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contents 100
THE ESSENTIAL
16 Publisher’s Letter
GO TO THE SPOTLIGHT
22 Beethoven’s 250th 30 Time Trave 36 Reasons to Visit Ronda 50 Hotel W Ibiza 54 The Rolls-Royce Ghost 60 Classic Car Anniversaries 70 James Bond Past, Present & Future 74 Sean Connery
GO TO THE TREND 80 Cinema Release 84 Music News 86 Books to Enjoy by the Firepla 90 Top New Phones 92 How Brexit Will Affect Studying at UK Universities 94 What’s Cool
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GO TO THE STYLE 100 Bo Concept – Danish Design 112 Perfect Penthouse by Blackshaw Interior Design 116 Christmas Décor Idea 120 Ángel Schlesser Autumn/Winter 2020-2021 128 Animal Love
GO TO THE SPA 132 Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez 134 Say Goodbye to Sun Spots 136 The Importance of an Annual Health Check 140 CostaSpine: Chiropractic Treatments for Children 142 Debra Gives Wings to Butterfly Children
22 54
GO TO THE PRO 150 The Secret by Grupo Otero 156 La Morera Playa 162 Enterprise
GO TO THE GOURMET
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174 Keto Royale Kafe 178 Gourmet Bytes 182 The Evolution in Wine Storage
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Issue 255 December/January 2021
STAFF PUBLISHER & DIRECTOR IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com DIGITAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANDREA BLACKWELL andrea@essentialmagazine.com DESIGN & LAYOUT ANDREA BLACKWELL, INMA AURIOLES design@essentialmagazine.com WRITERS IAIN BLACKWELL, CHANELLE BARNES, BELINDA BECKETT, MICHEL CRUZ, MARISA CUTILLAS, RIK FOXX, SAM HEXTER, JAANA KÜLIM, KARETHE LINAAE, DIANA NARVAEZ, HENRIK REINHARD, JOSÉ LUIS ROJAS, TONY WHITNEY, MARK WILKINS editorial@essentialmagazine.com
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WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER
O
nce again, we have assembled a great edition to keep you entertained during the days ahead. In honour of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, we open with a portrayal of the greatest classical composer. Celebrating other anniversaries this year, enjoy our exhibition of classic cars. Bang up-to-date, we also step aboard the luxurious refinement of the all-new Rolls-Royce Ghost. Ever thought about where you would choose to visit if time travel became possible? Back to the present, we check-in to the W Ibiza, which has recently been accorded a Customer Excellence Award by British Airways
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Holidays, and we check out why Ronda is an inspired destination for a romantic weekend. Following the very sad news about Sean Connery, we honour him in remembering some of his greatest roles in cinema and we shine a spotlight on James Bond, past, present and future. Local property goes on apace and we focus on two prime developments: The Secret and La Morera Playa. We also feature Danish design from Bo Concept, haut couture from Ă ngel Schlesser, and we find our why Keto Royale Kafe is all the rage. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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“REMEMBER THIS DECEMBER THAT LOVE WEIGHS MORE THAN GOLD” JOSEPHINE DASKAM BACON
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the spotlight
THE WORLD’S GREATEST CLASSICAL COMPOSER WAS BORN 250 YEARS AGO THIS DECEMBER. IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE INAUGURAL PERFORMANCE OF HIS FIFTH SYMPHONY. PREPARE TO BE IMPRESSED BY THE ALL-NEW ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST AND ENJOY SOME NOSTALGIA WITH OUR CLASSIC CAR ANNIVERSARIES FEATURE. WE ALSO PAY HOMAGE TO THE LEGENDARY SEAN CONNERY AND SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON JAMES BOND.
GO TO PAGE 70 FOR JAMES BOND PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
GO TO PAGE 54 THE ROLLSROYCE GHOST
GO TO PAGE 22 FOR BEETHOVEN’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
CULTURE HISTORY PEOPLE MOTORING 22 Beethoven’s 250th 30 Time Travel 36 Reasons to Visit Ronda 50 Hotel W Ibiza
GO TO PAGE 36 FOR 12+1 REASONS TO VISIT RONDA
54 The Rolls-Royce Ghost 60 Classic Car Anniversaries 70 James Bond Past, Present & Future 74 Sean Connery
D THE SPOTLIGHT beethoven
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The original rock star © Michael Sondermann
ROLL OVER
BEETHOVEN 22 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
Covid slammed the concert hall doors shut on Ludwig van B’s 250th anniversary bash but the world’s original rock star isn’t leaving the stage just yet. Celebrations in Bonn where he was born in 1770 and Vienna where he died in 1827 are being rolled over for another 10 months and the party restarts this December, on the maestro’s birthday. Belinda Beckett checks out the score.
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f you’ve never had an ear for classical music, you’re in good company with Beethoven who was stone deaf when he composed some of his greatest works. But it’s not all highbrow fare at BTHVN 2020/21. Rock bands, rap stars and hip hop artists have been tuning up alongside symphony orchestras, choirs and quartets to mark the 250th birthday of a musician who was as popular in his day
as The Beatles. Alas, what started on a high note last December with Simon Rattle introducing a Beethoven Season at London’s Barbican ended up an unfinished symphony when coronavirus hit. Yet despite the cancellation of over 1,000 official events, the maestro’s melodies have been resonating around the globe in all kinds of Coviddefying ways, from balcony
recitals of Ode to Joy and lockdown concerts streamed on YouTube to a viral video of a pianist playing the Pastoral Symphony to pachyderms in Thailand.
Discover the maestro with Bonn’s new walking tour app WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 23
D THE SPOTLIGHT beethoven Beethoven fans around the world have been calling for an encore to his curtailed celebrations and now, what was to be the grand finale to BTHVN 2020 will become the overture to a programme running into next autumn: a concert conducted by Daniel Barenboim at Bonn Opera House on December 17, the date of Beethoven’s baptism. Simultaneous performances by the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and the Vienna Symphony in June and four open air summer concerts in the grounds of Bonn University, where the young Beethoven played, are among the rescheduled highlights, along with contemporary salutes by Robbie Williams and 1970s Elektropop band Kraftwerk. The homage won’t
Beethoven’s statue lights up for his birthday ©marcjohn
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back to CONTENTS be considered complete until the last conductor puts down his baton at a 60-concert edition of Bonn’s signature Beethovenfest (August 20-September 10). See the full programme at bthvn2020. de/en “Beethoven reinvented himself many times and would certainly have approved of making the best of this situation with creative solutions,” said Malte Boecker, artistic director of the Beethoven Anniversary Society. “He not only resonates with lovers of classical music, he was an individual, ‘modern’ artist who targeted humanity as a
whole.” Beethoven broke the mould, and seven of his pianos, with his virtuoso improvisations and impassioned playing. He brought classical music out of closeted court circles into the concert hall, headlined the first tours and elevated the musician’s status from servant to celebrity. Vienna’s Kärntnertor Theatre was packed to the rafters for the world premiere of his epic Ninth Symphony. And when he died, 20,000 fans lined the streets for his funeral. Still the most frequently performed classical composer today, his music has inspired everyone from Chuck Berry to Deep Purple. Before Beethoven, dead composers were rarely played. After him, they owned the concert hall.
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BTHVN CALLING The acronym Beethoven used to sign many of his works is the motif for his anniversary, each letter representing an aspect of his life. B FOR BONN COSMOPOLITAN
Cast in bronze, sculpted in stone and printed on everything from tea towels to traffic lights, Beethoven’s image is inescapable in his native city. Born into a family of court musicians and tutored under his father’s drunken tyranny, at five the wünderkind was paraded around high society salons like a prize pet. Elegy for a Dead Poodle, which he composed aged 12, may have been autobiographical! At 22 he left his abusers behind for Vienna where Mozart grudgingly conceded: “This youth will someday make a noise in the world.”
T FOR TONKÜNSTLER (COMPOSER) He raised the roof at public concerts and eyebrows in royal circles where music was traditionally background entertainment only. Young Ludwig’s grand compositions demanded an audience and he would explode with rage if anyone talked over his performances. Furthermore, while court musicians wore wigs and silk stockings ‘Upstairs’ but ate ‘Downstairs’ with the servants, Ludwig demanded a seat at the high table, wore commoner’s clothes and reminded one contemporary of ‘an unlicked bear cub’. He composed 650 complete works, including nine symphonies and the opera Fidelio. 26 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
Go Beethoven – traffic light tribute © Bundesstadt, Bonn
JUMBO CONCERT Elephants have ears for music! A video of British pianist Paul Barton playing excerpts from Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony to pachyderms in the Thai jungle is one of scores of surprising new works created for his anniversary. The initiative was backed by the UN Climate Secretariat for Earth Day. Elephants have an ear for music
H FOR HUMANIST
N FOR NATURE LOVER
Like John Lennon, Beethoven wrote about world peace. He openly sympathised with the ideals of the French Revolution, to the dismay of his royal patrons. They boycotted the premier of his Ninth Symphony because its final movement, Ode to Joy, celebrates equality and the universal brotherhood of man.
Only 32 when his hearing started to fail, Beethoven quit performing and retreated to the countryside in despair. Nature came to his rescue. His ‘Pastoral’ Sixth Symphony, composed while he roamed the
meadows ‘air conducting’ and scribbling down notes, is filled with musical allegories to babbling brooks and birdsong. ‘The woods, the trees, and the rocks give a man the inspiration he needs’, he wrote.
V FOR VISIONARY
Beethoven’s maverick style and innovative compositions were ground breaking. His choral symphonies introduced vocals to classical music and he wrote seven versions of his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies for different combinations of instruments.
From Bonn to Vienna - Ludwig van Beethoven’s life in 4 minutes! 4:07
BEETHOVEN’S TENTH BY ROBOTS
A few scribbles in his notebook were as far as Beethoven got with his 10th Symphony before he died. Now a team of musicologists and IT boffins are completing it after his style with Artificial Intelligence. The result will be premiered at Bonn Beethovenfest.
Handwritten score © Michael Sondermann
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COVER VERSIONS
SYMPHONY NO. 7
Deep Purple recorded an electric version of the allegretto for Exposition/ We Can Work It Out from The Book of Taliesyn album.
His H ©S ouse-M useum in Bonn
er n W a onj
er
Z ODE TO JOY You’ve heard the inspirational choral finale to his Ninth Symphony in Die Hard, A Clockwork Orange, Dead Poet’s Society and Beatles movie Help! Chileans sang it during the Pinochet protests and Chinese students at Tiananmen Square. It has been played at every Olympic Games since 1956, and on both sides of the Berlin wall simultaneously, after it fell. Shame on you if you didn’t know it’s also the Anthem of the EU. Z PIANO SONATA NO. 14 (MOONLIGHT SONATA) John Lennon used some of the chords played backwards for Because on the Abbey Road album and Alicia Keys sampled it in an epic eight-minute piano shout out to Beethoven at this year’s Grammy Awards. Z FIFTH SYMPHONY Ta-ta-ta-taa – no opening bars have been covered more often. Electric Light Orchestra’s Roll Over Beethoven used it in their 1973 take on the Chuck Berry classic Z PIANO SONATA NO. 8 You’ve heard it in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and Billy Joel’s This Night. Z PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 (EMPEROR CONCERTO) Leonard Bernstein borrowed the second movement for Somewhere in 1950s musical West Side Story. The song has been covered by everyone from PJ Proby to the Pet Shop Boys. e
2CELLOS - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony 4:21
You may not think you know a single piece by Beethoven but countless modern pop songs and movies have given a nod to the maestro.
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Imagine if you could set the year and travel to any era you wished?
WORDS MICHEL CRUZ
We’ve been fascinated with the past for centuries, for it defines our present world. In film, literature and now also computer games, we love to ‘go back’, but what if we could one day really travel back in time and see it all for ourselves?
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eople are as fascinated with the past as they are with the future, and of course, the two are related, connected by a present that we sometimes find less interesting. The promise of the future is equalled by the mystery of the past, and while we’ve all
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been given certain images of history at school, in movies and books, wouldn’t it be exciting to check it all out first-hand? Many have theorised about what it was really like, their minds drifting to somewhat rose-coloured versions of the knightly Middle Ages, the power
of Rome, or the times of the Pharaohs. Authors, in particular, have found a rich vein of inspiration in historic settings that can vary from the Venetian Republic and Elizabethan England to 18th century France and the early days of America — but while most place their stories in
Time travel is a fascinating theme that has featured in many Hollywood movies, including Back to the Future
the past, a relatively small number of writers actually made time travel their main topic.
another. Transported to an age of knights, his hero is a pistol-carrying apparition from the 19th century. It’s a delicious prospect that Twain portrays THE ROMANCE AND MYSTERY OF THE PAST with all the enthusiasm of the Neo Jules Verne allowed his mind to project Romantic age, when 19th century into the marvels of the future, but in thinkers marvelled at the so-called A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s simplicity of medieval life and the Court, Mark Twain famously posited noble chivalrous code of knights. the fascinating clash of alternative In the process, they revived legends times coming into contact with one such as that of King Arthur and his WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 31
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Time can be bent, making time travel at least theoretically possible
Knights of the Round Table, inspiring later writers such as Tolkien to create the kind of imaginary world that we enjoy today in Lord of the Rings. Imaginary it might be, but such tales are built upon a romantic Victorian vision of the past. Reality was, of course, very different, for the Middle Ages were more about squalor and suffering than about grand noble quests, and in this respect The Time Machine by H.G. Wells is not only more astute in its reckoning of past and present, but also deals directly with time travel.
TRAVELLING IN TIME
In arguably the greatest novel about time travel yet to be written, H.G. Well’s main character is ultimately disappointed by what he finds. 32 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
A man of science, he chooses to see what the future holds in store, moving forward through a familiar cycle of war and recovery until he lands in a kind of Garden of Eden, where mankind finally appears to have achieved a sense of peace and harmony. Appearances are deceiving, and the deception continues when he travels to the end of the earth’s journey, which is pretty much like its primordial beginning.
If we travelled in time – backwards or forwards – we would likely also be disappointed. Our illusions of a glamorous past or promising future shattered by the hard rock of reality, but it would be fascinating all the same. Forget about Jurassic Park; this would be the ultimate theme park ride, an experience so intense and potentially dangerous as to make it quite possibly a oncein-a-lifetime joyride.
Some people dream of being able to travel in space, touch down on Mars and form part of a pioneering colony, but what if you could stay on earth and experience something just about as exhilarating? What a ride it would be, choosing your spot in the future or past and being transported there in a flash, either as a flyon-the-wall observer or an actual participant. The latter would be quite challenging, as you’d stick out like a sore thumb and would have a hard time not being noticed and ganged up upon. Just imagine how our civilisation would react if a ‘strange being’ appeared in our midst? So, going about unnoticed would require a great deal of research and preparation to ensure you’d speak, dress and behave like those around you, and of course this is only possible up to a point, and only really for the past, not the future. Even so, it would be wonderful to marvel at the technology of the future or lose yourself in the mysteries of the past, travelling to ancient Egypt, Rome, Napoleon’s court or even the time of the dinosaurs. It would certainly be the most hazardous and impactful journey of a lifetime,
Mass, speed of movement and gravity impact upon time
According to modern science, there may well be parallel worlds and a ‘multiverse’ where parallel lives are played out
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In theory, it would be possible to span time by crossing the universe on a cosmic string
but for now we have to make do with films, literature, daydreams and – the most realistic option to date – highly realistic computer games that virtually transport us to distant worlds in time. They can range from the ages of the empires to Stars Wars-like scenarios, and especially the strategy-based games make it possible to venture back and change the course of history – one of the most fascinating aspects that time travel could open up.
WILL IT EVER BE POSSIBLE?
Just think if we could go back with our modern knowledge and values to right the wrongs of the past? It’s a tantalising prospect, but one probably best left alone for who knows what forces we would unleash and how they would change the world we know today? For now, all of this remains a dream, and advanced virtual reality games that create a lifelike custom-made simulation of past or future scenarios are likely to be the closest we’ll come to travelling through time. If it is possible at all, this particular human fancy will require a 34 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
greater understanding of physics and far more advanced technology than we have available today, but this is not to say that it’s actually impossible. Slowly, a door seems to be opening up, for where the laws of time were once thought to be purely linear the greater insights afforded by theoretical physics and string theory create a more dynamic picture of the universe. We already know
Is Time Travel Really Possible? World’s First Time Machine by Spark. 49:05
that time, as the fourth dimension according to Einstein, is relative, and that it can be bent by gravity. Time dilation is therefore a reality, and forms the basis of NASA’s belief that time travel is theoretically possible, if very hard to realise in the physical field. Black holes, wormholes and cosmic strings could provide the answer, a means through which matter would bend time and space to circumvent the limitations of life as we know it. The sci-fi film Interstellar plays upon this, as well as the theory that there is not one universe and
timeline, but potentially an infinite number of parallel ones. Quite apart from the physical and practical complications of turning radical theory into practice, there is of course the multiplied ‘butterfly effect’ chain-reaction that any small change to the past could create in the present, up to and including the eradication of the time travellers themselves. This is known as the Grandfather Paradox, whereby the sequence of events you may set in motion by meddling with the past could end up ensuring you were never born in the first place.
In spite of all the above, and the fact that the human body is not built to withstand the physics of time travel, roaming about in time like a virtual tourist remains one of the most tantalisingly evocative concepts ever conceived. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 35
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A DOZEN + 1
REASONS TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN
Freezing Alpine Lake - Parque Nacional Aigüestortes, Spain
© Shutterstock.com
ROMANTIC RONDA
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View from Hotel Catalonia rooftop bar © Karethe Linaae
Fiesta for two at El Parador de Ronda © Karethe Linaae
Ronda with its world famous bridge and to-die-for views should be on everyone’s bucket list. This Andalucian mountain pueblo simply lives and breathes history, having been ruled by Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Catholic Kings. In the 18th Century, the infamous bandoleros and other law-breakers practically ran the town. It was also the birthplace of modern bullfighting, and later in the 1950s and 60s a favourite hangout of Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles. It's not surprising Ronda is so romantic! WORDS KARETHE LINAAE
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t is a perfect place to wander about picturesque streets and sit on a park bench in the shade of a pink Oleander, taking in the views while listening to a trickling fountain or some classic Spanish guitar. However, to fully enjoy la cuidad soñada (the city of dreams), you must spend at least a night. Here are a dozen + one reasons why:
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Wake up on the edge
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Fiesta for two at El Parador de Ronda © Karethe Linaae
Take a morning stroll across the bottom of the sea The valley beneath Ronda was once the bottom of the ocean, hence the many seashell encrustations in the surrounding vertical cliffs. The fertile ground has been used for olive farming and wine production since the Romans were here 2000 years ago. Ask the tourist office for directions and start your morning walk in the San Francisco or La Dehesa neighbourhoods.
There is nothing quite like it – waking up and looking out your window and seeing this view. The Tajo gorge literally cuts Ronda in two, with the Casco Histórico on one side, and the newer town on the other. Created by the eroding water of the river Guadalevín, with a drop of 100 - 160 meters straight down, those with vertigo might ask for an interior room. While the hotels on the Tajo edge are not the town’s most reasonable accommodation, they are certainly worth the extra splurge. For a room with a killer view, try a night at the classic Parador de Ronda hotel. COST: €150-250 PER NIGHT
Either way, stop for breakfast at the Albergue los Molinos, which in addition to having a stunning view of the town from below makes their own bread in a traditional outdoor wood oven. WALK DURATION: 1.5 - 2 HOURS COST: FREE (BREAKFAST NOT INCLUDED) Valley below and Ronda above © Karethe Linaae
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Step deep down into history in Ronda’s secret Mina de Agua Most visitors forgo this pleasure, but to literally submerge yourself in Ronda’s dramatic past, there is nothing like stepping down some 60 vertical meters into la Mina de Agua. The 700-year-old ingenious construction was
The great hall of La Mina de Agua © Karethe Linaae
dug into a natural fissure in the Tajo wall. The mine supplied water to the independent Moorish Kingdom Izn-Rand Onda (City of the Caste) during several Christian sieges. You can still descend the steps where slaves carried water up to the city above. Hidden gaps in the shaft provide magical natural illumination, making the mine interior appear like a subterranean cathedral. Enter
the hall where a waterwheel once proved the superiority of Medieval Islamic hydraulic engineering and peek through the door where a Moorish traitor let in the first Catholic troops, making the mine the doorway for Ronda’s Reconquista in 1485. TICKET: €7€ CALORIES CONSUMED: 300+
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Light a candle by the Virgin of Tears These days we can all need to light a candle, and no place is better for this than la Iglesia Santa María la Mayor across from Ronda’s town hall. In its lofty interior you can be assured to find peace and quiet and a cool environment on a hot summer day or a candle-lit intimacy in the winter. Once Ronda’s main mosque, the church is allegedly standing on the ruins of a Roman temple to the goddess Diana. Do not miss a trip up to the rooftop with its magnificent views. In contrast to many other churches, one can still light a real candle and place it in one of the church's many beautiful candelabras. However, to ensure that your prayers are heard, leave it in front of the Virgin of Tears, the main statue brought out for the annual Easter processions. ENTRANCE: €4,50 CANDLE DONATION: €1
Candle in Santa María la Mayor © Karethe Linaae
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Visit Ronda Andalusian City in Spain. 2:38
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Immerse yourself in an Arab bath – then and now Even for those who do not enjoy museums, Ronda’s Arab baths – Baños Árabes de Ronda – is worth a visit. On the winding walk down from the centre, you will pass some of the town’s other landmarks, the Carlos V gate and El Puente Viejo (the old bridge). The baths, dating back to the 13th Century, are the best preserved in the entire Iberian Peninsula. When you see the magical light therein, you can almost imagine how it was way back in the day. After seeing the historical remains,
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stop by Ronda’s present day bathhouse Hammam Aguas de Ronda next door, for some very reasonable pampering. Constructed in an old mill (which can be seen on maps of Ronda from the 1500s) the modern and clean facilities takes full advantage of the beauty of the old edifice. COST: MUSEUM €3,50 HAMMAM WITH MASSAGE €33
Magic light in Ronda’s ancient Arab baths © Karethe Linaae
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Aguas de Ronda Hammam and spa. © Aguas de Ronda
6 Tapas. © De Locos Tapas
Eat lunch with El Loco (the crazy one…) There are tapas and then there are great tapas. In Andalucía unfortunately, the former are more common. However, De Locos Tapas just inside the Almocabar gate at the edge of Ronda’s historic quarter, is a rare exception. Their spectacular and unique tapas are due to el loco himself, the Basque owner Guillermo (William), and his wife Begoña. With excellent reviews, personal service, vintage tunes and only a handful of tables, you need to book ahead. Try their Quails Nest, Thai Prawns or Ceviche, and make sure to save room for dessert! COST: €3-5 PER TAPA
De Locos Tapas © Karethe Linaae
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Plaza de Toros de Ronda © Karethe Linaae
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Enter the bullring that Hemingway made famous Though bullfighting isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, Ronda would not be the same without this historical edifice with its glamorous past. Inaugurated in 1785, Ronda’s Plaza de Toros is the oldest and certainly the most beautiful in Spain. The site houses one of Europe's most prestigious riding schools – the Real Maestranza
de Caballería de Ronda, dating back to 1571 (two years after the founding of the Vienna Spanish Riding School). Ronda’s Plaza de Toros is where the legendary Romero family started modern bullfighting in the 18th Century. Frequented by Spanish royalty and movie stars, it was also favoured by Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway. MUSEUM ENTRANCE INCLUDING STABLES, TAUROMACHY MUSEUM AND ROYAL HARNESS COLLECTION: €8
Plaza de Toros © Karethe Linaae 44 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
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Taste wine in a former convent garden
Wine tasting in the monastic garden at Descalzos Viejos vineyard © Karethe Linaae
Pit-stop at Los Arcos If you need something to hold you until dinner – a tentenpie as the Spanish call it – join the rondeños at Tabanco Los Arcos. This wine bar just off the Puente Nuevo bridge is said to be Ronda’s best. Pisqui and his friendly and speedy team serve regional Spanish wine and tasty titbits in Ronda’s narrowest wedge of a building. Try to get a table near the window, or at least peak out at the abyss below. Ask for their Chicharrón de Cádiz and the wild mushroom paté. Once you are seated in the lively atmosphere, you might not want to leave... TAPAS: €1.5 – 2.5
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Ronda has an inordinate number of small boutique style wineries, many of which are organic. Almost all can be visited, just be sure to make an appointment in advance (sometimes requiring a minimum of 6 visitors). It is hard to pick a favourite as so many are excellent. The one thing that makes Descalzos Viejos winery stand out is its location. Situated in an abandoned monastery with an open vista towards Ronda, I cannot imagine a lovelier place as a backdrop for a wine tasting than the barefoot brothers’ ancient Andalu’ cloister garden. STANDARD VISIT AND TASTINGS: €30 + TAX P.P. DURATION: 2.5 HOUR TOUR PRIVATE TASTING TOUR (1- 5 PEOPLE) WITH OWNER: €150 + TAX
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Enjoy a sundowner on the roof of Hotel Catalonia This is a MUST when you are in Ronda. Hotel Catalonia, located across from the bullring, has Ronda’s most amazing rooftop bar. The hotel offers modern 4-star accommodation, a great restaurant and a skyline pool – all very lovely. However, the best part is their
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rooftop bar. Nowhere else in town will you get this birds eye view of the Plaza de Toros and the backdrop of the Serranía de Ronda mountains. The optimal time to visit it is just before the sun is setting when the last rays bathe the town in golden light. DRINKS: €3 - 5 VIEW: PRICELESS
Views from terrace overlooking bullring and the Serranía de Ronda mountains © Karethe Linaae
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Dine with a Michelin star chef Ronda is perhaps not best known for fine dining, but the Barcelona born and trained chef Benito Gómez changed this with the establishment of his two-Michelin-star restaurant Bardal. Voted the best restaurant in the province of Málaga in 2017, it was
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Benito Goméz cooking at Restaurant Tragatá. © Tragatá Restaurant/B. Gómez
described by Conde Nast Traveller as “Without doubt the best excuse for travelling south to the evermore romantic Ronda.” While the celebrated restaurant is closed until 2021 due to Covid, travellers can still enjoy Benito’s Haute Cuisine in his more informal dining establishment – Tragatá. Located a minute’s walk from Ronda’s Puente Nuevo and his other restaurant, this Michelin Traveller’s Choice restaurant offers a gastronomic journey with the best products to be found in the Serranía de Ronda. TAPAS: €3 -12 MAIN DISHES: €20-30
i Please check the specific opening hours of the establishments online. For more information, go to the Tourism Ronda website. Otherwise, what are you waiting for? g About the writer: Karethe Linaae is a Norwegian writer and author living in Ronda, Andalucía. Her book, Casita 26 – Searching for a Slice of Andalusian Paradise was published in USA in 2019. For more information, please go to snobb.net
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Sleep a la Philippe Starck
Ronda’s LA Organic Oleoturism Experience offers far more than designer olive oils. In addition to touring the beautifully landscaped farm with design features by the world famous French designer Philippe Starck and tasting the premium organic oils in the restaurant, you can also book a night in their rural boutique hotel, merely minutes outside Ronda. This classic Andalucian Cortijo has a bespoke modernistic interior, designed by the Starck Studio. Reserve one of the 4 delux rooms or suites, or why not rent the entire cortijo for a selected party. DELUX ROOM: €120-180 FOR 2 PER NIGHT SUITE: €140 – 210 ENTIRE CORTIJO (4 BEDROOMS): €620 – 930 PER NIGHT
Cortijo LA Organic Boutique Hotel interiors designed by Starck’s Studio © Karethe Linaae
Start out the day high – Balloon flight over Ronda Nothing can top a flight in an air balloon when it comes to taking in the city of dreams. Owner of Granada-based company Glovento Sur, Miguel Juliá Garrido and his other capable pilots offer a safe and unforgettable experience. Depending on the balloon size, the flights can take from 6-12 people. Starting at daybreak in the outskirts of Ronda, the trip includes safety preparations,
12 an hour flight and breakfast, with a total duration of 3 - 4 hours. The company has Civil Responsibility insurance and follows the Covid protocol of the Spanish Ministry of Health. Glovento is associated with the Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea and is part of the European Aviation Safety Agency. GROUP FLIGHT: €200 PER PERSON (IN GROUPS OF 6, 8 OR 12) PRIVATE FLIGHT: €900
+1 Balloon flight over the city of dreams © Glovento Sur S.L.
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W IBIZA
ADDS THE WOW! FACTOR
TO A CONSOLIDATED TOURIST DESTINATION
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The month of July, 2020 saw a brand new hotel take R’nR ‘on the beach’ to a whole new level: the W Ibiza, touted as an ‘off-the-beaten-track’ choice for visitors to the palm-fringed, sun-kissed destination of Santa Eulalia. The latter, which is officially the third largest town in Ibiza, is well known for its boho chic vibe and enigmatic spirit. It is also highly cosmopolitan, which makes it a fitting choice for the only global brand on the island. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY LUTZ VORDERWÜLBECKE/MARRIOTT
A PLACE TO PARTY AND RELAX
The W is literally a few steps from the beach so guests will probably spend most of their time getting a golden tan on the shore. However, a holiday is as much about feeding the body as it is the mind and at this hotel, gourmets will find a range of restaurants vying for their attention, in addition to room
service and full American breakfasts. Top spots in which to taste tempting wares include Chiringuito Blue (a beach restaurant where Mediterranean cuisine is King); La Llama (a steakhouse that is also open for à-la-carte breakfasts); and Ve Cafe (a modern health food bar where you will find a host of vegetarian snacks).
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TIME TO PARTY
There are numerous cool places at the W where you can meet friends for a drink before hitting the town, though of course, you can always choose to stay in all night and enjoy a ‘house party’, or simply savour the amazing views. Two recommendable spots are W Lounge (an amphitheatre-style venue beneath ceilings covered in iridescent mandala, ideal for cocktails) and the WET® Deck, where you can lie on oversized sun loungers and sip on creations made by talented mixologists. In 2021, a third area will open – Glow, a rooftop, adults-only poolside haven where creative cocktails will be served.
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THE ROOMS
As you might expect from the W brand, there is an assortment of different accommodation, ranging from the Cozy Room to larger lodgings like the EWOW Suite (with its round bed and gorgeous wooden-decked balcony) or the Penthouse (imagine having three bedrooms for you and your guests during Ibiza’s high party season). There are 162 guest rooms in total, all of which look out to the Mediterranean or the gorgeous Ibiza
landscape. Rooms also have sexy flat-screen TVs and sound systems, and the signature W bed and dream-easy pillows. The W Ibiza has direct access to the beach, and 90 per cent of all rooms have their own spacious balcony.
THE ART OF EXERCISE
The fitness room at this hotel is to-die-for, as it features gorgeous murals and modern lighting that makes it seem like you are at a disco instead of a gym. This area is open
24/7, which is great news for night owls wishing to buff up prior to partying. Equipment includes cardio apparatus, free weights, jumping platforms, and more. Take a fitness class or two during your stay, or go for a swim on the beach or at the WET Deck or Glow pools.
DREAM AWAY
The Hotel has its own spa, called AWAY. Here, you can relax, soothe pain, and fight stress with one or more of a vast list of massages and facial treatments. In Ibiza it’s nearly always bikini season, so make sure you are poolready by having a manipedi, foot bath, or beauty
makeover. There are even services for kids, so your glamorous tots will be more than pampered at the W. In addition to all the above, the Hotel also has a 75m2 meeting room, located just 12 minutes on foot from the beach. There is a dedicated manager who can ensure your guests unwind during meeting breaks on the beach. This space can also be used to host weddings and events so if your big day is coming up, why not celebrate it with a bit of glitz and glamour on ‘the White Island’? www.marriott.com
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WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ROLLS-ROYCE
ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST SALOON The superbly-crafted Ghost is the entry-level saloon from Rolls-Royce and is aimed, as the company points out, at owners who like to drive themselves. The range-leading Phantom is very much a car to be chauffer driven and is a fair bit larger than the Ghost in every dimension.
E
ven so, the Ghost isn’t a compact car by any stretch of the imagination but it looks quite trim when placed alongside a Phantom. Although the elegant, timeless, styling does pick up a lot of cues from the Phantom, it adds touches of its own and the end result is very praiseworthy indeed. When launched, the Ghost was an immediate success and is now the best-selling car in the 116-year History of Rolls-Royce. Recently, an extended model was introduced so owners can get some of the rear legroom Phantom owners enjoy. Of course, the iconic Pantheoninspired radiator grille distinguishes the
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car from anything else out there and is a prominent feature of the new car. Sited on the bonnet is the fabled Spirit of Ecstasy ornament, originally crafted in 1910 by sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes. To comply with pedestrian safety regulations and also for theft protection, the ornament glides quickly under a cover and out of sight at the slightest touch.
TRADITION REVAMPED
The Ghost carries on numerous traditions that have been refined by Rolls-Royce over many decades, but that doesn’t mean the car is steeped in the technology of yesteryear.
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2021 Rolls Royce Ghost , The Ultra Luxurious Sedan. 7:09
In fact, the new Ghost is arguably the most technically advanced luxury car in the world and while still presenting a stately demeanour out on the road, it lacks nothing when it comes to advanced features. Under the elegant bonnet sits a very advanced 6.8-litre (actually 6.75-litre) twin-turbo V-12 engine that delivers power via an 8-speed transmission with uncanny quietness and serenity. This is not one of those cars in which to enjoy all the mechanical noises from the powerplant because there simply aren’t any. The engine is sourced from BMW’s parent company, BMW Group and then worked on by the engineers at Rolls-Royce to extract further refinement. Interestingly,
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the Ghost has all-wheel drive so it’s simple enough to keep all that power on the road. Gear shifts are all but unnoticeable.
ELEGANTLY POWERFUL
Other tech goodies include an allnew suspension system aimed at significantly enhancing agility in the corners. People who take their first drive in a Rolls-Royce are usually surprised by the car’s fast throttle response and predictable, safe, handling. This is the closest thing to a limo that you can drive like a sports car – and a quick sports car at that. As with all cars of advanced design, the Ghost incorporates all the current electronic safety benefits available.
In fact, it bristles in high-tech benefits, some of which are just for fun. For example, among scores of personalized options, buyers can order a headliner featuring 850 stars to replicate the night sky. We’ve found this feature to be more appropriate on the bigger Phantom in which the owner usually sits in the back. As might be expected in a Rolls-Royce, the cabin is a total
delight with a plethora of superb materials and unmatched comfort. In a Rolls-Royce, you really are totally insulated from the outside world and whether driving or riding in one, it’s an entirely relaxing experience. To add to the enjoyment, an 18-speaker premium sound system can be added, though the standard unit will please even a fastidious audiophile. Buying a Rolls-Royce is not simply acquiring a car; it’s an experience that will delight the owner for years to come. The majestic styling, the interior ambiance and a surprising level of performance all add up to make this car something very special indeed.
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Z ENGINE: 6.8-litre V-12, 571-horsepower. Z TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive. Z ACCELERATION: Zero to 100 km/h in under 5-seconds. Z TOP SPEED: 250 km/h. Z I LIKED: Crisp styling, cleverly conceived to draw on themes from the past. Uncompromising quality and refinement. Surprisingly brisk acceleration and excellent handling, especially for a large and quite heavy car.
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Z I DIDN’T LIKE: No complaints here, but when driving a Rolls-Royce, some unwelcome observers may resent your perceived status and wealth. Thankfully, most people love the car and make a point of saying so. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES: No serious competition for a car like this, though the Bentley Mulsanne approaches. Z WHO DRIVES ONE? People who’ve always driven Rolls-Royces and want the latest. Buyers who have aspired to one all their lives and have finally acquired the means to become owners. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: Available now from €289.170 (General European price, check with dealer for local price). e
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CLASSICS
IN THE REAR VIEW WORDS SAM HEXTER
Jensen Interceptor © FernandoV / Shutterstock.com
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With all manner of new-fangled hybrid hypercars hitting the market, McLaren releasing a new 800bhp carbon monocoque, road-going jet fighter every other month, and the market’s unsustainable obsession with 0-100km/h times reaching fever pitch, it’s about time we restored balance to the world – a palate cleanser, if you will. We’re taking a look in the rear view; to celebrate classics and future classics. Cars that once represented the pinnacle of motoring that now exist as rare breeds and sought-after marques that have all celebrated significant anniversaries this year.
Jensen Interceptor Making its debut 70 years past, Jensen Motor’s original Interceptor saw production between 1950 and 1957 and proved an instant hit when it launched to market. With a punchy 4-litre under the hood and many borrowed underpinnings from current Austin models, this curvaceous grand tourer secured the future of Jensen Motors following the second world war. Despite moving away from the company’s British lineage and eventually being designed in Italy, the Interceptor borrowed many styling cues from much larger and more aggressively fashioned American muscle cars – including the Interceptor’s distinctive ‘fastback’ rear window and long, jutting nose that would be revived in future iterations. This proved a popular design choice with the public and helped bring a new audience to the otherwise rather dainty British brand.
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Aston Martin DB2
Aston Martin DB2
Chevrolet Corvair
The first Aston to don the DB badge from the factory, this iconic vehicle celebrates 70 years of sheer beauty in 2020. This lightweight British ‘drophead’ coupé, which was actually designed by motoring titan, W.O. Bentley, was powered by a 2.6-litre straightsix, developing in the region of 125hp. While its 11.2 second ‘sprint’ to 100km/h is certainly sluggish by modern standards, the DB2’s incredible looks and petite frame have truly stood the test of time. When new, during its limited production run from 1950 to 1953, this elegant Aston sold for around £1,598. Current market values are north of £300,000. If you’re fortunate enough to own one, hold on tight.
Celebrating 60 years since its public release, the Corvair is a truly unique piece of American motoring history. Based upon the success of Volkswagen’s Beetle, the Corvair is the only Americandesigned, mass-produced vehicle to ever feature a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine.
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Chevrolet Corvair © Martin Charles Hatch / Shutterstock.com
Ferrari Mondial © Betto Rodrigues / Shutterstock.com - Konstantin Egorychev / Shutterstock.com
Ferrari Mondial
Production ran for only nine years, meaning you’ll rarely come across this infamous Chevy in the wild. This rear-engine unicorn featured the wheelbase of a compact car, but the ‘fastback’ American design cues shared by other models in Chevy’s outrageous and ultra-futuristic line-up of cars from the 50s and 60s, including the Corvette and Bel Air – from where the hybrid ‘Corv-air’ name was derived.
The Ferrari Mondial, or Mondial 8 to be exact, started life some 40 years ago, back in 1980. Only 703 examples were produced over the 8’s initial two-year production run, but the Mondial name would live on right up until 1993 in various guises. Ferrari’s mid-engined V8 grand tourer shared the same powerplant as found in the 308 GTB but featured a slightly longer wheelbase. Punching out a comparatively tepid 214bhp and offering seating for up to four people meant the Mondial 8 quickly established a reputation as one of Ferrari’s more ‘practical’ vehicles. This misunderstood ‘family-friendly’ Ferrari can now be picked up for around €30.000 if you can find one – the most affordable springboard into classic Maranello ownership? Quite possibly.
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Triumph Stag © Richard P Long / Shutterstock.com
Triumph Stag Unquestionably one of Triumph’s most iconic and recognisable silhouettes, the plucky British-born 2+2 sports tourer rolled out of the factory half a century ago. Powered by a torquey 3-litre V8 motor, the Stag remains cherished by enthusiasts and is said to provide a true, quintessentially British motoring experience from behind the wheel. Styled by prolific Italian design
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guru, Giovanni Michelotti, the Stag was a culmination of clean stylistic and aerodynamic features that he had tried and tested in other projects with industry-leading brands including Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. The Stag wasn’t the only success story between Triumph and Michelotti; he was also responsible for the gorgeous Herald, Spitfire and GT6, to name but a few.
Range Rover With current models enjoying 50 years of refinement, the original Range Rover – launched under the Rover division of British Leyland, later Land Rover – was far less opulent than its modern counterpart, but still led the way for the brand and has unarguably helped define several generations of success within Land Rover’s rich history. Featuring a lightweight aluminium V8 engine and permanent four-wheel drive, the new
Range Rover model was billed as ‘a car for all reasons’, and over the past 50 years, has gone on to confidently live and prove that mantra. From dominating the Camel Trophy and Paris to Dakar Rally, to becoming the vehicle of choice for transporting members of the monarchy, the Range Rover has become a universal social status symbol and timeless, robust design. There’s nothing this hardened classic can’t do.
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Audi Quattro Celebrating an incredible 40-year anniversary in 2020 is the amazing Audi Quattro. The Quattro will forever be cemented in history as a pioneering vehicle thanks to the industry-leading development of a forceful four-wheel drive system that was applied to a sedan body shape. This allowed enormous amounts of traction to reach all four corners of the car. To prove the potency of this new-fangled formula, Audi entered the turbo-charged Quattro into the
World Rally Championship, where it continued to dominate for over half a decade, while simultaneously achieving legendary status among motorsport fans. The most powerful rendition of the Audi Quattro was the S1 variant, which competed in the infamous Group B rally division before it was outlawed in 1987. Audi sold over 11,000 units of the roadgoing Quattro throughout its 11-year run, and it remains a dear favourite of petrolheads across the world.
Audi Q Shutte uattro Š R o rstock .com drigo Garrid o/
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elog man B o R © Series BMW 8 rstock.com e / Shutt
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BMW 8 Series Also known by its chassis code, E31, this whale-nosed bimmer came thundering onto the scene some 30 years ago. All versions of this majestic model were powered by big motors – options ranged from a ‘small’ 4-litre V8 block to a thumping 5.6-litre V12 – meaning the 8 Series
was no slouch. Total production numbers are an estimated 31,000 for the entire lifespan of the E31, making it a fairly rare sight on the roads today. And there’s no denying there’s an effortlessly cool swagger about these wedge-shaped cars – and who doesn’t love pop-up headlights? Personally, I think time has been very kind to the E31; it’s hard to believe they’re 30 years old this year.
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Bentley Mulsanne © Jordi_Cor / Shutterstock.com
Bentley Mulsanne Spectacularly named after the ‘Mulsanne Straight’ – a stretch of the renowned Le Mans race circuit of which Bentley dominated for four consecutive victories from 1927 to 1930 – this big Bentley boat celebrates its 40-year anniversary in 2020. This long and luxurious motorcar was powered by the famous Rolls-Roycederived 6.75-litre V8 and lugged its weighty rear around with a leisurely three-speed automatic gearbox. The regal and perfectly
poised Mulsanne saw several model revivals, including the Turbo and S-line variants that were all produced in rather limited numbers by today’s standards. John Gardner even saw the Turbo R model suitable for the escapades of the infamous fictional superspy, James Bond, in two mid80s novels. Bentley’s heavyweight luxury limo returned to production after a 12-year hiatus in 2010, making older examples true bargains for anyone brave enough.
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Lamborghini Diablo Rounding off our list is another car that has aged like a fine wine: the Lamborghini Diablo. This mid-engined Italian devil celebrates 30 years of pure style in 2020. The Diablo was a triumph for Lamborghini, and seamlessly combined the brand’s heritage with outrageously cool 80s design cues made popular in its predecessors: the Countach and Jalpa. The Diablo’s sleek new exterior styling would pave the way for the features we now know and love in the Italian marque today.
It was arguably the first ‘modern’ iteration to leave the company’s factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese. The Diablo would go on to become Lamborghini’s flagship model, and was released in various forms, including the VT, VS and Roaster, and would see production for over 11 years. Powered by either a ferocious 5.7-litre or utterly bombastic 6.0-litre V12 motor, the Diablo quickly became an icon of the decade. Racing to 100 km/h in a mere 4.5 seconds means the Diablo can still hold up
against many modern cars on the road today, and has retained its infamous, menacing presence from all angles. A clean example of this 90’s classic will currently fetch around €200.000 in the local market. With naturally aspirated V12s and manual transmissions quickly becoming a thing of the past, the Diablo represents a golden era for supercars, offering perfect, uninterrupted driving thrills.
Lamborghini Diablo © MarshyPhotography / Shutterstock.com
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007 X 6
The 25th Bond movie is canned til next April but why not Netflix your way through some golden oldies this Christmas? Belinda Beckett checks out 6 x 007s over 6 decades to help you choose.
H
E’S an enduring symbol of ruthless cool, irresistible sex appeal and impeccable British pedigree. Dreamed up in 1952 by retired naval intelligence officer Ian Fleming who set up his typewriter in Jamaica, the suave assassin appears in 12 novels and two short story collections.
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Dr. No was the first of 25 films in the Eon Productions franchise that has introduced us to six very different Bonds. Down the decades, his persona has moved with the times, erasing the racism and homophobia, sacking the maid, quitting smoking and giving women some respect. Most polls rank Sean Connery the best Bond ever. Who’s your favourite?
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Six Bond waxworks © RichartPhotos / Shutterstock.com
Daniel C raig in th e
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The Modern Bond Daniel Craig (2006-2020)
Dr. No Official Trailer #1 - Sean Connery Movie (1962) HD 3:20
‘The Name’s Bland – James Bland’, was fans’ initial reaction. He wasn’t tall or dark but he had rugged Steve McQueen charm and he made Bond his own from the get-go with Casino Royale. His professional assassin with a patriot heart and a taste for luxury added gritty realism without sucking out the fun. Skyfall remains the highestgrossing Bond film and won an Oscar for Adele. After Spectre’s lacklustre reviews in 2015, Craig said he’d rather slash his wrists than play Bond again but with No Time To Die it’s definitely done. Twice postponed by Covid, now until next April – a disaster for the big cinema chains – Craig’s final mission sees him up against Rami Malek’s dastardly IT villain and a phallanx of feisty Bond Women (no one calls them Girls any more) the #MeToo movement would be proud of.
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The 1-Hit Wonder The Quintessential Bond Sean Connery (1962-1967, 1971, 1983)be
d to Women wanted him, men wante original like him. ‘Shaggable Sean’, the d 90, Bond who died this October, age virility was all hairy chest, simmering ially init and sang froid. Fleming was Scot appalled at the choice of a rough ret for his sophisticated English sec ldn’t agent but later admitted he cou ry much see anyone else in the part. Ve get a Bond of his time (he wouldn’t ay) away with the face slapping tod ough Connery’s spy swung his way thr e in the Sixties seducing Pussy Galor wearing Goldfinger and Ursula Andress ssy that bikini in Dr. No. It was all glo Only good fun. Connery quit after You rs yea Live Twice saying five films in six boring”. had become “very wearing and k for two But the money enticed him bac ther more and he still looked fit for ano ipt. when he finally threw in the scr
George Lazenby (1969)
Remembered as much for his Fry’s Chocolate Cream adverts as for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, this Aussie model with zero acting credentials was hired after Broccoli saw him accidentally punch the stuntman during a screen test and liked his natural aggression. The youngest Bond at 29, he leant the spy some of Daniel Craig’s gravitas but smothered the humour. When he walked away from a follow-on contract saying Bond was ‘too archaic’ for the Seventies, everyone thought he was insane, including co-star Diana Rigg who couldn’t stand him. He has regretted it ever since.
The Playboy
Roger Moore (1973-1985) The most debonaire of all the Bonds, with his safari suits, turtleneck sweaters and silky-smooth charm, his eyebrows spoke innuendo louder than words. Perfect for the Seventies, Moore’s Bourbon-drinking, cigar-smoking Bond didn’t age well, turning to smarmy and a little bit sleazy in the Eighties. He was 58 when he made his seventh and last film, The Man with the Golden Gun. The Washington Post wrote: ‘Moore isn’t just long in the tooth – he’s got tusks’. On the plus side, he snagged two of the best Bond themes, Live and Let Die and Carly Simon’s Nobody Does it Better from The Spy Who Loved Me.
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That bikini scene from Dr. No
The Action Man
Timothy Dalton (1987-1989) On paper this classically-trained Shakespearean actor from Wales was over-qualified for the job. But Dalton’s Bond was more action hero than quirky British spy. Uncomfortable with Bond’s sexist one-liners and womanising ways, he made the spy “tougher and closer to the darker character Ian Fleming wrote about”. Both his movies were licenced to thrill – remember him hurtling off the top of The Rock of Gibraltar in a burning Landover in the opening credits to The Living Daylights – but lacked the nuance and whimsy and although Licence to Kill was another box office hit, Dalton never really nailed Bond.
The Cool Celt
Pierce Brosnan (1995-2004) Smoother than Connery, sexier than Moore, he added flirty Irish eyes and the Armani Look to four Bond films, starting with GoldenEye, which introduced us to Dame Judi Dench as M. Brosnan’s Bond brought back the witty asides, the Martini, shaken not stirred, and gave up smoking. At
The Next Bond? James Norton, the sexy vicar-detective, was for long the front runner and would have been the first Bond redhead. But all bets are off following rumours that first, Dark Knight Rises star, Tom Hardy, was set to step into Bond’s Danner combat boots. It’s true the 43 year-old Londoner whose versatility ranges from tough guy
50, the actor was looking forward to his fifth Bond assignment when he was fired over the phone. “I was kicked to the kerb with the way it went down,” he said about his abrupt sacking. Happily the allsinging, all-genders star of Mama Mia! and Mrs. Doubtfire is no one-trick pony and the roles are still flying in.
Is Tom Hardy the next Bond? © Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
action movies (Venom, Dunkirk) and theatre classics (Wuthering Heights) would be the most established actor ever to play 007. Recently, however, further names have entered the fray, including Richard Madden who played Robb Stark in GoT, Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, Thor), Henry Cavill (Superman, The Witcher) and Sam Heughan (Outlander). e
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Top 10 Sean Connery Performances 11:54
THE GREAT
Sean Conner Lamber t in H y with Christopher ighlander
SEAN CONNERY WORDS IAIN BLACKWELL
THE YOUNG SEAN
already had an impressive Arriving in the Great physique honed through Depression, Thomas bodybuilding and he entered Sean Connery was born in the Mr. Universe contest in Fountainbridge Edinburgh 1950. His footballing skills on 25th August 1930 and, as also led to him being offered a boy, saw his country enter a contract by Matt Busby, the 2nd World War. He joined manager of Manchester the Royal Navy in 1946, and United, which he was was stationed at Portsmouth tempted to accept. He is on where he trained at the naval record as saying, “I realised gunnery school and in an that a top-class footballer anti-aircraft crew. By 18, and could be over the hill at having reached 188cm, he 30 and I was already 23. I
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decided to become an actor and it turned out to be one of my more intelligent moves.�
ACTING UP The 1950s saw Connery becoming involved with the theatre, initially helping out backstage, before landing a part in South Pacific. Other roles followed and he became friends with Michael Caine, and began mixing with the some of
James Bond near Glencoe with iconic Aston Martin DB5 Friemann / Shutterstock.com
the periods A-listers: Shelley Winters, Lana Turner, Ian Bannen, Stanley Baker, Patrick McGoohan, Claire Bloom.
JAMES BOND – A LICENSE TO THRILL His big breakthrough came of course in the role of 007 which, despite his initial reluctance to sign up for a series, really defined him as the archetypal secret agent of the 60s. Debonair, suave and accomplished with enduring charm and slick dialogue, he was nevertheless rugged and more than capable of fighting him way out of a tight corner
against even the toughest of villains. The resulting Bond adventures, Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice became instant boxoffice smashes, starting a trend that would continue all the way down the line with their future successors. With his dashing good looks and dulcet Scottish tones, women loved him and Bond author Ian Flemming, despite initial scepticism, took to him and even wrote Connery’s heritage into the character, placing his father from Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands in the last
of the above. The demand for his portrayal of 007 was such that Connery reprised the role twice, in Diamonds are Forever in 1971 and Never Say Never Again in 1983. For many, he was the quintessential Bond who has never been eclipsed and although somewhat dated today, all seven of his films are eminently watchable at regular intervals. He really stamped his personality onto the character with regular viewer polls placing Connery’s contributions among the best of all time, with Goldfinger usually in poll position.
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ard, A Tribute to fe Achievement Aw Li I AF e th at ck.com rd to With Harrison Fo © Everett Collection / Shutters y er nn Co Sir Sean
The latter outing (1964) saw him really coming of age, featuring a series of gadgets that would become a trademark of the series and the famous “Martini. Shaken, not stirred” line.
OTHER ROLES His notoriety as Bond was such that achieving recognition for anything else must have been especially challenging, but that he did, having become tired of playing the British secret agent. He appeared in Hitchcock’s Marnie and Lumet’s The Hill in between his Bond escapades. Then, in 1975, he co-starred with Micheal Caine in Huston’s unmissable, The Man Who would Be King, which both actors regarded as their favourite film. Following from this, he was in
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The Wind and the Lion opposite Candice Bergen and Robin and Marian with Audrey Hepburn. He also shared sets with John Gielgud and Vanessa Redgrave in Murder on the Orient Express and Dick Bogarde and John Gielgud in A Bridge Too Far. Success cemented, his acting prowess was rewarded with a BAFTA award for Best Actor in The Name of the Rose. He went on to shine in Highlander and The Untouchables, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. There followed many gems, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor), The Hunt for Red October, The Russia House, The Rock and Entrapment, so that Sean Connery became a household name and universally recognised face. He continued in many more starring roles, among them The Avengers, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Finding Forrester, before retiring in 2006. Knighted by Queen Elisabeth in 2000, and with a string of awards and recognitions, he has also been voted the ‘Greatest Living Scot’ and the ’Sexiest Man Alive’. In Scotland he is a legend and although he will be greatly missed, such is his legacy of filmwork that we can enjoy his presence forever and a day. I intend to do just that, by rewatching some of his best performances this holiday season.
Covers of soundtracks of films of 007 starring Sean Connery © Kraft74 / Shutterstock.com
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the trend
CHECK OUT TOP NEW PHONES TO SPLURGE ON, THE LATEST BOOK AND CINEMA RELEASES, HOT MUSIC NEWS, AND WHAT’S COOL IN SPAIN AND FURTHER AFIELD. BREXIT WILL CHANGE MANY THINGS FOR A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE; FIND OUT HOW IT WILL AFFECT STUDENTS PLANNING ON STUDYING AT UK UNIVERSITIES.
GO TO PAGE 84 FOR MUSIC NEWS
GO TO PAGE 80 FOR CINEMA
GO TO PAGE 94 TO SEE WHAT’S COOL
GO TO PAGE 90 FOR TOP NEW PHONES
CINEMA SERIES MUSIC NEWS 80 Cinema Releases 84 Music News 86 Books to Enjoy by the Fireplace 90 Top New Phones 92 How Brexit Will Affect Studying at UK Universities 94 What’s Cool
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IT'S POPCORN
TIME AGAIN! Marisa Cutillas brings you the latest releases to enjoy on the big screen.
THE COMEBACK TRAIL
» Genre: Action/Comedy » Director: George Gallo (Middle Men) » Actors: Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones Robert De Niro plays Max, a greedy Hollywood producer who needs to settle a debt with a mafia boss (Morgan Freeman) quickly if he is going to save his skin. He decides that the best way to make a killing is to produce a high-risk action film in which his lead actor dies, so he can collect a hefty sum of insurance. His chosen ‘victim’ is a washed-up actor (Tommy Lee Jones) with a drinking problem and a major case of depression. It seems to be the perfect crime, until the actor survives stunt after stunt and Max realises he is unwittingly making the best film of his career.
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DE GAULLE
» Genre: Biopic » Director:Gabriel Le Bomin (Our Patriots) » Actors: Lambert Wilson, Olivier Gourmet, Isabelle Carré The year is 1940. France is facing a desperate military situation against the German army. Charles de Gaulle, a newly appointed General, joins the Government in Paris while Yvonne, his wife, and their three children stay in the East. Famous general, Philippe Pétain, wishes to end the war and negotiate with Hitler. However, de Gaulle pledges to continue the fight. In the midst of dramatic events (such as the forced fleeing of his family from German troops), he makes a decision that will change the course of World War II and French history in a dramatic fashion.
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THE LAST DUEL
» Genre: Drama » Director: Ridley Scott (The Martian) » Actors: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver It’s been a while since we’ve seen best buddies Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in a film together, so this should be a real treat. The Last Duel is set in the 16th century. It is the story of a woman who claims that she has been harmed by her husband’s best friend. Since nobody believes her, her husband, King Charles VI, decides to challenge his former friend to a duel to the death. The film is an adaptation of the highly acclaimed book by Eric Jager.
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FREE GUY
» Genre: Action » Director: Shawn Levy (Cheaper by the Dozen) » Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi
WAY DOWN
» Genre: Action » Director: Jaume Balagueró (REC) » Actors: Freddie Highmore, Liam Cunningham, José Coronado This movie, filmed in Spain but featuring English language and starring an international cast, promises to be one of the national industry’s most ambitious releases to date. The story sounds way-out but fun: a group of gangsters sets out to achieve the impossible – to rob the Bank of Spain. Freddie Highmore plays a brilliant young engineer who elaborates the perfect scheme to get through the bank’s sophisticated security system.
If you enjoyed movies like The Truman Show or Pixels (which delve into the subjects of reality TV and video games), then you will probably love Free Guy. Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a bank teller whose workplace always seems to get robbed. Guy eventually realises that he isn’t real; he’s a character in an ultra-violent video game that’s about to be discontinued. He must strive to save his world while avoiding being annihilated by guntoting gamers. e
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¿QUÉ PASA?
»DOLLY PARTON
WORDS RIK FOXX
As the world waits to see what Covid-19 has in store for us with the cooler months approaching, there's not much planned. Two gigs in Málaga are listed (see below). So check the Coast's weekly publications to see if anything is arranged. All info on this page was correct at the time of writing. So, if we are not allowed to go out to play what’s on the gogglebox? As this went to press the December TV listings had not been announced but DOLLY PARTON has two big ones (stop sniggering at the back) – a Christmas Special with songs from her October released A Holly Dolly Christmas album plus seasonal stories and faith-based memories – it airs on America’s CBS network (December 6). She also stars as an angel in the Netflix festive film, Christmas on the Square – featuring 14 new original songs, many from the aforementioned album. And the Queen of Christmas, MARIAH CAREY, has a Magical Christmas Special on Apple TV+ featuring a “star-studded line-up of surprise guests, combining music, dancing and animation, driven by a universally heart-warming story that brings the world together.” The DAVID BOWIE biopic Stardust launched Stateside on November 25 with musician JOHNNY FLYNN portraying 84 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
the man as he travelled across America in 1971, shortly before reinventing himself as Ziggy Stardust. Bowie’s family have distanced themselves from the project and son, DUNCAN JONES, confirmed it is unauthorised and won’t feature any of his father’s music. Also, A Bowie Celebration: Just for one day! is a special livestream tribute to mark the fifth anniversary of the legend’s death and what would have been his 74th birthday on January 8 with performances from BILLY CORGAN (SMASHING PUMPKINS), TRENT REZNOR (NINE INCH NAILS) and the great man’s final touring band. So who will get the prestigious UK festive number-one single? Can LADBABY (who also stars in the Walkers’ Crisps current Xmas UK TV advert) deliver another chart-topping Christmas cracker? For 2020’s charity sausage rollthemed offering, the YouTuber hopes to get fundraising hero, CAPTAIN SIR TOM MOORE, on board and match the SPICE
Carl Beust / Shutterstock.com
A new JOHN LENNON documentary will land on the UK’s BritBox service to honour the 40th anniversary of his death on December 8. Lennon’s Last Weekend will focus on the musician’s final interview on BBC Radio 1 discussing the break-up of the Beatles, his latest album Double Fantasy, his relationship with Paul McCartney and his work on his own solo albums. No doubt all four will find their way on to the net after a day or two.
John Lenon © Sahroe / Shutterstock.com
votes during the US election and cost him $12 million. He got just one vote in Wyoming – his own; a joke circulating the US said he asked his wife KK who she voted for – she replied “I voted for Biden while my ass voted for Trump”.
James Blunt © Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com Miley Cyrus © Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
GIRLS as the only other act to have three-consecutive festive chart toppers. Other candidates include DOLLY PARTON & (god-daughter) MILEY CYRUS with Christmas Is; The Voice UK judge MEGHAN TRAINOR with I Believe In Santa; LIAM PAYNE & TikTok star DIXIE D’AMELIO with Naughty List; and supergroup BOYZ ON BLOCK (featuring DANE BOWERS (ANOTHER LEVEL), SHANE LYNCH (BOYZONE), ABZ LOVE (5IVE) and BEN OFOEDU of PHATS AND SMALL fame) with their rendition of 1994’s EAST 17 Christmas classic Stay Another Day. On December 11, PAUL McCARTNEY will release the last in a trilogy of solo albums which he started in 1970 after leaving the BEATLES. McCartney III, which was recorded recently in lockdown follows the original, and 1980’s McCartney II. memorabilia and Tshirts. The December and January are annually limited release wise as record companies hold back
major names so they don’t get caught up in the festive sales battles but on December 1, the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, who over the past few years have been successfully added to the likes of ELVIS, BUDDY HOLLY, BEACH BOYS and last month JOHNNY CASH, are putting their magic touch to festive favourites like White Christmas, Merry Christmas Everybody and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day on A Royal Philharmonic Christmas. Other releases include the ARCTIC MONKEYS – Live at the Royal Albert Hall, and STEREOPHONICS singer KELLY JONES with Don’t Let The Devil Take Another Day featuring ‘reimagines’ of the band’s best tunes (both on Dec 4); US rapper SNOOP DOGG with Take It From A G’ (date TBA). In January: LANA DEL REY with Chemtrails over the Country Club and Certified Lover Boy by Canadian rapper DRAKE (both dates TBA). KAYNE WEST and his Birthday Party only got 60,000
His music might not be liked by many but JAMES BLUNT is piling up popularity points for his quick wit while answering on-line trolls. His recently released book, How To Be A Complete and Utter Blunt: Diary of a Reluctant Social Media Sensation, featuring his hilarious alter-ego Twit-ter replies, is selling better than his music at the moment. Top tweets include “Singing I saw your face in a crowded place (lyrics from You’re Beautiful) suddenly seems a little dated (about coronavirus); on lockdown “While many other artists are doing mini-concerts from home, I thought I’d do you all a favour and not”, and on his new book “If you missed out on loo roll during the recent panic buying, my new book is now out” e WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 85
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BOOKS TO ENJOY BY THE FIREPLACE As the cold weather makes indoor life more appealing, we bring you a few books that will keep you up at night. From mysteries to non-fiction gems, take your pick from these best-selling reads. COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A BIRD
BY DAVID ALLEN SIBLEY
This book had me at ‘What’ and I am glad I picked it up and read it. A bird is a lifeform many people say they would love to be, since the unique ability to fly and defy gravity is universally appealing. Nature author David Allen Sibley provides us with insight into what it actually feels like to be one of the most amazing creatures on the Planet. Discover the answer to many questions – including whether or not birds can smell or ‘hear’ their prey. Learn about the amazing habits of different species and marvel at the odd behaviors of both common and exotic birds. 86 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
STAR WARS: THRAWN ASCENDANCY (BOOK I: CHAOS RISING) BY TIMOTHY ZAHN
Beyond the edge of the galaxy lie the Unknown Regions: dark, mysterious, and near impassable, with hidden dangers lurking at every turn. Ensconced within its starless chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the powerful Chiss and the Nine Ruling Families that lead them. The peace of the Ascendancy is shattered when a mysterious enemy attacks the Chiss capital and disappears. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches Thrawn; one of its brightest young military officers to find out who the assailants are. With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back and the help of the brilliant Admiral Ar’alani, Thrawn begins to make discoveries that reveal the true depth of his mission. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 87
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BAYOU BABY
BY LEXI BLAKE Seraphina Guidry is a young, single mum who is delighted to be living in Butterfly Bayou. She is fully centred on her son, having decided some time back to put romance on the back burner. Harrison Jeffries is a city slicker who never expected to find himself in small-town Louisiana. He is there for one important reason: to reconnect with his family. After years in the Army, he’s happy to spend time with his Aunt Celeste and his cousins in such an idyllic spot. When he meets Seraphina, he starts to feel something special. But a secret from her past rears its ugly head and threatens to end the magic that has just begun between them.
THE BUDDHA AND THE BADASS: THE SPIRITUAL ART OF SUCCEEDING AT WORK BY VISHEN LAKHIANI
The average person spends 70 per cent of their waking hours at work. If you are unhappy in your job, this book may inspire you to make necessary changes. Its thesis is
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that happy individuals are those who combine qualities of both Buddha and Badass. The Buddha figure represents inner awareness, mindfulness and alignment, while the Badass symbolises disruption, change and innovation. Imagine building the skills that will enable you to harness the best of both worlds!
THE GEOMETRY OF HOLDING HANDS BY ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
has a short time to live, and, without any direct heirs, he doesn’t know which of his Just when young couple Isabel and Jamie three cousins would be the best caretaker. finally seem to have some time off to bond Should his estate go to the bohemian artist, and relax, a wealthy Edinburgh resident the savvy city property developer, or the quiet, reaches out to Isabel, asking her to become unassuming bachelor? Isabel will need to rely the executor of his impressive Highland estate. upon her knowledge, experience, and profound Isabel is hesitant at first, but the man is compassion to ensure that all parties get what adamant that she should help him. He only they deserve – no more, no less. e
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TOP PHONES TO SPLURGE ON
2020 has done little to slow down the unstoppable rhythm of technology. If your phone is starting to look old, it’s taking ages to charge, or you are simply growing tired of its aesthetic, take a look at these newly released and upcoming beauties. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
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1 – IPHONE 12 PRO MAX The iPhone 12 Pro Max will vary considerably from other iPhone 12 models so we hope you’ve saved up enough to splurge on what will undoubtedly be one of the coolest gadgets to own this month. It will measure 17cm in size, offering the best display and cameras in the range. Top features include a 120HZ refresh rate and a LiDAR scanner which enables it to ‘see’ the world www.apple.com around it in greater dimension .
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3 – ONEPLUS 8T This beautifully designed gadget boasts an 8GB RAM and 128GB for better performance, velocity, and storage. It has a 16.64cm AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It houses 3 two cameras (a main camera and one for selfies), a loudspeaker with stereo speakers, fingerprint sensors, and more. www.oppo.com
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2 –MICROSOFT SURFACE DUO A cool phone-tablet hybrid that is perfect for those who prize large-sized screens above almost anything else. It runs on Android yet has apps that work well on iOS and Android. The device boasts dual 14.2cm, 1,800x1,350 OLED displays with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The displays can work separately or as a united 20.6cm that is perfect for reading and checking out large-sized images. i www.microsoft.com
4 4 – SONY XPERIA 5 II This phone has very similar specs to its predecessor, the Xperia 1 II. It has a Snapdragon 865 beneath the hood, and up to 128GB of storage. Its 15.5cm display boasts a 120HZ refresh rate and its 21:9 aspect ratio lends an ultra-wide scope to select www.sony.com imagery.
5 – GALAXY NOTE 20 ULTRA This device has a gigantic 17.5cm display and one of the best cameras you are likely to find on an Android phone (the pixel count now stands at 108MP). Its S-Pen has been receiving rave reviews from critics, who are also hyped about the fast charging times (it takes just 71 minutes for the battery to go from zero to full). The device boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and an enhanced raw processing power thanks to Snapdragon 865 www.samsung.com plus.
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In 2018/2019, there were around 485,600 students from overseas studying at UK universities. Some 143,000 were from the EU and 343,000 from elsewhere. EU students often chose the UK owing to the sound reputation of its tertiary institutions, plus the fact they were charged UK domestic student fees. Moreover, they were eligible to apply for student loans and grants. Universities in the UK are currently allowed to charge domestic students a maximum of £9,250 a year. Of course, studying in the UK entails additional expenses, including accommodation and food, which is why keeping tuition fees low is a decisive factor for many families with children choosing to study abroad. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS CHANGES FOR CURRENT STUDENTS Up until the 2019/2020 academic year, EU nationals commencing studies at UK universities remained eligible to pay the same fees and obtain the same loans and grants as domestic students. However, in June, 2020, the UK government confirmed that EU, European Economic 92 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
Area (EEA), and Swiss nationals would no longer be charged domestic student rates. Minister Michelle Donelan made the following statement: “Following our decision to leave the EU, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status, or undergraduate, postgraduate and
advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in academic year 202122.” The change would not involve students commencing in the 20202021 academic year, but it would affect those starting in the following year. This was a big blow to many families who
HOW WILL BREXIT AFFECT
EU STUDENTS WISHING TO STUDY AT UK UNIVERSITIES? have invested in a British education abroad in order to facilitate their children’s transition to the UK system. EU students enrolled at English universities will now be expected to pay fees of up to £26,000 annually, though tuition differs from course to course and many courses cost considerably less. England isn’t the only country to adopt this stance. Scotland has confirmed it will follow suit and Northern Ireland and Wales are expected to make similar announcements. WHAT ABOUT UK STUDENTS RESIDENT ABROAD? The Department for Education (DfE) in England has published guidance (11 August 2020), titled UK nationals in the EEA and Switzerland: access to higher education and 19+ further education. It
(including Norway, Germany, and Denmark) do not charge any tuition fees at all. In Germany, for instance, students only pay a tiny fee, which covers administration and other small costs. Another certainty is that the UK will no longer be an option for many students who were counting on student loans and hoping WILL UK UNIVERSITIES BE to work part-time in the AFFECTED? UK to fund their education. The exact effect that the This will mean greater new fee structure for EU enrichment and diversity students will have on for the countries they the number of students studying in the UK remains choose to study in, unless of course, they opt to study uncertain. There is no at home. One option is for doubt, however, that many individual UK universities will begin to look into the to charge lower fees in possibility of studying in order to maintain strong EU other countries. Tuition costs in the UK are already ties, but the way of going about this is complex and higher than in other will require to take into countries like Spain or France (where students pay account the need to avoid between €2.000 and €3.000 discrimination against nona year), and some countries EU students. e provides for UK nationals and their children who have been living in the EEA, Switzerland, Gibraltar, and the UK, to remain eligible for home fee status and student finance in the circumstances described in that guidance for courses starting before 1 January 2028.
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? l o o c s ’ t wha
ACKWELL COMPILED BY IAIN BL
ARD MAGARI AWARD-WINNING CHOP was a winner in the This exquisite timepiece prestigious Grand Prix jewellery category at the in Geneva. Surrounded de l’Horlogerie 2020 held monds, comprising by a corolla of pear-cut dia dial is animated by more than 32 carats, the of 40 hours of power an automatic movement and blue diamond set at k pin id viv a th wi e, rv se re respectively, each of two k loc o’c 6 d an k loc o’c 12 www.chopard.com carats.
GLEN OPPING AT MCARTHUR SH AR YE W NE D AN ga CHRISTMAS , located close to the Mála ga ála M t tle Ou r ne sig De s McArthurGlen t drive from Marbella, ha or sh ly ive lat re a in th wi ting new airport and ing in February, incorpora en op its ce sin y all nic ga grown or mani and ch as Prada, Burberry, Ar su ds an br y ur lux d an premium ercial space in the south m m co a ing en op e ar Furla. Some of them g yearith over 100 brands offerin W e. tim st fir e th r fo ain of Sp is year’s where better to visit for th %, 70 to up of gs vin sa d roun www.mcarthurglen.com s? se ha rc pu as tm ris Ch 94 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
G IN MADRID t SWEET SPACE OPENIN Planet Sweet Space is se e th of ing en op ed ait aw The muchC e second floor of the AB th on d te ca Lo r. be m ce for 3rd De rs will take a trip through ito vis , re nt Ce g pin op Sh Serrano e ey will enjoy an interactiv th ich wh in s om ro ed 10 them ich colours, sweets and wh in e rs ive un a in e ur nt adve www.sweetspace.com ists. on ag ot pr e th e ar ity tiv crea
MADRID FRED PERRY OPENS IN a flagship Following the opening of t summer, emporium in Barcelona las heritage brand, the quintessential British its first store in Fred Perry, has launched del Sonido. Here Madrid in the iconic Calle llections, the you can find the latest co d the coveted classic Fred Perry Shirt an e in England, collaborations with Mad Winehouse George Cox and the Amy www.fredperry.com Foundation. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 95
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SEARCH FOR BRIGHTEST YOUNG TALENT Nova Talent, part of the global talent network, has launched The Nova 111 List in Spain which aims to identify the 111 brightest individuals from top sectors considered to be key to the economy. The company is looking for young people between 25 and 35 years of age with relevant careers, high potential and a vocation for leadership. Nominations are open until 20th www.novatalent.com January, 2021.
NEW BABY GORILLA AT BIOPARC FUENGIROLA Bioparc Fuengirola is ecstatic to announce the birth of a baby gorilla, the first ever to be born in AndalucĂa. The youngster was born on 8th November and both mother and baby are in perfect health and can be seen in the outdoor installation with the rest of the group. The Bioparc at Fuengirola is actively involved in conservation and breeding programmes for endangered species so the new addition is great news for all those involved and for visitors to the zoo. www.bioparcfuengirola.es 96 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
LEXUS LAUNCHES THE UX 300E Lexus’s first fully electrical vehicle, the impressive Ux 300e, will go on sale in Europe in early 2021. The new crossover boasts electrified characteristics coupled with world-class levels of refinement. Its exceptional qualities have been accentuated through a new virtual home www.lexus.com environment created by renowned visual designer, Chris Labrooy.
LA MANGA CLUB – BEST SPORTS RESORT IN EUROPE b has been For the second year running, La Manga Clu ope at the recognised as the Best Sports Resort in Eur the ‘Oscars’ prestigious World Travel Awards, known as ena in of tourism. The exclusive complex at Cartag
ole golf Murcia comprises three championship 18-h which was courses, including the famous South Course tre with 28 remodelled by Arnold Palmer, a Tennis Cen -regulation courts, and a Soccer Centre with eight Fifa pitches and an academy. www.lamangaclub.com
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the style
ADMIRE THE SLEEK LINES OF CONTEMPORARY DANISH FURNITURE BY BO CONCEPT AND THOSE OF A PENTHOUSE PROJECT RECENTLY COMPLETED BY BLACKSHAW INTERIOR DESIGN. CHECK OUT THE AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION FROM CANTABRIAN DESIGNER ÁNGEL SCHLESSER AND TAKE A PEEK AT SOME FESTIVE DÉCOR IDEAS AND DESIGNER PET BOWLS FOR OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS.
GO TO PAGE 116 FOR CHRISTMAS DÉCOR IDEAS
GO TO PAGE 120 FOR ÁNGEL SCHLESSER
GO TO PAGE 112 FOR THE PERFECT PENTHOUSE DESIGN
GO TO PAGE 100 TO SEE BO CONCEPT – DANISH DESIGN
INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART FASHION 100 Bo Concept – Danish Design 112 Perfect Penthouse by Blackshaw Interior Design 116 Christmas Décor Ideas 120 Ángel Schlesser Autumn/Winter 2020-2021 128 Animal Love
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BOCONCEPT
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WHERE STYLE MEETS COMFORT Danish design has long been synonymous with modern décor, functional creativity and durable quality. From the nation that gave the world the concept of ‘hygge’, where style and comfort meet with apparent ease, comes a new generation of beautiful furnishings to make your home feel special. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BOCONCEPT
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s a new, more autumnal collection dressed in warmer tones and materials reaches the BoConcept showrooms in Marbella and Mijas, it does so in strange times. On the one hand, the latest offering by the famous Danish furniture brand is a fine example of the recent move from starker minimalism to a richer palette of expression in terms of colours, textures and forms. On the other, it comes at a time when people have discovered a newfound passion for their homes. The greater amount of time spent at home this year has highlighted among many the need to upgrade their properties,
Look for smaller decoration pieces at the Bo Concept Plus Store
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modernise technical infrastructures and improve both style and comfort. The bathrooms offer a stylish yet cosseting environment focused on the senses Garden expanses, bedrooms, living spaces as well as play areas for children, entertainment zones and of course work stations are receiving more attention than ever, and while much of this is related to our recent experiences, the concepts of flexible, remote working and a healthier career-home life balance are trends that seem to be here to stay. Jan Petersen has experienced them at first hand in recent months,
witnessing a renewed focus on the home that hasn’t been seen for some time. “Until recently, the main focus of decorating a property on the Costa del Sol was to make it a functional and impressive holiday home or full-time residence, but we’ve noticed clients taking décor to another level of comfort and detail.” It reveals that the house is becoming increasingly important as a home base, even in a place such as Marbella, where outdoor life is so valued.
The open-plan spaces are interconnected yet intimate and refined
Danish hygge – stylish comfort – personified
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Home solutions for large and small living spaces
THE HOME AS YOUR OWN PERFECT CREATION
Not only are people creating their own professional workspaces, fun entertainment areas and play zones for the little ones, more conventional rooms such as lounges are also the subject of more care and consideration. Where once it would suffice to have a large sofa and television, perhaps accompanied by some lighting and small decorative pieces in your living room, now the often open-plan space is not just a showcase but increasingly a truly cosy place to spend time in, relax, socialise and generally feel good. The items we choose to create this homely, welcoming ambience vary depending on personal taste and needs, but the new collections suit the purpose beautifully, injecting Marbella homes
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Elegant designs perfect for Marbella homes
The Plus Store adds a wide variety of décor items to the Mijas and Golden Mile showrooms
Quality European design and manufacture
with engaging colour tones and luxuriant materials that turn the house into your own wonderful oasis of style and wellbeing. This season, BoConcept surprises with an evocative range of sofas, salon tables, wall units, dining rooms and inviting bedrooms sets. Compared to a few years ago, home décor has become gentler and more cosseting while also retaining elegance and refinement. This is very evident in the new BoConcept collection, which has a warm, retro-modern feel about it that still embodies the very concept of Danish design. “Scandinavia has a philosophy of design that fits well with a wide range of materials and even styles,” says Jan. “It’s more about how to work with forms and spaces to create a very special ambience that is comfortable, refined, natural and also contemporary.” That said, a lot of people think that brands such as BoConcept are ‘too modern’ and minimalist, as well as expensive and inaccessible. “To them I would simply say come and have a look and see for yourself,” and indeed, they will be pleasantly surprised.
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In addition to the beautifully styled furniture and decorative pieces within the BoConcept catalogue, the Mijas and Marbella showrooms also offer a Plus Store with specially selected items from top designers around the world. The pieces vary from lamps and tables to soft furnishings, objets d’art, smaller furniture and beautifully styled designer chairs and fauteuils. “They help to personalise your home, give it colour and take it in the direction you desire, whether you want to be extravagantly stylish or are working to a budget.” Jan and his team also provide an interior styling and installation service that ranges from small items to entire decoration projects. “We have been working with state-of-theart design and presentation tools for some time now to
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The Plus Store adds a wide variety of décor items to the Mijas and Golden Mile showrooms
BoConcept, Danish Design since 1952. 2:42
create interior projects,” says Jan, “but in recent months we are also having Zoom briefings with clients to discuss their home décor ideas and help to give shape to them.” Though it doesn’t replace meeting with clients and seeing properties in person, it has been a helpful tool that enables the BoConcept team to meet project deadlines and continue to offer clients design consultations. “BoConcept is much more than a furniture brand alone; it represents the very spirit of the Scandinavian principle of quality design and manufacture The collections are marked by quality materials and designer styling
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Indoor and outdoor style
Bo Concept’s designers create modern classics
in the service of creating very comfortable, stylish and liveable spaces.” Though the original spirit of this dates back to the early years of ‘modern’ design and architecture, the concept has evolved with the times to always feel fresh and current – and now complemented by professional interior styling advice and a broad selection of hand-picked international design pieces from around the world, your home really is your canvas. g BO CONCEPT Mijas Store Ctra. de Mijas, Km 3,5, Mijas. Tel: (+34) 951 242 092. Marbella Store Oasis Business Center, CN340, Km 176, Marbella. Tel: (+34) 951 492 727. www.boconcept.es www.plusstore.es
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Professionals you can count on to transform the way you live.
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BLACKSHAW DESIGNS REMOTELY
As many companies have had to adapt to the new changes that this unpredictable year has brought us, there are some, whose workflow hasn’t been affected much at all. In fact, Blackshaw — an established interior designer with an in-house construction company on the coast for over 12 years, has always been accustomed to working remotely. Over the years, they have liaised with clients from all over the world, most of the time without actually meeting them in person. WORDS JAANA KULIM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF NINE LIONS
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something important is happening, the clients receive little videos from the site to build the confidence that their future home is in good hands. The Blackshaw team is always available for the client, no matter the circumstance. Comprising a strong office-based design and construction team, each designer oversees several projects sequentially. Therefore, Blackshaw is adequately set up to take on all kinds of projects at any stage, while the enquiries come in from clients all over the world.
PENTHOUSE PERFECTION
D
esigning someone’s home or holiday home is a personal service that requires good communication skills but even more so, when it’s all done online. However, nowadays it’s easier than before to keep the clients updated with the progress. This can be done by conducting video calls, exchanging good oldfashioned e-mails and quick videos that are sent through WhatsApp. Every time
An example of one of these projects was a recently completed luxury penthouse with views that any holiday homeowner could dream of. In this case, as it was an interior design project only and not a build, the process started with creating an overview of the desired ambience for each section of the house, so that the client could see how the elements would stay cohesive throughout the property. The designer then presented two different design proposals of the same area (usually the living and dining area) where everything WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 113
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was specified — from the exact material of the dining table, to the texture of the wallpaper and the fabrics for the curtains. Usually, clients fall in love with one of the presented proposals and may ask for some adjustments; this comes before the designer can continue with their work for the rest of the spaces, which normally takes around two to three weeks. After this, it would be time to make all the necessary orders and check them upon arrival to make sure that everything is correct and in perfect condition. An interior design project like this one would be ready in less than three months. For construction projects it can take anywhere between four months to one year, depending on the scale of the project, and whether it’s a new build or a renovation.
TURNING A HOUSE INTO A HOME
More often than not, new builds can appear quite cold and lacking in personality. This is why it’s important to inject the feeling of warmth while furnishing. On entering this luxury penthouse in the heart of Marbella, one is welcomed by gold tones paired with warm grey tinted wood within the open plan living space. 114 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
Conducively, wood always brings an instant feeling of warmth to a space. Vibrant elements of blue were added for life and to bring everything together. Handmade bespoke carpentry was designed for the lounge to neatly house the TV and hide the cables. Moreover, it also incorporates a mixture of hidden storage and open shelves to display objects. In order to maintain the same feeling of warmth in the living area, the bespoke coffee table and console were handmade with the exact same warm grey tinted oak finishes. The use of a bronze mirror on a wall adjacent to the sofa brings a feeling of extra depth to the area. Furthermore, it bounces the natural light around that enters from the opposite window. The use of round furniture helps to
a structural niche perfectly and maximises this space in the form of a dressing table consisting of drawers and hidden plugs for the hair dryer, etc. These clients have yet to see their apartment in real life, but of course Blackshaw has arranged a professional photographer to come in straight away maintain a good flow. after the furnishing in order The blue tones from to produce and present the living area are carried high-quality photos of their through to the bedroom, future holiday home. These where more sumptuous will be shown exclusively fabrics come together to to the client and to the create a variety of textures readers of essential in order to showcase Blackshaw’s and provide a genuine expertise in making a feeling of luxury that one personal connection through can sink into. The guest bedroom features beautifully technology. crafted faux shagreen glass g BLACKSHAW night tables, topped with INTERIOR DESIGN blown glass table lamps in a Avda. Cånovas del Castillo, 25, stunning graduated shade of blue. The bespoke carpentry Marbella. Tel: (+34) 951 403 787 www.blackshawinteriordesign.com in the master bedroom fills
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UNICORN CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION BY MAISONS
ILLUMINATED ANGEL TREE DECORATION BY GATO PRETO
As Christmas time approaches, many families follow traditions such as that of adding a new ornament or décor piece to their tree or living room. If you are looking for a special piece this year, take your pick from these gorgeous suggestions. COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS AND ANDI BLACKWELL
OVERSIZED CHRISTMAS BAUBLE BY CASA
LYING ZWERG STATUE BY KARE
82 CM REINDEER ILLUMINATED BY 15 LEDS AT LEROY MERLIN
MURANO GLASS MURRINA BAUBLE BY THE CULTURE OF ART BLACK RUSH GOLD ESPRESSO CUP SET BY THE CULTURE OF ART
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LED LIGHTS BY CASA
DÉCOR TO LOVE TEA CANDLE HOLDER BY CASA
GOLD PLATED PALM LEAVES BY GATO PRETO
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back to CONTENTS COPPER COLOURED CUTTLERY SET BY MAISONS DU MONDE
HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS LED ADVENT CALENDAR BY THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TAB L
ECLO RED TH B CHRIS Y R A TMA GGE S NO D RO RDI SE L C TD
BRONZE ANGEL STATUE BY KARE
MINIMALIST CHRISTMAS VIBE BY BO CONCEPT
BUY THEM AT www.alojadogatopreto.com www.boconcept.com www.casashops.com www.cultureof.art www.kare.es www.leroymerlin.es www.maisonsdumonde.com www.raggedrose.com www.the12daysofchristmas.co.uk
SET OF 3 ILLUMINATED CHRISTMAS CONES AT LEROY MERLIN
POM POM CHRISTMAS BAUBLES AND OTHER FLUFFY THINGS BY MAISONS DU
TAB L
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BLACK ILLUMINATED ANGELS TREE DECORATION BY GATO PRETO
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Ángel Schlesser is a brand known for its chic urban configurations, which are often inspired by some of fashion’s grandest eras. This collection features a selection of ensembles made with traditional materials that are given new life with innovative cuts and a contemporary vision of classics such as trenchcoats and ballgowns. COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS
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ÁNGEL SCHLESSER AUTUMN/WINTER 2020-2021 WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 121
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Angel Schlesser, Fall Winter 2020/2021, Full Show 12:09
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SOME ÁNGEL SCHLESSER ITEMS CAN BE FOUND AT EL CORTE INGLÉS. www.elcorteingles.es www.angelschlesser.com
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NATURAL WALNUT KYALI PET FEEDER & STORAGE BY MADE.COM
CRAZY CAT LADY MUG & CAT BOWL SET
KOFF HAPPY BOWL KR ASILNI
ALESSI LULA RED DOG BOWL I’M A DOG PERSON MUG & DOG BOWL SET
S OP
HIE A
LL
PO S CH DA RT
BENDO MINIMALIST DOG BOWL WOOF WITH STAND
D BO HUN
WL
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DESIGNER PET BOWLS
Feeding time is one of the highlights of any pet’s day, so make it a bit more special by serving your dog and cat their favourite treats in a cute designer bowl. Take your pick from these appealing items. COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS & ANDI BLACKWELL
FISHY GO FOOD GGLES CAT B OWL
SOPHIE ALLPORT PURRFECT! CAT BOWL
VISIT TO SHOP www.thedesigngiftshop.com www.made.com www.sophieallport.com www.TakaTomo.de www.yellowoctopus.com.au ARCHIE MARBLE PET BOWL BY MADE.COM
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the spa
DISCOVER RARE BEAUTY BY SELENA GOMEZ, FIND OUT HOW TO ELIMINATE SUN SPOTS, CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK IN TERMS OF PREVENTING DISEASE, AND BE AWARE OF THE EXCESSIVE STRAIN YOUNGSTERS ARE PLACING ON THEIR SPINAL COLUMNS COURTESY OF MARBELLA-BASED CHIROPRACTOR DIANA NARVAEZ.
GO TO PAGE 132 TO SEE RARE BEAUTY BY SELENA GOMEZ
GO TO PAGE 140 FOR CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN
GO TO PAGE 136 TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK
PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA HEALTH
GO TO PAGE 134 TO SAY GOODBYE TO SUN SPOTS
132 Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez 134 Say Goodbye to Sun Spots 136 The Importance of an Annual Health Check 140 Chiropractic Treatments for Children 142 Debra Gives Wings to Butterfly Children
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DUCTS
TOP PRO e , is a n le e S robably get to th ys p a s ld , u o ty h u s a e e B W re a eauty has l good in, ge itself. Rare B n ra “makeup to fee e face, lips, and what makes products for th without hiding ld auty tools such e to b y s tl a n e ll c e re w e s h a , S eyes you unique.” . The ple of my o e “P , e es and sponges n h zi s a g ru a b s m a w ie nge rv Inte ressure to lti-Tasking Spo p u M is h th c ll u a o T ve id a u h Liq to generation wanted to gles and points I n a d f n o a t y, s a o h w a in s a a h larger look a cert way a bit of enable beauty buffs to reach a k o to t a th e (such make a lin al people in icky areas alike re tr e ll, s a u I m . s re d u n s a s yes). that pre Beauty, she corners of the e r re e a n R in .” s e n th ig s a a p m the ca ty t “accepting face, Rare Beau u o e b th a r ll o a F is , s in expla ty Liquid nding the beau ndation called fi u d fo n a a s re a a h u yo who ez calls Foundation. It m s o s G e tl .” h s n ig o e ti W c e h rf c Tou in your impe t to the touch h omparing c lig p ly to g s in to s ri n e rp u m is s upon all wo good mediumd to start n a a g n rs ri e e th ff o o to ile s h w themselve own skin. The product is . ir e e g th ra in ve l o fu c l ti u ve a le cover feeling be m do so with perfect for those who like to e th lp e h to s e ckles She hop t leave a few fre roducts. Her ye p f s e o h y is a rr m a le b le p her am ts na’s Fenty ditional produc n d a A ih t. R h e ig s lik , n in o ti collec oft braces all e include the S g m n e ra o ls is a , th e in lin ty Beau h boasts uid Blush (whic undation and iq fo L r e h c H . in s P e n to skin nce, ility and comes b ta s a d in n r le fo b , t s n e g lle n e exc concealer ra hades. des – including s a h 8 s 4 y e n iv a s s m re o p s in the have an im nd peach) and a , ia h c s fu , k in p
R
Of the many recent celebrity launches that have hit the market, few have caused quite the stir that Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty has. If you are familiar with Gomez’s vast empire, then you already know she is a great businesswoman. Not only has she shone in Disney series and films (including Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York) but she has also played the role of Executive Producer in hit series, Thirteen Reasons Why. All this while releasing various singles, working on new shows (she will be serving as host and Executive Producer of the HBO Max cooking show, Selena + Chef), and collaborating with other artists (including Blackpink, with whom she worked on the song, Ice Cream). WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
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(in a e Dewy Lip Balm d tu ti ra G ip r le a rmat) and the L tening Conce fo h g k ri c B ti s h c lip u y o d T n a id h Liqu h t coverage and Lip Cream (whic a e re tt g a rs M e lé ff o ff u h o ic S (wh oth are longB to Too y ). d lit n a a u w q a in h le it b comes w is compara rrable. Concealers). y a W is are non-transfe h T d n rn a o g B n ’s ti s d e la c a F urrently small; dditionally c a n is o e ti g c n lle ra o c ye e E c The The Fa trokes ne mist (for -o in ru es the Perfect S fo s ri ly p ve m o c it has a lo ing ned to uch after apply uid Liner (desig iq L e tt a M e , use as a final to rs t cat eye) and th c different prime e o rf e tw p d e n th a ), te p a u cre o make encil and Gel (t more pearlised P a y s n a o h rm h a ic H h w w f ro B a one o or simply create er. s th w o ro e b th e n n fi a in th ll h fi finis re Beauty has beautiful arch). For the lips, Ra h it W e th : s oice two different ch
ed we are impress We have to say c ful, minimalisti with the beauti s f the products a presen tation o leased recently re s a w e lin e h well. T d rave reviews but has receive d social media n a s s re p e th from We can’t wait to . e lik a rs e c n e u infl ow ’s first eyeshad ty u a e B re a R e e s ill nder if Selena w o w d n a e tt le a p , or , bright colours opt for neutrals both! ty.com www.rarebeau
Get Ready With Selena Gomez, Her Signature Look 5:32
RARE BEAUTY BY
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ENVIRONMENTAL SHIELD RAPID AGE SPOT CORRECTING SERUM BY MURAD A powerful serum with a patented solution comprising niacinamide, hexylresorcinol, and plankton extract, which reduce the appearance of dark spots in an estimated six weeks. It also contains high levels of Vitamin C, oligopeptides and light-reflecting pearls, which target dark spots, age spots, and hyperpigmentation. www.murad.com CLEARLY CORRECTIVE™ DARK SPOT SOLUTION BY KIEHL’S This solution has helped 90 per cent of women show a reduction in skin discoloration after eight weeks, as per Kiehl’s research. It contains peony and white birch extracts and can be used alongside your favourite hydrating cream at night time. www.kiehls.com WHITE LIGHTENING SERUM AND COMPLEX BY IS CLINICAL ESPAÑA These products contain extracts of Norwegian seaweed, mushrooms, and blueberries. They help balance the pigmentation of skin, interrupting melanin transfer between melanocytes and keratinocytes. They promote exfoliation (the shedding of dead skin cells) so that dark spots can progressively diminish without harming www.isclinical.com.es the skin.
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SAY GOODBYE TO
SUN SPOTS Saying goodbye to the last of the sunny weather is tough at the best of times, but it only gets worse if you have melasma – the brown or greyish-brown blotches which indicate that you have been exposed to UV rays without adequate protection. Of course, the sun isn’t always to blame. Melasma sometimes has hormonal causes and in severe or stubborn cases, it can be treated successfully through the use of laser, retinoids, or other prescribed remedies. If you have chronic melasma then seeing a dermatologist first is always a good idea, since you need to establish the cause. If you have light or sudden melasma after sun exposure, top-of-the-range, over-thecounter beauty/skincare products may be of help. The following have received good reviews: WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
GENOPTICS SPOT ESSENCE BY SK-II SK-II is a luxury brand known for delivering results so if better skin clarity is your aim, give this concentrated essence a try. It contains lumina sea kelp extract and ume extract, as well as a host of antioxidants (including Vitamin C and copper peptides), known for rejuvenating skin. www.sk-ii.com
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THE IMPORTANCE OF AN
ANNUAL
MEDICAL CHECK
FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE WORDS DR. HENRIK REINHARD, MD, DMSC. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EXECUTIVE HEALTH
Most of our medical resources have been allocated and focused on individuals with symptoms and illness. This plan of action is not optimal in preventing deadly disease. Figuratively, it could be compared to the treatment of individuals who have already fallen off a cliff with the ambulance and hospital situated at the bottom of the drop, instead of close-to-the edge actions to prevent the fall in the first place.
C
ardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart attack, is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide with a new case every other second, and in many patients, the heart attack or stroke is the first symptom. Cancer is also a significant determinant of world mortality, and cancers are 5-7 times more likely to kill you if detected late. Cardiovascular disease and cancer do not cause symptoms until at an advanced stage. An annual medical check with your doctor identifies individuals at risk with the objective of preventing the natural progression of
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disease. The following is a description of a basic and advanced annual exam in asymptomatic clients. Naturally, symptomatic or chronically sick clients, pregnant women, children or special risk patients need a different program, and an annual check can also vary depending on country.
WHAT DOES A BASIC CHECK INCLUDE? A basic annual check includes a focus on the patient’s medical history where complaints or concerns about health are noted. The doctor will also ask
about lifestyle behaviours like diet, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, sexual health, vaccination and exercise with the aim of modifying any behavior that is associated with an increased risk of disease. Significant nutritional data has emerged in recent years which demonstrates how adapting to a wholefood plantbased diet might be the most important preventive health measure there is. The actual physical exam follows with the vital signs including blood pressure, which is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. Less than 130 over less than 85 is a normal blood
pressure. A general appearance with anthropometric (physical risk) data, and heart exam with a stethoscope to detect an irregular heartbeat, a heart murmur, or other clues to heart disease are performed. Next, a lung examination for crackles, wheezes, or decreased breath sounds is carried out, followed by a head and neck assessment with open mouth evaluation to see the throat and tonsils. The condition of teeth and gums also provides information about the overall health. Ears, nose, sinuses, eyes, lymph nodes, thyroid, and carotid arteries for stroke risk are also assessed. Abdominal, neurological and dermatological studies are then carried out; skin and nail findings could indicate a dermatological
problem, but also disease somewhere else in the body. An extremities review where physical and sensory changes are noted is also undertaken. For men, the annual physical exam might also incorporate a testicular, hernia and male organ exam, including prostate assessment. The female counterpart is a breast exam for abnormal lumps and evaluation of the lymph nodes in the underarm and finally a pelvic gynecological exam with a smear and human papillomavirus test to screen for cervical cancer. The laboratory tests are most important in asymptomatic individuals and should include a general blood test evaluation of the function of all the various systems
and nutritional data. Metabolic data for diabetes risk and lipid risk profiles for lifetime heart attack and stroke risk evaluation should also be integrated. Prostate specific protein for cancer in men and gynecology tumour markers might be included for women. Finally, urine tests for kidney disease and bladder cancer and a stool test for colon cancer are undertaken. This annual assessment is relevant for all ethnicities, genders and in individuals above 20 years of age, but significantly indicated in clients above 30 years of age. In clients over 40 years of age the advanced annual checkup described below is recommended.
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WHAT IS AN ADVANCED CHECK? An advanced annual check adds imaging to prevent disease. In other words, it uses all available, most accurate and safe imaging methods such as advanced Magnetic Resonance (MR), Computed Tomography (CT), ultrasound, x-ray for mammography and in-body cameras or endoscopes to identify changes in the human body that have a high risk of developing towards mortality or morbidity, with the aim of preventing disease. Most deadly diseases have a latent asymptomatic period when they can be diagnosed with the aim of prevention. A MR scanner can demonstrate small mm asymptomatic tumours or even precancerous changes on a molecular level. The MR
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can complete non-invasive angiographies of the brain or neck arteries to identify aneurisms (potential strokes). The ultrasound of the neck arteries can show early millimeter pre-stroke calcifications before they may progress towards death or disability, and the gastrointestinal tract capsulecamera can diagnose early colon polyps that represent precancer. The MR and mammography can indicate early cancer changes in the female breasts. Finally, a unique type of CT scan can identify the future risk of heart attacks by demonstrating asymptomatic coronary artery calcification and plaques; it literally identifies the heart attack before it happens. All these scans can safely be carried out annually to detect disease early but the mammography might only be
indicated every other year, and a negative CT heart scan would exclude the need for a re-scan for the next 5-10 years.
CORONA VIRUS RISK Around the world the coronavirus is directly causing increased mortality, but emerging data also demonstrates an increased mortality due to indirect corona effects, resulting from a lack of disease control, follow-up, or normal health checks. Please consider booking an annual check with your local doctor or Executive Health if you are above 40 years of age and imaging is required. e g EXECUTIVE HEALTH At the Helicopteros Sanitarios, Puerto BanĂşs, Marbella. Tel: 603 840 984, 670 674 246. www.executivehealth.es.
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A
WORDS DIANA NARVAEZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTASPINE
HOW IS TECHNOLOGY
AFFECTING
OUR CHILDREN?
During your childhood, did you ever hear your friends complaining about their neck and back? I expect, like many, your answer is no. Growing up we never used to hear other kids complaining about back pain, but the reality is that back pain is becoming more and more frequent, with it being diagnosed in up to 24% of children and adolescents.
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s Chiropractors, at CostaSpine we have noticed an increase in the number of patients who are still at school! This is worrying given that most children don’t finish their full muscular and skeletal development until their early 20’s. BUT WHY? Chances are you’re reading this article leaning over a table or slouching in a chair. Your head is tilted forward, your shoulders, as well as your upper back, are curved. If you are on your tablet or phone, your arms are likely to be bent, making this position even more stressful on our bodies. People spend hours each day on their phones, tablets, computers and consoles, holding that same damaging position.
A toddler getting his spine health assessed by Diana
Gentle neck treatment at CostaSpine by Diana
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE TERM ‘TEXT NECK’? It was coined by the US Chiropractor Dr Fishman in 2008 while examining a 17-year-old patient who came in complaining of headaches and neck pain. As he was trying to explain to the mother what the problem was, he saw the patient’s posture – the girl was sitting in a chair, hunched over her phone, texting away. The average human head weighs 10 pounds (4.5kg) in a neutral position – when you are looking forward, you should be able to draw a vertical line between your ears and the tip of your shoulder. For every inch (2.5cm) you tilt your head forward, the pressure on your cervical spine doubles, causing a huge strain on your whole upper body that can pull it out of alignment and cause muscle spasm. Just think about how many hours a
day you carry this extra weight for? According to research, 8 - 18-year-olds spend an average of seven and a half hours using ‘entertainment media’ everyday!
3. Be more active! Increasing activity and encouraging extracurricular sports will help the body to become stronger, meaning these issues are less likely to occur in the first place. e
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? 1. Reduce the daily time at a desk and on devices This can be tricky as school and homework often require a child to be sat at a desk, therefore we need to look at trying to help with the posture at home. 2. Chiropractic care is a must to treat and prevent spinal issues As chiropractors we can help with finding what specific structures are being affected and damaged then fix them!
Diana Narvaez is a Chiropractor specialising in children and is available for consultation and treatments at CostaSpine. g COSTASPINE Oficina 13, Centro Commercial 2, Guadalmina Alta 2, San Pedro de Alcántara, Marbella. Tel/WhatsApp: (+34) 722 878 614. Instagram: costaspine_marbella info@costaspine.com www.costaspine.com
The relationship between forward head posture and neck pain
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DEBRA
GIVES WINGS TO BUTTERFLY CHILDREN Actor Jaime Lorente brings joy to a child with the Butterfly Syndrome 142 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
The Debra team in front of the Marbella charity shop
You may have heard of the Butterfly children or DEBRA without knowing exactly what they’re about, but this Marbella-based national charity that forms part of an international community of doctors, nurses, medical researchers, parents and the children suffering from the rare butterfly condition, provides vital support that gives hope to those who are affected. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN
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here are many medical conditions that are wellpublicised but also many which we are less familiar with. The Butterfly Condition, or Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is one of these, but it is no less serious for being rare and the suffering it causes is such that it deserves our attention and support. In layman’s terms, it comes from gene mutations that result in defective or absent attachment between or within the layers of the skin. This may seem a minor detail, given the overall complexity of the human body, but where you and I heal quickly when we scratch or chafe our skins, sufferers
of EB lack the reconstructive, binding ability we’re lucky enough to take for granted – and the result is wounds that won’t close, cause extreme pain and discomfort, and ultimately can lead to life-threatening conditions.
IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILD
We speak of Butterfly children because the condition starts at birth, or in milder cases once the little ones begin to crawl and move around. Even the slightest scratch, bump or friction produces wounds that almost never heal and are added to in intensity and number over time, in some cases leading to fatal cancers or narrowing
of the oesophagus. It is horrible to think that a relatively small genetic mutation can cause so much pain and suffering, and it could happen to anyone as parents are unknowingly carriers of the condition. In fact, one in 227 people is a carrier, resulting in over half a million boys and girls having EB around the world. The condition varies from case to case, with some having 20% of their body covered in sores while in other cases it is as much as 80%. Imagine how restrictive this is, when the kind of robust playing of children is out of the question and even walking, sleeping or getting dressed can be agonising. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 143
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Debra nurses work with parents to give them and their children a better quality of life
Butterfly children require constant care, as their wounds need dressing and the bandages have to be regularly changed. What’s more, everything from the salves and bandages to the medical treatment and the training of nursing staff is specialised, making this a very labourintensive and expensive condition for parents to cope with. The truth is, they cannot cope with it all themselves and need the financial, medical, practical and emotional support of others. The level of help provided by state and private healthcare entities varies from country to country, but it usually falls well short of what is needed. It is to provide a community of support for Butterfly children and their parents that DEBRA was founded and has grown into a worldwide organisation dedicated to treatment and also medical research. By not fracturing but forming national parts of a single global organisation, DEBRA can pool its resources effectively into one research pot and lobby for more support and awareness. 144 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
DEBRA’S WORK IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Working together with medical practitioners throughout the country but entirely dependent upon donations for its funding, DEBRA was founded in Spain by a couple whose child was born with EB. Though financially solvent themselves, they realised many other parents would not have the same resources and established the organisation in Spain some 27 years ago, with its headquarters in Marbella. Today, the team consists of dedicated professionals made up of four nurses, three community workers and two psychologists who help parents to deal with the situation and overcome their grief. Whenever a child is born in Spain with EB – which occurs some ten times per year – they visit the parents within 24 hours, offering their support and instructions to the local medical practitioners required for the specialised care. It doesn’t end there, as DEBRA forms a vital support structure for the children and their relatives, which in addition
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The charity shop in Marbella forms an important source of income for DEBRA
to specialised medical care also provides practical and emotional assistance. “We form a community,” says Evanina Morcillo Makow, who leads the DEBRA team in Spain. “Our fundraising goes to maintaining this system of help, spreading practical knowhow among doctors and nurses across the country, and very importantly into funding research that could lead to the effective treatment and perhaps even the eradication of what is one of the most heartbreaking conditions to affect children.” In doing so, DEBRA also raises awareness and lobbies, but above all works very hard to give the Butterfly children and their parents wings, the strength to deal with it and improve their quality of life as much as possible. Though times are hard in the current circumstances, having a charity that does such noble work in our midst deserves the support of us all! g DEBRA C/Jacinto Benavente Nº 12, Marbella. Tel: 952 816 434. info@debra.es www.pieldemariposa.es/en/ 146 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
The suffering starts from birth for the Butterfly Children
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the pro
THE SECRET IS OUT – SEE HOW STUNNING DEVELOPMENT THE SECRET SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR LUXURIOUS MARBELLA LIVING. LEARN ABOUT THE REFORMATION AND REVIVAL OF FAMED MELVIN VILLARROEL PROJECT LA MORERA PLAYA. KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH NEWS PERTAINING TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR ON THE COAST.
GO TO PAGE 150 FOR THE SECRET
GO TO PAGE 162 FOR ENTERPRISE
GO TO PAGE 156 FOR LA MORERA PLAYA
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROPERTY FINANCE
150 The Secret by Grupo Otero 156 La Morera Playa 162 Enterprise
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THE SECRET MARBELLA
Real de La Quinta is taking shape as a new vision of the 21st century country club – luxurious, private, sustainable and enveloped by nature. Within it, The Secret represents the very pinnacle of modern exclusivity and refinement. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGES CREATED BY ZENIT DESIGN: ZENITDESIGN.ES
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WHEN LUXURY BECOMES AVAILABLE AT REDUCED PRICES DUE TO COVID-19 The well-known Costa del Sol developer Grupo Otero has been working on its star development The Secret Marbella, for over a year, well before Covid-19 even existed. The development of luxurious villas was on line to be launched to market with average prices at 2.5 million euros per villa. Rather than delaying its launch due to the Covid-19 situation, Otero has decided to
provide an enticing opportunity for investor buyers, who can acquire these outstanding modern homes well below the real market value. The various discounts and built-in appreciation of the villas at The Secret can amount to as much as 35% under resale value, making this one of the most exciting capital appreciation prospects for some time. The Costa del Sol now has over 50 years of collective experience in creating five-star deluxe living environments and a superlative lifestyle, catering to an ever-evolving yet always discerning clientele comprised of many nationalities. The locations may vary from hillside to near the beach, or range from villas and mansions to penthouses, but the ingredients of quality, style, service, security, refinement, amenities, peace and privacy have to all be just right to attract people who can choose from locations around the world. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 151
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Over the years, we have seen Marbella’s response to this evolve, and most recently it has progressed to stunning modern homes featuring the latest in technology, comfort and the last word in design. Sometimes the resulting offering is more appealing than at other times, but every now and again there is a gem that looks and feels like the culmination of so many years of fine-tuning luxury and exclusivity. The Secret Marbella has this sense, and the fact that it forms part of an extensive residential resort set in the midst of expansive natural scenery makes it even more so.
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LUXURY IN NATURE
Within Real de La Quinta, most eyes will be fixed upon the manmade lake, golf courses and amenities at the heart of the green valley, but the finest plots are reserved for The Secret, which forms a collection of superlative villas that embody what privilege and quality of life mean in the 21st century. As elsewhere within the resort, quality comes before quantity and sustainable development is a key concept that has seen Real de La Quinta achieve firsts and win awards, but The Secret is very much the jewel in the crown – set to become a reference point for the entire region. Here, just minutes
Exquisite contemporary design in a beautiful location
from the charm of Benahavís, the golf courses of Nueva Andalucía, and the beaches and amenities of Marbella, residents will enjoy the ultimate blend of modern luxury enveloped in nature.
DESIGN BY LIFESTYLE – BY OTERO
The concept that gave rise to The Secret is the desire to create the ultimate in modern living – dream villas in a dreamlike setting. The homes,
which find themselves within the idyllic protected Sierra de las Nieves biosphere officially recognised by UNESCO, are also on the edge of the greater Marbella area, with an entire lifestyle offering on their doorstep. Given this, the villas are designed by lifestyle; shaped in the service of wellbeing. Otero Turnkey Services forms the core of this, a service that enables homeowners to enjoy a stunning home created
by an experienced team of professionals which includes architects, landscapers, interior designers, engineers, lighting technicians and project managers who are there to ensure that a perfect-to-moveinto home of your own creation is delivered on time and to budget. Your designer villa is conceived to be entirely in sync with the seasons, offering a summer lounge and kitchen that can be totally opened up to the panoramic terraces to create one large living space, while on another floor the winter lounge and kitchen form a cosy living area for the cooler times of the year. The basement area which features full-length windows, can be customised entirely to your needs, into a games rooms, gym, bar, home cinema, office, private spa or additional bedroom suites. It all forms part of an exclusive gated resort community that offers the best of both worlds in being part
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State of the art design and finishing
of a luxurious country club close to all of the coastal region’s amenities. The Secret itself will offer additional security, being the first development in the area to include armed guards. The lake, manmade beach, club, golf course, racquet club and riding centre embody the country club experience that fits so well into the Marbella environment. Though conceived within the framework of sustainable development, The Secret offers a wide open palette of options for designing the last word in modern luxury, including cascading swimming pools, superlative openplan living spaces, shaded terrace areas offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains all 154 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021
the way down to the sea, as well as home amenities and leisure facilities that set new standards. An entire integrated team of designers, technicians and builders is on hand to style your own dream villa, from original concept to decoration, gardens and finishing touches. Every plot here offers its own perspectives, characteristics and inspiration for buyer and architect alike. They set the tone for the unique gradient, orientation, vistas, distribution and ambience of the
different properties, ensuring that every dream villa created by Otero within The Secret – the jewel of Real de La Quinta – will be a unique work of art. www.otero.com.es Marbella office: Blv. Principe Alfonso Hohenlohe Urb. La Carolina, 36-B, Marbella. Tel (+34) 951 569 722. info@otero.com.es www.realdelaquinta.com
The Secret takes style and luxury to a new standard
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A BEACHSIDE PARADISE
LA MORERA PLAYA
La Morera Playa – a parkland oasis on the beachside
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Breezy, spacious bedrooms suites with open sea views
Featuring the seductive styling and landscaping of Melvin Villarroel, La Morera Playa is a rare oasis of parkland greenery set in a spectacular frontline beach location at Los Monteros. It’s a combination not often seen these days. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY: CHARLY SIMON
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e’re all familiar with the truism that says ‘location, location, location’ is the overriding feature in real estate, but a key element of it is the fact that the very best settings are always taken first. Given the choice, those who come first will invariably opt for prime locations right on the beach – and Marbella is certainly no exception – so while there are many luxurious properties available it is very hard to find a modern home in such a top frontline beach location. La Morera Playa is one of the most exciting newly released developments in Marbella exactly because – for a combination of reasons – it offers just that.
Even in the early 2000s, when the project broke ground, its situation in a peaceful, private beachside setting was considered to be so special that it warranted only the very best design, construction and specifications. As a result, the 45 luxurious apartments and penthouses that make up La Morera Playa were laid out in small, elegant blocks set within large sections of semitropical gardens through which water features flow. Melvin Villarroel, the celebrated architect commissioned to give shape to the project, was known for his sensual Moorish-inspired style and the wonderful green zones and cascading rock pools he created.
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The properties provide a rich canvas for decoration and furnishing
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Fine materials and opulent detailing make for luxurious bathrooms at La Morera Playa
A VILLARROEL MASTERPIECE IN A ONE-OFF LOCATION La Morera Playa marks one of the high points of Villarroel design on the Costa del Sol, and what he created here was a private parkland of lush greenery and beautifully detailed, spacious homes right by the sea. The views take in a wide expanse of Mediterranean Sea shimmering brightly under blue skies, tracing the sandy shoreline towards the Bay of Marbella in an area that is home to the finest sandy beaches and dunes in all of the Costa del Sol. For all this, it’s a very peaceful spot with very little passing traffic, which makes La Morera Playa somewhat of a personal
paradise for those fortunate enough to call it home. When built, the complex fell under the municipal planning provisions of the 1998 (2000) PGOU, but when the latter was annulled by the Junta de Andalucía regional government in 2010 and Marbella automatically reverted to the 1986 PGOU, it suddenly found itself on ‘nonurban land’. This meant the required licences could not be obtained and the project remained in a legal limbo. The fund's administrators who acquired 31 luxurious properties in La Morera Playa, instructed Caracuel Abogados to prepare the documentation needed for final legalisation, and the
SAFO (Suelo Asimilado Fuera de Ordenación) status is due to be issued by the Marbella town hall’s planning department by early 2021, in line with the refurbishment and updating of the luxury homes. “This will effectively inscribe La Morera Playa into the existing urban plan of Marbella,” says Antonio Caracuel, of Caracuel Abogados, “on top of which final ratification will come when the new PGOU is approved, which we also expect for 2021.” The official re-launch of La Morera Playa will take place in December 2020 with the release of 31 stunning apartments and duplex penthouses, with the
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Professional high-specification kitchen
on-site sales office open 10am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturdays by appointment. “We’ve seen much excitement for this project, say Mary Dunne and Lawrence Maeck, of MPDunne – Hamptons International, the official commercial agent in charge of promoting La Morera Playa. “Investors and private buyers are truly enthusiastic about the opportunity it represents.”
MODERN LUXURY IN A BEACHFRONT LOCATION – A RARE COMBINATION They refer to the unique blend of modern home and classic frontline beach location, and now that La Morera Playa’s legal status is assured, it opens up the chance to acquire luxurious apartments and penthouses that combine the best of all worlds, including an abundance of space, material quality and finishing that, like the location, is hard to find these days. This, in combination with beautifully modernised and refitted homes with gorgeous open-plan interiors and panoramic terraces, is a winning formula – especially when you factor in ample green spaces, lovely water features, unbeatable sea views, gated
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Bathroom with a view
security and luxurious gym and spa amenities on site. In a region where the past decade has been dedicated to the more minimalist, more compact high-tech kind of home, La Morera Playa is a reminder of many of the things we love best about Marbella while also offering the latest comforts, technologies and refinement. As Mary Dunne says: “There is a lot on offer out there right now, but nothing quite like La Morera Playa.” The open-plan layout creates elegant living spaces
. g MPDUNNE – HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL Centro Expo Loc.11-12, Bulevar Alfonso Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel (+34) 952 866 072. info@lamoreraplaya.com www.lamoreraplaya.com
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enterprise LUXURY HOMES BEING ACQUIRED BY SPANISH BUYERS The health crisis invoked by the coronavirus has accentuated interest in the demand for luxury housing on the Costa del Sol, which is being seen as a perfect destination resulting from its good connections, abundance of nature and the excellent services it offers. Leading real estate agent Engel & VĂślkers
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COMPILED BY IAIN BLACKWELL
has confirmed this trend and reports a significant increase in the level of Spanish buyers, growing from 24% in the penultimate quarter of 2019 to 52% during this year’s equivalent period. The real estate company maintains its optimistic forecasts for the forthcoming months, since the latest restrictions may consolidate this change in the market. www.engelvoelkers.com/Marbella
EL LODGE REOPENS FOR THE WINTER SKI SEASON The exclusive boutique hotel, El Lodge Ski & Spa reopened its doors on 27th November for the winter ski season. Belonging to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World chain and under the quality seal of the prestigious Marbella Club, El Lodge Ski & Spa is considered a benchmark, as the most exclusive boutique hotel in the Sierra Nevada ski resort. It’s Alpine-inspired decoration, ski-in/out terrace, Sun Deck, heated outdoor pool, gastronomic offering, fully equipped Kids Club, and the sumptuous facilities of its spa are some of the factors that have captured the hearts of numerous ski lovers as well as those clients looking for the perfect respite to disconnect and www.ellodge.com relax.
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VITHAS – MOVING WITH THE TIMES Vithas Xanit International Hospital in Benalmádena recently announced the commencement of the last phase of its amplification. The new state-of-theart facility, at a total cost of €16M, will comprise an area of 25,000m2 and is scheduled to be completed in 2022. The Vithas Group of 19 hospitals continues to make significant advances in medical procedures, with the Xanit possessing one of the most advanced laser platforms for ophthalmological treatments and the hospital having completed more than
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100 prostate fusion biopsies during the last year, a technique which increases the reliability of the results from 50% to 90% compared with conventional biopsies. The Vithas Málaga, meanwhile, became the first private hospital in the province to incorporate an apparatus to treat babies who are born with a lack of oxygen to the brain. Vithas and GE Healthcare have recently established a strategic alliance for the application of Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence in the on-going development of hospital technology. www.vithas.es
PININFARINA PRESENTS LIORA Prestigious Italian Design House, Pininfarina, presented its first architectural real estate project in Spain in association with Excem Real Estate. Responsible for design icons like the Ferrari Testarossa (see the feature on Pininfarina in essential's May edition), the project comprises 37 intelligent contemporary apartments located at the principal entrance to Estepona. With a lifestyle inspired on Miami’s condominiums, Liora invites future residents to a spacious commune, with a private club, dining zone, work space, cinema, kids play area, spa and climatised pool installations with gymnasium. www.liora.es
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back to CONTENTS BINCKBANK SPAIN & PORTUGAL TO BECOME HUGO BROKER POWERED BY SAXO BANK From 1st January 2021, the Marbella office of BinckBank will continue to offer investors their expertise as Hugo Broker powered by Saxo Bank. Pioneered by Kaspar Huijsman over fourteen years ago, the Marbella office has already established a clientele of thousands of investors. Following their collaboration with Saxo Bank last year, the team were able to extend their services to an even wider audience. As Kaspar says, “Our approach here is unique for any type of bank. Our team knows many of our customers personally and we are committed to taking care of them and guiding them to invest smarter.” i Tel: (+34) 952 924 011. www.hugobroker.com Coming soon
VISTA LAGO – AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN The Marbella-based interior and architecture firm, UDesign have won the 5-Star ‘Best Interior Design’ award for the apartment 'Maison Lumière’ in Tangier, Morocco, in the African Property Awards (2020 - 2021). They will now go on to compete for the title ‘Best in the World’ in the International Property Awards. Last year, UDesign were winners in the ‘Architecture Single Residence’ category for the design of the fabulous Villa Alcuzcuz on the Ronda Road. They won 'Best in Spain’ and ‘Best in Europe’ and will hopefully triumph again this time in the Interior Design category. To see more images of www.udesign.es this apartment: 166 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 202
PLAIN SAILING AT LA RESERVA DEL HIGUERÓN To launch Higuerón Yachts, a new venture in collaboration with DeAntonio Yachts, Reserva del Higuerón are exhibiting the D28 Deck model from the prestigious brand. A gigantic crane hoisted the vessel into position in the resort's Lago swimming pool where visitors are able to admire its sleek lines. Higuerón Yachts will extend the range of amenities available to the guests of the Hotel Higuerón CURIO Collection by Hilton when the Higuerón The Beach Club is inaugurated next year. www.reservadelhigueronresort.com
HUBLOT LIMITED EDITION PUERTO BANÚS Hublot recently presented two limited edition watches to mark the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Puerto Banús. Part of the Big Bang collection, the 44mm watch is stunning in steel and blue ceramic and rose gold editions, and has the logo of the 50th Anniversary of Puerto Banús inscribed on the back with a limited edition number. The interior of the timepiece features an automatic chronograph with 42 hours of power reserve and luminescent hands. The blue colour of the ceramic bezel of both models is the same Pantone as the Puerto Banús blue and on the dial there is the inscription 'Puerto Banús Marbella 1970’ at the 6 o’clock counter. Available at Gomez & Molina www.gomezymolina.com Joyeros.
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THE FUERTE GROUP AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE British tour operator, British Airways Holidays has accorded three of the Fuerte Group Hotels with Customer Excellence Awards. The Amàre Beach Hotel and the Hotel Fuerte in Marbella, together with the Amàre Beach Hotel Ibiza (which featured in essential’s September edition) were all singled out for the prestigious recognition. With ratings of 9.4, 9.5 and 9.6 respectively, these establishments of the Andalucían chain have been acknowledged by British customers following their stays www.fuerte-group.com in 2019.
TWO WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AND THE PLANET WITH MARIPOSA ENERGÍA San Pedro-based Mariposa Energía is providing businesses and homeowners alike with two ways to save money instantly, while also saving the planet. Following the abolition of ’sun tax’, the company is offering solar PV panels. The green energy broker will take care of everything including survey, installation and registration. All panels come with a 20-year guarantee and low-cost finance options are available. 168 / DECEMBER/JANUARY 2020
Alternatively, consumers can switch to Mariposa Energía’s cheaper, 100% green energy tariffs and save up to 35% on their Tel: (+34) 951 120 830 or energy bills. email info@mariposaenergia.es
PUERTO BANÚS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Puerto Banús authorities have unveiled their plan of implementation and compliance with the sustainable development objectives established by the United Nations. The Port aims to become a shining example among Europe’s marinas in implementing all 17 objectives as established by the United Nations Agenda www.puerto-banus.com 2030.
GONZÁLEZ BYASS HONOURED AT DECANTER AWARDS Wine and Sherry Group, González Byass recently achieved their best results ever at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards. Their Tío Pepe Cuatro Palmas, Tío Pepe Tres Palmas, Del Duque Amontillado Muy Viejo, and Noé Pedro Ximénez Muy Viejo were all awarded Silver Medals. The latter two vintages spent more than 30 years ageing in the interior of the González Byass Winery and are certified as V.O.R.S. (Very Old Rare Sherry) by the Consejo Regulador of the D.O Jerez. www.gonzalezbyass.com
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AEDAS HOMES SPONSORS MARBELLA RUGBY CLUB The Marbella Rugby Club has started the new season with a mighty sponsor – AEDAS Homes. The prolific developer, responsible for more than 7,000 homes throughout Spain, will support the Marbella Rugby Club Program which is affiliated with 17 schools and colleges of Marbella, comprising over 3,000 students, and will sponsor the senior team during the 2020-2021 season, whose rugby shirts will bear the logo of Soul Marbella AEDAS Homes. www.aedashomes.com www.marbellarugby.com
ANYONE FOR NIGHT TENNIS? Providing our home with good lighting enables us to go about our daily lives in comfort and to enjoy our free time knowing we can relax fully. If we also have efficient outdoor lighting, we can practise our favourite sport at any time,
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undoubtedly increasing our sense of wellbeing. Enter Tweener by NLX, who offer a proprietary LED lighting solution specially designed for floodlit tennis. Available from Illusion Custom Home Automation Systems, based in San www.e-illusion.es Pedro.
NAO VICTORIA IN PUERTO BANÚS The Nao Victoria docked in Puerto Banús over the Halloween weekend. In recognition of its 50th anniversary year, the Nao Victoria Foundation brought the sailing ship to the Port where it could be visited by members of the public. The vessel is a replica of the original Nao Victoria which circumnavigated the globe 500 years ago, between 1519 and 1522, on Magellan’s famous voyage from which he did return. The Victoria, captained by Juan Sebastián Elcano was the only one of the three ships setting out which made it back. www.fundacionnaovictoria.org
FIFTH UNITED NATIONALITIES OF MARBELLA SUMMIT This year’s United Nationalities of Marbella Summit took place at The Harbour Restaurant Marbella. Organised by Nicole King and hosted by Georgina Shaw of Shaw Marketing, community leaders, members of Marbella businesses and representatives of local charities gathered to make connections, find synergies, discuss proposals, and launch new products to benefit Marbella’s youngsters, local companies, the environment and vulnerable members of the mimarbellartvm@gmail.com community. WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 171
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the gourmet
DISCOVER WHY KETO ROYALE KAFE HAS STRUCK A CHORD WITH MARBELLA LOCALS, BOTH THOSE FOLLOWING A KETOGENIC DIET AND THOSE WHO AREN’T. FOLLOW THE LATEST DINING NEWS AND TRENDS AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME STUNNING SOLUTIONS FOR STORING WINE IN THE MODERN HOME.
GO TO PAGE 178 GOURMET BYTES
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GO TO PAGE 182 FOR HOME BODEGAS
GO TO PAGE 174 KETO ROYALE KAFE
NEWS GASTRONOMY CHEFS WINE 174 Keto Royale Kafe 178 Gourmet Bytes 182 The Evolution in Wine Storage
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SUGAR FREE, GLUTEN FREE AND DELICIOUS!
KETO ROYALE WORDS CHANELLE BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY CHANELLE BARNES & KEVIN HORN
Owners Sam and Adam
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K
eto Royale is an elegant and unique new addition to Marbella’s restaurant scene, and the only Keto restaurant in Spain! Located in San Pedro on Calle Jose Pintor Caballero, just behind Supersol, this beautifully decorated restaurant offers an entirely innovative menu centred around ketogenic diet principles. A low carb, high fat way of eating that can help achieve weight loss, blood sugar management, and other health-related goals. It is also entirely sugar-free and gluten-free, so perfect
for coeliacs or anyone who is intolerant to gluten. Health benefits aside, the menu is dynamic, delicious and caters to all dietary preferences including lots of plant-based options. From decadent chocolate fudge cake to flavour-packed homemade enchiladas and proteinwaffles, it’s hard to believe that everything is entirely sugar and gluten free once you try it.
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Keto Royale also pride themselves on sourcing quality ingredients locally and make everything in-house including their already renowned Keto breads and homemade sauces. The family run restaurant opened in February of 2020. Sam is one of the original founders of one of the coast’s most successful restaurants, Organic Market & Food. Both Sam & Adam are very passionate about food and sharing it with others to inspire a healthier way of living. The food is made with love and care which truly is evident once you taste it! g KETO ROYALE KAFE Calle Jose Pintor Caballero San Pedro de Alcåntara. Tel: 951 810 616.
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ALL OUR RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN WITH SAFETY MEASURES. VISIT OUR WEBSITES FOR THE FESTIVE PROGRAMME!
Tel: 952 818 392 www.thaigallerymarbella.com Puente Romano Hotel, Plaza Village, Marbella.
CH IN ES E R ES TA U R A N T PO LY
NEW TAI PAN
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Marbella
ES IA N BA R
Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 www.taipanmarbella.com Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00
SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine Tel: 952 770 550 www.sukhothaimarbella.com Marbellamar, L-3A, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00
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BOHO CLUB LUNCH MENU Fancy a memorable lunch in the luxurious setting of Boho Club Marbella? Chef Diego del Río has created a Mediterranean lunch menu to savour, with the favourite dishes of Boho Restaurant. Diners can choose from three dishes, starter, main course and dessert, opt for the weekly dish or choose a vegetarian alternative. Overnight stays are also available in the adjacent suites. www.bohoclub.com COMPILED BY IAIN BLACKWELL
ROSAS CAFÉ
THE PERFECT BRUNCH VENUE Rosas Café, at the entrance to Puerto Banús, is an elegant dining destination serving all-day breakfast, bowls, salads, sandwiches, burgers and tartars, all made with completely natural ingredients. Clients are welcome to bring their pooches and there is a menu for dogs so they don’t feel left out. They have also created a range of bags and boxes for Take Away, so you can enjoy their special dishes at home. www.rosas.cafe
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DA BRUNO ORDER
ONLINE AND TAKE AWAY
Renowned Italian eatery, Da Bruno, has launched a Take Away Delivery Gourmet service whereby aficionados of fine Italian food can enjoy the same quality and freshness of the dishes they have come to love from the chain of restaurants, in the comfort of their own homes. Arriving with innovative packaging to keep the food flavour-packed, check out the tasty temptations you can order on their new www.dabruno.com website.
TA KUMI JAPANESE
RESTAURANT REVAMPED Famous restaurant in Marbella, TaKumi, one of the top 10 Japanese restaurants in Spain, recently underwent a facelift by Paco Lago Interioriza, resulting in a very tasteful transformation. Lovers of the finest Japanese cuisine can now savour the new setting, which invites diners to relax in a refined atmosphere comprising wood, stone and ambient lighting.
© Kevin Horn
www.restaurantetakumi.com
BURGER-LOVERS DREAM A REALITY Brödernas Marbella is a new Swedish-owned venue serving premium quality burgers, cocktails and drinks. If you are partial to a good burger, a visit to this chic establishment is highly recommended and, one thing is for sure – it won’t be your last. Vegetarian options and a full range of side orders are also part of the enjoyable experience. www.brodernas.nu WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 179
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© Kevin Horn
DIANA CARVERY HITS THE SPOT
Only open a few months, the Diana Carvery, frontline on the upper level of the Diana Centre, has become a firm favourite with locals, thanks to their succulent roast meats, served with all the trimmings. It offers a good value Menu del Día from Monday to Friday and is even more popular for Sunday lunches, where booking is essential. g Tel: 663 485 269.
NOBU TO–GO
OR STAY OVERNIGHT Enjoying the flavours of Japanese fusion cuisine from home is now possible thanks to the new Take Away service that Nobu Marbella has launched featuring an exclusive To Go menu. However, if you prefer to dine out with friends, their new Dine With Us, Stay With Us concept allows you to enjoy an exclusive Nobu gastronomic experience in the intimacy of your own four-bedroom suite. marbella.nobuhotels.com
PHOENIX VEGG
IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND Combining a plant-based kitchen with the feel of a modern Burger Bar isn’t easy. Yet at Phoenix Vegg, the all-vegan menu has everything from fully loaded Beyond Burgers, Hot Dogs and Lasagnas to a full range of inspired delicious tapas and homemade desserts. So if you’re someone simply trying plant based-cuisine for the first time or a fully fledged vegan, you will be right at home at the Phoenix. g Tel: 603 269 857.
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e lso includan a t a h t s e ur pl f new feats with pools, open- ms, o s e i r e s to a hroo race Belongingre pits, rooftop ter t kitchens and bat y sunken fi ms and minimalisart of a 21st centurL CRUZ living roorn wine cellar is p nd live. WORDS MICHE the mode in how we build aRACKS revolution COURTESY OF STACT WINE
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RE-INVENTING THE WINE CELLAR A wine cellar used to be just that, a somewhat dank stone or brick room hidden in the vaults of a home. A manmade replication of a cave, it didn’t use refrigeration but had to be located beneath the main house to attain the ideal temperature and humidity conditions required for storing precious vintages. In this way it simulated the qualities of a real cave, and indeed, the latter have also been used to store whole vintages. As time moved on and classical homes become more comfortable in style, the bodega, as it is also often called, became a little more accessible. It left the realms of winegrowing estates, châteaux and palaces, and came into the
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house, albeit luxury ones, where it found a resting place in the lower depths of the home’s structure, where the air is suitably humid and the temperature almost constant throughout the day and year. By the late 20th century it was no longer just the place where the erstwhile butler or chef’s assistant would go to find the requested bottles of wine, but now an increasingly attractive space, not infrequently designed and decorated in the style of a winery, a traditional café or even a tapas bar. Fancy brickwork was accompanied by a bar, tables for wine tasting and even cardplaying, as this was the sort of room that had become part of the modern villa’s basement area.
THE BODEGA COMES INTO THE LIGHT With the trend switch to sleek modern architectural styles this decade has come a veritable revolution in the shape and function of this centuriesold space, which has seen it totally redefined from a traditional brick area located below the home to a glassand-chrome vitrine situated right at its heart. In other words, in this century the bodega has come out of the dark and into the light. Many a homeowner might still want to position it within the lower basement level, where it can function alongside entertainment rooms, home cinemas and even private spas, but for the first time the home bodega can also come into the main living spaces of the home. Besides its actual purpose, to store fine quality wines of all kinds in a temperature-controlled environment, this glass and chrome vitrine can also function as a division between different rooms or parts thereof.
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It’s up to you where you place it, but an open section of corridor near the kitchen and dining room is a possibility, as is the laundry, though today’s glass wine cabinets are so attractive that you would want them to take pride of place and steal the show in the kitchen, the dining room or even in-between the latter and the living room. A den would also look great with an eyecatching feature like this in it, and who says you can’t have more than one?
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FORM AND FUNCTION If the look and location of the wine cellar have changed, the function hasn’t, and as many of these beautifully styled glass cabinets are located at the point where the kitchen and dining room meet, the wine tasting can now be enjoyed at the kitchen bar, the dining room table or even on the terrace outside. Today, the modern wine cellar has also become a true design feature in its own right, for a glass-andchrome bodega is attractive by day and a visual delight when lit up with LED.
Coming in a wide range of sizes and configurations, and automated settings that can be integrated into your home’s domotic system, what is effectively a gently refrigerated cooling cabinet can be a practical and aesthetic addition to anything from a studio apartment to a large mansion, and they range from standardised designs to anything you want them to be. Modern technology ensures the sky is the limit, so be creative.
www.getstact.com
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