Essential Magazine April 2018 by Essential Magazine

N º 224 - APRIL 2018

essential magazine® marbella

HIGH TECH SMART NEW TESLA INNOVATIVE CLOTHING CUISINE HOTELS ROADSTER TECHNOLOGY AMAZON’S ARE WE READY DESIGN

TRENDS JEFF BEZOS FOR AI? FOR LIFE

ISSUE 224 • APRIL 2018

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

essential

w THE TREND p THE FOCUS d THE STYLE n THE SPA z THE PRO h THE LEISURE b THE GOURMET . THE GUIDE

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COMPLIMENTARY EDITION

MARBELLA

team...

ur... ureteyoam e eyoar We arW ! Nok! e ebyarNeokby We arW

WE DESIGN, BUILD AND SELL

THE BEST HOMES 40% BELOW MARKET PRICE

BUILD 2018 Home Builder Awards

Best Luxury Home Construction Company 2018 - Spain

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MARINA PUENTE ROMANO Visit our office next to the Nobu Hotel reception at Puente Romano! Specialists in this area since 1970.

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

Built: 215 m²

Terrace: 110 m²

Price on application

Ref: ES10285

The most sought-after location on the Golden Mile A unique opportunity to acquire a second line beach penthouse in this unbeatable location. Next to the Puente Romano Beach Resort and Spa and Nobu Hotel. Marina Puente Romano offers beautifully maintained gardens with pool, 24-hour security and all the hotel’s facilities at hand. Steps to the beach and promenade.

An International Associate of Savills

2018

MARBELLA PROPERTY MAGAZINE Pick up your copy from our office!

Bedrooms: 11

Bathrooms: 11

Built: 1,718 m²

Terraces: 304 m²

Plot: 5,375 m²

Price on application

Ref: ES7173

Hill top frontline golf estate in La Quinta This mansion with guest house is ideally positioned to enjoy 270° views over the Golf Valley and towards the sea. Located in an exclusive gated community of luxurious homes offering 24-hour security. Immaculately maintained and featuring high qualities throughout including temperature controlled wine cellar, gym with indoor heated pool and sauna, lift, staff quarters and much more. Very private and lush, mature garden with pool. Close to the renowned 5-star hotel Westin La Quinta Golf Resort and Spa.

Regulated by RICS

VIDEO AVAILABLE IPhone IOS 11: open camera.Others download ‘QR Code Reader’

Offices at Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa and opposite the Marbella Club hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es

Issue 224 • April 2018

S T A F F PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

YEARS

GENERAL MANAGER

ANDREA BÖJTI andrea@essentialmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER

U ANNIVERSARY U

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

SALES SUPPORT ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DESIGN & LAYOUT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PRINTING DEPÓSITO LEGAL

SUSANNE WHITAKER design@essentialmagazine.com JAN DENDAUW jan@essentialmagazine.com MARIANO JEVA cuentas@essentialmagazine.com MONIKA BÖJTI info@essentialmagazine.com

ANDREA BÖJTI INMA AURIOLES KEVIN HORN (www.photographermarbella.com)

IAIN BLACKWELL, BELINDA BECKETT, MICHEL CRUZ, RIK FOXX, RUSSELL GRANT, CHRIS McCANN, ALI PARANDEH, CARLOS READ, IRENE ROSENBLATT, TONY WHITNEY, DAVID WISHART JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA D.L. MA-512-99

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES COMPLEJO LA PÓVEDA, BLQ. 3, 1º A, CN 340, KM 178, 29600 MARBELLA, MÁLAGA. TEL: 952 766 344 FAX: 952 766 343

ESSENTIAL MARBELLA MAGAZINE

@ESSENTIALEDITOR

www.essentialmagazine.com Member of the Association of Spanish Periodical Publications

affiliated to:

CONDITIONS

The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information published herein, or be held accountable for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages. Marbella Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers. © Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. for Marbella Magazine. 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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Brexit and pension transfers. A window of opportunity? Last year the UK began to impose a 25% tax on transfers to overseas pension schemes, including QROPS. This currently excludes individuals and QROPS where both are resident in a European Economic Area (including Gibraltar) country, but who knows what will happen after Brexit? If you wish to move your pension overseas, it may be better to do so now, under known rules, rather than wait and see what happens. Pension transfers can take months, so don’t risk leaving it too late.

Talk to the people who know NERJA, MALAGA, MIJAS, MARBELLA, NUEVA ANDALUCIA

900 460 174

southernspain@blevinsfranks.com SAN PEDRO, ESTEPONA, GIBRALTAR, CADIZ, HUELVA, AYAMONTE

900 978 903

southernspain@blevinsfranks.com

Keep an eye on the Blevins Franks website for Brexit news - www.blevinsfranks.com/brexit and contact us if you want to sign up for regular updates.

052-es

INTERNATIONAL TA X ADVICE • INVESTMENTS • ESTATE PLANNING • PENSIONS Blevins Franks Financial Management Limited (BFFM) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, reference number 179731. Where advice is provided outside the UK, via the Insurance Mediation Directive from Malta, the regulatory system differs in some respects from that of the UK. Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of trusts and companies. Blevins Franks Tax Limited provides taxation advice; its advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFFM.

www.blevinsfranks.com

6 SO

Y D % 0 EA

R L A

the most desirable address on the golden mile

34 luxurious apartments & penthouses from 695.000€

Walking distance to Puente Romano & the beach · Private pools on the terraces · Luxury Spa with indoor pool, sauna, hammam Gym, paddle courts and jogging path · Full property management · Exclusive 24 hours concierge service

Exclusive sales agent: Engel & Völkers Marbella · www.lameridianasuites.com · info@lameridianasuites.com Tel.: +34 951 234 360

AD Y

LU X U RY L I V I N G N E XT TO P U E N T E RO M A N O Marbella Golden Mile

26 contemporary detached and semi-detached villas with private pools PRICES FROM ONLY 1.075.000E

Exclusive sales agent: Engel & Völkers Marbella · www.thecollectionmarbella.com · info@thecollectionmarbella.com · Tel.: +34 951 492 549

You only live once,

Nagüeles: Just completed! New modern villa built to the highest specifications, with stunning contemporary design, best materials and spectacular views from all the bedrooms and the stylish solarium. Pure luxury in a prime location! 4 beds, 4 baths. Built 531 m2, plot 990 m2. E&V ID: W-02B0KX. Price: 1.980.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Nueva Andalucía Golf Valley: Boasting the best elevated position in a secured urbanization this stylish modern villa enjoys great sea and mountain views. 4 beds, 4 baths. Built 550 m2, plot 1.101 m2. E&V ID: W-026KHL. Price: 2.495.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Frontline Golf Las Brisas: Designer villa with exceptional golf views. Spacious open-plan living areas with cinema room, gym and indoor lounge areas. 5 beds, 5 baths. Built 880 m2, plot 1.542 m2. E&V ID: W-02A6E3. Price: 1.995.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Beachfront Puerto Banús: Direct beach access! Fantastic apartment! Sea views, private garden, salt water pool, Spa, gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, Hammam. 2 beds, 2 baths. Living area 159 m², terrace 61 m². E&V ID: W-02ARPY. Price: 1.400.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Beachfront Golden Mile: Modern apartment with sea views in a gated complex, outdoor & indoor pools, sauna, gym, direct access to the promenade. 2 beds, 2 baths. Living area 110 m2, terrace 20 m2. E&V ID: W-026RKF. Price: 1.350.000 €. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Office Elviria: 952 83 55 80 · Office El Rosario: 952 83 20 40 www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

we will show you where!

Cascada de Camoján: The most sophisticated villa in Marbella. An architectural masterpiece built by a world star architect. Spectacular views, integrated art, prof. tennis court, indoor pool, gym, hammam, sauna, 10 car garage. 8 beds, 11 baths. Built 3.152 m², plot 6.466 m². E&V ID: W-023N8G. P.O.A. Tel.: 952 86 84 06.

Elviria: Newly built contemporary style villa with breathtaking panoramic sea and mountain views, just completed. Spacious open-pan living areas.5 beds, 4 baths. Built 482 m2, plot 1.000 m2. E&V ID: W-02AODU. Price: 1.830.000 €. Tel.: 952 83 55 80.

Beachfront El Rosario: Contemporary villa offering luxury living directly on the beach! Built to highest qualities with the best materials. Gym, Spa, large roof terrace. 6 beds, 4 baths. Built 652 m2, plot 750 m2. E&V ID: W-022GJC. Price: 2.995.000 €. Tel.: 952 83 20 40.

Beachfront Los Monteros: Penthouse with beachfront position in the exclusive Palm Beach complex. Direct beach access, 2 pools, 24h security. 3 beds, 3 baths. Living area 242 m2, terrace 188 m2. E&V ID: W-02AAUU. Price: 1.795.000 €. Tel.: 952 83 20 40.

Beachfront Puerto Banús: Fantastic penthouse with stunning sea views. Terrace with BBQ, direct beach access, 2 pools, gym, sauna, Hammam. 3 beds, 3 baths. Living area 182 m², terrace 115 m². E&V ID: W-0280H1. Price: 1.700.000 €. Tel.: 952 85 98 60.

Office Puerto Banús: 952 85 98 60 · Office Marbella: 952 86 84 06 www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

GUESS M4 Essential Marbella Spa Apr.indd 1

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SOLE

AGENT

Ref: DM2096 Price: 4.950.000€

Ref: DM4128 Price: 5.500.000€

Ref: DM4159 Price: 3.590.000€

marbella hill club Golden Mile. Supreme location, views and elegance combine to perfection in this luxury home. 6

1.278 m2

4.795 m2

LA zagaleta Exceptional frontline golf villa with sea, golf and mountain views in the most prestigious residential estate. 6

1.253 m2

8.414 m2

golf valley Sea views. Gated complex. 4

685 m2

1.800 m2

Ref: DM4231 Price: 1.970.000€

el paraiso golf Great family home. 4

724 m2

2.385 m2

FINEST PROperties

Homes that inspire beautiful lifestyles in the most desirable locations in Marbella and surrounding areas. From walking distance to the beach, to the most exclusive golf and country club. Ref: DM0185 As Marbella Luxury Real Estate specialists for almost three decades and exclusive affiliates of Knight Frank for the Costa del Sol, we are committed to offering our clients the best property portfolio, excellence in service and a completely secure experience when selling or buying a property.

Price: 5.500.000€

SIErra blanca Sea views. 24h security. 7

933m2

1.696 m2

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

info@dmproperties.com DMproperties.com MARBELLA Av. Cánovas del Castillo, 4 Tel. 952 765 138 NUEVA ANDALUCÍA Av. del Prado, Urb. Fuerte Aloha, Local 2A Tel. 952 908 415

Over 418 offices in 60 Countries Ref: DM4193 Price: 5.450.000€

Ref: DM4130 Price: 650.000€

golden mile Beachside townhouse. 3

134 m2

Ref: DM4063 Price: 1.895.000€

puerto banús Exceptional villa. 200m from beach. 6

1.151 m2

1.210 m2

Puerto banús Beachfront apartment. Gated. 3

227 m2

72 m2

Building the Future since 1955

ARCHITECTS

DEVELOPERS

BUILDERS

URB. LOS ALMENDROS - BENAHAVIS SEA VIEWS - 4 bed - gated community

â&#x201A;¬ 1.290.000

+34 951 569 722 www.otero.com.es

FI VE UNIQ UE V I LL A S FOR S ALE Â

Launching 12th of April 2018 Building licences approved, construction starting in April

Developer

info@solvilla.no (+34) 952 765 060 (+34) 627 813 54

Commercialising agent

info@anamayavillas.com (+34) 951 319 994

For more information please visit

www.anamayavillas.com

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Bedrooms: 5

Built: 577 m²

Plot: 4,397 m²

Price: € 2,495,000

BENAHAVÍS Villa with impressive sea and mountain views in El Madroñal. Gated community with 24-hour security. Ref.ES10127

Bedrooms: 2

Built: 169 m² including terraces

Price: € 600,000

GOLDEN MILE Garden apartment in Monte Paraíso. Ref. ES10169

Bedrooms: 5

Built: 402 m²

Plot: 600 m²

Price: € 975,000

MARBELLA EAST Beachside villa with lots of potential. Ref. ES10319

An International Associate of Savills

Bedrooms: 5

Built: 960 m² including terraces

Price: € 3,300,000

MARBELLA EAST Beachside villa in Bahía de Marbella. Ref. ES9841

Bedrooms: 2

Built: 157 m²

Terrace: 57 m²

Price: € 999,000

GOLDEN MILE The best penthouse available in Mansion Club. Ref. ES8158

2018

MARBELLA PROPERTY MAGAZINE Pick up your copy from our office!

Bedrooms: 5

Built: 789 m²

Terrace: 142 m²

Plot: 1,750 m²

Price on application

BAHÍA DE MARBELLA Modern villa with fabulous sea views, only 150 metres to Marbella’s best beaches! Community with 24-hour security. Ref. ES9325

Bedrooms: 3

Built: 188 m²

Terrace: 33 m²

Price: € 1,345,000

GOLDEN MILE Luxurious apartment in La Trinidad. Ref. ES8122

Bedrooms: 3

Built: 161 m²

Terrace: 111 m²

Price: € 2,100,000

GOLDEN MILE Beachside duplex next to Puente Romano. Ref. ES10247

Regulated by RICS

Bedrooms: 5

Built: 327 m²

Plot: 812 m²

Price: € 995,000

NUEVA ANDALUCÍA Great opportunity! Next to Centro Plaza. Ref. ES9830

Bedrooms: 3

Built: 701 m²

Plot: 1,112 m²

Price: € 2,995,000

SIERRA BLANCA Modern villa with panoramic sea views. Ref. ES10359

Offices at Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa and opposite the Marbella Club hotel Tel. (+34) 952 863 750 info@panorama.es www.panorama.es

COLLECTION WORLD G

R T

i Collection World is the leading European supplier of art for your hom e and garden. Our large warehouse of 6000m2 is ďŹ lled with beautiful piec es sourced and create d by specialists in al l aspects of art.

MARBELLA O T Y R E IV L FREE DESHIP WORLDWIDE! WE

Our designers and carvers work with on ly the best marble as they crea te exclusively for Co llection World.

Visit www.collectionworld.net to see the wide range of products and services we have available. Be sure to stop in or contact us for further information as the website only represents a part of our stock. Ctra. Nac. 340, KM159, 29680 Estepona. (Parking available) Open Mon to Fri 09:00 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20:00, Sat & Sun 10:00 to 14:00 Tel: 952 802 162 Mo: 690 365 347

www.collectionworld.net

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ANTIQUES AND DECORATION

Founded in 1996, with more than 1200m2 of showroom on Marbella’s Golden Mile Worldwide delivery - Easy parking Centro Comercial Expo, local 48, Opposite the Marbella Club Hotel, 29600 Marbella, Málaga Tel/Fax: (+34) 952 826 729 • Mo: 690 365 347 • info@collectionworld.net • www.collectionworld.net

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• South Facing Villa • Stunning Sea Views • Huge Infinity Pool

LA CAROLINA - MARBELLA GOLDEN MILE

• Putting Green Practice Area • Tennis / Football Court • Master Suite With Dressing Room

Urb. Marbella Real, L 21

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• Double BBQ & Island • Chill-Out Chiringuito • Dining Area

Tel: +34 952 765 428

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• South West Facing • Sea & Golf Views • Terrace with Jacuzzi

LA ALQUERIA - BENAHAVIS

5 | Built 454 m2 | Plot 1.235 m2 | Ref. 2145MLV | €2.550.000

• Gym, Sauna & Steam Room • Basement With Great Potential • Furniture On Photos are Renders

info@marbellaliving.com

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• Underfloor Heating • Surround Sound System • Garage For Three Cars

www.marbellaliving.com

23/03/2018 11:42

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We are proud to present 9 Lions Residences; a modern residential project situated in the golf valley of Nueva Andalucia in between Club de Golf Aloha, Real Club de Golf Las Brisas and Club de Los Naranjos, just five minutes from Puerto BanĂşs.

9 Lions Residences comprises over 50 spacious and bright apartments, distributed across nine villas on a hillside. The communal Clubhouse with its two swimming pools, spa and fitness area is in the centre of the development and a third generous swimming pool lies in the west, nestled amongst the fresh, green landscaped gardens.

Contact Niclas Broberg Sales Manager niclas@9lionsresidences.com +34 607 818 021 Mark Lamb Commercial Director mark@9lionsresidences.com +34 691 901 976

www.9lionsresidences.com

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contents the trend Cinema 44

Noah Baumbach, Director 46

Music News 48

the pro 140 Enterprise 148 Marbella Design Fair 150 Brexit Preparations for Overseas

Top Reads

ON TECH

In line with the focus of our current edition, we present a handful of exciting books that are showing how technology is changing the world. COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

HIT REFRESH: THE QUEST TO REDISCOVER MICROSOFT’S SOUL AND IMAGINE A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE BY SATYA NADELLA

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, gave the company a new lease of life when he took the reins in 2014. He was only the third CEO of the 40-year-old company, and he revamped its culture and accelerated its entry into emerging technologies such as artiﬁcial intelligence, quantum computing, and mixed reality. In 2017, Microsoft’s overall revenue topped $80 billion, and every one of its sectors is thriving. In this thoughtful debut, Nadella tells the story of his personal life and delves into the future importance of machine intelligence. The most important quality to succeed, he says, is empathy – something which Microsoft sorely lacked when he ﬁrst took the wheel.

THIS IDEA IS BRILLIANT: LOST, OVERLOOKED, AND UNDERAPPRECIATED SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW BY JOHN BROCKMAN

A real page turner that highlights dozens of scientiﬁc concepts that deserve more credit than they have been given. Featuring ideas by awardwinning physicists, economists, psychologists, philosophers, novelists, artists, and more. Learn about advertising guru, Rory Sutherland’s ideas on the world-changing power of sex appeal, Nobel-Prize winner Frank Wilczek’s views on the creative potential of ‘complementarity’, or New York Times reporter John Markoff’s prediction that ‘synthetic metamaterials’ are set to shape the face of technology and industry as we know it.

STEALING FIRE: HOW SILICON VALLEY, THE NAVY SEALS, AND MAVERICK SCIENTISTS ARE REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY WE LIVE AND WORK BY STEVEN KOTLER AND JAMIE WHEAL

If you thought success was the product of hard work, think again; according to researchers Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, grit, hard work or discipline are not the keys to success; the ability to harness rare and alternative states of consciousness, is. The authors discuss the revolution put into motion by everyone from Elon Musk to America’s Navy Seals, cutting edge scientists like Sasha Shulgin and events like the Burning Man Festival. What they all have in common is a passion for ﬁnding the inspiration that altered states provide. There are four important forces at play: four accelerating forces — psychology, neurobiology, technology and pharmacology. In this entertaining book, readers will discover how they can radically change their lives for the better.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE AND WHY IT’S UP TO US BY TIM O’REILLY

This book by Tim O’Reilly, the man who popularised the phrases ‘Web 2.0’ and ‘open source’, provides an insightful synthesis of how technology has shaped every aspect of our lives – sometimes, with disastrous results. He strongly supports the social value of “business done right,” stating, “We should aim to build an economy in which the important things are a natural outcome of the way we do business, paid for in self-sustaining ways rather than as charities to be funded out of the goodness of our hearts.” O’Reilly suggests that we need to make important changes to the rules and incentives of markets, as well as the laws that regulate them, to solve the dichotomy between people and proﬁt, success and fairness.

THE FOUR: THE HIDDEN DNA OF AMAZON, APPLE, FACEBOOK, AND GOOGLE BY SCOTT GALLOWAY

Scott Galloway is a Professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he teaches brand strategy and digital marketing to MBA students. He has founded nine firms and his YouTube series, Winners and Losers, has attracted millions of viewers. In this, his first book, he delves into four companies: Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, analysing how they have been able to grow their value in the past eight years to the equivalent of the GDP of South Korea. Google, he says, is God, Facebook is Love, Amazon is Consumption, and Apple is Sex. He argues that while this concentration of wealth is fine for those who work for Facebook or own a Ferrari dealership, it has led to a society of great inequality where there is more money being made than ever, but a lot less of it is being spread around.

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w THE TREND technology

NEW AND INTERESTING FEATURES ON INSTAGRAM

W hy

INSTAGRAM

is t he N ew Lord Byron

Book sales may be down among millennials and teens these days, but let’s not fall into the nostalgia trap, yearning for the days when all kids had to play with was a piece of chalk, a street, and a ball. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

echnology is enhancing our lives in so many ways, with features such as Artiﬁcial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality making it easier than ever to imagine new worlds, operate on patients remotely, or conjure up safer highways in which all cars are programmed to avoid accidents. Social media has its own vital role to play: that of connecting human beings, many of whom have built vital relationships with people on opposite sides of the globe, through Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. We may be too busy to meet a friend for a cup of coffee, but we also have at least 15 minutes a day to chat with a friend in Alaska, truth be told. Of all the social media available, Instagram would have to be the most poetic, closest in ideal to the Romantics (Keats, Shelley, Byron), whose words captured man’s primordial need for artistic expression, connection with nature, and spirituality.

FACTS ON INSTAGRAM Instagram has 800 million users (and 250 million active daily users) overall, having doubled its user base from 2016 to 2018. Facebook is still the head honcho in this ﬁeld (with over two billion users), followed by YouTube (1.5 billion), then

Instagram is constantly growing and changing, with the team behind the app being keenly reactive to user demand. Some of the newest features to watch out for include: Z THE NEW ‘TYPE MODE’, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO ADD TEXT-ONLY STORIES. There are a plethora of colourful backgrounds and fonts to choose from, and you can add stickers to increase the appeal. It’s a bit riskier than it sounds, since Instagram is favoured by many precisely because it doesn’t force one to read, shining a light instead on the most poetic or beautiful moments in everyday life. Z SCHEDULING POSTS IN ADVANCE. This is a useful feature for marketing departments seeking to make an announcement or launch a product on a speciﬁc date. Use this feature regularly to gathering baseline metrics about the performance of your posts. For instance, if you always post on Friday at 5pm, compare the likes and comments you receive when you post on other days and at other times. Z SEE WHO’S TAKEN A SCREENSHOT. If you are interested in knowing who is taking screenshots of your content, click onto the list of people who have viewed them, and watch out for a swirling star symbol, which appears for users who have taken a screenshot. Z COLLECTIONS. This feature allows you to organise images into different curated folders, which makes it easy to ﬁnd posts you like without scrolling endlessly.

Instagram, and finally, opinion stalwart, Twitter (330 million). Kudos to its management team, who have managed to substantially raise interest in their product though features such as 24-hour stories, the new ‘type mode’ and more. Also interesting is the new algorithm-driven feed, which orders the posts at the top of your feed according to your interests. Users who interact with essentialmarbellam agazine you are also given priority in this respect. As noted by Smart Insights, images are still King on Instagram, though according Post items that tell to the company, the time spent watching a story about you, wh ich describe your life and interests. This video has risen by 80 per cent in the past applies to companies , too; allow followers to ge t a feel about the core year. people in your busin ess and the pa ss ion the y have building your User profiles are also key; around 59 product or service. With this in mind, als o take note of the typ per cent of Instagrammers are aged 18 e of pictures that tend to get the most Likes. These includ to 29. e landscape photos (think the sea or urb an landscapes), po Posts with at least one hashtag tend sts with people in the food, pets, and of co m, urs e babies (who can to garner more interest, though it is vital resist them?). If you aren’t into Ins tagram yet, we get not to go overboard. When a long list you. People are sometimes reticent to sign up for a site that focuses on im of hashtags is used, the post can look rather than words. ages To realise the full ex tent of its magic, op up an account, follow messy, advertisement-like, or a bit en all your friends (ensu ring they follow you back) and look too ‘try-hard’. One study showed that up celebrities and fi gu res you admire and res pe ct. Post at least a co it is advisable to aim for around five uple of times a week and start to tap int o the power of the poetry hashtags maximum per post. Also, of the new millennium through images en , as told countered in daily life to increase engagement, indicate the . location you are posting from. e

WHICH POSTS DO U SERS

LOVE?

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w THE TREND motoring

TESLA

ROADSTER

Carmakers often go to extraordinary lengths to publicise new models, but no manufacturer has come remotely close to matching Tesla boss Elon Musk’s feat of launching his new Roadster model into space with the ultra-powerful Falcon Heavy rocket. A cherry red Tesla Roadster, complete with dummy astronaut driver at the wheel and the words ‘Don’t Panic!’ on the infotainment screen, sat in the payload bay at the recent successful launch of the rocket, the power of which has only been exceeded by the mighty Saturn V moon mission launch vehicles of the 1970s. WORDS TONY WHITNEY

ike so many ‘out of the box’ thinkers, South African-born Musk is not universally loved in the business world, but few can deny his bold and visionary approach to everything he gets involved in, especially electric vehicles. His Model S luxury saloon and Model X SUV have sold in large numbers with over 100,000 rolling out of the showrooms last year – and this in an EV market that’s miniscule in size compared to other automotive ﬁelds. Total global sales of all Tesla vehicles hit 250,000 late last year. Musk was not an original founder of Tesla, but when he became involved, he quickly took charge and became principal shareholder and CEO. Forbes Magazine puts

his personal worth at over $20 billion. The Tesla Roadster, which has been shown around the world in concept form and is due to arrive in 2020, is in many ways a return to the company’s roots, rather than an exploration of another vehicle class. The ﬁrst car Tesla built was a roadster that was developed in cooperation with British sports car builder Lotus Cars and early (2008) models had very much a Lotus Elise look about them. The technology was based on the use of lithium ion cells, rather than lead acid battery systems. This maximised speed and range very radically and all subsequent Teslas have been highly regarded for their all-round performance.

As a styling exercise, the new Tesla Roadster is what might be called ‘typical Tesla’ with the manufacturer’s trademark clean and uncluttered design that has worked so successfully with the Model S and Model X. The car does have some kind of family resemblance to various supercars on the market right now with sensuous curves, slits of headlights with LEDs and bulging rear wheel arches, but it’s nonetheless a very original design. At ﬁrst glance, it looks like a coupé rather than a roadster, but the lightweight glass roof lifts off and stores neatly within the car, out of the way in the boot. Despite the Roadster’s svelte looks, it will seat four occupants.

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Performance claims for the EV are astonishing, but Musk has been surprising car enthusiasts for years with other Tesla models and anything that’s claimed must be taken seriously. For starters, a zero to 100 km/h figure of 2.1-seconds is being targeted, along with a top speed exceeding 400 km/h using three electric motors. This would make it one of the fastest accelerating sports cars in the world. Range with the innovative batteries is said to be 1,000 km and all-wheel drive will be standard. Following its usual practice, Tesla is already taking orders for the Roadster and you can put your name down for one with a €53.000 deposit. A basic Roadster is expected to sell for around €210.000 but the first cars will be ‘special editions’ selling for €54.000 more. Tesla has only published prices in US dollars, so these figures must be considered approximate. Understandably, this is an expensive sports car, but if you do buy one, you’ll be able to truthfully tell your friends that it’s “out of this world.” By then, the Tesla Roadster that was blasted into space will hopefully be orbiting Mars. e

Z ENGINE: Three electric motors, all-wheel drive. Z TRANSMISSION: Direct drive. Z ACCELERATION: Zero to 100 km/h in 2.1-seconds. Z TOP SPEED: 400 km/h. Z I LIKED: Amazing technology in a very stylish package, impressive performance and range, zero emissions and no reliance on fossil fuels. Z I DIDN’T LIKE: Charging stations are still not that widespread, but to its credit, Tesla has been installing these facilities in various key parts of the world, including Spain. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES: Right now the Tesla has almost no competition but several supercar manufacturers, including Ferrari, are said to be readying electric sports cars. Z WHO DRIVES ONE? People who want to make the ultimate sustainability statement and have the means to carry it off in style. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: For the 2020 model, approximate prices start around the €210.000 level at present.

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ALTAVISTA

pr oper ty. com

p the focus CULTURE HISTORY FEATURES CELEBS INTERVIEWS HUMOUR

How Technology is Making us Safer

Top Tech Trends

Artificial Intelligence

High Tech Cuisine

Smart Clothing

Jeff Bezos

Sadeem Alshehail

Laura Jiménez Conde and Kristina O. Bråteng of By Nok

Arboleda Villas

TECHNOLOGY IS AT ONCE A SAVIOUR AND A SOURCE OF FEAR; A WAY TO KEEP US SAFE AND SOMETHING WHOSE SCOPE IS AS YET UNKNOWN. THIS MONTH, WE HIGHLIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND DISCUSS HOW THEY MAY AFFECT LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.

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p THE FOCUS technology

HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY

MAKE US SAFER?

On a global scale, communities are reeling from major events that have shaken peace and stability owing to ﬂaws in everything from arms control to poor security at major events. Where humans can err, technology can step in, through tools such as ‘situational intelligence’, which combines traditional situational awareness with the collective intelligence of those at the nucleus of a situation. When governments are able to coordinate information such as on-site videos, photos, Twitter messages, and experiential responses in real time, they can make better, more informed decisions and manage crises before, during, and after major events. In this article, Marisa Cutillas discusses situational intelligence and other tech developments that promise to increase safety from the social, political, and health-based perspectives.

BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE BUT ABLE TO REACT POSITIVELY Situational intelligence involves gathering all data and using big data analytics to process and access information. Mobile technologies allow more information to be shared, online software and services allow new apps to be created and updated, and interactive dashboards and screens make it easier to make ‘real sense’ of data obtained. Forbes notes that five industries in particular can make use of situational intelligence technology: law enforcement (e.g. to find wanted criminals via data such as part of a licence plate), emergency management services (to help communities create a strategic plan when natural disasters are incumbent), cyber security (we can benefit from a human insight into cyber criminal strategy), anti-fraud organisations (technology can help detect potential fraud), and government intelligence (governments can avail of technology that finds common ground between seemingly unrelated items of information). Thanks to situational intelligence, data can be used to make predictions and detect potential and existing criminal activity in highly complex situations whose patterns lie beyond those of human data analysis.

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DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO? Many accidents are caused because drivers lose track of where they are going or take a wrong turn, only to lose security on the road. Logistics companies have been using GPS systems to track the location of their vehicles (such as trucks) for various years, but now, companies are starting to set up geofences, which provide alerts when a vehicle has veered outside its service area. Geofencing also enables vehicles to use real-time trafﬁc data to optimise routes, avoiding potentially dangerous or trafﬁc congested zones. Telematic systems let companies know when a vehicle is in danger of breakage, when a service is required, etc., to help drivers avoid costly, dangerous breakdowns in unsafe zones. Technology can also be used to track dangerous driving habits such as hitting the brakes too hard or aggressive acceleration, speeding, etc. Driverless cars are another huge development on the transport scene. Several companies have been testing these cars, while some have introduced semi-autonomous features in their vehicles. Uber, meanwhile, is testing driverless trucks for logistics and delivery applications; this technology is aimed at reducing accidents caused by driver fatigue. Of course, we still have a long way to go in this realm; in the news last year was the Las Vegas-based self-driving shuttle service that got into an accident with a human driver. Whose fault was it? The human’s, of course! The shuttle makers noted, “Had the truck had the same sensing equipment that the shuttle has, the accident would have been avoided.”

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YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Medical Alert Systems, also known as personal emergency response systems, are now all the rage among seniors. They are usually worn as necklaces or bracelets, and contain a ‘help’ button that enables seniors to get help quickly during an emergency – including falls, ﬁres, or any emergency situation. There are in-home systems for those who are at home all day, but those who maintain an active lifestyle should fork out the extra cash and consider a mobile medical alert system, which has GPS technology that allows emergency services to identify exactly where the wearer is. If the ‘help’ button is pressed, emergency workers answer within seconds. In addition to sending help, they also contact people on the wearer’s list of family and friends, to ensure help is close at hand. Closely related to these systems are medication management software. Medication Reminder and Pill Tracker are just two of a bevy of apps that will ensure you take all your meds at the right time, thus evading missed or double doses.

WOMAN, INTERRUPTED Recent cases in the national and international media have continued to foster fear in women who are forced to walk through dark or solitary streets, or who have to take public transport late at night. New apps like SafetiPin allow contacts to follow individuals along a live GPS trail. They also send panic alerts to emergency contacts, making it much easier to avoid kidnappings and other life-threatening situations.

YOU WORK HARD FOR YOUR MONEY Finally, you can make transfers and manage your money online without fearing cyber criminals, thanks to features such as IMPS (Immediate Payment Service), which enables users to send money 24/7 safely using what in essence is your personalised PIN number, in a matter of seconds. Electronic transfers are also safer than ever, since each time you add a beneﬁciary to your account or make a new transfer, a code is sent via mobile which you must replicate online before the transfer is effected.

BLOCKCHAIN FOR SAFER FOOD

Blockchain is currently the flavour of the month owing to its role in keeping cryptocurrency Bitcoin safe, yet because it offers both the openness of the Internet and the security of cryptography, it can support a plethora of different applications, and can make the global food chain more transparent and trustworthy. According to a study carried out by the IBM Institute for Business Value on blockchain in the food supply chain, digital tracking of the origins and stages food goes through before reaching a store can reduce food contamination. For consumers, reading a simple QR code with a smartphone could provide them with data such as an animal’s date of birth, use of antibiotics and vaccines, the location where the livestock was raised, etc. Blockchain can also help curb outbreaks immediately, since it takes in the region of two seconds to ﬁnd all the information regarding the origin of foods and their stages of distribution. By identifying contaminated foods quickly, safe foods could remain on shelves and reduce wastage.

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TECHNOLOGY IS FOR EVERYONE

Technology is making the world an increasingly easier place to negotiate for the millions of people worldwide with disabilities ranging from visual to hearing impairments. If in the past, a visually impaired individual would have to wait in a long queue for hours to analyse statements or pay bills, new apps enable users to listen to their balance being read out for them, and to make payments by giving verbal instructions to their phone. Some banks offer additional means of making contactless payments, such as wristbands or keyfobs, which can be linked to credit or debit cards. Voice security verifies customers by their voice, which is especially useful for those who have difficulty remembering passwords. Savvy banks like Barclays in the UK are taking it a step further by providing clients with close to 4,000 talking cash points, to make withdrawals easier for the elderly and sight impaired. This bank also makes their debit cards easier to find, thanks to high visibility technology. Clients can even personalise their card, making the latter as colourful or subtle as they wish.

A GREENER ENVIRONMENT

In the area of sustainability, so many new, unrelated technologies have arisen which are making it safer to be a human being on Planet Earth. They include:

Z New engineering methods which have made it possible to capture carbon released during the burning of natural gas. Considering that countries like the U.S. rely on burning natural gas for 30 per cent of their energy needs, reducing the carbon footprint caused by this process to zero, is a big step in terms of fostering a cleaner, safer environment. Z Elon Musk pulls out all the stops when it comes to sustainability; not only is he developing the coolest looking electric cars on the market, but he also recently unveiled incredible new solar roof tiles that look exactly like traditional tiling but which generate electricity, cost less than normal

tiles, and boast superior insulation! Z Smart fabrics have now been developed which harness the kinetic energy we produce as we move; these fabrics can be used to charge small gadgets. Imagine how important this might be for runners or trekkers who need to charge their phone and who do not have access to electricity. Z Algae biofuels, obtained from speciﬁc strains of algae which secrete oil useful for fuel, are an excellent way for humans to harness the clean energy of biofuels. In the past, concern surrounded the use of corn ethanol, since corn requires too much farmland to make production sustainable. Algae do not need farmland and can grow in tanks in areas with an adequate amount of sunshine. These crops grow much faster than traditional plants, and some are able to survive on waste water rather than fresh water, for their growth. e

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p THE FOCUS technology

TOP

TECH TRENDS

You might have noticed, the world is in rapid evolution right now, and as a result we’re getting used to technological gadgetry that not so long ago would have seemed like something straight out of a science ﬁction movie. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

echnological change seems to be coming thick and fast these days. It wasn’t that long ago that a video machine, PC or mobile phone seemed a wondrous thing, but now we have smartphones, smart TVs, inbuilt sat nav, home automation systems, Siri, real-time communication with people on the other end of the world and apps that will tell you anything from the constellation you’re looking at to where the airliner flying overhead is headed. Indeed, we’ve come a long way from the days when floppy disks, cassette-operated Commodore computers, CDs and

even MP3 were considered the cutting edge of technology, and with it comes a growing array of digital gadgetry to guide our daily lives. The time may come when we won’t consider even the most mundane action without ﬁrst consulting online references or using a digital crutch, but in this transition phase between a mechanical/ analogue world and a digital one, it all seems pretty wondrous and exotic. Here is a selection of some of the upcoming ‘next gen’ tech trends about to hit a virtual store near you.

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3D PRINTING

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

3D TECHNOLOGY HAS GREAT VALUE FOR MADETO-MEASURE SURGERY APPLICATIONS

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

3D PRINTING MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE EVERYDAY PRODUCTS ON-DEMAND

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DESIGN IT ON YOUR COMPUTER CAD PROGRAMME AND PRINT IT WITHIN NO TIME

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Though we’ve been hearing about it for a while now, 3D printing still has a somewhat fantastical, exotic feel about it. Perhaps it’s the name that throws us or maybe it makes us think of Captain Kirk materialising out of thin air after being famously ‘beamed up by Scotty’, but it’s one that’s taken a little while to take root in the popular imagination. Now if it was called something like ‘layered moulding’ I think we’d understand it a little better, but the idea of producing all manner of diversely shaped objects by converting the otherwise largely horizontal printing process into a vertical framework makes it somewhat hard to picture and therefore counter-intuitive. In reality 3D printing is neither that odd nor that new. The process consists of the shaped layering of a material – initially mostly plastic – until a three-dimensional object is created. The source of the shape is a ‘CAD’ computesrised 3D model that transfers the details of the image to the printer and thereby ‘instructs’ the printing of it from a sequence of patterned layers until the desired product emerges from the final layer in this bottom-to-top method of manufacturing. Many trace the conceptual origins of this production type to the woodblock printing that first emerged in third century China, but the first direct link comes from 1981, when Hideo Kodama of the Nagoya Industrial Research Institute in Japan pioneered the first 3D printing process. In 1984, three French scientists took it further towards maturity when they patented the Stereolithography process. Solid ink printing further advanced the technology in 1986, and by the late nineties it had become possible to produce increasingly complex and durable objects in this way. By the turn of the century, 3D printing had left the laboratory and reached the point of development where people could begin to think about its commercial potential. That potential has not yet been greatly realised, but with its ability to manufacture an increasingly diverse range of products from an ever-widening range of materials, the technology has the potential to revolutionise the design and manufacturing fields – from making it possible to fabricate a decorative object to your own taste and style to enabling surgeons to create replacement hips and other body parts on the spot and made to measure for their patients. What’s more, while it cannot compete with mass produced items on a cost level, it provides the opportunity for cheap, flexible and fast production on a small scale – thus potentially uprooting the entire economies of scale model that manufacturing has been built upon for more than a century.

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<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

VIRTUAL CONCERTS CAN BRING LEGENDS ‘BACK TO LIFE’

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

HOLOGRAPHIC CONCERTS

ROBOTS ‘IN A STORE NEAR YOU’

Well, not yet, but with the rapid advances in digital data speed, processing ability and cognitive capacity, robotbased consumer electronics could just be the next big trend around the corner. We could be on the cusp of having a personal butler to make sure we’re fed, watered, groomed and dressed, that reminds us of appointments, never forgets an important date or the chance to order flowers for it, cleans the house, cooks dinner and also acts as a security guard. We’re only at the beginning, but the possibilities are endless. Moving, speaking robots with ‘feelings’, such as Kuri, are the current trend, using the rapidly-advancing facial recognition technology to accurately identify and interact with different members of the household. And they’re being designed to look cute too – maybe the ultimate combination of pet, maid and butler after all?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> POSITIVE AI – YOUR VERY OWN FRIENDLY HOME BUTLER

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Also known as virtual concerts, the 3D audio-visual projection of artists on stage creates the possibility of offering ‘live’ shows and concerts in which the audience is real enough, but the performers in question are ‘not in the building’ – indeed nowhere near the scene of the event. It seems an anomaly that you’d be watching a live show that is anything but that, dancing and cheering along to an artist who at that very moment might be enjoying a soak in the bath on the other side of the world, but it also makes it possible to ‘bring stars back from the dead’. With so many famous, now legendary names taken from us often before their time, it seems a tantalising opportunity to relive experiences many of us thought we’d lost forever. In the past few years alone the number of leading international stars that have been lost seems particularly shocking, so while many deride it as creepy, if presented in a tasteful manner, the coming together of people to enjoy the music of and relive artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, David Bowie and George Michael could be deemed to be a rare gift of technology. Tupac and Michael Jackson are two famous names that have already ‘performed’ in this way, and while the process is costly, mired in legal complication and also rather controversial, it is the natural evolution of a trend that saw Natalie Cole record a ‘duet’ with her late father Nat King Cole over twenty years ago. For living artists it could be a boon, enabling them to be in many places at the same time, earn concert income without a gruelling travel regime, and possibly even ‘tour the world’ from the comfort of their Jacuzzi. I have a feeling that while many fans will take the opportunity to see late great stars ‘in action’, those that are alive and well will have a harder time talking their fans into cheering on their hologram mini-me.

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FACIAL RECOGNITION – NOT A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

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YOUR FACE AS A MODERN KEY TO SECURITY

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We used to see it in futuristic movies but now it’s a reality; our faces are now the key to security. The latest iPhone offers X Face ID technology and your new car recognises your eye and nose features to allow access to doors and boots. I guess borrowing someone’s car will soon be out of the question, but the business is a serious, burgeoning one, worth almost $16 billion last year and growing fast. The implications for security systems are obvious and many, but facial recognition also offers other potential uses, including the collection of medical data and eventually even reading consumer reactions and preferences from facial expressions. Once we move in that direction, the ground becomes less ﬁrm under our feet; the unique blend of awesome convenience and opportunity mixed with unknown societal repercussions typical of much of tomorrow’s tech development.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

GREATER CONNECTIVITY SPEED MEANS MORE POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

5G POWER None of the above would be possible without the technology to drive it. With 5G we’re talking about fifth-generation wireless technology, which makes ever faster and more efficient download speeds a reality. To put it in perspective – 3G needed 26 hours to download a two-hour movie, 4G requires six minutes; with 5G it’s just 3.6 seconds! Not only does this enable you to download and enjoy movies, images, games and other heavy files, and enhance the user experience of the above, as well as Virtual Reality scenarios, but it also has a great many practical applications emanating from faster processing speeds. Among them is the fact that it begins to make possible the data rates needed for autonomous driving technology to become a reality.

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CONSUMERS WILL BE INTERACTING MORE WITH ‘SPEAKING’ BOTS IN THE FUTURE

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VOICE – NEW-STYLE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT Online or on-the-telephone-line shopping is exponentially expanding and may one day do away with shops and malls altogether. Facilitating it is not so much an army of phone operators but a rapid evolution in smart speaker technology that is the intelligent evolution of pre-recorded voicemail messages and instructions. With more and more people interacting with companies in this way, the latter are looking beyond mere practical functionality, to using ‘the voice’ as an extension of their brand identity. Gives a whole new meaning to The Voice.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> VIRTUAL REALITY IS BROADENING ITS HORIZONS

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> VR EXPANDS ITS HORIZONS In a similar way, corporations are now also tapping into this previously entertainment-based technology to expand their brand identity and awareness, creating a journey for their clients that forms part of the all-important customer experience. From informational documentaries or promotional presentations about businesses, sectors and organisations, to clientoriented adventures and shopping experiences, Virtual Reality is escaping the bonds of the computer game to become a commercial and consumer tool as well. This is particularly true of AR (Augmented Reality), which is likely to become a part of our everyday lives as we ‘design’ our own kitchens, interiors, holidays and workspaces.

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

NETWORKED SMART CITIES OF THE FUTURE

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SMART CITIES

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IMAGINE SELFDRIVING PIZZA DELIVERY SERVICE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Pretty soon not just individual technologies but whole cities can become ‘smart’. How do they do this? Through networking the entire infrastructure, creating an integrated e-grid in which everything from traffic lights and electricity supply to CCTV cameras, traffic flow management and also crime detection is linked and, if required, cross-referenced. The advantages for greatly enhanced energy efficiencies, safety systems and crime fighting are many, as long as there isn’t a kink in the system. Apart from reducing traffic congestion and pollution, though, this technology trend even lends itself to self-driving pizza delivery vehicles – a great contribution to mankind indeed! e

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p THE FOCUS artiﬁcial intelligence

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS NO STRANGER

Some of you may have read my series of Smart articles about a year ago in this magazine. I am totally pro-technology – a nerd, some might say. WORDS ALI PARANDEH ZANDPOUR

es, I am obsessed with chipsets and would even accept Bitcoin for my house, which is for sale. Yet I constantly find myself buying printed books by the kilos, and spend my time off work without electronic devices, because we all need a break from the information overload that comes with technological advancements in the era of 2.0. Even geeks. But as I was enjoying a nice nap with a good-old, half-finished paperback novel hanging from my hammock, a sweet, feminine, perhaps slightly computerised voice woke me up saying: — “Good afternoon, Mr Parandeh. Based on your previous decisions, there was a 97.6543 per cent chance that you would wake up wanting to drink coffee, so here is your freshly ground and brewed espresso, with two sugars, as you have enjoyed in 53 out of your last 54 cups.” — “How considerate of you, that is spot on, thanks so much,” I replied. “What is your name, by the way?” — “Alexa, Sir. Amazon Alexa.” Artificial intelligence (AI) is here. It is ready to make your life and mine a little bit easier, one line of code at a time.

LIFE AFTER SOCIAL NETWORKS In a ridiculously-brief summary of life since the web ceased to be the exclusive domain of creepy

crawlers, we could say that Web 1.0 was the basic connectivity to websites with static content; 2.0 was the interactive and social networking platforms; while 3.0 are all these new tech things that we learn about through media and adolescents, but still seem a little Jules Vernesque to us: blockchain, crypto currencies, parallel webbased worlds, smart houses, robotics, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, to name a few. I have been reading or watching stories about artificial intelligence for decades. From Asimov to Schwarzenegger, the breadth in scope of potential robot-fuelled apocalyptic scenarios for mankind is staggering. It stopped being a serious topic for me at some stage, drifting into the science fiction section of my library. What most of us ignored, though, was the fact that some of these futuristic technologies were already — in one shape or another — fully developed and operational in our world. Artificial intelligence — or poor AI, to be more accurate — is the culprit of your flight being overbooked and missing your onward connection. A ‘bad’ robot is currently spamming you with unnecessary emails based on your past internet-surfing habits; while a 'good' robot is preventing these spam mails from accessing your Gmail inbox. Amazon is working on a few

of these 3.0 technologies. For instance, it is trying to take a quantum leap from where Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant currently are, giving a voice to the AI computer. The name of the project? Amazon Alexa. You probably think that these things are not advanced enough to fear that computers will take over your job and eat your pizza by next Saturday. Well, it may be time to clean the dust off your nuclear shelter downstairs after you ﬁnish reading this. An academic paper — published in December 2017 through Cornell University’s electronic repository — claims that Google’s AI board-game computer (AlphaZero) has recently and comprehensively beaten the defending computer-player world champion (Stockﬁsh 8), in a series of 100 chess games.

So, what is the big deal with this? – you may ask. To learn about the implications of this computer taking over the world of chess, let us ﬁrst look into the different models of AI. Generally speaking, you need to ‘teach’ a computer before it can develop its own artiﬁcial intelligence. This learning process — as with humans — can be supervised or unsupervised.

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Regarding how computers build their ‘intelligence’, there are different approaches. Some can be rule-based systems, where the framework for learning is pretty much ﬁxed. Then there are probabilistic approaches — like the coffee-making robot mentioned at the beginning — that gather data in order to narrow down possibilities of certain events repeating in the future, and to be able to anticipate them. All in all, until Google decided to build a computer that could teach itself to play chess, most AI systems had relied on some degree of instruction by humans — or by previous sets of data — in order to build their ‘intellect’. The great advancement in technology is that this is an unassisted, artiﬁcial-neuronal, deeplayered AI system. In plain English, this machine did not rely on human assistance to beat the current world champ. It was built to resemble

AI IS HERE

We do not need a Google technology (or budget) to make immediate use of artiﬁcial intelligence to improve our lives here on the Costa del Sol. An article published in Forbes last year explained that property management software can and should beneﬁt from simple AI solutions to enhance current capabilities. This is to confront a worldwide surge in home-rental demand. According to the publication, property management companies are perceived as unable to cope with this increase and software available to them is not necessarily assisting with this task. I see problems like this one every day while working with community administrators through my business Urbytus. We are developing an AI tool that can assist administrators to anticipate certain events in communities — such as maintenance work based on

human brain biology. The scary part: it allegedly took the computer only ten days to learn how to play the game, to improve from mistakes, and to eventually beat the top software player (a precursor of which defeated Garry Kasparov in the late 1990s). The only human-produced code programmed into AlphaZero were the rules of chess. The developers claim that with a few extra days, the machine could have learned and applied the rules by itself. They also said that the key to this superior type of AI is the ability to organize actions based on the likelihood of success — or failure — for several layers of decisions made by the computer. Sounds familiar? This is how the human brain works! The importance of artiﬁcial intelligence and Web 3.0 is that technology is gearing up to ‘think’ like humans, in an effort to simplify our lives, anticipate our needs, and ﬁlter out repetitive or unnecessary information.

historic data — as well has handling some of the more basic and repetitive tasks that consume most of their valuable time. There are also many ‘Smart Home’ gadgets and apps available on the market. A friend showed me an app released by a led-bulb manufacturer that switches the ambient colour of lights in your house based on the time of day and perceived mood. It is all happening right now, whether we like it or not. We have resisted so many things in the past. I remember those who were against emails, mobile phones, Facebook, and the like. They are not just users now, but part of these networks. One of the main fears with AI is that it may replace jobs. While it is certain this will happen in some areas, the biggest impact will be an improvement in overall quality of life. Few people can currently afford — for example — a personal assistant, or simultaneous interpreting. In the future, most of us should have affordable access to this help, freeing up valuable time in the process. For every advance in science and technology, there is good and bad usage. AI will most certainly become a big part of our lives soon, so we must ensure that we make the best use of it. As with many other technological advancements, it will not be the perfect solution for everyone’s problems, neither will it signify the end of humanity.e

SOME WAYS IN WHICH AI IS ALREADY MAKING LIFE EASIER: Z PATTERN RECOGNITION. Understand typical trends or behaviours for customer ﬁnancial transactions, spot anomalies (data outliers) in an account’s spending data, to identify potentially fraudulent behaviour (Most banks and credit-card issuers are doing this). Z PREDICTION. Capture short and long-term variability in data to improve forecasting of energy consumption, paying less at the end of the month (Planet9 Energy). An alarm clock that anticipates when you will wake up and prepares tea or coffee in advance (The Barisieur). Z CLASSIFICATION. Examine animal images and group them by species type. Potentially save your life — or avoid embarrassment in front of your hiking party — by allowing an app to differentiate between, for example, cat and puma tracks (MyNature Animal Tracks). Z IMAGE RECOGNITION. Based on libraries of pre-diagnosed images, determine if nodes on a CT or MRI scan are malignant or benign. Translate from Chinese characters into your language just by taking a photo of the text with your mobile phone (Google Translate, among others). Z SPEECH TO TEXT. Transcribe customer call centre voice messages to text for further analysis. Use your own language to talk to a shop assistant in Japan, while the smartphone does the translation (Google Translate). Z COGNITIVE SEARCH. Offer personalised recommendations to online shoppers by matching their interests with purchases of similar items made by other customers (Amazon).

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p THE FOCUS food

THE TASTE OF

TECHNOLOGY With alcohol you inhale, meat grown in a test tube, pud made by a 3D printer and coffee that comes in chewable cubes, the dinner party of tomorrow doesn’t sound like anything to look forward to. Like it or not, science is taking over the kitchen and it’s gone way beyond Heston Blumenthal’s liquid nitrogen nibbles. Biotech start-ups are dreaming up new ways to feed the world and save the planet and it’s changing the way all of us eat. Belinda Beckett ﬁnds out what’s cooking in the lab.

In vitro creation from Memphis Meats

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BIOTCHECH BURGERS THAT ‘BLEED’ “Today we rely on cows to turn plants into meat. There has to be a better way,” says Pat Brown, CEO of a company committed to turn us all into vegetarians and make cows redundant. Impossible Foods researches animal products at the molecular level, then sources their equivalent in plants to recreate a lab-made vegan product. The Silicon Valley synbiotech firm spent five years finding out that what gives cooked meat its colour, aroma and juicy flavour is a molecule called heme, also found in plants. They developed a way to extract and replicate it using a process similar to Belgian beer-making.

Its ﬁrst product, the Impossible Burger, came out in 2016, and their ‘plant burger that bleeds juices like real meat’ wowed the crowds, spreading the rumour that scientists had invented plant blood. Served up in partner restaurants from New York to LA, Brown aims to make meat derived from animals the exception, not the rule, and there are concepts on the drawing board for plant-based chicken, pork, ﬁsh and yogurt. Meanwhile Beyond Meat, a company with similar ethics, is already rolling out plant-based meat substitute products to Whole Foods 473 stores in North America and the UK.

Cows could become an endangered species Soylent, a meal in a bottle

Plant-based

burger by Be

yond Meat

BREAKFAST IN A BOTTLE This liquid meal replacement got its name from Soylent Green, a horrific 1973 sci fi movie set in a dystopian and foodless universe where humans survived on green plankton wafers until the plankton ran out... Thankfully, the Soylent you can buy on Amazon doesn’t contain human remains… or plankton, come to that. Soy protein, vitamins, sunflower oil, oat fibre and sugar synthesised from beets are among the ingredients in each 400-calorie Soylent drink. One recyclable bottle is said to provide 20 percent of an adult’s daily nutritional needs. The project became the poster child for crowdfunding success, raising $1.5 million in seed capital and a similar amount in pre-orders launch - enough to pay every investor back. One major drawback– the taste, which has been compared to drinking chalk – has been addressed with cacao and nectar flavours. Soylent removes CO2-producing livestock from the dairy equation, doesn’t need refrigeration, has a one-year shelf life and is cheap to produce. Developed by software engineer Rob Rhinehart, initially for himself, Soylent could be a means to ending world hunger although further research is needed. "Food is the fossil fuel of human energy,” says Rhinehart “It is an enormous market full of waste, regulation, and biased allocation with serious geopolitical implications. We aim to develop a world where access to affordable, complete nutrition is no longer a challenge."

Can the meat industry survive the biotech burger?

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Insect bites by Exo

BUG BITES “Waiter, waiter, there’s a bug in my food.” “No Sir,” replies the waiter. “That’s our signature dish.” It’s no joke – 2018 is the year insects legally arrive on dinner plates in Spain. Products made from bugs can now officially be manufactured, sold and served up for human consumption. Insects are already big business as a sustainable way to solve the world food shortage. Humans have always eaten insects and two billion people worldwide still do. But now you’ll also see insects crop up as protein powder, energy bars and pastas or transformed into amazing dishes by inventive chefs which is all good news for Spain’s insect farmers and there are already quite a few. Over in America, they’ve got Exo, ‘the energy bars that put a chirp in your step’. Dreamed up by a group of students from Brown University, Rhode Island and developed as a serious business through crowd funding, each Exo protein bar contains 10 grams of ‘cricket flour’ – the powder obtained from the roasted and ground-up insects. That’s the equivalent of about 40 crickets per bar or six-to-eight per bite. They come in cacao nut, banana bread, blueberry vanilla and apple cinnamon flavours and deliver twice the protein of chicken, steak or salmon. Crickets are high in dietary fibre, vitamins and essential minerals and contain twice the iron of a comparable serving of spinach. They reproduce quickly, they’re cheap to keep and Exo is by no means the only company buying in to these winged protein powerhouses. Another reason to start eating crickets is the environmental benefit. Relatively, they require only 0.05 per cent of the water cows guzzle, produce one hundred times less greenhouse gas and, for every 100 pounds of feed, you get 60 pounds of cricket protein — 12 times the average yield from cattle.

Cricket flour is helping to end world hunger

Could Go Cubes be your cup of Java?

COFFEE CUBE CHEWS

What’s better for kick-starting your brain in the morning than a good, strong café con leche? Why, coffee you can carry around in your pocket and eat on the go – that’s the theory behind Go Cubes, launched by California biohack startup HVMN (pronounced ‘human’), last year. Combining a caffeine kick with the relaxing qualities of green tea, each cube packs the equivalent of half a cup of coffee and four hours of focus and energy. The secret is cognitionenhancing natural compounds known as nootropics which boost mental agility and physical stamina without giving you the caffeine jitters. Plus, there’s ‘vanity value’, say the manufacturers. ‘It doesn’t stain your teeth or ruin your lip-gloss.’ Sold in three flavours – Latte, Drip Coffee, and Mocha – the sugar-coated cubes are gelatin and gluten free and have the consistency of Haribo’s gummy bears. Chew one, then ‘Go write a book, run a marathon, ace that test, kick a$$ at work’ suggests the website. Go Cubes may never replace the sacred morning coffee ritual but if you’re time-pressed or there’s a mega queue at Starbucks, these instant pick-me-ups could be just your cup of Java.

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PRINTED FOOD A 3D printer could become as commonplace as a microwave in the kitchens of the not-too distant future. Without delving too deeply into the science, 3D printers use hyper-spectral imaging to print everything from parts for space stations to human organs to food. NASA developed one to make pizza for astronauts in space and the technology has already taken a giant step forward onto the high street via culinary food printers priced from €500 to four figures. The first models focused on sugar-heavy confections – cake decorations in the shape of snowflakes, intricate chocolate sculptures. Now Barcelona-based start-up Natural Machines has invented the Foodini, which will print you something you could actually eat for dinner. Already in use in commercial kitchens, it can print serious stuff like ravioli parcels, pizzas and tarts, taking a few minutes for a biscuit to half an hour for something more elaborate. It’s smart, too, with touch screen control and internet connection. "This is the first version of 3D printing adapted to food,” says co-founder Emilio Sepulveda. “Basically the device takes staple ingredients like flour and water and generates the model. If we want to go further and create things like we've seen on Star Trek, that will take many more years but we will get there.”

The Foodini making an edible flower pot

3D printed lobster pastry case by Foodini

IN VITRO MEAT

The world's first test tube burger – grown in a lab from cow stem cells and muscle fibre – hit the frying pan at a tasting in London in 2013. It was declared to be ‘almost’ as good as the real thing – even if it did garner ‘Frankenburger’ headlines and cost a blood-curdling €250.000 to produce. The science of cultured meat is still in its costly infancy but it’s looking increasingly like a hot prospect for tomorrow’s world, and not only because no animals die. Instead, cells are extracted from living animals, cultivated in bioreactors on a diet of vitamins, minerals and plants and harvested a couple of weeks later. Compare that to the minimum six months it takes to raise traditional livestock, involving acres of farmland, tons of feed, vet and abattoir bills and massive amounts of methane gas. Ethics aside – it’s almost a no-brainer. Other start-ups have entered the fray and no wonder. It has been claimed that, in ideal conditions, two months of cultured pork production could deliver up to 60,000 tons of meat from 10 muscle cells. In 2016, Silicon Valley food tech firm Memphis Meats, backed by Bill Gates and Richard Branson, unveiled a cultured beef meatball and followed it up last year with duck à l’orange – the first poultrybased food ever to be rustled up in a petri dish. The in vitro meatball came in at a quarter of the price of the in vitro burger but still worked out at a heart-stopping €4.250 a kilo. However Memphis Meats CEO Uma Valeti, a cardiologist by profession, is bullish: “As we scale up, we are confident we will be able to produce meat at a price that is cost-competitive with, and ultimately more affordable than, conventionally produced meat.” Products could be on supermarket shelves as early as 2022, she says, allowing animal lovers to enjoy a tasty steak without a guilty conscience. In vitro creation from Memphis Meats

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PLANKTON CUISINE

The microscopic organisms whales eat are a trending ingredient in gastronomy thanks in large part to Ángel León, Andalucia’s three Michelin star ‘Chef of the Sea’. His Restaurant Aponiente in the sherry town of El Puerto de Santa María is a commercial showcase for the only place in the world producing marine phytoplankton for human consumption, which happens to be right on his doorstep. Plancton Marino has re-created the ideal conditions for cultivating the green stuff at their Cádiz fish farm. Plankton are a sustainable source of iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, magnesium, potassium, omega 3 and six fatty acids, as well as vitamins E and C. They add silky texture and intense sea flavours to dishes, as demonstrated by León in 2013 with a 21-course tour de force tasting menu. "Silky, oily and elegant, pungent on the nose yet subtle and leaves a long finish in the mouth,” is his professional verdict. Now accessible to amateur cooks in paste or powder form under the Veta la Palma label, plankton can make a difference to everything from mayonnaise to marinades and sous-vide cooking to savoury ice cream.

WikiCell no-waste edible packaging

EDIBLE PACKAGING Sky’s Ocean Rescue Campaign has raised worldwide awareness of single-use plastic pollution but what if you could buy water in an edible bottle? The science is already here. The WikiCell, an edible form of packaging invented by Harvard professor David Edwards, provides a double wrapper around the liquid or solid it holds: a soft edible skin like a grape’s, made from blending natural food particles with algae to form an electrostatic gel, sealing in the contents; and more resilient outer packaging that is either reusable (like orange peel) or biodegradable, like the shell of a coconut. The concept won a 2015 Edison Award for innovation, and is being commercialised in America by Incredible Foods in bite-sized ice creams and frozen yogurts. And there are plans to take the technology a lot further. A home vending machine that would allow cooks to create their own packaging is already at prototype stage. "Likely, over the next several years, as we cross a broad spectrum of products — starting with ice cream, then yogurts, cheeses, soda and eventually water — all of these things will ask for different amounts of consumer adoption or change of behaviour,” says Edwards. "But if changing the way we eat means challenging the throwaway culture, then we are more than ready.”

Made in Cádiz

Plankton à la Ángel Léon

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ALCOHOL YOU CAN VAPE Vaping booze is a trend

GRAPEFRUIT FROM ORANGES Scientists love to play God and lately they’ve been putting all their zest into making oranges taste like grapefruit. Why? Because they can. And because oranges come cheaper than grapefruit, which is of huge interest to the Flavour & Fragrance industry. As well as a popular flavouring, grapefruit is one of the most commonly-used sources of essential oils in the perfume industry – think the citrus notes of DKNY fragrances. The vital ingredient is a compound called nootkatone which is expensive to extract. Valencene, the stuff that gives oranges their sunshine taste, can be turned into nootkatone with the addition of a modiﬁed enzyme. It takes 400,000 kilos of grapefruit at circa $4,000 per kilo to produce one kilo of nootkatone. Using oranges cuts the price in half. That doesn’t mean we’re going to see swathes of new orchards adding to Spain’s already hefty orange harvests. Swiss synbio company Evolva has made synthetic valencene in the lab which can be converted into nootkatone even more cheaply. Also under development is a synbio sandalwood oil, a highly sought-after fragrance now in short supply due to overharvesting and illegal logging.

A by-product of the tobacco vaping culture, inhaling alcohol directly into the blood stream via the lungs is the latest cool thing to do at parties and also gaining traction with those who don’t want to put on weight drinking ‘empty calories’. The ‘technology’ has been around for a while. When it comes to getting high, human ingenuity knows no bounds and Heath Robinson home techniques range from pouring it over dry ice to doing something complicated with a bicycle pump to make a spray. But now there’s the Vapshot, a kit that simpliﬁes it all. Stock the fridge-sized contraption with a spirit of your choice (spirits are better), use the injector nozzle to ﬁll a sealed bottle, open the top to vaporise the liquid instantly and suck up the fumes through a straw. Vapshot is purported to give you a better buzz than liquid alcohol and less chance of a hangover. There are a variety of health concerns. It’s easier to OD; and vapour can’t be purged by vomiting, the body's main protection against alcohol poisoning. Vapshot argues: ‘At 1/60th the amount of a normal shot of liquor, Vapshots may even mitigate the possible health issues stemming from the consumption of alcohol in liquid form. Other social effects may include decreases in drunk driving, resulting in a reduced number of auto accidents and saving lives.’ Either way, who wants to give up the velvety texture of a good red wine or the luxury of a liquid sundowner on a hot August night with heaps of ice and a slice of lemon? e

Fruit alchemy

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p THE FOCUS fashion

The use of technology in clothing for fashion and ﬁtness gear has come a long way since the early days of Spandex and Gore-Tex. Gore-tex was literally a life saver in mountaineering and survival gear because of it’s waterproof and insulation properties. Spandex was supremely stretchy, but perhaps not the most ﬂattering thing to wear if you were somewhat ‘horizontally challenged’.

The Use of Technology in

CLOTHING FOR FASHION

AND FITNESS GEAR WORDS IRENE ROSENBLATT PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DANIT PELAG/DARIA RATNER

ow things have changed with the invention of new technological performance fabrics with a host of properties that can keep you warm, absorb sweat, and mold to your body shape with complete comfort. Skiwear was the frontrunner, as it became no longer just a way of keeping you warm and protected in the snow, but waterproof, windproof, flexible and fashionable. The heavyweight brands in the ﬁtness industry such as Nike and Adidas forged ahead by developing new types of high tech trainers with superior shock absorbing properties, built for the most dedicated of runners and for use in a plethora of other sports. They, too, climbed on the fashion bandwagon and designer trainers became must-have items. Nike also patented Dri Fit, a high performance microﬁber polyester fabric, which draws perspiration away from the body and on to its surface, where it evaporates. The body mapping construction with ventilation zones for added breathability and ultraviolet protection is now used in a large proportion of their clothing and footwear. Other fabrics appeared that had technical properties ensuring their lightness and aerodynamic qualities, they became favourites in competitive sports where speed

requirement is at a premium, like cycling and swimming. Leading swimwear label Speedo developed a swimsuit, the LZR Racer, which trapped air inside, ensuring better buoyancy and drag in the water. It had been contested that swimwear made of material like polyurethane and neoprene could constitute an unfair advantage to some of the elite athletes who use them but, undaunted, Speedo continued with further development trials and launched Fastskin3 using state-of-the-art nanotechnology to provide a microscopic coating and enhance their products further. The ‘battle of the brands’ continued and the race to apply technology to all was underway, Global ﬁtness and tech brands Nike and Apple partnered to create the Nike + line of smart sensors which connected to an iPod and Nike footwear. Quiksilver released a Cypher Heat Vest targeted at surfers using a waterproof battery powered heating system to keep surfers warm. OMsignal started to produce clothing that measured biometric data and eventually partnered with Ralph Lauren to produce its Polo Tech shirt. Meanwhile Athleisure clothing (originally designed for sport, but morphing into mainstream daywear) had also created demand for clothes that have tech enhancement

properties and also look good. Why just wear comfortable and technical clothes to the gym, when they can also make a fashion statement? The galactic arrival of the smart phone, smart phone apps and evolved products like the Apple Watch and its competitors, ensured that manufacturers started allocating substantial proportions of their research and development budgets into fabrics with 'connectivity' and serious scientific credentials . Technology use in clothing then started escalating at 'warp speed'. Wearing fitness bands and using watches to monitor performance is now rapidly being overtaken by ‘smart clothes’. The mighty Google pulled out all the stops to develop Project Jacquard, transforming clothes into extensions of smart devices. The further collaboration with Levis has also ensured that this e-textile fabric with conductive threads has been used to create the first item of clothing embedded with this unique technology and heralding true connectivity, the Commuter Trucker Jacket. Designed for the urban cyclist, it has touch interactivity woven into its sleeve. Pairing with a smart phone ensures connection at all times to listen to music, navigate the route and make calls without the need to reach into a pocket. 3D printing or additive

Quiksilver Cypher Heated Wetsuit

manufacturing, a process of making 3 dimensional objects from a digital file, by laying down successive layers of material until an object is formed, is also emerging as a way of creating personalised clothing. When the visionary designer Danit Peleg created a breakthrough collection of 3D printed clothes and shoes using a flexible filament called Filaflex, the fashion world gasped in awe. While still in its infancy, this method of producing clothes is likely to be a game changer in the future as clothing and accessories can be highly customised and tailored to specific body shape and sizes. Pelag is enthusiastic about the prospect of a completely different design and retail process with ‘downloadable fashion’ becoming mainstream. Who knows where technology in clothing for fashion and fitness gear is heading – perhaps ‘to infinity and beyond’. e

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p THE FOCUS people

JEFF BEZOS Amazing

CEO OF AMAZON

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

eff Bezos is officially the richest man in the world, with a net worth of over €90 billion. This surpasses the fortune of Bill Gates, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index. Bezos has also made it to Time’s The 100 Most Influential People list, with his write-up being penned by no less than Buzz Aldrin, one of the first two humans to purportedly land on the moon. In the essay, Aldrin says that “Bezos is a serial innovator: with Amazon, he changed the way the retail industry works; and now he’s applying that same spark of creativity to media, with his ownership of the Washington Post and the founding of Amazon

Studios. Still, for me it is his zeal for helping humanity return to the moon, settle Mars and reach destinations beyond that is the most thrilling.” As is the case with all visionary leaders, Bezos has come under fire from other influencers, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently alleged that the U.S. postal service should charge Amazon “Much more!” for delivering packages. Trump was concerned about the level of market power amassed by Amazon, its impact on jobs and its link to the Washington Post. Bezos’ response was to boost lobbying in Washington, increasing

his expenditure on reaching government agencies by over 400 per cent. Amazon is desperate to be seen as a job creator rather than an annihilator; Bezos has met with Trump and pledged to hire 100,000 more American employees over the next year and a half, in an effort to align his values with those of Trump, who has been clamouring for more employment from big players. Bloomberg reports that the move is the obvious one for a company wishing to continue to control such a large share of the market. “What makes Amazon different from its tech brethren is the company’s insatiable quest to sell everything

from advertising to entertainment, groceries, computing power and soon, maybe even health care. That forces it to wrestle with a growing list of issues, including transportation, shipping, aviation, taxes, immigration and antitrust.” In January 2018, Bezos expanded his empire further, when Amazon, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Berkshire Hathaway announced that they would join forces to launch an independent healthcare company focused on new technologies to serve U.S. employees. Alongside Warren Buffett and Jamie Dimon, Bezos hopes to develop solutions to one of the most costly economic challenges in his country.

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Bezos is also increasing his charitable giving, after being questioned recently by the media regarding his level of philanthropy, which was deemed rather modest compared to that of Mark Zuckerberg and comparable entrepreneurs. In January 2018, Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, donated $33 million to a scholarship fund for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children (it was the biggest grant ever donated to the organisation, TheDream.US). Said Bezos, “My dad came to the U.S. when he was 16 as part of Operation Pedro Pan. He landed in this country alone and unable to speak English. With a lot of grit and determination – and the help of some remarkable organisations in Delaware – my dad became an outstanding citizen, and he continues to give back to the country that he feels blessed him in so many ways. MacKenzie and I are honoured to be able to help today’s Dreamers by funding these scholarships.” With this sentence alone, we soon realise how little Bezos has in common with Trump, whose family already enjoyed great wealth – a stark opposite from Bezos, who was born to a teen mother and an absent father. “I won the lottery with my mum. Thanks for literally everything, Mum,” he wrote in a Tweet, the undoubted rock behind his success. Bezos was born when his parents were in highschool; his father, Ted Jorgensen, was 18 and his mother, Jacklyn Gise, just 16. Jorgensen worked at a shop earing $1,25 an hour and, according to journalist and biographer Brad

Stone, he had issues with alcohol. In 1968, his mom remarried Miguel Bezos, an immigrant who arrived in Miami from Cuba knowing little to no English. He adopted little Jeff, whose surname was officially changed in 1968. Stone believes that Bezos’ early childhood may have instilled a special drive in him to excell. As stated by CNBC’s Catherine Clifford, “It is of course unknowable whether the unusual circumstances of his birth helped to create that fecund entrepreneurial mix of intelligence, ambition, and a relentless need to prove himself. Two other technology icons, Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison, were adopted, and the experience is thought by some to have given each a powerful motivation to succeed.”

His childhood was a fun, almost hippyish one; every summer, he would visit his grandparents, who belonged to a caravan club and toured the entire U.S. and Canada. These were the highlights of his early years, since he adored his grandparents. Bezos was a whizz at school, and he was admitted to Ivy League university, Princeton. His initial dream was to work as a physicist though it was when he was already working in finance in New York City that he realised that web usage was growing exponentially… his initial concept was to build a massive online bookstore, one larger than any existing store could be. He thought it was a “crazy idea,” but when he shared it with his wife

(whom he met at Princeton), she encouraged him to go with it. Since he was a child, he told CNBC, he had always been interested in inventing… innovation was his passion. Amazon started small, with Bezos taking packages to the post office himself. Slowly, he started adding music to his product list, and including items requested by people he met. He soon realised that Amazon could serve as a massive online store for everything – not just entertainment items. The key to Amazon’s success, he notes, is “customer obsession,” fulfilling needs and strategically analysing new demands that are continually arising on the market. Today, Bezos owns many other companies, including Whole Foods, Zappos and Twitch. He has also invested in one the very best social media companies: Twitter. His true passion, however, lies beyond the earth’s atmosphere. He has joined other billionaires by investing in outer space projects; the list of visionaries who have chosen this path is impressive and includes Bill Gates (Kymeta), Marck Zuckerberg (SETI), Sergey Brin and Elon Musk (SpaceX), Larry Page (Planetary Resources), Ma Huateng (Moon Express) and more. Bezos is currently funding rocket company Blue Origin, which aims to send tourists to space as soon as next year. The company’s rockets rival those currently developed by SpaceX. Bezos’ dream is somehow childlike and deeply complex at once: permanent settlement on the moon.It all makes sense, really; he has conquered just about every market on Earth. What is left for him? Deep space! e

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p THE FOCUS people

Elegance, wearability, and sustainability are the core values of pret-a-couture fashion brand, SADEEM, founded by Saudi designer, Sadeem Alshehail. SADEEM offers ethically tailored clothing for the woman who wishes to look elegant yet feel comfortable; one that is as interested in preserving the environment as she is about sporting visionary designs. This month, in an exclusive collaboration with Ounousa and Kamsyn, Marisa Cutillas brings us an exclusive Q&A with the woman who has achieved every goal she has set for herself: Sadeem Alshehail. PHOTO CREDITS: MANHATTAN PHOTOSHOOT TAKEN BY THOMAS NORTHCUT IN NYC DECO COLLECTION, FASHION SHOW PHOTOS BY TIMUR EMEK IN PARIS NAUTICAL COLLECTION PHOTOSHOOT, BY IRENE SEKULIC IN MALAGA MODEL: ANA SANTOS

SADEEM

ALSHEHAIL Where Sustainability Meets Luxury HOW DID YOU START IN THE WORLD OF FASHION? My journey in fashion began in my hometown Riyadh of Saudi Arabia. As a child, I was exposed to the fashion design process while spending a lot of time in my aunt’s atelier and observed sketches come to life as beautiful couture creations. This foundational experience birthed a desire to create and execute my own designs; and at the age of 19, I moved to the U.S. to study fashion design at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. After graduating, I gained experience in the fashion field by working as a senior buyer for Harvey Nichols’ first international store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following some years of working there, I’ve honed my skills for understanding the nuances of

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fashion markets across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. In 2009, I returned to the U.S. and earned a Masters degree in Design Management from Pratt Institute in New York City. WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN? Sustainability and Ethical Design practices were inspired by my schooling at Pratt Institute in NYC. The curriculum for the Design Management program revolved around the U.N. Development Goals. It was there that I realised that everything around us has a designer behind it. As designers, it is our duty and obligation to create things ‘cradle to cradle’. We all need to be aware of how materials are sourced, we have to consider where they will end up, what their life cycle is, and most importantly, what impact they will have on our environment and society.

HOW CAN FASHION MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE PLANET? Awareness, Awareness, Awareness! It is very sad to learn that the fashion industry is the second most damaging to our ecosystem, after the gas/oil industry. The production and processing of textiles are polluting water, air, and soil. It is also wasting energy and depleting natural resources. People around the world are suffering as a result of being in direct contact with toxic substances. Fashion producers can have a positive impact on the planet through strategic partnerships, quality designs, and innovation. In addition to using natural and man made non-toxic fibers and dyes, innovation today has made it possible for us to help save the ocean for example! Collected plastic waste from the ocean, can now be up-cycled into durable fashionable materials.

WHAT ARE THE INSPIRATIONS BEHIND YOUR THREE CURRENT COLLECTIONS? My debut collection (MANHATTAN) was an homage to New York. The city is where my heart is, and where I’ve lived for many years. The architecture of the New York City skyline was my inspiration, particularly the silhouette lines that reflect the Empire State Building, the distinctive art deco ornaments and the graceful Chrysler Building. The (DECO) collection was created in collaboration with fellow Saudi designer, Haute Jeweller Nourah Al Faisal; founder and designer of Nuun Jewels. The collection celebrates the sophistication of the Art Deco era, in combination with a luxurious spirit and finish. Nourah and I found that we share a love of timeless elegance, and we believed that our design aesthetics complemented each other. (NAUTICAL) is about sailing away to a destination unknown. Exploring new coasts, cultures and ports. Inspired by sailor suits, seashell shapes and the glamorous yachting lifestyle, the collection offers timeless silhouettes; from daytime chic to sophisticated soiree looks. When it comes to design, I find that most of

The launch of Vogue Arabia one year ago, has also helped introduce Arab designers to the world. In the UAE, Dubai has created D3. The Dubai Design District is a (free zone) government initiative that’s been developed to serve design, innovation and creativity. Major international luxury brands and start-up businesses have rushed in to be part of the community and establish a base there. Many of D3’s initiatives include supporting and promoting local and regional talents. Through top of the line workshops, studios, a Design institute, fashion shows and design exhibitions, D3 has managed to be a desired destination to all things trending. Consequently, it is receiving international media coverage. The fashion world is always seeking new, up-andcoming designers. The Arab world has a lot to offer, and Dubai is the best platform out there. In my view, it’s the new ‘Big Apple’! WHAT CHALLENGES LIE IN BRINGING A FASHION BRAND TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE? In today’s world, bringing a fashion brand to an international audience is becoming easier to achieve by the day. Thanks to e-commerce and social media platforms, marketing a brand to the world is now just

my shapes/lines come from architecture and biogeometry, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and material. Inspiration on the other hand, is always a reflection of the current mood and surroundings. WHY IS DUBAI THE FUTURE OF FASHION? In the past couple of years, more and more Middle Eastern designers have been stealing the spotlights on the red carpet. From Ashi Studio to Zuhair Murad, Arab designers have been dressing members of the royalty and celebrities and gaining international recognition.

a click away! The only challenge here, would be getting more likes, retweets, and shares that would eventually lead to media coverage and sales. TELL US ABOUT THE FABRICS YOU LOVE WORKING WITH AND CHALLENGES IN ETHICAL DESIGN. I love working with innovative and naturally sourced materials. The 100 per cent silk fabrics used in my MANHATTAN collection are treated with Nano technology (stain free). So, I’m happy to let my clients know that they will be saving on energy and water, as they do not need to wash their garments! Sourcing sustainably made materials has not been too easy for me. Unfortunately, most textile factories mix synthetic blends and non-eco friendly dyes with their natural fibres. And sometimes, naturally made and dyed fabrics are produced in very poor countries with sweatshop labor conditions! Thankfully, being green is starting to become trendy, and some companies are taking initiatives towards sustainable practices, by using alternative energy powers, and producing innovative products. I have recently discovered that we can create faux-leather materials from pineapples, and silk like materials from oranges. This is very exciting news to me, as its biodegradable and socially responsible. IS IT STILL MORE CHALLENGING FOR WOMEN TO SUCCEED IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY? I have not been faced with any challenges being a woman. WHAT ARE YOUR BRAND’S CURRENT GOALS? Current goals for SADEEM include working and collaborating with charitable foundations, in an effort to empower underprivileged communities, preserve heritage hand made products and artisans work, reaching a wider market, and dressing celebrities on ‘Red Carpets’. i www.bysadeem.com www.ounousa.com www.kamsyn.com

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THE POWER OF WOMEN IN

ARCHITECTURE Laura Jiménez Conde & Kristina O. Bråteng, By Nok’s Super Women

Sitting before Laura Jiménez Conde and Kristina Bråteng is a real treat. They are the Directors of the Architecture and Design department in By Nok and they are role models for every woman, an icon for the new equality in the Architecture industry where it is still very difﬁcult for a woman to breach what has traditionally been a male-dominated ﬁeld.

lthough By Nok may be relatively new to the Costa del Sol, its CEO & Founder, Armando Gómez Trigueros, and part of the current team, have more than 30 years of experience and in record

time they have converted By Nok to become one of the leading companies on Costa del Sol focused on Design, Architecture, Construction and Real Estate Development. By Nok is a company born from the fusion between Ajea Invest, Norwegian Investment Fund and Bänsae Desarrollos, with highly experienced staff in the real estate market, developing more than 5,000 houses during this time. Laura, the General Director of the Architecture Department, is an experienced Architect with more than 150 projects in her portfolio, who obtained her Architecture degree in Seville in 2001. She commenced

her career with Armando in 2002 and, as she explains, “Back then we used to dedicate ourselves to construction exclusively, but then in 2004, our CEO launched an Architecture Department to enable us to offer a fully integrated service to our clients. Since then, this has been the key to our success.” Laura moved to Murcia in 2005 where the company’s headquarters were located. After the ﬁnancial crisis had commenced, and during all this period, there was more work in Murcia than on the Coast. She designed and led hundreds of construction projects, from apartment buildings, villas, hotels, ofﬁces, shopping centres and even public buildings. In 2008, during the peak of the crisis, Laura returned to Marbella to manage a range of projects. Then in 2013, a new enterprise arose, underlining the beginning of a new era, primarily owing to the visionary thinking of its CEO.

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Laura explains, “When I met our first Norwegian client, Asbjørn Solevågseide, he already had the architectural design of his new luxury villa in La Cerquilla fully contracted with another well known company in Marbella. We asked him for the opportunity of creating a new project proposal, with no costs… you know, just to show him that we could offer a better proposal and much faster! So in only one week, we produced plans, 3D designs… and absolutely everything needed for the presentation. The client immediately fell in love with the project, so much so that he decided to go ahead and seven months later he was moving with his family into his dream house, which we had fully developed and completed in record time, like no other company before”. The client was mesmerised by the speed with which his home was completed and, after this project, Armando and Asbjørn (with his Norwegian investment fund (Ajea Invest), founded By Nok in 2014. The celerity was made possible due to the integration of all services to accomplish entire projects from the very early stages up to the handover of the keys – obtaining all

the licenses and permits required, architectural design, construction and development. This strategy has been pivotal to the company’s success, and still is to this day; competitors have expressed criticism, since most of the other firms charge an upfront fee for their design service. Kristina stresses, “This service is not actually free; all we are saying is that we won’t charge a client for architectural design before we have proved ourselves to them so that they just love what we are designing for them. It sounds crazy to pay for something before you know if you like it or not!” Kristina, the Director of the Architecture and Design Unit, joined the company in 2014. She is a young and ambitious Architect who has brought a fresh look to Architecture in Marbella. This is demonstrated by the fact that, at only the age of 28, she has already designed more than 60 different projects for By Nok (some of them, international projects). She has always been passionate about Architecture and Design but with By Nok, she has fallen in love with this profession even more. She

has led a plethora of projects during her short but intense experience, including modern houses, villas and apartments, with a blend of traditional and contemporary styling. In her designs, Scandinavian influences can be readily noticed due to the blend of materials like wood or stone that she loves to incorporate. Laura and Kristina travel frequently, with Laura noting that, “Clients become friends. Many of them show us the best of their local cities and natural spots.” Kristina, meanwhile, is excited about two upcoming projects in Oman and Dubai, which she will be travelling to at the end of the month to check out the plots on site and to get to know more about the local cultures, architecture and client requirements. Kristina explains: “Both Laura and I see in each project a new challenge and opportunity to always improve. We don’t only seek to live up to our customer’s expectations, but to actually exceed our own.” It is not surprising to see that their work is attracting praise (and emulation) from far and wide. Take a look at By Nok’s website to view the work of each architect: the multi-levelled, clean crystal mansion

that is the villa called Valhalla in La Zagaleta (by Kristina) or the modern yet cosy style of Villa de La Luz, also in La Zagaleta (by Laura) are potent symbols of their influential architectural designs. Increasingly, there is a greater variation in terms of area and project type. “We have extended our market which was previously harder to crack, including La Zagaleta. We have completed projects in Sotogrande and even La Moraleja (a luxurious residential area) in Madrid, but we don’t shy away from any type of project, including smaller commercial premises.” The ambience at By Nok is one you would expect at a top firm in Madrid, Barcelona or London, where a diverse team of various ages, experience levels and talents forms a cohesive whole. It has a forward thinking staff with a new approach to customer satisfaction delivering designs that are purely captivating. By allowing clients to view potential designs before committing, and taking care of everything from building permits to finishing touches, they have truly managed to take all the stress away from constructing a home or commercial building that is as beautiful as it is functional. e

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p THE FOCUS property The villa in Arboleda

A LIFESTYLE CHOICE FOR

ARBOLEDA

MARBELLA

When Marcos Granda – the creator of iconic Michelin-star restaurant Skina – was ready to make the move from Marbella’s historic centre, his carefully considered choice fell upon Arboleda, a stylish community of villas designed around a clear lifestyle concept. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN AND COURTESY OF ALTAVISTA PROPERTY

till a young man, Marcos Granda’s gentle manner belies the fact that he is a passionate, driven restaurateur who succeeded in creating a Michelin-star landmark in Marbella from humble beginnings. A sommelier by training, he visited the elegant resort town during a course and immediately fell in love with it. “I always had the dream of establishing my own ﬁne quality restaurant and knew that this was the place to do it,” says Marcos. What’s more, as someone with a steadfast vision he knew from the outset that the town’s charming historic centre was the ideal setting. “The ‘old town’ has now become a culinary centre

but at the time it wasn’t necessarily the most obvious choice, yet with our limited resources we started small and built a reputation for quality that ultimately resulted in a Michelin star.” Skina has since become a by-word for quality and creative cuisine in the region. “Our kitchen is avant-garde and innovative, but works from a very honest, simple foundation of quality fresh produce and traditional Andalusian cooking. These are the building blocks from which we inspire ourselves to offer our customers a true dining experience.” Indeed, the menu is built entirely around the freshest produce of the day. Since Skina’s founding, Marcos and his wife have lived in a renovated classic apartment right above the restaurant, but with the business well-established and their daughter reaching an age where her after-school interests are widening, the time has come for a change of setting.

OPTING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE “Last year we started looking for a more residential location close to my daughter’s school, her sports and cultural activities, and our social circle,” says Marcos. “Although we love rustic styles as well, we knew that we were now ready for something more modern, a comfortable stylish family home that we can evolve in and grow into.” Despite the variety of properties on offer in Marbella the search was not entirely straightforward, with nothing satisfying all the family’s criteria until they saw Arboleda, whose architectural styling is modern but sympathetic to its Mediterranean setting. “It makes sense and ‘ticks all the boxes’ on a rational level, but deep down you know you’ve found your new home when you make that emotional connection and get excited about the prospect of living there. We just hadn’t felt that until we came to Arboleda.” Heart and mind are in balance on this decision as the three-bedroom

villa they have chosen both feels right and satisfies the family’s requirements. “There are many beautiful modern properties for sale in Marbella but many are designed primarily for people who buy them as a holiday home. As a result it can be hard to find the perfect apartment or villa for year-round living, but we feel we now have. Arboleda is a select community of 18 villas in a well-established and tranquil residential area that is close to the beaches, golf, nature and all the amenities of San Pedro Alcántara, Estepona, Benahavís, Puerto Banús and Marbella town. It offers space, privacy and security, along with direct access to five hectares of protected woodland. The villas are beautifully designed, fitted and also well-proportioned. There are no sea views but the beach is five minutes away and those of us who live here see the sea every day. For us it’s the perfect blend of elements in a top location.”

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Arboleda borders acres of protected parkland

Contemporary open plan living

Modern living spaces and home comforts

A big change from Marbella’s Old Town

MODERN STYLE AND REFINEMENT Marcos is someone whose passion revolves around quality and creativity – crafting beautiful dishes of fine ingredients, establishing an innovative offering of wines that represents classics as well as new discoveries both local and foreign, but also creating the kind of ambience and suave service that complete the ultimate dining experience. These passions transcend into his private life as well, where he enjoys design, functionality and that pinnacle of luxury in today’s world – quality time with friends and family. “The new home offers us the space and facilities to disconnect and enjoy a rich family life, with an open plan kitchen and living area that brings us together and comfortable bedroom suites that offer a personal domain. The home is rich in natural light and the tall windows also let in views of the landscaped gardens, whose details have a very calming effect,

but for large parts of the year the terrace, pool and barbecue area will offer us a great opportunity to dine outside and also entertain friends and family.” The move from a downtown apartment in the centre of a historic quarter to a sleek contemporary villa in a leafy residential area close to everything is as big a transition as upgrading from 20th century technology and comforts to an architecturally styled home with the latest in home automation systems for security, lighting, entertainment and a host of practical functions. “It’s a big and exciting change that will enable us to enjoy Marbella in a new and quite frankly broader way.” A keen runner, Marcos will be able to practise for marathons along the nearby beachside promenade and countryside trails, a level of fitness that also keeps him on his toes for his new venture – Clos Madrid – a fine dining restaurant off the

famous Paseo de la Castellana in central Madrid. “The setting and venue are larger, so Clos has a character of its own but one that is inspired by and imbued with the philosophy behind Skina,” says Marcos, who is relishing the beginning of an exciting new phase in his life. “We’ve made a good choice with Arboleda – both because of the style and quality of the villa and the urbanisation itself, but also because it offers such great

value for money in one of the most up and coming parts of greater Marbella. I think that from here on out you’d have to travel much further out of the core Marbella zone to find this level of luxury, size, style and amenities for this price. So in addition to everything else it is a solid investment for us.”

g Tel: (+34) 952 799 360. www.altavistaproperty.com

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d the style

INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART DESIGN GARDENS FASHION

100 A Stylish Villa in Marbella Hill Club 108 Illusion Home Automation 114

Ambience Home Design

116

Décor News

118

Oliva See Now, Buy Now

124

Fashion News

VIEW A COLOURFUL AND STYLISH VILLA IN MARBELLA HILL CLUB, DISCOVER THE LATEST IN HOME AUTOMATION BY ILLUSION, AND PURCHASE AN ITEM OR TWO FROM JUANJO OLIVA’S TRENDY OLIVA SEE NOW, BUY NOW COLLECTION.

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E D

ARCHITECTURE . INTERIOR DESIGN . BESPOKE CARPENTRY . FURNITURE COLLECTION

S E E Y O U AT T H E M A R B E L L A D E S I G N FA I R PA L A C I O D E C O N G R E S O S D E M A R B E L L A SHOWROOM MARBELLA

FROM 4 TO 9 APRIL

A V D A . B LV. P R Í N C I P E A L F O N S O D E H O H E N L O H E . U R B . C A R O L I N A P A R K w w w. a a l t o f u r n i t u r e . c o m

d THE STYLE decor

STYLE WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PANORAMA

t hat Put s a Smile on your Face

There was a time when a stylish home was something you built up and grew into over time; these days decoration is more of an instant, all-in-one-go thing, and all too often accompanied by a lack of colour and life, so stepping into this recently renovated villa in the Marbella Hill Club is all the more of a revelation.

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here has been a trend of late that shies away from the rigid geometry and strict monotony of greys and whites, and moves back towards gentler forms and brighter, friendlier colour palettes. It seems like the design gods have decreed that we’re once again allowed to smile and not take life so seriously, but of course some people have known this all along – and they follow their heart as well as their sense of style when decorating a home. A case in point is this luxurious villa in the private, leafy Marbella Hill Club community on the west side of Sierra Blanca. Set on a double plot, it was thoroughly renovated recently and has emerged as a reﬁned home with all the contemporary style and amenities you could wish for but blended with a character, charm and vibrancy all of its own. Set back on its grounds at the upper end of the urbanisation, the villa enjoys peace, privacy and

broad sea views that are framed by lush greenery. Look behind and you see the mighty La Concha Mountain rising up within a protected natural domain that backs on to the property. Birdsong, golden Mediterranean sunlight and views of greenery and sea provide the setting for a very personal expression of art, décor and architecture. Standing on the driveway or in the garden, it is hard to imagine that Marbella is just eight minutes away, for this is a superbly private domain within the already peaceful setting of the Marbella Hill Club. The renovation of an existing property in a top location enabled the owners to have the best of both worlds and create a villa that is modern, comfortable, stylish and also so well-located. To this they have added lots of fun, vibrant art and furniture, imbuing it with their own personality and style, and in the process creating something unique.

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WHEN STYLISH IS ALSO FUN Too many properties in Marbella are conceived as show homes, which can lead to a lack of personality as well as practicality. In either case the most impressive villas tend to be those that are stylish, sophisticated and luxurious – without doubt – but also have a certain lived-in refinement that adds a sense of character and provenance, for it is ultimately from its owners that a house derives it status, and not the other way round. All of this should be reflected in the décor of a home, and in this villa Marbella finds a good example of the genre. The first thing that catches the eye as you enter the elegant entrance is natural light, views through the living areas to the terrace and garden, and on

to the sea on the horizon – and art. Where many a ‘modern’ domicile is somehow deprived of colour and exuberance, this property is alive and well, with uplifting works of art and decorative elements that put a smile on your face as they welcome you in. Step through to the main living room and you see it confirmed that elegance and style need not be drab and austere. Indeed, they can very well be colourful, tactile, fun and eclectic, as long as you have the skill and confidence to marry tones, textures, effects and also modern and classical or even antique furniture pieces. “We love to be surrounded by fun, beautiful things that give us pleasure, and naturally colour plays a vital role in that, as it has such an

influence on one’s mood,” says the owner, who has successfully reflected her family’s personality and lifestyle in the home. “When we decided upon the layout of the house, the furniture, art and decorative pieces, we did it with ourselves in mind, wanting to create a home that is stylish as well as comfortable and cosy, but when guests visit they always comment on how pleasant it is to see colour and what a pleasant ambience the villa has.” It is not that this is a psychedelically bright house, for the basic background palate is made up of elegant shades of white, grey and beige, but it is the rich accentuation in blues, reds and other dashes of happiness that give it such a striking décor.

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A HOME FOR LIVING AND ENTERTAINING The main living areas on the ground floor are made up of two lounges, a dining room and a kitchen with breakfast area – all of which are interconnected yet set within a defined space, and all of which lead on to the terrace and garden they look out upon. Soft, comfortable carpets demarcate each space but it is also defined by a ‘serrated’ layout that plays with the geometry to great effect and avoids the single, large rectangle that many ‘open plan’ interiors share nowadays. Here each room connects visually with the next, without struggling to establish its own ambience and identity, and the décor naturally aids the process. The sleek modern Italian kitchen can also be separated from the living areas by a sliding door, while the dining room and the two living rooms are unique spaces defined by their own distinctive mix of avant-garde furniture, artwork, classical pieces and antiques collected from around the world. “We haven’t decorated the villa straight out of a shop,” says the owner, “as much of the furniture and art is made up of pieces collected in the different parts of the world where we have lived.” As a result, there is a beautifully balanced synergy of European decorative elements from the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Austria, and Asian elements collected in Hong Kong, Dubai and mainland China.

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“The unique art, decorative details and furniture pieces from around the world form the basis around which the newer décor was designed; they tell our story as a family and chronicle our many and varied experiences in a range of different cultures.” At times, there is a delightful fusion of art and furniture in which form, function and also tone and texture are intertwined to great effect in the two lounges, which are separated by a grand modern fireplace. Natural light floods the home in all rooms, including the two independent guest suites with separate entrances that are also found on the ground floor, the two bedroom suites on the first floor and the master wing on the west side of the villa. This area can serve as two separate suites, bringing the total number of bedrooms to six, but at the moment it is used as a large master bedroom with bathroom and walk-through dressing area, as well as a study and TV/relaxing room with his and hers bathrooms. The same sense of refined style and quirky, avant-garde artwork with antique touches is also visible outdoors, where the large covered terrace offers elegant lounging and dining areas, as well as a poolside seating area that is covered with a sail in the summer. From here you look out over a garden that is a private domain of peace and tranquillity, spoiled for choice between sea and mountain views with a soundtrack of birdsong whose chirpiness reflects the home’s philosophy of style and sophistication derived from a sense of creativity and adventure. g This villa is offered for sale by Panorama (property reference 10281) with furniture and selected artwork. www.panorama.es Tel. (+34) 952 863 750.

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BEFORE // AFTER

New builds, architectural renovations, construction, licenses and project management. Commercial and residential interior design. Design studio and construction offices / showroom Marbella centre.Â

www. bl ackshaw int er io r d e s i g n . c o m +34 951 403 787 I +34 681 662 000 Avd. Canovas del Castillo 25, Marbella, MĂĄlaga, 29601

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d THE STYLE decor

ILLUSION A BEACON IN ITS FIELD Founded by a young local professional, Illusion has gone on to build a stellar reputation for itself, becoming a reference point for lighting, top-end audio-visual systems and home automation – all designed and made to measure. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN AND COURTESY OF ILLUSION

any young graduates dream of being successful in their chosen sphere, of making a name for themselves and launching their own business. Victor Periañez has done exactly this, establishing Illusion Custom Home Automation not only as a growing, thriving concern, but also as a reference of quality in its ﬁeld. What’s more, he doesn’t do it with a highhanded attitude but with a gentility and heart that has made him a favourite with clients and professional peers alike. As he himself says, Marbella’s reputation as a luxury destination has led to a concentration of luxury services that makes it a hub of specialists in a wide range of services, including those that provide upmarket design, décor and technical products and expertise. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of such professionals come from abroad, but San Pedro-born Victor

Periañez is a local boy who’s made a name for himself as much for his technical and creative skill as for the efﬁcient, client-friendly service he provides. His career began in 1997, when he joined Bang & Olufsen. Six years later he accepted a challenging offer to continue his association with the famous Danish brand at its Dublin and Belfast establishments. It is here that he met his wife, Malen Horton, with whom he later moved back to Marbella to found Illusion. “Malen is half-American, half-Basque, so she ﬁts in perfectly here,” smiles Victor. The couple founded the company in 2006 as a two-man operation offering specialist home automation, lighting and audio-video services; anno 2018 it has grown into a blooming business with 26 staff members and dedicated design, technical, customer service, logistics and maintenance departments.

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LIGHT, AUDIO-VISUAL AND HOME AUTOMATION “These are the core fields we work in, but in a flexible and modular way,” says Victor, whose company is not involved in retail, but designs, installs and maintains sound and lighting as well as home control systems for private properties and commercial projects. “The bulk of our market is naturally on the Costa del Sol, though some of our clients have also contracted us to work on homes in places like Morocco, Monaco and California, where we acted as technical consultants.” In addition, Illusion is sought out by clients from other parts of Andalucía, not least because it is the main or sole distributor of some of Europe’s top brands in the sound, lighting and control fields. “Our three top brands are Deltalight, for whom we are an DLS design centre, Lutron – of which we as a ‘Diamond Dealer’ are one of the most important distributors for Spain and Portugal – and Linn Electronics, whose philosophy we love.” In addition, Illusion also works with Loewe, Crestron, Cineak theatre seating, KInetura and Occhio, as well as Bang & Olufsen. “The Bang & Olufsen link has come full circle as we opened a B&O store in Málaga in partnership with Nacho Porras and Fran Pérez of Bulthaup Marbella. It opens a different dimension within a great relationship and gives our clients a wider range of service options, including of course high-end kitchens that are in line with the quality home systems we offer.”

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In addition to private clients, Illusion also works with architects, interior designers, builders and property developers. “I’m proud of our portfolio, which includes villas as well as apartments and commercial projects,” says Victor. Current projects include Palo Alto and branded villas by Essenza, Atlas and VillasByAble, as well as individual newly constructed villas and renovations. “Restorations are more complicated than new-builds, but can also produce stunning results.” Illusion’s flexible offering ranges from more economical packages for smaller apartments to made-to-measure solutions for grand villas. “People say that home cinemas have fallen out of favour but just lately, with the onset of 4K streaming and the popularity of Netflix and Apple TV, there has been a surge in demand again – including from people wanting to update their existing home cinema systems.” The latter appears to fall into space-related categories, whereby apartments up to 150m2 incorporate the cinema experience within the living room; people with villas of up to 500m2 prefer integrated entertainment rooms with home cinema, bar, lounge area and games, and villas over 500m2 have the space and spec list that goes with a dedicated, true blue cinema that offers the original movie experience at home. “Even so, each project is unique, as we offer a personalised end-product that may draw upon a range of brands and products but is ultimately designed and made for the specific requirements of each home and owner. For this reason, the briefing and consultation process is highly important, as it allows us to hone in on exactly what the client wants, design a plan around this and the characteristics of the house, and finally install and, if the client wants, maintain it, as we also provide ongoing technical support.” It is this at which Victor, Malen and their team at Illusion excel – an ability to satisfy private and business client expectations that has established a reputation as one of Marbella’s most notable home-grown specialist firms. i www.e-illusion.es

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d THE STYLE decor A variety of projects have been coming to life this winter season created by Andrea Böck and her team at the Ambience Home Design design studio. Bespoke architectural designs have been conceptualised for every project, with the objective of achieving the interiors that our clients desire. In this issue we’ve handpicked a few of our designs to share them with you. WORDS HEIDI GUBBINS

NEW DESIGNS e c n e i b m A by PROJECT IN EL ROSARIO SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED!

A project created to evoke stylish living with Ambience’s unequivocal flair for design. We kept the style light and contemporary, creating spaces that enhance the modern architecture and charm the senses with the ﬁnishes such as wall coverings, organic shapes and textured materials. A view to fall in love with! In this refurbishment project, this minimalist bathroom is brought to life using natural materials such as bardiglio nuvolato marble, oak woods and textured stone mosaics. To attain our client’s requirements, we designed a stylish vanity unit with built-in shelving that integrates seamlessly into the wall cladding. Lighting elements in the ceilings, walls and under the suspended bathtub were designed to create mood and highlight the modern lines. The spacious design boasts an elegant and contemporary look which is at the same time warm and inviting.

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A BEDROOM TO DREAM The concept was to create a bedroom which would emanate distinct style and singularity. The lazer-cut panels were designed to resemble a see-through divider, creating a light-feel geometric backdrop to the room. These are glazed in a beautiful taupe tone lacquer and lined with bronzed mirrors to reflect the stunning ocean views. By the large glass sliding doors, a round stylish loveseat takes the spotlight while a soft abstract artwork sits in the background to complete the look.

HOME OFFICE Who says practical can’t be stylish? The design of this home ofﬁce has been conceptualised to integrate all the main elements of a fully functional home ofﬁce with bespoke design flair.

DESIGNING THE HEART OF THE HOME This deep tone kitchen interior is well edited and thought through. The storage elements are designed speciﬁcally to cater to the demands of everyday use and maintain a linear and uncluttred look. The dining table which anchors off the kitchen island becomes a stylish spot featuring Galotti & Radice’s Globe lamp overhead. g Blvd. Principe Alfonso de Hohenlohe C.C. La Poveda, Local 6, Marbella Tel: 952 858 699 – 616 488 181 ambiencehomedesign.com info@ambiencehomedesign.com

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MY FURNITURE

XAVIER PAUC HARD TOLIX METAL BAR ST STYLE OOL BY CULT FURNITURE

SILVER GLASS TEA LIGHT HOLDER WITH ROSE GOLD INSIDE BY GINGER RAY

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In the world of fashion and high-end jewellery, the undoubted protagonist is rose gold, which is seen as a younger choice for fashion forward femmes and gents. Rose gold passion has found its way into home dÃ©cor and party fare as well. Take your pick from these stunning items, compiled by Marisa Cutillas.

ANDERSEN ROSE GOLD VANITY MIRROR BY MY FURNITURE

FOILED CURTAINS BY GINGER RAY

ROSE GOLD FANCY

i CANDLE & CAKE LTD www.candleandcake.co.uk CULT FURNITURE www.cultfurniture.com GINGER RAY www.gingerray.co.uk MY FURNITURE www.my-furniture.co.uk PAPERMASH www.papermash.co.uk

S STRAW

R BY PAPE

MASH

KASPER CHANDELIER BY

d THE STYLE decor

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THE BED SHOP E sta b lish e d Sin ce 1 9 8 6

LATEST DESIGNS IN BEDROOM FURNITURE & BEAUTIFUL BEDDING

LARGE SHOWROOM ON THE NEW GOLDEN MILE

DEDICATED TO DELIVERING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP FOR OVER 30 YEARS

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY!

Estepona

IT 1 EX

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San Pedro

T: 952 792 034

Selwo LW

thebedshopestepona@gmail.com

CAMPING

Between San Pedro and Estepona. Near turn to Selwo Animal Park. Urb. El Pirata, Ctra. de Cádiz N340, km 163.

Urb. Pirata de las Dunas

REPSOL

THE BED SHOP

20/03/2018 15:02

d THE STYLE fashion

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Oliva, which recently shone at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, presents its latest collection, inspired on the femininity that survives even the harshest urban climes. Asymmetric cuts, long ďŹ&#x201A;owing gowns, transparent stripes, and sexy knits entice the modern women with an outďŹ t for each occasion. These are the musthave looks for the season.

a v i l O

SEE NOW, BUY NOW

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Pristine White

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i www.juanjooliva.com

Red Hot Elegance

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DRESS BY HOBBS LONDON

Y T T E PR LSing r E p T S r S o f A P

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SILK TOP AND WIDE-LEGGED TROUSER BY M&S

g The upcominn will so a se Spring ring once again bck to a the 1980s b el life, with past ill make tones that w k’ the ‘pretty in pin ason. look of the seas Marisa Cutill brings you atrendy selection of le buys. yet affordab

TRENCH BY H

OBBS LONDO

CONTACTS: HOBBS LONDON www.hobbs.co.uk M&S www.marksandspencer.com MISS SELFRIDGE www.missselfridge.com NEW LOOK www.newlook.com OLIVER BONAS www.oliverbonas.com RIVER ISLAND www.riverisland.com

LOOK BY RIVER ISLAND

TASSEL BAG BY NEW LOOK

d THE STYLE fashion

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n the spa

PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA SCIENCE TREATMENTS HEALTH

128 Nikkie Tutorials 130 Beauty News

134 Health Gadgets 136 Health News

138 Dr. Sonja Kästner of Ocean Clinic

MEET NIKKIE – ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP BEAUTY BLOGGERS, SEE HOW TECH GADGETS CAN HELP KEEP YOU HEALTHIER, AND DISCOVER THE WORK DONE BY PLASTIC SURGEON DR. SONJA KÄSTNER FROM OCEAN CLINIC

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Why everyone’s talking about the Arques ‘Aesthetic Medicine’ Clinic Arques seems to be the name on nearly everyone’s eye-catching lips in Marbella and surrounding areas when it comes to recommending a leading-edge beauty and anti-ageing clinic. And its reputation resonates way beyond The Golden Triangle. Arques’ advanced treatments for such conditions as obesity, skin ageing, wrinkles, cellulite, varicose veins and other age-related and lifestyle conditions is now attracting patients from over 30 countries.

So the clinic’s ‘Responsible Aesthetic Medicines’ are based on new techniques that fight these influences and wherever possible prevent them from happening. In many cases, the clinic asserts that it can not only prevent the signs of ageing but can even reverse them. The techniques to do so are surprising.

“We offer the world’s most innovative cosmetic techniques plus exquisite modern facilities”

“I feel really proud of our commitment to social responsibility, an approach shared by every member of our team,” he said “We are very gratified to be able to earmark a percentage of our profits to various foundations to help the needy.

So what’s the secret? “We believe that the real revolution is quite simple,” explained the clinic’s principle, Dr Arques “We offer the world’s most innovative cosmetic techniques plus exquisite modern facilities, including a spa environment, a relaxed and harmonious setting and a very professional service. Added to that we source with great care the world’s number one laboratory products and we obtain the most competitive prices to pass on to our patients. We constantly seek the latest tried and tested scientific advances to ensure the quality we offer is always the best you can obtain anywhere in the world.” "Our joint objective then, as it continues to be is to use the latest and most effective aesthetic medicine in a responsible way so that results are totally natural.” “Unfortunately the signs of aging are increasing all around us,” said Dr Arques. “They reflect our current lifestyle: our inadequate diet, lack of exercise and sports practice, lack of oxygen, work and home pressures, pollution, and not least, the sun’s damaging ultra-violet rays.”

Pride in Awards

“Among our other awards, the two most desirable were when we were in competition with an international field and came out top for aesthetic medicine and for responsible innovation in our sector.” For further information about the Arques Medical Clinic or to make an appointment, email: info@arquesclinic.com

+34 662 408 408 C/ Ramón Areces S/N Complejo Marina Banús Bloque 3, local 29 Puerto Banús www.arquesclinic.com · info@arquesclinic.com arquesclinic

Full details of those treatment are on the clinic’s website www.arquesclinic.com/en Doctor is qualified as aesthetic doctor in the U.K., is registered with the GMC and is also an associate member of the Royal College of General Practitioners

n THE SPA beauty

WHY WE LOVE

NIKKIE DE JAGER s l a i r o t u T r e an d H As a writer on all things to do with makeup and skincare, if I were asked to identify my go-to beauty blog, it would definitely be NikkieTutorials. Vivacious Dutch makeup artist, Nikkie de Jager, has almost nine million YouTube followers to date and it is on this channel that most of us first came across her. Usually, when new makeup lines hit the stand (e.g. the launch of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty earlier last year was huge), it is convenient to turn first to YouTube to check out gurus’ opinions and tests of the products, before heading out to buy them ourselves. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

here are evidently other bloggers making waves. Tati of GlamLifeGuru is a seasoned expert who provides useful advice and tests products out, but the thing about Nikkie’s channel is, once you watch her videos, you never go back to your old faves.

LIFE IN COLOUR One of Nikkie’s most watched videos is simply called The Power of MAKEUP; it had 38M views the last time I checked. She posted the video because “I feel like lately makeup shaming has become a thing. It's as if putting makeup on to have fun is a shame. Therefore, I thought it would be cool to show you the power of makeup. A transformation. Because makeup... is FUN!” In the video, she makes up half her face with a “fullon glam” look, and leaves the other side with the “raw, unedited, pure me,” as she says.

IMPROVING ON NATURE? She shares the foundation that makes her look “photoshopped even when I’m not photoshopped,” the concealer that covers the dark circles she doesn’t like, and the simple brow pencil that draws eyebrows formerly dominated by hairless patches of skin. Not all of us have lush, thick eyebrows; why sport a nude look in a part of the face that is vital for framing, when we can quickly ﬁx the problem with an eyebrow pencil? Nikkie is very much in the line of the new face of influencers; ‘naked’ is the word that springs to mind to describe her style. She is famous for making up half of her face, often showing us her not-so-perfect complexion (which has redness, blotches and pigmentation like

the rest of us) then transforming herself into a 21st century diva with the latest Sephora-level cosmetics (some of her favourite brands include BECCA, Kat Von D, and even more affordable brands such as Maybelline). What marks her as an expert is her detailed technique and early access to practically all new lines hitting the market. She uploads videos religiously twice a week, and has various tutorials on the same subject, often using different products for specific looks. Thus, if you have fine brows and you’d like a thicker yet natural look, she has (thus far) over 10 videos on the subject of brows alone. She makes something so many of us would be scared of (filling in fine brows) seem easy, and lets us know the tools and products we need to achieve a lasting look. e

WHO IS NIKKIE?

Nikkie is a blogger in her early 20s whose mum owns online shop, www.Hetcosmeticahuis.nl. Her passion with makeup began in 2008, when she was sick for the weekend and decided to enjoy a marathon session of reality show, The Hills. Wishing to emulate the looks of young stars Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag and Audrina Partridge, she began searching online for videos that would teach her their makeup tricks. Three months later, she took her mum’s digital camera, popped it on a cardboard box, and began ﬁlming her very ﬁrst makeup tutorial. She got only eight views and three comments but she loved communicating with an audience and she continued to upload a video every week. Soon, her channel grew in popularity and she attracted the attention of makeup artist, Pascale Tesser, who was teaching fashion makeup in Amsterdam. She completed his course, learning everything about professional makeup for fashion shoots and shows and working occasionally for Tesser. She also did a hair styling course, making her the ideal employee for those working in the fashion sector. She began working on fashion spreads for magazines like Marie Claire and joined Tesser’s agency, Colourfool, completing a plethora of fashion related projects. Eventually, Nikki left the agency she had been working for, starting her own freelance business. Her ultimate goal is to style covers of big magazines, and if her achievements thus far are anything to go by, we have no doubt she will land the cover of Vogue itself.

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n THE SPA beauty

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR

1 – BARE MINERALS GEN NUDE MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK This toxin-free lipstick glides on like butter yet leaves your lips with an elegant matte look that lasts for various hours. 2 – LANOLIPS LEMONAID LIP TREATMENT An ultra-rich, creamy whipped lanolin lip treatment with organic lemon oil, which leaves lips soft, fresh, and moist. 3 – HUDA FACE BUFF BLEND BRUSH The slant on this brush makes it ideal for applying blush and contouring powder alike. So soft, it feels like silk. 4– GIVENCHY COUTURE ATELIER EYE PALETTE What a stunning eyeshadow palette! We love the original colours it suggests for the season: a shimmering dark brown, vivid burnt orange and sexy dark blue. Not your average palette! 5 – TOO FACED PRIMED & PEACHY Too Faced already has a great matte primer, but this one is ideal in the warmer months, since it has a cooling effect and is infused with peach and sweet ﬁg cream. Don’t be surprised if your partner begs you for a kiss after splashing this product on! 6 – LANCÔME CUSTOM HIGHLIGHT DROP Marisa Just a tiny bit of this product on cheekbones, the Cupid’s bow above your lips, your chin or forehead, will add a stunning, youthful glow Cutillas brings that will last all day (unlike powdered illuminators, which can you the newest cool items to own, all of unfortunately drop off).

MAKEUP BAG IN SPRING 2018

which are available at Sephora and other leading beauty shops.

2 1

5 3

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Marbella Club Wellness Masterclasses 2018

Dr. Marilyn Glenville, PhD

Indra Aimee Rai

Alan Wichert

WOMEN’S HEALTH - HOW TO BALANCE YOUR HORMONES NATURALLY

KUNDALINI YOGA

HEALTHY CUISINE CULINARY EXPERIENCES

Saturday, 24th March

March 30th / April 27th / May 25th June 29th / July 27th / August 24th

Ian Marber

Sharron Lowe

Xuan Lan

NUTRITION FOR MEN - GROWING OLDER AND HEALTHIER

A MIND MAKEOVER - TURNS YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY!

YOGA *

Saturday, 14th April

Saturday, 30th June

21st, 22nd, 23 rd September

5th - 6th April / 14th - 15th July 8th - 9th September / 3rd - 4th November

Masterclasses in English / * Masterclass in English and Spanish

Limited seating | fees apply | for detailed information, please email:

wellness@marbellaclub.com Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602, Marbella, Málaga, Spain (34) 952 822 211 Fax (34) 952 82 88 84 marbellaclub.com

n THE SPA health

Surgeries YOU MAY NOT

KNOW ABOUT

When you hear about plastic surgery, your ďŹ rst instinct is probably to think boob job, facelift or a nose job. Of course these procedures are very common, along with the increasingly popular (and our star procedure) Brazilian Butt lift, however there are many procedures you may not have heard about that could dramatically improve your quality of life.

BLEPHAROPLASTY EYELID SURGERY

As you grow older, your skin will start to sag and this will also happen around your eyes. Sagging eyelids can actually impair your vision, causing you to squint or raise your eyebrows in order to see better, which when done repetitively can lead to headaches, fatigue, neck pain and deeper wrinkles. This in turn makes you look and feel older than you really are. Blepharoplasty is the removal of the excess skin on the upper or lower eyelids in order to open up the eyes again and bring back a more youthful look. Most cases can be done under local anaesthetic, and the recovery period is minimal. Scars are in line with the natural folds of your eyelids, completely hidden and very discrete. Blepharoplasty isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a surgery to help you look more youthful, it also helps you to feel it!

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NECKTITE

DOUBLE-CHIN REMOVAL

GYNECOMASTIA MAN-BOOB SURGERY

An issue which affects many men but is rarely discussed is man-boobs, or the medical term gynecomastia. Man boobs are caused by a hormone imbalance which stimulates glandular growth, so in some cases, no matter how much you go to the gym, the boobs won’t shift. Gynecomastia surgery removes these glands in a minimally invasive procedure to flatten the chest and bring back masculinity. Male surgery is on the rise, and we are seeing more and more men openly and comfortably talk about plastic surgery. We want to encourage men to understand that cosmetic surgery isn’t only for women, and that men also deserve the opportunity to regain their conﬁdence.

The chin can make the most dramatic change in a person’s appearance because removing even the smallest amount of fat makes all the difference in the world. In this day and age, with social media booming and selfies coming at you left, right and centre, it is difficult to find the angle you love which hides all the bits you are insecure about. Imagine not having to worry about your double-chin and feeling photo ready at any moment. Chin lipo makes you look younger and more attractive with a sharp jawline, better facial proportions and the laser tightens the skin. This is also a minimally invasive procedure which means minimal scarring with maximum results!

MOMMY MAKE OVER

COMBINATION SURGERY INVOLVING TUMMY TUCK There is no exact combination which deﬁnes a Mommy make over, however it usually involves a tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) as this is the most common problem area which affects women who have been through pregnancy. This surgery is designed to give you back your mojo, by getting a full make over, returning your body to how it was, most of the time even better than before! This is done by tailoring the combination to suit you and targeting your personal problem areas. A common combination is a tummy tuck and breast lift, and at Cirumed we love to add in additional fat grafting to the hips to achieve a beautiful, curvy elegant silhouette. All mums yearn to be a yummy mummy and have their conﬁdence back and this make over will help you achive just that.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THESE ARE JUST FOUR OF THE MANY TYPES OF SURGERIES CARRIED OUT AT CIRUMED CLINIC ALONG WITH MANY COSMETIC TREATMENTS AND COMBINATION PACKAGES. YOU MAY BE SUFFERING WITH A BODY INSECURITY WHICH YOU THINK HAS NO SOLUTION, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF THE SOLUTION, THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT DOESN’T EXIST. COME BY OUR CLINIC AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU! g Cirumed Clinic. Edif. Panorama, Planta Baja, Local 2. CN340, km 184, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 346. www.cirumed.es

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n THE SPA health

Gone are the days when cool devices could do little more than offer you a cracking listening or viewing experience. This month, Marisa Cutillas brings you gadgets that can boost your health and wellbeing, and even save your life on occasion!

GADGETS FOR

GREATER HEALTH

NURAPHONES BY NURA

Personalisation is where it’s at; Nuraphones have revolutionised the music industry by offering sound that learns and automatically adapts to your hearing, which is a great way to maintain good hearing health. The device takes just 60 seconds to measure your hearing, using the information obtained to sonically cater the sound of your headphones to your precise needs.

FITBIT IONIC WATCH It’s the ﬁrst ever watch by Fitbit and it’s already selling like hotcakes, owing to its sporty design and features such as continuous heart rate tracking, GPS, water resistance, and built-in workout routines devised by FitStar. It also boasts Sleep Stages technology, which automatically detects how much light sleep and REM sleep you are achieving every night. The device compares your sleep stage estimates to those of other users

of your same age, helping you track patterns and variations that could indicate you have a problem like sleep apnoea.

MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEMS These systems, of which there are various brands offering different respective services, are a godsend for elderly people who still wish to enjoy the independence of living at home, but who wish to be attended to immediately if something goes wrong. Most systems comprise a base unit (with microphones and a loudspeaker), a voice extender (which allows users to communicate with the operator even when far from the base unit) and an emergency pendant or bracelet (which users can activate in emergency situations). The very best systems include a check-in service (in which the service calls your home regularly to check you are doing well), fall detection technology (which calls

for help if you fall), and wall-mounted devices (for when you are showering or you don’t wish to wear a bracelet or pendant). Seconds count in an emergency, so it’s great to know someone is looking out for you when you send out a call for help.

OMRON EVOLV This wireless blood pressure monitor is light enough to travel wherever you do and incredibly easy to use. It measures, records, and shares your blood pressure reading with anyone using a speciﬁc app. The Evolv is completely compatible with iOS and Android devices.

QARDIOBASE This awesome scale won’t just let you know what you weigh or record your Body Mass Index (BMI), it will also check your heart rate, water percentage, bone mass, and muscle mass, making it a great ally for

pursuing your ﬁtness and weight loss goals!

NETATMO HEALTHY HOME COACH Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that indoor pollution levels are generally four to five times higher than outdoors. This rather surprising situation is caused by a combination of harsh cleaning products, formaldehyde in pressed wood furniture, personal care products, candles, flame retardants, dust mites, damp and mold, and more. Netatmo Healthy Home Coach enables you to stop guessing about the indoor air quality in your home, by informing you on inner air quality, humidity, temperature, and noise. If your levels are high, consider a HEPA filter, which captures and filters the majority of fine particles which are linked to everything from allergies and watery eyes to sneezing, respiratory problems and heart disease. e

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n THE SPA health COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

FAST FOOD MAKES THE

IMMUNE SYSTEM HYPERACTIVE

All of us enjoy indulging in guilty treats once in a while, but research carried out at the University of Bonn indicates we should make this a less frequent habit. Their ﬁndings showed that the immune system reacts to a fatty, caloriﬁc diet in a similar manner to how it reacts to infection, producing inflammatory responses that can contribute to the development of Type II diabetes or vascular disease. Research notes that a healthy diet needs to be given far more prominence in our daily lives than it enjoys today. Said the researchers, “Only in this way can we immunise children at an early stage against the temptations of the food industry. Children have a choice of what they eat every day. We should enable them to make conscious decisions regarding their dietary habits.”

FAMILY MEALS BOOSTS KIDS’ HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLBEING A study carried out by scientists at the University of Montreal has found that children who regularly enjoy meals with their parents are more likely to reap long-term physical and mental benefits. The study followed children from the time they were about five months old until they were aged around 10. Data obtained showed that when family meals were more unified at age six, the result was greater wellbeing when the child was aged 10. As noted by researchers, “The presence of parents during mealtimes likely provides young children with firsthand social interaction, discussions of social issues and day-to-day concerns, and vicarious learning of prosocial interactions in a familiar and emotionally secure setting.” They recommended that families aim to make meals together a priority, to optimise children’s development.

EXERCISE CAN REVERSE

HEART DAMAGE

Exercise is important for all of us, but it is particularly important for seniors, who can avail of its positive effects on ageing hearts. A new study by cardiologists at UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources, had found that regular physical activity not only reverses heart damage in over 65s, but also prevents the risk of heart failure in the future. To obtain the maximum beneﬁts of an active lifestyle, warn scientists, it is important to begin one’s exercise regimen by middle age, when the heart still retains enough plasticity to remodel itself. Make sure to exercise four to ﬁve times a week for at least 30 minutes, using a combination of cardiovascular and strength training exercises.

ALCOHOL DAMAGES DNA AND RAISES ONE’S CANCER RISK Scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, recently published the results of a study indicating that alcohol exposure leads to permanent genetic damage, which increases the risk of cancer. Through studies carried out on mice, they showed that acetaldehyde in alcohol actually destroys DNA within blood stem cells, causing chromosomes to rearrange and DNA sequences to be permanently altered within cells. Professor K. Patel, lead author of the study stated: “Some cancers develop due to DNA damage in stem cells. While some damage occurs by chance, our ﬁndings suggest that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of this damage.”

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n THE SPA health Plastic surgeon, Dr. Sonja Kästner, epitomises the dream life for millennials in many ways. She spends half the month operating on patients in Marbella at Ocean Clinic, and the other half in Germany, also at a private clinic. Although her friends and family are in Germany, Dr. Kästner was inspired to head to Marbella to hone her skill under the guiding hand of one of the very best: Dr. Kai Kaye, founder of Ocean Clinic.

DR. SONJA KÄSTNER

OF OCEAN CLINIC: BEAUTY IS IN THE DETAIL WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

hose who are knowledgeable about the plastic surgery scene know that Dr. Kaye is an eminence in his field, regularly speaking and operating at congresses worldwide, but also hosting MIPSS: the Marbella international Plastic Surgery Summer School, which this year will take place from June 21 to June 23 and will enable young plastic surgeons from all over the world to share their knowledge. It was actually at an international conference that Dr. Kästner met Dr. Kaye, though it wasn’t until many years later that she accepted his invitation to head to Marbella to perform a variety of surgeries: everything from vaginal reconstruction to penile enlargement, breast augmentations, reductions, or lifts, as well as nonsurgical procedures such as Botox and fillers. Speaking to Dr. Kästner, one realises what a great sacrifice medicine imposes. She studied for over 12 years, choosing plastic surgery for a fascinating reason. She says, “I always knew I wanted to be a surgeon, but right after graduation, while working at the emergency unit of a hospital in Cologne, I noticed that I was really into the delicate details. Also, working in plastic surgery allows you to have more time for

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patients. You can really talk to them, get to know them…” For the next six years, Dr. Kästner worked at the CologneMerheim Clinic, in the burns and reconstructive unit. “There weren’t that many opportunities for aesthetic surgery, which was my desired area of speciality. I met Dr. Kaye many years previously at a congress for plastic surgery residents and we stayed in touch… much later, I received an offer from him to come to Marbella and decided to complete my specialisation as an aesthetic fellow working for Dr. Kaye. While already working in Spain, I qualiﬁed as a registered German and Spanish plastic surgeon and became a fellow of the European board of plastic surgery (FEBOPRAS).” Dr. Kästner is a big city person, yet she is delighted to live near the sea and to meet so many people. She tells me about some of the surgeries she performs. They include upper arms lifts, thigh lifts and the like. “Because Marbella has such a long bikini season, many patients wish to look their very best. People here are ﬁt and conscientious when it comes to health, but everyone can have areas of ‘stubborn fat’ which are resistant to workouts. Often, even if thighs are toned, the skin in the

upper, inner thigh can lose ﬁrmness. We remove excess skin and often the scar isn’t visible because it is located in the natural crease between the leg and pelvis.” When asked which operations she performs the most, she replies, “Tummy tucks are common. This operation is indicated for people who have lost a signiﬁcant amount of weight, and have skin that hangs over. There is no way to get rid of this other than through a tummy tuck. Sometimes, we combine a liposuction and tummy tuck, though people should realise that a liposuction will not help them reduce more than a maximum of around six litres of fat.” She enlightens me on fascinating techniques such as the ‘floating tummy tuck’, which detaches the belly button from the abdominal wall and moves it downward; unlike the case with traditional tummy tucks, no incisions are made around the belly button. Female intimate surgeries like labioplasties are also popular, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also because “sports like cycling can be uncomfortable for some women.” Men, too, are raising the bar for self improvement, with penile enhancement surgery proving more

and more interesting for many. Not only can some length be regained (by releasing the ligament partially from its pubic bone attachment), but greater girth can also be achieved through autologous fat transfer. “Some patients demand softer procedures like thread lifting, choosing one of two techniques depending on the desired effect. There are those who prefer to have a direct lift, while others choose a technique that thickens skin by stimulating it to produce more collagen. Sometimes, both techniques can be combined.” She is also a whizz at Botox and ﬁllers, producing beautiful, natural results. Dr. Kästner hopes to continue her international lifestyle for many years to come and is looking forward to her participation in this year’s MIPSS conference. “I will be assisting foreign surgeons in show operations, which is always a wonderful experience.” Dr. Kästner expresses her aptitude for medicine with conﬁdence, ability, and knowledge, but also with a friendliness that somehow makes one seem ‘at home’. Empathy and a passion for making patients happy are qualities that money can’t buy and which exist in abundance in this welcome addition to the Costa del Sol plastic surgery scene.

g Avda. Ramón y Cajal 7, Marbella. Tel: 951 775 518. www.oceanclinic.net

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Love of Beauty is Taste The Creation of Beauty is Art

BEYOND

M A R B E L L A

BEAUTY

Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery Aesthetic Medicine Bariatric Surgery Dental Cosmetics

M A D R I D

BEYOND BEAUTY

M A R B E L L A

M A D R I D

Av. R a m รณ n y C a j a l , 7 - 2 9 6 0 1 M a r b e l l a - 0 0 3 4 9 5 1 7 7 5 5 1 8 - M รณ v i l : 6 7 0 7 7 0 4 5 5 i n fo @ o ce a n c l i n i c . n e t - w w w.o ce a n c l i n i c . n e t

z z THE PRO enterprise

the pro

ENTERPRISE LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILES FINANCE/LAW THE VIBE COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

LOS OLIVOS LAUNCH BY SOLVILLA Solvilla recently held a cocktail event to present their project, Los Olivos, to members of the press and the real estate community. Los Olivos is ensconced in the hills of Nueva Andalucía and features 18 luxurious, modern villas located within a quiet residential gated community with lush natural landscapes and a lively cosmopolitan centre nearby. i Further information, www.solvilla.com

THIRD DOM3 PRIZE COMPETITION For three years in a row now, luxurious housing association, DOM3, has held an exciting competition in which talented architects compete, designing a desirable property in a designated area. This year, the plot is located in La Cala de Estepona with over 10,000m2 of buildable space. The winner or winners will take home a €60.000 prize and there is also a category for Architecture students, in which the winner will take home a cheque for €3.000. i Further information,

www.dom3.es

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enterprise THE PRO z

HEALTHOUSE LAS DUNAS NOW A SMALL LUXURY HOTEL OF THE WORLD Five-star grand luxury Healthouse Las Dunas is now officially a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, which represents luxury boutique and independent hotels, guaranteeing guests high-end experiences. The hotel is the only seaside establishment in Spain dedicated to luxury health. Constantin Lagemann, General Director of the Hotel, noted: “We are tremendously proud to form part of this world renowned collection of hotels and to be recognised by such a prestigious brand, after a rigorous process of selection.” i www.healthouse-naturhouse.com

WOMEN’S DAY FASHION LUNCH Marbella’s Puente Romano Hotel recently hosted a Women’s Day Fashion Lunch in its iconic Sea Grill restaurant. Women attendees were treated to a fashion show with cocktail dresses and elegant evening wear from Scandinavian designer, Riina Põldroos, and styling by BARDOU salon. The guests enjoyed a lovely lunch and received presents courtesy of Six Senses Spa, BARDOU Salon and Puente Romano. i www.puenteromano.com

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z THE PRO enterprise

FREE SMARTPHONE AT AMÀRE MARBELLA Forget your smartphone and enjoy the Amàre Hotel’s Handy programme this month, free for all guests this summer and comprising a dedicated phone with 4G connection, which allows you to call 26 countries at zero cost. Upload selfies, talk to friends, and don’t worry about losing your phone. When you check out, all registers of calls or of your phone use will be erased, which guarantees total privacy. Amàre is also pleased to announce that it is continuing with its Amàre Art 2018 programme, featuring works by renowned Marbellí photographer, Jesús Chacón. The launch was on March 16 and the works can be viewed until June 16. i www.amarehotels.com

GOLDEN MEMORIES OF THE ARTS SOCIETY The Arts Society of Benahavís recently gave a party in The Gran Hotel to celebrate the 50th anniversary of NADFAS. Miles Rendle, in evening dress, introduced the event for more than 100 people, many wearing clothes reminiscent of the 1960s. The audience watched a play commemorating (in a light-hearted way) how the society began, heard Susan Brodie’s description of the organisation’s initial steps on the Coast, saw a film showing the Arts Society’s activities in Benahavís, and heard the National Chairman June Robinson talk, while sipping Champagne and nibbling tapas. Everyone agreed the event was ‘fun and friendly’, as founder, Patricia Fay always intended. i Further information, junerendle@yahoo.com

GRANADA EXPERIENCE AT THE PALACIO DE CONGRESOS DE GRANADA ESPLANADE PRESENTATION OF 12TH EDITION OF GUÍA PASIÓN POR ESTEPONA 11&11 Restobar was the chosen spot for the launch of Guía Pasión por Estepona: a guide celebrating the very best of life in this sunny coastal spot. This year’s guide has been created by Editor, Sady Alexandra Licintuña Medina, whose clinic, the Centro Médico Hiperbárico de Estepona, offers cutting edge hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a number of conditions. The cover highlights the beauty of the many murals that dot Estepona, a city with so much to offer in terms of culture, art, and gastronomy. The new guide is accompanied by a totally upgraded website and a mobile phone app. i www.pasionporestepona.es

The Esplanada in front of the Palacio de Congresos de Granada will be hosting a fun musical and stage show from April 11 to 15. A total of 16 bands, including Carlos Cano, Australian Blonde, Dan Owen, Chlöe’s Clue and Brisa Fenoy, will be delighting the crowd with live performances. The event will also include debates, talks and discussions with VIPs from the entertainment and cultural scene. Subjects of the talks will include The Importance of Genre, How Festivals are Affecting Musical Tours, and Touring in the Post-Brexit era. i www.granadaexperience.org

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (MMC) TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN GIBRALTAR Rock Under Siege return for their fifth MMA Cage Fight Night on Friday May 4 at 8pm in Gibraltar's Tercentenary Sports Hall, with a stacked card and hard hitting action as always. The event will feature local fighters from Gibraltar and Spain, in a mixture of both professional and Amateur Mixed Martial Arts bouts, across a variety of weight classes. The organisation is flying over some new all-action fighters from the UK, who fight at a gym owned by an ex-UFC fighter so quality is guaranteed. They will complete the night with a Title Fight featuring an unbeaten Gibraltarian Fighter, Jyl Pozo, who previously finished his opponent with a TKO. i www.gibraltarmma.co.uk 142 / APRIL 2018 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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z THE PRO enterprise

YOGAZONE OPENS IN SAN PEDRO

DO YOU KNOW YOUR OMEGA-3 LEVELS? The President of Eqology, Kjell Kirkeng, recently gave a talk on the importance of knowing one’s Omega-3 and Omega-6 levels. Maintaining a healthy ratio between the two is vital for one’s heart health, and the good news is that you can check your levels at home with an easy-to-use kit. g Tel: 607 580 010.

YogaZone is a brand new, modern, beautifully designed studio launched last month in the newly built Aqua Building on San Pedro’s Avda. del Mediterráneo. The stylish studio was founded by renowned yoga and meditation teacher, Lydia Mellaart. Lydia fell in love with Yoga 12 years ago after she experienced her ﬁrst class. She then gained her Anusara Elements licence and went on to become a Certiﬁed Mindfulness Trainer. YogaZone is open seven days a week and offers various yoga as well as meditation classes for all levels from beginners to experts, even teacher training for those wishing to embrace Yoga as a career. i www.yogazonemarbella.es

ENERGY HEALING EVENT IN BENAHAVÍS

ADS MARKETING TURNS 10 ADS Marketing recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with clients and friends at the ﬁve-star Vincci Hotel Estrella del Mar. Guests enjoyed delicious snacks and listened to the latest trends from ADS Marketing, including spectacular 360º photography and the most recent design and printing tendencies, examples of which can be found on the company's website. g For further information or a

Illuminate 2018 is a free event featuring pure energy healers from around the world, offering a magical weekend of psychic and spiritual love. The event will feature spiritual and uplifting talks, singing bowl meditation, pure energy healing and meditation, chakra cleansings, angel card readings, guided meditations, and so much more. At the Gran Hotel Benahavís, on April 14 and 15, from 11am to 8pm. i www.markbajerski.com

personal demonstration, contact ADS Marketing on Tel: 951 775 790. www.adsmarketing.es

OVER 100 HEART SPECIALISTS MEET AT THE INTERNATIONAL MÁLAGA VALVE CONGRESS Heart valve problems are increasingly common in Spain and, like all heart conditions, they require specialised management by a multidisciplinary team comprising cardiologists, specialised surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and more. The Heart Department of the Vithas Xanit International Hospital recently participated in a congress attended by over 100 medical professionals, in an effort to share knowledge about this type of disease. Attendees enjoyed ﬁve talks, three workshops and various discussions, involving the latest techniques in dealing with valvular disease. i www.vithas.es 144 / APRIL 2018 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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THE MARBELLA PROPERTY MAGAZINE BY PANORAMA The Marbella Property Magazine®, volume 10, has just been published by Panorama, Marbella’s longest established real estate agency, the exclusive international afﬁliate of Savills for the greater Marbella area and an agency regulated by RICS. Considered by many to be one of the best quality real estate publications on the Costa del Sol, the magazine features Christopher Clover’s 2018 Marbella Property Market Report, an insightful article about the Clover family celebrating 48 years of business in Marbella, articles on buying and selling Marbella property, and over 115 pages with some of the most exceptional properties available on the market in the Marbella area. Copies are available at their ofﬁces opposite the Marbella Club Hotel and at the Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa hotel, at various Marbella distribution points, or contact Panorama with your full name and address to receive a copy by post. g Tel: (+34) 952 863 750.

www.panorama.es

QUEEN TRIBUTE ACT FOR CUDECA On Saturday April 21, a charity concert will be held in the Sohail Castle in Fuengirola with a performance from the best Queen Tribute group in Europe, Queen Machine, in aid of Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice. All proceeds from the concert will be destined to the specialised and free care of CUDECA, which each year attends more than 1,400 people with cancer and other illnesses in advanced stages and with no possibility of cure, as well as offering support to their families. Queen Machine gather thousands of followers at their concerts. “We're like Queen during their early years, when they always offered a repertoire full of surprises on stage. This is what the audience also expects from us," says Peter Jeppesen, guitarist and spokesman for the group. i For tickets, www.ticketea.com

TREKKING TO EVEREST FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN Marbella Mum of two and Amateur Climber, Hessia Fernandes, has set her sights on Everest to raise €6.000 for Málaga children’s charity the Nena Paine Foundation. She will be starting her trek to Everest Base Camp on October 7 and is looking for support to raise funds to buy a second-hand minibus for this local charity for underprivileged children. This is the third charity trek that Hessia has undertaken, previously climbing Mount Atlas in Morocco to deliver shoes to remote villages and overcoming Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Samaritans, a UK charity. Reaching Everest Base Camp in Nepal is a demanding twoweek trek, which starts at 1,852 meters and ascends to 5,500 meters. The Nena Paine Foundation is a small Málaga charity which supports the philosophy that education is the key to freedom from poverty. g To

support the campaign, call Tel: 671 721 452 or go to Hessia’s Just Giving Page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hessia-fernandes. For further information on the charity, www.nenapaine.es

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z THE PRO business

MARBELLA DESIGN FAIR WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

AT THE PALACIO DE CONGRESOS, APRIL 5 TO 9

esign and art are two of the pillars of the local economy; as the real estate market continues to flourish, homebuyers and entrepreneurs alike are demanding beautiful, stylish interiors that speak as much about their brand as their logo, advertising materials, or social media pages. Of course, design is about so much more than homes; it is also about graphic design, photography, cars, editorials – anything and everything that celebrates life. This passion for design has sparked what is set to be the ﬁrst fair of its kind on the Coast: the Marbella Design Fair (MDF), a ﬁve-day event to be held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella.

Z THE ELITE OF THE DESIGN WORLD CHOOSE MARBELLA The Marbella Design Fair will bring some of the most prestigious architects, interior designers and artists to the fair, which will feature stands from a number of luxury brands and galleries. Thus, visitors will be able to view everything from luxury lighting to wallets, photography, and decorative items.

Z DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE MDF is about more than just interior design; it embraces design in all its aspects, including car and accessory design; essentially, the fair will cover everything except fashion.

Z TERESA SAPEY, QUEEN OF CARPARKS MDF will feature a series of talks by eminences in design, on April 6. Just a few of the speakers include architect and designer Teresa Sapey (famed for her work on redesigning so-called ‘non-spaces’ such as carparks, bridges, catwalks or squares into stunning spaces that marry functionality and grace). Sapey is touted as 'Madame Parking' by Jean Nouvel, owing in no small part to her groundbreaking work at the Hotel Silken Puerta América in Madrid.

Z FRANK STEPHENSON OF MINIMCLAREN This graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, who will also be giving a talk at the MDF, is considered one of the very best car designers in the world, owing to his work on mythical cars such as the BMW X5, the new Mini and the Fiat 500, as well as his reinvention of Ferrari and Maserati. Currently, he is at the helm of McLaren, where he creates revolutionary works such as the McLaren MP4-12C.

Z OSCAR MARINÉ, GRAPHIC DESIGNER He is the founder of one of Madrid’s most highly solicited graphic design studios: OMB. Winner of the National Design Prize in 2010, Oscar Mariné has designed for a plethora of brands, including Camper, Loewe, Swatch, Vega Sicilia, and Markham. He has designed posters for ﬁlms

by Spain’s top directors, including Almodóvar, Julio Medem and Álex de la Iglesia, as well as CD covers for Brian Eno, Kevin Ayers and Andrés Calamaro. He is currently Art Director of C Photo International Magazine, one of the most prestigious photography magazines in the world, published by Ivory Press.

Z ADVERTISING WHIZ, BORJA BORRERO This advertising and PR pro is the creative head of Interbrand in Western Europe and Latin America, a global brand consultancy firm with a network of 21 offices in 17 countries. The firm publishes the highly influential annual Best Global Brands and Breakthrough Brands reports. Borrero has worked on projects for companies such as Coca-Cola, Danone, Movistar and Repsol.

Z SARAH MILLER, JOURNALIST She is the Ambassador for The Wall Street Journal in Europe and the CEO of Sarah Miller and Partners, a content and marketing strategy agency. The company was launched after Miller had spent 16 years as Chief Editor of Conde Nast Traveler (UK), which she founded in 1997. Her journalistic career is impressive and includes stints as Associate Editor and Art Editor of The Daily Telegraph, as well as Editor of the Saturday Telegraph and The Sunday Times and European Editor of Travel + Leisure, to name just a few of many posts.

Z DIONISIO GONZÁLEZ, PHOTOGRAPHER This Sevillan-born photographer has won a bevy of prestigious prizes, including the Premio Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró and the European Month of Photography Arendt Award in Luxembourg. His photographs are displayed in the Reina Sofía in Madrid, the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, and the National Contemporary Art Centre in Paris, as well as many prestigious private collections. His work focuses on the many ways human beings adapt to contemporary cities.

Z THE EVENT FOUNDER The event has been organised by Alejandro Zaia, who brought the successful Art Marbella Fair to our city for two years in a row, featuring some of the most prestigious Spanish and international art galleries. He recently presented the fair ofﬁcially at FITUR alongside Marbella Mayor, Ángeles Muñoz. Zaia has founded and directed numerous fairs such as PINTA London and New York, which specialise in Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese art. Zaia was recently awarded a prize by the Observatorio D’Achtall, in recognition for his work in supporting culture and the arts. i For tickets and further information, www.marbelladesignfair.com

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ESSENTIALS DEC17.qxp_Maquetación 1 08/11/2017 12:54 Page 1

More than 25 years on the coast

31.000

printed versions

The most cost eﬀective gateway to the Scandinavian market Our three monthly Scandinavian magazines are available both in print and online, and we make constant eﬀorts to get the best out of both worlds, to the benefit of our advertisers and readers. We reach aprox. 75.000 Scandinavians in Southern Spain with at monthly circulation of 31.000 copies.

SUECO en

S PA N I E N F Ö R S V E N S K A R

MAJ 2017

Intervjuer Nyheter Bostad Finans Utflykter Sport Fakta Kultur Profiler Politik Mode Hälsa

At Norrbom Marketing we are always doing our outmost to give our advertisers and readers the best experience. Today, just like we did 25 years ago, when the first magazine came out.

Caroline af Ugglas

Contact us for prices for advertising in one or more magazines, on websites or in newsletter e-mails. www.norrbom.com www.ensueco.com www.ladanesa.com www.norskemagasinet.com

Caroline af Ugglas får det att rocka i Svenska kyrkan Costa del Sol, som förövrigt är en egen församling igen!

Det norske månedsmagasinet på Costa del Sol

DANESA OKTOBER 2017

LA REVISTA DANESA EN ESPAÑA DET DANSKE MAGASIN I SPANIEN

NORSKE Det

MAGASINET

Da en lille idé blev til kystens bedste forretning

• Intervjuer • Nyheter • Utflukter • Sport • Fakta • Kultur • Profiler • Politikk • Mote • Helse • og mye mer...

Det Norske Magasinets journalist treffer naturligvis mange nordmenn til daglig her på Costa del Sol, men sjelden noen som har bodd her sammenhengende og på fulltid i over 30 år.

Han har aldrig været en lille grim ælling – men derimod den lille mand, der startede fra bunden og i dag flyver blandt verdens smukkeste svaner. Vi har mødt manden, der på rekordtid har skabt Costa del Sols største danskejede arbejdsplads og ufortrødent flyver mod nye horisonter.

Janus

Møt

Pål Christensen

Rægaard Nielsen

– EN UNG NORSK VETERAN I SPANIA NOVEMBER 2017

www.ladanesa.com

The most cost eﬀective gateway to the Scandinavian market.

CENTRO IDEA Ctra. de Mijas Km. 3,6 29650 Mijas Tlf. (+34) 952 58 15 53 norrbom@norrbom.com www.norrbom.com

NORRBOM MARKETING

z THE PRO law With Brexit around the corner, now is the time for Britons living in Spain to prepare by securing residency, healthcare and pension benefits.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING TO LOCK-IN BENEFITS IN

SPAIN POST-BREXIT WORDS CHRIS MCCANN, PARTNER, BLEVINS FRANKS

RESIDENCY December brought reassuring news for expatriates as the UK and the EU27 agreed to maintain existing residency rights. A joint statement confirmed that citizens “lawfully residing” on both sides can continue “to live, work or study as they currently do under the same conditions as under Union law”. So as long as you are legally resident in Spain at the Brexit cut-off date, you should keep the right to stay and access the same benefits as today for as long as you remain resident. A secure position is permanent residence, available after five continuous years living in Spain. Although Spanish citizenship can be obtained after ten years, you would have to give up your British passport to qualify. What about if you have not been living in Spain for that long? If you have been in the country for more than 90 days and have not already registered as a resident at your local police station (Comisaría de Policía) or Oficina de Extranjería, do this urgently to ensure your position is formally recorded at the Registro Central de Extranjeros. You should also register on the electoral roll (padrón municipal) at your local town hall, as all residents are officially required to undertake this process (known as ‘empadronarse’). This can help demonstrate that you are legally resident in Spain before the Brexit

cut-off date and therefore eligible to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreement. Those thinking about moving to Spain should act fast. While Brexit may seem a long way off, there is likely to be a surge of interest and an administrative backlog for residency applications as the cut-off date draws nearer. Consider relocating and starting the residency process – under current rules – as soon as possible. Post-Brexit, we can expect the requirements, time and expense for acquiring residency to be less straightforward than today.

HEALTHCARE The Brexit deal on the table enables residents legally settled in Spain to continue receiving reimbursements for certain healthcare costs. This means the Form S1 system will carry on providing free cover in Spain for British pensioners, and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) maintains access to free or reduced healthcare when holidaying in another EU country. To secure residency in Spain, you may be asked to show evidence of comprehensive health cover (either private or public). If you do not hold Form S1, you may therefore need to join the Spanish healthcare system or prove you have sufficient private health insurance to qualify.

PENSIONS

A REALISTIC TIMELINE

The UK has committed to continue yearly cost-of-living increases to State Pension payments for retired Britons living in the EU pre-Brexit. As a result, British pensioners in Spain will receive annual increases linked to the ‘triple lock’ – whichever is highest out of the rate of inflation, earnings or 2.5% – until 2022. When it comes to private pensions, current opportunities may not survive Brexit. Today, UK pension contributions and growth both benefit from tax relief in Britain, and can potentially be accessed by expatriates without paying UK tax (under double tax agreements). It is also possible for Spanish residents to transfer UK pension funds to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) in the EU or European Economic Area (EEA) – including Gibraltar – tax-free. Doing this can unlock tax efficiency, estate planning advantages and currency flexibility. However, since 9th March 2017, transfers to QROPS outside the EU/EEA attract 25% UK taxation (unless you live in the same jurisdiction as the QROPS). Post-Brexit, the UK could potentially limit how expatriates can access their pensions by widening the taxation net, or by making it harder to cash-in UK ‘final salary’ pensions tax-efficiently. Consider acting now under current rules, but take personalised, regulated advice to ensure a suitable approach and avoid pension scams.

Although the Brexit date is currently set for March 29, 2019 – and could potentially be extended by a transition agreement – it is sensible to work towards a much shorter deadline. Pension transfers, for example, can take several months, so it is a good idea to act as far ahead as possible. With just a few months of certainty left, now is also the time to explore your estate planning, investments and general tax planning options. A locally-based financial adviser like Blevins Franks, who understands the interaction between the UK and Spain, can help you take advantage of opportunities and find the best solutions tailored for you as an expatriate, during the Brexit countdown and beyond. Blevins Franks accepts no liability for any loss resulting from any action or inaction or omission as a result of reading this article, which is general in nature and not specific to your circumstances. Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice. g Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com

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law THE PRO z

URBAN PLANNING TOURISM ON THE

COSTA DEL SOL

planning, and the procedure to be followed in order to simplify and speed up its approval process. Following its hearing process and once approved by the Parliament of Andalusia, the draft will become Law governing urban planning in this Autonomous Community, thus repealing the existing statute in force: Law 7/2002, of the 17th December of Urban Planning of Andalusia (LOUA). A more detailed analysis of the draft can be found in our Newletter, published on the website of our law ﬁrm: www.perezdevargas.com. In relation to the heretofore explained law under development, we shall highlight that the Regional Council of Environment and Urban Planning of the Territory of the Junta de Andalucía submitted last 24th of January 2018, in the Town Hall of Ojen, the initial strategic Document of POTCSO. This instrument, once approved, shall replace the former General Urban Plan of the Western Territory of the Costa del Sol, last approved in July 2006, and which nine years after being approved was declared null and void by the Spanish Supreme

Court in a court resolution issued in October 2015. The POTCSO will govern the General Urban Planning of the Territory, under which scope are the municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol (Fuengirola, Mijas, Ojén, Istán, Marbella, Benahavís, Estepona, Casares and Manilva) and will link the urban planning of these municipalites.

g KRISTINA GOROKHOVA Lawyer PÉREZ DE VARGAS ABOGADOS C/ Mª Auxiliadora, s2 – Edif. Pata-Pata, 5º, 29602 Marbella (Málaga). Tel: (+34) 952 778 848. www.perezdevargas.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

urrently, two laws of great importance for urban planning for the municipalities of the Costa del Sol are under development, and these will impact the planning of the main economic activity of this geographical area, that is, the two types of tourism, holiday tourism in hotels, and residential tourism. We are referring to the draft of the future Law for Sustainable Urban Planning in Andalusia (Ley para un Urbanismo Sostenible en Andalucía, LUSA) and the strategic initial Document of the General Urban Plan of the Western Territory of the Costa del Sol (Plan de Ordenación del Territorio de la Costa del Sol Occidental, POTCSO). The Governing Council of the Junta de Andalucía agreed to submit to a hearing process with public information concerning the draft of the LUSA, within a period of one month from the day following its publication in the Ofﬁcial Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA), which took place on the 29th of December 2017. The draft adds relevant information to the instrument of urban

The Costa del Sol is currently the biggest touristic holiday destination, in consideration of hotels in Andalucía, which also supports a growing luxury residential tourism, with a complementary touristic offer of a very consolidated destination, featuring more than ﬁfty golf courses, theme parks, marinas, top level cultural amenities, etc...

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z THE PRO vibe

SEVENTH INTERECO FORUM AT THE GRAN MELIÁ DON PEPE IN MARBELLA

The Seventh Intereco Forum took place recently at the Gran Meliá Don Pepe Hotel, an annual event centred on sustainable development. Topics discussed included energetic efficiency projects, CO2 emissions, renewable energy, advances in technology, digital economy, blockchain and more. The event was attended by key players in industry, including energy producers, investors, and developers. i www.interecoforum.org

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” – Robert Swan

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF INTERECO FORUM 152 / APRIL 2018 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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NEW BENTLEY CONTINENTAL

The brand new third generation Bentley Continental was recently presented at C. de Salamanca. Bearing a sublime exterior and luxurious interior design, it boasts cutting edge technology, a new gyrating Infotainment screen, and totally digital dashboard. The stunning vehicle zooms from zero to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds flat. i www.cdesalamanca.com

“In today’s life, luxury is time and space” – Harmon Okinyo

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z THE PRO vibe

DANI GARCÍA PRESENTS A 4 MANOS EVENT AT THE PUENTE ROMANO

Dani García recently held a press conference for an exciting event that is set to take place in his eponymous restaurant at the Puente Romano: A 4 Manos, which will see García himself and a host of top Chefs delight local gastronomes with their cuisine. Participating chefs include Ferran Adrià, Martín Berasategui, Joan Roca, Elena Arzak, Andoni Luis Aduriz, and more. This year’s event pays homage to a true legend in Spain and the world: the great Juan Mari Arzak. i www.puenteromano.com

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” – Virginia Woolf

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® essential marbella magazine W W W. E S S E N T I A L M A G A Z I N E . C O M

18 YEARS OF PORTRAYING MARBELLA’S BEST

essential magazine is the longest established publication dedicated to Marbella’s opulent lifestyle, mixed with lively features from all around the world. Always in great demand, we continuously strive to produce quality content that will inform and entertain you. Available free from all the best commercial locations and in luxury hotel bedrooms along the Costa del Sol, we present your brand to a high-end market, beneﬁtting from the unrivalled prestige and recognition we have achieved over the last 18 years. Don’t miss out! T: 9 5 2 7 6 6 3 4 4

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z THE PRO vibe

SOCIAL REVOLUTION AT NOBU LOUNGE

Exciting times are coming for Nobu, which recently launched its brand new Nobu Hotel Marbella with a four-day event attended by many Marbellíes and selected international lifestyle influencers. The event kicked off with a swish party at Nobu Lounge, and ended with a late-night dance party at La Suite. The hotel, which is sure to become an iconic address in Marbella, features 18 luxury suites adjacent to the Nobu Lounge. i www.puenteromano.com

“I want to always keep going. I don’t want to ever stop” – Nobu Matsuhisa

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Official After Party Ocean Club Grand Opening DRESS CODE: WHITE & SILVER

VIERNES | FRIDAY ABRIL

PUENTE ROMANO MARBELLA

APRIL

T (+34) 952 820 900

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h THE LEISURE travel

AFRICAN

DELIGHT

Rovos Rail, All Aboard the Zambezi Queen, and Zanzibar Fancy a super spa in Africa? Take the train. Not any train, mind you. The one you want is Rovos Rail, where embarkation begins at Cape Town in South Africa – the fairest cape, said Drake – and ends 15 days later after a thrilling adventure in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. It is an indulgence of luxury and elegance on wheels, involving bush gear by day and Hermes ties at night. Ladies will likely be wearing Shimansky diamonds they bought in Cape Town. WORDS DAVID WISHART PHOTOGRAPHY GENEVIEVE BALTHAZARD, ROVOS RAIL, AND THE ZAMBEZI QUEEN

his is new wave travel as practised on expedition voyages to faraway places like Antarctica, where you rough it, gently, by day and dine in state in the evening. Two nights in Tau Lodge on the border of Botswana are en route. The ﬁrst day we lunched by a waterhole with two white rhinos and the next day in the company of a statuesque giraffe, while nearby, zebras fought off a pack of hyenas. On game drives we encountered huge lions and had sundowner cocktails, while our cosy cottage (with outdoor shower) overlooked a waterhole thronged with elephants and a malicious-looking crocodile. And equally enjoyable was the spa, where Dina administered the best pedicure ever, then followed up with a massage that left me begging for more. But Rovos Rail was waiting and so was the track

through Gaborone, capital of thriving Botswana, where a branch of Barclays Bank appeared to have survived an onslaught of gleaming, Chinese-built ofﬁce towers. We were to see more of the long reach of China in our odyssey across a huge stretch of Africa; clearly the new imperialists. Our ﬁrst stop had been Matjiesfontein, on the lofty and dry Karoo plateau settled in 1890 by the pioneering Jimmy Logan, a Scot who founded the Lord Milner Hotel here – and a sausage factory. Some will remember a Glasgow comedian with the same name whose catchphrase was “sausages is the boys.” The Karoo bangers would likely have been made from mutton as sheep thrive here. Kimberley was a great stop. Here is the story of diamonds galore, Cecil Rhodes’ riches, the dream of the Cape to Cairo railway, and we were there.

A restored steam engine by Rohan Vos

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Dining aboard the Rovos Rail Tanzania Hills

What started as a small hill in 1871 became the Big Hole as the legend of diamonds was reborn. Up until then, diamonds came from India and Ceylon, the congealed tears, it was said, of a Hindu goddess. We then skirted Johannesburg, where a huge gold reef was discovered in 1886 (what amazing times these were) and stopped for lunch in Pretoria, where Rohan Vos grew his hobby railway into what is now the largest passenger railway in Africa. Here he has his own station and workshops employing scores of engineers maintaining steam engines built in Glasgow and restoring handsome carriages such as the 17-wagon train we were on. On many trips the train set has 21. We left here for Botswana, then crossed the border into Zimbabwe, land of a brave people who somehow survived the appalling Mugabe years, now looking forward to a recovering economy with tourism already doing well, judging by the full house at the bougainvilleafringed Victoria Falls Hotel, a colonial-style treasure reminiscent of the Raffles of old. At sundown, there are few places to match the sweeping terrace bar overlooking the graceful bridge built on the orders of Cecil Rhodes (the same engineers later erected the Sydney Harbour bridge). Old Africa hands and millennial tourists swapped stories about travel here that was and is an adventure. Such as the woman in a tented camp who phones the ranger at midnight, “there’s a lion here!” To which the ranger replies, “Madame, is it outside your tent or inside your tent?” Then the Victoria Falls experience, which began with a fine statue of David Livingstone, the first European to come here in 1855. Even today, when colonial-era monuments are being toppled from the Cape to Cairo, Livingstone is a

revered figure and known to all school children in southern Africa. Words cannot the describe the sight, sound and spray that awaits the visitor, other than to convey the feeling that when you have been here, you have felt the spirit of Africa. And so the train carried on, stopping briefly on the falls bridge for an American bungee jumping to within a heartbeat of the crocodileinfested Zambezi. Rovos Rail trundled across Zambia and Tanzania, through the luxuriant Rift Valley with baobab trees and the huge Selous game reserve where a final game drive was offered. Armchair travellers enjoyed comfortable lounges, including an open observation car, where the engaging young staff served drinks in crystal glasses. Meals brought everyone together - on our trip just a happy band of 35 - in the elegant dining room, whose teak pillars and wall lights delivered a clubby atmosphere which bubbled along on a tide of connoisseur-class Cape wines such as Bouchard Finlayson chardonnay and Diemersfontein pinotage. Cabins were equally well fitted out. There are three sizes - Pullman, Deluxe and Royal. All have good size bathrooms with showers. For a trip this long you want the Deluxe. Laundry is done daily free of charge and the service is excellent. Rovos claims to be the most luxurious train in the world and I would not argue. Finally, after 3568 miles, we reached Dares-Salaam. Tantalisingly close were Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain, 19,341 ft) and the Serengeti. Going home was hard to do. g Fares for the 15-day journey start at £8,860pp. Rovos Rail is about to start a new service to Angola. www.rovos.com

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Cape Town © Shutterstock

Everyone had a stopover in Cape Town before or afterwards, and not just because of jet lag. Cape Town is a fabulous city, nestled around Table Mountain, skirting beautiful beaches and lush winelands. A good place to start is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, basically a compound comprising a marina open to the ocean, with hotels, restaurants and shops. It is close to the city centre and five minutes from the railway station. Rovos has its own hotels, and the Waterfront has a superb selection as well. I thought the Cape Grace was a bit tired while the One&Only is spacious and has a buzzing Nobu restaurant. The Table Bay has a fine location, particularly for the big shopping area, while next door the striking new Silo hotel has the wow factor, but at a price. Certainly it is the place to go for rooftop cocktails. Daytime there is plenty to do around town, such as mooching around the bookshops and coffee bars in Long Street, or exploring the Company Gardens first laid out by the Dutch East India Company to provide vegetables for crews bound for the Spice Islands of Asia. Table Mountain, Cape Point and the penguins at Simonstown can all be experienced via the ubiquitos hop on-hop off bus, while Robben Island is a special trip. Waterfront has many good restaurants such as Karibu, well known for its African theme (oysters and ostrich), and Willoughby’s for seafood. Out of town lunches are popular, such as on Camps Bay beaches or wineries in Stellenbosch. The famed Garden Route is worth a few days,

particularly if you stop at Franschhoek, which charms with a French accent. Accommodation is often cheaper in places like Somerset West, location of one of the Cape’s best golf courses, Erinvale. Particularly good value is Cape Links guest house here, run by Frank McDonogh. He also runs a shuttle service, which is worth using from the airport. After a 12-hour flight, all you need is a one-hour wait for a rental car and a drive when you are falling asleep. Frank is the man for reasonably priced out of town drives, while the rest of the time, particularly at night, you can’t beat Uber.

A romantic spot aboard the Rovos Rail

Relaxing aboard the Rovos Rail

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The Beach at Tembo Hotel in Zanzibar

When you cross the world to make an epic journey such as Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Dar-es-Salaam, do you drive to the airport and go home? Not if you are aware of the charms of Zanzibar, just 20 minutes away on a wobbly little plane. Zanzibar has beaches like nowhere else, soft white sand caressed by endless sunshine, hospitable people who greet you with “Jambo” in Swahili, lots of resorts offering diving, tasty food and a remarkable history. But the ﬁrst travellers here were not in a holiday mood. They were Omani Arabs, who sailed the Monsoon winds down the east coast of Africa in their speedy dhows. They were the Vikings of the Indian Ocean, landing on what they called “The black Coast of Africa,” or Zanzibar. What followed were centuries of the brutal enslavement of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of Africans who were sold to work on plantations, in factories and private homes. It was the slave capital of the world, with the slave market in Stone Town dealing with up to 75,000 men, women and children a year who stood in chains for auction. And it was institutionalised. Slavery was a class like untouchables in India. A slave belonged to an owner until given freedom, which had to be done in writing. Smiles at the Zanzibar Coffee House

At the slave market museum in Stone Town, perhaps the most meaningful building you will ever enter, is the story of a woman who complained she was wrongly accused of being an escaped slave. An authority investigated, and found she had been wronged, awarding her 20 rupees in compensation. Then, asked what she would do with the 20 rupees, she said she would buy a slave. Like most museums, there is a gift shop. From here however are steps (with bricks made in Glasgow) to a dimly-lit cellar where slaves crouched under the low roof, their chains remaining as a painful reminder. Outside is a sunken monument, like China’s terracotta warriors, showing chained slaves. Then, next door, the Anglican Cathedral and an uplifting moment on discovering a memorial to David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer and missionary, who fought all his life against slavery. He is remembered by a small wooden cross made from a tree in Zambia where his heart was buried after his death in 1873. Livingstone received a hero’s funeral in Westminster Abbey. The palace of the sultans remains on the waterfront, not far from the former home of Tippu Tip, a rich trader of slaves and ivory, said to visit his

ZANZIBAR concubines twice a day. Slavery came to an end here later than almost anywhere else, with the Royal Navy resorting to cannon fire on occasion. Now tourism and spices are the mainstay of the economy. That and tingatinga painting, as I was to find out on my first stroll around Stone Town, where the narrow streets reminded me of the Marbella old town. This was home to Freddie Mercury of the Queen rock group. Yet you’d struggle to find a Queen CD in the souvenir emporiums. The big thing is tingatinga, colourful paintings of African life that are hugely popular in Europe and America. It began with Edward Saidi Tingatinga, born in 1937 to a poor farming family in Tanzania. He went to Dar-es-Salaam in search of work and noted how tourists snapped up local artists’ work. He began with scavenged materials such as old ceiling boards and bicycle enamel, in the process discovering an appealing new artistic style. His renderings of Maasai warriors, village life and wondrous animals were bursting with natural life and colour, and captured tourists’ imagination of African life. Few travellers, it seems, leave Zanzibar without rolled up

tingatinga paintings. Stone Town also has good coffee shops such as the Zanzibar Coffee House, which sells a spicy cup made from locally grown beans. You won’t find pubs however – Zanzibar is 97 per cent Muslim. Hotels abound however, such as a shiny new Park Hyatt, somewhat out of place in a town full of old world character. I preferred the Serena, right on the beach, also with a fine pool and good restaurants. Not to forget the cold Kilimanjaro lager and selection of South African wines. Tembo House is very good value, has a nice pool and popular beach. The prawn curry lunch is a bargain at six Euros. Increasingly popular with European tourists are many beach resorts, including the all-inclusive Swiss-run but Italian owned Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est. This place has attractive rooms, good wifi and a magnificent beach with big thatched parasols, just the ticket as the equator is not far away. There’s also a pier, looking like something built by Robinson Crusoe, with a seafood restaurant and a lounge with views across the Indian Ocean. I suppose if you stood on a chair you could see Australia. But only after a few more Kilimanjaros.

Tingatingas on sale in Zanzibar

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ZAMBEZI QUEEN The distinctive, bold cry of the ﬁsh eagle, said to be the sound of Africa, was what I wanted to hear when I arrived at the Zambezi Queen on the Chobe River, on the Botswana-Namibia border. On the ﬁrst two days out on a small tender boat I saw a dozen, mostly in trees with a commanding view of the sweeping panorama of grassland teeming with elephants, hippos, Cape buffalo, antelopes, crocodiles and birds. But when we got close, they spread their vast wings and took off, and without a sound. A big one had a favourite tree barely 50 metres from the Zambezi Queen, where it sat, aloof and stubbornly quiet. Day three it all happened on the other side of the river, dramatically close to the Zambezi Queen, as we boarded the tender. All of a sudden a crocodile reared up at the river bank with a small dog in its vast jaws. The unfortunate animal had been snatched nearby

and drowned, and the crocodile, a five-metre monster, was tossing the dog around in its jaws to get it in position for swallowing. Our tender nosed up to the bank about five metres away at the same time as our resident fish eagle arrived. A stork quickly followed, but at a safer distance. The crocodile splashed wildly up and down as it continued to juggle its catch, the dog’s legs, head and tail flailing around in the wide open jaw lined with evillooking teeth. Finally, after maybe five minutes, it backed into deeper water, and the fish eagle cried, throwing its head back as it did so, calling to its mates. We stayed where we were, so close we could see its yellow face and fierce, black beak, a striking contrast to the snowy head and tail. When parts of the dog appeared on the river surface, the fish eagle picked them up with a flying scoop, and brought them back

to the river bank right in front of us. And it cried loudly again, and again, always with its beak open to the sky. Two more fish eagles arrived in answer to the call. We sat, watched and listened. This was Africa in the raw. Yet on other outings – usually two a day starting at the comfortable time of 10 am – we saw herds of elephants with many little tuskers gambolling around in the care of watchful mothers. Here and there a large male stood majestically, huge ears flapping the signal to clear off. The juvenile elephants were fun to watch, usually fighting playfully in the river. Sometimes four or more would splash together, waving their trunks like musketeers’ swords. On other stretches of the river, delicate long-legged jacanas hopped on flowering water lilies, herons and storks tiptoed in the shallows, and fish blew bubbles from below.

At one with Nature

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A river view from the breakfast buffet The Zambezi Queen offers a tour of the local village

Being on a boat was a new experience, and a good one, compared to a land safari expedition usually by jeep on a dusty track. On the other hand, one day some guests went on a vehicle and had a thrilling encounter with lions close up. I loved the Zambezi Queen. It cruises at the water’s edge, so you can fall asleep to the sound of grunting hippos, and wake up seeing scores of animals from your bed. There are birds everywhere, many vividly coloured like the lilac-breasted roller or the black and white pied wagtail, the latter often on the boat’s rail. All day long there were wild animals just one side or the other. They are used to the vessel, which at 42 metres is hardly a cruise ship. There are three decks, the top being a marvellous viewing platform, although still not in the fish eagle class. A human being with the same vision would need eyes the size of oranges. It is comfortably furnished, a library and binoculars are provided, and the well-stocked bar never closes. The delicious Wilderer gin from the Cape is recommended. Premium beer and wines are included. Forward, there is a nice little plunge pool, some

loungers, and aft, just beyond the dining area, a covered deck. Midships, the floor to ceiling windows open wide to offer an experience like a colonial era riverboat on the Nile. Zambezi Queen moves quietly and slowly, the panorama unfolding like a silent movie. It provides jobs for 70 Africans, including two excellent guides on our four-night trip, although most are two or three nights. Passengers are from Europe, North America and Asia. It is not cheap. On the other hand everything about the Zambezi Queen is quality. Cabins are spacious with superior beds and bedding, bathrooms roomy with good showers, robes and slippers, and the huge windows positively encourage you to get up in the morning, throw back the curtains and blinds, then go back to bed to watch battalions of buffalo, hippos and elephants starting their day, African style. When it all gets too much, a hand-made breakfast awaits. Lunches and dinners are nicely done, with the crew in a grand finale evening. It was the final act in a show that never stops. i www.zqcollection.com

A majestic elephant

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h THE LEISURE hotel

HIGH TECH HOTELS

t o V isit t his Year

Who said that travel had to be all about enjoying the Great Outdoors or queueing up at the doors of abbeys, museums, and other architectural wonders? Part of the fun of taking a break is also living in a new ‘home’ for a few days… peeling back the tightly ﬁtting sheets of a pristine different bed, hanging your coat in a wardrobe that is completely empty, feeling the wonderful impermanence of it all – a reminder to ‘seize the day’ and experience ‘the spectacular now’ in a new country. One of the most fascinating ways to enjoy your hotel is by ensuring it is an experience unto its own. This is very easy to do at these top tech hotels, which are ideal choices for lovers of design and sci ﬁ. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

YOTEL, NEW YORK, USA YOTEL is a sustainable, environmentally friendly hotel that has built up to 50 per cent more rooms on a single site than the average hotel. Located smack bang in the middle of Manhattan, it is inspired by ﬁrst class aircraft design. Instead of sleeping in a hotel room, you snooze in a ‘cabin’ which is somehow super comﬁe, smartly designed, and adaptable. There are various cabin types to go for, though all have high tech features like a technowall with a flat screen TV, the ability to stream audio, fold down work desks with iPod/ MP3 connectivity, motorised beds that fold up for more floor space, kiosk check-ins, free super strength WiFi and free calls within the U.S., monsoon showers, and more. You can also have robots safely store your luggage in one of its 150 ‘bins’.

HENN NA HOTEL, NEAR NAGASAKI, JAPAN

Channel your inner Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) and discover the fantastical ‘weirdness’ of the Henn na Hotel, where dinosaurs or androids attend to you at reception (yes, no real people are involved), helping you check in and store your luggage. The robotic staff speaks a bevy of languages, so you can forego the Japanese language lessons as there is nobody to impress. Once you are conﬁrmed as a guest, another robot takes your luggage to your room for you, quicker than a bellboy and with no tip required. Tech facilities include a special air conditioning system that draws heat away from your body in the summer and stops heat from escaping in the winter. Environmentally friendly features abound as well, including structural timber, solar panels, and a hydrogen energy system. ‘Henn’ means ‘change’ in Japanese, and the idea is just that: to offer an efﬁcient, speedy system that minimises bureaucracy and queue-up times. i www.h-n-h.jp

To access your items, give the robot your PIN number and your last name. i www.yotel.com

CITYHUB, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Another hotel that values space above all other things, CityHub offers low-cost, futuristic sleeping pods that can ﬁt a double bed. The pods have windows to let in fresh air, but you can always shut the blinds if privacy is an issue. Forget about losing your key; upon arrival you are given a wristband, which unlocks your door. The one downside to this futuristic space saver is that the bathrooms are communal. i www.cityhub.com

ALOFT HOTEL, CUPERTINO, U.S. At Starwood’s Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, California, two robotic ‘Botlrs’ (a word play on butlers) called A.L.O. perform a plethora of tasks,

including bringing you toothbrushes, and towels while you lounge poolside. They run on a combination of WiFi and 4G connectivity, and can negotiate the length of the hotel without breaking anything. When they arrive at your room, give them a rating on their touchscreen so they can ‘make a better effort’ next time if required. s i www.aloftcupertino.com

NH HOTEL IN BERLIN The NH Berlin is the ultimate choice for techie entrepreneurs. It offers business clients holographic technology, which allows the latter to project images of themselves in meeting and conference rooms in the Hotel. It also allows you to make work presentations in 3D. If you are planning an important conference, ask about the smart room facilities, which will allow you to liaise with 250 people at a time. If you are musically inclined, meanwhile, ask for a guitar or keyboard and share your creations with friends thanks to the free WiFi. You can also plan your meeting beforehand with a 3D Meeting Planner app, which allows you to preview the venue layout, recreating it in a virtual reality setting. Take your pick from a wide array of specs (including detail of placement of furniture, ﬁxtures and technology) before your arrival. The meeting rooms are powered by a smart system for Skype for Business, offering high-quality audio and video communications among those physically and remotely present at the meeting. i www.nh-hotels.com

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Welcome to the Marbella Club Kid’s Club Memories to last a lifetime

Come and join us as we open the doors to our Kids Club, a place where all the We are delighted to announce a unique ingredients have been carefully chosen to form a playful and dynamic space that invites to explore, discover and experience. There will be something for everyone to enjoy and to be inspired by. Our programme has been specially designed to help children aged 4-12 develop and nurture special talents, teach essential life skills and offer a truly extraordinary childhood experience.

opportunity to become a member of our Kid’s Club. We are now offering a limited number of memberships for families here in the Marbella area and also for those who are not based here but who visit Marbella on a regular basis.

New Teens ‘Health & Cook’ Workshops Food and healthy living is very important for all age groups. The Marbella Club Wellness Nutritionist will be leading a series of workshops full of education and inspiration to encourage wholesome eating habits in a fun and active way. Age group: 11 to 15 years.

If you wish to receive further information about our Memberships please contact Marte Arrese/ arrese@marbellaclub.com Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602, Marbella, Málaga, Spain (34) 952 822 211 Fax (34) 952 82 88 84 marbellaclub.com

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Txakoli Rezabal

TANINO IN BENAMARA HAS OPENED A BRAND NEW RESTAURANT IN SAN PEDRO AND WE GIVE YOU THE EXCLUSIVE SCOOP ON ITS TANTALISING DISHES. WE ALSO SAMPLE AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE AT TARTUFO AND SIP ON ONE OF SPAINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FAVOURITE WINES: TXAKOLI REZABAL.

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TASTE Signature Japanese cuisine awarded one Michelin star

KABUKI RAW

CTRA. DE CASARES S/N, 29690 CASARES, MÁLAGA · T. +34 952 93 78 00 WWW.FINCACORTESIN.COM

AT THE PLAZA VILLAGE IN THE HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

Puente Romano Hotel, Blv. Principe Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, Marbella. www.thaigallerymarbella.com

Tel: 952 818 392

TAI PAN chinese cuisine polynesian bar

Serving Marbella in a Select Atmosphere for Decades. Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00 www.taipanmarbella.com

SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine

Tel: 952 770 550 Open Mon-Sat. C.C. Marbellamar, L-3A. Marbella. www.sukhothaimarbella.com

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restaurants THE GOURMET b

TANINO

What makes a memorable dining experience? It would have to be a combination of great food, beautiful design, and attentive service. The small things count as well… the right crystal, a well crafted wine list, swish cocktails if desired to start off a meal with colour. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN AND COURTESY OF TANINO

Opens in San Pedro de Alcántara

ne restaurant manages to gather all these ingredients and toss in unexpected combinations that make it a standard bearer in its sector: Tanino, the brainchild of José Esmael, a driven restaurateur whose Executive Chef, Tulio Zampieri, is passionate about world flavours. José and wife, Elisabetta Occhi, recently opened a sister restaurant in San Pedro; parallel to the Bulevar and boasting a new, different concept. Rather than envisioning starters, mains and dessert, think of the new Tanino as a trendy spot where groups of friends and family tuck into shared platters – everything from ramen to ribs… expect to ﬁnd touches of the East (think chilli sauce, cilantro lime); though you can also enjoy a selection of authentic Indian dishes (curry and madras), made by an Indian team. The Head Chef at the new Tanino is Felipe Ciro, who has honed his craft under Tulio and who previously opened Café Flore in Marbella’s Old Town. Like Tulio, Felipe is inspired by flavours that dazzle the senses and the palate. Together, the chefs have created a menu that also expresses the tastes of Elisabetta and José. For a sampling of their talents, we tried the Tanino Salad (Elisabetta’s invention): a colourful,

hearty bowl of multi-coloured veggies smothered in salsa de mani (peanut sauce), jazzed up with tamarind, lime and chilli, and given an extra ‘creamy’ touch by poached quail eggs. Tanino has always been known for its artistic design, which includes huge hanging ‘furry’ lamps in bright colours, modern graffiti art, vintage pieces, and work by artists such as UB40’s Brian Travers, as well as individually upholstered antique chairs, picked by José at various markets and fairs. The new Tanino has also been painted by a talented graffiti artist and boasts a similar vibrant, young, yet elegant ambience. My dining companion and I recently visited the new Tanino, where we enjoyed a bevy of dishes, as well as colourful cocktails whipped up by the cocktail master; think a foamy White Lady (similar to a pisco and containing gin, cointreau and foamy egg white – perfect to accompany the lime and chilli dishes) or a three-rum cocktail (with orange juice, pineapple, and a touch of grenadine). Expect to find the best wines at Tanino as well; we downed two excellent bottles during our meal: a toasty Morosanto Petit Verdot, and a fruity barrel-fermented Barón de Ley Reserva 2013 Tres Viñas.

As José noted, “If you warmed the glass in your hands and closed your eyes, you would probably identify it as a red wine.” Joined by José and Elisabetta, we tucked into a number of different platters, including the King prawn ceviche, which dazzled the palate with a citrusy/spicy green tomato sauce with red onion, and which was wonderfully healthy and light. One of the undoubted stars of the meal was the duck meatballs… totally different in texture to typical minced meatballs, comprising buttery soft duck meat blended with foie and siracha, smothered in Hoi Sin sauce and served over Pilau rice with yellow bell pepper, spring onion, cashew nuts and a sprinkling of crunchy corn kernels – a perfect blend of crunchy and tender bites. The presentation was colourful and appealing and instantly made it up to my Instagram page. Tanino’s signature dish – Tulio’s Cangreburguer in tempura (comprising tempura soft shell crab served with a homemade chipotle alioli, herb salad and sweet potato chips, within the softest black bread made with squid ink) is logically available at the new restaurant and if we had to suggest one dish to start out trying, it would

probably this one. Even the bread at Tanino is made with loving care (the mass is fermented for 40 hours and is thus crisp on the outside and soft and fresh on the inside); we tore off small pieces to dip into dishes like the Huancaina-style Iberian pork, cooked in a traditional Huancaina sauce comprising yellow bell pepper, cream cheese, spring onion, and baby potato. Finally, we tried a heavenly steak tartar made with 160 grams of beef tenderloin, served over an airy pano crumble and accompanied with a bucket of homemade fries. Between them, José and Elisabetta have decades of experience. It shows in their passion for food, their close relationship with the Chefs, and the personalisation of everything from the décor to the attention they give their clients. Tanino in San Pedro will surely be the nucleus of a buzzing new gastronomic scene the restaurant is spearheading in this popular residential area. g Open daily from 12 midday onwards for lunch and dinner. Avda. del Mediterráneo, Bloque 3, Local 6, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 604 848. www.tanino.es

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restaurants THE GOURMET b

TARTUFO

Cucina Moderna Italiana

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

Tartufo is a restaurant where modern cuisine and the love of Italian food come together. Add a romantic Old Town setting and you have the ingredients for an irresistible dining experience built around the bounty of fresh, seasonal produce.

ike its fresh produce-led menu, which follows the best the seasons have to offer, Tartufo has a setting for all the year. During the long summer months, the atmospheric terrace on the Plaza Practicante Manuel Cantos is the darling of diners; in winter they enjoy the stylishly cosy dining room – which can be accessed with a convenient lift – and for those who come for a snack or lunch there is the sociable tapas area on the Calle Tetuán. Indeed, with its ambient dining spaces and innovative Italian cuisine, Tartufo is an integral part of the creation of a gastronomic quarter in this section of town. Chef Emanuele adds contemporary creativity as he brings the flavours of Italy to these shores. Originally from Vercelli in the northern region of Piemonte, the delicacies of this part of the country are particularly well-

represented in a menu that changes with the seasons, for Manu and his wife Hollie insist on working with fresh, seasonal ingredients only. It’s a philosophy that is reflected in the restaurant’s signature ingredient, the truffle, which focuses on the black melanosporum of this time of year, then moves on to freshly sourced black summer truffle from April onwards and peaks with the highly prized white truffle in autumn.

TODAY’S ITALIAN CUISINE While perusing the menu we were served fresh olives from Puglia and a Focaccia bread selection including varieties with herbs, tomatoes and olives. If you get the chance, try the Burrata cheese with Panzanella bread salad and cucumber coulis, it’s a light but delicious starter that gets things going nicely. Another rare delicacy and sensory exploration even for those rather familiar with Italian food is the asparagus flan with marinated egg yolk and shavings of fresh truffle, with a light parmesan fondue at its base. This tongue-tingling dish is haute cuisine and comfort food combined! On an occasion like this you’re spoiled rotten as you’re sampling lots of the delicious offerings that leave Manu’s kitchen. To accompany them we variously opted for a glass of white Trebbiano and a bottle of red Ripasso

Valpolicella; the one crisp and dry, the other light but earthy and very interesting. Italian wines are naturally perfectly matched with pasta, as in the case of the Plin (Italian for ‘pinch’) ravioli filled with artichokes and Mozzarella ‘Fior di Latte’ cheese, with pine nuts, marjoram and sherry jus, and the equally gorgeously creamy Tagliatelle pasta in a truffle and butter sauce topped with shavings of black melanosporum truffles. The latter is the signature dish of Tartufo, and it isn’t hard to see why, but if you can, also try the Risotto Acquerello, served with broad beans, Carabinero prawns and grilled baby squid. Feather light and delicate but packed with flavour, they form the perfect base of a special Italian dining experience, complemented also by the pan-roasted sea bass fillet with a zingy celeriac and lemon sauce, and ravioli filled with samphire and Ricotta cheese. For me that’s a perfect example of traditional Italian cuisine brought right up to date with the latest trends, and when they’re this tasty and healthy it’s what they call a ‘win-win’ situation. You can, of course, also drop by for a snack at Tartufo, enjoying a tapasstyle sampling of dishes and choose from a special lunch menu that also includes delightful creations such as a beef truffle burger, Cassis-glazed

pork ribs or an Italian soup with fresh sandwich of the day – perfect for this time of year. The dessert menu continues the trend of traditional cooking inspired by innovative ideas, and this produces gorgeous sweet offerings such as Tiramisú Piñacolada, the quintessentially Italian Hazelnut Panna Cotta with chocolate and coffee ganache, and sweet Sicilian Ricotta cheese parfait, avocado pastry and sweet berry sauce. If you have a sweet tooth you might also want to try the Affogato, vanilla ice cream sundae in an Italian double espresso. I resisted the temptation to try a digestive grappa or whisky – a recommendation if you’re not driving – and had a gentle homemade Limoncello from a local Italian supplier. Tartufo is part of the gastronomic revolution that is sweeping through Marbella and making it a dining destination in its own right. If you love Italian food and also enjoy innovative modern cooking, this is the place to be. Check the website as Manu and Hollie also offer guests free and discounted parking at the Indigo car park nearby. g C/ Tetuan, 9, Marbella Old Town. Tel: 951 087 323. reservations@iltartufo-ristorante.com www.iltartufo-ristorante.com

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b THE GOURMET news COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

Reopening of

AROMA RESTAURANT

An iconic restaurant in Fuengirola, Aroma, has reopened its doors to the public. Located in one of Fuengirola’s most emblematic streets and boasting a stunning view, it was first opened by Roque Martínez Luna some 29 years ago. Roque is as excited about the restaurant as he was on the day it opened. Alongside his hardworking team, he will be bringing diners the passion, love, and the wisdom that comes with experience, as well as delectable international food that reveals the perfect blend of tradition and creativity. g C/ Moncayo 23, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 665 502.

TÍO PEPE FESTIVAL WINS RECOGNITION

TRUFFLES AND THE KITCHEN LAUNCH

James Chick, Guido Di Lucia and Andrew Foldi are the talented team who recently opened two new restaurants, right next to each other. The first, The Kitchen, serves bistro style dishes, including burgers, quesadillas, salads, sandwiches, and more. The unique design and ambience make this venue an ideal choice for a quick lunch or relaxed evening with friends while sipping on craft beer and tucking into tasty dishes. Open from 12am until late daily. Truffles offers an international style menu, from Peruvian ceviche to Argentinean steaks, as well as a wide range of international wines. The cosy, stylish interiors make for a memorable experience. Open from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. g C.C. Pinares de Elviria, Local 18, Marbella. Tel: 951 569 173/682 320 325.

ZOZOÏ REOPENS WITH A BRAND NEW LOOK

One of Marbella’s most iconic restaurants, Zozoï in the Old Town, is reopening following substantial renovations. The stylish interiors now boast various different looks. In the front, there is a Mediterranean-style open terrace and inside, a cosy art deco style salon. The back area will be home to a beautiful winter vegetable garden. Zozoï will continue serving the food we all know and love, whipped up by talented Chef Maxime Lenoir and his team with fresh, seasonal products. There will also be two different menus and weekly specials. g Open daily except Tuesday from 7pm ‘til late. Tel: 952 858 868. www.zozoi.com

Tío Pepe Festival, an event taking place in Jerez de la Frontera, was recently deemed Best World Wine Event at the seventh Drinks International’s Wine Tourism Challenge organised by British magazine, The Drinks International. The jury, whose aim is to promote and recognise excellence in the industry, highlighted the quality of the festival, which offers performances by national and international artists alike. This year, the festival will be taking place in August, and will feature Sara Baras, Sergio Dalma, and Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson, to name just a few artists. i www.tiopepefestival.com

DELEYTE GOURMET

Not to be Missed in Marbella If organic produce, colourful homemade macarons and freshly made smoothies are the stuff of your fancy, step into Deleyte Gourmet in the centre of Marbella, which specialises in gourmet, diet and ecological products. Some of the many items you might find include free range eggs, gluten-free and other specialised breads, hams, smoked goods, anchovies and other fish products, ecological honey, Scottish and Norwegian salmon, homemade gazpacho and vegetable purees, nuts and cereals of all types and so much more. g C/ Pablo Casals 17, Edif. Atrium (corner Gregorio Marañón), Marbella. Tel: 952 636 776. deleyte.boutique@hotmail.com

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b THE GOURMET proﬁle

ELENI MANOUSOU of N obu

When Eleni Manousou graduated from culinary school in Athens 13 years ago, the last thing she probably imagined was that she would be travelling the world or becoming the Executive Chef of a Nobu restaurant in the South of Spain. For the past eight years, she has honed her craft in Australia, Austria, Morocco and, ﬁnally, Marbella, where she has headed Nobu Matsuhisa’s only southern Spanish restaurant since its launch. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

SUCCESS = PASSION + SERENDIPITY

“

It was quite by chance,” she answers, when I enquire how she met the Chef and entrepreneur she calls Nobu San. “I was working at a hotel at the time that served food from various cultures on different themed nights. A friend found out that Nobu in Athens needed a chef and suggested that I go for a trial. I went along with my sister and she was 100 per cent confident that I would get the job… I was 100 per cent confident that I wouldn’t. In the end, she was right!” The trial, she says, consisted of preparing a full service. “They left me alone, which was good,” she laughs. Eleni smiles often; her energy is catching. She recalls the first time she met the great Nobu Matsuhisa; “He is super sweet; a gentleman… he introduced himself and asked our names. He is someone who never

forgets you. He always remembers something about your life and when he sees you, he asks you about it.” Eleni was also fortunate to meet one of Nobu’s partners: Robert de Niro. “I wasn’t able to talk to him but we were both at the Cannes Film Festival one year; I was promoting Nobu and he had starred in a film.” One of the best things about having Nobu San as a boss, she notes, is his belief in freedom. That is, every Nobu in the world serves classic dishes such as the Black Cod with Miso or the Rock Shrimp Tempura, but each Chef is also encouraged to create their own specials and to use the very best local produce. “Over here, some of the finest fare includes freshly caught fish. I like offering diners fish of the day or tempura with three sauces on the side (creamy spicy sauce, chilli siso salsa, and jalopeño dressing).”

Another popular dish, she notes, is the Chilean sea bass with dashi ponzu. When asked if she will be in Marbella much longer, she answers, “I hope so… I love it here… but you never know. The Group tells you where they need you so the job sometimes involves travel.” Currently, Eleni heads a team of around 23 people, which allows the restaurant to offer top notch service. Her job is complex and, in addition to managing the kitchen, she takes charge of all the budgeting, visits markets, and takes time for one of her greatest passions: “reducing food wastage.” Eleni is as excited as the rest of the Nobu team about the opening of the new Nobu Hotel this spring, featuring 18 luxury suites adjacent to the Nobu Lounge. “Nobu San and partners will be coming for the sake ceremony, celebrated every time he opens a new

restaurant or hotel.” The ceremony involves the partners breaking a barrel of sake with an axe, and serving the traditional beverage to all those attending. Eleni tells me that the Nobu Group currently has 40 restaurants worldwide (including both Nobu and Matsuhisa restaurants) and that “Nobu San tries to visit each restaurant at least once a year.” Eleni is a bright light on the local culinary scene, one that we hope continues to shine on our shores for many years to come. Her passion, humour and humility are worthy of admiration, and her cuisine, one that honours the Nobu name to perfection. g At the Puente Romano, Marbella. Blvd Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 778 686. www.puenteromano.com

176 / APRIL 2018 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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b THE GOURMET wine Much has been written of the splendid and indomitable Basques, who are Europe’s oldest nation without ever having been a country, their mysterious origins, unique language, and their inﬂuence and accomplishments in so many diverse realms – be it navigation, exploration, whaling, cod ﬁshing, religion, sports, commerce, fashion, politics, industry, or gastronomy.

REZABAL W

hat goes largely unappreciated, however, is that pre the industrialisation of the late 19th century and beyond, this was historically a people who either looked to the sea and the distant unknown to earn their living or stayed in the tough scenic mountains of the interior, where life centered around small traditional, self-sufﬁcient family farms and the baserri or caserío vasco which provided a vital social hub. Basque words (bear in mind that Standard Basque was only formulated in the late 1960s – there are some nine differentiated dialects) are often compound, based on adding sufﬁxes to roots; and therefore while baserri is derived from basa (wild) and herri (settlement) to denote a farmstead, its inhabitants are baserritarrak as opposed to town or city dwelling

kaletarrak; and Txakoli(na) – or in Spanish, Chacolí – comes from the word etxakoa (made for home), evolving first into etxakon (near home), eventually shortening first to txakon and ultimately becoming txakolin/a. Txakoli was therefore traditionally simply a wine made for home consumption along with all the other things implied in Basque mixed farming: dairy cattle, sheep, wheat, corn, vegetables, fruits, nuts and wood; and, despite almost dying out in the middle of the 19th century, remained an artisan product until the 1980s when local politicians managed to create the Txakolina Getariako/Chacolií de Guetaria Denomination in 1989 in Gipuzkoa/ Guipuzcoa Province. This, centred around the charming medieval fishing village of Getaria, whose famous local worthies include Juan Sebastián Elcano – Magellan´s navigator and the first person to circumnavigate the globe – and fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, and is not only the anchovy capital of Northern Spain but boasts half a dozen astoundingly good restaurants, perhaps most notably Kaia Kaipe and Elkano; and the original production area covered a very specific Atlantic coastal strip of high rainfall embracing also the villages of Zarautz and Aia. Here, and archives that detail wine production date back to 1649, the typical offering is and remains

An Ode to Basque Tradition

a sharp, low alcohol, spritzy white of primarily lemon character with a tenuous salty zing given the vineyards’ proximity to the sea. Originally viniﬁed in wooden foudres, later in polyester, and since the 1980s in stainless steel, cold fermentation invariably results in cleaner and more pronounced fruit than once upon a time – often bringing out attractive elements of lime and understated tropical overtones of papaya and kiwi. These wines go perfectly with the local seafood: be it the wonderfully flavoursome local anchovies, baked turbot, or indeed kokotxas (a local, somewhat gelatinous speciality consisting of the throat of the hake prepared usually in salsa verde or al pil-pil). Made primarily from the indigenous Hondarribi Zuri (most probably the southern French Petit Courbu), as this is also serious cider country, it’s often poured somewhat theatrically from a not inconsiderable height into sawn off pint glasses. There is, however, also a rarer black grape variety called Hondarribi Beltza. Unrelated to its white ‘counterpart’, no one is sure of its provenance, it is deﬁnitely not Cabernet Franc as suggested by some, and the most likely theory is that it may be of Northern French origin by virtue of the fact that this part of the Bay of Biscay formed part of an alternative Camino de Santiago coastal route trod since medieval times by many Northern European

monastic orders. Grown infrequently, and though usually the base of the very few examples of excellent local rosé, given its relatively low acidity and alcohol it is also used by those who cultivate it (Txomin Etxaniz is a good example) in a small proportion to take the edge off their whites. For those of you interested, there are nonetheless a handful of pricy limited production 100 per cent examples out there – most notably Talai Berri, whose offering is dark and sultry with fruits of the forest attributes, for, viniﬁed on its own, it makes for a most unusual style – dark, tart, structured and a tad rustic. I must give a 10 out of 10 to US wine lover Dwight Furrow, who some years ago posted the following comment: If you’re tired of the same old wine routine and want something different, this is it – perhaps the oddest wine I’ve had all year. I found it a bit of a challenge – fruity but exceedingly dry, cheerful and zesty but harsh. In the meantime, however, the original area has increased from some 60 hectares to over 400. with total annual production approaching a million litres, the vineyards are mostly on south east facing slopes in order to protect them from the harsh Atlantic weather; and in 2007 a further 14 villages were authorised. Some 91 per cent of the growing area remains coastal and there are now ever more examples on the market – not all of them good.

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TXAKOLI REZABAL 2017 (10.5%)

REZABAL Anders Rezabal and Mireya Osinaga met in 1987, when he was studying industrial engineering in Vergara – a town of some 15,000 souls established in the 13th century and an enlightened education centre thanks to the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País choosing it as the location for the ﬁrst ever higher education institution to operate in the Basque Country. Their common interest was music and they formed a hugely successful folk band that toured the Basque Country for a decade, playing sell out gigs throughout the region in venues large and small. Anders had, however, been brought up in Getaria until he was around fourteen (we’re now in 1975, the year Franco died) where his father had some three hectares of vineyards which he tried to make a go of as a boutique winery. The times were against him, however, the region not yet in vogue, and so these were ultimately sold to the Txueka/Chueca family (Txomin Etxaniz) who continue to be the leading light of the DO. Having nonetheless inherited some of his father’s land elsewhere, by 1987, in quiet spells, Anders – having decided that if he were to embark on a career that it would be to achieve what his papa had not, in now more promising circumstances – set about planting vineyards from scratch, producing his ﬁrst wine in 1993 and launching his own estate produced label in 1996. Today, he and Mireya therefore have some 22 hectares spread over seven different sites, mainly in Zarautz, making three fun and lively styles of wine that remain faithful to local regional traditions. Their spectacular vineyards, grown on major slopes not far from the sea with the vines trained on trellises in order to assure ventilation and mitigate against damp, are a combination of original rootstock (for phylloxera does not like sand – it’s a bug that eats roots) and vines that have been painstakingly grafted; and the soil is a mixture of compact sand and clay. Yields are relatively high – between 10,000 to 12,000 kilos a hectare – and harvesting is of course by hand, which necessitates many hands to the pump. Just three of their hectares consist

of Beltza and these are used primarily to make their delicious rosé. Organic would be nice, but as in the case of Gerardo Méndez (see Feb 2017) conditions are simply too wet, which means that despite employing viticultural practices that are as natural as possible, copper sulphate and sulphur are an absolute necessity. The wines are fermented with their natural wild yeasts – with neutral packet yeasts used as a standby.

RADICAL CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENTS BEYOND GETARIA During the Spanish economic boom, two further Txakoli DO’s were created. The participants were a mix of locals keen to resurrect and re-establish their lost legacies but not inconsiderable numbers of outsiders pitched in too – eager to capitalise on the blossoming commercial possibilities provided by the ever more fashionable Spanish Wine Trade. Though generally well-meaning, therefore, this has essentially served to dilute and confuse the understanding of what Txakoli(na) is – in a similar but more radical manner to how Rías Baixas has been transmuted in recent years.

BIZKAIKO TXAKOLINA/CHACOLÍ DE VIZCAYA Created in 1994, this DO is further west and centred on Bilbao and its hinterland. Its wines tend not only to be richer, but rounder and more mainstream than those of Getaria, higher in alcohol (usually around 12.5%) and with a much more extinguished sparkle. Some 38 producers farm six widely diverse sub zones. The best known of these is perhaps Itasmendi, and 95% of the region’s production is white.

The main three grape varieties are Hondarribi Zuri, Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia (Petit Courbou again) and Hondarribi Beltza, but also authorised are Mune Mahatsa (Folle Blanche – the traditional grape variety of Cognac and Armagnac), Izkiriota (the southern French Gros Manseng), Izkiriota Ttippia (the southern French Petit Manseng), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay. There is, in addition, a semi extinct black variety called Oilar Begi (‘chicken eye’) which is apparently making a bit of a comeback. Winemaking here goes back to the 8th Century and the 1891 Census

revealed that even then there were 2,874 hectares in production. These were ravaged by phylloxera in the early 1900s and today almost a tenth of this is back in production.

ARABAKO TXAKOLINA/CHACOLÍ DE ÁLAVA

Created in 2001, this most recent, baby DOP (the P for Protegida) offshoot lies inland just 20 minutes immediately south of Bilbao with its approximately. 100 hectares located around five specific towns. Wine-making here goes way back (to 760 AD) but by the late 19th century grape plantations had declined to some 500 hectares and by the late 20th century to just five. Some seven producers now rule the roost – the best known of which is possibly Astobiza – who make opulent, slightly oily, minerally imbued whites in excess of 12.5%. The primary grape variety is Hondarribi Zuri together with Bordeleza Zuria (Folle Blanche), Izkiriota Ttippia (Petit Manseng), Izkiriota (Gros Manseng), Petit Corbou, as well as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay.

Pale sheeny lemon water ice in hue, with complimentary elements of understated pineapple crush and kiwi. With a vividly similar flavour, some spritz but admirably delicate richness and tang. Springy, full of energy, and with good zest and a lively acidity that is by no means aggressive. Production approx. 180,000 bottles.

TXAKOLI REZABAL ARRI 2016 (11%)

Just a tad greener in shade than the above, this is predominantly about lime but with a pervasive nectarine/ clementine seam, intriguingly elusive herbal notes, and just a hint of asparagus. More assertive on the palate, longer, and with rather more acidity. Match with turbot. Production approx. 15,000 bottles.

TXAKOLI REZABAL ROSÉ 2017 (10.5%)

Made from Hondarribi Beltza and on the basis of minimal skin contact, this ever so pale pink has an enticing flowery nose together with suggestions of peach and marzipan but is agreeably spare with an altogether dry, long, zippy ﬁnish. For fans of seriously good subtle rosé. Production approx. 30,000 bottles.

CONFUSED?! Well, just to throw the cat in amongst the pigeons, going back to the beginning, given that Txakoli consists of the old age concept of a wine initially made first for home and later near home, the production of (this time – in its Spanish form) Chacolí actually goes well beyond the Basque country, way across to not only Cantabria (from the 13th Century right through to the mid-20th Century when it still exceeded the total production of all the Basque provinces) but also to Burgos, where it existed in a more artisan form and efforts are currently being made to achieve a further DO certification. What these wines actually are and are made of, given all the above, is yet another convoluted question; so in the meantime my advice is to sit down with a nice glass of Rezabal (dear Anders justifiably comments that Getaria is suffering from an inferiority complex) and enjoy their clean simplicity while mulling over the best book written in recent years about the altogether admirable Basques: The Basque History Of The World by Mark Kurlansky. e ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2018 / 179

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. . THE GUIDE listings

the guide

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

under €25

€25 – €40

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

LISTINGS PET NEWS WHAT’S ON STARS FAMILY FUN

€40 – €60

€60 plus

RUTA 40

255 563

Open from 9am to 12 midnight daily. C.C. El Zoco, Sitio de Calahonda. Tel: 951 133 737

french

belgian MYTILUS

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos, Puerto Sotogrande. Tel: 956 790 212

ALBERT & SIMON Open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday and for dinner only on Saturday. Closed Sundays. Urb. Nueva Alcántara, Edif. Mirador, Bloque 4-B, Marbella. Tel: 952 783 714

JACKS

EL BANCO

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

Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to midnight. Urb. Aloha Pueblo, Local 35, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 907 570

JACKS SMOKEHOUSE

GAUCHOS

Open seven days a week from noon till late. Puerto Banús, Tel: 952 813 625

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village. CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 897 744

Open daily from 12pm to midnight. Ctra. De Ronda, km 45, C.C. Monte Halcones, Local 9-10, Benahavís. Tel: 951 275 109

MR. GOURMET BURGER

HACIENDA PATAGONICA

GIOIA

VALDERRAMA RESTAURANT

Open from 6pm ‘til late every evening. Avda. Luis Braile 20, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 785 257

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ de la Acera de la Marina 2, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 968

Open daily from 1pm to 8pm except Mondays. C/ Velázquez 1, Marbella. Tel: 630 441 834

ORIGEN

THE ORGANIC CAFÉ

YANX

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Gregorio Marañón s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 968

Open daily from 9am to 10pm. Esquina C/ Martínez Catena and Paseo Marítimo Fuengirola. Tel: 951

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

Open from 9am Monday to Saturday and Sunday

eco

ALMAZEN

CASA MONO Open Monday to Saturday from 1pm to 11pm. C/ Calderón Estébanez 19, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 578

LE BISTROMAN Open daily for lunch and dinner. El Corte Inglés, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

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gluten-free

km. 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 867 599

9-10, C/ Las Yedras, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 003 434

de Levante, Local 39, Estepona Port. Tel: 951 703 060

VOVEM

ACINIPO

EL GAUCHO DE BANÚS

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Duque de Ahumada, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 008 822

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle Benabola 9-11, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 812 167

indian

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesday. C.C. El Zoco, Sitio de Calahonda, Mijas Costa. Tel: 607 680 999

CELICIOSO

EL GAUCHO

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile. Tel: 952 820 900

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

greek

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

grills

EL RANCHO DEL PUERTO Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Benabola 4, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 252 Open for lunch and dinner every day. Muelle Ribera 47H, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 686

MARBELLA CLUB GRILL

Open nightly for dinner. CN340-A7, km. 166, Cancelada, El Saladillo. Tel: 952 784 463

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

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

Open daily from 1pm to 11pm. Paseo Marítimo Rey de España 4, Local 2-4, Fuengirola. Tel: 951 903 807

GRILL DEL PUERTO

ASADOR CRIOLLO GRILL ASADOR GUADALMINA

CORIANDER

OLD TOWN GRILL

Open from 1pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm daily. At Reserva del Higuerón. Avda. del Higuerón 48, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 661 174

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

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

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

MASSALA

Open Monday to Thursday from 11am to 2am and on Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 3am. Urb. La Carolina, Marbella. Tel: 951 134 083

RESTAURANTE RANCHO

MUMTAZ

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

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

EL CARNICERO

T-BONE GRILL

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. At the Gran Meliá Don Pepe, Avda. José Meliá s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 300

EL CARNICERO 2

VOVEM

Open every day for lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz,

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Odeon, Locales

CABAÑA NAGÜELES

AL ROLO

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

international 11&11 RESTOBAR

Open Monday to Thursday from 7pm ‘til late, on Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and from 7pm ‘til late and on Sunday from 10am ‘til late. Dársena

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

AROMA Open daily except Tuesday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm and 6:30pm to 11pm. C/ Moncayo 23, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 665 502

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

AVANTO Open for events only. C/ Rota 9, Mijas Costa, La Cala de Mijas. Tel: 952 587 539

BABOO LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT 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

BAHIA BEACH Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 146.5,

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Casares. Tel: 951 704 884

CERRADO DEL ÁGUILA

Tel: 952 880 126

BARBQ ARTESANAL BURGERS

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

EL CASTILLO

CLARO! RESTAURANT & BEACH CLUB

EL CHIRINGUITO

Open every day for lunch and dinner. C/ Jacinto Benavente 5, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 656

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

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. C/ El Pilar s/n, Benahavís. Tel: 681 294 442

Open daily for lunch and Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 873

At the Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Sunday afternoon and all of Monday. At the Hotel Puente Romano. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 951 607 011

CORTIJO FAIN

EL CORZO

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

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

CAFÉ DE RONDA

D.O.M

Open daily for breakfast and lunch until 7pm. Avda. Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Marbella. Tel: 952 862 149

Open nightly for dinner. At the Hotel Meliá Marbella Banús. C/ Mario Vargas Llosa s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 912 764 747

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Muelle de Honor, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 778 797

CAFETERÍA KE

DON LEONE

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Puerto Deportivo de Sotogrande, s/n. Tel: 956 790 333

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

CAMURÍ

D-WINE

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, local 24-25, Estepona. Tel: 951 217 871

Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. C.C. Azalea, Edif. A, CN340, km 173, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 339 309

EL LAGO

EL BOLERO

EL OCEANO BEACH HOTEL & RESTAURANT

BIBO

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.

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

EL CAMPANARIO Open every day for lunch. Open for dinner on Friday and Saturday. CN 340, km. 168, Estepona.

EL GRAN GASTBY EL JARDÍN DE LUTZ Open every night for dinner from 7:30pm. At Hotel Finca Cortesin, Casares. Tel: 952 937 800

EL JINETE Open daily for dinner except for Friday. Ctra. La Cala Golf, km 45, La Cala de Mijas. Tel: 952 119 170 Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Urb. Elviria Hills. Avda. Las Cumbres s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 832 371

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 199, Marbella. Tel: 952 587 550

EL OLIVO 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

EL RESTAURANTE DEL CASINO 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

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

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

FONDA RESTAURANTE EL POSTILLÓN Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:30pm to 11pm. Ctra. de Mijas, km. 1, A-387, Alhaurín El Grande. Tel: 951 254 520

GALERIA SAN PEDRO Open from 11am until midnight. Closed Sundays. Avda Las Palmeras 15, San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 780 927

GD GOURMET DELI MARBELLA Open 9:30am to 9pm from Monday to Friday and Saturday from 12am to 6pm. Closed Sundays. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 7, Marbella. Tel: 952

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Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 824 108

LA TERRAZA

LIMA

HERMOSA

LAGUNA BEACH RESTAURANTE

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 7pm. Closed Monday. Local 1A. Puerto de Cabopino. Tel: 952 837 483

C.C. Laguna Village, local R1, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 873

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

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 12am and for lunch on Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Plaza Practicante Manuel Cantos 2, Marbella. Tel: 952 866 630

HILLS CAFE Open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Closed on Monday. Tel: 952 856 171

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

HORIZON STEAKHOUSE

LA BRISA

LA PLAGE DE CASANIS

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Antonio Machado s/n, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 560 094

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

Open Monday to Wednesday 10am – 7.30pm and Thursday to Sunday 10am –10pm. Urb. Coto Chico 4D, Marbella. Tel: 952 837 862

LA CANTINA DEL GOLF

LA TAPA

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

Open nightly for dinner. Plaza Santo Cristo 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 901 040

LA FAMIEKE

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

HOTEL MARBELLA CLUB BUFFET Open every day for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 211

IL MARE Open every evening for dinner. Playa del Rodeo, Marbella. Tel: 951 319 372

JOFFREY’S Open everyday evening for dinner from 5.30 pm. CN340 km 200, La Cala de Mijas Costa. Tel: 674 636 321

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

KAVA Open nightly for dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos, Old

LA BIZNAGA

Open nightly for dinner except Sunday. C/ Cruz 5, Plaza Puente de Ronda. Old Town Marbella. Tel: 952 775 412

LA GRANADA DIVINO Open daily for lunch and dinner except Tuesday. C/ de las Piedras, Gaucín. Tel: 951 709 075

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

LA TIENDA Open nightly for dinner except Mondays. C/ La Tienda 1, Urb. La Virginia, Marbella. Tel: 626 273 882

LA VERANDA

LA VERANDAH Open week days for dinner at 7:30pm and weekends for lunch and dinner, closed Tuesdays. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 136. Playa Guadiaro, Torre-guadiaro, Cádiz. Tel: 956 615 998

LES CUBES Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Oasis Club, CN340, km. 183, Marbella. Tel: 952 868 396

L’OLIVE Open daily from 8am-6pm. At La Reserva Club. Avda. de la Reserva s/n, Sotogrande. Tel: 956 785 252

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

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

LOS NARANJOS RESTAURANT Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. Los Naranjos de Marbella. Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 816 105

MACAAO BEACH Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Jose Echegaray, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 113 618

LA VERANDA LOBBY BAR

MAGNA CAFÉ

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

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C/ Calderón de la Barca, s/n. Tel: 952 929 578

MARE NOSTRUM

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Open daily for breakfast and dinner. At the Hotel Amàre Marbella. Avda. Severo Ochoa 8, Marbella. Tel: 800 843 493

MC CAFÉ

Saturday for dinner only. Closed Sunday and Monday. C/ Aduar 12, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 277

SOLEO MARBELLA BEACH CLUB RESTAURANT

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

Open daily from 11am to 8pm. Avda. Duque de Ahumada s/n, Marbella. Tel: 951 562 887

MESSINA

Open nightly for dinner except Sundays. Urb. Reserva del Higuerón, Málaga. Tel: 951 385 622

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

MIRAFLORES GOLF RESTAURANT

SOLLO SUITE

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

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

MOJO

TANINO

Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner from 8pm ‘til late. Monte Paraíso Golf, Marbella. Tel: 951 217 272

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

MOMO MARBELLA Open Monday to Saturday from 6pm to midnight. C/ Tetuán 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 560

Open daily from 12pm onwards for lunch and dinner. Avda. del Mediterráneo, Blq. 3, Local 6, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 604 848

MOMO MARBELLA GOLDEN MILE

TERRA SANA

Open nightly for dinner, except Sunday. Avda. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 30, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 760

Open Monday to Sunday 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. C.C. Parque Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 663 937. Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 951 915 069

MONKEY CLUB Open nightly for dinner. At the Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 951 607 018

NELI Gs Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Benavista, Estepona. Tel: 952 928 576

NŌMŌ BRASSERIE Open for lunch and dinner every day except for Sunday. Bulevar de San Pedro, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 951 702 168

TANINO SAN PEDRO

THE ENGLISH GARDEN

CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 647 791 515

LEONARDO DA VINCI

ZEST

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

Open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and for cocktail hour from 4:30pm to 8pm. Centro Plaza, Marbella. Tel: 951 319 151

ZOZOI Open Wednesday to Monday for dinner. Closed Tuesday. Plaza Altamirano 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 858 868

italian AL DENTE

Open every day for dinner. Closed on Mondays. Urb. Jardines del Puerto, local 12, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 906 181

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

MARBELLA PIZZA KITCHEN Open daily from 1pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm. Avda. del Prado s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 908 438

METRO

AMORE E FANTASÍA

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

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

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

ARETUSA

O MAMMA MIA

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

Open every day except Sunday for lunch and dinner. At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

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

CASA TUA Open every evening for dinner. C/ Ortiz de Molinillo 14, Marbella. Tel: 951 712 227

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 11pm and Sunday from 1.30 to 9.30pm. Closed Mondays. Avda. España 16, Urb. Buenavista, Sitio de Calahonda. Tel: 952 930 252

CIBO

THE LITTLE GERANIUM

Open all day. 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 Bruno Sul Mare: Edif. Skol, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318/19. Da Bruno Mijas Costa: Ctra. de Mijas, km. 3.6, Mijas. Tel: 952 460 724

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 7pm to 11pm. CN340, km 178.5, Marbella. Tel: 951 354 213

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 11, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 380

DA BRUNO

NUNOS

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 SAN MARTINO Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pinares de Elviria s/n, Elviria, Marbella. Tel: 952 832 702

ROSMARINO DELLA PIAZZA Open every day from 12pm ‘til midnight for lunch and dinner. C.C. Pinogolf de Don Carlos 34, Elviria. Tel: 952 850 148

OCHO

THE MEETING ROOM

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

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

PASSION CAFÉ

THE ORANGE TREE

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

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

DA PAOLO

TARTUFO

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

THE PLAYWRIGHT

DON GIOVANI

Open every day for lunch from 1pm to 3:30pm and for dinner from 6:30pm ‘til late. C/ Tetuán 9, Marbella. Tel: 951 087 323

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

Open every night for dinner from 7:30pm. At Hotel Finca Cortesin, Casares. Tel: 952 937 800

TIKITANO

FRASCATI

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de Los Naranjos s/n, Sotogrande. Tel: 952 790 392

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

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

TROCADERO BEACH

LA FIORENTINA

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. El Pilar, Local 11 (opposite the Crown Plaza Hotel), Estepona. Tel: 952 885 765

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

RESTAURANTE ROYAL Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Torrequebrada, Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 441 414

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

SAVOR Open 1pm to 3:30pm and 7:30pm to 11:30pm daily except Sunday evenings and Monday. Avda. Andalucía 6, Local 4, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 951 531 777

SEA GRILL At the Puente Romano Beach Club. Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 187, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

TRUFFLES KITCHEN

AND THE

GOLD RESTAURANT

LA PAPPARDELLA DI ESTEPONA

SERAFINA Open from Monday to Saturday for dinner at the Puente Romano Hotel on the Golden Mile. Tel: 952 771 798

VALPARAÍSO Open nightly for dinner. Ctra. Mijas – Fuengirola, km. 14, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 485 996

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

mediterranean

RESTAURANTE BAR CARMEN Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 806 739

oriental

ASIAN FUSION BING

Truffles is open daily from 6:30pm to 10:30pm nightly. The kitchen is open daily from 12pm ‘til late. C.C. Pinares de Elviria, Local 18, Marbella. Tel: 951 569 173

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

LA PAPPARDELLA SUL MARE

ASIATICO ZEN

Open Monday to Thursday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Friday and Saturday from 1.30pm to 4.30 pm and 8pm to 10.30pm. Ctra. de Ojén, km 22, A355, Marbella-Monda. Tel: 952 864 455

VENTA GARCÍA

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Tuesday lunch. C/ Lirios s/n, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 691

SKINA

VILLA PADIERNA CLUB DE MAR

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Friday and

Open daily for lunch from 1pm to 6pm.

SHANTI-SOM – AMRITA

Open daily for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Ctra. de Casares km 7, Casares. Tel: 952 894 191

LA TRATTORIA Open daily from 7pm to 11pm. At the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa. Avenida Zurita, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

Open 12.30pm-4.30pm and 6.30pm to 12am daily. Fuengirola, Paseo Marítimo, L-42C. Tel: 952 470 218

BAMBOO Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Ctra. Istan km 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 906 674

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DRAGÓN DE ORO

Tel: 952 777 893

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

TA-KUMI

GENJI SUSHI BAR Open from 1:30pm-4pm and 8pm to 11pm. C/ Ramón Gomez de la Serna, 4, Edificio Balmoral. Marbella. Tel: 951 530 955

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

KABUKI RAW Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. At Finca Cortesín Hotel. Ctra. Casares s/n, Casares. Tel: 952 937 800

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

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

MAKITAKE Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Ribera s/n (above disco Seven), Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 811 592

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

NOBU Open nightly for dinner. At the Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 778 686

OMBÚ Open from 7pm to 11pm, Wednesday to Sunday. At the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa. Avenida Zurita, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 768 800

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

SAKURA Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda. José Banús, 5, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 536

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

BAHÍA

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Gregorio Marañón 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 770 839

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

PALACIO DE LA PAZ

TEPPANYAKI SAMURAI

CASA FERNANDO

TEATRO ALAMEDA

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Manolete 20, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 816 549

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

Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

HACIENDA

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

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

Plaza Ramón Martínez, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 159

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Playas del Duque s/n. Edif. Gaviotas IV, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 813 675s

LA COCINA

Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

TOP THAI

LA MÁQUINA

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Plaza, 64, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 319 778. Also at C.C. Laguna Village, Local 11-13, Estepona. Tel: 952 806 661

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sunday. At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

THAI GALLERY At Plaza Village at the Hotel Puente Romano. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 818 392

THAI STYLE

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Wednesday. CN 340, km. 151, Arena Beach. Tel: 952 796 320

Recinto Ferial. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 589 349

TEATRO CERVANTES Ramos Marín, 199, Málaga. Tel: 952 224 109

TEATRO SALON VARIETES VERACRUZ CINES YELMO CINEPLEX

*post offices

TSE YANG DIMSUM CLUB

LA MORAGA BISTRÓ

Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sundays. At El Corte Inglés Food Hall, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces s/n, in front of El Corte Inglés, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 448

WAGAMAMA

LA RED

Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 909 990

Open daily for lunch and dinner. 19 Ocean Village promenade, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 44182

Open daily from 9.30am to 6pm. Playa La Fontanilla, Marbella. Tel: 952 821 450

FUENGIROLA

WASABI

LA TABERNA DEL ALABARDERO

ESTEPONA

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

C/ Málaga 82–84. Tel: 952 800 537

scandinavian

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

ALOHA RESTAURANT

MESÓN EL ADOBE

Jac. Benavente, 14. Tel: 952 772 898

Open every evening for dinner from 6pm to 11.30pm. Avda. del Prado s/n, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 811 285

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

NUEVA ANDALUCÍA

SKANDIES

MI TABERNA

Pizarro, 41. Tel: 952 780 39

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

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

*tennis clubs

PAELLAS Y MÁS

CALAHONDA

C.C. El Zoco. Tel: 952 932 175

EL CORTE INGLÉS Tel: 952 467 843

FUENGIROLA Pza. los Chinorros. Tel: 952 474 384

MARBELLA C/ Jazmines. Tel: 952 810 887

SAN PEDRO

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

seafood

Open daily from 10:30am to 11pm. C/ Jacinto Benavente 33, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 511

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

EL BARLOVENTO

VILA DO GROVE

BEL AIR TENNIS AND PADDEL CLUB

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

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. C/ Las Malvas, Edif. On Line, Local 2, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 415

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

RESTAURANTE LA MARINA

*cinemas & theatres

Open daily for dinner. At the Villa Padierna Palace Hotel. CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 952 889 180

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. Tel: 956 171 531

SAPPORO

LA TORRE

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

SUKHO THAI

SANTOKU

spanish

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL MIJAS

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

CLUB DE TENIS DON CARLOS

Plaza de la Libertad 2. Mijas. Tel: 952 590 380

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

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL TORREMOLINOS

CLUB INTERNACIONAL DE TENNIS

Plaza de España, Recinto Ferial. Tel: 952 379 521

Ctra. Cádiz, km 173. Marbella. Tel: 952 813 341

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

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

CLUB MADROÑAL

Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

Benahavís. Tel: 617 647 223

MARISQUERÍA LA PESQUERA

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO

CLUB NUEVA ALCÁNTARA

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

Garcia Morato, s/n. San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 968

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

CINESA LA CAÑADA

HOFSAESS TENNIS ACADEMY

RESTAURANTE EL BOTE

La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

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

CINES TEATRO GOYA

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

Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 196 665

LEW HOADS TENNIS CLUB

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

PALAPA

CINESUR

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Laguna Village, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 808 165

C.C. Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 198 605

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB

MULTICINES ALFIL

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

TAI PAN

SANTIAGO

MARBELLA HILL TENNIS CLUB

Open seven days a week for dinner. H. Puente Romano, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 177, Marbella.

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

Avda. Camilo José Cela, s/n. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 800 056

Closed until March 15. Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday. Centro Comercial Marbellamar. Tel: 952 770 550

SUSHI KATSURA

Avda. El Fuerte, Marbella. Tel: 659 677 539

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listings THE GUIDE .

MARBELLA PLAYA TENIS CN340, km 189, Marbella. Tel: 657 619 630

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

PUENTE ROMANO TENNIS CLUB Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

ROYAL TENNIS CLUB MARBELLA El Rosario, Marbella. Tel: 952 837 651

SPORT CLUB RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN Avda. del Higueron, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 565 761

*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

*train

Customer assistance T: 952 128 267 General Info T: 902 240 202 Reservations T: 902 240 202 Ave T: 952 128 079

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. THE GUIDE family

A new kid has started at school this year – Gavin, a pretty cool guy from the Gold Coast in Queensland who is completing his last two years of schooling here, since his parents decided to move to the Coast a few months ago. Naturally, I tried get to know him from day one. Australia has always been on my list of ‘to visit’ places and I’m actually considering applying for Uni there, subject to approval from my parents, of course. WORDS JOFFREY KING

WHY

TRAVELLING

ALONE IS A GREAT

IDEA PRE-UNI

avin talks a lot about how different things are ‘down under’... the bad rep ‘schoolies’ often have, Christmas in summer and what it’s like to surf all-year-round on the Gold Coast. He will also be going to uni in Australia, but after his IB, he plans on backpacking for a year, mainly around Europe but in Asia as well. He tells me this year-long sabbatical is common for Aussie kids, who are so geographically isolated

that many yearn for a taste of life in European or Asian cities. Thus, most make a living working in bars or restaurants, freelance writing and, above all, teaching English. It makes me stop to consider if I might ask my parents if I can do the same. Of course, unlike Gavin, I have travelled quite a bit since I was a child. I was born in the UK, but nearly every holiday involved taking a plane to everywhere from Hong Kong to the sunny Coast, where my parents eventually decided to buy a home. However, I have always travelled with my parents, and must admit that travelling alone appeals. There are many lessons to be learned from going solo, Gavin and I have worked out. The ﬁrst is getting yourself out of binds without mum or dad’s help. I can’t imagine what I would do if I lost my credit card or arrived at a hotel I’d booked only to ﬁnd out they didn’t have a room for me. This is the stuff that Gavin’s

brother, Cameron’s anecdotes are made of (Cameron is visiting for a couple of weeks and likes to amuse us ‘little squats’ with his grown-up stories). The truth is, the fact that I am sometimes hopeless with things like bookings and catching public transport makes me realise that I’d probably benefit from a year touring the world by myself. Cameron also talks about the people he met on his sabbatical; thanks to social media, they still stay in touch and he is currently planning a summer backpacking escapade with two mates he met while in India. I wonder what that would be like; to make friends with people from all over the world, visit their homes, try out real homecooked meals which I imagine would be a lot more delicious than restaurant fare. I am currently planning the way I will let mum and dad know of my plans… I hope I manage to muster the courage to ask them if a year away would be okay with them before this article comes out (they always rush to pick up a copy of . They want to be the first to read my column, in case they have to confiscate all copies distributed close to the school if

I’ve said something embarrassing). Joke! They are actually very proud of me. I think the best strategy is just to be honest with them. I would be interested in travelling with Gavin, perhaps for the first couple of countries, then discover the rest of the world myself. I hope to have a travel blog one day, and my parents know I love writing, so in order to provide interesting content for my readers, I probably should start getting to know the world. Travel is also an important way to pay it forward. That is, I hope to use the last leg of my journey to devote to volunteer work. There are many associations that offer safe, meaningful experiences while helping impoverished areas in many ways – either through construction or teaching, mainly (I think I’ll opt for the latter; mum says I’m a bit spindly and the mirror confirms this assertion). My parents have always encouraged me to be my own person and they may be surprised when they discover I want a taste of the world, in absolute freedom. I hope they support me and will definitely keep you posted on their response. e

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pets THE GUIDE .

Yvette Short from Edinburgh with Tease, a Whippet, who won the coveted title of Best in Show, on the fourth and ﬁnal day of Crufts 2018, at the NEC Birmingham

Sir Jack Spratticus, a Border Terrier, has won the Dog Hero competition, Friends for Life, after helping his owner, Vanessa Holbrow, live with complex mental health issues, by giving her companionship, conﬁdence, and stability. Jack had been to four homes before being rescued at the age of 13 months by Vanessa, making theirs a truly beautiful love story

It was such an exciting four days for dog show lovers; Crufts, one of the World’s most prestigious dog shows, celebrated canine beauty and ability in all its splendour. We bring you images that encapsulate the fun and spirit of the 2018 competition, which took place just last month. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FLICK.DIGITAL

A poodle being groomed on the third day of Crufts 2018, at the NEC Birmingham

BEST OF CRUFTS Kris Brock from Honiton with Barkus, a Komondor, which was the Best of Breed winner A team of Dogue De Bordeaux arrive at the show

The Dog Agility Final

Victoria Ingram from Essex with Hannah, a Dobermann, which was the Best of Breed winner

Mati Maﬁ from Tonga with Red, a Neapolitan Mastiff, which was the Best of Breed winner

Claire Bayne with Aero the Bichon Frise

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what’s on...

. THE GUIDE what’s on

FORTHCOMING EVENTS Until June 16 ART – MARBELLA

The Amàre Hotel in Marbella presents an exhibition by local photographer, Jesús Chacón, known for his avant garde projects, use of light, and staging. Further information, www.amarehotels.com

Until September 16 WARHOL – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso de Málaga will be hosting Warhol. Mechanical Art: an exhibition which examines the complex oeuvre of the artist from Pittsburgh, (1928-1987), highlighting the transmutations in his body of work during the consecutive creative phases of his career. www.musepicassomalaga.org

NEW AND REGULAR EVENTS

Weekly on different days WALKING FOOTBALL – MARBELLA

Weekly sessions of Walking Football (non-contact walking football) for men and women of all ages to keep fit and meet new friends. Further information, www.walkingfootballspain.com

Monthly on different days 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

The members of this cultural group meet at different times and places for lunches, lectures, concerts, ballet, theatre, opera, etc. Further information, Tel: 669 445 809.

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – MARBELLA Integral Psychotherapist Gabriella Kortsch holds a series of interesting group sessions on dream analysis, astrological life cycles and more. For information on precise times and locations, Tel: 626 189 765. info@advancedpersonaltherapy.com

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday JIVE – MIRAFLORES, ESTEPONA AND LA DUQUESA

Learn to dance with Colin and the team from Jive Spain at Miraflores Restaurant on Tuesday, El Campanario on Wednesday and El Goleto at Duquesa on Friday. For precise times, colin@jivespain.com

Every Tuesday and Friday PAINTING CLASSES – MARBELLA

Every first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA

PILATES AND YOGA – BENAHAVÍS

Every Thursday NETWORKING – MARBELLA

Talented artist Ricardo Alario will be teaching budding painters the secrets of his craft from 10am to 1pm (first group) and 5pm to 8pm (second group). For further information, Tel: 952 859 671. www.ricardoalario.com

The Benahavís Country Club is ready and set to help you achieve a state of greater health, fitness and wellness, with yoga classes every Tuesday at 10am and Pilates on Fridays at 10am. Nonmembers are welcome and the classes cost just €10. Bookings are advised to guarantee your place. Tel: 952 856 171. wellness@benahavishills.com

Every Wednesday ART – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso de Málaga offers free guided tours in English (included in the entry price), from 11:30am to 2pm. Tickets cost €8 for adults. Children enter for free. www.museopicassomalaga.org

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

The Marbella Business Group holds its weekly breakfast meeting, which features presentations, discussions and introductions of new members. At 8am at the Hotel Senator in Marbella. To become a member, www.marbellabusinessgroup.com

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: 952 800 975. www.adana.es

FLAMENCO – MIJAS

Every Wednesday at 12pm, a dazzling flamenco show takes place at the Plaza Virgen de la Peña in Mijas Pueblo. www.mijas.es

Frank Stephenson

Thursday April 5 to Monday April 9

Sunday April 8

The Marbella Design Fair will bring together eminences from the worlds of design, art, and journalism. Featuring fascinating talks and discussions. At the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella from 11am to 8pm. www.marbellacongresos.com

The Teatro Cervantes will be hosting a swish tribute to Broadway, featuring songs from Grease, Hairspray, Chicago, Cabaret, Flashdance, and more. At 6:30pm and 8:30pm. www.teatrocervantes.com

MARBELLA DESIGN FAIR – MARBELLA

VIVA BROADWAY, THE MUSICAL – MÁLAGA

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BUSINESS LUNCH – MARBELLA

Marbella Business Institute holds an invitation-only lunch club for local and visiting business people, active and retired. To apply, visit www.marbellabusinessinternational.org

Every Saturday MARKETS – PUERTO BANÚS

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

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS

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

Friday April 6 to Tuesday April 10 LORD OF THE FLIES – FUENGIROLA

SALVA presents William Golding’s Lord of the Flies at the Salón Varietés Theatre in Fuengirola. Adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams. Nightly at 7:30pm, Sunday at 7pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Wednesday April 11 to Sunday April 15 MUSIC FESTIVAL – GRANADA

The Esplanada in front of the Palacio de Congresos de Granada will be hosting a music fest featuring a total of 16 bands, including Carlos Cano, Australian Blonde, Dan Owen, Chlöe’s Clue and Brisa Fenoy. Also featuring debates, talks and discussions with VIPs from the entertainment and cultural scene. www.granadaexperience.org

Thursday April 12 to June 12 ART – SAN PEDRO

Swish hair salon Roger & Brothers will be hosting an exhibition of works by painter, Luis Bujalance. A graduate in Fine Arts at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (1993), Luis Bujalance transmits an expressionism filled with intellectual touches, based on the impulses of his own personality and according to his states of mind – this is what stamps his work with that absolute existential authenticity and captivating strength.At Urb La Cancelada de la Quinta, C/ Aguamarina Local 3-2, San Pedro.

Wednesday April 11

MEDITATION – MARBELLA

The Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic will be hosting the workshop Meditation for Happiness, led by Buddhist lama, Tulku Lobsang, from 4pm to 8pm. The aim of meditation is to reduce negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and hatred. To learn more about how it can help you in your daily life, www.buchinger-wilhelmi.com

Saturday April 14 BLAZE BAYLEY – MÁLAGA

Former Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane vocalist, Blaze Bayley, will be performing at Málaga’s Sala Paris 15 to promote his latest solo album, Infinite Entanglement Part III. www.costadeldisco.com

SAN PEDRO ROCKS CONCERT – SAN PEDRO

The annual San Pedro Rocks concert will be taking place at the Parque Forestal de Los Tres Jardines from 2pm to 11pm. This free concert will feature several local bands including Devils In the Sky, a group of teen rockers with a seven-year-old drummer. More info at es.eventbu.com

Saturday April 14 to Sunday April 15 ENERGY HEALING – BENAHAVÍS

Illuminate 2018 is a free event featuring pure energy healers from around the world, offering a magical weekend of psychic and spiritual love. The event will feature spiritual and uplifting talks, singing bowl meditation, pure energy healing and meditation, chakra cleansings, special guest speakers, guided meditations, and so much more. At the Gran Hotel Benahavís from 11am to 8pm. www.markbajerski.com

Friday April 20 to Tuesday April 24 MUSIC REVUE – FUENGIROLA

SALVA presents a talented cast of 30 dynamic performers with their new, upbeat revue featuring performances from The Greatest Showman, Bat Out of Hell, We Will Rock You, and more. Nightly at 7:30pm,. Sunday at 7pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Saturday April 21 QUEEN TRIBUTE ACT – FUENGIROLA

The Sohail Castle will be hosting a lively Queen tribute concert by Queen Machine, with all proceeds going to cancer care hospice, Cudeca. For tickets, www.ticketea.com

Tuesday April 24 GUIDED LISTENING – MARBELLA

Musica Con Encanto presents a guided listening of Petite Messe Solennelle by Gioachino Rossini, a religious work with an operatic style. From 6:30pm to 8pm at a place yet to be announced. For further information, www.musicaconencanto.org

Saturday April 14

SOUNDTRACK DOCUMENTARY – MARBELLA

Enjoy a documentary film on musical soundtracks, featuring the participation of James Cameron and John Williams. The film delves into what makes a film unforgettable. At Iglesia de la Virginia at 7pm. Tickets on sale at the venue prior to the showing. Tel: 689 000 944. www.musicaconencanto.org ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2018 / 191

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www.russellgrant.com

. THE GUIDE stars

Russell Grant’s Monthly Horoscope April 2018

ARIES (March 21st – April 20th) A brilliant idea from Easter is worth developing. You’re tired of making money for others. Launching your own business will allow you to set your own hours and follow your instincts. If you’ve been thinking of changing your luck, the New Moon on the 16th is an ideal time to do so. It’s a great time to restyle your hair, revamp your wardrobe or undergo a cosmetic procedure. Any initiative that will change the way people see you is worth considering. On the 30th, the Full Moon is great for making a long term investment. Opening a savings, retirement or college fund will help you build a nice little nest egg. You’re tired of living from one payday to the next. Use the final days of April to create a stronger financial foundation for you and your family. If you have a romantic partner, your amour will be given an impressive raise or lucrative job, thereby improving your economic status.

Launching your own business will allow you to set your own hours and follow your instincts. If you’ve been thinking of changing your luck, the New Moon on the 16th is an ideal time to do so

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TAURUS [21 APR - 21 MAY]

Easter will have been a relaxing time. Follow it up by enjoying the company of your nearest and dearest in a low-key setting. Although you enjoy dressing up, you don’t especially want to be working hard to serve others. If you’re throwing a party, order food from a caterer instead of spending all day in the kitchen. This will allow you to connect with your guests. On the 16th, the New Moon allows you to let go of a period of struggle. Instead of dwelling on the past, you’ll make a fresh start. Going after a job, courting a potential partner or launching a creative project will renew your zest for life. The Full Moon on the 30th could mark an engagement or marriage. If you’ve been longing to make a romance official, do it at the end of April, when your prospects for creating a lifetime of happiness are strong.

GEMINI [22 MAY - 21 JUN]

Attending a party around Easter will be lots more fun than you expect. You’ll meet an interesting person who excites your interest in a hobby or sport. Let your new friend take you to a cultural event or game; you’ll have a wonderful time together. The New Moon on the 16th is perfect for joining a humanitarian organisation or club. Working with a team will greatly increase your chances for success. Although you have great ideas, you currently lack the social connections to get them off the ground. Join forces with people who have extensive experience in your desired field. On the 30th, the Full Moon will bring relief from a persistent health problem. Getting an accurate diagnosis will put you on the path to renewed health. Show your gratitude by donating time, money or both to a good cause. Keep the positive energy flowing as April turns to May.

CANCER [22 JUN - 23 JUL]

You’ll attract wonderful publicity around Easter, when word spreads of your leadership ability. Your willingness to accept a thankless job is greatly appreciated. Thanks to you, an organisation that was on the verge of falling apart has been salvaged. Instead of listening to conventional wisdom, you tried bold methods that have paid off handsomely. As a result, you’ll be offered an impressive job with a cutting edge company on the 16th. That’s when an energising New Moon will enhance your professional prospects. Don’t be afraid to enter an unfamiliar field; you’ll take to this industry like a duck to water. A romantic relationship will burst into flower on the 30th, thanks to a passionate Full Moon. If you’re single, you’ll meet someone special at a work conference. Falling in love with someone who is much older or younger is a possibility. Instead of worrying about what people will say about this relationship, listen to your heart.

LEO [24 JUL - 23 AUG]

Easter ushers in an opportunity to travel, study or write. Being able to visit a country that has deep spiritual meaning will be inspiring. If you aren’t able to get away, sign up for an advanced course of learning or begin work on an article. Exercising your intellect will pay off handsomely this month. On the 16th, you could launch an entrepreneurial effort. The energising New Moon will help you get the funding and publicity you need to make this project successful. Don’t be afraid to break away from traditional business methods. Offering unusual products and services or courting an underserved market will be highly profitable. The Full Moon on the 30th is good

for wrapping up a property matter. If you need to find a new place to live, you’ll find one in an established neighbourhood famous for its historic architecture. Getting out of an old lease should not be a problem.

VIRGO [24 AUG - 23 SEPT]

News of an inheritance, legal settlement or insurance refund will reach your ears around Easter. This is a great time to upgrade your technical equipment. Buying a new smartphone, car or computer will greatly increase your efficiency in the early days of April. The New Moon on the 16th finds you making inroads to a close relationship. By forgiving a past mistake, you’ll forge a strong bond that is virtually unbreakable. Don’t be surprised when your sensual side becomes more pronounced; this is a good time to enjoy a passionate interlude with the one you love. On the 30th, the Full Moon finds you passing a test or getting a certificate. The information you’ve accumulated will attract the admiration of a creative person. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to create a website or promotional campaign for an artist. Your ability to communicate powerful messages with just a few images and phrases is impressive.

LIBRA [24 SEPT - 23 OCT]

Working with a partner will be productive in the days surrounding Easter. Be open to trying cutting edge techniques, even if you’ve been steeped in an old tradition. Your willingness to try new things will earn the respect of your associate, who already admires your creative abilities. On the 16th, you might decide to get engaged or married. Are you already in a serious relationship? Your amour will receive an unusual work opportunity. Moving to a place that is entirely different from your current home will strengthen your bond. Having your assumptions challenged and your lifestyle altered will force you to heavily rely on each other. Petty differences that once kept you apart will magically disappear. A handsome bonus could come your way on the 30th, thanks to an enriching Full Moon. Use some of this money for some beautiful furnishings or artwork. If you’ve been longing to buy your own place, this would be a good time to do so.

SCORPIO [24 OCT - 22 NOV]

An unusual work opportunity will surface around Easter. Take this opportunity to gain some experience in an entirely different field. The more varied your skill set, the easier it will be to land the well paid assignments you want. The New Moon on the 16th is ideal for launching a fitness regime. Taking up a sport, overhauling your diet and establishing a restful sleeping routine will pave the way for radiant health. A personal project will come to fruition on the 30th, thanks to an empowering Full Moon. A reference letter from an accomplished business person or political figure will open doors for you. This influential person admires your hard work and diligence. Thanks to their recommendation, you’ll receive funding for a project, get onto a training programme or be given money from a government grant. Late April is ideal for expanding your horizons; go ahead and venture into unfamiliar territory.

SAGITTARIUS (23 NOV - 21 DEC)

Pour your energy into creative projects around Easter, when your urge to create something beautiful will be powerful. Putting an innovative spin on traditional

forms will attract lots of favourable publicity. The New Moon on the 16th is ideal for going on a first date or for a second honeymoon. Whether you are single or attached, mid-April will be one of those most romantic times of the entire year. Letting go of a grudge will be easier than expected on the 30th, when the Full Moon urges you to get rid of excess emotional baggage. Instead of dwelling on a past injustice, you’ll turn your focus to the future. Establishing financial security will be easier when you adopt an optimistic attitude. If you are turned down for a job, express your gratitude for receiving the chance to be interviewed. Your positive energy will turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes.’

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 20 JAN]

The days surrounding Easter find you more ambitious than ever. This is a good time to make plans for professional success. Applying for a high-profile position or creating a business proposal will be a good use of your time. Your preparations will pay off on the 16th, when an uplifting New Moon attracts an exciting career offer. Being able to put your leadership skills to work will be liberating. You know how to motivate people while maintaining impeccable standards. A collaboration comes to a successful conclusion on the 30th, when the Full Moon cultivates a celebratory atmosphere. Make sure to attend a big wrap party. It’s important to keep in touch with the people who have challenged your ideas, encouraged your ability and improved your skills. Don’t be surprised if you are named most valuable player. People appreciate your ability to give constructive criticism without taking the joy out of work.

AQUARIUS [21 JAN - 19 FEB]

The 1st brings exciting news about a family or community matter. Following Easter, you’ll be able to break away from a confining routine and enjoy a greater measure of freedom, either in a relationship or in your neighbourhood. On the 16th, the New Moon urges you to speak up for your beliefs. Defending the underdog will cause your popularity to soar. Lately, someone who has been marginalised or unfairly criticised has gathered lots of secret support. Everyone was so afraid of the chief tormentor that they failed to challenge their abusive behaviour. This will change after you make it known that such behaviour is entirely unacceptable. Speak as you feel to everyone. The Full Moon on the 30th will bring a promotion or award for a job well done. Take this opportunity to bask in the spotlight. Your hard work has paid off, making it possible to advance up the ladder to success.

PISCES [20 FEB - 20 MAR]

April begins on an upbeat note, when a job offer could arrive around Easter. This will be a wonderful opportunity to increase your income and expand your technical skills. Working with bang upto-date equipment and the latest software programs will increase your appeal on the job market. The New Moon on the 16th will give you a chance to be employed in a manner that is personally meaningful. In the past, you treated work simply as a means to pay the bills. Now you will have a chance to get paid by making the world a better place. It will be a refreshing change. A bold risk will pay off on or around the 30th, when the Full Moon brings a successful resolution of a legal matter. Alternatively, you may return home from a trip feeling better than you have in a long time. The end of the month finds you gaining impressive forward momentum. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2018 / 193

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