Essential Magazine, February 2024

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MARBELLA | MÁLAGA | SPAIN

N º 291 ­­– FEBRUARY 2024

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BATTISTA THE HOUSE OF

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CHLOÉ SS24 DAKOTA JOHNSON

MADAME WEB

DROP SAUNA EXPERIENTIAL DINING AMONTILLADO filpi www.essentialmagazine.com

& OLOROSO

Travel Trends Culture Home Lifestyle Business Property Gourmet

Bijan Laufer FILL A HOUSE WITH LOVE AND IT BECOMES A HOME

THE AR T-INTERIORDESIGN.COM Bulevar Alfonso de Hohenlohe, Centro Expo Local 1 29602 Marbella · info@theart-interiordesign.com Tel.: +34 952 90 51 61

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contents » GO TO SPOTLIGHT

20 The World – Residences at Sea 32 Óbal Urban Hotel 40 House of Strauss 52 Attachment Theory & Relationships 58 DNA Testing 66 Pininfarina Battista – Edizione Nino Farina 72 Dakota Johnson

» GO TO TRENDS

84 What’s Cool 88 The New Drop Sauna 92 Hot New Films 96 Cool New Series 100 New Book Releases 104 Dating in the Metaverse

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» GO TO LIFESTYLE

110 BoConcept’s New Look Mijas Showroom 120 Design Trends 126 Chloé Ready-to-Wear SS2024 134 The Oxygen Facial 136 Pet-Friendly Dating Ideas 140 The Five Languages of Love

» GO TO ENTERPRISE

146 Christie’s International Real Estate 152 Business News 160 Obtain a Green Card with the U.S. Government Sponsored EB-5 Program Opens in Málaga 162 The Vibe

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» GO TO GOURMET

166 Experiential Dining 172 Gourmet Bytes 176 Amontillado & Oloroso 180 The Enigma of Old Red Wines

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Issue 291 – February 2024

STAFF

PUBLISHER & DIRECTOR IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com DIGITAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANDREA BLACKWELL andrea@essentialmagazine.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR MARISA CUTILLAS marisa@essentialmagazine.com

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DESIGN & LAYOUT INMA AURIOLES, ANDREA BLACKWELL design@essentialmagazine.com OFFICE ADMINISTRATION MÓNIKA BÖJTI essential@essentialmagazine.com WRITERS IAIN BLACKWELL, MICHEL CRUZ, ALICIA DUGGAN, SAM HEXTER, KARETHE LINAAE, ANDREW LINN, MADDIE QUINN (A. BLACKWELL), JAMES SINCLAIR, TANYA VEGAR editorial@essentialmagazine.com ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE MARIANO JEVA cuentas@essentialmagazine.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER KEVIN HORN www.photographermarbella.com COLLABORATORS JACKIE STONE, ADRIANA VILLA PRINTING JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA DEPÓSITO LEGAL D.L. MA-512-99

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The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information published herein, or be held accountable for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages.

Marbella Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers, or for the copyright of materials used by them. © Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. for Marbella Magazine.

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Essential Febrero - Carat FV.pdf 1 23/01/2024 15:42:58

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publisher WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE

I

n a month that is synonymous with romance, we bring you Attachment Theory and Relationships, The Five languages of Love, Dating in the Metaverse, and Pet-Friendly Date Ideas for Couples.

Imagine living in your own penthouse suite on a luxurious liner with full service which cruises the globe with an exotic itinerary – this is the life for those aboard MS The World.

Find out why people are flocking to the House of Strauss in Vienna and marvel at the unbridled acceleration of

the F1-eclipsing Pininfarina Battista – Edition Nino Farina.

We profile Dakota Johnson on the eve of the release of Madame Web and feature Chloé’s Ready-to-Wear SS2024 Collection.

Locally, check out BoConcept’s revamped showroom on the Ctra. De Mijas, check in to the the new Óbal Urban Hotel, and experience the many benefits of the Drop Sauna.

For tantalising your palate, don’t miss our reports on Experiential Dining, Amontillado & Oloroso, and the Enigma of Old Red Wines.

» GO TO CONTENTS

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“Let us welcome February and take every chance to show love to all we meet” Anonymous 172 66

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See why people are flocking to the House of Strauss. Check out the new ÓBAL Urban Hotel in Marbella. Get ready for Dakota Johnson as Madame Web on the big screen this month.

The world is their oyster for those who can afford to live aboard The World.

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spotlight

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20 The World – Residences at Sea 32 Óbal Urban Hotel 40 House of Strauss 52 Attachment Theory & Relationships 58 DNA Testing 66 Pininfarina Battista – Edizione Nino Farina 72 Dakota Johnson – Madame Web

« BACK TO CONTENTS

SPOTLIGHT | TRAVEL

ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM

THE

WORLD

RESIDENCES AT SEA

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE WORLD, RESIDENCES AT SEA

If you can imagine a cruise, a voyage out at sea on a floating resort, visiting new ports and countries, then imagine this: living in a moving penthouse where staff attend you and the views are ever-changing.

What a fascinatingly exciting prospect that would be.

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N

o, this is not an article about cruise ships, not quite. You see, the ship in question is not in the strict sense a cruise ship at all. Yes, MS The World looks like a cruise ship and has many of the same facilities, but this almost 200-metre long vessel is

more a country club residential complex compared to a normal cruise ship’s ‘hotel’. Both feature resort amenities, but whereas a conventional cruise liner is a conduit for tourism that takes on board new guests every time it sets sail, The World is a private domain for the lucky few that own one of its 165 luxury residences, broken down into 106 apartments, 19 studio apartments and 40 studios, the latter mostly for owners’ guests. › Antarctica is in this year’s itinerary

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Apart from the fact that you can enjoy the privacy and security of knowing who your fellow passengers are, you also have to share the 12-deck, 43,000 tonne ship with no more than 150-200 guests.

That means sufficient people to provide you with company and keep things lively and social, but with enough space to offer the kind of freedom, privacy and

if you want, seclusion that even luxury cruise ships are just not built for – and there are almost two staff members for every passenger, marking The World as the epitome of luxury on the high seas. Yes, there are even more private and sumptuous superyachts, but they will struggle to offer you everything this floating home does. ›

Guests often join and leave by helicopter

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NEW FLAGSHIP STORE Avda. Cánovas del Castillo, 25 Marbella (29601) paolocastellispamarbella.com

« BACK TO CONTENTS HOME ABOARD A FLOATING RESORT

SPOTLIGHT | TRAVEL

The World is a personal playground that is 12 decks high and 200 metres long, containing within it everything from your own designer-decorated apartment (of the kind you’d find on a chic New York or Paris avenue) to a whole range of five-star deluxe distractions such as fine dining restaurants of different types, boutiques, fitness and wellness centres, cocktail lounges, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a golf simulator, jogging track, delicatessen and healthy food store, a library and working space,

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cinema and entertainment club with live performances. You can even drive golf balls into the sea, and don’t worry, they dissolve to become fish food.

Just the service and the panoramic sundecks are enough to make you want to live here, not to mention the fact that you’ll be able to contemplate those sunsets in many different locations.

THE WORLD IN 2024

In some ways, The World is not so different from the finest apartment complexes in and around Marbella, except for the fact that it moves about

Enter Hong Kong on your private cruise ship

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A terrace with a moving view

The World in Papua New Guinea

at sea. Officially based in Nassau, in The Bahamas, this exclusive collection of residences at sea even has its own community of owners, and they together with the captain and the ship’s operator agree and plan the itinerary for each new year. There’s no staying put in a harbour or even fixed routes, as its well-heeled owners want to enjoy new horizons every season, and have all the continents, oceans and seas to choose from. For 2024 they’ve come up with a year-long journey that will cross five oceans and visit 90 ports of call.

Naturally you don’t have to stay on the ship throughout its itinerary. After all, many of the owners are movers and shakers with responsibilities and activities on dry land, but they get to cherry pick their favourite bits, hopping on and off as they please, be it at one of the ports or by helicopter transfer.

The World is currently the only ship of its kind on the planet, and while it takes in famous sights such as Rio’s Guanabara Bay, Sydney’s Botany Bay and Tokyo, exploring less-visited beauty spots has become one of its specialities. ›

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Fine dining in an intimate setting

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SPOTLIGHT | TRAVEL

One of several apartment décor styles

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Santorini: The World offers famous sights from a private perspective

SIX CONTINENTS AND FIVE OCEANS

And don’t forget, 90 ports of call. Among this year’s sensory discoveries will be Antarctica, the South Georgia Islands and the Falklands, Australia’s rugged Kimberley region, Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay in the classically

beautiful South China Sea, the remote British Atlantic dependency of Tristan da Cunha, and Punta del Este in Uruguay. The expedition will also touch on other parts of South America, sail along the east and south coasts of Africa, visiting exotic cities

Michelin style dining

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and venturing inland for hiking, safaris, and resort retreats in open nature. On the way, The World will glide into the unforgettable scenery of Cape Town, Buenos Aires, and the rock formations that make The Seychelles so unique. ›

« BACK TO CONTENTS

SPOTLIGHT | TRAVEL

The adventure of a lifetime sees you head out of Antarctic waters and across the Atlantic from South America to Africa, before spanning the Indian Ocean and its island paradises, adding tropical idyll to your memories of densely packed cities, unforgettable coves, and both savanna and jungle expanses. The route continues along South Asia and touches upon Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before passing Taiwan en route to the famous skylines of Hong Kong and Shanghai, and the rich culture and impressions of Japan. Very cleverly laid out, the itinerary makes the most of the season in both hemispheres to offer the ultimate experience. ›

Passenger ship meets private residential complex

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Your floating home has its own sports club

»

69 UNIQUE HOMES

This magnificent high-quality new development in Fuengirola is now available for purchasing.

Hanko West will be completed in 2026 and its apartments can only be bought through Strand Properties.

CHECK OUT: HANKOWEST.ES

+34 676 90 15 19 | INFO@STRAND.ES | STRAND.ES

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SPOTLIGHT | TRAVEL

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In 2024 The World drops anchor in Japan

From the north, the journey flows south again to The Philippines, Malaysia and Bali (Indonesia), and on to the Pacific Ocean, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands before entering the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and New Zealand. South leads north once more as you sail between the tropical islands of the South Pacific, then across the Pacific to Hawaii and

Baja California in Mexico in time to see in the new year (2025) in Cabo San Lucas.

In each of these locations you’ll sample the best of local cuisine, impressions and experiences in a safe and secure way. What’s more, everything is laid on, from room service and concierge to a floating dock richly equipped with a tantalising choice of speedboats, jet skis, diving and surfing gear.

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In 2024, few people on earth will experience something of the kind, an around the world adventure that combines comfort, privacy and service with excitement and exploration.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD’S UNIQUE LIFESTYLE CALL +1 954 538 8449 OR VISIT WWW.ABOARDTHEWORLD.COM

»

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SPOTLIGHT | HOTELS

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THE NEW

ÓBAL URBAN HOTEL OPENS IN THE CENTRE OF MARBELLA Marbella is an ideal destination for those seeking an outdoorsy holiday, which is why establishments such as the recently renovated Óbal Urban Hotel, which offer the perfect blend of beach and city experiences, hit the spot. The four-star city getaway is located in the heart of the city, next to the Old Town and just 200 metres from the seafront promenade.

It entices travellers with 110 modern, welcoming rooms with a stunning design, a high comfort factor, and a host of restaurants, wellness options, a swimming pool, and places to meet and greet.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE ÓBAL URBAN HOTEL

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he Óbal has a rich history that dates back to 1961, when the 58room San Cristobal Residence opened its doors. In 1970, some 44 rooms were added and it took the name of the Hotel San Cristóbal. From this year onwards, a family tradition of hospitality was established, and today, the third generation has taken over the business with a modernised vision that nevertheless values the hotel’s rich tradition and history.

SUSTAINABILITY IS PARAMOUNT

The Hotel centres its activities around one overriding value: sustainability. Its exterior design and architecture boast organic materials and a high-tech ‘ventilated facade’ system that lends the building excellent thermal performance and enables it to avoid humidity. The Óbal is fitted with solar panels and aerothermal systems, which boost its eco-friendly credentials.

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A WIDE ARRAY OF ROOM SIZES

SPOTLIGHT | HOTELS

Guests can opt to stay in a myriad of rooms, ranging from the 20m2 Classic Double, to the 55m2 Suite. Other choices include the 30m2 Premium Double Room, the 36m2 Family Room, and the 38m2 Junior Suite. There truly is a special place

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for everyone, whether you are travelling solo or as part of a group. One interesting choice for friends or families with older children is the Connecting Room, featuring two rooms with independent doors and their own bathrooms. The rooms have a host of handy amenities, including a pillow menu, bathroom slippers, satellite TV with

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national and international channels, a minibar, and of course, top-level heating and air-conditioning.

PAMPER YOUR SENSES

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The Hotel’s Alameda Restaurant has over 60 years of tradition and an authentic passion for gastronomy. Here, discerning diners will find zero-kilometre dishes, which extol the virtue of locally sourced, healthy Mediterranean ingredients that can be enjoyed with the five senses. ›

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SPOTLIGHT | HOTELS

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The restaurant also offers a hearty buffet breakfast, so guests can start their day with energy and zest.

Additionally, the Alameda Terrace provides an ideal setting for a meal or afternoon cocktail, thanks to its retractable roof.

The Hotel has a gorgeous rooftop bar area called 360º Blue Sky Bar, with a swimming pool and panoramic views of the Old Town, the sea, and the Alameda Park. This bar is open for lunch and dinner, as well as for private events.

Modern cuisine that nods to tradition is served, as are a

wide array of cocktails, the very best Andalusian wines, and Champagne. The rooftop additionally makes an ideal setting for business events, as it is fitted with top-ofthe-range technology and it boasts a gorgeous vertical garden. It houses a myriad of different spaces that are specially designed for meetings, congresses, and private parties and events.

BECOME A MEMBER

The Hotel invites those with a passion for the good life to sign up for the Óbal Club for free to enjoy exclusive benefits such as 10 per cent

37 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

off website rates, a welcome drink at the 360 Blue Sky Bar, and more.

WWW.OBALHOTEL MARBELLA.COM

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SPOTLIGHT | STRAUSS

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WELCOME TO THE

STRAUSS

An encore to the dynasty of maestros whose wicked waltzes started a 19th century dirty dancing craze. They’re back in concert large as life at Vienna’s surprising new multimedia museum!

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The acoustically perfect Strauss Hall

HOUSE OF

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hey were pop icons of their time, headlining mega concerts, touring entire orchestras across continents by horse, carriage and steam train and churning out dance hits that got everyone, including Queen Victoria, up on the ballroom floor: peppy polkas, giddy galops, and scandalous waltzes that entwined couples in closer bodily contact than anything

permitted outside the marital boudoir.

Classical composers scorned their music lite but a whirling Strauss waltz was more exciting than a stiff Mozart minuet. With Empires teetering and revolution in the air, the governments of mid-19th century Europe splurged fortunes on lavish dance palaces to placate the populace and the Strauss Orchestra, with their dashing conductors, regularly topped the bill: Johann Strauss l, whose Radetzky March is played before major Austrian

41 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

sporting events today; Johann Strauss II, The Waltz King who composed The Blue Danube and drove females into a frenzy for a single lock of his hair; his brothers Josef and Eduard, also talented composers; and Johann Strauss lll, who saw their music into the gramophone era. Three generations of Strausses were instrumental in choreographing the fifth trickiest dance to pull off on TV’s Strictly and composing over 1,500 works between them, including many concert classics. ›

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SPOTLIGHT | STRAUSS

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A hands-on museum that would amaze the maestros today Period decor waltzes visitors back to Vienna’s glory days©Denis Košutić & Lea Titz

At the astonishing House of Strauss, thanks to the wonders of animated visuals, digital 3D avatars, and LED walls, you can get to know them all virtually and see the Waltz King on the stage he played in 1850 as if you were at a live concert. Opened on his 198th birthday last October 25 as a prelude to his bicentennial in 2025, the museum’s elegant 19th century home at the Casino Zögernitz which once hosted Vienna’s best concerts and balls belies the technical wizardry within. The grand hall has been restored to acoustic perfection and the ballroom’s chandeliers twinkle as brightly as they did when the Austrian Empire’s

elite whirled beneath them.

Today everyone can have a ball at this hands-on museum, trying out stuff that would amaze the maestros: digital operettas, cyber music stands or an immersive dive into The Blue Danube at The Octagon Experience where Austria’s unofficial anthem comes to life in seven languages. Live concerts, seats with waiter service in the original Strauss family boxes, free master classes, and a fine dining restaurant set in the Casino’s historic gardens are other attractions.

You might even meet a living Strauss. Prof. Eduard Strauss lll, President of Vienna’s Johann Strauss Society and great, great

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grandson of Strauss Senior is a lawyer, not a musician, but he has provided the museum with some fascinating background: not least, the extraordinary fact that the Waltz King was, as he once confessed, ‘a terrible dancer’.

MORE INFO: WWW. HOUSEOFSTRAUSS.AT

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“HANDS WHICH MAY FREELY RANGE IN PUBLIC SIGHT, WHERE NE'ER BEFORE - BUT - PRAY ‘PUT OUT THE LIGHT’” FROM LORD BYRON’S POEM, THE WALTZ

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The bitter rivalry between Strauss father and son so polarised the populace of Vienna that fans brawled in the streets over whose music was best.

The French composer Berlioz who hailed Johann Strauss I (1804-49) The Father of the Viennese Waltz was in no doubt. “Vienna without Strauss is like Austria without the Danube", he declared.

Credited with taking the waltz out of the barn into the ballroom, reimagined as entertainment fit for Emperors, Strauss Senior set

other new trends, giving music titles instead of numbers and charging entrance fees for concerts instead of handing round a collection plate.

History, however, has passed the crown to his son, The Waltz King. Johann Strauss II (1825-99) gave the musical form developed by his father a symphonic coherence worthy of the concert hall.

He composed over 600 works to Strauss Senior’s 251, including a ballet and 15 operettas, winning the respect of the classical world with Die Fledermaus (The Bat), a perennial opera house fixture.

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In the process, he became as famous as Elvis with a fan base to rival the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s. Yet he never quite escaped the shadow of his father.

Johann Senior played second fiddle to no one and spent a lifetime trying to bring down the baton on his sons’ musical careers. He forbade all three from following him into the business, mapping out a banking career for young Johann. › Fortuitously, when his father abandoned the family of six children to run off with his lover (with whom he sired eight more), mother Anna stepped in to foster her offspring’s talent.

Later, as Royal Music Director of the Court Balls, Strauss Senior wielded his considerable influence with Vienna’s impresarios to

Johann Strauss I

prevent his son from getting bookings, boycotting the one venue that dared to host his son’s triumphant conducting debut. During the 1848 Austrian Revolution they were again on opposite sides.

After his father’s death from scarlet fever, aged 45, the son took up the baton and ran with it, merging both their orchestras and finally inheriting Strauss Senior’s coveted royal post. He lived to be 73 and perhaps had the last word, dying on the day of his father’s benefit concert.

When the conductor heard the news, the orchestra stopped playing the Radetzky March and launched into a sombre version of The Blue Danube.

Today Strauss Senior’s march shares equal status with Strauss Junior’s waltz as unofficial Austrian national anthems. Perhaps those duelling violins are finally at rest.

DIRTY DANCING

Before it became a dance craze that swept the aristocratic ballrooms of Europe, the waltz was considered the root of all evil.

Originating in the country taverns of the peasant classes, its ‘voluptuous intertwining of limbs requiring

the man’s foot to pass beneath the woman’s dress’ was leaps and bounds ahead of social mores which had kept dancing partners at arm’s length in courtly gavottes and minuets.

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forced upon the respectable classes we feel it a duty to warn every parent against exposing his daughter to so fatal a contagion.’

The tut-tutting subsided and the world embraced the waltz with open arms, giving rise to many national variations from Scandinavia to Peru.

But only the Viennese Waltz has UNESCO status as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. ›

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ROCKING THE WORLD

Between 1826 and its disbandment in 1901, the Strauss Orchestra played in 840 cities around the world, some doing in pre-air travel days.

Strauss Senior’s first grand tour of Europe relied on horsepower and lasted 14 months before his orchestra mutinied from the exhaustion of their punishing two-to-three concerts a day schedule. Strauss Junior, who covered more distance to Russia and the USA suffered a nervous breakdown from the rigours of life on the road.

SPOTLIGHT | STRAUSS

He feared foreigners and the new-fangled steam trains and would reportedly ‘pull the curtains, sink to the floor of the carriage and tremble’ throughout the long journeys.

His greatest challenge came in 1872 when he was invited to headline the 18-day World's Peace Jubilee and International Musical Festival in Boston, Massachusetts.

Held to celebrate the end of the Franco-Prussian War, a 100,000-seater stadium was built to host the monster concert of over 1,000 performers.

OTT America was a culture

The Boston mega-stadium built for 1872’s World's Peace Jubilee in Boston

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shock to Strauss, who was petrified of the screaming, swooning women and horrified to discover he had been allocated 100 assistant conductors "I gave my signal, my 100 assistant conductors followed me as quickly and as well as they could and then there broke out an unholy row such as I shall never forget,” he recalled later.

Although he was paid a king's ransom – $100,000 for 14 concerts (€1.5 million today) – he turned down an America-wide tour and fled for home. ›

Vienna’s New Year’s Eve concert is watched around the world © Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia Commons

NAZI SHOCK

The music of Strauss rings in the New Year in over 90 countries of the world via the annual Vienna Concert. It’s not often mentioned that the concerts were started in 1939 by the Nazis as a propaganda weapon. Hitler considered the music of fellow Austrian Strauss conformed to his Aryan ideal and concerts were broadcast throughout the Third Reich under the auspices of Joseph Goebbels. Then the heritage of Strauss’s paternal grandfather came to light…

A passage from Goebbels’s translated diary reads: ‘Some smart

Alec has found out that Johann Strauss is one-eighth Jewish. This must not be made public.’

HAIR OF THE DOG

Johan Junior’s Newfoundland dog sacrificed his curly black coat to prevent his master from going bald.

Celebrities often bestowed influential female fans with a lock of their own hair as a personal memento but Strauss had so many fans. His valet solved the problem by clipping fur from the family pet, which was a similar shade and texture to his master’s, to provide ‘authentic Waltz King hair’. ›

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SPOTLIGHT | STRAUSS

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2001 A Space Odyssey

DANUBE BLUES

The Blue Danube in its original form was not a first-night success. Initially set to words as a choral piece, the satirical lyrics mocking Austria for losing the war with Prussia and the Danube for being more of a murky grey did not go down well. But when the orchestral version premiered at the 1867 Paris World Fair it was a sensation, winning the respect of

‘serious’ composers.

German contemporary, Brahms was a particular admirer. Once, when autographing the fan of Mrs Strauss Junior after a concert, instead of adding a few customary notes from his own repertoire he scribbled the opening bars to The Blue Danube and, beneath it, the words: ‘Unfortunately, NOT by Johannes Brahms’.

DID YOU KNOW? The Blue Danube was backing music for the famous space station sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey. It also featured in Spongebob Square Pants, Titanic, Squid Game and as a jingle for a 1960s Squid Game

‘Shippam’s for tea, for tea, for tea’ fish paste commercial. e

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4

5

280 m2

1,414 m2

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Living area approx.

Plot surface approx.

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HOW YOUR

ATTACHMENT

STYLE

AFFECTS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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“ATTACHMENT THEORY TEACHES US THAT TRUE AUTONOMY RELIES ON FEELING SECURELY CONNECTED TO OTHER HUMAN BEINGS.” NORA SAMARAN

W

ho you are today, the person you bring to your friendships and romantic relationships, is inexorably linked to who you were and the bonds you built with your parents and other primary caregivers when you were a child. This is the essence of attachment theory, developed by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, John Bowlby. His research led him to identify four

attachment styles, based on the reactions of infants when they were separated from their parents and later reunited with them. The styles are as follows: 1. SECURE ATTACHMENT: These babies were distressed when they were separated from their parents, but sought comfort from their parents and were quickly appeased when their parents returned.

2. ANXIOUS-RESISTANT ATTACHMENT: These infants showed a greater

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level of distress, and when reunited with their parents, sought comfort yet also aimed to ‘punish’ their parents for the separation.

3. AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT: These babies didn’t fuss at all when separated from their parents and ignored or actively avoided their parents upon return.

4. DISORGANISEDDISORIENTED STYLE: These infants had no predictable pattern of attachment. ›

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SPOTLIGHT | SOCIAL SKILLS

It is clear that secure attachment styles are more likely to arise when a baby is given love and care, while anxious, avoidant, or disorganised styles may arise if the baby is neglected or cared for inconsistently.

These styles are not only relevant to infant or child psychology, however.

Instead, they spill over into our adult relationships.

Many more fascinating experiments show the extent to which attachment styles last way beyond infancy. For instance, psychologist, Harry Harlow, revealed how our adult behavior is very much linked to bonds formed in our infancy and childhood. In one experiment, he separated newly born monkeys from their parents, putting them into two groups. In the first group, the baby monkeys were provided with milk by a ‘mother monkey’ made of wire mesh. In the second, the monkeys were given milk by a wire mesh mother covered in soft cloth. Both groups of monkeys grew and thrived, but when subjected to a loud noise, those with the ‘soft’ mother would run to their surrogate for comfort, while those with the metal mother would exhibit distressing behaviours such as screaming in fear or rocking back and forth. The experiment is a powerful demonstration of the importance that aspects such as warmth, softness, and protection have on the way we process stress and bond with others.

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WHAT IS YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE? KNOWING YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CAN HIGHLIGHT AREAS YOU CAN WORK ON SO YOU CAN BUILD HEALTHY, LASTING RELATIONSHIPS. BELOW ARE TYPICAL BEHAVIOURS OF THE DIFFERENT STYLES. THINK ABOUT HOW YOU RELATE TO YOUR PARTNER AND THE AREAS YOU TEND TO HAVE CONFLICTS ABOUT. IF YOU CANNOT WORK OUT YOUR OWN ATTACHMENT STYLE, THEN YOU MAY WISH TO COMPLETE AN ATTACHMENT STYLE QUIZ ONLINE. YOU CAN DO SO IN FIVE MINUTES OR LESS ON SITES LIKE THE ATTACHMENT PROJECT OR VERYWELL MIND.

1.

Secure Attachment

This style arises when, as a baby and child, you freely sought (and received) reassurance, validation, and love from your caregivers. Their warmth made you feel safe, comforted, respected, and valued. They were emotionally available when you needed them.

If you have a secure attachment style, then you: » Can easily manage your emotions » Trust others » Exercise optimal communication skills, including assertive communication and active listening

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2.

AnxiousResistant Attachment

» Seek emotional help when you need it » Feel comfortable getting close to others » Manage conflict with your partner well » Have a healthy self-esteem » Self-reflect (you think about your own behaviour, thoughts, and emotions, and how they may affect your partner and other people) » Are okay with spending some time alone » Are emotionally available when people need your support How this attachment style manifests itself in your relationships: When you have a secure style, you tend to be positive and supportive of your partner. You trust their intentions and handle conflicts assertively, with a view to finding solutions that work for both of you.

This style can arise from inconsistent parenting that does not prioritise the child’s needs. This results in a lack of trust and confusion about relationships.

If you have this style, perhaps your parents were inconsistent, supporting you and responding to you sometimes and neglecting you at others.

If you have an anxious-resistant attachment style, then you: » Are very sensitive to real/perceived criticism » Feel unworthy of being loved » Intensely fear rejection or

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abandonment » Find it hard to trust your partner, friends, and other people » Have low selfesteem » Tend to be jealous » Need others’ approval » Find it hard to be alone How this attachment style manifests itself in your relationships: If you have this style, you may find that you cling to your partner, fearing they will leave you. You may find it hard to trust them because you have poor selfesteem. When you engage in conflict, your anxiety, distrust, and jealousy may arise. ›

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SPOTLIGHT | SOCIAL SKILLS

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4

. DisorganisedDisoriented Attachment

3.

Avoidant Attachment

This style can be prevalent when infants or children were left to fend for themselves or rejected when they showed a need for support or tried to express their emotions. Parents may have been slow to respond to basic needs, leaving their children to fend for themselves.

If you have an avoidant attachment style, then you: » May avoid getting close to people » May feel fiercely independent » Find it hard to trust others » Feel threatened when others try to get close to you » Believe you don’t need others » Find it hard to commit to your partner » If you have this attachment style, your partner may complain that it is hard to get close to you or that you are cold or emotionally distant. They may feel like you are constantly stonewalling or dismissing them.

Trauma, abuse, or neglect can all result in this attachment style.

Parents are inconsistent, leaving children confused about whether or not they are loved.

If you have a disorganiseddisoriented attachment style, then you: » Fear rejection » Find it hard to manage or regulate your emotions » Behave inconsistently or in a contradictory way » Have high anxiety » Find it hard to trust people » Can display signs prevalent in avoidant and anxious styles If you display this attachment style, you may be unpredictable or difficult to understand. You may seek out intimacy with your partner, only to push them away when they get close to you. You may be afraid of trusting them because your trust has been broken too many times. ›

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WORKING ON YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLES BECAUSE ATTACHMENT STYLES ARE SO INGRAINED IN THE PSYCHE, THE BEST APPROACH TO TAKE IF YOU HAVE AN ANXIOUS, AVOIDANT, OR DISORGANISED STYLE, IS TO OPT FOR TALK THERAPY. A TRAINED THERAPIST WILL HELP YOU MAKE SENSE OF YOUR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, POINT OUT HOW THEY ARE AFFECTING RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHARE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES SO YOU CAN BUILD AND MAINTAIN LOVING, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO WORK ON ISSUES THAT KEEP POPPING UP IN YOUR LIAISONS: » Know your attachment style. You may not fit neatly into one of the above categories. Your personal style may contain elements from two or more of the above. Knowing the specific thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that are causing conflict or unhappiness is vital. If you get stuck in this process, it’s a good sign that therapy can help. » Observe friends and family, especially those who display secure attachment styles.

Notice how they behave when they are engaged in conflicts or when challenges arise. Take note of how they set boundaries with others while still maintaining a sense of closeness to them.

Keep a journal and write down the behaviours you wish to emulate. » When intense emotions or situations arise, write them down in your journal. Doing so will reveal patterns and show when you may have

misinterpreted someone, or overreacted because of a fear of abandonment or loss of control. » If you feel your partner does not support you or love you the way you need, write down the specific behaviours that make you feel that way.

Go back to these journal entries in a few weeks or months. This will enable you to gain distance and analyse if you still perceive these behaviours in the same way. You may be choosing partners that reinforce an insecure attachment style, so this step is of great importance. » Take a break when things get heated with your partner.

If you have an anxious style, for instance, your tendency may be to get heated and ‘explode’. In other words, you may be likely to react emotionally instead of responding rationally to a situation. This is human during challenging times, 57 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

but it may get in the way of finding a solution. Cooling down and allowing a little time to pass will ensure you bring a more secure ‘you’ to the table. » Let your partner know how you feel in a respectful manner and listen to them actively, without interruption, when they share how they feel. Be accountable for your role in conflicts, but do not allow your boundaries to be overstepped, and do not stick to a toxic relationship out of a fear of abandonment.

As you will see, your attachment style is a pillar of the type of relationship you have. If you need professional help, don’t let stigma or apathy hold you back. Through greater selfawareness and the practical techniques shared with you by a therapist, you can hone your attachment style so you can build happy, secure relationships. e

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WHAT’S UP WITH

DNA TESTING?

The interest in our roots and origins is growing, just as modern technology makes it easier to search the past and the results are more accurate. What started with genealogy research of family trees has since become a field dominated by genetics and DNA testing, but is it all as reliable as we think and are there any drawbacks?

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY ADOBE STOCK, SHUTTERSTOCK AND UNSPLASH

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W

e used to rely on family stories about grandparents and their origins to have a sense of our roots and ancestry, but as we later found out, many were not entirely true to fact. Be it due to misinformation or the purposeful cloaking of skeletons in the family closet, imagine the surprise or even shock that greeted many when they ventured into genealogy research and sifted through old records of birth, death and marriage certificates, only to find that things were actually very different.

Choose a reputable laboratory

DNA testing complements genealogical research © Roman Kraft / Unsplash

Learning that one (or both) of your parents or sets of grandparents are not actually blood relatives – i.e. not really your father/mother or grandfather/grandmother can turn your world upside down. It can pull the rug of security and belonging from under your feet and make you question if everything you’ve been led to believe has been a lie. Sometimes this is how people have found out that they were adopted, but also how hidden infidelities and family secrets have come to light. ›

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FROM GENEALOGY TO GENETICS

There has been an avalanche of this kind of revelation since genealogy took off in the 1990s. Websites and researchers sprung up offering people an enticing insight into their roots and family histories, and

SPOTLIGHT | SCIENCE

depending upon the efficiency of their country’s record keeping this enabled people to delve into an otherwise impenetrable past. Some found the above-mentioned surprises, sometimes leading to traumas yet also to finding new families and friendships.

The BBC TV series Who Do You Think You Are? showcased the process in a fascinating way that told not only of the ancestry of

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celebrities ranging from Boris Johnson and Julian Clary to Barbara Windsor, but also highlighted the human story behind family histories that stretched back from the 19th in some cases all the way to the 10th century, with tales of wealth, poverty and misery along the way. It was a fascinating insight into life in previous centuries and made us grateful for the era we live in.

ENTER DNA

The problem with documentation based genealogy was that it could only trace ancestors in the locations where they spent their lives, but it couldn’t tell you much about their/ your genetic make-up. If you wanted to know more about your origins and delve much further back into (pre)history, the rapidly evolving science of DNA-based genetics was the answer, and so new websites began to appear around the turn of the millennium that offered a deeper look.

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The kit contains a cotton bud to swab inside your mouth

HOW A GENEALOGICAL DNA TEST WORKS There are a variety of companies that offer this kind of service through online sites. In essence, you pay, receive a test sample that generally consists of a cotton bud to swap inside your mouth, place in an airtight tube and send off to the laboratory. Around three to eight weeks later you’ll receive the results online, and they come in the form of a breakdown of your regions (not actually ethnicities) of origin. For instance, 50% Ireland, 24% southern Italy, 20% Germany and 6% Iran.

The results are derived from matching your DNA with that of a (growing) database of people from around the world.

If the accompanying map plotting shows that half of your DNA comes up in Greece that doesn’t necessarily mean that some of your direct ancestors come from there, but merely that part of your DNA matches that of large concentrations of people in that region of the world. However, how do you know if the results are truly accurate? ›

By then, DNA had already earned recognition in medicine, specifically forensics, where it has revolutionised police investigations and clarified many a crime that had gone unsolved for decades. It was therefore wellestablished by the time it entered the B2C (Business-to-Consumer) sector, and offered to reveal your ethnic make-up (which can have the same effect of stirring up family secrets) and track your roots geographically up to centuries and millennia ago.

DNA testing can also help alert us to possible medical conditions © National Cancer Institute / Unsplash

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DIFFERENT TYPE OF TESTING

A person’s genome, which consists of sequences of DNA, forms the basis for the analysis, but there are different types of DNA testing that can be used.

The most standard form is autosomal (atDNA), which follows the family in a genetic way, matching you to your parents, their parents, and so on. It is handy for determining the chance of congenital medical conditions but also plots your DNA results as inherited from the generations that preceded you, and this can produce a lot of dots

SPOTLIGHT | SCIENCE

on the map.

It will often throw up unusual locations, including Middle Eastern, Asian or even African results among totally European-looking people, and vice versa. But when it comes to DNA it’s important to know that men have an X and a Y chromosome inherited from their mother and father respectively, while women get an X chromosome from both.

This opens up another two fields of DNA research: mitochondrial (mtDNA) and Y-chromosome (Y-DNA).

Both are important for

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paternity testing, though a woman who wants to confirm who her biological father is will have to have a male relative test on her behalf. In terms of origin testing the two types follow the maternal and paternal lines respectively, with mitochondrial DNA tests tracking the DNA transmitted from mother to child and highlighting which haplogroups or subclades (DNA populations) she hails from, and it goes back up to 50 generations to match your mother’s ancestry with people in modern geographical locations. ›

DNA testing brings the past back to life ©Jason Wong / Unsplash

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The mosaic of human life

Y-chromosome tests do the same for the paternal line, and the two should really be taken together if you want to follow the route back to your ancestry on both sides, but while they produce far fewer matches than more standard autosomal tests, the results are more detailed and reliable. The problem is that not all the companies offering DNA tests use the same methodology or even the same referencing databases, so your results could be inaccurate or statistically tilted.

Moreover, the percentages you get are based upon modern geographical

locations, not ethnic/racial composition. You’ll have to deduce that from results that can come back as (for instance) 28% English, 32% Czech, 30% Spanish/ Portuguese and 10% Middle Eastern. It tells you where people live with the most matches to the different haplogroups within your DNA, and for this reason it will usually throw up a variety of locations from which you can more or less figure out your racial and ethnic origins.

Genetic DNA testing is fun but bear in mind that it’s not always 100% accurate and location or ethnicity precise. A little bit of prior

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research will make you more informed about the process, understand the results better, and should ensure that you send your valuable DNA data only to reputable companies.

Go out and find your roots! e

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SPOTLIGHT | MOTORING

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AUTOMOBILI

PININFARINA BATTISTA

THE NEW PINNACLE OF ELECTRIC HYPER GT LUXURY

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For the potentially unacquainted, pictured here is the world’s first pure-electric GT hyper car, born from the artisans at Automobili Pininfarina.

WORDS SAM HEXTER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA

F

ounded in 2018, Automobili Pininfarina is the automotive arm of the renowned Italian design firm, Pininfarina.

Established to create luxury, high-performance vehicles, the company roots back to Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, founder of Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 – known for designing iconic vehicles, including the Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta, Dino 246, F40 and Enzo to name just a few. To say Pininfarina has a storied history in automotive aesthetics would be an understatement.

And the Battista certainly continues that legacy.

Limited to a mere 150 examples, this exclusive model redefines handfinished personalisation, setting a new standard for those seeking sustainable and unrivalled performance.

UNPARALLELED DESIGN HERITAGE

At the heart of the Battista lies Pininfarina’s legacy of creating the world’s most beautiful motorcars. This electric hyper GT stands as a modern interpretation of sophisticated Italian design, combined with other-worldly performance. The carbon body, sculpted with two long defining lines, pays homage to Pininfarina’s elegant past while embracing the latest EV technologies. The PURA design philosophy, a testament to timeless design for a new era of electric mobility, ensures the Battista is a visual masterpiece.

Inspired by the racing legacy of Nino Farina, the Edizione Nino Farina, seen here, pays homage to the fearless spirit of the motorsport legend. Limited to just five units, this special

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edition features many distinctive design cues, inside and out, creating a unique and collectible hyper GT. Raise the sleek carbon doors to the heavens and step inside the Battista’s cabin, where emotive design meets advanced technology and the finest finishes. The driver-centric layout boasts three screens, ensuring easy access to crucial information – like the speedometer – but more on that later. The tailoring service is said to offer an astounding 128 million interior combinations, allowing clients to collaborate with the design team in crafting their dream specification. From GT to Pilota seating options, sustainable leather, Alcantara upholstery, and exquisite detailing, the interior ensures a luxurious and personalised driving experience.›

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For those desiring even greater exclusivity, the Battista Anniversario takes luxury to the next level.

Adorned with the Furiosa Carbon Accent Pack and a bespoke heritage-inspired livery, limited to just five units, the Anniversario guarantees ultra-exclusivity.

With aerodynamic enhancements, a unique wheel design, and interior detailing, this edition promises a driving experience that surpasses all expectations. But rest assured, even without the ‘special editions’, the vast plethora of bespoke options on offer to each lucky custodian guarantees that no two examples will be the same.

SPOTLIGHT | MOTORING

STATE-OF-THE-ART PERFORMANCE

The Battista’s all-electric powertrain features a high-capacity 120 kWh lithium-ion battery housed in a lightweight carbon-fibre structure. Four independent high-performance electric motors, full torque vectoring, and a T-shaped liquidcooled battery pack provide unparalleled performance.

Boasting 1,900 horsepower, 2,340 Nm of torque, and a

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top speed of 350 km/h, the Battista achieves Formula 1 car-beating acceleration, making it the most powerful road-legal Italian sports car ever built. The Battista will launch from 0-100km/h in a hair-raising 1.8 seconds, with 300km/h arriving on the dashboard in under 12 seconds – making this hyper GT quicker in a straight-line scramble than a Bugatti Chiron Sport – a seriously impressive feat. ›

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» POWERTRAIN 1,900 hp, 2,340 Nm torque. » 0-100KM/H 1.86 seconds. » TOP SPEED Over 350 km/h. » MARKET ALTERNATIVES Rimac C_Two, Lotus Evija, Porsche Taycan Turbo S or a non-EV alternative in the McLaren Speedtail, featuring a hybrid powertrain. » PRICE From €2.2 million plus local tax. Limited to just 150 examples.

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Driving dynamics can be tailored to taste across five distinctive driving modes – Calma, Pura, Energica, Furiosa, and Carattere – allowing drivers to take full control of their Battista experience from behind the wheel. The torque vectoring technology ensures infinitely variable dynamics, providing the ultimate driving engagement.

The extensive testing programme, guided by former F1 and Formula E driver, Nick Heidfeld, ensures the Battista’s road-going performance lives up to its hyper GT credentials.

With its crosshairs firmly on the Grand Tourer market, range of this electrified mile-eating

SPOTLIGHT | MOTORING

monster is an important statistic to consider too.

Pininfarina claims an emission-less range of up to 476 km, though that will depend on how often you plan on testing that 0-100km/h blast before you reach your destination.

AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA AND BOVET 1822

In a celebration of heritage and craftsmanship, Automobili Pininfarina collaborated with watchmaker BOVET 1822, resulting in the exquisite Battista Tourbillon.

The timepiece, created alongside the hyper GT and in celebration of the marque’s 90th anniversary, are crafted to the client’s specifications, showcasing

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unrivalled exclusivity and attention to detail. A neat extra when spending a cool €2.2 million.

The Automobili Pininfarina Battista is more than another opulent EV. It’s a testament to the marriage of design, performance, and sustainability. With its limited production, unrivalled personalisation options, and state-of-theart technology, the Battista stands as a symbol of automotive excellence, paving the way for the future of sustainable performance. Don’t be surprised to see rivalling all-electric offerings from the other titan Italian automakers in the near future. e

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DAKOTA JOHNSON WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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MESMERISES AS THE ENIGMATIC MADAME WEB

T

he upcoming Marvel film, Madame Web, is generating a lot of buzz on social media and much of it has to do with the lead actor – Dakota Johnson, who is playing the Madame herself.

If you aren’t familiar with this character, let us fill you in.

In the Marvel comic sphere, Madame Web is an old, frail female mutant who was born blind and suffers from a neurological condition known as myasthenia gravis. The upside? She has incredible psychic abilities that she puts to good use in her work as a medium. Her powers include telepathy, clairvoyance, and prescience. She can also perform astral projection and appear to others as a spirit! She is able to gain information about things, people, and places through extrasensory perception, making her quite a formidable opponent!

The film version retains

all of Madame’s power but totally revamps her persona.

While in the comics, she lacks function in her limbs and is completely blind, the film sees her as a young, energetic paramedic, who is able to fight off her foes physically as well as mentally.

What’s more, she isn’t alone; she is joined by three young women who are fatefully thrown in her way and whom she seemingly has to protect. Of course, they are much stronger than it initially seems, and together, the group create an indomitable energy that throws a spanner in the works of the arch villain, Ezekiel Sims (played

by French–Algerian acting sensation, Tahar Rahim). ›

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The Peanut Butter Falcon

If you’ve seen the trailer, then you are most likely intrigued by what seems like a different, and more dynamic version of the comic universe than you have seen in recent Marvel films. There is a seriousness and purity to Johnson’s acting that takes her leagues ahead of many other Marvel protagonists. Moreover, the film pairs her with one of the industry’s hottest new talents – Sydney Sweeney, who also strikes the perfect balance between power and seduction.

Dakota Johnson is a subtle, naturalistic actor who lends gravitas to any role she takes on. This was evident from her first big break – her role as Anastasia

Steele in 50 Shades of Grey.

What seemed to be a rather soppy yet best-selling book turned into a showstopper; a film that was catchy and emotionally charged, thanks mainly to the acting. Dakota is magical and steals every scene she’s in. Particularly memorable are her roles in Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash (in which she stars alongside Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes) and Suspiria (her most serious, brilliant work yet).

If you love scary films like Rosemary’s Baby (the kind that send a tingle up and down your spine, not through corny tactics like unexpected scares from under the bed but rather through psychological

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intrigue), then Suspiria is a must-watch. Here, she plays an American woman who enrols at a prestigious dance academy in Berlin.

Unbeknownst to her, the academy is run by a coven of witches and she wields an unsuspected power that leads her to become the mother of the coven. Johnson prepared herself conscientiously for the part, training rigorously in dance. Kinetic talent was crucial in this role, as the eerie dances she performs have the power to take lives… a fact she discovers with horror but eventual acceptance.

It’s a knockout role; one that requires a rich inner world which this actor clearly possesses.

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For many, it is precisely her subtlety and simplicity that make her stand out in the industry.

Think of films like The Peanut Butter Falcon, in which she stars opposite Shia LaBeouf, playing Eleanor, a social worker who sets out to find a young man, Zak with Down syndrome who has escaped from a state-run facility. When the social worker learns that her boss intends to send Zak to a highconfinement institution, she joins him and his friend on their escape.

The film was a feel-good indie sleeper hit, with critics praising the performance of all three actors.

Johnson also shone in the drama Our Friend, playing Nicole – a young woman battling a fatal disease. She shows that she can sing as well as she can act, performing three songs for the film’s soundtrack. Her performance led The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern to write that the “intimacy of Ms. Johnson’s performance is extraordinary. She is the least assertive of movie stars, yet the courage, despair, and fury she finds in Nicole will lift you and spin you around”. Jessica Kiang of IndieWire hit the nail on the head when she said that Johnson “makes something of nothing.” This is pure talent at its best, and it makes all her films a good investment of time. ›

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SPOTLIGHT | PEOPLE

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Johnson does many more things than act. In 2020, she founded a production company alongside a former Netflix honcho, with a view to developing film and TV projects.

She also directed the music video for Coldplay’s Cry Cry Cry (she has been in a relationship with Coldplay singer, Chris Martin, for many years). She is additionally a brand ambassador for Gucci and an active advocate of women’s rights.

Currently, she is busy promoting Madame Web – and she has promised fans that the film is so good, audiences will be lining up to see it! In the promo video for the film she said, “While my character in the movie may be able to see the future, I also can. And I know what the future brings. I know that when you see Madame Web you’re going to love it. In fact, I think you’re going to see it twice.” If you have any doubts about it, don’t miss the trailer. The film promises to be exciting, dramatic, emotional, and a little scary all at once, so if you feel like catching a movie that will engage your senses to the full, then this one will certainly fit the bill!

MADAME WEB WILL BE RELEASED IN SPAIN ON FEBRUARY 14.

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Check out the latest releases in films, series, and best-selling books. Consider the possibilities of romance in the Metaverse. Ease tense muscles and troubleD minds in a Drop Sauna. See what’s trending in Spain and further afield.

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84 What’s Cool 88 The New Drop Sauna 92 Hot New Films 96 Cool New Series 100 New Book Releases 104 Dating in the Metaverse

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NUJUMA ON THE RED SEA

Opening in the first quarter of 2024, the much-anticipated Nujuma resort will offer a highly personalised leisure experience with stunning natural beauty and indigenous design, located on a set of private islands off the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Nujuma will be Ritz-Carlton Reserve’s first property in the Middle East, and will comprise 63 oneto three-bedroom water and beach villas with a full range of luxurious amenities.

WWW.MARRIOTT.COM

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EXPERIMENTAL CHALET IN VERBIER

Experimental Chalet, an Experimental Group Hotel situated in the heart of Verbier in Switzerland, designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi, offers a selection of 39 rooms and suites with panoramic views of the surrounding Alpine scenery as well as the signature Experimental Cocktail Club Verbier, Gregory Marchand’s Frenchie Verbier Restaurant, Spa, and the renowned Farm Club nightclub.

WWW.EXPERIMENTALCHALET.COM

PAGANI UNVEILS ITS NEW AMERICAN HQ

Pagani Automobili officially inaugurated its new American Headquarters in Coral Gables, Florida, with an exclusive launch event. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Horacio and Christopher Pagani, the Mayor of Coral Gables, and other dignitaries.

The celebration marks a significant step in Pagani Automobili’s development plan to consolidate its growth in the American market.

WWW.PAGANI.COM

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TRENDS | GLOBAL

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SANTA MARÍA GASTROBAR – BARCELÓ CARMEN GRANADA

Rooted in its local culture, the Barceló Carmen Granada hotel offers a gastronomic proposal of ‘tapas viajeras’ and dishes from the typical Andalusian to the most refined international cuisine at La Santa Maria Gastrobar, where diners embark on a sensory journey that pays tribute to the different stages that marked the voyage of Columbus and the discovery of America.

WWW.BARCELO.COM

SPACE DISCOVERY EXHIBITION

A unique collection of space suits, full-scale models of ships and rockets, and relics such as parts of the Saturn V engine and the Apollo 11 spacecraft, offered thousands of visitors the chance to see hundreds of objects close up that have travelled beyond our atmosphere at the Space Discovery Exhibition, which was running in Barcelona during recent months and will now move on to other countries.

WWW.SPACEDISCOVERY.ES

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THE DYNAMIC NEW LEXUS LBX

Expected to be a game-changer and a key component for the brand’s growth, the LBX is a completely new model for a new Lexus market in Europe. The smallest Lexus yet, the LBX is a self-charging hybrid crossover that is designed to be affordable, easy to drive, and in tune with contemporary styling. It offers much more than you would expect from a car in its class.

WWW.LEXUS.COM

CLASSICA GRAN RESERVA ROSADO 2012

Following the success of its prestigious 2009 vintage, which was placed within the Top 50 Wines in the World in the Decanter World Wine Awards, Hacienda López de Haro has launched it’s muchawaited second vintage, the Classica Gran Reserva Rosada 2012. Made with Garnacha and Viera grapes, this special wine spends four years in the barrel and more than six in the bottle.

WWW.HACIENDALOPEZDEHARO.COM

CARRERA Y CARRERA BACK TO THE ORIGINS

Carrera Y Carrera creates jewellery made with as much love as it symbolises, like this complete set from the Origin Collection. Under the motto ‘Back to the Origins’, it combines exotic animals interpreted with total realism, with ornamental elements. Specifically, these striking jewels are inspired by the hexagonal tiles used in the pavements of terraces and gardens in ancient times.

WWW.CARRERAYCARRERA.COM

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THE POWER OF THE

SAUNA

Although exposing the body to deep heat is prevalent in other cultures, the sauna is synonymous with Finland and is rooted in Finnish traditions, historically being used to cleanse the body and ease the mind. The word itself is Finnish and with 3.3 million of them being used by its population of 5.5 million, the sauna is an integral part of life in Finland with every home having one.

WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DROP SAUNA

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THE NEW DROP SAUNA

Sirena Kiviranta, who is well known in Marbella as the owner of the forward-moving real estate company, Strand Properties, together with her husband Anssi, is the designer of the new Drop Sauna. Expect to see one soon on the expansive decking fronting their office at Playas del Duque in Puerto Banús, as well as on the terrace of the Maribel Hotel in Sierra Nevada. The Drop Sauna, together with the Drop Lodge, are the latest products in the line which began with the awardwinning Drop Jacuzzi, designed

by Nikolai Ruola.

You may ask why there would be a demand for saunas in a warm climate. Well, our Nordic cousins have the drop on us and many of them who have relocated here are not content to exist without their personal sauna. “Finnish people love to go to the sauna every day, then we are happy… the happiest people in the world. If we can’t go the sauna every week, we suffer. The sauna experience is very purifying and lends itself to meditation,“ states Sirena

HEALTH BENEFITS

Aside from the intense detoxification as a result

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of sweating from open pores, the health benefits are numerous. As Sirena explains: “Blood circulation increases and flows to the surface of the skin, increasing perspiration and causing the cardiovascular system to work more intensely.

This gently alleviates stress, lowers blood pressure, relaxes the muscles, and increases one’s mental wellbeing. Regularly bathing in heat increases metabolism, promotes weight loss, and has a rejuvenating effect on the skin.” Sounds like just the tonic we could all do with! ›

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SMART MINIMALIST DESIGN

The stylishly designed new range of Drop Saunas come in black, white or natural wood colours, although another colour can be requested. They are perfectly square with an eye catching large glass frontage signature styled in the shape of the Drop logo. The wood employed is spruce-based crosslaminated timber (CLT) which is an environmentally friendly, renewable, and highly durable construction material. Each sauna is supplied completely prefabricated permitting easy assembly and only requiring a suitable stable foundation capable of bearing a load

TRENDS | SAUNAS

of 2000kg. They also come with quality wooden benches and warm LED lighting. All you need is an electrician to check the circuit’s capacity.

Every Drop Sauna is fitted with a Juup livari Finnish wood-burning stove or an electric stove. The artesanal wooden stove comes with a chimney and the more wood you burn, the higher the intensity of the heat.

It’s very nice with birch wood if available. With the electric stove, the heat comes from pouring water on the stones, creating waves of searing steam.

The set up is designed to provide a top sauna experience, with an optimal heater placement to give

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the best heat distribution.

“We know how to have the best ‘löyly!’” says Sirena smiling, explaining that ‘löyly' is the Finnish name given to the evaporating hot steam that rises from their stoves after water has been carefully thrown on them. It is precisely this 'löyly' that turns the sauna space into a hot and humid paradise, capable of relaxing even the most tense muscles and worried minds.

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The Drop Lodge

heater there is a fire safety base between the stove and the floor. It is recommended to check if there are any regulations governing the placement of wooden heated saunas in your community.

The exterior of the sauna is protected against the elements and can be recoated with the correct preservative every year or so which is available on order from Drop. The wooden structure carries a 10 year guarantee and both models of stove have five year guarantees.

VERSATILE INTERIOR

With exterior dimensions of 230 x 230 x 230cm, they can comfortably accommodate five adults sitting or two lying fully prone, so they are perfectly adequate for a quiet contemplative session, for a couple to enjoy, or for a more sociable group experience.

According to Sirena, “In Finland, the typical sauna experience is one undertaken in silence even with others present, or it is a place for deep conversation. Many politicians discuss the most important issues of the day with colleagues in a sauna

and, if only men, they are usually naked.”

SAFETY & PROTECTION

CLT performs better than most wood products due to its unique composition. It possesses a high degree of fire resistance as a result of its cross sectional thickness and air tight construction which restricts the capacity of fires to spread. Of course, if operating the wood burning stove you must be very careful and know how to use it. In the manual there are clear instructions. Beneath the Drop wooden sauna

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND PRICES, CONTACT TEL: (+34) 659 556 055 STRAND@STRAND.ES

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COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

HOT NEW MOVIES SPONSORED BY RED DOG CINEMAS, PUERTO BANÚS. TO CHECK CURRENT FILM SCREENINGS, WWW.REDDOGCINEMAS.COM

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» Genre: Romantic Fantasy » Director: Andrew Haigh (Lean on Pete) » Cast: Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, Jamie Bell A British romantic fantasy film based on the 1987 novel, Strangers, by Taichi Yamada. The plot centers on Adam – a lonely screenwriter living in London and grappling with his past and sexuality.

He commences a relationship with his neighbour, Harry, and eventually confronts his childhood trauma, reconciling with the spirits of his dead parents. After dabbling in drugs, he experiences a series of hallucinations that illuminate his need to move on and the possibility of lasting love with Harry.

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» Genre: Biopic » Director: Michael Mann (Transformers) » Cast: Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Patrick Dempsey, Shailene Woodley Set in the summer of 1957, this film centers on ex-race car driver, Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver). His life is in shambles, as his company faces an impending bankruptcy and he struggles to overcome the death of his son. He decides to ‘seize the day’ and take part in a 1,000-mile (1,600km) race – the iconic Mille Miglia.

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» Genre: Action / Adventure » Director: S.J. Clarkson (Life on Mars) » Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson, Emma Roberts This Marvel thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Web (Madame Web) – a Manhattan paramedic with clairvoyant abilities. Forced to confront secrets from the past, she must protect three young women from a mysterious enemy who seeks to eliminate them. Together, they form an unbreakable alliance that highlights the power of ‘sisterhood’.

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MADAME WEB

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THE COLOR PURPLE

» Genre: Musical » Director: Blitz Bazawule (The Burial of Kojo) » Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks A musical remake of the emotion-packed 1986 film of the same time. This is the story of Celie Harris, an AfricanAmerican girl who is abused by her father. She secretly gives birth to two of his children before they are taken away. Celie shares an unbreakable bond with her sister, Nettie and relies on her faith to get her through. She writes letters to God, hoping to find freedom and leave her traumatic past behind.

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» Genre: Thriller » Director: Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) » Cast: Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is an introverted spy novelist who seldom leaves her home. When the plot of her books hits the nerve of a sinister underground syndicate, fiction and reality merge into one. An uncover spy shows up to save her and she enters into a covert world where nothing is what it seems. e

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AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER (NETFLIX) S1 » APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 22 » Genre: Adventure » Creators: Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (The Legend of Korra) » Cast: Tamlyn Tomita, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Yu Avatar is set in an Arctic-inspired world in which some people can telekinetically manipulate one of the four elements—water, earth, fire, or air—through practices known as ‘bending’, inspired by Chinese martial arts. The only one who can bend all four elements, the Avatar, is a young survivor of his nation – the Air Nomads. He has a formidable task ahead – that of defeating the Fire Nations, who aim to take over all other nations.

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EXPATS (AMAZON) S1

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» APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 26 » Genre: Drama » Creator: Lulu Wang (The Farewell) » Cast: Nicole Kidman, Jack Huston, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo Expats is based on Janice Y. K. Lee’s 2016 novel The Expatriates, about an international community in Hong Kong whose lives become intertwined following a tragedy experienced by one family.

Nicole Kidman plays Margaret, a woman who has migrated with her family to Hong Kong. Sarayu Blue plays career-driven Hilary, whose friendship with Margaret is fractured by the hand of destiny.

Ji-young Yoo gives life to Mercy, a carefree New York graduate who becomes embroiled in the lives of the international Hong Kong community.

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» APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 26 » Genre: Drama / War » Creator: John Orloff (Band of Brothers) » Cast: Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman are the producers of Masters of the Air – a World War II epic that follows the 100th Bomb Group (the ‘Bloody Hundredth’), a brotherhood famed in history for their fearlessness and loyalty. Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name and scripted by John Orloff, it follows the men as they conduct dangerous bombing raids over Nazi Germany, grappling with the icey conditions, lack of oxygen, and threat of combat from 7,260 meters in the air.

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MASTERS OF THE AIR (APPLE TV+) S1

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» APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 27 » Genre: Adventure » Creators: Rachel Kondo (Girl of Few Seasons), Justin Marks (Top Gun: Maverick) » Cast: Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai Shōgun is centered on the meeting of three powerful characters who are destined to change each other’s lives for good. John Blackthorne is an adventurous English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will change him profoundly. Lord Toranaga, a shrewd Japanese magnate, is leading a silent battle against dangerous, political rivals. Lady Mariko is a woman of great intelligence but dishonorable family ties. She hopes to prove her value and allegiance and shatter biases against her once and for all.

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» APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 24 » Genre: Action / Comedy » Creators: Francesca Sloane (Fargo), Donald Glover (Atlanta) » Cast: Donald Glover, Maya Erskine, Paul Dano Two strangers are delighted when they are offered a lucrative job by a spy agency. Travel, fashion, and all the perks of the good life are theirs but there is just one catch – they must take on new identities and pretend to be married. The couple makes their way through a series of capers and near-death experiences, all the while fighting their growing attraction to each other. e

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READING

FEBRUARY’S MOST EXCITING NEW RELEASES WORDS ALICIA DUGGAN OF THE BOOKSHOP IN SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA , CC LA COLONIA LOCAL 21, SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA. TEL: 951 779 785. WWW.THEBOOKSHOP.ES

ANNA O BY MATTHEW BLAKE

Anna Ogilvy, a promising twenty-five-year-old writer, becomes the focal point of an enigmatic case after she inexplicably murders two people and then falls into a coma. Afflicted with a rare psychosomatic disorder known as resignation syndrome, Anna is nicknamed ‘Anna O’ by the media. Dr. Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist specialising in sleep-related homicides, becomes her last hope for a breakthrough. Tasked with awakening Anna to face trial, Benedict must navigate the intricacies of a high-profile case while grappling with his own career secrets and a complicated personal life. As Anna begins to stir, Benedict knows he needs to figure out what really happened and to determine if Anna can be held responsible. As the details of the murder come to light, Anna and Benedict find themselves in terrible danger. Anna O delves into the blurred lines between dreams and reality, probing questions of accountability and the consequences of exposing the truth.

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WHAT BY JOHN COOPER CLARKE

John Cooper Clarke, the iconic ‘People’s Poet,’ unleashes a dynamic collection that reaffirms his status as a beloved figure in literature and pop culture. Known for his scabrous and dazzling voice, Clarke’s influence on poets and musicians in unparalleled. This uproarious compilation targets figures like James Brown, John F. Kennedy, and even Jesus, and that’s just the very first poem. Following his previous works, The Luckiest Guy Alive and the memoir, I Wanna Be Yours, Clarke’s latest collection stands out as his most biting yet. With vivid and lively verses, he draws on a life rich in varied experiences, crafting a collection that exemplifies his satirical prowess.

WHAT is an exceptional testament to the enduring talent of one of Britain’s foremost poets and satirists.

SISTERHOOD

BY CATHY KELLY

Crisis hits sisters Lou and Toni on the eve of Lou’s 50th birthday when their mother unveils a shocking family secret. This revelation prompts Lou, a people pleaser, to reassess her life. Unlike Lou, Toni is assertive and confident, however, this hasn’t stopped her own life from falling apart. Together, they embark on a transformative journey from Ireland’s untamed coast to Sicily’s sun-drenched rocky shores. This quest for self-discovery prompts Lou to reevaluate her relationships with her husband, daughter, mother and with Toni. As they navigate through wild landscapes, the sisters begin the journey of defining who they truly want to be, culminating in Lou’s realisation that she can still help and support her loved ones without losing herself in the process. A heartwarming and hopeful read.

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THE WOMEN BY KRISTIN HANNAH

The exciting new novel from the bestselling author of The Nightingale. Frances ‘Frankie’ McGrath, a twenty-year-old nursing student from sunny Southern California, is inspired to defy her conservative upbringing and join the Army Nurse Corps as her brother heads to Vietnam. Amid the chaos and destruction of war, Frankie, as green as the men she serves alongside, experiences the harsh realities of life and death, hope and betrayal. Frankie’s journey explores the bonds formed amid the turmoil of war and the challenges they all faced upon returning to a divided America in the late 1970s. The Women is a poignant tale of friendship, patriotism, and the enduring courage of women whose sacrifices for their country have often been overlooked.

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TWENTY-SEVEN MINUTES BY ASHLEY TATE

In the small town of West Wilmer, Phoebe Dean, once the most popular girl around, continues to attract attention, even in death.

The community grapples with a decade-long mystery surrounding the night Phoebe died in a car accident, specifically asking why her brother, Grant Dean, took twenty-seven minutes to call for help. As Phoebe’s anniversary memorial approaches, the town is rife with speculation and gossip about the accident and the four central figures tied to the tragedy: the caretaker, the secret girlfriend, the missing bad boy, and the former football star. Tate’s debut novel, TwentySeven Minutes, is perfect for fans of Jane Harper and Celeste Ng. A tense and suspenseful exploration of a community consumed by tragedy, grief, and secrets. e

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“METAVERSE ISN’T A THING A COMPANY BUILDS. IT’S THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE INTERNET OVERALL.” MARK ZUCKERBERG

DATING IN THE

METAVERSE

APPS THAT HELP YOU FIND YOUR DREAM PARTNER!

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t’s amazing to think that just 20 years ago, in order to meet someone, you had to physically be in the same spot as them – think a bar at 9pm, a café next to the gym, or (if you were really lucky) a friend’s party. Today, digital is the preferred choice for millions of people in the world. Provided you go about it in the right way, the Internet provides a safe, practical, time-saving solution that helps you weed out undesirables and narrow your list of potential dates to a small number of people you have things in common with. According to Forbes, nearly 70 per cent of people

who met someone on a dating app became involved in a romantic, exclusive relationship with them. The metaverse takes things to the next level, though, adding an element of fantasy and privacy and ultimately focusing on shared interests and compatibility.

people use to communicate with each other in the metaverse.” In his 1992 novel, Snow Crash, he envisioned a world centred around avatars, multi-user experiences, and imaginative environments. All of these features are present today in metaverse dating apps.

WHAT IS THE DATING METAVERSE?

IS METAVERSE DATING SAFE?

Think of the dating metaverse as similar to a dating app, but in 3D. The person credited with coining the phrase ‘metaverse’, author Neal Stephenson, explained, “The people are pieces of software called avatars. They are the audiovisual bodies that 104 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

App developers are working hard to boost the security of their products by setting up safeguards against scams like catfishing. They offer full anonymity and safety, giving you control over what you share and what you keep to yourself.

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NEVERMET

This app was developed for people who need a break from the limitations of ‘looksfirst’ dating. It invites users to connect with people from all over the world who seek to make associations based on personality. The avatars themselves move, hold hands, lie on each other’s lap, and show affection in different ways. What’s more, they can be customised and range in appearance from ultra-realistic human figures to mythical creatures with the ability to talk.

Users claim that this app allows them to overcome the fear of rejection and be comfortable while getting to know someone.

Check out the Nevermet website to view a short video of couples who met in real life after first getting to know each other as avatars. It is surprisingly touching!

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FLIRTUAL

Flirtual is a combination of the words ‘flirt’ and ‘virtual. Like Nevermet, it puts personality first and aims to match people through interests. You can choose from a wide range of avatar profiles, check out dozens of interests (or create your own), and publish a short bio. You can also do a personality quiz, talk about your interests, and list your top VR games.

WWW.SIDEQUESTVR.COM

SECOND LIFE

This app has been around for close to 20 years, and it has over one million active users.

What makes it so great is that it features a wide array of online games as well as communities that are centred on dating.

That means you can focus on gaming alone or take it to the next level by looking for a romantic interest. You can have

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TOP APPS TO WATCH OUT FOR

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN IMMERSING YOURSELF IN THIS FUTURISTIC WORLD, START WITH THE FOLLOWING APPS: lots of fun on this app even when your ‘date’ isn’t online.

For instance, George RR Martin hosted a fan meeting on Second Life, choosing this format to announce that the famous Game of Thrones series would be produced. Pianist Lang Lang, meanwhile, has given recitals through an avatar of his own design.

WWW.SECONDLIFE.COM

If you’re looking for love and the idea of meeting someone based on interests appeals, then the metaverse may be for you. Make sure to try out a few platforms, be yourself, and engage with honesty to build authentic connections. You may not find love, but you will undoubtedly find friends with whom to spend your time and enjoy a laugh or two with, or enjoy a dynamic gaming experience! e

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We play an essential role in the Marbella community and aspire to amplify our presence even more. If you’re part of something exceptional, meaningful, or beautiful that you believe others should discover, or have enquiries, simply reach out to us via WhatsApp. Connecting with your favourite Marbella magazine which resonates with a global audience, has never been so easy!

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Come with us on a tour of BoConcept’s fully refurbished store on the Ctra. de Mijas. Jazz up your wardrobe with an ensemble from Chloé SS2024. See how to purify your skin with the Oxygen Facial. Where do you align with the Five Languages of Love?

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110 BoConcept’s New Look Mijas Showroom 120 Design Trends 126 Chloé Ready-to-Wear SS2024 134 The Oxygen Facial 136 The Five Languages of Love 140 Pet-Friendly Dating Ideas

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BOCONCEPT STUDIO SHOWROOM WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

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Walking into the BoConcept showroom on the Mijas Road now feels like entering another world – a world of design with a rich tradition of timeless style, set within a studio environment with an urban feel.

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anish design in general, and BoConcept in particular, builds on a rich tradition of modern classics that began to take off in the 1960s but really started before then. Together with the Italians, it was the Danes who really introduced the world to high-quality, architecturally styled furniture and decoration, and right to this day these two design traditions continue to lead the way. This much is evident when you cast your eyes over successive collections of BoConcept sofas, tables, lamps, wall units, dining room sets and other decorative items. ›

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The studio sections focus strongly on sofas and living room areas

This ability to create collections that always feel fresh and up-to-date yet don’t fall into fads is truly impressive, and it comes from the fact that when you lead trends, rather than follow them, what you produce is a series of timeless masterpieces.

In fact, thanks to a long tradition of nurturing creative talent and working with top inhouse and also famous-name designers, BoConcept has many an iconic chair, lamp or sofa design to its name. Some rank among the finest examples of furniture design stretching back more than half a century, and it is on this heritage that the brand builds its new collections, such as the 2023/2024 New Kollektion, which is so evocatively displayed in the newlook showroom. ›

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A Touch of Scandinavia

www.boconcept.es

BoConcept & PlusStore Mijas

BoConcept & PlusStore Marbella

BoConcept El Corte Inglés

malaga@boconcept.es

Ctra. de Mijas km 3,5

Ctra. N-340 km 176,

Calle Ramón Areces S/N

marbella@boconcept.es

29650 Mijas, Málaga

29602 Marbella, Málaga

29660 Puerto Banús, Málaga

ecibanus@boconcept.es

Tel. +34 951 242 092

Tel. +34 951 492 727

Tel. +34 659 388 226

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“WE OFFER BEAUTIFUL MODERN FURNITURE PIECES, BUT THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMISATION, WHICH MEANS NOT ONLY THAT YOU CAN CREATE COMBINATIONS OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS, TONES, AND CONFIGURATIONS OF YOUR LIKING, BUT EVEN THAT MANY OF THE ITEMS CAN BE MADE OR MODIFIED TO FIT YOUR HOME” Dining and office concepts overlap

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UNIQUE PIECES CAN FORM PART OF AN ENTIRE BOCONCEPT INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT OR MATCH YOUR EXISTING DÉCOR

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The new look BoConcept store on the Mijas road has an urban/industrial feel

A NEW LOOK BoConcept has a tradition of its own on the Costa del Sol, furnishing and decorating homes across the region since 2006, when the Mijas Road showroom was opened, and later also from premises on the Golden Mile in Marbella. The original venue has now been modernised and upgraded not just to look new and fresh, but also to showcase a superb new selection of design-led furnishings that represent the fine point of modern style and quality.

“The new showroom was designed with another point in mind too,” says Alba

Pardo, their interior designer, who helps customers find anything from a single item to the decoration for an entire home.

“The new layout and presentation takes all of this into account. It offers a series of what we call ‘studios’: designed environments that display furniture and decoration sets with the feel of an actual living interior, so that it’s like stepping into a home.” This structure gives you a better sense of how BoConcept pieces fit together – either with other items or indeed how you can use the collections to match and 116 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

combine until you’ve created your own preferred style.

“We offer beautiful modern furniture pieces, but there is a high level of customisation, which means not only that you can create combinations of different materials, tones, and configurations of your liking, but even that many of the items can be made or modified to fit your home.”

The new showroom is therefore much more than a furniture store, it’s also a design studio where you can sit down with Alba and her colleagues and choose the fabrics, materials, and colour tones that suit your home and taste the best. ›

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A V D A . B LV. P R Í N C I P E A L F O N S O D E H O H E N L O H E . U R B . C A R O L I N A P A R K Mon-Fri: 10:00-14:00 16:00-19:00 Sat: upon appointment w w w. a a l t o e x c l u s i v e d e s i g n . c o m

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The showroom offers a full interior design service

BoConcept also offers an interior design service that works with homeowners to devise made-to-measure options and help create living spaces with professional styling. “It’s a collaborative and fun process,” says Alba, “the final step of which is the fitting by our qualified technicians.”

Jan Petersen, who represents the brand on the Costa del Sol, has long since prided himself on the quality of BoConcept design,

coupled with the design and installation services provided from his showrooms in Mijas and Marbella. “We sell the products, but in the end it’s all about the service,” says Jan, “and that’s where we stand out. It’s why we insist that our clients let us know when there is even one detail that is not perfect, so that we make sure it is.” The new showroom is where this process begins, and it makes it easier than ever to visualise your new home. e

BOCONCEPT MIJAS CARRETERA DE MIJAS, KM 3,5, MIJAS. TEL (+34) 951 242 092 MALAGA@BOCONCEPT.ES BOCONCEPT MARBELLA OASIS BUSINESS CENTRE, CN 340, KM 176, MARBELLA TEL: (+34) 951 492 727 MARBELLA@BOCONCEPT.ES WWW.BOCONCEPT.COM/ES-ES/ STORES/FIND-YOUR-LOCALSTORE/SPAIN/ANDALUCIA/ BOCONCEPT-MARBELLA

A wide choice of designs, materials, and to match

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AMBIENCEHOMEDESIGN.COM

By ANDREA BÖCK

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EVERYTHING IS

PEACHY This year’s PANTONE selection, 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is a subtly sensual and heartfelt peach hue that embodies kindness, tenderness, and a sense of community.

WORDS MADDIE QUINN

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t was announced earlier this year on pantone.com and then subsequently splashed across the entire 'designverse', influencing apparel, accessories, packaging, multimedia design, hair and beauty, and naturally interior design as well.

This warm and cosy shade, nestled between pink and orange, is said to represent our desire for togetherness and search for sanctuary. ›

BRABBU.COM

CASAMANIA & HORM ­– ARCHIPRODUCTS.COM

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Peach Fuzz is set to inspire a fresh approach to softness, offering a space for healing and flourishing in an understated yet impactful way.

With its comforting presence, this hue can improve our well-being, nurturing the compassion and empathy much needed in the world.

Poetic, romantic, and beautifully tactful, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is a contemporary expression of warmth and sophistication, evoking a modern yet vintage vibe.

And if you are convinced, here are some ideas to invite this meaningful tone into your home. e

BIJAN MAISON – THEARTINTERIORDESIGN.COM

PORCELANOSA.COM

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CHLOÉ DISCOVERED BY MADDIE QUINN PHOTOGRAPHY IMAXTREE

What better way to embrace romance than with Chloé's new Ready to Wear Collection?

Having nurtured a culture of supreme yet substainable qualities, Creative Director Gabriela Hearst now bids farewell to the Luxury French Fashion House with this exuberant show.

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CHLOÉ www.chloe.com

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THE OXYGEN FACIAL BREATHING LIFE INTO YOUR SKIN

If you’re after the ultimate glow-up, ditch your highlighters and illuminators in favour of a groundbreaking treatment that will leave your skin with a youthful shine even when you are totally makeup-free. It is fascinating to think that one ingredient that abounds in our atmosphere – oxygen – can achieve this aim owing to its effect on boosting the formation of collagen – a basic building block of skin. After the age of 20, the dermis layer produces 1 per cent less collagen every year in a process known as ‘intrinsic ageing’. Oxygen facials can help slow down this process by delivering a high-concentration oxygen boost that helps nourish skin. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS THE BENEFITS OF THE OXYGEN FACIAL In addition to delivering brilliance to your skin and boosting collagen formation, this treatment can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

and improve circulation. It additionally has a powerful hydrating effect, since it helps serums penetrate skin more optimally. Oxygen is also known to accelerate wound healing and eliminate some types of bacteria. For this

reason, oxygen facials can be used to calm acne and eliminate specific bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes), which cause some types of acne.

WHAT DOES THE TREATMENT INVOLVE?

Typically, your beauty therapist will cleanse and exfoliate your face prior to applying the oxygen.

Afterwards, they will use a small wand to apply highpressurised oxygen to your skin. This oxygen is infused with essential nutrients, botanical extracts, vitamins, and minerals. It leaves skin with a youthful, plumped-up effect and greater firmness for up to six days later, making it ideal if you have a special date, event, or wedding to attend.

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AT-HOME OXYGEN FACIALS ARE ALL THE RAGE

In the past, oxygen facials were considered a luxury treatment that was quite costly. However, new advances in technology have led to the development of ‘oxygen facial kits’, which are affordable and which you can administer yourself in the comfort of your own home.

For instance, the OXYjet GO Oxygen Facial System (costing around €760) may seem pricey, but it essentially pays for itself if you forego

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To maintain the effects of the treatment, aim to receive this facial once a month. If you have mature skin, talk to your beauty therapist about combining it with other treatments, such as Fraxel or Fractora, or micro-needling, for a more pronounced antiageing effect.

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The treatment usually lasts between 30 minutes and an hour, and there is no downtime involved. In fact, you can apply makeup if you wish to directly after the procedure. Most people don’t have any sideeffects at all, but some report a little temporary redness and light swelling (which others might just call ‘plumping’).

5 spa visits. This system is meant to be used three times weekly, morning and night, and promises to enrich and hydrate skin, diminish hyperpigmentation, and reduce dark circles and fine lines. It comprises a hand-held tool that provides gentle air pressure to help two signature serums penetrate deeply into the skin to deliver oxygen where it is needed. Many top brands have also created products containing oxygen, which, they say, aids in cell metabolism (the shedding of dead skin cells). For instance, Dr. Brandt’s Skincare Oxygen Facial Flash Recovery Mask purifies and hydrates skin, and helps it eliminate toxins. Bear in mind that the machines and products used at top spas and aesthetic medicine centres may be more potent than those you can access for home use.

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THE OXYGEN FACIAL VS THE HYDRAFACIAL

A strong contender to the oxygen facial is the HydraFacial, which also lends skin-plumping, firming, smoothening effects. This treatment involves cleansing and exfoliating skin first, followed by the removal of impurities with a painfree suction device and hydration. Next, peptides and antioxidants are delivered to the skin to lend it an appealing glow. Like the oxygen facial, the HydraFacial targets acne, dull skin, and fine lines and wrinkles. It is ideal for those who tend to have blocked or large pores or oily complexions. If you’re in doubt about which one to choose, consult with your therapist, as they will be able to recommend the treatment that best targets your specific concerns. e

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5

THE LANGUAGES OF

LOVE

February is the month of celebrating love. For any couple, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to show your love for the special person in your life and to spend quality time together.

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or singles, Valentines can be a dreaded day, however you can also pick a person to celebrate and spend time with rather than feeling lonely and plan a fun outing for you both.

A day to celebrate love is not just about giving a gift, it is about the demonstration of your affection. Showing your partner that you care can be reflected and appreciated better by understanding their language of love and acting in a way that will make them happier.

Everyone has individual desires of how they like to receive love. This is called their love language. We all communicate differently and see things in unique ways therefore this idea applies to how we respond to others' gestures of showing their love to you.

Often you may try your best to show someone that you love them, however they are not satisfied or showing their appreciation towards your efforts which then makes you feel disillusioned. This can be because you are demonstrating love from your own love language perspective and not theirs.

There are five different

categories of love language.

You may cross into each of these classifications, however there will be one that is predominant over the others in how you value and appreciate acts of love.

The five categories are: » WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: ‘Showing love through words’: Telling someone often that you love them; giving positive communication, words of encouragement and gratitude and thanking them; constant dialogue through texting; demonstrations on social media. Compliments are also always well received!

Communication both verbal and written will be valued when received. » QUALITY TIME: people in this category need to know that their partner is actively available for them and that during their time together they have their partner’s undivided attention. They would feel offended with telephones or televisions at dinner. They like eye contact and to know that their partner is actively listening rather than passively hearing what they are saying. » RECEIVING GIFTS. ‘A visual symbol of love’: Someone who likes being given gifts over all other

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WORDS TANYA VEGAR

demonstrations of love also considers the time, attention, and care that went into selecting the gift.

The monetary value is not always important but more so the match of the gift to the person. Usually someone in this category will always remember every gift you have given them. » ACTS OF SERVICE: ‘Actions speak louder than words’: This is a category in which people value actions of help and consideration rather than words. Acts of kindness to help someone’s day go better, such as helping with household chores, understanding someone’s schedule, and doing things they don’t have time to do like making their morning breakfast. These actions are valued no matter how big or small as an act of love. ›

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» PHYSICAL TOUCH: ‘Physical demonstrations of love’: Anyone who values this as their primary love language likes holding hands, kissing, cuddling, and sex. They need to receive physical affection to feel close to someone.

Your love language can be different to the one of your partner, therefore to better develop your relationship and make your partner feel more appreciated you need to try to speak to their love language. If you are a person not too fussed about giving or receiving lavish

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gifts but your partner highly values the love language of receiving them, then buying them an unthoughtful gift such as a plant at the local supermarket will make them feel unappreciated. If your partner falls under the love language of physical touch, then slapping them on the back and telling them “You’ll be alright” when they are needing comfort isn’t going to make them feel better either.

Often in relationships, small arguments are caused from misunderstandings. A simple step to resolve many

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issues just requires a little more consideration and effort.Trying to understand your partners language of love shows empathy, thought, and care that you are developing your methods to suit their needs.

This will enhance your relationship as they will feel more valued, and you will feel more appreciated for your efforts.

Happy Valentines to all!

TANYAVEGAR_WRITING TANYA_VEGAR@HOTMAIL.COM

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LIFESTYLE | PETS

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DON’T LEAVE YOUR FOURPAWED FRIEND BEHIND!

PET-FRIENDLY DATE IDEAS FOR COUPLES A whopping 97 per cent of people who have pets consider their dog or cat part of the family – something that shouldn’t surprise those who have known the wonder of pet ownership.

Surprisingly, pets have a powerful link to romance. According to a survey by PetPyjamas, around 11 per cent of couples met a partner by talking about their pet. It all makes sense, considering that when you love your pets with a passion, you probably can’t envision a life alongside someone who doesn’t see them through the same lens. If you and your partner love nothing more than bonding with your pet, make your next date about celebrating your unique bond.

Below are a few ideas for a pet-inclusive, romantic Valentine’s date.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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n a sunny day, few things appeal like heading out into a beautiful natural area like a park or beach for a picnic. If you live in Marbella, pack a few goodies (sandwiches, wine, olives, cheese, and strawberries) in your basket and head to the Parque La Constitución, known as Marbella’s ‘Green Lung’ owing to its plethora of trees, grassy areas, and flowers. Another stunning spot for pictures is Senda Litoral Duna de Artonas, with its wooden boardwalk, stunning dunes, and views of the sea. Bring a frisbee, ball, and any items that will get your pet moving!

If you’re looking for a spot where your dog can socialise with other furry friends, a good choice is the 12,000 square-metre Nagüeles Park, which boasts a sizeable recreation area, a space for small dogs, and a dog training zone.

If you’re in the mood for a short (half-hour) drive, we suggest Parque de la Paloma in Benalmádena.

This park will really get you into a romantic mood, with its myriad of lakes and ponds, waterfalls, and free-roaming chickens and bunnies. The landscaping is marvellous, with small hills, bridges, and a myriad of other features making a great backdrop to your romantic photos. Don’t forget to visit the Cactus Garden, which contains a host of unique-shaped cacti that seem to hail from another planet. Pets are welcome at this park, so long as they remain on a leash.

Another green (and blue) space your pet will undoubtedly enjoy is El Chorro Natural Park, tucked between the Ardales and Álora and featuring a sky-blue reservoir, fresh air, and stunning mountain views. There are a host of spots that are ideal for a picnic, as well as quaint bars where you can stop for a beer or a glass of wine.

For something really special, the long drive to Málaga is worth it to see the La Concepción Botanical Garden, which is home to over 50,000 plants. It’s no surprise that many couples choose to celebrate their wedding here. The park is home to ancient, stately trees, as well as singular, rare species with an otherworldly air. This garden has a pretty romantic history. It was created by the Marquis and Marchioness of the House of Loring, who were both born to well-known businessmen who came to the city to make their fortunes. They chanced upon the idea of creating a garden after visiting numerous palaces, villas, parks, estates, and botanical gardens during their honeymoon in Europe. To bring their dream to life, they enlisted the services of a French gardener, Jacinto Chamoussent, whose skilled selection and acclimatisation of exotic plants were rewarded with a number of prizes.

If your dog goes gaga on sandy beaches, then a beach picnic is definitely called for. Marbella is home to two dog-friendly beaches (El Pinillo and Ventura de Mar). Playa el Pinillo, on the outskirts of Marbella, is 1.5km long. Ventura del Mar is a smaller, 25m beach that is close to the Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús. A few other options include Benalcán Beach in Benalmádena (with its secret coves and rocky formations), Arroyo Totalán Beach (situated between Málaga capital and Cala del Moral), and Piedra Paloma Beach, in Casares.

Whichever option you choose, make sure it includes activities like swimming, fetch, and climbing. Your pet thrives with exercise, so avoid simple restaurant breaks where your dog does little more than sit by your side. This Valentine’s, make it about an activity that gets your hearts racing and makes you feel the wonder of life, love, and friendship. e

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Learn why Costa del Sol – Christie’s International Real Estate has opened an office in Málaga. Find out how Miamibased Bai Capital can help you obtain a Green Card with the Government-sponsored EB-5 program. Keep abreast of local business news.

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146 Christie’s International Real Estate Opens in Málaga 152 Business News 160 Obtain a Green Card with the U.S. Government Sponsored EB-5 Program 162 The Vibe

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CHRISTIE’S ENTERS MÁLAGA

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The prestigious global brand that was founded in London in 1766 as a leading international auction house and in 1987 expanded into luxury real estate has now firmly established itself on the Costa del Sol.

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WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

top international brand such as Christie’s and a prime destination such as Marbella are a perfect match, which makes it all the stranger that the two weren’t connected much sooner,

but in 2018 Dutch real estate entrepreneur Hans Veenhuijsen rectified the situation when he opened the first office here. “The reaction from the market was very positive,” says Hans, “but we hadn’t been operating for too long when

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Covid hit, and we spent the better part of the following year under the strange conditions of the times.”

This, of course, affected just about everybody, but it had a particularly profound impact on newly founded businesses. ›

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Despite this, Christie’s International Real Estate has since established itself firmly in the Marbella market that it suits so well, and now the brand is expanding to the regional capital as well.

“Christie’s International Real Estate entering into Málaga brings a new high-profile name to the city, and it’s another confirmation of the growing status of what was once the ugly ducking of the Costa del Sol,” says Miguel Zapico, who as Director of the new office on Paseo Reding will be leading the project. “Málaga has evolved and matured over the past two decades, its real estate market is developing rapidly, and the area needs a company with the philosophy,

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business credentials and multi-national network of Christie’s International Real Estate.”

Christie’s International Real Estate builds on more than a prestigious, internationally recognised name alone. With more than 400 offices in around 50 countries across the world, it has a large and important network that spans continents and consists of over 10,000 agents, hundreds of thousands of high-end properties, and a vast collection of clients, professionals and investors. “One example of this interaction is that we’re receiving a lot of interest via our colleagues in the US, and they are people looking to buy and invest.”

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INTERNATIONAL REACH AND LOCAL KNOW-HOW

This method of working is part of the value proposition that Costa del Sol - Christie's International Real Estate offers, but it blends global reach with local knowledge, as the team are very familiar with the property market and living conditions of Málaga and its different zones. Miguel has been with the company since it launched on the Costa del Sol and though he is originally from Oviedo in Asturias and spent many years working in business consultancy in Madrid, the past decade has seen him build an impressive expertise in Málaga’s real estate market. “We bring a corporate level of professionalism to

From left to right: Chief Marketing Manager, Carmen de Arriaga; The welcoming face of the Málaga office, Rocío Carrasco; Málaga Office Director, Miguel Zapico; Mónica Gruber, specialist in the central and eastern suburbs of Málaga, and Hans Veenhuijsen, CEO and owner

this market, combined with international service and detailed knowledge of prices, conditions and opportunities, area by area.”

Another member of the hand-picked team is Rocío Carrasco, who followed her heart from her native Málaga to Milan, where her husband worked in television production and she was Personal Assistant to company principals at the likes of Roche and Louis Vuitton. “I learned to work under pressure, but above all how to nurture a luxury brand and provide the kind of service its customers

expect,” says the new Front Office Coordinator, who will be applying exactly this level of attention and efficiency to clients at Costa del Sol Christie's International Real Estate. “That’s exactly the atmosphere we are creating in the Marbella and Málaga offices,” adds Monica Gruber, a US expat with a background in marketing who lost her heart to Málaga some years ago.

Monica adds a very personal touch on top of her expert knowledge of the centre of town and the luxurious suburbs to its east, which skirt the beaches and rise

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up wooded slopes with amazing views. “People are more familiar with the historic centre, which has undergone an amazing transformation process through the renovation of classic apartments and buildings, but the original upmarket areas with villa suburbs and panoramic apartments close to the beach can be found just east of our office, which is located opposite the bullring.

This is where the grand palm tree-lined avenues of Málaga give way to classic villas and apartments close to the beach that are ripe for renovation.” ›

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ENTERPRISE | PROPERTY

GREAT MARKET POTENTIAL

centre. The third market that is very interesting extends west from the centre along the beachfront, and this is an example of modern gentrification with stylish new apartments arising in an upwardly mobile zone.”

The Málaga market is certainly dynamic right now, enjoying a popularity built up over the past 10-15 years, has renewed status as one of the lifestyle capitals of Europe (and most liveable cities in the world), as well as a growing number of Spanish businesses and professionals moving down from the likes of Madrid and Barcelona, not to mention the buzz associated with a

“There is a great deal of potential in the Málaga market,” agrees Miguel. “In this sense it is a little behind Marbella and still offers a lot of scope for buying and investment. While the historic centre is the best-known and most wellconsolidated area, it is in reality one of three top zones within the city, the second being the eastern area with prestigious suburbs such as Pedregalejo, Cerrado de Calderón, Añoreta and El Candado, which offers a country club environment with golf, tennis, and horse riding close to the city

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growing tech hub and influx of skilled young people.

“Málaga is a very exciting place to buy and invest right now, especially if you know the market and are assisted by the right people.”

COSTA DEL SOL – CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE MARBELLA OFFICE: C/VELAZQUEZ, 1, MARBELLA TEL: (+34) 951 122 313 INFO@COSTADELSOL365.ES WWW.COSTADELSOL365.ES MALAGA OFFICE: PASEO DE REDING 25, MÁLAGA TEL: (+34) 951 122 312 MALAGA1@COSTADELSOL365.ES WWW.COSTADELSOL365.ES

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business news COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

Alfalite and César Yagüe Unveil AlfaArt: Elevating Digital Artistry in the Luxury Realm European LED screen manufacturer, Alfalite, has teamed up with visionary digital artist César Yagüe, to create AlfaArt – a turnkey solution comprising large format LED displays that transform walls into living canvases, with state-of-the-art media players and moving ambient artwork. These displays are curated and delivered ready for enjoyment anywhere in the world. The aim is to redefine the concept of luxury through digital art. It is designed for large corporations, hotels, high-end leisure and entertainment venues, galleries, luxury homes, and recreational boats.

FURTHER INFORMATION, WWW.ALFALITE.COM

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The Anantara Villa Padierna Joins Forces With Virtuoso and Offers a Magical Valentine’s Experience Anantara Villa Padierna has partnered with Virtuoso, the prestigious luxury travel network, to offer uniquely tailored experiences that have been curated by top travel advisors worldwide. The five-star resort has crafted a strategic plan to reposition itself in the luxury segment. As a testament to its ongoing commitment to excellence, it joins Virtuoso, adding to its current affiliations with Serendipians, Fine Hotels & Resorts, and The Leading Hotels of the World. The hotel is also enticing couples to enjoy a special Valentine’s Day experience, comprising a two-night stay in a Deluxe room, a delicious buffet breakfast, a relaxing spa treatment by Valmont, and a special menu to enjoy at their iconic restaurant, La Veranda, or at the 99 Sushi Bar. WWW.ANANTARA.COM

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Casino Marbella Holds Croupier School The gaming industry is booming and as a result, Casino Marbella is hosting a free Croupier School training programme, which will last three months. The Casino hopes to expand its team so if you’re interested, why not sign up? This programme will focus on Black Jack and will take place from Monday to Friday, in the afternoon.

FURTHER INFORMATION, WWW.CASINOMARBELLA.COM

154 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

Vithas Andalucía Holds Prevention and Self-Care Training Conference ‘Aulas de Salud’ (‘Health Classrooms') is the title of a new initiative

by Vithas Andalucía, aimed at giving patients and everyday people access to the advice and wisdom of doctors regarding preventive health and self-care matters. Over 1.2000 people attended the event, which took place at the Vithas Almería, Granada, Málaga, Sevilla, and International Hospitals. Topics included kids’ eye health, breast cancer, menopause, psychology, and more.

WWW.VITHAS.ES

The Fuerte El Rompido Hotel and Fuerte Conil Resort Win Gold Medals for Sustainability Congratulations to the Fuerte El Rompido (Huelva) and Fuerte Conil-Resort (Cádiz) for successfully passing the TraveLife Sustainability System audit and for renewing their TraveLife certificates in the Gold category. The auditors highlighted the presence of protocols and devices in both hotels that ensure responsible water management and the efficient use of water resources. Fuerte Group Hotels, a pioneer in sustainable practices, was among the first to implement measures for responsible water resource utilisation. Fuerte Conil-Resort was the first Spanish hotel certified with the prestigious ISO14001 for its environmental management.

WWW.FUERTE-GROUP.COM

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International Theatre Studio Presents Cheque to the Elena Gaite Foundation The International Theatre Studio (ITS) was delighted to present a cheque for €4.000 to the Elena Gaite Foundation, which was created to promote solidarity actions to raise funds for different social organisations and support relatives and patients with cancer or rare diseases. The ITS raised this amount via its successful stage production of Calendar Girls and the sales of its charity calendar.

WWW.INTERNATIONALTHEATRESTUDIO.ORG

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Granada Hosts 10m Olympic Shooting World Cup The Royal Spanish Olympic Shooting Federation will be holding the 10m Olympic Shooting World Cup, in the Rifle and Air Pistol disciplines, from February 10 to 18. The competition, one of the most prestigious in the world, will take place at the Federation’s specialised shooting field in Las Gabias. It will commence with a grand opening ceremony. The youngest athletes in the junior category will kick off the competition before the senior finals take place.

The competition can be viewed live on the ISSFTV streaming platform.

WWW.TIROLIMPICO.ORG

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Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche Speaks on How to Manage Emotions in Tough Times New Medical Director for Vithas Xanit International Hospital The Vithas Xanit International Hospital recently appointed Dr. Bárbara Torres Verdú as its new Medical Director. She took over from Dr. José Manuel Martín Vázquez, who retired after 13 years of service. Dr. Torres Verdú boasts an ample trajectory in the health sector and hopes to lead her team to maintain its high standards, while continuously seeking to provide the very best care to patients.

The Buchinger Wilhelmi Marbella clinic will be hosting talks by Buddhist master, Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche on February 3 and 4, focusing on how to manage difficult emotions in times of worldwide crisis.

The aim is to help attendees boost their resilience while fostering an interest in continual learning and personal growth.

Participants will enjoy interactive sessions, practical exercises, and group discussions.

WWW.BUCHINGER-WILHELMI.COM

WWW.VITHAS.ES

© Karl Smallman

New President of the Costa Press Club Following the untimely death last year of the President of the Costa Press Club, the much-lamented Jesper Sander Pedersen, club members were called upon to vote for a new President and committee. Neil Hesketh, who had been serving as Acting President, headed the only candidature list presented for election and was duly elected along with the previous committee members and the addition of Louise Cooke Edwards, who joins the committee as an executive member.

WWW.COSTAPRESSCLUB.COM

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50th Anniversary Instituto Cultural Español de Dublin, Ireland The Spanish Cultural Institute of Dublin, Ireland, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. The history of this institution can be traced back to 1968, when José Antonio Sierra Lumbreras landed in Ireland to work as a lecturer at Trinity College’s Hispanic Studies department. In 1969, he presented the idea of creating a Spanish cultural institution in Dublin. His dream became a reality thanks to the support of the Language Centre of Ireland and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with its official inauguration on February 11, 1974. The Institute helps those who want to learn or perfect their Spanish, or discover new expressions and words. It is now known as the Instituto Cervantes de Dublín.

WWW.DUBLIN.CERVANTES.ES

Agrojardín Installs Pioneering Water-Saving Device Agrojardín, a company specialising in residential irrigation technology for single-family homes, communities, hotels, and municipalities, has successfully installed a device that saves up to 30 per cent of water used for green areas.

Controlled through a mobile app, it provides real-time information on weather and garden conditions, ensuring that gardens are watered only when necessary. Despite its technical complexity, the installation is quick and affordable, demonstrating a dual environmental and economic impact.

WWW.AGROJARDIN.COM

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Estepona's Garden of Andalusian Poets Expands The Jardín de los Poetas Andaluces (The Garden of Andalusian Poets) is now more beautiful, thanks to the addition of work by Seville-born artist, Manuel Delgado Pereira. The central passage dedicated to Andalusian poets now features a plaque displaying verses by Delgado Pereira and a bust of the author. Known for his friendship with renowned authors like Vicente Aleixandre and Antonio Gala, Delgado has devoted part of his career to reclaiming and highlighting Andalusian poets who had to leave their homeland. His work combines poetry and painting, with Andalucía and Spain playing a prominent role.

WWW.ESTEPONA.ES

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INVEST IN REAL ESTATE IN FLORIDA, USA

AND OBTAIN THE GREEN CARD WITH THE GOVERNMENT SPONSORED EB-5 PROGRAM BAI Capital is an American company with more than 13 years of experience focused on investments in real estate and immigration with the EB-5 Program, which permits obtaining a Green Card through a real estate investment.

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he Federal EB-5 Program is a project created by the US government in 1990 and administered

by USCIS, which allows foreign individuals and their immediate families to obtain permanent residence in the United States through an investment in the country, without restrictions.

EB-5 PROGRAM: THE BEST WAY TO GET A GREEN CARD IN THE U.S.

The EB-5 Program for Immigrant Investors was created by the Congress of the United States in 1990 as part of the Immigration Act. Its main objective is to stimulate economic growth and to create jobs in the US. Over the years, this program has changed the way capital is invested, creating jobs, improving regional infrastructure, and stimulating local economies across the U.S. and the world.

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The program is administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), under which investors and their spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible to apply for a Green Card meeting two main requirements: » Investing 800,000USD in a commercial company in the United States » Demonstrating that the funds come from legal and legitimate sources BAI Capital facilitates EB-5 industry professionals who accompany all investors throughout the process, obtaining a high level of approval of close to 95%.

REAL ESTATE PROJECT IN FLORIDA

Currently, BAI Capital is developing Archer Place, one of the most important mixeduse projects in Florida, located near the prestigious University of Florida (U.F.), home of the Gators. The project is structured under the new rules of the EB-5 program law approved by Congress in late 2022.

Bai Capital is the sole administrator for the development company in charge of job creation (JCE) and the fund where EB-5 investors are grouped (NCE).

CRITERIA FOR THE PROJECT

» A maximum of 30 EB-5 Investors. » The EB-5 capital represents less than 20% of the total project funds. » EB-5 investors will receive 4.9% annual fixed interest + distribution of additional profits at the exit. » The project generates around 3,000 new positions in the area, which is more than ten times the amount needed to have a Green Card.

The Bai Capital EB-5 offer is unique since they invest their money in developing the project they offer. With over a decade of experience, they have generated more than a thousand new positions by participating in the development of 70,000m2 of hotels, condominiums, and rental apartment projects in Miami, Houston, and New York. Currently, they have over 90,000m2 planned for development.

WHAT IS BAI CAPITAL?

BAI Capital – or Become American Investor LLC – is a boutique, family-owned company that develops large real estate projects in Florida, USA. They are based in Aventura, Miami, and vertically integrated with their

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own private equity (P.E.) fund available to individual investors looking to diversify their capital.

With more than 13 years of experience, they have focused on investments in real estate and immigration with the EB-5 Program, which allows obtaining a Green Card through a real estate investment. They are recognised as leaders in this process, having helped more than 100 families fulfill the dream of living in the United States.

BAI Capital’s founders, Arturo Venti and Tery Fuentes, have more than two decades of accumulated experience in the Real Estate industry, both inside and outside the United States.

BAI CAPITAL NUMBERS

» Number of years in investor management: 13 » Number of Families that have invested with BAI Capital: +100 » Number of countries of origin: +10 » Estimated impact on new job creation: approximately 4,460 places » Total fundraising by EB-5 clients: $54,400,000 » The volume currently under development: $150,000,000

WWW.BAICAPITAL.COM

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COYA CELEBRATES LIMA ANNIVERSARY

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Iconic restaurant, Coya, at the Puente Romano hotel, which is renowned for its fine Peruvian and Asiatic Nikkei cuisine, marked the 18th January anniversary of the foundation of Lima dating from 1535. Invitees celebrated Peruvian culture and flavours, accompanied by signature drinks, DJs, and performers.

WWW.COYARESTAURANT.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

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Naomi Watts, Billy Crudup, Jennifer Anniston

Lily Gladstone

Kieran Culkin

THE GOLDEN GLOBES WITH MOËT & CHANDON

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Moët & Chandon was the official Champagne for the celebration of this year’s 81st edition of the Golden Globes. Guests enjoyed Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut and Imperial Rosé throughout the ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, which perfectly complemented Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s exceptional menu.

Tom Kaulitz & Heidi Klum

FINNEAS & Billie Eilish

Selena Gomez & Meryl Streep

WWW.MOET.COM

Lee Sung Jin

Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef, Willem Dafoe

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MOËT & CHANDON

Jeremy O. Harris

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Paul Giamatti

Find out about experiential dining and the global trends it is incorporating in the gourmet experience. Did you know that Amontillado and Oloroso are increasingly finding favour with sommeliers and Michelin-restaurants? What is the enigma of old red wines?

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166Experiential Dining 172 Gourmet Bytes 176 Amontillado & Oloroso 180 The Enigma of Old Red Wines

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WELCOME TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CULINARY MASTERCRAFT

EXPERIENTIAL

DINING

Wh

ere

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WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SUBLIMOTION AND DISHOOM

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The amazing Sublimotion in Ibiza

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t’s a competitive world out there for chefs wishing to stand out from their competitors, and creating avantgarde dishes or employing molecular cuisine techniques simply won’t cut it. Discerning diners are after something more: an experience in which all their senses are stimulated, pampered, and surprised. The term ‘experiential dining’ may seem new, but it has been a buzzword in the industry for many years and it exploded onto the scene after the challenging year that was 2020. Its aim is simple: to create a unique, unforgettable experience for diners through elements like storytelling, entertainment,

multisensory stimulation, and technology. Years back, Dani García showed he merits his reputation as a standard-bearer at his eponymous restaurant at the Puente Romano. There, his Once Upon a Time menu was inspired by fairytales like Alice in Wonderland, which have captured the imagination of millions of children and adults across the globe.

Dishes on this memorable menu included the Non Nitro Tomato, Silkworms, and What Does Alicia’s Forest Smell Like? The former comprised a tiny crafted tomato that boasted a shiny metallic appearance… it was, without doubt, a one-of-a-kind visual masterpiece for the eyes to behold. › 167 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

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TODAY, EXPERIENTIAL DINING CAN TAKE ONE OF MANY FORMS, INCLUDING: €1.650 per person – a small price to pay for entering the metaverse while savouring dishes you’ll never forget!

This experience was designed by Paco Roncero (whose eponymous restaurant boasts two Michelin stars) alongside screenwriters, engineers, illusionists, and audiovisual specialists. Pure genius and artistry are involved here.

Renowned DJ and music producer, Wally López, brings a spark of the Ibiza nightlife to the table, while Jorge Blass (one of Spain’s bestknown illusionists) questions diners’ sense of reality.

Composer, Lucas Vidal; designer, Roberto Diz; and

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urban artist, Antonyo Marest have also lent their magic to the experience. Thanks to the use of VR headsets and other techniques, diners are taken on a journey to various places and times, including the depths of the ocean, a Copacabana beach, the world of Oz, and a dinner that takes place in the year 2050.

Before consuming dishes, diners view their ingredients floating in space and discover their nutritional content. The chairs have wheels and move through the space – all with a view to instilling the artistry of cuisine in diners’ minds and hearts. ›

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MULTISENSORY HIGH-TECH EXPERIENCES Dining used to involve pleasing the palate and dazzling the eye through inviting aesthetics, but today, you can expect a complete sensory experience from top restaurants like Sublimotion in Ibiza. This is a mind-blowing experience and, one could say, one that is worth a trip to the ‘White Island’. This is dining at its futuristic best, and it combines Virtual Reality with exquisite food, music, and choreographed service.

At Sublimotion, 12 guests enter a ‘capsule’ and take a three-hour ride to the past and future. The meal features 20 courses and costs around

Massimo Botturi’s creativity shines

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E FO R LIN N

East Asian Fine Dining NEW TAI PAN Marbella

SUKHOTHAI

NEW TAI PAN Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 www.taipanmarbella.com

SUKHOTHAI Tel: 952 770 550 www.sukhothaimarbella.com

Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella.

Open Daily for Dinner

Marbellamar, L-3A, Marbella.

THAI GALLERY Tel: 952 818 392 www.thaigallerymarbella.com Puente Romano Hotel, Plaza Village, Marbella.

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Futuristic vibes at Sublimotion

INTERACTIVE DINING Experiential dining is not just about technological advances, but also about involving guests more actively in the enjoyment of their food. For instance, staff at the two-Michelinstar Bangkok restaurant, Baan Tepa, accompany guests on a tour of the gardens, so they can view the ingredients that will be used in their meals.

Diners interact with the chef, exploring new ingredients and cooking methods and fostering a connection with the culinary process. Interactive dining additionally includes inviting diners to cook part of their

meal, offering them displays so they can personalise their meal, and table-side service.

In some restaurants, guests are seated directly in front of the kitchen. They can interact with the chef to glean more information about everything from ingredients to techniques.

THEMED DINNERS Themed restaurants base their offerings around a core concept, using architecture, décor, imaginative menus, and other features to create a unique atmosphere.

Dashoom in Kensington, London, is an example of the extent to which ambience can turn a meal 170 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

into a party. Designed

by Macaulay Sinclair, the design transports diners back in time to Jazz Age Bombay, with a look that is inspired by this city’s old Indian cafés. Art Deco features abound – including original wooden period furniture, stone frieze panels, and marble monogram insets. The menu matches the theme. Here, you will find food from a bygone era that warms your stomach and your heart. Live jazz plays in the background and spicy meals are paired with nostalgic cocktails like Edwina’s Affair, made of a triumvirate of gin, rose, and cardamom.

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21ST-CENTURY STORYTELLING ‘Storytelling’ has become a real buzzword in a wide range of industries, ranging from corporate speaking to leadership. It is also a key way for chefs to ensure that their vision resonates with diners.

Michelin-starred chefs such as Massimo Bottura (of Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy) are tapping into this phenomenon, with dishes that tell the story of their local region. One of Bottura’s most publicised

dishes is called the Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Modena is, of course famed for this delicious cheese and in this dish, the chef delves into its different stages of production, revealing the wonders of its flavour and texture. Other chefs seek to share anecdotes from their region with diners. Such is the case of Singaporean chef Damian D’Silva, whose dish, Sambal Juliana, has fascinating roots. This dish is a Eurasian chili paste comprising chillies, shallots,

shrimp paste, lime juice, and gula melaka. It was created in Portuguese Malacca in the 16th century by the wife of a local foreman who wished to recreate a Portuguese dish for a homesick captain. The chef believes that sharing stories about heritage dishes makes the experience much more meaningful. It makes diners aware and when there is knowledge, he says, there is a greater interest in knowing more about cuisine and the cultures that make them. e

Jazz vibes abound at Dishoom

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COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

ANDALA MARBELLA CELEBRATES ANDALUSIAN TAPAS

Andala Marbella is a new gourmet tapas restaurant opened on La Fontanilla, on the West side of Marbella. It delights palates with dishes made with ingredients from the eight provinces of Andalucía – including RAF tomatoes from Almeria, sardines from Cádiz, oxtail from Córdoba, shredded goat with mango from the hills above Málaga, fresh beans and onion purée from Granada, river trout from Jaén, jamón ibérico from Huelva, and artichokes from Sevilla. After sampling the gourmet tapas, your table can enjoy sharing platters like whole Josper barbecued sea bass and slow-roasted barbecued short ribs from the famous red cows from Cádiz. Open Thursday to Monday for lunch and dinner.

WWW.ANDALAMARBELLA.COM

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SIXTH EDITION OF CHEFSFORCHILDREN

The organisers of the charity project, ChefsForChildren, held a press conference in Madrid to announce its sixth edition. Chefs like Mario Sandoval (of Coque), Iván Cerdeño (of Iván Cerdeño-Cigarral del Ángel), Ricardo Sanz (of Ricardo Sanz Wellington), Diego Gallegos (of Sollo), and Diego del Río (of Boho Club) presented the project to the press and shared details of what we can expect. This year, the giving chefs will work alongside Autismo España to improve the lives of people with autism and their families. Stay tuned for further developments of this highly-awaited event.

WWW.CHEFSFORCHILDREN.ES

RESTAURANTE SANTIAGO REOPENS ON VALENTINE’S DAY

February 14 is a fitting date for the reopening of the legendary seafood restaurant, Santiago, after a two-year pause. The establishment’s chef, Santiago Domínguez, is pleased to once again delight diners from across the globe with his talent. He is a veritable icon on the Coast, having cooked for a myriad of celebrities – including Antonio Banderas, Julio Iglesias, and Sofia Loren.

At his relaunched establishment, you will find the menu and dishes that made him so famous.

As is to be expected, fish and seafood will be taking centre stage.

WWW.RESTAURANTESANTIAGO.COM

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GONZÁLEZ BYASS AND TÍO PEPE PUT THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST

González Byass has selected its iconic wine, Tío Pepe Fino, to promote the use of returnable glass, both in the hospitality industry and in its wine tourism experiences. As part of REBO2VINO, a project led by the Spanish Wine Federation, this innovative measure is centred on reusable wine bottles. It will help decrease the carbon footprint of glass manufacturing, marking a new milestone in the history of Spanish wine.

WWW.GONZALEZBYASS.COM

TGT CHEESES PREDICTS A RECORD REVENUE OF €485M

TGT Cheeses, one of the main producers and distributors of cheese in Spain, foresees an annual revenue of €485 million this year, and expects to raise this amount to €500 million in upcoming years.

The General Director of the company, Sergi Ballell, states, “Our cheeses are in the fridges of the majority of homes in Spain, but until now, we were relatively unknown. That’s all changing and people are now recognising our brand on a larger scale. Our aim is to become the largest distributor in Spain for European manufacturers.” TGT Cheeses currently has 2,000 different products on the market.

WWW.GRUPOTGT.COM

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AMONTILLADO &

OLOROSO

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What is a chilly winter day without a mature Oloroso to accompany the venison or an aromatic Amontillado to augment the wild mushroom soup? Spanish sherries are so much more than ‘granny sherry’, something the locals have always known. And now, the rest of the wine-loving world is starting to appreciate these genuine sherry varieties that even William Shakespeare praised in his literary works.

THE SOPHISTICATED, AROMATIC, AND BONE-DRY SHERRIES FROM JEREZ WORDS KARETHE LINAAE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BODEGA FERNANDO DE CASTILLA

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o learn more about the relatively unknown sherries with mellifluous names Amontillado and Oloroso, we spoke to Jan Pettersen whose bodega makes the world’s best Oloroso. Yes, you got that right! This 80-year-old champion is sold out, but Bodega Fernando de Castilla makes other sophisticated, aromatic, and bone-dry sherries in Jerez’s Golden Sherry Triangle.

The exclusive bodega in Jerez de la Frontera’s historic centre is neither open for bus tours nor guided groups, but it is always buzzing with activity. The day before we arrived, they had 70 sherry enthusiasts for dinner, and a couple of days after, the bodega was hosting the final of the annual competition Copa Jerez with international teams of chefs and sommeliers. The

owner was not present, as he had a meeting in Argentina, one of the approximately 50 countries that imports the bodega’s products.

FANTASTIC FOOD WINE

The world of sherry is split in two, tells the Norwegian specialist who has worked with the products for over 40 years. The first includes the semi-sweet, blended, cheaper sherries that are still popular with the older population in Northern Europe. “Many don’t even know that it is a Spanish product. Sherries like Medium or Pale Cream mix simple dry sherries with concentrated grape juice to make them semi-sweet or sweet. We don’t make these types of sherries, but Pale Cream is still the top-selling sherry in the UK.” The other sherry world is what he calls genuine sherry, which counts for almost all of what is consumed in Spain.

“Sophisticated clients from other countries have now also

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discovered genuine sherries, which are very popular among sommeliers and Michelin restaurants. I have noticed a strong movement to demonstrate that a well-made sherry is a fantastic food wine.”

The consumers of authentic dry sherries are usually younger and have an interest in food and wine, and while the sale of the cheaper sherries is steadily declining, the demand for Fino, Amontillado, and Oloroso is going up.

FALSTAFF’S FAVOURITE

Sherry has been on the market for more than 500 years. “Fino, which has a lower alcohol content, wasn’t suited for sea transport in barrels, which is how wine was transported far into the 20th century. What was consumed outside of the production area were Amontillado and Oloroso-type sherries which can be thought of as historic sherry-types.” ›

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of the liquid that gives a lot of taste and aroma to a good Fino.

AMONTILLADO – LONG TRADITIONS

Sherry was considered the finest wine in the world in the time of William Shakespeare, and the writer refers to it in no less than 27 places in his works. Falstaff who appears in three of Shakespeare’s plays, declared in Henry IV: ‘If I had a thousand sons, the first humane principle I would teach them should be to forswear thin potations and to addict themselves to sack!’

(Sack was synonymous with sherry)

IT ALL STARTS WITH FINO

All dry sherries come from a base wine with Palomino Fino, the local grape variety in the sherry district. For Fino, which is the driest, the grapes are lightly pressed to create a light grape must. Fino is fortified from 12 to 15% alcohol with a small amount of grape spirit and stored in 500-litre oak barrels. The alcohol is not enough to kill the yeast in the must. These create a layer of flor on top

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Amontillado starts as a Fino and is usually matured for half a dozen years under flor to achieve the delicate Fino character. The yeast is filtered out before the wine is fortified with grape spirits from 15 to 18% alcohol, and the oxidative process gives the wine an amber colour.

Amontillado means Montillastyle and refers to the wine region Montilla-Moriles near Córdoba. The bodega makes two Amontillados: a ten-yearold and a 20-year-old Antique Amontillado.

“Many connoisseurs consider Amontillado as the ultimate sherry because it is bone dry but packed with aroma and taste. A genuine Amontillado is a bit fastidious, so you need something to nibble with it.”

FRAGRANT OLOROSO

Oloroso, which means fragrant, is pressed with a bit more force to obtain a small amount of juice from the grape skins, making the

base somewhat stronger.

The base wine is fortified with grape spirits from 12 to 18% alcohol killing all microbiological activity, almost like a spirit. Oloroso is also aged in oak casks which are filled up to 70 per cent. The air chamber on top lets the wine oxidise so it darkens over time.

While Finos are usually bottled after three to five years, Oloroso is aged for a minimum of six years.

The bodega makes three Olorosos: 8 years, 20 years, and an exceptional vintage that is over 80 years old. In July 2023, the latter was named the number one fortified wine in the world during the International Wine Challenge in London.

Olorosos are milder and rounder because they keep the original residual sugar.

Yeast consumes sugar and dries out the wines, so Fino and Amontillado have less than one gram of residual sugar per litre, while an old Oloroso can have up to eight grams.

“Some feel that Oloroso lacks the complexity of an Amontillado, but it has a round and sweet character WWW.FERNANDODECASTILLA.COM

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which makes it fabulous with food.”

ALWAYS WITH SOMETHING TO SNACK ON

The bodeguero insists that good wine, and especially good sherry, should always be enjoyed with food. “Fino tastes so much better if you have a bit of Iberian ham, some olives, or a few roasted almonds. I believe this is the same for all wines. You need something to nibble on with a good sherry.”

Pettersen suggests Amontillado for soups, white meat, and vegetable dishes. “It can be enjoyed with artichokes and asparagus, and vegetables that are otherwise difficult to combine with wine. And Amontillado is fantastic with wild mushrooms.”

Oloroso can be an excellent alternative to red wine. “An aged Oloroso is magnificent with Iberian pork, sauces, red meats, game, pâtes, and mature cheeses. While Fino and Amontillado are consumed cold, Oloroso ought to be more tempered to 14-16 degrees, just like a red wine.”

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THE ENIGMA OF

OLD RED WINES WORDS ANDREW J LINN

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hat’s all this about drinking red wine as old as possible? How many times have we heard a wine lover boasting, ‘Last night I drank a 1941 Cheval Blanc’, or ‘In my cellar I have every vintage of Protos from 1950 on’, as if the most sought-

after criteria is age. Such an approach can reach ridiculous extremes, and it is surprising that so many habitual imbibers often rate age above most other qualities. For the committed collector, it is a way to throw good money down the drain, along with that expensive bottle that has been stored for too long

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and is now undrinkable.

Old red wines, especially those with ageing potential, do become increasingly rare as they mature, so the supply dwindles over time due to consumption, mishandling, or simply being forgotten in cellars.

The scarcity of such wines contributes significantly to their elevated market

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value. Indeed, Britain’s Decanter magazine last month awarded its coveted maximum 100-point score to an old Spanish wine, Marqués de Riscal 1895, apparently in perfect condition for drinking.

As it happens, the Marqués de Riscal bodega is the home of the greatest collection of old wines in the world, dating from 1862.

Properly ageing red wines requires meticulous storage conditions, including stable temperatures, humidity control, and darkness.

Additionally, the extended period of storage ties up capital and contributes to the overall expense. These costs are factored into the price of the final product if buying in. Nevertheless,

some red wines are crafted with the intention of ageing gracefully over extended periods, and the winemaking process involves careful grape selection, extended maceration, and ageing in expensive oak barrels. The additional time and resources invested in making such wines with ageing potential contribute to their higher selling price Aged red wines are associated with prestige, and their desirability among collectors and connoisseurs can drive prices upward. The market demand for well-aged vintages from renowned wineries or celebrated regions further intensifies the competition for these bottles, increasing their market value, 181 | FEBRUARY 2024 | MARBELLA, SPAIN

although it must be admitted that while some red wines evolve well with age, others become increasingly fragile.

The delicate balance between ageing gracefully and reaching a tipping point where the wine starts to decline is a precarious one.

Mishandling during storage or careless transportation can accelerate this process, turning a oncepromising investment into a disappointing loss.

Wines have optimal drinking windows, periods during which they showcase their full potential. Determining the ideal time to open an aged bottle is both an art and a science, requiring careful consideration of the specific wine’s characteristics. ›

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We tend to think that under normal circumstances every bottle of wine in a case will be the same, and while this may be true of American wines, for example, thanks to their scientific approach to the production process, it can also be shown that individual bottles of European wines can vary within a case.

Every bottle of wine, even from the same vintage and producer, can age differently.

Factors such as variations in cork quality, storage conditions, and inherent variability in the winemaking process contribute to the

GOURMET | WINE

unpredictability of individual bottles. Ultimately, the decision to invest in aged red wines is a blend of passion, patience, and a willingness to embrace the unpredictable journey of time in a bottle.

Should we mature white wines? Many self-styled cognoscente will answer in the negative; for them reds are for ageing and whites for drinking young, and while for the lower price categories this may be true, it can be very gratifying to find that, much like their red counterparts, careful storage can enhance their complexity and flavour profile. However, the considerations for ageing white wines differ due to the distinct characteristics of white grape varieties and the winemaking techniques employed. Varieties like Chardonnay and Riesling are known for their ageing potential, while others, like Sauvignon Blanc, are generally consumed in their youth. Understanding the inherent characteristics of the grape variety is crucial in predicting how a

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white wine will evolve over time.

High acidity is a key factor contributing to the ageing potential of white wines.

Acidity helps the wine to maintain its structure and freshness over time. So, if anyone tells us not to bother ageing white wines, remind them that some of the greatest old whites in the world, such as Madeira and Tokay, are white. e

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