Essential Magazine May 2014 by Essential Magazine

COMPLIMENTARY Edition

N º177 -MAY 2014

essential essential magazine® marbella I S S U E 1 7 7 • M AY 2 0 1 4

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

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Issue 177 • May 2014

S T A F F PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

GENERAL MANAGER

ANDREA BÖJTI sales@essentialmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER SALES SUPPORT

SUSANNE WHITAKER design@essentialmagazine.com JAN DENDAUW jan@essentialmagazine.com RÉKA VIDÁTS reka@essentialmagazine.com

ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DESIGN & LAYOUT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PRINTING DEPÓSITO LEGAL

MARIANO JEVA cuentas@essentialmagazine.com MONIKA BÖJTI info@essentialmagazine.com

ANDREA BÖJTI INMA AURIOLES MELINDA SZARVAS KEVIN HORN BELINDA BECKETT, IAIN BLACKWELL, MICHEL CRUZ, RIK FOXX, RUSSELL GRANT, AJ LINN, TONY WHITNEY, DAVID WISHART, KEVIN WOODFORD

JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA D.L. MA-512-99

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

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www.essentialmagazine.com Member of the Association of Spanish Periodical Publications affiliated to:

conditions:

The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot accept Marbella Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the effects of errors or omissions. responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers. Marbella Magazine. © Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. for No part of this magazine, including texts, photographs, illustrations, maps or any other graphics may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. Printed on recyclable paper, produced without wood and bleached without chlorine.

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Publisher 15 Anniversary Special th

Q&A

Q&A WITH IAIN BLACKWELL

What does it feel like to celebrate your 15th anniversary?

Momentous! Very few magazines last 15 years in Marbella and this includes the crisis we have just come through.

Any special memories?

Hundreds â&#x2C6;&#x2019; the Launch Party at Bora Bora Beach (1); collaborating on the Deep Purple Awards (2); lengthy & Steve Harley concerts; our 10th Anniversary event; the staff lunches...

Secret of success?

Incomparable design and print quality, unrivalled content, controlled circulation including in top hotels and finely-tuned distribution.

Most coveted achievement?

Winning the Best Free Magazine in Spain Award from the AEEPP in 2011 (3).

What makes you proud?

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perceived integrity and that we have been printing with recyclable paper from

the start.

Thank you to?

My wife Andrea for her flair for design and eye for style; the Team for their professionalism and unending dedication; our clients for their loyalty and support.

Personal favourite issue? May 2011 - Simply Beautiful (4).

Best thing in business at the moment?

The fact that the Property market has recovered and Marbella is popular again with visitors - these are the twin-drivers here on the coast.

And worst?

Most of the local magazines are degrading the market with totally exaggerated circulation claims that cannot be substantiated by their sales figures.

Recent innovations?

Our brand new website (5) and the re-design of the magazine coming soon.

What are you looking forward to now? The 200th edition coming in April 2016 and continued success.

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You only live once,

Bahía de Marbella: Stunning villa with sea views situated a few meters from the beach in one of the most elegant beach resorts in Marbella. High qualities throughout, beautifully decorated. Marvellous gardens with heated swimming pool. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Built 553m2, plot 1.734m2. E&V ID: W-01U3UR. Price: 3.500.000 €.

Elviria: Very privately located villa built to the highest standards offering every comfort possible. Well maintained tropical gardens with pool, offering spectacular sea views. Separate guest apartment. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Built 490 m2, plot 1.600 m2. E&V ID: W-01SROS. Price: 1.100.000 €.

Beachfront Bahía de Marbella: Unique! Stylish, high quality semi-detached corner house with magnificent views and ample gardens facing the white dunes. Exclusive gated community. Direct beach access. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Built 474 m2. E&V ID: W-01MNGF. Price: 1.450.000 €.

Beachfront Los Monteros: Luxurious, spacious apartment in the exclusive beach-front community of Los Monteros Playa. Built to highest standards, offering exceptional views. 3 Beds, 4 baths. Living area 226 m2, terrace 60 m2. E&V ID: W-00UYRB. Price: 2.390.000 €.

Beachfront Río Real: Spectacular penthouse situated in a most luxurious complex with direct beach access in Río Real Playa. Large terraces and breathtaking sea views. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Living area 190 m2, terrace 100 m2. E&V ID: W-01SOOF. Price: 1.945.000 €.

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Altos Reales: Exceptionally stylish villa, well priced, situated in the most exclusive gated community in Marbella. Beautifully decorated. High qualities, luxury and comfort. Separate guest quarter. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Built 667 m2, plot 1.250 m2. E&V ID: W-01XJUK. Price: 2.900.000 €.

Sierra Blanca: Beautiful, classic villa with sea views set on an elevated plot in the most exclusive gated community of Sierra Blanca. Guest quarter, sauna and gymnasium. 5 Beds, 5 baths. Built 758 m2, plot 1.368 m2. E&V ID: W-01S76W. Price: 2.800.000 €.

Beachfront Golden Mile: Wonderful frontline beach, corner apartment with fabulous panoramic sea and mountain views, in the highly desirable community of Marina Mariola. 3 Beds, 2 baths. Living area 150 m2, terrace 30 m2. E&V ID: W-01XQY9. Price: 2.195.000 €.

Beachfront Golden Mile: Spectacular ample apartment with large terraces and breathtaking views in Mare-Nostrum, the most luxurious beachfront building. Can be converted into 2 bedrooms. 1 Bed, 2 baths. Living area 128 m2, terrace 80 m2. E&V ID: W-01WKH7. Price: 1.095.000 €.

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15Anniversary YEARS

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Nº

Nº

essential marbella magazine U ANNIVERSARY edition U

Nº

177 editions

May 1999 - May 2014

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Nº

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We’ve got it covered!

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FIF T

AR S

contents contents

The Trend Cinema 24 Home Viewing 26 Music 28 Books 30 Gadgets 32 Cars: The New Porsche 911 Turbo S 36 The Marbella Classic Grand Prix 36

The Focus Marbella Architects Discuss Future Trends 40 How Social Networks are Connecting the World 46 Upcoming Singer, Jade Williamson 54

The Style Objects We Love 58 Décor: A Beautiful Marbella Hills Home 64 Fashion Feature: Hannibal Laguna 72 Fashion News 80

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The Spa 84 Summer Beauty Trends 86 Beauty News 88 Weight Watchers Costa del Sol 90 Health News 92 The New Healthouse Las Dunas*****GL

The Pro 94 Enterprise 102 The Love Festival in Gibraltar

The Leisure 104 Quirky Hotels 116 The Hotel Club Marítimo in Sotogrande

The Gourmet 121 Kabuki Raw 123 Nueva Kaskada 124 Food News 126 Kevin Woodford’s Essential Rome 128 Chef’s Profile: Zhong of Osaka 130 Champagne

The Guide 132 Listings

The Blog 141 Pet News 142 What’s On 144 Stars 146 Kid’s Zone

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S AR S YE N EE FIF T

trend READING / MUSIC / FILMS / GADGETS / MOTORING / TRENDS

The arrival of Spring heralds one thing in Marbella: the commencement of beach and mountain season, when families and singletons alike head for the hills and seaside to enjoy the very best that Nature has to offer. If it gets too hot for your liking, however, enjoy life in the great indoors with top viewing ideas, books and gadgets. Check out the cool new Porsche 911 Turbo S and let your mind soar to the place you most associate with freedom.

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Cinema

Home Viewing

Music

Books

Gadgets

Cars: The New Porsche 911 Turbo S

The Marbella Classic Grand Prix

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S AR S YE

WORDS MARISA CUTILL

e BLOCKBUSTER

OF THE MONTH

FIF T

Maleficent » GENRE

Fantasy

» DIRECTOR

Robert Stromberg (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End)

» ACTORS

Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning

magnificent Queen Angelina Jolie plays w take on a classic Maleficent in this ne nt her youth, Malefice In r. Disney characte a d an art he re h a pu is a beautiful girl wit grows e Sh . gs win ck bla set of impressive to an but her bliss is put up in a lush forest, invaders of y arm an en wh immediate end ed existence of her threaten the continu r terness converts he bit r He beloved habitat. er ith ne n ca o wh r warrio into a cold hearted of savage destruction forgive nor forget the her innocence.

» GENRE Drama » DIRECTOR Paul W.S. Anderson (Death Race)

» ACTORS Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne

Moss, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland

Pompeii

Milo (Kit Harington), a former slave who has become a gladiator, watches in frustration as the love of his life, Cassia (Emily Browning) is betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator (Kiefer Sutherland). When Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupts, Milo must win a race against time to save Casia, while the magnificent city of Pompeii is burned to ashes.

» GENRE Comedy » DIRECTOR John Turturro

» GENRE Biopic » DIRECTOR Olivier Dahan

» ACTORS John Turturro, Woody

» ACTORS Nicole

(Illuminata)

Allen, Vanessa Paradis

Fading Gigolo

When Fioravante (John Turturro) visits his dermatologist (Sharon Stone) and she casually comments that she and her friend are looking for a sexy male to indulge in a rambunctious ménage-a-trois, he hits upon the idea of earning a little cash by offering his services as a gigolo. Despite enlisting the help of a talented ‘manager’ (Woody Allen), Fioravante discovers that selling one’s body is a lot more complicated than he ever thought, especially when the line between sex and love begins to blur.

» GENRE Adventure/ Science

Fiction

(La Vie en Rose)

» DIRECTOR Bryan Singer

Kidman, Parker Posey, Milo Ventimiglia

» ACTORS Jennifer Lawrence,

Grace of Monaco

Grace Kelly was, for many women, the epitome of elegance and sophistication, but her personal life was wrought with a sense of loss, loneliness and vulnerability. Nicole Kidman gives life to the woman behind the idol, revealing all the iconic actress left behind to become Princess Grace of Monaco.

(The Usual Suspects)

Hugh Jackman, Anna Paquin

X-Men: Days of Future Past

The team of X-Men send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to the past to change the course of history and prevent a tragic event that is set to end the life of all human beings and mutants.'

» GENRE Animation » DIRECTOR Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age) » ACTORS Anne Hathaway, Jesse

Eisenberg, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx

Rio 2

Blu, Pearl and their three children are living the perfect life in Rio de Janeiro, until Pearl decides that her little ones should learn to live like ‘real birds’ in a challenging new environment: the Amazon. Blu fears leaving his own home, but cannot even dream of living without his family.

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S AR S YE FIF T

Marisa Cutillas brings us a few of the season’s top DVD releases.

» GENRE Drama/Biography » DIRECTOR Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy) » ACTORS Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Barkhad Abdi » IMDB RATING 8/10

Captain Phillips

This tension-filled film, based on the book, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea, tells the true story of Captain Phillips, who was in command of US cargo ship, the MV Maersk Alabama, when it was hijacked by a small but tenacious group of Somali pirates in 2009. The desperation behind such an ill-planned attempt highlights the precarious situation of those who, owing to hunger and extreme poverty, are willing to risk their lives for an impossible dream.

R.I.P.D. » GENRE Action » DIRECTOR Robert Schwentke (The

ONTH

D RELEASE OF THE M

e FEATURED DV » GENRE Drama » DIRECTOR Lee

Daniels (Precious) » ACTORS Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda

» IMDB RATING

7.1/10

itaker) is a Cecil Gaines (Forest Wh ape from racial esc to ing try n young ma During his th. segregation in the sou he acquires a ity, tur ma s ard journey tow him a onced lan series of abilities that to work as nce cha the er: in-a-lifetime off The . use re, Cecil a butler in the White Ho ness of history wit nd -ha becomes a first rkings of the and of the internal wo ntry fights for cou the Oval office, while death of the the ses nes wit ts, civil righ s through the live and Kennedy Brothers e. gat ter Wa and r Wa Vietnam

Time Traveller’s Wife) » ACTORS Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges » IMDB RATING 5.6/10 Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges play two cops whose lives are ended in the call of duty, only to find that they have a chance to avenge their deaths in the afterlife. Think of this as the cowboy version of Men in Black: special effects, fine comedic acting and a quick-paced script make for entertaining viewing.

r e l t u B e Th » GENRE Adventure/Fantasy » DIRECTOR Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones) » ACTORS Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman,

Christopher Eccleston

» IMDB RATING 7.4/10

Thor: The Dark World

The first installment of the Thor Series, saw the God of Thunder accept his divine nature and find the love of a mortal. This time, he is called upon to restore order to the cosmos by defeating an ancient race whose vengeful leader seeks to submerge the Universe in darkness.

» GENRE Comedy » DIRECTOR Tom Vaughan (What

Happens in Vegas) » ACTORS Jeremy Piven, Mike O’Malley, Miley Cyrus » IMDB RATING 4.8/10

So Undercover

Miley Cyrus plays Molly, a young private detective who works odd jobs to pay off her father’s debts. Her uncanny ability to photograph unfaithful spouses leads to a job offer from an FBI agent, who hires her to protect the daughter of an important witness in a case against the mafia.

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San Pedro de alcรกntara

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S AR S YE

¿QUÉ PASA?

FIF T

WORDS RIK FOXX

Starlite Festival update: latest acts added to the line-up include Gibraltar’s ALBERT HAMMOND (known for the 1972 tune It Never Rains in Southern California) on July 26. For the full line-up and ticket info: www.starlitefestival.com Sun 101 Festival (Málaga) update: US rockers BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB join the July 11/12 line-up. Ticket info: www.101sunfestival.com Gibraltar’s 2014 Music Festival update: new editions are ROGER HODGSON (SUPERTRAMP), 2013 summer UK chart topper JOHN NEWMAN, and TONY HADLEY (SPANDAU BALLET singer). For the full line-up and ticket info: www.gibraltarmusicfestival.eu While ROBERT PLANT prepares for his gig with his SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS project at Málaga’s Plaza de Toros on July 27 (info: www.ticketmaster.es) fellow LED ZEPP legend JIMMY PAGE has remastered the band’s complete back catalogue and their first three albums will resurface on June 3 with bonus unheard material and four new songs. Aussie punk pop rockers 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER plan to take the world by storm during the next six months as they will support ONE DIRECTION on their tour. The teen quartet, who have been dubbed the best Down Under export since KYLIE and had a UK number one recently with their debut single She Looks So Perfect, are due to play to 80,000 in Madrid’s Vicente Calderon Stadium on July 10 and 11. Get ready for crazy clobber and foolish footwear galore as GAGA is back on the touring track this month. The US leg starts on the 4th to promote new material that will feature on the second phase of her ARTPOP project, which will see the light of day ‘soon’. The tour comes to Barcelona on November 8 but has already sold out. Meanwhile her former producer, AKON, reckons she’s “past her peak – I got out while the goin’ was good”. 2013 wasn’t a good year with health problems and the original ARTPOP album not selling as many copies as expected.

Almost three years after her death AMY WINEHOUSE looks set to go on the road as a 3D hologram thanks to the same company that put rapper TUPAC SHAKUR onstage in 2012. A spokesperson said, “Using the same technology, Amy will finally tour the world after failing to do so when she was alive with an orchestra and her hologram, she can take to the stage and fans can see her perform her legendary hits”. Apparently, her father has given the venture the thumbs up.

At first many thought it was an April Fools stunt but no, a new MICHAEL JACKSON album will fall on May 13. XSCAPE features eight unreleased songs worked on by producers including TIMBALAND and under the guidance of LA REID who was granted unlimited access to four decades worth of vocal material. This month (5th) also sees the return of LILY ALLEN with Sheezus, which includes her 2013 Xmas number one single, the cover of KEANE’s Somewhere Only We Know, and her latest offering, Our Time. So expect lots of uninteresting waffling, selfies and constant twittering from her as she tries to promote it. Also pushing his new album will be CHRIS MARTIN of COLDPLAY, the band’s sixth LP, Ghost Stories, lands on May 19 – at least it will keep his mind occupied after the “conscious uncoupling” from his wife. On the same day, MARIAH CAREY will finally present her new piece, and her production staff will get a well earned break as she has spent the last six months faffing around with tracks trying to get them to her satisfaction (and she still hasn’t decided what to call it yet) – but apparently her record bosses are not happy with the final product or the time it took to put the lid on it – especially after recent single, You’re Mine (Eternal), didn’t even dent the iTunes Top 1,000 chart.

The competition that nobody really wants to win (as they have to host it the following year), Eurovision, takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 10 and after flopping with two 20th century has-beens (HUMPERDINCK and BONNIE TYLER) in the past two years, Britain has gone for a newcomer in MOLLY SMITTEN-DOWNES with her track Children of the Universe, which was written specifically for this annual audio atrocity. Spain’s entry comes from the 2008 UK X Factor quarter-finalist RUTH LORENZO with the spanglish self-penned Dancing In The Rain. Many still take the competition seriously, especially in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe where Moldova’s top pop star SASHA BOGNIBOV will represent his country for a record 13th time with My Lesbian Girl while other countries seem to be sending an assortment of tribute type acts such as Belarus (ROBIN THICKE), Denmark (BRUNO MARS), Estonia (GAGA) and Malta (MUMFORD & SONS). BBC3 has coverage of the semi-finals on May 6 & 8 with BBC1 showing the final on May 10 – all start at 21.00 (CET). Spanish coverage will be on TVE1 or 2.

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Finest Real Estate

La Reserva de Alcuzcuz: Spectacular modern villa offering magnificent sea and golf views. Built to the highest qualities, beautifully decorated with designer furniture. Separate guest house, domotic system, cinema, bodega, sauna, heated swimming-pool. 8 Beds, 7 baths. Built 1.400 m2, plot 3.100 m2. E&V ID: W-013JRW. Price: 5.950.000 €.

La Quinta: Stylish modern villa with Andalusian flair situated in front line golf position, offering magnificent interior and exterior areas as well as luxury and comfort. Beautiful gardens with pool. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Built 390 m2, plot 1.000 m2. E&V ID: W-008SOS. Price: 2.100.000 €.

La Zagaleta: Impressive contemporary villa offering luxury and style. Newly built to highest standards. Large cinema, spa area, lounge with bar. Separate staff accommodation. Community with two golf courses. 7 Beds, 8 baths. Built 1.315 m2, plot 4.589 m2. E&V ID: W-01TMTG. Price: 4.950.000 €.

La Reserva de Alcuzcuz: Unique in design! Open villa with panoramic sea views and excellent qualitites. Separate guest house, sauna, gym, chill-out area, swimming pool. Underground garage for 6 cars. 8 Beds, 6 baths. Built 1.330 m2, plot 3.000 m2. E&V ID: W-01G629. Price: 5.850.000 €.

La Quinta: Unique modern villa with panoramic, breathtaking sea views and beautifully decorated. High qualities throughout. Cinema room, heated pool, sauna, gym. Separate staff accomodation. 5 Beds, 4 baths. Built 800 m2, plot 2.000 m2. E&V ID: W-00BHPD. Price: 3.200.000 €.

Office Marbella - Puerto Banús: 952 85 98 60 · www.engelvoelkers.com/marbellapuertobanus

S AR S YE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

One of the most interesting things about the cinema is its ability to bring us closer to some of the greatest books of the century. This month, we take a look at some of the best reads that have been brought to life in the cinema recently:

FIF T

Six Cinematic Books You Just Can’t Miss 12 YEARS A SLAVE BY SOLOMON NORTHUP AND DAVID WILSON:

“Having been born a freeman, and for more than thirty years enjoyed the blessings of liberty in a free state and having at the end of that time been kidnapped and sold into slavery, where I remained (for) 12 years, it has been suggested that an account of my life and fortunes would not be uninteresting to the public.” Thus begins the heartbreaking tale of one’s man’s loss of freedom. 12 Years a Slave won this year’s Oscar for Best Film, many would say meritoriously, beating out marvellous contenders (Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, in particular, stands out), largely because of its in-depth portrayal of slavery in the Deep South, where life lost its value for those who were treated as property. Children were cruelly separated from their parents and the abuse and the violation of everyday human rights was tolerated. For many, death was the sweetest of solutions to what merely amounted to survival, not life.

A MAP OF THE WORLD BY JANE HAMILTON

Alice Goodwin is a teacher living with her husband and two children on a beautiful farm. Her happiness is cut short when her neighbour’s daughter dies while in Alice’s care. Alice becomes a scapegoat, copping chastisement from the school, community and fellow parents. The novel is a startling insight into how a few minutes can destroy so many lives.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA

THE ROAD

THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE

COMING SOON

BY CORMAC MCCARTHY

BY DAVID WROBLEWSKI

This heart-wrenching tale set in the ash-strewn cities of a postapocalyptic America, focuses on a father and son, who take the long road towards the sea, uncertain of their ultimate survival. The Road takes an honest look at the essence of humanity at its best and worst, delving into the nature of the survival instinct and the powerful love that keeps a father and son together.

This modern-day Hamlet tells the tale of Edgar, a young, mute boy who finds his soulmate in his dog, Almondine. Edgar comes from a long line of dog breeders and his life on a farm is relatively happy until his father passes away and his uncle arrives at the farm, keen to take command. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman have signed on as Producers for Universal Pictures’ long-awaited adaptation of this emotionally charged best-seller.

PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

Push, adapted for the big screen with the new title of Precious, is the story of Claireece Precious Jones, an obese, illiterate, pregnant teenager living in Harlem, who has been subjected to constant abuse from her mother and father. Despite her mother’s insistence that she apply for welfare, Precious decides to go to school, and is inspired to write down the shocking events she has lived through in a journal. Her growing belief in herself leads her to consider if a normal life, with a boyfriend and a decent job, may be on the cards… until a shocking discovery rattles her newfound stability.

BY GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ

Love has no limits; it is eternal and unique; it is a once-in-a-lifetime gift to be cherished and pursued, even if it takes forever. This wonderful book by a true maestro of anecdotal storytelling, is a must for anyone who wishes to know what true love feels like.

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ASUS ZENBOOK UX301: Touted as the finest

ultrabook in the world, the Zenbook UX301 boasts a breathtaking design, scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass, a 2560x1440 resolution and a 33.78–cm display. Its fourth-generation Intel CoreTM i7 processor and Intel® IrisTM graphics make it easy to whiz through your list of tasks and to enjoy your favorite games in comfort. i www.asus.com

SAMSUNG GEAR FIT: Samsung’s latest smart watch weighs just 27 grams. It boasts an attractive curved design, Super AMOLED 1.84-inch screen and 432x128 resolution. Choose from a host of layouts and crop any image from your phone to create your own wallpaper. i www.samsung.com

Spring CLEANING

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

AETHER CONE SPEAKER: Branded as a ‘thinking music player’, this Wi-fi speaker syncs with MAC products and learns what type of music you enjoy, offering you the ultimate personalised listening experience. It all begins with its small front dial – the speaker plays audio from streaming music services, online radio stations and podcasts. If you like what you are listening to, don’t do anything at all; if the music is not to your liking, turn the dial again until you find something that tickles your fancy. In next to no time, Aether will surprise you with a playlist that would have taken you hours to put together. i www.aether.com

TOSHIBA SB3950E1 SOUND BAR SPEAKER SYSTEM: This stunning sound bar offers an

unbeatable surround-sound experience on its own, but can be hooked up to any television from Toshiba’s ample range, affording a viewing experience accompanied by crystal-clear sound. i www.toshiba.eu

SONY BLUETOOTH SPEAKER WITH MAGNETIC CHARGING PAD BSC10:

Your favourite musical tunes never sounded better than with this dual-purpose audio and charging accessory for your XperiaTM smartphone and tablet. Watch YouTube videos, play games and listen to engaging podcasts while the wireless audio fills your living room with living sound. i www.sony.com

Stay on the cusp of greatness by updating your gadget collection with some of these new releases, set to make you look, feel and perform to the best of your abilities.

LENOVO FOLDER PAD: Lenovo rises to the

design challenge with this gorgeous tablet, which can be held in the hands or propped up, thanks to a unique backplate that can be folded to perform as a stand. Although the device is not yet available, it has already been submitted to various design awards organisations and has been praised by the international media for its blend of comfort and style. i www.lenovo.com

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The

PORSCHE 911 Turbo WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PORSCHE

By the time you get a well-optioned 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo on the road, you’ll have spent a great deal of money, but in many ways, you’ve bought yourself a piece of automotive history, not to mention, a four-wheeled work of art.

orsche 911 Turbos go back over 40 years now and the original inspiration was the frighteningly fast 917/30 Can-Am race car of the period with its 1,100 horsepower. The first 911 Turbo road car appeared in 1975 and, ever since, the model has been at the very pinnacle of sports car design. Turbos have always been characterised by bulging bodywork enclosing wide, grippy tyres, along with huge (for some model years) ‘whaletail’ spoilers. Like so many other Porsche production cars, the Turbos have been raced with great success over the years. In fact, the Porsche 911 is generally regarded in the motor racing field as the most successful competition car ever built. The 2014 Turbo’s styling is dramatic to say the least, with a deep front

air dam boasting large air ducts, more air scoops along the sides of the rear bodywork and a fair-sized rear spoiler that deploys upwards at higher speeds for greater effect. The front air dam descends closer to the road at high speeds and retracts when the car slows, leaving some clearance for parking and so on. There’s also a Turbo Cabriolet for those who must have the wind in their hair. It’s hardly necessary to mention where a Porsche is concerned that all these ducts and aerodynamic aids are entirely functional and play a major part in the car’s superlative handling performance and high speed stability. The car looks quite different from its ‘lesser’ 911 brethren and you’ll find it fairly easy to spot one out on the road.

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FIF Z ENGINE 3.8-litre, 520-horsepower ‘boxer’ 6-cylinder Z TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic with steering wheel paddles for manual gear selection Z ACCELERATION Zero to 100 km/h in 3.4-seconds Z TOP SPEED Estimated at 315 km/h Z I LIKED Despite lots of competition and a body style that harkens back 40 years, the 911 Turbo is an iconic sports car with exceptional performance and reliability. It’s rock solid, has all-wheel drive plus amazing brakes to match its power and seems to attract attention everywhere it goes. Of all the supercars I’d pick for a cross-Europe drive, this would be the one I’d trust the most. Z I DIDN’T LIKE It’s hard to criticise a legend, but if I were to change anything, it would be to simplify the controls in the cockpit and add more interior stowage space. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES Lamborghini Huracán, Aston Martin Vantage/DB9, Audi R8, Maserati Granturismo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Z WHO DRIVES ONE? Enthusiasts who won’t drive anything but a Porsche and want the best there is. People who want more than just swoopy lines in their supercar. Owners who demand absolute dependability and a sports car that drives as well around town as it does out on the main roads. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY Available now at €186.093

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speed is expectedly impressive, though where you could use it I have no idea. I saw 305 km/h on the speedometer of a Porsche Turbo at a big test track in southwestern France a few years back and the 2014 model is even quicker. The cockpit is very driver-oriented and the seats, as one might expect, snug and supportive under hard cornering. Porsche 911 interiors have improved a lot in recent years and are now beautifully done. There was a time when there was far too much painted plastic, disappointing in a luxury sports car. This is not the easiest car to get in and out of, especially for older drivers, but once in there, it fits like a handmade suit. The car just seems to demand being driven with enthusiasm. On the minus side, there are not too many places around the cockpit to stow oddments and though there isn’t much space to work with, this is perhaps something Porsche will sort out for the next generation of this car. The rear/mid-engined layout of the car makes it something of a challenge for designers to deal with luggage space but, actually, the Turbo isn’t that bad. Up front is a fairly deep and quite roomy luggage well that’s nicely carpeted and easily accessible by raising the bonnet, under which there’s no engine, of course. There’s certainly room for a couple to stow soft-sided bags for a weekend on the road or even a week if they were experienced packers. There’s also a minimal space behind the seats. There’s no doubt that this is one of the world’s great sports cars, regardless of price. Porsche takes its products very seriously indeed and the full potential of a car like the current 911 Turbo can only be realised on a race track, and only then in the hands of a driver of considerable skill. For the rest of us, driving a new Porsche Turbo is the closest we’ll come to feeling like a Le Mans competitor in a seriously good race car. e

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Power (and we’re talking serious power here) comes from a 3.8-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine producing 520-horsepower. Opt for an ‘S’ version and the horsepower jumps to 560. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with manual override available when needed. Frankly, with the Turbo’s power and torque and the near-instant shifting of the automatic, a manual box would be simply a nod towards nostalgia and little more. As with all Porsche 911 engines it’s of horizontallyopposed ‘boxer’ configuration, a layout almost no automaker, except Subaru, uses nowadays. The car is an incredible performer and when in full flight, seems to want to go on accelerating forever. Even so, it’s surprisingly docile in traffic and at normal motorway speeds. Driven hard on twisty mountain roads the Turbo is an absolute delight and cornering speeds are dictated more by the bravery of the driver than by any suspension limitations. The car is very neutral in fast, sweeping, turns, though as with all super-fast cars, the driver should always be fully focused on the task in hand. Handling was enhanced on the most recent Turbo I tried by 20-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero tyres. Pirelli developed the tyres specifically for this car and they grip with superb capability. Pirelli really seems to have a handle on ultra high-performance tyres and it shows on the Turbo. The Turbo uses an all-wheel drive system that really gets the power down effectively. Despite the car’s horsepower, it’s almost impossible to spin the wheels, even on wet roads. Track tests I’ve carried out with 911 Turbos convinced me that with this much power, all-wheel drive is an asset in any weather. Aiding handling on the current 911 Turbo is a sophisticated rear axle steering system. In one of these highly desirable and costly Porsches you can top 100 km/h in something like 3.4 seconds-racing car performance for sure. Top

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Marbella Classic GRAND PRIX 2014

Monte Carlo has its famous rally, Goodwood its festival and Italy the Mille Miglia – this summer Marbella joins this illustrious group with its very own classic car race. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

lassic car races bring out the best in style, automotive ingenuity, sportsmanship and camaraderie, not to mention a sheer love of some of the finest machines and marques ever to grace the roads. More than just a fun event at which to admire gorgeous vehicles, though, races such as the Targa Florio, the Carrera Panamericana, the Monte Carlo Rally and the Mille Miglia helped create the legends of the road and the mythical ambience that surrounds classic car racing, and was the making of such names as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti and Porsche. It was racing of this type, often on open roads, that made reputations and formed the precursor to today’s rallies, Formula One racing and endurance series such as Le Mans. The densities and traffic of today’s world have made racing on the open road impossible, though such is the love for classic motoring and competition imbued in generation after generation that there are a great many international old timer races, rallies and those elegant gatherings known as Concours d’Elegance where owners and enthusiasts come together to enjoy one of the finest examples of craftsmanship in stylish settings such as châteaux and country clubs. The most famous of these is at Pebble Beach in California, where cars exchange hands for up to millions of dollars at the accompanying auction. The Goodwood festival in England celebrates all things classical and automotive with similar verve, as does the revived Mille Miglia Storica, which sees famous racing drivers compete with enthusiasts along the roads of northern Italy. Such events bring a very gentle and fun sense of glamour and festivity to towns whose natural and

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architectural settings are made even more attractive by the scores of gorgeous rolling works of art that decorate them. Picture a Ferrari 340MM, A gull-winged Mercedes 300 SLR or an Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia Spider parked in an Italian piazza – or for that matter driving down our very own Golden Mile…

That is exactly what we can expect to see this summer, and while Marbella is no stranger to beautiful cars and even classic car rallies, the organisers of the inaugural Marbella Classic Grand Prix 2014 want to establish an event that will really put the town on the classic car events map. It makes perfect sense, as Marbella is not only a luxury destination but also has the beautiful natural scenery and elegant downtown and residential areas that offer a fantastic backdrop for an event of this kind. The Grand Prix is the initiative of classic car enthusiasts Attila J. Hegyi and Zoltán Pétervári, who have many years experience creating international events of this kind across Europe, and in association with The Marbella Town Hall. Among their now established projects are the Hungarian Old-timer Supercup, the MiSTER CLASSiC and the Balaton Classic, the latter raced in the vicinity of the beautiful lake of the same name. “We want Marbella to be the newest big event on the international classic car calendar,” says Zoltán, who like Attila is himself an avid classic car enthusiast. “An event like this is not only a pleasure in its own right, but it adds to the lustre of Marbella and can grow to become a seasonal highpoint that attracts visitors both as spectators, competitors and their entourage of technicians, friends and enthusiasts. It’s a great opportunity for having fun, enjoying good-natured competition and celebrating something truly beautiful, and can create events that stand out on an international scale.” Indeed, the Mille Miglia Storica and the Goodwood Festival draw many thousands of followers.

PUTTING MARBELLA ON THE CLASSIC CAR MAP

A FESTIVAL OF MOTORING LEGENDS

THE RACE ON JUNE 8TH

Though limited to fifty cars in its inaugural edition, the intention is to expand the entry field to 100. Cars made before 31 December 1980 are eligible, though subject to the scrutiny and final say of the organising committee, which also established the rules in accordance with normal procedure for such events. All competing teams will have to consist of a driver and a co-driver, the latter of which has the important role of measuring the rate of progress. “You see, though the Marbella Classic Grand Prix is an open road tour, this is not a speed race but a precision competition in which you are penalised as much for arriving at a check point too soon as for arriving too late.” Each checkpoint forms the end of a particular étape, or stage, where drivers are scored by how close their stage time is to that set by the organisers. Next comes a technical driving test, which, like the rest of the GP, has the co-pilots using only mechanical timers, before they can set off on the following stage. The official timekeeping and adjudicating will be carried out by the internationally recognised Chronomoto (also the official timekeeping team of the FIA Rallycross European Championship) and the event – held during the first weekend of June – is divided into a registration day and a racing day.

June 7th will see the varied beautiful cars arriving and contestants being registered and checked, followed by an official opening and cocktail party at Casino Marbella in the evening. Though the exact route will be published later, the starting and finishing points will accommodate large crowds, while the route is being designed in such a way as to highlight Marbella’s most striking landscapes and sceneries while also drawing in spectators along the way. The race day, interrupted in splendid style by lunch at Hotel Villa Padierna, will conclude with a grand finale, technical inspections and a grand dinner and prize giving ceremony. Held over the weekend from June 7th to 8th, the Marbella Classic Grand Prix 2014 will coincide with the Marbella Luxury Weekend, a fact designed to heighten the sense of elegance and excitement around an event created out of the sheer love of beautiful cars, classic motoring competition and what a fantastic setting Marbella provides for it.

g Classic car owners, who wish to participate in the

race can now register online via the official website marbellaclassicgrandprix.es or find out more information via their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/marbellaclassicgrandprix

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CULTURE / HISTORY / FEATURES

focus FAMOUS PEOPLE / INTERVIEWS / HUMOUR

Read how some of Marbellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most talented architects foresee future trends in Marbella, see how social networks are connecting people in amazing new ways and enjoy our interview with rising singing star, Jade Williamson.

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Marbella Architects Discuss Future Trends

How Social Networks are Connecting the World

Upcoming Singer, Jade Williamson

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THE FUTURE SHAPE OF MARBELLA

As Marbella appears to be on the path to growth once more, it also stands on the threshold of one of the most important periods of stylistic change and urban renewal in its history. One senses that the Marbella of the future is slowly taking shape around us. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

ho better to discuss this process of change, renewal and future direction with than three prominent architects who have seen so much of Marbella’s ongoing evolution and played an important part in it. That all three of these architects hail from the Americas is a salient detail, a product both of the cosmopolitan, international nature of Marbella and the architectural excellence for which their countries have become known. Mexican-born Marcos Sainz began his acquaintance with this part of the world when it was still a very young resort. A feeling of ancien regime still hovered over this almost

virginal playground of an international elite back then. Untouched by mass tourism, Marbella retained the look and innocence of a small Andalusian coastal town, its farms and sugarcane fields still partly intact when Marcos arrived as the young understudy to Swiss architect Noldi Schreck. Their brief was to create a marina glamorous enough to put Marbella on the international map – and this they duly did. The Mediterranean village-style yachting harbour that arose out of this would prove to mark an important turning point in the region’s history. Puerto Banús did carry the

name of Marbella far and wide, and from then onwards this coastline on Spain’s southern littoral would change forever – losing some of its original charm and innocence but growing into an internationally recognised resort and now gradually into a cosmopolitan town. The process that began with the ambitious plans of José Banús to turn this little corner of privilege into an international destination took root, marking a transformation that would see Marbella expand outwards along the coast and into the hills, where luxury apartment complexes and villa suburbs followed meandering golf courses.

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FIF EN TE AR YE SS Building the European dream Americans are not alone in their desire to live a life of luxury and glamour in the sun, and for Europeans this is what Marbella came to represent. Wander through the leafy streets of Marbella’s exclusive residential areas and you will find the personification of this ambition in luxurious villas designed in many cases by Marcos Sainz and the Argentinean-born architects Miguel Tobal and Juan Salvador Schvartzberg. Together, they have played a large part in shaping Marbella, often through the eyes of those who settled here from abroad. “When I first arrived, the traditional Andalusian style, with its Romano-Moorish roots emboldened by Baroque influences, was still entrenched,” says Marcos Sainz. “Gradually, as the number of foreign residents increased, the typical construction methods and rustic designs were replaced by a more international style that was in fact a contemporary interpretation of Andalusian architecture as seen through foreign eyes.” The process gave rise to what has been dubbed a ‘Marbella style’, characterised by smoothly plastered walls, Mediterranean roof and floor tiles, wooden beams and expansive covered terraces that serve the outdoor lifestyles of summer. As Andalusian influences became increasingly inspired by colonial styles, and then the soft geometry of Southern Morocco, the characteristic white-plastered walls of Marbella gave way to tan colours and ultimately the deep terracotta tones of influential architect Melvin Villaroël.

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A change of direction The biting recession that followed the financial crisis brought a natural, seamless end to this period. The following years saw very little construction, providing as it were a breathing point between one era and another. Now that growth and construction are slowly resuming, a new design style is in evidence that has every potential of changing the look of our urban landscape. “Born out of new technologies, materials and techniques, we’re seeing a shift away from the styles of the 90s and 2000s, and an embracing of a more modern look,” says Diego Tobal, who like his father has seen this shift both in new construction and in the form of the many renovations that are now taking place. “These days, homeowners demand much higher technical standards, a long list of facilities such as climate control, under floor heating, telecommunications, home entertainment systems and advanced automated management systems that can control anything from the garden sprinklers to security and remote video access.” Along with these technological changes come aesthetic changes too. “The people who come to Marbella now want houses with higher ceilings, taller windows, generous open spaces and a simpler, more linear geometry that is sometimes reminiscent of earlier movements of modern architecture.” Interestingly enough, this process is also accompanied by a return to white. “Because it is the colour of Andalucía and coincidentally also the one that lends itself to clean, modern designs,” adds Marcos Sainz. “White has a freshness that suits the Marbella climate and the interplay of greenery and blue skies, but we temper the starkness of modern lines with references to the softer, more rounded forms that are traditionally a part of this region. The combination is fresh and modern, yet remains accessible and welcoming.”

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It cannot be denied that the design change currently sweeping through Marbella is having a refreshing, revitalising effect, yet is it truly modern or avant-garde? “Each era considers the latest, contemporary style to be modern, but this is not necessarily so,” says Marcos. “What is modern today is by definition no longer so tomorrow, when it finds itself replaced by the new latest ‘modern’ style or trend.” From an architect’s perspective, therefore, what the broad public boldly describes as modern is merely the latest stylistic trend. Its look can be retro, inspired by technology or even be quite new and fresh, but it is only ever truly worthy of the description ‘modern’ if it is groundbreaking, conceptually innovative and produces a new way of inhabiting and using the spaces we call homes, offices and such like buildings. Though it marks an important aesthetic departure from the previous style this is not such an avant-garde movement, but one whose transformation is largely skin-deep, still built on much the same floor plans, distribution of living spaces, lifestyles and relationship with the environment – or lack of it. “Much of the change is under the skin,” says Juan Salvador Schvartzberg, “in the form of the new building materials, construction techniques, electronics and lighting effects made possible by technological advances, but while these factors also account for the main lifestyle changes they do not in themselves qualify as a groundbreaking architectural movement.”

i www.tobal.net

www.msdarquitectos.com www.jssarchitect.com

TOMORROW’S MARBELLA That said, the current style changes are likely to transform Marbella over the coming decade or so. “We’re at a turning point in Marbella,” says Diego Tobal. “Years ago everything was white, homes were built on a moderate scale, albeit with technical limitations, and Marbella had a true identity. Then came the boom and the town lost its way a little, with short-term thinking leading to increasingly mass-produced construction and often highly forgettable design. Now things are gradually getting back to normal and I see the next phase of development in Marbella coming in the form of a revitalisation of existing spaces such as its beachfront and town centre.” This points to an increasingly mature market in which

renovation and redevelopment gain in importance and focus shifts back at least in part to the downtown area. “It is a process born out of a lack of virgin construction land,” says Diego. “Not only will it revitalise Marbella, but it should also mean that new developments will become less volume-based and more focused on providing niche value.” All agree that Marbella feels like it is on the threshold of an exciting new era, but will the new town that evolves over the coming years have a distinct look and feel about it? “Marbella will be shaped by a new generation,” says Marcos. “People of diverse background who are welltravelled and are now coming back to this region. Their blend of experiences will temper the generic modern

styles and shape them into something that suits this unique setting.” Juan Salvador Schvartzberg agrees: “In seeking to apply universally modern styles and techniques you cannot help but adapt it to your local topography, culture and needs. Out of this flows an aesthetic that is formed from both practical adaptation and the collective touch of the local society.” Asked what the Marbella of tomorrow will look like, Diego Tobal believes it is hard to remain entirely local in today’s interconnected world. “However, the key to keeping Marbella unique is to create something distinct out of the blend of influences that we are subjected to these days. Such a style should take in our surroundings, maximise the views we enjoy here, accommodate the lifestyle our climate and culture make possible, and ultimately interact with the natural beauty of this unique place in such a way as to add to it, not detract from it.” If we can indeed achieve this sense of harmony and maximise the intrinsic strengths of Marbella, then we will have created the blueprint for a Marbella that can face the future with confidence. e

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ultradesign®

Life is Sweet for Carlos and Sarah...

The minute they arrive at their apartment, they start to relax as the stress of home fades into the sunset. The Cortijo del Mar Resort was the perfect choice... A great location, flexible purchase terms, comprehensive resort facilities including a manned reception, 24 hour security, chiringuito and a gorgeous pool. They bought their high spec apartment last year, and now they have the freedom to take a holiday whenever they want, with the added bonus of being able to rent their property, which offsets the cost of their new home in the sun. The rental team at FM Your Vacation Resort take care of everything. They helped them to decorate the apartment with a stylish furniture package, they deal with bookings, the check-ins, maintenance and management. All the lucky couple need to worry about now, is getting the perfect tan...

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Social

Networks WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

Connecting the World

Popular women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan, recently published the results of a survey in which over one thousand readers were asked: “What would you rather live without for one full week: Sex or Facebook?” Interestingly, only one in five women answered, “Sex.” Another survey, carried out by McCann, found that some 53 per cent of surveyed people aged 16 to 30 would rather forego their sense of smell than lose access to social networking websites. Love it or hate it, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are here to stay and they are changing the way we interact, do business and view ourselves and life, in many ways.

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Inspiring Socia Network Storie l s

Without a doubt, there are many features of social networking many of us would rather do without. These include having to read too many inflated status reports (from those who seem to be saving the world, running a marathon or going on holiday on a daily basis); viewing upsetting photographs that wrest the little joy we may have at the end of a long day; finding comments from strangers on photos we or our children have been tagged in; receiving invitations for Candy Crush; discovering friendship requests we feel obliged (but not naturally inclined) to accept; reading nasty comments on Twitter from someone who doesn’t necessarily agree with our opinion… yet despite the downside of social networking and the strong occasional temptation to completely shut our accounts, we don’t. Ultimately, social networking is an immensely powerful and useful tool many of us would never have dreamed of just 15 years ago. Those of us living on the Coast who hail from other countries find it comforting, to say the least, to see how our friends and families back home are doing, to view the arrival of new members to the family and to watch our loved ones enjoy unique moments, albeit far away. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter make it possible to share interesting and amusing information with those who still mean the world to us, despite the distance…

A Lucky Escape

The Positive Power of Social Networks

A recent study carried out by the University of Michigan found that the more time people spent on Facebook, the lower their sense of well-being and the more likely they were to become depressed. Seeing others enjoy white sand vacations, drive luxury vehicles and enjoy time with their perfect offspring, it seems, only leads to comparison and ultimately, to a certain degree of despair. Swedish researchers at the University of Gothenburg agree; their own study showed that frequent Facebook usage led to a significant drop in self-esteem. In addition to sadness and insecurity, say researchers, social media sites also foster narcissism, as more and more users resort to the dreaded ‘selfie’, in an attempt to shape the image they portray, or elicit compliments and approval from ‘Friends’.

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The Link Between Facebook Use and Depression

Social networks have sparked many powerful stories of love, loyalty and even, good luck. Take the case of Eddie Beatrice, a man in the US who went to hospital for a routine operation. As a result of the surgery, he developed a severe infection which ultimately resulted in kidney failure and the need for a transplant. In the throes of desperation, Beatrice found a Facebook page run by the Living Kidney Donor Network. There, he met a girl called Kelly Wright, who had tried unsuccessfully to donate her kidney to a friend’s child. She proved the perfect match for Beatrice however, and now he refers to her as “part of my family for life”.

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Social networks are also an excellent platform in which to leverage awareness about a host of issues – everything from Downs Syndrome to Animal Rights and Adoption, or Autism. Many times, a kind of chain reaction leads us to discover pages we would never , one staff member was otherwise have followed. At casually skimming through the Facebook page of her cousin, Ryder, a boy with Downs Syndrome whose page, Upside Down, is a source of information (and cute photos) for those interested in knowing what it is like to raise a toddler with Downs Syndrome. Through Ryder, our staff member discovered another page: Just Joshin’ Ya, administered by Karen, the mother of a young American adult with Downs Syndrome called Josh. It opened up a fascinating world for our reader, who discovered that many stereotypes often associated with Downs Syndrome (“All children with Downs Syndrome are happy”, for instance), are empty myths. Just Joshin’ Ya is a highly active page, where Karen reveals the highs and lows of being a parent with plenty of humour, honesty and positivity. The anecdotes are often hilarious and sometimes eye-opening. Karen shares stories of how her son reacts to disappointment, copes with independent life in his own ‘apartment’ within the family home and looks forward to holidays with his grandparents. She does a great job at providing honest opinions on the difficulties she sometimes encounters, as well as the joys. Just Joshin’ Ya contains one photo that sticks out in our mind for being a particular powerful depiction of the joie de vivre, uniqueness and character of Josh, a young man who has a job, has rescued many dogs and loves belting out his favourite set of tunes on his outdoor swing, much to the amusement of his next-door-neighbours. The photograph is of Josh ‘swimming’ in a Jacuzzi in the middle of a snow blizzard. Unbeatable! Josh is many things – smart, cheeky, sweet, sometimes obstinate like any other ‘rebellious teen’ – and yes, he just so happens to have Downs Syndrome.

Insp Netwiring S ork ocial Stor ies

: Upside Down (Community) : Just Joshin' Ya g Karen, Josh’s mum, has a blog, which can be accessed on

http://roadwevesharedgzp.weebly.com/just-joshin-yas-blog.html

It was through Just Joshin’ Ya, meanwhile, that we came across Alayna’s Journey. The page was built for Alayna, an infant born to a young couple who bravely faced the difficulty of being told that their daughter had a congenital heart defect and would need to have open heart surgery before her first birthday. The young couple stayed strong and positive, posting updates and photos of their baby, who sadly lost her battle to live due to an infection following surgery. Alayna’s mother, Kristin, continues to post photos of her baby, sending loving messages and telling her daughter how much she misses her. Kristin recently shared joyous news with her page’s 16,648 followers: she and her husband are expecting another child. Thankfully, tests thus far have indicated he is free of heart problems. Kristin didn’t just use the page to update readers on Alayna’s progress; she is

also campaigning firmly for congenital heart defect awareness in children; in particular, she recommends that new parents request that their babies be screened for congenital heart defects through a simple test called pulse oximetry, which checks the amount of Oxygen in a baby’s blood. The earlier heart defects are detected, the earlier they can be addressed and the greater likelihood of a positive outcome. When asked what message she would like to share with our readers, Kristin mentioned two things: firstly, the causes of congenital heart defects are unknown and they can happen to any baby, despite there being no family history of the disease. Secondly, it is important to mention that the 20-week “gender ultrasound” involves much more than knowing the baby’s sex; it is the time when doctors check the health of our baby to discover possible problems as early as possible.

There are countless stories of how social networks have brought people together (childhood friends and/or sweethearts, missing siblings, university colleagues), many of which are very moving. Take the case of Alex Anfuso, a 28-year-old man who was kidnapped at the age of six from Rome and taken to Cairo, Egypt. Intent on finding his old relatives, Alex found a TV technician on Facebook who shared his surname. Although the latter was not actually a relative, he did help share Alex’s story on Italian TV. Sadly, Alex discovered that his mother had already passed away.

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: Alayna's Journey

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Social networks are also extremely powerful means for ‘David’ organisations, especially struggling animal shelters and those fighting for dignity and a pain-free existence for animals. Some shelters (Kim’s Animal Shelter on the Coast) use social network pages to inform readers of animals up for adoption and to ask for donations. On some days, shelters barely have enough funds to buy food and water for hundreds of animals yet they never turn an animal down – many abandoned and/or abused pets are mercilessly ‘dumped’ at their door. Then there are unique, highly entertaining Facebook pages like that of Esther the Wonder Pig. Esther’s story, told in full in the About section of the page, speaks of how a couple inadvertently became daddies to a creature they were told would stay ‘minisized’, but who has grown to quite majestic proportions! Esther’s ‘dads’ say: “She came into our lives as a supposed micro-pig... but she GREW and GREW and GREW! Now she's 400 pounds (180 Kg)!” The page is, as you would imagine, filled with very funny images of Esther trying to open the fridge, sleeping on her fluffy bed like a diva and receiving tons of affection from her two dads… it is, however, also a very informative site on “the potential risks you are opening yourself up to with a pig”, the amount of work it takes (Esther receives daily baths and consumes a special diet which includes fruits and vegetables) and the cruel and environmentally unsound

Animal Crackers

methods employed by the meat industry. Esther’s owners hope to one day open a shelter, though they know they have a difficult road ahead of them. For now, they seek to inspire people to respect animal life through their humorous photographs and heartfelt messages of love to their ‘little’ girl, Esther. “This isn’t Esther’s fault. She didn’t ask for the life she was given. We have the chance to provide her with the life she deserves, not the one she was bred for… (this) is for Esther and for all the other pigs out there we haven’t been able to save… yet.”

One page leads to another, and ‘viral’ is the buzzword on any marketer’s lips these days… which is why even celebrities are turning to social networks and crowdfunding to fund their latest projects. Take Zach Braff, the brilliant comedic Actor from hit TV series, Scrubs, and Director and Writer of cult classic, Garden State. In an entertaining ‘open request to the public’ on Kickstarter, Braff asks his fans to help fund his new film, Wish I Was Here. In the short video (recommended viewing, certainly), Braff makes an important point: although he is able to access commercial funding from producers, to do so would mean losing creative control. Hollywood Producers, it seems, always wrest the rights to a film’s ‘final cut’, and insist on casting films themselves. Braff asks his followers to Even allow him to make the film he originally envisioned, are the C Doin eleb offering supporters a host of perks (including the g it… ritie chance to sit next to him at the premiere and act as s an extra in the film). Braff evidently chose the right method for his plea; in just a few hours, he had received $3 million from over 20,000 supporters.

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This is How NOT to Do it

Despite contributing to an array of positive outcomes, social networks have also landed countless notso-savvy users in a whole lot of trouble. Take the US burglar who signed into Facebook from a computer in the home he was robbing; he forgot to log out, giving the police all the evidence they needed to arrest and lock him up. Then there is the Quebec woman who lost her long-term sick leave after posting pictures of herself looking in excellent shape, frolicking in a bikini on the beach and partying with a stripper. One man, meanwhile, did the unthinkable: he dumped his wife via Facebook! The posted status was: “Neil Brady has ended his marriage to Emma Brady.” The wife had no idea; she found out when a friend called her to ask how she was…

In sharp contrast, social networks have often provided a crucial alibi that has seen justice served: 19-year-old Harlem youth, Rodney Bradford, was arrested for a robbery which he did not commit. Luckily, his defence lawyer relied on Facebook’s time-stamped entry to prove that Rodney was at his father’s home at the time the robbery occurred. Another harsh and much publicised case involved the woman from Kentucky who, after being assaulted by her husband, posted photographic evidence of her injuries on Facebook, in a last ditch attempt to inform police of the occurrences in her home. Her husband, it seems, had torn the phone off the wall…

Making Social Networks Work for You The power of social networks to make a profit, change lives and foster awareness is unquestionable. There are 7.0 billion people in the world and 85 per cent of them have Internet access. Social media has officially overtaken pornography as the number one online activity. When it comes to businesses, some 93 per cent of all marketers are using social media to increase revenue; every two seconds, two new members sign up to LinkedIn. Whether starting up a new business, spreading word about your products or services, finding long-lost friends or rebuilding a social network following a divorce or separation is your aim, there is no doubt that the way to reach the world, begins with just one click… e

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ma r be l l a -e sta te s.com Tel. +34 952 90 42 44 info@marbella-estates.com 177 Marbella Estates ok.indd 1

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It was only logical that upcoming singer, Jade Williamson, should have chosen Adele’s Skyfall to nab the trophy at the Reality Star International Talent Show, which set the house on ﬁre at the Kempinski Hotel, recently. She may be only 17, but her voice has the maturity and soulfulness of someone far beyond her years.

Williamson WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID PACKWOOD OF PHOTOGRAPHY SPAIN

lthough Jade has called Marbella home since the age of 11, she was born and raised in Scotland. When asked about her childhood, she replies that what she misses the most are her horses – “I had three horses, I love riding,” she says, clarifying that the transition to the Coast was far from traumatic: “I really enjoyed my time in Scotland but since I moved here with my mum, I’ve been really happy.” Like any other vibrant 17-year-old, she has made many friends – it helps that she speaks Spanish fluently! Jade, who works at a chocolate shop in Mijas between her musical performances, has two dreams, seemingly polar in nature. One is to be an astrophysicist and the other, a singer. She sees no dilemma between the two, however: “I can be a singing astrophysicist, why not?” she laughs. Jade started singing in her childhood,

honing her natural vocal skills with a professional voice coach from the UK. Although she is working full-time, she intends to return to school to finish off her final year and commence her degree. Of course, she also has a busy year ahead of her, as winner of Reality Star. Her long list of prizes includes a recording deal, a video of one of her songs and the production of a CD as part of a joint project with RS Productions and Avalon Studio, London. She has also been offered the option of a five-year artist’s contract, to be managed by RS Productions, and has been invited to represent Reality Star and perform at the Kremlin in November with Russian Music Box, at the Marbella Luxury Weekend in June, and the Starlite Festival in August. Jade has already performed at various venues since her win, including Kunsthaus Gallery and Veranda Verde.

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FIF EN TE going for walks on the beach with my dogs…” Jade and her mum, Lorraine, (whom she refers to as “my biggest influence”) have rescued two lucky pooches: “a big, friendly Labrador/podenco cross and a little puppy whom we think has some Rhodesian ridgeback in her… and lots of wrinkles!” Jade is both an outstanding individual and representative of a modern teen. With so many roads stretching out ahead of her, she still hasn’t made a definitive choice, but one thing she knows she wants is to travel, “to go wherever life takes me… I could be an astrophysicist in Australia, a singer in the US… I don’t know yet, but I love adventure and I hope to see as much of the world as I can fit into a lifetime!”

HAIR, NAILS AND MAKE-UP BY DIVAS, CALAHONDA DRESSES BY TWIST BOUTIQUE, SAN PEDRO WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JADEWILLIAMSONMUSIC.

te Wi rn nn ati er on of al Re Ta al len ity t S St ho ar w 20 13

that the contest has already taken her far: “I have met so many people through the competition and they have all been so helpful.” Jade isn’t just flying solo, however; she explains: “I am part of a group with two other singers at the moment – Zoe Louise Hughes (founder of the new group and winner of Reality Star 2012), and Mandy (singer and vocal coach). We are called ‘RESPECT the divas’. We sing the greatest hits of artists such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, etc. We are still rehearsing at the moment and will be launching around the beginning of May. You can find us on Facebook at Respect The Divas, or on www.respectthedivas.com.” All this seems like quite a busy schedule to maintain, but Jade is young and is brimming with energy. So does she have any time remaining for hobbies? “To be honest, what I most love doing in my spare time is

AR YE

Jade has just completed her first CD, featuring original songs by Roger Cook and Peter Ware. Regarding the album’s style, she points out, “Since it is my first recording, we wanted to include songs from all genres.” Jade and the team are also working on the final touches for her website and social media pages. Her Facebook page is still under construction, but is already up. Recently, Jade was invited to be an Ambassador for the soon-to-be-launched Famestage Spain, an online competition which is proving to be quite a big hit in so far as discovering new, young talent is concerned. “Singers sign up for the competition from all over the world and people vote for them online,” she says. Without a doubt, it’s been a busy year for the aspiring artist. When I ask her if she suffers jitters before performing for a large audience, she answers, “I do get nervous, but it’s a good kind of nervous!” She says

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style

INTERIORS / ARCHITECTURE / ART / DESIGN

We turn back the hands of time and peruse some of the most lustworthy objects in recent history, we step into a Mediterranean idyll in the Marbella Hills and we invite you to relish in the beauty of Hannibal Laguna’s Spring/ Summer 2014 collection.

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GARDENS / FASHION

Objects We Love

Décor: A Beautiful Marbella Hills Home

Fashion Feature: Hannibal Laguna

Fashion News

4/24/14 4:58 PM

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Cape Reed SL - Essential 24042014 24 April 2014 11:07:29 AM

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Victoria Beckham and her Birkin

When it comes to luggage, it’s got to be Louis Vuitton

ost of the everyday products we own and use are born of a necessity that describes their form and function. We handle such items largely without thought, yet there are icons of design and functionality that strike a cord with society, or large chunks of it, helping to define and even create socalled ‘tribes’ that associate human values to them, and in so doing allow inorganic items to transcend the realm of mere products and enter into our collective psyche. It is said that all products, from houses and cars to fashion, utensils and even art, reflect

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their era and the prevailing zeitgeist out of which they were formed – but some do this more effectively than others. They make an impact on our modern world, turn utilitarian objects into companions or at the very least trappings that help to reflect our personality, values and how we wish to present ourselves to the world. Now you might say that such are fashions and fads, not love objects, but the difference between the two is that the hysteria surrounding the former sooner or later wears off, only to drop away as abruptly as it appeared, while the latter endures. Indeed, a true love object has

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e v o L t that, s u j e r a e items easured Manmagds, not to be mriety and thin ainst the va â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and ag nature on to f o y t u a be gone han e v a h e t yet, some nothing less jects. becom sheer love ob

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Words Mic

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The VW Kombi: Object of desire

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a tendency of transcending time, often refusing to lie down and die. And when it does, due either to the vagrancies of the market or those of boardroom decision makers, it has a habit of making a longawaited reappearance.

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Cult status Even when the yearned for return does not materialise, the love object lives on in the hearts of those who cannot let go – it’s cult following. Now a cult following need not be measured by the number of followers as much as in their vigorous devotion, and many a love object has just that. But this is madness, you might say, and in the strictest sense you’d be right. After all, a manmade object is just that, a handcrafted or industrially arrived at product fashioned out of steel, wood, silk, leather or plastic that was conceived with a specific purpose in mind, be it practical or ornamental. But who hasn’t lusted after a car, an outfit, a handbag, a piece of furniture, technology or any of a range of things not created by some higher being but designed on a drawing board or software programme? Let’s face it, we talk derisively about materialism as if it is something that befalls morally inferior arch capitalists, but we’re all subject to its whims. This means that we’re all somehow under the spell of manmade icons at one point or another, though those for whom it becomes a true love affair are classed as suffering from a condition called object sexuality.

Why we love objects Most of us lust after products in a very different way, wanting a certain item often not so much for itself as for its reflective

Iconic logo

Sarah Jessica Parker in Manolo Blahniks

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value in society. In other words, for the status we derive from a flashy car or house, how having the latest fashion item makes especially women feel trendy and sexy to the world, or how men compete with one another and try to attract female attention through items that express their financial success. Such items describe regular materialism, but one through which people seek to stand out from the masses and attempt association with those groups they aspire to. It is these underlying motives that define the choice of product, such as the style of fashion, the type and model of car, the location of the house and all the brand identification that comes with it. Thosen objects that form part of fads have a way of bringing us all together, for a while at least, seducing (almost) everyone into having the same taste, preferences and needs for the duration of its lifespan. We join in, often against our better judgement, only to drop it like a hot potato once it has outlived its shelf life. This is where fads and real objects differ; having a jeep or a Swatch is a fad, but wanting a Volkswagen Kombi or a Rolex Oyster Perpetual is a far more enduring affliction. Why? Because such products transcend the temporary status or trendy appeal that Ikea, retro-designed cars and the Apple range give us. Though cherished with all the love and dedication of a cult item, they are examples of products that may be immensely popular but have still to stand the test of time. Will they fade away or join the pantheon of modern iconography?

Objects we love So which are the true love objects? I would

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say those that are both enduring and selective, for love objects are all about striking a chord with a certain group of people, whether many or few. A love object is so cherished because it represents certain values that we hold dear. However, people have different, and sometimes opposite, ideals, so the love object is a means of identification that says as much about its admirers as it does about its own creators and raison d’être. They include the VW Kombi, icon of surfers and hippies, the Harley Davidson that speaks of male escapism, the Zippos and Ray Ban aviators that offer ageing charmers a sense of Indiana Jones appeal, the revival of 60s Dolce Vita innocence or youth as embodied by the Vespa or the timeless sophistication of Chanel No5 and Dior’s Little Black Dress. A vintage Jaguar will imbue certain values, its racy Alfa Romeo counterpart others, yet all these products have a classic revivalism about them that confirm an appeal – based above all on perceived values and symbolism – that transcends generations. Many who love such older items are romantics hankering back to earlier eras, so where contemporary love objects may have yet to prove their staying power, they are the ones that are freshest in our minds. Today’s love items include above all the ipad, ipod and other Apple products, the re-born Mini, Fiat 500 and VW Beetle, Converse trainers, Xboxes, PlayStations, Manolo Blahnik shoes, the Birkin and Chanel handbags, Luis Vuitton luggage, and so on. The item that one person reveres repulses another, subdividing us into modern ‘tribes’ separated by affinities yet united by a sense of identity and pleasure derived from material products that are far more to us than mere inanimate objects. e

Iconic logo

No wardrobe is complete without an LBD by Dior Let no one part a man from his Harley Davidson

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FIF EN TE AR YE Ss

Take the charm and natural beauty of the Andalusian countryside, add a touch of Tuscan elegance, views of the Mediterranean and put it all on the edge of Marbella…

any dream of a Tuscan idyll, of rolling hills covered in olive groves dotted with cypresses and the occasional country home. Or the verdant fields of France, with its quaint villages and elegant estates draped over undulating folds. Both of these visions are enchanting, but both are by their very nature rather rural – some even isolated. What if you also want to be close to the sea, with magnificent views that trace the shoreline to the very edge of the continent and allow you to gaze upon its southerly neighbour? You may want to be close to yacht harbours, should the urge grab you to follow in the path of early mariners and venture out beyond the pillars of the Mare Nostrum into the wide and open ocean. Or perhaps you just like to sit aside the yachts and watch the ebb and tide of a cosmopolitan crowd, surrounded by all that civilisation has to offer before you head back into the hills and seek the blissful peace and seclusion that only a country setting can provide. Such a mix of country life and city chic may be hard to reconcile – like having your cake and eating it – but there are those among us who have achieved exactly that. You see, Marbella may be known as a rather glamorous Mediterranean resort town with its focus clearly trained on the sea, but if you’re willing to venture just a little inland you will find it is possible to enjoy a country lifestyle in the sun without having to suffer isolation or being deprived of life’s comforts.

editerranean Idyll in the Marbella Hills WORDS Michel cruz Photography © www.photographermarbella.com

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Between mountain and sea The diversity of this region never ceases to amaze, for just as you can opt between beach, ski and surf resorts within a convenient radius, the greater Marbella area also offers a mix of urban, residential, beachside and country environments that allow you to focus on the one without having to forego the other. From this lovely Spanish-Italian inspired villa in the Marbella hills you are just minutes away from beaches, bustling towns, shops, golf courses and a lively social scene, yet to all intents and purposes, in the Spanish campo. The real rugged Andalucía begins where the valleys rise up to a curtain of mountains that form an escarpment ringing our coastal region. Follow them inland and you come to the Serranía de Ronda, a beautiful succession of green valleys and soaring peaks dotted with mountain villages. Those who have come from afar to settle in these parts enjoy great natural beauty but find themselves removed from many

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of the luxuries we take for granted. The hill clubs situated on this side of the mountain ranges, however, provide an ideal compromise of open natural surroundings, peace and privacy, security and close proximity to a coastal region full of diversions and facilities. Set within a landscape of hills, valleys and golf courses sparsely settled with luxurious villas, these gated communities can feel comfortably secluded from the hustle and bustle of the coast they enjoy such impressive views of. Indeed, this sense of being between mountain and sea is ever-present as you make your way through the gates of the Marbella Club Golf Resort. Heading into the hills, you are surrounded by pine trees and views across the valley to luxury homes that look out across the sea and back towards the mountains. No wonder that the resort’s nearby horse-riding centre is so popular, for this really is where Marbella and the Serranía de Ronda touch.

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Mediterranean country style It is within this setting that you come to a villa created by British owners but imbued with a love of Spanish styles enriched with Italian touches. The result is a stylish country house full of Mediterranean elegance but finished with British precision and attention to detail. A labour of love, it too offers the ideal mix of country virtues married to sophistication and modern luxuries. Built against a gentle slope in a position that offers prominent views across the nearby scenery and distant sea, the property’s driveway leads to a large forecourt that provides the option of pulling up near the tinkling sounds of an Andalusian fountain or continuing on down to a triple garage. If you opt for the former you enter the home through a solid antique door sourced in the vicinity of Lisbon. There’s no creak as the door swings open to reveal an entrance hall with imposing high ceilings that looks straight out to sea. “On a clear evening you can see the lights twinkle in Morocco,” says the owner, whose energy and enthusiasm has created a villa beautifully balanced in proportion and one that manages to be both impressive and welcoming. Not conceived as merely a showpiece, this is a living, breathing home that also happens to be very elegant and offers a high standard of luxury and refinement. The latter includes a stylish but comfortable living room with a large stone fireplace and an equally inviting dining room that connects with a modern state-of-the-art Siematic kitchen with its own informal breakfast area.

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In a home with a pleasing symmetry to its design, the opposite wing is composed of a suite that is suitable both as a bedroom or a private study. Like all the other rooms on this level it enjoys direct access to its own section of the gorgeous terrace that wraps itself around the villa’s facia to offer a variety of inviting spots from which to take in the panorama of hill scenery, golf course and the Mediterranean Sea. A fully self-contained area made for Marbella’s long summers, the terrace forms the outdoor extension of the house, with steps leading down to a semitropical garden that embraces a large swimming pool and thatched caseta complete with kitchen, changing rooms and cloakroom facilities. It’s testament to the young Spanish architect, whose beautifully

handcrafted sketches helped design the villa, that there is no sense of layered terracing yet the garden area communicates directly with the lower level of the house. Importantly, this means that the large independent guest apartment of two bedrooms and bathroom, a modern kitchen and a large lounge and dining area enjoys not only its own terrace area but also lots of natural light. From here you are just steps away from two of the most beautiful features in the villa, passing an impressive recessed bodega on your way to a private spa that quite frankly rivals those of the most luxurious five-star hotels. The most classical part of the house, this area with its terracotta flagstones and beautifully vaulted ceilings has the feel of a long-established country estate.

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g Fine & Country Marbella Club Hotel, Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel: +34 952 764 010. marbella@fineandcountry.com www.fineandcountry.es

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Many of the pieces, such as the imposing iron gate of the wine cellar and the large ironwork chandelier in the entrance hall, have been specially sourced or made to commission by skilled artisans. “We travelled across Andalucía to find authentic pieces,” says the owner, for whom this process was one of the most enjoyable parts in the making of this remarkable home. Beyond the spa, whose imposing centrepiece is a large warm water pool, lays the professionally equipped and ambient private cinema, completing a lower level that also features technical facilities such as a laundry room. Steps bring you back to the entrance hall in style, continuing upwards to the private quarters on the first floor. Its west wing features a large, panoramic bedroom suite with modern bathroom and breathtaking views, and a cosy second suite complete with its own terrace from which to enjoy a different perspective of the views. The opposite wing is entirely dedicated to the main bedroom suite, but once again intelligent architectural design produces an intimacy to the villa that belies its size. Panoramic views are the backdrop to a large, comfortable bedroom, which like its opposite number, has a private terrace and pretty Juliette windows that open out onto the entrance hall and allow natural air ventilation. The dressing room offers his and hers areas, while the bathroom is a study in marble magnificence, featuring richly veined brown Emperador marble. Fit for an emperor, its cream and gold veins stand out against a rich brown tone whose solidity fits wonderfully well with the sleek modern lines of ceilings, wash basins, bath and large walkin shower. This opulent space is truly a design highlight, and as always in this villa accompanied by impressive views across the valley to the sea – reminding one that amid all the nature and tranquillity of this genteel country lifestyle, the excitement and glamour of cosmopolitan Marbella is just round the corner. e

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Spring

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

Rites of

Hannibal Laguna paints the colours of Nature with his artist’s brush, recreating our ideals of beauty with otherworldly shades of magic. Turquoise turns into the season’s hottest shade (‘petroleum’), pink takes on a touch of neon and white becomes a dazzling ivory. Famed for elegance and grace in his designs, Hannibal Laguna is also a true visionary, reinterpreting the world around him with every new collection.

Fuschia Frivolity

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In Bloom

Hannibal Laguna ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2014 / 73

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Petal Power

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Nature or Nurture?

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Ivory Perfection

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Petroleum Passion i www.hannibal-laguna.com

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Bag by Lollipops Paris Sandal by Dior

Bag by Eugenio Loarce Shoe by Dior

Bag by Louis Vuitton Bracelet by Eugenio Loarce

Bag by Louis Vuitton

Parasol by Lollipops Paris

Cool Fashion Buys WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

Step into the peak of the Spring/Summer season with these refreshing buys.

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White gold and diamond bracelet by Chaumet

Contacts: Carmen Steffens www.carmensteffens.com, Chaumet www.chaumet.com, Chopard www.chopard.com, Dior www.dior.com, Eugenio Loarce www.eugenioloarce.com, Lollipops Paris www.lollipopsparis.com, Louis Vuitton www.louisvuitton.com, Maurice Lacroix www.mauricelacroix.es

Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watch by Maurice Lacroix

Bag by Lollipops Paris

Sandal by Carmen Steffens

Card holder by Dior Bag by Carmen Steffens

Pendant by Chaumet

Watch by Louis Vuitton

Shoe by Carmen Steffens Watch by Chopard

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spa

PRODUCTS / BEAUTY / SPA / SCIENCE

Read up on top beauty trends for the summer, learn how Weight Watchers can help you achieve your weight loss goals and discover the brand new getaway for those seeking to lose weight, destress or turn back the hands of time: Healthhouse Las Dunas*****GL.

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TREATMENTS / HEALTH

Summer Beauty Trends

Beauty news

Weight Watchers Costa del Sol

Health News

The New Healthouse Las Dunas*****GL

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9TRENDS BEAUTY

to Watch Out for in the Summer

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

PRODUCTS

July may be a couple of month’s away, but this is Marbella and Summer in all its glory is just a stone’s throw away. Most ladies like to sit beneath the sun and soak in the golden rays, sporting light, make-up free looks all season… or do they? The Spring/Summer catwalks are indicating that it’s not going to be about going completely natural. Rather, the key is to use the following trends to bring out our beauty in a subtle, natural yet highly feminine way:

Z LIQUID EYELINER: Yes it is possible to marry sunbronzed skin to 1960s cat-like eyeliner. Wear this valuable make-up item sans eyeshadow, for a youthful yet funky look. Team it with neutral or bare lips, a straight, pulled-back ponytail and you’re on to a winning look. Experiment with liquid eyeliners in turquoise or blue, the ‘in’ shade of the season. Z SHIMMER: When it comes to foundation and primers, it’s all about the glow of youth. Use a shimmering primer before applying your foundation, or apply a bit of shimmer at the top of your cheekbone and in the centre of your forehead. Remember to keep it subtle. Light metallic eyeshadows will also be all the rage; try Maybelline’s 24 Hour Color Tattoo cream gel shadow in bronze; it is subtle yet sparkly enough to give your eyelids a dewy effect. Z MONOTONED EYESHADOW: Forget about contouring this season; just apply one shade. See how light pink or nude works on your skin and keep the rest of your face light and natural too. Z TWIST AND SHOUT!: Tease hair and wrap it up in a messy French twist… think of Bardot at her most glamorous, but lessen the volume at the top of the head a notch. The look should be natural and casual. Braids will also be ‘in’: try a side fishtail or a crown braid, as sported recently by stars like Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence. Z EXTREME SIDE PARTS: Once again, girls will be wearing their hair parted to the side and pulled back in a tight ponytail. The key to this simple style is the health of your hair. Keep it glossy with a good serum and for fuss-free, poker-straight hair, try the thermal straightening treatment, which will leave your hair in tip-top condition for many months in a row. Z STRAIGHT HAIR: Forget about the tousled look of summer. Sleek, straight locks are back. Grow your layers and opt for an even cut. This summer, channel your inner Rapunzel; the longer your hair is, the better.

INTENSE LIP COLOURS: We will be seeing everything from fluorescent orange hues to deep reds and fuschias, on lasses’ lips. Pair a bold lipstick with minimalistic make-up. Just a little foundation, eyeliner and the lightest of blushes will be the most this look can take. NAIL ART: Ostentation is what it’s all about when it comes to nails. Stand out from the crowd with colourful, brash, bright nail designs. Go for a different design on every nail. At the very least, experiment with more than one style on your next visit to the nail technician. Flowers are out but glitter, crystals and stripey designs are definitely in! Forego traditional summery pastel shades for brown, bronze or gold. HEADBANDS: Cloth headbands used to be a useful accessory while you were applying your make-up but this season, you’ll definitely want to keep it on. Think thick, elastic bands in an array of colours; it’s the perfect look after a swim in the sea, when you don’t have enough time to get the straightening iron out!

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Advanced Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery & non surgical Liposuction Coolsculpting Cirumed pairs high academic credentials with the latest technologies in modern, minimally invasive Plastic Surgery, to bring the best cosmetic surgery to Marbella. Cirumed Clinic Marbella now offers original Coolsculpting by Zeltiq, the leading non surgical liposuction technology from the U.S.

DR. ALEXANDER ASLANI Chairman of the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Hospital Quirón Málaga Hospital Quirón Marbella Director of Cirumed Clinic Marbella

Cirumed Clinic /// Avenida Ramón y Cajal 7 – 4 /// 29601 Marbella /// Tel: +34 952 775 346 www.cirumed.es /// www.alexanderaslani.com /// www.alexander-aslani.es

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PRODUCTS

Tips for LONG-LASTING BEAUTY WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

As the warmer weather fast approaches, you may find that you are constantly having to reapply your make-up to maintain a fresh, clean look. The secret to perfect long-lasting looks, however, lies in selecting the right product. We suggest these top buys for a freshly made-up look that lasts for over 12 hours.

1 – FACE PRIMER: Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer is a perfect instance of how even a mediocre foundation can be made to last all day, when a top grade primer is applied beforehand. Cleanse and moisturise skin as usual, then blend a light layer of this luscious feeling primer into skin. Allow to dry for a couple of minutes then apply your foundation. 2 – LONG-LASTING FOUNDATION: It pays to invest in a foundation that will not let you down, regardless of the weather or the stress of a long working day. For oily complexions, we suggest Studio Fix by MAC. For complexions requiring hydration, Shiseido’s Perfect Refining Foundation may just be your perfect fit. To hide large pores, Clinique’s Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfecting Makeup is wonderful 3 – EYE PRIMER: A face primer will not ‘cut it’ when it comes to the eyes. Creasing and fading eyeshadow is a no-no for any beauty buff and the only way to avoid them completely is by using a good eye primer. We suggest Shadow Insurance by Too Faced, Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Smashbox or Eyeshadow Primer Potion by Urban Decay. After using them for the first time, you will probably be surprised to find that your eyeshadow looks recently applied, even after a 12-hour day. Most primers come in a few different shades; you can opt for a colourless

version or add shimmer, nude or even yellow tones to your eyelids. 4 – MICROFINISH POWDER: Forget pressed powder and illuminate your face with a Microfinish powder, made up of such tiny particles that your complexion obtains an incredibly smooth finish. Few can top Make Up For Ever’s HD High Definition Powder. 5 – LIP PRIMER: Nothing can be more annoying than lipstick that ‘feathers’, highlighting the little lines that can appear above the upper lip. Keep this phenomenon at bay and make even a normal wear lipstick last all day with Too Faced’s Lip Insurance primer. 6 – MASCARA: Nowadays, nearly every top-selling make-up company offers ultravoluminising, long-lasting mascaras. Make sure you opt for the waterproof variety; you would be surprised to learn that many still streak and stain the face in the presence of the slightest bit of moisture and/or tears. We suggest Splashproof Lash by MAC or Scandal Eyes by Rimmel. 7 – LONG-WEAR EYESHADOW: For a truly professional finish, you need to invest in a good eyeshadow. Some of the best brands for this product are Urban Decay, MAC, Shiseido and Make Up For Ever. We love this colourful palette by Shiseido. i Most items can be purchased at El Corte Inglés, Sephora and other beauty stores on the Coast.

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WEIGHTWATCHERS A COMMONSENSE APPROACH TO WEIGHT LOSS WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © WWW.PHOTOGRAPHERMARBELLA.COM

ADVICE

ean Nidetch, Founder of Weight Watchers, was just another overweight person in New York in the early 1960s. ‘Chubby’ was the typical adjective people often used to describe her since her early childhood. Jean, a confident woman if there ever was one, drew the line however, when on a routinary shopping trip, she met a friend who asked her when she was giving birth – the only problem was, Jean wasn’t pregnant. Soon after, Jean gathered together a small group of friends. They discussed how they felt about what seemed to be the unbeatable battle against weight loss, the frustration of yo-yo weight loss and gain, and the proliferation of fad diets, pills and shakes, which made huge promises but usually failed to deliver. Soon, Jean’s ‘small meetings’ turned into rather big ones of approximately 40 women. Together, they devised a weight loss method which emphasised variety, ease, practicality, affordability and efficiency. Jean lost 32 kilograms following this new eating plan and she has kept it off since. She is now in her 90s. The plan, called Weight Watchers (or Entulinea de Weightwatchers in Spain), is followed in 30 countries. Some 700,000 people lose weight every week on the program. Today, we meet Henrietta Nemeth, Weight Watchers Leader for Marbella (centre) and Fuengirola. She tells us a little about how Weight Watchers can lead to lasting weight loss for women, men and children on the Costa del Sol.

THE POWER OF UNITY “One of the most crucial facets of Weight Watchers is the weekly meetings,” says Henrietta, the friendly leader who has just begun holding meetings in the centre of Marbella and Fuengirola. “We meet on a weekly basis for half an hour, and members have a quick weigh-in before we present and discuss a host of interesting information on nutrition and other topics. The meetings provide motivation and inspiration and everyone supports each other.” Henrietta knows what she is talking about; she herself found that she had 16 kilos to lose, after “letting go after my son was born”. She elaborates, “I was desperate to lose and keep my weight off. I

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to measure or write anything down. The second plan is called ‘Pro Points’. Under this system, every food or drink has its ‘pro points’ value. Each member gets a personal daily points allocation, and is given useful eating tips. They include “eating five times a day, consuming three main meals and having mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.” Henrietta informs me that members are free to switch between the two plans, as required. The meetings, which are announced on the Entulinea de Weightwatchers website, always focus on one topic. “All around Spain, the topic is the same, so that if you are on a holiday or business trip, you can still attend meetings in other cities, without missing out on an important topic.” Themes are varied and include Portion Size, Motivation, and How to Tackle Temptation. achieved my goals with Weight Watchers in a short time, and have kept if off ever since. For me, the meetings were very important; without them, I simply would not have had the motivation to stick to a sensible eating plan.”

THE WEIGHT WATCHERS PLAN: WHAT’S YOUR FLAVOUR? “The best thing about the programme,” says Henrietta, “is that you are not prohibited from eating or drinking anything, even alcoholic beverages. You can still eat out, attend parties and celebrate holidays like you always have. Weight Watchers is a very sociable eating plan.”

WHAT DOES THE WEIGHT WATCHERS PLAN INVOLVE? We can begin by discussing what it doesn’t involve: expensive shakes, supplements or products. Weight Watchers does have a very reasonably priced set of meals and products available, but they are merely a matter of convenience; you don’t need to rely on them if you don’t wish to. “There are two plans to choose from,” says Henrietta. “The first is called ‘Simple Start’ (or ‘Plan Expres’ in Spanish). Under this plan, you are allowed to consume foods from a set list and you do not need

GET YOUR HEART RACING Since Weight Watchers is such a sensible nutritional plan, the company stresses the importance of daily exercise – “Whether you prefer to just have a walk, or go to the gym, it’s up to you,” says Henrietta. “We also emphasise the importance of good habits, like eating slowly at the table, without distractions.” Due follow-ups are likewise helpful; at Weight Watchers, you will find that your leader plays an important role in keeping you motivated and excited about achieving your goals.

MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS Once you have reached your goal weight, you will then commence the maintenance programme, which lasts for six weeks. After that, you become a Gold member and can attend Weight Watchers meetings for free.

WHO IS WEIGHT WATCHERS FOR? Weight Watchers is for men, women and children. Special programmes are also available for pregnant women and new mums. This tried-and-tested programme is for anyone who seeks to elicit the maximum health benefits which can be obtained from losing excess weight – everything from staving off Type II diabetes to avoiding heart disease.

g For further information, contact Henrietta on Tel: 697 116 793 or www.entulinea.es 4/24/14 1:28 PM

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SKIN CANCER RATES SPIKE Despite the plethora of sunscreen products vying for our attention, recent findings indicate that we are sorely neglecting the health of our skin. Cancer Research UK has shown that over 13,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, compared to just 1,800 in the mid-70s. The reasons are vast and include a penchant for heading for sunny climes in the summer, the rise in popularity of sunbeds and a failure to use adequate skincare products. Persons with a particularly high risk of contracting malignant melanomas include those with fair skin, freckles and moles, as well as those with a family history of the disease. Not only should people aim to apply sunscreen (with a minimum SPF of 15) daily; they should also consult their doctor if they notice any change or growth in the shape of a mole. Eight out of every 10 people survive skin cancer, but obtaining a prompt diagnosis is key.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Men and Eating Disorders: Too Little, Too Late

UPDATE

A recent study published in BMJ Open has revealed that young men with eating disorders are “underdiagnosed, undertreated and underresearched” in so far as eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia are concerned, because of the misconceived notion that these are exclusively ‘women’s diseases’. While eating disorders do affect women at higher rates, one in 10 men in the UK skip meals in an attempt to control their weight, largely because of societal pressures to conform to a particular body shape. Males themselves can be unaware they are suffering from an eating disorder, even when they binge and/or purge or skip meals, count calories or exercise obsessively. Doctors and parents have a key role to play in increasing men’s awareness of these disorders and of associated symptoms. Things to watch out for include sudden weight loss, purging, bingeing and/or an obsession with weight loss or body shape.

LOW VITAMIN D LEVELS DURING PREGNANCY RELATED TO CHILD CAVITY RISK A new study published by the University of Manitoba in Canada has revealed that babies born to mothers with low Vitamin D levels during pregnancy have higher cavity rates when they are toddlers. Scientists believe that focussing on nutrition in early childhood can reduce the risk of caries. Pregnant and nursing women, meanwhile, should aim to take between 4000 and 5000 international units of Vitamin D3 per day. Supplementation doesn’t just benefit the teeth of toddlers, it also lowers the risk of infection, premature delivery, gestational diabetes, etc.

SELFIES MAY BE BAD FOR OUR HEALTH

‘Selfies’, the habit of taking photos of oneself with one’s mobile device and posting said images on as many social networks as one is a member of, have come to be the bane of many social media users. It seems that there are simply too many over-zealous photographers taking photos of themselves, often pursing their lips into what they think is a ‘seductive pout’. If you are one of the many people who can think of nothing better to do than bombarding your friends with photos of yourself running a marathon (while taking a selfie), posing before the mirror before partying or cooking up a bigger feast than Ferran Adrià could possibly muster, take note: recent research conducted in the UK and US indicates that this habit can make you insecure and lead to a negative body image! The more time we spend on Facebook, say scientists, the more we tend to compare our bodies to those of our friends, leading to dissatisfaction with our own appearance. Scientists note that body image is a key part of our identity, especially in adolescence and youth, when we are particularly vulnerable to falling into the trap of life-threatening eating disorders so the next time you feel an urge to take a selfie, just don’t do it. 90 / MAY 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Enjoy the relaxing Shanti-Som Wellbeing Retreat RESTAURANT - SPA - YOGA - HOTEL

Relax and Enjoy

...only 10 minutes from Marbella Open daily for lunch to the public

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

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HEALTHOUSE LAS DUNAS*****GL HEALTH & BEACH SPA AND © WWW.PHOTOGRAPHERMARBELLA.COM

HEALTHOUSE LAS DUNAS***** OPENS IN ESTEPONA TREATMENTS

unrealistic diets, people should be re-educated on the subject of food and nutrition. The key is to ‘learn how to eat right’, with a focus on seasonal, organic produce – the kind that can restore health. Naturhouse is owned by Félix and Luisa Revuelta, who have chosen Marbella to house the world’s first Healthouse. Plans are underway to open eight more in the near future, in countries such as Portugal, France and Italy.

THE LOCATION Healthouse Las Dunas is a 15-minute drive from the centre of Marbella, conveniently close to Puerto Banús and a stone’s throw away from the glistening Mediterranean.

The Las Dunas Hotel has always been one of the most beautiful and iconic hotels on the coast. This month, it will be brought to life once again and rebranded as Healthouse Las Dunas*****GL Health & Beach Spa – a high-end health and beauty hotel that is set to revolutionise our approach to health, nutrition and life! Marisa Cutillas reports…

he reception of the new Healthouse Las Dunas ***** GL Health & Beach Spa is buzzing with excitement – close to a hundred workers are putting the finishing touches on everything from new flooring to furniture and laying the finishing touches to a lavish new spa. The Hotel Las Dunas, a name synonymous with glamour and style, had been closed since 2009, and it was a joy to see its magnificent entrance open to a new concept in high-end health care.

HEALTHOUSE BY NATURHOUSE The new Healthouse Las Dunas is being launched by the Naturhouse Group, a leading company in the dietetic and nutritional sector in Spain. Founded in 1999, it is currently present in over 40 countries, thanks to its successful franchise business model and unique ethos. The latter is based on the idea that rather than being led to follow restrictive, 92 / MAY 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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THE TEAM Expect to be assisted by the very best professionals at Healthouse Las Dunas: everyone from an inhouse Doctor to a Personal Trainer, Nutritionist and even an Emotional Coach.

THE CONCEPT Healthouse Las Dunas occupies the magnificent five-star installations of the former Las Dunas Hotel, offering panoramic views to the sea and the ultimate in comfort and luxury. Naturhouse has completely refurbished the Hotel, changing floors, knocking down walls, constructing an entire spa and fitting the interiors with beautiful furnishings, selected by Luisa Revuelta herself. The style can be described as contemporary yet cosy, with rooms decorated in light cream hues, punctuated by curious Louis XIVstyled touches, decorative stucco work and stunning wallpaper effects. There are 55 sumptuous suites, measuring between 38m2 and 140m2. Guests can also opt to stay at the luxury apartments, adjacent to the hotel. The latter are an ideal choice for families and those who wish to bring their pets along.

THE SPAS Healthouse Las Dunas boasts two spacious spas: the first is the Naturhouse Health & Spa Centre,

measuring an impressive 3,000m2 and boasting a wet area with everything from a vitality pool with Jacuzzi and jets, to a salt cabin, snow cabin, sauna and steam bath. This spa has eight ‘dry’ treatment rooms and four cabins for hydrotherapy treatments. A nutritional consultant and fitness trainer will be part of a highly experienced team, which will offer everything from endocrine consultation to DEXA analysis. The Ekilum Spa, meanwhile, measures 319m2 and will be dedicated mainly to beauty treatments. It also boasts an array of treatment rooms, sensation showers, a steam bath and sauna and much more. Adjacent to the spa will be the Dermatology area. There will also be a beauty area for manicures, hair styling and the like. Fitness buffs will delight in the sizeable gym and indoor studio for activities which are undertaken by the sea during sunny days: Pilates, yoga, Qi Gong and more.

THE PROGRAMMES Guests can choose from a select list of programmes with a minimum stay of seven days. Programmes focus on everything from weight loss to detoxification, anti-ageing and de-stressing.

THE GASTRONOMY In terms of its dining offer, Healthouse Las Dunas has scored a real coup: all menus and diets for guests have been designed by a legend in the world of gastronomy: Andoni Luis Aduriz, creator of Mugaritz restaurant, number four in the prestigious “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list. The Restaurant features a spacious open kitchen, where guests will be invited to hone their craft in cooking. They will also enjoy snacks by the poolside; at Healthouse Las Dunas, guests eat five times a day, to maintain their energy levels. The Hotel restaurant will be open to external clients as well, featuring a marriage of creative and healthy cuisine. After all, Naturhouse aims for its clients to discover the joy of eating healthily, well and wisely – not just for the duration of their programme, but for their entire lifetime.

g Urb. Boladilla Baja, CN 340, km 163,500, Estepona. Tel: 951 082 090. www.healthouse-naturhouse.com 4/24/14 10:49 AM

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thepro the NEWS /ENTERPRISE / LOCAL BUSINESS /

PROFILES / FINANCE / LAW

FLAMINGO MARKET PLACE: COOL NEW HAVEN OF FASHION IN PUERTO BANÚS Flamingo Market Place is a new concept store located in the heart of Puerto Banús, featuring a host of brands which are poised to set Marbella’s ‘cool factor’ soaring. Fashionistas and shopping fanatics alike will find everything from funky clothing to hats, skincare items and more. The idea of its founders, who hail from Zaragoza, is to bring together all things ‘it’ under one roof. The shop has been designed by creative studio, Cool & Marbelous, whose team have created a unique look that takes you to Miami with just one glance.

g C/ Jesús Puente, Local 15, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 388 262. www.flamingomarketplace.com

FIRST STEVE MADDEN BOUTIQUE IN SPAIN OPENS IN PUERTO BANÚS Renowned shoe and accessories designer, Steve Madden, recently opened his flagship store in Spain in Puerto Banús. The store stocks everything from stunning bejewelled high heels to sandals, shoulder bags, oversized bags and more. Inspired by rock ‘n’ roll and urban style, Steve Madden’s designs are fun, exciting and decidedly glam. They are regularly sported by a bevy of beauties, including Heidi Klum, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. g C/ Ramón Areces s/n (in

front of El Corte Inglés), Puerto Banús. www.stevemadden.com

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INTERNATIONAL SHERRY WEEK 2014 – OFFICIAL REGISTRATION COMMENCES Sherry connoisseurs and discoverers will raise their glasses in celebration of Spain's renowned Sherry wines in venues and online master classes during International Sherry Week (ISW) 2014, to be celebrated between June 2 and 8. Following the success of World Sherry Day 2013 (over 300 events in some 29 countries) this celebration has now been extended to a whole week. Participants can choose to schedule one or more events – there are no formal rules other than: the Sherry must be from the Dominations of Origin from Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla. This year, ISW will coincide with Jerez's anointed title as European Wine Capital 2014, highlighting the Andalusian city’s contribution to the international food and wine industries.

g For further information, www.isherryweek.com

JOYS LIVE — A NEW ERA BEGINS

The legendary Old Joy's piano bar has been providing live entertainment since 1977, from its front line venue in the world famous Puerto Banús, Marbella. Last month, Old Joy's transformed into Joys Live in collaboration with well-known Marbella celebrity Paul Maxwel − The Piano Man. Having been away from Puerto Banús for five years, Paul recently announced his comeback with much aplomb. Joys Live relaunched with fantastic live music entertainment and brand new decor. Open from 12 noon till 6am every day and night!

g www.facebook.com/joyslivemarbella

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Third Golf Tournament for Helicópteros Sanitarios Helicópteros Sanitarios, the health service which attends to patients in the comfort of their own homes, recently organised their third annual Golf Tournament at two popular golf courses: Aloha Golf Club and the Las Brisas Golf Club. A total of 85 participants took part in the event, which lasted for two days. The President of the company, María José Cañete, personally awarded players the exclusive trophies designed by sculptor, Antonio Cañete, which were coated in 18K gold.

g www.helicopterossanitarios.com

Busy Days for Cudeca The Danish Club, aka the Peña de Dinamarca, celebrated their fifth anniversary together with more than 100 loyal members at Da Bruno Restaurant in Mijas Costa. During the celebration, the club generously handed cancer hospice, Cudeca, a cheque for the amount of €2.000, raised in 2013. Cudeca also kept busy at its Spring Fayre and Raffle Draw, held at its Estepona shop. Finally, the charity announced the results of its annual telethon, presented by Talk Radio Europe. The latter raised a whopping €13.747, which will help the Hospite continue to offer its ‘special kind of caring’ to over 800 people each year. Cudeca also availed of the kindness of La Casa Bar Restaurant (at Sitio de Calahonda), which donated the proceeds of a special Hot and Cold Buffet. The event featured a live performance by Pete Navarro, famed for his renditions of Neil Diamond tunes.

g www.cudeca.org

Cool Down in the Summer with Tip Top Spain If you’d like to bring the temperature down in your home or office this summer, a retractable awning system may just be the solution you need. Located in Marbella, Tip Top Spain, S.L. has been setting new standards in this field since 2007 and forging a reputation for enhancing both the appearance and functionality of a home or business. Tip Top Spain is the exclusive dealer of SunSquare® automatic shade sails. When the wind sensor measures wind speeds in excess of 40 km/h, the sails automatically retract.

g Tel: 661 030 816. www.tiptopspain.com

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DOM3 Announces Prestigious Architecture Prize DOM3, the association created to promote the high-end villa sector in Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona, recently announced a prestigious new competition for architects: the DOM3 Prize, presented alongside their official partner, La Zagaleta. The competition involves the design of a luxury dwelling. The winner will be announced on June 27 and will receive €40.000, as well as the chance to have their project come to life in La Zagaleta. Sofía Polo, President of DOM3 and Jacobo Cestino, General Director of La Zagaleta, presented the names of the jury members who will be deciding who the winner is. These include Sofía Polo, Enrique Pérez Flores (Founder and President of La Zagaleta) and various professionals of great renown, including Architects, Rafael de la Hoz and Salvador Moreno Peralta, Interior Designer, Teresa Sapey and Landscaper, Fernando Caruncho. The list of sponsors includes Birkigt, B.Solis, Diana Morales Properties, Gesmacon, Gira, Kabila, La Albaida, Porcelanosa, Proinsermant, Puya, Uponor, Vaillant y Villeroy & Boch. g www.domes3.es

Redline Company joins forces with ‘Triple A’ animal rescue Redline’s award-winning graphic design team has donated their time free of charge to animal shelter, Triple A, to design a line of merchandise to help raise money for the charity. The first item is a fabric bag featuring the simple yet powerful slogan: ‘Live, Love, Adopt’ alongside the image of a cheeky looking puppy wearing a jaunty bandana. The bags could be the first in a range products to be sold at local markets and are expected to be a hit with local animal lovers and shoppers alike.

g www.redlinecompany.com/ www.tripleamarbella.org

Costa Press Club Celebrates 2014 Communicator Awards The Costa Press Club’s Communicator Awards, established in 2006 to recognise outstanding work in journalism, were presented at Club La Naranja, Calahonda recently. Belinda Beckett, received a Communicator Award in the category of Internet Media for her website, which showcases her work and blog on Andalucía. Kate Rayner received an award in the category of Special Events, for two pieces published in Sur in English last year about ballet performances and Chris SpencerPayne was highly commended in the category for New Talent, for his pieces in Sur in English on football in Málaga.

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20TH ANNIVERSARY FOR EL CORTE INGLÉS GOLF TOURNAMENT AT LA CALA RESORT The El Corte Inglés Golf Tournament, one of the most important amateur tournaments at a European level, celebrated its 20th anniversary at La Cala Resort. The tournament comprises 70 different competitions, divided into three different phases. La Cala Resort was pleased to once again host the individual Stableford modality competition, which took place over its highlyregarded Asia course. There were two different categories (male and female won, respectively, by Eric Catterson and Carol Rees). The awards ceremony took place at the La Cala Resort Golf Club. g www.lacala.com

NEW ARRIVALS FROM BALI, THAILAND AND INDONESIA AT DECO HOME Deco Home, a company specialising in furniture and accessories from Asia, is pleased to announce that it has just received a brand new shipment of items from Bali, Thailand and Indonesia. Deco Home offers a direct import service, bringing you beautiful items such as necklaces, lamps, sculptures and much more, at incredible prices. g Ctra. Fuengirola to Mijas

Village, km 4. claude@deco-home.biz

BLEVINS FRANKS HOLDS SEMINARS TO HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR WEALTH Blevins Franks is introducing a new seminar format, running a series of focused presentations between Estepona and Nerja from May 12 to 16, focussing on specific financial issues affecting UK nationals. The overall theme is Are You Protecting Your Wealth?, but each seminar will concentrate on a different subject. You may attend as many seminars as you like. Seminars include: • Succession planning: A close look at Spanish succession tax, UK inheritance tax and succession law - have you planned for a smooth, tax efficient transfer of your estate to your heirs? • Exchange of ﬁnancial information: Financial privacy is coming to an end – how does this impact your wealth? • Pensions options: The UK has just introduced new options for your UK pension funds – how do they and previous opportunities work for Spanish residents? • Tax planning in your lifetime: Too many people pay more tax than necessary on their investments and assets – can you lower your tax liabilities in Spain?

g For details, visit www.blevinsfranks.com or see the Blevins Franks advert on page 9.

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Mum's the Word at BSM Youngsters at the British School of Marbella treated their mums to milkshakes and cakes to celebrate UK Mother's Day last month (March 28). Foundation Stage children between the ages of two and five sang a special song for their mums before giving them handmade cards and presents. Around 50 mums turned up for the event, which was held in the school cafeteria. Students also recently celebrated Go Green Week, descending upon Marbella’s beaches to collect litter with their teachers. Local charity, Arboretum Marbella, visited the school, talking to students about the importance of caring for trees, plants and wildlife.

g www.bsm.org.es

Marbella Student Wins Andalusian Fencing Championship Lucía Cáceres Alves, a 16-year-old student of Fine Arts at IES Río Verde, was recently proclaimed Andalusian Fencing Champion (in the under 20 category). She is currently ranked 22nd in Spain, despite not having participated in all possible competitions in 2013/2014. Lucía has been practising fencing since the age of seven, though sadly, her ability to continue in this sport is being threatened by her economic circumstances. In order to reach the top of national and international competitions, she needs to participate in at least eight competitions every year in Spain and she is in need of around €3.000. Her parents are currently developing a support campaign through which they hope to get grants from private entities and individuals. g For further

information, please contact Luisa Alves on Tel: 655 318 129 or Carlos Cáceres on Tel: 607 701 647.

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The Butterfly Children Golf tournament & Ball is back for its 12th edition The Butterfly Children Charity (DEBRA Spain) presents its annual charity golf tournament and ball, to be held at the Aloha Golf club on the first weekend of June. The aim is to raise essential funds for a very worthy cause: providing care and support to Butterfly children and their families all over Spain. The golf tournament will take place on Saturday, June 7, featuring a Stableford individual modality. Winners will take home prizes donated by prestigious hotels and golf courses on the coast. Green fees cost €70 per head and include a welcome drink with strawberries, plus a picnic and a prize giving cocktail later in the afternoon at the club house. Reservations on Tel: 952 90 70 85. On Sunday night (June 8), a three-course meal will be served under the stars at the terrace of the Aloha Club House. The price of €50 per person also includes live entertainment by the T.A.P.A.S Choir, The New Jersey Boys and Mel Williams. g Reservations on Tel: 952 812 390. www.debra.es

Op de Beeck & Worth Supports Children in Extreme Poverty in Malawi Marbella-based insurance broker, Op de Beeck & Worth, has supported many charities over the years and its latest project involves tackling the Camino de Santiago on mountain bikes to raise funds for a school feeding project in Malawi, where countless children live in hunger. Danni Worth, Managing Director of Op de Beeck and his son, Tom, set off on their 800km ride, from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela. The goal is to raise €10.000 in donations for international project, Mary’s Meals. All moneys raised will go towards feeding and educating 952 students at Chigwaja Primary School in Blantyre, in the south of Malawi. g To join the cause, visit www.justgiving.com/

Danni-Worth. In addition to raising funds through this initiative, Op de Beeck & Worth will make a donation of €1 per policy sold or renewed between October 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014. www.opdebeeck-worth.com

Paul Bramley and Nike Sponsor Winning Female Golfer Prestigious sportswear company, Nike, is currently sponsoring Marbella-based female golfer, Patricia Lobato, providing her with the cutting edge equipment she needs. This is also the second year that Patricia will be sponsored by Entrepreneur, Paul Bramley, who firmly believes that she is destined to become the best female player in the world. Patricia said, "Last year Paul helped me in my last two tournaments. After Christmas, he told me that he thought I had potential and decided to sponsor me this season. It was the best Christmas present and he is helping me to follow my dreams. My season starts in Sweden in May and without Paul, none of this would have been possible." Bramley recently constructed a public sports complex in Nueva Andalucia and purchased equipment for young children, bringing his total donation to the project to €100.000.

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AR S

THE PRO events

A summer of love

FIF T

AT THE GIBRALTAR LOVE FESTIVAL

Gibraltar is developing a taste for big events. This summer The Rock will reverberate to the feel-good sounds and WORDS MICHEL CRUZ vibes of the Gibraltar Love Festival.

Nalaya

Tony T

Aswad

f it’s up to festival directors Chris Yeats and Dion Mifsud, Gibraltar will be the scene of a memorable party this June. In conjunction with a local production team, an international events company and the Gibraltarian authorities, the duo are preparing a family festival with all the ingredients of a sizzling summer musical feast. Just to prove this lively entrepot on the southern edge of Europe is not about business and trade alone, Gibraltar is gearing up for the party of its life on bank holiday Sunday 15 June, when the doors will open to a day-long music and fun festival focused on the entire community. “We’re aiming to cater to all age groups and make this not just a concert, but a real family event for the whole of Gibraltar and indeed people on the Costa del Sol to enjoy,” says co-organiser Chris Yeats. For this reason, the inaugural Gibraltar Love Festival is designed around creating a feelgood summer festival atmosphere full of great musical acts, entertainment and special areas. “The latter create a range of different environments in which to enjoy the day, so you can choose from a normal concert experience, VIP areas and there are also corporate boxes for companies that want to make the most of a unique event within our borders.” The venue is the Bayside Sports Complex (also known as the MUGA), of which the Victoria Stadium forms the main part. “It meets the logistical requirements, is ideally positioned between the town and the border, and offers the variety of spaces that we need to create different areas in.” In addition to the comfortable hospitality facilities of the VIP areas and corporate boxes, these also include a funfair atmosphere with bars, food stalls and family areas with rides and attractions for children. “Locals are encouraged to set up stalls to further this sense of a fair that lasts throughout the day and adds to the overall atmosphere and enjoyment,” says Chris.

Music for all tastes Doors open at 15:30hrs for a concert that runs all the way to 00:30hrs. Filling a whole day like this is quite an undertaking, but the organisers have managed to produce a line-up aimed at keeping people with a wide range of musical tastes and ages entertained throughout. “In addition, this is not the kind of concert where you have to sit still or stand facing the stage all day. There is lots going on, it’s a great place to come out and socialise, and you can pick and choose the acts you want to be closest to.” The performing bands include both local and international artists, with a strong focus on supporting Gibraltar’s burgeoning home grown talent. Chase & Status is a British electronic music duo made up of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status) that produces music and has collaborated with the likes of Plan B, Cee Lo Green, Rihanna and Tinie Tempah. Summer will truly have arrived when Aswad take to the stage. One of Britain’s best reggae bands, they are sure to light up Gibraltar with their sunny sound. Other stars include 2010 X-Factor runner up Rebecca Ferguson, who has topped the charts and has been nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award, Tony T, ex-lead singer of the German dance band R.I.O, who is not new to the summer love vibe, and Spanish female vocalist Nalaya

DATE Bank holiday Sunday 15 June

TIME

15:30 to 00:30hrs

VENUE

The Bayside Sports Complex and Victoria Stadium

PRICES

Rebecca Ferguson

Chase & Status

£45 General Admission £15 Childrens Tickets (children under 12) £150 VIP Tickets (includes open bar)

Brown, who is the resident singer at Privilege Ibiza. “Naturally we won’t be forgetting local talent,” says Chris, and it comes in the form of the soulful sounds of Guy Valarino, who has already played to audiences in Europe and North America. Naturally, an event of this kind would not be complete without one of Gibraltar’s most popular bands. REACH provides strong local content with international pedigree, while Hollie April and Megan Dallas are proof of the new talent coming out of The Rock. “It’s going to be a fantastic day, with sun, sea, music and great summer vibes to give Gibraltar that feel-good factor and summer atmosphere,” says Chris. “It’s a moment to enjoy, relax, party and let there be love.” And why not, Gibraltar’s iconic rock offers a stunning backdrop within sight of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic – just the place for a summer concert to remember.

FOR CORPORATE BOXES AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT giblovefestival@gmail.com

TICKETS

The Ivy Sports Bar & Grill (Ocean Village) Music Corner (Main Street) Mad Hatters Party (Casemates Square)

ONLINE TICKETS

www.gibraltarlovefestival.com

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t in a UFelO.se u o a e H c a l, p e s t r o o h e d e ot ir Tr i www.treeh t like a b s e N r: to c Fa ry eXtraordina Sweden’s top architects have got together to design the most eccentric arboreal accommodation in the world. If you’re feeling broody there’s a bunch of twigs where you’ll feel free as a bird. Appropriately called The Bird’s Nest, enter by the retractable ladder and disappear completely. It’s surprisingly well-appointed with separate bedrooms, a bathroom, lounge and tiny porthole windows – room for a two-chick family. The UFO lodge is also pretty extraterrestrial. Your inner child will love kipping in a capsule resembling a Martian from the Smash instant potato adverts. Other structures include an airborne log cabin, a mirror cube clad in infrared film to stop the birds bumping into it, a sauna and a 12-seater conference centre. Meals are served in a traditional building at ground level. The hotel was inspired by The Tree Lover, a movie about three city guys’ journey of self-discovery through the tree house they build. All the dwellings hanging above the forest floor use low-energy LED lighting and green hydroelectric power, generated by the rushing Lule river, and there are enough centenary pines to occupy the most committed tree hugger.

Treetop conference suite © Lundstrom, WDO

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Airborne log cabin © Fredrik Broman, Human Spectra

e h t h t i w Hotels nary

FIF EN TE AR YE Ss Boxroom with a view © Per Eide

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ood ay W n a i g orw Norwe l, Valldal, N cape Hote s d n a o nature L t t k e c v a b Ju t e G ry Factor: eXtraordina

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Living in a box

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2014 / 105

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Stylish slammer

At Her Majesty’s Pleasure Malmaison Hotel, Oxford, UK eXtraordinary Factor: Get banged up in a cell you won’t want to escape from i www.malmaison.com

If you’re planning on going away for a stretch, this former Victorian gaol set amid Oxford’s dreaming spires will introduce you to the slammer in style. But four walls do not a prison make. Fans of Inspector Morse may recognise the galleried landings and open iron staircases of A Wing, one of the locations for the series before it became a stunning hotel lobby. The standard rooms leading off it were originally cells! The accommodation is rather better-appointed these days, with Queen-size beds, power showers and plasma TVs, but the 95 rooms and suites retain just enough sparseness to seem edgy, with whitewashed brickwork and high-security prison doors. Nothing’s nailed down and guests are actively encouraged to pocket the luxurious toiletries! Afternoon tea is served in the former prison visitors’ room, while The Brasserie is more sociable, these days, than when it was the solitary confinement block. The food is a cut above your classic prison fare but you might get porridge and you can certainly ask for more! Atrium on A-Wing

Soft cell

106 / MAY 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

Soft cell

15 YEARS

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A Pinch of Salt Palacio de Sal, Uyuni, Bolivia eXtraordinary Factor: A sodium chloride fantasy for well-seasoned travellers i www.palaciodesal.com.bo/

Pass on the salt

Sodium chloride chic

A hotel for seasoned travellers

Living legend

There’s only one rule at the Palacio de Sal: don’t lick the walls! People do, to make sure it’s true that everything in this extraordinary hotel – from the chairs you sit in to the beds you lie on – is made of salt. Despite the curiosity factor, it was built to make use of the one construction material that’s plentiful in Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat stretching for 10,582 km2 across southwest Bolivia, in the high Andes. Over one million blocks of salt bonded together with saline water went into building the hotel and its 16 centrally-heated bedrooms, proving how a humble natural mineral can look a million dollars. The hotel’s structural mainstay is also a health treatment, used in scrubs and salt inhalation detoxes in the spa which has a dry sauna, steam room, saltwater pool and whirlpool baths. Naturally, it’s also used in the cooking, and not just for seasoning. Chicken baked in a salt crust is a speciality, along with roast llama! One unexpected amenity is a 9-hole salt golf course, with smooth greens made of extra-fine salt – or should we call them ‘whites’?

Regal suite

A Night at the Museum

Edward and Mrs Simpson

QM in her heyday

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Queen Mary, Long Beach, California eXtraordinary Factor: Relive the golden age of Hollywood aboard an iconic ocean liner

i www.queenmary.com

If sleeping with ghosts floats your boat, Cunard’s legendary liner won’t disappoint. Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Greta Garbo, Clarke Gable and Audrey Hepburn were among the passengers on this former flagship who may haunt your dreams today. If walls could talk, the Windsor Suite, once the favourite quarters of Edward VIII and the scandalous Mrs Simpson, would make fascinating listening. The Duke and Duchess always travelled aboard with 120 pieces of luggage and their dogs, and regarded the Queen Mary as their ship. Which in a way, it was, having being named after the Duke’s mother and launched by his father, King George, in 1936. During WW II, the liner served as a troopship and Winston Churchill signed the D-Day Declaration on board. Although it’s nearly 50 years since her 1001st – and last – transatlantic crossing, this ocean grand dame is still elegantly ship-shape. Her state rooms showcase 50 types of polished wood panelling and many of the original murals and antiques. She may be a static museum piece now but the champagne brunches, afternoon teas and gala dinners still reflect the splendour of her heyday.

Where do you park at the Airport? Who would take better care of your car? We offer high-tech security installations and car washing services. Fast and effective check-in and transfer to your terminal.

Tel: 952 475 179

Málaga 24 Hours Airport

Short and long term Airport parking solutions. Indoor places guaranteed. Competitive outdoor prices. Visit our new indoor parking superstore opposite the San Miguel Factory. Just look for the Blue Cat!

.com Tel: 952 475 179 Avda. Comandante García Morato, 12 Costa del Sol Airport - 29004 Málaga

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V8 Hotel, Stuttgart, Germany eXtraordinary Factor: Crash in a Caddie and dream in the fast lane

All photos on this page © Frank Hoppe

FIF T

i www.v8hotel.de

Petrol Head Paradise

Why sleepwalk when you can do it by car? The V8 Hotel’s beds are disguised as original vintage motors, making Stuttgart the only place in the world where you can legally nod off behind the wheel! It’s a great place to crash as, whether you kip in a Cadillac or opt for a Merc or a little old Morris Minor, the beds are fitted with proper mattresses so the gearstick won’t get in the way. They’ve gone the extra mile with the bedroom décor themes so you can doss down in a petrol station, a cinema drive-in, a mechanics workshop or a car wash – whatever revs your engine! The hotel is a vintage piece itself, ensconced in the original Bauhaus-style buildings at Böblingen airfield, launch pad for the old Graf Zeppelin airships. Today it’s part of the vast Motorworld complex dedicated to all things automobile, with a classic car museum, Porsche and Mercedes Benz factories on site and glass viewing boxes where you can watch a parade of vintage beauties getting a professional tune-up. Don’t expect anything but the spark plugs to be flying if your other half’s a car fanatic – he’ll be too distracted by the bodywork that comes on four wheels!

Formula bathroom Life’s a gas

At the carwash

Kip in a caddie

A great place to crash

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DANESA

La revista danesa en España / Det danske magasin i Spanien

JANUAR 2013

NORSKE Det norske månedsmagasinet på Costa del Sol

Det

magasinet

S PA N I E N F Ö R S V E N S K A R

Sesongen er godt i gang på Europas sørligste skisportssted, Pradollano i Sierra Nevada.

Et ægte boutique-hotel

De vinder mere og mere frem, særligt i de europæiske storbyer, og nu også i de spanske. La Danesa har studeret det hippe boutique-fænomen.

Mandesnak hos Mærsk

Torben Gram forlod sit job i Danmark til fordel for et liv i Spanien uden på forhånd at have arbejde, bolig eller kendskab til sproget.

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

Jacob Haugaard er tilbage

La Danesa har mødt manden, som den 17. februar besøger Kysten med sit show ”Jacob – Solo”.

Spanske barn møtte Karius & Baktus

Siesta - myter og realiteter

Nesten 200 spanske barn og deres foreldre fikk nylig sitt første møte med de norske tanntrollene Karius og Baktus.

Du trodde kanskje at siestaen var en så inngrodd del av spansk kultur at ingenting kan rokke ved den. Tro om igjen!

Loja - en blomst blant torner Loja ligger 60 km vest for Granada, og det var selveste Isabel la Católica som i 1486, da byen overga seg til de kristne, kalte byen en blomst blant torner – “flor entre espinas”.

JANUAR 2013

Ecológico

Med inspiration hentet i Spanien og i Wien har Kirsten Vaupel begået sin første roman, og kan nu tilføje titlen forfatter til rækken af kulturelle hverv på sit farverige visitkort.

El Mercadillo

Les mer om aktiviteter på Costa de Sol i ¿Qué pasa?

Kirsten Vaupel debuterer med roman

Tomatkrig, vikingeslag og tyreløb, religiøse optog, pilgrimsfærd og menneskepyramider er blandt højdepunkterne på Spaniens kuriøse, kulturelle kalender.

Januari 2013

Sesong i Sierra Nevada

• Interviews • Nyheder • Bolig • Finans • Udflugter • Sport • Fakta • Kultur • Profiler • Politik • Mode • Helse

Kuriøse fiestas año 2013

sueco

Fler och fler upptäcker kustens kanske hälsosammaste marknad

Utflykt

El Escorial tronar på minnen om makt och historia.

Motor

Trike – trehjulingar för vuxna.

Resa

Läs ett vykort från Aten.

Profil

Lennart Lundquist är mannen bakom Internetsidorna Svenskar i Spanien.

Golf

Det nya året inleds med stora rabatter.

s AR S YE

Tarzan Adventure EE

Ariau Amazon Towers, Manaus, Brazil eXtraordinary Factor: Sleep in the jungle canopy with the birds and beasts

FIF T

i www.ariauamazontowers.com

Life at the top

Tarzan’s pad © Leonide Principe

You don’t need a long tail to keep up with the monkey troupes whizzing through the rainforest canopy. Simply walk through the treetops direct from your bedroom door! Six miles of high-altitude catwalks connect the seven towers housing 288 apartments and suites in this amazing resort. Built on stilts 70 feet above the Rio Negro, Ariau allows visitors to commune with the flora and fauna without disturbing the fragile eco-system. Inspired by the late Jacques Cousteau and built in native Brazilian style, Prince Charles, Bill Gates, Susan Sarandon and the great great grandson of Charles Darwin have swum in the tree-top pools and dined at eye level with sloths, macaws and spider monkeys in the circular restaurant, perched high in the mahogany trees. Activities designed to bring out your inner Tarzan include liana-swinging, nocturnal alligator spotting, piranha fishing and diving with pink dolphins. Helicopter into this remote hideaway or take a boat upriver from Manaus. The resort has a cybercafé with high speed internet connection so if you must take a selfie wearing nothing but a loincloth, think twice before posting it on Facebook!

Liberty Hotel, Boston, USA eXtraordinary Factor: A jail break in the erstwhile home of Malcolm X i www.libertyhotel.com

Imprisoned in luxury

A Jailhouse that Rocks

You’d never guess that the luxurious Liberty Hotel in posh Beacon Hill once served time as the infamous Charles Street Jail. Today it’s ‘liberty hall’! Built in the mid-19th century, Malcolm X was one of the more notorious inmates who once languished behind its grim granite façade. The building was still occupied by non-paying guests until the closing decade of the 20th century, beginning its new incarnation as a 300-room hotel in 2007. Many vestiges of the jail’s colourful past have been preserved, including the immense 90-foot atrium which once separated the four cell block wings, now the spectacular lobby. The old jail cells get a new lease of life in the wittily-named Clink Restaurant, where those who enjoy spending time behind bars will feel quite at home. The humour in the design extends to Do Not Disturb signs that read ‘Solitary’ and a lounge bar called Alibi. e

A jailhouse that rocks

112 / MAY 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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ma r k e t i nga sy ouha v ene v e r s e e nbe f or e. . .

www. me di a t i x . e s i nf o@me di a t i x . e s

S AR S YE N EE FIF T

Gleneagles

Scotland IN THE SPRING

WORDS DAVID WISHART PHOTOGRAPHY GENEVIEVE BALTHAZARD

David Howell competing in the Johnnie Walker Classic PGA European tour tournament at Gleneagles

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Pipes and drums beat up a storm in Glasgow

AR YE SS

t’s not every day you see a man in a kilt taking a haggis for a walk. Well, this was not an ordinary haggis, usually seen on a plate, all hot and bothered by a knife-wielding bloke breathing whisky. This haggis was a big, hand-knitted job with horns, smartly mounted on a carriage to get it around the Visit Scotland exhibition in Glasgow, the aim being to show the many foreign visitors that in Scotland this year, you should be prepared for anything. Like the new visitor centre at Bannockburn, where in 1314 the Scots King Robert the Bruce famously defeated the English army. Here an inter-active display will enable your scheming son to control swathes of hairy Scotsmen swinging claymores and your wildeyed daughter to drive dragoons, and even change the result of the battle. Just don’t let Alex Salmond see them doing this. Ah yes, the Scottish referendum vote takes place in September, which allows all summer to visit, and leave again, without worrying about the drawbridges going up. Not surprisingly, there was no mention of the referendum at the travel exhibition, for there were more important matters to discuss, like the Commonwealth Games in July, and the Ryder Cup, also in September (23 to 28 if you include the off-course stuff). As if that was not enough to fill every hotel room from Gretna to John o’ Groats, Scotland is celebrating a Homecoming event this year, which is likely to attract thousands from overseas who have a Scottish connection. From Vancouver to Valencia, and India to Istan, descendants of hardy settlers will be making sentimental journeys to Scotland. Not that tartan blood is necessary; as an American travel agent told me, the country will have an extra bounce in the coming months that will attract more than the usual numbers. Which reminds me of the Fraser Highlanders, a historical regiment in Canada, which used to advertise for members thus:

“Are you Scottish? Would you like to be?” Many clearly like the idea, if only for a fortnight, stepping into a kilt just as you would wear a beret in France and a longyi in Burma. My ride on the Royal Scotsman train from Edinburgh was enlivened by a New York hedge fund manager who showed up at the first night party in full highland dress. His wife explained she had got him into it with the help of the hire shop’s manual. “It was like dressing a full-size doll,” she said. That trip was a microcosm of Scotland’s easy appeal. That night we had a whisky tasting in Elgin, which evolved into a lesson in the Gay Gordons, the ideal mixer. When we woke up with a Skye view the next day we were nodding acquaintances, and by time we did the castle tour and played golf at Boat of Garten we were good friends. The whisky bar on the train helped, even if a Belgian insisted, “I don’t drink alcohol, only wine.” Some of the visiting buyers at the travel show, including Spaniards, Chinese, Indians and a busload of Russians, the latter staying in one of Glasgow’s swankiest hotels, strolled around the booths with handfuls of brochures, shortbread, tablet – and wee cups of whisky, dispensed liberally at many booths. “Interested in golf holidays? Sit down, have a dram and we’ll talk about it” was a typical sales pitch. There were also loads of kilts, bulky men in battledress (that would be the Bannockburn boys), Mary Queen of Scots on a day out from Stirling Castle (what a place that is!), and the haggis. The Scots, who know how to put on a good show – building the Queen Mary took some organising – bused the buyers there and back, then laid on a great night out at Merchant City, the handsomely restored district in the heart of Glasgow, which was the second city in the empire in its day. For Visit Scotland, it was just another event in the 700 or so scheduled for this

The magical sound of bagpipes fills the air

The laird, a friend and Betsy Broon

Homecoming year which began on New Year’s eve at Edinburgh’s hugely successful Hogmanay party. By year’s end thousands will have come as strangers and left as friends, visiting coasts and highlands, battlefields and standing stones, staying in romantic hotels such as Inverlochy or golfing treats like Turnberry, or maybe as I did last year – bedding down in a cottage at the Bowmore distillery on Islay. This is a place where you can sleep tight. Judging by the interest at the travel show, golf will be huge, as you would expect from the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Few will want to hurry away, for when this contest comes to Scotland it comes to the home of golf, and when it’s all over and the Perthshire turf takes a breather, other links and parkland courses, classics including nearby Blairgowrie, the acclaimed new Trump at Aberdeen and holiday courses like Brodick on the magical Isle of Arran, will see a pilgrimage of golfers from abroad who want to be where it all started. The man with the haggis, by the way, was Laird Craig McTurk of Fantoosh fame. g See www.scottishevening.com

For all other non-haggis events see www.visitscotland.com

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WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE HOTEL CLUB MARÍTIMO DE SOTOGRANDE

Hotel Club Marítimo de Sotogrande

Luxury Seaside Escape Beachfront luxury hotels may pepper the coastline of the Costa del Sol but the Hotel Club Marítimo de Sotogrande (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World) can truly lay claim to being the only hotel with a frontline view to the dreamlike yachts which drop their anchor at the port of Sotogrande. The Hotel, whose bright red hue stands out against the turquoise sea and sky, is a leisurely walk away from soft sand beaches and is conveniently close to golf courses the calibre of Valderrama, and of course, to the popular Cucurucho beach club, where families gather to rest on the soft grass, enjoy a hearty meal or take a dip in one of many pools.

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t is little wonder that Sotogrande is such a famed destination for discerning travellers both from the northern part of Spain and from Europe at large. With sunny weather throughout most of the year, a mean temperature of 24ºC and beaches with an extension of some 2,250 metres, this small but welcoming area stands out from its close neighbour, Marbella, with a reputation for tranquility and a focus on family life. If you are up for a party, however, Puerto Banús and the centre of Marbella are just a 30-minute drive away. The cultural hub that is Málaga, meanwhile, can be reached in a little under an hour. Sotogrande may be quiet, but it is anything other than boring, with an array of activities available to fill your holiday with adventure – polo, sailing, horse riding, jet skiing, golf, adventure sports, archery… anything is possible, just ask the staff at the Hotel Club Marítimo de Sotogrande. True to its surroundings, the Hotel keeps things exclusive and private, with just 31 rooms, eight suites and two penthouse rooms. Recently decorated by prestigious designer, Pascua Ortega, the interiors are stylish yet cosy. Rays of sunlight peep in from the seafront windows and are married to light cream and beige tones in the furniture and fabrics; the rooms are characterised by a minimum of clutter and adornment. Those after a perfect night’s sleep will find their match in the comfy beds, fitted with soft sheets and deliciously fluffy pillows. Features like rattan headboards and standing baths provide the exclusivity sophisticated travellers crave, while touches like designer lighting and swish lacquered writing desks make sporadic work tasks a pleasure to complete. There is plenty of storage space, and all the furnishings that make a hotel feel like home – including plush sofas and high tech televisions. Those who can think of few places to spend more time than the bathroom, will find their perfect fit here, since bathrooms are fitted with stunning lighting features, sleek, modern benchtops, wallfitted magnifying mirrors and more.

Sotogrande is often hailed as a sportsperson’s haven, though the Aveda beauty Centre is all the rage among spa buffs. The Aveda spa brand is hailed for its personalised treatments, adapted to each client’s skin type and requirements. All its products are made using the purest essences of flowers and plants; indeed, the products are so naturally powerful, they are called ‘Puresecriptions’. Aveda originally began as a hair care company, but since the late 1970’s, it has come to create a wide range of skincare, make-up and aromatic products. The company is now represented in over 7,000 salons and spas across the globe and is as committed to the environment as it is to beauty and health. Products weary travellers should ask about include stress-fix™(a skincare line which harnesses the potent powers of essential oils and aromas to calm the mind) and ‘pure-fume™(a collection of perfumes which are 100 per cent natural and made from essential oils, blended according to Ayurvedic tradition). A holiday isn’t all about getting fit and fabulous, of course; it is also the perfect time to reward oneself with good food and social networking. Sotogrande and nearby villages boast a small but excellent selection of both sophisticated restaurants and quaint chiringuitos, though if Champagne is your thing, make it a point to visit the Hotel’s new Terraza El Marítimo, designed in conjunction with Moët & Chandon, offering guests a plethora of different Champagnes and delicious snacks for sophisticated palates. It also serves lunch at its very own Restaurante Midas, offering healthy Mediterranean dishes which represent the very best of local cuisine. The Hotel likewise welcomes guests to a fabulous breakfast at Cafetería/Terraza Midas, with fresh juices, cold cuts, toast, jam, eggs and a wide variety of home baked breads, as well as a host of options for health-conscious travellers. For afternoon tea or tapas, try Zaldia lounge Bar as you look out onto the fabulous yachts. If romance is the order of the day, stay in and make it a room service breakfast!

g www.hotelomm.es g Sotogrande Port. Tel: 956 790 200. www.clubmaritimodesotogrande.com 4/23/14 1:18 PM

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RESTAURANTS / REVIEWS / NEWS / WINE / CHEFS / GUIDE

Dine at two of the Coast’s finest establishments: Kabuki Raw and Nueva Kaskada, marvel at Kevin Woodford’s Rome and let teppanyaki Chef, Zhong from Osaka, set your tastebuds on fire. Cool it down a bit with an elegant glass of Champagne.

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124 Food News 126

Kevin Woodford’s Essential Rome

128 Chef’s Profile: Zhong of Osaka 130 Champagne

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KABUKI RAW If you think you know Japanese food, think again. Kabuki Raw offers a journey of discovery in the most elegant of settings. It’s an experience to cherish.

inca Cortesin has become known for stellar restaurants in beautiful, graceful surroundings. Now in its second year, Kabuki Raw maintains that tradition while offering a sense of culinary adventure and big city sophistication. The Kabuki restaurants in Madrid have an established reputation – and Michelin stars – for taking Japanese cuisine to the heights of haute cuisine, but Kabuki Raw at Finca Cortesin had it all to prove when it opened last year. A team of talented young chefs led by Bilbao-born Luis Olarra, who had earned their stripes under none other than Ricardo Sanz, were tasked with creating a menu that would surpass one’s experience of Japanese dining and take it to the next level. They were to work in tandem with Maître d’Hotel Mariana Kwon, born in Buenos Aires of Korean parents, and her team to produce an atmosphere and dining experience that would not only measure up to the high standards of the Kabuki name, but that of Finca Cortesin as well. The result is a fine dining restaurant that blends the best of Japan infused with Mediterranean inspiration just as it marries tradition and innovation with the same innate skill and mastery with which it assembles flavours, textures and gastronomic works of art.

AN EXPERIENCE TO SAVOUR Already established as one of the classic venues of this region, Finca Cortesin provides a worthy setting for a restaurant of this calibre. To walk into Kabuki Raw, then, is a continuation of the same refined ambience and personalised service, albeit within an oriental framework inspired by traditional Kabuki theatre. The acclaimed Menu of Specialities and its accompanying wine list are, like the theatre, based on four acts.

HANAMICHI The beautiful thing about Asia, and Japan in particular, is that it is pervaded with the wisdom of the ancients. As a result, you don’t just sit down to a meal but engage in a ritual that is rich in tradition and meaning. In this tasting menu, Hanamichi marks the opening act, or flower passage, a bridge to the further delicacies that await. This opening sequence involves a variety of dishes that will not be entirely unfamiliar to those accustomed to Spanish dining traditions. It includes a sampling of smoky wild asparagus with umeboshi sauce, red prawns with yuzu foam grilled over Japanese binchotan charcoal and delicate wild shrimp tortilla crisps. The cuttlefish sashimi is ingeniously woven into a raviolo that releases a soft mayonnaise cream, while the kimchi style papaya salad challenges the taste buds, foie gras ‘bon bon’ releases untold flavour sensations and an organic lemon and basil sorbet prepares you for what is to follow. To match this feast to a wine is no mean feat, but the sommelier, Agustin Navarro, has got it down to perfection with an aged Palo Cortado Jerez by the Tradición bodega.

ZIDAMONO The lightness of the dishes leaves you keen to discover more, which you do in the form of a beautiful toro usuzukuri belly tuna with tomato and toasted bread, which, like the ‘adobo Gaditano’ thinly sliced white fish with adobo and dried flour, is inspired by the traditions of Cádiz, a region whose prime fish is much appreciated in Japan. To these delights, built on purity and quality of ingredients, was added a fresh white fish tataki with miso sauce and spicy Japanese mustard. The ensemble was paired with a Dönnhoff Riesling whose dry flavour with a hint of sweetness shows how far certain wines have evolved beyond our imaginings.

g Finca Cortesin, Ctra. de Casares, 29690 Casares. Tel: (+ 34 ) 952 937 800. www.fincacortesin.com 177 ReR kabuki.indd 121

JAPANESE HAUTE CUISINE

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY © WWW.PHOTOGRAPHERMARBELLA.COM

SEWAMONO Served, as all dishes are at Kabuki Raw, in specially imported Japanese porcelain, the Sewamono act represents the high point of the meal. It featured a gorgeous Japanese interpretation of the Spanish dish ‘huevos rotos’, with spicy tuna tartar, a soft quail’s egg and ‘papas Canarias’ unusually but very successfully matched to a fine José Michel & fils Champagne. With a name like that how could I not like it? Sewamono then continued with a fascinating sushi collection that again bridged the gap between Spain and Japan, now accompanied by the liquid ‘food’ of the meal, a red Zarate Caiño Tinto from Rias Baixas in Galicia. The latter has a full-bodied bouquet but a surprisingly light sensation in the mouth.

SHOSAGOTO White wine, in contrast to red, is considered an accompaniment borne out of sheer pleasure. Such a light, refreshing form of happiness befits the fourth act of the meal, which saw us sample a refined Okunomatsu Tokubetsu Junmai sake – the first time I have drunk it from a glass – in combination with the Sake No Misozuke dish of grilled salmon marinated in white miso. Another beautifully executed delicacy built from the finest of fresh ingredients, it was the second but last act in a culinary experience that will linger fondly for a long time in my mind. The official meal over, we enjoyed a dessert of warmed banana with lime cream and little coconut and coffee jellies. This Asian-inspired sweet was matched to perfection with an Ariyanes Moscatel from the Axarquía region just behind Málaga. Sweet but never cloying, it is finely balanced with citric notes and completed our meal so well we didn’t even want coffee. Those of us who live in or visit this part of the world can count ourselves lucky to have an establishment such as Kabuki Raw in our midst, a place where the finest culinary traditions meet inspiring artistry and creativity in a setting that is truly special. It’s an experience you should treat yourself to. e ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2014 / 121

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THE ART OF FINE THAI CUISINE RESERVATIONS: 952 818 392 Open Every Evening for Dinner Ctra. de Cรกdiz Km. 175 PUERTO BANร S (Behind The Shell Petrol Station) Marbella www.thaigallerymarbella.com

TAI PAN chinese cuisine polynesian bar

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

SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine

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

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T I LL A S R I S A CU A M M S D ELLA.CO WO R ERMARB RAPHY PHOTOG .PHOTOGRAPH © WWW

NATURAL GETAWAY DAZZLES THE SENSES It is an evening in early Spring when my dining companion and I arrive at the paradisiacal terrace of Nueva Kaskada; delicate candlelit glass lanterns grace the stone terrace and the fresh scent of pine trees and lemon are married to the unquestionably romantic sound of water trickling gently down the waterfall that has given the restaurant its name.

ueva Kaskada is one of my top choices for dining on the Coast, for a variety of reasons. One is location: the finca is a three-minute drive up from La Cañada, yet the effect is of having stepped into a natural oasis. Sturdy pine trees frame a lofty view of mountains and forests: this is an ideal setting for an intimate wedding reception or a longawaited date. The cosy terrace leads to another, larger outdoor area filled with trees weighed down by a bevy of juicy lemons and oranges… The second magical ingredient that defines Nueva Kaskada is the people; you would be hard pressed to find such lovely staff, who ensure your every wish is fulfilled. Owner and Head Chef, Ewald Fichthaler, may be whipping up a storm in the kitchen, yet he frequently visits each table between courses to liaise with guests… which leads us, of course, to the third ‘pillar of Hercules’ of Nueva Kaskada: the food, best described as a blend of ‘yin and yang’, where crisp textures are married to soft, warm sensations to cool, spicy flavours to sweet. Fine international dining meets the very best of Asian cuisine in dishes that dazzle with their creativity. Ewald’s immense talent reveals years spent in some of the world’s finest dining establishments, alongside greats like Anton Mosimann in London or André Jaeger at Die Fischerzunft in Schaffhausen. He also spent considerable time working in Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. After heading some of Marbella’s top kitchens, in 2013 he decided to take the helm of Nueva Kaskada,

finally allowing his personal brand of caring, artistry and emotion to embrace guests in full. Every meal at Nueva Kaskada is extraordinary and this one was no exception. My companion and I started the experience with a cocktail on the terrace, accompanied by an airy hummus. We were soon surprised by a home-made crispy ravioli in a heavenly cumin sauce and a sweet-and-spicy samosa, one of Ewald’s signature creations. My chosen starter was a true exponent of Asian philosophy – the ultra-crispy cod buñuelos, served in a dried banana leaf basket alongside a layer of cod carpaccio, bathed in an orange and vanilla vinaigrette and a delicate salad comprising potato and orange, inspired on the famous ‘ensalada Malagueña’. My companion’s dish was also a medley of colours, flavours and textures, comprising everything from a salmon sashimi to a chilli spiked prawn cocktail, presented in a tall, elegant glass; satay King prawns and tempura-cooked King prawns, topped with an effervescent red curry foam and served with a beetroot and daikon ‘sculpture’ – graced with two different sauces: a homemade yakitori and a sinfully smooth wasabi crème. We also tried two beautifully flavoured soups: coconut and lime and a lightly spiced red curry– ‘musts’ for true lovers of authentic Thai flavours. After a cool homemade lemon and orange sorbet to ‘break’ the flavour fest, we were ready for what is arguably Nueva Kaskada’s signature dish: the incredibly crisp poularde (chicken), painstakingly

marinated in soy and honey and served with delicate string noodles, a miso sauce and a wonderful mango chutney – no less than spectacular. My companion tucked into a thick, juicy tenderloin, served with a Port reduction, potatoes and a delicate potato mousse, washed down with the full-bodied La Pinosa Ribera del Duero. The dishes were presented in an array of colours and shapes, and our main courses were lovingly nestled alongside two long-stemmed roses, which we were told we could keep. For dessert, Ewald delighted us with an assorted plate of exquisite creations, such as the rosewater mousse (light and airy), the arroz con leche, served with a fruity gelatin (cool and creamy), a rich chocolate brownie and a myriad of seasonal fruits. Our delight at viewing and tasting such exquisite dishes was enhanced by the sight of diners around us enjoying their own magical experience. Dishes are often served beneath crystal dome-shaped toppers, lifted all at once by the waiters with great aplomb. At the end of a perfect evening, as guests made their way to the door of ‘Ewald’s home’, the Chef would personally greet each and every diner, whom he tends to treat like family. Nueva Kaskada is symbolic of the excellence Marbella can and should aspire to, when quality produce is married to visionary talent, heartfelt service and a sincere passion for bringing people happiness through food. It evokes one sensation above all: gratefulness.

g Open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner and Friday to Sunday for lunch.

Urb. La Montua, C/ Chorreadero 39,Marbella. Tel: 952 864 478. www.nuevakaskada.com 177 ReR Kaskada.indd 123

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WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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D-Wine Restaurant

D-LIGHTS DINERS WITH FABULOUS CUISINE Popular new restaurant, D-Wine, has one overriding aim: to consistently provide diners with fresh, premier quality produce, cooked to perfection on every visit. The team prides itself on offering top-notch service and exquisite cuisine, in both traditional and modern styles. Choose from a selection of the choicest cuts of meat, cooked to order on a Josper charcoal grill; an array of sushi and sashimi dishes for lunch; tapas all day round from 10am to midnight; and a full à la carte menu for lunch and dinner. Dishes range from traditional Mediterranean to contemporary Japanese. The premises, which incorporate a stylish outdoor terrace and elegant indoor dining room, can comfortably seat more than 100 guests and the restaurant can accommodate any size of party. The spacious terrace is equipped with advanced heating and cooling technology, to ensure comfort for diners all year round. g C.C. Azalea, Edificio A, CN 340, Km 173,

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 339 309. www.d-wine.es

DANI GARCÍA OPENS TWO NEW RESTAURANTS AT THE HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO Andalucía’s only two-Michelin-starred Chef, Dani García, recently inaugurated two restaurants at the Hotel Puente Romano. The first, Dani García Restaurante, offers diners the chance to order from an ample à la carte menu, or to savour Once Upon a Time: García’s new tasting menu for the year 2014, inspired on the world of fairytales. The second restaurant, BiBo, seeks to revive the great European brasserie tradition, with a Raw Bar, Oyster Bar, home-grown organic vegetables, an olive wood-fired oven, an oak coal barbecue for amazing meat dishes and a wide variety of tapas and raciones. On weekends, BiBo offers a special brunch, featuring a wide array of sweet and savoury dishes.

g Bulevar Príncipa Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 764 252. www.dgarcia.es

VILLA PADIERNA TOWN HALL RECOGNISES DA BRUNO’S

20 YEARS OF SUCCESS

The Marbella Town Hall recently awarded the Da Bruno Italian restaurant group with a special plaque to commemorate their 20th anniversary. Mayor Ángeles Muñoz was joined by Bruno and Giuseppina Filippone and Giancarlo Paparusso at Da Bruno Sul Mare. Over the course of 20 years, Da Bruno has organised a variety of cultural events, and has shown its commitment to the needy and to sports men and women, sponsoring an array of sailing, football, paddle tennis and swimming events. g Edif. Skol,

Club de Mar Launch The President of Villa Padierna Hotels and Resorts, Ricardo Arranz, was joined by various important politicians and dignitaries for the launch of the 2014 season of Villa Padierna’s Club de Mar. Over 400 guests gathered together for an evening that included a tasting of delicious Mediterranean and Italian dishes, as well as music by the enigmatic DJ Lola. The Club has many events lined up, including a ‘Night of Rock and Mojitos’, ‘Flamenco Dinner with a Special Menu and Andalusian Wines’, ‘Cigar and Wine Tasting Evening’, ‘Rice Week’, ‘Italian Cuisine Week’ and ‘An Evening of Dancing and Dining’. g www.villapadiernapalacehotel.com

Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318. www.dabruno.com

Relaunch of El Gaucho in Puerto Banús Popular grill house restaurant, El Gaucho de Banús, famed for top quality meat, great service and a cosy family atmosphere, celebrated its re-opening party in the presence of hundreds of guests. One of the highlights of the evening was the performance by ‘boleadores’, who demonstrated the ancient art Argentinian gauchos once used to subdue various breeds of animals. A variety of grilled meats and typical Argentinian dishes were offered, accompanied by Argentinian wines and cava.

g Muelle Benabola 9/10/11, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 812 167. www.facebook.com/ElGauchoBanus

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The Fountain of Trevi Villa Spalleti Trivelli

WORDS KEVIN WOODFORD

KEVIN WOODFORD’S

Essential Rome

Rome is one of the most spectacular and exhilarating cities I have ever visited and is perfect for a long weekend or midweek break. Due to the fact that many of the main ancient Roman sites are close to the centre, it’s possible to check into your hotel, pop on a pair of really comfortable shoes and spend time ambling from one spectacular site to another without ever needing to jump into a taxi, ride the subway or catch a bus. Add to that a restaurant on every corner, chic designer shops plus a vibrant authentic street life and you have the recipe for a truly magical time.

owever the key to success, is to ensure that you choose a hotel which is right in the heart of the city. While there are many ultra modern hotels close to the city centre, I prefer those steeped in history and my favourite is Villa Spalletti Trivelli, formerly the private home of Count Spalletti Trivelli. This impressive boutique hotel, which is set right in the heart of the ancient city itself, makes the perfect retreat. The impressive building is home to rooms that balance classic design with state of the art technology, beautifully furnished with classic antiques from the family’s collection and a library that is recognised by the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture. Nonetheless, if I am perfectly honest, what keeps me returning to Villa Spalletti Trivelli is the wonderful breakfast, which is served in an intimate and opulent dining room overlooking the garden. After an excellent night’s sleep, I choose from an array of exotic fruits, freshly baked breads, pastries and cakes, the best of local ham and cheese, plus a delightful interpretation of a ‘full English’ and wash it down with several cups of outstanding coffee – bliss! There really are so many fabulous places to visit and the most popular ones are close to the hotel.

A five minute stroll leads to the Trevi Fountain. This amazing work of art dates back to the 18th century and is a classic example of Baroque architecture. History suggests that if you are desperately seeking good fortune then you should throw three coins into the fountain over your left shoulder. It’s estimated that somewhere in the region of €3.000 per day is deposited there, all the money these days going to The Red Cross. A ten minute stroll will take you to The Pantheon, a truly spectacular temple dedicated to the pantheon of Roman Gods and Goddesses and burial place of the famous Renaissance painter Raphael. The Pantheon is still used as a church today, and Masses and weddings are common occurrences. There is also a very good cafe bar located at the top, which gives a wonderful panoramic view of the city. In addition, just a 15 minute stroll from the hotel leads you to my personal favourite, the Colosseum – a vast arena dating back to AD 72 which had a seating capacity of over 50,000. Previously home to gladiatorial battles and mass slaughter, its an awesome spectacle. If you prefer to avoid the very long queues, purchase the slightly more expensive guided tour ticket than the entry only ticket.

The Pantheon

Like many great cities, Rome is even more vibrant after dark and with the vast array of local restaurants I always eat out. With regards to dinner, a visit to Rome would be incomplete without a plate of Tagliolini with white truffles and fresh fungi porcini and for me the best place to enjoy this dish is Fortunato al Pantheon, a restaurant favoured by many politicians and business people. However if you’ve done all the walking that you want to do and that large thin pizza and bottle of Chianti you devoured at lunchtime has satisfied your appetite, a nighttime tour of the seven hills of Rome riding pillion on a vintage Vespa or Lambretta scooter, competently driven by an accomplished tour guide, makes a thrilling end to a perfect day. g Kevin is an Internationally renowned chef, former Head of Department for one the UK’s most prestigious Colleges of Higher Education and more latterly one of the BBC’s most versatile television presenters, having presented Holiday, Ready Steady Cook, Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook, Big Kevin, Little Kevin, Planet Cook, The Heaven & Earth Show and a host of other network shows. He was the recipient of a National Television Award and the subject of This is Your Life and acts as a consultant to several International Hospitality Companies.

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ZHONG OF OSAKA Delivering a Sizzling Hot Dining Experience WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © WWW.PHOTOGRAPHERMARBELLA.COM

saka restaurant, a mere three kilometres from San Pedro, has held tightly to its claim to fame for being the choice teppanyaki restaurant on the Coast. Head Chef, Zhong, recalls the restaurant’s early days, some 17 years ago, when there was only one teppanyaki table and locals just began warming up to his dazzling cooking show. Despite specialising in Japanese cuisine, Zhong originally hails from Taiwan. His father, a renowned sushi Chef, inspired Zhong to dedicate himself to the culinary arts and by the age of 20, the young apprentice was already seeking to spread his love for authentic Japanese cuisine in Andalucía. “I began my culinary career in Spain in Granada, but soon, I found the place I would call home – the Costa del Sol.” Zhong’s youthful appearance belies his extensive experience. “Cooking is all I know,” he says, elaborating, “When the crisis struck the Coast in 2008, and times were probably at their toughest, I used to say that if I wasn’t a Chef, I don’t know what would become of me!” Thankfully, Osaka has continued to thrive. The restaurant opens daily for lunch and dinner, with five teppanyaki tables, all of which are usually booked in peak season. Zhong’s cooking show is anything but ordinary; its highlight is surely when the Chef whips up an airy omelette and begins ‘flicking’ pieces high in the air, straight into the mouths of his eager diners. Flaming veggies and meat, sizzling prawns and colourful rice dishes make for a heart-warming aroma that cannot be experienced just once. Zhong has close connections with the best local suppliers, who sell him quality tuna, salmon and meat. “One of the best parts of my job is heading for the local markets to select the best produce for my clients. The fishermen and suppliers know me well; our relationships spans back to over a decade,” he says.

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In addition to serving up locally sourced, seasonal produce and exquisite meat on the teppanyaki table, he also whips up delicate sushi creations, crisp tempura platters and a soul-soothing shabu shabu (or ‘soup fondue’). Osaka is definitely not a place for those after a typical experience; here, diners are encouraged to enjoy food actively, by interacting with the Chef and joining in on the action taking place at the teppanyaki table. Some of Osaka’s most popular dishes include the sizzling butterflied King prawns, fish teppanyaki (made with salmon, tuna and sea bass), and the ultra-fine tenderloin stuffed with sautéed vegetables. Osaka also places due importance on the final touch to any excellent meal: dessert! “We serve ice-cream-filled crêpes flambée-style, in an effort to echo the pyrotechnic perfection of the teppanyaki table. Another popular choice are the ice-cream-filled rice balls, which, Zhong says, “clients often order and take away… the rice balls are small and bite-sized and children go mad about them.” Zhong waxes lyrical about his favourite creations in perfect Spanish, which demonstrates the extent to which he fits in harmoniously with life on the Costa del Sol. Here, he and his wife raise their two sons, and although the Chef works all day, he somehow finds the time to go on bike rides and park visits. As our interview comes to a close, it occurs to me that Zhong’s loquaciousness and true love for food charm are surely some of the reasons why Osaka has stood the test of time. “Over the past few years, we have seen many Japanese restaurants open. Our clients are keen diners so they make it a point to try new places. The good news for us is that they always come back. This reflects the quality of our food and service.”

g Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340 (near Bel Air), San Pedro. Tel: 952 885 751. www.restaurantejaponesosaka.com 4/23/14 1:27 PM

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Vive La Difference L

ikewise the grandes marques champagne houses of Rheims probably believed their virtual monopoly based on a centuriesold reputation would keep customers happy forever. Their skill lies in blending the wine to a consistent level year after year, regardless of how the harvest may have performed, using grapes bought in from local farmers. The latest wake-up call came when the owner of one of Champagne’s oldest houses discovered that his product had disappeared from the wine list of a top New York restaurant. Indeed, there were no longer any big names on the list, only champagnes from growerwinemakers. These mini-wineries make champagne using their own grapes to the exclusion of any other, so following the small is beautiful syndrome, fashionable restaurants, supported by wine critics, have started promoting ‘garage champagnes’. Sommeliers are delighted, as it increases the mystique element

NEWS FROM THE CHAMPAGNE FRONT WORDS AJ LINN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF OF ENOTECA GRAMONA

A fundamental axiom for any successful business is that resting on laurels is no option. There have to be ongoing improvements to products and services to keep ahead of the competition. De Beers thought it had the global diamond business under control until challenged by Russian and other unsupportive producers, and even in the civilised wine trade the aristocracy of Bordeaux did not realise until the last minute that their great wines would not sell themselves. of wine. Indeed, if you did order a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in such a restaurant, you may be asked if you would not like to try the Franck Bonville instead. It should be pointed out that the small growers themselves are quite content doing what they have always done, ergo selling their limitedproduction at the cellar door to all-comers, and frankly overall sales of the top houses have hardly been dented. The danger to the grandes marques is that their usual grape suppliers may one day decide to make their own champagnes. Living in Spain, and particularly on the Costa del Sol, it is hard to get through a typical weekend without encountering that eternal riddle: champagne or cava? Just to show how run of the mill ordinary cava can be, the Barcelona courts recently settled a two-decade long dispute between producers Freixenet and Codorníu, ordering the first to pay four million euros and two million bottles of cava to the legal victor, Codorníu. This is a tacit admission that their cavas are so similar they can be interchangeable, and the endconsumer probably will not even notice. The lawsuit was remarkably petty as it happens, with Codorníu initially accusing Freixenet of selling cava that had not been fermented for the regulation nine months. Freixenet responded by alleging that its rival was using pinot noir grapes instead of the traditional varieties. Codorníu, which traces its roots back to the 16th century, looks on Freixenet as the upstart kid on the block, and was put out by its aggressive marketing strategy. These two brands compete for the massive American cava market, and probably have the least to fear from a rest-of-Spain boycott of Catalan products. The problem for Champagne as a denomination is that cava everywhere is

getting better, while the wine of which Churchill said in 1918, “Remember gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!” and Napoleon commented, “In victory, you deserve champagne, in defeat, you need it,” is mired in tradition. This of course can also make it desirable, and fans will argue it cannot get any better, but what happens when cava catches up? That will never happen, some of you may be thinking, but you are wrong. In a recent landmark blind tasting in Málaga in which I participated, eight experienced tasters could not tell the difference between top champagnes costing around 200 euros and cavas costing less. These restaurant owners, regional distributors, wine buyers, sommeliers, wine writers and food critics, judged the Dom Perignon 2003 Vintage (€132) as the worst of the bunch, inferior to all the cavas and champagnes. Even the Krug (€149) and the Louis Roederer Cristal (€175) had a hard time fighting off the Spanish competition, and head and shoulders above all of them was Gramona Enoteca Brut Nature 2000 (€120), with Gramona Celler Batlle 2005 (€51) highly praised. The tasting was based on Catalonia’s Gramona bodega’s products, but of course there are many absolutely top-rate cavas that can hold their own against all-comers. Conclusion? Something I have been preaching for what seems like ever. Wine snobs are bad enough but champagne snobs are to be pitied. They buy the mass-produced champagnes because, in their own words, they “cannot stand cava”, but more likely would hate to be referred to as “the host who served cava instead of champagne...”, but I will wager a case of Gramona that in a blind tasting like the one described here, they could not tell the difference. e

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S AR S

FIF T

theguide the RESTAURANTS / CINEMAS / GOLF

PRICE GUIDE per head for a three-course meal with wine

GYMS / TENNIS / SCHOOLS

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

ROUTE 66

TANGO

Calderón Estébanez 19, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 578

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

CHATEAU MONA LISA

AMERICAN

Open 10am until midnight every day. Plaza Antonio Banderas 17/29, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 136 333

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

YANX

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

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

RESTAURANTS

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

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

BELGIAN EL COTO

ARGENTINEAN

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

BUENOS AIRES SOUTH

MYTILUS

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

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

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

FRENCH CASA MONO

Open Monday to Saturday from 1pm to 11pm. C/

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

RENDEZ VOUS Open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6pm and Sunday from 9am to 2pm. Closed Tuesday. Avda. del Prado, Aloha Gardens, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 912

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

GREEK RED PEPPER

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OLD TOWN GRILL

MR. INDIA

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

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

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

ASADOR GUADALMINA

PIRATAS FLAME GRILL

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

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

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

CABAÑA NAGÜELES

RESTAURANTE RANCHO

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

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

EL CARNICERO

Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday. C.C. Cristamar, Local 32, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 319 842

GRILLS

ASADOR CRIOLLO GRILL

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

EL CARNICERO 2 Open every day for lunch and dinner. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 867 599

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

EL GAUCHO DE BANÚS

THE GRILL HOUSE RESTAURANT

INDIAN

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 146.5, Casares. Tel: 951 704 884

INTERNATIONAL ALBERT & SIMON

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

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

JAIPUR PALACE

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

EL RANCHO DEL PUERTO

JAIPUR PURPLE

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

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

GRILL DEL PUERTO

LITTLE INDIA

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

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

BABOO LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT

SAFFRON

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 900 380

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

Fuengirola. Tel: 952 665 502

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

MUMTAZ

CHOWKA

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

MARBELLA CLUB GRILL

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

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

AMIGOS

MASSALA

AR YE

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

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

BAHIA BEACH BAR D’O RESTAURANT & LOUNGE Open daily from 11am to 2am (3am on weekends). Avda. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Edif. Milla de Oro, Local 567, Marbella. Tel: 952 821 229

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

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

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

BLACK AND WHITE MARBELLA

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

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

AROMA

BONO’S BEACH

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Moncayo 23,

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Cervantes

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PRICE GUIDE per head for a three-course meal with wine

s/n, Urb. Costabella, Playa El Arenal, Marbella. Tel: 952 839 236

BRUNINGS

FIF T

Open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 7 pm. Las Palmeras 19, San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 786 156

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

under €25

€25 – €40

Mijas Costa. Tel: 951 773 521

EL CAMPANARIO

Andalucía Plaza s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 814 000

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

FABIOLA

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Paseo Las Palmeras, 15, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 783 394

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

DANI GARCÍA RESTAURANTE

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

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

EL JINETE

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Coral Beach s/n, km. 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 777 299

CAFETERÍA KE

DEL MAR

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Puente Romano. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

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

CAPPUCCINO GRANDE CAFE Open daily for lunch and dinner. José Meliá s/n (Hotel Gran Meliá Don Pepe), Marbella. Tel: 952 868 790

DON LEONE

CASANIS

D-WINE

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

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

CELIMA

€60 plus

C’EST LA VIE

Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. At the Hotel Puente Romano. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 764 252

CAFÉ DEL MAR

€40 – €60

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

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

EL LAGO

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

EL OCEANO BEACH HOTEL RESTAURANT & SPA Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 199, Miraflores Playa, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 587 550

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

DYNAMIC CAFÉ

EL OLIVO

Open Monday to Sunday for lunch. Ctra. de Istán, km. 0.9, C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 021

CERRADO DEL ÁGUILA

EL BOLERO

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

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Urb. Cerrado del Águila, Camino del Acevedo, s/n,

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

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

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

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

FUNKY TAPAS Open daily from 12 midday to 12 midnight. Avda. Miguel de Cervantes 34, Marbella. Tel: 952 811 590

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

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

GD GOURMET DELI MARBELLA Open 9:30am to 9pm from Monday to Friday and Saturday from 12am to 6pm. Closed Sundays. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe 7, Marbella. Tel: 952 774 049

EL RESTAURANTE DEL CASINO

GIRASOL

Open every day for dinner from 8pm-4am. Hotel

Open daily for dinner from 6.30p.m. Avda. del

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FIF EN TE

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

MIRAFLORES GOLF RESTAURANT

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

LOS NARANJOS RESTAURANT

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

LA MENORAH

MAGNA CAFÉ

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

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

IL MARE

LA TERRAZA

MC CAFÉ

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

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

KARMA

LA TERRAZA

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

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

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

LA BIZNAGA

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

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

HERRERO DEL PUERTO Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Casas de Campos, 1, Málaga. Tel: 952 122 075

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

IKNI BANÚS Open daily for for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Cristamar, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 929 978

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

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

LA CABAÑA DEL MAR Open every day for lunch and for dinner from

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

LA LOGGIA

LA VERANDA

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

LA VERANDA LOBBY BAR Open every day for lunch and dinner. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km 159,

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

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

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

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

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

MOSAIK4

Open daily from 12pm to 3am. Avda. Manolete, esq. C/ Los Lirios, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 929 467

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

Monday to Saturday. Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona CN 340, km 159, Playa El Padrón, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

AR YE

Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500

LOS ARCOS

Prado, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 813 859

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

NUEVA KASKADA Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Urb. La Montua, C/ Chorreadero 39, Marbella. Tel: 952 864 478

OCEAN CLUB Open daily for lunch and snacks. Avda. Lola Flores s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 908 137

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

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

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

PUENTE ROMANO BEACH CLUB Open daily for lunch. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von

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PURO BEACH

FIF T

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

RESTAURANT LOUNGE CAMURÍ Open daily for lunch and dinner. At Laguna Village. CN340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 951 217 871

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

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

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

SHANTI-SOM – AMRITA Open Monday to Thursday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Friday and Saturday from 1:30pm to 4.30 pm and 8pm to 10.30pm. Ctra. de Ojén, km 22, A355, Marbella-Monda. Tel: 952 864 455

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

SKINA

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

Avda. Ricardo Soriano 1, Local 1 (Edif. Portillo), Marbella. Tel: 952 772 577

Plaza, Marbella. Tel: 951 319 151

ZOZOI

SMALL WORLD CAFÉ

THE ORANGE TREE

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ctra. Istán, km 1, C.C: Le Village 15, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 046

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

SUAVE

TIKITANO

AL DENTE

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

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

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

SUITE

TROCADERO ARENA

AMORE E FANTASÍA

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

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

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

SWING

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

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

TROCADERO BEACH UMAMI

Open every day for dinner from 7.00pm till late. Plaza Altamirano 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 858 868

ITALIAN

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

CARPACCIO

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

Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Avda. Mediterráneo, Edif. San Pedro del Mar. San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 780 114

TERRA SANA

VENTA GARCÍA

CARUSO

Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nueva Andalucía next to the Casino. Tel: 952 906 205. Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 977. C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 951 901 050. C/ Camilo José Cela s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 772 686.

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

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

TANINO

VILLA PADIERNA CLUB DE MAR Open daily for lunch from 1pm to 6pm. CN 340, km 166, Marbella. Tel: 647 791 515

THE CLUBHOUSE BAR & BRASSERIE

WHAT’S COOKING DELI AND TAKEAWAY

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

Open daily from 10am to 7pm. C.C. Guadalmina, Local 34, Marbella. Tel: 952 886 748

THE MEETING ROOM

Open Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and for cocktail hour from 4:30pm to 8pm. Centro

Open 9am to 11pm every day except Sundays.

ZEST

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

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

DA BRUNO Open all day. Pasta Da Bruno: Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 27, Marbella. Tel: 952 860 348 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno Cabopino: CN-340 Km. 194,7. Tel:

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FIF EN TE

C.C. Laguna Village, Estepona. Tel: 952 808 035

Open nightly for dinner from 6:30pm. C/ Las Malvas, Edif. Online, Local 4, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 591

RISTORANTE REGINA

LEONARDO DA VINCI

RISTORANTE SAN MARTINO

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

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

DA PAOLO

LOMBARDO’S

ROSMARINO DELLA PIAZZA

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

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

DE MEDICI

MADE IN SARDINIA

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

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

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

DON GIOVANNI

MESANA

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Avda. de Antonio Belón 3, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 550

Open nightly for dinner. At the Gran Hotel Gvadalpín. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 133

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

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

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

LA PAPPARDELLA DI ESTEPONA

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

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

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

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

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

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

MEDITERRANEAN TEMPORA

Open nightly for dinner. C/ Tetuán 9, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 952 857 933

ORIENTAL

midnight. Closed Monday lunchtime. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 141, Urb. Hacienda Guadalupe, Manilva. Tel: 952 890 956

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

LA TRATTORIA DE MARBELLA

AR YE

952 831 918. Da Bruno a Casa: Marbella Mar, Local 1, Marbella. Tel: 952 857 521 – closed on Sunday. Da Bruno A San Pedro: Avda. del Mar, local 1E, San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 860 – closed on Monday. Da Bruno Sul Mare: Edif. Skol, Paseo Marítimo, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 318/19. Da Bruno Mijas Costa: Ctra. de Mijas, km. 3.6, Mijas. Tel: 952 460 724

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

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

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

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

ASIA FOOD

MECA

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

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

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

PIZZERIA PICASSO

ASIATICO ZEN

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

NAMAZAKE

LA PAPPARDELLA SUL MARE

PORTOFINO LAGUNA VILLAGE

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

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

DRAGÓN DE ORO

OSAKA

Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Open every day from 12.30-4pm and 7pm until

Open every day 13:30-16:00 & 19:30-24:00. CN-340,

Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner. Hotel Puente Romano. Tel: 952 820 900

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THE GUIDE

km. 166 (Benavista). C.C. Costa del Sol. Tel: 952 885 751

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

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

Sapporo Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. Costa del Sol, upper level. CN340, km. 166 (Estepona). Tel: 952 888 710

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

top thai Open daily for lunch and dinner. Centro Plaza, 64, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 951 319 778

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

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

Wok Away Open every day for lunch and dinner. Avda. Julio Iglesias, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 907 304

Wok Buffet Open every day for lunch and dinner. Urb. El Pilar, 22, Estepona. Tel: 952 887 092

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

SCANDINAVIAN Aloha restaurant

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

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

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SEAFOOD

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

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

La fishita Open Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 11pm and Sunday and Monday from 6pm to 11pm. C/ Las Violetas, Local 7, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 813 598

Restaurante La Marina Open every day from 1-4.30pm and 8pm until midnight. Paseo Marítimo s/n, La Atunara, La Linea de la Concepción, Campo de Gibraltar. Tel: 956 171 531

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

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

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

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

SPANISH Bahía

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

la moraga Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Ramón Areces s/n, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 817 448

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

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

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

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

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

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

Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

bel air tennis and paddel club

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO

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

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

Club deL Sol

CINESA LA CAÑADA

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

La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

Club de tenis don carlos

taberna del volapié

cines gran marbella

Open daily from 11.30am to midnight. C/ Ramón Areces, Cjto. Marina Banús, Blq. 3-4, Local 7, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 542 820

Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 810 077

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

cinesur

Club Internacional de Tennis

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

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

Tragabuches

MULTICINES ALFIL

Club Madroñal

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

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

Benahavís. Tel: 617 647 223

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

Hofsaess tennis academy

Vila do grove

PALACIO DE LA PAZ

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

Recinto Ferial. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 589 349

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

TEATRO ALAMEDA

Lew Hoads Tennis Club

Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

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

TEATRO CERVANTES

Manolo Santana Racquets Club

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

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

VEGETARIAN

Club Nueva Alcántara

loving hut

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

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

Plaza Ramón Martínez, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 159

Marbella hill tennis club

TEATRO SALON VARIETES

marbella playa tenIs

Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

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

VERACRUZ CINES

Miraflores Tennis Club

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL MIJAS

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

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

YELMO CINEPLEX

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

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL TORREMOLINOS

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

Puente Romano TEnnis club

CINEMAS & THEATRES

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

TENNIS CLUBS Aztec Country Club

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

Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

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

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FIF

pets THE GUIDE

EN TE

You Should Never Feed Your Cat

Pet owners often think there is no harm in feeding pets leftovers, but many everyday foods can be highly toxic to our pets; in past posts, we have mentioned that pistachios, sulphurous vegetables like garlic and onion and chocolate, should not be fed to dogs. What about cats? According to vets, the list of items to avoid includes: Z ONIONS, GARLIC AND CHIVES: Cats are not able to metabolise certain compounds contained in these foods. These can damage their red blood cells, even when consumed in tiny amounts. Neither fresh, cooked or powdered/dried onions and chives should be fed. Z RAW EGGS: The salmonella in raw egg can cause pancreatitis and other diseases. A bit of cooked egg is okay, but keep it to small doses. Z BONES: These are a major enemy for both cats and dogs, since they can perforate the intestines and cause death. They can also cause teeth to fracture. Z MILK: Once cats reach adulthood, they can become intolerant to dairy products. Milk can cause digestive upsets and diarrhea. Z GRAPES AND RAISINS: These foods can cause kidney failure, vomiting and hyperactivity. Make sure to keep these foods off the countertop.

The summer season is fast approaching and while that usually is a good thing for human beings, it isn’t quite a ‘season to be jolly’ for pets. To keep heat stress at bay, never keep pets in a parked car or vehicle. Even when the vehicle is in the shade and the windows are rolled down, cars can still heat up considerably in a matter of minutes. For instance, on a 35ºC day, the temperature inside a closed car can spike to 42ºC in just 10 minutes! Even when the day is balmy, as opposed to hot, temperatures can rise to above 40ºC in just half an hour! Owners should avoid exercising their dog on hot days, since even physically fit dogs can develop heat injury. Heat stroke is an emergency that requires immediate attention, so if your dog shows any sign of heat stress (including excessive panting, salivation, weakness, fainting, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.), make your way to the veterinarian immediately. When you do go outside, take water and ice cubes with you, and give your dog a refreshing shower on hot days.

5 FOODS

How to Prevent Heat Stress in Dogs and Cats

AR YE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

Drawing Competition Brings Wendy Clements and Donkey to Andalusian Schools Scottish teacher and co-founder of donkey shelter, El Burrito Feliz, Wendy Clements, will be visiting a host of villages and schools with a donkey in tow, in an effort to promote an international drawing and painting exhibition. Says Wendy: “The aim behind this competition is for young people from around the world to learn about the importance and need to preserve donkeys as an historical element of our existence and at the same time, raise awareness about the Iberian Lynx, Doñana National Park and the province of Huelva. We’ve found that many people from outside Spain in particular have no idea about the Lynx or Doñana, which is quite shocking!” She adds, “We also wish to promote the responsible use of the Internet as a tool in promoting environmental issues, and we value the joint participation of parents, teachers and artists.” Wendy will begin visiting schools in Huelva and Sevilla, but does not discard extending her journey to other schools in Andalucía. During her visits, Wendy and the teachers conduct workshops, in which children are encouraged to draw lynxes and donkeys in the Doñana forest. g If you wish to sign up for the competition (which ends in October), log onto www.asociacionelburritofeliz.org

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S AR S YE N EE FIF T

EVENTS IN MAY AND EARLY JUNE Until May 5 ART – ESTEPONA

Renowned artist, Joaquín Fabián Aguilera presents an exhibition of paintings and sculptures at the Casa de la Juventud. Viewing times are between 9am and 9pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays. www.estepona.es

Until May 15 ART – MARBELLA

Talented sculptor, Nimrod Messeg, presents his latest works (which include female figures, a bull and shapes from Nature) at the H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel. www.messegdesign.com

Until May 18 ART – MARBELLA

Casino Recreativo de Marbella presents a joint painting exhibition by over six artists from Marbella and beyond. www.mundocoart.com

Until June 3 ART – BENALMÁDENA

The THB Class Hotel **** Reserva del Higuerón presents Dualidades: a stunning exhibition of figurative art by Rodney Navarro. www.thbhotels.com

Until June 22 ART – MÁLAGA

The Contemporary Art Centre of Málaga (CAC) presents five grand-scale sculptures by KAWS, one of the primary figures of the Arts & Toys movement. The artist takes icons of popular culture and adds personal touches, which include using skis instead of eyes! KAWS is a painter, sculptor, designer and collaborator for various renowned international brands. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn. www.cacmalaga.eu

Until June 24 WOMEN’S WORKSHOPS – MARBELLA The Centro Cultural Cortijo Miraflores will be hosting workshops aimed at helping women start up businesses, find employment, hone their creativity, learn the basics of e-mail marketing and much more. From 10am to 12pm or from 5pm to 7pm. For further information, Tel: 952 924 120.

Until July 1 ART – MARBELLA

Viggo Rivad presents 143 original photographs at the Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo. Rivad’s photographs have been compared to cinematographic stills, owing to his interest in light and composition. www.mgec.es

NEW AND REGULAR EVENTS Monthly on different days AMERICAN CLUB – MARBELLA

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

AMIGOS DE LA CULTURA – COSTA DEL SOL

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

TOASTMASTERS – MARBELLA

The Achievers Toastmasters Club Marbella meets every week at Aloha Gardens, Nueva Andalucía to practise public speaking skills. For further information, contact Maria on Tel: 603 133 805 or Percy on Tel: 646 533 112. www.toastmastersmarbella.com

Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday YOGA – MARBELLA

Lori Sjollema teaches yoga classes on Mondays at 10:30am, Wednesdays at 10:30am and Saturdays at 11am at the Manolo Santana Racquets Club. www.yoga-in-marbella.net Tel: 639 845 285.

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – MARBELLA

Integral Psychotherapist Gabriella Kortsch helps you with everything from relationship breakdowns to depression, poor communication with loved ones or financial stress, at her weekly group meetings, from 7:30pm to 9pm. For information on locations, info@advancedpersonaltherapy.com

Every Tuesday JIVE – ESTEPONA

Learn to dance and feel confident on the dance floor at the three-hour jive dance sessions led by Colin and his team from Jive Spain at TikiTano restaurant. People of all ages attend every week and you don’t have to bring a partner or reserve a space. Just come along and join the fun! Tickets cost €10 per person. For precise times, www.jivespain.com

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

Every Wednesday SALSA – MARBELLA

If you’re feeling the Latino vibe, brush up on

your salsa moves at Buddha Bar Marbella’s special salsa nights (featuring the Nicolás Valiente Dance Academy), which take place every Wednesday at 10:30pm. Tel: 655 480 748.

FLAMENCO – MIJAS

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

Every first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA

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

Every Wednesday and Friday MARTIAL ARTS – SAN PEDRO

Taekwondo expert Justin Menchen, who studied and received First Dan in Los Angeles (from Master Keith Jones) teaches Taekwondo to adults and children at TKD Studio. From 5:30pm to 6pm for Wassabi Warriors, 6pm to 7pm for kids and 7pm to 8pm for adults. Poomsae and Sparring WTF (light to medium contact) available. To sign up or for a free introductory class, Tel: 666 756 692.

Every Thursday NETWORKING – MARBELLA

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

Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

ADANA animal rescue charity coffee morning at Plaza Manilva (outside Longman’s Bookshop) 11am – 2pm. Kennels open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and 10am – 2pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Further information, Tel: 952 800 975. www.adana.es

BUSINESS LUNCH – MARBELLA

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

Every Saturday MARKETS – PUERTO BANÚS

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

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS

information, Tel: 952 486 084. www.padcatsanddogs.org

Thursday May 1 MAY DAY HOLIDAY – SPAIN Saturday May 3 MEDIUMSHIP – FUENGIROLA

The Salón Varietes Theatre in Fuengirola presents a demonstration of mediumship by Jonathan Brown at 8pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Sunday May 4 DOG SHOW – ESTEPONA

The Palacio de Congresos de Estepona will be holding a fun-filled dog show, with all proceeds going to ADANA (the Abandoned Animals of Estepona, Casares and Manilva). Featuring obedience and agility classes, stalls and a cafeteria. Doors open at 11am for registration; judging begins at 12pm. www.adana.es

BIG BAND – MÁLAGA

The Teatro Echegaray will be hosting a concert by La Insostenible Big Band, featuring clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, bass and voice, at 7pm. www.teatroechegaray.com

ECO MARKET – CÁRTAMA

CartamaEco, a market of organically grown fruits and vegetables, will be taking place opposite the Cártama petrol station, from 10am to 2:30pm. www.valledelguadalhorce.com

Sunday May 4 and Sunday May 25 CHAMPAGNE PARTY – PUERTO BANÚS Ocean Club will be hosting a fun champagne party by the pool. For information on precise times, www.oceanclub.es

Monday May 5 to Sunday May 11 OPEN WEEK – MONTEPARAÍSO COUNTRY CLUB

Monteparaíso Country Club presents a fun open week, featuring an array of free classes and activities throughout the week, as well as children’s activities on Saturday. The schedule is as follows: THURSDAY, MAY 8: Indoor cycling Master Class on the terrace (limited capacity so call beforehand). SATURDAY MAY 10: Free Golf (five-hole mini-competition) and Fitness Competition (chin-ups, bench presses and abdominals). SUNDAY MAY 11: Social Event (live music, dancing, etc. for €25 per person, featuring a special closing buffet). For bookings, call Alicia on Tel: 648 263 355 or Restaurante Mojo on Tel: 951 217 272. For precise times and a full list of activities, info@newct.net

PAD animal shelter, Cerros del Águila, welcomes visitors from 12pm-3pm. Further

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Tuesday May 20 FLOWERS – ESTEPONA

The Estepona Floral Art Club will be holding their monthly flower arranging demonstration from 3.15pm to 5.30pm at TikiTano Restaurant. The demonstrator will be Dulcie Lofting, NAFAS Area Demonstrator from Norfolk. Tel: 952 798 449. esteponafloralartclub@hotmail.com

Friday May 9 to Wednesday May 14 MUSICAL MANIA – FUENGIROLA

Salva presents The Best End of the West-End Musical Mania, directed by Alexandra Avery. Nightly at 8pm. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Saturday May 10 MUSICAL – MARBELLA

Kids and adults alike will enjoy the classic musical, Puss in Boots, at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella, from 7pm to 8pm. www.marbellacongresos.com

UK FRIENDSHIP DAY – MIJAS PUEBLO Mijas Pueblo will he holding UK Friendship Day at the Mural de las Naciones (next to the Tourist Office) and at the Plaza Virgen de la Peña, from 12pm to 6pm. Featuring music, food and drinks from the U.K. www.mijas.es

FILM – ESTEPONA

Música con Encanto presents Café De Los Maestros, a film by Miguel Kohan, at the Club Náutico de Estepona at 8pm. The documentary pays homage to legendary figures of Argentinean tango. After the film, a dance session will be held by the Escuela de Tango Graciela Heredia. Tel: 689 000 944. www.musicaconencanto.org

Saturday May 10 to Friday May 16 BOOTCAMP – LLANOS DE PURLA

The Shanti-Som Wellbeing Retreat (a 10-minute drive from La Cañada) will be holding a fun six-night Boot Camp in a luxury setting, surrounded by Nature, with thoughtfully designed training sessions and healthy meals to re-boost mind and body. www.shantisom.com

Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18 SPORTS – MÁLAGA The third edition of Málaga’s famous Fiesta del Deporte (Sports Party) will be taking place at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena, featuring everything from gymnastics displays to spinning classes, skating, weightlifting, martial arts, etc. www.fiestadeldeportes.com

Sunday May 18 FLAMENCO – MÁLAGA

Ballet Zambra presents De Mozart al Sur, a graceful flamenco dance act that represents the passion of music, from classical to modern times. At 7pm. www.teatroechegaray.com

Thursday May 22 CONCERT – MÁLAGA

Latin and Spanish rock singer, Juan Perro, will be lending his special brand of magic to the Teatro Cervantes in Málaga at 9pm. www.teatrocervantes.com

SALSA – MARBELLA

Hone your skills in salsa at a fun salsa class, starting at 9pm at Rolling Salsa in Marbella. Tel: 626 750 979.

Friday May 23 FLAMENCO – MARBELLA

Nueva Kaskada restaurant presents a fun tapas and flamenco night at 8pm, with a cava reception and selection of house wines. Please book first. Tel: 952 864 478. www.nuevakaskada.com

Friday May 23 to Sunday May 25 and Friday May 30 to Sunday June 1 ART GAUCÍN – GAUCÍN

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Art Gaucín’s open studio weekends, in which painters, sculptors, printers, photographers and ceramicists from the Gaucín area open their studios, homes and private gardens to members of the public. Featuring everything from oil paintings and prints to open air sculptures and refashioned clocks. For further information, www.artgaucin.com

Saturday May 24 PASIÓN VEGA – MÁLAGA

Pasión Vega is one of Spain’s most famous ballad singers and this month she will be delighting audiences with her dulcet tones at the Teatro Cervantes at 8pm. www.teatrocervantes.com

CELLO CONCERTO – MARBELLA

Cello player, Juan Díaz Porras, will be playing music by Bach, Kodály and Britten at the Iglesia de la Virginia at 7pm. www.musicaconencanto.org

Sunday May 25 FLAMENCO AND FUNDRAISING – MIJAS

The Tamisa Golf Hotel is the chosen setting for a flamenco and Spanish buffet evening, featuring an auction to raise money for an ultrasound machine for the A.C.E. Animal Rescue Centre’s Clinic. For tickets, Tel: 652 828 358/ pr-spanje@outlook.com

Monday May 26 to Wednesday June 4 PHOTOGRAPHY – MARBELLA

Shooting Abroad will be taking budding photographers to some of the most beautiful areas in Andalucía, to photograph professional models and to enjoy accommodation at a luxury villa in Marbella. www.shootingbeautyabroad.co.uk

Thursday May 29 MARBS PARTIES – PUERTO BANÚS

DJ Mark Wright will be playing up a storm at Tibv in Puerto Banús. Featuring Guest DJ, Ricky Simmonds and Resident DJ, Chris Rogers. www.marbsparties.com

Friday May 30 and Saturday May 31 REAL ESTATE CONVENTION – MARBELLA

Mujeres Contra el Cáncer is a run which will be taking place at Paseo Marítimo de Poniente (C/ Pacífico, Málaga) at 10am, to raise funds for Unidos contra el Cáncer and to encourage healthy habits among women. If you would like to join the race, you have until May 8 to sign up. www.deporte.malaga.eu

AR YE

Sunday May 11 CANCER RUN – MÁLAGA

Monday June 2 VIKINGS TALK – ESTEPONA

The Palacio de Congresos de Estepona will be showing a fascinating video called Westward with the Vikings, about the most authentic replica Viking ship ever built. www.estepona.es

Monday June 2 to Sunday June 8 INTERNATIONAL SHERRY WEEK – JEREZ AND ONLINE

Connoisseurs and discoverers will raise their glasses in celebration of Spain’s renowned Sherry wines in venues and online master classes, which will last for one week. Participants can choose to schedule one or more events to celebrate – there are no formal rules other than that the Sherry must be from the Dominations of Origin from Jerez-XérèsSherry and Manzanilla. This year, the event will coincide with Jerez’s anointed title as European Wine Capital 2014. For information on precise events, www.isherryweek.com

Thursday June 5 to Sunday June 8 MARBELLA LUXURY WEEKEND – PUERTO BANÚS

The Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella will be hosting a real estate convention, bringing professionals together from a variety of fields. www.marbellacongresos.com

Some of Marbella’s most luxury-oriented businesses will be holding exhibitions, parties, fashion shows and more, during one of the most highly awaited weekends of the year. Allday events on the frontline of Puerto Banús. www.marbellaluxuryweekend.com

Saturday May 31 PIANO – MARBELLA

Friday June 6 MALÚ – MÁLAGA

Resident pianist of the Centro de Divulgación Musical del Mediterráneo, Natalia Kuchaeva, will be playing music by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Stranvisky at the Hospital Real de la Misericordia at 8:30pm. www.musicaconencanto.org

Malú is one of Spain’s top selling pop artists and this month she will be singing her latest hits at the Auditorio Municipal de Málaga at 10:30pm. www.nvivo.es

Saturday May 24 MELENDI – MÁLAGA

Spanish pop/flamenco sensation, Melendi, will be playing the Palacio de los Deportes de Málaga – José María Martín Carpena at 9:30pm. www.nvivo.es

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Monthly Horoscope May 2014

www.russellgrant.com

YE EE

Russell Grant’s Celebrate a loved one’s good fortune in the second half of May. A lavish dinner and sentimental gift are definitely good ideas.

TAURUS April 21st - May 21st

Spend time on solitary creative pursuits in the opening days of May. An invitation to join an exclusive educational or cultural institution will come your way on or around the 4th. This membership will improve both your personal and professional prospects. Don’t let a repressive friend, lover, or business partner dampen your enthusiasm in the first half of the month. If you get turned down for a job, don’t panic. A better opportunity will arrive near the 14th, probably through a personal contact. Celebrate a loved one’s good fortune in the second half of May. A lavish dinner and sentimental gift are definitely good ideas. The New Moon on the 28th finds you arguing about money. You may not be able to get the salary you deserve, partly because an organisation has an unrealistic view about the work you perform. Stay patient. Your chances for finding a lucrative position will improve as May turns to June. 144 / MAY 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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ARIES [21 MAR - 20 APR]

Early May is ideal for getting a makeover, updating your wardrobe, or undergoing a cosmetic procedure. Negotiate a raise during the first week of the month; a high powered executive will admire your tenacity. If you can’t get the salary you want, you can arrange to work from home, at least part of the time. This will save plenty of money on commuting and meals. It will also allow you to enjoy more time with your family. Let your best friend or romantic partner spoil you throughout mid-May. You’re overdue for some tender loving care. The Full Moon on the 14th will allow you to pay off a long standing debt. Your newfound freedom will come as a profound relief. A stalled relationship will move forward towards the end of the month. Disappointing news will arrive on or around the 28th. It will be difficult to communicate with a moody relative or neighbour.

GEMINI [22 MAY - 21 JUNE]

You’ll find a receptive audience for your ideas in early May. Spend the first week of the month making proposals, negotiating deals and arranging meetings. Confusing instructions from an authority figure make it difficult to do your job throughout the first half of May. However, your colleagues will help fill in the gaps. The Full Moon on the 14th marks the conclusion of a challenging work assignment. Fortunately, you’ll get a handsome reward for all of your diligence and sacrifice. Friends will promote your talent during the second half of the month. The more networking you do during this fateful period, the higher your star will rise. The New Moon on the 28th will tempt you to change your look in some radical way, but don’t do it. You’re better off maintaining a classic, professional image. Express your wild side through creative projects. Writing, jewellery making and metalwork will be especially enjoyable at the end of May.

CANCER [22 JUN - 23 JULY]

All eyes will be on you in the opening days of May. Be sure to look your best, as you’ll never know when a powerful executive will have you in their spotlight. Your ability to get along with people from all walks of life will attract both personal and professional opportunities during the first week of the month. Try not to take out work frustrations on your family mid-month. Your relatives are not the enemy. The Full Moon on the 14th finds you finishing up a creative project and the results will be spectacular. Draw firm boundaries with your boss during the second half of May. Finding leisure time will be difficult during the third week of the month, as relatives will be quite dependent on you. The 28th warns against confiding secrets, especially to seemingly sympathetic counsellors. Working from home will be a real treat as May turns to June.

LEO [24 JULY - 23 AUG]

You’ll make a fantastic impression at work in early May. This is a wonderful time to negotiate for a better office or improved hours. If you play your cards right, you could arrange to work from home at least part of the week. Beware of clashing with a conservative relative. Nothing you do or say will impress this sour character. You’re better off surrounding yourself with supportive friends. The Full Moon on the 14th brings an end to a difficult family matter. At long last, you’ll be able arrange your surroundings to suit your needs. If you want to buy a

place, you’ll be able to get a generous loan mid-month. Your commute will get a lot easier once the second half of May gets under way. The New Moon on the 28th finds you facing off with a needy friend. Don’t make the mistake of lending money to them.

VIRGO [24 AUG - 23 SEPT]

Your input will not be welcome in the opening days of May, which will prove frustrating. Remain patient; the time will come when everyone clamours for your expertise. Sexual attraction will be too powerful to resist during the first half of the month. You’ll have to yield to temptation. Schedule a meeting with higher-ups on or around the 7th, when it will be impossible to argue with your logic. You’ll have to cover for an irresponsible friend or lover mid-month. The two of you need to have a talk about their inconsiderate behaviour. The Full Moon on the 14th has you finishing up a writing project that could bring you fame and acclaim. Money from an investment or inheritance will allow you to afford a few luxuries during the second half of May. The 28th brings a fresh career opportunity, but this position will require you to make big sacrifices on the personal front.

LIBRA [24 SEPT - 23 OCT]

Shower the people you love with love in the opening days of May. Money from a loan, inheritance, or refund will hit your bank account during the first week of the month, allowing you to afford some new clothes and artwork. Resist the urge to push your best friend or lover into a decision mid-month. A strategic retreat will serve you better. The Full Moon on the 14th is fabulous for negotiating a financial deal. You’ll get all the terms you want and more, so aim for the sky. A spontaneous gesture of love during the third week of May takes your breath away. It may be difficult to gain admission to an exclusive club or educational institution around the 28th. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Your persistence will pay off. You’ll have to play the aggressor in a romance as May turns to June.

SCORPIO [24 OCT - 22 NOV]

Beware of being too heavy handed with a loved one in the early days of May. A friend needs all the sympathy and generosity you can muster. A passionate love letter will strengthen bonds of intimacy with your amour. You may have to shoulder your partner’s burdens throughout the first half of the month. The Full Moon on the 14th affords a welcome opportunity to indulge your sensual side. Buy yourself some new clothes, jewellery, or toiletries. Splurging on a spa treatment is also advised. Ask a teacher or community leader to write you a recommendation during the second half of May. Their words of praise will open personal and professional doors. Don’t let a youngster or lover pressure you into buying an expensive gift on the 28th. You need to be as resourceful as possible when May turns to June. If you work hard, you could pay off a debt before the month is over.

SAGITTARIUS [23 NOV - 21 DEC]

Money from an inheritance, refund, or legal settlement makes daily life much more comfortable in early May. This is a good time to buy creature comforts for your home. If you’re looking for work, you could find a comfortable

job during the first half of the month. Providing wealthy clients with luxury services will put extra money in your pocket. The Full Moon on the 14th will give you a welcome opportunity to rest, rejuvenate and relax. This is an excellent time to go on a solitary vacation. Visiting a mountain retreat will restore your spirits. Don’t mix romance with finance in the second half of May. You shouldn’t have to buy someone’s affection. Trust your instincts regarding a long term investment around the 24th. This could be your chance to establish lifelong financial security. At month’s end, the New Moon will put pressure on a close relationship. Be honest about your needs.

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 20 JAN]

Responsibilities towards a friend will feel heavy in early May. You’re tired of having to cover for a loved one’s shortcomings all the time. An intense flirtation will provide a welcome diversion throughout the first half of the month. This is a great time to embark on a love affair. If you’re already in a relationship, be tender concerning your partner, especially if they’re tired from overwork. A little tenderness will go a long way this month. The Full Moon on the 14th will bring an end to a group endeavour. This will allow you to pursue a personal project that will bring fame and acclaim. Don’t let your family interfere with your love life during the second half of May. Your partner could help you realise a cherished dream in the days surrounding the 24th. The New Moon that rises during the final week of May will bring a job offer. Hold out for a better position.

AQUARIUS [21 JAN - 19 FEB]

It will be difficult to achieve a healthy balance between work and family at the beginning of May. Working can actually brighten your outlook. Relatives have a way of bringing you down. You’ll fare better negotiating yourself into a better paid job during the first week of the month. If you’re self employed, raise your rates. Customers will be happy to pay what you are worth. The Full Moon on the 14th will result in a terrific professional victory. Word will spread of your talent, attracting more clients and better assignments. The results of a health regimen will attract admiring glances during the third week of May. This will strengthen your resolve to stay fit and healthy. The New Moon on the 28th will prompt you to launch a creative project. Keep developing your technique, even if the initial results are disappointing. Enlist the aid of an encouraging teacher; their instruction will make you a much better artist.

PISCES [20 FEB - 20 MAR]

You’ll be able to afford a few more luxuries in the early days of May. Go ahead and splurge on stylish clothes and a fashionable new haircut. When it comes to finding professional opportunities, who you know will be more important than what you know. Tell friends you are looking for a job and describe your dream position. You could hear of a great opportunity through one of your social contacts. You could be awarded an advanced degree or legal award around the 14th, courtesy of the Full Moon. The second half of May is ideal for romantic and artistic pursuits. This would be a great time to take a vacation, preferably to a seaside resort. Your best friend or partner could get a raise or high paying job as May turns to June. Don’t be surprised if you receive a beautiful gift as thanks for your love and encouragement. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2014 / 145

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BLAUBOOM FOR KIDS Presents Spring Collection

Spring babies are happy babies… since they can grow under the sun, run and play to their heart’s content in the great outdoors and marvel at the new colours of the season. This month, we present a host of soft toys and adornments that will help children get in the swing of Spring and feel ‘the splendour of the grass, the glory of the flower’. g All items are

available online on www.blaubloom.com

FAMILY FUN ANCRAA Giant Donkeys Cuddle

a donkey or become a volunteer to help save this humble but threatened animal. CN 340, km 164, Finca los Pajaritos, Estepona. Tel: 952 790 511 Aventura Amazonia Kids and adults alike will have fun in this outdoor adventure park, featuring exciting ziplines. C/ Valeriano Rodríguez 2, Marbella. Tel: 952 835 505. www.aventuraamazonia.com Bioparc Fuengirola Award winning zoo covering Madagascar, Africa and the Far East. C/ Camilo José Cela, 6. Tel: 952 666 301. www.bioparcfuengirola.es Black Box Teatro Dramatic Arts School for all ages. C/ Notario Luis Oliver 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 779 172. www.blackboxteatro.com Born to be Wild Jeep and dolphin eco-tours for the whole family. Open 9am-8pm. Blue Dolphin Beach Club, Estepona Beach. Tel: 639 720 246 Cable Ski Marbella Water ski cable system and pool. Open 11am-9pm (closed Mondays). Urb. Las Medranas, San Pedro. Tel: 952 785 579 Camelot Fun play centre in La Cañada with a wealth of games and activities and qualified child minders. Special events include baby and toddler mornings and a baby grow clinic, for mums to be and newborns. Ctra. de Ojén s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 764 766 Costa Bear Create your own bespoke bear with friends and insert your own wish into its interior. C/ Budapest 24, Marbella. Tel: 952 782 621. www.costabear.com

Crocodile Park Educational park

with more then 300 monsters. Pose with baby crocodiles. Open 10am6pm. C/ Cuba, 14, Torremolinos. Tel: 952 051 782 El Refugio del Burrito Donkey sanctuary just 40 minutes north of Málaga. Open 11am-7pm. Fuente de Piedra, Málaga. Tel: 952 735 513 Flamenco Classes Children aged 5 to 8 can learn to dance flamenco with Isabel Gil, a professional dancer. Classes on Monday and Wednesday at the Nueva Alcántara Tennis Club. Tel: 952 788 315 Funny Beach Kids paradise with go-karts, trampolines, minimotorbikes, mechanical bull. Open daily. East side of Marbella. Tel: 952 823 359 Galaxia Versatile and fun play centre for children of all ages, with separate areas indoor and outdoor. Mega slide, mini planetarium, birthday parties, summer camp. Life size characters. C.C. Guadalmina, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 885 530

Ice Skating Rink and Indoor Swimming Pool New sports

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

Inter Marbella Football Academy Football Academy

for boys and girls of all ages, at Estadio Santa Maria in Las Chapas, Marbella. Training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm. Tel: 646 427 589. info@intermarbellacf.com Karting Club Málaga Go-kart circuit for kids and adults who feel a need for speed. Open 10ammidnight. Ctra. De Coin, Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 581 704

Kid’s Club at the Marbella Club Hotel Help with homework

and fun artistic and sporty events for kids daily. Tel: 660 998 800. laurap@marbellaclub.com Kids Multi-Sports Club A plethora of sports for children of all ages and abilities, from tennis through to football, cycling and skateboarding. Parties with games, activities and bouncy castles. Urb. Parcelas del Golf, Avda. del Prado, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 656 618 712 Kidz Kingdom Fun play centre and birthday party area for kids, with a mini disco. Urb. Bel-Air, CN 340, km 166.2, Estepona. Tel: 952 925 936

Le Petit Milk & Roses

Pampering sessions for little girls, including manicures and dress-ups. C/ Estebañez Calderon 6, Marbella. Tel: 952 859 223 Little Fishes Swimming classes for newborns to 3-year-olds in Marbella, Estepona and Riviera. Tel: 686 498 561/ 607 875 949. www.littlefishes-spain.com

Little Gem Swimmers

Swimming courses for babies and toddlers along the Coast. Contact Blaise on Tel: 628 882 655 or Sami on Tel: 628 093 017. www.littlegemswimmers.com

Marbella Stage School

Kids can take accredited courses in dance, drama, musical theatre and singing after school on weekdays and all day on Saturdays. Tel: 952 906 865. www.marbellastageschool.com Musical Babes Babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years enjoy singing, playing simple instruments and playing games. Tel: 952 853 027. Los Jazmines

11, Bajo B, Nueva Alcántara, San Pedro de Alcántara. www.brainwaves-spain.com

NMA The Nelson Music Academy Kids aged 4 to 12 are

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

Selwo Marina Dolphins Exotic birds, penguins and virtual reality shows. Open 10am-6pm. Parque de la Paloma, Benalmádena. Tel: 902 190 482 Stagecoach Renowned performing arts school for singing, dancing and acting skills. The academy is open to four to 16-yearolds. Tel: 952 900 453/666 838 213. www.stagecoach.es Steam Train Ride Enjoy a steam train ride crossing the Andalusian mountains with a scenic trip from San Roque to Ronda. Tel: 952 931 186 Swim Bebé Swim Swimming classes for under 4’s and AquaNatal classes for mums-to-be. Tel: 617 520 588 Teleférico Benalmádena

Cable car to top of Calamorro mountain, falconry, trekking and horseriding. Arroyo de la Miel. Open 10am-6pm. Tel: 902 190 482 Tennis Camp Tennis lessons for kids from 4 years on, with professional coaches. Open 10am1pm. Club del Sol, Calahonda. Tel: 952 939 595 The Music House Kids learn, grow and have fun making music. Open to children from 2 years on. Edif. San Pedro del Mar, Blq 7, local 12, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 785 515. www.themusichouse.es Tivoli World Biggest amusement park on the Costa del Sol. Open daily from 1pm. Avda. de Tivoli, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 577 016 Trenecito de Marbella Take a relaxing train ride to view the main sights of Marbella. Daily 10am-1pm. Paseo Maritimo. Tel: 639 765 981

146 / MAY 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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Abierto de jueves a sábado de 21 - 4h

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Suite es un espacio de unión entre culturas. Los evocadores sabores del norte de África se unen con los de la cocina árabe, disfrutándose siempre entre amigos. Nuestros platos buscan inspiración desde el antiguo Marruecos hasta el más soﬁsticado y actual Líbano. La misteriosa atmósfera de Suite continúa hasta altas horas noche. Disfrute de su coctelería al aire libre mientras de la noche la pista de baile recibe a lo más exquisito de la noche marbellí.

Suite is a place where two worlds meet, evoking the enchanting ﬂavors of North African and Arabic cuisine, always a celebration amongst friends. Our dishes are inspired from ancient Morocco to the sophisticated tastes of historical Lebanon. The opulent & mysterious ambience continues late into can be be sipped in the plaza al fresco, the night, cocktails nigh whilst Suite plays host to the hottest music & people of Marbella.

SUITE · RESTAURANTE & LOUNGE · HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

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The unique and luxurious contemporary design of villa Canberra offers floating terraces providing the optimum feel of space and open views towards the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Africa. Located in La Alqueria, a slightly mountainous green paradise on the south/west coast of Marbella, the plot of 1,230mÂ˛ is raised from street level and is situated on the golf course with open views onto the valley and the sea. Designed by a Dutch architect, it enjoys a constant cool breeze due to its position close to the Mediterranean. The project is already well under way with a planned completion date of September 2014. Contact us to view this magical home, and see the future of life in luxury.

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Life Style House Spain Urb. Guadalmansa Playa S/N CN340, km164. 29680 Estepona T. +34 952 793 662 M. +34 678 643 105 info@lifestylehouse.eu www.lifestylehouse.eu

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