Essential Marbella October 2013 by Essential Magazine

LUXURY NATURAL

RETREATS

A Buddhist

haven in

ISSUE 171 • OCTOBER 2013

ESSENTIAL FOR LUXURIOUS LIVING

N º171 -OCTOBER 2013

essential essential magazine® marbella

MARBELLA

COMPLIMENTARY Edition

Benalmádena

Andalusian Wilderness

Organic

or GM?

Cutting Edge

Eco Cars Country style

nature’s

way

Cashmere natural

food

skin care

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

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essential magazine® is now also in

Issue 171 • October 2013

S T A F F

Gibraltar

PUBLISHER AND DIRECTOR

IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com

GENERAL MANAGER

ANDREA BÖJTI sales@essentialmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MARISA CUTILLAS editorial@essentialmagazine.com

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

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contents The Style Décor: Fine & Country 64 Interiors: Bo Concept 72 Fashion: House of Cashmere 80 Fashion News: ‘It’ Items for the Season 88

The Spa Beauty: Organic Skincare 92 Beauty News 94 Health: Avoid These Additives! 96 Healthy Fats 98 Organic is Best 100 Eating Healthily 102 Antigymnastique 104

The Pro Enterprise 106 Business Profile: Look Your Best 114

The Leisure 126 Travel: The Andalusian Wilderness 134 Golf in Scotland

The Gourmet 139 Café del Mar 141 Top Thai 142 Food News 144 Chef’s Profile: Rafael Carrasco of Kabuki Raw 146 Organic Wine

The Guide 148 Listings

The Blog 157 Pet News 158 What’s On 160 Stars 162 Kid’s Zone

The Vibe Marbella’s Social Scene 118

The Trend Cinema 22 Home Viewing 24 Music 26 Books 28 Gadgets 30 Cars: Luxury Green Vehicles 32

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The Focus 36 Top Natural Retreats 44 Organic vs GM Produce 50 The Stupa in Benalmádena 58 Nile Rodgers 60 Rob Edmond, Celebrity Fitness Trainer

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w w w. b l e v i n s f r a n k s . c o m

ex sh clu ow All si n pr ve on op to th er En is ties ge pa l & ge Vö are lk er s

You only live once, Architect Lis Melgarejo – Marbella Club

Beachfront Los Monteros: The most exclusive and impressive beachfront property on the Costa del Sol! Set on a large, private plot offering the epitome of luxurious living. Spa with indoor pool, jet stream, gym, steam bath and sauna. Cinema, bodega, guest house, staff accommodation. 7 Beds, 9 baths. Built 1.933 m2, plot 4.000 m2. E&V ID: E&V ID: W-01H257. Price: P.O.A.

Hacienda Las Chapas: Impressive modern villa situated in the elegant community of Hacienda Las Chapas. Built with high quality materials in an elegant style. Mature gardens, gym and guest apartment. 5 Beds, 4 baths. Built 680 m2, plot 1.500 m2. E&V ID: W-01HKSC. Price: 1.750.000 €.

Los Monteros Beach: Fantastically priced! Elegant villa with beautiful sea views set on a large, double plot with private tennis court, just a few meters from the beach between Los Monteros and Bahia de Marbella. 8 Beds, 7 baths. Built 771 m2, plot 3.200 m2. E&V ID: W-01G3IS. Price: 2.950.000 €.

Beachfront Los Monteros: Exclusive first line beach penthouse in the most luxurious complex in Los Monteros Playa. Stunning sea views from all rooms, community with mature gardens, pool and 24h security. 4 Beds, 3 baths. Living area 260 m2, terrace 170 m2. E&V ID: W-01FE6N. Price: 2.195.000 €.

Beachfront Río Real: Spectacular frontline beach penthouse in a luxurious complex in Río Real Playa, 360º views from the large terrace. Community with mature garden, 2 pools of which one is heated. 4 Beds, 5 bath. Living area 227 m2, terrace 54m2. E&V ID: W-016C6Y. Price: 2.100.000 €.

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

e s s ar ker ie e rt ag Völ pe p ro is l & l p th ge Al on En n to ow e sh usiv cl ex

we will show you where!

Cascada de Camoján: One of the most stunning properties in Marbella. Occupying a large plot of 8.778 m2 with spectacular views, this majestic home presents top luxury and glamour. 2 external pools, cascades, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, cinema, gym, bodega, games room, lift. Separate guest house. 6 Beds, 6 baths. Built 2.501 m2, plot 8.778 m2. E&V ID: W-013GFZ. P.O.A.

Sierra Blanca: Situated in the upper part of Sierra Blanca, an impressive villa of 8 bedrooms with spectacular views, grand entrance and large suites. Gym, steam room, bodega, staff accommodations. 8 Beds, 6 baths. Built 1.288 m2, plot 2001 m2. E&V ID: W-01LJVZ. Price: 4.900.000 €.

Sierra Blanca: Unmatched in grandeur, views and sophistication, this exquisite villa is majestically poised in a prime location. Indoor pool, sauna, steam room, cinema, gym, bodega, lift. Separate guest apartment. 6 Beds, 6 baths. Built 1.565 m2, plot 2.311 m2. E&V ID: W-01H5H7. Price: 6.900.000 €.

Sierra Blanca: Boasting magnificent sea views, this picturesque property presents a masterful blending of Mediterranean style and luxury. Beautifully designed around two courtyards. Separate guest apartments. 6 Beds, 6 baths. Built 1.275 m2, plot 1.958 m2. E&V ID: W-008Q1Q. Price: 3.500.000 €.

Sierra Blanca: Stunning modern villa with fantastic sea views, built with the highest qualities. Beautiful gardens, outdoor kitchen, sauna, gym and 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 €.

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

publisher’s letter WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL

It’s nature’s way of telling you, summer breeze It’s nature’s way of telling you, dying trees It’s nature’s way of receiving you It’s nature’s way of retrieving you It’s nature’s way of telling you Something’s wrong

Randy California, Spirit, 1970 Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

W Nature’s Way

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elcome to the October issue of magazine which is focused on Nature & Organics and appropriately printed on recyclable paper. For the ultimate in peaceful relaxation, join us on a visit to some of the planet’s finest natural retreats. Closer to home, experience some meaningful meditation at the magnificent Buddhist Stupa in Benalmádena and take a trip into the countryside with Andalusian Wilderness. Organically-produced products are now at last big business, but how will we be able to deliver enough food for the additional billions that the population statistics predict? Hybrid cars too are increasingly available and you can review the latest trends, including all-electric vehicles in these pages. We take this opportunity to caution you on harmful additives you should watch out for in what you’re eating and chemicals to avoid in beauty products. We also bring you the low-down on which oils are healthy and delve into the world of organic wine. Elsewhere, don’t miss our one-on-one’s with Nile Rodgers, interviewed in late August while in Marbella for his sell-out concert, and Rob Edmond, fitness marshall from The Biggest Loser, who has recently relocated to the sunny south of Spain. There’s also sumptuous style, courtesy of Fine & Country & Bo Concept; creative cuisine from Café del Mar, Kabuki Raw & Top Thai; Golf in Scotland, where it all began; and timeless elegance from the House of Cashmere, beautifully shot on location back-to-nature in The Cotswolds.

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Sierra Blanca

So ld 13 20 er m m RS Su E ca LK an VÖ Bl & ra L er GE Si EN in by

Sold in July: The ultimate villa built in the newest contemporary design with the latest technology, boasting over 2.200m² of living area. Asking price 12.950.000 €.

Is your property next?

Sold in September: Magnificent estate on a large plot. Asking price 5.750.000 €.

Sold in September: Newly built high quality villa. Asking price 3.200.000 €.

Sold in June: Magnificent high quality villale each. Asking price 2.800.000 €.

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

F&C Marbella Essential October 2013_Layout 1 23/09/2013 17:10 Page 1

Multi-award winning luxury estate agents in 275 locations worldwide

THE GOLDEN MILE, MARBELLA – 9.995.000€ BUILT SIZE 1007m² • PLOT SIZE 2000m² • 7 BEDROOMS • 7 BATHROOMS SEPARATE STAFF APARTMENT Ref: 103885

GUADALMINA BEACHFRONT, MARBELLA – 9.000.000€ BUILT SIZE 839m² • PLOT SIZE 10410m² • 12 BEDROOMS • 9 BATHROOMS Ref: 109114

THE GOLDEN MILE, MARBELLA – 2.000.000€ BUILT SIZE 548m² • PLOT SIZE 1300m² • 4 BEDROOMS • 4 BATHROOMS · SEPARATE STAFF APARTMENT Ref: 107663

NUEVA ANDALUCÍA, MARBELLA – 975.000€ BUILT SIZE 192m² • TERRACE SIZE 76m² • 3 BEDROOMS • 3 BATHROOMS Ref: 109169

This property offers the ultimate in terms of location, state of the art design and quality of build, along with breath taking sea views.Tucked away in a prime residential area behind the prestigious Golden Mile, it benefits from the peace and security that this area offers, yet is only a minute’s drive from all amenities and the beach.The expansive build of this magnificent home encompasses the best in modern, yet classic design flair.

Under construction by a well-known building company, this villa is due for completion in March 2014. Located in the very sought after area of Nagueles, it will be only a five-minute drive from amenities and the beach. It will also benefit from sea views, state of the art contemporary design, a large swimming pool and a basement of 50m². Being situated at the end of a cul de sac, it will also enjoy privacy and tranquility.

Fine & Country Marbella

Unique, expansive villa situated in a privileged position on the beachfront in Guadalmina Baja. The property benefits from an abundance of natural light, with most rooms enjoying magnificent sea views. The large lawn garden rambles down to the seafront meaning that this property also has direct access to the lovely sandy beach. Located only a 5 minute-walk from restaurants and Guadalmina Golf Club, it is also only a 5 minute drive from Puerto Banus.

Outstanding, frontline golf penthouse with stunning views of Las Brisas golf course, the glittering Mediterranean and Mount Concha from its two terraces. The expansive build size of this elegant penthouse gives it an ambience of a true home rather than a holiday apartment. It benefits from 24/7 security, a secure parking space in the underground garage and is only an eight minute drive from the beach.

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

F&C Marbella Essential October 2013_Layout 1 23/09/2013 17:10 Page 2

Marbella

LA QUINTA, NUEVA ANDALUCIA, MARBELLA – 2.950.000€ Impressive, elevated, newly built frontline golf villa, situated in a small gated community.

BUILT SIZE 800m² • PLOT SIZE 1625m² • 6 BEDROOMS • 6 BATHROOMS SELF-CONTAINED STAFF APARTMENT

Ref: 106975

This beautifully built villa has several unusual features to its design including a very expansive, double height entrance hall/lounge with floor to ceiling windows. The fantastically sized master bedroom of 40m² has a balcony from where the lovely sea and golf views can be enjoyed. A home cinema, spa with indoor pool, gym and self-contained staff apartment are located on the lower ground floor level. This beautiful family villa is only 5 kms from Puerto Banus and a 2 minute drive from amenities.

The Most Spectacular King Size Front Line Beach Apartment on the Coast

24 HOUR SECURITY PARK LIKE GARDENS HEATED SWIMMING POOL RECEPTION AND SERVICES

Front line beach, 2nd ﬂoor apartment on one level. 4 large bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms with Italian showers. Double 200m2 living room with home cinema, dining room, bar and American style fully ﬁtted Gaggenau kitchen. Extensive closed and open terraces. Sauna, 2 garages, storage room and laundry room. Only 9 minutes to Puerto Banús. The ultimate experience in luxury living... Built area: aprox. 600 m2 Asking price: € 3.200.000

Information or viewings call (+34) 637.450.822 170_lasdunas.indd 2

www.apartamentolasdunas.com 9/24/13 1:05 PM

Самый захватывающий и просторный апартамент на первой линии моря на «Costa del Sol»

КРУГЛОСУТОЧНАЯ ОХРАНА ПРЕКРАСНЫЕ САДЫ ПОДОГРЕВАЕМЫЙ БАССЕЙН

Первая линия моря, третий этаж, апартамент в один уровень – 4 большие спальни, 4 ванные с итальянскими душевыми + гостевой туалет – Двойная 200 метровая гостиная с домашним кинотеатром и столовой, баром и кухней американского стиля марки «Gaggenau» - Широкая открытая и крытая терраса – Сауна – 2 парковочных места, 1 кладовая комната и 1 постирочная – Всего 9 минут от Пуэрто Бануса – Символ роскошной жизни! Строительная площадь: прим. aprox. 600 m2 Цена: € 3.200.000

Для просмотров: (+34) 637.450.822 170_lasdunas.indd 3

www.apartamentolasdunas.com 9/24/13 1:06 PM

La Trinidad, Marbella Golden Mile – Ref. MPA2007

Apartment in a luxury gated urbanisation in the heart of the Golden Mile, close to the beach, the Puente Romano Hotel and a short drive to Puerto Banus and Marbella town. The property is presented in immaculate condition, and is tastefully decorated in a modern style. The community offers residents an indoor heated pool, gymnasium, sauna and summer bar. Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Built: 147 m2 • Terrace: 30 m2 • PRICE: 775.000 €

Laguna de Banus, Puerto Banus – Ref. MPA2028

This magnificent apartment is one of only four properties within the complex designed to accommodate 3 large double bedrooms on one single floor. Fabulous living room with great open views to the community gardens and the Mediterranean sea beyond. This is true luxury living. Beds: 3• Baths: 3 • Built: 294 m2 • Terrace: 65 m2 • Price: 2.750.000 €

Lomas de la Quinta, Benahavis, Marbella – Ref. MPV2030

Modern-style home enjoying beautiful views over La Quinta golf course as well as panoramic sea views. Lovely mature gardens with infinity pool and chill-out area for outdoor relaxing and entertaining. The property also offers a separate guest house and independent staff apartment. Beds: 6 • Baths: 6 • Built: 490 m2 • Plot: 1.740 m2 • Price: 3.650.000 €

Want to sell your property? What can you expect from MP Dunne? We will guide you through the entire process of selling your property, giving you sound and helpful advice along the way, and you can be assured that our pricing is accurate and honest, based on real research and our extensive market knowledge. Focusing on the greater Marbella area, and with specific market

expertise in the Marbella Golden Mile, Sierra Blanca, Guadalmina Baja and La Zagaleta Country Club & Golf Resort, it is our mission to deliver our clients a superior service. Conveniently located along Marbella’s Golden Mile, directly opposite the prestigious Marbella Club Hotel, MP Dunne Properties is your Link to Luxury Listings.

Call us for a personal consultation on Tel: (+34) 952 866 072. For Luxury Rentals Call Tia Watt-Roy. Mary Dunne

Julie Ann Davies

Trevor Kerr

Lawrence Maeck

Tia Watt Roy

Your link to luxury LISTINGS in Marbella

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La Zagaleta, Benahavis, Marbella – Ref. MPV1011

Recently completed and very competitively priced villa located in the magnificent La Zagaleta Country Club. Beautiful finishes are highlighted by fine attention to detail seen throughout the house, and exquisite pearl-white interiors combined with natural tones in the living areas make a combination which is both striking and chic. Offers all the modern lifestyle features you could wish. Beds: 7 • Baths: 8 • Built: 1.415 m2 • Plot: 4.589 m2 • PRICE: 4.950.000 €

El Madroñal, Benahavis, Marbella – Ref. MPV2015

Beautifully finished family home, full of light and space, with magnificent views past the mature gardens all the way down to the coastline. Loads of space for formal and informal entertaining. Close to the little “Pueblo Andaluz” style community of La Heredia with charming restaurants and shops. Beds: 5 • Baths: 5 • Built: 575 m2 • Plot: 3.035 m2 • PRICE: 2.450.000 €

Rocio de Nagüeles, Marbella Golden Mile – Ref. MPV2011

This delightful home is well located within an easy 5-minute drive to Marbella and Puerto Banus. Lovely veranda-style terrace and thatched chill-out area near the pool. Separate guest area. Small gym and own tennis court. Perfect for family life with the added advantage of being close to schools! Beds: 5 • Baths: 4 • Built: 600 m2 • Plot: 2.750 m2 • PRICE: 1.750.000 €

Lomas de la Quinta, Benahavis, Marbella – Ref. MPA1236

HUGE REDUCTION IN PRICE! Very spacious, sunny 2-bed apartment in a gated complex with south-facing views over the beautiful community gardens from the terrace. In perfect condition and including garage space and store room. Close to La Quinta Golf Academy and driving range. Superb buy! Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Built: 129 m2 • Terrace: 37 m2 • PRICE: 249.000 €

Embrujo Playa, Puerto Banus – Ref. MPA1879

Great location for permanent residents or holiday makers!! Spacious two-bed south-facing apartment in this secure luxury complex within walking distance from Puerto Banus and the beach. Terrace with views of the magnificent tropical gardens. Garage space and storage room included. Beds: 2 • Baths: 2 • Built: 164 m2 • Terrace: 25 m2 • PRICE: 360.000 €

Centro Expo Loc. 11-12, Bulevar Alfonso Hohenlohe, 29602 (Marbella, Málaga) Tel: 952 866 072 • Fax: 952 866 963 • info@mpdunne.com • www.mpdunne.com MP Dunne Properties 171 Mary Dunne.indd 2

@mpdunne

MP Dunne 9/24/13 10:17 AM

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

We take our cue from the theme of the month, with top reads on the Great Outdoors and eco

gadgets that will change your life! Likewise, we channel our eco warrior and whiz our way to Nirvana in the coolest green luxury cars in the business!

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Cinema

Home Viewing

Music

Books

Gadgets

Cars: Luxury Green Vehicles

9/24/13 11:30 AM

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trend CINEMA

WORDS MARISA CUTILL

e BLOCKBUSTER

OF THE MONTH

Gravity

» GENRE Science FicsotioCunarón (Harry Potter » DIRECTOR AlfonAzkaban)

and the Prisoner of orge Clooney, » ACTORS Sandra Bullock, Ge Eric Michels

Engineer on her first Ryan Stone, a Medical Sandra Bullock plays Dr. soned Astronaut, sea e is accompanied by Sh ce. spa o int n sio mis the last mission of his e Clooney), who is on Matt Kowalsky (Georg oyed satellite crashes str ary spacewalk, a de tin rou a g rin Du . eer car in space. Their g them stranded out into their shuttle, leavin as they struggle to t tes ork are put to the intelligence and teamw stay alive. come up with a way to

» GENRE Drama/Biography » DIRECTOR Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy)

» ACTORS Tom Hanks, Catherine

Keener, Barkhad Abdi

Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips was at the helm of US cargo ship, the MV Maersk Alabama, when it was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. This is the true story of a sailor whose courage and concern for his crew led President Obama to deem him “a model for all Americans”. The film is based on Phillips’ fascinating book, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea.

» GENRE Horror » DIRECTOR Kimberly Pierce » ACTORS Chloë Grace

» GENRE Crime/Drama » DIRECTOR Sofia Coppola (Lost

in Translation) ACTORS Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson

The Bling Ring

The Bling Ring is the true story of crimes which took place in homes of a bevy of young Hollywood celebrities including Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox, Rachel Bilson and Audrina Partridge. The perpetrators, a group of young fame-obsessed urbanites, would assiduously read celebrity blogs to find out when their victims weren’t home, so they could break in and deprive them of their prized designer possessions.

» GENRE Animation » DIRECTOR David Soren

(Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Samuel L. Jackson

» VOICES

Turbo

This 3D-animated film tells the tale of Turbo, an ordinary garden snail whose dream of winning the Indianapolis 500 race makes him somewhat of an outsider in the small snail community he lives in. One day, he heads for his favourite ‘thinking place’ (the highway), when he is accidentally sucked up into the supercharger of a racing car. His DNA is fused with nitrous oxide, resulting in amazing new powers that bring Turbo closer to his dream of winning the Indie.

Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer

Carrie

Those who grew up in the 1970s surely remember Brian De Palma’s masterpiece of horror, Carrie. The film is both a frightful foray into the world of telekinetic powers and a study of the power politics within social circles in adolescence. We don’t know if Chloë Grace Moretz will be able to capture the perfect blend of power and vulnerability that earned Sissy Spacek her first Academy Award nomination in the original film, but based on her magnificent performance in the harrowing film, Let Me In, we have a feeling she’ll do a magnificent job at scaring us to bits.

» GENRE Biopic » DIRECTOR Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) » ACTORS Benedict Cumberbatch,

Carice van Houten, Daniel Brühl

The Fifth Estate

The Fifth Estate tells the true story of WikiLeaks’ Founder and Editor, Julian Assange. Closely based on the book Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange and the World’s Most Dangerous Website, it delves into the deception and corruption that lie beneath the surface of the world’s most powerful governments and institutions.

22 / OCTOBER 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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trend HOME VIEWING

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

» GENRE Drama » DIRECTOR Walter Salles

» ACTORS Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund

» IMDB RATING 6.1/10

On The Road

Jack Kerouac’s classic novel, On The Road, is considered a defining work of American fiction. Published in 1951, it touches on once-taboo subjects such as sex and drugs, and is considered the most representative novel of the post-war Beat Generation. It tells the story of Sal Paradise, a young, naïve small-town writer whose life is turned upside-down by the arrival of rebellious free thinker, Dean Moriarty and his girlfriend, Marylou. The three embark on a road trip, meeting an eclectic bunch of people, each of whom leaves an indelible mark on Sal’s life and writings.

E MON VD RELEASE OF TH D ED R U AT FE e

3 n a M n o r I

» GENRE ScienceanFice tion » DIRECTOR Sh ng Bang) Black (Kiss Kiss Ba » ACTORS Robertyneth Downey Junior, Gw e Paltrow, Guy Pearc 7.6/10 NG TI RA DB

» IM

Man flick? Tony Stark/Iron definitive and final Iron Could this be both the r been, experimenting eve is happier than he has ey) wn Do t ber (Ro n Ma and enjoying peaceful Iron Man robotic suits with new, ultra-intuitive Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). nning girlfriend, Pepper stu his h wit life stic dome old enemy from the is threatened when an Yet his blissful existence rce) vows revenge for ing sensation, Guy Pea act sie Aus by d aye (pl past : Stark’s refusal to lend mate act of cowardice what he sees as the ulti could put an end to a aking technology that bre und gro a to rt po his sup lities. myriad of physical disabi

Identity Thief » GENRE Comedy » DIRECTOR Seth Gordon

(Horrible Bosses) » ACTORS Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Amanda Peet » IMDB RATING 5.6/10

If you’ve seen cult comedy series, Arrested Development, then you know of Jason Bateman’s gift for playing ‘the only sane guy in a house full of loonies’. He revives this spirit of sobriety in Identity Thief, where he plays Sandy Patterson, a hard-working businessman whose identity is stolen by a ruthless middle-aged shopaholic called Dawn Budgie (Melissa McCarthy). McCarthy steals the show (as she did in Bridesmaids), with a series of antics that will keep you chuckling throughout the film.

» GENRE Drama » DIRECTOR Mike Newell

(Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time)

» GENRE Adventure » DIRECTOR

Brian Singer (Valkyrie) » ACTORS Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci

» IMDB RATING 6.4/10

Jack The Giant Slayer

This super fun, fantastical romp in the land of the giants will bring out the child in you, as you watch Jack escape a host of dangerous situations, including almost being cooked inside a gigantic sausage roll. The visuals are stunning and the giants, fearful (yes, there is more than one). The film makes for ideal family viewing, and is a guaranteed good time for audiences of all ages.

» ACTORS Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Holliday Grainger

» IMDB RATING 6.2/10

Great Expectations The seminal film version of Charles Dickens’ classic, Great Expectations, is said to be that of David Lean, released in 1946. Modern day Director, Mike Newell, however, recently decided to remake the classic after feeling that something was missing from Lean’s version. He says: “Great Expectations is one of those books that people think they know and I don’t know that they do. Because in fact, if there is a sacred text in all of this, it isn’t the novel – it is the David Lean movie, but it’s not the novel. And the David Lean movie, fine though it is, messes about with the story and with class and sex issues.” Newell makes a great case for portraying the characters in a more realistic light, as is manifest in Dickens’ work. This film is a must-see for anyone who is passionate about the Victorian period.

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trend MUSIC

¿QUÉ PASA?

WORDS RIK FOXX

ALEXANDRA BURKE had a V Festival to forget. First entrance was refused by security as she had too much luggage, while waiting for access it started raining and she got soaked. After finally being allowed in she had to queue to get in the VIP lounge – once inside she was told she had missed last orders at the bar.

Also not happy are the JACKSON clan who might find themselves back in court soon with a different case. While they continue arguing over the dead King of Pop’s fortune, the US tax office (IRS) say they want a cut as the estate of MICHAEL still owes $505.1 million in taxes and $196.9 million in penalties. More money will slip from their clutches in 2018 when the JACKSON owned BEATLES back catalogue returns to PAUL McCARTNEY as the 1976 US Copyright Act states songs written before 1978 revert back to the songwriter after 56 years – not unless SIMON COWELL puts in a bid.

I are considering sacking long New Jersey legends BON JOV A. The guitarist pulled out of BOR time member RICHIE SAM r back in April for “personal the group’s current world tou get ting a monthly wage of still be reasons” and is said to fits from all shows – and $2 million plus 20% of the pro d are not happy about that. ban the apparently, the rest of

A man in Scotland who has been late for everything throughout his life, from first dates to funerals, has had his problem diagnosed as chronic lateness. At a press conference, the medic responsible for the find was asked if RIHANNA suffered from the same condition – to which he replied “No, she’s just wrapped up in a world of her own self importance”. Which brings us to GAGA, she may have millions of ‘little monsters’ who can’t wait for next month’s ARTPOP album but she is unpopular in other circles. US rapper AZEALIA BANKS and KATY PERRY, who called her a “big phoney”, have had their dissing daggers out on line and in July we told you about the KELLY OSBOURNE Twitter bicker – mother hen SHARON is said to be furious with the Poker Face singer and wants words (by the time you read this she probably will have). But PERRY got one up on GAGA when her single, Roar, a track from this month’s Prism album (out October 22), outsold her rival’s offering in the US by two-to-one. The self proclaimed ‘Queen of the Universe’ also upset customers in a London fish and chip shop. She fancied the English delicacy and the chippy was emptied by her security while she ordered. London-based Gibraltarian rockers BREED 77 have a new lead singer. Former vocalist PAUL ISOLA sang for the final time when the band returned to The Rock last month for a National Day concert. His replacement is RUI LOPEZ and they are expected to hit the studio soon to follow-up this year’s The Evil Inside album.

Blurred Lines by ROBIN THICKE has been the song of the summer on both sides of the Atlantic and now it is making waves of a different kind as the 36-year-old is being sued by the family of MARVIN GAYE who say the tune has ripped off the late soul singer’s 1977 single Got To Give It Up. A six-figure sum has already been rejected and Blurred Lines writers, CLIFFORD HARRIS JR and PHARRELL WILLIAMS, have filed a pre-emptive lawsuit of their own against the family in order to protect the huge money-spinning composition. Another family in discord are SISTER SLEDGE – they once sang We Are Family – well it seems they no longer are as former lead singer KATHY, who left the group in 1989, was recently sued by her siblings over her continued use of the group’s name in promoting her own shows. The rest of girls claim that Kathy’s use of the name in her billing causes confusion with the general public – if you think that’s confusing what about the DRIFTERS – there’s more line-ups on the circuit than there were original members.

The latter is in big demand and has been ‘in talks’ to write a song for the forthcoming ONE DIRECTION album, Midnight Memories, which is due out next month. Did you know that the boy band are not in the top three Y Factor singles selling acts yet? Top artist is LEONA LEWIS with 4.4 million followed by OLLY MURS with 3.9m and JLS (3.4m). And Mr. MURS, whose one-off Barcelona show next month is sold out, has pulled the prestigious halftime gig at next February’s Superbowl in New Jersey.

TRAVIS, who recently got back on radar with a new album Where You Stand, decided to do a bit of busking while at Scotland’s Fringe Festival. A crowd gathered and some killjoy called the police to stop it. The officers turned up and just stood at the back enjoying the free session.

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Welcome to the World of CafĂŠ del Mar Sophisticated beachfront bar and restaurant right on the beach. Folding glass doors and heated floor.

Urb. Coral Beach Km 176, Marbella, Spain Telephone: 952 77 72 99 Open everyday from 11:00 am - 2:00 am

sic u M Live

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trend BOOKS

READING, NATURALLY Nature is a vast topic comprising everything from business right through to sustainable living, organic produce and even our pets. This month, we offer you a select list of reading material which will surely inspire you to celebrate the very finest things Nature has to offer.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

NATURE’S GREAT EVENTS: THE MOST SPECTACULAR NATURAL EVENTS ON THE PLANET BY THE BBC NATURAL HISTORY UNIT

This beautiful book was written to accompany the spectacular BBC series of the same name, yet is very much a worthwhile piece of reading on its own. It covers the epic challenges faced by animals across the globe, revealing how Nature can set off a series of powerful chain reactions which affect everything from the lives of tiny microorganisms to entire species and vast tracts of land. Particularly dramatic events include the flooding of the Okavango Delta in South Africa (which leads a pack of starving elephants into the gaping jaws of their worst enemies, the lions), and the devastating effects of the melting of the polar ice caps on polar bears.

ART FORMS IN NATURE BY ERNST HAECKEL

THE BUMPER BOOK OF NATURE

ALAIN DUCASSE NATURE: SIMPLE, HEALTHY, AND GOOD

BY STEPHEN MOSS

Most of us would love to get closer to Nature alongside our children but, sometimes, it can be difficult to figure out where to start! The Bumper Book of Nature is an excellent compendium of suggested activities for children and adults alike. The activities are divided into seasons, and include How to Identify Pond Life, Digging for Earthworms, Identifying Birdsongs, Dyeing Easter Eggs Using Flowers and Going on a City Safari. There are ‘All Year Round’ activities as well, so this book will definitely remove all obstacles to getting off the couch and discovering the child in you in the Great Outdoors.

BY ALAIN DUCASSE

WHAT HAS NATURE EVER DONE FOR US?: HOW MONEY REALLY DOES GROW ON TREES BY TONY JUNIPER

Many of us take Nature’s bounties for granted when in fact, money does really grow on trees. The amount harnessed from Nature’s services is worth about double the global GDP; Nature is responsible for a host of secret, unspoken services that keep the world turning. Some of its most valuable processes include the genetic codebook that underpins our food, the miracles of recycling that take place in the soil and the army of predators that rid the Planet of harmful pests. The book’s author, Tony Juniper, is the former Executive Director of Friends of the Earth; he has been at the forefront of the environmental movement in the UK for 25 years. In his groundbreaking book, he argues that we have seriously undervalued Nature, not in the psychological sense, but in the economic one: we could be a lot wealthier if we put greater effort into maintaining the quality of our most powerful resources.

Famed Chef, Alain Ducasse (owner of 24 restaurants in eight different countries) has a simple philosophy when it comes to food: eating well should be a part of daily life. He invites his readers to do just that in this wonderful book, which includes 190 natural, creative, simply delicious meals including fish, seafood and meat dishes, as well as simple vegetarian delicacies like pestos and soups. The meals are made with nutrient-dense vegetables, whole grains and seasonal produce, and are a true testimony to the flavourful bounties of Nature.

This book is no less than a classic for naturalists and fine artists alike. Written by Philosopher, Professor, Physician, Naturalist, Biologist and Artist Ernst Haeckel, it was published in 1899 and continues to be favoured by aesthetes for its stunning lithographic prints. The book took decades of study and was Haeckel’s way of bringing the magnificence of Nature to everyday man. Some of the most beautiful works include representations of different turtles, moss species and sea anemones.

100 WAYS TO TAKE BETTER NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHS BY GUY EDWARDES

Photographer, Guy Edwardes, has been photographing Nature since as far back as he can remember and in this practical book, he offers budding photographers and pros alike 100 handy tips towards capturing unique moments in the vast outdoors. He gives advice on composition, coping with extreme conditions, Photoshop and handy software.

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trend ELECTRONICS

2 3

7 5

Marisa Cutillas shows us how easy it is to be cool and eco-friendly all at once.

GREEN IS BEST,

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO GADGETS 1 PLEXERASER BY PLEXTOR If you have

lots of sensitive files at the office, then chances are you have your own CD/DVD destroyer. What you may not know is that in the shredding process, toxins within the disc’s coating are released into the air. Consider investing in a PlexEraser, which will erase all the data from each disc, without actually destroying it. i www.amazon.co.uk

2 MC-UL712 - ECO-MAX LIGHT UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER BY PANASONIC If it’s about time that you

changed your vacuum cleaner, why not make an environmentally sound choice and opt for this model by Panasonic? It contains special features which significantly reduce energy consumption. i www.panasonic.co.uk

3 RADIATOR FAN BY RADIATOR BOOSTER Save energy and cut your heating

bills with the Radiator Booster radiator fan. A simple-to-use technology that maximises the efficiency of your radiator. i www.soy-eco.com

4 BIO ROBOT REFRIGERATOR BY ELECTROLUX This avante-garde fridge is four

times smaller than a conventional refrigerator and has no doors, drawers or motor. A nonsticky gel morphs around products to keep them fresh and cool. The fridge, which is not yet on the market, can be positioned vertically or horizontally, or even attached to the ceiling! i www.electrolux.com

5 RECHARGING BATTERIES BY USBCELL These rechargeable batteries eliminate the need for external chargers, since they simply plug into your USB. i www.usbcell.com

6 LYNX SOLAR RADIO BY POWERPLUS This digital AM/FM radio

comes with an alarm and integrated 3 LED flashlight. Dynamo wind-up, solar and USB chargeable. i www.soy-eco.com

7 SHARK DYNAMO LED FLASHLIGHT BY POWERPLUS We love this eco-friendly,

waterproof, heavy-duty flashlight with threelight function. i www.soy-eco.com

8 HYDROSPHERE BY ELECTROLUX

This ingenious invention is designed to enable you to grow plants in places where it would normally be difficult to do so. It works pretty simply: A grow lamp is placed in the middle of a clear glass globe, encouraging herbs and small fruits to grow around it. i www.electrolux.com

9 SOLAR LIGHTS BY EVERBRIGHT

These lights really cheer up a garden by night and best of all, they require no electricity! i www.soy-eco.com

10 ECOLOGYK KETTLE BY WAHL

Available at Soy-Eco. This energy-saving, cordless kettle uses up to 60 per cent less energy. Its unique dual chamber means you only boil the water you need. The kettle has a 1,5L capacity. i www.soy-eco.com

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NUEVA ANDALUCIA Ref. VM09223 Lovely large villa with panoramic views, situated in the heart of the golf valley, on a large plot of 3.455 m2. Built on one level, with large reception rooms, 5 bedrooms plus a study, separate snooker room, large garage, underﬂoor heating, huge basement. Possibility to make a gym, cinema room or extra rooms. Price: €1.900.000

NUEVA ANDALUCIA Ref. VM10676 Large west facing villa overlooking golf course, enjoys lots of privacy and ﬂows very well from living area out to pool. 6 bedroom suites, 2 with independent entrance, large area for cinema, gym, study, large plot, garage. Great value.

NUEVA ANDALUCIA Ref. VM10683 Villa reformed to the highest standards situated in the golf valley. Bright and luminous, kitchen by Haeker Kuechen, Bosch appliances, landscaped garden, 5 bedrooms including apartment with private access.

Price: €1.800.000

Price: €1.625.000

NUEVA ANDALUCIA Ref. VM10649 Beautifully refurbished villa between Aloha and Las Brisas. Large lounge, 2 modern kitchen, 4/5 bedrooms, study, large plot of 1.640 m . Lovely outside entertaining area with bar and barbecue.

NUEVA ANDALUCIA Ref. VM09506 Villa facing south-west, situated in a closed gated community. Three bedrooms and bathrooms, including beautifully renovated large master suite with jacuzzi. New kitchen with granite worktop, several covered terraces, perfect condition. Price: €675.000

Price: €750.000 Casaño 10-B, Nueva Andalucía (Pass the Bullring, beside BBVA bank) Tel: 952 810 695 enquiries@villamarketing.com

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9/23/13 11:29 AM

trend MOTORING

here’s no question that when it comes to hybrid and all-electric vehicles (EVs), the luxury segment got off to a fairly slow start. Vehicle manufacturers, quite naturally, initially created hybrids aimed at mass markets and there have been some notable successes with models like the Toyota Prius. In fact, Toyota has now sold over five million hybrids of various kinds worldwide – an amazing figure by any standards. Toyota has also been something of an industry pioneer by offering hybrid versions of some of its Lexus upscale products and rivals have slowly taken notice. Today, there are increasing numbers of luxury saloons and SUVs available with hybrid or electric powertrains in various configurations and there are certainly more to come. Initial hesitation was probably tied in with the notion that luxury buyers don’t care about fuel economy, but it’s now generally accepted that even the wealthy aren’t happy about the cost of a fill-up. Besides, increasing numbers of people want to make a ‘green statement’, even if they happily pay €100.000 or more for their car or SUV. Typical of premium vehicle manufacturers offering hybrids is Mercedes-Benz, which has announced a plug-in hybrid version of its flagship S-Class saloon. Plug-in hybrids can be charged using a household power outlet, so if the owner keeps topping up the vehicle when the batteries run down, he or she may theoretically never visit a petrol station at all. With a conventional hybrid, all battery charging is done on board while the vehicle is on the move using a variety of fascinating technologies – even braking helps charge the battery. Mercedes-Benz is talking about overall fuel consumption of just 3.0 litres/100 km for this car, which is very impressive given that it’s a fast, powerful, vehicle. Porsche has had a hybrid version of its stylish Panamera four-door for some time now and this will continue to be offered. The Panamera S Hybrid uses a supercharged V-6 developing 380-horsepower, so by any standards, this is a ‘real’ Porsche. According to Porsche, this car can run 165 km/h on electric power alone. All electric or hybrid-electric vehicles have excellent torque characteristics because the power assist provided by the electric motor or motors is available instantly.

La Ferrari

Even Cadillac is getting in on the EV trend with its upcoming ELR, which uses a powertrain similar to the one under the bonnet of the Chevrolet Volt – sold in Europe as the Vauxhall or Opel Ampera. General Motors likes to describe the ELR/Volt/ Ampera as “an electric vehicle with a range extending internal combustion engine”. Call it what you like, this is an amazingly fuel-efficient car and is also a decent size for passengers and cargo. The Cadillac ELR will just be that bit more luxurious and carry a very historic nameplate. Another legendary badge is that of BMW and for 2014, the Munich manufacturer will launch its compact i3 – a full-house EV with no other

power source than its batteries. Attractive, with its traditional BMW nose job, it should prove popular with people who like the idea of an easyto-park city runabout but still want to drive a prestige brand. Electric vehicle charging stations are becoming quite common in the major cities of industrialised countries and these will top up your EV a lot quicker than a standard wall outlet. BMW will be offering a home charging system in the form of its Wallbox and for the i3 owner, it’s probably a good buy. For the upcoming new model year, Infiniti is prepping its QX60 hybrid SUV. Infiniti expects owners will get 7.2-litres/100 km from this stylish

Cutting Edge Hybrid-Electric EV Vehicles

& WORDS TONY WHITNEY

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid 2014

Cadillac ELR 2014

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BMW i3 electric car

SUV and like all Infiniti models, it’s very well designed and equipped in the cabin. Infiniti does vehicle interiors as well as anyone in the industry. The QX60 also offers a surprisingly long range – more than 1,000 km. A supercharged fourcylinder is at the heart of this new Infiniti, which has been tested by none other than Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel. You’ll see the Infiniti logo on all Red Bull F-1 cars and Vettel has been closely involved with the development of this manufacturer’s road vehicles. In a similar SUV class to the QX60 is the opulent Lexus RX 450h which was updated for the 2013 model year. This Lexus, which is finished to a very high standard and beautifully trimmed, is powered by a 3.5-litre V-6 with three electric motors (not common) to deliver a powerful yet fuel-efficient driving experience. A surprisingly quiet and refined SUV, the RX 450h does cost a lot more than its conventionally powered equivalent, but plenty of contented buyers have found it to be well worth the money.

Tesla Model S

Volvo has been very quiet in the world of hybrids, but not any more. The Swedish manufacturer has announced its XC60 plug-in concept crossover and is claiming that it will boast “possibilities that no other existing hybrid can offer.” Bold words, but with Volvo’s outstanding reputation for automotive innovation, they are likely to be taken seriously by rivals. Volvo already offers its V60 plug-in hybrid estate car and no doubt some of the technology associated with this model has found its way to the concept XC60. Volvo is leading the way with the development of diesel-electric hybrid power for production models with its V60. One of the more remarkable of all pure electric vehicles has to be the Tesla Model S, which, apart from its zero-emission running gear, must be one of the most beautiful four-door saloons ever built. It’s right up there with the Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche Panamera in the looks department – and possibly even more attractive. A very clean and slinky design, the car delivers the kind of performance its styling promises – a zero to 100

km/h figure of around 4.2 seconds. It’s the only EV with a range greater than 320km per charge (by a wide margin!) and runs on multiple lithium-ion batteries much like the ones you may have in your mobile phone or iPad. Tesla has sold large numbers of its Model S and in some North American cities, the cars are an everyday sight. The car has won numerous ‘car of the year’ and ‘best green car’ titles and Tesla hopes to sell 10,000 cars in Europe before long. For upscale EVs and hybrids, the future looks bright with plug-in hybrids probably getting the inside track and ultimately becoming more common than conventional petrol/electric models. Just about every vehicle manufacturer has at least hinted that the technology is being carefully studied. Jaguar has confirmed that it may build a hybrid F-Type and even Rolls-Royce is said to be working on a hybrid version of its opulent Ghost using some existing BMW technology. Ferrari’s upcoming LaFerrari supercar can be considered to be a hybrid as it uses both a potent V-12 and an electric motor. It’s said to develop almost 1,000-horsepower and has lapped Ferrari’s Fiorano test track faster than any road car ever from the Italian icon. It’s certainly a little quicker that your uncle’s Prius! e

Infiniti QX60 2014

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CULTURE / HISTORY / FEATURES

focus FAMOUS PEOPLE / INTERVIEWS / HUMOUR

Nature is where it’s at, so we escape to some of the world’s most luxurious Natural Retreats, listen to a host of pros and cons in the Organic vs GM debate, and learn the profound significance of the Buddhist Stupa in Benalmádena. We also speak to Grammy award-winning Producer and Entertainer, Nile Rodgers, and catch up with celebrity fitness guru, Rob Edmond.

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Top Natural Retreats

Organic vs GM Produce

The Buddhist Stupa in Benalmádena

Nile Rodgers

Rob Edmond, Celebrity Fitness Trainer

9/24/13 11:30 AM

Villa Project in Elviria 4 Bedrooms en suite • Pool and jacuzzi • Highest standard of materials used • Fitted quality kitchen Sea view • Roof terrace • Walking distance to shopping centre. Plot: 1063 m2 Price: 985.000 € (VAT, Notary and Building License not included)

Project in Elviria with panoramic views • 3 Bedrooms en Suite • Pool • Fitted quality kitchen • Highest materials used • Basement with garage and room watching inside the pool. • Panoramic Sea & Valley View Plot: 1025 m2 Price: 1.120.000 €

(VAT, Notary & Building License Not Included)

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THE FOCUS travel

Vitamin N: Are You Getting Any?

Marisa Cutillas reveals why, when relieving stress is the order of the day, few destinations quite hit the spot like a luxury natural retreat.

here is a reason why, in moments of optimal stress, our minds turn to verdant pastures, crystal clear waters and bucolic passages for escape; it’s called ‘Nature deficit disorder’, a condition identified by renowned Nature writer, Richard Louv. “Sitting is the new smoking”, says Louv; the hours we spend immersed in technology are slowly depriving us of our humanity (and contributing to the obesity epidemic), but they are doing more than that. Scientists have found that separating man from his natural environment causes everything from depression to poor performance at work, mood swings and a general sense of dissatisfaction. Even the shortest exposures to natural environments, on the other hand, such as taking a short walk in a park, or filling office spaces with plants, offer an array of vital, quantifiable benefits. To put it simply, Nature makes us happier, more intelligent and healthier. A fascinating study by

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the University of Illinois indicates that symptoms of ADHD are greatly reduced in children who were taught their classes outdoors; indeed, teachers have testified to the transformational power of Nature; in the Great Outdoors, the class troublemaker is often magically transformed into ‘the leader of the pack’. What can we do to instil a love of Nature in our children? The answer, says Louv, lies in removing the fear factor; for too long, we have been feeding our children a diet of apocalyptic terror about climate change, long before their hearts and minds are able to cope with such harsh realities. Louv believes that rather than overwhelming our children with negativity, we should encourage them to enjoy the environment and inform them about the wonderful changes which are set to take place over the next 40 years (new kinds of agriculture, green inspired architecture, urban design, energy conservation, etc.). “If we conserved every square

inch of wilderness it wouldn’t be enough to bring back the biodiversity we need”, says Louv, “but if we changed our gardens, filling them with native plants and a different kind of botany, we could bring back butterfly migration routes and birds that have long since left our cities… think how powerful kids can feel if they realised that just by planting something in their backyard, they are actually healing an entire ecosystem and affecting vital migration routes”. It’s never too late to reap the benefits of Mother Nature. If a holiday is on the cards, instead of heading for the bright lights of big cities, why not aim for the inner enlightenment that only a few hours in the great outdoors can provide? In this report we fill you in on some of the most renowned nature getaways, which focus as much on health and wellness as on finding something greater inside oneself, as deep and spiritual, perhaps, as your own private Nirvana…

COMO Shambhala Estate – Bali, Indonesia Dubbed the ‘retreat for change’, COMO Shambhala is the perfect marriage of highend luxury and natural splendour. Winner of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Best Destination Spa Awards 2013, it offers much more than momentary alleviation from the stresses of everyday life; it is an experience that will encourage you to make lasting changes to your lifestyle. The Estate may stun with its luxury, but its aim is far more humble: to be a ‘home away from home’. Accommodations comprise rooms, suites, villas and the stunning ‘Bali residences’, ideal for large families since they feature four or five suites, airy living areas and a large swimming pool. Many of the accommodations are covered by cool palapas and boast dreamlike wooden terraces, seemingly projected into the vast habitat beyond, which is practically within arm’s reach. Flowing rivers, vast jungles and imposing boulders invite contemplation and interaction. Guests are invited to indulge their sense of play with a host of fun adventures in the wild, including trekking through rice paddies, plunging into profound gorges and rafting down the snaking Ayung River. The experience is also about wellness, of course, and there are a host of packages to choose from, including Oriental Medicine, Cleansing, Ayurvedic, Fitness, Stress Management and Rejuvenation Programmes. The cuisine will impress even the savviest of gourmets, who can indulge in the rich flavours of traditional Indonesian dishes or enjoy healthy COMO Shambhala cuisine, made with a plethora of natural ingredients that maximise health, increase concentration and calibrate blood sugar levels. If you’re travelling with a loved one or have chosen this resort for your honeymoon, ask the staff to prepare a romantic meal for two on your very own candlelit terrace. Sometimes, the most exciting nature to be discovered is the human kind! i www.comoshambhala.com

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The Farm – San Benito, Philippines Hailed as one of the most visually stunning wellness retreats in the world, The Farm, in the small town of San Benito, in the Philippines, has a philosophy that is difficult to find fault with. In this centre for holistic healing and wellness, guests are encouraged to achieve physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium by consuming nourishing ‘live foods’, practising healing arts such as yoga, meditation and Yogalates (a blend of yoga and Pilates) and participating in relaxing activities such as horticultural walks, flower arrangement or power walking. Most guests don’t miss out on the Oil of Life tour, a chance to harvest coconuts, produce virgin cold-pressed coconut oil and make a plethora of products from this powerful fruit. The Farm offers clients integrated medical service – everything from intravenous vitamin infusions to colonic hydrotherapy, liver and gall bladder flushes, capillary analyses and the popular Digital Meridian Diagnostic System, which measures the energy flow along the different meridians of your body. Another interesting treatment is Nutritional Microscopy, in which just one drop of a patient’s blood is used to obtain real-time information on their nutritional status and blood condition. While The Farm clearly has a very serious aim in mind (helping the body discover its power to self-heal), the beautiful retreat, ensconced amid palm trees, tranquil pastures and imposing mountain ranges, is also a popular getaway for the international jetset, who see it as an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The stunning villas, with features such as teak covered walls, four-poster beds, and refreshing pools, offer stunning views over the Malarayat mountain range. Families can take it easy within the lush surrounds, or join a host of fun activities including crazy insanity cardiovascular workouts, golf or energetic trampoline classes. There are dedicated programmes for kids as well; your little ones will love learning to sprout wheatgrass, make natural soap or go on an enlightening nature walk. Whether healing, adventure or fun are on the agenda, The Farm is set to satisfy! i www.thefarmatsanbenito.com

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pa n e r a i . c o m

Mediterranean Sea. “Gamma” men in training. The diver emerging from the water is wearing a Panerai compass on his wrist.

history a n d heroes. radiomir 1940 3 days (ref. 514) available in steel and red gold

CALLE ZACATIN 23, 18001 GRANADA. Tel: 958 071 237 www.miguelmunozjoyeros.com

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Harem Escape – Marrakech

Ananda Spa – The Himalayas Perched atop the gentle slopes of the Himalayan foothills and embraced by the emerald hued Sal forests, the Ananda Spa reverberates with the power of the nearby mythological cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh (the latter is said to be the birthplace of yoga and was the chosen destination by the Beatles during their transcendental meditation phase). Winner of a host of awards including Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Spa Award, the Spa promises to recreate the synergy of mind, body and intellect through the beneficial effects of the Himalayan landscape as well as the ancient processes and philosophies of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta, combined with contemporary international therapies. No two stays are alike at Ananda so, prior to your visit, expect to answer a plethora of questions so the staff can prepare a programme which best meets your needs. Ananda is home to a 44,000m2 spa with an extensive menu of body and facial treatments. Qualified therapists with a profound knowledge of ancient Indian sciences and modern western treatments are joined by nutritionists and Western and Ayurvedic physicians, who formulate specialised exercise and diet programmes. Experiment with alternative treatments such as crystal healing, Reiki or Chakradhara (which uses the flow of warm herbal oils over the chakras while the therapist gives you a Marma point massage to restore your natural energy flow and balance the chakras), attend a workshop on interesting topics like Tibetan Singing Bowls or Craniosacral work, and enjoy meals which are specifically catered to your body type. If you have time, read up on the fascinating mythology and history which surrounds Ananda and Haridwar, the region the Spa calls home. Legend has it that when the Gods left their footprints on the land of Haridwar, they imprinted the spirit of every Hindu with an indelible mark. Haridwar is known as ‘The gateway to the Gods’ and indeed, in this corner of the world, it is very easy to feel closer to God, Allah or Buddha. i www.anandaspa.com

Hippocrates Health Institute – Florida, USA This non-profit health institute, warmed by the sunny skies of West Palm Beach, Florida and surrounded by 50 acres of tropical woodlands, may be ultra modern in its outlook, but it actually boasts a 60-year history in the fields of complementary health care and education. The Hippocrates Health Institute was founded by Ann Wigmore, who claims to have healed herself of colon cancer through the use of wheatgrass therapies. Indeed, wheatgrass is the lifeblood of the Hippocrates programme, since it offers a host of health benefits including increasing red blood cell counts, detoxifying and protecting the liver and blood, strengthening cells, neutralising toxins and fighting tumour growth. At Hippocrates, expect to savour some of the most delicious living, vegan, enzyme-rich foods on the planet, boosting your healthy new diet with exercise, positive thinking and noninvasive therapies like lymphatic drainage, Oxygen therapy and hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. The Hippocrates Institute invites clients to embark on an entire ‘Life Transformation Programme’, which includes daily lectures on superior nutrition, exercise programmes and activities like Dead Sea salt pool swimming. Clients also enjoy Bio-energy treatments and therapeutic spa services, which include the use of sound therapy treatments, as well as spiritually healing therapies like emotional counselling, psychotherapy, stress evaluation and stress management, etc. Clients say there is an energy at Hippocrates which is hard to define, encapsulated by the warm vibes of exotic thatched roof huts bearing signs like ‘Love is Spoken Here’. There are a myriad of accommodation options, including luxury villas, shared housing, guest cottages and rooms at a small boutique-style hotel with all the intimacy you could wish. Hippocrates offers the perfect blend of science, spirituality and good old-fashioned pampering. Take a profound journey into your psyche or head for the salon and ask for a bright red manicure: whatever you do, don’t be afraid to indulge your guilty pleasures. i www.hippocratesinst.org

In Arabic, the word ‘harem’ means ‘forbidden’ or ‘kept safe’ yet clients usually have other ideas in mind when booking a stay at this resort: fun, pampering and the chance to completely unwind. Harem Escape is a women’sonly retreat, founded in 2009 by Sandra Shoemake Zwollo who, while on holiday at a five-star resort, experienced a revelation: “I was observing all the other clients, and noticed that the men were all reading or having a nap, and the women were running after their children, making sure they were safe and entertained. I thought, ‘How is it that we women with all the hats we are constantly wearing, still have no vacation on our vacation?’” One hour later, Sandra had already written down what would be the foundations for her new project; six months later, a chance meeting with famous French artist, Jean Francois Fourtou would make her dream a reality, since he offered her the use of privately

owned property for her retreats. “To take the guilt away,” says Sandra, “we would donate 80 per cent of all profits to the Fondation Fourtou, which supports women and children, often through artistic means”. Harem Escape is a popular getaway for women needing to reconnect with themselves and discover that there is more to life than their roles as spouses and mothers usually afford. Mental and spiritual stimulation are always on the menu at Harem Escape, with massages, facials, hammams, yoga and meditation sessions taking grateful clients to cloud nine. At Harem Escape, women needn’t worry about anything – not even packing their suitcase, since all the clothing they will need is provided. Harem Escape invites women to rediscover the joy of not having to be a caregiver for a few days, since everyone deserves to be on the receiving end of a whole lot of love. i www.harem-escape.com

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Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa – Blue Mountains, Australia Hailed as one of the most environmentally responsible tourist destinations in the world, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is set against an aweinspiring backdrop: the rugged Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area, home to a vast array of native wildlife and the rich legacy of the Aboriginal people. Wolgan Valley is the first carboNZero©™ certified resort in the world; it is committed to environmental sustainability and to improving health through the connection between human beings and Nature. The accommodations comprise 40 free-standing luxury suites, each boasting its own pool and ample terrace, in a design which echoes the rustic style of Australia’s Federation Period. The resort also houses many unique buildings like a restored 1832 Heritage Homestead, bearing many of the original details that are said to have captivated Charles Darwin when he visited in 1836. Relax your cares away at the ‘Timeless Spa’, which offers a host of 100 per cent chemical-free facial and body treatments, including the Mineral Facial (made with native Australian earth minerals and algae) and the Wolgan Signature Experience (which includes a Himalayan salt full body exfoliation, crystalus body massage using ancient Australian healing stones and crystals, a soothing facial and a mineral and algae mask). It’s not just about sitting back and relaxing at Wolgan, of course; guests are encouraged to actively reconnect with Nature through an array of activities, including horse riding, Nature walks and four-wheel drive wildlife safaris. If you’d like to do your share for the environment, attend the Conservation Hour sessions, help the Resort’s conservation team carry out a wide range of tasks, including controlling weeds, conducting animal surveys, testing the water quality and even controlling feral animals! i www.wolganvalley.com e

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THE FOCUS organic

Organic WORDS Michel cruz

With a rapidly growing population and finite land resources the world faces difficult choices when it comes to food production. As consumers, should we opt for the ethical appeal of organic food or side with the practical solutions offered by Genetically Modified foodsâ&#x20AC;Ś

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he choice between organic and GM foods is not an abstract one, nor even a purely ethical or economic one. Set as it is against a global backdrop in which it is becoming increasingly vital that we manage ever-scarcer resources in an optimal manner, the debate will ultimately become all about how we will be able to feed the multitudes of the future. For many present-day consumers in the developed world however, it remains first and foremost a choice between cost, conscience and perception.

Some context There was a time when the number of people living in a given region depended directly on its fertility â&#x20AC;&#x201C; i.e. the amount of food it could grow per hectare. Then came trade, empires, city-states, the beginnings of manufacture and eventually the agricultural revolution, precursor to the industrial one, and hey presto, human fertility began to outgrow the traditional limits set by the natural productivity of the land. By the time the industrial revolution had run its full course people were

congregating in rapidly expanding cities. This loss of agricultural labour was offset by mechanisation, while medical advances also helped reduce the death rate and raise life expectancy considerably. As people were still having large families the population was expanding fast, and when the emergence of trains and cars allowed cities to merge into sprawling urban agglomerations the process continued to gather pace. All of this was happening in the countries we now called developed, where society soon caught up with the new realities and the birth rate dropped accordingly. By the end of the Second World War, population growth in the developed world had largely stabilised, yet the greatest population explosion in the history of mankind was still to come as medication reached developing countries, where the birth rate has remained consistently high. As a result, the population of the Third World has exploded since the 1950s, with more people added to humanity in the past 50 years than in the preceding half million or so since we evolved as a species. Projections vary but, having risen from two billion to seven billion in less than

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a human lifespan, the world’s population is expected to grow to somewhere around 12-20 billion before tailing off later this century. That is, if it levels off at all. What all of this means is that, with a planet that isn’t growing along with human population, our resources are becoming more and more thinly spread. The task, therefore, to feed not just the billions of today, but the even greater number of tomorrow, is one not to be underestimated.

How to feed the world What do we usually use to solve problems in the modern world? ‘Wisdom?’ I hear you say hopefully… but no, precious little wisdom. Instead we rely on technology. And why not? Technology has served us well so far, producing the agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution and the motorised era in a straight line to our modern day wealth and prosperity. We can travel, inform ourselves and consume heartily thanks to technology, but herein too lies the snag, as – a) technological solutions aren’t always as readily available in all parts of the world and b) while technology is a solver of many problems it also creates a great many of them. Think mass-production, mass-consumption, mass pollution, all directly related to a way of life built by technology. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with science and technology in themselves, the problem lies entirely with the lack of cohesion, forward thinking and – wisdom – with which it is applied. And so we face not only a scarcity of arable land, pastures, water and fishing grounds for future production, but also a badly abused planet where the quality of the air, the land and the water is dropping all the time.

Technology as the solution It all makes the problem of producing food so much greater – and so much more complex – yet for the time being we will continue as before and rely on spurts of technical genius to ensure we more or less keep up with the most desperate needs of our planet’s people. An important and at-the-time muchpraised spurt of this kind was the so-called Green Revolution of the period between the 1950s and 1970s.

What did it achieve? Well, nothing less than allowing the world to dramatically increase its food output and keep up with its burgeoning population. No small feat, in fact a fine example of technology at the service of mankind. How was it achieved? By creating improved strains of agricultural crops that were more disease-resistant and improved yields per hectare. However, the latter were also largely achieved through the intensive application of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilisers – the very form of chemically induced agriculture that we so abhor today. The intentions may have been good, and technology did deliver on its promises to ‘feed the world’, but at the cost of chemical pollution, overworking of the land and the loss of seed diversity through the growing predominance of a narrow range of optimised strains in every foodstuff from grain and rice to pigs and cows. By the 1980s the Green Revolution had run its course, making possible agricultural yields that were once the stuff of pipedreams, yet the time is approaching once again when we will be needing another spurt of genius to push crop output up even further.

Can technology save us again? When Genetically Modified technology emerged in the 1980s it was in reality no more than a rational continuation of the Green Revolution – capable of continuing that revolution and producing even greater returns. GM food differs only from what went before in that it reflects the evolution of technology. Where during the Green Revolution, optimised hybrids of grains and other products were created through the selective breeding of different strains, the Genetic Modification, or manipulation, of such foods achieved in laboratories allows even greater production gains to be achieved. The benefits can be many, including faster growth, more harvests per year, a higher yield per harvest, greater nutritional value, disease resistance and drought resistance – and all of this without the need for large quantities of pesticides. So can technology save us again? The answer appears to be yes. GM technology has the potential to provide the quantum leap we need to solve our immediate food worries, yet instead of being heralded as a great solution,

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as the Green Revolution had been, it soon came up against a wall of changed attitudes and priorities. The world had changed. The First World, that is, and unable to call for reduced population growth and even less able to do anything about it, the environmental/green movement increasingly left the debate about how to feed the world and began to focus on a more comfortable First World philosophical debate on the morals of food production. Aside from this, there is a very clear perception that GM foods could influence human health in previously unanticipated ways.

THE ORGANIC MOVEMENT As a result, the chemical food production of the Green Revolution that had fed so many was now laid bare for the polluting it had done. This uncaring, technologically-driven approach to food production was to be replaced by the nurturing of the soil, of animals and of the environment as a whole. Thus was born the organic movement, in essence a desire to return to the traditional cottage farming of old. That said, it favoured innovative modern solutions with which to replace pesticides and nitrogenous or phosphorous fertilisers. These included good old-fashioned crop rotation, a return to natural composts, the use of localised food variants in tune with local conditions, biological pest control and such simple measures as planting weeds in the furrows between plants to reduce the overheating and drying out of the soil. Such innovations showed that it is possible to farm well without the need to harm the environment. When it comes to animal husbandry, the organic movement similarly proposed a humanistic approach that attempted to shift the focus away from quantity and cost to quality and value. We all cry murder when we see a bullfight on television, but how many of us are tucking into a pork chop or chicken leg that cost €1,99 at the local supermarket at the same time? Most of us don’t even consider the hypocrisy of professing to be an animal lover while buying meat at the cheapest possible price. Meat can only be produced at this kind of price when it is grown in quantity and with utter indifference to the appalling conditions in which the poor creatures exist while being fattened up for slaughter. It is only a mechanised mass-production system that can deliver quantity and (cheap) cost, so the organic movement attempted to move people away not only from ready meals and snack bar food but also from cheap meat. ‘Eat less, eat better’, could have been the slogan, especially where meat was concerned. Instead, it should be free-range meat and eggs that are consumed, produced from animals kept and cared for in a more traditional way. Yes, it would be more expensive to buy and also more land and labour-intensive, but isn’t that a small price to pay? As it developed, the movement became increasingly local-minded too, realising how ludicrous it is to ship wine or mutton from New Zealand to

Europe when these products are already readily available here. Shouldn’t the Aussies and Kiwis be exporting their wine and temperate products to the nearby emerging subtropical nations of Asia instead? It was a kind of environmental drive for import substitution, but only where it made sense. Of course the Northern Europeans should import their oranges from Spain and their mangos and pineapples from the tropics rather than grow them in glasshouses kept hot by artificial means. It is a great way to reduce the unnecessary carbon footprint of much of our food and stimulate local produce, the latter becoming ever more local as the movement pushed towards people in Lancashire consuming regional cabbages rather than those trucked up from the south, or Andalusians relying on their own orchards rather than those in the north. And thus a whole movement has grown out of organic food, incorporating such elements as Italy’s Slow Food Movement and encapsulated within the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. Moreover, it’s a big movement, and big business. Though still regarded as a little chic and expensive by much of the mainstream population, organic food has grown into a $20 billion industry since the late eighties. The European Union defines it clearly and even has verification processes in place, so that you and I can be reasonably confident that it is organic when it says so on the packaging.

QUANTITY VS QUALITY In abstract the choice between organic and GM food is a no-brainer. Of course it is better to produce food in a sustainable and responsible manner, to treat farm animals with basic decency and respect, and to eat less but better. But these are essentially First World luxuries, and with many millions still underfed and the world population growing by over 100 million people a year, it won’t be long before we have eight billion people to feed instead of seven, and so on and so on. What this means is that while it stirs us greatly, for about 80 per cent of the world’s population the debate between organic and GM farming is about as relevant as Marie Antoinette’s remark about cake. While the population keeps growing, water sources become scarcer, global climate becomes more unstable, arable land less available, fish stocks depleted and political stability a victim on many of the world’s battlefields, organic farming will increasingly become a nostalgic pipedream much like an Arts & Crafts house caught within a concrete jungle. It is only the ‘wealthy’ who can afford themselves the luxury of growing organic food on any significant scale. In the future water and food will become strategic resources more vital than they have been for a long time, perhaps replacing oil as a source of international competition. Already Arab and Chinese conglomerates are buying up tracts of land in Africa and South America the size of small European countries – and I think they will be putting production capacity before ethics and making full use of GM technology on their new plantations. e

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THE FOCUS Stupa

The Stupa in

Benalmádena This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Buddhist Stupa in Benalmádena… October 5, 2003, was the fateful day which also saw the official ‘activation’ of the temple by a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist lama. Until this moment, the Stupa was, “like a watch without movement, waiting for someone to wind it up so it can begin to tick”. So says Margarita Lehnert-Kossowski, President of the Karma Kagyu Cultural Association of Benalmádena and wife of the Architect who gave life to this and 19 other Stupas around the world. WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS Photography enrique vinagrero

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Shutterstock © Nick Stubbs

en years ago, the average person living on the Coast was probably unaware of the tremendous gift which the erection of the Stupa had bestowed on the area, though their curiosity was undoubtedly piqued by this majestic white domed construction crowned by a golden teardrop. The Stupa, perched above the lofty heights of the Benalmádena hills, boasts a breathtaking view over the coastline and is surrounded by gardens, ponds and a beautiful butterfly sanctuary. It exudes a profound sense of tranquillity and spirituality but on the day of its inauguration, its significance and the nature of its calling, was, for many, yet to be discovered. On the morning I was scheduled to meet Margarita with our photographer, our tight schedules lead us both to suggest meeting again in the afternoon, for, as staff member and devout Buddhist Zoli tells me, “You cannot talk about Buddhism when time is of the essence… you will need hours”. In the afternoon, we meet outdoors, embraced by the welcoming shade of a tree in the Stupa’s al fresco coffee shop. Zoli was right; once Margarita begins to speak, time seems to stand still.

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There are eight types of Stupa in the world, representing crucial moments in the life of Buddha Shakyamuni (also known as Siddhartha or Gautama). These Stupas represent: 1. Buddha’s birth 2. His enlightenment 3. The miracles he performed 4. The return of Buddha from the God realm (where he travelled to visit his mother) 5. Wisdom 6. Reconciliation 7. Long Life (Buddha prolonged his life to benefit his followers) 8. Paranirvana (even Buddha’s body was not permanent. Only the conscience remains. The paranirvana Stupa is the only one that can never be built alone. It is always accompanied by its seven sisters).

Margarita and Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche: A Meeting of Minds and Hearts Margarita was a young woman and mother to two young daughters, when she first met a man who would inspire her to turn her life around: Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, a 70-yearold Buddhist lama from Bhutan, who was determined that the largest Stupa in the Western world should be built right here, in this spot in Benalmádena. “Rinpoche first asked me to travel with him to translate for him… not so much in terms of language (Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche was a member of the Royal family of Bhutan and only spoke Tibetan), but more in terms of body language and customs”. Margarita lessened the blow of what was initially quite a dramatic ‘culture clash’ for Rinpoche, since Bhutanese ways are often highly opposed to those of the West. “In Bhutan,” says Margarita, “it is considered bad behaviour to open a present immediately, for instance, or to give something with just one hand, which indicates a lack of heart. Hierarchy is also important; the elders are given the utmost importance and the best of everything… additionally, when you are offered tea, you are normally expected to

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decline it. Your host will insist and only on the third invitation should you accept the tea. Once you have had a couple of sips, your host will immediately fill your cup… it is considered impolite to let it go empty”. The world of body language is also a world unto itself. Margarita laughs, as she will often throughout the interview, with a melodic, joyful sound, as she says, “Sometimes, in the West we can be brutally direct!” Despite her busy schedule, Margarita agreed to accompany Rinpoche on his travels because “I didn’t know the future. Every year, when we would set out on a world tour, he would say it was only for a few months. When you see the end of something, it seems very easy to reach,” she chuckles, as she recalls that for her, the Stupa, too, was originally a “months-long project”, yet since its completion she has called Benalmádena home; it’s more like a home-base, though, since she continues to travel the world giving talks and conferences in an attempt to spread the “life philosophy and science” that is Buddhism. The story of how the Stupa actually came

to be built in Benalmádena is fascinating. “A number of different causes and conditions came together,” says Margarita, elaborating: “Rinpoche and I had just landed in Málaga for a talk he was to give to three and a half thousand people in Vélez-Málaga. As we would be surrounded by so many people, I suggested that we enjoy the last lunch privately and, guided by some friends, we decided to head to Puerto Marina for lunch. There, we met Benalmádena’s then-Mayor, Enrique Bolín, who was impressed by Rinpoche’s love, compassion and gentleness”. A few months later, Bolín would head for China on official business, steering off course to visit Rinpoche for a few days in the snowy paradise that is Kathmandu. “The Mayor saw the biggest Stupas in the world there and he was overtaken by their beauty. He decided that he wanted one to be built in Benalmádena. The Benalmádena Town Hall ceded the vast piece of land on which the Stupa now stands to the Karma Kagyu Cultural Association of Benalmádena and the complex three-year construction began.

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something which emanates energy and is capable of bringing peace, harmony and prosperity to all sentient things. What is buried/sealed in its interior must conform to highly specific requirements.” Rinpoche provided his instructions for the erection of the Stupa yet sadly, this great Master, whom Margarita says was “like a grandfather” to her daughters, passed away just a few months before the inauguration. Therein, says Margarita, lay her greatest challenge. “Completing that final phase without Rinpoche was very difficult. Another lama, of a higher rank ‘activated’ the Stupa, but for us, the highest lama of all was Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche”. It is difficult not to envy Margarita as she speaks of her life alongside this great man, who one day, decided to start speaking to her in Tibetan. “I’d say, ‘this is impossible. I don’t understand you’”. Yet the Master’s patience would have its fruit, for a couple of years down the line, Margarita (who is of Polish ancestry) was speaking Tibetan, thus enabling her to make the most of her frequent trips to Kathmandu and Bhutan. “My daughters grew up amid ceremonies, monks chanting and the sound of drums. To them there is nothing odd about meditation or Buddhist practices”. Her daughters are currently completing university studies in Germany and China.

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would become the first Western teachers of Buddhism”. In addition to enlightenment, the Stupa symbolises the elements from which the Universe is composed: earth (the base of the Stupa), water (the curvy white dome), fire (the 13 golden ‘rings’) and air (the tear dropshaped ‘jewel’ which is the highest point of the Stupa, also represents consciousness). Indeed, the golden ‘umbrella’ which tops the Stupa symbolises victory, the sun symbolises compassion and the moon wisdom. The uppermost jewel represents the indestructible mind. The Stupa recreates the way in which the Universe was formed. Says Margarita: “For eons, there was just space (represented by the highest point of the Stupa); then movement began, creating the winds. This agitation of the air led to heat, then fire. The combination of air and fire produced water and finally, the combination of wind, heat and water produced the matter element: the earth…” The Stupa is likewise a mandala. Margarita informs me, “If you were up in a helicopter and you looked down, you would see that the Stupa bears the shape of a

Margarita explains that the Stupa has many meanings at many different levels. “Firstly, it represents Buddha’s enlightened mind; all beings have that potential for enlightenment”. Stupas have existed for two and a half thousand years and are present in all areas where Buddhism has flourished: everywhere from India to China, Mongolia to Ceylon, Sri Lanka to Burma, Cambodia to Japan. “In ancient times, Stupas were built as graves for the Royalty, who were buried there alongside their jewels and prized possessions… the Stupas always pointed upwards to the sky. The historical Buddha would adapt this form and make it symbolic”. In the 7th century, Buddhism would take over Tibet, and much later (in the 1960s), it would make its first forays into the Western world. “When Tibet lost its independence in the 1950s, many great Masters fled to India and Nepal to re-establish their spiritual seat. During the decade of the 1960s, Westerners began visiting Kathmandu and discovered Buddhism. Some of them

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. . . a p u t S thWehat does it all mean?

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The Benalmádena Stupa is, rather fittingly (bearing in mind its location and ethereal beauty) one of Enlightenment; not only is it the largest Stupa in the Western world, it is also one of the few which people can step into. “Most Stupas are monoliths,” explains Margarita, “but Rinpoche decided to leave an open space as a meeting point for people to learn and talk about Buddhism; a place where they could also meditate”. It was a wise move, indeed, since Spain is not a Buddhist country and a spirit of openness would do plenty to acquaint locals with Buddhist philosophy. Every Tuesday and Friday, when she is not travelling, Margarita holds meditation sessions at 8pm in the beautiful meditation hall, whose walls depict colourful representations of the most significant moments in Buddha’s life, from the time of his birth until he achieved paranirvana. The basement, meanwhile, houses a lovely museum where guests can watch an interesting video about the construction of the Stupa, or marvel at aweinspiring artworks and Tibetan writings, spin an ancient prayer wheel or view a mock-up of the Stupa, so we can comprehend the parts we cannot see: the upper parts of the Stupa are completely sealed. They house a treasure trove which includes the 84,000 teachings of Buddha, as well as prayers, wishes and relics of past Buddhist Masters. The building of a Stupa is incredibly technical. Margarita explains, “The Structure of this Stupa is identical to that of any 7th century Stupa of Enlightenment you might find in the world, yet its construction needs to comply with the precise instructions of a Master, to ensure it is not just a dead stone monument, but

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Ref: VI0463 – Price: 1.500.000€

Magnificent residence, Guadalmina Alta, San Pedro

Very elegant and south facing villa surrounded by beautifully kept gardens. Heated swimming pool and separate guest house with a 2 space garage. Massive master bedroom with bathroom en suite, jacuzzi and separate shower, also a guest bedroom with bath, plus a fully fitted office. Six bedrooms, five bathrooms. Built: 600 m2 • Plot: 1.600 m2

Ref: AP0812 – Price: 625.000€

Lovely apartment, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella

This is a very attractive south west facing apartment for sale in Nueva Andalucia. Fantastic views over the golf course and distant sea views. Spacious and very bright flat and with an immense roof terrace. Nice and quiet area, but still close to Puerto Banus and Marbella. Five bedrooms, four bathrooms. Built: 347 m2 • Terrace: 192 m2

N! AI RG BA

Ref: AP0703 – Price: 225.000€

Elegant garden apartment, Los Flamingos, Benahavis

Modern and beautiful apartment located in a gated complex with 24-hours security and concierge within Los Flamingos Golf Resort. Facing south-west with optimal sun conditions and views to the sea and mountains. Large covered terrace, front and back private garden. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms. Built: 136 m2 • Terrace: 27 m2

Ref: VI0474 – Price: 1.290.000€

Modern villa, Rio Verde, Golden Mile

Lovely south facing villa on the beachside on the Golden Mile. Only a minute from the beach. Completely refurbished in a modern style and to high standards. Secure and very private garden with parking and swimming pool. One level with roof terrace/solarium and separate laundry room. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms. Built: 160 m2 • Plot: 500 m2

ma r be l l a -e sta te s.com Tel. +34 952 90 42 44 info@marbella-estates.com 171 Marbella Estates.indd 1

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g Everyone is welcome to the regular

Shutterstock © Pabkov

meditation sessions and talks held at the Stupa. To keep posted on upcoming events, www.Stupabenalmadena.org

mandala, a pure field of energy. Additionally, the interior of the Stupa houses the tree of life; the axis mundi around which the Universe turns… it also symbolises the human spine, which carries out such important functions in the body. But more than all this, the Stupa is Buddha himself, his enlightened mind; it is his teachings, his life story and indeed, the entire Universe.” The Stupa houses 84,000 teachings of Buddha Sakyamuni because “we are all so different. What might reach you might not reach someone in a different condition or with a different way of thinking, so Buddha left different pearls of wisdom, to reach each heart”. Buddha’s aim was simple and practical, which probably explains why it appeals so much to the Western mind, which yearns for a life philosophy that is at once logical, scientific and easily explainable: “Buddha discovered that permanent happiness is possible, as soon as you learn to leave conditioned happiness”. The aim of the Buddhist is simple: “to be happy… to realise that with enlightenment

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comes the end of reincarnation, the end of suffering”. Margarita, like Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, is a proponent of Tibetan Buddhism, which states that the only permanent phenomenon is the ‘mind’: “Whatever we experience now as outer and inner phenomena – our conceptions, feelings, judgements, are nothing else but a projection of this mind so it is a very limiting experience. It is limited by conditions – thus, if I am rude to one person they may be rude back to me, if I pour liquid from one glass into another, the first glass becomes empty. All these actions and reactions are produced in your own mind. Yet the source of all these perceptions, the mind, is a perfect continuum and when you realise that, you achieve the highest state of happiness, wisdom and compassion.” Margarita acknowledges that it can be incredibly hard to believe the idea of projected reality: “If you have a toothache, you might ask how that could be a projection of your mind!” she laughs, “which is why Buddha left skilful

methods behind to his followers. “Realising the emptiness of inner and outer phenomena is a slow process which leads us to greater understanding and perception. The state of enlightenment, of lying outside cause and condition, is difficult to understand if one does not experience it but just knowing that all suffering is your projection, is liberating”. As the sun sets over the horizon and the Stupa is bathed in a warm, orange hue, Margarita spots an elderly lady walking around the Stupa in a clockwise direction. This Buddhist practise is called circumambulation and it echoes the movement of the earth around the sun, uniting the person with the cosmos. “For me, this is the greatest success,” she says, “the fact that the old ladies from the pueblo come to circumambulate around the Stupa. Some don’t know exactly why they are doing it, but they come every day because it brings good energy to them. As you walk, make a wish… for the end of suffering for all sentient beings and also for yourself”. e

THE FOCUS profile

“Anytime a song sells a million copies, it’s great, because it touches the heart, mind and soul of a million strangers” – Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers: Martyn Wood catches up with Nile Rodgers a year after his first concert in Marbella Martyn Wood: A lot has happened in the year since you were last in Marbella, what were the highlights? Nile Rodgers: Oh come on, it’s obvious, Get Lucky being the biggest selling single in the world, I mean, that’s pretty extraordinary going, number 1 in 97 countries, I didn’t even know a record could do that. And what’s more incredible is the bravery of Daft Punk to do a song and an album like they did. We did it with no record company, we did it all on our own, we did it more than a year ago. In fact when Chic were in Marbella last time, the record was already finished. Have you performed Get Lucky live yet?

We inadvertently did it last week, we were on a TV show and the presenter just asked me to play it, and when I started playing it my two girl singers felt silly just standing there so they started singing along. So there we were on TV and found ourselves performing Get Lucky unrehearsed. Luckily, the programme went to an advert break. Once I have performed it live with Daft Punk I will include it in some of my concerts with the Chic Organisation, but not before. The Glastonbury gig and the single with Daft Punk must have introduced you to a younger audience. Do you think they will create an interest in 1970s and 1980s music again?

ONE Y

I don’t predict anything like that; I have no idea why people respond to the stuff they respond to, especially en-masse. If anybody knew that, they would be the richest, most successful person in the world. I do music from my heart; I do music that makes me feel good. If you think about Get Lucky, it’s good that we can talk about something that’s current. This is a song that I wrote 16 months ago, so this is a year and half old as far as the composition is concerned. The fact this it’s in the atmosphere now shows that what I have always done, and what I have always believed in all my whole life, is the right thing. You write music for the future even though you’re doing it right now. You were a regular at Studio 54, was it easy to get in? My record in a strange way defines Studio 54, in my song Le Freak; it even says: “Just come on down to 54, find your spot up on the floor. Aaaahhh… Freak out”. Prior to that I could only get in with my girlfriend who was in ‘the scene’, and then the one time I tried to get in without her resulted in me writing Freak Out because they didn’t let me in; as a matter of fact, they slammed the door in my face and told me to “#### off”,

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E YEAR LATER even though I had been invited by Grace Jones. Thank God it actually happened otherwise I would never have written Le Freak; I didn’t have that riff in my head until that moment, and it remains as Atlantic records only triple platinum selling record! What were your favourite tracks played at Studio 54 back in the day? Those were the days of unbelievable dance music to me; Village People, anything by Donna Summer especially 4 Seasons of Love, Cerrone’s Supernature, Eddie Kendricks’ Girl You Need A Change Of Mind, The Jones’ Sugar Pie Guy, there was so many good tracks back then. You look so relaxed on stage, but there must have been some embarrassing moments, were there any in particular? We were playing in Hyde Park recently, with Lionel Richie and Jennifer Lopez, and in the UK at that time they had unusually high temperatures causing the amplifiers to overheat. Our onstage sound was in the shade so it was working properly, and we didn’t realise that no one in the audience could hear. We couldn’t understand why they weren’t dancing

and having a great time, because we were killing it! Suddenly they all started booing and I thought “Whoa, this must be some kind of conspiracy, as we really sounded great and how could 65,000 people boo us”. We finally realised the sound system wasn’t working and the promoters asked us to leave the stage. I said, “No, if things stink, I’m gonna stay out here with the people and let them boo until it’s fixed”. I got my road manager to put the only working microphone in front of my guitar amp and started playing, so at least the people could hear and sing along to something they knew, and the result was amazing. Then the sound came back on and it was back to the show. What is your most valued possession? Well apart from my ‘hit maker’ guitar, it would have to be my apartment in New York City. I consider it the place where I watched my life transform. If you could do something again, what would it be? I don’t think that I would want to change

any of the stuff that has happened to me; those things have been the greatest teachers. Obviously, I wouldn’t want to have done whatever it was that gave me aggressive cancer, but I don’t even know what that was. My heart has stopped eight times because of doing coke and other stuff. Had that not happened, maybe I wouldn’t have woken up and I could’ve died ages ago. I think I needed to die eight times to say, “Ok, I don’t want it to be nine”, or that the ninth time would be the final time. Where is home for Nile Rodgers? Home for me is in Connecticut. You seem to be constantly on the road so what do you do to relax when you get home? I don’t think I relax in the traditional sense of relaxation; to me relaxing is getting a chance to work. And as I have a recording studio in my house, that’s where I ‘relax’. And the work that I call relaxing is the work that I’m not doing. What is your favourite meal and drink? Vegetable lasagne made by my housekeeper – it’s just to die for. She’s Hungarian and man, she knows how to cook. My favourite drink is aromatic club sodas. e

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THE FOCUS profile

aking charge of the fitness regime of a team of four, Rob would achieve the greatest-ever record for body fat loss, with team member, Jessie, losing an amazing 40.3 per cent under Rob’s guiding hand. Rob was also seen on BBC1’s Celebrity Sport Relief, joining the winning English team for a running, cycling and sailing competition which involved him travelling from London through to Wales, Ireland and Scotland alongside Chris Boardman. Rob finds it hard to turn down any challenge, his openness to new experiences evident in his decision to move to Marbella recently, alongside his wife and four-yearold daughter who, as one would only expect with a Dad like Rob, was “already doing press-ups at the age of three”. In Marbella, Rob is able to combine personal training for local and UK clients, with his T.V. obligations in London, since flying in and out “is not a problem”. This month, Rob is set to conduct Combat Soldier 2013’s Warm-Up Event in the UK. Rob’s love affair with fitness began early in life: “Since I was a child, I have always trained,” he says, adding, “As a young man, I joined the S.A.S., which taught me a great deal about fitness”. The S.A.S. is renowned for its extreme training methods and Rob informs me that this summer alone saw three men succumb while trying to pass the rigorous fitness admittance tests. “The tests are difficult physically but mentally as well.” Rob recalls his own experience trying to make it into this elite team. “One part of the selection tests involved carrying a backpack weighing 35kg while we trekked for 65km over mountains”. The route, he says, “is similar to climbing up and down La Concha mountain five times straight with that weight on your back, in under 20 hours”. The objective of such punishment? “To weed out those who may not really be up for the tough Special Forces life”.

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If you check out his website, Rob’s pictures conjure up one adjective: ‘fierce’. You certainly need an element of determination if you’re going to achieve the amazing results he does: when training with Rob, if you are overweight, you can expect to lose 3.5 kilograms in a weekend or nine kilograms in a week. “We’re not talking water weight,” Rob clarifies, “we’re talking loss of fat; the kind of weight loss that stays off”. Rob achieves this, sometimes through long sessions – as much as four or five hours if requested by the client. He explains: “When an exercise session first starts, people usually have a lot of energy stored in their stomach, liver and muscles. Throughout this long training session, we get rid of that energy until they start really eating into their fat reserves.” You’re not likely to experience such a long session from the typical Personal Trainer, which is why a session with Rob is so special. If you’re worried about sessions being ‘torturous’, however, fear not; it’s all about personalisation as far as Rob is concerned and he is equally adept at preparing a training session for someone who only has an hour, 40 minutes, or even half an hour to spare. Rob may look ‘mean’ but his personality is better summed up as ‘keen’; his piercing blue eyes, far from menacing, are warm and kind; they invoke trust and inspire me as he tells me all about his training sessions, which sound demanding yet fun. “Rather than keep my clients on a treadmill or bike for hours, I like to surprise them constantly. If they like the outdoors then all the better, since Nature does wonders for their psyche. If, on the other hand, they prefer to work in a gym or home setting, the session can still be lots of fun. I play a lot of games with them; for instance, I might ask them to transfer equipment or weights from one side of the room to another and make them beat that time. When you put fun into the equation, time flies by much quicker and you stay motivated”. Rob’s client list reads like a who’s who of London’s top celebrities, yet he doesn’t specialise in just one type of training. Clients range from strongmen wanting to increase muscle mass to ladies who simply wish to lose a couple of stones or get back into fitness after a long hiatus or after giving birth. “Women generally approach me with the goal of slimming their bums and legs,” he admits,

“so I provide them with training sessions tailored to their body and using my special methods”. Rob also trains clients for specific competitions, like marathons, triathlons or the so-called ‘toughest race in the world’, Ironman. His list of clients is highly select, with some fitness enthusiasts flying over from England for a few days of training beneath the welcoming Mediterranean sun. Rob is known as an extreme trainer, fitness expert and TV presenter, yet despite his background in high-end endurance competition and tests, his attitude to training is, it can benefit anyone simply wanting to look and feel better. He follows ‘no-nonsense’, tried-and-tested methods he knows will work. He says, “Something that worked 100 years ago worked 5000 years ago and will continue to do so for the next 1000 years; modern humans have not evolved that much, so why mess with what works?” Indeed, says Rob, when pressured to achieve big changes by clients, he will always go with his trusted methods rather than “risk poor results” with nouvelle, ‘promising yet unproven’ techniques. “I don’t shout, either, though you may see me shouting a lot on TV”, Rob reminds me, smiling in such a warm manner it is truly difficult to imagine him raising his voice at all. “That’s TV but, on a one-to-one basis, the emphasis really is on having a good time and achieving really noticeable results”. When I ask Rob what the threshold period is for new clients, he answers immediately: “Around three weeks. It is vital to keep people motivated for that amount of time because in three weeks, they really start to feel better and notice the changes. After that, they become hooked and their relationship with fitness evolves into one that lasts a lifetime”. To keep clients motivated, says Rob, “it is vital to make a really big impact. If someone wants to lose weight, for instance, I want to see that happening quickly so they see that they do have the power to shape their body the way they want to”. When I ask Rob what he sees as the biggest flaw with current training methods, he answers, “Some methods focus too much on skills you may not immediately need – balance, coordination and agility are great to have but if you are overweight, then your immediate goal should be to lose fat and then work on your allround fitness”. For instance, it might be more useful for clients to “work a lot with their legs

Rob Edmond:

achieve the

Impossible WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS Photography © khphotography.co.uk

If you’re into fitness or reality TV for that matter, then Rob Edmond is probably no stranger to you. The former S.A.S. man is best known for his role as TV trainer and presenter, having achieved remarkable results in Season 5 of ITV’s The Biggest Loser.

to get the fat off, rather than spend hours working on their abdominals”. Rob is also open to working with a person’s passion, whether that be cycling, trekking up a mountain or running. “One of my clients couldn’t run more than 20 metres during our first training session… now she trains for triathlons,” he says, beaming, and as he shakes my hand and bids farewell, I find something well up inside me: it’s called inspiration and it’s the first step towards buying into a brand new life. If you feel like you deserve one, Rob is surely the right man to take you there.

g e-mail: rob@robedmond.com Twitter: @robedmond www.robedmond.com

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 61

style

INTERIORS / ARCHITECTURE / ART / DESIGN

We focus on our homes, stepping inside a magnificent mansion and jazzing up our interiors, courtesy of Bo Concept. We also bring you timeless elegance from the House of Cashmere, beautifully shot on location in the Cotswolds.

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GARDENS / FASHION

Décor: Fine & Country

Interiors: Bo Concept

Fashion: House of Cashmere

Fashion News: ‘It’ Items for the Season

9/24/13 11:31 AM

SOTOGR A N D E Blue Sotogrande Marina, Local 33, Ribera del Marlín, Puerto Deportivo · 11310 SOTOGRANDE Tel: +34 956 615 350 · Mov: +34 667 654 366 · Fax: +34 956 615 088 pdi@patriciadarch.com · www.patriciadarchinteriors.com HORARIO DE APERTURA / OPENING HOURS: Monday - Friday: 10:00 - 19:00 h / Saturdays: 10:00 - 16:00 h.

revista essential OCT-2013-ok-TRAZADO .indd 1

GIB R A LTA R 10/12 Ocean Village Promenade OCEAN VILLAGE · GIBRALTAR Tel: +350 216 77776 · Mob: +34 674 149 130 · Fax: +350 216 77775 pdigib@patriciadarch.com · www.patriciadarchinteriors.gi HORARIO DE APERTURA / OPENING HOURS: Monday - Friday: 9:00 - 19:00 h. / Saturdays: 10:00 - 14:00 h

23/09/13 11:38

THE STYLE décor

Mansion living in La Zagaleta

Picture a drive up a winding road, the windscreen full of country views as the sea recedes in panoramic clusters of blue darting in and out of sight. By the time you reach the second gate of one of Europe’s most exclusive private country clubs you’re well and truly surrounded by forested country, framed by lofty peaks rising up behind. Once inside, the road meanders gently down into an expansive open valley with big country views. You’re home. WORDS Michel Cruz Photography © khphotography.co.uk

t might read like something from a novel set in the Italian Riviera or the Cote d’Azur, but in reality it is a pretty accurate description of the drive home from coastal Marbella to La Zagaleta. And what a home it is. Even among the grand villas of that elite country club this property ranks as one of the finest modern homes of all. Designed by renowned architect Miguel Tobal and built with consummate feeling for 21st century luxury living, it reads as a blueprint for a new kind of elegance and refinement. Standing amid manicured gardens and a truly impressive natural amphitheatre, the villa retains the bearing of a classical home reimagined to suit contemporary tastes and lifestyles. It is, therefore, the epitome of a new interpretation of classical opulence.

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A blank canvas Like the grand estates of old, such a property is designed to impress, entertain and provide a solid base to call home. If a man is king of his own castle then never more so than here, where dimensions, orientation, setting and a long list of comforts and luxuries raise this ‘castle’ to the standing of a palace. In the modern age, handcrafted bespoke materials, details and furniture once again revive the personalised elegance of a bygone era. This house has all of these things in abundance, providing a perfect match for any of a range of decorative styles. In the event, the décor is imposing, clean and contemporary yet devoid of the sterility that turns some modern architectural homes into a white shoebox that looks great in design magazines but makes them hard to live in. Instead, this home is impressive, certainly, but simultaneously comfortable and informal. Having thus defined its roles in relation to guests and residents respectively, this is a property that retains as many classical references in its layout as in its architectural composition, yet they are presented with the informality and fluidity of the modern home. Step past the imposing front portico and you enter a sleek interpretation of the classical entrance hall, which frames a visual perspective through the living room and grounds to the forested mountains on the far side of the valley. Such themes are well practiced in the architecture of grand homes, yet here among today’s geometry of straight lines and clean-cut materials they are more impressive than ever, highlighting a wealth of decorative detail lavished upon a property that takes it beyond the norm even in this category. As a result, the villa is a study in the finest contemporary materials, with Venetian stucco ceilings in the central corridor, oversized Italian marble slab tiles on the floor of the entrance hall, magical handmade glass chandeliers and leatherbound stainless steel handrails leading up to the private quarters on the first floor.

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The grand home redefined As befits a home of this standing, a central corridor provides easy, fluent distribution between the different parts of the property. There may be a classical hint in this too, but gone are the stuffy divisions between boxed-in rooms, replaced by a far more natural relationship between spaces, as one room flows into another amid ever-present natural light and views. The ease with which all three levels of this house connect is testament to a design that admirably balances the sometimes-conflicting needs of practicality and visual impact. A case in point is the living area, which offers three distinct rooms that are linked but can also be divided. Here, among sumptuously tall ceilings that frame panoramic windows out to the garden and the natural surroundings beyond, you will find an elegant living room sporting Italian furniture and made-tomeasure cabinetry, separated from a comfy television room by a large modern mantelpiece that serves a stunning fireplace in the lounge and is home to a large flat screen television in the family room. The walls in the living areas are covered in high-quality matt ceramic tiles that complement the white leather sofas by B&B Italia with earthy tones enlivened with hints of a rich copper hue. On the far side of this spacious reception area is the formal dining room, also linked to the expansive covered terrace and conveniently connected to a kitchen that is, fittingly, simply stateof-the art. As elsewhere, the owner hasn’t held back, lavishing the finest materials and appliances on a home that quite frankly merits it. Assembled by Clive Christian from the finest suppliers in Europe, the kitchen has a very modern yet also unique feel about it. Solid and warm where other contemporary designs can be cold and uninviting, it features the very best appliances money can buy in suitably sleek stainless steel, augmented by dark wood cabinetry and a rough-hewn breakfast bar and table. All of this is in the presence of magnificent views of the surrounding mountains, as the kitchen too connects with the large covered terrace, and is conveniently positioned close to the pool deck, swimming pool and cabana bar. Slide the door open and you let the outside in, and the inside out, as this is a property where décor and design don’t stop when you leave the interior. Stylish oversized white floor stones

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provide an area designed for open-air meals and Asian-style relaxing beds, leading as they do to the tempting infinity pool enveloped in its own wooden deck. Ensconced between a perfect lawn designed in keeping with the climate and a sunken cabana bar with wet room that is just made for cooking, eating, relaxing and socialising in the outdoors, it is an area where the beauty of the surrounding nature blends with that of the villa’s own grounds.

Marbella at its best In many ways a typical luxury villa in the Marbella mould, this modern mansion represents the iconic town at its best, offering as it does a mouth-watering combination of style, luxury, amenities and setting that would be hard to better anywhere in Europe. For those who enjoy

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 69

g This property is offered for sale with: Fine & Country Marbella Club Hotel, Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel: +34 952 764 010. marbella@fineandcountry.com www.fineandcountry.es

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classical stature and elegance wrapped in a thoroughly 21st century environment, it certainly is a property to relish. The ground floor level is completed by a stylish Japanese cloakroom, two spacious guest bedrooms, endowed with luxurious bathrooms and large dressing rooms, and a study/library. The dark wood panelling of the latter combines with built-in computer equipment and screens, not to mention tasteful furniture, to create a space that is sleek and modern yet retains the glamour of a classic study. Follow the imposing Hollywood staircase up to the first floor and you come to a series of private bedroom suites that are adapted to the lifestyle people enjoy who buy properties like this. The spacious main suite provides a totally private area made up of a cosy bedroom with lovely views, a large walk-in dressing room and a stylish modern bathroom in which Japanese-inspired dark wood cabinetry combines with chrome, glass and hand-smoothed concrete walls to great effect. The result is recognisable as a luxurious contemporary bathroom, yet between the architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision, the specialised bespoke cabinetry and the creative enthusiasm of the owners, each of the bathrooms in the villa reveals its own unique touches and ambience. From up here, just under the gently slanted Mediterranean roof tiles that soften the sleek architectural lines of the house, the views across the valley are truly

impressive. While these are not matched on the lower level, where the propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own spa and recreational areas are located, it is a feather in the cap of the designer that it enjoys so much natural light. The long, beautiful heated indoor pool, surrounded by decking in rich wooden tones, not only receives sunlight but also connects with the garden. Not looking out of place in the wellness area of a luxury five-star resort hotel, the swimming pool is the visual highlight of this part of the house, which, however, also boasts a gym, changing rooms, showers, a sauna and steam room. Not to be outdone is the neighbouring recreation area, comprising of a comfortable private cinema with suede clad walls, cosseting soft carpet and a choice of plump La-Z-Boy seats and beanbags to compliment the very highestspec audiovisual equipment. Like the modern glass wine cellar, the games room offers a forward-looking slant to a classic theme, and in so doing combines the cool vibe of a Vodka bar with the easygoing ambience of a recreational space where family and friends come together. As a result, even the lounging areas, pool table and, of course, the bar look good enough to be on the pages of a design magazine, combining style with fun and practicality to produce one of the most memorable parts of a La Zagaleta mansion that once seen is hard to forget. e

THE STYLE decor

October is a seasonal highlight for lovers of style and design. Why? Because BoConcept’s new 2014 collection is out! WORDS Michel Cruz Photography courtesy of boconcept

t must be hard to keep refining and improving design collections like that of BoConcept, let alone creating exciting new looks and styles, but somehow the creative geniuses have done it again – and their new 2014 collection is looking better than ever. Of course, the designers at BoConcept do have one important advantage, namely an established philosophy of form, function and presentation that remains as clear now as it did when the company was founded in 1952. Since then, BoConcept has grown into a super-cool Danish furniture brand that has a loyal following not only among design-conscious homeowners the world over, but is also popular with actors, TV show producers and pop stars. In 2013, the brand is at the top of its game, providing iconic sofas and tables for international hit TV shows such as the American version of The Apprentice and collaborating with Mercedes Benz’s design division on the creation of a special limited series of Smart ForTwo BoConcept cars. Since both companies cater to style-conscious people with an urban taste, the collaboration between the two brands is far-reaching enough to assume some Mercedes input in the latest BoConcept collection too.

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BoC

Concept’s New Collection 2014

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 73

Worry less, live more! Not the strapline that usually comes with a new décor collection, but the slogan that accompanies BoConcept’s new offering for 2014 conveys an important and highly relevant message. “When it comes to fashion and design-led choices, so many people nowadays choose not what makes them feel happy or comfortable, but go for generalised notions of style and prestige instead,” says Jan Petersen of BoConcept’s Costa del Sol branch. “In everything, from clothes and cars to furniture and home décor, people go for the security of established styles and looks rather than exploring what is best for their homes, their lifestyles – and what it is that puts a smile on their face and makes them feel good when they walk into a room.” This, in essence, is the message accompanying BoConcept’s new collection, a rallying call to come out of our shells and explore our own style, individualise our surroundings and focus on simply being happy rather than trying to impress. “It’s a very worthwhile and positive philosophy,” says Jan, “and though I know we won’t be able to convince everyone, I will be very pleased if it means we can help at least some people to discover their own sense of style and create a truly idealised space for themselves, be it a living, working or recreational environment. In the end, the result is always more impressive too.” Key in this is the ability of Jan and his team to listen to their clients, visit their homes and offer

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personalised space saving and design advice, followed by highly visual computer-generated suggestions and solutions. “The highly modular and flexible nature of BoConcept furniture and accessories allows for a very personalised decoration of your property, enabling you not only to choose from individualised combinations of styles, materials, colours, fittings, shapes, sizes and configurations, but also making it possible to create interior solutions designed to fit the shape and size of your home’s rooms. The bespoke design consulting service we provide therefore makes a lot of sense, especially when people realise they are effectively getting a free interior design service.” In addition to a comprehensive catalogue of sleek contemporary sofas, tables, chairs, cupboards, wall units, clocks, carpets, curtains, bed linen, beds, wardrobe systems, lamps and mirrors, among others, the new collection now also offers an exciting range of personalised pieces to ‘mix’ into the whole. “To create an interior décor that feels like a home – your personal home – you can’t just order everything new from a catalogue but also have to add your own unique touches. Conventionally this meant looking for antiques or searching for eclectic items to fit in, but our new collection contains some wonderful references to the classic design schools of the 1950s and 60s that greatly widen the decorative possibilities.”

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The Plus concept In the process of working with their clients to create stunning bespoke interiors, Jan and his team will frequently persuade them not to part with a certain lamp or chair because it has the character and eclectic charm to add depth to sleek new furniture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Such combinations can be great, and they often bring the best out in the new design pieces too,â&#x20AC;? says Jan, who has one of the few BoConcept stores around the world licensed to also carry other furniture lines. These are incorporated under the Plus brand and kept separate from the BoConcept products, but as most are also high-quality Scandinavian makes in the same price range they have been carefully selected to complement the core collection of BoConcept furniture and accessories.

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“We know what the tastes and preferences of our clients are, as well as the lifestyle and properties of this area, which can differ greatly from those in cities like New York, Copenhagen or Tokyo, so we put the emphasis on different ranges and product lines within the collection. As a result our showroom will have a different feel to BoConcept stores in other places, as it’s adapted to our surroundings. The Plus concept is an extension of this, allowing us to add to our core BoConcept collection with a complementary range of detailed items such as outdoor furniture. It gives extra value and options to our clients and in turn also provides us with even more feedback on their décor needs and preferences.”

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Design solutions that make stunning homes Having personalised the BoConcept collection they offer and added exciting new specialist brands to it, Jan and his team are more than ever able to create the kind of contemporary living environment that leaps off the pages of a design magazine and finds itself in your home. “People sometimes think our furniture is exclusively for super-deluxe villas, but while it is true that we decorate entire mansions and also are commissioned to consult on the interior styling of villas under construction, I would say that about half of our work is on apartments of all sizes and budgets.” While some clients still come in to the shop to buy a single sofa or cupboard, it is above all the creation of home interiors that BoConcept specialises in. “People are more than welcome to come in and buy that special designer chair by Philippe Starck or Arne Jacobsen, or that sleek table that becomes a prized part of their living room décor,” says Jan, “but unlike perhaps other stores where the furniture is tightly packed together we offer above all the service of tailoring our furniture collection to your exact liking.” More a bespoke decoration shop than a ‘pick ‘n pay’, therefore. “For this reason our showrooms are laid out with space, focusing on recreating real living environments rather than presenting furniture in a warehouse kind of way.” For Jan it all starts with the sofa, which remains consistently the most popular item in the collection. “People marvel at the flexibility we give them, and when they say ‘I love that one but I don’t think it will fit in our room’, I enjoy informing them that it’s a tough room that has us beat.” It also means you can customise the comfortable elegance of the Fargo sofa series, the solid luxury of the Indivi 2 series or the magnificent opulence of the Mezzo range of sofas. Complemented by

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beautifully styled salon tables that lift up and fold out to become equally refined dining room solutions in which form and function are perfectly matched, they contrast tastefully with retro coffee tables and chairs that add character to a room. But it’s not only about homes. The range of tables and chairs designed by Morten Georgsen have an angular refinement that looks just as impressive in an office or boardroom as they look solid and welcoming in a dining room. Given the endless combinations of chairs and accessories with main items such as tables, sofas and beds, the choice, quite frankly, is entirely yours – so let the new BoConcept collection for 2014 inspire you to find your unique style and create the environment that puts a smile on your face every time you enter it. e

g BoConcept Ctra. de Mijas, KM 3,5 Mijas, Málaga. Tel. +34 951 242 092. malaga@boconcept.es www.boconcept.es

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THE STYLE fashion

W O RD S M a

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Y R T N U CO SUITS PUR

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House of Cashmere www.house-of-cashmere.co.uk Shot on location in the Cotswolds Photography Jaime Travezan www.jaimetravezan.com Styling Jayne Blight Makeup and hair Kim Keifer

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The midnight blues by Sisley.

88 / OCTOBER 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM Layered elegance by Hobbs

Animal inspirations by Next

She’s got the

Look

Marisa Cutillas brings us cool Winter ensembles to watch out for…

Boho chic by Bonmarché

Smooth as silk by Dior

Wooly warmth by Dior

Black and white simplicity by Dior

CONTACTS: Bonmarché www.bonmarche.co.uk, DIOR www.dior.com, HOBBS www.hobbs.co.uk, NEXT www.next.co.uk, SISLEY www.benetton.com

THE STYLE fashion

The midnight blues by Sisley.

1970s glam by Sisley

CONTACTS: APRICOT www.apricotonline.co.uk, BOTICCA www.boticca.com, DIOR www.dior.com, GLITZY SECRETS www.glitzysecrets.com, KONPLOTT www.konplott.com, MARTINE WESTER www.martinewester.com, SIMPLY bE www.simplybe.co.uk, TROIS PETITS POINT www.troispetitspointsparis.com

Necklace by Simply Be

Necklace by Konplott Earring by Dior

Marisa Cutillas suggests some of the most beautiful jewellery and fashion jewellery items a girl might decide to deem her best friend this seasonâ&#x20AC;Ś

Earrings by Glitzy Secrets

Necklace by Apricot

Shine Bright Like a

Bracelet by Dior

a Diamond

Ring by Konplott

Earring by Dior

Earrings by Martine Wester

Earrings by Trois Petits Points Earrings by Boticca

Rings by Trois Petits Points

Necklace by Trois Petits Points

Bracelet by Trois Petits Points

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PRODUCTS / BEAUTY / SPA / SCIENCE

Beauty shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be toxic, and foods should be organic and natural whenever possible. With these ideals in mind, we bring you features on top natural/organic skincare companies, additives to avoid and healthy fats.

TREATMENTS / HEALTH

Beauty: Organic Skincare

Beauty News

Health: Avoid These Additives!

Healthy Fats

100 Organic is Best 102 Eating Healthily 104 Antigymnastique

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Advanced Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery for Face, Body and Bust Cirumed pairs high academic credentials with the latest technologies in modern minimally invasive Plastic Surgery, to bring the best cosmetic surgery to Marbella.

DR. ALEXANDER ASLANI Chairman of the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery

All our surgeons are specialist consultants at the Department of Plastic surgery of Spain’s elite hospital, Hospital Quirón Málaga and Quirón Marbella.

Hospital Quirón Málaga Hospital Quirón Marbella Director of Cirumed Clinic Marbella

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.

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www.cirumed.es

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BEAUTY

UPDATE

omen on a mission to turn back the hands of time often think little of spending over €100 on an anti-wrinkle cream or serum; if a cream looks, smells and feels good, why bother reading the fine print? The fact is that we often invest our trust in the wrong companies. Most commercially bought skincare products contain a host of harmful chemicals which cause everything from organ damage to infertility, yet despite the compelling evidence, they are still sold legally in shops and supermarkets. If you haven’t managed to make a change yet, now is a great time to start taking your health into your own hands. You may be surprised to learn that there are a host of environmentally aware beauty brands (like Weleda, Green People, Environ, GalaVita, Aveda, John Masters Organics or Liz Earle) which contain powerful active ingredients but none of the harmful stuff; it is these brands which are truly delivering what they promise and they are definitely worth spending a few extra euros on. Before falling hook, line and sinker for promises of eternal youth, take the time to research into the policies and ethos of your favourite brands and whatever you do, make sure to avoid these 12 harmful ingredients:

Z SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE: This ingredient, which provides the ‘lather/bubble factor’ to shampoo, cleanser and bubble baths, is present in a whopping 90 per cent of all personal care products. Not only does it irritate the eyes; it is often contaminated with 1.4-dioxane, which has been linked to cancer and is also found in ammonium laureth sulfate, triethanolamine laureth sulfate and all ingredients bearing ‘eth’ in their names – e.g. steareth, myreth, etc. It can likewise be found in the following ingredients: polysorbates, oxynol, polyethylene, polyoxyethylene and polyethyleneglycol (PEG). Z PARABENS: These are popular preservatives used in make-up, creams and lotions. Parabens damage the healthy structure of DNA in cells and have been linked to infertility problems in men and breast tumours in women. They often appear on product packages using one of the following names: butyl-paraben, methyl-paraben, isopropyl-paraben and propyl-paraben. Z COAL TAR DYES: These are synthetic colours often used in make-up, which contain heavy metals that can cause cancer and skin irritations. Z SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE: Did you know that 95 per cent of the chemicals in perfume are synthetically derived from petroleum? These can irritate the skin, causing conditions like dermatitis or allergy, Additionally, they affect the brain and nervous system and can modify your blood pressure and mood and cause respiratory problems. Fragrances alter the skin surface, facilitating greater absorption of other harmful chemicals into the deeper layers of the skin.

Z PHTHALATES: Found in fragrances and nail products, phthalates (sometimes referred to as dibutyl phthalate) has been classified by the European Union as a suspected endocrine disruptor which impairs fertility, interferes with hormone function and possibly causes harm to unborn children. This ingredient has also been found to affect organs such as the liver and kidneys. As fragrance companies are allowed to keep their ingredients list undisclosed (since recipes amount to ‘trade secrets’), it is best to avoid artificial fragrance altogether, or opt for essential oils or natural fragrances. Z MINERAL OIL: It sounds harmless, yet when used in creams, cleansers, hair products and make-up, mineral oil (obtained from petroleum) slows down cellular activity and interferes with the skin’s ability to breathe. This ingredient is also known as paraffin oil. Baby oil is made from 100 per cent mineral oil and should be avoided. Z TRICLOSAN: Often found in anti-bacterial washes, it is registered as a pesticide by the Environmental Protection Authority in the US and is suspected of causing cancer. It is recommended that kids use normal soap and water rather than an antibacterial soap.

Z TALC: Do not use this on babies or children; longterms use has been found to affect the respiratory and reproductive systems. Z ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDRATE: This ingredient can be found in popular anti-perspirant deodorants. It has been linked to breast cancer and is even more dangerous if the armpit is shaved prior to application, since skin penetration is augmented. Z SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS: Most sunscreens contain ingredients like avobenzone (which releases free radicals into the skin), benzophenone (which is considered a possible hormone disruptor), homosalate and octylmethoxycinnamate (or octinoxate) – which have also been shown to disrupt hormones and affect brain development and reproductive function. Z SILICONE: Contained in a plethora of creams, silicone has been shown to promote tumour growth and to create toxic build-up in the liver and lymph nodes. Z LANOLIN: Most lanolin used in cosmetics is contaminated with pesticides and insecticides.

g To find out everything you need to know about the ingredients in popular skincare products, check out EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database: www.ewg.org/skindeep/

THE DIRTY DOZEN Chemicals to Avoid for True Beauty WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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BEAUTY 1 – SKIN FOOD BY WELEDA: This reparative cream contains marigold, chamomile, rosemary and pansy, which deeply hydrate dry areas like the knees, elbows and hands. i www.weleda.com 2 – ORGANIC HAND & BODY SHIKAKAI SOAP BY DR. BRONNER’S: This ‘Baby Unscented’ wash contains powerful yet gentle ingredients like white grape juice, organic coconut oil and organic shikakai powder. i www.drbronner.com 3 – CALENDULA BABYWASH BY WELEDA: Formulated with mild, organic, natural plant-based cleansers, this wash for babies contains organic sesame seed oil, which is quickly absorbed for ultimate comfort. i www.weleda.com 4 – BODY LOTIONS BY WELEDA: Enjoy these light yet hydrating body lotions, in musk rose, hawthorne, citrus or pomegranate. i www.weleda.com 5 – ALMOND SOOTHING FACIAL CREAM BY WELEDA: This gentle cream, made with almonds, is perfect for sensitive skin, since it has powerful calming properties. i www.weleda.com

The best thing about using 100 per cent natural skincare products is that you know you’re doing your best for the environment, while keeping allergic skin reactions, cancer and other harmful diseases at bay. When it comes to health and beauty for the whole family, natural truly is best!

6 – IRRITATED SCALP CONDITIONER BY GREEN PEOPLE: Made with organic rosemary and lavender, this gentle conditioner stimulates circulation in the scalp area and reduces dandruff. i www.greenpeople.es 7 – INTENSIVE REPAIR SHAMPOO BY GREEN PEOPLE: This green tea-rich shampoo repairs damage cause by dryness and colouring. i www.greenpeople.es 8– ALL-ONE HEMP LAVENDER PURE-CASTILE SOAP BY DR. BRONNER’S: Dr. Bronner’s presents a gently scented soap with organic coconut, palm and fair deal hemp oils. It is ideal for those with very dry skin. i www.drbronner.com 9– 18-IN-1 HEMP ALMOND PURE-CASTILE SOAP BY DR. BRONNER’S: Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 products are big hits all around the world and it’s easy to see why. They perform the functions of a soap, shampoo, pre-shaving solution, dental soap, deodorant, pet shampoo and much more. i www.drbronner.com

Natural Skincare PRODUCTS

SAVING YOUR SKIN AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY MARISA CUTILLAS

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HEALTH

p until the 1990s, consumers were, to a great extent, victims of clever political marketing ploys, consuming the foods, medication and skincare products deemed ‘healthy’, ‘natural’ and ‘organic’. This month’s feature on Healthy Oils, for instance, reveals that margarine isn’t quite the natural wonder it was claimed to be for years; rather, it is riddled with trans fats, which is bad news as far as cholesterol counts and inflammation are concerned. If you do further research, you will probably find that most scientists and nutritionists alike are advising against the consumption of a host of unhealthy ingredients. Whatever you do, make sure these products stay on the supermarket shelf and far away from your pantry:

ADVICE

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS While it is true that

obesity is one of the major health risks, it is best to consume a reasonable, low-glycaemic index diet rather than turn to artificial sweeteners like acesulfame potassium, sucralose, aspartame and saccharine, to sweeten your daily cup of coffee or tea. Artificially sweetened foods normally contain the following harmful ingredients: Z Acesulfame potassium, found in certain diet sodas, contains methylene chloride, a carcinogen that can also cause headaches, depression, liver and kidney disease and mental confusion. Z Sucralose contains high levels of chlorine, a known carcinogen used in pesticides, plastics and poisonous gas. Z Aspartame has been linked to everything from fibromyalgia to anxiety, depression, mood swings, vomiting, abdominal pain, multiple scleroris, lupus and much more. Z Saccharine has been linked to cancer and allergic reactions (including muscle dysfunction and irritability in infants, as well as headaches and diarrhea). Z In lieu of purchasing ‘diet’/ ‘light’ products, which are mainly made with artificial sweeteners, purchase items made with healthy alternatives like stevia or Xylitol.

SUGAR AND HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease take many lives yearly and it’s all because of the high amounts of sugar we consume. Sugar raises your blood pressure, damages the liver and causes glucose intolerance. High fructose syrup, present in some of the world’s most popular soft drinks, is made from

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PROPYL GALLATE This preservative can be found in meat products, chicken soup stock and chewing gum. Laboratory studies have linked it to cancer.

CORN Sadly, the percentage of genetically modified corn on the market is so high that this food should be avoided altogether, whether on the cob or in modified cornstarch, maltodextrin or corn oil form. These products are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in high doses, cause cancer, inflammation and heart disease, as well as premature ageing of the skin.

POTASSIUM SORBATE This ingredient is present in most commercially bought ice-creams, despite being a proven carcinogen and toxin. Commercial ice-cream can also contain Polysorbate 80, which has been found to negatively affect the immune system and even cause the body to enter into anaphylactic shock. If ice-cream is a favourite treat in your home, consider investing in your own ice-cream machine (which costs between €90 and €200, depending on the model chosen).

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PROCESSED MEAT Deli meats and smoked goods like

hotdogs are high in nitrates, which are powerful cancercausing chemicals.

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG) This food additive/flavour enhancer is referred to in various ways on commercial packaging: ‘natural flavouring’, ‘yeast extract’, ‘textured protein’, ‘hydrolysed pea protein’, etc. Its harmful component is glutamate, which is obtained by using strong chemicals and bacteria to break down ‘bound glutamic acids’ in foods such as corn and wheat, through processes like hydrolisation, autolysation, modification or fermentation. A growing body of scientists links toxins produced in these processes (excitotoxins) to neurological disorders, obesity and neuro-generative diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Some people falsely believe that MSG can only be found in Chinese food; in fact, it can be found in the most unsuspecting items, such as cheese puffs and crackers, which are also loaded with oil.

genetically modified corn. If you must drink something sweet, stick to freshly squeezed fruit juice, if possible made from a machine with slow rotation technology, to maximise your nutritional uptake.

CRISPS When foods are fried at extremely high

temperatures, they can form a carcinogen known as acrylamide. Crisps are also coated in salt, which raises blood pressure and cholesterol, increasing one’s chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Ingredients that SHOULD NEVER MAKE IT WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

into your Supermarket Trolley

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HEALTH WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

ALL ABOUT The Good, the FATS! Bad and the Ugly One of the biggest myths propagated by the diet industry is the one that deems fats (especially animal-based saturated fats) ‘bad’ and polyunsaturated fats (those found, for instance, in margarine) ‘good’. Fortunately, nutritional science has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past few decades and we are learning that most saturated fats do not cause conditions like heart disease and metabolic syndrome; in fact, they are good for us.

ADVICE

THE BAD

BAD FATS AND WEIRD SCIENCE The idea that saturated fats cause heart disease can be traced to the ‘lipid hypothesis’, first espoused by scientist, Ancel Keys, in the 1950s. Keys believed that animal-based fats should be substituted by vegetable and processed oils and to this day, many still believe this theory to be right. In the early 20th century, most fats were animal-based saturated and monounsaturated fats like lard, butter, etc. But as the years passed by, animal fat consumption declined in the Western World, with refined vegetable oils, margarine and processed fats taking their place. The rise in obesity, cardiovascular conditions and diabetes are testimony to the fact that little progress had been made in terms of improving our nutrition.

WHAT SCIENCE SAYS You may be shocked to learn that scientists have found that only 26 per cent of artery clogging fat is saturated; the majority is polyunsaturated! Most polyunsaturated fats are present as Omega-6 fatty acids, which

are destroyed when heated, unearthing a plethora of free radicals which attack our cells and damage our DNA. The problem is largely caused by the imbalance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats in a typical Western diet. Paleontologists have found that our ancient ancestors consumed Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats at a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1: today, the ratio is seriously skewed, at 22:1 (Omega-6 to Omega-3)! It is vital that we consume sufficient quantities of Omega-3s, present in fish like wild salmon and of course, fish oil supplements.

WHY DO WE NEED ESSENTIAL FATS? Essential fats, which are the fats humans need to ingest because we cannot synthesise them, are crucial for many of the body’s functions. They increase energy, strengthen the immune system, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, improve brain power, help us lose weight and regulate the liver, kidneys and adrenal and thyroid glands. They also speed up healing, support optimum child development, improve digestion, keep bones strong, and inhibit tumour growth.

Avoid oils like safflower, corn, sunflower and soybean oils; they are usually highly processed and contain an array of harmful chemicals; additionally, they are inordinately high in Omega-6s. Canola oil, meanwhile, has been linked to fibrotic heart lesions and is dangerously high in sulfur. Sesame oil is also high in Omega-6 but it can be used occasionally in a wok, for instance, as it is more stable than the oils mentioned above. Given the choice between butter and margarine, stick to butter, even better, if it’s organic. Margarine needs hydrogenated oil to make it solid, which converts it into a trans fat. Trans fats raise your ‘bad (LDL) cholesterol’. They are created industrially, when hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. They have been proven to increase levels of LDL and lower levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

THE GOOD Olive oil is monounsaturated and can be heated to a moderate temperature. Stick to the cold-pressed extra-virgin variety to ensure integrity. Coconut, red palm and palm kernel oils are likewise some of the healthiest oils you will find, since they are more saturated than other vegetable oils. Coconut can even help you lose weight, since it contains

medium-chain triglycerides. It also boasts powerful anti-viral and antibacterial qualities. Flaxseed oil is another healthy oil, since it contains both Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids as well as a group of chemicals called lignans, which may play a vital role in preventing cancer. Make sure you buy the cold-pressed variety and store it in the fridge to prevent loss of quality. Flaxseed oil should not be heated, since it can easily oxidise. Udo’s Oil is a very popular selection among the health-conscious and the good news is that it can be found at popular health food shops (as well as online). The oil is a certified organic, sustainable, fishfree blend of GMO-free, plant-based oils which contains the ideal 2:1 ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. It is refreshingly free of ocean-borne contaminants, which can mar the good bestowed by some fish oil supplements. Udo’s Oil was created by Zoologist, Biochemist, Geneticist and Nutritionist, Udo Erasmus, author of the book, Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill, which garnered him his PhD in nutrition. As early as 1983, he began working on a pioneering technology that would free oil of the three elements which make it toxic to our system: light, heat and oxygen. Udo’s Oil contains a careful blend of organic flax seed oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, rice and oat germ oils, coconut oil, evening primrose oil, as well as lecithin, Vitamin E, antioxidants and rosemary oil. The oil can be used cold, warm and hot but cannot be used in high-temperature cooking methods like frying or baking. Popular uses of Udo’s Oil are in salads, shakes, yogurt, juices and soups. It is also super delicious when drizzled over steamed vegetables or combined with balsamic vinegar for a tangy salad topping. e

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spa FOOD

GET SMART, GET HEALTHY,

WORDS SHIVANI MAIR, BUSINESS AND PERSONAL LIFE COACH

GO ORGANIC

Gone are the days when organic living was only the preserve of hippies. It’s now becoming one of the biggest lifestyle crazes among A-list celebrities around the world. Well loved stars including Gywenth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Brangelina are inspiring examples of loving the planet, by growing and eating organic food, choosing fair trade products, and creating blogs about living clean and green. Here are just a handful of simple tips you can use to help you become organic Gods and Goddesses.

ADVICE

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Buy Organic vegetables and fruit – although they don’t look as pretty or last as long as the super market bought fruit and veg – they really do taste the same, if not nicer because they contain less pesticides and preservatives. Replace white sugar with organic honey or Fairtrade unrefined brown sugar in your tea, coffee and cereals – it’s much better for your body because it’s not bleached and chemically refined like white sugar. A handfull of almond nuts and cod liver oil daily has been proven to increase your brain power and concentration the natural way because they contain Omega-3. Have a cup of green tea to help with weight loss. A growing number of studies report that green tea works on a number of levels: it boosts the metabolism, suppresses the appetite and increases the body’s heat production that leads to fat burning. It’s high in antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and metabolism boosting qualities. But don’t overdo it: it contains about 30 mg of caffeine per cup. Pregnant women should not drink too much green tea because caffeine is a diuretic, and can cause dehydration. Try the raw food diet, which is based on the belief that raw food is the most healthy for the body, and studies have found that it can be effective for losing weight, and improving health and fighting disease. Cooking is thought to destroy natural enzymes in the food. Snacks for kids are as important as meals – make it a fun and creative activity of the day. On average, kids snack three times per day. Try to make these snacks yourself, to ensure they will be fresh, healthy, free of artificial ingredients and preservatives.

GETTING MORE FROM NATURE, NATURALLY Create a magic night garden with solar lights: There are so many lovely solar light designs now that are inexpensive and super easy to install (no electrical wiring needed). Best of all, they do not consume electricity.

SAVE MONEY, PREVENT WASTE Unplug appliances and cut your annual electric bill by 10%: putting electrical appliances on stand by may not seem like a big deal, but they clock up your electricity bill and also reduce the life span of your devices. Get yourself a plug extension with individual on/off buttons – so you can turn off all appliances when you are not using them. Also create a ‘shut down’ routine: take a moment to check everything is switched off. Leaving your computer on overnight is the equivalent of printing 800 pages! Send electric greeting cards: who really keeps all their greeting cards anymore? I don’t, so you too can not only cut down on the paper we waste throwing the cards away, you can save yourself stamp costs and the time to go to the post office, by sending a digital greeting card to some of your friends and family. Share your car and make travelling more fun: if you know family and friends live near by, who are traveling to the same event, why not share a car, instead of taking two cars that will just add to carbon emissions unnecessarily. Make children’s toys last longer: Rotate your kids’ toys so they don’t tire of them and ask you to buy new ones.

Better still, make a toy: Making toys is so much fun and great for their creativity. Try making musical instruments: great drum sounds can be made from plastic food containers or metal pots and a spoon; or create a maraca from a bottle of uncooked rice. An old sock can become a fun hand puppet when you draw/sew or stick on some buttons for eyes. Or make the most of your hand-me down clothes, shoes and hats by adding them to a ‘dressing up’ box – kids love to dress up and play adults.

g CREATIVE BY NATURE LTD Web: creativeby-nature.com Twitter: cr8ivebynature | @ourpeoplescoach

DO YOU KNOW THE POWER OF A LEMON? This little citrus fruit is a great substitute for so many harmful and toxic cleaning and beauty products. Apart from saving you money on expensive purchases, you will be creating a chlorinefree, toxic gas-free environment for you and your loved ones. Lemon can be used to strengthen nails, descale kettles, clean windows and mirrors, keep the fridge smelling fresh and keep salads fresher for longer!

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Veneers are the most popular and fastest solution for a brighter, whiter smile. They can idealise the shape and position of your teeth and optimise their colour to a brightness that cannot be achieved only by bleaching. The dental industry is evolving fast; new and innovative techniques are constantly being developed. Rather than basing our services purely on price, we at Clínica Dental Dr. Hotz M.Sc. select and provide the most effective and long-lasting solutions. This is definitively the most economical long-term option.

WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT

ADVERTISING FEATURE

LASER

DURATION OF THE TREATMENT

Our German dentists at Clínica Dental Dr. Hotz M.Sc. use a special laser for the placement of the veneers. With the laser, it is unnecessary to reduce the tooth substance. The teeth can even be treated without anaesthetic injections. The result is higher stability and a long lasting result.

Hand-made veneers can be placed in as little as two appointments. The treatment is swift and comfortable. During the first appointment, impressions and colour shades for the production of the veneers are taken. At the second appointment, the teeth get prepared with the laser and the veneers are placed individually.

HAND-MADE VENEERS

IDEAL PLACEMENT

For many people, the aesthetic component is the most important factor, next to functionality. This is where the hand-made veneers excel when compared to other kinds of veneers. Hand-made veneers imitate the natural layers of the tooth, with its more and less translucent parts. Other veneers are cut from a ceramic block instead of being individually layered. They are only painted over and look artificial and yellow in comparison to hand-made veneers. Treated with individually layered, hand-made veneers, teeth appear in natural perfection and do not look covered or artificial.

To enable faster placement, very often veneers are placed at the same time using a template. The unwanted side effect is that the interdental spaces are completely filled up with the placement material, which makes cleaning your teeth at home almost impossible. The result is darkening of the interdental spaces over time, cavities, periodontal problems and plaque accumulation. With one-by-one placement, this problem can be completely avoided.

MATERIAL

Clínica Dental Dr. Hotz M.Sc. offers you a two-year guarantee on veneers. The same guarantee is given on all other prosthetic work, including crowns, bridges and prosthesis.

Most people believe that Zirconium is the best material for veneers. Zirconium works very well for crowns in the functional area of the premolars and molars. However, in the region comprising the front teeth, emax ceramic looks considerably more natural and is more adapted to the needs of this area. In addition to ceramic veneers, patients can opt for the more economic ‘direct veneers’, which are made out of composite. This material tends to change colour to a more yellow aspect; water is absorbed and the material ages as the years go by. Likewise, they need to be changed after a few years. Our veneers maintain their colour and shape and stand the test of time.

g Avda. Marqués del Duero 76, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 786 362. www.implantsmarbella.com 171 HP hotz.indd 101

After

In 2010, Dr. Nadine Hotz M.Sc obtained her specialist Masters degree in Implantology from the German Association of Oral Implantology (she was the youngest dentist ever to do so). Her father is a highly renowned specialist in Implantology in Germany who has helped the dental profession access the very latest information on implants through various scientific studies undertaken over the past 30 years and the development of his own implant system (Tiolox Implants, Dentaurum, Germany).

Before

Veneers

GUARANTEE

If you are interested or need further information please don’t hesitate to contact us! Our multi-lingual team will be more than happy to welcome you to our clinic, which is located in the main street of San Pedro above the 24h pharmacy. We are looking forward to seeing you! Your team Clínica Dental Dr Hotz M.Sc. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 101

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spa FOOD

OUR DAILY WORDS ALEJANDRO ARIOLI, FOUNDER OF ARBORETUM MARBELLA

ADVICE

The choice of foods we serve at the family table can be a great means for change; it can bolster social, economic and personal transformation.

BREAD

he decision concerning which foods we buy, where they come from, how they are produced and in what circumstances, is vital. It is a conscious, responsible choice which turns us into co-producers and not mere consumers. When we support a given producer, we become active partners in the entire production process. We should never forget the great individual and collective power we exercise everytime we make a purchase and condone or support, a plethora of practices. We should aim to consume goods which promote our health, are fair trade and do not harm the environment. Every choice we make helps to sustain a series of practices. Imagine if we chose to consume only ecological products. This choice would result in improvements to our health but it would also be beneficial to our planet, since we would be avoiding genetically modified foods or those treated with pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilisers, etc. These products harm the earth and waterways and have a negative effect on biodiversity. When we buy from local producers, we reduce our carbon footprint, since transport and refrigeration are kept to a minimum. We also promote local culinary traditions by using local, seasonal products which have a powerful effect on nutrition and flavour. Concepts such as ‘food safety’ and ‘food sovereignty’ are important; they are linked to our choices of what to eat on a daily basis. Mass producers may make economic gains but we pay the price in lost health, a destroyed environment and high costs to our public health system.

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Spanish supermarkets sell around 20,000 items, 80 per cent of which are made with wheat, corn or soy (or their derivatives). Many of these foods travel over 7,000km to make it to the supermarket shelf; there is nothing natural about this. A lot of people live in ‘food deserts’, without the recourse to good, healthy food. In the US, for instance, some 26.5 million people do not have access to quality produce. Meanwhile, it is estimated that Bhutan, which has a population of only 750,000, will be the number one country in terms of producing all their goods ecologically, by the year 2020. The practice of permaculture postulates that the problem is also the solution. It proposes various alternatives like growing edible gardens, community gardens and gardens on balconies, terraces, in vertical gaps and in our own backyard if we have the land to do so. We tend to think that there is little we can do to favour Nature, yet the environment is deteriorating at a vertiginous rate because millions of people are each doing small things which negatively alter ecocystems. We can reverse this process by doing small things that promote life. We shouldn’t wait for others to start the process; the change lies within.

Suggestions: Z You choose who you support when you buy food for your daily meals. Choose wisely. Z Buy foods which respect the environment, workers and products. Z Buy ecological products which are local and seasonal and read the fine print carefully. Z Try to shop in local sotres; it will help your community grow economically. Z Request that ecological food be served at your kids’ school; ask about the possibility of growing a school garden. Z Try to grow your own fruits and vegetables; the sensation of consuming your own produce is incredibly rewarding. Z Dining at home in the company of your loved ones is a leasure in itself! Z Try to ensure that the foods you consume daily are healthy for you, your family and the entire planet.

g www.arboretummarbella.org 9/23/13 1:36 PM

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spa

HEALTH

ANTIGIMNASTIQUE: Know, Heal and Learn from Your Body

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © KHPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

TRAINING

Do you know your body? Do you truly know it? Did your know your body has a memory, that it is intelligent, that it stores everything you have encountered, your experiences and emotions? These profound questions were all answered in the affirmative by Thérèse Bertherat, the famed French physiotherapist who first worked with the Antigymnastique movement some 40 years ago.

er book, The Body Has Its Reasons, sparked a true revolution in health and wellness and to this day, Antigymnastique is practised by thousands of people in over 20 countries around the world. Bertherat’s method works with the powerful muscular chain all human beings have in the back of their bodies. This chain begins at the top of the cranium and extends all the way down to the toes, running through the nape of the neck, the back, thighs and legs; it is so powerful that when it is prevented from working properly, the muscles in the front part of the body are disabled. This is why, if the back is too tight or tense, our abdominal muscles are unable to contract and the result is a soft, protruding abdomen. Antigymnastique unravels natural anatomical laws and aims to restore the body’s innate power. Antigymnastique centres on the use of simple, small, highly original movements to release tension, prevent injuries and eliminate pain and rigidity. “It is often said that the muscles are elongated by Antigymnastique,” says certified practitioner, Paloma Rodríguez Hergueta, “and elongation is a very different concept from stretching. When you perform a stretch, as soon as you let go, the muscles contract once again; Antigymnastique, on the other hand, taps into the malleable nature of muscles”. The movements encourage us “to reflect on our body and our history, the sensations and emotions that live within us. In every class,” says Paloma, “we perform movements we have either long forgotten or stopped using altogether in our daily life”. Practising Antigymnastique involves embarking on a voyage through your body and its history. You discover that over the years, your body has quietly re-organised, adapted and protected itself.

Lest this sound too esoteric, a practical example may better explain its power. On the day of my interview with Paloma, she invited me to perform one movement with her. She asked me to stand and point my toes straight ahead, without looking at my feet. I thought I had done as she asked, until she informed me that my toes were actually pointing sideways, a fact I was able to testify to when I looked downwards. I adjusted my position so my toes were facing the wall straight ahead. Paloma asked me how I felt. “Very awkward,” I answered, “my knees are now facing inwards and my lower back is curved”. I grew fascinated when she told me that we all should, ideally, walk with our toes facing forwards. The fact that I am unable to do so comfortably, indicates that there are problems in my posture and movement. Through Antigymnastique, we can encourage our body to adopt positions that cause least stress, alleviating pain in areas like the joints and back. Additionally,

we can reverse the undue shortening of the hips, knees or ankles and liberate typically tense areas. Antigymnastique has a strong emotional component, as Paloma explains, “Often, painful memories result in our muscles adopting specific positions to compensate or avoid the pain; as we release and elongate the muscles, often, we can also let go of those memories”. The sessions are normally undertaken in small groups, says Paloma, “so we realise that there are others going through the same situations we are”. So what is a typical Antigymnastique session like? First, your practitioner will help you learn how to localise the blocked areas in your body. Then, you will be taught to address each of these contracted muscles, the same ones that are stopping you from standing and moving with elegance and freedom. Slowly but surely, harmony is restored to your muscular system and your body finds its natural longitude and beauty. Each Antigymnastique session is a new opportunity to discover and explore new possibilities of movement, and the more you practise your technique, the stronger is the connection between your previously ignored muscles and your brain. Because Antigymnastique uses such precise, gentle movements, it can be practised at any age, leading to a better quality of life for children, adults and the elderly. Paloma is currently teaching small group classes at her studio in Marbella, as well at specific centres along the Coast. g During the months of October and November, she will be teaching free first classes so if you are curious about this fascinating way of approaching health and wellness, give her a call on Tel: 651 716 489 or send an e-mail to palomarh.ag@gmail.com www.antigimnasia.com

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thepro NEWS /ENTERPRISE / LOCAL BUSINESS /

PROFILES / FINANCE / LAW

Tony Dalli at a Ferrari Club event

Tony Dalli Honoured by Marbella’s Mayor A special event hosted by the Mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz, was held recently to honour Toni Dalli. The event was attended by friends and family, as well as the members of the Ferrari Club of Andalucía, founded by Tony some 14 years ago alongside his three sons (Marco, Simon and Nicholas). The Mayor thanked Toni for his pioneering work in publicising Marbella around the world, with the help of many of his showbiz friends, including Sean Connery, Englebert Humperdinck, Bernie Ecclestone, Benny Hill, James Hunt, etc. Toni hosted many spectacular events over decades at his club/restaurant at Oasis, which he sold when he retired ten years ago.

Cape Reed Creates Magic at the Hotel Puente Romano’s Sea Grill Restaurant Cape Reed, the company which creates customised living spaces through structural designs that harmonise with Nature and the immediate surrounds, recently played an important role in the creation of new frontline dining haven, Sea Grill, at the Hotel Puente Romano. Through an extensive variety of designs, building and installation services for commercial developments as well as exclusive villas and cottages, Cape Reed creates customised living spaces. It is the only company offering an EU-certified product when it comes to treatment against (and protection from) fire. The company also actively supports the green build movement by using only sustainable materials in their construction work. g www.capereed.com

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©www.khphotography.co.uk

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ROCKIN’ GIBRALTAR Old rockers and teenyboppers boogied on down at the Gibraltar Music Festival last month for 12 hours of non-stop music by 18 live acts. Some 10,000 fans bought tickets to the all-day extravaganza at Victoria Stadium, now in its second year. Headlining upcoming local bands, blasts from the past like 10cc and Level 42, popular Spanish group La Oreja de Van Gogh and current chart-toppers Olly Murs and Emeli Sandé, there was something for every generation of music lovers.

g www.gibraltarmusicfest.eu

's Belinda Beckett

elindabeckett.com

with 10cc © www.b

MARBELLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL If few things tickle your fancy like watching a great film, then you will undoubtedly enjoy the Marbella International Film Festival, which will be taking place from October 2 to 6 at the Palacio de Congresos and the Hotel H10 Andalucía Plaza in Puerto Banús. The event will feature films from all over the world and prizes will be given in a number of different categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary and Best Animation. Best of all, all screenings are absolutely free!

g www.marbellafilmfestival.com

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CHARITY FASHION SHOW AT MC CAFÉ

CORTEBREZO: WOODEN CARPENTRY FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS

The MC Café at the Marbella Club recently presented a colourful fashion show to raise funds for Ningún Niño Sin Techo (No Child Without a Home). The event featured the latest collections available from FashionVilla, as well as a delicious à la carte lunch. Guests enjoyed shopping for their favourite items afterwards, in an effort to update their wardrobe for the upcoming Autumn/Winter season. g www.marbellaclub.com,

If you love the look of wood and you’re thinking of jazzing up or extending your home or business with a wooden construction, Cortebrezo is the company to contact. Boasting over 30 years’ experience in building with wood, it can design and build everything from bridges to camping cabins, floors, tree houses and wooden structures of all kinds. g Tel: 648 261 046.

www.cortebrezo.net

www.fashionvillamarbella.com

OM TARA: ESOTERIC SHOP OPENS IN MARBELLA Om Tara is a new esoteric shop, aimed at those who are keen on expanding their sense of self-awareness. The shop contains a wide range of symbols, natural gemstones, organic cosmetics, Ayurvedic items, energy correctors and much more. Om Tara’s Founders have been practising yoga for 20 years and have opened an Academy of parapsychology. They are keen on sharing their vast knowledge with those who are interested in learning more about these particular subjects. g Avda. Ricardo Soriano 47,

Marbella. Tel: 952 868 565.

MARBELLA ENTERPRENEUR CLIMBS KILIMANJARO WITH FAMILY

FUSION HEALTH CLINIC: WHERE TRADITION AND INNOVATION UNITE

Marbella entrepreneur, Franck Benhamou, recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his wife, 15-year-old son, brother-in-law and four friends to raise awareness of the 3 Million Club, a crowdsourcing project aimed to end child mortality owing to hunger, by the year 2020. The 3 Million Club is, in a way, an experiment: a search for 3 million people around the world who are committed to buying €0,38 worth of food daily for the needy. If this seemingly small objective is achieved, infant mortality will be eradicated on a global scale. www.3millionclub.com

The Los Naranjos Paddle Tennis Club was the chosen venue for the launch of the brand new Fusion Health Clinic, whose Director, Phsyiotherapist, Álvaro García Morales, met and greeted guests alongside Louis Liu, an expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The new Clinic will be treating patients from an integrated perspective, combining Western treatments such as physiotherapy with ancient Asian therapies like acupuncture. g www.fusionhealth.es

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ENGEL & VÖLKERS END OF SUMMER EVENT IN LONDON Engel & Völkers invited their top London clientele to an End of Summer party in the trendy, luxurious Wyld bar located on the 1st floor of the ‘W’ Hotel in London. Among the VIP’s were the producers of the very successful TV series Made in Chelsea. The office of Engel & Völkers in London is located in Chelsea and cooperates closely with the Marbella offices. Due to a high demand for investment properties in Marbella, Engel & Völkers offices have joined forces and succeeded in selling a large portfolio of properties to investors from London.

SOS DÍA UNIVERSAL FOUNDATION HELPS THE CHILDREN OF MÁLAGA

g www.engelvoelkers.com The SOS Día Universal Foundation, which aims to defend the rights of children, has been keeping busy, with some foundation members heading to Mozambique in a caravan alongside Spanish celebrity, Tamara Falcó, to help needy children, while other members immersed themselves in the Somos Una Familia project, which provided aid to a total of 79 needy families in Málaga. The families were given vouchers to shop at Carrefour supermarkets, and were also handed a plethora of perishable and non-perishable products.

g www.fundacionsos.org

HOLIDAY WORLD RECOGNISED BY THREE TRAVEL WEBSITES Holiday World, the hotel complex in Benalmádena comprising the Holiday Polynesia, Holiday Village, Hydros Hotel Boutique, Spa and Wellness and Holiday Palace hotels, recently received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the second year in a row. Additionally, the hotels Holiday Palace and Holiday Polynesia received the Zoover Recommended 2013 certificate, while the Holiday Palace obtained the Quality Selection prize from HolidayCheck.com. g www.holidayworld.es

HIFX SUMMER PARTY AT CENTRO PLAZA HiFX, a leading foreign exchange and international money transfers company, celebrated its first year anniversary at the company’s offices at Centro Plaza in Nueva Andalucía. Over 300 guests attended the event, including members of the media, local partners, clients and members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain. Guests were treated to cocktails bearing the company’s brand colours and tasty treats prepared by Yanx restaurant, while showman, Quike Navarro and his four-piece band helped create the perfect party atmosphere. The event was organised by Réka Vidáts from RéLounge Events and Leisure. g Tel: 951 203 986 / costadelsol@hifx.co.uk

BARBARIAN SUMMER MUSCLE FESTIVAL TAKES OVER THE PLAZA MAYOR Audiences enjoyed a fine display of hunky bodies at the recent Barbarian Summer Muscle Festival at the Plaza Mayor shopping centre. A host of fit men and women showed off the results of many hours spent at the gym, competing in a number of categories included Beginners, Bodyfitness, Men’s shorts, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Bodybuilding and Classic Bodybuilding. g www.plazamayor.es

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MIND, BODY & SPIRIT FESTIVAL AT THE H10 ANDALUCÍA PLAZA The H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel will once again host the Mind, Body & Spirit Festival, on October 26 and 27, from 11am to 8pm. There will be over 50 exhibitors at the event, including international mediums, healers, psychics, tarot readers, unique jewellery sellers, nutritional therapists and more. Some 18 inspirational speakers will also be giving talks and demonstrations every half hour, on interesting topics such as spiritual mediumship, healing, psychic and self-development, etc. An entrance fee of €10 will give you access to all talks and demonstrations. g Tel: 670 628 468.

www.mindbodyspiritmarbella.com

BENTLEY FLYING SPUR EXHIBITED AT C. DE SALAMANCA Luxury car dealers, C. De Salamanca, recently presented the new Bentley Flying Spur, a remarkable luxury sedan boasting a beautifully shaped aluminium exterior, hand-crafted hides and veneers and a six-litre W12 engine which propels it from 0-97kph in just 4.3 seconds. g www.cdesalamanca.com

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE STUDIO AIDS CUDECA The International Theatre Studio’s most recent production – Dirty Dusting – was so successful when it was staged in San Pedro in March, that the Salon Varietes in Fuengirola invited the team to perform the play for the opening of its 2013-14 season. At the suggestion of the Blue Box furniture company, the International Theatre Studio made a donation to the cancer charity, Cudeca, to thank Blue Box for the ‘props’ the company loaned them for both productions. The cheque was handed to Blue Box proprietors, Debbie and Ben, by Kate Jackson, who directed and appeared in the play. g www.cudeca.org

SEVE BALLESTEROS JUNIOR GOLF TOURNAMENT AT ROYAL GOLF PEDREÑA This year’s Seve Ballesteros Junior Golf Tournament was attended by the champion player’s three children (Javier, Miguel and Carmen), who enjoyed what was always their father’s best-loved tournament. Held to raise funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, the event, founded in 1985 to encourage young, promising golf stars to follow their dreams, is still one of the highlights of the summer golfing season.

g www.fundacionseveballesteros.com

TARIFA ESCAPE: LEAVE THE STRESS BEHIND Tired of the hustle and bustle of daily life? Need a few days to unwind and reconnect body and mind? New luxury, all-inclusive health and well-being retreat, Tarifa Escape, may be just the getaway you’re looking for. Nestled in a national park between the mountains and the sea, the resort offers a host of healthy activities, including classes on healthy cooking, advice on how to look after your body and yoga classes. With a maximum capacity for eight guests, it is an ideal choice for singles, couples or friends. g www.tarifaescape.com

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LOCAL SCHOOL TEACHER PUBLISHES BILINGUAL BOOK FOR CHILDREN Schoolteacher, Miss Eli, is proud to announce the publication of her book, Tito’s Winter Secret, aimed at helping children learn about the world in a fun, playful way. The story centres on Tito, who lives in the mountains, so far away from other children that he has nobody to play with. One snowy day, however, something magical happens and Tito receives a special gift that turns Winter into his favourite season of the year. The book can be purchased at a host of local bookshops. g For precise information, hit the Donde Encontrarlo button on www.titofresquito.com

LION’S CLUB COSTA DEL SOL CHARITY EVENT The Costa del Sol Lion’s Club recently held a charity dinner at Avanto Restaurant at the Vitania Beach Club, to raise funds for the Red Cross of Marbella and the Miguel Hernández de San Pedro Alcántara School. The event was attended by hundreds of people who were up for having a good time for a good cause. g www.clubdeleonescostadelsol.org

LIBERTY SEGUROS FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND If you’re worried about providing for your pet, you will be pleased to know that you can now obtain Pet Insurance through LIBERTY Seguros, meaning that all of your essential covers are available from just one company. LIBERTY Seguros offers car, home, pet, marine, commercial, life and golf insurance. Depending on your pet’s size, it will be covered against accidents and illness as well as public liability, telephone assistance, stays in kennels/ cattery stays if its owner is in hospital, help with expenses for finding a lost pet and much more! There are three options; LIBERTY Pets Small, for dogs under nine kilos and cats; LIBERTY Pets Medium, for dogs between nine and 15 kilos; and LIBERTY Pets Large, for dogs over 15 kilos. g www.libertyexpatriates.es

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NEW PLASTIC SURGERY DEPARTMENT AT QUIRÓN HOSPITAL MARBELLA The new hospital Quirón Marbella, formerly USP Marbella, has launched its own Plastic surgery department, which will be headed by Dr. Alexander Aslani, owner of Cirumed Clinic Marbella. Dr. Aslani is already the Director of Plastic Surgery of the Quirón Hospital in Málaga, where he oversees a total of 1,500 plastic surgery procedures a year. The Quirón group is confident that Dr. Aslani can achieve the same level of success at Quirón Marbella, as he has achieved in Málaga. Dr. Aslani and his team look forward to the challenge of heading two hospital Plastic Surgery departments simultaneously. g www.quiron.es

STUDENTS FROM ALOHA COLLEGE REPRESENT A GRAND TOTAL OF 45 NATIONALITIES! Aloha College is pleased to announce that it began the 2013-2014 school year with 140 new students. The total student enrolment amounts to 780; some 20 per cent of these are Spanish. The greatest percentage of students is British, followed by Scandinavian, Dutch and Russian students. Amazingly, the student body comprises some 45 different nationalities. Many international families choose Aloha because of its reputation as a truly international school and the excellent result it achieves on a yearly basis in the IB exams.

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THE PRO business

EMS TRAINING SYSTEM takes over Puerto Banús

Perhaps the most oft-expressed reason for not exercising is a lack of time. If a cardiovascular workout and weights training session is on the cards, you could be looking at two hours in a gym and for most of us, this amount of time is an unaffordable luxury. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LOOK YOUR BEST

ook Your Best is a new training studio in the heart of Puerto Banús, where you can achieve amazing results in far less time. The studio was founded by hotel, spa and golf resort developer, Attila J. Hegyi, from Budapest, Hungary who decided to delve into the world of high-end resorts after an injury put an end to his sporting career. Attila has achieved great success in his career, yet health and fitness have never ceased to be a passion. A couple of years ago, he discovered a new system that enabled him to achieve his fitness goals through a series of short, guided trainings sessions. This, and his love for golf and the warm, sunny climate of the Costa del Sol, led him to launch Look Your Best studio in Puerto Banús just one month ago. The studio oozes elegance, since, as Attila says, “People often associate gyms with unpleasant smells but having managed five-star luxury resorts for so long, my aim was to open a fitness studio which affords this level of service”. The studio offers a system which is unique to the South of Spain, since it combines personal training and electric muscle stimulation (EMS) in one 20-minute training which is equivalent to a 90- or 120-minute gym workout. The sessions are completely tailored to your needs, so that whether losing fat or building muscle is your aim, you can achieve it. During the sessions you are alone with the Personal Trainer, though you can opt to have a partner or spouse join you for a workout. Interestingly, all the Trainers at Look Your Best

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boast university degrees in sport. High-end Xbody equipment provides the EMS technology at Look Your Best. A typical session is simple: you don a special suit containing electrodes which stimulate your muscles and the Personal Trainer demonstrates a series of exercises and helps you perform them correctly. There are a number of different programmes, depending on whether your aim is: Z To improve blood and lymphatic circulation and the reduction of cellulite: A low pulse width is used to increase circulation in the veins, arteries and lymphatic vessels, helping your body rid itself of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. Z To shape your body and ‘rip’ muscles: Xbody will help you stimulate both ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ muscles by using higher frequency impulses with a greater pulse width, to reach and activate deep muscles. Your Personal trainer may suggest using different tools like dumbbells, rubber bands, gym balls, TRX ropes, etc. for maximum effect. Z To burn fat: This programme stimulates problem areas, increases Oxygen consumption in your cells and burns calories faster. Low-frequency, low-width pulses stimulate the surface layer, where fat is located, and the Personal Trainer guides you through a series of continuous, dynamic movements. Z Body Building: Low-Long, low-frequency muscle-tensing pulses are combined with complete body exercises which focus on one muscle group at a time.

Z Target Muscle Building: Deep muscle stimulating impulses encourage particular muscles to grow when targeted exercises are performed. Z Fitness: This programme is perfect for those who are not used to exercising, since it improves their muscle tone and structure. Z Body toning and postpartum recovery: This programme regenerates and firms muscles for a super post-baby bod! Z Pain Relief and Rehabilitation: Many of us suffer from issues like back pain, caused by a sedentary lifestyle, which leads to weak, easily injured muscles and poor posture. This programme focuses on training deeper muscles in areas like the back to encourage the body to take on a healthier posture. You may wonder how often you need to visit Look Your Best. According to the friendly staff, it depends on your goals: two or three times a week should be enough to raise your general fitness, though if, for instance, considerable weight loss is your aim, daily cardio sessions are the order of the day. See the Look Your Best team about their special vouchers (you can purchase five or 10 sessions at favourable prices, further reduced if you bring a friend along). On the day of my visit to Look Your Best, clients tell me that the sessions make you feel “like you’re flying”. The proof is in the pudding as far as Attila and the team are concerned; there is a special machine which provides a wealth of information, including your body fat levels, required water consumption, muscle levels, etc. In just 30 seconds, you obtain a complete reading that will clearly demonstrate the progress you have made. Before and after every session, the team will likewise provide you with isotonic energy drinks and protein shakes, which will ensure that you recover lost amino acids and regenerate muscle tissue.

g Edifico III, Marina Banús, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 13 49 90. www.lookyourbest.es or facebook/LookYourBestMarbella. 9/23/13 1:21 PM

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THE PRO business

WHAT IS AN ACCIDENT REPORT FORM?

An accident report form is a document which outlines the circumstances which have occurred in a car accident. In addition to the personal details of the drivers and their vehicles, the document includes a jointly agreed description of the manoeuvres carried out by the drivers when the accident took place, which plays a key role in determining who is responsible for a traffic accident. This document is essential for determining who is responsible for a traffic accident, which has a direct effect on the price that customers pay when renewing their insurance.

LÍNEA DIRECTA ADVISES YOU:

How to complete an accident report form HOW SHOULD IT BE COMPLETED?

Línea Directa offers the following advice to complete the form:

g For further information,

Tel: 902 123 104.

Z 1. Columns A and B (blue and yellow), are for the personal details of the drivers and their vehicles. Z 2. In section 12, (Circumstances) the numbered column on the left describes the manoeuvres of car A and the one on the right those of car B. If you are unsure which box to mark, leave it blank. Make a drawing of the accident in section 13 indicating the manoeuvre of each car. Z 3. If anybody has been injured or if you think they might have been injured, complete section 24. Z 4. If there is more than one car involved in the accident, also complete section 23, on the reverse side of the form, and include it in the sketch. Z 5. Sign the form and keep a copy.

HOW TO ACT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT

Línea Directa Insurance advises you of the steps to follow in case of a road accident in Spain.

Z 1. Call the emergency number: 112. They will co-ordinate the procedure and will ask you in detail about the circumstances of the accident. Z 2. Remain calm at all times. Switch on the emergency lights and if the state of the vehicle permits, remove the vehicle from the road, in order to avoid delays and further accidents, to whatever extent possible. Z 3. Signal the accident location. Before stepping out of the car, put on your high-visibility jacket, which is compulsory, and place the emergency triangles correctly. The first must be placed about 50 metres behind the car in the direction of the traffic, and the second about 100m. Z 4. If someone is seriously injured, never try to move them, except if in danger of fire or imminent explosion. Cover the injured person, keep them calm and wait for the emergency services to arrive. Z 5. If the circumstances of the location allow, always fill in the European accident report, which is an essential document for speeding up the procedures and handling between the insurance companies. If you have any doubt about how to do this, don’t hesitate to call your insurance company.

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THE VIBE

Ocean Clinic 5th Anniversary Party Renowned surgeon, Dr. Kai O. Kaye was joined by over 150 guests to celebrate Ocean Clinic’s 5th Anniversary at the Hotel Vincci Estrella del Mar Beach Club. The event also had a fundraising motive, raising over €3.000 for Ocean Clinic’s upcoming work in Peru, where Dr. Kaye and his team will soon be operating on the needy.

“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love for humanity” – Hippocrates

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PHOTOGRAPHY i-marbella.com

THE VIBE

Baltus Marbella Presents New Collection and Showroom Furniture and interior design firm, Baltus, impressed over 300 guests at their recent cocktail party, held to reveal items from their latest collection and guide visitors through their stunning showroom. The event was attended by the crème de la crème of Marbella society, including the Mayor, Ángeles Muñoz.

“I have intense relationships with furniture… probably because we practically had none when I was growing up” – Barbra Streisand

PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of baltus

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 119

THE VIBE

PadelnSports Club Re-Launches The PadelnSports Club at the Estepona Polígono was recently acquired by German Schafer (formerly world number 36, UK Technical Director and Advisor to the Swedish National Team) and his business partner, Tony Lee. The new management held a party to celebrate the Club’s re-launch, where they promised to provide keen players with a fantastic game all year round.

“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game” – Michael Jordan

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PHOTOGRAPHY i-marbella.com/ted lee

THE VIBE

Clinica Buchinger Wilhelmi Celebrates 40th Anniversary Staying at the top of the game for 40 years is no small feat and, in recognition of this, over 300 guests made their way to the Clínica Buchinger to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The evening included live performances and an emotional video presentation, which blended the Clinic’s past history with its present.

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work” – Ralph Marston

PHOTOGRAPHY i-marbella.com

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THE VIBE

FM Consulting Celebrates 23rd Anniversary FM Consulting, one of the most respected names in the real estate market, celebrated its 23rd anniversary in the company of friends, clients and members of the press. The event was held at Cortijo del Mar, one of the developments exclusively promoted and marketed by FM Consulting. Congratulations to Fausto, Angela and the team; we wish them many more years of continued success!

“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home” – Confucius

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tünde serban PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY ©www.davidtoms-weddings.comñ

ÁNGELES Y DEM ONIOS

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THE VIBE

Aloha Hill Club Launch The work on luxury apartment complex, Aloha Hill Club has been completed and to celebrate this achievement, the Aloha Hill Club team invited entrepreneurs, clients and members of the media to a swish cocktail party, where drinks, canapés and live entertainment were enjoyed by all. The Aloha Hill Club offers a range of outstanding facilities and lifestyle options, enabling residents to enjoy a luxury holiday-style experience at home.

“Luxury must be comfortable; otherwise, it is not luxury” – Coco Chanel

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THE LEisure travel

Andalusian Wilderness Through the Secret Doorway

Belinda Beckett journeys into the wilds of Andalucía with a team of eco warriors who are championing conservation tourism on nature’s final frontier.

Photographs courtesy of Paco González, Sergio González, Alfredo Carrasco, Beltrán de Ceballos, David Cussen, Cortijo de las Piletas, Hacienda Olontigi, Ardea Purpurea, Cádiz Turismo

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t sounds wonderful on paper. A trip into the Andalusian wilderness through four provinces’ natural parks with three guides, two overnight stays and local gastronomy. In my mind’s eye, I’m already stalking Iberian lynx through pinescented forests, framing up shots of Imperial Eagles for National Geographic and knocking back glasses of Ronda wine! It’s been organised by the fabulously-named Beltrán de Ceballos, a famous naturalist in Spain and beyond. He worked with the ornithologist Sir Peter Scott and made three Survival programmes for Anglia Television, one where he lived with wolves! You can tell he’s a pro. On his website, he’s sporting a safari suit and the photographic equivalent of a Kalashnikov, designed to shoot pictures at long range. I possess a passable Nikon but I’ll have to buy hiking boots. It’s August – high season for hotels and low season for wildlife. With less than a week’s notice to plan my trip, I have the feeling I’ve given Sr. de

Ceballos a very large headache. But for a man who has devoted 30 years to nature conservation – transforming barren quarries into fertile wetlands and spearheading wildlife projects worldwide – moving mountains for demanding magazine journalists is all in a day’s work. Especially where his latest passion is concerned. It’s called Andalusian Wilderness, a new not-for-profit website portal that will open secret doorways into the region for thousands of international nature lovers. Now in Spanish, but coming soon in seven languages, with: • Viajes de Autor – luxury safaris lead by top-notch tracker guides, e.g. Route of the Iberian Lynx, a 6-day tour into big cat country in the Natural Parks of La Sierra de Andújar and Doñana • Productos – competitively-priced package ‘experiences’ in enchanting out-of-the-way places, e.g. Route of the Iberian Pig, a 3-day tour centred on an ecological family-run pig farm in Aracena Natural Park. See how they’re raised

and make your own sausages! • A Directorio de Empresas – for backpackers and independent travellers, direct links to 330 rural b&bs, hiking trails, activity centres and cottage industries vetted for their ecological practices. Beltrán is not interested in commissions, only in safeguarding Andalucía’s rich natural heritage by helping local ecotourism to prosper. A symbiotic relationship! His philosophy is simple: “When an economic crisis comes through the door, ecology goes out of the window. That’s already happening in Spain. Unless nature earns its keep it will die.” For serious ornithologists as well as people like you and I who want to photograph cute Iberian piglets or learn to turn goats milk into cheese, it’s a no-brainer. Plus, by becoming customers ourselves, we’ll be helping the local pig farms and goat cheese industries to survive. I want that warm fuzzy glow that comes from doing one’s bit for the environment. Bring it on!

“A skein of black-winged stilts lifts off the lagoon in perfect formation, like a paper chain”

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 127

Christmas tree hugging in Sierra De Las NieveS “Boots, trainers or sandals?” is my first question. Alfredo Carrasco chuckles as I show our guide my assortment of footwear which have a suitcase all to themselves. Thank goodness we didn’t have to fly Easyjet! He’s waiting to meet us at the only petrol station on the Marbella-to-Ronda road – a handy (though not very ecological) meeting point for the Sierra de las Nieves. Thousands of motorists drive past the entrance to this breathtaking natural park every day without realising it’s even here! No need for hiking boots. We’ll be going in Alfredo’s plush 4x4 Mercedes and walking on pine needles through a forest of pinsapos – the tallest Christmas trees you’ll see outside the Canadian Rockies or Times Square. These soaring Spanish firs with their candle-shaped cones thrive at high altitude, where they can grow to 30 metres and live to be 500. Once heavily logged (the ill-fated Armada fleet was made of pinsapo) they’re now a protected species. Winter snow (yes, really, in Spain) turns the landscape into Lapland. There are no reindeer but the wavy-horned payoya goats bear a passing resemblance to Rudolph. Imagine spending Christmas here around an open fire! Paqui and Tom (that’s Baron Tom of Fürstenburg) let out self-catering cottages at the Finca las Navas and chop the wood for you. You can watch deer grazing in the fields from your terrace and use the outdoor wood-fired oven to bake your own bread or barbecue a sustainably-farmed venison steak, supplied from Paqui’s freezer. We meander through a meadow which might have been developed with posh houses by Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe of Marbella Club fame if Tom’s family hadn’t got there first. This couple put back into nature everything they take out to maintain the integrity of the environment. Tom runs a forestry workshop, their bees pollinate the local flora and from their nursery of pinsapo saplings tall firs will grow. But living ‘the good life’ can be tough.

The cost to lay 4.5km of underground cabling for electricity would have knocked them for six if Alfredo hadn’t helped them to get a 40% grant. More symbiosis!

Little egret on the wing

Campo chic in a roman cortijo If ‘rural accommodation’ conjures up cobwebs in the corners and bugs in the bidet, the campo chic Cortijo de las Piletas on the edge of Grazalema Nature Park, near Ronda, will impress you. The setting is equally stunning, with woodland and rolling hills of wheat as far as the eye can see. It’s hard to believe that Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz, Málaga and Antequera are under two hours away, at most. You don’t expect to find a lawyer and an economist running a B&B; or, rather, a livestock farm dating from Roman times that’s been in Pablo Serratosa’s family for 250 years. He’s living his dream. City gal Elisenda from Barcelona, fluent in five languages, wasn’t so sure. “I thought I’d go crazy but I’ve fallen in love with the lifestyle. It’s never dull, our guests come from everywhere and all walks of life.” Being well-travelled and also Spanish, this charming couple understand the preferences of their multi-national guests while providing an authentic local experience. A former Governor of Gibraltar particular enjoyed the afternoon tea and cakes! We help ourselves to G&Ts from the honesty bar and enjoy local lamb simmered in honey and rosemary in a pretty patio lined with troughs of pink geraniums. There are two

Enjoying pastoral perfection with Alfredo and Paqui

A Griffon vulture

Cortijo de las Piletas – rural idyll close to Ronda

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DANESA

La revista danesa en España / Det danske magasin i Spanien

JANUAR 2013

NORSKE Det norske månedsmagasinet på Costa del Sol

Det

magasinet

S PA N I E N F Ö R S V E N S K A R

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

Et ægte boutique-hotel

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

Mandesnak hos Mærsk

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

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

Jacob Haugaard er tilbage

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

Spanske barn møtte Karius & Baktus

Siesta - myter og realiteter

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

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

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

JANUAR 2013

Ecológico

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

El Mercadillo

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

Kirsten Vaupel debuterer med roman

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

Januari 2013

Sesong i Sierra Nevada

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

Kuriøse fiestas año 2013

sueco

Fler och fler upptäcker kustens kanske hälsosammaste marknad

Utflykt

El Escorial tronar på minnen om makt och historia.

Motor

Trike – trehjulingar för vuxna.

Resa

Läs ett vykort från Aten.

Profil

Lennart Lundquist är mannen bakom Internetsidorna Svenskar i Spanien.

Golf

Det nya året inleds med stora rabatter.

Gaucín – a popular mountain escape for the Marbellí

other tables of guests but it’s so quiet we can hear ourselves swallow as we converse in whispers! Like all the produce, the plump picota cherries we devour for dessert come from local farms. We’re looking forward to eggs laid by the hens out front for breakfast! The owners’ efforts to grow sunflowers and vegetables have been thwarted by the rapacious local deer but they’re hoping for better luck with their corriander. After a restful night’s sleep we’re awoken by the cockerel, feeling super-charged – must be the country air. And it’s true – free range eggs DO taste better, like sunshine and butter!

VULTURE VENTAS, STRIPPERS & AJO BLANCO The Sierra de Grazelema unfolds like a lunar landscape. Its limestone massifs and vertigoinducing gorges are no sweat for the sure-footed Spanish ibex or experienced pot-holers who come here to take the Cueva del Hundidero Challenge. This 4.5km underground river walk can only be done with an expert caver in neoprene suits and hard hats. Pass! The vias ferratas – mountain climbing routes with built-in pitons – will get you closer to the 1,000 pairs of Griffon vultures and 30 of Bonelli’s

eagles (the largest colony in Europe) which perch on these dizzying peaks but I’ll pass on that, too, content to see them wheeling above us. Raptors used to be public enemy number one for livestock farmers but they’re beginning to see that these majestic birds of prey bring in more income alive than dead. The mountains are sprinkled with Cubist white villages which all have tourist lodgings (Montejaque has 80 to just 1,000 residents). This is also the place to come for traditional Spanish sausages and cured meats. There are other customers partial to offal and we’re headed for one of their local take-aways in Los Alcornocales Nature Park, outside Cortes de la Frontera. These ‘vulture ventas’, created when Mad Cow Disease and TB outbreaks prevented farmers from leaving dead livestock in their fields, has rescued these carrion feeders from the brink of extinction.

Rocky mountain highs in Grazalema

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There’s still half a cow left on their dinner table when we arrive but the birds have flown. To be sure of seeing them, you can pick up their meal tab and book a place in the hide through one of Andalusian Wilderness’s knowledgeable Mr Fix Its. That’s Alfredo in these parts. Anything you want to see or do – photograph rare butterflies, make your own olive oil – he can make it happen. Once asked to organise a hen party in a bodega, he even tried to line up a male stripper until the girls confessed they’d been joking! Alfredo is Secretary of Andalusian Wilderness and its designated Ronda ‘delegate’ – one of eight spread through Andalucía – expert natural history guides who can track animal spore and reel off the names of birds as they fly overhead. Like Alfredo, who’s President of the Serrania de Ronda’s Centro de Initiativas Turisticas, they’re also well-connected.

The Ardea Purpurea Hotel – out-of-Africa décor in Doñana

The road through Los Alcornocales is one long tunnel of oak trees lit with dappled sunlight – a perfect camouflage for spotted fallow deer which is why we can’t find any. I had no idea that real live Sergei and Aleksandr meerkats also populate the forest. I’d like to make a detour to Ubrique, where Luis Vuitton and Cartier get their designer goods made. You can buy the same thing without the label for a lot less. But we’re expected at the Banu Rabbah Hotel, perched on a precipice at the end of Benarrabá village. The garden sofas with their views to Gibraltar and north Africa are sheer indulgence. Owner Mercedes Méndez has won awards for her cuisine and, after ajo blanco soup and an Iberian pork and garlic casserole, we know why! Lunch guests can use the stunning garden swimming pool – free all day – or book the hotel’s Picnic by Mule for something really out of the ‘eeyore-dinary’!

Paddy fields & pretty flamingoes A two-hour drive to Seville brings us to Beltrán’s neck of the woods. He and my partner Dave are both driving Renault Kangoos and bond instantly. “Great little motors for town or country, economical on diesel”, approves Beltrán. We also

take to his excitable Jack Russel, Pincho, who’s jumping up and down in the back of the van like the dog in the John Smith’s advert. We follow them through a changing collage of un-Spanish scenery – umbrella pine forests like The Carmargue, flat Dutch landscapes, sepia-toned Serengeti planes, marshes evocative of the Norfolk Fens and – Good Morning Vietnam – vivid green paddy fields! Doñana boasts 35,000 hectares (1 hectare = 1 rugby pitch) and produces more rice than Valencia! “You’d better cover up or you’ll get bitten,” despairs Beltrán, noticing our bare legs. Mosquitoes can be prolific at dusk in summer and love paddy fields. Beltrán (in sensible combats) loves mosquitoes. “They brought malaria here in the 1950s and stopped people from wanting to develop the land,” he says. In homage to anopheles, he commissioned the curious steel mosquito sculpture outside his Dehesa de Abajo Visitor’s Centre, the only one in Doñana that’s privately-run. The Town Hall created it from an old cortijo a decade ago but it languished until this maverick conservationist got it going, adding classrooms, projectors and a cafeteria. The local press, enjoying a good pun, wrote: ‘La Dehesa de Abajo va para Arriba’. Since reopening in April, 12,000 visitors have paid the ‘token’ €2 parking fee to enjoy this 617-hectare ornithological wonderland, where 300 bird species

A rainbow of bee eaters

Maverick naturalist Beltrán de Ceballos

have returned to feed and breed. Friends have told me I won’t see a dickie bird in Doñana in August. Wrong! Thanks to the vision of a man whose enthusiasm for wildlife is as contagious as Sir David Attenborough’s, I’m watching the sun set on a lagoon filled with more feathered creatures than Hitchcock recruited for The Birds! The reserve’s dwarf olive trees showcase 400 white stork nests – one of Europe’s largest colonies – and one or two rare black storks also call in to make sure they’re still Beltrán’s favourite bird. “They’re very picky with their habitat, it has to be perfect for nesting. That’s why I like them. Conservation can learn a lot from black storks.” I’m a can’t-tell-storks-from-butter kind of bird myself. But with Beltrán’s posh binoculars even I can see a large variety of waterfowl among the reed beds. (He doesn’t need them – he can tell each species apart by the sound of their wings!) There are spoonbills with hooters shaped like salad tongs, avocets with beaks like eyebrow tweezers, coots that look like ducks, ducks that look like puffins, grey and purple herons and clouds of flamingos in 50 shades of pink. A low flypast by a marsh harrier sends a ripple of consternation across the water and a skein of black-winged stilts lifts off the lagoon in perfect formation, like a paper chain. Awesome is a much-devalued word but it is, and I feel quite choked.

Pretty flamingos

Horny stag announcing he’s ready to rut

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 131

Love cats: lynxes Esencia and Alcornoque get matey

People talk about the National Park being the special part of Doñana. That’s the super-protected bit where you can’t take your own car. But it hasn’t as many lakes as the buffer zone around it, says Beltrán, who’s also a Director of Fundación Doñana. His man-made lagoon is the largest ‘wetland’ left in August. Throughout Doñana, an uneasy truce exists between hunters, farmers and conservationists who have conflicting interests but Beltrán is keeping them all sweet. With his many friends, much of his own money and the support of his wife and right-hand-woman, Chata, he restocked the lagoon with fish and nutrients, provided grazing land for cattle and brought rabbits back to satisfy both bunny hunters and endangered Iberian lynx. Enclosed areas containing plants that rabbit’s like to eat will lure lynx to hides where keen photographers will pay good money to get close to these fabulous felines. It’s that symbiosis thing again! Once dead cats walking, thanks to captive breeding and habitat management programmes, the lynx population in Andalucía has tripled to 320 in a decade, and there are 90 in Doñana.

The jinx of the missing lynx Juan Antonio Peréz, our host for the night, reckons he’s a jinx on the lynx. “I’ve never seen one although all my friends have,” he says enviously. We return in darkness to his delightful Hacienda Olontigi in Aznalcázar village with a warning to watch out for lynx on the road. Traffic is their biggest killer; 10 were mown down this year. We pull into a stylish cortijo that set the benchmark for luxurious accommodation in the area six years ago. “In my grandfather-in-law’s time there were cows grazing outside the front

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Monumental style - Cortes de la Frontera Town Hall

door but the village has grown up around it,” says Juan Antonio. There’s a pool in the cobbled courtyard and the versatile layout allows you to book by the room or take a whole townhouse, if there’s a gang of you. There’s nothing this gentle hotel manager won’t do for guests, down to hiring out state-of-the-art binoculars which are costly to buy for a one-off trip. Sergio González, Doñana ‘delegate’ for Andalusian Wilderness, is a walking encyclopaedia on birds, rabbits and lynx and an expert tracker who’s even been a voyeur at a lynx mating! “Providing they don’t feel threatened they won’t run away so you can watch them for hours,” he says. Juan Antonio’s lynx jinx persists but we spot more birds, dipping in and out of the paddy fields and aquifers and soaring over patchwork plantations growing cane, cotton, sunflowers, strawberries, blueberries and melons. Doñana is the fruit bowl of southern Spain. We finish our trip on a high note with lunch at the Ardea Purpurea (Purple Heron) in Villamanrique where King Juan Carlos of Spain’s aunt, Dña. Esperanza de Borbón, has her home. Doñana’s finest hotel, soon to add a spa and conference centre to its four-star attractions, is like something out of Africa: a sprawling, low-rise hacienda with a traditional chozo roof of thatched marsh grass supported by gigantic tree trunks salvaged from Doñana. Local craftsmen have used typical materials to weave decorative magic: lamps made of esparto, wine barrels fashioned into bedside tables, a sea-water pool of compressed sand, a purple heron carved out of oak for the reception desk and pulpo pots to hold the room keys. The hotel is a work of art! The menu pays homage to Doñana produce and we try goats cheese salad, rich duck risotto and wine from Bodegas Privilegio del Condado in Huelva. If you want to buy a hand-made flamenco shawl to flaunt at your next feria, Villamanrique is famous for them. An entertaining raconteur, Beltrán regales us with his adventures: the time he accidently caught the second largest sailfish in the Indian Ocean (125 kilos) is just one. He would have thrown it back but it was dead from the battle –

he has never killed any other animal for sport. His wife Chata also has us in stitches, recalling her first date with Beltrán: “He pointed to these eagles way up in the sky and started telling me which was the mother, the daughter, the aunt, the grandfather… I thought he was teasing me but he was quite serious, he really does know the local birds that well!” Chata, a chic Madrileña until Beltrán introduced her to a lifestyle beyond her wildest nightmares, took to it like a duck to water. It’s clear that Beltrán would be lost without her indefatigable support and sense of the ridiculous. The commitment of the Andalusian Wilderness team, the quality of their tourism product, their knowledge and slick organisation, make other wildlife tours look like a day out at the zoo. And, as well as your own unforgettable journey, you’ll be paying it forward – putting something back into Mother Nature’s Bank for your children’s children. It doesn’t get much better than that! i www.andalusianwilderness.com

“Andalusian Wilderness will open secret doorways into the region for thousands of international nature lovers” Purple orchid

onl i ne&oďŹ&#x201E;i nes ol ut i ons

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

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

THE LEisure golf

Golf

in Scotland Words David Wishart Photography Courtesy of Machrihanish Dunes

The Royal Hotel (centre, right) in Campbeltown

ctober is spring for many golfers in Spain, a happy time when snowbirds arrive from northern Europe for winter in Spain. They arrive with hope for better scores, the smart ones with swings coached by professionals, and with memories of this year’s US Open at Merion. This was not a cookie-cutter track for boom-boom drivers. It was not another ‘championship course’ as preferred by real estate developers, but a place, albeit somewhat brutally set up, for the swinger who can place a ball rather than just hammer it. Scotland specialises in this kind of golf course, where high handicappers and Ben Hogan alike can feel the joy, and reward, of well-struck shots. Interesting to compare changing times, and equipment, at the famous hole where Hogan hit his one-iron; Justin Rose got there with a four and Dustin Johnson with a six. When you visit Kilspindie near North Berwick, just north of Edinburgh, and the acclaimed 12-holer at Shiskine on Arran, you get a taste of golf as it began, from the unpretentious clubhouses to the players who are sometimes joined by well-behaved dogs. Our American friends, when not landing on the Moon and shooting up the Middle East, are utter romantics when it comes to Scotland and golf. Undeterred by the fact that Scotland already has nearly 600 golf courses, in recent years they have spent fortunes building Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart,

The Ugadale Hotel

Machrihanish Dunes and Trump Scotland, and done a very good job too. Take Machrihanish Dunes. This is on the Kintyre peninsula, an area so wild the sheep never go out alone. But it does have daily flights from Glasgow and a new direct Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service from Ardrossan to nearby Campbeltown which, like the best Scottish towns, has its own distillery, Springbank (Est. 1828) The course does indeed have dunes, the kind of natural features that gave golf its beginnings, and when you go to Machrihanish and walk the firm turf and smell the tangy sea air blowing in from Canada, you know you are in a special place. There’s a pub, a real pub, for a pint after your game, and beautiful cottages with all mod cons for rent, or sale at fractional ownership. There’s also the Ugadale Hotel, which was here when Ben Hogan was a boy, perfectly refurbished – and all of this across the road from the Machrihanish Golf Club, designed by Old Tom Morris in 1876, a Scottish classic whose opening hole calls for a drive across the Atlantic Ocean. In Campbeltown, the same deep pockets have restored the grand Royal Hotel, which means there are beds for everyone at a reasonable rate, such as offers of dinner, bed and breakfast, and the golf from 120 Euros a night. All this, and next September’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, is cause to make a unilateral declaration

An aerial shot of the Machrihanish Dunes village

that the year ahead belongs to Scottish golf, and that lovers of the game should stop muttering about playing the Old Course one day, and get up to St Andrews and realise that dream. Elsewhere, there is a lot going on in Scotland in the next year, such as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow July 23 to August 3; it’s the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, and there is the big vote when Scots can choose to stay part of the United Kingdom or muddle along on their own and hope that the oil does not run out. In the meantime, Scotland should be grateful to the men at Machrihanish and Donald Trump, who is to build a second golf course at his beautiful piece of land on the northeast coast. A hotel and holiday home construction will follow, subject to the issue of offshore wind turbines. Personally, I can’t wait to get up to Dornoch, home to one of Tom Watson’s favourite courses, where yet more Americans have just opened a guest house for golfers with a taste for the best things in life. Could some of these be a straight drive, 18 holes in under four hours, and a drop of 10-year-old Springbank? The Dornoch guest house I have still to visit, but I can tell you that the Ugadale Hotel rivals Turnberry for location and view, with beautiful rooms, a fine restaurant and spa. The Donald will have to go some to trump the elegant Ugadale.

g www.machrihanishdunes.com

134 / OCTOBER 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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·BEACHFRONT PUENTE ROM ANO ·

Bul e v a rPr í nc i peAl f ons ov onHohe nl ohe ,s / n-29602Ma r be l l a·Má l a g a·Spa i n· Te l .+34952820900-Fa x+34952775766 hot e l @pue nt e r oma no. c om ·www. pue nt e r oma no. c om

Chinese, Japanese and Teppanyaki

N E Z

The most luxurious Asian restaurant on the Costa del Sol, and the only place to sample the best glazed duck among many other delicacies

c/Lirios

NUEVA ANDALUCÍA

CASINO < San Pedro

CN340, km 174

PUERTO BANÚS

Marbella >

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Tuesday for lunch.Take away available. Private parking. Fabulous outdoor terrace.

Reservations T: 952 817 691 C/ Lirios, 10b. Nueva Andalucía, located opposite. Playas del Duque, Puerto Banús.

Come to Calahonda to enjoy the best, most authentic Asian cuisine, including Chinese, japanese and Thai delicacies, as well as the fine fare from our Teppanyaki table. Some of our most distinguished clientele include members of the Chinese Royal Family and the Chinese Consulate

centro Commercial Los Jarales, 6, Calahonda • Tel: +34 952 935 818

Open every day for lunch and dinner except Tuesday for lunch. Take away available. Private parking.

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met

RESTAURANTS / REVIEWS / NEWS / WINE / CHEFS / GUIDE

The Gourmet: Dine by the sea in summer or winter at stylish dining haven, Café del Mar in Marbella, tempt your taste buds at Top Thai, learn about Rafael Carrasco, the talented Chef of Kabuki Raw at Finca Cortesín, and prepare to try some organic wine.

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Café del Mar

141

Top Thai

142 Food News 144 Chef’s Profile: Rafael Carrasco of Kabuki Raw 146 Organic Wine

9/24/13 11:31 AM

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

he white bucket filled to the brim with ice cubes and colourful, 60s-inspired Isleña beer could almost lure you into believing you are in Ibiza but one look at the elegant tables, serene seaside set-up and sophisticated clientele soon reveals that Café del Mar is every inch a haven made for the discerning Marbella diner. For if Ibiza is normally associated with young singletons raving to the energetic beat of house music, at Café del Mar Marbella, the five-star settings, panoramic views and chilled, laid-back vibe, exude elegance, luxury and relaxation. This is the kind of venue where couples and families can enjoy the best of the Marbella lifestyle while they tuck into fine cuisine served by highly attentive staff. On the day of my first visit of the season to Café del Mar, I am greeted by Alejandro Lannelongue, the dashing Director who, despite a seasoned career in the hotel and hospitality trade, beams with youthful joy and energy. He certainly knows his craft, having completed his studies in Lausanne and worked in a plethora of top tourist destinations, including Geneva, Bora-Bora, Madrid and Barcelona (where he worked at establishments the calibre of Relais & Châteaux). Tourism is in his blood, his family are restaurateurs and he has dedicated his life to defining and offering service, flexibility and a unique ambience that has thus far hit the spot with chic Marbellís, since Café del Mar was undoubtedly the ‘it’ spot of the Summer season, despite only having launched in April. As I walk through the ample, wooden-decked terrace to the children’s play area (a colourful spot graced by slides, a bouncy castle and a mural of a lively little girl, painted by the restaurant’s owner), I am captivated by the many little nooks seemingly built so that every diner can find his/her ‘perfect match’. Near the entrance lies an elevated ‘lounge area’, which faces the attractive outdoor bar. It is peppered with inviting soft white and turquoise loungers and topped with billowing sail shades which generously permit you to peak at the clouds sailing against the serene blue sky. The restaurant posseses a beach area with an array of inviting coffee coloured

WORD MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © KHPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

SUCCUMBING TO SWEET SEDUCTION

at Café del Mar

g Open daily from 11am to 12am. Urb. Coral Beach, km 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 777 299. 171 ReR cafedelmar.indd 139

parasols, where guests can lie on a sun lounger and order a bottle of Cristal or chilled white wine while they while away their cares. Café del Mar additionally has a cosy snack area, sprinkled with rattan chairs and tables, a laid-back contrast to the main dining area, where elegant tables are topped with beige and cream tableware and fine crystal and cutlery. The al fresco area is framed by folding glass doors, which can be closed or opened in accordance with the whims of the weather. There is also a sizeable indoor dining area, with its own elegant bar, which takes on new life during the Winter months and houses a wine cellar containing impressive French and Spanish wines. My eyes widen as I spot everything from bottles of Petrus to Château L’Évangile and Château Margeaux, as well as top Champagnes, including bottles by Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Tattinger and more. The restaurant even stocks famed sweet Hungarian wine, Tokaji (5 Puttonyos), and serves an impressive range of coffees. The cuisine is no less than outstanding, marked by freshness of produce and skillful preparation. Dishes seem traditional, yet they are anything but typical in their presentation and flavour. Take the Almadraba tuna tartare, served with a subtle sauce made up of soy, teriyaki and wasabi. The tender tuna meat is jazzed up with a host of flavours provided by capers, onion and a sprinkling of oregano and thyme, as well as an everso-slight smoky touch, provided by a drop of sesame oil. Another winner is the lobster salad, whose sauce (made from lobster heads) is packed with a flavour which is further elevated by touches like a light ali-oli and a dollop of caviar, which crowns its magnificence. I was also delighted to discover a Bacalao a la roteña served over roast potato slices and red pepper, such a classic dish yet such a big hit at Café del Mar. “At Café del Mar, we aim to pamper the five senses,” says Alejandro, explaining, “The sense of touch is stimulated by noble materials like wood and marble and inviting fabrics; that of sight is overtaken by the inviting colours and design; that of taste by the quality and flavours of the cuisine; that of smell by the salty sea air and the food and that of hearing by the crashing of the waves…” This unending rhythm, says Alejandro, “is the only thing we can’t control”… the rest of the 44-strong team’s effort is dedicated, heart and soul, to ensuring your visit is no less than perfect. Alejandro Lannelongue fulfilled his role as Director of Café del Mar for 90 days. The restaurant aspires to continue offering top-level service to its clients. e

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RESTO

EL COTO

BELGIAN RESTAURANT бельгийский ресторан

Menú de Caza / Game Menu Paté de liebre encroute con salsa cumberland Home made hare paté with cumberland sauce Ensalada de codorniz con vinagreta de frambuesa Quail salad with raspberry vinagrette Croquetas de faisán Pheasant croquettes Estofado de jabalí con croquetas de patatas Baby wild boar stew with croquette potatoes

Faisán "Brabançonne", endivias con croquetas de patatas Pheasant "Brabançonne", chicory with croquette potatoes Lomo de ciervo al oporto, peras con arándanos Stag medallions with porto, pear with cranberry Perdiz "Buena Mujer" con croquetas de patatas Partridge "Buena Mujer" style

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

открыты ежедневно. дорога Ronda. напротив Madroñal, No 3, Benahavis. телефон: 952 786 688

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restaurant THE GOURMET

ow a fully-fledged restaurant with an elegant interior and large sea-facing terrace, Top Thai has evolved from its early beginnings into one of the finest Asian restaurants in the region. At Top Thai it’s all about real hospitality, from the wonderful dishes on the menu to the way they look after you and the pleasant ambience created. Not surprisingly, Yi and Top’s clients have followed them to the new restaurant, and with new premises and talented Thai Chef, Amnat, making it possible to open seven days a week for late breakfast, lunch and dinner, many more are discovering its culinary pleasures. Add a broad range of choices and very reasonable prices and you really have a recipe for success. Thanks to the Marbella climate, the terrace was as inviting and lively as the interior, which opens to the outdoors during our long summer season, so the ambience of Top Thai is perhaps one of its least expected strong points. We settled down to a glass of fresh, fruity white René Barbier from Catalonia, and were just coming to grips with the menu when Yi informed us that ‘a few’ dishes had been prepared for us. Keen for us to be able to describe a broad and representative range of his menu, the chef had created a Thai Tasting Menu for us.

A Thai feast

WORDs Michel Cruz Photography © khphotography.co.uk

Top Thai – says it all

What followed is how I would expect a Thai feast to look like. The starter was one I had been keenly eyeing on the menu, a mix of Thai delicacies consisting of Satay Gai, grilled chicken satay in a peanut sauce, crispy spring rolls in a sweet and sour sauce, prawn spring rolls served with plum sauce known as Gung Hom Pha and Khanom Pang Gung, a Thai canapé of minced prawns and chicken. Although also available individually, when ordered together like this they offer a great way of sharing a starter in the tapas style.

It’s hard to tell now, but Top Thai in Nueva Andalucía’s Centro Plaza has its origins in a little kiosk in this popular commercial centre near Puerto Banús. For almost seven years, manager Yi and chef Top worked their magic from this humble venue, building up a loyal following with their authentic Thai cuisine and friendly welcome before making the move to their current premises.

Next came the duck – not crispy but succulent and flavoursome in the Thai style, and accompanied with fresh pineapple, onions, paprika and tomato in a sweet and sour sauce. This Priew Wahn was a real winner, followed by one of my personal favourites: Phad Thai, stir fried noodles with bean sprouts, peanuts, egg, chicken and prawns. Gorgeous, it melts in the mouth, releasing a wonderful symphony of flavours. Yours truly would have normally studied the dessert menu at this point, but we were here in an official capacity, so we happily sampled the fresh steamed sea bass flavoured with chilli, lemon juice, garlic and coriander which, like the grilled king prawns, in a secret family sauce is a seafood

lover’s paradise. Though most of these dishes are classics of the Thai kitchen, many of the recipes are unique to the chef, who in this way adds a further level of authenticity to the experience. Just as if you were invited to a Thai banquet, and with just as hearty a welcome. The final items on our tasting menu included fried rice with prawns, vegetables and spices served in a pineapple – a dish that simply evokes coastal Thailand in all its tropical glory. This was followed by a truly authentic dessert of sticky rice and fresh mango slices drizzled in coconut milk. Wonderfully tasty in a natural way that again produces images of white sandy beaches, palm

g Centro Plaza 64, 29660 Nueva Andalucía, Tel: +34 951 319 778, www.topthaibanus.com 171 ReRtopthai.indd 141

trees and a tropical paradise that is home to a friendly, welcoming people. Our culinary excursion through the Thai kitchen was broad, eye opening and delicious. Even so, we skipped the Asian salads and hearty, often spicy soups, as well as the gorgeous Thai curries available (red, green and yellow), and promised to come back and try them too – which we certainly will. Having been converted from mild ambivalence to really enjoying Thai food, I would say Top Thai is just that – a great Thai restaurant run by friendly, welcoming people who make gorgeous authentic food at a very reasonable price. You’ll want to come back! ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 141

9/24/13 12:33 PM

WORDS Marisa CUTILLAS

THE GOURMET news

Anniversary Celebrations

at Nueva Kaskada

at s t r n u a o v r la au F t s w e e N mi r

Uma

Restaurateur, Lee Varhos’ restaurant, Umami, has some fantastic news for both regular and new diners: there are a host of new, tantalising dishes on the menu, including Polenta fries with chipotle mayonnaise, Turkish humus with walnuts and pomegranates, Italian meat balls with pine nuts, Turkish falafel with red lentils and bulgur, Wonton wrappers with feta cheese, Mexican ceviche with nachos, Spanish bellota ham in puff pastry with sauteed onions, mushrooms and fried egg, together with a range of great sushi specials!

g Avda. Mediterraneo, San Pedro, Marbella. Tel: 952 780 114, 637 558 927. www.restauranteumami.com

Taberna del Volapié Puts Clients First

Most amateur gastronomes dream of being food critics and last Summer, Taberna del Volapié’s School and Gastronomic Laboratory in Puerto Banús made this dream a reality. The restaurant invited diners to try different Chef’s suggestions every two weeks, noting down their reactions, opinions and requests. The results of the study determined the contents of the new menu, which now includes hands-down favourites like the wild asparagus salmorejo with hard boiled egg, the Barbate tuna tenderloin and a beautiful black bread sandwich, made with squid sauce and filled with calamari and Caesar sauce.

“Enchanted” is usually the first word our minds conjure up when we think of Nueva Kaskada, Chef Ewald Fichthaler’s elegant restaurant that oozes grace and style, so much so that Shirley Bassey chose to dine here during her most recent visit to Marbella. Ewald is pleased to announce that on October 5, a special dinner with live entertainment will be held to commemorate his 15th anniversary as a Chef on the Costa del Sol and the second anniversary of his reign at Nueva Kaskada. Diners can look forward to a “special secret menu” comprising fine dishes, including a king prawn tempura with tomato and aubergine carpaccio and a delicate miso foam. On October 20, Nueva Kaskada will also be hosting a fashion show by Fashion Villa, featuring an exquisite lunch and live music.

g Urb. La Montua, C/ Chorreadero 39, Marbella. Tel: 952 864 478. www.nuevakaskada.com

Bangkok Asian & Grill Café Restaurant Brings Authentic Thai Food to your Home When it comes to authentic Thai and Chinese cuisine, one of Marbella’s all-time favourite restaurants is Bangkok Asian & Grill Café Restaurant (formerly known as Thai Bangkok), located close to the Casino in Nueva Andalucía. In an effort to keep up with client demands, the restaurant is now offering a home delivery service in the areas of Puerto Banús and Nueva Andalucía. g Plaza de las Orquídeas, Nueva Andalucía.

Tel: 952 813 603. www.asianbangkokrestaurant.com

g C/ Ramón Areces, Bloque 3-4, Local 7, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 814 012. www.tabernadelvolapie.com

Tanino – The Perfect Place to Enjoy Every Moment of Life

International and Mediterranean cuisine restaurant, Tanino, in the heart of San Pedro, is pleased to announce that it is opening its doors for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making it the perfect spot for any occasion, whether a business lunch, meal with friends or a romantic date is on the cards. If you’re feeling romantic, you should know that the night is when the magic begins… relax to the sounds of chill-out music, sip on a fresh fruit cocktail on the al fresco terrace or enjoy a great selection of gin and tonics. g Paseo Las Palmeras,

15, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 78 33 94. www.tanino.es 142 / OCTOBER 2013 ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

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THE GOURMET profile Perfection. Proportion. Balance. Artistry. These elements can be found in equal measure in Japanese cuisine. We suspect, however, that what first attracted Chef Rafael Carrasco to this ancient culinary tradition was none of these qualities, if not, its unadorned honesty. In Japanese cuisine, what you see is a beautifully painted portrait of what you get. Vivid colours, carefully plotted structure and precise flavour combinations abound in every dish, yet the produce is untainted and the diner, treated with respect. The Head Chef of the Finca Cortesín Hotel’s signature restaurant, Kabuki Raw, mentions “honesty” once or twice during our interview, slowly and meaningfully. Quality, in effect, nullifies the necessity for masquerade.

RAFAEL CARRASCO of Finca Cortesín Hotel’s

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © KHPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

Kabuki Raw: MASTER OF FINE JAPANESE CUISINE

afael was born in Madrid, the bustling city which is so rich in culture, theatre and art and which houses the renowned Escuela El Lago, where the Chef would learn the basics of the culinary craft. As in most professions, his greatest teacher was the world: he has scoured the farthest corners of the globe in search of Oriental inspiration, learning from a myriad of masters such as Juan Mari Arzak, Martín Berasategui, Carlos Posadas, Michel Bras and Pierre Gagnaire – men with more Michelin stars to their names than you could poke the proverbial stick at. Like all great Chefs, Rafael’s early career was marked by movement and a hunger for learning. He has been everywhere from San Sebastian to France, the Canary Islands, Australia and Japan. Despite all the different culinary heritages he would encounter, the simplicity and quality of Japanese cuisine, would be Rafael’s greatest source of inspiration. “I was in Madrid one day when a Chef friend took me to dine at Kabuki. One meal and I was hooked. I knew that this was the cuisine I wanted to create for the rest of my life”. That fateful day would also mark another defining moment in Rafael’s life: his first encounter with legendary Chef Ricardo Sanz, who founded the Kabuki Group, world leader in Japanese cuisine with five restaurants and a total of three Michelin stars to its name. In May this year, Rafael took up the ultimate challenge: the chance to be the Head Chef of Kabuki Raw. The elusive name of the restaurant pays homage to pure, unadulterated quality and to the colour and variety of Japanese theatre. There are three tasting menus at Kabuki Raw, varying in size from ‘the ultimate degustation’ to the short but sweet sashimi and sushi menu. If you’re driving to Casares just to sample Rafael’s fare, it would be a sin to order anything but the full menu,

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however, which mimics the four Acts of Kabuki Theatre. Rafael elaborates: “In the first Act of a Kabuki play, the audience is introduced to all the characters, so I present diners with a host of different cold and hot dishes. There may be up to eight different dishes on the table at the same time. The second Act normally focuses on regal characters, so we bring out the very best cuts of fish to impress. The third Act focuses on the common people and we offer more familiar fish like freshly caught tuna, for instance. The Fourth Act is ‘the final dance’; we pull out all the stops with the most attention-catching dishes.” Kabuki Raw has both traditional and unique items on the menus, with Rafael often adding local, seasonal ingredients to reinterpret classical dishes with his personal touch: “Mediterranean influences in preparation techniques like adobo (in which fish is marinated in vinegar prior to frying). We slice the fish into paper-thin layers, top it with a soy-vinegar sauce and crumble some fried flour on top. The flavour is very similar to a local dish called cazón de adobo,” says Rafael. Another irresistible delight is the sepia sashimi with mayonnaise, served over Andalusian mollete bread. At Kabuki Raw, dishes are both familiar and exotic, with everything from sea urchin to white truffles on the menu. Rafael is excited about a new proposal for the upcoming Autumn/Winter season: bringing fish in live to the restaurant, so they can be prepared in a way that ensures the ultimate in sweet, fresh flavour. Rafael, who admits to working long hours, refuses to give up his favourite hobby: surfing, which “keeps me grounded”. He doesn’t hesitate when I ask him what his favourite food is: “simple food you can get at bars and ventas… oh, and a Japanese noodle soup known as soba… I plan on bringing it to Kabuki Raw soon”. Rafael is loquacious and upbeat, serious and determined. The idea of balance does not only pervade his cuisine: it guides his entire life. g Open nightly for dinner except Sunday and Monday. g At the Finca Cortesín. Hotel. Crta. de Casares Km. 2, Casares. Tel: 952 937 800. www.fincacortesin.com 9/24/13 10:57 AM

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THE GOURMET wine Anyone who has followed the progress of organic viticulture cannot fail to have been impressed by how it has become entrenched in modern winemaking. Maybe it started as a cult but it is now a necessity.

Natural is Best

WORDS AJ LINN

laude Bourguignon, the French microbiologist, told the winemakers of Burgundy 25 years ago that their vineyards were as dead as the Sahara. Decades of spreading pesticides to kill insects, weeds and diseases, compounded by millions of tons of artificial nitrate fertilisers, had left the soil without a worm or even an ant. The subterranean water supply was also seriously polluted. So the recent announcement by a leading Bordeaux producer that ‘Organic is the future’ gives it the definitive seal of approval. France’s star region has rapidly gone from three per cent to 10 per cent organic, in spite of enduring mildew problems in some areas that are traditionally dealt with using chemicals. Most organic vineyards look like abandoned vegetable patches. The aim is to get the vines under natural control rather than using pesticides and chemicals. If you let weeds run amok between the vines they attract the bugs; the birds eat the bugs and not the grapes; the snails prefer the weeds to the wine leaves – and so on... It can be done, but there are nail-biting moments like those experienced by the tiny Sedella vineyard in the sierras behind Vélez-Málaga in 2008. Just 2.5 hectares of mountainside, so steep even mules cannot be used to harvest the grapes, only intrepid locals with ropes, and where Lauren Rosillo, consultant to many bodegas, started making his

own now landmark wine (4,000 bottles yearly of which 90 per cent are exported) in 2006. When mildew attacked the vines a quick spraying of fungicide would have solved the problem, but, true to the organic creed, Rosillo had to watch as the crop perished. No wine was made that year. On the other hand, Alfred Tesseron, owner of Bordeaux fifth growth Pontet Canet, panicked when a mildew epidemic spread through his vineyards in 2007, and terrified of losing the entire crop he made the decision to spray, surrendering in a day the winery’s organic status built up over years. Not altogether surprisingly, some producers are not willing to make the sacrifices required by the controlling bodies that issue the certificates of organic authenticity, preferring to make ‘natural wines’. Although there is no controlling entity and the term has zero legal foundation, natural wines are less exposed to outside intervention than blatantly commercial non-organic operations. The downside is that you really don’t know what you are drinking. Ideally, the wine should be made from hand-harvested grapes, be free from additives like sugar and oak flavourings, not filtered, with minimal addition of sulphur or commercial yeast, and without any of the 200 plus additives legally permitted to go into wines. Ten of the main chemicals regularly used in mainstream winemaking include sulphur dioxide, that can cause allergic reactions, and

pesticides Carbyl, Mancozeb, Benomyl and Diciobenil, all carcinogens; others can cause birth defects, reproductive problems and nerve disorders. The third side of this weird and wonderful triangle is biodynamic viticulture, big in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Australia, Chile, South Africa, Canada, and the United States. Worldwide, there are more than 450 producers. Currently, for a wine to be labelled biodynamic, it has to meet the stringent standards laid down by the international Demeter Association. Biodynamic winemakers claim stronger, clearer, more vibrant tastes, as well as wines that remain drinkable longer. In a renowned US tasting comparing biodynamic and conventionally-made wines conducted by Fortune Magazine, biodynamic wines came off best. Biodynamic wine-growers must use the nine biodynamic preparations, made from cow manure, quartz (silica) and seven medicinal plants. These ingredients are first transformed using animal organs as sheaths. Without getting into too much detail about a practice that most people would consider off the wall, to be kind, one of the obligatory preparations involves stuffing a stag’s bladder with yarrow flowers. This is hung in the summer sun, buried over the winter, and then dug up the following spring. The bladder’s contents are added to natural compost. Rather like homeopathy, there is little scientific basis, but biodynamic winemakers would never go back to conventional methods. Most wine labels state that the contents of the bottle contains sulphites, an established requirement if there is more that 10mg/litre. As much as we may hate them (they cause hangovers), sulphites occur naturally in wine, and act as a stabiliser. Lower quality wines tend to have more sulphites because they need more stabilising, and EU regulations require organic wines to limit the content to a third of what is usual otherwise.

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Z The pioneers of organic wines in Spain deserve honourable mentions, and include Schatz (Ronda), Barranco Oscuro (Granada), Robles (Montilla), Albet i Noya (Catalunya), Ijalba (Rioja) and Maserof (Alicante). Spain now has 290 organic wineries and large bodegas like Torres and Chivite now include organic wines in their overall range. Interestingly, there are now many organic cavas available, such as Raventós i Blanc, De la Finca blanc de blancs 2009, at €18, and Parés Balta’s Blanca Cusine 2009 at €17. Z In fact the Parés Balta in Penedés produces some of Spain’s better organic wines, starting at €9 for its Calcari, up to a white made from the Xarel.lo grape, Electio, at €24. Z Suriol is another Penedés winery, with an interesting Merlot, Sang de Drac 2007, at €8. Z Latúe is a winery in the La Mancha region with an impressive variety of organic wines including the aptly named Clearly Organic range. Bodegas Yuntero also markets the extremely palatable Mundo de Yuntero organic selection. Z Matarromera markets the Cyan and Oinoz labels, and as usual these rate high in the value-for-money stakes. The Oinoz Joven from Ribera del Duero, 2011, costs €8,50, and is good. Z Cortijo Fuentezuelas, is in the Alpujarras, where senior winemaker Miguel Ortiz produces decent wines that range from €4,50 for the rosado to €9 for the Tinto 2009 Reserva. Reommended. Z The Franchete bodega in Albacete is among the older organic producers in Spain. The Tinto Assemblage, made with Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bobal y Garnacha tintorera, is probably unique, and once tasted never forgotten. €6 Z Mengoba owner Gregory Pérez makes natural wines. Oxen plough the vineyards and classic methods are employed. The excellent Brezo tinto 2012, costs €6, and the Godello and Doña Blanca € 7,50. Z Dionisos, Valdepeñas, has fully converted to biodynamic and the vineyard work is governed by phases of the moon. The Ego Primus 2005, made with tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon and syrah is good value at €7, and the Dionisos EGO Primus even better at € 17,50. Z Gramona is a very old Catalan winery (1881) making a selection of wines and is particularly renowned for its cavas. Of its white organic selection the Sauvignon Blanc (€17) is an example of the best of its type and winner of many awards. Z Menade is the bodega of a family that has pedigree in Rueda, Sanz, and they have 30 hectares of pre-phylloxera old wines. The Verdejo 2012 (€7,50) is exported to 24 countries e

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theguide

RESTAURANTS / CINEMAS / GOLF / GYMS /

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

RESTAURANTS ::: AMERICAN ::: HARD ROCK CAFÉ

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

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

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

ROUTE 66 Open 10am until midnight every day. Plaza Antonio Banderas 17/29, Puerto Banús. Tel: 951 136 333

TENNIS / SCHOOLS

under €25

€25 – €40

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

::: ARGENTINEAN ::: Buenos Aires South

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

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

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

::: BELGIAN ::: El Coto

€40 – €60

€60 plus

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

El niño Open every evening. Saturday and Sunday open all day. Calle Rosa Linda 2, El Rosario, Marbella. Tel: 952 836 469

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

::: FRENCH ::: Casa mono

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

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

rendez vous

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

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

::: GREEK ::: Red Pepper

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

::: GRILLS :::

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

::: INTERNATIONAL ::: Albert & simon

Avda. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Edif. Milla de Oro, Local 567, Marbella. Tel: 952 821 229

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

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

beckitts

alberts

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

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

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

Black and white Marbella

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

alumbre

Brunings

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

Jaipur Purple

Amanhavis

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

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

Mumtaz

Restaurante Rancho

safFron

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

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

CAFÉ DE RONDA Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 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

camurí

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN340, km 176, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 533

Bar d’o restaurant & Lounge

Open every night for dinner. C/ Ortiz de Molinillo 14, Old Town, Marbella. Tel: 951 712 227

Open daily from 11am to 2am (3am on weekends).

Casa Tua

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

under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

€60 plus

Casanis

El Corzo

s/n. Tel: 952 861 382

Tel: 952 837 483

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

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

Finca El Forjador

Herrero del Puerto

celima

EL JINETE

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

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

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

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

Finca las brasas

hotel marbella club buffet

cerrado del águila

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

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

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

del mar

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

el oceano beach hotel restaurant and spa

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

Galeria San Pedro

Ikni Banús

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

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

fonda restaurante el postillón

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

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. CN 340, km. 199, Miraflores Playa. Mijas Costa. Tel: 952 587 550

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

EL OLIVO

GD Gourmet deli marbella

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

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

Dynamic Café

El Restaurante del Casino

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

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

El Bolero

Fabiola

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

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

güey

Finca Besaya

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 7pm. Closed Monday. Local 1A. Puerto de Cabopino.

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

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Urb. Rio Verde Alto,

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

girasol Open daily for dinner from 6.30p.m. Avda. del Prado, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella. Tel: 952 813 859 Open nightly for dinner. Plaza de las Orquídeas 4, Marbella. Tel: 952 929 250

hermosa

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

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

LA biznaga 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

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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 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

Guadiaro, Torre-guadiaro, Cádiz. Tel: 956 615 998

Tel: 952 929 467

La veranda lobby bar

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner. At the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona. CN 340, km 159, Estepona. Tel: 952 809 500 Open every night for dinner. Hotel Meliá La Quinta, Urb. La Quinta Golf s/n, Marbella. Tel: 952 762 000

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

los bandidos

NUEVA CAMPANA

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

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

Los naranjos restaurant

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

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

La Terraza

Mc café

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

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

La Verandah Open week days for dinner at 7:30pm and weekends for lunch and dinner, closed Tuesdays. Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 136. Playa

Miraflores Golf Restaurant

los arcos

La Menorah

La Terraza

mozaic

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

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

mosaik4

Open daily from 12pm to 3am. Avda. Manolete, esq. C/ Los Lirios, Puerto Banús.

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

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

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

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

POCO loco BEACH

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THE GUIDE Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Playa Hermosa, CN 340, Km 189, Marbella. Tel: 952 836 170

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

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

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

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

Rojo

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

under €25

Local 34, Marbella. Tel: 952 886 748

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

zozoI

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

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

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

Sea grill

tanino

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

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. CN 340, km 168, Benamara, Estepona. Tel: 952 883 259 and Paseo Las Palmeras, 15, San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 783 394

umami

Terra Sana

Venta garcía

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

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

Open 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.

€40 – €60

The Clubhouse Bar & Brasserie

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

shanti-som – amrita

€25 – €40

trocadero beach Open daily for lunch and dinner. Playa de la Carolina, Marbella. Tel: 610 704 144 Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Avda. Mediterráneo, Edif. San Pedro del Mar. San Pedro de Alcántara. Tel: 952 780 114

What’s cooking deli and takeaway Open daily from 10am to 7pm. C.C. Guadalmina,

€60 plus

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner from 7.30pm12am. 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 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

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

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

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

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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 nightly for dinner. At the Finca Cortesín Hotel Ctra. Casares, km. 2, Casares. Tel: 952 937 882

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

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

la fiorentina Open daily for lunch and dinner. C.C. El Pilar, Local 11 (opposite the Crown Plaza Hotel), Estepona. Tel: 952 816 526

la pappardella di

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

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

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

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

Lombardo’s

Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Tel: 952 446 460

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

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

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

portofino laguna village

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

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

Luna Rossa

Ristorante Regina

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

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

MADE IN SARDINIA

Rosmarino della piazza

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

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. C.C. Pinogolf de Don Carlos 34, Elviria. Tel: 952 850 148

mesana

trattoria l’impronta

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

Metro

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

Open every day for lunch and dinner.

Villa Tiberio

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THE GUIDE Price guide ::::::: per head for a three-course meal with wine under €25

€25 – €40

€40 – €60

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

::: Mediterranean ::: tempora

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

::: Oriental ::: Asia Food

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

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

€60 plus

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

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

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

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

Teppanyaki samurai

Dragón de Oro

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

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

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

golden wok

Thai Style

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

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

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

Kaiden Sushi

Thai Gallery

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

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

top thai

Kama Kura

Tse yang Dimsum club

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

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

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

Makitake

Wasabi

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

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

meca

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sapporo

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

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

::: SCANDINAVIAN ::: Skandies

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

the little mermaid Open daily from 9.30am to 5pm except Sundays. C.C. Centro Plaza, Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 929 181

::: SEAFOOD :::

cervecería ostrería santiago

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

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

Sukho Thai

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

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

El Barlovento

La fishita

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

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

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

Marisquería La Pesquera

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

Mesón el adobe

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

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

Restaurante El bote

mi taberna

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

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

::: SPANISH ::: Bahía

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

::: VEGETARIAN ::: loving hut

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

CINEMAS & THEATRES

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

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

AUDITORIO PARQUE DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

CENTRO CULTURAL EL INGENIO Garcia Morato, s/n. San Pedro. Tel: 952 786 968

CINESA LA CAÑADA La Cañada. Marbella. Tel: 902 333 231

cines gran marbella Puerto Banús. Tel: 952 810 077

cinesur C.C. Miramar, Fuengirola. Tel:

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THE GUIDE

952 198 605

MULTI SPORT

College

MULTICINES ALFIL

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

Ages 3-18. Tel: 952 930 080

New Concept Training

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

Mijas. Tel: 952 663 738

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

Childrens placE Bilingual nursery

PALACIO DE LA PAZ

02 CENTRO WELLNESS

Atalaya, Estepona. Tel: 952 928 444

Recinto Ferial. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 589 349

Plaza del Mar. Marbella. Tel: 952 900 420

Colegio Alborán

TEATRO ALAMEDA

P-E SPORTS CLUB

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

Calle Córdoba 9, Málaga. Tel: 952 213 412

Colegio Alemán

TEATRO CERVANTES

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

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

qi sport

Colegio Las Chapas

TEATRO CIUDAD DE MARBELLA

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

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

Plaza Ramón Martínez, Marbella. Tel: 952 903 159

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

SEVEN STARS SCHOOL

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

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

MULTICINES MEDITERRÁNEO

TEATRO SALON VARIETES Emancipación 30. Fuengirola. Tel: 952 474 542

Calpe School

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

Dolphin Nursery

VERACRUZ CINES

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

Veracruz. Estepona. Tel: 952 800 056

SPORTCLUB ROUTE 66

Ages 1–18. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 027

YELMO CINEPLEX

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

English InteRnational College

SPORTING CLUB ATALAYA PARK HOTEL

Hijas de María Auxiliadora

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

III language schools

TICKET-TO-RIDE

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

Plaza Mayor. Tel: 902 220 922

GYMS & SPORTS CLUBS ALHAMAR GYM

Cristamar, Pto. Banús. Tel: 952 905 082

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

Vitality studio

ATENAS

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

Barquilla 1. Marbella. Tel: 952 776 240

MUSEUMS

AZTEC COUNTRY CLUB

Ages 3–18. Elviria. Tel: 952 831 058/9 Ages 3-12. Marbella. Tel: 952 771 396

Inlingua Language School All ages. Marbella. T: 952 774 942

San Pedro Alcántara. Tel: 952 781 360

the InteRnational SCHOOL of ESTEPONA

CENTRO DEPORTIVO EL FUERTE

Bonsai Museum

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

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

Parque Arroyo de la Represa. Marbella. Tel: 952 862 926

Laude San pedro international college

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

Bull-fighting Museum

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

Plaza de Toros. Estepona.

Mayfair Academy

CENTRO PLAZA GYM

Museo Cortijo Miraflores

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 817 074

Marbella. Tel: 952 902 714

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

Cerrado del águila

Museo de Bella Artes

Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra

Mijas Costa, Málaga. Tel: 951 773 523

C/ San Agustin 8. Málaga. Tel: 952 218 382

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

CLUB DEl SOL

Museo del Grabado

Performing Arts Academy

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

Hospital Bazán. Marbella. Tel: 952 825 035

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

Museo de la Villa

Peter Pan School

Dynamic training centre C.C. Le Village, Marbella. Tel: 952 775 021

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

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

FITNESS CENTRE NEW STYLE

Museo Ralli

Saint George’s School

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

Urb. Coral Beach. Marbella. Tel: 952 857 923

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

Museum of Málaga Wines

Fuerte Gym

Carrera 39. Ojén. Tel: 952 881 453

Sotogrande International School

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

Museum of Miniatures Carromato de Max

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

CENTRO DE YOGA Y SALUD INTEGRAL

GIMNASIO ESTADIO

Basilica Vega del Mar

Ecos College

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

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

El Compas. Mijas. Tel: 952 489 500

St. Javier’s International School

Pablo Ruiz Picasso Foundation

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

HAPPY DIVER’S CLUB

Plaza de la Merced 15. Málaga. Tel: 952 060 215

Stagecoach Theatre Arts School

Picasso Museum Málaga

Ages 4-16. Tel: 952 900 453

Sunny View School

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

Palacio de Buenavista, C/ San Agustín 8. Málaga. Tel: 952 127 611

KRAV MAGA SELF-DEFENCE CENTRE

Roman Public Baths

At Hotel Pyr, Puerto Banús. Tel: 655 689 455

Gualalmina Baja. Tel: 952 781 360

Swans international school el capricho

Atalaya Park Hotel, Marbella. Tel: 609 571 920

HOTEL PUENTE ROMANO

MANOLO SANTANA RACQUETS CLUB Ctra. de Istán, Km 2. Marbella. Tel: 952 778 580

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

sChools

Ages 3–10. Marbella. Tel: 952 773 248

Aloha College

Swans international school Sierra blanca

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

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

MARBELLA GUN & COUNTRY CLUB

Angela’s School

TLC Tutorial College

Monda. Tel: 952 112 161

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

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

MARBELLA SPORT

british school of marbella

wendy kindergarten

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

Ages 18 months-8. Marbella. Tel: 952 779 264

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

Calahonda International

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pets THE GUIDE

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

LUXURY BRACO:

New Luxury Online Shop for Pets Discerning ‘parents’ of dogs and cats will be thrilled to learn that there is a brand new, high-end line of contemporary beds and food bowl holders for the furriest members of the family. Luxury Braco is a new luxury site selling four different collections online, in a variety of colours: the Cocoa Bed (a futuristic white lacquered bed), the Savannah Bed (in clear or coloured Perspex), the Cocoa XL food bowl holder (your pet will love its height and practicality) and the Savannah XL food bowl holder, in a range of colourful shades. Luxury Braco is an ideal choice for those with modern, minimalistic tastes, since its designs will fit in perfectly with the rest of your furniture! i www.luxurybraco.com

DEPRESSED POOCHES IN THE UK Home Alone Dogs is a new documentary revealing that one in every four dogs in the UK suffers from depression owing to the stress of staying home alone while their owners are at work. The documentary, which filmed dog behaviour in these solitary moments, found the poor pooches going round in circles, barking or wailing for hours on end, doing their necessities inside the house and even harming themselves. In order to avoid these situations, it is important for owners to gradually increase the time they spend away from their pets, rather than subject them to long absences unexpectedly. Another strategy is to place dogs in specialised doggy day centres, where they can be entertained all day instead of feeling alone, bored and stressed. Dog walkers are another option if you are away from your dogs for more than eight hours, since they can provide the exercise and stimulation your dog needs.

MASCOTAPLANET.COM: Everything You Need for Your Pet

Whether you are the owner of a dog, cat, bird, fish or turtle (or indeed a hedgehog or snake), you may be surprised to learn that the Marbella Polígono is home to Mascotaplanet.com, an online shop selling absolutely everything you could need to ensure your pet is safe and happy – including food, medication and pet accessories. In addition to basic necessities, you will find stunning luxury items like Swarovski-covered collars, doggy sportswear and cute pet carriers. i www.mascotaplanet.com

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THE GUIDE what’s on EVENTS CONTINUED FROM SEPTEMBER

booking is necessary. Tel: 952 904 233. www.elcampanariogolf.com

Until October 6 PICASSO – MÁLAGA

Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS – MIJAS PUEBLO

Pablo Picasso: Family Album brings together a significant set of portraits from the private collections of Picasso’s works. Produced between 1906 and 1970, many of these are inspired by the female companions with whom Picasso shared his life. www.mpicassom.org

Until October 23 ART – FUENGIROLA

Roger Cummiskey and Juan Cruz present a joint exhibition of contemporary paintings at Galería Restaurante Lucia. www.aia-artgroup.com

Until November 15 ART – MARBELLA

The Polígono Art Gallery will be presenting a collective exhibition entitled Beyond Abstraction: Explorations in Contemporary Chinese Ink, featuring works by five artists: Qin Feng, Lian Quan, Zheng Chongbin, Wei Ligang and Lan Zhengui. www.poligonogallery.com

Until November 23 ART – MARBELLA

The Yusto Giner Gallery presents Extraños Transcursos del Tiempo, the first individual exhibition of Mexican artist, Hugo Lugo in Spain. The artists presents a series of paintings and drawings focusing on the inherent duality of the act of representing time and the inevitable transformation that takes place when the artist attempts to represent reality. www.yusto-giner.com

Until February 9, 2014 ART – MÁLAGA

The Museo Picasso Málaga presents, for the first time in Spain, the unique work of Hilma af Klint, the Swedish artist who, at the start of the 20th century, embarked on a surprising path that led to her love for abstract art. She was ahead of her time, creating an enigmatic body of work that aimed to depict a reality beyond the visible. www.museopicassomalaga.org

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

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

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 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 Wednesday FLAMENCO – MIJAS

Every first Friday of the Month CINE CLUB – ESTEPONA

MARTIAL ARTS – MARBELLA

MODS & ROCKERS – MARBELLA

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

Taekwondo expert Justin Menchen, who studied and received First Dan in Los Angeles (from Master Keith Jones) teaches Taekwondo to children and adults, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at MGM gym. Further information, Tel: 666 756 692. www.marbellataekwondo.com

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

SALSA – MARBELLA

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

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

Enjoy a fun evening filled with mod (garage and soul) and rockabilly (rhythm and blues) at Pub Maverick in Marbella’s Old Town. Tel: 951 506 227. info@activesoundproductions.com

Every last Friday of the Month COFFEE MORNING – ESTEPONA

ADANA animal rescue charity coffee morning at Plaza Manilva (outside Longman’s Bookshop) 11am – 2pm. Kennels open 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday and 10am – 2pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Further information, Tel: 952 797 405/ 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 first Wednesday of the month CULTURE AND COCKTAIL – MARBELLA

Every Saturday MARKETS – PUERTO BANÚS

Every Wednesday and Thursday CINE CLUB – MARBELLA

ART CLASSES – MARBELLA

Every Thursday NETWORKING – MARBELLA

ART – 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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sunday October 6 to Saturday October 12 FERIA – FUENGIROLA

The Feria del Rosario will be lighting up the streets of Fuengirola. Featuring dancing and drinks by day and rides and partying by night. This feria is usually one of the most popular on the Coast. www.fuengirola.es

YANELA BROOKS – ESTEPONA

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

SINTILLATE – MARBELLA

Enjoy a VIP Terrace Party with Sintillate, featuring live DJ music, Champagne and a chic ambience at Tibv in Puerto Banús. To book a table, www.sintillate.eventbrite.co.uk

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 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

Thursday October 3 SIEMPRE ASÍ – MÁLAGA

Siempre Así is Seville’s most famous ‘rumba’ group and this month, they will be singing classic and new songs for their fans at the Teatro Cervantes, at 9pm. www.teatrocervantes.com

Friday October 4 FILM – MARBELLA

Música Con Encanto presents a documentary titled La Herencia Flamenca, a film by Michael Meert focussing on four generations of musicians from a famous gitano dynasty which has played an important role in the history of flamenco music in Spain. At the Centro Cultural Cortijo Miraflores at 8pm. www.musicaconencanto.org

Friday October 4 to April 20, 2014 VAN GOGH AND MONET – MÁLAGA

Málaga’s Thyssen Museum will be exhibiting over 50 works focusing on European landscapes, by a plethora of artists, including Léger, Courbet, Van Gogh and Monet. www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org

Saturday October 5 ELTON JOHN TRIBUTE – FUENGIROLA

The Salon Varietes Theatre in Fuengirola presents a fun Elton John Tribute, featuring all your favourite songs from one of pop music’s greatest legends. At the Salon Varietes. For tickets and precise times, Tel: 952 474 542. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

BUDDY HOLLY SHOW - BENALMÁDENA

Miguel Corchón presents The Buddy Holly Show at the Sunset Beach Hotel Benalmádena at 10pm with Buddy Walker and 50’s DJ Tall Mike. Entry €5. For information/reservations, Tel: 952 579 404.

Sunday October 6 WALKING – SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES

Keen Nature lovers aged 14 to 35 are welcome to enjoy a medium-difficulty walk amid the verdant pines of the Sierra de las Nieves. The event is part of the Ruta Joven Marbella programme. Registration is free, but needs to be completed on the week before the walk takes place. Tel: 952 765 821.

Thursday October 10 to Sunday October 13 MARBELLA 4DAYS WALKING – MARBELLA

October is the perfect month for a nice walk so if you’re up for some company, why not go walking on one (or all four days) of this fantastic event. Las Terrazas del Puerto Deportivo will be the starting point for a series of 20- and 30-kilometer walks, which will take place in the city, the beach and in natural surrounds. www.marbella4dayswalking.com

Saturday October 12 CHARITY WALK – BENAHAVÍS

Banca March sponsors the third annual fundraising walk, The Hidden Benahavís, which invites you to discover the beauty of parts of Benahavís you may not have seen before, including the countryside, mountains and beautiful waterfalls. The walk will start at 11am at the Café Las Canas Viejas in the Main Square of Benahavís (make sure to be there at 10am for registration). The walk is organised by the Rotary Club of Marbella-Guadalmina, in an effort to raise funds for the needy. Tel: 619 099 310. Rotaryclub.marbella.g@gmail.com

Tuesday October 15 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT – ESTEPONA

Thursday October 17 to Friday October 18 LAWYERS’ CONFERENCE – MARBELLA This year’s two-day Congreso Annual de la Abogacía Malagueña (Lawyers’ Congress) will be taking place at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella. Featuring a host of talks and discussions on new legal developments and matters of interest for the profession. For a precise schedule, www.marbellacongresos.com

Friday October 18 to Sunday October 27 PERMACULTURE COURSE – MARBELLA

Arboretum Marbella presents a Permaculture Design Course, from 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm at the Albergue Inturjoven. A wide range of topics will be covered, including the theory of living systems, the ethics of permaculture, order and chaos in Nature, aquaculture and much more. For reservations, Tel: 951 137 210. www.arboretummarbella.org

Saturday October 19 GUITAR – MARBELLA

Famed classical guitarist, Alejandro Cordova, plays works by Rodrigo, Turina, Arcas, Ponce and others at the Iglesia de la Virginia in Marbella, at 7pm. www.musicaconencanto.org

Wednesday October 23 FLAMENCO – MÁLAGA

The EvalDanza flamenco company present a show that captures the essence of the very best classical and contemporary flamenco dance. At 9pm at the Teatro Echegaray. www.teatroechegaray.com

Friday October 25 BALLET – MÁLAGA

Swan Lake is one of the most popular ballets in the world and this month, Málaga’s Youth Ballet Company will be lending their personal brand of magic to this time-old classic. At the Teatro Echegaray at 9pm. www.teatroechegaray.com

Saturday October 26 PIANO CONCERT – MARBELLA

Renowned pianist, Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro, performs works by Liszt, Scriabin, Vianna Da Motta and Astor Piazzolla at the Hospital Real de la Misericordia at 8:30pm. www.musicaconencanto.org

Saturday October 26 to Sunday October 27 MIND, BODY & SPIRIT FESTIVAL – PUERTO BANÚS

The Mind, Body & Spirit Festival will be taking place at the H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel, from 11am to 8pm. There will be over 50 exhibitors at the event, including international mediums, healers, psychics, tarot readers, unique jewellery sellers, nutritional therapists and much more. Some 18 inspirational speakers will also be giving talks and demonstrations every half hour on various topics of interest. Tel: 670 628 468. www.mindbodyspiritmarbella.com

PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE – RONDA

Chris & Kim Travel Designers offer a photography course with professional photographers, Wayne Charan and Michelle Chaplow. The trip will feature the opportunity to photograph the countryside, food, wine and ruins and will include a visit to Acinipo, dining with a Ronda bullfighter, tasting some of the best wines of Ronda and dinner in a winery. Price €295 per person. For information, Tel:952 859 113, ellen@crisandkim.com

Sunday October 27 ESCUELA DE CALOR – MÁLAGA

Escuela de Calor is the name of a show featuring Alberto Comesaña of Amistades Peligrosas, Joaquín Padilla of Iguana Tango, Pablo Perea (of La Trampa) and more. The show will travel through time, recalling the powerful Movida Madrileña which dramatically altered musical history in Spain. www.teatrocervantes.com

Friday November 1 THEATRE – FUENGIROLA

The Salón Varietes Theatre in Fuengirola presents Murder by Misadventure, a play by Edward Taylor about a thriller writer who decides to get rid of his partner in the quickest way possible: by murdering him! For tickets and precise times, Tel: 952 474 542. www.salonvarietestheatre.com

The Estepona Floral Art Club will be holding a flower arranging demonstration from 3:15pm to 5pm at TikiTano restaurant. The demonstrator will be Carol Bone from County Wicklow in Ireland. Tel: 952 891 385. www.facebook.com/ esteponafloralartclub.

Tuesday October 15 to Sunday October 20 FERIA – SAN PEDRO

The Feria de San Pedro will provide the opportunity to party for five days straight. Down cool glasses of cartojal and dance Sevillanas to your heart’s content in the city centre by day and enjoy fun rides and drinks at the local casetas by night. www.fuengirola.es

Thursday October 17 ROSANA – MÁLAGA

Rosana is one of Spain’s most famous crooners of all time. She will be singing hits old and new at the Teatro Cervantes at 9pm. www.teatrocervantes.com

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THE GUIDE stars

Russell Grant’s www.russellgrant.com

Monthly Horoscope October 2013 LIBRA September 24th October 23rd

October begins with an exciting opportunity to negotiate a pay raise, land a well-paid job, or devote your energies to an important cause. Putting your energy towards work that is financially or emotionally awarding is critical. Fortunately, you take great pleasure in the arts, and will find a forum for your interest on or around the 5th. Don’t let a well-meaning friend discourage you from pursuing an offer that excites your imagination. Your loved one means well, but is more worried about your security than happiness. A passionate argument will cause an intimate relationship to fall apart on or around the 18th. Although it saddens you to turn your back on this friend, you now realise you can no longer maintain your alliance. The two of you have been going in different directions for a long time, and now it’s time to part ways. Fortunately, your family will be very supportive. Lean on them whenever depression sets in, especially toward the end of the month.

October begins with an exciting opportunity to negotiate a pay raise, land a wellpaid job, or devote your energies to an important cause

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ARIES [21 MAR - 20 APR]

A passionate love affair keeps you out of the public eye in the opening days of October. You’ll steal the spotlight from an authority figure around the 2nd. Don’t challenge a conservative institute’s traditions on the 3rd. Family members will express disapproval over a business or romantic relationship near the 5th. Expand your horizons around the 7th by sampling some foreign cuisine. The 8th is perfect for hammering out a compromise between you and a business or romantic partner. Don’t discuss sensitive subjects like religion or politics around the 10th. Moving to a bigger place will go well on or around the 12th. Step up your fitness routine mid-month; the results will be impressive. Let a friend introduce you to a new book or movie near the 16th. Family won’t be very supportive of a personal decision on the 18th. You’ll be rewarded for doing extra work at the end of the month.

TAURUS [21 APR - 21 MAY]

Beware of accepting a job offer on or around the 5th. There is more to this position than your potential employer pretends. Hold out for a better offer, even if loved ones pressure you to take this one. By the time mid-month arrives, you’ll be able to find a position related to writing, research, or teaching. The competition will be fierce, but you will prevail if you emphasise your work ethic in the interview. You will do battle with a bureaucratic organisation in the days surrounding the 18th. Support that was promised to you will suddenly be withdrawn, forcing you to find other ways to attain your objectives. Suddenly, it will feel like you’re walking a tightrope without a net. Fortunately, you have friends in high places. Lean on a business or romantic partner when the going gets rough. Fill out applications for grants and scholarships as October comes to a close. Your efforts will not be wasted.

GEMINI [22 MAY - 21 JUNE]

A good job is yours for the asking at the beginning of October. This will be a wonderful opportunity to utilise your research skills. You have a knack for digging up information that eludes everyone else. Don’t cancel plans with a friend near the 5th, even if a hot date is in the works. You can’t afford to turn your back on the people who have loved and supported you all this time. A troubled friendship will fall by the wayside around the 18th. You can no longer tolerate an old friend’s erratic behaviour; once this troublemaker leaves your life, you’ll have so much more time for the activities you love. It will make you realise just how draining this relationship was, and how right you were to end it. Thinking of moving to a bigger place? The final days of October are ideal for finding a spacious, beautiful abode.

CANCER [22 JUN - 23 JULY]

Early October finds you doing battle with an indecisive relative. You think you know what is best for this family member, but that’s not necessarily true. Try to be more flexible. A choice has to be made, but it won’t happen if you tighten the screws. You will have more success if you listen closely and make a few critical compromises. Be aggressive in financial talks mid-month. You won’t get paid what you are worth unless you push your agenda. Pushy behaviour is pretty alien to you, but it does serve a purpose. Resist the urge to accept a job that involves lots of pressure. Although you’d probably be successful in this position, you really

don’t want to sacrifice your personal happiness for the sake of an impressive title. Besides, you know what it’s like to work for a demanding boss. Do you really want to subject yourself to another such nightmare?

LEO [24 JULY - 23 AUG]

A lack of experience creates problems for you in early October. If you feel like you’re out of your depth with a particular duty or assignment, admit it. Ask the powers that be for help. The quicker you draw attention to the problem, the less your reputation will suffer. On the plus side, this is a wonderful learning opportunity. Beware of sending an angry email or text message around the 5th. Diplomacy is key during this sensitive period. Being able to withstand the insults of an oppressive authority figure will pay off. Someone who admires your grace under fire will offer you the chance to show off your creative talent. The second half of October will be spent on the activities you love: Acting, singing, or playing music. You’ve always had a knack for the performing arts, and will enjoy developing your gifts in such a supportive environment.

VIRGO [24 AUG - 23 SEPT]

October gets underway with an admirer confessing a crush on you. It’s nice to know your sex appeal is stronger than ever, but you shouldn’t sideline an old friend just for the sake of a romantic interlude. You’re obligated to attend someone’s birthday party, no matter how much you want to spend the evening with your amour. It will be difficult to collect money that is owed to you on or around the 5th. Be ready to issue an ultimatum, and don’t believe any sob stories. If you let your debtor off the hook, you’ll set a very bad precedent. Step up your fitness routine during October. Weight resistance training will yield admirable results. A steady source of income will come to an abrupt end mid-month; you won’t be able to rely on money from a dividend, inheritance, or legal settlement any longer. Take the initiative with your amour at the end of October.

SCORPIO [24 OCT - 22 NOV]

A book or movie will inspire you to develop your own creative talent in early October. Take this opportunity to play music, write a story, or paint a canvas. You’ve always been gifted at refurbishing antiques, and may want to show your artistry in this way. No matter how you choose to express yourself, it will be wonderfully fulfilling. A government agency or hospital will make life difficult around the 5th. Getting approval for an application will be practically impossible. Don’t waste your time dealing with office drones; go straight to the top with this matter, or it will never get solved. You won’t be able to ignore a health problem mid-month. Make an appointment with a doctor and follow their instructions to the letter. You can’t afford to play fast and loose with your health. October ends on a high note, when a group of friends decides to throw you a festive birthday party.

SAGITTARIUS [23 NOV - 21 DEC]

Money may be a tad tight at the beginning of October, so watch your spending. The less you use your credit card, the better off you’ll be. As a general rule, you don’t care very much about money, but it does bother you to be in debt. A friend who promised you a work opportunity will fall back

on their promise in the days surrounding the 5th; you’ll have to find another source of income. A moneymaking opportunity related to childcare, property, or catering will come your way this month. This is your chance to pay off some bills and put anything left over into a savings account. A love affair gets a big jolt on or around the 18th. It will be hard to know where you stand during this stressful period. Instead of dwelling on your uncertainty, keep busy with domestic projects. This is a good time to clear your living and work spaces of clutter. By the time October turns to November, you’ll feel much more confident about the future.

CAPRICORN [22 DEC - 20 JAN]

Let a friend encourage you to pursue a lifelong dream in the opening days of October. Whether you’ve always wanted to write a book, learn to dance, or showcase your photographs, now is the time to do so. You’ll get a receptive audience for your work, and may even be offered payment for it. Don’t get defensive if an authority figure mocks your efforts around the 5th. Jealousy has a way of rearing its ugly head at this tension-filled time. By mid-month, a respected teacher will offer to mentor you. Seize this opportunity before a rival snatches it away. A property deal could come to grief at the last moment in the days surrounding the 18th. You may have to change your terms or wait for a more opportune time to seal such a deal. The more flexible you are, the better your chances of bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.

AQUARIUS [21 JAN - 19 FEB]

October opens with a fantastic moneymaking opportunity. You have a chance to get paid for your creative work. The more distinctive your contributions, the more successful you’ll be. Don’t challenge an old institution’s policies around the 5th, or you’ll make an enemy of someone who should be your friend. Practice the delicate art of tolerance this month by treating everyone you know with respect, especially experienced authority figures. You’ll be given an opportunity to study or travel abroad. The results of a test will be disappointing around the 18th. Take this opportunity to reassess your goals. You need to think about establishing some long-term security, instead of gratifying your immediate needs. Get into the habit of putting a portion of your earnings into savings at regular intervals. If you don’t, you’ll be forced to endure some stressful situations that could have been otherwise avoided. A secret love affair spices up the final days of October.

PISCES [20 FEB - 20 MAR]

Early October prompts you to present a bold idea to a respected expert. It will be gratifying to see how well this proposal is received. Getting financing for this project will be difficult, especially in the days surrounding the 5th. Don’t worry if a lending agency turns down your application for a loan. You can get seed money from a cultural or religious institution. If you feel like you’re out of your depth, ask a business or romantic partner to help you with grant applications. A source of income will come to an abrupt end near the 18th, forcing you to economise. Fortunately, you’ve already paid for a vacation you planned some time ago. Go ahead and enjoy this marvellous getaway. The locals will respond well to your dreamy, artistic nature and will offer to show off their homeland in style. Accept somebody’s offer to serve you a home cooked meal; this will definitely be one of the most enjoyable days of the trip. ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2013 / 161

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New English Speaking Nanny/Babysitter Service Comes to the Coast

If you’re at a loss as to whom you can leave your little ones with safely, then new nanny/ babysitter service, Find a Babysitter Spain (FABS) can help to ease your worries. The team at FABS are all native English speaking and CRB (police) checked professionals with a minimum of five years’ experience in childcare. The company offers a range of flexible childcare services, from one-off evening babysitting to full-time nannying and maternity nursing. Nannies who are qualified to look after children with special needs are also available. FABS’s after-school club launched in Sotogrande in September, offering school pick-up and up to four hours childcare. i For further information, call Gemma on

Tel: 634 780 957. www.findababysitterspain.com

FAMILY FUN ANCRAA Giant Donkeys Cuddle

a donkey or become a volunteer to help save this humble but threatened animal. CN 340, km 164, Finca los Pajaritos, Estepona. Tel: 952 790 511 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 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 Kids Multi-Sports Club A plethora of sports for children of all ages and abilities, from tennis through to football, cycling and skateboarding. Parties with games, activities and bouncy castles. Urb. Parcelas del Golf, Avda. del Prado,

Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 656 618 712 Kidz Kingdom Fun play centre and birthday party area for kids, with a mini disco. Urb. Bel-Air, CN 340, km 166.2, Estepona. Tel: 952 925 936

Kidz Kingdom 2 – Space City

Space theamed play centre for daily visits or parties. Life size Barney and Sponge Bob. Urb. El Rosario, CN 340, km 188.5, Marbella. Tel: 952 839 275

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-year-

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

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