Essential Magazine March 2014 by Essential Magazine

Thom Richard is one of the few pilots in the world to possess the talent, experience and courage required to compete in the final of the famous Reno Air Races – the world’s fastest motorsport. Less than ten champions are capable of vying with each other at speeds of almost 500 mph, flying wing to wing at the risk of their lives, just a few feet off the ground. It is for these elite aviators that Breitling develops its chronographs: sturdy, functional and ultra high-performance instruments all equipped with movements chronometer-certified by the COSC – the highest official benchmark in terms of reliability and precision. Welcome to the Breitling world.

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Issue 175 • March 2014

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PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

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ANDREA BÖJTI sales@essentialmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com

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ANDREA BÖJTI INMA AURIOLES MELINDA SZARVAS KEVIN HORN IAIN BLACKWELL, DR. NATALIA CASTRO CRUCES, ALISTAIR SPENCE CLARKE, MICHEL CRUZ, RIK FOXX, RUSSELL GRANT, AJ LINN, TONY WHITNEY, DAVID WISHART JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA D.L. MA-512-99

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contents g

The Trend Cinema 16 Home Viewing 18 Music 20 Books 22 Gadgets 24 The Lexus RC F Sports Coupé 26

The Focus Moroccan Art and Décor 30 Moroccan Architecture 36 F1 Pre-season Tests in Jerez 44 Martin Scorsese and the Culture of Film 46

The Style Fashion: David Delfín 48 Fashion News 58

The Spa Phytochemical power 62 Beauty News 64 The Rasul treatment 66 Argan oil 68 Fertility Treatments 70

The Pro Enterprise 72 Business Profile: DOM3 82 Finance 84

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The Leisure 86 Golf in Australia 88 Moody Morocco

The Gourmet 99 Thai Gallery 100 Moroccan cuisine 102 Rashida Reidel 104 Food News 106 Moroccan Wine

The Guide 108 Listings

The Blog 117 Pet News 118 What’s On 120 Stars 122 Kid’s Zone

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publisher’s letter WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL

Magical Morocco A

small stretch of sea separates the Iberian Peninsula from Africa, yet Spain and Morocco are worlds apart. we focus In this month’s on this fascinating land, steeped in history and tradition, which became a veritable melting pot of cultures: Tangier pre 1956, for example, included almost as many Europeans as Muslims. The country’s rugged terrain, comprising a mountainous interior and large tracts of desert, has resulted in the insularity of much of its population and even today, outside of the cities, life has not changed markedly over the last century. Anyone who has ever visited Morocco will testify to its vibrancy, with maze-like souks and bazaars teeming with life and colour, stunning architecture, impressive arts and décor, and memorable cuisine. We bring you all of this and more in an issue that is truly evocative of north Africa. Elsewhere, experience an adrenalin-charged rush with this year’s first F1 tests which took place recently in Jerez, check out the sleek lines of the 2015 Lexus RC F Sports Coupé and, hot on the heels of the Oscar’s, don’t miss our profile of iconic movie maker Martin Scorsese. As always, enjoy your essential monthly read! See you again in April.

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You only live once,

Bahia 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. 5 Beds, 4 baths. Built: 698 m2, plot: 1.740 m2. E&V ID: W-01U3UR. Price: 3.500.000 €.

El Rosario Beach: Outstanding contemporary newly built Villa situated meters from the beach in El Rosario Playa. Modern house built to highest standards offering comfort and luxury. 3 Beds, 4 baths. Built: 279 m2, plot: 485 m2. E&V ID: W-01O5XJ. Price: 1.750.000 €.

Elviria: Exclusive, newly built villa with outstanding coastal and sea views, situated in a prime location in Elviria. Exceptional design. Private and secure gardens. 6 Beds, 5 baths. Built: 676 m2, plot: 1.623 m2. E&V ID: W-01GZK6. Price: 2.195.000 €.

Rio Real: Magnificent frontline golf Duplex Penthouse in Rio Real. Built and finished to highest standards, offering stunning views and privacy in a prime location. Tastefully decorated. 3 Beds, 4 baths. Living area: 210 m2, terrace: 79 m2. E&V ID: W-01UU7K. Price: 795.000 €.

Beachfront Rio Real: Frontline beach Penthouse, luxurious complex in Rio Real Playa; spectacular sea views. Well maintained mature gardens with various pools, one of which is heated. 4 Beds, 4 baths. Living area: 190m2, terrace: 100m2. E&V ID: W-01SOOF. Price: 1.945.000 €.

Office El Rosario: 952 83 20 40 · Office Elviria: 952 83 55 80

Argentina · Australia · Austria · Bahrein · Belgium · Bostwana · Chile · China · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · France · Germany · Great Britain · Holland · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Jordan Luxemburg · Mozambique · Namibia · New Zealand · Peru · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Russia · Slovenia · South Africa · Spain · Switzerland · Thailand · Turkey · UAE · Uruguay · USA · Zambia

we will show you where!

Sierra Blanca: Unmatched in grandeur, location, views and sophistication! Majestic, palatial property with spectacular views and extensive park like gardens of over 5.000 m2, sweeping dual staircases, stunning Andalusian fountains, sauna, cinema, lift. Separate guest house. 9 Beds, 9 baths. Built 1.137 m2, plot 5.295 m2. E&V ID: W-01QY9S. P.O.A

Sierra Blanca: Stunning modern villa with fantastic sea views, built with the highest qualities. Beautiful gardens, outdoor kitchen, sauna, gym and a guest apartment. 7 Beds, 6 baths. Built 800 m2, plot 1.700 m2. E&V ID: W-01FN0A. Price reduced from 5.500.000 € to 3.990.000 €.

Sierra Blanca: The most spectacular, contemporary villa in Sierra Blanca! Newly built villa with panoramic sea views, built to the highest qualities. Indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, lift, wine cellar. 5 beds, 5 baths. Built 854 m2, plot 1.314 m2. E&V ID: W-01LC0Z. Price: 3.500.000 €.

Beachfront Golden Mile: Rare opportunity to purchase a frontline beach villa directly on the beach promenade of the Golden Mile for a fantastic price. Breathtaking views from all rooms. 24 hours security. 4 Beds, 3 baths. Built 146 m2, plot 239 m2. E&V ID: W-01O417. Price: 2.000.000 €.

Sierra Blanca: Unique property, built in a castle style around a marvelous grand patio. Offers the highest qualities, extraordinary proportions and materials. Beautiful gardens. 6 Beds, 5 baths. Built 1.270 m2, plot 2.068 m2. E&V ID: W-01LUQL. Price: 4.500.000 €.

Office Marbella: 952 86 84 06 · www.engelvoelkers.com/MarbellaAndEast

Multi-award winning luxury estate agents in over 275 locations worldwide

LOS FLAMINGOS GOLF, BENAHAVIS – 6.000.000€ Ref: 115337 Built 1200m2 · 4 Bedrooms · 4 Bathrooms Features: • Sea and Golf Views • Electric Shutters • Separate Guest Apartment • Central Heating • Heated Swimming pools • Oak Wooden Floors • Domotica Sound and HD TV system • Hand Made Feature Tiles

NUEVA ANDALUCIA, MARBELLA – 2.975.000€ Ref: 112730 Built 946m2 · 5 Bedrooms · 4 Bathrooms Features: • New build • Garage for 3 cars • 5 minutes from Puerto Banus • Underfloor Heating • Spacious Family Home • 24 Hour Security with Night Guard • Private Swimming Pool • Surrounded by Golf Courses

Ref: 99536

SOTOGRANDE ALTO, CÁDIZ – 8.000.000€ Ref: 114444 Built 1600m2 · 5 Bedrooms · 5 Bathrooms Features: • Modern Design • Feature Fireplaces • Security & CCTV System • Automated Lighting & Sound System • Fully Equipped Gym • Swimming pool • Pool Bar • BBQ Area

LOS MONTEROS PLAYA, MARBELLA – 7.950.000€ Built 1500m2 · 7 Bedrooms · 7 Bathrooms Features: • 200m From Beach • Guest Apartment Suite • Exterior Summer Kitchen • Entertainment Area • Cinema Room • Fitness Area • Steam Room • Underfloor Heating

Fine & Country Marbella Marbella Club Hotel, Bulevar del Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, 29600 Marbella, Málaga, Spain

tel +34 952 76 40 10 email marbella@fineandcountry.com www.fineandcountry.com

Marbella

LA ZAGALETA GOLF, BENAHAVIS – 5.900.000€ Built 769m2 · 4 Bedrooms · 4 Bathrooms Features: • Unique Modern Design • Geothermal Energy System • Home Automation System • Jacuzzi

Ref: 101206 • State of the Art Lighting • Under Floor Heating • Wine Cellar • 369m sq. Terrace

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

In line with this month’s focus, we bring you

Cinema

a little closer to magical Morocco,

Home Viewing

Music

Books

Gadgets

Cars: The Lexus RC F Sports Coupé

suggesting top reads on the life and cuisine of this inspiring country. Music, film and gadget lovers will love browsing through our collection of latest releases, while car buffs can rev up their adrenalin in the brand new Lexus RC F Sports Coupé.

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trend CINEMA

WORDS MARISA CUTILL

OF THE MONTH

e BLOCKBUSTER

The Monuments Men » GENRE Action/

Biography

» DIRECTOR George

Clooney (Siriana)

» ACTORS George

Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon

ry of a Based on the true sto nt, The hu re asu tre ng ati fascin ion film act an is n Monuments Me War II rld Wo a on s tre cen which arduous the h wit d platoon entruste sterpieces ma c isti art ng cui res of task g in Germany. from Nazi thieves residin g Museum The platoon, comprisin Art Historians, d an ors Curators, Direct determined were unlikely yet highly allow 1,000 to d use heroes who ref the wrong in up d en to art of years hands.

» GENRE Drama/ Comedy » DIRECTOR Spike Jonze » ACTORS Joaquin Phoenix,

Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams

Her

Her is a quirky romantic comedy set in a future in which bookish intellectual, Theodore (played by Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with an artificially intelligent computer system known as ‘Samantha’. As he begins to realise that he has found a soul mate in one he can never have, he begins to question what went wrong between him and his ex-wife, and why what began so well ended up so bitterly. Her is quite a profound reflection on the nature of urban isolation and the as yet untold effect technology can have on humans in the future. It is also one of the most engaging films you are likely to see this year.

» GENRE Thriller » DIRECTOR Kenneth

» GENRE Drama » DIRECTOR Scott McGehee,

» ACTORS Chris Pine, Kevin

» ACTORS Julianne Moore,

Branagh (Thor)

Costner, Keira Knightley

David Siegel (The Deep End)

Alexander Skarsgård, Steve Coogan

» GENRE Fantasy/Drama » DIRECTOR Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind)

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Chris Pine plays Tom Clancy’s famous character Jack Ryan – a young CIA recruit who discovers an insidious plan to sabotage the US economy through a massive terrorist attack. Pine is joined by Keira Knightley (who plays his girlfriend, Cathy), Kevin Costner (playing his supervisor) and Kenneth Branagh himself (who plays Russian oligarch, Viktor Cherevin).

» ACTORS Colin Farrell, Jessica

What Maisie Knew

This film is based on the novel of the same name, by Henry James. Maisie is a six-year-old girl who is caught in the middle of a bitter custody dispute between her mother, Susanna (an ageing rock star) and her father, Beale (an art curator). In an effort to win the decisive battle, Beale marries Maisie’s nanny and Susanna marries her friend, Lincoln. As the battle grows in intensity, Maisie begins to grow fond of the new persons in her life.

Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe

Winter’s Tale

Colin Farrell plays Peter, a young thief who falls madly in love with an heiress whose home he breaks into. When Peter loses his love and later discovers he has the power of reincarnation, he grows determined to unite body and soul with his soulmate, in another life…

16 / MARCH 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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trend HOME VIEWING

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

» GENRE Adventure » DIRECTOR Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks)

» ACTORS Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan » IMDB RATING 6.1/10

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Lily Collins channels her adventurous spirit in The Mortal Instruments, in which she plays Clary, a young teenager who discovers that she descends from a line of warriors entrusted with protecting the Planet from otherworldly forces. Clary discovers that other youngsters share her gift and, together, they delve into an alternate version of New York called Downworld, to battle against the demons that aim to eradicate humanity.

ASE OF THE MONTH

Prisoners

D RELE e FEATURED DV » GENRE Crime/ Drama

» DIRECTOR

Denis Villeneuve (Maelstrom) » ACTORS Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis

» IMDB

RATING 8.1/10

loving family man who Hugh Jackman plays a s imaginable when suffers the greatest los napped. Caught in kid is er his little daught he grows determined the throes of despair, ric young man is ent ecc to prove that an ond the bounds of the kidnapper, going bey lenhaal, meanwhile, Gyl e Jak legality to do so. ive whose every is a keen young detect confined bounds the action moves within ich moves along at of reason. The film, wh features a surprising breakneck speed and ns, begs one crucial tur and sts series of twi should our instincts ce: question of its audien less of the fact that always be trusted, regard lation of others’ basic this may entail the vio human rights?

The Trip

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reprise their roles from Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story in this deliciously dry, witty film, which highlights the misfortunes of the rather odd yet dynamic duo as they journey through the English countryside. The madness begins when Steve Coogan accepts a commission from The Observer to review some of the finest restaurants in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. When Steve’s girlfriend decides not to accompany him at the last minute, he invites his old friend Rob to join him, only to discover that the tension between them has intensified, rather than abated, over the years. On the upside, they also reignite the inimitable chemistry that they shared in the past, as they wine, dine and imitate Liam Neeson and Woody Allen to no end.

Epic » GENRE Animation » DIRECTOR Chris Wedge (Robots) » VOICES Amanda Seyfried, Josh

Hutcherson, Beyoncé Knowles » IMDB RATING 6.7/10

A teenager is whizzed away from the comfort of her home to the heart of an epic forest battle between the forces of good and evil. She teams up with a gang of do-gooders in an attempt to save the Planet from the biggest environmental threats.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

» GENRE Comedy » DIRECTOR Michael Winterbottom (Code 46) » ACTORS Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Paul Popplewell, Margo Stilley

» IMDB RATING 7/10

Young Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon and a demigod in his own right, has recently saved the world but, soon, he begins to wonder if his powers are a blessing or a curse. When he learns that a hoard of mythological monsters (including the fearful Charybdis) are threatening to destroy the sanctuary of the Gods, Percy and his friends head for the Sea of Monsters – more commonly known as the Bermuda Triangle – to save the Olympians from extinction.

» GENRE Fantasy » DIRECTOR Thor Freudenthal

(Hotel for Dogs) » ACTORS Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson » IMDB RATING 6/10

18 / MARCH 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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trend MUSIC

¿QUÉ PASA?

WORDS RIK FOXX

It might only be March but already there are a few names scheduled to appear on the Coast during the summer. If you didn’t already know, this year’s Starlite Festival (July 23 – August 23) in Marbella has so far named KOOL AND THE GANG, JULIO IGLESIAS, GLORIA GAYNOR and Spanish superstar ROSARIO. And the initial Sun 101 Festival in Málaga finds FRANZ FERDINAND headlining with support from UK alternative dance band the CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, French rockers RINOCEROSE and Spanish indie outfit LORI MEYERS. ROBERT PLANT keeps turning down a tour with his old LED ZEPP pals but that doesn’t stop him mixing it up with other musicians and on July 27 he is bringing his SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS to Málaga’s Plaza de Toros (info: www.ticketmaster.es). Meanwhile, this month Málaga’s Teatro de Cervantes hosts blues legend JOHN MAYALL on the 5th and if you like 1940s big band swing, the GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA play on the 10th (ticket info for both: www. teatrocervantes.com).

One of the worst kept secrets in the biz was finally made official recently when FLEETWOOD MAC announced that CHRISTINE MCVIE had rejoined the band. She was responsible for some of their biggest hits but left them in 1988. This reunites the line-up that recorded such classic LP’s as Rumours (1977), Tusk (1979) and Tango In The Night (1987) and they will now write then record a new album.

Not long to go to the World Cup finals now and according to her management, JENNIFER LOPEZ will record the official anthem. We Are One will be sung in English, Spanish and Portuguese featuring CLAUDIA LEITTE and PITBULL, who also is on the new ENRIQUE IGLESIAS single I’m A Freak (out March 16). SNR. IGLESIAS has also teamed up with KYLIE MINOGUE for the track, Beautiful. It’s not known when this will see the light of day as both artists record for different companies who both want sole rights to the song. In the meantime the Aussie pocket rocket releases her first album in four years on March 17, Into The Blue will feature the single Kiss Me Once, which will land a week earlier.

n the all clear on his cancer Now BRIAN MAY has been give EN with a world tour on the QUE for scare it’s all systems go M LAMBERT possibly on vocals. cards later this year with ADA tracks featuring FREDDIE r-old yea Also three unknown 30 N along with the MICHAEL JACKSO have recently sur faced to go r. And yea last ut abo told e wer s collaborations which fan ut rmed you in past issues abo talking of JACKO, we have info l it’s alleged wel IRS, n rica Ame the owe how his estate is said to e now been officially ser ved that the JACKSON family hav and in back taxes and penalties bill notice for a $700 million Uncle Sam wants his money. US m Salute is selling well in the LITTLE MIX, whose second albu 1986 CAMEO the of er cov a with 16) rch return this month (Ma ef. For single for the BBC’s Sport Reli classic Word Up, the official rity weekend cha the t, rne inte the via TV those who can get UK runs from March 21 – 23.

SHAKIRA has just put the finishing touches to her self-titled new album and has also re-recorded Can't Remember To Forget You, the hit she recently released with RIHANNA, on her own in Spanish. The album is set for a March 25 release.

PHARRELL WILLIAMS had an excellent 2013 and is in demand (ELTON JOHN wants to team up with him) but he has set his sights on working with NOEL and LIAM GALLAGHER… together. And rock legend ROGER DALTREY, who recently announced that THE WHO will make a new album soon, is also trying to reunite the estranged OASIS brothers to appear at one of this month’s Teenage Cancer Trust shows in London as he is the curator for the event.

And while we’re on family feuds – last summer some of you may have enjoyed the original UB40 (at Starlite), or the former lead singer ALI CAMPBELL’S UB40 (in Fuengirola), or both. Well the two parties are at loggerheads again after original co-singer ASTRA left the former last November under a cloud of controversy – then in January he joined the latter. ALI and ASTRA, who were the recognisable voices on all the big hits, are currently recording along with the original keyboardist MICKEY VIRTUE – and they want to call themselves UB40 – which of course isn’t going down too well with ROBIN CAMPBELL, the brother of ALI and now head honcho of the line-up which features the other five original members. An insider said, “This will likely cause major friction and legal action”. Suggestion: how about a good ole fashioned UB40 night out and the last man standing keeps the name of the band?

20 / MARCH 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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trend BOOKS

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

This month, we suggest top reads about a country which has fascinated us for as far back as we can remember:

Morocco

ARABESQUE: A TASTE OF MOROCCO, TURKEY AND LEBANON BY CLAUDIA RODEN

The cuisines of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon are known for their rich flavours, complex combinations and harmonious equilibrium. For thousands of years, these countries were points of transits on the spice routes between the Far East, Central Africa, the Spice Islands and Europe. These days, they are peppered with colourful spice shops, brimming over with spices favoured by locals and tourists alike. In this fabulous book, Claudia Roden introduces budding Chefs to traditional recipes which reflect the changes brought about by modern tastes and technology. Rice, bulgur and couscous are but a few ingredients you will learn to cook to Arabesque perfection.

NEW MOROCCAN STYLE: THE ART OF SENSUAL LIVING BY

SUSAN SULLY

If you’ve always been inspired by Moroccan art and architecture and you would love to bestow your home with a bit of Moroccan charm, this book will make it happen. Featuring a myriad of photographs of homes, resorts and private guesthouses, it reveals how particular fabrics, lighting and textures can make a modern home look invitingly traditional.

A HOUSE IN FEZ: BUILDING A LIFE IN THE ANCIENT HEART OF MOROCCO BY SUZANNA CLARKE

A YEAR IN MARRAKESH BY PETER MAYNE

Few books are said to portray life among Muslims in such an endearing light, as A Year in Marrakesh by Peter Mayne. Monty Python star, Michael Palin, once deemed this book one of the ten best he has read in his life, largely owing to the author’s clear passion for his subject and for his ability to dig beneath the surface. This is definitely not a guide to typical tourist sights or a superficial account of habits and customs; rather, it is a profound and sensitive portrayal of life in Morocco – with all its turmoil, traditions and undeniable magic.

When Suzanna Clarke and her husband bought a run-down house in the ancient town of Fez, their friends and family feared for their sanity. Ensconced within a labyrinth of winding, narrow alleyways, the house was a traditional riad which required extensive repairs. Neither Suzanna nor her husband spoke a word of Arabic, but they were determined to return the home to its original glory using only handmade materials and traditional building methods. However, restoring this mansion was only one part of their adventure; even more enriching were their encounters with the Moroccan people – their customs, festivals and rituals; the tales of djinns and spirits; the aromatic, colourful marketplaces that opened their tastebuds, and their souls, to a rich culture and tradition.

VILLAS AND COURTYARD HOUSES OF MOROCCO BY CORINNE VERNER AND CÉCILE TRÉAL

From the riads of Marrakesh to the palace of Fez, from the Kasbahs of the south to the trading posts of Essaouira, this book is a lavish display of some of the most stunning abodes in Morocco, a country graced with some of the most beautiful displays of architecture in North Africa. Over 200 photographs are accompanied by fascinating essays on the symbolism of various constructions, the tradition of decorative arts and the idea of gardens being metaphors for Paradise. The book delves into modern living spaces as well, whose originality and futuristic leaning surprise.

A HANDFUL OF HONEY: AWAY TO THE PALM GROVES OF MOROCCO AND ALGERIA

BY ANNIE HAWES

At the tender age of 16, author Annie Hawes was deported from Portugal and sent home to England. On the way home, she was taken in by a family hailing from Timimoun in Algeria, a date-farming town deep in the heart of the Sahara. Many years later, when a couple of friends suggested that Annie join them on a trip to Morocco and Algeria, she thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reconnect with her old friends from Timimoun; this book is the result. Annie Hawes writes in the vivid, refreshingly honest style her fans first encountered in her first book Extra Virgin and her knowledge of politics, history and Islamic tradition is related with liberal doses of humour as well as her infectious fascination for some of the most exotic lands in the world.

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Altos Reales, Marbella Golden Mile – Ref. MPV2152

This is a charming, very well maintained villa in what is considered one of the best and safest urbanizations on the Marbella Golden Mile, offering excellent community services including garden and pool maintenance, on-site rubbish collection, and 24-hour manned security with controlled access of non-residents. The property enjoys stunning views of the Marbella coastline, down as far as Gibraltar, from the large roof terrace with bar and BBQ area. This villa makes for a perfect family residence or holiday home. Beds: 3 • Baths: 3 • Built: 313 m2 • Plot: 1.073 m2 • PRICE: 990.000 €

La Trinidad, Marbella Golden Mile – Ref. MPA2007

Apartment in the heart of the Golden Mile, close to the beach and a short drive to Puerto Banus and Marbella town. The property is beautifully presented and tastefully decorated in a modern style. Very exclusive community offering residents indoor heated pool, gymnasium, sauna and summer bar. Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Built: 147 m2 • Terrace: 30 m2 • PRICE: 775.000 €

Altos de Puente Romano, Marbella Golden Mile – Ref. MPV2139

Spacious Andalusian-style villa in this popular gated community on the Marbella Golden Mile. Lifestyle features include large recreation area with indoor pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi, and private swimming pool set in lovely gardens. A perfect family home, well located and close to international schools. Beds: 6 • Baths: 6 • Built: 750 m2 • Plot: 1.100 m2 • PRICE: 1.495.000 €

La Zagaleta, Benahavis – Ref. MPV2141

This charming villa is only a 3-minute drive from the La Zagaleta south entrance gate, and enjoys beautiful panoramic views over the whole coast of Marbella. Traditional in style, with very tasteful finishes and furnishings, the property is comfortable and welcoming. A quality property at a great price. Beds: 3 • Baths: 3 • Built: 360 m2 • Plot: 5.458 m2 • PRICE: 3.250.000 €

Altos Reales, Marbella Golden Mile – Ref. MPA2158

This elegant apartment is situated in the very sought after area of Altos Reales, a very private luxury development with top level security, and offering stunning views and beautifully kept gardens with pool. Decorative features set this property apart and give it a very original touch. Lovely large covered terrace. Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Built: 130 m2 • Terrace: 60 m2 • PRICE: 695.000 €

Centro Expo Loc. 11-12, Bulevar Alfonso Hohenlohe, 29602 (Marbella, Málaga) Tel: 952 866 072 • info@mpdunne.com • www.mpdunne.com MP Dunne Properties 175 Mary Dunne.indd 1

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trend ELECTRONICS

1 – PEBBLE STEEL: Marketed as ‘the premium smartwatch for iOS

and Android’, Pebble Steel is an iconic, colourful, sporty smartwatch with downloadable watch faces and a host of handy Internetconnected apps. See who is calling or receive important emails, without having to pull out your phone in the middle of a meeting! i www.getpebble.com 2 – METAWATCH: This gorgeous piece of eye candy blurs the lines between fashion and technology, mixing stainless steel and leather in an elegant and sophisticated design. Metawatch is a 3ATM water-resistant smartwatch which supports a dual-mode Bluetooth connection to your Android smartphone or iPhone. Check messages, control your playlist, check out the weather, all with a glance at your wrist. i www.metawatch.com 3 – I’M WATCH: One of the outstanding features of this new watch is the array of colours it comes in, and its stunning aluminum chassis which is also available in titanium or gold. The Androidcompatible watch employs Blutooth technology to access your e-mail, Facebook messages, texts, etc. from your phone. i www.imsmart.com

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This new smartwatch boasts a coloured touchscreen display that leverages surrounding light so your screen is visible even in the brightest of sunlight. i www.toq.qualcomm.com 5 – GARMIN VIVOFIT: This trendy fitness band takes you to new heights, tracking your activity level, helping you set goals and marking milestones achieved. i www.garmin.com/vivo 6 – FILIP: A smartwatch for kids? Why not? Filip is a watch/tracker and phone all-in-one, and its colourful, sturdy design makes it an ideal accessory for cool kids of all ages. i www.myfilip.com

GADGETS TO WEAR Marisa Cutillas brings us some new, wearable gadgets, presented at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014, held with much fanfare in Las Vegas recently. 6

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trend MOTORING

2015 LEXUS WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LEXUS

RC F Sports Coupé

The car had been eagerly anticipated, but the elegant new Lexus still created a buzz of excitement when it made its global debut at the big Detroit auto show earlier this year. Quite apart from its appealing and satisfyingly aggressive looks, the RC F promises to be a very quick and agile performer, as room was made under the bonnet for a seriously powerful V-8 engine. For buyers who want something that looks much the same but is a little less exotic, Lexus will offer a base RC (non-F) variant of the car in some markets, powered by a 3.5 litre V-6.

exus says it wants to give owners a ‘back to the track’ feeling, even when they’re just tackling their daily commute in the new car. In other words, Lexus wants to make the RC F great fun to drive and, as a bonus, be guaranteed to draw admiring glances wherever it goes. As far as sporty cars go, Lexus has been offering its SC hardtop convertible for many years, but sales of this rather ungainly-looking car have tailed off and right now it looks as though it will slip into history. For the immediate future, the sports car centerpiece at Lexus will be the RC F coupé and the talk is that the SC, which sits in a higher price class, will

be replaced at some stage by a soft top roadster, but we’ll have to wait and see about that. The RC F is definitely a stunning piece of automotive styling and clearly picks up cues from the LFA supercar, which was produced in very limited numbers not long ago. It is certainly knocking on the door of the supercoupé class, but we won’t really know how good it is until it’s thoroughly tested. This new Lexus should also grant more status to the company’s ‘F’ performance branding, aimed at competing with rivals in the BMW M range, Audi’s S-cars and with the Mercedes-Benz AMGs. Lexus is very highly regarded in the various luxury saloon and SUV classes in which it competes, but still has to carve a serious niche in the world of sports cars. With products like the RC F

coming along, the Lexus image is sure to become a lot sportier. The bodywork includes the usual roster of air scoops and cooling ducts associated with cars like this and the rear spoiler is ‘active.’ which means that it’s movable, popping up at 80 km/h and retracting at 40 km/h. Lexus will offer various carbon fibre bodywork and interior options to enable buyers to ‘customise’ their RC F. Naturally, the car has the huge bonnet-to-spoiler black honeycomb air intake that Lexus calls its ‘spindle grille.’ Not everyone will like this rather brash approach, but you’ll certainly know what’s coming by when you see one of these in your rear-view mirror. The predatory look of the car is finished off with ultra-wide tyres and huge 19-inch alloy wheels (in various styles), which are handpolished for some trim versions.

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Power for the RC F comes from a 460-horsepower, 5.0 litre V-8, which delivers an appropriate amount of torque, making it the most powerful full-production Lexus ever. This mighty engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels in classic fashion. Lexus has taken all kinds of steps to make this road-going racer a very safe car, but enthusiasts will find that the best safety feature of all are the four-wheel ABS disc brakes manufactured by Brembo of Italy – the company that supplies brakes for Formula One and other major race series. They’re bound to be real ‘stoppers’ and if the efforts of the driver aren’t quite enough in a panic stop, electronic brake force distribution (EBD) lends some help. The cockpit again pays homage to the fabled LFA, though few will complain about that. It’s very driveroriented and should please owners who really like to feel ‘part of the car’ when they’re out and about. The elliptical cross-section steering wheel is of small diameter and nicely thick-rimmed, again hinting at competition car origins. The hip-hugging seats keep the occupants in place if the driver is exploiting the car’s nimble handling on a winding road. Lexus will offer five leather trim choices, all with contrasting stitching, pointing out that the seats are “designed to resemble the look of tight-fitting athletic sportswear,” which

is an interesting comparison. As with all Lexus products, exceptionally high quality and fastidious attention to detail come with the admission price. Some very lofty luxury carmakers use Lexus as a quality benchmark, as some will grudgingly admit. The RC F instrument panel is arranged around one huge dial which changes according to which of four driving modes is selected. Modes include Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. When these changes are made, information on the dial changes along with text size and colour. Pilots familiar with today’s ‘glass cockpit’ aircraft will know all about screens with information options. The standard (non-F) RC uses a more conventional instrument array based on two large dials. Other than the widely praised LFA, of which only 500 were ever built, the RC and RC F are the most exciting cars we’ve seen from Lexus for quite some time. They should create some serious competition for other new performance coupés like the new BMW M4 and recently introduced Jaguar F-Type Coupé. No pricing has been announced as yet and it may be a few months before this car arrives at Lexus dealers. Since it’s based on the 350 IS F four-door sports saloon in many ways, the price should not be that steep – perhaps 20 per cent to 30 per cent above a well equipped IS F. e

Z ENGINE 5.0 litre, 460-horsepower V-8. Z TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic with steering wheel paddles for manual gear selection. Z ACCELERATION Zero to 100 km/h in well under 5.0-seconds (estimated using data supplied by Lexus). Z TOP SPEED Estimated at 270 km/h. Z I LIKED Great-looking sports car with groundhugging lines, attractive body sculpturing and superbly executed interior. Lots of power on tap and handling to match. Great driver-focused interior with outstanding fit and finish. Impressive treatment of instrumentation and controls. This should be a superlative grand touring car. Z I DIDN’T LIKE So far, everything seems fine, but that huge grille may be a little overpowering to some, even if it is becoming a Lexus brand signature. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES BMW M4, Jaguar F-Type Coupé, Audi S5 and probably several more, depending on the final price of the RC F. Z WHO DRIVES ONE? Lexus lovers who yearn for a car that borrows some styling cues from the legendary LFA, but doesn’t cost a fortune. Drivers who want all the best features of a potent, taut handling, sports coupé, but would like some Lexus comfort to go along with it. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY The RC F will appear during 2014 as a 2015 model. Prices to be announced.

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CULTURE / HISTORY / FEATURES

focus FAMOUS PEOPLE / INTERVIEWS / HUMOUR

Discover the unique beauty of Moroccan Art and Décor, marvel at magnificent exponents of Moroccan Architecture and enjoy our fascinating features on the F1 Season Preview and Oscar-winning Director, Martin Scorsese.

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Moroccan Art and Décor

Moroccan Architecture

F1 Pre-season Tests in Jerez

Martin Scorsese and the Culture of Film

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THE FOCUS decor

From its art to its décor, Moroccan aesthetics are a study in visual seduction

n Morocco, decoration and art aren’t perfected over centuries and handed WORDS Michel cruz rigidly distinct disciplines. Indeed, they down through generations, women from flow one into the other, overlapping to different regions developed their own create interior spaces that work with the ornate architecture and distinctive patterns and tribal identities. The fact that they were intricate craftsmanship of archways, stucco detailing and wooden derived from and continue to reflect their physical surroundings is ceilings to produce decors that are intimate, comfortable and evident, for the most traditional types include the thick rugs made by strangely seductive. the Beni Ourain in the cold heights of the Atlas Mountains and the From the beginning, art, architecture and decoration have been flat-woven carpets used by nomadic Bedouin who pitched tents in extensions of one another in this part of the world. Though ancient the dry wastes of the Sahara. cave paintings depicting man’s early accomplishments have been found in Morocco, the later introduction of Islam from Arabia limited From the desert to the town the development of painting as we know it in the West. In its stead Where the former was used to provide warmth and comfort in cold there arose a fascinating ability to create designs from complex mountain hovels the latter is typical of the nomad’s need to create geometric shapes that found its expression in tiles, wall hangings, a sense of home and comfort in tents that could be pitched in the soft furnishings, copperware and of course the intricately worked evening and taken down again in the morning. It is from this tradition carpets whose origins date back to the region’s original Berber that the languid element of Moroccan decors hails, as the more important tents would be covered with rugs, silk drapes, almost cultures. These sturdy woven rugs are a starting point almost as old as the Roman-style chaises longues and a profusion of silk, leather and cave paintings themselves, for it is said that the indigenous people carpeted cushions strewn about to produce the luxuriant, soft-edged of Morocco have been weaving them for thousands of years. In skills interior that later found its way into luxury homes.

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Add the typical little copper tables on wooden legs, smoking pipes and terracotta earthenware scattered about the centre of the tent and you have the makings of a true Bedouintype feast. It’s no coincidence that this style of décor has been incorporated into fixed abodes as well, lending itself as it does to a convivial enjoyment of life’s comforts, and as elements from the desert migrated to the towns and capitals of the kingdom they were adapted to the new surroundings. In the process, places such as Rabat and Fez developed their own distinctive weaving styles, the old imperial city’s characterised by geometric patterns and today’s

royal capital evolving floral and diamond-shaped motifs that continue to be hand-woven to this day. If the rugs were also used in personal adornment and on saddles, then the leather used in saddles, boots and cushions likewise made the transition from the desert to the town, where it became the centre of an important leatherworking craft for which especially the tanneries of Fez became famous. Prepared to ancient techniques and using natural dyes, goat and later also sheep and calf hide was used to create soft, pliable but also

durable leather products such as sandals, poufs and binding for books and ornaments. With them came hand-beaten copperware that was equally intricate in its decorative detailing. Large yellow copper trays used as table tops, serving trays and purely decorative items became a speciality in urban centres, along with smoking pipes, decanters and other ornamental pieces that added lustre and status to interiors. The latter was also achieved with sensuous silk furnishings and sheer drapes that were used inside and out, creating in

the process a slightly decadent and playful element that offset the heavier components of Moroccan décor, such as dark wooden furniture. Light sandalwood items such as incense stands and boxes have become another iconic part of the country’s decorative repertoire, which reached a peak with the exquisite wall hangings, or haiti. Made especially in Fez by specialised male needle workers from delicate silk velvet embroidered with gold thread, they were the preserve of the very rich, who used them to adorn the most important rooms or to decorate spaces for great events such as weddings, parties or important visits.

The art of Visual

Seduction

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As the transition from Naturally cold to the touch, Bedouin tents to opulent they kept interiors and Moroccan homes and courtyards cool, were easy Art, décor and architecture merged into one palaces was made, the to clean and added colour elements of Moroccan and decoration without décor changed accordingly, adding light detailed zelij stucco plaster carved into delicate the need for constant repainting. Moreover, in metalwork tables and lanterns inlaid with tiles Arabic calligraphy that detailed elements from the hands of Muslim craftsmen, the humble tile and coloured glass. Suddenly, the ambience was the Koran. Where the stucco was one of those came together to produce fantastic mosaics of more severe and formal, though many attempted highly ornate details that signified the wealth of geometric perfection and detail. Used on floors, to recreate the languid atmosphere of the tribal the homeowner, tiles became a more universally walls, ceilings, fountains, pillars, baths and even chief’s tent. Instead, Moroccan interiors evolved applied form of decoration that could be found in furniture pieces such as tables and cupboards, in an environment of marble floors, beautifully in mosques, palaces, public spaces and normal Moroccan tiles rose to dizzy heights of creative painted and worked wooden ceilings, intricate homes. Known as zellige, they are perhaps the genius in which Meknes and once again Fez stood archways and recesses that recalled the Mihrabs most visible part of Moroccan décor, and though out. It is perhaps in tiles that the link between of mosques. Moroccan tile making flowered into a true art that Morocco and especially Southern Spain is most This was a world of marble, plaster and reached its zenith during the Hispano-Moorish evident, as both have a strong tradition of tile stucco, where fountains trickled within earshot era, these enamel-glazed slices of terracotta were making that plays a prominent and practical part and cornices and pillars were adorned with also of immense practical value. in typical décor.

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This ensemble, at once so exotic and typically Moroccan, has gradually gone on and conquered the world. Where Moroccan décor was once associated with the Arabian Nights and as such played to the fancy of wealthy Europeans and Americans, who liked to create Moroccan rooms in this style, today Moroccan design is an established presence around the world and one of the leading inspirations for interior designers, fashion designers, artists and even architects. Though few follow in the footsteps of 19th century dandies and decorate entire rooms in the Moroccan style, it has become highly fashionable to blend exotic elements of decoration into our own homes, regardless of the prevailing school of style. By the 1970s leather poufs and stools had become de rigueur, and while they now look hopelessly dated they have been replaced by elements ranging from coloured stone ornaments, low Moroccan style chaises longues and terracotta

Conquering the world earthenware to copper, leather and sandalwood ornaments, not to mention traditional rugs, cushions and those highly effective sheer drapes. Moroccan style furniture is also a popular detail to be mixed in to tastefully eclectic interiors, and even tiles have made their way into kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor areas and in some cases living rooms. For most of its history, Morocco’s artists were its artisans and master craftsmen, rather than the painters and sculptors we know in the West, but in recent years a body of local artists has evolved that fits western descriptions of the term. And not without success, for they have found a receptive international market already enamoured of their country’s stylistic traditions. New painters

and photographers are breaking with tradition and depicting the world around them or drawing on their roots to venture into the world of modern abstract art. The large diaspora of Moroccans across Europe has no doubt aided in this process, and now the country is producing a new crop of modern contemporary artists alongside a still thriving industry of traditional crafts. As the masses follow in the footsteps of sophisticated artists, world travellers and designers, they too will discover the seductive ambience of Moroccan interiors first hand and perhaps be inspired to create entire Moroccan decors back home – or renovate riads as the likes of Richard Branson and Yves Saint-Laurent have done – attempting to recreate a world of natural dyes, rich textures, handmade ornamentation and the lure of the exotic that is inherent in every Moroccan interior. e

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THE FOCUS architecture

Moroccan The two faces of

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Morocco is a land of mysterious, exotic towns hewn out of stone and plaster, criss-crossed by alleyways, where a sea of flat rooftops is punctuated with tall minarets and lively Kasbahs that contrast with the peaceful serenity of private patios.

o foreign eyes, Morocco’s towns represent the essence of Arabian exoticism complete with medieval city walls and grand entrance gates, narrow cobbled streets that create an internal labyrinth and lively souks from which the quintessentially North African sounds and scents add to the visual impact. Add Arabian bath houses, tanning yards, grand riad houses with their opulence ensconced behind tall walls that separate peaceful colonnaded patios from dark alleyways, and the picture begins to take form. In this world of tightly packed flat-roofed structures the horizontal townscape is pierced by the minarets of mosques that with the exception of a few large squares provide the only open spaces in an otherwise congested pedestrian setting. Homes are designed to keep the onslaught of the sun’s rays at bay, so windows are small and interior spaces dark – unless you have the good fortune of owning a riad – a grand Moroccan town residence. In the hot air all is still, but as the day fades and temperatures drop, life floods back into the streets, Kasbahs and large squares, whose open-air entertainment and al fresco eateries make them the evening hub of action.

architecture WORDS Michel cruz Photography Jean-Marie Monthiers (FOBE House)

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Moroccan towns have been designed around this daily ebb and flow of life for centuries, and yes, they are a North African representation of the Arabian town, but also touched by Phoenician, Roman, Mediterranean, French and, of course, indigenous Berber influences. The colonising Phoenicians and Romans brought the concept of the villa, a private and opulent space set behind high walls and built around an interior courtyard whose fountains provided cooling refreshment, further enhanced by the flowering blossom of fruit trees. The Romans also contributed the public baths that are still such an integral part of Moroccan life, as well as the large squares that provide the main civic spaces. In classical times kings added splendid private gardens, but it was the colonial power, France, that introduced the concept of the public garden, as well as rationally planned zones dedicated to the business of governance or commerce. Essentially, though, the Moroccan town is still a pretty much intact example of a medieval town, and while it may seem so alien to our western perception it shares many features with European towns of old.

Moroccan classics Think of typical Moroccan townscapes and you picture the iconic blue-washed walls of Chefchaouen in the mountains near the country’s Mediterranean coast. Densely settled with Muslims expelled from Spain after the Reconquista, Chefchaouen’s natural blue hues cover a town whose plasterwork appears to have run like the hot wax of a candle, blurring the normally hard edges between wall and street. It’s a look that is unique enough to have turned this little town into a world heritage site and a firm favourite on the tourist map, but travel several hundred kilometres and the equally iconic terracotta city of Marrakech is a local adaptation of the same thing. Constructed with the local smoky pink earth and stone, Marrakech has a uniformity of colour that even extends to the new ‘Westernised’ district, with

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its grand avenues and boulevards. Travel across the High Atlas range and you come to perhaps the most iconic of all of Morocco’s towns, Ouarzazate. Though less important to Moroccans themselves than the royal town of Fez, much of whose splendour was built by hundreds of thousands of slaves imported from Europe and Africa, Ouarzazate is the place that has most captured the imagination of Westerners. Looming up as it does out of an arid landscape, this terracotta town has all the mystery and exoticism that Moroccan architecture can conjure up. Though not an imperial town full of palaces like Fez, Ouarzazate’s splendour is an altogether more vernacular organic one built out of the red soil of the region. Its tall town walls, cool narrow streets and ornately decorated turreted houses give us a sense of what the classical cities of Babylonia and Egypt might have been like, and with the Sahara sprawling outwards from it there is little wonder that this location should have been chosen for the filming of epics ranging from Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy and Gladiator to Legionnaire. Beautifully carved, the soft-looking stone from which they are built gives the tight-packed houses of Ouarzazate a gently flowing architecture with a uniquely alluring, almost sensual geometry to it. Here, right angles are chiselled by the wind, the malleable stone rounded to produce an interaction of forms and textures that is further enhanced by

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A bridge between architectural traditions the ever-changing hues of terracotta. Sometimes light brown, sometimes glowing a bright red that changes to orange and golden yellow as the sun’s rays disappear on the horizon, the walls of Ouarzazate appear to be a living entity dotted with the small, dark window holes that attempt to keep the intense heat out. Still exerting a romantic pull on visitors today, the architecture of this singular region has inspired styles around the world – not least in Marbella, where influential architects such as Melvin Villaroël introduced it in developments that have since become local landmarks. Originally applying the soft-edged lines of Ouarzazate’s seductive architecture to Marbella, they later also included the distinctive red clay colour that grew and grew in popularity until it began to challenge the town’s traditional whiteplastered hegemony – creating in the process luxurious, idealised versions of Southern Morocco’s architecture within the green setting of the Costa del Sol.

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As influenced as Morocco has been by the styles, structures and town planning of both the Western and Arabian worlds, so this country has also had a remarkable influence on architectural development within these regions. First it gave its own interpretation to such classic Mediterranean architectural features as the patio, colonnaded courtyard, roof tiles, water features such as fountains and large rectangular pools. Linked to this were the high walls that sheltered private quarters from the world where especially the women of the household could lounge, wash or relax in privacy. The classical arch was further developed into the archetypal horseshoe shape that somehow typifies Morocco. Not surprisingly, all these elements were also exported back and forth with Spain when it was under Muslim rule. From the countless arches of the grand mosque of Córdoba and the infinite detail of the stucco work seen in Granada’s Alhambra to the beautifully worked wooden ceilings of luxury homes both Spanish and Moroccan, the influences are clear to see.

The sensual, easy flowing lines of early Moorish architecture fed back into Europe via Spain, where they later evolved into the Mudéjar style that remained popular long after Muslim influence had waned. French colonisation of the region in the 19th century brought renewed attention to Moroccan exoticism, and produced an Arabic romanticism that spread across Europe and North America and produced the flowering of the Neo-Mudéjar architectural movement in Spain. This Moorish revival produced notable buildings such as the Gran Teatro Falla in Cádiz, as well as the main bullrings of Madrid and Lisbon, but it is in Andalucía especially that the Hispano-Moorish connection remains the most evident in the appearance of villages and the architecture of homes. Spanish and modern architects alike continue to draw inspiration from the fertile grounds of Moorish architecture, just as artists have long since been mesmerised by the

intricate glazing and patterns of Moroccan-style tiles, but as Morocco seeks to preserve its own historic heritage and overcome some less than successful ventures into modern internationalist architecture, it is forging a style that is at once avant-garde yet also reflective of its cultural and geographic environment.

FOBE House, Marrakech For too long modernising influences were mere copies of imported styles. Where the Portuguese influence on Essaouira is the product of centuries of interaction and the French left behind a curious but beautiful legacy of Art Deco buildings in some of its former administrative centres, post-independence experiments with the creation of modern urban centres coincided with an era in international architecture that was not reputed for its artistry. Indeed, post-war construction was largely functional, engineering-driven and devoid of soul. In being so universal, it had short-lived

glamour appeal but was detached from its surroundings, quite apart from the fact that its scale tended to dwarf and alienate the humans it was meant to serve. As a result, cities such as Casablanca became known for their broad avenues, tall buildings and traffic jams. Perfect on paper, they suffered from the same problems that befell planned metropolises such as Brasilia, but were even more alien to a culture used to tight, intimate spaces and irregular patterns. Marrakech went the other way and appears to be expanding through contemporised versions of its traditional architecture, complete with terracotta colouring, though the conversion from honeycomb pedestrian plan to a rigid street grid is not as easily camouflaged, as is the urban sprawl it engenders. New architects are therefore looking to integrate classic Moorish elements into stylistically modern designs in a desire to create an avant-garde style that feels at home within the Moroccan environment.

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An example of this is the FOBE House designed by French architect Guilhem Eustache. Situated in the village of Tassoultante, just under ten kilometres from Marrakech, it was commissioned as a thoroughly modern villa that could blend into its 2.5 hectare estate of local scrub dotted with plantations of olive, palm, eucalyptus, mimosa and fruit trees. Though Paris-based, Eustache was chosen not only for his credentials as a modern architect but also because he knows the Moroccan subject matter well. “Morocco bewitched me as soon as I began to absorb its intense sights, sounds and scents,” says Guilhem, “and the Moroccan projects I have worked on have certainly been fed by the rich impressions that are so freely available here.” His visual references and inspirations are many and varied, both current and historical. “All the impressions we carry with us – some of them for a very long time – eventually slip into our work. It’s a mysterious process.” So, instead of working from a severe conceptual basis he allows the setting and its cultural connotations to flow into his designs, working in an intuitive manner rather than to a checklist of ‘Moroccan elements to include’. The views of the Atlas Mountains were always going to play a part in this house, as was the flatness of the terrain, the orientation to the sun and how this affects temperature management and shadows cast. The latter was used to great effect in combination with the simple but powerful geometry of the structure, while it was decided to limit the size of the villa in order not to dominate its immediate surroundings but blend in with them. “A site such as this fills in many of the blanks itself,” says Guilhem, “as it becomes clear where you should place it and orientate it to best protect the inhabitants from factors such as sun and wind.” He insists that the style, too, flowed out of its surroundings. “From a distance you see a white square, but as you move closer it becomes a cube, a white wall, a tube. Another rectangle turns out to be a white wall and a small triangle a pyramid.” By

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using space and angles, the architect has created an interaction of light and perspective that keeps changing as the day progresses. Though its modern styling is universal, it contains cultural references that are both practical and aesthetic in nature. These include cool, highceilinged rooms with a narrow window surface that frames the view of a long, narrow pool, clean white walls and the contrasting shadows cast by the strong Moroccan sun. Set within its own grounds, the villa catches cooling breezes as it contemplates the Atlas, using ancient Moorish principles of hot air cooling over water surfaces, double walls that moderate temperature and outer spaces that channel drafts.

In applying classic wisdom that harnesses naturally available resources, the need for air conditioning or heating has been greatly reduced, while an approach sensitive to both plot and setting shows that it is possible to create truly avant-garde architectural statements that are nonetheless connected to the physical and human landscape within which they find themselves. It is only by belonging to its setting in this way that modern architecture can escape the manner in which it has traditionally sought to impose itself on sensitive environments, and begin to add to their continued evolution. g www.guilhemeustache.com

“ Wh e n yo u are s er i o u s ab ou t R eal Es tate” ED C E! U D IC RE PR

Ref: R2083544 – Price: 290.000€

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Beautiful villa, Atalaya Alta, San Pedro West

–– Reduced from 2.750.000 euros –– Only 5 minutes drive to Puerto Banús –– Totally renovated in modern style –– Large pool and garden with fruit trees Four bedrooms, four bathrooms Built: 363 m2 • Plot: 5.800 m2

Corner townhouse, Monte Biarritz, San Pedro West

–– Nice and luminous house –– Corner unit with a private garden and its own garage –– Walking distance to restaurants, shops and even to the beach –– Roof terrace and space to make an extra room at the 3rd floor Three bedrooms, two bathroom Built: 203 m2 • Terrace: 58 m2

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Luxurious garden apartment, Los Flamingos, San Pedro West

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Lovely garden apartment, Monte Biarritz, San Pedro West

–– Covered terrace and private garden –– Community garden with pool, garage and storeroom –– Walking distance to beach and restaurants Two bedrooms, two bathrooms Built: 84 m2 • Terrace: 14 m2

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Elegant villa, El Paraiso, San Pedro West

Individual villa, Atalaya, San Pedro West –– Beautiful and very spacious villa –– Excellent value! –– Large plot with nice private pool –– Quite and very nice residential area

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Four bedrooms, three bathrooms Built: 200 m2 • Plot: 1.650 m2

Four bedrooms, three bathrooms Built: 440 m2 • Plot: 1.150 m2

ma r be l l a -e sta te s.com Tel. +34 952 90 42 44 info@marbella-estates.com 175 Marbella Estates.indd 1

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Rear of the Torro Rosso Car

THE FOCUS sports

THE DAWNING OF ) t e ANOTHER NEW ERA y ( WORDS MIGUEL REYNOLDO PHOTOGRAPHY JON SEGUI

Formula 1 is introducing arguably the biggest set of rule changes in its history. New sounding engines and unusual car numbers are just two reasons that the sport will be different in 2014 and Andalucía’s very own Jerez was the first to witness the new ‘green’ F1 generation. Kamui Kobayashi – Team Caterham

Felipe Massa – Team Williams

Pirelli Tyres

Red Bull Team Photo Christian Horner, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo & Adrian Newey

Felipe Massa

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t approximately 7am (CET) on March 16, a full rev rush for the first bend of the formula one season in Melbourne, Australia will be watched by those not sleeping. As mentioned in the forward this is arguably the biggest set of rule changes in the sport’s history. The ear drum busting banshee wail of the 2.4-litre V8 is no more and is replaced by the lower pitched growl of the turbo fitted 1.6-litre V6.

The changes In a nutshell, apart from new engines we have the introduction of ERS: the energy recovery system is made up of the KERS system (that has been around for a few years) and a second electric motor fitted to the turbo. There’s a 100kg fuel limit (last year, there was no race fuel limit and cars used around 160kg per race). Eight-speed, fixed ratio gearboxes instead of seven, plus the annual aerodynamic and tyre tweaks. The new double finishing points for the last race and, last but not least, the cars: the new designs make most of them look like anteaters (or vacuum cleaners) with a phallic appendage at the front – and they are not a pretty sight!

JEREZ SUMMARY The Circuito de Jerez played host for the first preseason test between February 4 and 7. Ten of the 11 constructors were present, only Lotus were missing. Of the 22 drivers present, rookie Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) was the fastest over the four days followed by Felipe Massa (Williams) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) made it a Mercedes-powered 1-2-3. But most noticeable was the inconsistency

Kimi Raikkonen – Team Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton – Team Mercedes

of the teams with Renault engines, especially Red Bull who over the whole week completed a mere 21 laps. World champion Sebastian Vettel posted 11 of those and only finished 17th on the overall time sheets. Red Bull supremo Adrian Newey pulled down the garage shutters early on the last day and has literally ‘gone back to the drawing board’ hoping to concoct a more competitive car for the final two tests in Bahrain which were scheduled to take place from February 19 to 22 and February 27 to March 2. Despite their testing teething problems in Jerez, would you write off Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel’s chances of making it five in a row? The champ, like the other 21 drivers, will have to adapt to all the changes (plus a new wing (mirror) man in Daniel Ricciardo) and they are all in the same boat. Lewis Hamilton will lead the Mercedes charge with team mate Nico Rosberg no doubt on his tail. The Mercpowered McLarens of Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen will be thereabouts with the rookie looking to make his mark. Kimi Raikkonen’s return to Ferrari should be interesting and Fernando Alonso will not want to play second fiddle there. Williams might be worth keeping an eye on having switched from Renault to Mercedes power and both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas might make a few sit up and take note. As for the rest – only time will tell. Bookmakers are offering odds that no driver will complete all 19 races and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has gone as far as saying that he wouldn’t be surprised if half of the field retired in Australia.

New Numbers

Gone are the standard 1 to 23 (number 13 was never used) and personal numbers are introduced yet the always considered unlucky number 13 will be on the livery of Pastor Maldonado’s Lotus. The car numbers for 2014 are: ZZ RED BULL: 1. Sebastian Vettel;

3. Daniel Ricciardo ZZ MERCEDES: 6. Nico Rosberg;

44. Lewis Hamilton ZZ FERRARI: 14. Fernando Alonso;

7. Kimi Raikkonen ZZ LOTUS: 13. Pastor Maldonado;

8. Romain Grosjean ZZ MCLAREN: 22. Jenson Button;

20. Kevin Magnussen ZZ FORCE INDIA: 27. Nico

Hulkenberg; 11. Sergio Pérez ZZ SAUBER: 99. Adrian Sutil; 21.

Esteban Gutiérrez ZZ TORO ROSSO: 26. Daniil Kvyat;

25. Jean-Éric Vergne ZZ WILLIAMS 19. Felipe Massa; 77.

Valtteri Bottas ZZ MARUSSIA: 4. Max Chilton; 17.

Jules Bianchi ZZ CATERHAM: 9. Marcus

Ericsson; 10. Kamui Kobayashi

Team Force India – Driver Nico Hulkenberg

Fernando Alonso – Team Ferrari

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THE FOCUS people

MARTIN

SCORSESE An Unswerving Belief in the Power of the Cinema

“I got to fucking be in a Martin Scorsese movie and I just got nominated for an Oscar!” shouted actor, Jonah Hill. “They gave me the lowest amount of money possible. I said, ‘I will sign the paper tonight… I want to sign them before I go to sleep tonight so they can’t legally can’t change their mind’”. Hill was talking, of course, about The Wolf of Wall Street, one of Scorsese’s best films to date, groundbreaking and unforgettable, beautifully paced yet peppered with repugnant characters who shock because they are real. If you have seen this film, then there can be no doubt in your mind why Jonah Hill, one of Hollywood’s ‘it’ actors, would accept such a ‘meagre’ amount for seven months of work. For most actors, young and old alike in Hollywood, there is one aim in life: to work with Scorsese. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

artin Scorsese has delighted the savvy movie-going public for over three decades, with such eclectic releases as Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), After Hours (1985), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Goodfellas (1990). He thrilled us in Cape Fear (1991), romanced us in The Age of Innocence (1993) and dragged us to the pits of despair in Shutter Island (2010). Those who have only seen Taxi Driver or Goodfellas may fall into the trap of associating the Director with actionpacked flicks populated by rough gangster types. The antidote? Hugo: a visual masterpiece which reveals the origins and the great importance of film making. The Wolf of Wall Street has drawn rave reviews from critics

worldwide, many of whom acknowledge that despite having felt a severe revulsion towards the film’s protagonists (real-life stockbroker, Jordan Belfort and his merry crew), they were besotted by the film’s rhythm, the quality of the acting and above all by Scorsese’s relentless pursuit of truth. The Wolf of Wall Street reveals the highs and lows of Belfort, who lived a life fuelled by money, cocaine and sex. Private jets, luxury yachts and all the ‘friends’ that money could buy were nothing to a man who made $23 million in just two hours. Scorsese invites the audience to a party they would never have attended in their real lifetime. The film portrays Belfort as both charismatic and vile; there is no attempt to chastise or subject characters to a moral code, rather, we are shown their world exactly as it was.

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The Wolf of Wall Street, Shutter Island, Raging Bull, Hugo and Taxi Driver

The Wolf of Wall Street is, perhaps, a wake-up call to those who label Scorsese as excessively violent. For Scorsese, “violence is not pleasant”. It makes its way into films like Raging Bull, as part of the necessity of representing life itself: “That is the human condition and it’s tragic; it will do us in as a species if we don’t learn about it. I don’t put violence out there to enjoy it; my characters pay for it – (in films like) Raging Bull and The Departed”. For Scorsese, violence is sometimes no more than a crucial part of showing who a character is. In an excellent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he spoke of growing up in downtown New York, in an Italian-American area: “There were a lot of good people whom I saw do some not very good things because they had no choice. You can say, ‘Well, they have a choice… they can have an education…’ They couldn’t. Simple. It’s easy for us to talk… I’m interested in that world because I grew up in it. I’m also interested in style.” Scorsese is famed for working with the rare kind of actor that can add a whole new dimension to any script; indeed, he is best known for his films featuring the best actor of all time, Robert DeNiro. Scorsese has often told the press that DeNiro “knows where I come from, who I really am”; the actor and director used to hang out together in the Lower East Side when DeNiro was just an adolescent. Scorsese defines DeNiro as “a friend; a generous, good man who did not take advantage of his power with me.” Scorsese would once again meet his match in the form of Leonardo DiCaprio, whose curious, intellectual nature and willingness to take risks, would strike a chord with the Director. Of course, it helps that DiCaprio is strikingly cultivated – the Director often mentions the actor’s profound knowledge of cinematic history.

When asked what attracts him to specific projects, Scorsese claims that “every film has to count… I’m 71 now, there isn’t much time.” He claims that there were only a handful of films in his life that he felt that he had to make. These include Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. His process in selecting films, he says, is asking himself what he can bring to a potential project that is new and exciting, whether he can bring a new style to it or work on a style he has already used in a new way. In his older years, Scorsese is showing no signs of slowing down; he is simply seeking more meaning through film. One of the things that most preoccupy him is the youth and their relative lack of cinematic culture. In a lecture given in 2013 at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, he made a case for teaching visual literacy in schools: “Young people need to understand that not all images are out there to be consumed like fast food and then forgotten. We need to educate them to understand the difference between moving images that engage their humanity and their intelligence, and moving images that are just selling something”. Important aspects of visual literacy include the study of how ideas and emotions are expressed with the camera using techniques like panning, tracking in and out, booming up and down, closeup, medium and long shots, and how different types of lighting can express a different emotional and psychological viewpoint to the audience. Says Scorsese: “Images are very powerful, so we should

teach the youth how to use or at least interpret them. Just think of the role played by films made in Germany during World War II – just think of how some of these films helped shape the policy of the Third Reich and what that led to… we need to train the eyes and the hearts of students to look at films in a different way to ask questions and be able to point to different ideas, concepts and suggestions.” Scorsese is as much a perfectionist as he is prolific; perhaps this is why some of his films have taken so long to make. His latest project, Silence, took “20 years just to even think about.” Silence is an adaptation of Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence, a drama about a young Portuguese Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan, only to endure cruel torture for refusing to renounce his faith. He is also working on what promises to be a fascinating documentary on former President Bill Clinton, whom he referred to as “a towering figure who remains a major voice in world issues… Through intimate conversations, I hope to provide greater insight into this transcendent figure.” Martin Scorsese has received more honours and awards than we can mention. He ranked second in Total Film Magazine’s list of Greatest Directors of All Time (he lost out to no less than Alfred Hitchcock!), has been listed as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and his films boast a total of 40 Oscar wins thus far. Scorsese may feel that “there is very little time left” but his millions of fans around the world hope, pray and believe that this seasoned Director with an incredibly contemporary outlook on life, will continue to break new ground in the world of cinema. We simply cannot get enough of Scorsese. e

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THE STYLE fashion

Turn me inside-out 48 / MARCH 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

Style icon, David Delfín, is famed for his avante-garde, androgynous designs. This season, he surprises us once again with a pristine cream, white and black collection that conjures images of Alice in Wonderland’s White Rabbit, the mysterious world of the circus and even the solemnity of the deep Spanish South. COMPILED BY Marisa CUTILLAS

Red Rose

White Rose

Black Rose ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2014 / 49

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Only

Style

matters

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s e d s e r o e r a R

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i www.davidelfin.com

Playing with

Perception 56 / MARCH 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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i www.victorioylucchino.com

THE STYLE fashion

Days of

Victorio & Lucchino, Sevillaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most famous sons, present a collection that captures the very essence of romance, with transparencies, feathers and toasty aubergine tones seducing our heart and soul.

WINE AND ROSES

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spa

PRODUCTS / BEAUTY / SPA / SCIENCE

Eat your way to beautiful skin by introducing potent phytochemicals to your diet, discover the wonders of Argan oil and learn about the latest in Fertility Treatments.

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TREATMENTS / HEALTH

Phytochemical power

Beauty news

The Rasul treatment

Argan oil

Fertility treatments

2/24/14 2:09 PM

spa

BEAUTY

1 – CLINIQUE AGE DEFENCE BB CREAM This unique BB cream not only provides ultimate coverage for your complexion, it also contains a powerful blend of anti-ageing antioxidants. 2 – DIOR DIORSKIN NUDE COMPACT A light foundation containing mineralised water and light-reflecting pigments, which impart a youthful, dewy look to skin. 3 – GIORGIO ARMANI MAESTRO FUSION MAKEUP This lightweight foundation and corrector in one covers all blemishes with just a tiny amount. Made without water or powder, it is rich in pigmented oils, which provide flawless coverage. 4 – MAKE UP FOR EVER HD HIGH DEFINITION PRIMER For a truly flawless, polished look, a pre-foundation primer is necessary. Few glide on as smoothly, smell as luscious or last as long as this primer by Make Up For Ever. 5 – L’ORÉAL PARIS REVITALIFT LASER RENEW An anti-ageing cream which offers laser-style results at

a fraction of the cost. Featuring Pro-Xylane, a natural sugar than smoothens out fine lines and wrinkles. 6 – LA MER THE MOISTURIZING GEL CREAM This silky cream is non-greasy yet penetrating, making it an ideal choice to wear beneath your foundation. 7 – ESTÉE LAUDER REVITALIZING SUPREME GLOBAL ANTIAGING CRÈME A potent concoction which smoothens, revitalises and moisturises skin yet is surprisingly light and non-greasy in texture. Featuring sirtuin-3 anti-ageing technology and powerful antioxidant ingredients like bamboo. 8 – SHISEIDO WHITE LUCENT BRIGHTENING PROTECTIVE EMULSION WITH SPF 15 SUNSCREEN A brightening daytime moisturiser which was developed to fight environmental enemies such as UV light, harsh winds and severe weather conditions. It contains Multi-Target Vitamin C, which helps reduce pigmentation, and a Super Hydro-Synergy Complex, which deeply moisturises the skin. i Available at El Corte Inglés, Primor and Sephora.

PRODUCTS

8 6

Products TO WATCH OUT

FOR IN SPRING/ SUMMER 2014

Marisa Cutillas brings beauty buffs a select list of must-haves for beautiful skin this season.

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spa

BEAUTY

Crabtree & Evelyn PAMPERING BATH, FRAGRANCE, NAIL AND SKINCARE FOR THE DISCERNING BEAUTY BUFF

If you’ve been living in Spain all your life, and have just come across the array of exquisite beauty products by American company, Crabtree & Evelyn, then you’ll probably be surprised to learn that the brand has been in business since 1972 and has won more awards than you can poke a stick at, largely owing to its reputation for silky smooth, beautifully fragrant long-lasting products that make a women feel like her most feminine best. Take your pick from this company’s most popular products. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

3 2

PRODUCTS

4 8

1 – OTTOMAN ROSE EAU DE PARFUM – a sweet, light invitation to romance. 2 – VERBENA AND LAVENDER BODY BAR – soothes and nourishes the skin. 3 – HONEY HAND THERAPY – ideal for dry and sensitive hands. 4 – PEAR AND PINK MAGNOLIA BODY SOUFFLE – a light yet moisturising body cream. 5 – CARIBBEAN ISLAND WILD FLOWERS HAND WASH – an exotic, gentle wash for hands.

6 – TAROCCO ORANGE EUCALYPTUS & SAGE SET – featuring a bath and shower gel, body lotion and hand therapy cream. 7 – NAIL LACQUER IN FUSCHIA AND PISTACHIO – the ‘it’ colours of the Spring season. 8 – ROSEWATER SHOWER GEL – a refreshing bouquet of floral seduction. i www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

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spa

HEALTH

THEMUDRASUL TREATMENT

Harnessing the Detoxifying Powers of the

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

ADVICE

Earth

If asked to identify the Arabian treatment par excellence, most spa goers would probably cite the Rasul treatment: a potent combination of mud, herbs, steam and (if you’re lucky) a long, luscious massage involving therapeutic grade essential oils that work on mind, body and soul, making you feel like a Sultan or Princess from 1001 Arabian Nights. It is not surprising that the Rasul Mud treatment, which takes place in a hammam or steam room, is often offered as a ‘couples treatment’: few other spa experiences are quite so sensual or relaxing.

What Does the Treatment Comprise? A Rasul treatment alone (i.e. without a massage afterwards) will usually last for approximately 45 minutes. In some spas, the client applies both the mud and a deep cleansing sea salt scrub to their skin, though for a truly unforgettable experience, we recommend a spa where it is all done for you. In five-star spas, skilled therapists will usually begin by exfoliating your skin with a sea salt scrub, rubbing the latter vigorously onto your skin to eliminate any toxins that may be blocking your pores. A deep cleansing also allows the mud and essential oils to penetrate your skin better, so they can bestow their maximum anti-oxidant and moisturising benefits. After the salt is applied, the therapist will either apply jets to shower it off, or simply layer the mud over the salt. Once the mud has been applied (from face or neck to toe, usually), the therapist will turn up the steam, to open the pores to all the goodness they are receiving. The steam will normally be infused with herbs and spices like thyme and even curry-scented aromas, adding blissful sensations to the experience. For about 20 minutes, the therapist leaves you alone while the steam lulls you into a deep state of tranquility. Afterwards, they shower off the mud, and the Rasul Mud treatment is technically

What Type of Mud is Used?

The mud used in a Rasul treatment is natural, yet it will have been dried, ground to a powder and sieved, to get rid of rough particles and insects. Sometimes, spas use up to three different varieties of mud – one for the face, one for the décolletage and one for the rest of the body.

over. Of course, most top spas will also offer you a soothing massage using essential oils, so you can truly feel renewed and benefit from the powerful properties bestowed by oils such as lavender (which relaxes), cloves (which are anti-microbial) or citrus oils (which lift the mood).

What are the Benefits of the treatment? The immediate benefit of the salt, mud and essential oils will be immediately noticeable in the baby soft smoothness of your skin. The mud, which itself contains moisturising oils, is especially effective on dry skin, since it has a deeply hydrating effect. The treatment detoxifies the skin and promotes the elimination of retained liquids, and is highly favoured by those suffering from joint and muscle conditions and rheumatism, since the heat is soothing and its pain

quelling effects are felt long after the treatment is completed.

Who Should Avoid this Treatment? Those who are pregnant or suffering from conditions such as epilepsy or blood pressure problems should steer clear of the Rasul Mud treatment. If you are suffering from any chronic health condition at all, it is advisable to speak to your doctor about the suitability of various spa treatments. Certain essential oils should also be avoided by those suffering from particular illnesses or conditions. Those suffering from high blood pressure, for instance, should avoid oils like pine, sage, thyme and rosemary. Pregnant women, meanwhile, should steer clear of all these oils as well as jasmine, lemon, cedarwood, chamomile, cinnamon, clove and more. e

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Advanced Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery for Face, Body and Bust Cirumed pairs high academic credentials with latest technologies in modern minimally invasive Plastic Surgery, to bring the best cosmetic surgery to Marbella. All our surgeons are specialist consultants at the Department of Plastic surgery of Spain’s elite hospital, Hospital Quirón. To have been elected amongst Spain’s best surgeons to represent Quirón’s specialist department is not only our best reference, but also our obligation.

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

spa

HEALTH

rgan oil is produced from the kernels of the argan tree (argania spinosa), which grows in the wild in Morocco and adapts wonderfully to harsh climactic conditions, weathering droughts and intense heat. It is also one of the rarest and most exclusive oils in the world, owing to the small area it occupies and the laborious process of extraction. The argan nut is dried and its fleshy pulp, discarded. The nut is then cracked open by hand to obtain the kernels, lightly roasted then ground and pressed, releasing the valuable oil which is then left to settle. Finally, the oil is filtered for a pure, sediment-free product. One of the reasons argan oil is so positively regarded by health and beauty experts alike is its rich essential fatty acid content. It contains about twice the amount of Vitamin E as olive oil, and is rich in saponins (which restores the skinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water lipid layer). Best of all, since it is 100 per cent natural, it can be freely used by the whole family, even those with highly sensitive skin.

ADVICE

BEAUTY FROM HEAD TO TOE

What makes argan such a favoured product by health and beauty buffs is its ability to benefit the skin and hair. Z LUSCIOUS LOCKS: A few drops added to your shampoo will moisturise hair, calm split ends and add lustre and shine. Another way to increase shine is by adding a few drops to your hand and applying to wet hair right after a wash. Z ITCHY SCALPS: Argan oil is used to combat dryness and itching in the scalp; just dab a cotton ball in the oil

and dab it gently over affected areas. The product is also a popular complementary treatment for hair loss, since it promotes circulation when applied topically, reduces dandruff (which adds weight to hair and clogs pores, leading to hair loss) and fights the free radicals that attack the follicles on a daily basis. Z GLOWING COMPLEXIONS: Argan oil is an ideal moisturiser for those with sensitive skin. Completely free of toxic preservatives and artificial fragrances, it is easily absorbed by skin, which avails of its hydrating properties without displaying an unattractive sheen. The oil is also used to

reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, in the face, eye and neck areas. Use it alone or beneath your favourite moisturiser, especially during the Winter season, when skin can appear more chapped and weathered. Z ACNE-FREE SKIN: It may sound odd, but argan is one oil that is an excellent natural product to fight off acne. It keeps skin hydrated without clogging the pores, which is one of the leading causes of acne. Z BEAUTIFUL HANDS: In Morocco, argan oil is often used during long, lazy manicures and pedicures; it is applied to the cuticle area, which is gently pushed back prior to the application of polish. In fact, if you regularly massage your hands with this product, you will find a reduction in the growth of rough, calloused skin around the nails and fingers. Argan oil is also used to combat brittleness in nails, preventing the need for expensive, toxic nail hardeners. Z SMOOTH BODIES: Unlike baby oil, which contains mineral oil derived from petroleum, argan oil is 100 per cent plant-based, making it an ideal product to splash on after a bath or before bed time. In Morocco, it is often used to ease scarring, since it promotes elasticity and firmness. Z HEALTHY SKIN: Conditions like eczema, neuro-dermatitis or psoriasis can be painful, itchy and unsightly. The high Vitamin E content of argan oil protects skin from environmental irritants and soothes uncomfortable itching. Z HAPPY BABIES: Argan oil is one of the few oils you can feel confident about using on babies and young children. Since it is 100 per cent pure and paraben free, it is an excellent oil for the youngest members of the family at bath time, or when a massage is due. e

The Surprising Health Benefits of

ARGAN OIL WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

If your friends are heading for Morocco with striking regularity, it could be because of the beautiful landscapes, the exotic architecture, the aromatic foodâ&#x20AC;Ś then again, it could very well have something to do with the quest for pure, unadulterated argan oil, one of the most hotly solicited health and beauty products of late.

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HEALTH

WORDS DR. NATALIA CASTRO CRUCES PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HOSPITEN out the man’s capacity to fertilise and, therefore, whether the cause of infertility in a couple is masculine in origin. How many attempts at artificial insemination are needed? Normally between four and six attempts are made for each couple. Four attempts with the partner’s sperm and six with anonymously donated sperm from an homologated sperm bank. Are assisted reproduction treatments painful? Artificial insemination is not at all painful. It is a minimally invasive ambulatory technique and takes just a few minutes to complete. It consists of introducing a catheter in the neck of the uterus to deposit the sperm inside the uterus. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycles and sperm microinjection (ICSI) are not painful either – they are carried out in surgery under local anesthetic or

ADVICE

ASSISTED REPRODUCTION In today’s society, fertility problems are becoming more and more common, as are the women who take the decision to become mothers without a male partner.

n these cases, at the HOSPITEN Assisted Reproduction Service we offer a reliable solution through techniques like artificial insemination (with sperm from the woman’s male partner or from a sperm bank), conventional ‘in vitro’ fertilisation (IVF), sperm microinjection (ICSI), vitrification of frozen embryos, testicular biopsy, egg donation, etc. The Assisted Reproduction Service, annexed to the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at HOSPITEN, consists of an experienced multidisciplinary team in which there are also professionals from the fields of Reproductive Biology, Urology, Anesthetics, Radiology and Psychology. Dr. Cruces, at what point should I turn to the Assisted Reproduction Service if I cannot get pregnant? More or less after a year of having sexual relations and trying to get pregnant without being successful. That waiting period drops to six months in women over 35 or in women with a known medical issue. Can a seminogram, or semen analysis, tell if a man is fertile? Of course. The analysis is a basic test to find

operating rooms and intensive care. Thus, the whole process can be carried out in a safe, comfortable environment, avoiding the need to transfer patients from one centre to another. It is of particular interest that the HOSPITEN Assisted Reproduction Service is accredited by the Junta de Andalucía Health Board and meets all current legislation and legal standards required for a centre of its characteristics. g Dr. Natalia Castro Cruces is Head of the Assisted

Reproduction Service at HOSPITEN Estepona. Partido de Velerín, CN340, km 162, Estepona. Tel: 952 760 600. www.hospiten.com

FAQs

sedation and after a few hours the patient has fully recovered and can go home without help. Where do the donated sperm samples come from? They come from an accredited sperm bank, where, prior to donating, donors undergo all types of tests for genetic studies, infection, diseases, etc. All the data, both from the donor and the recipients are completely confidential. Can a woman who wants to be a mother have a consultation although she does not have a male partner? Absolutely; in fact, there are more and more women deciding to have a child alone, without having a partner, male or female. In these cases, it is usual to inseminate with anonymously donated sperm from an homologated sperm bank. Can I turn to the assisted reproduction service to have a second child? Yes, you can. Many couples visit us because they want to be parents for a second time. In these cases we speak of ‘secondary sterility’, when the couple, after their first pregnancy, cannot get pregnant again after trying for a year. If you are 35 or over, it is recommended you visit your gynecologist after trying for a pregnancy for six months. Are the procedures safe? At the Assisted Reproduction Service, we work with state-of-the-art technological means and we are located within a hospital equipped with the best in infrastructure for consultations, laboratory analysis,

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thepro NEWS /ENTERPRISE / LOCAL BUSINESS /

PROFILES / FINANCE / LAW

Ocean Village Gives Sunborn Gibraltar Yacht Hotel a Warm Welcome The Sunborn Gibraltar is a yacht hotel which was recently escorted to its new home in the Ocean Villa Marina. Gregory Butcher, Chairman of Ocean Village, expressed his joy at the new arrival: “When we were contacted a year ago by a Finnish company hoping to bring a luxury yacht hotel to Gibraltar, despite a clear need for five star accommodation, I had my doubts it would actually happen. I am delighted to say that it did and, after extensive ground engineering works at the Marina, Sunborn Gibraltar has become a prestigious addition to our complement of high profile tenants at Ocean Village.” g www.oceanvillage.gi.

Villa Padierna Estates Opens in Puerto Banús The President of Villa Padierna Hotels and Resorts, Ricardo Arranz, recently celebrated the launch of the new Villa Padierna Estates office in Puerto Banús, which will focus on luxury real estate located within the ‘Golden Triangle’ comprising Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís. Arranz and his team also plan on offering new products, such as Residence and Private Residence clubs, in these areas. The ‘Residence’ product involves the purchase of a home for use during two months every year, with all the benefits, installations and services offered by the Hotel, while the ‘Private Residence Club’ product offers buyers the chance to purchase 15 luxury villas within the Villa Padierna Palace Hotel complex. g www.villapadierna.es

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Liberty Seguros Supports Paralympic Games The CEO of Liberty Seguros, Enrique Huerta, recently signed an agreement with the President of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Miguel Carballeda, stipulating the insurance company’s commitment to the ADO Paralympic Plan Rio de Janeiro 2016. Liberty Seguros has been one of the main sponsors of the Spanish Paralympic Team since it agreed to form part of the ADO Plan in 2007, showing its commitment to athletes taking part in the Olympic games of Beijing.

g www.libertyseguros.es

Reality Star Talent Contest Winners The Kempinski Bahía Hotel Estepona hosted the finals of the Costa del Sol International Talent Contest Reality Star 2013, where talented junior and senior contestants battled it out to win the title. The winner of the Senior category was 17 year-old Scottish Singer, Jade Williamson, praised by the judges as a promising young talent. The winner of the junior category was 14 year-old Safina Usmanova from Russia – who captured the judges attention as well as the audience with her amazing vocal and multi-lingual abilities (she sang in English and French). The winners will be invited to different events locally and internationally in the UK, Georgia, Russia and more. g www.reality-star.com

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ProBuddy: Putting an End to Drink-Driving Local company, ProBuddy, aims to help make our roads safer by offering a professional designated driver service that provides affordable chauffeurs to drive clients home in their own vehicles. Available either as a last-minute or pre-booked service, ProBuddy can pick you up in Marbella, San Pedro, Benahavís or Estepona and take you to your destination on the Costa del Sol. The cost is just €1,50 per km of your journey (with no minimum) plus a €7 call-out charge that is waived for first-time users of the service. Chauffeurs are also available to rent by the hour for tasks such as school runs, medical appointments, etc. g Tel: 622 064 065. steve@probuddy.es

Chinese New Year celebrations at BSM Children and teachers rang in the Chinese New Year at the British School of Marbella by dressing up in colourful costumes. The youngsters, who study Mandarin Chinese at the school, learned how to write in Chinese and made dragons as part of the celebrations to welcome the year of the horse.

g www.bsm.org.es

Homage Paid to essential Wine Columnist Marbella's resident wine writer, Andrew J Linn, was honoured recently at a celebration in Marbella. A plaque was presented to Andrew for his appreciation of flamenco and his love of fine wines. The event, held at Ereaga, was attended by many of Andrew's friends and fellow aficionados, as well as regulars of the Marbella Business Institute (founded 1983), of which Andrew has been Chairman for nearly three decades. After the luncheon, a lively flamenco show, starring Marbella's own Maria Alba and other artists, went on into the small hours.

g www.marbellabusinessinstitute.org

Arboretum Marbella Presents Urban Ecological Gardens Arboretum Marbella is proud to announce that it has a brand new project underway, in which locals are invited to plant their very own Urban Ecological Gardens upon land belonging to the Arboretum. The aim, says Founder Alejandro Orioli, is to bring ideals like sustainability to citizens, and to encourage them to change the current state of the Planet through action, reflection and innovation.

g www.arboretummarbella.com

Rovira & Sánchez Law Firm Opens New Marbella Office Rovira & Sánchez, a law firm with over five years experience in the UK and over 20 years experience in Spain, recently opened a new office in Marbella, where experienced staff provide legal services of the highest standard to English-speaking clients. The areas of law covered include commercial, corporate, criminal and civil law, as well as litigation, community of owners, inheritance, wills and conveyancing, etc. g C/ Calvario 8, 1-2, Marbella. Tel: 952 902 227. Marbella@spanishlaw.org.uk

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Luks Marbella VIP Club Event Members of networking group, Luks Marbella VIP Club, gathered together at the Kunsthaus Berlin Marbella gallery, to view a colourful display of art while they socialised and enjoyed a lovely singing performance by Jade Williamson and Reyes Carrillo. The next big event for Luks is the Gala of Queens, to be held at the Beach Club of the Vincci Estrella del Mar Hotel on March 8. In addition to a sumptuous dinner, guests will enjoy a performance from singing sensation, Yanela Brooks. g www.luksmarbella.com

Charity for Abused and Neglected Horses, Needs Your Help

Xanit International Hospital Creates New Pain Unit Patients suffering from chronic pain will be pleased to learn that Xanit International Hospital has opened a new Pain Unit, to help alleviate their symptoms. The Unit, led by Dr. Manuel Jesús Rodríguez López, ex-President of the Spanish Pain Society, will bring together the very latest technology and a team of skilled professionals. g www.xanit.es

The extent to which human beings abuse and neglect animals, has reached an extreme in Spain, with over 70,000 horses ending up in slaughter houses in the year 2012 (according to official government data). CYD Santa María is a charity and shelter which makes a difference to countless horses, giving them the food, shelter and love they deserve. If you would like to help this very worthy cause, there are many ways you can do so: by donating material, funds (via Paypal if you wish), or time. If you ever wondered about the extent to which horses are mistreated, please visit their website, read up on the facts and view the photographic evidence.

Open Day at El Campanario Golf & Country House (101BP) The El Campanario Golf & Country House recently held an open day to invite visitors to enjoy the wide range of benefits available exclusively to members. The venue offers everything from yoga classes to swimming, aqua gym classes, tennis, paddle tennis and sessions with a Personal Trainer or Chiropractor, as well as a fun round of golf. The Clubhouse offers delicious snacks and meals throughout the day, making El Campanario the perfect place for a family to spend an entire day. g www.elcampanarioresort.com

g www.asociacioncydsantamaria.es

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Body Sculpt Yoga at Gym Tonic Pilates Studio Sotogrande If you have always wanted to firm up your body while you de-stress and relax, Body Sculpt Yoga may just be the activity for you. Devised as part of The Lisa Marie Method, this class focuses on firming up your body while you embrace Nature, leaving you with a renewed, revitalised and re-energised feeling. g Classes take place on Monday from

7:30pm to 8:30pm at the Gym Tonic Pilates Studio in Sotogrande. www.lisamariemethod.com

Xtreme Marketing Forum 2014 a Huge Success Les Roches Marbella recently hosted the Xtreme Marketing Forum 2014, which attracted over 100 entrepreneurs and members to conferences on everything from Internet marketing to neuroscience, mobile technologies and apps. Talks were given by a number of successful entrepreneurs. g www.lesroches.es

Marion Leigh donates antique Erard harp to the Museo Interactivo de la Música de Málaga A harp made by Sebastian Erard in 1819 has joined the collection of the MIMMA thanks to a donation from Author and Harpist, Marion Leigh. After a long journey that began in London on 3rd November 1819, the antique harp arrived early this month at Málaga’s Museo Interactivo de la Música. There are many details that make this an important piece with an impressive provenance: on one side there is an inscription which leads experts to think that the instrument was dedicated to royalty. g www.marionleigh.com

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POSITIVELY PINK AND POSITIVELY BLUE 2014 SCREENING PROGRAMMES Mijas based charities, Positively Pink and Positively Blue, which raise funds for free breast and prostate/testicular screening for British men and women living on the Costa del Sol, is pleased to announce that its 2014 screening programme has just commenced.

g To book an appointment, please call Tel: 952 835 776. www.positively-pink.com/ www.positively-blue.com

END POLIO NOW FUN RUN If you’re up for an afternoon of fitness and fundraising, why not sign up for a 10-kilometre fund run in Estepona on March 23? The event is part of a programme founded by Rotary International in 1985 alongside OMS, UNICEF and the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation, to help children with polio. Over 1,000 runners are expected at the event – will you be one of them? For just €250, you or your company can be an official sponsor for this worthy cause. The event will be broadcast on Mediterráneo TV and will feature the participation of the Mayor of Estepona, as well as other dignitaries and celebrities. g For further information, contact

Rotary Club Estepona on Tel: 952 809 500.

SHELL DINING CHAIR STUNS AT LOFT & ROOMERS Loft & Roomers presents the sophisticated Shell dining chair, which boasts a stylish seat-shell made of strong plastic and oak legs, for greater stability and innovation in design. The perfect shape of the seat and the thin yet durable cushion gives rise to an ergonomic, comfortable chair that is also visually stunning.

g www.loftroomers.com

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TELA BELLA FABRIC SHOP OPENS IN ESTEPONA Tela Bella has filled a much needed gap in the market for those looking to purchase fabric and soft furnishings in Estepona. Stocking a wide range of decoration, dress and event fabrics including jacquards, velvets, taffetas, silks, satins, organza and tulle, the shop also offers a full make-up service for curtains and soft furnishings. Tela Bella are trade suppliers to wedding and event planners and also provide real estate and rental agents simple, bespoke, soft furnishing packages with competitive rates and excellent commissions. ‘Like’ Tela Bella on Facebook to learn about exclusive offers and new arrivals.

g www.facebook.com/telabellaspain

FAA GALA CAMPEONES TAKES PLACE IN JEREZ Andalucia's biggest motorsport event of the year, the FAA Gala de Campeones 2013, was held in Jerez to celebrate and award the championship winners of 2013. Peter Bowerman from the Marbella Racing Drivers Club collected two trophies for his success in the Andalusian Historic Touring Car & GTI Championships. The Marbella Racing Drivers Club (MRDC) entered three drivers into the Historic Touring Car & GTI Championships 2013, taking on other racing teams and individual competitors. Peter, who was last year’s winner of both championships, was again confirmed as overall 2013 championship winner for the second time in the GTI Championship and a close second place in the Historic Championship. g www.marbellaracingdriversclub.com

WHAT’S HOT AWARDS AT EL CORTE INGLÉS El Corte Inglés recently celebrated the What's Hot Awards Ceremony at the newly opened wine cellar of El Corte Inglés Mijas. A series of lavish prizes were awarded, including two Cruise Trips with Royal Caribbean, a week’s luxury accommodation in Turkey (flights included) with CLC World Hotels & Resorts, a Samsung TV, 10 complete tasting menus at DimSum Club and more. The What's Hot Loyalty Card offers foreign residents discounts of up to 15 per cent when making purchases in selected departments of El Corte Inglés, Hipercor, Supermercado, Opencor and Supercor. To take home your own What’s Hot card for free, visit www.whatshot.es

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Les Roches Welcomes New Director MarĂa Teresa Gozalo, formerly Director of the Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Marbella, recently spoke her parting words to students and dignitaries alike, giving a warm welcome to her successor, Carlos DĂez de la Lastra. The event was attended by students, family members and important politicians, including the Mayor of Marbella and representatives of the Provincial Council and the Department of Culture.

g www.lesroches.es

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THE PRO business

Left to right: Javier Herrero, Kabila; Laura Pou, Laura Pou Paisajista; Roque Justicia, Proinsermant; Sofia Polo, Grupo Polo; Charo Moreno, Studio Ideas and José Luis Rodríguez, JC&A Abogados

DOM3

Preserving and Promoting the High-End Real Estate Sector on the Coast The year 2011 may have been a devastating one for Spain as a whole, and the real estate industry in particular, but the same cannot be said of the high-end luxury villa sector in the areas of Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona. In that year, this sector sold €250 million worth of real estate, creating one thousand direct and three thousand indirect jobs. In 2012, sales enjoyed a growth of between 15 and 20 per cent and in 2013, despite the scarcity of available data, it is safe to say that the upward surge has continued. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © WWW.PHOTOGRAPHERMARBELLA.COM

t is this lucrative industry which DOM3, the Asociación de Empresarios para la Vivienda de Alta Calidad, seeks to leverage. Comprising some 25 representatives from related businesses (lawyers, architects, promoters, directors of communications, etc.), the association has two main objectives, according to its President, Sofia Polo: “We specialise in the high-end villa sector in Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona, and to influence decision-makers to help promote these areas as a standard bearer for excellence in world tourism”. DOM3 may be just two years old but it has already achieved many of its objectives. “We recently received a visit from Jaime García Legaz, Secretary of the State for Commerce, during which we shared our concerns and presented him with our ideas to attract high-end residential tourism. Prior to the meeting, DOM3’s experts drafted a document we call ‘soft-landing’, which calls for greater efficiency and flexibility in the administrative requirements required from foreigners for everything from obtaining a visa or NIE, to opening a bank account in Spain. “ The Association has also had meetings with representatives of the Banco de España, the Public Treasury and SEPBLAC, an association that regulates money laundering. Sofia elaborates: “An important stumbling block for many foreign buyers is the amount of red tape involved. Often, they will be asked for the same documents by various individuals and entities. The aim is to make

the process quicker and smoother for foreign investors.” Simplicity is also key, all documents should be well phrased so that they can be easily understood. Another achievement for DOM3 was the recent signing of conventions with the Town Halls of Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona. The objective of these agreements is to shorten the time required for the processing of construction licenses, to encourage training for future employees of the sector, to promote Marbella and to carry out any action which will improve tourism in these municipalities. The members of DOM3 have also started working on the strategic plan for the sector, and on specific regulations for all professionals and businesses that are members of the association. The association is additionally working alongside a commissioner designated by the government to improve the flexibility in taxation, drafting a document comprising complaints and suggestions. When asked about the new law granting residency to foreigners purchasing real estate of €500.000 or more, Sofia replies, “The law has already had a very positive effect, but it needs to be complemented by new legal taxation measures. Currently, the laws regulating succession and donations could use modification, to encourage foreign interest.” The call to action makes sense when one considers that some 90 per cent of buyers of luxury homes hail from other countries (including the UK, the Scandinavian countries, Russia, Belgium and France).

Some of the challenges ahead for DOM3 include the General Town Planning Plan. “Currently, the Junta de Andalucía determines the amount of land which can be used for construction, according to the number of official residents on the census. Yet there are many people in areas like Marbella who are not registered on the census. To a certain extent, this situation can be ameliorated by increasing the number of benefits associated with registration.” For instance, in areas like Benalmádena, official residents receive considerable discounts on bills for the IBI tax, etc. DOM3’s Sofia adds: “ We are aiming for the Junta to consider not just the census, but the real population of relevant areas, when determining the amount of buildable land.” Although DOM3 receives many requests from businesses to join the association, Sofia makes it clear that it is “not a networking group. We have selected the very best people from different sectors, and each of us works in our own capacity to further the luxury real estate industry”. Despite all their achievements, the members of DOM3 hold weekly member meetings and also regularly collaborate with representatives from the Town Council’s planning department. They have also developed a website, where readers can view accomplished work and read up on opinions and new strategies aimed at leaving a lasting mark on the sector. i www.dome3.org

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THE PRO finance

Groan… Not the M720 again! Yes, I’m afraid it’s back. This really nasty foreign asset declaration that taxed the imagination of the expatriate community so much in April 2013 is back again. This time the filing deadline is the 31 March not 30 April. So, what has to be filed? WORDS Alistair Spence Clarke FCA Spence Clarke & Co, Chartered Accountants Marbella, Spain

irst and foremost, only tax residents of Spain have to file this tax declaration. Non-residents can happily ignore the rest of this article and continue to soak up the sun, enjoy a round of carefree golf or dine in one of the many excellent restaurants in the area without suffering from indigestion. Tax residents read on. Making things as simple as possible, the declaration divides declarable foreign assets into three categories: ZZ Real estate ZZ Bank accounts ZZ Investments Filing was only required last year when the total asset value in any of these categories exceeded €50.000. You had to include assets held in trust or other entities, as beneficiary, settlor or simply because you were a joint owner or just a signatory of a bank account. The tax declaration did not result in tax to pay and was for information purposes only. If you filed an M720 declaration last year then you may not have to file again for 31 December 2013. But… You must file this year if: ZZ You sold any of the foreign assets you declared last year, or ZZ The total foreign asset Euro value of any of the three categories increased by €20.000 or more, when compared to 31 December 2012, or ZZ You have exceeded the €50.000 Euro foreign

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asset limit for the first time in any category. 2 or 3 might have arisen, for example, because you have bought foreign assets during 2013 or simply because the Euro currency exchange rate has moved significantly during the year. Each one of these asset categories contains subtypes. It’s impossible to explain here the many subtle and sometimes absurd differences between assets that should and those that shouldn’t be declared, so we have set up a special webpage so that readers can find the full details: i www.spenceclarke.com/Articles/M720FAQs The consequences for not filing on time are truly draconian. If a person is caught by a tax inspection the minimum fine is €10.000 per category. In the case of having declarable assets in each of the three categories the minimum fine is €30.000. To make matters even worse, a major change in the rules for the prescription of tax liabilities occurred simultaneously with the introduction of the M720. Previously, a person could ‘forget’ to declare income and after four years, the tax office was banned from inspecting or assessing tax on the under declared income. Where the tax offence was really significant, i.e. €120.000 of underpaid tax, the number of years was extended to five. The new rules have the effect of allowing the tax office to treat as taxable income the entire value of any hidden foreign assets, regardless of

when the under declared income arose. With a top tax rate of 56% plus fines at 150% of tax unpaid, it is not surprising that many decided last year that Spain had become too ‘hot’ to live in and moved to more tax friendly places, like the UK, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal. Some people even looked (briefly) at living in France! To pile on the misery, tax offences that result in unpaid tax of more than €120.000 are subject to fines of up to six times the amount of tax payable plus punishment under the penal code. The tax office, for political reasons, always demands that the tax default be rewarded with a long stay in a residential facility that is not quite so pleasant. Again, with the new prescription rules, the devil is in the detail so check out our FAQs for more info. The bottom line is that while, hopefully, you shouldn’t lose sleep about the M720, you really must not put your head in the sand. If you have any doubts at all, find out exactly what you must do to protect yourself, even if this means, sadly for Spain and those that remain here, that you should spend less time here and move tax residence to another country. Spanish politicians and the Spanish establishment in general, please take note (A forlorn hope). Draconian tax laws do nothing to incentivise foreigners to become contributors to the Spanish tax resident system. e

g Spence Clarke & Co. Chartered Accountants, Marbella. Tel: 952 822 943. www.spenceclarke.com 2/26/14 12:50 PM

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.

THE LEISURE golf

y introduction to golf in Australia came quite a while ago when I was invited on a tour starting at Port Douglas near the top end of the east coast, and ended at Cape Schanck, on the southern tip. Port Douglas is tropical and the golf courses lush and beautiful, but the hazards include the deadly Taipan snake. I quickly learned to have the caddy look for my errant balls in the rough. We continued to one of the best Sydney clubs, New South Wales, which has a spectacular hole sloping right down to Botany Bay, where Capt Cook lingered on his epic voyage of discovery in 1770. A glass case in the clubhouse has a red suit, the like of which used to be worn by all members who could break 100. It’s not far to Melbourne, centre of the famous Sandbelt’s tracks including Royal Melbourne, where members wear long white socks and, one suspects, sleep in their blazers. But the course, if you can get on (and stump up for the socks in the pro shop) is a fine challenge. We ended up in Portsea, at the end of the Mornington peninsula, which was to become one of my favourite places in Australia. Since then the big money from Melbourne has colonised it as a weekend

Despite the number of great Australian courses and golfing greats such as Greg Norman, it surprises me the number of tourists who go Down Under without their golf clubs. It could be that, as far as the English are concerned, if sport was part of their travel plans, they just went to watch the cricket, but the last test series has surely killed off that as entertainment. I have long been an admirer of Australian golf courses. New Zealand is also a fine place to golf, and costs less, but that is another story.

retreat, but the golf at this sporty little course with its many plateau tees is still fun and affordable. The Portsea Hotel has a bar worth the trip to Australia. As breezes blow in from the sea and the cold Victoria Bitter slips down, a man can dream of similar treasures such as the Pioneer Inn at Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. A good golf trip to Australia could include Sydney, Melbourne, Portsea, then the short ferry ride across the Rip at the entrance to the bay south of Melbourne where a classic links course awaits, then a drive by Queenstown and up to Angelsea Golf Club, noted for kangeroos bounding along the fairways. This leads to the start of the Great Ocean Road, the next best tourist attraction after Sydney itself. Here are koalas, the 12 Apostles on an unforgiving shore, and a museum with poignant tales of shipwrecks. Stop at Port Fairy, founded by a Capt Wishart, for bijou hotels and pricey restaurants, but don’t miss the fresh lobster. Not far is Adelaide with more good golf, and vineyards, and visit the beach named after settlers from Glenelg near Skye in Scotland.

Go west, and the Indian Pacific train will take you, eventually, to Perth. Royal Fremantle is an unstuffy ‘royal’ club, and there are many others. Margaret River is just south, and it too has a golf course mobbed by kangeroos. Take care in the rutting season, as they have been known to regard a fourball as a visiting male too many. But the main attraction here is actually Margaret River’s vineyards, some of which, like the Perth vineyards, do lunches in blissful settings. It is also a pleasant little town bordered by charming hotels. Sydney has acquired several new courses in the last few years, and if you want to do a vineyard lunch, and play golf, one place to go is the Greg Norman-designed Vintage in the nearby Hunter Valley. Mind you, an invitation to Royal Sydney is worth grovelling for. In normal circumstances one of Sydney’s Irish sons would have lured Rory McIlroy to visit the course during the young champ’s recent visit, but no chance. Rory had other things on his mind, such as going to the same party as me (and millions of others): the fireworks extravaganza on New Year’s Eve, where on a boat in the harbour, he fell on one knee and proposed to Caroline Wozniacki. So there you have it – plenty of golf in Australia, and romance. Don’t mention the cricket. e

Wild Koalas along the Great Ocean Road

OZ GOLF WORDS DAVID WISHART

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Rory McIlroy © TourProGolfClubs

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THE LEISURE travel

WORDS KRISTY BARRATT

It’s dusty out here in the desert. My Berber guide tugs on the reins of my camel as I awkwardly try to find some comfort in my position. It’s no use. With every jagged step, I feel as if I’m about to lose my balance and topple off. My only solace is watching my friends struggle too. That and the fact we’re in Morocco.

iding a camel in the desert is one of those clichéd activities you have to put on your todo list when visiting a country like Morocco. Although uncomfortable – and hot – it’s an amusing and memorable experience. Our camel trek begins in Zagora at the edge of the Sahara Desert, a 6.5-hour drive from chaotic Marrakech. The sand dunes are smaller here than in the Sahara, providing the perfect introduction to the vast, barren nature of the far-flung Moroccan desert. Cloaked in an aqua blue djellaba, the traditional garment worn by the Berber people, with a tangerine-coloured turban shielding his head and face from the harsh sun, my Berber guide leads the way. We are riding into the sunset, en route to a nomad-tented camp that we will call home for the evening. On arrival I face yet another awkward moment

with my camel – safely getting down off his large hump. Then, with sore buttocks, my friends and I find a sandy spot to perch and watch the sun sink behind the dunes in the distance. For dinner, we sit cross-legged on colourful cushions and feast on a hearty vegetable tajine jam-packed with spices. The quintessential Moroccan dish is served in a clay pot, naturally. We sip fresh mint tea in preparation for bed and retreat to watch the stars. Night-time in the desert is bewitching. Darkness envelops you, save for the looming black sky that is dotted with tiny bright stars. The only sound I hear is my friends’ slow breathing, and the odd noise from our nearby camels. I feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech – from where we’ve just come – and yet we are a mere eight-hour drive away. I fall asleep under the silvery star-lit night sky, dreaming of Berbers, camels and dusty deserts.

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Chefchaouen

Moody ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2014 / 89

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Moroccan Kasbah, Atlas Mountains

A RANGE ABOVE US Morocco is a country like no other and one that immediately assaults all of your senses. There are several locations to witness, from the picturesque blue city of Chefchaouen in the north-east to surfing hotspot Taghazout in the country’s south. Then, of course, there are the arid Atlas Mountains – a 2,500-kilometre mountain range that stretches from Tunisia into Algeria and across to Morocco. After our camel trek we drive west towards the imposing mountain range – called Idraren Draren (Mountain of Mountains) by the Berber people – in search of outdoorsy activities, highpowered mountain treks and deserted kasbahs. We drive along rugged roads with the mountains looming large in the background. There’s certainly no room for boredom on a journey to this enchanting country; the road trip itself is enough to entertain me for hours. Along the way I spot a shepherd hoarding his flock of goats and donkeys carrying haystacks atop their

Morocco Ouarzazate in the High Atlas Mountain

backs. Rickety trucks whizz past, creating a whirlwind of dust in their tracks. Every now and then, a Berber – the traditional inhabitants of the Atlas Mountains – wanders along the side of the road draped in a long, loose djellaba. The Berber dwellings are small, mud-brick houses, yet somehow they manage to sleep a whole family in one room with animals in another – it’s a nod towards their simplistic lifestyle. Small and dusty Berber villages are scattered throughout the High Atlas region. There’s Tin Mal, home to the 12th-century Tin Mal Mosque, one of Morocco’s most historic monuments; and Imlil, the perfect jumping off point for a trek up Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. Nature abounds in the region with gorges and riverbeds painting a pretty picture – perfect if you’re an outdoor lover like me. Lesser-known Amizmiz, just 55 kilometres south of Marrakech, has a weekly souk held on Tuesdays. It’s one of the largest Berber markets in the Atlas

Mountains and a great place to admire the local wares and produce of the region. We stop in Ouarzazate, popularly called the ‘door of the desert’ and an essential destination for film buffs. A quick glance at our surroundings and we understand why: the landscape is reminiscent of many Hollywood blockbusters, from Lawrence of Arabia and Babel to modernday TV series such as Game of Thrones. Atlas Studios, one of the largest movie studios in the world, is based here. I take several pictures of Kasbah Taourirt – the star of several Hollywood films and one of the best-preserved kasbahs in Morocco boasting a pinky-terracotta façade, beautiful painted stucco and wooden cedar ceilings inside its fortifications. It seems a contradiction that one minute I’m being led by a Berber man into the desert and being served dinner by nomads, and the next I’m standing outside one of Hollywood’s biggest money-makers. But that’s the beauty of Morocco – you never know what to expect.

Kasbah Taourirt in eastern Ouarzazate

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Penthouse for sale

with beautiful views

A 3 bedroom duplex apartment located on the hill in central Calahonda in a well maintained and popular complex. Bright and spacious property with windows all around, featuring a substantial living room, dining area and terrace overlooking the coast towards Gibraltar. The complex boasts a heated indoor pool for year-round use and a large external pool with children’s area in lovely mature communal gardens. Sold fully furnished, very low maintenance, perfect for holiday home or a year-round residence. €220.000 ONO. Calahonda is the largest residential development between Fuengirola and Marbella, situated just 15 minutes from Marbella centre and 35 km from the bustling hub of Málaga and its International airport. With its leafy tree-lined avenues and gently rolling hills, the area is popular with both permanent residents and visitors of all nationalities. The urbanisation has extensive infrastructure and its facilities include banks, shopping centres, medical centres, chemists, nursery, post office, tennis club, golf club, with 24 hour security patrolling the area. Calahonda is the only urbanisation between Marbella and Fuengirola with toll motorway access and it is just a few minutes away from Cabopino, the area’s best beaches and a great variety of quality restaurants.

BUILT 185m2

TERRACES 44m2

BEDS 3

BATHS 2,5

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Red arches on Morocco’s Atlantic Ocean coast

The maze of Marrakech We leave the mountains behind and continue on the four-hour drive back to Marrakech. We pass more quaint villages, deserted kasbahs and humble corner-stores where brightly painted blue doors evoke Morocco’s love of colour. We stop off at one store to pick up fresh bottled water and immediately the soft, melodic Arabic music playing in the background catches my interest. Outside the shop, Morocco’s bright red national flag stands tall and proud – it’s a regular sighting in these rural parts. Driving back into Marrakech is an exhilarating experience. Once again my eyes are glued to the window as I take in the colour and chaos on the streets outside. It’s dusk – a stunning time of day in this age-old city – and the pinky sky seems to blend in with the pink-walled, UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina. We hop out of our car at the entrance to the maze-like medina and thank

our driver with a generous tip. We then begin the difficult task of finding our riad – you could say it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. We drift through back alleys and along narrow paths, passing women in floor-length black niqabs with only a tiny slit for their eyes. Young boys follow us, each asking the same question and following with the same response: “Where are you going, Miss? You’re going the wrong way.” It’s just one of their ploys to make a bit of extra cash by helping tourists to their riad. We refuse and follow our directions. Soon enough, we arrive at Dar Lalla F’ Dila. The riad is located at the back of Dar Mnebhi, home to the Marrakech Museum. As soon as we step through the beautiful wooden doors and into the riad, we leave behind the liveliness of the medina in exchange for a peaceful oasis. It’s better suited to sleeping a Moroccan princess rather than a group of six dusty friends who’ve just come from

the desert, but we’re not complaining. Aziz, the owner of the riad, leads us into the open courtyard, which boasts tall white pillars, lush pot plants, rustic lanterns and a stunning floor embellished with pretty mosaic tiles in blues and oranges. The riad is set over two floors, plus a rooftop terrace, with a selection of four individually designed small suites and a large suite. There’s even a mini hammam (steam room) and a small splash pool on the terrace. Over our four-day stay in Marrakech – the perfect amount of time in such a humming city – we spend our days eating, shopping and wandering through the old town’s labyrinthine streets. Each morning, Aziz serves us a gourmet breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice, Moroccan mint tea, toast with jam and marmalade, sweet crumpets and fresh fruit. We then set off to explore the vibrant souks, selling everything from textiles and tea sets to leather goods and spices.

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Jamaa el Fna square and market place in Marrakesh’s medina quarter

Old town delights Haggling in Morocco is commonplace and there’s no better place to get started than in Marrakech’s main bazaar. Don’t be put off by the occasional impassioned shop owner – in the next souk an artisan will make up for their compatriot’s brashness when they offer you a sweet, freshly brewed mint tea while you browse their wares. In a single outing the shopaholic in me manages to buy some great bargains, including a handcrafted leather bag, intricate homewares, and a bright yellow belly-dancing outfit (I know!). There are also come great specialty shops and boutiques in Marrakech for when you tire of the souk. Ministero Del Gusto, a concept store created by a former style editor for Italian Vogue, sells stunning furniture; Atika has funky footwear; Akkal is heaven for lovers of ceramics and gorgeous fabrics; and Atelier Moro is an elegant boutique with hand-embroidered jewellery. Post shopping, enjoying dinner in Jemaa el-Fnaa – the famous square and market place

Selection of very colorful Moroccan tajines

in the heart of the medina – is a must-do experience. Here, food stalls selling freshly made orange juice and sugared almonds compete for attention against an eclectic mix of entertainment, from snake charmers to magicians. It’s organised chaos at its best. You can sample all sorts of local delicacies at the evening street food restaurants, such as chickpea soup, snails, spicy merguez sausages and shawarma (chicken kebab meat). We choose a bustling stall filled with diners and feast on small, tasty plates of lamb tagine, fluffy cous cous, fresh fish and Moroccan salad. The meal costs less than €10 per person. Afterwards, we retreat to the rooftop café Terrasse Des Epices and order freshly made orange juice. We sink into the comfy booths, lolling on cushions and listening to chillout music – it’s a welcome respite from the madness of the square below. With the call to prayer echoing in the distance, it’s the perfect way to end an active day in Marrakech.

Colorful Moroccan faience pottery dishes on display

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Blue fishing boats on an ocean coast in Essaouira

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led city boas Marrakech’, this ancient ts a gorgeo for trekking us medina an in the Atlas d is a great M base o un ta for its brigh ins. CHEFCH t blue buildin AOUEN renow gs, this tow ned east is a ph n in Morocc otographer o’s north ’s dream. FE city, be sure Z If you visit th to put a trip is age-old to the Choua your to-do ra Tannery list. Here, yo on u’ ll see the pr washing, trea ocess of ting and co louring anim al skins into leather goods.

BOUND FOR THE BEACH After experiencing the bedlam of Marrakech in all its glory, my friends and I retreat to Essaouira, a once hippy haven on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. In the sixties the likes of Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix holidayed here and it’s no wonder why. With its colourful and chaotic old town, myriad activities from kite surfing to dune buggy riding, picturesque portside sunsets and charming restaurants serving French and Moroccan-inspired fare, the laidback town is the ideal place to chill out. Our accommodation is at the five-star Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf and Spa directly opposite the beach. At first I’m reluctant to stay in a hotel chain when individually designed riads are so plentiful in this country, however the sleek design of the luxury resort more than makes up for it. Each room blends a mix of contemporary French chic with traditional Moroccan elements, such as brightly painted walls, colourful cushions and intricate wood latticework. The pool itself and the exotic buffet breakfast are enough to immediately convince me I made the right decision to stay here.

Each morning, I take a walk along the beachfront and enjoy the strong sea breeze – it’s an inviting change from the heat of Marrakech. In the old town, another maze-like medina filled with souks awaits. Essaouira still retains much of its hippy charm, visible in its arty shops selling colourful trinkets, homeware, handmade silver rings, and ceramics. Postcard-perfect shop fronts make for many snap-happy moments while charming vegan and vegetarian restaurants serve tasty light lunches. Quaint French and Moroccan coffee shops abound and provide the perfect stop-off to indulge in a sweet mint tea while wandering the old town. But there’s more to Essaouira than just shopping and wind surfing, particularly if you have an open mind. For example, one morning at breakfast my friend and I strike up a friendly conversation with our waiter. We chat about all sorts of things and discover his wife runs cooking classes at their home. I’m a self-confessed foodie, so the prospect of learning to cook an authentic tajine the real way, and in a local’s home, piques my interest immediately.

Fez general view

Riad, Fez, Morocco

Fast forward nine hours and my friends and I meet our waiter at the local food markets to buy fresh fish, sourced direct from Essaouira’s local fishermen, for our cooking lesson. An hour later we are squashed into a small, dimly lit kitchen, watching our waiter’s French-speaking wife show us (since she can’t speak English) how to make fish tajine. While the tajine simmers to release its flavours, the couple leads us out onto their balcony and proudly shows off their caged pigeons. The practice of domesticating pigeons to use as livestock is a common tradition in Morocco. Squab – the meat of a young domestic pigeon – is considered a delicacy and is typically used to make Moroccan pastillas. It’s a strange concept for us Westerners, however it seems to add yet another dimension to the complex and beguiling puzzle that is Morocco. I soon realise the best thing about this country is that it’s unpredictable: just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something happens that makes you question yourself. From the silence of the desert to the chaos of Marrakech, each town, village or city in Morocco boasts a sense of individuality – and that’s what makes a great holiday. e

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RESTAURANTS / REVIEWS / NEWS / WINE / CHEFS / GUIDE

Titillate your taste buds with our review of classic Oriental restaurant, Thai Gallery, marvel at the flavours and aromas of Moroccan cuisine and hone your cooking skills with Founder of Easy Dishes culinary school, Rashida Reidel.

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Thai Gallery

100 Moroccan cuisine 102 Rashida Reidel 104 Food News 106 Moroccan Wine

2/24/14 2:09 PM

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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restaurant THE GOURMET

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © WWW.PHOTOGRAPHERMARBELLA.COM

Thai Gallery

A Celebration of the Exquisite Thai Culinary Tradition

he soul-soothing aroma of lemongrass… the inimitable combinations in an authentic red Thai curry… the complex base of a traditional Tom yum goong soup… these are but some of the reasons why for Marbella’s most discerning diners, Thai Gallery is a veritable institution and a much loved family favourite. There are many more aspects to the success enjoyed by owners, Ping and Lincoln, of course. The savvy couple, who also own and run Sukhothai and Tai Pan on the Golden Mile, have been at the forefront of the gastronomic scene for decades, running restaurants in London and virtually ruling the roost when it comes to Oriental cuisine in Marbella from the Golden era to the present day (former partner, Lani, is no longer with the team). Many venues may attempt this level of savoir fare, but it abounds naturally in those who have honed their craft for so long and with so much gusto. Ambience, service, décor and an excellent Chef are just some of the elements that make Thai gallery such a uniquely special venue for the keenest of gourmets. Despite running three restaurants, Ping is virtually inexhaustible, always attending diners with heart and soul and recommending the most enticing temptations the Chef can conjure up. Her exquisite taste is evident in the restaurant’s contemporary décor, which exudes Manhattan, London or Munich chic… designer lightning is married to a bold, modern colour scheme and unique artworks from a plethora of cultures (think African sculpture,

textured wallpaper, the serenity of Buddha). My recent visit to Thai Gallery was special, since I was accompanied by a bosom buddy whose face lights up at the mere mention of Thai Gallery, which she often refers to as her “favourite restaurant, hands-down”. Upon our entrance we were greeted by Chef, Noom, who hails from Bangkok and whose respect for traditional recipes sees him meticulously crushing, blending and whipping up an array of traditional soups, curries and sauces. Our starters comprised a stunning mixed platter of satay prawns and chicken (deliciously plump, tender and flavourful, served in an attractive vertical fashion), Vietnamese spring rolls served with lettuce and mint (cool, fresh and remarkably light) and a deep-fried chicken roll. Each starter was accompanied by its own sauce, though we enjoyed alternating between a creamy peanut satay, a spicy plum and a sweet palm sugar sauce. We downed the spicy entrees with a glass of the House red, which proved to be an excellent choice. As it was a cool, rainy evening, a soup dish appealed and few sounded more satisfying than the spicy Tom yum goong with prawns and lemongrass… the tender King

g CN 340, km 175, Nueva Andalucía (next to Vasari and Iceland). Tel: 952 818 392. www.thaigallerymarbella.com 175 ReR thai.indd 99

prawn, sliced in an appealing butterfly shape, once again stimulated our taste buds, its intense seafood flavour and delicacy hitting the spot. A visit to Thai Gallery really isn’t complete without a curry dish, and our choice proved to be an excellent one – the salmon in a gentle red curry sauce, served, as is traditional, with a spoon, in case you wish to enjoy it without a little white rice to soak up its vivid flavours. At Thai Gallery, herbs such as cilantro and lemongrass and the sweet seduction of curry sauces quench the appetite to the point that every dish elicits a sigh or expression of delight. Yet despite having enjoyed such a hearty meal, my companion and I knew better than to give dessert a miss. Unless you are ready to travel to Thailand for a sticky rice and mango dessert, you must give in to the warm, coconuty madness and the plump freshness of the ‘sticky rice with mango’. We also tried a uniquely rich, flavourful flan, and another to-die-for sweet treat: the deep-fried, battered banana pieces, served with homemade vanilla ice-cream. We ended our meal with the characteristically warm attention of Ping, who took the time to catch up and ask about family and work. Her warm smile and gentleness were the final touch that marked the experience as perfect. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2014 / 99

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THE GOURMET WORDS MICHEL CRUZ

The fragrant allure of

Moroccan cuisine In Spain, as in many countries, Moroccan cuisine has conquered the high streets in the form of take-away kebab shops. Though it officially qualifies as fast food, this increasingly popular type of Moroccan snack is built upon culinary traditions that have been many centuries in the making – resulting in a cuisine that ranks among the most highly appreciated in the world.

ou see, kebabs are merely the fast food end of a rich gastronomic tradition, much like baguettes are to French food or pizzas to the Italian kitchen. Today, classic Moroccan dishes such as Couscous and Tagine are increasingly well known around the world, the flag bearers of a cuisine whose variety and many unique elements draw from but also distinguish it from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. Like most other parts of the world, Morocco’s

kitchen is the product of its natural resources and cultural interaction, producing raw materials from the Mediterranean, temperate, desert and even tropical zones, and using them in recipes that reflect the country’s long historic contacts with Arabia, Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and France. Underlying it all is an ancient Berber and Bedouin culture that provides the bedrock of everything from architecture and music to food.

A SENSORY EXPLORATION Part of what makes Morocco so exotic and evocative to Westerners is the unforgettable experience of walking through a souk in the old quarter of towns such as Marrakech, Fez or Tangiers. Full of life, they emit the classic abundance of sound, colour, sights and scents that is so bewitching about these markets and sends one’s senses into overdrive. To enjoy Morocco is therefore to go on a sensory

exploration, and nowhere is this more so than when it comes to this exotic country’s cuisine. Building on its rich, highly oxygenated cold offshore currents, Morocco’s Atlantic coastline ranks among the richest fishing grounds in the world, especially abundant in the seafood and sardines that rank along with popular meats such as lamb, beef, chicken and even camel as important building blocks of a cuisine that also uses unleavened bread, semolina-based couscous, rice, aubergine, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, olives and dates in iconic combinations. A classic combination sees the savoury flavours of meats, chickpeas and pulses contrasted with the sweet acidity of apricots, prunes, raisins and pickled lemons. While many of the dishes have strong similarities with their Middle Eastern counterparts, the Moroccan kitchen has a distinct identity of its own that is known for its strong seasoning and the abundance of its spicing. The latter sees its dishes infused with saffron, mint, cold-pressed olive oil and citrus fruits, but also cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, coriander and aniseed – just a few of the colourful and amazingly presented spices that help to make a visit to the souk the sensory experience it is. Such indulgencies are complemented by the famous sweet Moroccan pastries that once again betray the close cultural links with the Middle East. Drawing on local ingredients such as almonds, honey and dates, they are enjoyed with the sweet Moroccan mint tea that is not only part of an entire ceremony and tea drinking culture, but has also gone on to conquer the world. Today it is possible to visit Moroccan restaurants in cities around the world, while major food brands produce couscous and mint tea for home consumption. However, delicious as they are, anyone who has visited Morocco and enjoyed its cuisine first hand will tell you that its pleasure is greatest when enjoyed in situ. Seated in a Moroccan house or restaurant, with the rich ambience of the Kasbah tickling your senses, this country’s cuisine truly comes into its own, the flavours brighter, the mint tea sweeter and every meal rich in exotic enchantment that will have you singing the gastronomic praises of Morocco anew. e

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THE GOURMET profile

Bringing the Magic of North Africa and the Mediterranean To Your Home

Popular television shows like Master Chef have brought home one simple truth: millions of people around the world want to cook, they want to do it well and they want to do it healthily. For Rashida Reidel, however, the superiority of organic, pesticide-free produce and wild fish is something that has been a magnificent obsession since she was a little girl in Algeria. Rashida runs what is arguably Marbella’s most popular cooking school, Easy Dishes, where she teaches keen gourmets secret recipes and techniques from far-off lands like Morocco, Lebanon and Provence, as well as Mediterranean delights.

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS Photography © www.photographermarbella.com

ashida Reidel R

he classes take place at her spectacular seaside villa, a perfect setting in which to share great conversation as well as one’s love for food. Rashida’s classes are characterised by a positive vibe, plenty of laughter and long, delicious lunches which are food for the soul as much as they are for the body. Until recently, Rashida was also responsible for teaching Chefs and students of culinary school, CIO Mijas, about the history of Arabian cuisine from North Africa and Middle East Rashida’s life is filled with influences as diverse as her cooking, for she has lived in an array of countries across the world. “Marbella is my last stop, though,” she laughs. Rashida left her native Algeria in her youth for the bright lights of Paris, heading for London soon afterwards to study English. Her professional life saw her shine in Geneva, the Mauritius Islands, Argentina, Lebanon and Paris. Marbella, she says, was almost a passing dream. “I had just turned 55 and I was terribly bored. I was determined to leave Marbella and I travelled to France to Provence to look for a house. While there, a Moroccan friend in Positano, Italy, invited me to visit her. There, I discovered that a friend of hers was teaching cooking lessons in her villa by the sea… suddenly, I had a vision: I could do that, too, in my villa in Marbella! I came back and set up Easy Dishes and since then I have been incredibly happy. Cooking has always been a passion, my calling”. Rashida is, additionally, the 102 / MARCH 2014 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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newly elected President of Toastmasters Marbella, where members hone their public speaking skills. When asked what the staples of Moroccan cuisine are, Rashida answers, “Morocco is a country that has successfully been marketed to tourists. As a result, many dishes that are actually common to North Africa as a whole, have come to be labelled as ‘Moroccan’. Western Algerian cuisine in particular, is practically identical to that served up in Morocco.” Rashida reminds me of the common roots of all North African and Andalusian cuisine: “Arabic peoples who lived in Spain for hundreds of years. They brought their cuisine to the North of Africa initially, and afterwards to Spain”. Budding chefs who are interested in signing up for one of Rashida’s North African cuisine classes will learn to cook more than typical dishes like couscous; one dish which has proven a big hit with students is zaalook: “a confit of aubergine which is easy to prepare, stays fresh in the fridge for days can be served alone, with anchovies, with a fried egg on top or even as a delicious canapé”. Another delight is the monkfish tajine with fennel, turmeric and preserved

lemons. At Rashida’s classes, you will learn to preserve lemons yourself, as well as how to cook in a tajine; if you’ve never done so before, you will learn that it has its share of secrets. “There are two types of tajine: one for cooking and the other just for serving,” Rashida will also teach you the importance of using a lead-free tajine, which requires specific preparation before being used for the first time. Another important lesson learned at Rashida’s class is the value of using ingredients like organic or naturally grown produce and wild fish. “Farm-raised fish are fed antibiotics and hormones. Their waste damages the marine environment and contaminates wild fish,” she says. Additionally, “the look and flavour of wild fish is worlds apart… farm-raised fish are all fed the same thing so they don’t have much flavour. Wild fish, on the other hand, feed on different foods and each fish bears its own unique flavour…” Interestingly, the scales of wild fish are also larger: this, she says, is because farm-raised fish are so crowded in their pens that they do not have the necessary space to correctly develop scales. From the healthiest cooking materials to the best markets to buy organic, ethical produce and wild fish, to recipes you won’t find in your average book on Mediterranean or Moroccan cuisine… these are just a few secrets you will discover in Rashida Reidel’s Easy Dishes culinary classes. To learn more, give her a call or visit her website for a full programme of classes. g Tel: 645 345 813. www.easydishes.com 2/21/14 10:33 AM

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THE GOURMET news WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

FRESCA PASSIONE IN MARBELLA: Number One Ice Cream Shop on TripAdvisor

Marbella’s own ice-cream haven, Fresca Passione, was voted the number one ice-cream shop in Andalucía by the users of TripAdvisor. As the warm season approaches, the shop continues to impress with a host of homemade Italian gelatos, made with local, organic (where possible), fresh and top quality ingredients. Selections include vegan, lactose-free, sugar-free and low-calorie varieties. Try the dark chocolate sorbet with roasted almonds (vegan and sugar-free), the Tahiti vanilla, hazelnut from Piedmont and of course seasonal fruit sorbets (vegan). Fresca Passione also prepares gelato bars, Italian coffee, fruit smoothies, natural fruit juices, homemade crêpes (gluten-free varieties are available), Sicilian-style granitas and much more. g C/ Ramón Gómez de la Serna 1 (corner Avda. Arias Maldonado), Edifico Córdoba,

SALDUNA

Marbella. Tel: 654 042 594. www.frescapassione.es

CATERING LAUNCH

Grupo Atento and Salduna Beach recently launched their brand new enterprise: Salduna Catering, a service which takes all the work off your hands through a dedicated catering service for business and private events. Salduna Catering aims to make every occasion memorable, with a range of delicious dishes inspired by countries as far and wide as Japan, Mexico, India and Morocco. At the launch, guests tucked into delicious treats and enjoyed performances by Hindu dancers, singing Mariachis and more, while also enjoying a tour of Salduna’s impressive installations. g www.saldunacatering.com

New Grand Cru for Nespresso Lovers

Nespresso recently presented members of the press with its new Gran Cru: Bukeela ka Ethiopia, a surprising, aromatic blend which pays tribute to the magnificent coffee of Ethiopia. The new coffee’s natural aroma is preserved thanks to the split roasting technique. It is a Lungo coffee, characterised by its freshness and floral bouquet (jazmin, white iris, bergamot and orange flower are only some of the irresistible notes which can be perceived). g www.nespresso.com

Watch Out for the Chowka Rickshaw! This month, modern Indian cuisine restaurant, Chowka, will be reopening after the Winter season with a wider menu including revered traditional dishes and new inspirations. To celebrate this event, the famous Chowka Rickshaw will be out and about in Marbella, offering tasting dishes to members of the public on or around the following dates: March 1, 2, 8 and 9. Chowka’s beautiful interiors, combined with its spectacular Indian cuisine, offer guests the best of nights out on the Golden Mile in Marbella. The restaurant offer a casual tapas style concept, designed to encourage sociable sharing of dishes and the sampling of many flavours.

g www.chowka-marbella.com

EL CELLER CAN ROCA

brings its Magic to Marbella for Just One Night

Dani García’s gastronomic event, A Cuatro Manos (held at the Hotel Puente Romano) was given a touch of the spectacular by a visit from Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca. The Chef, touted as one of the best in the world, joined García and his team, to create a unique, inimitable menu characterised by immense creativity. Dishes included an asparagus and truffle contessa with a pigeon parfait, a citric cauliflower gazpacho and a juicy Steak Foyot. g www.dgarcia.es

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THE GOURMET wine It is not only in Morocco that religious beliefs are at variance with the practicalities of life. Turkey, Algeria and Tunisia are also Muslim wine-producing countries where the importance of agriculture to the economy means that to stop cultivating vines would cause unemployment.

here are several other Muslim countries that made wine for centuries before eventually letting the vines shrivel and die as a result of religious pressures, but Morocco was chosen by the French occupiers as an ideal location to expand production. Gallic rule lasted from 1912 until 1956 and French-established wineries in Morocco sent a steady stream of heavy, alcoholloaded blends for livening up the more insipid national product just across the Mediterranean. It was bulk business and not until the latter half of the last century did Europeans realise that there was such a thing as Moroccan wine – and in some cases it was not bad. Morocco’s geographical location is half the battle. It is the only North African country open to the Atlantic, and its mountainous nature provides numerous microclimates where vineyards get some relief from the baking heat of summer. Wine made from grapes grown at 1,200 metres can be as good as those anywhere, although this did not stop the French colonists planting heat-resistant varieties like Garnacha. And although the country’s white wine output is almost negligible, it is the Chardonnay grape that prospers best. For obvious reasons wine-makers in Muslim countries tend to keep a low profile. Even in the

principal wine-producing region around Meknes, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, you have to search out wineries, and there are few signs to guide you. It was here that the French concentrated their efforts, although when in 1957 the Treaty of Rome prohibited the sort of wine-blending that underwrote the business, and foreign investors were offered cheap land in the 1960’s for wine production, Morocco finally started the long journey to becoming a wine-making country in its own right. Nevertheless the importance of Moroccan wine as an export money-earner should not be exaggerated. In spite of the fact that religious law prohibits Muslims from consuming alcohol (although it should be noted that the Koran nowhere refers to wine as haraam, forbidden by God, like pork). About 90% of the home product stays in Morocco. As a first-time visitor to the country many years ago, before it was necessary to mentally compartmentalise countries as Muslim or nonMuslim, I perhaps carelessly walked into a Tangiers bar and ordered a glass of wine. The owner took me to a small dining area at the rear of the establishment and told me he would serve me at a table, and if anyone asked why I was drinking wine I was to say I had just finished dinner. On a more recent trip enquiring at a large (dry) cafeteria as to where alcohol could be drunk, a kindly waiter escorted me three blocks to a ‘Spanish’ restaurant where wine flowed as it does in Marbella. The food was good and it was so busy that on subsequent occasions I had to make a reservation to eat there. This is why Morocco has difficulties coming to

terms with its centuries-old wine culture. While supermarkets that sell wine employ cashiers who have agreed to handle the forbidden stuff, agricultural workers do not appear to have a problem, just so long as they can toil in the vineyards without having to enter the parts of the winery where the pressing and fermentation processes take place. Chances are they will never have tasted wine in their entire lives, for both religious and economic considerations. With India and China joining the ever-growing list of Moroccan wine-importing countries, it is increasingly hard to keep the business under a blanket. The Meknes Wine Festival in 2007 was well-attended but was held on a Friday, a Muslim holy day. Controversy unsurprisingly followed, and there hasn’t been a wine festival since. It was possibly a small miracle it happened at all in a city governed by staunch Islamists, and where the mayor, having announced that the festival went against all his party stood for, later excused it by explaining it was intended to celebrate the vine. If you want to try Moroccan wines, regrettably, you will not find them in your local supermarket, or even in most specialist stores. Online is the best option, although the selection on offer is poor. Better to take your car over on the ferry to Tangiers and drive three hours due south to Meknes. Not really a tourist destination (though Fez is close by), and perhaps even better for that, there are restaurants like Omnia or Kenza where you can eat very reasonably. But you may need to sit in the back if you want to enjoy the local wine with your meal. e

WORDS AJ LINN

MOROCCAN WINE

A complicated affair

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RESTO

EL COTO

BELGIAN RESTAURANT бельгийский ресторан

NEW MENU Open every day Ctra. de Ronda Opposite Madroñal, nº 3 29679 Benahavis Tel: 952 786 688 belgianresto@gmail.com НОВОЕ МЕНЮ открыты ежедневно дорога Ronda напротив Madroñal, No 3, Benahavis телефон: 952 786 688

RESTO

MYTILUS BELGIAN RESTAURANT

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

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theguide

RESTAURANTS / CINEMAS / GOLF / GYMS /

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

TENNIS / SCHOOLS

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

ROUTE 66

el banco

::: FRENCH :::

::: AMERICAN :::

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

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

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

HARD ROCK CAFÉ

Yanx

Tango

Chateau Mona lisa

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

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

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

::: ARGENTINEAN :::

::: BELGIAN :::

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

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

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

Buenos Aires South Clericó

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

El Coto

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

Casa mono

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

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::: GREEK :::

MARBELLA CLUB GRILL

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

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

Red Pepper

::: GRILLS :::

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

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

cabaña nagüeles 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

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

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

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

Piratas flame grill

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

amigos

Massala

aroma

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. C/ Moncayo 23, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 665 502

Mr. india

baboo lounge and restaurant

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

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

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

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

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

Restaurante Rancho

safFron

Bar d’o restaurant & Lounge

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

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 from 11am to 2am (3am on weekends). Avda. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Edif. Milla de Oro, Local 567, Marbella. Tel: 952 821 229

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

::: INDIAN ::: Chowka

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

Jaipur palace

::: INTERNATIONAL ::: Albert & simon

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

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

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

alberts

Black and white Marbella

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

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

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

alumbre

Jaipur Purple

Amanhavis

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

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

Little India

beach house

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

beckitts

Brunings 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.

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THE GUIDE Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine Avda. Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Marbella. Tel: 952 862 149

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

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

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

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

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

cerrado del águila

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

del mar

EL OLIVO

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

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

Don Leone

El Restaurante del Casino

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

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

Dynamic Café

Fabiola

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

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

girasol

Finca Besaya

güey

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

Open nightly for dinner. Plaza de las Orquídeas 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 929 250

Finca El Forjador

hermosa

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

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

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

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

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

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

EL JINETE

c’est la vie

El lago

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

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

cortijo fain

EL MIRADOR

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

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

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

Finca las brasas

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 Open daily for dinner from 6.30p.m. Avda. del Prado, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 813 859

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

Herrero del Puerto

funky tapas

hotel marbella club buffet

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

Galeria San Pedro

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

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

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

Ikni Banús

fonda restaurante el postillón

il mare

Open daily for for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Cristamar, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 929 978 Open every evening for dinner. Playa del Rodeo,

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Marbella. Tel: 951 319 372

952 792 734

Mc café

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

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

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

LA biznaga

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

Messina

polynesians

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

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

MOJO

puente romano beach club

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

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

La Verandah

passion café

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

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

mosaik4

La veranda lobby bar

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

Restaurant lounge camurí

Miraflores Golf Restaurant

Restaurante royal

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

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

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

los arcos 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 afternoon snacks. Hotel Villa Padierna & Flamingos Golf Club, Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 166 (Cancelada exit), Benahavís. Tel: 952 889 150

los bandidos

La Menorah

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

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

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

C/ Moncayo 12, Fuengirola. Tel: 952 460 232 / 648 502 822

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

Los naranjos restaurant

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

mozaic

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

PURO BEACH Open daily for lunch and dinner. Laguna Village, Playa El Padrón, CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 800 015 Open daily for lunch and dinner. At Laguna Villa. CN340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 951 217 871

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

Sea grill

OCHO

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

Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

shanti-som – amrita

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

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

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

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

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

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

Terra Sana

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.

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

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

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

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

under €25

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

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

€40 – €60

€60 plus

Venta garcía

Caruso

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

What’s cooking deli and takeaway Open daily from 10am to 7pm. C.C. Guadalmina, Local 34, Marbella. Tel: 952 886 748

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

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

::: ITALIAN ::: Al Dente

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

Amore e Fantasía

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

€25 – €40

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frascati Open daily for lunch and dinner. Plaza de Los

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Naranjos s/n, Sotogrande. Tel: 952 790 392

s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 771 133

gold restaurant

Metro

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

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

la fiorentina

nunos

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

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

la pappardella di estepona

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

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

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

O mamma mia

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

portofino laguna village

la trattoria de marbella

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

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

::: Oriental :::

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

asiatico zen

Namazake

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

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

Dragón de Oro

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

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

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

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

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

Lombardo’s

ristorante san martino

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Tel: 952 832 702

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

Rosmarino della piazza

golden wok

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

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

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

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

KABUKI raw

Sakura

mesana

trattoria l’impronta

Open nightly for dinner. At the Gran Hotel Gvadalpín. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe

Open daily for lunch and dinner except on Tuesday. Avda. Salamanca, Edif. San Pedro del

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

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

Ristorante Regina

Osaka

RestaurantE asiático Bangkok

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

952 813 675

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

tHapa thai

Sukho Thai

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

top thai

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

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

Sushi des artistes

Tse yang Dimsum club

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

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

Sushi Katsura

under €25

€25 – €40

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

::: SEAFOOD :::

cervecería ostrería santiago

€40 – €60

€60 plus

660 084

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

::: SPANISH ::: Bahía

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

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

El Barlovento

beach club restaurante grill

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

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

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

Wasabi

Tai Pan

Wok Away

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

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

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

Wok Buffet

Restaurante La Marina

Casa Fernando

Ta-kumi

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

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

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

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

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

Marisquería La Pesquera

Hacienda

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

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

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:

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

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

La fishita

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

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

El Portalón

La máquina

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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 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

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 074

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

Mijas Costa, Málaga. Tel: 951 773 523

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

CLUB DEl SOL

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

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

TEATRO ALAMEDA

Dynamic training centre

Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

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

TEATRO CERVANTES

FITNESS CENTRE NEW STYLE

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

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

loving hut

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

Fuerte Gym

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

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

TEATRO SALON VARIETES

GIMNASIO ESTADIO

Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

VERACRUZ CINES

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

::: VEGETARIAN :::

CINEMAS & THEATRES

Cerrado del águila

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

HAPPY DIVER’S CLUB

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

AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL MIJAS

YELMO CINEPLEX

Atalaya Park Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 609 571 920

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

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

Mesón el adobe

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

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

GYMS & SPORTS CLUBS

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

KRAV MAGA SELF-DEFENCE CENTRE At Hotel Pyr, Puerto Banús. Tel: 655 689 455

ALHAMAR GYM

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB

Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

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

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

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO

ATENAS

MARBELLA GUN & COUNTRY CLUB

mi taberna

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

Barquilla 1. Marbella. Tel: 952 776 240

Monda. Tel: 952 112 161

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

CINESA LA CAÑADA

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

MARBELLA SPORT

La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

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

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

taberna del volapié

cines gran marbella

CENTRO DEPORTIVO EL FUERTE

MULTI SPORT

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

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

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

cinesur

CENTRO DE YOGA Y SALUD INTEGRAL

New Concept Training

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

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

Tragabuches

MULTICINES ALFIL

CENTRO PLAZA GYM

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

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

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THE GUIDE 02 CENTRO WELLNESS

Atalaya, Estepona. Tel: 952 928 444

Tel: 952 784 923

Plaza del Mar. Marbella. Tel: 952 900 420

Colegio Alborán

Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra

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

P-E SPORTS CLUB

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

Ages 3-16. Marbella. Tel: 952 770 077

bel air tennis and paddel club

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

Colegio Alemán

Performing Arts Academy

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

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

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

Club deL Sol

qi sport

Colegio Las Chapas

Peter Pan School

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

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

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

SATURNIA REGNA

Colegio San José Guadalmina

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

Tel: 952 883 858 Estepona. Tel: 952 800 148

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

SEVEN STARS SCHOOL

Dolphin Nursery

Saint George’s School

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

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

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

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

Club Internacional de Tennis

Sotogrande International School

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

SPORTCLUB ROUTE 66

Ecos College

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

Club Madroñal

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

Ages 1–18. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 027

St. Javier’s International School

Benahavís. Tel: 617 647 223

SPORTING CLUB ATALAYA PARK HOTEL

English InteRnational College

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

Club Nueva Alcántara

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

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

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 788 315

TICKET-TO-RIDE

Hijas de María Auxiliadora

Stagecoach Theatre Arts School

Cristamar, Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 905 082

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

Ages 4-16. Tel: 952 900 453

Vitality studio

III language schools

Sunny View School

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

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

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

Lew Hoads Tennis Club

sChools

Swans international school el capricho

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

Aloha College

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

Ages 3–10. Marbella. Tel: 952 773 248

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

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

Inlingua Language School

Marbella hill tennis club

Angela’s School

All ages. Marbella. T: 952 774 942

Swans international school Sierra blanca

Ages 6-14. Marbella. Tel: 952 823 042

the InteRnational SCHOOL of ESTEPONA

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

marbella playa tenIs

TLC Tutorial College

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

Ages 2-12. Estepona. Tel: 952 884 789

Ages 13-18. Calahonda. Tel: 952 933 249

Miraflores Tennis Club

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

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

Calpe School

Laude San pedro international college

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

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

Childrens placE Bilingual nursery

Mayfair Academy

TENNIS CLUBS

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

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

Ages 4-18. Atalaya Park, Estepona.

Aztec Country Club

Club de tenis don carlos

Hofsaess tennis academy

Manolo Santana Racquets Club Avda. El Fuerte, Marbella. Tel: 659 677 539

Puente Romano TEnnis club Marbella. Tel: 952 820 900

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

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pets THE GUIDE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

SLO DOWN AT MEAL TIME! If you have dogs, then the sight of them scarfing down food at breakneck speed may seem the norm; in fact, eating too quickly can have very negative consequences, including bloating, regurgitation and obesity. Slo Bowl is a new product which turns to Nature for its attractive designs, each of which ‘forces’ your dog to take up less kibble with every bite. The gorgeous bowls come in a range of colours and patterns, and have a distinctly modern, almost Zen-like look. It may just be the right time to introduce your pooch to the Slow Food Movement! i www.slo-bowls.com

INTERESTED IN A RAW FOOD DIET FOR YOUR CAT OR DOG?

Check with Your Vet First!

p Asthm e e K aa s og

ction at B Infe a y nd

Finally, science has come around to prove what dog lovers always instinctually knew: dogs are good for your health! A new study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, has found that a child’s risk for developing asthma and allergic conditions are significantly reduced when they are exposed to dogs in their early infancy. Apparently, the secret lies in ‘dog-associated dust’, which has been found to reduce asthma-associated inflammatory responses and allergies by reshaping the community of microbes housed in the gut, thereby preventing inflammation in the lungs and reactivity to an array of allergens. The study has also proven that changes in the nature of the microbe population in the gut can have far-reaching effects on immune function in general, thereby leading scientists to conclude that a bit of ‘dog dust’ can only do a family good!

Those who view their pets as part and parcel of their family often go to great lengths to ensure they are providing the very best nutrition and care for them. The Raw Food Diet has been popular over the past decade, yet a new study has revealed that caution may be indicated before embarking on such a diet for your cat or dog. The research, led by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, has found that food containing raw and undercooked meat can lead to illness for pets and their owners alike. While dogs and cats do, indeed, digest raw foods better, these foods are sometimes contaminated with Salmonella, E.coli and Clostridium. One study found Salmonella in almost 50 per cent of raw Meat diets, while another found that eight out of every 10 home-made, raw chicken-based diets were contaminated. Pet owners also need to be wary of feeding their pets bones, which could cause an array of health issues – including tooth fractures and tears or blockages in the intestinal tract. The best advice is to consult with your vet to ensure your pet’s diet is adequate to their nutritional needs and as risk-free as possible.

AN ALL-IN-ONE MEAL AND WORKOUT FOR YOUR KITTY

PetSafe Egg-Cerziser One of the best things about cats is their high energy level and this cool toy will enable them to take it to the next level while enjoying their favourite treats! The PetSafe EggCerziser encourages your cat’s interest in play. It wobbles and rolls away from them as they attempt to slide a few nibbles out of the toy and into their mouths. There are adjustable openings, which enable you to make the task easier of harder for your cat, as you desire. The toy will not only provide you cat with hours of fun; it will also help obese cats lose weight, as they jump and run after the treasure trove housed within the bright blue interiors of the coolest egg they have ever seen! i www.petsafe.net ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2014 / 117

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THE GUIDE what’s on EVENTS CONTINUED FROM February Until March 6 ART – MARBELLA

The Kunsthaus Berlin Marbella Gallery will be holding a joint exhibition by Luz Harkal, Lola Ferreuela, Magdalena Santos, Alicia Czerniak, Tatti Lobanova and Sandra Winkelmann. www.kunsthausberlinmarbella.com

Until March 7 ART – ESTEPONA

The El Campanario Golf & Country House will be holding a joint exhibition by contemporary artists John Tunstall, Monica di Carlo, Nadège, Uriel Calierno and Sara Fitzgerald. For further information, www.elcampanarionet.com

Until March 16 ART – MÁLAGA

The Contemporary Art Centre in Málaga presents an array paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos and drawings by Kati Heck, a renowned German painter who seeks to find beauty in even the most decadent and decayed subjects. www.cacmalaga.org

Until March 24 Art – MIJAS

Five members of the AIA – Artistas Internacional en Andalucia – Dolores Cummiskey, Enrique Agusti Lafuente, Enrique Linaza, Roger Thomas Cummiskey and Richard Wood, will be holding a joint exhibition entitled Winter Full Moon at the Centro Cultural La Cala de Mijas. From 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. www.aia-artgroupcom

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. Toastmasters is the world’s leading organisation for public speaking and leadership skills, with over 13,000 clubs worldwide. For further information, contact Maria on Tel: 603 133 805 or Percy on Tel: 646 533 112. www.toastmastersmarbella.com

Every Monday SALSA CLASSES – MARBELLA

Learn how to shake your hips like a true Latino

at El Campanario, under the guiding hand of professional dancer, Rafa. At 7:30pm. Prior booking is necessary. Tel: 952 904 233. www.elcampanarionet.com

Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS – MIJAS PUEBLO

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

Every Monday and Wednesday YOGA – MARBELLA

Lori Sjollema teaches Gentle Hatha Flow yoga on Mondays at 10:30am and Intermediate Vinyasa Flow on Wednesdays at 10:30am at the Manolo Santana Racquets Club. 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 Monday to Friday CERAMIC CLASSES – MARBELLA

Hone your craft in ceramics or start at the very beginning, with daily classes at Totem Ceramics. Tel: 952 887 364. www.totemceramics.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 first Tuesday of the month INTERNET – MARBELLA

Café Ideas is an informative event that takes place from 9:15am to 11am at the Hotel Meliá Banús, aimed at entrepreneurs who would like to learn more about how the Internet and online networking can grow their business. Entrance costs €15. To reserve your spot, Tel: 952 902 961. info@studioideas.es

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 Third Tuesday of the Month FLORAL ART CLUB – ESTEPONA

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

Every Tuesday and Thursday ART CLASSES – MARBELLA

Talented artist, Ricardo Alario, teaches budding artists to paint and draw using oils, acrylics, water colours, etc. Tel: 952 859 671. www.ricardoalario.com

BOWLS – MIJAS

The Mijas Bowls Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30pm and on Sunday at 10am. Matches take place at the Mijas Bowls club, situated behind the Peugeot garage on the Mijas-Fuengirola road. Tel: 952 588 321.

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 Wednesday and Friday TAEKWONDO - SAN PEDRO

Taekwondo classes with Justin Menchen. (First Dan, Los Angeles / Master Keith Jones). Wasabbi Warriors 5:30pm-6pm. Kids Class 6pm-7pm. Adults 7pm-8pm Further information, Tel: 666 756 692. Calle Chipre 24. San Pedro. www.marbellataekwondo.com

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 Thursday CINE CLUB – MARBELLA

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

Every Wednesday and Saturday FOOTBALL – FUENGIROLA

Every Wednesday afternoon at 5pm and Saturday morning at 10am, the Field of Dreams Football School teaches kids aged three upwards to learn or hone their skills at football. Featuring English UEFA-trained coaches. www.facebook.com/Fieldofdreamsfootballclub

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

JAZZ – MARBELLA

Enjoy magnificent jazz music by Agustín Carrillo, Oliver Lepinat and Markus Schneider at Trocadero Arena restaurant from 10pm onwards. Tel: 952 865 579. www.trocaderoarena.com

Every first Friday of the Month CINE CLUB – ESTEPONA

Top films shown weekly in Spanish or original

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soundtrack at Padre Manuel Cultural Centre, 9pm. Tel: 952 802 002. www.estepona.es

At the Paseo de la Alameda from 10am to 2pm every Saturday. www.marbella.es

Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

YANELA BROOKS – ESTEPONA

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

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

ART – MARBELLA

Enjoy a beautiful art exhibition and art sale from 6pm to 11:30pm at Plaza de la Encarnación, Marbella. The event, organised by the COART Association in conjunction with the Marbella Town Hall, brings local artists and art buyers together in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. For further information, asociacioncoart@gmail.com

ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEG MARKET – MARBELLA

If healthy, pesticide-free fruit and veg are your thing, don’t miss out on this hip market.

Marbella’s Diva of Disco and Soul, Yanela Brooks, performs at La Cabaña del Mar Beach Club at the Hotel Kempinski Bahía Estpona. Enjoy a three-course dinner while Yanela performs favourite pop and R ‘n B hits. From 8pm to 1am. www.kempinski.com

Every second Saturday of the month ECOLOGICAL MARKET – ELVIRIA The Guadalhorce Ecological Association will be holding an organic fruit and vegetable market in front of the Supersol in Elviria. www.guadalhorceecologico.es

Every Sunday FLEA MARKET – MIJAS

The Costa del Sol Race Course hosts a flea market every Sunday from 9am to 2pm.

Every First Sunday of the month OPEN DAY – MIJAS PAD animal shelter, Cerros del Águila, welcomes visitors from 12pm-3pm. Further information, Tel: 952 486 084. www.padcatsanddogs.org

Wednesday March 5 MUSIC – FUENGIROLA

The International Music Society presents Music to Welcome Spring: a selection of songs from classic to contemporary, from Phantom of the Opera, The Beatles, Abba, Verdi, Bizet and more. At 8pm at the Salon Varietes Theatre. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

JOHN MAYALL – MÁLAGA

British blues and rock performer, John Mayall, will be performing at the Teatro Cervantes de

Málaga at 9pm.www.teatrocervantes.com

Friday March 7 ABBA TRIBUTE – ESTEPONA

Voulez Vous is the title of the fun Abba tribute show which will be taking place at TIkiTano restaurant at 7:30pm. Tel: 952 798 449.

Saturday March 8 GALA – MARBELLA

Luks Marbella VIP Club will be holding its first Gala of Queens at the Beach Club of the Vincci Estrella del Mar Hotel. Featuring a lavish dinner and entertainment by Yanela Brooks, Antony Wolfson, Bailacosta Marbella and Russian group, Kalinka Folclor. www.luksmarbella.com

WOMEN’S LUNCH – MARBELLA

Sea Grill restaurant at the Hotel Puente Romano will be hosting a women’s day lunch. Featuringa five-course meal, live entertainment and goodies for all. Tel: 952 820 900.

Monday March 10 THE ORIGINAL GLEN MILLER ORCHESTRA – MÁLAGA

The Glen Miller Orchestra is one of the most popular big bands in the world with a plethora of hits including Moonlight Serenade and Chattanooga Choo Choo. The band will be playing at the Teatro Cervantes de Málaga at 9pm. www.teatrocervantes.com

Tuesday March 11 to Wednesday March 12 SYMPHONIC ABBA – MÁLAGA

One World Symphonic Orchestra presents Symphonic ABBA: a classical reinterpretation of ABBA’s greatest hits, including Dancing Queen, Waterloo and more. www.teatrocervantes.com

Friday March 14 DISCO – ESTEPONA

TikiTano restaurant in Estepona will be hosting a fun Disco Inferno evening. Tribute band, Inferno, will be performing music by the world’s most revered disco artists, including Aretha Franklin, Le Chic, Bony M and more. Tel: 952 798 449.

Monday March 17 FUNDRAISING COFFEE MORNING – LA CALA DE MIJAS

A coffee morning will be held to raise funds for a British father-of-two, who, at age 36, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The event, which aims to give the father and his family a holiday on the Coast, will delight guests with a fun raffle, tea, sandwiches, etc. At PMI Emporium in La Cala de Mijas village, next to the English optician. For further information, search for Coffee Morning in Aid of Cancer Patient on Facebook.

Sunday March 9 CHILDREN’S THEATRE – MÁLAGA

The Teatro Echegaray will be staging a colourful show featuring actors and puppets, based on classic children’s tale, The Emperor’s Nightingale. At 11am then again at 1pm. www.teatroechegaray.com

ST. PATRICK’S DAY GOLF TOURNAMENT – MARBELLA

The Marbella Golf & Country Club will be hosting a fun event for all, with golf and free Guinness keeping players on their toes.

There will be a welcome coffee and bacon baguette, Texas Scramble game, barbecue, entertainment and more. Tel: 952 834 642.

Tuesday March 18 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT – ESTEPONA

The Estepona Floral Art Club will be holding its next flower arranging demonstration on Tuesday 18th March from 3.15pm to 5pm at TikiTano restaurant in Estepona. The demonstration, entitled Inspired by Nature, will be given by Craig Bullock, NAFAS National Demonstrator. Tel: 952 891 385.

Wednesday March 19 IGNACIO BÉJAR GROUP – MÁLAGA

Ignacio Béjar, musician and music therapist, will be playing the Turkish ney, oud, Turkish clarinet, Saxo soprano, base clarinet and samplers, and will also be singing ‘songs without frontiers’. At the Teatro Echegaray at 9pm. www.teatroechegaray.com

Friday March 21 MAGO DE OZ – MÁLAGA

Mago de Oz is a legendary rock group that has been playing up a storm for over 20 years. During the Spring, they will be touring various cities in Spain. The Málaga concert will take place at Sala Paris 15 at 9:30pm. www.ticketmaster.es

MICHAEL BUBLÉ TRIBUTE – ESTEPONA TikiTano restaurant will he hosting a fun Michael Bublé tribute show entitled Call Me Irresponsible Live. At 7:30pm. Tel: 952 798 449.

Friday March 21 to Sunday March 30 THEATRE – FUENGIROLA Salva presents the Spanish premiere of Whistle Down the Wind by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman. At the Salon Varieties Theatre. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

Sunday March 23 CHARITY RUN – ESTEPONA

Rotary International invites you to sign up for a fun run to raise money for children suffering from polio. The run is part of a programme founded in 1985 alongside OMS, UNICEF and the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation. Tel: 952 809 500.

Sunday March 23 to Sunday March 30 GOLF – ALONG THE COAST

The Lions Golf Nation Cup 2014 will be taking place on five of the Costa del Sol’s most outstanding golf courses: Finca Cortesín, Atalaya Old, San Roque, Alcaidesa Links and the Marbella Club Golf Resort. The tournament is open to all golfers and comprises a ‘Best Ball Stableford per team on each hole’ format. www.lionsgolf.info

Thursday March 27 SALSA – MARBELLA

Learn to dance to the coolest salsa beats at Rolling Salsa at 9pm. C/ Jacinto Benavente 4, Marbella.

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THE GUIDE stars

www.russellgrant.com

Russell Grant’s Monthly Horoscope March 2014

The Full Moon on the 16th brings great news regarding a relationship. Prepare to hear news of an engagement, marriage, or commitment ceremony.

PISCES February 20th - March 20th

A makeover, wardrobe revamp, or new hairstyle will give you a new lease of life on or around the 1st. Prepare to turn heads wherever you go. Friends in high places can help you find a high-powered job during the first week of March. Listen to an established artist’s advice in mid-March; it will help you with your own creative endeavours. The Full Moon on the 16th brings great news regarding a relationship. Prepare to hear news of an engagement, marriage, or commitment ceremony. Spend more time on a relationship or social issue that speaks to your heart during the second half of the month. It’s especially important to voice your romantic needs in the days surrounding the 22nd. A fantastic job offer will arrive in the final days of March. Accept this position as soon as possible, or a rival will move in and steal your thunder. Chances like this come only once in a Blue Moon.

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ARIES [21 MAR - 20 APR]

The opening days of March give you a welcome opportunity to rest, relax and rejuvenate. An old love could make their way back into your life on or around the 1st. You may have to rearrange your household to accommodate an unexpected but pleasant guest. Your best friend, lover, or business partner can help you realise a cherished dream near mid-month. The Full Moon on the 16th finds you finishing up a demanding work assignment; you’ll receive a handsome reward for your efforts. You’ll get plenty of fame and acclaim starting the third week of the month. This is a great time to show off your creative work. A friendship could turn to romance with very little effort as March turns to April. The final day of the month is ideal for adopting a new look. Change your appearance, buy some fashionable clothes, or get a cosmetic procedure. You’ll be thrilled with the results.

TAURUS [21 APR - 21 MAY]

Who you know will be much more important than what you know in early March. Be sure to attend a festive party and push yourself to meet new people. You may be out of your depth with a work assignment; ask an expert to show you the ropes. Dress for success throughout the first half of the month. It’s critical to make a good impression on the powers that be. Take an older person’s advice about a love affair in mid-March. The Full Moon on the 16th is great for finishing a creative project or taking a romantic relationship to the next level. Working behind the scenes will earn the admiration of a powerful ally during the second half of the month. If you’re looking for work, spread the word among friends. Someone will hear of a great position that seems tailor made for you. You will be left to your own devices at the end of March. Escaping a micromanager will be a relief.

GEMINI [22 MAY - 21 JUNE]

Early March brings a host of exciting career opportunities. Choose the position that affords the greatest creative satisfaction. You won’t have to sacrifice a good salary for emotional fulfilment. This job will have great benefits, too. A nagging health problem will make it hard to concentrate during the first half of the month. Adopting a more active lifestyle will provide relief. The Full Moon on the 16th prompts you to spend more time at home. Let your family shower you with affection. You’re long overdue for some pampering. If you’re single, let a friend set you up on a blind date in late March. You’ll get lots of favourable attention for your artistic contributions as the month draws to a close. Don’t be surprised if a newcomer steps forward to champion your work. Your vision strikes a chord with this pioneer. You’re both eager to explore uncharted territory.

CANCER [22 JUN - 23 JULY]

The chance to study, travel, or write could fall into your lap in early March. This is a great time to take a leap of faith. You have to admit, you’ve grown tired of the old routine. Visiting a favourite relative is a possibility. You’ll feel especially nostalgic throughout the first half of the month, going through old photos and listening to cherished music from childhood. You’ll find a use for newly acquired skills on the 16th, when the Full Moon rises in your third house of intellect. Show off your leadership ability during the second half of March; you’ll impress an executive who

is looking for help. Let a loved one talk you into taking a risk as the month draws to a close. The 30th finds you competing for an exciting new job. This is an opportune time to move into a highly technical field that has plenty of growth potential.

LEO [24 JULY - 23 AUG]

An intimate relationship provides lots of pleasure throughout early March. You may want to keep this affair a secret until next month. Use this time to get to know each other without any interference from the outside world. If you’re already in a relationship, your partner could get a raise, making it easier for you both to afford luxuries. You’ll be able to make improvements to your workplace in the first half of the month. Being able to operate in a colourful, comfortable environment will boost your productivity. A paycheque will arrive on or around the 16th, when the Full Moon rises in your second house of earned income. Go ahead and buy some beautiful furniture or artwork. You’ve earned a splurge. Word will spread of your expertise in late March, attracting some exciting job opportunities. Don’t be surprised if someone asks you to teach a class or write an article at the end of the month.

VIRGO [24 AUG - 23 SEPT]

Two heads are better than one in the opening days of March. This is a great time to enter into a romantic or business partnership. Your other half will help you to become more creative, while you’ll give their life structure and meaning. Make time for sensual pleasure in the first half of the month. Getting a massage or spa treatment will cause tension to vanish into thin air. Resist the urge to argue with an older relative or neighbour who is set in their ways. The Full Moon on the 16th will prompt you to do something nice for yourself, like take an engrossing class or send a piece of written work for publication. Collaborate on a creative project with your best friend, lover, or business partner during the second half of March; you’ll be thrilled with the results. Money from an inheritance, dividend, or refund will enrich your bank account as the month draws to a close.

LIBRA [24 SEPT - 23 OCT]

The beginning of March is the best time of the entire year to start a health regimen. You’ll see results almost immediately, which will give you extra incentive to stick to your routine. You may want to return to a sport or athletic activity you enjoyed as a youngster. Resist the urge to push a relative into a decision during the first half of the month. You’ll get better results by making a strategic retreat. Romance abounds midmonth. If you’re single, you’ll have your choice of several admirers. Paperwork from a bureaucracy arrives on or around the 16th, allowing you to get paid for work you did some time ago. News of an engagement or marriage will reach your ears in the second half of March. Get ready for a glamorous party. You’ll have to play the aggressor with an attractive newcomer as the month draws to a close. Experiment with new lovemaking techniques.

SCORPIO [24 OCT - 22 NOV]

March opens on a joyous note. This is a great time to embark on a love affair, launch a creative project, or start a family. You’ll be able to delegate some responsibilities to

relatives, colleagues and neighbours. This will come as a tremendous relief, as you’ve been working your fingers to the bone. Sexy exchanges with a newcomer make the first half of the month sizzle with excitement. Just don’t send any confidential photos or messages while you’re at work. Your confidence and expertise proves irresistible mid-month. A cherished dream will be realised on or around the 16th, when the Full Moon makes a supportive angle to ambitious Saturn. Let an influential neighbour or relative promote your creative work throughout the second half of March. This will attract lots of favourable attention. An exciting job opportunity fall into your lap as March turns into April. This position will afford a welcome measure of independence.

SAGITTARIUS [23 NOV - 21 DEC]

The chance to buy a home or move to a bigger place will arrive in the opening days of March. Luckily, you’re getting lots of work, so you’ll have no trouble buying furniture and making improvements to your abode. If you’re dissatisfied with your job, you could open your own business during the first half of the month. Operating out of your home will provide lots of satisfaction. You could cultivate a lucrative clientele from old work contacts. The 16th brings a raise, promotion, or award. This attention will further your business prospects and make you something of a local celebrity. Take a relative’s health advice in the second half of the month. Exercise that increases flexibility will be best for you. A passionate love affair could burst into flower as March turns to April. If you’re single, you could meet someone special when you least expect it. Take pains to look your best whenever you go out.

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 20 JAN]

An interesting class will become available in the opening days of March; seize this opportunity to sign up, before all the spaces are taken. You’ll feel an immediate kinship with your instructor, who is funny, wise and creative. An old friend will reconnect with you during the first week of the month. It’s possible this will prove a good career contact for you. It may be necessary to swap roles with your best friend or lover near the 6th. A writing project or speaking engagement will garner lots of favourable publicity midmonth. The Full Moon on the 16th prompts you to take a leap of faith. This risk will pay off handsomely. Be sure to stand up for your beliefs. You’ll be the hero on the home front during the second half of the month. Buying a piece of real estate or launching a decorating project is an ideal endeavour as March melts into April.

AQUARIUS [21 JAN - 19 FEB]

An exciting moneymaking opportunity will arrive in early March. It will involve lots of work, but you’re willing to put in long hours because the pay is excellent. An authority figure will reverse their decision about a job, which will be annoying but lucrative. The first week of the month is ideal for getting a salon treatment, cosmetic procedure, or makeover. Don’t discuss career prospects with your boss on the 11th; you will fare much better if you broach the subject mid-month. The Full Moon on the 16th is perfect for meeting an obligation or paying off a debt. Listen to a sibling or neighbour’s advice in the second half of the month regarding your appearance. You’ll make a great impression on a dynamic civic leader during the final week of the month. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to teach a class as March turns into April. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2014 / 121

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THE GUIDE family If you are looking for fun activities for your children during after-school hours or at weekends, look no further than the Marbella Club Hotel’s beautiful new Kids Club, offering everything from homework support, right through to classes in flamenco, cooking, drama, pottery, tennis, hip-hop and much more. The fun continues on weekends, when kids can enjoy movie hours, treasure hunts, pottery classes, kayaking and much more.

After-School and Weekend Activities at the

g For information about membership, contact Guy Leleu on Tel: 630 965 710. guyleleu@marbellaclub.com, or Laura Piñero on Tel: 660 998 800. laurap@marbellaclub.com

Marbella Club Hotel’s

Kids Club

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 Danzzas Ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, theatre craft and hip-hop for kids. Classes at the Manolo Santana Racquets Club and at Plaza Gym. Contact Fiona on Tel: 663 646 040. www.danzzas.com 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 in Benalmádena. Contact Emma on Tel: 628 567 129. www.littlegemswimmers.com

Marbella Stage School

Kids can take accredited courses in dance, drama, musical theatre and singing after school on weekdays and all day on Saturdays. Tel: 952 906 865. www.marbellastageschool.com 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

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