Hotel are contemporary in design, bearing jovially-hued interiors, comfy beds and all the technology you need to make for a relaxed stay. I was particularly enraptured by the bridal suite, with its inviting cream-coloured leather sofa, pink canopied bed and peaceful sea view. The Hotel has many areas which are

indicated for both social gatherings and romantic tête-à-têtes. For a relaxing cocktail or a light meal, savvy tourists and members of the local jetset make their way to the Catalan lounge, a bar/restaurant area which is enveloped by glass curtains and the sea. Then there is the terrace and pool area, about as far removed from the stresses of city life as possible; or the garden, often used for private functions and barbecues and bearing Moroccan-inspired rugs and lanterns, an intimation of the Arab-Andalusian architecture southern Spain is famed for. The Caleta Hotel raised the bar for the tourist sector with the construction of the Health and Beauty Club, a glorious spa and gym area boasting three treatment rooms and a friendly staff which includes Chris Pescud (the Club’s personal trainer, aromatherapist and practised masseur), Miriam Álvarez (hair stylist) and Charlene McKinstrey (revered by clients wanting to turn back the hands of time with treatments such as the Crystal Clear Micro-dermabrasion or the Chroma White TR Exfoliation). The treatment card is ample, tempting fatigued femmes and their partners to skip the sight-seeing and opt for a full day’s pampering. Clients can choose from a practical facial or body wax, right through to more enticing treatments like a mani-ped, detox treatment (complete with mud pack), St. Tropez spray tan, Age Smart Facial, or an ultra-sedating Swedish or aromatherapy massage. During my visit to the Club, the neck and

Gibraltar

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back pain caused by too many hours of sitting before a computer were ushered away by Chris, who gave me a wonderful aromatherapy massage, using a combination of lemon, marjoram and lemongrass. Chris is one of a handful of therapists whose authentic love for health and well-being translates beautifully into his everyday work. In addition to the soothing pressure he applied to contracted areas in my back and neck, he also used Reiki, the system of harmonisation of energies which often enables patients to see colourful lights dancing before their eyes. The following day, it was wonderful to be able to rotate my head to each side without experiencing pain, testimony to the importance of having a good massage at least once a week. The Health and Beauty Club is famed for its top-of-the-range facial and anti-ageing treatments; it is one of the few spas around that offers the renowned Crystal Clear Microdermabrasion treatment, which removes dead skin cells and stimulates cells within the deeper layers of the skin, where elastin and collagen are formed. The treatment involves the application of microcrystals to the face, thereby ‘resurfacing’ the skin. It produces immediate, visible results for wrinkles, open pores, pigmentation, blemish and acne

scars, stretch marks and more. Another popular treatment is the Crystal Clear Micro Lifting, which tightens and tones the face and neck muscles and smoothens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A newcomer to the Club is Shellac Nails: a varnish that lasts up to two weeks, giving your nails a highly polished, professional look. And if you’re after a good skin care range, do speak to the staff; they stock Dermalogica and Crystal Clear products and are happy to advise you on the ideal products for your skin type and condition. Of course once you’re looking your best you’ll be up for a night on the town and what better place to start than at the hotel’s Nunos restaurant, a haven of authentic Italian cuisine with international touches. Nunos is the only restaurant in Gibraltar to boast a 2 AA Rosette rating and indeed, it has held on to this honour since 2006. In addition to a wide selection of mouthwatering pasta dishes, the menu offers more sophisticated fare, such as the prawn carpaccio, foie gras or sinfully smooth salmorejo Cordobés, in the starter section. The main course selection is select yet varied, with everything from a catch of the day to roast rack

of lamb, pan-fried beef fillet with port sauce and a succulent red snapper with couscous and vegetables. Many entrepreneurs head for Nunos when a business lunch with a bit of sophistication is called for, though it is also revered at night by couples and groups of friends. I opted for a lunchtime meal, seduced by the sea view and the fact the sun was shining beautifully. I tried a tender prawn and tomato skewer, followed by succulent grilled scallops, embraced by crispy strips of bacon. Sea bass being a particular weakness of wine, I enjoyed the grilled version, wonderfully-fresh, served over a bead of organic veggies. “In an area like Gibraltar, even the smallest changes can make a dramatic improvement,” says Franco, his positivity catching and endearing. In 12 years he has captained the Hotel Caleta into a dynamic new era, so much so that the Hotel itself is one of the best reasons to make Gibraltar more than a one-day visit. The Hotel seduces you into one of the Rock’s most tranquil, pristine areas, only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city centre yet far enough to soothe the mind and body.

g Catalan Bay, Gibraltar. Tel: + 350 200 76501. www.caletahotel.com

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Winner of the 2001 Gibraltar’s Leading Hotel Award Nuno’s restaurant at The Caleta Hotel is the only two Rosette award winning restaurant in Gibraltar

...the other side of Gibraltar

SIR HERBERT MILES ROAD, CATALAN BAY, PO BOX 73, GIBRALTAR. TEL: +350 20076501

www.caletahotel.com - reservations@caletahotel.gi

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gour

RESTAURANTS / REVIEWS / NEWS / WINE / CHEFS / GUIDE

We bring you the best dining experiences on the coast, starting off at Gibraltar’s only 2AA Rosette restaurant, Nuno’s at the Caleta Hotel. Closer to home, we enjoy dining by the sea at Max Beach and Puro Beach, and talk to Paul and Michel, owners of popular Nueva Andalucía restaurant, Girasol.

156Intros FINAL INMA.indd 5

145 Puro Beach 147

Max Beach

148 Food News 150 Restaurateurs on the Move: Michel and Paul from Girasol 152

Wines served at Royal Occasions

5/23/12 5:49 PM

156 PoloHouse.indd 1

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t h e a rt of Fi n e T h a i C u i s i n e

952 818 392 or 670 748 415

RESERVATIONS:

Open Every Evening for Dinner Ctra. de Cรกdiz Km. 175 PUERTO BANร S (Behind The Shell Petrol Station) Marbella

TAI PAN

Chinese Cuisine - Polynesian Bar

Serving Marbella in a Select Atmosphere for 29 years. Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00

Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500

Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine Tel: 952 770 550 Open Mon-Sat. C.C. Marbellamar, L-3A. Marbella.

NOW OPEN FOR

LUNCH & DINNER!

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restaurant THE GOURMET

ut this is better than the beach – it’s a luxurious private beach club set within a tropical enclave with pretty shops and venues made for stylish day and night-time enjoyment. The ‘Polynesian’ Laguna Village forms the backdrop for one of the coast’s most beguiling spots, a beachside club that looks like a tropical paradise but with the sophistication and attentive service of a luxury boutique spa resort. It is within this setting that you can linger by the pool, luxuriate on grand four-poster daybeds, enjoy a massage treatment and also have lunch or dinner. Puro Beach’s main restaurant has already built a reputation for its 3M cuisine – a quirky mix of Marrakech, Melbourne and Miami flavours – and from 15 June it will open for dinner. New on the scene is a wonderfully stylish sushi bar that fits right into the mood and setting of summery Puro Beach.

Refreshing cuisine

Mariana Zúñiga is the talented young chef who has developed a unique menu around the desire to offer guests a light and refreshing option. “There are now two lunch venues at Puro Beach,” says Mariana, “and it was my brief to come up with something special.” Keen not just to offer standard sushi dishes, she has allowed her experience and creativity to flow in the development of an offering that fuses South American and Mediterranean elements with Japanese classics.

Puro Beach, at Laguna Village on the New Golden Mile, is one of the jewels in the crown of the Costa del Sol. Here you can relax, swim, be pampered and lunch or dine in gorgeous languid style as you watch the bold blue Mediterranean curve along the coastline towards Estepona. On a clear day Gibraltar and Morocco seem near enough to touch, and you’re so close to the beach, you can almost feel the sand under your feet.

While appraising this diverse menu, we settled down to a cocktail and soaked in the rarefied ambience. Here, even a glass of sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime feels special, but all the same I couldn’t resist a sip of paradise in the form of a lovely iced rose daiquiri. Fruit snacks appeared on the table and chilled music played in the background as we eyed the sea soaking in the Mediterranean sun – quite the way to spoil yourself on a Friday afternoon!

Taste adventures

If you think you know sushi inside out and have the measure of its variety of tastes and textures, then this menu will offer a range of delightful new experiences. We started with what turned out to be one of my favourites, beautiful soft strips of sashimi-style tuna in a soy-based sauce with roasted garlic and ruccola. This Japanese-Peruvian delight, called Tiraditos de Atún, makes even a non-fish lover take note. More conventionally presented was the Nigiri

Sushi with wasabi and ginger, a classically refreshing dish followed by another taste adventure – salmon sushi with curried Indian cream cheese, mint sauce and slightly crispy rice. This is one you simply cannot pass judgment on until you’ve tried it, and my guess is few purists will be left unimpressed. The gorgeous dishes kept coming, including a somewhat spicy salmon sushi with aioli cream and chives, itself a prelude to another display of the finest sashimi of butterfish, tuna and salmon, along with tuna mango rolls with poppy seeds. We ended this feast of the taste buds with delicate fruit-marinated salmon ceviche with a sprinkling of cucumber, mango and onion drizzled in lemon juice. Such fresh, tropical delights fit perfectly with the setting and ambience of Puro Beach, and are a light way to enjoy a lunchtime al fresco meal that is engaging, delicious and based on healthy, fresh ingredients. Combined with the setting and first-class service, it makes for a touch of paradise right on our doorstep. e

Fresh Delights WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KH PHOTOGRAPHY

“South America has a well-established sushi tradition, and this region produces some of the finest tuna and other fish in the world, so we have a fantastic foundation from which to work.” Mariana believes that sushi lends itself beautifully to experimentation, and it shows in the exciting dishes she and her sous-chef Shuanghe Sa have created. g Laguna Village, Estepona Tel: 952 800 015. www.purobeach.com 156 ReR Puro FINAL.indd 145

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restaurant THE GOURMET

Feels Like Heaven WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KH PHOTOGRAPHY

s the Summer approaches, the lure of beachfront dining grows stronger and savvy diners flock to a select number of top-level restaurants peppering the coastline. Marbella is famed for its party atmosphere and its beach clubs usually bear a distinctly dance/ jazzy atmosphere. Max Beach, on the Riviera frontline, offers something different: a cosy, laid-back yet stylish experience, where couples dine as they watch the sun set on the horizon, and families gather together to spend cherished time together. Max Beach was founded some ten years ago by husband-and-wife team Carl Creemers and Martine Deschamps, who took little time to turn it into a classic. The ingredients of its success are easily perceived: proximity to the sea, mouthwatering cuisine, ambience and reasonable prices. The restaurant boasts sizeable interior and exterior dining areas, the former featuring live music often played on a baby grand piano, and glass curtains, which make for a magnificent view. The most hotly solicited tables, of course, are located on the exterior terraces; there is both an inviting and decidedly exotic lower terrace, complete with a chic cocktail bar, and a glorious upper terrace, decked in wood and overlooking the sea. The latter was my choice when a friend and I decided to herald the start of summer with an unbeatable dining experience. It was a Wednesday night and the terrace was filled with sun worshippers eager to catch the day’s last rays. The restaurant recently scored quite a coup with the incorporation of their new Head Chef: Tony Granger, who previously manned the kitchens at a prestigious beach restaurant for 10 years. Tony, who was schooled in France as well as England, Switzerland and Italy, is every bit as talented as you would expect of a savvy Frenchman. Delicate sauces, creativity and a passion for discovery are married to fresh-from-the-sea fish and seafood, tender meat and market-fresh fruit and veg and the result is no less than wonderful.

The menu seduces you with a plethora of mouthwatering options and includes selections for children. There is a supervised kids play area, with a ball park, slide and bouncy castle, so the little ones can have fun while their parents enjoy what they really came here for: good food. We began our meal with a very good exponent of Tony’s penchant for original combinations: seared scallops topped with breaded sweetbreads and served with a creamy sweet potato mash, slices of pink grapefruit and garnishings of droplets of passion fruit, red fruit coulis and edible flowers; the combination of textures was outstanding and the flavour, divine. A dish condensing the very best of the flavour of lobster was the grilled sole, topped with a creamy lobster bisque, prawns, mussels and mashed potatoes, embraced by tender, ultra fine mangetouts; hearty, good stuff and simply memorable. Tony is equally skilled with meat dishes; he brought us a venison in an appealing five-spice Oriental sauce, served with a gentle beetroot purée, a delectable parsnip purée and two crisp,

g Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN 340, Riviera Exit, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 932 780. 156 ReR Max FINAL.indd 147

samosas filled with cabbage and bacon. For me, a mark of a great chef is when I find myself hard-pressed to identify his best dish and this is very much the case at Max Beach: each creation was a ‘10’ but for reasons which you should probably discover for yourself. As we chatted with the family seated next to us (whose son, incidentally, had appeared as an extra in James Cameron’s Titanic, delighting us with all sorts of unheard-of details of the filming process), we were impressed by the size of our dessert plate, which contained no less than six different temptations, presented in a manner that can only be described as pure art: imagine tucking into crème brûlée, fruit, chocolate-banana tart, apple crumble and carrot cake with an original citrus flavour, as you like. At the end of our meal the restaurant owners greeted us and shared their aim with us: to be considered one of the Coast’s top restaurants; surprising to hear, as Max Beach’s popularity and reputation for consistently outstanding food and service, have already taken it into a league of its own. e

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THE GOURMET news

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Slow Food on the Beach © Carlos Cáceres

Step Back in Time LA BORGOÑA RESTAURANT

La Borgoña restaurant invites you to enjoy a cuisine which marries the old and the new, tradition and vision. The restaurant is named after the region of Bourgogne, in France, renowned worldwide for the quality of its wines. La Borgoña’s Head Chef is Diego Figueredo, a true maestro in the kitchen. Tradition and seasonal, market fresh produce are married to a wealth of avant-garde techniques, to create a cuisine that is sublime and intelligent, and which never fails to surprise, seduce and invite you to discover new flavours and textures. Diners will find a wealth of culinary traditions on the menu, including authentic French haute cuisine, Thai classics and daily market specials. The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday for dinner. g Paseo de las Palmeras 25, San Pedro de

Alcántara (Next to Parking, Avda. Marqués del Duero). Tel: 951 087 899.

Marbella Patio BOOK YOUR TABLE ON FACEBOOK!

Marbella Patio is the first restaurant in Spain to offer its clients the chance to book a table on Facebook. Just log onto Facebook and look up Restaurante Marbella Patio and you will find the app, which has been developed by Shout, an Advertising and Marketing company from Málaga. In just a few steps, you can select the date, number of diners, and time of arrival. Once the booking is made, you will receive a confirmation message on your telephone. You can also enjoy promotions and exclusive discounts for bookings made through Facebook. The service is currently accessible on PC or MAC and soon, it will also be available on mobile phones. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. g C/ Vírgen

de los Dolores 4, Marbella. Tel 952 775 429. www.marbellapatio.com

South Beach Marbella

ACACIA Victor Garvey has taken the Marbella culinary scene by storm with Acacia, his new restaurant on the frontline of Puerto Banús. Far from serving typical beachside fare, the restaurant tempts you with creative international delights made with local, seasonal products. “We change our menu daily, working with a blackboard instead of paper, to enable us to serve cuisine based on truly market-fresh produce,” says Victor, who has worked at various Michelin-starred establishments, including Noma in Denmark (The World’s Best Restaurant). Dishes to watch out for include Gillardeau oysters in tempura with sautéed spinach, toasted walnuts, a dry vermouth beurre blanc and ‘smell of the sea’; the 65-day aged prime Galician beef entrecote with white miso, baby Tokyo turnips and smoked potato; and gazpacho truffles, which ‘explode’ delightfully in the mouth. Open Monday and Tuesday from 12pm to 8pm for lunch and Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm until 1am for lunch and dinner. g Dique de Levante s/n, Playa Levante, Puerto Banús. Tel: 693 041 125.

Chocome: the Perfect Bar of Chocolate Just one look at a bar of Chocome chocolate and you know you’re in the presence of perfection. There are more than 60 million variations of uniquely designed, customised bars to choose from, and each and every bar is made by hand using premium quality ingredients. Chocome was founded by Gábor Mészáros, who is a chocolatier as well as the only person in charge of production, logistics, marketing, management and business development. The company’s head office is located in the 13th district of Budapest, Hungary. g For a full list

of shops in Marbella stocking Chocome products, see www.chocome.es

...the place to BEach South Beach Marbella, located on the frontline of one of the best beaches on the coast, opened during the summer of last year and has since blossomed into a hidden jewel, owing to its outstanding cuisine, dreamed up by two international chefs, and its excellent range of wines. The restaurant comprises a seafront complex with a lounge area with sunbeds, a restaurant and beach bar. The slightly elevated terrace offers panoramic views towards the coastline of Africa, while the private beach offers sought-after privacy. The design is breath-taking, featuring white tones and natural wood and stone features. Open Monday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. g Avda. Del Limonar 124, Marbella. Tel: 665 660 737. www.southbeachmarbella.com

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THE GOURMET restaurant

harles Darwin once said that the most critical element of the survival of a species is its ability to adapt, and nowhere is this more evident than in the restaurant trade. Over the years, Marbella has come to be known as somewhat of a mecca for foodies, with more Michelin stars to its name than any other mainstay in Andalucía. Having been a food writer for many years, I have seen trends in cuisine shift from traditional to avantegarde, international to local, substantial to tapas-sized, even futuristic to mediaeval, and back again. And over the years, I have remained loyal to a handful of my favourite restaurants, which have one thing in common: beautiful food and a je ne sais quoi that makes them cosy yet appealing, cool yet laid back, traditional yet creative. Girasol in Nueva Andalucía, is one of these restaurants. Owned by Paul and Michel, Girasol was founded in 1985 and has long been a revered establishment for families, groups of friends and golfers alike. It is very much a symbol of what makes Marbella so special: savvy management, friendly service, excellent cuisine (international with French and Scandinavian touches) and a dynamic ambience combine to offer diners great value for money. Paul obtained his degree in Hotel Management and has

Girasol WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KH PHOTOGRAPHY

Sailing Into the Future

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managed prestigious hotels and restaurants while his partner, Michel, is a former chef whose culinary talents still shine in certain dishes on the menu. Their many years in the restaurant trade have given them a sixth sense of what diners crave and Girasol is one of a handful of restaurants where you know you simply will not be disappointed. This season brings new developments to the restaurant: “We’re now offering an outside catering service and we’ve catered for everything from big parties in Zagaleta to intimate dinners for 10 or 20 people,” says Paul. Michel adds: “We are able to prepare a rack of lamb or crepe suzettes for an elegant dinner, or canapés for events such as show house presentations or business cocktails.” The restaurant is also currently offering doing takeaway. Fancy a mouthwatering beef stroganoff while catching up on some home viewing? In the mood for some chocolate brownies or giant prawns with lemon butter, garlic butter or piripiri butter when you’re not up for a night on the town? At Girasol you can take your favourite dish home, though the experience of enjoying a fresh-from-the-sea turbot with béarnaise sauce or a tender monkfish and salmon bruschetta, topped with garlicky ali-oli, is unbeatable on Girasol’s gorgeous terrace, which overlooks the Las Brisas golf course. In the summer the menu takes on a cool, refreshing stance, with star dishes including the summer salad with watermelon, green salad leaves, feta cheese, cashew nuts, cherry tomatoes and coriander leaves. The cuisine is certainly proving to be a hit with golfers, who tend to dine at Girasol in groups of anywhere from 10 to 30. At Girasol, you can also take home a bottle (or case) of your favourite wine; the selection is top-rate and includes reasonably priced bottles such as a Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc or a Viña Real Rioja Crianza, for just €6, or a reserva for €10. Paul and Michel have taken all these steps to adapt to the times. Paul says, “We’ve kept the same prices for a long time now but what we haven’t done is to offer cheap ‘eat all you can’ type offers, as we don’t want to spare on quality.” Paul and Michel are ready for a busy Summer season, but also make it a point to enjoy the beautiful area we live in. They recently rented a boat after taking a sailing course in Gibraltar. “We spent seven days sailing around the British Virgin Islands, which are perfect for novice sailors, as they are around three hours in distance from each other and you can almost see where you are going,” says Paul. “We also do a lot of trail walking; we’ve been to the top of La Concha and completed many routes on foot in areas like Grazalema and the Alpujarras,” says Michel. Clearly, the dynamic duo has tapped into the perfect balance of work and play and they bring this equilibrium, passion for Nature and sense of adventure, to Girasol. e

g Open daily for dinner from 6:30pm. Avda. del Prado s/n, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 813 859. 5/23/12 12:51 PM

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THE GOURMET wine Although practically everything else has been surveyed, no-one seems to have taken the trouble to find out what influences our choice of wine when we have guests. In a world where things that previously held little importance can now take on disproportionate significance, you would have thought that this decision should be pretty far down the scale, but apparently it can say a lot about your character.

By appointment WORDS AJ LINN

o you try to impress, inform, experiment, or deceive? Even if you are honest enough to admit to one of these options, it may not be the whole story. Having the boss to dinner and entertaining old university colleagues is not quite the same, and who do you know well enough to take a chance on a wine you have not tried previously? The heads of state around the world have made the task of selection easier. When British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife were invited to an official dinner at the White House last year, the identity of the wines to be served took on the importance of a state secret. This was unusual since, previously, details of the menu were released to the media in advance, but the practice ended when a Washington State wine was served to Chinese premier Hu Jintao at an earlier state banquet. Why? Because the price of the wine, a 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, doubled to $350 shortly after the event. Details of the state dinner wines finally leaked out, and the drooling public learnt that the Crisped Halibut with Potato Crust was accompanied by a Californian Sonoma Valley Chardonnay 2009, and the Bison Wellington by a Washington Walla Walla Valley 2008 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon. Both these cost around $90 per bottle. The sparkling Iron Horse Vineyards Russian Cuvée (who thinks up these names?) was apparently no match for the fingerlickin’ lemon pudding. Britain’s limited selection of mainly white wines cannot sustain an entire menu. One of the first official dinners given by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge featured a 2004 Cuvée Merret Fitzrovia from Sussex’s Ridgeview Winery. Then it all went foreign, and the English Blanc de Blancs was followed by a 2004 Chablis and a 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux. The recentlymarried couple’s wedding champagne was Pol Roger NV. And British royalty’s interest in wine seems to be increasing with the announcement that champagne-style vines are to be planted on three hectares of land in Windsor Great Park, mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, with the first vintage in 2013. Buckingham Palace usually sources its wine

from such old-established wine merchants as Berry Brothers & Rudd, Corney & Barrow, and Justerini & Brooks. Waitrose is a much newer member of this exclusive club and is legally entitled to put the royal warrant holders’ badge over every supermarket’s door. Present stocks at Buck House include Ch Leoville Barton 1988, Ch Latour 1995, Ch Haut-Brion 1982, Ch Margaux 1982, Ch Mouton Rothschild 1982 and Nuits St Georges 1996. Port also features prominently, with vintages as old as 1963 being held in the cellars. Favourite champagnes are Mumm, Bollinger, Lanson and Krug. But such wines are reserved for very special occasions, and in strict pecking order a visiting French President will be served much better wine than, for example, Moldova’s head of state. There is an efficient and cost-effective organisation that takes care of purchasing the wines to be served at royal cocktail parties, luncheons, and dinners. The Royal Household Wine Committee is presently made up of wine super-guru Jancis Robinson, TV chef Michel Roux Jr, also of Le Gavroche, and the CEOs of Corney & Barrow and Justerini & Brooks. To avoid any conflict of interest for the two last-named members of the Committee, all the tastings are held blind in the cellars under Buckingham Palace and occasionally at Windsor Castle. The prime objective is to select wines that offer good value for money. Most are very ordinary labels, and typical choices have been a Rosso Piceno from Italy at £4.12, and a Mâcon-Uchizy from Justerini & Brooks at £7.50. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a great favourite, and coming from the Commonwealth is a big plus. Villa Maria from Waitrose, Justerini & Brooks Pencarrow Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Marlborough, and an organic South African Chenin/Sauvignon blend from Tanners, are all recent acquisitions, as well as a Basio Tempranillo 2008 from North West Spain. A safe backstop is Berry Bros’ Good Ordinary Claret, an old favourite that has been relied upon for many years. Purchases of vintage champagne are rare, as are those of first-growth clarets except en primeur – direct from the grower soon after the vintage. And bearing in mind past media coverage of the only two members of the royal family who have been outed for their alcoholic preferences, it is safe to assume that there are probably quite a few unopened bottles of Dubonnet and gin, favourites of the late Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, still sitting in the cellars. e

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RESTO

EL COTO

BELGIAN RESTAURANT

NEW MENU Open every day Ctra. de Ronda Opposite Madroñal, nº 3 29679 Benahavis Tel: 952 786 688 belgianresto@gmail.com

RESTO

MYTILUS BELGIAN RESTAURANT

BELGIAN SPECIALITIES Mussels and fries, steak tartare, vol au vent etc. Open every evening. Saturday & Sunday open all day. Puerto Deportivo Sotogrande Tel: 956 790 212 belgianresto@gmail.com

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THE GUIDE

theguide

RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS / CINEMAS / GOLF / GYMS /

Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine

RESTAURANTS ::: AMERICAN ::: HARD ROCK CAFÉ

Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces, esq. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 024

Jacks Open seven days a week from noon till late. Puerto Banús, Tel: 952 813 625, Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 563 673

New york Open from 1pm-4pm and from 7pm to 12am. Ctra. de Cádiz, km.176, 29600, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 533

Yanx Open from 9am Monday to Saturday and Sunday from 11am for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Centro Plaza, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 861

::: ARGENTINEAN ::: Buenos Aires South

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. C/ Virgen del Pilar, 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 297

Clericó Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda. Antonio Belón, 22, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 683.

Tango Open daily for dinner except Tuesdays. Puerto Banús (opp. the car park). Tel: 952 812 358

::: FRENCH :::

Chateau Mona lisa Open every day for lunch and dinner. Muelle Ribera 8, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 808

LA PARISIENNE Open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. Centro Plaza, Avda. de Manolete 1, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 279 056

Valderrama Restaurant Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner only and on Sunday for Buffet Lunch. Apartado 1, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 132.2 Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 791 200

TENNIS / SCHOOLS

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

Cancelada, El Saladillo. Tel: 952 784 463

Massala

BELMAR

Asador guadalmina

Open daily for dinner. 57, Duquesa de Arcos (Sabinillas seafront). Tel: 952 897 358

Open daily from 11.30am to midnight. C/ Las Malvas 14 (next to Casino), Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 687 289 699

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Urb. Guadalmina Alta, C.C. Guadalmina, Local 3, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 883 003

El Carnicero

Mr. india

Black and white Marbella

Open daily from 6pm. Milla de Oro (next to Da Bruno a Casa), Marbella. Tel: 952 867 868

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle Benabola, under the Torre de Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 607

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Pueblo Viejo Cancelada. Between San Pedro & Estepona. Tel: 952 886 307

Mumtaz

El Carnicero 2

safFron

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 867 599

Open from 7 pm ‘til late night every day. Parque de Elviria, local 7-9, Las Chapas (take second exit, after Hotel Don Carlos), Marbella. Tel: 952 830 146

Brunings

Taj Mahal

CAFÉ DE RONDA

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Private parking available. Ctra. Cádiz, km 179 (behind Venta los Pacos). Tel: 952 857 670/ 629 244 659

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Avda. Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Marbella. Tel: 952 862 149

El Coto Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Ronda (El Madroñal), San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 786 688

El Gaucho Open daily for dinner from 7.30pm. Galerías Paniagua. Sotogrande. Tel: 956 795 528

el rancho del puerto Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Benabola 4, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 252

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Casa No.7, P. Banús. Tel: 952 812 090

::: INTERNATIONAL ::: ACACIA

Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Ribera 47H, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 686

Open Monday and Tuesday from 12pm to 8pm for lunch and Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 1am for lunch and dinner. Dique de Levante s/n, Playa Levante, Puerto Banús. Tel: 693 041 125

Grill del puerto MARBELLA CLUB GRILL

alberts

Open every night for dinner. Marbella Club Hotel. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Puerto Cabopino. Tel: 952 836 886

Old Town Grill

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Strachan 11, Málaga. Tel: 951 500 022

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner and Sunday for lunch. C/ San Lázaro, 3, Pza. Victoria, Marbella. Tel: 952 867 306

Piratas flame grill Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday. Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, Locales 37-40, Marbella. Tel: 952 865 940

Restaurante Rancho Open daily for lunch and dinner. Ctra. Cádiz, exit Las Chapas. Tel: 952 831 922

::: INDIAN :::

alumbre Amanhavis Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday from 8.00pm. Calle del Pilar 3, Benahavís. Tel: 952 856 026

amigos Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday. C/ Málaga 3, Benahavis. Tel: 952 855 175

auld dubliner Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Diana Park, Marbella. Tel: 952 886 338

baboo lounge and restaurant

Jaipur palace

::: GREEK :::

Open every night except Tuesday for dinner. CN340, km 194, next to Camping Cabopino, Marbella. Tel: 951 310 004

Open every day for lunch and dinner, closing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 8pm. Ctra. Arroyo de la Miel, s/n, Benalmádena. Tel: 902 102 675

Red Pepper

Jaipur Purple

beach house

Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Muelle Ribera, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 812 148

Open daily for dinner. CN 340, km. 166, Estepona. Tel: 952 888 353

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Coto de los Doles, Carril del Relojero, Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 839 458

::: GRILLS :::

Asador Criollo Grill Open nightly for dinner. CN340-A7, km. 166,

Little India Open daily for dinner from 7pm. Conj. Buenavista, L 21-22, Avda. de España, Calahonda. Tel: 952 931 829

beckitts Open Monday to Sunday for dinner. C/ Camilo José Cela 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 868 898

boulevard Open for dinner from 8pm. Avda. La Fontanilla, esquina Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 860 583 Open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 7 pm. Las Palmeras 19, San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 786 156

CAlIma Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner from 8:30pm. At the Gran Meliá Don Pepe Hotel. C/ José Meliá s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 300

capitán Open for lunch and dinner every day except Wednesday. C/ Avila, Blq. 5, Local 1, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 799 635

Casa mono Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. C/ Calderón Estébanez 19, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 578

Casanis Open every day from 6pm except Sundays. C/ Ancha, 8, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 450

celima Open every day for lunch and dinner. Hotel Hermitage, Ctra. de Casares, Casares. Tel: 952 895 639.

cerrado del águila Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. Cerrado del Águila, Camino del Acevedo, s/n, Mijas Costa. Tel: 951 773 521

cortijo fain Open every day for lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Algar, km. 3, Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz. Tel: 956 704 131

Don Leone Open every night for dinner. Puerto Banús, Marbella. Tel: 952 811 716

Don Quijote Open every evening for dinner (7pm-12am). Urb. El Rosario, km. 188, Marbella. Tel: 952 834 748

Dynamic Café Open Monday to Sunday for lunch. Ctra. de Istán, km.

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RESTAURANTS

THE GUIDE

0.9, C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 021

587 550

El Bolero

EL OLIVO

Open every night for dinner from 8-11pm. The San Roque Club, CN 340, km. 127, Cádiz. Tel: 956 613 030

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for lunch. At Marbella Golf & Country Club. CN 340, km. 188, Marbella. Tel: 952 830 500

girasol

El Restaurante del Casino

hermosa

El Campanario Open every day for lunch. Open for dinner on Friday and Saturday. CN 340, km. 168, Estepona. Tel: 952 880 126

El Corzo Open daily for dinner. Hotel Los Monteros, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 187. Tel: 952 771 700

EL JINETE Open daily for dinner except for Friday. Ctra. La Cala Golf, km 45, La Cala de Mijas. Tel: 952 119 170

El lago

Open every day for dinner from 8pm-4am. Hotel Andalucía Plaza s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 814 000

Fabiola Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sundays for lunch. Cortijo Los Canos, Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro, CN-340, km. 132, Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 695 114 / 619 694 484

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Urb. Elviria Hills. Avda. Las Cumbres s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 832 371

Finca Besaya

EL MIRADOR

Finca El Forjador

Open for breakfast every day. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Resort. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

Open daily for lunch from 1-4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Ctra. de Casares, km. 10. Tel: 952 895 120

EO CAfé

Finca las brasas

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 867 794

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Ctra. Fuengirola-Mijas, between CN 340 and highway. Tel: 952 580 513

El oceano Beach hotel restaurant and spa Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN 340, km. 199, Miraflores Playa, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Rio Verde Alto, s/n. Tel: 952 861 382

Galeria San Pedro Open from 11am until midnight. Closed Sundays. Avda Las Palmeras 15, San Pedro

Alcántara. Tel: 952 780 927 Open daily for dinner from 6.30p.m. Avda. del Prado, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 813 859 Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 7pm. Closed Monday. Local 1A. Puerto de Cabopino. Tel: 952 837 483

Herrero del Puerto Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Casas de Campos, 1, Málaga. Tel: 952 122 075

hotel marbella club buffet Open every day for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

ICE Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. El Rosario (mountainside by the El Rosario roundabout), Marbella. Tel: 952 835 151

karma Open every day from 10am until late. C/ Las Violetas 7, Conjunto Andalucía Garden Club, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 815 736

khala Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. NH Alanda Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 952 899 600

LA biznaga

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Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine

Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sunday for lunch only. Ctra. Ronda, km. 46, Urb. Las Medranas, local 4, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 951 275 750

la borgoña Open Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm. Paseo de las Palmeras 25, San Pedro. Tel: 951 087 899

la brisa Open for dinner Thursday to Monday from 7pm. Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km. 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

La cabaña del mar

under €25

€25 – €40

Tel: 952 816 355

La Loggia Open daily for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks. Hotel Villa Padierna & Flamingos Golf Club, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 166 (Cancelada exit), Benahavís. Tel: 952 889 150

La Menorah

€40 – €60

€60 plus

Tuesdays. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 136. Playa Guadiaro, Torre-guadiaro, Cádiz. Tel: 956 615 998

los arcos Open every night for dinner. Hotel Meliá La Quinta, Urb. La Quinta Golf s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 762 000

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Arena Beach, CN 340, km. 151.2, Estepona. Tel: 952 792 734

los bandidos

LA SALA

max beach

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C/ Belmonte, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 814 145

Open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday and for lunch on Sunday. CN 340, km. 198, Mijas. Tel: 952 932 780

Open every night for dinner. Muelle Ribera, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 915

Open every day for lunch and for dinner from Monday to Saturday. Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona CN 340, km 159, Playa El Padrón, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

La Terraza

Mc café

Open everyday lunch and dinner. Golf Hotel Guadalmina, Marbella. Tel: 952 882 211

la cabane

La Terraza

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Marbella Club Hotel. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n. Tel: 952 822 211

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 187, Marbella. Tel: 952 823 846

Open daily for dinner. La Cala Resort, La Cala de Mijas, Mijas. Tel: 952 669 000

LA CANTINA DEL GOLF

La Veranda

Open for breakfast and lunch until 8pm. Closed Sunday. Flamingo Golf Club, Cancelada, Benahavís. Tel: 951 318 815

Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. Hotel Villa Padierna, Urb: Flamingos s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 889 150

La Esencia

La veranda lobby bar

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Hotel Incosol, Urb. Golf Rio Real, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 831 303

Open every day for lunch and dinner. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

la fontina

La Verandah

Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner, and Saturday for dinner only. Closed Sundays.

Open week days for dinner at 7:30pm and weekends for lunch and dinner, closed

Messina Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Avda. Severo Ochoa, 12, Marbella. Tel: 952 864 895

mozaic Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday. Urb. Las Chapas, Marbella. Tel: 952 839 901

Miraflores Golf Restaurant Open daily for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 199. Urb. Riviera Golf. Tel: 952 931 941

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RESTAURANTS

THE GUIDE

NUEVA CAMPANA

polynesian’s

Open daily for lunch and dinner, except Tuesday. La Campana, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 814 041

Open Monday to Sunday from 5pm to 2am. Urb. La Alcazaba, CN 340, km 175, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 816 100

mytilus

puente romano beach club

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos s/n, Sotogrande. Tel: 956 780 106

ocean club Open daily for lunch. Avda. Lola Flores s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 137

OCHO Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. C/ Moncayo 12, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 460 232 / 648 502 822

oyarbide

Open daily for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

PURO BEACH Open daily for lunch and dinner. Laguna Village, Playa El Padrón, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 015

Rojo Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday. C/ Granada, 44, Málaga. Tel: 952 227 486

Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sunday for lunch. C/ Acera de la Marina 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 772 461

ROUTE 66

passion café

schilo

Open for lunch and dinner every day. C.C. La Colonia, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 781 583

Open Thursday to Saturday for dinner. Hotel Finca Cortesín. Crta. Casares s/n, Casares, Málaga. Tel: 952 937 800

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza Antonio Banderas s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 136 333

POCO loco BEACH

shiraz

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Playa Hermosa, CN 340, Km 189, Marbella. Tel: 952 836 170

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Puerto Deportivo, Local 15, Marbella. Tel: 952 778 334

polo house

Skina

Open daily for dinner from 7pm and Sunday Lunch, with club/dancing. CN 340, Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 11, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 380

Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. C/ Aduar 12, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 277

South beach Marbella Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Avda.

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Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine del Limonar 24, beach front Las Chapas (El Rosario exit), Marbella. Tel: 665 660 737

Suave Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo Maritimo Rey de España 93, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 866 627

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

Open 9am to 11pm every day except Sundays. Avda. Ricardo Soriano 1, Local 1 (Edif. Portillo), Marbella. Tel: 952 772 577

Plaza Altamirano 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 858 868

the playwright

Al Dente

::: ITALIAN :::

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/Manzana, Locales 8-11, Pueblo Los Arcos, Elviria. Tel: 952 830 868

Open 7 days a week for dinner. Closed on Mondays. Urb. Jardines del Puerto, local 12, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 906 181

The orange tree

Amore e Fantasía

Open every evening from 6:30 pm-11 pm. Plaza General Chinchilla 1, Plaza de los Naranjos, Marbella. Tel: 952 924 613.

Open every day for lunch and dinner from 7pm onwards. Muelle Benabola, Casa 5A, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 813 464

tikitano

Aretusa

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Guadalmansa, CN340, km 164, Estepona. Tel: 952 798 449

Open daily for dinner. Front line P. Banús. Tel: 952 812 898

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. CN 340, km.168, Benamara, Estepona. Tel: 952 883 259

Trocadero arena

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Frontline Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 813 357

Terra Sana

trocadero beach

Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nueva Andalucía next to the Casino. Tel: 952 906 205. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 977. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 951 901 050

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Playa de la Carolina, Marbella. Tel: 610 704 144

SUite Dinner and afterwards dance to music by resident DJ. Thursday to Saturday. Hotel Puente Romano, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Swing Open from 12-4pm and 7.30pm until midnight. Closed Wednesdays. Arena Beach, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 151, Estepona. Tel: 952 796 320

tanino

The Clubhouse Bar & Brasserie Open Tuesday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. Los Naranjos de Marbella, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 908 844

The meeting room

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Torre Real Beach, Marbella. Tel: 952 865 579

umami Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Colonia, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 637 558 927

What’s cooking deli and takeaway Open daily from 10am to 6pm. C.C. Guadalmina, Local 34, Marbella. Tel: 649 829 391

zozoï Open every day for dinner from 7.30pm-12am.

Carpaccio Caruso Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday 7pm until midnight. Avda. de la Constitución, corner C/ Andalucía, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 782 293

Da Bruno Open all day. Pasta Da Bruno: Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 27, Marbella. Tel: 952 860 348 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno Cabopino: CN-340 Km. 194,7. Tel: 952 831 918. Da Bruno a Casa: Marbella Mar, Local 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 857 521 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno A San Pedro: Avda. del Mar, local 1E,San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 860 – closed on Monday. Da

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THE GUIDE

RESTAURANTS

Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine

Bruno Sul Mare: Edif. Skol, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318/19

Da Paolo Open everyday for lunch and dinner. Muelle Ribera, casa G-H, local 43, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 453

dalli’s pasta factory Open Monday to Friday for dinner and on Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. Second Line Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 871 / 952 818 623

De Medici Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Urb. El Pilar, C.C. Benapilar, Estepona. Tel: 952 884 687

gold restaurant Open every day from 10am to 12 am. Complejo Benabola 13, Beach Side, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 929 055

la pappardella di estepona Open every day for lunch and dinner from 1pm to midnight. Puerto Deportivo de Estepona. Tel: 952 802 144

LA pappardella sul mare Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 952 807 354

Leonardo da vinci

under €25

€25 – €40

salotto Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Avda. del Prado, Via 1, local 2, Aloha Golf, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 112

terraza dual

€40 – €60

€60 plus

Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday. Centro Comercial Marbellamar. Tel: 952 770 550

Sushi des artistes

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Marbellamar s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 925 250

Open every day for lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 178.5, Marbella. Easy parking. Tel: 952 857 403

trattoria l’impronta

Sushi Katsura

Open daily for lunch and dinner except on Tuesday. Avda. Salamanca, Edif. San Pedro del Mar, Local 14, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 785 943

Open for lunch from Monday to Friday and for dinner from Monday to Saturday. C/Ramón Gómez de la Serna, 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 863 193

Villa Tiberio

Tai Pan

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 799

Open seven days a week for dinner. H. Puente Romano, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 177, Marbella. Tel: 952 777 893

::: Oriental ::: Asia Food

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Comercial, Pinares de Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 850 060

Dragón de Oro Open every day from 12.30-4pm and 7pm until midnight. Closed Monday lunchtime. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 141, Urb. Hacienda Guadalupe, Manilva. Tel: 952 890 956

Thai Gallery Open seven days a week for dinner from 8pm. CN-340, km.175, Edif. Rimesa, Bajos, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 392

tHapa thai Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Puerto Deportivo 13, Edif. Poniente, Estepona. Tel: 951 318 445

Wasabi Open daily from 1.30 pm for lunch and dinner. C.C. Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 577

Open every night for dinner. Urb. Doña Lola, Local 21-22, Calahonda, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 934 667

golden wok

Lombardo’s

infuschia

Open daily from 7pm. Galerías Paniagua, Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 795 924

Open daily except Tuesday, from 7pm to 12 am. Plaza Antonio Banderas, Edif. Sur. Local 37 Alto, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 325

Wok Buffet

Open daily for both lunch and dinner, closed on Sundays. Paseo Marítimo Benabola, local 12, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 810 543

Kaede

Wok Wang

Open every day for lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Meliá La Quinta. Urb. La Quinta Golf, Marbella. Tel: 952 762 059

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C/ Camilo José Cela, C.C. Plaza del Mar, planta 0, local 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 925 478

MADE IN SARDINIA

Kaiden Sushi

Yuan

Open every night for dinner. C.C. Cristamar, Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 906 608

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Com. Guadalmina Alta, Guadalmina 4, local 2, lower floor, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 896 508

Open every night for dinner. Hotel Torrequebrada, Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 441 414.

Luna Rossa

Metro Open every day for lunch and dinner. Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 446 460

nunos Open daily for lunch and dinner. At the Caleta Hotel. Catalan Bay, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 76501

Pizzeria Picasso Open daily from 12 noon. Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 813 669

portofino laguna village Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 952 808 035

Ristorante Regina Open every night for dinner and Sunday for lunch. Edif. La Ruleta, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 814 529

Ristorante Roberto Open daily for dinner. Beach Club, Hotel Puente Romano, CN-340, km 177.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Rosmarino della Piazza Open Monday to Friday for lunch and daily for dinner. C.C. Pinares de Elviria, s/n, Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 850 148

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. Marbellamar, Marbella. Tel: 952 866 840

Kama Kura Open Tuesday to Saturday from 8-11pm. The San Roque Club, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 127, San Roque, Cádiz. Tel: 956 613 030

meca Open every day for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pino Golf, Don Carlos, Local 1, Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 830 365 / 658 646 829

Osaka Open every day 13:30-16:00 & 19:30-24:00. CN-340, km. 166 (Benavista). C.C. Costa del Sol. Tel: 952 885 751

RestaurantE asiático Bangkok Open daily for lunch and dinner. P. de las Orquideas, C/ Iris, 11B, Edif. Excelsior no. 1, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 603

Sakura Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda. Jardines del Puerto, L.5, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 536

Sapporo Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Costa del Sol, upper level. CN-340, km. 166 (Estepona). Tel: 952 888 710

Sukho Thai

Wok Away Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 907 304 Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. El Pilar, 22, Estepona. Tel: 952 887 092

::: SCANDINAVIAN ::: Skandies

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7pm to 11pm. Closed Mondays. Avda. Antonio Belón, 26 (behind the lighthouse), Marbella. Tel: 952 776 323

::: SEAFOOD :::

cervecería ostrería santiago Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. del Marzo, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 078

Cipriano Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Playas del Duque, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 077

El Barlovento Open from 11am-4pm and 7.30-11pm every day except Mondays. Puerto Deportivo de Sotogrande, Cádiz. Tel: 956 790 370

La fishita Open daily from 4pm to 12 am. C/Las Violetas, Local 7, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 598

Restaurante La Marina Open every day from 1-4.30pm and 8pm until midnight. Paseo Marítimo s/n, La Atunara, La Linea de la Concepción, Campo de Gibraltar.

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Tel: 956 171 531

La Torre Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle de Honor, Club de Mar, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 561

Marisquería La Pesquera Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de la Victoria, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 170

Restaurante El bote Open every day for lunch and dinner. Paseo Marítimo Rey de España, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 660 084

Santiago Open daily for lunch and dinner. Paseo Marítimo, 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 078

::: SPANISH ::: Bahía

Open every evening for dinner. At Hotel Don Carlos. Avda. Zurita s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

beach club restaurante grill Open every day for lunch. Hotel Fuerte, Castillo de San Luis s/n and Hotel Fuerte Miramar Spa, Plaza José Luque Manzano s/n, Marbella. Tel: 902 343 410

Casa de la era Open every evening for dinner. Ctra. de Ojén, km 0.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 625

Casa Fernando Open from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Avda. del Mediterráneo s/n, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 853 344

El Portalón Open Monday to Saturday for lunch 1-4pm and dinner from 8pmmidnight. Ctra de Cádiz, km 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 827 880

finca tabanko Open daily for lunch and dinner. Ctra. Fuengirola-Mijas, km. 4.2, Mijas. Tel: 952 590 727

Hacienda Open from 1-4.30pm and 7.30 -11pm. Closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays. Urb. La Alcaidesa, La Linea de la Concepción. Tel: 956 582 700

La Meridiana del alabardero Open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays. Camino de la Cruz, Marbella. Tel: 952 776 190

la moraga Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 448. Also open in C.C. Parque Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 593 405

La Taberna del Alabardero Open everyday for lunch and dinner except Monday. San Pedro Playa, Urb. Castiglone. Tel: 952 785 138. Also at Ctra. de Ronda, km. 167, San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 265

Mesón el adobe Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesdays. Avda. La Fontanilla, Edif. Balmoral, Bajo 3, Marbella. Tel. 600 003 144

mi taberna Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 178, Marbella. Tel: 952 827 880

Tragabuches Open from Tuesday to Sunday for both lunch and dinner. C/José Aparacio,1, Ronda (pedestrian street between bullring and Parador). Tel: 952 190 291

::: VEGETARIAN ::: loving hut

Open daily from 10.30am to 11.30pm. Avda. Miguel Cano 11, Marbella. Tel: 951 245 889

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SCHOOLS

HOTELS

GYMS

THE GUIDE

GYMS & SPORTS CLUBS

CN340, Km192. Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

ALHAMAR GYM

Crtra. Casares, Casares. Tel: 952 937 800

C.C. Alhamar, CN-340 km 197. Tel: 952 934 684

Gran hotel gvadalpín puerto banús

ATENAS Barquilla 1. Marbella. Tel: 952 776 240

Arroyo El Rodeo, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 899 700

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

Gran Meliá Don Pepe

Urb. Riviera del Sol, Mijas-Costa. Tel: 952 934 477

CENTRO DEPORTIVO EL FUERTE

José Meliá s/n. Marbella. Tel: 952 770 300

Av. El Fuerte s/n. Marbella. Tel: 952 861 624

hotel los monteros

CENTRO DE YOGA Y SALUD INTEGRAL

CN 340, km 187, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 700

Ramón y Cajal 21. Marbella. Tel: 952 773 804

Hotel Meliá La Quinta

CENTRO PLAZA GYM

Hotel Puente Romano

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 074

CN340, Km179. Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Cerrado del águila

Hotel Torrequebrada

Mijas Costa, Málaga. Tel: 951 773 523

Avda. del Sol s/n, Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 446 000

CLUB DEl SOL Tennis /paddle classes. Calahonda. Tel: 952 939 595

finca cortesin hotel, golf & spa

Urb. La Quinta Golf, Marbella. Tel: 952 762 000

Hotel Triton

Dynamic training centre

Avda. Antonio Machado, 29. Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 443 240

C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 021

hotel suites duquesa golf & Spa

FITNESS CENTRE NEW STYLE

CN340, km 143, Manilva. Tel: 952 891 211

Amapolas, s/n Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 916

Kempinski Hotel bahía estepona

Fuerte Gym

La Cala resort

Avda. El Fuerte, Marbella. Tel: 952 861 624

La Cala de Mijas Tel: 952 669 000

GIMNASIO ESTADIO

Marbella Club Hotel

Trav. Huerta de los Cristales, Marbella. Tel: 952 828 217

CN340, Km180. Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

HAPPY DIVER’S CLUB Atalaya Park Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 609 571 920

CN340, Km166, Exit Cancelada. Benahavís. Tel: 952 889 150

HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

vincci selección estrella del mar

CN340, Km77,5. Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

CN340, km 190.5, Marbella. Tel: 951 053 970

CN340, Km159. Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

hotel Villa Padierna

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB Ctra. de Istán, Km2. Marbella. Tel: 952 778 580

Alanda Carib Playa

MARBELLA GUN & COUNTRY CLUB

CN340, Km 194. Tel: 952 902 537

Monda. Tel: 952 112 161

Alanda Club Marbella

MARBELLA SPORT

CN340 Km192. Marbella. Tel: 952 902 537

Km 171.5. San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

Almenara Golf Hotel & Spa

MULTI SPORT

Avda. Almenara s/n. Sotogrande. Tel: 956 582 000

Avda. Picasso 27. San Pedro. Tel: 952 782 801

New Concept Training

Amanhavís Hotel & Restaurant

Monte Paraíso Country Club, Camino de Camoján s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 866 843

C/ Pilar 3. Benahavís. Tel: 952 856 026

02 CENTRO WELLNESS

CN340, Km168,5. Estepona. Tel: 952 889 000

Plaza del Mar. Marbella. Tel: 952 900 420

barceló Marbella

P-E SPORTS CLUB

C/ de Granadillas, s/n. Urb. Guadalmina Alta, Marbella. Tel: 952 889 099

Urb. Parcelas del Golf, Aloha Gardens, N. Andalucía. Tel: 952 818 357

Atalaya Park Hotel

Beatriz Palace & Spa

qi sport

CN340, Km207. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 922 000

Urb. La Alzambra, Marbella. Tel: 952 907 090

Benabola Apart Hotel

SATURNIA REGNA

Benabola. Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 815 000

Marbella Tel: 952 761 475, Elviria. Tel: 952 834 835

blue Bay banús hotel

SEVEN STARS SCHOOL

CN340, Km173. N. Andalucía. Tel: 952 811 517

Tai Chi & yoga. Pasaje Estrecho, Estepona. Tel: 952 923 055

Coral Beach

SPORTCLUB ROUTE 66

el oceano beach hotel

Ctra. Mijas, 1.5km. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 461 648

SPORTING CLUB ATALAYA PARK HOTEL

Miraflores Playa, Torrenueva, Marbella. Tel: 952 587 550

CN340, Km 168,5. Estepona. Tel: 952 888 212

Golf Hotel Guadalmina

TICKET-TO-RIDE

Guadalmina Baja. Marbella. Tel: 952 882 211

Golden Mile. Marbella. Tel: 952 824 500

Cristamar, Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 905 082

Gran Hotel Benahavis

Vitality studio

Huerta de Rufino, Benahavís. Tel: 902 504 862

C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 902 362

H10 Andalucía Plaza

HOTELS

CN340 Km 174. Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 812 000

h10 Estepona palace

CROWNe PLAZA

Avda. del Carmen 99, Playa de Guadalbón, Estepona. Tel: 952 790 040

CN 340, km 168, Estepona. Tel: 902 875 730

HM gran hotel costa del sol

Don Carlos resort, leisure & spa

La Cala de Mijas, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 587 710

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Hotel El Fuerte Avda. El Fuerte, s/n. Marbella. Tel: 952 861 500. Spa & Beauty Miramar. Tel: 952 920 000

Hotel Fuerte Miramar Spa Pl. José Luque Manzano. Marbella. Tel: 952 768 400. Spa & Beauty Miramar. Tel: 952 768 410

Hotel Meliá Marbella CN340, Km175. Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 810 500

Hotel Playa Bonita CN340, Km217. Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 442 840

Hotel Princess Playa Paseo Marítimo. Marbella. Tel: 952 820 944

NH Alanda Hotel & Spa CN340, Km176,6. Marbella. Tel: 952 899 600

NH Marbella C/ Conde Rudi, s/n. CN340, Km178. Marbella. Tel: 952 763 200

Parador de Ronda Plaza de España, s/n. Ronda. Tel: 952 877 500

pierre & vacances CALEDONIA GOLF resort CN340, km 165, Cancelada exit. Estepona. Tel: 952 889 999

playabella spa gran hotel Urb. Costalita s/n, Estepona. Tel: 959 528 253

SENTIDOS Hotel CN340, Km185, Urb. Golf Rio Real s/n. Marbella. Tel: 952 765 732

Sunset Beach Club Avda. del Sol, 5. Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 579 400

Tamisa Golf Hotel Camino Viejo de Coín. Km 3.3. Mijas Golf. Tel: 952 585 988

TRH el paraíso CN340, km 167, Estepona. Tel: 952 883 000

Hotel diana park CN 340, km 168.5, Estepona. Tel: 952 887 659

HOTEL PYR MARBELLA Avda. Rotary International, s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 353

NH SAN PEDRO C/ Jerez 1, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 853 040

sisu boutique hotel puerto banús CN 340, km 173, Puerto Banús, Tel: 952 906 105

sChools

Aloha College Ages 3-18. Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 814 133

Angela’s School Ages 6-14. Marbella. Tel: 952 823 042

british school of marbella Ages 18 months-8. Marbella. Tel: 952 779 264

Calahonda International College Ages 3-18. Tel: 952 930 080

Calpe School Ages 2 1/2–11. San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 029

Childrens placE Bilingual nursery Atalaya, Estepona. Tel: 952 928 444

Colegio Alborán Ages 3-18. Ricmar. Tel: 952 839 645

Colegio Alemán Ages 3-18. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 417

Colegio Las Chapas Ages 5–18, girls school. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 616

Colegio San José Guadalmina Tel: 952 883 858 Estepona. Tel: 952 800 148

Dolphin Nursery Ages 6 months-5 years. San Pedro. Tel: 952 799 563

Ecos College Ages 1–18. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 027

English InteRnational College Ages 3–18. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 058/9

Fiona Jones School of Dance Ages 9–14. Manolo Santana Racquets Club. Fuengirola. Tel: 610 764 439

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TOURIST

TENNIS

MARKETS

SCHOOLS

THE GUIDE Hijas de María Auxiliadora

capricho

Ages 3-12. Marbella. Tel: 952 771 396

Ages 3–10. Marbella. Tel: 952 773 248

III language schools

Swans international school Sierra blanca

San Pedro. Tel: 952 778 492 Marbella. Tel: 952 822 191 Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 908 558 Estepona. Tel: 952 794 059

Ages 11–18. Marbella. Tel: 952 902 755

TLC Tutorial College Ages 13-18. Calahonda. Tel: 952 933 249

Inlingua Language School

wendy kindergarten

All ages. Marbella. T: 952 774 942

Ages 4 months - 5 years. Marbella. Tel: 952 772 910

the InteRnational SCHOOL of ESTEPONA Ages 2-12. Estepona. Tel: 952 884 789

Laude San pedro international college

Street Markets Monday benahavís

Ages 2–18. San Pedro. Tel: 952 799 900

Arts & Crafts. Village Square, from 8pm

Mayfair Academy

Marbella

Ages 4-18. Atalaya Park, Estepona. Tel: 952 784 923

Fairground (Avda. de Juan Alameda), 9am-2:30pm

Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra Ages 3-16. Marbella. Tel: 952 770 077

Tuesday Churriana

Performing Arts Academy

9am-1pm

Ages 3-18. Marbella. Tel: 952 906 865

Fuengirola

Peter Pan School

Recinto Ferial (close to the CN340, on the same side as the bullring), 9am-2:30pm

Ages 0-3. Bilingual nursery. San Pedro. Tel: 952 782 051 Benalmádena. Tel: 952 562 103

Monda

Saint George’s School

C/ Los Huertos, 8am-2:30pm

Ages 2-8. San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 606

Nerja

Sotogrande International School

C/ Chaparil, 9am-1pm

Ages 2–18. Sotogrande. Tel: 956 795 902

St. Javier’s International School

Wednesday Alhaurín de la Torre

Ages 1-7. Marbella. Tel: 952 823 457

Avda. del Limón, 9am-2pm

Stagecoach Theatre Arts School

benahavís

Ages 4-16. Tel: 952 900 453

Arts & Crafts. Village Square, from 8pm

Sunny View School

Benalmádena Costa

Ages 2–18. Torremolinos. Tel: 952 383 164

(Second hand items) Recinto Ferial, 10am-2pm

Swans international school el

Calahonda

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Calypso, 9am-2pm

9am-1pm

Club deL Sol

club

Estepona

Tennis/paddle classes. Calahonda. Tel: 952 939 595

Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Avda. Juan Carlos II, 9am-2:30 pm

Saturday Coín C/ Urbano Pineda,

Istán

9am-1pm

At the entrance to the town, 9am-2pm

La Cala Recinto Ferial,

Club de tenis don carlos

La Cala Recinto Ferial, 9am-1pm

Thursday Alhaurín El Grande By the Guardia Civil Offfices, City Centre, 9am-1pm Málaga Opposite the Guardia Civil Offices, City Centre. 9am-1pm San Pedro By the sports pavilion, in the Divina Pastora district, 9am-2pm Torre del Mar Avda. Europa, 9am-1pm Torremolinos El Calvario, near Town Hall, 9am-1pm Vélez Málaga Opposite the Guardia Civil Offices, City Centre, 9am-1pm

9am-1pm Maro Close to the Nerja Caves, 9am-1pm Mijas Costa Las Lagunas, 9am-2pm Nueva Andalucía Next to the bullring. Park near CN340 and walk upwards, 9am-1pm

Hotel Don Carlos, Avda. Zurita, CN340, km 192. Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

Sunday benahavís

Benahavís. Tel: 617 647 223

Arts & Crafts. La Ermita Park, from 10pm

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

Estepona

Hofsaess tennis academy

Puerto Deportivo, 9am-1pm

Fuengirola

Club Internacional de Tennis Ctra. Cádiz, km 173. Marbella. Tel: 952 813 341

Club Madroñal Club Nueva Alcántara

Recinto Ferial, 9am-2:30pm

Monte Elviria (next to German School). Tel: 952 835 812

Málaga

Lew Hoads Tennis Club

Next to Rosaleda football stadium, 9am-2pm

Ctra. de Mijas, Km 3,5. Mijas. Tel: 952 474 858

Friday Benalmádena

Sotogrande At the Marina, 9am-1pm

Manolo Santana Racquets Club

In the area between Tivoli World and the Plaza San Pedro, 9am-1pm

TENNIS CLUBS

Ctra. de Istán, Km 2. Marbella. Tel: 952 778 580

Aztec Country Club

marbella playa tenIs

Calahonda

Urb. Riviera del Sol, Mijas-Costa. Tel: 952 934 477

CN340, km 189, Marbella. Tel: 657 619 630

bel air tennis and paddel club

Miraflores Tennis Club

Calypso, 9am-2pm

Las Chapas La Víbora, 9am-2pm

Rincón de la Victoria Málaga.Plaza de la Iglesia,

Urb. Bel-Air, Estepona. Tel: 952 883 221

Urb. Miraflores, Km 199. Calahonda. Tel: 952 932 006

Puente Romano TEnnis

royal tennis club marbella El Rosario, Marbella. Tel: 952 837 651

Tourist offices

Benahavís Tel: 952 855 500 Benalmádena Tel: 952 442 494 Estepona Tel: 952 802 002 Fuengirola Tel: 952 467 625 Gibraltar Tourist Board Tel: 956 774 950 Marbella Tel: 952 822 818 Málaga Tel: 952 213 445 / 952 216 061 Mijas Tel: 952 485 900 Ronda Tel: 952 871 272 San Pedro Tel: 952 785 252 Tarifa Tel: 956 680 993 Torremolinos Tel: 952 381 578

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A Party Fit for a Princess at le petite milk and roses WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

KIDS

THE GUIDE family

© KH Photography If you’ve always dreamed of throwing your little girl the perfect party, few venues are quite as exclusive and chic as the new le petite milk and roses spa in Marbella. The spa, launched by the same team that founded the milk and roses brand at the Hotel Puente Romano, has dedicated an entire floor to girls’ parties, featuring a host of Disney character dresses for your daughter and her friends to wear, as well as non-alcoholic Champagne and a list of treatments which includes manicures and massages! Your little girl will revel in the beautiful pink interiors and feminine touches and for one day, she will believe she really is a princess. i C/ Estebanez Calderón 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 859 223.

ANCRAA Giant Donkeys Cuddle

a donkey or become a volunteer to help save this humble but threatened animal. CN 340, km 164, Finca los Pajaritos, Estepona. Tel: 952 790 511 Bioparc Fuengirola Award winning zoo covering Madagascar, Africa and the Far East. C/ Camilo José Cela, 6. Tel: 952 666 301. www. bioparcfuengirola.es Black Box Teatro Dramatic Arts School for all ages. C/ Notario Luis Oliver 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 172. www.blackboxteatro.com Born to be Wild Jeep and dolphin eco-tours for the whole family. Open 9am-8pm. Blue Dolphin Beach Club, Estepona Beach. Tel: 639 720 246 Cable Ski Marbella Water ski cable system and pool. Open 11am-9pm (closed Mondays). Urb. Las Medranas, San Pedro. Tel: 952 785 579 Camelot Fun play centre in La Cañada with a wealth of games and activities and qualified child minders. Special events include baby and toddler mornings and a baby grow clinic, for mums to be and newborns. Ctra. de Ojén s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 764 766 Galaxia Versatile and fun play centre for children of all ages, with separate areas indoor and outdoor. Mega slide, mini planetarium, birthday parties, summer camp. Life size characters. C.C. Guadalmina, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 885 530 Crocodile Park Educational park with more then 300 monsters. Pose

with baby crocodiles. Open 10am6pm. C/ Cuba, 14, Torremolinos. Tel: 952 051 782 El Refugio del Burrito Donkey sanctuary just 40 minutes north of Málaga. Open 11am-7pm. Fuente de Piedra, Málaga. Tel: 952 735 513 Danzzas Ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, theatre craft and hip-hop for kids. Classes at the Manolo Santana Racquets Club and at Plaza Gym. Contact Fiona on Tel: 663 646 040. www.danzzas.com Flamenco Classes Children aged 5 to 8 can learn to dance flamenco with Isabel Gil, a professional dancer. Classes on Monday and Wednesday at the Nueva Alcántara Tennis Club. Tel: 952 788 315 Funny Beach Kids paradise with go-karts, trampolines, minimotorbikes, mechanical bull. Open daily. East side of Marbella. Tel: 952 823 359

Ice Skating Rink and Indoor Swimming Pool New sports

centre with public ice skating, indoor pool, children’s pool. Avda. García Lorca, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 577 050

Inter Marbella Football Academy Football Academy for

boys and girls of all ages, just opposite La Cañada in Marbella. Training is on Mondays and Wednesdays. Call Craig on Tel: 609 310 409. www.intermarbellacf.com Karting Club Málaga Go-kart circuit for kids and adults who

feel a need for speed. Open 10ammidnight. Ctra. De Coin, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 581 704 Kids Multi-Sports Club A plethora of sports for children of all ages and abilities, from tennis through to football, cycling and skateboarding. Parties with games, activities and bouncy castles. Urb. Parcelas del Golf, Avda. del Prado, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 656 618 712 Kidz Kingdom Fun play centre and birthday party area for kids, with a mini disco. Urb. Bel-Air, CN 340, km 166.2, Estepona. Tel: 952 925 936

Kidz Kingdom 2 – Space City

Space theamed play centre for daily visits or parties. Life size Barney and Sponge Bob. Urb. El Rosario, CN 340, km 188.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 839 275 Little Fishes Swimming classes for newborns to 3-year-olds in Marbella, Estepona and Riviera. Tel: 686 498 561/ 607 875 949. www. littlefishes-spain.com

Little Gem Swimmers

Swimming courses for babies and toddlers in Benalmádena. Contact Emma on Tel: 628 567 129. www. littlegemswimmers.com Marbella Stage School Kids can take accredited courses in dance, drama, musical theatre and singing after school on weekdays and all day on Saturdays. Tel: 952 906 865. www.marbellastageschool.com Megabowl & Sports Bar This bowling centre boasts state-ofthe-art tenpin bowling lanes as

well as great food, drinks and entertainment. C.C. La Cañada, Ctra. Ojén, Marbella. Tel: 902 232 999. www.megabowlmarbella.com Musical Babes Babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years enjoy singing, playing simple instruments and playing games. Tel: 952 853 027. Los Jazmines 11, Bajo B, Nueva Alcántara, San Pedro de Alcántara. www.brainwaves-spain. com

NMA The Nelson Music Academy Kids aged 4 to 12 are

introduced to music in its funnest aspects. Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm, Saturdays from 11am to 1pm. Edif. Jupiter 44, Local 3, C/ Jesús Cautivo, Los Boliches, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 478 416. www.nelsonmusicacademy. com Original Dolphin Safari The original dolphin safari, established in 1969! Daily sailings from Marina Bay, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 71914. www. dolphinsafari.gi Parque La Batería Kids will have fun in this park, built in the civil war era and featuring four replica cannons, underground bunkers and passageways. Urb. Montemar Alto (near the train station), Torremolinos. Plaza Mayor Family entertainment with multi-screen cinema, bars, restaurants, bowling alley and kids play area. Málaga. Tel: 952 247 580 Scouting Kids will have fun being a boy or girl scout. The programme followed is the same as that in the UK. Tel: 680 870 270 Sealife Centre See 2 metre long sharks. Touch pools and walk-though glass tunnel. Open daily 10am-6pm. Benálmadena Port. Tel: 952 560 150 Selwo Adventure Park Over 2,000 animals, 4x4 tours, plus adventure activities. Open 10am9pm. CN340 Km 162.5, Estepona. Tel: 902 190 482 Selwo Marina Dolphins Exotic

birds, penguins and virtual reality shows. Open 10am-6pm. Parque de la Paloma, Benalmádena. Tel: 902 190 482 Stagecoach Renowned performing arts school for singing, dancing and acting skills. The academy is open to four to 16-year-olds. Tel: 952 900 453/666 838 213. www.stagecoach. es Steam Train Ride Enjoy a steam train ride crossing the Andalusian mountains with a scenic trip from San Roque to Ronda. Tel: 952 931 186 Swim Bebé Swim Swimming classes for under 4’s and AquaNatal classes for mums-to-be. Tel: 617 520 588 Teleférico Benalmádena Cable car to top of Calamorro mountain, falconry, trekking and horseriding. Arroyo de la Miel. Open 10am-6pm. Tel: 902 190 482 Tennis Camp Tennis lessons for kids from 4 years on, with professional coaches. Open 10am1pm. Club del Sol, Calahonda. Tel: 952 939 595 The Music House Kids learn, grow and have fun making music. Open to children from 2 years on. Edif. San Pedro del Mar, Blq 7, local 12, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 785 515. www.themusichouse.es Tivoli World Biggest amusement park on the Costa del Sol. Open daily from 1pm. Avda. de Tivoli, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 577 016 Trenecito de Marbella Take a relaxing train ride to view the main sights of Marbella. Daily 10am-1pm. Paseo Maritimo. Tel: 639 765 981 Yaina’s Park Indoor play centre with staff speaking Scandinavian, English and Spanish. Open seven days a week from 10am to 9pm. Children’s parties, parent’s coffee shop with pool tables, television, food. Avda. Gamonal 4, Edif. Hercules, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena. Tel: 622 005 068

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pets THE GUIDE

BEWARE OF GRASS SEEDS

Anyone who is anti-hunting may find it hard to resist a giggle when they read this news story. Steven Egan, a 52-year-old man from Florida, was on a hunting trip to shoot wild hogs, when he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the leg. Her physical appearance had nothing to do with it; rather, Egan fired his .30-calibre rifle at some bushes that were moving, assuming that behind them was a crafty hog he had been targeting consistently with little success. Unfortunately the injured party was his girlfriend, 52-year-old Lisa Simmons, whom Egan says he assumed to be at the campsite resting. Simmons was airlifted to a nearby hospital and luckily, she is on the way back to recovery. It may be time to consider either losing a few pounds or getting a new boyfriend, we think.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Man Confuses Girlfriend with Hog and Shoots Summer is a particularly dangerous time for dogs, since it is the favourite season of fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. You may not have heard of an additional danger: grass seeds. They can lodge in your dog’s skin (in the ears, nose and eyes, as well as genitals and in between the toes), causing painful abscesses to form. They can also cause corneal ulcers and even the loss of an eye/eyes. Make sure to take the following precautionary measures: Z Groom your dog at least twice a week and remove any foreign matter lodged in its coat Z Check between your dog’s coat for seeds Z If the problem is rife, have your groomer trim the hair between the toes or have a general trim Z Also check under the tail and in the ears. You can tell when a grass seed has lodged in your dog’s ear because it will shake its head Z Make sure you remove grassy weeds in your garden Z To be extra cautious, try to discourage your dog from playing in grassy areas

Hi my name is Freda. I’m an Aussie Sheepdog look-alike. My owners abandoned me under a tree, leaving me to starve. I was loyal and faithful and loved my family. I was lucky a kind passer by set me free and took me to FAMA, where I have been loved and cared for since. I would love to be part of a home and family again. I am a good natured happy dog, I love to play and go for walks and I am just a big cuddly bundle of fur who cannot understand my owners leaving me to starve.

Thinking of Adopting a Dog or Cat?

Lola Montero, who runs the Parque del Duque Animal Refuge, shares her thoughts with our readers on Responsible Animal Adoption:

Freda: Seeking a Forever home

“Adoption is a decision that needs to be taken after much thought. Your new pet will be a partner for life, a friend in good and bad moments, the harbinger of emotions which need to be under control if both owner and pet are to enjoy a positive co-existence. It is important to bear in mind that animals coming from shelters have often been mistreated, abandoned or born on the street and many suffer from physical defects (as a result of abuse), fear or stress. If you are thinking of adopting, make sure to sacrifice a bit of personal time for the process of adaptation; your new companion is the best metaphor of rebirth or being given a second chance in life. Affection, patience and time are the basic ingredients you need to understand what it really means to adopt a shelter animal, who is always ready to forgive. Use your heart and mind in unison to communicate with your new pet; just a look, a gesture, a touch, can make all the difference…” g For further information, educafelcan@gmail.com

g For further information or to meet Freda in person, Tel: 620 354 885. www.f-a-m-a.net

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THE GUIDE what’s on EVENTS CONTINUED FROM MAY Until Wednesday June 6 EXHIBITION – MARBELLA

The Art Wanson Gallery at the Marbella Club Hotel presents an exhibition by Dom Pattinson, an urban artist with sell-out collections in London, Paris and New York. www.artwansongallery.com

Until Friday June 15 EXHIBITION – MARBELLA

The Polígono Gallery presents La Pasión by Jorge Rando, featuring a series of impressionistic paintings which highlight the dilemma of the human condition. Make sure to ring before you go, as all viewings are by appointment only. Tel: 615 381 119. www.poligonogallery.com

Until Saturday June 30 ART – MÁLAGA

Contemporary artist Pier A. Scimemi presents his latest paintings, an expression of his unique interpretation of modern life, at the Málaga airport. Scimemi shuns realism and academia in favour of a far more personal, more dramatic and expressive style, in accordance with his personality and tastes. www.malagaairport.eu/

Until Tuesday July 31 EXHIBITION – ESTEPONA

The Stoa Art Gallery in Estepona presents an exhibition of works by seven different artists. Entitled Masculine Plural, the exhibition aims to reflect the creative vision of seven different men who live, feel and interpret art in their own way. www.stoagallery.com

NEW AND REGULAR EVENTS Monthly on different days FILM SHOWING AND DINNER – MARBELLA

The Marbella International Film Festival hosts Oscar Nights, which include a showing of a major Oscar winning film and dinner at the H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel. Tel: 952 812 000. www.marbellafilmfestival.com

AMERICAN CLUB – MARBELLA

The American Club Costa del Sol Chapter meets monthly for excursions, sports and social events. Tel: 952 772 789. www.americanclubcostadelsol.com

AMIGOS DE LA CULTURA – COSTA DEL SOL

Meets at different times and places for lunches, lectures, tickets to concerts, ballet, theatre, opera, etc. Further information, Tel: 669 445 809. smartkidsmarbella@ gmail.com

Every Monday SALSA CLASSES – MARBELLA

Learn how to shake your hips like a true Latino at El Campanario, under the guiding hand of professional dancer, Rafa. At 7:30pm. Prior booking is necessary. Tel: 952 904 233. www.elcampanariogolf.com

Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS – MIJAS PUEBLO

Spanish/English and English/Spanish conversation with fellow native speakers, 10:30am to 12pm and 6:30pm to 8pm. Mondays in La Cala, Tuesdays in Mijas Village and Thursdays in Las Lagunas. At the Pensioner’s Day Centres. Further information on meeting points, Tel: 952 589 010. www.mijas.es

Every Wednesday TOASTMASTERS CLUB – MARBELLA

Weekly meetings of this public speaking organisation, 7:30pm at Aloha Gardens, Nueva Andalucía. Further information, www. toastmastersmarbella.com

Salsa – Marbella

If you’re feeling the Latino vibe, brush up on your salsa moves at Buddha Bar Marbella’s special salsa nights (featuring the Nicolás Valiente Dance Academy), which take place every Wednesday at 10:30pm. Tel: 655 480 748.

Every Wednesday and Thursday CINE CLUB – MARBELLA

Cine Club Buñuel presents films in their original language at the Marbella Instituto Río Verde at 8pm and 10:15pm. Tel: 952 774 638.

Every Thursday CINE CLUB – ESTEPONA

Top films shown weekly in Spanish or original soundtrack at Padre Manuel Cultural Centre, 9pm. Tel: 952 802 002. www.estepona.es

NETWORKING – MARBELLA

ECOLOGICAL MARKET – MARBELLA

If organic fruit and veg are your thing, don’t miss out on this hip ecological market. At the Paseo de la Alameda from 10am to 2pm every Saturday. www.marbella.es

Every Saturday and Sunday KIDS’ CAMP – MARBELLA

Aloha Gardens Multi-Sports Club weekend camps for children aged 4-14, 10:30am1pm. Activities include tennis, football, cricket, basketball, hockey, handball, paddle tennis. Aloha Gardens, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 814 086. www.themultisportsclub. com

Every Last Sunday of the Month CHAMPAGNE PARTY – MARBELLA

Enjoy a fun evening filled with mod (garage and soul) and rockabilly (rhythm and blues) music at Katalonia Kool Bar at the Puerto Deportivo de Marbella. Entrance is free. Tel: 952 913 285. info@ activesoundproductions.com

Every Friday except for Friday June 1, Friday June 29 SINTILLATE – MARBELLA

The Association of Art and Culture Marbella holds a monthly cocktail at Magna Café, Magna Marbella Golf, from 8pm-10pm. Tel: 627 833 262. www.artandculturemarbella. com

Head for the Puerto Banús bullring every Saturday for a fun street market featuring everything from clothing right through to music, accessories and home ware. Starts at 9am and ends at 2pm. www.marbella.es

Every first Friday of the Month MODS & ROCKERS – MARBELLA

Every Third Tuesday of the Month FLORAL ART CLUB – ESTEPONA

Every first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA

Every Saturday MARKETS – PUERTO BANÚS

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS

Every Friday PARTY – MARBELLA

Meets 3-5pm monthly with NAFAS demonstrators at El Campanario Golf & Country Club. Further information from Marilyn Pemberton, Tel: 952 928 197.

Marbella Business Institute invitation-only lunch club for local and visiting business people, active and retired. To apply, see www.marbellabusinst.com

The Marbella Business Group holds networking breakfasts featuring presentations, discussions and introductions of new members. At 8am at the Hotel Senator in Marbella. To become a member, www.marbellabusinessgroup.com

Every Second Tuesday of the Month JAZZ – ESTEPONA

The Coast’s Jazz Appreciation Society meets at Benavista Country Club at 8pm. Classic videos followed by a live jazz performance then dinner. To book, Tel: 952 888 106. Further information from Brian Parker, Tel: 669 504 942.

BUSINESS LUNCH – MARBELLA

Every Friday the Thank Funk It’s Friday Pool Party takes place at the Sisu Boutique Hotel, featuring live DJs, Champagne and much more, from 1pm to 8pm. Tel: 952 906 105. www.sisuboutique.com

Enjoy live DJ music, panoramic views of Puerto Banús and lots of Champagne at Pangea. For tickets, www.sintillate. eventbrite.co.uk

Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

ADANA animal rescue charity coffee morning at Plaza Manilva (outside Longman’s Bookshop) 11am – 2pm. Kennels open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and 10am – 2pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Further information, Tel: 952 797 405/ 606 274 206. www.adana-estepona.com

PAD animal shelter, Cerros del Águila, welcomes visitors from 12pm-3pm. Further information, Tel: 952 486 084. www. padcatsanddogs.org

Enjoy one of the largest Champagne spray parties in the world at Ocean Club. Book a table and help them beat the record this year! For precise times, Tel: 952 908 137. www.oceanclub.es

Friday June 1 to Sunday June 3 BELLY DANCING – MARBELLA

Belly Fussion is a fun oriental dance festival taking place at the Palacio Deportivo Antonio Serrano Lima. Teachers from around Spain and India will be teaching a number of Oriental dance styles throughout the day, including Bollywood, Percu Samba and Lebanese pop. For information on precise times, www.BellyFussion.com

Tuesday June 5 JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS – MARBELLA

El Campanario is holding a themed tea and lunch called At the Ritz, with guests following the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee live on TV. Tel: 952 904 233. www.elcampanarionet.com

Tuesday June 5 to Monday June 11 feria– MARBELLA Throughout the week, the fair in honour of San Bernabé will be celebrated. The Feria de Día will be taking place in Marbella’s Old Town, while the Feria de Noche will liven up the Recinto Ferial. www.marbella.es

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Tuesday June 5 to Friday August 17 EXHIBITION – MARBELLA The Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo hosts an exhibition featuring etchings and sculptures by José María Córdoba, an artist inspired by literature, mythology and symbolism. www. mgec.es

Thursday June 7 CINEMA – BENALMÁDENA

If you missed Oscar award-winning film The Artist, why not enjoy a screening at the Casa de la Cultura de Arroyo de la Miel, at 9pm? The film is silent, so language isn’t a barrier. www.benalmadena.es

Thursday June 7 to Sunday September 9 EXHIBITION – MARBELLA

The Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo hosts the exhibition Mapas, Rutas y Huellas by Fátima Contesa, who creates beautiful works inspired on the emergence of light from darkness. www. mgec.es

Friday June 15 PIANO CONCERT – FUENGIROLA

Talented musicians from the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary play a free concert at the Casa de la Cultura de Fuengirola at 9pm. Tel: 952 589 349. www. fuengirola.es

Friday June 15 to Sunday June 17 SCALE MODELS – FUENGIROLA

The most renowned makers of scale models in Spain will be getting together at the Palacio de la Paz in Fuengirola to exhibit their work and share knowledge on the history, science and technique behind scale models. There will also be an exhibition about the sinking of the Titanic, as well as conferences, demonstrations, games, remote controls helicopters, etc. www. fuengirola.es

Steve Nelson and Andy Claridge present a fantastic Pink Floyed tribute show at the Salon Varietes theatre at 8pm. Tel: 952 474 542. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Friday June 8 to Sunday June 10 FESTIVAL – MIJAS

Saturday June 16 TRES DIVOS – ESTEPONA

Mijas pueblo hosts an international festival packed with stands, music, dance, cuisine, crafts and more from over 20 different countries, in the town centre. www.mijas.es

Thursday June 14 to Wednesday June 20 THE SOUND OF MUSIC – MÁLAGA

Enjoy the musical The Sound of Music live at the Teatro Cervantes. Silvia Lucchetti, Carlos J. Benito and a host of young singing sensations give new life to the Von Trapp Family. Feauturing the music of Rogers and Hammerstein. Performance times vary on each day. For further information, www. teatrocervantes.com

A scene from the silent film The Artist

The Marbella International Art Festival will be taking place at Avenida del Mar, featuring work by over 80 artists of approximately 25 different nationalities. The Festival will include works in a variety of genres, including painting, sculpture and photography. From midday to 11pm each day. www.artemarbella.com

Tuesday June 26 PITBULL – MÁLAGA

Pitbull is one of the biggest names in pop and R ‘n B music at the moment, having featured in hits by J-Lo as well as being a rap legend in his own right. This month he performs at the Auditorio Municipal de Málaga at 10:30pm. Tickets can be purchased on www.nvivo.es

Friday June 15 to Friday September 15 THE HUMAN BODY – MARBELLA

The Human Body Exhibition, one of the most famous scientific exhibitions in the world, features over 200 pieces including complete human bodies, parts of organs, etc. All items are real and have been preserved thanks to a technique known as plastination. The exhibition will run until September 14. Tel: 950 828 244. www. thehumanbodymarbella.com

Friday June 8 PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE – FUENGIROLA

Thursday June 21 to Sunday June 24 ART FESTIVAL – MARBELLA

Tres Divos Nicholas Pound, Arran Harding and Tom Lowe sing a mix of classical and modern songs at Tikitano restaurant. Show starts at around 9pm. Tel: 952 798 449. www.tikitano.com

Monday June 18 to Sunday September 16 ART – MÁLAGA

European art from the years 1888 to 1938 will be on display at the Museo Picasso Málaga. Artists include Henri Matisse, Alexander Rodchenko and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Tel: 952 127 600. www. mpm.org

Carlos Latre

DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS GIBRALTAR Sunday June 3 Street party The Big Lunch Hog Roast

will feature food, a street party, live jazz music and much more. At Cannon Lane. i www.thebiglunch.com

Thursday June 28, Friday June 29 and Saturday June 30 CARLOS LATRE –MÁLAGA

Carlos Latre is one of Spain’s most popular comics, having been the star act in popular Spanish show Crónicas Marcianas’ comedy slot for many years. He will be performing his one-man show, Yes, We Spain Is Different, at the Teatro Cervantes at 9pm on Thursday and Friday and at 8pm on Saturday. www.teatrocervantes.com

Friday June 29 FLAMENCO – FUENGIROLA

Renowned flamenco guitarist Hugo de Dogma shows three sides to his talent this evening, accompanying singer Ana Serrana, dancer Rafael Ramírez, and playing solo at a show which includes soleás, tangos, alegrías, rondeñas, bulerías, fandangos and cantes de ida y vuelta. At 9:30pm. Tel: 952 589 349. www.fuengirola.es

FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE – ESTEPONA

If you loved the voice of Queen’s lead, Freddie Mercury, then don’t miss out on a fun tribute act at TikiTano restaurant. The show starts at around 9pm. Tel: 952 798 449. www.tikitano.com

Saturday June 30 SINTILLATE – MARBELLA

Sintillate’s world famous party takes place at Ocean Club all throughout the day, featuring cool music and plenty of champagne. To book a bed, contact angie@ sintillate.co.uk

Monday June 4 DIAMOND JUBILEE FLOTILLA

Some 100 vessels will be dressed in streamers and Union Jacks and there will be a live band and DJ-spun chill-out music. The flotilla will depart from the marina at midday. Tel: +350 200 73300. i www.oceanvillage.gi

LIGHTING OF THE BEACON

The Upper Rock will be the fitting backdrop for the lighting of the beacon, at 10:30pm.

Monday June 11 to Wednesday June 13 ROYAL VISIT Their Royal Highness the

Earl and Countess of Wessex (Prince Andrew and Sophie) will be in Gibraltar to join in the celebrations. Venue and time to be announced.

Tuesday June 12 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY PARADE

The people of Gibraltar will be giving their all at a spectacular parade. At 6pm at Casemates Square.

Wednesday June 27 to Thursday June 28 and Saturday June 30 football tournament GDA Diamond

Jubilee Football Tournament. At the Victoria Stadium – Main Pitch. Times to be announced.

For a full programme of events, i www.gibraltar.gov.gi

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THE GUIDE stars

nnie Heese is the founder of astrology website, www.cafeastrology.com, a site featuring articles, love sign compatibility reports, predictions, the gen on famous people and their star signs, and general information for astrology buffs.

ARIES [21 MAR - 20 APR]

LEO [23 JUL - 22 AUG]

SAGITTARIUS [22 NOV - 21 DEC]

New interests, projects and learning endeavours are featured in June and these may come about due to professional pressures or challenges. Career shifts can be sudden. More contact with family, siblings and friends is pleasurable and helpful. This month, you begin a year-long trend in which teaching, authoring, and communications in general can bring great benefits to your life. Your work could result in more short trips or commuting, or you might become more involved in the communications industry. Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills set.

This month, you are beginning a year-long trend that brings great energy and many benefits to your social life. Wonderful opportunities can arise for new friendships and through current friends and connections. Some of you may find romance through friends, groups, and associates. Some might bring creative energy or skills to a group setting. However, some drama is likely with a friend this month, which should be resolved after the 27th. Your ambition to improve your income is strong. Romance is emotionally-charged and exciting in June.

This month, avoid risky financial moves. Unsettled money matters may need your attention now. While close relationships can be tricky until after the 27th, you are beginning a year-long trend that brings great energy for forming or enhancing close relationships and partnerships, whether personal or business-related. Good publicity may come your way. Resolutions are likely to be found for longstanding problems in relationships. You are taking charge of your career in June, as your ambition is stimulated and others are taking note of your competence.

TAURUS [21 APR - 20 MAY]

VIRGO [23 AUG - 22 SEP]

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 19 JAN]

This month, you begin a year-long trend that brings more ‘oomph’ to your earning power. A significant gift or bonus may come your way. This is a good time to work with financial institutions, go for a raise, or apply for a loan. You may need to curb an inclination to overspend, however. You have opportunities to increase your income through education, travel, or by expanding your reach/ audience in business during this period. This month, some backtracking is necessary. After the 27th, you’re ready to push your plans forward.

Although career matters can be tricky this month, you’re beginning a year-long trend that will boost your professional life, and your reputation, to new heights. This can be a time of career advancement and success in business. Business-related travel or the reaching of a wider audience is possible during this cycle. Your status is set to change for the better, and a family member could receive an honour. However, this month you may be dealing with temporary problems with cash flow. A romantic relationship can be difficult to define.

While work can involve some minor frustrations until after the 27th, you are beginning a year-long trend in which you can improve your working life considerably. Work tends to be easily available, so that you may have to choose between alternatives or you could take on too much. Overall, however, work is likely to be very rewarding. Health is likely to improve in the year ahead. Home life may be unsettled in June, but should calm down in July.

GEMINI [21 MAY - 21 JUN]

LIBRA [23 SEP - 23 OCT]

AQUARIUS [20 JAN - 19 FEB]

This month, you begin a fabulous year-long trend that boosts your self-confidence and brings personal opportunities to advance into your life. It can now be easier to find a close relationship, while if you are already in a relationship, your partner will have your best interests at heart and is especially supportive. Problems that have been holding you back in the past are likely to lift in the year ahead. However, this month there may be some disruptions to a friendship. It’s not the best month for lending money or collecting on loans.

You are beginning a year-long trend in which opportunities to travel, study, and otherwise expand your personal horizons are likely to present themselves. Teaching, writing, publishing, promotional activities, travel, legal matters and studying are all well-starred in the period ahead. However, this month you could be facing some challenges balancing the needs of a partnership and the demands of family. You can be pulled in many different directions with less time to pursue your own personal goals. Tame your restlessness and tend to your responsibilities as best as you can.

While your romantic life may be on the tricky side until after the 27th, you are beginning a year-long trend that brings wonderful opportunities to boost your social life, explore your creativity and find new avenues for entertainment and self-expression. For some of you, a friend could turn into a romantic partner, or could introduce you to one during this cycle. Even so, watch for a tendency to misplace your faith in someone this month. Be strict with yourself and others when it comes to your money.

CANCER [22 JUN - 22 JUL]

SCORPIO [24 OCT - 21 NOV]

PISCES [20 FEB - 20 MAR]

Your private life is especially animated in June. You are beginning a year-long trend that brings great benefits from helping others, volunteering, and other forms of service. Spirituality is strong and your innate compassion is highlighted. However, you could experience conflict between the demands of a partnership and the demands of career this month. Finding a balance between the two, instead of pushing or rebelling against either, is the challenge now. You should also guard against hasty or impatient actions, which can make you more accident-prone.

You are beginning a year-long trend that brings more support from others, financial gain, and stronger opportunities to develop a deep relationship. Your sense of security or wealth can increase through a relationship with a partner. Sources of income might also come through counselling work or the handling of others’ finances and resources. This month, however, your schedule may be hectic, particularly on a social level, and there can be some challenges organising your finances. Avoid jumping into new endeavours that require big outlays of cash.

You are beginning a year-long cycle in which your home life is set to improve considerably Pisces. You may be working from home, with family, or in real estate and domestic fields during this cycle. While it’s a strong period in which to invest in real estate and in your home, this month, idealism may cloud your judgment. There may be some tense undercurrents or conflicts over money that disrupt a friendship in June. Relationships are lively and moving forward. From the 19th, romance and recreation figure strongly.

170 / JUNE 2012 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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www.quaypropertygroup.com

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LUXURY HOME BUILDER “Formed in 2007 by experienced property developer John May, Quay Property Group is a luxury building contractor for clients in Marbella.”

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